Opinion ID: 725455
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cross-examination of Agent Gossard

Text: 38 Defendant argues that the district court abused its discretion in curtailing defendant's cross-examination of Agent Gossard and violated his Sixth Amendment right of confrontation. 39 The district court's decision to limit the scope of cross-examination is reviewed for an abuse of discretion, United States v. Perkins, 937 F.2d 1397, 1405 (9th Cir.1991), as are its rulings on the relevancy of evidence. United States v. Daly, 974 F.2d 1215, 1216-17 (9th Cir.1992). 40 The trial court sustained the government's relevancy objection to defense cross-examination of Agent Gossard during which counsel sought to elicit testimony that specialized training, expertise and an opportunity to review pertinent documents, which Tanya Cooper lacked, was necessary to enable her to analyze the factual data on food stamp redemption rates offered by the government. 41 As the government points out, the inability or lack of opportunity to perform complicated data analysis does not preclude defendant from being aware of food stamp trafficking. The district court determined appropriately that the inquiry lacked relevance because the government did not seek to prove that defendant had a duty to perform such a business analysis. The district court did not abuse its discretion in restricting cross-examination. The judgments and sentences of the district court are AFFIRMED as to all defendants.