Opinion ID: 1731912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the afis search

Text: During the postconviction proceedings after resentencing, Blanco filed a motion to require state officials to run through a national database of fingerprints the latent fingerprint found on Thalia Vezos's bedroom door at the time of the murder. He alleged that the print belonged to the real killer. After a hearing, the circuit court denied the motion. Blanco argues that (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to require that an unidentified latent fingerprint found at the crime scene in 1982 be run through AFIS for identification; (2) that possible leads resulting from using AFIS would constitute newly discovered evidence; and (3) that the State's failure to run the print through AFIS at this time violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972). As we explain, we reject each of these contentions. A trial court's ruling denying postconviction discovery is subject to review for abuse of discretion. State v. Lewis, 656 So.2d 1248, 1250 (Fla.1994) (holding that the court has inherent authority, upon good cause shown, to permit limited discovery on postconviction claims into relevant and material matters and that denial of such a motion is subject to abuse of discretion review). The trial court did not abuse its discretion here. During the 1982 guilt phase, an expert testified that a latent fingerprint found on the door of Thalia Vezos's room remained unidentified. He estimated that the print could have been left at least ten days before the murder. No fingerprint evidence was admitted against Blanco, and Thalia testified that the killer wore socks over his hands. Further, at trial Thalia identified Blanco, and another eyewitness identified him as matching the form he saw leaving the home shortly after the murder. Blanco's wallet and identification papers were found at the murder scene, and Blanco, who does not live in the area of the victim's home, was arrested shortly after the murder within one-and-a-half miles of the home. Finally, at the hearing on the motion, Blanco admitted that his expert had determined that the latent print also did not match Enrique Gonzalez, a defense witness at trial whom Blanco has long contended is the real murderer. In addition, in his brief, Blanco admits that his expert also determined that the latent print did not match the fingerprints of anyone he believed to be a suspect. Accordingly, Blanco has not shown that his request would result in relevant or material evidence. The remaining claims regarding this issue are not preserved. At the hearing on the AFIS motion, Blanco expressly disavowed that he was arguing newly discovered evidence, and he did not allege Brady or Giglio violations either. Accordingly, these claims are waived and we do not address them.