Honken v. United States

• Decision Date: 04 October 2013
• Docket Number: CR01–3047–MWB.,Nos. CV10–3074–LRR,s. CV10–3074–LRR
• Citation: 42 F.Supp.3d 937
• Parties: Dustin Lee HONKEN, Movant, v. UNITED STATES of America.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Northern District of Iowa

42 F.Supp.3d 937

Dustin Lee HONKEN, Movant
v.
UNITED STATES of America.

Nos. CV10–3074–LRR
CR01–3047–MWB.

United States District Court, N.D. Iowa, Central Division.

Signed Oct. 4, 2013.

42 F.Supp.3d 958

Aren Adjoian, Ayanna Sala Williams, Shawn Nolan, Timothy Patrick Kane, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner.

Charles J. Williams, Cedar Rapids, IA, Thomas Henry Miller, Des Moines, IA, for Respondent.

ORDER REGARDING MOTION TO VACATE, SET ASIDE OR CORRECT CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES

LINDA R. READE, Chief Judge.

I.	INTRODUCTION	962
II.	BACKGROUND	962

A. Underlying Criminal Proceedings 962

1.	Drug charges against the movant in 1993 and disappearance of five witnesses	962
2.	Drug charges against the movant in 1996 and efforts to avoid convictions	965
3.	Ongoing investigation, charges against Angel a Johnson in 2000 and discovery of the victims' bodies	969
4.	Charges in 2001	970
5.	Pre–trial filings and rulings	972
6.	Jury selection and trial	974
7.	Post–trial rulings and judgment	978
8.	Direct appeal	979

B. Proceedings Related to Civil Action Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 980

III. STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO CLAIMS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255 982

A.	Remedies on Motion Attacking Federal Sentence	982
B.	Heightened Scrutiny in Capital Case	984
C.	Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Under the United States Constitution	985

1.	Overview	985
2.	Deficient ficient performance	986
3.	Prejudice	988
4.	Appellate counsel	989
5.	Summary	990

D. Harmless Error Review of Constitutional Error 990

IV. REVIEW OF GROUNDS FOR RELIEF 991

A. Ground One—Constitutional Violations Occurred as a Result of the Admission of the Judgments of Conviction that Related to the 1996 Case 991

1. Arguments of the parties 991

a.

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