Opinion
J-S12039-19 No. 1287 MDA 2018
04-30-2019
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. ROY EDWARD KRISTMAN, Appellant
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered July 10, 2018 in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-22-CR-0002560-2014 BEFORE: BOWES, J., DUBOW, J., and MUSMANNO, J. MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:
Roy Edward Kristman ("Kristman") appeals from the Order denying his first Petition for Relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act ("PCRA"). See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. Counsel for Kristman has filed a Petition to Withdraw from representation, and an appellate brief (the "No-Merit Brief"). We deny counsel's Petition to Withdraw, reverse the Order of the PCRA court, and remand for further proceedings.
Counsel's appellate brief appears to be in the nature of a brief filed pursuant to Anders v. California , 386 U.S. 738 (1967), which applies when counsel seeks to withdraw from representation on direct appeal. When, as in this case, counsel seeks to withdraw from representation on collateral appeal, the dictates of Commonwealth v. Turner , 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988), and Commonwealth v. Finley , 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc), are applicable. However, because an Anders brief affords greater protection to a defendant, this Court may accept an Anders brief in lieu of a Turner/Finley "no-merit" letter. See Commonwealth v. Reed , 107 A.3d 137, 139 n.5 (Pa. Super. 2014).
On September 4, 2014, Kristman pled guilty to rape by forcible compulsion, rape of a substantially impaired person, aggravated assault, robbery and simple assault. On that same date, the trial court sentenced Kristman to 6-12 years in prison, and ordered an assessment to determine whether Kristman is a sexually violent predator ("SVP"), pursuant to the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act ("SORNA"). Kristman subsequently was determined to be an SVP, and therefore subject to SORNA's lifetime registration requirement.
See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9799.10-9799.42.
On July 5, 2018, Kristman filed a pro se Motion to be Removed from SORNA. The common pleas court denied the Motion, after which Kristman timely filed a pro se Notice of Appeal. On August 9, 2018, this Court entered an Order remanding the matter for a determination of whether Kristman is entitled to court-appointed counsel, concluding that Kristman's Motion "should be treated as an untimely first PCRA petition, ... for which Kristman is entitled to counsel." See Commonwealth v. Kristman , No. 1287 MDA 2018 (Pa. Super. filed August 9, 2018) (Order) (citations omitted).
We note that on October 24, 2018, the legislature amended the PCRA's timeliness requirement. See Act 2018, Oct. 24, P.L. 894, No. 146, §§ 2-3.
On remand, the PCRA court appointed counsel for Kristman, and entered an Order directing Kristman to file a concise statement of matters complained of on appeal, in accordance with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Counsel thereafter indicated her intention to file a no-merit brief. In this Court, counsel has filed a No-Merit Brief and a Petition to Withdraw from representation.
Before addressing counsel's Petition to Withdraw and the issue raised in Kristman's No-Merit Brief, we first must address the procedural posture of this case. Kristman filed his pro se Motion to be Removed from SORNA on July 5, 2018. By his Motion, Kristman alleged that his sentence was rendered illegal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision in Commonwealth v. Muniz , 164 A.3d 1189 (Pa. 2017), and this Court's decision in Commonwealth v. Butler , 173 A.3d 1212 (Pa. Super. 2017). The PCRA court denied Kristman's Motion without appointing counsel. Because this was Kristman's first PCRA Petition, he was entitled to the appointment of counsel. See Commonwealth v. Smith , 818 A.2d 494, 498 (Pa. 2003) (stating that "[t]he rules of criminal procedure require the appointment of counsel in PCRA proceedings."); Commonwealth v. Kutnyak , 781 A.2d 1259, 1262 (Pa. Super. 2001) (holding that an appellant is entitled to representation of counsel for a first PCRA petition, "despite any apparent untimeliness of the petition or the apparent non-cognizability of the claims presented"). "The denial of PCRA relief cannot stand unless the petitioner was afforded the assistance of counsel." Commonwealth v. Albrecht , 720 A.2d 693, 699 (Pa. 1999).
In Muniz , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the registration requirements under SORNA are punitive in nature, and, consequently, the retroactive application of SORNA's registration provisions violates the ex post facto clause of the United States Constitution. Muniz , 164 A.3d at 1218. In Butler , this Court applied Muniz and determined that, "as a result of Muniz , the SVP procedure is subject to the constitutional requirement that the facts constituting that punishment must be found by a fact-finder beyond a reasonable doubt." Commonwealth v. Tighe , 184 A.2d 560, 583 (Pa. Super. 2018). This Court filed its decision in Butler on October 31, 2017.
Additionally, the PCRA court failed to issue the required notice of its intention to dismiss Kristman's Petition without a hearing. See Pa.R.A.P. 907(1) (requiring that a PCRA court "give notice to the parties of the intention to dismiss the petition and ... state in the notice the reasons for the dismissal.").
Consequently, we are required to deny counsel's pending Petition to Withdraw, reverse the Order of the PCRA court, and remand the matter for further proceedings. On remand, counsel may file an amended PCRA petition, if necessary.
Petition to Withdraw denied. Order reversed. Case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this Memorandum. Superior Court jurisdiction relinquished. Judgment Entered. /s/_________
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary Date: 4/30/2019