Godwin

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 DAVID WATSON, No. 2:21-cv-02081-DJC-EFB (HC) Petitioner, v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS R. GODWIN, Warden, Respondent. 16 Petitioner is a state prisoner without counsel seeking a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. ECF No. 1. He challenges his convictions in the Sacramento County Superior Court for kidnapping and child abduction. A jury also found true an allegation that petitioner personally used a dangerous weapon in commission of the offense. Petitioner was sentenced to a third-strike sentence of 36 years to life in prison. ECF No. 19-8. Petitioner alleges that the trial court erred by adding language to the “mistake of law” jury instruction. ECF No. 1 at 5, 16-20. In addition, petitioner maintains that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. at 7, 20-23. For the reasons that follow, the petition must be denied. I. Procedural Background of Section 2254 Petition 26 …