Com. v. Matthews, C.

2020 Pa. Super. 8
CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJanuary 17, 2020
Docket161 WDA 2019
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2020 Pa. Super. 8 (Com. v. Matthews, C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Com. v. Matthews, C., 2020 Pa. Super. 8 (Pa. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

J-S44024-19

2020 PA Super 8

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : CURTIS MATTHEWS : : Appellant : No. 161 WDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 20, 2015 In the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-20-CR-0001114-2013

BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

OPINION BY McLAUGHLIN, J.: FILED JANUARY 17, 2020

Curtis Matthews appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed

following his convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude police officer,

driving under the influence of alcohol (“DUI”) – general impairment, and DUI

- refusal of blood testing.1 We vacate Matthews’ conviction for DUI - refusal

of blood testing and remand for resentencing. We affirm on all other issues.

Matthews represented himself at his 2015 jury trial, at which the

Commonwealth presented evidence that an on-duty police officer saw

Matthews, while driving an SUV, fail to stop at a stop sign. The officer pulled

over Matthews’ vehicle, but as the officer was calling in the numbers on

Matthews’ registration plate, Matthews drove away. Thus commenced a five-

mile, high-speed chase during which Matthews failed to stop at several stop

____________________________________________

1 See 75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3733(a.2)(2), 3802(a)(1), and 3803(b)(2) (previous version, eff. Oct. 27, 2014). J-S44024-19

signs and a red light, drove in the lane of oncoming traffic, failed to signal,

and nearly struck other vehicles. When Matthews finally stopped, the arresting

officers noted alcohol on Matthews’ breath, and observed him having difficulty

in walking and standing. Matthews admitted to having drunk one beer and to

having an open container of beer in his vehicle. He refused to have his blood

tested for alcohol content.

At the conclusion of trial, the jury convicted Matthews of Count 1,

fleeing and eluding. Matthews had waived his right to a jury trial on the other

charges, and the court, sitting as fact-finder, convicted Matthews of DUI –

general impairment and DUI – refusal of blood testing, at Counts 2 and 3. The

court also convicted Matthews of 15 summary traffic offenses.

Matthews was represented by counsel at his sentencing hearing. The

court sentenced Matthews to serve 42 to 84 months’ incarceration and to pay

a $1,000 fine for fleeing or eluding. The court determined that the two DUI

convictions—Counts 2 and 3—merged for sentencing purposes, and imposed

a single sentence, at Count 2, of three to six months’ incarceration and a

$1,500 fine.2 The court ordered that the DUI sentence be served consecutively

2 The court initially imposed sentence on May 15, 2015, and entered its sentencing order on the docket on May 18, 2015. The court entered an amended sentencing order on May 20, 2015.

-2- J-S44024-19

to the fleeing and eluding sentence. Matthews filed post-sentence motions,

which the court denied, and Matthews appealed.3

Matthews raises the following issues:

1. Was it error for the Trial Court to require the physically disabled, 59 year old, Pro Se Appellant to appear before the jury in jail garb, shackles and handcuffs?

2. Does the use of two forms that violate the future holdings in Birchfield v. North Dakota, 136 S. Ct. 2160 (2016)[,] mandate that [Matthews’] conviction be reversed and his enhanced sentence be determined illegal?

3. When Defense counsel, without the consent and outside the presence of the Defendant, discloses to the Court and the Commonwealth confidential communications between the defendant and his attorney intimating that the defendant is guilty, should the court recuse itself su[a] sponte?

4. If standby counsel fails to take action necessary for a fair adjudication to take place, is the defendant entitled to a new trial?

3 Matthews was represented by counsel on his direct appeal. This Court dismissed the appeal due to Matthews’ failure to file a brief. See Commonwealth v. Matthews, No. 1245 WDA 2015 (filed February 1, 2016) (per curiam). Matthews filed a timely petition under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”). The PCRA court found Matthews’ appellate counsel ineffective and reinstated his direct appeal rights nunc pro tunc. Matthews accordingly filed a second direct appeal, but the pattern repeated a second time—this Court again dismissed the appeal for failure to file a brief, see Commonwealth v. Matthews, No. 687 WDA 2017 (filed December 5, 2017) (per curiam), and the PCRA court again reinstated Matthews’ appeal rights following a timely PCRA petition. After his appeal rights were reinstated the second time, Matthews’ counsel failed to file a timely notice of appeal. The PCRA court, having received pro se correspondence from Matthews, but no correspondence from counsel, deemed counsel ineffective. The court appointed new counsel, and once again reinstated Matthews’ direct appeal rights. Matthews thereafter filed a timely notice of appeal, and, finally, an appellant brief.

-3- J-S44024-19

5. When Counsel is denied a continuance to fully investigate the prior record of the defendant, is the sentence illegal and an abuse of discretion?

6. Was the sentence illegal because the reason for [sic] given for departing from the guidelines is part the crime[?]

Matthews’ Br. at 2 (answers of PCRA court omitted).

I. Matthews’ Courtroom Attire

In his first issue, Matthews claims the court ruled he must appear in

court in a prison uniform and wearing either handcuffs and shackles, or a

shock belt. Matthews’ Br. at 8. Matthews argues he objected to these alleged

requirements prior to trial. Id. Although he does not quote or cite the trial

transcript, Matthews also contends that the court informed the jury, during its

opening comments, that Matthews had decided to be restrained, and was

wearing a shocking device in order to prevent him from engaging in unsafe

conduct. Id. at 8-9. Matthews argues that the court’s alleged requirements

and statements to the jury prejudiced him, as they led the jury to believe he

was dangerous. Id. at 9. Matthews also asserts the restraints prevented him

from reading or taking notes during trial, where he was representing himself,

and that the court only ordered that a podium be positioned between him and

the jury, which prevented him from seeing the jury. Id.

Matthews has waived these issues. Contrary to his current argument,

Matthews insisted on wearing his prison uniform during trial, and rejected the

court’s offer of street clothing. See Order, filed 11/7/14, at 1; Order Denying

Post Sentence Motions, filed 7/17/15, at 2; N.T. (pretrial conference),

-4- J-S44024-19

11/7/14, at 43-46, 49.4 The court ordered that if Matthews changed his mind,

he would have access to street clothes. Order, filed 11/7/14, at 1. Matthews

does not allege that he changed his mind and requested other clothing, or

specify where in the record he may have done so. See Pa.R.A.P. 2117(c)

(requiring appellant to include in brief manner in which issues were

preserved).

While the court required Matthews to comply with the directive of the

sheriff’s department by wearing either handcuffs and shackles or a shock belt,

Matthews does not argue that the court erred in deferring to the safety

decisions of the sheriff’s department when requiring some form of restraint,

or provide any legal argument on this point. See Commonwealth v. Miller,

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Com. v. Matthews, C.
2020 Pa. Super. 8 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2020)

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Bluebook (online)
2020 Pa. Super. 8, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/com-v-matthews-c-pasuperct-2020.