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____________________________________ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. PEDRO EWING

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 941 MDA 2018 Appeal from the PCRA Order May 10, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 40 - CR - 0001592 - 2015, CP - 40 - CR - 0002422 - 2015, CP - 40 - CR - 0002945 - 2015 BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., OTT, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY STEVENS, P.J.E.: FILED APRIL 25, 2019 Appellant, Pedro Ewing, appeals from the order entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County , which denied his first petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Ac t (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541 - 9546. We affirm and grant counsel’s petition to withdraw. The trial court aptly sets forth the facts and procedural history of this case: The Luzerne County District Attorney filed three criminal informations against the Defendant [hereinafter, “Appellant”], charging him with various theft and drug related offenses. Appellant eventually pleaded guilty to three of the original seven counts charged, and no contest to another of the counts. He was sentenced on March 2, 2016. Appellant did not seek to withdraw his guilty pleas before or after sentencing, but he did successfully move to modify his sentence based on an assertion that he had been sentenced using the wrong prior record score. Motion filed 3/8/16; N.T. 4/18/16 a t 5.

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Appellant did not directly appeal his April 18, 2016, sentence. On April 18, 2017, however, he filed a timely pro se motion pursuant to the [PCRA] setting forth five post - conviction claims. PCRA counsel was appointed to represent Appellant, and a P CRA hearing was scheduled for May 10, 2018. Wh en the hearing commenced, [PCRA] counsel indicated to the [PCRA court] that of the five claims originally raised in the PCRA petition, Appellant no longer wished to pursue the claim that prior counsel was in effective for failing to file a direct appeal, or the claim that the [trial] court erred by sentencing Appellant using the wrong prior record score, and instead only wished to seek post conviction relief with regard to the allegation that Appellant “[did n ot] understand what he was pleading guilty to.” N.T. 5/10/18 at 2 - 3. [PCRA] counsel thus requested that the issues pertaining to the direct appeal and the prior record score be withdrawn, and the [PCRA] court granted that request. Id .; Order filed 5/10/ 18. [PCRA] counsel additionally clarified that the specific post conviction relief sought by Appell ant was the opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea. N.T. 5/10/18 at 3. Appellant was then permitted to testify, and counsel for both parties offered argu ment in support of their respective positions. [PCRA] counsel suggested to the [PCRA] court that Appellant’s testimony supported a finding that he did not understand the charge to which he pled, and that he believed that he was pleading to a lesser versio n of the crime with a lower offense gravity score and involving a lesser sentence. Id. at 16. The [PCRA] court found to the contrary, however. Based on its review of the record, including the guilty plea colloquy conducted at the time the Appellant’s pl ea was accepted, Appellant’s testimony at the PCRA hearing, and the post - conviction arguments offered, the [PCRA] court determined that the record before it showed that Appellant’s plea was knowingly, voluntarily, and understandingly tendered. Id. at 18 - 1 9. As such the [PCRA] court denied Appellant’s PCRA petition. On June 7, 2018, Appellant timely appealed the May 10, 2018, denial of his request for post - conviction relief. Appellate counsel was appointed to represent Appellant, and a timely, counseled Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal was filed on June 27, 2018. The Commonwealth filed its response to Appellant’s 1925(b) Statement on July 31, 2018.

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PCRA Court Opinion, 10/24/18 at 1 - 3. Preliminarily, appointed c ounsel has f iled a petition to withdraw and accompanying no - merit brief establishing why Appellant is not entitled to PCRA relief. The “ Turner / Finley decisions provide the manner for post conviction counsel to withdraw from representation.” Commonwealth v. Rykard , 55 A.3d 1177, 1184 (Pa.Super. 2012). We have explained : The holdings of those cases mandate an independent review of the record by competent counsel before a PCRA court or appellate court can authorize an attorney's withdrawal. The necessary independent review requires counsel to file a “no - merit” letter detailing the nature and extent of his review and list each issue the petitioner wishes to have examined, explaining why those issues are meritless. Id. at 1184 (footnote omitt ed) . In addition to requesting permission to withdraw, Counsel must also send to the petitioner: (1) a copy of the “no merit” letter/brief; (2) a copy of counsel's petition to withdraw; and (3) a statement advising petitioner of the right to proceed pro se or by new counsel. * * * Where counsel submits a petition and no — merit letter that ... satisfy the technical demands of Turner / Finley , the court — trial court or this Court — must then conduct its own re view of the merits of the case. If the court agrees w ith counsel that the claims are without merit, the court will permit counsel to withdraw and deny relief. Commonwealth v. Doty , 48 A.3d 451, 454 (Pa.Super. 2012) (internal citations omitted) (quoting Commonwealth v. Wrecks , 931 A.2d 717, 721 (Pa.Super. 20 07)). Commonwealth v. Muzzy , 141 A.3d 509, 511 ( Pa.Super. 2016) .

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A pp ellate counsel has filed with this Court a Turner / Finley brief detailing the nature of counsel’s review, listing the issue Appellant wishes this Court to review, and explaining why and how the issue lacks merit. Included with this filing are counsel’s petition to withdraw and the letter he sent to Appellant ad vising him of his rights in the wake of counsel’s petition. Specifically, t he letter advises : “ please note that you are free to hire private counsel or proceed pro se and file your own brief raising any other additional issues.” Turner

/ Finley letter, fil ed 12/14/18 . As stated, appellate counsel’s letter properly informs Appellant of his immediate right to proceed with this appeal pro se or through privately - retained counsel. See Muzzy , 141 A.3d at 512. Although the petition does not contain proof of s ervice on Appellant, the letter mentions both the brief and petition as being enclosed. The brief contains proof of service on Appellant. To date, Appellant has not filed a response to counsel’s petition to withdraw. For these reasons, we conclude couns el’s withdrawal request satisfies Turner / Finley . Turning to our independent review, we observe that the Turner / Finley brief raises the following preserved issue on Appellant’s behalf: WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE IN FAILING TO ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN THE PLEA AGREEMENT TO THE APPELLANT THUS MAKING IT AN INVOLUNTARY PLEA? Turner / Finley Brief at 1. Initially, we outline the applicable principles regarding our review of the PCRA court's determinations herein:

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An appellate court reviews the PCRA court's f indings of fact to determine whether they are supported by the record, and reviews its conclusions of law to determine whether they are free from legal error. The scope of review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence of record, vie wed in the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the trial level. Commonwealth v. Freeland , 106 A.3d 768, 775 (Pa.Super. 2014) (citation omitted). Appellant contends that plea counsel rendered ineffective assi stance by failing to advise him th at he was pleading guilty to a Felony 1 robbery involving the threat of immediate serious bodily injury.” Regarding ineffective assistance of counsel claims arising from guilty pleas, we have noted the following: [C]laims of counsel's ineffectiveness in con nection with a guilty plea will provide a basis for relief only if the ineffectiveness caused an involuntary or unknowing plea.... The law does not require that appellant be pleased with the outcome of his decision to enter a plea of guilty: All that is r equired is that [appellant's] decision to plead guilty be knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently made. 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 upo n him. Therefore, where the record clearly demonstrates that a guilty plea colloquy was conducted, during which it became evident that the defendant understood the nature of the charges against him, the voluntariness of the plea is established. A defenda nt is bound by the statements he makes during his plea colloquy, and may not assert grounds for withdrawing the plea that contradict statements made when he pled. Commonwealth v. McCauley , 797 A.2d 920, 922 (Pa. Super. 2001) (citations omitted).

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The record , including the notes of testimony from Appellant’s PCRA hearing, belies his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. In addition to Appellant’s completion of a written guilty plea agreement in which he acknowledged that his plea was to F elony 1 rob bery involving threat of serious bodily injury, the trial court conducted a full on - the - record guilty plea colloquy wherein Appellant, again, acknowledged commission of this crime. Appellant is bound by those statements and “may not assert grounds for wit hdrawing the plea that contradict statements made when he pled.” Id . Accordingly, we discern no merit to Appellant’s claim that he did not understand the nature of his plea. 1 

### Based upon Appellant’s failure to establish the arguable merit prong of the ineffectiveness of counsel test, we affirm the PCRA court’s order dismissing Appellant’s PCRA petition. Order affirmed; c ounsel’s petition to withdraw granted . Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 4/25/2019

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### In reaching this conclusion, we adopt the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable David W. Lupas as our own.Circulated 03/18/2019 10:44 AM

1 1 TH J U D I C I A L D I S T RI C T O F P E NN S Y L V A N I A C O M M O N W E A L T H O F P E NN S Y L V A N I A



### v . P E D R O E W IN G D e fe n d an t 

### I Ap p e ll an t

O P I N I O N B Y : T H E H O N O RA B L E D A V I D W . L U P A S I. F A C T S A N D P R O C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y : IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S

O F L U Z E RN E C O UN T Y C RI M IN A L D I V I S I O N

N O s . 1 5 9 2 , 2 4 2 2 , 2 9 4 5 o f 2 0 1 5

T h i s m a tt e r c o m e s b e fo r e th e C o urt p ur s u an t t o th e D e fe n d an t' s a p p e a l o f o ur d e n i a l o f h i s P e t i t i o n fo r P o s t - C o n v i c t i o n C o ll a t e ra l R e l i e f . T h e L u z e rn e C o un ty D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y fil e d thr e e c r i m i n a l i n f o rm a t i o n s a g a i n s t th e D e fe n d an t , c h ar g i n g h i m w i th v ari o u s th e ft an d dru g r el a t e d o ff e n s e s . T h e D e fe n d an t e v e n t u a ll y p l e a d e d g u i lty t o thr e e o f th e o r i g i n a l s e v e n c o un t s c h ar g e d , an d n o c o n t e s t t o an o th e r o f th e c o un t s . 1 H e w a s s e n t e n c e d o n M ar c h 2 , 2 0 1 6 . 2 T h e D e fe n d an t d i d n o t s e e k t o w i th draw h i s g u il ty p l e a s b e fo r e o r a ft e r s e n t e n ci n g , b u t h e d i d s u c c e s s fu ll y m o v e t o m o d i fy h i s s e n t e n c e

I A t c a s e 1 5 92 o f 2 0 1 5 th e D e fe n d an t p l e a d e d g u i lty t o v i o l a t i n g 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 3 7 0 l ( a ) ( l ) ( ii ) ( F l ) . A t c a s e 2 4 2 2 o f 2 0 1 5 th e D e fe n d an t p l e a d e d g u il ty t o v i o l a t i n g 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 3 92 8 ( M 2 ) an d 3 5 P a . C . S . A . § 7 8 0 - l 1 3 ( a ) ( 3 2 ) ( M ) . A t c a s e 2 9 4 5 o f 2 0 1 5 th e D e fe n d an t p l e a d e d n o c o n t e s t t o v i o l a t i n g 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 3 92 9 ( a ) ( l ) ( M l ) . 2 T h e c e rt i fi e d r e c o r d c o n t a i n s w r i tt e n p l e a a g r e e m e n t s s i g n e d b y th e D e fe n d an t o n O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 1 5 an d M ar c h 2 , 2 0 1 6 . A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e o ra l g u il ty p l e a c o ll o qu i e s th a t w e r e a dm i n i s t e r e d fo r e a c h p l e a a

p p e ar i n th e h e ari n g tran s c r i p t s d a t e d O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 1 5 ( 1 5 9 2 o f 2 0 1 5 an d 2 9 4 5 o f 2 0 1 5 ) , an d M ar c h 2 , 2 0 1 6 ( 2 4 2 2 o f 2 0 1 5 ) . 1b a s e d o n an a s s e rt i o n th a t h e h a d b e e n s e n t e n c e d u s i n g th e w ro n g p r i o r r e c o r d s c o r e . M o t i o n

fil e d 3 / 8 / 1 6 ; N . T . 4 / 1 8 /1 6 a t 5 . T h e D e fe n d an t d i d n o t d i r e c t l y a p p e a l h i s Ap r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 s e n t e n c e . O n Ap r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 , h o w e v e r , h e fil e d a t i m e l y p r o s e m o t i o n p ur s u an t t o th e P o s t C o n v i c t i o n C o ll a t e ra l R e li e f A c t ( P C RA ) , 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § § 9 5 4 1 - 9 5 4 6 , s e tt i n g fo rth fi v e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n cl a i m s . P C RA p e t i t i o n fi l e d 4 / 1 8 / 1 7 a t 3 - 4 a . 3 P C RA c o un s e l w a s a p p o i n t e d t o r e p r e s e n t th e D e fe n d an t , an d a P C RA h e ari n g w a s s c h e d

u l e d fo r M ay 10 , 2 0 1 8 . W h e n th e h e ari n g c o mm e n c e d , d e fe n s e c o un s e l i n d i c a t e d t o th e C o urt th a t o f th e fi v e cl a i m s o ri g i n a ll y ra i s e d i n th e P C RA p e t it i o n , th e D e fe n d an t n o l o n g e r w i s h e d t o p ur s u e th e cl a i m th a t p r i o r c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o fil e a d i r e c t a

p p e a l , o r th e cl a i m th a t th e C o urt e r r e d b y s e n t e n c i n g th e D e fe n d an t u s i n g th e wr o n g p ri o r r e c o r d s c o r e , an d i n s t e a d o n l y w i s h e d t o s e e k p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e li e f w i th r e g ar d t o th e a ll e g a t i o n th a t th e D e fe n d an t " [ d i d n o t ] un d e r s t an d w h a t h e w a s p l e a d i n g g u i lty t o . " N . T . 5 / 10 / 1 8 a t 2 - 3 . 4 D e fe n s e c o un s e l thu s r e qu e s t e d th a t th e i s s u e s p e rt a i n i n g t o th e d i r e c t a p p e a l an d th e p r i o r r e c o r d s c o r e b e w i th draw n , an d th e C o urt g ran t e d th a t r e qu e s t. I d
. a t 2 - 3 ; O r d e r fi l e d 5 / 10 / 1 8 . D e fe n s e c o un s el a d d i t i o n a ll y cl ar i fi e d th a t th e s p e c i fi c p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e li e f s o u g h t b y th e D e fe n d an t w a s th e o p p o rt un i ty t o w ith draw h i s g u i lty p l e a . N . T . 5 /1 0 /1 8 a t 3 .

3 W e n o t e th a t th e P C RA p e t it i o n c o n t a i n s tw o p a g e s numb e r e d 4 , w h i c h w e fi ll r e fe r t o h e r e a s 4 an d 4 a . 4 P e rt a i n i n g t o th e v a li d i ty o f th e D e fe n d an t' s g u i lty p l e a , th e P C RA p e t i t i o n h a d s p e c i fi c a ll y a s s e rt e d th a t ( 1 ) " C o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o v i s i t an d c o m mun i c a t e s tra t e g y w i th P e t i t i o n e r , " ( 2 ) " C o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r n o t a ll o w i n g th e p e t i t i o n e r t o r e a d th e w ri tt e n c o ll o quy p ri or t o s e n t e n c i n g an d m i s l e a d i n g th e p e t i t i o n e r ab o u t h i s s e n t e n c e w i th th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t , " an d ( 3 ) " C o un s el w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r n o t o b

j e c t i n g t o th e e rr e d d i s c ri p t i o n [ s i c ] o f th e c h ar g e an d i t' s l e v e l o f o ff e n s e g rav i ty s c o r e d

ur i n g th e o r a l c o ll o quy w h i c h w a s n o t i n th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t. " P C RA p e t it i o n fil e d 4 / 1 8 / 1 7 a t 3 - 4 . 2T h e D e fe n d an t w a s th e n p e rm i tt e d t o t e s t i f y , an d c o un s e l fo r b o th p art i e s o ff e r e d ar g um e n t i n s u

p p o rt o fth e i r r e s p e c t i v e p o s i t i o n s . I d
. at 4 - 1 5 , 1 6 - 1 8 . 5 D e fe n s e c o un s el s u g g e s t e d t o th e C o urt th a t th e D e fe n d an t ' s t e s t i m o ny s u p p o rt e d a fi n d i n g th at h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d th e c h ar g e t o w h i c h h e p i e d , an d th at h e b e li e v e d th a t h e w a s p l e a d i n g t o a l e s s e r v e r s i o n o f th e c ri m e w i th a l o w e r o ff

e n s e g rav i ty s c o r e an d i n v o l v i n g a l e s s e r s e n t e n c e . I d
. a t 1 6 . T h e C o urt fo un d t o th e c o n trar

y , h o w e v e r . B a s e d o n i t s r e v i e w o f th e r e c o r d , i n cl u d i n g th e g u il ty p l e a c o ll o quy c o n d

u c t e d a t th e t i m e th e D e fe n d an t' s p l e a w a s a c c e p t e d , th e D e fe n d an t' s t e s t i m o ny a t th e P C RA h e ari n g , an d th e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n ar g um e n t s o ff e r e d , th e C o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at th e r e c o r d b e fo r e i t s h o w e d th at th e D e fe n d an t' s p l e a w a s kn o w i n g l y , v o l un t ari l y , an d un d e r s t an d i n g l y t e n d e r e d . I d
. a t 1 8 - 1 9 . A s s u c h , th e C o urt d e n i e d th e D e fe n d an t ' s P C RA p e t i t i o n . I

d
. O n Jun e 7 , 2 0 1 8 , th e D e fe n d an t t i m e l y a p p e a l e d th e M ay 10 , 2 0 1 8 d e n i a l o f h i s r e qu e s t fo r p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e li e f . Ap p e ll at e c o un s e l w a s a p p o i n t e d t o r e p r e s e n t th e D e fe n d an t , an d a t i m e l y , c o un s e l e d P a . R. A. P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l w a s fi l e d o n Jun e 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e C o mm o nw e a lth fil e d it s r e s p o n s e t o th e D e fe n d an t' s 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S t at e m e n t o n Ju l y 3 1 , 2 0 1 8 . 

### II . L A W A N D D I S C U S S I O N : T h e D e fe n d an t ' s 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S t at e m e n t i n d i c at e s th a t h e i n t e n d s t o ra i s e th e fo ll o w i n g thr e e i s s u e s b e fo r e th e S u

p e r i o r C o urt fo r p urp o s e s o f a p p e a li n g th e d e n i a l o f

h i s P C RA p e t i t i o n : 1 . W h e th e r tri a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e i n fa ili n g t o a d e qu at e l y e xp l a i n th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t t o th e D e fe n d an t , thu s m ak i n g i t an i n v o l un t ary p l e a ;

5 F r o m d e fe n s e c o un s e l ' s d i r e c t e x am i n at i o n o f th e D e fe n d an t , an d th e D e fe n d an t' s d i r e c t an d c r o s s e x am i n a t i o n t e s t i m o ny at th e P C RA h e ari n g , i t i s cl e ar th a t th e D e fe n d an t i s s e e k i n g p o s t c o n v i c t i o n r e li e f b a s e d o n a c h a ll e n g e t o th e v a li d i ty o f h i s p l e a at 1 5 9 2 o f 2 0 1 5 , p e rt a i n i n g t o ro b b e r y i n v o l v i n g thr e at o f i m m e d i at e s e ri o u s b o d i l y i n j ur y . N . T . 5 / 10 / 1 8 at 4 - 5 , 6 - 7 , 8 . 32 . W h e th e r tri a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e i n fa ili n g t o o b

j e c t t o an i n c o rr e c t o ff e n s e g r av i ty s c o r e i n th e p r e - s e n t e n c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a t s e n t e n ci n g ; 3 . W h e th e r tr i a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e i n fa ili n g t o a d e qu at e l y c o m mun i c a t e w i th th e D e fe n d an t i n p r e p ar at i o n o f h i s d e fe n s e s trat e g y an d tri a l. D e fe n d an t' s R

u l e 1 9 l 5 ( b ) S t a t e m e n t fi l e d 6 / 2 7 /1 8 at 1 . B e fo r e r e a c h i n g th e m e r it s o f th e s e i s s u e s , w e n o t e th a t th i s C o urt w a s n o t g i v e n an o p p o rt un ity t o a d dr e s s i s s u e s 2 an d 3 . A s i n d i c at e d ab o v e , at th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f h i s P C RA h e ar i n g th e D e fe n d an t s p e ci fi c a ll y r e qu e s t e d , an d w a s g i v e n , p e rm i s s i o n t o w i th draw a ll p o s t c o n v i c t i o n i s s u e s o t

h e r th a n t

h o s e a s s e r t i o n s p e r t

a i n i n g to h i

s gu il ty p le a . N . T . 5 / 10 / 1 8 a t 2 - 4 . A s s u c h , th i s C o urt ' s d e n i a l o f th e D e fe n d an t' s P C RA p e t i t i o n w a s b a s e d s o le l y o n o ur a s s e s s m e n t o f w h e th e r th e D e fe n d an t m e t h i s b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g h i s e n t i t l e m e n t t o p o s t c o n v i c t i o n r e li e f o n th at i s s u e . I d
. at 1 8 - 1 9 . B e c au s e th i s C o urt w a s n o t a s k e d t o a d dr e s s w h e th e r tri a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r

" fa ili n g t o o b

j e c t t o an i n c o rr e c t o ff e n s e g rav i ty s c o r e i n th e p r e - s e n t e n c e i n v e s t i g at i o n a t s e n t e n ci n g " an d

/ o r " fa i l i n g t o a d e qu a t e l y c o m mun i c at e w i th th e D e fe n d an t i n p r e p arat i o n o f h i s d e fe n s e s trat e g y an d tr i a l , " th e D e fe n d an t h a s w a i v e d th o s e i s s u e s fo r p urp o s e s o f a p p e a l. P a . R. A. P . 3 0 2 ( a ) (I s s u e s n o t ra i s e d i n th e l o w e r c o urt ar e w a i v e d an d c ann o t b e ra i s e d fo r th e fir s t t i m e o n a

p p e a l ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . M a s o n , 6 3 4 P a . 3 5 9 , 4 0 1 , 13 0 A. 3 d 6 0 1 , 6 2 6 ( 2 0 1 5 ) . W e thu s tum t o th e 1 9 2 5 ( b ) s t a t e m e n t ' s r e m a i n i n g cl a i m th a t tr i a l c o un s el w a s " i n e ff e c t i v e i n fa ili n g t o a d e qu at e l y e xp l a i n th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t t o th e D e fe n d an t , thu s m ak i n g i t an i n v o l un t ary p l e a . " D e fe n d an t ' s R

u l e 1 9 1 5 ( b ) S t at e m e n t fil e d 6 /2 7 / 1 8 a t 1.

4A s n o t e d a b o v e , th e D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d at th e P C RA h e ar i n g i n s u p p o rt o f h i s r e qu e s t t o w i th draw h i s g u i lty p l e a e n t e r e d t o 1 5 92 o f 2 0 1 5 , C o un t 1. 6 T o w i th draw a p l e a a ft e r s e n t e n c i n g , a d e fe n d an t mu s t m ak e a s h o w i n g o f p r e j u d i c e am o un t i n g t o " m an i fe s t i n j u s t i c e . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . B e d e ll , 9 5 4 A. 2 d 1 2 0 9 , 1 2 1 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) ( ci t i n g C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . P o ll a rd , 8 3 2 A. 2 d 5 1 7 , 5 2 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) . A g u i l ty p l e a r i s e s t o th e l e v el o f m an i fe s t i n j u s t i c e w h e n i t w a s e n t e r e d i n t o i n v o l un t ar il y , unkn o w i n g l y , o r un i n t e lli g e n t l y . I d
. A cl a i m a ll e g i n g th a t a g u i lty p l e a w a s n o t v o l un t ar y , kn o w i n g o r i n t e lli g e n t b e c au s e o f th e i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l i s c o g n i z ab l e un d e r 4 2 P a . C . S . A. § 9 5 4 3 ( a ) ( 2 ) (i i ) , an d m ay p ro v i d e a b a s i s fo r th e w i th dr aw a l o f th e p l e a a t th e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n s t a g e . C o m m o n w e a l t

h e x r e l
. D a d a r i o v . G o l d b e r g , 5 6 5 P a . 2 8 0 , 2 8 8 , 77 3 A .2 d 1 2 6 , 1 3 1 ( 2 0 0 1 ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . O r la n d

o , 1 5 6 A. 3 d 1 2 7 4 , 1 2 8 0 - 1 2 8 1 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 7 ) ; C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . R a t h fo n , 8 9 9 A. 2 d 3 6 5 , 3 6 9 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 6 ) . C o un s e l i s p r e s um e d e ff e c t i v e , h o w e v e r , an d o n c e a d e fe n d an t h a s e n t e r e d a p l e a o f g u i lty i t i s a l s o p r e s um e d th a t th e d e fe n d an t w a s aw ar e o f w h a t h e w a s d o i n g . C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . B e d e ll , 9 5 4 A. 2 d 1 2 0 9 , 1 2 1 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) (

c i t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . S to r k , 7 3 7 A .2 d 7 8 9 , 7 9 0 ( P a . S u

p e r . 1 9 9 9 ) ) . A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e l aw d o e s n o t r e qu i r e th a t a d e fe n d an t b e p l e a s e d w i th th e o u t c o m e o f h i s d e c i s i o n t o e n t e r a p l e a o f g u i lty , o n l y th a t th e d e c i s i o n b e kn o w i n g l y , v o l un t ar il y , an d i n t e lli g e n tl y m a d e . C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . W i lli s , 6 8 A. 3 d 9 9 7 , 10 0 2 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 13 ) . A d e fe n d an t ' s d i s a p p o i n tm e n t i n th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d d o e s n o t c o n s t i t u t e " m an i fe s t i n j u s t i c e . " P o lla rd

, 8 3 2 A .2 d at 5 2 2 .

6 B e c au s e th e D e fe n d an t ' s r e qu e s t fo r p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f w a s li m i t e d t o th e i s s u e o f th e v a li d i ty o f h i s p l e a t o ro b b e r y at 1 5 9 2 o f 2 0 1 5 , w e s i m il arl y li m i t o ur c urr e n t d i s c u s s i o n t o th a t i s s u e . 

### 5H e r e , C o un t 1 o f th e c r i m i n a l i n fo rm at i o n fi l e d at 1 5 9 2 o f 2 0 1 5 c h ar g e d th e D e fe n d an t

w i th v i o l at i n g 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 3 7 0 1 ( a ) ( l ) ( ( i i ) , w h i c h s t at e s th at " [ a ] p e r s o n i s g u il ty o f r o b b e r y i f , i n th e c o ur s e o f c o m m i tt i n g a th e ft , h e . . . th r e at e n s an o th e r w i th o r i n t e n t i o n a ll y p ut s h i m i n fe ar o f i mm e d i at e s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j ur y . " 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 3 7 0 1 ( a ) (l ) ( i i ) . P e rt i n e n t t o th i s c h ar g e , th e i n fo rm at i o n s p e c i fi c a ll y i n d i c a t e d th at th e D e fe n d an t , " i n th e c o ur s e o f c o mm i tt i n g a th e ft , thr e at e n e d an o th e r w i th i mm e d i at e s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j ur y o r i n t e n t i o n a ll y p u t an o th e r i n fe ar o f s e ri o u s b o d il y i n

j ur y . " I n fo rm at i o n fi l e d 6 / 2 3 / 1 5 . T h e i n fo rm at i o n furth e r i n d i c at e d th at th e c r i m e w a s g ra d e d a s a fe l o ny 1 . I d
. D ur in g th e o ra l g u il ty p l e a c o ll o quy c o n d u c t e d o n O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 1 5 , th e C o mm o nw e a l th i n d i c at e d t o th e C o urt , i n th e p r e s e n c e o f th e D e fe n d an t , th at i t w a s th e C o m m o nw e a l th ' s un d e r s t an d i n g th at th e D e fe n d an t i n t e n d e d t o p l e a d g u il ty t o C o un t 1 o f th e i n fo rm a t i o n fil e d at 1 5 9 2 o f 2 0 1 5 , w h i c h w a s g r a d e d a s a fe l o ny 1 , c arr y i n g a s t at

u t o r y m a x i mum s e n t e n c e o f 2 5 y e ar s ' i n c ar c e r a t i o n . N . T . 10 / 5 /1 5 at 3 . D e fe n s e c o un s e l th e n i n d i c a t e d t o th e C o urt , i n th e p r e s e n c e o f th e D e fe n d an t , th at i t w a s th e D e fe n d an t ' s i n t e n t i o n t o p l e a d g u i lty t o C o un t 1 o f th e i n fo rm a t i o n fi l e d at 1 5 9 2 o f 2 0 1 5 . I d
. a t 4 . T h e D e fe n d an t d i d n o t c o n tra d i c t th i s s t a t e m e n t , o r i n any w ay i n d i c at e th a t h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d th e c r i m e t o w h i c h h e w a s p l e a d i n g o r th at i t w a s n o t h i s i n t e n t i o n t o p l e a d t o th a t c r i m e . W h e n qu e s t i o n e d b y th e C o urt , th e D e fe n d an t an s w e r e d in th e n e g at i v e w h e n a s k e d i f h e h a d any d i ffi c u lty i n r e a d i n g , w ri t i n g o r un d e r s t an d i n g th e E n g li s h l an g u a g e . I

d
. at 5 . T h e D e fe n d an t a l s o an s w e r e d i n th e n e g at i v e w h e n th e C o urt a s k e d h i m i f h e w a s un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f any dru g s o r a lc o h o l , o r s u ff e ri n g fr o m any m e n t a l ill n e s s , w h i c h w o u l d a ff

e c t h i s ab ili ty t o un d e r s t an d th e g u il ty p l e a p r o c e e d i n g . I d
. F urth e r , th e D e fe n d an t an s w e r e d i n th e a f fi rm at i v e w h e n th e C o urt a s k e d h i m i f h e h a d r e v i e w e d an d d i s c u s s e d w i th h i s a tt o rn e y h i s d e s i r e t o e n t e r i n t o th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t. I d
. T h e D e fe n d an t



### 6an s w e r e d i n th e a ffi rm at i v e w h e n th e C o urt a s k e d h i m h e h a d r e v i e w e d an d s i g n e d th e w ri tt e n

p l e a a g r e e m e n t. I

d
. T h e D e fe n d an t an s w e r e d i n th e a ffi rm at i v e w h e n th e C o urt a s k e d h i m i f h e un d e r s t o o d th e p o s s i b l e ran g e o f s e n t e n c e s an d th e s t at u t o r y m a x i mum s e n t e n c e i n v o l v e d . I d
. a t 6 - 7 . B r i e fl y s um m ar i z i n g th e fa c t s a ll e g e d , th e C o m m o nw e a l th i n d i c a t e d , i n th e p r e s e n c e o f th e D e fe n d an t , th at " [ o ] n o r ab o u t Ap r il 4 , 2 0 1 5 , th e d e fe n d an t d i d thr e a t e n an o th e r w i th s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j u r y i n th e c o ur s e o f c o m m i tt i n g a th e f t a t th e W i n e & S p i r i t S to r e i n W i l k e s - B ar r e T o w n s h i p . " I

d
. at 7 ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . T h e D e fe n d an t th e n an s w e r e d i n th e a f fi rm at i v e w h e n th e C o urt a s k e d h i m i f h e w a s a dm i tt i n g t o th e s e a ll e g e d fa c t s . I d
. T h e D e fe n d an t an s w e r e d i n th e a f fi rm at i v e w h e n th e C o urt a s k e d hi m i f h e un d e r s t o o d th a t h e h a d th e r i g h t t o p l e a d n o t g u i l ty an d r e qu e s t a tr i a l. I d
. at 8 . P e rt i n e n t t o th e D e fe n d an t' s an s w e r s t o th e C o urt ' s qu e s t i o n s d uri n g th e o ra l p l e a c o ll o quy , " [ a ] p e r s o n w h o e l e c t s t o p l e a d g u il ty i s b o un d b y th e s t at e m e n t s h e m ak e s i n o p e n c o urt w h i l e un d e r o a th an d h e m ay n o t l a t e r a s s e rt g ro un d s fo r w i th dr aw i n g th e p l e a w h i c h c o n tra d i c t th e s t at e m e n t s h e m a d e at h i s p l e a c o ll o quy . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . P i e r , 1 8 2 A. 3 d 4 7 6 , 4 8 0 ( P a . S u

p e r. 2 0 1 8 ) ( ci t at i o n o m i tt e d ) . S e e a l s o O r la n d o , 1 5 6 A. 3 d at 1 2 8 0 - 1 2 8 1 ( " [ A ] d e fe n d an t i s b o un d b y th e s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h h e m ak e s d uri n g h i s p l e a c o ll o quy " an d m ay n o t a s s e rt g ro un d s fo r w i th draw i n g th e p l e a th a t c o n tra d i c t s t at e m e n t s m a d e w h e n h e e n t e r e d th e p l e a . ) . D e s p i t e th e D e fe n d an t ' s s p e c i fi c a dm i s s i o n d uri n g th e O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 1 5 g u il ty p l e a c o ll o quy th at h e h a d thr e a t e n e d an o th e r w i th i m m e d i a t e s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j ur y i n th e c o ur s e o f c o m m i tt i n g a th e ft , a s c h ar g e d b y th e C o m m o nw e a l th , N . T . 10 / 5 / 1 5 at 7 , th e D e fe n d an t n o n e th e l e s s cl a i m e d d

ur i n g th e s ub s e qu e n t P C RA h e ari n g th at h e w a s n o t aw ar e th a t h i s g u i lty p l e a i n v o l v e d an a dm i s s i o n t o thr e at e n i n g s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j ur y . N . T . 5 / 10 / 1 8 a t 8 . A d d i t i o n a ll y ,

7th e D e fe n d an t cl a i m e d th at h e " d i dn ' t h av e any i d e a a b o u t th e th r e at o f s e ri o u s b o d i l y i n j ur y un t il p ro b ab l y a ft e r th e s e n t e n ci n g , " an d th at h e w a s n o t " fu ll y aw ar e o f w h at th e e x a c t c h ar g e w a s . " I d
. at 8 , 9 . A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e D e fe n d an t i n s i s t e d th at th e fi r s t t i m e h e " g o t a l o o k at th e c h ar g e s " w a s a ft e r th e Ap r il 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 r e - s e n t e n ci n g . I d
. at 1 0 - 1 1 . T h e D e fe n d an t s ub s e qu e n t l y a dm i tt e d o n c ro s s e x am i n a t i o n , h o w e v e r , th at th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t h e s i g n e d o n M ay 10 , 2 0 1 5 s t at e d th a t h e w a s p l e a d i n g t o " F l R o b b e ry . " I d
. at 13 . T h e D e fe n d an t furth e r a dm i tt e d th at at th e t i m e o f th e M ay 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 p l e a c o ll o quy h e un d e r s t o o d th at h e w a s p l e a d i n g t o th at c h ar g e . I d
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e D e fe n d an t a c kn o w l e d g e d th at th e A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y s p e c i fi c a ll y i n d i c a t e d t o h i m d ur i n g th e c o ll o quy th at th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t p e rt a i n e d t o th e a c c u s a t i o n th a t h e h a d thr e a t e n e d an o th e r w i th i m m e d i at e s e ri o u s b o d il y i n j ury i n th e c o ur s e o f c o m m i tt i n g a th e ft . I d
. I n d e t e rm i n i n g w h e th e r th i s D e fe n d an t e n t e r e d a kn o w i n g , v o l un t ary an d i n t e lli g e n t g u il ty p l e a t o C o un t 1 at 1 5 92 o f 2 0 1 5 , th i s C o urt i s fr e e t o c o n s i d e r th e t o t a li ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s s urr o un d i n g th e p l e a . " B e d e ll , 9 5 4 A .2 d at 1 2 1 2 (

c i t i ng C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . F la n ag a n . 5 7 8 P a . 5 8 7 , 8 5 4 A. 2 d 4 8 9 , 5 1 3 ( 2 0 0 4 ) ) . F urth e r , a s s e s s i n g th e c r e d i b ili ty o f w i tn e s s e s ' t e s t i m o ny i s w e ll w i th i n th e d i s c r e t i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt . C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . O ' B r y o n , 8 2 0 A. 2 d 1 2 8 7 , 1 2 9 0 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) . F i n a ll y , a s n o t e d p r e v i o u s l y , a d e fe n d an t i s b o un d b y th e s t at e m e n t s m a d e d

ur i n g a p l e a c o ll o quy an d m ay n o t a s s e rt g ro un d s fo r w i th draw i n g th e p l e a th at c o n tra d i c t th o s e s t a t e m e n t s . P i e r , s u p ra ; O r l a n d o , s u p ra . B a s e d o n th e th o ro u g h p l e a c o ll o quy c o n d u c t e d i n th i s c a s e , i n cl u d i n g th e n at ur e o f th e qu e s t i o n s p o s e d t o th e D e fe n d an t at th at t i m e , an d th e c o rr e s p o n d i n g an s w e r s g i v e n b y th e D e fe n d an t e v i d e n ci n g h i s r e v i e w o f th e m a tt e r w i th h i s c o un s e l , an d h i s un d e r s t an d i n g o f b o th th e p l e a p ro c e s s an d th e c h ar g e s t o w h i c h h e w a s p l e a d i n g , th i s C o urt i s o f th e o p i n i o n th at th e r e

8i s n o m e r i t t o h i s c urr e n t cl a i m th a t h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d w h a t h e w a s p l e a d i n g t o . A s n o t e d

ab o v e , th e r e c or d cl e arl y d e m o n s tra t e s th a t th e D e fe n d an t w a s p u t o n n o t i c e th a t h e w a s c h ar g e d w i th ro b b e r

y , i n v o l v i n g thr e a t o f s e ri o u s b o d il y i n j ur y . T h e D e fe n d an t w a s i n fo rm e d , b o th thr o u g h th e wr i tt e n g u i lty p l e a a g r e e m e n t th a t h e r e a d an d s i g n e d an d th e o ra l g u il ty p l e a c o ll o quy p ro c e s s th a t h e p art i ci p a t e d i n , th a t h e w a s c h ar g e d w i th r o b b e r y i n v o l v i n g thr e a t o f s e ri o u s b o d il y i n

j ury . C o n s e qu e n t l y , th e D e fe n d an t c ann o t p l au s i b l y c o n t e n d th a t i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l p r e v e n t e d h i m fr o m b e i n g fu ll y i n fo rm e d a s t o th e o ff e n s e t o w h i c h h e w a s p l e a d i n g , o r th a t th e p l e a w a s n o t kn o w i n g l y , v o l un t ar il y an d i n t e lli g e n t l y e n t e r e d . T h e D e fe n d an t h a s n o t p r o v e n th e e x i s t e n c e o f m an i fe s t i n j u s t i c e w h ic h p r e

j u d i c e d h i m t o th e e x t e n t th a t h e i s e n t i t l e d t o w i th draw h i s p l e a . A c c o r d i n g l y , o ur d e n i a l o f th e D e fe n d an t ' s cl a i m fo r p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e li e f s h o u l d b e a ffi rm e d .
E N D O F O P I N I O N

9