Court Opinion

ID: 2784077
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-04 20:09:29.649359+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:30.554962
License: Public Domain

J-S49025-14

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                       PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                      v.

JOHN GEORGE WATTS

                            Appellant                 No. 3157 EDA 2013

                  Appeal from the Order October 18, 2013
            In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
            Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0009464-2007
                          CP-51-CR-0010470-2007

BEFORE: OLSON, J., OTT, J., and STABILE, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                               FILED MARCH 04, 2015

      John George Watts appeals, nunc pro tunc, from the order entered on

October 18, 2013, in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,

denying him relief on his petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief

Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541 et seq.        Watts raises three issues in this

appeal: (1) did the PCRA court display a fixed bias against Watts, thereby

precluding the possibility of a fair and non-prejudicial decision on the merits,

(2) did the PCRA err in finding Watts’ decision to reject a negotiated plea

was knowing, voluntary and intelligent when trial counsel failed to properly

inform Watts of his potential sentence, and (3) did the PCRA court err in

finding trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to inform Watts of his

potential sentence.        After a thorough review of the submissions by the

parties, relevant law, and the certified record, we affirm.
J-S49025-14

       Before we address the substance of this appeal, we make note of the

relevant procedural history of this matter. Watts was charged with robbery,

criminal conspiracy, terroristic threats, intimidation of a witness and criminal

use of a communication facility.               The Commonwealth offered Watts a

negotiated plea that included a 7 - 20 year term of incarceration.          Watts

rejected the offer and proceeded to a jury trial. He was convicted and

sentenced to 24½ to 50 years and two months’ incarceration.            His direct

appeal afforded him no relief.         See Commonwealth v. Watts, 998 A.2d
1017 (Pa. Super. 2010) (unpublished memorandum), appeal denied, 17
A.3d 1254 (Pa. 2011) (table). He filed the instant PCRA petition raising the

issues of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness regarding the alleged failure to inform

him of his potential sentence. A hearing was held on June 10, 2013. The

petition was denied at the end of the hearing.           Watts informed the PCRA

court of his intention to appeal and on July 5, 2013 filed a timely pro se

notice of appeal.1      For unknown reasons, the notice of appeal, although

served on the PCRA court as well, was never docketed.            Nonetheless, on

August 1, 2013, the PCRA court filed an opinion in support of its ruling.

       Subsequently, Watts obtained counsel, though it is unclear if counsel

was appointed or privately hired. On August 29, 2013, counsel filed a PCRA

petition; however, said petition is not to be found in the certified record. It

____________________________________________

1
  It appears that PCRA counsel was not retained through the filing of the
appeal.

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appears from subsequent docket entries that Watts sought the recusal of the

PCRA judge, the Honorable Chris R. Wogan, and reinstatement of Watts’

appellate rights. Judge Wogan denied the request for recusal on October 2,

2013, and granted Watts nunc pro tunc relief regarding his appellate rights.

Following the filing of a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement, the PCRA court filed a

second opinion on December 19, 2013.

      Although the PCRA procedural history is tangled, we are able to

address the issues before us.

      Initially, we note,

      Our standard of review of a trial court order granting or denying
      relief under the PCRA requires us to determine whether the
      decision of the PCRA court is supported by the evidence of
      record and is free of legal error. “The PCRA court's findings will
      not be disturbed unless there is no support for the findings in the
      certified record.” Commonwealth v. Lippert, 85 A.3d 1095,
      1100 (Pa. Super. 2014).

Commonwealth v. Perez, 103 A.3d 344, 347 (Pa. Super. 2014).

Additionally,

      To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a PCRA
      petitioner must satisfy the performance and prejudice test set
      forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104
S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).           [Commonwealth v.]
      Sepulveda, [618 Pa. 262,] 55 A.3d [1108] at 1117 [(2012)].
      This Court has described the Strickland standard as tripartite by
      dividing the performance element into two distinct components.
      Commonwealth v. Busanet, 618 Pa. 1, 54 A.3d 35, 45
      (2012); Commonwealth v. Pierce, 515 Pa. 153, 527 A.2d 973,
      975 (1987). Accordingly, to prove counsel ineffective, the
      petitioner must demonstrate: (1) the underlying claim has
      arguable merit; (2) no reasonable basis existed for counsel’s
      actions or failure to act; and (3) the petitioner suffered prejudice
      as a result of counsel’s error such that there is a reasonable

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      probability that the result of the proceeding would have been
      different absent such error. Sepulveda, 55 A.3d at 1117 (citing
      Pierce, 527 A.2d at 975). Counsel is presumed to have rendered
      effective assistance. Sepulveda, 55 A.3d at 1117.

      A court is not required to analyze the elements of an
      ineffectiveness claim in any particular order of priority; instead,
      if a claim fails under any necessary element of the
      ineffectiveness test, the court may proceed to that element first.
      Id. at 1117-18; Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 554 Pa. 31, 720
A.2d 693, 701 (1998).

Commonwealth v. Tharp, 101 A.3d 736, 747 (Pa. 2014).

Regarding the denial of a motion to recuse,

      [Our Supreme] Court presumes judges of this Commonwealth
      are “honorable, fair and competent,” and, when confronted with
      a recusal demand, have the ability to determine whether they
      can rule impartially and without prejudice. Commonwealth v.
      White, 557 Pa. 408, 734 A.2d 374, 384 (1999). The party who
      asserts a trial judge must be disqualified bears the burden of
      producing evidence establishing bias, prejudice, or unfairness
      necessitating recusal, and the “decision by a judge against whom
      a plea of prejudice is made will not be disturbed except for an
      abuse of discretion.”

Commonwealth v. Kearney, 92 A.3d 51, 60 (Pa. Super. 2014 )(citations

omitted). Finally, “recusal motions must be timely filed.” Rizzo v. Haines,

555 A.2d 58, 70 (Pa. 1989) citing Reilly v. SEPTA, 489 A.2d 1291 (Pa.

1985). In addition, “In order to preserve an issue for appeal, a litigant must

make a timely, specific objection at trial”. Reilly, 489 A.2d at 1296.

      Watts’ first claim is that Judge Wogan improperly failed to recuse

himself after demonstrating prejudice at the June 10, 2013 PCRA hearing.

At that hearing, Judge Wogan questioned Watts to see if he had any

knowledge regarding an ex parte communication with the judge on Watts’

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behalf, or to see if he knew anything about Watts’ file having been taken

from the judge’s chambers. Watts denied any knowledge of those events.

No objection was raised to the judge asking those questions, nor was any

objection raised at the end of the hearing when Judge Wogan issued his

order from the bench, denying the petition. The motion to recuse was not

docketed,   but   was   apparently   served   on   the   trial   court   and   the

Commonwealth by mail on September 27, 2013, more than three months

after the hearing and denial of the petition.   Because there was no timely

objection raised at the time of the hearing, the motion to recuse was not

filed until three months after the hearing, and more than one month after

Judge Wogan filed his initial opinion, we conclude the motion was untimely

and the issue has been waived.

     Watts’ remaining issues are related and will be addressed together.

Watts argues that his rejection of the Commonwealth’s plea offer was not

knowing, voluntary and intelligent because none of his lawyers ever

informed him of the potential sentence he faced if convicted on all charges.

     Watts’ argument rests upon the

     general rule, defense counsel has the duty to communicate
     formal offers from the prosecution to accept a plea on terms and
     conditions that may be favorable to the accused.” [Missouri v.
     Frye, ___U.S.___, 132 S. Ct. 1399] at 1408 [(2012)]. In
     determining whether counsel has satisfied this obligation, the
     two-part test set forth in Strickland [v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984)] applies.FN3 See id. at 1409. In
     Lafler [v. Cooper, ___U.S.___, 132 S. Ct. 1376 (2102)], the
     Court explained that to meet the prejudice prong of the
     Strickland test where the alleged ineffectiveness of counsel

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       involves the defendant's rejection of a plea offer, the defendant
       must show,

          FN3. That test requires that a defendant show that counsel
          (1) had no reasonable basis for their actions or inactions,
          and (2) the defendant suffered prejudice as a result of
          counsel's conduct. In Pennsylvania, our Supreme Court
          has added one additional component to the Strickland
          test, requiring that a defendant also prove that the
          underlying     claim     has    arguable    merit.     See
          Commonwealth v. Bennett, 57 A.3d 1185, 1195 (Pa.
          2012).

       that but for the ineffective advice of counsel there is a
       reasonable probability that the plea offer would have been
       presented to the court ( i.e., that the defendant would have
       accepted the plea and the prosecution would not have withdrawn
       it in light of intervening circumstances), that the court would
       have accepted its terms, and that the conviction or sentence, or
       both, under the offer's terms would have been less severe than
       under the judgment and sentence that in fact were imposed.

       Lafler, 132 S. Ct. at 1385.

Commonwealth v. Feliciano, 69 A.3d 1270, 1276-77 (Pa. Super. 2013).

       At the PCRA hearing, Watts testified that none of the attorneys who

represented him throughout the process2 ever informed him of the total

sentence he faced. Rather, he was only told of the 10-20 year mandatory

minimum sentence he was subject to as a second strike robbery offender.

N.T. PCRA Hearing, 6/10/2013, at 15-16. Watts further claimed that he was

____________________________________________

2
  The record reflects two attorneys from the Defender Association met with
Watts prior to trial as well as appointed counsel, who represented Watts at
trial after the Defender Association withdrew because of conflict.

                                           -6-
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told he would likely serve 16 years of his sentence. Id. at 10. Therefore, he

reasoned, the 7-20 year offer from the Commonwealth did not represent an

actual benefit and appointed counsel recommended he reject the offer. Id.

at 10.

         The three lawyers who represented Watts also testified at the hearing.

Robert Jovanov, Esq., of the Defender Association testified he met with

Watts at Curran Fromhold Prison prior to the pretrial conference. Id. at 30.

He explained to Watts that, if convicted on the robbery charge, it would be

at least his second strike3 with a 10-20 year mandatory minimum sentence.

Id. at 31.     He informed Watts of the Commonwealth’s offer.        Id. at 30.

However, Watts told Jovanov that he was innocent and wanted to go to trial.

Id. at 32.

         Vincent Corrigan, Esq., of the Defender Association, testified next. In

relevant part, he produced his handwritten notes from his April 2, 2008,

meeting with Watts. These notes detailed Corrigan’s explanation to Watts of

what he might expect regarding sentencing if he went to trial before Judge

Wogan and was convicted:

         And I indicated that if he was convicted of robbery he would
         have to get 10 to 20 because the case was a second strike; that
         for conspiracy he would probably get about 4 to 10; for PIC I
____________________________________________

3
  Watts’ criminal history was unclear, and there may have been two prior
robbery convictions. There was indication of two prior convictions before
Judge Maier.

                                           -7-
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       estimated about 14 months to 4 years; for reckless
       endangerment I estimated 6 months to 2 years; for witness
       intimidation I estimated 6½ to 15 years; and for use of a
       communications facility I estimated 11 months to 5 years, for a
       total of -- approximately 23½ to 54 years was my estimation of
       the sentence he would receive from Judge Wogan if he went to
       trial and lost.[4]

N.T. PCRA Hearing, 6/10/2013, at 52. Attorney Corrigan also testified Watts

told him he did not do it, and wanted house arrest. Id. at 51.

       Finally, trial counsel, John Cotter, Esq., testified he told Watts about

the Commonwealth’s 7-20 year offer, but that Watts was not interested. Id.

at   65-66.      On    his   own,    Cotter    made   a   counter   proposal   to   the

Commonwealth of 7-14 years’, but the Commonwealth rejected those terms.

Id. at 66.     He testified he reminded Watts of the 10-20 year mandatory

minimum sentence he faced and that, if convicted on all charges, Watts

likely would receive two to three times the mandatory sentence – meaning a

minimum sentence of between 20 to 30 years’ incarceration. Id. at 66-67.

Further, he testified he recommended Watts accept the offer in light of

Watts’ potential exposure. Id. at 67.

       Additionally, Cotter was questioned about a discussion that took place

following the pretrial hearing on Watts’ Rule 600 “speedy trial” motion.

Watts was present during the discussion about the Commonwealth’s offer at

____________________________________________

4
  Corrigan’s estimate proved to be a remarkably accurate prediction. Watts
received a sentence of 24½ to 50 years and two months’ incarceration.

                                           -8-
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which time Judge Wogan stated, “There is an awful lot of exposure if the

defendant is found guilty. We won’t be talking about 7 or 10 years: that is

just a fraction of what will happen in here normally so, if there are crimes of

violence and there are convictions.”     Id. at 67-68.        Cotter testified that

following Judge Wogan’s statement, Watts never expressed surprise at the

prospect of a long sentence, did not express confusion and never asked to

plead guilty. Id. at 68-69. Finally, we note this exchange:

      [ADA Mahler:] So does this case stand out in your mind at all, in
      terms of your having a specific recollection?

      [Cotter:] I do.

      [ADA Mahler:] And tell me about that. Why do you remember
      this case, just briefly?

      [Cotter:] Because I wanted the defendant to take the deal and I
      recommended it and … his response was, I want a jury trial. I
      want to plead not guilty. I didn’t do it. That’s what he told me
      whenever I tried to approach the subject, which is fine. I have
      no problem with that.

Id., at 84.

      Based upon the forgoing evidence, the trial court determined, “[t]he

three attorneys that testified, two of whom I’m pretty familiar with, all

testified in a credible fashion.”   Id. at 98.   Further, he determined Watts

“testified completely without credibility[.]”    Id. at 99.    Our review of the

certified record finds ample support for these determinations. The certified

record demonstrates Watts was told multiple times he faced a significant

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prison sentence if convicted. One of his lawyers even provided an accurate

prediction of the sentence he anticipated. Watts’ response to the plea offer

was a consistent refusal accompanied by an assertion of innocence.

Accordingly, counsel cannot be ineffective for failing to inform Watts of his

possible sentence and Watts’ rejection of the plea offer was knowing,

voluntary and intelligent.

      Because the PCRA court’s ruling is supported by the record and is free

from legal error, we affirm.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/4/2015

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