Title: Com. v. Sanders
Citation: 303 Pa. Super. 139, 449 A.2d 617
Docket Number: N/A
State: Pennsylvania
Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Date: August 6, 1982

303 Pa. Superior Ct. 139 (1982) 449 A.2d 617 COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Lee SANDERS, a/k/a Lee Lawrence, Appellant. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Submitted April 22, 1981. Filed August 6, 1982. *140 Anthony D. Reagoso, Philadelphia, for appellant. Gaele McLaughlin Barthold, Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia, for Commonwealth, appellee. Before WICKERSHAM, MONTEMURO and WATKINS, JJ. WATKINS, Judge: This is an appeal by the defendant-appellant from the judgment of sentence of the Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, of Philadelphia County revoking probation and imposing a sentence of three to six (3 to 6) years to be served consecutively to a sentence imposed by Judge Porter in another matter. The defendant contends (1) ineffective assistance of counsel; (2) that he was denied a speedy revocation hearing; and (3) that he did not receive proper notice of the alleged violations of his probation prior to the revocation hearing. These contentions are without merit and we affirm the court below. The defendant was tried on June 20, 1974 before Judge Rosenberg, non-jury. He was found guilty of possessing an instrument of crime and robbery. He was sentenced on September 18, 1974 of a prison term of eight to twenty-three (8 to 23) months on the robbery charge and to a consecutive term of probation for seven (7) years on the possession of instrument of crime charge. *141 On April 4, 1976 he was arrested and charged with burglary. He was convicted of this crime by Judge William Proter, non-jury, on September 13, 1976. He was then sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one to five (1 to 5) years. On October 5, 1976, the defendant appeared before Judge Rosenberg for a violation of probation hearing based on the conviction. His probation was revoked and he was sentenced to a term of three to five (3 to 5) years. No direct appeal was taken. On July 5, 1979 after post conviction hearing, he was permitted to file an appeal, nunc pro tunc. The Gagnon II hearing is to insure against detention of a parolee or probationer on allegations of violations that have no foundation of probable cause. However, when the alleged violations of the terms of probation, as here, are the commission of a crime, the preliminary hearing at which the prosecution proves a prima facie case makes a Gagnon II hearing unnecessary. Commonwealth v. Perry, 254 Pa.Superior Ct. 48, 385 A.2d 518 (1978). A revocation hearing must be held "as speedily as possible". Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 1409. It must be held within a reasonable time. This issue was not raised at the revocation hearing. Commonwealth v. Reggie, 264 Pa. Superior Ct. 427, 399 A.2d 1125 (1979). Where there has been knowledge that another crime has been committed by the defendant probationer, it is sufficient that the court which imposed probation should act promptly after conviction. Commonwealth v. Williams, 254 Pa. Superior Ct. 202, 385 A.2d 979 (1978). Factors that are to be considered are: the length of delay; the reason for the delay; and the prejudice to the defendant. Commonwealth v. Smith, 266 Pa. Superior Ct. 234, 403 A.2d 1326 (1979). Reasonable promptness is required. Here there was a delay of three months. The defendant, however, has not pointed to any prejudice he may have suffered. This hearing was held as speedily as possible. Commonwealth v. Whitfield, 281 Pa. Superior Ct. 51, 421 A.2d 1142 (1980). *142 The question raised with regard to notice is without merit. In Commonwealth v. Quinlan, 488 Pa. 255, 412 A.2d 494 (1980). The Supreme Court held that the Commonwealth need not produce evidence of compliance with the notice requirement when compliance with the requirement has not been challenged at the hearing. Here the claim is that the record is silent as to notice not that the defendant did not receive it. "If the probationer cannot allege a defect in notice he has not alleged an injury, and it is superfluous to repeat the entire hearing or any part thereof for the sole purpose of detailing proof of compliance with an uncontested procedural matter." Id., 488 Pa. at 260-261, 412 A.2d 494. As the court below said in reference to notice: "the petitioner's brief states that he received the notice of the Gagnon II hearing and the detainer notice." The final contention is that his counsel was ineffective. The court below disposes of this in a rather long but interesting discussion of ineffectiveness of counsel as follows: We agree. The court below was correct in refusing to rule that defendant's counsel was ineffective. Judgment of sentence affirmed.