DAVID STEWART CERCONE, District Judge.
On September 13, 2011, a grand jury returned a three count indictment charging Larry Edwards Hawkins ("defendant") at Count One with receipt of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, from in and around August 2010 to in and around January 2011, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and 2252(b)(1), at Count Two with distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, from in and around August 2010 to in and around January 2011, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and 2252(b)(1), and at Count Three with possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, from in and around August 2010 to in and around January 2011, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and 2252(b)(2).
Defendant seeks a bill of particulars setting forth the number of visual depictions, the names of the computer files containing those depictions, a description of the sexually explicit conduct depicted in the files and the method and means by which defendant received, possessed and distributed the visual depictions. He notes that the mirror image of the computer seized from him and made available has "billions of files" and argues that the-above referenced specifics are necessary for trial preparation because the indictment does not identify the particular images that will be used to prove the charges, the manner and means by which defendant received, possessed and distributed the images or the specific times when he allegedly did any such act. Further, while essentially having been given access to all of the government's evidence, without these specifics defendant has been subject to what is "tantamount to an open file policy, which is tantamount to searching for needles in a haystack when one is not directed to a location, date, name, or general area in which to look where, as here, the hard drive contains billions of files." Defendant's First Amended Motion for Bill of Particulars (Doc. 44) at 2-3. The government opposes the motion on the grounds that the indictment sufficiently apprises defendant of the charges against him and the plethora of information made available to defendant from other sources obviates any sound basis for granting the motion.
A bill of particulars should be granted when the indictment is so vague that it fails to advise the defendant of the nature of the charges.
The purpose of a bill of particulars is to provide the defendant with the minimum amount of information necessary to allow the preparation of an adequate defense. It is not intended to equip a defendant with the fruits of the government's investigation.
"In ascertaining whether a bill of particulars is appropriate, the court may consider not only the indictment, but also all the information which has been made available to the defendant."
The record provides defendant with the particulars of the offense in more than sufficient detail. First, the indictment identifies: the specific dates defining the duration of the alleged offenses — from in and around August of 2010 to in and around January 2011; the manner and means of receiving, possessing and distributing the visual depictions — "by computer"; the nature of the unlawful act — receiving, possessing and distributing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and the federal laws allegedly violated by such conduct. This detail more than sufficiently identifies the elements of each offense, fairly informs defendant of the charges against him and will permit him to plead a conviction or acquittal on the charges as a bar to subsequent prosecution for the same offenses. Thus, the indictment supplies the legal quantum of information necessary for defendant to prepare for trial and protect himself against a subsequent prosecution barred by double jeopardy.
Second, the government has provided defendant with a significant amount of discovery, including: a copy of: (1) the search warrant issued by Magisterial District Judge Manzi; (2) Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Dana Stewart's affidavit of probable cause which sets forth the specific facts of the investigation; (3) the forensic report detailing the examination of the defendant's computer; (4) the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigative report regarding IP address 71.74.235.104 and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigative report regarding IP address 184.56.182.152 — identifying child pornography files by name and SHA1 hash values that were downloaded from defendant's computer by Cayahoga County Investigator Howell; (5) a copy of the screen shots taken by Investigator Howell showing the files made available for sharing by defendant and those that were downloaded from his computer by Investigator Howell; (6) a copy of Trooper Stewart's report detailing the investigative activity he performed; and (7) additional forensic reports. In addition, the government made available to defense counsel a mirror image of defendant's computer hard drive which contained the child pornography giving rise to the charges.
Access to the documents and witnesses the government primarily will rely on to construct its case obviates the need for a bill of particulars.
It follows that the information already disclosed to defendant more than provides the particulars of the alleged offenses and his ability to prepare an adequate defense has not been impaired. Consequently, defendant's motion for a bill of particulars must be denied.
Defendant requests an order directing all government agents and law enforcement officials involved in any aspect of this case to preserve all rough notes made during the course of the investigation. Defendant further requests that Trooper Stewart's rough notes taken on the day a search warrant was executed at defendant's residence be disclosed at this juncture because Trooper Stewart testified about that event at the suppression hearing on May 22, 2014, and thus the requirements of the Jencks Act have been satisfied. Defendant further requests that all other investigators, including Corporeal Pearson, be directed to preserve their rough notes so that the court can determine whether the disclosure of such material is necessary under
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Defendant's request for an order requiring all government agents to preserve their rough notes will be granted. Defendant is entitled to the discovery of such material only to the extent that it falls within the purview of
The government has an obligation to produce any "statement" by Trooper Stewart that relates to the subject matter of his testimony at the suppression hearing. Implementation of the Jencks Act is governed by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 26.2. It provides that after a government witness has testified, the government must disclose prior recorded statements of the witness that relate directly to the subject matter of the testimony.
As noted by defendant, Trooper Stewart testified at the suppression hearing and acknowledged in that proceeding that he had taken notes that relate directly to his testimony. Assuming these notes qualify as a "statement" within the Jencks Act and relate only to the testimony provided by Trooper Stewart, defendant is entitled to production of the statement without further delay.
The government objects only to producing any agent's rough notes at this juncture, including those of Trooper Stewart. It reasons that it is not obligated to produce such notes except to the extent it is required to make
In light of the above, defendant's motion for a bill of particulars will be denied, an order will be entered governing the disclosure of Rule 16,