Opinion ID: 2600675
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Motion for discovery of personnel files of DEA agent and officers present during defendant's arrest and return to the United States

Text: Prior to trial, defendant moved pursuant to Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531, 536-537 [113 Cal.Rptr. 897, 522 P.2d 305], for discovery of the personnel files of the law enforcement officials present during defendant's return flight from Mexico to the United States in which he made incriminating statements. Defendant sought the files of Sonoma County Sheriff's Detectives David Edmonds, Larry Doherty, Frank Trejo, Dave Sederholm, and Mike Brown, and LAPD Officer Arturo Zorilla, as well as the files of DEA Agent Joseph Martinez, who was not present on that flight. In a separate motion, defendant sought the personnel files of DEA Agent Martinez, who was present at defendant's arrest. In the motion, defendant asserted on information and belief that [t]he manner in which the United States and Mexican Federal Agents obtained this original statement suggests a pattern of selective harassing conduct and coercive practices by the abovenamed DEA agent in excess of that required by an agent to carry out the duties of his office. At the hearing on the motion, the prosecutor stated that neither the Sonoma County Counsel nor the Los Angeles City Attorney could represent the DEA in regard to Agent Martinez, that the district attorney's office had requested Martinez's personnel records through the United States Department of Justice, but that the request was denied because it was DEA policy to release personnel records only on order of a court having competent jurisdiction. The responses to defendant's motion also pointed out that, unlike the other officers whose personnel files had been sought, Agent Martinez was not on the return flight with defendant. In addition, the issue concerning statements made by defendant to Mexican officials in the presence of Agent Martinez had been litigated previously in the context of the hearing on the voluntariness of defendant's confession, and Martinez had been cross-examined at that time concerning his role. The trial court granted the motion with regard to the personnel records of the officials present during defendant's return flight and examined those records in camera, finding that none of them should be released. The trial court indicated with respect to Agent Martinez that it did not have jurisdiction to order the United States Attorney into court, could not enter an ex parte order in the absence of counsel, and lacked authority to order production of the records. (12) Defendant contends the trial court erred in failing to order discovery of the records of Agent Martinez. On a showing of good cause a criminal defendant is entitled to discovery of relevant documents or information in the personnel records of a police officer accused of misconduct against the defendant. (Evid. Code, § 1043, subd. (b).) ( Warrick v. Superior Court (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1011, 1016 [29 Cal.Rptr.3d 2, 112 P.3d 2].) To determine whether the good cause requirement has been met, a trial court must consider whether the defense has established (1) that the information is material to the subject matter of the pending litigation, and (2) `a reasonable belief that the agency has the type of information sought.' ( Ibid. ) The defense must demonstrate a logical connection between the charges and the proposed defense, and also `articulate how the discovery being sought would support such a defense or how it would impeach the officer's version of events.' ( Garcia v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 63, 71 [63 Cal.Rptr.3d 948, 163 P.3d 939].) The information sought must be described with some specificity to ensure that the defendant's request is confined to the instances of officer misconduct related to what has been claimed by the defendant. ( Ibid. ) The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the discovery motion as to Agent Martinez. As discussed above, when the voluntariness of defendant's confession previously was litigated, defendant's statements were found to be voluntary. In connection with those proceedings, the circumstances of defendant's arrest and transportation to Mexico City in the custody of Mexican officials also had been explored, and it was established that Agent Martinez was present but did not participate in the arrest, that he told the foreign officials to treat defendant well and not question him, that defendant had not been abused while in Mexican custody, and that the failure of foreign officials to advise defendant of his Miranda rights had not affected the statements he made to American officials.