Opinion
Case No. 3:14-CV-686 JD
07-01-2014
JOHN B. FLETCHER, Petitioner, v. SUPERINTENDENT, Respondent.
OPINION AND ORDER
John B. Fletcher, a pro se prisoner, filed a habeas corpus petition attempting to challenge the revocation of his parole on March 17, 2014, in connection with his 1986 conviction and 50 year sentence for rape by the Lake Superior Court under cause number 3CR-115-786-459. However, before the court can consider a habeas corpus petition challenging a State proceeding, the petitioner must have previously presented his claims to the State courts. "This means that the petitioner must raise the issue at each and every level in the state court system, including levels at which review is discretionary rather than mandatory." Lewis v. Sternes, 390 F.3d 1019, 1025-1026 (7th Cir. 2004).
There are two possible methods for challenging a parole revocation in Indiana: by filing a post-conviction relief petition, Receveur v. Buss, 919 N.E.2d 1235 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), or by filing a State habeas corpus petition if the inmate is seeking immediate release. Lawson v. State, 845 N.E.2d 185, 186 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). Furthermore, if a state habeas corpus petition is improperly filed, it will be converted to a post-conviction petition. Hardley v. State, 893 N.E.2d 740, 743 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) and Ward v. Ind. Parole Bd., 805 N.E.2d 893 (2004). Here, Fletcher's habeas corpus petition indicates that he has not presented his claims to any State court in any proceeding. Therefore he has not exhausted his State court remedies and this case must be dismissed without prejudice so that he can exhaust these claims in the State courts. If, after he has ultimately presented his claims to the Indiana Supreme Court, he has not yet obtained relief, then he may return to federal court and file a new habeas corpus petition.
Pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 11, the court must consider whether to grant or deny a certificate of appealability. To obtain a certificate of appealability when the court dismisses a petition on procedural grounds, the petitioner must show that reasonable jurists would find it debatable (1) whether the court was correct in its procedural ruling and (2) whether the petition states a valid claim for denial of a constitutional right. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). As previously explained, the claim presented by Fletcher are unexhausted. Because there is no basis for finding that jurists of reason would debate the correctness of this procedural ruling or find a reason to encourage him to proceed further, a certificate of appealability must be denied.
For the foregoing reasons the court DISMISSES this case WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 4 because the claim is unexhausted and DENIES a certificate of appealability pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 11.
SO ORDERED.
JON E. DEGUILIO
Judge
United States District Court