Opinion ID: 783764
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cunningham's Deliberate-Fabrication-of-Evidence Claim

Text: 26 Cunningham next argues Perez violated his right to be free from prosecution based on false evidence. We have held there is a clearly established constitutional due process right not to be subjected to criminal charges on the basis of false evidence that was deliberately fabricated by the government. Devereaux v. Abbey, 263 F.3d 1070, 1074-75 (9th Cir. 2001) (en banc). To prevail, Cunningham must show: (1) Perez continued his investigation despite the fact that [he] knew or should have known that [Cunningham] was innocent; or (2) [Perez] used investigative techniques that were so coercive and abusive that [he] knew or should have known those techniques would yield false information. Id. at 1076. 27 First, Cunningham alleges that Perez should have known he was innocent because his confession was coerced and his daughters did not immediately corroborate the confession. We do not agree. Cunningham's confession was legal, and thus it was reasonable for Perez to continue the investigation. Further, the daughters' initial failure to corroborate Cunningham's confession is not sufficient for Perez to cease the investigation. It is common for sex abuse victims to suppress memories of the assault or deny that it happened. Perez thus did not violate Cunningham's rights by continuing the investigation. 28 Second, Cunningham alleges that Perez used coercive tactics while interviewing Cunningham's daughters which he knew would yield false information. It is true that Perez kept questioning the daughters after they initially denied the sex abuse. Perez may have also told Jessica that she could not leave Pinecrest until she confessed to the abuse. Perez's conduct, while inappropriate, does not satisfy Devereaux. Cunningham must produce more than mere allegations that Perez used improper interview techniques. Id. Further, the court gives interviewers of child witnesses suspected of sexual abuse discretion in deciding when to accept initial denials at face value and when to reject them.... Id. at 1077. Accordingly, Perez's interviews were not so coercive and abusive that he knew or should have known that he would receive false information.