Opinion ID: 586721
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Pen Register Tapes

Text: 30 Finally, Vigoa argues that the district court erred in refusing to suppress or to order production of copies of the pen register tapes documenting Diaz's alleged calls. Although the Government provided the pen registers that were used in its case-in-chief, Vigoa claims that the Government violated Fed.R.Crim.P. 16 and Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) by refusing to allow his counsel to copy the remaining pen register materials. 31 A district court's application of Rule 16 is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Givens, 767 F.2d 574, 583 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 953 (1985). Alleged Brady violations are reviewed de novo and require reversal only where there is a reasonable possibility that the evidence withheld could have materially affected the verdict. United States v. Whitworth, 856 F.2d 1268, 1276 (9th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1084 (1989). 32 Rule 16(a)(1)(C) requires the government to permit the defendant to inspect and copy documents within the government's possession which are material to the preparation of the defendant's defense or will be used in the government's evidence in chief at the trial. Under Brady, the Government is obligated to provide to the defendant all requested exculpatory evidence where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment. Brady, 373 U.S. at 87. If, however, a means of obtaining the exculpatory evidence has been provided to the defendant, there is no Brady violation. United States v. Dupuy, 760 F.2d 1492, 1501 n. 5 (9th Cir.1985). 33 Two days before trial, the Government allowed defense counsel only to inspect, but not to copy, all the materials. Vigoa's counsel, however, apparently had at least one opportunity in August 1990 to inspect the pen register materials: 34 KELLY [Vigoa counsel]: ... [AUSA] Zlotnick and I met in his office just one week ago Monday. At that time, the pen registers were not available for inspection. They were being retained by Agent Storey. 35 COURT: But did you have a chance to look at them last August, all of them? 36 KELLY: We probably did. I'm not denying that. 37 R.T. I-153. See also Atchmt. 2 to C.R. 47 (August 29, 1990 letter from United States Attorney's Office inviting Vigoa's counsel to inspect the pen registers). In light of the availability of the pen register tapes on at least one occasion prior to the November 24, 1990 refusal to copy, we find no Brady violation. See id. 38 Turning to Rule 16(a)(1)(C), the record indicates that the Government violated the rule. The Government admits that it did not allow Vigoa to photocopy the pen register materials that were not being used in the trial and which Vigoa believed contained potentially exculpatory material. 39 Although the court probably erred in failing to suppress or order production of the pen registers, this error does not require reversal. A nonconstitutional error, such as one arising from a Rule 16 violation is grounds for reversal only if it is more probable than not that the error materially affected the verdict. United States v. Bailleaux, 685 F.2d 1105, 1115 (9th Cir.1982). Here, the other evidence incriminating Vigoa--such as the surveillance of his visits to the sheds prior to the drug deals, his fingerprints on the plate with cocaine residue, and his attempt to hit the FBI agents with his pickup truck--was substantial. Although it is possible that the additional pen registers, if copied, would have disclosed calls made by Diaz to other suppliers, this possibility does not rise to the level of more probably than not affecting the verdict. The court's ruling on the pen registers does not warrant reversal of the convictions under Brady or Rule 16. 40 Accordingly, Vigoa's convictions are AFFIRMED.