J-S10040-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee
v.
THOMAS IANOZI,
Appellant No. 2310 EDA 2015
Appeal from the PCRA Order June 10, 2015 in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Criminal Division at No.: CP-46-CR-0006433-2006
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED JANUARY 29, 2016
Appellant, Thomas Ianozi, appeals pro se from the order entered June
10, 20151 dismissing his third petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction
Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546, as untimely. Although he
admits it is untimely, Appellant claims that his petition should be considered
on its merits because he challenges the legality of his sentence. We affirm
on the basis of the PCRA court opinion.
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 Although dated June 9, 2015, a review of the docket indicates that the order on appeal was filed on June 10, 2015. We have amended the caption accordingly. J-S10040-16
In its opinion, the PCRA court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant
facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore we have no reason to
restate them at length here.
For context and convenience of reference, we note briefly that on
February 15, 2008, a jury convicted Appellant of aggravated assault,
unlawful restraint, and rape. Appellant’s convictions stem from an incident
on July 23, 2006 where Appellant “forced [the victim] into his truck by
punching her in the face and stomach and dragging her by her hair. He then
took her back to his apartment, where he forcibly detained her, beat her,
berated her, and raped her both vaginally and anally, during an ordeal that
lasted approximately eight hours.” (See PCRA Court Opinion, 9/29/15, at
1). The victim finally escaped and called 911 after which Appellant chased
her outside and again began to beat her. (See id.). The assault finally
stopped after police responded to the call, observed the assault, and placed
Appellant under arrest. (See id.). On May 12, 2008,2 Appellant was
sentenced to not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty years’
imprisonment. This Court affirmed the judgment of sentence on June 2,
2009 and our Supreme Court denied allowance of appeal on June 23, 2010.
2 Although the PCRA court opinion states that Appellant was sentenced on March 12, 2008, the docket entries reflect that the sentence was imposed on May 12, 2008.
-2- J-S10040-16
See Commonwealth v. Ianozi, 981 A.2d 313 (Pa. Super. 2009)
(unpublished memorandum), appeal denied, 997 A.2d 1175 (Pa. 2010).
On December 22, 2010, Appellant filed his first PCRA petition. The
PCRA court appointed counsel, who, after reviewing the case, submitted a
petition to withdraw in accordance with Commonwealth v. Finley, 550
A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1998). The PCRA court granted counsel’s petition to
withdraw and dismissed Appellant’s first PCRA petition on September 14,
2011. On December 8, 2014, Appellant filed a second PCRA petition
claiming that his sentence was illegal pursuant to Alleyne v. United
States, 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013). The PCRA court dismissed his second PCRA
petition without a hearing on December 19, 2014.
Appellant filed the instant third PCRA petition, which he refers to as a
petition for writ of habeas corpus, on March 12, 2015. Pursuant to the
court’s order, the Commonwealth filed its answer and motion to dismiss the
third PCRA petition on April 24, 2015. The PCRA court issued an order on
May 4, 2015 providing notice to Appellant that it would dismiss his petition
in twenty days. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 907(1). Appellant did not respond and
the PCRA court dismissed his petition on June 10, 2015. This timely appeal
followed.3 ____________________________________________
3 Although the docket entries reflect that Appellant’s notice of appeal was filed July 28, 2015, his notice states that it was given to prison authorities on June 17, 2015. The notice of appeal envelope is post-marked July 7, 2015. Pursuant to the prisoner mailbox rule, an appeal is deemed to have (Footnote Continued Next Page)
-3- J-S10040-16
Appellant raises five questions on appeal.
1. According to controlling Pennsylvania Supreme Court case law, is a claim related to the non-discretionary elements of an illegal sentence, including mandatory sentences, a matter that may “never be waived” irrespective of procedural default mechanisms?
2. According to controlling Pennsylvania Supreme Court law, Article I. Sec[tion] 14. of the Commonwealth Constitution, and 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 6503[], is the writ of habeas corpus the appropriate avenue of redress to remedy illegal detention “if” PCRA relief is unavailable?
3. Is it an abuse of discretion when the trial court imposes a sentence contrary to relevant statute and controlling Pennsylvania Supreme Court law?
4. In 2005, was Schiffler[4] the controlling law of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and, did not the Superior Court in Leverette[5], subsequently admonish the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to “cease” imposing third-strike sentences without first sentencing an offender to a second-strike mandatory sentence?
5. Is the state judicial branch possessed of an “overriding obligation to serve the cause of justice” and correct a manifest injustice irrespective of any legislatively created procedural default mechanism[s]?
(Appellant’s Brief, at iv) (unnecessary capitalization and underlining
omitted).
_______________________ (Footnote Continued)
been filed on the date that the appellant deposits the appeal with prison authorities and/or places it in the prison mailbox. See Commonwealth v. Jones, 700 A.2d 423, 426 (Pa. 1997). Therefore, pursuant to the prisoner mailbox rule, we deem Appellant’s notice of appeal timely. 4 Commonwealth v. Schiffler, 879 A.2d 185 (Pa. 2005). 5 Commonwealth v. Leverette, 911 A.2d 998, 1004 (Pa. Super. 2006).
-4- J-S10040-16
We review an order dismissing a petition under the PCRA in the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the PCRA level. This review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence of record. We will not disturb a PCRA court’s ruling if it is supported by evidence of record and is free of legal error. This Court may affirm a PCRA court’s decision on any grounds if the record supports it. We grant great deference to the factual findings of the PCRA court and will not disturb those findings unless they have no support in the record. However, we afford no such deference to its legal conclusions. Further, where the petitioner raises questions of law, our standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.
Commonwealth v. Rykard, 55 A.3d 1177, 1183 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal
denied, 64 A.3d 631 (Pa. 2013) (citations omitted).
It is well-settled that the PCRA is intended to be the sole means of achieving post-conviction relief.
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J-S10040-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee
v.
THOMAS IANOZI,
Appellant No. 2310 EDA 2015
Appeal from the PCRA Order June 10, 2015 in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Criminal Division at No.: CP-46-CR-0006433-2006
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED JANUARY 29, 2016
Appellant, Thomas Ianozi, appeals pro se from the order entered June
10, 20151 dismissing his third petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction
Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546, as untimely. Although he
admits it is untimely, Appellant claims that his petition should be considered
on its merits because he challenges the legality of his sentence. We affirm
on the basis of the PCRA court opinion.
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 Although dated June 9, 2015, a review of the docket indicates that the order on appeal was filed on June 10, 2015. We have amended the caption accordingly. J-S10040-16
In its opinion, the PCRA court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant
facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore we have no reason to
restate them at length here.
For context and convenience of reference, we note briefly that on
February 15, 2008, a jury convicted Appellant of aggravated assault,
unlawful restraint, and rape. Appellant’s convictions stem from an incident
on July 23, 2006 where Appellant “forced [the victim] into his truck by
punching her in the face and stomach and dragging her by her hair. He then
took her back to his apartment, where he forcibly detained her, beat her,
berated her, and raped her both vaginally and anally, during an ordeal that
lasted approximately eight hours.” (See PCRA Court Opinion, 9/29/15, at
1). The victim finally escaped and called 911 after which Appellant chased
her outside and again began to beat her. (See id.). The assault finally
stopped after police responded to the call, observed the assault, and placed
Appellant under arrest. (See id.). On May 12, 2008,2 Appellant was
sentenced to not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty years’
imprisonment. This Court affirmed the judgment of sentence on June 2,
2009 and our Supreme Court denied allowance of appeal on June 23, 2010.
2 Although the PCRA court opinion states that Appellant was sentenced on March 12, 2008, the docket entries reflect that the sentence was imposed on May 12, 2008.
-2- J-S10040-16
See Commonwealth v. Ianozi, 981 A.2d 313 (Pa. Super. 2009)
(unpublished memorandum), appeal denied, 997 A.2d 1175 (Pa. 2010).
On December 22, 2010, Appellant filed his first PCRA petition. The
PCRA court appointed counsel, who, after reviewing the case, submitted a
petition to withdraw in accordance with Commonwealth v. Finley, 550
A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1998). The PCRA court granted counsel’s petition to
withdraw and dismissed Appellant’s first PCRA petition on September 14,
2011. On December 8, 2014, Appellant filed a second PCRA petition
claiming that his sentence was illegal pursuant to Alleyne v. United
States, 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013). The PCRA court dismissed his second PCRA
petition without a hearing on December 19, 2014.
Appellant filed the instant third PCRA petition, which he refers to as a
petition for writ of habeas corpus, on March 12, 2015. Pursuant to the
court’s order, the Commonwealth filed its answer and motion to dismiss the
third PCRA petition on April 24, 2015. The PCRA court issued an order on
May 4, 2015 providing notice to Appellant that it would dismiss his petition
in twenty days. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 907(1). Appellant did not respond and
the PCRA court dismissed his petition on June 10, 2015. This timely appeal
followed.3 ____________________________________________
3 Although the docket entries reflect that Appellant’s notice of appeal was filed July 28, 2015, his notice states that it was given to prison authorities on June 17, 2015. The notice of appeal envelope is post-marked July 7, 2015. Pursuant to the prisoner mailbox rule, an appeal is deemed to have (Footnote Continued Next Page)
-3- J-S10040-16
Appellant raises five questions on appeal.
1. According to controlling Pennsylvania Supreme Court case law, is a claim related to the non-discretionary elements of an illegal sentence, including mandatory sentences, a matter that may “never be waived” irrespective of procedural default mechanisms?
2. According to controlling Pennsylvania Supreme Court law, Article I. Sec[tion] 14. of the Commonwealth Constitution, and 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 6503[], is the writ of habeas corpus the appropriate avenue of redress to remedy illegal detention “if” PCRA relief is unavailable?
3. Is it an abuse of discretion when the trial court imposes a sentence contrary to relevant statute and controlling Pennsylvania Supreme Court law?
4. In 2005, was Schiffler[4] the controlling law of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and, did not the Superior Court in Leverette[5], subsequently admonish the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to “cease” imposing third-strike sentences without first sentencing an offender to a second-strike mandatory sentence?
5. Is the state judicial branch possessed of an “overriding obligation to serve the cause of justice” and correct a manifest injustice irrespective of any legislatively created procedural default mechanism[s]?
(Appellant’s Brief, at iv) (unnecessary capitalization and underlining
omitted).
_______________________ (Footnote Continued)
been filed on the date that the appellant deposits the appeal with prison authorities and/or places it in the prison mailbox. See Commonwealth v. Jones, 700 A.2d 423, 426 (Pa. 1997). Therefore, pursuant to the prisoner mailbox rule, we deem Appellant’s notice of appeal timely. 4 Commonwealth v. Schiffler, 879 A.2d 185 (Pa. 2005). 5 Commonwealth v. Leverette, 911 A.2d 998, 1004 (Pa. Super. 2006).
-4- J-S10040-16
We review an order dismissing a petition under the PCRA in the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the PCRA level. This review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence of record. We will not disturb a PCRA court’s ruling if it is supported by evidence of record and is free of legal error. This Court may affirm a PCRA court’s decision on any grounds if the record supports it. We grant great deference to the factual findings of the PCRA court and will not disturb those findings unless they have no support in the record. However, we afford no such deference to its legal conclusions. Further, where the petitioner raises questions of law, our standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.
Commonwealth v. Rykard, 55 A.3d 1177, 1183 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal
denied, 64 A.3d 631 (Pa. 2013) (citations omitted).
It is well-settled that the PCRA is intended to be the sole means of achieving post-conviction relief. Unless the PCRA could not provide for a potential remedy, the PCRA statute subsumes the writ of habeas corpus. Issues that are cognizable under the PCRA must be raised in a timely PCRA petition and cannot be raised in a habeas corpus petition. Phrased differently, a defendant cannot escape the PCRA time-bar by titling his petition or motion as a writ of habeas corpus.
Commonwealth v. Taylor, 65 A.3d 462, 465-66 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(citations and footnote omitted). Additionally, as the PCRA court explained
in its opinion, “[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.” (PCRA Ct. Op., at 4) (quoting Commonwealth
v. Fahy, 737 A.2d 214, 223 (Pa. 1999)).
Here, after a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties,
the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the PCRA court we
conclude that the PCRA court properly dismissed Appellant’s third PCRA
-5- J-S10040-16
petition as untimely. (See PCRA Ct. Op., at 3-5) (concluding that: (1) PCRA
court properly found Appellant’s petition facially untimely because it was not
filed within one year of when Appellant’s judgment of sentence became final
on September 23, 2010; (2) PCRA court properly found that Appellant did
not plead that any one of enumerated statutory exceptions to timeliness
requirement applied, moreover none of those three exceptions to PCRA
time-bar would apply to his petition; and (3) PCRA court properly treated
Appellant’s petition for writ of habeas corpus as PCRA petition). Accordingly,
we affirm on the basis of the PCRA court’s opinion.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 1/29/2016
-6- Circulated 01/15/2016 11:54 AM