Court Opinion

ID: 9378071
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-09 16:08:33.041804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:18.775125
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Gilberto Melendez,                         :
                           Petitioner      :
                                           :
                v.                         :   No. 929 C.D. 2021
                                           :   Submitted: October 21, 2022
Pennsylvania Parole Board,                 :
                        Respondent         :

BEFORE:         HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
                HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
                HONORABLE LORI A. DUMAS, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE DUMAS                                                FILED: March 9, 2023

                Gilberto Melendez (Melendez) petitions for review of the decision
mailed July 21, 2021, by the Pennsylvania Parole Board (the Board), denying his
request for administrative relief. 1 Daniel C. Bell, Esq. (Counsel), Melendez’s court-
                                 0F

appointed counsel, has filed an application to withdraw because the appeal lacks
merit. 2 We grant Counsel’s application to withdraw and affirm the Board’s decision.
      1F

                                 I. BACKGROUND
                On September 9, 1996, Melendez was sentenced to 7 to 26 years of
incarceration with a maximum sentence date of March 21, 2022. See Sentence Status
Summ., 4/24/97, at 1.       Thereafter, following parole, revocation thereof, and
conviction for new charges, the Board recalculated the controlling maximum date as
September 15, 2024. See Not. of Bd. Decision, 9/29/11, at 1. On August 12, 2018,
Melendez was reparoled. See Order to Release on Parole, 4/5/18, at 1-2. Shortly

           1
        The decision is dated July 19, 2021. See Resp. to Admin. Remedies Form, 7/21/21.
           2
        See Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988); Commonwealth v. Finley, 550
A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc).
thereafter, Melendez was declared delinquent, effective August 15, 2018. See Not.
of Charges and Hr’g, 8/8/19, at 1.
              On June 3, 2019, Melendez was arrested in Florida on new charges as
well as violation of his parole.        See Violation Hr’g Report, 11/2/19, at 1-6
(unpaginated); Osceoia Cnty. Unif. Charging Aff., 6/3/19, at 1-2. On November 12,
2019, Melendez was recommitted as a technical parole violator for nine months. See
Not. of Bd. Decision, 11/12/19, at 1.            On January 21, 2020, Melendez was
recommitted as a convicted parole violator (CPV), to serve nine months’ backtime,
concurrent to the nine months previously imposed. See Order to Recommit, 2/7/20,
at 1 (Recommitment Order).3 The Board recalculated the maximum date as August
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28, 2025. See id. On June 18, 2020, the Board issued a decision denying Melendez
parole. See Not. of Bd. Decision, 6/18/20, at 1-2.
              On June 29, 2020, Melendez administratively appealed the denial of
parole. See Admin. Remedies Form, 6/29/20, at 1-2.4 On June 18, 2021, Melendez
                                                          3F

submitted an additional administrative remedies form, purporting to appeal the
Recommitment Order. See Admin. Remedies Form, 6/18/21, at 1. 5 The Board     4F

denied both administrative appeals. See Resp. to Admin. Remedies Form, 7/21/21,
at 1. The Board noted that (1) there is no authorization for administrative relief from
the denial of parole and (2) the appeal from the Recommitment Order was untimely.
See id.
              Melendez timely petitioned this Court for review.                   Counsel was
appointed and filed a Turner/Finley letter and application to withdraw as counsel.

       3
         The Recommitment Order was issued on January 21, 2020, but it was mailed on February
7, 2020. See Resp. to Admin. Remedies Form, 7/21/21, at 1.
       4
         This form is hand-dated June 29, 2020; it was received on July 7, 2020.
       5
         This form is hand-dated June 18, 2021; it was received on July 19, 2021.

                                             2
On December 17, 2021, this Court instructed Melendez to hire new counsel or file a
brief in support of his petition pro se. On June 3, 2022, Melendez pro se filed a brief
raising additional issues.
                    II. TURNER/FINLEY REQUIREMENTS
             We first determine whether Counsel’s application to withdraw
complies with the Turner/Finley requirements. A Turner/Finley letter must detail
“the nature and extent of counsel’s diligent review of the case, listing the issues
which the petitioner wants to have reviewed, explaining why and how those issues
lack merit, and requesting permission to withdraw.” Zerby v. Shanon, 964 A.2d 956,
960 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009) (citation omitted). Further, counsel must “also send to the
petitioner: (1) a copy of the ‘no-merit’ letter/brief; (2) a copy of counsel’s petition
to withdraw; and (3) a statement advising petitioner of the right to proceed pro se or
by new counsel.”      Id. (citation omitted).   If counsel satisfies these technical
requirements, we must then conduct our own review of the merits of the case. Id. If
we agree that the claims are without merit, we will permit counsel to withdraw and
deny relief. Id.
             Upon review, we conclude Counsel has satisfied the technical
requirements of Turner/Finley.      Counsel discussed the nature of his review,
identified the issues raised in Melendez’s administrative appeal, and explained why
those issues lack merit. Counsel’s Br. at 1-4. Counsel sent a copy of the brief and
application to withdraw to Melendez and advised him of his right to proceed pro se
or with new counsel. See Appl. to Withdraw as Counsel, 12/15/21, at 1-2; Certificate
of Service, 12/15/21. Melendez has not retained new counsel but has filed a pro se
response. Accordingly, we review the merits of Melendez’s appeal.

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                                         III. ISSUES
               Counsel has identified one issue that Melendez wished to raise on
appeal, namely, that his new conviction from the state of Florida, which resulted in
the imposition of nine months’ backtime, was not within the presumptive range for
an equivalent Pennsylvania offense. See Counsel’s Br. at 3.
               In Melendez’s pro se brief he purports to raise three additional issues.
See Pet’r’s Br. at v. First, Melendez contends that the Board abused its discretion
on August 4, 2011, by failing to consider whether to grant Melendez credit for time
spent at liberty on parole. See id. Second, Melendez argues that his procedural due
process rights were violated by the fact that he was not able to challenge the
Recommitment Order. See id. Melendez’s third issue is nearly incomprehensible
but appears to argue that the Board interfered with his attempts to obtain reparole.
See id.
               The Board responds that Melendez has no right to petition for review
from the Board’s denial of his parole, and that his attempt to challenge his
recommitment as a CPV was untimely. See Resp’t’s Br. at 7-9.
                                      IV. ANALYSIS 6      5F

                 A. Petition for Review of the Recommitment Order
               First, Melendez challenges the Board’s denial of his administrative
appeal of the Recommitment Order. Counsel’s Br. at 3-4. Specifically, Counsel
characterizes this claim as a challenge to the imposition of nine months of backtime,
asserting that this was not within the presumptive range for an equivalent

       6
          In appeals from determinations of the Board, our standard of review is limited to
determining whether the Board committed an error of law, whether its findings are supported by
substantial evidence, and whether its decision violated constitutional rights. Young v. Pa. Bd. of
Prob. & Parole, 189 A.3d 16, 18 n.3 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018).

                                                4
Pennsylvania offense.     See id. at 3.       However, Counsel concedes that this
administrative appeal was untimely filed. See id. at 3-4.
             The timeliness of an administrative appeal is a jurisdictional issue.
Wagner v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole, 522 A.2d 155, 157 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 1987). The Board’s regulations provide that petitions for administrative
review “shall be received at the Board’s Central Office within 30 days of the mailing
date” of the challenged decision. 37 Pa. Code § 73.1(b)(1). We have held that this
deadline is jurisdictional, meaning the Board lacks authority to consider untimely
petitions. McCullough v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 256 A.3d 466, 471 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2021) (citation omitted). An exception exists for a “showing of fraud or a
breakdown of the administrative process.” Smith v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 81
A.3d 1091, 1094 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013).
             In the instant case, Melendez’s appeal is facially untimely.        The
Recommitment Order was mailed on February 7, 2020; accordingly, Melendez had
thirty days, or until March 9, 2020, to file his appeal.        He did not file an
administrative remedies form until June 18, 2021, over a year too late. Further,
Melendez did not plead fraud or a breakdown of the administrative process to the
Board nor to this Court on appeal; thus, we have no basis upon which to consider an
exception to the timeliness constraints on the Board’s jurisdiction. See, e.g., Smith,
81 A.3d at 1094. Accordingly, the Board properly denied Melendez’s appeal as
untimely filed, and the issue is without merit. McCullough, 256 A.3d at 471; Smith,
81 A.3d at 1094; Zerby, 964 A.2d at 960; Wagner, 522 A.2d at 157.
                       B. Melendez’s Pro Se Issues
             We now turn to the issues Melendez sought to raise pro se in his
response to Counsel’s petition to withdraw. Insofar as we can interpret them,

                                          5
Melendez seeks to challenge an August 2011 determination of the Board that denied
him credit for time spent at liberty on parole, raises allegations of due process
violations, and attempts to argue that the Board somehow interfered with his
attempts to gain reparole. See Pet’r’s Br. at v.
                        1. Time Spent at Liberty on Parole
             Initially, Melendez argues that the determination of the Board on
August 4, 2011, denying him credit for time spent at liberty on parole, was in error.
See Pet’r’s Br. at v, 2-3. Melendez is not entitled to relief for two reasons.
             First, this challenge is facially untimely. As noted above, a petitioner
has 30 days from the mailing date of the challenged decision to file a petition for
administrative review. 37 Pa. Code § 73.1(b)(1). This deadline is jurisdictional.
See McCullough, 256 A.3d at 471; Wagner, 522 A.2d at 157. Here, Melendez did
not challenge the 2011 determination until 2022, eleven years later. He has not
pleaded any fraud or breakdown of the administrative process. Smith, 81 A.3d at
1094. Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction to consider this issue. See McCullough,
256 A.3d at 471; Wagner, 522 A.2d at 157.
             Further, issues not raised before the Board in an administrative appeal
are waived for purposes of appellate review by this Court, and the Pennsylvania
Code requires that a prisoner seeking administrative relief must specifically set forth
the facts and legal basis for which relief should be granted. McCaskill v. Pa. Bd. of
Prob. & Parole, 631 A.2d 1092, 1094-95 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1993); 37 Pa. Code § 71.5(h).
Moreover, any issues not raised in a petition for review are deemed waived. Chesson
v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 47 A.3d 875, 879 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2012).
             Melendez did not raise this issue before the Board or in his petition for
review. Accordingly, due to Melendez’s failure to preserve this issue below and

                                           6
waiver of this issue for appeal, the issue is without merit. Chesson, 47 A.3d at 879;
Zerby, 964 A.2d at 960; McCaskill, 631 A.2d at 1094-95.
                              2. Due Process Violations
             In Melendez’s second pro se issue, he appears to assert a due process
challenge. See Pet’r’s Br. at v. Although difficult to parse, it appears that Melendez
avers that his procedural due process rights were violated because his recommitment
as a CPV increased the time he was required to serve and he was denied the
opportunity to “effectively challenge” the recommitment order. See id. Again, his
argument is nearly incomprehensible, but appears to contend that it was error for the
Board to increase his backtime based upon out-of-state charges. See id. at 4.
             Again, this challenge is facially untimely. As noted above, a petitioner
has 30 days from the mailing date of the challenged decision to file a petition for
administrative review. 37 Pa. Code § 73.1(b)(1). This deadline is jurisdictional.
See McCullough, 256 A.3d at 471; Wagner, 522 A.2d at 157. Here, Melendez was
recommitted as a CPV in January 2020, following the Florida arrest and charges,
and did not attempt to file a form seeking administrative relief until over a year later.
He has not pleaded any fraud or breakdown of the administrative process. Smith, 81
A.3d at 1094. Accordingly, the Board properly denied his appeal as untimely, and
the issue is without merit. McCullough, 256 A.3d at 471; Smith, 81 A.3d at 1094;
Zerby, 964 A.2d at 960; Wagner, 522 A.2d at 157.
                                3. Denial of Reparole
             In Melendez’s final pro se issue, he contends that the Board erred in
denying his reparole after he was recommitted as a CPV. See Pet’r’s Br. at v.
             The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that there is no right to
appellate review from a Parole Board decision denying parole under either the

                                           7
Administrative Agency Law 7 or the Federal Constitution, since the decision does not
                                  6F

constitute an adjudication. See Rogers v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 724 A.2d 319,
322-23 (Pa. 1999).
                Instantly, the Board appropriately noted that “the Board’s regulation
authorizing administrative relief does not apply to decisions denying parole,” and
that, rather, the regulation applies to decisions revoking parole and recalculations
based on those recommitments. See Resp. to Admin. Remedies Form, 7/21/21, at 1.
Accordingly, the Board did not commit an error of law or violate Melendez’s
constitutional rights, and this issue is without merit. Rogers, 724 A.2d at 323;
Young, 189 A.3d at 18 n.3; Zerby, 964 A.2d at 960.
                                       V. CONCLUSION
                For these reasons, we conclude Counsel has fulfilled the requirements
of Turner/Finley, and our independent review of the record confirms that
Melendez’s appeal lacks merit. Accordingly, we grant Counsel’s application to
withdraw his appearance and affirm the Board’s decision. See Zerby, 964 A.2d at
960.

                                       LORI A. DUMAS, Judge

       7
           2 Pa. C.S. §§ 501-50, 701-704.

                                              8
         IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Gilberto Melendez,                    :
                       Petitioner     :
                                      :
           v.                         :   No. 929 C.D. 2021
                                      :
Pennsylvania Parole Board,            :
                        Respondent    :

                                    ORDER

           AND NOW, this 9th day of March, 2023, the order of the Pennsylvania
Parole Board entered in the above-captioned matter is AFFIRMED, and Counsel’s
application to withdraw is GRANTED.

                             LORI A. DUMAS, Judge