Arthur Lee Gales, Jr. - Nebraska Death Row

[Guest]

Summary of Offense:

Convicted of raping and strangling 13-year-old Latara Chandler and drowning her seven-year-old brother, Tramar, in Omaha in 2000.

[Heidi]

Inmate Personal Information

DOB: 05/01/1965
Race: Black
Gender: Male


Crime and Trial Information

* County of conviction: Douglas
* Number of counts: Two
* Race of Victims: Black/Black
* Gender of Victims: Male/Female
* Date of crime: 11/17/2000
* Date of Sentencing: 11/06/2001
(first sentencing); 12/09/2003 (second
sentencing)


Legal Status

Current Proceedings:
Post‐conviction


Attorney

On appeal from second death
sentence:
Susan Bazis


Court Opinions

State v. Gales, 658 N.W.2d 604 (Neb. 2003) (affirming convictions
but vacating sentence and remanding for new penalty phase); State
v. Gales, 694 N.W.2d 124 (Neb.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 947 (2005).


Legal Issues

On appeal after second death sentence:
1. whether defendant was prejudiced by trial court's denial of his motion to sequester and individually question prospective jurors about
their knowledge of previous sentencing in the case;
2. whether evidence of defendant's prior convictions was self-authenticating;
3. whether jury was required to unanimously agree on whether,
disjunctively, the murder was heinous, or atrocious, or cruel;
4. whether allowing State to make rebuttal argument, at aggravating circumstances phase of capital sentencing, was an abuse of discretion;