Com. v. Smith, R.

J-S35038-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
RONALD L. SMITH, :
:
Appellant : No. 543 EDA 2013
Appeal from the PCRA Order June 20, 2000
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
Criminal Division, No(s): CP-51-CR-1018353-1992
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., BENDER, P.J.E. and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED JUNE 08, 2016
Ronald L. Smith (“Smith”) appeals, pro se, from the Order dismissing
his first Petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”).1
We affirm.
The PCRA court set forth the relevant factual and procedural history in
its Opinion, which we adopt herein for purposes of this appeal. See PCRA
Court Opinion, 12/3/14, at 1-3.
On appeal, Smith raises the following issues for our review:
1. Whether [direct appeal] counsel was ineffective for failure to
assert [that the] trial court’s finding of facts violated both
Pennsylvania and federal constitutional search and seizure
[sic] when trial judge[’s] finding of facts were [sic] contrary
to clearly established law[,] when homicide detectives illegally
and forcibly entered property without consent of any resident
that leased the unit []?
2. Whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
the trial court’s charges to the jury on accomplice liability and
1
See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.
J-S35038-16
first[-]degree murder that were prejudicially [sic] and
erroneous[,] and violated due process of the law[,] and
permitted conviction on less than proof of every elements
[sic] of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt []?
3. Whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
the trial court’s charges to the jury on criminal conspiracy
that wer[e] prejudicial[] and erroneous[,] and violated due
process of the law[,] and permitted conviction on less than
proof of every element[] of the crime charged beyond a
reasonable doubt []?
4. Whether the trial court erred in denying [Smith’s] 1997 PCRA
Petition without holding an evidentiary hearing?
5. Whether [Smith’s] first PCRA was uncounseled when PCRA
counsel denied [Smith] effective assistance of counsel[,]
violated [Smith’s] due process and equal protection of the law
[sic]?
Brief for Appellant at 4 (capitalization omitted, issues renumbered for ease
of disposition).
We review an order dismissing a petition under the PCRA
in the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the PCRA
level. This review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court
and the evidence of record. We will not disturb a PCRA court’s
ruling if it is supported by evidence of record and is free of legal
error.
Commonwealth v. Ford, 44 A.3d 1190, 1194 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations
omitted).
In his first issue, Smith contends that the PCRA court erred by finding
no merit to his claim that direct appeal counsel was ineffective for failing to
assert that the trial court’s “findings of fact violated both Pennsylvania and
[f]ederal Constitutional search and seizure [law] when homicide detectives
forcibly and illegally entered [Smith’s] property without consent, but through
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[the consent of the] apartment manager.” Brief for Appellant at 41. Smith
asserts that the trial court improperly found that the apartment manager
had lawfully consented to a search by homicide detectives of Smith’s
apartment. Id. Smith claims that, when the detectives arrived at the
apartment, none of the tenants were there to provide consent to a search of
the apartment. Id. at 42. Smith argues that the testimony of Secouyah
West, Smith’s girlfriend, constitutes fruit of the poisonous tree because her
consent followed the initial unlawful intrusion. Id. at 44. Smith contends
that, because the initial entry was unlawful, the seizure of evidence based on
a subsequently obtained warrant was also fruit of the poisonous tree. Id. at
45.2
The PCRA court set forth the relevant law, thoroughly addressed
Smith’s first issue, and determined that the issue was waived and otherwise
lacked merit. See PCRA Court Opinion, 12/3/14, at 4-9. We agree with the
reasoning of the PCRA court, which is supported by the evidence of record
and is free of legal error, and affirm on this basis as to Smith’s first issue.
See id.
2
In his appellate brief, Smith also claims that trial and PCRA counsel were
ineffective for failing to raise this issue. Brief for Appellant at 47. However,
Smith’s claim regarding trial counsel’s ineffectiveness was not raised in his
Amended PCRA Petition filed by his PCRA counsel, Timothy Golden, Esquire
(“Attorney Golden”); therefore, the claim was not preserved for our review.
As to PCRA counsel, our review discloses that this issue was raised in the
Amended Petition filed by Attorney Golden.
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J-S35038-16
As Smith’s second and third issues are related, we will address them
together. In his second issue, Smith contends that trial counsel was
ineffective because he failed to (1) request the trial court to instruct the jury
that the Commonwealth was required to prove that Smith had a specific
intent to kill in order to convict him of first-degree murder, and (2) object to
the improper instruction provided by the trial court. Brief for Appellant at
17. Smith asserts that the trial court instructed the jury on a general theory
of accomplice liability, “which annoyingly transformed into a defective
murder in the first degree instruction.” Id. Smith argues that the trial
court’s instruction was so egregious that it denied Smith his state and
federal constitutional rights to due process. Id. at 21. Smith contends that
this issue is not waived because “this is [his] first opportunity [] to raise this
issue due to hybrid[] representation during the litigation of his first PCRA
[P]etition.” Id. at 27.
In his third issue, Smith contends that trial counsel was ineffective
because he failed to object to the trial court’s jury instruction regarding
criminal conspiracy, “which transformed into a defective murder in the first
degree instruction.” Id. at 29. Smith asserts that the instruction provided
by the trial court was “general, ambiguous and confusing, and devoid of
legal definition of the elements of each offense charged.” Id. at 32. Smith
further claims that all subsequent counsel were ineffective for not raising
these issues. Id. at 17, 29.
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The PCRA court set forth the relevant law, addressed Smith’s second
and third issues, and determined that these issues were waived, as they
were not raised in the Amended PCRA Petition filed by Attorney Golden. See
PCRA Court Opinion, 12/3/14, at 9-10.3 We agree with the sound reasoning
of the PCRA court, which is supported by the evidence of record and is free
of legal error, and affirm on this basis as to Smith’s second and third issues.
See id.
In his fourth issue, Smith contends that the PCRA court erred by
dismissing the Amended PCRA Petition without conducting a hearing. Brief
for Appellant at 48. Smith asserts that he requested an evidentiary hearing,
but the PCRA court did not conduct a hearing prior to dismissing the
Amended Petition. Id. at 49.4 Smith claims that the PCRA court was
required to conduct an evidentiary hearing because Smith’s ineffectiveness
claims raised issues of material fact. Id.
3
Although these issues were raised by Smith in his pro se Petition, they
were not raised in the Amended Petition filed by Attorney Golden. However,
as Smith was represented by counsel, the PCRA court was not required to
consider the issues that Smith had raised in his pro se Petition. See
Commonwealth v. Pursell, 724 A.2d 293, 302 (Pa. 1999) (holding that
“[w]e will not require courts considering PCRA petitions to struggle through
the pro se filings of defendants when qualified counsel represents those
defendants”); see also Commonwealth v. Willis, 29 A.3d 393, 400 (Pa.
Super. 2011) (holding that the PCRA court had erred in permitting dual
representation during the disposition of the petitioner’s PCRA petition).
4
Our review of the PCRA court’s docket, as well as the certified record,
discloses no request for an evidentiary hearing filed by Smith.
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J-S35038-16
“There is no absolute right to an evidentiary hearing on a PCRA
petition, and if the PCRA court can determine from the record that no
genuine issues of material fact exist, then a hearing is not necessary.”
Commonwealth v. Jones, 942 A.2d 903, 906 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation
omitted); see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 907(2). A reviewing court must examine
the issues raised in the PCRA petition in light of the record in order to
determine whether the PCRA court erred in concluding that there were no
genuine issues of material fact and in denying relief without an evidentiary
hearing. See Commonwealth v. Jordan, 772 A.2d 1011, 1014 (Pa. Super.
2001).
Here, Smith has failed to demonstrate that any of the claims presented
to the PCRA court in the Amended Petition raised a genuine issue concerning
any material fact. Accordingly, we discern no error by the PCRA court in
dismissing the Amended Petition without a hearing.
In his final issue, Smith contends that, following the filing of his pro se
PCRA Petition, the PCRA court appointed Attorney Golden as PCRA counsel.
Brief for Appellant at 9. Smith asserts that Attorney Golden thereafter filed
a “boiler-plate [A]mended [P]etition raising five [] different issues with no
supporting facts and law, and deliberately omitted [the claims that Smith
had raised in his pro se Petition].” Id. Smith claims that he instructed
Attorney Golden to supplement the Amended Petition to include the issues
raised by Smith in his pro se Petition. Id. at 10. Smith further argues that
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Attorney Golden failed to respond to the PCRA court’s Notice of its intent to
dismiss the Petition, despite Smith’s request that he do so. Id. at 10-11.
Smith contends that Attorney Golden never filed any petition asserting that
Smith’s pro se claims were without merit. Id. at 13. Smith asserts that,
although he filed a pro se response to the PCRA court’s Notice of its intent to
dismiss the Amended Petition, the PCRA court dismissed the Amended
Petition, without considering the issues raised in Smith’s pro se Petition.5
Id. at 11. Smith claims that Attorney Golden’s actions should be regarded
as abandonment of counsel, in violation of his right to effective counsel in
the pursuit of his first PCRA Petition. Id. Smith argues that, as a result of
Attorney Golden’s actions, his first PCRA Petition was uncounseled, and the
PCRA court erred by dismissing it. Id. at 13.
5
Contrary to Smith’s assertions otherwise, our review of the PCRA court
docket reveals no correspondence from Smith to the PCRA court during the
time period between the PCRA court’s May 10, 2000 Notice of its intent to
dismiss the Amended Petition and its June 20, 2000 Order dismissing the
Amended Petition. Similarly, our review of the certified record discloses no
correspondence from Smith to Attorney Golden during this time period. The
certified record contains only one piece of correspondence from Smith to
Attorney Golden, dated January 4, 1999, wherein Smith indicated that he
“liked most of the issues” that Attorney Golden had raised in the Amended
Petition, but he requested that Attorney Golden expand one of the issues,
and file a memorandum of law to accompany the Amended Petition. See
Smith Letter, 1/4/99, at 1. Nevertheless, Smith has attached to his brief
numerous letters that he purportedly sent to Attorney Golden and the PCRA
court during this time fame (including a type-written letter dated May 2001
that was included in the certified record, but which, as attached to Smith’s
brief, had been altered by a hand-written notation to indicate May 2000).
However, because these items are not part of the certified record, we are
unable to consider them. See Ford, 44 A.3d at 1194 (providing that “our
review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence of
record”).
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Smith has not raised the issue of Attorney Golden’s
ineffectiveness/abandonment before the PCRA court; therefore, the issue is
not properly before this Court. See Commonwealth v. Henkel, 90 A.3d
16, 21-30 (Pa. Super. 2014) (providing a thorough discussion of this issue,
and concluding that, under current Supreme Court precedent, a PCRA
petitioner cannot assert claims of PCRA counsel ineffectiveness for the first
time on appeal).
Having reviewed the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prevailing party at the PCRA level, and having determined that the PCRA
court’s rulings are supported by evidence of record and are free of legal
error, we affirm the PCRA court’s Order dismissing Smith’s amended PCRA
Petition. See Ford, 44 A.3d at 1194.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/8/2016
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ii! Ii II Circulated 05/12/2016 03:57 PM
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fIN THE COURTi OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
FIRST IJUDlt:IAL DISTRIC'f-OF PENNSYLVANIA
l i ! CRIMINAL TRIAL DIVISION
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COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
NO. CP-51-CR-1018353-1992
RONALD SMITH
OPINION
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Defendant, Ronald Smith, was convicted~·5y a jury of the crimes of first-degree
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murder, robbery, posseH~ng ar instrument of crime, and criminal conspiracy after a trial
presided over by the HJhorabie James 1. Fitzgerald, III.1 Following a penalty hearing,
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the jury fixed the pena``y at life imprisonment. Justice Fitzgerald thereafter imposed
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upon defendant the sentence of life imprisonmerif as well as an aggregate sentence of ten
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to twenty years on the r1rainirg charges. These charges arose out of an incident during
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which defendant and hi~! accomplices robbed a variety store. During the robbery, the
proprietor of the store wJk sho) and killed. 2
Following the iJositiln
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of s``tence, defeiZdant appealed to the Superior Court,
which on November 27 \1996,\ issued a memorandum and order affirming the judgment
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of sentence. Subsequentl[tIi hereto,i •1
the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied defendant's
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petition for allowance of:\i;appe~l.; Commonwealth v. Smith, 688 A.2d 1231, (Pa. Super.
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1996), appeal denied, 69~! A.2di 785 (Pa. 1997).
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Justice Fitzgerald was appoiri{ed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania following the trial herein and
served as a justice on that Cou~ for n~ne months.
2
For a more detailed synopsis IM
the facts, please see Justice Fitzgerald's opinion filed June 12, 1996.
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On December 5,! 1991, defendant filed his first petition pursuant to the Post-
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Conviction Relief Act (BCR.4. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541 et. seq. Following the appointment
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of counsel and the filing !of an! amended petition, Justice Fitzgerald dismissed the petition
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without a hearing on Ju~e 6, ~000. Defendant appealed to the Superior Court, which on
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February 20, 2001, dismissed [the appeal because no brief was filed. Commonwealth v.
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Smith, 2224 EDA 2000.i IAfte~ the Superior Court dismissed his appeal, defendant filed a
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second PCRA petition Jn Ap~il 3, 2001, wherein he asked that his right to appeal the
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dismissal of his first PCRA bJ reinstated. Justice Fitzgerald granted defendant the relief
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he sought after which de[fendaht appealed to the Superior Court. On August 5, 2005, the
Superior court quashed !lhe aJpeal after finding that defendant's second PCRA petition
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had been untimely filed. jfhe Supreme Court of Pennsylvania thereafter denied
defendant's petition for lnow~nce of appeal. Commonwealth v. Smith, 885 A.2d 585,
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(Pa. Super. 1996), appea~ denif d, 899 A.2d 1123 (Pa. 2006).
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On September 3~, 200[7, defendant filed,~,,.!~frd PCRA petition, which this Court
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denied without a hearing! on February 20, 2009. In that petition, defendant argued that his
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third PCRA petition was[,. timelyI filed and that he was entitled to have his appeal from the
dismissal of his first PciRA !etition reinstated pursuant to Commonwealth v. Bennett,
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930 A.2d 1264 (Pa. 200f), because he was aba``.~Eed by the attorney representing him
on appeal from the ordej dis~issing his first PC~ petition and in Bennett, the Supreme
Court recognized a new! consititutional right having retroactive application. Defendant
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filed an appeal, as well '~s a requested Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement, following the filing
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of this Court's order disttissin!g his third PCRA petition.
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On December 1,[ 201 L the Superior Court vacated this Court's order denying
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defendant post-conviction relief and remanded the matter with instructions that this Court
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address the issues defendant raised in his third PCRA petition. Commonwealth v. Ronald
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L. Smith, 35 A.3d 766 (!Pa. Super. 2011). The Commonwealth thereafter unsuccessfully
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sought further review in! the ~ennsylvania Supreme Court. Commonwealth v. Ronald L.
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Smith, 53 A.3d 757 (Pa.!!2012).
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Upon remand and after considering defendant's claims, this Court granted
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defendant the right to fi~e a tjotice of appeal nunc pro tune from the order denying his
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first PCRA petition. De~endatt thereafter filed a timely notice of appeal and a requested
3
Pa.R.A.P. l 925(b) Staterhent of Matters Complained of on Appeal.
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DISCUSSION .: !
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In his l 925(b) sf atemJnt, defendant raises several claims of ineffectiveness of
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counsel and also alleger tha, this Court erred by not granting him hearings on those
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claims. In reviewing the propriety of a PCRA court's dismissal of a petition without a
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hearing, the reviewing dourt ~s limited to determining whether the court's findings are
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supported by the record an~ whether the order in question is free of legal error.
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Commonwealth v. Holmes, 905 A.2d 707, 509 (Pa. Super. 2006) citing Commonwealth
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v. Halley, 870 A.2d 19i5, 1 9 (Pa. 2005). The PCRA court's findings will not be
disturbed unless there i is ho support for the findings in the certified record .
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Commonwealth v. Carr,l 768 1A.2d 1164, 1166 (Pa. Super. 2001). A PCRA court may
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~ollowing remand, counsel t;
ap~ointed to represent defendant. A~er his app~llate rights were .
reinstated and counsel filed a JI 925(9) statement, defendant filed a motion requesting that he be permitted to
represent himselfon appeal. l1fhis Court held a hearing on that claim on May 2, 2014, at the conclusion of
which appointed counsel wailreliev~d and defendant was permitted to represent himself on appeal from the
denial of his first PCRA petition. Defendant thereafter petitioned the Superior Court to remand the matter
for the filing ofa supplemental 1925(b) statement. Said supplemental statement was filed on October 6,
2014. I I
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decline to hold a hearing on the petition if the petitioner's claims are patently frivolous
and is without a trace of support either in the record or from other evidence.
Commonwealth v. Jordan, 772 A.2d 1011, 1014 (Pa. Super. 2001). The reviewing court
on appeal must examine each of the issues raised in the PCRA petition in light of the
record in order 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. Id.See also Commonwealth v. Hardcastle, 701 A.2d 541, 542 (Pa. 1997).
Pennsylvania law presumes counsel is effective and therefore, the burden is
placed upon the defendant to prove otherwise. Commonwealth v. Brown, 767 A.2d 576,
581 (Pa. Super. 2001), citing Commonwealth v. Carpenter, 725 A.2d 154, 161 (Pa. 1999),
citing Commonwealth v. Marshall, 633 A.2d 1100 (Pa. 1993); see also Commonwealth v.
Baker, 614 A.2d 663, 673 .(Pa. 1992). Trial counsel has broad discretion in matters of trial
strategy and the determination or what tactics to employ during litigation.
Commonwealth v. Choi Chun Lam, 684 A.2d 153, 160 (Pa. Super. 1996). Furthermore,
"[i]t is well established that failed trial tactics of defense counsel are not grounds for a
new trial." Commonwealth v. Hall, 565 A.2d 144, 148 (Pa. 1989). Trial counsel will not
be held ineffective if there was a reasonable strategic basis for his or her trial tactics.
Commonwealth v. Pursell, 724 A.2d 293, 311 (Pa. 1999).
In order to establish that trial counsel's representation was deficient, a defendant
must establish all of the following three elements, as set forth in Commonwealth v.
Charles Pierce, 527 A.2d 973, 975-76 (Pa. 1987):'· (1) the underlying legal claim has
arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable basis for his or her action or inaction; and
(3) the petitioner suffered prejudice because of counsel's ineffectiveness.
4
Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 30 A.3d 1111, 1127 (Pa. 2011), citing Commonwealth v.
Dennis, 950 A.2d 945, 954 (Pa. 2008).
The threshold question in reviewing an ineffectiveness claim is whether the issue,
argument, or tactic, which trial counsel failed to use at trial and which is the basis of the
"...,.,(~_:.:;.,.,.,.
ineffectiveness claim, is of arguable merit. Commonwealth v. Balodis, 7 4 7 A.2d 341, 343
(Pa. 2000). If defendant can prove that the argument or tactic which trial counsel failed
to use at trial is of arguable merit, then the "reasonable basis" test is applied to determine
if the course of action chosen by trial counsel was designed to effectuate his or her
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client's interest. Id. With regard to the second element, defendant must prove that "an
alternative [ action or inaction] not chosen offered a potential for success substantially
greater than the course actually pursued." Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1127, citing
Commonwealth v. Williams, 899 A.2d 1060, 1064 (Pa. 2006) (alteration added). To
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establish prejudice, defendant must demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel's error, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different.
Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1127-28, citing Dennis, 950 A.2d at 954.
Further, "[i]f it is clear that if a defendant has not demonstrated that counsel's act
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or omission adversely affected the outcome of the proceedings, 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." Commonwealth v. Rios, 920 A.2d 790, 799 (Pa. 2007),
citing Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 720 A.2d 693_;.ZOl (Pa. 1998). A PCRA proceeding
requires a defendant to establish that counsel's ineffectiveness "so undermined the truth-
determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken
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place." Rios, 920 A.2d at 799, citing Commonwealth v. Michael Pierce, supra, 786 A.2d
203, 221-22 (Pa. 2001 ); Commonwealth v. Kimball, 724 A.2d 326, 333 (Pa. 1999).
In his pro se l 925(b) statement defendant first complains that Justice Fitzgerald
erred by denying him PCRA relief on a claim alleging that appellate counsel was
ineffective for failing to assert on direct appeal that the findings of fact made by Justice
Fitzgerald following the hearing on defendant's motion to suppress were contrary to law
with regard to the entry by police into an unidentified property. According to defendant,
the entry was illegal because it was made without consent of any lessee of the property.
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No relief is due here because defendant has failed to articulate in his l 925(b)
statement or the amended petition what findings of fact made by Justice Fitzgerald were
contrary to law. In addition, he has failed to set forth in his l 925(b) statement the location
or address of the residence his first issue refers to or when the alleged illegal entry
occurred, thereby making it impossible for this Court to ascertain the exact nature of
defendant's complaint given that police searched at least two residences. The Superior
Court has stated "when issues [in a Rule l 925(b) statement] are too vague for the trial
court to identify and address, that is the functional equivalent of no concise statement at
all." Commonwealth v. Smith, 955 A.2d 391, 393 (Pa. Super. 2008) (en bane) (citation
omitted). Thus, "when an appellant fails to identify in a vague Pa.R.A.P. l 925(b)
statement the specific issue he/she wants to raise on appeal, the issue is waived[.]"
Commonwealth v. Lemon, 804 A.2d 34, 38 (Pa. Super. 2002) .
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Moreover, a review of defendant's PCRA filing indicates that he failed to set forth
sufficient argument explaining why Justice Fitzgerald's findings of fact were contrary to
constitutional dictates. The law is clear that a PCRA litigant has the burden of articulating
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the facts and circumstances justifying the grant of~elief. See Commonwealth v. Begley,
780 A.2d 605 (Pa. 2001) (a defendant who is alleging ineffectiveness must set forth an
offer to prove sufficient facts upon which a reviewing court can conclude that trial
counsel may have, in fact, been ineffective); Commonwealth v. Collins, 687 A.2d 1112(Pa. 1996) (Opinion Announcing The Judgmerii'c5f The Court) (PCRA petitioner must
present facts supporting each issue; where the necessary factual allegations are not
supported by the available record petitioner must identify specific documents, affidavits,
and other evidence that would support the allegations); see also Commonwealth v. Durst,
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559 A.2d 504 (Pa. 1989). In his pro se petition.twhich has no legal significance because
defendant was represented by counsel at the time, defendant merely interprets the facts
adduced at his suppression hearing in a light most favorable to himself and then argues
that given "his" facts the law entitled him to relief. Defendant is mistaken because a
careful review of the record in this case shows thit Justice Fitzgerald's findings of facts
are supported by the record as are his conclusions of law.
Another reason defendant is not entitled to relief is that he has failed to "layer" his
claim of ineffectiveness and allege that trial counsel was ineffective in the first instance
for failing to object to or challenge Ju;tice Fitzgera'fct'sfindings of fact.4 "To establish the
arguable merit prong of a claim of appellate counsel ineffectiveness for failure to raise a
claim of trial counsel ineffectiveness, the petitioner must prove that trial counsel was
4
Defendant was represented by a new attorney on direct appeal and his direct appeal was decided prior to
the decision issued by the Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Grant, 813 A.2d 726, 738 (2002), which
held that claims of ineffectiveness of counsel should, generally, be raised in a PCRA petition. Thus, he was
obliged to raise any claim of ineffectiveness of trial counsel on direct appeal. See Commonwealth v,
Hubbard, 372 A.2d 687 (Pa. 1977) (holding that to avoid waiver a defendant is required to raise claims of
ineffectiveness at the earliest opportunity). Defendant did not raise a claim on direct appeal alleging that
trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object on constitutional grounds to Justice Fitzgerald's findings
of fact and, therefore, the issue should be deemed waived for this reason as well. See Commonwealth v.
McGill, 832 A.2d 1014, 1022 (Pa. 2003).
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ineffective under the three-prong [Commonwealth v.] Pierce, [527 A.2d 973, (Pa. 1987),]
standard." Commonwealth v. Paddy, 15 A.3d 431, 443 (Pa. 2011 ). Thus, because
defendant did not allege that trial counsel was ineffective in his l 925(b) statement and
also did not apply the three-part ineffectiveness test to both trial and appellate counsel in
any filing relief should be denied with-respect to !-~is claim.
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Finally, even if the instant claim is not deemed waived relief should be denied
because a review of the record of the suppression hearing indicates that no error occurrd
in denying defendant's suppression motion. Although defendant's issue is not clear it
appears that he's arguing that the entry by policeinto
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Apartment C-108 at 3800 Sheaff
Lane, on September 5, 1992, which at the time was leased by defendant's alleged
girlfriend, Secquoyah West was illegal because police had not obtained a warrant or valid
consent to enter the residence, and therefore, any subsequent entry was also illegal as
they were fruits of the initial illegal entry.
The record shows that prior to defendant's arrest, police entered the residence on
September 5, 1992, without a warrant with the assistance of the apartment manager. The
entry was made solely to ascertain whether persons were present inside it because Ms.
West had called the apartment manager and_,,,~.,--said
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that she wanted to retrieve her
belongings and was afraid to do so because defendant had a shotgun. Police thereafter
entered the apartment solely to make sure that no one was there who could endanger Ms.
West. Police did not conduct a search at that time and although police observed a shotgun
holster while inside the apartment, they did not seize
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anything. (N.T. 2117I 94, 7-17, 21-
43). Given that defendant's alleged girlfriend was tenant of the apartment and she
consented to an entry of the apartment by police and the apartment manager, the police
8
had the right to enter the apartment for the safety 'of Ms. West. The law is clear that a
tenant having dominion and control over a residence may give consent to police to enter
that residence. See Commonwealth v. O'Donnell, 740 A.2d 198, 205-206 (Pa. 1999)
(search of residence was not illegal where tenant gave consent). (N.T. 2/17/94, 83-85).
Consequently, because police had the right to enter the apartment both for the
safety of Ms. West and because Ms. West consented to the entry, defendant's claim that
Justice Fitzgerald's findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of his decision
finding that the warrantless entry did not violate constitutional dictates lacks merit.
Accordingly, it is suggested that relief be denied with respect to this claim for all of the
above stated reasons.
Defendant's second and third issues assert that the "trial" court erred by denying
PCRA claims alleging that trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to jury
instructions involving accomplice liability as it relates to first degree murder as well as
the court's instruction on criminal conspiracy.i, ..The issues should be deemed waived
because they were not included in defendant's amended petition. As noted above,
defendant was not entitled to hybrid representation during the litigation of his PCRA
petition and, thus, any issue not raised in the amended petition has been waived even if it
5
was raised in a pro se filing.
In addition, the claims should be considered waived because they were not raised
on direct appeal when defendant was represented by counsel other than the one he claims
5
Both claims were raised in defendant's prose PCRA petition.
9
was ineffective. See Hubbard, supra. Accordingly, it is suggested that no relief be
granted with respect to these two issues.6
In his fourth issue, defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his
PCRA claim that asserted that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the
admissibility of both a written consent form given by defendant to police and his
inculpatory statement to police on the ground that they were fruits of an illegal arrest and
therefore inadmissible. The issue should be deemed waived because it was not raised
·-:.~,
previously by defendant. See Commonwealth v. Williams, 899 A.2d 1060, 1066 n.5 (Pa.
2006) (holding that issues not raised in PCRA petition cannot be considered for first time
on appeal); see also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9544(b). It also should be deemed
waived because defendant did not raise it on direct appeal while represented by counsel
...
·~ ·
other than trial counsel. Accordingly, it is suggested that this claim be deemed waived.
Fifth, defendant asserts that the "trial" court erred by denying him relief on a
claim alleging that that trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the admission of
"a non-testifying accomplice untested confession," on constitutional grounds. As was the
.,,,,Pc~'
-o-:"
case with the previous issue, the claim should be deemed waived both because it was not
raised previously and was not raised on direct appeal. Moreover, even if the claim had
been preserved, given that it lacks any citation to the record, the identity of the alleged
accomplice, or the confession in question, it is too vague to address and should be
deemed waived for this reason as well.
6
lt is noted that the trial court did instruct the jury that to convict a defendant of first degree murder either
as an accomplice or co-conspirator, it had to find that the defendant "possessed" and/or "shared" the
specific intent to kill with the actual killer. (N. T. 3/7/94, 184, 200-20 I). This charge, when read as a whole,
complied with the law. In Commonwealth v. Daniels, 600 Pa. 1, 963 A.2d 409 (2009), a charge similar to
the one given herein was determined to be proper when .considered together with the trial court's entire
jury charge.
10
Next, defendant asserts that the "trial" court erred by denying him relief on a
claim alleging that that appellate counsel was ineffective for not raising a claim alleging
that error was committed at trial by allowing the admission in evidence of defendant's
prior robbery conviction because that convictionoccurred more than ten years prior to the
date of defendant's trial. This issue was adequately addressed by Justice Fitzgerald in his
opinion dated December 12, 2000, (page 4) and the claim should be denied for the
reasons stated by Justice Fitzgerald.
.. .•x.
In his penultimate claim, defendant arguesthat the "trial" court erred by denying
him PCRA relief in the absence of an evidentiary hearing. No relief should be
forthcoming on this claim because it is clear that none of the issues raised before the
PCRA Court had any merit and were patently frivolous .
. ·~·
Finally, in his eighth and final issue defencla~t appears to be claiming that he was
unrepresented when the PCRA Court dismissed his PCRA petition. Apart from the fact
that the claim is vague and almost indecipherable, no relief should be granted thereon
because it was not raised previously and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, this Court suggests that the order denying defendant
PCRA relief be affirmed.
/
By the Court,
I
I I
J
,f t
·1
DATE: / ~,/-;)._
I
:
,
I
I ~j
Honf\ble Je ey P. Minehart
-.-....•"'
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11