Com. v. Richardson, J. ( 2018 )

J-S59023-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
JAMES A. RICHARDSON :
:
Appellant : No. 3290 EDA 2017
Appeal from the PCRA Order September 8, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0310462-2003
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., LAZARUS, J., and OTT, J.
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED OCTOBER 29, 2018
James A. Richardson appeals from the order, entered in the Court of
Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, dismissing as untimely his petition filed
pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-
9546. After careful review, we affirm based on the Honorable M. Theresa
Sarmina’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.
On July 28, 2004, a jury convicted Richardson of second-degree murder
and related offenses. On March 16, 2007, this Court affirmed Richardson’s
judgment of sentence. Commonwealth v. Richardson, 2633 EDA 2005 (Pa.
Super. Mar. 16, 2007). Richardson’s judgment of sentence became final on
or about January 2, 2008, after our Supreme Court denied his petition for
J-S59023-18
allowance of appeal.1 Commonwealth v. Richardson, 934 A.2d 73 (Pa.
2007). Richardson filed the instant petition, his third, pro se on May 18, 2017;
he characterized it as a “Petition for a Habeas Corpus Petition.”
On appeal, Richardson acknowledges his PCRA petition was patently
untimely, but argues that the PCRA court erred in dismissing his petition
because his “Habeas Petition” is not cognizable under the PCRA, and thus, not
constrained by its time bar.2 This claim is meritless. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9542
(“[The PCRA] shall be the sole means of obtaining collateral relief and
encompasses all other common law and statutory remedies for the same
purpose that exist when this subchapter takes effect, including habeas corpus
and coram nobis.”).
“If the petition is determined to be untimely, and no exception has been
pled and proven, the petition must be dismissed without a hearing because
Pennsylvania courts are without jurisdiction to consider the merits of the
petition.” Commonwealth v. Jackson, 30 A.3d 516, 518 (Pa. Super. 2011),
____________________________________________
1 Richardson did not seek review in the Supreme Court of the United States.
Therefore, Richardson’s judgment of sentence became final ninety days after
our Supreme Court denied his petition for allowance of appeal. See
U.S.Sup.Ct.R. 13 (“Unless otherwise provided by law, a petition for a writ of
certiorari to review a judgment in any case, civil or criminal, entered by a
state court of last resort or a United States court of appeals . . . is timely when
it is filed with the Clerk of this Court within 90 days after entry of the
judgment.”).
2 On September 10, 2018, a rule to show cause order was issued as to why
Richardson’s appeal should not be quashed as interlocutory. After review of
Richardson’s show cause memorandum, we conclude that we should not
quash Richardson’s appeal. See generally, Richardson Show Cause
Memorandum, 3/18/18. Accordingly, we proceed with our review.
-2-
J-S59023-18
quoting Commonwealth v. Perrin, 947 A.2d 1284, 1285 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Here, Richardson’s petition alleges an illegal sentence. See Brief of Appellant,
at 3 (“[Richardson’s] habeas corpus petition . . . challenge[s] the legality of
life without parole for second degree murder[.]”). With respect to legality of
sentence claims, our courts have held that “[a]lthough legality of sentence is
always subject to review within the PCRA, claims must still first satisfy the
PCRA’s time limits or one of the exceptions thereto.” Commonwealth v.
Fahy, 737 A.2d 214, 223 (Pa. 1999), citing Commonwealth v. Chester, 733
A.2d 1242 (Pa. 1999).
We agree with Judge Sarmina that (1) Richardson’s Habeas Petition is,
in fact, cognizable under the PCRA, see PCRA Court Opinion, 2/9/18, at 5,
and (2) he has failed to allege any exception to the one-year time requirement
of the PCRA, see 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1)(i)-(iii). This one-year time bar
is mandatory, meaning courts have “no authority to extend filing periods
except as the statute permits.” Fahy, 737 A.2d at 222. Therefore, the PCRA
court was without jurisdiction to consider the merits of his petition, as it
became patently untimely on January 2, 2009. Fahy, supra; PCRA Court
Opinion, 2/9/18, at 8.
Following a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of Judge Sarmina, we conclude
that Richardson’s PCRA Petition is untimely and that his issue merit no relief.
The trial court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the
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J-S59023-18
question presented. Accordingly, we affirm based on Judge Sarmina’s opinion
and advise the parties attach it in the event of further proceedings.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/29/18
-4-
Circulated 10/23/2018 01 :31 PM
PHILADELPHIA COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CRIMINAL 'tRlAL DMSION
· COMMONWEALTH
CP-51-CR-0310462-2003
v. . FILl;D
FEB O� 2018 Superior Court No .
Rfif1'
. JAMES RICHARDSON
3290 EDA 2017
Off\CI 0, Jualc\a\
Sarmina., J, Appeals/Post r a
February 9, 2018
OPINION
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On july 2°8, 2004, following a four defendant' jury tria.12 before this Court.james Richardson
(hereafter, petitioner) was convicted of second degree murder (H-2), aggravated assault (F-1), two
counts of robbery (F-1), two counts of criminal conspiracy (F-1), and two counts of possessing
instruments of crime (M-1)(PIC).3 Sentencing was deferred until September 9, 2004, at which time
petitioner was sentenced to the mandatory term" of life in prison.' Notes of Testimony (N.T.)
1 Petitioner was tried with co-defendants Jamaar Richardson (his brother), Lavar Brown, and
Christopher Kennedy, All
but the latter faced second degree murder charges, Kennedy', trial was a capital trial; he was convicted of fu:st degree
murder and. after the penalty phase, the jwy :returnee! a verdict of death. ·
· 2 At trial, petitioner was represented by Bemard Siegel. �squite.
318 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502(b), 2702(a), 3701 (a)(l), 903(a), 907(a), and respectively.
• ts Pa.C.S. § 1102(b).
5 Petitioner's instant case was consolidated for trial with the case under CP-51-CR-0407442-2004. Though the sentences
that follow concem both CP numbers, the instant petition only concerns petitioner's challenge to his murder conviction
in the case under CP-S 1-CR-0310462-2003. For sentencing pUiposes, one of the charges of robbery merged with the
charge of second degree murder. As to petitioner's second charge of robbery, petitioner was sentenced to a concurrent
term of not less than five years nor mote than twenty yea.ts in prison. As to the charge of aggravated assault, petitioner
was sentenced to a consecutive term of not less than five.years nor more than twenty years in ptison. As to the cha.tge
of PIC, petitioner was sentenced to a consecutive term of not less than oae year nor more than five years in prison. As
to petitioner's second charge of PIC, petitioner was sentenced to a consecutive term of not less than one year nor more
than five years in prison. As to one of the two charges of criminal conspiracy, petitioner was sentenced to concurrent
terms of not less than five years nor more than twenty years in prison. N.T. 9/9/04 at 27-29.
9/9/04 at 27. On September 17, 2004, petitioner filed post-sentence motions, which were denied
by this Court on October 26, 2004.
On June 15, 2005� trial counsel filed a PCRA petitio� on petitioner's behalf;reque�ting that
petitioner's appellate rights be reinstated nunc pro tune because of counsel's failure to file an appellate
brie£6 This Court reinstated petitioner's appellate rights on August 15, 2005, and petitioner filed a-_
timely notice of appeal to Superior Court on September 1, 2005.- Petitioner's judgment of sentence
was affumed by Superior Court on March 16, 2007, and .our Supreme Court denied petitioner's
· pe_ti.tio� for allowance of appeal on October 41 2007,i
Petitioner filed his first substantive prose PCRA petition on October 26, 2007. · Counsel �as·
appointed' and, on June 27, 2008,. filed an amended petition.' .The Commonwealth filed a motion to
dismiss on August 28, 2008. Petitioner filed. a supplemental petition on December 5, 2008. After
reviewing the filings, on February 5, 2009, this Court sent petitioner notice of its intent to deny and
dismiss his P<;:RA petition without� hearing as required by Pa.'it:c.cim.P. 907 (907 Notice).
Consis_tent with the 9_07 Notice, �etitioner's PCRA petition was dismissed on February 27, 2009.
Petitioner .filed a timely notice of.appeal on Match 4j 2009. O� December 3, 2009, Superior Court
affuriled this Court's dismissal of petitioner's PCRA peti-�.on; and on June 13, 2011, our Supreme
Court denied petitioner's petition for allowance of appeal.9
Petitioner filed a second,pro se untimely PCRA-petition on April 8, 2013, more than six years·
after his judgment of sentence became final. Having found that petitioner's claims failed to satisfy
6 Bema.td Siegel. Esquire, who continued to represent petitioner on appeal, filed this motion on petitioner's behalf.
7Commonwealth v. James Richa;rdsoQ, No. 2633. EJ;)A 20051 slip op. (Pa.Super., March 16, 2007) - (memorandum
opinion), a/Jotdltlr tkni,d, No. 184 EAL 2007, (Pa., Oct 4, 2007). · • ·
-
8
Peter Levin, Esquire, was appointed to represent petitioner on collateral attack.
9
Commonwealth v. James Richardson, No. 639 EDA 2009,-slip op. (Pa.Super.;Dec. 3, 2009) (memorandum opinipn),
a/1.ocabtr tkflild, 785 .EAL 2009 (Pa., June 13, 2011 ). . .
2
. . .
any of the timeliness exceptions articulated in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b), on July 8, 2015, this Courtsent
petition.er a 907 Notice." This Court dismissed the petition as untimely on August 28, 2015. On
September 29, 2015, petitioner filed a notice of appeal. On May 11, 2016, Superior Court affi:ttned
the dismissal." Petitioner did not seek al/Qcatur.
The instant petition, petitioner's third, was untimely filed prose on May 18, 2017, and titled as
a "Petition for a Habeas Corpus Petition." Petitioner's only claim in the instant petition was that bis
sentence was illegal because 18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(b)12 is unconstitutionally vague with respect to the
punishment following a conviction o� second degree_ mw:der.n Rather. than pleading �y of the
timeliness exceptions under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b), petitioner instead argued that his claim was not
cognizable underthe �CRA and asserted that this Court was required to treat his petition as a
petition for habeas corpus relief. Having reviewed the pleadings and finding that petitioner's petition
was indeed cognizable under the PC.RA, and that the petition failed to satisfy any of the-timeliness
exceptions, this Court sent petitioner a 907 Notice on July 21, 2017.H On September 8, 2017, this
Court dismissed petitioner's petition as untimely, consistent with the 907 Notice." This timely
appeal followed.
1o The Post-Trial Unit of the First Judicial District did cot assign this PCRA to this Court until 5/28/15.
11Commonwealth v. James Richardson, No. 2884 EDA 2015, slip op. (Pa.Super., May 11, 2016), (memoil!Ddum
opinion).
In, bis petition; petitioner first cited to § 1102(a), thee § t 102(a-b), and only occasionally§ 1102(b). § 1102(b) sets the
12.
sentence for a conviction of second degree murder as life in ptisoc. Petitioner was charged with and convicted of
second degree murder, and thus§ 1102(b) is the only provision which petitioner has standing to challenge.
"(!']he statute fails to give a person of oidin.ary intelllgep.ce fah- notice that its pc:nalty is cot·� tezm 9flife
13
imprisonment' as the statute clearly and plainly states but, in reality', its true penalty is 'a tenn of life im.p.risocmect'
without parole." &ti.ti2n at 3 (emphasis in o;:iginal).
14'This Court's July 21, 2017 907 Notice was filed as to both the CP cumber on the instant petition, CP-51-CR--031_0462-
2003, as well as CP-51-CR-0407442-2004, which was consolidated for trial with the instant case. However, this was in
error, as petitioner's filings for the instant petition included co reference to the case wider CP-51-CR-0407442-2004.
� is On July 27, 2017, petitioner filed a response to the 907 N otice, entitling it a "Petition for Leave of Court to F"Jle an
� Objection to 907 Notice of Intent to Dismiss by October 31, 2017." Petitioner neglected to seed a physical copy of this
S��
request to the Court and, therefore, it was not addressed until it was uploaded to the First Judicial District's electronic
. 3
� .
LEGAL ANALYSIS
Petitioner raises the following issue on appeal 16
· · 1. The PCRA Court abused its discretion when it treated petitioner's petition as-an untimely
PCRA petition rather thari a petition for a writ of habeas cotp11J.
Petitioner's
. .
petition claimed that his conviction and sentence were illegal because 18 Pa.C.S. §
1102(b) was unconstitutionally vague, and argued that this Court could not treat his claim as a PCRA
petition and must instead grant him relief via a wr:lt of habeas cotp11J. However, as petitioner's claim:
was cognizable under the PCRA, an� as that claim failed to satisfy any of the timeliness exceptions,
this Court was without jurisdiction to entertain the merits of petitioner's claim and properly
dismissed the petition as untimely.
A PCRA petition not filed within one year of the date that a petitioner's judgment of
sentence became "final" must allege, and the petitioner must prove, one of the exceptions
enumerated in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1), as well as the "due diligence" provision of§ 9545(b)(2):
(l)(i) the failure to raise the claim previously was the result of interference by goveonnent
officials with the presentation of the claim in violation of the Constitution or laws of this
Commonwealth or the Constitution or laws of the United St.ates;
{l)(u) the facts upon which the claim is predicated were unknown to the petitioner and could
not have been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence; or
(1)(iil') the right asserted is a constitutional right that was recognized by the Supreme Court
of the United States or the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after the time period provided in
this section and has been held by that court to apply retroactively.
[FN contd.)
filing system. This Court's September 8, 2017 order dismissing petitioner's petition therefore erroneously noted that
petitioner had' not responded to this Court's 907 Notice. On September 8, 2017, after filing the dismissal order, this.
Court received petitioner's response to the 907 Notice. On September 19, 2017, this Court issued an order vacating its
-
September 8, 2017 order of dismissal. However, as pedtioner bad filed a Notice of Appeal from this Court's September
·s, 20� 7 dismissal order on September 15, 2017, this Court had no jurisdiction to vacate the September 8, 2017 dismissal
·. 16 While petitioner's
Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal characterizes this as two separate issues, petitioner
merely argues at length that this Court abused i,!'s discretion when it treated his petition as an untimely PCRA petition .
n:ther than a habetu m,pw petition. Therefore, petitioner's two issues as raised in his Statement of Matters Complained
of on Appeal ha:vc been consolidated and rephrased for ease of disposition. .
4
(2) Any petition invoking an exception provided in paragraph (1) shall be filed within 60 days
of the date the claim could have been presented.
42 Pa.CS. §§ 9545(b)(1)(i)-(lii), (b){�).
If none of these exceptions is satisfie_� a_ PCRA court does not have the jurisdiction_ to
· consider the merits of the petition. Comrilonwealth v Walters, 135 A.3d 589, 591 (Pa.Super. 2016),
citing Commonwealth v. Leggett, 16 A.3d 1144, 1145 (Pa.Super, 2011) (batting consideration of
merits of untimely PCRA. petitions).
"The PCRA is intended to be the sole means of achieving post-convictionrelief, Unless the
PCRA could not provide for a potential remedy, the PCRA statute subsumes the writ of habeas
corpus ... a defendant cannot escape the PCRA time-bar by titling his petition or motion as a writ of
habeas co,pm." Commonwelath v. Taylor. 65 A.3d 46�, 465-66 (Pa.Super. 2013), citing 42 Pa.C.S. §
9542; Commonwealth v. Fahy. 737 A.2d 2t4122Q (Pa. 1999); Commonwealth y. Haun, 32 A.3d 697(Pa. 2011). The petitioner in Commonwealth. v. Fahy argued that the timeliness requirements of the
current PCRA themselve� violated due process. 737 A.2d at 220. Our Supreme Court h�d in Fahy
that the time restrictions are reasonable, courts give petitioners ample notice of the restrictions, and
that the challenge· itself fell under the PCRA. Id. at 220, 223. As the petition was untimely, it was
dismissed, for while the "legality of sentence is always subject to review within the PCRA, claims
must still �t satisfy the PCRA's time limits oroneof the exceptions thereto." Ml at 223-24. q11oting
Conitnoowealth v. Chester. 733 A.2d 1242 (Pa. 1999).
In Commonwealth v. Roman, the statute 'under which a petitioner was found guilty was
found to be unconstitutionally vague five days after his conviction. 730 A.2d 486, 487 (Pa.Super
1999). Over a year later, petitioner filed a "nun« pro tune petition for post-sentence. �ot:ions." 14..
'This was treated by the Court as a PCRA petition, as it alleged a violation of an unconstitutional law.
Id. Because his petition was untimely, and as the law had been declared unconstitutional just days
. after his sentence, he was well outside of the 60 days required to establish due diligence. Id. at 488.
5
In the instant petition, petitioner argued at length that his petition was outside of the scope
of the PCRA, and asserted that this Court would in fact abuse its discretion if it "converted" his
· petition for habeas corpus relief to a PCRA petition and "utilized the time rule �tations" to dis�s
his petition as untimely. In support, petitioner cited to Commonwealth v. West, 938 A.2d 1034. (Pa.
2007), which held that where a remedy for a petitioner's claims is not available under the PCRA�
those claims may proceed as a habeaJ corpus petition, In � the petitioner was found guilty of
controlled substances charges, sentenced to a tenn of years, and filed a direct appeal to challenge his
conviction. 938 A.2d at 1036-37. The petitioner sought, and was granted, release on bail pending
bis appeal. Id. at 1037. Though Superior Court affirmed the judgment of sentence, and though ow:
Supreme Court thereafter denied petitioner allorafllr, petitioner was not recalled to serve bis sentence
and instead remained at liberty for nine years.17 After the matter was brought to the attention of the
Court and the petitioner was arrested and committed to' serve his prior criminal sentence, petitioner
filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging the continuing validity of his judgment of
sentence, asserting that his claim fell outside of the scope of the PCRA.. Id. at 1037-38. The�
court recognized that petitioner's claim indeed fell outside the ambit of the PCRA; the claim did not
implicate the truth determining process underlying his conviction or sentence, nor did it implicate
the legality of the sentence imposed, but, rather, asserted that incarcerating him on such a sentence
after the significant' delay between the time of sentencing and the time he was recalled from bond
release was fundamentally unfair and therefore constitutionally infirm. Id. at 1043. Although our
Supreme Court recognized that the PCRA is the "sole means of collateral relief" in Pennsylvania, it
held that because-the PCRA. could not provide a remedy for petitioner's claim and did not
17During the nine years that the petitioner remained at liberty; the trial judge who convicted and sentenced petitioner
passed away, which may provide some explanation for why the petitioner in West was not recalled to serve his sentence.
938 A.2d at 1037 n. 1.
6
contemplate his unique circumstances, petitioner's claim could be raised as a habeas co,p,u petition.
lg. at 1043-45.
This was not the case at all with respect to petitioner's claim in his PCRA petition, as
. petitioner's claim explicitly challenged his conviction and sentence on the basis that the statute
.which provided his punishment, 18 Pa.C.S, § 1102(b), was unconstitutionally vagueu and therefore
void on due process grounds.19 Due process claims relating to a conviction or sentence are eligible
for relief under the PCRA pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S, § 9543(2)(i) (sentences violating the Constitution of
the United States or the Constitution of this Cottunonwealth), and§ 9543(2)(vfu), (covering
proceedings where the tribunal lacks jurisdiction), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9543(2)(i),(vfu). Both of these
20
provisions are implicated when a petitioner alleges that his conviction or sentence relies upon an
unconstitutio� law. Under Fahy. due process challenges.to statutes are cognizable under the
PCRA, and Roman reinforced the timeliness restrictions on these challenges. Therefore, petitioner's
11
Though this Court docs not reach the merits of petitioner's claim as to the constitutionality of§ 1102(b), this Court
notes that petitioner failed to offer any discussion to develop bis claim that the due process void-for-vagueness doctrine
required that this Court find § 1102(b) unconstitutionally vague. "Ibis Court finds that such development would be
necessary in any discussion of the merits of petitioner's claim; as the controlling case law for the void-for-vagueness
doctrine concerns whether a criminal statute sufficiently defines the GOndJJct prohibi_ud, rather than whether the statute is
sufficiently clear with respect to the punishment authorized for those convicted of violating the statute, as petitioner
chimed here. S= Commonwealth v, Duda, �23 A.2d 1138 (Pa. 2007) (The due process void-for-vagueness doctrine
requires that a penal statute define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand
what conduct is prohibited, and in a manner that does not encourage atbitruy and discriminatory enforcement).
19 In an attempt to avoid the timeliness requieemeats of the PCRA, petitioner vehemently protested that his claim was
beyond the scope of the PCRA and did not fall under a.ny of the bases for post-conviction relief provided in 42 Pa.C.S. §
9543(a), includiog the assertion that bis claim was not a challenge to bis conviction or sentence but instead was a
challenge to "the constitutionality of a penal statute.'' Response to 907 Notice, 9 /8/17, at 2 (emphasis in o.rigirutl). "Ibis
Court found that this was a distinction without a difference. The only grounds upon which petitioner could have
standing to challenge the constitutionality of§ 1102(b) would be to challenge the legality of his own sentence, Further,
conceming petitioners sentence, petitioner was clearly infonned at the time of sentencing that bis sentence was "life
without the possibility of parole." N.T. 9/9/04 at 27. Petitioner's incredible claims, that he was not made aware of the
nature of his punishment until more than a. decade after his sentencing and that bis claim is not a challenge to his own
sentence, amount.s to a �ste of this Court's time and resources.
:m While unpublished, and thus non-precedential, Superior Court has addressed the exact issue raised by petitioner here,
in Commonwealth y.Diaz.1132 EDA 2016, 2017 WL 710576, at *1 (Pa.Super., F�b. 22, 2017). InDiu, Superior Court
found that a challenge to the constitutionality of § 1102 fell under the auspices of the PCRA. hi.
7
claim indeed would have been cognizable under: the PCRA in a timely-filed petition, and petitioner: ·
was required to satisfy the timeliness exceptions for this Court to consider: the merits of his claim.
Petitioner's claim did not fall within any one of the timeliness exceptions enumerated in 42
•
_ Pa.C.S. § 954?(b)(1), nor did petitioner claim that it did.· As petitioner failed to even allege any of
. the timeliness exceptions, this Court lacked jurisdiction to consider the merits of this claim. "It is
the petitioner's burden to plead and prove an exception to the PCRA-timeliness rule .... (F]ailure to
allege a timeliness exception in the PCRA petition itself precludes the petitioner from raising it on
appeal" Commonwealth v. Blackwell, 936 A.2d 497, 500 (Pa.Super. 2007). Therefore, this Co\µ1:
properly dismissed petitioner's PCRA petition as untimely,
Accordingly, the dismissal of petitioner's PCRA petition should be affirmed .
. BY THE COURT:
K-�
M-TERESA SARlvfiNA, J.
8