Ledermann v. Villmer, 4:13 CV 310 DDN

• Decision Date: 08 December 2014
• Docket Number: No. 4:13 CV 310 DDN,4:13 CV 310 DDN
• Parties: PAUL D. LEDERMANN, Petitioner, v. TOM VILLMER, Respondent.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri

PAUL D. LEDERMANN, Petitioner,
v.
TOM VILLMER, Respondent.

No. 4:13 CV 310 DDN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION

December 8, 2014

MEMORANDUM

This action is before the court upon the petition of Missouri state prisoner Paul Ledermann for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (Doc. 4.) The parties have consented to the exercise of plenary authority by the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). (Doc. 8.) For the reasons set forth below, the case is dismissed.

I. BACKGROUND

On January 15, 2010, following a bench trial, the Circuit Court of Cape Girardeau County found petitioner Paul Ledermann guilty of eight counts of child molestation in the first degree.¹ (Doc. 13, Ex. A at 69, Ex. B at 46.) On March 8, 2010, the trial court sentenced petitioner to eight years imprisonment for each count of child molestation to be served concurrently. (Id., Ex. A at 75, Ex. B at 47-52.) Further, the trial court ordered that petitioner be placed in the Sexual Offender Assessment Unit pursuant to Mo. Rev. Stat. § 559.115. (Id.) On March 22, 2011, the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment on direct appeal. (Doc 13, Ex. E); State v. Ledermann, 334 S.W.3d 916 (Mo. Ct. App. 2011).

On April 4, 2011, petitioner filed a pro se motion under Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 29.15 for post-conviction relief. (Doc. 13, Ex. F at 4-8.) On July 12, 2011, petitioner, with the assistance of appointed counsel, filed an amended motion for post-conviction relief. (Id. at 15-39.) On

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October 26, 2011, following an evidentiary hearing, the motion court denied the motion. (Id. at 41-43.) On December 4, 2012, the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the motion court's denial of the motion. (Doc. 13, Ex. J).

On February 19, 2013, petitioner filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (Doc. 1.) On March 11, 2013, he amended his petition. (Doc. 4.)

II. PETITIONER'S GROUNDS FOR FEDERAL HABEAS RELIEF

Petitioner alleges two grounds for relief in this habeas action:

(1) His trial counsel rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance by failing to call petitioner's wife and daughter to testify at his trial.

(2) The trial court deprived petitioner of his due process rights by denying him probation without a hearing following his time in the Sexual Offender Assessment Unit.

(Doc. 4 at 5.)

III. EXHAUSTION AND PROCEDURAL BAR

Congress requires that state prisoners exhaust their state law...