Matthews v. Spells et al

Filing 13

ORDER dismissing Plaintiff's claim against Spells without prejudice; dismissing Plaintiff's wrongful-arrest claim against Donny Ford with prejudice. Plaintiff may proceed with his wrongful-search claim against both Fords. The Clerk is direc ted to prepare a summons for both Fords and the U.S. Marshal is directed to serve the summons, complaint, and this Order on each of them. Plaintiff's 10 Motion to Amend his complaint is denied as futile. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 2/12/2014. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF DIVISION
SENECA LYNERE MATHEWS

v.

PLAINTIFF

No. 5:13-cv-395 DPM-JTR

DONNY FORD, Sheriff, Fordyce County Jail;
DARRELL SPELLS, Director,13th Judicial
District Drug Task Force; and THOMAS G.
FORD, Parole Officer

DEFENDANTS

ORDER

1.

Mathews has filed this prose § 1983 action saying that Defendants

violated his constitutional rights during his 2013 parole revocation
proceedings in state court. NQ 1 & 8. The Court must screen Mathews's
complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
2.

Mathews alleges that Darrell Spells entrapped him or somehow

caused his parole to be wrongfully revoked for possessing drugs. Success on
the merits of that claim would necessarily result in the invalidity of
Mathews's parole revocation. He therefore can't raise that claim in this§ 1983
action seeking damages until his parole revocation is invalidated by the
highest state court or in a federal habeas proceeding. Heck v. Humphrey, 512
U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994); Schafer v. Moore, 46 F.3d 43, 45 (8th Cir. 1995).
Mathews's claim against Spells is dismissed without prejudice.
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3.

Mathews says that Donny Ford violated his constitutional rights

by failing to give him a copy of the arrest warrant. Mathews acknowledges,
though, he was shown the warrant at the time of his arrest. NQ 1 at 6. A
person doesn't have a constitutional right to receive a copy of the warrant at
the time of his arrest. E.g., U.S. v. Turcotte, 558 F.2d 893, 896 (8th Cir. 1977).
And u an arrest executed pursuant to a facially valid warrant generally does
not give rise to a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983." Fair v. Fulbright, 844 F.2d 567,
569 (8th Cir. 1988). Mathews's wrongful-arrest claim against Donny Ford is
therefore dismissed with prejudice.
4.

Finally, Mathews contends that Thomas Ford and Donny Ford

violated his Fourth Amendment rights when they wrongfully searched his
girlfriend's home without a warrant or proper consent. Drugs seized from the
home were used as a basis for revoking Mathews's parole. Success on the
merits of Mathews's challenge to the lawfulness of the search would not
I

necessarily render his probation revocation inv~lid because the drugs may
I

have, nevertheless, come into evidence under the'inevitable-discovery rule or
the independent-source doctrine. Heck, 512 U.S. at 487 n.7; Moore v. Sims, 200
F.3d 1170,1171-72 (8th Cir. 2000). Mathews may therefore proceed with his
'

wrongful-search claim against both Fords.
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The Clerk is directed to prepare a summons for Thomas Ford and
Donny Ford. The U.S. Marshal is directed to serve the summons, complaint,
and this Order on each of them without prepayment of fees and costs or
security therefor. If either Thomas Ford or Donny Ford is no longer a county
employee, the individual responding to service must file that defendant's last
known private mailing address under seal.
5.

Because Mathews's claim against Spells fails as a matter of law,

his motion to amend his complaint further to add more details about Spells's
involvement, NQ 10, is denied as futile. Sherman v. Winco Fireworks, Inc., 532
F.3d 709, 715 (8th Cir. 2008).

The Court certifies that an in forma

pauperis appeal from this Order would not be taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(a)(3).

So Ordered.

A!J?vz..,..d.dtfi.

D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
12 February 2014

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