Opinion ID: 884966
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Third Claim for Relief

Text: ¶ 38 Gollehon asserts that the State's alleged failure to disclose the substantial benefits it gratuitously conferred upon witness William Arnot, post-trial, and in the absence of a formal pretrial agreement, violated his Brady due process rights. ¶ 39 The Petitioner points out that Arnot has a lengthy criminal record and has escaped from custody at least three times. During one escape he possessed a deadly weapon. Twelve days after receiving an additional prison term for this offense, Arnot came forward for the first time and stated that he witnessed the Pileggi homicide. Arnot was immediately removed from prison and placed with Armstrong in a local jail. Arnot testified that he and Armstrong discussed the case and he came forward because it was the right thing to do. ¶ 40 After Arnot testified, Connor inquired about his prerelease designation. Even though Arnot's most recent escape made him ineligible for prerelease, Department of Corrections employee Jim Pomroy arranged for an exception to be made. Arnot again escaped custody from the prerelease center. Arnot later turned himself in to Connor and was transported to the Jefferson County Jail. ¶ 41 Two months later, Pomroy requested that the Parole Board consider Arnot for parole because he was the primary witness in the Pileggi murder trial. The Board granted Arnot parole and he was released one month later. After his release, Arnot continued to engage in criminal conduct and again escaped from official detention. Arnot was apprehended and sentenced to an additional two years in prison and his parole was revoked. Arnot was discharged on May 15, 1996, and has been arrested at least twice since then. ¶ 42 Gollehon asserts, as he did with Armstrong, that the State's failure to disclose alleged post-trial benefits to Arnot, in the absence of any pretrial agreement, violates his constitutional rights because he could have argued to the sentencing court and this Court, on appeal, that the benefits Arnot received directly impacted his credibility. As with Armstrong, in the absence of proving a pretrial agreement in exchange for testimony, gratuitous post-trial benefits conferred on Arnot do not constitute a Brady violation. ¶ 43 The Third Claim for Relief is denied.