Opinion
Case No. 2:12cv210
12-06-2013
WAYNE D. BUTTS, Petitioner, v. HAROLD W. CLARKE, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections, Respondent.
FINAL ORDER
Before the Court is a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and the Respondent's Motion to Dismiss the Petition. In his Petition, the pro se Petitioner alleges violations of his constitutional rights in relation to a prison disciplinary hearing that was held after he was charged with the disciplinary offense of "threatening bodily harm" against prison staff personnel. At the hearing, the Petitioner was found guilty of the offense and sentenced to twenty-five days in isolation.
The matter was referred for disposition to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b), Local Civil Rule 72, and the April 2, 2002, Standing Order on Assignment of Certain Matters to United States Magistrate Judges. In a Report and Recommendation filed on October 22, 2013, the Magistrate Judge recommended the Motion to Dismiss be granted and the Petition be denied and dismissed with prejudice. The parties were advised of their right to file written objections to the Report and Recommendation. The Court has received no objections to the Report and Recommendation, and the time for filing such objections has expired.
The Court does hereby ACCEPT and APPROVE the findings and recommendations set forth in the Report and Recommendation filed October 22, 2013, ECF No. 50, and it is therefore ORDERED that the Respondent's Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 19, be GRANTED, and that the Petition, ECF No. 1, be DENIED and DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. It is further ORDERED that judgment be entered in favor of the Respondent.
The Petitioner is hereby notified that he may appeal from the judgment entered pursuant to this Final Order by filing a written notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Court at the Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse, 600 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, within thirty (30) days from the date judgment is entered. Because the Petitioner has failed to demonstrate a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) and Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22(b)(1), the Court declines to issue a certificate of appealability. See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003).
The Clerk is DIRECTED to forward a copy of this Order to the Petitioner and counsel of record for the Respondent.
It is so ORDERED.
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Mark S. Davis
United States District Judge
Norfolk, Virginia
Dated: December 6, 2013