Com. v. Simmons, J. ( 2018 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
JOHNNIE SIMMONS, :
:
Appellant : No. 1649 EDA 2017
Appeal from the PCRA Order May 5, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0004773-2011
BEFORE: DUBOW, J., MURRAY, J., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED DECEMBER 19, 2018
Appellant, Johnnie Simmons, appeals pro se from the Order entered in
the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his first Petition
filed under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.
Appellant challenges the legality of his sentence and the stewardship provided
by counsel. After careful review, we affirm.
The PCRA court set forth the underlying facts and we need not repeat
them in detail. See PCRA Court Opinion, filed 11/7/17, at 2-6. Briefly, on
February 4, 2011, Charles Talbert sold a bag of marijuana to Khalif Collins.
Shortly after that transaction, Appellant entered a store where Mr. Talbert was
shopping and told Mr. Talbert that the bag of marijuana that he had just sold
to Mr. Collins was too small. As a result, Mr. Talbert gave Appellant a different
bag of marijuana. Once outside the store, Mr. Collins again approached Mr.
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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Talbert and said that someone across the street also wanted to buy marijuana.
Mr. Talbert then walked across the street and was shot five times. Paramedics
transported Mr. Talbert to Albert Einstein Medical Center where he underwent
several surgeries for his gunshot wounds.
At the crime scene, Kyle Holman saw Appellant leaving the scene and
described him to an off-duty police officer who happened to be nearby.
Another bystander described the shooter’s accomplice to other police officers.
Additionally, detectives interviewed the owner of the store in which Appellant
and Mr. Talbert had interacted about the bag of marijuana.
Five days later, after Mr. Talbert identified Appellant in a photographic
array as the shooter, the Commonwealth arrested Appellant and charged him
with, inter alia, Conspiracy to Commit Murder.1
Prior to Appellant’s jury trial, Mr. Talbert contacted Leeland Kent, the
Executive Director of Victim Services with the District Attorney’s Office, and
asked for witness relocation assistance because he was frightened. Mr.
Holman requested relocation assistance from the District Attorney’s Office
during trial.
Trial proceeded, at which numerous witnesses testified. Detective
Michael Acerenza read to the jury the transcript of the investigative interview
he conducted with Mr. Talbert at which Mr. Talbert told the detective, inter
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1 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 903(a)(1) and 2502(a).
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alia, that Appellant “has ties to T.I.… a guy I testified against about three to
four years ago... [and T.I. is] probably mad about that whole situation.” N.T.,
12/6/11, at 175.
Mr. Talbert testified that Mr. Kent did not help him find an alternate
place to live and that they only spoke because Mr. Talbert wanted to “get[]
some money.” N.T. 12/6/11, at 124.
Before Mr. Kent testified, and while the jury was out of the courtroom,
Appellant orally moved to preclude his testimony regarding Mr. Talbert. N.T.,
12/12/11, at 26. The Commonwealth made an offer of proof and the court
allowed Mr. Kent to testify that Mr. Talbert reached out to him in February
2011 because he had been shot, was scared, and requested relocation
assistance. N.T., 12/12/11, at 28-29, 32-33. Mr. Kent also testified that Mr.
Talbert moved in with a friend independently from the services offered by the
victim’s services office and received no financial assistance from the District
Attorney’s Office at any time in this case. Id. at 34-35. During his cross-
examination, Mr. Kent explained that he did not bring the file with him to court
for the safety of victims and their family members. Defense counsel requested
that the court instruct Mr. Kent to provide Mr. Talbert’s relocation file to him.
Id. at 37-38. The court asked on what basis the file was needed, and after
defense counsel responded that it was to determine whether the documents
supported Mr. Kent’s testimony, the court directed defense counsel to finish
his cross-examination. Id. Defense counsel had no further questions.
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During Mr. Kent’s re-direct examination, Mr. Kent testified that in order
to protect individuals “that may still be in the neighborhood who would be in
harm’s way, relocation files are kept confidential and [are] not disclosed.” Id.
at 38-39. Mr. Kent also testified that he typically provides the defense with
an itemized list of expenses paid out to victims and that in this case, victims’
services provided no money to Mr. Talbert. Id. at 39. The court did not order
Mr. Kent to turn over the relocation file.
Just before Mr. Holman testified, the court temporarily cleared the
gallery of certain individuals because Mr. Holman informed the court that he
did not want to endanger his family by testifying in front of “drug dealers and
thugs.” N.T., 12/7/11, at 103-11.
On December 15, 2011, the jury convicted Appellant of Conspiracy to
Commit Murder. On February 10, 2012, the trial court imposed a term of
twenty to forty years’ incarceration. Appellant timely filed a Notice of Appeal,
and this Court affirmed on August 16, 2013.2
On December 16, 2013, Appellant timely filed this first PCRA Petition
pro se. He thereafter submitted, without permission, two amended PCRA
petitions. The court appointed PCRA counsel on July 15, 2015, who filed an
amended Petition on January 16, 2016. Appellant subsequently filed a Motion
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2 On direct appeal, Appellant challenged only the discretionary aspects of his
sentence. Commonwealth v. Simmons, No. 1559 EDA 2012 (Pa. Super.
filed Aug. 16, 2013)(unpublished memorandum).
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to proceed pro se, which he withdrew after a hearing on December 16, 2016.
Counsel thereafter filed with permission a supplemental amended PCRA
Petition.
On April 4, 2017, the PCRA court filed a Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 Notice.
Appellant filed a response to the Rule 907 Notice asserting that PCRA counsel
provided ineffective assistance by failing, inter alia, to raise a Brady3 claim
with respect to the failure of the Commonwealth to provide him with the
documents contained in the file about which Mr. Kent testified.
On May 5, 2017, the PCRA court dismissed the Amended Petition as
meritless. Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal on May 15, 2017.
Appellant filed a motion to proceed pro se on May 30, 2017 and this
Court remanded for a Grazier4 hearing. The trial court held the Grazier
hearing on August 14, 2017, and determined that Appellant could proceed pro
se. The PCRA court allowed PCRA counsel to withdraw.
Both Appellant and the PCRA court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Appellant presents eight issues for our review:
1. (a) Was it error for counsel to allow the jury to consider hearsay
and speculative testimony for the truth of the matter asserted?
(b) Was PCRA counsel ineffective for failing to develop the
cautionary instruction aspect of appellant’s argument and
failing to argue that the evidence was inadmissible to establish
motive? (c) Could the error have contributed to the verdict by
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3 Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963).
4 Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998).
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allowing the jury to infer that the alleged calls were made in
furtherance of a conspiracy?
2. Is Appellant’s sentence illegal pursuant to [Apprendi v. New
Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000)] where none of the requirements
of Apprendi were met? Did the PCRA court err by finding that
[U.S. v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625 (2002)] subjects Appellant to
harmless error analysis?
3. (a) Was Appellate counsel ineffective for failing to litigate that
Appellant’s public trial rights were violated by the trial court
where the closure did not protect the interest advanced? (b)
Does Appellant have to show prejudice pursuant to [Weaver
v. Massachusetts, 137 S.Ct. 1899 (2017)] even though the
ruling in Weaver was made specifically and only for instances
where the structural error is not objected to at trial?
4. (a) Did the Commonwealth introduce evidence consistent with
two opposing propositions rendering the subsequent conviction
for conspiracy unconstitutional pursuant to [Commonwealth
v. New, 47 A.2d 450 (Pa. 1946)]? (b) Was PCRA counsel
ineffective for failing to further Appellant’s argument and
litigate the claim using the Superior Court’s recitation of the
facts rather than the notes of testimony, because he was
missing the notes of testimony?
5. Did the trial court erroneously conclude that the defense was
not entitled to access the victim’s relocation file under the
confrontation clause and compulsory process, even though
Kent testified about his interaction with Talbert and testified
that he has a pre-trial statement made by Talbert? (b) Was it
error to allow the jury to consider this evidence in regards to
Talbert’s credibility even though the Commonwealth lost Kent’s
file?
6. Did the PCRA Court commit an error of law and fact when it
held that Appellant’s rights under [Brady v. Maryland, 373
U.S. 83 (1963)] were not violated when the prosecutor failed
to disclose material evidence that Talbert was relocated in the
past and that Talbert had an ongoing feud with individuals from
the neighborhood, which could have been used to show that
Talbert had knowledge of the criteria of the program and to
contradict the Commonwealth’s theory of motive? Was PCRA
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Counsel ineffective for failing to further develop and litigate this
issue?
7. Did the PCRA Court commit an error of law and fact when it
denied Appellant’s request for discovery of Talbert’s interaction
with Leeland Kent both past and present where Appellant’s
discovery of Talbert’s testimony in a civil suit revealed that the
two are correlated by way of Talbert’s testimony, and the
testimony demonstrates that the Commonwealth violated
Brady?
8. Did the PCRA Court commit an error of law and fact when it
held that trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object
to the prosecutor’s improper, prejudicial, and inflammatory
remarks during closing arguments which deprived the
defendant due process and a fair trial?
Appellant’s Brief at 4-6.
Standard of Review
We review the denial of a PCRA Petition to determine whether the record
supports the PCRA court’s findings and whether its order is otherwise free of
legal error. Commonwealth v. Fears, 86 A.3d 795, 803 (Pa. 2014). This
Court grants great deference to the findings of the PCRA court if they are
supported by the record. Commonwealth v. Boyd, 923 A.2d 513, 515 (Pa.
Super. 2007). We give no such deference, however, to the court’s legal
conclusions. Commonwealth v. Ford, 44 A.3d 1190, 1194 (Pa. Super.
2012).
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Appellant’s issues challenge the effective assistance of counsel at
various stages of Appellant’s proceedings. The law presumes counsel has
rendered effective assistance. Commonwealth v. Rivera, 10 A.3d 1276,
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1279 (Pa. Super. 2010). “[T]he burden of demonstrating ineffectiveness rests
on Appellant.” Id. To satisfy this burden, Appellant “must plead and prove
by a preponderance of the evidence that[:] (1) the underlying legal claim has
arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable basis for acting or failing to
act; and (3) the petitioner suffered resulting prejudice.” Commonwealth v.
Reyes-Rodriguez, 111 A.3d 775, 780 (Pa. Super. 2015) (en banc). A
petitioner must prove all three factors, or the claim fails. See
Commonwealth v. Gibson, 951 A.2d 1110, 1128 (Pa. 2008) (“If it is clear
that Appellant has not met the prejudice prong of the ineffectiveness standard,
the claim may be dismissed on that basis alone and the court need not first
determine whether the first and second prongs have been met.”) (citation
omitted)).
In order to establish prejudice prong of claim of ineffective assistance
of counsel, and appellant “must show that but for the act or omission in
question, the outcome of the proceedings would have been different.”
Commonwealth v. Washington, 927 A.2d 586, 594 (Pa. 2007).
“To preserve a layered ineffective assistance of counsel claim, appellant
must plead and prove that: (1) trial counsel was ineffective for a certain action
or failure to act; and (2) direct appeal counsel was ineffective for failing to
raise trial counsel’s ineffectiveness.” Commonwealth v. Thomas, 44 A.3d
12, 17 (Pa. 2012). (citation omitted). “As to each relevant layer of
representation, appellant must meet all three prongs of the [Pierce] test for
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[counsel’s] ineffectiveness.” Id. (citation omitted). “A failure to satisfy any
of the three prongs of the Pierce test requires rejection of [a] claim of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel, which, in turn, requires rejection of a
layered claim of ineffective assistance of direct appeal counsel.” Id. (citation
omitted).
Counsel will not be found ineffective for failing to raise a meritless claim.
Commonwealth v. Ligons, 971 A.2d 1125, 1146 (Pa. 2009).
ISSUE 15
In his first issue, Appellant argues that trial counsel provided ineffective
assistance because he did not object and did not request a limiting instruction
when Detective Michael Acerenza read to the jury the transcript of his
investigative interview with Mr. Talbert.6 Appellant asserts that the following
exchange should not have been read to the jury because it was inadmissible
hearsay.
Detective Acerenza: Why do you think your shooting has to do
with [an] incident [regarding an individual named T.I.]?
Mr. Talbert: Because today my cousin Rachel told me that her
friend Janae said T.I. was calling home from jail letting people
know that I was home. He may be trying to have me set up.
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5We address each of Appellant’s sub-issues within the body of each Issue
heading.
6 Appellant also contends that PCRA counsel was ineffective for failing to
develop this issue.
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N.T., 12/6/11, at 175-76; Appellant’s Brief at 18.
The basic requisite for the admissibility of any evidence is that it is
competent and relevant. Commonwealth v. Freidl, 834 A.2d 638, 641 (Pa.
Super. 2003). Evidence is admissible if it “logically or reasonably tends to
prove or disprove a material fact in issue, tends to make such a fact more or
less probable, or . . . supports a reasonable inference or presumption
regarding the existence of a material fact.” Id. “[T]he admissibility of
evidence is a matter solely within the discretion of the trial court[,]” and “[t]his
Court will reverse an evidentiary ruling only where a clear abuse of discretion
occurs.” Commonwealth v. Woeber, 174 A.3d 1096, 1100 (Pa. Super.
2017).
Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered for the truth of the matter
asserted. Pa.R.E. 801(c)(1)-(2). “Hearsay is not admissible [evidence]
except as provided by [the Rules of Evidence], by other rules prescribed by
the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, or by statute.” Pa.R.E. 802. The purpose
of the rule against the admission of hearsay is to protect a defendant’s right
to confront the witnesses against him at trial. See Comment to Pa.R.E. 802
(citing the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, § 9 of the
Pennsylvania Constitution); Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004)
(interpreting the Confrontation Clause to prohibit the introduction of
“testimonial” hearsay from an unavailable witness against a criminal
defendant unless the defendant had an opportunity to confront and cross-
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examine the declarant). Our Rules of Evidence provide that certain
statements are not excluded by the hearsay rule if the declarant testifies and
is subject to cross-examination about the prior statement. See, e.g., Pa.R.E.
803.1.
Further, “[w]hen an extrajudicial statement is offered for a purpose
other than proving the truth of its contents, it is not hearsay and is not
excludable under the hearsay rule.” Commonwealth v. Puksar, 740 A.2d
219, 225 (Pa. 1999). For example, statements that “establish ill-will or motive
where they are not being offered for the truth of the matter contained therein”
are admissible. Id.Appellant asserts that this evidence was inadmissible hearsay that
prejudiced him in the eyes of the jury and counsel should have objected and
requested a limiting instruction. In addressing the hearsay issue, the PCRA
court observed that the statement established Appellant’s ill-will towards Mr.
Talbert and a motive for the shooting. See PCRA Court Opinion, 11/7/17, at
12. The court also opined that the admission of Talbert’s statement was
permissible as a prior inconsistent statement. See id. at 11; Pa.R.E.
803.1(1).
We agree with the PCRA court’s analysis. We further note, however,
that the declarants participating in the challenged exchange testified at trial
and were cross-examined. Accordingly, Appellant fully exercised his right to
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confront the witnesses against him. Appellant’s challenge to the underlying
issue is, thus, without merit.
Because counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to pursue a
meritless claim, Appellant’s ineffectiveness claims fails.
ISSUE 2
In his second issue, Appellant avers that based on Apprendi v. New
Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), the court imposed an illegal sentence. He
asserts that because the court did not instruct the jury on serious bodily injury,
his sentence may not exceed twenty years’ incarceration under 18 Pa.C.S. §
1102(c).
Section 1102(c) provides, “a person who has been convicted of attempt,
solicitation or conspiracy to commit murder, murder of an unborn child or
murder of a law enforcement officer where serious bodily injury results may
be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which shall be fixed by the court at
not more than 40 years.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(c). Where serious bodily injury
does not result, the person may be sentenced to no more than 20 years. Id.
Serious bodily injury is defined as “[b]odily injury which creates a substantial
risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted
loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.” 18 Pa.C.S.
§ 2301.
In Apprendi, the Supreme Court held that “any fact that increases the
penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be
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submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” 530 U.S. at
525. In interpreting Apprendi, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held
that a defendant who is sentenced pursuant to a stipulated fact that is not
charged to the jury is not entitled to relief under Apprendi. Commonwealth
v. Belak, 825 A.2d 1252, 1256 n.10 (Pa. 2003). See also Commonwealth
v. Bizzel, 107 A.3d 102, 113-14 (Pa. Super. 2014) (Bowes, J., concurring)
(citing U.S. v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625 (2002), as support for the proposition
that Apprendi violations may be harmless).
Here, the court sentenced Appellant to twenty to forty years’
incarceration for his conviction of Conspiracy to Commit Murder. Appellant
avers that the sentence is illegal because the court did not charge the jury on
serious bodily injury.
In addressing this issue, the court stated, “although the jury was not
explicitly charged on serious bodily injury, such omission was harmless error
since the evidence of serious bodily injury was overwhelming and
uncontroverted.” PCRA Court Opinion, 11/7/17, at 13.
We agree that the court did not err in sentencing Appellant to twenty to
forty years’ incarceration. The parties stipulated at trial to the admission of
the victim’s medical records, which delineated the injuries he suffered as a
result of the gunshots. In addition, the victim himself testified regarding his
injuries while wearing a colostomy bag. The jury was, thus, fully apprised of
the fact that the victim had suffered serious bodily injury. Accordingly, even
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if Apprendi were applicable here, Appellant suffered no prejudice by the
court’s failure to instruct the jury specifically on serious bodily injury. His
sentence of twenty to forty years’ incarceration is legal. 18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(c);
Belak, supra at 1256 n. 10.
ISSUE 3
In his third issue, Appellant asserts appellate counsel provided
ineffective assistance for failing to assert that the trial court violated his right
to a fair trial when it cleared the courtroom of certain individuals during Mr.
Holman’s testimony. Appellant’s Brief at 32.
The context for this claim is the following. During the trial, Mr. Holman
informed the court that he was concerned for his safety and his family’s safety
if he were to testify in front of certain individuals in the courtroom. After
privately meeting with Mr. Holman, defense counsel, and the Commonwealth’s
counsel, and discussing the issue on the record, the court concluded that Mr.
Holman’s concerns were credible, and temporarily excluded these individuals
from the courtroom while permitting Appellant’s family members, the press,
and other spectators to remain. N.T., 12/7/11, at 100-116.
It is axiomatic that the safety and welfare of witnesses testifying at a
criminal trial is of paramount importance. “Proper security measures fall
within the trial court’s exercise of discretion … [and] reasonable security
measures will not prejudice the defendant’s fair trial rights.” Commonwealth
v. Gross, 453 A.2d 620, 622 (Pa. Super. 1982). “[A] defendant raising a
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public-trial violation via an ineffective-assistance claim must show either a
reasonable probability of a different outcome in his or her case or… that the
particular violation was so serious as to render the trial fundamentally unfair.
Weaver v. Massachusetts, 137 S.Ct. 1899, 1904 (2017).
In addressing this issue, the PCRA court stated:
Here, petitioner cannot show that this court’s decision to exclude
from the courtroom certain named persons, for security purposes,
was an abuse of discretion. Nor can he show that this court’s
decision was manifestly unreasonable or that it was the result of
partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will.
PCRA Court Opinion, 11/7/17, at 14.
Based on our review of the record, we agree and conclude there is no
merit to Appellant’s underlying claim that the court violated his right to a fair
trial. The trial court acted within its prerogative after finding Mr. Holman’s
concerns credible and worthy of action. Appellant has not provided any
comprehensive argument to convince us that the court’s decision to
temporarily exclude several individuals was manifestly unreasonable, likely
led to a different outcome, or rendered the trial fundamentally unfair.
Weaver, 137 S.Ct. at 1904.
Because there is no merit to the underlying claim, Appellant’s assertion
of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel presented in this third issue
warrants no relief.
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ISSUE 4
As presented in his Statement of Questions Presented, Appellant
challenges PCRA counsel’s effectiveness for failing to present an argument
regarding the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his Conspiracy conviction.
In his Brief, however, Appellant raises the sufficiency issue in the context of
appellate counsel’s effectiveness. Appellant’s Brief at 40-48. We, thus, review
the claim as a challenge to appellate counsel’s advocacy.7
Appellant avers the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction
for Conspiracy to Commit Murder because “an investigation was done into the
alleged accomplice and [ ] he was not charged because there was no evidence
showing that he knew a shooting was going to happen.” Appellant’s Brief at
41. He contends that because “[t]he same evidence that is being used to
uphold [the conspiracy] conviction was deemed insufficient to establish a
conspiracy amongst Appellant and the man with the glasses,” his conviction
cannot stand. Id. Fundamentally, Appellant’s argument is that the jury
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7 We note that sufficiency of evidence challenges are not per se cognizable in
a PCRA proceeding. Commonwealth v. Bell, 706 A.2d 855, 861 (Pa. Super
1998); see also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2). Accordingly, PCRA counsel will not
be found ineffective for failing to raise a non-cognizable issue. However, if
raised, as here, as the underlying issue in a counsel ineffectiveness claim, we
may review the merits. Commonwealth v. Natividad, 938 A.2d 310, 329
(Pa. 2007).
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incorrectly inferred that Appellant and Collins worked in concert to lure Mr.
Talbert from the store. See id. at 42-45.8
“[T]o sustain a conviction for Criminal Conspiracy, the Commonwealth
must establish that [Appellant]: (1) entered into an agreement to commit or
aid in an unlawful act with another person or persons[;] (2) with a shared
criminal intent[;] and (3) an overt act was done in furtherance of the
conspiracy.” Commonwealth v. Fisher, 80 A.3d 1186, 1190 (Pa. 2013); 18
Pa.C.S. § 903. “Conspiracy is almost always proved through circumstantial
evidence.” Commonwealth v. Lambert, 795 A.2d 1010, 1016 (Pa. Super.
2002). “The conduct of the parties and the circumstances surrounding their
conduct may create ‘a web of evidence’ linking the accused to the alleged
conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.In addressing this issue, the PCRA court concluded that appellate
counsel was not ineffective for failing to pursue a sufficiency of evidence claim
because, when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, the
evidence at trial showed that Appellant and Mr. Collins entered into an
agreement to lure Mr. Talbert into the street to shoot him. See PCRA Court
Opinion, 11/7/17, at 16. See also Commonwealth v. Simmons, No. 1559
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8 Appellant also argues that his conviction is unconstitutional under
Commonwealth v. New, 47 A.2d 450 (Pa. 1947). Appellant did not raise
this claim in his Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement. Thus, it is waived.
Commonwealth v. Hill, 16 A.3d 484, 494 (Pa. 2011).
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EDA 2012, at 6-7 (noting that the jury found that Appellant was an active
participant in the conspiracy to harm Mr. Talbert).
Our review of the record supports the PCRA court’s analysis. The trial
evidence showed that Appellant and Mr. Collins worked in concert, under the
guise of multiple drug transactions, to lure Mr. Talbert into the street so that
Appellant could shoot him. The jury’s verdict was, thus, based on sufficient
evidence.
Because Appellant’s underlying issue has no merit, this challenge to
appellate counsel’s ineffectiveness fails to garner relief.
ISSUE 5
In his fifth issue, Appellant asserts that appellate counsel was ineffective
for failing to challenge (1) the trial court’s denial of his oral motion to preclude
Mr. Kent’s testimony regarding Mr. Talbert, and (2) the court’s refusal to order
Mr. Kent to turn over Mr. Talbert’s relocation file to defense counsel.
Appellant’s Brief at 49-51, 55-57. Specifically, Appellant alleges that because
Mr. Kent’s testimony was based on Mr. Talbert’s relocation file, to which
defense counsel did not have access, the court should have precluded Mr.
Kent’s testimony. Appellant baldly concludes that his Confrontation Clause,
Due Process, and Fair Trial rights were violated as a result. See Appellant’s
Brief at 49. We disagree.
It is well settled that “[e]vidence that is not relevant is not admissible.”
Pa.R.E. 402. Evidence is admissible if it “logically or reasonably tends to prove
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or disprove a material fact in issue, tends to make such a fact more or less
probable, or . . . supports a reasonable inference or presumption regarding
the existence of a material fact.” Freidl, 834 A.2d at 641. This Court reviews
a court’s evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. Woeber, 174 A.3d at
1100.
Under our rules of criminal procedure, the Commonwealth must disclose
“[a]ny evidence favorable to the accused that is material either to guilt or to
punishment, and is within the possession or control of the attorney for the
Commonwealth.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(B)(1)(a). Our Supreme Court has held
that documents pertaining to a witness’s relocation plans are not “material or
helpful” to the defendant. Commonwealth v. Treiber, 121 A.3d 435, 462-
63 (Pa. 2015) (citing Commonwealth v. Birdsong, 24 A.3d 319, 327-28
(Pa. 2011)).
Appellant has not shown that Mr. Talbert’s relocation file was relevant
or material to the underlying Conspiracy conviction. Mr. Kent’s testimony
about the documents in the relocation file demonstrated that the information
in the file was based solely on interactions that occurred after the shooting
while Appellant recuperated from his gunshot wounds in the hospital. Thus,
the information in the relocation file was not relevant to the issue of whether
it was Appellant who shot the victim or was part of a conspiracy to shoot the
victim. See N.T., 12/12/11, at 33. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse
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its discretion by admitting Mr. Kent’s testimony and refusing to mandate
disclosure of Mr. Talbert’s relocation file.
Because the underlying claim is without merit, we conclude this claim of
ineffective assistance of appellate counsel fails.
ISSUES 6 and 7
Somewhat related to his fifth issue, in his sixth and seventh issues,
Appellant asserts that PCRA counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing
to raise a Brady claim.9 He argues that his right to a fair trial was violated
when the Commonwealth failed to disclose Mr. Talbert’s relocation file, which
he could have used to impeach Mr. Talbert’s testimony. Appellant insists that,
based on Mr. Talbert’s receipt of prior assistance in an unrelated case from
the victims’ services relocation program, Mr. Talbert had a financial incentive
to testify against Appellant. Appellant’s Brief at 59. Appellant, thus, contends
he could have used the information in the file to impeach Mr. Talbert’s
testimony, and PCRA counsel should have pursued this issue. Id. at 59-60.
In order to obtain relief based on a violation of Brady, a petitioner must
prove that (1) the evidence was favorable to the accused, either because it is
exculpatory or because it impeaches; (2) the evidence was suppressed by the
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9 Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963) (holding that “the suppression
by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates
due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment,
irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.”).
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prosecution, either willfully or inadvertently; and (3) prejudice ensued.
Commonwealth v. Simpson, 66 A.3d 253, 264 (Pa. 2013). An appellant
must demonstrate that the alleged Brady violation “so undermined the truth-
determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could
have taken place.” Commonwealth v. Cam Ly, 980 A.2d 61, 76 (Pa. 2009).
Our Supreme Court has held that there is no viable Brady claim when
the Commonwealth does not provide documents pertaining to a witness’s
relocation plan to a defendant because such “challenged evidence [is] not
material or helpful” to the defendant. Treiber, 121 A.3d at 462-63 (citing
Birdsong, 24 A.3d at 328 (Pa. 2011) (stating Commonwealth’s failure to
disclose that it placed witnesses in protection programs did not constitute
material evidence)).
In the instant case, the PCRA court concluded that Appellant’s Brady
claim is meritless because Appellant did not show that the documents were
material to his guilt or innocence or that was he was prejudiced by their non-
disclosure. PCRA Court Opinion, 11/7/17, at 17.10 We agree.
Evidence related to Mr. Talbert’s relocation plan, in this case or a
previous case, is immaterial to whether Appellant committed the underlying
crime. Moreover, Appellant does not assert that the evidence in the relocation
file is exculpatory.
____________________________________________
10 The PCRA court also found the claim to be meritless because the file
contained confidential information. PCRA Court Opinion at 17.
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Further, contrary to Appellant’s assertion, the relocation file would not
have provided material to establish that the relocation program provided
financial benefit to Mr. Talbert and thus, provided him with a motive to lie and
implicate Appellant. As noted supra, Mr. Kent testified that Appellant received
no financial benefit from the relocation service because Mr. Talbert moved to
a friend’s house rather than accept the services, including financial assistance,
offered to him. Accordingly, Appellant’s Brady claim is without merit.
Because we will not find PCRA counsel ineffective for failing to raise a
meritless claim, this issue fails.
ISSUE 8
In his eighth and final issue, Appellant asserts that trial counsel provided
ineffective assistance because he failed to raise a claim of prosecutorial
misconduct that he alleges occurred during the Commonwealth’s closing
argument.11 We conclude there is no merit to the underlying claim and, thus,
the ineffectiveness claim fails.
Appellant asserts counsel should have objected to the following four
remarks the Commonwealth made during its closing argument:
(1) Charles Talbert was supposed to be dead and no one was
going to say boo about Johnnie Simmons being the shooter.
That’s what was supposed to happen that day as Charles Talbert
would have been dead and all of those neighbors wouldn’t have
said a word about who did it. Wouldn’t have had the courage
____________________________________________
11Defense counsel did not object to the Commonwealth’s closing argument at
any time. See N.T., 12/12/11, at 121-41.
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because Johnnie Simmons and his boys have so much juice in
the neighborhood that the neighborhood is terrified of them.
(2) Is it any surprise that he comes in and tries to use the magic
words? I don’t want an innocent person to go to jail. None of
us believe little Johnnie is innocent.
(3) In Philadelphia we don’t allow shooters to get away with it
because they shoot other criminals. That’s not how it works.
That’s the company that Johnnie Simmons keeps.
(4) Don’t you dare take the easy way out and say I want
fingerprints. I want a video. The question is not what you want
in terms of evidence. If I had that Johnnie would have pled
guilty on Monday and I would have been out Christmas
shopping.
N.T., 12/12/11, at 121-22, 128, 134-35. During its jury charge, the court
specifically instructed the jury that statements made by counsel during closing
arguments are not to be considered evidence. N.T., 12/12/11, at 84-85.
Appellant contends that the above statements were prejudicial and
resulted in the denial of a fair trial. Appellant’s Brief at 72, 75. Based on our
review of the record and relevant case law, we disagree.
“[W]ith [regard] to a claim of prosecutorial misconduct in a closing
statement, it is well settled that any challenged prosecutorial comment must
not be viewed in isolation, but rather must be considered in the context in
which it was offered.” Commonwealth v. Jones, 191 A.3d 830, 835 (Pa.
Super. 2018) (citation omitted). In addition, “[o]ur review of a prosecutor's
comment and an allegation of prosecutorial misconduct requires us to evaluate
whether a defendant received a fair trial, not a perfect trial.” Id. (citation
omitted).
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Further, the court will not grant a new trial to a defendant as a result of
a prosecutor's comments unless those comments “have the unavoidable effect
of prejudicing the jury so that the jury has such a fixed bias and hostility
towards the defendant that the jury can not weigh the evidence objectively
and render a true verdict.” Id.The appellate courts have recognized that not every unwise
remark by an attorney amounts to misconduct or warrants the
grant of a new trial. Additionally, like the defense, the prosecution
is accorded reasonable latitude, may employ oratorical flair in
arguing its version of the case to the jury, and may advance
arguments supported by the evidence or use inferences that can
reasonably be derived therefrom. Moreover, the prosecutor is
permitted to fairly respond to points made in the defense's closing,
and therefore, a proper examination of a prosecutor's comments
in closing requires review of the arguments advanced by the
defense in summation.
Id. at 835-36 (citing Commonwealth v. Jaynes, 135 A.3d 606, 615 (Pa.
Super. 2016), appeal denied, 145 A.3d 724 (Pa. 2016) (quotation marks and
citations omitted)).
Further, “[t]he law presumes that the jury will follow the instructions of
the court.” Commonwealth v. Brown, 786 A.2d 961, 971 (Pa. 2001)
(citations omitted).
Our review indicates that the prosecutor’s statements, presented with
oratorical flair as an advocate for the Commonwealth, were based on the
evidence presented at trial. In light of the context in which the statements
were made and the trial court’s subsequent instruction, we cannot conclude
that the “unavoidable effect of such comments” was “to prejudice the jury,
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forming in their minds fixed bias and hostility toward” Appellant. Jones, 191
A.3d at 835.
Moreover, our review of the record supports a conclusion that Appellant
received a fair trial. The trial occurred before a jury with multiple witnesses
testifying over five days. In light of the plethora of evidence against Appellant,
we cannot conclude that the prosecutor’s comments made to the jury during
closing arguments rendered the jury unable to “weigh the evidence objectively
and render a true verdict.” Id.
Because the underlying claim has no merit, Appellant’s assertion of trial
counsel’s ineffectiveness fails.
CONCLUSION
Having found no merit to Appellant’s issues, we affirm the PCRA court’s
order denying relief.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/19/18
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