Opinion ID: 441811
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Violations of the Pretrial Order

Text: 14 Monforton argues that the government committed violations of the pretrial order by failing to disclose in a timely fashion two documents: the Focher statement and Schroefel's copy of the oil and gas lease options agreement. Monforton argues that the tardy disclosure of the September 1, 1982 Focher statement on October 15, 1982 violated the dictates of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976), because the fact that Monforton's name had been forged on various documents was crucial to his defense that he was not a major figure in MMI. Monforton contends that the trial court committed reversible error in denying, following an evidentiary hearing, his motions to dismiss the indictment and to sever the prosecution based on the government's failure to timely disclose the Focher statement. We do not agree. 15 Assuming that this material is exculpatory and material to either guilt or punishment, see United States v. Van Brandy, 726 F.2d 548, 551 (9th Cir.1984), we nevertheless do not find that the tardy disclosure is a reversible Brady violation. Monforton was made aware of the Focher statement three weeks prior to trial. Monforton's counsel made reference to the statement at trial in questioning Monforton and in developing the defense that Monforton was merely a pawn in the fraudulent transactions. In such circumstances, even though the government should have disclosed the Focher statement more promptly and the government's delay is not to be condoned, Monforton has not established such prejudice as would warrant reversal. United States v. McClintock, 734 F.2d 438, 446 (9th Cir.1984). 16 Monforton also argues that the production and admission of Government Exhibit Number 4, Schroefel's copy of the oil and gas lease option agreement, which contained a valid signature by Monforton, violated Fed.R.Crim.P. 16 because Monforton and his counsel had not been made aware of its existence prior to trial. Because the record contains no suggestion that the government either was aware of the document or had possession or control of it until trial, when Schroefel produced it, the government's failure to produce it prior to trial was not a violation of Fed.R.Crim.P. 16. United States v. Bailleaux, 685 F.2d 1105, 1113 (9th Cir.1982). Moreover, even if we were to hold that the government had violated Fed.R.Crim.P. 16 by not producing this document prior to trial, its admission by the trial court would not constitute an abuse of discretion. United States v. Gee, 695 F.2d 1165, 1168 (9th Cir.1983).