all right let the record reflect that State's president defense councel and the defendant are all present we're here for sentencing was there anything else that the court needed to address prior to sentencing no no all right so I have considered all of the testimony and evidence arguments of council applicable case law and statutes I have prepared a written sentencing order which I will file contemporaneously with the pronouncement of the sence here today I also have copies for the state in defense which I'll hand out uh once I conclude so in the State of Florida versus
Stephen Wade Wilson or Wade Steven Wilson case number 19 CF 568 the court will read aloud the portion of the sentencing order related to the cening circumstances and proportionality in evaluating the aggravating and mitigating factors the court does not engage in a mere counting procedure but instead makes a reason judgment based on the totality of the circumstances in reaching this decision the court is mindful that because death is a unique punishment in its finality its application reserved is reserved only for those cases where the most aggravating and least mitigating circumstances exist the law never requires
the imposition of a death sentence in this case the totality of the circumstances indicates the defendant with premeditation beat and strangled Christine Melton in her home before stealing her vehicle and driving to meet his girlfriend Melissa monz after monz refused to get into the car with him the defendant battered her and broad daylight the defendant told law enforcement uh I'm sorry when Miss monz managed to flee from the defendant he fled the scene and drove back to Cape Coral where he decided that he would murder another person he saw Diane Ruiz walking to work and
pulled over pretending to ask for directions she got into the car to provide directions but the defendant strangled her when he Tri when she tried to exit he then drove to an empty lot strangling her into unconsciousness at least one additional time on the way there when she tried to flee from the car he drove over her at least one time inflicting mortal injuries to her spine ribs and neck the evidence showed that both murders were heinous atrocious and cruel and that the second murder was cold calculated and premeditated the defendant inflicted serious physical and
emotional pain to the victims moreover the defendant committed murders while on probation for prior felony convictions and he committed two first-degree murders contemporaneously with each other and with Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle battery and burgly of a dwelling there were no statutory mitigating circumstances that were established but the court considered the non-statutory mitigating circumstances presented by the defendant out of 13 enumerated non-statutory mitigating factors the court found that 10 had been established out of those established six were given little weight the totality of the mitigating circumstances indicates that the defendant suffers from drug use from
a young age along with undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues of some kind he felt abandoned by his biological parents but had a devoted adopted family who raised him in a supportive and loving environment defendant did not resist law enforcement when arrested and confessed fully to both murders the court has further considered the given in giving great weight to The Advisory verdict of the jury which who recommended that the death penalty be imposed by a vote of nine to three on count one for the murder of Christine Melton and a vote of 10 to two
on count four for the murder of Diane Ruiz the court recognizes that there is no mathematical formula for considering the aggravating and mitigating factors it is not enough to weigh the number of aggravators against the number of mitigators the Court carefully considered the nature and quality of each aggravator and mitigator having reviewed all of the aggravating factors proven Beyond A Reasonable Doubt and all of the mitigating circumstances reasonably established by the evidence the court finds that the aggravating factors greatly outweigh mitigating circumstances given the facts of the case nothing in defendants background or mental state
would suggest that it that a death sentence is inappropriate this Court's review of other reported Capital cases has led the court to conclude that the death penalty is not disproportionate in this case under the totality of the circumstances and evidence the court finds no basis to override the jury's verdict the totality of the circumstances warrants that the defendant Wade Steven Wilson be sentenced to death for each count first Green murder accordingly it is ordered in the judge that the defendant Wade stepen Wilson be sentenced as follows count one first degree murder of Christine Melton the
defendant is hereby sentenced to death count two Grant Theft of a motor vehicle the defendant is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in the Florida Department of Corrections count three battery the defendant is hereby sentenced to 364 days in Lee County Jail count four first G murder of Diane Ruiz the defendant is hereby sentenced to death count five the burglary of a dwelling defendant is hereby sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in the Florida Department of Corrections count six petty theft the defendant is hereby sentenced to 364 days in Lee County Jail the defendant is given credit
for all time served on this case on all counts all counts are to run concurrent with each other meaning at the same time all statutorily mandated fines fees and cost as announced on the record or imposed and the defendants committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections for execution of this sentence as provided by law the defendant is hereby notified that these convictions and sentences are subject to automatic review by the Florida Supreme Court if he cannot afford an attorney to represent him in that any appeal the court will appoint one for him are
there any other matters to present to the courtly judge say would be seeking $7,500 cost of prosecution I'm sorry how much ,500 all right any objection no sir all right that will be imposed then any other uh terms or conditions absolutely judge we just want to make sure that Mr Wilson has absolutely no contact with vitim there'll be no contact ordered uh with any of the victim's family members and anything else all right okay well in relation to those other cases I know we have cases pinning here in this circuit today is not the day
to handle those I would maybe put those I could do it as early as September 16th um I believe that's uh Monday morning okay well I think it'd be more appropriate to handle that at a different time so let's do that September 16th then at 9:00 am for the other cases which your case numbers 20 cf1 16591 and 23 cf1 15499 okay and we do have we have court on 16th right yes judge if I may he also has a VP warrant out of Broward County Palm Beach County I'm going to get in touch with
the authorities over there but if need be we'll ask the court to ro him on that vop warrant so he can be taken up to well that's not not a motion in front of me today but if you certainly able to file whatever you want to file and I'll consider it thank you all right uh anything else not from the state all right sir then uh Mr Wilson uh you will be fingerprinted and remanded uh to the Sheriff's Department it'll be held without bond and for transport to the Department of Corrections when it's appropriate if
nothing else then we're adjourn and I'll give you your copies original Mr Shirley or Mr Hollander well one for the state one for the defense thank you thank you so e
