Alba v. Quarterman

Filing 6

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 4 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis with certificate of trust account filed by Gerardo Alba. The application to proceed ifp [Doc#4] should be denied. Petitioner should be ordered to pay the statutory filing fee w/in 20 days after this recommendation is adopted by the district judge. (See order for specifics) (Ordered by Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan on 9/21/2009) (vdf)

COURT DISTRICT IN THE LINITEDSTATES TEXAS OF NORTHERN DISTRICT D A L L A SDIVISION
GERARDOALBA Petitioner,
VS. R I C K THALER, Director, T e x a sDepartmentof Criminal Justice, C o r r e c t i o n a lInstitutionsDivision Respondent.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

NO.3-09-CV-I643-B

F I N D I N G S AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE P e t i t i o n e r Gerardo Alba, a Texas prisoner,has filed an applicationto proceed in forma p a u p e r i s in this habeascasebrought under 28 U.S.C. S 2254. For the reasonsstatedherein,the application should be denied. I. to murderand sentenced 10 yearsprobation. I n l g g 2 , p e t i t i o n e r was convictedof attempted the with violating the conditionsof his release, N o appealwas taken. After petitionerwas charged his him t r i a l court revokedhis probationand sentenced to life imprisonment.Petitionerchallenged probation revocation and life sentenceon state collateral review. The Texas Court of Criminal A p p e a l sdeniedrelief without written order. Ex parte Alba,WR-39,732-04 (Tex. Crim. App. Jun. 1 0 , 2 0 0 4 ) . Petitioner then filed this action in federal district court. Processhas been withheld pending a determination of his informa pauperis status.

il. T h e s t a n d a r d s g o v e m i n g i n f o r m a p a u p e r i s m o t i o n s a r e s e t f o r t h i n 2 8 U . S$C . . l9l5(a). The district court may authorize the commencementof a civil action without the prepaymentof fees or costs "by a person who submits an affidavit . . . that [he] is unable to pay such fees or give security t h e r e f o r . "28U.S.C. $ 1915(a)(l). Thecourtmustexaminethefinancialconditionoftheapplicant in order to determinewhether the paymentof feeswould causean undue financial hardship. Prows (1988).The amountofmoney 138,140(5thCir.),cert.denied,l0gS.Ct.364 v . Kastner,842F.2d shouldbe considered.See a v a i l a b l eto an inmate in his prison trust accountor from other sources i d . ; Bradenv. Estelle,428F.Supp.595, 601 (S.D.Tex' 7977). Petitioner has submitted a certified copy of his inmate trust account statementwhich shows t h a t he currently has $32.94 on depositwith prison offrcials. However, over the past six months, $ 4 9 0 . 0 0has beendepositedinto petitioner'sinmatetrust account. In August 2009,petitionerhad petition is $5.00' 28 U.S.C. $ a balanceof $16l.14 in the account. The filing fee for a habeas that petitioneris ableto pay this fee without causingunduefinancial D I a @ ) . The court concludes petitionerto h a r d s h i p . Seealso Mrsc. OnoBn 13 at fl 9 (N.D. Tex. Feb. l,1977) (requiringhabeas exceed$50.00). p a y filing fee ifprison accountand other resources RECOMMENDATION T h e applicationto proceedinforma pauperis [Doc. #4] shouldbe denied. Petitionershould be orderedto pay the statutoryfiling fee within 20 daysafter this recommendationis adoptedby the d i s t r i c t judge. If he fails to do so, this caseshouldbe dismissedwithout fuither notice. A copy of this report and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to any part of this report and recommendation must file with a copy. See28 U.S.C. $ 636(bX1); s p e c i f i cwritten objectionswithin l0 daysafterbeingserved

FBo. R. Clv. P. 72(b). In order to be specific, an objection must identifu the specific finding or recommendationto which objection is made, statethe basis for the objection, and specifu the place in the magistratejudge's report and recommendationwherethe disputeddeterminationis found. An objection that merely incorporatesby referenceor refers to the briefing before the magistratejudge is not specific. Failure to file specific written objectionswill bar the aggrievedparfy from appealing judge that are acceptedor adoptedby the the factual findings and legal conclusionsof the magistrate Automobile Ass'n, district court, exceptupon groundsof plain err or. SeeDouglassv. United Services 7 9 F.3d 1415,1417(sth Cir. 1996). 21, D A T E D : September 2009.

MAGISTRATEJUDGts STATES