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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
RAMON WALL, :
:
Appellant : No. 1789 EDA 2015
Appeal from the PCRA Order June 3, 2015
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
Criminal Division, No(s): CP-51-CR-0005311-2013
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., BENDER, P.J.E. and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED JUNE 17, 2016
Ramon Wall (“Wall”) appeals, pro se, from the Order dismissing his
first Petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act
(“PCRA”). See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.
The PCRA court set forth the relevant underlying history as follows:
On March 1, 2013, [Wall] met his significant other, Chemyra
Johnson (“Johnson”), at her place of employment and accused
her of cheating on him. He then slapped her several times with
an open palm and slammed her head into a metal gate while
shouting obscenities at her. Later that day, the two of them
arrived at Johnson’s apartment, where [Wall] continued to
accuse her of cheating on him and told her that the only way she
would be rid of him would be if one of them were to die.
Johnson snuck into her bathroom and called the police but [Wall]
entered the bathroom and began to choke her. The police
arrived at the apartment and rang the doorbell, at which time
[Wall] turned off the lights. The police eventually were able to
enter the apartment with the assistance of the landlord and
arrested [Wall].
[Wall] was subsequently sentenced[,] pursuant to his negotiated
plea[,] to 5 to 10 years[’] state incarceration plus 5 years[’]
probation on the aggravated assault charge. On July 23, 2013,
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[Wall] sent a pro se letter to th[e trial c]ourt requesting
withdrawal of his guilty plea. On August 12, 2013, th[e trial
c]ourt informed [Wall] that, as more than 30 days had passed
since his sentencing date, th[e trial c]ourt was without
jurisdiction to [permit withdrawal of] the plea. On December 3,
2013, [Wall] filed a pro se [PCRA P]etition … arguing that trial
counsel was ineffective for advising him to plead guilty.
… John P. Cotter, Esquire [(“Cotter”)], was appointed PCRA
counsel. On March 19, 2015, [] Cotter filed a [Turner/Finley1]
letter stating that the issues raised in [Wall’s] [P]etition were
without merit. On May 5, 2015, th[e PCRA c]ourt sent [Wall] a
[N]otice pursuant to Rule 907, indicating that his [P]etition
would be dismissed because [Cotter] had determined that the
issues raised therein were without merit. On May 15, 2015,
[Wall] sent a response to the 907 [N]otice. On June 3, 2015,
after independent review of [Wall’s] pro se [P]etition, [Cotter’s
Turner/Finley] letter, and [Wall’s] [response] to the 907
[N]otice, th[e PCRA c]ourt dismissed [Wall]’s petition …. On
June 12, 2015, [Wall] appealed the dismissal of his PCRA
[P]etition….
PCRA Court Opinion, 7/10/15, at 2-3 (footnote added).
On appeal, Wall raises the following questions for our review:
I. [Whether] Exhibit A, along with A-1, validates that the
attorney for the Commonwealth, trial counsel, [the] PCRA
court, PCRA counsel[], court stenographer, clerk of court,
and [the] trial court,[] as paid by the state[], … had
violated [his rights pursuant] to Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 230;
230(B)(3); 230(B)(1); and under the Fourteenth
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution[,] as such relates to
[Wall] being provided with … complete and unredacted
discovery [materials] for inspection to perfect the issues
raised on appeal[?]
II. [Whether] Exhibit B, along with B-1, validates that[] the
attorney for the Commonwealth,[] as paid by the state[],
… had failed to present evidence and witnesses[] to
1
See Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988);
Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc).
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establish a prima facie case[,] as such relates to an
[indictment] again[st] [Wall?]
III. [Whether] Exhibit C, C-1, C-2[,] C-3[,] C-4, [validates]
that[] the [trial] counsel[,] as paid by the state[], …
violate[d] the attorney/client privilege[,] as such relates to
providing [Wall] with ineffective assistance of counsel[?]
Brief for Appellant at 6 (some capitalization omitted).
We review an order dismissing a petition under the PCRA
in the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the PCRA
level. This review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court
and the evidence of record. We will not disturb a PCRA court’s
ruling if it is supported by evidence of record and is free of legal
error.
Commonwealth v. Ford, 44 A.3d 1190, 1194 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations
omitted).
In his first claim, Wall contends that the PCRA court improperly
withheld discovery from him. See Brief for Appellant at 10-12. Wall argues
that he was not provided with various documents, including, inter alia, the
grand jury transcripts, medical documents detailing the victim’s injuries,
DNA analysis, a log of his prison phone calls, the arrest and search warrants,
witness statements, and investigation reports. Id. at 11-12; see also id. at
16-17.
On August 27, 2015, in response to Wall’s “Application For Order
Mandating Clerk Of Courts And/Or Court Stenographer To Fernish [sic] Court
Records And Transcribed Notes Of Testimony In Forma Pauperis,” this Court
entered an Order directing the PCRA court to provide Wall with all requested
documents and relevant notes of testimony. See Order, 8/27/15. The PCRA
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court entered an Order on October 26, 2015, stating that it had provided all
of the requested documents to Wall. See Order, 10/26/15.
Here, Wall does not demonstrate that the PCRA court committed any
error after it provided him with the requested documents. To the extent
Wall now seeks documents that he did not request, we conclude that such a
claim is without merit. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 902(E)(1) (stating that under the
PCRA, “no discovery shall be permitted at any stage of the proceedings,
except upon leave of court after a showing of exceptional circumstances.”).
Based upon the foregoing, Wall is not entitled to relief on his first claim.
In his second claim, Wall contends that the prosecutor committed
prosecutorial misconduct by not dismissing the charges against him. Brief
for Appellant at 13. Wall argues that the Commonwealth failed to present
evidence and witnesses to establish a prima facie case under the Indictment.
Id. at 14-15, 18-20.
Here, Wall did not raise this claim in his PCRA Petition; thus, it is
waived on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Santiago, 855 A.2d 682, 691
(Pa. 2004) (stating that “a claim not raised in a PCRA petition cannot be
raised for the first time on appeal.”). Moreover, even if he had raised the
issue in his PCRA Petition, this claim is not cognizable under the PCRA. See
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42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a)(2). Thus, Wall’s second claim on appeal lacks
merit.2
In his third claim, Wall contends that his plea counsel was ineffective
for failing to investigate evidence and witnesses, file pretrial motions,
explain the grand jury rules to him, and file a motion to dismiss the charges.
Brief for Appellant at 21-34.
To succeed on such an ineffectiveness claim, Wall must demonstrate
by the preponderance of the evidence that
(1) [the] underlying claim is of arguable merit; (2) the particular
course of conduct pursued by counsel did not have some
reasonable basis designed to effectuate his interests; and (3) but
for counsel’s ineffectiveness, there is a reasonable probability
that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different.
Commonwealth v. Ali, 10 A.3d 282, 291 (Pa. 2010). A petitioner’s failure
to satisfy any prong of the ineffectiveness test requires rejection of the
claim. Commonwealth v. Burno, 94 A.3d 956, 972 (Pa. 2014). Counsel is
presumed to be effective, and the burden is on the appellant to prove
otherwise. Commonwealth v. Watkins, 108 A.3d 692, 702 (Pa. 2014).
A criminal defendant has the right to effective counsel
during a plea process as well as during trial. The law does not
require that appellant be pleased with the outcome of his
decision to enter a plea of guilty. Instead, the defendant must
show that counsel’s deficient stewardship resulted in a manifest
2
Wall also baldly claims that his negotiated sentence was illegal pursuant to
Alleyne v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013). Brief for Appellant at
13. However, Wall did not raise this claim in his PCRA Petition, nor has Wall
demonstrated that Alleyne applies to his case. See Santiago, 855 A.2d at
691. To the extent Wall raises a sufficiency of evidence claim, we conclude
that the claim is waived for failing to raise it in his PCRA Petition. See id.
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injustice, for example, by facilitating entry of an unknowing,
involuntary, or unintelligent plea. The voluntariness of the plea
depends on whether counsel’s advice was within the range of
competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.
Therefore, allegations of ineffectiveness in connection with the
entry of a guilty plea will serve as a basis for relief only if the
ineffectiveness caused appellant to enter an involuntary or
unknowing plea.
Our law is clear that, to be valid, a guilty plea must be
knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently entered. There is no
absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea, and the decision as to
whether to allow a defendant to do so is a matter within the
sound discretion of the trial court. To withdraw a plea after
sentencing, a defendant must make a showing of prejudice
amounting to “manifest injustice.” A plea rises to the level of
manifest injustice when it was entered into involuntarily,
unknowingly, or unintelligently. A defendant’s disappointment in
the sentence imposed does not constitute “manifest injustice.”
Commonwealth v. Bedell, 954 A.2d 1209, 1212 (Pa. Super. 2008)
(citations, brackets, and quotation marks omitted).
In order to ensure a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent plea, trial
courts are required to ask the following questions in the guilty plea colloquy:
1) Does the defendant understand the nature of the charges
to which he or she is pleading guilty or nolo contendere?
2) Is there a factual basis for the plea?
3) Does the defendant understand that he or she has the
right to a trial by jury?
4) Does the defendant understand that he or she is presumed
innocent until found guilty?
5) Is the defendant aware of the permissible ranges of
sentences and/or fines for the offenses charged?
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6) Is the defendant aware that the judge is not bound by the
terms of any plea agreement tendered unless the judge
accepts such agreement?
Id.; see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 590, cmt. “The guilty plea colloquy must
affirmatively demonstrate that the defendant understood what the plea
connoted and its consequences.” Commonwealth v. Lewis, 708 A.2d 497,
501 (Pa. Super. 1998). “Once a defendant has entered a plea of guilty, it is
presumed that he was aware of what he was doing, and the burden of
proving involuntariness is upon him.” Commonwealth v. Stork, 737 A.2d
789, 790 (Pa. Super. 1999) (citation and internal brackets omitted). “In
determining whether a guilty plea was entered knowingly and voluntarily, ...
a court is free to consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding the
plea.” Commonwealth v. Flanagan, 854 A.2d 489, 513 (Pa. 2004)
(citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
At the plea colloquy, Wall stated that he understood the English
language, and that he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. See
N.T., 6/10/13, at 3. Wall understood the charges against him, and admitted
to the facts that led to those charges. Id. at 4, 6-8. Wall also stated that
by pleading guilty, he understood that he was foregoing certain rights,
including, inter alia, the presumption of innocence, the right to a jury trial,
and most of his direct appeal rights. Id. at 4-5, 12-13. Wall affirmed that
he was pleading guilty of his own free will and that he was satisfied with his
attorney’s representation. Id. at 3, 5. Further, the trial court informed Wall
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about the maximum possible sentence and thereafter, imposed the
negotiated sentence. Id. at 4, 10.
Based upon our review of the totality of the circumstances, we
conclude that Wall knowingly and voluntarily entered the guilty plea. Wall
has not argued or demonstrated that plea counsel’s alleged errors caused
him to tender an unknowing and involuntary plea. See PCRA Court Opinion,
7/10/15, at 5; see also Bedell, 954 A.2d at 1212. Indeed, Wall accepted
the factual basis of the guilty plea and admitted to committing aggravated
assault. Moreover, Wall confirmed that he understood the rights he was
foregoing by pleading guilty, indicated that he was pleased with the
representation of counsel, and stated that no one had coerced him into
pleading guilty. See Commonwealth v. Muhammad, 794 A.2d 378, 384
(Pa. Super. 2002) (stating that appellant cannot claim that he involuntarily
entered a guilty plea where he stated that no one threatened him to plead
guilty); see also Commonwealth v. Tareila, 895 A.2d 1266, 1267 (Pa.
Super. 2006) (stating that “[t]he entry of a guilty plea constitutes a waiver
of all defects and defenses except lack of jurisdiction, invalidity of the plea,
and illegality of the sentence.”). In light of the guilty plea colloquy, we
conclude that Wall knowingly and voluntarily entered the guilty plea, and
that Wall’s claims of ineffective assistance of plea counsel do not entitle him
to relief. See Commonwealth v. Yeomans, 24 A.3d 1044, 1047 (Pa.
Super. 2011) (stating that a person who elects to plead guilty is bound by
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the statements he made during the plea colloquy and may not later assert
grounds for withdrawing the plea which contradict those statements);
Lewis, 708 A.2d at 502 (noting that where the appellant stated at his
colloquy that he was satisfied with counsel’s representation, appellant’s
ineffective assistance of counsel claim was without merit); Commonwealth
v. Shekerko, 639 A.2d 810, 815 (Pa. Super. 1994) (concluding that
because appellant’s plea was knowingly entered, plea counsel was not
ineffective).
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/17/2016
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