Jones v. Jefferson Cnty. Dist. Attorney Office

• Decision Date: 24 March 2022
• Docket Number: Civil Action 1:21-CV-212
• Parties: WILLIAM CURTIS JONES, Plaintiff, v. JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, et al., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Texas

WILLIAM CURTIS JONES, Plaintiff,
v.
JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, et al., Defendants.

Civil Action No. 1:21-CV-212

United States District Court, E.D. Texas, Beaumont Division

March 24, 2022

REPORT AND REOCMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

CHRISTINE L. STETSON, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 72, and the Local Rules for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, United States District Judge Michael J. Truncale referred this matter to the undersigned United States magistrate judge for all pretrial proceedings.

I. Background

A. Plaintiff's Claims

Plaintiff William Curtis Jones, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, complains that the following Defendants: Jefferson County District Attorney's Office (present and former); Jefferson County District Attorney Bob Wortham-in his official capacity; Jefferson County Sheriff's Department (present and former); Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens-in her official capacity; Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Corrections Institutional Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Parole Division; Jennifer Doornbos; Jeff Hayes; Nick Lampson; Galen Blom; Attorney Thomas John Burbank; Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigation Division; Lon Huebner; Charles Keith Hawkes; J. Shane Howard; Floyd Marceaux;

1

Donna Scelerandi; David Pat Stockton; Vicki Jones Stockton; Joseph Fournier; Brian Jagneaux; Jefferson County District Attorney Kenneth B. Florence-in his official capacity; Deborah Susan Stockton; and John E. Hennigan. (collectively “Defendants”) maliciously prosecuted him in violation of his constitutional rights. See Plaintiff's Amended Complaint (Doc. #13.) Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for redress of deprivations of his rights and wrongful incarceration. (Doc. #13.)

According to his amended complaint, Mr. Jones was a projects management and projects development director for Management Resources Group Inc. (“MRGI”), his own company. (Doc. #13, p. 9.) In early 2018, he was convicted of fraud, money laundering, misappropriation and misapplication of fiduciary funds, and theft. Incarceration followed from February 2018 until March 2021, lasting approximately three (3) years and two (2) months. (Doc. #13, p. 9.) Plaintiff Jones believes that his guilty conviction, and subsequent incarceration, resulted from the crimes committed by some of the Defendants, and that these same Defendants participated in concealing exculpatory evidence. (Doc. #13, p. 21.) Plaintiff further certifies, under penalty of perjury, that he “working pro se was finally able to overturn his conviction and secure his release from prison based on newly discovered exculpatory evidence.” (Doc. #13, p. 28, ¶ 51.) He states, that on or about January 5, 2021, Judge Raquel West of the 252nd Judicial District Court of Jefferson County issued a designate order for Plaintiff's conviction and released Jones immediately. (Doc. #13, p. 29, ¶ 52.)

Specifically, Plaintiff's claims are as follows: first, malicious prosecution by the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office for their profoundly flawed investigation. (Doc. #13, p. 34.) Second, violations under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment where all Defendants deprived Plaintiff of his constitutional right to a fair and impartial trial. (Doc. #13, p. 36.)

2

Third, false imprisonment. (Doc. #13, p. 37.) Fourth, Defendants offering of false and fabricated evidence. (Doc. #13, p. 38.) Fifth, violations under the Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel. (Doc. #13, p. 39.) Sixth, denial of equal protection of the law. (Doc. #13, p. 40.) Seventh, conspiracy to deprive under the Americans with Disabilities Act...