Opinion ID: 158651
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: allegations of planted evidence

Text: 33 Petitioner first argues that the district court erred in denying discovery on his claim that police officers planted evidence in his home and car, and did not disclose this fact, in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). Petitioner asserts that police officers obtained hair from the victim's body and fibers from a pep club uniform similar to the one worn by the victim on the night of the abduction, planted those in his home and car between the first and second searches, and then discovered this evidence during the execution of the second search warrant. 34 To establish a Brady violation, petitioner bears the burden of showing that the prosecution suppressed material evidence favorable to petitioner. See, e.g., Moore v. Reynolds, 153 F.3d 1086, 1112 (10th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 1266 (1999). Knowledge of police officers or investigators will be imputed to the prosecution. See Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 421, 437 (1995); Smith v. Secretary of N.M. Dep't of Corrections, 50 F.3d 801, 824-25 (10th Cir. 1995). 35 In support of this Brady claim, petitioner relies upon the statement of Bruce Hawkins, the mortician who prepared the victim's body for burial. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals first considered this evidence in the state post-conviction proceeding, determining Hawkins' statement could not have been discovered with due diligence before trial, and is not cumulative of any evidence presented at trial. Moore, 889 P.2d at 1257-58. The court further determined that this new evidence certainly suggests that Midwest City police followed a somewhat unusual investigative procedure in this case. Id. at 1257. Nonetheless, the Oklahoma appellate court declined to hold an evidentiary hearing or conduct any further factual inquiry. That court, instead, assumed the truth of petitioner's factual allegations and denied relief, holding that mere evidence of unusual conduct on the detectives' part, when evaluated in the context of the entire record, is not material, and does not create a reasonable probability that the trial's outcome would be changed. Id. at 1257-58. 36 The determination of whether undisclosed evidence is material is a mixed question of law and fact reviewed de novo by this court prior to AEDPA. See United States v. Trujillo, 136 F.3d 1388, 1393 (10th Cir.) (direct criminal appeal), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 87 (1998); see also Newsted v. Gibson, 158 F.3d 1085, 1094 (10th Cir. 1998) (reviewing de novo Brady claim asserted in pre-AEDPA habeas petition), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 1509 (1999). In this appeal governed by AEDPA, therefore, we consider whether the state appellate court's materiality determination amounts to an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme Court precedent. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1). We conclude it does. 37 Suppressed exculpatory evidence will be deemed material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A 'reasonable probability' is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 57 (1987) (further quotation omitted); see also Strickler v. Greene, 119 S. Ct. 1936, 1948 (1999). The question is not whether the defendant would more likely than not have received a different verdict with the evidence, but whether in its absence he received a fair trial, understood as a trial resulting in a verdict worthy of confidence. Kyles, 514 U.S. at 434. 38 The State's case against petitioner was entirely circumstantial. The existence and cross-transference of the fiber and hair evidence was crucial to the State's case against him. If proved, petitioner's allegations that police officers planted this evidence, therefore, would be material -- i.e., there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different. 39 Petitioner's allegations, therefore, if proved would entitle him to habeas relief. It remains for petitioner to prove the truth of those allegations. We, therefore, turn to the question of whether petitioner is entitled to discovery on this claim. See Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 905-06 (1997). 40 A federal habeas petitioner will be entitled to discovery only if, and to the extent that, the [district court] judge in the exercise of his discretion and for good cause shown grants leave to do so, but not otherwise. Rule 6(a), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases; see also LaFevers, 182 F.3d at 723. '[W]here specific allegations before the court show reason to believe that the petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to demonstrate that he is . . . entitled to relief, it is the duty of the court to provide the necessary facilities and procedures for an adequate inquiry.' Bracy, 520 U.S. at 908-09 (quoting Harris v. Nelson, 394 U.S. 286, 300 (1969)). Petitioner has met this burden here. 41 In his statement, Hawkins asserts that two detectives returned to the funeral home on three separate occasions to obtain samples of the victim's pubic, scalp and limb hairs. They apparently returned the second time because, during the first visit, they had cut the hairs, instead of plucking them. On the third occasion, the detectives took up to two and one-half hours to obtain additional evidence. 42 The trial record corroborates part of Hawkins' statement, indicating that detectives did go to the funeral home several times to obtain additional samples of the victim's hair, after completion of the medical examiner's examination. Detective Marston testified that he and Detective Howard went to the funeral home on Monday, October 1, 1984, to obtain the victim's fingerprints. Pursuant to the forensic chemist's request, Detective Ingle also went to the funeral home on October 1 to obtain samples of the victim's limb hair. 43 In his statement, Hawkins further asserts that another funeral home employee, John Boeing, who is now deceased, followed the detectives after their second visit to the funeral home. According to Hawkins, Boeing told him that the detectives went directly from the funeral home to petitioner's home, where one entered through an open window, then unlocked the door from the inside. Hawkins asserts that they had with them a red sweater and the victim's hair samples they had just collected at the funeral home. The detectives remained in petitioner's home for some time, and then subsequently appeared to be doing things to petitioner's yellow car, which was parked in front of his home. Later that evening, Hawkins accompanied Boeing to petitioner's home and confirmed that a window remained open. 44 According to Hawkins, both he and Boeing followed the detectives to petitioner's home after the detectives' third visit to the funeral home. Hawkins asserts that the window to the home was still open at that time. 45 The record confirms that key hair evidence was not discovered until the second search, on October 4, 1984. In addition, investigators did not discover the red fibers, consistent with pep club uniforms similar to the victim's, until the second search. Even though no one had seen them during the first search, the forensic chemist discovered these red fibers near the front door of petitioner's home, immediately upon her entry of the home to conduct the second search. During the second search, investigators also discovered similar red fibers located under petitioner's bed, in the same location where, during the first search, a used feminine napkin had been discovered. 46 At trial, detectives gave contradictory testimony concerning whether they had obtained two or three pep club sweaters to compare with any fibers found. Detectives Howard and Garner both testified that they had obtained three such sweaters, two new and one used, as part of three complete pep club outfits to be used for any necessary comparisons. Detective Garner later testified, however, that he submitted only two sweaters to the forensic chemist for analysis. The forensic chemist testified that she had only requested two sweaters for analysis, one new and one used. No one could account for the whereabouts of the third sweater. 47 There was also contradictory testimony at trial concerning whether, and in what manner, police officers had secured petitioner's home after the first search. 6 The trial record, therefore, lends some support and does not contravene petitioner's allegations which, if proved, would warrant habeas relief. In light of those specific allegations, supported by Hawkins's statement, the district court abused its discretion in denying discovery. See Bracy, 520 U.S. at 909. We, therefore, remand for limited discovery on this one ground for habeas relief. In remanding, however, we note that Rule 6(a) makes it clear that the scope and extent of such discovery [remains] a matter confided to the discretion of the District Court. Bracy, 520 U.S. at 909.