Opinion ID: 158597
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fed. R. Crim. P. 16/Standing Discovery Order Violation

Text: 10 Ms. Gomez argues that the government's destruction of the drug evidence violated Fed. R. Crim. Pro. 16(a)(1)(C) and the court's standing discovery order. See Order, Rec. vol I, doc. 33, at 3. The court's discovery order explicitly tracks the language of Rule 16(a)(1)(C); accordingly we treat the two together. Both allow discovery of tangible objects which are within the possession, custody or control of the government, and which are material to the preparation of the defendant's defense or are intended for use by the government as evidence in chief at the trial, or were obtained from or belong to the defendant. Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(a)(1)(C); Order at 2. 11 The bulk of the drug evidence was destroyed on June 3, 1994. However, Ms. Gomez was not indicted until June 4, 1994, and the district court did not issue its discovery order until October 20, 1994. Thus, by the time the requirements of Fed. R. Crim. P. 16 and the court's order became applicable to Ms. Gomez, the government was no longer in possession, custody, or control of the bulk of the drug evidence. Accordingly, its failure to produce the evidence was not a violation of either the Rule or the Order. The issue Ms. Gomez raises is not a discovery violation, but rather, is whether the government's destruction of the evidence without prior notice to her violated her due process rights, as discussed below.