Commonwealth v. Dunbar
This text of 447 A.2d 622 (Commonwealth v. Dunbar) 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.
Opinion
This appeal arises from the denial of appellant’s Post Conviction Hearing Act1 (hereinafter PCHA) petition alleging the denial of his Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100 rights and the ineffectiveness of trial counsel in failing to file a motion to dismiss. For the following reasons, we reverse the order of the lower court.
Appellant was charged with manufacturing, delivering or possessing a controlled substance with an intent to deliver, and possession of an instrument of crime on August 28,1974. His trial took place on February 3, 1976, or 524 days later. Rule 1100 mandates that trial should have commenced no more than 180 days after the criminal complaint was filed.2 [226]*226The mandated 180 day period does not include, however, those periods of time which are excludable,3 or those which validly result from a petition for extension of time4 by the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth argues that the Rule 1100 claim should not be cognizable under the Post Conviction Hearing Act. This court and our Supreme Court have clearly enunciated that Rule 1100 claims may be raised in the PCHA court when extraordinary circumstances, such as ineffective assistance of counsel, are alleged. Commonwealth v. Von Smith, 486 Pa. 564, 406 A.2d 1034 (1979); Commonwealth v. Juliano, 282 Pa.Super. 226, 422 A.2d 1088 (1980); and, Commonwealth v. Webb, 278 Pa.Super. 599, 420 A.2d 703 (1980). The Rule 1100 issue was, therefore, properly before the lower court, and is properly before us, as appellant alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to file a motion to dismiss under Rule 1100(f).5
[227]*227In order to preserve a Rule 1100 claim for appellate review, a timely motion to dismiss pursuant to the Rule must be made prior to the first substantial step in the trial. See, Commonwealth v. Lamonna, 473 Pa. 248, 373 A.2d 1355 (1977). A suppression hearing is not such a substantial step, Commonwealth v. Byrd, 493 Pa. 178, 425 A.2d 722 (1981), unless the hearing of the motion was specifically reserved for the time of trial. Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100, Comment. There being no dispute as to the fact that the hearing on the motion herein was reserved for the time of trial, our calculations are based upon the suppression hearing date, or February 2, 1976.
A review of the record reveals several periods of time which are excludable under Rule 1100(d). On January 31, 1975, the case was continued to April 4, 1975, due to the unavailability of appellant’s counsel. The case was again continued on April 4th until May 5th for the same reason. These two continuances result in a total of 94 days which are excludable under Rule 1100(d)(1). Commonwealth v. Warner, 269 Pa. Super. 1, 409 A.2d 33 (1979). The unavailability of appellant’s attorney also resulted in the following excludable periods of time: June 11, 1975 until August 11th (61 days); August 19th until September 23rd (35 days); and, September 23rd until October 30th (37 days). These three periods result in total excludable time thus far of 227 days.
The only other potentially excludable periods of time result from appellant’s waiver of his Rule 1100 rights. These periods include: December 3, 1974 until December 30th (27 days); May 5, 1975 until June 11th (37 days); and, December 18, 1975 until January 6, 1976 (19 days). The validity of these particular waivers depends upon whether the Commonwealth meets the burden of proving such a valid waiver. Commonwealth v. Waldman, 484 Pa. 217, 398 A.2d 1022 (1979). Neither the record before us, nor the Commonwealth’s argument, is sufficient to clearly establish the validity of the above waivers.
[228]*228Assuming, arguendo, that even if we did find the waivers to be valid, the total excludable time would be 310 days. Finding no other excludable time, appellant would have been brought to trial within 213 days, which is a clear violation of Rule 1100. In light of this violation, we can find no reasonable basis, on the part of trial counsel, designed to effectuate his client’s interests by failing to apply for dismissal of charges. See, Commonwealth ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 235 A.2d 349 (1967).
Accordingly, the order of the lower court is reversed, and appellant is discharged.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
447 A.2d 622, 301 Pa. Super. 223, 1982 Pa. Super. LEXIS 4262, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-dunbar-pasuperct-1982.