Mendoza v. Warden, Hernando County Detention Center ( 2023 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION ALEXANDER ELOY MENDOZA, Petitioner, -vs- Case No. 8:23-cv-2406-CEH-AEP WARDEN, HERNANDO COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, Respondent. _________________________________/ ORDER Petitioner, a Florida pretrial detainee at the Hernando County Detention Center, initiated this action by filing a petition for the writ of habeas corpus (Doc. 1) and a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2). Petitioner contends his detainment is unconstitutional because both the judge and his public defender know the victim, who worked for Hernando County, but refuse to transfer the criminal proceedings to another venue. As relief, he seeks immediate release from detainment. Discussion As a state pretrial detainee, Petitioner may challenge his confinement as unconstitutional by petitioning for the writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. See Stacey v. Warden, Apalachee Corr. Inst., 854 F.2d 401, 403 n.1 (11th Cir. 1988) (“Pre-trial habeas petitions . . . are properly brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, which applies to persons in custody regardless of whether final judgment has been rendered.”). This Court concludes, however, that the petition should be dismissed under the Younger abstention doctrine and because Petitioner has not exhausted all available state court remedies. A. Exhaustion A federal district court may not grant a § 2241 petition “unless the petitioner has exhausted all available state remedies.” See Georgalis v. Dixon, 776 F.2d 261, 262 (11th Cir. 1985); see also Hughes v. Att’y Gen. of Fla., 377 F.3d 1258, 1262 n.4 (11th Cir. 2004) (explaining that courts apply the exhaustion requirement to a state pretrial detainee’s § 2241 petition). Petitioner has not exhausted all available state remedies before filing his petition in this Court.1 Thus, the petition will be dismissed for failure to exhaust. B. Younger doctrine Even if Petitioner had exhausted all his state remedies, the petition would be dismissed because the Younger abstention doctrine precludes the Court from interfering with the ongoing state criminal proceedings. See Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971). “When a petitioner seeks federal habeas relief prior to a pending state criminal trial the petitioner must satisfy the ‘Younger abstention hurdles’ before the federal courts 1 The Court takes judicial notice of information on https://www.civitekflorida.com/ocrs/app/caseinformation.xhtml?query=BBtXO6CWPjgs bQ340IBi12Ti1zgBZaYO5vkj-27GkWc&from=partyCaseSummaryviewed and https://onlinedocketsdca.flcourts.org/, viewed October 26, 2023, that reveals Petitioner filed nothing in either the state circuit court or the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal challenging his detainment. Additionally, the Court notes Petitioner no longer is represented by the Public Defender and instead is represented by Regional Conflict Counsel. 2 can grant such relief.” Hughes v. Att’y Gen. of Fla., 377 F.3d 1258, 1262 (11th Cir. 2004). “[I]n the interests of comity, federal courts abstain from becoming involved in [ ] state court proceeding[s] with few exceptions. ‘Proper respect for the ability of state courts to resolve federal questions presented in state-court litigation mandates that the federal court stay its hand,’ Pennzoil v. Texaco, Inc., 481 U.S. 1, 14 (1987); see also Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971).” Solomon v. Manuel, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125689, at *2 (N.D. Fla. Oct. 4, 2011). Absent “extraordinary circumstances, a federal court must abstain from deciding issues implicated in an ongoing criminal proceeding in state court.” Thompson v. Wainwright, 714 F.2d 1495, 1503 (11th Cir. 1983) (citing Younger). Under Younger, federal courts should abstain from granting injunctive or declaratory relief affecting a state criminal prosecution absent: (1) evidence of bad faith prosecution, (2) irreparable injury if abstention is not exercised by the federal court, or (3) the absence of an adequate alternative state forum where the constitutional issues can be raised. Hughes, 377 F.3d at 1263 n.6 (citing Younger, 401 U.S. at 45, 53-54). Petitioner does not allege facts showing bad faith prosecution, irreparable injury, or the absence of an adequate state forum where the constitutional issues can be raised. Thus, he has failed to present facts that warrant this Court interfering in the normal functioning of Florida’s criminal process. Accordingly: 3 1. The petition (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice under the Younger abstention doctrine and for failure to exhaust all available state remedies. 2. Petitioner is DENIED a certificate of appealability (“COA”) because he cannot show “that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of denial of a constitutional right, and that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 478 (2000). Because Petitioner is not entitled to a COA, he may not appeal in forma pauperis. 3. The Clerk is directed to close this case. ORDERED at Tampa, Florida, on October 26, 2023. Chak tare AvJ anda Mong gl el Charlene Edwards Honeywell United States District Judge Copy to: Petitioner, pro se