Warren v. Owens

¶1Michael John Warren, Texas prisoner # 455668, appeals the district court’s dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A and 1915(e)(2) as frivolous and for failure to state a claim of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint. We review such dismissals de novo, using the same standard applicable to dismissals pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Geiger v. Jowers, 404 F.3d 371, 373 (5th Cir.2005); Black v. Warren, 134 F.3d 732, 733-34 (5th Cir.1998).

¶2Warren argues that members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole violated his rights under the Ex Post Facto Clause by applying retroactively to his case current laws and statutes related to the length of time between parole hearings. The argument is unavailing because the potential five-year set-off presents no ex post facto violation; its effect on increasing Warren’s punishment is merely conjectural. See California Dep’t of Corrs. v. Morales, 514 U.S. 499, 509, 115 S.Ct. 1597, 131 L.Ed.2d 588 (1995).

¶3Warren also argues that the district court erred in dismissing his complaint before serving the defendants. Section 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), (ii) and § 1915A instruct the district court to dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint if the court determines that the action is frivolous or malicious or does not state a claim for which relief may be granted. Black, 134 F.3d at 733.

¶4Because Warren’s claim had no arguable constitutional merit, the district court did *509not err in dismissing the complaint with prejudice as frivolous and for failure to state a claim. See Hutchins v. McDaniels, 512 F.3d 193, 195 (5th Cir.2007); Black, 134 F.3d at 733. The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

¶5The district court’s dismissal of Warren’s complaint as frivolous counts as a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir.1996). Warren is warned that if he accumulates three strikes, he will not be permitted to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal filed while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).

¶6AFFIRMED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.