J-S68024-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
v.
TIMOTHY WILSON
Appellant No. 76 WDA 2016
Appeal from the PCRA Order December 2, 2015 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0012631-2006 CP-02-CR-0012634-2006 CP-02-CR-0015573-2006 CP-02-CR-0015576-2006
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., SOLANO, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY SOLANO, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 30, 2016
Timothy Wilson (“Appellant”) appeals from the order denying as
untimely his petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act
(“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. Appellant’s counsel has filed a motion
to withdraw. We affirm the order denying Appellant post-conviction relief
and grant counsel’s motion.
On August 29, 2007, Appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea to
various robbery and related charges at four separate dockets. That same
day, the trial court accepted the plea, and imposed an aggregate sentence of
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. J-S68024-16
five to ten years’ incarceration. Appellant filed neither a post-sentence
motion nor a direct appeal.
On July 9, 2015, Appellant filed a pro se PCRA petition. The PCRA
court appointed counsel to represent Appellant. On October 13, 2015, PCRA
counsel filed a “no-merit” letter and motion to withdraw pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988), and
Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc). On
November 5, 2015, the PCRA court issued Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 notice of intent
to dismiss Appellant’s petition because it was untimely, and no time-bar
exceptions applied. In this same order, the PCRA court granted PCRA
counsel’s motion to withdraw. Appellant did not file a response. By order
entered December 2, 2015, the PCRA court denied Appellant’s PCRA petition.
Appellant filed a pro se appeal on December 17, 2015. The PCRA court
appointed appellate counsel on February 4, 2016.
In lieu of an advocate’s brief, Appellant’s counsel has filed a purported
Anders1 brief and a petition to withdraw. Compliance with Anders applies
to counsel who seeks to withdraw from representation on direct appeal.
Because Anders imposes stricter requirements than those imposed when
counsel seeks to withdraw during the post-conviction process pursuant to
Turner and Finley, we may accept an Anders brief in lieu of a
1 Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).
-2- J-S68024-16
Turner/Finley no merit letter. See Commonwealth v. Widgins, 29 A.3d
816, 817 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2011). Thus, we will assess counsel’s assertion
that the issue Appellant wishes to raise has no merit under a Turner/Finley
analysis.
This Court has summarized:
The Turner/Finley decisions provide the manner for post[-]conviction counsel to withdraw from representation. The holdings of those cases mandate an independent review of the record by competent counsel before a PCRA court or [an] appellate court can authorize an attorney’s withdrawal. The necessary independent review requires counsel to file a “no-merit” letter detailing the nature and extent of his [or her] review and list each issue the petitioner wishes to have examined, explaining why those issues are meritless. The PCRA court, or an appellate court if the no-merit letter is filed before it, see Turner, supra, then must conduct its own independent evaluation of the record and agree with counsel that the petition is without merit[.]
[T]his Court [has] imposed additional requirements on counsel that closely track the procedure for withdrawing on direct appeal. . . . [C]ounsel is required to contemporaneously serve upon his [or her] client his [or her] no merit letter and application to withdraw along with a statement that if the court granted counsel’s withdrawal request, the client may proceed pro se or with a privately retained attorney[.]
Commonwealth v. Reed, 107 A.3d 137, 140 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation
omitted). Counsel in this case has complied with the mandates of Turner
and Finley, as summarized in Reed. See Counsel’s Amended Petition to
Withdraw, 6/24/16. Thus, we must determine whether we agree with
counsel’s assessment of Appellant’s claim.
Counsel phrases Appellant’s issue as follows:
-3- J-S68024-16
I. DID THE PETITIONER FILE A TIMELY PCRA PETITION, OR DOES AN EXCEPTION TO THE TIME LIMITATION FOR FILING A PCRA PETITION APPLY SUCH THAT THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN NOT ADDRESSING THE MERITS OF THE CLAIMS?
Appellant’s Brief at 4.
This Court’s standard of review regarding an order dismissing a
petition under the PCRA is whether the determination of the PCRA court is
supported by the evidence of record and is free of legal error.
Commonwealth v. Halley, 870 A.2d 795, 799 n.2 (Pa. 2005). The PCRA
court’s findings will not be disturbed unless there is no support for the
findings in the certified record. Commonwealth v. Carr, 768 A.2d 1164,
1166 (Pa. Super. 2001). Moreover, a PCRA court may decline to hold a
hearing on the petition if the PCRA court determines that the petitioner’s
claim is patently frivolous and is unsupported. Commonwealth v. Jordan,
772 A.2d 1011, 1104 (Pa. Super. 2001).
The timeliness of a post-conviction petition is jurisdictional.
Commonwealth v. Hernandez, 79 A.3d 649, 651 (Pa. Super. 2013).
Generally, a petition for relief under the PCRA must be filed within one year
of the date the judgment is final unless the petition alleges, and the
petitioner proves, that an exception to the time for filing the petition set
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forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1) applies.2 A PCRA petition invoking one of
these statutory exceptions must “be filed within 60 days of the date the
claims could have been presented.” See Hernandez, 79 A.3d 651-52
(citations omitted); see also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(2). The exceptions must
be pled in the petition, and may not be raised for the first time on appeal.
Commonwealth v. Burton, 936 A.2d 521, 525 (Pa. Super. 2007); see
also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (providing that issues not raised before the lower
court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal).
Appellant’s judgment of sentence became final on September 28,
2007, when the thirty-day time period for filing an appeal to this Court
expired. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(3). Thus, Appellant had until
September 28, 2008, to file a timely PCRA petition. As Appellant filed the ____________________________________________
2 The exceptions to the timeliness requirement are:
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J-S68024-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
v.
TIMOTHY WILSON
Appellant No. 76 WDA 2016
Appeal from the PCRA Order December 2, 2015 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0012631-2006 CP-02-CR-0012634-2006 CP-02-CR-0015573-2006 CP-02-CR-0015576-2006
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., SOLANO, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY SOLANO, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 30, 2016
Timothy Wilson (“Appellant”) appeals from the order denying as
untimely his petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act
(“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. Appellant’s counsel has filed a motion
to withdraw. We affirm the order denying Appellant post-conviction relief
and grant counsel’s motion.
On August 29, 2007, Appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea to
various robbery and related charges at four separate dockets. That same
day, the trial court accepted the plea, and imposed an aggregate sentence of
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. J-S68024-16
five to ten years’ incarceration. Appellant filed neither a post-sentence
motion nor a direct appeal.
On July 9, 2015, Appellant filed a pro se PCRA petition. The PCRA
court appointed counsel to represent Appellant. On October 13, 2015, PCRA
counsel filed a “no-merit” letter and motion to withdraw pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988), and
Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc). On
November 5, 2015, the PCRA court issued Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 notice of intent
to dismiss Appellant’s petition because it was untimely, and no time-bar
exceptions applied. In this same order, the PCRA court granted PCRA
counsel’s motion to withdraw. Appellant did not file a response. By order
entered December 2, 2015, the PCRA court denied Appellant’s PCRA petition.
Appellant filed a pro se appeal on December 17, 2015. The PCRA court
appointed appellate counsel on February 4, 2016.
In lieu of an advocate’s brief, Appellant’s counsel has filed a purported
Anders1 brief and a petition to withdraw. Compliance with Anders applies
to counsel who seeks to withdraw from representation on direct appeal.
Because Anders imposes stricter requirements than those imposed when
counsel seeks to withdraw during the post-conviction process pursuant to
Turner and Finley, we may accept an Anders brief in lieu of a
1 Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).
-2- J-S68024-16
Turner/Finley no merit letter. See Commonwealth v. Widgins, 29 A.3d
816, 817 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2011). Thus, we will assess counsel’s assertion
that the issue Appellant wishes to raise has no merit under a Turner/Finley
analysis.
This Court has summarized:
The Turner/Finley decisions provide the manner for post[-]conviction counsel to withdraw from representation. The holdings of those cases mandate an independent review of the record by competent counsel before a PCRA court or [an] appellate court can authorize an attorney’s withdrawal. The necessary independent review requires counsel to file a “no-merit” letter detailing the nature and extent of his [or her] review and list each issue the petitioner wishes to have examined, explaining why those issues are meritless. The PCRA court, or an appellate court if the no-merit letter is filed before it, see Turner, supra, then must conduct its own independent evaluation of the record and agree with counsel that the petition is without merit[.]
[T]his Court [has] imposed additional requirements on counsel that closely track the procedure for withdrawing on direct appeal. . . . [C]ounsel is required to contemporaneously serve upon his [or her] client his [or her] no merit letter and application to withdraw along with a statement that if the court granted counsel’s withdrawal request, the client may proceed pro se or with a privately retained attorney[.]
Commonwealth v. Reed, 107 A.3d 137, 140 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation
omitted). Counsel in this case has complied with the mandates of Turner
and Finley, as summarized in Reed. See Counsel’s Amended Petition to
Withdraw, 6/24/16. Thus, we must determine whether we agree with
counsel’s assessment of Appellant’s claim.
Counsel phrases Appellant’s issue as follows:
-3- J-S68024-16
I. DID THE PETITIONER FILE A TIMELY PCRA PETITION, OR DOES AN EXCEPTION TO THE TIME LIMITATION FOR FILING A PCRA PETITION APPLY SUCH THAT THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN NOT ADDRESSING THE MERITS OF THE CLAIMS?
Appellant’s Brief at 4.
This Court’s standard of review regarding an order dismissing a
petition under the PCRA is whether the determination of the PCRA court is
supported by the evidence of record and is free of legal error.
Commonwealth v. Halley, 870 A.2d 795, 799 n.2 (Pa. 2005). The PCRA
court’s findings will not be disturbed unless there is no support for the
findings in the certified record. Commonwealth v. Carr, 768 A.2d 1164,
1166 (Pa. Super. 2001). Moreover, a PCRA court may decline to hold a
hearing on the petition if the PCRA court determines that the petitioner’s
claim is patently frivolous and is unsupported. Commonwealth v. Jordan,
772 A.2d 1011, 1104 (Pa. Super. 2001).
The timeliness of a post-conviction petition is jurisdictional.
Commonwealth v. Hernandez, 79 A.3d 649, 651 (Pa. Super. 2013).
Generally, a petition for relief under the PCRA must be filed within one year
of the date the judgment is final unless the petition alleges, and the
petitioner proves, that an exception to the time for filing the petition set
-4- J-S68024-16
forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1) applies.2 A PCRA petition invoking one of
these statutory exceptions must “be filed within 60 days of the date the
claims could have been presented.” See Hernandez, 79 A.3d 651-52
(citations omitted); see also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(2). The exceptions must
be pled in the petition, and may not be raised for the first time on appeal.
Commonwealth v. Burton, 936 A.2d 521, 525 (Pa. Super. 2007); see
also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (providing that issues not raised before the lower
court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal).
Appellant’s judgment of sentence became final on September 28,
2007, when the thirty-day time period for filing an appeal to this Court
expired. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(3). Thus, Appellant had until
September 28, 2008, to file a timely PCRA petition. As Appellant filed the ____________________________________________
2 The exceptions to the timeliness requirement are:
(i) the failure to raise the claim previously was the result of interference of government 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 States.
(ii) 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
(iii) 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.
42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9545(b)(1).
-5- J-S68024-16
instant petition in July of 2015, it is patently untimely unless he has satisfied
his burden of pleading and proving that one of the enumerated exceptions
applies. See Hernandez, supra.
According to Appellant, his PCRA petition is timely because, under the
“governmental interference exception” provided for in 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 9545(b)(1)(i), he was “not informed of his rights to file a post sentence
motion to withdraw his guilty plea and to file a direct appeal.” Anders Brief
at 10. Appellant’s PCRA petition asserts that he “was not advised of his
appellate rights or his right to file a motion to withdraw his plea of guilt,”
that this alleged fact satisfies the time-bar exception in Section
9545(b)(1)(ii), and that “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.” PCRA Petition, 7/9/15, at 4. Appellant’s
averments are confusing. As further noted by Appellant’s counsel, “It is
unclear whether Petitioner asserts that he filed his pro se PCRA petition
within sixty days of being notified of his post-sentence and appellate rights.
However, the transcript of the plea and sentencing proceedings indicates
that he was in fact informed of those rights at that time.” Anders Brief at
10.
Upon review, we agree with counsel that Appellant’s claim is devoid of
merit because he has failed to plead and prove an exception to the PCRA’s
time bar. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545. Our review of the sentencing transcript
-6- J-S68024-16
refutes Appellant’s claims because it shows that Appellant acknowledged at
sentencing that his trial counsel had explained his post-sentencing rights to
him and he agreed to waive the reading of them. See N.T., 8/29/07, at 17.
We further note that after the filing of the Anders Brief, Appellant filed
with this Court a “Pa.R.App.P. 1925(b) MEMORANDUM OF LAW,”3 in which
he asserted that his claim constitutes “after-discovered evidence June 2015
within the (60 days) of 9545(b)(1)(ii) in his PCRA” . . . due to “medication
and mental health illness, and learning disability that the appellant was
suffering from.” Appellant’s Pa.R.App.P. 1925(b) MEMORANDUM OF LAW,
9/22/16, at 6. However, Appellant has not developed this claim in any
meaningful way beyond these unsupported assertions. See
Commonwealth v. Monaco, 996 A.2d 1076, 1080 (Pa. Super. 2010)
(explaining that the general rule remains that a mental illness or
psychological condition, absent more, will not serve as an exception to the
PCRA’s jurisdictional time requirements). The claim thus is unproven and
provides no basis for an exception to the PCRA’s time bar. Based on the
foregoing, we grant counsel’s petition to withdraw and affirm the PCRA
court’s order dismissing Appellant’s PCRA petition on the basis that it is
time-barred.
Order affirmed. Counsel’s petition to withdraw granted. ____________________________________________
3 Although it was docketed as an “Application for Relief,” we treat it as a response to counsel’s Anders Brief.
-7- J-S68024-16
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 11/30/2016
-8-