Case ID: f-appx_139/html/0629-02.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

John Gene SIMON, Sr., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Beth LUNDY; Tony Mancuso; David F. Wagoner; Police Department City of Lake Charles; Don Dixon; Candy Lewis; Gary Sens, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 04-31079
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    July 25, 2005.
    
      John Gene Simon, Sr., Angola, LA, pro se.
    Before JOLLY, DAVIS and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

John Gene Simon, Sr., Louisiana prisoner #246547, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action as frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Simon argues that the district court erred by dismissing his complaint without giving him the opportunity to amend it. He further asserts that he stated a viable Fourth Amendment claim for the taking of DNA samples from him, a viable Fourth Amendment claim for false imprisonment, and a viable Fourteenth Amendment claim for malicious prosecution.

Simon’s complaint was thorough and gave a detailed explanation of the claims he was raising. Furthermore, Simon could have attempted to amend his complaint between the issuance of the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation and the district court’s dismissal. The only specific amendment that Simon states that he wishes to make would be futile. Accordingly, the district court did not err by dismissing Simon’s complaint without expressly giving him the opportunity to amend it. See Jones v. Greninger, 188 F.3d 322, 327 (5th Cir.1999).

The district court did not err by dismissing Simon’s Fourth Amendment claim for the taking of DNA samples from him. See Velasquez v. Woods, 329 F.3d 420, 421 (5th Cir.2003). Even disregarding the only statement of Dee Simon that was arguably protected by the marital communications privilege, the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing established that there was probable cause to arrest and detain Simon on the first-degree murder charge that was later dismissed. See Sorenson v. Ferrie, 134 F.3d 325, 328 (5th Cir.1998); United States v. Martin, 615 F.2d 318, 323-27 (5th Cir. 1980). Accordingly, the district court did not err by dismissing Simon’s Fourth Amendment false imprisonment claim. See Brown v. Lyford, 243 F.3d 185, 189 (5th Cir.2001). As the remainder of his claims were not viable, the district court did not err by dismissing Simon’s Fourteenth Amendment claim for malicious prosecution. See Castellano v. Fragozo, 352 F.3d 939, 942 (5th Cir.2003) (en banc) (malicious prosecution, standing alone, is not a constitutional violation).

Simon’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir.1983). Accordingly, it is DISMISSED. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2. Both the district court’s dismissal of the complaint and our dismissal of the instant appeal count as “strikes” for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir.1996). The dismissal of Simon’s complaint as frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted in the companion case of Simon v. Dixon, No. 2:04-CV-782 (WD.Tex. Aug. 30, 2004) (unpublished), counts as an additional strike. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Simon has now accumulated three strikes under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), and he may not proceed in forma pauperis 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 AS FRIVOLOUS; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) BAR IMPOSED. 
      
       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.