Com. v. Morton, L. ( 2018 )

J-S56037-18, J-S56038-18 & J-S56039-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
LASHAWN AUBREY MORTON, :
:
Appellant : No. 684 MDA 2018
Appeal from the PCRA Order April 9, 2018
in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-28-CR-0001713-2014
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
LASHAWN AUBREY MORTON, :
:
Appellant : No. 685 MDA 2018
Appeal from the PCRA Order April 9, 2018
in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-28-CR-0001714-2014
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
LASHAWN AUBREY MORTON, :
:
Appellant : No. 686 MDA 2018
Appeal from the PCRA Order April 9, 2018
in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-28-CR-0001716-2014
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
J-S56037-18, J-S56038-18 & J-S56039-18
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED DECEMBER 12, 2018
Lashawn Aubrey Morton (“Morton”), pro se, appeals from the Order
dismissing his Petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act
(“PCRA”). See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.
On September 23, 2015, Morton, represented by Brian Williams, Esquire
(“trial counsel”), entered an open guilty plea, at three separate docket
numbers (collectively “the three docket numbers”), to four counts of
possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (“PWID”)1 and one
count of criminal use of a communication facility.2 On October 14, 2015, the
trial court imposed an aggregate sentence of 75 to 180 months in prison.
Morton did not file a direct appeal.
On December 14, 2015, Morton filed a pro se PCRA Petition. Following
the appointment of PCRA counsel, however, Morton withdrew the Petition. On
July 13, 2016, Morton filed another pro se PCRA Petition. Following a
procedural history that is not relevant to the instant appeal, the PCRA court
appointed Matthew Sembach, Esquire (hereinafter “PCRA counsel”) to
represent Morton. On May 3, 2017, Morton filed a pro se Amended PCRA
Petition. In July 2017, PCRA counsel filed a Petition to Withdraw as counsel
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1 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30).
2 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7512(a).
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and a Turner/Finley3 “no-merit” letter. Morton filed a pro se Response in
opposition to the Turner/Finley letter. By an Opinion and Order entered on
February 5, 2018 (hereinafter the “Rule 907 Notice”), the PCRA court
permitted PCRA counsel to withdraw and notified Morton of the court’s
intention to dismiss his Petition without a hearing, pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P.
907(1). Morton filed a pro se Response in opposition to the Rule 907 Notice.
By an Opinion and Order entered on April 9, 2018 (hereinafter the “PCRA
Dismissal Opinion”),4 the PCRA court dismissed Morton’s PCRA Petition. On
April 18, 2018, Morton timely filed a pro se Notice of Appeal,5, 6 followed by a
court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Concise Statement of errors complained of
on appeal. The PCRA court then issued a Rule 1925(a) Opinion, relying upon
its reasoning advanced in the PCRA Dismissal Opinion.
Morton now presents the following issues for our review:
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3 See Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988);
Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc).
4 This PCRA Dismissal Opinion listed all of the three docket numbers.
5 The Notice of Appeal listed all of the three docket numbers. This Court’s
Prothonotary docketed the single Notice of Appeal at three separate dockets,
each of which listed, respectively, only one of the three trial court docket
numbers. We will dispose of all the appeals via this Memorandum.
6 We note that the holding of our Pennsylvania Supreme Court in
Commonwealth v. Walker, 185 A.3d 969, 971 (Pa. 2018) (decided on June
1, 2018, and holding that “prospectively, where a single order resolves issues
arising on more than one docket, separate notices of appeal must be filed for
each case”), is inapplicable to the instant case, where Morton filed his Notice
of Appeal on April 18, 2018.
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1. Did the PCRA court misapply the law concerning [Morton’s]
claim that [trial] counsel induced him to plead guilty rather
than filing a motion to suppress evidence obtained from an
illegal wiretap?
2. Did the PCRA court err when it denied [Morton’s] claim [that
trial] counsel incompetently advised him to plead guilty to
avoid receiving an illegal mandatory minimum sentence?
3. Did the PCRA court err in its conclusion that PCRA counsel was
not ineffective for filing a [Turner/]Finley letter rather than
litigating the merit of [Morton’s] PCRA claims?
4. Did the PCRA court err by not scheduling an evidentiary hearing
despite the existence of genuine issues of material fact
concerning [trial] counsel’s advice inducing [Morton] to plead
guilty?
Brief for Appellant at 5 (issues renumbered, capitalization omitted).
“Our standard of review for issues arising from the denial of PCRA relief
is well-settled. We must determine whether the PCRA court’s ruling is
supported by the record and free of legal error.” Commonwealth v. Spotz,
171 A.3d 675, 678 (Pa. 2017).
In his first issue, Morton argues that the PCRA court erred, and applied
an incorrect legal standard, when it rejected his claim that trial counsel was
ineffective for inducing Morton to plead guilty, rather than filing a motion to
suppress evidence obtained from an illegal wiretap. See Brief for Appellant
at 8-10.
Our Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explained that
[t]o be entitled to relief on an ineffectiveness claim, a PCRA
petitioner must establish: (1) the underlying claim has arguable
merit; (2) no reasonable basis existed for counsel’s action or
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failure to act; and (3) he suffered prejudice as a result of counsel’s
error, with prejudice measured by whether there is a reasonable
probability the result of the proceeding would have been different.
Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 612 Pa. 333, 30 A.3d 1111, 1127
(Pa. 2011) (employing ineffective assistance of counsel test from
Commonwealth v. Pierce, 515 Pa. 153, 527 A.2d 973, 975-76
(Pa. 1987)). Counsel is presumed to have rendered effective
assistance. Additionally, counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for
failing to raise a meritless claim. Finally, because a PCRA
petitioner must establish all the Pierce prongs to be entitled to
relief, we are not required to analyze the elements of
an ineffectiveness claim in any specific order; thus, if a claim fails
under any required element, we may dismiss the claim on that
basis.
Commonwealth v. Treiber, 121 A.3d 435, 445 (Pa. 2015) (some internal
citations omitted).
This Court has further stated that
“[a] criminal defendant has the right to effective counsel during a
plea process as well as during trial.” [Commonwealth v.
Hickman, 799 A.2d 136, 141 (Pa. Super. 2002).] “A defendant
is permitted to withdraw his guilty plea under the PCRA if
ineffective assistance of counsel caused the defendant to enter an
involuntary plea of guilty.” Commonwealth v. Kersteter, … 877
A.2d 466, 468 (Pa. Super. 2005). We conduct our review of such
a claim in accordance with the three-pronged ineffectiveness test
under section 9543(a)(2)(ii) of the PCRA, 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 9543(a)(2)(ii). See [Commonwealth v.] Lynch[, 820 A.2d
728, 732 (Pa. Super. 2003)]. “The voluntariness of the plea
depends on whether counsel’s advice was within the range of
competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Id. at
733 (quoting [Hickman, 799 A.2d at 141]).
Commonwealth v. Rathfon, 899 A.2d 365, 369 (Pa. Super. 2006)
(paragraph break omitted).
The PCRA court, in its Rule 907 Notice, addressed and rejected Morton’s
claim as follows:
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Preliminarily, the [c]ourt notes that [a] review of the
transcript from the guilty plea hearing plainly indicates that
[Morton] was not threatened or coerced into entering the guilty
plea. See [N.]T. Guilty Plea, [9/23/15,] at 3-10 ….
As noted above, to prevail on an ineffective assistance of
counsel (“IAC”) claim, [Morton] must meet each of the three
prongs of the Pierce analysis. Most significant to the instant
issue, a petitioner must demonstrate actual prejudice resulted
from counsel’s inadequate performance. …
***
In this instance, even if [the PCRA c]ourt were to find that
[Morton] had met the first two Pierce prongs on the instant IAC
claim, [Morton] has failed to show there was actual prejudice.
Even disregarding the wiretapped telephone calls, the
Commonwealth in the instant case had several other pieces of
evidence that could have been presented to a jury to convict
[Morton]. Specifically, a confidential informant was used to take
part in controlled purchases of drugs from [Morton]. [Morton] was
not only photographed alongside the confidential informant during
these purchases, but also positively identified by detectives on the
task force during the course of the controlled purchases.
Moreover, at trial[,] the Commonwealth could have presented the
testimony of the confidential informa[nt] as evidence of [Morton’s]
criminal actions. Perhaps most significantly, a search warrant was
executed at [Morton’s] residence … [in] Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania. During the execution of the search, [Morton] was
found in bed, with a pair of jeans laying next to the bed; a wallet
was found in the back pocket of the jeans[,] containing $336[,]
along with [Morton’s] identification. The money was seized from
[Morton’s] wallet, and was later compared to the previously
recorded buy money. Two bills seized matched the previously
recorded buy money …. …
In viewing trial counsel’s [representation] as a whole,
[Morton] has failed to persuade [the PCRA c]ourt that [trial]
counsel’s conduct “had an actual adverse effect on the outcome
of the proceedings.”
Rule 907 Notice, 2/5/18, at 23-26.
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We agree with and adopt the PCRA court’s above reasoning in
concluding that Morton’s instant claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness fails.
See id.; see also Treiber, supra (stating that an ineffectiveness claim will
fail if the petitioner does not establish all three prongs of the ineffectiveness
test). Moreover, in light of the abovementioned incriminating evidence
against Morton, we conclude that trial counsel had a sound strategic reason
for advising Morton to plead guilty, and there is nothing in the record to
indicate that trial counsel induced the plea. See Rathfon, supra (stating that
the voluntariness of a guilty plea depends on whether counsel’s advice was
within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases);
see also Commonwealth v. Lesko, 15 A.3d 345, 380 (Pa. 2011) (stating
that trial counsel will not be deemed ineffective where the strategy employed
by counsel had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his or her client’s
interests). Finally, there is no merit to Morton’s claim that the PCRA court
applied an incorrect legal standard in rejecting his ineffectiveness claim. See
Brief for Appellant at 8 (averring that the PCRA court’s above-listed rationale
“is flawed because this claim is governed by the rule and standard of review
established in [Commonwealth] v. Nelson[,] 574 A.2d 1107 (Pa. Super.
1990).”). Indeed, the PCRA court properly applied the three-prong
ineffectiveness test in evaluating this claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness.
See Rathfon, supra (clarifying that a claim of ineffectiveness of guilty plea
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counsel for inducing an involuntary or unknowing plea is governed by the
three-pronged ineffectiveness test).
In his second issue, Morton contends that the PCRA court erred in
rejecting his claim that trial counsel was ineffective for inducing Morton to
plead guilty based upon the possibility of receiving an illegal mandatory
minimum sentence. See Brief for Appellant at 11-14. Morton asserts that
“[a]s a matter of law, it was manifestly unreasonable for [trial] counsel to
advise [Morton] to plead guilty to avoid receiving mandatory minimum
sentences that are now unconstitutional[,]” id. at 13, i.e., pursuant to Alleyne
v. U.S., 570 U.S. 99, 108 (2013) (holding that, under the Sixth Amendment’s
right to a jury trial, facts that increase mandatory minimum sentences must
be submitted to the jury and found beyond a reasonable doubt).
Initially, Morton does not identify any mandatory minimum sentencing
statute that was applicable to his case,7 nor did the trial court sentence him
to a mandatory minimum. Additionally, at the guilty plea hearing, Morton
confirmed that
(1) he was “not threatened or coerced in any way by anyone”
into entering a plea, N.T., 9/23/15, at 6;
(2) no one had made him any promises in return for his plea,
id. at 7; and
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7 Morton also fails to identify the mandatory minimum prison term that trial
counsel had purportedly informed Morton he could face if he did not enter a
plea.
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(3) he understood that he was entering an open guilty plea,
which gave the trial court full discretion to impose an
appropriate sentence. Id. at 4; see also Guilty Plea
Colloquy, 9/23/15, at 2 (unnumbered) (wherein Morton
acknowleged in his own writing that he was entering an
open guilty plea).
Though Morton correctly points out in his brief that the prosecutor had
made a passing comment at the guilty plea hearing concerning “mandatory
minimums,” the prosecutor clarified in open court that mandatory minimum
sentences did not apply to Morton’s case.8 Moreover, the trial court then
immediately informed Morton of the sentencing guideline ranges that would
apply to him, without any mention of mandatory minimum sentences. N.T.,
9/23/15, at 5. Finally, at sentencing, there was no mention of mandatory
minimum sentences, and the trial court imposed standard-range sentences.
See generally N.T., 10/14/15. Accordingly, as there is nothing in the record
to provide any arguable merit to Morton’s claim that trial counsel had induced
him to plead guilty based upon the possibility of receiving an illegal mandatory
minimum sentence, the PCRA court properly rejected Morton’s ineffectiveness
claim in this regard.
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8 Specifically, in response to a question by the trial court inquiring into the
standard-range sentencing guidelines applicable to Morton’s case, the
prosecutor stated as follows: “The standard range for one of the [PWID]
counts, which is, I believe, the delivery of cocaine which is greater than 5
grams[,] is the next one up. I apologize. These were prepared before with
the mandatory minimums still applicable. They don’t have the proper one on
that.” N.T., 9/23/15, at 5. Aside from this remark, there was no other
mention of mandatory minimum sentences at the guilty plea hearing.
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In his third issue, Morton argues that the PCRA court erred in rejecting
his claim that PCRA counsel was ineffective for filing a Turner/Finley no-
merit letter, as opposed to litigating the merits of Morton’s claims. See Brief
for Appellant at 16-18.9 Morton challenges and characterizes as “flawed”
PCRA counsel’s analysis and rejection of Morton’s claims that trial counsel was
ineffective for (1) failing to file a motion to suppress evidence obtained from
an illegal wiretap; and (2) inducing Morton to plead guilty based upon the
possibility of receiving an illegal mandatory minimum sentence. See id. at
16-17.
As we have already concluded that Morton’s underlying claims of trial
counsel’s ineffectiveness lack merit, his ineffectiveness claim against PCRA
counsel is frivolous. See Commonwealth v. McGill, 832 A.2d 1014, 1024-
25 (Pa. 2003) (explaining that a “layered” claim of appellate counsel’s
ineffectiveness cannot be sustained where the underlying claim of trial
counsel’s ineffectiveness lacks merit); see also PCRA Dismissal Opinion,
4/9/18, at 12, 13 (finding that PCRA counsel properly (1) “addressed the
issues raised by [Morton] in his pro se Amended PCRA Petition filed on May 3,
2017[,]” and (2) “set forth the nature and extent of his review [in the
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9 Morton raised his instant claim of PCRA counsel’s ineffectiveness in his pro
se Response in opposition to the Turner/Finley letter and, thus, it is
preserved for our review. See Commonwealth v. Ousley, 21 A.3d 1238,
1245 (Pa. Super. 2011) (stating that an appellant must raise a claim of PCRA
counsel’s ineffectiveness and inadequacy of counsel’s no-merit letter when the
matter was still before the PCRA court).
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Turner/Finley letter], and explained why the issues raised by [Morton] are
meritless. Similarly, this [c]ourt found those issues to be without merit.”).
Accordingly, Morton’s third issue does not entitle him to relief.
In his fourth and final issue, Morton asserts that the PCRA court
improperly failed to conduct an evidentiary hearing prior to ruling on his PCRA
Petition, where Morton had “alleged genuine issues of material fact concerning
the substance and competency of [trial] counsel’s advice that induced
[Morton] to plead guilty.” Brief for Appellant at 14. Morton avers that his
ineffectiveness claims “cannot be negated by the record or dismissed without
an evidentiary hearing to determine whether [Morton’s] guilty plea was
induced by erroneous advice of [trial] counsel to avoid receiving an illegal
mandatory minimum sentence.” Id. at 15. We disagree.
The right to an evidentiary hearing on a post-conviction
petition is not absolute. It is within the PCRA court’s discretion to
decline to hold a hearing if the petitioner’s claim is patently
frivolous and has no support either in the record or other evidence.
It is the responsibility of the reviewing court on appeal to examine
each issue raised in the PCRA petition in light of the record
certified before it in order to determine if the PCRA court erred in
its determination that there were no genuine issues of material
fact in controversy and in denying relief without conducting an
evidentiary hearing.
Commonwealth v. Wah, 42 A.3d 335, 338 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations and
brackets omitted).
As we discussed above, there is no merit to Morton’s claim of trial
counsel’s ineffectiveness for inducing Morton to plead guilty. Accordingly, the
PCRA court did not abuse its discretion in declining to hold an evidentiary
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hearing on this issue, and Morton’s fourth issue entitles him to no relief. See
Wah, supra.Accordingly, the PCRA court did not err or abuse its discretion in
dismissing Morton’s PCRA Petition without a hearing.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/12/2018
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