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ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT Eric K. Koselke Indianapolis, Indiana

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Steve Carter Attorney General of Indiana Matthew D. Fisher Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

In the

Indiana Supreme Court
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No. 49S00-0501-CR-2 RONALD COVINGTON, JR., Appellant (Defendant below), v. STATE OF INDIANA, Appellee (Plaintiff below). _________________________________ Appeal from the Marion Superior Court, No. 49G02-0206-MR-157363 The Honorable Robert R. Altice, Judge _________________________________

February 14, 2006 Shepard, Chief Justice.

Appellant Ronald Covington, Jr., challenges his sentence of life without parole for the 2002 murder of three people. He argues that his sentence was inappropriate and that Indiana's life without parole statute violates the Sixth Amendment. We conclude that imposition of the life sentence was appropriate. Our cases are stare decisis against him on the constitutional claim. We therefore affirm.

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Facts and Procedural History

On June 1, 2002, Covington forced his way into the apartment of Maranda Wilson (the mother of his two children) by kicking in the front door. He began shooting the occupants of the apartment. Covington shot and killed Frederic Harris and Kevin Simmons who were visiting Wilson at the time. Covington then shot Jasmine West five times -- three times in the chest, once in the arm and once in the hand. The bullet that struck West's hand passed through the hand and hit her in the face, ultimately lodging in her neck. Covington then took Wilson into a back bedroom where he shot and killed her.

West remained conscious throughout the ordeal and survived by pretending to be dead. After Covington left, she managed to call the police. When officers arrived, they discovered three bodies -- Harris and Simmons in the living room and Wilson in a bedroom. These three individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. West was transported to a local hospital. During an interview with police several days later, West stated that Covington had shot her and the others. Based on that identification, and calls from Covington's parents suggesting his

involvement in the crimes, the State charged Covington with three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of class A burglary. surrendered to the police. On June 6, 2002, Covington

In September 2002, the State filed a death penalty request for the murders of Wilson, Harris, and Simmons. It alleged as aggravators that the murder of Wilson occurred during the commission of a burglary and that Covington committed multiple murders. See IND. CODE ANN.

Download Ronald Covington v. State of Indiana.pdf

Indiana Law