IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Richmond Division LAMONT D. BOOKER, SR., Petitioner, Vv. Civil No. 3:21¢v212 (DJN) HAROLD W. CLARKE, Respondent. MEMORANDUM OPINION Petitioner Lamont D. Booker, Sr. (“Booker”), a Virginia prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, brings this petition pursuant to

((“§ 2254 Petition”) (ECF No. 9)), challenging his conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute in the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth (“Circuit Court”). Respondent has moved to dismiss, inter alia, on the ground that the one-year statute of limitations governing federal habeas petitions bars the § 2254 Petition. (ECF No. 15.) Booker has responded. (ECF No. 21.) For the reasons set forth below, the Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15) will be GRANTED.! I, PROCEDURAL HISTORY On May 8, 2017, ajury convicted Booker of Possession with the Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Give or Distribute a Schedule I or Schedule II Controlled Substance, 3™ or Subsequent Offense. Commonwealth v. Booker, No. CR16—526, at 1-2 (Va. Cir. Ct. May 9, 2017). On

| The Court corrects the capitalization, spelling, and punctuation and omits emphasis and symbols in the quotations from the parties’ submissions. The Court employs the pagination assigned by the CM/ECF docketing system.

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Bookpeert'ifostrr i eohne aBroionvkCg.el. ra Nrok2.e0 ,0 9a81t(8 V,Fa e.4b 2,.0 21). 2 OnM arc2h22 ,0 2B1o,o mkaeirhl ieosdr ig2i8Un .aSl§.2 C2.5P 4e titttoih Coionsurt . (EC1F- a11t,. I)hn i §s2 25P4e tiBtoioocknoe,nr t tehntadhfotsel logwrionuegnn dthsii tml e troe lief: Claim "OBnrea:d y v(iEoCNlFoa9 .ta, 5it .o )n ." Claim "TCwoon:fr o[nCtlaatvuiisooenl"] a( tIaid7t o. n). ClaTihrme e":J uirnys trvuicotlia(otInaid9 to . n). " 2 Boodkoeneros st p ewchiefyhn ep lahcioesrd i g§2i 2n5Pa4el t iittnih poern im saoinl ing systheomw;ei vwtea prso, s tmoanMr akre2cd2h2 , 0 2(1E.C1 F- a11t,. T)h Ceo udretet mhse §225P4e tifitliaeoosd ntf h daattS eeH.eo usvtL.oa nc4 k8U,7. 2S6.26 7,(61 9(8c8o)n cluding thaanat p pweaafisll aettdi me pdeetliitivittepoo rrn eiedrso ofnfiecrria attlhhsewa,rhn e tnh e courretc eiitv)e.d ClaFiomu r":U ltiismsoauffatec ev t i ola(tIaid1to.0 n..)" ClaFiimv e":I [neffaescstiiosvf[te ta]rnc icoaeul n](s EeClNF.o1 ".0 a,9t . ) ClaSiimx :" Ineffaescstii[svotcefao nucnoesna e plp]e (aIld..") IIA.NALYSIS A. StatofuL itmei tations

Respocnodnetntethnt adhfetsed esrtaalot flu itmei tbaaBtroisoo knceslr a'isSm esc.t ion 10o1tf hAen titearnErdffo erciDtseimavP teeh n aAcl(tt" yA EDaPmAe"n)2d 8Ue .dS .C. §224t4eo s taabo lnies-phye eraoirflo i dm ifotrat thfiielo ionnaf pg e tifotrawi rooinhft a beas corbpyaup se riscnou ns tpoudryst utoah jneut d gomafes nttca otueSr pte.c i2fi8Uc .aSl.lCy., §2244n(ordwe) a ds: 1. A I-yearo flp iemriistohadata liplopt nloa y na pplifocraa w trioioftn habceoarsbp yaup se risnco uns tpoudryst uota hjneut d gmaeS ntta toef couTrhtle.i mipteartsiihooradnul fr nlo mt hlea toef.s-t (A)thdea toenw hitchhje u dgmbeenctafi mneab lyt he concloufdsi irroeencv toi re wet xhpei ortfaht tieio fomnre seeksiurnceghv iew; (B)thdea otnew hitchhie m pedtiofim leinantnag p plication creabtySe tda tei nva icotlioaofttn hi Ceoo nn stoirtution lawosft hUen iStteadit rsee sm oivtfeh dae,p plwiacsant prevfreonfimtl eidbn ysg u Scthaa tcet ion; (C)thdea toenw hitchhce o nstirtiugathsitso enwraatlse d initrieaclolgbynyt i hzSeeu dp rCeomueir tfth r,ei ghhats beenne wrleyc ogbnyti hzSeeu dp rCeomuear ntmd a de retroaapcptliitvccoeaa lsbyoel ncse o llraetveoirreawl; (D)thdea otnwe h itchfahec tpuraeld oitfch caelt aeoi crml aims presceonuthleaddvb ee ednis cotvherroteuhedgex h e rcise ofd udei ligence. 2. Thtei dmw-ei wnhgi acp hr opfielraelpdyp lifocrSa ttpaiotosent -conviction oort hceorl lraetvewirieartwleh s tptoeh cpete rtijnuedngtom crel natii sm pendsihnanglob ltec ounttoewdaar ndpy e roiflo idm iutnadttheiiros n subsection. 28U .S§.2 C2.4 4(d). B. CommencaenmRdeu nntn oiftn hgSe t atoufLt iem itations Bookjeurd'gsbm eecnafitmn oean lM ondSaeyp,t 1e6m2,b0 e1wr9h ,eh nit si tmoe petifotrawi rooincft e rtfrioomthr eUa nriiSt teadSt uepsrC eomueerx tp iSreeSedu .Cp t.R. . 1.31( mandatthiaanntpyg e tifotrwi rooinfct e rtbiefio lrweaidrt i9h 0di anoy jfsu dgm;se enet ) alHsiovl B.lr axt2o7nF7,. 7 30d71 0,(4 4 Cthi 2r0.0( 2")[ oTn]eh-ely iemairpt eartbiieoogdni ns runninwgh edni rreecvtoi tfeh wse t caotnev iiccsot mipolnoe rwt heetdnht ei fomres eeking dirreecvthi aeeswx pi.r."e.( d.c i2t8Ui .nSg§. 2 C2.4 4(d)(l)(A))). Thlei mipteartfoiirBoo odno tkfioel rae 2 §2 5p4e tibteigtoanron u o nnS ept1e7m,b er 201T9h.e reiefotxr peoi,rnT e hdu rsSdeapyt,1e 7m2,b0 e2Hr0o .w eBvoeordk,ie ndrofi tlh ei s §225P4e tiutniMtoainrl2 c 22h,0 2-11 8d6a ayftste hree x piortfa htfeeid oenlr iamli tation periAocdc.o rduinnlBgeolsoysck, ae snrh oanw e ntittlsoet maettnuottl oelrqiyun igt,a ble tololarib negl caotmemde nctehmBeeonno tdk,ien drot ti mfiellheyi§ 2s 2 5p4e tition. NeitBhoeonrko etrrhr ee csourgdga enpsylt a ubsaisfobiralsb e e lcaotmemde ncement und2e8Ur . S§.2 C2.4 4H(odw)e.lv iebre,cr oanlsltruByeo do,ks eurb'msi dsoss uigotgnheses t possiobbfio alts ihtt ayta untdoe rqanyu ittoalbolltfie hln eig m itatiTohnCeso uwprietlr li od.

adderaeccsohsn teintnturn i.o n C. StatuTtoolryl ing ThSeu prCeomuoerVf ti rgdiinsimaBi ososkesedtr ha'atsbe pe eatsia tusin otni mely. BoovkC.el ra Nrok2.e0 ,0 9a81t(8 V,Na o.v1 .82 ,0 2A0p )e.t itthaias ottn ca oturted enaise s untidmoeneloscyt o nsat" iptruotfipele erpdle"yt iwtiittohhmniee n an iontfg hA eE DAP.P ace vD.iGugl5i4Ue4.l 4Sm0.o48 ,1, (42 0(0c5i)to amtiit(ot"neWh dea)pn o stcopnevtiiictstiioonn untimuenldsyet rla at'wet, [h iathstee] n odtf hmea tfotrep ru'rp oosfe2§s2 44(d)(2)."). BecaBuosoenk eevrpe rro pfielrhelidsys t haatbepe eatsih teli aocenkn,st ittlsoet maetnutt ory tolfolrti hnpege rdiuordwi hnighc eph ur suheiudsn tismtehalatybe pe eatsii ttnih Soeun p reme CouorfVt i rg3inia.

D. EquitTaoblllei ng ThSeu prCeomuhera "tsm acdleet arha a' tp etiit'sie onntteieortq 'lu eitdto albllien g' onilhfyes ho'w(st1 h)ha eht a bse peunr shuirisin ggdh itlsi agne(dn2t t)hls ayot,m e extraocridricnuamsryst toiaohnndi wc sae ya 'np dr eventfieldi nHtgoi.lm"lve aF.lnl ydo rida, 56U0. 6S3.61 4,(92 0(1q0u)o Ptaic5ne4gU,4 . aS4t.1 8A)ni. n maastsee erqtuiinttgoa lbllien g "beaas rtsrb ounrgtd soeh nos wp ecfaicfittcsh "da etm onhsefut lrfiabltoleets lh e moetfn htes tesYta.nvA g.r chu5l2Fe5.t 93a2d,95 2,(8 1 0Cti2hr0 .0( 8q)u oBtrionvwBg.na rr5o1Fw2., 3 d 130143,0( 71 1Cti2hr0 .0 8T)om) a.kt ehr ee qusihsoiwotidfeni gl itghepene ctei",tm iuosnte r allweigsteph e ctifihcseit tyeh pets o todoki lipguernhstifeulsdey e crlaali Imdas 9t.2 "9 -30

(10Cti2hr0 .0( 8e)m pahdadseids) . Booaksesrte hrhatifatssc ilCiotvyi'rdse- s1t9r diecptrhiiiovomnepf sd h ysaiccctaeols s thleal wi bbreatrwAyep er1ni2, l0 2a0nS,de pte2m02b,0e 2r(0 S.Ee CeNF o 2.1 a,9t . ) HoweBvoeork,ve arg'ausre g umecnotnsc ehrniilnsag oc pfkh ysaiccctaetolsh lsea l wi brary do noetn thiittmleo eq uittoalblSlieeSne ag Mn.a rvtM.ic nN e6i3Fl3., 13 2d5 172,6( 81 1th Cir.

3 Ihni ssu bmitstosh iCeoo nurBsto ,o skeeertm coso nsfuhei pse rfoirfio ldi asn tga te habpeeatsiu tnidVoeinrr gliawnwii htaih ps e rfoirfio ldi afn egd hearbapelea tsiu tnid2oe8nr U.S§.2 C2.4 4B(odo)ak.pe pret baroes l tihehavette i mfiellheyids s t haatbepe eatsi tion, becahuefis leieb tde fohrifeesd elriamli tpaetreiixoopndis Tr heiidsss.i mnpolctyo rrect. Virghiainstoi swar n e quirfoerdm eetnetrswm hieannnih dno gsw t haatbepe eatsi arteti booe n s fileWhdi.la e" profipleersdlt"yha atbee asc aptneot tlhifeletd ieorna l pleirmtiihoteda ,t ions fedelriamli tatdioonenossdt i pcwethraeittoaeshd te harat bepe eatsii "tspi roonfip leerdl.y" 201(c1 i)t aotmiiot(nt"seM dce)or nec laulsloergayari teni sounffistcr oia etinhsitees soufe equittoalbllien g."). Asa ni nimtaitartloe urat,si pnoeefpc rtisls iosfenu, ac "shr estarcictcetotsh lesead w

lib.r.aryd. on oqtu aalseix fyt raocridricnuamrsAytl alvneJ.cno e hsn6.s0"oF2 nS. ,u p2pd. 72742,7 -(2E8.V Da2..0 0(9fo)o tonmoittt(eeq du)oW tairnvrgK.e e nl 2l0yF7,S. u p2pd6. 1, 0 (E.D2.0N0.2YF).u) r.tt hhmeeer rfa,ec t th aar te strreilctatCotio eovsni ddo-ne1os9t automactoinciviatenl ratltneoy x traocridricnuamSrseytUe an niSctteea.dvt H .ea sr 2r0i2s1, WL 1823a1*t04 9-(,5E .VDaM..a 6y2, 0 2(1fi)n dtihgnaegtn celraiaicbm osu t Covid-19 restridcintdoiw toarr nasne tq uittoalbllien g). Ratthheiern ,mm autssett w aitsteph e cihfioecwxi attcyht celo yn dictoimopnlosaf i ned prevheinfrmto emfidl ihni§gs2 25p4e tiotnti iomSnee M.eay evsP. r ov3i7nF6cA. ep ,p 'x 81851,6 -(1170C ti2hr0 .1 (0c)i toamtiito(tnhesod lt)dh aiannit gn mmautseetx pwliatihn specihfiotcwhi aetl yl ceogneddia tcitouhnaisln ldhyeie rsffe odtr potu sr hsicusle a wiimtsh in

thset aotfultiem iBtoaotkiaeorrng'sus)lm .ae ctnkhtrse e quliesvoieft les pecificity. Foirn stBaonocdkeoe,ner os st p eciafilcltaehlghaleewty o rokenhd i§ s2 25P4e tition betwAeper2ni0 l2a 0nS de pte2m0b2te0hpr,ee rwihoehdnem aintthahaiehtn a srd e stricted physaiccctaetholse ls a lwi brRarya.t ihatep rp,et ahdraustr tihntagit mh eefo, c usoend prephairssit hnaagtb epe eatsi wthiihocefinh l, we idtt hhSe u prCeomuoerVf ti rgoinn iAau gust 62,0 2B0o.o kaebri'tlscoi o tmyp alnefidtl heeis st haatbepe eatsid tuirtoihnnti gis m e underhmicisun rerse nt arguhmi§e2s n2 t5Ps4e tciSoteniVecoa enlrn.vvi eS.nrt gdi en2 s2o4n , F3.d1 2193,(4 2 Cdi 2r0.0 (0o)b setrhavap iten tgi itrsie oqnu"eitrdro ee mdo nasc taruastael relatbieotnwtsehheeeixn pt raocridricnumaryso tnwa hnictcehchsel afoirem q uittoalbllien g

reasnttdshl ea teonhfei fissls ia nd ge,m onstthrcaaattn binemoo antd i etf h pee tiatcitoinnegr, wirteha sodnialbiclgoeeu nhlcadefiv ,leo e ndt inmoet withtshetexa trnadoirndgi nary circum(sctiaItnricwvneiD.gsne " po 'fVt e teArffaani4sr9 Us8., 8S 9.9, 6( 19F9i0s)vh;.e r John1s7oF4n. ,73 1d70 1,(6 5 Ctih1r 9.9 9A)d)d)i.t iwohnetanhSl eul pyr,Ce omuoerVf t i rginia dismhiisssst ehadat bepe eatsia tsui notnio mnNe olvye m1b82e,0r 2B 0o,o dkiendrot th fielne

hi§2s 2 5P4e titiohnefi. l aeIM dno sttfoieroRa ned h,e airn iStnuhgpe rC eomuoerVf ti rginia, sot hhaect o uclodn ttiloni utehi igssat thaeat bepe eatsi tion. Boodkiendrofi tlh ei§ 2s 2 5P4e tiwtitithohCin os uu rntMt airloc 2fh0 2C1fR. o berts vW.ats6o9Fn7S., u p2pd6. 4 665,(3 E .D2.0 1V(0a").U nexdpellaiaifinynl seip dne gt idtoions nodte mondsitlriaogtntee hnp eca oerpf te tiitpniu ornsehuriri sin gg"(h ctisPt.aic5ne4gU,4 . S. a4t1 S9p;e nvcS.eu rt2 t3oF9n. ,63 2d66 3,(04 Ctih2r 0.0 1B)yB) o)o.k oewran'c sc otuhnet , restroinpc htyisaoicnccstae tolsh lsea l wi bhraabdre yle inft foerad l msoesvtme onn btyht sh at time.t hCTeoh uufarsitt,l do si scaenBrndo, o fakietlreos x plhaotiwhn re,e stroinc tions Bookpehry'sasic cctaetolsh lsea l wi bbrearyt wAeper2ni0 l2a 0nS de pte2m0b2he0ar anv ye

releovnta hniecs eso uefeq uittoalbwlliiertn ehgs tpBoeo cotk §e2 r2'5Ps4e tiRtaithooennr. , thefasceti astp, p etahBraosto skiemrmp ilsym ahniatsgi eamdnem d i salhlioescff aotrSetedse . Irw4i9nU8,. a S9t.3 ( "[pTr]ihneoc efiq puliettsoa lb.ll.ideno.n g o e tx ttewonh dai atsbt e as t gardveanr cileatyoi fem x cunseagblleec t."). MoreoBvoeordk,oene ros st p eciefixcpahlloalhwiyi np s h yspirceasiletn nh lceie b rary wouhladfav cei ltihtteai tmfieeldli oynhf gi § 2s 2 5P4e tiittnih ioinnss tSaenFeci env.c. h Mill4e9rF1,. 432d44 2,(78 th C(iorb.s et2rh0tva0hit7ein )nrsg oe" absfrtereascttra,in gdhitn g taol alwi borlrae rgayas ls is(tqaunoLcteeiw"vniC .gsa s5e1yU8,. 3S4.3 , 351B o(o1k9e9r6 ))) doneosst t tahttaehrt ee stornia cctctietoosh nse l ilbarwa ryh ipfrmro ecmvo enndtuaecndty i ng

partriecsueolaadrrre c nhhii eamdc cteanosy s spceacosiirefin cfo rmatNoidroo nhe.es demontshttarhltaea t ocepfk h ysaiccctaetholse ls a lwi barmaoruytn aotfu eldl -bvlioowlna tion ohfi rsi tgaohc tc tetosh cseo urtCsj.A kinvsU. n iSttead2t 0eF4s. ,13 0d8 160,(9 101 Ctihr . 200(0o)b setrh"va[ittnm ]geh rieen aboifapl riitsyto aonc ectreh lseasl w i birnsao rityin, t self, an unconstiimtpuetdiiomneanlt "). Furtheerro dhiipnsog s iBtoiooaknde,mr ti htdaset s,tp hiCeto ev irde-s1t9r hiehc atdi ons,

thaeb itl"oiw trytit oth leea l wi btrooab rtya in (cEaCNsFoe2 .[1 as,9t ]. T.)h" u isat,p pears thBaoto ckoenrt tihona uavecedc tetosh lsea l wi barlarbyre,ei mtao ctcefre oshmsi c se ll, throutghpheeo ruiitqno u de sStiimoppnul.Bty o, o hkaefasri ltedode montshtaarnta te extraorcdiirncauryme sxtiiastnnth ceiiedns s tmaunclcheet s,hsi aa ttc tuiamlplehydia esbd i lity ttoi mfiellheyi§ s2 25P4e ti4 tion. EveiBnfo ohkaesdru fficieesnttalbtylh siaostmhe eex dt raocridricnuamsrstyto aondc e itnh wea oyhf i tsi mfiellioynhf gi § 2s 25P4e tiwthiihocehnh a, ns o tth,efa scewt osu sltdni oltl entBiotoltkeeoe q ru ittoalballhsie ehn agfs,a itlsoeh doth wah tee xerdciilsieigdne nce protheicrsti ignShgetH eso .l l5a6n0d a,U6 t.4 S(9.r eqpueitriirtneigqo uneeesqrtu iintga ble

toltlsoih notgwh d ei lipgueronshftui irsti ghTtoms a)kt.ehr ee qusihsoiwotidfen i gl ithgee nce, peti"tmiuosntew ria stlphle ecgtifiehcs eit tyeh pets ot odoki lipguernhstifeulsdey e crlaali ms." Yan5g2F,5. 3ad9t.3 ( 0e mpahdads(eiidsn) t qeurnoatlma atriankodscn i taotmiiotBnto eodk)e.r faitlposo itnaotn a yc ttihohanett o topokr oacptriovhteierlsciy tg hts.

4 AsR espopnodieonnuttttsh ,C e o uhrtaa sl rfaecatdoyir anen addc cofournt theed unusaundadil s rnuaptutoritfevh C eeo vid-19a nptdahe neffd eetcmhtiiashtct a o snl itigation, bye ntetrwgioen ngoe rrdaoelnMr asr 1c62h,0 2an0dM, a r2c42h,0 2r0e,s petchtaitv ely, extefinldidenedga dfolril nietsib gyfoa unrttse ednae ya(sc1 (h4E.)CN Fo1 .7 a,6t . E)v en excltuhdetiswneeg n ty(-2ed8ia)gfry hosttm h cea lcuBloaotk§ie2 or2n'5P,s4e tiwtasisto inl l fil1e85dd aayftste hree x piortfah tseit oaontfl u itmei tpaetriioonds. “Simply put, [Booker] fails to demonstrate some external impediment, rather than his own lack of diligence, prevented him from filing a habeas petition in a timely fashion.” See O'Neill v. Dir., Va. Dep't. of Corr.,

, at *6 (E.D. Va. Aug. 9, 2011). Thus, under any analysis, he fails to carry his “strong burden to show specific facts” that demonstrate his entitlement to equitable tolling. Fang, 525 F.3d at 928 (citation omitted). Accordingly, his § 2254 Petition is barred by the statute of limitations and will be DENIED. Ill. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15) will be GRANTED. Booker’s § 2254 Petition (ECF No. 9) will be DENIED. The action will be DISMISSED. A certificate of appealability will be DENIED.° An appropriate Order shall issue. Let the Clerk file a copy of the Memorandum Opinion electronically and send a copy to Booker and counsel of record. / /s/ David J. Novak Richmond, Virginia United States District Judge Dated: February 15, 2022

An appeal may not be taken from the final order in a § 2254 proceeding unless a judge issues a certificate of appealability (“COA”).

(c)(1)(A). A COA will not issue unless a prisoner makes “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.”

(c)(2). This requirement is satisfied only when “reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were ‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.’” S/ack v. McDaniel,

(2000) (quoting Barefoor v. Estelle,

, 893 & n.4 (1983)). Booker fails to meet this standard.