United States v. Scott Wortman ( 2021 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 3 2021
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 20-30082
Plaintiff-Appellee, D.C. Nos.
1:18-cr-00047-SPW-1
v. 1:18-cr-00047-SPW
SCOTT ALLEN WORTMAN,
MEMORANDUM*
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Montana
Susan P. Watters, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted March 1, 2021**
Portland, Oregon
Before: PAEZ and WATFORD, Circuit Judges, and TUNHEIM,*** District Judge.
Scott Wortman was convicted following a jury trial of possession of a
firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C.
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
***
The Honorable John R. Tunheim, Chief United States District Judge
for the District of Minnesota, sitting by designation.
Page 2 of 3
§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i). He argues that the government failed to disclose additional
impeachment evidence relating to a confidential informant who testified at trial,
and that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction under § 924(c). We
affirm.
1. The government erred in failing to disclose that the informant had served
as a confidential informant in other cases. Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150,
154 (1972); Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963). However, this failure
does not warrant a new trial because a Brady/Giglio violation occurs only when the
suppression of evidence favorable to the accused resulted in prejudice to the
defendant. See United States v. Kohring, 637 F.3d 895, 901 (9th Cir. 2011).
Wortman was not prejudiced by the government’s suppression of favorable
evidence because the jury already knew that the informant had served as a
confidential informant in this case in exchange for the dismissal of drug charges
against her. The jury thus had reason to question her credibility, and additional
information about her cooperation with the prosecution would merely have
provided further reason to question her credibility on the same basis. Because “the
grounds for impeachment [were] no secret to the jury,” the suppressed evidence
was cumulative, and the suppression of cumulative evidence that is not “of a
different character than evidence already known to the defense” is not prejudicial.
United States v. Wilkes, 662 F.3d 524, 535–36 (9th Cir. 2011) (quotations omitted).
Page 3 of 3
The government’s suppression therefore does not amount to a Brady/Giglio
violation, and a new trial is not warranted.
2. The evidence presented to the jury was sufficient to sustain Wortman’s
conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
To establish possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, the government
must demonstrate a nexus between the gun and the underlying offense, such as the
firearm being readily accessible during commission of the drug crime. United
States v. Lopez, 477 F.3d 1110, 1115 (9th Cir. 2007). Detective Patrick Korb
testified that, following an investigation during which Wortman had admitted to
distributing narcotics, he arrested Wortman while Wortman was getting into his
car. In his pocket, Wortman was carrying a loaded pistol. The police found
approximately 270 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle that Wortman was
entering, and Wortman pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with
intent to distribute before trial. Detective Korb also testified that, based on his
training and experience, it was common for drug dealers to carry firearms to
protect themselves. Thus, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution,
the evidence was sufficient to allow a “rational trier of fact [to find] the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Nevils, 598
F.3d 1158, 1164 (9th Cir. 2010) (en banc) (quotation omitted).
AFFIRMED.