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holding that rejection of Petitioner's claim was not objectively unreasonable where Petitioner offered only speculation in support of it
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Case No. 11-CV-02458
11-15-2016
DELANEY GERAL MARKS, Petitioner, v. RON DAVIS, Warden, California State Prison at San Quentin, Respondent.
ORDER DENYING CLAIM 10
Re: Dkt. No. 62, 63
In 1994, Petitioner Delaney Geral Marks ("Petitioner") was convicted of two counts of first degree murder with personal use of a firearm, and two counts of attempted premeditated murder and infliction of great bodily injury, and sentenced to death. On December 14, 2011, Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before this Court. ECF No. 3 ("Pet.").
The Court has ruled on 10 of Petitioner's 22 claims. See ECF Nos. 52, 74, 75, 76, 77. This Order addresses Claim 10 of the petition. Petitioner requests an evidentiary hearing as to this claim. For the reasons discussed below, Claim 10 is DENIED, and Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing is DENIED.
I. BACKGROUND
The following facts are taken from the California Supreme Court's opinion on direct appeal. See People v. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th 197, 203-14 (2003). "Factual determinations by state courts are presumed correct absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary." Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 340 (2003).
On October 17, 1990, Petitioner entered a Taco Bell restaurant in Oakland, California. After ordering, he shot employee Mui Luong ("Luong") in the head. Luong survived the shooting but remained in a persistent vegetative state. Petitioner then entered the Gourmet Market, not far from the Taco Bell. There, Petitioner shot John Myers ("Myers") and Peter Baeza ("Baeza"). Baeza died at the scene but Myers survived. Later that evening, Petitioner and his girlfriend, Robin Menefee ("Menefee"), took a cab driven by Daniel McDermott ("McDermott"). Petitioner shot and killed McDermott. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 204-06.
Petitioner was arrested shortly after McDermott was shot. Lansing Lee ("Lee"), a criminalist, testified at trial with "virtual absolute certainty" that the bullets that shot Baeza and Myers came from Petitioner's gun. Id. at 207. Lee also testified that his analysis "indicated" that the bullet that shot McDermott came from Petitioner's gun and "suggested" that the bullet that injured Luong also came from the same source. Id. At least four eyewitness identified Petitioner as the shooter. Id. at 205. Further, although McDermott carried $1 bills in his taxi in order to make change, McDermott had no paper currency on his body or in his taxi after the shooting. Defendant, however, was arrested with seven $1 bills on his person. Id. at 206-07. Petitioner was also overheard telling another defendant that "he was in for three murders" and that the victims had died because "I shot them." Id. at 208.
At trial, Petitioner testified and denied all of the shootings. Id. at 207. The defense also presented evidence that Petitioner's hands did not test positive for gunshot residue. Id. at 208.
On April 24, 1994, the jury convicted Petitioner of two counts of first degree murder with personal use of a firearm, and two counts of attempted premeditated murder with personal use of a firearm and infliction of great bodily injury.
During the penalty phase, the prosecutor presented in aggravation evidence of Petitioner's past violent conduct, including incidents of domestic violence and violent conduct while incarcerated. Id. at 208-10. The prosecutor also presented evidence of the effect of the murders on the families of the victims. Id. at 210-11. In mitigation, Petitioner testified as to his history of seizures. Id. at 212. Other witnesses testified that Petitioner had grown up in a strong family environment, and had not engaged in problematic behavior until he was discharged from the army and began using drugs. Id. at 212-13. Petitioner's daughter testified that Petitioner had never hit her, and that she saw him regularly when he was not incarcerated. Id. at 213. On May 6, 1994, the jury set the penalty for the capital crimes at death. Id. at 203.
B. Procedural History
On July 24, 2003, the California Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence on direct appeal. People v. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th 197 (2003). The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on May 3, 2004. Marks v. California, 541 U.S. 1033 (2004).
Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California Supreme Court. On March 16, 2005, the California Supreme Court ordered Respondents to show cause in the Alameda County Superior Court why the death sentence should not be vacated and Petitioner re-sentenced to life without parole on the ground that Petitioner was intellectually disabled within the meaning of Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002), which held that intellectually disabled individuals may not be executed. AG023690. The California Supreme Court denied the remaining claims in the petition on the merits without explanation. In addition to the merits decision, as separate grounds for denial, the California Supreme Court held that four of Petitioner's claims were procedurally barred.
Citations to "AG" refer to the Bates-stamped page numbers identified in the California Attorney General's lodging of the state court record with this Court.
The Alameda County Superior Court conducted an evidentiary hearing on the issue of Petitioner's alleged intellectual disability. On June 13, 2006, the Superior Court denied the petition, and found that Petitioner had failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he is intellectually disabled within the meaning of Atkins. AG023700-22. On August 14, 2006, Petitioner filed a further petition for writ of habeas corpus on the issue of his intellectual disability. The petition was denied by the California Supreme Court on December 15, 2010. AG028382.
On December 14, 2011, Petitioner filed his federal petition for writ of habeas corpus in this Court. ECF No. 3. Respondent filed a motion for summary judgment on Claims 2, 3, and 5 on March 26, 2013. ECF No. 37. Petitioner cross-moved for summary judgment on Claims 2, 3, and 5 on March 28, 2013. ECF No. 38. Both Petitioner and Respondent filed opposition briefs on June 10, 2013. ECF Nos. 44, 45. On August 8, 2013, Petitioner and Respondent filed reply briefs. ECF Nos. 48, 49. The claims were denied, and summary judgment in favor of Respondent granted on June 25, 2015. ECF No. 52.
On December 15, 2015, Petitioner and Respondent filed opening briefs on the merits as to Claims 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. ECF No. 62 ("Resp't's Br."); 63 ("Pet'r Br."). Petitioner filed a response on February 11, 2016. ECF No. 63 ("Pet'r Opp."). Respondent filed a response on February 12, 2016. ECF No. 65 ("Respt't's Opp."). The Court denied Claims 1, 6, and 7 on September 15, 2016. ECF No. 74. The Court denied Claims 9 and 11 on September 20, 2016. ECF No. 75. The Court denied Claims 4 and 8 on September 27, 2016. ECF Nos. 76, 77.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (28 U.S.C. § 2254(d))
Because Petitioner filed his original federal habeas petition in 2011, the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 ("AEDPA") applies to the instant action. See Woodford v. Garceau, 538 U.S. 202, 210 (2003) (holding that AEDPA applies whenever a federal habeas petition is filed after April 24, 1996). Pursuant to AEDPA, a federal court may grant habeas relief on a claim adjudicated on the merits in state court only if the state court's adjudication "(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
1. Contrary To or Unreasonable Application of Clearly Established Federal Law
As to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1), the "contrary to" and "unreasonable application" prongs have separate and distinct meanings. Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 404 (2000) ("Section 2254(d)(1) defines two categories of cases in which a state prisoner may obtain federal habeas relief with respect to a claim adjudicated on the merits in state court."). A state court's decision is "contrary to" clearly established federal law "if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by [the U.S. Supreme Court] on a question of law or if the state court decides a case differently than [the U.S. Supreme Court] has on a set of materially indistinguishable facts." Id. at 412-13.
A state court's decision is an "unreasonable application" of clearly established federal law if "the state court identifies the correct governing legal principle . . . but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner's case." Id. at 413. "[A]n unreasonable application of federal law is different from an incorrect application of federal law." Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 101 (2011). A state court's determination that a claim lacks merit is not unreasonable "so long as 'fairminded jurists could disagree' on [its] correctness." Id. (quoting Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664 (2004)).
Holdings of the U.S. Supreme Court at the time of the state court decision are the sole determinant of clearly established federal law. Williams, 529 U.S. at 412. Although a district court may "look to circuit precedent to ascertain whether [the circuit] has already held that the particular point in issue is clearly established by Supreme Court precedent," Marshall v. Rodgers, 133 S. Ct. 1446, 1450 (2013) (per curium), "[c]ircuit precedent cannot refine or sharpen a general principle of [U.S.] Supreme Court jurisprudence into a specific legal rule," Lopez v. Smith, 135 S. Ct. 1, 4, (2014) (per curium) (internal quotation marks omitted).
2. Unreasonable Determination of the Facts
In order to find that a state court's decision was based on "an unreasonable determination of the facts," 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2), a federal court "must be convinced that an appellate panel, applying the normal standards of appellate review, could not reasonably conclude that the finding is supported by the record before the state court," Hurles v. Ryan, 752 F.3d 768, 778 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted). "[A] state-court factual determination is not unreasonable merely because the federal habeas court would have reached a different conclusion in the first instance." Burt v. Titlow, 134 S. Ct. 10, 15 (2013). That said, "where the state courts plainly misapprehend or misstate the record in making their findings, and the misapprehension goes to a material factual issue that is central to petitioner's claim, that misapprehension can fatally undermine the fact-finding process, rendering the resulting factual finding unreasonable." Taylor v. Maddox, 366 F.3d 992, 1001 (9th Cir. 2004).
In examining whether a petitioner is entitled to relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1) or § 2254(d)(2), a federal court's review "is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits." Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011). In the event that a federal court "determine[s], considering only the evidence before the state court, that the adjudication of a claim on the merits resulted in a decision contrary to or involving an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, or that the state court's decision was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts," the federal court evaluates the petitioner's claim de novo. Hurles, 752 F.3d at 778. If error is found, habeas relief is warranted if that error "had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict." Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 638 (1993). Petitioners "are not entitled to habeas relief based on trial error unless they can establish that it resulted in 'actual prejudice.'" Id. at 637 (quoting United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 449 (1986)).
B. Federal Evidentiary Hearing (28 U.S.C. § 2254(e))
Under Cullen v. Pinholster, habeas review under AEDPA "is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits." 563 U.S. at 180-81. The Ninth Circuit has recognized that Pinholster "effectively precludes federal evidentiary hearings" on claims adjudicated on the merits in state court. Gulbrandson v. Ryan, 738 F.3d 976, 993 (9th Cir. 2013); see also Sully v. Ayers, 725 F.3d 1057, 1075 (9th Cir. 2013) ("Although the Supreme Court has declined to decide whether a district court may ever chose to hold an evidentiary hearing before it determines that § 2254(d) has been satisfied . . . an evidentiary hearing is pointless once the district court has determined that § 2254(d) precludes habeas relief.") (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
III. DISCUSSION
Claim 10 relates to the trial testimony of Menefee, Petitioner's girlfriend at the time of the crimes. Petitioner contends that his trial was fundamentally unfair because (1) the prosecutor failed to disclose material evidence relating to Menefee that would have impeached her credibility at trial; (2) the prosecutor knowingly elicited false testimony from Menefee at trial; and (3) the prosecutor presented evidence that unfairly buttressed the credibility of her testimony at trial.
Petitioner presented this claim in his state habeas petition, and the California Supreme Court denied relief on the merits without explanation. AG023690 ("All other claims set forth in the petition for writ of habeas corpus are denied. Each claim is denied on the merits."). Because the California Supreme Court did not provide reasons for its denial of Petitioner's claim, this Court must determine what arguments or theories could have supported the California Supreme Court's decision. See Richter, 562 U.S. at 102 ("Under § 2254(d), a habeas court must determine what arguments or theories supported or, as here, could have supported, the state court's decision."). The Court then "must ask whether it is possible fairminded jurists could disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a prior decision" of the U.S. Supreme Court. Id.
The Court addresses Petitioner's subclaims under Claim 10 in turn.
A. Failure to Disclose Material Evidence
Petitioner first contends that the prosecution failed to disclose several material facts about Menefee that would have impeached Menefee's credibility at trial, including that Menefee suffered from developmental and mental disabilities that prevented her from distinguishing between fantasy and reality, Pet. at 205; that Menefee was known to be "an untruthful, unreliable and untrustworthy informant," id. at 206; and that Menefee had a "20-year working relationship with Alameda County law enforcement agencies" in which Menefee "was permitted to commit" offenses "without fear of prosecution." id. at 207-08.
Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and its progeny, the prosecution has a duty to disclose evidence favorable to an accused, and the failure to disclose such evidence violates due process "where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution." Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 280 (1999) (quoting Brady, 373 U.S. at 87). The prosecution's duty under Brady encompasses both impeachment evidence and exculpatory evidence. Id. Evidence is material "if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. Thus, a Brady violation requires showing three components: (1) "The evidence at issue must be favorable to the accused, either because it is exculpatory, or because it is impeaching;" (2) "that evidence must have been suppressed by the State, either willfully or inadvertently," and (3) "prejudice must have ensued." Id. at 281-82.
As discussed above, the California Supreme Court denied Claim 10 without explanation. Because the California Supreme Court did not provide reasons for its denial of Petitioner's claim, the Court must determine what arguments or theories could have supported the California Supreme Court's decision to reject Petitioner's Brady claim. See Richter, 562 U.S. at 102 ("Under § 2254(d), a habeas court must determine what arguments or theories supported or, as here, could have supported, the state court's decision . . . .").
1. Menefee's Developmental and Mental Disabilities
Petitioner asserts that "[t]he prosecution reasonably and actually knew that Menefee suffered from pervasive developmental and mental disabilities that disabled her from distinguishing between fantasy and reality, and which left her extremely suggestible to confabulation and the development of fictive memory under the force of suggestive questioning or instruction by authority figures." Pet. at 205. As discussed below, the California Supreme Court was reasonable in rejecting Petitioner's argument.
Significantly, Petitioner points to no factual basis in the record in support for his assertion that Menefee actually suffered from disabilities that "disabled [Menefee] from distinguishing between fantasy and reality" or rendered her susceptible to "the development of fictive memory under the force of suggestive questioning," let alone that the prosecution knew that Menefee suffered from such impairments and suppressed this evidence from the defense. See id. Indeed, although it is true that Menefee had a history of head trauma, the defense cross-examined Menefee regarding these head injuries at the preliminary hearing in Petitioner's case, and Menefee denied having brain damage or memory loss. See AG000348-49. Specifically, in response to the defense's question about a scar on her head, Menefee testified that her "head went through a windshield" in 1973. AG000347-48. Menefee also testified that she "got kicked in the head by a mule when [she] was five years old" and thus had "a plate in [her] head." AG00348. Menefee stated that she suffered from no further head traumas. AG000349. She further testified that she did not have trouble remembering things and that she did not have any brain damage. Id. Petitioner points to no evidence that contradicts Menefee's testimony that her head traumas did not cause brain damage or memory loss. See Pet. at 205; see Pet'r Br. at 57-60.
Indeed, the only evidence in the record that could lend possible support to Petitioner's assertions regarding Menefee's disabilities are notations from Menefee's probation officer, Carmen Fong ("Fong"), in 1976. See AG020356-57. Specifically, in November 1976, Fong wrote that Menefee "has continually lied to the probation officer about following through on specific directives" and that Menefee "tells exaggerated stories to make excuses for her failure to follow directives." AG020356. Fong stated that "[e]fforts were made for [Menefee] to participate in psychotherapy and/or group therapy because of her active fantasy life and inability to cope with adult responsibilities," but that Menefee refused to participate in such efforts "because she [was] afraid of being labeled 'crazy.'" AG020357. Fong also stated in November 1976 that Menefee "has been completely uncooperative and unresponsive to probation supervision" and that Menefee "admitted that she lied" to court "regarding a child" in order "to get out of jail." AG020344.
However, Fong's personal opinion in 1976 regarding Menefee's failure to follow probation directives does not establish that Menefee actually "suffered from pervasive developmental and mental disabilities that disabled her from distinguishing between fantasy and reality." Pet. at 205. Indeed, these notations do not speak to Menefee's "developmental and mental disabilities" at all. See AG020357; AG020344. Fong's statements also lend no support to Petitioner's assertion that Menefee was susceptible to developing "fictive memory under the force of suggestive questioning." Id. Rather, they demonstrate that Menefee continually failed to follow probation instructions, and that Menefee knowingly lied and admitted this lie to Fong. See AG020344.
Thus, Petitioner's claim that Menefee suffered from "developmental and mental disabilities that disabled her from distinguishing between fantasy and reality," and that the prosecutor knew this fact and suppressed it from the defense, is not supported by the record that was before the California Supreme Court. Petitioner offers only speculation that Menefee suffered from such disabilities. See Pet. at 205. "However, to state a Brady claim, [Petitioner] is required to do more than 'merely speculate'" about the existence of evidence. Runningeagle v. Ryan, 686 F.3d 758, 769 (9th Cir. 2012); see also Wood v. Bartholomew, 516 U.S. 1, 8 (1995) (reversing the Ninth Circuit's grant of habeas for a Brady violation because the Ninth Circuit "grant[ed] habeas relief on the basis of little more than speculation with slight support," upsetting "the proper delicate balance between the federal courts and the States"). Thus, it was also not objectively unreasonable for the California Supreme Court to deny this claim, or Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing to develop further facts regarding Menefee's alleged disabilities. See Woods v. Sinclair, 764 F.3d 1109, 1128 (9th Cir. 2014) (finding that the state court was reasonable in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing and rejecting a petitioner's Brady claim where the petitioner "could offer [only] speculation that an evidentiary hearing might produce testimony or other evidence").
Moreover, even assuming that Fong's notations regarding Menefee's parole violations and "active fantasy life" were material as impeachment evidence against Menefee, and assuming that the prosecution withheld these notations from the defense, Petitioner's argument still fails. The California Supreme Court could have reasonably found that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the prosecution's failure to disclose Menefee's probation documents from the 1970s to the defense, and thus that Petitioner had failed to establish prejudice, the third prong of a Brady violation. See Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82. Specifically, in order to establish prejudice, Petitioner must show "that there is a reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been different if the suppressed documents had been disclosed to the defense." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). "The question is not whether the defendant would more likely than not have received a different verdict with the evidence, but whether in its absence he received a fair trial, understood as a trial resulting in a verdict worthy of confidence." Kyles, 514 U.S. at 434.
Here, the jury was presented at trial with evidence of Menefee's criminal history, her drug use, and her head traumas. The prosecution asked Menefee at trial about her criminal history on direct examination, and Menefee admitted to a 1974 conviction for second-degree burglary, a 1986 conviction for "a misdemeanor of forgery," and a 1988 conviction for the felony "sale of narcotics, cocaine." AG015711. Menefee also testified during trial about using crack cocaine. See, e.g., AG015710 (testifying that Petitioner bought crack cocaine and shared it with Menefee). Moreover, Menefee testified at trial about both of her head injuries. AG015711 (testifying about her car accident in 1973 and being kicked by a mule at the age of five). Given that the jury knew these impeaching facts about Menefee during trial, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably found that there was no "reasonable probability" that Fong's remarks in 1976 would have resulted in a different outcome at trial, and thus that Brady was not violated. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82.
Furthermore, even on the assumption that Fong's notations would have meaningfully affected the jury's perception of Menefee as a witness, the California Supreme Court could still have reasonably concluded under Brady that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the failure to disclose this evidence. Although Menefee was present with Petitioner during the time of the shootings and testified as to his actions between the shootings and afterwards, see AG015693-AG015712, other substantial physical and testimonial evidence apart from Menefee's testimony connected Petitioner to the shootings. A criminalist testified with "virtually absolute certainty" that the bullets that shot Baeza and Myers came from Petitioner's gun. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 207. In addition, ballistics analysis "indicated" that the bullet that shot McDermott came from Petitioner's gun and "suggested" that the bullet that injured Luong came from the same source. Id. At least four eyewitnesses testified as to the shootings and identified Petitioner as the shooter. Id. at 205-06. Although McDermott carried $1 bills in his taxi in order to make change, after the shooting, no paper currency was found in McDermott's taxicab or on McDermott's body, but Petitioner was arrested after the shooting with several $1 bills on his person. Id. at 206. Additionally, Petitioner was overheard telling another defendant that "he was in for three murders" and that the victims had died because "I shot them." Id. at 208.
In sum, in the face of such evidence of guilt—and in light of the limited probative value of the additional impeachment evidence against Menefee—it was not objectively unreasonable for the California Supreme Court to conclude that there is not "a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Strickler, 527 U.S. at 280. Thus, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on the basis of this argument.
2. Leniency In Return for Favorable Testimony
Second, Petitioner asserts that the prosecution "reasonably and actually knew that in exchange for her testimony against Mr. Marks, Menefee received lenient disposition in pending criminal investigations and prosecutions," and that the prosecution failed to disclose this to the defense. Pet. at 205. More specifically, Petitioner asserts that, in exchange for her testimony against Petitioner, Menefee faced no consequences for her involvement in the instant capital crimes, and that she avoided probation revocations and obtained lenient dispositions for her involvement in other offenses. Id. at 205-06. The Court addresses each of these charges below in turn.
a. Lenient Treatment for Menefee's Involvement in Petitioner's Capital Offenses
First, Petitioner states that the prosecutor knew that in exchange for her testimony against Petitioner, Menefee "[a]void[ed] any criminal liability on the basis of her alleged involvement in the capital murder and robbery offenses charged against Petitioner," and that she "[a]voided a revocation of her felony probation and imposition of a state prison sentence on the basis of her criminal culpability regarding said capital charges." Pet. at 205.
The record shows that, during trial, the prosecution, defense, and the trial court discussed whether a jury instruction was needed regarding Menefee's role in the events. AG016288-89. The prosecutor remarked that "I believe under the law or under the facts as its examined here [Menefee] is not an accomplice, but merely one person who is present." AG016288. The prosecutor further stated that "[a]ll of us [defense counsel, the trial court, and the prosecutor] take the position that she's not [an accomplice]." AG016291. The trial court also noted that it "would agree from what I have seen and heard in this courtroom, Ms. Menefee is not an accomplice even under the prosecution theory of the case." AG016289.
Petitioner does not cite any evidence that Menefee avoided charges for her involvement in the events at issue in exchange for her testimony. See Pet at 205-06. Indeed, Petitioner offers only speculation that Menefee was provided lenient treatment in exchange for her testimony against Marks. See id. "However, to state a Brady claim, [Petitioner] is required to do more than 'merely speculate'" about the prosecutor's lenient treatment of Menefee. Runningeagle, 686 F.3d 758, 769 (9th Cir. 2012). Under these circumstances, it was not objectively unreasonable for the California Supreme Court to deny Petitioner's Brady claim and deny Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing. See Woods, 764 F.3d at 1128 (finding that the state court was reasonable in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing and rejecting a petitioner's Brady claim where the petitioner "could offer [only] speculation that an evidentiary hearing might produce testimony or other evidence"); Robinson v. Hill, 2012 WL 1622655, at *5 (N.D. Cal. May 9, 2012) (finding no Brady violation because the petitioner's allegations that the prosecution destroyed "material evidence" were "conclusory" and lacked "factual basis"). Petitioner is accordingly not entitled to habeas relief on the basis of this argument.
b. Lenient Treatment for Menefee's 1988 Sale of Cocaine Offense
Second, Petitioner contends that, in exchange for her testimony against Petitioner, Menefee received lenient treatment regarding her charge for selling cocaine in 1988. Pet. at 205-06. Specifically, Menefee was arrested on August 10, 1988 for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer, and Menefee was placed on three-year probation. AG020372, AG020376. Petitioner contends that Menefee violated her probation, that Menefee received lenient treatment regarding this probation violation due to her testimony against Petitioner, and that the prosecutor knew this. Pet. at 206. As discussed below, however, the record does not support Petitioner's argument.
According to the exhibits that Petitioner attached to his state habeas petition, Menefee was placed on probation for three years for her 1988 sale-of-cocaine offense. AG020376. In September 1989, Menefee violated the terms of her probation by testing positive for cocaine, failing to report for scheduled probation appointments, and failing to pay the restitution fund, fine, and lab fee. AG020376. Accordingly, Menefee's probation was revoked and Menefee served ninety days in jail; Menefee was released from custody on April 1, 1990. Id.; AG020380.
Beginning in May 1990, Menefee missed scheduled probation appointments. AG020379. On October 10, 1990, Menefee's probation officer recommended that Menefee's probation be revoked on the bases of Menefee's failure to appear at her scheduled probation appointments and Menefee's failure to pay the restitution fund and lab fee. Id. The California Superior Court ordered on July 16, 1991 that Menefee serve 45 days in county jail, with credit for time served, for violating the terms of her probation. AG020382. Accordingly, Menefee served 30 days in jail and she was released in August 1991. AG00384.
The instant capital offenses occurred on October 17, 1990. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 204. A preliminary hearing in Petitioner's instant capital case was held on October 21, 1991. AG000304. Menefee testified during the preliminary hearing about her criminal history and about her history of probation violations. Id. Following her testimony, Menefee left the courtroom and the parties discussed the status of Menefee's probation with the trial court. AG00385. During this colloquy with the trial court, the prosecutor expressly remarked to the trial court that it "had no discussions with [Menefee] about her case and made no promises and attempted in no way to intervene in her sentence." AG000387. Following this exchange, Menefee returned to the witness stand and testified that she had not "been made any promises" by the prosecution—or by any member of the police department—in relation to her testimony against Petitioner. AG000388.
The prosecutor did not specify as to which "sentence" of Menefee's he was referring. AG000387. From the context of Menefee's testimony and the colloquy between the court and the parties, however, the Court infers that the prosecutor is referring to Menefee's sentence relating to her 1990 probation violations. --------
Thus, the record shows that the defense was made aware of Menefee's 1988 sale-of-cocaine charge, that Menefee was placed on three-year probation for this offense, that Menefee violated her probation in 1989 and 1990, and that Menefee served time in jail in 1990 and 1991 for violating the terms of her probation. See, e.g., AG00384. Menefee and the prosecutor both stated that the prosecution did not communicate with Menefee regarding her 1988 sale-of-cocaine offense or her probation revocations, and that the prosecution "made no promises and attempted in no way to intervene in [Menefee's] sentence." AG000387-88. Petitioner offers only speculation that, in exchange for her testimony, Menefee was offered lenient treatment. See Pet. at 206. Under these circumstances, the California Supreme Court was not objectively unreasonable in denying Petitioner's claim, nor was it objectively unreasonable in denying Petitioner an evidentiary hearing based on this claim. See Woods, 764 F.3d at 1128 (finding that the state court was reasonable in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing and rejecting a petitioner's Brady claim where the petitioner "could offer [only] speculation that an evidentiary hearing might produce testimony or other evidence"); Robinson, 2012 WL 1622655, at *5 (finding no Brady violation because the petitioner's allegations that the prosecution destroyed "material evidence" were "conclusory" and lacked "factual basis").
Furthermore, to the extent that Petitioner argues that the prosecution violated Brady by only disclosing the disposition of Menefee's case to the defense at the preliminary hearing, rather than earlier, this is not persuasive. See Pet'r Opp. at 49. The Ninth Circuit has held that evidence disclosed to the defense even as late as trial does not violate Brady so long as the disclosure was "made at a time when disclosure would be of value to the accused." United States v. Gordon, 844 F.3d 1397, 1403 (9th Cir. 1988) (quoting United States v. Davenport, 753 F.2d 1460, 1462 (9th Cir. 1985)). Accordingly, even on the assumption that the defense learned of the disposition of Menefee's 1988 case during Menefee's preliminary hearing on October 21, 1991, and assuming that this evidence was material to Petitioner's case, the defense nonetheless "had substantial opportunity to use the [evidence] and to cure any prejudice caused by the delayed disclosure." Id. Indeed, after the prosecution discussed the disposition of Menefee's case, the defense continued to cross examine Menefee at the preliminary hearing. AG00386. Moreover, Menefee did not testify at Petitioner's trial until April 4, 1994, nearly three years later. AG015652, AG015681. Under these circumstances, "there was no due process violation under Brady." Gordon, 844 F.3d at 1403 (finding that Brady was not violated where evidence was disclosed at trial because the defense could have recalled witnesses or introduced documents as exhibits); United States v. Guzman, 89 F. App'x 47, 49 (9th Cir. 2004) (finding that the prosecution's disclosure of material evidence twenty-two days prior to trial was not a Brady violation because the disclosure was still "of value to the accused").
In sum, Menefee testified regarding the disposition of her 1988 case at the preliminary hearing in the instant capital case approximately three years before trial, and the documents in the record before the California Supreme Court do not contradict this testimony. In the face of this evidence, Petitioner offers only speculation that Menefee received lenient treatment in exchange for her testimony. Thus, the California Supreme Court was not objectively unreasonable in denying Petitioner's argument. See Runningeagle, 686 F.3d at 767 ("[Petitioner] cannot make out a Brady claim because he can only speculate as to what [the witness] . . . told prosecutors.").
Finally, even assuming that the prosecution suppressed material evidence relating to Menefee's cooperation with any of the charges discussed above, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the suppression, and thus that the third prong of Brady was not satisfied. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82. Again, as discussed above, Menefee was present with Petitioner during the time of the shootings, and Menefee testified about Petitioner's actions around the time of the shootings and afterwards. AG015696-700. However, other substantial physical and testimonial evidence connected Petitioner to the shootings apart from Menefee's testimony, such as ballistic evidence, Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 207; testimony from at least four eyewitnesses that identified petitioner as the shooter, id. at 205-06; circumstantial evidence that Petitioner may have had McDermott's money at the time of his arrest, id. at 207; and testimony that Petitioner was overheard telling another defendant that "he was in for three murders" and that the victims had died because "I shot them," id. at 208. Accordingly, in light of the substantial evidence in the record connecting Petitioner with the shootings, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the prosecution's suppression of the evidence discussed above, and thus that Petitioner had failed to establish the third prong of Brady. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82.
c. Lenient Treatment for Menefee's 1992 Sale of Cocaine Offense
Third, Petitioner contends that Menefee's charge for selling crack cocaine in 1992 was dismissed, along with her co-defendant's charge, in exchange for Menefee's testimony in Petitioner's case. See Pet. at 206-07.
This argument relates to Menefee's arrest on July 8, 1992, for selling crack cocaine to an undercover police officer. AG020390. Menefee allegedly directed an undercover officer to her friend, Thomas Jackson, who sold the undercover officer crack cocaine. Id. According to the records that Petitioner submitted to the California Supreme Court as exhibits to his state habeas petition, Menefee's case was ultimately dismissed on August 14, 1992. AG020385. A notation in the police records states that "Menefee is [the] sole witness in the Delaney Marks death penalty case. No need to question her credibility, told to dismiss." AG020386. Further, these records show that Menefee told law enforcement that Jackson was not the person who sold the cocaine to the officer, "and [Menefee] stated that she w[ould] testify to" that fact. AG020389.
Petitioner asserts that these documents demonstrate that the prosecution reasonably knew that, in exchange for her testimony against Petitioner, Menefee received a lenient disposition with regards to the dismissal of this felony case. Pet. at 205-06. Further, Petitioner contends that the prosecution also dismissed Jackson's case so as to not "expose Menefee to cross-examination in Jackson's case." Pet'r Opp. at 50.
The record shows, however, that the defense was aware that Menefee's 1992 charge was dismissed and that the reason behind the dismissal was the prosecution's concern over Menefee's safety, not Menefee's testimony against Petitioner. Specifically, after the prosecution called Menefee as a witness and as the prosecution was prepared to rest its case-in-chief, the prosecutor remarked to the trial court that he had pulled Menefee's 1992 case file again "to make sure that it reflected all of her prior felony convictions." AG015800. The prosecutor stated that, in doing so, he "found out for the first time" the "circumstances under which" Menefee's 1992 sale-of-cocaine case had been dismissed. Id. The prosecutor explained on the record to the court that the "case was dismissed on August 14, 1992 . . . at the behest" of the prosecutor that was previously handling Petitioner's case, Joe Anderson ("Anderson"). AG015801. The prosecutor told the court that Anderson dismissed the case because Anderson was concerned for Menefee's safety if she were placed in custody. Id. Specifically, Anderson was concerned because "people have a way of getting hurt when they're in custody and it's known that they're going to be testifying against other persons in custody, especially if it's a murder case or a death penalty case." Id.
The prosecutor told the trial court in the instant capital case that he had discussed all of these facts with Petitioner's counsel prior to telling the court. AG015800. The prosecutor further stated that "[t]here had been no communication between [Anderson] and Ms. Menefee concerning that dismissal." AG015802. The prosecutor also told the court that "Ms. Menefee had in no way made any contact with any member of [the prosecutor's] office to gain any type of special treatment in light of the possibility of her testifying in this case." Id. The prosecutor said that he was prepared to call Anderson to testify about these facts, if needed. AG015801. The trial court provided the defense with an opportunity to state anything else on the record, but the defense declined. AG015802.
Accordingly, the record demonstrates that Anderson recommended the dismissal of Menefee's 1992 case out of concern over Menefee's safety as an informant in custody, the prosecutor in Petitioner's case stated on the record to the trial court in the instant case that no individual in the prosecutor's office communicated with Menefee about the dismissal of the 1992 case, and the prosecutor also told the defense about both of these facts. AG015800-02. Petitioner offers only conclusory speculation that prosecutors dismissed the 1992 charge against Menefee in exchange for her testimony against Petitioner. See Pet. at 209-11. "However," as discussed above, "to state a Brady claim, [Petitioner] is required to do more than 'merely speculate'" that the prosecutors dismissed the 1992 case against Menefee and Jackson in exchange for Menefee's cooperation. See Runningeagle, 686 F.3d at 769.
Moreover, to the extent that Petitioner argues that the prosecution disclosed the facts about the disposition of Menefee's 1992 charge in an untimely fashion, as stated above, the Ninth Circuit has found that the prosecution's disclosure at trial of material evidence does not violate Brady so long as the defense had a "substantial opportunity" to use the material evidence. Gordon, 844 F.2d at 1403. Here, Petitioner learned of this information soon after Menefee testified and prior to its case-in-chief; Petitioner's counsel could have requested to recall Menefee as a witness or Petitioner's counsel could have stated something on the record when given the opportunity to do so by the trial court. See AG015802. Under these circumstances, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably concluded that Petitioner had a "substantial opportunity to use the [information] and to cure any prejudice caused by the delayed disclosure," and thus that Brady was not violated. See id. (finding that a defendant had a "substantial opportunity" to use material evidence disclosed during trial and after the witness testified because the witnesses could have been recalled at trial for reexamination about the material evidence).
In sum, given the record before the California Supreme Court, it was not objectively unreasonable for the California Supreme Court to deny Petitioner's argument that Menefee received lenient treatment with regards to her 1992 sale-of-cocaine offense in exchange for testifying against Petitioner, and it was not unreasonable for the California Supreme Court to deny Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing related to this argument. See Woods, 764 F.3d at 1128 (finding that the state court was reasonable in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing and rejecting a petitioner's Brady claim where the petitioner "could offer [only] speculation that an evidentiary hearing might produce testimony or other evidence"); Robinson, 2012 WL 1622655, at *5 (finding no Brady violation because the petitioner's allegations that the prosecution destroyed "material evidence" were "conclusory" and lacked "factual basis").
Finally, even assuming that the prosecution suppressed material evidence relating to Menefee's cooperation with any of the charges discussed above, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the suppression, and thus that the third prong of Brady was not satisfied. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82. Again, as discussed above, Menefee was present with Petitioner during the time of the shootings, and Menefee testified about Petitioner's actions around the time of the shootings and afterwards. AG015696-700. However, other substantial physical and testimonial evidence connected Petitioner to the shootings apart from Menefee's testimony, such as ballistic evidence, Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 207; testimony from at least four eyewitnesses that identified petitioner as the shooter, id. at 205-06; circumstantial evidence that Petitioner may have had McDermott's money at the time of Petitioner's arrest, id. at 207; and testimony that Petitioner was overheard telling another defendant that "he was in for three murders" and that the victims had died because "I shot them," id. at 208. Accordingly, in light of the substantial evidence in the record connecting Petitioner with the shootings, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the prosecution's suppression of the evidence discussed above, and thus that Petitioner had failed to establish the third prong of Brady. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82.
3. Being an Untruthful Informant
Lastly, Petitioner states that the prosecution violated Brady because the "prosecution reasonably and actually knew that Menefee was widely and justifiably regarded by Alameda County law enforcement community" as being "an untruthful, unreliable and untrustworthy informant." Pet. at 207. Moreover, Petitioner contends that the prosecution knew that Menefee had a 20-year "working relationship with the law enforcement agencies in Alameda County" and that she was "allowed and encouraged to engage in a pattern of criminal conduct . . . without fear of prosecution." Id. at 207-08. As discussed below, however, Petitioner's assertions are not supported by the record.
First, in support of this claim, Petitioner cites to the probation officer notations that Petitioner submitted as exhibits to his habeas petition before the California Supreme Court. Pet. at 207. As discussed above, these notations included remarks from Fong in 1976 that Menefee was continually unable to comply with probation directives, that Menefee "ha[d] continually lied to the probation officer about following through on specific directives," that Menefee "tells exaggerated stories to make excuses for her failure to follow directives," and that Menefee "enjoys the attention and confusion she creates by playing these games" with the probation office. AG020356-57.
However, these notations do not demonstrate that Menefee was an "informant" for law enforcement, or that Menefee had a "working relationship" with law enforcement that allowed her to evade criminal responsibility. See Pet. at 207-08. Indeed, the exhibits that Petitioner submitted to the California Supreme Court show that Menefee was repeatedly cited for violating her probation from 1974 to 1976 and that she faced consequences as a result. See, e.g., AG020332, AG020345 (noting, in 1976, that Menefee failed to follow probation directives and recommending that she serve the remainder of her probation in jail). Further, these documents demonstrate that, as a result of her probation violations, the court issued a bench warrant for Menefee's arrest in 1976 and 1978 and Menefee was sentenced to time in jail. AG020348 (issuing bench warrant in 1976); AG020371 (setting forth Menefee's criminal history, including that her probation was revoked in 1978 and a bench warrant issued). Thus, these exhibits do not demonstrate that Menefee was "allowed and encouraged to engage in a pattern of criminal conduct . . . without fear of prosecution," let alone that Menefee was allowed to do so because of her relationship with law enforcement. Pet. at 208.
Second, in support of this claim, Petitioner cites documents that relate to Menefee's 1992 charge for sale of cocaine. See Pet. at 208-10. Specifically, Petitioner states that "[t]he District Attorney dismissed Menefee's [1992 sale-of-cocaine] case expressly in consideration for her cooperation as the primary witness" in Petitioner's case, Pet. at 210, and that the prosecutor "expressly and falsely represented to both trial counsel and the trial court" that the prosecutor's office had not had discussions with Menefee, id. at 211. However, as discussed above, the prosecutor in Petitioner's case stated to the court that Menefee's 1992 charges were dismissed because Menefee was a witness in the instant capital case and the prosecution feared for her safety if she were to be placed in custody, and that the prosecutor's office had no discussions with Menefee regarding her cooperation. AG015802. Petitioner offers no evidence in support of his assertions to the contrary and instead merely speculates that the prosecutor was lying. Again, as discussed above, Petitioner's speculation is not enough. See Runningeagle, 686 F.3d at 767 ("[Petitioner] cannot make out a Brady claim because he can only speculate as to what [the witness] . . . told prosecutors.").
Finally, in support of this claim, Petitioner asserts that Menefee was known by the prosecution to be "an untruthful, unreliable and untrustworthy informant" because "Menefee had been found by the Alameda County Superior Court to have lied under oath as a witness for the prosecution in an earlier murder trial." Pet. at 206. However, Petitioner overstates the record. Petitioner's evidence in support of this claim is a transcript from Menefee's appearance in Superior Court for the County of Alameda on July 9, 1974, to be sentenced for her involvement in a theft offense. AG020364-66. In sentencing Menefee, the trial court commented that "[i]nstead of sentencing you to State Prison with execution suspended," the court would "suspend imposition of sentence" and have "felony probation imposed" so that Menefee could have the conviction removed at a later point in time, "which would be rather difficult," the court explained, if it were to "impose[] State Prison suspended." AG020366. The court then stated that it was giving this sentence because the court "fe[lt it had] seen [Menefee] before." Id. Specifically, Menefee had been "a witness in a murder trial" before the court and the court stated that it "didn't believe" Menefee's testimony or another witness's testimony in that case, and that Menefee "got into bad company." Id. The court remarked that Menefee was "old enough now to know better" and that the court "trust[ed] that" Menefee would do better. AG020367.
Thus, the evidence cited by Petitioner shows that Menefee testified in a prior case—on an unknown date—and that the court did not "believe" her testimony, AG020366, but this does not establish that Menefee committed perjury, that Menefee was found by the court to have committed perjury, or that Menefee was working with the prosecution or serving as an "informant" in committing perjury. See Pet. at 206. Again, Petitioner offers only speculation regarding Menefee's reputation as an untruthful informant and Menefee's "working relationship with law enforcement. Id. Petitioner must "do more than 'merely speculate,'" however, in order "to state a Brady claim." Runnineagle, 686 F.3d at 769-70. Under these circumstances, it was not objectively unreasonable for the California Supreme Court to deny Petitioner's Brady claim and deny Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing. See Woods, 764 F.3d at 1128 (finding that the state court was reasonable in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing and rejecting a petitioner's Brady claim where the petitioner "could offer [only] speculation that an evidentiary hearing might produce testimony or other evidence"); Robinson, 2012 WL 1622655, at *5 (finding no Brady violation because the petitioner's allegations that the prosecution destroyed "material evidence" were "conclusory" and lacked "factual basis").
Finally, even assuming that this evidence is favorable to Petitioner and demonstrates that Menefee was known by law enforcement to be an "untrustworthy informant," the California Supreme Court could have reasonably concluded that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the lack of disclosure of this evidence, and thus that the third prong of Brady was not satisfied. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82. As stated above, Menefee was present with Petitioner during the time of the shootings, and she testified at trial about his actions around the time of the shootings and afterwards. See AG015696-700. However, other substantial physical and testimonial evidence connected Petitioner to the shootings apart from Menefee's testimony, such as ballistic evidence, Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 207; testimony from at least four eyewitnesses identifying Petitioner as the shooter, id. at 205-06; circumstantial evidence that Petitioner may have had McDermott's money at the time of Petitioner's arrest; and testimony that Petitioner was overheard telling another defendant that "he was in for three murders" and that the victims had died because "I shot them," id. at 208. Thus, in light of the substantial evidence in the record connecting Petitioner with the shootings, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the prosecution's suppression of the evidence discussed above, even assuming that the evidence was material and that it was suppressed. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82.
Petitioner further contends that the prosecution "successfully concealed" evidence of Menefee's "prior perjury" at the preliminary hearing in Petitioner's case. Pet. at 209. However, the record shows only that, at the preliminary hearing, defense counsel asked Menefee "Ha[ve] you ever testified in a courtroom before?" AG000381. Menefee responded "Yes." Id. Defense counsel then asked, "Were you testifying against somebody else as to what that person had done?" Id. The prosecutor objected on the basis of "[r]elevance," and the trial court sustained the prosecutor's objection. AG000381.
Petitioner offers only conclusory speculation that, by objecting to the defense counsel's question, the prosecutor was intentionally trying to "thwart[] [defense] counsel's efforts to discover" the truth about Menefee's "prior perjury." See Pet. at 209. Such speculation, however, is not enough to state a Brady claim. Robinson, 2012 WL 1622655, at *5 (finding no Brady violation because the petitioner's allegations that the prosecution destroyed "material evidence" were "conclusory" and lacked "factual basis"). Moreover, as stated, the evidence submitted by Petitioner in support of his assertion regarding Menefee's "prior perjury" does not establish that Menefee committed perjury. See AG020364-66. Finally, even assuming that Menefee did commit "prior perjury," and assuming that the prosecution attempted to conceal this evidence through objecting at the preliminary hearing, the California Supreme Court could have nonetheless reasonably concluded that Petitioner was not prejudiced by this lack of disclosure, and thus that the third prong of Brady was not satisfied, because of the substantial physical and testimonial evidence connecting Petitioner to the shooting, as discussed above. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281-82.
B. Knowing Presentation of False Testimony
Petitioner also contends in Claim 10 that the prosecution "knowingly presented and/or failed to correct Menefee's materially false and misleading trial testimony." Pet. at 212. Specifically, Petitioner contends that the prosecution knowingly elicited and presented false testimony from Menefee regarding the Gourmet Market shooting, Pet. at 212, the Taco Bell shooting, Pet. at 214, and the shooting of the taxi driver, Pet. at 215.
The relevant clearly-established federal law for this subclaim is Napue v. Illinois, which held that a defendant's conviction violates the Fourteenth Amendment when the prosecution obtains the conviction "through use of false evidence, known to be such by representatives of the State," or where the "State, although not soliciting false evidence, allows it to go uncorrected when it appears." 360 U.S. 264, 269 (1959). "A conviction obtained by the knowing use of perjured testimony is fundamentally unfair, and must be set aside if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury." United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 103 (1976). Thus, a claim under Napue and its progeny will succeed when (1) the testimony or evidence was actually false, (2) the prosecution knew or should have known that the testimony or evidence was actually false, and (3) the false testimony or evidence was material. Henry v. Ryan, 720 F.3d 1073, 1084 (9th Cir. 2013).
As discussed above, the California Supreme Court denied Claim 10 without explanation. Because the California Supreme Court did not provide reasons for its denial of Petitioner's claim, the Court must determine what arguments or theories could have supported the California Supreme Court's decision to reject Petitioner's Brady claim. See Richter, 562 U.S. at 102 ("Under § 2254(d), a habeas court must determine what arguments or theories supported or, as here, could have supported, the state court's decision . . . .").
1. False Testimony Regarding the Gourmet Market Shooting
First, Petitioner argues that "[p]rosecuting authorities knowingly and purposefully elicited false evidence from Menefee that [Petitioner] told her that he was going to Gourmet Market to rob it and that upon his return told her that he had shot two people." Pet. at 212. According to Petitioner, Menefee "denied having any knowledge of the shootings" while in police custody, but "officials threatened, coerced, cajoled, berated, threatened and unfairly forced and convinced Menefee to give a statement that she and the police knew falsely implicated" Petitioner. Id. Petitioner contends that Menefee gave false statements that Petitioner told her that he was going to Gourmet Market in order to rob the store. Id. at 213.
Petitioner's assertions are not supported by the record. The transcript of Menefee's tape-recorded interview with Detective Landes ("Landes") on October 18, 1990, does not demonstrate that law enforcement, let alone the prosecutor's office, used any "threat[s]" or coercion. See AG000107-16. Rather, the transcript shows that the beginning of Landes's interview with Menefee progressed as follows:
LANDES: What I want you to do is ah tell me a little bit about what happened tonight? What time did you first get together with Delaney?
MENEFEE: We was together all night. . . . Then later on that evening, we walked along by Lake Merritt and um, he walked to the grocery store. I stayed in the park while he went down there. And when he came back he told me that he had shot two people in the store.
LANDES: He told you that he had shot two people in the store? Did he say why he shot these two people in the store?
MENEFEE: No, because I didn't even ask. You know. If he said that he told me that he did, I don't know nothing about that because he wouldn't tell me nothing like that.AG000107. Accordingly, at the beginning of the interview, Menefee told Landes that Petitioner "shot two people in the store" and that he went to the store "to rob them or something." Id.
LANDES: Did he tell you why he was going to the grocery store in Oakland?
MENEFEE: I guess to rob them or something. I know I heard a little bit about that.
LANDES: What did you hear about that?
MENEFEE: That he was gonna go, go to the store and rob, rob somebody.
Petitioner contends that Menefee was arrested shortly after midnight, see AG00075-76, and thus Menefee was in police custody for approximately two hours before the interview began at 2:04 a.m., AG000107; see Pet. Reply at 44 ("[B]y the time the tape recorder was turned on, Menefee had been in custody for nearly two hours."). However, Petitioner offers only speculation, without any support in the record, that Menefee gave different statements during the preceding two hours, that law enforcement or the prosecution interrogated Menefee during this time, or that law enforcement used coercive techniques or "berated" Menefee such that she provided false statements about the Gourmet Market events. See Pet. at 212-13. Petitioner's "conclusory assertion" that Menefee was coerced into giving false statements and that the prosecution knowingly presented these false statements "does not constitute evidence sufficient to make out a Napue claim." Henry, 720 F.3d at 1085; see also Valverde v. People of the State of California, 2015 WL 7566807, at *8 (N.D. Cal. 2015) (citing Henry for the proposition that, in order for a petitioner to establish a Napue claim, "[c]onclusory assertions will not do."). Given this record, the California Supreme Court was not objectively unreasonable in denying Petitioner's argument, or in denying Petitioner an evidentiary hearing on the basis of this argument. See Woods, 764 F.3d at 1128 (finding that the state court was reasonable in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing and rejecting a petitioner's claim where the petitioner "could offer [only] speculation that an evidentiary hearing might produce testimony or other evidence").
Moreover, even on the assumption that Menefee's statements were false, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably concluded that the false testimony was not "material," and thus that the third Napue prong was not satisfied. Henry, 720 F.3d at 1084. Specifically, "[i]n assessing materiality under Napue, we must determine whether there is 'any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.'" Hayes v. Brown, 399 F.3d 972, 984 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Agurs, 427 U.S. at 103)). "As in the Brady context, the basic question is 'whether . . . [the defendant] received a fair trial, understood as a trial resulting in a verdict worthy of confidence.'" Jackson v. Brown, 513 F.3d 1057, 1072 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Kyles, 554 U.S. at 434). Here, apart from Menefee's testimony, substantial physical and testimonial evidence connected Petitioner to the Gourmet Market shooting, as discussed above. Significantly, a criminalist testified at trial with "virtually absolute certainty" that the bullets that shot the two Gourmet Market victims, Myers and Baeza, came from Petitioner's gun. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 207. Accordingly, even assuming that Menefee gave false statements, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that these statements were not "material," and thus that the prosecution did not violate Napue. Henry, 720 F.3d at 1084.
2. False Testimony Regarding the Taco Bell Shooting
Second, Petitioner contends that the "prosecuting authorities knowingly and purposefully elicited a late rendition of fabricated facts that included [Petitioner] purportedly telling Menefee that he had shot a girl at Taco Bell." Pet. at 214. Petitioner states that, in Menefee's interview with Detective Landes after Menefee's arrest, Menefee stated that she "didn't [know] he shot somebody at Taco Bell," and that it was not until Menefee was cross-examined at the preliminary hearing that Menefee then stated Petitioner "told her on the night of the crimes that he had shot someone at the Taco Bell." Id.
Menefee's interview with Landes shows that Menefee was the first to mention the Taco Bell shooting:
LANDES: . . . I know that you weren't there when [Petitioner] shot the cab driver.AG000111. At the preliminary hearing, Menefee stated on direct examination that Petitioner "told [her] he shot a girl at Taco Bell." AG000334. The defense cross-examined Menefee and asked Menefee why she told Landes during her interview that Petitioner did not say anything to Menefee about the Taco Bell shooting. AG000362. Menefee stated "[t]he reason why I didn't say nothing because I was afraid to." AG000363. Menefee stated that her statement to Landes was a lie, and Menefee again stated that she lied "because [she] was afraid." Id. Menefee testified that she was telling the truth in her testimony before the court. Id.
MENEFEE: And I wasn't there when he shot the people at the grocery store either. Or shot somebody at Taco Bell either. I wasn't there.
LANDES: Do you know that he shot someone at Taco Bell?
MENEFEE: No he didn't mention it to me.
Menefee's inconsistent statements do not demonstrate that Petitioner is entitled to relief under Napue. "The fact that a witness may have made an earlier inconsistent statement, or that other witnesses have conflicting recollections of events, does not establish that the testimony offered at trial was false." United States v. Croft, 124 F.3d 1109, 1119 (9th Cir. 1997); see also United States v. Bingham, 653 F.3d 983, 995 (9th Cir. 2011) ("Certainly [the witness] made inconsistent statements, but that is not enough for a Napue violation."). Moreover, to the extent that Petitioner further argues that Menefee was coerced and misled by the police to give false testimony, see Pet. at 214, Petitioner's conclusory speculation regarding Menefee's interactions with the police are insufficient to state a Napue claim, as discussed above. Henry, 720 F.3d at 1085.
Furthermore, even on the assumption that Menefee gave false testimony, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that the testimony was not "material," and thus that the third prong of Napue was not satisfied. Id. at 1084. As stated, apart from Menefee's testimony, substantial and testimonial evidence connected Petitioner to the Taco Bell shooting, including ballistic evidence that "suggested" that the bullet that shot Luong came from Petitioner's gun and that several eyewitnesses identified Petitioner as the Taco Bell shooter. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 204, 207. Thus, the California Supreme Court was not objectively unreasonable in denying this claim.
3. False Testimony Regarding the Taxi Cab Shooting
Finally, Petitioner contends that "[p]rosecuting authorities knowingly and purposefully elicited a late rendition of fabricated facts" regarding the taxi cab shooting, including that Petitioner "confessed to [Menefee] that he shot the taxicab driver immediately upon approaching her in the alley" and that Petitioner and Menefee "hid underneath an apartment building in an alley after the shooting." Pet. at 215. However, Petitioner's evidence in support of this assertion consists solely of the inconsistencies in Menefee's testimony between her interview with Detective Landes, her preliminary hearing testimony, and her trial testimony. Pet. at 215-18 ("Menefee told differing stories at varying times.").
Specifically, in Menefee's interview with Detective Landes, Menefee stated that Petitioner got out of the taxi cab and told Menefee "to go ahead on," and Menefee went into an alleyway because she had to use the bathroom. AG000110-11. Petitioner eventually caught up with her in the alley and told Menefee "[t]hat he had shot the cab driver." Id. Menefee then stated that they went to hide near Petitioner's grandmother's house and that Petitioner did not change his clothes. AG000111-13.
At the preliminary hearing, Menefee testified that Petitioner "told [her] to leave" the cab and that she went to an alleyway to use the bathroom. AG000338. Menefee stated that she heard a gunshot from the area of the cab and then Petitioner came to meet Menefee in the alleyway. AG000339. However, Menefee stated that the Petitioner did not tell her anything about the cab driver. AG000340. Menefee then stated that she and Petitioner hid underneath a house and that they tried to go to Petitioner's grandmother's house. AG000340-42.
At trial, Menefee testified that Petitioner told her to get out of the cab and that she went into an alleyway to use the bathroom. AG015696. Menefee then stated that she heard a gunshot, Petitioner ran and "told [her] he shot the cab driver," and Menefee also heard a car horn. AG015697-98. Menefee and Petitioner then hid underneath a building and then tried to go to Petitioner's grandmother's house. AG015698-99. On cross-examination, Menefee stated that Petitioner changed his shirt in the park that day. AG015727-28.
Thus, the record shows that Menefee gave some inconsistent testimony regarding the taxi cab shooting, such as whether Petitioner told her in the alley that he shot the taxi cab driver, or whether Petitioner changed his shirt that day. Nonetheless, as stated above, "[t]he fact that a witness may have made an earlier inconsistent statement, or that other witnesses have conflicting recollections of events, does not establish that the testimony offered at trial was false." Croft, 124 F.3d at 1119. Petitioner again contends that the change in Menefee's testimony "was the result of the unfair and suggestive questioning by prosecuting authorities" and that the prosecution knowingly used and elicited false testimony from Menefee. Pet. at 216-17. However, as discussed above, Petitioner offers only conclusory speculation that Menefee was unfairly questioned by officers and that she gave false testimony as a result. Given this record, the California Supreme Court was not objectively unreasonable in denying Petitioner's claim. Henry, 720 F.3d at 1085.
Furthermore, even assuming that Menefee did provide false testimony regarding the taxi cab shooting, Petitioner's Napue claim would still fail because the California Supreme Court could have reasonably determined that the evidence was not "material." Id. at 1084. Ballistics evidence indicated that the bullet that shot McDermott, the taxi cab driver, came from Petitioner's gun. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 206-07. Moreover, although McDermott carried $1 bills for change, he had no paper currency on his body or in his taxi after the shooting, but Petitioner had seven $1 bills on his person at the time of his arrest. Id. Further, other eyewitness testimony connected Petitioner to the taxi cab shooting, including a taxi cab driver that testified that individuals matching Petitioner and Menefee's descriptions got into McDermott's cab on the night of the shooting. Id. Given this, the California Supreme Court was not unreasonable in denying Petitioenr's Napue claim based on Menefee's allegedly false testimony.
C. Prosecutor Unfairly Buttressed Menefee's Credibility
Lastly, Petitioner contends that "[t]he trial court erroneously permitted the prosecuting attorney to present evidence that unfairly buttressed Menefee's credibility by vouching for the truthfulness of her testimony and effectively testifying for her." Pet. at 217. Specifically, an investigator "escort[ed] Menefee on a tour of the locations she described," the investigator plotted these locations "on an aerial photograph," and the investigator testified about these locations to the jury. Id. Petitioner contends that this "impose[d] consistency and order on Menefee's internally inconsistent and dubious testimony." Id.
As stated, the California Supreme Court denied Claim 10 without explanation. Because the California Supreme Court did not provide reasons for its denial of Petitioner's claim, the Court must determine what arguments or theories could have supported the California Supreme Court's decision to reject Petitioner's claim that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecutor to present the investigator's testimony. See Richter, 562 U.S. at 102 ("Under § 2254(d), a habeas court must determine what arguments or theories supported or, as here, could have supported, the state court's decision . . . .").
Under federal law, "prosecutorial vouching rises to the level of constitutional violation only if it 'so infect[s] the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.'" Barnes v. Almager, 526 F. App'x 775, 778 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Darden v. Wainwright, 447 U.S. 168, 181 (1986)); see also Curtis v. Alameida, 244 F. App'x 781, 782 (9th Cir. 2007) (applying Darden to a habeas petitioner's argument that the prosecutor improperly vouched for two witnesses). Petitioner does not present any argument as to why the prosecutor's introduction of the investigator's testimony "so infected the trial with unfairness" such that Petitioner was denied due process. Barnes, 526 F. App'x at 778. The record does not demonstrate that the prosecutor "offer[ed] unsolicited personal views on the evidence" or otherwise vouched for the testimony of Menefee through the investigator. See United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 8 (1985); see AG015774-AG015791. Given this, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably concluded that Petitioner's federal due process rights were not violated by the prosecutor's examination of the investigator.
Moreover, to the extent that Petitioner argues that the investigator's testimony was "rank hearsay" and should not have been admitted at trial, Pet. at 59, under federal law, "[t]he admission of evidence does not provide a basis for habeas relief unless it rendered the trial fundamentally unfair in violation of due process." Johnson v. Sublett, 63 F.3d 926, 930 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-69 (1991)). Petitioner objected at trial to some of the investigator's testimony as hearsay, and the trial court admitted the statements under the hearsay exception for prior inconsistent statements. AG015783. Petitioner offers no argument as to why the trial court's evidentiary ruling was erroneous, let alone argument as to why the admission of the investigator's testimony rose to the level of a due-process violation. See Pet'r Br. at 59; Johnson, 63 F.3d at 930. Given this, the California Supreme Court could have reasonably concluded that Petitioner's federal due process rights were not violated by the trial court's admission of the investigator's testimony.
Finally, even assuming that the trial court contravened federal law in admitting the investigator's testimony, Petitioner would still need to establish that the trial court's error "had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict" in order to establish entitlement to habeas relief. Brecht, 507 U.S. at 638. This Petitioner cannot do. As stated, substantial physical and testimonial evidence connected Petitioner to the shooting apart from Menefee's testimony. A criminalist testified with "virtually absolute certainty" that the bullets that shot Baez and Myers came from Petitioner's gun, ballistics evidence "indicated" that the bullet that shot McDermott came from Petitioner's gun, and ballistics evidence "suggested" that the bullet that injured Luong came from the same source. Marks, 31 Cal. 4th at 207. "It was 'highly unlikely' that any of the bullets were fired from a gun other than defendant's." Id. Moreover, at least four eyewitnesses testified as to the shootings and identified Petitioner as the shooter, id., in addition to other testimonial and physical evidence connecting Petitioner to the crimes, such as the paper currency found on Petitioner at the time of his arrest and testimony that Petitioner told another defendant that "he was in for three murders" and that the victims had died because "I shot them." Id. at 205-08.
Thus, given this substantial evidence connecting Petitioner to the crime, Petitioner cannot establish that the trial court's alleged error in admitting the investigator's testimony "resulted in 'actual prejudice,'" to petitioner. Brecht, 507 U.S. at 637 (quoting United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 449 (1986)). Petitioner accordingly cannot establish entitlement to relief under AEDPA, and this subclaim must be denied. Id.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Claim 10. Because Petitioner's arguments as to Claim 10 are unavailing, Petitioner's request for a federal evidentiary hearing as to Claim 10 is also DENIED. See Sully, 725 F.3d at 1075 ("[A]n evidentiary hearing is pointless once the district court has determined that § 2254(d) precludes habeas relief.").
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: November 15, 2016
/s/_________
LUCY H. KOH
United States District Judge