Haynes v. United StatesHaynes v. United States
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER
This matter is before the Court on the Amended Motion Under
I. PRELIMINARY PROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
The instant
Before addressing the issue of whether these two additional claims are unauthorized, there is another ancillary issue to be decided, which is whether this amended motion is even properly before the Court. The Amended Motion (Doc. 3). was made without leave of Court and without the written consent of the Government. Counsel for Petitioner was appointed in this .matter pursuant to Administrative Order 15-mc-1016 (available at http://www.ilcd. uscourts.gov/court-infoAocal-rules-and-orders/general-orders (last visited January 24, 2017)). That Order does not state that amendments to the initial motion are presumptively allowed although one might assume that the amendment of a pro se prisoner’s application for habeas corpus, which is what the
But
Despite that,
Petitioner’s first supplemental claim that he is actually innocent of the convictions for violating
The Court was tempted to turn to its own inherent ability to prevent miscarriages of justice in order to reach the claim. However, in United States v. Williams,
Petitioner’s second supplemental claim—that his robbery convictions under
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
■ Petitioner, Stacy M. Haynes, was convicted of seyeral crimes after committing several armed robberies in the Quad Cities area of Iowa and Illinois in the mid-nineties. Specifically, as to the Illinois robberies Petitioner .was convicted .of three counts of Hobbs Act robbery in violation of
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[Editor’s Note: The preceding image contains the reference for footnote
Years passed and then in 2015 the Supreme Court held in Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -,
A.
Recognizing the encouraging handwriting on the wall, Petitioner now moves to vacate his six concurrent mandatory life sentences under
Accordingly, the Court sees no reason to not follow circuit precedent and therefore finds that
B. Use and Carry of a Firearm
Petitioner also claims that his
,
(A) has as-an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
(B) that by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
18. U.S.C.
Petitioner argues that the definition of “.crime of violence" utilized in
The Government responds that Mathis is not properly applicable to this case. This is supposedly so because in Mathis, the court was concerned with whether a sentencing judge had properly determined whether the defendant had qualifying convictions for an enhanced sentence under
The Court sees no meaningful distinction between whether the sentencing judge or the jury made the finding. As most recently observed in Cardena, the categorical approach is utilized to determine whether a statute qualifies as a crime of violence under
The Government explains that to convict Petitioner on the
The Government concedes that the Petitioner’s jury was instructed that the robberies at issue required the taking or obtaining of property from a person “by means of actual or threatened force, or violence or fear of injury, immediate or future, to his person or property.” (Doc. 7 at 19). The.Hobbs Act defines the term “robbery” to mean “the unlawful taking or obtaining of personal property from the person or in the presence of another, against his will, by means of actual or threatened force, or violence, or fear of injury, immediate- or future, to his person or property, or property in-his custody or possession, or the person or property of a relative or member of his family or of anyone in his company at the time of the taking or obtaining.”
Moreover, the parties agree that when applying the categorical approach, a court presumes “the conviction rested on the least serious acts that could satisfy the statute,” United States v. Armour,
Indeed, under the Hobbs Act’s definition of robbery, the fear of injury need not even be immediate but can be in the future, and the property need not even belong to the immediate victim as the property can belong to someone else. See id. This alone prevents Hobbs Act robbery from qualifying as a crime of violence under§ 924(c) ’s force clause, because as just explained, that clause requires violent (i.e., strong) physical force against a person or property. But property can quite obviously be injured without the use of violent' forc'e—or even any force at all. As a means of compelling a victim to surrender valuable property against his will, a threat to deface a victim’s Picasso painting with a magic marker pen, to black out lines in rare documents, or to flush drugs down the toilet is likely to be as or more effective as a threat to punch the victim in the face. Each involves" a clear “threat of injury” and thus each would satisfy the elements of Hobbs Act robbery, but only the threat to punch the victim in the face involves the use of violent physical force. In short, although the threats to property described above involve physical actions, they do not involve physical force within the .meaning of Johnson v. United States,559 U.S. 133 , 140, 130S.Ct. 1265, 176 L.Ed.2d 1 (2010) (“physical force” means “violent force”—that is “strong physical force,”-which is “capable of causing physical pain or injury to another person.”).
(Doc. .3 at 19 (emphasis added)). The Court finds the Petitioner’s argument is not without merit. The Government responds by citing cases for the proposition that the Hobbs Act “fear of injury” is equivalent to the threatened use of physical force. See United States v Duncan,
First, those Seventh Circuit cases cited by the Government dealt exclusively with the fear of bodily injury. The plain language of the statute provides that a Hobbs Act robbery can be accomplished by causing a victim to have “fear of injury” to property, and “damage” to property can be accomplished without any force whatsoever. The language of the term “fear of injury” seems broad enough to encompass instances of the loss of economic .value rather than only a physical destruction brought about through the use of physical force. A case the Government cites in its opposition brief makes this point clearly. “Hobbs Act robbery under
Second, the Court is skeptical of the Government’s argument that the term “fear of injury” that appears in the definition of Hobbs Act “robbery” is the equivalent of the threatened use of physical force as a matter of statutory interpretation. This Court reads the statute to mean that a robbery is effectuated when either force, violence or fear of injury to the person or property of another are utilized to take a possession. 18 U.S.C. -
Nevertheless, the Government also relies on the very recent case, United States v. Anglin,
Given Anglin’s holding, this Court concludes that Petitioner’s three convictions under
As for the
The Court disagrees with this aspect of the Petitioner’s argument.
Very recently, this Court concluded that a crime of violence use4 in a
The Government charged Petitioner with three counts of unlawfully travelling interstate to further racketeering activity in violation of
C. Procedural Default
The Government asserts that Petitioner procedurally defaulted both his claim that his three
Petitioner primarily argues that he is actually innocent of the
Petitioner clearly asserts that actual innocence precludes a finding of procedural default. (Doc. 8 at 4-6). And the Court does not agree. However, the Court interprets Petitioner’s brief discussion of the evolution of the categorical approach and the rationale of Johnson (Doc. 8 at 6-7) as an argument that the novelty of his claims also excuses his procedural default.
A petitioner can establish cause for his procedural default by demonstrating that there was no reasonable basis in existing law for him to bring the claim on direct appeal. Reed v. Ross,
A petitioner still needs to establish that he was prejudiced for his procedural default to be’ excused. The prejudice that a petitioner must establish in these sorts of claims was articulated in United States v. Frady,
D. Evidentiary Hearing
Rule'8 of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts requires courts to determine whether evidentiary hearings are required in instances where the § 2255 motion has survived screening. The Court ■ does not find that such a hearing is necessary here. However, because both the parties and the Court referenced the jury instructions given in the underlying criminal case, United States v. Haynes, No. 96-cr-40034, and such instructions are not accessible via the Court’s EM/ECF system, the Court obtained a copy from the Clerk of Court and attaches them as an exhibit to this Opinion & Order. If the parties have an objection to the authenticity of the jury instructions, they may file an appropriate motion.
E. Certificate of Appealability
Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts requires the district court to “issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant.” Accordingly, the Court must determine whether to grant Petitioner a certificate of appealability pursuant to
According to
Consistent with the discussion above, the Court finds that reasonable jurists could differ with the Count’s treatment of Petitioner’s § 2255 motion. Other jurists may opine that the elements of the underlying Hobbs Act robbery offenses cannot be deemed subsumed within the elements of the
Y. CONCLUSION
Petitioner, Stacy M. Haynes’s Amended Motion Under
Also before the Court is Petitioner’s original Motion Under
EXHIBIT A
Members of the jury, the evidence and arguments in this case have been completed, and I wili now instruct you as to the law applicable to this case. It is your duly to follow all of the instructions.
You must not question any rule of law stated by me in these instructions. Regardless of any opinion you may have as to what the law ought to be, you must base your verdict upon the law given by me.
It is your duty to determine the facts from the evidence in this case. You are to apply the law given to you in these instructions to the facts and in this way decide the case.
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YOU SHOULD JUDGE THE TESTIMONY OF THE DEFENDANT IN THE SAMÉ MANNER AS YOU JUDGE THE TESTIMONY OF ANY OTHER WITNESS.
Neither by these instructions nor by any ruling or remark which I have made do I mean to indicate any opinion as to the facts or as to what your verdict should be. You are the sole and exclusive judges of the facts.
Opening statements of counsel are for the purpose of acquainting you in advance with the facts counsel expect the evidence to show. Closing arguments of counsel are for the purpose of discussing the evidence.
Opening statements, closing arguments or other statements or arguments of counsel do not constitute evidence. Opening statements and closing arguments of counsel should be disregarded to the extent they are not supported by the evidence.
During the course of trial it often becomes the duly of counsel to make objections and for me to rule on them in accordance with the law. The feet that counsel made objections should not influence you in any way.
The jury should decide this case solely on the evidence presented here in the courtroom. You must completely disregard any press, television or radio reports which you may have read, seen or heard. Such reports are not evidence; therefore, you must not be influenced in any manner whatever by such publicity.
The defendant, Stacy M. Haynes, is charged with the crimes of interference with commerce by threats or violence, interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The defendant has denied that he is guilty of the charges,
The defendant is presumed to be innocent,of the charge. This presumption remains with the defendant throughout every stage of the trial and during your deliberations on the verdict, and is not overcome, unless from all the evidence-in the case you are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
The government has the burdett of proving the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, and this burden remains on. the government throughout the case. The defendant is not required to prove his innocence or to produce any evidence.
Each count of the indictment charges the defendant with having committed'a separate offense.
Each count and the evidence relating to it should be considered separately, and a separate verdict should be returned as to each count. Your verdict of guilty or not guilty of an offense. charged in one count should not control your decision as to any other count.
There are two types of evidence: direct and circumstantial. Direct evidence is the testimony of a person who claims to have personal knowledge of the' commission of the crime which has been charged, such as an eyewitness. Circumstantial evidence is the - proof of a chain of facts and circumstances which tend to show whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The law makes no distinction between the weight to be given either direct or circumstantial evidence. Therefore, all of the .evidence in the case, including the circumstantial evidence, should be considered by you in arriving at your verdict.
A stipulation is an agreed statement of facts between the parties, and you should regard agreed statements as true.
I have taken judicial notice of public places which I regard as matters of common knowledge. You may, but are not required to, accept those facts as proved.
You are to consider only the evidence received in this case. You should consider this evidence in the light of your own observations and experience in life. You may draw such reasonable inferences as you believe to be justified tom proved facts.
You are to disregard any evidence to which I sustained an objection or which I ordered stricken. Anything you may have seen or heard about this case outside the ■ courtroom is not evidence and must be entirely disregarded. You should not be influenced by sympathy, prejudice, fear or public opinion.
Evidence that on some former occasion a witness other than the defendant made a statement inconsistent with his testimony in this case may be considered by you only in determining the credibility of the witness and not to establish the truth of the matters contained in that prior statement.
IT IS PROPER FOR AN ATTORNEY TO INTERVIEW ANY WITNESS IN PREPARATION FOR TRIAL.
Evidence has been received concerning statements said to have been made by the defendant. It is for you to determine whether the defendant did in fact make the statements. If you find that the defendant did make the statements, then you must determine what weight, if any, you feel the statements deserve. In determining what weight, if any, should be given the statements, you should consider all matters in evidence having to do with the statements, including those concerning the defendant's personal characteristics and the conditions under which the statements were made.
Evidence that the defendant has been convicted of a crime is to be considered by you only insofar as it may affect his credibility as a witness. It must not be considered by you as evidence of guilt of the crimes for which that defendant is on trial.
YOU MUST CONSIDER THE CREDIBILITY OF EACH IDENTIFICATION WITNESS IN THE SAME WAY AS ANY OTHER WITNESS. CONSIDER WHETHER HE IS TRUTHFUL, AND CONSIDER WHETHER HE HAD THE CAPACITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A RELIABLE OBSERVATION ON THE MATTER COVERED IN HIS TESTIMONY.
THE, GOVERNMENT HAS THE BURDEN OF PROVING BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE DEFENDANT WAS THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME.
You have heard testimony of expert witnesses. This is admissible where the subject matter involved requires knowledge, special study, training, or skill not within ordinary experience, and the witnesses are qualified to give expert opinions.
However, the fact that an expert has given an opinion does not mean that it is binding upon you or that you are obligated to accept the expert's opinion as to the facts. You should assess the weight to be given to the expert opinions in the light of all the evidence in this case.
The weight to be given to any particular evidence is not necessarily determined by the number of witnesses testifying on behalf of each side. You are to consider all the evidence in the case in determining the credibility of witnesses. You may find that the testimony of a smaller number of witnesses for one side is more credible than the testimony of a greater number of witnesses for the other side.
First, the defendant knowingly and willfully obtained property from the person(s) described in counts 1, 7, 8, and 12 of the indictment;
Second, the defendant did so by means Of robbery;
Third, the defendant knew that the person(s) described in counts 1, 7, 8, and 12 parted with property because of the robbery; and;
Fourth, the robbery affected commerce. It is not necessary for you to find that the defendant knew or intended that his actions would affect commerce. It is only necessary that the natural consequences of the acts committed by the defendant charged in the indictment were to affect commerce in any way or degree.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidfence that each of these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty.
If, on the other hand, you find from your consideration of all the evidence that any of these propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant not guilty.
To sustain the charge in Counts 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, and 13 of the indictment of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the government must prove the following propositions as to each defendant:
First, the defendant is guilty of the offenses charged in Counts 1,3,5, 8, 10, and 12 of the indictment; and Second, the defendant used or carried a firearm during and in relation to the offense charged in those counts.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each of these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty of counts 2, 4, 6, 9, II, and 13. If, on the other hand, you find from your consideration of all the evidence that any of these propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant not guilty of those counts for which the evidence was lacking.
First, the defendant traveled in interstate commerce, or used or caused to be used a facility in interstate commerce, including the mail;
Second, the defendant did so with the intent to commit a crime of violence to further unlawful activity;
Third, thereafter the defendant did commit or attempt to commit a crime of violence to further unlawful activity.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each of these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty.
If, on the other hand, you find from your consideration of all (he evidence that any of these propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant not guilty.
The indictment charges that the offense was committed "on or about" _. Although the evidence need not establish with certainty the exact date of the alleged offense, it must establish that the offense was committed on a date reasonably near the date charged.
When the word "knowingly" is used in these instructions, it means that the defendant realized what he was doing and was aware of the nature of his conduct, and did not act through ignorance, mistake, or accident, Knowledge may be proved by the defendant's conduct, and by all the facts and circumstances surrounding the case.
The term "interstate commerce" means travel between one state and another state or use of an interstate facility, including the mail.
The interstate travel must relate significantly to the illegal activity charged in the indictment; that is, the relationship must be more than minimal or incidental. The interstate travel however, need not be essential to the success of such Illegal activity.
The defendant need not have contemplated or knowingly caused the interstate travel.
Extortion means the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence or fear. Extortion by wrongful use of fear requires that the fear be reasonable under the circumstances.
"Unlawful activity" includes extortion; in violation of the laws of the state in which it is committed or of the United States.
The term properly includes money, checks, and currency.
A defendant "uses" a firearm when he "actively employs" the firearm in the commission of the offense. This includes brandishing, displaying, bartering, striking with, and most obviously, firing or attempting tp fire, a firearm." The definition of "carry" is distinct from the term "use"; a defendant "carries" a gun when he possesses and transports it within reasonable reach.
The term "crime of violence" means -
(a) an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
(b) any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
The foreperson will preside over your deliberations and will be your representative here in court.
Forms of verdict have been prepared for you.
Take these forms to the jury room, and when you have reached unanimous agreement on the verdict, your foreperson will fill in and date the appropriate form, and each of you will sign it.
I do not anticipate that you will need to communicate with me. If you do, however, the only proper way is in writing, signed by the foreperson, or if he or she is , unwilling to do so, by some other juror, and given to the marshal.
The verdict must represent the considered judgment of each juror. Your verdict, whether it be guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous.
You should make every reasonable effort to reach a verdict. In doing so, you should consult with one another, express your own view, and listen to the opinions of your fellow jurors. Discuss your differences with an open mind. Do not hesitate to reexamine your own views and change your opinion if you come to believe it is wrong. But you should not surrender your honest beliefs about the weight or effect of evidence solely because of the opinions of your fellow jurors or for the purpose of returning a unanimous verdict.
The twelve of you should give fair and equal consideration to all the evidence and deliberate with the goal of reaching an agreement which is consistent with the individual judgment of each juror.
You are impartial judges of the facts. Your sole interest is to determine whether the government has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
To “attempt” an offense means willfully to do some act, in an effort to bring about or accomplish something the law forbids.
Notes
. In case one is curious, the jury failed to convict Petitioner of Count 7 of the Indictment; it too was a Hobbs Act robbery charge but without the involvement of a firearm.
. The Government did briefly recount the reasons it believes these precedential cases were wrong in order to preserve the issues upon appeal. There is little reason for this Court to discuss them, as this Court cannot'overrule the Seventh Circuit. The Court notes that such objections have been made and are part of the record.
. The jury instruction provided in Petitioner’s trial 'defined extortion in this way. It should be noted that the Seventh Circuit pattern instructions demonstrate that a Hobbs Act extortion can be “robbery” or “non-robbery.” The "non-robbery” extortion offense has the victim’s consent as an element while the “robbery” extortion offense does not. See Seventh Circuit Pattern Criminal Jury Instructions
. No one should construe this discussion to relate to Petitioner’s stand-alone actual innocence claim that was dismissed. (See supra at 820-21). - ..