KENT J. DAWSON, District Judge.
There are several motions pending before the Court, all of which are related to Charles Edward Gensemer's proposed Motion to Vacate or Correct his Sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The first is Gensemer's Motion to Extend Time to file his petition (ECF No. 1554). The government responded (ECF No. 1555), but Gensemer did not reply. Next is Gensemer's Motion for Leave to Amend and/or File a supplemental memorandum in support his § 2255 petition (ECF No. 1559). Gensemer attached to that motion his petition to vacate or correct his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Although that petition was filed with this Court on February 9, 2017, it was not docketed. To date, the Court has not ordered the government to respond to Gensemer's petition. The remaining motions are Gensemer's requests for documents (ECF Nos. 1563, 1573), status checks (ECF No. 1568), and motions to supplement his proposed petition (ECF Nos. 1574, 1579).
Charles Edward Gensemer is currently serving a 420-month total sentence after being convicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for conspiracy to engage in a corrupt organization, drug conspiracy, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Gensemer's conviction was affirmed on appeal, and he now moves to vacate or correct his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. During the year after the Ninth Circuit affirmed Gensemer's conviction, Gensemer's detention facility was placed on security lock down twice. During those lock downs, Gensemer lost access to the prison library, which delayed the preparation of his § 2255 petition. Fearing that he would miss his filing deadline, Gensemer requested a sixty-day extension to file his § 2255 petition (ECF No. 1554). The government opposed the extension, arguing that the Court lacked jurisdiction to preemptively extend the time to file until Gensemer actually filed his motion. Rather than respond, Gensemer drafted a bare-bones version of his motion to vacate and filed it timely. Gensemer now moves for leave to amend his rushed petition and supplement it with the version he had prepared and saved on the prison computer (ECF No. 1579).
The Court has reviewed Gensemer's proposed petition and finds that at least some of his claims relate back to the claims in his original petition. Further, after performing an initial review of Gensemer's remaining claims, the Court finds that it cannot conclude that he is not entitled to the relief he seeks. Accordingly, the Court orders the government to respond to the claims below within thirty days of the entry of this order. Given that those claims involve allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel, the attorney-client privilege in 2:07-0145-KJD-PAL between Charles Gensemer and his former attorney, Ozzie Fumo, shall be deemed waived for all purposes related to Gensemer's § 2255 motion to vacate. Mr. Fumo shall provide the government with affidavits concerning all information known to him relating to the allegations in Gensemer's § 2255 petition within fourteen days of entry of this order.
On July 10, 2007, Gensemer and thirteen other alleged Aryan Warriors were indicted for conspiracy to engage in a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO). The indictment included conspiracy charges, drug offenses, and several violent assaults.
Gensemer timely appealed, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed his conviction.
Gensemer requested a sixty-day extension to file his § 2255 petition on January 24, 2017. Mot. to Extend, ECF No. 1554. He argued that the lock downs were out of his control and that he was unsure how long his access to prison legal resources would be interrupted.
After filing his handwritten § 2255 petition, Gensemer moved to extend time to submit his supplemental brief that was presumably saved on the prison computer. ECF No. 1574. Gensemer finally submitted his supplement on August 14, 2017 as part of a Motion to Submit Attached Count/Ground One Supplement and Additional 2255 and Additional Counts/Grounds to the Already Filed 2255 Petition. ECF No. 1579. Although styled as a motion to supplement, Gensemer's motion is better evaluated as a motion to amend his original § 2255 petition, and the Court elects to treat it as such.
A defendant in federal custody may challenge a conviction that "was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States" under 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). However, § 2255 is not intended to give criminal defendants multiple opportunities to challenge their sentences.
Because a § 2255 petitioner has already pursued—and lost—a direct appeal, the Court assumes that the conviction is valid. For that reason, the government need not respond to the petition until ordered to do so.
Despite the security lock downs at FCC Pollock, Gensemer managed to draft and timely file a § 2255 petition.
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) imposed a statute of limitations on habeas petitions that did not previously exist. The purpose of the Act was to "eliminate delays in the federal habeas review process."
The Ninth Circuit affirmed Gensemer's conviction on November 6, 2015. He had until February 5, 2016 to petition for certiorari, which he did not do. Thus, Gensemer' one-year clock started on February 5, 2016. The clock stopped on February 5, 2017, which was a Sunday. Accordingly, Monday, February 6, 2017, was the last day to timely file his petition under § 2255.
Gensemer's supplemental petition, on the other hand, was filed on August 14, 2017, more than six months after the deadline to file. That petition is untimely, and the Court will not consider its allegations unless they relate back to his original petition. The Court applies the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to habeas petitions so long as those rules do not conflict with any statutory provisions or other congressionally implemented habeas rules.
Given AEDPA's intent to streamline habeas proceedings, the Court narrowly interprets what constitutes the petition's underlying transaction or occurrence.
Gensemer brought four claims in his initial petition: (1) a double jeopardy challenge under the Fifth Amendment to his conviction in counts one and ten, which he claims are essentially the same conspiracy; (2) a Sixth Amendment claim of ineffective assistance of counsel for his counsel's handling of a potential global plea arrangement; (3) a Fifth Amendment due process challenge to the Court's career offender determination; and (4) a Sixth Amendment ineffective assistance of counsel claim that challenges various aspects of counsel's performance during his pre-trial, trial, and appellate proceedings. ECF No. 1559 Ex. 1. Gensemer's proposed amendment brings ten claims. However, the additional claims may still relate back if they arise out of the same transaction or occurrence as the original four claims. The Court will compare each new ground for relief with the allegations of the original petition to determine whether the new claims relate back.
Gensemer's first claim, and the claim to which he dedicates the majority of his motion, is an alleged double jeopardy violation under counts one and ten of the indictment. Proposed Petition 3, ECF No. 1579 ("Proposed Pet."). Gensemer argues that the government violated the Fifth Amendment's double jeopardy clause when it charged him with conspiracy to engage in a corrupt organization (count one of the indictment) and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (count ten of the indictment). Both Gensemer's original petition and his proposed amendment state this claim. The proposed amendment only differs in the depth of legal reasoning it includes. Because the two claims are functionally identical, Gensemer's first claim relates back and may proceed.
Gensemer's second ground for relief is titled "prosecutorial misconduct." Proposed Pet. at 29. Gensemer alleges that his trial counsel misled him about the availability of a plea agreement during the plea negotiation stage. Gensemer claims that he expressed to counsel his desire to avoid trial. Had he known of a potential plea deal, Gensemer argues, he would have accepted it. The duty to provide adequate assistance of counsel applies during the plea negotiation stage just as it does at trial.
Here, Gensemer alleged in both his original petition and in his proposed amendment that he wished to avoid trial but was never made aware of a plea offer from the government. Proposed Pet. at 27-28. Because Gensemer's proposed amendment brings the same claim as his original petition, it relates back. Further, if Gensemer's allegations are true, it is possible that he could prove his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Therefore, ground two may proceed.
Next is an ineffective assistance of counsel challenge under the Sixth Amendment. Proposed Petition at 29. Here, Gensemer claims that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to challenge the Court's determination that Gensemer was a Career Offender under the sentencing guidelines. Gensemer continues that the Supreme Court's decision in
Although the claim relates back, it fails because the Supreme Court has since decided that, unlike
Gensemer's fourth claim is for judicial misconduct. He alleges that "The courts violated due process, [the] Speedy trial act, and his constitutional rights." Proposed Pet. at 29. This ground for relief does not appear in Gensemer's original petition. Not only does the claim not appear in the first petition, Gensemer does not allege any facts in that petition that the Court violated his constitutional rights. To prevail on this claim, Gensemer would have to prove a set of facts completely separate from his other claims. Therefore, the claim does not relate back, and the Court dismisses ground four of the amended petition.
Each of Gensemer's remaining claims are for ineffective assistance of counsel arising out of Ozzie Fumo's representation during the pre-trial, trial, and appellate proceedings. The Sixth Amendment guarantees more than just the appointment of counsel; it guarantees effective assistance of counsel.
Gensemer does not claim that the government interfered with the appointment of his counsel. He claims that the attorneys he did receive failed to provide an adequate defense. So, Gensemer is left with
Gensemer brought a global ineffective assistance of counsel claim in his original petition. It was titled, "Ineffective Assistance of Counsel (6th amendment)." ECF No. 1559 Ex 1. at 8. In the supporting-facts section, Gensemer claimed a laundry list of apparent failures:
In ground five, Gensemer argues that trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to argue that use of the 2007 sentencing guidelines violated Gensemer's constitutional rights. Proposed Pet. at 30. Basically, Gensemer argues that because his conspiracy began in 1990, he should have been sentenced under the 1990-version of the sentencing guidelines. The only possible allegation in Gensemer's original petition that could support relation back is that he experienced "sentencing ineffectiveness." Original Pet. at 8. However, that blanket statement does not indicate that counsel's perceived ineffectiveness included the sentencing guidelines in place at the time of Gensemer's sentencing. Therefore, ground five does not relate back.
Even if ground five related back, Gensemer has not pleaded facts to support his claim. It is true that amendments to the sentencing guidelines that impose a harsher penalty than the prior guidelines may constitute ex post facto laws.
Ground six of the amended petition argues that Gensemer's trial counsel was ineffective because he refused to contest the Court's requirement that Gensemer be shackled during trial. Proposed Pet. at 30. This claim fails for the same reasons as ground five; it does not relate back and is not plausible on its face. Again, the only possible claim to which this allegation could relate back is the blanket assertion that Gensemer suffered "Trial ineffectiveness." Original Pet. at 8. There is no mention of being shackled in Gensemer's first petition and no allegation that Gensemer was prejudiced because of that. As a result, Gensemer's claim does not relate back and is untimely.
Like ground five, even if ground six related back, it would still fail. A brief review of the docket reveals that although Mr. Fumo did not move to allow Gensemer to remain unshackled in the courtroom, the Court heard argument on the issue and still elected to restrain the defendants. During calendar call on May 12, 2009, Chris Rasmussen, counsel for Gensemer's co-defendant, requested leave to file a brief requesting that each defendant be unshackled in the jury's presence. Transcript 18, ECF No. 1269. The Court advised the defendants that it would defer to the United States Marshals' recommendation on whether a defendant should be shackled in the courtroom and ordered Mr. Rasmussen to file the brief that day.
Mr. Fumo's refusal to join that motion or file his own did not prejudice Gensemer because the Court considered the arguments against restraint and rejected them.
In grounds seven and eight, Gensemer argues ineffective assistance of counsel for counsel's failure to adequately defend count fourteen of the indictment (possession of a firearm in the commission of a drug offense). That conviction added sixty months to Gensemer's sentence and is required to run consecutive. His claim is that counsel failed to subpoena or call his girlfriend, Jessica Gonzalez to testify and also failed to present evidence that the firearm belonged to someone else. According to Gensemer, Jessica Gonzalez was the lone witness who could testify that Gensemer did not own, nor was he aware of the firearm that police found during a search of his residence. Proposed Pet. at 33-36 (had she been allowed to testify, Gonzales would have confirmed that Gensemer "did not have any gun [and] was not aware of any gun in [their] home").
The Court finds that grounds seven and eight relate back to Gensemer's original petition and that, if true, his allegations could constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Count four of Gensemer's original petition alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective in part because he "[failed] to subpoena [a] defense witness." Original Pet. at 8. That witness was Jessica Gonzalez. It is possible that Gonzalez could have presented evidence that Gensemer never possessed that firearm had she been called to testify. To be sure, the decision to call or not call a witness typically falls within the strategy goals of the trial lawyer. However, without knowing why counsel refused to subpoena or call Gonzalez—or whether Gonzalez could have exculpated Gensemer—the Court cannot make that determination. Accordingly, grounds seven and eight relate back and may proceed.
Ground nine claims ineffective assistance of counsel at the appellate stage. There, Gensemer argues that counsel failed to consult with him and refused to include his desired arguments in the appellate brief, which was lackluster. Gensemer's original petition classifies this claim as "failure to consult client about appeal" and "failure to raise issue on appeal." Original Pet. at 8. Given that Gensemer included this claim in his original petition, the Court finds that the claim relates back.
However, Gensemer has not shown how counsel's representation on appeal rises to the level of ineffective assistance. At its core, Gensemer's argument reflects his dissatisfaction with counsel's refusal to make the arguments Gensemer wanted him to make. That is not ineffective assistance of counsel.
Finally, in ground ten, Gensemer renews his ineffective assistance of counsel claim from ground two, which claimed his attorney misrepresented or concealed the details of a potential plea offer in violation of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. To the extent that this claim argues that trial counsel failed to raise the argument, this claim is duplicative and is dismissed. Further, Gensemer admits that his appellate counsel in fact raised "the
In all, the Court grants in part and denies in part Gensemer's Motion to Submit Attached Count/Ground One Supplement and Additional 2255 and Additional Counts/Grounds to the Already Filed 2255 Petition (ECF No. 1579). The Court finds that the following grounds for relief relate back and may proceed:
Gensemer's remaining claims are dismissed. For the dismissed claims, the Court denies a certificate of appealability. A certificate of appealability is only available to a petitioner who has "made a substantial showing" of a constitutional deprivation in his initial § 2255 petition. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2);
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Charles Edward Gensemer's Motion to Submit Attached Count/Ground One Supplement, which the Court construes as a Motion to Amend his § 2255 petition (ECF No. 1579) is
The Clerk of the Court is directed to detach Gensemer's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (Exhibit B to ECF No. 1559) and file that motion as the operative motion in this case. The Clerk is also directed to file Gensemer's supplement to his Motion to Vacate, which is filed as ECF No. 1579 as an Amended Motion to Vacate or Correct Sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the attorney-client privilege in 2:07-cr-0145-KJD-PAL between Charles Gensemer and his attorney, Ozzie Fumo, shall be deemed waived for all purposes related to Gensemer's § 2255 motion to vacate. Former counsel, Mr. Fumo, shall, within fourteen days of entry of this order, provide the government with an affidavit concerning all information known to him relating to the allegations in Gensemer's § 2255 petition.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the government shall respond to Gensemer's petition within thirty-days of the entry of this order. Gensemer may reply to the government's response within twenty-one days of its entry.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall mail Gensemer a copy of his supplemental § 2255 petition (ECF No. 1579).
All remaining motions are