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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
RALPH E HAUCK JR. :
:
Appellant : No. 570 MDA 2023
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered March 16, 2023
In the Court of Common Pleas of Union County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-60-CR-0000006-2020
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J.E., KUNSELMAN, J., and COLINS, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.E.: FILED: MARCH 8, 2024
Ralph E. Hauck, Jr. appeals from the order entered in the Union County
Court of Common Pleas on March 16, 2023, denying his timely first petition
filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-
9546. Because we are constrained to conclude the PCRA court erred in holding
trial counsel was not ineffective, we vacate Hauck’s convictions for person not
to possess a firearm under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105 and remand for a new trial.
This Court has previously provided a summary of the facts in this case:
On November 23, 2019, State Game Warden, Harold Cole,
encountered Hauck while Hauck was hunting with a rifle. A few
hours after that encounter, Warden Cole was informed that Hauck
was a person not to possess a firearm. Later that same day,
Warden Cole again encountered Hauck and confiscated his rifle.
Hauck denied being a person not to possess and claimed that it
was his brother who was prohibited from possessing or using a
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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firearm. Warden Cole indicated that he would be investigating the
matter. The warden returned the rifle to Hauck and admonished
him not to use or possess a firearm until the matter was resolved.
Thereafter, Warden Cole contacted the district attorney, who
confirmed that Hauck had prior convictions which rendered him a
person not to possess a firearm.
On December 4, 2019, less than two weeks after his
encounter with Hauck, Warden Cole received a report that an
individual had unlawfully shot a deer from the roadway. When
Warden Cole arrived at the scene, he found a dead deer on the
road behind Hauck's vehicle. Upon questioning, Hauck admitted
to Warden Cole that he had shot the deer from his vehicle while
on the roadway, and then trespassed on private property to
retrieve and tag it. The warden observed a rifle on the front seat
of Hauck's vehicle and recognized it as the same rifle he had
briefly confiscated from Hauck on November 23, 2019. Hauck was
arrested and charged with two counts of persons not to possess a
firearm, and multiple violations of Pennsylvania's Game and
Wildlife Code, including unlawful taking or possession of game or
wildlife, unlawful devices and methods, shooting on or across
highways, and trespass on private property.
A bench trial was conducted on January 29, 2021. At trial,
the Commonwealth introduced evidence of the above incidents.
Hauck did not testify, and his counsel did not contest that Hauck
hunted with a rifle on the dates in question. Hauck stipulated to
the admission of his criminal record and to the convictions which
prevented him from possessing or using a firearm.[1] At the
conclusion of trial, the court found Hauck guilty of all charges. On
April 6, 2021, the trial court sentenced Hauck to concurrent prison
terms of five to ten years on the two firearm charges. No
additional sentence was imposed on the summary offenses under
the Game and Wildlife Code.
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1 Specifically, trial counsel stipulated that Hauck’s federal convictions under
18 U.S.C. § 1512, tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant, were
equivalent to both intimidation of witnesses or victims, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952, and
retaliation against witness, victim or party, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4953, both
enumerated offenses pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(b). See N.T. Bench Trial
1/29/21, 60-61.
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Commonwealth v. Hauck, 848 MDA 2021 (Pa. Super. filed Jan. 19, 2022).
On November 28, 2022, Hauck filed a timely pro se PCRA petition alleging,
among other claims, that trial counsel was ineffective for stipulating that his
federal convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(1), (b)(2)(a), and (b)(3) were
the equivalent of 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4952 and 4953. After counsel was appointed,
the PCRA court held a hearing on March 15, 2023. At the conclusion of the
hearing, the PCRA court denied Hauck’s PCRA petition. Hauck appealed.2
Hauck raises one issue on appeal:
Did the PCRA court err by determining that defense counsel was
not ineffective for stipulating that the Appellant’s prior convictions
in federal court for “tampering with a witness, victim, or an
informant” in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1512(b) would be the
equivalent under 18 Pa.C.S. §6105(b) enumerated offenses
relating to 18 Pa.C.S. §4952 [intimidation of witnesses or victims]
and 18 Pa.C.S. §4953 [retaliation against witness, victim, or
party]?
Appellant’s Brief at 4 (capitalization removed).
Our standard and scope of review is well-settled:
This Court analyzes PCRA appeals in the light most favorable
to the prevailing party at the PCRA level. Our review is limited to
the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence of record and we
do not disturb a PCRA court’s ruling if it is supported by evidence
of record and is free of legal error. Similarly, we grant great
deference to the factual findings of the PCRA court and will not
disturb those findings unless they have no support in the record.
However, we afford no such deference to its legal conclusions.
Where the petitioner raises questions of law, our standard of
review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary. Finally, we
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2 The PCRA court ordered Hauck to file his Rule 1925(b) concise statement of
errors complained of on appeal. Hauck complied and filed his Rule 1925(b)
statement on May 4, 2023. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).
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may affirm a PCRA court’s decision on any grounds if the record
supports it.
Commonwealth v. Selenski, 228 A.3d 8, 15 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citations
omitted).
Counsel is presumed to be effective and a petitioner claiming ineffective
assistance of counsel bears the burden of proving otherwise. See Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 84 A.3d
294, 311 (Pa. 2014). The petitioner must show, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that: (1) the underlying claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel’s
performance lacked a reasonable basis; and (3) prejudice resulted. See
Commonwealth v. Pierce, 786 A.2d 203, 213 (Pa. 2001). Prejudice requires
the petitioner to demonstrate “that there is a reasonable probability that, but
for counsel’s error, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different.”
Id.
Hauck’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel centers around trial
counsel’s stipulation that Hauck’s federal convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 1512,
tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant, are the equivalent of
Pennsylvania’s intimidation of witnesses or victims under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952
and retaliation against witness, victim or party under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4953. This
stipulation was vital to Hauck’s conviction for person not to possess a firearm,
as both 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4952 and 4953 are enumerated offenses under 18
Pa.C.S. § 6105(b). Without this stipulation, there was no evidence presented
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at trial to show Hauck is a person not to possess a firearm under
Pennsylvania’s statute. Therefore, the claim is of arguable merit.
At the PCRA hearing, trial counsel testified that he did not recall whether
he compared the federal statute to Pennsylvania’s statutes before he
stipulated that they were equivalent. See N.T. PCRA Hearing 3/15/23, 23.
Trial counsel also noted that his file did not have any indication that he
compared the statutes. See id. Trial counsel conceded that he should have
compared the statutes prior to entering the stipulation and admitted he did
not have a strategic basis for not doing so. See id. at 29. Clearly, then, there
is no evidence to find that counsel had a reasonable basis for the stipulation
he entered into with the Commonwealth.
Finally, we turn to prejudice. To determine if Hauck proved prejudice,
i.e., a reasonable probability that the result of the proceedings would have
been different, the statutes must be compared to see if the federal statute of
which Hauck was convicted is equivalent to an enumerated offense under
section 6105(b). See 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(b). If the statutes are equivalent,
there would be no prejudice. The PCRA court found that the statutes, 18 U.S.C.
§ 1512 and 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952, were equivalent.3 This is a question of law,
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3 Trial counsel also stipulated that section 1512 was an equivalent to
Pennsylvania’s retaliation against witness, victim or party, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4953.
While this was raised at the PCRA hearing, the trial court did not address
section 4953 in its decision. It is clear to this Court that the statutes are not
equivalent as there is no reference whatsoever within section 1512 to
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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accordingly our standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is
plenary. See Selenski, 228 A.3d at 15.
In determining whether a federal or other statute is equivalent to one
of the enumerated offenses under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(b), we must compare
the elements of the crimes. See Commonwealth v. Cyran, 203 A.3d 1012,
1015 (Pa. Super. 2019); Commonwealth v. Northrip, 985 A.2d 734, 741
(Pa. 2009) (holding “the focus is on the crime for which the defendant was
convicted, not the factual scenario underlying that crime.”). Hauck, as
relevant here, was convicted of tampering with a witness, victim, or an
informant, under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(b)(1), (b)(2)(A), and (b)(3). In relevant
part, section 1512(b) states:
(b) Whoever knowingly uses intimidation or physical force,
threatens, or corruptly persuades another person, or attempts to
do so, or engages in misleading conduct toward another person,
with the intent to—
(1) influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of any person
in an official proceeding;
(2) cause or induce any person to—
(A) withhold testimony, or withhold a record,
document, or other object, from an official
proceeding; …
(3) hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a law
enforcement officer or judge of the United States of information
relating to the commission or possible commission of a Federal
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“retaliation,” and section 4953 requires the acts be committed “in retaliation.”
See 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b); 18 Pa.C.S. § 4953(a).
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offense or a violation of conditions of probation, parole, or release
pending judicial proceedings … .
18 U.S.C. § 1512(b) (prior version in effect at time of Hauck’s conviction). In
comparison, Pennsylvania’s intimidation of witnesses or victims states:
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if, with the
intent to or with the knowledge that his conduct will obstruct,
impede, impair, prevent or interfere with the administration of
criminal justice, he intimidates or attempts to intimidate any
witness or victim to:
(1) Refrain from informing or reporting to any law
enforcement officer, prosecuting official or judge concerning any
information, document or thing relating to the commission of a
crime.
(2) Give any false or misleading information or testimony
relating to the commission of any crime to any law enforcement
officer, prosecuting official or judge.
(3) Withhold any testimony, information, document or thing
relating to the commission of a crime from any law enforcement
officer, prosecuting official or judge.
(4) Give any false or misleading information or testimony or
refrain from giving any testimony, information, document or
thing, relating to the commission of a crime, to an attorney
representing a criminal defendant.
(5) Elude, evade or ignore any request to appear or legal
process summoning him to appear to testify or supply evidence.
(6) Absent himself from any proceeding or investigation to
which he has been legally summoned.
18 Pa.C.S. § 4952(a).
The PCRA court found that these two statutes were equivalent. However,
looking at the plain language of section 1512, Hauck could have been
convicted without any intimidation, a clear requirement in Pennsylvania’s
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section 4952. Section 1512(b) allows a conviction if the defendant “uses
intimidation, threatens, or corruptly persuades … .” 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)
(emphasis added). The Legislature did not define “corruptly persuades” within
section 1512. Nor has the Supreme Court of the United States addressed what
“corruptly persuades” means in this context. However, the Third Circuit has
addressed “corruptly persuades.” In U.S. v. Farrell, the Third Circuit held that
“both attempting to bribe someone to withhold information and attempting to
persuade someone to provide false information to federal investigators
constitute ‘corrupt persuasion’ punishable under § 1512(b).” U.S. v. Farrell,
126 F.3d 484, 488 (3d Cir. 1997) (emphasis in original).
Our Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has addressed whether bribery,
alone, would constitute intimidation in Commonwealth v. Doughty, 126
A.3d 951 (Pa. 2015). In Doughty, after he was charged with simple assault
for physically assaulting his wife, Doughty repeatedly called his wife from
prison. Doughty, 126 A.3d at 952. During one conversation, Doughty told his
wife that if she was charged with making false statements, he would pay any
fines imposed. See id. Doughty was then charged and convicted of
intimidation of witnesses or victims, under section 4952. See id.
On appeal, Doughty challenged the sufficiency of the evidence for his
conviction of intimidation of witnesses or victims. See id. Doughty “conceded
he tendered a pecuniary benefit by offering to pay potential fines, but asserted
such a fact related only to grading,” arguing that offering a pecuniary benefit
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did not constitute intimidation, as required under section 4952. Id. Our
Supreme Court found that, because the Legislature replaced the word,
“induce,” with the word, “intimidate,” when it repealed and replaced the
statute, any inducement would not suffice for a conviction under section 4952.
See id. at 957. The Court held that offering a pecuniary benefit, in and of
itself, does not constitute intimidation. See id. The Court made clear that
offering a pecuniary benefit could constitute intimidation in certain situations:
intimidation may be accomplished with no words at all, for a mere
look or posture can bully, threaten, coerce, frighten, or intimidate
beyond question. It is equally true that an offer of benefit can be
presented in such a Machiavellian manner as to contain an
unarticulated act of intimidation. See, e.g., The Godfather
(Paramount Pictures 1972) (“I’m gonna make him an offer he
can’t refuse.”).
Id. (one internal citation omitted). In other words, under Pennsylvania’s
statute prohibiting the intimidation of witnesses or victims, the
Commonwealth must prove there was intimidation, not just inducement.
Because 18 U.S.C. § 1512, tampering with a witness, victim, or an
informant, can be proven with a “corrupt persuasion,” (or corrupt inducement)
we cannot find that it is equivalent to Pennsylvania’s statutes prohibiting the
intimidation of witnesses or victim, which requires intimidation, not merely an
inducement. Therefore, trial counsel’s stipulation that the 18 U.S.C. §§
1512(b) and 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4952 and 4953 are equivalent prejudiced Hauck
because, without this, there was no evidence to convict him of persons not to
possess a firearm.
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Based on the foregoing, we conclude Hauck pleaded and proved the
three prongs required for a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel.
Therefore, we are constrained to find that the trial court erred in denying
Hauck’s PCRA petition. We vacate his convictions for person not to possess a
firearm and remand for a new trial.4
Order reversed. Judgment of sentence vacated. Case remanded for new
trial on Counts 1 and 2. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Benjamin D. Kohler, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 3/8/2024
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4 It is the general practice to remand for a new trial on successful claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel. See Commonwealth v. Young, 35 A.3d
54, 64 (Pa. Super. 2011).
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