Hutchinson, Jr. v. Box

Filing 6

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Gale Corbett Hutchinson, Jr. be denied without prejudice for failure to exhaust state habeas corpus remedies. Signed by Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush on 06/30/2011. (lhj, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SHERMAN DIVISION

GALE CORBETT HUTCHINSON, JR.
#135873

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VS.

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SHERIFF, COLLIN COUNTY

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:11cv394
Consolidated with
CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:11cv401
through 4:11cv406

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Petitioner, a prisoner currently confined in the Collin County Detention Facility in
McKinney, Texas, brings these pro se petitions for a writ of habeas corpus challenging his
confinement pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. The petitions were referred for findings of fact,
conclusions of law, and recommendations for disposition of the case.
Background
Petitioner is complaining about seven Collin County criminal proceedings that are
pending against him, asserting that he is being unlawfully confined, Cause Number 380-8002909, 380-80415-09, 380-81555-09, 380-81556-09, 380-81557-09, 380-80871-10, and 380-8179410. In his petition with this Court, Petitioner complains that he made a statement to Collin
County District Attorney authorities in violation of his 6th and 14th amendment rights. He claims
that he did not read or understand the statement that he signed on the advice of his attorney. He
also claims that he executed a document agreeing to probation for two years. Petitioner claims
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that his bonds were unlawfully held insufficient. He states that, while acting as an informant for
the United States government, he relied on the advice of his attorney, whom he has now
discovered has perpetrated fraud upon the courts. He also states that his attorney made a
statement as to his guilt, “prejudicing Petitioner’s right to a fair trial.” Petitioner states that he
refused to give information to the Collin County Assistant District Attorney concerning the
various federal investigations in which he was involved. A review of the Collin County Judicial
Records website reveals that his charges there are still pending. Further, a review of the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals Records website reveals that Petitioner’s two motions for leave to file
an original application for a writ of habeas corpus in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals were
denied on March 30, 2011, and May 11, 2011.

A denial of a motion for leave to file is not a

ruling on the merits of a writ of habeas corpus. The proper procedures for pre-trial habeas corpus
petitions can be found in articles 11.08, 11.10, et seq. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
Exhaustion of State Remedies
A state prisoner must exhaust all remedies available in state court before proceeding in
federal court unless circumstances exist which render the state corrective process ineffective to
protect the prisoner's rights. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), ( c). In order to exhaust properly, he must
“fairly present” all of his claims to the state court. Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 275, 92 S.
Ct. 509, 512, 30 L. Ed.2d 438 (1971). In Texas, all claims must be presented to and ruled on
by the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas. Richardson v. Procunier, 762 F.2d 429, 430-31 (5th
Cir. 1985); Deters v. Collins, 985 F.2d 789 (5th Cir. 1993). It should be noted that a federal
habeas corpus petitioner fails to exhaust his state remedies when he relies on a different legal

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theory than that presented in state court, or when he makes the same legal claim to a federal
court, but supports the claim with factual allegations that he did not present to the state courts.
Dispensa v. Lynaugh, 847 F.2d 211, 217 (5th Cir. 1987).
Federal courts may not consider pre-trial habeas corpus petitions from state prisoners
unless all available state habeas corpus procedures have been exhausted. See Dickerson v.
Louisiana, 816 F.2d 220, 225 (5th Cir. 1987). Furthermore, even if state procedures have been
exhausted, habeas corpus relief will not be available absent “special circumstances.” Braden v.
30th Judicial Circuit Court of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484, 489, 93 S. Ct. 1123, 1127, 35 L. Ed.2d
443 (1973).
In the present case, Petitioner has not exhausted his state habeas court remedies. The Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals has held that in a pretrial application for a writ of habeas corpus, federal
courts must abstain from the exercise of jurisdiction if the issues raised in the petition may be
resolved either by a trial on the merits in state court or by other state procedures available to the
petitioner. Dickerson, 816 F.2d at 225. Even if Petitioner had exhausted all of his state pre-trial
habeas corpus remedies, relief should be denied because the claims raised by him do not
constitute “special circumstances” warranting federal pre-trial habeas corpus relief. Id., at 229.
Consequently, the petitions should be dismissed for failure to exhaust.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the above-styled petitions for writ of habeas corpus be denied
without prejudice for failure to exhaust state habeas corpus remedies.
Within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the magistrate judge's report, any party may

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serve and file written objections to the findings and recommendations contained in the report.
A party's failure to file written objections to the findings, conclusions and
recommendations contained in this Report within fourteen days after being served with a copy
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shall bar that party from de novo review by the district judge of those findings, conclusions and
recommendations and, except on grounds of plain error, from appellate review of unobjected-to
factual findings and legal conclusions accepted and adopted by the district court. Douglass v.
United Servs. Auto Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1430 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc).
SIGNED this 30th day of June, 2011.
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DON D. BUSH
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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