Opinion ID: 1768076
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Fayette County Charges

Text: At the time of Bowling's trial, Chappell had felony charges pending against him in Fayette County. The defense was unaware of these charges. Bowling argues that the Commonwealth should have disclosed information regarding the pending charges to the defense because they were admissible to show bias. That is, evidence of the pending charges would have shown that Chappell had a motive to curry favor with the Commonwealth's Attorney prosecuting Bowling's case, Tom Handy, in order to receive lenient disposition of the charges. There is authority to support the proposition that knowledge may be imputed to the prosecutor, or a duty to search may be imposed, in cases where a search for readily available background information is routinely performed, such as routine criminal background checks of witnesses. Odle v. Calderon, 65 F.Supp.2d 1065 (N.D.Cal.1999) (citing cases). On the other hand, the government has no duty to disclose what it does not know and could not have reasonably discovered. Id. Absent a showing that the prosecution would have turned up an indictment pending in a different county as part of a routine criminal background check, knowledge of the indictment cannot be imputed upon the prosecution. Vega v. Johnson, 149 F.3d 354, 363 (5th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1119, 119 S.Ct. 899, 142 L.Ed.2d 899 (1999). As there is no demonstration that a routine background check would have uncovered the pending indictments or that Handy had actual knowledge of the pending indictment, no Brady violation has been shown. Id. Further, even if known or discoverable, the indictments were not admissible. Indictments are admissible to show bias. Adcock v. Commonwealth, Ky., 702 S.W.2d 440, 441 (1986). That is, an indictment is admissible when it tends to show that a witness's testimony may have been influenced by a desire to seek the favor or leniency of the prosecuting officer. Chesapeake & O. Ry. Co. v. Pittman, 283 Ky. 63, 138 S.W.2d 962, 964 (1940); see also Spears v. Commonwealth, Ky.App., 558 S.W.2d 641, 642 (1977) (An indictment, though not admissible as impeachment evidence, is admissible to show that the testimony of the prosecuting witness was influenced by a desire to seek the favor or leniency of the prosecuting officer.). In this case, the pending Fayette County indictment would not have shown Chappell's bias. Bowling's case was tried in the Laurel Circuit Court. Handy, whose jurisdiction does not extend to Fayette County, was not in a position to grant any favor or leniency to Chappell in connection with the charges pending against Chappell in the Fayette Circuit Court. Since there was no connection between Handy and the case against Chappell in Fayette County, the pending Fayette County indictments were not admissible. On appeal, Bowling argues that there was a connection. But the only support he offers for this claim is a letter written by Handy to the Fayette Circuit judge who sentenced Chappell, after Chappell had pled guilty to reduced charges. This letter does not support Bowling's claims. While the letter does request the trial court to show Chappell some consideration for his cooperation in Bowling's trial, the consideration Handy asked for was not for a more lenient sentence; rather, it was that the sentencing court urge additional protection for Chappell during his incarceration. Further, the letter states in pertinent part: No one knew Mr. Chappell nor did Mr. Chappell ever request or receive any favorable treatment by the Commonwealth, or law enforcement as a result of his testimony. There was no Brady violation in connection with the charges pending against Chappell in Fayette County.