Court Opinion

ID: 4167545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-10 18:15:45.573505+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:13.811051
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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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.                      :
                                            :
RAYMOND E. HAUN,                            :
                          APPELLANT         :
                                            :
                                            :     No. 1607 MDA 2016

                 Appeal from the PCRA Order August 15, 2016
                In the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-14-CR-0001493-2004

BEFORE: BOWES, J., DUBOW, J., and FITZGERALD, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                                 FILED MAY 10, 2017

        Appellant, Raymond Haun, appeals pro se from the Order entered in

the Centre County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his third Petition filed

under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546, as

untimely. After careful review, we affirm.

        On January 28, 2005, a jury convicted Appellant of one count of

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (“IDSI”), 18 Pa.C.S. § 3123; one

count of Attempted Aggravated Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3125; one

count of Endangering the Welfare of Children, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304; one count

of Corruption of Minors, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301; and more than 520 counts of

Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126.

*
    Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
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      On June 30, 2005, the trial court determined that Appellant was a

sexually violent predator (SVP) and sentenced him to an aggregate term of

27 - 97 years’ incarceration. Appellant did not file Post-Sentence Motions,

nor did he file a direct appeal from the Judgment of Sentence. Accordingly,

Appellant’s Judgment of Sentence became final on August 1, 2005.

      Appellant filed his first Petition under the PCRA on June 7, 2006,

raising claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.   The PCRA court denied

Appellant’s Petition on November 4, 2008, solely on the basis that Appellant

was ineligible to pursue ineffective assistance of counsel claims under the

PCRA because he had admitted guilt.        On appeal from that decision, this

court reversed and remanded.      Commonwealth v. Haun, 984 A.2d 557

(Pa. Super. 2009).    Our Supreme Court granted allowance of appeal and

affirmed the decision of the Superior Court, concluding, in a unanimous

opinion, that, “a concession of guilt does not, per se, foreclose prisoner

access to the PCRA.”    Commonwealth v. Haun, 32 A.3d 697, 705 (Pa.

2011).

      On remand, the PCRA court denied Appellant’s claims on the merits.

Appellant appealed from the dismissal of his Petition on May 21, 2012. This

court affirmed the Order dismissing Appellant’s first Petition on its merits on

January 4, 2013. Commonwealth v. Haun, No. 934 MDA 2012 (Pa. Super.

filed January 4, 2013) (unpublished memorandum).          On September 14,

2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied Appellant’s Petition for

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Allowance of Appeal.      Commonwealth v. Haun, No. 60 MAL 2013 (filed

September 14, 2013).

         On November 21, 2014, Appellant filed his second PCRA Petition.

Subsequently, on April 28, 2016 Appellant filed a “Praecipe to Discontinue

Motion for Post-Conviction Collateral Relief.”

         On June 27, 2016, Appellant filed the instant pro se PCRA petition, his

third.     In it, he raised claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, and

challenged the legality of his sentence. On July 20, 2016, the PCRA court

issued a Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 Notice advising Appellant of its intent to dismiss

his Petition as untimely filed.       On August 5, 2016, Appellant filed a

Response. On August 15, 2016, the PCRA court entered an Order dismissing

Appellant’s Petition, concluding that the Petition was untimely and that

Appellant had failed to plead and prove a timeliness exception. This appeal

followed.

         Appellant raises eleven issues for our review, which we reproduce here

verbatim:

           1. Whether two appointed counsels of record was effective
           assistance of counsel; by failing to file “JOINDER OF
           DEFENSE” Motion to consolidate all charges, listed in the
           “Indictment” and/or information; Docket No: CR-374-
           2004; filed August 16, 2004. Citing Commonwealth v.
           Campana, 304 A.2d 432 (PA 1973)? Pa.R.Crim.P 505(b);
           Article I, § 9 & 26 of Pennsylvania Constitution, 6 th
           Amendment U.S. Constitution. Id. 42 Pa.R.Crim.P Rule
           571(A-D); Rule 563 and 582.

           2. Whether “Compulsory Joinder of Offense” Motion was
           necessary and mandated before Jury Trial, on statutory

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       offenses of five hundred eighteen (518) counts of,
       “Indecent Assault” offenses, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. §
       109-110; refer to, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) & §
       3126(a)(7), so that the Jury and Petitioner would not be
       confused? Refer to, 42 Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 363 and 582.

       3. Whether “Due Process Rights” of “Notice” of “Separate
       Information” or “Indictments” was filed on each separate
       statutory offense count of “Indecent Assault Charges”, 18
       Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) & 3126(a)(7), before Jury Trial, on
       August 16, 2004; Carbon Copy Counts, denied Petitioner
       “Due Process of Law” and “Right to Fair Notice”? Refer to,
       42 Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 562; 14th Amendment, U.S.
       Constitution.

       4. Did “Affidavit of Probable Cause” CR-374-2004; filed
       August 16, 2004 contained in one (1) “Indictment”,
       pursuant to, 42 Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 505(B), of multiple,
       identically worded, statutory offenses, five hundred
       eighteen (518) counts total, of two (2) separate charged
       offenses; pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) & §
       3126(a)(7), deprive Petitioner (said Appellant) of “Due
       Process Rights” to protect Petitioner against conviction of
       multiple counts for the same conduct in violation of
       “Double Jeopardy”, U.S. Constitution 5th & 14th
       Amendment, Article I, § 10 & 26 of the Pennsylvania
       Constitution.

       5. Did Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Centre County)
       distinguish a “Factural Basis” of each statutory offense of
       18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) – one hundred ninety one (191)
       counts – Misdemeanor Offenses) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. §
       3126(a)(7)- three hundred twenty seven (327) counts –
       (Misdemeanor Offenses) stated in “Affidavit of Probable
       Cause”, Docket No: CR-374-2004, and/or omitted “Bill of
       Particulars”, or even at Jury Trial, and properly gave
       “Notice” to, Raymond E. Haun and violated his “Federal
       Due Process Rights”, to have a plausible defense? Refer to
       U.S. Constitution 5th & 14th Amendment.           Id.   42
       Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 572(A).

       6. Did the (Criminal Pleadings) define each statutory
       charged offenses; in “Affidavit of Probable Cause” CR-374-
       2004, especially “INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGES”, 18

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       Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) – one hundred ninety one (191)
       counts – Misdemeanor Offenses) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. §
       3126(a)(7)- three hundred twenty seven (327) counts –
       (Misdemeanor Offenses) (in generic terms), including
       AGGRAVATED INDECENT ASSAULT, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3125
       (sub sec 6) and CRIMINAL ATTEMPT, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901,
       violating Due Process of Law? Refer to Fed. R. Civil.P. Rule
       8(d)(e).

       7. Did    “Centre   County”    exceed  their  legislative
       authorization by imposing multiple punishment for the
       “same offense” namely INDECENT ASSAULT charges
       (specifically) 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) – one hundred
       ninety one (191) counts and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(7)-
       three hundred twenty seven (327) counts that was literally
       “Carbon Copy Counts” with the same “Factual Basis? Id.
       1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921 – 1928; 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(a). Id.
       U.S. Constitution; Article I, § 10 & 26 of Pennsylvania
       Constitution.

       8. Did the prosecutor failure to file and consolidate
       charges that were logically related, and common issues of
       law and fact that was shared on nthe same statutory
       offenses, specifically 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(6) & 18
       Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(7), that totaled five hundred eighteen
       (518) counts (on or about) over a period (approximately
       between June 1994 through May 1997), bar successive
       prosecutions for the same offenses (Criminal Episode) and
       “Collateral Estoppel” violate Double Jeopardy Clause, 5th
       Amendment,       U.S.     Constitution  and    Pennsylvania
       Constitution, Article I, § 10 under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 109-111?
       Id. 42 Pa.R.E. § 404(b)(2)(3)(4).

       9. Whether the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Centre
       County) charge Petitioner (Raymond E. Haun) (said
       Appellant) with two (2) statutory charges although
       different, Criminal Attempt, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901 and
       Aggravated Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3125(a)(6),
       that was filed ambiguously, pursuant to, 1 Pa.C.S.A. §
       1921(a)(b)(1), must be construed as the same offense
       “Statutes in Pari Materia” 1 Pa.C.S.A.§ 1932(a)(b); 1
       Pa.C.A. § 1921-1928?

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         10.      Did the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Centre
         County) commit reversible error, charging in information
         (Raymond E. Haun) with; Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S.A. §
         3126(a)(6), one hundred ninety one (191) Counts and 18
         Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(7), three hundred twenty seven,
         (327) counts, that wasn’t (consolidated nor separated)
         before Jury Trial that shared issues of law and fact, must
         be considered only two separate elements, against the
         peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
         and must be considered “Statutes in Pari Materia”,
         pursuant to 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1932(a)(b); 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921-
         1928?

         11.      Did the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Centre
         County have jurisdiction over (Raymond E. Haun)
         successive Post Collateral Act Petition, pursuant to 42
         Pa.C.S.A. § 9541-9546, that challenges the “Illegal
         Sentences” that was “cruel and unusual” punishment that
         was excessive, totaling ninety seven (97) years? Id. 42
         Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(a)(c)(3)(d)(1-4); 42 Pa.C.S.A. §
         9721(b).

Appellant’s Brief at 4-7.

      We review the denial of a PCRA Petition to determine whether the

record supports the PCRA court’s findings and whether its Order is otherwise

free of legal error.   Commonwealth v. Fears, 86 A.3d 795, 803 (Pa.

2014). There is no right to a PCRA hearing; a hearing is unnecessary where

the PCRA court can determine from the record that there are no genuine

issues of material fact. Commonwealth v. Jones, 942 A.2d 903, 906 (Pa.

Super. 2008).

      Before addressing the merits of Appellant’s claims, we must first

determine whether we have jurisdiction to entertain the underlying PCRA

Petition. See Commonwealth v. Hackett, 956 A.2d 978, 983 (Pa. 2008)

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(explaining that the timeliness of a PCRA Petition is a jurisdictional

requisite).

        Under the PCRA, any Petition “including a second or subsequent

petition, shall be filed within one year of the date the judgment becomes

final[.]” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1). A Judgment of Sentence becomes final

“at the conclusion of direct review, including discretionary review in the

Supreme Court of the United States and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,

or at the expiration of time for seeking the review.”             42 Pa.C.S. §

9545(b)(3). The statutory exceptions to the timeliness provisions allow for

very limited circumstances to excuse the late filing of a petition;1 a petitioner

1
    (b) Time for filing petition.—

          (1) Any petition under this subchapter, including a second
          or subsequent petition, shall be filed within one year of the
          date the judgment becomes final, unless the petition
          alleges and the petitioner proves that:

              (i) the failure to raise the claim previously was the
              result of interference by government officials with
              the presentation of the claim in violation of the
              Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth or the
              Constitution or laws of the United States;

              (ii) the facts upon which the claim is predicated were
              unknown to the petitioner and could not have been
              ascertained by the exercise of due diligence; or

              (iii) the right asserted is a constitutional right that
              was recognized by the Supreme Court of the United
              States or the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after
              the time period provided in this section and has been
              held by that court to apply retroactively.

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asserting an exception must file a petition within 60 days of the date the

claim could have been presented. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1)-(2).

      Here, Appellant’s Judgment of Sentence, became final on August 1,

2005. See 42 Pa.C.A. § 9545(b)(3). In order to be timely, Appellant must

have submitted his PCRA Petition by August 1, 2006.         See 42 Pa.C.S. §

9545(b)(1). Appellant filed the instant Petition on June 27, 2016, more than

10 years after his Judgment of Sentence became final.         The PCRA court

properly concluded that Appellant’s Petition is facially untimely.   PCRA Ct.

Order, 8/15/16.

      In his PCRA Petition and in his Brief to this Court, Appellant “makes

various allegations he believes amount to governmental interference,

constitutional violations, and ineffective assistance of counsel.”   PCRA Ct.

Op., 7/20/16, at 1. With respect to these claims, Appellant does not invoke

or argue any timeliness exception. Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled to

relief on these claims. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1) (placing the burden on

petitioner to prove one of these exceptions).

      In his final issue in the Statement of Questions section of his appellate

Brief, Appellant attempts to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction by averring that

his sentence is illegal. This claim fails for two reasons. First, Appellant has

not set forth any argument in his Brief in support of this allegation.

         42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1)(i)–(iii)

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Accordingly, it is waived.     See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a); Commonwealth v.

Hardy, 918 A.2d 766, 771 (Pa. Super. 2007) (“[I]t is an appellant’s duty to

present arguments that are sufficiently developed for our review. The brief

must support the claims with pertinent discussion, with references to the

record and with citations to legal authorities.” (citations omitted)).

      Even if Appellant had not waived this issue he would not be entitled to

relief, as he has not invoked a timeliness exception to explain his delay in

raising this claim. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1)(i)-(iii).

      As long as this Court has jurisdiction over the matter, a legality of

sentencing issue is reviewable and cannot be waived. Commonwealth v.

Jones, 932 A.2d 179, 182 (Pa. Super. 2007).                 However, all claims

cognizable under the PCRA, including a legality of sentencing issue, must be

raised in a timely filed PCRA Petition over which we have jurisdiction. See

42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b); Commonwealth v. Fahy, 737 A.2d 214, 223 (Pa.

1999) (“Although legality of sentence is always subject to review within the

PCRA,, claims must first satisfy the PCRA’s time limits or one of the

exceptions thereto.”).

      Following our review of Appellant’s PCRA Petition, we conclude

Appellant failed to assert a claim that satisfies an exception to the PCRA’s

time limits. Moreover, to the extent that Appellant’s challenges the legality

of his sentence, we agree with the PCRA court that Appellant “does not

assert, nor does he prove, that any of the claims raised within his Nunc Pro

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Tunc PCRA were presented within sixty days of the date he learned of the

information forming the basis of his allegations. Moreover, upon review of

[Appellant’s] allegations, it appears each allegation deals with facts

previously known to [Appellant] during proceedings in the trial court.” 2 Trial

Ct. Op., at 1-2. Appellant’s claim, thus, fails.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 5/10/2017

2
  In fact, the majority of Appellant’s claims center around his charging
documents, joinder of his claims, and merger of his charges, all of which he
was aware of since at least the time of his sentencing on June 30, 2005.

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