Com. v. Bechtel, S. ( 2019 )


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  • J-S18025-19
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    :        PENNSYLVANIA
    :
    v.                             :
    :
    :
    SHAWN MATTHEW BECHTEL                      :
    :
    Appellant               :   No. 1400 MDA 2018
    Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered July 23, 2018
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Lebanon County Criminal Division at
    No(s): CP-38-CR-0000376-2014
    BEFORE:      BOWES, J., NICHOLS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
    MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.:                         FILED SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
    Appellant Shawn Matthew Bechtel appeals from the order granting, in
    part, and denying, in part, his first petition under the Post Conviction Relief
    Act1 (PCRA). Appellant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
    object to unqualified expert testimony presented by the Commonwealth,
    failing to consult with or hire an expert to refute the Commonwealth’s expert
    testimony, and failing to present character witnesses on Appellant’s behalf.
    We affirm.
    By way of background, Appellant was charged with multiple offenses
    based on allegations that he sexually abused his minor stepdaughter. The
    trial court summarized the facts presented at trial as follows:
    ____________________________________________
    *   Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
    1   42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.
    J-S18025-19
    [The victim] had been having digestive issues when she was
    thirteen and fourteen years old for which her doctor had
    prescribed stool softeners. Around that time, [Appellant] began
    to examine her naked buttocks for the purported purpose of
    ensuring her cleanliness. After this occurred a few times, [the
    victim] told her mother. After [the victim]’s mother spoke to
    [Appellant], he stopped checking her for a period of time.
    Around the beginning of the 2014 school year, [Appellant] began
    to check [the victim] again.        On numerous occasions, he
    instructed [the victim] to go into her parents’ bedroom, take off
    her pants and underwear and bend over the bed so that he could
    see whether her buttocks were clean. He would then have her lay
    on the edge of the bed and spread her legs so that he could check
    to see that her pubic area and legs were clean-shaven. He would
    run his hands over her skin and insert his finger into her vagina.
    He also touched her breasts on top of her skin. [Appellant]
    engaged in this conduct only when [the victim]’s mother was out
    of the home working. [Appellant] told [the victim] not to tell
    anyone. During this time period, [Appellant] also took numerous
    pictures of [the victim] posing in various positions in various
    stages of undress, some when she was completely nude.
    On January 1, 2014, [the victim]’s mother was at work. One of
    [the victim]’s brothers was napping and the other was playing
    video games in another room. [Appellant] instructed [the victim]
    to go into her parents’ bedroom. He had her take off her pants,
    underwear and shirt and bend over the bed. Afterward, he had
    her lay face-up on the bed. He touched her vagina and inserted
    his finger into her vagina. [Appellant] then laid down beside [the
    victim]. He was wearing elastic-waist pajama shorts. [The victim]
    explained that she ‘ended up on top of him’ front-wise and that
    [Appellant] had her put her head over his shoulder. He then pulled
    down his shorts and went to stick his penis inside her. [Appellant]
    was grinding his penis on her vaginal area. She then ‘felt like a
    little bit of like the tip of his penis go inside of me.’ She noted
    that this lasted only a short time and that she did not actually see
    [Appellant]’s penis. She thought that [Appellant] had ejaculated
    because she felt wetness around his shorts. At that point, the
    doorbell rang. [Appellant] got up and left. [The victim] got
    dressed and went into the living room where [Appellant] was with
    her two brothers and her grandparents. Prior to this incident, [the
    victim] had confided episodes of [Appellant]’s previous
    ‘inspections’ to a friend during Christmas break. When school
    reopened on January 2, 2014, her friend reported this information
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    J-S18025-19
    to the school guidance counselor. When questioned by the school
    nurse, Marjorie Ober, [the victim] finally related this information
    to her.
    On cross-examination, [the victim] acknowledged that she had
    been experiencing problems with hygiene and that her mother had
    discussed the subject with her. [Appellant] also began to discuss
    grooming of her vaginal area with her. Upon questioning by
    defense counsel, she stated that she was not certain whether or
    not [Appellant]’s penis actually went into her vagina, and that he
    ‘may have put’ his penis into her vagina. She admitted that she
    had not actually seen [Appellant]’s penis or the wet spot on his
    shorts. She explained that she could feel that [Appellant]’s shorts
    were wet when he pulled them up before he left to answer the
    door.
    The Commonwealth also presented the testimony of Marjorie
    Ober, Detective Matt Brindley, and Dr. Paula George (the medical
    director of the Children’s Resource Center of Clinical Health in
    Harrisburg).[2] These witnesses testified as to the accounts of
    [Appellant]’s conduct which [were] given to them by [the victim]
    Detective Brindley recounted that he had met with [the victim] on
    January 2, 2014. In describing the January 1, 2014 incident, [the
    victim] had stated that [Appellant]’s penis went inside her vagina
    a little bit, that it had hurt her, and that she felt wet. She also
    told Detective Brindley about the photographs. After meeting with
    [the victim], he had gone to the family home and retrieved an SD
    camera card from which he obtained thirty-seven (37) pictures of
    [the victim]. Detective Brindley also described an interview he
    had conducted with [Appellant] on January 7, 2014. During that
    interview, [Appellant] admitted that he had been checking [the
    ____________________________________________
    2 Dr. George was called as a fact witness for the Commonwealth. N.T. Trial,
    10/18/14, at 106. She stated that the victim was referred to Children’s
    Resource Center based on “suspicion of abuse or assault.” Id. Dr. George
    stated that she conducted a sexual assault examination of the victim on
    January 3, 2014 to determine “if she had any complications or medical
    problems from the events she reported.” Id. Dr. George testified that she
    did not observe any evidence of physical assault on the victim’s body. Id. at
    116. However, she stated that finding physical evidence is “unusual” and is
    only found in “about five percent of children that we examine more than a
    couple days after a reported event.” Id. at 117, 119. Dr. George did not
    make a conclusion as to whether the victim was sexually assaulted.
    -3-
    J-S18025-19
    victim], but insisted that he was doing so due to her hygienic
    problems. He initially denied taking the pictures, but then
    admitted that he had taken them after he was informed that they
    had been recovered. With regard to January 1, 2014, he admitted
    that he had [the victim] get naked, had rubbed her breasts and
    that they had ended up in his bed. He insisted, however, that he
    only touched the top of her vagina and that he had remained
    clothed. He admitted that he had kissed [the victim] on the neck
    and that he was aroused, had an erection, and had some pre-
    ejaculate from his penis. He further insisted that when [the
    victim] asked him to stop, he did so immediately. He claimed that
    he never penetrated [the victim]’s vagina with either his fingers
    or his penis. [Appellant] stated to Detective Brindley that he was
    sorry for his actions and that he had let his family down.
    At trial, [the victim]’s mother also testified. She indicated that
    [the victim]’s date of birth was [in] 1999 and identified her as the
    person in the pictures which were developed from the SD card
    from their home.        She testified that she had never asked
    [Appellant] to check [the victim]’s buttocks or vaginal area to
    make sure that she was clean and shaven.
    The defense presented the testimony of Evelyn Lopez, a child
    protective caseworker with Lebanon County Children and Youth
    Services. Lopez had interviewed [the victim] along with Detective
    Brindley on January 2, 2014. She was also present to observe an
    interview with [the victim] at the Children’s Resource Center on
    January 3, 2014. Lopez indicated that [the victim] had reported
    that [Appellant had] placed his finger(s) inside of her vagina and
    that he ‘may have put his penis inside of her.’ Lopez recalled that
    [the victim] stated that ‘she felt as though his penis went into her
    vagina.’ Lopez’s report also indicated that [the victim] had told
    her that [Appellant] had placed his hands down her pants and
    massaged her vaginal area.
    [Appellant] also testified at the jury trial. [Appellant] indicated
    that he was thirty-five years of age at the time of trial and that
    [the victim] was his stepdaughter. He explained that beginning
    in seventh grade, [the victim] had begun experiencing digestive
    problems for which the doctor had prescribed a stool softener.
    Due to [the victim]’s problems with proper hygiene, her school
    had notified [Appellant] and his wife that she sometimes had an
    odor and would be sent home from school in the future if the
    problem continued. [Appellant] and his wife addressed the
    hygiene issue with [the victim] and they began to make sure that
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    J-S18025-19
    she cleaned herself properly and shaved her armpits and legs. He
    insisted that he and his wife checked [the victim] on a regular
    basis and that he would only inspect her on his own if he detected
    an odor while his wife was at work. He insisted that he never
    touched her during these checks.
    [Appellant] admitted that he had taken pictures of [the victim] but
    insisted that prior to January 1, 2014, he had never had physical
    contact with her. He explained that on that date, he had [the
    victim] go into his bedroom and she took off her pants and
    underwear. He claimed that previously, he only had her pull her
    pants down but that she removed them of her own accord on that
    day because her pants were too tight. He admitted that he asked
    her to take off her top. He kissed [the victim] on the neck and
    she sat on the edge of the bed. He motioned her to slide back on
    the bed and he then laid down beside her. He admitted that he
    touched and moved his hand around her breasts, and then ran his
    hand down her stomach to her vaginal area. He claimed that he
    had moved his hands around on her breasts, but not on her
    genitals. He further admitted that he was aroused and had an
    erection. At that point, [the victim] asked him to stop and he did
    so. As she went to get off the bed, she straddled him and then
    sat down on his crotch. It was painful when [the victim] sat down
    on him and he lost his erection. He claimed that he pulled her
    down on him because of the pain. He also claimed that [the
    victim] leaned over to hug him and her body shifted his pants
    down. He insisted that his penis never became exposed from
    inside his shorts. He further insisted that he did not penetrate
    [the victim]’s vagina with his finger or his penis.
    Trial Ct. Op., 7/15/15, at 2-8.
    On October 8, 2014, a jury convicted Appellant of statutory sexual
    assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, and indecent
    assault.3   On March 17, 2015, the trial court determined Appellant was a
    sexually violent predator (SVP) and sentenced him to an aggregate term of
    three to ten years’ incarceration.             This Court affirmed the judgment of
    ____________________________________________
    3   18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3122.1(b), 3125(a)(8), 6301(a)(1)(i), 3126(a)(8).
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    sentence on February 2, 2016, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied
    Appellant’s petition for allowance of appeal. Commonwealth v. Bechtel,
    1260 MDA 2015 (Pa. Super. filed Feb. 2, 2016) (unpublished mem.), appeal
    denied, 
    141 A.3d 477
     (Pa. 2016).
    On March 24, 2017, the PCRA court docketed Appellant’s timely pro se
    PCRA petition.     The PCRA court appointed counsel, who filed an amended
    petition on July 18, 2017. On November 30, 2017, the PCRA court held an
    evidentiary hearing.4      At the hearing, Appellant testified in support of the
    following relevant ineffectiveness claims.
    First, Appellant testified that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
    object to testimony from Dr. George, who testified as a lay witness for the
    Commonwealth. N.T. PCRA Hr’g, 11/30/17, at 13. Appellant explained:
    Well, her comment was that basically only in five percent of cases
    is DNA ever found, that that [sic] is pretty much as rare—the fact
    is that it’s medical evidence as well as the fact that the tests had
    occurred less than 48 hours after the alleged incident.
    There’s no way if what the accusations were that even taking a
    shower or anything else would have removed scientific DNA
    evidence. That was her opinion, not fact.
    
    Id.
    Second, he testified that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
    consult with or present an expert witness to rebut Dr. George’s testimony.
    ____________________________________________
    4 At the hearing, the PCRA court allowed Appellant to raise an additional PCRA
    issue challenging his SVP designation in light of Commonwealth v. Muniz,
    
    164 A.3d 1189
     (Pa. 2017) and Commonwealth v. Butler, 
    173 A.3d 1212
    (Pa. Super. 2017).
    -6-
    J-S18025-19
    Id. at 13. Regarding counsel’s advice about an expert, he stated that trial
    counsel “never made [a] comment other than he said that there’s a chance of
    hiring one, but they are too expensive, that we should just go with what we
    had.”    Id.   Appellant further testified that “[i]t wasn’t really so much of a
    discussion per se, as he brought up in conversation that we have the ability
    to [hire an expert], but he advised against it because of their price. He said
    it would run around $15,000. It was never brought up again.” Id. at 13-14.
    Third, Appellant testified that he asked trial counsel to call two character
    witnesses—his church pastor, Reverend Julie Bell, and his friend, Corey
    Sorenson. Id. at 12. He stated that “[t]hey could have testified to the deeds
    I’ve done for the community as well as the type of person I am.” Id. at 17.
    Specifically, Appellant wanted to demonstrate “that I go out of my way to help
    people” and “that I’m essentially not a bad person. . . . I am a good member
    of the community. Even the fact of my own family’s home life and the fact
    that they witnessed how our family life is at home.” Id. Appellant stated that
    although he provided the witnesses’ contact information, trial counsel did not
    call them to testify. Id. at 12.
    Trial counsel also testified at the PCRA hearing. Appellant did not elicit
    testimony from trial counsel regarding his reasons for failing to object to Dr.
    George’s testimony. However, trial counsel explained that part of his defense
    strategy was to focus on the lack of physical evidence and to show that
    Appellant “acknowledged the things that he did do, but would not admit to
    things that he did not do.” Id. at 26. He stated that Dr. George’s testimony
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    J-S18025-19
    confirmed that there was no physical evidence that Appellant penetrated the
    victim. Id. Trial counsel acknowledged that Dr. George was never formally
    qualified as an expert, but explained that “[n]onetheless, you know, she had
    indicated that she was Board certified in child abuse and pediatrics and had
    conducted numerous examinations of children who had been alleged victims
    of sexual assault.” Id. at 33.
    With respect to calling a rebuttal witness, trial counsel testified that,
    given Dr. George’s testimony that there was no DNA evidence or physical
    evidence of sexual abuse, he did not “understand how bringing in any other
    witness would in any way support our defense that this never occurred.” Id.
    He also stated that he never gave Appellant any price for an expert, as he
    never looked into hiring one. Id. at 25.
    Finally, trial counsel testified that he discussed the possibility of
    character witnesses with Appellant prior to trial. Id. at 26. Specifically, he
    explained:
    I did speak to—I have a specific recollection of Reverend Bell,
    having a conversation with her. Again, part of the problem in this
    case is that clearly by his own words that he had committed crimes
    contrary to anyone’s testimony of good character, certainly his
    own account of things that he did, taking pictures of his
    stepdaughter while she was nude, touching her across her breasts
    while she was on top of him on the bed, are so contrary to any
    person of good character, certainly I don’t see any benefit to
    calling such a witness when ultimately we’re talking about just the
    denial there was any particular penetration involved here.
    Secondly, again, as [Appellant] had testified to, it is not what their
    personal opinions are. It’s whether or not they’re familiar with his
    reputation in the community.
    -8-
    J-S18025-19
    Id. at 26.
    At the conclusion of the hearing, the PCRA court took the matter under
    advisement and directed the parties to submit memorandums of law. Both
    parties timely complied. On July 23, 2018, the PCRA court issued an order
    granting, in part, and denying, in part, Appellant’s petition.5 The PCRA court
    also issued an opinion addressing Appellant’s claims.
    On August 22, 2018, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal.        On
    September 18, 2018, Appellant timely filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
    statement.6
    Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
    1. Was trial counsel ineffective because he failed to object to the
    Commonwealth eliciting what amounted to expert trial
    testimony from Dr. Paula George whom the Commonwealth
    failed to qualify as an expert?
    2. Was trial counsel ineffective because he failed to consult with
    or hire an expert to refute the trial testimony of Dr. Paula
    George?
    3. Was trial counsel ineffective because he failed to present
    character witnesses to testify to Appellant’s good character for
    truthfulness and honesty?
    Appellant’s Brief at 4 (some capitalization omitted).
    ____________________________________________
    5The PCRA court granted the portion of Appellant’s petition challenging his
    SVP designation and ordered that Appellant be issued an amended registration
    notice setting forth his registration requirements under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.23.
    6 Appellant raised several issues in his Rule 1925(b) statement that he has
    abandoned on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Dunphy, 
    20 A.3d 1215
    , 1218
    n. 2 (Pa. Super. 2011) (stating that claims raised in a Rule 1925(b) statement
    but not addressed in an appellate brief are considered abandoned on appeal).
    -9-
    J-S18025-19
    Our review of the denial of a PCRA petition is limited to the examination
    of “whether the PCRA court’s determination is supported by the record and
    free of legal error.”   Commonwealth v. Miller, 
    102 A.3d 988
    , 992 (Pa.
    Super. 2014) (quotation marks and citation omitted).           “The PCRA court’s
    findings will not be disturbed unless there is no support for the findings in the
    certified record.”   Commonwealth v. Lawson, 
    90 A.3d 1
    , 4 (Pa. Super.
    2014) (citation omitted). We review “the PCRA court’s legal conclusions de
    novo.” See Miller, 102 A.3d at 992 (citation omitted).
    We    presume     that    the   petitioner’s   counsel     was   effective.
    Commonwealth v. Williams, 
    732 A.2d 1167
    , 1177 (Pa. 1999). To establish
    a claim of ineffectiveness, a petitioner “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.” Commonwealth
    v. Turetsky, 
    925 A.2d 876
    , 880 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citation omitted).           A
    petitioner must establish (1) that the underlying claim has arguable merit; (2)
    that counsel lacked a reasonable basis for his action or inaction; and (3) but
    for the act or omission in question, the outcome of the proceedings would
    have been different. Commonwealth v. Washington, 
    927 A.2d 586
    , 594
    (Pa. 2007). “A claim of ineffectiveness may be denied by a showing that the
    petitioner’s evidence fails to meet any of these prongs.” 
    Id.
     (citation omitted).
    “The threshold inquiry in ineffectiveness claims is whether the
    issue/argument/tactic which counsel has foregone and which forms the basis
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    J-S18025-19
    for the assertion of ineffectiveness is of arguable merit[.] Counsel cannot be
    found ineffective for failing to pursue a baseless or meritless claim.”
    Commonwealth v. Smith, 
    167 A.3d 782
    , 788 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citations
    and quotation marks omitted), appeal denied, 
    179 A.3d 6
     (Pa. 2018).
    “With regard to the second, reasonable basis prong, we do not question
    whether there were other more logical courses of action which counsel could
    have pursued; rather, we must examine whether counsel’s decisions had any
    reasonable basis.”   Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 
    30 A.3d 1111
    , 1127 (Pa.
    2011) (citation and quotation marks omitted). “When the petitioner is granted
    a PCRA hearing, it is his burden to satisfy this aspect of the test with direct
    questioning of trial counsel.” Commonwealth v. Weiss, 
    81 A.3d 767
    , 798-
    99 (Pa. 2013) (citations omitted). “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.” Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1127 (citation and
    quotation marks omitted).
    Additionally, we note that “[c]ounsel are not constitutionally required to
    forward any and all possible objections at trial, and the decision of when to
    interrupt oftentimes is a function of overall defense strategy being brought to
    bear upon issues which arise unexpectedly at trial and require split-second
    decision-making by counsel.” Commonwealth v. Koehler, 
    36 A.3d 121
    , 146
    (Pa. 2012) (citation omitted).
    - 11 -
    J-S18025-19
    In his first issue, Appellant asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for
    failing to object to Dr. George’s testimony. Appellant’s Brief at 12. Appellant
    argues that
    Dr. George was never qualified or proffered as an expert witness
    and improperly gave causation testimony that [the victim’s] lack
    of injuries did not preclude what [the victim] said occurred.
    Specifically, Dr. George testified that based on her training and
    experience that the lack of injuries is not unusual, and that it is
    unusual to find physical evidence of something that has occurred.
    Dr. George[] testified for approximately another five (5) pages of
    the trial transcript regarding [the] rarity of finding physical
    evidence of sexual assault to include that “[o]nly about five
    percent of children that we examine more than a couple days after
    a report[ed] event, only about five percent of them have any
    evidence that I would say virtually all of them have told me about
    pain and bleeding.” Dr. George’s testimony . . . blurred the line
    between factual, lay-witness observations and expert testimony
    requiring specialized knowledge because no safeguards were
    requested and therefore no safeguards were employed by the trial
    court to ensure that the jurors could separate expert opinions from
    the lay testimony. Accordingly, trial counsel was ineffective for
    not objecting to what amounted to expert testimony provided by
    Dr. George and [Appellant] should be granted a new trial.
    Id. at 12-13.
    “The admission of evidence is a matter vested within the sound
    discretion of the trial court, and such a decision shall be reversed only upon a
    showing that the trial court abused its discretion.”        Commonwealth v.
    Antidormi, 
    84 A.3d 736
    , 749 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citations omitted).
    When a witness’s testimony is based on “scientific, technical, or other
    specialized knowledge . . . beyond that possessed by the average layperson,”
    the witness must be qualified as an expert “by knowledge, skill, experience,
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    J-S18025-19
    training or education.” Pa.R.E. 702(a). Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 701
    permits a lay witness to offer opinion testimony so long as the opinion is: “(a)
    rationally based     on the   witness’s   perception; (b)   helpful to    clearly
    understanding the witness’s testimony or to determining a fact in issue; and
    (c) not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge within
    the scope of Rule 702.” Pa.R.E. 701. “Thus, an expert must have additional
    specialized knowledge in rendering an opinion; whereas, a lay witness must
    form an opinion based upon his or her rationally based perceptions.”
    Commonwealth v. Huggins, 
    68 A.3d 962
    , 967 (Pa. 2013) (citing Pa.R.E.
    702; Pa.R.E. 703).
    In support of his claim, Appellant cites to Commonwealth v.
    Yocolano, 
    169 A.3d 47
     (Pa. Super. 2017). In Yocolano, the defendant was
    charged with several offenses after he violently assaulted his former girlfriend.
    See Yocolano, 169 A.3d at 50-51. At trial, the Commonwealth presented
    testimony from the emergency room doctor and nurse who treated the victim.
    On appeal, we explained that
    [t]he trial court permissibly allowed Nurse Taylor and Dr. Ung to
    describe the injuries that they personally observed when treating
    [the victim], most notably ligature and strangulation marks. . . .
    However, the Commonwealth then asked each witness whether
    [the victim’s] account of events was consistent with her injuries.
    These conclusions required causation expertise and there was no
    proffered evidence that Dr. Ung or Nurse Taylor regularly
    examined ligature and strangulation marks or had scientific
    knowledge on the subject. . . . While the hospital staff members
    in this case could have testified as both lay and expert witnesses
    under [Huggins, 68 A.3d at 967], the Commonwealth did not
    provide notice or expert reports to Appellant prior to trial and
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    J-S18025-19
    there were no additional safeguards employed by the trial court
    to ensure that the jurors could separate expert opinions from the
    lay testimony. Hence, we discern the trial court abused its
    discretion and erred as a matter of law in permitting proffered lay
    witnesses to offer expert opinions at trial.
    Id. at 63.    The Yocolano Court did not address whether this error alone
    constituted harmless error.         See id.        Rather, the Court found that the
    cumulative effect of this error and two other improper evidentiary rulings
    required a new trial. Id. at 64.
    Here, the PCRA court concluded that Dr. George’s “testimony that the
    absence of injuries of a victim of sexual assault victim does not preclude the
    possibility that sexual abuse has occurred may properly be a subject for an
    expert opinion.” PCRA Ct. Op., 7/23/18, at 8. Nevertheless, the PCRA court
    found that “it was reasonable for trial counsel to refrain from entering an
    objection to Dr. George’s testimony when it did not corroborate the victim’s
    testimony and was consistent with the defense strategy at trial.” Id. at 10.
    Moreover, the PCRA court concluded that trial counsel’s failure to object did
    not prejudice Appellant. Id. at 8.
    Based on our review, we discern no basis to disturb the PCRA court’s
    conclusions. The trial court erred by allowing expert testimony from a witness
    who was not properly qualified as an expert.              Nonetheless, although Dr.
    George’s testimony was improper,7 Appellant did not establish that trial
    ____________________________________________
    7It is unclear why the Commonwealth did not formally qualify Dr. George as
    an expert witness. Dr. George testified that she has been practicing pediatric
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    J-S18025-19
    counsel lacked a reasonable strategic basis for his inaction. See Weiss, 81
    A.3d at 799. Further, Appellant has failed to provide any basis for this Court
    to conclude that but for trial counsel’s failure to object, there is a reasonable
    probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different.
    Washington, 927 A.2d at 594. Accordingly, no relief is due.
    In his remaining issues, Appellant argues that trial counsel was
    ineffective for failing to call witnesses. Our Supreme Court has explained that
    [w]here a claim is made of counsel’s ineffectiveness for failing to
    call witnesses, it is the appellant’s burden to show that the witness
    existed and was available; counsel was aware of, or had a duty to
    know of the witness; the witness was willing and able to appear;
    and the proposed testimony was necessary in order to avoid
    prejudice to the appellant.
    Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1143 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
    Appellant first argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to consult
    with or hire an expert witness to rebut Dr. George’s testimony. Appellant’s
    Brief at 13. He explains that part of the defense strategy was that “there was
    no physical evidence to corroborate [the victim’s] allegations” and “[b]ased
    on that defense, [trial counsel] felt utilizing their own expert was not
    necessary” because Dr. George did not find any physical evidence of sexual
    abuse. Id. at 14. However, at trial, Dr. George testified that “the lack of
    ____________________________________________
    medicine for roughly thirty-five years. See N.T. Trial, 10/8/14, at 104. She
    stated that she is board certified in both pediatrics and child abuse pediatrics.
    Id. Dr. George estimated that she has personally evaluated between 3,000
    to 5,000 children who have been victims of abuse, in addition to “many
    thousands in general pediatrics.” Id. at 106.
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    J-S18025-19
    physical evidence did not preclude [the victim’s] allegations.” Id. at 14-15.
    Appellant concludes that “[b]ecause [trial counsel] had neither consulted with
    nor hired his own expert[, Appellant] was left with no adequate response to
    Dr. George’s conclusory opinion.” Id. at 15.
    Our Supreme Court has held that
    [t]he mere failure to obtain an expert rebuttal witness is not
    ineffectiveness. Appellant must demonstrate that an expert
    witness was available who would have offered testimony designed
    to advance [the] appellant’s cause. Trial counsel need not
    introduce expert testimony on his client’s behalf if he is able
    effectively to cross-examine prosecution witnesses and elicit
    helpful testimony.
    Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1143 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
    Here, the PCRA court addressed Appellant’s claim as follows:
    Counsel noted that of the twenty to thirty cases he had tried
    involving vaginal penetration he had never had an expert testify
    to confirm that there is no physical evidence relative to an assault.
    He explained that, based on his experience, he saw no strategic
    reason to hire an expert.
    So we may have discussed potentially hiring some expert
    witness to confirm what Dr. George had testified to.
    Certainly, I don’t even know where he is coming up with this
    15,000 figure, as I hadn't even looked into finding some
    other expert witness in that area.
    [B]ased on what Dr. George had indicated in her findings
    and based upon what she had testified to here and based
    upon what [the victim’s] accounts were, again, there was
    no DNA evidence to support her claim, there was no injury
    to support her claim, I don’t understand how bringing in any
    other witness would in any way support our defense that
    this never occurred.
    We find that trial counsel’s decision to forego objection to Dr.
    George’s testimony and/or to have [Appellant] hire his own expert
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    J-S18025-19
    to be reasonably calculated to further [Appellant’s] interest. Dr.
    George made no comment on the veracity of the victim and her
    observation was neutral as to whether the incidents described by
    the victim had actually occurred. Her findings were not at odds
    with the defense’s theory of the case as she found nothing to
    affirmatively suggest that the acts had occurred. We see nothing
    to indicate that there would have been a different outcome had
    [Appellant] gone to the expense to present his own witness.
    PCRA Ct. Op., 7/23/18, at 9-10.
    Based on our review of the record, we discern no basis to disturb the
    PCRA court’s determination. See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1127; Miller, 102 A.3d
    at 992. Further, we emphasize that Appellant did not establish that an expert
    existed and was available to testify on his behalf. See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at
    1143 (stating that to establish ineffectiveness for failing to call expert witness,
    appellant must demonstrate expert existed and was available). In light of the
    relevant case law and applicable standard of review, we conclude that
    Appellant’s claim also fails for lack of arguable merit. See Smith, 167 A.3d
    at 788; Miller, 102 A.3d at 992.
    Appellant next argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call
    character witnesses who would have testified to Appellant’s “general
    reputation in the community for truthfulness and honesty.” Appellant’s Brief
    at 16.     Appellant does not develop his argument beyond this general
    assertion.8
    ____________________________________________
    8 Appellant has arguably waived his claim by failing to adequately develop the
    argument in his brief. However, Appellant raised a more specific version of
    this claim in his PCRA petition and at the PCRA hearing. Therefore, because
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    J-S18025-19
    We have explained that
    [e]vidence of good character offered by a defendant in a criminal
    prosecution must be limited to his general reputation for the
    particular trait or traits of character involved in the commission of
    the crime charged. Such evidence must relate to a period at or
    about the time the offense was committed and must be
    established by testimony of witnesses as to the community
    opinion of the individual in question, not through specific acts or
    mere rumor.
    Commonwealth v. Radecki, 
    180 A.3d 441
    , 453–54 (Pa. Super. 2018)
    (citation omitted).
    “While character witnesses may not be impeached with specific acts of
    misconduct, a character witness may be cross-examined regarding his or her
    knowledge of particular acts of misconduct to test the accuracy of the
    testimony.”     Commonwealth v. Treiber, 
    121 A.3d 435
    , 464 (Pa. 2015)
    (citation omitted); see also Pa.R.E. 608.          “The failure to call character
    witnesses does not constitute per se ineffectiveness.” Treiber, 121 A.3d at
    463 (citation omitted).
    Here, the PCRA court addressed Appellant’s claim as follows:
    At the PCRA hearing, trial counsel explained that he had spoken
    with Reverend Bell. However, he recalled that Reverend Bell was
    only able to provide her own opinions regarding [Appellant], and
    was not familiar with his general reputation in the community.
    Moreover, he did not feel that any character evidence that could
    have been offered by any of the proposed witnesses would have
    ____________________________________________
    we are able to conduct meaningful appellate review, we decline to find waiver.
    Commonwealth v. Hardy, 
    918 A.2d 766
    , 771 (Pa. Super. 2007) (stating
    that “[t]his Court will not act as counsel and will not develop arguments on
    behalf of an appellant,” and we may find issues waived if the defects in an
    appellate brief impede meaningful review).
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    J-S18025-19
    helped [Appellant] in light of his admissions that he had taken
    nude photos of his stepdaughter, had touched her breasts while
    she was on top of him in bed, and had initially denied that he had
    sexual contact with the victim to his wife and law enforcement.
    We accept trial counsel’s judgment as reasonable in this regard
    under these circumstances.
    PCRA Ct. Op., 7/23/18, at 13.
    Based on our review of the record, we discern no basis to disturb the
    PCRA court’s determination. See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1127; Miller, 102 A.3d
    at 992. The PCRA court credited trial counsel’s testimony that Reverend Bell
    could not provide information about Appellant’s reputation in the community.
    Therefore, her testimony would have been inadmissible.        See Pa.R.E. 608,
    cmt. (stating that “Pa.R.E. 608(b)(1) prohibits the use of evidence of specific
    instances of conduct to support or attack credibility”).    Further, in light of
    Appellant’s own admission that he lied to both law enforcement and his wife
    about taking nude photographs of the victim, it was reasonable for trial
    counsel to conclude that character witnesses would provide no benefit to the
    defense. See Pa.R.E. 608(b)(2) (stating that a character witness “may be
    attacked by cross-examination concerning specific instances of conduct . . . if
    they are probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness”).
    Therefore, we conclude that the PCRA court properly determined that
    trial counsel had a reasonable basis for his inaction, and we decline Appellant’s
    invitation to second-guess trial counsel’s strategy. See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at
    1127; see also Commonwealth v. Sneed, 
    45 A.3d 1096
    , 1107 (Pa. 2012)
    (stating that ineffectiveness claims “generally cannot succeed ‘through
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    J-S18025-19
    comparing, in hindsight, the trial strategy        [actually] employed with
    alternatives not pursued.’” (citation omitted)).
    Order affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 09/25/2019
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