Court Opinion

ID: 4106082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-09 19:10:17.890607+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:11.699102
License: Public Domain

J. S73011/16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA        :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                    :          PENNSYLVANIA
                v.                  :
                                    :
BRYAN JOHN MOYER,                   :        No. 1947 WDA 2015
                                    :
                     Appellant      :

           Appeal from the PCRA Order, November 13, 2015,
             in the Court of Common Pleas of Potter County
           Criminal Division at Nos. CP-53-CR-0000058-2005,
                        CP-53-CR-0000138-2005

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA        :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                    :          PENNSYLVANIA
                v.                  :
                                    :
BRYAN MOYER,                        :        No. 1948 WDA 2015
                                    :
                     Appellant      :

            Appeal from the PCRA Order, November 13, 2015,
             in the Court of Common Pleas of Potter County
           Criminal Division at Nos. CP-53-CR-0000057-2005,
           CP-53-CR-0000058-2005, CP-53-CR-0000138-2005

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA        :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                    :          PENNSYLVANIA
                v.                  :
                                    :
BRYAN MOYER,                        :        No. 1949 WDA 2015
                                    :
                     Appellant      :

            Appeal from the PCRA Order, November 13, 2015,
             in the Court of Common Pleas of Potter County
           Criminal Division at Nos. CP-53-CR-0000057-2005,
           CP-53-CR-0000058-2005, CP-53-CR-0000138-2005
J. S73011/16

BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., LAZARUS AND JENKINS, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.:            FILED DECEMBER 09, 2016

      Bryan Moyer appeals pro se from the November 13, 2015 order

denying his second amended petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction

Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.     After careful review, we

affirm.

      A prior panel of this court summarized the relevant factual background

of this case as follows:

                   Appellant repeatedly molested five boys, T.O.,
            B.B., J.G., C.L., and M.K., who attended the same
            daycare center as [a]ppellant’s son. Most of the
            abuse occurred at [a]ppellant’s home while the
            victims were visiting his son. All of the boys, who
            were between three and six years old when they
            were assaulted, averred that [a]ppellant fondled
            their genitals; one victim, B.B., also claimed that
            [a]ppellant sucked his penis and inserted a finger
            into B.B.’s rectum. Appellant was charged in three
            separate informations [at Nos. CP-53-CR-0000057-
            2005, CP-53-CR-000058-2005, and CP-53-CR-
            0000138-2005] because police were unaware of the
            full extent of the abuse until the media reported that
            [a]ppellant had been charged with sexually
            assaulting a minor, and additional victims reluctantly
            admitted that they too had been molested.

Commonwealth v. Moyer, 947 A.2d 829 (Pa.Super. 2008), appeal

denied, 960 A.2d 838 (Pa. 2008) (unpublished memorandum at 1-2).

      The remaining procedural history of this case was summarized by the

PCRA court as follows.

                                    -2-
J. S73011/16

             Prior to [appellant’s] preliminary hearing, sometime
             in February of 2005, [appellant], his counsel,
             James Rague and District Attorney Jeff Leber met
             and discussed the possibility of a plea agreement. At
             [appellant’s] preliminary hearing on March 24, 2005
             [appellant] did not mention any plea agreement and
             [appellant’s] cases were bound over for trial.
             [Appellant] filed a pretrial motion seeking to dismiss
             the case on Pa.R.Crim.P. 600 grounds; however, the
             motion was dismissed by memorandum opinion on
             February 3, 2006.       Following a jury trial which
             occurred from April 4th through April 7th, 2006,
             [appellant] was convicted of [10 counts of
             endangering the welfare of children, 19 counts of
             indecent assault, 9 counts of corruption of minors,
             4 counts of rape, and 5 counts of involuntary deviate
             sexual intercourse (“IDSI”).1]          [F]ollowing a
             sentencing reduction, [appellant] was sentenced to a
             period of incarceration of 19 years and 3 months to
             46 years.

                    [Appellant] filed post sentence motions,
             including a motion relating to Pa.R.Crim.P. 704,
             which was denied.       [Appellant] appealed to the
             Pennsylvania Superior Court[,] which affirmed the
             trial court on January 3, 2008. [Appellant] sought
             an allowance of appeal with the Pennsylvania
             Supreme      Court[,]    which    was     denied   on
             November 17, 2008.        [Appellant] filed a timely
             pro se PCRA Petition on October 21, 2009 and
             counsel was appointed by Judge John Leete (now
             Senior Judge) on October 28, 2009.          After the
             appointment, the defense counsel accepted a law
             clerk position and failed to take action on behalf of
             the Petitioner. No amended petition was filed and it
             is unclear whether defense counsel was aware of the
             appointment as he was in the middle of transition to
             his new position. Thereafter, Judge Stephen Minor
             was elected President Judge of Potter County and
             took the bench in January 2010.          No amended
             Petition was filed and neither defense counsel, nor
             [appellant] communicated with the [PCRA c]ourt.

1
    18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 4304, 3126(a)(7), 6301, 3121, and 3123, respectively.

                                     -3-
J. S73011/16

            Thereafter on September 12, 2014[,] Judge Minor
            became aware of the matter when [appellant] filed a
            pro se Amended PCRA Petition.        New defense
            counsel was appointed and, with the assistance of
            counsel, [appellant] filed a Second Amended PCRA
            Petition on February 5, 2015. Following multiple
            continuances a hearing was held on [appellant’s]
            Second Amended PCRA Petition on July 10, 2015.

PCRA court opinion, 11/13/15 at 1-2.

      Following the hearing, the PCRA court dismissed appellant’s second

amended PCRA petition on November 13, 2015. The PCRA court authored a

comprehensive, 19-page opinion in support of its November 13, 2015 order

denying appellant’s petition.   (See id.)    This timely appeal followed on

November 30, 2015.       On December 3, 2015, the PCRA court ordered

appellant to file a concise statement of errors raised on appeal in accordance

with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). On December 18, 2015, appellant complied with the

PCRA court’s directive and filed his Rule 1925(b) statement.2

      Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

            1.    Whether [the] PCRA Court committed an abuse
                  of discretion or an error of Law by not granting
                  PCRA relief where Trial Counsel failed to reduce
                  a negotiated plea to writing, failed to properly
                  raise Rule 600 issues, referenced other alleged
                  victims, failed to effectively argue Rule 704
                  issues, failed to object to altered and
                  shortened     video    interviews,   failed   to

2
  The record reflects that on December 21, 2015, appellant indicated to the
PCRA court and his then-counsel, Richard W. McCoy, Esq., that he wished to
proceed pro se. Following a hearing in accordance with Commonwealth v.
Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998), the PCRA court determined that appellant
intelligently, knowingly, and voluntarily waived his right to representation
and granted his request to proceed pro se on February 1, 2016.

                                     -4-
J. S73011/16

               appropriately challenge the replacement of a
               juror, failed to present and challenge
               mandatory minimum sentencing, failed to
               object to expert witness, failed to call available
               expert and lay witnesses, and, failed to object
               to hearsay and other inadmissible testimony?

          2.   Whether the PCRA Court committed an abuse
               of discretion or committed an error of Law by
               not granting PCRA relief where prosecutorial
               misconduct rendered the trial fundamentally
               unfair and the verdict unworthy of confidence
               by purchasing food and drinks for witnesses
               and lunch for the jury, by concealed, altered or
               shortened video interviews, by violating
               Rule 600, by violating Rule 704, and by
               concealing evidence favorable and exculpatory
               to [appellant]?

          3.   Whether the PCRA Court abused its discretion
               or committed an error of Law by denying PCRA
               relief where the PCRA proceedings were
               rendered fundamentally unfair by sequestering
               defense witnesses and not Commonwealth []
               witnesses, by permitting the [Commonwealth
               witnesses] to use and enter a partial Rule 600
               transcript without disclosure or availability of
               the complete Rule 600 transcript, and by
               accepting testimony contrary to authenticated
               demonstrable evidence?

          4.   Whether the PCRA Court abused its discretion
               or committed an error of Law by denying PCRA
               relief where [appellant] pled and presented
               unconstitutional     mandatory      minimum
               sentencing and due process issues?

          5.   Whether the PCRA hearing was rendered
               fundamentally unfair by the ineffectiveness of
               PCRA Counsel that failed to           properly
               communicate with [appellant], failed to
               subpoena and present expert witnesses, and
               affidavits, regarding Rule 600 and negotiated
               plea agreement issues?

                                  -5-
J. S73011/16

Appellant’s brief at 4-6. For the ease of our discussion, we have elected to

address appellant’s claims in a slightly different order than presented in his

brief.

         Proper appellate review of a PCRA court’s dismissal of a PCRA petition

is limited to the examination of “whether the PCRA court’s determination is

supported by the record and free of legal error.” Commonwealth v. Miller,

102 A.3d 988, 992 (Pa.Super. 2014) (citation omitted). “The PCRA court’s

findings will not be disturbed unless there is no support for the findings in

the certified record.” Commonwealth v. Lawson, 90 A.3d 1, 4 (Pa.Super.

2014) (citations omitted). “This Court grants great deference to the findings

of the PCRA court, and we will not disturb those findings merely because the

record could support a contrary holding.”          Commonwealth v. Hickman,

799 A.2d 136, 140 (Pa.Super. 2002) (citation omitted).             In order to be

eligible   for   PCRA   relief,   a   defendant   must   plead   and   prove   by   a

preponderance of the evidence that his conviction or sentence arose from

one or more of the errors listed at 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a)(2).             Further,

these issues must be neither previously litigated nor waived. 42 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 9543(a)(3).

                                          -6-
J. S73011/16

       We begin by addressing appellant’s multiple claims of trial counsels’

purported ineffectiveness.3     We note that although “Issue 1” in appellant’s

“Statement     of   Questions    Involved”   raises   10   distinct   claims   of

ineffectiveness, appellant has briefed only 5 of these ineffectiveness claims

in the “Argument” portion of his pro se brief. Accordingly, we will limit our

appellate review to those claims.

       Specifically, appellant contends that his trial counsel were ineffective

for:   (i) failing to properly raise a Pa.R.Crim.P. 600 issue with respect to

Nos. CP-53-CR-0000057-2005 and CP-53-CR-000058-2005; (ii) failing to

argue that the trial court’s delay in sentencing him resulted in prejudice,

pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 704; (iii) failing to reduce his negotiated guilty plea

to writing; (iv) failing to object to the fact that members of the jury were

released for lunch at the same time as the Commonwealth’s witnesses; and

(v) failing to call an expert witness to discuss how false memory syndrome

could affect his accusers’ memories. (Appellant’s brief at 13, 19, 22, 24, 26,

and 27.)

       To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under the

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

that counsel’s ineffectiveness “so undermined the truth-determining process

that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place.”

3
  The record reflects that appellant was represented at various points during
trial by both James Rague, Esq. and George Lepley, Esq. (collectively, “trial
counsel”).

                                      -7-
J. S73011/16

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a)(2)(ii). Specifically, a petitioner must establish that

“the underlying claim has arguable merit; second, that counsel had no

reasonable basis for his action or inaction; and third, that Appellant was

prejudiced.”       Commonwealth v. Charleston, 94 A.3d 1012, 1020

(Pa.Super. 2014), appeal denied, 104 A.3d 523 (Pa. 2014) (citation

omitted).      “A petitioner establishes prejudice when he demonstrates that

there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional

errors,     the   result    of   the   proceeding    would      have   been   different.”

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 966 A.2d 523, 533 (Pa. 2009) (citations and

internal quotation marks omitted).

          “[C]ounsel   is   presumed     to   be    effective    and   the    burden   of

demonstrating ineffectiveness rests on appellant.”                Commonwealth v.

Ousley, 21 A.3d 1238, 1242 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal denied, 30 A.3d
487 (Pa. 2011) (citation omitted).            Additionally, we note that “counsel

cannot be held ineffective for failing to pursue a meritless claim[.]”

Commonwealth v. Hall, 867 A.2d 619, 632 (Pa.Super. 2005), appeal

denied, 895 A.2d 549 (Pa. 2006).

          After a thorough review of the record, including the briefs of the

parties, the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the PCRA court,

it is our determination that appellant’s ineffectiveness claims warrant no

relief.    The PCRA court comprehensively discussed the five ineffectiveness

claims briefed by appellant and concluded that they were either meritless

                                           -8-
J. S73011/16

and/or his trial counsel had a reasonable strategic basis for his decisions.

(See PCRA court opinion, 11/13/15 at 3-12, 16-18.) We have reviewed the

record in its entirety and have considered the merit of appellant’s

arguments.     Following our careful consideration, we find that the PCRA

court’s conclusions are supported by competent evidence and are clearly

free of legal error. Accordingly, we adopt the PCRA court’s November 13,

2015 opinion as our own with regard to appellant’s ineffectiveness of trial

counsel claims.

      Appellant next argues that the PCRA court erred in failing to conclude

that the Commonwealth committed prosecutorial misconduct “by purchasing

food and drinks for witnesses and lunch for the jury, by conceal[ing],

alter[ing] or shorten[ing] video interviews, by violating Rule 600, by

violating Rule 704, and by concealing evidence favorable and exculpatory to

[appellant].” (Appellant’s brief at 25-28.)

      This court has long recognized that, “to be entitled to PCRA relief, a

petitioner must plead and prove, inter alia, that the allegation of error has

not been previously litigated or waived. An issue is waived if it could have

been raised prior to the filing of the PCRA petition, but was not.”

Commonwealth v. Turetsky, 925 A.2d 876, 879 (Pa.Super. 2007),

appeal denied, 940 A.2d 365 (Pa. 2007) (citation omitted); see also

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9544(b) (stating, “an issue is waived if the petitioner could

                                     -9-
J. S73011/16

have raised it but failed to do so before trial, at trial, during unitary review,

on appeal or in a prior state post conviction proceeding.”).

      Instantly, the record reflects that appellant could have pursued claims

of alleged prosecutorial misconduct on direct appeal, but failed to do so.

Accordingly, we find these claims waived.

      Appellant next argues, albeit briefly, that the PCRA court abused its

discretion “by sequestering defense witnesses and not Commonwealth

[]witnesses, by permitting the [Commonwealth] to use and enter a partial

Rule 600 transcript without disclosure or availability of the complete

Rule 600 transcript, and by accepting testimony contrary to authenticated

demonstrable evidence.”     (Appellant’s brief at 29.)   Upon review, we find

that appellant’s argument on this issue is comprised primarily of boilerplate

allegations and fails to include any citation to the certified record where this

error allegedly occurred.    Accordingly, we deem this claim waived.        See

Commonwealth v. Einhorn, 911 A.2d 960, 970 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal

denied, 920 A.2d 831 (Pa. 2007) (concluding that arguments which are

undeveloped and lack citation to factual background or the certified record

are waived); see also Pa.R.A.P. 2119(c), (d).

      Appellant also raises multiple claims wherein he references appellate

and PCRA counsel’s purported ineffectiveness in failing            “to properly

communicate with [him] regarding PCRA issues and exhibits” and “subpoena

and present expert witnesses[] and affidavits[] regarding [his] Rule 600 and

                                     - 10 -
J. S73011/16

negotiated plea agreement issues.” (Appellant’s brief at 34-37.) Appellant

further opines that counsel was ineffective “by failing to plead, present and

prove the illegal sentence issues.” (Id. at 39.)4

      Our supreme court has set forth the proper framework for alleging a

layered ineffective assistance of counsel claim in the context of the PCRA:

                   Succinctly stated, a petitioner must plead in his
            PCRA petition that his prior counsel, whose alleged
            ineffectiveness is at issue, was ineffective for failing
            to raise the claim that the counsel who preceded him
            was ineffective in taking or omitting some action. In
            addition, a petitioner must present argument, in
            briefs or other court memoranda, on the three
            prongs of the [ineffectiveness] test as to each
            relevant layer of representation. . . . [T]his means
            that the arguable merit prong of the [ineffectiveness]
            test as to the claim that appellate counsel was
            ineffective     in   not    raising    trial   counsel’s
            ineffectiveness consists of the application of the
            three-prong [ineffectiveness] test to the underlying
            claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness. If any one of
            the prongs as to trial counsel’s ineffectiveness is not
            established, then necessarily the claim of appellate
            counsel’s ineffectiveness fails.     Only if all three
            prongs as to the claim of trial counsel’s
            ineffectiveness are established, do prongs 2 and 3 of
            the [ineffectiveness] test as to the claim of appellate
            counsel’s ineffectiveness have relevance, requiring a
            determination as to whether appellate counsel had a
            reasonable basis for his course of conduct in failing
            to raise a meritorious claim of trial counsel’s
            ineffectiveness (prong 2) and whether petitioner was
            prejudiced by appellate counsel’s course of conduct
            in not raising the meritorious claim of trial counsel’s
            ineffectiveness (prong 3).

4
  The record reflects that Ronald Travis, Esq. represented appellant on direct
appeal, and Richard W. McCoy, Esq. represented appellant during the early
stages of his PCRA.

                                     - 11 -
J. S73011/16

Commonwealth        v.   Reid,   99 A.3d 470,   482   (Pa.   2014),   quoting

Commonwealth v. McGill, 832 A.2d 1014, 1023 (Pa. 2003).

       Our review of the record reveals that appellant has failed to brief his

layered ineffectiveness claims by applying the three-prong ineffectiveness

test to each level of representation.     Moreover, as appellant has failed to

adequately demonstrate that the underlying claims of trial counsel’s

purported ineffectiveness were of arguable merit, his PCRA counsel cannot

be deemed to be ineffective in failing to pursue these meritless claims. A

determination that trial counsel rendered ineffective              assistance is a

prerequisite to finding that any subsequent counsel was himself ineffective,

and as discussed, no such findings were demonstrated in this case.            See,

e.g., Commonwealth v. Burkett, 5 A.3d 1260, 1270 (Pa.Super. 2010);

see also Hall, 867 A.2d at 632 (holding that counsel cannot be found

ineffective for failing to raise a claim that is devoid of merit). Accordingly,

appellant’s claim that his PCRA counsel rendered ineffective assistance must

also fail.

       Lastly, appellant argues that the PCRA court erred in failing to

conclude that his mandatory minimum sentence, imposed pursuant to

                                      - 12 -
J. S73011/16

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9718,5 was illegal under Alleyne v. United States,     U.S.

    , 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013), and this court’s subsequent decision in

Commonwealth v. Wolfe, 106 A.3d 800 (Pa.Super. 2014), affirmed, 140
A.3d 651 (Pa. 2016). (Appellant’s brief at 30-33.)

      In Alleyne, the United States Supreme Court held that the Sixth

Amendment requires that “[a]ny fact that, by law, increases the penalty for

5
  Section 9718, Sentences for offenses against infant persons, provided
in relevant part, as follows:

           (a)   Mandatory sentence.--

                 (1)   A person convicted of the following
                       offenses when the victim is less than
                       16 years of age shall be sentenced to a
                       mandatory term of imprisonment as
                       follows:

                             18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) and (4)
                             (relating to aggravated assault)-
                             -not less than two years.

                             18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(a)(1), (2),
                             (3), (4) and (5) (relating to
                             rape)--not less than ten years.

                             18 Pa.C.S. § 3123 (relating to
                             involuntary    deviate    sexual
                             intercourse)--not less than ten
                             years.

                             18    Pa.C.S.     §    3125(a)(1)
                             through     (6)     (relating  to
                             aggravated indecent assault)--
                             not less than five years.

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9718(a)(1).

                                    - 13 -
J. S73011/16

a crime is an ‘element’ that must be submitted to the jury and found beyond

a reasonable doubt.”       Alleyne, 133 S. Ct. at 2155 (citation omitted).

Thereafter, in Wolfe, a panel of this court held that the version of

Section 9718 that was in effect from January 1, 2007 until August 17, 2014,

was unconstitutional in its entirety, in light of Alleyne and subsequent

decisions by this court.         Wolfe, 106 A.3d at 806, citing, inter alia,

Commonwealth v. Newman, 99 A.3d 86 (Pa.Super. 2014), appeal

denied, 121 A.3d 496 (Pa. 2015) (en banc) (as “stand[ing] for the

proposition that mandatory minimum sentencing statutes in Pennsylvania of

this format are void in their entirety”).       Appellant maintains that because

Section 9718 was invalidated by Alleyne, he is entitled to be resentenced

without the application of any mandatory minimum sentencing provisions.

(Appellant’s brief at 32-33.) We disagree.

       Instantly, we recognize that appellant was sentenced in 2006, and

Alleyne was decided on June 17, 2013. Contrary to appellant’s contention,

this   court   has   expressly    rejected   the   notion   that   Alleyne    applies

retroactively to cases on collateral review.           See Commonwealth v.

Washington, 142 A.3d 810, 814-815 (Pa. 2016) (holding that the Alleyne

decision does not apply retroactively to collateral attacks upon mandatory

minimum        sentences   advanced     in      PCRA   proceedings);    see     also

Commonwealth v. Riggle, 119 A.3d 1058, 1064 (Pa.Super. 2015) (stating

that, “while this Court has held that Alleyne applies retroactively on direct

                                       - 14 -
J. S73011/16

appeal, we have declined to construe that decision as applying retroactively

to cases during PCRA review”). Accordingly, we agree with the PCRA court

that Alleyne and its progeny do not apply retroactively to the instant

matter, which was already at the PCRA review stage at the time Alleyne

was decided.6

      Based on the foregoing, we find no error on the part of the PCRA court

in dismissing appellant’s second amended petition.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/9/2016

6
  To the extent that appellant further contends that his trial counsel were
ineffective for failing to challenge the illegality of his sentence on the basis of
Alleyne, we find that he is not entitled to relief. (See appellant’s brief at
24.)    As discussed, this underlying sentencing claim is meritless, and
“counsel cannot be held ineffective for failing to pursue a meritless claim[.]”
Hall, 867 A.2d at 632.

                                      - 15 -
                                                                                Circulated 11/28/2016 04:36 PM

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                                                                                                            ·-
     PROCEDURAL HISTORY, DISCUSSION, AND ORDER ON THE PETITIONER'S                                                        ~
                    SECOND AMENDED PCRA PETITION

                                    PROCEDURAL HISTORY

          In late 2004 and early 2005 the Petitioner was charged at the three above-captioned

   case numbers with several counts relating to sexual incidents involving multiple children. Prior

., to the Petitioner's preliminary hearing, sometime in February of 2005, the Petitioner, his

   counsel, James Rague and District Attorney Jeff Leber met and discussed the possibility of a

   plea agreement. At the Petitioner's preliminary hearing on March 24, 2005 the Petitioner did

   not mention any plea agreement and the Petitioner's cases were bound over for trial. The

   Petitioner filed a pretrial motion seeking to dismiss the case on Pa.R.Crim.P. 600 grounds;

   however, the motion was dismissed by memorandum opinion on February 3, 2006. Following a

  jury trial which occurred from April 4th through April   th, 2006,   the Petitioner was convicted of

   numerous offenses and, following a sentencing reduction. was sentenced to_ a pgriQ.d_.Qf--=--=

  incarceration of 19 years and 3 months to 46 years.

          The Petitioner filed post sentence motions, including a motion relating to Pa.R.Crim.P.

  704, which was denied. The Petitioner appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court which

  affirmed the trial court on January 3, 2008. The Petitioner sought an allowance of appeal with

  the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which was denied on November 17, 2008. The Petition filed a

                                                                                                                      1
  timely   pro se PCRA Petition on October 21, 2009 and counsel was appointed by Judge John

  Leete (now Senior Judge) on October 28,· 2009. After the appointment, the defense counsel

  accepted a law clerk position and failed to take action on behalf of the Petitioner. No amended

  petition was filed and it is unclear whether defense counsel was aware of the appointment as

  he was in the middle of transition   to his new position. Thereafter, Judge Stephen Minor was

 elected President Judge of Potter County and took the bench in January 2010. No amended

 Petition was filed and neither defense counsel, nor the Defendant communicated with the

 Court. Thereafter on September 12, 2014 Judge Minor became aware of the matter when the

 Petitioner filed a pro se Amended PCRA Petition. New defense counsel was appointed and,

 with the assistance of counsel, the Petitioner filed a Second Amended PCRA Petition on

, February 5, 2015. Following multiple continuances a hearing was held on the Petitioner's

 Second Amended PCRA Petition on July 10, 2015. Accordingly, that Petition is ripe for decision.

                                          DISCUSSION

           The Petitioner has raised twelve issues in his Second Amended PCRA Petition. The

 Petitioner indicated at the July 10, 2015 hearing that all of the issues he wished to raise are

included in his SecondAmended Petition.

           3"everal-of the Petitions claims are oasea- on ineffective ass1sfance ofnis various

counsel. Counsel is deemed ineffective when the issue underlying the ineffectiveness claim is

of arguable merit, the course of action chosen by counsel had no reasonable basis, and the

ineffectiveness so prejudiced the petitioner's defense that he did not receive a fair trial. See

Com. v. Milligan, 693 A.2d 1313, 1319 (Pa. Super. 1997}; Com. v. Pierce, 498 A.2d 423, 425

                                                                                              2
             (Pa. Super. 1985) aff'd 527 A.2d 973 (Pa. 1987).

             1. Ineffective Assistance of counsel - Failure to Reduce a Plea to Writing

                     The Petitioner argues that his counsel was ineffective for not reducing a plea offer he

             accepted to writing. He testified that District Attorney Jeff Leber made a plea offer to him on or

             about February 18, 2005 at an office in Coudersport in the presence of his wife and his

             attorney James Rague.When questioned on cross-examination the Petitioner testified that his

             wife was not present to testify at the July 10, 2015 hearing because she has a difficult time

             remembering details.

                    The Petitioner testified that the plea proposal was that he would plead guilty to one

             count each of rape and endangering the welfare of a child, the remaining charges would be

            786 A.2d 191,      194 (Pa. 2001) (citations omitted). See also Com. v. Collins, 888 A.2d

564, 572 (Pa. 2005). Thus, this issue being previously litigated, it appears the Petitioner is not

eligible for relief even though he qualified this as being an ineffective assistance of counsel

claim. Insofar as that issue may stand separately from the previously litigated issue above, the

Court finds the Petitioner is not entitled to relief.

        Under Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 704(a)(l) "sentence in a court case shall ordinarily be imposed

within 90 days of conviction[.]" "When the date for sentencing in a court case must be delayed,

for good cause shown, beyond the time limits set forth in this rule, the judge shall include in the

record the specific time period for the extension." Rule 704(a)(2). "[A] defendant who is

sentenced in violation of [Rule 704] is entitled to a discharge only where the defendant can

demonstrate that the delay in sentencing prejudiced him or her." Com. v. Anders, 725 A.2d

170, 173 (Pa. 1999) ( emphasis added).

                                                                                                 11
                Here, the Petitioner was convicted ori April 7, 2006 and was sentenced on September 8,

         2006. Judge Leete explained that the Petitioner was not sentenced within ninety days because of

         a delay caused by the necessity of a report from the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment

         Board prior to sentencing. Such a delay is "good cause" for sentencing the Petitioner beyond the

         ninety-day limit. Additionally, the Petitioner has never shown at any proceeding that the delay in

         sentencingprejudiced him and, accordingly, he is not entitled to relief. See Anders, Supra. As the

         issue is without arguable merit counsel was not ineffective with regard to this issue. See

         Milligan, Supra.

        7. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel - Failure to Object to the Altered/Shortened Video

        interview & Prosecutorial Misconduct - Alteration/Shorteningof Video Interview

                Prior to the time of trial a video was created of the children involved in this case being

        interviewed. The Petitioner believes that his trial counsel was ineffective for not showing the

        video to the jury and additionally that the Commonwealth may have altered the video. The

        Petitioner claims that Mr. Travis told him that 15 minutes of the video were missing. The

        Petitioner stated that the 15 minutes of footage may have been broken up and that he wasn't sure

        what had happened, but he was concerned about video tampering.

                Mr. Rague testified that he had considered showing the video to the jury, but decided it

-------~tJ).~          beneficial tO-the Petitioner.:s defense.-.MI: Rague explained that there were   mm
        disclosures in the video, several of which would not be helpful to the defense. He also indicated

        that he fully explained that fact to the Petitioner. Mr. Lepley testified that he was not aware of

        any tampering with the footage. He further indicated the video was not helpful to the defense as

        the children made numerous allegations against the Petitioner in the video. Mr. Travis testified

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    that he did not recall any tampering issues with the video and had no recollection of discussing

    the issue with the Petitioner.

            The Court finds that Mr. Rague and Mr. Lepley had a reasonable basis for not showing

    the video to the jury as it contained disclosures from the children which they felt would harm the

   Petitioners defense and thus counsel was not ineffective with regard to this issue. See Milligan,

   SuprEh, Additionally, the Court finds that there is no credible evidence that anyone tampered with

   the aforementioned video.

   8. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel - Failure to Appropriately Challenge the Replacement

   of a Juror

           The Petitioner believes that a juror was improperly replaced during the trial and that his

   counsel was ineffective in challenging that replacement. During the trial juror Mrs. Crossin was

   replaced after she made the Court aware that through her work at Charles Cole Hospital she

   knew the Petitioner's     wife, Sandy Moyer. Pages 328-336 of the trial transcript detail the

   disclosure. Mrs. Crossin stated several times that she believed she would be biased in favor of

   Mrs. Moyer's testimony based on her knowing Mrs. Moyer. Though defense counsel objected to

   the removal of the Mrs. Crossin as a juror, based on her numerous statements that she was biased

   the removal was appropriate.

-====-=-TheP.eti.tion~r also a~        that he believes deliberations had begun prior to this removal

   and that Mrs. Crossin was bullied by other jurors seeking her removal. The Trial Court

   conducted a thorough colloquy with Mrs. Crossin prior to removing her as a juror and there was

   no mention of premature deliberation or bullying. Furthermore, the Defendant has not presented

   any evidence to substantiate his claim that the jury was already deliberating and that anyone

   bullied Mrs. Crossin seeking her removal. The trial transcript indicates otherwise.

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         The Court finds the removal of Mrs. Crossin was appropriate and thus the Petitioner's

 claim regarding the same is not of arguable merit. Additionally, the Court finds the replacement

 of Mrs. Crossin by Ms. Mueller did not prejudice the Petitioner's defense. For both of those

 reasons counsel was not ineffective with regard to this issue. See Milligan, Supra

 9. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel - Failure to Sufficiently Object to Expert Witness

        The Petitioner claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the

 Commonwealth calling William Allenbaugh at the time of trial. The Petitioner recalls his counsel

 objecting, but does not believe it was done at the appropriate time. He further believes that Mr.

Allenbaugh was not appropriately qualified as an expert witness and that his attorney did not

object t? that failure to qualify. The Court notes that Mr. Allenbaugh was not called as an expert

witness, but was permitted to testify as to hearsay statements disclosed to him when he

interviewed the children-accusers in this case. Furthermore, the Petitioner takes issue with the

fact that his counsel did not object to parents being present with their children when Mr.

Allenbaugh interviewed the children.

        The trial transcript   shows numerous instances of Mr. Rague objecting            to Mr.

Allenbaugh's testimony. Mr. Rague initially made a request for an offer of proof regarding Mr.

Allenbaugh's testimony. Transcript pages 202-203. Mr. Rague then made substantial argument to

the Court regarding which areas Mr Allenhaugp could discuss I JJtiroateJy, the Commonwealth

elected to not call Mr. Allenbaugh as an expert to avoid some of the potential issues raised by

Mr. Rague. Additionally, when Mr. Allenbaugh was permitted to testify about the children-

accuser's hearsay statements Mr. Rague noted an ongoing objection. Transcript page 217. Later,

Mr. Rague requested a sidebar, and he and Mr. Lepley participated in the same, at which time

they further challenged the areas Mr. Allenbaugh could discuss. Transcript pages 228-229.

                                                                                              14
 Twice again Mr. Rague objected to references to Mr. Allenbaugh's         experiences with other

 children victims and the same were sustained. Transcript pages 232, 234. Then, Mr. Rague

 objected to Mr. Allenbaugh discussing a conclusion, which was effectively sustained. Transcript

page 235. Next, Mr. Rague objected to Mr. Allenbaugh discussing expert-type testimony.

Transcript page 236. The Court effectively sustained the objection and cautioned both the jury

and the Commonwealth that Mr. Allenbaugh was not being offered as an expert. Again, Mr.

Rague objected to Mr. Allenbaugh's testimony based on relevancy, and the Commonwealth was

warned at sidebar to stay within the constraints previously outlined by the Court. Transcript page

237. Mr. Rague raised the same objection a moment later and after the Commonwealth rephrased

the question the objection was overruled. Transcript page 239. Finally, Mr. Rague objected to

Mr, A}~baugh's       !cstimony twice more. Transcript page 252. The first time the Court

constrained Mr. Allenbaugh to only testify to direct observations. The second time the Court

sustained the objection and directed the jury to disregard Mr. Allenbaugh's conclusions.

       Based on the objections clearly stated on the record, many of which were sustained, the

Court finds that the Petitioner's contention that his attorney was ineffective for failing to

appropriately object to Mr. Allenbaugh's testimony is without arguable merit as Mr. Rague did

appropriately object to the same. Accordingly, counsel was not ineffective with regard to this

issue. See Milligan, Supra.

       Regarding the Petitioners    argument that his counsel should have objected to the

children's parents being present for interviews· with Mr. Allenbaugh, the Court is unaware of any

meritorious objection in this regard. The fact that the parents may have been present during the

children's interviewed may have been considered by the jury in addressing the weight of the

testimony or credibility of the children, but is not objectionable. The Commonwealth argued that

                                                                                               15
                the parents were present simply for the purpose of establishing rapport. The Petitioner was not

                able to address the Commonwealth's argument. Under the circumstances present in this matter

                the Court reasons it was wholly appropriate for the children's parents to be present and,

                accordingly, the Petitioner's claim to the contrary is without arguable merit. Thus, counsel was

                not ineffective with regard to this issue. See Milligan, Supra.

                10. Ineffective       Assistance   of Counsel - General      Failure to Object to Hearsay and Other

                Inadmissible Testimony

                         The Petitioner argues, in his Petition, that his counsel generally failed to raise appropriate

                objections to hearsay and other inadmissible testimony. Though this issue was present in the

                Petition the Petitioner failed to present this issue at his PCRA hearing. The Court has reviewed

                the trialtranscript     and notes that the Petitioner's trial counsel made numerous objections at trial.

                Accordingly, the Court finds the Petitioner's claim regarding a general failure of his trial counsel

                to object to inadmissible testimony is without arguable merit and counsel was not ineffective

                with regard to this issue. See Milligan, Supra.

                11. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel - Failure to Call Available Character                   Witnesses and

                an Available Expert Witness

                        The Petitioner claims that he had various appropriate character witnesses available to

-==-====,!,i;te~s~ti~fY.1,.,.,~bl-Uu1.1-tthat.his trial counsel failed to call such witnesses. He claims such witnesses included

                Ronald Moyer, Phyllis Moyer, Susan Culver, and Kathi Cain. Additionally, the Defendant

                believes he retained an expert witness to discuss how false memory syndrome could be affecting

                his accuser's memories. The Petitioner testified that his trial counsel refused to call this expert.

                        The Court initially notes that the Defendant was able to call several character witnesses

                not named above. Additionally, Judge Leete ruled on an objection and disallowed Dana

                                                                                                                            16
Reynolds, Tony Reynolds, and Jeffrey Myers from testifying as character witnesses as they had

not been in the area of the Petitioner for approximately seven years. See Com. v. Fisher, 764

A.2d 82, 87 (Pa. Super. 2000) ("Character means one's general reputation in the community.")

(citations omitted). The Petitioner testified that in 2006 Ronald Moyer and Phyllis Moyer lived

in Berks County, Susan Culver had moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Kathi Cain lived in

Royersburg, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Thus, the Court finds the four above-referenced

individuals would not have had knowledge of the Petitioner's reputation within the community

and their testimony on the Petitioner's character would have been inadmissible if they had been

called. See Fisher, Supra.

       Thus, the Petitioner's trial counsel had a reasonable basis for not calling them and thus

counsel, was not ineffective with regard to this issue. See Milligan, Supra. Additionally, Mr.

Lepley.and Mr. Rague testified that they called every witness that the Petitioner had insisted

upon and that the Petitioner was very actively involved in his case. The Court finds the former

counsels' testimony to be credible and the Petitioner's testimony to the contrary to not be

credible. Accordingly, the Court finds the Petitioner's trial counsel was not ineffective as the

Petitioner's claim is without arguable merit. See Milligan, Supra.

       Regarding calling a defense expert witness Mr. Lepley testified that he determined that

the testimony of the defense expert would not have been helpful to the defense. Furthermore,

again Mr. Lepley and Mr. Rague testified that they called every witness that the Petitioner had

insisted upon and that the Petitioner was closely involved in all trial strategy. The Court finds

that trial counsel had a reasonable basis for not calling the defense expert as they reasoned he

would not be helpful to the defense. Additionally, the Court finds the Petitioner's claim is

without arguable merit as both of his trial attorneys indicated the called every witness insisted

                                                                                              17
upon by the Petitioner. The Court finds former counsels' testimony to be credible and the

Petitioner's testimony to the contrary to not be credible. For those reasons counsel was not

ineffective with regard to this issue. See Milligan, Supra.

12. Unlawful Sentence - Alleyne

       On December 24, 2014 the Pennsylvania Superior Court issued a decision in Com. v.

Wolfu, 106 A.3d 800 (Pa. Super. 2014) appeal granted, 63 MAL 2015, 2015 WL 4755651 (Pa.

Aug. 12, 2015) which invalidated 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718,           which had previously provided for

mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes against infant persons. The Wolfe decision was

based upon the decisions in United States Supreme Court case Alleyne v. U.S., 133 S. Ct. 2151

(2013) and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court case Commonwealth v. Newman, 99 A.3d 86 (Pa.

Super.1!'.?.014). The Petitioner was sentenced based upon the mandatory minimum sentencing

provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718. As that mandatory minimum sentencing provisions was

invalidated, the Petitioner argues that he is entitled to be resentenced without the application of

any mandatory minimum sentences.

       However, as discussed in Riggle:

       In Commonwealth v. Newman, 99 A.3d 86 (Pa. Super. 2014) (relying upon
       _c.9rnmonwealth v. Watley, 81 A.3d 108, 118 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en bane)), we
       noted that Alleyne will be applied to cases pending on direct appeal when Alleyne
       was issued. Appellant seeks to apply Newman's ruling in this PCRA context and
       to afford Alleyne full retroactive effect based upon Watl.e.1. and Newman, both of
    ---wrucli were a1rect appeals.

       Importantly, in Watley, this Court distinguished between applying Alleyne on
       direct appeal and on collateral review. We noted that a case may be retroactive on
       direct appeal, but not during collateral proceedings. Watley, supra at 117 n. 5.
       Thus, while this Court has held that Alleyne applies retroactively on direct
       appeal, we have declined to construe that decision as applying retroactively
       to cases during PCRA review.

Com. v. Riggle, 119 A.3d 1058 (Pa. Super. 2015) (emphasis added).

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                   Here, the Petitioner's case was not pending on direct review when the Alleyne decision

           was issued. The Petitioner originally appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, which

           affirmed the decision on December 12, 2008. The Petitioner sought an allowance of appeal to the

           Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which was denied on November 17, 2008. Accordingly, the

           Alleyne decision, and its progeny, does not apply retroactively to the Petitioner's case, which

           was already at the PCRA review stage when Alleyne was decided on June 17, 2013.

                   Ultimately, none of the issue raised by the Petitioner in Second Amended PCRA Petition

           warrants any relief and the same shall be denied.

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