Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_13-cv-08149/USCOURTS-azd-3_13-cv-08149-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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TERMPSREF 

WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

United States of America, 

Plaintiff, 

 vs. 

Branden Pete, 

Defendant/Movant. 

No. CV 13-8149-PCT-RCB (DKD) 

 CR 03-0355-PCT-RCB 

 O R D E R 

 

 

 Movant Branden Pete, who is confined in the U.S. Penitentiary in Florence, 

Colorado, has filed a pro se Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or 

Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody. Movant also filed a motion for the 

appointment of counsel. (Doc. 4.) The Court will deny the motion for appointment of 

counsel as moot and grant counsel leave to file an amended § 2255 motion within 30 days 

from the filing date of this Order. 

I. Procedural History 

 Movant was convicted by a jury of second degree murder, a lesser included 

offense of first degree murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1153 and 1111, as charged in 

count one of the superseding indictment; felony murder in the course of a kidnapping in 

violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1153 and 1201(a)(2), as charged in count two of the 

superseding indictment; felony murder in the course of aggravated sexual abuse in 

violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1153, 111, and 2241(a)(1), as charged in count four of the 

superseding indictment; and conspiracy to commit murder in violation of 18 U.S.C. 

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§ 1117, as charged in count seven of the superseding indictment. (Doc. 302.) At the 

time of the offenses, Movant was 16 years old. On April 17, 2006, the Court sentenced 

Movant to concurrent life terms on each count followed by five years on supervised 

release. On June 10, 2008, the Ninth Circuit’s mandate affirming Movant’s conviction 

and sentences issued. (Doc. 329.) 

II. Appointment of Counsel 

 In April of this year, the Court received a letter from Keith J. Hilzendeger, of the 

Federal Public Defender’s Office, seeking appointment of Daniel R. Drake to file a 

motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 on Movant’s behalf. (Doc. 332.) This Court referred that 

matter to Magistrate Judge Lawrence Anderson. 

 On April 18, 2013, Magistrate Judge Anderson rejected the informal request to 

appoint counsel with express leave to file a formal motion for appointment of counsel. 

(Doc. 333.) On May 21, 2013, Drake filed an ex parte motion for appointment.1

 (Doc. 

334.) On May 22, 2013, Magistrate Judge Anderson granted the motion, nunc pro tunc

to May 17, 2013. (Doc. 335.) 

 On June 7, 2013, Movant filed his pro se § 2255 motion, resulting in the opening 

of CV13-8149-PCT-RCB (DKD), apparently unaware that Drake had been appointed to 

appear on his behalf. (Doc. 1; Doc. 337 in CR03-0355-PCT-RCB.) Movant also filed a 

pro se motion for appointment of counsel. (Doc. 4.) Because counsel has already been 

appointed to represent Movant in filing a § 2255 motion, the Court will deny Movant’s 

motion for appointment of counsel, filed in the civil case, and will grant leave for 

Movant’s counsel to file an amended § 2255 motion in the civil case within 30 days of 

the filing date of this Order. 

IT IS ORDERED:

 (1) Movant’s pro se motion for appointment of counsel, filed in the civil case, 

 

1

 Drake mistakenly stated that he anticipated that he would file a motion for 

authorization to file a second or successive § 2255 motion based on Miller. Because 

Movant has not previously filed a § 2255, it appears that Drake meant to say that he anticipated filing a § 2255 on Movant’s behalf. 

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is denied as moot. (Doc. 4.) 

 (2) Movant’s counsel, Daniel R. Drake, must forthwith file a notice of 

appearance in the civil case, CV13-8149-PCT-RCB (DKD). 

 (3) Movant, through counsel, is granted leave to file an amended § 2255 

motion in the civil case no later than 30 days from the filing date of this Order. 

 (4) The parties and the Clerk of Court must file all documents related to the 

§ 2255 Motion, or any amended § 2255 motion, in the civil case. 

 (5) The Clerk of Court must forward a copy of this Order to Daniel R. Drake, Esq. 

DATED this 2nd day of August, 2013. 

Case 3:13-cv-08149-RCB-DKD Document 5 Filed 08/02/13 Page 3 of 3