Murphy v. Perrill

• Citation: 107 F.3d 880
• Parties: 97 CJ C.A.R. 345 NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of
• Decision Date: 29 November 1993
• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (10th Circuit)

Page 880

107 F.3d 880

97 CJ C.A.R. 345

NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or further order.

Barton Lee MURPHY, Petitioner-Appellant, v. William A. PERRILL, Warden, FCI Englewood, individually and in his official capacity, Respondent-Appellee.

No. 96-1389.

(D.C.No. 96-S-277)

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

March 5, 1997.

ORDER AND JUDGMENT ^*

Before ANDERSON, HENRY, and BRISCOE, 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. This cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Barton Lee Murphy appeals the district court's denial of his pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. He contends that the court erred in finding that he is not entitled to credit for the time he was an escapee from federal prison. Murphy also contends that he should have been granted an evidentiary hearing. ¹ We affirm.

Murphy is currently incarcerated at the Federal Corrections Institution at Englewood in Littleton, Colorado. In 1991 he was convicted of various federal drug crimes and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. On December 5, 1992, Murphy escaped from the Federal Prison Camp in La Tuna, Texas. On January 23, 1993, Fort Lauderdale, Florida police arrested Murphy on charges related to obtaining false identity documents. As recounted in his brief, Murphy "gave his name as 'Murphy,' and that he was born in 'Hillsboro, Oregon.' Mr. Murphy offered no other information ... and from this point on, he remained silent." Appellant's Br. at 3-4. However, Murphy concedes that when he "was arrested and taken into official custody by the State of Florida, he was identified through his I.D. Card as Cletis Murphy, his deceased brother," and he admits that he continued to use his brother's name while he remained in state custody. Id. at 4.

Because of a discrepancy between the birth date listed on the Cletis I.D. card and Murphy's stated age, the arresting officer ordered an FBI fingerprint check. Id.; R. Vol. I, Tab 21, Ex. F. Apparently the fingerprint check returned without any outstanding "wants or warrants." ² Appellant's Br. at 5. Thereafter, still using the name "Cletis Murphy," Murphy pled guilty to the state charges on February 23, 1993, and he was sentenced to an eighteen month term of probation and released. Id. at 5-6; R. Vol. I, Tab 21, Ex. H. On October 20, 1994, federal marshals arrested Murphy in Houston, Texas.

Murphy now contends that he should be given credit for the 574 days during which he was "erroneously released from official custody by the State of Florida, until his subsequent arrest by the U.S. Marshals." Appellant's Br. at 6.

We review the district court's denial of Murphy's habeas corpus petition de novo. Bradshaw v. Story, 86 F.3d 164, 166 (10th Cir.1996). We have reviewed the record and have fully considered Murphy's contentions. Inasmuch as the material facts are undisputed, and Murphy's claims can be resolved as a matter of law, an evidentiary hearing is not required. See Steele v. Young, 11 F.3d 1518, 1524 (10th Cir.1993).

As the magistrate judge correctly noted, "an escaped prisoner cannot be credited with the time he is at large." R. Vol. 1, Tab 27 at 3 (citing White v. Pearlman, 42 F.2d 788, 789 (10th Cir.1930)). A prisoner is not...