Opinion
CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 5:09CR-15-R-16
06-14-2013
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PLAINTIFF v. CAMEYON DARON ROBERTS DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Defendant Cameyon Daron Roberts filed a pro se motion for appointment of counsel, for evidentiary hearing, and for sentence reduction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(B) and 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (DNs 1024, 1025, & 1028). His motion to reduce his sentence was based on the Supreme Court's recent decision in Dorsey v. United States, ___________ U.S. ___________, 132 S. Ct. 2321 (2012). The United States's response was primarily focused on this Court's lack of jurisdiction to modify a term of imprisonment except in certain situations as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c), none of which apply here. The Court agreed that § 3582(c) does not apply here and found that Defendant's pro se motion to reduce falls within the parameters of 28 U.S.C. § 2255. However, the Court explained that before it would construe the document filed by Defendant as one seeking relief under § 2255, it is required to provide him with an opportunity to withdraw or amend it. In re Shelton, 295 F.3d 620 (6th Cir. 2002) (holding that district court must first give pro se prisoner notice that a motion may be recharacterized as a § 2255 motion). Defendant was given 30 days to notify the Court whether he wants to withdraw his motion or amend it.
Defendant has now notified the Court that he does not oppose the recharacterization of his motion to reduce his sentence as a § 2255 motion (DN 1137). Defendant states that he "will title/characterize his pleading as what-ever the government and especially this Court, deems proper, to receive the requested relief. A liberally construed pleading is what the Petitioner desires, and what is fair and just."
Consequently, Defendant's motion (DN 1028) is recharacterized as a § 2255 motion. Additionally, the Court GRANTS Defendant's motion to appoint counsel (DN 1024) and hereby APPOINTS attorney Edward Box pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(b) as counsel for Defendant effective June 5, 2013.
Defendant's motion for an evidentiary hearing (DN 1025) is DENIED as premature at this time.
Thomas B. Russell , Senior Judge
United States District Court
cc: Defendant, pro se
Edward Box, Esq.
Counsel of record
4413.009