Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_13-cv-01618/USCOURTS-azd-2_13-cv-01618-1/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)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Nicholas Anthony Granado,

Petitioner, 

v. 

Charles L. Ryan, et al., 

Respondents.

No. CV-13-01618-PHX-DLR

ORDER 

 Petitioner Nicholas Anthony Granado pled guilty to one count of kidnapping and 

three counts of attempted sexual assault in Maricopa County Superior Court in 2010. He 

was sentenced to 10 years on the kidnapping charge, and was given suspended sentences 

with lifetime probation on the attempted sexual assault charges, which included a 

requirement that he register as a sex offender. 

 Mr. Granado filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging his conviction 

on three grounds: (1) that his due process rights were violated because he was not an 

adult at the time of the crime but the state court required registration as a sex offender 

upon his release, (2) that his due process rights were violated because he was tried as an 

adult even though he was a juvenile at the time of the crime, and (3) that he received 

ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with this state post-conviction petition 

because the court allowed his counsel to withdraw and did not appoint a replacement. 

(See Doc. 1 at 6–8.) The Court referred the petition to United States Magistrate Judge 

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James F. Metcalf for report and recommendation (“R&R”). (See Docs. 2, 17.) Judge 

Metcalf recommended that the Petition be denied and dismissed with prejudice because 

Petitioner failed to exhaust his state remedies, his claims are procedurally defaulted, and 

he failed to establish cause and prejudice to excuse his procedural defaults. (Doc. 17 at 

12.) 

 Respondents filed objections to the R&R, alleging error in its conclusion that the 

Petition stated claims cognizable in a federal habeas proceeding. (Doc. 18.) However, 

Respondents requested that the Court adopt the R&R with respect to its exhaustion and 

procedural default analyses and its ultimate conclusions. Mr. Granado did not file an 

objection to the R&R. 

I. Standard of Review

 A party may file specific written objections to the R&R’s proposed findings and 

recommendations. The Court must undertake de novo review of those portions of the 

R&R to which specific objections are made. The Court may accept, reject, or modify, in 

whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the Magistrate Judge. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 

II. Analysis

 Respondents argue that the Court should reject the R&R’s cognizability analysis 

because it “misstates the law” and “too liberally construes Petitioner’s claims.” (Doc. 18 

at 3.) Magistrate Metcalf did not consider whether or conclude that Mr. Granado 

demonstrated errors rising to the level of constitutional violations. Instead, the R&R 

pointed out that Mr. Granado’s petition purported to assert violations of his constitutional 

rights, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). However, as the R&R thoroughly explained, 

even if Mr. Granado stated cognizable claims, they are procedurally defaulted and barred 

from federal review. The R&R did not reach or rule on the merits on Mr. Granado’s 

claims, and neither does this Court. 

IT IS ORDERED that Judge Metcalf’s R&R (Doc. 17) is accepted, as interpreted 

in this Order. 

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Nicholas Anthony Granado’s Petition is 

dismissed with prejudice. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a certificate of appealability and leave to 

proceed in forma pauperis are denied because dismissal of the Petition is justified by a 

plain procedural bar and jurists of reason would not find the ruling debatable. 

 Dated this 10th day of November, 2014. 

Douglas L. Rayes 

United States District Judge

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