McNeeley v. Superintendent

Filing 14

OPINION AND ORDER re 5 AMENDED PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Jesse McNeeley. The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED and this case is DISMISSED. Signed by Judge Joseph S Van Bokkelen on 8/18/15. (cc: Jesse McNeeley). (cer)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA

JESSE McNEELEY,

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Petitioner,
v.
SUPERINTENDENT
Respondent.

Case No. 3:14-CV-1701-JVB

OPINION AND ORDER
Jesse McNeeley, a pro se prisoner, filed an amended habeas corpus petition (DE 5)
challenging the prison disciplinary hearing (WCC 13-12-305) that was held on December 19,
2013, where he was found guilty of possessing a controlled substance in violation of B-202 and
deprived of 60 days earned credit time. The respondent has filed an answer along with the
administrative record. McNeeley asked for additional time to file a traverse and was granted
until February 12, 2015. Though McNeeley did not file a traverse, the deadline has long since
passed and the court will now rule on the habeas corpus petition.
The respondent argues that the claims raised in the petition are procedurally defaulted
because McNeeley did not appeal and present them to the Final Reviewing Authority. On the
amended petition, McNeeley states that he did not appeal to the Final Reviewing Authority. DE
5 at 1. “[T]o exhaust a claim, and thus preserve it for collateral review under § 2254, a prisoner
must present that legal theory to the . . . Final Reviewing Authority . . ..” Moffat v. Broyles, 288
F.3d 978, 982 (7th Cir. 2002). Because these claims are procedurally defaulted, habeas corpus is
DENIED and this case is DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED on August 18, 2015.
s/ Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
United States District Judge
Hammond Division

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