Graves v. Brown

Filing 14

ORDER OF DISMISSAL ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE for 10 Report and Recommendations. ORDERED that the complaint is DISMISSED with prejudice pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). All motions not previously ruled on are hereby DENIED. Signed by Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on 7/18/2017. (daj, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SHERMAN DIVISION
MARVIN W. GRAVES, #1709000
VS.
JOSEPH D. BROWN

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:17cv400

ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Plaintiff Marvin W. Graves, an inmate confined in the Texas prison system, proceeding pro
se and in forma pauperis, brings this civil rights lawsuit against Grayson County District Attorney
Joseph D. Brown. The cause of action was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Kimberly C.
Priest Johnson, who issued a Report and Recommendation concluding that the complaint should be
dismissed as frivolous. Plaintiff has filed objections.
Plaintiff alleges that Brown tampered with a State witness. More specifically, he dropped a
D.W.I. charge against the witness in exchange for her testimony. He claims that she committed
perjury. In both his complaint and objections, he states that he wants Brown investigated for
tampering with the witness.
The Report and Recommendation correctly observed that Plaintiff is bringing the wrong type
of lawsuit. The Supreme Court has held that a plaintiff who brings a civil rights action under § 1983
for actions whose unlawfulness would render a conviction invalid must first prove that the
conviction or sentence has been reversed, expunged, invalidated, or otherwise called into question.
Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994).
Plaintiff’s claim is habeas in nature. The Supreme Court has clearly specified that the
“deliberate deception of a court and jurors by the presentation of known false evidence is incompatible
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with ‘rudimentary demands of justice.’” Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 153 (1972) (citations
omitted). In order to succeed in a habeas case, a petitioner must demonstrate: (1) that the testimony
in question was actually false, (2) that the prosecutor was aware of the perjury, and (3) that the
testimony was material. Faulder v. Johnson, 81 F.3d 515, 519 (5th Cir. 1996). Plaintiff may not bring
a civil rights lawsuit in lieu of a habeas corpus proceeding in an effort to challenge his conviction.
The Report and Recommendation also correctly observes that Brown enjoys prosecutorial
immunity, which applies to the prosecutor’s actions in initiating the prosecution and in carrying the
case through the judicial process. Boyd v. Biggers, 31 F.3d 279 (5th Cir. 1994). The lawsuit should
be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).
The Report of the Magistrate Judge, which contains her proposed findings of fact and
recommendations for the disposition of such action, has been presented for consideration, and having
made a de novo review of the objections raised by Plaintiff to the Report, the Court is of the opinion
that the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate Judge are correct and Plaintiff’s objections are
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without merit. Therefore, the Court hereby adopts the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate
Judge as the findings and conclusions of the court.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the complaint is DISMISSED with prejudice pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). All motions not previously ruled on are hereby DENIED.
SIGNED this 18th day of July, 2017.

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AMOS L. MAZZANT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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