Montez Hatten v. Warden

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA AT BECKLEY MONTEZ HATTEN, Petitioner, v. CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:24-cv-00589 WARDEN, Respondent.

ORDER Pending is Petitioner Montez Hatten’s Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus [ECF 1], filed October 18, 2024.

This action was previously referred to the Honorable Joseph K. Reeder, United States Magistrate Judge, for submission of proposed findings and a recommendation (“PF&R”).

Magistrate Judge Reeder filed his PF&R on May 11, 2026. Magistrate Judge Reeder recommended the Court deny Mr. Hatten’s petition and dismiss the case without prejudice.

The Court need not review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or legal conclusions of the magistrate judge as to those portions of the findings or recommendation to which no objections are addressed. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); see also 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (“A judge of the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” (emphasis added)). Failure to file timely objections constitutes a waiver of de novo review and the Petitioner’s right to appeal the Court’s order. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); see also United States v. De Leon- Ramirez, 925 F.3d 177, 181 (4th Cir. 2019) (Parties may not typically “appeal a magistrate judge’s findings that were not objected to below, as § 636(b) doesn’t require de novo review absent objection.”); Snyder v. Ridenour, 889 F.2d 1363, 1366 (4th Cir. 1989). Further, the Court need not conduct de novo review when a party “makes general and conclusory objections that do not direct the Court to a specific error in the magistrate’s proposed findings and recommendations.” Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d 44, 47 (4th Cir. 1982). Objections in this case were due on May 28, 2026.

No objections were filed.' Accordingly, the Court ADOPTS the PF&R [ECF 8], DENIES the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus [ECF 1], and DISMISSES the matter.

The Court directs the Clerk to transmit a copy of this Order to any counsel of record and any unrepresented party.

ENTER: June 1, 2026 CQawiiy Frank W. Volk ies == Chief United States District Judge ' On May 11, 2026, a copy of the PF&R was mailed to Mr. Hatten at Beckley Federal orrectional Institution but was returned as undeliverable on May 29, 2026. [ECF 9]. At this writing, the Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator indicates Mr. Hatten was released from custody on March 3, 2025. Inasmuch as Mr. Hatten has failed to keep the Court apprised of his current address as required by Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.5, this matter is ready for adjudication.