Opinion

Com. v. Harshman, R.

Court
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Filed
Feb 25, 2015
Status
Unpublished
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 34.1%

The opinion

J-S63044-14

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee

v.

RONALD W. HARSHMAN,

Appellant No. 632 MDA 2014

Appeal from the PCRA Order March 11, 2014

in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County

Criminal Division at No.: CP-28-CR-0000851-2000

BEFORE: BOWES, J., PANELLA, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Appellant, Ronald W. Harshman, appeals from the court’s denial of his

counseled amended petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act

(PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.1 We affirm in part, vacate in part, and

remand with instructions.

The PCRA court summarized the procedural history of this case as

follows:

____________________________________________

*

Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1

This case returns to us after remand. See Commonwealth v.

Harshman, No. 1644 MDA 2010, unpublished memorandum at *10 (Pa.

Super. filed Aug. 31, 2011).

J-S63044-14

Appellant was convicted by jury of first[-]degree murder

on July 13, 2001 for the 1985 murder of [Melvin] Snyder.[2]

Appellant was sentenced that day to life in prison. Following

sentencing, Appellant appealed the judgment of sentence to the

Pennsylvania Superior Court, which affirmed [the trial c]ourt’s

judgment of sentence on October 11, 2002. [(See

Commonwealth v. Harshman, No. 100 MDA 2002,

unpublished memorandum at *1 (Pa. Super. filed Oct. 11,

2002)).] The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied Appellant’s

[p]etition for [a]llowance of [a]ppeal without opinion on March 5,

2004. [(See Commonwealth v. Harshman, 40 A.3d 120 (Pa.

2012)).]

After exhausting his direct appeals[,] Appellant filed a

timely pro se [PCRA petition] on December 13, 2004. Counsel

was retained[,] who filed an [a]mended PCRA [p]etition on June

30, 2006. Evidentiary hearings were conducted on August 3,

September 10, December 17, 2009, September 6, 2012, and

March 28, 2013.

At the first evidentiary hearing held on August 3, 2009,

Appellant called only one witness, Walter Dill (“Dill”). Dill gave

testimony that he had contacted David Keller, Appellant’s trial

counsel, regarding his brother-in-law, Keith Granlun’s (Granlun)

testimony at Appellant’s trial. Appellant attempted to call two

more witnesses, Randi Kohr (“Kohr”) and Granlun[,] both of

who[m] testified against Appellant at his trial in 2001. The

averment made by Appellant in his [a]mended PCRA [p]etition

was that both men now wanted to recant their previous trial

testimony. However, after consulting with independent counsel

appointed by the [PCRA c]ourt[,] both men chose to invoke their

Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination under the U.S.

Constitution[,] thereby offering no testimony at the PCRA

hearing.

____________________________________________

2

Snyder disappeared under suspicious circumstances after Appellant learned

that his wife, Teresa, was having an extramarital affair with Snyder.

Although at the time of his death, Snyder was no longer involved with

Teresa, Appellant blamed Snyder for ruining his marriage. Snyder was

declared dead upon the petition of his wife, Joan, in 1993. His body has

never been located. (See Harshman, 1644 MDA 2010, at *1; PCRA Court

Opinion, 3/11/14, at 5; PCRA Court Opinion, 6/10/14, at 1-2).

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As a result, PCRA counsel attempted to have a written

statement by Kohr and letters sent by Kohr to his then

girlfriend[,] Megin (Chilcote) Kohr[,] admitted into evidence over

the Commonwealth’s objections. The [PCRA c]ourt reserved

ruling on the admissibility of these exhibits and the proffered

testimony of several of Appellant’s other witnesses allowing

counsel time to submit briefs. After reviewing the briefs

submitted, the [PCRA c]ourt ruled that the proffered exhibits and

other witness testimony were inadmissible because they

constituted hearsay in violation of the Pennsylvania Rules of

Evidence.

At the evidentiary hearing held on September 10, 2009[,]

Appellant presented testimony of Megin (Chilcote) Kohr. She

testified regarding her understanding that a deal existed “that if

Randi [Kohr] would testify in the Harshman case that he

[Franklin County District Attorney Jack Nelson] would release[]

Randi.” She further testified that she spoke with District

Attorney Nelson and County Detective Mark Christman on

several occasions regarding Kohr’s release from prison. This

concluded the evidence presented by Appellant.

At the evidentiary hearing held on December 14, 2009[,]

the Commonwealth presented evidence through the testimony of

retired Franklin County Detective Mark Christman. Through his

testimony[,] letters written by District Attorney Nelson to the

Pennsylvania State Parole Board were admitted into evidence

without objection. Despite cross[-]examination by Appellant,

Detective Christman maintained that he was not aware of any

“deal” other than what was contained in the letters from District

Attorney Nelson. The letters evidenced a willingness by the

District Attorney to inform the State Parole Board in Harrisburg

of Kohr’s cooperation. The letters ask for the Board to take his

cooperation into consideration and “perhaps grant him an earlier

release date.” That concluded the evidence and the parties were

given an opportunity to submit briefs in support of their

positions. . . .

(PCRA Court Opinion, 6/10/14, at 3-5) (record citations and footnotes

omitted).

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The PCRA court denied Appellant’s claims on September 13, 2010.

Appellant timely appealed on October 6, 2010.3

On August 31, 2011, this Court affirmed the PCRA court’s denial of

Appellant’s requests to recuse the district attorney’s office and admit

hearsay evidence, and remanded “with respect to [the PCRA court’s] ruling

on the application of [Randi Kohr and Keith Granlun’s] right against self-

incrimination.” (Harshman, 1644 MDA 2010, at *12). Appellant’s

remaining challenges were not reached.

The PCRA court held evidentiary hearings on September 6, 2012 and

March 28, 2013, after the remand. On March 5, 2013, the court sustained

the Commonwealth’s objection to the admissibility of hearsay evidence, and

ultimately denied Appellant’s remaining PCRA claims on March 11, 2014.

Appellant timely appealed on April 8, 2014.4

Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

1. [Whether t]he [PCRA c]ourt erred by refusing to obey the

August 31, 2011 Superior Court remand Order by not allowing

[Appellant’s] counsel to ask specific questions of Randi Kohr, a

____________________________________________

3

Pursuant to the court’s order, Appellant filed a timely Rule 1925(b)

statement on November 1, 2010. The court entered its Rule 1925(a)

opinion on December 1, 2010. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

4

Pursuant to the court’s order, Appellant filed a timely Rule 1925(b)

statement on May 5, 2014, raising seven issues. The court entered its Rule

1925(a) opinion on June 10, 2014, addressing Appellant’s issues one, two,

three, and five; and incorporating by reference its opinions accompanying

the orders filed March 5, 2013, as it addressed issue six, and March 11,

2014, as it addressed issues four and seven. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

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witness who invoked his fifth amendment privilege, the specific

reason this matter was remanded to the [PCRA c]ourt[?]

2. [Whether t]he [PCRA c]ourt erred in not recognizing the

presence of an undisclosed deal between the Commonwealth and

witness Keith Granlun, a key Commonwealth witness, in which

the Commonwealth offered Mr. Granlun immediate release from

prison, early termination of his parole sentence, and remission of

all his fines and costs in excess of $1,300 in an unrelated matter

in exchange for his trial testimony against [Appellant?]

3. [Whether t]he [PCRA c]ourt erred in failing to apply the

legal standards to the presence of an undisclosed deal with a key

witness, by instead placing the emphasis of the presence of a

deal between the Commonwealth and Mr. Granlun on what

impact Mr. Granlun’s truthful testimony would have had on the

jury instead of the fact that such a deal existed and went

undisclosed to the jury[?]

4. [Whether t]he [PCRA c]ourt erred in its analysis that Mr.

Granlun’s trial testimony, had it been accurate, would not have

made a difference in the trial despite the fact that Mr. Granlun

was identified as a “key” witness by the Commonwealth in an

[o]rder to terminate Mr. Granlun’s parole early and remit all his

fines and costs in exchange for his testimony at trial, and despite

the fact that the Commonwealth went to great lengths at trial to

tell the jury that no such deal existed with Mr. Granlun or any

other witness[?]

5. [Whether t]he [PCRA c]ourt erred in not allowing a credible

witness, Walt Dill, to testify that he was aware at the time of

trial that Mr. Granlun’s testimony was false[?]

6. [Whether, i]n light of Mr. Granlun’s testimony, the [PCRA

c]ourt erred in not admitting into evidence contemporary and

corroborating evidence, physical and testimonial, that, Randi

Kohr, a key [trial] witness for the Commonwealth, who again

exercised his fifth amendment privilege, lied at [Appellant’s] trial

and that a deal existed between material witnesses and the

Commonwealth in exchange for testimony that was not disclosed

to trial counsel or the jury[?]

7. [Whether t]he [PCRA c]ourt erred in its analysis of the

ineffectiveness of trial counsel’s failure to interview Keith

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Granlun, a Commonwealth witness who requested to speak to

trial counsel prior to the trial to inform him that his and other

witness testimony was false[?]

(Appellant’s Brief, at unnumbered pages 4-5).5

Our standard of review is well-settled:

When reviewing the propriety of an order granting or

denying PCRA relief, this Court is limited to determining whether

the evidence of record supports the determination of the PCRA

court and whether the ruling is free of legal error. Great

deference is granted to the findings of the PCRA court, and these

findings will not be disturbed unless they have no support in the

certified record.

Commonwealth v. Rachak, 62 A.3d 389, 391 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal

denied, 67 A.3d 796 (Pa. 2013) (citations omitted).

A PCRA petitioner is eligible for relief if the claim is cognizable under

the PCRA. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a). Cognizable claims include

constitutional violations, ineffective assistance of counsel that undermined

the truth-determining process, and subsequently available exculpatory

evidence that would have changed the outcome of the trial. See 42

Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a)(2)(i), (ii), and (vi).

In his first issue, Appellant claims that a violation of his due process

rights occurred when the PCRA court refused to obey this Court’s remand

____________________________________________

5

We note for the benefit of counsel that Appellant’s brief materially fails to

comply with our Rules of Appellate Procedure. The prefatory pages of

Appellant’s brief are unnumbered. The pages are numbered starting at

“Argument for Appellant” as pages 1-43. See Pa.R.A.P. 2173. The length of

the brief exceeds thirty pages. See Pa.R.A.P. 2135. The cover page of the

brief fails to include counsel’s name, office address, and telephone number.

See Pa.R.A.P. 2172(a)(6).

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order and permit counsel to ask specific questions of witness, Randi Kohr, at

the September 6, 2012 evidentiary hearing. (See Appellant’s Brief at 7-11).

We agree.

The PCRA court explained the basis for its decision as follows:

. . . [Mr.] Kohr persisted with his invocation of the Fifth

Amendment protection against self-incrimination. We again

found that Kohr was entitled to blanket immunity from defense

counsel’s questioning. While the Superior Court ordered us to

allow individual questions and invocation of the Fifth Amendment

for each specific question, we respectfully disagree with the

Superior Court’s decision.

(PCRA Ct. Op., 6/10/14, at 7).

“It [is] the duty of the court below, on remand, to comply strictly with

our mandate and such compliance require[s] the court to proceed in a

manner consistent with the views expressed in our [memorandum] . . . .”

Commonwealth v. Tick, 246 A.2d 424, 425 (Pa. 1968) (citation and

footnote omitted).

Accordingly, in light of our previous conclusion, “that the PCRA court

abdicated its responsibility to evaluate objectively whether the witness had a

reasonable fear of incrimination in response to specific propounded

questions[,]” (Harshman, 1644 MDA 2010, at *10), and the court’s blatant

refusal to comply with our remand order, we must again vacate the PCRA

court’s order on this issue and remand for further proceedings.

In his second, third, and fourth issues, Appellant claims that a

violation of his due process rights occurred when the PCRA court failed to

recognize an undisclosed deal between the Commonwealth and witness,

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Keith Granlun; apply the legal standards to the deal; and recognize the

impact that the undisclosed deal could have had on the jury. (See

Appellant’s Brief at 11, 21, 29). These issues lack merit.

It is well-settled that an “appellant must establish that the

constitutional violation at issue so undermined the truth determining process

that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place.”

Commonwealth v. Strong, 761 A.2d 1167, 1170-71 (Pa. 2000) (citations

omitted). Therefore, an appellant must demonstrate that: (1) an agreement

exists; and (2) the undisclosed information was material to the trial. See

id. at 1171-74.

Furthermore:

[a]ny implication, promise or understanding that the government

would extend leniency in exchange for a witness’s testimony is

relevant to the witness’s credibility. When the failure of the

prosecution to produce material evidence raises a reasonable

probability that the result of the trial would have been different if

the evidence had been produced, due process has been violated

and a new trial is warranted.

Commonwealth v. Burkhardt, 833 A.2d 233, 241 (Pa. Super. 2003) (en

banc), appeal denied, 847 A.2d 1277 (Pa. 2004) (citations omitted).

In this case, Appellant argues that Mr. Granlun’s PCRA testimony

established that he lied at Appellant’s trial and his false trial testimony “was

the result of a deal offered to him by the Commonwealth.” (Appellant’s

Brief, at 11). Specifically, he claims that “Mr. Granlun was promised to be

released from prison immediately if he testified against [Appellant], but if he

didn’t testify he was under the fear that he would remain in prison.” (Id. at

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18; see N.T. PCRA Hearing, 9/06/12, at 22-23, 25-26). Furthermore, Mr.

Granlun “testified that his parole would be terminated and any money he

owed from another case would be forgiven.” (Appellant’s Brief, at 19; see

N.T. PCRA Hearing, 9/06/12, at 22, 24-25, 36).

We note that “[r]ecantation testimony is one of the least reliable forms

of proof, particularly when it constitutes an admission of perjury.”

Commonwealth v. Padillas, 997 A.2d 356, 366 (Pa. Super. 2010), appeal

denied, 14 A.3d 826 (Pa. 2010) (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted).

Here, the PCRA court explained the basis for its decision as follows:

. . . [W]e find [Mr.] Granlun lacks credibility. . . . He either lied

at trial or at this [PCRA] hearing or at both. At the time of the

PCRA hearing, the statute of limitations had run[,] which would

prevent his conviction for any perjury charge resulting in no fear

of criminal prosecution even if [he] were lying. Furthermore,

[Mr.] Dill, Granlun’s own family member, testified to Granlun’s

lack of credibility. Dill stated that Granlun “was a hustler, that

he would sell his own mother if he got the opportunity to get his

way and I wouldn’t buy ten cents of what he said.” Therefore,

we do not believe Granlun’s testimony that he was offered a deal

in exchange for his testimony.

(PCRA Ct. Op., 6/10/14, at 11 (record citation omitted)). Upon review, we

agree and conclude that the record supports the court’s determination that

there was no undisclosed deal. Furthermore, we grant great deference to

the credibility determinations of the PCRA court. See Rachak, supra at

391.

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Moreover, even if a deal existed and it was material, Appellant fails to

prove how it would have changed the outcome of Appellant’s trial.

We note that “the Commonwealth . . . may sustain its burden by

means of wholly circumstantial evidence.” Commonwealth v. DiPanfilo,

993 A.2d 1262, 1264 (Pa. Super. 2010), appeal denied, 40 A.3d 120 (Pa.

2012) (citation omitted).

Here, the record reflects that the jury could have found Appellant

guilty based on Mr. Kohr’s testimony and a plethora of circumstantial

evidence.

. . . [T]he jury heard evidence that [Appellant] previously

crashed his car into Snyder’s vehicle and fired two gunshots at

him, missing him both times. [Appellant] informed people that

he would seek revenge against Snyder for ruining his marriage.

Within days of receiving divorce papers from his wife,

[Appellant] purchased a .25 caliber pistol. On May 25, 1985,

Snyder had disappeared. His gardening tools were strewn about

the garden in atypical fashion, suggesting a disturbance.

Neighbors reported seeing a brown pickup truck at the Snyder

residence. A .25 caliber pistol shell casing was found in the

Snyder barn. Several days later, the same neighbors noticed the

same brown pickup truck at [Appellant’s] residence. Snyder’s

truck was found in Maryland with all of his personal belongings,

and was wiped clean of fingerprints. Years later, in 1999, after

[Appellant] had moved, [his] property was searched and a .25

caliber pistol shell casing was found. It was determined that the

gun that shot this round was the same gun that shot the shell

found at the Snyder residence.

(PCRA Court Opinion, 3/11/14, at 5).

Accordingly, the record supports the PCRA court’s denial of relief on

these claims.

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In his fifth issue, Appellant claims that the PCRA court erred in

prohibiting witness, Walt Dill, from testifying that he was aware that Mr.

Granlun’s trial testimony was false. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 32). This

issue lacks merit.6

It is well[-]settled that the admission or rejection of [witness

testimony] is within the sound discretion of the trial court. An

abuse of discretion will not be found based on a mere error of

judgment, but rather exists where the court has reached a

conclusion [that] overrides or misapplies the law, or where the

judgment exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of

partiality, prejudice, bias or ill-will.

Commonwealth v. Davido, 2014 WL 7182086, at *28 (Pa. filed Dec. 15,

2014) (citations and quotation marks omitted).

Here, the PCRA court explained:

Dill testified a second time at the second PCRA hearing on

September 6, 2012. At this hearing Dill testified to the same

thing, i.e., that Granlun wanted him to contact Appellant’s trial

counsel to tell trial counsel to go to the Franklin County Jail to

talk with [Granlun] about the trial. He also testified that: “I told

[trial counsel David Keller] that my brother-in-law told me that

there was a bunch of guys going to lie at the trial and he wanted

him to come down to ask him to help him out or whatever.” This

testimony, which was not objected to by the Commonwealth,

seems to infer exactly what Appellant claims that we disallowed

in error. That testimony suggests that Dill was aware that at the

time of trial that Granlun’s testimony was false.

(PCRA Ct. Op., 6/10/14, at 15 (record citation omitted)).

____________________________________________

6

We note that we could find this issue waived for Appellant’s failure to

provide a specific reference to the record where the issue was preserved.

(See Appellant’s Brief, at 32-34); see also Pa.R.A.P. 2117(c), 2119(e).

However, because we can discern his argument and conduct meaningful

appellate review, we will review the issue on its merits.

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Additionally, although our independent review of the record reflects

that the court prohibited Mr. Dill from answering certain questions, this was

not an abuse of discretion. For example, the court precluded an answer to

the following question: “And did [Granlun], in fact, confide in you that he

had testified falsely at trial?” (N.T. PCRA Hearing, 9/06/12, at 57).

Specifically, the court found that Dill’s testimony constituted hearsay and did

not qualify as a statement against interest because Mr. Granlun was

available to testify and did testify as to what he told Dill. (See id. at 57-

58). The court further prohibited Mr. Dill from answering the following

question on the basis that it was irrelevant: “[D]id you form a belief as to

whether [Granlun] had told the truth or not [at Appellant’s trial]?” (Id. at

58; see id. at 58-59).

Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion and the record supports the

PCRA court’s denial of relief on this claim.

In his sixth issue, Appellant claims that, in light of Mr. Granlun’s

testimony and Mr. Kohr’s continued assertion of his right not to incriminate

himself, the PCRA court erred in excluding corroborating evidence that Mr.

Kohr lied at Appellant’s trial in exchange for a deal with the Commonwealth.

(See Appellant’s Brief at 34-35). This issue lacks merit.

It is well-settled that “[a]n issue has been previously litigated if 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.” Davido, supra at *5

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(citations and internal quotation marks omitted); see also 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§

9543(a)(3) and 9544(a).

In the October 6, 2010 PCRA appeal, Appellant unsuccessfully

challenged the exclusion of corroborating evidence that witnesses lied at trial

and undisclosed deals existed with the Commonwealth in exchange for their

testimonies. (See Harshman, 1644 MDA 2010, at 5-8). In the instant

PCRA appeal, Appellant, in light of Mr. Granlun’s testimony, challenges that

same corroborating evidence as it relates to Mr. Kohr. (See Appellant’s

Brief, at 34-35). However, “a PCRA petitioner cannot obtain additional

review of previously litigated claims by presenting new theories of relief[.]”

Davido, supra at *12. Here, the record reflects that the present claim is

not sufficiently distinct to avoid the prior litigation bar.

Furthermore, this Court has concluded that the “proffered testimony

[was not] corroborated by circumstances indicating its trustworthiness. . . .

[and] none of the proffered evidence qualified for the statement against

interest exception.” (Harshman, 1644 MDA 2010, at 8) (internal quotation

marks omitted).

Accordingly, because Appellant has previously litigated this issue, we

conclude that the PCRA court properly precluded the proffered evidence.

See Davido, supra at *12. Appellant’s sixth issue lacks merit.

In his final issue, Appellant claims that he received ineffective

assistance of counsel for counsel’s failure to interview Mr. Granlun. (See

Appellant’s Brief at 36-41). Specifically, Appellant argues that counsel failed

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to “follow through on making sure he met with Mr. Granlun” when he was

informed that “all the jailhouse testimony was a lie and that there was an

undisclosed deal for [his] testimony.” (Id. at 36). We disagree.

It is well-settled that “[a] criminal defendant has the right to effective

counsel . . . during trial.” Commonwealth v. Rathfon, 899 A.2d 365, 369

(Pa. Super. 2006) (citation omitted). Counsel is presumed effective, and an

appellant bears the burden to prove otherwise. See Commonwealth v.

Bennett, 57 A.3d 1185, 1195 (Pa. 2012). A PCRA petitioner must

demonstrate that counsel’s performance was deficient and that such

deficiency prejudiced him. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,

687 (1984). Pennsylvania has further refined the Strickland test into a

three-prong inquiry. An appellant must demonstrate that: (1) his underlying

claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable strategic basis for

his action or inaction; and (3) the appellant suffered actual prejudice as a

result. See Commonwealth v. Pierce, 527 A.2d 973, 975 (Pa. 1987). A

failure to satisfy any prong of the ineffective assistance of counsel test will

require rejection of the claim. See Commonwealth v. Spotz, 84 A.3d 294,

311 (Pa. 2014). Moreover, deference is given to the PCRA court’s credibility

determination if supported by the record. See Spotz, supra at 312-13.

At Appellant’s PCRA hearing, his trial counsel testified that Mr. Dill

contacted him and “wanted to know if [he] could help Granlun. . . .

[because] Granlun was in over his head and didn’t really know what to do[.]”

(N.T. PCRA Hearing, 3/28/13, at 35). Counsel further stated that he “went

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to Franklin County Prison on July 7[, 2001,] which would have been a

Saturday, two days before trial[,] . . . [t]o try to talk to Granlun.” (Id.).

Trial counsel was unable to speak with Granlun but could not recall a reason.

(See id. at 36). However, counsel indicated that, at Appellant’s trial, he

cross-examined Granlun about conflicting statements he made to

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Nicolas Bloschichak in October 2000 and

Franklin County Detective Mark Christman in December 2000 related to his

trial testimony. (See id. at 36-38). Any reasonable basis for the course of

action selected proves effectiveness, not a hindsight evaluation to determine

the best strategic alternative. See Commonwealth v. Charleston, 94

A.3d 1012, 1027 (Pa. Super. 2014), appeal denied, __ A.3d __ (Pa. filed

Dec. 23, 2014).

Therefore, we conclude that the PCRA court properly found that

Appellant failed to meet his burden of pleading and proving all three prongs

of the Pierce test for ineffective assistance of counsel and his final issue

lacks merit.

Order affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded with

instructions. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 2/25/2015

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