Ricky Don Blackmon, Petitioner-appellant, v. Wayne Scott, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice,institutional Division, Respondent-appellee, 22 F.3d 560 (5th Cir. 1994)

Ricky Don Blackmon appeals an adverse summary judgment rejecting his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas corpus relief. For the reasons assigned we vacate the judgment and remand for further proceedings consistent herewith.

Background

In March 1987 Ricky Don Blackmon and his girlfriend Donna Mae Rogers were unemployed, impoverished, and living outside Dallas, Texas. Rogers told Blackmon she knew people in Joaquin, Texas who would be good targets for a robbery. She drove Blackmon there, telling him she would lure an old acquaintance, Carl J. Rinkle, to the Rinkle house where she would knock him unconscious and steal his cash. Blackmon was to wait outside the house. Rogers entered the residence but returned to tell Blackmon she could not knock Rinkle out. After Rogers went back inside Blackmon looked through a bedroom window and saw a nearly naked Rogers with a completely naked Rinkle on the bed. Blackmon contends that when he saw this he became so enraged that it caused him to break into the house and murder Rinkle. Blackmon took a large sword, which he had made from a sawmill blade, out of the trunk of his car and knocked on the front door. Rinkle answered the door unarmed. Blackmon killed Rinkle, brutally slashing his body. Blackmon and Rogers then looted the residence of various items, including approximately $700 in cash.

Several weeks later Blackmon was arrested just before midnight. He gave a taped statement and signed a written confession at 5:30 a.m. the next day.¹  Blackmon was charged in a two-count indictment with the capital murder of Rinkle during the course of committing and attempting to commit the offenses of burglary of a habitation and robbery. Rogers gave a taped statement and signed confession. Copies of both were provided to Blackmon prior to his trial. The state did not call Rogers as a witness until the sentencing phase.

The trial began on October 19, 1987. On October 23 the state notified Blackmon for the first time of its intent to use, during the sentencing phase, evidence of an uncharged Oklahoma double homicide. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. During the sentencing phase the state presented extensive evidence of uncharged crimes allegedly committed by Blackmon in Oklahoma. Blackmon had no prior criminal convictions. The state's witnesses included Terry Sittig, who had pleaded guilty to the Oklahoma murders, Raymond Smith and Gary Keith Hall.

Sittig was brought to Shelby County from an Oklahoma prison just prior to testifying. Sittig had pleaded guilty to the Oklahoma murders; he was to testify that Blackmon assisted in the crime. Sittig asked to speak with Blackmon. Blackmon's counsel simultaneously sought an interview. The state objected, arguing that defense counsel should not be allowed to speak with Sittig until after Sittig had testified. The trial court ruled that Blackmon's counsel was entitled to read Sittig's written statement and was to be given five minutes to ask Sittig whether the statement was true. The trial court instructed that a prosecutor was to be present during defense counsel's interview. That interview was conducted in a police car in the presence of a prosecutor and several law enforcement officers. Following the interview, Blackmon's counsel objected on the basis of surprise and asked for a one-week continuance to investigate the uncharged allegations. This objection was overruled and the continuance was denied.

On October 29, 1987 the state announced that two of Blackmon's former cellmates in the Shelby County jail, Smith and Hall, would be called as witnesses. Warrants were issued to have them brought back to Shelby County. According to Blackmon, once Smith and Hall arrived at the Shelby County jail they were instructed to remain hidden from Blackmon in order to prevent any investigation into the content of their testimony. Smith and Hall faithfully followed those instructions, including crawling on the floor in certain parts of the jail in order to remain out of Blackmon's sight. When counsel for Blackmon made repeated inquiries at the jail in attempts to interview the former cellmates, jail personnel misrepresented that they were not present. It was only on the eve of their testimony that their presence was made known and then only late at night by telephone long after Blackmon's counsel had gone to sleep. According to Smith and then-jailor Phillip Lynch, both Smith and Hall were present in the Shelby County jail several days prior to trial but the state concealed their presence despite repeated inquiries from Blackmon's counsel.

At the conclusion of the punishment phase the jury affirmatively answered the special issues; the trial court assessed punishment of death by lethal injection. Blackmon's conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal,²  and the United States Supreme Court denied Blackmon's petition for writ of certiorari.³  Blackmon unsuccessfully sought habeas relief in state court and then filed the instant habeas petition. The district court granted the state's motion for summary judgment rejecting Blackmon's petition but granted a certificate of probable cause. Blackmon timely appealed.

Analysis

After addressing the merits of two of Blackmon's 31 federal habeas claims, the district court concluded, " [a]fter reviewing the entire record, the Court finds that all of Blackmon's remaining claims for relief are without merit." Blackmon asserts that because the district court addressed only two of his 31 claims, its order did not provide the specificity necessary to provide a meaningful opportunity for review by this court, citing Flowers v. Blackburn.⁴  The district court expressly stated, however, that it had reviewed the pleadings and entire record to determine that Blackmon had not raised any genuine issue of material fact and that the state was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Flowers is distinct in that respect. In this setting, the fact that the district court specifically addressed only two out of 31 claims does not, alone, constitute reversible error.

Blackmon next contends that the findings of fact adopted by the state court were drafted by an assistant district attorney and provided to the court ex parte without affording Blackmon notice or an opportunity to respond. Blackmon asserts that in granting summary judgment the district court improperly accorded the state court's factual findings a presumption of correctness. Blackmon did not raise this claim in the trial court and it will not be considered for the first time on appeal.⁵ 

Blackmon complains that only the first two special issues regarding deliberateness and future dangerousness were submitted to the jury and that the third special issue regarding provocation was not.⁶  In order to raise the issue of provocation, "it is necessary that there be evidence of the deceased's conduct just prior to his death; also, that evidence must be sufficient to be considered provocation."⁷  Here, Blackmon was a party to the criminal episode in which Rogers lured Rinkle into his home to steal his money. During his interrogation Sheriff Paul Ross asked: "Did you ever tell her to go back and get in bed with Carl or did she do this on her own?" Blackmon answered: "I told her she could put the make on him like she was but I didn't actually tell her she had to." Rinkle was unarmed when he answered the door and could not defend himself. As Blackmon participated in the creation of the criminal episode, initiated the violence, and brutally assaulted and killed an unarmed individual, the fact that he saw Rogers perform as instructed is patently insufficient to establish provocation.⁸ 

Blackmon further claims that the Texas capital sentencing scheme is unconstitutional as applied to his case because the jury was not allowed to give full consideration to the mitigating evidence that he murdered Rinkle in a jealous rage. Blackmon's claim is unavailing. The jury was able to consider any mitigating effect that evidence might have under the future dangerousness issue. The jury could have concluded that Blackmon killed in an episodic jealous rage and that he would therefore be unlikely to pose a danger in the future.⁹  We perceive no constitutional violation.

Blackmon raises a Brady¹⁰  claim by asserting that the state improperly withheld Rogers' statements and testimony until the sentencing phase so as to avoid a jury instruction on voluntary manslaughter. In order to succeed on a Brady claim Blackmon must show: (1) the prosecution suppressed evidence; (2) the evidence was favorable; and (3) the evidence was "material either to guilt or punishment."¹¹  Evidence is material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed, the result of the proceeding would have been different. The state is not required to furnish a defendant with exculpatory evidence that is fully available to the defendant or that could be obtained through reasonable diligence.¹²  The exculpatory evidence to which Blackmon refers is Rogers' testimony and statements concerning Blackmon's alleged jealous nature and sudden passion killing of Rinkle. Any jealous nature Blackmon might possess would be information known to Blackmon; thus there was no need for the state to provide such evidence. Furthermore, the prosecutor is under no duty to make a complete and detailed accounting to defense counsel of all investigatory work done.¹³  No Brady violation occurred.

Blackmon contends that Smith, Hall, and Sittig each obtained promises of assistance in exchange for their testimony implicating Blackmon in the uncharged double homicide in Oklahoma, but that they each falsely testified that they had not been promised assistance and that the prosecutor used the false testimony in his closing argument. Blackmon asserts a due process violation in the state's suppression of impeachment evidence¹⁴  and its use of the perjured testimony.¹⁵  Blackmon additionally asserts that because the prosecutor failed to respond to the allegation that a deal was made with Sittig in contravention of the lower court's order, the record is inconclusive and an evidentiary hearing is essential.

To obtain a reversal based upon the prosecutor's use of perjured testimony, Blackmon must show that (1) the statements were actually false; (2) the state knew they were false; and (3) the statements were material, i.e., a highly significant factor reasonably likely to have affected the jury's verdict.¹⁶  To obtain reversal based upon the prosecutor's suppression of impeachment evidence, Blackmon must likewise show that the evidence was material, irrespective of good faith or bad faith by the prosecution.¹⁷  From the record we are able to determine that Smith, despite receiving a letter from the prosecutor which was sent to the Parole Board in exchange for his testimony, denied that any such agreement existed.¹⁸  During cross-examination Hall indicated an agreement whereby the prosecutor would help him before the Parole Board if he testified truthfully,¹⁹  and the prosecutor acknowledged the agreement during closing argument. It is unclear from the record whether Sittig had an agreement with the prosecutor which was not revealed to Blackmon or the jury. A letter was sent by the prosecutor to the Oklahoma Parole Board acknowledging Sittig's cooperation with Blackmon's prosecution. As the prosecutor never responded to these allegations, Sittig's affidavit indicates there was an agreement, and the state vigorously denies that one existed, there appears to be a genuine issue of material fact. The record does not reflect whether Smith had a deal which was never revealed and, as noted, is unclear with respect to Sittig. A determination of materiality cannot be made at this point. Because Smith, Hall, and Sittig were the only sources of evidence to link Blackmon directly to the Oklahoma murders, we remand for an evidentiary hearing for the express purpose of clarifying the conflicting evidence and the making of all relevant fact-findings.²⁰ 

Next Blackmon alleges a due process violation because of the state's hiding of witnesses Smith and Hall and his lack of access to Sittig, and he further alleges that these claims cannot be resolved without an evidentiary hearing.²¹  A state violates a capital defendant's right to due process under the fourteenth amendment when it uses evidence at the sentencing phase of the trial which the defendant does not have a meaningful opportunity to rebut.²²  This violation becomes more pronounced when the state makes an affirmative effort to conceal witnesses to prevent a timely investigation and fair presentation of testimony.²³  A prima facie showing of a due process violation, however, does not entitle a defendant to reversal absent a showing of prejudice.²⁴ 

Although the state court found that no unfair surprise occurred with respect to introduction of the Oklahoma murders, Blackmon raises an additional objection. He complains that he was denied adequate access to Sittig, contending that the circumstances surrounding the brief interview in a police car did not provide a fair opportunity for preparation of a proper defense. Blackmon similarly complains of inadequate access to Smith and Hall who allegedly were hidden in the jail. Without appropriate access to Smith, Hall, and Sittig, Blackmon could not prepare for and impeach them with any arrangements which might have been made in exchange for their testimony. No state court findings were made with respect to this aspect of Blackmon's claim. Remand is necessary for an evidentiary hearing in order to evaluate more properly Blackmon's due process claim as it relates to inadequate access, and to determine whether prejudice existed.

With respect to unfair surprise, Blackmon points to two pieces of evidence which could not be rebutted because of the minimal notice that the Oklahoma double homicide evidence would be introduced: Sittig's testimony that only he and Blackmon were involved in the double homicide and Officer Madison's testimony that a car fitting the description of Blackmon's, with Texas license plates, was present at the scene of the Oklahoma murders. The state court found that it could not determine what Blackmon's counsel might have done differently had more time been given to prepare. Blackmon asserts that with more time he could have shown that Sittig's testimony at Blackmon's trial conflicted with statements he made during his plea colloquy. With respect to Officer Madison's testimony, Blackmon contends that he could have shown that Officer Madison testified falsely regarding the car with Texas license places. Without examining the transcript of the Oklahoma trial we cannot know if that is the case. We must likewise remand for an evidentiary hearing and appropriate findings thereon.

Finally, Blackmon asserts that the district court erred in rejecting his sixth amendment Massiah²⁵  claim without holding an evidentiary hearing. Blackmon's former cellmates, Smith and Hall, testified that Blackmon made incriminating statements concerning the two Oklahoma murders. Blackmon contends that the information contained in these statements was originally supplied to the informants by Shelby County jail officials, the informants were promised assistance in their cases in exchange for help in obtaining information from Blackmon, and the informants subsequently used that information to taunt Blackmon into confessing to the crime. The district court reviewed the evidence submitted by Blackmon without a hearing and determined that the record supports the conclusion that no sixth amendment violation occurred.

"It is the duty of the district court, and ours as well, to review de novo the legal conclusions reached on the basis of the facts."²⁶  Because no state court findings were entered relating to this claim,²⁷  we conclude that the district court's denial of relief without benefit of an evidentiary hearing violated Townsend v. Sain.²⁸  Although the state correctly points out that the "Sixth Amendment is not violated whenever--by luck or happenstance--the State obtains incriminating statements from the accused after the right to counsel has attached,"²⁹  it is not clear from the record that the information was obtained from Blackmon by "luck or happenstance." To the contrary, the affidavit of Raymond Smith states that "After that, Keith and I kept our ears open around Ricky. But he didn't say much at all. Finally, Keith got him to talking...." In addition, when Hall testified regarding the information obtained from Blackmon, he stated, "He [Blackmon] said that--well, I asked him--we asked him why did he kill them...."

The state argues that the evidence fails to show that Smith and Hall were ever instructed to interrogate Blackmon. Even if that is true, it is unavailing. Our decision in United States v. Johnson³⁰  is instructive on this point. In Johnson we explained that even when officers instruct an agent not to ask a defendant questions about his case, if the agent does more than just listen to elicit incriminating remarks, a sixth amendment violation occurs.³¹  Thus our inquiry must focus on what Smith and Hall did to obtain the incriminating statements. It is not clear how Blackmon was convinced to talk or whether Smith and Hall, acting as agents of the state, deliberately attempted to elicit incriminating remarks.³²  The affidavits and testimony present a genuine issue of material fact; the granting of summary judgment was inappropriate. In attempting to answer the sixth amendment issue before us, it is immediately apparent that the credibility determinations required cannot be made. An evidentiary hearing is required.

We VACATE the judgment of the district court and REMAND for further proceedings consistent herewith.