Opinion ID: 1134803
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Issue 2: Did the Prosecutor Fail to Disclose Impeaching Evidence?

Text: In every criminal trial, the State faces the well established discovery obligation to turn over to the defense evidence in its possession or knowledge both favorable to the defendant and material to guilt or punishment. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963); United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 674, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985); Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 57, 107 S.Ct. 989, 94 L.Ed.2d 40 (1987); In re Personal Restraint of Rice, 118 Wash.2d 876, 828 P.2d 1086 (1992). Therefore, the State must disclose any favorable treatment accorded witnesses for their testimony and may not permit a false view of that treatment to go before the jury. Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 79 S.Ct. 1173, 3 L.Ed.2d 1217 (1959); Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972). Pirtle claims there were undisclosed inducements to former jail inmates Shawn Botner and Darin Wheeler. Pirtle presents no persuasive or competent evidence to support this claim and, even if such evidence were shown, his own testimony confirms much of Botner's and Wheeler's testimony. Any claimed error would, therefore, be harmless. For example, Pirtle testified, as did Botner, to the Joe letters scheme. Pirtle also confirmed Wheeler's testimony concerning Pirtle's description to him of what happened inside the Spokane Burger King. Although Wheeler disclosed Pirtle's statement to the effect that skin was harder to saw through than he had expected, Pirtle acknowledges, through testimony, that he may well have made that statement. A. Shawn Botner. When asked at trial if anything had been promised in exchange for his testimony, Botner told the prosecutor the cops said they'd help me get into [a] different prison when I was out. When asked if there was anything else, he answered no. RP at 1970. Relying on a declaration signed by Botner after the trial, Pirtle now claims Botner's testimony was perjured and knowingly presented by the prosecutor. In the declaration relied upon by Pirtle, Botner states that police detectives told me that they would not charge me with any additional crimes [for writing the `Joe' letters] so long as I agreed to talk to them about Blake Pirtle. Botner Decl. at ¶ 2. This declaration further states the police have followed through on their promise and have not prosecuted me for my involvement with Blake Pirtle and the letters. Id. at ¶ 4. While at first glance this is troubling evidence, Botner later signed a certificate wherein he stated the following: I was not threatened by the Detectives during the interview in Shelton, Washington during October, 1992. The Detectives told me there could be possible charges but they also told me they did not want to charge me with anything. They did not tell me I would serve more time if I did not talk to them. .... I should have taken more time to understand the document when I signed the declaration sent to me by a woman working for Mr. Pirtle. Although the declaration used the word promise, I was not promised anything. I thought it was another way of saying I was never charged with a crime. Botner Certificate at 1. In light of Botner's new certificate, Pirtle has not established Botner's testimony was perjured and knowingly presented by the prosecutor. In addition, much of Botner's testimony was confirmed by Pirtle at trial, and neither of Botner's declarations indicates his trial testimony was false. B. Darin Wheeler. As noted earlier, Wheeler asked to make a deal when he initially met with police. The police report noted Wheeler's statement that he planned to talk with his counsel and contact the police to discuss a deal. Wheeler did not follow through on his statement. He returned to jail, served his time, and was released. In fact, the police spent considerable time locating Wheeler after his release from jail in order to serve him with a subpoena for Pirtle's trial. To dispute these facts, Pirtle relies on ambiguous notes made by his trial counsel while interviewing Wheeler in February 1993. According to Pirtle, these notes that Wheeler was threatened by police. Pirtle further speculates these notes demonstrate Wheeler must have cut a deal to avoid problems with community supervision. As correctly argued by the State in its motion strike hearsay and incompetent evidence, these notes are hearsay and are not included as evidence in this PRP. Moreover, various sworn declarations by police officers investigating this case, and the community corrections officer supervising Wheeler, state Wheeler was given no special treatment in exchange for his testimony at trial. Based on this evidence, Pirtle has not shown there was an agreement, let alone an undisclosed agreement in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215.