State ex rel. Thomas v. Sheldon

[Cite as State ex rel. Thomas v. Sheldon, 2020-Ohio-2992.]
wCOURT OF APPEALS
RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGES:
BARRY THOMAS, : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
STATE EX REL. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney,J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
Petitioner :
:
-vs- : Case No. 2020 CA 0042
:
DEPARTMENT OF :
REHABILITATION : OPINION
AND CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR:
MANSFIELD, CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTIONS;
EDWARD SHELDON
Respondent
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Writ of Habeas Corpus
JUDGMENT: Dismissed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: May 18, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For: Petitioner For: Respondent
BARRY L. THOMAS, Pro Se GARY D. BISHOP
#684903 Richland County Prosecutor
1150 North Main Street 38 South Park Street
P.O. Box 788 2nd Floor
Mansfield, OH 44901 Mansfield, OH 44902
[Cite as State ex rel. Thomas v. Sheldon, 2020-Ohio-2992.]
Gwin, P.J.
{¶1} On May 4, 2020, Petitioner, Barry Thomas, filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus
against Respondents, “Department of Rehabilitation, and Corrections Director: Mansfield,
Correctional Institutions; Edward Sheldon [.]” Mr. Thomas’s argument is not easily
followed, but he asserts he is entitled to habeas relief because:
[H]e is deprived of his life, liberty and property, because the Adult parole
authority went beyond his three (3) years expiration of sentencing
Judgment Entry in its entirety, because the (A.P.A.’s) failure to comply with
2967.14.1(D)(3) and 2967.28(F)(3), therefore petitioner demands that this
court issue an order to release said body of Barry L. Thomas, ex rel., a
flesh and blood man, and then and there give such other relief as deemed
by setting the petitioner at liberty.
{¶2} (Writ of Habeas Corpus at 5)
{¶3} Due to the following deficiencies, Mr. Thomas cannot maintain an action for
habeas corpus and his petition is sua sponte dismissed. We are permitted to dismiss a
habeas corpus petition sua sponte if the petition does not contain a facially valid claim.
State ex rel. Crigger v. Ohio Adult Parole Auth., 82 Ohio St. 3d 270, 271, 695 N.E.2d 254
(1988).
{¶4} Mr. Thomas’s petition is deficient in the following manner. First, he did not
state a facially valid claim for habeas relief because he failed to comply with R.C.
2725.04(D). This statute requires a copy of the commitment or cause of detention be
attached to the petition for writ of habeas corpus. Without the commitment papers, the
writ of habeas corpus is fatally defective. Brown v. Rogers, 72 Ohio St. 3d 339, 341, 650
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0042 3
N.E.2d 422 (1995). A court may sua sponte dismiss a petition for habeas corpus that fails
to comply with R.C. 2725.04(D). See State ex rel. Wynn v. McFaul, 81 Ohio St. 3d 193,
194, 690 N.E.2d 7 (1998) (Ohio Supreme Court affirmed court of appeals’ sua sponte
dismissal of habeas corpus petition for failure to comply with R.C. 2725.04(D.))
{¶5} Second, Mr. Thomas’s petition includes an affidavit of indigency wherein he
requests waiver of prepayment of the Court’s filing fees. However, Mr. Thomas failed to
include in his affidavit of indigency a statement setting forth the balance in his inmate
account for each of the preceding six months, as certified by the institutional cashier, in
violation of R.C. 2969.25(C)(1). A court may sua sponte dismiss a writ of habeas corpus
for failing to comply R.C. 2969.25(C)(1). See State ex rel. Hairston v. Franklin Cty. Ct. of
Common Pleas, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 17AP-502, 2018-Ohio-148, ¶ 9 (“Because
petitioner has failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of R.C. 2969.25(C), it is
this magistrate's decision that this court should sua sponte dismiss his habeas corpus
action.”)
{¶6} For the foregoing reasons, we sua sponte dismiss Mr. Thomas’s Petition for
Writ of Habeas Corpus. The clerk of courts is hereby directed to serve upon all parties
not in default notice of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. See Civ.R.
58(B).
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0042 4
{¶7} CAUSE SUA SPONTE DISMISSED.
{¶8} COSTS TO PETITIONER
{¶9} IT IS SO ORDERED.
By Gwin, P.J.,
Delaney, J., and
Baldwin, J., concur