Court Opinion

ID: 5129813
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-29 17:15:19.354357+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:14.006321
License: Public Domain

J-S27022-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :          PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    ROBERT JERMAINE BAILEY                     :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :     No. 1159 WDA 2020

           Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered September 25, 2020
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-30-CR-0000177-2015

BEFORE:      OLSON, J., NICHOLS, J., and COLINS, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.:                         FILED: NOVEMBER 29, 2021

        Appellant Robert Jermaine Bailey appeals from the order denying his

timely first Post Conviction Relief Act1 (PCRA) petition. Appellant contends

that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to certain witness

testimony, impeach a witness with crimen falsi convictions, retain a firearms

expert, raise a Brady2 violation, and preserve issues for direct appeal. We

affirm.

        A previous panel of this Court summarized the underlying facts of this

matter as follows:

        Appellant’s convictions stem from an altercation he had with two
        women, Tiffany Presher and Jennifer Colina, who were staying at
____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1   42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.

2   Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).
J-S27022-21

     the same residence as Appellant and another man, Daniel Brown.
     According to Presher’s trial testimony, [on May 24, 2015,] she and
     Colina were sleeping in a bedroom when Appellant, who had been
     cleaning another room in the home, entered the bedroom and
     began screaming at the two women “to get up and help clean. . .
     .” Presher claimed that Colina started arguing with Appellant, and
     Colina then tried calling 911 twice, but got disconnected both
     times. Colina also tried to record Appellant yelling at them, at
     which point Appellant smacked [Colina’s] arm and knocked the
     phone out of her hand.

     Colina then told Appellant she was going to call the police, at which
     point Appellant left the room and immediately came back in with
     a little black handgun. Appellant pointed the gun in the direction
     of Presher and Colina and told the women that if they called the
     police, “he was going to shoot [them] in [their] faces.” Presher
     stated that as Appellant pointed the gun at her, she was scared.
     [Presher] also testified that as she and Colina tried to leave the
     house, Appellant told them that if they went to the police and he
     was arrested, he “was going to send the word to the street for
     [them] both to get killed.” Presher testified that she and Colina
     escaped the house and began walking toward the police station,
     hiding between buildings as they went. Presher explained that
     Colina “was . . . scared to go to the cops,” but as the women were
     walking, they saw a police officer, flagged him down, and told him
     what was going on. [Colina did not testify at Appellant’s trial.]

     That police officer was Bryan Smith of the Cumberland Township
     Police Department. Officer Smith testified that when Presher and
     Colina stopped him and reported the above facts, he called for
     assistance and then traveled to the house where the incident
     occurred. There, he spoke with Daniel Brown, who told the officer
     that Appellant had left. Having been provided a description of
     Appellant by Presher and Colina, Officer Smith began canvassing
     the area. The officer spoke to neighbors who directed him to the
     back of a house where he encountered Appellant, who matched
     the description provided by Presher and Colina. Officer Smith
     announced his presence and told Appellant to stop, but Appellant
     ran through a yard and jumped over a fence at the back. Officer
     Smith pursued Appellant while repeatedly telling him to stop, but
     the officer lost sight of him in the nearby woods.

     [Also during Appellant’s trial, Alyssa Goldsberry testified that on
     May 24, 2015, she had found Appellant hiding outside the door to
     her apartment building under a tarp. Appellant asked Goldsberry

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      for help calling his girlfriend. She explained that she needed to
      charge her phone inside her apartment first. Goldsberry asked
      Appellant to wait outside, but as she entered her apartment,
      Appellant followed her in. Appellant tried to call his girlfriend using
      Goldsberry’s phone but could not reach his girlfriend. Appellant
      asked Goldsberry for some clothes because his were dirty.
      Goldsberry gave him a change of clothes and a beanie hat.
      Appellant then left her apartment.]

      Other officers who had responded to the scene also began
      searching for Appellant, who was eventually found inside the
      basement of a building that had several apartments attached to it
      and also a business. Appellant was placed under arrest and
      searched, which revealed a clear baggie containing marijuana in
      his pocket.

      Meanwhile, Officer Smith received a radio report that Thomas
      Berry, who lived in a residence close to where the officer had first
      observed Appellant, had found a gun in his yard. Officer Smith
      went to Berry’s home and secured the gun, which was in two
      separate parts lying in a corner . . . inside of Berry’s fence in [the]
      yard. Officer Smith was shown the weapon at trial and identified
      it as the gun he had found in Berry’s yard.

      Berry also testified at Appellant’s trial. He explained that on the
      day of the above-described incident, he heard a commotion
      outside and saw Officer Smith running through the yard yelling for
      someone to stop. When Officer Smith was out of sight, Berry saw
      that “something was [lying] by [his] fence that wasn’t there just
      ten minutes ago” when he had been in his yard with his dogs.
      Berry went outside to look at the object and realized it “was a
      pistol[.]” He called 911 and Officer Smith returned to recover the
      weapon.

Commonwealth v. Bailey, 1086 WDA 2017, 2018 WL 4020009, at *1-2 (Pa.

Super. filed Aug. 23, 2018) (unpublished mem.) (citations omitted and

formatting altered).

      By way of further background, the Commonwealth filed an information

charging Appellant with two counts each of terroristic threats, recklessly

endangering another person (REAP), and simple assault, as well as one count

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of harassment3 for the incident involving Presher and Colina. See Criminal

Information, 6/19/15, at 6-8, 13 (unpaginated). The information also charged

Appellant with burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, and

receiving stolen property4 with respect to the interaction with Goldsberry. See

id. at 1, 3, 9, 10 (unpaginated). Lastly, the information charged Appellant

with persons not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license,

flight to avoid apprehension, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession

of a small amount of marijuana.5 See id. at 2, 4-5, 11-12 (unpaginated).

        Prior to trial, during a conference in chambers, the Commonwealth

moved to admit a recording of the police interview with Appellant following his

arrest.     Appellant objected because during the questioning, he made

references to his prior criminal record. The trial court ruled that the recording

was not to be played, but the officers involved in the questioning could testify

about Appellant’s statements that “[Appellant] was in possession of a gun . .

. . [t]hat he did not deny the possession of marijuana. . . . [a]nd that he

indicated that he ran from [the police] and was faster than them[.]” N.T.

____________________________________________

3   18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2706, 2705, 2701(a)(3), and 2709(a)(1), respectively.

4  18 Pa.C.S.      §§    3502(a)(2),     3503(a)(1)(ii),   3921(a),   and   3925(a),
respectively.

518 Pa.C.S. §§ 6105(a)(1), 6106(a)(1), 5126(a), 35 P.S. §§ 780-113(a)(32),
and 780-113(a)(31)(i), respectively.      Prior to trial, the Commonwealth
withdrew the count of flight to avoid apprehension. N.T. Trial, 1/26/16, at 36-
37.

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Trial, 1/26/16, at 21-22; see also Order, 1/28/16, R.R. at 55a.6,7 Also, during

the pre-trial conference, trial counsel stated he did not have an opportunity

to inspect the gun prior to trial.             N.T. Trial, 1/26/16, at 26.     The

Commonwealth explained that the firearm was at a lab, not at the Cumberland

Township Police Department, and was on its way to the courthouse. Id. at

28-29.     After the conference in chambers, trial counsel was permitted to

inspect the firearm prior to opening statements. Id. at 42-45.

        During Appellant’s trial, Officer Smith testified that he obtained a search

warrant to recover the beanie Appellant was wearing on the day he was

arrested. Id. at 139. Officer Smith stated that he went to the Greene County

Prison to retrieve the hat because “[i]t’s what [Appellant] wore into jail.” Id.

Appellant’s trial counsel objected and the trial court issued a cautionary

instruction that the jury should not consider Appellant’s pre-trial detention

when determining his guilt. Id.

        Officer Thomas Obarto8 testified that after Appellant was arrested and

transported to the Cumberland Township Police Station, Officer Obarto read

Appellant the Miranda9 warnings. Id. at 165. Officers Obarto and Smith
____________________________________________

6The trial court’s oral order was reduced to writing and filed on January 28,
2016.

7   We may refer to the reproduced record for the parties’ convenience.

8Officer Obarto’s last name is spelled as “Obarto” or “O’Barto,” in the record
and in the parties’ briefs, but the correct spelling appears to be “Obarto.” See
N.T. Trial, 1/26/16, at 160.

9   Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

                                           -5-
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testified that while Officer Obarto was questioning Appellant, Appellant

repeatedly threatened to kill Officer Obarto and a police dog. Id. at 142, 166.

Trial counsel did not object to any of these statements. Id.

       Officer Obarto also testified regarding the firearm that Officer Smith

recovered from Berry’s yard. Id. at 167-68. Officer Obarto described the

firearm as the one that Appellant “discarded . . . as he left the residence.” Id.

at 167. Officer Obarto explained the functions of several parts of the firearm,

including the slide, trigger, firing pin, and magazine.     Id.   Officer Obarto

concluded that the firearm was not operable in its current condition, but it

could be made operable with a replacement firing pin, either ordered from the

manufacturer or improvised out of a nail.        Id. at 168, 170.     On cross-

examination, trial counsel asked Officer Obarto if he could explain the

functions of various components of the firearm. Id. at 170-74. Officer Obarto

explained that while he was familiar with firearms, he was “not an armorer[]”

and could not explain the function of every part. Id. at 172; see also id. at

174 (Officer Obarto stated “[a]gain, sir, you’re asking me questions that an

armorer can answer and I’m not an armorer”). Officer Obarto repeated his

previous conclusion that “this weapon is not functional as it sits.” Id. at 174.

       Ultimately, on January 26, 2016, the jury convicted Appellant of one

count each of burglary, persons not to possess a firearm,10 possession of a
____________________________________________

10The jury found that Appellant possessed a firearm. N.T. Trial, 1/26/16, at
223. The trial court subsequently found Appellant guilty of persons not to
possess a firearm. Id. at 227-28.

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small amount marijuana, and harassment, as well as two counts each of

terroristic threats, REAP, and simple assault. The jury acquitted Appellant of

the remaining charges.

       The trial court initially sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of eight

to sixteen years’ incarceration. Patrick Fitch, Esq. (trial counsel) represented

Appellant at trial and at his initial sentencing. However, upon consideration

of Appellant’s post-sentence motions, the trial court granted Appellant’s

motions for judgment of acquittal with respect to burglary and the two counts

of REAP.11 The trial court appointed Kevin Thomas Freyder, Esq. to represent

Appellant at resentencing. Ultimately, the trial court resentenced Appellant

to an aggregate term of five to ten years’ incarceration.       Appellant timely

appealed.

       Attorney Freyder continued to represent Appellant on direct appeal. On

appeal, Appellant argued, among other issues, that the trial court erred in

allowing Officer Obarto to give expert testimony about the firearm involved in

this case without first qualifying the officer as an expert. Bailey, 2018 WL

____________________________________________

11 On September 2, 2016, the trial court granted Appellant’s post-sentence
motion for a judgment of acquittal with respect to the count of burglary. On
December 6, 2016, the trial court appointed Attorney Freyder as Appellant’s
counsel. The trial court resentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of five to
ten years’ incarceration on January 17, 2017. Appellant again filed a timely
post-sentence motion. The trial court granted Appellant’s second post-
sentence motion in part, entering judgments of acquittal with respect to the
two counts of REAP, and denying it in all other respects on May 9, 2017. The
trial court again sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of five to ten years’
incarceration on May 24, 2017. Appellant then filed a third post-sentence
motion, which the trial court denied on June 7, 2017.

                                           -7-
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4020009 at *2.        This Court determined that Appellant waived this issue

because he did not object to the officer’s allegedly improper opinion testimony

at trial. Id. at *3. Appellant also argued that the evidence was insufficient

to convict him of offenses related to Colina. Id. at *2. However, this Court

found that Presher’s testimony was sufficient to sustain the convictions related

to Colina. Id. at *4-5. This Court affirmed Appellant’s judgment of sentence

on August 23, 2018. Id. at *8. Appellant did not file a petition for allowance

of appeal with our Supreme Court.

       On August 23, 2019, Appellant filed a timely pro se PCRA petition raising

claims of ineffective assistance by both trial counsel and appellate counsel.

The PCRA court subsequently appointed Benjamin Goodwin, Esq. (PCRA

counsel) to represent Appellant, and he filed an amended petition on

Appellant’s behalf.12       Therein, Appellant argued that trial counsel was

ineffective for failing to object to testimony from multiple witnesses, procure

a firearms expert, impeach a witness with crimen falsi convictions, and

____________________________________________

12  Unaware that Appellant had filed a pro se PCRA petition, Attorney Freyder
filed a PCRA petition on Appellant’s behalf on September 23, 2019. In the
counseled petition, Appellant argued that trial counsel was ineffective for not
objecting to the testimony about Colina’s statements, Officer Obarto giving
expert testimony about the firearm when he had not been qualified as an
expert, and the admission of the firearm at trial as a Brady violation, among
other claims. PCRA Pet., 9/23/19, at 11-18, R.R. at 334a-41a. Appellant
subsequently filed a pro se motion for leave to amend, asserting a claim of
ineffectiveness against Attorney Freyder on October 9, 2019. Following a
hearing on December 12, 2019, Attorney Freyder was permitted to withdraw,
and the PCRA court appointed Attorney Goodwin to represent Appellant.
Attorney Goodwin’s amended petition incorporated the claims raised in
Attorney Freyder’s petition. See R.R. at 362a.

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preserve issues for direct appeal. Addendum to PCRA Pet., 5/18/20, at 1-3

(unpaginated), R.R. at 362a-64a.

                         PCRA Evidentiary Hearing

      The PCRA court held an evidentiary hearing on August 31, 2020. At the

hearing, trial counsel confirmed that he did not object to testimony about

Appellant being taken to jail, Appellant’s identification by another police

department, Appellant discarding a firearm in a yard, or referencing Colina’s

out-of-court statements. N.T. PCRA Hr’g, 8/31/20, at 18, 22-24. However,

PCRA counsel did not ask trial counsel to explain why he did not object to

these statements. Id.

      With respect to the firearm that was admitted into evidence, trial

counsel testified that he did not see an expert report regarding the firearm in

the discovery materials. Id. at 11-12. Nor did he retain a firearms expert to

examine the gun prior to trial. Id. at 12. Trial counsel did not request to

inspect the firearm prior to trial, but he did have an opportunity to examine

the firearm on the day of the trial, and that he was familiar with firearms. Id.

at 8, 12. Trial counsel explained that he did not object to the admission of

the firearm because it was his understanding that it was not functional, which

was an element of one of the charges against Appellant, and was, therefore,

helpful to his case. Id. at 12, 14.

      Trial counsel also acknowledged that Officer Obarto was not an expert

witness.   Id. at 8-9, 12-13.    Trial counsel explained his strategy was to

extensively cross-examine Officer Obarto about the functions of different parts

                                      -9-
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of the firearm. Id. at 8, 13-14. Trial counsel explained that eventually “[the

officer] finally threw his hands up and said the gun didn’t work. That’s exactly

what I wanted.” Id. at 13.

       On September 25, 2020,13 the PCRA court denied Appellant’s PCRA

petition.    Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and a court-ordered

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement. The PCRA court issued a Rule 1925(a) opinion

adopting both the August 29, 2017 Rule 1925(a) opinion from Appellant’s

direct appeal and the September 25, 2020 order dismissing the instant

petition.

       Appellant raises twelve issues for our review, which we have reordered

and summarized as follows:

       1.     Trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to testimony
              that Appellant had been taken to jail.

       2.     Trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to testimony
              that a neighboring police department identified Appellant
              because it implied Appellant had a prior criminal record.

       3.     Trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to testimony
              that Appellant discarded a firearm in a yard as speculative.

       4.     Trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to testimony
              about the statements of Colina as hearsay, more prejudicial
              than probative, and a violation of his right to confrontation.

       5.     Trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to testimony
              that Appellant threatened to kill a police officer and a police
              dog during his custodial interrogation.

____________________________________________

13 We have amended the caption of this appeal to reflect the date of entry of
the order. See Pa.R.A.P. 108(a)(1), (d)(1) (providing that the date of entry
of an order is the date on which copies of the order are sent to the parties).

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      6.    Trial counsel was ineffective for not investigating
            Goldsberry’s criminal history and not impeaching her with a
            prior crimen falsi conviction.

      7.    Trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to Officer
            Obarto’s opinion testimony about the firearm because
            Obarto had not been qualified as an expert.

      8.    Trial counsel was ineffective for not retaining a firearms
            expert.

      9.    The PCRA court erred by relying on facts outside the record.

      10.   Trial counsel was ineffective for not raising a Brady
            objection regarding the Commonwealth’s failure to make
            the firearm available for pre-trial inspection.

      11.   Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve issues for
            appeal.

      12.   The cumulative prejudice of trial counsel’s errors deprived
            Appellant of a fair trial.

Appellant’s Brief at 2-7.

      This Court has explained that

      our standard of review from the denial of a PCRA petition is limited
      to examining whether the PCRA court’s determination is supported
      by the evidence of record and whether it is free of legal error. The
      PCRA court’s credibility determinations, when supported by the
      record, are binding on this Court; however, we apply a de novo
      standard of review to the PCRA court’s legal conclusions.

Commonwealth v. Sandusky, 203 A.3d 1033, 1043 (Pa. Super. 2019)

(citations omitted and formatting altered).

      Furthermore, to establish a claim of ineffective assistance of
      counsel, a defendant must show, by a preponderance of the
      evidence, 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. The burden is on the defendant
      to prove all three of the following prongs: (1) the underlying claim

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      is of arguable merit; (2) that counsel had no reasonable strategic
      basis for his or her action or inaction; and (3) but for the errors
      and omissions of counsel, there is a reasonable probability that
      the outcome of the proceedings would have been different.

      We have explained that a claim has arguable merit where the
      factual averments, if accurate, could establish cause for relief.
      See Commonwealth v. Jones, . . . 876 A.2d 380, 385 (Pa.
      2005) (“if a petitioner raises allegations, which, even if accepted
      as true, do not establish the underlying claim . . . , he or she will
      have failed to establish the arguable merit prong related to the
      claim”). Whether the facts rise to the level of arguable merit is a
      legal determination.

      The 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, the alternative, not chosen,
      offered a significantly greater potential chance of success.
      Counsel’s decisions will be considered reasonable if they
      effectuated his client’s interests. We do not employ a hindsight
      analysis in comparing trial counsel’s actions with other efforts he
      may have taken.

      Prejudice is established if there is a reasonable probability that,
      but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have
      been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient
      to undermine confidence in the outcome.

      Boilerplate allegations and bald assertions of no reasonable basis
      and/or ensuing prejudice cannot satisfy a petitioner’s burden to
      prove that counsel was ineffective. Moreover, a failure to satisfy
      any prong of the ineffectiveness test requires rejection of the
      claim of ineffectiveness.

Sandusky, 203 A.3d at 1043-44 (some citations omitted and formatting

altered); see also Commonwealth v. Becker, 192 A.3d 106, 117 (Pa.

Super. 2018) (explaining that “[a] finding that a chosen strategy lacked a

reasonable basis is not warranted unless it can be concluded that an

alternative not chosen offered a potential for success substantially greater

than the course actually pursued” (citation omitted)). Further, it is well settled

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that “[c]ounsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to raise a meritless

claim.”   Commonwealth v. Washington, 927 A.2d 586, 608 (Pa. 2007)

(citation omitted).

                        Counsel’s Failure to Object

      In his first five issues, Appellant challenges trial counsel’s effectiveness

based on his failure to object to testimony from several witnesses.

Specifically, Appellant refers to (1) Officer Smith’s testimony that Appellant

had been taken to jail; (2) Officer Smith’s testimony that Appellant had been

identified by another police department; (3) Officer Obarto’s testimony that

Appellant discarded a firearm; (4) testimony referencing out-of-court

statements made by Colina; and (5) Officer Obarto’s testimony that Appellant

threatened the officers during his custodial interrogation.      See Appellant’s

Brief at 26-33, 35-37, 47-51.

      Initially, this Court has held that “a lawyer should not be held ineffective

without first having an opportunity to address the accusation in some fashion.”

Commonwealth v. Reyes-Rodriguez, 111 A.3d 775, 783 (Pa. Super. 2015)

(citation, footnote, and quotation marks omitted). Additionally,

      our Supreme Court has cautioned against finding no reasonable
      basis for trial counsel’s actions in the absence of supporting
      evidence. The fact that an appellate court, reviewing a cold trial
      record, cannot prognosticate a reasonable basis for a particular
      failure to raise a plausible objection does not necessarily prove
      that an objectively reasonable basis was lacking.

Id. at 783-84 (citations and quotation marks omitted).

      On this point, our Supreme Court has explained:

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      Counsel are not constitutionally required to forward any and all
      possible objections at trial, and the decision of when to interrupt
      oftentimes is a function of overall defense strategy being brought
      to bear upon issues which arise unexpectedly at trial and require
      split-second decision-making by counsel.             Under some
      circumstances, trial counsel may forego objecting to an
      objectionable remark or seeking a cautionary instruction on a
      particular point because objections sometimes highlight the issue
      for the jury, and curative instructions always do.

      Our recent decision in [Commonwealth v. Lesko, 15 A.3d 345
      (Pa. 2011)] illustrates this point. There, the PCRA petitioner
      contended that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request
      an appropriate limiting instruction when the trial court admitted
      evidence of the petitioner’s prior bad acts. In rejecting the claim,
      we recognized that “it is well settled that the decision whether to
      seek a jury instruction implicates a matter of trial strategy.” Id.
      at 401 (citations omitted).        Because Lesko was given an
      evidentiary hearing and yet did not elicit from trial counsel his
      reasons for failing to request the cautionary charge, we concluded
      that Lesko failed to sustain his burden of demonstrating a lack of
      reasonable basis. Id. We held that because Lesko did not
      establish any ground for deeming counsel per se ineffective, and
      did not establish a lack of reasonable basis through trial counsel’s
      testimony at the PCRA hearing, he failed to sustain his burden of
      proof. Id.

Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 146-47 (Pa. 2012) (some citations

omitted and formatting altered).

      Here, our review of the record confirms that PCRA counsel failed to elicit

testimony from trial counsel concerning his reasons for failing to object to the

testimony in question. Because decisions on whether to object is a matter of

trial strategy, Appellant failed to carry his burden of establishing that trial

counsel lacked a reasonable basis for his actions because he did not question

trial counsel about his trial strategy at the evidentiary hearing. See Koehler,

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36 A.3d at 146-47; Lesko, 15 A.3d at 401. Therefore, Appellant is not entitled

to relief on these claims.

                        Failure to Impeach Goldsberry

      Appellant next argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

investigate Goldsberry’s criminal record, discover she had a prior crimen falsi

conviction, and use it to impeach her during trial. Appellant’s Brief at 33-35.

Appellant contends that trial counsel “had no reasonable basis as to not search

for crimen falsi convictions for each of the Commonwealth’s witness[es] and

to present the convictions for consideration by the jury as to cast doubt on

their testimony and thus the Commonwealth’s case.” Id. at 34-35. Appellant

concludes that he “was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to do so[,] as the

jury could not consider the prior conviction for dishonesty in the weighing [of]

the witness’ testimony.” Id. at 35.

      Here, the PCRA court concluded that it was reasonable for trial counsel

not to impeach Goldsberry, “as many parts of the testimony of Ms. Goldsberry

were favorable to” Appellant. PCRA Ct. Order, 9/25/20, at 11-12. Further,

the PCRA court concluded that even if trial counsel had impeached Goldsberry

with a prior crimen falsi conviction, it would not have changed the outcome of

the trial. Id. at 12.

      Based on our review of the record, we agree with the PCRA court that

Appellant has failed to demonstrate prejudice. Appellant was not convicted of

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any offense related to Goldsberry’s testimony.14                Therefore, he cannot

establish that he was prejudiced by counsel’s failure to investigate Goldsberry

in order to impeach her with her prior crimen falsi conviction. Accordingly, he

is not entitled to relief on this claim.15 See Sandusky, 203 A.3d at 1044;

see also Washington, 927 A.2d at 608.

                                 Firearms Evidence

       Appellant’s next three claims relate to the evidence that Appellant

possessed a firearm. First, Appellant argues that trial counsel was ineffective

for failing to object to unqualified expert testimony from Officer Obarto.

Appellant’s    Brief   at   43-46.       Further,   Appellant    contends   that   the

Commonwealth was required to present expert testimony to prove that the

object recovered by police was a firearm for the purposes of 18 Pa.C.S. §§

6102, 6105, and the National Firearms Act, because the statutory definition

of a firearm is beyond the knowledge of the average lay person. Id. at 46.

Appellant claims that, in declining to object to Officer Obarto’s testimony about

the firearm, trial counsel “failed to require the Commonwealth to meet its

____________________________________________

14 We note that the jury acquitted Appellant of the charges of criminal
trespass, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property, which all
arose from his interaction with Goldsberry on May 24, 2015. Subsequently,
on September 2, 2016, the trial court granted Appellant’s post-sentence
motion for a judgment of acquittal with respect to his burglary conviction,
which also arose from incidents involving Goldsberry.

15Further, to the extent Appellant claims that trial counsel had no reasonable
basis for his failure, Appellant failed to prove his burden because trial counsel
was not questioned about that decision during the evidentiary hearing. See
Koehler, 36 A.3d at 146-47; Lesko, 15 A.3d at 401.

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burden to prove the elements of each crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.

Appellant further claims that by failing to object to Officer Obarto’s testimony,

trial counsel waived this claim for appeal. Id. at 38-39 (citing Bailey, 2018

WL 4020009 at *3); see also id. at 46.

      Appellant also claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

retain a firearms expert to dispute Officer Obarto’s testimony about the

firearm.   Id. at 51-52.   He further contends that the PCRA court erred in

relying on trial counsel’s prior experience as a Secret Service Agent to

conclude that trial counsel had a reasonable basis for not inspecting the

firearm prior to trial and for failing to retain a firearms expert. Id. Appellant

argues that “while trial counsel’s experience may have given him knowledge

beyond that of the average layman, statements by counsel are not substantive

evidence . . . .” Id. at 51.

      Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105, an individual who has committed one of

the enumerated offenses may not “possess, use, control, transfer or

manufacture . . . a firearm in this Commonwealth.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(a)(1).

For the purposes of Section 6105, “firearm” means “any weapons which are

designed to or may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action

of an explosive or the frame or receiver of any such weapon.” 18 Pa.C.S. §

6105(i). While the Commonwealth is required to prove the firearm is operable

to convict a defendant of the offense of carrying a firearm without a license,

18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a)(1), proof of operability is not required to convict under

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Section 6105. See Commonwealth v. Thomas, 988 A.2d 669, 671-72 (Pa.

Super. 2009).

      This Court has held that the testimony of an eyewitness that the

defendant possessed a firearm alone is sufficient to convict the defendant of

carrying a firearm without a license, regardless of its operability.       See

Commonwealth v. Robinson, 817 A.2d 1153, 1161-62 (Pa. Super. 2003)

(the victim’s testimony that all three assailants who robbed her possessed

guns was sufficient to establish that the defendant carried a firearm without a

license, even though no firearm was recovered when the police apprehended

the defendant).

      Finally, our Supreme Court has stated that

      the mere failure to obtain an expert rebuttal witness is not
      ineffectiveness. [An a]ppellant must demonstrate that an expert
      witness was available who would have offered testimony designed
      to advance [the] appellant’s cause. Trial counsel need not
      introduce expert testimony on his client’s behalf if he is able
      effectively to cross-examine prosecution witnesses and elicit
      helpful testimony.

Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 30 A.3d 1111, 1143 (Pa. 2011) (citations

omitted and some formatting altered).

      Here, the PCRA court addressed Appellant’s claims as follows:

      [A]lthough Officer Obarto was not formally qualified as an expert
      witness, he was questioned about his knowledge of handguns
      generally and about the specific handgun possessed by
      [Appellant]. The officer had sufficient knowledge of handguns and
      sufficient knowledge of facts of the case and the line of
      questioning that elicited a description primarily focused on a
      description of the particular gun in the possession of [Appellant]
      was properly heard by the finder of facts.

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PCRA Ct. Order, 9/25/20, at 10.

      The PCRA court further stated that “[a]s the [PCRA c]ourt recalls and as

confirmed by the trial transcript, we recognize that [trial counsel], a former

[S]ecret [S]ervice agent was intimately familiar with the operation of firearms

. . . . [Trial counsel] properly relied on cross-examination of a police officer in

proving that the firearm was inoperative.” Id. at 9-10; see also PCRA Ct.

Op. 1/4/21, at 3 (stating that trial counsel’s “cross examination was informed

and effective at trial”). The PCRA court determined “that the questioning was

particularly essential to the finder of the fact, when distinguishing the two

separate gun related charges.” PCRA Ct. Order, 9/25/20, at 11. Further, the

PCRA court concluded that trial counsel’s “trial strategy was reasonable and

that his reliance on cross examination to test the Commonwealth’s case and

to prove or disprove the inoperability of the firearm was also reasonable and

appropriate.” Id.

      Appellant has not cited any cases in support of his contention that expert

testimony is required to identify an object as a firearm for the purposes of

establishing a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(a)(1). To the contrary, this Court

has held that lay testimony alone is sufficient to establish that a defendant

possessed a firearm for the purposes of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106. See Robinson,

817 A.2d at 1161-62. On this record, we agree with the trial court that expert

testimony is not required to prove an object is a firearm to support Appellant’s

conviction under Section 6105. Therefore, Appellant’s argument lacks merit,

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and no relief is due. See Washington, 927 A.2d at 608 (counsel cannot be

found to be ineffective for failing to raise a meritless claim).

      Further, although trial counsel did not object to Officer Obarto’s

testimony about the firearm, trial counsel testified at the PCRA hearing that

his strategy was to cross-examine Officer Obarto until he acknowledged that

the firearm was not operable. See N.T. PCRA Hr’g, 8/31/20, at 13-14. Trial

counsel succeeded in getting Officer Obarto to concede that the firearm was

not operable, which was an element necessary to convict Appellant of carrying

a firearm without a license under Section 6106. See id. Therefore, Appellant

has not established that trial counsel’s strategy lacked a reasonable basis.

See Becker, 192 A.3d at 117.

      As for trial counsel not calling a firearms expert, as stated above, expert

testimony is not required to establish an object is a firearm in order to convict

a defendant of persons not to possess a firearm under Section 6105. Accord

Robinson, 817 A.2d at 1161-62.           Additionally, Appellant has failed to

establish that an expert witness was available who would have offered

testimony to support Appellant’s position. See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1143. As

noted previously, trial counsel effectively cross-examined Officer Obarto and

elicited testimony that was helpful to Appellant’s case. Therefore, we conclude

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that Appellant’s ineffectiveness claim lacks arguable merit, and he is not

entitled to relief on this claim.16 See Washington, 927 A.2d at 608.

                     Failure to Raise Discovery Violations

       Next, Appellant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting

to the admission of the firearm at trial and for not requesting a mistrial

because the firearm had not been provided in discovery. Appellant’s Brief at

39-43. Specifically, Appellant contends that under both Pa.R.Crim.P. 573 and

Brady, the Commonwealth was obligated to turn over the firearm for trial

counsel to inspect following his request to inspect it. Id. at 41-42. Appellant

acknowledges that the trial court may impose a variety of remedies for

discovery violations. Id. (citing Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(E)). Appellant claims that

“[a]n objection, where the Commonwealth could not provide the firearm even

at the start of the trial, would undoubtedly have resulted in a ruling against

the Commonwealth[,]” and therefore trial counsel lacked a reasonable basis

____________________________________________

16 We note that Appellant’s contention that trial counsel did not inspect the
firearm prior to trial is not supported by the record, because trial counsel
stated that he had the opportunity to examine the firearm prior to trial and
believed it was not functional. See N.T. Trial, 1/26/16, at 44-45; N.T. PCRA
Hr’g, 8/31/20, at 8, 12. Further, we conclude that Appellant’s argument that
the PCRA court erroneously relied on trial counsel’s prior employment as a
Secret Service agent to excuse trial counsel’s actions which lacked a
reasonable basis is not supported by the record. Trial counsel explained his
strategy was to elicit testimony from Officer Obarto on cross-examination that
the firearm was not operable, and Officer Obarto testified to that effect. See
N.T. PCRA Hr’g, 8/31/20, at 8, 12-14. The PCRA court concluded that trial
counsel’s strategy was reasonable, see PCRA Ct. Order, 9/25/20, at 9-11;
PCRA Ct. Op. 1/4/21, at 2-3, and we agree with the PCRA court’s conclusion.
See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1143.

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for not objecting to the firearm. Id. at 42. Appellant also argues that he “was

undoubtedly prejudiced by trial counsel’s actions, as the jury was permitted

to view and consider evidence that had not properly been disclosed prior to

the start of the trial, and that evidence was used to convict the Appellant.”

Id. at 43.

      We have explained:

      To succeed on a Brady claim, a defendant must show that: (1)
      the evidence at issue was favorable to the accused, either because
      it is exculpatory or because it impeaches; (2) the evidence was
      suppressed by the prosecution, either willfully or inadvertently;
      and (3) prejudice ensued. The defendant carries the burden to
      prove, by reference to the record, that evidence was withheld or
      suppressed by the prosecution. Additionally, the evidence at issue
      must have been material evidence that deprived the defendant of
      a fair trial. Favorable evidence is material, and constitutional error
      results from its suppression by the government, if there is a
      reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to
      the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been
      different.

                                 *      *     *

         Brady does not require the disclosure of information that is
         not exculpatory but might merely form the groundwork for
         possible arguments or defenses, nor does Brady require the
         prosecution to disclose every fruitless lead considered
         during a criminal investigation. The duty to disclose is
         limited to information in the possession of the government
         bringing the prosecution, and the duty does extend to
         exculpatory evidence in the files of police agencies of the
         government bringing the prosecution. Brady is not violated
         when the appellant knew or, with reasonable diligence,
         could have uncovered the evidence in question, or when the
         evidence was available to the defense from other sources.

Sandusky, 203 A.3d at 1061-62 (citations and quotation marks omitted).

      Further, Criminal Rule of Procedure 573 provides, in relevant part:

                                     - 22 -
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      (B) Disclosure by the Commonwealth.

         (1) Mandatory. In all court cases, on request by the defendant,
         and subject to any protective order which the Commonwealth
         might obtain under this rule, the Commonwealth shall disclose
         to the defendant’s attorney all of the following requested items
         or information, provided they are material to the instant case.
         The Commonwealth shall, when applicable, permit the
         defendant’s attorney to inspect and copy or photograph such
         items.

            (a) Any evidence favorable to the accused that is material
            either to guilt or to punishment, and is within the possession
            or control of the attorney for the Commonwealth;

                                  *     *      *

            (e) any results or reports of scientific tests, expert opinions,
            and written or recorded reports of polygraph examinations
            or other physical or mental examinations of the defendant
            that are within the possession or control of the attorney for
            the Commonwealth;

            (f) any tangible objects, including documents, photographs,
            fingerprints, or other tangible evidence; and

                                  *     *      *

      (E) Remedy. If at any time during the course of the proceedings
      it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to
      comply with this rule, the court may order such party to permit
      discovery or inspection, may grant a continuance, or may prohibit
      such party from introducing evidence not disclosed, other than
      testimony of the defendant, or it may enter such other order as it
      deems just under the circumstances.

Pa.R.Crim.P 573(B)(1), (E).

      The PCRA court did not specifically address this claim, but it concluded

that trial counsel was not ineffective with respect to his trial strategy regarding

the firearm. See PCRA Ct. Order, 9/25/20, at 9-11. Appellant acknowledges

that the trial court has broad discretion in fashioning a sanction for a discovery

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violation. See Pa.R.Crim.P 573(E). Nevertheless, Appellant presents only a

bald assertion of prejudice, merely asserting that the trial court would have

excluded the firearm if trial counsel had objected to the admission of the

firearm on the grounds that he did not have a prior opportunity to inspect it.

A bald assertion of prejudice is not sufficient to satisfy Appellant’s burden to

prove trial counsel was ineffective.17         See Sandusky, 203 A.3d at 1044.

Further, as we have discussed above, the Commonwealth may establish a

defendant possessed a firearm solely with eyewitness testimony.              See

Robinson, 817 A.2d at 1161-62. Therefore, even if trial counsel had objected

and the trial court had excluded the firearm as a discovery sanction, Appellant

cannot show that this would have affected the outcome of his trial. For these

reasons, he is not entitled to relief. See Sandusky, 203 A.3d at 1043-44.

              Failure to Preserve Issues for Appellate Review

       Appellant next argues that “[o]ne of the secondary effects of the

aforementioned instances of ineffectiveness of trial counsel is that trial counsel

failed to preserve any of the evidentiary issues for appellate review; thus,

prejudicing the Appellant’s ability to successfully pursue a direct appeal.”

Appellant’s Brief at 37-38.         In support, Appellant refers to this Court’s

____________________________________________

17 Appellant’s argument that the Commonwealth did not produce the firearm
for inspection is not supported by the record. See N.T. Trial, 1/26/16, at 42-
45 (trial counsel informed the trial court he had inspected the firearm).
Insofar as Appellant is arguing that trial counsel was ineffective for not
objecting to the admission of the firearm at trial and for not requesting a
mistrial because the Commonwealth only produced the firearm for inspection
right before trial, this does not affect our analysis.

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conclusion in Appellant’s direct appeal that his claim of trial court error

regarding Officer Obarto was waived because trial counsel did not object. Id.

at 38-39 (citing Bailey, 2018 WL 4020009 at *3). Appellant concludes “[a]s

evidenced by the language in the foregoing [memorandum], the Appellant’s

direct appeal rights were compromised by [t]rial [c]ounsel[’s failure] to make

appropriate objections to preserve the issues for appellate review on direct

appeal.” Id. at 39.

      The PCRA court did not specifically address this claim. However, our

review confirms that, aside from the claim related to Officer Obarto’s opinion

testimony, which we have discussed herein, Appellant fails to identify any

meritorious issues that could have been appealed but were waived due to trial

counsel’s ineffectiveness. Accordingly, Appellant has waived this argument.

See Commonwealth v. Murchinson, 899 A.2d 1159, 1162 (Pa. Super.

2006) (finding the appellant’s claims waived under Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) because

he did not develop meaningful argument with specific references to relevant

case law and to the record to support his claims). Even if his arguments were

not waived, Appellant has offered only bald assertions that trial counsel lacked

a reasonable basis for his actions and that he was prejudiced as a result.

Therefore, no relief is due. See Sandusky, 203 A.3d at 1044.

                           Cumulative Prejudice

      Lastly, Appellant argues that the cumulative prejudice from trial

counsel’s errors deprived him of a fair trial and precluded him from raising

these issues on his direct appeal. Appellant’s Brief at 52-53.

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      Our Supreme Court has explained:

      It is well settled that no number of failed claims may collectively
      warrant relief if they fail to do so individually. Accordingly, where
      claims are rejected for lack of arguable merit, there is no basis for
      an accumulation claim. However, when the failure of individual
      claims is grounded in lack of prejudice, the cumulative prejudice
      from those individual claims may properly be assessed.

Commonwealth v. Bomar, 104 A.3d 1179, 1216 (Pa. 2014) (citations

omitted and formatting altered).

      Here, the PCRA court did not specifically address Appellant’s claim of

cumulative prejudice, although it did address Appellant’s claims of prejudice

individually as discussed herein. We agree with the PCRA court’s conclusion

that Appellant’s ineffectiveness claims lacked merit for failure to prove

prejudice, including the allegation that trial counsel was ineffective for not

investigating Goldsberry’s criminal history and not impeaching her with a prior

crimen falsi conviction; and that trial counsel was ineffective for not raising a

Brady objection regarding the Commonwealth’s failure to make the firearm

available for pre-trial inspection. Accordingly, for the reasons stated herein,

we conclude that Appellant did not suffer cumulative prejudice from trial

counsel’s omissions with respect to his claims and no relief is due.          See

Bomar, 104 A.3d at 1216.

                                   Conclusion

      For the reasons set forth herein, we conclude that there was no error of

law in the PCRA court dismissing Appellant’s PCRA petition. See Sandusky,

203 A.3d at 1043-44. Accordingly, we affirm the PCRA court’s order.

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     Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 11/29/2021

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