Opinion ID: 1920879
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Richardson/Brady Claim

Text: Snelgrove's allegation regarding the failure to conduct a Richardson hearing is also without merit. Because this claim was raised at the Spencer [13] hearing, we earlier determined that, procedurally, it should be analyzed under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), not Richardson. Therefore, by order dated April 14, 2005, we remanded the claim to the trial court to consider this issue under Brady. The trial court held a hearing and found no Brady violation. We affirm. Richardson mandates that once a discovery violation is revealed, the trial court must conduct an inquiry to determine the sanctions that should be imposed on the violating party. See, e.g., C.D.B. v. State, 662 So.2d 738, 741 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995). While the State's failure to disclose Matthews' June 28 letter clearly violated its duty to disclose, this failure was not revealed until after the guilt phase was complete and the jury had issued its advisory recommendation in the penalty phase. For this reason, Brady provides the more appropriate standard for analysis. [14] Brady requires the State to disclose material information within the State's possession or control that tends to negate the guilt of the defendant. 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194. Establishing a Brady violation requires the defendant to show: (1) that the evidence at issue is favorable to him, either because it is exculpatory or because it is impeaching; (2) that the evidence was suppressed by the State, either willfully or inadvertently; and (3) that the suppression resulted in prejudice. Rogers v. State, 782 So.2d 373, 378 (Fla.2001) (citing Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 280-82, 119 S.Ct. 1936, 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999)). We affirm the trial court's finding that the State's failure to disclose the June 28 letter does not warrant relief under Brady. While this letter provided favorable evidence to the defense, in that it was impeaching, and the State erred in failing to disclose it, the defendant has failed to establish that this suppression prejudiced him. [15] The June 28 letter presented evidence already known to the defendant. Before trial, defense counsel had the June 27 letter Matthews sent to the public defender's office indicating his intent to testify against Snelgrove. The State had also provided the defendant with the July 20 letter that Matthews had sent to the state attorney, and the substance of this letter was essentially the same as the June 28 letter. Additionally, defense counsel used both the June 27 and the July 20 letters to impeach Matthews at trial. In fact, it used the June 27 letter for the same purpose appellant claims he would have used the June 28 letter  to question Matthews' credibility by pointing out a discrepancy between his statements that Snelgrove did not immediately confide in him and the timing of the letter.