Case Name: Eric Michael WHITFIELD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Doug DRETKE, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division; Thomas A. Davis, Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory; David McEathron, Assistant Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory; Troy Scarborough, Administrator Associate; Tom Greff, Nurse Manager; Roger D. Powelek, Warden; Linda Basaldua-Cono, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Shane E. Piper, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Samuel Samora, Captain, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-06-21
Citations: 186 F. App'x 496
Docket Number: No. 05-50357
Parties: Eric Michael WHITFIELD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Doug DRETKE, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division; Thomas A. Davis, Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory; David McEathron, Assistant Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory; Troy Scarborough, Administrator Associate; Tom Greff, Nurse Manager; Roger D. Powelek, Warden; Linda Basaldua-Cono, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Shane E. Piper, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Samuel Samora, Captain, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before STEWART, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 186
Pages: 496–498

Head Matter:
Eric Michael WHITFIELD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Doug DRETKE, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division; Thomas A. Davis, Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory; David McEathron, Assistant Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory; Troy Scarborough, Administrator Associate; Tom Greff, Nurse Manager; Roger D. Powelek, Warden; Linda Basaldua-Cono, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Shane E. Piper, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Samuel Samora, Captain, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 05-50357.
Conference Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided June 21, 2006.
Eric Michael Whitfield, Hondo, TX, pro se.
Jason E. Magee, Office of the Attorney General Law Enforcement Defense Div., Austin, TX, for Defendants-Appellees.
Before STEWART, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Eric Michael Whitfield, Texas prisoner # 1134493, seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) following the district court's certification pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that his appeal is not taken in good faith. Whitfield commenced this civil rights action alleging that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when blood samples were taken from him on two occasions for the purpose of obtaining DNA information. Whitfield asserted that he was threatened with the use of force and with receiving a disciplinary violation if he did not submit to the blood tests. The district court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the action, holding that Whitfield had failed to state a claim.
Liberally construing Whitfield's IFP application, as we must, he contends only that the district court erred in its certification decision because he stated a constitutional claim based on his having been threatened and coerced into providing DNA samples. The collection of DNA samples from prisoners under DNA collection programs is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. See Groceman v. United States Dep't of Justice, 354 F.3d 411, 413 (5th Cir.2004); Velasquez v. Woods, 329 F.3d 420, 421 (5th Cir.2003). Allegations of verbal threats relating to obtaining the samples do not state a cognizable constitutional claim. See Bender v. Brumley, 1 F.3d 271, 274 n. 4 (5th Cir. 1993). Accordingly, Whitfield's appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.1983); 5th Cir. R. 42.2. Therefore, his motion for leave to proceed IFP is denied, and his appeal is dismissed.
The district court's dismissal of Whitfield's action and our dismissal of his appeal count as two strikes for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Whitfield is warned that should he accumulate three strikes for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) he will be unable to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal filed while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.
MOTION DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.