McKoy v. Fox

Filing 36

MEMORANDUM ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION that this petition for writ of habeas corpus be denied. Signed by Judge Marcia A. Crone on 1/2/13. (mrp, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

STERLING J. MCKOY,
Petitioner,
versus
JON B. FOX,
Respondent.

EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:09-CV-892

MEMORANDUM ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING
THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Petitioner, Sterling J. McKoy, an inmate formerly confined at USP Beaumont, proceeding
pro se, filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
The Court referred this matter to the Honorable Keith F. Giblin, United States Magistrate
Judge, at Beaumont, Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of this Court.
The Magistrate Judge recommends this petition for writ of habeas corpus be denied.
The Court has received and considered the Report and Recommendation of United States
Magistrate Judge filed pursuant to such referral, along with the record, and pleadings. Petitioner
filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation. This requires a de novo
review of the objections in relation to the pleadings and the applicable law. See FED . R. CIV . P.
72(b).
As the Magistrate Judge correctly concluded, failure to follow institutional rules and
regulations, standing alone, does not constitute a violation of petitioner’s due process rights. See
Murphy v. Collins, 26 F.3d 541, 543 (5th Cir. 1994). “A prison officials failure to follow the
prison’s own policies, procedures or regulations does not constitute a violation of due process, if

constitutional minima are nevertheless met.” Myers v. Klevenhagen, 97 F.3d 91, 94 (5th Cir.
1996). As the Wolff requirements were met in this case, this claim is without merit.
Finally, in reviewing administrative actions where a liberty interest is implicated, the Court
must uphold administrative decisions unless they are arbitrary and capricious. Stewart v. Thigpen,
730 F.2d 1002, 1005 (5th Cir. 1984). Federal Courts will not review a disciplinary hearing
officer’s factual findings de novo; instead the courts will only consider whether the decision is
supported by “some facts” or by “a modicum of evidence.” Superintendent, Massachusetts
Correctional Institution v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454-55, 105 S.Ct. 2768, 86 L.Ed.2d 356 (1985);
Gibbs v. King, 779 F.2d 1040, 1046 (5th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1117, 106 S.Ct.
1975, 90 L.Ed.2d 659 (1986). “Prison disciplinary proceedings are overturned only where no
evidence in the record supports the decision.” Broussard v. Johnson, 253 F.3d 874, 877 (5th Cir.
2001). In this case, there was some evidence to support the factual findings of the disciplinary
hearing officer. As outlined in the Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate
Judge, the hearing officer stated he relied upon the reporting officer’s eyewitness statement and
observations and found them more credible that petitioner’s defense. The hearing officer’s
determination appears to be a reasonable conclusion of the evidence presented. The Court finds
that the hearing was not arbitrary and capricious and this credibility determination will not be
disturbed.
ORDER
Accordingly, petitioner’s objections are OVERRULED.

The findings of fact and

conclusions of law of the Magistrate Judge are correct, and the report of the Magistrate Judge is

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ADOPTED. A final judgment will be entered in this case in accordance with the Magistrate
Judge’s recommendation.
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SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 7th day of September, 2004.

SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 2nd day of January, 2013.

________________________________________
MARCIA A. CRONE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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