1 2 5 * * * 6 MARIO ESPINOZA, Case No. 3:21-cv-00198-MMD-CSD 7 Petitioner, ORDER 8 v. 9 CALVIN JOHNSON, et al., 10 Respondents. 12 The Court appointed the Federal Public Defender to represent Mario Espinoza in 13 this 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus action in April 2022. (ECF No. 30.) Espinoza now 14 seeks a stay and abeyance while he litigates his state postconviction petition. (ECF No. 15 53.) Respondents oppose, arguing that Espinoza cannot demonstrate good cause and 16 that his claims are plainly meritless. (ECF No. 56.) The Court concludes that Espinoza 17 meets the Rhines standard and that judicial efficiency is best served by a stay. 18 Accordingly, the motion for stay is granted. 20 Espinoza was convicted pursuant to a guilty plea of first-degree murder and first- 21 degree kidnapping with substantial bodily harm. (ECF No. 23-7.) The charges stemmed 22 from an incident in which Espinoza, who has a long history of mental illness, shot and 23 killed the father of a family with whom he and his wife were staying while in a 24 methamphetamine-induced psychosis. (ECF No. 40 at 10-14.) The state district court 25 sentenced him to concurrent terms of life without the possibility of parole. (ECF No. 24- 26 2.) Judgment of conviction was entered on December 12, 2017. (ECF No. 24-3.) Espinoza 27 did not file a direct appeal. He filed a state postconviction habeas corpus petition in 28 November 2018. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the denial of his state 1 postconviction habeas corpus petition in July 2020. (ECF No. 25-17.) Espinoza 2 dispatched his federal habeas petition for filing in April 2021. (ECF No. 15.) The Court 3 granted his motion for counsel and appointed the Federal Public Defender (“FPD”). (ECF 4 No. 30.) Espinoza’s amended petition is pending before the Court. (ECF No. 40.) 6 Espinoza moves for a stay and abeyance of this case while he litigates a second 7 state postconviction petition. (ECF No. 53.) In Rhines v. Weber, the Supreme Court 8 placed limitations upon the discretion of the court to facilitate habeas petitioners’ return 9 to state court to exhaust claims. 544 U.S. 269 (2005). First, “stay and abeyance should 10 be available only in limited circumstances.” Id. at 277. And the relief is “is only appropriate 11 when the district court determines there was good cause for the petitioner’s failure to 12 exhaust his claims first in state court. Id. Moreover, “it likely would be an abuse of 13 discretion for a district court to deny a stay and to dismiss a mixed petition if the petitioner 14 had good cause for his failure to exhaust, his unexhausted claims are potentially 15 meritorious, and there is no indication that the petitioner engaged in intentionally dilatory 16 litigation tactics.” Id. at 278. The Ninth Circuit has held that the application of an 17 “extraordinary circumstances” standard does not comport with the “good cause” standard 18 prescribed by Rhines. See Jackson v. Roe, 425 F.3d 654, 661-62 (9th Cir. 2005). The 19 court may stay a petition containing both exhausted and unexhausted claims if: (1) the 20 habeas petitioner has good cause; (2) the unexhausted claims are potentially meritorious; 21 and (3) petitioner has not engaged in dilatory litigation tactics. See Rhines, 544 U.S. at 22 278; see also Wooten v. Kirkland, 540 F.3d 1019, 1023-24 (9th Cir. 2008). 23 Here, Espinoza asks the Court to stay this action while he litigates a state 24 postconviction petition through the FPD. (ECF No. 14.) He argues that he has good cause 25 because he is innocent of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, and his state 26 postconviction counsel was ineffective. See Dixon v. Baker, 847 F.3d 714, 721 (9th Cir. 27 2017). He contends that his claims alleging serious defects with his guilty plea, including 28 that his mental illness raises questions regarding whether the plea was voluntary, 1 knowing, and intelligent are not plainly meritless. Specifically, his claims are that (1) his 2 guilty plea was not entered knowingly and voluntarily due to his serious mental illness; (2) 3 trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate a defense of psychosis in light of 4 Espinoza’s history of serious childhood trauma and abuse, debilitating mental illness, and 5 severe drug addiction;1 and (3) trial counsel was ineffective at sentencing for failing to 6 adequately present Espinoza’s mental health issues. (ECF No. 40 at 19-25.) He also 7 contends that he is not engaging in dilatory tactics but seeks a stay in order to advance 8 postconviction litigation. 9 Respondents oppose, arguing that deficient state postconviction counsel alone 10 does not establish good cause, that Espinoza cannot demonstrate actual innocence and 11 that Espinoza fails to demonstrate his claims are not plainly meritless. They also argue 12 that Espinoza’s claims would be procedurally barred as untimely and successive. (ECF 13 No. 56 at 5.) See also NRS §§ 34.726, 34.810. Thus, Respondents contend that it would 14 be futile to return to state court. 15 The Court concludes that a stay is warranted under these circumstances. The 16 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a petitioner can show good cause for a stay 17 if his state postconviction counsel was ineffective. Dixon, 847 F.3d at 721. The Rhines 18 good-cause standard also overlaps with what constitutes good cause to overcome 19 procedural default. Procedural default refers to when a petitioner litigates a claim in state 20 court and the state court rejects the claim for adequate and independent state procedural 21 reasons, the claim may be “procedurally defaulted” in federal court, in which case federal 22 merits review may be unavailable. But if a petitioner can show cause for the default along 23 with prejudice, or a fundamental miscarriage of justice, the federal court can review the 24 defaulted claim on the merits. See generally Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 (1991); 25 Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478 (1986). As noted above, the Ninth Circuit has held that a 26 petitioner can show good cause for a stay if his state postconviction counsel was 27 ineffective. Dixon, 847 F.3d at 721. And a petitioner can show good cause to overcome 28 1 a procedural default by showing that state postconviction counsel was ineffective for 2 failing to litigate a substantial claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Martinez v. 3 Ryan, 566 U.S. 1 (2012). A petitioner can also overcome procedural default by 4 establishing actual innocence.2 5 Here, Espinoza argues that his state postconviction counsel was ineffective. He 6 also argues that he is actually innocent because he was experiencing a meth-induced 7 psychosis during the incident. Counsel for Espinoza contends that his documented history 8 of severe mental health issues, combined with heavy meth use, led to a psychosis during 9 which he lacked the ability to think or act in a rational manner when he shot and killed the 10 victim, and he was unable to premeditate or deliberate or form the specific intent 11 necessary for first-degree murder or first-degree kidnapping. Counsel points to a new 12 expert report from a neuropharmacologist as well as about 2500 pages of mental health 13 records that were never presented in state court. (See ECF Nos. 43-11 -43-33.)3 14 Espinoza’s claims are not plainly meritless.
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1 2 5 * * * 6 MARIO ESPINOZA, Case No. 3:21-cv-00198-MMD-CSD 7 Petitioner, ORDER 8 v. 9 CALVIN JOHNSON, et al., 10 Respondents. 12 The Court appointed the Federal Public Defender to represent Mario Espinoza in 13 this 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus action in April 2022. (ECF No. 30.) Espinoza now 14 seeks a stay and abeyance while he litigates his state postconviction petition. (ECF No. 15 53.) Respondents oppose, arguing that Espinoza cannot demonstrate good cause and 16 that his claims are plainly meritless. (ECF No. 56.) The Court concludes that Espinoza 17 meets the Rhines standard and that judicial efficiency is best served by a stay. 18 Accordingly, the motion for stay is granted. 20 Espinoza was convicted pursuant to a guilty plea of first-degree murder and first- 21 degree kidnapping with substantial bodily harm. (ECF No. 23-7.) The charges stemmed 22 from an incident in which Espinoza, who has a long history of mental illness, shot and 23 killed the father of a family with whom he and his wife were staying while in a 24 methamphetamine-induced psychosis. (ECF No. 40 at 10-14.) The state district court 25 sentenced him to concurrent terms of life without the possibility of parole. (ECF No. 24- 26 2.) Judgment of conviction was entered on December 12, 2017. (ECF No. 24-3.) Espinoza 27 did not file a direct appeal. He filed a state postconviction habeas corpus petition in 28 November 2018. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the denial of his state 1 postconviction habeas corpus petition in July 2020. (ECF No. 25-17.) Espinoza 2 dispatched his federal habeas petition for filing in April 2021. (ECF No. 15.) The Court 3 granted his motion for counsel and appointed the Federal Public Defender (“FPD”). (ECF 4 No. 30.) Espinoza’s amended petition is pending before the Court. (ECF No. 40.) 6 Espinoza moves for a stay and abeyance of this case while he litigates a second 7 state postconviction petition. (ECF No. 53.) In Rhines v. Weber, the Supreme Court 8 placed limitations upon the discretion of the court to facilitate habeas petitioners’ return 9 to state court to exhaust claims. 544 U.S. 269 (2005). First, “stay and abeyance should 10 be available only in limited circumstances.” Id. at 277. And the relief is “is only appropriate 11 when the district court determines there was good cause for the petitioner’s failure to 12 exhaust his claims first in state court. Id. Moreover, “it likely would be an abuse of 13 discretion for a district court to deny a stay and to dismiss a mixed petition if the petitioner 14 had good cause for his failure to exhaust, his unexhausted claims are potentially 15 meritorious, and there is no indication that the petitioner engaged in intentionally dilatory 16 litigation tactics.” Id. at 278. The Ninth Circuit has held that the application of an 17 “extraordinary circumstances” standard does not comport with the “good cause” standard 18 prescribed by Rhines. See Jackson v. Roe, 425 F.3d 654, 661-62 (9th Cir. 2005). The 19 court may stay a petition containing both exhausted and unexhausted claims if: (1) the 20 habeas petitioner has good cause; (2) the unexhausted claims are potentially meritorious; 21 and (3) petitioner has not engaged in dilatory litigation tactics. See Rhines, 544 U.S. at 22 278; see also Wooten v. Kirkland, 540 F.3d 1019, 1023-24 (9th Cir. 2008). 23 Here, Espinoza asks the Court to stay this action while he litigates a state 24 postconviction petition through the FPD. (ECF No. 14.) He argues that he has good cause 25 because he is innocent of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, and his state 26 postconviction counsel was ineffective. See Dixon v. Baker, 847 F.3d 714, 721 (9th Cir. 27 2017). He contends that his claims alleging serious defects with his guilty plea, including 28 that his mental illness raises questions regarding whether the plea was voluntary, 1 knowing, and intelligent are not plainly meritless. Specifically, his claims are that (1) his 2 guilty plea was not entered knowingly and voluntarily due to his serious mental illness; (2) 3 trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate a defense of psychosis in light of 4 Espinoza’s history of serious childhood trauma and abuse, debilitating mental illness, and 5 severe drug addiction;1 and (3) trial counsel was ineffective at sentencing for failing to 6 adequately present Espinoza’s mental health issues. (ECF No. 40 at 19-25.) He also 7 contends that he is not engaging in dilatory tactics but seeks a stay in order to advance 8 postconviction litigation. 9 Respondents oppose, arguing that deficient state postconviction counsel alone 10 does not establish good cause, that Espinoza cannot demonstrate actual innocence and 11 that Espinoza fails to demonstrate his claims are not plainly meritless. They also argue 12 that Espinoza’s claims would be procedurally barred as untimely and successive. (ECF 13 No. 56 at 5.) See also NRS §§ 34.726, 34.810. Thus, Respondents contend that it would 14 be futile to return to state court. 15 The Court concludes that a stay is warranted under these circumstances. The 16 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a petitioner can show good cause for a stay 17 if his state postconviction counsel was ineffective. Dixon, 847 F.3d at 721. The Rhines 18 good-cause standard also overlaps with what constitutes good cause to overcome 19 procedural default. Procedural default refers to when a petitioner litigates a claim in state 20 court and the state court rejects the claim for adequate and independent state procedural 21 reasons, the claim may be “procedurally defaulted” in federal court, in which case federal 22 merits review may be unavailable. But if a petitioner can show cause for the default along 23 with prejudice, or a fundamental miscarriage of justice, the federal court can review the 24 defaulted claim on the merits. See generally Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 (1991); 25 Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478 (1986). As noted above, the Ninth Circuit has held that a 26 petitioner can show good cause for a stay if his state postconviction counsel was 27 ineffective. Dixon, 847 F.3d at 721. And a petitioner can show good cause to overcome 28 1 a procedural default by showing that state postconviction counsel was ineffective for 2 failing to litigate a substantial claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Martinez v. 3 Ryan, 566 U.S. 1 (2012). A petitioner can also overcome procedural default by 4 establishing actual innocence.2 5 Here, Espinoza argues that his state postconviction counsel was ineffective. He 6 also argues that he is actually innocent because he was experiencing a meth-induced 7 psychosis during the incident. Counsel for Espinoza contends that his documented history 8 of severe mental health issues, combined with heavy meth use, led to a psychosis during 9 which he lacked the ability to think or act in a rational manner when he shot and killed the 10 victim, and he was unable to premeditate or deliberate or form the specific intent 11 necessary for first-degree murder or first-degree kidnapping. Counsel points to a new 12 expert report from a neuropharmacologist as well as about 2500 pages of mental health 13 records that were never presented in state court. (See ECF Nos. 43-11 -43-33.)3 14 Espinoza’s claims are not plainly meritless. They also are not obviously time- 15 barred because he has not yet had an opportunity to address whether he is entitled to 16 statutory or equitable tolling. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2) (providing for statutory tolling); 17 Holland v. Florida, 560 U.S. 631, 649 (2010) (explaining a petitioner is entitled to equitable 18 tolling if he shows that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, but some extraordinary 19 circumstance stood in his way). Finally, judicial economy is best served by staying this 20 case while Espinoza exhausts unexhausted claims in state court. Of course, if he obtains 21 relief in state court his petition here would be rendered moot. 22 Espinoza is already litigating his postconviction petition in state court. This Court 23 notes that this is a case involving allegations that Espinoza suffered horrendous physical, 24
25 2Demonstrating actual innocence enables a petitioner to overcome procedural bars (including timeliness) to the merits review of his constitutional claims. McQuiggin v. Perkins, 569 26 U.S. 383, 386 (2013).
27 3Defense counsel attached approximately 500 pages of other medical records (not the 2500 pages referenced above) to Espinoza’s sentencing memorandum, without summary or any 28 description or explanation (except the dates and the treatment facility). (ECF Nos. 24-1, Nos. 43- 1|| psychological and sexual abuse from the time he was a toddler, decades of serious □□ mental illness, and lapses in treatment. He also alleges his plea counsel was deficient in providing readily available evidence to the courts of his mental illness. The state district 4|| court sentenced him to the most severe sentence available, save for a capital sentence. 5 Accordingly, the Court stays this action pending exhaustion of the unexhausted 6|| grounds in the amended petition. In light of the stay, the Court denies without prejudice 7|| Respondents’ motion to dismiss. Once the stay is lifted, Respondents may reassert any 8|| appropriate defenses. Accordingly, the Court grants the motion for a stay and abeyance. 10 It is therefore ordered that Petitioner's motion for a stay and abeyance (ECF No. 53) is granted. 12 It is further ordered that this action is stayed pending final resolution of Petitioner’s state postconviction habeas petition. 14 It is further ordered that the grant of a stay is conditioned upon Petitioner returning to federal court with a motion to reopen the case within 45 days of the issuance of the remittitur by the state appellate court at the conclusion of the state-court proceedings on the postconviction habeas petition. 18 It is further ordered that Respondents’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 44) is denied without prejudice. 20 It is further ordered that Respondents’ motion for extension of time to respond to the motion to dismiss (ECF No. 60) is denied as moot. 22 It is further ordered that the Clerk of Court administratively close this action, until such time as the Court grants a motion to reopen the matter. 24 DATED THIS 18" Day of October 2023.
26 MIRANDA M. DU 27 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 28