Com. v. Eaddy

• Decision Date: 30 September 1992
• Citation: Com. v. Eaddy, 614 A.2d 1203, 419 Pa.Super. 48 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992)
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Lester EADDY, Appellant.
• Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court

Page 1203

614 A.2d 1203

419 Pa.Super. 48

COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Lester EADDY, Appellant.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Submitted Jan. 21, 1992.

Filed Sept. 30, 1992.

Lester Eaddy, appellant, pro se.

Donna G. Zucker, Asst. Dist. Atty., Philadelphia, for Com., appellee.

Before ROWLEY, President Judge, and BECK and HESTER, JJ.

HESTER, Judge:

Lester Eaddy appeals the June 7, 1991 denial of his petition for PCRA relief. We affirm.

On February 4, 1987, appellant was convicted following a nonjury trial of two counts of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment and one count of possession of an instrument of crime. In post-trial motions, appellant contended that counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to dismiss under Rule 1100 and that the evidence was not sufficient to support his convictions. A hearing was held on the issue of trial counsel's ineffectiveness on January 17, 1988, when appellant was represented by new counsel. In denying appellant's post-trial motions, the trial court determined the following:

The defendant's main unhappiness with trial counsel was trial counsel's refusal to file a motion requesting the defendant's discharge under Rule 1100. Trial counsel testified that he was aware that the defendant wished such a motion filed and he, trial counsel, had specifically refused to file such a motion or to pursue such relief. Trial counsel, William Stewart, testified that the reason he did not pursue relief under Rule 1100 was that he was personally aware that the case was tried at the earliest possible time given the Court's calendar. Attorney Stewart went on to describe that he had been personally assigned to the courtroom and the judge for an extended period of time prior to this case and was familiar with the Court's calendar and docket at the time. Trial counsel concluded that he considered a motion for dismissal pursuant to Rule 1100, "frivolous." (N.T., January 27, 1988, pages 19 thru 25).

....

Defendant's Post-Trial Motions raised the issue of the sufficiency of the evidence to support a verdict of conviction on the charge of aggravated assault. There are two separate assaults. The court will discuss each one.

The evidence showed that on the evening of October 30th, [1985], the defendant appeared on the porch of a house situated and known as 1623 N. 56th Street. The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 P.M. that evening. The apartment on the first floor was occupied by Mrs. Lucy Adams, her daughter, Arlene Briggs, Mr. Kevin Rawls and a number of small children. At that time, the defendant, Lester Eaddy, knocked on the door. He requested that Arlene Briggs come to the door. She refused. She did look out of the window and observed the defendant. (N.T., 2/4/87, pg. 7). She did not go to the door, however, but went to the rear of the house. Mr. Kevin Rawls stayed in the living room. Two gunshots were fired through the window. One of them struck Mr. Rawls. Because the shade was drawn on the window, it is assumed that the person firing the shots was not aiming at any specific person and simply fired blindly. The defendant argues that he should not be convicted of aggravated assault since there is no evidence of a specific intent as to a specific person. In these circumstances, a specific intent toward a specific person is unnecessary. Commonwealth v. Daniels, 354 A.2d, 538. In this case, it is clear that the defendant fired gunshots into a residence he knew to be occupied. His indifference as to whom might be shot does not lessen the seriousness of his act. Nor is it any defense that more serious harm was not caused. Commonwealth v. Bond, 396, A.2d 414. Commonwealth v. Wanamaker, 444 A.2d, 1176. The Court has no difficulty in finding that § 2702(4) applies to defendant's actions on October 30, 1985.

On November 1, 1985, Arlene Briggs was specifically attacked by the defendant. He came up behind her and attempted to stab her in the neck with a fork. Injury to her was avoided only by her physical efforts to evade the defendant and the timely intervention of the police. (N.T., 2/4/87, pgs. 32 thru 37). The Court finds that the assault of November 1, 1985, qualifies as the defendant ... attempt[ed] to cause serious bodily injury to Arlene Briggs. While a fork is not a "deadly weapon", the defendant's attempt to strike Ms. Briggs in the head or neck certainly justifies the inference that he intended serious bodily harm. Commonwealth v. Pandolfo, 446 A.2d 939. The defendant's bland assertion that he was intending only to have a conversation with Ms. Briggs is wholly unconvincing.

Trial court opinion, 4/19/88, at 2-4.

Appellant filed a direct appeal, raising two issues: "[T]rial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to dismiss pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100 and also that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his two aggravated assault convictions." Superior Court opinion, 11/21/88, at 1. We reviewed the merits of the underlying Rule 1100 claim and determined that it was meritless and that trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to move for dismissal on that basis. We then exhaustively reviewed the evidence against appellant regarding the charges on both October 30, 1985, and November 1, 1985. We concluded that the evidence was sufficient to sustain his convictions in both instances. Commonwealth v. Eaddy, 385 Pa.Super. 648, 555 A.2d 244 (1988) (No. 868 Philadelphia, 1988).

On May 16, 1990, appellant filed his first petition for relief under the Post-Conviction Relief Act. His contentions were that his right to a speedy trail was violated pursuant to both Rule 1100 and the sixth amendment to the United States constitution and that prior appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve this issue. He also alleged that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Counsel was appointed, and he filed a no-merit brief and asked to withdraw. ¹ On June 10, 1991, the trial court granted counsel's petition to withdraw and dismissed the petition without a hearing. This appeal followed.

Pro se appellant raises two issues: whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain his conviction for aggravated assault as to the November 1, 1985 assault on Arlene Briggs, and whether his constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated by the fifteen-month delay between his arrest and trial. Appellant concedes that the first "issue was previously presented on direct appeal to the instant Court...." Appellant's brief at 3. He seeks "to reargue his case using the principles of law promulgated in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's holding in Commonwealth v. Mayo, 272 Pa.Super. 115, 414 A.2d 696 (1979)." Id.

Initially, we discuss whether appellant's claims for relief may be entertained under the PCRA. Appellant's eligibility for relief is governed by the provisions of the Post-Conviction Relief Act. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543 controls appellant's eligibility for relief under the PCRA and lists four factors that must be met before such relief may be granted. 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9543(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4). Section 9543(a)(3) provides that allegations of error that have been previously litigated may not be entertained in a petition for post-conviction relief.

Section 9544(a) of the PCRA defines previous litigation:

(a) Previous litigation.--For the purpose of this subchapter, an issue has been previously litigated if:

(1) it has been raised in the trial court, the trial court has ruled on the merits of the issue and the petitioner did not appeal;

(2) the highest appellate court in which the petitioner could have had review as a matter of right has ruled on the merits of the issue; or

(3) it has been raised and decided in a proceeding collaterally attacking the conviction or sentence.

As the issue of the sufficiency of the evidence in connection with the November 1, 1985 attack on Arlene Briggs was decided by this court, which is the highest appellate court in which appellant had review as a matter of right, it is previously litigated under section 9544. Appellant is not eligible for relief under the PCRA as to this issue.

Next, we address whether appellant has waived the second issue presented, his sixth amendment speedy trial claim. Section 9543(a)(3)(i) provides that an issue that has been waived is not cognizable under the PCRA. Section 9544(b) provides, in relevant, part, "[A]n issue is waived if the petitioner failed to raise it and if it could have been raised ... on appeal." (Emphasis added). Since appellant's issue regarding his speedy trial right could have been raised on direct appeal, it has been waived under section 9544.

Appellant nevertheless will be eligible for relief under the PCRA if one of the two exceptions to waiver contained in section 9543(a)(3) applies. Section 9543(a)(3) provides that an allegation of error that has been waived can be entertained under the PCRA under two conditions:

(ii) If the allegation of error has been waived, the alleged error has resulted in the conviction or affirmance of sentence of an innocent individual.

(iii) If the allegation of error has been waived, the waiver of the allegation of error during pretrial, trial, post-trial or direct appeal proceedings does not constitute a State procedural default barring Federal habeas corpus relief.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(3). Since appellant's sixth amendment issue has been waived due to his failure to raise it during direct appeal proceedings, section 9543(a)(3)(iii) applies if the waiver does not constitute a state procedural default barring federal habeas corpus relief. Commonwealth v. Hanes, 397 Pa.Super. 38, 579 A.2d 920 (1990); Commonwealth v. Ryan, 394 Pa.Super. 373, 575 A.2d 949 (1990).

We next examine whether the waiver constitutes a state procedural default barring federal habeas corpus relief. If not, the issue is not waived. Federal courts will excuse a state procedural default based upon a showing of cause and prejudice....