Court Opinion

ID: 2769974
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-14 20:09:46.244571+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:38.888663
License: Public Domain

J-S44043-14

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                     PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

THOMAS FINCHAM

                            Appellant               No. 428 WDA 2014

               Appeal from the Order Entered February 24, 2014
                In the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-26-CR-0000555-2001

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and OTT, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                          FILED JANUARY 14, 2015

       Thomas Fincham brings this pro se appeal1 from the order entered on

February 24, 2014, in the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County, that

dismissed, without a hearing, his second petition2 for relief pursuant to the
____________________________________________

1
  On January 30, 2014, the trial court allowed PCRA counsel to withdraw
after counsel filed, on January 17, 2014, a no merit letter pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988) and Commonwealth
v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc), and a petition for
leave to withdraw.
2
   Fincham’s second PCRA petition is not reflected on the docket, nor
contained in the certified record. The court states in its opinion that it
treated a letter from Fincham as a request for PCRA relief, see PCRA Court
Opinion, 4/22/2014, at 4, and the court appointed PCRA counsel on May 7,
2013. Fincham subsequently filed a pro se Amended Motion to Modify and
Reduce Sentence and Dismissal of Criminal Complaint, on October 9, 2013,
and a second Amended Motion on November 1, 2013.
J-S44043-14

Pennsylvania Post Conviction Relief Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541–9546.3

Fincham contends (1) he was denied his right to counsel under Article 1 § 9
____________________________________________

3
  On December 8, 2008, Fincham entered a guilty plea to several offenses,
namely, 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3731(a)(1) (driving while under the influence of
alcohol), 3731(a)(4) (driving with blood alcohol level .10% or greater), and
3361 (driving at safe speed). On February 17, 2009, Fincham was sentenced
to 36 months of intermediate punishment with not less than 12 months to
be served on house arrest with electronic monitoring.

       On July 13, 2012, the trial court revoked Fincham’s intermediate
punishment sentence and imposed a sentence of incarceration of one and
one-half to three years. Thereafter, on September 13, 2012, Fincham, who
did not have counsel at the July 13, 2012 hearing, filed a PCRA petition, and
the court appointed counsel for Fincham. The court conducted a hearing on
February 13, 2013, and granted PCRA relief by vacating the July 13, 2012
sentence and resentencing Fincham. Thereafter, Fincham again sought
PCRA relief. See Commonwealth v. Dehart, 730 A.2d 991, 994 n.2 (Pa.
Super. 1999) (a successful first PCRA petition does not “reset the clock” for
the calculation of the finality of the judgment of sentence for purposes of the
PCRA where the relief granted in the first petition neither restored a
petitioner’s direct appeal rights nor disturbed his conviction, but, rather,
affected his sentence only), appeal denied, 745 A.2d 1218 (Pa. 1999).

      For this PCRA petition to be timely, it was required to be filed within
one year from when the judgment of sentence became final.            See 42
Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1), (b)(3) (PCRA time limitations). Here, the judgment of
sentence imposed upon revocation became final on Monday, August 13,
2012, 30 days after imposition of the July 13, 2012, revocation sentence,
when the time for filing a direct appeal expired.

     On March 18, 2013, Fincham filed a pro se “Motion to Modify Sentence
and Dismiss of Criminal Complaint.” The Court denied the motion on the
same day.    Subsequently, the court entered an order appointing counsel
“upon the PCRA motion filed on May 7, 2013.” See Preliminary Post
Conviction Order, 5/7/2013.

      Therefore, we consider Fincham’s second PCRA petition timely filed
within one year of August 13, 2012, the date upon which the judgment of
sentence imposed upon revocation became final.

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of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments

of the United States Constitution, when he did not have counsel present

during his sentencing, (2) the sentence he received was greater than the

lawful maximum allowed by law at the time he was arrested, (3) he was

denied effective assistance of PCRA counsel, and (4) he was denied effective

assistance of counsel during his guilty plea. Based upon the following, we

affirm.

      The PCRA Court has aptly summarized the background of this case, as

follows:

            Under rare and complicated circumstances, the incident at
      issue is a Driving under the Influence (“DUI”) offense that was
      committed on September 30, 2000. According to the Affidavit of
      Probable Cause, [Fincham] crashed his vehicle into a stone pillar
      along the northbound side of State Route 119 in Springhill
      Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Both [Fincham] and his
      passenger sustained serious injuries and were transported to
      Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. While at
      the hospital, [Fincham] was read his Implied Consent and
      O'Connell warnings, and he signed the Implied Consent form to
      have his blood drawn at the hospital. [Fincham’s] blood alcohol
      content was measured at .16%.

            On December 21, 2000, [Fincham] was charged with
      Aggravated Assault by Motor Vehicle, DUI, Driving with a Blood
      Alcohol Level of .10% or Greater, Failing to Drive at a Safe
      Speed, Careless Driving, and Driving without a License. The
      count for Aggravated Assault by Vehicle was subsequently
      withdrawn.

             On November 7, 2001, a bench warrant was issued for
      [Fincham’s] immediate arrest due to his failure to appear for
      trial. He was not apprehended until almost seven (7) years later.
      The bench warrant was lifted on October 30, 2008 by Judge John
      Wagner, and new bond was set for $2500.00 straight cash.
      [Fincham] posted that bond and was released.

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           On [December 8], 2008, [Fincham] entered a guilty plea to
     all of the remaining counts. This was [Fincham’s] fourth DUI
     offense in seven (7) years. The prior offenses occurred in Marion
     County, West Virginia, and [Fincham] was sentenced on all three
     (3) on July 29, 1994.

           On February 17, 2009, [Fincham] was sentenced to thirty-
     six (36) months of Intermediate Punishment with not less than
     twelve (12) months to be served on house arrest with electronic
     monitoring. [Fincham] did not appeal this sentence.

           Since [Fincham] was a resident of West Virginia at the
     time of sentencing, his supervision was transferred there. For
     unexplained reasons and unbeknownst to the Court, [Fincham]
     was released from electronic monitoring after only seventy-two
     (72) days. However, while he was still on the Court’s
     supervision, he was charged with Sexual Assault and Incest in
     West Virginia. He pleaded guilty to the Incest charge and spent
     eighteen (18) months in a West Virginia prison. These new
     charges constituted a direct violation of his supervision.
     Furthermore, [Fincham] had several “technical violations” of his
     supervision for his failure to report and failure to pay.

           On July 13, 2012, the Court revoked [Fincham’s]
     Intermediate Punishment and resentenced him to a term of
     incarceration of one and one-half years (1.5) to three (3) years.
     [Fincham] was unrepresented by counsel at the Revocation and
     Resentencing Proceedings.

           On September 13, 2012, [Fincham] filed a PCRA [petition]
     seeking credit for the time he was incarcerated in West Virginia,
     and he argued that his federal and state Constitutional rights
     were violated because he was not represented by counsel during
     the July 13 Proceedings. The Court issued a Notice of [I]ntention
     to Dismiss the PCRA [petition] on October 3, 2012. [Fincham]
     responded to the Notice of Intention to Dismiss on October 22,
     2012. On December 10, 2012, the Court appointed the Fayette
     County Public Defender’s Office to represent [Fincham] and
     ordered another Resentence Proceeding.

           On February 12, 2013, the Court conducted a second
     Resentence Hearing, and [Fincham] was represented by
     Assistant Public Defender David Kaiser, Esquire. After a lengthy

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       discussion on the record regarding his prior DUI’s and the Incest
       conviction, the Court vacated the Sentence Order dated July 13,
       2012 and resentenced [Fincham] to a period of incarceration of
       fifteen (15) months to thirty (30) months, followed by a
       consecutive term of six (months) probation. [Fincham] was
       given credit for the time he served on house arrest, the time
       spent awaiting extradition in West Virginia, and the time he
       served in prison awaiting his new sentence.

             On March 18, 2013, [Fincham] filed a “Motion to Modify
       Sentence and Dismiss of Criminal Complaint.” The Court denied
       the Motion on the same day. Later, [Fincham] sent the Court a
       letter that was treated as a second PCRA [petition] and
       appointed Fayette County Conflicts Counsel Jeremy Davis,
       Esquire to review it. Attorney Davis later resigned as Conflicts
       Counsel and withdrew from the case. Newly appointed Conflicts
       Counsel James V. Natale, Esq. was appointed to represent
       [Fincham]. Attorney Natale was given additional time to review
       and possibly amend the PCRA [petition].

             On October 9, 2013, [Fincham] filed an Amended Motion to
       Modify and Reduce Sentence and Dismissal of Criminal
       Complaint, and he filed a second Amended Motion of that nature
       on November 1, 2013.

             On January 17, 2014, Attorney Natale filed a No Merit
       Letter pursuant to Commonwealth v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551
       (1987) and Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 ([Pa.]
       1988) and a Motion to Withdraw. The Court granted the Motion
       on January 30, 2014.

              On     February 7, 2014, the Court issued a Notice of
       Intention    to Dismiss the PCRA [petition], and after receiving no
       response      from [Fincham], the Court dismissed the PCRA
       [petition]   on February 27, 2014. A timely appeal followed.

PCRA Court Opinion, 4/22/2014, at 2–5.4
____________________________________________

4
  We note Fincham timely complied with the PCRA court’s order to file a
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal.

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        Preliminarily, we state our standard of review:

        [A]n appellate court reviews the PCRA court’s findings of fact to
        determine whether they are supported by the record, and
        reviews its conclusions of law to determine whether they are free
        from legal error. The scope of review is limited to the findings of
        the PCRA court and the evidence of record, viewed in the light
        most favorable to the prevailing party at the trial level.

Commonwealth v. Charleston, 94 A.3d 1012, 1019 (Pa. Super. 2014)

(citation omitted).

        In his first argument, Fincham contends his federal and state

constitutional rights were violated because he was not represented by

counsel at the July 13, 2012 intermediate punishment revocation/sentencing

hearing. This argument, however, is moot.

        In response to Fincham’s first, pro se PCRA petition, filed September

13, 2012, the court, on October 3, 2012, issued notice of intent to dismiss

the petition.    Thereafter, according to the docket, on October 22, 2012,

Fincham filed a pro se petition for credit for imprisonment while in custody

prior to sentence, and a letter to the judge.5        On November 16, 2012,

Fincham sent pro se correspondence to the court.            The certified record

contains a hand-written “Motion to Modify Sentence,” dated November 13,

2012, wherein Fincham asserts he did not have counsel at the July 13, 2012,

____________________________________________

5
    These documents are not part of the certified record.

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hearing.6    The PCRA court, on December 10, 2012, appointed counsel for

Fincham and ordered an updated presentence report for resentencing.     See

Order, 12/11/2012.         On February 12, 2013, at a hearing with counsel

present to represent Fincham, the court, upon consideration of Fincham’s

pro se PCRA petition and his motion for time credit, vacated the July 13,

2012 sentence of one and one-half to three years’ imprisonment.         See

Resentence Order, 2/13/2013. The court resentenced Fincham to 15 to 30

months’ imprisonment, followed by 6 months’ probation.7,       8
                                                                   See id.

Accordingly, Fincham’s complaint that he was denied counsel at the July 13,

____________________________________________

6
  The record reflects that Fincham appeared pro se at the July 13, 2012,
intermediate punishment/sentencing proceeding, and that the hearing
proceeded, without a colloquy to determine whether Fincham was waiving
his right to counsel, and without counsel for Fincham.
7
  At the February 12, 2013, hearing, appointed counsel advised the court
that it was Fincham’s understanding that his DUI offense was a second
offense DUI, and a misdemeanor of the second degree.              See N.T.,
2/12/2013, at 4. Counsel also advised the court that “one of the reasons for
revocation was an allegation of sexual assault that was later dismissed and
that he was not convicted for.” Id. The court determined Fincham’s DUI
offense was his fourth DUI offense and was a first degree misdemeanor,
under the statute then in effect. See id. at 12. See also 75 Pa.C.S. 3731
(now repealed). The court accepted Fincham’s assertion regarding the
sexual assault charge. See id. at 19.
8
  The court also gave Fincham credit for time served from April 1, 2009 to
June 11, 2009 on electronic monitoring in the State of West Virginia and for
time spent awaiting extradition from June 8, 2012 through July 13, 2012. In
addition, Fincham received credit for time served from July 13, 2012 to
February 12, 2013. See Resentence Order, 2/13/2009.

                                           -7-
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2012 revocation/sentencing proceeding, is moot in light of the February 12,

2013 resentencing hearing, and warrants no relief.

     Next, Fincham claims that his sentence is illegal because the court

applied the “seven year look back,” which related to his DUI offense, to a

previous DUI offense that was over seven years old. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 3731

(now repealed).   This argument is unavailing.       The PCRA court cogently

explained:

     Second, [Fincham] argues that his sentence was greater than
     the maximum permitted by law at the time he was placed under
     arrest. As stated above, the DUI offense in question occurred on
     September [3]0, 2000, and the DUI statute in 2000 was
     different than the present statute. In 2000, the statute had a
     seven (7)-year look back period to previous offenses.

     The Pennsylvania Supreme Court explained how courts were to
     calculate this seven (7)-year period: “We read Section
     3731(e)(1)(ii) as meaning exactly what it says: a present
     violation and a previous conviction constitute the look-back
     period.” Commonwealth v. Kimmel, 565 A.2d 426, 428 (Pa.
     1989).

     Here, [Fincham] was convicted of three (3) prior DUI’s in Marion
     County, West Virginia on July 29, 1994, and he committed the
     DUI in question on September 30, 2000. The three (3) previous
     convictions occurred only six (6) years before the offense in
     question. Accordingly, [Fincham] was properly sentenced for a
     fourth DUI offense before the court.

PCRA Court Opinion, 4/22/2014, at 8. As our review of the record confirms

the PCRA court’s analysis, we conclude no relief is due on Fincham’s

argument concerning the seven year look back.

     Fincham also complains that the DUI offense was charged as a second

degree misdemeanor, but he was sentenced for the DUI as a misdemeanor

                                   -8-
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of the first degree.9       At the plea hearing, the Commonwealth’s attorney

advised the court that the terms of the plea agreement were that in

exchange for the plea, there would be a mandatory minimum, with no

objection to intermediate punishment in the form of house arrest. See N.T.,

12/8/2008, at 2. Although Fincham’s DUI offense was initially charged as a

second degree misdemeanor, there was discussion during the plea hearing

about whether Fincham’s DUI offense was his fourth within the seven year

look back period of the relevant statute. See id. at 6. A fourth DUI offense

within seven years constituted a first degree misdemeanor, and carried a

mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison under the statute then

in effect. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 3731 (now repealed).

       On December 8, 2008, prior to entering his plea, Fincham was advised

regarding the one-year mandatory minimum sentence for a fourth DUI

offense within seven years. See N.T., 12/8/2008, at 8. At the subsequent

sentencing hearing, the trial court explained to Fincham before sentencing

him that his DUI offense was “a fourth offense in a seven-year period …

[which] would leave [him] facing up to 5 years in prison if [he] violate[d] the

____________________________________________

9
  This issue was hand-written on Fincham’s typed Rule 1925(b) statement.
The PCRA court did not address this issue in its opinion in support of its
decision denying PCRA relief. However, the court had previously addressed
this issue in its order denying Fincham’s pro se motion to dismiss criminal
complaint and modify sentence. See Order, 3/18/2013.

                                           -9-
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terms and conditions of the intermediate punishment program.”             N.T.,

2/17/2009, at 8.   Fincham indicated he wanted to proceed. See id.

     The court, in its order denying Fincham’s pro se motion to modify

sentence, filed after the imposition of the February 12, 2013, revocation

sentence, aptly explained the grading of the DUI offense:

     [Fincham] was “convicted” of three other counts of DUI on July
     29, 1994 in Marion County, West Virginia. The incident dates for
     those DUIs are September 2, 1993, September 8, 1993, and
     December 17, 1993; but all have 1994 docket numbers,
     confirming that he was not “convicted” until 1994. The seven
     year recidivism penalty is measured — not from the earlier
     incident date but — from the date of the older “conviction”
     until the date of the new offense. Fincham was “convicted”
     of all three prior offenses (that operate to enhance here) on July
     29, 1994, exactly 6 years, 2 months and one day before he
     committed the instant offense.

     At the time of the instant offense, “first” and “second” DUIs were
     misdemeanors of the second degree punishable by a maximum
     of two years in prison. “Third” and “fourth” offenses were
     misdemeanors of the first degree punishable by a maximum of
     five years in prison. The instant offense was the defendant’s
     fourth in the seven year “look back” period, and also carried a
     mandatory minimum of one year in prison. (In retrospect, the
     initial imposition of house arrest may have been inappropriate
     since it was not an available sentencing option when the crime
     was committed — but, the defendant evidently had no complaint
     about that).

     The sentence of fifteen months to thirty months with an
     additional six months of probation is only three months more
     that the mandatory minimum despite the defendant’s inability to
     comply with the most rudimentary terms of supervision and his
     extended failures to appear when ordered. The sentence is not
     illegal.

                                   - 10 -
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Order, 3/18/2013, at 3-4 (denying Fincham’s pro se “Motion to dismiss

criminal complaint and modify sentence”) (emphasis and underlining in

original).

      Our review confirms that the seven year look back period was correctly

applied, and that Fincham’s DUI offense constitutes a fourth DUI offense, a

misdemeanor of the first degree, which carries a mandatory minimum of one

year, and a maximum five year sentence. Accordingly, we reject Fincham’s

challenge to the legality of the revocation sentence.

      Finally, Fincham presents two ineffectiveness claims. Specifically,

Fincham’s Rule 1925(b) statement states:

             [Fincham] was denied effective assistance of P.C.R.A.
             counsel.

             [Fincham] was denied effective assistance of counsel
             during his guilty plea.

Fincham’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement.

      With regard to the claim of PCRA counsel’s ineffectiveness, even

though the PCRA court addressed the issue, the court opined it was unclear

from Fincham’s Rule 1925(b) statement whether Fincham was referring to

counsel who represented Fincham at the February 12, 2013, proceedings,

counsel who was initially appointed PCRA counsel for this second petition, or

counsel who replaced initial PCRA counsel and filed a no-merit letter. See

PCRA Court Opinion, 4/22/2014, at 10. We agree. Moreover, Fincham did

not identify any specific claim of ineffectiveness in his concise statement.

Accordingly, we conclude that this ineffectiveness claim is waived due to its

                                    - 11 -
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vagueness and lack of specificity.    See Commonwealth v. Hansley, 24

A.3d 410, 415 (Pa. Super. 2011) (“[I]f a concise statement is too vague, a

court may find waiver.”), appeal denied, 32 A.3d 1275 (Pa. 2011).        See

also, Commonwealth v. Lemon, 804 A.2d 34, 38 (Pa. Super. 2002)

(“[W]hen an appellant fails to identify in a vague Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)

statement the specific issues he/she wants to raise on appeal, the issue is

waived, even if the trial court guesses correctly and addresses the issue in

its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.”).

      With regard to the remaining claim, Fincham contends counsel was

ineffective during the guilty plea hearing.   We may not review this claim.

This Court has explained that where a new sentence is imposed at an

intermediate punishment revocation hearing, the time for seeking PCRA

relief runs for one year from when the judgment of sentence becomes final,

“but only as to the issues of the validity of the revocation

proceedings and the legality of the new sentence.” Commonwealth

v. Anderson, 788 A.2d 1019, 1022 (Pa. Super. 2001) (emphasis in

original), appeal denied, 798 A.2d 1286 (Pa. 2002). Consequently, we

cannot review Fincham’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim related to his

2008 guilty plea hearing. See Commonwealth v. Garcia, 23 A.3d 1059,

1062 n.3 (Pa. Super. 2011) (finding untimely defendant’s claim of counsel’s

ineffectiveness that related to his original guilty plea and sentence;

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revocation of probation did not “reset the clock” for PCRA purposes), appeal

denied, 38 A.3d 823 (Pa. 2012).10

       Having considered the contentions of Fincham, and finding that they

present no basis upon which to disturb the decision of the PCRA judge, we

affirm.

       Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/14/2015

____________________________________________

10
   Fincham did not appeal his February 17, 2009 intermediate punishment
sentence, and therefore that sentence became final 30 days later, on March
19, 2009, when the time to file a direct appeal expired. Consequently,
Fincham’s PCRA claim of guilty plea counsel’s ineffectiveness had to have
been filed within one year of when the judgment of sentence became final,
that is, by March 19, 2010, or Fincham was required satisfy a statutory
exception to the one year time bar, which he has failed to do here. See 42
Pa.C.S. § 9545(b) (“Time for filing petition”).

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