Opinion ID: 78396
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Production of Computers, Camera, and Medical Records

Text: Sarras next argues that the district court erred by denying his motion to require the government to produce E.M.'s and her mother's computers and camera and certain medical records of tests performed on E.M. in May 2007. [31] We disagree. None of these items was in the government's possession or control. It is well-settled that the government must permit a defendant to inspect tangible items within its possession, custody, or control if they are material to the defense, the government intends to use them in its case-in-chief, or they were obtained from the defendant. Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a)(1)(E). [32] But the government does not have a duty to disclose items it does not possess. See, e.g., United States v. Cannington, 729 F.2d 702, 711-12 (11th Cir.1984). Nor does it have a duty to obtain evidence it does not possess. See, e.g., United States v. Luis-Gonzalez, 719 F.2d 1539, 1548 (11th Cir.1983). None of these items was in the government's possession, custody, or control. E.M.'s and her mother's computers and camera were in the possession and control of E.M. and her mother, and the medical records were in the possession and control of the Kid's House of Seminole County. [33] Sarras could have followed the subpoena duces tecum procedures, pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 17(c), for obtaining evidence from third parties, but he did not. It was not the government's responsibility to track down third-party evidence for Sarras. This claim fails.