Com. v. Chamberlain

• Decision Date: 02 May 1980
• Citation: 419 A.2d 1261,277 Pa.Super. 503
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. John CHAMBERLAIN, Appellant.
• Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court

Page 1261

419 A.2d 1261

277 Pa.Super. 503

COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. John CHAMBERLAIN, Appellant.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Submitted Sept. 13, 1979.

Filed May 2, 1980.

Robert L. Beggs, Coatesville, for appellant.

Charles P. Mackin, Asst. Dist. Atty., Coudersport, for Commonwealth, appellee.

Before SPAETH, HESTER and CAVANAUGH, JJ.

CAVANAUGH, Judge:

This is an appeal from a judgment of sentence. Appellant, John Chamberlain, and a co-defendant, Susan Davis, were convicted in a non-jury trial of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Following conviction post-trial motions were filed by trial counsel, asserting that the verdict is contrary to the evidence and demanding a new trial because of errors made by the suppression court. Defendant's counsel withdrew and new counsel filed supplemental motions raising the issue of ineffectiveness of counsel. The court below entered an order dismissing the motions and from this order Chamberlain appeals.

Specifically, the appellant, Chamberlain, claims: (1) his trial counsel was ineffective due to dual representation in light of a conflict of interest between defendants; (2) counsel was ineffective due to his failure to raise all available issues to challenge the legality of the search and seizure; and (3) the court below erred by inferring an intent to deliver a controlled substance from the quantity possessed.

The facts are as follows: Chamberlain and Davis resided in a combination hotel and store in Conrad Village, Potter County. The building is known locally as the "Conrad-Hilton" and consists of a store at the eastern corner of the structure, an unpartitioned living area on the remainder of the first floor, and approximately ten hotel-type rooms on the second floor. The structure sits on a large plot of land.

On August 23, 1977, Trooper Cogley of the Pennsylvania State Police received information from a resident of the Conrad area that there appeared to be a pot or plant of marijuana on the rear porch roof of Chamberlain's residence. Without entering the property Trooper Cogley observed the plants and identified them as marijuana. The trooper returned on August 27, 1977, to check the scene and again observed the pot of plants. Two days later a search warrant was issued but was not executed since Chamberlain was not at home. The suspected marijuana was still in view at this time. The following day four officers returned to the "Conrad-Hilton" with the warrant. Again no one was home. The officers entered the building and began to search. The entire living unit on the first floor was searched and the following items seized and catalogued:

1. Five roach clips.

2. Poppy seeds in a glass mustard jar.

3. A pound tin containing 1/2 lb. of marijuana.

4. Cigarette papers.

5. A bronze hashish pipe.

6. Seven marijuana plants (1 lb.) in a blue metal pot.

7. 32 cut marijuana plants (9 1/2 lbs.).

Chamberlain and Davis returned during the course of the search and were placed under arrest. They were charged with possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance.

After hearing a motion to suppress evidence, the suppression court ruled that the evidence was properly seized. Chamberlain and Davis were represented by the same counsel in a non-jury trial.

I

Appellant Chamberlain argues that his counsel was ineffective in that counsel represented both Chamberlain and Davis despite the existence of a conflict of interest between the co-defendants. Although the issue of ineffectiveness of counsel was not raised below, it may be raised by substitute counsel on direct appeal. Com. v. Dancer, 460 Pa. 95, 331 A.2d 435 (1975).

In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel the standard to be applied is that set forth in Com. ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 604-5, 235 A.2d 349, 352 (1967), as follows:

(C)ounsel's assistance is deemed constitutionally effective once we are able to conclude that the particular course chosen by counsel had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client's interests. The test is not whether other alternatives were more reasonable, employing a hindsight evaluation of the record. (emphasis in original)

Ineffectiveness of counsel may be found where dual representation involves a conflict of interest. Com. v. Wilson, 429 Pa. 458, 463, 240 A.2d 498 (1968). However dual representation does not by itself amount to a conflict of interest. Com. v. Wilson, supra ; Com. v. Myers, 419 Pa. 139, 213 A.2d 356 (1965), cert. denied, 386 U.S. 1013, 87 S.Ct. 1361, 18 L.Ed.2d 445 (1967). The defendant must at least show the possibility of harm in order to make the dual representation rise to a true conflict. Com. v. Wilson, supra. The mere existence of such a conflict vitiates the proceedings, even though no actual harm results. Com. ex rel. Whitling v. Russell, 406 Pa. 45, 176 A.2d 641 (1962). See also Com. v. Breaker, 456 Pa. 341, 318 A.2d 354 (1974).

The appellant argues that a conflict of interest did exist in this dual representation and points to the allegedly incriminating testimony of co-defendant Davis as support for this. Specifically, on direct examination Davis testified to the following which appellant claims was contrary to his interest:

1. Chamberlain had sole use of the portion of the dwelling where the marijuana was discovered.

2. Chamberlain has almost exclusive control of the bedroom downstairs where marijuana and a pipe were found.

3. Chamberlain owned the marijuana discovered and seized.

4. No other occupants were in the dwelling at the time of the search and seizure.

5. Chamberlain was planning to sell roach clips in his store.

Chamberlain argues that under the standard announced in Com. ex rel. Whitling v. Russell, supra, this testimony of his co-defendant sufficiently establishes a conflict of interest and, that in allowing Davis to so testify at the joint trial, his trial counsel was ineffective.

However, a review of the entire record discloses that the testimony of Susan Davis, while undeniably asserting Chamberlain's ownership of the marijuana, is not contrary to Chamberlain's interests. According to the testimony of Corporal Donald Young, who executed the search warrant and arrested the co-defendants, Chamberlain, after reading the inventory list of items seized from the "Conrad-Hilton", stated that:

. . . (the officers) had gotten all (the marijuana) he had on the list. He also stated he does not sell marijuana. He smokes it himself. He does give it to friends. He does not sell it. He stated that the marijuana was all his and did not belong to the accused Davis.

This testimony was heard without objection from the defendant. Chamberlain did not testify at the trial.

In view of this it cannot be said that Davis relied on a defense which was antagonistic to Chamberlain's. In fact, Davis' testimony was less damaging than Chamberlain's statement in that Chamberlain stated he transferred the marijuana to others. As to Davis' testimony that Chamberlain had sole use of the portion of the dwelling where the marijuana was found and that there were no other occupants of the building at the time of the search and seizure, these statements are quite consistent with Chamberlain's admission, quoted above, that the marijuana was "all his". Finally, Davis disclosed that Chamberlain planned to sell roach clips in his store. The sale of roach clips, while it may be considered as circumstantial evidence contributing to a finding of guilt, is not illegal. Also, Davis could not have been establishing her own innocence at Chamberlain's expense since she was equally involved. According to her testimony she received the roach clips and sold them to Chamberlain for the purpose of selling them in his store.

Nor can it be said that counsel abandoned his representation of Chamberlain. Because of the strength of Commonwealth's evidence of possession the amount of marijuana found as well as Chamberlain's admission it would not be an unreasonable trial tactic to concede the possession in order to rebut the more serious charge of possession with intent to deliver or manufacture. Therefore, since the appellant has failed to show that a conflict of interest existed, the claim of ineffectiveness of counsel in this regard must fail. The fact that one of the represented parties has a stronger defense than the other does not create a conflict of interest.

II

Appellant Chamberlain argues that his trial counsel was ineffective due to his failure to raise all available issues to challenge the legality of the search and seizure. Chamberlain attacks the search and seizure on three grounds.

First, he claims that there was no probable cause to issue a search warrant for a building when the suspected contraband was observed only on a rear porch roof. The officer who obtained the search warrant made the following statement of probable cause:

Information was received by this officer from a private citizen on the 23 of August 1977 and on 27 of August 1977 that plants believed to be marijuana growing on the rear porch roof of said building. This officer checked the scene at 8 p. m. on Aug. 23, 1977 and viewed the suspected plants from an adjacent property located at the rear of the building and again on Aug. 29, 1977 and it is believed by this officer that these plants are marijuana. This officer did at no time enter the property of the suspect. The alleged marijuana plants were believed to number approximately 200 and were growing in a tub-like container setting on the roof of the establishment.

Certainly the fact that a tub containing approximately 200 marijuana plants was found on the porch roof would be sufficient probable cause to issue a search warrant for the building. A reasonable person could conclude that the planting and nurturing of such a large number of plants would most likely be accomplished in the building itself. Therefore, appellant's argument is without...