(HC) Puthuff v. Clark

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 ANTHONY MICHAEL PUTHUFF, No. 2:18-CV-02120 TLN DB Petitioner, v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS KENT CLARK, Respondent. 16 Petitioner Anthony Puthuff, a state prisoner, proceeds pro se and in forma pauperis with a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner challenges a judgment of convictions entered on April 10, 2015 in the Butte County Superior Court. Petitioner was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and infliction of great bodily injury, and he admitted prior convictions. Petitioner now asserts that the following claims entitle him to habeas relief: (1) ineffective assistance of appellate counsel; (2) denial of right to fair trial when trial court admitted character evidence to show that he did not act in self-defense; and (3) jury instructional error. For the reasons set forth below, this Court recommends denying the petition for habeas relief. BACKGROUND I. …