Com. v. Holley, C. ( 2016 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
CHARLES EDWIN HOLLEY
Appellant No. 1254 MDA 2015
Appeal from the PCRA Order May 13, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-50-CR-0000336-2009
CP-50-CR-0000447-2009
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., LAZARUS, J., and JENKINS, J.
MEMORANDUM BY JENKINS, J.: FILED AUGUST 31, 2016
Appellant Charles Edwin Holley appeals from the May 13, 2015 order
entered in the Perry County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his petition
filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.
We affirm.
On February 2, 2010, a jury convicted Appellant of three counts of
recklessly endangering another person (“REAP”), three counts of simple
assault, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of criminal
attempt, criminal conspiracy, terroristic threats, possession of firearm with
altered manufacturer’s number, persons not to use or possess firearms, and
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receiving stolen property.1 On March 4, 2010, the court sentenced Appellant
to an aggregate term of 13 to 32 years’ incarceration. Appellant filed a
post-sentence motion, which was denied by operation of law on September
8, 2010. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and this Court affirmed his
judgment of sentence on August 2, 2011. Appellant filed a petition for
allowance of appeal with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which was
denied on February 9, 2012.
Appellant filed a pro se PCRA petition, which was dated August 7, 2012
and filed August 9, 2012. On February 15, 2013, appointed counsel filed an
amended petition. The PCRA court conducted an evidentiary hearing on
October 17, 2013.
On October 31, 2013, counsel filed a motion to withdraw as counsel.
On November 18, 2013, the PCRA court issued a notice of its intent to grant
counsel’s petition to withdraw and to dismiss Appellant’s PCRA petition, and
advised Appellant he could file a response within 20 days. On December 2,
2013, Appellant filed a petition for extension of time to file
response/objections. Appellant filed two responses, on April 3, 2014 and
August 1, 2014, both beyond the 20-day time period. On October 10, 2014,
Appellant filed a notice of appeal. On November 25, 2014, this Court
quashed the appeal because the trial court had not issued a final order.
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1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2705, 2701(a), 2702, 901, 903, 2706(a)(1), 6110.2,
6105, and 3925, respectively.
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On May 13, 2015, the PCRA court denied the PCRA petition and
granted counsel’s motion to withdraw. On June 8, 2015 Appellant filed a
timely notice of appeal. Both Appellant and the trial court complied with
Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925.
Appellant raises the following issues on appeal:
I. Whether trial counsel erred for failing to use the
evidence contained in the prosecution’s case file to
impeach the testimony of Commonwealth witness Chris
Mutzabaugh?
II. Whether trial counsel erred for not admitting into
evidence Dominick Sims’ statement at trial and for failing
to interview this witness?
III. Whether trial counsel erred by not objecting to the
prosecutor’s fabrication and/or misstatement of evidence
to the jury during his closing summation?
IV. Whether PCRA counsel was ineffective for his failure to
adequately represent Appellant during his PCRA
proceedings by failing to raise all claims Appellant[] wished
to have raised without providing Appellant with a proper
analysis prior to withdrawing?
V. Whether the PCRA court erred in allowing PCRA counsel
to withdraw without complying with the mandates of
Turner/Finley[2]?
Appellant’s Brief at 2.
Our standard of review from the denial of post-conviction relief “is
limited to examining whether the PCRA court’s determination is supported by
the evidence of record and whether it is free of legal error.”
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2
Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa.1988); Commonwealth v.
Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa.Super.1988) (en banc).
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Commonwealth v. Ousley, 21 A.3d 1238, 1242 (Pa.Super.2011) (citing
Commonwealth v. Morales, 701 A.2d 516, 520 (Pa.1997)).
For ineffective assistance of counsel claims, the petitioner must
establish: “(1) his underlying claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel had no
reasonable basis for his action or inaction; and (3) the petitioner suffered
actual prejudice as a result.” Spotz, 84 A.3d at 311 (quoting
Commonwealth v. Ali, 10 A.3d 282, 291 (Pa.2010)). “[C]ounsel is
presumed to be effective and the burden of demonstrating ineffectiveness
rests on appellant.” Ousley, 21 A.3d at 1244 (quoting Commonwealth v.
Rivera, 10 A.3d 1276, 1279 (Pa.Super.2010)). “The failure to prove any
one of the three [ineffectiveness] prongs results in the failure of petitioner’s
claim.” Id. (quoting Rivera, 10 A.3d at 1279).
Appellant first alleges trial counsel was ineffective for failing to use the
evidence contained in the prosecution’s case file to impeach the testimony of
Commonwealth witness Chris Mutzabaugh. Specifically, he maintains
Mutzabaugh had a criminal record and had open charges when he testified
against Appellant. Appellant’s Brief at 10. He alleges trial counsel should
have used this information to impeach Mutzabaugh. Id.
At the PCRA hearing, Appellant’s trial counsel testified that he did not
want to impeach Mutzabaugh. N.T., 10/17/2013, at 88-90. Rather, counsel
wanted the jury to believe Mutzabaugh, who had testified that he was not
sure whether Appellant attempted to pull the trigger. Id. Further,
Mutzabaugh testified at the PCRA hearing that he testified truthfully at
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Appellant’s trial. Id. at 80.3 Although Mutzabaugh had previously signed an
affidavit stating he had received threats of a harsh prosecution if he failed to
testify against Appellant, at the PCRA hearing he stated that he signed this
affidavit in exchange for drugs. Id. at 76-77.
The trial court found Appellant’s claim lacked merit. Final
Memorandum, 3/8/2016, at 3 (“1925(a) Opinion”).4 It found there was no
need to impeach Mutzabaugh because he testified truthfully at trial. Id.
The PCRA court concluded that Appellant failed to establish prejudice,
because it was unlikely the attempted impeachment would have resulted in
a different outcome. Id. This determination was supported by the record
and free from error.5
Appellant next contends trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
admit as evidence at trial a statement from Dominick Sims during a police
interview and for failing to interview Sims. Appellant’s Brief at 12-14.
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3
Mutzabaugh also stated that although there were pending charges and he
feared he would be sentenced to the maximum, he had no discussions with
the Commonwealth regarding the sentence and the Commonwealth did not
threaten Mutzabugh. N.T., 10/17/2013, at 70-71.
4
Pagination for the 1925(a) opinion has been supplied by this Court.
5
Further, counsel had a reasonable basis for not impeaching Mutzabaugh, as
his argument at trial and on appeal was that there was no evidence
Appellant attempted to pull the trigger, and Mutzabaugh’s testimony
supported this argument.
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Appellant claims the statement contradicted the testimony provided by
Mutzabaugh. Id. at 13.
In his statement to police, Sims stated:
Charles Hollie knocked on the door and was welcomed
inside the home[. U]pon entering, he greeted myself,
Jennifer and Chris. He then walked over to Chris and
pulled out what appeared to be a small handgun. He
stated to Chris[: “]Oh just so you know, I can kill you or
anybody at anytime.[”] Chris then said, [“]Chuck, that
isn’t funny man, give me the gun,” and Chuck handed him
the gun.
PCRA Petition, at Exhibit 1, Statement of Dominick Joseph Sims to Police
dated May 30, 2009. Appellant offered affidavits from his mother and friend
stating they informed counsel that Sims was available and willing to testify
at trial. PCRA Petition, at Exhibit 5-B
A PCRA petitioner cannot prevail on a claim of trial counsel’s
ineffectiveness for failure to call a witness unless the petitioner shows that:
“(1) the witness existed; (2) the witness was available to testify for the
defense; (3) counsel knew of, or should have known of, the existence of the
witness; (4) the witness was willing to testify for the defense; and (5) the
absence of the testimony of the witness was so prejudicial as to have denied
the defendant a fair trial.” Commonwealth v. Washington, 927 A.2d 586,
599 (Pa.2007). To satisfy the prejudice prong of this analysis, a PCRA
petitioner “must show how the uncalled witnesses’ testimony would have
been beneficial under the circumstances of the case.” Commonwealth v.
Gibson, 951 A.2d 1110, 1134 (Pa.2008) (citations omitted).
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The PCRA court found that counsel had a reasonable strategy for not
calling Sims because, as discussed above, he did not want to impeach the
testimony of Mutzabaugh. 1925(a) Opinion at 4. Further, the court noted
that Sims is deceased and, therefore, Appellant cannot establish Sims would
have testified on his behalf.6 Id.
The PCRA court’s conclusion that this ineffective assistance of counsel
claim lacks merit is supported by the record and free of legal error.7
Appellant next claims his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
object to the assistant district attorney’s alleged fabrication and/or
misstatement of evidence to the jury during his closing summation.
Appellant’s Brief at 24. Appellant claims that during closing arguments the
assistant district attorney discussed a statement Appellant made to police
and misstated its contents. Id.
At trial, Trooper Barry Calhoun testified to the following:
Yes, Charles said that he did enter – he did not knock and
was invited inside. And at that point he met with his
girlfriend, Jen Myers. They had some words and then
Charles said that he did approach Chris with the handgun
and pointed it at him. He did say that he did it under
advisement of his brother.
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6
The testimony at trial established that Sims was in Florida at the time of
the trial. N.T., 2/2/2010, at 114-15.
7
Appellant also claims trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate
Sims. However, the interview statement, in which Sims states Appellant
pointed a gun at Mutzabaugh and stated he “could kill anybody at anytime”
suggests Sims’ testimony would not have been helpful to Appellant.
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N.T., 2/2/2010, at 111.
During his closing argument, the assistant district attorney stated:
And when they arrested this guy, he told them he did it.
He said I took a gun there, I pointed it at Chris, I was
drinking that night, and Luke told me to do it, kill myself
while I was at it.
N.T., 2/2/2010, 157. Appellant maintains counsel should have objected to
this argument.
This Court applies the following standard to prosecutorial misconduct
claims:
In reviewing prosecutorial remarks to determine their
prejudicial quality, comments cannot be viewed in isolation
but, rather, must be considered in the context in which
they were made.
Generally, comments by the district attorney do not
constitute reversible error unless the unavoidable effect of
such comments would be to prejudice the jury, forming in
their minds fixed bias and hostility toward the defendant
so that they could not weigh the evidence objectively and
render a true verdict.
Commonwealth v. Sampson, 900 A.2d 887, 890 (Pa.Super.2006)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Correa, 664 A.2d 607, 609 (Pa.Super.1995)).
The PCRA court found the issue lacked merit because the statement
during closing argument did not misstate or fabricate the evidence. Rather,
Appellant only established he disagreed with the inference made from the
statements. 1925(a) Opinion, at 5. The PCRA court further noted that the
assistant district attorney’s statement was based on a trooper’s testimony,
who stated Appellate related to him that “he did approach Chris with the
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handgun and pointed it at him.” Id. The PCRA court’s determination that
the prosecutorial claim lacked merit was supported by the record and free of
legal error. Accordingly, because the prosecutorial misconduct claim lacked
merit, Appellant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim also lacks merit.
See, e.g., Spotz, 84 A.3d at 311 (to establish ineffective assistance of
counsel, petitioner must prove underlying claim had merit).
Appellant’s fourth claim maintains PCRA counsel was ineffective for
failing to raise all claims Appellant wished to have raised without providing
Appellant with a proper analysis prior to withdrawing.8 Appellant maintains
counsel failed to follow the dictates of Turner/Finley because he failed to
raise meritorious claims. Appellant’s Brief at 27. He claims counsel failed to
include meritorious claims, including that trial counsel failed to impeach
Mutzabaugh, failed to use Sims’ statement, and failed to object to the
prosecutor’s closing argument. However, as discussed above, these issues
are meritless. The PCRA court found Appellant’s PCRA counsel
ineffectiveness claim meritless, noting counsel cannot raise a claim he
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8
Appellant’s submissions in response to the PCRA court’s notice of intent to
dismiss the petition challenge PCRA counsel’s ineffectiveness. Although the
responses were not timely filed, Appellant requested an extension and the
PCRA court reviewed the PCRA counsel ineffectiveness claims.
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believes lacks merit. 1925(a) Opinion at 6-7. This conclusion is supported
by the record and free from legal error.9
Appellant’s final claim maintains the PCRA court erred when it
permitted PCRA counsel to withdraw without ensuring the requirements of
Turner/Finley were met.10 Appellant’s Brief at 29. As with his PCRA
counsel ineffectiveness claim, Appellant maintains counsel failed to address
meritorious arguments. However, as discussed above, Appellant’s issues
lack merit. Further, our independent review of the record has revealed no
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9
Counsel’s motion to withdraw included these claims, but argued they were
meritless. See Motion to Withdraw Under the Post Conviction Relief Act,
filed Oct. 31, 2013.
10
Competent PCRA counsel must conduct an independent review of the
record before a trial court can authorize counsel’s withdrawal.
Commonwealth v. Freeland, 106 A.3d 768, 774 (Pa.Super.2014). The
independent review
requires counsel to file a ‘no-merit’ letter detailing the
nature and extent of his review and list[ing] each issue the
petitioner wishes to have examined, explaining why those
issues are meritless. The PCRA court, or an appellate court
if the no-merit letter is filed before it, then must conduct
its own independent evaluation of the record and agree
with counsel that the petition is without merit.
Id. (internal citation omitted). PCRA counsel must also serve a copy of
counsel’s petition to withdraw as counsel and the ‘no-merit’ brief on
petitioner and write a letter advising the petitioner that he or she has the
right to proceed pro se or with the assistance of privately retained counsel.
Commonwealth v. Widgins, 29 A.3d 816, 818 (Pa.Super.2011) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Friend, 896 A.2d 607 (Pa.Super.2006), abrogated in
part by Commonwealth v. Pitts, 981 A.2d 875, 876 (Pa.2009)).
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meritorious claims that Appellant could have raised, and we agree with the
PCRA court and PCRA counsel that the petition lacked merit.11
Accordingly, Appellant’s claims of counsel ineffectiveness and PCRA
court error lack merit.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/31/2016
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11
Although the record does not contain a letter from counsel to Appellant
enclosing the Turner/Finley letter, it does contain a letter from Appellant
noting he did not oppose counsel’s motion to withdraw and two responses
from Appellant to the PCRA court’s notice of intent to dismiss.
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