WEBB v. MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Indiana
DecidedFebruary 6, 2023
Docket1:22-cv-00246
StatusUnknown

This text of WEBB v. MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (WEBB v. MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
WEBB v. MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, (S.D. Ind. 2023).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

NICOLAS WEBB, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) Case No. 1:22-cv-00246-TWP-KMB ) MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, ) ) Respondent. )

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS This matter is before the Court on Petitioner Nicolas Webb's ("Mr. Webb") Petition for Habeas Corpus. (Dkt. 1.) Mr. Webb, an Indiana prisoner, filed this civil action to challenge a prison disciplinary proceeding identified as Case No. MCF 20-10-0250. For the reasons explained in this Order, Mr. Webb's habeas petition must be denied. I. OVERVIEW Prisoners in Indiana custody may not be deprived of good-time credits or of credit-earning class without due process. Ellison v. Zatecky, 820 F.3d 271, 274 (7th Cir. 2016); Scruggs v. Jordan, 485 F.3d 934, 939 (7th Cir. 2007); see also Rhoiney v. Neal, 723 F. App'x 347, 348 (7th Cir. 2018). The due process requirement is satisfied with: 1) the issuance of at least 24 hours advance written notice of the charge; 2) a limited opportunity to call witnesses and present evidence to an impartial decision-maker; 3) a written statement articulating the reasons for the disciplinary action and the evidence justifying it; and 4) "some evidence in the record" to support the finding of guilt. Superintendent, Mass. Corr. Inst. v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454 (1985); see also Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 563-67 (1974). II. THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING

On October 17, 2020, Lieutenant James Robertson ("Lt. Robertson") wrote a Report of Conduct ("Conduct Report") charging Mr. Webb with violating A-106, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon. (Dkt. 9-1.) The Conduct Report states: While conducting a wellness check in EHU[,] I[,] Lieutenant James Robertson as a possible assault [sic]. When[] I arrived[,] I pat searched all the offenders[.] I arrived at the showers and began searching offender Webb Nicholas, 209609. Upon searching his shorts, I found an edged weapon approximately 5 5/8 inches with a taped handle and cardboard sheath in the pocket.

Id.

Mr. Webb was initially found guilty of this charge on October 29, 2020. Mr. Webb appealed and on December 9, 2020, the Warden ordered a rehearing. (Dkt. 2 at 5.) It is this rehearing that is the subject of the pending habeas petition. (Dkt. 9 at 3; Dkt. 2 at 1.) Mr. Webb was again notified of the charge on December 22, 2020, when he received the Conduct Report and Notice of Disciplinary Hearing ("Screening Report"). Id., Dkt. 9-3. He pled not guilty to the charge. Id. On his Screening Report, Mr. Webb requested the appointment of a lay advocate, a witness, and the video of the incident. (Dkt. 9-3.) Specifically, Mr. Webb stated that he wanted Offender A. Kelsheimer to testify that the weapon belonged to him and that the video would show that Mr. Webb did not have the weapon on his person.1 Id. The hearing officer granted Mr. Webb's request for a lay advocate. (Dkt. 9-4.) The screening officer also attempted to procure Mr. Kelsheimer as a witness, but Mr. Kelsheimer refused to testify. (Dkt. 9-5 and 9-8.) On December 28, 2020, the hearing officer gave Mr. Webb a video summary because of security concerns that viewing the video would permit him "to know camera capabilities and avoid detection in future." (Dkt. 9-7.) The video summary states:

1 There appears to be a dispute on the spelling of Mr. Kelsheimer's name. Dkt. 9-3 (using the spelling Kelshimer) and Dkts. 9, 9-5, and 9-8 (using the spelling Kelsheimer). The Court will use the spelling "Kelsheimer" in this Order. On December 28, 2020[,] I (Officer S. Hall)[,] reviewed the DVR of EHU 3/4 on October 17, 2020 starting at 3:20pm by the request of Offender Webb, Nicholas #209609 in regards to case number MCF 20-10-0250. Upon the review of the DVR[,] I see Lt. Robertson enter the housing unit at 3:31pm. I then see Lt. Robertson at the showers searching the black shorts of Offender Webb who was still in the shower[.] After the search of the shorts was done[,] I see Lt. Roberts[on] place something into his pocket, and then walk away from the shower area.

A hearing was held on January 15, 2021. (Dkt. 9-6, Dkt. 9-9 1.) Mr. Webb again pled not guilty. (Dkt. 9-6.) At the time of the hearing, the hearing officer recorded Mr. Webb's statement as: "… per policy 7 business day[s] for [re]hearing without postponement. … [T]he knives were not found on me." Id. Based on Mr. Webb's statement, the Conduct Report, the photograph of the weapon, and the video of the incident, (Dkts. 9-1, 9-6, 9-7, and 13), the hearing officer found Mr. Webb guilty. (Dkt. 9-6.) The sanctions imposed included the deprivation of one year of credit time, a demotion of two credit classes, a written reprimand, the deprivation of forty-five days of privileges, and the imposition of one year in restrictive housing, suspended. (Dkt. 9-6; Dkt. 9-9.) Mr. Webb appealed to the Facility Head and asserted several grounds, which can be summarized as follows: 1) the hearing officer violated the prison's policies and procedures for approving and appointing lay advocates, documenting denied witnesses and evidence, permitting cross examination and confrontation of witness, complying with rehearing and evidentiary disclosure deadlines, and obtaining signatures for various forms; 2) the hearing officers for the two hearings gave inconsistent descriptions in their video summaries; 3) the hearing officer convicted him without sufficient evidence that he possessed the weapon; 4) the hearing officer denied him the opportunity to present witnesses who could testify that they owned the weapon; 5) the hearing officer denied his request to view the video and failed to disclose the video summary twenty-four hours before the hearing; 6) the hearing officer did not provide a sufficient explanation for his findings in the Report of Discipline Hearing ("Hearing Report"); 7) the hearing officer's sanctions were too severe; and 8) the hearing officer failed to provide him with notice of the Conduct Report or the hearing. (Dkt. 9-10 at 2-4.) The Facility Head denied his appeal and explained: All available information concerning your appeal has been reviewed. The conduct report is clear that you were in violation of an A[-]106. I agree with sanctions imposed. No procedural or due process errors are noted. A preponderance of the evidence supports the finding and the sanction is an appropriate use of progressive discipline. Since a liberty interest loss is involved, you may appeal this decision to the final reviewing authority. If you do appeal, please provide a copy of this response with that appeal.

Id. at 1.

Mr. Webb then appealed to the Final Reviewing Authority. In denying his final appeal, the Appeal Review Officer stated that "[t]he procedure and due process of this case appear to be true and accurate," and explained: "The charge is clear; the evidence sufficient. The sanctions are within the guidelines of the Disciplinary Code for Adult Offenders. There is no present information indicating modification or dismissal is necessary." (Dkt. 9-11.) Mr. Webb then brought this petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. III. ANALYSIS

In his petition, Mr. Webb raises several grounds for relief. First, he claims that the hearing officer violated multiple prison policies and procedures. (Dkt. 2 at 4-6, 9-10.) Second, he asserts that the hearing officer violated his due process rights by convicting him without sufficient evidence. Id. at 10.

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WEBB v. MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/webb-v-miami-correctional-facility-insd-2023.