IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO 

EASTERN DIVISION 

PATRICK MAHONEY, 

 

 Petitioner, Case No. 2:14-cv-1463 

 Crim. No. 2:12-cr-0057 

 v. Judge Watson 

 Magistrate Judge King 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Respondent. 

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 

 Petitioner, a federal prisoner, brings this action to vacate, set aside or correct sentence 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This matter is before the Court on the Motion to Vacate and 

Memorandum in Support, ECF No. 46, Respondent’s Answer in Opposition, ECF No. 57, and the 

exhibits of the parties. For the reasons that follow, the Magistrate Judge RECOMMENDS that 

the Motion to Vacate be DISMISSED. 

 It is FURTHER RECOMMENDED that Petitioner’s request for a certificate of 

appealability, presented in the Memorandum in Support, ECF No. 46, PageID# 340, be 

DENIED.

Facts and Procedural History 

Petitioner was convicted, based on his Plea Agreement, on charges of attempted coercion 

or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) 

(Count Two of the Indictment, ECF No. 13), and distribution of depictions of child pornography 

via the internet in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), (b)(1) (Count Three of the Indictment). 

On October 16, 2012, the Court entered judgment imposing a sentence of 360 months’ 

imprisonment and 15 years’ supervised release. Judgment, ECF No. 34. On June 10, 2013, the 

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United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the judgment of this Court. United 

States of America v. Mahoney, Case No. 12-4240 (6th Cir. June 7, 2013), ECF No. 44. The 

Motion to Vacate challenges only Petitioner’s conviction on the enticement charge in violation of 

18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Petitioner alleges that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel 

because his attorney failed to object to the Court’s claimed violation of Rule 11 of the Federal 

Rules of Criminal Procedure, failed to argue that Petitioner’s conduct did not amount to “sexual 

activity” as that term is defined under federal law, and failed to object to the government’s 

failure to identify the underlying sexual offense. Petitioner maintains that, but for the ineffective 

assistance of his counsel, he would not have pleaded guilty but would have proceeded to trial. 

Respondent contends that Petitioner’s claim lacks merit. 

Standard of Review 

It is well-established that a motion to vacate under § 2255 “is not a substitute for a direct 

appeal.” Ray v. United States, 721 F.3d 758, 761 (6th Cir. 2013)(quoting Regalado v. United 

States, 334 F.3d 520, 528 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 167–68 

(1982)). In order to obtain relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a petitioner must establish the denial of 

a substantive right or defect in the trial that is inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair 

procedure. United States v. Timmreck, 441 U.S. 780 (1979); United States v. Ferguson, 918 F.2d 

627, 630 (6th Cir.1990) (per curiam). Relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is available when a federal 

sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, when the trial 

court lacked jurisdiction, or when the sentence exceeds the maximum sentence allowed by law or 

is “otherwise subject to collateral attack.” United States v. Jalili, 925 F.2d 889, 893 (6th Cir. 

1991). In the absence of constitutional error, the question is “whether the claimed error was a 

‘fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice,’ ” Davis v. 

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United States, 417 U.S. 333, 346 (1974)(quoting Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 428–429 

(1962); see also Griffin v. United States, 330 F.3d 733, 736 (6th Cir. 2006). Non-constitutional 

claims not raised at trial or on direct appeal are waived on collateral review except where the 

errors amount to something akin to a denial of due process. Accordingly, claims that could have 

been raised on direct appeal, but were not, will not be entertained on a motion under § 2255 

unless the petitioner shows: (1) cause and actual prejudice sufficient to excuse his failure to raise 

the claims previously; or (2) that he is “actually innocent” of the crime. Ray, 721 F.3d at 761 

(citing Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. 614, 622 (1998)) (internal citations omitted). 

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel 

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant 

the right to the effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686 

(1984). In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must 

demonstrate both that counsel's performance was deficient, or that counsel “made errors so 

serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed” by the Sixth Amendment, 

and that this deficient performance prejudiced the petitioner. Id. at 687. This showing requires 

that defense counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair and reliable 

trial. Id.

“Surmounting Strickland's high bar is never an easy task.” Padilla v. Kentucky, 599 U.S. 

356, 371 (2010). Given the difficulties inherent in determining whether an attorney's 

performance was constitutionally deficient, “a court must indulge a strong presumption that 

counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. . . .” 

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. Nevertheless, “[a]n error by counsel, even if professionally 

unreasonable, does not warrant setting aside the judgment of a criminal proceeding if the error 

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had no effect on the judgment.” Id. at 691. In order to establish prejudice, a petitioner must 

demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the result of the proceedings 

would have been different. Id. at 694. “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to 

undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. 

Because a petitioner must satisfy both prongs of Strickland in order to demonstrate the 

ineffective assistance of counsel, should a court determine that the petitioner has failed to satisfy 

one prong, it need not consider the other. Id. at 697. 

“The longstanding test for determining the validity of a guilty plea is ‘whether the plea 

represents a voluntary and intelligent choice among the alternative courses of action open to the 

defendant.’” Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. at 369 (citing North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 31 

(1970)). See Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242 (1969); Machibroda v. United States, 368 

U.S. 487, 493 (1962). In the context of a guilty plea, in order to establish prejudice, as that term 

is defined under Strickland, “the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, 

but for counsel's errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to 

trial.” Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. at 58-59. 

In arguing that his counsel’s performance was deficient, Petitioner first contends that his 

counsel should have objected to the Court’s alleged failure to advise him of all the essential 

elements of the enticement charge in violation of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal 

Procedure. Petitioner specifically alleges that the Court failed to advise him that the government 

would have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the sexual activity underlying the offense 

must have been that for which he could have been charged with a criminal offense, thus violating 

Rule 11(b)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Moreover, according to Petitioner, 

the Indictment and the plea colloquy fail to identify the particular sexual activity for which he 

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could have been charged under state law. It therefore follows, Petitioner argues, that he never 

admitted that the alleged sexual activity involved violated, or would have violated, state law. He 

asserts that his attorney performed in a constitutionally deficient manner by failing to raise these 

issues. 

Rule 11(b)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires the Court to inform 

the defendant of, and determine that he understands, “‘the nature of each charge to which the 

defendant is pleading.’” “Because a guilty plea involves the admission of ‘all the elements of a 

formal criminal charge,’” United States v. Syal, 963 F.2d 900, 904 (6th Cir. 1992)(quoting 

McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 466 (1969)), the accused ‘must have knowledge of all 

those elements.’” United States v. Valdez, 362 F.3d 903, 908 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Syal at 

904)). “In a simple case the district court may need only to read the indictment and allow the 

defendant to ask questions about the charge.” Syal, 963 F.2d at 904-05 (citing United States v. 

Van Buren, 804 F.2d 888, 892 (6th Cir. 1986)). “When the case is more complex, further 

explanation may be required.” Id. at 904. “‘In any case, the district court must be satisfied, after 

discussion with the defendant in open court, that the defendant understands the elements of the 

offense.’” United States v. McCreary-Reed, 475 F.3d 718, 723 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Syal, 963 

F.2d at 905; Van Buren, 804 F.2d at 892). “At a minimum, the defendant must understand the 

‘critical’ or ‘essential’ elements of the offense to which he or she pleads guilty.” Valdez, 362 

F.3d at 909 (citing Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. at 618-19). But see Henderson v. Morgan, 

426 U.S. 637 n.18 (1976)(“There is no need in this case to decide whether notice of the true 

nature, or substance, of a charge always requires a description of every element of the offense; 

we assume it does not. Nevertheless, intent is such a critical element of the offense of seconddegree murder that notice of that element is required.”) See also Bousley, 523 U.S. at 618 

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(noting that, where the defendant was provided a copy of the indictment prior to pleading guilty, 

such circumstances “give rise to a presumption that the defendant was informed of the nature of 

the charge against him.”)(citing Henderson v. Morgan, 426 U.S. at 647)). 

Rule 11(b)(1)(G)'s requirement that a defendant understand the 

essential elements of the crime is integrally related to Rule 

11(b)(3)'s requirement that the district court determine that the plea 

has a factual basis. “[B]ecause a guilty plea is an admission of all 

the elements of a formal criminal charge, it cannot be truly 

voluntary unless the defendant possesses an understanding of the 

law in relation to the facts.” McCarthy, 394 U.S. at 466, 89 S.Ct. 

1166 (citation omitted). “Thus, in addition to directing the judge to 

inquire into the defendant's understanding of the nature of the 

charge and the consequences of his plea, Rule 11 also requires the 

judge to satisfy himself that there is a factual basis for the plea.” 

Id. at 467, 89 S.Ct. 1166. See also Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(b)(3) 

(requiring district court to determine whether there is a factual 

basis for a plea before entering judgment on plea). 

Valdez, 362 F.3d at 909. 

The elements of the enticement offense charged in Count Two of the Indictment are: (1) 

that the Petitioner used interstate commerce in an attempt to knowingly persuade an individual 

under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity; (2) that he believed that such an individual was 

less than 18; and (3) that, had sexual activity occurred, he could have been charged with a 

criminal offense under state law. United States v. Hart, 635 F.3d 850, 855 (6th Cir. 2011). 

However, “§ 2422(b) does not incorporate the elements of the state offenses.” United States v. 

Hackworth, 483 Fed.Appx. 972, 977 (6th Cir. 2012)(citing Hart, 635 F.3d at 855). “[T]he 

government is not required to prove that the defendant completed or attempted to complete any 

specific chargeable offense. The government need only prove. . . that the defendant attempted 

to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity that would have been chargeable as a crime if it 

had been completed.” Hart, 635 F.3d at 855. Therefore, the mere fact that the precise crime for 

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which Petitioner could have been charged under state law was not specified does not warrant 

relief under § 2255. 

Count Two of the Indictment tracks the language of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b): 

On or about February 15, 2012 through February 17, 2012, in the 

Southern District of Ohio, the defendant, Patrick M. Mahoney, did 

knowingly use a means or facility of interstate commerce, that is, 

the Internet, to attempt to persuade, induce or entice an individual 

whom the defendant believed to be a 15 year-old female, to engage 

in any sexual activity for which the defendant can be charged with 

a criminal offense. 

In violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). 

Id. at PageID# 18 (emphasis added). At the change of plea hearing, the Court stated the 

following: 

THE COURT: All right. So the elements that the government 

must prove are set forth in this submission. With respect to Count 

2, there are two elements, essentially. The statute you’re offering 

to plead guilty to is an alleged violation of 18, United States Code, 

Section 2244(b): It carries a mandatory minimum 10 year sentence 

up to a possible maximum of life in prison. You could be fined up 

to a quarter of a million dollars, serve five years to life on 

supervised release, and you must pay a $100 special assessment. 

Those elements are as follows: 

The government would have to prove at trial beyond a reasonable 

doubt that you, Patrick Michael Mahoney, did knowingly use or 

attempt to use a means of interstate commerce; in other words, the 

internet, to persuade, induce, or entice an individual who had not 

attained the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity; and secondly, 

they’d have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that your acts with 

respect to this count occurred in whole or in part or otherwise 

touched in some way the Southern District of Ohio, which is the 

jurisdiction of this court. 

Transcript of Plea Proceedings, ECF No. 42, PageID# 235. In his Plea Agreement, however, 

Petitioner expressly agreed to plead guilty to Count Two of the Indictment, “which charges him 

with Attempted Coercion or Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity in 

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violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b),” id. at PageID# 35 (emphasis added), and at the change of plea 

proceedings, the prosecutor confirmed that Petitioner had agreed to plead guilty to Count 2 of 

the Indictment, which charged him with “attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage 

in illegal sexual activity,” Transcript of Plea Proceedings, PageID# 232, 239 (emphasis added). 

Petitioner acknowledged, at the time he entered his guilty plea, that he had had an 

opportunity to discuss the charge with his attorney. Id. at PageID# 231. He was completely 

satisfied with the advice and representation of his counsel. Id. at PageID# 232. The Court 

advised Petitioner of all of the rights waived by the entry of his guilty plea. Id. at PageID# 233-

34. Petitioner acknowledged that the Court had the authority to impose any sentence up to the 

statutory maximum, and that the Court had not yet determined his sentence. Id. at PageID# 237, 

241. He understood that any estimate of the probable sentencing range under the Sentencing 

Guidelines that he may have received was only a prediction, not a promise, and was not binding 

on the Court. Id. at PageID# 237-38, 241. The government made no promise or representation 

concerning the sentence Petitioner may receive, and he could not withdraw his guilty plea based 

upon the actual sentence received. Id. at PageID# 242. The prosecutor then reviewed the 

parties’ agreements in regard to the application of the advisory United States Sentencing 

Guidelines. Id. at PageID# 242-43. The government agreed to dismiss all counts of the 

Indictment except Counts Two and Three and agreed not to file any additional charges based on 

the activities charged or related to child exploitation occurring prior to the date of the Indictment. 

Id. at PageID# 245. Petitioner indicated that he had asked his counsel all the questions that he 

had concerning his guilty plea, and that counsel had answered his questions to his satisfaction. 

Id. at PageID# 246-47. Petitioner wished to go forward with full knowledge of the nature of the 

charge and the consequences of his plea. Id. He had not been threatened or coerced into 

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entering the guilty plea; he did so of his own free will and volition because he was guilty of the 

offense. Id. 

Thus, Petitioner repeatedly was informed, through the Indictment, the Plea Agreement, 

and at the time of the guilty plea hearing, that the charge involved his attempted coercion or 

enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, or one for which he could have been 

charged criminally. Further, Petitioner acknowledged that he had discussed the charge with his 

attorney and was completely satisfied with the advice and representation of counsel. The term 

“illegal sexual activity,” i.e., sexual activity for which he could have been criminally charged, is 

not so complex that it would have been difficult for Petitioner to comprehend. Further, the 

prosecutor summarized the facts of the case, which plainly set forth the underlying criminal 

activity: 

On February 6, 2012, Detective Brett Peachey of the Franklin 

County sheriff’s office Internet Crimes Against Children task force 

was working in an undercover capacity and posing as the mother 

of three children, ages 4, 8 and 11. 

During the course of the investigation, Detective Peachey engaged 

in an instant messaging chat via the internet with an individual 

using the screen name godofeptyness on the Yahoo! Instant 

messenger Program. The individual using this screen name was 

later identified as Patrick Mahoney of Columbus Ohio. 

During the initial conversation and throughout the additional 

conversations that occurred on the subsequent 10 days, Mahoney 

raised this issue and discussed in detail his interest in engaging in 

various sex acts with the children of Detective Peachey’s 

undercover persona. Mahoney also sent various files containing 

child pornography to Detective Peachey’s undercover persona 

totaling approximately 45 images and 9 videos depicting 

prepubescent males and females lasciviously displaying their 

genitals and/or engaged in sexual activity with adult males or other 

children. 

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One of the files that Mahoney sent to Detective Peachey was 

entitled “(PTHC) 5yo Kait dad extasy dash Kathie getting a 

mouthful of my cum.avi.” 

Although Detective Peachey and Mahoney discussed the 

possibility of meeting in person several times, no meeting was ever 

arranged. 

Beginning on February 15, 2012, Franklin County sheriff’s office 

Internet Crimes Against Children task force Detective Jeffrey 

Shook, also acting in an undercover capacity and posing as a 15 

year old girl, engaged in internet chat via Yahoo! Messenger with 

Mahoney. Detective Shook’s undercover persona contacted 

Mahoney via Yahoo! Messenger and stated that she liked his 

screen name. 

During the course of the chats to follow, Mahoney quickly began 

asking Detective Shook’s undercover persona whether she had a 

boyfriend and about her sexual history. 

Mahoney was informed that Detective Shook’s undercover persona 

was 15 on at least two occasions during the chats. 

Less than five hours after the chat began on February 15, Mahoney 

suggested a meeting with Detective Shook’s undercover persona 

and asked for pictures to confirm that persona. 

During chats that continued on February 16, 2012, Mahoney 

expressed an interest in engaging in sexual intercourse, oral and 

anal sex, with what he believed to be the 15 year old female. 

On February 16, 2012, at approximately 11:31 a.m., Mahoney 

engaged in a chat with Detective Shook’s undercover persona and 

asked what he believed to be the 15 year old female if she was 

available to meet the following day. 

During the course of this chat session, Mahoney asked a fictitious 

15 year old female if she was on the pill, where she wanted him to 

cum, if she had tried anal intercourse, if she liked being licked, if 

he could take pictures of their sexual acts, and whether she had 

ever smoked fake pot. Mahoney further requested that she wear a 

school girl outfit. 

The meeting was arranged for February 17, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. 

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On February 17, 2002, ICAC task force officers and agents set up 

surveillance outside of the restaurant where Mahoney had arranged 

to meet the fictitious 15 year old female. Additional officers 

followed Mahoney as he left his home and then made several stops 

before arriving at the prearranged meet location in Hilliard, Ohio, 

in the Southern District of Ohio. 

Mahoney had in his possession the following items: Condoms, 

lubricant, synthetic marijuana, Extenze pills, and miscellaneous 

drug paraphernalia and a cellular telephone. 

Upon his arrival, ICAC officers made contact with Mahoney and 

advised him that he was under investigation. 

Mahoney thereafter agreed to speak with officers and provided the 

following information to them. 

He had chatted online with what he believed to be a 15 year old 

girl. He had arrived to meet the 15 year old girl and have sex with 

her. He intended to use his cell phone to photograph the sexual 

activity. He had used a peer-to-peer program Gigatribe to 

download files containing child pornography to a laptop computer, 

and that he had more than 100 files containing child pornography 

on his computer. 

Mahoney further admitted that a statement that he had made during 

the course of a previous chat with Detective Peachey’s undercover 

persona regarding his sexual conduct with his minor stepdaughter 

was true. Mahoney explained that he had engaged in oral, vaginal 

and anal intercourse with his stepdaughter from the age of 6 or 7 

until she was approximately 10 years old on at least five occasions. 

As a result of the investigation and the information provided by 

Mahoney, agents and officers executed a federal search warrant at 

the Mahoney residence, 3661 Creekwood Avenue, Columbus, 

Ohio 43223, in the Southern District of Ohio. 

During the course of the search warrant, officers seized one Acer 

laptop computer, one Toshiba laptop computer, one Micro SD card 

with reader, and six compact discs. 

A forensic preview of the computers and electronic storage of the 

devices revealed the presence of numerous images and videos of 

child pornography. 

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Transcript of Plea Proceedings, PageID# 248-51. With the exception of admitting to sexual acts 

with his stepdaughter on “not more than five occasions,” Petitioner admitted the truth of those 

facts. Id. at PageID# 252. He had no questions for the Court. Id. Petitioner admitted his guilt to 

the offense charged in Count Two of the Indictment, i.e., attempted coercion or enticement of a 

minor to engage in illegal sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Transcript of Plea 

Proceedings, PageID# 253. The Court found that Petitioner’s plea was knowing and voluntary 

and supported by an independent basis in fact containing each of the essential elements of the 

offense; the Court therefore accepted Petitioner’s plea. Id. 

 On this record, and under these circumstances, this Court is persuaded that Petitioner 

understood the nature of the charge contained in Count Two of the Indictment and the elements 

of that offense. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(G). The statement of facts detailed the illegal 

sexual activity to which the charge referred, and Petitioner had full knowledge of the allegations 

comprising the charge against him and the elements of that offense. See United States v. Moore,

423 Fed.Appx. 495, 500 (6th Cir. 2011)(“The district court must be satisfied, after discussion 

with the defendant in open court, that the defendant understands the elements of the offense.”). 

Any technical failure to comply with Rule 11 will not serve, under these circumstances, to vitiate 

Petitioner’s otherwise valid plea of guilty to the offense charged in Count Two of the Indictment. 

See United States v. Syal, 963 F.2d at 904. The Court concludes that Petitioner was not denied 

the effective assistance of counsel by reason of his attorney’s failure to object to the plea 

proceedings. 

 Petitioner also alleges that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel because his 

attorney failed to argue that Petitioner’s conduct did not constitute the “sexual activity” 

prohibited by 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) because it did not involve physical contact. Section 2422(b) 

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does not define the term “sexual activity” except to specify that it includes “any sexual activity 

[or attempt] for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense. . . .” Petitioner relies 

on United States v. Taylor, 640 F.3d 255 (7th Cir. 2011), in which the United States Court of 

Appeals for the Seventh Circuit concluded that the term “sexual activity” as used in 18 U.S.C. § 

2422(b) is synonymous with the term “illicit sexual conduct” as used in 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b), 

which prohibits travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. “Illicit sexual conduct” is 

defined in 18 U.S.C. §2423(f) as “a sexual act (as defined in section 2246) with a person under 

18 years of age. . . .” Section 2246(2), in turn, defines the term “sexual act” as including some 

form of sexual touching or contact. Following this reasoning, the Seventh Circuit in Taylor held 

that enticing a minor to engage in masturbation was not the “sexual activity” prohibited by § 

2422(b).1

 Relying on Taylor, Petitioner argues that, because no sexual contact occurred, he is 

likewise not guilty of an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). This Court is not persuaded. 

 Petitioner was charged with attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in illegal 

sexual activity. The sexual activity at issue involved his attempts to coerce or entice an 

individual whom he believed to be a 15 year old child to engage in various sexual acts, including 

sexual intercourse, and oral and anal sex. Therefore, regardless of whether the term “illegal 

sexual activity” is defined as to require sexual contact, Petitioner formally admitted that 

attempted to entice or coerce such conduct. Petitioner’s claim of ineffective assistance of 

counsel in this regard is without merit. 

 Finally, Petitioner has failed to establish that, but for the ineffective assistance of counsel, 

he would not have entered the guilty plea. The evidence of Petitioner’s guilt was substantial, and 

it does not appear that the government would have had difficulty in establishing the elements of 

                                                            

1 Other federal courts have disagreed with Taylor. See, e.g., United States v. Paulsen, 591 Fed.Appx. 910, 913 (11th

Cir. 2015)(noting disagreement between the federal courts of appeals). 

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the offense charged. Petitioner admitted his guilt to police. He entered a knowing, intelligent, 

and voluntary guilty plea. By the entry of his guilty plea, the government agreed to dismiss the 

remainder of the charges against him, i.e., Counts One, and Four through Six of the Indictment. 

The government agreed not to file additional charges based on the activities charged in the 

Indictment, thereby reducing Petitioner’s potential sentencing exposure. Additionally, Petitioner 

claimed a three level reduction in his recommended sentence under the United States Sentencing 

Guidelines for acceptance of responsibility. See Defendant’s Sentencing Memorandum, ECF No. 

30, PageID# 75. 

 For all these reasons, then, this Court concludes that Petitioner has failed to establish the 

denial of the effective assistance of counsel. 

 Petitioner asks that, should his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel be rejected, the 

Court issue a certificate of appealability. Memorandum in Support, ECF No. 46, PageID# 340. 

Where a claim is denied on the merits, a certificate of appealability may issue only if the 

petitioner “has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 

2253(c)(2). This standard is a codification of Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880 (1983). Slack v. 

McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (recognizing codification of Barefoot in 28 U.S.C. § 

2253(c)(2)). To make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, a petitioner 

must show “that reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the 

petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were 

‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.’” Slack, 529 U.S. at 484 (quoting 

Barefoot, 463 U.S., at 893 n. 4). The Court is not persuaded that Petitioner has met this standard 

here. 

Recommended Disposition 

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It is therefore RECOMMENDED that this action be dismissed. It is FURTHER 

RECOMMENDED that Petitioner’s request for a certificate of appealability be denied. 

Procedure on Objections 

If any party objects to this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen 

(14) days of the date of this report, file and serve on all parties written objections to those 

specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made, together with 

supporting authority for the objection(s). A judge of this Court shall make a de novo

determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations 

to which objection is made. Upon proper objections, a judge of this Court may accept, reject, or 

modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein, may receive further 

evidence or may recommit this matter to the magistrate judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 

636(b)(1). 

The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and

Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to have the district judge review the Report 

and Recommendation de novo, and also operates as a waiver of the right to appeal the decision of 

the District Court adopting the Report and Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 

(1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir.1981). 

The parties are further advised that, if they intend to file an appeal of any adverse 

decision, they may submit arguments in any objections filed, regarding whether a certificate of 

appealability should issue. 

 

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16

 s/ Norah McCann King 

 Norah McCann King 

United States Magistrate Judge 

January 13, 2016 

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