The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly.  This information, however, is subject to change and may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon for statistical or legal purposes. 

 

GRIFFIN, Michael A. (W/M)

DC#    182543

DOB: 03/27/70

 

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case #90-16875-C

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Arthur Snyder

Attorney, Trial: Andrew Kassier – Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Andrew Kassier – Special Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Terri Backhus – Private

 

Date of Offense:         04/27/90

Date of Sentence:       03/07/91

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

On 04/27/93, Michael Griffin, Samuel Velez, and Nicholas Tarallo decided to commit a burglary.  They left Tarallo’s apartment in Griffin’s father’s Cadillac and drove to the location of a Chrysler LeBaron, where they switched cars.  Griffin had previously stolen the LeBaron, which had been used in prior burglaries. 

 

The three proceeded to search for an appropriate target, finally arriving at a Holiday Inn in Newport, Florida, where Griffin had prior successful burglaries.  Griffin and Velez entered a hotel room and stole a cellular phone and purse.  Tarallo drove while Griffin and Velez divided up the stolen property. 

 

After leaving the Holiday Inn, the three observed a police car.  Griffin panicked and told Tarallo to evade the police car.  During these maneuvers, another police car, driven by Officers Martin and Crespo, spotted the LeBaron and followed.  Tarallo tried to pull over, but Griffin stated that he would not go back to jail and ordered Tarallo to continue evading the police.  Tarallo eventually pulled over, and as the three attempted to escape, Griffin began shooting at the police, killing Officer Martin.  Tarallo and Velez surrendered to Officer Crespo, while Griffin fled in the LeBaron and was eventually apprehended. 

 

Codefendant Information:

 

Tarallo, in exchange for testifying for the State, pled guilty to Second-Degree Murder, Attempted First-Degree Murder, Burglary, and two counts of Grand Theft.  He was sentenced to thirty years in prison. 

 

Velez was convicted of Manslaughter, Attempted Manslaughter, Armed Burglary, and two counts of Grand Theft.  He was sentenced to life in prison. 

 

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

 

 

Offense Date

Offense

Sentence Date

County

Case No.

Prison Sentence Length

08/29/1987

BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY

12/28/1987

MIAMI-DADE

8732207

2Y 6M 0D

08/29/1987

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

12/28/1987

MIAMI-DADE

8732207

2Y 6M 0D

 

 

Prior Community Supervision History in the State of Florida:

 

 

Offense Date

Offense

Sentence Date

County

Case No.

Community Supervision Length

08/29/1987

BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY

12/28/1987

MIAMI-DADE

8732207

2Y 0M 0D

08/29/1987

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

12/28/1987

MIAMI-DADE

8732207

4Y 0M 0D

08/29/1987

BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY

04/06/1989

MIAMI-DADE

8732207

2Y 0M 0D

08/29/1987

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

04/06/1989

MIAMI-DADE

8732207

2Y 0M 0D

12/29/1988

GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE

04/06/1989

MIAMI-DADE

8845286

2Y 0M 0D

01/08/1989

BURG/N/ASSLT/OCC.STRUCT.

04/06/1989

MIAMI-DADE

8901234

2Y 0M 0D

01/08/1989

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

04/06/1989

MIAMI-DADE

8901234

2Y 0M 0D

 

 

Trial Summary:

 

05/02/90          Indicted as follows:

Count I            First- Degree Murder (Martin)

Count II          Armed Burglary

Count III         Grand Theft

Count IV         Grand Theft Auto

Count V          Aggravated Assault (Crespo)

Count VI         Petty Theft

Count VII       Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

12/13/90          State nolle prossed Counts V & VI

Presented information charging one count of Attempted First-Degree

Murder (Crespo)

Count VII severed

02/08/91          Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

02/14/91          Jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2

03/07/91          Sentenced as follows:

Count I            First- Degree Murder (Martin) – Death

Count II          Armed Burglary – Life Imprisonment

Count III         Grand Theft – 5 years

Count IV         Grand Theft Auto – 5 years

Count V          Attempted First-Degree Murder (Crespo) – Life

Imprisonment

 

Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 77,843

639 So. 2d 966

 

04/30/91          Appeal filed

07/07/94          FSC affirmed convictions and sentences

08/08/94          Mandate issued

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 94-7530

514 U.S. 1005

 

01/04/95          Petition filed

03/06/95          USSC denied Petition

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

 

03/19/97          Motion filed

10/29/98          Motion amended

12/10/99          Motion amended

05/05/00          Circuit Court summarily denied all but two issues and ordered an

evidentiary hearing held on those issues

01/11/01          Circuit Court denied remaining issues

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Motion Appeal

FSC# 01-457

866 So. 2d 1

 

02/28/01          Appeal filed

09/25/03          FSC affirmed denial of 3.850 Motion

01/29/04          Rehearing denied

03/01/04          Mandate issued

 

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

 

06/23/03          Motion filed

07/01/03          State motion to dismiss filed

10/17/03          Circuit Court granted motion to dismiss

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 04-6035

543 U.S. 962

 

06/24/04          Petition filed

11/01/04          USSC denied Petition

 

U.S. District Court, Southern District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 04-21643

 

07/07/04          Petition filed

04/19/05          USDC dismissed Petition without prejudice

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal

FSC# 04-1522

No Opinion Issued

 

08/02/04          Appeal filed

01/20/05          FSC affirmed denial of motion

 

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

 

03/18/05          Motion filed

04/29/05          CC denied motion

 

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

 

05/22/06          Motion filed

07/20/06          CC denied motion

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal

FSC# 06-1055

992 So. 2d 819

 

05/08/06          Appeal filed

09/11/06          Appeal filed

06/02/08          Appeal denied

 

United States District Court, Southern District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 08-22817

 

10/08/08          Petition filed

10/15/09          Petition denied

 

United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – Habeas Appeal

USCA# 09-15863

 

11/30/09          Appeal filed

01/07/10          COA denied

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

(Pending)

 

11/29/10          Motion filed

 

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:

 

The Direct Appeal was pending from 04/30/91 – 08/08/94 and the 3.850 Motion was pending from 03/19/97 – 01/11/01.   

 

Case Information:

 

Griffin filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 04/30/91, citing the following errors: allowing admission evidence of prior criminal acts at trial, restricting nonstatutory mitigating evidence, and the finding of certain aggravating factors (murder committed during a felony and cold, calculated, and premeditated murder).  On 07/07/94, the FSC affirmed the convictions and sentences. 

 

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 01/04/95 that was denied on 03/06/95. 

 

Griffin filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court that was amended on 10/29/98 and 12/10/99.  On 05/05/00, the Circuit Court summarily denied all but two issues and ordered an evidentiary hearing to be held on Griffin’s allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel and ex-parte communications between the State and trial judge concerning the sentencing order.  During September and October of 2000, the evidentiary hearing was held, and on 01/11/01, the Circuit Court denied the remaining issues of the 3.850 Motion. 

 

Griffin filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 02/28/01, citing twenty-one issues, most of which focused on allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel.   On 09/25/03, the FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion. 

 

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 06/23/03.  The State filed a motion to dismiss on 07/01/03 that was granted on 10/17/03.

 

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 06/24/04 that was denied on 11/01/04.

 

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Southern District, on 07/07/04.  On 04/19/05, the USDC dismissed the Petition without prejudice.    

 

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 08/02/04.  On 01/20/05, the FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.851 Motion. 

 

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 03/18/05 that was denied on 04/29/05.    

 

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 05/22/06 that was denied on 07/20/06.    

 

Griffin filed a Petition for 3.851 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 05/08/06 & 09/11/06 that was denied on 06/02/08.

 

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Southern District, on 10/08/08 that was denied on 10/15/09.

 

Griffin filed a Habeas Petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, on 11/30/09. On 01/07/10, the Certificate of Appealability was denied.

 

Griffin filed a 3.850 motion with the Circuit Court on 11/29/10. That motion is pending.

 

Institutional Adjustment:

 

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES REFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITED AND INDICATE THE GAIN TIME DAYS LOST.

 

 

DATE     DAYS                    VIOLATION                                       LOCATION       

 

08/12/91     10                      DISORDERLY CONDUCT               FLORIDA STATE PRISON

05/18/92      0                       ATTEMPT TO CONSPIRE               FLORIDA STATE PRISON

09/08/93      0                       DISORDERLY CONDUCT               UNION C. I.         

04/19/94      0                       DEST. OF ST. PROP.                          UNION C. I.         

07/15/94      0                       DISORDERLY CONDUCT               UNION C. I.         

07/16/94      0                       SPOKEN THREATS                           UNION C. I.         

11/07/94      0                       DISORDERLY CONDUCT               UNION C. I.         

12/24/94      0                       POSS OF CONTRABAND                 UNION C. I.         

03/01/96      0                       DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                 UNION C. I.         

03/01/96      0                       DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.         

10/29/97      0                       FIGHTING                                   UNION C. I.         

05/30/99      0                       POSS OF CONTRABAND                 UNION C. I.         

04/07/03     60                      DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                 UNION C. I.      

03/30/05    759                    POSS OF ESCAPE PARA.                 UNION C. I.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

Report Date:   12/18/03          JFL

Approved:       12/31/03          WS

Updated:         11/29/10          JJK