Com. v. Quijano, E. ( 2017 )

J-S79043-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
ELLIOTT QUIJANO :
:
Appellant : No. 1923 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence May 19, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0012987-2015
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., LAZARUS, J., and OTT, J.
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED DECEMBER 19, 2017
Appellant, Elliott Quijano1, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, following his
bench trial conviction of attempted criminal trespass2 We affirm.
The trial court opinion fully sets forth the relevant facts and procedural
history of this case. Therefore, we have no need to restate them. We add
only that Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion on May 26, 2016,
which the court denied on June 2, 2016, and Appellant filed a timely notice
of appeal on June 16, 2016. On June 17, 2016, the court ordered Appellant
____________________________________________
1 The docket and other paperwork in this matter erroneously spell Mr.
Quijano’s surname as “Ouijano.”
2 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3503, 901(a) related.
J-S79043-17
to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), which Appellant filed, after the grant of an extension, on
December 23, 2016.
Appellant raises the following issues for our review.
WAS NOT THE EVIDENCE…INSUFFICIENT FOR
[APPELLANT’S] CONVICTION FOR ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL
TRESPASS, INSOFAR AS THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE OF ANY INTENT TO ACTUALLY ENTER THE
BUILDING?
IN THE ALTERNATIVE, WAS NOT THE DETERMINATION OF
GUILT AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE TO SUCH
A DEGREE AS TO SHOCK THE CONSCIENCE?
(Appellant’s Brief at 4).
After a thorough review of the record, the brief of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Mia Roberts
Perez, we conclude Appellants issues merit no relief. The trial court opinion
comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the questions
presented. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed February 03, 2017, at 1-6)
(finding (1) evidence viewed in light most favorable to Commonwealth
showed Appellant lacked permission to enter Mr. King’s premises; Mr. King
testified credibly that Appellant was not invited into Mr. King’s residence on
evening in question; Appellant’s loud and disruptive attempt to enter Mr.
King’s home was foiled when Mr. King awoke and shooed Appellant away;
testimony regarding Appellant’s and Mr. King’s prior disputes served only to
advance conclusion that Appellant knew he had no license to enter Mr.
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J-S79043-17
King’s property; court found Appellant’s assertion, that he was simply trying
to close Mr. King’s window so Appellant’s exercise on porch would not be
disruptive, completely incredible and inconsistent with Mr. King’s description
of how Appellant’s outstretched arms were positioned, palms facing up; Mr.
King’s account described Appellant’s behavior as consistent with attempted
entry into his house; (2) court decided as fact-finder to reject Appellant’s
version of events; verdict was not against weight of evidence).3.
Accordingly, we affirm based on that opinion.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/19/2017
____________________________________________
3 Subsections (b.1)(1)(iv) and (b.1)(2) of Section 3503 Criminal Trespass,
were declared unconstitutional in Leach v. Commonwealth, 636 Pa. 81,
141 A.3d 426 (2016) (holding those subsections violate single subject rule of
Article III, Section 3 of Pennsylvania Constitution). The holding in Leach,
does not affect our disposition because Appellant was convicted and
sentenced under subsection (a)(1)(ii).
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Circulated 12/05/2017 02:46 PM
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Jl�IRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
TRIAL DIVISION-CRIMINAL SECTION
COMMONWEAL TH OF PENNSYLVANIA CP-51-CR-12987-2015
V. 1923 EDA 2016
ELLIOT QUIJANO
OPINION
Perez, J.
cp.51.cR-0012987·2015 comm.v OUIJANO, F.LLIOTI
Opinion
FILED
FEBO 3·.20,t
1111111\ \\ 1111 \ 11111111\1
7898041031 Criminal. App�al� Unit
PROCEDURAL HISTOR\ First Judieta\ District of PA
On March 10, 2016, Defendant was found guilty of attempted criminal trespass as felony
of the second degree. On May 19, 2016, following the denial of Defendant's oral motion for
extraordinary relief, he was sentenced to 11.5-23 months of incarceration followed by three years
of reporting probation. On June 16, 2016, a timely appeal was filed. On July 12, 2016, this Court
granted an extension for Defendant to file his Statement of Errors within 21 days of receiving the
trial transcripts. Defendant filed his Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal on December
23, 2016 challenging the sufficiency and weight of evidence at trial. This trial court Opinion
follows.
FACTUAL HISTORY
Jonathan King testified that on November 18, 2015, at approximately 9:55 P.M., he was
asleep in the basement of his home at 4434 Sherwood Road, located in the city and county of
Philadelphia. He was awoken by a strange noise that he described as "metal banging against
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metal." Notes of Testimony 3/10/16 p. 13. The sound was loud and unusual enough to arouse
Mr. King's suspicion. He then heard the noise several more times and got up to determine what
was causing it. Upon investigation, Mr. King determined that the banging noises were coming
from outside his residence. Id.at 14-18. He ran up the stairs from the basement and turned on a
light in his dining room area and observed "arms out stretched reaching inside the house." (19.,. at
18). As he approached, he discovered that the man reaching into his house was his neighbor, the
Defendant. The Defendant had his palms facing upwards inside the house and was pulling down
on the interior part ofthe window. Id. at 19-20. He further explained that when he first observed
the window, it was opened at least 16 inches. Id. at 29. Mr. King testified that the Defendant did
not have permission to be inside his home on the evening in question.
On cross examination, Mr. King stated that he and the Defendant share a back porch,
which also serves as a fire escape for the homes, Id. at 22-23. He further testified that he and the
Defendant were involved in an ongoing dispute over the Defendant's loud and disruptive
behavior on the porch. The Defendant had previously called the police to complain about this
dispute. The Defendant testified that he did in fact touch the Complainant's window, but only in
an effort to close it, not to enter. Id. at 46-47. Ultimately, defense counsel argued that Mr. King
called the police and pursued the complaint in retaliation against the Defendant
Importantly, this Court found the Defendant> s testimony not credible with respect to the
intent behind his conduct. The Defendant' s assertion that he was simply attempting to close the
window was inconsistent with the Complainant's description of how the Defendant's
outstretched arms were positioned. Mr. King's account clearly described the Defendant's
behavior as being consistent with an attempted entrance into the house. The Defendant made a
significant amount of noise while manipulating the window and had his palms facing upwards as
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he reached inside the house. Noticeably absent from the Defendant's narrative was any
explanation of why he was reaching up into his neighbors home. Had the Defendant attempted to
close the window to avoid a confrontation with Mr. King, he would have also avoided causing a
serious disturbance. To the contrary, he made such a commotion as to wake Mr. King up. who
reasonably believed someone was trying to break into his home.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence a reviewing Court will determine:
whether, viewing all the evidence admitted at trial, together with all
reasonable inferences therefrom, in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, the trier of fact could have found that each element of the
offenses charged was supported by evidence and inferences sufficient in law
to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Commonwe�lth v. Jackson, 506 Pa. 469, 472·473, 485 A.2d 1102, 1103 (1984).
i . .- +.
Our standard of review for a weight of the evidence challenge is as follows:
The determination of whether to grant a new trial because the verdict is against the
weight of the evidence rests within the discretion of the trial court, and we will not disturb that
discretion absent an abuse of discretion. Where issues of credibility and weight of the evidence
are concerned, it is not the function of the appellate court to substitute its judgment based on a
cold record for that of the trial court. The weight to be accorded conflicting evidence is
exclusively for the fact finder, whose findings will not be disturbed on appeal if they are
supported by the record. A claim. that the evidence presented at trial was contradictory and
unable to support the verdict requires the grant ofa new trial only when the verdict is so contrary
to the evidence as to shock one's sense of justice.
It must be emphasized that it is not for this Court or any appellate court to view the
evidence as if it was the jury. Our purview is extremely limited and is confined to whether the
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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 . .Qomrnonwe!}.Uh Y.:-�� 980 A.2d 659, 663-64 (Pa.Super.2009) (citations
omitted).
LEGAL DISCUSSION
The crime of criminal trespass is committed when a person enters a building or occupied
structure knowing that he is not licensed to do so (18 Pa.C.S. § 3503) and is graded as a felony of
the second degree. Criminal trespass is defined by statute as follows:
A person commits an offense [of criminal trespass] if, knowing that he is not licensed or
privileged to do so, he: (i) enters, gains entry by subterfuge or surreptitiously remains in any
occupied structure or separately secured or occupied portion thereof; or (ii) breaks into any
building or occupied structure or separately secured or occupied portion thereof.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3503. The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth,
showed a lack of permission and an entry into the Complainant's premises. Mr. King testified
that Defendant was not invited to their residence on the evening in question, either by himself or
anyone else. ·
Here, the Defendant was convicted only of an attempted criminal trespass. Our legislature
has defined an attempt as follows:
§ 901. Criminal attempt
Definition of attempt.-A person commits an attempt when, with intent to commit a
specific crime, he does any act whichconstitutes a substantial step toward the
commission of that crime ·
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18 Pa.C.S.A. 901 (a). Here, the Defendant attempted to commit the crime of criminal trespass.
Importantly, the Superior Court has held that there is no requirement that the Commonwealth
demonstrate as an element of the criminal trespass offense that the actor entered the building
with any specific criminal intent. Commonwealth v. Goldsborough, 284 Pa.Super. 435, 438, 426
A.2d 126, 127 (1981). Certainly, the Superior Court has found insufficient mensrea to support a
trespass conviction where de fondant had a good faith belief that he had a prescriptive right to be
on the property in question. Commonwealth v. Johnson, 2003 Pa. Super. 65, 818 A.2d 514
(2003).
The Superior Court has defined entry to include passing an arm through a window.
Commonwealth v. Schwartz, 419 Pa.Super. 251, 273, 615 A.2d 350, 361 (1992); Commonwealth
v. Myers. 223 Pa.Super. 75, 297 A.2d 151 (1972). In Schwartz, a conviction for trespass was
upheld where the Defendant punched a window, breaking a pane of glass, but never entered the
property in any other manner.
The evidence here, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth,
demonstrated a lack of permission and an attempted.entry into the Complainant's premises. Mr.
King testified credibly that the Defendant was not invited into the residence on the evening in
question, either by himself or anyone else. The Defendant's loud and disruptive attempt was
foiled when Mr. King awoke and shooed the Defendant away from his property. The testimony
regarding the ongoing dispute between Defendant and Mr. King only serves to advance the
conclusion that Defendant was aware that he.had no license to enter. Moreover, this Court was
well within its province as the sole trier of fact to reject the Defendant's version of events.
s
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the underlying judgment should be affirmed.
BY THE COURT:·
.Llti:_Z:2
!u(.�ia�oberts Perez
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