Com. v. Cook, P. ( 2016 )

J-S58023-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
v.
PATRICK L. COOK
Appellant No. 381 MDA 2016
Appeal from the PCRA Order February 4, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-44-CR-0000087-2013
CP-44-CR-0000517-2012
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BOWES, and PLATT, * JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED OCTOBER 27, 2016
Patrick L. Cook appeals from the February 4, 2016 order denying PCRA
relief. We sua sponte vacate judgment of sentence and remand for
resentencing in light of the United States Supreme Court decision in Alleyne
v. United States, 33 S. Ct. 2151 (2013).
On November 13, 2013, following a jury trial at which Appellant
proceeded pro se, but with the assistance of standby counsel, Appellant was
convicted of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and corruption of
minors. The offenses were perpetrated between November 2004 and
September 2007, and involved two females who were less than thirteen
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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years of age. Another offense occurred in July 2010, and involved one of
the earlier victims.
Appellant appeared pro se at sentencing, but again had the benefit of
appointed standby counsel. The trial court imposed an aggregate sentence
of eleven to twenty-two years imprisonment based on the application of two
five to ten year mandatory minimum sentences for aggravated indecent
assault on a child less than thirteen years old.1 Appellant, who had been
determined to be a sexually violent predator, was also advised of the lifetime
reporting requirements and what that entailed.
Following pronouncement of sentence, the court advised Appellant of
his post-sentence and appeal rights. Specifically, Appellant was told that he
had the right to file a written post-sentence motion within ten days stating
the particular relief sought. N.T. Sentencing, 2/28/14, at 18. The court also
advised Appellant that he had “the same right to assigned counsel as has
existed through sentencing.” Id. at 19. If he chose not to file a post-
sentence motion, the court explained that he had the option to appeal to the
Superior Court within thirty days. Appellant was provided with a written
acknowledgement of post-sentence procedures. Appellant informed the trial
court on the record that he wanted a transcript of the proceedings and he
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1
The mandatory minimum for aggravated indecent assault on a child was
subsequently changed to ten to twenty years imprisonment.
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was advised to put that in writing either in his post-sentence motion or in his
appeal. Id. at 20.
Appellant did not file a direct appeal from judgment of sentence.
Rather, on February 23, 2015, he filed a timely pro se PCRA petition. The
court appointed counsel to represent him, and counsel filed an amended
petition on May 7, 2015 on Appellant’s behalf. Appellant asserted that the
court’s failure to conduct a waiver-of-counsel colloquy pursuant to
Pa.R.Crim.P. 121 and its denial of his request to permit standby counsel to
assume representation during the trial resulted in the violation of his federal
and state constitutional right to counsel and so undermined the truth
determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could
have taken place. Finally, Appellant maintained that although his waiver of
right to counsel was voluntary, it was neither knowing nor intelligent, and
that his performance at trial was so ineffective as to deprive him of a
defense.
The court scheduled a hearing on the amended petition. By order
dated July 31, 2015, Matthew M. McClenahen, Esquire, was granted leave to
withdraw as counsel2 and on August 6, 2015, attorney Steven P. Trialonas
was appointed as counsel. Counsel filed a second amended PCRA petition on
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2
The trial court represents that Attorney McClenahen sought withdrawal
due to threats made by Appellant. Trial Court Opinion, 2/4/16, at 3.
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October 27, 2015, in which he averred that prior counsel had presented the
only issues of merit. Following an evidentiary hearing on December 11,
2015, and the submission of briefs, the PCRA court denied relief on February
4, 2016.
Appellant timely filed the instant appeal on March 4, 2016 and
complied with the trial court’s order to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal. The trial court adopted its
February 4, 2016 opinion as its Rule 1925(a) opinion, having concluded that
it addressed the issues identified. Appellant presents two issues for our
review:
A. Did the lower court commit an error of law and abuse of
discretion by denying Defendant’s PCRA on the issue that the
pro se colloquy was valid?
B. Did the lower court improperly deny Defendant’s PCRA with
respect to whether his constitutional right to an attorney was
violated at the time of trial.
Appellant’s brief at 3.
We first outline our standard of review of a PCRA court’s ruling:
Under the applicable standard of review, we must
determine whether the ruling of the PCRA court is supported by
the record and is free of legal error. Commonwealth v.
Marshall, 596 Pa. 587, 947 A.2d 714, 719 (2008). The PCRA
court's credibility determinations, when supported by the record,
are binding on this Court. Commonwealth v. Johnson, 600 Pa.
329, 966 A.2d 523, 532, 539 (2009). However, this Court
applies a de novo standard of review to the PCRA court's legal
conclusions. Commonwealth v. Rios, 591 Pa. 583, 920 A.2d
790, 810 (2007).
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Commonwealth v. Spotz, 18 A.3d 244, 259 (Pa. 2011).
In order to prevail on a petition for PCRA relief,
a petitioner must plead and prove by a preponderance of the
evidence that his or her conviction or sentence resulted from one
or more of the circumstances enumerated in 42 Pa.C.S. §
9543(a)(2). These circumstances include a violation of the
Pennsylvania or United States Constitution or ineffectiveness of
counsel, either of which "so undermined the truth-determining
process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could
have taken place." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2)(i) and (ii). In
addition, a petitioner must show that the claims of error have
not been previously litigated or waived. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(3).
An issue has been waived "if the petitioner could have raised it
but failed to do so before trial, at trial, on appeal or in a prior
state post[-]conviction proceeding." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b). An
issue has been previously litigated if "the highest appellate court
in which the petitioner could have had review as a matter of
right has ruled on the merits of the issue." 42 Pa.C.S. §
9544(a)(2).
Id.
The right to counsel in a criminal proceeding is a fundamental right
guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution
and Pa. Const. Art. 1 §9. Pa.R.Crim.P. 121 embodies the requirements for a
colloquy ensuring that a waiver of that fundamental right is given knowingly,
voluntarily, and intelligently. Rule 121(A)(2) provides that:
(2) To ensure that the defendant's waiver of the right to
counsel is knowing, voluntary, and intelligent, the judge or
issuing authority, at a minimum, shall elicit the following
information from the defendant:
(a) that the defendant understands that he or she
has the right to be represented by counsel, and the
right to have free counsel appointed if the defendant
is indigent;
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(b) that the defendant understands the nature of
the charges against the defendant and the elements
of each of those charges;
(c) that the defendant is aware of the permissible
range of sentences and/or fines for the offenses
charged;
(d) that the defendant understands that if he or she
waives the right to counsel, the defendant will still be
bound by all the normal rules of procedure and that
counsel would be familiar with these rules;
(e) that the defendant understands that there are
possible defenses to these charges that counsel
might be aware of, and if these defenses are not
raised at trial, they may be lost permanently; and
(f) that the defendant understands that, in addition
to defenses, the defendant has many rights that, if
not timely asserted, may be lost permanently; and
that if errors occur and are not timely objected to, or
otherwise timely raised by the defendant, these
errors may be lost permanently.
....
Pa.R.Crim.P. 121.
Appellant contends that the trial court did not conduct the mandated
colloquy. The court did not explain the nature of the charges, the elements
of the offenses, that Appellant acting pro se would be bound by the rules of
criminal procedure, and that the failure to raise defenses would be
permanently lost. Thus, he contends, his waiver of his right to counsel was
not knowing and intelligent. In support of his contention, Appellant adduced
the following evidence at the PCRA hearing. He supplied the August 26,
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2013 transcript of the proceeding on his motion to withdraw, motion to
consolidate, and arraignment. He also tendered the transcript of the
November 12, 2013 jury trial. Appellant also took the stand and answered
his counsel’s hypothetical question:
Q. Mr. Cook if you had been informed of the elements of
the charges that you were facing, if you had been informed of
the possible range of sentences that you might receive upon
conviction of those charges, if you had been informed that when,
there are possible defenses to those charges that an attorney
might be aware of , and if they’re not raised at trial you might
waive them, and if you had been informed that in addition to
defenses there are many rights that if not timely asserted could
be lost permanently, if you had been informed of those things
would your decision to go pro se have remained? Would you still
have wanted to represent yourself at trial?
A. Yes.
Q. Yes. You would have wanted to represent yourself?
A. Yes.
N.T. PCRA Hearing, 12/11/15, at 10-11.
We find first, that trial court error in the colloquy was an issue that
could have been raised at trial and argued on direct appeal.3 Thus, under 42
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3
When the issue of a defective waiver of counsel colloquy is raised on direct
appeal, there is no requirement that an appellant independently prove
prejudice. One need only demonstrate that the colloquy was, in fact
defective. See Commonwealth v. Tabu Nazshon Phillips, 93 A.3d 847,
855 (Pa.Super. 2014) (holding, on direct appeal, "[i]n light of the...court’s
failure to meet the minimum requirements of Rule 121 and to question
Appellant on the qualitative aspects of his waiver of counsel at multiple
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Pa.C.S. § 9544(b)4, the issue is waived. However, since Appellant was
represented by counsel when the allegedly defective waiver colloquy
occurred, and is currently represented by counsel, Appellant also could have
asserted the ineffectiveness of trial counsel in failing to object to the
allegedly inadequate colloquy herein. See Spotz, supra (alleging counsel
ineffectiveness for failing to object to the trial court’s allegedly ineffective
waiver colloquy). Since Appellant did not assert any claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, however, that claim is waived as well.
Nevertheless, even if this claim was not waived, it would not afford
relief. While appearing to concede that the colloquy did not strictly comply
with Pa.R.Crim.P. 121, the PCRA court concluded that Appellant was not
entitled to relief as he suffered no prejudice. The court pointed to
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(Footnote Continued)
critical stages of the proceedings, we are constrained to vacate the
judgment of sentence and remand for further proceedings.").
4
42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b) provides:
(b) ISSUES WAIVED. – For purposes of this subchapter, an issue
is waived if the petitioner could have raised it but failed to do so
before trial, at trial, during unitary review, on appeal or in a prior
postconviction proceeding.
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Appellant’s own admission that if he had been apprised of the Rule 121
concerns, he would still have chosen to proceed pro se.5
Moreover, the trial court found that Rule 121’s colloquy requirements
did not apply where, as here, Appellant’s “extreme and serious misconduct
acted to forfeit his right to counsel.” Commonwealth v. Kelly, 5 A.3d 370,
378 (Pa.Super. 2010) (holding Pa.R.Crim.P. 121 and its colloquy
requirements do not apply to situations where forfeiture is found). The court
pointed to “a pattern of serious misconduct, abuse, threats, and an utter
failure to collaborate [in] his own defense.” Trial Court Opinion, 2/4/16, at
5. Appellant does not challenge that finding on appeal.6
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5
Additionally, the court cited Appellant’s “repeated and numerous demands
to proceed pro se” and the fact that the court appointed standby counsel.
Trial Court Opinion, 2/4/16, at 5. The record reveals that on September 26,
2013, at the pretrial conference, the court asked Appellant if it was still his
intention to represent himself. N.T. Pretrial Conference, 9/26/13, at 1.
Appellant responded in the affirmative. Appellant added, however, that he
wanted to dismiss Mr. Sembach as standby counsel. The court was
amenable if Appellant hired a lawyer to represent him. Again, Appellant
insisted that he was representing himself, but that he had a problem with
Mr. Sembach as standby counsel. The court advised that “pending the entry
of an appearance by any other lawyer that you may choose to hire in any
capacity, . . I’m not dismissing court-appointed standby counsel.” Id. at 7.
See Commonwealth v. Kelly, 5 A.3d 370 (Pa.Super. 2010) (recognizing
that the constitutional right to counsel of one's own choice is not absolute
and that where court-appointed counsel is involved, a defendant does not
have the right to choose other assigned counsel unless a substantial reason
exists).
6
The record contains numerous accounts of Appellant’s abusive treatment
of both paid and appointed counsel, resulting in the withdrawal of three
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Were we able to overlook Appellant’s failure to allege counsel’s
ineffectiveness, we would find nevertheless that Appellant is not entitled to
relief. He was required to plead and prove, by a preponderance of the
evidence, three elements: (1) the underlying legal claim has arguable merit;
(2) counsel had no reasonable basis for his action or inaction; and (3) that
he suffered prejudice because of counsel's action or inaction.
Commonwealth v. Steele, 961 A.2d 786, 796 (Pa. 2008) (citing
Commonwealth v. Pierce, 527 A.2d 973 (Pa. 1987)). The prejudice prong
proves insurmountable.
Spotz and Mallory are instructive in this regard. In Spotz, the
petitioner alleged inter alia that the waiver of his right to counsel during the
guilt phase of his trial was not voluntary, knowing, or intelligent; that he was
not competent to waive this right; that counsel was ineffective for failing to
object to the trial court's allegedly inadequate colloquy, and for numerous
deficiencies in the defense presented. Noting the Rule 121 requirements for
a waiver colloquy, our High Court relied upon its earlier decision in
Commonwealth v. Mallory, 941 A.2d 686 (Pa. 2008), for the proposition
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(Footnote Continued)
attorneys. At jury selection, standby counsel Mr. Sembach placed on the
record that when he made himself available to Appellant for questions,
Appellant told him “shut up, you can leave now.” N.T. Jury Selection,
11/4/13, at 20. He testified to other instances of foul language and serious
mistreatment by Appellant. In light of our disposition, we need not
determine if Appellant’s conduct rose to the level of forfeiture of counsel.
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that the waiver rules were not the equivalent of the rights the rules were
designed to protect. The Court clarified:
A waiver colloquy is a procedural device; it is not a constitutional
end or a constitutional “right.” . . . An on-the-record colloquy is a
useful procedural tool whenever the waiver of any significant
right is at issue, constitutional or otherwise, e.g., waiver of a
trial, waiver of the right to counsel, waiver of the right to call
witnesses, waiver of the right to cross-examine witnesses, waiver
of rules-based speedy trial time limits, etc. But the colloquy does
not share the same status as the right itself.
Spotz, supra at 263 (quoting Mallory, supra at 697).
Where a petitioner asserts ineffective assistance of counsel based on
counsel’s failure to object to a defective colloquy, it is not enough to prove
that the colloquy was defective; the petitioner must prove prejudice as with
any other ineffectiveness claim. To establish prejudice, the petitioner must
demonstrate a reasonable probability, considering the totality of the
circumstances, that but for counsel's ineffectiveness, he would not have
waived the right at issue. Mallory, supra at 698-704.
Herein, had the ineffectiveness issue not been waived, Appellant could
not establish prejudice. In considering such a claim of ineffectiveness, the
court considers the totality of the circumstances and the entire record, not
just the colloquy itself. Id. Appellant testified at the PCRA hearing that he
would have proceeded pro se even if his counsel had ensured that the court
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provided a Rule 121 colloquy.7 Further evidence of a lack of prejudice was
supplied by standby counsel, Mr. Sembach. He testified at the evidentiary
hearing that, prior to trial, he presented a document entitled
“Acknowledgement of Availability of Counsel” to Appellant for his signature.
Commonwealth Exhibit 1. He read the bolded portions of the document to
Appellant, the contents of which were “very similar or identical” to the Rule
121 waiver of counsel. In preparing it, counsel wanted to ensure that
Appellant’s waiver of counsel was knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently
done. Id. at 45. Appellant refused to sign it, although Deputy Laurie Kozak
signed the document acknowledging that Mr. Sembach reviewed the
document with Appellant. Mr. Sembach also testified that, in a letter he sent
to Appellant regarding a plea offer, he explained the statutory maximums
and delineated the guideline ranges for each offense. N.T. PCRA Hearing,
12/1/15, at 35. Mr. Sembach concluded that Appellant “wanted to proceed
pro se” and “[he] knew exactly what he was getting into.” Id. at 43. Based
on the totality of circumstances, Appellant failed to demonstrate prejudice
and would not be entitled to relief.
Appellant’s second issue, that the trial court erred in declining his
request to have standby counsel assume representation at trial, also does
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7
While the Commonwealth maintains that Appellant’s admission that he
would have represented himself anyway constitutes a waiver, we disagree
with that conclusion.
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not afford relief. It appears from the record that Appellant became
frustrated in his attempt to impeach one of the victims regarding her prior
statements to police detailing when the charged offenses occurred. N.T.
Trial, 11/12/13, at 99-100. Following a recess to permit Appellant to consult
with standby counsel, a sidebar was held off the record. The trial court then
asked Appellant whether he was trying to suggest that the victim’s
statement referred to a later timeframe for the Mifflin County incidents.
Appellant responded that he “was trying to figure out she gave three
different statements of when the incident happened.” Id. at 101. At that
point, standby counsel interjected that, “Mr. Cook has told me that if I will
represent him fairly that he would allow me to do the questioning.” Id. The
court refused, stating that the defense would not be permitted to go back
and forth between a lawyer and pro se representation. Attorney Sembach
acquiesced in the court’s ruling, and responded, “Understood, your Honor.”
Id. Appellant then asked, “I can’t have him represent me now?” Id. at
102. The court reviewed Appellant’s difficulties with prior counsel, reminded
Appellant that he chose to proceed without counsel, that he had standby
counsel available, and suggested that counsel help Appellant develop
questions on this issue. Id. at 102-03. Appellant thanked the court,
accepted its suggestion, consulted with counsel, and when the proceedings
resumed, completed his cross-examination of the witness.
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Although Appellant now characterizes the exchange as a request that
Mr. Sembach take over his representation for the remainder of the trial, the
trial court did not interpret it as such. The court construed it as a request
that Mr. Sembach cross-examine and impeach that witness with her prior
statements; Appellant would then resume his self-representation. Hybrid
representation is not countenanced. Commonwealth v. Padilla, 80 A.3d
1238 (Pa. 2013). Since it is not patently clear that Appellant sought to
revoke his waiver of counsel for the remainder of the trial, we find no factual
support in the record to support Appellant’s claim of trial court error. See
Commonwealth v. Bryant, 855 A.2d 726, 737 (Pa. 2004) (citing Buhl v.
Cooksey, 233 F.3d 783, 800 (3d Cir. 2000), for the proposition that, "[i]t is
well established that a defendant can waive the right of self-representation
after asserting it.”).
Furthermore, in that this issue implicates trial court error, it could
have been asserted on direct appeal. Since Appellant was fully apprised of
his direct appeal rights and right to counsel at his sentencing, this issue is
waived under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b). See Commonwealth v. Berry, 877
A.2d 479 (Pa.Super. 2005) (en banc) (failure to file a direct appeal results in
waiver of non-effectiveness and non-illegal sentencing issues); in accord
Commonwealth v. Walls, 993 A.2d 289 (Pa.Super. 2010);
Commonwealth v. Jones, 932 A.2d 179 (Pa.Super. 2007) (recognizing
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that trial court error had to be pursued on direct appeal or the defendant
would forego the opportunity to litigate it).
Moreover, Appellant did not and could not assert any claim of counsel
ineffectiveness. As our High Court held in Commonwealth v. Blakeney,
108 A.3d 739, 756 (Pa. 2014), a defendant “who chooses to represent
himself cannot obtain post-conviction relief by raising a claim of his own
ineffectiveness or that of standby counsel.” The Blakeney Court explained
that, “the limited role of standby counsel is essential to satisfy the United
States Supreme Court's directive that a defendant's choice to proceed pro se
must be honored out of that respect for the individual which is the lifeblood
of the law even when the defendant acts to his own detriment.” Blakeney,
supra at 756-757. No relief is due on this ground.
We note, however, that Appellant was sentenced to two mandatory
minimum sentences based on the age of his victims. In Alleyne, supra, the
Supreme Court held that any fact that increases the penalty for a crime
must be treated as an element of the offense. Hence, it must be submitted
to a jury rather than a judge and found beyond a reasonable doubt. In
recognition that post-Alleyne, “application of a mandatory minimum
sentence gives rise to illegal sentence concerns,” Commonwealth v.
Watley, 81 A.3d 108, 118 (Pa.Super. 2013) (en banc), and that such claims
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are non-waivable, we sua sponte review the legality of Appellant’s
sentence.8 See Commonwealth v. Wolfe, 106 A.3d 800, 801 (Pa.Super.
2014) ("[A] challenge to the legality of the sentence can never be waived
and may be raised by this Court sua sponte.").
In Commonwealth v. Wolfe, 140 A.3d 651 (Pa. 2016), our Supreme
Court affirmed this Court’s holding that 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718, which imposed a
mandatory minimum sentence for violation of 18 Pa.C.S. §3123(a)(7)
(involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a minor), pursuant to judicial fact-
finding of facts that were not elements of the crime, was facially
unconstitutional, non-severable, and void under Alleyne. That same facially
unconstitutional statute, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718, was the basis for the imposition
of the mandatory minimum sentences herein.
Appellant is entitled to the benefit of the ruling in Alleyne as his
judgment of sentence became final after Alleyne was decided on June 17,
2013, and the instant PCRA petition is timely filed. Compare
Commonwealth v. Ruiz, 131 A.3d 54 (Pa.Super. 2015) (declining to give
Alleyne retroactive effect to cases on timely collateral review when the
defendant's judgment of sentence was finalized before Alleyne was
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8
The issue whether Alleyne claims are illegality of sentence claims that
cannot be waived is presently pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court. See Commonwealth v. Barnes, 122 A.3d 1034 (Pa. 2015)
(allocatur granted September 18, 2015).
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decided). For this reason, we vacate judgment of sentence and remand for
resentencing consistent with this memorandum and without the application
of the § 9718 mandatory minimum.
Order vacated. Judgment of sentence vacated. Case remanded for
resentencing. Jurisdiction relinquished.
President Judge Gantman joins the memorandum.
Judge Platt concurs in the result.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/27/2016
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