Court Opinion

ID: 2904519
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 22:10:44.735925+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:37:15.928011
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

ARTHUR BOMAR,                              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                           :         PENNSYLVANIA
                Appellant                  :
                                           :
                   v.                      :
                                           :
MARJORIE J. FOX, DISTRICT                  :
ATTORNEY, GREENE COUNTY,                   :
                                           :
                Appellee                   :   No. 132 WDA 2015

             Appeal from the Order Entered December 12, 2014,
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County,
            Criminal Division, at No(s): CP-30-MD-0000149-2014

BEFORE:     FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., DONOHUE, and STRASSBURGER, JJ.*

MEMORANDUM BY STRASSBURGER, J.:                FILED SEPTEMBER 09, 2015

      Arthur Bomar (Appellant) appeals pro se from the order denying his

petition for review of a private criminal complaint that was disapproved by

the Greene County District Attorney’s Office. We vacate the trial court’s

order and remand with instructions.

      On October 15, 2014, Appellant, an inmate at the State Correctional

Institution at Greene, submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for approval

a private criminal complaint against Correctional Officer (C.O.) Whipkey

alleging that C.O. Whipkey subjected him to official oppression, sexual

harassment, and ethnic intimidation.

      By letter dated October 22, 2014, the District Attorney’s Office

disapproved Appellant’s complaint.     That letter reads, in pertinent part, as

follows: “Based upon a review of the information surrounding this case, we

*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S40035-15

are unable to approve your private criminal complaint.            [The District

Attorney’s Office] is exercising its discretion in disapproving your complaint.”

Letter, 10/22/2014.

      On November 18, 2014, Appellant filed a petition under Pa.R.Crim.P.

506 with the Greene County Court of Common Pleas seeking review of the

District Attorney’s disapproval.    On December 12, 2014, the trial court

issued an order denying Appellant’s petition, finding that the District

Attorney’s Office did not abuse its discretion in disapproving Appellant’s

private criminal complaint. This timely appeal followed. The trial court did

not order Appellant to file a statement of errors complained of pursuant to

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and none was filed.

      Appellant raises three issues for our review, which can be summarized

as follows: did the trial court abuse its discretion in denying Appellant’s

request for review of the denial of his private criminal complaint? Appellant’s

Brief at 3.

      Our standard of review for a trial court’s denial of review of a district

attorney’s approval or disapproval of a private criminal complaint is well-

settled: “[o]n appeal, this [C]ourt is limited to determining whether the trial

court abused its discretion.” In re Private Complaint of Adams, 764 A.2d

577, 579 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citation omitted). Furthermore, this Court has

provided that:

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     The District Attorney’s decision not to prosecute a private
     criminal complaint for reasons including policy matters carries a
     presumption of good faith and soundness. The complainant must
     create a record that demonstrates the contrary. Thus, the
     appropriate scope of review in policy-declination cases is limited
     to whether the trial court misapprehended or misinterpreted the
     District Attorney’s decision …. We will not disturb the trial
     court’s decision unless the record contains no reasonable
     grounds for the court’s decision, or the court relied on
     rules of law that were palpably wrong or inapplicable.
     Otherwise, the trial court’s decision must stand, even if the
     appellate court would be inclined to decide the case differently.

In re Private Criminal Complaint of Wilson, 879 A.2d 199, 215 (Pa.

Super. 2005) (citation omitted; emphasis added).

           Several cases clearly set forth the trial court’s obligations
     in addressing the District Attorney’s disapproval of a private
     criminal complaint.

           Where the district attorney’s denial is based on a
           legal evaluation of the evidence, the trial court
           undertakes a de novo review of the matter.
           Commonwealth v. Cooper, 710 A.2d 76 (Pa.
           Super. 1998). Where the district attorney’s
           disapproval is based on policy considerations, the
           trial court accords deference to the decision and will
           not interfere with it in the absence of bad faith, fraud
           or unconstitutionality. Id. at 79. In the event the
           district attorney offers a hybrid of legal and policy
           reasons for disapproval, deference to the district
           attorney’s decision, rather than de novo review, is
           the appropriate standard to be employed. Id. at 80.
           On appeal, this court is limited to determining
           whether the trial court abused its discretion. Id.

In re Private Complaint of Owens Against Coker, 810 A.2d 172, 175-76

(Pa. Super. 2002) (footnote omitted).

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      Rule 506 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that, should the

District Attorney disprove a private criminal complaint, the District Attorney

“shall state the reasons on the complaint form and return it to the affiant.”

Pa.R.Crim.P. 506(B)(2). In its letter denying Appellant’s complaint, the

District Attorney’s Office failed to indicate whether Appellant’s complaint was

denied based on a legal deficiency, a policy-based consideration, or a hybrid

of both. Likewise, the record before us is devoid of any explanation of the

trial court’s determination. While our inquiry is limited to whether the trial

court abused its discretion, without a clear indication of the manner in which

the trial court was supposed to evaluate the actions of the District Attorney’s

Office, or the basis of the decision reached by the trial court, we are unable

to evaluate whether the record contains reasonable grounds to support the

trial court’s decision. Wilson, 879 A.2d at 215. Accordingly, we vacate the

order of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.

      Order     vacated.   Case   remanded    with   instructions.   Jurisdiction

relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/9/2015

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