Commonwealth v. Margetas , 324 Pa. Super. 403 ( 1984 )

WICKERSHAM, Judge:

This is an appeal by the Commonwealth from the order of the Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, of York County directing that the charges of arson and related offenses be dismissed with prejudice because of the violation of Rule 1100. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse.

In the instant case, the written complaint was filed against the appellee on November 14, 1980. The run date under Rule 1100 was May 13, 1981. There were no orders extending the commencement of trial.

A plea bargain agreement was entered into on April 15, 1981 and was presented to the court on May 1, 1981 before the Honorable Joseph E. Erb who indicated that he would require a pre-sentence investigation, but accepted a nolo contendere plea with the appellee having the right to withdraw his plea in the event the plea bargain was not accepted. On June 26, 1981, Judge Erb advised the appellee that he would not accept the plea bargain because of the provision of “no jail” time.

On June 29, 1981, the Commonwealth filed an application for extension of time for commencement of trial. The appellee filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 1100. The lower court held that the acceptance of the plea of nolo contendere, subject to the terms of the plea bargain, did not signify “commencement of trial” for Rule 1100 purposes. Lower ct. op. at 3. Therefore, on July 9, 1981, the lower court dismissed with prejudice the charges against the appellee on the ground that Rule 1100 had been violated. The Commonwealth timely appealed.

The Commonwealth presents the sole question to be considered on appeal as follows:

Whether the lower court erred in dismissing charges with prejudice against Appellee on the basis of a violation of “Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100”?

Brief for Appellant at iv.

To resolve this issue, we must determine whether the acceptance of the plea of nolo contendere, subject to the terms of a plea bargain, signified the “commencement of trial” for Rule 1100 purposes.

The lower court opinion relies on Commonwealth v. Cox, 276 Pa.Super. 29, 419 A.2d 78 (1980). In that case, a panel of this court held that acceptance of the defendant’s guilty plea did not signify “commencement of trial.” However, Cox was expressly overruled by an en banc panel of this court in Commonwealth v. Lewis, 295 Pa.Super. 61, 440 A.2d 1223 (1982). Lewis held that a tender of a plea of guilty signifies “commencement of trial.”

In short, the tendering of a guilty plea triggers immediately the guilt-determining process, and trial thereupon commences for purposes of determining compliance with Rule 1100. It matters not whether the trial court accepts the guilty plea immediately or takes it under advisement in order to study further the terms of the plea bargain and prepare for sentencing.

Id., 295 Pa.Superior Ct. at 67, 440 A.2d at 1226.

Lewis is consistent with the amendment to Rule 1100 which specifically states when trial begins for purposes of the rule:

(b) For the purpose of this Rule, trial shall be deemed to commence on the date the trial judge calls the case to trial, or the defendant tenders a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.

Pa.R.Crim.P. No. 1100(b) (emphasis added).

Although Cox was the law at the time the trial court judge dismissed the charges, we believe we should apply the amended rule and recent case law. The Lewis case noted that Cox was inconsistent with the intent of Rule 1100. We will not apply the reasoning of a case that incorrectly interpreted Rule 1100.

Therefore, we hold that Margetas’ trial commenced when he tendered his plea of nolo contendere.

The Comment to Rule 1100 was amended to say that "... rejection of ... a guilty plea should be considered the granting of a new trial for purposes of this rule.” Pursuant to this amendment, when Judge Érb rejected Margetas’ plea, the Commonwealth should have been given 120 days to commence a new trial. See Pa.R.Crim.P. No. 1100(e)(1).

The order of the lower court is reversed and the case remanded for a new trial. Jurisdiction is relinquished.