Court Opinion

ID: 6330889
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-13 16:12:02.578605+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:06.074714
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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    BILLY DUNN                                 :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 903 EDA 2021

                 Appeal from the Order Entered March 30, 2021
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
                       No(s): CP-51-CR-0006180-2016

BEFORE: KUNSELMAN, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and KING, J.

MEMORANDUM BY McLAUGHLIN, J.:                            FILED APRIL 13, 2022

        Billy Dunn appeals from the order denying his Post Conviction Relief Act

(“PCRA”) petition. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. Dunn maintains that he is

entitled to relief due to ineffectiveness of his plea and PCRA counsel. We

affirm.

        On January 23, 2019, Dunn entered a plea of nolo contendere to

involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (“IDSI”) with a child and corruption of

a minor.1 He was sentenced to three to six years’ incarceration followed by

eight years of probation. Dunn did not file post-sentence motions or a direct

appeal.

        On January 21, 2020, Dunn filed a pro se PCRA petition. Counsel was

appointed, who subsequently filed an amended PCRA petition. The court held

____________________________________________

1   18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3123(b) and 6301, respectively.
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an evidentiary hearing on March 30, 2021 and dismissed the petition. This

appeal followed.2

       Dunn raises the following questions for our review:

          1. Whether the [c]ourt erred by denying relief under the
             PCRA where the evidence at the evidentiary hearing
             established that Mr. Dunn was not afforded a sufficient
             amount of time to understand the nature of the plea offer
             made or the consequences of entering the plea in
             question such that he could enter a knowing, intentional
             and voluntary nolo contendere plea?

          2. Whether the [c]ourt erred by concluding that Mr. Dunn
             entered a knowing, intentional and voluntary nolo
             contendere plea to the char[g]e of IDSI of a Child in this
             matter as the victim’s testimony during the preliminary
             hearing (N.T.[,] June 24, 2016[,] at 19-21) did not
             establish the requisite element of penetration, however
             slight[?] See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Wilson, 825
             A.2d 710, 714 (Pa.Super. 2003) (“[I]n order to sustain a
             conviction for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, the
             Commonwealth must establish the perpetrator engaged
             in acts of oral or anal intercourse, which involved
             penetration however slight.”).

          3. In the alternative, whether PCRA counsel was ineffective
             for failing to raise the issue of trial counsel’s

____________________________________________

2 On April 26, 2021, Dunn filed a pro se notice of appeal that purported to
appeal from the date of the judgment of sentence entered on January 23,
2019. This Court issued a rule to show cause why the appeal should not be
quashed as untimely. Counsel was subsequently appointed and filed a
response to the rule to show cause, explaining that Dunn intended to appeal
from the denial of his PCRA petition, not from his judgment of sentence. A
review of the record confirms counsel’s assertion. We have corrected the
caption and decline to quash. See Pa.R.A.P. 902. (“Failure of an appellant to
take any step other than the timely filing of a notice of appeal does not affect
the validity of the appeal, but it is subject to such action as the appellate court
deems appropriate[.]”).

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            ineffectiveness vis a vis the absence of any evidence of
            penetration?

Dunn’s Br. at 8.

      On appeal from the denial or grant of relief under the PCRA, our review

is limited to determining “whether the PCRA court’s ruling is supported by the

record and free of legal error.” Commonwealth v. Presley, 193 A.3d 436,

442 (Pa.Super. 2018) (citation omitted).

      Dunn first contends that plea counsel was ineffective for failing to advise

him of the lifetime registration requirements that would be imposed as a result

of pleading no contest under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification

Act (“SORNA”). Dunn’s Br. at 12. Dunn claims that his attorney never advised

him that he would be required to register as a sex offender and he only learned

of the reporting requirements after the court accepted his plea and imposed

his sentence. Id. at 18. Dunn argues that he was never colloquied on the

registration requirements prior to the acceptance of his plea nor was there

any testimony by plea counsel at the PCRA hearing that counsel explained the

registration consequences of the plea to Dunn. Id. at 9, 18, 23.

      Dunn failed to raise this specific claim in his Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)

statement. Dunn alleges generally that he was not afforded a sufficient

amount of time to understand the consequences of entering his plea but

makes no mention of his attorney allegedly failing to advise him of the lifetime

registration requirements under SORNA. Accordingly, this issue is waived. See

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(vii).

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      Even if it were not waived, it is without merit. “[C]ounsel is presumed

to be effective and the burden of demonstrating ineffectiveness rests on

appellant.” Commonwealth v. Rivera, 10 A.3d 1276, 1279 (Pa.Super.

2010). To obtain relief based on a claim of ineffectiveness, a petitioner must

establish: “(1) his underlying claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel had no

reasonable basis for his action or inaction; and (3) the petitioner suffered

actual prejudice as a result.” Commonwealth v. Spotz, 84 A.3d 294, 311

(Pa. 2014) (citation omitted). Prejudice in this context means that “absent

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

proceedings would have been different.” Commonwealth v. Velazquez, 216

A.3d 1146, 1149 (Pa.Super. 2019) (citation omitted). A failure to meet any of

these prongs bars a petitioner from obtaining relief. Commonwealth v.

Sneed, 45 A.3d 1096, 1106 (Pa. 2012).

      “[C]laims of counsel’s ineffectiveness in connection with a guilty plea

will provide a basis for relief only if the ineffectiveness caused an involuntary

or unknowing plea.” Commonwealth v. Yager, 685 A.2d 1000, 1004

(Pa.Super. 1996) (citation omitted). The “voluntariness of [the] plea depends

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

of attorneys in criminal cases.” Commonwealth v. Lynch, 820 A.2d 728,

733 (Pa.Super. 2003) (quoting Commonwealth v. Hickman, 799 A.2d 136,

141 (Pa.Super. 2002)). “The law does not require that appellant be pleased

with the outcome of his decision to enter a plea of guilty[.]” Commonwealth

v. Diaz, 913 A.2d 871, 873 (Pa.Super. 2006) (citation omitted). “All that is

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required is that [appellant’s] decision to plead guilty be knowingly, voluntarily

and intelligently made.’’ Yager, 685 A.2d at 1004 (citation omitted)

(alteration in original).

      Before accepting a plea, the trial court must conduct an on-the-record

inquiry to determine whether the plea is voluntarily and knowingly tendered.

Commonwealth v. Hodges, 789 A.2d 764, 765 (Pa.Super. 2002) (citing

Pa.R.Crim.P. 590(a)). The court must develop a record that affirmatively

shows that the defendant understands: (1) the nature of the charges to which

the defendant is pleading guilty; (2) the factual basis for the plea; (3) the

right to a jury trial; (4) the presumption of innocence; (5) the permissible

ranges of potential sentences and fines; and (6) that the court is not bound

by the terms of the agreement unless it accepts it. Commonwealth v.

Kelley, 136 A.3d 1007, 1013 (Pa.Super. 2016).

      In deciding whether a guilty plea was knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary, a court should consider the totality of the circumstances

surrounding the entry of the plea. Commonwealth v. Allen, 732 A.2d 582,

588-89 (Pa. 1999). Further, a defendant who elects to plead guilty is required

to answer all questions during the plea colloquy truthfully and may not later

assert grounds for withdrawing the plea that contradict the defendant’s

statements during the colloquy. Commonwealth v. Pollard, 832 A.2d 517,

523 (Pa.Super. 2003).

      Here, the record reflects that the court conducted an extensive colloquy

on the record at Dunn’s plea hearing, wherein Dunn acknowledged he did not

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have to enter a no contest plea, he had the right to a jury trial, and his decision

to plead no contest was not the result of any threats or promises. N.T. Plea

Hearing, 1/23/19, at 7-8, 9. The court also explained the nature of the charges

to which Dunn was pleading no contest and his range of potential sentence

and fines. Id. at 6-7. The court repeatedly asked Dunn if he was certain that

he understood what it meant to plead no contest to IDSI and corruption of a

minor, to which Dunn consistently affirmatively answered. Id. at 9-10. Prior

to accepting his plea, the court stated to Dunn:

         THE COURT: Your lawyer, Mr. Hannah, has negotiated the
         following recommended sentence for you, which is three to
         six years of incarceration. That will be followed by eight
         years of reporting probation and that is state probation. You
         will be supervised by the Sex Offender Unit and you
         will have to comply with all sex offender conditions.
         You will have no contact with the victim in this case and you
         will have to comply with all sex offender conditions.

         In exchange for your plea, the District Attorney’s Office has
         agreed to drop the remaining charges against you. Is that
         your understanding?

         [DUNN]: Yes.

Id. at 8-9 (emphasis added).

      Dunn also signed a Written Nolo Contendere Plea Colloquy and Notice

of Registration Requirements acknowledging that he was subject to lifetime

registration with the Pennsylvania State Police as a Tier 3 offender “for life.”

Id. at 16, 19-20. Dunn agreed that his attorney had reviewed the written plea

agreement with him and had explained to him what his no contest plea meant.

Id. at 6. He confirmed that it was his signature on the plea agreement and

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specifically certified that the sex offender registration requirements “[h]ad

been explained to [him] and any questions [he had were] answered by [his]

attorney and the [J]udge and [he] fully underst[ood his] registration

[obligations].” Id. at 6, 20-21. Dunn also indicated that he was satisfied with

his attorney’s legal representation. Id. at 10.

      At the PCRA evidentiary hearing, plea counsel testified that he had

lengthy discussions with Dunn regarding what a nolo contendere plea meant.

N.T. PCRA Hearing, 3/20/21, at 50, 56. Counsel stated that he had “more than

adequate time” to discuss the plea with Dunn and Dunn was fully aware of the

consequences of a nolo contendere plea before he agreed to accept the plea.

Id. at 56-57.

      Dunn’s contention that his plea was not knowing, voluntary, and

intelligent fails. He cannot show prejudice because he signed a written plea

colloquy form in which he acknowledged that he would have to register as a

sex offender for the rest of his life. See Commonwealth v. McCauley, 797

A.2d 920, 922 (Pa.Super. 2001) (stating “[a] defendant is bound by the

statements he makes during his plea colloquy”). Furthermore, the court

credited plea counsel’s testimony that before Dunn entered his nolo plea,

Dunn met with counsel, who explained the implications of the plea, including

his potential sentence, and that Dunn had sufficient time to consider his plea.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 10/4/21, at 3, 7. We are bound by the court’s

credibility determinations. See Williams v. Taylor, 188 A.3d 447, 450

(Pa.Super. 2018) (stating “the trial judge, as finder of fact, is free to believe

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all, part, or none of the evidence, and this Court will not disturb his credibility

determinations”). This ineffectiveness claim fails.

      Dunn next argues that the court erred in concluding that Dunn’s plea

was knowing and voluntary because the Commonwealth failed to prove the

requisite element of penetration to the charge of IDSI. Dunn’s Br. at 24. Dunn

contends that the victim’s testimony at the preliminary hearing that Dunn

“licked her private part” twice could not constitute penetration under the IDSI

statute. Id. at 25-26. According to Dunn, “[b]ecause the evidence did not

make out the charge of IDSI, counsel was ineffective for recommending Mr.

Dunn to proceed with the plea.” Id. at 27-28.

      Dunn did not raise this claim in his PCRA petition. It is therefore waived.

See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). Even if this claim were preserved below, it is without

merit. The crime of IDSI is defined as:

         § 3123. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse

         ***

         (b) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a
         child.--A person commits involuntary deviate sexual
         intercourse with a child, a felony of the first degree, when
         the person engages in deviate sexual intercourse with a
         complainant who is less than 13 years of age.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3123(b). The Crimes Code defines “deviate sexual intercourse,”

in pertinent part, as follows: “Sexual intercourse per os or per anus between

human beings....” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3101.

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       “[I]n order to sustain a conviction for [IDSI], the Commonwealth must

establish the perpetrator engaged in acts of oral or anal intercourse, which

involved penetration however slight.” Commonwealth v. L.N., 787 A.2d

1064, 1070 (Pa.Super. 2001). “[A] person can penetrate by use of the mouth

or the tongue.” Id.

       At the plea hearing, the Commonwealth proffered sufficient evidence to

sustain a finding of penetration:

          [THE COMMONWEALTH]: Your Honor, if this went to trial,
          through the witness’s evidence would show that on or about
          March 12 and 13 of 2016, inside a residence . . . in the city
          and county of Philadelphia, [Dunn] sexual assaulted the
          complainant . . ..

          [The victim] would testify that when she was 11 years old .
          . . the defendant, Billy Dunn, came into her room, leaned
          over, and kissed her on her lips, then he took off a blanket,
          pulled down her underwear, and licked her in what she
          called her “private part,” her vagina, Your Honor. He did so
          with his tongue and then before he left he told her not to
          tell anyone.

N.T. Plea Hearing, 1/23/19, at 10-11.

       Counsel testified that he told Dunn the plea offer was “very reasonable”

compared to the risk of conviction. The PCRA court believed this testimony.

That   advice   was   not   unreasonable    in   view   of   the   evidence.   The

Commonwealth’s proffer at the plea hearing was sufficient to conclude that

the oral contact between Dunn’s tongue with the victim’s vagina met the

penetration requirement. Dunn’s claim of ineffectiveness of plea counsel fails.

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See Commonwealth v. Spotz, 896 A.2d 1191, 1210 (Pa. 2006) (stating

“[c]ounsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to raise a meritless claim”).

      Lastly, Dunn maintains that PCRA counsel was ineffective for failing to

raise the issue of plea counsel’s ineffectiveness for not alleging lack of

evidence of penetration. Dunn’s Br. at 29. Dunn failed to raise this issue in his

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement. Therefore, it is waived. See Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b)(4)(vii). In any event, it lacks merit. As previously explained, Dunn’s

claim of plea counsel’s ineffectiveness is premised on a meritless underlying

claim. PCRA counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to pursue a

meritless claim. Spotz, 896 A.2d at 1210.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/13/2022

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