### J - S10031 - 19

____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee v. JAMES JOHNSON Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 582 EDA 2018 Appeal from the PCRA Order February 9, 2018 In the Court of Comm on Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0001693 - 2011 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and COLINS*, J. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED MARCH 22, 2019 Appellant, James Johnson, appeals from the order entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his first petition brought under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”). 1 

### We affirm. In its opinion, the PCRA co urt fully and correctly sets forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no need to restate them. Appellant raises the following issues for our review: WHETHER THE COURT ER RED IN DENYING...APPEL LANT’S PCRA PETITION WI THOUT AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING ON THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE AMENDED PCRA PE TITION REGARDING TRIAL COUN SEL AND/OR APPELLATE COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIV ENESS[?] WHETHER THE COURT ER RED IN NOT GRANTING RELIEF ON

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541 - 9546.

### J - S10031 - 19

- 2 - THE PCRA PETITION AL LEGING TRIAL COUNSEL AND/OR APPELLAT E COUNSEL WAS INEFFE CTIVE FOR: A. FAILING TO FILE A POST - TRIAL MOTION T HAT THE VERDICT WAS AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE; B. FAILING TO FILE A POST - TRIAL MOTION F OR RECONSIDERATION OF S ENTENCE; C. FAILING TO EFFECT IVELY REPRESENT...APPE LLANT ON APPEA L[?] (Appellant’s Brief at 8). Our standard of review of the denial of a PCRA petition is limited to examining whether the evidence of record supports the court’s determination and whether its decision is free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Conway , 14 A.3d 101, 109 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal denied , 612 Pa. 687, 29 A.3d 795 (2011). This Court grants great deference to the findings of the PCRA court if the record contains any support for those findings. Commonwealth v. Boyd , 923 A.2d 513, 515 (Pa.Su per. 2007), appeal denied , 593 Pa. 754, 932 A.2d 74 (2007). We give no such deference, however, to the court’s legal conclusions. Commonwealth v. Ford , 44 A.3d 1190, 1194 (Pa.Super. 2012). Further, a petitioner is not entitled to a PCRA hearing as a mat ter of right; the PCRA court can decline to hold a hearing if there is no genuine issue concerning any material fact, the petitioner is not entitled to PCRA relief, and no purpose would be served by any further proceedings. Commonwealth v. Wah , 42 A.3d 33 5, 338 (Pa.Super. 2012) ; Pa.R.Crim.P. 907. After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

### J - S10031 - 19

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applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable Paula Patrick, we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief. The PCRA cour t opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the questions presented. ( See PCRA Court Opinion, filed April 13, 2018, at 5 - 18 ) (finding: (1) Appellant’s PCRA claims of ineffective assistance of counsel established no genuine issues of mater ial fact to warrant hearing ; (2) as factfinder, trial court observed Officer McFillin’s demeanor and determined Officer McFillin’s trial testimony was credible; any post - sentence motion raising weight of evidence claim based upo n court’s determination of Officer McFillin’s credibility would have failed; also, trial court acted within its discretion when it imposed separate but concurrent sentences for each offense; Superior Court decision on direct appeal did not disturb overall s entencing scheme; with respect to discretionary aspects of sentence, court considered PSI report and all other relevant sentencing factors ; further , trial court’s decision to allow Commonwealth to amend bills of information to include possession of firearm prohibited was proper , where possession of firearm prohibited charge stemmed from same facts and included same basic elements as other offenses charged ; therefore, Appellant’s PCRA claims of ineffective assistance of counsel merit no relief on these groun ds ) . The record supports the court’s decision . Accordingly, we affirm based on the PCRA court opinion. Order affirmed.

### J - S10031 - 19

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Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 3/22/19Circulated 03/07/2019 02:42 PM

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### D A T E : Ap ril 13 , 2 0 1 8 

### D e fe n d ant/Ap p e ll ant , J am e s Jo hn s o n , fil e d an a p p e a l fr o m th i s C o urt ' s d i s m i s s a l o f h i s P o s t - C o nv i c t i o n R e li e f

A c t ( " P C RA " ) P e t i ti o n . T h i s C o urt n o w s u b m i t s th e fo ll o w i n g O p i n i o n in s u p p o rt o f i t s ru li n g an d i n a c c o r d an c e w i th th e r e qu i r e m e nt s o f R u l e l 9 2 5 ( a) o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e s o f Ap p e ll at e P r o c e d

ur e . 

### F o r th e r e a s o n s s e t fo rth b e l o w , th i s C o urt ' s d e ci s i o n s h o u l d b e a ffi rm e d . P R O C E D U RA L /F A C T UA L H I S T O R Y 

### O n J anu ary 3 , 2 0 1 1 , at a

p p r o x i m at e l y 1 0 : 2 2 p . m . , P h il a d e lp h i a P o l i c e O f fi c e r s Jo e M c F ill i n an d W ill i am W i n c kl e r r e c e i v e d a r a d i o c a ll a b o ut a b l a c k m a l e w i th a gun i n s i d e th e C o m fo rt Z o n e B ar ( th e " B ar " ) , l o c at e d at 2 4 0 0 G e rm ant o wn Av e nu e , a h i g h dru g an d h i gh c ri m e ar e a . N . T . 8 / 1 1 / 1 1 at 5 - 6 , 8 , 1 5 - 1 6 . A c c o r d i n g t o th e fl a s h i n fo rm at i o n , th e m a l e w a s w e ari n g a b l a c k v e s t , b lu e s w e at s h i rt , li g ht c o l o r e d j e an s , an d a g r ay h o o d i e . I d . 

### at 6 . T h e o ffi c e r s , wh o w e r e dr e s s e d i n un i fo rm , w e r e dri v i n g i n s e p ar at e p o li c e c ar s . 

### I d . at 9 - 10 , 1 4 , 2 0 - 2 1. T h e y arri v e d i n th e i r r e s p e c t i v e v e h i cl e s an d e nt e r e d th e B ar . 

### I d . at 9 - 1 0 . S h o rt l y th e r e a ft e r , a w o m an p a s s e d b y O ffi c e rM c F ill i n an d s a i d , " th e m a l e b e hi n d y o u , h e j u s t w a l k e d o ut o f th e b athr o o m . " 

### I d . at 6 . O ffi c e r M c F ill i n turn e d ar o un d an d s aw th e D e f e n d ant " w a l ki n g fr o m th e b athr o o m ar e a t o l e av e th e b ar . " 

### I d . O f fi c e r M c F ill i n b e li e v e d th at th e w o m an w a s l e tt i n g h i m kn o w th at th e s u s p e c t w a s n e ar b y an d th at th i s w a s , i n fa c t , th e p e r s o n fo r wh o m h e w as l o o ki n g . 

### I d. at 7 - 8 . Wh il e O ffi c e r M c F ill i n s p o k e w i th th i s w o m an , O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r a p p ro a c h e d th e D e fe n d ant , wh o m at c h e d th e fl a s h d e s c rip ti o n . 

### I

d . at 1 7 . O ffi c e r M c F ill i n a l s o w a l k e d o v e r t o th e D e fe n d ant a ft e r c o rr o b o r at i n g th e an o nym o u s tip an d c o n d u c t i n g an i n d e p e n d e nt i nv e s t i g at i o n o f th e s c e n e . 

### I d . at 7 . O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r c al m l y as k e d th e D e f e n d ant t o c o m e o ut s i d e w i th th e m s o th e y c o u l d t a l k ; O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r p o l it e l y l e d th e D e fe n d ant o ut s i d e b y th e arm . 

### I d . at 1 7 - 1 8 , 2 0 . O n c e o ut s i d e , O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r a s k e d D e f

e n d ant 

### i f h e w a s arm e d ; th e D e fe n d ant d i d n o t r e s p o n d . 

### Id at 1 7 . F o r th e i r s a f e ty , O f fi c e r W i n c k l e r p ut th e D e fe n d ant a g a i n s t a w a ll an d p e r f o rm e d a qu i c k p at d o wn an d fri s k o f 

### hi s p e r s o n fo r w e a p o n s . 

### I d . O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r fe l t a b u d g e wh i c h h e i mm e d i at e l y r e c o g n i z e d a s a w e a

p o n ; h e th e n r e c o v e r e d a b l a c k an d s il v e r . 4 0 c a lib e r S m i th & W e s s o n s e m i aut o m at i c fi r e arm l o a d e d w i th o n e r o un d an d c o nt a i n i n g n i n e ( 9 ) a d d i t i o n a l ro un d s o f li v e ammun i t i o n fr o m D e fe n d ant ' s ri g ht fr o nt p ant s p o c k e t. 

### I d at 2 1 . D e fe n d ant w as arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d w i th P o s s e s s i o n o fa F i r e arm P ro h ib i t e d (1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 10 5 ) , C arry i n g F i r e arm s W i th o ut a Li c e n s e ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 1 0 6 ) an d C arr y i n g F i r e arm s o n P ub l i c P r o p e rty i n P h i l a d e lp h i a ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 1 0 8 ) . O n Au gu s t 1 1 , 2 0 I I , a w a i v e r tri a l w a s h e l d b e fo r e th e H o n o r ab l e P au l a A . P atri c k . D e f e n d ant w a s fo un d gu il ty o fth e ab o v e - r e fe r e n c e d c h ar g e s . O n M ar c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 2 , D e f e n d ant w a s s e nt e n c e d t o fo ur ( 4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s ' i n c ar c e rat i o n . O n Ap ri l 1 8 , 2 0 1 2 , D e fe n d ant fi l e d a t i m e l y N o t i c e o f Ap p e a l. O n Au gu s t 2 4 , 2 0 1 2 , p ur s u ant t o th i s C o urt ' s d i r e c t i v e , D e fe n d ant fil e d h i s 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S t at e m e nt 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. O n Jun e 4 , 2 0 1 3 , th i s C o urt fi l e d i t s R u l e 1 9 2 5 ( a ) O p i n i o n . O n J anu ary 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , th e S u p e ri o r 2

### C o urt af fi rm e d th i s C o urt ' s d e c i s i o n i n p art , an d r e v e r s e d i n p art ; i t v a c at e d D e f e n d ant ' s c o nv i c t i o n s fo r C arr

y i n g F i r e arm s W i th o ut a Li c e n s e ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 

### 6 10 6 ) , an d C ar ry i n g F i r e arm s o n P ub li c P r o p e rty 

### i n P h il a d e lp h i a ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 

### 6 1 0 8 ) . D e s p i t e th i s , D e fe n d ant' s o v e ra ll s e nt e n c e d i d n o t c h an g e . O n F e b ru ary 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 , D e f e n d ant fil e d a P e t i t i o n fo r A ll o w an c e o f Ap p e a l fr o m th e O r d e r o f th e S u p e ri o r C o urt ; 

### i t w as d e n i e d 

### b y o ur S u p r e m e C o urt o n Au gu s t 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 . O n Au gu s t 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 , D e fe n d ant fil e d a p r o s e P C RA p e t i t i o n . D e fe n d ant fil e d 

### an am e n d e d p r o s e P C RA p e ti t i o n o n J anu ary 7 , 2 0 1 6 . P e t e r A . L e v i n , E s qu i r e , w a s s ub s e qu e nt l y a p p o i nt e d t o r e p r e s e nt D e fe n d ant an d o n M ay 2 , 

### 2 0 1 7 , M r . L e v i n fil e d an am e n d e d P C RA p e t i ti o n o n b e h a l fo f D e f e n d ant. O n O c t o b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 , th e C o mm o nw e a l th fil e d a M o ti o n t o D i s m i s s . O n N o v e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 7 , th i s C o urt fil e d 

### a N o t ic e o f I nt e nt t o D i s m i s s p ur s u ant t o P a . R. C ri m . P . R u l e 9 0 7 , fi n d i n g th at th e i s s u e s r a i s e d 

### i n D e fe n d ant ' s P C RA p e t i t i o n w e r e wi th o ut m e ri t. O n F e b ru ary 9 , 2 0 1 8 , D e fe n d ant ' s P C RA p e t i t i o n w a s fo rm a ll y d i s m i s s e d . O n F e b ru ary 2 1 , 2 0 1 8 , D e fe n d ant fil e d a N o t i c e o f Ap p e a l t o th e 

### S u p e ri o r C o urt . P ur s u ant t o th i s 

### C o urt ' s d i r e c ti v e , D e f e n d ant fi l e d a 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S tat e m e nt o f E r

r o r s C o mp l a i n e d o fo n Ap p e a l o n M ar c h 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 .

I S S U E S 

### D e fe n d ant/Ap p e ll ant r a i s e d th e fo ll o wi n g i s s u e s i n h i s 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S t at e m e nt 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 : I . 

### T h e c o urt w a s i n e rr o r i n d e ny i n g th e am e n d e d P C RA d u e t o th e i n e ff

e c t i v e n e s s o f c o un s e l i n fa ili n g t o p r o p e rl y r e p r e s e nt d e fe n d ant [ . ] T h e i s s u e s are 

### e xp l a i n e d i n th e am e n d e d P C RA 

### fil e d b y 

### c o un s e l 

### an d i n c lu d e th e fo ll o w i n g : a . C o un s e l w a s i n e ff

e c ti v e fo r fa i l i n g t o fil e p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n s th at th e v e r d i c t 

### w a s a g a i n s t th e 

### w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e . b . 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 p o s t - tri a l m o ti o n s fo r a r e c o n s i d e r ati o n o f s e nt e n c e . 3c . Ap p e ll at e c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e i n r e p r e s e nt at io n fo r fa i l i n g t o a p p e a l th e am e n d in g o fB ill s o f I n fo rm at i o n 

### b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th . 2 . Th e c o urt w as i n e rr o r fo r fa ili n g t o g r ant an e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g . 

### S T A N D A RD O F RE V I E W T h e a p p l i c ab l e s t an d ar d o f

r e v i e w fo r an o r d e r d e ny i n g a p e t i t i o n un d e r th e P C RA r e qu i r e s an i n qu i ry i nt o wh e th e r th e r e c o r d s u p p o rt s th e P C RA c o urt ' s d e t e rm i n at i o n an d wh e th e r th e P C RA c o urt c o rr e c tl y s t at e d an d a p p li e d th e l aw . 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. d uPo n t , 8 6 0 A. 2 d 5 2 5 , 5 2 9 " ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 4 ) . T h e P C RA c o urt ' s fi n d i n g s w ill n o t b e d i s t ur b e d un l e s s i t s fi n d i n g s ar e un s u p p o rt e d b y th e r e c o r d . I d 

### D I S C U S S I O N I. 

### T H I S C O U R T D I D N O T E RR IN D EN Y IN G D E F EN D A N T ' S P C RA P E T I T I O N O n a p p e a l , D e fe n d ant c o nt e s t s th e e ff e c ti v e n e s s o f

tri a l c o un s e l. A c c o r d i n g t o D e fe n d ant , tri al c o un s e l w a s i n e ff

e c t i v e fo r ( A ) fa ili n g t o fi l e p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n s c h a ll e n g i n g th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e , ( B ) fa ili n g t o fil e p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n s fo r r e c o n s i d e rat i o n o f s e nt e n c e , an d ( C ) fa ili n g t o a p p e a l th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s am e n dm e nt o f th e b i ll s o f i n fo rm at i o n . D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m s s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d ; D e fe n d ant h a s fa il e d t o s at i s f y h i s b ur d e n o f e s t ab l i s h i n g th at h e i s e nt i tl e d t o any r e li e f. It i s w e ll - e s t a

b li s h e d th at c o un s e l i s p r e s um e d t o h av e b e e n e ff e c t i v e . T h e D e f

e n d ant b e ar s th e b ur d e n o f o v e rc o m i n g th i s p r e s ump t i o n an d p r o v i n g i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s . 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. R o lli n s, 7 3 8 A. 2 d 4 3 5 , 4 4 1 ( P a . 1 9 9 9 ) . T o e s t ab li s h a c l a i m o f 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 un d e r th e P C RA , th e D e f e n d ant mu s t d e m o n s trat e th e fo ll o w i n g : ( 1 ) th e un d e r l y i n g c l a i m h a s ar gu ab l e m e ri t ; ( 2 ) c o un s e l ' s c o ur s e o f c o n d u c t w a s w i th o ut any r e as o n ab l e b a s i s d e s i g n e d t o e ff e c t u at e h i s c l i e nt ' s i nt e r e s t ; an d ( 3 ) h e 4

### w a s p r e j u d ic e d b y c o un s e l ' s i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s , i . e . th e r e i s a r e a s o n ab l e p r o b ab ili ty th at b ut 

### fo r th e a c t o r o m i s s i o n i n qu e s t i o n th e o ut c o m e o f th e p r o c e e d i n g w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff

e r e nt. 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . 

### L a u ro , 8 1 9 A. 2 d 1 0 0 , 10 5 - 0 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) ( c i t i n g 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v . 

### A b d u l-S a la a m , 8 0 8 A. 2 d 5 5 8 , 5 6 1 ( P a . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . " F a i lur e t o p r o v e any p r o n g o f th i s t e s t w ill d e fe at 

### an i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s cl a i m . " 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. F e a r s, 8 6 A . 3 d 

### 7 9 5 , 8 0 4 

### ( P a . 2 0 1 4 ) . A . D e f e n d ant h a s f

a il e d t o s at i s f

y h i s b ur d e n o f p r o v i n g i n e f f e c ti v e n e s s b a s e d o n c o un s e l' s f

a il ur e t o fil e p o s t - tr i a l m o t i o n s th at th e v e rd ic t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e 

### O n a p p e a l , D e f

e n d ant c l a i m s th at 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 fi l e p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n s th at th e v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e . D e fe n d ant ' s a s s i g nm e nt o f e rr o r h i n g e s 

### o n th e t e s ti m o ny o fO f fi c e r M c F i lli n , whi c h D e f

e n d ant c o nt e n d s w a s n o t c r e d ib l e . 

### " D u e t o th e l a c k o f c r e d ib ili ty o f th e o ffi c e r ' s t e s t i m o ny , wh i c h w a s th e o n l y e v i d e n c e p r o ff e r e d 

### b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th t o s u

p p o rt th e c h ar g e , 

### th e e v i d e n c e p r e p o n d e r at e s s u f fi c i e ntl y a g a i n s t [ D e f e n d ant' s ] c o nv i c t i o n an d s u g g e s t s th at 

### a s e ri o u s m i s c arri a g e 

### o f j u s t i c e m ay h av e o c c urr e d . " 

### S e e A m e n d e d Pe titi o n U

n d e r Po s t- C o n v i c t i o n R e li e

f A c t d a te d 

### M a y 2 , 2 0 1 7 . D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m mu s t fa i l. It 

### i s w e l l - s e tt l e d th at th e c r e d ib ili ty o f w i tn e s s e s an d th e w e i g ht t o b e a c c o r d e d th e e v i d e n c e ar e m att e r s w i th i n th e p r o v i n c e o fth e tri e r o f fa c t , wh o i s fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , s o m e , o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e . 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. T a y lo r , 4 7 1 A. 2 d 1 2 2 8 , 1 2 2 9 - 3 0 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 4 ) . An a

p p e ll at e c o urt c ann o t s u

b s t i t ut e i t s j u d g m e nt r e g ar d i n g th e c r e d ib i li ty o fw i tn e s s e s fo r th at o f th e fi n d e r o f fa c t. 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. 

### C h a m p n e y, 8 3 2 A. 2 d 4 0 3 , 4 0 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 ) . A v e r d i c t 

### w ill b e r e v e r s e d an d a n e w tri a l g r ant e d o n l y wh e r e th e v e r d i c t i s s o c o ntr ary t o th e e v i d e n c e a s t o s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v . 

### Pa ss m o re, 8 5 7 A. 2 d 

### 6 9 7 , 7 0 8 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 4 ) . " A n e w tri a l s h o u l d n o t b e g r ant e d b e c au s e o fa m e r e c o n fli c t i n th e t e s ti m o ny o r b e c au s e th e j u d g e o n th e s am e fa c t s w o u l d h av e arri v e d at a d i ff e r e nt c o n clu s i o n . " 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. W i d m e r , 7 4 4 A . 2 d 7 4 5 , 7 5 2 ( P a . 520 0 0 ) . O ur a p p e ll at e c o urt s h av e e mp h a s i z e d th at " [ o ] n e o f th e l e a s t a s s a i l ab l e r e a s o n s fo r g rant i n g o r d e ny i n g a n e w tri a l i s th e l o w e r c o urt ' s c o nv i c t i o n th at th e v e r d i c t w a s o r w a s n o t a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f

th e e v i d e n c e an d th at a n e w tri a l s h o u l d b e g r ant e d i n th e i nt e r e s t o f j u s t i c e . " 

### I

d . at 7 5 3 . H e r e , D e f

e n d ant h a s fa il e d t o s at i s fy th e p r e j u d ic e p ro n g o f

th e t e s t fo r i n e ff

e c t i v e n e s s . A s p r e v i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d , a w a i v e r tri a l w as h e l d o n Au gu s t 1 1 , 2 0 1 1 b e fo r e th i s C o urt . A t tri a l , th e C o mm o nw e a l th i ntr o d

u c e d , i nt e r a l i a , th e li v e t e s t i m o ny o f P o li c e O ffi c e r M c F i lli n . 1 O ffi c e r M c F i lli n t e s t i fi e d th at o n J anu ary 3 , 2 0 1 1 , at a p p r o x i m at e l y 10 : 2 2 p . m . , h e r e c e i v e d a r a d i o c a ll ab o ut a b l a c k m a l e w e ari n g a b l a c k v e s t , g r ay h o o d i e , an d li g ht c o l o r e d j e an s , " w i th a gun i n s i d e th e C o m fo rt z o n e b ar l o c at e d at G e rm ant o wn an d C umb e rl an d . " N . T . 8 / 1 1 / 1 1 at 6 . O ffi c e r M c F ill i n e nt e r e d th e B ar an d b e g an w a l k i n g t o w ar d s th e b a c k wh e n a w o m an p a s s e d b y h i m an d s a i d , " th e m a l e b e h i n d y o u , h e j u s t w a l k e d o ut o fth e b athr o o m . " 

### I d . O ffi c e r M c F ill i n b e li e v e d th e w o m an w a s l e tt i n g h i m kn o w th at th e s u s p e c t w a s n e ar b y an d th at th i s w a s , i n fa c t , th e p e r s o n fo r wh o m h e w a s l o o ki n g . Id O ffi c e r M c F ill i n t e s t i fi e d th at h e an d O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r a p p ro a c h e d th e D e f e n d ant an d l e d h i m o ut s i d e . 

### I d . at 7 - 8 . O n c e o ut s i d e , O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r e n g a g e d i n a li m i t e d , p ro te c t i v e s e ar c h fo r c o n c e a l e d w e a p o n s . 

### I d . at 9 . A c c o r d i n g t o O ffi c e r M c F ill i n , a fi r e arm w a s r e c o v e r e d fr o m D e fe n d ant' s fr o nt ri g ht p ant s p o c k e t. 2

I I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d th at , c o ntr ary t o D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m , O ffi c e r M c F ill i n ' s t e s t i m o ny w as n o t th e o n l y e v i d e n c e p r o ff e r e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th . T h e C o mm o nw e a lth a l s o intr o d u c e d a s e v i d e n c e th e p r o p e rty r e c e ip t r e f e r e n c i n g th e b l a c k an d s i l v e r .4 0 c a l ib e r S m i th & W e s s o n s e m i aut o m ati c fi r e arm th at w a s r e c o v e r e d , a b a lli s ti c s r e p o rt fo r th e fi r e arm , an d a c e rti fi c at e o fn o n - l i c e n s ur e fo r D e fe n d ant . 2 O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r ' s t e s t i m o ny c o rr o b o rat e d th at o f O ffi c e r M c F ill i n . O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r t e s t i fi e d th at h e r e c e i v e d a r a d i o c a ll fo r " a b l a c k m a l e , w e ari n g a g ra y h o o d i e , b l a c k v e s t , j e an s an d a b lu e s w e at s h i rt . " I d . at 1 9 . O n c e i n s i d e th e B ar , O ffi c e r W i n c k le r o b s e rv e d th e D e fe n d ant wh o m at c h e d th e fl as h d e s c rip t i o n . O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r a p p r o a c h e d th e D e f e n d ant an d h e an d O ffi c e r M c F ill i n l e d D e fe n d ant o ut s i d e b y th e arm . O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r h a d th e D e f e n d ant fa c e th e w a it an d a s k e d D e fe n d ant i f h e h a d a gun . T h e D e f e n d ant d i d n o t r e s p o n d . O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r p e r fo rm e d " a qu i c k fri s k o f h i m . " I

d . at 1 7 . I n d o i n g s o , O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r f e l t an o b j e c t i n D e f

e n d ant ' s ri g ht fr o nt p ant s p o c k e t , wh i c h w as i n th e s h a

p e o fa gun . I

d . at 2 1. O ffi c e r W i n c kl e r r e m o v e d a b l a c k an d s il v e r .4 0 c a lib e r S m i th & W e s s o n s e m i aut o m at ic fi r e arm l o a d e d w i th o n e ro un d an d c o nt a i n i n g n i n e ( 9 ) a d d i ti o n a l r o un d s o f l i v e ammun i t i o n . I d . at 3 3 . 

### 6

### T h i s C o urt , a s th e fa c t fi n d e r , h a d an o p p o rt un i ty t o v i e w O ffi c e r M c f 'i l l i n ' s d e m e an o r an d e v a lu at e h i s c r e d ib i l i ty . I n d o i n g s o , th i s C o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at O ffi c e r M c F ill i n ' s t e s ti m o ny w a s c r e d i b l e . T h i s C o urt e xp r e s s l y s tat e d a s mu c h 

### i n i t s Jun e 4 , 2 0 1 3 o p i n i o n ; i t s p e c i fi c a ll y s t at e d th e fo ll o wi n g : O f fi c e r M c F ill i n c r e d i b l y t e s t i fi e d 

### th at s o m e o n e i n th e b ar h a d an o nym o u s l y m a d e

. th e c a ll t o th e p o li c e fo r a 

### m an w i th a g u n . 

### S e e T r i a l C o u r t O p i n i o n d a te d J u n e 4, 2 0 1 3 at p a g e 

### 5 .

. . . O ffi c e r M c F ill i n c r e d i b l y t e s t i fi e d th at h e b e li e v e d th e w o m an w a s l e tt i n g h i m kn o w th at th e s u s p e c t w a s n e ar b y an d th at th i s w a s , 

### i n fa c t , th e p e r s o n h e w a s l o o ki n g fo r . 

### I d . at 1 1.



### . . . O ffi c e r M c F i lli n c r e d i b l y t e s ti fi e d th at th i s b ar p r e fe rr e d t o h an d l e i s s u e s an d c o mp l a i nt s i nt e rn a ll y s o a s t o av o i d i nv o l v i n g th e p o li c e i n 

### i t s a ff a i r s . 

### I d . at 1 4 . A t tri a l , thi s C o urt fo un d th e o f fi c e r s t o b e c r e d i b l e an d th at [ D e fe n d ant ] d i d p o s s e s s th e gun b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t. I d . 

### at 13 . Gi v e n thi s C o urt ' s e xp li c i t fi n d i n g r e g ar d i n g O f fi c e r M c F i11 i n ' s c r e d i b ili ty , any p o s t tri a l m o t i o n a ll e g i n g th at th e v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e o n th e b a s i s th at O ffi c e r M c f' i l l i n ' s t e s t i m o ny " w a s n o t w o rthy o fb e li e f ' w o u l d h av e fa i l e d . S i n c e D e fe n d ant d i d n o t an d c o u l d n o t e s t ab li s h th at th e r e e x i s t e d a r e a s o n ab le p ro b ab i l i ty th at h a d tri a l c o un s e l fi l e d a p o s t tri a l m o ti o n , th e o ut c o m e o f th e p r o c e e d i n g s w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e nt , th i s cl a i m s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d . 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. Pa d d y , 

### 6 0 9 P a . 2 72 , 1 5 A. 3 d 4 3 1 , 4 4 2 ( 2 0 1 1 ) .

7

### B . D e f e n d ant h a s f

a il e d t o s at i s f

y h i s b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s b a s e d o n c o un s e l' s f

a il ur e to 

### fil e a p o s t - tr i a l m o t i o n fo r r e c o n s i d e r at i o n o f s e nt e n c e O n a p p e a l , D e f

e n d ant c l a i m s th at 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 i l i n g t o fil e a p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n fo r r e c o n s i d e r at i o n o f s e nt e n c e b e c au s e h i s s e nt e n c e o f fo ur ( 4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s ' i mp ri s o nm e nt w as h ar s h an d unr e a s o n ab l e . D e f e n d ant ' s c l ai m l a c k s ar gu ab l e m e r it an d s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d . I t i s w e ll - e s t ab li s h e d th at " { s ] e nt e n c i n g i s a m att e r v e s t e d i n th e s o un d d i s c r e t i o n o f th e s e nt e n c i n g j u d g e . " C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. S h u g a r s, 8 9 5 A. 2 d 1 2 7 0 , 1 2 7 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d) ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v . Fu llin , 8 9 2 A. 2 d 8 4 3 , 8 4 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ) . [ A ] s e nt e n c e wi ll n o t b e d i s tur b e d o n a p p e a l 

### a bs e n t a m a n if

e s t 

### a b us e o f d i s c re ti o n . I n th i s c o nt e x t , an a

b u s e o fd i s c r e ti o n i s n o t s h o wn m e r e l y b y an e rr o r i n j u d g m e nt. R ath e r , th e a

p p e ll ant 1J1 U S t e s t ab li s h , b y r e f e r e n c e t o th e r e c o r d , th at th e s e nt e n c i n g c o urt i g n o r e d o r m i s a

p p l i e d th e l aw , e x e r c i s e d i t s j u d g m e nt fo r r e a s o n s o f p art i a li ty , p r e j u d i c e , b i a s o r 

### ill w ill , o r arri v e d at a m an i fe s tl y unr e a s o n ab l e d e c i s i o n . 

### I d. T h e s e nt e n c i n g c o urt i s a f fo r d e d s u c h b r o a d d i s c r e ti o n b e c au s e 

### i t 

### H i s i n th e b e s t p o s i t i o n t o d e t e rm i n e th e p r o p e r p e n a l ty fo r a p art i c u l ar o ff e n s e b a s e d u

p o n an e v a lu at i o n o f th e i n d i v i d u a l c i r c um s t an c e s b e fo r e i t. " 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. A lle n , 2 4 A J d 10 5 8 , 1 1 6 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) . T h i s C o urt a c t e d w i th i n i t s d i s c r e t i o n wh e n i t s e nt e n c e d D e f e n d ant i n th e un d e rl y i n g a c t i o n . A s p r e v i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d , th i s C o urt fo un d D e fe n d ant gu il ty o f C arr yi n g F i r e arm s W i th o ut a L i c e n s e ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 1 0 6 ) , C arry i n g F i r e arm s o n P ub li c P ro p e rty i n P h i l a d e lp h i a ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 10 8 ) , an d P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm P ro h i b i t e d (1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 6 10 5 ) . O n M ar c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 2 , th i s C o urt s e nt e n c e d D e fe n d ant t o tw o an d a h a l f ( 2 

### Yi ) t o fi v e ( 5 ) y e ar s ' i n c ar c e r at i o n fo r C arry i n g F i r e arm s o n P ub li c P r o p e rty i n P h il a d e lp h i a ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 1 0 8 ) , thr e e an d a h a l f ( 3 

### Yi ) t o s e v e n ( 7 ) y e ar s ' i n c ar c e rat i o n fo r C arr y i n g F ir e arm s W i th o ut a Li c e n s e , (1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 1 0 6 ) , an d fo ur ( 4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s ' i n c ar c e rat i o n fo r P o s s e s s i o n o f a Fi r e arm P r o h i b i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 1 0 5 ) . Th i s C o urt s p e c i fi e d th at th e s e s e nt e n c e s w e r e t o run c o n c urr e nt. D e fe n d ant 8s u

b s e qu e ntl y fil e d an a

p p e a l t o th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt an d o n J anu ary 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , th e C o urt v a c at e d D e fe n d ant ' s c o nv i c ti o n s fo r C arr y i n g F i r e arm s o n P u

b li c P r o p e rty i n P hi l a d e lp h i a ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 6 10 8 ) an d C arry i n g F i r e arm s W i th o ut a Li c e n s e ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 1 0 6 ) . D e s p i t e th i s , th i s C o urt ' s o v e r a ll s e nt e n c i n g s c h e m e d i d n o t c h an g e ; th e S u p e ri o r C o urt e xp l a i n e d a s fo ll o w s : W e n o t e th at Ap p e ll ant w a s s e nt e n c e d t o a t e rm o f thr e e an d o n e - h a l f t o s e v e n y e ar s ' i n c ar c e r ati o n fo r c arr y i n g a fi r e arm w i th o ut a li c e n s e , an d tw o an d o n e - h a l f t o fi v e y e ar s ' i n c ar c e rat i o n fo r c arry i n g a fi r e arm o n p ub li c s tr e e t s o r p ub li c p r o p e rty i n P h il a d e lp h i a . T h e s e s e nt e n c e s w e r e e nt i r e l y c o n c urr e nt t o Ap p e ll ant ' s s e nt e n c e o f

fo ur t o e i g ht y e ar s ' i n c ar c e rat i o n fo r th e s e c o n d - d e g r e e f e l o ny o f p e r s o n n o t t o p o s s e s s fi r e arm s . Un d e r th e s e c i r c um s t an c e s , w e c o n cl u d e th at th e tri a l c o urt ' s o v e r a ll s e nt e n ci n g s c h e m e h a s n o t b e e n u p s e t. C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . T h u r , 9 0 6 A. 2 d 5 5 2 , 5 6 9 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) . S e e S u p e r i o r C o u r t O p i n i o n d a te d J a n u a r y 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 . D e fe n d ant n o w c l a i m s th at th i s C o urt ' s s e nt e n c e o f fo ur (4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s fo r P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm P r o h ib i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 1 0 5 ) w a s unr e a s o n ab l e an d h ar s h . D e fe n d ant c o nt e n d s , i n p art , th at th i s C o urt " w a s c o n s i d e ri n g th e c o nv i c t i o n s o n th e tw o c o unt s th at th e S u p e ri o r C o urt r e v e r s e d " wh e n i t s e nt e n c e d D e fe n d ant t o fo ur ( 4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s ' i mp ri s o nm e nt. S e e A m e n d

e d 

### Pe ti ti o n U

n d e r Po s t- C

o n v i c ti o n 

### R e li e

f A c t d a te d M a y 2 , 2 0 17 at p a g e s 1 2 - 1 3 . A c c o r d i n g t o D e fe n d ant , h a d h e " n o t b e e n c o nv i c t e d o f th o s e tw o c o unt s , a r e a s o n ab l e c o urt w o u l d h av e s e nt e n c e d [ D e fe n d ant ] t o a t e rm o f l e s s th an 4 - 8 y e ar s . " 

### I d . D e f e n d ant i s m i s t ak e n . A s e xp l a i n e d ab o v e , th i s C o urt i mp o s e d s e p ar at e s e nt e n c e s fo r e a c h o ff e n s e . A l th o u g h tw o o f th e c o nv i c t i o n s w e r e v a c at e d , D e fe n d ant ' s c o nv i c t i o n fo r P o s s e s s i o n o f a Fi r e arm P r o hi b i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 1 0 5 ) , wh i c h c arri e d th e l o n g e s t s e nt e n c e o f fo ur ( 4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s , w a s n o t o v e rt urn e d . A s s u c h , th e o v e r a ll s e nt e n c i n g s c h e m e h a d n o t b e e n u p s e t. S i n c e th e r e i s n o s u p p o rt fo r D e fe n d ant ' s c o nt e nt i o n th at thi s C o urt c o n s i d e r e d th e o v e rturn e d c o nv i c t i o n s wh e n i t s e nt e n c e d D e fe n d ant fo r P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm P r o h i b i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 10 5 ) , h i s cl a i m mu s t fa i l. 9D e fe n d ant a l s o c o nt e n d s th at th i s C o urt fa il e d t o g i v e c o n s i d e r at i o n t o th e fo ll o w i n g

m i t i g at i n g fa c t o r s : ( a ) th at D e f e n d ant r e m a i n e d arr e s t fr e e fo r a s ub s t ant i a l p e ri o d o f t i m e ; (b ) th at D e f e n d ant w a i v e d h i s ri g ht t o a j ury tri a l ; ( c ) th at D e f e n d ant h a s a g o o d r e l at i o n s h ip w i th h i s s o n an d p r o v i d e d fo r h i m an d th e b o y ' s m o th e r ; an d ( d ) th at D e f e n d ant g o t h i s G E D . A c c o r d i n g t o D e f e n d ant , 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 r a i s e th i s i s s u e i n a p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n fo r r e c o n s i d e r at i o n o f s e nt e n c e . D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m fa il s fo r l a c k o f ar gu ab l e m e ri t. A s d e m o n s tr at e d b e l o w , th i s C o urt c o n s i d e r e d a v ari e ty o f fa c t o r s i n fa s h i o n i n g i t s s e nt e n c e , i n c l u d i n g th e fa c t o r s h e l i s t e d . F o ll o w i n g th e Au g u s t 1 1 , 2 0 1 1 w a i v e r tri a l , th i s C o urt o r d e r e d a p r e - s e nt e n c e r e p o rt . A s o ur a p p e ll at e c o urt s h av e n o t e d , wh e r e p r e - s e nt e n c e r e p o rt s e x i s t , th e r e i s a p r e s ump t i o n th at th e s e nt e n c i n g j u d g e w as aw ar e o f i n fo rm at i o n r e l at i n g t o th e D e f e n d ant ' s c h ar a c t e r , an d c o n s i d e r e d th at i n f o rm at i o n a l o n g w i th th e m i t i g at i n g s t at ut o ry fa c t o r s . C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v . D e v e r

s, 5 4 6 A . 2 d 1 2 , 1 8 ( P a . 1 9 8 8 ) . S

e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. V e n tu ra , 9 7 5 A. 2 d 1 1 2 8 , 1 1 3 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 9 ) ( " wh e r e th e tri a l c o urt i s i n fo rm e d b y a p r e - s e nt e n c e r e p o rt , i t i s p r e s um e d th at th e c o urt i s aw ar e o f al l a p p r o p ri at e s e nt e n c i n g fa c t o r s an d c o n s i d e r at i o n s , an d th at wh e r e th e c o urt h a s b e e n s o i nf o rm e d , i t s d i s c r e t i o n s h o u l d n o t b e d i s t ur b e d " ) . I n a d d i t i o n t o r e v i e w i n g an d c o n s i d e ri n g th e i n fo rm at i o n i n th e p r e - s e nt e n c e r e p o rt , th i s C o urt li s t e n e d t o th e ar gum e nt s o f c o un s e l. T h e fo ll o w i n g ar gum e nt s w e r e a dv an c e d b y d e f e n s e c o un s e l at th e M ar c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 2 s e nt e n ci n g h e ari n g : 

### M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : T h e r e w a s a m o t i o n i n fr o nt o f Y o ur H o n o r b a c k i n Au gu s t. H e w a s c o nv i c t e d o f th e VU F A c h ar g e s . H e i s a 1 0 - 3 I b e li e v e . I' m g o i n g t o t e ll y o u a li tt l e b i t ab o ut h i m . Th e thr e e p o i nt s c o m e m o s tl y fr o m an i n c i d e nt i n 2 0 0 0 . S o h e w a s b a s i c a ll y c o nv i c t i o n fr e e fo r ab o ut a d e c a d e an d th e n r an i nt o tr o ub l e a g a i n an d h a d th i s m att e r b ut h e h a d b e e n d o i n g g o o d th i n g s i n th at ti m e p e ri o d . H e g o t h i s G E D . H e l i v e d i n P h i ll y . H e h a s h i s w i f e h e r e i n th e c o urtro o m . ..

IOI w o u l d p o i nt o ut th at h e h a d ab o ut s e v e n an d a h a l f m o nth s i n . H e h a d b e e n i n fr o m , 

### I b e li e v e , J anu ary 4 th unt il Au gu s t 2 3 r d . 

### An d th e n s i n c e 

### h e ' s b e e n p i c k e d 

### u p b y Y o ur H o n o r ' s b e n c h w arr ant , h e ' s b e e n i n an o th e r - - n o t qu i t e a m o nth . O b v i o u s l y w i th h i s g u i d e li n e s h e w o u l d s t ill h av e s o m e t i m e t o d o . W e ar e a s k i n g fo r s o m e m i t i g at i o n . H e 

### d i d w a i v e h i s p r e li m i n ary h e ari n g an d g i v e n th e fa c t th at h e ' s o n l y 2 9 - - an d 

### 2 8 wh e n th e i n c i d e nt h a p p e n e d - - h i s p o i nt s ar e s o m e wh at o l d , i n e x c e s s o fa d e c a d e . 

### I d o b e li e v e th i s p e r s o n i s a d i ff e r e nt i n d i v i d

u a l th an th e 1 7 - y e ar o l d k i d wh o g o t thr e e p o i nt s 

### an d , b a s e d o n th at , 

### I ' m a s ki n g fo r s o m e s li g ht m i ti g at i o n . N . T . 3 /2 9 /1 2 at 2 , 6 - 7 . T h i s C o urt a l s o c o n s i d e r e d th e ar g um e nt s a dv an c e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th : 

### M S . M I T RI C K : W i th r e s p e c t t o th e s e nt e n c i n g o n th i s 

### VU F A c a s e , Y o ur H o n o r i s aw ar e o f th e p ri o r r e c o r d . I r e v i e w e d th e P S I. I a g r e e th at th e p ri o r r e c o r d i s a thr e e . A l th o u g h h e d i d r e m a i n arr e s t fr e e fo r a p e ri o d o f t i m e , 

### I' d n o t e o r b ri n g t o Y o ur H o n o r ' s att e nt i o n th at h e w a s o n s t at e p ar o l e 

### fo r t e n y e ar s a ft e r th e c o nv i c t i o n s . Y o ur H o n o r , h e w a s a g a i n arr e s t e d i n 

### 2 0 I O fo r 

### a P W I D . T h at 

### w a s w i th dr awn an d a g a i n i n 2 0 1 1 fo r a P W I D th at w a s w i th drawn . I w ant t o g i v e Y o ur H o n o r a li tt l e m o r e i n fo rm at i o n - - wh i c h I d i d s h o w t o c o un s e l th i s m o rn i n g . Y o ur H o n o r , D e c e mb e r 2 2 n d o f 2 0 1 0 , wh i c h i s a b o ut t e n d a y s b e fo r e h e p i c k e d u p th e gun c as e fo r wh i c h Y o ur H o n o r fo un d h i m gu il ty , th e r e w a s a s h o o t i n g o n Ari z o n a S tr e e t i n N o rthw e s t P h il a d e lp h i a i n th e 3 9 th D i s tri c t n o t f ar f ro m wh e r e h e w a s arr e s t e d w i th th i s gun . S o th e a ll e g at i o n s ar e th at h e s h o t a y o un g m an i n a s t o m a c h b e c au s e o f a d i s p ut e o v e r a fe m a l e . A 4 0 - c a l i b e r F C C w a s r e c o v e r e d i n th at s h o o t i n g . M ul t ip l e w i tn e s s e s i d e nt i fi e d h i m a s ] th e s h o o t e r . Un fo rtun at e l y th at c a s e w a s e v e nt u a ll y w i th drawn p ri o r t o u s g e tt i n g b a ll i s t i c s b e c au s e w e s i mp l y c o u l d n o t g e t th o s e w i tn e s s e s t o c o urt . W e s i n c e h av e r e c e i v e d th e b a lli s t i c s an d I th o u g ht i t w a s i mp o rt ant fo r Y o ur H o n o r t o kn o w th at th e gun th at h e h a d i n th i s c a s e t e n d ay s l at e r m at c h e s th e F C C fo r th at s h o o t i n g fo r wh i c h mu l t ip l e w i tn e s s e s i d e nt i fi e d h i m . H e ' s b e i n g r e i nv e s t i g at e d n o w th at w e h av e th at i n fo rm at i o n . A ft e r Y o ur H o n o r 

### fo un d h i m gu i l ty an d g av e h i m th e b e n e fi t o f n o t r e v o ki n g h i s b a il , tru s t i n g h i m t o c o m e b a c k fo r h i s s e nt e n c i n g - - an d h e b a s i c a ll y thumb e d h i s n o s e at th e C o urt , d i s r e s p e c t i n g th e C o urt ' s , I g u e s s , c o urt e s y t o h i m . H e d i d p i c k u p o th e r c a s e s wh i c h I w ant e d t o t e 11 y o u a b o ut. J anu ar

y 1 3 th o f th i s y e ar , o n l y t � o b l o c k s fr o m th e Ari z o n a S tr e e t s h o o t i n g , th e r e w a s an o th e r s h o o ti n g wh e r e i n a 5 0 y e ar o l d m an w a s s h o t i n th e n e c k an d th i s d e fe n d ant w a s i d e nt ifi e d b y at l e a s t tw o p e o p l e a s b e i n g th e s h o o t e r i n th at c a s e . T h at c a s e a l r e a dy h a s b e e n h e l d fo r c o urt . T h e w i tn e s s e s ar e c o o p e r at i n g c am e i n t e s t i fi e d at th e p r e li m i n ary h e ari n g an d th at i s g o i n g fo rw ar d t o tri a l o n att e mp t e d mur d e r b e i n g th at , a g a i n l i k e th e Ari z o n a S tr e e t s h o o t i n g , th i s s h o o t i n g w a s , I gu e s s , 1 1p r o v o k e d b e c au s e h e th o u g ht s o m e b o dy w a s l o o ki n g at h i s 

### g i rl , j u s t li k e th e

Ari z o n a S tr e e t s h o o t i n g . Y o ur H o n o r , th e r e w a s an a c t i v e w arr ant fo r h i m fo r th at c a s e a ft e r h e w a s i d e nt i fi e d an d h e w a s e v e nt u a ll y arr e s t e d o n th at b o dy w arr ant , o n Y o ur H o n o r ' s b e n c h w arr ant wh e n p o li c e a c t u a ll y o b s e rv e d h i m o ut o n th e s tr e e t b e at i n g a fe m al e wh o w a s i d e nt i fi e d l at e r as h i s l awfu l wi f e , a d i ff e r e nt fe m a l e . Th e p o li c e a c t

u a ll y o b s e rv e d th at. S o th at ' s ki n d o f wh at ' s g o i n g o n w i th th i s d e fe n d ant. I w o u l d a s k fo r an a g g r av at e d s e nt e n c e i n th i s c a s e o f fi v e t o 1 0 y e ar s - - th at i s w i th i n th e gu i d e l i n e s - - b a s e d o n h i s 

### p ri o r r e c o r d , b a s e d 

### o n th e hu g e d i s r e s p e c t 

### o f th i s C o urt i n f

ai li n g t o a

p p e ar at s e nt e n c i n g , o n th e n e w arr e s t , i n c lu d i n g th e o n e th at h a s b e e n h e l d fo r c o urt , th e b a lli s t i c s s h o w i n g th at th i s gun th at h e h a d w a s u s e d i n th e s h o o t i n g j u s t t e n d ay s p ri o r i n wh i c h h e w a s i d e nt i fi e d an d th e fa c t th e r e h a s b e e n n o a c c e p t an c e 

### o f r e s p o n s i b ili ty wh at s o e v e r . T h i s d e fe n d ant h a s b e e n s u p e rv i s e d b y S t at e P ar o l e b e fo r e . H e c am e o ff th at s u p e rv i s i o n n o t s o m e b o dy wh o w ant e d t o w a l k th e s tr a i g ht an d n arr o w , n o t s o m e b o dy wh o w ant e d t o c h an g e h i s l i fe b ut s o m e b o dy wh o c o nt i nu e s t o w a l k ar o un d th e s tr e e t s o f P h i l a d e lp h i a w i th a gun , g e t s arr e s t e d fo r th at , p i c k s u p n e w s h o o t i n g c a s e s . An d I w o u l d j u s t s t at e th at 

### h e i s a d an g e r t o th e c o mmun i ty b a s e d o n h i s p ri o r h i s t o ry an d th e o p e n c a s e s th at h e d o e s h av e an d th e a g g rav at e d r an g e w o u l d b e a p p r o p ri at e . 

### I d . at 

### 8 - 10 . F i n a ll y , th i s C o urt h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m th e D e f e n d ant ' s w i f

e , M e g an W a l k e r , a s w e ll a s th e D e fe n d ant h i m s e l f . Th e fo ll o w i n g e x c h an g e o c c urr e d b e tw e e n M s . W a l k e r an d d e f e n s e c o un s e l : M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : M s . W a l k e r , d o y o u kn o w m y c l i e nt , M r . Jo hn s o n ? 

### M S . WA L KE R: Y e s . M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : H o w l o n g d i d y o u kn o w h i m ? M S . WA L KE R : 

### W e g r e w u p t o g e th e r , a c t

u a ll y . M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : I kn o w y o u wr o t e s o m e th i n g s o ut. I f y o u w ant e d t o r e a d th at y o u c o u l d . B ut i f y o u w ant t o t a l k t o H e r H o n o r , wh at c an y o u t e ll u s a b o ut M r . Jo hn s o n ? M S . WA L KE R : 

### I w ant t o s ay th at M r . Jo hn s o n i s c ari n g an d c o mp a s s i o n at e an d p r o v i d i n g an d e v e ryth i n g li k e th at. I s e e th e w ay Y o ur H o n o r ru l e d . I kn o w th at h e kn o w s wh at h e d i d . H e j u s t w ant e d e v e ryth i n g t o w o rk o ut. H e w a s w o rki n g o n g e tt i n g a j o b . A s a m att e r o ffa c t , h e w a s w o rk i n g . M e an d h i m h a d t o o k o n a c o urt s h ip . 

### W e h av e a s o n . H e a l w ay s p r o v i d e d fo r u s an d h e d i d wh at h e d i d b e c au s e h e h a d t o t ak e c ar e o f u s . Li k e I s a i d , I kn o w » Y o ur H o n o r , I d o n ' t w ant y o u t o th i nk - - I d o n ' t w ant y o u t o th i nk th at I th i nk y o u ar e - - I w ant y o u t o kn o w th at I' m a r e s p e c t e d c i t i z e n . P l e as e h e ar m e o ut wh e n I s ay h e ' s n o t a thr e at t o s o ci e ty o r anyth i n g li k e th at an d h e n e e d s t o b e h o m e fo r h i s 

### f am il y . M S . RE I F S N Y D E R: H e h a s a s o n . H o w o l d i s h i s s o n ? M S . WA L KE R : H e ' ll b e e i g ht. H e ' s s e v e n . M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : H e ' ll b e e i g ht ? M S . WA L KE R : Y e s , h e ' s s e v e n . 1 2M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : H o w i s M r . J o hn s o n ' s r e l at i o n s h ip w ith h i s s o n ? M S . WA L KE R : I t ' s e x c e ll e nt. H e i s a v e r y g o o d i mp r e s s i o n o n my s o n . I w i s h th at h e w as h o m e t o h e lp my s o n wi th h i s h o m e w o rk n o w an d th e y 

### h av e a g o o d r e l at i o n s hi p . M S . RE I F S N Y D E R : I s th e r e anyth i n g e l s e th at y o u w ant t o t e ll u s ? M S . WA L KE R : N o 

### I d . at 

### 3 - 5 . T h e fo ll o w i n g s t at e m e nt s w e r e m a d e b y th e D e fe n d ant: T H E C O U R T : D o y o u h av e s o m e th i n g th at y o u w ant t o s ay ? D E F END A

N T : Y e s . I a

p o l o g i z e a

b o ut m e n o t c o m i n g t o c o urt . A t th e t i m e wh e n 

### I h a d g o t h o m e , I 

### g o t ar o un d my f am i l y . Wh e n 

### i t w a s 

### t i m e fo r m e t o c o m e i n , I g o t s c ar e d . T H E C O U R T : Wh o w e r e y o u a fr a i d o f? T H E D E F EN D A

N T : D o i n g m o r e t i m e . 

### I d o n ' t li k e g o i n g t o j a i l. T H E C O U R T : T h at ' s r e a l g o o d t o h e ar . I d o n ' t th i nk m o s t p e o p l e l i k e g o i n g t o j a i l. T H E D E F EN D A

N T : 

### I d o n ' t Ji k e g o i n g t o j a i l. 

### I am s u p p o s e d t o t ak e r e s p o n s i b i l i ty . 

### I s h o u l d h av e c am e t o c o urt an d e v e ryth i n g b ut 

### I j u s t d i dn ' t w ant t o l o s e my 

### f am i l y o r n o th i n g . T h at ' s b a s i c a ll y i t . 

### I d . at 6 . I n a d d i t i o n t o th e ab o v e - r e fe r e n c e d t e s t i m o ny , th i s C o urt c o n s i d e r e d th e n at ur e an d ci r c um s t an c e s o f D e f e n d ant ' s o ff

e n s e s as w e ll a s th e n e e d t o p ro t e c t th e p ub li c . 

### S e e 4 2 P a . C . S . 

### § 9 72 l ( b ) ( " th e s e nt e n c e i mp o s e d s h o u l d c a ll fo r c o n fi n e m e nt th at i s c o n s i s t e nt w i th th e p r o t e c t i o n o f

th e p u b li c , th e g r av i ty o f th e o ff e n s e s a s i t r e l at e s t o th e i mp a c t o n th e 

### li fe o f th e v i c t i m an d o n th e c o mmun i ty , an d th e r e h ab ili t at i v e n e e d s o f th e d e fe n d ant " ) . T h i s C o urt s p e c ifi c a ll y s t at e d th e fo ll o w i n g i n s u p p o rt o f it s s e nt e n c i n g d e ci s i o n : T H E C O U RT : F o r s e nt e n c i n g p urp o s e s I' ll c i t e th e fa c t th at I d i d r e c e i v e th e P S I r e p o rt s , a l s o th e fa c t th at y o u d i d h av e a w a i v e r tr i a l . ' Y o u s p ar e d th e C o mm o nw e a l th th e e xp e n s e o f a j ury tr i a l. H o w e v e r , I d o th i nk y o u ar e a d an g e r t o th e c o mmun i ty b a s e d u p o n y o ur p ri o r r e c o r d , an d y o ur p ri o r r e c o r d s c o r e i s a thr e e . Th e o ff

e n s e g r av i ty i s a t e n . T h at m e an s th at y o ur gu i d e l i n e r an g e i s v e ry h i g h . I' m g o i n g t o s e nt e n c e y o u t o s o m e wh e r e i n th e m i d d l e o f gu i d e l i n e s . F o ur t o e i g ht y e ar s o n th e 6 1 0 5 . Thr e e an d a h a l f t o s e v e n o n th e 6 1 0 6 c h ar g e . T w o an d a h a l f t o fi v e o n th e 6 10 8 c h ar g e . T h e o th e r t o run c o n c urr e ntl y . C r e d i t fo r any t i m e s e rv e d .

1 3

### I

d . at 1 3 . A l th o u g h D e fe n d ant w a s fa c i n g a fi v e ( 5 ) t o t e n (I 0 ) y e ar s e nt e n c e b a s e d o n h i s gu i d e l i n e s c o r e , th i s C o urt m i t i g at e d th e s e nt e n c e t o fo ur ( 4 ) t o e i g ht ( 8 ) y e ar s ' i n c ar c e rat i o n u p o n c o n s i d e r at i o n o fth e a

b o v e - r e f e r e n c e d fa c t o r s . B a s e d 

### o n th e fo r e g o i n g , D e f e n d ant ' s c l a i m s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d . C o ntr ary t o D e fe n d ant ' s c o nt e nt i o n , th i s C o urt h e ar d t e s t i m o ny th at th e D e fe n d ant r e m a i n e d arr e s t fr e e fo r 

### a s ub s t ant i a l p e ri o d o f t i m e , th at D e fe n d ant w a i v e d h i s r i g ht t o a j ur y tri a l , th at D e fe n d ant h a d a g o o d r e l at i o n s h ip w i th h i s s o n an d p ro v i d e d fo r h i m an d th e b o y ' s m o th e r , an d th at D e fe n d ant g o t h i s 

### G E D . T h i s C o urt c o n s i d e r e d th e s e fa c t o r s , 

### a s w e ll a s th e o th e r s m e nt i o n e d ab o v e wh e n fa s h i o n i n g i t s s e nt e n c e . S i n c e D e fe n d ant ' s ar gum e nt i s c o mp l e t e l y un s u p p o rt e d 

### b y th e r e c o r d 

### an d w i th o ut m e ri t , h i s c l a i m th at tri a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e fo r 

### fa ili n g t o fil e 

### a p o s t - s e nt e n c e m o t i o n 

### fo r r e c o ns i d e r at i o n o f s e nt e n c e s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d . T ri a l c o un s e l 

### c ann o t b e d e e m e d i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa i l i n g r a i s e a m e ri tl e s s cl a i m . C . D e f e n d ant h a s f

a il e d t o s at i s f

y h i s b ur d e n o f

p r o v i n g i n e ff

e ct i v e n e s s b a s e d o n tri a l c o un s e l' s f

a il ur e t o a

p p e a l th e am e n dm e nt o f th e b ill o f i n fo r m at i o n O n a p p e al , D e fe n d ant cl a i m s th at 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 a

p p e a l th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s am e n dm e nt o f th e b ill o f i n fo rm at i o n t o i n cl u d e th e c h ar g e o f P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm P r o h i b i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 

### 6 1 0 5 ) . T h i s c l a i m mu s t 

### fa i l. D e f e n d ant d i d n o t an d c ann o t s at i s fy th e p r e

j u d i c e p ro n g o f th e t e s t fo r i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s . A c c o r d i n g t o P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f C ri m i n a l P ro c e d

ur e 5 6 4 , th e tri a l c o urt " m ay a ll o w an i n fo rm at i o n t o b e am e n d e d , p r o v i d e d th at th e i n f o rm at i o n a s am e n d e d d o e s n o t c h ar g e o ff e n s e s ari s i n g fr o m a d i ff

e r e nt s e t o f e v e nt s an d th at th e am e n d e d c h ar g e s ar e n o t s o m at e ri a ll y d i ff e r e nt fr o m th e o ri g i n a l c h ar g e th at th e d e fe n d ant w o u l d b e un fa i rly p r e j u d i c e d . " P a . R . C ri m . P . 5 6 4 . I n d e t e rm i n i n g wh e th e r t o p e rm i t s u c h an am e n dm e nt , c o urt s c o n s i d e r " wh e th e r th e c ri m e s s p e c i fi e d i n th e o ri g i n a l i n d i c tm e nt o r i n fo rm at i o n i nv o l v e th e s am e b a s i c e l e m e nt s an d e v o l v e d o ut o f th e 1 4

### s am e fa c t u a l s i t u at i o n a s th e c ri m e s s p e ci fi e d i n th e am e n d e d i n d i c tm e nt o r i n fo rm ati o n . If 

### s o , th e d e fe n d ant i s d e e m e d t o h av e b e e n p l a c e d o n n o t i c e r e g ar d i n g h i s a ll e g e d c ri m i n a l c o n d u c t. " 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . 

### D a va lo s, 7 7 9 

### A . 2 d I 1 9 0 , 1 1 9 4{1 " � · tac l) ( ci t i n g 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. S ta n le y, 4 0 1 A . 2 d 1 1 6 6 , 1 1 7 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 7 9 ) ) . If

, o n 

### th e o th e r h an d , " th e am e n d e d p r o v i s i o n a ll e g e s a 

### d i ff e r e nt s e t o f e v e nt s , o r th e e l e m e nt s o r d e fe n s e s t o 

### th e am e n d e d c ri m e ar e m at e ri a ll y d i ff e r e nt fr o m th e e l e m e nt s o r d e fe n s e s t o th e c ri m e o ri g i n a ll y c h ar g e d , s u c h th at 

### th e d e f e n d ant w o u l d b e p r e j u d i c e d b y th e c h an g e , th e n th e am e n dm e nt i s n o t p e rm i tt e d . " 

### I d . H e r e , p ri o r t o s t art o f 

### tri a l o n Au gu s t 

### 1 1 , 2 0 1 1 , th e C o mm o nw e a l th m o v e d t o am e n d th e b ill o f i n fo rm at i o n t o i n c lu d e th e c h ar g e o f P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm P ro h ib i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 

### 6 10 5 ) . A c c o r d i n g t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th , th i s c h ar g e w a s o ri g i n a ll y h e l d fo r c o urt an d r e m a i n e d o p e n , b ut d i d n o t a

p p e ar o n th e c o urt e x tr a c t. T h e fo ll o w i n g e x c h an g e o c c urr e d : 

### M S . 

### T AY L O R: B e f

o r e w e p ro c e e d o n a 

### tri a l , 

### I w o u l d li k e t o a s k th e C o urt t o c o rr e c t th e B ill s o f 

### I n fo rm at i o n . I 

### s p o tt e d th i s e arl i e r . It 

### l o o k s li k e th i s c a s e w a s o ri g i n a ll y h e ar d 

### b y Ju d g e D e L e o n o n F e b ru ary 9 th . 

### At th at p o i nt th e j u d g e h e l d fo r c o urt o n l y th e c h ar g e o f 6 10 5 . T h e c a s e w a s r e fil e d , an d th e n o n Ap ril 5 th , 2 0 1 1 6 1 0 6 an d 6 1 0 8 w e r e a l s o h e l d fo r c o urt . I t l o o k s fr o m l o o ki n g at th e c o urt ' s r e c o r d s , th at a ll thr e e c h ar g e s ar e o p e n ; b ut wh e n I l o o k at th e c o urt e x tr a c t , i t s ay s th at w e ' r e o n l y p r o c e e d i n g o n tw o . I 

### w ant e d t o am e n d th e b i ll s an d i n clu d e 

### 6 1 0 5 . M S . 

### RE I F S N Y D E R : Y o ur H o n o r , 

### I d o h av e an o b j e c ti o n t o th at . T h e B ill s o f I n fo rm at i o n cl e arl y s ay th e y ' r e p ro c e e d i n g o n 6 10 6 an d 

### 6 1 0 8 o n l y . T h e p r e li m i n ary h e ari n g w a s F e b ru ary 9 th o f 

### 2 0 1 1. T h e a p p e a l w a s t ak e n 

### I b e li e v e an d a c t u a ll y h e ar d o n Ap ri l 5 th , 

### an d th e B ill s o f I n fo rm at i o n w e r e r e t urn e d at th e t i m e o f arr a i g nm e nt o r at th e t i m e o f arr a i g nm e nt w e h av e h a d th e 5 /2 d at e 

### i n 

### 1 1 0 1 wh e n th e b ill s w e r e g i v e n t o 

### u s . W e h a d a tri a l d at e h e r e o n Jun e 6 th , 

### an d n o am e n dm e nt w a s m a d e . An d w e ' v e h a d , fr ankl y , a ll d ay t o d ay wh e r e w e ' v e a l r e a dy li t i g at e d a m o t i o n an d n o am e n dm e nt s t o th e b ill s w e r e m a d e . 

### S o I d o o b j e c t t o th at at th i s p o i nt. 

### T H E C O U R T : W e ll , [ th e C o mm o nw e a l th ] c e rt a i n l y c an am e n d any t i m e p ri o r t o tri a l , wh e th e r tw o w e e k s , tw o d ay s , o r tw o h o ur s . S o 

### i t ' s am e n d e d . N . T . 8 / 1 1 / 1 1 at 

### 2 7 � 2 8 . A s th e tr an s c ri p t cl e arl y d e m o n s tr at e s , th i s C o urt o v e rru l e d d e fe n s e c o un s e l ' s o b

j e c t i o n an d a ll o w e d th e am e n dm e nt. T h i s C o urt ' s d e c i s i o n w a s p r o p e r fo r s e v e ra l r e a s o n s . l SF i r s t , a s th e C o mm o nw e a l th p o i nt e d o ut , a ll thr e e c h ar g e s w e r e o p e n . T hu s , a lth o u g h th e

P o s s e s s i o n o f 

### a F i r e arm P ro h i b i t e d 

### ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 10 5 ) 

### c h arg e d i d 

### n o t a p p e ar o n 

### th e c o urt e x tr a c t , 

### i t w a s i nt e n d e d t o b e i n cl u d e d th e r e i n . A s s u c h , am e n dm e nt w a s p e rm i tt e d t o c o r r e c t th i s d e fe c t. S e c o n d , e v e n i f P o s s e s s i o n o f a Fi r e arm P r o h i b i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 6 10 5 ) w a s n o t e rr o n e o u s l y o m i tt e d fr o m th e c o urt e x tr a c t , am e n dm e nt w a s p r o p e r b e c au s e th i s c h ar g e i nv o l v e s th e s am e b as i c e l e m e nt s a s 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 1 0 6 an d 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 1 0 8 . T o c o nv i c t a p e r s o n o f C arry i n g F i r e arm s W i th o ut a Li c e n s e ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 6 1 0 6 ) , th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p r o v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a

b l e d o u b t th at h e " c arri e [ d ] a fi r e arm i n any v e h i c l e o r . . c o n c e a l e d o n o r ab o ut h i s p e r s o n , e x c e p t i n h i s p l a c e o f a b o d e o r fi x e d p l a c e o f b u s i n e s s , wi th o ut a v a li d an d l awf u ll y i s s u e d li c e n s e . " T o c o nv i c t a p e r s o n o f C arry i n g F i r e arm s o n P ub li c P r o p e rty i n P hi l a d e lp h i a ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 10 8 ) , th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p ro v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t th at h e c arri e d a fi r e arm , r ifl e o r s h o t g un at any t i m e u p o n th e p ub li c s tr e e t s o r u p o n any p ub li c p r o p e rty i n a c i ty o f th e fir s t c l as s un l e s s h e w a s li c e n s e d t o c arry a fi r e arm o r w a s e x e mp t fr o m l i c e n s i n g . T o c o nv ic t a p e r s o n o f P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm P r o h i b i t e d ( 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 10 5 ) , th e C o mm o nw e a lth mu s t p r o v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t th at h e p o s s e s s e d a fi r e arm an d th at h e w a s c o nv i c t e d o f an e num e r at e d o ff

e n s e th at p r o h i b i t s h i m fr o m p o s s e s s i n g , u s i n g , c o ntro lli n g , o r tr an s fe rri n g a 

### fi r e arm , T h e e l e m e nt s o f 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 6 10 5 

### ar e n o t m at e ri a ll y d i ff e r e nt fr o m th e e l e m e nt s o f 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 10 6 an d 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 6 10 8 ; a ll thr e e c ri m e s r e qu i r e th e e l e m e nt o f p o s s e s s i o n . I n a d d it i o n t o i nv o l v i n g th e s am e b a s i c e l e m e nt s , th e c h ar g e s e v o l v e d o ut o f th e s am e fa c t u a l s i t u at i o n . T o r e i t e r at e th e fa c t s , O ffi c e r M c F i lli n an d O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r r e c e i v e d a r a d i o c a ll o n J anu ary 3 , 2 0 1 1 at a p p r o x i m at e l y 1 0 : 2 2 p . m . , ab o ut a b l a c k m a l e w e ari n g a b l a c k v e s t , b lu e s w e at s h i rt , l i g ht c o l o r e d j e an s , an d a g ray h o o d i e , w i th a gun i n s i d e th e C o m fo rt Z o n e B ar . A ft e r 1 6

### e nt e ri n g th e B ar , O f fi c e r W i n c kl e r a

p p r o a c h e d th e D e f

e n d ant wh i l e O f

fi c e r M c F ill i n s p o k e wi th a w o m an wh o p ro v i d e d h i m 

### w i th i n fo rm at i o n s u ffi ci e nt t o s u p p o rt an 

### i nv e s t i g ati v e d e t e nti o n . T h e o f fi c e r s th e n e s c o rt e d th e D e f e n d ant o ut s i d e an d O ffi c e r W i n c k l e r p e r fo rm e d a qu i c k p at d o wn an d fri s k o f h i s p e r s o n fo r w e a p o n s . O f fi c e r W i n c kl e r r e c o v e r e d a b l a c k an d s il v e r 

### .4 0 c a l i b e r S m i th & 

### W e s s o n s e m i aut o m at i c 

### fi r e arm l o a d e d w i th o n e r o un d an d c o nt a i n i n g n i n e ( 9 ) a d d i ti o n a l r o un d s o f li v e ammuni ti o n fr o m D e f e n d ant ' s ri g ht fr o nt p ant s p o c k e t. A H 

### c h ar g e s a g a i n s t D e fe n d ant s t e mm e d fr o m th i s 

### e v e nt. A s 

### s u c h , D e fe n d ant w a s o n n o ti c e r e g ar d i n g h i s a ll e g e d 

### c ri m i n a l c o n d

u c t . F i n a ll y , D e fe n d ant s u ff

e r e d n o p r e

j u d i c e a s a r e s u l t o f th e am e n dm e nt. D e fe n d ant kn e w h e w as a c o nv i c t e d 

### fe l o n an d w a s n o t 

### p e rm i tt e d t o 

### c arr y a fi r e arm . Th i s i s e v i d e nt fr o m D e f e n d ant' s c ri m i n a l r e c o r d . O n Jun e 5 , 2 0 0 0 , 

### D e fe n d ant p i e d 

### gu il ty t o s e v e r a l fe l o ny c h ar g e s . A s a r e s u lt o f

th e s e c o nv i c t i o n s , D e fe n d ant w a s n o t p e rm i tt e d t o p o s s e s s , u s e , c o ntro l , s e ll , tr an s fe r o r m anu fa c t

ur e o r o b t a i n a 

### li c e n s e t o 

### p o s s e s s , u s e , c o ntro l , s e ll , tr an s fe r o r m anu fa c t ur e a fi r e arm i n th i s C o mm o nw e a l th . I t w o u l d b e n o ns e n s i c a l 

### t o s u g g e s t th at D e fe n d ant w a s n o t aw ar e o f h i s 

### fe l o ny c o nv i c ti o n s an d th e fa c t th at h e w a s n o t p e rm i tt e d t o p o s s e s s a fi r e arm . F o r 

### th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d . D e f e n d ant d i d 

### n o t an d c ann o t d e m o n s tr at e th at h a d tri a l c o un s e l r a i s e d th i s i s s u e , i t 

### w o u l d h av e b e e n m e ri t o ri o u s 

### o n a p p e a l. 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. W as h i ngto n , 9 2 7 A. 2 d 5 8 6 , 6 0 7 - 0 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 7 ) . A s 

### s u c h , D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m o f i n e ff

e c t i v e n e s s 

### s h o u l d b e 

### d i s m i s s e d .

1 7II . T H I S C O U R T D I D N O T E RR IN F A I L IN G T O G RAN T A N E V I D EN T I A R

Y · H E A RIN G O n a p p e a l , D e f

e n d ant cl a i m s th at th i s C o urt e rr e d i n fa ili n g t o g r ant an e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g . D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m mu s t fa i l. T h i s C o urt p r o p e rl y d i s p o s e d o fD e fe n d ant ' s P C RA p e t i t i o n w i th o ut l fi r s t c o n d u c t i n g 

### an e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g . It i s w e ll - e s t ab l i s h e d th at " [ t ] h e r e i s n o a b s o l ut e ri g ht t o an e v i d e nt i ar y h e ari n g o n a P C RA p e t i t i o n , an d i fth e P C RA c o urt c an d e t e rm i n e fr o m th e r e c o r d th at n o g e nu i n e i s s u e s o fm at e ri a l fa c t e x i s t , th e n a h e ari n g i s n o t 

### n e c e s s ary . " 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. J o n es, 9 4 2 A. 2 d 9 0 3 , 9 0 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 

### 2 0 0 8 ) ; P a . R . C ri m . P . 9 0 7 ( 2 ) . A r e v i e w i n g c o urt mu s t e x am i n e 

### th e i s s u e s r a i s e d i n th e P C RA p e t i t i o n i n li g ht 

### o f th e r e c o r d t o d e t e rm i n e wh e th e r th e P C RA c o urt e r r e d i n c o n cl u d i n g th at th e r e w e r e 

### n o g e nu i n e i s s u e s o t m at e ri a l fa c t 

### an d i n d e ny i n g r e li e f wi th o ut 

### an e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g . 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. J o rd a n , 7 72 A . 2 d 10 1 1 , 10 1 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 1 ) . I t i s a

p p ro p ri at e t o d i s m i s s c l a i m s " wh e r e th e p l e a d i n g s ar e i n s u ffi c i e nt t o s t at e 

### a c l a i m 

### fo r p o s t - c o nv i c t i o n r e li e f . " 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. Cla r k , 9 6 1 A. 2 d 8 0 , 9 4 ( P a . 2 0 0 8 ) . H e r e , th i s C o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at th e cl a i m s r a i s e d i n D e f e n d ant ' s P C RA p e t i t i o n c o nt a i n e d n o g e nu i n e i s s u e s o f m at e ri a l 

### fa c t. A s d i s c u s s e d at l e n g th a b o v e , D e f

e n d ant ' s 

### c l a i m s o f i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s w e r e 

### n o t s u

p p o rt e d b y th e 

### r e c o r d . T hu s , an e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g w a s n o t n e c e s s ary .

C O N C L U S I O N F o r 

### a ll th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , th i s C o urt 

### r e s p e c t fu ll y r e qu e s t s th at i t s j u d g m e nt b e 

### a ffi rm e d i n 

### i t s e nt i r e ty .

1 8