Texas Death Row Inmate Loses At Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review an appeal from a 42-year-old man sent to death row for killing a North Texas police officer and another man in a shootout at an Ellis County convenience store 12 years ago.
The ruling without comment from the justices Monday moves Kent Sprouse a step closer to lethal injection.
Evidence showed Sprouse had been using drugs and marijuana within 48 hours of the slayings of 28-year-old Ferris police officer Harry Steinfeldt and a convenience store customer, 38-year-old Pedro Moreno of Red Oak.
Moreno was shot while pumping gas. Steinfeldt was fatally shot as he responded to a 911 call about Moreno's shooting.
Attorneys argued jurors deciding his punishment should have been allowed to consider voluntary intoxication as a reason for Sprouse's actions.
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