Deane v. Superintendent

Filing 3

OPINION AND ORDER: The petition is DENIED pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 4. The clerk is DIRECTED to close this case. Signed by Judge Philip P Simon on 8/28/2017. (Copy mailed to pro se party)(lhc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
SOUTH BEND DIVISION
STEPHEN M. DEANE,
Petitioner,
vs.
SUPERINTENDENT,
Respondent.

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CAUSE NO. 3:17CV617-PPS

OPINION AND ORDER
Stephen M. Deane, a prisoner without an attorney, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging
the prison disciplinary hearing (ISP 17-06-163) where a Disciplinary Hearing Officer (DHO) found
him guilty of filing a frivolous claim in violation of B-243 and sanctioned him with the loss of 30
days earned credit time on June 22, 2017. Deane does not dispute that the LaPorte Circuit Court
dismissed his case and held that “[t]he Petitioner’s Claim is deemed frivolous under Ind. Code 3458-1-2(b).” Deane v. Neal, 46C01-1705-CT-873 (LaPorte Circuit Court June 9, 2017), available at
https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/#/vw/CaseSummary/eyJ2Ijp7IkNhc2VUb2tlbiI6Ik5UUXhNa
k15TnpFMU1qZ3dPall4TkRRMk5UY3lPV009In19.
Rather, Deane merely argues that prison officials should not have read the court order sent
to him by the LaPorte Circuit Court. This is incorrect. “[C]ommunications from courts [such as this
one] are public documents, which the prison officials have as much right to read as the prisoner . .
..” Guajardo-Palma v. Martinson, 622 F.3d 801, 804 (7th Cir. Wis. 2010) (citations omitted).
Indeed, that State court order is available on the internet at the web address above for anyone to read
and I have attached a copy to this order as an exhibit. Because reading that State court order is not

a basis for habeas corpus relief, the petition is DENIED pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus
Rule 4. The clerk is DIRECTED to close this case.
SO ORDERED.
ENTERED: August 28, 2017
/s/ Philip P. Simon
Judge
United States District Court

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6/9/2017 2:15 PM SCANNED

STATE OF INDIANA

IN THE LAPORTE CIRCUIT COURT

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COUNTY OF LAPORTE

CONTINUOUS TERM, 2017

STEPHEN DEANE, DOC #995424
Petitioner,

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Vs.

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SUPERINTENDENT RON‘NEAL,
INDIANA STATE PRISON

CAUSE NO. 46C01-1705-CT—873

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Defendant.

ORDER GRANTING REDUCTION OF FILING FEES AND
DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT

Fee Waiver

Plaintiff, STEPHEN DEANE, an offender confined in the Indiana State Prison, having
commenced a proceeding in this Court without having paid filing fees, and having submitted

with his pleadings

a

certified copy of his prison trust fund account statement for the six (6)

months proceeding his submission

of his petition, the Court, hereby FULLY WAIVES

Petitioner’s filing fees pursuant to Ind. Code

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33-37-3-3©.

Having considered Petitioner’s prison trust fund account statement in light of Ind. Code
33—37-3—3(c), the

Court HEREBY WAIVES the entire filing fee required to this Court.

Dismissal of Complaint
The Court, having reviewed Petitioner’s petition pursuant to Ind. Code 34-58-1-2, now

finds:
1.

The Petitioner’s Claim lacks an arguable basis in law and in fact.

2.

The Petitioner’s Claim is deemed frivolous under Ind. Code 34-58-1-2(b).

3.

The Petitioner’s Claim may not proceed under Ind. Code 34—58-1-2(a).

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6/9/2017 2:15 PM SCANNED

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Petitioner’s petition to is hereby DISMISSED.

so ORDERED on this the 9‘h day of June, 2017.

HON. THOMAS J. ALEVIZOS
Judge

CC:

Stephen Deane, #995424, Indiana State Prison,

File Clerk
rjo
//gor

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Park Row, Michigan City, IN 46360