Com. v. Robinson, J. ( 2018 )

J-S38041-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
JAMES ROBINSON :
:
Appellant : No. 3794 EDA 2016
Appeal from the PCRA Order November 21, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0001552-2007
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., SHOGAN, J., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED JANUARY 31, 2018
Appellant, James Robinson, appeals pro se from the order entered in
the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his first
petition brought pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”). 1 We
affirm.
In its opinion, the PCRA court fully and correctly set forth the relevant
facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to
restate them.
Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE’S MISAPPLICATION OF LAW
UNDER PA. R.E. 803(1) DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF HIS
____________________________________________
1 42 Pa.C.S.A §§ 9541-9546.
_____________________________
*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S38041-17
LIBERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW UNDER PA. R.E.
803(1)?
WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS IN
FAILING TO OBJECT TO THE TRIAL JUDGE’S
MISAPPLICATION OF THE LAW UNDER PA.R.E. 803(1)
DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
TO A FAIR TRIAL?
WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS IN
FAILING TO CALL KEITH JONES AS A WITNESS DEPRIVED
APPELLANT OF HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO A FAIR
TRIAL?
WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS IN
FAILING TO INTERVIEW BARBARA DANTZLER, VIRNA
CLAY, AND [H.B.] AND TO INVESTIGATE PROPERLY
DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
TO A FAIR TRIAL?
WHETHER PCRA COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS IN FILING
A NO-MERIT LETTER RATHER THAN FILING AN AMENDED
PCRA PETITION RAISING TRIAL JUDGE’S MISAPPLICATION
OF LAW, TRIAL COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS IN FAILING
TO OBJECT TO THE TRIAL JUDGE’S MISAPPLICATION OF
LAW AND TRIAL COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS IN
FAILING TO CALL A WITNESS, DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF
HIS DUE PROCESS RIGHT TO AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING?
WHETHER THE PCRA JUDGE’S MISAPPLICATION OF LAW
UNDER COM. V. FINLEY, 550 A.2D 213, 215 (PA.SUPER.
1988), IS AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION, WHICH DEPRIVED
APPELLANT OF HIS FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
DUE PROCESS OF LAW UNDER COM. V. FINLEY, 550
A.2D 213, 215 (PA.SUPER. 1988)?
(Appellant’s Brief at 5).
After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Jeffrey P.
Minehart, we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief. The PCRA court
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J-S38041-17
opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the questions
presented. (See PCRA Court Opinion, filed December 16, 2016, at 1-22)
(finding: (1)-(2) Superior Court sustained ruling on inadmissibility of
certain statements Appellant’s counsel sought to introduce at trial; Superior
Court concluded statements contained multiple layers of hearsay, without
any exception; because these claims were raised and rejected at trial and on
appeal, they lack arguable merit under ineffectiveness of counsel test and
continue to warrant no relief; (3)-(4) claim regarding Keith Jones is
dismissed because Appellant failed to set forth what Jones would have
testified to or how his testimony would have resulted in different verdict;
regarding trial counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness in failing to interview
Barbara Dantzler, Virna Clay, and [H.B.], PCRA court denied relief because
there is no duty to investigate all leads where, as here, overwhelming
evidence implicated Appellant; regarding counsel’s failure to obtain
testimony from H.B. at trial to establish H.B. had confessed to his
grandmother that H.B. shot victim, Appellant failed to provide sufficient
information to support this claim or apply three prongs of ineffectiveness of
counsel test; (5) regarding Appellant’s assertion of newly discovered
evidence consisting of a letter from witness Hassan East’s cellmate, stating
Appellant was falsely accused, letter constituted inadmissible hearsay; relief
was denied because letter did not meet definition of newly discovered
evidence and would serve only to impeach East; Appellant failed to establish
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J-S38041-17
information contained in letter would compel different result at trial, given
other testimony from witnesses of crime). Accordingly, we affirm issues one
through five based on the PCRA court’s opinion. In Appellant’s issues five
and six, he also challenges PCRA counsel’s stewardship for the first time in
this appeal, so these claims are waived.2 Therefore, in all respects, we have
no reason to disturb the court’s decision to deny Appellant’s PCRA relief.
Order affirmed.
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2 Where PCRA counsel seeks to withdraw from representation, the petitioner
must preserve any challenge to counsel’s ineffectiveness in a response to
counsel’s no-merit letter or, if applicable, the court’s Rule 907 notice. See
Commonwealth v. Pitts, 603 Pa. 1, 9 n.4, 981 A.2d 875, 880 n.4 (2009).
A petitioner’s failure to raise an ineffectiveness of PCRA counsel claim after
receiving Rule 907 notice results in waiver of the claim. Id. See also
Commonwealth v. Ousley, 21 A.3d 1238, 1245 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal
denied, 612 Pa. 698, 30 A.3d 487 (2011) (stating Pitts prohibits this Court’s
review of petitioner’s ineffectiveness of PCRA counsel claim, where issue was
raised for first time in PCRA appeal). Here, Appellant knew counsel’s
position on Appellant’s PCRA petition and counsel’s request to withdraw,
since July 2016. Although Appellant sought several extensions of time,
Appellant failed to respond to counsel’s no-merit letter. Likewise, Appellant
failed to respond to the court’s Rule 907 notice of intent to dismiss, which
was sent directly to Appellant as well as to counsel. Therefore, Appellant
had sufficient opportunity to preserve his complaints regarding PCRA counsel
and simply did not do so.
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J-S38041-17
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/31/18
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Circulated 01/11/2018 11:25 AM
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA .
CRIMINAL TRIAL DIVISION
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA NO. CP-5l-CR-0001552-20d7
vs.
JAMES ROBINSON
\ FILED
OPINION DEC l 6 20'16:
Appeals/Post Trial
Office of Judicial Rei�ords
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Defendant, James Robinson, was charged with, inter alia, murder, generally, possession
of a firearm prohibited, and carrying a firearm on a public street. These charges were Iodged
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against defendant as a result of an incident that occurred on June 11, 2004, during j which
· defendant shot and killed Michael Brooks in the area of 19th and Venango Street in Philadelphia. .
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Defendant was first tried in February and March of 2012, before the Honorable Lillian H.
Ransom and a jury. The trial ended in a mistrial on March 8, 2012, after the jury indicatedlthat it
was unable to reach a verdict. Prior to the commencement of that trial Judge Ransom �1eld a
motion in limine hearing and made several rulings regarding the: admission of evidence.
The matter was thereafter assigned to this Court for trial. Following jury selection
defendant's second trial commenced on September 17, 2013. On September 24, 2013; theI jury
convicted defendant of third-degree murder, possession of a firearm prohibited, and carryfng as
firearm on a public street. Sentencing was deferred until December 6, 2013, on which date this
Court imposed an aggregate sentence of eighteen to thirty-six years' incarceration on defendant.
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Following the imposition of sentence defendant filed a notice of appeal. On April 15, I\
2015, the Superior Court affirmed the judgment of sentence. (3612 EDA 2013). Defendant i
thereafter filed a petition for allowance of appeal, which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied
on October 28, 2015 (273 EAL 2015).
On January 1, 2016, defendant filed a timely pro se petition pursuant to the Post-
Conviction Relief Act (hereinafter PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541 et seq. Counsel was appotnted to
represent him and on July 10, 2016, counsel filed a no-merit letter filed a "no merit" letter
pursuant to Commonwe�lth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988), and Commonwealth v. Finl�y.
550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988), and a Motion to Withdraw as Counsel. After carefully
reviewing counsel's filings and the entire record in this matter, this Court sent defendant a
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Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 Notice of Intent to Dismiss on October 6, 2016. On November 21, 2016, this
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Court issued an order dismissing defendant's PCRA petition and granting PCRA counsel's
Motion to Withdraw. Defendant thereafter filed a prose notice of appeal.
FACTS
On June 11, 2004, at or about 5:00 p.m., Philadelphia Police Officer Joseph Simpson
went to the 1800 block of Venango Street to investigate a report of shots fired and a man down
on the highway. Upon arrival at that location, Officer Simpson observed several police officers
in an abandoned lot standing over a male later identified as. Michael Brook, the victim herein,
who was lying face-up on the ground and had blood under his left eye. 1 The victim was placed
in a police car and. transported to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead ..
An autopsy revealed that the victim died as a result of having suffered a gunshot wound
to the back of his neck. The bullet travelled through the victim's spinal cord, some blood
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The victim was also known as "Deli-Mike."
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vessels, the lower and upper jaws, and exited his right cheek. The manner of death was deemed
to be homicide.
An examination of the scene resulted in the discovery of fourfired . 9 millimeter cartridge
cases and a bullet fragment. These items were placed on a property receipt and eventually turned
over to a ballistician for further examination. Police also seized a bottle containing mango juice \
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from which two latent fingerprints were lifted. Neither print could be matched to defendant nor I
the victim.
An examination of the ballistic evidence revealed that all of the fired cartridge cases had
been manufactured by Winchester and that they had been ejected from the same semi-alltomatic .
weapon. The bullet fragment was too damaged to identify specifically and was designated to be I
.9 millimeter/..38 in caliber.
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Mr. Jarrett Stiff was present when the shooting occurred. He explained that �e, the
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victim, defendant, who he called Jay, and others gambled together frequently both in
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neighborhood games and in Atlantic City. On the day of the crime, he had parked his car and
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was talking' on his cell phone intending to go up onto Heath Candle's porch where a crap1 game
was taking place, when he heard defendant and the victim arguing. He then saw deftndant
walked off the porch past him and toward his (defendant's) truck. As defendant walked 1away,
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the vlctim was berating him. Shortly thereafter, Stiff heard gunshots and ran away. He te{tifiyd
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that he did not know who fired the three or four shots he heard ring out that day and believed that
the killing may have occurred during a possible robbery.
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Approximately two weeks after the incident Stiff went of his own volition to the
Homicide Division to give police a written statement about the shocting.? In that s�atement,
parts of which Stiff at trial accused the police of paraphraslng what he told them, Stiff identified
a photograph of defendant as depicting the person who shot the victim. Stiff told police:
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I had just parked my car on the northwest corner of 19th
and Venango Street and I got out of my car and I was l
talking 011 my cell phone and I could see Deli Mike arguing i
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with Jay, and I heard Mike say something to Jay about no
more ass bets, and then Jay said to DeH 'Mike the only way I
you 're going to get this money off me is to kill me, and
then Deli Mike said back to Jay it could be whatever you
want it to be. Jay then said he would be right back and got
in his white Dodge Ram pickup, which was parked on 19th
Street, and then he drove up 19th Street and I didn't pay him I
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any mind. About five minutes later Jay returned and I saw
'Jay get out of his truck and he walked over towards Deli
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Mike and when he got to the pavement he started firing a
gun at Deli Mike. He fired about three to four shots and
then he got back into his truck and drove away north on . II
19r11 Stl'et!t,
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Stiff thereafter was called as a witness at defendant's preliminary hearing and first trial.
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During both proceedings, he testified that defendant shot the victim.· Stiff .indicated t�at he
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testified that he did not see who shot the victim during the instant trial, in contradiction toj what
governnlental
he testified to at the prior proceedings, because he had been under some type of
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supervision when the previous hearing; took place and he currently was not under] any
supervision. (N.T. 9/17/13, 185-186).
Mr. Hassan East was also in the are�,.when the shooting occurred. Mr. East was standing
near the porch where defendant, the victim, and the others were playing craps when he became
2Stiff was on bail and believed that if police Iearned that he had been present. at the craps game it might jeopardize
his freedom,
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aware that defendant and the victim were arguing about money er a bet. At some point Mr. Bast
saw defendant leave the porch and walk away.
Approximately two or three minutes later, Mr. East saw defendant return armed with a
gun which he used to fire threetofive shots in the direction of the porch as he walked toward the
porch. At the time, the victim, Heath Caudle, and some others were on the porch. Mr. East got I
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into his car and drove away. He returned approximately thirty minutes later but did not speak to !
the police. i
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In 2007, Mr. East, who at the time was in federal custody having pleaded guilty (o, inter I
alia, two armed robbery charges and having received a sentence of thirty years, agreed to
provide information about other criminal activity of which he was aware.3 One of the crimes he
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told federal authorities about was the shooting of the victim herein. Federal authorities contacted
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Philadelphia· homicide detectives, who thereafter interviewed Mr. East, who told thep1 that
defendant shot the victim.
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Mr. Heath Caudle, a gambling associate of defendant and the owner of the residence
where the victim was shot, was present when the victim was killed. During the course of� craps
game taking placeon Mr. Caudle's porch, defendant was doing very well in relation to all i°fthe ·
other players while the victim was having bad luck. When ··defendant indicated that he was !
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leaving with his winnings, which Mr. Caudle estimated were between 30 and 40 thousand
dollars, the victim, who had a reputation for kibitzing during craps games, began making derisive
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comments about defendant, who then walked away.
A short time thereafter, Mr. Caudle heard shots and saw the victim laying on the ground.
Mr. Caudle then jumped off his porch and fled down an alley where he remained for a short
3 Mr. Bast was known by thos� Involved In the rebberles as "E.vil Oenius."
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period of time before returning to his residence where attempted to calm the victim Who was
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trying to say something but was unable to mouth any words. The police arrivedi shortly
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thereafter. I
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Following the incident, police briefly questioned Mr. Caudle about the incident and he,
inter alia, told them that shots were fired from the area of l 91h and Venango Streets, he ran, and
then comforted the victim. He did not tell them about the craps game or identify who shot the
victim.
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The next day, the police again interviewed Mr. Caudle and he told them about the cr�ps
game. He also indicated that defendant owed the victim $500,00 prior to the commence�ent of
the craps game, which defendant paid the victim back during the game. He added that the game
ended when defendant won everyone's money and that when defendant began to leave, the
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victim, using vernacular, told defendant not to again make a bet unless he had the money i�1 hand
to back up the bet.
While Mr. Caudle denied telling the police the following, his statement contained the
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below information:
I saw Jay walking to his truck. By the time I got by the
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time Jay got there shots rang out. I looked back. Jay was
shooting at us. I jumped over the railing.· and ran back 'to the \
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alley. After the shots stopped, I peeked back and Mike was
on the ground next to my porch. I walked back to Mike and
saw he was bleeding through his mouth and nose. He
couldn't talk. He was moving a little while he was on the !
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ground. I asked one of my neighbors if they called the
police and then I heard sirens. The police got there and
carried Mike to their car and took him to the hospital.
N.T. 9/19/13; 27. . . . .
M1·. Caudle testified that he told police that he did not knew who shot the victim but that
the police ignored him and continued to ask him who had numerous times. He. added that in an
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effort to get him to identify the shooter, police told him what other witnesses allegedly said as
well as that there may have been two people present when the shooting occurred that were
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attempting to steal the victim's car, wherein the victim was known to keep money. Although he
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testified that the· police treated him nicely, Mr. Caudle felt that the police were pressur.ing him
and impliedly accusing him of wrongdoing. He further added that the police told him that
defendant shot the victim and was shooting at hi� as well and that he signed his statement
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because he wanted to go home.
Tallena Drayton, nee Chesney, defendant's former girlfriend, was dating defendant at the
time of the shooting of the victim. According to Ms. Drayton, defendant called her and told her
that he had been playing dice, got into an argument with someone, and shot him. Defendant said
he would be coming to see Ms. Drayton presently,
Later that day, defendant and a friend arrived in pick-up truck Ms. Drayton had rented for
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defendant. The friend then left in the truck and defendant spoke about the shooting. He again
related that he had beeri playing dice on Heath Caudle's porch and that he shot someone after he
and the person he shot began arguing and the person began calling him names. Defendant added l
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that before he shot the person he went to his vehicle after which he shot the victim.
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Following their discussion, defendant and Ms. Drayton drove to Ms. Drayton's home and
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then to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where she left defendant before returning home. She red.m1ed
to Atlantic City and stayed with defendant as he gambled at a casino. The following Monday she
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drove defendant to the residence of someone who owed him money. Upon leaving the residence,
police stopped them and recovered a .22 caliber hand gun from Ms. Drayton that defendant had
given her the morning of the day of the shooting. Ms. Drayton indicated that police did. not
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discover a silver gun defendant had placed under the rug in the front passenger compartment and
that she saw that gun along with a black gun on the morning when defendant gave her the .22.
Ms. Drayton was eventually interviewed by police but was not truthful with them because
she was scared because defendant told her not to talk and �he did not want to be involved in the
matter. She related that after he was incarcerated defendant sent her letters and in one of them
he wrote, "Never, [quote], cross me,". "It will be the biggest mistake in your life." The words
"never cross me" were in capital letters.
Ms. Drayton again spoke to police in 2007. At the time, she had been charged bylfederal
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authorities with obstruction of justice, a charge to which she eventually pleaded guilty but had
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. yet to be sentenced at the time of defendant's trial, pending her cooperation in the instant matter.
In that statement;' she told police about what defendant stated to her concerning the shoo1ting of
the victim.
The parties introduced evidence by way of stipulation indicating that defendant did not
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have a firearms license on the day of the incident, that Galloway {New Jersey) Township Police
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stopped defendant and Ms. Drayton on June 15, 2004, and recovered-a .22 caliber handgun from
her purse, and the following:
[I]f Nhan Pang were called to testify, he would testify that
on June 5th, '.2004, at approximately 9:45 p.m., he contacted
police to notify them that he had returned home to find his
front door forced open. His home had been burglarized and
items taken. He identified to police at that time the items
that were taken and the items taken were as follows:
One Beretta .22 caliber handgun, Serial No.
DAA289032. also taken was a Jennings .9-rnillimeter
handgun, Serial No. 1337344, and also taken was a Sig
Sauer .380 handgun, Serial No. 050933, and also taken
was a Phoenix Arms [ 19]' .22 caliber handgun, Serial
Number 4223428, along with a Dell laptop computer
along with a Dell laptop computer.
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This information was recorded that day on a police report,
That's marked as C· 72 and recorded by Officers Pelligrino
and Turner from the Philadelphia Police Department.
Further, Mr. Dang in speaking with the police indicated that
the .9-millimeter gun was loaded with Federal .9-millimeter
Luger ammunition at the time it was taken.
N.T. 9/20/131 141-143.
In his defense, defendant called Michael Alexander, a Philadelphia Police Offic�r, who
had responded to the scene of the shooting upon receiving a radio call. While prese_nt at the
scene, Officer Alexander spoke to Heath Caudle who
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said tha.t there was gambling
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taking. place
on his porch and that when shots were fired, he jumped over the railing and fled into a vacant lot.
Mr. Caudle further stated that he did not see who fired the shots.
PISCJJSfilON
In reviewing the propriety of a PCRA. court's dismissal of a petition without a hearing,
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the reviewing court is limited to determining whether the court's findings are supported �iY the
record and whether the order in question is free of legal error. Commonw�alth vJ:Iolm�s'. 905
A.2d 707, 509 (Pa. Super. 2006) citing C�mmonwealth v. Hallex, 870 A.2d 795, 799 (Pa. 2005).
The PCRA court's findings will not be disturbed unless there, is no support for the findings in the
certified record. Q.ommov_��W, v. Carr, 768 A.2d 1164, 1166 (Pa. Super. 2001). A PCRA
court may 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. kQ�h v.
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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
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denying relief without an evidentlary hearing. !£i. See ·f!l.�o .�01nm.onwealth v. Htm!P..��' 701
A.2d 541, 542 (Pa. 1997).
Pennsylvania law presumes counsel is effective and therefore, the burden is plac� upon
the defendant to prove otherwise. C2mmonwe�ltb v. Br.9,wn, 767 A.2d 576, 581 (Pa.I Super.
2001), citing .Q.o,.mm9.nw�ajt1J v. C,a1:p�nru, 725 A.2d 154l 161 (Pa. 1999), citing �Qtl'.lnJ.QlAW�lllt4
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v. M,arshall, 633 A.2d 1100 (Pa. 1993); � m.Q CQilll)1Qny,,ealthi.V· Baj<,_er, 6·14 A.2d 6$3, 673
(Pa. 1992). Trial counsel has broad discretion i11 matters of trial strategy and the determination of
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what tactics to employ during litigation. Commo!lwea�th v, Choi �hyn LE\111, 684 A.2d _1p, 160
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(Pa. Super. 1996). Furthermore, "(i]t is well established that failed trial tactics of defense
counsel are not grounds for a new trial." CQmmonwe�l \he v. Hl!l1 5 65 A.2d 144, 148 (Pa, 1989). I
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Trial counsel will not be held ineffective if there was· a reasonable str!,ltegjc basis for his or her
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trial tactics. 9Qtn,mopwealthv. Pu,rsell,/ 724 A.2d 2931 31 l (Pa. 1999).
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In order to establish that trial counsel's representation was deficient,' a defendanl must
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establish all of_ the following three elements, as_ set forth in £Qwmonwealth v.���>ier�,
527 A.2d 973, 975 .. 76 (Pa. 1987): (1) the underlying legal claim has arguable merit; (4) ccunsel
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had no reaseaable. basis for his 01' her action or inaction; mid (3) the p�titioner suffered s:n·i. judice
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because of eeunsel's il'leffeetivetiess. �9p,w§�ltb v.:.�, 30 A.3d 1111, 1127 (Pa. 2011),
citing Gommon�e!.\lth v. Dennj�, 950 A.2d 945, 954 (Pa. 2008).
The threshold. question in reviewing an ineffectiveness claim is whether the 1issue,
6f the
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argument, or tactic,. which trial counsel failed to use at trial and which is the. basis
ineffectiveness claim. is of arguable merit. C2mmgnwealth y., B,alogisJ 747 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
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action chosen by trial counsel was designed to effectuate his or her client's interest. J,.Q.. With
regard to the second element, defendant must prove that "an alternative [action o.r inacJ.on] n�t
chosen offered a potential for success substantially greater than the course actually p�irsued."
CiJtnieJ, 3 O A .3 d at I I 27, citing CoromQO\\'•Blt!l y ..Wi)li!\ffis, 8 99 A. 2d l 060. I 064 (PJ 2006)
rea�onable
(alteration added). To establish prejudice, defendant must demonstrate that there is a
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probability that, but for counsel 's error, the outcome of the proceeding would hav;eI been
different. khrnifil, 30 A.3d at 1127�28, citing�. 950 A.2d at �54.
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Further, "[i]f it is clear that if a def�ndant -has not demonstrated that counsel'i act or
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omission adversely affected the outcome of the proceedings, the claim may be dismissed that
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basis alone and the court need not first determine whether the first and second prongs have been '
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met." Comn1onweajm_ v. , g�, 920 A.2d 790, 799 (Pa. 2007), citing QQnimonw��1lt;h
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s.
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Albrecht, 720 A.2d 693, 701 (Pa. 1998). A PCRA proceeding requires a defendant to establish
that counsel's ineffectiveness "so undermined the truth-determining process that no rLable
adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place." Rig.§, 920 A.2d at 799, citing
�01�monwea.llh
. v.. Mi�hael Pierce., . s�mra, 786 A.2d 203, 221-22 (Pa. 2001); �Jll¥e.
. s�.
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Kim.�, 724 Ai2d.326, 333 (Pa. 1999),
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· Applying the foregoing standuds t& the claims rnised by cfofendant in his pro se �CAA
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petition, this Court submits that the claims properly were determined not to entitle defendant to
PCRA relief.
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twent!t-si�,
In his PCRA defendant, in claims one, seventeen, and twenty-four through
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contended that trial counsel was ineffective for not arguing that there was an intervening and
superseding cause of death, namely the actions of the police who first arrived at the scene and
negligently moved and then placed the victim in a police car to take him to a nearby hospital.
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Aecordlng. to defendant, the victim was alive at the rime the police arrived and their manipulation
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of the victim's body could have caused his death. Relatedly, defendant argued trial 1counsel
should have retained an expert to support his assertion that the actions of the police proxfmately
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caused the victim's death. !
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The olaims were found to lack arguable merit because the law is clear that cirirntnal
liability may be imposed when the accused starts the chain
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of causation that ultimately le� to the
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victim's death. The Superior Court has recognized that "criminal responsibility is �
p operly
assessed against one whose conduct was a direct and substantial factor in producing [death] This
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is true even though other factors combined with that conduct to achieve the result."
Comn1on���lth v'. McCloskey, 835 A.2d 801, 807 (Pa. Super 2003), citjng CominQnw�!illu.
hfjco_trn, 625 A.2d 1259, 1260 (P&. Super '. 1993) (other citation omitted). Here, the evf dence
t
showed that defendant shot the victim and that the medical examiner who performed the autopsy
on the_ victim's body provided that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the neck. Tqe fact
that the �olice heroically attempted to save the victim's life does not excuse or exculpate
defendant and thus, counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise this baseless claim. Therefore,
it i's suggested that this Court's denial of relief on this claim be affirmed,
In claims two through five, defendant raised various issues arising out of this Court's
decision to permit the Commonwealth to elicit from Jarrett Stiff that he and defendant were co�
defendants in an unrelated federal case thereby overruling an evidentiary ruling Judge Ransom
. . ·!
made prior to defendant's first trial holding said testimony to. be inadmissible. No relief is due
on. these claims becausesaid claims could have been raised previously and in fact defendant-did
raise a related issue on direct appeal that the Superior Court deemed lacking in merit. The PCRA
provides that "an issue has been previously litigated if , .. the highest appellate court in which
12
the petitioner could have had review as a matter of right has ruled on the merits of the issue." 42
(
Pa.C.S. § 9544(a)(2). Moreover, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b) an issue is deemed waived "if
I
I
the petitioner could have raised it but failed to do so ... on appeal. ... " Finally, to be eli�ible for
!I
rot
,
PCRA relief a defendant is plead and prove, inter alia, "[tjhat the allegation of error has been
previously litigated . , .. " 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(3), For all of the foregoing reasons, it is
suggested that this Court' s decision to deny relief with respect to these claims be affirmed,
In. his sixth PCRA claim, defendant stated that he is entitled to relief because thf police
i
unfairly focused on him even though there were others who had a motive and opportunity to
commit the murder. This claim was dismissed because it had been waived. Defendant could have
raised this claim previously and because he did not he is precluded from raising it in � PCRA
petition and from receiving relief thereon. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b).
In any event, even had the claim not been deemed waived, this Court would have denied
relief with respect thereto· because there is no duty upon the police to investigate all leads
especially where, as here, the evidence overwhelmingly inculpates the accused. For al] of the
foregoing reasons, itis suggested that the denial of relief with respect to this claim be affir;tned.
Seventh, defendant argued that his arrest was illegal because the persons who accused
him of committing the murder were unreliable and had given fa�se statements to police. This
claim was dismissed because it could have been raised previously and because it lacks both a
factual and legal foundation. All of the witnesses were consistent in their identification of
I
I
defendant as the man who shot the victim. Because probable cause to arrest exists wh1en the
police· possess sufficient facts and circumstances to warrant 'a person of reasonable caution to
believe that an offense has been committed by the person to be arrested, In re: R.P ., 918 A.2d
13115 (Pa. Super. 2007), it is clear that the arrest of defendant was legal. Therefore, for all of the
foregoing reasons, the denial of relief with respect to this claim should be affirmed.
In his next claim, defendant contended that trial counsel was ineffective for fa;i!ing to
move to exclude the testimony of all of the Commonwealth's witnesses who in�ulpated
defendant in the crime because their testimony was contradictory and not credible. Thi!s claim
lacks arguable merit because the law does not require the exclusion of evidence on the g1rounds
. . i
I
cited by defendant. In fact, the credibility of the testimony was for the fact-finder to resolve. See
Commonwealth v. Blaken�, 946 A.2d 645, 652-53 (Pa. 2008) (holding that it is the province of
the jury to assess the credibility of witnesses).
I
Moreover, by failing to set forth the reasons why he believes trial counsel should have
moved to exclude the testimony of the witnesses and by failing to address. each prong. of the
Il
ineffectiveness test, defendant failed to meet his burden of establishing that the claim has merit. .
See �ealth v.J2.urst, 522 Pa. 2, 5, 559 A.2d 504, 505 ,(Pa. i 989) (defendant musf make
offer of proof to support his allegations, as the Court "frownls] upon considering claims of
ineffectiveness of counsel in a vacuum"); .Commonw��l:tl1...Y: R,.ax, 751 A.2d 233} 236 (Pa. 'Super.
I . . ,.· . . ..
2000) ("We 'cannot consider ineffectiveness claims in a vacuum; rather, appellant must set forth
an offer [of proof']"),
Accordingly, it is suggested that the denial of relief on this claim be affirmed for the
reasons stated.
I
Ninth, defendant contended that the testimony of Tallena Drayton, nee Chesney,
concerning guns should have been excluded because it was irrelevant and prejudicial. This
Court denied relief with respect to this claim because defendant could have raised the claim on
14
i
direct appeal and failed to do so . .J Therefore, it was deemed waived. For this rease» it is 1 ·
submitted that the denial of rellef should be affirmed,
In his tenth and twenty-flrst claims, defendant accuses defense counsel of providing
I
ineffective assistance of counsel because he did not introduce evidence indicating that someone
else went to. the scene of the crime with a gun to shoot the victim herein. This Court denied
relief on this claim because prior counsel attempted to introduce the statements at issue in
evidence and this Court sustained Commonwealth objections to their admissions. On appeal, the
Superior Court sustained this Court's ruling. Therefore, because the instant matter was raised by
counsel both at trial and on appeal; it is clear that no error occurred in denying relief bn this
claim and it is suggested that the decision be affirmed on appeal.
Eleventh, defendant claimed that he had newly discovered evidence consistlng of ;i3 letter
. .
dated August 3, 20 IO. signed by a man named Donte Jones wherein Jones states that
he! was a
cell mate with Hassan East and that East admitted to him that he falsely accused defendant of
I
having killed the victim herein in .order to benefit himself. Relief was denied on this' claim
because the letter does not meet the definition of newly discovered evidence. To obtain relief
based upon newly-discovered evidence under the PCRA, appellant must establish that: (1) the
evidence has been discovered after trial and it could not have been obtained at or prior t,:i trial
thrnugh reasonable diligence; (2) the evidence is not cumulative; (3) it is not being used solely to
impeach credibility; and (4) it would likely compel a different verdict. Commonwealth v. Abu-
Jamal, 553 Pa. 485, 720 A.2d 79, 94 (1998).
Here, defendant failed to satisfy the first prong because it is clear that the Information
contained in the letter was available well prior to the commencement of defendant's trial, the.
4
This Issue was raised in defendant's I 925(b) statement and was addressed in th is Court's l 92S(a) opinion.
l)cifcndant's =.pt;i�llat� co1,111§el t.hoiu:1 not te r:,.lse it cm �pi,eal.
15
· letter having been drafted in Augu,t of 2010. In additien, defimdant failed to establish that the
. infbrmation contained In the letter would compel a different result given that several witnesses
!
implicated defendant in the crime. Finally, and most importantly, the contents of the letter were
inadmissible hearsay and would have served only to impeach East. Thus, this Court determined
that there was no merit to this claim.
To the extent ·that defendant asserted that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call
Donte Jones as a witness, a review of the claim showed it to be lacking in merit. To establish a
claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate or call witnesses, a 'defendant must
establish the following: that the witness existed; that the witness. was available and willing to
testify for the defense; that defense counsel knew or should have known of the existence of those
I
witnesses prior to the time of trial; that the witness would have provided material evidenc at the
1
time of the trial; and, that the absence of the testimony of the witness was so prejudiciail as to
I
have denied t�e defendant a fair trial. G2�.1'.U'lJ.O.!l��l!th � J..Q..�1§.rult 966 A.2d 523 (Pa. 2009);
�41m�Uh�-kt.m1J.m1. 762 A.lcl 753 (Pa. Super. 2000),
Relief was denied on this claim because even had Jones testified the outcome of the ease
l
would not have been different, The _evidence of guilt was overwhelming and East underwent
extensive cross-examination that included an attack on his veracity because he received benefits
in his own criminal matters in exchange for his testimony. Accordingly, it is suggested that the
denial of relief on defendant's eleventh claim be affirmed for the reasons stated.
In his twelfth claim, defendant argues that his sentence is illegal because it violates the
holding of All�11e v'. United States, 133 S.Ct. 2151 (2013), whereiri the United States Supreme
Court overruled its prior decision in Han:is v. Unit�d �.tft��. 536 U.S. 545 (2002), and held that
facts necessary to establish the applicability of a mandatory minimum sentence must be
16
!
I
I
li\.lbriJittbd to the jury
. and fo\1nd b�yond a r�Monable deubt. Relief was dtnied with i·�spect to \
.
II !
this claim because the record is devoid of evidence establishing that defendant was sentenced l
I
pursuant to a mandatory sentencing provision rendered unconstitutional by �· In addition, \
I:
relief was denied because no court has held that Alleyne applies retroactively to matters on I
i
'
collateral review. lt is noted that both the Pennsylvania Supreme and Superior Courts have ruled
that Alleyne does not apply to matters on collateral review. �� Conun2n.��&1lth Y: �l..g�Qll,
A.3d , 2016 WL 3909088 (Pa. 2016), and Q.9mnwnwe!tltl1..L,Qc9Qn,e, . . ._l- A.3d
i
I
_, 2016 PA Super 283 (Slip Opinion issued 12/13/16) (en bane).
Accordingly, for all of the foregoing reasons, it is suggested that the denial of relief
I
with
respect to this claim be affirmed.
Defendant's thirteenth claim asserted that he was prejudiced by the introduc\ion of
:y
l
evidence. related to certain. guns. Re�ief was denied on this claim because it was wai\ved as 1
defendant could have raised it previously. Therefore, it is suggested that the decision pf this II
I
Court be affirmed for that reason. �
Defendant's fourteenth claim, which asserted that he was entitled to relief because Heath
Caudle gave inconsistent statements about the incident that did not mention that East was present
when the killing occurred, was rejected because it also could have been raised previously."
Defendant's claim was therefore properly deemed lacking in merit and it is suggested that the
ruling be affirmed.
1 This Court addressed claims with respect to the admissibility of the evidence concerning various weapons
connected to the case in its I 925(a) opinion. It is the position of this Court that the evidence was properly admitted
into evidence for the reasons set forth in its opinion.
4 It is noted that Heath Caudle was extensively cross-examlned by trial counsel and that Caudle was an
uncooperative witness for the CQITlll!Onwealth. .
17
I
Tall�na :Or�ytm1. nee Chesney, to police wher�in she stated thel'e had been a gun under the floor
I
mat of the car she was driving when she was stopped by police, which she contended tl1ie police
did not find. Relief was properly denied with respect to this claim because it could h�ve been
raised previously and this Court has 110 duty to prove the merits of a PCRA litigant's claims. It is
noted that at trial the parties entered a stipulation indicating that no gun was found in I the car
I
thereby mitigating any prejudice that may have arisen. Therefore, it is suggested that the denial
of relief on this claim be affirmed.
Defendant's sixteenth claim raised various allegations concerning Hassan i East's
credibility ostensibly for the purpose of convincing this Court that the convictions sh9u1d ·be
I
overturned because East was not credible and fabricated his testimony accusing defendant of I
having shotthe victim. Apart from the fact that petiti�n.er _failed to raise a claim se�kinJ. relief
and whatever
.
claim. there is. could have been raised ·.previously
.
, relief was denied because !issues
'
II
of oredibility were for the jury. As not�d herein, East was extensively eross-exemined.
T�}e
fact
I
I
that the jury may have found him credible does not raise a claim for relief and therefore it is
suggested that the denial of relief thereon be affirmed.
Defendant's eighteenth issue asserted that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
move for a. mistrial following comments made by the prosecutor that defendant submits
. I
impllcated his oonstitutionaJ right not to testify in his own defense. Defendant's ineffectiveness I
claim was deemed lacking in merit because the issue of the propriety of the comments was raised
on direct appeal and found not to have violated defendant's constitutional rights. The law is .<:!ear
that a trial court may grant a mistrial "only where the incident upon which the motion is based is
. trial by preventing
of such a nature that its unavoidable effect is to deprive the defendant of a fair .
. . �
a jury from weighing and rendering a true verdict." Qo�rponwealth. v, Qhamb_g�ain,· 30 A.3d \
381, 422 (Pa. 2011). (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); m fil12 Commonwealth v.
I
Travaglia) 28 A.3d 868, 879 (Pa. 2011 ). Applying this standard convinced this Court tha� counsel
. .'
was not ineffective for not requesting a mistrial because the Superior Court's ruling established
. '
I
that the comments were not so prejudicial such that the grant of a new trial was warranted.
Therefore, the claim was rejected and it is submitted that the ruling should be affirmed on ,
appeal.
Defendant's nineteenth
.
issue baldly asserted that a witness for the defense was told Ito leave
I
the court house before having a chance to testify. The claim was dismissed first because
. I
defendant could have raised the claim previously and second because defendant faileJt to set
.I
forth what the witness would. have testified to or how the witnesses' testimony woufd have
I
I
resulted in a different verdict.
.
See � Qommpnyv�glth
.
v. Hentoshi 554 A.2d
.
20, 24��5 (Pa.
I
1989) (claims of ineffectiveness are not self-sustaining, but must be established by submisfion of
ineffecti\veness
relevant proofs, and failure to submit such relevant proofs supporting claim of
warrants summary rejection of the claim); Commonwealth v. Hµtchinson, 556 A.2d 370, 372
:'
(Pa. 1989) (the defendant bears the burden of proving allegations of ineffective assistance by
submission of relevant proofs). Accordingly, it is suggested that the denial of relief on this claim
be affirmed.
In his twentieth issue, defendant asserted that trial counsel was ineffective for' not
re_questing a curative instruction after Jarrett Stit'f testified that as a condition of bail he was not
permitted to have contact with defendant, a co-defendant. (N.T. 9/17/lf 81). Following the
comment, trial counsel objected and moved for a mistrial. (N.T. 9/17/13, 84). After this Court
19
stated that the tl'ial would eentinue, trlal eeuase! stated that he did 11ot want a ei1,m1.tlve itu1tt'uctlon.
(ltJ).
Relief was denied with respect to this claim because counsel had a reasonable basis for
foregoing a cautionary instruction, namely that any instruction would have highlighted any
prejudicial aspect of the complained of testimony. It was also denied because defendant did not
establish that he was prejudiced by the lack of a cautionary instruction given that the comment
was brief and the evidence of guilt overwhelming. In other words defendant did not show a
reasonable probability that the outcome of his trial would have been different if a limiting
instruction had been given
.
with respect to the above-referenced
,
testimony. Se�. Commonwealth
.
, I
v. Do�_gja§, 73 7 A.2d l I 881 1199 (Pa. 1999) (where the defendant failed to demonstrate
I
I
prejudice, he could not show that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request cautionary
instruction regarding defendant's alleged drug involvement); Con:)Jl)onw��JJ!LDl.Yfil-9�,
. - .
725
I .
I .
A.2d 1197, 1204-05 (Pa. 1999) (reference to the defendant having been in pri_son and on, parole
could not have prejudiced him where there was overwhelming evidence cf his! guilt);
QQmmonwealth v.�Srun, 635 A.2d 603, 607"08 (Pa. 1993) (trial counsel not ineffective for failing
to request limiting instruction regarding prior beatings inflicted by the defendant; given the
overwhelming evidence of guilt, failure to request the instruction did not alter the outcome at
trial). Therefore, for all of the foregoing reasons, it is suggested that the denial of relief with
respect to this claim be affirmed.
Defendant's twenty-second claim asserted that trial counsel was ineffective for not
securing Henry Brown a/k/a "Little Henry, who is Barbara Dantzler's grandson as a witness for
the purpose of establishing, according to defendant, that Brown confessed to his grandmother
that he actually shot the victim. It is suggested that the denial of relief be affirmed because
. 20 ,
defendant failed to provide $Ufficient 'information to support this claim and also failed to discuss
the tluee p1•ongs of the ineffectiveness. test in relation to this elalm.
Moreover, the claim was be dismissed because defendant did not establish 11rej°idie� as
Ms. Dantzler admitted that she lied about her grandson's involvement. (NT, 9/23/2013, 4). It is
suggested that the dismissal be affirmed on appeal.
In issue twenty-three, defendant argued that trial counsel was ineffective for not
requesting a l(loiber7 instruction. Relief was properly denied with respect to this claim because
the witnesses knew defendant and any failure by the witnesses to identify defendant sprang from
a reluctance to identify defendant in court rather than from any problem with the circumstances
I
reJect
under which the identifications were made. Accordingly, relief should be denied with to
I
this claim.
Issue twenty-four, wherein defendant baldly argued that .Heath Candle's testimony
differed from what he told police, was deemed lacking in merit because defendant set forth no
el'1im, whatever clain1 det'ondn1,t was attempting to raise qouJd have been raised previously, and
thl:)re was no prejudice because Caudle went "south" at trial and refused to testify that what: was
contained in his statements was true. The denial of relief should be affirmed for these reasons,
7
(;9mroonwe�lth y. Kloiber. 106 A.2d 820 (1954). A� charge is necessary only where an identiflcation
wltneas was not ln the position to observe the accused, ,GQD'.IITIQPWealth v. Sim)llQll.§, 647 A.2d 568 (Pa. Super.
1994), or where the witness failed to identify the defendant on one or more prior occasions. Commonwealth v.
Yarris. 519 Pa. 571, 549 A.2d 513 (l 988), cert denied, 49 l U.S. 910 ( 1989). 1
... 21.: .•
•I .
Fer th" 'foreg()ing N�S!'H;ns. it ls liWZSO!Jted that the order denying defindant PCAA be
affim1ed.
I
By the Court,
I.
22