Polk County

Mr. Serrano was convicted of the first-degree murders of George Gonsalves, Frank Dosso, George Patisso and Diane Patisso, who were fatally shot in 1997. The jury voted 9-3 to recommend a death sentence for each murder and the trial court condemned Mr. Serrano to death for each murder. This Court upheld the sentences on direct appeal and Mr. Serrano filed a post-conviction challenge in trial court. It was denied and his appeal of that ruling is before this Court in a separate case. This is Mr. Serrano’s habeas corpus petition, in which he argues an appellate attorney provided him with ineffective assistance in his direct appeal.