J-S02035-19
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA Appellee : : v. : : DAVID MATTHEW TRES : : Appellant : No. 1297 EDA 2018
Appeal from the PCRA Order March 19, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-23-CR-0004624-2016
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., KUNSELMAN, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED APRIL 09, 2019
Appellant, David Matthew Tres, appeals pro se from the order entered
in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his first petition
filed under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), at 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-
9546. We affirm.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows. In
the early morning hours of June 11, 2016, Upper Darby Township police
received a report of an armed individual driving a motor scooter. Shortly
thereafter, an officer conducted a traffic stop of Appellant’s motor scooter for
an unlit headlight. Appellant dismounted the scooter against the officer’s
directions. To ensure the officer’s safety, the officer conducted a pat down of
Appellant and discovered a loaded handgun on his person. The officer placed
Appellant under arrest. On August 19, 2016, Appellant filed a motion to J-S02035-19
suppress the evidence discovered during the pat down.
After discussing his options with counsel, Appellant entered a negotiated
guilty plea on October 18, 2016, to one count each of persons not to possess
firearms and receiving stolen property. On the same day, the court sentenced
Appellant to an aggregate term of forty-two (42) to ninety-six (96) months’
incarceration. Appellant sought no direct review.
Appellant timely filed his first pro se PCRA petition on October 19, 2017,
and the court appointed counsel. On February 20, 2018, PCRA counsel filed
a Turner/Finley1 letter and a motion to withdraw as counsel. The PCRA court
allowed counsel to withdraw and issued notice on February 26, 2018, of its
intent to dismiss the petition without a hearing, per Pa.R.Crim.P. 907.
Appellant filed a pro se response to the court’s Rule 907 notice, challenging
PCRA counsel’s representation as flawed. On March 19, 2018, the court
dismissed Appellant’s PCRA petition. Appellant filed a pro se motion for
reconsideration on March 26, 2018, which the court denied the next day.
Appellant timely filed a pro se notice of appeal on April 13, 2018. On April 20,
2018, the court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal, per Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b); Appellant timely complied.
Appellant raises the following issues on appeal:
WHETHER [PLEA COUNSEL] RENDERED [INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE] BY AFFIRMATIVELY MISADVISING ____________________________________________
1 Commonwealth v. Turner, 518 Pa. 491, 544 A.2d 927 (1988); Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (1988).
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[APPELLANT] TO ENTER AN INVOLUNTARY OR UNKNOWING PLEA WHERE COUNSEL’S INCOMPETENCE REGARDING THIS HONORABLE COURT’S ON POINT APPLICATION OF COMMONWEALTH V. JONES, 845 A.2D 821 [(PA.SUPER. 2004)], TO THE RELATED SUPPRESSION MOTION, DURING A TRAFFIC STOP, DEFEATS [PLEA COUNSEL]’S ADVICE, AND COUNSEL SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THIS RELEVANT LAW AND, IF SO, WHETHER THE PCRA COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN FAILING TO FIND THAT [PLEA COUNSEL] RENDERED INEFFECTIVE [ASSISTANCE?]
WHETHER THE PCRA COURT FAILED TO CONDUCT AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING ON [APPELLANT’S] CLAIM OF INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AFTER [APPELLANT] RAISED A GENUINE ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT CONCERNING [PLEA COUNSEL]’S ADVICE WHICH CONTRADICTS WITH THIS COURT’S OPINION/DECISION IN COMMONWEALTH V. JONES, 845 A.2D 821 [(PA.SUPER. 2004)], REGARDING THE SUFFICIENCY OF A 9-1-1 CALLER’S NAME IN RELATION TO ACCEPTING THE PLEA OVER PURSUING HIS FILED SUPPRESSION MOTION[?]
(Appellant’s Brief at 6).
Our standard of review of the denial of a PCRA petition is limited to
examining whether the evidence of record supports the court’s determination
and whether its decision is free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Conway,
14 A.3d 101 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal denied, 612 Pa. 687, 29 A.3d 795
(2011). This Court grants great deference to the findings of the PCRA court if
the record contains any support for those findings. Commonwealth v. Boyd,
923 A.2d 513 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied, 593 Pa. 754, 932 A.2d 74
(2007). We give no such deference, however, to the court’s legal conclusions.
Commonwealth v. Ford, 44 A.3d 1190 (Pa.Super. 2012). Further, a
petitioner is not entitled to a PCRA hearing as a matter of right; the PCRA
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court can decline to hold a hearing if there is no genuine issue concerning any
material fact, the petitioner is not entitled to relief, and no purpose would be
served by any further proceedings. Commonwealth v. Wah, 42 A.3d 335
(Pa.Super. 2012).
After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Mary Alice
Brennan, we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief. The PCRA court
opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the questions
presented. (See PCRA Court Opinion, filed June 4, 2018, at 3-11) (finding:
(1) plea counsel and court appropriately colloquied Appellant; during oral
colloquy, Appellant understood and responded affirmatively to each question;
Appellant also understood entry of guilty plea would withdraw his suppression
motion; affidavit of probable cause provided sufficient factual basis for entry
of plea; Appellant also received benefit of negotiated plea; Appellant was
aware he faced potential 10-20 years’ incarceration if convicted of all charges
at trial; record demonstrates Appellant knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily entered guilty plea; therefore, plea counsel cannot be deemed
ineffective; accordingly, there is no merit to Appellant’s claim PCRA counsel
was ineffective for failing to argue plea counsel’s ineffectiveness; (2) PCRA
court did not abuse its discretion when it declined to hold evidentiary hearing,
because Appellant’s claims failed to present genuine issues of material fact,
and further proceedings would have served no purpose). The record supports
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the court’s decision to deny PCRA relief without a hearing on the grounds
asserted. Accordingly, we affirm based on the PCRA court’s opinion.
Order affirmed.
President Judge Emeritus Ford Elliott joins this memorandum.
Judge Kunselman files a concurring memorandum.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 4/9/19
-5- I 1_0pinion Circulated Dated 03/07/2019 6-4-18 03:22 PM
' IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CRIMINAL DIVISION
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
v. : CP-23-CR-0004624-2016
DAVID MAITHEW TRES
Appellant/Defendant: Pro-Se A. Sheldon Kovach, Esquire, Attorney for the Commonwealth
OPINION
Brennan, J. June 4, 2018
Defendant was arrested on June 11, 2016 and charged with multiple firearms ' offenses, Receiving Stolen Property and various traffic offenses. On October 18,
2016, Defendant entered a negotiated guilty plea to Person not to Possess Firearms I
and Receiving Stolen Property.' the remaining charges were dismissed.
Immediately thereafter, the Court sentenced the Defendant, consistent with the . I
terms of the negotiated plea, to an aggregate state term of incarceration of 42.:.96
months. No objections to this sentence or the sentencing proceedings were placed
on the record at sentencing. On October 27, 2016 Defendant filed a Post-Sentence \
Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea. On December 12, 2016 Defendant withdrew his
Post-Sentence Motion to WithdrawGuilty Plea. No direct appeal of his sentence
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. Section 6105 subsection Al.
2 18 Pa.C.S.A. Section 3925 subsection A.
1 . was filed.
On October 19, 2017 the Defendant filed a timely pro se PCRA petition.
On October 20, 2017 PCRA counsel was appointed by this Court. After an
exhaustive review of the record, on February 20, 2018 PCRA counsel filed a Finely
"No Merit" letter.3 On February 26, 2018 this Court served the Defendant with a
Twenty Day Notice of Intent Dismiss PCRA Petition without a hearing. Thereafter
Defendant's PCRA was dismissed on March 19, 2018 and this timely appeal
followed.
In his Matters Complained of on Appeal, the Defendant raises the following
issues; 1) plea counsel ineffective for failing to proceed on his motion to suppress
and instead recommended Defendant enter into a negotiated guilty plea; 2) plea
counsel ineffective for negotiating an unenforceable plea bargain pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Kelley, 2016 PA Super 64, 136 A.3d 1007; 3) PCRA counsel
was ineffective for filing a Finley letter and not requesting an evidentiary hearing to
pursue issues 1 and 2 above; and 4) his sentence is illegal pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Kelley, supra. For the reasons that follow all of Defendant's
claims lack merit.
3 See Commonwealth v. Turner, 518 Pa. 491, 544 A.2d 927 (1988); Commonwealth v. Finley, 379 Pa. Super. 390, 550 A.2d 213 (1988). ·
2 The record in this case supports the conclusion that the Defendant's guilty
plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered and that the Defendant.failed to
establish that his plea Counsel's stewardship was ineffective in any manner. To
succeed on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a Defendant must satisfy the
three-pronged "Pierce test?"; that is, a defendant must plead and prove: (1) the . .
underlying claim has merit, (2) counsel's performance had no reasonable basis, and
(3) counsel's ineffectiveness prejudiced the defendant. Commonwealth v. Lassiter,
554 Pa. 586, 592, 772 A.2d 657, 660 (1998) (citing Commonwealth v. Lacava, 542
Pa. 160,178, 666 A.2d 221, 229 (1995)). "Prejudice in the context of ineffective
assistance of counsel means demonstrating that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel's error, the outcome of the proceeding would have been
different." Commonwealth v. Cox, 603 Pa. 223, 243; 983 A.2d 666, 678 (2009)
(quoting Pierce, supra at 213; citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694
(1984)). Counsel is presumed effective and Defendant bears the burden of proving
otherwise. Commonwealth v. Ligons, 971 A.2d 1125, 1137 (Pa. 2009). The failure
to satisfy any prong of this test will cause the entire claim to fail. Commonwealth v.
Bridges, 584 Pa. 1127, 886 A.2d 1127 (2005).
Once a defendant has entered a plea of guilty, it is presumed that he was
4 Commonwealth v. Pierce, 567 Pa. 186, 786 A.2d 203, (2001)
3 aware of what he was doing, and the burden of proving involuntariness is upon him.
Commonwealth v. Owens, 321 Pa. Super. 122, 467 A.2d 1159 (1983);
Commonwealth v. Brown, 242 Pa. Super. 240, 363 A.2d 1249 (1976). A plea of
guilty constitutes a waiver of all defects and defenses. Upon entry of a guilty plea,
all challenges to the plea are waived except challenges to voluntariness, jurisdiction
of the court, and the lawfulness of the sentence. Commonwealth v.1· Bauer, 413 Pa.
Super. 220, 604 A.2d 1098 (1992); Commonwealth v. Coles, 365 Pa. Super. 562,
530 A.2d 453 (1987), appeal denied, 522 Pa. 572, 559 A.2d 34 (1989). If an
underlying claim was waived by the guilty plea, a derivative claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel must necessarily fail. Commonwealth v.. Bauer, 413 Pa. Super.
220, 604 A.2d 1098 (1992); Commonwealth v. Davis, 518 Pa. 77, 83, 541 A.2d 315
(1988). Furthermore, "after a defendant has entered a plea of guilty, the only
cognizable issues in a post-conviction proceeding are the validity of the plea of
guilty and the legality of the sentence." Commonwealth v. Rounsley, 717 A.2d 537,
538 (Pa. Super. 1998) (citation omitted).
To determine whether a plea was knowing and voluntary, the reviewing court
examines the guilty plea colloquy to ascertain defendant's understanding of: (1) the
nature of the charges; (2) the factual basis for the plea; (3) the right to a jury trial;
( 4) the presumption of innocence; (5) the permissible range of sentences; and (6)
the court's power to depart from any recommended sentence. Commonwealth v.
4 Morrison, 878 A.2d 102, 107 (Pa. Super. 2005).
The adequacy of a guilty plea colloquy and the voluntariness of the resulting
plea must be examined under the totality of the circumstances surrounding the entry
of the plea. Commonwealth v. Muhammad, 794 A.2d 378 (Pa.Super. 2002) at
383-384. Thus, "[t]he trial court may consider a wide array of relevant evidence
under this standard including, but not limited to, transcripts from other proceedings,
off-the-record communications with counsel, and written plea agreements."
Commonwealth v. Fears, 836 A.2d 52, 64 (Pa. 2003); Commonwealth v. Bedell,
954 A.2d 1209, 1212-1213 (Pa.Super. 2008).
The record in this case clearly demonstrates that Defendant knowingly,
intelligently, and voluntarily entered.his guilty plea. Counsel and the Court
undertook the appropriate steps in the colloquy to outline the voluntariness of
Defendant to enter the plea. See N.T. October 18, 2016 pp. 4 through 16. The
Defendant understood and responded affirmatively to each and every material
inquiry posed from the Court and Counsel during the colloquy. Defendant also
clearly understood that his suppression motion was being withdrawn as a result of
the plea N.T. October 18, 2016 pp. 4 through 7. Defendant further understood that
the guilty plea would result in a violation of his existing probation and parole,
which would result in additional incarceration N.T. October 18, 2016 pp. 14, 15.
The Court indicated acceptance of the plea, and the signed guilty plea
5 statement was made part of the official record. Defendant's initials and signature
were properly affixed to the guilty plea statement. The affidavit of probable cause
further provided sufficient factual basis for the entry of the plea. The Defendant
indicated that he understood all of the rights he was waiving, and that he clearly
wished to enter the plea. In its totality, there was nothing improper relative to the
entry of the plea, and counsel cannot be deemed ineffective in that every material
aspect of the guilty plea colloquy was properly undertaken.
Based upon this record, Defendant could not possibly show that his plea was
unknowing or involuntary. See Commonwealth v. McCauley, 797 A.2d 920, 922
(Pa. Super. 2001) ("where ... a guilty plea colloquy was conducted, during which it J
became evident that the defendant understood the nature of the charges against him,
the voluntariness of the plea is established"); Commonwealth v. Smith, 450 A.2d
973, 974 (Pa. 1982) (a written colloquy is prima facie evidence that defendant was
aware of his rights); Commonwealth v. Pollard, 832 A.2d 517, ·523 (Pa. Super.
2003) C'[a defendant] may not later assert grounds for withdrawing the plea which
contradict the statements he made at his plea colloquy"); Commonwealth v. Sauter,
567 A.2d 707, 708�09 (Pa. Super. 1989). (Where a written plea colloquy is
supplemented by an oral colloquy, it "suggests most strongly" that the guilty plea
was made knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently).
Additionally, the Defendant received the benefit of the negotiated Plea.
6 Defendant Was aware of his potential exposure if he proceeded to trial and was
convicted was 10 to 20 years. Although Defendant's sentence is lengthy, he . . I
benefitted from entering into the negotiated plea.
The desire of an accused to benefit from a plea bargain is a strong indicator
of the voluntariness of his plea. Commonwealth v. Stork, 737 A.2d 789, 790 (Pa.
Super. 1999). The law does not require that a defendant be pleased with the
outcome of his decision to enter a guilty plea; rather, all that is required is that bis
decision to plead guilty be knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently . made. . See
Commonwealth v. Willis, 68 A.3d 997, 1001-1002 (Pa.Super. 2013);
Commonwealth v. Mendoza, 730 A.2d 503, 505-06 (Pa. Super. _1999). In this case
the record is clear that the Defendant understood the nature of the charges against
him and voluntarily entered the plea.
Defendant next argues that PCRA Counsel was ineffective for failing to raise
ineffectiveness arguments regarding Plea, Counsel. Where a defendant seeks relief
under the PCRA for layered ineffective assistance, a petitioner must plead in his 11
PCRA petition that his prior counsel, whose alleged ineffectiveness is at issue, was
ineffective for failing to raise the claim that the counsel who preceded him was
ineffective in taking or omitting some action. In addition, a petitioner must present
argument, in briefs or other court memoranda, on the three prongs of the Pierce test
as to each relevant layer of representation" Commonwealth v. McGill, 574 Pa. 574,
7 589, 832 A.2d 1014, 1023 (2003). "[T]he inability of a petitioner to prove each
prong of the Pierce test in respect to trial counsel's purported ineffectiveness alone
will be fatal to his layered ineffectiveness claim." Commonwealth v. Tedford, 960
A.2d 1, 13 (Pa. 2008) at 13 (quoting Commonwealth v. Carson, 913 A.2d 220, 233
(Pa. 2006)).
"In determining a layered claim of ineffectiveness, the critical inquiry is
whether the first attorney that the defendant asserts was ineffective did, in fact,
render ineffective assistance of counsel." Commonwealth v. Burkett, 5 A.3d 1260,
1270 (Pa. Super. 2010). See also Commonwealth v. Collins, 888 A.2d 564, 584 (Pa.
2005) (Layered claims of ineffectiveness "are not wholly distinct from the
underlying claims because proof of the underlying claim is an essential element of
the derivative ineffectiveness claim"). If that attorney was effective, then
subsequent counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to raise the underlying
issue." Burkett, supra.
As demonstrated above, plea counsel was not ineffective. Therefore, there is
no merit to the contention that PCRA Counsel should have raised ineffectiveness
claims regarding plea counsel. PCRA Counsel was not ineffective for refusing to
raise such meritless arguments. Accordingly, there is no merit to any of the issues
raised by the Defendant as to ineffectiveness of Plea ,counsel or PCRA Counsel.
Defendant next argues the Court erred in dismissing his PCRA without an
8 evidentiary hearing. There is no absolute right to an evidentiary hearing under the
PCRA. Commonwealth v. Wah, 42 A.3d 335 (Pa. Super. 2012); Commonwealth v.
Hardcastle, 701 A.2d 541, 542 (Pa. 1997). To justify a hearing, the Defendant must
prove that there is a genuine issue of material fact which could entitle him to relief. ',
Commonwealth v. Clark, 961 A.2d 80, 84 (Pa. 20-08); Commonwealth v. D'Amato, \ 856 A.2d 806, 820 (Pa: 2004); Pa.R.Crim.P. 908(A)(2). If, as here, a defendant's
petition is "without a trace of support," in the record and no material issues are in
dispute, it may be dismissed without a hearing. Commonwealth v. Payne, 794 A.2d
. 902, 906 (Pa. Super. 2002). In this case the Court declined to hold a hearing
I because there were no genuine issues . concerning any material facts, and no purpose
would be served by further proceedings. See Commonwealth v. Johnson, 945 A.2d
185, 188 (Pa. Super. 2008); Commonwealth v. Baumhammers, 92 A.3d 708, 726-27
(Pa. 2014); Commonwealth v. Miller, 102 A.3d 988, 992 (Pa. Super. 2014).
· Defendant next claims are related and will be discussed together. Defendant ,)
alleges plea counsel was ineffective for negotiating an unenforceable ·plea bargain
pursuant to Commonwealth J v. Kelley, 2016 PA Super 64, 136 A.3d 1007 and that
his sentence is illegal pursuant to the sarrie case. Defendant's claim lacks merit.
In Commonwealth v. Kelley, the defendant, who all parties knew was on state
parole, entered into a negotiated guilty plea for a term of state incarceration to
commence at the date of his arrest. Kelley, 136 A.3d at 1011. However, because the
9 defendant was thereafter recommitted for violating his parole on his old sentence,
the commencement date of his new sentence was effectively pushed forward by
approximately two years because of the application o:(61 Pa.C.S. Section
6138(a)(5)(i)). Upon PCRA review, the Superior Court held that the defendant's
trial counsel was ineffective for providing erroneous advice regarding the legality
and enforceability of the sentence imposed by the sentencing court, and therefore
the defendant's guilty plea was not knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. Id. at 1014.
Kelly is inapplicable to the Defendant in this case because the record clearly
indicates he was not promised his sentence would run concurrently to any other
state sentence. It was not part of the negotiated plea. Furthermore, the following
exchange took place at sentencing:
THE COURT: Were you on parole or probation when the offense occurred? THE DEFENDANT: Yeah. THE COURT: Okay, you understand that you are facing a parole and/or probation violation hearing and possible penalty and further punishment? THE DEFENDANT: Is there any way that this sentence can run concurrent with that? THE COURT: I don't have anything to do with that. THE DEFENDANT: Okay. THE COURT: That's state parole, right? THE DEFENDANT: Yeah. THE COURT: Okay. Do you have any questions? THE DEFENDANT: No.
10 N.T. October 18, 2016 p. 14, 15.
In light of the foregoing, Defendant's reliance upon Commonwealth v. Kelly
is misplaced.
Defendant's claim that his sentence is illegal also fails. Kelly did not hold that
the defendant's sentence was illegal. It held the defendant's guilty plea was not
knowing, voluntary, and intelligent because he did not get the benefit of the.
negotiated sentence. In this case the negotiated plea did not state that the
Defendant's sentence would run concurrent with any previous state sentence. When
he asked about it, he was informed by the Court that it had no authority to run his
sentence concurrent with a prior· state sentence. Defendant acknowledged that he
understood this.
Based on the foregoing, this Court's order dismissing Defendant's PCRA
petition should be affirmed on appeal.
BY THE COURT:
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