Opinion ID: 2555770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Prior Homicide Convictions as Aggravating Factors

Text: In Issue 8, Appellant asserts that, because his prior three homicide convictions, in Clearfield, Schuylkill, and York counties, respectively, were invalid, they were improperly introduced during the penalty phase as evidence of the aggravating circumstances set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(9) and (d)(11), i.e., respectively, a significant history of violent felony convictions, and prior conviction of another murder. [23] Appellant's Brief at 9-12. Appellant further asserts that counsel was ineffective in failing to challenge the admissibility of the prior convictions during the penalty phase of trial or on direct appeal. Id. at 12. There is no legal basis for Appellant's claim. [24] This Court has expressly held that the term conviction means simply found guilty when used in the context of the aggravating circumstances set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d). Commonwealth v. Morales, 508 Pa. 51, 494 A.2d 367, 376 (1985) (citing Commonwealth v. Beasley, 505 Pa. 279, 479 A.2d 460, 464 (1984)). A collateral murder conviction is not divested of its character as an aggravating circumstance merely because it remains at the appeal stage. Id. at 376. Only if the conviction is overturned on appeal could an error ensue. Id.; Beasley, supra at 464. Appellant was convicted of the first-degree murder of June Ohlinger, in Schuylkill County, and Penny Gunnet, in York County, and this Court affirmed Appellant's judgment of sentence of death in each case. See Spotz I, 716 A.2d at 593; Spotz II, 756 A.2d at 1165. This Court also denied Appellant's appeal of the denial of PCRA relief in the Schuylkill County case. See Spotz V, 896 A.2d at 1250. Although the Superior Court initially reversed Appellant's conviction for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Dustin Spotz in Clearfield County, this Court reinstated that conviction. See Spotz IV, 870 A.2d at 837. Thus, none of Appellant's convictions has been overturned, and all were properly proffered and admitted as aggravating circumstances. Because there is no arguable merit to Appellant's underlying claim of error with regard to use of the convictions, counsel cannot be held ineffective for failing to object to their admission into evidence. Appellant's eighth issue is entirely lacking in merit.