Jones v. Taskila

Filing 4

OPINION and ORDER Dismissing Petitioner's 1 Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, Declining to Issue a Certificate of Appealability, and Denying Leave to Appeal In Forma Pauperis. Signed by District Judge Bernard A. Friedman. (JCur)

Case 2:20-cv-12312-BAF-APP ECF No. 4 filed 09/10/20

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
TIMOTHY T. JONES,
#165747,
Civil Action No. 20-CV-12312
Petitioner,
HON. BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN
vs.
KRIS TASKILA,
Respondent.
___________________/
OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING PETITIONER’S APPLICATION FOR
A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, DECLINING TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF
APPEALABILITY, AND DENYING LEAVE TO APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS
Petitioner in this matter seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
2254. For the reasons stated below, the Court shall dismiss the petition because it is duplicative
of a pending habeas petition that challenges the same convictions.
On January 16, 2018, petitioner was convicted of aggravated stalking in Wayne
County Circuit Court (Case No. 17008365-01-FH). On April 12, 2018, he was convicted of
another charge of aggravated stalking in that court (Case No. 17008367-01-FH).
On May 27, 2020, petitioner filed a habeas petition in this Court, challenging both
state-court convictions and sentences, see Jones v. Taskila, No. 4:20-CV-11476 (E.D. Mich.)
(Leitman, J.), raising the following issues:
I. I was never served with a[n] oral PPO, nor was I served
physically with a PPO.
II. I had requested for a new trial due to ineffective assistance of
counsel. . . . I had also requested a blind draw for a new judge . .
. [be]cause Judge Vonda R. Evans was far too combative and she
demonstrated hostility toward me.

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III. On 1/10/2019, a motion for remand was filed with the
Michigan Court of Appeals [because] I was never served with a
PPO . . . cell phone records can provide evidence that I was never
orally served . . . [and] the victim has also set me up . . . under the
directions of the police.
IV. The Courts didn't grant me the 246 days of jail time credit as
documented on the transcripts.
Id. (docket entry 1). Petitioner then filed an amended habeas petition in 4:20-CV-11476, raising
the following claims:
I. Ineffective assistance of counsel; blind draw for a new judge.
II. Insufficient evidence; mistrial of evidence.
III. The victim had set me up under the directions of the police.
IV. On 4/11/2018 and on 4/12/2018 the courts ran a jury trial
without my presence.
Id. (docket entry 3). Additionally, petitioner alleges that he was improperly denied credit for
time served pending the imposition of sentence in the second case.
The Court shall dismiss the instant petition because it is duplicative of petitioner’s
pending habeas action in 4:20-CV-11476. A suit is duplicative, and subject to dismissal, if the
claims, parties, and available relief do not significantly differ between the two actions. See
Davis v. U.S. Parole Comm'n, 870 F.2d 657 (Table), 1989 WL 25837, at *1 (6th Cir. Mar. 7,
1989) (dismissal appropriate if the instant petition is essentially the same as the earlier petition);
Warren v. Booker, No. 06-CV-14462-DT, 2006 WL 3104696, at *1 (E.D. Mich. Oct. 31, 2006)
(same). The instant petition and the amended petition before Judge Leitman are duplicative.
Accordingly,

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IT IS ORDERED that the petition in this matter is dismissed.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no certificate of appealability shall issue.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that petitioner may not proceed on appeal in forma
pauperis because any appeal would be frivolous.

s/Bernard A. Friedman
Bernard A. Friedman
Senior United States District Judge

Dated: September 10, 2020
Detroit, Michigan

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies that the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record and any
unrepresented parties via the Court's ECF System to their respective email or First Class U.S. mail addresses
disclosed on the Notice of Electronic Filing on September 10, 2020.
Timothy Jones, #165747
Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility
13924 Wadaga Road
Baraga, MI 49908

s/Johnetta M. Curry-Williams
Case Manager

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