Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-00672/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-00672-3/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

Daniel Adem Van Daalen, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Greg Fizer, et al.,

Respondents. 

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No. CV 06-0672-PHX-EHC (MHB)

 

ORDER

Petitioner proceeding pro se has filed an Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

By a Person in State Custody under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Dkt. 6). The matter was referred to

Magistrate Judge Michelle H. Burns who has issued a Report and Recommendation

recommending that the § 2254 Petition be denied and dismissed with prejudice (Dkt. 28).

Petitioner has not filed an Objection to the Report and Recommendation. 

 Standard of Review

The district court reviews de novo the portions of the Magistrate Judge's Report and

Recommendation to which Petitioner has filed an objection. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C)("a

judge of the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report, ..., to

which objection is made."); see also United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th

Cir. 2003); Schmidt v. Johnstone, 263 F. Supp. 2d 1219 (D. Ariz. 2003), citing Thomas v.

Case 2:06-cv-00672-EHC Document 30 Filed 02/20/08 Page 1 of 3
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Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985)(determining that district courts are not required to review any

issue that is not the subject of an objection). 

Discussion

Petitioner’s conviction arises from the entry of his no contest plea in the Superior

Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, to three amended counts of manslaughter, each a Class

2 dangerous felony. Petitioner, driving while intoxicated, crashed into a car, killing two

adults and a one-year-old boy. Petitioner at the time was 19 years of age. Pursuant to the

plea agreement’s stipulated sentence, the trial court sentenced Petitioner to three consecutive

terms of 10.5 years of imprisonment, for a total sentence of 31.5 years’ imprisonment. 

The Magistrate Judge has recommended that Petitioner’s claim alleging a denial of

equal protection and due process of law arising from the failure to appoint a disability

advocate and his claim alleging a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act are

procedurally defaulted. The Magistrate Judge has recommended that Petitioner’s other

claims should be denied on the merits. Regarding these claims, Petitioner asserted that the

trial court denied him equal protection and due process based on other persons who allegedly

received less prison time for similar crimes; that counsel was ineffective in not asserting

Petitioner’s disabilities to the trial court, for failing to ensure that Petitioner understood the

proceedings against him, and for failing to aid in Petitioner’s defense; and that he had been

denied his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment

as a result of alleged disproportionate sentencing and his alleged status of being mentally and

physically disabled (Petitioner allegedly sustained severe injuries as a result of the accident).

In the absence of objections, the Court adopts in full the Report and Recommendation.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (Dkt.

28) is adopted in full.

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Case 2:06-cv-00672-EHC Document 30 Filed 02/20/08 Page 2 of 3
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Dkt. 6) is denied and dismissed with prejudice.

DATED this 18th day of February, 2008.

Case 2:06-cv-00672-EHC Document 30 Filed 02/20/08 Page 3 of 3