Clinton Lee Young

Case overview

Clinton Lee Young (born July 19, 1983) was convicted of murdering two men in November 2001 and was sentenced to death on April 15, 2003.

Young was described as a convicted murderer, a Death Row inmate, and an activist, currently on Death Row in the state of Texas. An organization known as Save an Innocent Life was working on proving his innocence.

Background

Young was from Titus, Texas, and had prior occupations including iron worker, construction, carpet layer, and laborer.

Young had no prior prison record.

Young was described as having a troubled childhood and drug addiction, and his defense team argued his behavior resulted from mental disorders.

The offence

In November 2001, Young fatally shot two white men.

• Doyle Douglas, 41, of Ore City
• Samuel Petrey, 52, of Eastland

Both victims were murdered for the use of their vehicles, and both incidents occurred within a 48 hour period. The events were described as a cross-state crime spree that ended when Midland authorities shot out the tires of a stolen vehicle Young was driving.

Petrey was killed in a Midland oilfield after being kidnapped in his hometown.

Young and the victims’ deaths were linked temporally: Petrey and Young were murdered within 48 hours of each other during the spree described.

Investigation

Midland authorities ended the cross-state spree by shooting out the tires of a stolen vehicle Young was driving.

Trial

A jury convicted Young and then decided there were no mitigating circumstances to spare his life.

During sentencing, Young reportedly exhibited far less emotion than his defense team.

Young offered statements of apology in court.

• Young said: “I apologize to the victim's family”
• Young then said: “And I apologize to my family.”

Ricky Petrey addressed Young.

• Ricky Petrey said: “You can't expect one bit of sympathy from me at this time,”
• Ricky Petrey said: “I've seen you all through this trial and you haven't shown one bit of respect or remorse for my family.”

Clinton Young’s defense team comprised attorneys Ian Cantacuzene and Paul Williams, and paralegal Nancy Baker.

The sentencing proceeding included discussion of alleged jury misconduct. Judge John G. Hyde was expected to make a decision on a technical legal question of possible jury misconduct after Cantacuzene witnessed Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter conversing with the jury foreman during a lunch break.

Sheriff Gary Painter testified in a spontaneous hearing as jurors were deliberating. Painter explained the two men were talking about golf and his children and nothing related to the trial. The defense team researched case law to determine if anyone other than the bailiff was permitted to talk to jurors while deliberations were under way, and that information would be presented formally to the judge.

It was also stated that Painter testified he was the head bailiff.

Midland County District Attorney Al Schorre prosecuted the case along with first assistant Teresa Clingman.

The jury deliberated for an approximate 13-hour period over the course of two days.

Sentencing

Judge John G. Hyde sentenced Clinton Lee Young III to death by lethal injection at 3:30 pm on Friday, April 15, 2003.

Midland County District Attorney Al Schorre commented after the sentencing.

• Al Schorre said: “They had a tough decision and they made the right call,”
• Al Schorre said: “I'm happy for the families of the victim, now maybe they can have peace,”

First assistant Teresa Clingman commented.

• Teresa Clingman said: “As for the defendant, he got just a small taste of what he deserves.”

The sentencing also included statements by the victim’s relatives.

• Lanna Petrey, the murder victim’s widow, told the Reporter-Telegram: “I feel better,” and “I know it was a hard decision but I want to thank the jury for doing the right thing.”
• Lanna Petrey also said: “While Ms. Petrey said she feels compassion for Young's mother, she said Young's death would prevent him from killing others.”
• Lanna Petrey explained: “I think if anybody deserves the death penalty, he does,” and “If he hadn't been stopped, no telling how many people he would have killed.”

Ricky Petrey told Young about his life.

• Ricky Petrey said: “This jury, since you can't choose the right thing, they did it for you,”

Young was said to have already planned an appeal.

Appeals

Young described reaching out for legal assistance and indicated he was hoping to see at least 25 as his appeals continued.

Outcome

Young was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Other details

Young’s father’s and family members’ reactions were described in court: Young’s mother was sobbing uncontrollably.

Young was identified as known by the State of Texas as #999447.

Young’s prison-related statements included details about administrative segregation and living arrangements at the Polunsky Unit:

• Young wrote that he was “wrongfully” forced into the hands of the Polunsky Unit in April of 2003.
• He wrote that he had reached his 20th birthday since arriving.
• He wrote that Texas feeds less due to budget problems and that the state was seeking millions to build more dungeons of psychological aggression, “otherwise known as administrative segregation.”
• He wrote that administrative segregation was a “6 foot by 9 foot cage.”
• He wrote that the program was designed to psychologically oppress death row inmates by housing them in a cage and letting them have recreation without human contact.
• He wrote that visits were behind thick glass with their own family.
• He wrote that the only things helping death row inmates stay mentally sane were faith, hope and mail.
• He wrote that Lamp of Hope Project could help him receive a penpal.

Young included an extended claim about conviction and innocence:

• Young wrote: “Now if you’re wondering how I was ‘ wrongfully ’ placed in the hands of the Polusky Unit, it is because I was ‘wrongfully’ convicted on the states ‘theory’.”
• Young wrote: “I was convicted due to co-defendents that were seeking favor from the state.”
• Young wrote: “By their words I am a clod blooded killer.”
• Young wrote: “However though, by the unbiased scientific reports that I have, which were not admitted into evidence due to mistakes by my lawyer, I am innocent.”
• Young wrote: “I never shot anyone.”
• Young wrote: “All the evidence points to those who are guilty, but unfortunately my lawyer did not properly present this at my trial, and due to this mistake I am paying dearly.”
• Young wrote: “Before it is too late and I am wrongfully executed for a crime that others committed, that I did not know if or intend to happen.”

Young stated:

• Young wrote: “I just turned 18 when the offence occurred”
• Young wrote: “and I was sentenced to die by lethal injection at 19”
• Young wrote that he received his death sentence in George Bush’s home town.

Young also made a penpal request:

• Young wrote he was seeking someone in their 20s and up, because he felt they would be on the same maturity level.
• Young wrote that age, race or gender did not matter.
• Young wrote he was an open minded person who enjoyed writing, reading subjects on history, fables, folk law, mythology, science and other subjects.
• Young wrote he enjoyed the outdoors, some sports, and people, and anything that provided a laugh and life in general.
• Young wrote he was seeking not only a penpal but also any group, person, lawyer, student, university and/or others that would review his case and help fight and prove his innocence.
• Young wrote: “Those who only want to correspond are greatly appreciated, just as those who wish to provide legal assistance.”

Young included a mailing address:

• “3872 FM 350 South Livingston Texas 77351”
• Young wrote: “home”
• Young wrote: “Polunsky Unit #999447”

Young mentioned including photos:

• Young wrote: “I have included a photo mf myself and my baby sister to put a face wit ha name.”
• Young wrote he enclosed two photos of him from a media visit on Death Row and one of him in the court room in full shackles, stating it was part of the state’s propaganda to make him appear dangerous and suppress him.

Co-defendants

The record named co-defendants:

• David Lee Page
• Darnell McCoy