Sanders v. Bauman, No. 2:2017cv12248 - Document 11 (E.D. Mich. 2020)
Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER Denying 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Denying Certificate of Appealability. Signed by District Judge George Caram Steeh. (BSau)
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Sanders v. Bauman Doc. 11 Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1517 Page 1 of 21 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN NORTHERN DIVISION TIMOTHY MICHAEL SANDERS, Petitioner, Case Number: 2:17-cv-12248 Honorable George Caram Steeh v. RANDEE REWERTS,1 Respondent. / OPINION AND ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AND DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY Michigan state prisoner Timothy Michael Sanders filed a habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. ' 2254. Petitioner, who is presently incarcerated at the Carson City Correctional Facility in Carson City, challenges his convictions for second-degree murder, MICH. COMP. LAWS ' 750.317; assault with intent to commit murder, MICH. COMP. LAWS ' 750.83, carrying a concealed weapon, MICH. COMP. LAWS ' 750.227, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MICH. COMP. LAWS ' 750.227b. 1 The proper respondent in a habeas case is the state officer having custody of the petitioner. See Rule 2, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. The warden of Petitioner=s present place of incarceration is Randee Rewerts. The Court therefore amends the case caption to substitute Randee Rewerts as the Respondent. -1- Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 Petitioner raises four grounds for relief. below, the Court denies the petition. PageID.1518 Page 2 of 21 For the reasons explained The Court also denies a certificate of appealability. I. Background The Michigan Court of Appeals summarized the evidence presented at trial as follows: This case arises out of a fatal shooting on January 16, 2012. Shortly before 3:00 p.m., Darryl Smith heard a commotion and went outside his home to see what was happening. He saw some women fighting in the street. Darius Kendrick, who was Smith=s stepfather, was pulling the female combatants apart. One of the women involved, Diamond Randall, called defendant, who was her cousin, and told him that she was upset about how Kendrick had thrown her to the ground while breaking up the fight. After the fight broke up, defendant arrived at the scene in a Range Rover. Smith knew defendant by his nickname, ABig Tim,@ and had seen him on several prior occasions. Defendant spoke to some women near the scene of the fight, then approached Smith and Kendrick. He was aggressive and told Kendrick Ato keep his hands to his self.@ Smith and Kendrick backed away, but defendant produced a handgun from his right pocket and began to shoot, firing A[m]ore than seven@ times. Smith was shot once in the foot. Kendrick was fatally shot in the chest, stomach, and leg. Defendant was A[a]bout three or four feet@ from Smith and Kendrick when he shot them. Smith testified that neither he nor Kendrick had a gun. After the shooting, defendant ran back to the Range Rover and left the scene. Smith had Ano doubt@ about his identification of defendant as the shooter. When the police arrived, Smith told them that ABig Tim@ had shot him. Initially, defendant could not be located. Eventually, he was arrested by the United States Marshals Service at a relative=s home in Marion County, Ohio. -2- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1519 Page 3 of 21 People v. Sanders, No. 314765, 2015 WL 5567977, at *1 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept. 22, 2015) Petitioner was convicted by a jury in Wayne County Circuit Court and sentenced to 30 to 50 years for second-degree murder, 15 to 25 years for assault with intent to commit murder, 2 to 10 years for carrying a concealed weapon, all to be served concurrently with one another and consecutively to 2 years for felony-firearm. Petitioner filed an appeal of right in the Michigan Court of Appeals raising three claims: (1) Petitioner was denied a fair trial by the admission of his prior criminal history; (2) Petitioner was denied the right to present a defense; and (3) the prosecutor committed misconduct. Petitioner also filed a pro per supplemental brief seeking a new trial or evidentiary hearing based upon newly discovered evidence. The Michigan Court of Appeals remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing in the trial court. People v. Sanders, No. 314765 (Mich. Ct. App. May 21, 2014) (ECF No. 7-11, PageID. 1275.) The trial court held an evidentiary hearing on August 1, 2014. Following the hearing, the trial court denied the motion for new trial. People v. Sanders, No. 12-008256-01 (Wayne County Cir. Ct. Sept. 22, 2014) (ECF No. 7-11, PageID.1283-87) The Michigan Court of Appeals -3- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1520 Page 4 of 21 then affirmed Petitioner=s convictions. People v. Sanders, No. 314765, 2015 WL 5567977, at *1 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept. 22, 2015). The Michigan Supreme Court denied Petitioner=s application for leave to appeal. People v. Sanders, 499 Mich. 915 (2016). Petitioner then filed this habeas petition, raising these claims: I. The trial court and the prosecutor violated Appellant=s due process rights by introducing Appellant=s inadmissible and highly prejudicial criminal history where the trial court read the charge of felon in possession of a firearm even though the district court had not bound Appellant over on that charge; and where the prosecutor elicited that one of the complainants had previously seen Appellant with a gun. II. The trial court violated Appellant=s due process right to present a defense by declining to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter as a lesser offense, where there was evidence of provocation; furthermore, defense trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective in agreeing to the ruling. III. The prosecutor violated Appellant=s due process rights and shifted the burden of proof by improperly asking if defense trial counsel had the opportunity to test casings recovered at the scene; and by commenting that Appellant failed to testify if Appellant had ever owned or fired a gun or explain where Appellant went after the shooting. IV. Petitioner should be granted a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. II. Standard Upon the filing of a habeas corpus petition, the court must promptly examine the petition to determine Aif it plainly appears from the face of the -4- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1521 Page 5 of 21 petition and any exhibits annexed to it that the petitioner is not entitled to relief.@ Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 cases. If the court determines that the petitioner is not entitled to relief, the court shall summarily dismiss the petition. McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 856 (1994) (AFederal courts are authorized to dismiss summarily any habeas petition that appears legally insufficient on its face@). The habeas petition does not present grounds which may establish the violation of a federal constitutional right. The petition will be dismissed. Review of this case is governed by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AAEDPA@). Under the AEDPA, a state prisoner is entitled to a writ of habeas corpus only if he can show that the state court=s adjudication of his claims B (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 28 U.S.C. ' 2254(d). A[A] state court=s determination that a claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief so long as >fairminded jurists could disagree= on the correctness of the state court=s decision.@ Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. -5- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1522 Page 6 of 21 86, 101 (2011). To obtain habeas relief in federal court, a state prisoner is required to show that the state court=s rejection of his claim Awas so lacking in justification that there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded disagreement.@ Id. at 103. III. A. Discussion Prior Acts Evidence In his first claim, Petitioner alleges that his due process right to a fair trial was violated in two ways.2 First, he argues that, during jury selection, when the trial court read the charges to the jury, the trial court mistakenly stated that Petitioner charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. This charge had been dismissed at the preliminary examination. Defense counsel immediately asked for a bench conference. (ECF No. 7-5, PageID.309.) The trial court then corrected its error and reread the correct charges. (Id.) 2 Respondent argues that both of these subclaims are waived, and that the first subclaim is procedurally defaulted. A[F]ederal courts are not required to address a procedural-default issue before deciding against the petitioner on the merits.@ Hudson v. Jones, 351 F.3d 212, 215 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing Lambrix v. Singletary, 520 U.S. 518, 525 (1997)). AJudicial economy might counsel giving the [other] question priority, for example, if it were easily resolvable against the habeas petitioner, whereas the procedural-bar issue involved complicated issues of state law.@ Lambrix, 520 U.S. at 525. In this case, the Court finds that the interests of judicial economy are best served by addressing the merits of Petitioner=s claims. -6- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1523 Page 7 of 21 Second, during the trial, the prosecutor asked Darryl Smith whether he had ever seen Petitioner with a gun and Smith responded that he had. (ECF No. 7-6, PageID.658.) Defense counsel objected. Following a colloquy outside the jury=s presence, the trial court sustained the objection, struck Smith=s testimony, and instructed the jury to disregard it. Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *2. The Michigan Court of Appeals held that neither of these incidents denied Petitioner a fair trial: Defendant=s argument fails for a number of reasons. First, the trial court=s mistaken recitation of the felon-in-possession charge was not evidence; thus, defendant=s proposed application of MRE 404(b) to the trial court=s jury instruction is wholly inappropriate. Second, the trial court immediately corrected its misstatement of the charges. Third, defendant assumes that the jury inferred prior bad acts by defendant, but such an inference is unlikely. Although lawyers and judges may be familiar with the elements of felon-in-possession, most jurors are probably not. That is, a typical juror would not have inferred defendant had a prior felony conviction that made him ineligible to possess a firearm although he possessed one. Fourth, the trial court administered proper jury instructions which cured any prejudice. Since jurors are presumed to follow their instructions, any unfair prejudice resulting from improper evidence of a defendant=s prior bad acts can be dispelled by proper jury instructions. ... The trial court struck the testimony by Smith that defendant had previously possessed a firearm, and instructed the jury to disregard it. Further, the jury was instructed (1) not to consider the trial court's comments or the fact that defendant was charged with crimes as evidence, (2) defendant was presumed innocent, (3) it should only consider properly admitted evidence, and (4) any stricken testimony -7- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1524 Page 8 of 21 must be disregarded. Thus, any prejudice to defendant was dispelled, and reversal is unwarranted. Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *2. The Michigan Court of Appeals= decision was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent. As noted by the state court of appeals, the inclusion of the dismissed felon-in-possession charge was not evidence, the reference to the felon-in-possession charge was brief, and the error promptly corrected. In light of these circumstances, the possibility that the error registered with or influenced the jury is highly implausible. The same is true of Smith=s testimony that he had previously seen Petitioner with a gun. The testimony was stricken and the jury instructed not to consider the testimony. AA jury is presumed to follow its instructions.@ Weeks v. Angelone, 528 U.S. 225, 234 (2000). Further, during final instructions, the court advised the jury to consider only evidence that was properly admitted. (ECF No. 7-8, PageID.1019.) For these reasons, the Court holds that Afairminded jurists could [not] disagree@ on the correctness of the Michigan Court of Appeals= resolution of these claims. Richter, 562 U.S. at 101 (quotation omitted). B. Jury Instructions Petitioner=s second claim concerns the trial court=s failure to give a -8- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1525 Page 9 of 21 voluntary manslaughter instruction. He argues that the trial court violated his due process right to present a defense by failing to give the instruction and that his attorney was ineffective in failing to object to the ruling. Reviewing Michigan law, the Michigan Court of Appeals noted that, to prove a defendant committed voluntary manslaughter, A>one must show that the defendant killed in the heat of passion, the passion was caused by adequate provocation, and there was not a lapse of time during which a reasonable person could control his passions.=@ Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *2 (quoting People v. Reese, 491 Mich. 127, 143 (2012)). The burden of proof to show provocation is on the defendant. People v. Mendoza, 468 Mich. 527, 535 (Mich. 2003). A[T]he degree of provocation required to mitigate a killing from murder to manslaughter is that which causes the defendant to act out of passion rather than reason.@ Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *2 (quotation omitted). The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the evidence did not support a voluntary manslaughter instruction: The trial court=s decision not to submit a voluntary manslaughter instruction to the jury was proper because there was insufficient evidence of legally adequate provocation. There was no evidence of a physical confrontation between defendant and Kendrick. There was no evidence that anyone threatened defendant, brandished a weapon at him, or shot at him, although shell casings from more than one caliber of -9- Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1526 Page 10 of 21 weapon were found at the scene. There was no evidence of a verbal confrontation between defendant and Kendrick that would cause a rational person to act in the heat of passion. ... And even if Kendrick=s alleged assault of defendant=s cousin was legally adequate provocation, the record indicates that a sufficient Acooling off@ period had elapsed Aduring which a reasonable person could have controlled his passions.@ See People v. Pouncey, 437 Mich. 382, 392; 471 N.W.2d 346 (1991). The cousin called defendant, who drove to the scene of the shooting and spoke with several people before confronting and ultimately shooting Kendrick and Smith. During that interlude, a reasonable person could have reflected on the situation and controlled his passions. Thus, the trial court correctly concluded that a voluntary manslaughter instruction was unwarranted. Accordingly, defendant=s ineffective assistance of counsel argument premised on his counsel=s agreement with the trial court that a voluntary manslaughter instruction was not warranted is also without merit. Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977, at *2-3. The Michigan Court of Appeals= opinion was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, Supreme Court precedent. AGenerally speaking, a state court=s interpretation of the propriety of a jury instruction under state law does not entitle a habeas claimant to relief.@ Rashad v. Lafler, 675 F.3d 564, 569 (6th Cir. 2012), citing 28 U.S.C. ' 2254(a); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). A[T]he Constitution does not requires a lesser-included offense instruction in non-capital cases.@ Campbell v. Coyle, 260 F.3d 531, 541 (6th Cir. 2001); see also McMullan v. Booker, 761 F.3d 662, 667 (6th Cir. 2014). Even where a lesser offense - 10 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1527 Page 11 of 21 instruction is requested, the failure of a court to instruct on a lesser included or cognate offense in a non-capital case is generally Anot an error of such magnitude to be cognizable in federal habeas corpus review.@ Bagby v. Sowders, 894 F.2d 792, 797 (6th Cir. 1990) (en banc). Relief lies for such a claim only when the Ainstruction is so flawed as a matter of state law as to >infect[] the entire trial= in such a way that the conviction violates due process.@ Id. (quoting Henderson v. Kibbe, 431 U.S. 145, 154 (1977)). Where, as here, a state appellate court has assessed the necessity and adequacy of a particular jury instruction under state law, a federal habeas court cannot question that state-law finding. Davis v. Morgan, 89 F. App=x 932, 936 (6th Cir. 2003). The Michigan Court of Appeals= conclusion that the evidence did not support a voluntary manslaughter instruction is supported by the record. Petitioner has not established that the jury instructions, taken as a whole, rendered his trial fundamentally unfair. See Estelle, 502 U.S. at 72 (a requested jury instruction Amay not be judged in artificial isolation, but must be considered in the context of the instructions as a whole and the trial record@) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Further, because the jury instructions were not improper, Petitioner fails to establish that defense counsel was ineffective in failing to object. See Coley v. Bagley, - 11 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1528 Page 12 of 21 706 F.3d 741, 752 (6th Cir.2013) (AOmitting meritless arguments is neither professionally unreasonable nor prejudicial.@). Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on this claim. C. Prosecutorial Misconduct Next, Petitioner argues that the prosecutor improperly shifted the burden of proof to the defense by asking a police witness if the defense requested ballistics testing on shell casings recovered from the scene and by commenting in closing argument that defendant did not explain why he left Michigan for eight months after the shooting or if he had ever owned or fired a gun. The Aclearly established Federal law@ relevant to a habeas court=s review of a prosecutorial misconduct claim is the Supreme Court=s decision in Darden v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 168, 181 (1986). Parker v. Matthews, 567 U.S. 37, 45 (2012). In Darden, the Supreme Court held that a Aprosecutor=s improper comments will be held to violate the Constitution only if they >so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.=@ Id., quoting Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643 (1974). This Court must ask whether the Michigan Court of Appeals= decision denying Petitioner=s prosecutorial misconduct claims A>was so lacking in justification that there was an error well - 12 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1529 Page 13 of 21 understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded disagreement.=@ Id. at 2155, quoting Harrington, 562 U.S. at 103. Regarding shell casings recovered from the scene, the prosecutor asked a police witness, ADid the defense attorney ever call you and say I would like to have these bullets examined, can you see what you can do?@ Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *4. The officer responded, ANo he did not.@ Id. The trial court sustained defense counsel=s objection, but defense counsel did not request, and the trial court did not give, a curative instruction. The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the question improperly shifted the burden of proof to the defense, but that Petitioner was not prejudiced by the single, brief question. Id. This decision was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application, of Supreme Court precedent. The improper question was brief and isolated and, although a curative instruction was not delivered at the time, the jury was instructed before deliberations that the prosecution bore the burden of proof. Under the totality of these circumstances, the prosecutor=s question did not infect the trial with unfairness. Next, Petitioner argues that the prosecutor improperly shifted the burden of proof during closing argument. Petitioner testified in his own - 13 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1530 Page 14 of 21 defense. The entirety of his trial testimony is set forth here: Defense counsel: Would you state your name for the record, please? Petitioner: Timothy Sanders. Defense counsel: Mr. Sanders, can you tell me where you were on or about January the 16th, 2012? Petitioner: Warren and Connor projects. [A brief exchange between trial court judge and Petitioner regarding placement of microphone.] Defense counsel: On that day did you have contact with the person who=s been described as the deceased in this case? Petitioner: Yes, sir. Defense counsel: Did you or did you not speak to him? Petitioner: Yes, sir. Defense counsel: No further questions. (ECF No. 7-7, PageID.950.) The prosecution did not cross-examine Petitioner. During closing argument, the prosecutor commented that Petitioner=s testimony lacked any information relevant to his defense: In all of my years, 26 years as a prosecutor, 300 murder cases. Never, never has a defense been, has a defendant been called to the witness stand, ask[ed] his name; did you know the victim; did you talk to him; no further questions. I mean, that=s a prosecutor=s dream because we can=t comment upon a - 14 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1531 Page 15 of 21 defendant=s silence. When a defendant doesn=t take the stand, we can=t say to you, ladies and gentleman, why didn=t he take the stand? Why didn=t he tell you where he was at that date? Why didn=t he tell you whether or not he=s ever owned a gun? Why doesn=t he tell you whether, whether he=s ever fired a gun? Why didn=t he tell you where he went afterward? Where did he do [sic] afterward? Where did he go the next day? Why was he in Ohio? Why did he have his attorney say he=d turn him in and he didn=t turn himself in? So this guy takes the stand, it=s a prosecutor=s dream. It=s a one in a million. One in a million. *** It=s a one in a billion. It=ll never happen again. So we made history here. [Defense counsel] called his client and he places him under oath and never asked him[,] did you shoot [Kendrick]? Never asked him. Calls him as a witness. I don=t have to ask him anything. [Defense counsel] calls it [his] trick. This trial is not about tricks. This guy takes the witness stand, he=s looking at you and he never says I didn=t do it. I didn=t do it. And if he didn=t do it [,] he would have told you that. [Defense counsel] didn=t even ask him[,] did you do it[?] He didn=t even say to you why he arrived when he arrived. He doesn=t say to you[,] I went to Ohio for other reasons. Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *4. The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the prosecution=s argument was proper because Petitioner elected to testify: Although the constitutional right against self-incrimination prevents the prosecution from commenting on a criminal defendant=s refusal to testify, A[i]n general, where a defendant >takes the stand and testifies in his own defense, his credibility may be impeached and his testimony assailed like that of any other witness....=@ People v. Fields, 450 Mich. 94, 110; 538 NW2d 356 (1995) (footnote omitted) [quotation omitted]. - 15 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1532 Page 16 of 21 Moreover, prosecutorial commentary on a testifying defendant=s failure to present evidence to corroborate a defense theory is proper and not Aviolative of due process.@ Fields, 450 Mich. at 112. AAlthough a defendant has no burden to produce any evidence, once the defendant advances evidence or a theory, argument on the inferences created does not shift the burden of proof.@ Id. at 115. Defendant=s theory of the case was actual innocence B that someone else was the shooter. The prosecutor argued that, although defendant testified, he provided no corroboration for that defense theory. ... The prosecution=s argument did not improperly shift the burden of proof. Instead, it questioned why defendant, having elected to testify, presented no testimony to support his defense. That is, defendant advanced a theory of actual innocence and testified at his trial, yet he did not corroborate his defense theory. The prosecutor=s Aargument on the inferences created does not shift the burden of proof.@ Id. Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977, at *5. The Michigan Court of Appeals= rejection of this claim was not an unreasonable application of Darden. A[W]hen [a defendant] assumes the role of a witness, the rules that generally apply to other witnesses B rules that serve the truth-seeking function of the trial B are generally applicable to him as well.@ Portuondo v. Agard, 529 U.S. 61, 69 (2000) (quotation and citation omitted). A testifying defendant=s testimony may be Aassailed like that of another witness.@ Id. (quotation omitted). A prosecutor may highlight weaknesses in a defense case by pointing out the absence of supporting testimony or documents. United States v. Forrest, 402 F.3d - 16 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 678, 686 (6th Cir. 2005). PageID.1533 Page 17 of 21 The prosecutor=s argument did not shift the burden of proof to Petitioner. Instead, the prosecutor pointed out that Petitioner=s defense of actual innocence was unsupported by any substantial evidence including his own testimony. The prosecutor=s comments on the lack of support for the defense did not shift the burden of proof to the defendant. See Traylor v. Price, 239 F. App=x 235, 239 (6th Cir. 2007). (A[W]here a defendant testifies at trial and advances an alternative theory of the case that would exonerate him from the crime, prosecutorial comments on the validity of the theory do not shift the burden of proof to the defendant.@). Habeas relief is denied on this claim. D. Newly Discovered Evidence In his fourth claim, Petitioner argues that he should be granted a new trial based upon newly-discovered evidence. The Michigan Court of Appeals remanded the case to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing concerning the new evidence. (ECF No. 7-11, PageID.1275.) At the evidentiary hearing, Sedric Bell-Gill testified that he witnessed the shooting and that Petitioner=s half-brother Timothy Carpenter was the shooter, not Petitioner. The trial court denied the motion for new trial finding that Bell-Gill=s testimony was contradicted by overwhelming evidence and that his testimony was not credible. See Op. Denying Mot. - 17 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1534 Page 18 of 21 for New Trial (ECF No. 7-11, PageID.1283-1287.) The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court=s decision: The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying defendant=s motion for a new trial premised on this purported Anewly discovered eyewitness.@ Since witness credibility falls within the sound discretion of a trial court considering a motion for a new trial, it was proper for the trial court to evaluate BellGill's credibility, and it would be improper for this Court to second-guess that credibility determination. ... Indeed, we afford particular deference to credibility determinations made by a trial court judge where, as here, a conflict between the testimony of two witnesses is involved. See People v. Farrow, 461 Mich. 202, 209; 600 NW2d 634 (1999). Bell-Gill=s testimony is directly contrary to Smith=s eyewitness account and identification of defendant as the shooter. The trial court, with its unique opportunity to appraise the credibility of both Bell-Gill and Smith, found that Bell-Gill=s testimony was Aincredible.@ It further concluded that his testimony was inconsistent with his prior statement to the FBI and with the physical evidence. Moreover, even if believed, Bell-Gill=s testimony was not strong evidence. He admitted that he saw only one shot fired by Carpenter, and did not actually witness whether that shot struck anyone or whether Carpenter fired additional shots. But Smith clearly identified defendant as the shooter and witnessed the entire event. As the trial court concluded, Bell-Gill=s testimony did not make a different result probable on retrial. ... Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied defendant=s motion for a new trial. Sanders, 2015 WL 5567977 at *6. A claim that a state court misapplied state law in denying a motion for new trial is premised on state law issues and, therefore, not subject to habeas review. Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). - 18 - Claims Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1535 Page 19 of 21 of innocence based on newly-discovered evidence Ahave never been held to state a ground for federal habeas relief absent an independent constitutional violation occurring in the underlying state criminal proceeding.@ Herrera v. Collins, 506 U.S. 390, 400 (1993); see also McQuiggin v. Perkins, 569 U.S. 383, 392 (2013) (AWe have not resolved whether a prisoner may be entitled to habeas relief based on a freestanding claim of actual innocence@). A[F]ederal habeas courts sit to ensure that individuals are not imprisoned in violation of the ConstitutionCnot to correct errors of fact.@ Id. In House v. Bell, the Supreme Court declined to answer the question left open in Herrera B whether a habeas petitioner may bring a freestanding claim of actual innocence. See House v. Bell, 547 U.S. 518, 555 (2006) (noting that Ain a capital case a truly persuasive demonstration of >actual innocence= made after trial would render the execution of a defendant unconstitutional and warrant federal habeas relief if there were no state avenue open to process such a claim@). This is not a capital case and the Sixth Circuit, citing Herrera and House, has ruled that a free-standing claim of actual innocence based upon newly-discovered evidence does not warrant federal habeas relief. See Wright v. Stegall, 247 Fed. App=x 709, 712 (6th Cir. 2007) (ASince the Supreme Court has declined to recognize a - 19 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1536 Page 20 of 21 freestanding innocence claim in habeas corpus, outside the death-penalty context, this court finds that petitioner's claim is not entitled to relief under available Supreme Court precedent.@). Consequently, Petitioner=s newlydiscovered evidence claim is not cognizable on federal habeas review. Moreover, on habeas review, this Court may not Aredetermine credibility of witnesses whose demeanor has been observed by the state trial court, but not by them.@ Marshall v. Lonberger, 459 U.S. 422, 434 (1983). The trial court determined that Bell-Gill was not credible. Deferring to that finding, the Court sees no error in the denial of the motion for new trial. IV. Certificate of Appealability Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22 provides that an appeal may not proceed unless a certificate of appealability (ACOA@) is issued under 28 U.S.C. ' 2253. A COA may be issued Aonly if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.@ 28 U .S.C. ' 2253(c)(2). A petitioner must show Athat reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.@ Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (citation omitted). In this case, the Court concludes - 20 - Case 2:17-cv-12248-GCS-SDD ECF No. 11 filed 04/21/20 PageID.1537 Page 21 of 21 that reasonable jurists would not debate the conclusion that the petition fails to state a claim upon which habeas corpus relief should be granted. Therefore, the Court will deny a certificate of appealability. V. Conclusion For the reasons set forth above, the court finds that Petitioner is not entitled to habeas corpus relief or to a certificate of appealability. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the petition for a writ of habeas corpus and a certificate of appealability are DENIED. Dated: April 21, 2020 s/George Caram Steeh GEORGE CARAM STEEH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE Copies of this Order were served upon attorneys of record on April 21, 2020, by electronic and/or ordinary mail and also on Timothy Michael Sanders #508153, Carson City Correctional Facility, 10274 Boyer Road, Carson City, MI 48811. s/Barbara Radke Deputy Clerk - 21 -
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