Opinion ID: 1249738
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Exclusion of Evidence of Removal of Tattoo.

Text: Because other inmates gave damaging testimony against defendant, an important part of his defense consisted of an attack on their credibility. To this end, he introduced evidence that the inmate witnesses who testified for the prosecution had won benefits from the state for their efforts. Witness Cade was an inmate in federal prison during trial. Cade's testimony was important to the prosecution because he stated that he saw defendant, a knife protruding from his waistband, lingering near the Vacaville medical clinic before the attack on Gardner. He testified that he saw defendant stab Gardner, drop the knife, and run up the stairs. A few days later, according to Cade, defendant admitted he had killed Gardner. On cross-examination Cade conceded that he had asked for an accelerated parole date and was told that the request could not be honored. He also received $40 from the state. However, Cade denied having received any other favors. The defense then sought to have a tattoo specialist, Lyle Tuttle, testify that he had charged the state $100 to remove a tattoo from Cade. The prosecution objected before Tuttle took the stand, asserting a privilege of nondisclosure of confidential official information. (Evid. Code, § 1040.) [2] Apparently the prosecutor wanted to protect Cade, who was under consideration for a witness-protection program and had already been in protective custody, from the disclosure of any information about alteration or removal of his tattoos that would make it easier for other inmates to identify him later. After an in camera hearing with only the prosecutor present, the court sustained the objection under Evidence Code section 1040, subdivision (b)(2), quashed Tuttle's subpoena, and refused the defense's demand for an admonition to inform the jury that Cade had received additional emoluments. (7) First, defendant contends that even if it was proper to exclude the evidence, the court erred when it refused his demand for the admonition that Cade had received additional benefits. He contends such an admonition was required by Evidence Code section 1042, subdivision (a). We agree. Under Evidence Code section 1042, subdivision (a), when the claim of privilege under Evidence Code section 1040 was sustained, the court was to make such order or finding of fact adverse to the prosecution upon any issue ... to which the privileged information is material. Defendant also says the court misapplied Evidence Code section 1040 when it excluded the evidence. Again we agree. The official information privilege codified in that section applies to information that a public employee acquires in confidence. A public employee includes an agent of a public entity. (Evid. Code, § 195.) Tuttle removed Cade's tattoo for value at the behest of the state and was clearly its agent while performing this service. But the information requested was no longer confidential; the defense had learned of it. The court thus erred when it quashed the subpoena. Nevertheless, we find no prejudice arising from the two errors. Cade was impeached thoroughly by other means, so that no prejudice arises from the misapplication of Evidence Code section 1040. Nor is it reasonably probable that, had the court given the admonition requested under Evidence Code section 1042, the outcome for defendant would have been more favorable. ( People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 [299 P.2d 243].) (8) Defendant also raises a multitude of constitutional contentions. He asserts that his right to present a complete defense, whether under the Sixth Amendment or the due process clause, was violated, as were his Sixth Amendment and state constitutional rights to be present during the in camera hearing. For his first point, defendant relies on Crane v. Kentucky (1986) 476 U.S. 683, 690 [90 L.Ed.2d 636, 645, 106 S.Ct. 2142], where the court reversed a judgment after the trial court excluded evidence central to the defendant's claim of innocence. The evidence excluded here does not fall into this category. We therefore reject the claim. As for the second point, defendant fails to persuade that he has a constitutional right to be present at an in camera hearing at which the prosecution will reveal sensitive and possibly privileged information. We believe the prophylactic effect of Evidence Code section 1042 suffices to protect a defendant against the consequences of any decision arising from such a hearing. (9) Defendant also claims that his state and federal due process rights were violated when the prosecutor failed to disclose the evidence of Cade's tattoo to him and when the court curtailed the adverse testimony. With regard to the first point, due process was not violated unless the withheld information was material to the outcome. ( United States v. Bagley (1985) 473 U.S. 667, 682 [87 L.Ed.2d 481, 494, 105 S.Ct. 3375] (lead opn. of Blackmun, J.); accord, id. at p. 685 [87 L.Ed.2d at p. 496] (conc. opn. of White, J.).) Here, the withholding of the evidence in question does not undermine confidence in the outcome, given the other impeaching evidence defendant introduced. Defendant predicates his second point on an argument that he was denied a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense. The record, however, belies that view.