Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01491/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01491-1/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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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Marvin Phillips, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Charles L. Ryan; and the Attorney

General of the State of Arizona, 

Respondents. 

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No. CV-09-1491-PHX-DGC (ECV)

ORDER

Marvin Phillips is serving a ten-year sentence in state prison for aggravated driving

under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. He has filed petitions for writ of habeas

corpus (Docs. 1, 4) and a motion for summary judgment (Doc. 9). Magistrate Judge Edward

Voss has issued a report and recommendation (“R&R”) that the petitions and motion be

denied. Doc. 13. Petitioner has filed an objection. Doc. 15.

The Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or

recommendations made by the Magistrate Judge. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The Court must

undertake de novo review of those portions of the R&R to which specific objections are

made. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b); United States v. Reyna-Tapia,

328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir. 2003). For reasons stated below, the Court will accept the

R&R.

Three grounds for relief are asserted in the original petition. Petitioner alleges in

ground one that the re-charging of a marijuana offense violated his rights under the Arizona

Constitution and the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Doc. 1 at 6. He

Case 2:09-cv-01491-DGC Document 16 Filed 07/21/10 Page 1 of 4
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further alleges that the prosecutor engaged in vindictive prosecution in violation of his

federal constitutional rights. Id. at 6-7. In ground two, Petitioner claims that he received

ineffective assistance of counsel in violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments when

his trial counsel filed no timely motion pertaining to the marijuana charge. Id. at 8. Ground

three asserts a violation of the federal sentencing guidelines. Id. at 9.

In a screening order dated July 27, 2009, the Court denied ground three and the

portion of ground one based on a purported violation of the Arizona Constitution. Doc. 3.

Petitioner has not challenged those rulings.

The amended petition, filed after the issuance of the screening order, alleges that the

prosecutor presented perjured testimony regarding Petitioner’s alcohol level in violation of

the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments (ground four). Doc. 4.

Judge Voss finds in his R&R that Petitioner has procedurally defaulted ground four

and the vindictive prosecution claim asserted in ground one by failing to fairly present those

claims in state court. Doc. 13 at 3-5. Plaintiff asserts that he has presented evidence in his

amended petition (Doc. 4) that he was not under the influence of alcohol (Doc. 15 at 4), but

does not dispute that he failed to present this claim in state court. Plaintiff further asserts that

he raised ground one before the Arizona Court of Appeals, including in his pro se

supplemental brief (Doc. 11-1 at 2-8). Doc. 15 at 4. A review of the state court record

(Docs. 5-1, 11-1) belies this assertion.

The Court agrees with Judge Voss that Petitioner did not fairly present to the state

courts ground four or the vindictive prosecution claim asserted in ground one. Petitioner

does not allege cause and prejudice, nor has he shown a miscarriage of justice sufficient to

overcome the procedural default. The Court, therefore, will accept the R&R and deny

ground four and the vindictive prosecution claim asserted in ground one. See Coleman v.

Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991) (federal habeas review of procedurally defaulted claims

“is barred unless the prisoner can demonstrate cause for the default and actual prejudice as

a result of the alleged violation of federal law, or demonstrate that failure to consider the

claims will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice”).

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The Arizona Court of Appeals denied Petitioner’s double jeopardy claim on the

ground that although it was error to charge Petitioner for a marijuana offense to which he had

pled guilty, the error was discovered and the charge dismissed prior to trial. Doc. 5-1 at 10.

Judge Voss concludes that the double jeopardy claim asserted in ground one of the petition

(Doc. 1 at 6) is without merit because the Court of Appeals’ decision is not contrary to, or

an unreasonable application of, clearly established United States Supreme Court law, nor is

it based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in

state court. Doc. 13 at 7; see 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)-(2). Petitioner asserts that his trial

counsel should have discovered the marijuana-charge error sooner, but presents no argument

or legal authority undermining the validity of the state court decision. The Court will accept

the R&R and deny the double jeopardy claim asserted in ground one.

The Arizona Court of Appeals denied Petitioner’s claim of ineffective assistance of

counsel because such claims must first be presented to the trial court in a petition for postconviction relief and because Petitioner’s trial counsel served only in an advisory capacity.

Doc. 5-1 at 12-13. Judge Voss concludes that this decision is neither legally nor factually

unreasonable. Doc. 13 at 7-8. Nothing in the objection changes this conclusion. See Doc.

15 at 3-4. The Court will accept the R&R and deny ground two.

Judge Voss recommends that Petitioner’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 9) be

denied as moot and as procedurally improper. Doc. 13 at 8. There is no objection to that

recommendation.

IT IS ORDERED:

1. The Magistrate Judge’s R&R (Doc. 13) is accepted.

2. The petitions for writ of habeas corpus (Docs. 1, 4) are denied.

3. Petitioner’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 9) is denied.

4. The Clerk is directed to terminate this action.

5. A certificate of appealability and leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal

are denied because Petitioner has not made a substantial showing of the denial

of a constitutional right and reasonable jurists would not find the Court’s

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procedural ruling debatable.

DATED this 21st day of July, 2010.

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