Commonwealth v. Wareham
Commonwealth v. Wareham
Opinion of the Court
Appellant Frank Wareham was found guilty on two counts of two indictments alleging violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. The Act of April 14, 1972, P.L. 233, No. 64, § 13, as amended by Act of Oct. 26, 1972, P.L. 1048, No. 263, § 1, and Act of Dec. 30, 1974, P.L. 1041, No. 340, § 1, 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30). He brings this appeal alleging errors pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100 on each indictment. Because of an inadequate record, we are precluded from reaching the merits of the issues raised on either indictment number 5657 or 5659. Accordingly, we vacate the judgment of sentence on both counts and remand the case for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
As the lower court, per TREDINNICK, J., stated, “Procedurally, the Rule 1100 issue as finally, adjudicated in each case, came before the court in an unusual fashion.” Lower court opinion at 3. On October 2, 1975, two written complaints were filed against appellant charging him with violations of the Controlled Substance Act. Barring any extensions or exclusions, the Commonwealth was required to bring appellant to trial no later than March 30, 1976. Pa.R. Crim.P. 1100(a)(2).
First, we consider appellant’s appeal concerning indictment number 5657. Appellant asserts in his brief that on April 6, 1976, Judge TREDINNICK denied the Commonwealth’s petition to extend and dismissed the charges against him with prejudice. In its brief, the Commonwealth states that the Judge denied the petition to extend, but does not mention discharge of the appellant. In his May 28, 1976 order, Judge TREDINNICK referred to his decision of April 6, in which he “den[ied] the petition of the Commonwealth to extend time under Rule 1100, and dismissed] the charges against defendant, . . . .” In a written opinion filed on November 19, 1976, however, Judge TREDINNICK stated that on April 6, 1976, he denied the Commonwealth’s petition to extend; he did not speak to the issue of discharge.
Generally, we would be able to resolve this morass by referring to the record. Here, however, the record is so incomplete that it is of no help. The Commonwealth’s petition requesting an extension on indictment number 5657 is not a part of the record. Also missing is any response to the petition by appellant; we do not know if appellant
On remand, the court must determine what occurred in relation to the April 6 order. If the court denied the Commonwealth’s petition to extend and discharged appellant, appellant must be discharged on indictment number 5657. In such a situation, the discharge of appellant would have been a final order, and the Commonwealth’s only source of relief would have been to have taken a direct appeal to this Court or to have obtained an order granting reconsideration of the issue in the lower court within thirty days of the April 6 order. Commonwealth v. Andrews, 251 Pa.Super. 162, 164, 380 A.2d 428, 429 (1977); the Act of July 31, 1970, P.L. 673, No. 233, art. V, § 502, 17 P.S. § 211.502(a); Pa.R.A.P. 1701(b)(3). The Commonwealth took neither of these actions. Instead, it filed an untimely petition to reopen the hearing in its original extension motion. That petition could not extend the thirty day appeal period. Any such appeal would not be timely now and the proper disposition on number 5657 would be to discharge appellant.
A far different situation will be presented if, on remand, the court determines that on April 6, 1976, Judge TREDINNICK denied the Commonwealth’s petition to extend but did not dismiss appellant. In such a case, giving the Commonwealth the benefit of the doubt and excluding fifty days from the Rule 1100 computation, appellant should have been brought to trial no later than May 19. The Commonwealth did not move to reopen the hearing on its extension petition until May 27. Time for commencing trial on number 5657 had expired by the time trial began on May 28, 1976, and upon proper motion, appellant should have been discharged. Again, however, the record is incomplete.
The issue raised as to number 5659 is similarly complicated. The Commonwealth’s petition to extend was filed on March 16, 1976, and was granted on March 26, 1976.
Normally, we would hold that appellant has waived his right to contest the court ordered extension by his failure to appear at the hearing and contest the petition and we would affirm Judge TREDINNICK’S May 28 order on the basis of that waiver. Commonwealth v. Wallace, 475 Pa. 27, 379 A.2d 558 (1977); Commonwealth v. Lamonna, 473 Pa. 248, 373 A.2d 1355 (1977). Here, however, we are bothered by a totally inadequate record and we find this case to be distinguishable from other Rule 1100 waiver cases.
In Commonwealth v. Myrick, our Supreme Court discussed the proof needed to support a valid waiver of Rule 1100. 468 Pa. 155, 360 A.2d 598 (1976). The Court there
In Commonwealth v. Taylor, the Supreme Court held a Rule 1100 waiver to be valid, but in that case, unlike here, there was an indication that defense counsel had been served with the Commonwealth’s petition to extend and written notice of the scheduled hearing. 473 Pa. 400, 374 A.2d 1274 (1977). Furthermore, although neither the defendant nor his counsel appeared at the appointed time, the Court conducted an ex parte hearing at which the Commonwealth presented evidence in support of its motion to extend. In finding waiver, the Court said
A defendant who is represented by legal counsel cannot be heard to complain of a Rule 1100(c) extension order where his lawyer has had adequate notice of the Commonwealth’s timely filed application, . . . and of the intended presentation thereof to the court and does not appear at the time and place of hearing or otherwise communicate with the trial court either to oppose the extension or to request a reasonable continuance of the hearing for good cause shown. [Footnotes omitted.]
Id., 473 Pa. at 404, 374 A.2d at 1276.
Finally, this Court found that the defendant in Commonwealth v. Burton waived the right to challenge a Rule 1100 extension on appeal where the defendant, at the hearing, offered no evidence or argument against the Commonwealth’s petition to extend and filed no Rule 1100(f) petition to discharge. 246 Pa. Super. 498, 371 A.2d 946 (1977).
In the case before us, neither appellant nor his counsel appeared in court to challenge the Commonwealth’s petition on the day it was heard. We have no indication on the
We recognize that if appellant is found to have had notice of the petition to extend and an opportunity to contest the petition at the hearing, he will have waived his right to challenge the hearing procedure or the court’s order. Nevertheless, we indicated in the past the desirability of having Rule 1100 proceedings transcribed and placed on the record. Commonwealth v. Gibson, 248 Pa.Super. 348, 375 A.2d 132 (1977); Commonwealth v. Tome, 248 Pa.Super. 242, 244, 375 A.2d 78 (1977). Full and complete records of all proceedings will not only protect the rights of the criminally accused but will assure meaningful review without delay by the appellate courts. This procedure is no less, but probably more, necessary in ex parte proceedings where, for one reason or another, the defendant is not present.
As to indictment number 5659, therefore, we vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for a determination of whether appellant or his counsel had adequate notice of the Commonwealth’s March 16, 1976 petition to extend the subsequent hearing.
Judgment of sentence on both counts vacated and case remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
. There is wide disagreement between the parties concerning days to be excluded from the computation of the 180 day period. The Commonwealth contends that due to the unavailability of appellant between October 2 and November 21, the period should be extended by 50 days. Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100(d)(1). The appellant argues that because of the Commonwealth’s lack of due diligence in locating him, the Commonwealth is entitled to an extension of two days, at most. Because of our disposition of this case, we need not resolve this dispute.
. Appellant then waived his right to trial by jury. He was found guilty, on June 1, 1976 by Judge TREDINNICK, of two violations of the Controlled Substance Act and was sentenced to two concurrent prison terms of one year to three years.
. On April 27, 1976, appellant filed a petition to vacate the extension granted on March 26, 1976 and to dismiss indictment number 5659. The petition was denied and trial commenced on May 28, 1976.
. The Commonwealth asserts in its brief, for the first time, that appellant did have notice, but refers to nothing in the record- as evidencing such notice.
. On this issue our inquiry stops with the March 26, 1976 order of the court and we do not address the May 28, 1976 order. If appellant is found to have waived the right to challenge the March 26, 1976 order, we would affirm the May 28 order on that basis. If appellant did not waive the right to challenge the order and upon rehearing the petition is granted, that order will be the appropriate one for review
Concurring Opinion
concurring:
I concur with the majority’s disposition of this case as to indictment number 5657. I wish to comment, however, that if the appellant filed a written petition to dismiss before trial began on May 28 or if he opposed the Commonwealth’s motion to reopen the hearing on its extension petition, then he preserved his ability to claim that his Rule 1100 right to a speedy trial was violated. See Commonwealth v. Coleman, 477 Pa. 400, 383 A.2d 1268 (1978). In such event, the appellant’s claim should have been granted.
As to indictment 5659, I would remand this case to the court below to ascertain whether the initial hearing conformed with the above-stated requirements of Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100(c). If the court below determines that the appellant or his counsel was adequately notified of the Commonwealth’s March 16, 1976 petition to extend, but failed to contest that petition, the judgment of sentence shall be reinstated. If the initial hearing was improperly conducted, then the appellant must be discharged because the mandatory period has expired.
. My examination of the record reveals that the question of notice may not have been properly preserved. If this is so, then the appellant is precluded from gaining relief on that ground.'
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Frank WAREHAM, Appellant
- Cited By
- 15 cases
- Status
- Published