Case Title: Com. v. Egan

Citation: 335 Pa. Super. 474, 484 A.2d 802

Docket Number: 

State: pennsylvania

Court: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Date: 1984-11-23T00:00:00Z

Document:
335 Pa. Superior Ct. 474 (1984) 484 A.2d 802 COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Joseph Walter EGAN, Appellant. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Submitted October 24, 1983. Filed November 23, 1984. *475 Peter T. Campana, Williamsport, for appellant. R. Michael Kaar, Assistant District Attorney, Milton, for Commonwealth, appellee. Before WICKERSHAM, BROSKY and HOFFMAN, JJ. WICKERSHAM, Judge: Appellant Joseph Walter "Mike" Egan, a former Sunbury police officer, was arrested and charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by receiving stolen property, theft by extortion, theft by failure to make required disposition, obstructing administration of law, and aiding in the consummation of a crime. A jury trial commenced November 12, 1981 before the Honorable Samuel C. Ranck. Judge Ranck accurately sets forth the evidence adduced at trial in his opinion, as follows: Lower ct. op. at 2-4. The jury began deliberations, to consider the six charges, at the conclusion of the trial on November 16, 1981. At approximately 5:45 p.m., the court met with the jury and all parties in response to a communication delivered to the court by the jury requesting additional information. The court gave additional instructions and at approximately 5:50 p.m., the jury again retired for deliberations. Shortly thereafter, the court was informed by the jury that they wished further instructions, and at approximately 6:30 p.m. a sidebar conference took place between the court and counsel and it was determined that the court give the jury the American Bar Association's Standard Instructions after they had been in deliberations four hours. The court called *478 the jury into the courtroom and gave them the ABA Standard Instructions concerning the method by which they were to reach a verdict. After a short colloquy and before returning the jury back into deliberations, the court declared a mistrial, finding that the jury was deadlocked. The case was tried a second time on January 12, 1982 and appellant was convicted by a jury on all counts on January 14, 1982. Appellant filed a motion for a new trial alleging the verdict was against the weight of the evidence and that the district attorney made an improper remark during closing argument. Post-trial motions were denied in part and granted in part. The court arrested judgment on the sixth count charging appellant with aiding in the consummation of a crime. On May 13, 1982, appellant was sentenced on the remaining counts to a period of not less than two and one-half nor more than seven years imprisonment. This timely appeal followed. Appellant raises the following issues on appeal: Brief for Appellant at 3. Appellant was represented at the first trial by Wallace Worth, Jr., Esquire and by Mr. Worth and Robert MaGee, Esquire at the second trial which commenced January 12, 1982. In this appeal, appellant is represented by Peter T. Campana, Esquire of Williamsport. The opinion filed by Judge Ranck on January 16, 1982, relating to post-verdict motions does not reach either of the issues raised in this appeal. *479 With particular regard to the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel the following is submitted by appellant in his brief. Brief for Appellant at 22. We understand that it is our responsibility to attempt to examine the merits of each ineffectiveness of counsel claim before ordering an evidentiary hearing. As Mr. Justice McDermott said in Commonwealth v. Clemmons, 505 Pa. 356, 479 A.2d 955 (1984): At 505 Pa. at 361-362, 479 A.2d at 957-958. We need proceed no further than the first claim of ineffectiveness of trial counsel "in failing to file a motion to dismiss the charges prior to the second trial on double jeopardy grounds." It is impossible to tell from the record whether or not the action of trial counsel could have had a rational basis in this instance. It is not apparent from the *482 record that the various actions claimed to constitute ineffectiveness were in fact within the realm of trial tactics or strategy. Commonwealth v. Turner, supra. Accordingly, we will vacate the judgment, at least for the time being, and remand for an evidentiary hearing at which trial counsel may state their reasons for having chosen the course of action taken. This remand will also afford the trial court the opportunity to supplement his opinion for the purposes of this appeal and provide us with his analysis of the necessity for dismissing the first jury as well as his analysis of the allegations of ineffectiveness of trial counsel following the hearing which will be held. Judgment of sentence is hereby vacated and this case remanded to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing at which trial counsel will state the reasons for having chosen the courses of action taken. If the court determines that counsel was ineffective, it shall grant appellant a new trial. If the court finds that double jeopardy attached following the declaration of mistrial, then it shall discharge defendant-appellant. Commonwealth v. Owens, 299 Pa.Super. 1, 445 A.2d 117 (1982). If the court determines that the mistrial was declared with manifest necessity and further determines that trial counsel was effective then it shall reinstate the sentence. Either party may appeal from such decision and we do not retain jurisdiction.