Opinion ID: 1859407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Disclose a Prior Agreement

Text: For his final point, Haire contends that the prosecutor dropped the charges against Cynthia Polk two weeks after her testimony at his trial, thus evidencing a prior agreement of leniency for testimony. He directs our attention to Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972), where the Court held that any agreement of leniency for testimony must be disclosed to the defense prior to trial. Otherwise, the defendant's due process rights are violated. In the instant case, there was no proof that such an agreement was made by the prosecutor with Polk. She testified that there was no agreement, and nothing was offered by Haire to counter that. The mere fact, standing alone, that the charges were dropped after the trial does not establish a Giglio violation. See, e.g., United States v. Ramirez, 608 F.2d 1261 (9th Cir. 1979) (fact that witness for government pled guilty to lesser offense three days after trial not enough to establish a prior agreement). Furthermore, as the trial court noted, the fact that Polk had charges pending against her at the time of her testimony was explored by both the State and the defense in questions before the jury. Haire has failed to exhibit reversible error on this point.