Kevin Light-Roth v. Stephen Sinclair

517 F. App'x 606

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: May 8, 2013
• Docket: 12-35047
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Kevin Light-Roth appeals from the denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The district court issued a certificate of appealability (“COA”) as to two of Light-Roth’s claims, namely whether the government introduced the testimony of Justin VanBrackle in violation Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 79 S.Ct. 1173, 3 L.Ed.2d 1217 (1959). Light-Roth also sought a COA from this Court as to his remaining claims (i.e., whether his trial counsel was ineffective under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), for failing to uncover the Van-Brackle-related violations, and whether the government introduced the testimony of an additional witness, Chris Highley, in violation of Brady and Napue). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, affirm the district court on the certified claims, and deny Light-Roth’s request for a COA on the remaining claims.

1.The state courts’ rejection of Light-Roth’s VanBrackle-related Brady claim was not the result of an unreasonable determination of the facts or an unreasonable application of federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). “To prevail on a Brady claim, [a] defendant must show that ‘(1) the evidence was exculpatory or impeaching; (2) it should have been, but was not produced; and (3) the suppressed evidence was material to his guilt or punishment.’ ” United States v. Antonakeas, 255 F.3d 714, 725 (9th Cir.2001) (quoting Paradis v. Arave, 130 F.3d 385, 392 (9th Cir.1997)). Light-Roth’s Brady claim fails because, even assuming the government suppressed favorable evidence, given the strength of the case against Light-Roth and the cumulative nature of VanBrackle’s testimony, the state court reasonably determined that evidence was not material.

2. Light-Roth’s VanBrackle-related Napue claim likewise fails. To succeed under Napue, Light-Roth must show that: “(1) the prosecution actually presented false testimony; (2) the prosecution knew or should have known that the testimony was false; and (3) the false testimony was material to the outcome of the trial.” United States v. Pelisamen, 641 F.3d 399, 407 (9th Cir.2011). The state court’s determination that the government neither knew nor should have known VanBrackle was testifying falsely was not an unreasonable determination of the facts or an unreasonable application of Napue. Moreover, for the same reasons indicated above, the VanBrackle evidence was immaterial.

3. Finally, a COA may issue “only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). “A petitioner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that jurists of reason could disagree with the district court’s resolution of his constitutional claims or that jurists could conclude the issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 827, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003). Light-Roth has not made such a showing with respect to his Highley-related Brady and Napue claims, or his derivative ineffective assistance of counsel claim. We decline to expand the certificate of appeal-ability and, therefore, dismiss Light-Roth’s uncertified issues for lack of jurisdiction. Doe v. Woodford, 508 F.3d 563, 569 (9th Cir.2007).

AFFIRMED.

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.