Dotson v. Monroe et al

Filing 5

ORDER granting #1 Motion to proceed in forma pauperis. Dotson must pay the filing fee but over time. Dotson's custodian is directed to collect monthly payments from Dotson's prison trust account and forward them to the Clerk of the Court until the total $350 filing fee is paid in full. The Court directs the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to the Administrator of the Pulaski County Detention Center. This case is stayed. Any motion to reopen must be filed within 60 days of the final disposition of his state case. If Dotson doesn't file a timely motion to reopen or status report by 1/8/2020 then the Court will reopen the case and dismiss it without prejudice. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 1/8/2019. (jak)

IN THE UNITED ST ATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
CARL E. DOTSON
v.

PLAINTIFF
No. 4:18-cv-935-DPM

C. MONROE, Patrol Officer,
Little Rock Police Department;
LARRY JEGLEY, Prosecutor; and
BILL SIMPSON, Public Defender

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
1. Motion to proceed in forma pauperis, NQ 1, granted. Dotson must

pay the filing fee, but over time. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The Court won't
assess an initial partial filing fee because Dotson can't afford to pay one.
But his custodian must collect monthly payments from Dotson'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 Dotson'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

Administrator of the Pulaski County Detention Center, 3201 West
Roosevelt Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204.

3. The Court must screen Dotson's complaint.

NQ 2 & NQ 3;

28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Dotson alleges he was searched and seized without
probable cause; the criminal proceedings against him were wrongly
bound over to the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas; and his
Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination was violated. NQ 2.
Dotson's criminal case is pending in state court.
The Court must abstain from proceeding with Dotson's federal
case because the criminal case is ongoing, Arkansas has an important
interest in enforcing its criminal laws, and Dotson 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 Dotson'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. Dotson 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
Dotson doesn't file a timely motion to reopen or a status report by
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8 January 2020, then the Court will reopen the case and dismiss it
without prejudice.
So Ordered.
I

D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge

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