Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05354/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05354-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JASON GERAY,

Plaintiff,

v.

WILLIAM MUNIZ,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-05354-VC (PR)

ORDER FOR PETITIONER TO SHOW 

CAUSE

Re: Dkt. Nos. 3, 5

Petitioner Jason Geray, a state inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison, files this pro se

petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. His motions for leave to proceed in 

forma pauperis are granted. 

Geray’s claim is that “state documents” contain false information that he escaped from 

Atascadero State Hospital on April 15, 2009. In support of his contention that the “documents”

are false, Geray submits a February 26, 2010 probation report indicating that, on April 15, 2009, 

he was remanded back from Atascadero State Hospital. His petition also indicates that, on August 

8, 2008, he was convicted of use of a deadly weapon and, on November 29, 2010, he was 

sentenced to 19 years.

From the face of the petition it is unclear how Geray states a claim that is cognizable in a 

federal habeas corpus proceeding. A federal court may entertain a habeas petition from a state 

prisoner “only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or 

treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). The fact that the documents may incorrectly 

state that Geray escaped from Atascadero does not appear to have given rise to a state conviction

or sentence. Therefore, he is not in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of 

the United States based on this allegedly false information. However, if his sentence was 

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

increased or if he lost good time credits because of the false information, he may be able to state a 

cognizable habeas claim.

Therefore, Geray is ordered to show cause why his petition should not be dismissed for 

failure to state a cognizable habeas claim by filing with the Court a short statement, within twentyeight days from the date of this Order, indicating whether he was convicted of a crime, whether his 

sentence was increased or whether he lost good time credits because of the allegedly false 

information. If Geray does not file a statement within this time frame, his petition shall be 

dismissed with prejudice.

This Order terminates docket numbers 3 and 5. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 7, 2016

______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

United States District Judge

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JASON GERAY,

Plaintiff,

v.

WILLIAM MUNIZ,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-05354-VC 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on January 7, 2016, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by 

placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Jason Geray ID: AF4262

Salinas Valley State Prison D-4-217

PO Box 1020

Soledad, CA 93960 

Dated: January 7, 2016

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

Kristen Melen, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable VINCE CHHABRIA

Case 3:15-cv-05354-VC Document 6 Filed 01/07/16 Page 3 of 3