Com. v. Baynes, F. ( 2021 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
FREDERICK BAYNES :
:
Appellant : No. 2941 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered August 1, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0005432-2018
BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and McLAUGHLIN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: Filed: May 13, 2021
Frederick Baynes appeals from his August 1, 2019 judgment of sentence
of eight and one-half to seventeen years of incarceration followed by three
years of probation, which was imposed after he was convicted of aggravated
assault and possession of an instrument of crime (“PIC”). We affirm.
The facts giving rise to Appellant’s conviction were summarized by the
trial court:
On the morning of June 4, 2018, the Complainant (Celestine
Braaf) arrived at her work office located at 22nd Street and Toronto
Street in the City of Philadelphia, where she was surprised to find
the Appellant sitting on the steps outside of the office. The
Complainant and the Appellant had known each other since they
were children and had dated for approximately [three] months
before ending their relationship three days prior to the incident.
The Complainant stated that the relationship ended cordially, and
she had no reason to suspect ill will from the Appellant.
The Appellant told the Complainant that he needed to print
some documents for his therapy sessions and asked to use her
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work computer. The Complainant permitted the Appellant to enter
the office. Once inside, the Complainant sat at her desk with her
back to the Appellant as he began to print his documents.
Approximately [twenty] to thirty minutes later, the Appellant
approached the Complainant from behind and began striking her
multiple times in the head with a hammer he had taken into the
building.
In a state of shock, the Complainant raised her hands to
protect her head. As blood poured from her wounds, she
screamed, “What are you doing?” and “Stop!” Apart from the
Appellant, the Complainant was the only person in the office. The
Complainant then retreated under her desk, as the Appellant
yelled “Come in the back, stop screaming . . . I’m going to kill.”
Even though both of her hands had been injured when the
Appellant struck them with the hammer, she came from under the
desk to better defend herself. As she emerged, the Appellant
continued to yell “I’m going to kill . . . You’re going to die today
. . . Do you want that n---er?” When the Appellant tried to strike
her again, the Complainant grabbed the hammer until she ran
outside.
The Complainant tried to enter a nearby masjid before
running to a neighbor’s house. After she kicked the door, an
occupant in the house called the police. The police later took the
Complainant’s statement and had her transported to Temple
University Hospital. She was treated at the hospital for a frontal
skull and left ring-finger fractures, multiple lacerations on
her head, and two right-hand metacarpal fractures.
Trial Court Opinion, 6/11/20, at 3-4 (footnotes omitted and emphases in
original).
Following a January 16, 2019 jury trial, Appellant was convicted of the
aforementioned offenses. He was sentenced on August 1, 2019, and he filed
a timely post-sentence motion. The trial court denied the motion on
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September 27, 2019, and Appellant filed a timely appeal.1 Appellant and the
trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925, and the matter is ripe for our review.
Appellant presents three issues:
1. Was not the evidence insufficient for guilt on all charges, insofar
as the evidence of guilt was so unreliable and contradictory as to
make any verdict based upon it a matter of conjecture?
2. Was not the evidence insufficient for guilt on the charge of
aggravated assault, causing serious bodily injury insofar as
serious bodily injury was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt
and the jury was not charged on aggravated assault -- attempts
to cause serious bodily injury?
3. Did not the lower court abuse its discretion in sentencing
[A]ppellant where it failed to take into account the overwhelming
evidence of severe sexual and physical trauma suffered by
appellant and otherwise failed to sentence in accordance with the
dictates of 42 Pa. C. S. § 9721(b)?
Appellant’s brief at 4.
Appellant maintains that this is one of the rare instances where witness
testimony is so contradictory as to be unreliable and incapable of supporting
a finding of guilt. See Appellant’s brief at 21 (citing Commonwealth v.
Karkaria, 625 A.2d 1167, 1170 (Pa. 1993)). He contends that here, as in
Karkaria, there is no meaningful corroboration whatsoever from physical
evidence or other witness testimony, and that the only evidence of guilt comes
from the statements and testimony of Complainant. Id. at 26.
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1 Appellant filed a notice of appeal while the post-sentence motion was
pending. We treat such premature notices of appeal as having been filed after
the denial of the post-sentence motion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 905(a)(5). See
Commonwealth v. Cooper, 27 A.3d 994, 1008 (Pa. 2011).
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Appellant’s claim is presented as a challenge to the sufficiency of the
evidence.
As a general matter, our standard of review of sufficiency claims
requires that we evaluate the record in the light most favorable to
the verdict winner giving the prosecution the benefit of all
reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Evidence
will be deemed sufficient to support the verdict when it establishes
each material element of the crime charged and the commission
thereof by the accused, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nevertheless, the Commonwealth need not establish guilt to a
mathematical certainty. Any doubt about the defendant’s guilt is
to be resolved by the fact finder unless the evidence is so weak
and inconclusive that, as a matter of law, no probability of fact
can be drawn from the combined circumstances.
The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by means of wholly
circumstantial evidence. Accordingly, [t]he fact that the evidence
establishing a defendant’s participation in a crime is circumstantial
does not preclude a conviction where the evidence coupled with
the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom overcomes the
presumption of innocence. Significantly, we may not substitute
our judgment for that of the fact finder; thus, so long as the
evidence adduced, accepted in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, demonstrates the respective elements of a
defendant’s crimes beyond a reasonable doubt, the appellant’s
convictions will be upheld.
Commonwealth v. Sebolka, 205 A.3d 329, 336-37 (Pa.Super. 2019).
Preliminarily, certain principles inform our review. “[A] review of the
sufficiency of the evidence does not include an assessment of the credibility
of the testimony; such a claim goes to the weight of the evidence.”2
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2 Appellant filed a post-sentence motion in which he alleged that the verdict
was against the weight of the evidence. In that motion, he argued that, due
to inconsistencies between the witnesses’ testimony and the video, the verdict
shocked the conscience. Appellant did not, however, preserve a weight
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Commonwealth v. Gibbs, 981 A.2d 274, 281-82 (Pa.Super. 2009).
Furthermore, the uncorroborated testimony of the victim alone is legally
sufficient to support a verdict if the fact finder believes it. See
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 180 A.3d 474, 479 (Pa.Super. 2018).
The certified record belies Appellant’s contention that the
Commonwealth’s evidence is so contradictory as to be unreliable and
incapable of supporting a finding of guilt. Complainant testified that Appellant
hit her eight to fourteen times with the hammer. Video surveillance confirms
that Appellant was present with Complainant when the attack occurred. The
nature of her injuries, i.e., a fractured skull, fractured hands and finger, are
consistent with her account of the assault and the medical records. Appellant’s
claim that, “[h]ere, as in Karkaria, there is no meaningful corroboration
whatsoever from physical evidence or other witness testimony - the only
evidence of guilt comes from the statements and testimony of Ms. Braaf[,]” is
refuted by the record. Appellant’s brief at 26. Moreover, the inconsistencies
alleged by Appellant are either not supported by record, explained away by
the testimony, or irrelevant to the nature of the attack on Complainant. No
relief is due on this claim.
Nor do we find any merit in Appellant’s contention that the
Commonwealth failed to establish that Complainant sustained the serious
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challenge in his statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).
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bodily injury required for a conviction of aggravated assault. He asserts that
“several cuts on the head that were sutured, a frontal skull fracture which
caused no loss of consciousness, no underlying contusions and no
hemorrhage[,]” a broken ring finger on her left hand that did not heal
properly, and two metacarpal fractures on her right hand, do not rise to the
level of serious bodily injury. Appellant’s brief at 27. According to Appellant,
the injuries did not create “a substantial risk of death” or cause “serious,
permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of
any bodily member or organ.” Id. (quoting 18 Pa.C.S. § 2301 (defining
serious bodily injury)). He argues that while she may have suffered an
impairment of the function of her ring finger, it was determined in the civil
case of Long v. Mejia, 896 A.2d 596, 600 (Pa.Super. 2006), that a broken
finger was not a serious impairment to those who were not violinists or
neurosurgeons. He contrasts cases where serious bodily injury was found.
Id. at 29. See e.g. Commonwealth v. Nichols, 692 A.2d 181, 184
(Pa.Super. 1997) (jaw wired shut for six weeks was serious bodily injury);
Commonwealth v. Cassidy, 668 A.2d 1143, 1145 (Pa.Super. 1995) (serious
bodily injury where victim faded in and out of consciousness and had to wear
a body brace for two months).
Appellant finds the instant case analogous on its facts with
Commonwealth v. Cavanaugh, 420 A.2d 674 (Pa.Super. 1980), where this
Court found only an attempt to cause serious bodily injury although the victim
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had been repeatedly struck on the head with a tire iron, nine sutures were
required to close the wounds, and the victim needed surgery to repair a
fractured orbital socket. See also Commonwealth v. Aycock, 470 A.2d 130(Pa.Super. 1983) (finding no serious injury where victim struck on the head
with an eighteen-inch piece of steel and required twenty-seven sutures).
Nor, according to Appellant, can the conviction be sustained based on
proof of an attempt to cause serious bodily injury. While Appellant seems to
concede that the evidence would support conviction under that theory, he
maintains that he was not charged in the criminal information with aggravated
assault for the attempt to cause serious bodily injury. Furthermore, he cites
Commonwealth v. Kopp, 591 A.2d 1122, 1127 (Pa.Super. 1991), for the
proposition that since the trial court did not instruct the jury on attempting to
cause serious bodily injury, that claim cannot support the aggravated assault
conviction.
The Commonwealth counters that, by asking this Court to discount the
severity of Complainant’s injuries, Appellant is requesting that we view the
evidence in his favor, contrary to our standard of review. Furthermore, the
Commonwealth contends that the record contains evidence of serious bodily
injury. At the time of trial, more than seven months after the attack,
Complainant had a visible dent and scars on her head, suffered from
headaches, and could not move her right ring finger. See Commonwealth’s
brief at 12. Moreover, the Commonwealth points out that Appellant was
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charged in the criminal information with aggravated assault – attempting to
cause or causing serious bodily injury. While the trial court did not instruct
the jury on the attempt provision of the subsection, the Commonwealth
argues that the record supports conviction of aggravated assault on such a
theory, and that we may affirm on this basis. Specifically, the Commonwealth
highlights the evidence that Appellant repeatedly struck Complainant’s head
with hammer, a deadly weapon, fracturing her skull.3 When she raised her
hands in defense, he continued to strike them with the hammer while uttering
threats to kill her, fracturing her hands and finger. See Commonwealth’s brief
at 9-10.
Our review of the record confirms that Appellant was charged in the
criminal information with aggravated assault pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.
§ 2702(a)(1), which includes both attempting to cause serious bodily injury
or causing serious bodily injury. See Criminal Information, 8/1/18, at 1.
Appellant’s claim to the contrary is mistaken. Aggravated assault pursuant to
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3 A “deadly weapon” is defined as
Any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or any device designed
as a weapon and capable of producing death or serious bodily
injury, or any other device or instrumentality which, in the manner
in which it is used or intended to be used, is calculated or likely to
produce death or serious bodily injury.
18 Pa.C.S. § 2301. Our Supreme Court has noted that “[a]n ax, a baseball
bat, an iron bar, a heavy cuspidor, and even a bedroom slipper have been
held to constitute deadly weapons under varying circumstances.”
Commonwealth McCullum, 602 A.2d 313 (Pa. 1992).
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§ 2702(a)(1), is committed either when one “attempts to cause serious bodily
injury” or “causes such injury intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly under
circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life[.]”
18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1). "A person commits an attempt when, with intent to
commit a specific crime, he does any act which constitutes a substantial step
toward the commission of that crime." 18 Pa.C.S. § 901(a). As we reaffirmed
in Commonwealth v. Fortune, 68 A.3d 980, 985 (Pa.Super. 2013) (en
banc), “an attempt under subsection 2702(a)(1) requires some act, albeit not
one causing serious bodily injury, accompanied by an intent to inflict serious
bodily injury.” (quoting Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A.2d 1254 (Pa.
2006). The specific intent to cause serious bodily injury can be inferred from
the use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of the body such as the head. See
Commonwealth v. Nichols, 692 A.2d 181, 184 (Pa.Super. 1997); see also
Commonwealth v. Pandolfo, 446 A.2d 939, 941 (Pa.Super. 1982) (holding
blows to a portion of the body as vital as the head exhibited intent to inflict
serious bodily injury).
Serious bodily injury is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2301, as “[b]odily injury
which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent
disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily
member or organ.” When the victim suffers serious bodily injury, the
Commonwealth need not prove specific intent for aggravated assault.
Commonwealth v. Palmer, 192 A.3d 85, 103 (Pa.Super. 2018). The
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Commonwealth must only prove the defendant acted recklessly under
circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life.
See Commonwealth v. Patrick, 933 A.2d 1043, 1046 (Pa.Super. 2007) (en
banc).
Herein, the trial court instructed the jury only on aggravated assault
based on “serious bodily injury,” and the jury found Appellant guilty of that
offense. There is no indication in the certified record that the trial court
refused to charge the jury in accordance with “attempts to cause serious
bodily injury” language or that such a charge was not warranted. It appears
to have been an inadvertent omission.4 Nonetheless, we find the record
supports the jury’s finding that Complainant sustained serious bodily injury.
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4 Commonwealth v. Kopp, 591 A.2d 1122, 1127 (Pa.Super. 1991), offers
no support for Appellant’s contention that since the trial court did not instruct
the jury on attempting to cause serious bodily injury, that theory cannot
support the aggravated assault conviction herein. In Kopp, although the
Commonwealth charged the appellant in the criminal indictment with
aggravated assault under § 2702(a)(1), (2), (3), and (4), it subsequently filed
a bill of particulars in which it stated that it intended to prosecute the appellant
for aggravated assault under only “18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(3) and (4).” At
trial, the Commonwealth introduced testimony from the injured police officer’s
treating physician that the officer suffered “serious bodily injury,” but failed to
offer evidence establishing guilt under subsections 2702(a)(3) or (4). At the
close of the Commonwealth’s case, the defense demurred. The
Commonwealth responded by stating its belief that the assault fell within
§ 2702(a)(1) and (2), and the trial court charged the jury under those
subsections even though they had not been listed in the bill of particulars.
This Court reversed, holding that permitting the Commonwealth to proceed
beyond the scope of the bill of particulars substantively changed the elements
and grade of the offense, and rendered the purpose and function of the bill of
particulars meaningless. Nothing in the certified record in the instant case
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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The medical records introduced into evidence confirm that Complainant
suffered a fractured skull for which she spent at least three nights in the
hospital’s intensive care unit (“ICU”). See Exhibit C7 and D3. The jury could
reasonably infer from this fact alone that the head injury presented a
substantial risk of death or permanent injury. Furthermore, she suffered
permanent disfigurement in the form of a dent and scarring on her head from
the impact of the hammer and the staples used to close the wounds. Finally,
she has permanently lost the use of her right ring finger and remains
debilitated by headaches. The evidence was legally sufficient to support the
jury’s verdict, and no relief is due on this claim.
Appellant’s final issue is a challenge to discretionary aspects of his
sentence. He alleges that “[t]he sentencing court here neither addressed
societal concerns or [A]ppellant’s rehabilitative needs[,]” and that the
sentence imposed “is contrary to the fundamental norms underlying the
sentencing process, violated the sentencing code and is manifestly
unreasonable and excessive.” Appellant’s brief at 34.
The law is well settled that an appellant is not entitled to review of a
discretionary sentencing claim as of right. See Commonwealth v. Moury,
992 A.2d 162, 170 (Pa.Super. 2010). Before we may reach the merits of such
an issue, we conduct a four-part analysis to determine:
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suggests an analogous representation by the Commonwealth that it was
foregoing an attempt conviction.
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1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, see
Pa.R.A.P. 902 and 903; (2) whether the issue was properly
preserved at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and
modify sentence, see Pa.R.Crim.P. 720; (3) whether
appellant’s brief has a fatal defect, see Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and
(4) whether there is a substantial question that the sentence
appealed from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code,
see 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(b).
Id. at 170 (citation omitted).
In the case before us, Appellant filed a timely appeal, a post-sentence
motion raising the issue, and included a statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
2119(f) in his appellate brief. Thus, he has met the technical requirements
for review of a discretionary sentencing claim. The only remaining question
is whether Appellant has made a colorable argument that his sentence is either
inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code or contrary to
the fundamental norms governing sentencing. See Commonwealth v.
Diehl, 140 A.3d 34, 44-45 (Pa.Super. 2016).
Appellant maintains that his claim that the trial court imposed a
sentence grossly disproportionate to his crimes without considering his
background, a relevant sentencing factor under 42 Pa.C.S. §9721(b), presents
a substantial question. The sentencing court’s failure to address all relevant
sentencing criteria presents a plausible argument that the sentence is
“contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing process.”
Appellant’s brief at 18-19 (citing Commonwealth v. Parlante, 823 A.2d 927,
928 (Pa.Super. 2003) and Commonwealth v. Mouzon, 812 A.2d 617, 622
(Pa. 2002)). Since we have previously concluded that such claims present a
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substantial question, we find Appellant is entitled to review.
See Commonwealth v. Derry, 150 A.3d 987, 994-95 (Pa. Super. 2016)
(holding claim that a VOP sentencing court failed to consider the factors under
42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b) raised a substantial question). See also
Commonwealth v. Coulverson, 34 A.3d 135, 143 (Pa.Super. 2011) (claim
of excessiveness coupled with averments that the trial court deviated from
sentencing norms raise a substantial question); Commonwealth v. Perry,
883 A.2d 599, 602 (Pa.Super. 2005) (same).
We conduct our review mindful that “[s]entencing is a matter vested in
the sound discretion of the sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be
disturbed on appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth
v. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 760 (Pa.Super. 2014). Moreover, this Court may
only vacate a sentence that is within the guidelines if the sentencing court
applied the guidelines erroneously or the application of the guidelines was
clearly unreasonable. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(c).
The substance of Appellant’s claim is that the court failed to address on
the record societal concerns or Appellant’s rehabilitative needs. He contends
that this was a violation of the Sentencing Code and resulted in a sentence
that is “manifestly unreasonable and excessive.” Appellant’s brief at 34.
Appellant complains that the sentencing court gave “very short shrift to the
overwhelming evidence of severe sexual and physical trauma suffered by
[A]ppellant and his rehabilitative needs arising therefrom.” Id. at 35. He
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maintains that if the court had taken these facts and his rehabilitative needs
into consideration, it would have sentenced him in the mitigated range, i.e.,
below the standard range minimum of eight and one-half years. Id.
Appellant acknowledges that such facts were presented to the trial
court, and that the court stated that it considered them. However, since the
court did not specifically repeat on the record the specifics of the sexual abuse
suffered by Appellant, he argues that the court did not set forth adequate
reasons for not imposing a sentence in the mitigated range.
We note preliminarily that there is no requirement that the sentencing
court state on the record every fact that it considered in reaching its decision.
The trial court stated prior to imposing sentence that it had reviewed the
presentence investigation. See N.T. Sentencing, 8/1/19, at 47. Where the
sentencing court has the benefit of a presentence investigation report, “we
presume that the court properly considered and weighed all relevant factors
in fashioning the defendant’s sentence.” Commonwealth v. Baker, 72 A.3d
652, 663 (Pa.Super. 2013).
Furthermore, the court stated on the record that Appellant’s prior record
score was that of a repeat felony offender, and that the offense gravity score
(“OGS”) for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury was eleven. It
recited the sentencing guidelines for aggravated assault, with and without the
deadly weapon enhancement, and for PIC. The Commonwealth urged the
Court to impose a sentence of ten to twenty years of imprisonment.
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The defense submitted Exhibit D1, a mitigation package, Exhibit D2, the
mental health evaluation, and Exhibit D3, the presentence investigation
report. The defense also elicited testimony from the social worker who had
prepared the mitigation package, Kate Rowland. She described Appellant’s
history of sexual abuse, suicide attempts, and a mental health diagnosis of
bipolar one disorder, which includes mania and depressive phases,
schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder
(“PTSD”). N.T. Sentencing, 8/1/19, at 26. Ms. Rowland testified that
Appellant had tried to hang himself in his cell on the day he was arrested for
these crimes.
Defense counsel pointed out that despite his mental health issues,
Appellant was able to maintain steady employment and get his GED. He
functioned well when he was on his medications. Counsel clarified that
Appellant’s earlier conviction had been for bank robbery, not armed robbery,
as he did not have a weapon. The defense requested a mitigated range
sentence of six to twelve years of imprisonment.
The Commonwealth countered the defense’s mitigation request with
argument that the assault was premeditated. Counsel for the Commonwealth
reminded the court that Appellant brought a hammer, waited for his victim for
twenty minutes, and bludgeoned her multiple times with the hammer.
Appellant’s words uttered at the time indicated that he was angry that she
had moved on to a relationship with another man.
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Appellant exercised his right of allocution and expressed remorse for his
conduct. The court stated that it had already reviewed the victim impact
statement, the presentence report and addenda, and took a recess to consider
all information presented at the hearing that day, including the mental health
report. Upon return, the court imposed a sentence of eight and one-half to
seventeen years of imprisonment on the aggravated assault charge, followed
by three years of probation on the PIC charge. Id. at 47. The court ordered
Appellant to pay court costs and fines, awarded him credit for time served,
and ordered another mental health evaluation to ensure that Appellant receive
proper treatment and therapy while in custody. Id. at 48.
Thus, the certified record refutes any notion that the sentencing court
failed to take into consideration Appellant’s mitigation evidence or his
rehabilitative needs. In addition to reviewing the contents of a presentence
investigation report and considering the severity of the victim’s injuries, the
court heard testimony about Appellant’s mental health diagnoses, history of
sexual abuse, and his rehabilitative needs. The sentence imposed for
aggravated assault fell at the low end of the standard range under the
guidelines. We find no abuse of discretion.
Judgment affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 5/13/21
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