Stouth v. Merlak

Filing 7

Memorandum of Opinion granting petitioner's Motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Related Doc # 3 ), the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is denied and this action is dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Further, the Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915(a)(3), that an appeal from this decision could not be taken in good faith. Judge Donald C. Nugent 3/13/17(C,KA)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
RUBEN A. STOUTH,
Petitioner,
v.
WARDEN MERLAK,
Respondent.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

CASE NO. 4:16 CV 3064
JUDGE DONALD C. NUGENT

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION

Pro se Petitioner Ruben A. Stouth filed the above-captioned Petition for a Writ of Habeas
Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Stouth was convicted in 2015 in the District of New Jersey on one
count of selling, distributing, or dispensing a controlled substance (heroin). He was originally
incarcerated in USP Lewisburg and was accepted into the Residential Drug Abuse Program
(“RDAP”) at that facility. Stouth received a conduct charge for threatening another inmate in a
group session of the RDAP, and was sanctioned with loss of good time credits, placement in
disciplinary segregation for 30 days, and loss of privileges for 2 years. Stouth disputes the results
of the disciplinary hearing, claiming the other inmate fabricated the incident. He is now incarcerated
in FCI Elkton. He asks this Court to conduct an independent investigation into the incident at USP
Lewisburg, and either vacate the decision of the Disciplinary Hearing Officer, or reduce his
sanctions.

Petitioner also filed an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 3). That
Application is granted.
Factual and Procedural Background
On Thursday, January 21, 2016, Petitioner attended an RDAP community feedback session.
When it was Petitioner’s turn for feedback, Inmate Rojas took the microphone from Petitioner and
gave it to Inmate Lugo-Perez, depriving Petitioner of an opportunity to speak. The following day,
Friday, January 22, 2016, Petitioner “pull[ed] up” inmate Rojas for the microphone incident. (ECF
No. 1-1 at Page ID#: 16). Petitioner does not explain what a “pull up” is, but from the context of
the allegations, it appears to be a way of bringing a conflict between two inmates to the attention of
the group in an attempt to resolve it amicably. On Monday, January 25, Inmate Lugo-Perez pulled
Petitioner up regarding water left on the toilet seat. Petitioner believed the pull up to be in
retaliation for his pull up of Rojas, who is a friend of Lugo-Perez. Petitioner told the group he would
not accept the pull up and accused Lugo-Perez of lying to support Rojas. After the session, the Drug
Treatment Staff took Petitioner aside and told him pull ups were part of the program and if he
refused to accept another one, he would receive a modification for reprogramming. He indicates he
was assured that the group was a safe environment in which to discuss conflict and no one would
be sanctioned for participating in these discussions.
On Tuesday, January 26, 2016, Lugo-Perez pulled up Petitioner for allegedly threatening to
kill Lugo-Perez and his family. The RDAP staff member, Dr. Ramirez, reported that Petitioner
stated “I accept your pull up. I did threaten to harm you and kill your family.” (ECF No. 1-1 at
Page ID#: 10). A revision of the incident report indicates Petitioner added, “I shouldn’t have done
that...I am sorry.” (ECF No. 1-1 at Page ID#: 11). Petitioner states he accepted the pull up but

-2-

claims he did not threaten to harm Lugo-Perez or his family. He contends that English is not his first
language, and the way he pronounced the word “didn’t” sounded like “did it.” He denies
apologizing for the action and claims he barely knew Lugo-Perez. Thirty minutes later, Petitioner
was detained and taken to segregation for transport to another facility. He states Dr. Ramirez did
not allow him to explain the situation prior to having him sent to segregation.
Petitioner lists several problems with his conduct report and his disciplinary hearing. He
contends the date of the incident is listed as the date of the pull up, not the date in which the threat
was allegedly made. He contends the reporting officer did not see the alleged threat take place.
Petitioner submitted nine written statements from other inmates as well as his own verbal account
of the incident. He indicates the Disciplinary Hearing Officer (“DHO”) did not adequately evaluate
the evidence as requested, did not question witnesses appropriately, misunderstood his statements,
and did not follow procedures. He contends the inmate handbook provides the DHO with 5 work
days to issue the conduct report. He states that the initial incident report was timely; however, the
amended report issued on February 3, 2016 was beyond the time limitation. He also states that the
inmate handbook gives the Unit Disciplinary Committee one day to issue the decision but they took
five days to issue his decision. He maintains his innocence of the conduct in question, and indicates
the sanctions imposed on him are harsh.
Standard of Review
Writs of habeas corpus “may be granted by the Supreme Court, any justice thereof, the
district courts and any circuit judge within their respective jurisdictions.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a).
Section 2241 “is an affirmative grant of power to federal courts to issue writs of habeas corpus to
prisoners being held ‘in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.’” Rice

-3-

v. White, 660 F.3d 242, 249 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting Section 2241(c)). Because Petitioner is
appearing pro se, the allegations in his Petition must be construed in his favor, and his pleadings are
held to a less stringent standard than those prepared by counsel. Urbina v. Thoms, 270 F.3d 292,
295 (6th Cir. 2001). However, this Court may dismiss the Petition at any time, or make any such
disposition as law and justice require, if it determines the Petition fails to establish adequate grounds
for relief. Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 775 (1987); see also Allen v. Perini, 424 F.2d 134,
141 (6th Cir. 1970) (holding district courts have a duty to “screen out” petitions lacking merit on
their face under Section 2243).
Analysis
The Court’s ability to review prison disciplinary proceedings is limited. District courts have
no authority to review a disciplinary committee’s resolution of factual disputes, or to make a
redetermination of an inmate’s innocence or guilt. Superintendent, Massachusetts Correctional
Institution at Wolpole v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455 (1985). The only question for the Court to
determine is whether the hearing complied with the basic requirements needed to satisfy due
process. The standard is not a difficult one to meet. To comply with the requirements of the Due
Process Clause, prison officials need only provide a prisoner facing loss of good time credits with:
(1) a written notice of the charges at least 24 hours prior to any hearing, (2) an opportunity to call
witnesses and present documentary evidence in his defense when permitting him to do so will not
be unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals, and (3) a written statement by the
fact-finders as to the evidence relied on and the reasons for the disciplinary action. Wolff v.
McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 564-66 (1972). Prisoners do not have a due process right of confrontation
and cross-examination, or a right to counsel, in prison disciplinary proceedings. Id. at 569-70.

-4-

Furthermore, due process requires only that disciplinary findings resulting in the loss of good
time credits be supported by “some evidence” in the record. Superintendent, Massachusetts
Correctional Institution at Wolpole, 472 U.S. at 454-56. This standard is satisfied where “there is
any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by the disciplinary board.” Id.
The DHO is not required to base findings on overwhelming or irrefutable proof of guilt. Even where
the evidence is contradictory or partially exculpatory, a DHO may base a finding of guilt on only
“some evidence” that indicates the prisoner is guilty. Id. at 457.
In this case, Petitioner attacks both the process and the result of the disciplinary hearing. To
the extent he challenges the disciplinary process, he fails to allege sufficient facts to suggest he was
denied due process. He was provided written notice of the charges more than 25 hours in advance
of the hearing. He called witnesses and submitted numerous witness statements, and was provided
with a lengthy written statement of the evidence upon which the Disciplinary Committee relied, an
explanation of the reasons for giving some statements more evidentiary weight than others, and an
explanation of the reasons for each of the sanction. Moreover, there is some evidence to support the
finding of guilt. That is all that due process requires. To the extent Petitioner disputes the
Disciplinary Committee’s resolution, he fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
This Court cannot conduct an independent investigation or question the result of a prison
disciplinary hearing. Superintendent, Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Wolpole, 472 U.S.
at 455.
Conclusion
Accordingly, Petitioner’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 3) is granted,
the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is denied and this action is

-5-

dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Further, the Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§1915(a)(3), that an appeal from this decision could not be taken in good faith.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/Donald C. Nugent
DONALD C. NUGENT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: __March 13, 2017_____

-6-