Opinion ID: 2441278
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Disclosure of Witness Arrest Records

Text: Simmons contends he was deprived of a fair trial because the trial court refused to order the disclosure of the arrest records of all of the state's witnesses. As a result, Simmons claims, he could not effectively cross-examine the state's witnesses regarding their biases, prejudices, or motives to lie on the stand. Rule 25.03 designates certain types of information that the state must disclose to the defendant. If the information sought by the defendant does not fall within any of these categories, the defendant may make a written motion to the court requesting the state to disclose the information under the terms of Rule 25.04. If the court finds the request reasonable, the court will order the state to disclose the information to the extent the court finds it relevant and material to the defendant's case. In reviewing claims regarding meaningful discovery in a criminal trial, this Court looks to see whether there was a reasonable likelihood that the denial affected the result of the trial. The trial court's refusal to require disclosure will be overturned only if it appears that the trial court abused its discretion to the extent that fundamental unfairness to the defendant resulted. State v. Mease, 842 S.W.2d 98, 108 (Mo.banc 1992). In this case, Simmons requested that the trial court order the state to disclose the prior criminal history or rap sheets of all state witnesses. Simmons admits that the trial court sustained Simmons's motion as to prior convictions, [2] but claims that the court refused to order the state to disclose the rap sheets or similar information regarding prior arrests that did not lead to convictions. [3] Simmons sought this information in order to impeach the witnesses' credibility. While generally, one may not impeach a witness's credibility by showing an arrest, investigation or criminal charge that has not resulted in a conviction, a party can use such evidence if the inquiry would demonstrate either (1) a specific interest of the witness; (2) the witness's motivation to testify favorably for the state; or (3) that the witness testified with an expectation of leniency. State v. Wise, 879 S.W.2d 494 (Mo. banc 1994). [4] Even for such purposes, a witness's arrest record would only be relevant to the extent there are any pending charges; past arrests, investigations, or charges would not be relevant to show present motivation to testify favorably for the state. See, e.g., State v. Joiner, 823 S.W.2d 50, 53 (Mo.App.1991) (distinguishing between the potential relevancy of pending charges and the irrelevancy of past charges). For the purpose of impeachment, it appears that Brian Moomey is the only witness whose arrest records could have possibly been material or relevant to Simmons's case, assuming, of course, that those records would have revealed any pending charges. The trial court's apparent decision not to require disclosure of Moomey's arrest records is not an abuse of discretion, however, because there is simply no grounds for believing that the non-disclosure had any palpable effect on the outcome of the trial. Simmons confessed to the murder, and thus there was ample evidence of his guilt. As for impeaching Moomey's testimony, the defense established that Moomey had spent time in prison for assault with a weapon, burglary and stealing; that he drank heavilyindeed, admitted passing out almost every night, and that he had told the witness coordinator that he was afraid to testify because people were investigating [him] for the murder, and the investigator was focusing on [him] as being involved in the death of Shirley Crook. Evidence of other of Moomey's illegal activities could hardly have had a negative impact on the jury's view of his character given what they already knew. Moreover, the record reflects ample opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses, and there is no evidence indicating that a fundamental unfairness resulted from the trial court's decision not to require disclosure of Moomey's entire rap sheet. The point is denied.