Court Opinion

ID: 4548760
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-07-16 17:10:48.525661+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:00.301081
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    MICHAEL ERIC DRAKE,                        :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :      No. 1359 EDA 2019

               Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered April 12, 2019
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0012343-2011

BEFORE: BOWES, J., McCAFFERY, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                                 Filed: July 16, 2020

        Michael Eric Drake (“Drake”) appeals from the Order dismissing his first

Petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”).

See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.

        In November 2010, Drake violently raped a woman whom he had met

at a bar (the “Complainant”). On August 8, 2013, a jury convicted Drake, in

absentia,1 of aggravated assault, rape by forcible compulsion, sexual assault,

and indecent assault by forcible compulsion.2 The trial court sentenced Drake

to an aggregate term of 20 to 40 years in prison. This Court subsequently

affirmed Drake’s judgment of sentence, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

____________________________________________

1 In its Opinion, the PCRA court explained that Drake “was tried in absentia
after he failed to appear for jury selection without cause on August 5, 2013.”
PCRA Court Opinion, 8/14/19, at 1 n.1.

2   18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702(a)(1), 3121(a)(1), 3124.1, 3126(a)(2).
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denied allowance of appeal. See Commonwealth v. Drake, 122 A.3d 1136

(Pa. Super. 2015) (unpublished memorandum), appeal denied, 128 A.3d

1205 (Pa. 2015).

      On April 18, 2016, Drake, pro se, filed the instant, timely PCRA Petition,

alleging that his trial counsel, William Chris Montoya, Esquire (“Attorney

Montoya”), provided ineffective assistance. The PCRA court appointed Drake

counsel, who filed an Amended PCRA Petition on his behalf. Drake, through

counsel, also filed a Supplemental PCRA Petition.

      On January 11, 2018, the Commonwealth filed a Motion to Dismiss

Drake’s PCRA Petition, asserting that his claims lacked merit.

      Drake filed a Motion for Discovery on May 31, 2018, seeking information

pertaining to the Complainant’s arrest, and subsequent guilty plea to

prostitution, which occurred during the pendency of the PCRA proceedings in

this instant case. According to Drake, this information would support his trial

theory, i.e., that Drake had hired the Complainant for sex in exchange for

drugs. The Commonwealth filed an Answer. The PCRA court denied Drake’s

Motion for Discovery.

      Following a hearing on April 12, 2019, the PCRA court dismissed Drake’s

Petition. Drake filed a timely Notice of Appeal and a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) Concise Statement of errors complained of on appeal.

      On appeal, Drake raises the following issues for our review:

      1. Did the [PCRA c]ourt err when it denied [Drake’s] [M]otion for
      discovery regarding the Complainant’s criminal history?

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      2. Did the [PCRA c]ourt err when it dismissed [Drake’s] PCRA
      claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object, move
      for a mistrial, or request curative instructions when the
      Complainant exposed the jury to prior bad acts testimony and
      other inflammatory and prejudicial remarks?

      3. Did the [PCRA c]ourt err when it dismissed [Drake’s] PCRA
      claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate or
      call Keisha Palmer [(“Palmer”)] as a witness?

Brief for Appellant at 4.

             We review an order dismissing a petition under the PCRA in
      the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the PCRA level.
      This review is limited to the findings of PCRA court and the
      evidence of record. We will not disturb a PCRA court’s ruling if it
      is supported by evidence of record and is free of legal error.

Commonwealth v. Rykard, 55 A.3d 1177, 1183 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations

omitted).

      In his first claim, Drake argues that the trial court erred in denying his

Motion for Discovery regarding the Complainant’s prior criminal history. Brief

for Appellant at 9.    Drake specifically sought information relating to the

location of the Complainant’s arrests, as well as her real name. Id.; see also

id. (stating that Drake filed the Motion for Discovery “after realizing that the

Complainant had probably testified under an assumed name after a search of

her criminal background.”). According to Drake, he told Attorney Montoya

that he had met the Complainant at the Blue Moon Hotel. Id. at 10-11. Drake

believes that the Complainant’s other arrests occurred at the same location,

and claims that this information would support his theory of the case, i.e., that

he had paid the Complainant for sex. Id. at 11-12. Drake also argues that

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he was unable to fully investigate the Complainant’s criminal background if

she had been using a false identity. Id. at 12.

       Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 902(E)(1) prohibits discovery

during collateral proceedings, “except upon leave of court after a showing of

exceptional circumstances.” Pa.R.A.P. 902(E)(1). “We review the denial of a

discovery request in post-conviction proceedings for an abuse of discretion.”

Commonwealth v. Hanible, 30 A.3d 426, 452 (Pa. 2011).

       Initially, we observe that Drake does not argue in his appellate brief that

he demonstrated “exceptional circumstances” before the PCRA court.           See

Pa.R.A.P. 902(E)(1). The PCRA court concluded that the information Drake

sought to obtain was not relevant because the Complainant’s arrests occurred

after the rape underlying the instant case.3 See PCRA Court Opinion, 8/14/19,

at 6. We agree. Even assuming the Complainant’s arrest records proved that

her arrests took place at the Blue Moon Hotel, such evidence would not prove

____________________________________________

3 The PCRA court points out that Drake specifically sought evidence of the
Complainant’s arrests to demonstrate her pattern of working as a prostitute
at the Blue Moon Hotel. See PCRA Court Opinion, 8/14/19, at 7. Accordingly,
the PCRA court also aptly concluded that, even if the Complainant’s arrest had
occurred prior to rape in the instant case, such evidence would be prohibited
under the Rape Shield Law, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3104(a). See PCRA Court Opinion,
8/14/19, at 6-8 (citing Commonwealth v. Guy, 868 A.2d 397, 401-02 (Pa.
Super. 1996) (concluding that victim’s history of solicitation was protected by
Rape Shield Law, where appellant, as part of a consent defense, sought to
introduce the victim’s sexual history to show that she acted in conformity with
past behavior)).

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that the Complainant had not been raped. Therefore, we discern no abuse of

discretion in the PCRA court’s denial of Drake’s Motion for Discovery.

      Drake’s second and third claims challenge the effectiveness of his trial

counsel.

             It is well-established that counsel is presumed to have
      provided effective representation unless the PCRA petition pleads
      and proves all of the following: (1) the underlying legal claim is
      of arguable merit; (2) counsel’s actions or inaction lacked any
      objectively reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s
      interest; and (3) prejudice, to the effect that there was a
      reasonable probability of a different outcome if not for counsel’s
      error. The PCRA court may deny an ineffectiveness claim if the
      petitioner’s evidence fails to meet a single one of these prongs.
      Moreover, a PCRA petitioner bears the burden of demonstrating
      counsel’s ineffectiveness.

Commonwealth v. Franklin, 990 A.2d 795, 797 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citations

omitted).

      In his second claim, Drake contends that Attorney Montoya was

ineffective for failing to object, move for a mistrial, or request a curative

instruction “when the Complainant brought up false prior bad acts information

and multiple prejudicial statements.” Brief for Appellant at 13-14, 21. Drake

cites an exchange during which Attorney Montoya asked the Complainant if

she knew Drake, and the Complainant responded, “I know he is the person

that raped me. I did not know him. I know him from pointing him out in

pictures to police officers and believing that he has a previous past of it, from

what the officer is saying.” Id. at 16 (citing N.T. (Trial), 8/6/13, at 118).

According to Drake, the Complainant’s statement was more than a “passing

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reference,” and that counsel should have objected, or requested a curative

instruction or mistrial.   Id. at 16-17. Drake points out that he had never

previously been convicted of sexual offenses.        Id. at 17-18.    Additionally

Drake claims that Attorney Montoya continuously allowed the Complainant to

“lash out with inflammatory outbursts to cow him into retreat.” Id. at 18.

      “In the context of an ineffectiveness claim, counsel’s failure to request

a cautionary instruction regarding evidence of other crimes or prior bad acts

does not constitute per se ineffectiveness….” Commonwealth v. Weiss, 81

A.3d 767, 798 (Pa. 2013). “With regard to the reasonable basis prong of this

test, it is incumbent upon the petitioner to demonstrate that counsel’s chosen

course of action had no reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s

interests.” Id.

      Additionally “[m]istrials should be granted only when an incident is of

such a nature that its unavoidable effect is to deprive appellant of a fair trial.”

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 815 A.2d 563, 576 (Pa. 2002) (citation and

quotation marks omitted).

      A mistrial is warranted when a juror could reasonably infer from
      the facts presented that the accused had engaged in prior criminal
      activity. When the statement at issue relates to a reference to
      past criminal behavior, the nature of the reference and whether
      the remark was intentionally elicited by the Commonwealth are
      considerations relevant to the determination of whether a mistrial
      is required.

Commonwealth v. Parker, 957 A.2d 311, 319 (Pa. Super. 2008) (internal

citations, quotation marks, and brackets omitted).

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     Here, the statement to which Drake objects was not intentionally elicited

by the Commonwealth, and in fact, the statement was made in response to a

question asked by Attorney Montoya. See PCRA Court Opinion, 8/14/19, at

13 (stating that the Commonwealth did not intentionally elicit the statement;

the Complainant’s answer was not responsive to the question posed; and the

Commonwealth did not exploit the reference); see also Parker, supra. Our

review of the record discloses that the entire exchange occurred as follows:

     [Attorney Montoya]: Ma’am, you said that you didn’t know him,
     right?

     [The Complainant]: I know he is the person that raped me. I did
     not know him. I know him from pointing him out in pictures to
     police officers and believing that he has a previous past of it, from
     what the officer is saying.”

     The Court: Ms. …--

     [The Complainant]: Can it just be over with?

     The Court: Ms. …, you need to answer the question, which is, Did
     you know him?

     [The Complainant]: No, I did not know him.

N.T. (Trial), 8/6/13, at 118. Thus, the record confirms that the Complainant

made only a passing statement, and that the trial court refocused the

Complainant’s testimony.      See PCRA Court Opinion, 8/14/19, at 13

(explaining that Attorney Montoya believed that “a curative instruction would

have unduly called attention to evidence that was only made in passing and

not in response to any question posed to [the Complainant].” (citing N.T.

(PCRA Hearing), 4/12/19, at 33-48)).

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      The record supports the PCRA court’s conclusion that Drake’s underlying

claim lacks arguable merit, and we otherwise discern no error by the PCRA

court. See Rykard, supra. Accordingly, we cannot grant Drake relief on this

claim.

      In his third claim, Drake asserts that Attorney Montoya was ineffective

for failing to investigate or call Palmer, a woman who lived across the street

from Drake, as a witness at trial.     Brief for Appellant at 22.    Drake cites

Palmer‘s testimony at the evidentiary hearing as evidence that she was willing

and able to testify in his defense at trial. Id. at 23; see also id. (stating that

Palmer had provided a statement at the time of the offense). According to

Drake,

      [Palmer’s] testimony was crucial to the defense case because she
      was the only witness besides the Complainant and [Drake] to see
      any of the events prior to the arrival of police. [Palmer] had
      crucial factual information that the Complainant smashed the
      windows after [Drake] left the home and contradicted the
      Complainant’s claim that she jumped out of a window to escape.
      This buttressed the defense theory that the damage to the house
      was because the Complainant became enraged instead of being
      purely defensive wounds.

Id. Drake also argues that Palmer’s testimony could have provided additional

context to evidence presented at trial. Id. at 24.

      A petitioner claiming ineffectiveness based on counsel’s failure to call a

potential witness

      satisfies the performance and prejudice requirements of the
      [ineffectiveness] test by establishing that:     (1) the witness
      existed; (2) the witness was available to testify for the defense;
      (3) counsel knew of, or should have known of, the existence of

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      the witness; (4) the witness was willing to testify for the defense;
      and (5) the absence of the testimony of the witness was so
      prejudicial as to have denied the defendant a fair trial.

Commonwealth v. Sneed, 45 A.3d 1096, 1108-09 (Pa. 2012). Additionally,

“[a] failure to call a witness is not per se ineffective assistance of counsel[,]

for such decision usually involves matters of trial strategy.”      Id. at 1109

(citation omitted).

      Palmer testified at the evidentiary hearing via videoconference. Palmer

recalled that she lived across the street from Drake at the time of the incident

in November 2010. N.T. (PCRA Hearing), 4/12/19, at 5. Additionally, Palmer

acknowledged that she was an eyewitness to the events, and that she

completed a witness statement that night. Id. at 5-6. After some apparent

confusion on the part of Palmer, she asked to see the copy of her witness

statement and explained, “I had an accident where I was shot [in the head in

2012;] I can’t remember everything. My memory is like really off.” Id. at 7;

see also id. (wherein Palmer’s witness statement was admitted into evidence

as Exhibit D-1).      Referencing her witness statement, Palmer testified that

when the police responded, the Complainant told them that she had been

raped. Id. at 8, 9. Palmer stated that she was never contacted by Attorney

Montoya, nor did she receive a trial date or subpoena. Id. at 11, 15.

      Attorney Montoya also testified at the evidentiary hearing.       Attorney

Montoya testified that he had spoken to Palmer, and that he sent her two

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subpoenas. Id. at 26. Regarding his decision not to call Palmer as a witness,

Attorney Montoya stated as follows:

              I believed at the time [] Palmer had given a statement. And
      she said that this lady had come out. Was breaking windows. And
      she said that she had told the police erroneous information. But
      the thing that struck me was that she said that [] a question that
      the detective had asked her was, Did she ever hear the
      [C]omplainant say the word rape? And she said, Yes. That’s the
      first time I heard. And she said that she was raped when she was
      talking to the officers. And again, when I talked to her, I said, I
      don’t think it’s in your best interest.

Id. at 47; see also id. at 48 (wherein Attorney Montoya explained that he

believed it was more prudent for the “defense to lie on [the Complainant’s]

credibility.”).

      Based upon the testimony presented at the evidentiary hearing, the

PCRA court concluded that Attorney Montoya had a reasonable strategic basis

for not calling Palmer as a witness. See PCRA Court Opinion, 8/14/19, at 10-

11. Specifically, the PCRA court stated that it was reasonable for Attorney

Montoya to believe that relying on the Complainant’s lack of credibility was a

stronger defense, and any testimony by Palmer that she heard the

Complainant say she was raped would have corroborated the Complainant’s

story. See id.

      We agree with the PCRA court’s reasoning and conclusion.        Attorney

Montoya’s testimony at the evidentiary hearing, which the trial court credited,

revealed that he had a reasonable strategic basis for declining to call Palmer

as a witness. Thus, Drake has failed to establish the second prong of the

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ineffectiveness test.     See Franklin, supra.      Moreover, the “crucial”

information, Drake believes, to which Palmer would have testified (i.e., that

the Complainant had smashed windows after Drake left the home), would not

necessarily compel the jury to reach a different result. See id. Accordingly,

Drake is not entitled to relief on this claim.

      Based upon the foregoing, we affirm the Order of the PCRA court.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 7/16/20

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