Saunders v. Commonwealth of Virginia

Filing 17

FINAL ORDER. It is ORDERED that the Court hereby ADOPTS and APPROVES the findings and recommendations set forth in the 16 Report and Recommendation filed August 19, 2022. It is, therefore, ORDERED that the Respondent's 9 Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED, and that the Petition is DENIED and DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. A certificate of appealability is DENIED. Petitioner is ADVISED that he may seek a certificate from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by filing a written notice of appeal with the Clerk of the United States District Court, United States Courthouse, 600 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 within thirty (30) days. Signed by District Judge Roderick C. Young on 9/15/2022. Copies mailed 9/15/2022. (jmey, )

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Norfolk Division
ERIC DONNELL SAUNDERS, # 53095,
Petitioner,
v.

Civil Action No. 2:21cv575

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
Respondent.
FINAL ORDER
Before the Court is a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
2254 (ECF No. 1) and the Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 9). In his Petition, the pro
se Petitioner alleges a violation of federal rights pertaining to his state criminal probation
violation hearing held on November 27, 2018, in the Circuit Court for the County of
Southampton (“Trial Court”) “to determine whether [Petitioner] violated the terms of his
conditional release as a sexually violent predator and if so, whether [Petitioner] remains suitable
for conditional release under the Code of Virginia § 37.2-913.” (Report & Recommendation at 23, ECF No. 16.) As a result of the hearing, the Trial Court “found by clear and convincing
evidence that Petitioner violated the conditions of his release, and that his violation of his
conditions rendered him no longer suitable for conditional release.” (Id. at 3.)
The Petition was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge for report and
recommendation pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C) and Local Civil
Rule 72 of the Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The
Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation (“R&R”), filed August 19, 2022, recommends
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dismissal of the Petition with prejudice. (Id. at 27.) The parties were advised that they could file
specific written objections to the R&R within fourteen days from the date it was forwarded, but
no objections were filed, and the time for doing so has now expired. “[I]n the absence of a
timely filed objection, a district court need not conduct a de novo review, but instead must ‘only
satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the
recommendation.’” Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir.
2005).
The Court has reviewed the R&R and finds no clear error on the face of the record.
Accordingly, the Court hereby ADOPTS and APPROVES the findings and recommendations
set forth in the Report and Recommendation filed August 19, 2022. It is, therefore, ORDERED
that the Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 9) is GRANTED, and that the Petition (ECF
No. 1) is DENIED and DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
Finding that the basis for dismissal of Petitioner’s § 2254 petition is not debatable, and
alternatively finding that Petitioner has not made a “substantial showing of the denial of a
constitutional right,” a certificate of appealability is DENIED. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c); see Rules
Gov. § 2254 Cases in U.S. Dist. Cts. 11(a); Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335–38 (2003);
Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483–85 (2000).
Petitioner is ADVISED that because a certificate of appealability is denied by this Court,
he may seek a certificate from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Fed.
Rule App. Proc. 22(b); Rules Gov. § 2254 Cases in U.S. Dist. Cts. 11(a). If Petitioner intends to
seek a certificate of appealability from the Fourth Circuit, he must do so within thirty (30) days
from the date of this Order. Petitioner may seek such a certificate by filing a written notice of
appeal with the Clerk of the United States District Court, United States Courthouse, 600 Granby
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Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510.
The Clerk shall forward a copy of this Final Order to Petitioner Saunders and to counsel
of record for the Respondent.
It is so ORDERED.
/s/
Roderick C.. Young
ng
ng
United States
es Districtt Judge
Juddge
Richmond, Virginia
Date: September 15, 2022

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