Opinion ID: 760681
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tineo's and Herpin's Challenge to Kevin Brown's Testimony

Text: 10 Tineo and Herpin argue that the district court violated their due process rights by admitting the testimony of Kevin Brown, who had purchased cocaine from the conspiracy. Kevin Brown's testimony before the grand jury implicated only Martinez, and a week before trial, the prosecution stated that it would call Brown as a witness, but only as to Martinez. At trial, the prosecution asked Brown who in the courtroom he recognized. Brown then identified Martinez, and also Herpin and Tineo. During cross-examination, Brown testified that he did not mention Herpin or Tineo when he testified before the grand jury. This cross-examination suggested Brown's testimony implicating Herpin and Tineo was a recent fabrication. 11 Neither Herpin nor Tineo objected to the district court on due process or any other grounds with regard to Brown's testimony, so we review this claim only for plain error. Both Herpin and Tineo cross-examined Brown, and neither requested time either to prepare for cross-examination or for further investigation. Moreover, the defendants have failed to identify any prejudice resulting from their surprise. In fact, the situation was handled just as it should have been: The defendants were permitted to cross-examine Brown, to impeach his credibility or to develop the possibility that his identification of Herpin or Tineo was a recent fabrication. The defendants were able to explore Brown's conviction and agreement for a two-point reduction in sentence in exchange for testimony, which suggests that admission of Brown's testimony would have been at most harmless error, and certainly not plain error.