Goodlow v. Baker

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: February 24, 2020
• Docket: 3:18-cv-00323
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA

5 * * *

6 ROBERT ALLEN GOODLOW, Case No. 3:18-cv-00323-MMD-CLB

7 Petitioner, v. ORDER 8

9 WARDEN BAKER, et al.,

10 Respondents.

11 12 I. SUMMARY 13 This is a habeas corpus proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in which Respondents 14 have filed a motion to dismiss (“Motion”) (ECF No. 30) in response to Petitioner Robert 15 Allen Goodlow’s second amended petition (“SAP”) (ECF No. 29).1 Respondents argue 16 that all of the claims in the petition are either partially or fully unexhausted. (ECF No. 30 17 at 7–10.) They further argue that, because the SAP was filed beyond the statute of 18 limitations, two of Goodlow’s claims are time-barred because they do not relate back to a 19 timely-filed petition. (Id. at 11–14.) For reasons discussed herein, the Motion is granted 20 in part and denied in part. 21 II. BACKGROUND 22 In March 2012, Goodlow pleaded guilty in the Eighth Judicial District Court for 23 Clark County, Nevada, to one count of attempt sexual assault with use of a deadly 24 weapon and one count of battery with the intent to commit a crime. (ECF No. 31-21 at 6– 25 5.) In June 2012, Goodlow, through counsel, notified the trial court that he would like to 26 withdraw his guilty plea. (ECF No. 31-23 at 3.) In July 2012, the trial court denied 27 28 1The Court has reviewed Goodlow’s response (ECF No. 42) and Respondents’ 2 eligibility after 96 months on the former count, with a consecutive like term for the deadly 3 weapon enhancement, and a concurrent 120 month term on the latter count with parole 4 eligibility after 48 months. (ECF. No. 31-29 at 11.) A judgment of conviction was entered 5 on July 25, 2012. (ECF No. 31-31.) 6 Goodlow appealed. (ECF No. 31-35 at 2.) The Nevada Supreme Court reversed 7 the judgment of conviction and remanded the case, directing the district court to appoint 8 Goodlow new counsel to assist him with his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. (ECF No. 9 31-54 at 4–5.) On remand, the district court denied Goodlow’s counseled motion to 10 withdraw his guilty plea after holding an evidentiary hearing. (ECF No. 31-67 at 49; ECF 11 No. 32-4 at 6.) Goodlow appealed. (ECF No. 32-15.) In January 2015, the Nevada Court 12 of Appeals affirmed Goodlow’s judgment of conviction. (ECF No. 32-20.) 13 In June 2015, Goodlow filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the state district 14 court. (ECF No. 32-22.) With assistance of appointed counsel, he filed a supplement to 15 his petition. (ECF No. 33-4, ECF No. 33-5.) The district court denied relief. (ECF No. 33- 16 15 at 19.) Goodlow appealed. (ECF No. 32-13.) In April 2018, the Nevada Court of 17 Appeals affirmed the lower court. (ECF No. 33-44 at 8.) 18 Goodlow initiated this federal habeas proceeding on June 29, 2018. (ECF No. 6 at 19 1.) Pursuant to this Court’s screening order (ECF No. 5), Goodlow filed an amended 20 petition. (ECF No. 8.) Goodlow was subsequently granted leave to amend his petition 21 again. (ECF No. 28.) On April 26, 2019, he filed his SAP (ECF No. 29), which is the 22 subject of Respondents’ Motion (ECF No. 30). 23 III. DISCUSSION 24 A. EXHAUSTION 25 Respondents argue that all six grounds for relief in Goodlow’s SAP are either 26 partially or entirely unexhausted. (ECF No. 30 at 7–10.) A federal court will not grant a 27 state prisoner's petition for habeas relief until the prisoner has exhausted his available 28 state remedies for all claims raised. See Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509 (1982); 28 U.S.C. 2 claims before he presents those claims in a federal habeas petition. See O'Sullivan v. 3 Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 844 (1999). A claim remains unexhausted until the petitioner has 4 given the highest available state court the opportunity to consider the claim through direct 5 appeal or state collateral review proceedings. See Casey v. Moore, 386 F.3d 896, 916 6 (9th Cir. 2004); see also Garrison v. McCarthey, 653 F.2d 374, 376 (9th Cir. 1981). 7 A habeas petitioner must “present the state courts with the same claim he urges 8 upon the federal court.” Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971). To achieve 9 exhaustion, the state court must be “alerted to the fact that the prisoner [is] asserting 10 claims under the United States Constitution” and given the opportunity to correct alleged 11 violations of the prisoner's federal rights. Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995); see 12 also Hiivala v. Wood, 195 F.3d 1098, 1106 (9th Cir. 1999). It is well settled that 28 U.S.C. 13 § 2254(b) “provides a simple and clear instruction to potential litigants: before you bring 14 any claims to federal court, be sure that you first have taken each one to state court.” 15 Jiminez v. Rice, 276 F.3d 478, 481 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting Lundy, 455 U.S. at 520). 16 A claim is not exhausted unless the petitioner has presented to the state court the 17 same operative facts and legal theory upon which his federal habeas claim is based. See 18 Bland v. Cal. Dept. of Corr., 20 F.3d 1469, 1473 (9th Cir. 1994). The exhaustion 19 requirement is not met when the petitioner presents to the federal court facts or evidence 20 which place the claim in a significantly different posture than it was in the state courts, or 21 where different facts are presented at the federal level to support the same theory. See 22 Nevius v. Sumner, 852 F.2d 463, 470 (9th Cir. 1988). 23 1. Ground One 24 In Ground One, Goodlow alleges he was deprived of his constitutional right to 25 effective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel “failed to investigate and develop 26 a valid theory of defense.” (ECF No. 29 at 3.) As factual support, Goodlow alleges alibis 27 for each of the three sexual assault counts initially charged against him that he claims 28 counsel failed to investigate. (Id. at 3–4.) 2 of ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”) for failure to investigate, an allegation that 3 counsel failed to adequately investigate Goodlow’s assertion that he was incarcerated at 4 the time one of the assaults was alleged to have occurred. (ECF No. 33-29 at 35–42.) At 5 no point, however, did Goodlow present the state court with allegations supporting an 6 alibi for either of the other two assaults. A petitioner may provide further facts to support 7 a claim in federal district court, so long as those facts do not “fundamentally alter the legal 8 claim already considered by the state courts.” Vasquez v. Hillery, 474 U.S. 254, 260 9 (1986). Because Goodlow’s new factual allegations place his claim “in a significantly 10 different and stronger evidentiary posture than it was when the state courts considered 11 it,” the claim has been “fundamentally altered.” See Dickens v. Ryan, 740 F.3d 1302, 12 1318–19 (9th Cir. 2014) (citation omitted). Therefore, the Court finds that Ground One is 13 unexhausted. 14 2. Ground Two 15 In Ground Two, Goodlow alleges he was deprived of his constitutional right to 16 effective assistance of counsel because counsel failed to adequately investigate his 17 alleged victims, failed to adequately consult with him, failed to have DNA evidence 18 retested, and coerced him into a guilty plea by failing to investigate and by providing an 19 overly pessimistic outlook regarding the outcome of the case. (ECF No. 29 at 6–7.) Unlike 20 Ground One, Ground Two presents a claim that is the substantial equivalent to a claim 21 presented to the Nevada courts in his state post-conviction proceeding. (ECF No. 33-29 22 at 33–47.) The mere addition of related facts in this Court does not render the claim 23 unexhausted. See Weaver v. Thompson, 197 F.3d 359, 364 (9th Cir. 1999). The Court 24 finds that Ground Two is exhausted. 25 3. Ground Three 26 In Ground Three, Goodlow alleges his guilty plea was not voluntary, in violation of 27 his constitutional rights, because his fifth-grade reading level did not allow him to 28 comprehend the guilty plea agreement and his severe mental illness prevented him from 2 evaluated by a mental health professional even though he displayed symptoms of mental 3 illness. (Id.) 4 Respondents contend the claim is unexhausted because in state court the 5 foregoing allegations were only made within the context of an IAC claim, not in support of 6 an “underlying substantive claim” like the one Goodlow is now presenting in federal court. 7 (ECF No. 30 at 9.) The Court disagrees. Despite the heading on the claim and his inartful 8 drafting, it is apparent that Goodlow’s intent with Ground Three is to bring the IAC claim 9 contained in his opening brief on appeal in his state post-conviction proceeding. (ECF No. 10 33-29 at 46–47.) See Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 729 (9th Cir. 1986) (“The 11 district court is required to construe a pro se petition more liberally than it would construe 12 a petition drafted by counsel.” (citing Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972))). 13 Accordingly, the Court determines that Ground Three is exhausted. 14 4. Ground Four 15 In Ground Four, Goodlow alleges that his constitutional rights were violated 16 because the trial court’s plea canvass was inadequate. (ECF No. 29 at 11.) Specifically, 17 he alleges that the record does not demonstrate that he understood the elements of the 18 offense to which he pled guilty and that the trial court did not inform him that he had the 19 right to have each element proven beyond a reasonable doubt. (Id.) The Court finds that 20 Ground Four was not fairly presented to the Nevada courts. Thus, it is unexhausted. 21 5. Ground Five 22 In Ground Five, Goodlow alleged he was deprived of effective assistance of 23 counsel in violation of his constitutional rights because his trial counsel failed to argue 24 against a consecutive 8 to 20 year sentence for the deadly weapon enhancement. (ECF 25 No. 29 at 13.) He further alleges that counsel should have had him undergo a 26 psychosexual evaluation to support mitigation of his sentence. (Id.) 27 Respondents correctly point out that Goodlow presented the latter allegation in his 28 state post-conviction proceeding (ECF No. 33-29 at 49–52), but never presented the 2 Ground Five is unexhausted as to the portion that challenges counsel’s effectiveness in 3 relation to the deadly weapon enhancement. 4 6. Ground Six 5 In Ground Six, Goodlow alleges that his constitutional rights were violated when 6 the trial court did not permit him to withdraw his guilty plea prior to sentencing. (ECF No. 7 29 at 15.) Specifically, he claims that his assertions that he was actually innocent and that 8 his counsel had coerced him into pleading guilty met the “manifest injustice” standard 9 necessary to permit withdrawal of the plea under Nevada law. (Id. (citing NRS § 10 176.165).) Goodlow fairly presented this claim in his opening brief on appeal in his state 11 post-conviction proceeding. (ECF No. 33-29 at 47–49.) As such, the Court finds that 12 Ground Six is exhausted. 13 In summary, Grounds One, Four, and part of Ground Five are unexhausted. This 14 Court is not permitted to adjudicate mixed petitions––i.e., petitions containing both 15 exhausted and unexhausted claims. See Lundy, 455 U.S. at 518–19. Thus, Goodlow 16 must either abandon his unexhausted claims––voluntarily dismiss this petition without 17 prejudice in order to return to state court to exhaust––or file a motion for a stay and 18 abeyance, asking this Court to hold his exhausted claims in abeyance while he returns to 19 state court to exhaust his unexhausted claims. See Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 277– 20 78 (2005) (outlining standards federal courts should apply in deciding whether stay and 21 abeyance is appropriate). 22 B. TIMELINESS 23 Respondents concede that Goodlow filed his initial petition herein and his first 24 amended petition (“FAP”) within the one-year filing period under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). 25 (ECF No. 30 at 12.) Respondents argue, however, that Goodlow’s SAP was filed after the 26 one-year period had elapsed and that two of the claims in his SAP, Grounds Four and 27 Five, are time-barred from federal court review because those claims do not “relate back” 28 to the FAP. (Id. at 13.) 2 one-year filing period for § 2254 habeas petitions in federal court. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). 3 The one-year period begins to run from the latest of four possible triggering dates, with 4 the most common being the date on which the petitioner’s state court conviction became 5 final (by either the conclusion of direct appellate review or the expiration of time for 6 seeking such review). Id. Statutory tolling of the one-year time limitation occurs while a 7 “properly filed” state post-conviction proceeding, or other collateral review, is pending. 28 8 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2). 9 The Supreme Court’s decision in Mayle v. Felix, 545 U.S. 644 (2005), limits a 10 habeas petitioner’s ability to have newly-added claims "relate back" to the filing of an 11 earlier petition and, therefore, be considered timely under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). Applying 12 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(c)(1)(B) in the habeas context, the Court held that an 13 amended claim in a habeas petition relates back for statute of limitations purposes only if 14 it shares a "common core of operative facts" with claims contained in the original petition. 15 Mayle, 545 U.S. at 663–64. 16 The Nevada Court of Appeals affirmed Goodlow’s judgment of conviction on 17 January 21, 2015. (ECF No. 32-20.) Goodlow did not petition the United States Supreme 18 Court for certiorari, so, for the purposes of § 2244(d)(1), his conviction became final on 19 April 21, 2015.2 See Bowen v. Roe, 188 F.3d 1157, 1158–59 (9th Cir. 1999) (holding that, 20 when no petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court is filed, direct review is 21 considered to be final 90 days after the decision of the state's highest court). He filed his 22 state habeas petition 59 days later on June 19, 2015. (ECF No. 32-22.) The statutory 23 period was then tolled, under § 2244(d)(2), until May 10, 2018, when the Nevada 24 Supreme Court concluded the post-conviction proceeding by issuing its remittitur. (ECF 25 No. 33-36.) 26 Consequently, Goodlow’s one-year statutory period ended on March 13, 2019, but 27 2Respondents omitted this 90-day period in their Motion. (ECF No. 30 at 12.) As 28 discussed below, however, Goodlow’s SAP was nonetheless filed beyond the statutory 2 relate back to his earlier-filed federal petitions or they are time-barred. 3 As noted above, Ground Four raises allegations regarding the adequacy of the trial 4 court’s plea canvass, and Ground Five is premised on counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness 5 in the sentencing phase. See supra Section III(A)(4)–(5). Respondents are correct that 6 Goodlow omitted the operative facts supporting these claims from his FAP. (See ECF No. 7 8.) The operative facts are, however, included in his initial petition. (See ECF No. 6 at 3– 8 6.) 9 Arguably, Goodlow waived claims in the initial petition that he voluntarily omitted 10 from his FAP. See Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012). 11 However, the rationale for permitting relation back under Rule 15(c) is that defendants, 12 because of the original complaint, are on notice of the subject matter of the dispute and 13 will not be unduly surprised or prejudiced by the later complaint. See Anthony v. Cambra, 14 236 F.3d 568, 576 (9th Cir. 2000) (stating that one of the central policies of Rule 15(c) is 15 to “ensur[e] that the non-moving party has sufficient notice of the facts and claims giving 16 rise to the proposed amendment”). Not perceiving any undue prejudice to the 17 Respondents caused by the intervening amended petition, this Court concludes that 18 Grounds Four and Five relate back to the timely-filed initial petition. Therefore, the Court 19 finds that Grounds Four and Five are not time-barred. 20 IV. CONCLUSION 21 It is therefore ordered that Respondents’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 30) is granted 22 in part and denied in part. Grounds One, Four, and the part of Ground Five premised on 23 counsel’s failure to challenge the sentence enhancement are unexhausted. 24 It is further ordered that, with respect to the unexhausted claims, Petitioner has 30 25 days to either: (1) inform this Court in a sworn declaration that he wishes to formally and 26 forever abandon the unexhausted claims and proceed on his remaining claims; or (2) 27 inform this Court in a sworn declaration that he wishes to dismiss his petition without 28 1 || prejudice in order to return to state court to exhaust his unexhausted claims; or (3) file a 2 || motion for a stay and abeyance, asking this Court to hold his exhausted claims in 3 || abeyance while he returns to state court to exhaust his unexhausted claims. If Petitioner 4 || chooses to file a motion for a stay and abeyance, or seek other appropriate relief, 5 || Respondents may respond to such motion as provided in Local Rule 7-2. 6 It is further ordered that if Petitioner elects to abandon his unexhausted grounds, 7 || Respondents will have 30 days from the date Petitioner serves his declaration of 8 || abandonment in which to file an answer to Petitioner's remaining grounds for relief. 9 It is further ordered that Petitioner will have 30 days following service of 10 || Respondents’ answer within which to file a reply. 11 DATED THIS 24" day of February 2020. {LQ 13 fT MIRANDA M. DU 14 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 3In offering this option, the Court makes no assurances as to whether any future petition filed in this Court would be timely under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). The pendency of 28 || this proceeding has not tolled the statutory filing period. See Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167 (2001).