W. EARL BRITT, District Judge.
This matter is before the court on defendant's various pretrial motions. (DE ## 33-38, 44.) The government filed an omnibus response to the motions. (DE # 49.) The court address the motions seriatim.
Defendant requests that the court compel the government to disclose the identity and location of its witnesses, confidential informants, and agents. Based on discovery the government has provided, defendant claims that two cooperating witnesses have identified him as being involved in the instant offenses, and he seeks the opportunity to interview the government's witnesses prior to trial. The government objects to identifying any of its witnesses prior to trial, but it represents that, at any rate, it is unaware of any witness, including any cooperating witness, whose identity has not been disclosed in discovery. (Resp., DE # 49, at 4.)
Defendant has professed nothing more than a generalized need. Furthermore, accepting the government's representation, the identities of witnesses have been disclosed. The motion to compel disclosure of the identity and whereabouts of the government's witnesses is DENIED.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 615, defendant requests that the court order witnesses excluded from trial so they cannot hear each other's testimony. The government does not object to this request, (Resp., DE # 49, at 5), and the court must order witness exclusion upon a party's request. The motion is ALLOWED. The government is permitted to designate a representative who may remain in the courtroom throughout trial, even if such representative is expected to testify.
Defendant seeks the disclosure of the presentence investigation reports ("PSRs") of the government's witnesses. Defendant claims that impeachment evidence, such as information pertaining to a witness' physical or mental health issues, and
"[T]he confidentiality of PSRs has always been jealously guarded by the drafters of the federal rules, and by the federal courts."
The court agrees with the government that the motion for disclosure of PSRs should be denied. First, defendant has not identified with any particularity whose PSR should be disclosed. More importantly, he has not clearly specified what information he expects the PSRs to reveal. His generalized contentions, such as information about a witness' physical or mental health might show an effect on the witness' perception of events, do not suffice.
The motion for production of PSRs is DENIED.
Defendant requests that the court order the government to provide notice of its intent to offer any statement under the residual hearsay exception, Federal Rule of Evidence 807. The government responds that it is unaware of any evidence which would require the advance notice mandated by Rule 807, but it will nonetheless abide by the rule. (Resp., DE # 49, at 5.) Accordingly, the motion is ALLOWED to the extent the government seeks to introduce evidence covered by Rule 807, and the government shall provide notice in accordance with that Rule.
Defendant seeks an order directing the government to produce various materials it is required to produce under
Based on the government's response, the motion is DENIED as moot to the extent it seeks production of materials identified in 1) through 7). The motion is DENIED as to the criminal records of the government's witnesses at least 30 days prior to trial. The government is reminded of its continuing obligation to produce
Defendant moves to suppress any identification of him as the perpetrator on the ground that the out-of-court procedures law enforcement officers used were unnecessarily suggestive. Defendant acknowledges that he "has not received complete information about the circumstances of the identification at this time" and thus requests, at an evidentiary hearing, that he be permitted to "inquire into the circumstances of the identification. . . ." (Mot., DE # 38, at 3.) It appears that the reason defendant lacks information about the circumstances of the identification is, according to the government, because no out-of-court identification of defendant occurred. The government explains that no witness has been subjected to any pretrial identification procedure, including the storage unit manager who police questioned about the individuals who rented a particular unit at the storage facility. (Resp., DE # 49, at 3, 7-8.) Accordingly, there is nothing to suppress, and defendant's motion is DENIED.
Defendant also moves to suppress any statements made by him to law enforcement officers and all evidence obtained as a result of a search of his hotel room. Defendant contends that following his arrest and placement in an interview room, he stated that he wanted to speak with his attorney. (Mor., DE # 44, at 2.) According to defendant, law enforcement officers did not stop their questioning, but rather, asked defendant questions about a watch on his person, where he was staying in the area, and whether he would consent to a search of the hotel room in which he was staying. (
The government responds that defendant's post-arrest interview was audio and video-recorded. (Resp., DE # 49, at 3.) The government acknowledges that after defendant was advised of his
Despite a request at the beginning of the motion to suppress all statements he made, the only legal argument that defendant advances pertains to suppression of the evidence obtained from the search of his hotel room. (