F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
FEB 23 1998
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
CALVIN DEAN PETERS,
Petitioner - Appellant, No. 97-2254
v. (D. New Mexico)
TIM LEMASTER, Warden; (D.C. No. CIV-96-1065-JP)
ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
Respondents - Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before ANDERSON, McKAY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under
the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Calvin Dean Peters, proceeding pro se, seeks a certificate of appealability
so that he may appeal the dismissal of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus
petition, in which he challenges his 1980 conviction for kidnapping and criminal
sexual penetration. We deny his request for a certificate of appealability and
dismiss his appeal. We grant Mr. Peters’ motion to file a supplemental brief, and
we grant his motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis. 1
BACKGROUND
A criminal information charged Mr. Peters with kidnapping, attempted
criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual penetration, and robbery. The jury
found him guilty of kidnapping and criminal sexual penetration, and he was
sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. Mr. Peters has completed serving his
sentence and is currently incarcerated on subsequent sentences following
convictions in state and federal court for other sexual assaults, burglaries and
other crimes. See United States v. Peters, No. 96-2286, 1998 WL 17750 (10th
Cir. Jan. 20, 1998); State v. Peters, 944 P.2d 896 (N.M. Ct. App.), cert. denied,
942 P.2d 189 (N.M. 1997).
1
The district court denied Mr. Peters’ request for a certificate of appealability, but
granted his motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis and ordered payment of a
$5.00 filing fee. Because this is a habeas proceeding, the Prison Litigation Reform Act
does not apply. See United States v. Simmonds, 111 F.3d 737, 743 (10th Cir. 1997).
Mr. Peters filed an in forma pauperis motion with this court.
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DISCUSSION
While the district court did not address this issue, and the State has filed no
brief in this appeal, we have held that Maleng v. Cook, 490 U.S. 488, 491-92
(1989),
“precludes a defendant from challenging a fully-expired conviction
in isolation even though it may have potential collateral
consequences in some future case. Further, even if the fully-expired
conviction has, in fact, been used to enhance a subsequent sentence,
it may not be attacked directly in a habeas action. Rather the attack
must be directed toward the enhanced sentence under which the
defendant is in custody. However, if the attack is so directed, the
defendant may argue that his present sentence is improper because it
has been enhanced by a prior, unconstitutional conviction.”
Harvey v. Shillinger, 76 F.3d 1528, 1537 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 253
(1996) (quoting Gamble v. Parsons, 898 F.2d 117, 118 (10th Cir. 1990)). In
pleadings submitted to the district court, Mr. Peters alleged that his current
sentences were enhanced because of his 1980 conviction. The State, in a pleading
submitted to the district court, apparently conceded that his sentence in state court
was enhanced because of the 1980 conviction. Response to Petitioner’s Statement
Regarding Requested Relief at 2, R. Vol. I, Tab 47. However, Mr. Peters does
not directly challenge his current sentence in his appeal. As we have held, a
petitioner claiming his current sentence was enhanced by a prior invalid
conviction “must show that ‘if he prevails in challenging his prior expired
conviction, the sentence that he is currently serving will be reduced.’” Harvey,
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76 F.3d at 1537 (quoting Collins v. Hesse, 957 F.2d 746, 748 (10th Cir. 1992).
Mr. Peters has made no such specific showing, and the record does not clarify
how his current sentences were calculated. Thus, we could hold that we lack
jurisdiction to hear this petition and dismiss it on that basis.
However, in light of Mr. Peters’ pro se status, the State’s concession of
some kind of enhancement, and the lack of clarity in the record, we alternatively
address the merits of his petition. Mr. Peters’ habeas petition raises the following
four issues: (1) whether his trial counsel in his 1980 trial was ineffective in
failing to object to the amendment of the original criminal complaint to conform
to the evidence; (2) whether his counsel was ineffective in failing to request, and
failing to object to the lack of, a limiting instruction relating to the introduction
of a prior conviction; (3) whether his appellate counsel was ineffective; and (4)
whether the district court erred in not holding an evidentiary hearing, appointing
counsel, and allowing discovery.
The district court, adopting the magistrate judge’s findings and
recommendation, rejected his first three arguments. We affirm, for substantially
the reasons set forth in the magistrate judge’s recommendation, as adopted by the
district court. However, we note, additionally, that Mr. Peters’ claim of
ineffectiveness and prejudice in his first issue, arising out of the amendment of
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count 2 of the complaint filed against him, is further undermined by the fact that
he was acquitted of count 2.
Mr. Peters claims the district court erred in failing to grant him an
evidentiary hearing, failing to appoint him counsel and failing to permit him to
conduct discovery. We find no error.
A federal district court is required to hold an evidentiary hearing in a
habeas case only when “the evidence sought to be introduced [is] material to the
issue in question and [was] inadequately developed in state court for reasons not
attributable to petitioner’s inexcusable neglect.” Dever v. Kansas State
Penitentiary, 36 F.3d 1531, 1536 (10th Cir. 1994). We review the denial of an
evidentiary hearing, if such a hearing is not mandatory, for abuse of discretion.
Id. at 1535. We find no abuse in this case. Mr. Peters does not explain what
evidence or material disputed factual issues he believes would be illuminated by
an evidentiary hearing. His conclusory allegation of disputed facts or issues is
insufficient.
We also reject Mr. Peters’ argument that the district court erred in failing to
appoint him counsel. “[T]here is no constitutional right to counsel beyond the
appeal of a criminal conviction, and . . . generally appointment of counsel in a
§ 2254 proceeding is left to the court’s discretion.” Swazo v. Wyoming Dep’t of
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Corrections State Penitentiary Warden, 23 F.3d 332, 333 (10th Cir. 1994). The
district court did not abuse its discretion in failing to appoint counsel in this case.
Finally, we reject Mr. Peters’ argument that the district court erred in not
granting him discovery. We review a district court’s discovery rulings for abuse
of discretion. Sprague v. Thorn Americas, Inc., 129 F.3d 1355, 1368 (10th Cir.
1997). We find no abuse here.
For the forgoing reasons, we DENY Mr. Peters’ request for a certificate of
appealability and DISMISS his appeal.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Stephen H. Anderson
Circuit Judge
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