Glover v. USA

Filing 2

ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (ECF No. 39 filed in case 3:12-cr-0042) is DENIED. Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 7/23/2014. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - DRM)

1
2
3
4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

5

DISTRICT OF NEVADA

6
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
7
Plaintiff,
8
vs.
9
EDELL GLOVER,
10
Defendant.
11
12

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

3:12-cr-00042-RCJ-WGC
ORDER

Petitioner Edell Glover pled guilty in this Court to a single count of Possession with

13

Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1),

14

(b)(1)(A)(viii). (See J., Jan. 15, 2013, ECF No. 36; Plea Mem., July 23, 2012, ECF No. 28).

15

Upon the United States’ motion, the Court dismissed three other charges for possession with

16

intent to distribute cocaine powder, cocaine base, and heroin. Petitioner disputed the United

17

States’ requested sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for possession of a

18

dangerous weapon. The Court applied the enhancement and sentenced Defendant to 180 months

19

imprisonment, with five years of supervised release to follow. (See J. 2–3).

20

Pending before the Court is a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

21

§ 2255 (ECF No. 39). Defendant argues therein that the Court improperly enhanced his sentence

22

based upon his possession of a firearm during commission of the offense. The Court finds that

23

the Petition is untimely under 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(1).

24
25

In most circumstances, the statute of limitations under § 2255 begins to run
on “the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255[f](1). Section 2255 does not define “final.” The Supreme Court has held that

1
2
3
4
5
6

a conviction is final in the context of habeas review when “a judgment of conviction
has been rendered, the availability of appeal exhausted, and the time for a petition for
certiorari elapsed or a petition for certiorari finally denied.” Griffith v. Kentucky, 479
U.S. 314, 321 n. 6, 107 S. Ct. 708, 93 L. Ed.2d 649 (1987). Guided by the Supreme
Court’s definition of finality, we have adopted, for § 2255 purposes, the definition
of finality set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1) which is applicable to state prisoners
seeking federal habeas relief. See United States v. Garcia, 210 F.3d 1058, 1060 (9th
Cir. 2000). Thus, as to Schwartz, and except for the grace period of the AEDPA, the
statute of limitations within which she had to file her § 2255 motion began to run
upon the expiration of the time during which she could have sought review by direct
appeal. Id.

7

United States v. Schwartz, 274 F.3d 1220, 1223 (9th Cir. 2001). The present Petition was filed

8

more than a year after the Judgment was entered. Because Petitioner had waived his right to

9

appeal (except for ineffective assistance of counsel), (see Plea Mem. ¶ 11), the judgment was

10

final the moment it was entered as to other kinds of claims. Even if Petitioner had not waived his

11

right to appeal, or if the ability to appeal based on ineffective assistance of counsel made the last

12

day to bring such an appeal the date of finality for all purposes, the last day to appeal would have

13

been January 29, 2014, see Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A), which was nearly five months before

14

Petitioner filed the present Petition.

15

Petitioner argues that the one-year limitations period should not apply because he alleges

16

actual innocence. Actual innocence can excuse operation of the statute of limitations.

17

McQuiggin v. Perkins, 133 S. Ct. 1924, 1928 (2013). “‘[A] petitioner does not meet the

18

threshold requirement unless he persuades the district court that, in light of the new evidence, no

19

juror, acting reasonably, would have voted to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id.

20

(quoting Schlup v. Delo, 515 U.S. 298, 329 (1995)). “‘[A]ctual innocence’ means factual

21

innocence, not mere legal insufficiency.” Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. 614, 623 (1998).

22

But except where a sentencing factor results in the death penalty, the actual innocence exception

23

permitting a prisoner to invoke § 2241 to avoid the strictures of § 2255 requires a claim of actual

24

innocence of the underlying offense of conviction, not merely actual innocence of a sentencing

25

Page 2 of 3

1

modifier. Marrero v. Ives, 682 F.3d 1190, 1192–94 (9th Cir. 2012). Petitioner does not claim

2

actual innocence of the underlying offense.

3

Finally, even if the Petition were timely or its untimeliness excused under the actual

4

innocence doctrine, Petitioner waived the right to challenge any sentencing enhancements via

5

habeas corpus petition or otherwise. (See Plea Mem. ¶ 11).

6
7
8

CONCLUSION
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2255 (ECF No. 39) is DENIED.

9

IT IS SO ORDERED.

10

Dated this 23rd day of July, 2014.
Dated this 26th day of June, 2014.

11
12

___________________________________
ROBERT C. JONES
United States District Judge

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Page 3 of 3