Contreras v. Gamboa

• Court: District Court, N.D. California
• Decided: January 4, 2021
• Docket: 5:20-cv-06206
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 ERNESTO M. CONTRERAS, 11 Case No. 20-06206 BLF (PR) Petitioner, 12 ORDER OF INITIAL REVIEW; v. DENYING MOTION FOR STAY 13 WITHOUT PREJUDICE; DIRECTING PETITIONER TO 14 ROSEMARY NDOH, Warden, FILE RENEWED MOTION 15 Respondent. 16

17 18 Petitioner, a California inmate, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus 19 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his state conviction in Santa Clara County 20 Superior Court.1 Dkt. No. 1. Petitioner has paid the filing fee. Dkt. No. 6. 21 22 DISCUSSION 23 I. Standard of Review 24 This court may entertain a petition for a writ of habeas corpus “in behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in 25 custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. 26 27 1 § 2254(a). 2 It shall “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant 3 or person detained is not entitled thereto.” Id. § 2243. 4 II. Analysis 5 Petitioner claims the following grounds for habeas relief: (1) the trial court 6 incorrectly imposed consecutive sentencing under state law; (2) the state appellate court 7 denied him due process by failing to remand the matter after the trial court incorrectly 8 imposed consecutive sentences; and (3) there was insufficient evidence to support Count 3, 9 aggravated sexual assault of a child, in violation of his right to a fair trial and due process. 10 Dkt. No. 1 at 5. Liberally construed, these claims are cognizable under § 2254 and merit 11 an answer from Respondent. 12 Petitioner contends that a polygraph that he took and passed was never argued on 13 appeal, and seeks a stay to exhaust this new claim in state court. Dkt. No. 1 at 5-6. The 14 United States Supreme Court has held that a district court may stay mixed habeas petitions 15 to allow the petitioner to exhaust in state court. Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 277-78 16 (2005). Rhines requires a petitioner to show (1) “good cause” for his failure to exhaust his 17 claims in state court; (2) that his unexhausted claims are not “plainly meritless”; and (3) 18 that he has not engaged in “intentionally dilatory litigation tactics.” 544 U.S. at 278. 19 Petitioner has failed to argue any and all of the factors under Rhines to warrant a stay. 20 Accordingly, the request is DENIED without prejudice to filing a renewed motion, 21 showing that he satisfies the Rhines factors. If Petitioner fails to make such a showing, the 22 matter shall proceed on the cognizable claims identified above. 23 24 CONCLUSION 25 For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner’s motion for a stay is DENIED without 26 prejudice to filing a renewed motion that satisfies Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269 (2005). 1 date this order is filed. If Petitioner fails to file the motion in the time provided, the Court 2 || shall order the matter served on Respondent to proceed on the cognizable claims identified 3 herein. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 || Dated: _January 4, 2021 beh Lows hamen) BETH LABSON FREEMAN 6 United States District Judge 7 8 9 10 11 12

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Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5 Order of Initial Review; Denying Mot.; Directing P. to File Renewed Motion PRO-SE\BLF\HC.20\06206Contreras_initial review&deny.stay 26 27