Com. v. Lee, R. ( 2023 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
ROBERT SIDNEY LEE :
:
Appellant : No. 648 MDA 2021
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered April 29, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Union County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-60-CR-0000269-2016
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.: FILED: MAY 4, 2023
Robert Sidney Lee appeals from the dismissal of his petition filed
pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 9541-
9546. On appeal, Lee raises a general claim of ineffective assistance of counsel
for our review. After reviewing the record and finding no merit in Lee’s claims,
we affirm. Following the submission of his brief, Lee filed an Application for
Remand for our review. We find that remand is not necessary, as we are able
to address Lee’s additional issues.
Lee’s conviction for third-degree murder and tampering with evidence
arose from an altercation in which he stabbed the victim and then threw the
knife in a nearby river. Lee filed a post-sentence motion, which, relevant to
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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this appeal, included a claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to conduct
an adequate voir dire. The trial court chose to address the issue, even though
it was prematurely raised. See Trial Court Opinion 12/28/2017 at 2. Lee timely
appealed his sentence. This Court affirmed the judgment of sentence and
vacated the trial court’s ruling on premature ineffectiveness claims. See
Commonwealth v. Lee, 209 A.3d 1072, 89 MDA 2018 (Pa. Super. filed Feb.
19, 2019) (unpublished memorandum).
Within two months of this Court’s decision, Lee filed this pro se PCRA
petition. Counsel was appointed and, after multiple amendments, a two-day
hearing was held. The PCRA court dismissed the petition. Lee timely appealed,
filing a counseled Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement that simply stated, “The Court
erred in holding that Defendant received constitutionally effective assistance
of counsel at trial.” Prior to filing an appellate brief, PCRA counsel filed an
Application to Withdraw, claiming a breakdown of communication with Lee and
requesting new counsel be appointed. See Application to Withdraw as
Counsel, 7/30/2021. This Court remanded the issue to the trial court for a
Grazier1 hearing.
The PCRA court appointed new counsel. See PCRA Court Order,
8/31/2021. New counsel failed to file a brief and, after a remand in which the
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1 Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998) (requiring on-the-
record inquiry to determine whether criminal defendant’s waiver of counsel is
knowing, intelligent, and voluntary).
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PCRA court determined that counsel had not abandoned Lee, a new briefing
scheduled was instated. New counsel again failed to file a brief and this Court
remanded again for her to be removed and for new counsel to be appointed.
See Superior Court Order, 2/24/2022.
Current counsel was appointed by the PCRA court and, after three
extensions of time, he filed Appellant’s Brief. Over one month later, counsel
filed an Application for Remand. Therein, Lee requests that we remand to the
PCRA court for him to amend the Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement to include a
claim that PCRA counsel was ineffective for failing to include issues regarding
prosecutorial misconduct in the original Rule 1925(b) statement. Alternatively,
Lee requests an evidentiary hearing to develop this issue.
We will address the Application for Remand first. In the Application for
Remand, Lee explains that he requested his PCRA counsel to include specific
issues of prosecutorial misconduct for our review in his Rule 1925(b)
statement, but counsel failed to do so. Specifically, he claims the prosecutor:
[a]) Withheld locations of witnesses to prevent Defendant’s
private investigator from interviewing them;
b) Induced perjury [] from Ms. Jacobs and Trooper Laforme;
c) Affirmed on record that Defendant had full discovery and later
provided additional discovery on the eve of trial;
d) Manipulated video footage during its presentation to the jury;
[and]
e) Introduced evidence of a letter written by Mr. Lee obtained
through a warrantless search of a state agent.
Application for Remand at 3-4.
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Lee contends that these issues were not preserved by PCRA counsel’s
Rule 1925(b) statement, as it did not specifically include them. Arguably, the
Rule 1925(b) statement’s assertion that “[t]he Court erred in holding that
Defendant received constitutionally effective assistance of counsel at trial”
includes every possible claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. However, it
is because of that breadth that, under our Rules, it arguably preserves no
claims. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(ii) (“The Statement shall concisely identify
each error that the appellant intends to assert with sufficient detail to identify
the issue to be raised for the judge.”); see also Commonwealth v. Smith,
955 A.2d 391, 393 (Pa. Super. 2008). Therefore, the Rule 1925(b) Statement
here could be waived as insufficient for review.2
Because appellants may now raise ineffective assistance of PCRA
counsel for the first time on appeal, we conclude that Lee has properly raised
these issues through his Application for Remand. Commonwealth v.
Bradley, 261 A.3d 381, 401 (Pa. 2021) (“[A] PCRA petitioner may, after a
PCRA court denies relief, and after obtaining new counsel or acting pro se,
raise claims of PCRA counsel’s ineffectiveness at the first opportunity to do so,
even if on appeal.”). Further, we conclude this is an instance where “the record
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2Lee’s current counsel has not made this specific claim of ineffectiveness of
PCRA counsel on appeal. Instead, Lee’s claim in his Application for Remand is
merely that the 1925(b) statement does not preserve claims of prosecutorial
misconduct. Regardless, we always may address whether an appellant’s
1925(b) statement has properly preserved an issue raised on appeal.
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before [us is] sufficient to allow for disposition of [Lee’s] newly-raised
ineffectiveness claims.” Id. at 402 (citations and internal quotation marks
omitted). Under the specific circumstances of this case, we conclude that PCRA
counsel was ineffective in filing a vague Rule 1925(b) Statement that
effectively waived all of Lee’s issues on appeal.
We note as well that the issues presented in Lee’s Application for
Remand were also raised in his PCRA petition. As set forth below, we have no
difficulty addressing these issues on appeal, and therefore need not remand
to give the PCRA court or the Commonwealth an opportunity to respond. We
conclude the appropriate remedy is to decline to find these issues waived and
to review them on appeal.
When we review a PCRA court’s decision, we defer to that court’s
findings of fact and credibility determinations as supported by the record, but
we review any legal conclusions de novo. See Commonwealth v. Reyes-
Rodriguez, 111 A.3d 775, 779 (Pa. Super. 2015). Further, we are limited to
reviewing the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence on the record in the
light most favorable to the prevailing party. See id.Counsel is presumed effective and the petitioner claiming
ineffectiveness must prove otherwise. See Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36
A.3d 121, 178 (Pa. 2012). To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, a petitioner must plead and prove three things: “(1) that the
underlying issue has arguable merit; (2) counsel’s actions lacked an objective
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reasonable basis; and (3) actual prejudice resulted from counsel’s act or
failure to act.” Commonwealth v. Stultz, 114 A.3d 865, 880 (Pa. Super.
2015) (citation omitted). If the petitioner fails to meet any one of these
prongs, their claim fails. See id.In his brief, Lee lists myriad claims under the umbrella of ineffective
assistance of counsel.3 The first issue raised is that counsel was ineffective for
failing to fully consult with Lee on his decision not to testify at trial. Lee argues
that trial counsel did not spend enough time advising him on his right to testify
and that by changing his advice during trial and not requiring a colloquy on
the decision, Lee suffered prejudice. See Appellant’s Brief at 35-39. Lee claims
that counsel prevented him from making a knowing, intelligent and voluntary
waiver of his rights. See id. at 39.
In order to prove counsel was ineffective for failing to have Lee testify,
Lee must prove either that counsel interfered with his right to testify or that
he gave specific advice which was so unreasonable that it undermined his
intelligent decision to testify. See Commonwealth v. Lawson, 762 A.2d
753, 755 (Pa. Super. 2000). However, the trial court is not required to colloquy
every defendant on their decision not to testify. See Commonwealth v.
Washington, 269 A.3d 1255, 1264 (Pa. Super. 2022). In fact, the trial court
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3The format of the Argument section of Lee’s brief violates Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a)
by commingling multiple distinct arguments under a single heading. However,
because this violation does not impede our ability to address Lee’s claims, we
decline to find his arguments waived on this basis.
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is empowered to find a knowing, intelligent and voluntary waiver based on
counsel’s testimony regarding conversations with their client on the topic. See
id.Here, the record reveals that on the third day of trial, the
Commonwealth rested and defense counsel made a motion for judgment of
acquittal. After the motion was denied, counsel represented that he intended
to offer no witnesses in support of his defense. See N.T. 6/21/2017 at 382. A
discussion ensued regarding Lee’s choice not to testify:
[District Attorney:] Are we going to colloquy Mr. Lee about his
choice?
THE COURT: Not if he chooses not to testify. I mean I colloquy
them if they don’t. I don’t want it perceived as I’m trying to talk
him into testifying.
[District Attorney:] No. But I just am worried that, you know, he’s
not going to know about the presumptions and all this other stuff
that –
[Counsel:] Your Honor, my client – if the Court will take note, if
you look over at counsel table, you will see a pile of material that
Mr. Lee has before him. And on top, you will see a criminal law
handbook. He is versed in the law. In addition, he heard the
Court’s instructions initially which indicated that maybe he’ll
testify and maybe he won’t.
I think we have seen from Mr. Lee in the past, if he thinks an
injustice is being perpetrated upon him, he will vocalize it. And I
am comfortable in going forward into closing.
Obviously, I’ve had a great deal of discussion with my client about
this. I spoke with him this morning, made it clear to him it was his
choice. I told him I did not advise him at this point, and he told
me his decision was not to take the stand.
Id. at 382-83.
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In addition, trial counsel testified at the PCRA hearing regarding his
advice to Lee. Counsel recalled the conversations he had with Lee leading up
to and during trial regarding his right to testify. Counsel testified that
originally, his advice to Lee was in favor of testifying, as he was pursuing a
theory of self-defense. See N.T. 1/21/2017 at 75-77. However, after Lee gave
a news interview regarding the incident and the reporter testified at trial,
counsel changed his advice as Lee’s self-defense theory was already in front
of the jury. See id.
The PCRA court, in its opinion in support of the order dismissing the
PCRA, specifically found counsel’s testimony in this matter credible. See Trial
Court Opinion, 4/27/2021 at 5. We find no reason to disturb this credibility
determination. Further, we agree with the PCRA court's conclusion that trial
counsel's advice represents a reasonable attempt to apply the law to Lee's
circumstances. As such, Lee did not meet his burden in establishing that trial
counsel's advice was so unreasonable as to make Lee's decision not to testify
unintelligent. Accordingly, this issue merits no relief.
Lee next argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to pursue a
change of venue due to the potential tainting of the jury pool by a news article
published before jury selection. See Appellant’s Brief at 40. In general, to
warrant a change in venue due to publicity, the publicity must be shown to
have cause actual prejudice that prevents the empaneling of an impartial jury.
See Commonwealth v. Briggs, 12 A.3d 291, 313 (Pa. 2011); see also
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Commonwealth v. Tanner, 205 A.3d 388, 393 (Pa. Super. 2019) (explaining
that publicity must be “inflammatory and slanted toward conviction.”). Proving
actual prejudice is a high burden. It requires the appellant to establish that
potential jurors were so tainted by the publicity that they could not lay aside
their prior opinions and render a verdict solely based on the evidence
presented in court. See Briggs, 12 A.3d at 314. In the alternative, prejudice
can be presumed when the publicity “was so extensive, sustained, and
pervasive that the community must be deemed to have been saturated with
it, and that there was insufficient time between the publicity and the trial for
any prejudice to have dissipated.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted).
We conclude Lee has not established actual prejudice, because he points
to no evidence from voir dire that could establish the jurors were incapable of
deciding the case solely on the evidence presented at trial. Further, Lee is not
entitled to a presumption of prejudice, because he caused the publicity about
which he complains. “[A] defendant should not be allowed to manipulate the
criminal justice system by generating publicity and then using that same
publicity to support his claim that the media attention surrounding his case
created a presumption of prejudice.” U.S. v. Bakker, 925 F.2d 728, 733 (4th
Cir. 1991).4
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4While the decision of the Fourth Circuit in Bakker is not binding precedent,
we may consider it for its persuasive value. See Crum v.
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, 907 A.2d 578, 586 (Pa.
Super. 2006). Here, we find the quoted passage highly persuasive.
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Here, Lee participated in an interview with a reporter regarding the case
without approval from counsel. See N.T. 1/21/2021 at 31. Counsel testified
that he did not move for a change of venue at that time because the publicity
that would be the basis for such a change was brought on by Lee’s actions
alone. See id. at 32. As such, Lee created the pre-trial publicity he now
complains about. Since “trial counsel can never be found ineffective for failing
to raise a meritless claim[,]” Lee’s second argument merits no relief.
Commonwealth v. Fetter, 770 A.2d 762, 770 (Pa. Super. 2001) (citation
omitted).
Next, Lee argues that counsel did not effectively conduct voir dire based
on his failure to bring a Batson5 challenge. See Appellant’s Brief at 41. Lee
partially raised this issue in his direct appeal, and we found it premature,
vacating the trial court’s ruling on the issue. See Lee, 89 MDA 2017
(unpublished memorandum).
When an ineffectiveness claim is presented for failure to raise a Batson
challenge during voir dire, the PCRA petitioner may not rely on prima facie
showing that the prosecutor has used peremptory strikes in a racial pattern
and instead must prove, “actual, purposeful discrimination by a
preponderance of the evidence”. Commonwealth v. Smith, 17 A.3d 873,
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5 Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (U.S. 1986) (allowing criminal defendants
to raise claims that peremptory challenges were used by the prosecution for
purposeful discrimination in selecting jurors at the defendant’s trial).
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892 (Pa. 2011) (citation omitted). To meet this burden, Lee was required to
“make an adequate record specifically identifying the race of all the
venirepersons who had been removed by the prosecution, the race of the
jurors who served, or the race of jurors acceptable to the Commonwealth who
had been stricken by the defense” to allow for adequate review.
Commonwealth v. Simpson, 66 A.3d 253, 262 (Pa. 2013). We further
acknowledge that “it is exponentially more difficult in the PCRA context to
perform a reasoned assessment concerning the presence or absence of
purposeful discrimination.” Id. (citation and brackets omitted).
Lee conflates this issue with general complaints regarding counsel’s
questioning during voir dire that he believes failed to determine any social
prejudices the jurors might have. See Appellant’s Brief at 40-41. Lee
highlights that the 200-person panel included one Black person and one
Hispanic person. See id. However, he makes no claims that the makeup of
the jury pool was discriminatory.
Lee instead claims counsel should have raised a Batson challenge when
the prosecutor struck one non-white juror. See id. However, addressing the
arguable merit of the claim, we find it has none because Lee did not
demonstrate the purposeful discrimination by a preponderance of the
evidence. See Commonwealth v. Reid, 99 A.3d 427, 459 (Pa. 2014). Lee
simply states that the prosecutor struck one non-white person. See
Appellant’s Brief at 41. A statistical recounting of peremptory strikes alone is
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not enough to prove purposeful discrimination. See Commonwealth v.
Edwards, 177 A.3d 963, 975 (Pa. Super. 2018) see also Commonwealth
v. Johnson, 139 A.3d 1257, 1282 (Pa. 2016) (sole argument that prosecutor
struck more African-American jurors than non-African-American jurors
insufficient to show purposeful discrimination). Accordingly, Lee’s third claim
on appeal merits no relief.
Lee next argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to object to late
discovery and failing to file a motion to exclude the evidence. See Appellant’s
Brief at 39. Lee fails to indicate the nature of this discovery and we are unable
to discern from the record what evidence he is discussing. Without Lee
specifying the evidence at issue, we are unable to evaluate counsel’s
ineffectiveness for failing to have it excluded. Further, Lee cites to no authority
in support of his contention. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a). As Lee has failed to
meaningfully develop this claim, we find it waived. See Commonwealth v.
Natividad, 938 A.2d 310, 333 (Pa. 2007).
In his fifth issue, Lee claims counsel was ineffective for failing to object
to the Commonwealth’s manipulation of video evidence. Lee takes issue with
the way the prosecutor played, paused, and fast-forwarded the video footage
of the victim from the night of the incident and the incident itself. See
Appellant’s Brief at 42. Lee claims it was impossible for the jury to have had
time to review the footage during deliberations due to their brevity. See N.T.
1/21/2021 at 171-73. Lee also claims that parts of the video where the victim
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was holding something heavy in his pocket, speaking with another witness
and appearing intoxicated were fast-forwarded over. See id. at 171-72.
Again, Lee fails to meaningfully develop this claim for review. See
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a); Natividad, 938 A.2d at 333. Moreover, contrary to Lee’s
claims, trial counsel did, in fact, object to the fast-forwarding of the video
footage. See N.T., 1/21/2021 at 160. The video was played multiple times
throughout trial during the testimony of various witnesses. See N.T.
6/19/2017 at 58-9, 65-6, 90-5, 147-61, N.T. 6/20/2017 at 211, 269-70. Trial
counsel argued that the video showed the victim was intoxicated during
closing arguments. See N.T. 6/21/2017 at 395. Lee fails to show how he was
prejudiced by the fast-forwarding beyond mere speculation that it affected the
jury’s perception of the video.
Next, Lee argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to exclude the
testimony of an apparently intoxicated Qaisha Jacobs or request a drug test.
See Appellant’s Brief at 42. Lee includes only one sentence referencing this
issue in his brief, again failing to develop the claim enough to avoid waiver.
See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a); Natividad, 938 A.2d at 333.
In the final issue raised in his brief, Lee argues ineffectiveness for failure
to secure expert testimony regarding Lee’s mental state. Lee makes a blanket
claim that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and an evaluation
could have addressed his actions and mental state. See Appellant’s Brief at
42. Again, with this perfunctory assertion, Lee does not develop any of the
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prongs of ineffectiveness, and we cannot adequately address the issue.
Therefore, we find it waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a).
We now turn to the claims of PCRA court error which counsel presents
in the Application for Remand. Lee claims the prosecutor intentionally:
[a]) Withheld locations of witnesses to prevent Defendant’s private
investigator from interviewing them;
b) Induced perjury [] from Ms. Jacobs and Trooper Laforme;
c) Affirmed on record that Defendant had full discovery and later
provided additional discovery on the eve of trial;
d) Manipulated video footage during its presentation to the jury;
e) Introduced evidence of a letter written by Mr. Lee obtained through
a warrantless search of a state agent.
Application for Remand at 3-4.
“Prosecutorial misconduct includes actions intentionally designed to
provoke the defendant into moving for a mistrial or conduct by the prosecution
intentionally undertaken to prejudice the defendant to the point where [he]
has been denied a fair trial.” Commonwealth v. Lambert, 765 A.2d 306,
327 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citation omitted). We evaluate claims of prosecutorial
misconduct under a harmless error standard. See Commonwealth v.
Holley, 945 A.2d 241, 250 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Lee requested remand because PCRA counsel “did not raise [these
issues] for consideration for appellate review.” Application for Remand at 4.
As noted above, the sole issue PCRA counsel raised in the Rule 1925(b)
Statement was a vague assertion that trial counsel was ineffective. As such,
Lee is framing his claims of prosecutorial misconduct as claims independent
of his claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Claims of prosecutorial
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misconduct can be raised, if properly preserved, on direct appeal; therefore,
they are not cognizable independently in a PCRA proceeding. See
Commonwealth v. Wholaver, 177 A.3d 136, 174 (Pa. 2018) (finding a claim
of prosecutorial misconduct waived under the PCRA because “the prosecutor’s
alleged misconduct took place during trial and could have been, but was not,
raised at trial.”). Even if raised in Lee’s 1925(b) Statement, we would have
found these issues waived because all these instances of prosecutorial
misconduct occurred at trial and were not raised on direct appeal. See Pa.
C.S.A. § 9544(b). The claims of PCRA counsel ineffectiveness identified in
Lee’s Application for Remand were not independently cognizable in collateral
proceedings. Therefore, Lee is not entitled to relief on these claims.
Application for Remand denied. Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 5/04/2023
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