Commonwealth v. McKinney

FORD ELLIOTT, J.:

¶ 1 George McKinney, Jr. appeals from the July 28, 1999 order that dismissed his first petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.

¶ 2 Following a three-day jury trial, appellant was convicted of arson and related charges on November 12, 1998. Before sentencing, appellant obtained new counsel. 1 On March 8, 1999, appellant was sentenced to a two to nine-year aggregate term of imprisonment. Appellant filed a direct appeal to this court, but subsequently discontinued the appeal on May 11, 1999.

¶ 3 Meanwhile, on April…