(HC) Espinoza, Jr. v. People of the State of California
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 CARLOS ESPINOZA, JR., Case No. 1:17-cv-00705-DAD-JDP (HC) Petitioner, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS
v. CORPUS PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ECF No.
CALIFORNIA,
OBJECTIONS DUE IN 14 DAYS Respondent. 16 Petitioner Carlos Espinoza, Jr., a state prisoner without counsel, seeks a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. He raises one habeas claim, alleging that he has received ineffective assistance of counsel. We recommend that the court deny the petition. I. Background Petitioner attacked several people, believing that his ex-girlfriend, Elisa Mejia, had had an affair with a man by the name of Steven Mendoza. Petitioner stabbed Mendoza, killing him, and turned a taser on several bystanders. The government charged petitioner with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and assault. Given the charges and his two prior strikes, petitioner faced life…