Opinion ID: 540108
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Exclusion of a Tape Recorded Telephone Conversation.

Text: 8 By way of proving inducement, Simtob presented evidence at trial that he had in fact refused both Benson and Francum on numerous occasions, that Benson had induced him to procure the drug through repeated entreaties and by providing Simtob, who had overcome a cocaine addiction in the past, with a quantity of cocaine for Simtob's personal use, and by exploiting Simtob's difficult financial situation. In rebuttal, the government called Greg Nesbo to testify as to Simtob's predisposition. Nesbo, who had previously pleaded guilty to a drug offense and who testified pursuant to his plea agreement with the United States, stated on direct examination that Simtob had supplied him with cocaine for almost three years, that he had purchased cocaine from Simtob approximately twenty times over that period, and that, on at least one occasion, he had purchased the drug from Simtob in the basement of Simtob's home, at which time he had seen a safe filled with packages of white powder. 9 On cross-examination, Nesbo admitted that he had been approached by Benson before he was due to testify, and that Benson had spoken with him about his forthcoming testimony. Although apparently acting on his own and not at the request of the government, Benson had indicated to Nesbo that if he in any way deviated from earlier statements to the government, DEA agent Mountsier, in charge of the investigation of Simtob, would be able to increase Nesbo's sentence, would in fact do so, and that it[ ] [had] already been worked out. Defense counsel was also able to elicit that Nesbo, who weighed over 500 pounds and was serving his sentence out of prison as a part of his plea bargain, had an extreme fear of incarceration because he would be unable to receive necessary medical attention in prison. 10 Nesbo's was the final testimony at trial. He was the government's primary witness on the issue of predisposition, and his credibility was very much at issue. 11 The night following Nesbo's testimony and before the final arguments to the jury, Simtob telephoned Nesbo, and, when the latter returned his call, tape recorded the conversation. 1 12 Made aware of this conversation, counsel for appellant listened to the tape the following day and that morning described its contents to the court in camera. Counsel's offer of proof suggested that the tape contained evidence of perjury by Nesbo, or at least of inconsistency bearing directly on Nesbo's credibility; he requested permission either to play the tape to the jury or to recall Simtob so that he could testify as to the content of his conversation with Nesbo. Counsel also suggested recalling Nesbo to further cross examine him by confronting him with the tape. 13 The court denied appellant's motion. Apparently because he decided the tape would be cumulative of the previous day's cross-examination, 2 the court declined either to listen to the tape in camera, or to have a transcript made until after the argument was over. 3 14 Simtob contends that the tape was new evidence containing admissions of perjury on the part of the chief and only rebuttal witness and the major witness on the issue of predisposition, and that in denying him the opportunity either to present the evidence or confront and cross-examine the witness further, the court violated Simtob's sixth amendment rights to compulsory process and confrontation. 15 The government contends that defendant's counsel had ample opportunity to cross-examine Nesbo, to test the witness's credibility, and to challenge extensively Nesbo's motives for his testimony. The government also suggests that reception of the evidence so late in the trial would have imbued it with distorted importance, and that, because the court was not prepared to allow further surrebuttal by the United States, admission of the tape without an adequate opportunity to rebut the evidence would have unfairly prejudiced the government's case. 16 Federal Rule of Evidence 611 provides that: 17 The court shall exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to (1) make the interrogation and presentation effective for the ascertainment of the truth, (2) avoid needless consumption of time.... 18 We review the trial court's decision whether to reopen a case for abuse of discretion. United States v. McQuisten, 795 F.2d 858 (9th Cir.1986). United States v. Dupuy, 760 F.2d 1492 (9th Cir.1985). To the extent that the court's ruling constituted a limitation on cross-examination, it too is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v. Benny, 786 F.2d 1410, 1419 (9th Cir.) cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1017, 107 S.Ct. 668, 93 L.Ed.2d 720 (1986). Our inquiry on an appeal asserting abuse of discretion in such matters is whether the court's decision was rendered on a consideration of relevant factors, and whether a clear error of judgment has been made. See United States v. Campbell, 774 F.2d 354, 356 (9th Cir.1985). 19 When the tape was originally discussed at Simtob's motion to reopen the evidence before argument, the trial court was informed of its content but did not review it. Indeed, the trial court apparently never reviewed the tape, even in response to Simtob's post-trial motions for mistrial. Under the circumstances of this case, where the tape was represented as containing information important to the ascertainment of the truth, the trial court clearly erred in failing at least to make some personal review of its content in camera. The trial judge, in effect, declined to exercise his discretion at all; his determination of the tape's cumulative nature or, alternatively, of its value to the defense, was therefore made without a proper consideration of relevant factors, and constituted an abuse of discretion. 20 Further, we cannot adjudge the error to be harmless. Our review of the tape convinces us that it contained information bearing sufficiently on the credibility of the prime prosecution witness that it might well have affected the outcome of the case. While we recognize the limitations of the tape that arise from the manner of its creation, we conclude that the defendant was entitled to cross-examine and to attempt to impeach Nesbro with its contents. The statements in the tape went beyond anything already in evidence, and were therefore not merely cumulative. 21