United States v. Goodwin
United States v. Goodwin
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Michael Goodwin appeals from the denial of his motion for a new trial filed pursuant to Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. He was convicted of one count of conspiracy and 12 counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1014. He contends that newly discovered evidence establishing his innocence and prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct in referring to Goodwin as a liar compel reversal of the judgment of conviction. He also argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on his contention that the Government failed to disclose exculpatory evidence as required by Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). We affirm because we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial based on Goodwin’s failure to exercise due diligence in discovering the alleged significance of evidence in his possession prior to trial. We also conclude that Goodwin has failed to demonstrate that the Government suppressed exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady. We further hold that the alleged prosecutorial misconduct and Jencks Act violation are not reviewable pursuant to Rule 33. As the parties are familiar with the factual and procedural background of the case, we do not summarize it here.
I
Goodwin contends that the district court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. We review a denial of a motion for a new trial for abuse of discretion. United States v. Holmes, 229 F.3d 782, 789 (9th Cir. 2000). An appellant carries a “significant burden” to show that a district court abused its discretion in denying a motion for a new trial. United States v. Endicott, 869 F.2d 452, 454 (9th Cir. 1989). A district court’s findings of fact must be accepted unless they are clearly erroneous. Id.
To warrant a new trial, an appellant must show that: (1) the evidence is newly discovered; (2) the failure to discover the evidence sooner was not the result of lack of diligence; (3) the evidence is material to the issues at trial; (4) the evidence is not cumulative nor merely impeaching; (5) the evidence would probably result in an acquittal. United States v. Kulczyk, 931 F.2d 542, 548 (9th Cir. 1991).
The district court found that Goodwin did not exercise due diligence in discovering the significance of the evidence disclosed by the Government. The court based its finding on Goodwin’s admission that the allegedly newly discovered evidence was in his counsel’s possession prior to trial.
II
Goodwin asserts that the court erred as a matter of law in denying the motion for a new trial because the Government failed to disclose exculpatory evidence as required by Brady. We review such a contention de novo. United States v. Antonakeas, 255 F.3d 714, 725 (9th Cir. 2001). To prevail on a Brady claim, Goodwin 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.” Id. (quotation omitted). Evidence is material under Brady only if there is a reasonable probability that had it been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id.
The record shows that the allegedly exculpatory evidence in the Government’s possession was disclosed to Goodwin prior to trial. Therefore, Goodwin has failed to demonstrate that the Government suppressed exculpatory evidence. See United States v. Aichele, 941 F.2d 761, 764 (9th Cir. 1991) (determining that there is no suppression by the Government “[w]hen, as here, a defendant has enough information to be able to ascertain the supposed Brady material on his own”).
Goodwin further asserts that the Government suppressed over 100 documents including items contained in the bankruptcy records subpoenaed by the Government. Without any evidentiary support in the record, he contends that these items were intentionally removed from various files by the Government. While Goodwin presented this factual claim in his second Rule 33 motion for a new trial, filed pro se on January 18, 2000, it was not raised in the first motion for a new trial, filed by his attorney on January 14, 2000. The district court had previously ordered that any Rule 33 motion for a new trial must come through Goodwin’s attorney. Because Goodwin disobeyed this order by filing a second Rule 33 motion pro se, the district court refused to consider Goodwin’s January 18 filing. Thus, Goodwin’s claim that the Government suppressed over 100 documents was not properly presented to the district court. We do not consider matters raised for the first time on appeal that involve questions of fact to avoid prejudicing the opposing party. Antonakeas, 255 F.3d at 721.
Ill
Goodwin maintains a new trial is warranted because the prosecutor made
IV
Finally, Goodwin argues that he should be granted a new trial because the district court failed to rule on his Brady and Jencks Act pre-trial motions. Goodwin failed to raise this issue in his motion for a new trial. Accordingly, the district court did not have an opportunity to consider it. We decline to review issues that were not raised before the district court. Lepera v. United States, 587 F.2d 433, 435 n. 1 (9th Cir. 1978).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
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