Court Opinion

ID: 4121437
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-31 20:12:53.678319+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:34.003119
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                         IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                           PENNSYLVANIA

                       v.

LEREX R. DOOLEY

                            Appellant                    No. 1688 EDA 2015

                   Appeal from the PCRA Order May 11, 2015
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0008960-2007

BEFORE: OLSON, J., RANSOM, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY RANSOM, J.:                             FILED JANUARY 31, 2017

        Appellant, Lerex R. Dooley, appeals from the May 11, 2015 order

denying his petition filed under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42

Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.

        On December 2, 2008, following a jury trial, Appellant was convicted

of robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a prohibited

person, and possessing an instrument of crime (PIC).1         On September 17,

2009, Appellant received an aggregate sentence of fifteen to thirty years of

incarceration.

        Appellant timely appealed to this Court, and his judgment of sentence

was affirmed on January 19, 2011.              See Commonwealth v. Dooley, 23

____________________________________________

1
    18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3701(a)(1)(i), 2702(a)(1), 6105(a), and 907(a) respectively.

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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A.3d 1084 (Pa. Super. 2011) (unpublished memorandum).               He did not

petition the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for allowance of appeal.

        Appellant pro se timely filed a PCRA petition. Counsel was appointed

but ultimately withdrew due to medical reasons. Appellant pro se filed an

amended petition on March 21, 2014.              New counsel was appointed but

ultimately removed following a Grazier2 hearing.          With the PCRA court’s

permission, Appellant filed a second amended petition on December 12,

2014.     The PCRA court issued notice pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 that

Appellant’s petition would be dismissed without a hearing within twenty

days.    Appellant filed a response to the notice, but the court dismissed

Appellant’s petition without a hearing.

        Appellant timely appealed, and counsel was reappointed.       Appellant

filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement, and the PCRA court

issued a responsive opinion.

        On appeal, Appellant raises the following issues:

        I. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because the Commonwealth
        suppressed a 2007 agreement between Hiller and the
        Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office that acknowledged Hiller’s
        involvement in a 2006 homicide, and portions of a 2007 proffer
        statement discussing the same, and Dooley’s prior attorneys
        ineffectively failed to discover and argue these Brady3
        violations?

____________________________________________

2
    See Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1999).
3
    Brady v. Maryland, 83 S. Ct. 1194 (1963).

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      II. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because Hiller gave testimony
      the prosecution knew to be false and the prosecution did not
      seek to correct the misstatements?

      III. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because trial counsel failed
      to object, request a curative instruction, or move for a mistrial
      when the Commonwealth elicited testimony Hiller sold drugs
      with [Appellant’s] alibi witness?

      IV. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because appellate counsel
      failed to challenge the adequacy of the curative instruction in
      response to Hiller’s testimony [Appellant] intended to murder
      Hiller in retaliation for his testimony?

      V. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because trial counsel
      ineffectively questioned [Appellant’s] alibi witness about his
      criminal history?

      VI. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because prior counsel was
      ineffective when counsel failed to secure the testimony of Karl
      Gamble?

      VII. [Is Appellant] owed PCRA relief because prior counsel was
      ineffective when counsel failed to subpoena critical evidence?

      VIII. Did PCRA court commit an error of law when the court
      denied [Appellant] an evidentiary hearing and did the court
      abuse its discretion when the court denied [Appellant] the
      opportunity to conduct discovery?

Appellant’s Brief at 4.

     We review an order denying a petition under the PCRA to determine

whether the findings of the PCRA court are supported by the evidence of

record and free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Ragan, 923 A.2d 1169,

1170 (Pa. 2007). We afford the court’s findings deference unless there is no

support for them in the certified record.   Commonwealth v. Brown, 48

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A.3d 1275, 1277 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citing Commonwealth v. Anderson,

995 A.2d 1184, 1189 (Pa. Super. 2010)).

    In this case, the PCRA court dismissed Appellant’s petition without a

hearing. See PCRA Court Order, 5/11/15, at 1. There is no absolute right

to an evidentiary hearing.   See Commonwealth v. Springer, 961 A.2d

1262, 1264 (Pa. Super. 2008). On appeal, we examine the issues raised in

light of the record “to determine whether the PCRA court erred in concluding

that there were no genuine issues of material fact and denying relief without

an evidentiary hearing.” Springer, 961 A.2d at 1264.

    We presume counsel is effective.      Commonwealth v. Washington,

927 A.2d 586, 594 (Pa. 2007). To overcome this presumption and establish

the ineffective assistance of counsel, a PCRA petitioner must prove, by a

preponderance of the evidence: “(1) the underlying legal issue has arguable

merit; (2) that counsel’s actions lacked an objective reasonable basis; and

(3) actual prejudice befell the petitioner from counsel’s act or omission.”

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 966 A.2d 523, 533 (Pa. 2009) (citations

omitted).   “A petitioner establishes prejudice when he demonstrates that

there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional

errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. A claim

will be denied if the petitioner fails to meet any one of these requirements.

Commonwealth v. Springer, 961 A.2d 1262, 1267 (Pa. Super. 2008)

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(citing Commonwealth v. Natividad, 938 A.2d 310, 322 (Pa. 2007));

Commonwealth v. Jones, 942 A.2d 903, 906 (Pa. Super. 2008).

     Appellant first claims that the Commonwealth suppressed an agreement

between Kevin Hiller, Appellant’s co-conspirator4 and a witness at trial, and

the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.     See Appellant’s Brief at 10.

Appellant argues that this evidence would have allowed him to effectively

challenge Mr. Hiller’s credibility. Id. He also argues that prior counsel was

ineffective for failure to uncover this agreement and to litigate the issue on

direct appeal. Id. at 17.

     Appellant’s Brady claim is waived for failure to litigate it on direct

appeal.    See Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 30 A.3d 1111, 1129-30 (Pa.

2011) (concluding that appellant’s Brady claim concerning an alleged deal

between the prosecutor and two material witnesses was waived for failure to

have raised it in an earlier proceeding); see also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b) (“an

issue is waived if the petitioner could have raised it but failed to do so before

trial, at trial, [or] on appeal.”).

     Appellant also argues that trial and appellate counsel were ineffective

for failure to investigate or develop this claim. The PCRA court found this

claim waived for failure to meaningfully develop it. See Commonwealth v.
____________________________________________

4
  Appellant was never charged with conspiracy, and Mr. Hiller pleaded guilty
prior to his trial.  However, the facts established that the two men
committed the robbery together. See PCRA Court Opinion (PCO), 8/4/2015,
at 4.

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Steele, 961 A.2d 786, 799 (Pa. 2008) (noting that where an appellant does

not   address     and     meaningfully         develop   the   three   prongs   of   the

ineffectiveness test, he has waived his claims).               We agree.   Accordingly,

Appellant’s ineffectiveness claim is waived.5

      Appellant next claims that he is owed PCRA relief because Mr. Hiller

gave testimony the prosecution knew to be false, and the prosecution did

not seek to correct the misstatements.6                  See Appellant’s Brief at 20.

Appellant does not aver that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge

this testimony, but argues that the Commonwealth committed misconduct in

allowing Mr. Hiller to testify in such a manner. Id. at 21. However, because

Appellant did not raise this claim on direct appeal, he has waived it for

purposes of the instant PCRA. See Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1129-30; see also

42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(b).7

____________________________________________

5
  Even if not waived, this claim is meritless. Appellant argues that the 2007
cooperation agreement between Mr. Hiller and the Commonwealth was
suppressed. However, the prosecutor, during the hearings on Appellant’s
post-sentence motions, confirmed that both cooperation agreements had
been turned over to the defense. See Notes of Testimony (N. T.), 1/14/10,
at 24. Further, Hiller had already acknowledged that he had a cooperation
agreement with the Commonwealth in exchange for a reduced sentence in
another case. Id. at 119-120, 149-157.
6
   During cross examination, defense counsel sought to impeach Mr. Hiller’s
credibility by establishing that Mr. Hiller had confessed to Appellant that he
had been involved in a homicide. See N. T., 11/25/08 at 185-87. On the
stand, Mr. Hiller denied this confession. Id. at 196, 220-21.
7
  Even if not waived, this claim is meritless. Appellant argues that Mr. Hiller
lied about not being involved with a homicide. See Appellant’s Brief at 12.
However, Mr. Hiller testified to his involvement in an unrelated incident
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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     In his third issue, Appellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for

failure to object, request a curative instruction, or move for a mistrial when

the Commonwealth elicited testimony that Mr. Hiller had sold drugs with

Appellant’s alibi witness, Michael Seibert.         See Appellant’s Brief at 22.

Appellant argues that this testimony violated Pa.R.E. 404(b) and Pa.R.E. 609

See Appellant’s Brief at 24.          Appellant argues counsel could have had no

reasonable strategy in failing to object to this testimony, and that he was

prejudiced because, without it, the jury would have credited Mr. Seibert’s

testimony over the testimony of the Commonwealth’s rebuttal witness. Id.

     As noted above, Appellant presented Mr. Seibert as an alibi witness.

Mr. Seibert testified that, on the day of the robbery, he worked with

Appellant for a moving company in the morning and dropped Appellant off at

a second job at Academy Collections in the afternoon. See N. T., 11/25/08

at 238-240.       He could not account for Appellant’s whereabouts after

dropping him off.        Id.   During the direct examination of Kevin Hiller, the

prosecutor asked Mr. Hiller how he knew Mr. Seibert. Id. at 117. Mr. Hiller

responded that they had sold drugs together. Id.

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)

before the jury on direct examination. See N. T., 11/25/08, at 196.
Appellant was able to impeach Mr. Hiller’s credibility on this basis. Other
witnesses also placed Appellant at the scene. See N. T., 11/25/08, at 50-
51, 54, 135-36. Accordingly, Appellant cannot establish prejudice. See
Johnson, 966 A.2d at 533.

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    As a first note, Pa.R.E. 609 does not apply in this issue.            The

Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence prohibit, for the purpose of attacking the

credibility of any witness, evidence that the witness has been convicted of a

crime except crimes of crimen falsi. Pa.R.E. 609(a). However, during Mr.

Hiller’s testimony, no evidence was introduced that Mr. Seibert had been

arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime.    Consequently, this testimony

was not in violation of Pa.R.E. 609.

    Pa.R.E. 404(b) prohibits evidence of a crime, wrong, or other act when

used to prove a person’s character to show that on a particular occasion, the

person acted in accordance with the character.      Pa.R.E. 404(b)(1).   This

evidence may be admissible to prove motive, opportunity, intent, plan, etc.,

but only if the probative value of the evidence outweighs its potential for

unfair prejudice. Pa.R.E. 404(b)(2). In the instant case, it is unclear what

purpose the elicitation of testimony regarding Mr. Seibert’s alleged drug

dealing could have had, except to discredit his testimony.          Even so,

Appellant still must show that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to

object. See Johnson, 966 A.2d at 533. Namely, Appellant must establish

by a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s error, the result would

have been different. Id.

    In the instant case, the Commonwealth also introduced the testimony of

Sharon Mazzacano, human resources director of Academy Collections. See

N. T., 11/26/08, at 57-60, 104-111. Ms. Mazzacano testified that Appellant

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did not report to work that day.      Id.   She provided employee attendance

records, reflecting that Appellant had taken a personal day on the day of the

robbery.     Id.    Accordingly, even if trial counsel had objected to the

testimony regarding Mr. Seibert’s criminal activities, the jury as fact-finder

weighed the evidence and credited the testimony of Ms. Mazzacano.          See,

e.g., Commonwealth v. Hankerson, 118 A.3d 415, 420 (Pa. Super. 2015)

(noting that this Court may not re-assess the credibility of a witness’

testimony when ruling on a weight of the evidence claim).          Further, the

victim positively identified Appellant in a photo array, a lineup, at the

preliminary hearing, and at trial.    See N. T., 11/25/08 at 53, 56, 69-73.

Accordingly, Appellant cannot show prejudice.      See Johnson, 966 A.2d at

533.

       Appellant next claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

challenge the adequacy of the curative instruction given by the trial court in

response to Mr. Hiller’s testimony that Appellant intended to murder Mr.

Hiller in retaliation for his testimony. See Appellant’s Brief at 29. Appellant

argues that counsel should have requested a mistrial. Id. at 31.

       Appellant has waived this claim for failure to raise it on direct appeal,

and for failure to raise the ineffectiveness of appellate counsel in the court

below. See Commonwealth v. Rigg, 84 A.3d 1080, 1084-85 (Pa. Super.

2014) (noting that issues not raised before the PCRA court in petition,

amended petition, or response to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 notice are waived on

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appeal); see also Chmiel, 30 A.3d at 1129-30 (concluding that claims that

could be raised on direct appeal but were not are waived); see also 42

Pa.C.S. § 9544(b).

    In the instant case, Mr. Hiller stated that he believed Appellant would

attempt to kill him as a result of his cooperation with the prosecution. See

N. T., 11/25/08, at 158-59.     Counsel twice objected, and the trial court

ordered the jury to disregard the comments. Id. Nevertheless, Appellant

argues that these instructions were inadequate, and a mistrial should have

been requested and granted. Id. Appellant admits he did not challenge the

effectiveness of appellate counsel for failing to argue this issue on direct

appeal.   Id.   However, he argues that this issue is “broad enough to

encompass appellate counsel’s failure to raise the question” and requests we

reach the merits of the issue. We decline to do so, and find that Appellant

has waived this claim.

    In his fifth issue, Appellant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for

eliciting testimony from Mr. Seibert regarding his criminal history.      See

Appellant’s Brief at 26. Appellant argues that Pa.R.E. 609 would have barred

testimony of Mr. Seibert’s convictions for selling drugs and firearms act

offenses, as they were older than ten years and were not crimen falsi. Id.

at 26-27. Appellant argues he was prejudiced by this testimony, as without

it, the jury would have credited Mr. Seibert’s testimony over that of the

Commonwealth’s rebuttal witness.

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    During the direct testimony of Mr. Seibert, trial counsel inquired

whether Mr. Seibert had a criminal record.          Mr. Seibert admitted to a

previous drug conviction, but stated he had since been working a regular job

and paying his taxes.      See N. T., 11/25/08 at 236-37.            On cross

examination, the Commonwealth was allowed to question Mr. Seibert

regarding his firearms convictions as trial counsel had opened the door. Id.

at 248-49. However, as discussed supra, Appellant cannot show prejudice.

See Hankerson, 118 A.3d at 420; Johnson, 966 A.2d at 533.

    Appellant next claims trial counsel was ineffective for his failure to

secure the testimony of Karl Gamble.         See Appellant’s Brief at 32.   Mr.

Gamble’s affidavit claimed that Mr. Hiller had told Mr. Gamble he intended to

falsely implicate Appellant in criminal activity.    Id. at 32-33.   Appellant

argues the PCRA court’s conclusion that Mr. Gamble was unavailable to

testify was erroneous. Id. at 33.

    To establish a claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to

investigate or call witnesses, an appellant must meet four prongs: (1) the

witness existed; (2) counsel was either aware of or should have been aware

of the witness’ existence; (3) the witness was willing and able to cooperate

with the defense; and (4) the defendant was prejudiced by the absence of

the witness’ testimony.   See Commonwealth v. Simpson, 66 A.3d 253,

271 (Pa. 2013).    Where a defendant cannot establish that a witness was

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available to testify for the defense, the claim fails. See Washington, 927

A.2d at 600.

    Appellant’s petition identifies Mr. Gamble as a potential witness, the

affidavit avers that Mr. Gamble was willing to cooperate with the defense,

and Appellant claims he informed prior counsel about Mr. Gamble’s proposed

testimony.     See Affidavit of Karl Gamble, at 1-2; Appellant’s Brief at 32.

The PCRA court concluded that Appellant could not prove that Mr. Gamble

was available to testify, but Appellant argues that this is an incorrect

interpretation of Mr. Gamble’s affidavit. The relevant portion of the affidavit

reads:

      Sometime later, my cousin Kevin Hiller wrote a letter explaining
      his reasoning for setting-up [Appellant]. I told my family he was
      wrong to do what he had done, but by the time Rex’s trial came
      around, my father fell ill and soon after, so did my mother, both
      later passed away. By having to deal with the passing of my
      parents, it prevented me from telling what I knew and testifying
      for [Appellant] as I said I would. But I have been and am still,
      willing to testify . . .

Affidavit of Karl Gamble, at 2. In this case, we reject Appellant’s argument

that the affidavit established Mr. Gamble’s availability to testify. On its face,

it is inadequate to establish ineffective assistance of counsel.            See

Washington, 927 A.2d at 600.

      Appellant next claims that prior counsel were ineffective for failure to

subpoena critical evidence.    See Appellant’s Brief at 35.     He argues that

counsel should have obtained Mr. Hiller’s 2001 conviction for robbery for

impeachment purposes. Id. He also argues that counsel was ineffective for

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failure to subpoena a full and unredacted version of a federal proffer session

with Mr. Hiller. Id.

      The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that “[a]ny issues not

raised   in   a     [Rule]   1925(b)   statement     will   be   deemed   waived.”

Commonwealth v. Castillo, 888 A.2d 775, 780 (Pa. 2005) (quoting

Commonwealth v. Lord, 719 A.2d 306, 309 (Pa. 1998). Issues that are

only generally raised are also waived.          See Pa.R.A.P.1925(b)(4)(ii) (“The

[1925(b)] Statement shall concisely identify each ruling or error that the

appellant intends to challenge with sufficient detail to identify all pertinent

issues for the judge.”).     A Rule 1925(b) statement “which is too vague to

allow the court to identify the issues raised on appeal is the functional

equivalent of no . . . Statement at all.” Lineberger v. Wyeth, 894 A.2d

141, 148 (Pa. Super. 2006).

      In Appellant’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement, Appellant avers that the

PCRA court erred “in not granting PCRA relief due to appellate counsel’s

ineffectiveness for failure to subpoena law enforcement authorities to obtain

unredacted police reports and have the officers who prepared the reports to

testify at trial”    See Appellant’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement, at 2.       The

PCRA court noted that Appellant had not specified what reports he wished to

have subpoenaed but had addressed the redacted FBI reports in his second

amended petition for PCRA relief. Nowhere did the PCRA court address the

2001 robbery conviction. Further, it found Appellant’s claims waived for lack

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of development. Accordingly, because Appellant did not sufficiently preserve

these issues in his Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement, he has now waived them on

appeal.8

       Finally, Appellant claims that the PCRA court erred in denying him an

evidentiary hearing and abused its discretion when it denied him the

opportunity to conduct discovery.

       As noted above, there is no absolute right to an evidentiary hearing.

See Springer, 961 A.2d at 1264.                We examine the record to determine

whether the PCRA court erred in concluding there were no genuine issues of

material fact and denying relief without an evidentiary hearing. Id. Based

upon our review of the record and the issues Appellant raised, there were no

genuine issues of material fact that would require an evidentiary hearing.

Accordingly, the court did not err in denying Appellant’s request. Id.

       Appellant argues that, nevertheless, he should have been entitled to

conduct discovery. Discovery is not permitted in PCRA proceedings unless a

defendant demonstrates “exceptional circumstances.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 902(E).

____________________________________________

8
  Even if this issue was not waived, it would be meritless. Mr. Hiller testified
on direct that he had been convicted of robbery, a crime of dishonesty, in
federal court and admitted to participating in the instant robbery. See N. T.,
11/25/08, at 118-19, 154-56. Counsel could, and did, attack Mr. Hiller’s
credibility based upon those statements. Further testimony regarding Mr.
Hiller’s criminal history would have been merely cumulative.               See
Commonwealth v. Solano, 129 A.3d 1156, 1175 (Pa. 2015) (noting that
where the jury had already been informed of the incarceration of the witness
and pending charges, any further impeachment was only cumulative).

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The   PCRA    court   has   the   ability   to   determine   whether   exceptional

circumstances exist, and that decision will not be disturbed on appeal absent

an abuse of discretion.     See Commonwealth v. Frey, 41 A.3d 605, 611

(Pa. Super. 2012); see also Commonwealth v. Hanible, 30 A.3d 426, 452

(Pa. Super. 2011) (en banc).

      In the instant case, such extraordinary circumstances did not exist.

Appellant requested all documents in the Commonwealth’s possession that

were exculpatory or tended to impeach the credibility of Commonwealth

witnesses Kevin Hiller and Leon Borsovsky. Appellant did not specify what

these documents were or whether they actually existed.           As noted above,

Appellant did, in fact, impeach the testimony of Kevin Hiller. There was no

indication that any documents existed that would impeach the testimony of

Mr. Borovsky. Accordingly, the court did not err in denying such a request.

See, e.g., Frey, 41 A.3d at 612 (“[M]ere speculation that exculpatory

evidence might exist does not constitute an exceptional circumstance

warranting discovery.”).

      Accordingly, we discern no error in the PCRA court’s decision to

dismiss Appellant’s petition following an evidentiary hearing.         Appellant’s

claims are without merit, and he is entitled to no relief.

      Order affirmed.       Judge Olson joins the memorandum.               Judge

Strassburger concurs in the result.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/31/2017

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