-
NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAY 12 2020 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT GARY RAY BETTENCOURT, No. 19-16524 Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 2:18-cv-02895-KJM-KJN v. MEMORANDUM* GORDEN SPENCER, Merced County Prosecutor; et al., Defendants-Appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California Kimberly J. Mueller, District Judge, Presiding Submitted May 6, 2020** Before: BERZON, N.R. SMITH, and MILLER, Circuit Judges. California state prisoner Gary Ray Bettencourt appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging wrongful conviction and conspiracy claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court’s dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Resnick * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). v. Hayes,
213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000). We affirm. The district court properly dismissed Bettencourt’s action as barred by Heck v. Humphrey,
512 U.S. 477(1994), because success would necessarily imply the invalidity of Bettencourt’s conviction or sentence, and Bettencourt failed to allege facts sufficient to show that his conviction or sentence has been invalidated. See Wilkinson v. Dotson,
544 U.S. 74, 78 (2005) (a prisoner in state custody cannot use a § 1983 action to challenge the fact or duration of his confinement, but must instead seek federal habeas corpus relief). To the extent that Bettencourt seeks release on parole as an alternative to summary release, his request is denied for the same reasons. Bettencourt’s motion for appointment of counsel (Docket Entry No. 5) is denied. AFFIRMED. 2 19-16524
Document Info
Docket Number: 19-16524
Filed Date: 5/12/2020
Precedential Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 5/12/2020