State v. Downs

Justice PLEICONES:

This is a death penalty case. Appellant pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping, and first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. With respect to the murder, the circuit court found the following aggravating circumstances: Appellant committed the murder while in the commission of criminal sexual conduct; Appellant committed the murder while in the commission of a kidnapping; and Appellant murdered a child eleven years old or younger. The circuit court sentenced Appellant to death. 1 This opinion consolidates Appellant’s direct appeal and the sentence review required by…