JAMES D. WHITTEMORE, District Judge.
Petitioner, an inmate in a Florida penal institution proceeding pro se, initiated this action by filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Dkt. 1), and a memorandum of law in support of the petition (Dkt. 2). Petitioner contends that he is entitled to immediate release from incarceration on the ground that his sentence has expired. Respondent Florida Parole Commission filed a response to the petition, arguing that the petition should be dismissed: 1) for failure to exhaust state remedies; 2) as time-barred; and 3) because Petitioner's claims fail on the merits (Dkt. 9). Respondent Florida Department of Corrections also filed a response to the petition, arguing that the petition must be dismissed for Petitioner's failure to exhaust his state remedies (Dkt. 10). Although afforded the opportunity, Petitioner did not file a reply to the responses (see Dkt. 7 at p. 4).
The Court subsequently directed Respondents to supplement the record with "l) all post-conviction motions filed by Petitioner pursuant to Rules 3.800(a) and 3.850, Fla.R.Crim.P., in case number CF89-002559 in the Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in and for Polk County, Florida; 2) all orders resolving those motions; and 3) all briefs filed by Petitioner in case numbers 2D10-167 and 2D10-4260 in the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District." (Dkt. 14). Respondents supplemented the record as directed and filed a "Renewed Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Exhaust State Remedies." (Dkt. 15).
Upon consideration, Petitioner's petition is denied.
In 1990, Petitioner pleaded guilty to armed robbery and armed false imprisonment that he committed in June 1989 (Dkt. 9, Ex.Bat p. 5). On April 13, 1990, Petitioner was sentenced to concurrent terms of 10 years imprisonment for both convictions followed by 2 years probation (Id. . at pp. 7-9). Because Petitioner received gain time and overcrowding credits, he was released from prison to probation on November 12, 1991 (Dkt. 10, Ex. I at p. 2; Ex. 10 at 82). Petitioner violated his probation, and he was re-sentenced on October 19, 2006, to concurrent terms of 13 years imprisonment for both convictions, with credit for all prison time previously served and gain time earned (Dkt. 10, Ex. 3 at pp. 28-35; Ex. 10 at pp. 82-83).
On March 9, 2009, Petitioner filed a Motion to Clarify Sentence in the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court, Polk County, Florida (Dkt. 15, Ex. B-Part 1 at docket pp. 7-9). The circuit court denied the motion on April 29, 2009 (Id. at docket pp. 11-12). Petitioner did not appeal
On March 31, 2009, Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus in the Florida First District Court of Appeal (Dkt. 10, Ex. 8 at pp. 50-63). The petition was transferred to the circuit court in Leon County, Florida (Id. at p. 50). The state circuit court denied the petition for mandamus relief on August 26, 2010 (Dkt. 10, Ex. 11 at pp. 89-92). Petitioner did not appeal.
On October 28, 2009, Petitioner filed a motion for post-conviction relief pursuant to Rule 3.850, Fla.R.Crim.P., in the Polk County circuit court (Dkt. 15, Ex. B-Part 1 at docket pp. 23-40). The circuit court denied the motion on December 14, 2009, finding that the motion was untimely, and that the claims were (1) not cognizable in a Rule 3.850 motion, and (2) without merit (Id. at docket pp. 42-43). Petitioner appealed, and on July 28, 2010, the appellate court affirmed the denial of the Rule 3.850 motion. Jones v. State, 41 So.3d 223 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010) [table].
On February 7, 2010, Petitioner filed a Motion to Enforce Plea and Sentence Intent in the Polk County circuit court (Id. at docket pp. 50-54). On April 15, 2010, the circuit court granted the motion, finding that Petitioner was "entitled to any previously earned gain time in this case." (Id. at docket pp. 55-56).
On May 8, 2010, Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the circuit court for Santa Rosa County, Florida (Dkt. 10, Ex. 13 at pp. 96-114). The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was denied in part and dismissed in part on June 10, 2010 (Dkt. 10, Ex. 14 at pp. 116-19). Petitioner appealed the denial of the petition (Dkt. 10, Ex. 15 at pp. 121-22). However, on August 27, 2010, Petitioner filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss the appeal, which the appellate court granted on the same day (Id. at p. 124).
On August 15, 2010, Petitioner filed a Motion to Correct Sentence pursuant to Rule 3.800(a), Fla.R.Crim.P., in the Polk County circuit court (Dkt. 15, Ex. B-Part 1 at docket pp. 70-80). The Rule 3.800(a) motion was denied on September 3, 2010 (Dkt. 15, Ex. B-Part 2 at docket p. 2). Petitioner appealed, and on March 9, 2011, the appellate court affirmed the denial of the Rule 3.800(a) motion. Jones v. State, 56 So.3d 775 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011) [table]. The appellate court mandate issued on April 5, 2011. See Florida Second District Court of Appeal online docket at http:/1199.242.69.70/pls/ds/ds_ docket.
On August 31, 2010, Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Santa Rosa County circuit court (Dkt. 10, Ex. 17 at pp. 128-38). The petition was denied on December 10, 2010 (Dkt. 10, Ex. 23 at pp. 197-201). Petitioner filed a motion for rehearing (Dkt. 10, Ex. 24 at pp. 203-04), which was denied on March 11, 2011 (Dkt. 10, Ex. 25 at p. 209). Petitioner did not appeal.
On March 27, 2011, Petitioner filed his Motion to Withdraw Plea pursuant to Rule 3.850, Fla.R.Crim.P., in the Polk County circuit court (Dkt. 15, Ex. B-Part 2 at docket pp. 14-34). On April 1, 2011, the circuit court denied the motion as untimely and successive (Id. at docket pp. 35-43).
On August 4, 2011, Petitioner filed his Second Motion to Enforce Plea and Sentence Intent in the Polk County circuit court (Id. at docket pp. 44-65). On August 29, 2011, the circuit court denied the motion as successive (Id. at docket pp. 66-68). Petitioner appealed. On March 23, 2012, the appellate court affirmed the denial of the motion. Jones v. State, 84 So.3d 318 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012) [table]. The appellate court mandate issued on April 20, 2012 (Dkt. 15, Ex. A at docket p. 9).
Petitioner filed the instant federal habeas petition on June 5, 2012 (Dkt. 1 at p. 1).
The Florida Parole Commission contends that the petition is time-barred. The Court disagrees.
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) establishes a one year statute of limitations for seeking federal habeas corpus relief from a state-court judgment. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). Lawrence v. Florida, 549 U.S. 327, 331 (2007). The limitation period runs from the latest of ... "the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review...." 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(A). Additionally, "[t]he time during which a properly filed application for State post-conviction or other collateral review with respect to the pertinent judgment or claim is pending shall not be counted toward any period of limitation under this subsection." 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2). An application is "properly filed" when "its delivery and acceptance are in compliance with the applicable laws and rules governing filings." Artuz v. Bennett, 531 U.S. 4, 8 (2000).
The Florida Parole Commission revoked Petitioner's conditional release supervision on October 1, 2008. Therefore, for purposes of§ 2244(d), Petitioner's state judgment became final on October 31, 2008, upon expiration of the time for taking a timely appeal of the judgment revoking conditional release supervision. See McGee v. State, 684 So.2d 241 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996) (treating judgment and sentence upon entry of plea as final when time for appeal expired); Gust v. State, 535 So.2d 642 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988) (holding that when a defendant does not appeal his conviction or sentence, the judgment and sentence become final when the 30-day time period for filing an appeal expires).
Petitioner did not file any motions for post-conviction relief between November 1, 2008, and March 8, 2009. Therefore, 128 days of the one-year limitations period under§ 2244(d) elapsed. On March 9, 2009, Petitioner tolled the limitations period when he filed his Motion to Clarify Sentence in the Polk County circuit court. The state circuit court denied the motion on April 29, 2009. At that time, because Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus on March 31, 2009, the limitations period remained tolled until the Leon County circuit court denied the Petition for Writ of Mandamus on August 26, 2010.
While the Petition for Writ of Mandamus was pending, Petitioner filed his Rule 3.800(a) Motion to Correct Sentence in the Polk County circuit court on August 15, 2010. The Rule 3.800(a) remained pending until the appellate court mandate issued on April 5, 2011.
Petitioner did not file any motions for post-conviction relief between April 6, 2011, and August 3, 2011. Therefore, another 119 days of the one year limitations period elapsed. On August 4, 2011, Petitioner filed his Second Motion to Enforce Plea and Sentence Intent in the Polk County circuit court. The motion remained pending until the appellate court mandate issued on April 20, 2012.
Petitioner did not file any motions for post-conviction relief between April 21, 2012, and June 4, 2012. Therefore, another 44 days of the one-year limitations period elapsed before Petitioner filed his federal habeas petition on June 5, 2012. Thus, a total of only 291 (128 + 119 + 44 = 291) days expired during which no collateral proceeding was pending in state court before Petitioner filed the instant federal habeas petition. Accordingly, the petition is timely.
Respondents contend that the petition must be dismissed because Petitioner failed to exhaust his state remedies prior to filing the petition. Specifically, Respondents argue that in order to exhaust state remedies with regard to a gain time claim, a petitioner must file a mandamus or habeas petition in the appropriate circuit court and, if unsuccessful, seek review in the appropriate district court of appeal. Respondents assert that although Petitioner filed multiple petitions for either mandamus or habeas relief, Petitioner failed to seek appellate review of the denial of those petitions.
Before a federal court may grant habeas relief, a petitioner must exhaust every available state court remedy for challenging his conviction, either on direct appeal or in a state post-conviction motion. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A), (C). "[T]he state prisoner must give the state courts an opportunity to act on his claims before he presents those claims to a federal court in a habeas petition." O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 842 (1999). See also Henderson v. Campbell, 353 F.3d 880, 891 (11th Cir. 2003) ("A state prisoner seeking federal habeas relief cannot raise a federal constitutional claim in federal court unless he first properly raised the issue in the state courts.") (citations omitted)). A federal habeas petitioner "shall not be deemed to have exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the State ... if he has the right under the law of the State to raise, by any available procedure, the question presented." Pruitt v. Jones, 348 F.3d 1355, 1358 (11th Cir. 2003). A state prisoner `"must give the state courts one full opportunity to resolve any constitutional issues by invoking one complete round of the State's established appellate review process,' including review by the state's court of last resort, even if review in that court is discretionary." Pruitt, 348 F.3d at 1358-59 (quoting Boercke/, 526 U.S. at 845).
Petitioner raised his claims in his petitions for mandamus and habeas relief.
Notwithstanding Petitioner's failure to exhaust, the Court concludes that the federal habeas petition should be denied on the merits. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) ("An application for a writ of habeas corpus may be denied on the merits, notwithstanding the failure of the applicant to exhaust the remedies available in the courts of the State."). Habeas relief can be granted only if a petitioner is in custody "in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). In his petition, Petitioner does not raise a federal constitutional question. Rather, he argues only that the Florida Department of Corrections unlawfully increased his sentence upon his return to incarceration after the revocation of his conditional release supervision by forfeiting the gain time he had earned during his pre-supervision incarceration because (1) it was "unlawful" to forfeit the gain time Petitioner earned while serving the original 10-year sentence because that sentence had expired, (2) Petitioner should not have been placed on conditional release because it was an "unlawful new" sentence, and (3) the forfeiture of gain time violated.the state trial court's intent that Petitioner serve only three years in prison after the revocation of his probation on October 19, 2006 (Dkts. 1, 2). Because the claims do not allege a federal constitutional or statutory violation, they are not cognizable in the instant § 2254 action, and Petitioner is not entitled to relief on the claims.
Moreover, even if Petitioner's claims (collectively) could be construed liberally as a federal due process challenge to his continued incarceration, Petitioner still would not be entitled to relief. The state courts found that under Florida law (1) Petitioner was properly released to conditional release supervision, and (2) the Department of Corrections properly forfeited all of Petitioner's gain time following revocation of supervision (see Dkt. 10, Ex. 11 at pp. 89-92; Dkt. 10, Ex. 23 at pp. 197-201). State courts constitute the final arbiters of state law. Agan v. Vaughn, 119 F.3d 1538, 1549 (11th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1023 (1998). Therefore, this Court is bound by the state courts' determinations. See Mendiola v. Estelle, 635 F.2d 487, 489 (5th Cir. Unit A 1981) ("State courts are the ultimate expositors of their own state's laws, and federal courts entertaining petitions for writs of habeas corpus are bound by the construction placed on a state's criminal statutes by the courts of the state except in extreme cases."). Consequently, because Petitioner was properly placed on conditional release supervision,
Additionally, Petitioner has not demonstrated that the state courts' denial of his claims was contrary to clearly established Supreme Court law or based on an unreasonable determination of the facts.
Accordingly, it is
1. Petitioner's petition for writ of habeas corpus (Dkt. 1) is
2. The Clerk shall enter judgment against Petitioner, terminate any pending motions, and close this case.
§ 947.1405 (1988 Supp.). Petitioner qualified for placement on conditional release supervision by virtue of the fact that he committed his offenses in June 1989 (after October 1, 1988), his offense of armed robbery was a category 3 offense, and he had served a prior felony commitment instate court for burglary (Dkt. 9 at Ex. A; Dkt. 9, Ex. J at docket p. 3; Dkt. 10 at Ex. 1).