Opinion ID: 552784
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Brady Materials

Text: 12 Appellant argues that critical impeachment evidence was withheld by the prosecution, in the form of the government's interview notes with four of its key witnesses: Charles Ruff, Carroll Dunton, Robert Kniffen, and James Blouin. These were contractors who paid kickbacks to Strissel and testified for the government at trial. The appellant claimed that these interview notes might show that these contractors changed their story to match the government's case only after government harassment and threats. However, a review of the record demonstrates that no Brady 4 materials were withheld. For example, the appellant's most detailed claim concerns Charles Ruff. Ruff initially denied that he had paid Strissel cash kickbacks in return for inflated contracts, even though he was obliged to provide truthful information to the government pursuant to an agreement he struck with the prosecutors. A polygraph examination proved that this was untrue, and Ruff then admitted making cash payments. Thus, the government did not improperly pressure Ruff into changing his story, and the defendants were aware of how the change came about. 13 The appellant's claim regarding Carroll Dunton is just as frivolous. As with Ruff, the appellant claims that interview notes taken by the prosecutors would indicate that Dunton changed his story due to improper government coercion, and thus these notes constitute Brady materials. Yet, Dunton never testified at trial. These materials would only hypothetically have been helpful in attacking the credibility of any testimony by Dunton that he paid kickbacks to Strissel, yet Dunton never took the stand, and thus never offered testimony of kickbacks. This is ludicrous. The other claims of Brady materials are likewise meritless, and do not warrant discussion. 14