J-S77045-17

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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

MICHAEL WHALLEY 

Appellant

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 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 153 MDA 2017

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence June 2, 2016

In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Civil Division at No(s): 

13809-2015

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY STEVENS, P.J.E.: FILED DECEMBER 29, 2017

Appellant, Michael Whalley, appeals from the judgment of sentence 

entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, which found 

Appellant guilty on four counts of Indirect Criminal Contempt for Violation of 

Order or Agreement (“ICC”), 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 6114. In addition, Appellant’s 

counsel, Amanda Young, Esquire (“Attorney Young”), has filed a Motion to 

Withdraw as Appellate Counsel as well as a brief pursuant to Anders v. 

California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967) (“hereinafter the “Anders Brief”) and 

Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009). In response, 

Appellant filed a pro se application for in forma pauperis status and 

appointment of new counsel. We grant Attorney Young’s Motion to Withdraw, 

deny Appellant’s responsive pro se application, and affirm Appellant’s 

judgment of sentence.
J-S77045-17

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The trial court aptly sets forth the factual and procedural history of the 

instant case as follows:

On December 14, 2015, [A.S.1,] (“Plaintiff”), filed a Petition for 

Protection from Abuse, (“PFA”), complaint, and a temporary order 

was issued. A final order was entered on December 29, 2015, 

against Defendant [hereinafter Appellant], for a period of three 

(3) years. 

Prior to the entry of the final PFA and after the entry of the PFA 

Appellant was charged in a series of violations of the terms of the 

PFA orders. Initially, on December 28, 2015, Appellant was 

arrested for violating the temporary PFA order by allegedly 

contacting Plaintiff by phone and text messages about topics 

unrelated to their children and was charged with one count of 

Contempt for Violation of Order or Agreement, 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 

6114(A).

Again, on January 6, 2015, Appellant was arrested for violating 

the PFA order for a second time by sending letters, approximately 

fourteen (14) pages in length, to Plaintiff. Appellant was charged 

with one count of Contempt for Violation of Order or Agreement, 

23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6114(A).

An Indirect Criminal Contempt hearing was scheduled before the 

Honorable Michael T. Vough, for January 21, 2016, pertaining to 

violation number one (1), which occurred on December 28, 2015, 

and violation number two (2), which occurred on January 6, 2016. 

Appellant pled guilty and was sentenced on each violation to a 

term of incarceration for a period of six (6) months consecutive to 

each other and to any sentence he was serving. The PFA order 

remained in effect.

Thereafter, on March 24, 2016, Appellant was charged with 

Contempt for Violation of Order for violating the PFA for the third 

(3) time. Again, on April 11, 2016, Appellant was charged with 

one count of Contempt for Violation of Order for violating the PFA 

for the fourth (4) time.

____________________________________________

1 We have used the victim’s initials to protect her identity.
J-S77045-17

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Again, on April 18, 2016, Appellant was charged with two separate 

counts of Contempt for Violation of Order for violating the PFA for 

the fifth (5) and sixth (6) time.

On June 2, 2016, an Indirect Criminal Contempt hearing was held 

pertaining to violation numbers three (3), four (4), five (5), and 

six (6). After a full hearing, Appellant was found guilty of all 

violations and sentenced as follows: violation number three – six 

months’ incarceration; violation number four – six months’ 

incarceration consecutive to violation number three; violation 

number five – six months’ incarceration consecutive to violation 

number four; and violation number six – six months’ [probation]

consecutive to violation number five[, for an aggregate sentence 

of eighteen months’ incarceration to be followed by six months’ 

probation.] The Protection from Abuse Order was extended for a 

period of three years from the date of the ICC hearing with an 

expiration date of June 2, 2019.

On June 15, 2016, Appellant filed a Motion for Reconsideration 

and a video hearing was conducted on August 30, 2016. The 

matter was taken under advisement. On December 22, 2016, 

Appellant’s Motion was denied. Thereafter, on January 13, 2017, 

Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal.

On January 23, 2017, an order was issued directing Appellant to 

file of record a Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on 

Appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) and serve a copy of same 

upon the District Attorney and this Court pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 

1925(b)(1). The Order required the Statement to concisely 

identify each ruling or error Appellant intends to challenge with 

sufficient detail to identify all pertinent issues for the Judge to 

consider. Further, the Order provided that any issue not properly 

included in the Concise Statement and timely filed and served 

within twenty-one (21) days of the date of the Order shall be 

deemed waived pursuant to Rule 1925(b).

On March 3, 2017, Appellant through his counsel filed a Concise 

Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal pursuant to 

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)[, raising the following issue for appellate 

review:]

The Trial Court erred and abused its discretion in 

finding Mr. Whalley guilty of indirect criminal 

contempt on violation #6, when the alleged written 
J-S77045-17

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statements in question were directed to an individual 

who was not a protected person under the PFA Act and 

the underlying PFA did not specifically prohibit contact 

with said individual.

Trial Court Opinion, dated 6/28/2017, at 1-3.

Counsel has since filed a petition to withdraw on the basis of frivolity. 

We must, therefore, first rule on the request to withdraw without reviewing 

the merits of the underlying issues. Commonwealth v. Blauser, 166 A.3d 

428 (Pa.Super. 2017). In order to withdraw from appellate representation 

pursuant to Anders, certain procedural and substantive requirements must 

be met. Procedurally, counsel 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 that the defendant 

deems worthy of the court's attention. See Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 

83 A.3d 1030 (Pa.Super. 2013) (en banc).

Attorney Young’s petition to withdraw sets forth that she has reviewed 

the entire record, and concluded that there are no actual or potential nonfrivolous issues. The petition includes a copy of the letter sent to Appellant, 

which informed Appellant of his rights pursuant to Commonwealth v. 

Millisock, 873 A.2d 748 (Pa.Super. 2005), namely, that he had the right to 

retain new counsel, or proceed pro se and raise additional arguments on his 

own behalf. Additionally, the letter states that Appellant was supplied with a 
J-S77045-17

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copy of the Anders brief,2 and the withdrawal petition contains proof of 

service on Appellant.3 To date, Appellant has not responded to the petition to 

withdraw as counsel. Therefore, the procedural requirements have been 

satisfied.

We now examine whether the brief meets the substantive requirements 

as set forth by our Supreme Court in Santiago. The brief 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/or statutes on point that have led to the 

conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Commonwealth v. Daniels, 999 A.2d 590, 593 (Pa.Super. 2010) (citing 

Santiago, supra at 361).

The issue raised in the Anders brief asserts that the trial court abused 

its discretion in finding Appellant guilty of ICC for violations 3, 4, 5, and 6 

____________________________________________

2 Although the brief does not contain proof of service on Appellant, counsel’s 

Millisock letter references it as having been enclosed.

3 By order dated November 11, 2017, this Court granted counsel’s request to 

amend her withdrawal petition to include a quotation from a letter that 

Appellant sent her on October 28, 2017. Counsel avers that the excerpt 

indicates there is a conflict of interest and arguably contains a threat, which 

underscores the need for her to withdraw.
J-S77045-17

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where the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that 

Appellant intentionally violated PFA orders. Our standard of review of a 

contempt order is as follows:

A trial court's finding of contempt will not be disturbed absent an 

abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Baker, 564 Pa. 192, 

198, 766 A.2d 328, 331 (2001). An appellate court cannot find 

an abuse of discretion merely for an error of judgment unless, in 

reaching a conclusion, the trial court overrides or misapplies the 

law or its judgment is manifestly unreasonable. Id.

Commonwealth v. Ashton, 824 A.2d 1198, 1202 (Pa.Super. 2003). “A 

charge of indirect criminal contempt consists of a claim that a violation of an 

Order or Decree of court occurred outside the presence of the court.” 

Commonwealth v. Brumbaugh, 932 A.2d 108, 109 (Pa.Super. 2007). The 

elements of indirect criminal contempt include: “1) the order was sufficiently 

definite, clear, and specific to the contemnor as to leave no doubt of the 

conduct prohibited; 2) the contemnor had notice of the order; 3) the act 

constituting the violation must have been volitional; and 4) the contemnor 

must have acted with wrongful intent.” Id. (citing Commonwealth v. 

Walsh, 36 A.3d 613, 619 (Pa. Super. 2012).

In the Anders brief, counsel sets forth the terms of the PFA, which 

prohibited Appellant from, inter alia, having any contact with Plaintiff, either 

directly or indirectly, by any means, and she indicates that Appellant denied 

writing the letters that were sent to Plaintiff, as he testified he could not have 

sent the letters from prison as he was accused of doing. 
J-S77045-17

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Counsel asserts the appeal is frivolous because Appellant, while aware 

of the clearly-worded PFA order, wrote the letters addressed to Plaintiff. 

Plaintiff testified that the letters were written in Appellant’s handwriting and 

bore Appellant’s return address at SCI Waymart. The court reviewed the 

letters and concluded that Appellant authored the letters and sent them with 

nefarious intent. “I’ve had an opportunity to review all the correspondence 

that are here. It’s very personal. It’s very detailed. It’s disturbing. It’s 

threatening[,]” the court concluded. N.T. 1/26/17 at 36. Moreover, counsel 

observes, the court acted appropriately in its exclusive role of finder of fact 

when it found Appellant’s testimony disavowing authorship wholly incredible.

We agree with counsel’s position that Appellant’s challenge is frivolous, 

as the evidence sufficed to prove each element of ICC beyond a reasonable 

doubt and supported the court’s credibility determination discrediting 

Appellant’s testimony.

4

 Thus, we determine that counsel should be permitted 

to withdraw. 

On our independent review of the merits of the case, where we make 

an independent judgment deciding whether the appeal is in fact wholly 

frivolous, see Commonwealth v. Wrecks, 931 A.2d 717, 721 (Pa.Super. 

2007), we have found no indication of non-frivolous issues.

We now turn to Appellant's request for in forma pauperis status and 

appointment of substitute appellate counsel. There is no question that an 

____________________________________________

4 To this end, we adopt the reasoning of the trial court’s June 28, 2017, 

opinion.
J-S77045-17

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indigent prisoner is entitled to free legal counsel to assist him on direct appeal.

See U.S. Const. amend. VI; Pa. Const. art. 1, § 9. Our review of the case 

law, however, convinces us that Appellant is not entitled to substitute counsel 

at this point in his case.

We note that “the right to appointed counsel does not include the right 

to counsel of the defendant's choice.” Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 720 

A.2d 693, 709 (Pa. 1998); see also Commonwealth v. Philistin, 53 A.3d 

1, 16 (Pa. 2012). In addition, our Supreme Court has concluded that once a 

reviewing court is satisfied with counsel's assessment of the appeal as wholly 

frivolous, counsel has fully discharged his or her responsibility to an appellant 

and can do no more. Commonwealth v. McClendon, 434 A.2d 1185, 1188 

(Pa. 1981); see Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d at 359–61. 

Here, this Court has agreed with appellate counsel's conclusion that 

Appellant's appeal is wholly frivolous. As such, appellate counsel has fully 

discharged her duty and responsibility to Appellant, and Appellant is not 

entitled to appointment of substitute appellate counsel at public expense to 

redo the appeal. See id.; Santiago v. Commonwealth, Pa. Bd. of Prob. 

& Parole, 506 A.2d 517, 520 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1986). Accordingly, we deny 

Appellant's motion.

Accordingly, the petition of Amanda Young, Esq. to withdraw as counsel 

is granted. Appellant’s pro se application for in forma pauperis status and 

appointment of new counsel is denied. Judgment of sentence is affirmed. 
J-S77045-17

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 12/29/17
Circulated 12/19/2017 10:45 AM 

COURT OF COMMON 

OF LUZERNE COUNTY 

COMMONWEAL TH OF PEN IA 

Plaintiff 

v. 

MICHAEL JUSTIN WHALLEY 

Defendant 

CIVIL DIVISION 

NO. 13809 OF 2015 

OPINION 

Factual and Procedural History 

On December 14, 2015�-:llll ("Plaintiff"), filed a Petition for 

Protection from Abuse, ("PFA"), complaint, and a temporary order was issued. A final 

order was entered on December 29, 2015 against Defendant, Michael Justin Whalley 

("Defendant"), for a period of three (3) years. 

Prior to the entry of the final PFA and after the entry of the PFA the Defendant 

was charged in a series of violations of the terms of the PFA orders. Initially, on 

December 28, 2015, the Defendant was arrested for violating the temporary Protection 

from Abuse Order ('PFA") by allegedly contacting Plaintiff by phone and text messages 

about topics unrelated to their children and was charged with one count of Contempt for 

Violation of Order or Agreement, 23 § 6114 §§ A 

Again, on January 6, 2015, the Defendant was arrested for violating the 

Protection from Abuse Order ("PFA") for a second time by sending letters, 

approximately fourteen(14) pages in length, to Plaintiff. The Defendant was charged 

with one count of Contempt for Violation of Order or Agreement, 23 § 6114 §§ A 
An Indirect Criminal Contempt hearing was scheduled before the Honorable 

MichaelT. Vough, for January 21; 2016 pertaining to violation number one (1 ), which 

occurred on December 28, 2015 and violation number two (2), which occurred on 

January 6, 2016.The Defendant pied guilty and was sentenced on each violation to a 

term of incarceration for a period of six (6) months consecutive to each other and to any 

sentence he was serving. The PFA order remained in effect. 

Thereafter, on March 24, 2016, the Defendant was charged with Contempt for 

Violation of Order for violating the PFA for the third (3) time. Again, on April 11, 2016 the 

Defendant was charged with one count of Contempt for Violation of Order for violating 

the PFA for the fourth (4) time. 

Again, on April 18, 2016, the Defendant was charged with two separate counts of 

Contempt for Violation of Order for violating the PFA for the fifth (5) and sixth (6) time. 

On June 2, 2016, an Indirect Criminal Contempt hearing was held pertaining to 

violation number three (3), four (4), five (5), and six (6). After a full hearing, the 

defendant was found guilty of all violations and sentenced as follows: Violation number 

three - six (6) months incarceration; Violation number four - six (6) months 

incarceration consecutive to violation number three (3); Violation number five - six (6) 

months incarceration consecutive to violation number four (4); Violation number six - 

six (6) months incarceration consecutive to violation number five (5). The Protection 

from Abuse order was extended for a period of three (3) years from the date of the ICC 

hearing with an expiration date of June 2, 2019. 

On June 15, 2016, Defendant filed a Motion for Reconsideration and a video 

hearing was conducted on August 30, 2016. The matter was taken under advisement. 

2 
On December 22, 2016, the Defendant's Motion to Modify and Reduce Sentenced was 

denied. Thereafter, on January 13, 2017, Defendant filed a Notice of Appeal. 

On January 23, 2017 an order was issued directing Defendant to file of record a 

Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b) 

and serve a copy of same upon the District Attorney and this Court pursuant to Pa. 

R.A. P. 1925(b)(1 ). The Order required the Statement to concisely identify each ruling or 

error Appellant intends to challenge with sufficient detail to identify all pertinent issues 

for the Judge to consider. Further, the Order provided that any issue not properly 

included in the Concise Statement and timely filed and served within twenty-one (21) 

days of the date of the Order shall be deemed waived pursuant to Rule 1925(b ). 

On March 3, 2017 the Defendant through his counsel file a Concise Statement of 

Errors Complained of on Appeal Pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b). The notice of appeal 

was erroneously sent to the Luzerne County District Attorneys Office and there was no 

response as to Defendant's concise statement of errors at filing of the opinion. 

Defendant's appeal issues are as follows: 

1. The Trial Court erred and abused its discretion in finding Mr . 

. Whalley guilty of indirect criminal contempt on violation· #6, 

when the alleged written statements in question were directed to 

an individual who was not a protected person under the PFA Act 

and the underlying PFA did not specifically prohibit contact with 

said individual. 

The December 29, 2015 final order PFA was entered after a Hearing conducted 

by the court and testimony presented. After a finding of abuse based upon the 

testimony and credibility determinations, the final PFA Order was entered as follows: 

• Defendant shall not abuse not abuse, stalk, harass, threaten or attempt to use 

physical force that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury to 

3 
Plaintiff or any other protected person in any place where they might be 

found. 

• Defenda. nt.is cos .. r.w. . ev.icted and excluded from the residence at illlffll11'f.lllilJl111il.. i . , 

• Except as provided in paragraph 5 of this order, Defendant is prohibited from 

having ANY CONTACT with Plaintiff, either directly or indirectly, or any other 

person protected under this order, at any location, including but not limited to 

any contact at Plaintiffs school, business, or place of employment. Defendant 

is specifically ordered to stay away from the following locations for the 

duration of this order: CVS, Carey Ave. 

• Expect as provided in paragraph 5 of this order, Defendant shall not contact 

Plaintiff, or any other person protected under this Order, by telephone or-by 

any other means, including through third persons. 

• 

. Temporary �us�ody of the mi_nor children. &II UIIJN.Jpand m £118 

..._.,sg1vent�. 

• The costs of this action are imposed on Defendant. 

• Because this order followed a contested proceedings, or a hearing at which 

Defendant was not present, despite being served with a copy of the petition, 

temporary order and notice of the date, time and place of the hearing, 

Defendant is ordered to pay an additional $100 surcharge to the court, which 

shall be distributed in the manner set forth in 23 Pa. C.S.A. §6106(d). 

• All provisions of this order shall expire in three (3) years, on 12/29/2018. 

ICC COMPLAINTS 

March 241 2016 VIOLATION #3 

In regard to Violation number three (3), Plaintiff received via US mail from 

Michael J. Whalley, who was currently an inmate at SCI Waymart. The letter showed a 

return address as: Michael J. Whalley, inmate number KG8064 F-2 bock, S.C.1. 

Waymart P.O. Box 256, Waymart. PA, 18474-0256, Inmate Mail PA Departments of 

Corrections. The letter was addressed to�

1 �Wt 1!11,tO:•••••••" --� The letter was five {5) pages long and covered both front and 

4 
letter were correspondence with/to Plaintiff 

numerous references to her. The letter also attempted to convince Plaintiff to return to a 

romantic relationship with Whalley. 

April 11, 2016 VIOLATION #4 

In regard to Violation number four (4), Plaintiff received correspondence via US 

mail from Michael J. Whalley, who was currently an inmate at SCI Waymart. The letter 

showed a return address as: Michael J. Whalley, inmate number KG8064 F-2 bock, 

S.C.I. Waymart P.O. Box 256, Waymart PA, 18474-0256, Inmate Mail PA Departments 

. ' 

� of Correct , � ,_· h • � ' �. I;. ·lf. . ions. The letter was addressed to lllml(Iand back. The contents of the letter with/to Plaintiff made numerous references to her. 

The contents of the letter attempted to convince Plaintiff to return to a romantic 

relationship with Whalley. 

April 18, 2016 VIOLATION #5 

In regard to Violation number five (5), Plaintiff received a letter via US mail from 

Michael J. Whalley, who was currently an inmate at SCI Waymart. The letter showed a 

return address as: Michael J. Whalley, inmate number KG8064 F-2 bock, S.C.I. 

Waymart P.O. Box 256, Waymart PA, 18474-0256, Inmate Mail PA Departments of 

�· The letter was seven (7) pages long and covered both front and 

back. The contents of the letter with/to Plaintiff made numerous references to her. The 

with Whalley. 

5 
April 18, 2016 VIOLATION #6 

In regard to Violation number six (6)

1 Plaintiff received a letter via US mail from 

Michael J. Whalley, who was currently an inmate at SCI Waymart. The letter showed a 

return address as: Michael J. Whalley, inmate number KG8064 F-2 bock, S.C.I. 

Waymart P.O. Box 256, Waymart PA, 18474-0256, Inmate Mail PA Departments of 

Corrections. The letter was addressed to .. lUl�I IU (-!1101 ltMI.Nllfl. 

. 

........,,and was received on April 14, 2016. The letter was thirty (30) 

pages long and covered both front and back. The contents of the letter with/to Plaintiff 

made numerous references to her. The contents of the letter attempted to convince 

1Jllll··to return to a romantic relationship with Whalley. 

ICC HEARING 

An Indirect Criminal Contempt hearing was held on June 2, 2016, before the 

Honorable Tina P. Gartley, pertaining to violation number three (3), four (4), five (5), and 

six (6), wherein Plaintiff was represented on behalf of the Commonwealth and 

Defendant was represented by Megan E. Anderson, Esquire. At the hearing, the 

Defendant, 1JIJUL ... 

an�, testified. 

-: 

�•JlllllWtestified thatshe was in a relationship with the Defendant for about 

six years and that they had two children together. She also noted for the record that she 

filed a Protection from Abuse Order that was put in effect in December. She then 

indicted that on March of 2015, she had received contact from the Defendant through 

letters. (N.T. pp. 7-8). 

6 
After she reviewed Commonwealth's Exhibit 1, an envelope with her address on 

it, she noted that she recognized Defendant's handwriting and confirmed that the 

address listed was Defendant's return address. She then reviewed the letter she found 

in the envelope in her mailbox and confirmed that she knew that the letter was 

addressed to her because "Whalley starts the letter off; to my beautiful dearest love of 

my life," which was one of the different ways the Defendant had addressed her 

previously. She testified that within the letter, the Defendant asked for forgiveness, and 

stated that he had known where she had been living all along but that he wanted to give 

her some space, so that is why he did not write. (N.T. pp. 8-10). 

After reviewing Commonwealth's Exhibit 2, Plaintiff confirmed that it was another 

enveloped addressed to her, dated April 1, 2016. She testified that within the envelope, 

she found another letter addressed to her that stated that he was mad at her for 

everything that was happening; that he loved her; he wanted her to give him another 

chance and that he is going to make her happy. (N.T. pp. 11-12). 

Upon review of Commonwealth's Exhibit 3, Plaintiff confirmed that it was another 

envelope addressed to her, dated April 7, 2016. She testified that the letter within the 

enveloped was from the Defendant and identified the handwriting as the Defendant's. 

She attested that Defendant asked her to take the children to visit his paternal 

grandparents on his behalf and also accused her of holding grudges and keeping their 

children from his grandparents. (N.T. pp. 12-13). 

In reviewing Commonwealth's Exhibit 5, she testified that it was a bigger 

enveloped addressed to her from Defendant dated April 14, 2016. She testified that 

throughout the letter the Defendant spoke about her new boyfriend, 111.lla, and 

7 
th ned did want her to with 

Plaintiff testified that she was very upset and distraught after repeatedly receiving 

letters from the Defendant (N.T. pp. 13-14). 

On cross-examine, she testified that she was concerned about threats because 

he did not seem to get that she did not want to be with him anymore and that no contact 

is no contact. (N.T. pp. 16-17). She noted as follows: 

There is no contact, period. He knows this, and he's aware of this, 

and still continues to write, and of course, I'm not going to write 

back. I'm not going to write back and say leave me alone. I'm going 

to give it to who I need to give it to, and that's it. I'll take the letters 

who I need to take the letters to. I'm not going to respond back. It 

seems like it's really upsetting him. And then for him to write the 

guy I'm with now and making threats and saying things in these 

letters, it's uncalled for. It's uncalled for. No contact is no contact. 

(N.T. p. 17). 

.. ' ... 

" ... --�t,..,!,a,.c.'.,_ ••• ,�

1--lf testified that he received a letter addressed to him from the 

Defendant. Defense Counsel then objected to the relevance of his testimony. 

Ms. Sperrazza: 

Defendant 

The Court: 

Your Honor, she asked why she's afraid of these 

letter. She said the threats that were made to 

her boyfriend who's living at the same house as 

she is, which are mentioned in the letters to her, 

how he's going to deal with the boyfriend. I think 

this is more than relevant. It's him showing her 

what he's going to do to any men in her life." 

(N.T. p. 18). 

Objection 

Sir, He says in a letter I'm reading that I wrote 

him letters threatening him. That letter says that 

·he wrote him a letter, and that, "when I see him 

he's going to need a wheel chair. Remember my 

nickname is Tyson. Remember what I did to the 

big guy at the Outsiders." He goes on and he 

actually acknowledges in these letters that he 

8 
Mr.' 

wrote threating letters to this person. So I will 

allow It" (N.T. p. 18). 

testified that he lives with--·and her two children. He also noted 

that he had received a letter from Mike Whalley, with threats of what he is going to do to 

him when he gets out. (N.T. pp. 19). 

Investigation that he was a part of during the time he received that letterl9ftestified 

that the threatening letters started back in December and that the ongoing investigation 

did not happen until March or April. (N.T. pp. 21-22). 

MICHAEL WHALLEY 

After review of Commonwealth's Exhibit 1, postage from 3/18/2016, the 

Defendant testified the following: 

Defendant: "Your honor, every piece of mail that I sent 

out is closely monitored and recorded in my 

monthly account statements along with cash 

slips that I have filed out that have to match 

the address on the enveloped. This envelope 

right here (indicating) that's dated 3/1-8 of 

2016, this is a 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7 -this is an 8- 

page letter, Your Honor, which would require 

me to pay postage at the DOC,· Now I have a 

cash slip here .. " (N.T. p. 25) 

Commonwealth: Your Honor, objection to any cash slips or 

records that are being presented by the 

Defendant They haven't been properly 

verified. He keeps talking about a business 

record that's recorded by the DOC. (N.T. p. 

25) 

The Court: ..... And there has to be a question in front of 

you as what's what. The simple question is, 

did you write these letters? (N.T. p. 2·5) 

9 
Defendant: No, Your Honor, I didn't and these account 

statements will prove that I did not because 

the postage will not match up with any of my 

posts - any of my mail that I sent out and 

who I sent it to. (N.T. p. 25) 

Thereafter, the Objection as to the documentation provided by the Defendant 

was sustained.

1 The Defendant then testified that he did not write any of the letters 

because none of the signatures were his. He further attested that he had reason to 

believe someone else penned the letters because he was getting out within two months 

and that they knew that once he did he was going to pursue criminal proceedings 

against Plaintiff. The basis of the criminal charges was that Plaintiff stole over four 

thousand eight hundred ($4,800.00) dollars out of his personal banking account. (N.T. 

p. 29). 

During cross-examination, the Defendant testified that someone else typed 

those envelops and that those envelopes were not like the ones he was given at SCI 

Waymart. The Defendant then testified to the names of his children, and confirmed that 

he was previously Plaintiff's fiance, just as signed in the letters. (N.T. p. 32). 

LAW AND ARGUMENT 

I. The Trial Court erred and abused its discretion in finding Mr. 

Whalley guilty of indirect criminal contempt on violation #6, when 

the alleged written statements in question were directed to an 

individual who was not a protected person under the PFA Act and 

the underlying PFA did not specifically prohibit contact with said 

individual. 

The Defendant alleges that the court erred and abused its discretion in finding 

him guilty of indirect criminal contempt on violation #6. Violation number six (6) was a 

1 Later on the court allowed the cash slips as Defendant's Exhibit. . (N.T. pp. 34-35). 

10 
letter from Michael J. Whaltey, who was currently an inmate at SCI Waymart. The letter 

showed a return address as: Michael J. Whalley, inmate number KG8064 F-2 bock, 

S.C.I. Waymart P.O. Box 256, Waymart PA, 18474-0256, Inmate Mail PA Departments 

of Corrections. The letter was addressed to JIJJ·lll-llflHrl •m--lM1· 

·�·The letter was thirty (30) pages long and covered both front and 

back. The contents of the letter were clearly a direct correspondence with/to�

which made numerous references to her. The contents of the letter were clearly an 

attempt to convince-to return to a romantic relationship with Defendant. 

Again and to clarify, ICC Number six pertains to a letter addressed to the Plaintiff 

from the Defendant at SCI Waymart received by Plaintiff on April 14, 2016. It is a thirty 

(30) page letter. 

The Defendant contends that he was charged for written statements directed to 

an individual who was not a protected person under the PFA Act and the underlying 

PFA did not specifically prohibit contact with said individual. The written statement the 

Defendant alleges he is being charged over was a five (5) page letter to-llJbl. 

The Defendant is clearly wrong. He was charged in ICC number six with 

correspondence from the Defendant directly to the Plaintiff. The confusion may be 

based upon Exhibit 6 at the ICC hearing, (Exhibit 6 is a letter from the Defendant to 

nor a basis for any ICC violation. Moreover no ICC was filed regarding--ldn 

that he is not a party to the PFA. 

Further two exhibits were marked #6, the second being an envelope addressed 

to Plaintiff from Defendant with the following noted on the back of the envelope: "Please 

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read this when your alone. Im (sic) really sorry Please don't be mad anymore Please 

forgive me for all the wrong Ive (sic) done. I regret my mistakes sweetheart." The record 

and criminal complaint clearly illustrates that violation number six (6) was for a thirty 

(30) page letter addressed to�

The Commonwealth noted the only letters they were addressing in the ICC filed 

were direct correspondence from the Defendant to the Plaintiff. 

Ms. Sperrazza: 

The Court: 

Mr. Whalley: 

The Court: 

Mr. Whalley: 

The Court: 

(N.T. pp. 35-37). 

Your Honor, the victim has testified and been able to identify 

both the address that they came from the DOC, where the 

Defendant is, that they were delineated with his inmate 

number and that they are, indeed, his handwriting. 

Furthermore, she's also been able to identify the way in 

which he addresses the multi-page letters that include 

information that he knows about their family, about their 

children, and about the situation that led to the PFA in and of 

itself. Of course he wrote these letters. He makes that clear 

within the nature of them and how he addresses his fiance 

andhow he signs them. 

Clearly, I've had an opportunity to review all the 

correspondence that are here. It's very personal. It's very 

detailed. It's disturbing. It's threatening. Unequivocally when 

it says in one of the letter, "Please stop being like this." "I 

forgave you. Why can't you forgive me?" "l love you. 

completely." "You're my everything." "For better or worse, 

until death does us part." "That's how deep our love runs," is 

concerning. 

Your Honor, I never wrote that. 

In the midst ofthese letters, there's photographs of you and your 

son that are attached to one of them. 

They were pulled off her Facebook, Your Honor. 

In letter No. 4 it says, "Write me a letter. Send it to me as iffm!M•�

'1mlwrote it to me, then you won't get in any trouble. I just want you 

b'a'ck. I'm trying to prove my love for you,lllllt Please start trusting 

me." 

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CONCLUSION 

As noted, ICC #6 was a letter from the Defendant to the Plaintiff. The letter to 

·�, listed as one of the Exhibits #6, and his testimony were not a separate 

ICC. They were offered by the Commonwealth in their case in chief regarding ICC 

violations 3,4,5 & 6. The finding of guilt regarding ICC #6 was based upon the thirty 

page correspondence received by Plaintiff After a thorough review of the submissions 

by the parties, the certified record, and relevant law, there is no substantive merit to 

Defendant's appeal. 

END OF OPINION 

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