Opinion ID: 2377254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Allegations of Ineffectiveness

Text: In challenging both convictions, appellant makes several claims attacking the performances of trial counsel. Our examination of counsel's alleged ineffectiveness requires us first to determine whether the underlying claim is of arguable merit. Commonwealth v. Buehl, 510 Pa. 363, 378, 508 A.2d 1167, 1174 (1986). If the answer to that inquiry is in the affirmative, we must then determine whether the strategy chosen by counsel had a reasonable basis designed to effectuate the client's interest. Id. Finally, the defendant must show that he was harmed or prejudiced by counsel's ineffectiveness. Id. Should we determine that a claim has arguable merit but there has been no evidentiary hearing to determine if counsel had a reasonable basis for his actions, we will remand the case for an evidentiary hearing. Commonwealth v. Shablin, 362 Pa. Super. 289, 524 A.2d 511 (1987). Where it is clear, however, that the claim of ineffectiveness is meritless, there is no need to remand for a hearing. Id.
In both appeal No. 1492 and No. 1372, appellant raises a claim of ineffectiveness based upon trial counsel's alleged failure to investigate his alibi defense. In support of this claim, he offers his statement made at the sentencing hearing: During the time they said I was supposed to have robbed someone, I had been released from Central Pavilion Hospital. I had been robbed. I had contusions, bruised ribs. I wasn't even allowed to sleep for two days. My wife still has the papers to prove it. I couldn't even move around good. I still had bandages around me, and he wouldn't produce it for me. I asked him to call witnesses. He wouldn't call witnesses for me. Your Honor, all I'm saying is this: I didn't rob those people. (Notes of sentencing at 9.) At that same proceeding, appellant's mother testified as follows: I'm his mother, Judge McGregor, and he was, I can say, bandaged and bruised from being robbed himself the time that he was supposed to have robbed those people, and I gave (trial counsel) the proof, but he never used it. I gave him the papers. When he was in the Central Medical Pavilion up here being treated, I gave him those papers, but he never used it, and he was James' lawyer at the time. (Notes of sentencing at 10.) In short, appellant suggests that he, his mother, and possibly his wife could have presented an alibi defense. In seeking to establish that counsel was ineffective for failing to call or investigate witnesses, appellant must demonstrate (1) the names and whereabouts of these witnesses, (2) the substance of their testimony and (3) how they would have appreciably strengthened his defense. Moreover,. . . (appellant must show) (4) that his trial counsel knew of the existence of the witnesses who purportedly should have been called. Commonwealth v. Clemmons, 505 Pa. 356, 365, 479 A.2d 955, 959 (1984). See Commonwealth v. Mileshosky, 350 Pa.Super. 127, 133-34, 504 A.2d 278, 280-281 (1986), and cases cited therein; Commonwealth v. Polk, 347 Pa.Super. 265, 273, 500 A.2d 825, 829 (1985); Commonwealth v. Torres, 329 Pa.Super. 58, 68, 477 A.2d 1350, 1355 (1984). Based upon the statements presented at the sentencing proceeding, appellant has not satisfied the requirements of Clemmons. Certainly, by stating that trial counsel was aware of the previously identified witnesses, appellant established two of the prerequisites. Neither appellant nor his mother indicated, however, the substance of the alibi defense and how their testimony would have been helpful to appellant's case. Specifically, the statements of both fail to establish the whereabouts of appellant when the robberies occurred (appellant stated that he had been released from the hospital), or that he was physically incapable of committing the crimes (appellant stated he had contusions, bruised ribs while his mother stated he was bandaged and bruised). Even at this point in the proceedings, appellant fails to argue that the pursuit of an alibi defense would have been fruitful. Absent some basis for showing that the testimony would have been exculpatory, the statements fail to establish an alibi defense. See Commonwealth v. Pounds, 490 Pa. 621, 631, 417 A.2d 597, 602 (1980) ((a)libi is a defense that places the defendant at the relevant time in a different place than the scene involved and so removed therefrom as to render it impossible for him to be the guilty party.) (citation and quotation omitted). Moreover, because appellant has failed to explain that the Clemmons requirements would be satisfied if given a hearing on the matter, this claim of ineffectiveness must be rejected. See Commonwealth v. Pettus, 492 Pa. 558, 563, 424 A.2d 1332, 1335 (1981) (Counsel who is alleging ineffectiveness must set forth an offer to prove at an appropriate hearing sufficient facts upon which a reviewing court can conclude that trial counsel may have, in fact, been ineffective.); Commonwealth v. Molina, 358 Pa.Super. 28, 516 A.2d 752 (1986) (failure to make proper and adequate allegations rendered ineffectiveness claim patently frivolous). In support of his claim of ineffectiveness, appellant notes that our appellate courts have upheld claims of ineffectiveness where trial counsel failed to interview or investigate potential alibi witnesses. See Commonwealth v. Mabie, 467 Pa. 464, 359 A.2d 369 (1976); Commonwealth v. McCaskill, 321 Pa.Super. 266, 468 A.2d 472 (1983). Appellant's reliance on Mabie is misplaced. We have previously stated that: (Mabie) should not be indiscriminately expanded to require defense counsel upon threat of being declared ineffective, to interview all conceivable witnesses irrespective of the nature or extent of their potential information. Trial counsel's failure to interview potential witnesses will not be equated with ineffective assistance in the absence of a showing that his or her testimony would have advanced the fact finding process. Commonwealth v. Wallace, 347 Pa.Super. 248, 500 A.2d 816, 818 (1985), quoting, Commonwealth v. Barren, 273 Pa.Super. 492, 498-499, 417 A.2d 1156, 1159 (1979). See Commonwealth v. Polk, 347 Pa.Super. 265, 274-75, 500 A.2d 825, 830 (1985) (distinguishing Mabie ). Unlike the present case, the defendants in Mabie as well as McCaskill had presented a basis for a potentially meritorious alibi defense. Because appellant failed to substantiate or even allege a necessary factual basis in support of his alibi defense, we reject his claim of ineffectiveness.
Appellant's next challenge to the convictions in both No. 1492 and No. 1372 is an attack on counsel's alleged ineffectiveness for failing to object to the court's incomplete and erroneous jury instructions regarding the offense of robbery. In both cases, appellant was charged with robbery, 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 3701(a)(1)(ii), which provides as follows: Sec. 3701. Robbery (a) Offense defined.  (1) A person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of committing a theft, he: ..... (ii) threatens another with or intentionally puts him in fear of immediate serious bodily injury; At the trial in case No. 1372, the court issued the following instruction: Defendant has been charged with the crime of robbery in which he threatened bodily injury. In order to find the Defendant guilty of this crime, you must find that each of the elements of the crime have been established beyond a reasonable doubt. There are two elements. One, that the Defendant threatened (the victim) with or intentionally put him in fear of immediate bodily injury. Bodily injury is the impairment of physical condition or substantial pain. A person acts intentionally when it is his conscious object to cause a particular result. Two, that the Defendant so acted in the course of committing a theft. An act is done in the course of committing a theft if it occurs while committing a theft, in an attempt to commit a theft, or in flight after committing or attempting to commit a theft. (N.T. No. 1372, June 1-2, 1981 at 102-103). A substantially similar instruction was issued in case No. 1492. (N.T. No. 1492, June 3-4, 1981 at 128-129). The theft element was defined in neither instruction. Appellant claims that because theft is an essential element of robbery, trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the incomplete charges. It appears settled that where an instruction is issued regarding the offense of robbery, the theft element must be defined for the jury. In Commonwealth v. Robinson, 284 Pa.Super. 152, 425 A.2d 748 (1980), this Court examined and discussed a similar charge: The (trial) court charged: . . . Robbery is stealing under certain circumstances. If a victim has bodily injury inflicted upon him or is placed in fear of bodily injury during the theft, you have a robbery. The court, however, never defined theft. Thus, the jurors were ignorant of an element of the offense of robbery and could not properly convict appellant of robbery. Accordingly, we reverse appellant's conviction for robbery. Robinson, 284 Pa.Super. at 157, 425 A.2d at 750-751 (footnote omitted). Given the express holding of Robinson, we must conclude that appellant's claim of ineffectiveness has arguable merit. Further, we can conceive of no reasonable basis (and none is offered) for counsel's failure to object to the incomplete charge. Appellant is not, however, entitled to relief. The Robinson decision did not establish a per se rule of ineffectiveness. Rather, in order to obtain relief on a claim of ineffectiveness, the defendant must prove that counsel's failure to object to an instruction was prejudicial to his case. [1] Commonwealth v. Taylor, 362 Pa.Super. 408, 421, 524 A.2d 942, 949 (1987). See Buehl, 510 Pa. at 378, 508 A.2d at 1174. Appellant fails to argue or show that he was prejudiced by counsel's omission. Our examination of the record likewise fails to indicate any prejudice to appellant as a result of counsel's omission. Theft is defined as the unlawful taking of movable property of another with the intent to deprive him thereof. 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 3921. The jury was instructed that, pursuant to the robbery statute, (a)n act shall be deemed `in the course of committing a theft' if it occurs in an attempt to commit theft or in flight after the attempt or commission, 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 3701(a)(2). (N.T. No. 1492, June 3-4, 1981 at 129; N.T. No. 1372, June 1-2, 1981 at 103). In both cases, the juries heard compelling testimony that appellant, while wielding a handgun, obtained or attempted to obtain money and other items from the victims. Where the evidence clearly supports the omitted instruction, thereby leaving little room for speculation by the jury, this Court has held that the failure to define an element to the jury was not prejudicial error. See Commonwealth v. Ehrsam, 355 Pa.Super. 40, 59-60, 512 A.2d 1199, 1208-1209 (1986); Commonwealth v. Goins, 348 Pa.Super. 22, 501 A.2d 279 (1985); Commonwealth v. Mlinarich, 345 Pa.Super. 269, 287, 498 A.2d 395, 403-404 (1985) (en banc), allocatur granted, 512 Pa. 115, 516 A.2d 299 (1986). Cf. Commonwealth v. Waller, 322 Pa.Super. 11, 468 A.2d 1134 (1983) (clear misstatement of law was prejudicial). We add further that because the evidence clearly supports a finding of theft, appellant's reliance on Robinson is undermined. A close reading of Robinson reveals that the evidence presented there was conflicting; contrary to the victim's claim that the defendant had choked him in order to get his wallet, there was testimony that the defendant was separating the victim from another person who had attacked the victim. The crux of the matter in Robinson was whether a theft had even occurred; absent a precise definition of a theft, the jury was left to speculate in their decision making. Because there was an ample basis here which supports a finding of theft, we conclude that counsel's failure to object to the incomplete charge was not prejudicial to appellant's case. [2]
Appellant's third challenge in case No. 1372 is an attack on counsel's failure to object to the jury charge on the burden of proof. However, appellant failed to preserve this claim in a written post-verdict motion and, consequently, it is waived. Pa.R.Crim.P. 1123(a): See Commonwealth v. Gravely, 486 Pa. 194, 198-99, 404 A.2d 1296, 1298 (1979); Commonwealth v. Beckham, 349 Pa.Super. 430, 433, 503 A.2d 443, 444 (1986). We note parenthetically that this claim is meritless. At one point the trial court misstated the burden of proof and charged the jury to convict appellant even if they were not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant threatened George Douglas. (N.T. No. 1372, June 1-2, 1981, at 103.) We have carefully examined the entire charge and are satisfied that the court subsequently cured its misstatement and clarified the burden of proof for the jury.
In case No. 1492, appellant challenges the performances of trial and post-trial counsel for failing to object to a jury charge which allegedly added two crimes not charged in the information. [3] Specifically, appellant objects to the following excerpt from the charge: If after considering all the evidence you find that the Commonwealth has established beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements which I have stated you should find the defendant guilty of robbery in which he threatened to inflict serious bodily injury. If you are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant threatened to inflict serious bodily injury upon William Foglia and Gloria Amen, but are satisfied the Commonwealth has established beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant inflicted bodily injury upon William Foglia and Gloria Amen, and that he did so while in the course of committing a theft you should find the defendant guilty of robbery in which he inflicted bodily injury. (N.T. No. 1492 June 3-4, 1981, at 129) (emphasis added). Appellant asserts that the instruction authorized the jury to convict him of two additional crimes which were not charged in the information: (1) the robbery of Ms. Amen and (2) the robbery of Ms. Amen and Mr. Foglia pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 3701(a)(1)(i). [4] The information stated as follows: The actor, in the course of committing a theft, namely, taking $25.00 threatened William Foglia with immediate serious bodily injury or intentionally put that person in fear of serious bodily injury in violation of Section 3701(a)(1)(ii) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Act of December 6, 1972, 18 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3701(a)(1)(ii). The language of the information corresponds with a robbery provision, 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 3701(a)(1)(ii). In view of the instruction, the information was expanded when the jury was given the above charge regarding 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 3701(a)(1)(i). The error, however, was not fatal. In a similar case, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has held that a variance between the information and the jury charge was not prejudicial where the only evidence presented by the Commonwealth supported the charges listed in the information. Commonwealth v. Holcomb, 508 Pa. 425, 455-56, 498 A.2d 833, 848-849 (1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1150, 106 S.Ct. 1804, 90 L.Ed.2d 349 (1986). In this case, the information apprised appellant of the robbery charge pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(ii), and appellant had an adequate opportunity to prepare a defense to that charge. The Commonwealth's evidence proved only that charge; there was absolutely no evidence tending to prove that appellant inflicted bodily injury on Mr. Foglia or Ms. Amen pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(ii). Given the total absence of evidence of bodily injury, appellant was not prejudiced by the issuance of the incorrect instruction.