Court Opinion

ID: 2764174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-23 20:17:25.68818+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:10:56.800001
License: Public Domain

J-S48018-14

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                           IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                             PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

JOHNNIE LEWIS BROWN

                            Appellant                       No. 567 MDA 2014

                Appeal from the PCRA Order February 28, 2014
                In the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-01-CR-0001178-2010

BEFORE: DONOHUE, J., JENKINS, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY JENKINS, J.:                             FILED DECEMBER 23, 2014

        Johnnie Brown (“Appellant”) appeals from the order dismissing his

petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”). 1              We

affirm.

        Following trial, a jury found Appellant guilty of possession of a

controlled    substance      with    intent    to   deliver,2   possession   of   drug

paraphernalia,3 and escape.4 On October 20, 2011, the trial court sentenced

Appellant to an aggregate sentence of 6 to 12 years of incarceration.
____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
    42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.
2
    35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30).
3
    35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(32).
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        Appellant brought a direct appeal alleging the trial court erred in

denying his motion to suppress evidence and challenging the sufficiency of

the evidence.     This Court affirmed his judgment of sentence on July 31,

2012.     Appellant did not file a Petition for Allowance of Appeal to the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

        On June 27, 2013, Appellant filed a timely pro se PCRA petition to

which the Commonwealth filed an answer.                   Thereafter, the PCRA court

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

petition alleged trial counsel was ineffective for: (1) failing to motion the trial

court to produce a subpoenaed witness, (2) failing to investigate and present

at trial the jacket Appellant was wearing at the time of arrest, (3) failing to

object to testimony regarding outstanding warrants for Appellant’s arrest,

(4) failing to file a pre-trial motion requesting fingerprint and/or DNA testing

of    evidence,   (5)     failing   to   request   that   the   court   sequester   the

Commonwealth’s witnesses, and (6) failing to argue that the arresting

officer’s warrant check of Appellant violated his constitutional rights.            See

Amended PCRA Petition, pp. 2-3.5 The PCRA court conducted a hearing on

January 14, 2014 and denied the petition on February 28, 2014. Appellant

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)
4
    18 Pa.C.S. § 5121(a).
5
  This Court has inserted pagination into the unnumbered Amended PCRA
Petition.

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timely appealed and filed a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of matters

complained of on appeal that alleged the PCRA court erred in denying his

claims that trial counsel (1) failed to secure the appearance of a witness, (2)

failed to present a jacket at trial, and (3) failed to request fingerprint and/or

DNA testing. See 1925(b) Statement, April 17, 2014. The PCRA court filed

a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion that adopted the court’s previously-filed Order

and Opinion denying the petition.              See Opinion Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a), April 21, 2014.

       Thereafter, Appellant’s counsel filed a brief with this Court that

asserted that the appeal was wholly frivolous, together with a petition to

withdraw as counsel.6        On August 22, 2014, we determined counsel had

____________________________________________

6
  Counsel purported to file the brief pursuant to Commonwealth v. Turner,
544 A.2d 927 (Pa.1988) and Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213
(Pa.Super.1988) (en banc), which established the procedure for appointed
counsel to request leave to withdraw from meritless collateral attacks on
criminal convictions. See Commonwealth v. Pitts, 981 A.2d 875, 876 n.1
(Pa.2009) (outlining Turner/Finley requirements); Commonwealth v.
Friend, 896 A.2d 607, 614 (Pa.Super.2006) (same). Counsel’s filing was
actually a brief filed pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738
(1967), which established the procedures and requirements for appointed
counsel to withdraw in the context of a meritless direct appeal. See
Commonwealth v. Martuscelli, 54 A.3d 940, 947 (Pa.Super.2012)
(outlining Anders requirements). However, because a Turner/Finley no
merit letter is the appropriate filing for a PCRA appeal that appointed counsel
deems meritless, we reviewed this filing for compliance with Turner/Finley.
See Commonwealth v. Fusselman, 866 A.2d 1109, 1111 n.3
(Pa.Super.2004); see also Commonwealth v. Widgins, 29 A.3d 816, 817
n.2 (Pa.Super.2011) (“Because an Anders brief provides greater protection
to a defendant, this Court may accept an Anders brief in lieu of a
Turner/Finley letter.”).

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partially complied with the requirements of Turner/Finley, and we found

that compliance deficient. See Commonwealth v. Brown, 567 MDA 2014,

filed August 22, 2014 (unpublished memorandum), pp. 5-6. Consequently,

we remanded the matter and directed appointed counsel to either re-file his

Turner/Finley no merit letter and a proper petition to withdraw, or to file a

responsive advocate’s brief within thirty days. Id. at 6. Counsel complied

and re-filed his brief as a formal Turner/Finley no merit letter, together

with a Petition to Withdraw as Counsel, on September 17, 2014.

     PCRA counsel’s Turner/Finley no merit letter raises the following

three issues:

           1. Whether the [PCRA c]ourt’s denial of [Appellant’s]
     PCRA petition and determination that trial counsel was not
     ineffective is supported by the evidence of record when trial
     counsel failed to secure the appearance of a defense witness.
     Said witness provided credible testimony during [Appellant’s]
     PCRA hearing that directly contradicted the testimony of the
     arresting officer(s).  Trial counsel testified during the PCRA
     hearing that the witness’s testimony, specific to the location of
     the contraband, “would have been important.”

           2. Whether the [PCRA c]ourt’s denial of the [Appellant’s]
     PCRA petition and determination that trial counsel was not
     ineffective is supported by the evidence of record when trial
     counsel failed to investigate and present at trial the jacket worn
     by [Appellant]. [Appellant] provided counsel with the name,
     address and telephone number of the person in possession of
     the jacket, insisted that counsel obtain the jacket, and counsel
     decided not to investigate the jacket.

           3. Whether the [PCRA c]ourt’s denial of the [Appellant’s]
     PCRA petition and determination that trial counsel was not
     ineffective is supported by the evidence of record when trial
     counsel failed to request fingerprint and DNA testing of the
     contraband. [Appellant] asked trial counsel on several occasions

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      to initiate fingerprint and DNA testing which trial counsel failed
      to do.

PCRA Counsel’s No Merit Letter, filed September 17, 2014 (“No Merit

Letter”), pp. 4, 6, 7. Counsel concluded each issue lacked merit. See No

Merit Letter, pp. 5, 7, 8.

      In our memorandum decision ordering remand, we afforded Appellant

45 days to respond to counsel’s filing. See Commonwealth v. Brown, 567

MDA 2014, filed August 22, 2014 (unpublished memorandum), p. 6.

Appellant responded on October 17, 2014 (“Appellant’s Pro Se Response”).

Appellant’s Pro Se Response noted the three issues raised by counsel in the

No Merit Letter, and purported to raise six (6) additional issues:

      4. Defense witness would have contradicted and proven that
      officers testimony would not been aligned with the accusation
      against [Appellant] if given in front of the jury. Jury’s could
      have seen incident through a different scope.

      5.   Trial counsel could have proven to the court that the
      accusation from the officer would be false proven by a place that
      did not exist on the jacket claimed to have had contraband. This
      would also add to other contradicting statements of the officers.

      6. The fingerprint and DNA testing would have allowed the
      defense to show whether or not he did or had possession of the
      contraband claimed by officers. Officer testified that [Appellant]
      attempted to snatch but was not successful. It would raise and
      yet answer the question if [Appellant] would have had any
      fingerprints or DNA on the claimed contraband.

      7. Appellant counsel was ineffective along with trial counsel in
      the matter to raise issue of the count 3 of possession of
      paraphernalia. The bags containing contraband should have
      been part of possession with the intent to deliver due to the fact
      it was bags containing residue[.]

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         8. Appellant counsel was ineffective along with trial counsel in
         the matter of the count 4 of escape where [Appellant] was not
         proven to be under arrest but fled the scene. Testimony of
         officer Sangster states that she was under the assumption
         [Appellant] was under arrest. Trial counsel did raise and proved
         that officer Weikert was not required to arrest [Appellant] for a
         traffic violation warrant. If [Appellant] would have been under
         arrest for citation warrant, would that also been up to officer
         Sangster whom encountered [Appellant] first? [Appellant] would
         and could have been under the impression he was not under
         arrest nor under any type of detition for any violation.

         9. Appellant counsel has failed to raise or amend the matter of
         the mandatory minimum sentencing. This matter has been
         argued and set forth as unconstitutional under the following
         cases:

            A. Com. v. Mundy 78 A3d 661 (2013)

            B. Alleyne v. United States, 133 S.Ct. 2151, 186 L.Ed 2d
            314 (2013)

            C. Com. v. Newman 2014 Pa Super 178 No. 1980 EDA
            2012 PICS Case no 14-1335 (Pa.Super Aug. 20, 2014)
            Ford Elliot, J (40 pages)

Appellant’s Pro Se Response, pp. 2-3 (all errors in original, pagination

supplied). Additionally, Appellant requested an extension of time to submit

a brief.    Id. at 4.    This Court granted Appellant’s extension request and

afforded Appellant an additional 30-days from October 31, 2014 to file his

brief.     See Superior Court Order, October 31, 2014.       Appellant filed an

“Amended Brief to Appeal Response to PCRA” (“Appellant’s pro se brief”) on

December 2, 2014, within the allotted 30 days. 7       Appellant’s pro se brief
____________________________________________

7
  The 30th day technically fell on November 30, 2014, a Sunday.
Accordingly, Appellant had until the following business day, Monday
December 1, 2014, to file his brief in compliance with this Court’s October
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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addresses only issue No. 9 from his Pro Se Response, the mandatory

minimum sentencing claim.

      We first turn to counsel’s No Merit Letter to begin our review of this

matter. Our Supreme Court has explained the procedure required for court-

appointed counsel to withdraw from PCRA representation:

            [Turner and Finley] establish the procedure for
      withdrawal of court-appointed counsel in collateral attacks on
      criminal convictions.  Independent review of the record by
      competent counsel is required before withdrawal is permitted.
      Such independent review requires proof of:

      1) A “no-merit” letter by PCRA counsel detailing the nature and
         extent of his [or her] review;

      2) A “no-merit” letter by PCRA counsel listing each issue the
         petitioner wished to have reviewed;

      3) The PCRA counsel’s “explanation”, in the “no-merit” letter, of
         why the petitioner’s issues were meritless;

      4) The PCRA court conducting its own independent review of the
         record; and

      5) The PCRA court agreeing with counsel that the petition was
         meritless.

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)

31, 2014 Order. This Court received Appellant’s brief on December 2, 2014.
While Appellant did not date his brief or provide proof of mailing, we
acknowledge that he is incarcerated and therefore must have mailed his
brief, at the latest, on December 1, 2014. Accordingly, we will consider
December 1, 2014 as the filing date of Appellant’s brief, and regard the brief
as timely filed. See Commonwealth v. Patterson, 931 A.2d 710, 714
(Pa.Super.2007) (“Pursuant to the prisoner mailbox rule, we deem a
document filed on the day it is placed in the hands of prison authorities for
mailing”).

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Commonwealth v. Pitts, 981 A.2d 875, 876 n.1 (Pa.2009) (citations

omitted). In addition, this Court has required that PCRA counsel who seeks

to withdraw must:

     contemporaneously serve a copy on the petitioner of counsel’s
     application to withdraw as counsel, and must supply the
     petitioner both a copy of the “no-merit” letter and a statement
     advising the petitioner that, in the event the court grants the
     application of counsel to withdraw, he or she has the right to
     proceed pro se or with the assistance of privately retained
     counsel.

Commonwealth v. Friend, 896 A.2d 607, 614 (Pa.Super.2006) (emphasis

deleted).

     [W]here counsel submits a petition and no-merit letter that do
     satisfy the technical demands of Turner/Finley, the court—trial
     court or this Court—must then conduct its own review of the
     merits of the case. If the court agrees with counsel that the
     claims are without merit, the court will permit counsel to
     withdraw and deny relief. By contrast, if the claims appear to
     have merit, the court will deny counsel’s request and grant
     relief, or at least instruct counsel to file an advocate’s brief.

Commonwealth v. Wrecks, 931 A.2d 717, 721 (Pa.Super.2007) (citations

omitted).

     As noted, following our remand, PCRA counsel filed a No Merit letter

with this Court, detailing the nature and extent of his review, listing three

issues regarding ineffective assistance of trial counsel, and discussing why

he believes each issue lacks merit. Additionally, counsel filed a Petition to

Withdraw as Counsel seeking to withdraw his appearance on Appellant’s

behalf. In consideration of his recent submissions, we are now satisfied that

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PCRA counsel sent copies of the No Merit Letter and his motion seeking to

withdraw his appearance to Appellant, as well as a statement advising

Appellant of his right to proceed pro se or with new counsel.        Therefore,

PCRA counsel has now satisfied the prerequisites of Turner/Finley, and we

may review the claims presented.

     In reviewing an order denying PCRA relief, our well-settled standard of

review is “to determine whether the determination 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. Barndt, 74 A.3d 185,

191-192 (Pa.Super.2013) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

     The No Merit Letter raises the issues discussed supra, all of which

Appellant preserved through inclusion in his Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement.

Each of these issues raises claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. When

reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, we begin with the

presumption that counsel was effective. Commonwealth v. O’Bidos, 849

A.2d 243, 249 (Pa.Super.2004). Generally, to overcome this presumption, a

claimant must establish “that [1] the underlying claim is of arguable merit;

[2] that counsel’s action or inaction was not grounded on any reasonable

basis designed to effectuate the appellant’s interest; and finally, [3] that

counsel’s action or inaction was prejudicial to the client.”   Id.   Failure to

establish any one of these three prongs will defeat an ineffective assistance

of counsel claim. Id.

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      The first issue alleges that trial counsel was ineffective by failing to

secure the appearance at trial of a defense witness, Appellant’s fiancée,

Melissa Bridges. See No Merit Letter, pp. 4-5. To establish ineffectiveness

for failure to call witnesses, a PCRA petitioner must demonstrate:

      (1) the witness existed; (2) the witness was available; (3)
      counsel knew of, or should have known of the existence of the
      witness; (4) the witness was willing to testify for the defense;
      and (5) the absence of the testimony was so prejudicial to
      petitioner to have denied him or her a fair trial.

Commonwealth v. Miner, 44 A.3d 684, 687 (Pa.Super.2012). “Thus, trial

counsel will not be found ineffective for failing to investigate or call a witness

unless there is some showing by the appellant that the witness’s testimony

would have been helpful to the defense.” Commonwealth v. Michaud, 70

A.3d 862, 868 (Pa.Super.2013) (citation omitted).           “A failure to call a

witness is not per se ineffective assistance of counsel for such decision

usually involves matters of trial strategy.” Id. (citation and quotation marks

omitted).

      Here, PCRA counsel explains that the record establishes that (1) trial

counsel interviewed and subpoenaed Ms. Bridges prior to trial, (2) trial

counsel contacted and spoke with Ms. Bridges on the day of trial, (3) Ms.

Bridges did not appear at trial, (4) trial counsel offered the trial court a

proffer of Ms. Bridges’ expected testimony after she did not appear, and (5)

the trial court directed the trial to proceed in the absence of the witness. No

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Merit Letter, p. 4.   As a result, PCRA counsel concluded that this claim is

without merit. Id. at 5. We agree.

      At the PCRA hearing, trial counsel testified that he subpoenaed Ms.

Bridges, spoke with her, and that she did not show up to the trial.            N.T.

1/14/2014 (“PCRA Transcript”), pp. 43-44.            Trial counsel further testified

that he felt Ms. Bridges’ testimony would have been tentative, hesitant, and

ultimately unhelpful, and that he was reticent to call Ms. Bridges given her

crimen falsi conviction for theft.      Id.     This evidence illustrates that trial

counsel’s failure to call Ms. Bridges resulted from a combination of counsel’s

strategic determinations as to Ms. Bridges’ testimony and Ms. Bridges’

failure to appear in court.       The PCRA court credited this evidence, which

defeats Appellant’s claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel for failure

to call Ms. Bridges to testify.

      Appellant’s second issue alleges trial counsel ineffectiveness for failing

to present at trial the jacket worn by Appellant during the crime.          See No

Merit Letter, pp. 6-7.     Appellant believes the presentation of the jacket

would have reinforced his testimony and contradicted that of the police

officers. Id. Appellant alleges discrepancies between the officer’s testimony

regarding the placement of pockets on the jacket and the actual placement

of the pockets would have impeached the officers’ testimony to the point of

changing the outcome of the trial. Id. PCRA counsel concludes this issue is

without merit because the issue was addressed at trial in such a way that

physical production was not necessary, and Appellant testified at trial that

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the baggie containing drugs had in fact come from his jacket.         Id. at 7.

Again, we agree.

      Appellant’s testimony at the PCRA hearing did not dispute that police

recovered a baggie from his jacket.     Instead, Appellant simply challenged

the exact location in the jacket where police discovered the baggie.        See

PCRA Transcript, pp. 31-33. Trial counsel, however, explained the decision

not to pursue and present the jacket in terms of strategy, explaining:

      I thought [Appellant’s jacket] was legally insignificant or
      irrelevant. That’s why I didn’t push real hard to get the jacket.
      I just didn’t think that even if the officers were contradicted and
      the pockets were on a different place on [Appellant’s] person
      that was relevant. Even for the purpose of discrediting the
      officers story, I just thought [it amounted to] the difference
      between a black car and maybe a blue car.

Id. at 46.

      The PCRA court explained its denial of this claim as follows:

              Contrary to [Appellant’s] belief in the importance of
      producing the inner jacket at trial, this issue was raised at his
      trial in such a way that physical production was unnecessary. At
      trial, [Appellant] took the stand in his own defense and testified
      about the jacket, admitting that a baggie came from an inner
      jacket pocket, but disputing the exact placement of the pocket.
      During direct examination, Attorney Maitland specifically
      questioned [Appellant] about the accuracy of Officer Weikert’s
      testimony that he found the baggie in [Appellant’s] breast
      pocket. [Appellant] responded that Officer Weikert’s testimony
      was incorrect and that the baggie was in a right side pocket.
      Through this line of questioning, Attorney Maitland ensured that
      [Appellant] had the opportunity to testify regarding the accuracy
      of Officer Weikert’s testimony.

            More importantly, [Appellant] greatly overestimates the
      prejudice that he suffered from Attorney Maitland’s decision not
      to locate the jacket and present it at trial. [Appellant] does not

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      contend that Officer Weikert did not find a baggie in one of his
      jacket pockets. Instead, [Appellant] merely asserts that the
      baggie was found in a different pocket in his inner jacket and the
      breast pocket did not exist. While the exact location of the
      pocket on the inner jacket may have a slight impact on the
      credibility of the officer’s testimony, it is not an outcome-
      determinative issue. Attorney Maitland testified that he did not
      secure the jacket because he believed that the jacket was legally
      insignificant or irrelevant to [Appellant’s] defense. This [c]ourt
      agrees. Attorney Maitland was not required to jump through a
      series of hoops to secure physical evidence which would have
      essentially no impact on the issue of [Appellant’s] guilt. This is
      especially so because the same point that would have been
      made through physical production of the jacket was made
      through [Appellant’s] testimony. Consequently, [Appellant] has
      not shown that Attorney Maitland was ineffective in this regard
      and is not entitled to PCRA relief.

PCRA Court Opinion on Defendant’s Motion for Post Conviction Collateral

Relief, February 28, 2014 (“PCRA Opinion”), pp. 9-10 (footnote omitted).

The PCRA court correctly notes that any prejudice suffered by Appellant as a

result of the failure to introduce the jacket into evidence would likely not

have been outcome-determinative, particularly in light of the admitted

testimony regarding the jacket.        Additionally, trial counsel had sound

strategic reasons noted by the PCRA court for not pursuing the jacket as

evidence. See Commonwealth v. Colavita, 993 A.2d 874, 887 (Pa.2010)

(holding counsel will be deemed effective where counsel’s chosen course of

action had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s

interests). Accordingly, Appellant’s claim fails.

      Finally, the third issue alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for

failing to request fingerprint and DNA testing of the contraband.     See No

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Merit Letter, pp. 7-8.    PCRA counsel concludes that this issue also lacks

merit, and we again agree.

      At the PCRA hearing, trial counsel testified he made a strategic

decision to address the Commonwealth’s lack of evidence through cross-

examination of witnesses and through argument in closing, as opposed to

seeking fingerprinting and DNA testing.      PCRA Transcript, pp. 30, 46-47.

PCRA counsel further explained that a lack of Appellant’s fingerprints or

genetic material on the contraband would not necessarily have proven his

innocence.   Id. at 47.   Further, trial counsel testified that, as a matter of

strategy, he did not test for fingerprints or DNA out of fear such tests might

have yielded evidence that would have further inculpated Appellant. Id. at

47-48, 52.

      The PCRA court explained:

             Attorney Maitland made a well-reasoned decision not to
      request that the baggie be tested for identifying material after
      weighing the inherent risks with the potential benefits that could
      result. Counsel’s choice of trial strategy does not constitute
      ineffective assistance of counsel so long as he chooses a
      particular course that had some reasonable basis designed to
      effectuate his client’s interests.     If Attorney Maitland had
      requested that the baggie be tested, he would have exposed
      [Appellant] to the risk that [Appellant’s] materials could be
      found on it, thus further incriminating him. On the other hand, if
      Attorney Maitland had requested testing and [Appellant’s]
      fingerprint or genetic material were not found on the baggie, the
      absence of that evidence would not establish that the drugs did
      not belong to [Appellant].       Instead, a lack of [Appellant’s]
      fingerprints or DNA could mean that there were simply no
      distinct samples of such material to be gleaned from the
      evidence. Because Attorney Maitland considered the alternatives
      and made a reasoned and strategic choice which was designed

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      to effectuate [Appellant’s] interests, his        decision    cannot
      constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.

PCRA Opinion, p. 11 (internal quotations and citation omitted).

      We find the PCRA court’s determination is supported by the evidence

of record and free of legal error. Accordingly, this claim lacks merit.

      As to Appellant’s Pro Se Response and Appellant’s pro se brief thereon,

as previously noted, Appellant briefed only his mandatory minimum

sentence issue.    Accordingly, Appellant has waived his Pro Se Response

Issues 4-8. To the extent Appellant’s Pro Se Response Issue No. 9 raises a

claim based on Alleyne v. United States, __ U.S. __, 133 S.Ct. 2151

(2013), we acknowledge that generally issues concerning the applicability of

a mandatory minimum present a non-waivable challenge to the legality of a

sentence.      Commonwealth         v.     Lawrence,   99    A.3d    116,    122

(Pa.Super.2014). However, neither the Supreme Court of the United States

nor the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that Alleyne applies

retroactively to matters on collateral appeal.      Even if Alleyne applied,

Appellant failed to raise his claim within sixty days after the Supreme Court

of the United States issued its opinion in Alleyne on June 17, 2013.          42

Pa.C.S. §§ 9545(b)(1)(iii) & (b)(2).

      Having found that the issues raised by Appellant are waived or without

merit, and finding nothing in the record that would support a contrary

conclusion or which revealed other preserved issues of arguable merit, we

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affirm the order of the PCRA court denying Appellant’s PCRA petition and

grant PCRA counsel’s Petition to Withdraw as Counsel.

     Order affirmed. Petition to Withdraw as Counsel granted.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/23/2014

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