Ernest Suggs

Case information

Ernest Suggs (born 08/08/55) was tried in the First Judicial Circuit, Walton County, in Case #90-338-CF.

The sentencing judge was The Honorable Laura Melvin. The trial attorneys were Robert Kimel and Doral Steward (private attorneys). The direct appeal attorney was Larry D. Simpson (private attorney). The collateral appeals attorney was Hilliard Moldof (private).

Timeline

• 08/06/90 — Ernest Suggs was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Pauline Casey.
• 08/22/90 — Ernest Suggs was indicted on:
  • Count I: First-Degree Murder (Pauline Casey)
  • Count II: Kidnapping
  • Count III: Armed Robbery with a Deadly Weapon
• 09/07/90 — Ernest Suggs was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.
• 06/09/92 — On advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 7 to 5 majority.
• 07/15/92 — Ernest Suggs was sentenced:
  • Count I: First-Degree Murder (Pauline Casey) — Death
  • Count II: Kidnapping — 22 years, less 709 days credit time served
  • Count III: Armed Robbery with a Deadly Weapon — 12 years, less 709 days credit time served
• 08/17/92 — Ernest Suggs filed his Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 09/01/94 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence.
• 10/25/94 — Rehearing was denied.
• 11/29/94 — A Mandate was issued.
• 02/23/95 — Ernest Suggs filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.
• 04/24/95 — The United States Supreme Court denied the petition.
• 01/24/97 — Ernest Suggs filed a 3.850 Motion in the Walton County Circuit Court.
• 06/12/03 — The 3.850 Motion was denied.
• 07/18/03 — Ernest Suggs filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 11/17/05 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Suggs’ 3.850 Motion.
• 02/16/04 — Ernest Suggs filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 11/17/05 — The petition was denied.
• 06/07/06 — Ernest Suggs filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court, North District (pending).

The offence

Ernest Suggs was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Pauline Casey.

Pauline Casey worked at the Teddy Bear Bar in Walton County. On 08/06/90, the bar was found unlocked and cash was missing. Casey’s purse, keys, and car were found at the bar, but the victim was not.

Ray Hamilton, a neighbor of Casey’s, reported to police that Casey and a customer, who he did not recognize, were playing pool when he left. The police were put on alert looking for the man and the man’s car that matched Hamilton’s description.

Ernest Suggs was pulled over based on the description of the car. Suggs permitted police to search his home and car.

Police found $170 in small bills. Hand and fingerprints belonging to Casey were found in Suggs’ car. Blood that matched the victim’s blood was found on a shirt belonging to Suggs.

In the bay behind Suggs’ residence, police found a key to the bar and a beer mug similar to the beer mugs at the Teddy Bear Bar. The police matched Suggs’ tire tracks from his automobile to tracks found on a local dirt road.

In a search of this area, police found Casey’s body a short distance from the road on which the tire tracks were found. She was stabbed twice in the neck and once in the back.

Ernest Suggs asserted that he had been framed for the murder of Casey.

Investigation and arrest

Police put out alerts looking for the man and the man’s car that matched Hamilton’s description.

After the discovery of Casey’s body, Ernest Suggs was arrested.

Trial

Charges and indictment

On 08/22/90, Ernest Suggs was indicted on:

• Count II: Kidnapping

Verdict

On 09/07/90, Suggs was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.

Sentencing

Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 7 to 5 majority, voted for the death penalty on 06/09/92.

On 07/15/92, Suggs was sentenced:

Appeals and collateral proceedings

Direct appeal (Florida Supreme Court)

Ernest Suggs filed his Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 08/17/92. He raised issues including:

• that the judge erred in allowing another judge to testify on behalf of the state
• that evidence collected from Suggs’ home should have been suppressed
• that the trial court erred in not granting Suggs’ motion for a mistrial
• that the trial court erred in admitting a book called Deal the First Deadly Blow
• errors in the handling of aggravating factors
• that certain actions of the prosecutor denied Suggs a fair trial
• that the evidence did not sustain a conviction on the kidnapping charge

The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warranted reversing the conviction or sentence. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence on 09/01/94. Rehearing was denied on 10/25/94. A Mandate was issued on 11/29/94.

Petition to the United States Supreme Court

Ernest Suggs filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on 02/23/95. The United States Supreme Court denied the petition on 04/24/95.

3.850 motion (Walton County Circuit Court) and related transfers

Ernest Suggs filed a 3.850 Motion in the Walton County Circuit Court on 01/24/97. The case was transferred to Judge Lewis Lindsey because Judge Laura Melvin retired. The case then was transferred to Judge Remington of Okaloosa County in June of 2000.

The 3.850 Motion was denied on 06/12/03.

3.850 appeal (Florida Supreme Court)

Ernest Suggs filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 07/18/03. On 11/17/05, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Suggs’ 3.850 Motion.

State habeas corpus petition

Ernest Suggs filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court on 02/16/04. The petition was denied on 11/17/05.

Federal habeas corpus petition

On 06/07/06, Suggs filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court, North District. The petition was currently pending.

Other details

The case had Supreme Court of Florida opinion 80340 (opinion SC03-1330; DC # 220267).