Com. v. Crompton, D. ( 2017 )

J-S23008-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
DUSTIN D. CROMPTON,
Appellant No. 1288 EDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of December 4, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0006722-2013
BEFORE: OLSON, SOLANO and MUSMANNO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED APRIL 21, 2017
Appellant, Dustin D. Crompton, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered on December 4, 2014, following his bench trial convictions for
aggravated assault, simple assault, conspiracy to commit simple assault,
recklessly endangering another person, and possessing an instrument of
crime.1 We affirm Appellant’s convictions, vacate the sentence for
conspiracy to commit simple assault and remand for resentencing, and
affirm Appellant’s remaining sentences.
We briefly summarize the facts and procedural history of this case as
follows. On September 26, 2012, Kristen Kubach, a co-defendant, got into a
verbal altercation with the victim inside a Philadelphia house where both
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1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702, 2701, 903, 2705, and 907, respectively.
J-S23008-17
individuals resided. Kubach left, but returned later with her brother,
Appellant, and Appellant’s girlfriend, Helena Morales. An altercation ensued
with Appellant and the victim exchanging punches. The victim landed onto a
couch and Appellant, Kubach, and Morales began punching and kicking the
victim. Morales held the victim so that Appellant could continue punching
him. The victim testified that he felt a hard object strike his head and heard
Kubach and Morales encouraging Appellant to continue hitting the victim.
The victim’s fiancé was an eyewitness to the incident. She testified that she
observed Kubach strike the victim, across the left side of his head, with a
baseball bat. The victim’s fiancé was able to stop Kubach from striking the
victim again with the bat. Morales took the bat and left the scene in
Appellant’s car, along with Appellant and Kubach. The victim was taken to
the hospital where he was treated for nausea, vomiting, and loss of
consciousness. The victim also required 14 stitches for a one-inch gash on
his forehead.
The trial court held a bench trial on September 18, 2014 and found
Appellant guilty of the aforementioned charges. On December 4, 2014, the
trial court sentenced Appellant to three-and-one-half to seven years of
imprisonment for aggravated assault and an identical, concurrent sentence
for conspiracy to commit simple assault.2 The trial court imposed no further
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2
Upon review of the certified record, the sentencing order states that the
conspiracy to commit simple assault was graded as a second-degree
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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penalty on the remaining convictions. On December 12, 2014, Appellant
filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied by operation of law on
April 10, 2015. This timely appeal resulted.3
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issues for our review:
I. Is [Appellant] entitled to an arrest of judgment as the
evidence [was] insufficient to sustain the verdict?
II. Is [Appellant] entitled to a new trial on all charges as
the greater weight of the evidence does not support
the verdict?
Appellant’s Brief at 3.
First, Appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his
convictions. Regarding conspiracy, he claims that just because he “came to
the home with the two women does not mean there was a conspiracy.” Id.
at 11. He claims that the fight at issue began as a fistfight between him and
the victim and that Kubach and Morales joined in the “general melee”
without provocation. Id. at 10. Regarding aggravated assault, Appellant
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
misdemeanor. As the trial court later recognized, and we will discuss at
length later, because the statutory maximum for a second-degree
misdemeanor is two years, the sentence of three-and-one-half to seven
years for conspiracy to commit simple assault is illegal. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §
1104.
3
Appellant filed a notice of appeal on May 5, 2015. On January 27, 2016,
the trial court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant complied
timely on February 16, 2016. The trial court issued an opinion pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) on August 3, 2016.
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claims he did not strike the victim with a baseball bat, did not “even [know]
that the bat was [at the scene,] and the evidence does not indicate that he
encouraged [Kubach] to use the bat.” Id.
Our standard of review when considering challenges to the sufficiency
of the evidence is well settled:
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 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. Hicks, 151 A.3d 216, 221–222 (Pa. Super. 2016)
(citation omitted).
The trial court determined that the evidence was sufficient to support a
conspiracy because the fight at issue was in response to an earlier
altercation and Appellant and his co-defendants “all drove to the property
together, entered the house together, fought together, and subsequently left
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J-S23008-17
together.” Trial Court Opinion, 8/3/2016, at 8. During the altercation, the
two co-defendants encouraged Appellant to continue punching the victim.
Id. The trial court found there was sufficient evidence to support
Appellant’s aggravated assault conviction because Appellant punched the
victim “in the face multiple times, while holding [the victim] down, rendering
him unable protect himself” and that Appellant “acted with the intent to
cause protracted impairment or disfigurement to the several [of the victim’s]
sensitive bodily members[,] including his eyes and nose.” Id. at 7.
Moreover, the trial court determined that even if Appellant did not intend for
his co-defendant to strike the victim with a baseball bat, such conduct
constitutes aggravated assault, and Appellant was criminally liable for the
actions of his co-conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy.
In his second issue presented, Appellant similarly claims his
convictions were against the weight of the evidence because he “could not
have possibly entered into an agreement to commit an aggravated assault[4]
which necessarily implicated the bat where the bat was already at the scene
of the event and where the bat was not brought to the scene by [Appellant]
or his alleged co-conspirators.” Id. at 12-13.
Our standard of review is clear:
the weight attributed to the evidence is a matter exclusively
for the fact finder, who is free to believe all, part, or none of
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4
Appellant was actually convicted of conspiracy to commit simple assault.
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the evidence and to determine the credibility of the
witnesses. The grant of a new trial is not warranted because
of a mere conflict in the testimony and must have a
stronger foundation than a reassessment of the credibility of
witnesses. Rather, the role of the trial judge is to determine
that, notwithstanding all of the facts, certain facts are so
clearly of greater weight, that to ignore them or to give
them equal weight with all of the facts is to deny justice.
An appellate court's purview:
is extremely limited and is confined to whether the
trial court abused its discretion in finding that the
jury verdict did not shock its conscience. Thus,
appellate review of a weight claim consists of a
review of the trial court's exercise of discretion, not a
review of the underlying question of whether the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence.
An appellate court may not reverse a verdict unless it is so
contrary to the evidence as to shock one's sense of justice.
Id. at 223 (citations and quotations omitted).
Here, the trial court “gave great weight to the testimony of [the
victim] and [his fiancé] and found their testimony to be credible.” Trial Court
Opinion, 8/3/2016, at 9. The trial court also determined that “inconsistent
testimony as to the wooden bat’s ownership is not only minor but also not
relevant to the trial.” Id.
We have reviewed the certified record, parties’ briefs, relevant law and
the trial court’s opinion entered on August 3, 2016. We conclude there has
been no error or abuse of discretion in this case and that the trial court’s
August 3, 2016 opinion meticulously, thoroughly, and accurately disposes of
the issues on appeal. Therefore, we affirm on the basis of the trial court’s
opinion and adopt it as our own. Because we have adopted the trial court’s
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opinion, we direct the parties to include the trial court’s opinion in all future
filings relating to our examination of the merits of this appeal, as expressed
herein.
Finally, the trial court recognized that it illegally sentenced Appellant to
three-and-one-half to seven years of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit
simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor. Trial Court Opinion,
8/3/2016, at 11. Upon review, we agree.
Inchoate crimes like conspiracy have the same maximum sentences as
the underlying crimes to which they relate. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 106; see
also 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 905(a). Simple assault is a second-degree
misdemeanor. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2701(b). A person who has been
convicted of a second-degree misdemeanor is subject to a maximum
sentence of two years. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1104. “If no statutory
authorization exists for a particular sentence, that sentence is illegal and
subject to correction.” Commonwealth v. Randal, 837 A.2d 1211, 1214
(Pa. Super. 2003) (citation omitted). Challenges to “[a]n illegal sentence
can never be waived and may be reviewed sua sponte by this Court.” Id.“An illegal sentence must be vacated.” Id.Here, Appellant’s sentence for conspiracy to commit simple assault
was clearly illegal and must be corrected. “If this Court determines that a
sentence must be corrected, we are empowered to either amend the
sentence directly or to remand the case to the trial court for resentencing.”
Commonwealth v. Benchoff, 700 A.2d 1289, 1294 (Pa. Super. 1997)
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(citation omitted); see also Randal, 837 A.2d at 1214 (stating generally
appellate court can amend sentence directly when record makes clear
sentencing court had no authority to impose certain part of sentence). “[I]f
we determine that a correction by this [C]ourt may upset the sentencing
scheme envisioned by the trial court, the better practice is to remand.” Id.(citation and internal quotations omitted). Moreover, it is well-settled that
“[a]n appellate [c]ourt has no power to impose a sentence; that power is to
be exercised exclusively by the trial court.” Commonwealth v. Holiday,
954 A.2d 6, 10 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation omitted). Where an appellate
court determines a sentence is illegal or otherwise improper, the Court may
not “superimpose its judgment on the trial court by directing the sentence to
be imposed.” Id.In this case, the trial court recognized that it imposed an illegal
sentence for conspiracy to commit simple assault, stated the statutory
maximum sentence is two years for a second-degree misdemeanor, and
requested we remand for resentencing on this conviction. Trial Court
Opinion, 8/3/2016, at 11. However, the trial court did not specify the
sentence it desired to impose upon resentencing or we could amend the
sentence directly. Accordingly, we vacate Appellant’s sentence for
conspiracy to commit simple assault and remand to the trial court for
resentencing.
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Appellant’s convictions for all offenses affirmed. Sentence for
conspiracy to commit simple assault vacated and remanded for
resentencing. Remaining sentences affirmed. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/21/2017
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Circulated 03/30/2017 11:30 AM
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
FIRST JUDICIAL DlSTRJCT OF PENNSYLVANlA
TRIAL DIVJ~ION-CRIMINA.L SECTION
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA CP..Sl-CR-0006722-2013
vs. 1288 EDA 2015
DUSTIN CROMPTON
OPINION
FILED
AUG O 3 2016
COVINGTON, J~
Crimina1Appe.a1~ Unit .
First Judicial DistnctofPA
P roc.edural. Hislory
On September 18, 20 l4, the Defendant was found guilty, following a waiver trial, of
Aggravated Assault ( 18 § 2702 §§ A), Conspiracy to commit Simple Assault ( 18 § 903 §.§ C),
Simple Assault ( 1.8 § 2701 §§ A\ Possession of an Instrument of Crime (18 § .907 §§ A), and
Recklessly Endangering Another Person ( 18 §· 2705 §§ A). A presentence investigation was
prepared.onNovember 14,.2014. On December 4,_2014, following a hearing, the Defendant.was
sentenced to three (3) to six (6) years of incarceration followed on the Aggravated Assault and
Conspiracy charge, and no furtherpenalty on the remaining charges.
Defendant filed a Post Sentence .Motion for Reconsideration on December 12, 2014.
Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration was denied by operation ofIaw on April 10, 201.5.
Defendant filed a timely Notice of Appeal on May, 5, 2015. Defendant filed a Statement of Errors
Complained of on.Appeal on February J 6, 2016.
·Factual History
On September 26, 2012, from around midnight until 2:30 a.rn., Mr. Ventura Vasquez was
in his house located at 1916 East Cambria Street; Philadelphia. N.T. 9/18/2014, pp. 15-.16. Mr.
Vasquez
. was staying
. . . kids, a renter
at the house With his. . named Kristin Kubachhis fiancee Jessica
Lovera, arid the owner ofthe house Mr: Sneed. Id. at 16-17. Mr. Vasquez arrived at his home,
immediately noticed the smell of gasoline, and beganto argue with the landlord, Mr. Sneed, about
the odor. Id at )6;..17. Mr.Bneed pushed Mr. Vasquez and Mr. Vasquez pushed him back. id: at
29: WhileMr, Vasquez argued with Mr. Sneed, Kristin Kubachjoined the argument and began
pushing Mr. Vasquez, telling-him to stop fighting with Mr. Sneed. id. at 18, 31. Ms. Kubach.then
left the property: id. at 19. Ms. Jessica.Lovera came down to the livingroom after Ms, Kubach
left; because she was awakened by the fighting. Id. at 31.
Ms.. Lovera and. Mr. Vasquez stepped outside. to the balcony. N. T .. .9/ I 8/2014, p. 31. Ms;
Kubach returned ten minutes later with her brother, the Defendant, and Defendant's girlfriend,
Helena Morales, id at 19-20. 'Defendant charged through the front door and said something. about
hitting women. id, at 32. Mr. Vasquez testified the police were called, but Defendant; Ms.
Morales, and Ms. Kubach left uiitil the police were gone. Id. at J2. Mr. Vasquez testified
Defendant, Ms. Morales, and Ms. Kubsch returned. Id. at 32. Mr. Vasquez said he argued with
and cursed at Defendant, then he attempted to .move towards Defendant but tripped and landed on
the; couch next to. him . ld. at 20. He further testified Defendant punched him, and he punched
Defendant back once, id at 33. Mr. Vasquez testified that once he was on the couch Defendant,
Ms. Morales, and Ms. Kubach started to punch and kick him. id. at 21. Mr: Vasquez testified he
. . couch
was unable to get off the . and was
. repeatedly punched in the face. Id. He said Ms. Morales
struck him approximately twice. Id at 34. After Ms. Morales hit Mr. Vasquez, she held him back
for Defendant to continue punching him. Id at 46. Ms.' Lovera -then pulled Ms. Morales offMr.
2
Vasquez. 14 at 34. After Ms .. Morales was removedfromMr, Vasquez, Defendant got on him
and hit him in the face; Id at 34. Mr. Vasquez then felt a hard object hit his head, but couldn't
see what the object was. Id. at 22, Mr; Vasquez .heard Ms. Kubach and Ms. Morales telling
Defendantto keep hitting.him. Id at 39. At the preliminary hearing, Defendanttestified he didn't
remember the woman saying anything (o Defendant during the altercation. Id at 42. Mr. Vasquez
became dazed by the strike of the hard object, but saw Defendant, Ms. Kubach, .and Ms. Morales
I leave the property together. Jd at 22. Mr. Vasquez testified he didn't remember anything then
until he arrived at the hospital. id. at 2J. He furfher testified he had a cheekbone fracture and
needed.stitches inhis head as a result of this altercation. Id. at 21..Mr. Vasquez esxpressedhe was
in a Jot of pain and needed a surgical procedure to fix his fractured cheekbone.
Mr. Vasquez drank two beers the night.of the incident..but testified he was hot drunk. N.T.
9118/2014, p. 27. Mr. Vasquez also was prescribed Seroquil.btrt had not.taken his dose that day,
id
Ms. Jessica Lovera testified that on the night of the incident, she was awoken by the smell
of gasoline and observed an argument between her fiance, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Sneed, and Ms.
Kubach. Id at 4.8. Ms. Lovera was on the porch with Ms. Vasquez when they saw Ms. Kubaeh
approach
. the house
. in a car
. with Defendant and Ms ..Morales .. Id. at 50. Ms. Lovera
. testified she
entered the house to avoid the group of people. Id, at ~0. She further testified Defendant, Ms.
Kubach, and Ms, Morales followed them inside the house. Id. Ms. Lovera, testified sheobserved
Defendant charge.at Mr. Vasquez, and then pin Mr; Vasquez on the couch. Id at 50. SheJurther
testified that Defendant.Ms .. Morales, and Ms. Kubach all punched Mr. Vasquez. Jd. at5L Ms.
Lovera pulled Ms. Morales off Mr. Vasquez, and then observed Ms. Kubach grab a wooden bat
arid use itto hit Mr. Vasquez.on the left side.of his face. lei, at 5 L Ms. Lovera. stopped Ms, Kubach
3
1
I
I
from striking Mr. Vasquez with the bat again. Id at 52. Ms. Lovera prepared to fight Ms. Kubsch
in thecomer.when Defendant got off Mr. Vasquezand told.herhe wouldhit.womentoo. Id at
52. Defendant, Ms. Kubach, and Ms. Morales grabbed the bat, left the property, arid drove away
in Defendant's car. Id. at 53. Ms. Lovera called the police and checked on Mr, Vasquez's rnjuries.
Id at 53. At a preliminary hearing, Ms. Lovera testified.the bat belonged to Mt Vasquez. id. at
60. Ms. Lovera testified that she didn't observe any punches thrown before Mr. Vasquez fell .onto
the couch.just a tussle, but she observed Defendant punch Mr. Vasquez when he was on the couch.
Jd tit62-63.
Counsel stipulated to medical records.indicating: Mr. Vasquez had a. one inch gash above
his left forehead, bleeding was stopped by a bandage, and patient was positive for headache,
nausea, vomiting, and loss ofconsciousness. Id at 78. Mr. Vasquez was treated for a laceration
on. the left side of his forehead,. a local anesthesia was administered, and. fourteen
. sutures were
applied to the wound to close it up. Id.
'Standard of Review
The standard of reviewapplied to weight of the evidence is whether the verdict is.so
contrary t6 the evidence as to shock one's sense of justice. Commonwealth v: Brown, 23 A.3d
544, 557-58 (Pa. Super: 2011). "A motion for a new trial alleging that the verdict was against the
weight of the evidence is addressed to the discretion-of the trial court. Appellate review,
therefore.js areviewofthe exercise of discretion, pot the underlying question whether the
verdict is against the weightof the evidence." Commonwealth v: Keaton, 729 A.2d 529, 540 (Pa.
1999} (citing Commonwealth v. Brown, 648 A.2.d 1177, J I 89 (Pa. 1994)). The finder of fact is
free to believe all, part, or rione of the evidence and to determine the credibility of the witnesses.
Id (citing 'Commonwealth.v. Hawkins, 701 A.2.d 492, 501 (Pa, 1997}). 'In determining whether
4
this standard has been met, appellatereview.is limited to whether the trial judge's discretion was
properly exercised, and relief will onl y be granted where the facts and inferences of record
disclose a palpable abuse of discretion. Id. at 54 l (citing Commonwealth y. 'Counterman, 719
A.2d 284,. 3'0.4 (Pa. 1998}).
The standard of review applied to reviewing 'the sufficiency of the evidence is "whether
viewing al I 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." Commonwealth v, Gray, 867 A.2d 560, 567 (Pa. Super2004).}n applying this test; the
appellate court may not weigh the evidence and substitute its judgment for the fact-finder. Id. In
addition, the "Commonwealth need not. preclude · every possibility of innocence: The
Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable
doubt by means of wholly circumstantial evidence:" Commonwealth v. Kerry, 906 A.2d 1237,
1240 (Pa. Super, 2006) .
"When reviewing sentencingmatters, [an appellate courtj.mustaccord the sentencing court
great weight as it is.in the best position to view defendant's character, displays or remorse, defiance
or indifferences, and the overall nature of the crime." Commonwealth v. Cappellini, 690 A.2d
1220, 1225 (Pa. Super. 1997) (quoting Commonwealth v: Viera, 659 A..2d.J024, 1030.(Pa.Super;
199~}. The sentencing functi on is vested in the sound discretion of thetrial court, whosejudgment
will not. be disturbed by an appellate.counin the absence of an abuse.of discretion. Commonwealth
v. Walls, 926 A.2d.957, 962 (Pa. 2007).
Disc1ission
Pursuant to the . l 92S (b) Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal, the Defendant
asserts the following arguments for appeal: (1) the Commonwealth's evidence was insufficient to
5
prove aggravated assault or conspiracy to commit simpleassault, as therewas insufficient evidence
to prove Defendant was a principal, conspirator, or ah accomplice; (Z) the verdict Wc\S against the
weight of the evidence; and (3) the Court abused its discretion in imposing an unduly harsh·
sentence.
I. There Was Sufficient Evidence.To Sustain Defendant's.Aggravated Assault and
Conspiracy Convictions ·
A: There Was SuOJcient Evidence o(an Aggravated Assault qnd Simple Assault
To obtain a convictionfor Aggravated Assault, the Commonwealth must prove that the
defendant attemptedto cause serious bodilyinjury to another, or caused such injury intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of
human life.· Commonwealth v, Caterino, 451 Pa. Super.42,45-A6, 678 A.2d 389 (1996). Serious
bodily injury is defined as any "bodily injury which creates a.substantial risk of death or which
causes serious permanent disfigurement; or protracted loss or impairmentof the function of any
bodily member or organ." 18 Pa.C.S. 2301. Withregard to intent, "A person acts intentionally
with respect to a material element.of the offense when: (i) if the.element involves the nature. of his
conduct or a result thereof, it is his conscious object to.engage in conduct of thatnature or to cause
such a result." Commonwealth v. Sanders; 426 Pa. Super. 362, .627 A.2d 183, 1&6 (1993). The.
intent to cause serious bodily harm may be shown by circumstances surrounding the .incident.
;
r
! Commonwealth v. Alexander, 477 Pa .. 190, 194, 383 A2d887, 889 (1978).
1n the instant case, it is clear Mr. Vasquez was· the victim of an Aggravated Assault.
Defendant.punched Mr. Vasquez in the face multiple times. while Mr. Vasquez was pinned down
on a couch. Mr. Vasquez was also punched repeatedly by Ms. Morales and Ms. Kubach. Beyond.
these several punches to theface, Ms. Kubach struck Mr: Vasquez in the side ofthe head with a.
wooden bat.. 'It is clear that Defendant's actions were executed with the intent to cause a serious
bodily injury. Defendant punched Mr, Vasquez in the face multiple times, while holding him
down, rendering him unable to protect himself. Mr. Vasquez became disoriented, lost
consciousness, andrequired surgery for the.gash on his forehead. There is sufficient circumstantial
evidence that Defendant acted with the intent to cause protracted impairment or disfigurement to
the several sensitive bodily members on Mr, Vasquez face; including his eyes and.nose,
Be yo rid. this, as Defendant acted in a conspiracy With Ms. Kubach, he is criminally liable
for alJ of Ms. Kubach's actions in furtherance of theconspiracy, ', .as discussed hifi.·a. Ms. Kubach's
actions clearly rose to aggravated assault when she struck Mr.Vasquez in the side of his head, near
his ears and eyes, with a wooden bat.
B. Defendan.tParticipated in.a Conspiracy with Ms.· Kubach
To sustain a conviction for criminal conspiracy, the Commonwealth must establish thatthe
defendant (1) entered into an agreement to commit or aid.in an unlawful .act with another person
or persons, (2) with a shared criminal intent, and (3) .and overt act was done in furtherance of the
conspiracy."
. Commonwealth v. Hennigan,
. 753 A.2d 245, 2.53 (Pa.
. S.uper.2000).. "Theessence of
a criminal conspiracy is a common understanding, no matter how it came into being, that a
particular criminal objective be accomplished. Therefore, a conviction for conspiracy requires
proof of'the existence of a shared criminal.intent. An explicit or formal agreement to commit
crimes can seldom, if ever, be proved and it need .not be, for proof of a criminal partnership is
almost invariably extracted from the circumstances that attend its. activities. Thus, .a conspiracy
may be inferred where it is demonstrated that the relation, conduct, or circwnstances of the parties,
and the overt acts of the co-conspirators, sufficiently prove the formation of a criminal
confederation. The conduct of the parties and the. circumstances surrounding their, conduct may.
create a web of evidence linking the accused to the alleged conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
7
Even if the conspirator did not act as a principal in committing the underlying crime, he. is still
criminally liable for the actions. of bis co-conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy."
Commonwealthv. Knox, 50 A.3d749, 755 (Pa. Super: 2012).
The cireumstances surrounding the Assault of Mt: Vasquez sufficiently prove Defendant
entered into a conspiracy with Ms. Kubach and Ms. Morales. The scenario began with Ms. Kubach
arguing with .Mr. Vasquez by herself in the property. Ms. Kubach then left the. property and
returned with her brother, Defendant, and Ms. Morales, Defendant' s girlfriend. Defendant and.the
.two women all drove to the property together, entered the house together, fought together, and
subsequently left together. While fighting, Ms. Morales. also held Mr: Vasquez down, and both
her .and Ms. Kubach encouraged Defendant to continue punching Mr. Vasquez. These
circumstances clearly indicate that Ms. Kubach returned to the house with the criminal intent to
assault Mr. Vasquez. Itis also dear that Defendant was aware.and agreed to commit this unlawful
act of assaulting Mr. Vasquez before evenentering the property. Defendant, Ms. Kubach, and Ms.
Morales aIJ took steps in furtherance ofthe conspiracy when theypunched Mr .. Vasquez, held him
down, and struck him with a bat. The circumstances of the assaultmake it clear this was not a
scenario where two people were engaged in an altercation and the others merely joined inthe
affray, the parties.clearly. intended to act together in furtherance of the assault.
11. The VerdidWasNot Against The WeightOfThe. Evidence.
Ah allegation that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence is addressed to the
discretion o:f the; trial court. Commonwealth v. Brown, 648 A.2d 1177 (Pa, 1994). A new trial
should not he granted because of a mere conflict in the testimony or because the.judge on. the same
facts would have arrived at a different conclusion, Thompson v. City of Philadelphia, 493 A.2d
669, 673 .(Pa. 1985)..
:
8
In the instant case, the weight of rhe evidence was not contrary to the Courts finding of
.guilt. The Court was given ample opportunity to review the evidence from both Defendant.and
the Commonwealth before making a decision, The Court .gave great. weight to the testimony of
Mt: Vasquez and Ms. Lovera and found their testimony to be credible. Any discrepancies in
testimony are rriinor and are. easily explained by the speed and the rapid. acceleration of the
altercation. Mr. Vasquez admitted to drinking; the night of the incident, but insisted he was not
intoxicated. The inconsistent testimony as to the wooden bat's ownership is not only minor but
also not relevant to the trial. Though Mr: Vasquez testified the bat belonged to Mr. Sneed, he
didn'ttestify thatthe Defendant or his co-conspirators broughtit with them. Ms. Lovera testified
I' she'. didn't recall who the bat belonged to, and later testified it belonged to her husband. These
statements were not made in the self-interest of the witnesses, but can merely be. attributed to issues
of recollection and memory,
III. Defendant's Sentence for AggravatedAssault was Appropriate.
''Whil~ it is true that. [our superior] court and. our supreme court have. the power and
responsibility to vacate a sentence determined to be so manifestly excessive. as to. constitute too
severe a punishment, it is insufficient to simply assert ah unduly harsh sentence; the record.must
.show it.,,. Commonwealth V. De Luca, 418 A:2d 669, 67 l (Pa. Super. 1980) ( citing Commonwealth.
v. Martin, 351 A.2d 650 (P~. 1976)). ln order to. constitute an abuse of diseretion, a sentence must
either exceed the statutory limits or be · so manifestly excessive as to constitute an · abuse of
discretion. Commonwealth. v. Pickering, 53JA.2d 735, 738 (Pa, Super. 1987}.
The Court fashioned a sentence which took into.account theneed to protect the public from
the defendant, the.rehabilitativeneeds of the defendant, arid the .gravity of the particular offenses·
9
as it relates to the impact on. the citizens of Philadelphia. Commonwealth v. Cunningham, 805
A.2d 566,'575 (Pa. Super. 2002) (quoting Commonwealth v.. Burkholder, 719 A.2d 346,-3,50 (Pa.
Super. 1998)). 1'Where pre-sentence reports exist, we shall continue to presume that the sentencing
judge was aware of relevant information regarding the defendant's character and weighed those
considerations along with mitigating statutory factors. A pre-sentence report constitutesthe record
and speaks
.
for itself.. . Having . been' fully informed. by the pre-sentence report,
. .
the sentencing.·
court's discretion should .. not be disturbed. This is particularly true, we. repeat, in those
circumstances. where it can be demonstrated that the judge had any degree of awareness of the
sentencingconsiderations, and there we will presume also thatthe-weighing process took place in
a meaningful fashion, It would be foolish, indeed, to take the position that if a court is in possession
ofthefacts, it wilJ fail to apply them tothe case at hand." Com:monwecilthv, Devers, 546 A2d 12~
.18 O>a. 1988).
. .
Defendant was sentenced to forty rwo ~42) to eighty four two (84) months incarcerarion on
both the first-degree felony Aggravated Assault charge and the. second-degree misdemeanor
Conspiracy to commit Simple Assault charge, concurrent to each other, with no further penalty on
all other convictions, Defendant had a prior record score of zero. The offense gravity score for
the Aggravated Assault charge was eleven (I I) with a guideline range of.thirty six (36) to fifty
four (54)months plus or minus twelve ( 12) months, with a maximum sentence of twenty (20)
years. The Court clearly imposed ·~ sentence within the guideline, sentencing Defendant to a
minimum of forty two (42) months incarceration, squarely within the guideline range of thirty six
a6) to fifty four (54) months, As this sentence falls within the guidelines .it is clearly not
manifestly excessive. The. Court took into consideration the Defendant's· 'Pre-Sentence
10
Investigation Report, remorse, arid family support, but determined a standard period 01
incarceration would best serve the community.
IV. Defendant's Sentence for Simple. Assault was Illegal and Should be Remanded for
Resentencing
Defendant was sentenced to three years .and six months to seven years' incarceration for the
second-degree misdemeanor Conspiracy to commit Simple Assault. The statutory maximum
incarceration sentence fora second-degree misdemeanor is two years. Although this sentence runs
concurrent to a legal sentence on AggravatedAssault.it exceeds the statutory maximum and must
be remanded for resentencing ..
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, it.is.respectfully requested that the Trial Court's determination
of guiltbe affirmed and sentence .be.rernanded to correct the 'illegal sentence on the simple assault
conviction.
BYTHIS~O
~
Roxanne £1
. ......._._, ..
August3, 2016
n