Opinion ID: 223395
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Miller's Pre-Trial Statements about the SEGM

Text: Abdur'Rahman's first Brady claim concerns pre-trial statements that Miller made to the prosecution concerning the SEGM's role in his murder of Daniels. No contemporaneous record of these statements exists. Rather, Ross Alderman, Miller's state trial counsel, testified that Miller made pre-trial statements to the prosecution that conflicted with his eventual testimony at Abdur'Rahman's trial. Abdur'Rahman derives the substance of Miller's pre-trial statements from Miller's testimony at a post-conviction hearing and at Miller's sentencing hearing, and alleges that Miller said the following: (1) The purpose of the SEGM was to rid the community of drug dealers; (2) the sole purpose of going to Daniels's apartment was to effect the SEGM's plan to stop drug dealing in the community; (3) William Beard, a leader within the SEGM, provided Miller with the pistol he used to rob Daniels, and Abdur'Rahman said he had obtained the shotgun used in the crime from Alan Boyd; (4) Abdur'Rahman made a phone call after the offense, and Boyd arrived at Miller's apartment a short time later; (5) Miller overheard a conversation between Boyd and Abdur'Rahman at his apartment after the offense in which Boyd told Abdur'Rahman something like just be cool, go back to work; and (6) Beard gave Miller money before he fled the state, and Miller misled Beard about his getaway because he feared what Boyd and Beard might do. Abdur'Rahman argues that the district court erred because the prosecution never informed him before sentencing that Miller made these statements. At trial, Miller stated that the robbery was Abdur'Rahman's idea and was committed for the purpose of stealing drugs. At the sentencing phase of the trial, Abdur'Rahman explained that he was influenced by the SEGM to rob Daniels, but the prosecution called this explanation bunk. Abdur'Rahman argues that Miller's pre-trial statements could have been used at the sentencing phase not only to corroborate his own testimony that the SEGM influenced him to go to Daniels's apartment and attempt the robbery, but also to discredit Miller's testimony that Abdur'Rahman masterminded the crime. [2] Because, at the time of the trial, Abdur'Rahman knew about the SEGM and knew that Miller had discussed the SEGM with the prosecution before trial, the district court correctly held that withholding Miller's pre-trial statements did not violate Brady. The Brady rule only applies to evidence that was known to the prosecution, but unknown to the defense, at the time of trial. Apanovitch v. Houk, 466 F.3d 460, 474 (6th Cir.2006). No Brady violation exists where a defendant knew or should have known the essential facts permitting him to take advantage of any exculpatory information, United States v. Clark, 928 F.2d 733, 738 (6th Cir.1991) (per curiam) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted), and this principle applies equally in the impeachment context, see Byrd v. Collins, 209 F.3d 486, 517 (6th Cir.2000). Where the defense is provided with enough information to enable counsel to impeach a witness, withholding that witness's statements does not violate Brady. Id. Ultimately, where the alleged Brady evidence is available to the defense, there is really nothing for the government to disclose. Bell, 512 F.3d at 235 (quoting Coe v. Bell, 161 F.3d 320, 344 (6th Cir.1998)). Here, Abdur'Rahman knew the essential facts reflected in Miller's pre-trial statements before the sentencing phase. In fact, Abdur'Rahman's testimony repeated the substance of Miller's pre-trial statements, and Abdur'Rahman decided not to call Miller as a witness for this very reason. Abdur'Rahman testified that he and Miller were both members of the SEGM, that its purpose was to rid the black community of drug dealers, and that Beard and Boyd were leaders within the SEGM. Abdur'Rahman, 2009 WL 211133, at . He also testified that Boyd and Beard provided the weapons used during the offense, and that Boyd helped Miller escape afterwards. Id.; see Abdur'Rahman, 226 F.3d at 699. Abdur'Rahman did not testify that the SEGM's mission was the sole motive for the crimein fact, he contradicted this, denying that the SEGM had turned him into a murderer or that other members of the SEGM were involved in the crime. Id. But his testimony did reveal that the SEGM provided some influence. He stated that members of the SEGM had explained how to confront drug dealers and suggested that they might be blackmailed for money. Id. Because Abdur'Rahman already knew of the exculpatory information in Miller's statements, there was little remaining for the prosecution to disclose. Nor does the impeachment value of Miller's pre-trial statements require that we reverse the district court's holding. Abdur'Rahman argues that the ultimate value of the withheld statements is not what was said, but rather that Miller said them. Abdur'Rahman, however, knew that Miller had discussed the SEGM with the prosecution before trial. Abdur'Rahman's trial counsel wrote a letter to the prosecution before the sentencing phase, acknowledging that Miller ha[d] advised your office of the existence of [the SEGM]. The prosecution confirmed Abdur'Rahman's understanding, stating that it had learned about the SEGM through its conversations with Miller. Given what Abdur'Rahman already knew about the SEGM and its influence, the prosecution's acknowledgment that Miller discussed the SEGM with it before trial provided Abdur'Rahman sufficient information to enable him to impeach the credibility of Miller's testimony at trial. Abdur'Rahman's decision not to do so was not the fault of the prosecution. See Byrd, 209 F.3d at 517. Accordingly, the district court did not err in concluding that the prosecution's nondisclosure of Miller's pre-trial statements did not violate Brady. [3]