Com. v. Ramos, L. ( 2023 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
LOUIS RAMOS :
:
Appellant : No. 773 EDA 2022
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered January 20, 2022
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0000990-2017
BEFORE: BOWES, J., McCAFFERY, J., and SULLIVAN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY SULLIVAN, J.: FILED OCTOBER 25, 2023
Louis Ramos (“Ramos”) appeals from the order dismissing his first
petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”).1
We affirm.
This Court previously summarized the underlying factual and procedural
history as follows:
This case arises from an illicit sexual relationship between
[Ramos] and his minor nephew, I.C. At trial, I.C. testified that
from 2008 to 2010 his family lived with [Ramos, his maternal
uncle,] in Philadelphia. I.C. indicated that he and [Ramos], “hit it
off” and always hung out together. At that time, I.C. was 7 to 8
years old and was going from the third grade to fourth grade. I.C.
stated that during this time, [Ramos] began to undress and kiss
him when they were in the basement of the residence. [Ramos]
told I.C., “[D]on’t tell anybody. This has to stay a top secret.” In
addition, [Ramos] began introducing I.C. to marijuana.
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1 See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.
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As the relationship progressed, [Ramos] began taking I.C.
to his job working the night shift at a scrap yard. There, [Ramos]
began showing I.C. gay porn videos and suggested that they try
the acts depicted in the videos. On multiple occasions, while
watching the gay porn, [Ramos] performed oral sex on I.C. In
addition, [Ramos] had I.C. shave his butt and legs and place his
fingers in [Ramos’s] butt. At [Ramos’s] suggestion, I.C. also
placed his penis in [Ramos’s] butt. [Ramos] asked I.C. to perform
oral sex on him, but I.C. declined, fearing he would choke.
Instead, I.C. would “jerk off” [Ramos] by putting his hand on
[Ramos’s] penis and pulling back and forth. When I.C. refused to
allow [Ramos] to place his penis in I.C.’s butt because he was
afraid it would hurt, [Ramos] would instead lay behind I.C., place
his penis between his legs and then thrust back and forth.
After I.C.’s family and [Ramos] moved to I.C’s father’s
house, [Ramos] on multiple occasions entered the bathroom when
I.C. was taking a shower and performed oral sex on him.
In 2010, [I.C.] and his family moved to Connecticut and I.C.
had no further contact with [Ramos] until the death of his
grandmother in January 2016. [Ramos] and a number of other
relatives from Philadelphia travelled to Connecticut for her funeral.
After [Ramos] returned to Philadelphia, I.C. confided in his
boyfriend, Adbiel[,] who urged him to tell his mother about the
above events. I.C. then informed his mother, who called the
Philadelphia Police.
[Ramos] was arrested on January 20, 2017 and charged
with[, inter alia, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (“IDSI”)
with a child, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault, and
corruption of a minor]. On July 18, 2018, the case proceeded to
a jury trial[, whereat Ramos presented several witnesses,
including[:] his brother; his sister, Mary Moya (“Moya”); and his
two nieces, who testified as character witnesses as to Ramos’s
reputation for peacefulness and being law abiding] . . .. [I]n July
[] 2018, the jury returned a verdict of guilty [on those] offenses.
On October 25, 2018, the trial court sentenced [Ramos] to
an aggregate term of 12 to 24 years’ imprisonment. [Ramos] filed
[a] post-sentence motion[]. On March 13, 2019, the trial court
granted the post-sentence motion, resentencing [Ramos] to . . .
concurrent terms of 7 to 14 years’ [Ramos] for IDSI and unlawful
contact with a minor and consecutive term of 1 to 2 years in prison
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for indecent assault. The court imposed no further penalty for
corruption of a minor. As a result, the trial court reduced
[Ramos’s] aggregate sentence to 8 to 16 years’ imprisonment.
[Ramos] timely appealed.
Commonwealth v. Ramos, 239 A.3d 109 (Pa. Super. 2020) (unpublished
memorandum at *1) (internal citation omitted; some brackets in original). On
July 29, 2020, this Court affirmed Ramos’s judgment of sentence on direct
appeal. See id. (unpublished memorandum at *4). Ramos did not petition
our Supreme Court for allowance of appeal.
On December 8, 2020, Ramos filed a timely, counseled first PCRA
petition in which he leveled several ineffective assistance of counsel claims
against his trial counsel for, inter alia, the following: failing to object at trial
to the admission of a forensic interview video, in which I.C. detailed his abuse
by Ramos; failing to request a limiting instruction that the video could not be
considered as substantive evidence; failing to examine Moya about I.C.’s
apparent comfort around Ramos around the time of a family funeral in
Connecticut several years after the abuse; failing to examine the defense
character witnesses—who testified at trial to Ramos’s reputation for being law
abiding—about Ramos’s reputation for sexual propriety and chastity; and for
failing to request a “prompt complaint” jury instruction. See, e.g., PCRA
Petition, 12/8/20 (unnumbered at 5-6).
The PCRA court held an evidentiary hearing on Ramos’s petition, at
which trial counsel testified about his trial strategy, and the parties stipulated
that Moya, if called to testify, would testify that during a family gathering in
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Connecticut, occasioned by a funeral, and years after I.C.’s abuse by Ramos,
but prior to I.C.’s disclosure of the abuse,
she witnessed and observed [I.C.] and [Ramos] interact, that they
shared affection for each other, hugged each other, kissed each
other, and [she] observed them speak to each other, [and I.C.]
did not appear to be in fear of [Ramos] or repulsed by him[,] and
was present for family functions with [Ramos].
N.T., 9/24/21, at 18. The parties also stipulated that Ramos’s character
witnesses would have testified to his reputation for chastity. See id. at 19.
Following the completion of the hearing, the PCRA court took the matter
under advisement and, on January 20, 2022, dismissed Ramos’s petition. On
March 8, 2022, the PCRA court granted Ramos permission to file a notice of
appeal nunc pro tunc. Ramos timely appealed. See Notice of Appeal,
3/10/22. Both Ramos and the PCRA court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Ramos raises the following issues for our review:
1. Did the PCRA court err in not finding trial counsel ineffective
for failing to object to the introduction of a video of [I.C.]
into evidence where the video was not admissible as a prior
consistent statement?
2. Was trial counsel also ineffective for failing to request a
limiting instruction to inform the jury that it could not
consider I.C.’s videorecorded interview as substantive
evidence of [Ramos’s] guilt?
3. Did the PCRA court err in concluding that trial counsel was
not ineffective for failing to investigate [Moya], or call her
as a fact witness, where [her] testimony would have
impeached testimony [I.C.] gave about his relationship and
interactions with [Ramos]?
4. Did the PCRA court err in concluding that trial counsel was
not inef[f]ective for failing to present evidence of [Ramos’s]
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good moral character for chastity and sexual propriety
where such evidence likely would have affected the jury’s
verdict?
5. Did the PCRA court err in not finding that trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to request a jury instruction on lack of
prompt complaint where [I.C.’s] allegations were made
years after the abuse allegedly took place?
Ramos’s Brief at 4-5 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).
Our standard of review of an order dismissing a PCRA petition is well-
settled:
Our review of a PCRA court’s decision is limited to examining
whether the PCRA court’s findings of fact are supported by the
record, and whether its conclusions of law are free from legal
error. We view the record in the light most favorable to the
prevailing party in the PCRA court. We are bound by any
credibility determinations made by the PCRA court where they are
supported by the record. However, we review the PCRA court’s
legal conclusions de novo.
Commonwealth v. Staton, 184 A.3d 949, 954 (Pa. 2018) (internal citation
and quotations omitted). The PCRA petitioner “has the burden to persuade
this Court that the PCRA court erred and that such error requires relief.”
Commonwealth v. Wholaver, 177 A.3d 136, 144–45 (Pa. 2018) (internal
citations omitted).
In order to be eligible for PCRA relief, the petitioner must prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that his conviction or sentence resulted from
one or more of the enumerated circumstances found in Section 9543(a)(2),
which includes the ineffective assistance of counsel. See 42 Pa.C.S.A
§ 9543(a)(2)(i); see also Commonwealth v. Benner, 147 A.3d 915, 919–
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20 (Pa. Super. 2016). To prevail on an ineffectiveness claim, the petitioner
has the burden to prove: “(1) the underlying substantive claim has arguable
merit; (2) counsel whose effectiveness is being challenged did not have a
reasonable basis for his or her actions or failure to act; and (3) the petitioner
suffered prejudice as a result of counsel’s deficient performance.” Benner,
147 A.3d at 920 (internal citations and quotations omitted). The failure to
satisfy any of these prongs is fatal to a petitioner’s claim. See id.Additionally, counsel is presumed effective. See id.Regarding “arguable merit,” this Court has provided that, “[t]he first
inquiry in an ineffectiveness claim is always whether the
issue/argument/tactic which counsel has foregone and which forms the basis
for the assertion of ineffectiveness is of arguable merit; for counsel cannot be
considered ineffective for failing to assert a meritless claim.”
Commonwealth v. Lott, 581 A.2d 612, 614 (Pa. Super. 1990) (internal
citation and quotations omitted). For the “reasonable basis” prong, the
petitioner must show that counsel “had no reasonable basis designed to
effectuate his client’s interests.” Commonwealth v. Lott, 581 A.2d 612, 614
(Pa. Super. 1990) (emphasis added). We will “conclude that counsel’s chosen
strategy lacked a reasonable basis only if [the petitioner] proves that an
alternative not chosen offered a potential for success substantially greater
than the course actually pursued.” Commonwealth v. Brown, 161 A.3d
960, 965 (Pa. Super. 2017) (internal citation omitted); accord
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Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 132 (Pa. 2012) (stating that,
“[g]enerally, where matters of strategy and tactics are concerned, counsel’s
assistance is deemed constitutionally effective if he chose a particular course
that had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s interests”)
(internal citations and quotations omitted); see also Commonwealth v.
Johnson, 289 A.3d 959, 979 (Pa. 2023) (noting that “a claim of
ineffectiveness ordinarily will not succeed through comparing, by hindsight,
the trial strategy employed with alternatives not pursued”) (internal citation
and quotations omitted). Lastly, to establish prejudice, the petitioner “must
show that there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the
proceedings would have been different but for counsel’s action or inaction.”
Brown, 161 A.3d at 965.
In his first issue, Ramos argues trial counsel was ineffective for failing
to object to the introduction at trial of a video of I.C.’s forensic interview.
According to Ramos, the video was improperly admitted as a prior consistent
statement pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 613, which provides that
prior consistent statements are admissible to rehabilitate a witness’s
credibility. See Ramos’s Brief at 14-17 (discussing Pa.R.E. 613(c) and, inter
alia, Commonwealth v. Bond, 190 A.3d 664, 670 (Pa. Super. 2018) (holding
that a forensic interview was improperly admitted pursuant to Pa.R.E. 613(c)
because it did not serve to rehabilitate the victim’s credibility)). Ramos argues
that the video was damaging to his defense because it showed I.C. “visibly
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shake, stutter and cry,” and thereby corroborated I.C.’s assertions of abuse.
Therefore, he argues, trial counsel unreasonably failed to object to it. See id.
at 18. Ramos also maintains counsel’s alleged error prejudiced him because
the entire case boiled down to I.C.’s credibility. See id. at 18-19.
The PCRA court considered Ramos’s arguments and determined they
merit no relief:
[Ramos] has not carried his burden with respect to the
second prong of the test, and therefore is not entitled to PCRA
relief. Defense counsel is afforded broad discretion to determine
tactics and strategy. The record reflects that trial counsel did not
object to [I.C.’s] interview because it supported [Ramos’s]
defense. Trial counsel himself made use of the interview on
several occasions to cast doubt on [I.C.’s] credibility, specifically
by exposing inconsistencies between [I.C.’s] interview and his trial
testimony. Using the interview as an impeachment tool was
certainly a reasonable strategy, especially since [Ramos] did not
take the stand[,] and their available defenses were limited.
Therefore, this claim is meritless because trial counsel had a
reasonable basis for not objecting to the admission of the
interview, that being, to help him challenge [I.C.’s] credibility.
PCRA Court Opinion, 6/17/22, at 4-5 (internal citations, quotations, and
footnote omitted).
Following our review, we conclude the PCRA court’s findings are
supported by the record and its legal conclusions error-free. Regardless of
whether an objection to the video would have had merit, trial counsel testified
at the PCRA evidentiary hearing that he used the video to impeach I.C., which
was part of his strategy, because I.C. “exaggerate[d] the allegations against
[Ramos at trial,]” as evinced by the additional details in I.C.’s trial testimony
that were omitted from his forensic interview. See N.T., 9/24/21, at 7-8. The
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trial testimony shows that counsel impeached I.C. with his statements at trial
which were inconsistent with or not contained in his forensic interview. See,
e.g., N.T., 7/19/21, at 120 (trial counsel questioning I.C. about whether he
told the forensic interviewer about the oral and attempted anal sex with
Ramos that he testified to at trial, and I.C. conceding, “I mean, I didn’t say
that before”); see also id. at 35 (trial counsel, in his opening statement,
arguing to the jury that, inter alia, “how [I.C.] answers the questions . . ., the
[forensic] interview. . . . [I]t all adds up to one conclusion. . . . He’s not telling
the truth”); see also N.T., 7/23/21, at 29, 32 (trial counsel, during closing,
highlighting inconsistencies between the video and trial testimony, including
whether other people would have been at the scrap yard at night when Ramos
abused I.C., and arguing, “None of it adds up. None of it comports with what
[I.C.] said in that . . . video because it did not happen”). Because Ramos has
failed to show that counsel had no reasonable basis designed to effect
Ramos’s interests, he has failed to satisfy the second prong of the
ineffectiveness test, which is fatal to his claim. See Lott, 581 A.2d at 614;
see also Commonwealth v. Reed, 42 A.3d 314, 325 (Pa. Super. 2012)
(concluding that, “[a]s in many child sexual abuse cases, this matter came
down to credibility . . .. [C]ounsel’s . . . strategy of attempting to destroy the
victim’s credibility by highlighting various inconsistencies between . . . her
prior statements . . . and her trial testimony[] was a sound one,” and whether
it resulted in an acquittal “is not the issue”).
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In his second issue, Ramos argues trial counsel was ineffective for failing
to request from the trial court a limiting instruction for the video to the effect
that it could not be used as substantive evidence of his guilt. See Ramos’s
Brief at 20. Ramos argues that, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence
613(c), the forensic interview video could only be admitted as rehabilitative
evidence, not substantive evidence, and, because trial counsel failed to
request a limiting instruction, the jury received the video, which it could have
used as substantive evidence to convict him. See id. at 23. Ramos maintains
that, because “all of the Commonwealth’s evidence related to I.C.’s disclosure
of the abuse,” the evidence was “hardly overwhelming.” Id. Therefore, he
argues, “it cannot be said that the court’s failure to instruct the jury on how
to consider [the] interview did not contribute to the jury’s finding of guilt.”
Id. Accordingly, Ramos asserts, he has suffered prejudice from counsel’s
omission. Id.
The PCRA court considered this issue and concluded it warrants no relief:
The standard jury instruction for this type of evidence
begins by stating “you have heard evidence that [the victim] made
a statement on an earlier occasion that was consistent with [his]
testimony.” Pa. Suggested Standard Crim. Jury Instructions
§ 4.08C. However, as explained above, counsel’s strategy was to
expose the inconsistencies between [I.C.’s] interview and his
trial testimony. Thus, it was objectively reasonable for counsel not
to request this instruction, as doing so would accomplish the exact
opposite by instructing the jury that [I.C.’s] interview was
consistent with his trial testimony.
PCRA Court Opinion, 6/17/22, at 5 (brackets and emphasis in original;
citations to the record omitted).
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The PCRA court’s findings of fact are again supported by the record and
its legal conclusions free of error. Trial counsel testified at the evidentiary
hearing that he did not request the limiting instruction because, “I didn’t think
that the . . . interview was consistent with the trial testimony . . ..” N.T.,
9/24/21, at 9. The PCRA court correctly noted that the jury instruction Ramos
maintains trial counsel should have requested begins with a declaration that
“[y]ou have heard evidence that [the witness] made a statement on an earlier
occasion that was consistent with [his] testimony.” Pa. SSJI (Crim), § 4.08C.
This instruction would have undermined trial counsel’s stated strategy, which
was, as discussed supra, to show that the video was an inconsistent
statement and, accordingly, evidence that I.C. had fabricated the abuse
allegations. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Lawrence, 165 A.3d 34, 44 (Pa.
Super. 2017) (noting that “[i]t is well settled that whether to request
additional points for charge is one of the tactical decisions within the exclusive
province of counsel. We should not invade that province and declare counsel
ineffective if any reasonable basis for counsel’s decision existed at the time of
trial”) (internal citations and quotations omitted). Because Ramos has again
failed to show counsel lacked a reasonable basis for declining to request the
limiting instruction, Ramos is due no relief.
In his third and fourth issues—which we address together because they
both concern allegations of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness for failing to elicit
certain testimony from defense witnesses who testified—Ramos argues trial
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counsel was ineffective for failing to examine defense witness Moya about her
observations of I.C. and Ramos at the family function in Connecticut,
specifically, that I.C. did not seem to be afraid or distrustful of Ramos following
the abuse. Ramos additionally argues that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to elicit testimony from his character witnesses at trial about his
reputation for chastity and sexual propriety. The relevant law is as follows: A
criminal defendant may offer evidence of a pertinent character trait as
substantive evidence that the defendant did not commit a charged crime. See
Pa.R.E. 404(a)(2)(A). “Evidence of good character is substantive and positive
evidence, not a mere make weight to be considered in a doubtful case,” and
“is an independent factor which may of itself engender reasonable doubt or
produce a conclusion of innocence.” Commonwealth v. Goodmond, 190
A.3d 1197, 1201 (Pa. Super. 2018) (internal citation omitted).
However, “[t]he failure to call character witnesses does not constitute
per se ineffectiveness.” Commonwealth v. Treiber, 121 A.3d 435, 498 (Pa.
2015). To establish that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call a
witness, a PCRA petition must prove:
(1) the witness existed; (2) the witness was available to testify
for the defense; (3) counsel knew of, or should have known of,
the existence of the witness; (4) the witness was willing to testify
for the defense; and (5) the absence of the testimony of the
witness was so prejudicial as to have denied the defendant a fair
trial.
Commonwealth v. Medina, 209 A.3d 992, 998 (Pa. Super. 2019) (internal
citation omitted). Trial counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to call
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a witness to present cumulative testimony. See, e.g., Commonwealth v.
Neal, 713 A.3d 657, 663 (Pa. Super. 1998); see also Commonwealth v.
Milligan, 693 A.2d 1313, 1319 (Pa. Super. 1997).
Ramos argues that Moya’s observations of I.C. and Ramos in
Connecticut contradicted I.C.’s and his mother’s account according to which
I.C. avoided Ramos at a family function. See Ramos’s Brief at 24. Ramos
asserts that Moya would have testified that I.C. did not appear fearful and
distrustful of him notwithstanding the earlier abuse. See id. This, Ramos
maintains, would have undermined I.C.’s credibility. See id. at 26. Ramos
additionally argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to elicit
testimony from his character witnesses about his reputation for chastity and
sexual propriety, because “those traits were most probative on the issue of
whether [he] could have sexually assaulted I.C.” Id. at 27.
The PCRA court considered these issues and determined they merit no
relief because Ramos has failed to establish prejudice:
[Ramos] claims that, if specifically questioned, [Moya]
would have testified that [I.C.] “exhibited no fear or
apprehension” around [Ramos] when he visited [I.C.’s] home [in
Connecticut] in 2016. However, [Ramos] did not proffer any
evidence that he was prejudiced in the absence of said []
testimony. The record indicates that it is not reasonably likely
that the outcome of the trial would have been different if only
[Ramos’s] sister had testified about whether [I.C.] seemed
nervous, especially considering her obvious bias towards
[Ramos], her brother. . . ..
****
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At trial, counsel called [Ramos’s brother and] sister[], . . .
as well as his nieces, . . . each of whom testified that [Ramos] had
a reputation for being a peaceful and law-abiding citizen. Any
testimony about his reputation for chastity and sexual propriety
would therefore be cumulative and not reasonably likely to result
in a verdict more worthy of confidence. . . ..
PCRA Court Opinion, 6/17/22, at 8-9. The Commonwealth additionally argues
that I.C. did not testify that, while in Connecticut, “he was afraid of [Ramos]
or that he visibly manifested any repulsion toward [Ramos] while he was
there,” and, accordingly, Moya’s “proposed testimony would not have
contradicted or undermined [I.C.’s] testimony.” Commonwealth’s Brief at 21-
22.
Following our review, we discern no error in the PCRA court’s ruling. In
Connecticut, when Ramos and his family members visited in January 2016 for
a family funeral, I.C. testified that Ramos “kept his distance away from me,”
and that I.C. did not want to “be near” the “whole family.” N.T., 7/19/18, at
90. I.C. said he “barely spoke” to Ramos, but they did say to each other,
“Hey. What’s up? You know, I haven’t seen you in forever.” See id. at 91.
Seeing Ramos again in 2016 prompted I.C. to tell his boyfriend about the prior
abuse, which precipitated I.C. telling his mother. See id. at 91, 105. As the
Commonwealth correctly noted, I.C. did not testify that he felt or manifested
fear or revulsion during his interaction with Ramos. Accordingly, Moya’s
proposed testimony that I.C. seemed comfortable around Ramos is not
inconsistent with I.C.’s such that the absence of her testimony on this point
denied Ramos a fair trial. Additionally, Ramos presented at trial testimony by
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his brother, sister, and two nieces, each of whom testified to his reputation in
the community for being “peaceable, nonviolent, [and] law-abiding.” See
N.T., 7/23/18 at 9-18 (emphasis added). Because Ramos presented
testimony by four character witnesses as to his reputation in the community
for being law abiding, and a person who is law abiding would not commit an
illegal sexual offense against a minor, we conclude that Ramos has failed to
establish prejudice such that the outcome of his trial would be different had
his character witnesses also added that he has a reputation for chastity and
sexual propriety. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Montalvo, 986 A.2d 84,
103 (Pa. 2009) (holding that character evidence establishing the defendant’s
“law-abiding” reputation was “sufficient to address his reputation for
peacefulness and non-violence”); cf. Commonwealth v. Weiss, 606 A.2d
439, 442-43 (Pa. 1992) (failure to call any character witnesses in a case that
boiled down to credibility was ineffective assistance of counsel);
Commonwealth v. Hull, 982 A.2d 1020 (Pa. Super. 2009) (holding the
same).
Lastly, in his fifth issue, Ramos argues trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to request a prompt complaint jury instruction. This Court has
explained that the prompt complaint instruction provides, in pertinent part,
that evidence of “delay in making a complaint does not necessarily
make [the victim’s] testimony unreliable, but may remove from it
the assurance of reliability accompanying the prompt complaint or
outcry that the victim of a crime such as this would ordinarily be
expected to make.” Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Criminal
Jury Instructions [§] 4.13A(2). The instruction further states that
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the failure to promptly complain and the victim’s explanation for
the failure “are factors bearing on the believability of [the victim’s
testimony] and must be considered by you in light of all the
evidence in the case.” Id.[] at (3).
Commonwealth v. Sandusky, 77 A.3d 663, 668 (Pa. Super. 2013).
Additionally:
The premise for the prompt complaint instruction is that a
victim of a sexual assault would reveal at the first available
opportunity that an assault occurred. The instruction permits a
jury to call into question a complainant’s credibility when he or
she did not complain at the first available opportunity. However,
there is no policy in our jurisprudence that the instruction be given
in every case.
The propriety of a prompt complaint instruction is
determined on a case-by-case basis pursuant to a subjective
standard based upon the age and condition of the victim. For
instance, where an assault is of such a nature that the minor
victim may not have appreciated the offensive nature of the
conduct, the lack of a prompt complaint would not
necessarily justify an inference of fabrication.
Id. at 667 (internal citations, quotations, and brackets omitted; emphasis
added). The age and the maturity of the victim should be considered in
evaluating whether the instruction is appropriate. See id. at 668.
Additionally,
[w]here no physical force is used to accomplish the reprehensible
assault, a child victim would have no reason to promptly complain
of the wrong-doing, particularly where the person involved is in a
position of confidence. Where such an encounter is of a nature
that a minor victim may not appreciate the offensive nature of the
conduct, the lack of a complaint would not necessarily justify an
inference of a fabrication.
Commonwealth v. Snoke, 580 A.2d 295, 299 (Pa. 1990).
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Ramos argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request this
jury instruction because I.C.’s “testimony at trial suggested that although he
was only seven or eight [] years[’] old when the abuse started, he appreciated
the offensive nature of [Ramos’s] conduct, but nonetheless remained silent
because he did not want to upset his mother . . ..” Ramos’s Brief at 31; see
also id. at 33 (Ramos arguing that I.C.’s trial testimony suggested that he
wanted to “protect his mother” from the “devastating impact” of his
disclosure). Ramos argues that because the Commonwealth’s case hinged on
I.C.’s credibility, the lack of a jury instruction that would have informed the
jury of a basis for “discounting his credibility” prejudiced him so as to affect
the outcome of the trial. See id. at 35.
The PCRA court considered Ramos’s final issue and determined it
merited no relief:
[I.C.] was just seven or eight years old when [Ramos]
began abusing him. As [I.C.] explained at trial, “[he] felt like it
wasn’t right for [him] to tell on [his] friend, [Ramos,]” and then,
once he was old enough to fully understand that [Ramos’s] actions
were wrong, he hesitated to tell his mother because he was afraid
for her health. . . . Since [I.C.] had a reasonable explanation for
his delay, trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to request a
prompt complaint jury instruction. Further, trial counsel testified
at the evidentiary hearing that he made a strategic choice not to
ask for the prompt complaint instruction because of its potential
to highlight the issue to the jury and help the Commonwealth’s
case, rather than undercut it. This strategy was objectively
reasonable . . ..
PCRA Court Opinion, 6/17/22, at 10 (internal citation omitted).
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Following our review, we conclude the PCRA court’s findings are
supported by the record and its legal conclusions are sound. I.C. testified that
the abuse began when he was seven or eight years’ old, and occurred against
a background of I.C. and Ramos, his uncle, going to Wawa for milkshakes and
playing video games. See N.T., 7/19/18, at 68. When Ramos kissed I.C. at
the beginning of the pattern of abuse, Ramos told I.C. not to tell anyone, that
it was “top secret,” and that they were friends, and, therefore, I.C. could not
tell on him. See id. at 70. I.C. further explained he thought, “I can’t just tell
on him. He said to keep it a secret. I was young at the time, so I felt like it
wasn’t right for me to tell on my friend.” Id. at 72. I.C. also explained that,
following encounters when they smoked marijuana together and watched gay
pornography, and I.C. assented because he did not want to “let my friend
down.” Id. at 78. I.C. explained he did not call his mother and disclose the
abuse because he was “afraid if I call, [i.e., disclose,] my friend[, i.e., Ramos,]
is going to get mad at me.” Id. at 80. As the abuse further escalated
physically, I.C. explained he also did not want to tell his mother because she
trusted Ramos and I.C. did not want her to lose her best friend. See id. at
83. In 2010, when I.C. was nine years’ old, he and his nuclear family moved
from Philadelphia to Connecticut. See id. at 87-88. After seeing Ramos again
six years later in Connecticut in 2016, for his grandmother’s funeral, I.C.
recalled his experiences with Ramos, discussed them with his boyfriend, and
thereafter, concluded he had to disclose. See id. at 91.
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Trial counsel testified at the PCRA evidentiary hearing that he was
familiar with the prompt complaint instruction. See N.T., 9/24/21, at 11. Trial
counsel made the strategic decision not to request the instruction because he
believed it could be helpful to the Commonwealth. See id. at 12. Counsel
explained, “[U]nder the circumstances of this case . . . in my mind, it just
highlights it,” i.e., that I.C. did not disclose until later, “which, in my opinion,
[was] not the best for a jury to hear. It gives them explanations.” Id. In
essence, trial counsel concluded the prompt complaint instruction would
highlight the issue for the jury and give them potential explanations for why
I.C. did not disclose until he was older. Given the sympathetic reasons I.C.
provided for why he did not disclose the abuse contemporaneously (i.e.,
because Ramos convinced him they were friends and the abuse was “top
secret,” and that as his friend, I.C. could not tell on him), it cannot be said
that trial counsel lacked a reasonable basis for declining to further highlight
this issue for the jury via a jury instruction with questionable relevance. See
Lawrence, 165 A.3d at 44 (noting that “whether to request additional points
for charge is one of the tactical decisions within the exclusive province of
counsel. We should not invade that province and declare counsel ineffective
if any reasonable basis for counsel’s decision existed at the time of trial”); see
also Snoke, 580 A.2d at 299 (stating that “[w]here no physical force is used
to accomplish the reprehensible assault, a child victim would have no reason
to promptly complain of the wrong-doing”). Because Ramos has failed to show
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that counsel lacked an objectively reasonable basis calculated to advance his
interests, Ramos’s final issue merits no relief.
Order affirmed.
Date: October 25, 2023
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