Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-4_08-cv-00358/USCOURTS-azd-4_08-cv-00358-1/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Steven Michael Fernandez,

Petitioner, 

vs.

Charles L. Ryan, et al., 

Respondents. 

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No. CIV 08-358-TUC-FRZ (BPV)

ORDER

Before the Court for consideration in this matter is the Report and Recommendation

of the United States Magistrate Judge, recommending the dismissal of the Petition Under 28

U.S.C. § 2254 for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.

As set forth in the Court’s Order screening this action and the Report and

Recommendation, Petitioner Steven Michael Fernandez, confined in the Arizona State Prison

Complex-Tucson, filed the Petition at issue, alleging (1) a violation of the Sixth and Eighth

Amendments because the “sentence exceeds the statutory maximum allowed by law” because

it exceeds the presumptive 6.5-year sentence; (2) a violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth

Amendments because the sentencing court abused its discretion by imposing a “sentence

contrary to the legislative intent . . . enacted by [the] Arizona legislature;” (3) the state court’s

failure “to conform with sentencing under Arizona Legislature laws as it pertain to Blak[e]ly

and Apprendi violates the 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendment[s] of the U.S. Const., especially

when the method of using priors to conform with Blak[e]ly is contrary to Arizona Legislative

Case 4:08-cv-00358-FRZ Document 21 Filed 05/11/11 Page 1 of 3
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intent;” and (4) a violation of his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of

counsel.

Upon screening, the Court ordered Respondents to file a response to the Petition.

Respondents filed an Answer to the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Petitioner did not

file a reply. 

This matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Bernardo P. Velasco pursuant to Rules

72.1 and 72.2 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for further proceedings and report and

recommendation.

Magistrate Judge Velasco issued his Report and Recommendation, recommending that

the Court enter an order denying the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and dismissing this

action in its entirely as untimely under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of

1996, 28 U.S.C. § 22543(d)(“AEDPA”). 

The Report and Recommendation sets forth the factual and procedural history of

Petitioner’s state court proceedings and the conviction at issue. 

The Report and Recommendation further advised that “[p]ursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§636(b), any party may serve and file written objections within ten days after being served

with a copy of this Report and Recommendation” and that “[i]f objections are not timely

filed, then the parties' right to de novo review by the District Court may be deemed waived.

See United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir. 2003).

No objections were filed. 

The Court finds, after consideration of the matters presented and an independent

review of the record herein, that the Petition should be denied and this action be dismissed

as recommended. 

Based on the foregoing,

IT IS ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Velasco’s Report and Recommendation [Doc.

20] is hereby ACCEPTED AND ADOPTED as the findings of fact and conclusions of law

by this Court;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED;

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment be entered accordingly.

DATED this 9th day of May, 2011.

Case 4:08-cv-00358-FRZ Document 21 Filed 05/11/11 Page 3 of 3