Court Opinion

ID: 8206398
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-14 17:11:03.505355+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:15.310300
License: Public Domain

J-A14022-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
                                                      OF PENNSYLVANIA
                             Appellee

                        v.

    MICHAEL W. GLANTZ

                             Appellant                No. 1677 MDA 2021

              Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered October 8, 2021
                 In the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County
               Criminal Division at No.: CP-44-CR-0000123-2019

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.:                     FILED: SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

        Appellant Michael W. Glantz appeals from the October 8, 2021 order of

the of the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County (“PCRA court”), which

denied his petition under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A.

§§ 9541-46. Upon review, we vacate and remand.

        On February 19, 2019, Trooper Kyle Milliron, Pennsylvania State Police,

charged Appellant with driving under the influence (“DUI”) of alcohol, DUI –

highest rate of alcohol, driving on roadways laned for traffic, and careless

driving.1 On January 21, 2020, Appellant pleaded guilty to DUI, highest rate

of alcohol, second offense, and graded as a first-degree misdemeanor. That

____________________________________________

*   Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

1   75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3802(a)(1), 3802(c), 3309(1) and 3714(a), respectively.
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day, the trial court imposed a sentence of 15 days’ imprisonment followed by

county intermediate punishment of 35½-months. Instead of filing any post-

sentence motions, Appellant timely appealed, challenging as unconstitutional

the requirement that he submit a DNA sample under the amended DNA

Detection of Sexual and Violent Offenders Act, 44 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2301-2336.

On March 22, 2021, a panel of court quashed the appeal for want of

jurisdiction because the requirement for a DNA sample was not a part of

Appellant’s judgment of sentence.              Commonwealth v. Glantz, 251 A.3d

1254 (Pa. Super. filed March 22, 2021) (unpublished memorandum).

        On March 31, 2021, Appellant filed the instant PCRA petition, which he

later amended on May 5, 2021. In his amended petition, Appellant argued

only that this plea counsel rendered ineffective assistance by advising him that

he would not be prohibited from lawfully possessing, selling, purchasing or

controlling a firearm if he were to plead guilty to DUI, highest rate (second

offense). Appellant argued that he relied on advice of counsel to plead guilty

to DUI, highest rate, which carried a maximum penalty of up to five years’

imprisonment. Additionally, Appellant argued that at the time he entered into

the guilty plea, 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g)(1) provided that it shall be unlawful for

any person “who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by

imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” to possess a firearm.2 Appellant

____________________________________________

2   Section 922(g)(1) provides in pertinent part:
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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claimed that, but for plea counsel’s erroneous advice, he would not have

pleaded guilty to his second DUI offense, highest rate, resulting in the

termination of his Second Amendment rights.

       On September 30, 2021, the PCRA court conducted a hearing, at which

Appellant presented the testimony of Attorneys Andrew Carson and Amy

Stoak. Attorney Carson testified that a few days prior the pleading guilty,

Appellant inquired whether the then-proposed guilty plea to DUI, second

offense, would affect his rights to carry firearms. N.T., Hearing, 9/30/21, at

18-19. Attorney Carson recalled that he advised Appellant that pleading guilty

would not trigger a lifetime ban on firearms either under state or federal law.

Id. at 19.     With respect to his opinion on federal law, Attorney Carson

principally relied on Holloway v. Sessions, 349 F.Supp.3d 451, 463 (M.D.

Pa. 2018), where the district court concluded that a firearms ban under 18

U.S.C.A. § 922(g)(1), as applied to persons convicted of a second DUI offense,

highest rate, was unconstitutional. Further, Attorney Carson recalled that,

then unbeknownst to him, a few days prior to Appellant’s pleading guilty, the

Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s decision in

Holloway, concluding that a guilty plea to a second DUI offense, highest rate,

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       It shall be unlawful for any person . . . who has been convicted in
       any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term
       exceeding one year . . . to ship or transport in interstate or foreign
       commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or
       ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has
       been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g)(1).

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would indeed trigger a lifetime ban. See Holloway v. Att’y Gen. United

States,    948    F.3d    164,    177–78       (3d   Cir.   2020), cert.   denied   sub

nom. Holloway v. Garland, 141 S. Ct. 2511, 209 L. Ed. 2d 546 (2021).3

Id. at 19-21.

       Next, Attorney Stoak, who represented Appellant at the January 21,

2020 guilty plea and sentencing hearing because of Attorney Carlon’s

unavailability, testified that she too was unaware of the Third Circuit’s decision

that was issued four days prior to the guilty plea hearing. Id. at 43. Attorney

Stoak testified that, relying on the Holloway case and without the benefit of

knowing it had been overturned by the Third Circuit, she advised Appellant

that he would not face a lifetime prohibition on carrying or possessing firearms

by pleading guilty to DUI, highest rate, and second offense.                 Id. at 44.

Attorney Stoak specially recalled that she advised Appellant to overlook the

language in guilty plea colloquy warning him that he would lose his Second

Amendment rights by pleading guilty. See id. (“I advised [Appellant] that,

even though the guilty plea does say that, this case says the opposite.”).

Attorney Stoak admitted that she failed to review the caselaw on the day of

sentencing to confirm whether the district court’s decision in Holloway still

was good law—and it was not.              Id.    Attorney Stoak acknowledged that

Appellant signed the written guilty plea colloquy only because she advised him

that he would not relinquish his Second Amendment rights, even though the
____________________________________________

3The Third Circuit issued its decision on January 17, 2020, four days prior to
Appellant’s January 21, 2020 guilty plea.

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colloquy put Appellant on notice regarding the collateral effects of the guilty

plea relating to firearms. Id. at 45 (Appellant “was signing it on the basis that

I told him.”).

      On October 7, 2021, the PCRA court denied Appellant relief. On October

14, 2021, Appellant moved for reconsideration, claiming that erroneous and

misleading advice furnished by counsel and relied upon by him when pleading

guilty constituted ineffective assistance.   On November 1, 2021, the PCRA

court granted Appellant’s reconsideration motion and scheduled a hearing

thereon.    On December 6, 2021, following a hearing, the PCRA court

reaffirmed its denial of Appellant’s PCRA petition. Appellant timely appealed.

The PCRA court directed Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of

errors complained of on appeal. Appellant complied, asserting ineffectiveness

claims. In response, the PCRA court issued a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) statement.

      On appeal, Appellant presents three issues for our review.

      [I.] Whether the PCRA court erred in finding that prior counsel was
      not ineffective.

      [II.] Whether the PCRA court erred in denying Appellant’s PCRA
      petition.

      [III.] Whether the PCRA court erred in finding Appellant’s
      sentence should not be vacated due to ineffective assistance of
      counsel.

Appellant’s Brief at 8 (unnecessary capitalizations omitted).

      “On appeal from the denial of PCRA relief, our standard of review

requires us to determine whether the ruling of the PCRA court is supported by

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the record and free of legal error.” Commonwealth v. Widgins, 29 A.3d

816, 819 (Pa. Super. 2011). As this Court has explained:

      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 the 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. This
      Court may affirm a PCRA court’s decision on any grounds if the
      record supports it. Further, we grant great deference to the
      factual findings of the PCRA court and will not disturb those
      findings unless they have no support in the record. However, we
      afford no such deference to its legal conclusions. Where the
      petitioner raises questions of law, our standard of review is de
      novo and our scope of review plenary.

Commonwealth v. Ford, 44 A.3d 1190, 1194 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations

omitted).

      When a petitioner asserts an ineffectiveness claim, he is entitled to relief

if he pleads and proves that prior counsel rendered ineffective assistance of

counsel. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a)(2)(ii). “To prevail on an [ineffectiveness]

claim, a PCRA petitioner must plead and prove by a preponderance of the

evidence that (1) the underlying legal claim has arguable merit; (2) counsel

had no reasonable basis for acting or failing to act; and (3) the petitioner

suffered resulting prejudice.”   Commonwealth v. Reyes-Rodriguez, 111

A.3d 775, 780 (Pa. Super. 2015) (en banc) (citing Commonwealth v.

Pierce, 527 A.2d 973 (Pa. 1987)).

      As to what constitutes “reasonable basis,” “[t]he test for deciding

whether counsel had a reasonable basis for his action or inaction is whether

no competent counsel would have chosen that action or inaction, or, in the

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alternative, not chosen, offered a significantly greater potential chance of

success.” Commonwealth v. Stewart, 84 A.3d 701, 707 (Pa. Super. 2013)

(citation omitted), appeal denied, 93 A.3d 463 (Pa. 2014).              As such,

“[c]ounsel’s decisions will be considered reasonable if they effectuated his

client’s interest.”    Id. (citation omitted).   “Prejudice means that, absent

counsel’s conduct, there is a reasonable probability the outcome of the

proceedings would have been different.” Commonwealth v. Cox, 983 A.2d

666, 678 (Pa. 2009). “A petitioner must prove all three factors of the “Pierce

test,” or the claim fails.” Reyes-Rodriguez, 111 A.3d at 780. Put differently,

“[t]he     burden     of   proving   ineffectiveness   rests   with   Appellant.”

Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 889 A.2d 501, 540 (Pa. 2005).

         “[A] criminal defendant’s right to effective counsel extends to the plea

process, as well as during trial.” Commonwealth v. Wah, 42 A.3d 335, 338

(Pa. Super. 2012) (citations omitted). Thus, “[i]n the context of a plea, a

claim of ineffectiveness may provide relief only if the alleged ineffectiveness

caused an involuntary or unknowing plea.” Commonwealth v. Orlando, 156

A.3d 1274, 1281 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citations omitted). “Where the defendant

enters his plea on the advice of counsel, the voluntariness of the plea depends

on whether counsel’s advice was within the range of competence demanded

of attorneys in criminal cases.” Wah, 42 A.3d at 338-39 (citations omitted);

see Commonwealth v. Johnson, 875 A.2d 328, 331 (Pa. Super. 2005)

(explaining that when asserting a claim of ineffectiveness of counsel in the

context of a guilty plea, a defendant must show that plea counsel’s

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ineffectiveness induced him to enter the plea), appeal denied, 892 A.2d 822

(Pa. 2015). To be valid, a plea must be voluntary, knowing, and intelligent.

Commonwealth v. Persinger, 615 A.2d 1305, 1307 (Pa. 1992). In other

words, “[t]he law does not require that [the defendant] be pleased with the

outcome of his decision to enter a plea of guilty: All that is required is that

[his] decision to plead guilty be knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently made.”

Commonwealth v. Yager, 685 A.2d 1000, 1004 (Pa. Super. 1996) (en banc)

(citations and internal quotation marks omitted). “[T]o establish prejudice,

the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for

counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on

going to trial.” Commonwealth v. Brandt, 74 A.3d 185, 192 (Pa. Super.

2013) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). This is not a stringent

requirement.     Id.   The reasonable probability test refers to “a probability

sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. (citations omitted).

Finally, this Court has held that a defendant “is bound by the statements he

makes in open court while under oath and he may not later . . . contradict the

statements he made[.]” Commonwealth v. Hopkins, 228 A.3d 577, 583

(Pa. Super. 2020).

        Here, at the core, Appellant challenges only the validity of his guilty

plea.    According to Appellant, his plea was unknowing, involuntary or

unintelligent because of counsels’ ineffectiveness. Specifically, he claims that

his attorneys collectively and individually affirmatively misrepresented the

collateral consequences relating to firearms by repeatedly reassuring him that

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he would not lose his Second Amendment rights as a result of pleading guilty

to a second DUI offense, highest rate, and graded as a first-degree

misdemeanor.

      We, time and again, have afforded relief to a PCRA petitioner when

counsel has affirmatively misled his client. See Commonwealth v. Nieves,

746 A.2d 1102, 1104-05 (Pa. 2000) (legal advice that is contrary to applicable

law constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel).   In Brandt, a defendant

faced revocation of his parole because he received new charges. Barndt, 74

A.3d at 188. Following negotiations with the Commonwealth, counsel assured

the appellant that he would receive a parole setback of no more than eleven

months. Id. This assurance from counsel induced the appellant’s plea. Id.

Upon revoking the appellant’s parole, however, the Parole Board ordered the

appellant to serve approximately forty-one months in prison.      Id. at 189.

Thereafter, the appellant sought collateral relief through the PCRA, asserting

ineffective assistance of plea counsel. Id. at 189-90.

      The PCRA court denied relief. Id. at 190-91. It determined that the

appellant knew he faced a parole violation and, further, that his ultimate

setback was outside the control of the sentencing court.         Id. at 195.

Therefore, according to the PCRA court, the unanticipated severity of the

Parole Board’s decision provided no grounds for relief. Id.

      On appeal, we reversed. In so doing, we observed that the appellant’s

claim “[was] not couched in terms of counsel’s omission.         Rather, [the

appellant] argue[d] that plea counsel affirmatively misled [him].” Id. at

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196 (emphasis in original). Under such circumstances, we held that counsel’s

assistance is “constitutionally ineffective when counsel misapprehends the

consequences of a given plea and misleads his client accordingly about those

consequences, without regard to whether the consequences in question are

direct or collateral. Id. (quotation marks omitted). Thus, we reasoned that

counsel bears an obligation to “render only accurate advice to his client about

whatever collateral consequences of a guilty plea he chooses to address.” Id.

at 201 (emphasis in the original); see also, e.g., Commonwealth v.

Rathfon, 899 A.2d 365, 370-71 (Pa. Super. 2006) (affirming the lower court’s

determination that counsel was ineffective where counsel erroneously advised

that defendant’s plea ensured that he would serve sentence in county prison);

Commonwealth v. Hickman, 799 A.2d 136, 141 (Pa. Super. 2002) (holding

counsel ineffective and permitting petitioner to withdraw plea where counsel

erroneously had assured petitioner that he would be eligible for early release

into boot camp).

      Here, based upon our review of the record, as detailed earlier, it is clear

that Appellant pleaded and proved all prongs of the Pierce test. His attorneys

conceded at the PCRA hearing that they were aware of Appellant’s desire to

retain his Second Amendment rights.           Yet, despite this knowledge, they

admitted that they provided wrong and unqualified legal advice to Appellant

and, on the basis of that erroneous advice, Appellant entered into the guilty

plea. His attorneys further admitted under oath that they failed to confirm

the accuracy of the Holloway decision that was overruled by the Third Circuit

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Court of Appeals a mere four days prior to Appellant’s pleading guilty.

According to Attorney Stoak, had she reviewed the Holloway decision on the

day of the guilty plea, she would have observed that it no longer was good

law and that, as a result, Appellant’s Second Amendment rights would be

extinguished upon his pleading guilty to a second DUI offense, highest rate,

and graded as a first-degree misdemeanor. Moreover, Appellant’s attorneys

admitted that not only did they affirmatively furnish erroneous advice to

Appellant, but that they asked him to disregard any contrary terms in the

guilty plea colloquy. For example, Attorney Stoak testified that she advised

Appellant to overlook language in the guilty plea colloquy warning him that he

would lose his Second Amendment rights. Attorney Stoak’s advice thus was

not simply erroneous, but also in direct conflict with Appellant’s expressed

interest in wanting to retain his Second Amendment rights. It therefore is

beyond cavil that Appellant would not have pleaded guilty had he been advised

accurately of the collateral consequences of the plea, especially those relating

to his Second Amendment rights.       Consistent with Brandt, Rathfon, and

Hickman, supra, because Appellant’s attorneys affirmatively misled him by

rendering unqualified and erroneous advice, upon which he relied in pleading

guilty, we cannot conclude that his guilty plea was knowing, voluntary and

intelligent. Accordingly, the PCRA court erred in denying Appellant’s petition.

      Order Vacated. Case remanded for further proceedings. Jurisdiction

relinquished.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 09/14/2022

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