J-S87007-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee

v.

PEDRO LUIS GAVILAN-CRUZ,

Appellant No. 1238 MDA 2016

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence April 2, 2015

in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County

Criminal Division at No.: CP-36-CR-0001911-2014

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., SOLANO, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED DECEMBER 05, 2016

Appellant, Pedro Luis Gavilan-Cruz, appeals nunc pro tunc from the 

judgment of sentence imposed following his jury trial conviction of rape by 

forcible compulsion, and numerous related offenses.1 Appellant challenges 

the effectiveness of trial counsel. Appellate counsel has petitioned this Court 

for permission to withdraw. We affirm the judgment of sentence and grant 

counsel’s petition to withdraw. 

____________________________________________

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1 Specifically, the jury convicted Appellant of rape by forcible compulsion, 

involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion, aggravated 

indecent assault by forcible compulsion, terroristic threats, unlawful 

restraint-risk of serious bodily injury, unlawful restraint-involuntary 

servitude, simple assault-bodily injury, simple assault-physical menace/fear 

of imminent serious bodily injury, and sexual assault. (See Verdict Slip, 

12/18/14, at unnumbered pages 1-4).
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Appellant’s conviction arose out his rape and sexual assault of a 

former girlfriend. Using knives and physical force, Appellant beat the victim, 

and threatened to cut, disfigure, and kill her. Holding her against her will, 

Appellant had, or attempted to have, sexual relations with the victim from 

early evening until the morning of the next day. 

The jury convicted him of all charges. The court imposed an 

aggregate sentence of not less than sixteen nor more than thirty-two years 

of incarceration. No post-sentence motions were filed. Appellant’s first 

direct appeal was dismissed for failure of previous counsel to file a brief. 

The court reinstated Appellant’s direct appeal rights after he filed a petition 

pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-

9546. (See Order, 7/20/16).

Appellant timely appealed. (See Notice of Appeal, 7/26/16).2 Counsel 

has filed a petition to withdraw and an Anders/Santiago brief.3

Counsel identifies one issue for review:

Should this Court undertake review on direct appeal of 

Appellant’s claims that trial counsel provided ineffective 

assistance?

____________________________________________

2 Counsel complied with the court’s order to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) 

statement, on August 23, 2016. The court filed a Rule 1925(a) opinion on 

August 29, 2016. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

3 See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967); Commonwealth v. 

Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009). The Commonwealth notified this Court 

it would not file a brief in this matter. (See Commonwealth’s letter, 

10/07/16). 
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(Anders Brief, at 4) (unnecessary capitalization omitted).

Preliminarily, we must determine whether counsel’s petition and brief 

meet the procedural requirements for seeking leave to withdraw. See

Commonwealth v. Zeigler, 112 A.3d 656, 659 (Pa. Super. 2015).

When requesting leave to withdraw, 

[c]ounsel must: 1) petition the court for leave to withdraw 

stating that, after making a conscientious examination of the 

record, counsel has determined that the appeal would be 

frivolous; 2) furnish a copy of the brief to the defendant; and 3) 

advise the defendant that he or she has the right to retain 

private counsel or raise additional arguments [pro se] that the 

defendant deems worthy of the court’s attention.

Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030, 1032 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en 

banc) (citation omitted).4

In this case, counsel has stated that he made a conscientious 

examination of the record and concluded the appeal is frivolous. (See 

Motion to Withdraw, 10/05/16). Counsel has provided a copy of his 

Anders/Santiago brief to Appellant and advised him of his rights to raise 

____________________________________________

4 Additionally, our Supreme Court has set forth the following requirements 

for the brief accompanying counsel’s petition to withdraw: [C]ounsel must: 

(1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with citations to 

the record; (2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes arguably 

supports the appeal; (3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is 

frivolous; and (4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is 

frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of record, controlling 

case law, and any statutes on point that have led to the conclusion that the 

appeal is frivolous. See Santiago, supra at 361.
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any additional points in this appeal by proceeding pro se or with private 

counsel. See Commonwealth v. Millisock, 873 A.2d 748, 752 (Pa. Super. 

2005).5

Accordingly, we conclude that counsel has substantially complied with 

the requirements of Anders, Santiago, and Millisock, and we will grant his 

petition to withdraw.

We now proceed to review the issue presented and counsel’s 

conclusion that this appeal is frivolous. With limited exceptions not relevant 

to this case, any claims of ineffectiveness of trial counsel must be deferred 

to collateral review. (See Anders brief, at 8; Trial Court Opinion, 8/29/16, 

at 4); see also Commonwealth v. Grant, 813 A.2d 726, 738 (Pa. 2002) 

(“We now hold that, as a general rule, a petitioner should wait to raise 

claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel until collateral review.”).

Accordingly, we dismiss Appellant’s claims of ineffectiveness without 

prejudice to his right to seek relief under the PCRA, pursuant to Grant. On 

independent review, we find no other non-frivolous issues. 

____________________________________________

5 Appellant has not responded. 
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Judgment of sentence affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted. 

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 12/5/2016