Com. v. Starks, A.

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
ANTHONY UVON STARKS :
:
Appellant : No. 1218 MDA 2022
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered July 22, 2022
In the Court of Common Pleas of York County Criminal Division at No(s):
CP-67-CR-0007085-2018
BEFORE: DUBOW, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and NICHOLS, J.
MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED: DECEMBER 28, 2023
Appellant Anthony Uvon Starks appeals from the order dismissing his
timely first Post-Conviction Relief Act1 (PCRA) petition. Appellant argues that
the PCRA court erred in granting the petition to withdraw filed by Anthony
Tambourino, Esq. (PCRA Counsel) pursuant to Turner/Finley2 and in failing
to appoint new PCRA counsel. We affirm.
This Court previously summarized the relevant facts and procedural
history of this matter as follows:
On October 25, 2018, Tarsha Eaddy drove from her home in
Maryland to the King’s Inn Motel in York County, Pennsylvania to
check on her mother, Edna Pinder (“Decedent”), whom she had
been unable to contact for several days. Upon her arrival, Eaddy
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1 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.
2 Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988), and
Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc).
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did not see Decedent’s car—which Decedent never loaned to
anyone—in the motel’s parking lot. Eaddy entered the motel
through a side entrance and went upstairs to Decedent’s unit,
where she knocked on the door. Eaddy could hear the television
but received no response, so she proceeded to the lobby and
asked the front desk clerk to unlock Decedent’s door. Upon
entering the apartment, Eaddy saw numerous pieces of mail on
the floor. As she proceeded further into the apartment, Eaddy
saw Decedent in a basket in the corner and began screaming. She
testified that Decedent was “slumped against the wall, and her
head was positioned to the side in a very unnatural way. There
was vomit coming from her mouth and it was very apparent that
she was not alive.” Eaddy noted that Decedent’s cell phone was
missing. Eaddy was aware that Decedent had been in a
relationship with [Appellant], but [she] believed that relationship
had ended years earlier.
Amber Kress, the Decedent’s neighbor, heard Eaddy’s screams
and went to Decedent’s apartment, where she called 9-1-1. Kress
testified that she had heard screams coming from Decedent’s
apartment a few days earlier, between 3:00 and 4:00 in the
morning, but thought little of it as there was always fighting in the
building. Kress was familiar with [Appellant] and believed that he
had been living with Decedent.
Officer Thomas Ewald of the York City Police Department
responded to the scene. Upon entering the Decedent’s unit,
Officer Ewald observed the Decedent lying in a basket with
apparent blood in her mouth. Realizing she was deceased, Officer
Ewald called for a supervisor and a coroner. When the coroner
arrived, Officer Ewald assisted her in moving the body to the floor,
at which time he observed several puncture marks over the
Decedent’s left breast/heart area. He also observed blood spatter
“from the right to the left, where the victim was.” He saw blood
spatter on the east, west, and north walls of the apartment, as
well as a bloody handprint on the bed sheets and small smears of
blood on the wall. Officer Ewald also observed three empty bottles
of vodka and three containers of prescription medication. Officer
Ewald stated that the unit’s window, which was over seven feet
from the bedroom floor, was unopened when he arrived on the
scene.
Deputy Coroner Tanya Zech of the York County Coroner’s Office
was dispatched to the scene. She testified that she observed
“blood splatter, . . . empty vodka bottles, . . . men’s boxer briefs,
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[and a] baseball cap laying on the floor[,] and personal effects.”
Deputy Coroner Zech observed the Decedent lying in a basket;
there was “bloody purge” coming from her mouth and the tips of
her fingers and toes were dehydrated and blackened, indicating
that she had been there “for a decent amount of time.” In moving
the Decedent’s body to the floor to be placed in a body bag,
Deputy Coroner Zech observed several wounds and lacerations to
the chest. Having observed those wounds, she ceased her
assessment and called for detectives, as she believed the
Decedent’s death to be suspicious.
York City Police Detective Daniel Craven responded to the scene
in his capacity as a certified crime technician. After being verbally
informed that a search warrant had been obtained for the
premises, he entered the Decedent’s apartment, performed a
walk-through, and began taking photographs. Detective Craven
noted that there were blood stains and spatter on the walls, bed
sheets, and pillow cases. He also observed a black baseball hat,
a pair of men’s blue boxer shorts, a bag of dirty laundry, and mail
addressed to [Appellant]. He noted that the window was closed
with no signs of forced entry. Detective Craven collected several
items from the scene, including: a change of address form dated
October 12, 2018, changing [Appellant’s] address to the
Decedent’s residence at the King’s Inn Motel; mail addressed to
[Appellant] from the Social Security Administration; two bottles of
vodka; a cigarette butt; and bed sheets and pillowcases.
York City Police Detective Christopher Perry served as the lead
crime scene technician on the case. Shortly after arriving at and
assessing the scene, Detective Perry left to secure a search
warrant. After doing so, he returned to the crime scene. He noted
that the front door to the apartment showed no signs of a break-
in and that the lock and hinges appeared to be in working order.
Similarly, the window was closed and locked from the inside and
showed no signs of tampering. Although there was soil on the
ground outside the window, there was no evidence inside the
apartment of soil or any other material that would suggest entry
through the window. Later that night, Detective Perry learned
that the Decedent owned a black Chrysler 200, which was not
present in the parking lot of the motel. He entered the vehicle’s
information into the National Crime Information Computer
(“NCIC”) to enable a “stop and hold” to be placed on the vehicle
in the event it was located. On October 31, 2018, Detective Perry
was informed that the Decedent’s vehicle had been located in
Baltimore, Maryland, with [Appellant] behind the wheel. After
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obtaining a warrant to search the car, Detective Perry recovered
a knife, an unopened bottle of bleach, and a towel from the
vehicle.
Doctor Rameen Starling-Roney, a forensic pathologist, performed
the autopsy on Decedent. He concluded that her body was in a
state of “mild decomposition” and was past the 12-to-24-hour
period of rigor mortis. Toxicology analysis revealed the presence
of diphenhydramine, which is the main ingredient in Benadryl, in
Decedent’s blood, as well as cocaine and alcohol. Doctor Starling-
Roney observed eleven stab wounds to the upper-left corner of
the chest, one stab wound on the level of the left nipple, one stab
wound to the middle chest, and one stab wound on the left
forearm—possibly a defensive wound. He testified that the cause
of death was multiple sharp force injuries and the manner of death
was homicide.
Ross Dean, the owner of the King’s Inn Motel, testified that he was
familiar with Decedent and [Appellant] and believed them to be
paramours living together at the motel. Dean testified that the
property had a surveillance system comprised of 16 cameras that
recorded 24 hours a day. He stated that, during the period of
October 21 through 25, 2018, the system was working properly,
but that it would not have been unusual for the time stamps to be
slightly off. Dean testified that there was a camera positioned
such that it would have captured anyone entering or leaving
Decedent’s apartment door.
Josh Seiple, an employee of a pawn shop in York City called “York
Buy Sell Trade,” testified that, on October 22, 2018, [Appellant]
came into the store at 10:03 a.m. and sold a Samsung S7 Edge
cell phone using a Maryland state identification card issued in
[Appellant’s] name.
York City Police Detective Anthony Fetrow subsequently reviewed
interior video surveillance footage from York Buy Sell Trade and
observed [Appellant] selling the phone to Seiple at approximately
10:00 a.m. on October 22, 2018. Detective Fetrow also viewed
surveillance video from a nearby convenience store showing
[Appellant] exiting Decedent’s vehicle and walking in the vicinity
of York Buy Sell Trade at approximately 8:11 a.m. on October 22,
2018. A second video from the convenience store showed
[Appellant] walking in the direction of the pawn shop at
approximately 9:39 a.m. on that same date. A third video shows
[Appellant] exiting the pawn shop after selling the phone and
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walking toward the driver’s side of Decedent’s vehicle. Detective
Fetrow also recovered the phone [Appellant] sold to the pawn
shop and confirmed it as Decedent’s cell phone.
Detective David Swinney, of the Baltimore County Police
Department, testified that he is a member of the warrant task
force assigned to the U.S. Marshals’ fugitive task force. In that
capacity, he was provided with [Appellant’s] name and a
description of Decedent’s vehicle, as well as information that
[Appellant] frequented the area of 25th Street and Greenmount
Avenue in Baltimore City. On October 31, 2018, Detective
Swinney and members of the fugitive task force apprehended
[Appellant] while he was driving Decedent’s vehicle and placed
him under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, Detective
Swinney found two credit cards in the Decedent’s name in
[Appellant’s] front pocket.
Finally, York City Police Detective Travis Sowers testified that he
interviewed the Decedent’s family and confirmed that Decedent
was last heard from at 1:32 a.m. on the morning of October 21,
2018, via a text message to her sister. Detective Sowers
subsequently viewed all surveillance video from King’s Inn Motel,
beginning from the last time Decedent was known to be alive.
Detective Sowers testified that there were no gaps in the footage
and that the relevant portions came from two cameras—Channel
5, located in the hallway outside Decedent’s apartment, and
Channel 7, located near an exit of the building near where
Decedent’s vehicle was parked. Detective Sowers compiled the
relevant footage on two DVDs, which were admitted as
Commonwealth Exhibits 65 (Channel 5) and 66 (Channel 7). He
testified that the time indicated on the video was twenty minutes
behind actual time and that no one other than Decedent and
Sowers was ever seen entering Decedent’s apartment.
Detective Sowers testified that the first video clip, at 11:23 p.m.
on October 21, 2018, showed [Appellant] and the Decedent
outside the Decedent’s apartment. [Appellant] had just exited the
apartment and appeared to be wearing the same jacket he was
seen in the next morning at the pawn shop. Approximately seven
minutes later, at 11:30 p.m., [Appellant] was seen re-entering
Decedent’s apartment. Twenty minutes after that, at 11:50 p.m.,
Decedent is seen exiting her unit. Thereafter, at 12:11 a.m. on
October 22, 2018, Decedent is seen returning to her apartment.
She was never seen alive on video again.
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Approximately one hour after Decedent was last seen entering her
apartment, at 1:11 a.m., [Appellant] is seen exiting the unit
alone. Detective Sowers testified that [Appellant] appeared to be
walking “much faster” than in previous video clips. [Appellant] is
then captured entering the Decedent’s vehicle and driving away.
Ten minutes later, at 1:22 a.m., [Appellant] is seen re-entering
Decedent’s apartment. Five minutes later, at 1:27 a.m.,
[Appellant] is captured on video removing a television from
Decedent’s apartment and placing it in her vehicle at 1:28 a.m.
He then enters the vehicle and drives away. [Appellant] returns
approximately fifty minutes later, at 2:12 a.m., and re-enters
Decedent’s apartment.
Thereafter, at 5:13 a.m., [Appellant] is captured exiting
Decedent’s apartment carrying several bags filled with “unknown
items.” [Appellant] placed some of the bags in Decedent’s vehicle
before re-entering Decedent’s apartment at 5:15 a.m. At 5:16
a.m., [Appellant] is captured leaving Decedent’s apartment for the
final time, carrying several items, including the bleach bottle later
found in Decedent’s car. Finally, at 5:21 a.m., [Appellant] departs
in Decedent’s vehicle and does not return. Between the last time
[Appellant] departed and the time Tarsha Eaddy enters on
October 25, 2018, no one is ever seen entering or leaving
Decedent’s apartment.
[Appellant] was charged with criminal homicide and robbery. On
November 18, 2019, [Appellant] proceeded to a jury trial before
the Honorable Gregory M. Snyder on charges of first-, second-,
and third-degree murder. On November 20, 2019, the jury
convicted [Appellant] of murder in the first and second degree.
On December 31, 2019, Judge Snyder sentenced [Appellant] to
two concurrent terms of life imprisonment without the possibility
of parole. [Appellant] filed a post-sentence motion,[3] which the
trial court denied on May 19, 2020. . . .
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3 Ronald W. Jackson, Esq. (Trial Counsel), of the York County Public Defender’s
Office, entered his appearance and represented Appellant at trial and through
post-sentence motions. See Entry of Appearance, 1/11/19; see also Post-
Sent. Mot., 1/10/20.
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Commonwealth v. Starks, 831 MDA 2020, 2021 WL 798905, at *1–4 (Pa.
Super. filed Mar. 2, 2021) (Starks I) (unpublished mem.) (citations and
footnotes omitted, some formatting altered).
Appellant filed a timely appeal. After review, this Court affirmed
Appellant’s judgment of sentence for first-degree murder and vacated
Appellant’s sentence for second-degree murder. See id. at *9.4 Our Supreme
Court denied Appellant’s petition for allowance of appeal. Commonwealth
v. Starks, 157 MAL 2021, 258 A.3d 408 (Pa. filed Jul. 7, 2021) (Starks II).
Appellant filed a timely pro se PCRA petition on September 28, 2021.
The PCRA court appointed PCRA Counsel, who filed a no-merit letter and
petition to withdraw pursuant to Turner/Finley on February 25, 2022. On
June 24, 2022, the PCRA court granted PCRA counsel’s motion to withdraw,
and that same day, it filed a notice of intent to dismiss Appellant’s PCRA
petition without a hearing pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907. See Order, 6/24/22;
Rule 907 Notice, 6/24/22.
On July 19, 2022, Appellant filed a pro se response to the PCRA court’s
Rule 907 notice in which he argued for the first time that Trial Counsel was
ineffective for failing to assert that the Commonwealth improperly relied on
hearsay at the preliminary hearing. See Pro Se Response, 7/19/22, at 2-5.
On July 22, 2022, the PCRA court dismissed Appellant’s PCRA petition, and in
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4 Specifically, although this Court affirmed the first-degree murder count, it
concluded that the evidence was insufficient to prove that Appellant intended
to rob Decedent, and therefore, it vacated Appellant’s conviction for second-
degree murder, based on felony murder. See Starks I, at *9.
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its order, it incorporated the rationale set forth in its Rule 907 notice. See
Order, 7/22/22, at 1 (citing Rule 907 Notice, 6/24/22). The PCRA court further
explained that the issue Appellant raised in response to the Rule 907 notice
was meritless because any defect in Appellant’s preliminary hearing was cured
at trial. See id. at 1-2.
Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. Both the PCRA court and
Appellant have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.5
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issues:
1. Whether it was permissible for the Commonwealth to have
relied upon solely “hearsay” evidence to establish a prima facie
case against Appellant during appellant’s preliminary hearing?
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5 On August 23, 2022, the PCRA court directed Appellant to file a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
within twenty-one days. Accordingly, Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement was
due on or before Tuesday, September 13, 2022. The record reflects that
Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement was filed on the PCRA court docket on
September 20, 2022, and the envelope attached to it was post-marked
September 16, 2022. There is no indication that Appellant presented his Rule
1925(b) statement to prison authorities prior to September 16, 2022.
Therefore, even with the application of the prisoner mailbox rule, Appellant’s
Rule 1925(b) statement was untimely filed. See Commonwealth v.
DiClaudio, 210 A.3d 1070, 1074 (Pa. Super. 2019) (“[T]he prisoner mailbox
rule provides that a pro se prisoner’s document is deemed filed on the date
he delivers it to prison authorities for mailing.”). However, because the PCRA
court addressed the merits of Appellant’s issues in its Rule 1925(a) opinion,
we conclude that we may proceed with substantive review. See PCRA Ct. Op.,
10/18/22; see also Commonwealth v. Presley, 193 A.3d 436, 441 (Pa.
Super. 2018) (“[I]n criminal cases, remand, not waiver, results from the late
filing of a [Rule 1925(b)] statement, unless the trial court addressed the issues
raised in a late-filed statement. In those circumstances, no remand is
necessary, and this Court may address the merits of issues.”) (citation and
footnote omitted).
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2. Whether it was permissible for [PCRA Counsel] to have
determined a petition to withdraw as counsel, accompanied
with written correspondence pursuant to [Turner/Finley] was
warranted regarding Appellant’s case-matter, notwithstanding
Appellant having possessed an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim relative to his trial counsel having failed to file a pre-trial
petition for writ of habeas corpus predicated upon the
Commonwealth having relied upon solely “hearsay” evidence
to establish a prima facie case against Appellant during
Appellant’s preliminary hearing?
3. Whether it was permissible for the [PCRA] court to have
determined Appellant’s asserted ineffective assistance of
counsel claim relative to [Trial Counsel] having failed to file a
pre-trial petition for writ of habeas corpus predicated upon the
Commonwealth having relied upon solely “hearsay” evidence
to establish a prima facie case against Appellant during
Appellant’s preliminary hearing, which, indeed, was
meritorious, was moot, on the basis of Appellant having been
convicted of, inter alia, the criminal offense murder in the first
degree at the conclusion of his trial by jury?
4. Whether it was permissible for the [PCRA] court to have
granted [PCRA Counsel’s petition to withdraw pursuant to
Turner/Finley] and denied [Appellant’s pro se PCRA petition]
notwithstanding Appellant having possessed, and asserted an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim relative to his trial
counsel having failed to file a pre-trial petition for writ of
habeas corpus predicated upon the Commonwealth having
relied upon solely “hearsay” evidence to establish a prima facie
case against him during his preliminary hearing, which, indeed,
was meritorious, for the [PCRA] court’s consideration?
5. Whether it was permissible for the [PCRA] court to have denied
the request relative to Appellant being provided with a
competent and effective court-appointed counsel during the
trial stage of Appellant’s initial [PCRA] proceeding filed by
Appellant, pro se, notwithstanding Appellant having possessed,
and asserted an ineffective assistance of counsel claim relative
to Appellant’s trial counsel having failed to file a pre-trial
petition for writ of habeas corpus predicated upon the
Commonwealth having relied upon solely “hearsay” evidence
to establish a prima facie case against Appellant during
Appellant’s preliminary hearing, which, indeed, was
meritorious, for the [PCRA] court’s consideration?
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6. Whether it was permissible for the [PCRA] court to have denied
the request relative to Appellant being provided with a
competent and effective court-appointed counsel during the
appeal stage of Appellant’s initial [PCRA] proceeding filed by
Appellant, pro se, notwithstanding Appellant having possessed,
and asserted an ineffective assistance of counsel claim relative
to his trial counsel having failed to file a pre-trial petition for
writ of habeas corpus predicated upon the Commonwealth
having relied upon solely “hearsay” evidence to establish a
prima facie case against him during his preliminary hearing,
which, indeed, was meritorious, for the [PCRA] court’s
consideration?
Appellant’s Brief at 4-5 (some formatting altered).
Trial Counsel’s Ineffectiveness
Appellant’s first five issues involve Trial Counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness
for failing to file a petition for habeas corpus challenging the Commonwealth’s
reliance hearsay at the preliminary hearing.6 See Appellant’s Brief at 19-24.7
Specifically, Appellant argues that the PCRA court erred in granting PCRA
Counsel’s motion to withdraw because Appellant had a meritorious issue
concerning the Commonwealth’s reliance on hearsay at the preliminary
hearing. See id. at 20-24.
The Commonwealth contends that Appellant’s claim is meritless because
any defect at the preliminary hearing was cured at trial. Commonwealth’s
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6 In the argument section of his brief, Appellant addresses these claims as a
single issue. See Appellant’s Brief at 19-24. Further, because these claims
are interrelated, we address them as a single issue.
7 Apart from the claim concerning Trial Counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness at
the preliminary hearing, Appellant does not challenge the PCRA court’s
disposition of any issues raised in his PCRA petition or the PCRA court’s order
granting PCRA Counsel’s motion to withdraw pursuant to Turner/Finley.
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Brief at 21. Alternatively, the Commonwealth argues that at the time of
Appellant’s preliminary hearing on November 26, 2018, relevant legal
authority permitted the Commonwealth to rely on hearsay to establish a prima
facie case, and Trial Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to predict
a change in the law. See id. at 22-23.8
Our review of an order denying PCRA relief is limited to “whether the
record supports the PCRA court’s determination and whether the PCRA court’s
decision is free of legal error.” Commonwealth v. Lawson, 90 A.3d 1, 4
(Pa. Super. 2014) (citations omitted). “[W]e apply a de novo standard of
review to the PCRA court’s legal conclusions.” Commonwealth v. Mitchell,
105 A.3d 1257, 1265 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted); see also
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8 At the time of Appellant’s preliminary hearing on November 26, 2018, the
Commonwealth was permitted to rely on hearsay evidence alone to establish
a prima facie case. See Commonwealth v. Ricker, 120 A.3d 349 (Pa.
Super. 2015) (permitting the Commonwealth to establish a prima facie case
based on hearsay alone). Our Supreme Court subsequently disapproved of
the holding in Ricker, and it ruled that while hearsay evidence can be used to
prove any element of a crime at a preliminary hearing, it cannot be the sole
basis for a prima facie case. See Commonwealth v. McClelland, 233 A.3d
717, 721 (Pa. 2020). “It is well-settled that counsel cannot be held ineffective
for failing to anticipate a change in the law.” Commonwealth v.
Drummond, 285 A.3d 625, 645 (Pa. 2022) (citation omitted). Accordingly,
Appellant’s claim that trial counsel should have challenged the
Commonwealth’s prima facie case based on hearsay alone would have been
facially futile under then-binding case law of Ricker. See Commonwealth
v. Rivera, 255 A.3d 497, 504 n.23 (Pa. Super. 2021) (Rivera I), reversed
on other grounds by Commonwealth v. Rivera, 296 A.3d 1141 (Pa. 2023)
(Rivera II). Therefore, we agree with the Commonwealth’s alternative
argument that Trial Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to predict
a change in the law and be considered ineffective for failing to challenge the
reliance on hearsay alone at the preliminary hearing. See Commonwealth’s
Brief at 21; see also Drummond, 285 A.3d at 645.
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Commonwealth v. Davis, 262 A.3d 589, 595 (Pa. Super. 2021) (stating that
“[t]his Court grants great deference to the findings of the PCRA court if the
record contains any support for those findings” (citation omitted)).
Moreover, when reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel,
we are governed by the following standard:
[T]o establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a
defendant must show, by a preponderance of the evidence,
ineffective assistance of counsel which, in the circumstances of
the particular case, so undermined the truth-determining process
that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken
place. The burden is on the defendant to prove all three of the
following prongs: (1) the underlying claim is of arguable merit;
(2) that counsel had no reasonable strategic basis for his or her
action or inaction; and (3) but for the errors and omissions of
counsel, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the
proceedings would have been different.
We have explained that a claim has arguable merit where the
factual averments, if accurate, could establish cause for relief.
Whether the facts rise to the level of arguable merit is a legal
determination.
The test for deciding whether counsel had a reasonable basis for
his action or inaction is whether no competent counsel would have
chosen that action or inaction, or, the alternative, not chosen,
offered a significantly greater potential chance of success.
Counsel’s decisions will be considered reasonable if they
effectuated his client’s interests. We do not employ a hindsight
analysis in comparing trial counsel’s actions with other efforts he
may have taken.
Prejudice is established if there is a reasonable probability that,
but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient
to undermine confidence in the outcome.
Commonwealth v. Sandusky, 203 A.3d 1033, 1043-44 (Pa. Super. 2019)
(citations omitted and formatting altered).
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Further, counsel’s obligations in filing a no-merit letter pursuant to the
mandates of Turner/Finley are as follows:
The no-merit letter must set forth: 1) the nature and extent of
counsel’s review of the case; 2) each issue that the petitioner
wishes to raise on appeal; and 3) counsel’s explanation of why
each of those issues is meritless. Where PCRA counsel’s no-merit
letter does not discuss all of the issues that the convicted
defendant has raised in a first PCRA petition and explain why they
lack merit, it does not satisfy these mandatory requirements and
dismissal of the PCRA petition without requiring counsel to file an
amended PCRA petition or a further, adequate no-merit letter is a
deprivation of the right to counsel on the PCRA petition.
Commonwealth v. Kelsey, 206 A.3d 1135, 1139 (Pa. Super. 2019)
(citations omitted).
The Turner/Finley decisions provide the manner for post-
conviction counsel to withdraw from representation. The holdings
of those cases mandate an independent review of the record by
competent counsel before a PCRA court or appellate court can
authorize an attorney’s withdrawal. The necessary independent
review requires counsel to file a “no-merit” letter detailing the
nature and extent of his review and list each issue the petitioner
wishes to have examined, explaining why those issues are
meritless. The PCRA court, or an appellate court if the no-merit
letter is filed before it, . . . then must conduct its own independent
evaluation of the record and agree with counsel that the petition
is without merit. See Commonwealth v. Pitts, 981 A.2d 875,
876 n.1 (Pa. 2009).
Commonwealth v. Rykard, 55 A.3d 1177, 1184 (Pa. Super. 2012)
(formatting altered and footnote omitted), abrogated on other grounds by
Commonwealth v. Bradley, 261 A.3d 381 (Pa. 2021).
Here, as noted previously, Appellant did not raise trial counsel’s
ineffectiveness at the preliminary hearing in his PCRA petition. Although
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Appellant raised the issue in response to the PCRA court’s Rule 907 notice,
Appellant did not seek to amend his PCRA petition to include that claim. See
Commonwealth v. Rigg, 84 A.3d 1080, 1084-85 (Pa. Super. 2014) (stating
that “a petitioner must request leave to amend his petition in his Rule 907
response to raise new trial counsel ineffectiveness claims”).
Generally, claims raised in an unauthorized supplement to a PCRA
petition are subject to waiver. Commonwealth v. Reid, 99 A.3d 427, 437
(Pa. 2014). However, the PCRA court can “implicitly” permit an informal
amendment where it does not strike the supplemental filing, and it considers
the supplemental claim prior to disposing of the PCRA petition.
Commonwealth v. Brown, 141 A.3d 491, 503 (Pa. Super. 2016); see also
Commonwealth v. Boyd, 835 A.2d 812, 816 (Pa. Super. 2003) (holding that
“by permitting Appellant to file a supplement, and in considering the
supplement, the PCRA court effectively allowed Appellant to amend his
petition to include those issues presented in the supplement”). Because the
PCRA court addressed Appellant’s ineffectiveness claim in its Rule 1925(a)
opinion and did not strike Appellant’s filing, we conclude that the PCRA court
implicitly permitted Appellant to amend his PCRA petition to include this claim.
See Brown, 141 A.3d at 503. Accordingly, we decline to find waiver. 9 See
id.; Boyd, 835 A.2d at 816.
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9 In Commonwealth v. Bradley, 261 A.3d 381 (Pa. 2021), our Supreme
Court held: “[A] PCRA petitioner may, after a PCRA court denies relief, and
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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In addressing this issue, the PCRA court incorporated by reference its
rationale from the July 22, 2022 order denying Appellant’s PCRA petition. See
PCRA Ct. Op., 10/18/22, at 1-2 (citing Order, 7/22/22). Specifically, the PCRA
court explained:
[Appellant] is now claiming in his response that counsel was
ineffective for failing to file a pre-trial habeas corpus petition
based on his claim that the Commonwealth relied on hearsay
evidence at the preliminary hearing to establish a prima facie
case, citing to Commonwealth v. McClelland, 233 A.3d 717 (Pa.
2020). This contention is without merit. In McClelland, the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the Commonwealth may
not establish a prima facie case against a defendant relying on
hearsay alone. However, “the Supreme Court did not intend to
extend McClelland’s holding to cases such as this one, where the
complained-of defect in the preliminary hearing is subsequently
cured at trial.” [(Rivera I)]. “Once [the defendant] has gone to
trial and been found guilty of the crime, any effect in the
preliminary hearing is rendered immaterial[.]” Commonwealth
v. Tyler, 587 A.2d 326, 328 (Pa. Super. 1991). In the instant
case, [Appellant’s] trial cured any defect that may have occurred
at the preliminary hearing. As [Appellant’s] contention is without
arguable merit, it fails to meet the first prong of the
ineffectiveness standard.
Order, 7/22/22, at 1-2.
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after obtaining new counsel or acting pro se, raise claims of PCRA counsel’s
ineffectiveness at the first opportunity to do so, even if on appeal.” Id. at 401(footnote omitted and emphasis added). Herein, Appellant challenges Trial
Counsel’s representation, and Appellant has not claimed PCRA Counsel’s
ineffectiveness nor asserted a layered claim of ineffectiveness. Accordingly,
the holding from Bradley is not applicable. See id; see also, e.g.,
Commonwealth v. Crumbley, 270 A.3d 1171, 1175 (Pa. Super. 2022)
(explaining that pursuant to Bradley, “layered claims of ineffective PCRA
counsel may now be raised for the first time on appeal if that is the earliest
practical opportunity to do so.”).
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After review, we agree with the PCRA court that Appellant’s claim
regarding trial counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness at the preliminary hearing
lacks arguable merit. The record reflects that after the preliminary hearing,
Appellant’s case proceeded to trial, and the jury found him guilty of murder.
See N.T., Trial, 11/20/19, at 3-4; Sentencing Order, 12/31/19. Any defect in
the preliminary hearing was rendered immaterial by the guilty verdict. See
Rivera I, 296 A.3d at 504; Tyler, 587 A.2d at 328; see also
Commonwealth v. Rouse, 1392 EDA 2022, 2023 WL 3431251, at *11 (Pa.
Super. filed May 12, 2023) (unpublished mem.) (concluding that despite the
holding in McClelland, any defect in the defendant’s preliminary hearing was
cured at trial).10 As such, Trial Counsel’s failure to file a petition for habeas
corpus regarding the Commonwealth’s reliance on hearsay at the preliminary
hearing was immaterial, and Trial Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for
failing to raise this claim. See Commonwealth v. Monaco, 869 A.2d 1026,
1031 (Pa. Super. 2005) (holding that counsel cannot be deemed ineffective
for failing to raise a meritless a claim). Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled
to relief.
Further, Appellant did not challenge the PCRA court’s order granting
PCRA counsel’s motion to withdraw or the order dismissing Appellant’s PCRA
petition on any basis other than the allegation that Trial Counsel was
____________________________________________
10 See Pa.R.A.P. 126(b) (stating that this Court may cite to non-precedential
decisions filed after May 1, 2019 for their persuasive value).
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ineffective for failing to challenge the Commonwealth’s reliance on hearsay at
the preliminary hearing. Because we conclude that this issue is meritless,
Appellant has presented no basis upon which to disturb the PCRA court’s order
granting PCRA Counsel’s motion to withdraw or dismissing the PCRA petition.
See Rykard, 55 A.3d at 1184. Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled to relief.
See id.Appointment of Counsel
In his remaining issue, Appellant argues that he had a right to counsel
in litigating his PCRA and PCRA appeal. Appellant’s Brief at 25. Further,
Appellant asserts that the PCRA court erred when it denied Appellant’s request
to appoint new counsel. See id. at 31.
The Commonwealth contends that because PCRA Counsel was permitted
to withdraw pursuant to Turner/Finley, Appellant was no longer entitled to
appointed counsel. See Commonwealth’s Brief at 24.
Upon review, we conclude that Appellant’s argument presents two
separate issues: (1) Appellant’s right to counsel under the PCRA; and (2) the
PCRA court’s order denying Appellant’s motion for the appointment of new
counsel.
An indigent PCRA petitioner has a rule-based right to the appointment
of counsel in litigating his first PCRA petition, and, generally, this right includes
representation in an appeal from the disposition of a first PCRA petition. See
Pa.R.Crim.P. 904(C); (F)(2). However,
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when counsel has been appointed to represent a petitioner in
post-conviction proceedings as a matter of right under the rules
of criminal procedure and when that right has been fully vindicated
by counsel being permitted to withdraw under [Turner/Finley]
new counsel shall not be appointed and the petitioner, or
appellant, must thereafter look to his or her own resources for
whatever further proceedings there might be.
Commonwealth v. Maple, 559 A.2d 953, 956 (Pa. Super. 1989) (emphasis
added; footnote omitted).
Here, the only challenge Appellant preserved relative to the order
granting PCRA Counsel’s petition to withdraw under Turner/Finley was
Appellant’s assertion that Trial Counsel was ineffective at the preliminary
hearing. See Pro Se Response to Rule 907 Notice. In light of our conclusion
that there is no merit to this claim, Appellant has presented no basis upon
which to disturb the PCRA court’s ruling on PCRA Counsel’s motion to withdraw
pursuant to Turner/Finley. Indeed, there were no meritorious issues, and
“once the [PCRA] court permits PCRA counsel to withdraw after filing a
Turner/Finley ‘no-merit’ letter, an appellant is no longer entitled to the
appointment of counsel on appeal.” Commonwealth v. Shaw, 217 A.3d
265, 268 n.3 (Pa. Super. 2019); see also Rykard, 55 A.3d at 1183, n.1(explaining that if PCRA counsel is permitted to withdraw pursuant to
Turner/Finley, new counsel shall not be appointed, and the appellant must
look to his own resources for future proceedings). Accordingly, Appellant was
not entitled to counsel. See Shaw, 217 A.3d at 268 n.3; Maple, 559 A.2d at
956.
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With respect to the PCRA court’s denial of Appellant’s request for the
appointment of new PCRA counsel, we conclude that there was no error
because Appellant was not entitled to the appointment of counsel after PCRA
Counsel was permitted to withdraw. See Shaw, 217 A.3d at 268 n.3; Maple,
559 A.2d at 956.
On this record, we conclude that Appellant is not entitled to relief. For
these reasons, we affirm the order denying Appellant’s PCRA petition.
Order affirmed. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Benjamin D. Kohler, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/28/2023
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