Case ID: f-appx_124/html/0907-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Kraft BROWN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Roy WILLIAMS; J. Williams; Bryan Wilson; Jean McKay; H. Ragle; Robert Y. Henderson; Jim Roger; Joann Peshoff; Samuel W. Matthis, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 04-30863.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided March 23, 2005.
    
      Kraft Brown, Dequincy, LA, pro se.
    Before REAVLEY, JOLLY, and HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Kraft Brown, a Louisiana prisoner (# 106854), appeals the district court’s sua sponte dismissal of his pro se, in forma pauperis (“IFP”) 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint as frivolous and for failure to state a claim, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). In the complaint, Brown alleged that the defendants, who were various officials at his prison, had retaliated against him for exercising his Fourth Amendment and due process rights. He asserted that he was found guilty of the disciplinary offense of aggravated disobedience for refusing to provide a DNA sample and penalized with 10 days of administrative segregation and the loss of incentive pay. Allegedly, the defendants had told him that La.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 15.609 permitted them to use force to collect a DNA sample, but Brown had asserted that the statute permitted inmates convicted prior to September 1999, like Brown, to refuse such collection. Brown asserted that he eventually agreed to provide a sample, but only after defendants continued to threaten him verbally.

This court has held that a Texas statute, Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.148, which provides for the collection of blood samples from felons for registration in a DNA databank, does not violate those felons’ Fourth Amendment right to privacy. Velasquez v. Woods, 329 F.3d 420, 421 (5th Cir.2003). Because the Texas statute is nearly identical to the Louisiana statute at issue here, Brown’s challenge to the statute is frivolous. Insofar as Brown is arguing that he is not challenging the constitutionality of La.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 15.609 but that its incorrect application to him violated his due process rights, his claim is likewise frivolous because a mere violation of state law does not state a constitutional claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Giovanni v. Lynn, 48 F.3d 908, 912-13 (5th Cir. 1995). Brown’s due process challenge to his disciplinary penalties is frivolous because those penalties did not amount to an “atypical and significant hardship ... in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.” Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484, 115 S.Ct. 2293, 132 L.Ed.2d 418 (1995); Pichardo v. Kinker, 73 F.3d 612, 612 (5th Cir.1996). Because Brown has not identified a specific constitutional right that the defendants violated, he failed to state a cognizable retaliation claim. Jones v. Greninger, 188 F.3d 322, 324-25 (5th Cir. 1999). Finally, Brown’s allegation of verbal threats did not state a constitutional claim. Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir.1997); McFadden v. Lucas, 713 F.2d 143, 146 (5th Cir.1983). The court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Taylor v. Johnson, 257 F.3d 470, 472 (5th Cir.2001).

Brown’s appeal is without arguable merit. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.1983). Accordingly, we DISMISS the appeal as frivolous. 5th Cir. R. 42.2. The dismissal of the instant appeal as frivolous counts as a strike for purposes of the three-strikes provision, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), as does the district court’s dismissal. See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir.1996). In 2000, the district court dismissed as frivolous a prior 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint by Brown. Brown v. White, No. 2:00-CV-119 (W.D.La. July, 18, 2000). Brown has thus accumulated three strikes. Accordingly, we CAUTION Brown that hereafter he may not proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal filed while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.