Commonwealth v. Gibson

561 A.2d 1240, 385 Pa. Super. 571, 1989 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2051
CourtSupreme Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJuly 13, 1989
Docket2815
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 561 A.2d 1240 (Commonwealth v. Gibson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Gibson, 561 A.2d 1240, 385 Pa. Super. 571, 1989 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2051 (Pa. 1989).

Opinion

*574 OLSZEWSKI, Judge:

Donald Gibson appeals from the judgment of sentence entered by the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County following his convictions for two counts of robbery and criminal conspiracy.

On January 17, 1983, Donald Gibson and an accomplice approached Randell Green and Josette Brown as they were walking down a street. Gibson and the accomplice wore ski masks. While Gibson asked the victims for the time, the accomplice proceeded to grab Josette Brown and point a handgun at her. The accomplice then ordered her into an alley where he proceeded to take her coat, camera, and wristwatch. While bending down to retrieve these items, Brown succeeded in knocking the accomplice’s gun to the ground. In response, the accomplice ripped off his ski mask, scrambled for the gun, grabbed the items on the ground, and fled with Gibson.

On August 1,1983, following a thorough colloquy, Gibson pled guilty to two counts of robbery and criminal conspiracy. The Honorable Ricardo C. Jackson accepted the guilty pleas and proceeded to defer sentencing pending the receipt of a pre-sentence investigation and mental health evaluation. Thereafter, Gibson was sentenced to consecutive terms of five years’ probation on each of the robbery counts, conditioned on his agreement to obtain his GED and employment. Gibson did not seek to modify this sentence and did not file an appeal.

Two years later, Gibson was convicted of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Since this violated his earlier ten-year probationary sentence, he was ordered to appear before Judge Jackson. Gibson, however, failed to appear.

One and one-half years later, Gibson was again arrested. Following a hearing before Judge Jackson, Gibson’s probationary sentences were revoked. Instead, Gibson was sentenced to consecutive terms of two and one-half to five years’ imprisonment on each count of robbery. The instant appeal followed.

*575 On appeal, Gibson alleges that: (1) his guilty plea was not entered voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently; (2) counsel was ineffective in failing to: (a) object to a Rule 1100 violation, (b) challenge the voluntariness of his guilty plea, (c) object to the trial court’s failure to specifically state its reasons for revoking his probation, and (d) file a motion to modify sentence; and (3) his due process rights were violated when the trial court failed to state the reasons for the revocation of his probation.

Initially, Gibson challenges the validity of his guilty plea. Gibson also alleges that counsel was ineffective in failing to challenge the voluntariness of this plea.

A review of the record reveals that Gibson has failed to file a direct appeal from the order of probation or a petition under the Post Conviction Hearing Act to challenge the validity of the guilty plea. As such, this issue is not properly before this Court since an appellant cannot challenge the propriety of this issue until it has been challenged in the trial court. Commonwealth v. Nance, 290 Pa.Super. 312, 434 A.2d 769 (1981); Commonwealth v. Christian, 302 Pa.Super. 253, 448 A.2d 623 (1982). Where, however, an appellant alleges that his failure to appeal from the order of probation did not constitute a knowing waiver, this Court has held that an appellant has not waived his right to challenge the validity of his guilty plea. Christian, supra. Accordingly, the issue for our review is whether Gibson has alleged that his failure to appeal from the order of probation was knowing.

In his brief, Gibson merely asserts that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the validity of the plea. He does not, however, allege that counsel failed to inform him of his right to appeal nor that counsel coerced him into entering the plea. This Court is inclined to hold that a bald allegation of ineffectiveness of counsel will not serve to preserve this issue for our review. Accordingly, Gibson has waived his right to attack the guilty plea.

*576 Next, Gibson alleges that counsel was ineffective for failing to object to a Rule 1100 violation and to preserve this issue for appellate review.

A plea of guilty effectively waives all nonjurisdictional defects and defenses. Commonwealth v. Coles, 365 Pa.Super. 562, 530 A.2d 453 (1987). As such, this Court has unequivocably held that an alleged irregularity in proceedings prior to a plea of guilty, including an alleged violation of Rule 1100, would be reviewable to the extent that it affected the voluntariness of the guilty plea itself. Commonwealth v. Riviera, 254 Pa.Super. 196, 385 A.2d 976 (1978). Accordingly, although a violation of Rule 1100 would normally constitute reversible error, said violation may not be challenged where it does not affect the voluntariness of the plea. Id.

Where, however, the appellant can demonstrate that he did not knowingly waive his right to challenge said violation, and if he can demonstrate that the violation of Rule 1100 induced his guilty plea, he may be entitled to pursue his claim. Commonwealth v. Harris, 492 Pa. 381, 424 A.2d 1242 (1981). As such, the appellant may allege that the waiver resulted from the ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Commonwealth v. Pierce, 515 Pa. 153, 527 A.2d 973 (1987). In asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, an appellant must demonstrate that his underlying claim is of arguable merit. Id. Where, however, the rights to a speedy trial were fully explained to an appellant at a hearing during which he proceeded to sign an agreement to waive such rights, counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to challenge an alleged Rule 1100 violation. Commonwealth v. Evans, 489 Pa. 85, 413 A.2d 1025 (1980).

Instantly, Gibson has failed to link his Rule 1100 claim to the voluntariness of his guilty plea. As such, he has not demonstrated that his ability to challenge the alleged Rule 1100 claim has not been waived. Moreover, a review of the record demonstrates that Gibson effectively *577 waived his right to a speedy trial as there was an on-the-record colloquy establishing the waiver and a signed statement indicating that the waiver was made knowingly and voluntarily. Accordingly, counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to challenge Gibson’s right to a speedy trial when Gibson knowingly and voluntarily waived this right. In sum, Gibson has waived his opportunity to challenge the propriety of his claim.

Next, Gibson asserts that his right to due process was violated when the trial court failed to state reasons for revoking his probation.

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Bluebook (online)
561 A.2d 1240, 385 Pa. Super. 571, 1989 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2051, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-gibson-pa-1989.