Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-1_11-cv-00837/USCOURTS-almd-1_11-cv-00837-1/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)

---

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA 

SOUTHERN DIVISION 

TERRENCE POUNCEY, ) 

 ) 

 Petitioner, ) 

 ) 

vs. ) CASE NO. 1:11cv-837-TMH 

 ) 

MAMIE MCCRORY, et al., ) (WO) 

 ) 

 Respondents. ) 

ORDER

 This case is before the court on the Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (Doc. #21) 

and the Petitioner’s Objection (Doc. #22). 

 Petitioner filed this habeas petition claiming that he was being held in custody on fines he 

did not owe. Petitioner cited numerous municipal court cases on which he alleged he was being 

falsely held. As noted in the Recommendation, petitioner's challenges are now moot as the 

documents and records for the challenged cases reflect that Petitioner was either declared 

indigent by the court which ordered his release, the court dismissed his case(s), the court did not 

direct payment of fines and ordered his release, or the challenged sentence(s) expired with time 

served in lieu of payment of fines. Petitioner filed no response to the court's order granting him 

an opportunity to show cause why his petition should not be dismissed as moot. See Doc. No. 14. 

 A review of Petitioner's petition reflects that he clearly was seeking to challenge the fact 

that he was being held in custody on fines he maintained the sentencing court did not impose and 

which he, therefore, did not owe. Petitioner indicated that he had entered pleas of guilty to the 

challenged misdemeanor convictions with the exception of a domestic violence case on which he 

Case 1:11-cv-00837-TMH-WC Document 23 Filed 03/24/14 Page 1 of 2
states he was tried and convicted, he appealed that case and was released on appeal bond, and the 

appeal was subsequently dismissed on or about August 2013. Based on the allegations asserted 

in the petition, Petitioner was understood to be asserting a challenge to his custody due to 

allegedly improper and/or unfounded fines, rather than asserting a challenge to the validity of 

any of his convictions. 

 In his objection, Petitioner continues to complain that he was improperly held in prison 

for which he is entitled to compensation. Other than making this conclusory allegations, 

Petitioner fails to indicate how the records before the court regarding the fines and imprisonment 

imposed for his numerous offenses are inaccurate or invalid, and how the relief he requested in 

filing this action, at this juncture, is not moot. 

 For these reasons, after an independent evaluation and de novo review, the court finds 

Petitioner's objection to be without merit. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED as follows: 

 1. Petitioner’s objection is OVERRULED. 

 2. The court ADOPTS the Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge. 

 3. This 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas relief is DISMISSED as moot. 

 DONE this 24th day of March, 2014. 

 /s/ W. Harold Albritton 

 SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 1:11-cv-00837-TMH-WC Document 23 Filed 03/24/14 Page 2 of 2