Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00155/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00155-18/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

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

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN WESLEY WILLIAMS,

Plaintiff,

v.

BEER, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:21-cv-00155-ADA-EPG (PC)

ORDER PERMITTING RESPONSE TO 

STATUS REPORT

(ECF No. 68)

Plaintiff John Williams is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with this civil rights action.

This action is proceeding based on allegations that Defendant Oaks physically and sexually 

assaulted Plaintiff on August 5, 2019, that Defendant Pascoe failed to protect Plaintiff from 

Defendant Oaks, and that Defendants Oaks, Pascoe, Riddle, Beer, Garcia, and Cubos failed to 

provide or summon medical care after the assault. (ECF Nos. 1, 10, 13, 25). 

On April 5, 2022, the Court granted Defendants’ motion to stay this action pending the 

resolution of the related state criminal proceedings. (ECF No. 53). The Court also directed 

Defendants “to file a status report within fourteen days after the criminal case is resolved, or one 

year after the date of the stay, whichever is earlier.” (Id. at 2). Since then, Defendants have filed 

three status reports noting that the criminal case has not been resolved. (ECF Nos. 62, 64, 66). 

Before the Court now is Defendants’ fourth status report, stating that Plaintiff has been granted 

mental health diversion for two years under California Penal Code § 1001.36. (ECF No. 68). 

Case 1:21-cv-00155-KES-EPG Document 69 Filed 09/18/23 Page 1 of 2
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

2

In pertinent part, it states as follows:

Defendants’ counsel received a letter from Plaintiff on September 13, 2023, 

advising that his motion for diversion had been granted and his case was sent to 

mental health diversion under Penal Code § 1001.36. In that letter, Plaintiff 

contended the stay should be lifted. Defendants disagree. Even with the petition 

for diversion granted, Plaintiff’s criminal case is not yet resolved. Mental Health 

Diversion under Penal Code section 1001.36 allows court to “grant pretrial 

diversion to a defendant charged with a misdemeanor or felony when the court 

determines the defendant suffered from a specified illness, and ‘the defendant’s 

mental disorder was a significant factor in the commission of the charged 

offense.’” Cal. Crim. Proc., Mental Health Diversion, § 15:9 (Rutter 2022). Under 

California Penal Code section 1001.36(f)(1)(C)(i)-(ii), the diversion period is up to 

two years for felony charges and up to one year for misdemeanor charges. 

Pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.36(g), the diversion can be terminated and 

criminal proceedings reinstated for a number of reasons, including if the Plaintiff 

is charged with an additional felony or misdemeanor during the diversion period; 

engages in criminal conduct rendering him unsuitable for diversion, or he performs 

unsatisfactorily in the diversion program. Cal. Pen. Code § 1001.36(g). The 

criminal charges will not be dismissed until the end of the diversion and dismissal 

is contingent upon Plaintiff performing satisfactorily in the diversion program. 

Cal. Pen. Code § 1001.36(h). Accordingly, it is Defendants’ position that the 

criminal case is still pending and the stay should remain in place.

(Id. at 2). 

Upon review, the Court finds it appropriate to give Plaintiff the opportunity to file a 

response to Defendants’ status report.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED as follows:

1. By no later than October 9, 2023, Plaintiff is permitted to file a response to Defendants’ 

status report. (ECF No. 68).

2. Plaintiff is advised that, if no response is received by this date, the Court may continue 

the stay in this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 18, 2023 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-00155-KES-EPG Document 69 Filed 09/18/23 Page 2 of 2