LEONARD P. STARK, District Judge.
Jamare Waters ("Movant") filed a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (D.I. 40; D.I. 48) The United States Government ("Respondent") filed an Answer in Opposition. (D.I. 54) For the reasons discussed, the Court will deny Movant's § 2255 Motion as time-barred by the one-year limitations period prescribed in 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f) without holding an evidentiary hearing.
On September 16, 2009, Movant waived indictment and pled guilty to a two count Felony Information, charging him with possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(B)), and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) & § 924(a)(2)). (D.I. 19; D.I. 20; D.I. 21) Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, Movant entered into several stipulations. First, Movant agreed that he had a prior conviction for a "controlled substance offense," as defined by United States Sentencing Guideline Section 4B1.2(B), as well as a prior conviction for a "crime of violence" as defined by Section 2B1.2(a). (D.I. 21 ¶ 5) Second, Movant agreed that he would not argue for a sentence of less than 120 months (ten years). (D.I. 21 ¶ 6) Third, Movant agreed to waive his appellate rights, as well as his rights to collaterally attack the judgment, as set forth below:
(D.I. 21 ¶ 10)
On February 5, 2010, the Honorable Joseph J. Farnan, Jr. sentenced Movant to a total of 120 months of imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release. (D.I. 36; D.I. 53 at 19-20) The judgment was entered on February 17, 2010. (D.I. 36) Movant did not appeal.
Movant filed the instant § 2255 Motion in November 2012, at which time the case was reassigned to the undersigned's docket. (D.I. 40) Thereafter, Movant "supplemented" his § 2255 Motion with an additional ground for relief. (D.I. 48; D.I. 49) Respondent filed an Answer in Opposition to Movant's § 2255 Motion, arguing that the Motion should be denied as time-barred. (D.I. 54 at 7-11) Alternatively, the Government contends the Motion should be denied as barred by the collateral attack waiver contained in Movant's Plea Agreement, or because the claims asserted therein are meritless. (D.I. 54 at 11-19)
Movant asserts two grounds for relief: (1) defense counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to the determination that Movant's offense level was dictated by Section 2D1.1 (b) (1) of the Sentencing Guidelines; and (2) defense counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to inform Movant prior to his guilty plea that he would be classified as a "career offender" under the Sentencing Guidelines. (D.I. 40 at 13-15; D.I. 48 at 1-2)
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 ("AEDPA") imposes a one-year period of limitation on the filing of a § 2255 motion by federal prisoners. See 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The one-year limitations period begins to run from the latest of:
28 U.S.C. § 2255(f). The one-year limitations period is subject to equitable tolling. See Holland v. florida, 560 U.S. 631, 645-46 (2010) (equitable tolling applies in§ 2254 proceedings); Miller v. New Jersey State Dep't of Corr., 145 F.3d 616, 619 n.1 (3d Cir. 1998) (explaining that one-year limitations period set forth in § 2255 is also subject to equitable tolling).
Movant does not allege, and the Court cannot discern, any facts triggering the application of § 2255(f)(2) or (4). However, citing Lafler v. Cooper, 132 S.Ct. 1376 (2012) and Missouri v. Frye, 132 S.Ct. 1399 (2012),
In this case, Judge Farnan sentenced Movant on February 5, 2010, and the judgment was entered on February 17, 2010. Because Movant did not file a direct appeal, his conviction became final on March 3, 2010, the date on which the fourteen-day period for filing an appeal expired. See Kapral v. United States, 166 F.3d 565, 577 (3d Cir. 1999). Accordingly, to comply with the one-year limitations period, Movant had to file his § 2255 Motion no later than March 3, 2011. See Wilson v. Beard, 426 F.3d 653 (3d Cir. 2005) (holding that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a) & (e) applies to federal habeas petitions).
Movant did not file the instant § 2255 Motion until November 20, 2012,
The one-year limitations period may tolled for equitable reasons only if a movant demonstrates "(1) that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way and prevented timely filing." Holland, 560 U.S. at 648-49. Equitable tolling is not available where the late filing is due to a movant's excusable neglect. See Schlueter v. Varner, 384 F.3d 69, 77 (3d Cir. 2004); Miller, 145 F.3d at 618-19. Consistent with these principles, the Third Circuit has limited equitable tolling of § 2255's limitations period to the following circumstances:
Jones v. Morton, 195 F.3d 153, 159 (3d Cir. 1999).
Here, Movant does not assert (and the Court cannot discern any basis for him to assert) that any extraordinary circumstances prevented him from timely filing the instant Motion. To the extent Movant's untimely filing was the result of legal ignorance or a miscalculation regarding the one-year filing period, such mistakes do not warrant equitably tolling the limitations period. See Taylor v. Carroll, 2004 WL 1151552, at *5-6 (D. Del. May 14, 2004). Hence, because the doctrine of equitable tolling is not available to Movant on the facts he has presented, the Court will deny the instant Motion as time-barred.
During the pendency of this proceeding, Movant filed a Motion for the Appointment of Counsel, seeking representation to help him determine if he qualifies for a "2 point reduction" under the "Smarter Sentencing Act, S1410." (D.I. 57) The Smarter Sentencing Act of 2014 was proposed in the last Congress but was not enacted into law. See
A district court is not required to hold an evidentiary hearing on a motion filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 if the "motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show" that the movant is not entitled to relief. 28 U.S.C. § 2255; see also United States v. Booth, 432 F.3d 542, 545-46 (3d Cir. 2005); United States v. McCoy, 410 F.3d 124, 131 (3d Cir. 2005); Rule 8(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2255. As previously discussed, the record conclusively demonstrates that Movant is not entitled to relief under § 2255. Therefore, an evidentiary hearing is not warranted.
A district court issuing a final order denying a § 2255 motion must also decide whether to issue a certificate of appealability. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 22.2 (2011). A certificate of appealability is appropriate only if the movant "has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). The movant must "demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).
The Court has concluded that it must deny Movant's § 2255 Motion as time-barred, and is persuaded that reasonable jurists would not find this assessment debatable. Therefore, the Court will not issue a certificate of appealability.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will dismiss Movant's 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence without an evidentiary hearing. Additionally, the Court will not issue a certificate of appealability. The Court shall issue an appropriate Order.