Opinion ID: 2537242
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Potential Impeachment Concerning Alejandro Lago

Text: We next address Rodriguez's allegations that the State violated Brady because trial counsel was never provided with letters that contained information that could have been used to attack the credibility of Alejandro Lago. [12] According to Rodriguez, the State possessed letters showing that Lago received consideration in exchange for his assistance and that the results of a polygraph test that he took were considered suspect [13] and that if the jury had been made aware of this information, the jury might have rejected the statements of Lago that were presented through the testimony of a law enforcement officer. Specifically, Lago was an inmate who shared a cell with Rodriguez during their confinement. Lago told Detective Crawford that Rodriguez admitted he was not crazy but knew that he had to act insane or the police would connect him to other crimes. The prosecutor initially considered calling Lago to be a penalty phase witness, but instead called Detective Crawford to testify as to Lago's statements. On direct appeal, this Court held that permitting Detective Crawford to testify to the double hearsay statements from Lago was error, but determined that the admission of the testimony was harmless. Rodriguez, 753 So.2d at 44-45. During postconviction proceedings, the circuit court rejected this claim, first questioning whether this information could have impeached Lago because he was never called to testify. Moreover, even if impeachment was possible, the court found that the claim lacked merit because, on direct appeal, any error regarding Lago was found to be harmless. Further, the circuit court thoroughly reviewed the original sentencing order, noting that the original trial judge provided an in-depth analysis as to whether Rodriguez was mentally ill and concluded that Rodriguez consciously exaggerated his symptoms and manipulated the doctors after he learned that he could avoid going to prison for his criminal behavior if he was mentally ill. The postconviction court concluded that based on the testimony of the mental health experts and Rodriguez's prior seventy-one felony convictions, the judge and jury could have easily concluded death was the appropriate sentence. We affirm the trial court's conclusion. As addressed above, in order to prevail on a Brady claim, Rodriguez must show: (1) that favorable evidenceeither exculpatory or impeaching, (2) was willfully or inadvertently suppressed by the State, and (3) because the evidence was material, the defendant was prejudiced. Riechmann, 966 So.2d at 307. Here, there are substantial questions as to whether Lago had been promised any benefits for his assistance before the trial and whether the polygraph would have led to any favorable evidence. Even if Rodriguez could meet the first prong of Brady, however, he cannot show prejudice. On direct appeal, this Court held the trial court erred in permitting Lago's statements to be admitted through Detective Crawford. However, the Court explicitly determined that the admission of the testimony was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt given the number of strong aggravators in this case and the conflicting testimony as to Manuel Rodriguez's mental health, including some testimony that he was a malingerer. Rodriguez, 753 So.2d at 45. Turning to the Brady claim, the challenged documents would only have presented potential additional bases to impeach Lago's statements, assuming they were admissible at all. This additional evidence would not change our harmless error analysis as set forth on direct appeal. Accordingly, we affirm the postconviction court's ruling on this claim.