Johnston v. State of Missouri

Filing 10

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED withoutprejudice. An Order of Dismissal will be filed with this Memorandum and Order.. Signed by Honorable Henry E. Autrey on 1/24/12. (CEL)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
RUSSELL W. JOHNSTON,
Petitioner,
v.
PENNY MILBURN,
Respondent.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

No. 4:11CV2197 HEA

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on its own motion. The Court previously
ordered petitioner to show cause why his petition should not be dismissed without
prejudice for failure to exhaust available state remedies. Petitioner has responded,
but he has failed to demonstrate why the petition should not be dismissed. As a
result, the Court will summarily dismiss the petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254,
Rule 4.
Petitioner pled guilty in two separate criminal actions to forgery and felonious
restraint.1 Petitioner received prison sentences of seven years and four years,
respectively, with the sentences to be served consecutively. Petitioner did not appeal.

1

State v. Johnston, No. 07E9-CR00482-01 (42nd Judicial Circuit, Iron County)
(forgery); State v. Johnston, No. 08E9-CR00079-01 (42nd Judicial Circuit, Iron
County) (restraint).

Petitioner filed a single Rule 24.035 motion for both convictions.2 After a hearing,
the postconviction court ordered that petitioner be resentenced. On November 16,
2010, petitioner was given amended sentences of six years and three years, to be
served consecutively. Petitioner did not appeal. On June 10, 2011, petitioner filed
a second Rule 24.035 motion challenging the amended sentences.3 The court granted
petitioner leave to proceed in forma pauperis and appointed counsel for petitioner.
The case is currently in progress.
Petitioner filed the instant petition on December 12, 2011, which is the date it
was received by the prison mail system. Petitioner is currently incarcerated at the
Southeast Correctional Center, where Penny Milburn is the Acting Warden.
Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases in the United States District
Courts provides that a district court shall summarily dismiss a § 2254 petition if it
plainly appears that the petitioner is not entitled to relief.
In the absence of exceptional circumstances, a state prisoner must exhaust
currently available and adequate state remedies before invoking federal habeas corpus
jurisdiction. Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484 (1973).
Petitioner has not exhausted available state remedies because he has a motion for
postconviction relief pending before the state court and the state court has accepted
2

Johnson v. State, No. 08IR-CC00045 (42nd Judicial Circuit, Iron County).

3

Johnson v. State, No. 11IR-CC00032 (42nd Judicial Circuit, Iron County).
-2-

the motion for review. As a result, the Court will dismiss the petition without
prejudice to refiling once state remedies are exhausted.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED without
prejudice.
An Order of Dismissal will be filed with this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 24th day of January, 2012.

HENRY EDWARD AUTREY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

-3-