KENDALL J. NEWMAN, Magistrate Judge.
Movant is a federal prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with this motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (ECF No. 167.) On May 7, 2008, a jury convicted movant on two counts of making false statements to a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(1) ("falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact"). Movant's sentence was overturned on appeal. On November 30, 2010, after remand from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, movant was re-sentenced to a 60-month term of imprisonment for each conviction, to be served concurrently and with credit for time served, and a 36-month term of supervised release. Movant's re-sentence was affirmed on appeal. Movant thereafter filed the instant motion. For the reasons set forth herein, the undersigned recommends that the motion be denied.
On February 17, 2006, pursuant to a prior conviction for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2) ("makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation"), movant was sentenced to fifteen months incarceration and three years supervised release, with credit for time served. (
Less than two weeks later, on June 7, 2006, movant was arrested pursuant to a petition filed by his parole officer, which alleged that movant had violated his supervised release conditions by, inter alia, checking out from the public library a book advocating child sexual molestation; visiting a McDonald's Restaurant that included a children's play area; purchasing a magazine containing pictures of children modeling clothing and swimwear; and failing to record these activities in his daily parole journal. (
On July 13, 2006, premised on the same conduct demonstrating a violation of his prior supervised release term, movant was indicted in the instant case. (
Sentencing was continued until May 26, 2009, and combined with the petition to revoke movant's supervised release in Case No. 2:05-cr-0168. (ECF Nos. 91-2, 96.) On May 26, 2009, Judge Coughenour imposed sentences in both cases. In Case No. 2:05-cr-0168, Judge Coughenour revoked movant's supervised release and sentenced him to 24 months incarceration; in the instant case, Case No. 2:06-cr-0283, Judge Coughenour imposed two concurrent 60-month terms of incarceration and a 36-month term of supervised release; sentences in both cases were imposed to run concurrently. (
On August 6, 2010, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's finding that movant had violated the conditions of his supervised release in Case No. 2:05-cr-0168, and affirmed movant's 24-month sentence thereon.
A re-sentencing was held before Judge Coughenour on November 30, 2010. The court found that, as of October 14, 2010, movant had completed serving his originally-imposed concurrent 60-month prison terms, and commenced serving his 36-month term of supervised release. Judge Coughenour re-sentenced movant to two 60-month prison terms on Counts One and Two, respectively, to be served concurrently, and to run concurrently with the 24-month sentence imposed for violation of movant's supervised release in Case No. 2:05-cr-0168. In addition, Judge Coughenour reimposed, in the instant case, the 36-month term of supervised release on Counts One and Two, respectively, to be served concurrently. (
By memorandum decision issued December 21, 2011, and mandate issued January 12, 2012, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed movant's re-sentencing, as imposed on November 30, 2010, by Judge Coughenour on remand.
On September 4, 2012, movant filed the instant motion to vacate, set aside or correct his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (ECF No. 167.) Respondent timely filed an opposition (ECF No. 170), and movant timely filed his reply (ECF No. 172).
A habeas petition is not moot under Article III's case-or-controversy requirement if the movant retains "a personal stake in the outcome of the lawsuit."
In the instant case, movant completed serving his prison term on October 14, 2010, but his term of supervised release does not end until October 14, 2013. Because there is a possibility that movant's term of supervised release may be reduced pursuant to the instant petition, the petition is not moot.
A person in custody under sentence of a federal court "may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence." 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). The permissible grounds for a motion under Section 2255 are "that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack. . . ."
In general, claims that were addressed pursuant to the underlying criminal judgment and any direct appeals are not cognizable in a Section 2255 petition. "When a defendant has raised a claim and has been given a full and fair opportunity to litigate it on direct appeal, that claim may not be used as basis for a subsequent § 2255 petition."
On the other hand, when a defendant failed to raise an alleged error at trial or on direct appeal, he is procedurally barred from raising the issue in a Section 2255 petition if the claim could have been raised earlier, unless the defendant can demonstrate both "cause" for the delay and "prejudice" resulting from the alleged error. "[T]o obtain collateral relief based on trial errors to which no contemporaneous objection was made, a convicted defendant must show both (1) `cause' excusing his double procedural default, and (2) `actual prejudice' resulting from the errors of which he complains."
An evidentiary hearing is not required pursuant to a Section 2255 petition if the allegations, "when viewed against the record, do not state a claim for relief or are so palpably incredible or patently frivolous as to warrant summary dismissal."
Movant initially contends that Judge Coughenour, at the November 30, 2010 re-sentencing, failed to comply with the requirement set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c), that "[t]he court, at the time of sentencing, shall state in open court the reasons for its imposition of the particular sentence." Movant asserts that he was thereby denied the opportunity to inform the court of its alleged errors, particularly that Judge Coughenour allegedly "misunderstood the defendant's pre-offense conduct as post-offense conduct," which was "already accounted for in the guidelines," and that the court mischaracterized movant's criminal history. (ECF No. 167 at 4.)
Movant expressly raised this issue on appeal, viz.: "[w]hether the district court committed procedural error when it failed to state in open court any reasons for imposing a sentence five times greater than the high end of the Guidelines." (Appellant's Opening Brief, Case No. 10-10589, ECF No. 5-1 at 8 (emphasis deleted);
Moreover, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals expressly considered and rejected movant's "open court" claim. On appeal from movant's re-sentencing, the Court of Appeals ruled in pertinent part:
Because movant raised his "open court" claim on direct appellate review, it is barred in the instant proceeding. A claim raised and fully litigated on direct appeal may not be pursued in a subsequent Section 2255 petition.
Movant next contends that his term of supervised release — concurrent 36-month terms that commenced on October 14, 2010 — should be terminated because movant has spent most of this time in civil custody. As earlier noted, movant remains in federal civil custody pursuant to a petition filed July 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (Western Division), to certify movant as a "Sexually Dangerous Person." Pursuant to Title III of the Adam Walsh Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 4247-48, the filing of a federal petition to initiate civil commitment proceedings (entitled "Certification of a Sexually Dangerous Person") "automatically stays the individual's release from prison, thereby giving the Government an opportunity to prove its claims at a hearing through psychiatric (or other) evidence."
Review of the docket in movant's civil proceeding indicates that the action may continue for several more months. The Section 4248 hearing was conducted on February 11, 2013, but the matter remains submitted for decision. (
Because movant's civil detention under the Adam Walsh Act commenced prior to his re-sentencing in the instant case, it is reasonable to conclude that movant had the opportunity to make this challenge to his term of supervised release both at his sentencing hearing and on direct appeal. The petition to certify movant as a sexually dangerous person was filed on July 19, 2010, three months before the November 30, 2010 re-sentencing hearing. Movant could reasonably have concluded that the remaining portion of his supervised release, which commenced on October 14, 2010, would be spent in custody pending the conclusion of his civil proceedings. So construed, movant had the opportunity to raise this claim at sentencing and on direct appeal, thus rendering the claim, asserted for the first time in the instant proceeding, procedurally defaulted, and therefore cognizable only if movant can show cause for failing to earlier raise it, and demonstrate that the resulting error is of constitutional dimension.
On the other hand, if movant reasonably believed that the civil commitment proceedings would conclude quickly and in his favor, and thus reasonably anticipated that he would soon be discharged to his supervised release term in the instant case, then movant would not need to overcome the hurdle of procedural default. Rather, movant would only need to demonstrate that the alleged error of law was a "a fundamental defect which inherently result[ed] in a complete miscarriage of justice, and . . . present(s) exceptional circumstances where the need for the remedy afforded by the writ of habeas corpus is apparent."
Under either standard, this claim fails. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a term of supervised release pursuant to a criminal conviction is not tolled during the individual's detention pending civil commitment proceedings under the Adam Walsh Act.
For these reasons, movant has failed to show that a constitutional violation or other miscarriage of justice justifies modification of his supervised release term.
Next, movant claims that the district court violated his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial by allegedly relying "on false information at sentencing which was not found to be true beyond a reasonable doubt." (ECF No. 167 at 7.) In support of his arguments, movant submitted "Exhibit B" to his reply, which sets forth the September 2011 findings of movant's psychological expert. The court first addresses movant's request that this psychological evaluation be filed under seal.
Movant requests that "Exhibit B" to his reply be sealed "because of [it's] confidential nature," and submitted a copy of the exhibit to chambers. (Letter dated Nov. 23, 2012.) Movant also served a copy of his request and Exhibit B on respondent. Movant's reply and remaining Exhibits A, and C-F, are set forth in Docket No. 172.
Exhibit B sets forth the September 15, 2011 independent psychological evaluation of movant, by Dr. J. Plaud, Ph.D. Movant relies on Exhibit B in support of his third claim herein, the alleged violation of his Sixth Amendment rights. (
On November 10, 2012, the court rejected movant's prior request to "seal all court documents referring to my perceived sexual orientation." (Letter dated Aug. 29, 2012.) (
Applying these standards to movant's prior request, the court denied the motion for the following reasons (ECF No. 165 at 2-3):
For these reasons, the court directed the Clerk of Court to file, in the normal course of business, movant's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
In contrast, the court finds that Dr. Plaud's September 2011 report is of limited relevance to movant's challenge to Judge Coughenour's November 2010 findings, which were issued nearly one year before. Moreover, Dr. Plaud's report is substantively distinguishable from other filings in this case. The report sets forth details of movant's childhood, and his psycho-social and sexual history, matters that are traditionally kept confidential. While similar reports may have been admitted at movant's sentencing and re-sentencing hearings, they are not accessible through the court's electronic filing system.
For these reasons, movant's request to seal Exhibit B to his reply (as set forth in movant's November 23, 2012 letter, routed to chambers on November 29, 2013) is granted.
Movant claims that his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial was violated by the district court's reliance, at sentencing, on "false information . . . which was not found to be true beyond a reasonable doubt." (ECF No. 167 at 7.) Movant challenges the information relied upon by Judge Coughenour to conclude that movant posed a risk to the public.
However, as respondent notes, the correct burden of proof for factual findings in support of sentencing within a defined range is not "beyond a reasonable doubt," but a "preponderance of the evidence."
Significantly, movant raised this claim on appeal, and the matter was fully briefed by the parties. (
A claim that was raised and fully litigated on direct appeal may not be pursued in a subsequent Section 2255 petition.
Movant contends that it was "plain error" for Judge Coughenour "to concentrate on the defendant's perceived sexual orientation at sentencing." (ECF No. 167 at 8.) Movant explains that "[t]his was a simple case of concealing information from the government. [Movant's] perceived sexual orientation was not the cause of the offense. There was no scientific or clinical basis for the Court to concentrate [on], or even mention, the defendant's sexual orientation — true or not." (
Movant is again challenging the district judge's reasons for imposing a sentence reflecting the maximum statutory term. As previously noted, this claim was raised and litigated on direct appeal, and rejected by the Court of Appeals on the ground that movant's "statutory maximum sentence . . . is substantively reasonable in light of the totality of the circumstances and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors, in particular the need to protect the public."
Like the previous claim, the instant claim was fully litigated on direct appeal and, therefore, may not be pursued in a Section 2255 petition.
For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Movant's November 29, 2012 request to seal Exhibit B (as set forth in movant's reply (ECF No. 172)), is granted. The Clerk of Court is directed to file a copy of movant's one-page letter dated November 23, 2012, and to file under seal "Exhibit B" attached thereto.
In addition, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
1. Movant's September 4, 2012 motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (ECF No. 167), be denied.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any response to the objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order.