Bohannon v. United States of America

Filing 31

ORDER DENYING 30 MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE RULING OR FOR RELEASE ON BOND AND HOLDING CASE IN ABEYANCE PENDING EN BANC DECISION IN STITT. Signed by Judge James D. Todd on 11/2/2016. (Todd, James)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
EASTERN DIVISION
TIMOTHY BOHANNON,
Movant,
VS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

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No. 13-1255-JDT-egb

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE RULING
OR FOR RELEASE ON BOND AND
HOLDING CASE IN ABEYANCE PENDING EN BANC DECISION IN STITT

On October 4, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated this Court’s
denial of Movant Timothy Bohannon’s motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and remanded for further
proceedings. Bohannon v. United States, No. 15-6420 (6th Cir. Oct. 4, 2016). The case concerns
Movant’s eligibility for relief under Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2351 (2015), and Mathis
v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 2243 (2016). On October 13, 2016, the Court conducted a status
conference. (ECF No. 26.) At that conference, the Government declined to concede that the
Movant is eligible for a sentence of time served, instead recommending that the Court hold the case
in abeyance pending the en banc decision in United States v. Stitt, 637 F. App’x 927 (6th Cir. 2016),
vacated and reh’g en banc granted, 2016 WL 1658598 (6th Cir. Apr. 27, 2016).
The Sixth Circuit issued its mandate on October 28, 2016. (ECF No. 28.) Movant promptly
filed a motion for an immediate ruling on his § 2255 motion or, in the alternative, for release on
bond. (ECF No. 30.) Movant points out that the Sixth Circuit did not, as it has done in similar

cases, direct that this matter be held in abeyance pending the ruling in Stitt. Therefore, he contends
it would be unfair to delay the proceeding.
While the Sixth Circuit did not explicitly state the case should be held in abeyance, it did
direct the Court to “consider the effect on Bohannon’s petition of Johnson, Mathis, and United
States v. Stitt.” The Court cannot consider the effect of Stitt on the petition until the en banc
decision is issued. Therefore, Movant’s motion for an immediate ruling is DENIED, and this case
is held in ABEYANCE until the Sixth Circuit rules en banc in Stitt.
The Movant’s alternative motion for release on bond is also DENIED. The Court has
reviewed Movant’s criminal file and the Presentence Investigation Report and concludes that bond
is not warranted in this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ James D. Todd
JAMES D. TODD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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