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affirming dismissal as frivolous of the plaintiff's claim that prison officials implanted a tracking device in his jaw to "monitor his thoughts and send him inaudible, profane messages"
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No. 09-3251.
January 27, 2010.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
Darryl Wayne Manco, Hutchinson, KS, pro se.
Before TACHA, TYMKOVICH, and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed.R.App.P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Darryl Wayne Manco, a Kansas state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings a host of civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Manco's claims center on his allegation that prison officials implanted a radio frequency device in his body to track his movements and thoughts, among other things. The district court dismissed Manco's case as frivolous and denied him leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis.
Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm the district court's dismissal, find Manco's appeal frivolous, and assess two strikes against him pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
I. Background
Manco's 49-page complaint describes a "myriad of horrible conditions" arising from his incarceration. R., Vol. 3 at 89. Manco alleges that prison officials have implanted a tracking device in his jaw, and are engaging in a series of unlawful rehabilitation methods. He also claims that prison officials intercepted and destroyed his mail when he attempted to reveal these practices. He frames a retaliation claim because mental health staff ordered him to be transferred to several different prisons and otherwise denied him privileges and parole after he made public his claims of mistreatment. These actions amount to violations of his First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights, he claims.
The district court dismissed Manco's claims. The court held his mail interference claims were both time barred and not well pleaded. Next, it found Manco's claims relating to the tracking device had no factual basis, and therefore it dismissed them as frivolous. Finally, in as much as Manco brought habeas claims, the district court dismissed them without prejudice because they were improperly framed as civil rights claims.
Manco appeals the dismissal, relying on substantially the same arguments and evidence he presented to the district court.
II. Discussion
We review a district court's dismissal of a frivolous claim for an abuse of discretion. McWilliams v. Colorado, 121 F.3d 573, 574-75 (10th Cir. 1997). A complaint or appeal is frivolous when it "lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). We find the district court committed no error when it dismissed Manco's claims as frivolous.
The district court did not abuse its discretion when it held Manco's claims of mail interference were frivolous. Although Manco filed numerous complaints about mail interference with prison management, a legal services provider at the prison and the warden concluded that Manco's mail had been delivered properly. Indeed, the appeal record shows that the person with whom Manco was corresponding sent many letters to Manco over several years that verified the receipt of Manco's letters.
Even if Manco explained who interfered with his mail or what mail was interfered with, his mail-related claims are time barred. Liberally construed, Manco's complaint alleges mail interference as late as 2005. The statute of limitations for a § 1983 action in Kansas lapsed in 2007, a year before Manco filed this case. See Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 276, 105 S.Ct. 1938, 85 L.Ed.2d 254 (1985) (holding § 1983 actions are governed by state statute of limitations for personal injury); KAN. STAT. § 60-513(a) (providing a two-year statute of limitations).
The district court also did not abuse its discretion when it held Manco's claims related to the alleged tracking device were frivolous. Manco's theory that numerous state officials monitor his thoughts and send him inaudible, profane messages is not supported by any evidence. Manco provides citations to various patents and secondary literature that describe tracking devices. Even if, for the sake of argument, this court assumes that such devices exist, Manco fails to provide evidence that officials implanted a device in his body, nor does he give a plausible motive for state officials to embark on such an endeavor. We agree with the district court that Manco's tracking device claims are frivolous. See Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33, 112 S.Ct. 1728, 118 L.Ed.2d 340 (1992) (describing frivolous claims as "fanciful," "fantastic," and "delusional," and holding "a finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or not there are judicially noticeable facts available to contradict them").
Finally, in so far as Manco seeks parole and credit for good behavior, his claims are not properly brought under § 1983. The Supreme Court has made clear that a "§ 1983 action will not lie when a state prisoner challenges the fact or duration of his confinement and seeks either immediate release from prison or the shortening of his term of confinement." Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 79, 125 S.Ct. 1242, 161 L.Ed.2d 253 (2005) (quoting Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 482, 489, 93 S.Ct. 1827, 36 L.Ed.2d 439 (1973)) (internal citations and punctuation omitted). Instead, prisoners must seek either federal habeas corpus relief or relief under state law. Id. at 78, 125 S.Ct. 1242.
III. Conclusion
We dismiss Manco's appeal as frivolous, and assess two strikes against him under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Jennings v. Natrona County Det. Ctr. Med. Facility, 175 F.3d 775, 780 (10th Cir. 1999) ("If we dismiss as frivolous the appeal of an action the district court dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), both dismissals count as strikes."). Manco's motion for leave to file a supplemental brief is denied. Manco's application to appeal in forma pauperis is denied, and the full amount of his filing fee should be paid immediately.