Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Carlos Garcia, Petitioner v. Sherry Burt, Warden
Supreme Court briefApr 10, 2018
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S
S
NO.
TM THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
CARLOS tARCIA--PETITIONER
'is.
S.L. BURT---RESPONDENT
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO
THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
CARLOS GARCIA # 185607
Petitioner In Pro Se
Muskegon Correctional Facility
200 S. Sheridan Dr.
Muskegon, MI 49442
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
Mr. Garcia alleged that the prosecution in his case committed various
acts of misconduct during the course of his trial that were both highly prejudicial and violative of his constitutional rights under the United States
Constitutions Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Mr Garcia was convicted
of crimes never committed, based primarily on nothing more than word of mouth,
the presentation by the prosecution of facts not in evidence, the presentation
of false and misleading arguments, and the improper vouching for the credibility
of thoès witnesses by putting into the mouths of those witnesses, things which
they had not said. And, finally,, in a case that was weak from the start,
and one that presenteed no physical, medical, DNA, or eyeurtness evidence,
the prosecution willfully suppressed exculatory evidence that was both favorable,
and material to Mr. Garcia's theory of fabrication and claim of actual innocence.
In finding no prejudice, the Sixth Circuit relied an the state courts record
on direct appeal and collatteral attack, but, significantly mistated even
those slanted and misleading versions of the facts.
Mr. Garcia also alleged that the prosecutions expert witness, Amy Allen,
improperly bolstered the credibility of the alleged victim when she testified
falsely before the jury that the allegations had been substantiated. When
in fsct, no such substantiation had been made by any other court or governmental agency. This testimony, which was highly prejudicial in a case that
presented no evidence that any crime had been committed, removed from the
jury thier duty to weigh the testimony, evidence, and or the credibility of
the witnesses presented. And in essence, was yet one more example of the prosecutions vouching for the alleged victim through the mouth of this witness,
and in her artful questioning of that witness todisguise what she could not
directly do hrself, and again placesbefore the jury misleading facts, prejudicial
to Mr, Garcia that were not in evidence, or factually true.
1
•
Mr, Garcia also alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective .- in various
-
-
ways when she failed to cell witnesses favorable to his defense, theory of
fabrication, and actual innocence, Though the Sixth Circuit, and lower state
courts continue to falsely allege that Mr. Garcia's theory of fabrication
is predicated on the assumption that he has at any time alleged the Tlcomplainantu
was the creator of this fabrication, this is ill placed. As it has always
been Mr. Garcia's contention that this fabrication was the creation of the
complainant's "mother" and was only later supported by the alleged complainant.
Counsel's failure to call witnesses denied Mr. Garcia the opportunity to present
N
defene. As the ommitted witnesses, in particular, Mr. Garcia's mother,
would have testified that the complainant's mother had all but admitted to
Mr. Garcia's mother during a phone call just weeks before the trail the seh
(i.e., the complainants mother Jennifer Hart) wa;Phe only one who could
"save him." Thhus supporting the claim that she in fact, had created the fabrication.
The Sixth Circuit, as did the District Court, continue to point to tesbirbony
not presented at trial, or addressed by Mr. Garcia to erroneously justify
the continued constitutional blindness of the Michigan State courts. It was
the testimony of Mr. Garcia's mother given "outside" the presence of the jury
that he contends counsel failed to place before the jury that constituted
ineffective assistance of counsel. Counsel further failed to object to the
multiple misstatements of fact argued by the prosecution as discussed above,
and the bolstering of the prosecutions witness, Amy Allen. Mr. Garcia also
madd allegations concerning trial counsels complete and total lack of any
investigation, failure to interview witnesses, and failure to admitt into
evidence favorable documentary evidence (i.e., letters written by the alleged
complainant, medical reports of the alleged complainant showing no history
of sexual intercourse, and vouluminious documents from Ciil proceedings pending
in the famil ou±tthtwould hàvé ±ëvèa1èd multiple other felse àflèâtions
against Mr Garcia, and the complainant's biological father made by both the
alleged complainat and her mother), and frfalhure
o call Mr. Garcia to testify
on his own behlf. Neither the Sixth Circuit, or the District Court addressed
any of these claims, and seemed to have addressed only those glimpsed in it's
peripheral as it drove right over the issues of true constitutional consequesnce.
Mr. Garcia further alleged that his appellate counsel had performed
ineffectively when he abandoned him on appeal without notice, and failed to
advocate his case on appeal as the Sixth Amendment so requires and guarantees.
And as this esteemed Court also requires of those who represent those confronted
with either criminal or civil matters in these United States.
The Sixth Circuit appears to have limited it's review to any procedural
defaults Mr. Garcia argued that the Court may have found to existed on this
issue and tht he believed could have been reviewed under this Court's past
preced ence and took that opportunity to, as stated above, drive right over
those constitutional claims raised in the state courts, the United States
District Court, and again in the Sixth Circuit where he argued that counsel's
abandonment denied him his right to counsel, and his right to present a defense.
Appellate counsel failed to prepare and investigate Mr. Garcia's case, failed
to interview witnesses, failed to identify issues on appeal, never even attempted
to retrieve Mr. Garcia's case file from trial counsel, and refused to meet
with Mr. Garcia. And while appellate counsel filed his brief in the Michigan
Court of Appeals on behalf of Mr. Garcia, he did so without the consent of
Mr. Garcia and presented two 11 DEAD SANG LOSER" issues that were both legally
infirm, and not relevant to any issues related to Mr. Garcia's case. When
Mr. Garcia attempted to communicate his dissatisfaction with appellate counsel,
all correspondence was ceased, and all of his letters marked "Return to Sender."
Counsel took no calls from Mr. Garcia, or from his friends and family who
ii
also attempted to contact counsel on Mr.Garciats behalf.
As to his additional claim of his actual innocence. This was addressed
in the state court on collateral proceedings based on newly discovered evidence,
and since those pleadings Mr. Garcia has discovered additional evidence which
he presented to the state court in a successive Motion for Relief from Judgment
(currently in the state courts), and addressed his Motion in his Motion to
Hold Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in Abeyance to properly exhaust and
present those issues in the District Court. This new evidence, as presented
in his Motion before the state, and lower federal courts would have been subjected
to state procedural rules as well as exhaustion rules of rules for §2254 cases.
The Sixth Circuit held that this additional evidence (i.e., a 2007 undisclosed
Police Report) did not help Mr. Garcia's case as the allegations alleged were
consistent with predatory behavior, but failed to show in the recor or where
in the evidence proposed that the investigator or
the contents of the report
Mr. Garcia was found to have exhibited any type of preditory behavior or even
a dispositon for such behavior. Or that the report showed that Mr. Garcia,
as alleged by the complainant in this investigation (i.e., Holly IiJrathell,
the mother of states witness Marissa Latimer), had ever called her;. daughter
"sexy." Or that he had made any attempts to befriend" her for any purposes,
right, wrong, or otherwise. And such conclusions, as those made by the Sixth
Circuit should have been made by a Jury, who did not have this information
at the time of trial, which Mr. Garcia argues was "suppressed" and not by
a revieing Court who failed to hold an evidentiary hearing on this matter
in assessing the weight it may have had in the minds of the jury where ther
cisted no evidence of guilt other than bald faced allegations only weakly
suppprted by circumstantial evidence, misrepresentation of facts, perjured
testimony, suppressed evidence, and hearsay testimony of evidence and witnesses
that either did not exist, or were never presented at trial.
iv
As sated-above, in finding no prejudice, the Sixth Circuit relied on
the state courts misstatement of the facts on direct and collateral appeal,
but sianifiacently misstated even that slanted version of the facts. This
case, thus presents the f011owing questions:
DID THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ERR IN DEFFERING TO THE STATE COURTS
ERRONEOUS FINDINGS THAT THE PROSECUTION HAD NOT COMMITTED
VARIOUS ACTS OF MISCONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO MR. GARCIA' AND
VIOLATIVE OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS OF THE
LAW AND THE EQUAL PROTECTIONS THEREIN WHEN THE SIXTH CIRCUITS
DISCISION WAS BASED ON A FLAGRANT MISREADING OF THE TRIAL
RECORD AND STATE COURT HOLDINGS?
PETITIONER ANSWERS: "YES"
DID THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ERR IN DETERMINING THAT THE TESTIMONY
PROVIDED BY STATES EXPERT WITNESS HAD NOT DEPRIVED MR. GARCIA
OF HIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS WHEN SHE PROVIDED
KNOWN FALSE "SUBSTANTIATION" TESTIMONY BEFORE THE JURY?
PETITIONER ANSWERS: "YES"
DID THE SIXTH CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT ERR IN DEFFERING TO
THE STATE COURT FINDINGS THAT MR. GARCIA HAD NOT BEEN DENIED
HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
AT TRIAL, WHERE COUNSEL FAILED TO CONDUCT ANY INDEPENDANT
INVESTIGATION INTO READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION, CALL WITNESSES,
AND ENTER INTO EVIDENCE EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF HIS ACTUAL
INNOCENCE AND THEORY OF FABRICATION?
PETITIONER ANSWERS: "YES"
DID THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ERR IN DEFFERING TO THE STATE COURT
FINDINGS THAT MR. GARCIA HAD NOT BEEN DENIED HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT
RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL ON APPEAL WHERE
COUNSEL HAD EFFECTIVELY ABANDONED HIM, FAILED TO INVESTIGATE
HIS CASE, FAILED TO CONSULT OR MEET WITH HIM, AND FAILED TO
RAISE MERITORIOUS ISSUES DIRECTLY RELATED TO HIS ACTUALL INNOCENCE
AND THEORY OF FABRICATION?
PETITIONER ANSWERS: "YES"
DID THE SIXTH CIRCUIT CAUSE MR. GARCIA TO SUFFER A MISCARRIAGE
OF JUSTICE WHEN IT FAILED TO PROPERLY ASSESS HIS CLAIM OF ACTUAL
INNOCENCE BASED ON NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE "MATERIAL" TO MATTERS
OF CONSEQUENCE AND SUPPRESSED BY THE PROSECUTION AND WHERE STATE
V
AND DISTRICT COURT MISAPPREHAENDEDTHEFACTS AND ERRONEOUSLY
CONSTRUED HIS EVIDENCE AS EVIDENCE PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED WHEN
IN FACT, IT HAD NOT BEEN?
PETITIONER ANSWERS: "YES"
LIST OF PARTIES
All Parties appear in the caption of the case on the cover page
vi
TABLE -OF -CONTENTS
OPINIONS BELOW ...........................................................1
JURISDICTION.............................................................
CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY PROVISIONS INVOLVED.........................
STATEMENT OF THE CASE....................................................
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT............................................
CONCLUSION...............................................................
INDEX TO APPENDICES
APPENDIX A---Opinion (unpublished) of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Case No. 17-1951
APPENDIX B --- Opinion (unpublished) of the U . S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Michigan (Southern Div.) Case No. 2:15-cv-14019
APPENDIX C---Order of the Oakland County Circuit Court (mi.) on Motion for
Motion for New Trail; Case No 08_22134_FC
APPENDIX D---Unpublished Opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals on direct
Appeal. Case No. 269432
APPENDIX E---Order of Michigan Supreme Court on Application for Leave to Appeal
• Case No, 141584, and Motion for Reconsideration Case No, 141584(1+9)
APPENDIX F---Order of Oakland County Circuit Court (Mi.) on collateral Motion
for Relief from Judgment in original Case No. 06_221344_FC
APPENDIX G---Michigan Court of Appeals Order Granting Leave to Appeal Order
of Circuit Court, Case No. 309081
APPENDIX H--- Unpublished Opinion of Michigan Court of Appeals Case No. 309081
APPENDIX I---Order of Michigan Supreme Court on Application for Leave to Appeal
Case No. 149340; and on Motion for Reconsideration Case No,
149340 (108)
APPENDIX 3--- Formal Complaint, Attorney Disciplinary Board Hearing and Sanctions
on Complaint filed by Mr. Garcia against Appellate Attorney James
C Hall
APPENDIX K---Suppressed and Newly discover Prior Police investigation concerning
witness Letimer, Alleged predatory communication
APPENDIX L --- Order of Oakland County Circuit Court (Mi.) on Successive Motion
for Relief from Judgment in original case No, 06-22131+4_FC
vii.
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
PAGE
Alcorta v. Texas, 335 U.S. 28 (1957) ....................
.
19
............
Argensinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25,31 (1972).............................21,24
Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78,88 (1935) .............................10,13,15
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).....................................15,16,314.,37
38
Chambers v. Mississippi, 4.10 U.S. 284(
).................
10
Cuyler v. S1lin,44.6,U0S. 335,.34.4.(1980) .............................21,21.
Donnely v. DeChristofono, 1.16 U.S. 637 (1974)..., .......................10
Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963) .....................
29
Engle v. Iaacc, 4.05 U.S. 107, 135 (1982) .................................40
Entsminger v. Iowa, 386 U.S. 784, 752 (1967) .............................30
Evitta v. Lucay, 496 U.S. 387 (1985) ...........
. .
29,30
......................
Gid&on v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 343-44. (1963) ........................21
Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972) .............................35
Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12, 20 (1956)...............................29
Haskins v. Lecraux, 1994 U.S. App. LEXIS 2693 (6th Cir.).................32
Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 462 (1938) ..............................21,24
Kimmelman v. Morrison, 1.77 U.S. 356, 383 (1986) ..........................22
Kyles v. Whitely, 514U.9. 419 (1995) .......... ..........................16,40
Kuhlman v. Wilson, 1.77 U.S. 436 (1986) ....................................40
Lavender Adm'r v. Kurn, 327 U.S. 64.5, 653-66 (1946) .....................37
Lucey v. Kavanaugh, 724 F.2d 560 (6th Cir. 1964)..... . .................. 29
Maples v. Thomas, 565 U.S. 266 (2012) ....................................30
McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 771 (1970) ............................28
Miller v. Pt,386 U.S.1 (1976) .......................................... 12,13
Montana v. Englehoff, 518 U.S. 37, 43 (1996)... .......................
18
Mooney v. Holohan, 294 U.S. 103 (1935) ..................................19
viii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
-
PAGE
Murray v. Carrier, 477 U .S. 478, 495-96 (1986) ...........................40
Naoue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264 (1995) ...................................17,19,20,36
16,38
People v. Chenault, 495 Mich. 1142, 152 (2014) ..............................
.
People v. Savides, 136 N.E. 2d 853 84•NV(1956) ............................17
21,21i,29
Powell v. Alabama, 387 U.S. 45, 67 (1932) .......... ...
Pyle v. Kansas, 317 U.S. 213 (
)........................................19
Roeencrantz v. Lafler, 568 F.3d 577 (CA 6. 2009) .........................36
Schuip v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298 (
)......................................33
Seymeure v. Walker, 224 F.3d. 5142, 552 (6th Cir. 2000) ...................18
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984) .......................21-24,33
United States v. Bagely, 437 U.S. 667 (1985) ..............................38,40
United States v. Cronic, 1.66 U.S. 648, 658 (1984)..: .....................32,33
Wsahington v. Watkins, 655 F.2d 1346, 1356 (5th Cir. 1981) .......... ....27
Wilson v. Workmen, 577 F.3d 1284, 1308 (10th Cir. 2009) ..................34
OTHER AUTHORITIES
...............................
8 U.S.C. § 2254
..
.......
27,30
Mich. Const. 1963 Art. 1 § 17,20................. .. ..........................
U.S. Cnat, Am .......
....
1
........
U.S. Const.. Am 6 ........................................................2,17,21
.
2,17,21
U.S. Const. Ami6 ...... ..................................................
.
_______-
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
Petitoner respectfully Preys that a wrot of certiorari issue
to review the judgment below of the Si<th Circuit Court of Appeals
and thier judgment rendered in these proceedings on February
5, 2018.
OPINIONS BELOW
The Opinion of the United States Court of Rppealfar
the Sixth Circuit in it's cause No. 17-1951 appears at Appendix
A. The Opinion of February 5, 2018 is Unpiblished.
The Opinion of the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division) in it's
Cause No. 2:15_cv_14018 appears at Appendix B. The Opinion of
August 1 , 2017 is Unpublidhed,
Oakland County Trial Court (i.e., Michigan) denied
Pro Per Motion for New Trail in it's original cause No. 08-221344FC on November 13, 2008 and appears at Appendix C
Michigan Court of Appeals denied Appeal of Right in
Cause Na. 289432 on June 17, 2010 in an Unpublished Opinion,
and appears at Appendix D
Michigan Supreme Court Denied Application for Leave
to Appeal in cause Na. 141584 on November 22, 2010 reported at
1+88
Mich. 91+9; 790 N.W.2d 399 (2010). Motion for Reconsideration
was denied at 489 Mich. 862; 795 N.W.2d 142 (Dec. 13, 2010) And
appears at Appendix E
1
Oakland County Trial Court (i.e., Michigan) denied
Pro Per Motion for Relief from Judgment on collateral review
in original cause No. 08-22131+1+-FC on December 11+, 2011 and appears
at Appendix F
Michigan Court of Appeals granted Leave to Appeal on
November 26, 2012 in the above cause No. 309081 and appears at
Appendix G
Michigan Court of Appeals on March 27, 2011+ denied
Application in the above cause No. 309081 and Appears at Appendix
H. This is an Unpublished Opinion
Michigan Supreme Caurt'denied Application for Leave
to Appeal on October 28, 2011+ in an Unpublished Opinion duèNo.11+93L,.0
at 1+97 Mich. 888; 851+ N.IJ.2d 738 (2011+): Motion for Reconsideration
was denied an March 31, 2015 and is listed at 1+97 Mich. 985; 861
N.W.2d 21 )12015) Cause No. 11+031+01108) and appears at Appendix I
Order of Oakland County Circuit Court (ML) on successive Motion
for Relief from Judgment in original cause No. 08.221341+_FCAppendix L
STATEMENT UNDER RULE 29,6
Petitioner, In Pro Se hereby discloses and notes that there is no parent
or publicly held company owiiig.10% or more of any corporation's stock involved
in this matter.
STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS INVOLVED
UNITED STATES CONST. 5th AMEND:
person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otheruis infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except
in cases-arising in the land or naval forces, or in the malitia + when
in actual service in the time of war or public danger; nor shall any
person be subject to the same offence to be twice put in jeapordy of
life or limb; nor shall be compl1ed jo anv.riinal case to be a witness
against himself, nor he deprived of lire, 11 er y, or, property, without
2
due process of law; nor shal private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.
UNITED STATES CONST.. 6th AMEND:
"In all criminal prosec'!itions, the accused shall enjoy the right to
a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district
wherein the crime shall have been corhmited, which district, shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with witnesses against
him; to have cotnpusory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,
and to have the assistance..-- of counsel for his defense.
UNITED STATES CONST. 14th AMEND.
"Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States
and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens
ot the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life,
liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny any person
within it's jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,"
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Mr. Garcia was accused, tried by a jury, and convicted of multiple counts
of first and second degree criminal sexual misconduct (MCL 750.520b(1)(c);
MCL 750.520c(1)(a)) alleged to have been committed against his step-daughter
when she was betwee the ages of 11-13. And was sentenced to a term of 23 years
9 months to 50 years in the Midhigan Department of Corrections in Case No.
00-221 3L+LF _FC.
Mr. Garcia's trial consisted of no physical, medical DNA, or eyewitness
evidence that would support the allegations against him. The states case rested
entirely an circumstantial evidence, hearsay testimony, perjured testimony,
and the prosecutions artful'misrepresentation of the facts, suppression of
evidence, cieating facts not in evidence and as stated above, the presentation
of known false ttinony. The prosecution called Four witnesses, the alleged
complainant, a friend of the complainant, the complainant's mother, and an
expert in the field of why children delay disclosure.
The prosecutions theroy was that Mr. Garcia had taken advantage of his
position and the complainant ' s trust and love for him to sexually abuse her
while her mother worked. And that the alleged crimes were nothind more than
crimes of opportunity. While at the same time advising the jury that there
was "no physical evidence to show a crime had been committed.
The states first witness was a childhood aqusintence, Marissa Latimer,
who testified that her only alleged knowledge of the allegations against Mr.
Garcia came in the form of a letter she had found taped to the complainant's
school locker some years prior to the actual trial. (TI Vol. I p. 253-55)
The letter, as she testified, was a communication that she says made allegations
of something sexul had allegedly taken place between Mr. Garcia and the alleged
complainant. (Id at 253-255) There was conflicting testimony as to how -this
note came to the attention of Mr. Garcia. However, witness Latimer testified
that she had taken this letter to her mother, (Id at 254) whO in turn gave
this note to Mr. Garcia as a result of her allegedly calling him to discuss
the contentd.'of this note (Id at 254). Latimer's mother was never celled or
questioned on this matter.
Latimer testified that she had suspected a mutual friend may have participated
in the writing of this note. However, no questions were asked to identify
this person, or who these people may have been. Latimer also testified that
some years earlier to trial, and during a sleep over she had at the complainant's
home, that Mr. Garcia had made inappropriate comments about his genitals.
(Id at 257-59).
The prosecutions next witness was Jennifer Hart, (Complainant's mother)
who testified to the closeness of the complainant and Mr. Garcia (TI Vol.
II p. 9-10, 30-31), and that she Hart) had dated Mr. Garcia in highschool
and had not reconnected with him until years later, ndthàt the[hd thrrid
in 2006. (Id at p. 6-8). Hart testified that her and Mr.Garcia had a child
together in 2005 (0.0.0. 5-13-2005) (Id at p. 6) Hart testified that the complainant
had been Jealous of her half-sister. 1.
Hart testified that it was Mr. Garcia who had brouoht the "letter" and
it's disturbing nature to her attention, and that she had advised him to take
it to the parent of the child they beleived had written or taken port in the
writing of the letter.(d at p. 12_11+, 34) Hart, herself did not speak to
the parent (Latimer's mother) (Id at p. 13-14) But testified that because
of the disturbing nature of the note, that she had saved it so that she could
"possibly" present it to authorities in the future. However, at the time of
trail she testified that she could not find the letter. That it had come up
missing.. (Id at 11+_15) Hart Never testified that the note-mentioned Mr. Garcia
by name or title, (step-father).
Hart testified that the complainant had not mentioned the allegations
until after Mr. garcia had left the horns in 2007 (Id at p. 15). However, also
providing testimony that prior to the complainant's alleged disclosure, she
had confronted the complainant, and had asked on multilpe occsassions if anything
had taken place between her and Mr. Garcia, To which the complainant had answered
"NO11 on multiple accessions (Id at p. 15-16). Yet, the following day she alleges
that ther complainant conceaded to the allegations, but decided not to report
them, and this was to respect her minor daughters I1privacey.11 (Id at p. 1618).
Hart later testified that she reported the allegations to her Court Ordered
therapist in November of 2007, but that nothing ever came of it. (Id at p.
19, 37-38). It wasn't until March of 2000 when Hart informed complainant's
biological father, who was in California, of theses allegations. Thoughthere
5
-
•
exists no testimony
tà why
decided to dicloe to the
€her iththt
-
than to authorities. (Id at p. 6, 31). Hart then testified falsely that the
complainant and her sister were removed from her care and custody after she
was forensically interviewed at the Care House, and that her parental rights
were terminated. (Id at p. 21-23, 45).
Hart testified that "it was the strangest thing" that while she sat in
her home in Walled Lake Michigan, Mr. Garcia at some-unknown location, and
the complainant's father in California, she picked up the receiver to her
telephone in her home, and somehow, she heard the voice of Mr. Garcia, and
of the complainant's father having a conversation saying uncaniplimentiary
things about her. Which she then put on speaker phone for the complainant
to hear. Which upset the complainant. (Id at p. 39-43).
Several allegations arose, which undermined Hart's testimony. First,
Hart took complainant to the Doctor in July of 2007 for a physical. At the
appointment, and in his/her official report, (which was documented), the physician
noted that the complainant had "No History of Sexual Intercourse'.11 (Id, at
P. 48-49). Second, Biological father had heard Hart telling the complainat
to recant, that they ndeded to end the joke, and that if the investigation
continued, to plea the Fifth. And had threatened the biological father that
she and the children would flee to Canada, (Id at p. 45) Which was in fact,
the REAL reason that the children were removed from the home, HArt also palced
a call to Mr. Garcia's mother just days before the trail began, informing
her that Mr. Garcia needed to contact her and that she "was the only one who
could save him,' Hart, however, testified that she "Did not recall" ever making
that statement. (td at p. 46, 52).
The Complainant who was 15 at the time of the trail testified that she
and Mr. Garcia had a normal father/daughter relationship (Id at p. 71), but
taht it had changed before she entered the 6th grade, that he and put his
hand down her pants while they watched TV. (Id at p. 73-75) Also during the
same year that the letter was found taped to her locker indicetiong that her
and her "dad" had a sexual relationship, which SHE took home and gave to Mr.
Garcia. The letter did not specifically name Mr
Garcia, but rather referenced
her "dad". Complainat believed that witness Latimer had written the letter,
(Id at p. 112-113).
Pccordino to the complainat, ths activity escalated into oral sex and
intercourse (Id at p. 93_94) and Mr. Garcia would place his fingers into her
vagina, and that he had made inappropriate comments in her presence and in
the presence of witness Latimer. (Id at p. 99).
Complainant testified the alleged sexual contact continued until around
Christmas of 2005, and as a result of a "Dr. Phil" show that she had watched
during a Court Ordered visitation with her father. (Id at p. 102).
Complainat
did not discios alleged abused to her mother until she was in eighth grade
and after she was repeatedly questioned by her mother, who had woke her up
in the middle of the night. And after having initially denied any such activity,
later conceaded that it had happened. (Id at p. 105).
Complainat testified to never haiihg been forced or threatened by Mr.
Garcia, and that she had been untruthfull to her mother, and the Care House
interviewer, but that she was being truthfull at trial (Id at p. 136-137).
Complainat testified that she had over heard the conversation between her
father and Mr. Garcia where they were talking about helping him got custody
of the complainant. She also testified that this call took place "Before"
she had disclosed the alleged abuse to her mother or the authorities. (Id
at p. 109), That she felt betrayed by Mr. Garcia (Id at p. 1B),and that she
did not like her father and did not want to live with him. (Id at P. 138).
7
The st~or-q final witness, Amy Allen, a social worker atcarehouse, testified
as a forensic interviewer of chidren and in charicteristics of children who
report abuse (Id at p. 171, 180). Allen testified falsely that cases of this
nature would be refered to her by carehouse once the allegations had been
substantiated for sexual abuâe,: Intimating that she had only/gotten involved
in the case aginst Mr. Garcia because CarehOuse/CFS Had Substantiated that
the complainat Had Been Abused. When asked by the prosecution what sfie meant she
answered "meaning they had at lenst.substantiated that the child had been sexually
abused. (Id at p. 208-209). The witness did not testify as to how this alleged
substantiation was made.
For the Defense, Mr. Garciats coulel celled one witness,. who testified
outside the presence of the jury. Sudie Super. Mrs Super testified that witness
Hart had called her prior to the trial asking that she have Mr. Garcia call
her (i.e.., Hart) because she was the only one who could save him. (Id at p.
221). Vet, while armed with this testimony, favorable to Mr. Garcia's theory
that witness Hart had in fact fabricated the allegations against him, Mrs.
Super was never called to testify before the jury. In fact, counsel called
no witnesses, even though Mr. Garcia had provided several witnesses he wished
to be called, and were present and available to do so. Most notably was Mr.
Thomas Jaworski, a former paramou of Hart, whom she had also previously accused
of rape and would have raised serious issues regarding. Hart's credibility
and matiie to fabricate the allegations against Mr. Garcia. Morever trial
counsel did not call Mr. Garcia to testify at hi trial dispite his overwhelming
desire to do so. Nor did counsel consult with or call an expert witness to
rehutt the testimony of the prosecutions expert.
Pain, this was a case riddled with misrepresentations of the evidence,
the creation of evidence and testimony that simply did not exist. Hearsay
8
I
testimony of non-existent evidence at trial used to corroborate that evidence,
though never having been seen by the jury or presented in any court room prior
to trial known false testimony of witnesses and even the solicitation of
known false testimony of witnesses (i.e., the states own expert), as well
as sup'essed evidence favorable to Mr.. Garcia in support of his actual innocence
and theory of fabrication. There was NO physical evidence, NO medical evidence,
NO DNA, and NO eyewitnesses to this alleged crime that would even remotely
have linked Mr. Garcia to the crimes alleged. And an overwhelming abundance
of evidence to support his innocence never presented. And there could have
been no evidence of guilt as there was NO CRIME COMMITTED.
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT
I. THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ERRED IN DEFFERING TO THE STATE COURTS ERRONEOUS
FINDINGS THAT THE PROSECUTION HAD NOT COMMITTED VARROUS ACTS OF
MISCONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO MR. GARCIA AND VIOLATIVE OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW AND THE EQUAL PROTECTIONS THEREIN
WHERE THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURTS DECISION WAS BASED ON A FLAGRANT
MISREADING OF THE TRIAL COURT RECORD AND STATE COURT HOLDINGS.
AND AN UNREASONABLE APPLICATION, AND CONTRARY TO CLEARLY ESTABLISHED
SUPREME COURT LAW.
In this case, Mr. Garcia argued before the state courts, and federal court's
below, that he had been denied his right to a fair trial, and his right to
Due Process of the Law as guarenteed by the United States Constitution's Sixth
Amendment, and Fourteenth Amendment by way of various acts of prosecutor misconduct. The various acts alleged, and supported by a complete reading of
the record below, consist of; 1). the prosecutions improper and prejudicial
bolstering of witness credibility; 2) the withholding and deliberate suppression
of exculpatory evidence; 3) the artful arguing of facts not on the record,
or in evidence; 4) the presentation of known false testimony; 5) prejudicially
misrepresenting the- facts that were in evidence, and; 6) becoming an unsuorn
witness against Mr. Garcia by placing into the mouths of witnesses things
they had not said.
In determining whether certain offensive comment which are made during
the course of the prosecutors closing argument rendered a trial fundamentally
unfair, the relevant question for the court is whether those comments so
infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial
of Due Process." Donnely v. DeChristofono, 1+16 U.S. 637 (197/4). Moreover,
the appropriate standard of review for such a claim on writ of habeas corpus
is "the narrow on of due process, and not the broad exercise of superviosory
power." Id at 61+2.
The Court in Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78,88 (1935) stated:
"The United States Attorney is the representive not of an ordinary
party to a controversy, but of a soverignity whose obligation to
govern impartially is as compelling as it's obligation to govern at
all, and whose interest, therefore, in a criminal prosecution is
not that it shall win a case, but that Justice shall be done. As such,
he is in a particular and very definate sense the servant of the
law, the two-fold aim of which is that the guilty shall not escape
or innocence suffer. He may prosecute with earnest and vigor--indeed,
he should do so. But whll he may strike hard blows, he is not at
liberty to strike foul ones. It is as much his duty to refrain fromimproper methods calculated to produce a wrongful conviction as it is
just one."
to useevery legitimate means to bring about
Though the prosecution in this case is a state official, this court must
still deal with the aspect of a fair trial which is implicit in the Due Process
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by which the states are bound. Chambers
v. Mississippi, 1+10 U.S. 281+ (
). The state court's and the lower federal
courts, on this matter in reviewing Mr. Garcia's claims seem to have, and
without the benefit of an evidentiery hearing, and what appears to be only
a partial reading of the record with seemingly no reading of the pleadings
filed and placed before the court by Mr. Garcia,centered around "one part"
of Mr. Garcia's argumnet having to do with the prosecutions vouching for the
alleged victrims credibility, and discounting all other comments made before
the jury thateither bolstered credibility, vouched for witnessea,or placed
lr
words into the mouths of witnesses things they had not said, created evidence
that did not exist, and grossly misrepresented the facts that had been presented.
It wasn't simply the prosecutors comments at closing; 'She must tell the truth
when I ask it." That Mr. Garcia believed was an improper suggestion to the
jury that she believed the complainant HAD told the truth. It want much deeper
than that. The prosecution argued falsely to the jury that Mr. Garcia, when
addressing the letter alleged to have been found on the complainant's school
locker, and the presentation of the false testimony concerning it's contents
which was alleged to have said that Osomething sexual" had taken place between
Mr. Garcia and the complainant that he "laughed and joked" about it. (IT Vol.
III p. 25) This testimony did not exist. And she in essessence asked the jury,
by way of reference to this created testimony and evidence to believe, that
in fact, Mr. Garcia, because of his reaction (alleged) was some how presenting
a consciousness of guilt, and that they should beleive he had commited the
crime because of it. And there was nothing in the content of the testimony
presented at trial that even remotely suggested that Mr. Garcia had not taken
the contenttlof this letter seriously. In fact, testimony supports that Mr.
Garcia in his concern, actually confronted the parent of the child beleivad
to have been involved in the creation of this letter. As well as his contacting
school officials to address what he believed was an escalating feud between
the complainant and witness Latimer. And Mr. Garcia would ask this court as
the prosecution did the jury, "Does this speak to his mindset? He would suggest
that it certainly does not infer or point to someone who is guilty of such
horrible allegations, that he would bring attention to himself by confronting
the parent of the person who is alleged to have found the latter and then
to communicate this information to school authorities to prevent further escalation.
And it should be noted, that this alleged letter was a communication between
multiple parties. Something the prosecution failed to address,and it was intended
to hurt or humilliate the complainant. As the note stated specifically:
11
"Marich told me that she made out with her "dad",
she said he video taped it, and she liked it."
.
.
and
This note was testified to having been kept by the complainant's mother
yet was never presented in court. And none of the possible authors of this
note, which was testified to by witness Latimer to have known or suspected
who had written it. (IT Vol. I p. 246). The state court's, however, assumed
the authors of this note wished to remain anonymous. And the prosecutions
unsubstantiated claims and manipulation of this evidence, which was more than
merely disturbing, if true, is likely to have had an important effect on the
jurys determination, as it was the only link that might possibly connect Mr.
Garcia to the allegations against him. See Miller v. Pate, 356 U.S. 1 (1967);
where in that case, the prosecution had falsely described a paint stained
pair of underweer as being covered in blood.
The prosecution in the instant case, not only in it's misrepresentation
of a never produced letter threw the presentation of false testimony of it's
alleged contents by three witnesses, and also passed a family photo around
the jury that was taken by the complainant's mother at a beach outing, presented
it at closing argumnets as a photo of a boyfriend and girlfrieid. In spite
of testimony that clearly stated that the photo was an innocent family photo..
(TI Vol. III p.26).
P long series of decisions by this court has established the proposition
that the fourteenth Amendment "cannot tolorate a state criminal conviction
obtained by the knowing use of fals evidence." Miller 386 U.S. at 7. It is
one thing for the prosecutions witness to present false testimony, known or
unknown to the prosecution. However, it is an entirely differnt thing when
it is the prosecution itself who is the presentor, and creator of evidence
it knows to be false. And then attempts to mislead the jury into believing
it is anything other than what the testimony claimed it to be. Such improper
12
suggestions, and insinuations with no evidentiary support are apt to carry
much weight against an accused, when they should carry none. The prejudice
created to the cuase of Mr. Garcia was so highly probable that this court,
in reviewing the entire record could not be justified in assuming it's nonexistance. See Berger 295 U.S. at 88, 89."Such acts of the prosecution are
wholly incompatible with his or her duty to refrain from improper methods
calculated to produce a wrongful conviction, as it is to use every legitimate
means to bring about a just one." Id at 88 and is violative of Mr. Garcia's
Constitutional right to Due Process and a fair trial as guaranteed by the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments.
The prosecutthn, also argued falsely, that the complainant
testified that she had waited until Mr. Garcia was "out ot the
home" until, she "felt safe," before she decised to come forward (TI
Vol. III p. 18). This is a total misrepreOentation of the facts and contrary
to the testimony of the complainant and her mother. Complainant never testified
to ever having felt unsafe around Mb. Garcia. Further her testimony was
no that she had gone to her mother, but that her mother had "come .,to her."
She testified that she had woke her up-in the middle of the night and questioned
if anything had ever happened between her and Mr. Garcia. To which she repeatedly
answered "NE]." The complainat's mother testified that over th course of the
relationship between her and Mr. Garcia, that he had been out of the home
for days, weeks and mnths at a time. And notably, at no time during any of
theses extended absences from the home did the complainant ever disclose to
her mother, not did her mother ever confront her on such matters, when there
was more than ample opportunity on the part of both to do so.
The prosecution would then argue, "if she thas lying, if this was all some
plot scheme ... why /not say he abused Haley (his 2 yr. old daughter)." When
in fact, the prosecution know that she and her mother HAD accused him in Family
--
court of not only assaulting his own daughter, but also his two
ultsisteis,
and an unnamed cousin. The prosecution would also argue that the complainant
couldn't possibly be smart enough to come up with such a plan." But would
infer that she we somehow smart enough to know the law on this matter and
that her mother could get in trouble for failing to disclose the allegations.
When in fact, testimony was presented to the contrary. Testimony stated that
thier reason for not disclosing was not because of any possible legal ramifications,
but rather to "protect the privacy , of the complainant. It should be further
noted that at no time was Mr. Garcia's theory of fabrication attributed to
the complainant. But that the mother was the creator" of the scheme, plot
and plan, and that it bnly came into existence afteMr; Garcia had threated
to expose her criminal activities, drug and alcohol abuse, and the neglect
of the children during the times that he wa not present in the home. And it
was only after the complainant had heard a three-way phone conversation between
her father and him and Mr. Garcia's willingness to aide him in his custody
efforts and to expose her mothers activities that the cornplainat came forward
in support of the allegations.
On more than one accession, the state court of appeals conceaded that
Mr. garcia had substantiated that the prosecution had a r gued facts not in
evidence. That he had prcved witnesses had lied on the stand, and that perhaps
the prosecution had even suppressed evidence favorable to his defense. Yet
for reasons beyond Mr. Garcia's ability to comprehend, these blatant and continued
acts were viewed by the state court and deffered to by the lower federal court
as harmless, not material, or simply back ground noise of no consequence.
However, these continued misstatement of facts, intended to manipulate and
mislead the jury were far from ambigious., These remarks, misrepresentations,
and the litteral creattion of evidence and placing into the mouths of witnesses
14
things they had not said,..."I waited to disclose until I felt safe'..'He
laughed and joked about the al1egations'...'If this is all a lie, why not
say he abused Haley',. .'why not accuse her father?'... 'This looks like a boyfriend/girl-friend photo to me These and many more, were all lies, misrepresentations
or absolute creations of the prosecutions imagination with no record support.
The misconduct here was not slight or confined to a single instance, but rather
was pronounced and persistent, with a probable and cumulative effect upon
the jury which cannot be disregarded as inconsequential. Berger 295 U.S. at
89.
Finaly Mr. garcia argues that the prosecution violated his right to Due
Process when it willfully suppressed eveidance that was both exculpatory and
material in violation of this court's holdings in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S.
93 (1963). The evidence in question was that of the lead detective who had
investigated the case against Mr. Garcia, and. the doubts he had concerning
the allegations and the credibility of his accusers. And then much later,
as discovered by Mr. Garcia via Third Party F.0.I.A. resquest for information
an investigation conducted in 2007 by the same lead detective that included
allegations against Mr. Garcia concerning the states Star witness Marissa
Latimer who had testified at trial to having been called sexy by Mr. Garcia.
The investigation which is discussed later in more detailwas never made available
to Mr. Garcia prior to or during trail. The Michigan Court of Appeals on the *
matter of the detectives doubts as to the allegations stated 'Although the
state could be said to have possed the evidence and the evidence was favorable
to the defendant, defendant could have obtained the evidence with reasonable
dilligence.t A requirement in total contrast with this courts holdings in
Brady supra. Something that even the michigan Supreme Court reiterated only
eight days after teh Michigan Court of Appeals decision in Mr. Garcia's case
15
in People v. Chenault, 495 Mich. 142, 152 (April L, 2014). Vet that same court
on Application for Leave to Appeal in Mr. Garcia's case did not even address
the question presented by Mr. Garcia, and affirmed the Court of Appeals decision.
The Michigan Court of Appeals also found this evidence of the officers
doubts were not admissible as it was the opinion of another witnesses credibility.
It failed to even consider whether or not his doubts night have been based
on the fact that he had conducted a prior investigation of a similar nature
involving one of the states star witnesses and the evidence that did or did.
not exist in that investigation. This evedence was more than material to the
defense as it uouod have further supported Mr. Garcia's theory of fabrication
and the admission of the detective's doubts to the allegations may, and would
have lead directly to admissible evidence. That is, the suppressed invest
gation of 2007. That include allegations that were later testified to fa1sel,
at trial, regarding the alleged inappropriate use of the internet, and his
alleged calling witness latimer sexy. An
that found that no
crime had existed, and at no time had Mr. Garcia referenced Latimer as sexy.
And it is significant to note, that the evidence against Mr. Garcia as presented
at trial was far less than overwhelming. In fact, there was no physical, medical,
DNA, or eyewitness evidence presented to support that any crime had been committed
at all. Let alone the crimes alleged.
As to matters concerning the withholding and willfull suppression of favorable
evidence against Mr. Garcia, as well as that which was newly discovered, and
proved perjury on thepart of all of the witnesses presented by the state,
and known to be such by the prosecution, Mr. Garcia would point to this courts
rulings in Brady and it's progeny, as well as this court's holdings in Kyles
v. Whitely, 514 U.S. 419 (1995)(The prosecution in a criminal case shall make
timely discloser to th defense of all evidence or information known to the
to the prosecutor that tends to negate the guilt of the accused or mitigates
the offense.)And in Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264 (1995)(11 A conviction obtained
through the use of false evidence, known to be such by the representives of
the state, must fall under L-S. Const. Amend XI\J, The same result obtains
when the state, although not soliciting false evidence, allows it to go uncorrected
when it appears.'). As stated above, even the Michigan Court of Appeals acknowledged that at least one witness had Had, and rather than remanding, the
court found the lie to be immaterial. A diem that this court should find
offensive in light of the fact that Mr. Garcia's assertion from the statrt
was that it was the complainant's mother who had created this LIE for which
he now stands wrongfully convicted of. As this Court found in Napue supra,
(quoting People v Savides, 136 N.E. 2d 553, BSLfOBSSN.Y. 1956)) 'It is of no
consequence that the falsehood bore upon the witness' credibility rather than
directly upon defendant's guilt. A lie is a lie, no matter what its subject,
and if it is in any way relevant to the case, the prosecution has the responsibility
and duty to correct what he knows to be false and ellicit the truth.' The
prosecution failed to do so here, and the court of eppeles upon finding the
witness to be lying failed to remand this case which is alleged by Mr. Garcia
to have been based on lies. And his exposing of those lies, especially that
of the one's he alleges created the lies would most definátely have been relevant
to Mr. Garcia's case.
For the reasons stated above, The Judgment of the Court of Appeals should
be remanded for further Proceedings consistent with the discussion above,
and tnelysis as presented on Mr. Garcia's claims of prosecutor misconduct
and the deprivation of his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to Due Process
and a fair trial.
'17
II. THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ERRED IN DEFFERING TO DISTRICT COURTS
RULING AND DETERMINING THAT THE TESTIMONY PROVIDED BY
STATES EXPERT WITNESS HAD NOT DEPRIVED MR. GARCIA OF HIS
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS WHEN SHE PROVIDED KNOWN
FALSE "SUBSTANTIATION" TESTIMONY BEFORE THE JURY.
The Sixth Circuit on this matter, as did the District Court, simply missed
the mark when bath court's found Mr.Garcia's claim to be nothing more than
an evidentiary error. Mr. Garcia's clanwas that the states expert hadn't
just provided testimony that we substantially unfair and prejudicial, but
that it was alitogether "FALSE',' and rising to the level of a Due Process violation
where it "offend[s] some principle of justice so rooted in the traditions
and conscience of our people as to be ranked fundamental
Seymour v Walker,
224 F.3d 542, 552 (6th Cir. 2000)(quoting Montana v. Egeihoff, 515 U.S. 37,
43 (1996). Neither the Sixth Circuit or the District Court addressed the falsity
of the testimony presented by Mr. Garcia. The District Court erroneously reasoned
that it would have been unsurprising to the jury that some govermental agency
had thought the allegations had been substantiated enough to warrant criminal
charges. (See Appendix-B E.D.Mich. Opinion and Order, Garcia v Burt, 2:15-
cv-14018p. 20). As argued by Mr. Garcia before the Sixth Circuit, the mere
fact that he sat before the jury accused was more than sufficient to inform
them that some governmental agency thought something existed that warranted
criminal charges.
However, that was nottha testimony that was fraudulently advanced by
the expert. And at the instruction and urging of the prosecution, who knew
prothis testimony to be false, as there had been no prior hearing or formal proceedingq
ceeding to make such determinations of fact.
Ms. Allen, the states expert testified that she had accepted refferals
from Protective Services who had substantiated them for abuse. To be sure
as to what Ms. Allen meant by this testimony, and to clarify any doubts the
15
jury may have had concerning this testimony, the prosecution questioned Ms.
Allen. in the following manner;
El: "When you say substantiate for sex abuse, what do you mean?"
A: "Meaning they had at least substantiated that the child HAD BEEN
SEXUALLY ABUSED."
Thus removing any notion as to What any other governmental agency may
have Thought. Which may be construed as to "what some other governmental agency
may have "imagined." There is a huge gap in terms of definition as to what
it means to have a thought, and what it means to substantiate something. Thought
as defined by Webster 's New World College Dictionary (Fourth Ed.) means;
1) The act or process of thinking; reflection; meditation; 2) Power
of reasoning or conceiving ideas. imagination
..
To substantiate as defined by the same dictionary is defined as;
) to show to be true or real by giving evidence, to prove, confirm.
And Ms. Aliens testimony was clear and unarnbigious. It wasn't a matter of
what she believed about children who claimed abuse. It was that she had testified to
falsely, and with the knowledge of the prosecution. Nothing had been substantiated
at that point. Nothing had been proved, or made real. And there was no evidence
presented by the Protective Services on this alleged substantiation upon which
the jury might weigh and determine the credibility of the testimony or the
evidence for themselves.
This Court, again in Napue supra, held;
A conviction obtained through
use of false evidence, known to be such by the represantitives of the state
must fall under the Fourteenth Amendment." See also Mooney v. Holohan, 2914
U.S. 103 (1935); Pyle v. Kansas, 317 U.S. 213 "The same result obtains when
the state, although not soliciting false evidence, allows it to go uncorrected
when it appears." See AlcortaTexas 335 U.S. 28 (1957). However, in Mr. Garcia's
case, and as addressed above, the prosecution clearly solicited what she had
to know, or should have known to be false testimony. And neither the District
courts finding that it would not have been surprising that some other govermental agency "thought" a crime had been committed, and the Sixth Circuit's misplaced
holdings that Mr. Garcia had "not clearly identified how Child protective
services determination alone proved to be "crucial, critical highly significant
factor," removes the taint of this f alse testimony,. The Court uainmiees
the point, "Protective Services HAD NOT yet made any determinations to auport
the false and prejudicial testimony of the expert. See Napus supra it 261,.
Futhnr, it wasn't simply the alleged unsubstanticted"subetantiation"
. that Child protective services that Mr. Garcia was attacking.
testimony, or claig
It was the false and highly prejudicial testimony of the states expert, and
the state, that presented no such proof of this alleged "substantiation" by
Protective Services, which was in fact, a crucial, crictical highly significant
factor," in the guiltys determination of guilt. As Mr. Garcia haN alleged
from the beginning, he id Actually Innocent, and the allegattdra3 were a fabrication
of the complainant's mother, and only later supported by the complainant.
The false testimony of the states expert gave the jury. the false impression
that the allegations had, in fact, already been proven to be true. And this
is not in accord with the Due Process of the law and unfairly prejudiced Mr.
Garcia and tended to refute his claims of innocence. end fabrication before
ever even being given the opportunity to present his defense ., An& further
removed from the jury, thier duty to judge and weigh the evidence presented
on thiar own, and free of such cunclusive statements that had not been, in
fact, substantiated by any one.
As such, the decision of the Court of Appeals should be reversed. The
case should be remanded for development of the evidence and a determination
of whether Mr. Garcia's Due Process rights were violated in the presentation
of known false testimony. Napue v.. Illinois, 360 U.S. 26 (1959), and should
result in the reversal of his wrongfull conviction..
20
*
III. THE SIXTH CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT AND: CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN
GARCIA HAD
DEFFERING TO THE STATE COURT FINDINGS THAT MR.
THE 7EFFECTIVE
NOT BEEN DENIED HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT 'TRIAL
COUNSEL:"FAILED ro
CONDUCT ANY INDEPENDENT.INVESTIGATION" INTO READILY AVALIABLE
INFORMATION, CALL WITNESSES, OR' ENTER INTO'EVIDENCE tVIOEJICE
IN SUPPORT OF HIS ACTUAL INNOCENCE AND THEORY OF FABRICATION.
'
A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, is made when a defendant
shows; (1) that,'he did not receive representation within the range of competence
demanded of attorneys in criminal cases and (2) that counsels failing impaired
the presentation of his defense without regard to whether the outcome would
necessarily have been different. The Sixth Amendment is violated by representation
that falls outside the range of competence demanded of attorneys in a criminal
case.
In this case, trial counsel was ineffective for a multitude of reasons,
and contrary to those rulings of the state and federal lower courts they were
objectively unreasonable applications of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 687 (1984). The Federal Constitution guarentees that"(i)n.11 criminal
prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right. ..to have the, assistance of
counsel for his defense." U.S.Const. Am. VI, XIV. The Court has frequently
emphasized the "fundamental" nature of this Constitutional provisior,'Gidson
v. bliinwright, 372 U.S. 335, 343-1+4 (1963). Sincet (t]he assistance of counsel
is,often a requisite to the very existance of a fair 'trial.'!. 'Areinger V.
Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 31 (1972) See e.g., Cuyler V. Sullivan, 1+46 U.S. 335,
341+ (1980); 3ohneon.v. l.rb.t, 301+ U.S. 458, 462. (1938);...P
liv. Alsba,
387 U.S. 65,67 (1932).
The test established by this court for determining effective assistance
is two fold; Whether "counsel's parformace was deficient, "and if so" whether
that deficient performance prejudiced the defense," Strickland supra at 687.
Counsel's performance is deficient if it falls below an "objective standard
of reasonableness" under "prevailing norms." Id at 688. The defendant is prejudiced
-
21
where "there is a reasonable probility that, but for counsel's unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceedguould •heve'beendiffrent:. A reasonabl
probablity is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome."
Id at 694. A single serious error by counsel is adequate grounds for an effective
assistance of counsel claim. Kk.sI.ui v. Harrison, 477 U.S. 3569 383 (1986).
First, in Mr. Garcia's case, the trail counsel was ineffective when she
failed to call, or interview Witnesses. Mr. Garcia had presented counsel with
a list of ten (10) witnesses who would have attacked the credibility of the
prosecutions witnesses and would have supported Mr. Garcia's claimof actual
innocence, and theory of fabrication.. These names were provided long before
trial began. Trial counsel, however, in an attempt to give the "appearance
of effective representation, scheduled a "group" interview with at least seven
of Mr. Garcia's witnesses. Prior to actually interviewing the witnesses, she
was asked repaetedly if she planned to defend Mr. Garcia to the fullest, and
advocate his innocece vigioriously. Trail counsel instantly took offence to
theses questions and terminated the scheduled meeting. No other interviews,
or attempts to conduct them individually was ever made. Mr.Gt'cia argues
that this decision was "objectively unreasonable." As without ever having
questioned any of his witnesses, or the detective in charge of the investigation,
and failing at any time to even consult, or meet with any potential rebuttal
experts in the field, or to investigate Mr. Garcia's claim of innocence and
theory of fabrication. She had no way of knowing the value of these witnesses
or what evidence such an investigation might uncover. Further, she made a
determination as to what the jury might think of these ipotential witnesses.
A duty that was not for her to decide. It would have been the province of
the jury to determine the weight and credibilty of teevidence or testimony
presented. Counsels duty was simply to "make resonable investigations, or
to make reasonable decisions that make particular investigations unnecessary ,"
22
Strickland supra at 690.=Here, counsel made no investigation at all. Which
cannot be deemed reasonable by any "normal standards" of that day or 'any day
to follOw. Especially in a case where the -'prosecution offered no physical,
medical, DNA, or eyewitness testimony or evidence that a crime of any kind
had been committed. Let alone a crime with such serious consequences., and
where Mr. Garcia had provided counsel with an abundance of evidence consisting
of alleged complainant's medical report from July~lof 2007 that showed NO HISTORY
of SEXUAL INTERCOURSE. Tattoo and birth mark evidence, a letter written by
the complanent to California courts making similar claims against her biological
father of sexually inappropriate comments and acts, Fémily Couttl documents
where complainant and her mother had made prior false allegations that Mr.
Garcia had assaulted his Two year old daughter, two of his sisters, and an
unknown cousin. As well as documentation that the alleged complainant's mother
had attempted to recant allegations, and when confronted, threatened to flee
the country, and that she would plea the fifth. And finally there was a phone
call made to Mr. Garcia's mother only days before the trial where witness
Hart (the mother of complainant) had asked Mr. Garcia's mother to have him
call her (Hart) expalin his need to do so because she (Hart) was "The Only
One who Could Save Him." Supporting Mr. Garcia's actual innocence, and thoery
that it was in fact, the complainant's mother who had fabricated the allegations
in responce to Mr. Garcia's threats to expose hor crimal activities, neglect,
and continued drug and alcohol abuse in violation of her court ordered probation
in his own efforts to gain custody of his daughter.
This court held that a covicted defendant 'must identify acts or omissions
of counsel that are alleged not to have been the result of reasonable professional
judgment and then, the court must detevine if in light of ALL circumstances,
the identified acts or omissions were outside the wide rang of professional
competent assistance." Strickland supra at 666 U.S. 690. Mr. Garcia argues
23
-
tht thoughe is aware that the burden of proof is on the state in proving
guilt, when counsel is armed with an arsenal of evidnence in support of his
innocence, and evidence that rebuttt the testimony of every one of the states
witnesses and shows a history of past false allegations made by the complainant
and her mother,n at just again3t him, but others as well, and counsels failure
to place this evidence before the jury or to call witnesses on his behalf,
and then for the state and lower federal courts to find that these acts or
omissions were within the "presumed" wide range of professions competence,
or that these decisions were somehow reasoanably "Stratigic," is a slap in
the face to this courts previous rulings to the contrary in Strickland, and
the multitude of decisions that followed. And such a finding further negates
the United States Constitutions Sixth Amendment guarentee that "(in all criminal
prosecutions the accused sahil enjoy the right. to have the assistance of
. .
counsel for his defense." Further, when this court makes it's determination
on Mr. Garcia's claim of ineffective assistance, it must consider the totality
of the evidanc before the jury. "Moreover, a verdict or conclusion only weakly
supported by the record is mote likely to have been affected by errors than
one with overwhelming record support." Strickland 466 U.S, at 695-96. At no
time has any court held the evidence against Mr. Garcia to be overwhelming.
In fact, there appears ot.to even exist a "sufficiency".determination, And
as such, the testimony of witnesses not called and evidence not presented
by counsel denied Mr. Garcia o1hthe effective assistance of counsel and hisright to a fair trial. SeeO Argereinger, Cuyler, Johnson, Powell supra.
The state appellate court held thqt "failure to investigate witnesses does
not hoever, establish inadequate !preparation unless the defendant can show
that the failure to investigate resulted in a failure to find valuable evidence
that would have substantially benefited the defendant."
-
2L,
-
-
*
The District Court found that based on the pr.etai.d, detailed fact-sensitive
analysis conducted by the state appellate court that thier findings did not
constitute an objecti4ely unreasonable application of Strickland standard.
Mr. Garcia would argue that the state court's and lower federal court's have
found arrosnously, and contrary to those standards. As had counsel conducted
ANY investigation, she would most likely have discovered and presented that
those matters of great evidentiary value were highly favorable to Mr. Garcia's
defense, as discussed above. Counsel rnay,have also discovered that witness
Hart had lied about disclosure of assaults to her?alleged Court Ordered therapist,
where in Michigan, the Law MANDATES that varoius professionals (i.e., therapists)
must disclose such allegations, or face criminal charges of thier own. And
assuming Ms. Hart made such a disclosure, and a report was in fact made as
terstified to (TI. Vo1.1, p.4counsel could have investigated the claim,
or argued, (as Mr. Garcia believes to be the case) that this report does not
exist, and Hart had told yet another lie. Or that the prosecution has continued
a pattern of suppression in Mr.Garcia's case. Counsel may have also discovered
that the lead detective in the current case, had also conducted a prior investigation relevant and material to testimony presented at trial by the alleged
complainant and her mother concerning Mr. Garcia's alleged online activities
and efforts to befriend complainant's minor friends for inappropriate purposes.
And that this prior investigation was specific to the states witness Latimer.
Latimer's trail testimony made no mention of nthis investigation which was
conducted in 2007. Though that investigation stated that Mr. Garcia was alleged
to have been attempting to befriend Latimer foit "the wrong reasons" and that
he hd been calling her sexy online. The investigation, Unknown to Mr. Garcia
at the time of trail, s:seled no such attempts by Mr. Garcia and at no time
during this communication did Mr. Garcia ever refeto Latimer as sexy. The
sate court never addressed this suppressed investigation. Vet it did address
25
a letter written to Mr.Garcia addressing his doubts as to the allegations
against him and the credibility of the witnesses. The state court responded
with, '
tughths state could be said to have passed the evidence and the
evidence was favorable to defendant, defendant could have obtained it with
reasonable diligence," (A requirement in clear opposition to Brady as discussed
herein.
Counsel also failed to investigate or object to the presentation of testimony
deemed to be hearsay, concerning a note found on the complainats school locker
that made allegations that something of a sexual nature had taken place between
the complainant and Mr.Garcia. This note wasinaver presented at trial, and
the contents of this note never verified beyond the inadmissible hearsay testimony
of those who testified to its alleged contents. And counsel, at no time made
any attempts to stop the presentation of this testimony or to seek a continuance
in an effort to discover who the authors of this note may have been. To which,
Mr. Garcia would argue in the face of the above actions. or inactions of counsel,
he has more than 5ati2fi5d the states requirement that he show counsels failure
to investigate resulted in a failure to discover or admit valuable evidence
that would have substantially bensfitted his defense.
On matters concerning the calling of witnesses, the Sixth Circuit md
a grossly unreasonable determination of the facts when it determined that
counsels failure to.call Mr. Garcia's mother and step-father, who Mr. Garcia
stated would have testified that the complainant begged to stay wit Mr. Garcia
after he thretaned to move out because the complainant didn't want to live
with her mother. That rather than helping, this testimony would have contradicted
his theory of the case. This was not only untrue, but not consistent with
the facts on the record. The testimony of complainant was that she did not
disclose abuse to anyoneuntli AFTR she had heard the conversation between
Mr. Garcia and her father. (IT Vol II p. 109) Mr. Garcia left the home on
March 22, 2007. And this call took place on or about March 27, 2007. The testimony
that would have been offered by Mr. Garcia's parents would have been that
on March 13, 2007 while his parents were in his home and he discussed moving
out, is when the complainant begged his parents not to let him leave the home
without ntaking her, and that she didn't want to be left alone with her drunken
mother. So, contrary to the courts contention, and without the benefit of
any evidentiary hearing or support, and an eppearent failure to make a complete
reading of the record, this would not have conflicted with his theory. And
the complainant did not accuse M; Garcia on her own accord. Or without the
influence of her mother. Wheput into the proper perspective, and context
a reasonable jurist could, and would. in fact, debate the District Courts decision
was an unreasonable application of clearly established supreme court law and
an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented.
See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)
Mr. Garcia, in his Sixth Amendment claim directs this court to what he
:blieves to be the principle inquiry now before it. Whether the actions or
inactions of counsel in this particular case were that which a reasonably
competent attorney, fed.-'with similar circumstances, and the lack of any
physical, medical, DNA or eyewitness evidence to support the allegations,
and being armed with an arsenal of physical, medical, documentary evidence
and a list of corroborating witnesses in support of Mr. Garcia's actual innocence
and theory offabriotion, would have undertaken. See W.ehjntonv.Witkins,
655 F2d 1346, 1356 (5th Cir. 1981) The Sixth Amendment's guarantee requires
ties théveryicriminal proceeding.
counsel to discharge certain basic responsibili
And it's against these responsibilities that counsels competence and effectiveness
must be measured. Counsel in Mr. Garcia's case failed on every level, and
1n
27
in essence was nothing more than a companion for a hpless lay p5son wandering
through the intricacies of a criminal trial to a foreordained result.
The Sixth Amendment embodies the protection "for the sodused," not a communications
privilege for the attorney or a shield to insulate from inquiry counsels decisions
on behalf of the accused when they are challenged by the defendant. And this
court has recognized that some degree of judicial supervision over the performance
of attorneys is essential so that "defendant's cannot be left to the mercies
of incompetent counsel. " PMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759 771 (1970).
Trail counsel was unable to meet her Sixth Amendment duties because she
lacked the factual ingreadients that an adequate investigation would have
provided, and then failed to present those "factual ingredients" that she
did have, that would have cast this case against Mr. Garcia in a completely
different light.
In sum, Mr. Garcia has shown that he did not receive representation within
the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases and that counsels
ineffectiveness impaired the presentation of his defense at in a trial that
resulted in the finding of guilt for crimes never committed.
For the reasons stated above, the judgment of the Court of Appeals should
be reversed and the case should be remanded for further proceedings consistent
with the analysis and discussion as presented by Mr. Garcia above. And his
conviction should upon review be reversed.
IV. THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ERRED IN DEFFERING TO THE STATE COURT
FINDINGS THAT MR. GARCIA HAD NOT BEEN DENIED HIS SIXTH
AMENDMENT RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL ON
APPEAL II4ERE COUNSEL HAD EFFECTIVELY ABANDONED HIM, FAILED
TO INVESTIGATE, FAILED TO CONSULT OR MEET WITH HIM, AND
FAILED TO RAISE MERITORIOUS ISSUES DIRECTLY RELATED TO
HIS ACTUAL INNOCENCE OR THEORY OF FABRICATION.
Under Michigan's Constitution 1963 Art. 1 § 20, Michigan Court Rule 7.203
(A)(1), and Code of Criminal Proceedure MCL 770.3(1) Mr. Garcia has an absolute
right to direct appeal of his criminal conviction, and to the effective assistance
26
of counsel on appeal. And thouh an appeal may not be considered a cónstitutional
right, many courts consider a direct appeal of a conviction to be a critical
stage of ithe criminal proceeding. And as such, a criminal defendant has a
constitutionla right to an attorney on direct appeal.. And the appellate counsel,
in this capacity serves two rolls. He not only serves his client by actively
representing the critical issues, legal analysis, and reasoning urging reversal
of the conviction, but also assist the court in reaching it's ultimate determination
of the merits of the case. It's because of this inherent role ina direct
appeal of a criminal conviction that the courts have unanimiously concluded
that an attorney cannot abandon his client in the middle of an appeal. Both
ethically and constitutionally, counsel on appeal must represent his client
to the bestof his ability. Such was not the case for Mr. Garcia, as he hopes
this Honorable Court will also determine after a complete review of the record
below, and the arguments presented herein.
Mr. Garcia's right to the effective assistance of counsel includes he right
to the effective assistance of appellate counsel. U.S. C0nst. Amend. VI; Mich.
Const. 1963 Art 1 § 1;20; Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45 (1932). Under state
and federal constitutions, a criminal defendant persuing a first appeal of
right is guaranteed certain minimum safeguaids necessary to make that appeal
"adequate and effective." Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12,20 (1956). Furthermore,
if a state has granted appeals as of right to criminal defendant's seeking
review of alleged trail coutt erros, the prodedures used in deciding appeals
must comport with demands of Due Process and the Equal Protections Clause
of the constitution. Griffin supra; Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963).
See also L.ucey v. Kavanaugh, 724 F.2d 560 (6th Cir. 1984).
In Evitte v. Lucey, 496 U.S. 387 (1985) This Court held that the Due Process
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed a defendant the effective assistance
-
29
-.
of counsel on appeal. And noted that nominal representation of an appeal of
right, like nominal representation at trail does not suffice to render the
proceedings constitutionally adequate; A party whose counsel is unable to
provide effective assistance and representation is no better than one who
has no counsel at all. Id.Y
In Mr. Garcia's case, both the District Court and the Sixth Circuit held
that he did not warrant relief on this claim. The courts held that because
they had bypassed any procedural bars that may have existed, and because the
state court had found hie claims without merit that reasonable jurists would
not debate that the state courts decision on this matter was neither an unreasonable
application of clearly established law, nor an unreasonable determination
of the facts in light of the evidence presented. citing 28 U .S.C. 52254(d).
The Sixth Circuit points to Mr flscia's citing of Maples v. Thomas, 565 U.S.
266 (2012) in support of his claim that counsel had abandoned him on appeal.
While M. Garcia did cite Maples in the context of excusing procedural defaults,
he did so because the state court, in reviewing his collateral attack on this
claim held that hi claims of ineffective assistance of txel
counsel
had not been preserved. And Mr. Garcia's citing of Maples was inresponse to
the states holdings. And though the lower federal courts may have found Maples
to be inapplicable, "Abandonment is Abandonment," and as stated above, "It
is perciesely because of the Due Process Clause that the court made it clear
that an indigents appellate counsel cannot abandon his appeal in midstream."
Entsminger v. Iowa, 386 U.S. 7148, 752 (1967). ("Here there is no question
but that pé tioterwaprer±luded from obtaining complete and effective appellate
review of his conviction.. .") And in Mr. Garcia's case, it wasn't simply that
counsels abandonment, which was established as fact by the Michigan Attorney
Disciplinary Board (Appendix-a), had created procedural barriers that he was
prevented from overcoming, but that counsels abandonment had "precluded him
30
from obtaining complete and effective appellate review of his conviction.
And notably, the topic of abandonment came up numberous times during the Attorney
Disciplinary hearing on July2'.2012. Bee Appendix-a.
The record ibn the instant case establishes that appellate counsels performance
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Appellate counsel failed
to prepare and investigate when he ignored correspondence from Mr. Garcia
which identified issues and important witnesses in his case. Failed to interview witnesses, filed to identify relevant issues on appeal, and failed to
request an evidentiary hearing to establish and clairify matters of factual
dispue in the record, or to establish a testimonial record in support thereof.
Apellata counsel in this case failed to even attempt to retrieve trial counsels
file. Moreover, counsel failed to discuss the case with Mi. Garcia and would
not meet with him. His only communication with him consisted of three 15 minute
phoine calls from the prison yard on an uneecure phone thus preventing Mr.
Garcia from discussing the sensitive nature of his case. These short comings
translated into a deficient Appealate brief, that ultimately identified the
wroing issues when arguing ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
After expressing what Mr. Garcia believed were legally infirm arguments
and the presentation of "Dead Bang Losers," appellate counsel ceased ALL communications and without the knowledge of Mr. Garcia, filed a motion to withdraw.
The motion was denied and provided to Mr., Garcia some te later. Not surprtingly,
the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed Mr. Garcia's convictions and finding
as Mr.. Garcia had pointed out to counsel, that the arguments presented were
not properly presented under the correct rules of evidence and that they were
not meritrioua. (See Appendix-D). Further, appellaticounsel never even informed
Mr. Garcia of the Courts decision, nor did he provide him with a mathenisim
to appeal that ruling.
Appellate counsel's performance and failure to raise important issues
cannot be shielded under the protection of "trail strategy". Although an appellate
attorney my withhold issues, th.4ecision must be done as part of an exercise
of "sound professional judgment of counsel." Haskins v. tecreux, 1994 U.S.
App. LEXIS 2693 (6th. Cir.). Failure to investigate, or to interview witnesses
cannot be condoned under the guise of sound professional judgment, and counsels
inaction deprived Mr. Garcia of his constitutional right to the effective
assistance of counsel as guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment, and violated
his right to Due Process and Equal Protections asguarenteed undet, the Fourteenth
Amendment.
The same Michigan Court of Appeals held that because Mr. Garcia had not
missed any deadlines and because a brief was filed by counsel, albeit uithcut
the consent or knowledge of Mr. Garcia, that he had not been denied the effective
assistance of appellate counsel. Again, this decision was made without the
benefit of an evidentiary hearing, and based on a saverel anorexic trail
and appellate record. Firther,because Mr. Garcia filed his own Standard Four
brief (In Pro Per) which is allowed under Michigan Court Rules, and because
of Mr. Garcia's OWN DILIGENCE prevented him from missing any deadlines has
Absolutely no bearing on the constitutional depravations suffed by counsels
abandonment and ineffectiveness.. Nor is a defendant's diligence, or lack thereof,
a matteer for this court's consideration when determining Mr. Garcia's claims
of Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment violations.
The purpose of an appeal and the role of an appellate attorney are inhearantly
intertwined, Without active assistance of counsel, a defendant's right to
a direct appel of his criminal conviction becomes a hollow gesture. The Court
in United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 68, 658 (1984) Held; "Right to the affective
assistance of counsel is recognized not for it's own sake, but because of
the effect it hag---,on the ability of the accused to receive a fair trail. Mr.
Garcia argues that in light of those facts as presented by him in the state
32
S
and lower federal courts, both the state and feddral courts have unreasonably
applied the standards established by the court on such matters, and contrary
to the principles and guarantees implicated by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments
of the Constitution. See also Strickland and Cr,nic supra.
Mr Garcia was abandoned by counsel, and did not have the benefit of being
informed of this abandonment. Counsel simply teased all communications leavir)9
Mr. Garcia unsure of whetheie: he had counsel or not. And but for the continued
"return to Sender" of his correspondence, he would not have had any idea that
counsel had ceased to act as counsel. Vet Mr. Garcia, with no leagal experience
was left to navigate the appellate process on his own and submitt an inferior
suplemental pro per brief on his own. And then forced to suffer the consequences
of counsels actions. And in the face of overwhwlming evidence to the contrary,
the state and lower federal courts concluded that Mr. Garcia had received
the effective assistance of counsel. He hopes this court will riot find the
same.
For the reasons dlineated above, Mr. Garcia submits trhat he was denied
the effective assistance of appellatecounsel in vóioltion of the Due Process
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Accordingly, and to prevent a gross miscarriage
of justice, the opinion of the Sixth Circuit must be reversed.
V. THE SIXTH CIRCUIT CAUSED MR.GARCIA TO SUFFER A MISCARRIAGE OF
JUSTICE WHEN IT FAILED TO PROPERLY ASSESS HIS CLAIM OF ACTUAL
INNOCENCE BASED ON NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE MATERIAL. TO
MATTERS OF CONSEQUENCE AND SUPPRESSED BY THE PROSECUTION AND
L1HCRE THEISTME AND DISTRICT COURT MISAPPREHENDED THE FACTS
AND ERRONEOUSLY CONSTRUED HIS EVIDENCE AS EVIDENCE PREVIOUSLY
PRESENTED, WHEN IN FACT IT HAD NOT BEEN.
Generally, most claims of actual innocence are reviewed thnder the statndariis
developed by the Supreme Court in Schuip v. Delo, 513 U.I. 298 (
), which
reviewed Oslo's procedurally defaulted claims under the "miscarriage of justice"
exception. However, Mr. Garcia's case is not one in which he is seeking excusal
of a procedural evroi It should however, be noted that because Mr. Garci's
claim of actual innocence was further supported by the discovery of new evidence
that had been willfully suppressed by the police or prosecution and that was
favorable and material to his defense in violation of his right to Due Process,
and those standards established by this Honorable Court in Brady and it's
progeny, he requested and was denied his request for abeyance to present this
new evdence tp the state Court and for an evidentiary hearing on this matter
to expand the record to inclUde this meritOrious claim in his petition for
writ of habeas corpus.
A state court adjudicates a claim "on the merits" for ptrposes of §2254(d)
when it decides the petitioner's right to relief on the basis of the substance
of the federal claim advanced, rather thn. on procedural or other rule precluding
state court merits review. Wilson v. Workman, 577 F.3d 1284, 1308 (10th Cir.
2009). The Sixth Circuit, an Mr. Garcia's claim did not make such a "substance"
based analysis of his constitutional claim of Due Process violation where
the prosecution has suppressed favorable and material evidence. The District
court on this matter, which Mr. Garcia attempted to present concluded tht this
was the same evidence he attempted to present in his first Motion for Relief,
It WAS NOT. The evidence in his first motion for relief consisted of postconviction discovery of a phone number request form that Mr. Garcia had submitted
while he was incarcerated in the Michigan Department of Corrections for a
1986 conviction. Testimony at trial by witness Hart was that her and Mr. Garcia
had been highechool sweethearts, and that she had had absolutely no contact
with him until his release in 2002 (IT Vol.11 p. 6,8). This evidence showed
that witness Hart had clearly lied, which was also found to be the case by
the Michigan Court of Appeals in it's March 27, 2014 Opinion Appendix-H),
where it stated; "First, there is no question that the phone records, which
34
argues shows that the victim's mother was lyingwhen sh claimed not to have
spoken to defendant untii.2002..." However, the court held that this evidence
not to concern a material matter.
Mr Gracia argues to the contrary. His claim has been, and remains to be
that the allegations against him were a fabrication of withes Hart whom Mr.
Garcia had threatened to report for her criminal activities, neglect of the
children, and continued drug and alcohol abuse in violation of her court ordered
probation. All in effort to gain custody of his two yrea old daughter the
two shared. As a result, witness Hart made threats of her own, stating that
she would call the police herself and tell them that he had been sexually
eseulting his daughter and hers, the alleged complainant. The Michigan Court
of Appeals in holding this evidence, (i.e., the evidence of the phone request
farm, and Hart's lies) to not be of a "material matter," which flies in the
face of this courts holdingdin Giglio v...tinited States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972)
where it held:
"When relsiabUity of a given witness may well be determinative
of guilt or innocence, nondisclosure of evidence affecting
credibility falls within the rule that suppression of material
evidence justifies a new trial irrespective of good or bad faith
of the prosecution.."
Though it could be said that the testimony of witness Hart was not that
of the kind suppressed by the prosecution, Mr. Garcia would argue that once
the Michigan Court of Appeals acknowledged it's falsity and in a case that
had no medical, Physical, DNA, or eyewitness evidence EVERY WITNESS became
a "given witness" upon which thier reliability became determinative of guilt
or innocence and was "material. And the Court's failur to remand for an evidentiary
hearing becomes tantamount to the allowing the presentation of known false
testimony to stand uncorrected when it appears. And rather than having been
perpitrated by the prosecution this abuse was now being committed by the court
itself and thus removed from the jury thier duty to weigh and determin the
evidence for themselvs. Under the Giglio standard, and in most cases involving
25
--
'A
perjury or it's equslivent, the result will likely be the finding of constitutional
error. (See Roaencrantz v. Lefler, 568 F. 3d 577 (CA. 6. 2009). Agsin, niether
the District Court Sixth Circuit, or even the state courts subjected this
claim to AEDPA merits revie, but rather it weighed this evidence, and each
piece of evidence presented by Mr. Garcia individually rather than "ccllectively
as required by Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 1.19 (1995).. And as argued above,
When the Michigan Court of Appeals recognized the testimony of witness Hart
to be a "clear lie" based on the newly discovered evidence presented by Mr,
Garcia on collateral attack and then further recognized this evidecne as "favorable
impeachment evidence" and failed to remand for at the very least, an evidentiary
hearing, it became complicit in Mr. Garcia's Due Process violation committed
by the prosecution. See Ncpue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269-270 (1959).
Mr. Garcia's next claim of new evidence also established that the complainant
had lied when she testified falsely that it was her viewing of a Dr. Phill
show that she watched while she was visiting her biological father in December
of 2005. And that it was this show that convinced her that the alleged abuse
must stop. Mr. Garcia diligently, and on his own, searched, found, and presented
an online print out of the shows that had aired during the time period complainant
had testified to having watched this show. He established thatno such show,
of the nature testified to had in fact aired during this time period.
The Michigan Court of Appeals agreed, that hb had presented evidence proving
that that "there was no show, and that such evidence of it's non-existence
"concerns a material matter." However, once again, they found,'in.plece of
the jury, that the evidence did not make a different result probable as the
complainnt on retrial could claim that she was mistaken about the host of
the show, or the date that it aired, and that her testimony would not be impeached to the extent that her credibility diminished. (See Appendix-H p.10).
Mr. Garcia contends that such a holding without the benefit of an evidentiary
ear, ng iObsurdTThe ccmpIãit ttiy was very "rnttir fit"
tY:T
on
this point. And thougtthe court stated that "she could have testified differently,"
Had the jury heard this evidence, that no such show aired during the time
testified to, coupled with the multiple other instances of perjured, or highly
misleading testimony presented in Mr. Garcia's casethat was not supported
by the record or evidence, also conceaded to by the state court, there is
more than a reasonable probibilty of a differnt outcome. Further, any credibility
determinations of the evidence or the witnesses was to be made by the jury,not
on an appellate court based on anirieiifficient paper record.
In Lavender Adm'r v. Kurn, 327 U.S. 645, 653-66)(196) This court went as
far as to say that "When facts are in dispute or the evidecne is such that
fair minded men may draw different inferencer, a measure of speculation and
conjecture is required on the part of those whose duty it is to settlie he
dispute by choosing what seems to be the most reasonable inference. Sich duty
in a jury trial rests upon the jury and it is not incumbent upon the court
to invade the provence of the jury in that respect, where there is conflicting
evidence." As was the case in Mr. Garcia's case.
Mr. Garcia's final piece of evidence presented on his first motion for
relief was a letter received by him from the lead detective in charge of investigating his case. Dective Robert McGhee advised mr. Garcia that he and
proevided the prosecution with everything he had concernig the case against
him but that he had doubted both the allegations and the credibility of his
accusers. This information was never made known to Mr. Garcia prior to or
during the course of his trial. Which Mr, Garcia argued as a Brady violation
and viciated his right to Due Process of the law and his right to a fair trial.
The Michigan Court of Appeals held that Mr. Garcia had failed to establish
a Brady viloation arid sated "Although the o te;couldbe said to have passed
the evidence, and the evidence was favorable to the defendant, the defendant
--
37
7
'a
could have obtained the evidence with reasonable diligence. (See AppendixH p. 11). Such a holding is both an "unreasonable application" and "contrary
to" the standards this very court held in Brady where it established that
"suppression by the prosecution of evidence favoreblia to the accused upon
request, violates due process where the evidence is material to guilt or punishment, irrespective of good or bad faith of the prooecution." Brady 373
U.S. at 87 (1963).. Mr. Garcia, did in fact, make a pretrial request for all
favorable evidence in the control of the prosecution. The prosecution failed
to present this informatio,.
..-•
The Court in United States v. Bagley, 437 U.S. 667 (1985) Held; "Impeachment
evidence, as well as exculpatory evidence, falls within the Brady rule." And
"government failures to assist defense by disclosing information that might
have been helpful in conducting cross-examination amounts to a constitutional
violation only if it deprives defendant of a fair, trial." Such was the case
here. As has Mr. Garcia been aware of the lead detectives doubts, he most
assuredly would have called him before the jury to question him as to the
techniques he used in his investigation, and what it is that leads him to
believe whether or not a crime had- been committed, who may have committed
the crime, and what it is he uses to determine whether or not witnesses are
providing accurate information.
The Michigan Court of Appeals, then add insult to injury by placing upon
Mr. Garcia, in the face of what it personally found to be favorable evidence,
a diligence requirement to seek end find evidence thta had been suppressed
by the state, ether willfully, or inadvertantly. A requirement that only eight
days later, the Michigan Supreme Court in People v. Chenault, 495 Mich. 142
(2014) Held that a "diligence requirement was not consistent with, or even
implied by United States Supreme Court presedence." Though imposing on Mr.Garcia
such a requiremnet.
I
The fthi1 claim of newly discovered evidence argued recently by Mr. Garcia
-
was that of the 2007 investigation spoken of above which consisted of a complaint
filed by Holly Wrathell in April of 2007. Mrs. Wrathell i the mother of states
witness Latimer in the 2008 trial. Her complaint alleged that Mr. Garcia had
been contacting her daughter on "MySpace," an internet web cite and attempting
to befriend her for "the wrong reasons, and calling her sexy." (See Appendix
K). Latimer was crucial to the states case at trial in corroborating the complainant's
allegations, and providing the only link to such allegations via her testimony.
This investigation was never made know to the defendnat and is both material
and re1vant to testimony presented by the complai.nat,and hger mother regarding
thier reasons for deciding to disclose when they did. They said it was to
protect others, and they alleged that Mr, Garcia was using the internet to
communicat with the complainant's minor friends in an attempt to befried them
for inappropriate reasons. Though offering no proof in support. And at no.
time during the trial did Latimer ,ever testify to this online attempt or the
prior investigation. And the prosecutio who could have been reasonably assumed
to know of this investigation never mentioned or questioned any witnesses
about it. And most certianly should have been aware of it since it made similar
claims as those being presented at trial and involved Latimer. Vet this weas
also suppressed. And revelations of it in court, and:it'o 1faucrable results
to the defense would most definately have cast an unfavorable light on at
least three of the four witnesses called by the state. The District Court
on this matter, mistakenly held that this undisclosed report "substantiated
that Mr. Garcia had in fact called Latimer sexy. Vet no where in the report
was this substantiated. Nor did the Court point to where it had. Mr Garcia
understands as explained by nudge Henry 3. Friendly in his article "Is innocence
Relevant?" 38 IJ.Chi,L.Rev (1970); "A prisoner does not make a colorable showing
39
Oil innocence by showing that he might not, or even would nOt, hèbééOOriitéd
In the absence of evidence claimed to have been unconstitutionally obtair'ed."
Rather,"the prisoner must show a fair probability that, in light of ALL the
evidence, including that alleged to have been illegally admitted (but with
due regard to any unavailability of it) and evidence tenably claimed to have
been wrongfully excluded, or to have been available only after the trial,
the trier of fact would have entertained a reasonable doubt of his guilt."Ibid,
(footnotes emitted) . Mr. Garcia argues that had ALL the evidence presented
been considered COLLECTIVELY, and not item by item as this court required
in Kyles supra, his claim of innocence and theory of fabrication creates more
than a reasonable probability of a diffent result, and the governments sCippressiqn
of evideence favorable to him "undermines the confidence in the outcome of
the trial." Bagley supra at 678. Mr. Garcia would suffer a miscarrige of justice
if this conviction is allowed to stand as he has clearly shown suppression
on the pert of the state in violation of his right to due process. And this
court held in Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 49596 (1986)(quoting Engle
v. Isecc, 405 U.S. 107, 135 (1982) "principles of comity and finality.. .must
yield to the imparitive of correcting a fundamentally unjust incarceration."
As such, the descision of the Court of Appeals should be reversed. The
case should be remanded for developement of the evidence and a determination
of whether a miscarriage of justice has occured here under the appropriate
constitutional standard. Kuhlman v. hlilson,477 U.S. 436 (1986)
Rpop
:qro
Date:
'----
Carlorcie #185607
Petitioner In Pro Se
Muskegon Correctional Facility
2400 S. Sheridan Dr.
Muskegon Correctional Facility
,2017
40
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.