Court Opinion

ID: 29149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:35:05+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:40.584218
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                         FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 02-20576
                           Summary Calendar

THERON BELTON,

                                           Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

REGINA GROSCHKE; DIANE COBB; LAWRENCE A. STOKER,

                                           Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                      USDC No. H-01-CV-1035
                       --------------------
                         October 11, 2002

Before JOLLY, PARKER and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Theron Belton, Texas prison # 845198, appeals the dismissal

of his civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.    Belton

moves to file a supplemental brief to raise a new claim of

intentional infliction of emotional distress.     We may not

consider a claim raised for the first time on appeal.     Leverette

v. Louisville Ladder Co., 183 F.3d 339, 342 (5th Cir. 1999).

Belton’s motion to file a supplemental brief is DENIED.

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
                             No. 02-20576
                                  -2-

     Belton argues that the district court erred in dismissing

his claim, that he had been denied access to the courts by a

delay in his mail, pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to

state a claim upon which relief can be granted.    Prisoners have a

constitutionally protected right of access to the courts;

however, to prevail on a denial-of-access claim, a plaintiff must

show an actual injury.     Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 350-52

(1996).   Belton alleges that he was thwarted in challenging his

current conviction by a delay to his legal mail.    The record

shows that Belton filed a timely 28 U.S.C. § 2254 application

challenging his current conviction.    The district court did not

err in dismissing Belton’s complaint because he has not shown an

actual injury.    See Black v. Warren, 134 F.3d 732, 733-34 (5th

Cir. 1998).    Belton's appeal is without arguable merit and is

DISMISSED.    5TH CIR. R. 42.2.

     Belton has at least two verified strikes against him.

Belton v. Henson, No. 01-41324 (5th Cir. Aug. 20, 2002)

(unpublished).    Belton has acquired another two strikes as a

result of the dismissals of his complaint and appeal.    Belton may

no longer proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in any civil action or

appeal filed while he is in prison unless he is under imminent

danger of serious physical injury.     See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g);

Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir. 1996).

     APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTION DENIED; BAR IMPOSED.