Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-02415/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-02415-0/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)

---

1

19cv2415 CAB (AGS)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM EPENESA,

Petitioner,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent.

Case No.: 19cv2415 CAB (AGS)

1) CONSTRUING PETITION FOR 

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AS 

MOTION TO VACATE, SET ASIDE 

OR CORRECT SENTENCE UNDER 

28 U.S.C. § 2255; and (2) 

INFORMING PETITIONER OF 

OPTIONS

On December 16, 2019, Petitioner, a prisoner currently incarcerated at the United 

States Penitentiary and Victorville, California and proceeding pro se, filed a Petition for a 

Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 2254. Petitioner alleges his counsel in case no. 17cv1583 BEN was ineffective. (Pet., 

ECF No. 1 at 5.) 

Although the current action was filed as a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus by 

a Person in State Custody pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, because Petitioner is in federal 

custody pursuant to a federal criminal conviction, the Court will construe it as a Motion 

to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Pursuant to 

Castro v. United States, 540 U.S. 375 (2003) the Court is required to give Petitioner the 

Case 3:19-cv-02415-CAB-BGS Document 2 Filed 12/27/19 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 4
2

19cv2415 CAB (AGS)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

following options prior to ruling on his § 2255 Motion and to inform Petitioner of the 

consequences of choosing those options.

Under the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (“AEDPA”), the 

opportunity to file successive motions under § 2255 is strictly limited. The AEDPA 

amended 28 U.S.C. § 2255 by providing for a one-year limitation period for prisoners to 

file motions under § 2255. The section states, in pertinent part:

A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to a motion under this section. The 

limitation period shall run from the latest of—

(1) the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final; 

(2) the date on which the impediment to making a motion created by 

governmental action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United 

States is removed, if the movant was prevented from making a motion by 

such governmental action;

(3) the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized by 

the Supreme Court, if that right has been newly recognized by the Supreme 

Court and made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; or

(4) the date on which the facts supporting the claim or claims 

presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence.

* * *

A second or successive motion must be certified as provided in 

section 2244 by a panel of the appropriate court of appeals to contain--

(1) newly discovered evidence that, if proven and viewed in light of 

the evidence as a whole, would be sufficient to establish by clear and 

convincing evidence that no reasonable factfinder would have found the 

movant guilty of the offense; or

(2) a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on 

collateral review by the Supreme Court, that was previously unavailable

28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp. 2003).

Case 3:19-cv-02415-CAB-BGS Document 2 Filed 12/27/19 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 4
3

19cv2415 CAB (AGS)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

PETITIONER’S OPTIONS

Option 1: Consent in writing to this Court ruling on his Motion

Petitioner may inform the Court of his desire to have the Court construe his 

Petition as a Motion under § 2255 and rule on the merits of his Motion. To do so, 

Petitioner should file a pleading with this Court entitled: “Consent to recharacterization 

of petition as motion under § 2255.” The Court will then proceed to rule on the merits of 

the § 2255 Motion.

Option 2: Withdraw the instant Motion and file an all-inclusive § 2255 Motion

Petitioner may withdraw the instant Motion and refile an all-inclusive § 2255 

Motion at a later date which contains all issues he wishes to raise. If Petitioner chooses 

Option 2, he must file a pleading with this Court entitled: “Notice of Withdrawal of § 

2255 Motion.”

CONSEQUENCES OF PETITIONER’S ACTIONS:

Consequences of selecting Option 1: If Petitioner elects to proceed to the merits of 

his § 2255 Motion by filing a “Consent to recharacterization of petition as motion under

§ 2255,” this Court will rule on Petitioner’s Motion. However, the Court cautions 

Petitioner that if he chooses this option this would be his one opportunity to file a Motion 

under § 2255 without being required to obtain permission from the court of appeals as set 

forth above.

Consequences of selecting Option 2: If Petitioner elects to withdraw the instant 

motion by filing a “Notice of Withdrawal of § 2255 Motion,” the Court will not rule on 

the § 2255 Motion at this time. However, Petitioner will be permitted to include the 

claims presented in the instant § 2255 Motion is an all-inclusive § 2255 Motion filed at a 

later date. However, the Court cautions Petitioner that he must file the all-inclusive § 

2255 Motion within the applicable statute of limitations set forth above. If Petitioner 

fails to timely file his all-inclusive § 2255 Motion within the statute of limitations he will 

be required to seek permission from the court of appeals as set forth above.

/ / /

Case 3:19-cv-02415-CAB-BGS Document 2 Filed 12/27/19 PageID.<pageID> Page 3 of 4
4

19cv2415 CAB (AGS)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Based on the foregoing, and good cause appearing, the Court hereby NOTIFIES 

Petitioner of the options set forth above. Petitioner must reply to this Order no later 

than February 28, 2020, selecting one of the options set forth above.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 27, 2019

Case 3:19-cv-02415-CAB-BGS Document 2 Filed 12/27/19 PageID.<pageID> Page 4 of 4