Court Opinion

ID: 13885
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 06:30:50+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:35.278750
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                           No. 97-10374
                         Summary Calendar

OTIS CHAMP ALLEN,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INSTITUTIONAL
DIVISION; FRENCH ROBERTSON UNIT, Employees,

                                         Defendants-Appellees.

                        - - - - - - - - - -
           Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Northern District of Texas
                      USDC No. 1:96-CV-172-N
                        - - - - - - - - - -
                          January 22, 1998
Before JONES, SMITH, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Otis Champ Allen, Texas prisoner #493474, proceeding pro se

and in forma pauperis (IFP), filed a civil rights suit against

the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division

(TDCJ-ID), and the employees of the French Robertson Unit.    Allen

alleged that the TDCJ-ID improperly implemented a policy of

issuing parole “set-offs” and “serve alls” which was not in place

when he was sentenced, and violated double-jeopardy principles by

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 97-30506
                                 -2-

revoking his parole for a misdemeanor offense for which he paid a

fine.    He also alleged that numerous French Robertson Unit

employees took his personal property and filed false disciplinary

charges against him.    The district court dismissed Allen’s

complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.

     Allen appeals, but does not challenge the basis for the

district court’s dismissal.    Because Allen does not address on

appeal the district court's reasons for dismissing the complaint,

he has abandoned the only appealable issue.

     For the first time on appeal, Allen asserts that certain

prison conditions violate his constitutional rights.     This court

reviews contentions not raised in the district court for plain

error.   Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass’n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1428

(5th Cir. 1996)(en banc).    Allen can show no plain error because

the district court did not consider this factual issue he raises

the first time on appeal.     Robertson v. Plano City of Texas, 70
F.3d 21, 23 (5th Cir. 1995).

     Allen’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous.

See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).      It is

therefore DISMISSED.    5th Cir. R. 42.2.   Allen’s “Motion for

Acquittal” is DENIED.

     We caution Allen that any additional frivolous appeals filed

by him or on his behalf will invite the imposition of sanctions.

To avoid sanctions, Allen is further cautioned to review any
                          No. 97-30506
                               -3-

pending appeals to ensure that they do not raise arguments that

are frivolous.

     APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTION DENIED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.