Sparks v. Gibson

Filing 6

ORDER granting 5 Motion to proceed in forma pauperis. Sparks must pay the filing fee, but over time. The Court won't assess an initial partial filing fee but his custodian is directed to collect monthly payments from Sparks's prison trust account and forward them to the Clerk of the Court until the $350 filing fee is paid in full. The Court directs the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to the Poinsett County Sheriff. This case is stayed. Sparks can move to reopen this case afte r final disposition of his state case, including any appeal. If Spark's doesn't file a timely motion to reopen or a status report by 6/28/2018 then the Court will reopen the case and dismiss it without prejudice. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 6/26/2017. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
JONATHANW. SPARKS,
ADC #651677

v.

PLAINTIFF

No. 3:17-cv-100-DPM

L.D. GIBSON, Public Defender, Poinsett County

DEFENDANT

ORDER
1. Motion to proceed in forma pauperis, Ng 5, granted. Sparks must pay

the filing fee, but over time. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(l). The Court won't assess
an initial partial filing fee because Sparks can't afford to pay one. But his
custodian must collect monthly payments from Sparks' s prison trust account
each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00. These payments will be
equal to twenty percent of the preceding month's income credited to the
account; and they will be collected and forwarded to the Clerk of the Court
until the $350.00 filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The
payments forwarded on Sparks' s behalf must be clearly identified by case
name and case number.
2. The Court directs the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to the

Poinsett County Sheriff at the Poinsett County Detention Center, 1500 Justice
Drive, Harrisburg, Arkansas 72432.

3. Sparks is in jail awaiting trial on state criminal charges. Sparks
makes complaints about his public defender's representation. NQ 1 at 4. The
Court must abstain from proceeding with Sparks' s federal case, though,
because the criminal case is ongoing, Arkansas has an important interest in
enforcing its criminal laws, and Sparks may raise his constitutional claims
during his state criminal proceedings. Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 43-45
(1971). Further, there's no indication of bad faith, harassment, or any other
extraordinary circumstances that would make abstention inappropriate. Tony

Alamo Christian Ministries v. Selig, 664 F.3d 1245, 1254 (8th Cir. 2012). This
case must, therefore, be put on hold until there's a final disposition of Sparks' s
pending state charges. Wallace v. Kato, 549 U.S. 384, 393-94 (2007); Yamaha

Motor Corporation, U.S.A. v. Stroud, 179 F.3d 598, 603-04 (8th Cir. 1999).

*

*

*

This case is stayed. Sparks can move to reopen this case after final
disposition of his state case, including any appeal. Any motion to reopen
must be filed within sixty days of that final disposition. If Sparks doesn't file
a timely motion to reopen or a status report by 28 June 2018, then the Court
will reopen the case and dismiss it without prejudice.

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So Ordered.

r
D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge

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