Opinion ID: 883619
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Must Appellant's convictions be reversed for material Brady error?

Text: Moving then to a discussion of materiality, we concluded above that two items merit consideration: the failure to disclose Bull Coming's rape allegation and the failure to disclose Bull Coming's criminal history. Appellant could have used Bull Coming's rape allegation to attempt to cast some doubt on Bull Coming's veracity or to show her propensity to manipulate others. Appellant could have used Bull Coming's assault and theft convictions to support his argument that Bull Coming had a violent nature and was the dominant force in the robbery and in Etchemendy's death. When viewing this information as a whole, we hold that there is not a reasonable probability that had this information been introduced, the outcome (i.e., the verdict) would have been different. Bull Coming was an important witness for the State, but she was not alone. Four Bear testified to seeing Appellant and his brother beat and kick Etchemendy at two different stops. Four Bear also testified that Etchemendy was stripped and placed in the trunk of the car. Quiroz testified to seeing Etchemendy in a battered condition, seeing Appellant washing blood off of his hands, and seeing Appellant threaten Etchemendy with a metal pipe. Lorraine Four Colors testified that Appellant told her that he had killed Etchemendy and that he and his brother had beaten him. Despite the State's failure to disclose Bull Coming's rape allegation and prior criminal record, our confidence in the verdicts is not undermined. Thus, we affirm the District Court's denial of Appellant's Brady claims in regard to his conviction.