Opinion ID: 2575818
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Denial of Motion to Dismiss or For Mistrial Based Upon State's Alleged Discovery Violations

Text: [¶ 13] On the morning of September 9, 2004, the third day of trial, defense counsel moved for dismissal of the case or a mistrial on the grounds the State failed to produce discovery in a timely manner. The motion was based upon the State's failure to produce, prior to trial, two pieces of evidence: an audio tape of a law enforcement interview of the victim [1] and the vehicle in which the assault occurred. The State produced the audio tape on the second day of trial and the vehicle on the morning of the last day of trial. In response to the motion for mistrial, the State indicated there had been a miscommunication that these items didn't exist or were no longer in custody. We tried to rectify that as soon as we realized they were in custody. The district court denied the motion. [2] In his first issue presented to this Court, Mr. Thomas claims it was error for the district court to deny the motion. [¶ 14] In Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, the United States Supreme Court held: [T]he suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution. We have applied Brady to hold that the duty to disclose exculpatory evidence applies even though there has been no request by the accused, and encompasses evidence known only to police investigators and not to the prosecution. Whitney, 2004 WY 118, ¶ 58, 99 P.3d at 476. In order to comply with Brady, therefore, `the individual prosecutor has a duty to learn of any favorable evidence known to the others acting on the government's behalf in this case, including the police.' Id. [¶ 15] In order to establish a Brady violation, a defendant must demonstrate the prosecution suppressed evidence, the evidence was favorable to the defendant, and the evidence was material. Id. Evidence is material under Brady only when a reasonable probability exists that the result of the proceeding would have been different had the evidence been disclosed. Adams v. State, 2005 WY 94, ¶ 22, 117 P.3d 1210, 1217-18 (Wyo.2005). A reasonable probability of a different result is shown when the suppression of evidence undermines confidence in the outcome of the trial. Davis v. State, 2002 WY 88, ¶ 19, 47 P.3d 981, 987 (Wyo.2002). [¶ 16] The delayed disclosure of Brady materials is not always grounds for reversal. Whitney, 2004 WY 118, ¶ 58, 99 P.3d at 476. As long as disclosure is made before it is too late for the defendant to make use of the evidence, due process is satisfied. Id. Brady is not violated when the material is available to the defendant during trial. Id. The essence of Brady is the discovery of information after the trial, which was known to the prosecution but unknown to the defense during the trial. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 103, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). Thus, where exculpatory evidence is discovered during the trial and defense counsel has the opportunity to use it in cross-examination, closing argument, or other parts of the defense case, courts generally do not find a due process violation. United States v. Scarborough, 128 F.3d 1373, 1376 (10th Cir.1997); Young v. State, 849 P.2d 754, 765 (Wyo.1993). [¶ 17] In the present case, there is no dispute that the audio tape was disclosed on the second day of trial, and the vehicle was made available on the third day of trial. Defense counsel had the opportunity to, and in fact did, use the audio tape in cross-examining the deputy who conducted the taped interview. As for the vehicle, defense counsel's theory was that the victim's account was not credible because it would not have been possible for Mr. Thomas to steer the vehicle on a dirt road at a high rate of speed for a mile and a half at the same time he was holding her by the arm to keep her from jumping out of the vehicle. His focus seemed to be on the door locking system and the width of the vehicle. In his argument to the district court, he stated only that he would have liked to have a forensic scientist look at the vehicle; he did not specifically identify any evidence he hoped to obtain that he could not have obtained by looking at another vehicle of the same make, model and year. Defense counsel had the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and argue his impossibility theory to the jury. [¶ 18] Mr. Thomas has failed to show the State's late disclosure violated Brady or his due process rights. The evidence about which he asserts error was disclosed and made available to the defense during the trial. Defense counsel did not seek a continuance, but instead chose to proceed with the trial and do what he could with the newly disclosed evidence. See also Rodriguez v. State, 962 P.2d 141, 145-46 (Wyo.1998). The district court was impressed with his efforts, complimenting him on his preparation of the newly disclosed evidence for presentation to the jury, and concluded he had adequately responded to the late disclosure. Having considered all of the circumstances, we are unable to find a due process violation. In reaching this result, we do not condone the State's delayed disclosure of evidence. We hold only that no Brady violation occurred and there was no abuse of discretion in the denial of the motion for mistrial.