Ramos v. Paramo

Filing 16

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending that Petitioner be allowed to delete the unexhausted claims in the petition and proceed with the sole exhausted claim (ineffective assistance of trial counsel for failure to impeach a witness regarding her probation status) re 11 MOTION to DISMISS ;referred to Judge Ishii, signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 07/24/2018. Objections to F&R due by 8/27/2018(Martin-Gill, S)

1
2
3
4
5
6

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

7

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

8
MANUEL ANTHONY RAMOS,

9

Case No. 1:18-cv-00207-AWI-SAB-HC

Petitioner,

10

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO
GRANT RESPONDENT’S MOTION TO
DISMISS AND ALLOW PETITIONER TO
PROCEED WITH EXHAUSTED CLAIM

v.

11

DANIEL PARAMO,

12

(ECF No. 11)
Respondent.

13
14

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

15

16 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
17

I.

18

BACKGROUND
On February 9, 2018, Petitioner filed the instant federal petition for writ of habeas

19

20 corpus. (ECF No. 1). In the petition, Petitioner challenges his Fresno County Superior Court
21 convictions for first-degree burglary, misdemeanor battery on a cohabitant, battery causing
22 serious bodily injury, and misdemeanor assault. Petitioner asserts the following claims for relief:
23 (1) ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to impeach a witness with her probation status;
24 (2) ineffective assistance of counsel for referring to Petitioner’s prior convictions as commercial
25 burglaries instead of theft offenses; (3) insufficient evidence to support finding of guilt for
26 battery with serious injury; (4) insufficient evidence to support finding of guilt for burglary; and
1
27 (5) the trial court’s failure to give adequate jury instructions. (ECF No. 1 at 5, 7, 8, 10, 39).

28

1

Page numbers refer to the ECF page numbers stamped at the top of the page.

1

On March 28, 2018, Respondent filed a motion to dismiss the petition for failure to

1

2 exhaust. (ECF No. 11). On June 25, 2018, the Court received Petitioner’s untimely opposition.
3 (ECF No. 15).
4

II.

5

DISCUSSION
A petitioner in state custody who is proceeding with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

6

7 must exhaust state judicial remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). The exhaustion doctrine is based
8 on comity to the state court and gives the state court the initial opportunity to correct the state’s
9 alleged constitutional deprivations. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731 (1991); Rose v.
10 Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 518 (1982). A petitioner can satisfy the exhaustion requirement by
11 providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to consider each claim before
12 presenting it to the federal court. O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999); Duncan v.
13 Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971).
In the opposition, Petitioner states that he believes his unexhausted claims were in fact

14

15 exhausted when the California Supreme Court denied his claims. (ECF No. 15 at 1). However,
16 Respondent has lodged state court records that demonstrate Petitioner only presented a single
17 claim to the California Supreme Court—that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to impeach a
18 witness with her probation status. (LD2 2). Petitioner has not provided evidence that he presented
19 any other claims to the California Supreme Court. Given that Petitioner has not sought relief in
20 the California Supreme Court on the remainder of his claims, this Court cannot proceed to the
21 merits of said claims. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1).
As Petitioner has presented the Court with a mixed petition and has not requested to stay

22

23 the case, the Court “should allow the petitioner to delete the unexhausted claims and to proceed
24 with the exhausted claims if dismissal of the entire petition would unreasonably impair the
25 petitioner’s right to obtain federal relief.” Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 278 (2005) (citing
26 Lundy, 455 U.S. at 520). Accord Dixon v. Baker, 847 F.3d 714, 719 (9th Cir. 2017).
27
28

2

“LD” refers to the documents lodged by Respondent on March 29, 2018. (ECF No. 12).

2

1

III.

2

RECOMMENDATION
Based on the foregoing, the undersigned HEREBY RECOMMENDS that:

3
4

1. Respondent’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 11) be GRANTED; and

5

2. Petitioner be allowed to delete the unexhausted claims in the petition and proceed with

6

the sole exhausted claim (ineffective assistance of trial counsel for failure to impeach a

7

witness regarding her probation status).

8

This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the assigned United States District

9 Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local
10 Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within
11 THIRTY (30) days after service of the Findings and Recommendation, any party may file
12 written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be
13 captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” Replies to the
14 objections shall be served and filed within fourteen (14) days after service of the objections. The
15 assigned United States District Court Judge will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling
16 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to file objections within
17 the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Wilkerson v.
18 Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th
19 Cir. 1991)).
20
21

IT IS SO ORDERED.

22 Dated:

July 24, 2018
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

23
24
25
26
27
28
3