Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_12-cv-08132/USCOURTS-azd-3_12-cv-08132-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:1651 Petition for Writ of Coram Nobis

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WO KM

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

United States of America, 

Respondent,

v.

Michael Augustine Kee, 

Petitioner. 

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No. CV 12-8132-PCT-GMS (MEA)

No. CR 94-266-PCT-GMS

ORDER

On June 28, 2012, Petitioner Michael Augustine Kee, who is confined in the Federal

Correctional Institution-Safford in Safford, Arizona, filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Error

Coram Nobis. On July 3, 2012, Respondent filed a Response. The Court will dismiss the

Petition.

I. Procedural History

In May 1995, pursuant to a plea agreement, Petitioner pled guilty to Aggravated

Sexual Abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1153, 2242(2)(A) and 2245. The plea agreement

provided for a sentencing range of up to 300 months. On May 18, 1995, the Court sentenced

Petitioner to a 300-month term of imprisonment.

II. Petition

Petitioner seeks to correct “errors of facts not apparent on the face of the record and

unknown to the trial court” and a reduction in his sentence.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has explained the scope and nature of the federal

writ of error coram nobis:

Case 3:12-cv-08132-GMS--MEA Document 5 Filed 08/02/12 Page 1 of 2
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The writ of error coram nobis affords a remedy to attack an unconstitutional

or unlawful conviction in cases when the petitioner already has fully served a

sentence. The petition fills a very precise gap in federal criminal procedure.

A convicted defendant in federal custody may petition to have a sentence or

conviction vacated, set aside or corrected under the federal habeas corpus

statute, 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

Telink, Inc. v. United States, 24 F.3d 42, 45 (9th Cir. 1994). Accordingly, an inmate still in

custody may not apply for coram nobis relief because the more usual remedy of a habeas

petition is still available. Matus-Leva, Matus-Leva v. United States, 287 F.3d 758, 761 (9th

Cir. 2002). 

Petitioner is still in custody and therefore may not apply for coram nobis relief. The

Court will dismiss the Petition.

IT IS ORDERED:

(1) The Petition for Writ of Error Coram Nobis (Doc. 93 in CR 94-266-PCT-GMS)

is denied and the civil action opened in connection with this Petition (CV 12-8132-PCTGMS (MEA)) is dismissed without prejudice. The Clerk of Court must enter judgment

accordingly.

(2) In the event Petitioner files an appeal, the Court declines to issue a certificate

of appealability because reasonable jurists would not find the Court’s procedural ruling

debatable. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).

DATED this 2nd day of August, 2012.

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