Opinion ID: 2005875
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Disclosure of Impeachment Evidence

Text: The Commonwealth must disclose exculpatory evidence in time for a defendant to make a due investigation. Epperson v. Commonwealth, 809 S.W.2d 835, 840 (Ky.1990). Exculpatory evidence includes information that could be used to impeach a Commonwealth witness. Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 270, 79 S.Ct. 1173, 3 L.Ed.2d 1217 (1959); Rolli v. Commonwealth, 678 S.W.2d 800, 802 (Ky.App. 1984). The Commonwealth's delay in disclosing such evidence is reversible error if the delay gave the Commonwealth a more favorable opportunity to convict, Epperson, 809 S.W.2d at 840, which renders the verdict unworthy of confidence, U.S. v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 668, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). Here, the Commonwealth's delay in disclosing its agreement with Tally is not reversible error. Appellant had ample time to make a due investigation, despite the Commonwealth's delay. From voir dire until Tally was called to testify at trial, Appellant's attorney pursued an investigation, although it ultimately proved unfruitful. Appellant's attorney had gone to federal court to access Tally's records, but they were sealed. His attorney also called Tally's attorney, but Tally's attorney refused to answer any questions. The record shows that Appellant's investigation was unfruitful, but it also shows that he had enough time to adequately pursue it. Indeed, in his brief, Appellant characterizes his trial counsel's attempts to investigate Tally as repeated[], but complains that these repeated attempts revealed no helpful information. The fact is Appellant learned everything that Tally and the Commonwealth knew from the Commonwealth's disclosure at voir dire. After voir dire, Appellant knew that Tally hoped to obtain a sentence reduction in his federal case by testifying as a witness for the Commonwealth. He also knew that the Commonwealth, if satisfied with Tally's testimony, could ask the federal prosecutor to request such a sentence reduction. Neither Tally nor the Commonwealth knew any more. The Commonwealth's delay did not give it a more favorable opportunity to convict Appellant. On cross-examination, Appellant asked Tally about his interest in testifying, and Tally admitted that he hoped to receive a reduction in his federal sentence and that he knew he needed to win the Commonwealth's favor to have this hope fulfilled. Appellant was able to adequately impeach Tally, and thus the Commonwealth's delay did not adversely affect Appellant. Although the Commonwealth should have given Appellant information about its agreement with Tally sooner, its delay did not render the Appellant's verdict unworthy of confidence. Thus, the Commonwealth's delay is not reversible error.