Opinion ID: 765786
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Fingerprint Evidence for Defendant Bailey.

Text: 28 The final issue relates only to defendant Bailey. He claims that the government withheld until the last minute a key piece of fingerprint evidence found on a telephone in the Routte home and that the district court erred in denying his motions to exclude this evidence prior to trial and for a new trial based on that evidence. Rulings on discovery matters are within the sound discretion of the district court, and the exercise of that discretion will be reversed only upon a showing of prejudice to the substantial rights of the defendant. United States v. Salerno, 108 F.3d 730, 742 (7th Cir. 1997); United States v. Caudill, 915 F.2d 294, 299 (7th Cir. 1990). 29 The fingerprint at issue was photographed by a police technician, who then wiped the print off the phone, thus destroying it. Bailey claims that despite his request for all of the government's evidence, no original photograph of the print was provided until the day before trial. Instead he was given a copy of that photo. Because he was not provided with an original photograph, Bailey asserts that he could not determine whether the print was planted and, therefore, he was prevented from preparing an adequate defense and deprived of a fair trial. 30 The government responds that the defendant knew about the fingerprint evidence for a long time, that it provided Bailey with a photocopy of the original print photograph, and that it gave him the original photo in plenty of time for a defense expert to examine it before trial. It also maintains that the fact that Bailey never called a fingerprint expert is not the fault of the government. Additionally, the government asserts that, although Bailey moved to have the fingerprint evidence excluded, he did not seek a continuance in order provide extra time for his expert to examine the original fingerprint photograph. Finally, the government claims that the wiping off of the print does not amount to destruction of evidence and that this was done in compliance with state procedure because the fingerprint identification technique involves the use of dangerous chemicals. 31 We conclude that the fingerprint was not erroneously admitted into evidence. Bailey was notified of the existence of the print on the day his counsel was appointed and he was given a copy of the examination report prepared by the government's expert. Also, the record reflects that the fingerprint expert selected by Bailey had ample opportunity to review the fingerprint evidence, that this expert was paid for his services, and that the defendant chose not to call his expert. Finally, contrary to Bailey's assertion, the fingerprint evidence was not crucial to the prosecution's case given the weight of the evidence against him. As this court has previously indicated, the totality of the evidence provides confidence in the outcome of the trial. United States v. Silva, 71 F.3d 667, 670 (7th Cir. 1995).