Court Opinion

ID: 9375744
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-28 18:06:51.693312+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:01.342487
License: Public Domain

J-S37029-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA             :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                          :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                          :
              v.                          :
                                          :
                                          :
 CHRISTOPHER BAJ                          :
                                          :
                    Appellant             :   No. 392 EDA 2022

         Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered December 29, 2021
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County Criminal Division
                    at No(s): CP-48-CR-0000834-2018

BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and OLSON, J.

MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.:                      FILED FEBRUARY 28, 2023

      Christopher Baj appeals from the order, entered in the Court of Common

Pleas of Northampton County, dismissing his petition filed pursuant to the Post

Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. Upon review, we

affirm.

      On December 29, 2018, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Mia Darling-Baj

(Darling) served Baj, her husband of 8 years, with divorce papers. N.T. Jury

Trial, 10/30/18, at 15-16. For the next few hours, the couple calmly discussed

how the divorce would impact their finances and their minor children, J.B. (age

7) and A.B. (age 4) (collectively, Children). Id. at 12, 17-19. Subsequently,

Baj went for walk with J.B., id. at 164, after which the Children were put to

bed. Id. at 165. Darling and Baj continued talking until Darling fell asleep at

approximately 12:00 a.m. Id. at 21. Thereafter, Baj began to “have vision

issues” and his “chest hurt.” Id. at 172. Baj then decided to take walk. Id.
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at 173. Prior to his walk, Baj testified that he holstered his firearm, which he

“frequently carries” and drank vodka, which “stabilized [him] a little bit.” Id.

at 173.

      Darling woke up when Baj walked upstairs, hitting the baby-gate at the

top of the steps. Id. at 26, 175. Darling testified that Baj was “standing in

front of the light switch trying to turn it on. . . . [he] kept swiping at the light

switch.” Id. at 28. Darling got out of bed, grabbed her phone and walked

toward the bathroom. Id. at 27-28. She saw Baj, his face pale, standing with

the firearm holstered in his gym shorts. Id. at 29-30. Darling went to reach

for the weapon, Baj swatted her hand away, and Darling locked herself in the

bathroom. Id. at 32-33. Darling testified that Baj fired his weapon three

times into the bathroom. Id. at 34. Baj testified that these shots were aimed

at the door handle as his goal was to unlock the bathroom door so that he and

Darling could continue discussing the divorce. Id. at 177. After the shots

were fired, Baj was able to push down the door. Id. at 38-39. Darling ran

out of the bathroom and out of the house. Id. at 39.

      Darling testified that on her way down the steps, J.B. was standing in

the doorway of his room. Darling testified that J.B. said, “Daddy?” Id. at 39.

Baj told J.B. to go back to bed. Id. The Children were sleeping in the rooms

adjacent to the master bedroom while the shooting occurred.              Id. at 22

(Darling testifying that J.B.’s room is visible from master bathroom and that

all bedrooms are upstairs); id. at 25 (Darling testifying that very narrow closet

separates A.B.’s room from master bedroom); see Com. Ex. 7, 14.

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       While in the bathroom, Darling had called the police, id. at 38, who

responded along with the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and a

hostage negotiator. The 911 call was played for the jury. Id. at 40.

       Investigator Anthony Stevens, employed by Bethlehem Township Police

Department arrived at the scene at around 3:00 a.m. and witnessed officers

on a “bull horn of sorts[,] trying to get [Baj] to come out [of the house]. Id.,

10/29/18, at 33, 35. At this point, Darling’s phone was also being used to call

Baj.   Id. at 41. Investigator Stevens testified that Darling “[told Stevens]

that she wants her kids, that her kids were inside the house, and they’re being

held hostage.” Id. at 35.

       Corporal John Chulock, employed by the Pennsylvania State Police,

arrived at the scene at approximately 5:00 a.m. Id. at 10/30/18, at 102.

Upon arriving, Chulock learned that the Children were still inside the

residence. Id. at 104. According to Chulock, this meant that it could turn

into a hostage situation at any time. Id. at 107. Chulock established the

following procedures: enter the house immediately if Baj enters either of the

Children’s rooms armed; do not allow Baj to exit the perimeter armed;

exhaust all means of non-deadly apprehension prior to the use of deadly force;

and protect the officers and any third parties. Id. at 104. Additionally, the

plan to get the Children safely out of the residence was as follows: “[L]eave

the kids [] in bed until [J.B] started moving around, at which time we’d start

talking to him via audio feed on the [nanny] camera,” and J.B. would wake up

A.B. and take him down the steps and out the front door. Id. at 112.

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      Although the Children were able to safely leave the home through the

front door, id. at 113, Stevens testified that Baj did not voluntarily release the

Children nor assist in the Children’s exit.     Id., 10/29/18, at 58.     Darling

testified that “guys with big guns and all their gear on ran by carrying two

little kids in pajamas with bare feet.” Id., 10/30/18, at 43. Chulock testified

that J.B. indicated that when he was leaving the residence, Baj was at the

table with his head down. Id. at 126.

      After the Children were removed from the house, police tried various

tactics to establish communication with Baj, none of which was successful.

Id. at 113-117. Tactics included calling Baj’s cell phone and home phone

numbers, id. at 113, using a loudspeaker to explain to Baj how police wanted

Baj to exit the home, id. at 115, and playing a tape recording of Darling

requesting a peaceful resolution of the situation. Id. at 115-116.      Although

Baj answered one of the phone calls, Baj could only be heard breathing and

crying. Id. at 114.

      In order to gain a visual into the home, police used a “rook” to take the

screen off the front door, break through the front door, and to break through

a window on the backside of the house. Id. at 116-17. Baj was seen moving

around the residence, id. at 125, and also sitting on a couch hugging a pillow

with a blanket on his lap. Id. at 119.

      Baj was removed from the home at approximately 12:00 p.m. on

October 30, 2018, id. at 121, almost nine hours after the situation began. To

remove Baj from the residence, police used a 40-millimeter baton, a foam

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launcher used to break windows, id. at 117, and then deployed a flashbang

through the window to divert Baj’s attention from the police.       Id. at 118.

Next, Baj was tased while the entry team entered the house through the front

door to apprehend him. Id. at 121.

        Thereafter, Investigator Stevens executed a search warrant for the

home. He testified that Baj’s 38-caliber Taurus was recovered from above a

cabinet over the kitchen refrigerator, in its holster, with two bullets remaining

inside. Id., 10/29/18, at 45-46, 48. Additionally, three 38-caliber bullets

were found in the bathroom. Id. at 42-43.

        On October 29, 2021, Baj proceeded to a jury trial with John Waldron,

Esquire, serving as counsel. On October 31, 2018, Baj was convicted1 of one

count each of aggravated assault,2 recklessly endangering another person3

and simple assault,4 and two counts of endangering the welfare of children

(EWOC).5       On December 6, 2018, Eric Dowdle, Esquire, entered his

____________________________________________

1 In addition, Baj was originally charged with two counts of recklessly
endangering another person (REAP) (his two sons) and attempted first-degree
murder. The trial court granted Baj’s pre-trial motion dismissing the two
counts of REAP, and the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the attempted
murder charge.

2   18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1).

3   Id. at § 2705.

4   Id. at § 2701(a)(2).

5   Id. at § 4304(a)(1).

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appearance as counsel to represent Baj at sentencing.6              On December 19,

2018, Baj was sentenced to an aggregate term of 6 years to 17 years’

incarceration.    Through Attorney Dowdle, Baj filed post-sentence motions,

which were denied.        On April 18, 2019, Alfred Stirba, Esquire, entered his

appearance as appellate counsel.               Baj filed a direct appeal to this Court

challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his convictions for

aggravated assault and simple assault.              This Court affirmed his sentence.

Commonwealth v. Baj, 237 A.3d 430 (Pa. Super. May 4. 2020) (Table)

(unpublished memorandum decision).

       Subsequently, Baj filed a timely pro se PCRA petition alleging that trial

counsel, Attorney Waldron, was ineffective. Thereafter, Matthew Deschler,

Esquire, was appointed as PCRA counsel.                    Attorney Deschler filed a

Turner/Finley no-merit7 letter on March 24, 2021, in which he set forth that,

in his professional opinion, Baj’s pro se petition raised meritless claims.

However, Attorney Deschler also identified new PCRA claims he believed had

merit, including the ineffectiveness of Attorneys Dowdle and Stirba for failing

to challenge the EWOC convictions, and that Baj’s simple assault and

____________________________________________

6 On the record at sentencing, the court stated that Attorney Waldron was no
longer serving as counsel, and that Attorney Dowdle had entered his
appearance. N.T. Sentencing, 12/19/18, at 1.
7Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988); Commonwealth v.
Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc).

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aggravated assault convictions should have merged for the purposes of

sentencing. Attorney Deschler also requested to withdraw.

       The PCRA court held hearings on May 6, 2021 and July 22, 2021 to allow

Baj to develop the record regarding the ineffectiveness claims.        At both

hearings, Baj was permitted to raise claims from his pro se petition and to

personally question prior counsel. At the May 6, 2021 hearing, the PCRA court

orally denied Attorney Deschler’s request to withdraw.      On May 18, 2021,

Attorney Deschler filed another motion to withdraw, to which the PCRA court

did not respond, believing that its prior denial of Attorney Deschler’s request

had been sufficient. Response to Order, 5/3/22, at 3.

       On August 11, 2021, Baj filed an amended pro se PCRA petition raising

various new issues. On August 30, 2021, Baj, through Attorney Deschler,

filed a counseled amended PCRA petition raising the issues Attorney Deschler

had identified in his no-merit letter. On December 29, 2021, the PCRA court

granted relief on the merger claim, found the claims in Baj’s amended pro se

petition waived and/or meritless, and denied relief on all other claims. Baj

filed a timely notice of appeal to this Court.

       On April 4, 2021, this Court ordered clarification as to whether Attorney

Deschler remained as counsel on appeal, and, if Baj wished to proceed pro se,

directed the PCRA court to hold a Grazier8 hearing. The PCRA court held a

hearing on April 29, 2022, at which time Baj clearly expressed that he wanted

____________________________________________

8   Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81, 82 (Pa. 1998).

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Attorney Deschler to remain as counsel and, accordingly, the court denied

Attorney Deschler’s request to withdraw.

      The following claims are now ripe for our review.

      1. Did the [PCRA] court err and/or abuse its discretion by failing
         to grant [Attorney Deschler’s] request to withdraw as counsel
         for Baj, which operated to deny Baj the ability to raise those
         matters that Baj wished to raise before the [PCRA c]ourt but
         that [Attorney Deschler] believed to be without merit?

      2. Did the [PCRA c]ourt err and/or abuse its discretion by failing
         to find that Attorneys Dowdle and Striba were ineffective for
         failing to challenge Baj’s convictions for [EWOC] based upon
         insufficient evidence?

      3. Did the [PCRA c]ourt err and/or abuse its discretion by failing
         to find that Attorney Dowdle was ineffective for failing to
         challenge Baj’s convictions for [EWOC] on the ground that the
         convictions were against the weight of the evidence?

Appellant’s Brief, at 4.

      Our review of the denial of a PCRA petition is well-settled:

      [O]ur scope of review is limited by the parameters of the act. Our
      standard of review permits us to consider only whether the PCRA
      court’s determination is supported by the evidence of record and
      whether it is free from legal error. Moreover, in general we may
      affirm the decision of the [PCRA] court if there is any basis on the
      record to support the [PCRA] court’s action; this is so even if we
      rely on a different basis in our decision to affirm.

Commonwealth v. Heilman, 867 A.2d 542, 544 (Pa. Super. 2005)

(quotations and citations omitted).

      Baj first contends that the PCRA court erred where, on May 6, 2021, it

denied Attorney Deshler’s request to withdraw rather than holding a Grazier

hearing. Baj claims that, although he would have preferred an attorney, he

wished to proceed pro se if Attorney Deschler would not raise the claims Baj

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wished to raise. Baj also argues that in failing to hold a Grazier hearing, and

then permitting Baj to proceed through hybrid representation, his claims were

waived. Appellant’s Brief, 11-13. Baj is entitled to no relief.

      Pursuant to Grazier, the court must conduct an on-the-record colloquy

where there is a “timely and unequivocal request” to proceed pro se. Grazier,

713 A.2d at 82. In Commonwealth v. Davido, 868 A.2d 431 (Pa. 2005),

our Supreme Court determined that where a defendant’s request was posed

as an alternative if he was not afforded new counsel, the defendant did not

invoke his right to proceed pro se, and, therefore, a Grazier hearing was not

required.   Id. at 438, 440.     The Davido Court deemed the request a

“bargaining device, rather than a clear demand for self[-]representation.” Id.

at 440.

      Instantly, during the May 6, 2021 hearing, Baj did not unequivocally

state that he wished to proceed pro se. Rather, Baj requested new appointed

counsel.

      Baj: Your Honor, also, [Attorney] Deschler stated to me that he
      would withdraw. I think I need to have him withdraw, in order for
      an attorney to be appointed for me.

      Court: No. I am not going to appoint someone else. You only
      get one appointment. You got a very competent and intelligent
      attorney, who is very diligent.    That’s all you get, one
      appointment.

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N.T. PCRA Hearing, 5/6/21, at 45.9              Similar to Davido, Baj’s request was

posed as an alternative, where he sought the appointment of new counsel.

Thus, the PCRA court did not err in failing to hold a Grazier hearing at this

time. Subsequently, at the April 29, 2022 hearing,10 Baj clearly indicated that

he did not wish to proceed pro se. Indeed, Baj stated “I con[cur] with the

[c]ourt denying [Attorney] Deschler’s motion to withdraw, and that it is my

understanding that [Attorney Deschler] will continue to represent me.” N.T.

Hearing, 4/29/22, at 7.

       Further, Baj’s claims were not waived when the PCRA court erroneously

permitted hybrid representation.11             In Commonwealth v. Williams, 151
____________________________________________

9 In Baj’s pro se supplemental brief, which was ordered by the court at the
May 6, 2021 hearing, Baj framed the court’s denial of this request for different
appointed counsel as a denial of a request to retain a private attorney. Pro se
Supplemental Brief, 6/6/21, at 1, 3. This interpretation is not supported by
the record.

10Responding to our April 4, 2022 order, the PCRA court stated, “the Superior
Court filed its remand order with a directive to conduct a Grazier proceeding.”
Response to Order, 5/3/22, at 6. We note that our order was not to compel
the PCRA court to hold a Grazier hearing. Rather, it directed the PCRA court
to clarify whether Attorney Deschler remained as counsel and take the steps
necessary in this regard, which may have included holding a Grazier hearing.

11 Baj argues that the PCRA court erred in permitting Baj to proceed through
hybrid representation. Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 121(g) limits
a counseled party’s ability to file documents on his or her own behalf.

       Hybrid representation.— Where there is counsel of record, a party
       may file only the following documents pro se: (i) a notice of
       appeal; (ii) a request to change or remove counsel; (iii) a
       response to a motion to withdraw that has been filed by counsel
       of record; (iv) a complaint that existing counsel has abandoned
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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A.3d 621 (Pa. Super. 2016), this Court stated that “will not accept a pro se

motion while a [defendant] is represented by counsel; indeed, pro se motions

have no legal effect and, therefore, are legal nullities.”            Id. at 623.

Accordingly, any determination the PCRA court made regarding Baj’s pro se

claims is of no consequence because Baj’s pro se filings were, in fact, legal

nullities.

       In light of the foregoing, the PCRA court did not err in failing to hold a

Grazier hearing on May 6, 2018, and Baj’s pro se claims were not waived.

       Baj next claims that Attorney Dowdle, who filed Baj’s post-sentence

motion, and Attorney Striba, who represented Baj on direct appeal, were

ineffective for failing to challenge Baj’s convictions for EWOC based on

insufficiency of the evidence.

       One avenue of relief under the PCRA is to demonstrate “ineffective

assistance of counsel which, in the circumstances of the particular case, so

undermined the truth-determining process that no reliable adjudication of

guilt or innocence could have taken place.”         42 Pa.C.S.A. 9543(a)(2)(ii).

____________________________________________

       the party; or (v) an application to file a petition for allowance of
       appeal nunc pro tunc. Any other document that a party attempts
       to file pro se will be noted on the docket but not accepted for filing.
       This rule is not intended to provide an independent basis for
       jurisdiction where it does not otherwise exist.

Pa.R.A.P. 121(g). Accordingly, Baj’s various pro se filings should have been
sent directly sent to Attorney Deschler. See Commonwealth v. Mason, 130
A.3d 610, 671 (Pa. 2015) (pro se filings shall be sent directly to counsel who
may then decide whether to act on the defendant’s concern).

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Counsel is presumed to be effective, and “the burden of demonstrating

ineffectiveness rests on [the] appellant.”     Commonwealth v. Rivera, 10

A.3d 1276, 1279 (Pa. Super. 2010).

      To satisfy this burden, an appellant must plead and prove by a
      preponderance of the evidence that: (1) his underlying claim is
      of arguable merit; (2) the particular course of conduct pursued by
      counsel did not have some reasonable basis designed to effectuate
      his interests; and, (3) but for counsel’s ineffectiveness there is a
      reasonable probability that the outcome of the challenged
      proceeding would have been different. Failure to satisfy any prong
      of the test will result in rejection of the appellant’s ineffective
      assistance of counsel claim.

Commonwealth v. Holt, 175 A.3d 1014, 1018 (Pa. Super. 2017) (internal

citations omitted).

      This Court’s review of sufficiency claims is well-settled:

      When reviewing challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, [this
      Court] evaluates the record in the light more favorable to the
      Commonwealth as verdict winner, giving the prosecution the
      benefit of all reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence.
      Evidence will be deemed sufficient to support the verdict when it
      establishes each material element beyond a reasonable doubt.
      However, the Commonwealth need not establish guilt to a
      mathematical certainty, and it may sustain its burden by means
      of wholly circumstantial evidence. In addition, the court may not
      substitute its judgment for that of the fact finder, and where the
      record contains support for the convictions, they may not be
      disturbed. Lastly, the finder of fact is free to believe some, all, or
      none of the evidence presented.

Commonwealth v. Smith, 146 A.3d 257, 261-62 (Pa. Super. 2016)

(quotations and citations omitted).

      The offense of EWOC is denied as follows:

      A parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a
      child under 18 years of age, or a person that employs or

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      supervises such a person, commits an offense if he knowingly
      endangers the welfare of the child by violating a duty of care,
      protection[,] or support.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304(a)(1).     Our Supreme Court has stated that statutes

protecting juveniles are “basically protective in nature” and, thus, “cover a

broad range of conduct in order to safeguard the welfare and security of our

children.” Commonwealth v. Mack, 359 A.2d 770, 772 (Pa. 1976), quoting

Commonwealth v. Marlin, 305 A.2d 14, 18 (Pa. 1972). “Whether particular

conduct falls within the purview of the statute is to be determined within the

context of the common sense of the community.”           Commonwealth v.

Retkofsky, 860 A.2d 1098, 1099 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citations omitted).

      Baj argues that “[t]here is no evidence he actually, much less knowingly,

endangered either of his children” when he fired a gun at his wife through the

bathroom door of their master bedroom, while the children were asleep in

their rooms. Appellant’s Brief, at 16-17. This claim is meritless.

      Pennsylvania courts have established a three-part test to determine

whether a defendant acted knowingly with regard to the crime of EWOC.

      1. The [defendant] was aware of his[] duty to protect the child;

      2. The [defendant] was aware that the child [was] in
         circumstances that could threaten the child’s physical or
         psychological welfare; and

      3. The [defendant] has either failed to act or has taken action so
         lame or meager that such actions cannot reasonably be
         expected to protect the child’s welfare.

Commonwealth v. Bryant, 57 A.3d 191, 197 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations

and brackets omitted).

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       First, Baj is a parent and, thus, is aware that he has a duty to protect

his Children.    “A parent is charged with the duty of care and control, and

subsistence and education necessary for the child’s physical, mental and

emotional health and morals.” Commonwealth v. Barnhart, 497 A.2d 616,

620-21 (Pa. Super. 1985); see Commonwealth v. Foster, 764 A.2d 1076,

1082 (Pa. Super. 1999) (“every parent [] has a duty of care to their child”).

       Second, Baj was aware his Children were in circumstances that

threatened their physical and psychological welfare. Baj’s argument that “the

[] children were elsewhere in the large residence at the time [the shots were

fired],” Appellant’s Brief, at 16, misrepresents the facts.      Although the

residence may be large and the Children were not in the same room into which

the shots were fired, Baj knew the Children were home and in their bedrooms

that are adjacent to the master bedroom. N.T. Jury Trial, 10/30/18, at 22,

29; Commonwealth v. Whitfield, 260 A.3d 129, *14-15 (Pa. Super. filed

July 9, 2021)12 (unpublished memorandum decision) (evidence sufficient to

prove EWOC where “bullet easily could have gone through the ceiling to where

his son was sleeping instead [of toward its intended target]”). Moreover, Baj

had consumed alcohol and was walking around the home, see N.T. Jury Trial,

10/30/18, at 125, with a loaded firearm. Id. at 147 (Baj testifying that he

was a “little hazy from the effects of the vodka”); id. at 173, 176 (Baj had

____________________________________________

12 See Pa.R.A.P. 126 (unpublished non-precedential memorandum decisions
of Superior Court filed after May 1, 2019 may be cited for persuasive value).

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“holstered his firearm” before going for a walk and it remained holstered when

he returned to his bedroom).

      Third, Baj failed to take “steps reasonably calculated to achieve success”

in protecting his Children. Commonwealth v. Cardwell, 515 A.2d 311, 315-

16 (Pa. Super. 1986) (evidence sufficient to prove EWOC where mother took

no “concrete steps” to remove daughter from home where sexual abuse was

ongoing). Here, Baj argues that the Children were unharmed because they

were sleeping in their bed throughout the incident and then exited the house

through the front door without any interference from Baj. Appellant’s Brief,

at 18. However, the record shows that Baj failed to take steps reasonably

calculated to protect his Children when he fired a gun in the room adjacent to

where the Children were sleeping and merely told J.B. to go back to sleep

when he woke up during the incident. Moreover, Baj took no concrete steps

to get the Children safely out of the home. See Cardwell, supra.

      In light of the foregoing, Baj’s sufficiency claim lacks arguable merit and,

thus, the PCRA court did not err in determining that counsel was not ineffective

for failure to raise it on appeal. Holt, supra.

      Baj next contends that Attorney Dowdle was ineffective for failing to

challenge his EWOC convictions on weight of the evidence grounds. Baj is

afforded no relief.

      “Counsel will not be deemed ineffective if any reasonable basis exists

for his or her actions.” Commonwealth v. Loner, 836 A.2d 125 (Pa. Super.

2003). Additionally, “[c]ourts should not deem counsel’s strategy or tactic

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unreasonable unless it can be concluded that an alternative not chosen offered

a potential for success substantially greater than the court actually pursued.”

Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 133 (Pa. 2012).               Moreover, in

Commonwealth v. Showers, 782 A.2d 1010 (Pa. Super. 2001), our Court

stated, “it is the obligation of appellate counsel to present issues, in counsel’s

professional judgment, go for the jugular, and [to] not get lost in a mound of

other colorable, nonfrivolous issues which are of lesser merit.” Id. at 1016.

      Instantly, Attorney Dowdle explained his decision to forgo raising a

weight of the evidence claim:

      As I discussed earlier, the weight [of the evidence argument]
      normally does not work, number one. And number two, the issue
      here is one where, as I have said before, you have children
      sleeping in their beds, while their father is drunk with a handgun
      and passes out at the dining room table [] as the [SERT] is
      breaking windows and beginning an assault on the house. You’re
      not getting anywhere with that.

N.T. PCRA Hearing, 7/22/21, at 12. Additionally, Attorney Dowdle stated that

he does “not ever try to raise issues that have very little merit.” Id. at 13.

Here, Attorney Dowdle chose to forgo raising an issue that he believed was of

very little merit in order to not “blunt [the] argument with regard to [the

issues] that matter, id. at 13, and, thus, presented a reasonable basis for his

actions. Loner, supra.

      Accordingly, because Attorney Dowdle had a reasonable basis for his

particular course of conduct, the PCRA court did not err in determining that

counsel was not ineffective for failure to raise a weight of the evidence

argument. Holt, supra.

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     We conclude that the record supports the PCRA court’s findings.

Heilman, supra. Accordingly, we affirm the PCRA court’s order.

     Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/28/2023

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