Opinion ID: 512433
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Effect of Brady Material on Plea Decision

Text: 44 We believe that the Reilley evidence was significant and that it should have been disclosed but was not. We will assume without deciding that, if a trial had been conducted without this evidence, its nondisclosure would fall within the Brady rule because of its effect on Noble's credibility as the sole witness on interstate transportation. See Giglio, 405 U.S. at 153-54, 92 S.Ct. at 765-66. 45 The record fairly supports White's position that he did not receive a copy, or become aware, of Reilley's memorandum of his February 20 jailhouse meeting with Noble until long after the plea hearing. The memorandum reveals that Reilley intended to use the burglary arrest--and, implicitly, the influence he might have on its disposition--as leverage to gain Noble's cooperation in the White investigation. It is not clear that the referenced investigation encompassed all of White's activities which ultimately were charged as crimes, whether state or federal, but because Reilley was the principal agent in both the state and federal investigations, Noble's cooperation could (and did) affect both. 46 The state in fact declined to prosecute the burglary charge after Noble's meeting with McGarry in Reilley's car, his testimony before the state grand jury, and his claim to Reilley of interstate transportation. Though White learned of the car meeting from Noble prior to the plea, he was unaware of its origins. Moreover, Reilley's admitted failure to make any report of the event (despite his reporting arrangement with the state investigating officer, Myers) indicates his desire for secrecy. 47 Thus, Reilley's role in eliciting or inducing Noble's claim of interstate transportation was not disclosed to White for his use in arriving at a plea. See Campbell, 769 F.2d at 318. Apparently it was likewise undisclosed to government counsel, because Larsen represented to the court at the July 2 hearing that the government had no deals with Noble for his testimony. Reilley, who was present at the hearing, did not dispute that representation. 48 In addition, Reilley failed to include in any of his investigative reports that, in response to Reilley's questions, Noble expressly denied interstate transportation until March 5, 1982, after Noble's meeting with McGarry and his grand jury testimony. Reilley also did not correct Noble when he testified at the July 2 hearing that he (Noble) had already given all of his statements before the meeting with McGarry (which left the false impression that his interstate claim preceded that meeting). This undisclosed information regarding the sequence of events and its implications for the motivation and validity of Noble's interstate claim was not available to White for his plea decision. 49 The remaining question is whether White's knowledge of the undisclosed material would have affected his decision to forego trial. While the nondisclosure lessened White's ability to evaluate the chance for success at trial, see Campbell, 769 F.2d at 324, the information that was available to him at the time convinced White to plead guilty. He indicated at the plea hearing that he would not want to risk a jury verdict based on Noble's anticipated testimony. White knew then that Noble's credibility could be easily attacked--that Noble had given different stories to different people, and that the burglary charge had been dropped after Noble testified before the state grand jury. The undisclosed information would have merely fortified White's position that Noble's testimony was unreliable and motivated by self-interest. Therefore, we cannot say it would have been controlling in the decision whether to plead. Id. 50 Another factor not considered in Campbell but on which the district court focused was the benefit to White in pleading guilty, i.e., that numerous state charges would be dismissed and other federal charges would not be pursued. White stated at the plea hearing that after reviewing the federal and state files, he had concluded it was in [his] best interest to terminate all of the litigation as quickly as possible and it was for that reason he was tendering his Alford plea. The district court was unconvinced that any undisclosed information would have altered White's decision to plead guilty. Although the benefit factor is not determinative, we agree it does not undermine our conclusion here that White's conviction based on his plea of guilty should stand. 51 Accordingly the judgment of the district court is affirmed.