Opinion
ACTION NO. 2:11CV372
03-01-2012
JOSEPH ANTHONY CLAYTON, #1188296, Petitioner, v. HAROLD W. CLARKE, DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, Respondent.
FINAL ORDER
This matter was initiated by petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The petition alleges violation of petitioner's constitutional rights pertaining to his convictions of two counts of robbery, two counts of grand larceny, and one count of grand larceny from a person on February 8,2006, in the Circuit Court of Arlington County, Virginia, as a result of which he was sentenced to serve an active prison term of 20 years, and 11 months.
The petition was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge for report and recommendation pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C) and Local Civil Rule 72 of the Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation filed February 6, 2012, recommends dismissal of the petition with prejudice. The Court has received no objections to the Report and Recommendation and the time for filing objections has expired.
The Court does hereby accept the findings and recommendations set forth in the Report and Recommendation filed February 6,2012, and it is therefore ORDERED that respondent's Motion to Dismiss be GRANTED, and that the petition be DENIED and DISMISSED with prejudice. It is further ORDERED that judgment be entered in favor of respondent.
Petitioner may appeal from the judgment entered pursuant to this Final Order by filing a written notice of appeal with the Clerk of this court, United States Courthouse, 600 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, within thirty (30) days from the date of entry of such judgment.
Petitioner has failed to demonstrate "a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right," therefore, the Court declines to issue any certificate of appealability pursuant to Rule 22(b) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 123 S.Ct. 1029,1039 (2003).
The Clerk shall mail a copy of this Final Order to petitioner and to counsel of record for respondent.
______________________
MARK S. DAVIS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Norfolk, Virginia
___________,2012