People v. Pagan

165 P.3d 724, 2006 Colo. App. LEXIS 1582, 2006 WL 2691709
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 21, 2006
Docket04CA0527, 04CA0873
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 165 P.3d 724 (People v. Pagan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Pagan, 165 P.3d 724, 2006 Colo. App. LEXIS 1582, 2006 WL 2691709 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

Opinion by

Judge GRAHAM.

Defendant, Ervin Lee Pagan, appeals the judgment of conviction entered upon a jury verdict finding him guilty of theft from an at risk adult of over $500. The People cross-appeal the trial court's order of restitution. We affirm the judgment of conviction, vacate the order of restitution, and remand the case for further proceedings.

Defendant was charged with one count of theft of $15,000 or more, and one count of theft from an at risk adult of $500 or more but less than $15,000. After a jury trial, defendant was acquitted of theft of $15,000 or more, but convicted of theft from an at risk adult of $500 dollars or more but less than $15,000. He was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,000, plus interest, in restitution.

I. Late Discovery

Defendant argues that the trial court erred in not precluding evidence of his bank records because the prosecution had failed to produce the information before trial. Specifically, defendant argues that the court's ruling resulted in an unequal "playing field" and that he did not have adequate time to cross-examine or combat the evidence contained in the bank records. We disagree.

Crim. P. 16 governs discovery in a criminal proceeding and outlines the procedures the parties are required to follow. Certain information must be disclosed without a formal request, and Crim. P. 16(V)(a) and related rules provide for sanctions in the event that the discovery rules are not followed.

Crim. P. 16(III)(g) states:

If at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply with this rule or with an order issued pursuant to this rule, the court may order such party to permit the discovery or inspection of materials not previously disclosed, grant a continuance, prohibit the party from introducing in evidence the material not disclosed or enter such other order as it deems just under the cireum-stances.

The rule gives the trial court broad discretion in determining the appropriate *727 remedies for violations. People v. Pronovost, 773 P.2d 555 (Colo.1989).

When exercising its discretion in fashioning remedies for violations of Crim. P. 16, the court should impose the least severe sanction that will ensure full compliance with the discovery rules. However, an order imposing sanctions will amount to an abuse of discretion only when the order is manifestly arbitrary, unreasonable, or unfair. People v. Cobb, 962 P.2d 944 (Colo.1998); People v. Dist. Court, 808 P.2d 831 (Colo.1991).

In determining an appropriate sanction, a trial court should consider the reasons why disclosure was not made; the extent of the prejudice to the defendant, if any; the feasibility of rectifying the prejudice by a continuance; and any other relevant cireum-stances. People v. Dist. Court, supra.

Here, during the second day of trial and the first day of testimony, the defense informed the court that it had just been provided with "a stack of documents over an inch thick from Pikes Peak National Bank." The documents were defendant's bank records-mainly bank statements and returned checks that were seized from defendant's home. Defense counsel requested that the documents be excluded because the prosecutor had violated Crim. P. 16 by not turning them over before trial. The court denied defense counsel's request, but ordered the prosecutor to refrain from referring to the documents for the rest of the day so that defense counsel could review the documents overnight.

The next day, defense counsel stated that he had reviewed the documents and understood them, but had not had time to discuss them with defendant to prepare a defense. Defense counsel again asked the court to preclude the prosecution from using the doe-uments at trial.

The prosecutor explained that, before trial, defense counsel was provided a spread sheet summarizing all the bank records. The prosecutor also stated that the bank records, which were placed in an evidence locker, were itemized on the execution of the search warrant and the evidence invoice and were referred to at the preliminary hearing.

The court directed that the trial proceed with the examination of witnesses and that, if necessary, the court would recess until 1:30 p.m. so that defense counsel could review the evidence with defendant. Following testimony of a police officer and the district attorney's investigator, the court asked the prosecutor whether it would be necessary to introduce each individual bank statement and check or whether bank statement summaries would suffice. The prosecutor informed the court that the summaries would be sufficient. Asked to comment on this procedure, defense counsel responded, "Our objection remains. However, we are more satisfied with that."

Although the prosecutor violated Crim. P. 16, the trial court determined that the appropriate remedy was to grant defendant time to review the documents. See People v. Loggins, 981 P.2d 630 (Colo.App.1998).

We find no error in the trial court's remedy for three reasons. First, the material was not exculpatory to defendant.

Second, defendant suffered no prejudice as a result of the late disclosures. The actual bank records were never admitted into evidence; only summaries were admitted; and those were properly disclosed to defense counsel prior to trial,. Defendant cannot argue that he was unfairly surprised. The bank documents were also described in the statement summaries provided to defense counsel before trial. The documents were also itemized in the search warrant and the evidence invoice, and there was testimony about them at the preliminary hearing. Because the documents included defendant's own bank account records and cancelled checks, defendant cannot claim that the information was unknown to him. Moreover, any claim by defendant at the appellate level that he was unfairly surprised and unable to prepare adequately for cross-examination is thoroughly discredited by his failure to move for a continuance or a new trial at the trial level. Cf. United States v. McPartlin, 595 F.2d 1321 (7th Cir.1979) (failure of defendants to renew request for a continuance thoroughly discredits their assertion that they were prejudiced by the timing of disclo *728 sure); People v. Graham, 678 P.2d 1043 (Colo.App.1983).

Third, the information was relevant to show what defendant did with the victim's money.

Given the scope of the violation and the nature of the material involved, we conclude that the trial court's ruling was not arbitrary, unreasonable, or unfair under these circumstances, and we therefore perceive no abuse of discretion in the trial court's admitting the bank record summaries or failing to sanction the prosecution more severely. See People v. Cobb, supra.

II. Request for Mistrial

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
165 P.3d 724, 2006 Colo. App. LEXIS 1582, 2006 WL 2691709, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-pagan-coloctapp-2006.