Opinion ID: 573126
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: In-Camera Hearing on Suarez' Request for Discovery and Disclosure of the Informant

Text: 37 Suarez contends that the government may have obtained material information from an informant and that Suarez was entitled to know the identity of that informant and the content of any information provided. Suarez failed to meet the burden imposed by Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 77 S.Ct. 623, 1 L.Ed.2d 639 (1957), to obtain either a hearing or disclosure of the identity of the informant, if one exists. 38 If an informant was involved in the investigation against Suarez, the only information that the informant could have provided was background information. There is no evidence to suggest that the informant was the only witness to any critical event, United States v. Long, 533 F.2d 505, 508 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 829, 97 S.Ct. 88, 50 L.Ed.2d 92 (1976), as in Roviaro. The government did not refer to an informant at the trial, but instead relied on evidence obtained by government agents engaged in surveillance of Suarez. Moreover, Suarez failed to show how disclosure of the informant's identity would have been relevant and helpful, Roviaro, 353 U.S. at 60, 77 S.Ct. at 628, to his defense. Suarez was not entitled to an in-camera hearing under Roviaro. 39 Nor was Suarez entitled to an in-camera hearing or disclosure of the informant's identity in order to challenge the veracity of the search warrant affidavit. See Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978); United States v. Kiser, 716 F.2d 1268 (9th Cir.1983). Suarez failed to establish any one of the five factors necessary to obtain an in-camera hearing. See Kiser, 716 F.2d at 1271. First, although Suarez has made specific allegations that indicate the portions of the warrant he claims are false, 12 we agree with the district court that these allegations are not supported by the facts. Second, Suarez does not contend that the alleged falsehoods were made deliberately or with reckless disregard for the truth. Third, Suarez made no offer of proof and submitted no affidavits. Fourth, Suarez has not challenged the veracity of the search warrant officer rather than the informant. And finally, the challenged statements are not necessary to a finding of probable cause. See id. 40 The district court properly exercised its discretion in refusing to conduct an in-camera hearing before denying Suarez' motion for informant disclosure and discovery. See United States v. Fixen, 780 F.2d 1434, 1440 (9th Cir.1986) (it is within the judge's discretion whether to hold such a hearing). 41