Court Opinion

ID: 5128134
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-20 02:16:13.285871+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:05.190960
License: Public Domain

J-S25022-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    WILLIAM BRENNAN                            :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 656 EDA 2021

             Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered February 17, 2021
       In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-09-CR-0002801-2018

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    WILLIAM BRENNAN                            :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 657 EDA 2021

             Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered February 17, 2021
       In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-09-CR-0004910-2018

BEFORE:      BENDER, P.J.E., McLAUGHLIN, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY McLAUGHLIN, J.:                  FILED NOVEMBER 19, 2021

        William Brennan appeals from the order denying his Post Conviction

Relief Act (“PCRA”) petition. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. Brennan

maintains that he is entitled to relief because his trial counsel was ineffective

____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S25022-21

for failing to provide Brennan with discovery prior to him entering a guilty plea

and for withdrawing his motion to reconsider his sentence. We affirm.

      The lower court summarized the facts as follows:

         [The] affiants are Detective Louis Bell of the Hilltown
         Township Police Department and Detective Patrick Horne of
         the Towamencin Township Police Department.

         On November 13, 2017, Detective Bell responded to a report
         of an unresponsive subject in the vacant lot of 1507
         Bethlehem Pike located in Hilltown Township, Bucks County.
         Upon arrival, Detective Bell identified Lukas Titus seated in
         the gravel lot with his legs crossed. Deputy Coroner Stockert
         of the Bucks County Coroner’s Office responded and it was
         determined that Mr. Titus was deceased.

         Deputy Coroner Stockert found no signs of trauma or injury
         to Mr. Titus’ body. A white Samsung cell phone was found
         within 50 feet of Mr. Titus, which was later identified as
         belonging to Mr. Titus. Detective Mathew Molchan of the
         Quakertown Borough Police Department conducted a
         forensic examination of the cell phone belonging to Mr.
         Titus. A review of the comprehensive report showed a text
         message conversation on November 10, 2017 with a contact
         labeled “Billy F” and a phone number of (267) 317-9662.
         The message was consistent with arranging to meet for the
         sale of illegal drugs in the area of 815 Hilltown Township
         Pike in Hilltown Township, Bucks County. There were no
         other drug related communications after November 10,
         2017 on this phone.

         Detective Bell spoke with the sister of Lukas Titus who said
         she had dropped off Mr. Titus to the Hilltown Walmart
         located at 1515 Bethlehem Pike in Hilltown Township.
         Surveillance video from a local business showed Mr. Titus
         leaving the Walmart and walking in the direction of Hilltown
         Pike.

         After further investigation, Detective Bell was able to
         identify Billy F with a phone number of (267) 317-9662 as
         belonging to William Frank Brennan [appellant herein] of
         1819 Hilltown Pike. An autopsy was performed by the Bucks
         County Coroner’s Office. Forensic pathologist Erica Williams

                                      -2-
J-S25022-21

       determined that the cause of death was cis-3-
       methylfent[anyl] and trans-3-methylfen[tanyl] intoxication.

       Detectives subsequently spoke with Alison Hediger who was
       with [Brennan] at the time of the search warrant of
       [Brennan’s] residence. She confirmed that Lukas Titus was
       a customer of [Brennan] that [Brennan] would sell fentanyl
       to. She stated that she was at [Brennan’s] residence on
       November 10, 2017 when Lukas came to purchase fentanyl
       from [Brennan]. She confirmed that Lukas walked from the
       Walmart in Hilltown Township to [Brennan’s] residence.

       She noted that [Brennan] thought it was funny that Lukas
       walked from the Hilltown Walmart to purchase drugs. She
       stated she saw [Brennan] hand Lukas the fentanyl in
       exchange for money.

       A few days after witnessing the sale, Ms. Hediger stated that
       [Brennan] was told by another individual that Lukas had
       died. Allison stated [Brennan] called her as soon as he got
       to the parking lot of the Walmart and told her Lukas was
       dead. She stated that he began to freak out and said he had
       to get another cell phone and that he was going to jail. She
       stated after this conversation [Brennan] never mentioned it
       again. A few hours later on that same day, [Brennan]
       dropped fentanyl off to Allison’s house.

       Detectives Bell and Horne were aware that after the
       overdose death of Lukas Titus, [Brennan] was actively
       selling fentanyl in the community between March 2018 and
       April 2018. Detectives Horne and Bell conducted two
       controlled buys from [Brennan]. In March of 2018 [Brennan]
       sold suspected fentanyl to a confidential informant. Again,
       in April of 2018 [Brennan] sold fentanyl to a confidential
       informant. After each controlled buy, [Brennan] returned to
       his residence at 819 Hilltown Pike. The suspected fentanyl
       was sent to NMS labs for analysis and the results showed
       the substances tested positive for fentanyl.

       A search warrant was executed at the second floor
       apartment of William Brennan at 819 Hilltown [P]ike. During
       the search, [Brennan] showed detectives where a white
       rectangular plastic food container was located in the
       kitchen. [Brennan] stated that he would repackage the
       fentanyl into individual wax baggies for sale. In a lockbox
       located under a bag in the living room detectives located

                                   -3-
J-S25022-21

          paraphernalia that [Brennan] would use to cut the fentanyl.
          Also located in the apartment was a scale, multiple small
          rubber bands used to bundle baggies, unused clear baggies,
          and $1,517 in U.S. currency.

          The narcotics found in [Brennan’s] residence were sent to
          NMS labs for testing. The results showed the substance
          tested positive for 14.01 grams of trans-3-methylfentanyl,
          the same substance found in Lukas Titus’ blood at the time
          of his death.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 4/27/21, at 2-3 (citing N.T. Guilty Plea, 11/1/18, at

24-30).

       On November 1, 2018, Brennan entered an open guilty plea on two

separate dockets. On the first docket, Brennan pleaded guilty to Drug Delivery

Resulting Death, Possession with Intent to Deliver, Criminal Use of a

Communication        Facility,    Involuntary    Manslaughter,   and   Recklessly

Endangering Another Person.1 On the second docket, Brennan pleaded guilty

to Possession with Intent to Deliver, two counts of Criminal Use of a

Communication Facility, and Purchase of a Controlled Substance from an

Unauthorized Person.2 Brennan was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of

not less than 10 to no more than 30 years’ incarceration. He filed a post-

sentence motion, but subsequently withdrew that motion on February 7, 2019.

He did not file a direct appeal.

____________________________________________

118 Pa.C.S.A. § 2506(a), 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7512(a),
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2504(a), and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2705, respectively.

2 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7512(a), and 35 P.S. § 780-
113(a)(19), respectively.

                                           -4-
J-S25022-21

       On March 2, 2020, Brennan filed a timely pro se PCRA petition.3 The

PCRA court appointed counsel, who filed an amended petition. The court held

a hearing on December 3, 2020 and subsequently denied the petition. This

timely appeal followed. Brennan raises one issue for our review:

          Whether the trial court erred in denying the amended
          petition for post-conviction relief following a hearing in
          which [Brennan] argued that trial counsel was ineffective for
          failing to provide [Brennan] with discovery prior to [him]
          entering a guilty plea and withdrawing his motion to
          reconsider, despite [Brennan’s] requests for discovery[?]

Brennan’s Br. at 5 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).

       On appeal from the denial or grant of relief under the PCRA, our review

is limited to determining “whether the PCRA court’s ruling is supported by the

record and free of legal error.” Commonwealth v. Presley, 193 A.3d 436,

442 (Pa.Super. 2018) (citation omitted).

       Brennan contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to provide

him with discovery before he entered a guilty plea, resulting in him entering

an involuntary plea, and for withdrawing his post-sentence motion to

____________________________________________

3Pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(A)(2)(c), “[i]f the defendant files a timely post-
sentence motion, the notice of appeal shall be filed. . .within 30 days of the
entry of the order memorializing the withdrawal in cases in which the
defendant withdraws the motion.” Since Brennan did not file a direct appeal,
and withdrew his post-sentence motion on February 7, 2019, his judgment of
sentence became final on March 9, 2019, 30 days after he withdrew the
motion and the period in which to file a direct appeal had expired. See 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(3). Brennan filed his PCRA petition on March 2, 2020,
within one year of when his judgment of sentence became final. Therefore,
Brennan’s PCRA petition was timely. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1).

                                           -5-
J-S25022-21

reconsider his sentence. Brennan claims that there were several critical pieces

of evidence that influenced his decision to plead guilty and withdraw his

motion for reconsideration. Brennan’s Br. at 14. First, he argues that while

trial counsel discussed the coroner’s report with him, counsel did not

specifically recall whether he provided the report to him. Id. at 14-15.

According to Brennan, the report was significant because “causation, i.e.[,]

whether a controlled substance supplied by [Brennan] was the cause of the

victim’s death” was an issue in determining whether Brennan ought to go to

trial. Id. Brennan argues that trial counsel did not provide Brennan with a

discovery packet, despite his requests for it. Id.

      Second, Brennan argues that while counsel summarized the content of

two incriminating phone calls Brennan made, he did not give Brennan the

opportunity to listen to the phone calls himself. Id. Brennan contends that he

“was prejudiced because he was unable to listen to the phone call evidence

for himself when weighing the decision whether to go to trial.” Id.

      Third, Brennan claims that he withdrew his motion for reconsideration

after sentencing on the advice of counsel because he was told that proceeding

on the motion would risk additional prison time. Id. Brennan argues that

counsel erroneously advised him to withdraw his motion because the

Commonwealth was potentially going to bring an additional charge of

                                     -6-
J-S25022-21

intimidation of a witness against him if he did not do so.4 Id. at 16. Brennan

argues that he was not shown any evidence connected with a potential

intimidation of witness charge. Id.

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

ineffectiveness rests on appellant.” Commonwealth v. Rivera, 10 A.3d

1276, 1279 (Pa.Super. 2010). To obtain relief based on a claim of

ineffectiveness, a petitioner must establish: “(1) his underlying claim is of

arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable basis for his action or inaction;

and (3) the petitioner suffered actual prejudice as a result.” Commonwealth

v. Spotz, 84 A.3d 294, 311 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted). Prejudice in this

context means that “absent counsel’s conduct, there is a reasonable

probability the outcome of the proceedings would have been different.”

Commonwealth v. Velazquez, 216 A.3d 1146, 1149 (Pa.Super. 2019)

(citation omitted). A failure to meet any of these prongs bars a petitioner from

obtaining relief. Commonwealth v. Sneed, 45 A.3d 1096, 1106 (Pa. 2012).

       “A criminal defendant has the right to effective counsel during a plea

process as well as during trial.” Commonwealth v. Hickman, 799 A.2d 136,

141 (Pa.Super. 2002) (citation omitted). “[C]laims of counsel’s ineffectiveness

in connection with a guilty plea will provide a basis for relief only if the

ineffectiveness caused an involuntary or unknowing plea.” Commonwealth

____________________________________________

4 This potential charge stemmed from an allegation that Brennan contacted
his girlfriend after learning that she gave a statement to the police implicating
him in conducting the transaction that resulted in the victim’s death.

                                           -7-
J-S25022-21

v. Yager, 685 A.2d 1000, 1004 (Pa.Super. 1996) (citation omitted). The

“voluntariness of [the] plea depends on whether counsel’s advice was within

the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.”

Commonwealth v. Lynch, 820 A.2d 728, 733 (Pa.Super. 2003) (quoting

Hickman, 799 A.2d at 141). “The law does not require that appellant be

pleased with the outcome of his decision to enter a plea of guilty[.]”

Commonwealth v. Diaz, 913 A.2d 871, 873 (Pa.Super. 2006) (citation

omitted). Instead, “[a]ll that is required is that [appellant’s] decision to plead

guilty be knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently made.’’ Yager, 685 A.2d at

1004 (citation omitted).

      To be valid, a guilty plea must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.

Commonwealth v. Pollard, 832 A.2d 517, 522 (Pa.Super. 2003). The court

therefore must conduct an on-the-record inquiry to determine whether the

plea is voluntarily and knowingly tendered. Commonwealth v. Hodges, 789

A.2d 764, 765 (Pa.Super. 2002) (citing Pa.R.Crim.P. 590(a)). The court must

develop a record that affirmatively shows that the defendant understands: (1)

the nature of the charges to which the defendant is pleading guilty; (2) the

factual basis for the plea; (3) the right to a jury trial; (4) the presumption of

innocence; (5) the permissible ranges of potential sentences and fines; and

(6) that the court is not bound by the terms of the agreement unless it accepts

it. Commonwealth v. Kelley, 136 A.3d 1007, 1013 (Pa.Super. 2016).

      In deciding whether a guilty plea was knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary, a court should consider the totality of the circumstances

                                      -8-
J-S25022-21

surrounding the entry of the plea. Commonwealth v. Allen, 732 A.2d 582,

588-89 (Pa. 1999). Further, a defendant who elects to plead guilty is required

to answer all questions during the plea colloquy truthfully and may not later

assert grounds for withdrawing the plea that contradict the defendant’s

statements during the colloquy. Pollard, 832 A.2d at 523.

      Here, at his guilty plea hearing, the court conducted an extensive

colloquy on the record, wherein Brennan acknowledged he did not have to

plead guilty, he had the right to a jury trial, the Commonwealth bore the

burden at trial of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and his decision to

plead guilty was not the result of any coercion or promises. N.T. Guilty Plea,

11/1/18, at 12-14, 16. He also agreed that he had enough time to speak with

his attorney about his decision to plead guilty, his attorney went through the

evidence against him in great detail, and he was satisfied with his attorney’s

legal representation. Id. at 16, 18, 19. The court also explained the nature of

the charges to which Brennan was pleading guilty, the factual basis for the

plea, and his potential range of sentence and fines. Id. at 4-11, 24-30.

Brennan agreed to the accuracy of the Commonwealth’s recitation of the facts.

Id. at 30. Brennan also signed a written guilty plea colloquy that was entered

into evidence. Id. at 20-21.

      At the PCRA hearing, trial counsel testified that he met with Brennan

many times at the prison and reviewed all of the evidence and discovery with

him. N.T. PCRA Hearing, 12/3/20, at 15-16. Counsel stated that he provided

Brennan with all paper discovery. Id. at 20. He said he was unable to provide

                                     -9-
J-S25022-21

some electronic discovery, such as phone calls, due to limitations in meeting

with Brennan at the prison, but he thoroughly summarized the electronic

discovery for him. Id. at 20-21. Counsel could not recall if he specifically

provided Brennan with the coroner’s report, but he did discuss the report with

him. Id. at 20. He also stated that he had consulted with two experts – a

forensic toxicologist and a pathologist – who both gave verbal conclusions

unfavorable to Brennan with respect to causation, i.e., whether the fentanyl

actually killed the victim. Id. at 19. He discussed these reports with Brennan.

Id. Counsel testified that he did not want these reports to be put in writing

because he did not want them to be discoverable nor did he want his client to

pay for unfavorable reports. Id. at 19-20.

      Trial counsel further testified that the Commonwealth’s potential

additional charge of intimidation of a witness was not a factor in the decision

to withdraw Brennan’s post-sentence motion. Id. at 21. Rather, that potential

charge was only considered when evaluating Brennan’s decision to plead guilty

or go to trial. Id. Brennan himself testified that it was his decision to withdraw

the motion. Id. at 8.

      Based on the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that Brennan

knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered his guilty plea. Because

Brennan voluntarily and knowingly entered his guilty plea, and stated that he

was satisfied with his counsel, his ineffectiveness claims lack arguable merit.

See Commonwealth v. McCauley, 797 A.2d 920, 922 (Pa.Super. 2001)

                                      - 10 -
J-S25022-21

(stating “[a] defendant is bound by the statements he makes during his plea

colloquy”).

      While Brennan contends that he ought to have had access to the

coroner’s report and the phone recordings, he concedes that counsel discussed

both with him and has not identified any particular aspect of either item that

would have mattered to his decision-making process. As for the withdrawal of

the motion to reconsider sentence, the PCRA court credited trial counsel’s

testimony that the potential additional charge was only a consideration when

Brennan was deciding whether to plead guilty. It was not a factor in Brennan’s

decision to withdraw the post-sentence motion. See Tr. Ct. Op., filed 4/27/21,

at 9 (citing N.T., 12/3/20, at 21). Therefore, the PCRA court properly denied

Brennan’s petition.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 11/19/2021

                                    - 11 -