Commonwealth v. Ringer

65 Pa. D. & C.2d 182, 1973 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 151
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Mercer County
DecidedSeptember 27, 1973
Docketno. 44, and 66
StatusPublished

This text of 65 Pa. D. & C.2d 182 (Commonwealth v. Ringer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Mercer County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Ringer, 65 Pa. D. & C.2d 182, 1973 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 151 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1973).

Opinion

ACKER, J.,

These cases, [183]*183which bring difficult problems of disclosure, are but part of 67 which stand or fall upon the testimony of one witness, Francis Flack. The vast majority arise from drug sales with possession being the exception. None has as yet been tried by court or jury, although several defendants have pleaded guilty. Seven of the cases are in Juvenile Court. Most unusual circumstances bring them before this court. Defendants’ requests are to be furnished all evidence favorable to defendants. This could be results of State Police and Department of Justice investigations, disclosures from agent’s personal diary and psychological and psychiatric studies of the witness, Francis Flack.1

The starting point is Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 310 which denies such disclosures unless “upon proof by the defendant, after hearing, of exceptional circumstances and compelling reasons.” It is concluded that both exist which require disclosure. The extent is the issue.

Francis Flack, a 19-year-old high school graduate working for a clothier in the Shenango Valley area and attending an off-campus college, elected to become an “undercover agent” for the Farrell Police Department. He officially started February 28, 1973, when sworn in by the Farrell mayor. Actually, he had been traveling in the circle of persons who were subsequently arrested and charged for some period before. He was, therefore, a local person known from school or other association long before any “buys.” He operated “undercover” for about three months. On May 24, 1973, while in a bar in Ohio with some of his peers [184]*184from whom he had already purchased, he was accused of being a “Narc.” With some help, he fled and his “cover was blown.” A large “raid” followed with many arrests resulting in the 67 cases now filed.

Flack continued in the employ of the Farrell police2 until August 31, 1973, when he resigned by letter “due to personal reasons.” He added, “I, do further wish that all person I, have busted for sale of Drugs Be set-free and all charges be withdrawn at once. Everyone.”

The next several days witnessed frenzied activity by the unit to attempt to locate Flack for testimony in 10 cases to actually go to the grand jury and 27 listed for petit jury trial the following week. The witness reappeared on Tuesday, September 4th, and gave a statement, part of which was taped, in the Sharpsville Borough Building in the presence of Joseph Nelson, District Attorney of Mercer County, and others. There, Flack made certain accusations of misconduct of the unit, including wiretapping.

On September 5, 1973, Frances Palmer, then an assistant district attorney and a legal advisor of the unit, presented to a district magistrate an affidavit under Pa. R. Crim. P. 40143 requesting Flack be detained in that he alleged that he would not testify and had been absent from the jurisdiction.4 Bail was set at $100,000, with leave to immediately appear before this court for reduction. Exercising that right, the wit[185]*185ness did appear. After hearing, because of allegations of defendant that he had at one time been shot at and that he feared for his safety from various directions, he was committed at about 11 a.m. to a cleared section of the Mercer County Jail. There, contact between accused and accuser was impossible. Shortly after lunch of that same day, at the request of the State Police, he was released into the custody of Trooper Richard McEwen to produce the witness to testify at grand jury on Monday, September 10,1973. By further order a day later, he was transferred into the custody of Chief Thomas Weldon and permitted to reside with his grandparents in Sharpsville. He appeared as required and did testify for the Commonwealth in 10 cases on September 10, 1973. On September 6, 1973, Frances S. Palmer resigned as an assistant district attorney.

Upon this court hearing of Miss Palmer’s resignation and of alleged wiretapping by the unit, the immediate concern was whether any of the “Flack cases” were in any way tainted by such activities.

With the trials but a week away, the district attorney’s office was directed to inform by telephone all of the attorneys who had cases which were to commence the following week, followed by written notice, that it had come to the court’s attention wiretapping may have occurred, but Flack alleged none of the cases he was concerned with was so involved. The following day, all counsel for all cases scheduled for trial appeared with numerous oral motions heard in open court. Flack was ordered and did appear before all counsel on the morning of September 10th in Jury Room No. 2 and answered questions which were propounded by them. No Commonwealth representative was present. A court reporter took and transcribed the proceedings. All defendants’ counsel who were [186]*186present have been furnished a copy. The original, by court order, is sealed and has not been read by this court or the district attorney. That day, all cases were continued with the consent of all defendants. The unit was required to furnish all of its records, both financial and investigatory. The Pennsylvania State Police were called to investigate the allegations of Flack by the district attorney and the court. The unit was directed to furnish all information concerning electronic surveillance and bugging and orders given to inspect all financial records, including safe deposit boxes of all past and present members of the unit. Flack was ordered to submit his diary and all personal records of his investigations. If any person of the unit desired not to comply, he was directed to make application to the court. No present or past member has exercised that right. Finally, Francis Flack, at the request of the district attorney and Frances Palmer, court order, was directed to undergo psychological and psychiatric testing. All of the information was to be submitted in camera. The material upon which this court has made its decision has been reproduced and sealed in the event of an appeal.

District Attorney Nelson, subsequent to the September 10th order, requested the Governor’s Justice Commission to audit the unit’s funds. Pursuant to that request a representative did examine the financial records of the unit limited to a determination of whether the Governor’s Justice Commission funds were used as applied for. That examination is completed and an oral report is submitted and reduced by this court to a memo, which has been sealed for review on appeal, if required. This court is not at liberty to expose those findings nor are they material to a determination of this matter.

Reports have now been received from the mental [187]*187examinations and the Pennsylvania State Police. The equipment has been furnished for inspection by the unit. Three affidavits have been submitted by Captain Russell McFarland, the unit’s commander, concerning the equipment. By court order, affidavits have also been supplied by the Mayor of Farrell and the Chief of Police concerning a particular item of equipment.

This court is convinced that although the proof of exceptional circumstances and compelling reasons for disclosure was not produced by defendants as required by Rule 310, such existed. Being known to the court, justice cried out for an investigation and an in-camera inspection. What portion of that revealed should be disclosed? The query turns, in part, to what use defendants can put the revelations.

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Bluebook (online)
65 Pa. D. & C.2d 182, 1973 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 151, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-ringer-pactcomplmercer-1973.