Com. v. Scanlon, J. ( 2022 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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. :
:
:
JESSICA SCANLON :
:
Appellant : No. 619 EDA 2021
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered February 25, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division
at CP-51-CR-0001098-2019, MC-51-CR-0032480-2018
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., MURRAY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 11, 2022
Jessica Scanlon (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed after the trial court convicted her of terroristic threats and simple
assault.1 We affirm.
The trial court recited the underlying facts as follows:
On December 15, 2018, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Mr.
Kieran Conway [(Conway)] was walking south on 27th Street
toward Oakford Street, in Philadelphia, when he noticed that
Appellant, who was sitting in the passenger seat of a moving car,
was staring at him. He knew Appellant because she previously
had been his father’s tenant.
After he recognized Appellant, Conway observed her
speaking to the driver of the car [(the driver)] as [Appellant]
pointed at Conway. Conway then heard Appellant state, “‘F’ that
motherfucker right there; that’s his punk ass; I told you not to
fuck with North Philly; I told you I was going to have North Philly
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2706(a)(1), 2701(a).
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come fuck you up,” which Conway took as a direct threat. After
hearing what Appellant said, Conway continued walking down the
street and, as he did so, the driver of the car containing Appellant
continued down the street keeping pace with Conway, who picked
up his pace to a trot because he feared for his safety.
When Conway reached the corner, he crossed the street and
went into a store because he knew that the store had video
cameras inside and felt he would be safer there than out on the
street. As soon as Conway entered the store, he heard the door
to the establishment open at which time he took out his cell phone
to record what thereafter might occur because he did not know if
the cameras in the store were working. Conway then raised the
phone toward the person who entered the store to commence
recording. Conway identified this person as the driver of the car
Appellant was riding in. The driver … then slapped Conway’s
phone away from him, then picked up the phone, and would not
return it. The driver also began cursing at Conway and also
threatened to beat him up “North Philly style.”
At some point, Conway noticed that the driver had activated
his (Conway’s) phone, which was not password protected, and
was heading for the store’s exit. When Conway attempted to stop
the driver from leaving with his phone, he and the driver began
struggling. Conway eventually gained possession of his phone
and when he did, he backed away from the driver. The driver
then threw a few punches at Conway and also kicked him as [the
driver] tried to get past Conway and out of the store. During the
incident, Conway suffered some scratches and a fat lip. In
addition, the screen protector on his phone was broken and his
shirt was ripped. Finally, Conway testified that Appellant
remained in the car at all times.
Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/21, at 2-3 (citations to notes of testimony omitted).
As a result of the incident between the driver and Conway, the
Commonwealth charged Appellant with terroristic threats and simple assault,
as well as robbery, criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, and
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recklessly endangering another person.2 On January 23, 2020, the trial court
presided at Appellant’s non-jury trial, where Conway was the only witness.
The court found Appellant guilty of terroristic threats and simple assault, and
acquitted her of the remaining offenses.
On February 25, 2021, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an
aggregate 3 years of probation. Appellant did not file post-sentence motions.
On March 26, 2021, Appellant filed a pro se notice of appeal.
Preliminarily, we note that Appellant’s pro se notice of appeal is
defective, as it states an incorrect date of the order appealed from. See
Pa.R.A.P. 904(d) (“The notice of appeal shall include a statement that the
order appealed from has been entered on the docket.”); Commonwealth v.
Martin, 462 A.2d 859, 860 (Pa. Super. 1983) (overruled on other grounds)
(“It is implicit in … [Rule] 904, which governs the content of the notice of
appeal, that the correct date of the order appealed should be included in the
notice of appeal.”). Appellant purported to appeal from an order allegedly
entered on the same date as the notice of appeal, i.e., March 26, 2021.3 The
trial court, however, construed the notice of appeal — which included the
relevant docket number — as pertaining to Appellant’s judgment of sentence.
See Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/21, at 1 (“Appellant filed a timely pro se notice
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2 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3701(a)(1)(iv), 903, 3921(a), 3925(a), 2705.
3 The trial court docket does not reflect that any order was entered that day.
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of appeal from the judgment of sentence”); see also Pa.R.A.P. 903(a) (30-
day appeal period).
On April 21, 2021, this Court issued a rule to show cause as to why the
appeal should not be quashed based on the defective notice of appeal. In
response, Appellant’s counsel (who was appointed after Appellant filed the pro
se notice), clarified that the appeal is from the February 25, 2021 judgment
of sentence. On May 27, 2021, we discharged the rule to show cause and
referred the issue to this merits panel. Upon review, we decline to quash.
See Martin, 462 A.2d at 860 (we may disregard an appellant’s failure to
satisfy Pa.R.A.P. 904(d), supra); see also Pa.R.A.P. 105 (“These rules shall
be liberally construed to secure the just … determination of every matter”);
Commonwealth v. Ware, 2022 WL 17202 (Pa. Super. 2022) (unpublished
memorandum at n.1) (citing Martin and declining to quash in similar
circumstances). We have amended the caption accordingly.
On June 24, 2021, Appellant timely filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b) statement, and the trial court subsequently issued an opinion.
On appeal, Appellant presents two issues for review:
1. [Whether t]he evidence presented by the Commonwealth at
trial was insufficient to convict [Appellant] of the crime of
terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another in
violation of 18 Pa.C.S.A. Section 2706(A)(1) because, in
substantial part, that evidence was presented against the
driver of the vehicle that the Appellant was a passenger in, not
against the Appellant[?]
2. [Whether t]he evidence presented by the Commonwealth at
trial was insufficient to convict [Appellant] of the crime of
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simple assault in violation of 18 Pa.C.S.A. Section 2701(A)
because, in substantial part, that evidence was presented
against the driver of the vehicle that the Appellant was a
passenger in, not the Appellant[?]
Appellant’s Brief at 3-4.
Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting her
respective convictions. We address Appellant’s issues together, mindful of our
standard of review:
The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence
is whether viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light
most favorable to the verdict winner, there is sufficient evidence
to enable the fact-finder to find every element of the crime beyond
a reasonable doubt. In applying the above test, we may not weigh
the evidence and substitute our judgment for the fact-finder. In
addition, we note that the facts and circumstances established by
the Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of
innocence. Any doubts regarding a defendant’s guilt may be
resolved by the fact-finder unless the evidence is so weak and
inconclusive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be
drawn from the combined circumstances. The Commonwealth
may sustain its burden of proof or proving every element of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly
circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in applying the above test,
the entire record must be evaluated and all the evidence actually
received must be considered. Finally, the trier-of-fact while
passing upon the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the
evidence produced, is free to believe all, part or none of the
evidence.
Commonwealth v. Widger, 237 A.3d 1151, 1156 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citation
omitted).
We first address whether Appellant preserved her sufficiency claims. To
“preserve a sufficiency claim, the Rule 1925(b) statement must specify the
element or elements upon which the evidence was insufficient.” Id.; see also
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Commonwealth v. Cannon, 954 A.2d 1222, 1228 (Pa. Super. 2008) (“When
the appellant provides a [Rule 1925(b)] statement which is too vague to allow
the trial court an opportunity to identify the issues raised on appeal, he/she
has provided the functional equivalent of no Concise Statement at all.”
(citation omitted)). If the appellant does not specify such elements, the
sufficiency claim is waived. Commonwealth v. Roche, 153 A.3d 1063, 1072
(Pa. Super. 2017); Commonwealth v. Gibbs, 981 A.2d 274, 281 (Pa. Super.
2009).
Appellant, in her Rule 1925(b) statement, raised only vague challenges
to the sufficiency of the evidence which failed to specify the element or
elements alleged to be unsupported by sufficient evidence. Based upon this
deficiency, the trial court determined that Appellant waived her sufficiency
claims. See Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/21, at 5. Upon review, we agree. See
Roche, 153 A.3d at 1072.
However, waiver notwithstanding, we would find Appellant’s sufficiency
challenges lack merit.
Appellant contends her conviction for terroristic threats cannot stand,
as she “merely directed words in the direction[] of the Victim, Mr. Conway, at
worst. [Appellant] may have even been stating those words to the driver by
means of conversation, albeit unpleasant conversation.” Appellant’s Brief at
13.
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The Crimes Code provides that a person commits terroristic threats, in
relevant part, “if the person communicates, either directly or indirectly, a
threat to … commit any crime of violence with intent to terrorize another[.]”
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2706(a)(1). Accordingly, to sustain a charge of terroristic
threats:
The Commonwealth must prove that 1) the defendant made a
threat to commit a crime of violence, and 2) the threat was
communicated with the intent to terrorize another or with reckless
disregard for the risk of causing terror. The harm sought to be
avoided is the psychological distress that follows an invasion of
the victim’s sense of personal security. Consequently, neither the
defendant’s ability to carry out the threat nor the victim’s belief
that it will be carried out is an essential element of the crime.
Commonwealth v. Jackson, 215 A.3d 972, 981 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citations
omitted). “In reviewing a statement alleged to be a terroristic threat, we do
not look at the statement in a vacuum. Instead, we must look at it in light of
the surrounding circumstances.” Commonwealth v. Anneski, 525 A.2d
373, 376 (Pa. Super. 1987).
Here, the trial court explained:
[T]he evidence presented by the Commonwealth established
beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant committed the crime of
Terroristic Threats. The evidence the Commonwealth presented
established that Appellant directed a threat to commit a crime of
violence against Conway without provocation of any kind with the
intent to terrorize him when she stated to Appellant that she was
going to “‘F’ that motherfucker right there; that’s his punk ass; I
told you not to fuck with North Philly; I told you I was going to
have North Philly come fuck you up.” … (N.T. 1/23/20, 7-8). The
remark clearly conveyed terror to Conway who immediately
walked away from Appellant and sought refuge inside a store. The
fact that after Appellant uttered her threat, the driver of the car
drove parallel to Conway as Conway was leaving the area
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confirmed that what Appellant stated was not merely an idle
threat.
Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/21, at 6.
The evidence established that Appellant directed obscenity-laced threats
of violence at Conway, after which Appellant’s accomplice pursued and
attacked Conway.4 See N.T., 1/23/20, at 7-8, 20-23. We agree with the trial
court’s reasoning and conclusion that the Commonwealth presented sufficient
evidence to support Appellant’s conviction of terroristic threats. See, e.g.,
Commonwealth v. Tizer, 684 A.2d 597, 601 (Pa. Super. 1996) (rejecting
sufficiency challenge to terroristic threats conviction where defendant initiated
the confrontation with victim, threatened to stab and kill him, and then fled in
a car); see also Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/21, at 6.
With respect to Appellant’s conviction of simple assault, a person is
guilty of this crime if she “attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or
recklessly causes bodily injury to another[.]” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2701(a). “Bodily
injury” is defined as “[i]mpairment of physical condition or substantial
pain.” Id. § 2301. “The Commonwealth need not establish the victim actually
suffered bodily injury; rather, it is sufficient to support a conviction if the
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4 There is no merit to Appellant’s claim that she could be found guilty of
terroristic threats only under a theory of accomplice liability, because she “was
not present at the scene of the crime that was committed by the driver[.]”
Appellant’s Brief at 11. The evidence demonstrated that Appellant, not the
driver, threatened Conway. See N.T., 1/23/20, at 7-8; see also id. at 7
(Conway testifying he knew Appellant from previous encounters).
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Commonwealth establishes an attempt to inflict bodily
injury.” Commonwealth v. Martuscelli, 54 A.3d 940, 948 (Pa. Super.
2012).
Appellant contends the Commonwealth failed to present sufficient
evidence for her to be convicted of simple assault under an accomplice liability
theory. Appellant’s Brief at 15-16. Appellant argues she “could not be said
to have attempted to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused
bodily injury to the [victim] in this case because [Appellant] was not in the
store where the physical altercation between the driver and the [v]ictim took
place.” Id. at 16.
We have explained:
Two prongs must be satisfied for a person to be labeled
an “accomplice.” First, there must be evidence that the person
intended to aid or promote the underlying offense. Second, there
must be evidence that the person actively participated in the crime
by soliciting, aiding, or agreeing to aid the principal. Further, a
person cannot be an accomplice simply based on evidence that he
knew about the crime or was present at the crime scene. There
must be some additional evidence that the person intended to aid
in the commission of the underlying crime, and then aided or
attempted to aid. For purposes of accomplice liability, no
agreement is required, only aid. With regard to the amount of
aid, it need not be substantial so long as it is offered to the
principal to assist him in committing or attempt to commit the
crime. The least degree of assistance in committing the offense
is adequate to sustain the finding of responsibility as an
accomplice.
Commonwealth v. Adams, 39 A.3d 310, 324 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations
omitted); see also 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 306 (governing accomplice liability).
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“[E]ven non-substantial assistance, if rendered with the intent of
promoting or facilitating the crime, is sufficient to establish complicity.”
Commonwealth v. Gross, 101 A.3d 28, 35 (Pa. 2014). “Accomplice liability
may be established wholly by circumstantial evidence.” Commonwealth v.
Mitchell, 135 A.3d 1097, 1102 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citation omitted); see also
Commonwealth v. Knox, 50 A.3d 749, 755-56 (Pa. Super. 2012) (“Proof of
a criminal partnership is almost invariably extracted from the circumstances
that attend its activities.” (citation omitted)).
Here, the trial court found the evidence sufficient to convict Appellant of
simple assault under the theory of accomplice liability. The court stated:
[T]here was ample evidence presented that established that
Appellant urged the driver of the car to follow Conway into the
store and harass and assault him. Appellant did so through her
words and gestures which clearly spurred the driver into action.
Proof of this is found in what the driver said to Conway, which was
very similar to what Appellant said to [Conway].[5] It was clear to
this [c]ourt that Appellant solicited the driver to act.
Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/21, at 7 (footnote added).
Again, the record supports the trial court’s reasoning and determination
of guilt. Pursuant to our standard of review and the theory of accomplice
liability, Appellant’s actions and words in concert with those of the driver were
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5 Conway testified that the driver threatened to beat him “North Philly style.”
N.T., 1/23/20, at 18; see also id. at 7-8 (Conway testifying Appellant
threatened him and stated: “I told you not to fuck with North Philly; I told you
I was going to have North Philly come fuck you up.”).
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sufficient to establish that Appellant was guilty of simple assault.6 See, e.g.,
Commonwealth v. Driver, 493 A.2d 778, 780 (Pa. Super. 1985) (evidence
sufficient to sustain defendant’s conviction of, inter alia, simple assault under
an accomplice liability theory where the “circumstances surrounding the
commission of the crime … were sufficient to permit an inference that
[defendant and his accomplice] were engaged in an unlawful confederation”
to rob a taxi driver); see also Mitchell, supra (accomplice liability may be
established by circumstantial evidence).
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/11/2022
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6 It also bears repeating that the trial court acquitted Appellant of the
remaining offenses.
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