Case Information
*1 J-S70005-17 NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA Appellee : : v. : : DANIEL CHAVIOUS : : Appellant : No. 623 MDA 2017 Appeal from the PCRA Order March 20, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-22-CR-0002415-2009 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., SHOGAN, J., and OTT, J. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED DECEMBER 01, 2017
Appellant, Daniel Chavious, appeals from the order entered in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his first petition brought pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”). [1] We affirm.
In its opinions, the PCRA court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate them. We add that the PCRA court dismissed Appellant’s PCRA petition on March 20, 2017. On April 6, 2017, Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal. The PCRA court ordered Appellant on April 11, 2017, to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. ____________________________________________ [1] 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.
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*2 1925(b). Appellant filed a Rule 1925(b) statement on May 8, 2017. [2]
Appellant raises the following issues for our review: WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE IN HER REPRESENTATION? WHETHER THERE WAS MISCONDUCT BY THE COMMONWEALTH WHEN A COURT ORDER WAS IGNORED AND RELEVANT EVIDENCE WAS DESTROYED?
(Appellant’s Brief at 5). Our standard of review of the denial of a PCRA petition is limited to examining whether the record supports the court’s determination and whether the court’s decision is free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Ford , 947 A.2d 1251 (Pa.Super. 2008), appeal denied , 598 Pa. 779, 959 A.2d 319 (2008). This Court grants great deference to the findings of the PCRA court if the record contains any support for those findings. Commonwealth v. Boyd , 923 A.2d 513 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied , 593 Pa. 754, 932 A.2d 74 (2007). Credibility determinations are within the province of the PCRA court when a hearing is held on the matter. Commonwealth v. Rathfon , 899 A.2d 365 (Pa.Super. 2006). If the record supports a PCRA ____________________________________________ [2] Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement appears to have been untimely filed. Nevertheless, this Court may address the merits of a criminal appeal, where a defendant files an untimely Rule 1925(b) statement, if the trial court had adequate opportunity and chose to prepare an opinion addressing the issue(s) raised on appeal. Here, the PCRA court issued opinions addressing Appellant’s complaints. Therefore, we decline to consider Appellant’s issues waived. See Commonwealth v. Burton , 973 A.2d 428 (Pa.Super. 2008) ( en banc ) (allowing for immediate review under these circumstances).
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*3 court’s credibility determination, it is binding on the appellate court. Commonwealth v. Dennis , 609 Pa. 442, 17 A.3d 297 (2011).
A defendant is constitutionally guaranteed access to evidence that is either materially exculpatory or potentially useful. Commonwealth v. Chamberlain , 612 Pa. 107, 30 A.3d 381 (2011). When the Commonwealth fails to preserve “potentially useful” evidence, as opposed to materially exculpatory evidence, no due process violation occurs unless the defendant can prove the Commonwealth acted in bad faith. Id. “Potentially useful evidence is that of which no more can be said than that it could have been subjected to tests, the results of which might have exonerated the defendant.” Id. at 143, 30 A.3d at 402.
After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinions of the Honorable Richard A. Lewis, we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief. The PCRA court opinions comprehensively discuss and properly dispose of the questions presented. ( See PCRA Court Opinion, filed May 10, 2017, at 1; PCRA Court Opinion, filed March 20, 2017, at 10-16) (finding: (1) at PCRA hearing on July 29, 2013, trial counsel testified that she recalled Appellant asking her more than once to obtain phone records; trial counsel stated she had no reasonable basis for failing to secure phone records; thus, Appellant established second prong of ineffectiveness test; Appellant, however, was unable to establish what was contained in records at issue or whether
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*4 phones or phone records would have likely changed outcome of his trial had counsel obtained and been able to introduced them as evidence, because phones and phone records had been destroyed; thus, Appellant failed to satisfy arguable merit and prejudice prongs of ineffectiveness test; (2) testimony during PCRA hearing on January 23, 2017, regarding destruction of phones at issue, did not support adverse inference against Commonwealth; Dauphin County evidence coordinator, Charles A. Acre, testified that Commonwealth did not direct him to destroy phones and he was unaware of any other order pertaining to phones; Mr. Acre also stated he received no orders or notifications directing him to retain phones; Mr. Acre testified that Dauphin County’s regular practice was to destroy evidence after it remained unrequested in storage for several years and that destruction occurs regularly on particular dates; timing of destruction of evidence was unfortunately done in regular course of conduct, but no evidence indicated destruction was done in bad faith; therefore, Appellant was not entitled to relief merely because evidence at issue had been destroyed). Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of the PCRA court’s opinions.
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*5 Order affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 12/1/2017
- 5 - *6 Circulated 11/08/2017 02:06 PM
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
DAUPHIN
COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA vs. : NO. 2415CR2009(624MDA2017) PCRA - APPEAL DANIEL CHA VIOUS, Defendant
STATEMENT IN LIEU OF MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND NOW, this _J_Q_ day of May, 2017, this Court notes that, for purposes of appellate review, the reasons for dismissing Defendant's PCRA petition were discussed in this Court's Memorandum Order, filed March 20, 2017. We refer the Pennsylvania Superior Court to the Memorandum Order in lieu of a memorandum opinion. [1]
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Ryan Lysaght, Esquire, District Attorney's Office Jo Jennifer E. Tobias, Esquire, P.O. Box 365, Stewartstown, PA 17363 WlCtl / Daniel Chavious, Defendant mtt.i I Court Administration - Criminal _:[ () Clerk of Courts FILE COPY - Chambers of the Honorable Richard A. Lewis ..t.-0 I This Court notes that Defendant did file a "Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)" in response to this Court's l 925(b) Order. All issues were addressed in our March 20, 2017 Memorandum Order.
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*7 C i r c u l a t ed 11 / 08 / 2017 02 : 06 P M C O M M ON W E A L T H O F P E NN S Y L V A N I A I N T H E C O UR T O F C O M M O N P LE A S , D AU P H I N C O UN T Y , P E NN S Y L VA N I A v . N O . 2 4 1 5 C R 20 0 9 DAN I E L C HA V I O U S C R I M I N A L - P C R A
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R I A L C O U R T M E M O R A ND U M O P I N I O N P r e s e n tl y b e f o r e t h i s C ou r t i s P e titi on e r D a n i e l C h a v i o u s ' s ( h e r e i n a f t e r " P e t i ti o n e r " ) P e tit i o n f o r P o s t- C o n v i c t i on C o ll a t e r a l R e l i e f pu rs u a n t t o 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § § 9 5 4 1 - 9 5 5 1 . Fo r t h e r ea s o n s s e t f o r t h b e l o w , w e w ill d e n y s a i d p e t i t i o n . I . F a c t u a l B ac k g r o und a n d P r o c e d u ra l H i s t o r y .
P e t i ti o ne r ' s i n s t a n t p e t i t i o n f o r r e l i e f pu r s u a n t t o t h e P e n n s y l va n i a P o s t- C onv i c ti o n R e li e f A c t ( " P C R A " ) , w h i c h w a s p r e v i ou s l y g r a n t ed b y t h e H o no r a b l e J e a nn i n e T u r g e on ( h e r e i n a f t e r "J u d g e T u r g e on " ) of t h i s C o u r t , i s a g a i n b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t on R e m a n d fr o m t h e Su p e r i o r C ou r t of P e nn s y l v a n i a . T h e p r o c e d u r a l a n d f a c t u a l h i s t o r y s u rr ound i n g P e t i t i on e r ' s t r i a l, c o nv i c t i o n , a n d d i r ec t a pp e a l s i n t h i s c a s e c a n b e s u mm a r i z e d by t he f o ll o w i n g r e c i t a t i on , w h i c h i s t ak e n fr o m a n o p i n i on i n t h i s m a tt e r i ss u e d by J u dg e T u r g e on on O c t o b e r 23 , 20 1 3 : [1]
F o ll o w i n g a t r i a l he l d D e c e m be r 14 - 1 6 , 2 0 0 9 , a j u r y f o un d p e tit i o n e r gu il t y o f t h r e e c o u n t s of un l a w f u l d e li v e r y o f a c on t r o ll e d s u b s t a n ce . T h e s e c o n v i c ti o n s a r o s e fr o m pe t i t i o n e r ' s a ll e g ed s a l e of c r a c k c o c a i n e o n · t w o o c c a s i o n s t o a c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t an d o n a t h i r d o c c a s i o n t o a n u n d e r c ov e r o f f i c e r . F o ll o w i n g t r i a l, [ J u dg e T u r g e o n ] s e n t en ce d pe ti ti on e r t o a n a g g r e g a t e t e r m o f 66 t o 240 m o n t h s c o n f i n e m e n t . P e t i t i o n e r f il e d a ti m e l y a p p e a l t o t h e s u p e r i o r c o u r t a r gu i n g t h a t [ t h e t r i a l c o u r t ] e rr ed b y f a ili ng t o g i v e a m i s s i n g w i t n e ss i n s t r u c t i o n a n d a l s o t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e w as i n s u ff i c i e n t . T h e s up e r i o r c o u r t den i e d p e t i t i on e r ' s ap p ea l a n d h i s r e q u e s t f o r d i s c r e t i o n a r y r e v i e w be f o r e t he s up r e m e c o u r t w a s s u b s e qu e n tl y d e n i e d . C o m m o n w ea lt h v . C hav i o u s , N o . 1 5 8 M DA 20 10 ( P a . Su p e r . F e b . 2 , 2 0 1 1)
I T h e Sup e r i o r C o u r t a l s o q uo t e d p o r t i o n s o f J u dg e T u r g e on ' s r e c it a t i o n of t h e f a c t ua l an d p r o c e d u r a l h i s t o r y o f t h i s c a s e i n i t s A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 ) 4 de c i s i o n w h i ch u l t i m a t e l y r e m a n d e d t h i s m a tt e r ba ck t o t h i s C ou r t . � C o mm o n w e a l t h v . C h a v i ou s , N o . 2 06 3 M D A 2 0 1 3 , a t 1 - 5 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . A u g . 29 , 2 0 1 4 ) ( m e m o r a nd u m ) .
*8 ( m e m . ) ; p e t iti o n f o r a ll o w an c e o f a pp e a l d e n i e d , N o . 1 3 8 M A L 20 1 1 ( P a . J u l y 1 2 , 2 0 1 1 ) .
P C R A C o u r t O p i n i o n , I 0 / 2 3 / J 3 , a t 1 - 2 . I n add re s s i n g p e t i t i o n e r ' s c l a i m s on app e a l t o t he Su p e r i o r C o u r t , J u d g e T u r g e on r e c i t e d t h e f o l 1 o w i n g r e l e v a n t t r i a l e v i d e n ce s u pp o r t i n g t h e P e ti t i on e r ' s co n v i c t i on : . .. D auph i n C o u n t y D e t e c t i v e C o r e y D i c k e r s o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t a r o un d 6 : 3 0 p . m . on F e b r u a r y 3 , 2 0 09 , he w a s w o r k i n g u n d e rc o v e r w i t h t h e H a rr i s b u r g P o li c e v i c e u n i t . A t t h e t i m e , D e t ec ti v e D i c k e rs on ha d be e n w o r k i n g w i t h D a u p h i n C o un t y C I D f o r t w o m on t h s . ( N . T . [ P e t i t i o n er ' s D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 t r i a l ] 3 2 ) . D e t e c t i v e D i c k e r s o n , o p e r a t i n g o n i n f o r m a ti o n h e a c q u i r e d f o r m h i s s u p e r v i s o r , D e t ec t i v e D a v i d L au , b e c a m e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h a c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t t o pu r c h a s e $ 40 of c r a c k c o ca i n e fr o m a m a n kno w n a s D o g o r D u k e . ( N . T . 2 1 , 3 3 , 1 1 6 )
D e t ec t i v e D i c k e rs o n w a s p r es e n t w h e n t h e c on f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t w a s s e a r c h ed t o m a k e s u r e s h e h a d no t h i n g o t h e r t h a n w h a t s h e w a s p r o v i d e d by p o li ce . ( N . T . 2 2 ) A f t e r t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t c on t a c t e d D o g b y p ho n e , i n D e t e c t i v e D i ck e rs o n ' s p re se n c e , D og i n s t r u c t e d t he c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t w h e r e t o m e e t . D e t ec t i v e D i c k e r s o n d r o v e w i t h t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t t o 1 7 t h a n d C a r n a t i o n S t r e e t s i n H a rr i s b u r g i n a n u n de r c o v e r v e h i c l e . U po n t h e i r a rr i v a l, t h e c o n f i d e n ti a l i n f o r m a n t c a ll ed D o g t o l e t h i m k n o w t h ey w e r e t h e r e . D og a p p r o a c h ed t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t bu t , u p o n no ti c i n g a t h i r d p a r t y , w a l k e d a h ead a b o u t t e n y a r d s t o a n a ll e y w ay . D e t ec ti v e D i c k e r s o n de s c r i b e d [ P e t i t i on e r ] a s w e a r i n g a g r ay a n d y e ll o w R o c a w e a r j a c k e t . A f e w m o m e n t s l a t e r , t h e [ P e t iti o n e r ] c a ll e d t h e c o n f i d e n ti a l i n f o r m a n t a n d t o l d t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t h e d i d n ' t w a n t t o m e e t h e r d r i v e r s o t h e y a rr a n g e d t o m ee t i n t h e a ll e y w a y . D e t e c t i v e D i c k e rs o n g av e t h e c o n f i d e n ti a l i n f o r m a n t $ 40 a n d t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t w a l k e d t o t h e a ll e y w ay , o u t of D e t e c t i v e D i c k e rs on ' s s i g h t , f o r ab ou t 1 5 s e c o n d s . S h e t h e n r e t u r n e d t o t h e c a r , w i t h [ P e t i t i o n e r ] f o ll o w i n g b e h i n d . T h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t i m m e d i a t e l y h a n d e d D e t e c ti v e D i c k e rs o n c r ac k c o ca i n e w r ap pe d i n p l a s t i c w r a p . D e t ec t i v e D i ck e r s on d r o ve d i re c tl y i n t o t h e a ll e y w a y a nd n o t i c e d t h a t i t w a s c l ea r of p e op l e . H e t h e n d r o v e t o a s e c u r e l o c a ti o n w h e r e h e h a n d e d t h e d r u g s t o D e t e c t i v e L au a n d o b s e r v e d a s t h e c on f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m an t w a s s e a r c h e d . ( N . T . 2 1 - 25 , 27 , 4 2 , 4 5 , 5 2 )
T w o d a y s l a t e r , a r o un d 5 : 00 p . m . , D e t e c t i v e D i c k er s o n a n d t he c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t a r r a n g e d f o r a s e c on d d r u g d e a l w i t h [ P e t i ti o n e r ] . T h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t ca ll ed t o pu r c h a s e $ 4 0 of c r a c k c o c a i n e a n d [ P e t i t i o n e r ] a g a i n d i r ec t e d t h e c o n f i d en t i a l i n f o r m a n t t o t h e s a m e l o c a t i o n . A f t e r t h e y pa r k e d , [ P e t i t i o n e r ] a p p r o a c he d t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t w h o *9 r o ll ed d o w n he r w i n d o w a t w h i c h p o i n t [ P e ti t i o n e r ] s p i t o u t fr o m h i s m o u t h t h r ee s m a ll p l a s t i c w r a p p e d b a g g i e s o f c r a c k c o c a i n e . T h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t h a n de d $ 4 0 t o [ P e t i ti o n e r ]. A c co r d i n g t o D e t ec ti v e D i ck e r s o n , [ P e t it i o n e r ] w a s w e a r i n g t h e s a m e R o c a w e a r j a c k e t . D e t e c t i v e D i c k e r s o n t h e n o b s e r v e d [ P e t i ti on e r ] g o i n t o a b u i l d i ng a t 6 6 N o r t h 1 7 t h S t r ee t a f t e r t h e t r a n s ac t i o n . ( N . T . 2 5 - 2 7 , 3 0 , 5 8 )
O n F e b r u a r y 1 1 , 2 0 0 9 , D e t e c t i v e D i c k e rs on w o r k i n g a l o n e a n d u po n D e t e c t i v e L a u ' s d i r e c t i o n , c a ll e d [ P e t i ti o n e r ) ' s p h o n e nu m b e r a n d a s k e d t o p u r c ha s e $ 4 0 o f c r a c k c o ca i n e . [ P e t i t i o n e r ] d i r e c t e d t h e u n d e r c o v e r o ff i c e r t o l 7 [1] h a n d W a l n u t S t r ee t s . U po n D e t ec t i v e D i c k e r s on ' s a rr i v a l , [ P e t i t i o n e r ] , w e a r i n g h e a d p h o n e s a n d t h e R oc a w e a r j a c k e t , g o t i n t o t h e v e h i c l e . W h il e D e t e c t i v e D i c k e r s o n d r o v e a r o u n d t h e b l o c k , [ P e t i t i o n e r ] ga v e h i m c r a c k c o ca i n e a n d D e t ec t i v e D i c k e r s o n d r o v e t o a s e c u re l o c a t i o n a n d t u r n e d t he d r u g s o v e r t o D e t ec t i v e L a u . A t t r i a l , D e t ec t i v e D i c k e r s o n i d e n ti f i e d t h e m a n k n o w n a s D o g t o b e D a n i e l C h a v i o u s . ( N . T . 2 8 - 3 1 )
S e r g e a n t B r e n da H o l m e s , a v i c e u n i t s u p e r v i s o r w i t h t h e H a rr i s bu r g P o li c e , t e s t i f i ed t ha t s h e p e rf o r m e d t h e s e a r c h e s o n t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t b e f o r e a n d a f t e r t h e F e b r u a r y 3 a n d 5 , 2 00 9 d r u g t r a n s a c ti o n s a n d c on f i r m e d t ha t s h e f o un d n o c o n t r a b a n d o r c a s h o n t h e c o n f i de n t i a l i n f o r m a n t . ( N . T . 7 4 - 7 7 ) D e t e c ti v e D i c k e r s o n t es t i f i e d t h a t a f t e r e ac h i n i t i a l s e a r c h , h e n e v e r l o s t s i g h t o f t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t e x c e p t f o r t h e 1 5 s e c o n d s s he d i s a p p e a r e d i n t o t h e a ll e y w a y d u r i ng t h e f i r s t t r a n s a c t i o n . ( N . T . 79 - 8 0 )
D e t ec t i v e D i c k e rs o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t d u r i n g e ac h o f t he t h re e t r a n sa c t i on s , h e w a s a b l e t o p r o v i d e ab ou t f i v e m i nu t e s ' n o ti c e t o o t h e r p o li c e o ff i c e r s i n vo l v ed i n t h e op e r a t i on o f t h e p l a n n ed l o ca t i o n of t h e t r a n s a c t i on s s o t h e y c o u l d c o nd u c t s u r v e ill a n c e a n d p r ov i d e b ac kup . ( N . T . 3 8 - 3 9 , 49 - 5 0 , 5 4 - 56 , 6 6 ) H a rr i s b u r g P o li c e O ff i c e r L e ve ll J e nk i n s , w ho w o r k e d i n t h e v i c e un i t , t e s t i f i ed t h a t h e p r o v i d e d s u c h b ac k u p a n d s u r v e ill a n ce . ( N . T . 8 1 ) H e s t a t e d t h a t du r i ng t h e s u r v e ill a n c e o p e r a ti o n s , he w a s i n c o n s t an t c o mm u n i c a t i on s w i t h t h e o t h e r o ff i c e rs , i n c l u d i ng t h e u n de r c o ve r o ff i ce r w h o w o u l d p r ov i d e a d e s c r i p t i on o f t he s u s p e c t a n d h i s l o c a ti o n d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e of e v e n t s . ( N . T . 9 4 ) H e t es ti f i ed t h a t w h il e p r o v i d i n g s u r v e ill a nc e o n F e b r u a r y 3 , 2 0 0 9 , a f t e r [ P e ti t i o n e r ] h ad c o m p l e t e d t h e t r a n sa c t i o n w i t h t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m an t a n d D e t e c t i v e D i ck e r s on , h e o b se r v e d [ P e t i t i o n e r ] go i n t o a b u il d i ng a t 6 6 N o r t h 1 7 t h S t r e e t . ( N . T . 8 1 ) O ff i c e r J enk i n s t e s t i f i ed t h a t r e g a r d i n g t h e t h i r d t r a n s a c t i o n o n F e b r u a r y 1 1 , 2 0 0 9 , h e a l s o p r o v i d e d s u r v e ill an c e a n d aga i n ob s e r v e d [ P e t i t i o n e r] a f t e r t h e t r a n s a c t i on w a l k i n t o 6 6 N o r t h [17] t h S t re e t . ( N . T . 8 2 )
O f f i ce r J e nk i n s a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t, b a s e d up on i n f o r m a t i on p r ov i d e d b y t h e u n d e r c o v e r o f f i c e r i n c l u d i n g a d e s c r i p t i o n o f w h a t [ P e t i t i o ne r ] w a s w e a r i n g , po li c e w e r e a b l e t o v i d e o r ec o r d [ P e t i t i o n e r ' s ] m o v e m e n t s s ho r t l y *10 f o ll o w i ng b o t h t h e f i r s t a n d t h i r d t r a n s a c t i o n s . ( N . T . 8 2 , 9 4 ) T h o s e v i d e o r ec o r d i n g s w e re p l a y e d f o r t h e j u r y . T h e ea r l i e r v i d e o , t a k en a t 6 : 3 8 p . m . s ho w e d [ P e t i t i o n e r ] w a l k i n t o a h o u s e a t 66 N o r t h 1 7 t h S tre e t . ( N . T . 8 4 ) T h e l a tt e r v i d e o s ho w e d [ P e t i t i o n e r ] w a l k i ng w e s t on C a r n a t i o n S t r e e t , t h e n s ou t h o n 1 7 t h S tr ee t t o R e g i n a S t r e e t w h e r e h e w a l k e d i n t o a s t o r e . T h e v i d e o f o ll o w s h i m w a l k i ng w e s t a n d n o r t h on 1 7 t h S t r ee t a n d i n t o t h e ho m e a t 6 6 N o r t h 17 t h S tr e e t . ( N . T . 8 6 ) [ P e t i t i o n e r ] i s s ho w n i n t h i s v i d e o w e a r i n g a g r a y R o c a w e a r j a c k e t a n d h ea d p ho n e s . ( N . T . 8 6 ) T h i s v i d eo w a s t a k e n b e t w e e n 3 : 3 4 a n d 3 : 3 8 p . m .
H a rr i s b u r g P o li ce D e t ec t i v e D av i d L a u , w h o w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e und e r c o v e r o p e r a ti on , t e s t i f i e d t ha t h e w a s no t p r e s e n t a t t h e t h r ee d r u g t r a n s a c t i o n s b u t d i d r ec e i v e e v i d e n ce fr o m D e t ec t i v e D i ck e r s o n w i t h i n a bo u t t w e n t y m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e y ha d c o n c l ud e d . ( N . T . 9 7 ) H e t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e co n tr a b a n d pu rc ha s e d fr o m [ P e t i t i o ne r ] w as l a t e r t e s t e d t o be c r ac k c o c a i n e i n t h e a m o u n t s o f . 04 1, . 04 2 a n d . 0 3 6 g r a m s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . ( N . T . 9 8 - 1 0 5 )
D e t e c t i v e L au t e s t i f i ed t ha t t h e c on f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t h a d b e e n a rr e s t e d p r i o r t o p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i on t o t h e p o li c e a n d t h a t s h e w o r k e d f o r t h e po li c e e i t h e r t o h e l p r e du c e h e r c h a r g e s o r f o r m o n ey . ( N . T . 1 1 5 ) H e s t a t e d t ha t t h e c on f i d en t i a l i n f o r m a n t r ece i v e d ca s h , p r ob ab l y $4 0 , f o r e a c h of t h e t w o t r a n s a c t i o n s s h e h e l p e d s e t u p . ( N . T . 1 1 6 ) D e t e c t i v e L au t e s t i f i e d t h a t a ll o f t he de a l s w e r e m ad e w i t h r ec o r d e d m o n ey t h o u g h non e o f t h a t m on e y w a s r e c ov e r e d fr o m [ P e ti t i on e r ] . ( N . T . 1 4 0 )
[ P e ti t i o n e r ] w a s a rr e s t e d a n d c h a r ge d w i t h t h r e e c o u n t s o f un l a w f u l d e li v e r y o n A p r i l 1 4 , 20 09 . ( N . T . 1 3 4 , 1 4 2 ) H e w a s l i s t e d i n t h e c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t a s b e i ng h o m e l e ss . ( N . T . 13 6 - 3 7 ) T he C o mm o n w ea l t h ' s a tt o r n e y r e a d i n t o t h e r e c o r d a s ti pu l a t i o n r e a c h e d b y t h e pa r t i e s w h i c h w a s t h a t i n J a nu a r y 2 00 9 , [ P e t i t i on e r ] r e po r t e d h i s a d d r e ss as 6 6 N o r t h l ' 71 h S t r ee t . T h e p a r t i e s a l s o s t i pu l a t e d t h a t i n A p r il 2 0 0 9 t h e b oo k i n g o ff i c e r r e po r t e d [ P e t i t i o n e r ] a s ho m e l e s s bu t t h a t a l s o a t a n o t he r po i n t i n A p r i l 2 0 0 9 , [ P e t i t i o n e r ] r e p o r t e d h i s a d d r ess a s 6 6 N o r t h 1 7 t h S t r ee t . ( N . T . 1 4 9 )
C o m m on w ea l t h v . C h a v i o u s , 2 4 1 5 C R 2 0 0 9 , pp . 1 - 4 ( D a uph i n C n t y . C . P . M a y 2 5 , 2 0 1 0 ) . S u b s e qu e n t t o u n s u c c e s s f u l d i r ec t - ap p ea l a tt e m p t s , P e t i t i o n e r f il e d t h e i n s t a n t P C R A p e t i t i o n . T h e p r o ce d u r a l h i s t o r y s u r r o u n d i n g t he i n s t a n t P C R A p e t i t i o n c an b e s u m m a r i z e d b y t h e f o ll o w i n g r ec i t a t i on , w h i c h i s a l s o t a k e n fr o m J u dg e T u r g e on ' s O c t o be r 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 o p i n i o n :
P e t i t i on e r f i l ed a ti m e l y p r o s e P CR A pe t i t i o n o n M a y 1 5 , 20 1 2 . H i s a t t o r n e y J e nn i f e r T o b i a s l a t e r f i l e d a m o t i o n t o w i t h d r a w w h i c h [ J u d g e T u r g e o n ] d en i e d o n t h e b a s i s t h a t c o un s e l h a d n o t r e v i e w e d a ll o f t h e c l a i m s *11 a s s e r t e d i n t h e p r o s e p e t i ti o n . [ J ud g e T u r g e o n ] d i r e c t e d t h a t s h e f u ll y ad d re ss t h e m i n a s u p p l e m e n t a l f il i ng . I n r e s po n s e , M s . T o b i a s f i l e d a P C R A p e t i ti o n A p r i l 3 , 2 0 1 3 s ee k i n g a n e v i d e n ti a r y h e a r i n g f o r t h e p u r p o s e of d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r p e t i t i o n e r ' s t r i a l a tt o r n e y w a s i n e ff e c t i v e f o r h a v i ng f a i l e d t o o b t a i n p h o n e r e c o r d s , w h i c h w o u l d ha v e p r es u m a b l y a n d de f i n i t i v e l y r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e p h o n e n u m b e r w h i c h p e t i t i o ne r aU eg e d l y u s e d t o c o n t a c t t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l i n f o r m a n t a n d D e t e c ti v e D i c k e r s o n h a d no t b e e n a c t i v a t e d un t il a m on t h a f t e r t h e a J l eg e d d r u g dea l s . P e t i t i o n e r c l a i m e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e s up p o r t i n g h i s c on v i c t i o n s w a s c o m p l e t e l y f a b r i c a t e d a n d t h es e p h on e r e c o r d s w o u l d s o p r o ve . P e ti ti o ne r ' s [ P C R A ] c o u n s e l a l s o s ough t a n e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t he r p e t i t i o n e r ' s o t he r b r o a d l y s t a t e d c l a i m s . . . h a d a n y m e r i t . P C R A c o un s e l h a d n o t s ou gh t t o o b t a i n t h e p h o ne o r t h e ph o n e r ec o r d s . T h e r e f o r e , f o ll o w i n g t h e [ J u l y 2 9 , 2 0 1 3 ] e v i d e n t i a r y h ea r i ng , [ J u d g e T u r g e o n ] i s s u e d a n o r d e r , A u g u s t 2 , 20 1 3 , d i r ec t i n g t ha t t h e r e c o r d b e h e l d o p e n f o r t h i r t y d a y s d u r i n g w h i c h p e t i t i o n e r ' s a tt o r n e y w o u l d m a k e a ll r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s t o o b t a i n a n y a n d a 11 p h o n e r e c o r d s n ec e s s a r y t o f u l l y p u r s u e p e t i t i o n e r ' s P C R A c l a i m a l l e g i n g i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f t r i a l c o u n s e l f o r f a i l u r e t o o b t a i n s a i d r ec o r d s . [ J u d g e T u r g e o n ] d i r ec t e d a s w e ll t h a t t h e C o mm o n w e a l t h "p r o v i d e pe t i t i o n e r ' s a t t o r n e y w i t h a ll r e l ev a n t e v i d e n ce ava il a b l e t o i t o f p h o n e n u m b e r a n d / o r r e c o r d s r e l e v a n t t o t h e t h r ee d r u g t r a n s ac t i o n s a t i ss u e . " [ J u dg e T u r g e o n ] a l s o d i r ec t ed t h e p a r t i e s t o s ub m i t b r i ef s on t h e p h o n e r ec o r d s i s s u e .
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* P e ti t i o n e r ' s a tt o r n e y , i n h e r b r i e f , s t a t e d t h a t a f t e r t h e P C R A h e a r i n g , a n d p u r s u a n t t o [ J u dg e T u r g e on ' s ] o r d e r , s h e r e v i e w e d D e t e c t i v e D i c k e rs on ' s und e r c ov e r o ff i ce r w o r k s h e e t s , w h i c h s h o w e d h e r ec o r d e d i n h i s p a p e r w o r k t ha t t he pho n e n u m be r a l l e g e d l y u s e d b y p e t i t i o n e r du r i n g t h e d r u g b u y s w a s 7 1 7 - 3 7 0 - 8 6 3 0 . T h es e w o r k s h e e t s h a d be e n i d e n ti f i ed a s C o mm on w e a l t h E x h i b it s ( # 1 -3 ) f o r t r i a l , t h ou g h t h e y w e r e n o t ad m i tt e d . P e t i ti o n e r ' s a tt o r n e y f u r t h e r no t e d t h a t s h e c o n t a c t ed t h e c e ll p h o n e p r o v i d e r , B o o s t M ob il e , bu t w a s i n f o r m e d t h a t i t s t o r e s r e co r d s f o r o n l y e i g h t e en m on t h s a n d t hu s n o l ong e r h a d a c c e s s t o t h e m ; h o w e ve r , i t w o u l d h av e h ad t h e r e c o r d s fr o m t h e a ll e g e d d r u g tr an s a c t i o n c a ll s , m a d e i n F e b r u a r y 2 0 09 , a t t h e t i m e o f t r i a l , h e l d i n D ec e m b e r 2 0 0 9 .
B e ca u s e p e t i t i on e r ' s a tt o r n e y w a s u na b l e t o ob t a i n B o o s t M o b il e ' s r ec o r d s , s h e r e q u e s t e d fr o m t h e l ead d e t ec t i v e i n t he c as e , D e t e c t i v e D a v i d L a u , t h a t h e p r ov i d e h e r w i t h pe t it i o n e r ' s p h o n e s o s h e c o u l d a t t e m p t t o o b t a i n r ec o r d s of a ll p ho n e c a ll s m a d e t o a nd fr o m t h e p ho n e ( a s w e ll a s i t s p e r i od of a c ti v a t i o n ) , w h i c h a r e r e c o r d e d o n a c h i p i n t h e p h o n e . Po l i ce h ad c on f i s ca t e d p e t i t i o n e r ' s p h o n e a t t h e t i m e of h i s a r r e s t . I nc r e d i b l y , c o un s e l w a s i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e p h o n e h a d b e e n d e s t r o y e d j u s t o n e w e e k p r i o r t o h e r r e q u es t . [ A s o f O c t o b e r 23 , 2 0 1 3 ] , [ t ] h e C o mm on w e a l t h h a [ d ] n o t d i s pu t ed *12 t h a t t he p h o n e w a s d e s t r o y e d i n t h e m a nn e r r e p r es e n t e d b y A tt o r n e y T o b i a s . [2]
P C R A C o u r t O p i n i o n , 1 0 / 2 3 / 1 3 , a t 1 - 6 ( i n t e r n a l c it a t i on s a n d s o m e i n t e r n a l f o o t no t e s o m i t t e d ) . I n h e r O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 - 3 o p i n i o n , J ud g e T u r g e on t h e n g r an t e d P e t i t i o n e r ' s P C R A . p e t i t i o n , r ea s o n i n g a s f o ll o w s : I n a s m u c h a s t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h i s r e s pon s i b l e f o r de p r i v i ng p e t it i o n e r o f t h e on l y m e a n s t o p r o v e h i s c l a i m , a nd g i v e n t h e a p p li c a b l e i n f e r e n c e t h a t t h e f a c t f i n d e r c a n c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e de s t r o y ed e v i d e n c e w o u l d h ave b e e n u n f a vo r a b l e t o t h e C o m m o n w ea l t h , I g r a n t h i s re q u es t f o r a ne w t r i a l a n d v ac a t e h i s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e .
P C R A C o u r t O p i n i o n , I 0 / 2 3 / 1 3 a t 1 . T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h t h e n ap p ea l e d J ud g e T u r g e o n ' s r u li n g t o t he S up e r i o r C ou r t of Penn s y l v a n i a , r a i s i n g t he f o l 1 o w i n g t w o a r gu m e n t s on a p p e a l : ( l ) t h a t J u d g e T u r g e on e rr e d i n f i n d i ng t h a t P e t i t i o n e r h ad r ece i v e d i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f t r i a l c o un s e l s i n c e h e f a il e d t o s h o w t ha t h i s u n d e r l y i n g c l a i m ha d a n y a r g ua b l e m e r i t a nd / o r t h a t t h e re w a s a r e a s o n a b l e p r o b ab ili t y [2] J u dg e T u r g e o n ' s O c t ob e r 2 3 , 20 1 3 op i n i o n s t a t e d a s f o ll o w s :
I n i t s b r i e f , t h e C o mm on w ea lt h f a i l ed t o a d d re s s A tt o r n e y T o b i a s ' c l a i m t h a t t h e po li c e ha d d e s t r o y e d t he ph o n e . [ J u dg e T u r g e o n ' s ] s t a ff t he r e a f t e r c o n t ac t e d t h e a tt o r n e y w h o re p r e s e n t e d t he C o mm o n w ea lt h a t t h e [ J u l y 2 9 , 2 0 1 3 ) P C R A h e a r i n g b y e m a il a nd re qu e s t e d i f h e c o u l d c o n f i r m t h a t t he p h o n e h a d b ee n de s t r o y e d as i n d i c a t e d b y M s . T o b i a s . T h e e m a il r es po n s e p r o v i d e d b y t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a tt o r n e y w a s t h a t h e c ou l d n o t c on f i r m o r d e n y M s . T ob i a s ' re p re s e n t a t i o n .
P C R A C o u r t O p i n i on , l 0 / 23 / 1 3 , a t 6 n . 6 . J ud g e T u r g e o n a l s o s t a t e d a s f o ll o w s :
T h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e p h o ne c o u l d b e c o ns i d e r e d i n d i r e c t v i o l a t i on of [ J u d g e T u r g e o n ' s ] A ug u s t 2 , 2 0 1 3 O r d e r , b y w h i c h I d i re c t e d t ha t t h e C o mm o n w e a l t h " p r o v i de p e t i t i o n e r ' s a tt o r n ey w it h a ll r e l e v a n t e v i d en ce a va il a b l e t o i t of ph o ne n u m b er s a n d / o r r e c o r d s r e l ev an t t o t h e t h r e e d r u g t r a n s ac t i o n s a t i ss ue . . . . " F u r t h e r m o r e , e v e n a b sen t c o u r t o r d e r , t he f a c t t h a t pe t iti on e r had a p e n d i n g r e q u e s t f o r P C R A r e li e f , i n c l ud i ng a r e q u e s t f o r a ne w t r i a l , w as ea s i l y d i s c ov e r a b l e t o t h o s e w i t h i n t h e cr i m i n a l j u s t i c e s y s t e m a n d s hou l d h a v e p r e c l ud e d s u c h d e s t r u c t i on . T he p r i n c i p l e t h a t a n y r e l evan t e v i d e n c e s h ou l d no t be d e s t r oy e d i n a p e nd i ng ca s e i s b e yo n d o b v i o u s .
*13 t h a t, b u t f o r t h e a J l e g e d e rr o r o f t r i a l c o un s e l , t h e o u t c o m e o f t he t r i a l w o u l d h a v e be e n d i ff e r e n t ; an d ( 2 ) t h a t J u dg e Tu r g e o n e rr e d i n f a il i ng t o c ond u c t a n e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g c o n c e r n i ng t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f P e ti t i o n e r ' s c e ll p h o n e . O n A u g u s t 2 9 , 20 1 4 , t h e Su p e r i o r C o u r t i ss u e d a m e m o r a n d u m d e c i s i o n pe r t a i n i ng t o t h e C o mm o n w e a lt h ' s a pp ea l . Se e C o mm o n w ea l t h v . C h a v i ou s , N o . 2 06 3 M D A 2 013 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . A u g . 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 ) ( m e m o r andu m ) . T h e r e i n , t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t on l y ad d r e ss e d t h e C o mm o n w e a lt h ' s s e c ond a r gu m e n t , t h a t w h i c h p e r t a i n e d t o J udg e T u r g eo n ' s f a il u r e t o ho l d a n e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i ng . T h e c o u r t r u l e d i n f a vo r o f t he C o m m on w e a l t h a nd h e l d t h a t J u dg e T u r g e o n e rre d by g r a n t i n g P e t it i o ne r ' s P C M p e t i t i o n w i t h o u t c o n d u c t i n g a h e a r i n g a s t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u rr o u n d i n g t h e a l l e g e d d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e ce ll p h o n e . I d . a t 7 . T h e c o u r t r e a s o n e d t h a t w h i l e t h e r e i s g e n e r a ll y n o r i g h t t o a n e v i de n t i a r y h e a r i n g o n a P C R A p e t i t i o n , s e e C o m m o n w e a l t h v . J o r d a n , 7 72 A . 2 d 1 0 1 1 , l 0 1 4 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 0 1 ) , s u c h a h e a r i n g w a s n ec e ss a r y i n t h i s c a s e b eca u s e t he r e w a s a g e n u i n e i ss u e of m a t e r i a l f a c t c on c e r n i n g t h e c i rc u m s t a n ce s s u rr o u n d i n g t h e d es t r u c t i o n o f P e t i t i o n e r ' s c e ll phon e . T h e c ou r t be l i e v ed a g e n u i n e i ss u e e x i s t e d be c a u s e t h e C o m m o n w e a lt h a tt o r n e y ' s e m a il s t a t e m en t t o J u d ge T u r g e o n n e i t h e r c o n f i r m ed no r de n i ed A t t o r n e y T o b i a s ' s a s se r t i o n t h a t t h e po l i c e had d e s t r o ye d t h e ce ll pho n e . I d . a t 7 - 8 . T hu s , t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t r ea s on ed , t h e C o mm o n w ea lt h s h o u l d h a v e b ee n a ff or d e d w i t h a n o p po r t un i t y t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e m a t t e r a n d p r e s e n t a n y i n f o r m a ti on r e l ev a n t t o t h e c i rc u m s t a n ce s o f t h e ce ll p ho r i e ' s d e s t r u c t i o n . I d . a t 8 . A cc o r d i ng t o t h e S up e r i o r C o u r t , J ud g e T u r g e on ' s f a il u r e t o p r ov i d e t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h w it h s u ch o p po r t un i t y a m o u n t e d t o r e v e rs i b l e e r r o r , a n d t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t r e m a n d ed t h i s m a tt e r w i t h a d i r e c t i on t o t h i s C ou r t t h a t a n e v i d e n t i a r y h ea r i n g b e h e l d r e ga r d i n g t h e c i rc u m s t a n ce s s u rr o u n d i n g t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f P e ti t i o n e r ' s ce ll p ho n e a n d t h e e x i s t e n ce of a n y r e l e v a n t p h o n e r ec o r d s . I d . D u e t o i t s d i s p o s i t i o n , t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t d i d no t a d d r e s s t h e o t he r i s s u e t h e C o mm o n w e a l t h r a i s e d o n *14 ap p e a l - t h a t i s , w h e t h e r P e titi o n e r ' s und e r l y i ng i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t a n ce o f c o u n s e l c l a i m h ad a n y m e r i t . I d . a t 8 n . 2
O n J a n u a r y 2 3 [1] 20 1 7 , p u r s u a n t t o t h e d i r ec t i v e o f t h e S up e r i o r C o u r t ' s A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 d e c i s i on , w e c ondu c t e d a n e v i d e n ti a r y h e a r i n g r e g a r d i n g t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u rr o u n d i n g t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of P e t i t i o n e r ' s c e ll ph o n e . T h e o n l y w i t n e ss t o t e s t i f y a t t h i s h e a r i n g w a s D a u p h i n C o u n t y e v i d e n c e c oo r d i n a t o r C h a r l e s A . A c r e ( h e r e i n a f t e r " A c r e" ) , w h o t e s t i f i e d on b e ha l f of t h e C o m m on w e a lt h . A c r e t e s t i f i e d t h a t a s a n e v i d e nc e c o o r d i n a t o r , h i s r e sp o n s i b i li t y i s t o r ec e i v e e v i den c e fr o m D au p h i n C o un t y , s t o r e i t , a n d h o l d i t f o r d i s po s i t i on . ( N o t e s o f T e s ti m ony , E v i d e n t i a r y H e a r i n g d a t e d J a n u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 1 7 , h e r e i n a f t e r .. N . T . , " a t 4 ) . A c r e s t a t e d t h a t n o r m a l l y w h e n h e r ec e i v es e v i d e n c e , h e a s k s t h e p r o s ecu t o r w h a t s h ou l d b e d o n e w i t h t h e e v i d e n c e , a n d t h e n h e i s i n f o r m ed w h e t h e r i t s h o u l d b e h e l d f o r a c e r t a i n d u r a t i o n o f t i m e o r d e s t r o y e d . ( N . T . 4 - 5 ) .
A s t o e v i d e n c e f o r w h i c h A c r e i s g i v e n n o s p e c i f i c r e q u e s t s o r i n s t r u c t i o n a s t o r e t e n t i o n o r de s t r u c t i o n , A c r e t y p i ca ll y ho l d s s u c h e v i d e n c e i n s t o r a g e f o r e v e n t ua l d e s t r u c ti o n . ( N . T . 9 , 1 2 - 13 ) . If s o m e o ne r e q u e s t s e v i d e n c e t h a t i s i n s t o r a g e , A c r e c a n p u ll i t ou t o f s t o r a g e f o r t h e r e qu es t i n g p a r t y , b u t i f t h e e v i d e nc e i n s t o r a g e i s n o t r e q u es t e d , i t i s d e s t r o y e d a f t e r a pp r o x i m a t e l y t w o o r t h r ee y e a r s . ( N . T . 9 , 1 2 -1 4 ) . A c c o r d i n g t o A c r e , e v i d e n c e i s t yp i c a ll y de s t r oy e d i n a " b a t c h . " ( N . T . 1 3 ) . T he C o u n t y n o r m a l l y d o e s a m a s s " d r u g bu r n " t w i ce a y e a r a t a s t e e l m ill - o n e o n a pa r t i c u l a r da t e i n t h e s p r i n g a n d a n o t h e r o n a pa r t i c u l a r da t e i n t he f a ll - t o b u r n e v i d e n ce s u c h a s d r u g s a n d f i r e a r m s t ha t i s b e i n g h e l d i n s t o r a ge . ( N . T . 7 , 1 4 - 1 5 ) . I n ad v a n c e o f t h e b i a n nu a l d r ug b u m s , A c r e pu ll s o u t a ny e v i d e n c e w h i c h c a n no t b e de s t r o y ed by b u r n i n g ( e . g . b a t t e r i e s a n d o t h e r e l e c tr o n i c d ev i c es ) a n d p l a c e s t h e m i n t o s e p a r a t e b o x e s s o t h a t he c a n t ak e t h e m o u t t o a r e c y c li n g c e n t e r i n D a u p h i n C o u n t y . ( N . T . 7 - 8 , 1 5 - 1 6 ) . A cc o r d i n g t o *15 A c r e , t h e r e a r e t yp i c a ll y t w o s c h e d u l e d occa s i o n s p e r y e a r o n w h i c h t h e C o un t y t a ke s m u lt i p l e bo x e s o f r ec y c l a b l e -t yp e e v i d e n c e t o t h e r ec y c l i n g c en t e r . ( N . T . 1 5 -1 6 ) .
W i t h r e g a r d t o P e t i t i o n e r ' s c a s e , A c r e s t a t e d t h a t o n D e c e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 0 9 , h e r e c e i v e d s o m e c r a c k c o c a i n e a n d t w o c e ll p h o n e s t h a t h a d b e e n u s e d a s e v i d e n c e i n P e t i ti on e r ' s c o nv i c t i o n . ( N . T . 4 - 5 ) . A c r e d e s t r o y e d b o t h o f t h e c e ll pho n e s i nv o l v e d i n t h i s ca s e o n A u gu s t 1 6 , 2013 , a n d t h e d r u g s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e c a s e w e re d e s t r o y e d i n S ep t e m b e r o f 2 0 1 3 . ( N . T . 5 - 7 , 1 1 , 1 4 ) . A lt ho u gh h e w a s u n ce r t a i n a s t o w h i c h , i f an y , o t h e r o b j e c ts w e r e d e s t r o y e d o n A ug u s t 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 , A c r e t es t i f i e d t ha t t h e C o mm o n w e a l t h n e v e r d i r e c t ed h i m t o d e s t r o y t h e c e l l p h on e s t h a t w e r e d e s t r o y e d o n t h a t d a t e , a n d h e w a s n o t a w a r e o f a ny d e s t r u c t i o n o r de r r e g a r d i n g t h e c e ll p ho n e s . ( N . T . 5 -1 0 , 1 3 ) . Fu r t h e r m o r e , A c r e t e s t i f i ed t h a t t o t he b e s t of h i s r e c o l J e c t i o n , he n e v e r r e ce i v ed J u dg e T u r g e o n ' s A u g u s t 2 , 2 0 1 3 o r d e r d i r e c t i n g t h a t a ll of t h e e v i d e n c e fr o m t h e i n s t a n t c a s e b e he l d o p e n f o r t h i r t y d a y s , a nd h e st a t e d t h a t i f h e h ad r e c e i v e d a n y k i n d o f no t i f i c a ti on t h a t t h e e v i d e n ce w a s nee d e d , he w o u l d h a v e pu ll e d i t fr o m s t o r a g e t o p r e v e n t i t s d e s t r u c t i on . ( N . T . 1 2 , 1 4 ) .
A t t h e c l o s e o f t h e J anu a r y 23 , 2 0 1 7 h e a r i n g t h a t a dd r e s se d t h e c i r cu m s t a n ce s s u rr ou n d i n g t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f P e t i t i o n e r ' s p h o n e , w e o r d e re d b o t h p a r t i e s t o s u b m it m e m o r a n d a a s t o t h e i s s u e w h i c h w a s n o t a dd r e s s e d by t h e Su p e r i o r C o u r t i n i t s A u g us t 2 0 1 4 m e m o r a nd u m d e c i s i o n - s p e c i f i c a ll y , t h e m e r it of P e t i t i o n e r ' s und e r l y i n g i n e ff e c t i v e a ss i s t an ce of co u n s e l c l a i m c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e i n s t a n t P C R A p e ti t i o n . O n F e b r u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 7 , t he C o mm o n w e a l t h f il e d i t s b r i e f i n o p p o s i t i o n t o P e t i t i o n e r ' s i n s t a n t P C R A p e t i t i o n , an d o n F e b r u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 7 , D e f e n d a n t f i l e d h i s m e m o r a n d u m i n s u p po r t of h i s p e t i t i on . H av i n g r e v i e w e d t h e p a r t i e s ' m e m o r a n d a , w e no w d e li v e r ou r r u li n g on t h e i n s t a n t P C R A p e ti t i o n . *16 II . D i s c u s s i o n .
Th e i s s u e c u rr e n tl y b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t i s t h e m e r i t o f P e t i t i on e r ' s i n eff e c t i v e n e s s - of - c oun se l c l a i m . T h e l a w g o v e r n i ng i n e ff ec t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f c oun s e l c l a i m s h a s b ee n s u mm a r i z e d by t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f P e nn s y l v a n i a a s f o ll o w s :
T he r e a r e t h r ee e l e m e n t s t o a v a li d c l a i m o f i n e ff e c t i v e a ss i s t a n c e . W e i n q u i re f i r s t w he t h e r t h e u n d e r l y i ng c l a i m i s o f a r gu a b l e m e r i t ; t h a t i s , w h e t h e r t h e d i s p u t e d a c ti o n o r o m i ss i o n by c o un s e l w a s of q u e s ti o n a b l e l e g a l s o u nd n e s s . I f s o , w e a s k w h e t h e r c o un s e l h ad a n y r ea s o n a b l e b a s i s f o r t h e qu es ti o na b l e ac ti o n o r o m i ss i o n w h i c h w a s d e s i g n e d t o eff e c t u a t e h i s c l i e n t ' s i n t e r e s t . If h e d i d , o u r i n q u i r y e n d s . If no t , t h e ap p e 1 l a n t w ill b e g r a n t e d r e li e f i f h e a l s o d e m o n s tr a t es t h a t c o un s e l ' s i m p r o p e r c o u r s e o f c o nd u c t w o r k e d t o h i s p r e j u d i c e , i . e . , h a d a n a d v e r s e e f f e c t u p o n t h e ou t c o m e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g s .
C o mm o n w e a l t h v . D a v i s , 5 4 1 A . 2d 3 1 5 , 3 1 8 ( P a . 1 9 8 8 ) ( c i t i n g C o m m o n w ea lt h v . P i e r c e . 5 27 A . 2 d 9 7 3 ( P a . 1 9 8 7 ) ; C o m m on w ea l t h v . S u lli v a n , 3 7 1 A . 2d 4 68 ( P a . 1 9 77 ) ; C o mm o n w e a l t h e x r e l . W a s h i n g t o n v . M a r o n e y , 2 3 5 A . 2d 3 4 9 ( P a . 1 9 67 ) ) . T h e t h r e e p r o ng s of a n i n e ff e c ti v e a s s i s t a nc e c l a i m a r e s o m e t i m e s r e f e rr e d t o c o ll e c t i v e l y a s t he " P i e r ce t e s t . " S e e . e . g . , C o m m o n w e a l t h v . M c G ill , 8 3 2 A . 2d 10 1 4 , 1 0 2 2 - 2 4 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 ) . B e l o w , w e ad d r e s s e a c h of t h e t h r e e p r o ng s o f t h e P i e rce t e s t a s t h e y p e r t a i n t o t h e i n s t a n t m a tt e r .
A . P e t i t i on e r C a n n o t E s t a b l i s h t he F i r st a nd T h i rd P r o n g s o f t h e P i e rce T es t W i t ho u t P r e s e n t i n g t h e Ph o n e R e c o r d s o r Ph o n e a s E v i d e n ce . W e f i nd t ha t P e t i t i o n e r i s u n a b l e t o e s t a b li s h t h e f i r s t a n d t h i r d p r on g s o f t h e P i e rc e t e s t
w i t ho u t p r e s e n t i n g t h e p h on e r ec o r d s o r t h e p h on e t h a t he u s ed i n t he a 1 l e g e d d r u g buy s i n 2 0 09 . U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r P e t i t i on e r , h e ca nn o t p o s s i b l y p r o d u ce e i t h e r o ne b ec a use t h e p h o n e h a s b e e n d e s t r o y e d a n d pho n e s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r B oo s t M ob il e no l o n g e r i s i n p o s s ess i o n o f t h e r e l e v a n t p h o n e r e c o r ds . T h u s , p u r s u a n t t o t h e e n s u i n g d i sc u s s i o n , w e ho l d t h a t i t i s a pp r o p r i a t e t o d i s m i s s P e t i t i o n e r ' s i n s t a n t P C R A p e t i t i o n .
1 *17 F i rs t , w e w ill b r i e f l y ad d r e ss t he s ec o n d p r o n g of t h e P i e r c e t e s t b e c a u s e ba s e d o n t h e f a c t s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e r ec o r d , w e b e li ev e Pe t i t i o n e r ha s e s t a b li s h e d t h i s s e c o nd p r o ng . T h e s ec o n d p r o n g o f P i e r c e r e q u i r e s P e t i t i on e r t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t c o un s e l ' s a c ti on o r i n a c t i on d i d no t h a v e a r ea s on a b l e b a s i s o r w a s no t t h e " p r o d u c t o f a r e a s o na b l e s t r a t e g i c d e c i s i o n . " C o mm o n w e a l t h v . P u r s e ll , 72 4 A . 2 d 2 9 3 , 3 0 4 ( P a . 1 9 9 9 ) ( c i t a t i o n o m i tt e d ) . " W i t h r e ga r d t o t h e s ec ond , r ea s o n a b l e ba s i s p r o n g , ' w e d o no t q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e re w e r e o t h e r m o r e l o g i ca l c o u r s e s o f ac t i o n w h i c h c ou n s e l c ou l d h a v e pu rs u e d ; r a t h e r , w e m u s t e x a m i n e w h e t h e r c o u n s e l ' s d ec i s i on s h a d a n y r e a s o n ab l e ba s i s . " ' C o mm o n w e a lt h v . C h m i e l , 3 0 A . 3 d 1 111 , t 1 2 7 ( P a . 2 0 1 1 ) ( qu o t i n g C o m m o n w e a lt h v . W a s h i n g t on , 92 7 A . 2 d 5 8 6 , 5 9 3 ( P a . 2 0 0 7 ) ) . I n t h e i n s t a n t m a t t e r , w e c o n c l u de t h a t P e t i t i o n e r ' s t r i a l a tt o r n ey h ad no r ea s o n a b l e b a s i s f o r f a ili n g t o o b t a i n t h e p h o n e r e c o r d s a t i s s u e . A t t h e J u l y 2 9 , 2 0 1 3 P C R A h e a r i n g be f o r e J u dg e T u r g eo n , P e t i t i o n e r ' s t r i a l a tt o r n e y , A tt o r n e y P a s q u a l i n i t es t i f i e d t h a t s h e r e m e m b e r e d P e t it i o n er as k i n g h e r t o ob t a i n t h e phon e r ec o r d s a n d t h a t Pe ti t i o n e r m ad e s u c h r e qu es t o n m o r e t h a n one o cc a s i o n ( N o t e s o f T e s t i m o ny , J u l y 29 , 20 1 3 P C R A H e a r i ng , h e r e i n a f t e r " N . T . , " a t 1 7 ) . A tt o r n ey P a s qu a li n i t e s t i f i ed t ha t s h e ne v e r s ec u r e d t h e p h on e s r e c o r d s , a nd w h e n a s k e d i f t h e r e w a s a r ea s o n w hy s h e d i d n o t s e c u r e t h e p h on e r ec o r d s , A tt o r n e y P a s qu a l i n i s i m p l y r e p li e d , " N o . " ( N . T . a t 1 7 -1 8 ) . T h u s , p e r A tt o r n e y P a s q u a l i n i ' s o w n t e s t i m o ny , s he h a d n o r e a s on f o r f a ili n g t o o b t a i n t h e p ho ne r e c o r d s , a n d , t he r e f o r e , i t c a n n o t be s a i d t h a t s u c h d e c i s i o n h a d a r e a s o n a b l e b as i s o r w a s t h e p r o du c t of a r e a s ona b l e s t r a t e g i c d e c i s i o n . C o n s e q uen tl y , P e t i t i o ne r s a ti s f i e s t h e s e c ond p r o n g of t he P i er c e t e s t .
W e no w t u m t o t h e f i r s t a n d t h i r d p r o ng s of t h e P i erce t e s t . T h e f i r st p r o n g o f t he P i e r c e t es t i n q u i re s " w h e t h e r t h e u n d e r l y i n g c l a i m i s of a r gu a b l e m e r i t ; t h a t i s , w h e t h e r t h e d i s pu t e d a c t i o n o r o m i s s i o n b y c ou n s e l w a s o f qu es t i o n a b l e l e g a l s o u n d n e s s . " D a v i s , 5 4 1 A . 2 d a t 3 1 8 . *18 S t a t e d d i ff e r e n tl y , a c o u r t e x a m i n e s " w he t h e r t he r e i s a r g uab l e m e r i t t o t h e c l a i m t h a t c o u n s e l ' s p e r f o r m a n c e w a s s ub s t a n d a r d o r de f i c i e n t . " C o mm on w e a l t h v . P e rr y , 644 A . 2 d 7 05 , 7 0 9 ( P a . 1 9 9 4 ) . A s t o t h e t h i r d p r o n g o f t h e P i er c e t e s t , s u c h p r o n g r e qu i r e s t h a t c o u n s e l ' s i m p r o p e r c o u r s e o f c o n du c t w o r k e d t o a d e f e n d a n t ' s p r e j u d i ce . P r e j u d i c e i s e s t a b li s h e d w h e r e a p e t i t i on e r d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t " b u t f o r t h e e rr o rs a n d o m i ss i o n s of c o u n s e l , t h ere i s a r e a s o n a b l e p r o b a b i l it y t h a t t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e p r o ce ed i ng s w ou l d ha ve b ee n d i ff e r e n t . " C o m m o n w e a l t h v . K i m b a ll , 7 2 4 A . 2 d 3 2 6 , 3 33 ( P a . 1 9 99 ) . I n o t h e r w o r d s , a d e f e n d a n t m u s t s h o w t h a t c o un s e l ' s a c t o r o m i ss i on h a d a n " a d v e rs e e ff e c t o n t he o u t c o m e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g s . " C o m m on w e a lt h v . M a r s h a l l , 6 3 3 A . 2d 1 1 0 0 , 1 1 0 9 ( P a . 1 9 9 3) .
I n t h e i n s t a n t m a tt e r , P e t i t i on e r c a n n o t s a t i s f y e it h e r t h e f i r s t o r t h i r d e l e m en t s o f t h e P i e rce t e s t . P e ti ti o n e r c l a i m s t h a t t he p h o n e r e c o r d s t h a t A t t o r n e y P a s q u a l i n i f a i l ed t o a c qu i r e w o u l d h a v e es t a b li s h e d t h a t t h e p h o n e nu m b e r u s e d f o r t h e a J l e g e d d r u g buy s w a s n o t i n s e r v i c e un t il a m o n t h a f t e r t h e a l l e g e d b uy s o cc u rr e d . T hu s l y , P e ti t i o n e r c l a i m s , s u c h r ec o rd s w ou l d
' ha v e i m pe ac h e d D e t e c t i v e D i ck e rs on ' s t r i a l t e s t i m ony , a s D e t ec t i v e D i c k e r s on a pp a r e n t l y t e s t i f i e d t ha t s u ch p h o n e n u m b e r w a s u s e d f o r t h e d r u g t r a n s ac t i on s w h i ch gav e r i s e t o P e t i t i o n e r ' s c o n v i c t i on . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h o w e v e r , s i n c e t h e s u b j e c t p h o n e s a n d r e c o r d s h av e b ee n d e s t r o y e d , w e a r e u n ab l e t o d e t e r m i n e w h a t w a s c o n t a i n e d t h e r e i n a n d w h a t t h e y w o u l d e s t a b li s h . A ll w e c o u l d do i s e n g a g e i n s p e c u l a ti on a nd c o n j e c t u r e as t o w ha t t h i s e v i d e n c e w o u l d h a v e s ho w n , a n d d ra w i n g i n f e r e n c e s fr o m s u c h s p e c u l a t i o n w ou l d b e i n a pp r o p r i a t e . Se e P u r s e ll , 72 4 A . 2 d a t 3 1 1 ( " C l a i m s o f i n e ff e c t i v e a ss i s t a n c e o f c o un s e l t h a t a r e b a se d o n s p e c u l a t i o n a nd c on j e c t u r e d o no t ad e q u a t e l y e s t a b li s h t h e de g r ee of p r e j u d i c e n e c e s s a r y ; n a m e l y , t h a t t he r e i s a r e a s onab l e p r o b a b ili t y t h a t , b u t f o r c o un s e l ' s e rr o r ' s , t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e p r oc ee d i ng w ou l d ha v e b e e n d i ff e r e n t . " ) . A s s u c h , P e t i t i o n e r c a n n o t p o s s i b l y e s t ab li s h t h a t e it h e r t h e s ub j e c t pho n e o r
1 *19 phon e r ec o r d s w ou l d h a v e li k e l y c h a n g e d t h e o u t c o m e o f h i s c r i m i n a l t r i a l had A tt o r n e y P a s q u a l i n i o b t a i n e d t he m a n d i n t r od u c e d t h e m a s e v i d e nc e , a n d h e c a nn o t e s t a b l i s h t h e t h i rd e l e m e n t of t h e P i erce t es t . F u r t h e r m o re , a s a r e s u l t , P e t i t i o n e r c a nn o t e s t a b l i s h t h e f i r s t e l e m en t of t h e P i erce t e s t . C on s i d e r i ng t h a t w e a r e u n ab l e t o a s ce r t a i n t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e p hon e o r ph o n e r ec o r d s a n d , t h e r e f o r e , a r e un ab l e t o e x a m i n e t h e po t e n ti a l i m p a c t t h e y m a y h av e h a d on t h e o u t c o m e o f P e t i t i o n e r ' s t r i a l, w e c a nn o t m ake a de t e r m i n a t i o n a s t o w h e t he r A tt o r n e y P a s q u a l i n i a c t e d i n a s u b s t an d a r d m an n e r b y f a i li n g t o o b t a i n a n d i n t r o d u c e s u c h e v i d e nc e r e q u e s t e d b y P e t i t i o n e r .
B . T h e C i r c u m s t a n ce s S u rro u n d i n g t h e D e st r u c t i o n of t h e C e ll P ho n e s . A l t h o u gh w e hav e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t P e t i t i on e r c a nn o t s a t i s f y t he P i erce t e s t w i t h r e g a r d t o A tt o r n e y P a s q u a l i n i ' s f a il u r e t o o b t a i n t h e r e qu e s t e d phon e r e c o r d s , w e m u s t a l s o e n g a g e i n a b r i e f d i s c u s s i on r e g a r d i n g t h e c i r c u m s t a n ce s s u rr o u n d i n g t h e d e s t r u c t i on o f t h e c e ll p h on e s a ll e g e d l y u s e d i n P e t i t i o n e r ' s d r u g bu y s . J u dg e T u r g e o n p r e v i o u s l y g r a n t ed P e t i t i o ne r ' s P C R A p e t i t i o n w i t h o u t ho l d i n g a h e a r i ng r e g a r d i ng t he de s t r u c t i on o f t h e p h on e s . B e c a u s e t h e p ho n e s h ad b e e n d e s t r o y e d on e w e ek p r i o r t o A tt o r n e y T o b i a s ' s r e q u e s t s f o r t h e m , J u dg e T u r g e o n i n f e rr e d t ha t t h e C o m m on w e a lt h ha d d e s t r oy e d t h e m b ec a u s e t h e y w ou l d h av e b e e n a d v e r s e t o t h e C o mm o n w ea l t h ' s p o s i t i o n i n t h e i n s t a n t m a tt e r . T h e C o m m o n w e a lt h ap p e a l e d J u dg e T u r g e o n ' s d e c i s i o n t o o u r S u p e r i o r C o u r t , a n d t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t h e l d t h a t J u d g e T u r g e o n h a d e rr e d b y g r a n t i n g t h e p e t it i o n w i t h ou t a h o l d i ng a he a r i ng . O u r S u p e r i o r C o u r t r e a s on e d t ha t t h e C o mm on w e a lt h s h o u l d ha v e a n oppo r t u n i t y t o p r o v i d e e v i d e n ce p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u rr oun d i n g t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e p h o n e s ; t h u s , a ge n u i n e i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l f a c t e x i s t e d r e g a r d i n g t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f s a i d pho n e s . T h e Su p e r i o r C o u r t r e m a n d e d t h e c a s e t o t h i s C o u r t a n d o r d e re d t ha t a h e a r i ng b e he l d on t h i s i s s u e .
*20 1 3 Having held the hearing ordered by our Superior Court, we conclude that although the timing of the phones' destruction was unfortunate, nothing was elicited from Acre's testimony regarding their destruction which would justify an adverse inference against the Commonwealth. Acre testified that the Commonwealth did not direct him to destroy the phones, nor was he aware of any other destruction order pertaining to the phones. Additionally, Acre stated that he received no orders or notifications directing him to retain the phones and that if he had received such a notification, he would have pulled the phones from storage to prevent their destruction. Acre testified that it is regular practice for Dauphin County to destroy evidence after it sits unrequested in storage for several years and that such destruction typically occurs on particular dates biannually; in any given year, drugs and firearms are usually taken to a steel mill on two specific dates to be burned, and shortly before these dates, non-burnable evidence is removed for disposition by other means. In the instant matter, it was not merely the cell phones that were destroyed in temporal proximity to Judge Turgeon's August 2, 2013 order. Rather, both the cell phones and the drugs involved in Petitioner's alleged drug buys were destroyed within one month of each other, the drugs being destroyed in September 2013 and the phones being pulled for destruction just a month earlier; in light of this fact as well as Acre's testimony that he received no direction from the Commonwealth to destroy the phones and that he never received any direction from this Court to retain the phones, we find no reason to believe that the evidence from the instant case was not destroyed as a part of that regular course of conduct.
Because there is no evidence that that the phones were destroyed in bad faith; we believe that granting Petitioner's PCRA petition merely because they were destroyed would not be appropriate.
*21 14 C. Additional Evidence Supports Petitioner's Conviction. Furthermore, even absent the phone-related evidence, we find that there was other sufficient evidence presented at trial to sustain Petitioner's conviction. The phones allegedly involved in the drug transactions were not the only evidence upon which the Commonwealth relied in obtaining its conviction, nor were they the only evidence that supported the conviction in this case. [3] Detective Dickerson also testified that he was in the vicinity of each drug transaction as they occurred and that he actually observed each transaction as they occurred. In one of the alleged transactions, Detective Dickerson was acting undercover and purchased cocaine himself directly from Petitioner. With regard to the two alleged drug transactions in which the confidential informant ("Cl") was the buyer, Detective Dickerson testified that he was in the immediate vicinity of both drug transactions as they occurred. Petitioner contends that Detective Dickerson's testimony regarding the first alleged CI transaction is insufficient to sustain a conviction because the Cl and Petitioner had retreated to an alleyway out of Detective Dickerson's sight at the time the CI allegedly gave Petitioner $40.00 in exchange for drugs. We find this contention inapposite. Although Detective Dickerson may not have observed the actual exchange, the CI nonetheless emerged from the alleyway with cocaine and gave it to the Detective. The CI and Petitioner were only out of Dickerson's sight for about fifteen (15) seconds, and the CI had been searched for drugs and paraphernalia before each buy was executed. Furthermore, the trial testimony established that it was Petitioner himself who requested that the first alleged CJ transaction be conducted in the alleyway because he did not want to conduct such transaction in the presence of the Cl's driver (who, unbeknownst to [3] Furthermore, as noted earlier, Detective Dickerson's undercover-officer worksheets on which he recorded the phone number allegedly used by Petitioner in the drug buys were not admitted as evidence at trial, even though the Commonwealth had marked them as Exhibits. As such, the phone number itself appears not to have played a role in leading the jury to its finding of guilt.
*22 15 Petitioner, was Detective Dickerson). As such, Petitioner would have us believe that it was by pure happenstance that the Cl ( despite being searched by police before the initiation of the controlled buy) went into an alley with Petitioner at Petitioner's own request and returned just
, fifteen seconds later with drugs from a source different than Petitioner himself. That confluence of happenstance is beyond any reasonability. Additionally, even if Detective Dickerson's observances regarding the first CI transaction were deficient, his testimony regarding the second CI transaction established that he was able to clearly view the exchanging of drugs and money on that occasion. During the second CI transaction, Detective Dickerson saw Petitioner spit out three baggies of cocaine directly into the vehicle in which the Cl and Detective Dickerson were sitting, and the CI handed Petitioner $40.00 from that same vehicle. Thus, Petitioner and the Cl were never out of Detective Dickerson's sight during the second CI transaction, and in fact, the exchange of cocaine and cash took place in the very vehicle in which Detective Dickerson was sitting. III. Condusion.
In light of the foregoing discussion, we conclude that Petitioner fails to state a claim for relief under Pennsylvania's Post Conviction Relief Act. Accordingly, we enter the following: (This space intentionally left blank) *23 16 I N T H E C O U R T O F C O M M ON P L E A S , C O MM ON W E A LT H O F P E NN S Y L V AN I A D A U P H I N CO UN T Y , P E NN S Y L V A N I A v . NO . 2 4 1 5 CR 2 00 9 DA N I E L C H A V I O U S C R I M I N A L - P C R A
O
R D E R O F C O UR T J . _ ( Y l d ay o f M a r c h , 2 0 1 7 , upo n c o n s i d e r a t i on o f t he P e t i t i o n f o r P o s t- A ND N O W , t h i s C o n v i c t i on C o ll a t e r a l R e li ef f il e d b y D e f e n d a n t D an i e l C h a v i o u s , a n d o f t h e r e l e v a n t s t a t u t o r y a n d c a s e l a w , t h i s C ou r t f i n d s t ha t D e f e nd a n t i s n o t e n t i tl e d t o p o s t- c o n v i c ti o n c o ll a t e r a l r e li ef . T h e r e f o re , I T I S H E R E BY O R D E R E D t h a t h i s p e t i t i o n i s D I S M I S S E D .
D e f e n d a n t h a s t h e r i g h t t o a p p e a l t h i s d e c i s i o n t o t h e S u p er i or C o u r t of P e n n s y l va n i a . T h i s a pp e a l m u s t be t a k e n w i t h i n t h i r t y ( 3 0 ) day s o f t h e d a t e of t h i s O rd e r . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e C l e r k of C o u r t s o f D a up h i n C o un t y s h a ll i mm e d i a t e l y s e r v e a c o py o f t h i s O r de r u p o n t he D e f e nd a n t a n d t h e D e f e ndan t ' s c o un s e l by c e r t i f i e d m a il , r e t u r n r ec e i p t r e q u e s t e d , a s w e ll a s u p o n t h e D i s t r i c t A tt o r n ey .
, .. . .... .. , ' · i s , P r e s i d e n t Ju dg e D i s tr i b u t i o n : 2 , l ' 2 \ R y a n L y s a g h t , E s qu i r e , D i s t r i c t A tt o r n e y ' s O ff i ce , 0 J e nn i f e r E . T o b i a s , E s q u i r e , P . O . B o x 3 6 5 , S t e w a r t s t o w n , P A 1 7 3 63 ( Y \ , A \ c ,
( [11] D a n i e l C h av i o u s , D e f e n d a n t ( n , A l L . C o u r t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n - C r i m i n a l l O C l e r k of C o u r t s
\ 0 F I LE C O P Y - Ch a m b e rs o f t h e H o n o r ab l e R i c h a r d A . L e w i s *24 1