Jones v. Westville Prison Facility et al

Filing 3

OPINION AND ORDER: The Court DISMISSES this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A because it is frivolous. Signed by Judge Jon E DeGuilio on 12/6/2017. (lhc) Modified on 12/6/2017 cc: Plaintiff (lhc).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
SOUTH BEND DIVISION
RALPH JONES,
Plaintiff,
v.
WESTVILLE PRISON FACILITY, et al.,
Defendants.

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CAUSE NO. 3:17-CV-905-JD-MGG

OPINION AND ORDER
Ralph Jones, a prisoner without a lawyer, is an inmate at Westville Correctional Facility.
He has filed a complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against correctional officers at Westville
Correctional Facility and Pendleton Correctional Facility. (ECF 1.) Jones makes many implausible
allegations in his complaint. Jones alleges that he was tortured through “virtual reality” at
Pendleton Correctional Facility and that the torture has continued after his transfer to Westville
Correctional Facility. He claims that he has “turned in virtual evidence to nurses,” including “a
full virtual image wrapped in a sheet and placed in a tortilla shell bag,” which was “moving [and
had] air pressure.” He claims that he has other evidence, which consists of “over 100 items in bags
and bottles in a laundry bag in his cell” as well as pressure gauges and slide gauges. He seeks
money damages, a transfer, and criminal charges against correctional officers.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, this court is required to review cases filed by prisoners and
must dismiss claims if they are frivolous or malicious or if they fail to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted. Claims may be dismissed as factually frivolous if they are “clearly baseless,”
“fanciful,” “fantastic,” “delusional,” “irrational,” or “wholly incredible.” Denton v. Hernandez,
504 U.S. 25, 32–33 (1992); Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Gladney v. Pendleton

Correctional Facility, 302 F.3d 773, 774 (7th Cir. 2002). Jones’ allegations about correctional
officers using virtual reality as torture are factually frivolous, warranting dismissal of the
complaint.
For these reasons, the court DISMISSES this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A because
it is frivolous.
SO ORDERED.
ENTERED: December 6, 2017
/s/ JON E. DEGUILIO
Judge
United States District Court

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