Wasson v. Riverside County

234 F. App'x 529

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: June 11, 2007
• Docket: No. 06-55925
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

**

Phillip and Meleade Wasson appeal pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing their civil rights action alleging constitutional violations in connection with an ongoing state criminal proceeding in which the Wassons are being prosecuted for felony child abuse and other crimes. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court’s dismissal for failure to state a claim, Steckman v. Hart Brewing, Inc., 143 F.3d 1293, 1295 (9th Cir.1998), and we review for abuse of discretion its denial of a motion to amend the complaint, Ward v. Circus Circus Casinos, Inc., 473 F.3d 994, 1000 (9th Cir.2007). We may affirm on any ground supported by the record. Steckman, 143 F.3d at 1295. We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

The district court properly dismissed the Wassons’ claim under the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951. See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir.1980) (holding that criminal statutes do not give rise to civil liability).

The Wassons’ remaining claims were barred under Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91 S.Ct. 746, 27 L.Ed.2d 669 (1971) because a criminal prosecution against the Wassons is pending in state court, the criminal prosecution implicates important state interests in prosecuting felony child abuse, and the state court proceedings afford the Wassons an adequate opportunity to raise federal claims. Fresh Int’l Corp. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 805 F.2d 1353, 1357-58 (9th Cir.1986); H. C. ex rel. Gordon v. Koppel, 203 F.3d 610, 613 (9th Cir.2000) (“Younger abstention may be raised sua sponte at any point in the appellate process.”). Moreover, the record does not support any exceptions to the application of Younger abstention. See Baffert v. Cal. Horse Racing Bd., 332 F.3d 613, 621 (9th Cir.2003). Accordingly, the district court should have abstained under Younger and dismissed the Wassons’ action without prejudice. See Beltran v. State of California, 871 F.2d 777, 782-83 (9th Cir.1989).

Because the Wassons’ action is barred by Younger, amendment of their complaint would have been futile. See Saul v. United States, 928 F.2d 829, 843 (9th Cir.1991).

Appellants’ remaining contentions are not persuasive.

Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s dismissal with prejudice of the Hobbs Act claim, vacate the district court’s judgment as to the remaining claims, and remand with instructions to dismiss the remaining claims without prejudice pursuant to Younger v. Harris.

The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.

AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.