Opinion ID: 2537242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Allegations of Drug Activity

Text: Next, Rodriguez asserts that the State failed to disclose evidence that Isidoro was involved in significant drug-related offenses. In support, he points to evidence that shows Isidoro was investigated by Seminole County law enforcement officials for possible narcotics offenses. The postconviction court denied this claim as follows: The deposition of Pete Kelting was introduced into evidence. Kelting stated that there was no indication that Isidoro ever worked as an informant or that he was ever arrested. There was an anonymous tip that drugs were being sold out of a residence where Isidoro lived. It was investigated and no arrests were made. The fact that Isidoro was investigated in Seminole County would not have been admissible as impeachment. Under § 90.610, Fla. Stat., only contact which results in a criminal conviction is admissible to prove bad character. Since Isidoro was not arrested, he was not convicted. It's possible Isidoro didn't know he was investigated. As the postconviction court pointed out, Rodriguez fails to establish how testimony and information concerning the Seminole County investigation could be admissible at trial on the murder charges against Rodriguez or have led to any favorable evidence. Isidoro was never arrested or charged with any criminal drug activity; police received only a tip involving possible narcotics violations at a residence in which Isidoro lived. Rodriguez presents no evidence that Isidoro was even aware that he was being investigated. Even assuming that Rodriguez could show the evidence was exculpatory or proper impeachment evidence, he clearly cannot show any prejudicei.e., that this evidence could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict. Smith, 931 So.2d at 796 (quoting Strickler, 527 U.S. at 290, 119 S.Ct. 1936).