Commonwealth v. Smith
Commonwealth v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
Gerald L. Smith, appellant herein, was convicted at a jury trial of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at more than $200.00 but less than $2,000.00. The jury verdict was rendered December 17, 1981 in a trial before the Honorable D. Richard Eckman with Robert D. Bacher, Esquire, Assistant Public Defender representing Gerald L. Smith. On March 17, 1982, Judge Eckman sentenced Smith to a term of imprisonment for not less than two and one-half (272) nor more than five (5) years. At sentencing Smith again was represented by Mr. Bacher. No appeal was taken.
Thereafter, Smith filed a petition under the Post Conviction Hearing Act
We reverse and remand. Jurisdiction is relinquished.
In Commonwealth v. Box, 305 Pa.Super. 81, 451 A.2d 252 (1982), we said:
The right to an evidentiary hearing on a PCHA petition is not absolute. Commonwealth v. Cimaszewski, 234 Pa.Super. 299, 339 A.2d 95 (1975). A hearing may be denied if petitioner’s claim is patently frivolous and is without a trace of support either in the record or from other evidence. 19 P.S. § 1180-9. A PCHA petition may not be summarily dismissed, however, as “patently frivolous” when the facts alleged in the petition, if proven, would entitle petitioner to relief. Commonwealth v. Sherard, 483 Pa. 183, 394 A.2d 971 (1978).
Id., 305 Pa.Superior Ct. at 84, 451 A.2d at 253.
In his pro se post conviction hearing act petition, appellant alleged various grounds including:
1. There was insufficient evidence to arrest him.
2. Ineffectiveness of counsel in failing to file motions and in failing to take adequate time to prepare defendant’s case.
3. An allegation that defendant’s trial lawyer advised him that if he would drop his appeal he would get “time served.”
We have concluded that by the standards set forth in Sherard, supra, appellant’s claims are not “patently frivolous.” Therefore, we will remand for an evidentiary hearing on appellant’s petition and since the trial record and sentencing record are now available we will further direct that appellate counsel file an amended PCHA petition on
Case remanded for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. Jurisdiction is relinquished.
. 42 Pa.C.S.A., §§ 9541-9551, Act of May 13, 1982, P.L. 417, No. 122, § 2.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.