Walker v. Steele

Filing 18

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER:IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner Darold Walker's Petition under 28 U.S.C. §2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus By a Person in State Custody 1 is DENIED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion to Compel St ate of Missouri to Provide Entire Record 15 is DENIED as moot. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner's Request for an Evidentiary Hearing 16 isDENIED. IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that because Petitioner cannot make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, the Court will not issue a certificate of appealability. See 28U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Cox v. Norris, 133 F.3d 565, 569 (8th Cir. 1997). 15 MOTION to Compel filed by Petitioner Darold Walker, 1 PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Petitioner Darold Walker, 16 PRO SE MOTION filed by Petitioner Darold Walker. Signed by District Judge John A. Ross on 2/16/16. (KKS)

'+

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION

DAROLD WALKER,
Petitioner,
vs.
CINDY GRIFFITH, 1
Respondent.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Case No. 4:13-CV-182 JAR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Petitioner Darold Walker's Petition under 28 U.S.C. §
2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus By a Person in State Custody (Doc. No. 1) The Government
responded (Doc. No. 8) and Petitioner replied. (Doc. No. 12) For the following reasons,
Petitioner's Section 2254 petition is DENIED and this action is DISMISSED with prejudice.

I.

Background

In May 2007, Walker was charged, as a prior and persistent offender, with one count of
domestic assault in the first degree (Count 1) and armed criminal action (Count 2), or in the
alternative, domestic assault in the second degree (Count 3) and armed criminal action (Count 4).
On April 30, 2009, a jury found Walker guilty of domestic assault in the first·degree (Count 1),
and armed criminal action (Count 2). On June 5, 2009, the trial court sentenced Walker as a prior
and persistent offender to concurrent twenty-five terms for each of the convictions. (Resp. Exh. 6
at 1-12) The Court will address the specific facts of the case where necessary in the analysis
section.
1

Petitioner is incarcerated at the Potosi Correctional Center ("PCC") in Mineral Point, Missouri. (Doc. No.
1) Cindy Griffith is the current Warden and proper party respondent. Therefore, the Court will substitute
Cindy Griffith for the originally named Respondent. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254, Rule 2(a).

1

Walker filed a direct appeal, raising two claims:
1. The trial court erred in overruling defense counsel's objection to evidence of prior acts
of violence between Walker and victim because this evidence was not relevant to prove
Walker committed domestic assault in the first degree and armed criminal action and
was used to show Walker's propensity to commit the crimes for which he was on trial.
2. The trial court erred in finding that Walker is a prior domestic violence offender under
Section 565.063.1, RSMo., because the State failed to prove Walker pleaded guilty or
had been found guilty of one domestic assault offense that occurred within five years of
the occurrence of the domestic assault offense for which he was charged. As a result,
Walker is required to serve his twenty-:five year sentence for domestic assault in the
first degree, as a prior domestic violence offender having inflicted serious injury on the
victim, without probation or parole under Section 565.063.14, RSMo.
(Resp. Exh. 2 at 10-12) The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District affirmed Walker's
convictions, but modified the judgment to correct the finding of prior domestic violence offender
status to that of persistent domestic violence offender. State v. Walker, 318 S.W.3d 789, 793 (Mo.
Ct. App. 2010).
Walker filed a Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief, which was later amended by
counsel, raising two claims:
1. Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to use of the term "dangerous
instrument" in the second paragraph of instruction eight, the verdict director on count 2
of armed criminal action, because the instruction did not reflect the State's charge, the
State's evidence was that a gun, or "deadly weapon," was used in the domestic assault,
and the trial court's instruction on the use of a "dangerous instrument" permitted the
possibility of non-unanimous verdicts.
2. Appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to assert on appeal that the trial court erred
in denying movant's request for a mistrial, or alternative request to voir dire the jurors,
based on the sheriffs improper communication with the jury foreperson during
deliberations.
(Resp. Exh. 7 at 12-37) On August 18, 2011, the motion court denied Walker's motion without
an evidentiary hearing. (Id. at 38-43)
2

Walker raised both claims on appeal. (Resp. Exh. 4 at 19-21) On June 5, 2012, the
Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the motion court in a summary order, Walker
v. State, 375 S.W.3d 832 (Mo. Ct. App. 2012), supplemented by a memorandum, sent only to the
parties, setting forth the reasons for the decision. (Resp. Ex. 5)
On January 25, 2013, Walker filed this § 2254 Petition raising four grounds for relief:
1. The trial court abused its discretion and erred in overruling trial counsel's objection to
evidence of prior acts of violence between Walker and the victim because this
evidence was not "logically and legally relevant" to prove he committed domestic
assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. (Doc. No. 1 at 16)
2. The trial court erred in finding Walker to be a prior domestic violence offender
because the State failed to prove he pled guilty or had been found guilty of one
domestic assault offense that occurred within five years of the current charge of
domestic assault. (Id.)
3. The motion court erred in denying Walker's Rule 29.15 motion without an
evidentiary hearing because he pled facts demonstrating his trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to object to the inclusion of the words "dangerous instrument"
in the verdict director on Count 2 (armed criminal action).@.at 16-17)
4. The motion court erred in denying Walker's Rule 29.15 motion without an
evidentiary hearing because he pled facts demonstrating his appellate counsel was
ineffective for failing to assert that the trial court erred when it denied the request of
trial counsel to voir dire jurors regarding the sheriffs communication with them
during deliberation. (Id.)

II.

Standard of review

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, a district court "shall entertain an application for a writ of
habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on
the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United
States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). "[I]n a§ 2254 habeas corpus proceeding, a federal court's review of
alleged due process violations stemming from a state court conviction is narrow." Anderson v.
Goeke, 44 F.3d 675, 679 (8th Cir. 1995). "[A]n application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of
3

a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted with respect to
any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of
the claim (I) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application
of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2)
resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the .
evidence presented in the State court proceeding." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)." 'A state court's decision
is contrary to ... clearly established law if it applies a rule that contradicts the governing law set
forth in [Supreme Court] cases or if it confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable
·'1'-

from a [Supreme Court] decision ... and nevertheless arrives at a [different] result.' " Cagle v.
Norris, 474 F.3d 1090, 1095 (8th Cir. 2007) (quoting Mitchell v. Esparza, 540 U.S. 12, 15-16
(2003)). The Supreme Court has emphasized the phrase "Federal law, as determined by the
Supreme Court," refers to "the holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of this Court's decisions," and has
cautioned that § 2254(d)(l) "restricts the source of clearly established law to [the Supreme] Court's
jurisprudence." Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 412 (2000). A state court "unreasonably
applies" federal law when it "identifies the correct governing legal rule from [the Supreme] Court's
cases but unreasonably applies it to the facts of the particular state prisoner's case," or
"unreasonably extends a legal principle from [the Supreme Court's] precedent to a new context
where it should not apply or unreasonably refuses to extend that principle to a new context where it
should apply." Id. at 407. A State court decision may be considered an unreasonable determination
"only if it is shown that the state court's presumptively correct factual findings do not enjoy
support in the record." Ryan v. Glarke, 387 F.3d 785, 791 (8th Cir. 2004) (citing 28 U.S.C. §
2254(e)(l)). A state court's factual findings are presumed to be correct. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(l);
Wood v. Allen 558 U.S. 290 (2010). Review under§ 2254(d)(l) is limited to the record before the
state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits. Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011).
4

Clear and convincing evidence that state court factual findings lack evidentiary support is required
to grant habeas relief. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(l); Wood 558 U.S. at 293.

III.

Discussion

Ground 1
In Ground 1 of the instant petition, Walker claims the trial court erred in admitting
evidence of prior acts of violence between Walker and the victim, and 'specifically the victim's
videotaped deposition wherein she described prior acts of violence committed by Walker upon
her. Walker raised this claim on direct appeal of his conviction, arguing the evidence was not
relevant to prove he committed the crimes he was charged with and was used to prove his .
propensity to commit those crimes. The Missouri Court of Appeals considered this claim as
follows:
The trial court is vested with broad discretion in the admission or exclusion of evidence.
State v. Mabry, 285 S.W.3d 780, 785 (Mo. App. E.D. 2009). A trial court abuses its
discretion when its ruling is clearly against the logic of the circumstances and is so
arbitrary and unreasonable as· to shock the sense of justice and indicate a lack of careful
consideration. Id. This Court will not disturb the trial court's ruling absent a clear abuse of
that discretion and "the error was so prejudicial that it deprived the defendant of a fair
trial." State v. Thillman, 272 S.W.3d 489, 495 (Mo. App. E.D. 2008).
Evidence of a defendant's prior criminal acts is not admissible unless it has a legitimate
tendency to establish directly the defendant's guilt for the crime charged. State v. Vorhees,
248 S.W.3d 585, 587 (Mo. bane 2008). "[E]vidence of prior criminal acts may be
admissible for alternative purposes such as establishing motive, intent, absence of mistake
or accident, a common scheme or plan, or the identity of the person charged with the
commission of the crime on trial." Thurman. 272 S.W.3d at 495; Vorhees, 248 S.W.3d at
588. "Evidence of prior bad acts is also admissible if offered to rebut the [defendant's]
volunteered assertions from the stand that he or she has never been guilty of any
misconduct." Vorhees, 248 S.W.3d at 588 (internal citation omitted).
In this case, Victim's deposition was admitted to establish [Walker's] intentand to rebut his
claim that Victim's injuries were the result of a simple accident. [Walker] claimed Victim
fell accidentally, suffering her extensive injuries when she hit her head on a cabinet; he
testified he did not intend to hurt her. "In cases of murder or assault, prior misconduct by
5

:

-

the defendant toward the victim is logically relevant to show motive, intent, or absence of
mistake or accident." State v. Tolliver, 101 S.W.3d 313, 315 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003). The
trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Victim's deposition testimony since
[Walker] placed his intent at issue. Point denied.
Walker, 318 S.W.3d at 791-92.
The issue of admissibility of evidence is a state law question. Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S.
62, 67-68 (1991); Rousan v. Roper, 436 FJd 951, 958 (8th Cir. 2006). "Rulings on the admission
or exclusion of evidence in state trials rarely rise to the level of a federal constitutional violation."
Nebinger v. Ault, 208 F.3d 695, 697 (8th Cir. 2000) (citing Sweet v. Delo, 125 F.3d 1144, 1158
(8th Cir. 1997)). "A federal issue is raised only where trial errors infringe on a specific
constitutional protection or are so prejudicial as to amount to a denial of due process." Bucklew v.
Luebbers, 436 F.3d 1010, 1018 (8th Cir. 2006). ''No due process violation exists for the admission
of prior bad acts testimony unless it can be said that the testimony was 'so conspicuously
prejudicial or of such magnitude that it fatally infected the trial and deprived [defendant] of
fundamental fairness.' " McDaniel v. Lockhart 961 F.2d q58, 1360 (8th Cir.1992) (quoting
Hobbs v. Lockhart 791F.2d125, 128 (8th Cir. 1986)).
After reviewing the "totality of the facts in the case and the fairness of the whole trial,"
Harris v. Bowersox, 184 F.3d 744, 752 (8th Cir. 1999) (quoting McDaniel, 961 F.2d at 1360), the
Court concludes that Walker cannot establish that admission of the victim's videotaped deposition
describing his prior acts of violence towards her "fatally infected the trial" to such an extent that it
deprived him of"fundamental fairness." The decision of the Missouri Court of Appeals to uphold
the admission of the testimony regarding Walker's prior bad acts was not contrary to or an
unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(l). While
acknowledging that evidence of prior bad acts is generally not admissible unless it has a legitimate
tendency to establish directly the defendant's guilt for the crime charged, the Missouri appellate
6

court stated that such evidence may be admissible to establish intent or absence of mistake or
accident. Walker, 318 S.W.3d at 792. Walker placed his intent at issue by claiming the victim's
injuries were the result of an accident. Thus, the victim's deposition testimony was properly
admitted to rebut his claim. Moreover, there has been no showing of "conspicuous prejudice" on
the part of Walker. The jury had already been informed that Walker had prior convictions for
assault and felonious restraint and knew from the testimony of the victim and her uncle that there
was a history of problems between Walker and the victim, including a number of episodes of
violence or abuse. (See Resp. Exh. 1at324:4-6; 325 at 5-11)
Because the decision of the Missouri Court of Appeals was entirely supported by the
factual record and involved a reasonable application of federal law, Ground 1 is without merit and
will be denied.

Ground2
In Ground 2, Walker claims the trial court erred in finding him to be a prior domestic
violence offender. 2 Because Walker did not raise this issue in his motion for new trial, this point
was not preserved for appeal. However, because Walker alleged he was improperly sentenced as a
prior offender, the Missouri Court of Appeals exercised its discretion to review this unpreserved
point for plain error, and found Walker had been charged and sentenced properly as a persistent
domestic violence offender:

2

A prior domestic violence offender is "a person who has pleaded guilty to or has been found guilty of one
domestic assault offense, where such prior offense occurred within five years of the occurrence of the
domestic assault offense for which the person is charged." Section 565.063.1(4). A persistent domestic
violence offender is "a person who has pleaded guilty to or has been found guilty of two or more domestic
assault offenses, where such two or more offenses occurred within ten years of the occurrence of the
domestic assault offense for which the person is charged." Section 565.063.1(3).
Sentencing for either a persistent domestic violence offender or a prior domestic violence offender who
pleaded or was found guilty under Section 565.072 exposes that person to an enhancement of his or her
sentence to a class A felony. Section 565.063.14. Walker, 318 S.W.3d at 792-93, n. 2.

7

\
In this case, the charging document alleged [Walker] committed two prior domestic assault
felonies within the past ten years; neither offense occurred within the past five years.
Further, the record demonstrates [Walker's] persistent domestic violence offender status
was proven by the State at trial, including [Walker's] testimony at trial that he had two
convictions of domestic assault against Victim. Even though the word persistent was not
used in the charge, there was sufficient notice given to permit sentencing as a persistent
offender. See State v. Vann, 7 S.W.3d 407, 411 (Mo. App. W.D.1999).
The jury found [Walker] guilty of first-degree domestic assault, Section 565 .072. Section
565.063.14 authorized the trial court to impose a ''term of imprisonment for a class A
felony which term shall be served'without probation or parole if the court finds the offender
is a persistent domestic violence offender.... " The trial court appropriately sentenced
[Walker] pursuant to this statutory requirement even though the "prior domestic violence
offender" box on the judgment was checked.
Walker, 318 S.W.3d at 793. The Court further found Walker was not entitled to vacation of his
sentence and remand because he had failed to establish actual prejudice:
[Walker] fails to prove actual prejudice. His undisputed status as a prior and persistent
offender removed the opportunity for him to be sentenced by the jury. Further, the sentence
imposed by the trial court did not exceed the maximum punishment available for a class A
felony.
This Court may correct [Walker's] sentence rather than remanding the case for
resentencing. State v. Morris, 285 S.W.3d 407, 414 (Mo. App. E.D. 2009); Halk, 955
S.W.2d at 217. Accordingly, this Court will correct the judgment and sentence to reflect
[Walker's] status as a persistent domestic violence offender rather than a prior domestic
violence offender. Rule 30.23. [Walker's] second point is granted in part and denied in
part. The trial court's judgment is affirmed as modified.
Id. Because Walker's second claim has been addressed by the Missouri Court of Appeals, it will be
denied as moot.
Grounds 3 and 4
In Grounds 3 and 4, Walker challenges alleged errors by the post-conviction motion court.
In Ground 3, he claims the motion court erred in denying his Rule 29.15 motion without an
evidentiary hearing because he demonstrated that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
object to use of the term "dangerous instrument," rather than "deadly weapon," in the verdict
8

director for armed criminal action. In Ground 4, Walker claims the motion co,urt erred in denying
his Rule 29 .15 motion without an evidentiary hearing because he demonstrated that his appellate
counsel was ineffective for failing to argue on appeal that the trial court erred in denying his
request to voir dire jurors regarding the sheriffs communication with them during deliberation.
Walker raised these claims on appeal and these claims were denied.
Walker's claims of errors by the motion court fail to assert viable federal habeas claims.
Section 2254 only authorizes federal courts to review the constitutionality of a state criminal
conviction, not infirmities in a state post-conviction relief proceeding. See Gee v. Groose, 110
F.3d 1346, 1351-52 (8th Cir. 1997); Jolly v. Gammon, 28 F.3d 51, 54 (8th Cir. 1994); WilliamsBey v. Trickey. 894 F.2d 314, 317 (8th Cir. 1990); Mitchell v. Wyrick, 727 F.2d 773, 774 (8th Cir.
1984). Because there is no federal constitutional requirement that states provide a means of
post-conviction review of state convictions, errors or defects in a state post-conviction proceeding
do not raise a constitutional issue cognizable in a federal habeas petition. Williams v. State of
Missouri. 640 F .2d 140, 143 (8th Cir. 1981 ). Walker's claims of error by the motion court do not
constitute viable federal habeas claims and will therefore be denied.

IV.

Other pending motions

Petitioner's Motion to Compel State of Missouri to Provide Entire Record
Walker requests the Court order the State to provide the Court with the legal files for both
his direct appeal and post-conviction cases. (Doc. No. 15) In support of his motion, Walker
contends that both files contain information he feels is relevant for the Court's review of his case,
but has not pointed to any specific information that would support his claims for habeas relief. In
response to Walker's motion, Respondent has filed the direct appeal legal file, the post-conviction
relief legal file, and the post-conviction relief supplemental legal file (Resp. Exhs. 6, 7, 8) and
' mailed copies of these materials to Walker. Accordingly, Walker's motion will be denied as moot.
9

Petitioner's Request for an Evidentiary Hearing
Walker requests an evidentiary hearing on his two claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel. An evidentiary hearing on a habeas petition is mandatory only if a petitioner was denied a
"full and fair hearing in a state court, either at the time of the trial or in a collateral proceeding."
Townsend v. Sain 372 U.S. 293, 312 (1963). The Court need not hold an evidentiary hearing ifthe
petitioner fails to allege facts sufficient to justify habeas relief. Id. Upon careful consideration, the
Court has determined that Walker's claims do not entitle him to relief on any of the grounds
asserted in his petition. The Court concludes that no ground of the petition requires further
evidentiary development for its resolution. Furthermore, Walker fails to demonstrate that an
evidentiary hearing is warranted under the applicable standards set forth in 28 U.S.C. §
2254(e)(2). Thus, his request for an evidentiary hearing will be denied.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner Darold Walker's Petition under 28 U.S.C. §
2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus By a Person in State Custody [1] is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion to Compel State of Missouri to
Provide Entire Record [15] is DENIED as moot.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner's Request for an Evidentiary Hearing [ 16] is
DENIED.
IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that because Petitioner cannot make a substantial showing
of the denial of a constitutional right, the Court will not issue a certificate of appealability. See 28
U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Cox v. Norris, 133 F.3d 565, 569 (8th Cir. 1997).
A judgment dismissing this case is filed herewith.

Dated this 16th day of February, 2016.
10

A.ROSS
TED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

11