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Ronnie JOHNSON

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 


A.K.A.: "Boo" - "Ronnie Boo"
 
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Murders for hire
Number of victims: 2
Date of murders: March 11/20, 1989
Date of arrest: April 1, 1989
Date of birth: February 23, 1961
Victims profile: Tequila Larkins (laundromat owner) / Lee Arthur Lawrence (grocery store owner and community anti-drugs activist))
Method of murder: Shooting
Location: Dade County, Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on December 13, 1991
 
 
 
 
 

The United States Court of Appeals
For the Eleventh Circuit

 
opinion 07-12115 & 07-12155
 
 
 
 
 

Florida Supreme Court

 
opinion 79383 opinion 80278
 
opinion SC03-362 opinion SC03-382
 
 
 
 
 
 

AKA Boo, Ronnie Boo

DC#   440701
DOB:   02/23/61

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case 89-14998
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Gerald D. Hubbart
Trial Attorney: Raymond Badini & Joy Carr – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal:  John H. Lipinski – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Charles G. White – Registry

Date of Offense: 03/11/89

Date of Sentence: 12/13/91

Circumstances of Offense:

On 03/11/89, Tequila Larkins, the owner of Sparkle City Laundromat in Perrine, Florida, locked the front door of the establishment around 9 p.m. Customers, Jerry Briggs, Valerie Briggs, Eric Bettle, and Walter Hills remained in the laundromat, along with Ms. Larkins.

A short time later, Ronnie Johnson knocked on the front door and asked for change.  When the door was opened by Ms. Larkins, Johnson barged in, began arguing with Ms. Larkins, and then began physically fighting with her.  After several blows to Ms. Larkins’ face, Johnson pulled a gun and shot her.

Johnson confessed to the crime on 04/02/89, but later moved to suppress the confession.

Trial Summary:

04/24/89          Entered a plea of not guilty.

11/07/91          Jury returned guilty verdict for both counts.

11/13/91          Jury recommended death penalty by a 9-3 vote.

12/13/91          Sentenced as follows:

Count I             First-Degree Murder – Death

Count II            Armed Burglary – Life

Case Information:

On 02/19/92, Ronnie Johnson filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court, raising six issues: the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress a confession, striking a juror for cause, denying a motion for mistrial based upon a Richardson violation, denying a motion for mistrial based upon unauthorized note-taking by the jury, prosecution’s closing argument was improper, finding that Johnson created a great risk of death to many persons.  The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Johnson’s conviction and sentence of death on 05/08/97. 

On 09/29/97, Johnson filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 01/26/98.

Johnson filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 03/01/01, and amended it on 01/18/02.   The five issues raised in the Motion are: ineffective assistance of counsel, conviction for felony-murder was invalid, denied access to state agency records, sentencing jury was misled, and the jury was prejudiced by the court’s instructions regarding non-statutory aggravating circumstances.   The court denied the Motion on 01/17/03.

Johnson filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/03/03, citing the following errors: ineffective assistance of counsel, improper substitution of trial counsel, denying a motion to suppress, withholding of evidence by the State, and failing to give proper jury instructions.  On 03/31/05, the FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.

Johnson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 09/17/03, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.  On 03/31/05, the FSC denied the Petition. 

Johnson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Southern District, on 12/22/05 that is pending.

 

 

 
 
 
 
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