MCDAVID v. SMITH

Filing 12

Entry Denying Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Directing Entry of Final Judgment - The petition of Kenneth McDavid for a writ of habeas corpus challenges a prison disciplinary proceeding, ISF 15-08-0321, in which he was found guilty of threaten ing. For the reasons explained in this entry, Mr. McDavid's habeas petition must be denied. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue. The clerk shall update the docket to reflect Mr. McDavid's current address at the New Castle Correctional Facility. The clerk shall also update the respondent as Keith Butts, (Superintendent of the New Castle Correctional Facility). SEE ORDER. Copy sent to Petitioner via US Mail. Signed by Judge William T. Lawrence on 8/1/2017.(JRB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
TERRE HAUTE DIVISION

KENNETH MCDAVID,
Petitioner,
vs.
KEITH BUTTS,
Respondent.

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No. 2:16-cv-00193-WTL-DKL

Entry Denying Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
and Directing Entry of Final Judgment
The petition of Kenneth McDavid for a writ of habeas corpus challenges a prison
disciplinary proceeding, ISF 15-08-0321, in which he was found guilty of threatening. For the
reasons explained in this entry, Mr. McDavid’s habeas petition must be denied.
I. Overview
Prisoners in Indiana custody may not be deprived of credit time, Cochran v. Buss, 381
F.3d 637, 639 (7th Cir. 2004), or of credit-earning class, Montgomery v. Anderson, 262 F.3d 641,
644-45 (7th Cir. 2001), without due process. The due process requirement is satisfied with the
issuance of advance written notice of the charges, a limited opportunity to present evidence to an
impartial decision maker, a written statement articulating the reasons for the disciplinary action
and the evidence justifying it, and “some evidence in the record” to support the finding of guilt.
Superintendent, Mass. Corr. Inst. v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454 (1985); Wolff v. McDonnell, 418
U.S. 539, 570-71 (1974); Jones v. Cross, 637 F.3d 841, 845 (7th Cir. 2011); Piggie v. Cotton,
344 F.3d 674, 677 (7th Cir. 2003); Webb v. Anderson, 224 F.3d 649, 652 (7th Cir. 2000).

II. The Disciplinary Proceeding
On August 7, 2015, Lieutenant Criss wrote a Report of Conduct in case ISF 15-08-0321,
charging Mr. McDavid with offense B-213, threatening. The conduct report states:
On 8/7/2015 at approx. 1500 PM I Lt. R. Criss while talking to Offender Kenneth
McDavid #943202 was informed of the following. He stated that Sgt. Hardee was
in his eyes singling him out. He stated that he was going to get away from him if
he had to beat the hell out of him on his own. This was stated by Offender
McDavid #943202 on 3 separate occasions while I was talking to him. Offender
McDavid #943202 was identified by his state ID card and advised of this write
up.
Dkt. 11-1.
On August 13, 2015, Mr. McDavid was notified of the charge of threatening and served
with a copy of the Report of Conduct and a copy of the Notice of Disciplinary Hearing
“Screening Report.” Mr. McDavid was notified of his rights and pleaded not guilty. Dkt. 11-2.
He requested a lay advocate and one was appointed. Mr. McDavid did not request any physical
evidence, but he did request a witness statement from Offender S. Hendricks. Mr. McDavid later
waived his requested witness statement, so that statement was not obtained. Id.
On August 17, 2015, the Disciplinary Hearing Officer (DHO) held a disciplinary hearing
in case ISF 15-08-0321. Mr. McDavid pleaded not guilty and made the following statement: “I
was down at mental health trying to get help from them. I keep having trouble with him and
everything. I did say if he comes on to me I will have to protect myself.” Dkt. 11-5. The DHO
found Mr. McDavid guilty of offense B-213, threatening, based on the conduct report and Mr.
McDavid’s statement. Due to the seriousness of the offense and the degree to which it
endangered facility security, the DHO imposed the following sanctions: a written reprimand not
to threaten anyone, 30 days’ lost J-Pay privileges, 60 days’ lost earned credit time, and the
imposition of a previously suspended demotion from credit class I to credit class II. Id.

On August 20, 2015, Mr. McDavid appealed to the facility head, arguing only that he had
not threatened anyone but had merely relayed a story of the situation, to convey the feelings of
fear and insecurity he was experiencing. Dkt. 11-6. Respondent’s designee denied the appeal on
September 2, 2015. Mr. McDavid then appealed to the final reviewing authority for the Indiana
Department of Correction, who denied the appeal on January 12, 2016. Dkt. 11-7. This habeas
action followed.

III. Analysis
Mr. McDavid argues that his due process rights were violated during the disciplinary
proceeding. His claims are that 1) he was not making a threat, but simply telling a story; 2) Lt.
Criss, the reporting officer, violated the sanctity of the doctor/patient relationship by invading the
office where Mr. McDavid was having a private mental health appointment; 3) there was
insufficient evidence to find him guilty; and 4) he was punished for seeking protection from a
tormentor and thereby denied his constitutional right to be provided safe, secure housing. Dkt. 1,
pp. 2-3.
Claims 1 and 3 are construed as challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence. Mr.
McDavid was charged with and found guilty of offense B-213, threatening, which prohibits, in
part, “[c]ommunicating to another person a plan to physically harm, harass or intimidate that
person or someone else.” Indiana Dep’t of Corr., Adult Disciplinary Process Appendix I:
Offenses (June 1, 2015), available at www.in.gov/idoc/3265.htm.
“[A] hearing officer’s decision need only rest on ‘some evidence’ logically supporting it
and demonstrating that the result is not arbitrary.” Ellison v. Zatecky, 820 F.3d 271, 274 (7th Cir.
2016). The “some evidence” evidentiary standard in this type of case is much more lenient than
“beyond a reasonable doubt” or even “by a preponderance.” See Moffat v. Broyles, 288 F.3d 978,

981 (7th Cir. 2002) (hearing officer in prison disciplinary case “need not show culpability
beyond a reasonable doubt or credit exculpatory evidence.”); McPherson v. McBride, 188 F.3d
784, 786 (7th Cir. 1999) (“In reviewing a decision for ‘some evidence,’ courts are not required to
conduct an examination of the entire record, independently assess witness credibility, or weigh
the evidence, but only determine whether the prison disciplinary board’s decision to revoke good
time credits has some factual basis.”) (internal quotation omitted). “[T]he relevant question is
whether there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by the
disciplinary board.” Hill, 472 U.S. at 455-56.
The Report of Conduct supports a finding that Mr. McDavid communicated “to another
person a plan to physically harm … someone else,” when he stated that if he needed to, he would
“beat the hell out of” Sgt. Hardee. Dkt. 11-1. Mr. McDavid also admitted that if he needed to, he
would “protect himself.” Dkt. 11-5. The evidence was sufficient to find Mr. McDavid guilty of
threatening Sgt. Hardee.
The respondent argues that Mr. McDavid did not include in his appeal his second claim
about the doctor/patient relationship. This constitutes procedural default because the opportunity
to raise such a claim has passed. Procedural default caused by failure to exhaust administrative
review can be overcome if the petitioner shows cause and prejudice or shows that failure to
consider the claims will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice. Coleman v. Thompson,
501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991); Moffat v. Broyles, 288 F.3d 978, 982 (7th Cir. 2002). Mr. McDavid
has made no showing of cause and prejudice. Barksdale v. Lane, 957 F.2d 379, 385 (7th Cir.
1992) (“The Supreme Court has defined ‘cause’ as some external objective factor, such as
interference by officials or unavailability of the factual or legal basis for a claim, which impeded
compliance with the state’s procedural rule.”); see also Harris v. McAdory, 334 F.3d 665, 669

(7th Cir. 2003) (“it is well established in this Circuit that circumstances such as youth, lack of
education, and illiteracy are not external impediments within the context of excusing procedural
default”). Accordingly, Claim 2 is procedurally defaulted.
Mr. McDavid’s fourth claim invokes his constitutional right to safe and secure housing.
As noted, the Court’s scope of review in this habeas action extends only to limited due process
rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. Any claim alleging the failure to provide safe
conditions of confinement would arise under the Eighth Amendment and is outside the scope of
permissible claims in this case. If the petitioner wishes to assert a claim challenging the
conditions of his confinement, he must do so under the civil rights law, 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See
Glaus v. Anderson, 408 F.3d 382, 387-88 (7th Cir. 2005); Graham v. Broglin, 922 F.2d 379, 381
(7th Cir. 1991). Claim 4 is dismissed without prejudice.
Mr. McDavid was given proper notice and he had an opportunity to defend the charge.
The hearing officer provided a written statement of the reasons for the finding of guilt and
described the evidence that was considered. There was sufficient evidence in the record to
support the finding of guilt. Under these circumstances, there were no violations of Mr.
McDavid’s due process rights.

IV. Conclusion
“The touchstone of due process is protection of the individual against arbitrary action of
the government.” Wolff, 418 U.S. at 558. There was no arbitrary action in any aspect of the
charge, disciplinary proceedings, or sanctions involved in the events identified in this action, and
there was no constitutional infirmity in the proceedings. Accordingly, Mr. McDavid’s petition
for a writ of habeas corpus must be denied and the action dismissed. Judgment consistent with
this Entry shall now issue.

The clerk shall update the docket to reflect Mr. McDavid’s current address at the New
Castle Correctional Facility. The clerk shall also update the respondent as Keith Butts,
(Superintendent of the New Castle Correctional Facility).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: 8/1/2017

_______________________________
Hon. William T. Lawrence, Judge
United States District Court
Southern District of Indiana

Distribution:
Electronically registered counsel
KENNETH MCDAVID
943202
New Castle Correctional Facility
Inmate Mail/Parcels
1000 Van Nuys Road
P. O. Box E
New Castle, IN 47362

NOTE TO CLERK: PROCESSING THIS DOCUMENT REQUIRES ACTIONS IN ADDITION TO DOCKETING AND DISTRIBUTION.