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75 F. App'x 614

Ruffo v. Galaza

U.S. Courts of Appeals

Decided September 15, 2003

U.S. Courts of Appeals · decided 2003-09-15

Applies 28 U.S.C. § 2253 (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996) · 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996)

Relies on Brady v. State of Maryland · United States v. Bagley · Himes v. Thompson

Decided 2003-09-15

¶1MEMORANDUM

¶2California state prisoner Steven W. Ruffo appeals pro se the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition challenging his conviction for making terrorist threats and resisting arrest. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253, we review de novo, Mendez v. Small, 298 F.3d 1154, 1157-58 (9th Cir.2002), and we affirm.

¶3Ruffo contends the state violated his due process rights under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963) by failing to disclose the involvement of a key prosecution witness in a “hit and run” accident. This contention is meritless. Ruffo has not rebutted the state court’s factual findings on the officer’s credibility regarding the automobile accident by clear and convincing evidence. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1); Himes v. Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 852 (9th Cir.2003). Given the state court’s findings on the officer’s credibility, the evidence would not have undermined his credibility and therefore there was no Bradyviolation. *615See Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963); United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985) (explaining that Brady evidence is material “only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”).

¶4The district court therefore properly denied Ruffo’s petition. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).

¶5AFFIRMED.

¶6 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

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