Montalvo v. Mantello

233 F. Supp. 2d 554, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23370, 2002 WL 1821569
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedDecember 3, 2002
Docket00CIV4786WK
StatusPublished

This text of 233 F. Supp. 2d 554 (Montalvo v. Mantello) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Montalvo v. Mantello, 233 F. Supp. 2d 554, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23370, 2002 WL 1821569 (S.D.N.Y. 2002).

Opinion

OPINION & ORDER

KNAPP, Senior District Judge.

Pro se petitioner Orlando Montalvo (“Montalvo”) seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his conviction of November 1, 1991, in New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County. Montalvo was convicted of murder in the second degree and was sentenced to an indeterminate term of twenty-five years to life imprisonment.

In his petition filed on June 5, 2000, Montalvo raises two claims. First, Montal-vo alleges prosecutorial misconduct because the prosecution withheld exculpatory material, including police reports of a dying declaration made by the victim, Chris-tino Garcia (“Garcia”), a witness statement made by Yolanda Matos (“Matos”), the victim’s wife, and a statement made by the victim’s sister. Montalvo claims that these police reports identify Genaro Andujar (“Andujar”) as the perpetrator. Second, Montalvo alleges that he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel because: (1) he was “coerced” into not testifying; and (2) trial counsel failed to locate and contact alibi witnesses, including Fevine Fabian (“Fabian”), Alberto Rivera (“Rivera”), and Matos.

On July 31, 2000, we referred this case to Magistrate Judge Ellis. On August 6, 2002, Judge Ellis submitted to us his Report and Recommendation, in which he recommended that Montalvo’s petition be dismissed in its entirety because Montalvo failed to exhaust the claims presented in state court. Moreover, Judge Ellis held that had the court not dismissed Montal-vo’s petition on procedural grounds, the ineffective assistance of counsel claim would nonetheless fail on the merits. Neither party filed written objections to the Report and Recommendation.

A reviewing court “may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate.” 28 U.S.C. § 686(b)(1)(C). Where no timely objection to a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation has been made, “a district court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record.” Nelson v. Smith (S.D.N.Y.1985), 618 F.Supp. 1186, 1189; see also Pizarro v. Bartlett (S.D.N.Y.1991), 776 F.Supp. 815, 817. We have reviewed the Report and are convinced that there is no facial error. As such, we accept in whole Judge Ellis’ Report and Recommendation and order that Montalvo’s petition for writ of habeas corpus be DISMISSED in its entirety.

SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

ELLIS, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Pro se petitioner Orlando Montalvo (“Montalvo”) seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his conviction on November 1, 1991, in New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County. Montalvo was convicted of murder in the second degree and was sen *557 tenced to an indeterminate term of twenty-five years to life imprisonment.

In his petition filed on June 5, 2000, Montalvo raises two claims. First, Montal-vo alleges prosecutorial misconduct because the prosecution withheld exculpatory material, including police reports of a dying declaration made by the victim, Chris-tino Garcia (“Garcia”), a witness statement made by Yolanda Matos (“Matos”), the victim’s wife, and a statement made by the victim’s sister. Montalvo claims that these police reports identify Genaro Andujar (“Andujar”) as the perpetrator. Second, Montalvo alleges that he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel because: (1) he was “coerced” into not testifying; and (2) trial counsel failed to locate and contact alibi witnesses, including Fevine Fabian (“Fabian”), Alberto Rivera (“Rivera”), and Matos.

Respondent argues that the petition should be dismissed based on the following grounds: (1) the claim of prosecutorial misconduct is unexhausted because the claim of withholding exculpatory material was not raised in the Appellate Division; and (2) the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is unexhausted because the claim that trial counsel failed to interview alibi witnesses Fabian and Rivera was not raised in the Appellate Division. Respondent’s Memorandum of Law (“Resp.Mem.”) at 4, 14. Furthermore, respondent argues that “to the extent that the state court reached the merits of petitioner’s claims, the state court’s determination of the claims was fully consonant with Supreme Court precedent and, accordingly, the claims must be rejected.” Respondent’s Affidavit in Opposition to Petition for Habeas Corpus (“Resp.Aff.”) at 7. For the reasons set forth below, I recr ommend that Montalvo’s petition be DISMISSED.

II. BACKGROUND

A. Factual History

On May 22, 1989, at approximately 4:00 p.m., while Garcia and his wife, Matos, were walking in the vicinity of 1227 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, Garcia got into an argument with Andujar and was then assaulted by Andujar and two other men. Resp. Aff. at Ex. 13, pp. 5-6; Trial Transcript (“Tr.”) at 295. During the altercation, Garcia was hit in the head with a bottle and knocked to the ground. Id. at 296. Later that evening, at about 9:00 p.m., Garcia was shot twice while walking with his wife near the site of the earlier assault. Id. at 150, 297-98. Garcia died in Lincoln Hospital as a result of the shooting. Id. at 151-52, 275.

According to eyewitness Wanda Arce (“Arce”), Montalvo’s girlfriend at the time, Montalvo had asked her to get some crack for him. Id. at 169, 176. When Arce returned without the drugs, Montalvo became mad and began to argue with her. Id. at 176-77. She testified that he then pulled out a gun and began shooting. Id. at 177-79. Andujar and his wife testified that they were standing across the street and witnessed Montalvo fire six shots, two of which struck Garcia. Id. at 297-98, 348-51, 269. After the shooting, Arce testified that she and Montalvo fled the scene and spent the night on her rooftop. Id. at 179.

On May 24, 1989, Andujar heard rumors that he was wanted by the police for Garcia’s murder. Id. at 298-99. He went to the 44th Precinct and informed Detective Machicote that Montalvo was the shooter. Id. at 97-99, 298-99, 314-20. The following day, Detectives Machicote and Nealon went to Arce’s apartment in search of Montalvo. Id. at 63-64. While the detectives were there, Montalvo called Arce and verbally threatened her and the two detectives. Id. at 64, 69-70. During the call, *558 Montalvo indicated that the detectives should look outside. Id. at 70. The detectives observed a 24-inch steel beam on top of the police vehicle. Id. Detectives subsequently apprehended Montalvo on the roof of a nearby building and seized a gun which he had in his possession. Id. at 73-75.

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Bluebook (online)
233 F. Supp. 2d 554, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23370, 2002 WL 1821569, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/montalvo-v-mantello-nysd-2002.