Crawford Jr v. Howell

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: February 4, 2022
• Docket: 2:19-cv-01574
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

7 DISTRICT OF NEVADA

8 WILLIAM CRAWFORD, JR., Case No. 2:19-cv-01574-RFB-BNW 9 Petitioner, 10 ORDER v. 11

12 JERRY HOWELL, et al.,

13 Respondents.

16 I. Introduction 17 This action is a petition for writ of habeas corpus by William Crawford, Jr., an individual 18 incarcerated at the Southern Desert Correctional Center, in Indian Springs, Nevada. Crawford was 19 convicted on October 29, 2014, pursuant to a jury verdict, in Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District 20 Court, in Clark County, of two counts each of involuntary servitude, pandering, pandering: 21 furnishing transportation, and living from the earnings of a prostitute, and one count each of 22 battery, battery with use of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, and 23 aggravated stalking, and he was sentenced to a total of 16.5 to 53.5 years in prison. See Judgment 24 of Conviction, Exh. 32, ECF Nos. 24-26; Order of Affirmance on Direct Appeal, Exh. 49, 24-43. 25 The Court appointed counsel to represent Crawford (ECF No. 4), and, with counsel, Crawford 26 filed a first amended habeas petition (ECF No. 16) and then a second amended habeas petition 27 (ECF No. 19). The respondents then filed a motion to dismiss (ECF No. 23), arguing that certain 1 of the claims in Crawford’s second amended petition are unexhausted in state court. Along with 2 his opposition to the motion to dismiss (ECF No. 28), Crawford filed a motion for leave to conduct 3 discovery (ECF No. 30). Respondents’ motion to dismiss and Crawford’s motion for leave to 4 conduct discovery are fully briefed. See ECF Nos. 23, 28, 30, 34, 35, 36. The Court determines 5 that one of Crawford’s claims is unexhausted and will, therefore, grant the motion to dismiss in 6 part and deny it in part; the Court will require Crawford to make an election regarding the 7 unexhausted claim, to either abandon the claim or file a motion for a stay, so that he may exhaust 8 the claim in state court before this action proceeds. 9 II. Background 10 Crawford was charged, by indictment, on April 11, 2014. Indictment, Exh. 9, ECF No. 24- 11 3. He pleaded not guilty and was tried before a jury in 2014. See Transcript of Arraignment, Exh. 12 13, ECF No. 24-7; Trial Transcripts, Exhs. 18, 20, 21, 22, ECF Nos. 24-12, 24-14, 24-15, 24-16. 13 The jury found Crawford guilty on all counts. Verdict, Exh. 24, ECF No. 24-18. He was sentenced 14 on October 23, 2014, and the judgment of conviction was filed on October 29, 2014. Transcript of 15 Sentencing, Exh. 31, ECF No. 24-25; Judgment of Conviction, Exh. 32, ECF No. 24-26. 16 Crawford appealed. See Appellant’s Fast Track Statement, Exh. 46, ECF No. 24-40. The 17 Nevada Supreme Court affirmed on November 13, 2015. Order of Affirmance, Exh. 49, ECF No. 18 24-43. 19 Crawford then filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the state district court on 20 December 6, 2016. Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Post-Conviction), Exh. 57, ECF No. 21 25-7. The court appointed counsel for Crawford, and with counsel Crawford filed a supplemental 22 brief in support of his petition. Supplemental Brief, Exhs. 65 and 66, ECF Nos. 25-15 and 25-16. 23 The court denied the petition in a written order filed on October 3, 2018. Findings of Fact, 24 Conclusions of Law and Order, Exh. 76, ECF No. 25-26. Crawford appealed. See Appellant’s 25 Opening Brief, Exh. 85, ECF No. 25-34. The Nevada Court of Appeals affirmed on August 14, 26 2019. Order of Affirmance, Exh. 88, ECF No. 25-38. 27 On September 9, 2019, this Court received from Crawford a pro se petition for writ of 1 No. 4), and, with counsel, Crawford filed a first amended habeas petition on July 1, 2020 (ECF 2 No. 15) and a second amended habeas petition on January 27, 2021 (ECF No. 19). 3 Crawford’s second amended petition for writ of habeas corpus, which is now his operative 4 petition, sets forth the following claims: 5 1. Crawford’s federal constitutional rights were violated because of 6 ineffective assistance of trial counsel.

7 A. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing “to argue the court should dismiss most charges involving Ms. 8 Pugh based on prior failed prosecutions.”

9 B. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing “to raise a statute of limitations defense.” 10 C. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing 11 “to request a favorable instruction regarding pandering.”

12 D. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing “to object to Sergeant Hoier’s testimony.” 13 E. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective because he 14 “elicited additional harmful evidence from Ms. Pugh on cross- examination.” 15 F. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing 16 “to object when the prosecution referenced stricken testimony during closing arguments.” 17 G. Crawford’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing 18 “to get documentation proving Mr. Crawford had income from settlements.” 19 2. Crawford’s federal constitutional rights were violated because 20 “[t]he State failed to disclose material impeachment information regarding Detective Mason and the vice squad.” 21 22 Second Amended Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 19), pp. 12–26. 23 Respondents filed their motion to dismiss on May 27, 2021 (ECF No. 23). Respondents 24 contend that Claims 1A, 1B and 2 are unexhausted in state court. Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 23), 25 pp. 5–9; see also Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 35), p. 6 (withdrawing argument 26 that Claim 1E is unexhausted). Crawford filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss on September 27 9, 2021 (ECF No. 28). Respondents replied on October 25, 2021 (ECF No. 35). 1 On September 9, 2021, Crawford filed a motion for leave to conduct discovery (ECF No. 2 30). Respondents filed an opposition to that motion on October 25, 2021 (ECF No. 34). Crawford 3 filed a reply on November 5, 2021 (ECF No. 36). 4 III. Discussion 5 A. Legal Standards Regarding Exhaustion of State Court Remedies 6 A federal court may not grant relief on a habeas corpus claim not exhausted in state court. 7 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b). The exhaustion doctrine is based on the policy of federal-state comity, and 8 is designed to give state courts the initial opportunity to correct alleged constitutional deprivations. 9 See Picard v. Conner, 404 U.S. 270, 275 (1971). To exhaust a claim, a petitioner must fairly present 10 that claim to the State’s highest court and must give that court the opportunity to address and 11 resolve it. See Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995) (per curiam); Keeney v. Tamayo-Reyes, 12 504 U.S. 1, 10 (1992). The “fair presentation” requirement is satisfied when the claim has been 13 presented to the highest state court by describing the operative facts and the legal theory upon 14 which the federal claim is based. See Anderson v. Harless, 459 U.S. 4, 6 (1982); Batchelor v. 15 Cupp, 693 F.2d 859, 862 (9th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 463 U.S. 1212 (1983). To fairly present a 16 federal constitutional claim to the state court, the petitioner must alert the court to the fact that he 17 asserts a claim under the United States Constitution. Hiivala v. Wood, 195 F.3d 1098, 1106 (9th 18 Cir.1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1009 (2000), citing Duncan, 513 U.S. at 365–66. 19 B. Crawford Concedes that Claim 2 is Unexhausted. 20 Respondents argue in their motion to dismiss that Claim 2 is unexhausted, and, indeed, 21 Crawford concedes that he has not presented the claim in state court. See Motion to Dismiss (ECF 22 No. 23), p. 8; Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 28), p. 11 (“Mr. Crawford hasn’t yet 23 litigated Ground Two in state court….”); Second Amended Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 24 (ECF No. 19), p. 23 (“Mr. Crawford hasn’t fairly presented this claim to the Nevada state courts.”). 25 The Supreme Court has recognized that under certain circumstances it may be appropriate 26 for a federal court to anticipate the state-law procedural bar of an unexhausted claim, and to treat 27 such a claim as subject to the procedural default doctrine. “An unexhausted claim will be 1 claim in state court.” Dickens v. Ryan, 740 F.3d 1302, 1317 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Coleman v. 2 Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731 (1991)). However, under the circumstances here, Crawford 3 acknowledges that the Court should not anticipate that the state courts would rule Claim 2 4 procedurally barred, because the state courts may apply an exception to the applicable procedural 5 bars if he is able to show that he has a meritorious claim that the prosecution withheld impeachment 6 evidence. See Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 28), p. 12, citing State v. Huebler, 128 7 Nev. 192, 198, 275 P.3d 91, 95 (2012) (petitioner may overcome procedural bar of claim under 8 Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), by showing that the State withheld material evidence); 9 see also Ford v. State, 2021 WL 4860345 (Oct. 18, 2021) (unpublished disposition) (Nevada 10 Supreme Court remanding for evidentiary hearing a similar claim in a case stayed in this court 11 pending further state court proceedings (see ECF No. 33 in Case No. 2:17-cv-00112-RFB-VCF)). 12 Therefore, the Court determines that Claim 2 is unexhausted in state court and cannot 13 anticipate that the state courts would rule the claim procedurally barred. 14 C. Claims 1A and 1B are Exhausted. 15 Crawford asserted the claims now designated as Claims 1A and 1B in his pro se state 16 habeas petition. See Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Post-Conviction), Exh. 57, ECF No. 17 25-7 at 6–7. The state district court denied relief on those claims. See Findings of Fact, Conclusions 18 of Law and Order, Exh. 77, ECF No. 25-27 at 26–27. Crawford then asserted those claims on the 19 appeal in the state habeas action. See Appellant’s Opening Brief, Exh. 85, ECF No. 25-34 at 26– 20 27. Therefore, Claims 1A and 1B have been exhausted in state court. Respondents’ motion to 21 dismiss will be denied with respect to Claims 1A and 1B. 22 D. Crawford’s Election Regarding Claim 2 23 As is discussed above, the court determines that Claim 2 of Crawford’s second amended 24 habeas petition is unexhausted in state court. This means that Crawford’s second amended petition 25 is “mixed,” i.e., it contains both exhausted and unexhausted claims, and the Court cannot 26 adjudicate it as such. See Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 510 (1982); Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 27 269, 274–75 (2005). Therefore, the Court will require Crawford to make an election: Crawford 1 alternatively, file a motion for stay, requesting a stay of these proceedings while he exhausts Claim 2 2 in state court. If Crawford does not, within the time allowed, file a notice of abandonment of 3 Claim 2 or a motion for a stay, his second amended habeas petition will be subject to dismissal. 4 E. Crawford’s Motion for Leave to Conduct Discovery 5 In his motion for leave to conduct discovery (ECF No. 30), Crawford seeks to conduct 6 discovery relative to the merits of Claim 2. Crawford requests the opportunity to conduct discovery 7 regarding the merits of that claim in this Court, and then, after the discovery is concluded, seek a 8 stay of this action so that he may return to state court to exhaust the claim. 9 The Court will deny Crawford’s motion. 10 A habeas petitioner does not enjoy a presumptive entitlement to discovery in habeas cases. 11 See Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 903–05 (1997); see also Rule 6, Rules Governing Section 12 2254 Cases (discovery available if good cause is shown). Here, where the claim on which 13 Crawford would conduct discovery is unexhausted, there is no showing of good cause to conduct 14 the discovery requested by Crawford at this time. It remains uncertain—before the anticipated 15 further state-court litigation is completed—whether the claim is procedurally viable in this action. 16 For that matter, it is not certain that, when the state court proceedings are completed, further 17 proceedings in this case will be necessary at all. 18 Moreover, the Court notes the Nevada Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Ford case (Case 19 No. 2:17-cv-00112-RFB-VCF in this Court), in which the habeas petitioner asserted a claim very 20 similar to Crawford’s Claim 2, and the action was stayed pending exhaustion of the claim in state 21 court. On October 18, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court remanded the state habeas case to the state 22 district court for an evidentiary hearing. See Ford, 2021 WL 4860345. The Nevada Supreme 23 Court’s ruling in the Ford case suggests that Crawford may well have an opportunity to develop 24 the factual basis of his Claim 2 in state court. As a matter of comity, the Court will allow for that 25 factual development in state court before further considering the question of discovery regarding 26 the merits of the claim in this action in this Court. 27 1 The Court will accordingly deny the motion for leave to conduct discovery, without 2 || prejudice to Crawford renewing his request if and when such becomes appropriate under the 3 || scheduling order in this case (ECF No. 15). IV. Orders 5 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Respondents’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 23) is 6 || GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. The motion to dismiss is granted to the extent 7 || that the Court finds Claim 2 to be unexhausted in state court and directs Petitioner to make an 8 || election regarding that claim. In all other respects, the motion to dismiss 1s denied. 9 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner will have 30 days from the date of this order 10 || to file a notice of abandonment of Claim 2, or a motion for a stay to allow him to exhaust that 11 || claim in state court. 12 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Petitioner files a notice of abandonment of 13 || Claim 2, Respondents will have 90 days to file an answer, responding to Petitioner’s remaining 14 || claims. Beyond that, the schedule for further proceedings in the scheduling order entered 15 || July 1, 2020 (ECF No. 15) will remain in effect. 16 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Petitioner files a motion for a stay within the time 17 || allowed, Respondents will have 20 days to file a response to that motion, and Petitioner will then 18 || have 10 days to file a reply. 19 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Petitioner does not, within the time allowed, file a 20 || notice of abandonment of Claim 2 or a motion for a stay, Petitioner’s entire second amended 21 || habeas petition will be dismissed, as a mixed petition, pursuant to Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509 22 || (1982). 23 24 DATED THIS 4 day of February, 2022. 25

RICHARD F. BOULWARE, II 27 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 28