The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly. This information, however, is subject to changeand may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied upon for statistical or legal purposes.
HANNON, Patrick (W/M)
DC# 500914
DOB: 10/24/64
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County Case #91-1927
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable M. William Graybill
Attorney, Trial: Joe Episcopo – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Robert F. Moeller – AssistantPublic Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Suzanne Keffer & LeorVeleanu – CCRC-S
Date ofOffense: 01/10/91
Date of Sentence: 08/05/91
Circumstances of Offense:
In December of 1990, Brandon Snider, while visiting hisrelatives in Indiana, vandalized the bedroom of a former girlfriend, ToniAcker.
On 01/10/91, Patrick Hannon, Ron Richardson, and Jim Acker(Toni Acker’s brother) went to the apartment of Brandon Snider and roommateRobert Carter. When Snider came to the door, Jim Acker stabbed Snidermultiple times and Hannon cut Snider’s throat. When Robert Carter camedownstairs to investigate, he witnessed the murder and fled upstairs, hidingunder his bed. Hannon and Acker followed Carter upstairs and Hannon shotCarter six times.
Codefendant Information:
Ron Richardson pled guilty to being an accessory after thefact and testified against Hannon.
Jim Acker, in a separate proceeding, was convicted andsentenced to two life sentences.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
Hannon had an extensive criminal record at the time of theoffense. The following is Hannon’s prior prison history and communitysupervision history, covering periods of incarceration with the FloridaDepartment of Corrections since January 1983.
| Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept.of Corrections since January of 1983) |
| Offense Date | Offense | Sentence Date | County | Case No. | Prison Sentence Length | | |
| 04/13/1986 | BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT. | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8605425 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 04/13/1986 | GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8605425 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 06/25/1986 | COCAINE-SALE OR PURCHASE | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8608929 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 06/25/1986 | COCAINE-POSSESS | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8608929 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 06/25/1986 | UTTER FORGED BILLS 2ND CONV | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8608929 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 05/12/1988 | GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8807114 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 05/12/1988 | CARRYING CONCEALED FIREARM | 07/27/1988 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8807114 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 06/06/1986 | BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY | 07/21/1989 | HILLSBOROUGH | 8613974 | 1Y 6M 0D | | |
| 11/13/1988 | ESCAPE | 09/14/1989 | PINELLAS | 8816096 | 1Y 8M 0D | | |
Trial Summary:
03/27/91 Indicted on two counts of First-Degree Murder
02/18/91 Entered not guilty plea
07/23/91 Jury returned guilty verdicts
07/24/91 By a vote of 12-0, jury recommended death sentences
08/05/91 Sentenced to death on both counts of the indictment
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 78,678
638 So. 2d 39
09/27/91 Appeal filed
06/02/94 FSC affirmed conviction and sentence
09/08/94 Rehearing denied
10/10/94 Mandate issued
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 94-6789
513 U.S. 1158
12/07/94 Petition filed
02/21/95 USSC denied Petition
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 91-1927
03/20/97 Motion filed
04/10/00 Motion amended
02/04/03 Circuit Court denied Motion
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Motion Appeal
FSC# 03-893
941 So. 2d 1109
05/09/03 Appeal filed
08/31/06 FSC affirmed the denial of the motion
10/27/06 Rehearing denied
11/13/06 Mandate issued
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus
FSC# 04-1662
941 So. 2d 1109
08/23/04 Petition filed
08/31/06 FSC denied the petition
11/13/06 Mandate issued
United States District Court, Middle- Writ of HabeasCorpus
USDC# 06-CV-02200
11/24/06 Petition filed
12/02/06 Amended Petition filed
10/23/07 Petition denied
United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit −Habeas Appeal
USCA# 07-15991
01/08/08 Appeal filed
05/27/09 Appeal denied
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 09-6209
08/11/09 Petition filed
11/02/09 Petition denied
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 91-1927
11/29/10 Motion filed
03/23/11 Motion denied
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:
The Direct Appeal process took three years to complete(09/27/91 – 10/10/94) and the 3.850 motion was pending from 03/20/97 – 02/04/03.
Case Information:
On 09/27/91, Hannon filed a Direct Appeal with the FloridaSupreme Court, citing the following errors: striking two jurors forcause; admitting statements by a prosecution witness; admitting victim forensicevidence and testimony; improper jury instruction regarding the heinous,atrocious, and cruel (HAC) aggravating circumstance; insufficient evidence tosupport a finding of the HAC aggravating circumstance; the HAC factor is vague,arbitrarily applied, and does not narrow the class of persons eligible for thedeath penalty; insufficient evidence to support a finding of the avoiding orpreventing a lawful arrest aggravating circumstance; disproportionatesentencing compared to accomplices; evidence does not support the prior violentfelony aggravating circumstance; and the sentencing order wasinsufficient. The FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence on 06/02/94.
On 12/07/94, Hannon filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorariwith the U.S. Supreme Court that was denied on 02/21/95.
On 03/20/97, Hannon filed a 3.850 Motion with the CircuitCourt and amended on 04/10/00. The Circuit Court denied the Motion on02/04/03.
On 05/09/03, Hannon filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with theFlorida Supreme Court, raising the following issues: ineffective assistance ofcounsel at the guilt and penalty phases and summary denial of claims by theCircuit Court. On 08/31/06, the FSC affirmed the denial of the motion.
On 08/23/04, Hannon filed a Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus with the Florida Supreme Court, raising the issue of ineffectiveassistance of counsel. On 08/31/06, the FSC denied the petition.
Hannon filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theU.S. District Court, Middle District on 11/24/06 and amended the petition on12/20/06.
On 11/24/06, Hannon filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus in theUnited States District, Middle Court, and amended this petition on12/02/06. This motion was denied on 10/23/07.
Hannon filed a Habeas Appeal in the United States Court ofAppeals on 01/08/08. This appeal was denied on 05/27/09.
Hannon filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S.Supreme Court on 08/11/09. This petition was denied on 11/02/09.
On 11/29/10, Hannon filed a 3.850 Motion with the CircuitCourt. This motion was denied on 03/23/11.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 09/06/01 JFL
Approved: 10/22/01 WS
Updated: 04/27/11 CAR