Wilkerson v. Angleton Institutional Parole Office, et al

Filing 15

ORDER OF DISMISSAL terminating 13 MOTION For Speedy Trial, 2 MOTION/APPLICATION to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, 14 MOTION Motion for NIHIL DICIT Default Judgment, 12 MOTION for Default Judgment against Senrick Wilkerson, Case terminated on 6/8/17(Signed by Judge George C Hanks, Jr) Parties notified.(dperez, 3)

United States District Court
Southern District of Texas

ENTERED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
GALVESTON DIVISION

June 08, 2017
David J. Bradley, Clerk

SENRICK WILKERSON,
TDCJ #01885146,

§
§
§
Plaintiff,
§
VS.
§ CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:16-CV-8
§
ANGLETON INSTITUTIONAL PAROLE §
OFFICE, et al,
§
§
Defendants.
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Plaintiff Senrick Wilkerson (TDCJ #01885146), an inmate in the custody of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division (“TDCJ”), has
filed a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Dkt. 1). He seeks his
immediate release and $8,000,000.00 in damages because, he alleges, he was denied
parole without due process, based on fraudulent documents (Dkt. 1 at p. 4).
A national case index reflects that, while incarcerated, Wilkerson has filed at least
six previous civil actions that have been dismissed by the Northern District of Texas as
frivolous or for failure to state a claim. See Northern District of Texas Case Numbers
3:11-CV-659 at Dkt. 14; 3:12-CV-1832 at Dkt. 48; 3:13-CV-1852 at Dkt. 38; 3:11-CV1242 at Dkt. 12; 3:12-CV-1830 at Dkt. 58; and 3:13-CV-2634 at Dkt. 16. Wilkerson did
not disclose any of these lawsuits to this Court, though to his credit he did disclose a
seventh lawsuit in which he was sanctioned in the amount of $200.00 and barred by the
Northern District of Texas “from filing any other actions, motions, or pleadings of any
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kind challenging his conviction without first obtaining the permission of a district judge
or magistrate judge” (Dkt. 1 at pp. 2, 4–5). See Northern District of Texas Case Number
3:13-CV-1326 at Dkt. 139.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), a prisoner is not allowed to bring a civil action in
forma pauperis in federal court if he has, while incarcerated, filed three or more civil
actions or appeals that have been dismissed as frivolous or malicious or for failure to
state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g); Adepegba v.
Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 385 (5th Cir. 1996). An exception exists for inmates who are
“under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” Id. To fit within the imminentdanger exception, a prisoner must demonstrate that imminent danger of serious physical
injury exists at the time the plaintiff seeks to file his complaint. Banos v. O’Guin, 144
F.3d 883, 885 (5th Cir. 1998). Wilkerson’s pleadings do not show that he was in such
danger at the time he filed his complaint. This case is barred by Section 1915(g).
Even if Wilkerson could satisfy the imminent-danger exception, his claims are not
cognizable under Section 1983. Wilkerson seeks his immediate release from confinement
and monetary damages stemming from the alleged denial of due process in his parole
proceedings. In other words, he seeks to demonstrate the invalidity of his post-parolehearing confinement, both directly (through an injunction compelling immediate release)
and indirectly (through a judgment for damages that would necessarily imply the
unlawfulness of his custody). The Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that “a state
prisoner’s §1983 action is barred (absent prior invalidation)—no matter the relief sought
(damages or equitable relief), no matter the target of the prisoner’s suit (state conduct
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leading to conviction or internal prison proceedings)—if success in that action would
necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of confinement or its duration.” Wilkinson v.
Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 81–82 (2005) (emphasis removed).
The appropriate avenue for Wilkerson is habeas relief. Id. But construing this
complaint as a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 would do Wilkerson no good because
there is no indication in either public records or Wilkerson’s pleadings that Wilkerson has
properly exhausted his state-court remedies. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b). In any event,
Wilkerson has not stated a cognizable claim to federal habeas relief. “[B]ecause
[Wilkerson] has no liberty interest in obtaining parole in Texas, he cannot complain of
the constitutionality of procedural devices attendant to parole decisions.” Orellana v.
Kyle, 65 F.3d 29, 31–32 (5th Cir. 1995). The Due Process Clause does not include a right
to conditional release before the expiration of a valid sentence, and the Texas parole
statutes do not create a Constitutionally protected liberty interest because parole in Texas
is entirely discretionary. Id.; see also Greenholtz v. Inmates of the Neb. Penal &
Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 7 (1979); Teague v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d 769, 774
(5th Cir. 2007).
This case is DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
The Clerk of this Court shall send a copy of this Order to the parties.
SIGNED at Galveston, Texas, this 8th day of June, 2017.

___________________________________
George C. Hanks Jr.
United States District Judge
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