United States v. Robinson

227 F. Supp. 3d 141, 2016 WL 7493959, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 180493
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedDecember 30, 2016
DocketCr. No. 08-10027-MLW
StatusPublished

This text of 227 F. Supp. 3d 141 (United States v. Robinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Robinson, 227 F. Supp. 3d 141, 2016 WL 7493959, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 180493 (D. Mass. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WOLF, D.J.

Petitioner Marcus Robinson is currently serving a 188-month sentence for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 922, 924. He has, pro se, filed a petition to vacate his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel both at sentencing for failure to raise certain arguments and after sentencing for failure to file a notice of appeal. He has also moved to amend his petition to include a claim under Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015).

[145]*145For the reasons stated below, the court is ordering further submissions to determine whether an evidentiary hearing is required before deciding his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel concerning the alleged failure to file a notice of appeal. It is dismissing his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing without a hearing. It is also denying his motion to amend.

I. BACKGROUND

On February 13, 2008, Robinson was indicted on multiple federal firearm charges. Assistant Federal Public Defender Timothy Watkins was appointed to represent him. On September 16, 2010, Robinson pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The remaining charges were dismissed.

On February 22, 2010, this court sentenced Robinson to 188 months in prison under the Armed Career Criminal Act (the “ACCA”), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). His three predicate offenses were: a 1997 conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; a 1998 conviction for distribution of cocaine near a school zone; and a 2002 conviction for distribution of cocaine near a school or park. See February 22, 2010 Transcript (“Tr.”) at 8-10. Judgment entered on March 5, 2010. No notice of appeal was filed. The 14-day period in which to appeal expired on March 19, 2010. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A).

On August 12, 2010, Robinson sent a letter to the First Circuit expressing his dissatisfaction with Mr. Watkins’ representation at sentencing and indicating that he wished to appeal his sentence. The First Circuit treated the letter as a pro se motion to file a late appeal. Upon learning of the appeal, Mr. Watkins moved to withdraw from representation, explaining that he believed the appeal was against Robinson’s interests and that Robinson’s claims were better raised on collateral review. The First Circuit allowed Mr. Watkins’ motion.

On August 19, 2010, the First Circuit ordered Robinson to show cause as to why his appeal should not be dismissed as untimely. It appointed appellate counsel on October 7, 2010. Robinson responded on November 8, 2010. He argued that he had instructed Mr. Watkins to file a timely notice of appeal, but Mr. Watkins failed to do so, resulting in his late appeal. On November 23, 2010, the First Circuit dismissed the appeal, explaining that “[s]uch a claim is appropriately addressed in a habeas petition, rather than in a direct appeal.” United States v. Robinson, No. 10-1981 (1st Cir. Nov. 23, 2010).

On April 28, 2011, Robinson filed the instant motion to vacate his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (the “Petition”). The Petition asserts two grounds for relief, both alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. In Ground One, Robinson alleges that defense counsel was deficient for failing to file a timely appeal despite Robinson’s express instructions to do so. In Ground Two, Robinson alleges that counsel was deficient for failing to challenge Robinson’s sentencing enhancement under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) and to request a competency evaluation under 18 U.S.C. § 4241.

In response to the Petition, the government argues that Robinson’s claims are barred by the one-year statute of limitations in § 2255(f) and, in any event, are unmeritorious. Accordingly, it requests that the court dismiss the Petition without a hearing.

Robinson filed a reply to the government’s arguments. On August 31, 2015, Robinson also moved to amend the Petition by adding a claim under Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015). In his proposed amendment, Robinson argues that [146]*146two of the three convictions used to enhance his sentence under the ACGA are no longer predicate offenses.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

A. § 2255(b) Hearing Requirement

28 U.S.C. § 2255 provides a federal prisoner with a means to collaterally attack his sentence. Specifically:

28 U.S.C. § 2255 sets forth four grounds upon which a federal prisoner ,may base a claim for relief: (1) “that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States;” (2) “that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence;” (3) “that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law;” and (4) that the sentence “is otherwise subject to collateral attack.”

Knight v. United States, 37 F.3d 769, 772 (1st Cir. 1994) (quoting Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 426-27, 82 S.Ct. 468, 7 L.Ed.2d 417 (1962)). Where, as here, a petitioner is acting pro se, his petition must be “liberally construed .., [and] a pro se complaint, however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081, (2007) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976)).

When a prisoner files a § 2255 petition, 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b) requires that:

Unless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief, the court shall cause notice thereof to be served upon the United States attorney, grant a prompt hearing thereon, deter- . mine the issues and make findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect thereto.

28 U.S.C. § 2255(b). As the First Circuit wrote in United States v. McGill,

Related

Peralta v. United States
597 F.3d 74 (First Circuit, 2010)
Porter v. McCollum
558 U.S. 30 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Hill v. United States
368 U.S. 424 (Supreme Court, 1962)
Estelle v. Gamble
429 U.S. 97 (Supreme Court, 1976)
Blackledge v. Allison
431 U.S. 63 (Supreme Court, 1977)
Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Roe v. Flores-Ortega
528 U.S. 470 (Supreme Court, 2000)
Slack v. McDaniel
529 U.S. 473 (Supreme Court, 2000)
Miller-El v. Cockrell
537 U.S. 322 (Supreme Court, 2003)
Erickson v. Pardus
551 U.S. 89 (Supreme Court, 2007)
Cooper v. Bravo
36 F. App'x 343 (Tenth Circuit, 2002)
United States v. McGill
11 F.3d 223 (First Circuit, 1993)
Knight v. United States
37 F.3d 769 (First Circuit, 1994)
David v. United States
134 F.3d 470 (First Circuit, 1998)
United States v. Moore
286 F.3d 47 (First Circuit, 2002)
Ellis v. United States
313 F.3d 636 (First Circuit, 2002)
Moreno-Morales v. United States
334 F.3d 140 (First Circuit, 2003)
United States v. Santos-Rios
151 F. App'x 2 (First Circuit, 2005)
Knight v. Spencer
447 F.3d 6 (First Circuit, 2006)
Robidoux v. O'BRIEN
643 F.3d 334 (First Circuit, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
227 F. Supp. 3d 141, 2016 WL 7493959, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 180493, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-robinson-mad-2016.