Court Opinion

ID: 3035046
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:52:00.959235+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:53:22.710860
License: Public Domain

Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

9-26-2008

Corral v. Samuels
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 08-2444

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Recommended Citation
"Corral v. Samuels" (2008). 2008 Decisions. Paper 475.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2008/475

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BLD-276                                           NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                       No. 08-2444
                                       ___________

                              PABLO FAVELA CORRAL,
                                                 Appellant

                                             v.

 CHARLES SAMUELS, WARDEN; ANTHONY BOYCE; DHO; HARRELL WATTS,
    ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL INMATE APPEALS; SCOTT DODRILL,
    REGIONAL DIRECTOR, NORTHEAST REGION BUREAU OF PRISONS
               ____________________________________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                               for the District of New Jersey
                                 (D.C. Civil No. 07-2779)
                     District Judge: Honorable Jerome B. Simandle
                      ____________________________________

 Submitted for Possible Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P.
                                       10.6
                                 August 14, 2008

                Before: MCKEE, RENDELL and SMITH, Circuit Judges

                           (Opinion filed: September 26, 2008)
                                        _________

                                         OPINION
                                        _________

PER CURIAM

       Pablo Favela Corral, a pro se prisoner incarcerated at FCI-Fort Dix, appeals an

order of the District Court dismissing his petition for writ of habeas corpus, which he
filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Appellees, officials at the Bureau of Prisons

(“BOP”), have filed a motion for summary affirmance. We will grant the motion.

       In his habeas petition, Corral asserts that BOP officials wrongfully charged him

with three disciplinary violations (threatening another with bodily harm, insolence

towards staff, and using obscene/abusive language) and that the Disciplinary Hearing

Officer (“DHO”) wrongfully sanctioned him for these violations. As a result of the

sanction imposed, Corral lost 27 days of good time credit and a number of privileges. He

challenges the loss of good time credits in this habeas petition.

       Corral, who speaks only Spanish, asserts that BOP officials denied him due

process by failing to obtain an independent translation of his statement to the officer who

filed the charges against him. Corral contends that, if properly translated, his remarks

would not support the charges against him. Relying on a staff member’s translation of

Corral’s statement, the DHO determined that Corral had said the following: “Why are you

f-ing with me. I am going to write your ass up Mother F-er. You will see what is going

to happen to you later[,] punk.” Corral insists that his statement contained no obscenity,

and that, properly translated, said, “Why do you harass me? I’m going to write you up

cuckhold; I’m tired of this foolishness[,] you’ll see later what happens.” The District

Court determined that Corral’s own translation of his statement could be construed as a

threat, based upon the language used and Corral’s concession that he raised his voice

when speaking to the BOP official. Because there was some evidence to support the

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disciplinary decision regardless of the translation credited, the District Court dismissed

the habeas petition.

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. A prison disciplinary

determination comports with due process if it is based on some evidence. Superintendent,

Mass. Corr. Inst. v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454-56 (1985) (“[T]he relevant question is

whether there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by

the disciplinary board.”). Considering Corral’s own translation of his statement, we agree

that the DHO’s decision was based on some evidence. Corral conceded that he raised his

voice and told the officer, “Why do you harass me? I’m going to write you up cuckhold;

I’m tired of this foolishness[,] you’ll see later what happens.” Spoken in a loud tone, this

statement is adequate to support a finding that Corral had made a threat to an officer and

that he had exhibited insolence. Corral’s use of the term “cuckhold” can be considered

abusive language. Under these circumstances, the DHO’s decision was adequately

supported and comported with due process under Hill.

       As this appeal presents no substantial question, we will grant appellee’s motion for

summary affirmance. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4 and 3d Cir. I.O.P. 10.6.1

  1
   Appellant also raises a number of arguments for the first time on appeal: that he was
not permitted to call witnesses at his disciplinary hearing, that he was not permitted to
show video surveillance footage of his interaction with BOP officials, and that the
appropriate punishment for obscene speech under BOP regulations is the revocation of
certain privileges, not the loss of good time credits. As appellant failed to timely raise
these arguments, they are waived. United Parcel Service v. Int’l Broth. of Teamsters,
Local No. 430, 55 F.3d 138, 140 n. 5 (3d Cir. 1995).

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