IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

In re: Appeal of Bochetto & Lentz :

:

From the Decision of the Appeals : No. 1445 C.D. 2022

Officer Philadelphia District : Submitted: April 9, 2024

Attorney’s Office :

:

Appeal of: Philadelphia District :

Attorney’s Office :

BEFORE: HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, President Judge

HONORABLE LORI A. DUMAS, Judge

HONORABLE MATTHEW S. WOLF, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION 

BY JUDGE DUMAS FILED: May 8, 2024

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (DAO) appeals from the 

order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (trial court), entered 

December 7, 2022, granting the statutory appeal of Bochetto & Lentz (Requester), 

reversing the order of the DAO Appeals Officer (Appeals Officer) and ordering the 

production of certain requested records pursuant to the Right-to-Know Law 

(RTKL).1 After careful review, we vacate and remand for the trial court to issue a 

decision that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an articulated and 

reasoned basis for its disposition.

I. BACKGROUND

On December 9, 2020, Requester submitted a request to the DAO under 

the RTKL, seeking a full copy of the DAO’s trial file related to Commonwealth of 

1 Act of February 14, 2008, P.L. 6, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
2

Pennsylvania v. Dontia Patterson.

2

 See Final Determination of RTKL Appeal, 

6/30/21, at 1-2 (Final Determination). The request sought “all intra-office emails 

regarding any stage of the above-captioned case including emails with third parties,”

as well as “any and all memorand[a], notes, emails, facsimiles, or facsimile 

confirmations” related to this case and, specifically, containing any of the following 

terms: McCaffery, [Assistant District Attorney (ADA)] McCaffery, Beth 

McCaffery, and ADA Beth McCaffery. See id. The request also sought all files 

related to the appeal filed in that case. See id.

On January 14, 2021, the DAO issued a final response, denying the 

request pursuant to the RTKL’s criminal investigative records exemption3and the 

Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA).

4

 See Final Determination at 2.

Requester appealed to the Appeals Officer, who denied the appeal. See 

id. The Appeals Officer determined that (1) the request sought records exempt under 

Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16), and under CHRIA; and 

(2) the Appeals Officer is not authorized to order disclosure of criminal investigative 

records that are confidential by law. See id. at 3-6.

Requester appealed to the trial court, which heard argument on the 

appeal on March 24, 2022, June 15, 2022, and August 22, 2022. Additionally, the 

trial court conducted a review of the requested documents in camera.

On December 7, 2022, without issuing findings of fact and conclusions 

of law, the trial court entered an order granting Requester’s appeal and ordering 

2 This case was docketed at CP-51-CR-0012287-2007. 

3

See Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16). 

4

18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101 - 9183. CHRIA, generally, concerns collection, maintenance, 

dissemination, disclosure, and receipt of criminal history records. See generally id. CHRIA and 

the criminal investigation exemption in the RTKL are often asserted together. See, e.g., Pa. State 

Police v. Grove, 161 A.3d 877 (Pa. 2017); Coley v. Phila. Dist. Att’y’s Off., 77 A.3d 694 (Pa. 

Cmwlth. 2013).
3

production of the requested documents. See Trial Ct. Order, 12/7/22. The order 

further stated that the DAO’s arguments lacked factual and legal merit, and that “all 

arguments that had been tendered on behalf of [Requester] are fully incorporated as 

supporting reasons for the entry of the instant Order with reservation of 

supplementation.” See id.

The DAO timely appealed to this Court and filed a court-ordered 

statement pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b). The trial 

court responded with an opinion suggesting that this Court dismiss the appeal on 

procedural grounds. See generally Trial Ct. Op., 7/17/23.

II. ISSUES

On appeal, the DAO raises several issues for our review. First, the 

DAO asserts that the trial court erred in holding that the requested records are not 

exempt under Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16). See DAO’s 

Br. at 4. Second, the DAO contends that the trial court erred by failing to address 

the Appeals Officer’s determination that CHRIA provides a stand-alone basis for 

non-disclosure. See id. Third, the DAO asserts that the trial court erred in 

disregarding the DAO’s individualized privilege/exemption determinations. See id.

According to the DAO, it demonstrated that some of the requested records are

subject to work-product, deliberative process, and attorney-client privileges, and that 

others are judicial records. See id. Fourth, the DAO asserts that the trial court erred 

in ordering the DAO to produce non-responsive records and supplement its 

production with records obtained from third parties. See id. Finally, the DAO asserts 

that dismissal of its appeal was not warranted, where it had complied with the 

applicable rules of procedure regarding transcription, and this Court possesses all 

hearing transcripts. See id.
4

III. DISCUSSION5

Under the RTKL, information is subject to disclosure if it is a “public 

record.” Section 301(a) of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.301(a). Pursuant to Section 305, 

records in the possession of a local agency shall be presumed public unless (1) 

exempt from disclosure under Section 708 of the RTKL; (2) protected by a privilege; 

or (3) exempt under any other federal or state law, regulation or judicial order. See 

Sections 305 and 708 of the RTKL, 65 P.S. §§ 67.305, 67.708; see also Allegheny 

Cnty. Dep’t of Admin. Servs. v. A Second Chance, Inc., 13 A.3d 1025, 1035 (Pa. 

Cmwlth. 2011).

The RTKL defines “records” as “[i]nformation, regardless of physical 

form or characteristics, that documents a transaction or activity of an agency” and 

that is “created, received, or retained pursuant to law” or in connection with a 

“transaction, business or activity” of that agency. Section 102 of the RTKL, 65 P.S. 

§ 67.102. Among the records exempted from disclosure are those relating to, or 

resulting in, a criminal investigation, including: (1) “[c]omplaints of potential 

criminal conduct other than a private criminal complaint”; (2) “[i]nvestigative 

materials, notes, correspondence, videos and reports”; (3) “[a] record that includes 

the identity of a confidential source or the identity of a suspect who has not been 

charged with an offense to whom confidentiality has been promised”; (4) “[a] record 

that includes information made confidential by law or court order”; (5) “[v]ictim 

information, including any information that would jeopardize the safety of the 

victim”; or (6) “[a] record that, if disclosed, would . . . [r]eveal the institution, 

5

“When reviewing an order of the trial court regarding the RTKL, we must determine 

whether the findings of fact are supported by [substantial] evidence or whether the trial court 

committed an error of law or an abuse of discretion in reaching its decision.” City of Harrisburg 

v. Prince, 288 A.3d 559, 567 n.7 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2023) (cleaned up).
5

progress or result of a criminal investigation, except the filing of criminal charges,” 

“[d]eprive a person of the right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication,” “[i]mpair 

the ability to locate a defendant or codefendant,” “[h]inder an agency’s ability to 

secure an arrest, prosecution or conviction,” or “[e]ndanger the life or physical safety 

of an individual.” See Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16).

The agency receiving a RTKL request bears the burden of proving that 

the record is exempt from disclosure by a preponderance of the evidence. Section 

708(a)(1) of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.708(a)(1). A preponderance of the evidence is 

such evidence as would lead a factfinder to find that the existence of a contested fact 

is more probable than the nonexistence of the contested fact. Off. of the Dist. Att’y 

of Phila. v. Bagwell, 155 A.3d 1119, 1130 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2017). If an agency does 

not have the records in its possession, it may deny the request and offer proof that 

the record does not exist. Smith Butz, LLC v. Pa. Dep’t of Env’t Prot., 142 A.3d 

941, 945 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2016).

Pursuant to the RTKL, the district attorney of a county designates an 

appeals officer to hear appeals relating to access to criminal investigative records in 

the possession of a local agency of that county. See Section 503(d)(2) of the RTKL, 

65 P.S. § 67.503(d)(2). The designated appeals officer determines whether the 

record requested is a criminal investigative record. See id. 

A requester seeking review of a final determination by the designated 

appeals officer is entitled to “judicial review by the appropriate court of common 

pleas under Section 1302 of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.1302.” Kyziridis v. Off. of 

Northampton Cnty. Dist. Att’y, 308 A.3d 908, 912 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2024). The trial 

court must “render its own findings of fact and conclusions of law . . . .” Id. at 912

(citation omitted). Even in cases where the trial court has conducted an in camera
6

review, the court must support its decision with specific findings of fact and 

conclusions of law, general descriptions of the documents reviewed, and specific 

reasoning as to why the document was or was not exempt from disclosure. See, e.g.,

Kyziridis, 308 A.3d at 911.

In this case, the trial court has not issued findings of fact or conclusions 

of law. See Trial Ct. Order, 12/7/22. The order does not describe the nature of the 

documents requested, nor does it provide any legal justification or analysis 

supporting the court’s decision. See id. Instead of an analysis, the trial court notes

the statutory definition of the criminal investigative records exemption and adopts

“arguments tendered on behalf of [Requester]” without reproducing or detailing 

those arguments. See id. Further, the trial court’s opinion provides no additional 

insight into its reasoning. Rather, the trial court merely offers technical reasons for 

quashing this appeal. See Trial Ct. Op. at 4-6 (unpaginated) (suggesting quashal, 

e.g., because the DAO has failed to ensure that transcripts were produced by the 

court reporter and included in the record). 

The absence of any findings or supporting legal analysis has impeded 

this Court’s appellate review. See Prince, 288 A.3d at 567 n.7. The trial court, as 

the Chapter 13 court, “is the ultimate finder of fact under the RTKL, [so] it would 

be inappropriate” for this Court “to step into its place.” See Am. C.L. Union of Pa. 

v. Pa. State Police, 232 A.3d 654, 671 (Pa. 2020) (vacating and remanding to this 

Court as the Chapter 13 court); see also Kyziridis, 308 A.3d at 912 n.6 (noting that 

in appeals of final determinations by district attorney’s office appeals officers, the 

trial court sits as a Chapter 13 court charged with conducting a de novo review).
7

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the trial court’s order and remand 

for the court to issue a decision that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, 

and an articulated and reasoned basis for its disposition. See Am. C.L. Union of Pa., 

232 A.3d at 671; Kyziridis, 308 A.3d at 912; Prince, 288 A.3d at 567 n.7.

 

 LORI A. DUMAS, Judge
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

In re: Appeal of Bochetto & Lentz :

:

From the Decision of the Appeals : No. 1445 C.D. 2022

Officer Philadelphia District :

Attorney’s Office :

:

Appeal of: Philadelphia District :

Attorney’s Office :

O R D E R

AND NOW, this 8

th day of May, 2024, the order entered by the Court of 

Common Pleas of Philadelphia County on December 7, 2022, is VACATED. The 

matter is REMANDED for the trial court to issue findings of fact, conclusions of 

law, and an articulated basis for its disposition.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

 

 LORI A. DUMAS, Judge