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Tony Randall WATTS

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Robbery - Attempted rape
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder: February 18, 1988
Date of arrest: September 1988
Date of birth: August 23, 1966
Victim profile: Simon Jurado
Method of murder: Shooting
Location: Duval County, Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on September 15, 1989
 
 
 
 
 

Florida Supreme Court

 

opinion 74776

opinion SC00-1591

 
 
 
 
 
 

DC# 286020
DOB: 08/23/66

Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, Case #88-11507
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable L. Page Haddock
Attorneys, Trial: Alan Chipperfield & William White - Assistant Public Defenders   
Attorney, Direct Appeal: David A. Davis - Assistant Public Defender 
Attorney, Collateral Appeal: Frank J. Tassone, Jr., Esq. – Registry 

Date of Offense: 02/18/88

Date of Sentence: 09/15/89

Circumstances of Offense:

On the morning of 02/18/88, Glenda Jurado was returning home from jogging when Tony Watts forced her at gunpoint towards her house. 

Watts informed Glenda that he was just released from prison and needed money to leave town.  Simon Jurado, Glenda’s husband, answered the door, at which time she told her husband that Watts had a gun and was demanding money. 

Simon gave Watts all the money he had, but Watts demanded more and stated that he would kill Glenda if he didn’t get it.  In response to his threats, Simon gave Watts a piggy bank containing money. 

After searching the house Watts made Simon undress in the bathroom and told Glenda to get undressed as well.  Watts penetrated Glenda with his finger and unsuccessfully attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. 

Upon seeing what Watts was doing to his wife Simon yelled and threw a chair at him.  The chair knocked Watts into the hallway.  Glenda ran from the house while the two men struggled.  Glenda heard a shot fired and her husband scream. 

She also witnessed Watts run out of the house and down the street with the gun.  Simon ran out of the house but collapsed on the lawn and died.  The cause of death was from the gunshot wound to Simon’s mouth, which severed an artery leading to his brain. 

In September 1988, Glenda and a neighbor who witnessed Watts running from the house that day identified him as being the assailant.  Watts’ baseball cap, which was found inside the Jurado’s house, contained hairs microscopically similar to his.  His fingerprints were also found on the door of the front porch.

*****

Trial Summary:

09/29/88          The defendant was indicted on the following charges:

Count I:           First-Degree Murder

Count II:          Armed Burglary With an Assault

Count III:         Armed Robbery

Count IV:          Armed Sexual Battery

Later reduced to Sexual Battery Using Physical Force

08/03/89          The jury found the defendant guilty of all counts charged in the indictment.

08/17/89          Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 7 to 5 majority, voted for the imposition of a death sentence.

09/15/89          The defendant was sentenced as followed:

Count I:           First-Degree Murder - Death

Count II:          Armed Burglary With an Assault - Life

Count III:         Armed Robbery - Life

Count IV:          Sexual Battery Using Physical Force - 30 Years 

*****

Case Information:

On 09/26/89, Watts filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.  Watts claimed that the trial court was required by section 916.11(1)(d) Florida Statutes (1987) to appoint the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) diagnosis and evaluation team for the evaluation of his mental competence and competence level to stand trial.  The Florida Supreme Court found that the trial court did abuse its discretion; however, Watts’ attorney neglected to preserve the issue for appeal.  Watts also claimed that the trial court erred in finding that he was competent to stand trial.  The defendant raised this claim because of conflicting expert testimony regarding this issue.  In his third claim, Watts contended that the trial court did not advise him that he had the right to represent himself and failed to conduct a Faretta inquiry when he requested another attorney.  Additionally, Watts claimed the court should have granted a mistrial because of prosecutorial misconduct.  The statements made by the prosecutor during closing arguments were found to have had no effect on the verdict.  In reference to the penalty phase, Watts claimed that the trial court erred in considering his crime to have been especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.  The Florida Supreme Court agreed that this crime was not especially heinous, atrocious or cruel but found the error to be harmless.  Watts next argued that executing a mentally retarded person was cruel and unusual punishment.  The Florida Supreme Court found that even if it were cruel and unusual to execute the mentally retarded, Watts was found to be competent. 

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Watts’ convictions and sentence of death on 01/02/92.        

On 04/15/92 Watts filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 06/22/92.

On 09/16/93 Watts filed a 3.850 Motion that is still pending in the Circuit Court.  On 05/04/99, Watts was determined to be incompetent to proceed with his postconviction relief and was committed to the Florida State Mental Hospital.  Competency reevaluations are scheduled every 90 days.

FloridaCapitalCases.state.fl.us

 

 

 
 
 
 
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