Com. v. Bradley, J. ( 2017 )

J-S88023-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
v.
JOHN BRADLEY
Appellant No. 3045 EDA 2015
Appeal from the PCRA Order September 18, 2015
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0001873-2008
BEFORE: OLSON, J., RANSOM, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY RANSOM, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 24, 2017
Appellant, John Bradley, appeals from the September 18, 2015 order,
denying his petition filed under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42
Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.
We adopt the PCRA court’s recitation of the facts in this case for
purposes of this appeal. See PCRA Court Opinion (PCO), 5/10/16, at 1-10.
In short, on November 10, 2007, Appellant shot Izeem Greer in the head,
killing him. The murder occurred following a feud that Mr. Greer’s younger
brother had with the daughter of one of Appellant’s friends. Three
eyewitnesses were present at the scene of the shooting, and a neighbor
came forward to give information. They later testified at trial.
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*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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On September 15, 2009, a jury trial commenced. Appellant testified in
his own defense. Following the trial, Appellant was convicted of first degree
murder, carrying a firearm without a license, and possessing an instrument
of crime (“PIC”).1 Following Appellant’s conviction, he was immediately
sentenced to life imprisonment for first degree murder, with concurrent
sentences of three to six years of incarceration for the firearm charge and
two to four years of incarceration for PIC.
On October 2, 2009, Appellant timely filed an appeal with this Court.
On June 14, 2011, this Court affirmed Appellant’s judgment of sentence.
See Commonwealth v. Bradley, 31 A.3d 743 (Pa. Super. 2011)
(unpublished memorandum), appeal denied, 34 A.3d 81 (Pa. 2011).
Appellant pro se timely filed the instant petition on August 21, 2012.
On June 5, 2014, Appellant filed a counseled, amended petition. The
Commonwealth filed a motion to dismiss. On September 18, 2015, the
PCRA court formally dismissed Appellant’s petition.2
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1
18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502, 6106, and 907(a), respectively.
2
From a review of the record, it does not appear that the PCRA court sent
Appellant notice pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 that his petition would be
dismissed without a hearing. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 907. Nor does it appear that
there was a hearing. However, Appellant does not challenge this action on
appeal, and the failure to challenge the absence of a Rule 907 notice
constitutes waiver. See Commonwealth v. Taylor, 65 A.3d 462, 468 (Pa.
Super. 2013). Even if this issue was raised, it does not automatically
warrant reversal. Id.-2-
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Appellant timely appealed. The PCRA court did not order him to file a
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of errors but issued an opinion pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
On appeal, Appellant raises a single issue for our review:
Did the PCRA court err by denying Appellant relief on his claim
asserting that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of
counsel when he elicited Appellant’s prior criminal record in his
direct examination of Appellant?
Appellant’s Brief at 3.
We review an order denying a petition under the PCRA to determine
whether the findings of the PCRA court are supported by the evidence of
record and free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Ragan, 923 A.2d 1169,
1170 (Pa. 2007). We afford the court’s findings deference unless there is no
support for them in the certified record. Commonwealth v. Brown, 48
A.3d 1275, 1277 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citing Commonwealth v. Anderson,
995 A.2d 1184, 1189 (Pa. Super. 2010)).
In this case, the PCRA court dismissed Appellant’s petition without a
hearing. See PCRA Court Order, 9/15/15, at 1. There is no absolute right
to an evidentiary hearing. See Commonwealth v. Springer, 961 A.2d
1262, 1264 (Pa. Super. 2008). On appeal, we examine the issues raised in
light of the record “to determine whether the PCRA court erred in concluding
that there were no genuine issues of material fact and denying relief without
an evidentiary hearing.” Springer, 961 A.2d at 1264.
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We presume counsel is effective. Commonwealth v. Washington,
927 A.2d 586, 594 (Pa. 2007). To overcome this presumption and establish
the ineffective assistance of counsel, a PCRA petitioner must prove, by a
preponderance of the evidence: “(1) the underlying legal issue has arguable
merit; (2) that counsel’s actions lacked an objective reasonable basis; and
(3) actual prejudice befell the petitioner from counsel’s act or omission.”
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 966 A.2d 523, 533 (Pa. 2009) (citations
omitted). “A petitioner establishes prejudice when he demonstrates that
there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. A claim
will be denied if the petitioner fails to meet any one of these requirements.
Commonwealth v. Springer, 961 A.2d 1262, 1267 (Pa. Super. 2008)
(citing Commonwealth v. Natividad, 938 A.2d 310, 322 (Pa. 2007));
Commonwealth v. Jones, 942 A.2d 903, 906 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Appellant claims that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of
counsel when he had Appellant admit, during direct examination, that he
had been twice convicted of selling drugs. See Appellant’s Brief at 20.
Appellant argues that appellate courts have found such an action constitutes
ineffective assistance of counsel where there is no strategic basis for the
decision. Id. Appellant claims he suffered prejudice because the testimony
advised the jury that Appellant was a criminal, undermined his credibility
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and alibi defense, and opened the door for the prosecution to cross-examine
Appellant regarding his prior convictions and use of a gun. Id.The introduction of a prior criminal record may prejudice a jury, though
there are some situations when the introduction of such evidence may
produce some result favorable to the defendant. See Commonwealth v.
Zapata, 314 A.2d 299, 301 (Pa. 1974). Zapata did not introduce a per se
rule. See Commonwealth v. Wojtczak, 492 A.2d 1133, 1136-37 (Pa.
Super. 1985). The introduction of prior criminal records may have a
reasonable basis depending on the situation. Zapata, 314 A.2d at 301.
Despite the fact that the introduction of a prior criminal history may be
prejudicial, an Appellant must still show that but for counsel’s actions, the
result would have been different. Johnson, 966 A.2d at 533.
The testimony elicited was as follows:
Q: Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
A: Yes. I’m not sure what year. I believe it was two drug cases
that was [sic] consolidated.
Q: Do you remember what your sentence was?
A: Intermediate punishment. Inpatient program,
inpatient/outpatient, you know, you went to a program.
Inpatient is usually long-term, for about four months. Basically
NA for AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous.
Notes of Testimony (N. T.), 9/18/09, at 112-13. The Commonwealth did
cross examine Appellant about the nature of his drug dealing activities,
alleged possession of a gun, which Appellant denied, and his appearances in
court. Id. at 125-75. However, despite his assertions, Appellant cannot
prove prejudice.
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As the trial court noted in its 1925(a) opinion,
[W]hen viewing all evidence in the totality, the evidence against
Appellant was overwhelming. Appellant faced evidence which
included testimony by three eye-witnesses, all of whom knew
Appellant. Derrick Bennett identified Appellant in a photo lineup
and testified at trial that he saw Appellant shoot Izeem Greer.
Additionally, Thomas Bliss testified at trial that he witnessed the
shooting then called the police. Mr. Bliss also testified that the
shooter ran directly towards him and he got “a good look at his
face.” Mr. Bliss then identified Appellant in a photo lineup.
Finally, Thomas McCants confirmed that he wrote in a statement
to police that he witnessed Appellant shoot Izeem Greer and that
he was read his statement back before he signed it and attested
to its accuracy. On re-direct examination, he admitted that he
did go to Izeem Greer’s family’s home to tell them that the
victim had been shot by Appellant.
As an additional matter, the [c]ourt stated in its September 28,
2010 Opinion that Appellant did not present a sufficient alibi
defense to create a reasonable doubt.
PCO at 12-13.
Thus, because the evidence against Appellant was overwhelming and
Appellant cannot show that but for counsel’s errors, the outcome of his trial
would have been different, the PCRA court did not err in its dismissal of his
petition. See Johnson, 966 A.2d at 533.
Order affirmed.
Judge Olson joins the memorandum.
Judge Strassburger files a dissenting memorandum.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/24/2017
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