Antonetti v. Neven et al, No. 2:2009cv01323 - Document 46 (D. Nev. 2013)
Court Description: ORDER that all remaining claims in the Petition are DENIED and that this action shall be DISMISSED with prejudice. FURTHER ORDERED that a certificate of appealability is DENIED. The Clerk shall enter final judgment accordingly in favor of Respondents and against Petitioner, dismissing this action with prejudice. Signed by Judge Philip M. Pro on 3/11/13. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MMM)
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Antonetti v. Neven et al Doc. 46 1 2 3 4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 7 8 JOSEPH ANTONETTI, 9 Petitioner, 2:09-cv-01323-PMP-GWF 10 vs. ORDER 11 12 13 DWIGHT NEVEN, et al., Respondents. 14 15 16 This habeas matter under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 comes before the Court for a final decision on the grounds that remain. Background 17 18 Petitioner Joseph Antonetti a/k/a Joseph Gozdziewicz seeks to set aside his 2007 19 Nevada state conviction, pursuant to a jury verdict, of one count of attempted escape and one 20 count of possession by a prisoner of tools to escape. Petitioner represented himself at trial, 21 but he was represented by counsel on direct appeal. He thereafter pursued a pro se state 22 petition for post-conviction relief. 23 Standard of Review 24 The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) imposes a “highly 25 deferential” standard for evaluating state-court rulings that is “difficult to meet” and “which 26 demands that state-court decisions be given the benefit of the doubt.” Cullen v. Pinholster, 27 131 S.Ct. 1388, 1398 (2011). Under this highly deferential standard of review, a federal court 28 may not grant habeas relief merely because it might conclude that a decision was incorrect. Dockets.Justia.com 1 131 S.Ct. at 1411. Instead, under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d), the court may grant relief only if the 2 decision: (1) was either contrary to or involved an unreasonable application of clearly 3 established law as determined by the United States Supreme Court based on the record 4 presented to the state courts; or (2) was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts 5 in light of the evidence presented at the state court proceeding. 131 S.Ct. at 1398-1401. 6 A state court decision on the merits is “contrary to” law clearly established by the 7 Supreme Court only if it applies a rule that contradicts the governing law set forth in Supreme 8 Court case law or if the decision confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable 9 from a Supreme Court decision and nevertheless arrives at a different result. E.g., Mitchell 10 v. Esparza, 540 U.S. 12, 15-16 (2003). A decision is not contrary to established federal law 11 merely because it does not cite the Supreme Court’s opinions. Id. Indeed, the Court has held 12 that a state court need not even be aware of its precedents, so long as neither the reasoning 13 nor the result of its decision contradicts them. Id. Moreover, “[a] federal court may not 14 overrule a state court for simply holding a view different from its own, when the precedent 15 from [the Supreme] Court is, at best, ambiguous.” 540 U.S. at 16. For, at bottom, a decision 16 that does not conflict with the reasoning or holdings of Supreme Court precedent is not 17 contrary to clearly established federal law. 18 A state court decision constitutes an “unreasonable application” of clearly established 19 federal law only if it is demonstrated that the state court’s application of Supreme Court 20 precedent to the facts of the case was not only incorrect but “objectively unreasonable.” E.g., 21 Mitchell, 540 U.S. at 18; Davis v. Woodford, 384 F.3d 628, 638 (9 th Cir. 2004). 22 To the extent that the state court’s factual findings are challenged, the “unreasonable 23 determination of fact” clause of Section 2254(d)(2) controls on federal habeas review. E.g., 24 Lambert v. Blodgett, 393 F.3d 943, 972 (9th Cir. 2004). This clause requires that the federal 25 courts “must be particularly deferential” to state court factual determinations. Id. The 26 governing standard is not satisfied by a showing merely that the state court finding was 27 “clearly erroneous.” 393 F.3d at 973. Rather, AEDPA requires substantially more deference 28 to the state court’s determination: -2- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 . . . . [I]n concluding that a state-court finding is unsupported by substantial evidence in the state-court record, it is not enough that we would reverse in similar circumstances if this were an appeal from a district court decision. Rather, we must be convinced that an appellate panel, applying the normal standards of appellate review, could not reasonably conclude that the finding is supported by the record. Taylor v. Maddox, 366 F.3d 992, 1000 (9 th Cir. 2004); see also Lambert, 393 F.3d at 972. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1), state court factual findings are presumed to be correct unless rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. The petitioner bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that he is entitled to habeas relief. Pinholster, 131 S.Ct. at 1398. Discussion 10 11 Ground 2: Effective Assistance of Appellate Counsel – Brady Claim 12 The Court addresses Ground 2 before Ground 1 because Petitioner must demonstrate 13 ineffective assistance of appellate counsel under Ground 2 in order to overcome the 14 procedural default of the underlying substantive claim in Ground 1. 15 In the exhausted portion of the underlying substantive claim in Ground 1, Petitioner 16 alleges that he was denied due process in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth 17 Amendments because the state district court denied pretrial motions allegedly requesting 18 discovery of files from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), two inspectors general, and 19 the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (“Metro”) gang intelligence unit containing 20 information and informant names regarding an alleged Aryan Warrior gang “contract” put out 21 on Antonetti. Petitioner contends that this discovery would have provided material evidence 22 for a necessity defense to the escape-related charges. 23 24 25 26 27 28 In the exhausted portion of Ground 2, Petitioner alleges that he was denied effective assistance of appellate counsel for failure to raise the claim in Ground 1 on direct appeal. The Supreme Court of Nevada rejected the ineffective-assistance claim presented to that court on the following grounds: Appellant claimed that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that the prosecutor committed misconduct when the prosecutor failed to turn over evidence. -3- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Appellant asserted that he had filed pretrial motions requesting material evidence in support of his defense strategy, including files from the Inspector General's Office, files from gang intelligence, files from the police, and Clark County investigators. Appellant claimed that these sources would reveal information about a prison gang that appellant alleged posed a threat to his life. Appellant finally asserted that he had a "good reason to suggest a great deal of evidence exist[ed] that was not turned over." Appellant failed to demonstrate that his appellate counsel's performance was deficient or that he was prejudiced. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) requires a prosecutor to disclose material evidence favorable to the defense. See Evans v. State, 117 Nev. 609, 626, 28 P.3d 498, 510 (2001). Appellant's claim of misconduct was based on a bare and naked allegation that the prosecutor withheld evidence, and notably, appellant failed to demonstrate that any evidence was withheld from the defense in the instant case. Throughout the pretrial proceedings appellant argued that the prosecutor had not disclosed all of the evidence, and the prosecutor stated that the evidence in their files had been turned over to appellant and his former trial counsel. A number of continuances were granted to provide appellant access to the prosecutor's files. Appellant presented his defense theory regarding the alleged gang threats to the jury. Appellant failed to demonstrate that this issue of prosecutorial misconduct would have had a reasonable probability of success on direct appeal. Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not err in denying this claim. #23, Ex. 97, at 2-3. The state supreme court’s rejection of this claim was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. 19 On a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must satisfy the 20 two-pronged test of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). He must demonstrate 21 that: (1) counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) 22 counsel's defective performance caused actual prejudice. On the performance prong, the 23 issue is not what counsel might have done differently but rather is whether counsel's 24 decisions were reasonable from his perspective at the time. The court starts from a strong 25 presumption that counsel's conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable conduct. On the 26 prejudice prong, the petitioner must demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for 27 counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. E.g., 28 Beardslee v. Woodford, 327 F.3d 799, 807-08 (9th Cir. 2003). -4- 1 While surmounting Strickland's high bar is "never an easy task," federal habeas review 2 is "doubly deferential" in a case governed by the AEDPA. In such cases, the reviewing court 3 must take a "highly deferential" look at counsel's performance through the also "highly 4 deferential" lens of § 2254(d). Pinholster, 131 S.Ct. at 1403 & 1410. 5 When evaluating claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, the performance 6 and prejudice prongs of the Strickland standard partially overlap. E.g., Bailey v. Newland, 263 7 F.3d 1022, 1028-29 (9th Cir. 2001); Miller v. Keeney, 882 F.2d 1428, 1434 (9th Cir. 1989). 8 Effective appellate advocacy requires weeding out weaker issues with less likelihood of 9 success. The failure to present a weak issue on appeal neither falls below an objective 10 standard of competence nor causes prejudice to the client for the same reason – because the 11 omitted issue has little or no likelihood of success on appeal. Id. 12 As backdrop in the present case, Antonetti was charged in November 2003 with the 13 September 17, 2003, escape offenses. Antonetti attempted to escape from the Clark County 14 Detention Center (CCDC). Although the reason for his detention was excluded from evidence 15 at trial in the escape case, Antonetti attempted to escape while awaiting trial for, inter alia, 16 first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in a case where the State was seeking 17 the death penalty. He was charged with attempting escape with four other pretrial detainees 18 also held on felony charges, including one of his codefendants in the murder case. He thus 19 was represented by counsel in the murder case at the time of the escape attempt.1 20 On the escape charges, Antonetti was represented by appointed counsel from 21 December 15, 2003, until May 4, 2005, when the court granted his motion to represent 22 himself with former counsel as standby counsel. At the time that Antonetti opted to represent 23 himself, he was incarcerated on, inter alia, two consecutive sentences of life without the 24 possibility of parole.2 Moreover, his custodians quite likely would be taking his escape attempt 25 into account vis-à-vis security and his conditions of confinement. 26 27 1 E.g., #22, Exhs. 2-6; #23, Ex. 80, at 12; No. 3:11-cv-00451-RCJ-WGC, #16, Exhs. 6-7 & 26. 28 2 See #22, Exhs. 4, 7, 23-24 & 26 (representation issues); see also id., Ex. 59, at 11 (other sentence). -5- 1 Prior to Antonetti opting to represent himself, a defense investigator had been 2 appointed. Prior to his self-representation, Antonetti had reviewed surveillance tapes and 3 documents that the State was planning to introduce at trial with defense counsel and the 4 investigator.3 5 At the time that the court granted Antonetti’s request to represent himself, on May 4, 6 2005, Antonetti stated that he was not ready for trial because an Inspector Molnar had taken 7 evidence from him without returning it. Antonetti was referring to an investigative officer with 8 the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC). The court directed Antonetti to file a written 9 motion, and standby counsel stated that she would assist Antonetti in doing so. Antonetti 10 further requested that he be returned from the jail to prison where he had access to a law 11 library and supplies. The court continued the trial date and granted Antonetti’s request to be 12 returned to prison. 4 13 14 On July 20, 2005, standby counsel signed a receipt acknowledging delivery of a CDROM from the State with discovery disclosures.5 15 At a July 25, 2005, calendar call, Antonetti advised the court that Inspector or 16 Investigator Molnar “still” had not returned any of the materials that he had taken, “including 17 every name, phone number, [and] address in my possession.” Petitioner stated that he 18 needed the information to contact witnesses on his behalf. (Antonetti, however, was in the 19 process of serving subpoenas on witnesses.) He further stated that “some of the things he 20 took are, I believe, exculpatory in nature.” Antonetti stated that the court had ordered Molnar 21 to return the materials but had not done so. However, the online docket record reflects that 22 Antonetti in truth had not filed a written motion during the intervening nearly three months 23 24 25 26 3 See #22, Exhs. 16-18. While Exhibit 18 is an application for a contact visit after an unsuccessful attempt to meet with petitioner, the online docket record of the Eighth Judicial District Court confirms that the application was promptly granted. It does not appear that further followup requests for a contact visit were required to accomplish the objective. The online docket record for Case No. C196472 can be accessed from: https://www.clarkcountycourts.us/Anonymous/default.aspx. 27 4 #22, Ex. 24. See also id., Ex. 29, at 1. 28 5 #22, Ex. 27. -6- 1 after the May 4, 2005, proceeding as the judge had directed. The court directed the State to 2 contact Molnar to see if he had the materials to which Antonetti was referring.6 3 Also at the July 25, 2005, calendar call, the court and parties discussed the CD-ROM 4 provided by the State to standby counsel. It would appear that the production in this format 5 would have been accessible for review and use by counsel in defending Antonetti had she 6 still been acting as defense counsel rather than only as standby counsel. However, Antonetti 7 informed the court that he did not have a computer in prison and that he therefore could not 8 access the CD-ROM as a self-represented defendant. He specifically asked for the State to 9 either put the material on an audio CD, as he had a CD player, or transcribe the material. The 10 court directed that standby counsel see to such being done. The court further continued the 11 trial again.7 12 On September 14, 2005, Antonetti filed a written motion for discovery and review of 13 Brady material. Antonetti made broad requests for categories of documents rather than 14 requests for specific information. 15 investigator and classification officers, as well as N.D.O.P. inspector general and classification 16 officers, files, notes, reports, records, or documents for possible exculpatory and/or 17 impeachment material and/or evidence.” The motion otherwise recited boilerplate law on the 18 obligation of disclosure under Brady, including generic case law regarding a duty to disclose 19 any exculpatory or impeachment evidence “which can be obtained for all testifying witnesses, 20 including officers and agents controlling or having interviewed informants.”8 He requested discovery and review “of all CCDC 21 22 23 24 25 26 6 #22, Ex. 29, at 2-3 & 5. Petitioner at this point was not making a request for discovery of material in State files but instead was seeking a return of his own files. Although petitioner referred generically to some of his own confiscated file materials as being “exculpatory,” he presented no request at that time under Brady for exculpatory material in the State’s files. Petitioner made no request in particular regarding the identity of informants concerning an Aryan Warrior contract on his life and/or for other specific information regarding such an Aryan Warrior contract on his life. See also note 8, infra. 7 Id., at 2-4. 8 27 #22, Ex. 32. It of course is established law that the State owes the same duty of disclosure of favorable (exculpatory and impeachment) evidence without regard to whether the defendant makes a specific 28 (continued...) -7- 1 The court granted the motion for discovery of Brady material on September 26, 2005. 9 2 Over seven months later, at a May 10, 2006, calendar call, Antonetti stated to the court 3 that he had not been given “any” materials in response to the motion for discovery of 4 Brady material. He stated that “I know that there’s evidence, you know, that is exculpatory 5 in nature” that the State had not provided. When asked for an example, he referred to phone 6 calls by one of his codefendants in the escape case to another individual. 7 prosecutor and standby counsel confirmed that the phone calls had been produced by the 8 State. Antonetti maintained conclusorily that he had “everything that’s inculpatory . . . but not 9 everything that’s exculpatory.” The State affirmed again that recordings of all phone calls, not 10 just the phone calls that the prosecution was introducing into evidence, had been produced. 11 Antonetti continued to maintain that he had asked for “exculpatory evidence” in the motion 12 and that “[i]n my motion I pointed out exactly where they should look.” He did not establish 13 that any specific exculpatory evidence had been withheld, over and above making for the 14 record his unsupported conclusory assertion that exculpatory evidence had been withheld.10 15 However, at a May 24, 2006, calendar call, Antonetti and standby counsel advised the 16 court that the State had informed counsel that the recording of 150 additional phone calls had 17 been given previously to Petitioner’s counsel in the murder case. The State was in the 18 process of having the recording converted to a cassette tape, or per Antonetti’s request, an 19 audio CD for Antonetti to be able to review the calls. Antonetti maintained that he had 20 preliminary listened to the calls on apparently a CD-ROM that standby counsel had. He 21 asserted that the material was “obviously exculpatory, it’s obviously going to be useful for my Both the 22 23 24 25 26 8 (...continued) request, a general request, or even no request at all. However, petitioner has suggested repeatedly in state and federal court that he specifically asked for information regarding an Aryan Warrior contract on his life. Such a suggestion is belied by the state court record. Petitioner made no targeted express request in the Brady motion, or otherwise, specifically for the identity of informants regarding an Aryan Warrior contract on his life and/or for other specific information regarding such an Aryan Warrior contract on his life. The Court notes this to keep the record clear as to what in fact transpired in state court. 27 9 28 10 #22, Ex. 37. #22 Ex. 51, at 3-8. -8- 1 defense.” The court vacated the trial date without date to afford Antonetti time to review the 2 recording after being transferred back to prison. 11 3 On July 10, 2006, Petitioner filed a motion to dismiss the charges. Antonetti made 4 conclusory assertions, inter alia, that the State had failed to meet its disclosure obligations 5 despite the court’s grant of his Brady motion and that the inspector general’s office had 6 confiscated evidence and discovery materials.12 7 No specifics were offered in the motion in support of the bare assertion that the State 8 had failed to disclose materials years into the case. No mention was made regarding the 9 withholding of any information or materials regarding an Aryan Warrior contract on Antonetti’s 10 life. 11 Further, no specifics were offered in the motion in support of the bare suggestion that 12 there remained a continuing issue regarding the the inspector general confiscating evidence 13 and discovery. Petitioner never had filed a written motion to obtain the materials allegedly 14 confiscated by Inspector Molnar after initially raising the issue more than fourteen months 15 before. Petitioner never even had mentioned the alleged confiscation in any state court 16 proceedings of record herein after a July 25, 2005, calendar call – which appeared to direct 17 a solution to that issue. Moreover, Petitioner thereafter had named a total of seven witnesses 18 in a September 22, 2005, witness list and another seven witnesses in an April 17, 2006, 19 witness list, after previously stating to the state district court that he needed the materials 20 allegedly taken by Molnar to identify and list his witnesses.13 Nothing in the conclusory 21 reference -- seemingly back to the same previously apparently resolved situation -- gave any 22 specifics reflecting how or why there remained any continuing issue in this regard. 23 24 25 26 11 #22, Ex. 54, at 4-6. Petitioner made no request at either the May 10, 2006, or the May 24, 2006, calendar call for discovery of Brady material specifically for the identity of informants regarding an Aryan Warrior contract on his life and/or for other specific information regarding such an Aryan Warrior contract on his life. He made no assertion at either calendar call that information regarding an Aryan Warrior contract on his life was being withheld by the State. See note 8, supra. 27 12 #22, Ex. 55, at 5-6. 28 13 #22, Exhs. 35 & 48. -9- 1 At a August 9, 2006, status check, the State produced recordings of phone calls or 2 additional phone calls on an audio CD. Antonetti argued on the motion to dismiss that “I filed 3 a motion specifically asking for the phone calls years ago,” although his Brady motion had not 4 asked specifically for phone calls. He further referenced his general request for exculpatory 5 material. Petitioner additionally made a conclusory reference to his discovery materials being 6 confiscated. 7 suppressed evidence concerning an Aryan Warrior gang contract on his life.14 Petitioner once again made no reference in his argument to allegedly 8 The State responded that all of the material originally had been turned over to counsel 9 for Antonetti before he undertook self-representation. According to the State, it had taken a 10 month and a half to convert the material turned over that day from the prior CD-ROM 11 production onto an audio CD. 15 12 Antonetti confirmed at an August 16, 2006, status check the following week that he 13 could access the recordings on the audio CD. He requested transcripts of all pretrial 14 proceedings “so that I can show that I have asked in the past for exculpatory evidence, Brady 15 and Giglio material, impeachment material . . . [that] I just continuously maintain that there is 16 more evidence that has not been turned over.”16 17 The matter came on for trial beginning on December 5, 2006. During his reserved 18 opening statement after the State’s case-in-chief, Antonetti articulated openly for the first time 19 his necessity defense based upon an alleged contract on his life. He did not deny that he 20 attempted to escape, but he maintained that he did so because his life was in danger.17 21 22 In his case-in-chief, Antonetti presented multiple witnesses seeking to substantiate this defense, which he had the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence. 23 24 25 14 ##22, Ex. 59, at 2-7. It appears that the attorney initially making the in-hearing presentation was not regular counsel on the file, with lead counsel thereafter clarifying what was being produced in what format a few minutes into the hearing. 26 15 Id., at 12-13. 27 16 #22, Ex. 61, at 2-4. 28 17 #23, Ex. 70, Part 1, at 101-02. Petitioner apparently had been “playing his cards close to the vest.” -10- 1 Veronica Damon was an investigator with the NDOC Inspector General’s office. She 2 had knowledge of Antonetti “from back to 2004" while assigned as an institutional investigator 3 at High Desert State Prison (“High Desert”).18 Significantly, Damon testified that she did not 4 have any knowledge of Antonetti at the time of his attempted escape from CCDC in 5 September 2003, and she was not aware of any threats against him at that time.19 Antonetti 6 sought to elicit testimony from Damon that she had told him that a gang had “bad intentions” 7 for him. Damon did not recall the 2004 conversations the way that Antonetti recalled them. 8 She recalled that when he asked her why he was on walk-alone status she told him “the 9 various reasons a person could be placed on walk alone status.” 20 She acknowledged that 21 10 Antonetti had been placed on walk-alone status, in 2004, due to a threat. However, her 11 recollection was that she did not communicate that information to Antonetti, including during 12 a conversation that she had with Antonetti with inmate Jack McLaughlin also present. 22 13 Damon could not recall “if the threat came in paper form or information” given that “90 14 percent of the information that we get that comes into the office is given in an anonymous 15 format.” Damon stated that “liability procedures dictate [that] we take action based on the 16 possibility that a threat does exist.” She testified that there would be a “chronological [entry] 17 under your BAC [inmate] number indicating that you were placed on walk alone status per the 18 [Inspector General’s] office.” The entry would state “[f]or threats and that’s all it does on the 19 chronological record.” She did not recall any specifics on the 2004 High Desert threat.23 20 //// 21 18 #35, Ex. 102, at 89. 19 Id., at 94-96. 22 23 24 25 20 Id., at 88-91. See also id., at 95 (possible reasons for walk-alone status). Walk-alone status, as the name implies, “means that when you’re taken out of your cell, there are no other inmates out of their cells in the area at the time.” Id., at 93. 26 21 Id., at 91-92. 27 22 Id., at 89-91 & 94. 28 23 Id., at 91-94. -11- 1 The next morning, outside of the presence of the jury, Antonetti urged that Damon’s 2 testimony confirmed that the State had withheld favorable evidence. He maintained that 3 “[i]nside the [Brady] motion, I . . . asked for the government examination of files of the 4 investigator, the inspector general, the Metro gang intelligence files for [the] very information 5 that I was trying to receive from [State witness] Miss Damon yesterday.” He maintained that 6 he thus was unable to help the witness refresh her recollection as to events three years 7 before.24 8 The prosecution stated that it did not have any of the materials and had no exculpatory 9 evidence. The parties debated whether Damon had testified that she had any notes in the 10 first instance.25 The transcript of Damon’s testimony confirms that Antonetti did not ask her 11 whether she had any notes and that she did not testify as to the existence of any such 12 notes.26 13 The Court further observes that: (a) under a fair reading of Damon’s testimony, she 14 did not testify that she was unable to recall her conversations with Antonetti but instead simply 15 that she did not recall the substance of the conversations the same way that he did; (b) her 16 inability to recall specifics regarding a possible threat at High Desert in 2004 had no material 17 bearing on Antonetti’s attempt to escape from CCDC in 2003, including regarding what he 18 knew then as she did not know or talk to him then; and (c) her testimony in any event further 19 tended to reflect that a detailed paper trail was not maintained by NDOC with regard to “90 20 percent of the information” that her office acted on based upon anonymous oral information, 21 given that NDOC had to act to protect the inmate from the possibility of a threat regardless. 22 23 24 25 26 24 #23, Ex. 73, at 3-4. The State of course has an obligation to produce favorable information in any files under the State’s control, whether requested or not. The Court notes that, while the Brady motion had requested discovery of CCDC and NDOC investigative and classification officers’ files and notes for possible exculpatory evidence, the motion made no express reference to Metro gang intelligence files and/or other gang-related information. Antonetti’s argument therefore was not factually accurate as to what he had expressly requested in his Brady motion. 27 25 #23, Ex. 73, at 4-5. 28 26 #35, Ex. 102, at 87-96. -12- 1 Ronald Sellers, a High Desert inmate, testified that he was “alleged to be the leader 2 of” the Aryan Warrior prison gang. Sellers testified that – “at some point or another,” without 3 regard to any identified specific time period – “my intention was that we were going to have 4 to kill [Antonetti].” He further testified that the Aryan Warriors could get to an inmate in 5 protective custody and that Antonetti was aware that the gang could do so.27 6 Kevin Strobeck was a CCDC investigator. Strobeck testified that he had heard that 7 someone had threatened Antonetti, and he believed that Antonetti was aware of the threat. 8 However, on cross-examination, Strobeck testified that, from what CCDC personnel knew, 9 the threat came from a person in prison rather than at the detention center and the threat 10 existed only in prison rather than at the detention center. Strobeck testified that Antonetti had 11 made no requests to him or other CCDC personnel to be housed differently. 12 sought to establish on redirect that it would not have been necessary for him to inform 13 Strobeck of the threat because Strobeck already was aware of the threat. However, this 14 begged the question on the point being made by the prosecution, and Strobeck reiterated on 15 that point that Antonetti had made no request to be moved within CCDC.28 Antonetti 16 Michael Oxborrow was a correctional case worker at Ely State Prison (“Ely”). He 17 testified, inter alia, that “99.9 percent of the time” inmates were safe in protective custody but 18 “there’s no guarantee.” Ely was a maximum security facility, so it housed offenders capable 19 of violence, including Aryan Warrior members. He personally was not aware of any threats 20 against Antonetti. He did not come into contact with Antonetti until 2004, so he would not 21 have had any interaction with Antonetti when he was in CCDC during the relevant time in 22 2003.29 23 The parties stipulated to the testimony of State witness Detective Alexander Gonzalez 24 if he were recalled by Antonetti in his case-in-chief. Gonzalez was a Metro intelligence officer 25 26 27 #23, Ex. 73, at 9-14. 27 28 Id., at 17-20. 28 29 Id., at 21-27. -13- 1 employed at CCDC. As related by Antonetti, the stipulation was that Gonzalez would testify 2 that he took Antonetti to a meeting “to be instructed by gang intelligence that there was a 3 contract on my life while I was present here in the Clark County Detention Center.” 30 4 Antonetti’s mother, Kim Kuehnert, testified that she and a Jaime Heller was afraid that 5 Antonetti was going to be hurt, that “a female District Attorney” told her “one day” that there 6 might be a problem, and that his attorneys wanted him to cut a deal where he would not be 7 incarcerated in Nevada due to the alleged threat.31 8 Jack McLaughlin, one of Antonetti’s co-conspirators in the escape, testified that 9 Antonetti was trying to escape because the Aryan Warriors were threatening his life and that 10 Antonetti told him this. According to McLaughlin, he was present when High Desert 11 investigator Damon told Antonetti that there were credible threats against his life and that the 12 threat was imminent. McLaughlin did not testify when the conversation with Damon at High 13 Desert occurred, however. He did not contradict Damon’s testimony that she conversed with 14 Antonetti in 2004, well after his attempted escape from CCDC in 2003.32 15 Under the applicable jury instruction, Antonetti had the burden of proving by a 16 preponderance of the evidence that he was faced with a specific threat of, inter alia, death 17 or substantial bodily injury in the immediate future, that there was no time for a complaint to 18 the authorities or there existed a history of futile complaints, and there was no time or 19 opportunity for resort to the courts. 33 20 In its closing argument, the State focused on the testimony that the threat was in prison 21 rather than at the jail and that Antonetti did not request a change in housing at CCDC. The 22 State further noted that Antonetti had not established that he did not have time or opportunity 23 24 30 #23, Ex. 73 at 28. See also #35, Ex. 102, at 26-42 (Gonzalez’ testimony in State’s case-in-chief). 25 31 #23, Ex. 73, at 33-36. 32 Id., at 37-47. 26 27 33 28 See #23, Ex. 75, Instruction No. 21; see also #23, Ex. 74, at 2-5 & 23-24 (stipulation to additional factor and agreement as to irrelevancy of another remaining factor). -14- 1 for resort to the courts. The State also argued in rebuttal that Antonetti’s demeanor in eight 2 to ten telephone calls with the young women outside the jail who were assisting the escape 3 was not consistent with his defense. The State maintained that he did not appear worried or 4 upset, that he instead was joking with the women while planning the escape, and that he 5 never mentioned a threat on his life or that he had to escape because his life was in danger.34 6 After the trial and guilty verdict, Antonetti filed a post-trial motion for mistrial on a 7 number of grounds. Petitioner made conclusory assertions, inter alia, that the State failed to 8 produce exculpatory evidence and that “[d]ue to various witness testimony . . . it is obvious 9 such evidence exists and that witness recollection was indeed an issue.” 35 10 11 12 13 14 15 The state district court denied the motion, finding, inter alia, that the State had not withheld any exculpatory evidence.36 Appointed appellate counsel thereafter did not raise an issue on direct appeal regarding an alleged failure to produce exculpatory evidence. In his state petition, Antonetti claimed ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for failing to raise the following substantive Brady claim: 16 Mr. Antonetti filed several motions in request of material evidence in support of his defense strategy, both written and verbal. This evidence was never given to Mr. Antonetti. Evidence from files of inspector generals, gang intelligence Metro, Clark County investigators, as to the whereabouts, abilities, confidential informants of a prison gang, Aryan Warriors, with which Mr. Antonetti could have shown that a threat to his life existed anywhere in Nevada, which goes directly to his defense strategy. Mr. Antonetti has very good reason to suggest a great deal of evidence exists and was not turned over as the media knows of federal and state agencies having indictment against said group. Further several witnesses could not recall information that copies of their files would have assisted with. This deprived Mr. Antonetti of a fair trial. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 #23, Ex. 92, at 8. 25 26 34 #23, Ex. 74, at 28-36. 27 35 #23, Ex. 78, at 5-6. 28 36 #23, Ex. 80, at 11. -15- 1 As noted previously, the Supreme Court of Nevada held that Petitioner could not 2 demonstrate either that appellate counsel’s performance was deficient or that he was 3 prejudiced by the failure to present this substantive claim on direct appeal. This holding was 4 neither contrary to nor an objectively unreasonable application of Strickland and other clearly 5 established federal law as determined by the United States Supreme Court. 6 Under Brady and its progeny, a defendant is denied due process if: (1) the State 7 suppresses evidence either willfully or inadvertently; (2) the suppressed evidence is favorable 8 to the accused, either as exculpatory or impeachment evidence; and (3) the defendant was 9 prejudiced because the suppressed evidence was material, i.e., there was a reasonable 10 probability that, had the evidence been disclosed, the result of the proceeding would have 11 been different. See,e.g., Runningeagle v. Ryan, 686 F.3d 758, 769 (9th Cir. 2012), petition 12 for cert. filed, 81 U.S.L.W. 3429 (Nov. 15, 2012). 13 The state supreme court’s rejection of the claim of ineffective assistance of appellate 14 counsel on the ground that Petitioner presented only a bare claim that the State suppressed 15 evidence was not an objectively unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. 16 A defendant must do more than present a purely speculative claim that favorable information 17 was suppressed by the State, and he instead must produce some evidence of suppression. 18 See,e.g., United States v. Pelisamen, 641 F.3d 399, 408 (9th Cir. 2011); Phillips v. Woodford, 19 267 F.3d 966, 987 (9th Cir. 2001); United States v. Lopez-Alvarez, 970 F.2d 583, 598 (9th Cir. 20 1992). Antonetti’s conclusory assertions on state post-conviction review that “a great deal of 21 evidence exists” and that “several witnesses could not recall information that copies of their 22 files would have assisted with” were grounded in pure speculation. Nothing in the state court 23 record -- including investigator Damon’s testimony discussed at length, supra -- supports 24 Antonetti’s bald supposition that extensive investigative files, notes, summaries of interviews 25 of informants, and the like existed containing material favorable information over and above 26 that which Antonetti presented at trial. That is, the premise merely that a member or 27 members of a prison gang may have threatened a pretrial detainee does not inexorably lead 28 to the conclusion that multiple agencies developed extensive files on the alleged threat. -16- 1 Antonetti never developed an actual factual foundation for a Brady claim in the state 2 courts -- including in particular when he had officers on the stand at trial -- that extensive 3 multiple agency investigative files existed regarding an alleged threat on his life by the Aryan 4 Warriors in 2003 and that such alleged files contained material information over and above 5 that presented at trial.37 Petitioner requests in the reply that this Court order production of the 6 alleged files and require that State officials respond to his allegations at a federal evidentiary 7 hearing. Under Pinholster, however, federal review is restricted to the conclusory record that 8 Antonetti made before the state courts that adjudicated the merits of his claim of ineffective 9 assistance of counsel. E.g., Runningeagle, 686 F.3d at 766 n.2; Woods v. Sinclair, 655 F.3d 10 886, 904 n.10 (9th Cir. 2011), vacated on other grounds, Woods v. Holbrook, 132 S.Ct. 1819 11 (2012). The record that Antonetti made in the state court proceedings was one of repeatedly 12 conclusory and speculative assertions that the State was withholding favorable information. 13 A conclusory and speculative claim does not become less so by repetition.38 14 15 37 16 See also #44, at 18-22 (related record analysis in Respondents’ Answer). 38 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Petitioner urges that this Court “has already noted it is unpersuaded that the claims are lacking in specificity.” #45, at 1. However, the Court clearly distinguished between alleging a sufficiently specific claim in the federal petition to initially warrant a written response and review of the merits of the underlying claim: . . . . If the Court had been of the view that the Petition was not sufficiently specific to allow a response, it would have dismissed the claims with leave to amend during the active screening conducted herein. The claims presented were exhausted in the state courts, and they were rejected by the Supreme Court of Nevada on the record presented to that court either on the merits or on the basis of a state procedural bar. The two fairly straightforward grounds presented in this matter thus would appear to be postured for a definitive resolution under the applicable standard of review under AEDPA or the procedural default doctrine. . . . . The Court expresses no opinion at this juncture as to whether the decision of the Supreme Court of Nevada rejecting Ground 2 on the merits was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law due to the claim being based on bare allegations in the state courts. The Court holds only that the claims presented are sufficiently specific under the applicable federal pleading standard to require a response rather than dismissal with leave to amend. #41, at 1-2 (emphasis added). -17- 1 In the Reply, Petitioner relies upon “Case Notes” from an “Offender Information 2 Summary” under his name and identification number that he maintains that he received in 3 response to a grievance. The document consists of short, dated entries of two or more lines 4 in chronological order. Petitioner relies in particular upon the following entry: 5 01/19/2005 - 09:47 [General Case Notes/General Case Note] TRIGGS - ACCORDING TO I.G.’S OFC (DAMON) I/M [inmate] IS TO REMAIN ON WALK ALONE STATUS; I/M APPARENTLY HAS A HIT ON HIM & I.G’S OFFICE WANTS I/M TO STAY ON WALK ALONE STATUS. I/M & 2B C/OS [Unit 2B correctional officers] WERE ADVISED 6 7 8 9 #40, Ex. C (at electronic docketing pages 23-24). 10 Petitioner contends that this entry establishes on federal habeas review that he was 11 denied favorable information responsive to his Brady request with regard to investigator 12 Damon’s testimony. The entry does not do so. First, the document was not presented to the 13 state courts that adjudicated the claim on the merits and therefore cannot be considered on 14 federal habeas review. Pinholster, supra. Second, the entry is addressed to an NDOC 15 inmate record concerning circumstances when he was in NDOC custody at High Desert on 16 January 19, 2005. Petitioner attempted to escape from CCDC on September 17, 2003. The 17 entry, which paralleled Damon’s testimony, had no material exculpatory value vis-à-vis his 18 2003 escape attempt. Third, the document did not have any material impeachment value. 19 Damon testified specifically that being placed on walk-alone status based upon a threat would 20 generate such a chronological entry – and often only such a terse entry – under the inmate’s 21 identification number.39 Even if some strained impeachment could be drawn from the entry, 22 such impeachment would be on collateral matters having nothing to do with the relevant time. 23 Damon interacted with Antonetti and the entries in his custodial file when he was in NDOC 24 custody at High Desert starting in 2004, not when he was in CCDC custody in 2003 when he 25 attempted to escape. Petitioner’s arguments regarding Damon’s testimony in truth present 26 nothing more than a red herring, both as to guilt at trial and on the Brady issue. 27 28 39 See #35, Ex. 102, at 92-93. -18- 1 Further, given the trial evidence, there was not a reasonable probability that the 2 Brady claim asserted by Antonetti would have succeeded on direct appeal. Antonetti did in 3 fact present evidence at trial, including from State officers, tending to establish that there was 4 a threat on his life while at CCDC and that both Antonetti and officers knew about it. Cf. Ford 5 v. Gonzalez, 683 F.3d 1230, 1238 n.10 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 133 S.Ct. 769 (2012)(there is 6 no Brady violation where the defendant is aware of the essential facts enabling him to take 7 advantage of the favorable evidence). However, proving the existence only of the threat itself 8 did not prove all of the required elements for Antonetti’s necessity defense. He additionally 9 was required to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that there was no time for a 10 complaint to the authorities or that there existed a history of futile complaints making any 11 result from such a complaint illusory and that there was no time or opportunity for resort to the 12 courts.40 Petitioner presented no evidence establishing these elements by a preponderance 13 of the evidence.41 Nor was such evidence – particularly as to his seeking relief from the 14 courts – reasonably likely to be established by anything in alleged multi-agency investigative 15 files. What the trial evidence instead reflected – rather than, e.g., Antonetti taking the time 16 to seek protection from custodial officers and the courts – was extensive advance preparation 17 by Antonetti for the escape attempt over the course of multiple telephone calls where he 18 made no reference to needing to escape to protect his life.42 19 20 40 21 41 22 23 24 25 26 27 #23, Ex. 75, Instruction No. 21. Evidence that officers knew of a threat, again, was not evidence that Antonetti requested that additional steps be taken by officers or that such requests would not have been considered if made. 42 Petitioner proceeds on the highly questionable unstated premise that by presenting testimony seeking to establish that no inmate is 100% safe from a prison gang in any jail or prison, even when held in protective custody, that he thus lawfully can escape without seeking protection from custodial officers or the courts. Such a premise has no foundation in Nevada state law. The fifth element of the necessity defense -in cases where the inmate successfully escapes -- is that the inmate immediately report to the proper authorities when he has attained a position of safety from the immediate threat. E.g., Jorgensen v. State, 100 Nev. 541, 543, 688 P.2d 308, 309 (1984). Quite obviously, compliance with this element will result in the escapee being taken back into custody, albeit under safer conditions. The law clearly does not contemplate that authorities in effect instead will say to a capital murder defendant that there is no way to 100% guarantee anyone’s safety and that he therefore is free to go on about his way, hopefully to return for trial. The clear 28 (continued...) -19- 1 The state supreme court’s rejection of the bare claim of ineffective assistance of 2 appellate counsel presented to that court, for failing to raise such a weak Brady claim, 3 accordingly was neither contrary to nor an objectively unreasonable application of clearly 4 established federal law. 5 6 7 The claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in Ground 2 therefore does not provide a basis for federal habeas relief. Ground 1: Procedural Default of Substantive Brady Claim 8 On state post-conviction review, the Supreme Court of Nevada held that the 9 substantive Brady claim now presented in federal Ground 1 was procedurally barred under 10 N.R.S. 34.810(1)(b) because the claim could have been raised on direct appeal. 43 11 Under the procedural default doctrine, federal review of a habeas claim may be barred 12 if the state courts rejected the claim on an independent and adequate state law ground due 13 to a procedural default by the petitioner. Review of a defaulted claim will be barred even if 14 the state court also rejected the claim on the merits in the same decision. Federal habeas 15 review will be barred on claims rejected on an independent and adequate state law ground 16 unless the petitioner can demonstrate either: (a) cause for the procedural default and actual 17 prejudice from the alleged violation of federal law; or (b) that a fundamental miscarriage of 18 justice will result in the absence of review. See,e.g.,Bennett v. Mueller, 322 F.3d 573, 580 19 (9th Cir. 2003). 20 //// 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 42 (...continued) purpose of the necessity defense instead is so that a prisoner facing an immediate threat will be able to protect himself when there is no time to seek help from correctional officers, or they have refused such help, and there is no time to seek help from the courts. Taken to its logical extreme, under Petitioner’s argument, every prisoner who had a gang enemy in prison – hardly an infrequent occurrence – would have a lawful justification to escape from any and all custodial facilities because no one’s safety in protective custody can be guaranteed to a 100% certainty. That does not appear to be the law in Nevada. In other words, merely being the target of a gang threat in prison does not provide a prisoner a “get out of jail free” card on the premise that there is no way to absolutely assure an inmate’s safety in custody. The inmate instead must seek protection from custodial officers and the courts. 43 #23, Ex. 97, at 2 n.2. -20- 1 To demonstrate cause, the petitioner must establish that some external and objective 2 factor impeded efforts to comply with the state’s procedural rule. E.g., Murray v. Carrier, 477 3 U.S. 478, 488, 106 S.Ct. 2639, 2645, 91 L.Ed.2d 397 (1986); Hivala v. Wood, 195 F.3d 1098, 4 1105 (9th Cir. 1999). To demonstrate prejudice, he must show that the alleged error resulted 5 in actual harm. E.g., Vickers v. Stewart, 144 F.3d 613, 617 (9th Cir. 1998). Both cause and 6 prejudice must be established. Murray, 477 U.S. at 494, 106 S.Ct. at 2649. 7 Petitioner presents no argument in the Reply directed specifically to the procedural 8 default of Ground 1. For substantially the reasons discussed, supra, as to Ground 2, the 9 Court holds that Petitioner has not demonstrated cause and prejudice on the basis of alleged 10 ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. Ground 1 thus is procedurally defaulted and 11 provides no basis for federal habeas relief.44 12 13 IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that all remaining claims in the Petition are DENIED and that this action shall be DISMISSED with prejudice. 14 IT FURTHER IS ORDERED that a certificate of appealability is DENIED, as jurists of 15 reason would not find the district court’s rejection of the claims presented to be debatable or 16 wrong, for the reasons assigned herein. Ground 2 is discussed before Ground 1 herein. 17 Petitioner seeks to establish ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in Ground 2 to 18 overcome the procedural default of the underlying substantive Brady claim in Ground 1. As 19 discussed in greater detail, supra, Petitioner was not denied effective assistance of appellate 20 counsel when counsel declined to raise the weak and conclusory Brady claim alleged in 21 Ground 1. 22 //// 23 //// 24 25 26 27 28 44 In the Reply, Petitioner refers to a multiple additional circumstances, such as limitations on his access to sundry resources during intervals in which he was down in Las Vegas and held in the jail from which he attempted to escape, alleged insufficiency of the evidence, and a denial of equal protection. The only exhausted claims properly before the Court are the claims in Grounds 1 and 2 considered herein. The federal reply may not be used to amend the petition. E.g., Cacoperdo v. Demosthenes, 37 F.3d 504, 507 (9th Cir.1994). The Court has disregarded any arguendo attempted claims in the Reply that go beyond the claims in Grounds 1 and 2 that are presented in the Petition and exhausted. -21- 1 2 3 The Clerk of the Court shall enter final judgment accordingly in favor of Respondents and against Petitioner, dismissing this action with prejudice. DATED: March 11, 2013. 4 5 6 7 ___________________________________ PHILIP M. PRO United States District Judge 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -22-
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