Com. v. Lopez, W. ( 2023 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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. :
:
:
WALTER ALEXANDER LOPEZ :
:
Appellant : No. 888 MDA 2022
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 19, 2022
In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-06-CR-0000210-2019
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., MURRAY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED: FEBRUARY 22, 2023
Walter Alexander Lopez appeals from the judgment of sentence, entered
in the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County, after being convicted by a jury
of rape,1 statutory sexual assault,2 sexual assault,3 aggravated indecent
assault,4 and indecent assault.5 After review, we affirm.
During the summer of 2018, Lopez moved into H.Z.’s (minor victim)
family’s home, where H.Z.’s mother (Mother) and H.Z.’s three brothers also
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. 3121(a)(1).
2 Id. at 3122.1(a)(1).
3 Id. at 3124.1.
4 Id. at 3125(a)(8).
5 Id. at 3126(a)(8).
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resided. N.T. Jury Trial, 2/14/21, at 73-75. Lopez is H.Z.’s uncle. Id. at 133.
Beginning in September 2018, Lopez (19 years old) began to tickle H.Z. (13
years-old), touching her legs, arms, and hair. Id. at 83. Lopez would “play
it off as just joking.” Id. H.Z. did not tell anyone, but became “very
distanced” and began to have a bad relationship with Mother. Id. at 82.
H.Z. testified that starting in November 2018, Lopez began touching her
“private parts” over her clothing and told H.Z. “not to say anything” or Lopez
would “hurt [Mother] or [H.Z.’s] little brothers.” Id. at 84. H.Z. clarified that
her private parts included her “breasts and vagina.” Id. at 97. H.Z. also
testified that “[Lopez] would put his hands underneath [her] clothes by lifting
up [her] shirt or [her] pants,” id. at 86, and that Lopez wanted her to touch
or rub his penis with her hand. Id. at 88.
H.Z. testified that Lopez “[f]orced [her] to have sexual intimacy with
him and not just by touching.” Id. at 89. The following exchange took place
during direct examination.
[Assistant District Attorney]: Did he ever try to touch you inside
of your body with his hands?
[H.Z.]: Slightly.
[Assistant District Attorney]: When you say slightly, what do you
mean?
[H.Z]: Just rubbing with his fingers.
[Assistant District Attorney]: Now, understanding what a female’s
privates are like, was he able to put his fingers inside of you even
a little bit?
[H.Z.]: Yes.
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***
[Assistant District Attorney]: To be clear, what part of his body
was on what part of your body?
[H.Z.]: His penis was in my vagina.
Id. at 87.
H.Z. testified that Lopez would “hold [her] two hands with one hand . .
. . pin[nig] them to the couch,” “pull down [her] pants,” id. at 90, and lay
down on top of her. Id. at 91. This happened “three or four times.” Id. H.Z.
testified that “[she] would always turn [her] face and not look at [Lopez],” id.
at 92, and that Lopez “would have his face near [her] neck and [be] breathing
down [on her].” Id. at 92. H.Z. was able to push Lopez off of her during one
of these episodes because he was not holding her hands down. Id. at 93.
These incidents occurred on a red couch in H.Z.’s living room, id. at 85,
96, and while H.Z.’s mother was working. Id. at 88. Lopez never used a
condom and would ejaculate on top of H.Z. vagina, although sperm sometimes
fell on the couch.6 Id. at 91-92. H.Z. testified that Lopez would say a term
of endearment in Spanish to her and that she did not feel the same way about
Lopez. Id. at 90. H.Z. and Lopez were not married and were not dating. Id.
at 82, 91. H.Z. tried to avoid Lopez by staying near her Mother or her brothers
when they were home or FaceTiming a friend. Id. at 93, 98.
H.Z. told her mother about these incidents in December 2018, a few
weeks after they stopped. Id. at 104. H.Z. believed that Lopez stopped
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6 The parties stipulated that Lopez’s DNA matched spermatozoa found on the
red couch. N.T. Jury Trial, 2/15/22, at 172-73.
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because he was FaceTiming a girl. Id. H.Z. waited to tell Mother because
H.Z. was “still afraid of everything [Lopez] would say[,] that he [w]ould hurt
my mom or my little brothers.” Id. at 105.
Mother and E.G., Lopez’s cousin, confronted Lopez. Mother testified that
“[Lopez] said that he had raped her and that he didn’t want to but that he had
done it.” Id. at 138. Garcia testified that, “I asked [Lopez] why he had done
this and he told me that he did not think about it when he did this.” Id. at
126. Garcia also testified that during the confrontation, “H.Z. was downstairs
on the floor screaming, crying.” Id.
Doctor Renee Riddle, a pediatrician employed by Tower Health
Children’s Health Center, performed a medical evaluation of H.Z. on January
10, 2019. Id. at 117. Although H.Z.’s exam showed no signs of penetration,
Dr. Riddle did not expect to find signs of penetration or trauma. Id. at 120.
Doctor Riddle testified that: “Our bodies are smart[,] and we have sex all the
time and it doesn’t cause damage. The delay from the encounter to the exam,
if there was damage, it may be healed. Also, it’s just a physiological thing
that occurs so damage often does not happen.” Id. at 119.
Sergeant Gerardo Vega, a Berks County District Attorney’s Office
detective, reviewed a prison phone call between Lopez and his friend, G.F.
During the call, Lopez stated that H.Z. was “horny,” “likes dick” and “wasn’t
ashamed.” Id. at 157. Lopez also laughed when discussing the possibility of
H.Z. being pregnant. Id. at 156. Sergeant Vega testified, “[Lopez] goes on
to say that they’re pissed off that he ate her ass because they thought they
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were going to celebrate her 15th birthday and she was going to be a virgin.”
Id.
On January 30, 2019, Lopez was charged with the above-mentioned
crimes and proceeded to a jury trial on February 14, 2022. Following trial,
Lopez was convicted on all counts. Sentencing was deferred pending a
presentencing investigation (PSI) report and Sexual Offender’s Assessment
Board report. On May 19, 2022, Lopez was found not to be a sexually violent
predator. Thereafter, Lopez was sentenced to an aggregate term of thirteen
and one-half years to thirty-two years’ incarceration and ordered to register
as a Tier III sexual offender for a period of twenty-five years.7 Lopez filed a
post-sentence motion, which was denied. Lopez filed a timely notice of appeal
to this Court, and both he and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P.
1925. Lopez raises the following issues for our review:
1. Were there insufficient facts o[f] record from which it could be
inferred[,] beyond a reasonable doubt[,] that the sexual acts
between [Lopez] and [H.Z.] were non-consensual (in the
ordinary not-age-related sense)?
2. Did the verdicts otherwise go against the weight of the
evidence because of the unreliability of adverse testimony,
inter alia?
3. Were the length and consecutive nature of the sentences
imposed on [Lopez] manifestly unreasonable and did the court
abuse its discretion in imposing them by neglecting to consider
adequately the mitigating factors of the case?
Appellant’s Brief, at 6.
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7 Lopez’s statutory sexual assault and sexual assault convictions merged with
his rape conviction for the purposes of sentencing.
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Lopez first contends that the evidence supporting his rape and sexual
assault convictions is insufficient to show that the sexual acts between him
and H.Z. were non-consensual. Lopez supports his argument as follows: H.Z.
did not verbally protest during the sexual acts; H.Z.’s attempt to force Lopez
away does not necessarily indicate a lack of consent; H.Z. did not tell anyone
until after she found out Lopez was dating someone else; the way H.Z.
described the physical acts are almost physically impossible; and Dr. Riddle
found no evidence of violent force or trauma. See Appellant’s Brief, at 19-21.
Lopez is entitled to no relief.
This Court’s review of sufficiency claims is well-settled:
When reviewing challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, [this
Court] evaluates the record in the light more favorable to the
Commonwealth as 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 beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, the Commonwealth need not establish guilt to a
mathematical certainty, and it may sustain its burden by means
of wholly circumstantial evidence. In addition, the court may not
substitute its judgment for that of the fact[-]finder, and where the
record contains support for the convictions, they may not be
disturbed. Lastly, the finder of fact is free to believe some, all, or
none of the evidence presented.
Commonwealth v. Smith, 146 A.3d 257, 261-62 (Pa. Super. 2016)
(quotations and citations omitted).
A person commits rape when “the person engages in sexual intercourse
with complainant[ b]y forcible compulsion.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3121(a)(1). To
demonstrate forcible compulsion beyond a reasonable doubt, the
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Commonwealth must establish that the defendant “used either physical
force, a threat of physical force, or psychological coercion, since the mere
showing of a lack of consent does not support a conviction for rape by forcible
compulsion.” Commonwealth v. Eckrote, 12 A.3d 383, 387 (Pa. Super.
2010) (emphasis added). See Commonwealth v. Rhodes, 510 A.2d 1217,
1226 (Pa. 1986) (“the degree of force involved in rape . . . . is defined [by]
the effect it has on the victim’s volition”).
A determination of forcible compulsion rests on the totality of the
circumstances, which includes but is not limited to this list of
factors:
[T]he respective ages of the victim and the accused, the
respective mental and physical conditions of the victim and
the accused, the atmosphere and physical setting in which
the incident was alleged to have taken place, the extent to
which the accused may have been in a position of authority,
domination or custodial control over the victim, and whether
the victim was under duress.
Commonwealth v. Gonzalez, 109 A.3d 711, 720-21 (Pa. Super. 2015)
(citations and emphasis omitted).
Additionally, “[a] person commits [sexual assault] when that person
engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a complainant
without the complainant’s consent.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3124.1. In
Commonwealth v. Buffington, 828 A.2d 1024 (Pa. 2003), our Supreme
Court determined that sexual assault is a lesser included offense of rape. Id.
at 1031-33 (both require showing of sexual intercourse and “forcible
compulsion encompasses a lack of consent”).
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In Commonwealth v. Ables, 590 A.2d 334 (Pa. Super. 1991), the
defendant was convicted of, inter alia, raping his 13-year-old niece. Id. at
335-36. The Ables Court found forcible compulsion where the defendant
emotionally exploited the victim by requesting that she not tell anyone or that
the defendant would get in trouble. Id. at 338. The defendant “reli[ed] on
the impact of his intimidation to exact [the victim’s] submission” and, thus,
sufficiently frustrated her will to resist. Id. The Ables Court also determined
that the minor victim was under sufficient duress due to her age and the
aforementioned threat to legitimately explain her delay in complaining. Id.
at 341.
Instantly, Lopez threatened to hurt Mother and H.Z.’s brothers if H.Z.
told anyone about the incidents. N.T. Jury Trial, 2/14/22, at 85-86. H.Z.
believed these threats to be true. Id. at 86 (H.Z. stating “I can’t live without
my mom or my little brothers” and “I think everyone is capable to do anything
when it comes to violence.”). These threats, combined with H.Z.’s young age,
are sufficient to show both forcible compulsion through emotional exploitation
and lack of consent, and to explain the delay in H.Z. telling her Mother. See
Ables, supra.Evidence is also sufficient to show forcible compulsion through physical
force. H.Z. testified that, “[Lopez] would usually hold my two hands with one
hand. . . he would pin my hands on the couch next to me.” N.T. Jury Trial,
2/14/21, at 90. Additionally, H.Z. stated, “I would try to [] to push him off
with [] my body. Sometimes I wasn’t able to use my hands.” Id. at 93. A
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jury could reasonably infer from these statements that Lopez used superior
physical force to induce submission. Buffington, supra; Rhodes, supra.
Moreover, Lopez’s argument that H.Z. did not verbally or physically
indicate her lack of consent, and, thus, he had no reason to be aware of it is
meritless. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3107, “the alleged victim need not resist
the actor in prosecutions under this chapter.” See also Rhodes, 510 A.2d at
1227 n.14 (“lack of consent is not synonymous with lack of resistance”).
Instantly, H.Z. was not physically able to resist because Lopez pinned her
hands down on the couch. See N.T. Jury Trial, 2/14/22, at 90, 93. H.Z. also
explained that other times she “[d]idn’t know what to do in the moment so
[she] would just be still and just in shock.” Id. at 87. Accordingly, H.Z.’s
purported lack of resistance cannot constitute consent. See Rhodes, supra.
Further, Lopez’s argument that Dr. Riddle’s testimony is exculpatory
affords him no relief. Dr. Riddle explained that the examination occurred
months after the assaults occurred and, thus, she did not expect to find any
evidence of trauma. N.T. Jury Trial, 2/15/22, at 119-20. Additionally, medical
testimony is not necessary to corroborate H.Z.’s testimony. Commonwealth
v. Gabrielson, 536 A.3d 401 (Pa. Super. 1988) (uncorroborated testimony
of victim, if believed by the jury, is sufficient to support a rape conviction).
Here, H.Z. testimony details the incidents, including that Lopez held her down
and threatened her family. This testimony was believed by the jury. Id;
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In light of the foregoing, the evidence presented at trial was sufficient
for a jury to find forcible compulsion through both emotional exploitation and
physical force and that H.Z. did not consent. Ables, supra.Next, Lopez next contends that his convictions are against the weight of
the evidence because the jury “ignored the countervailing exculpatory
evidence,” including the prison phone-calls between him and G.F. Appellant’s
Brief, at 23, 25. Lopez also claims that Mother’s statement that H.Z. had told
Mother that Lopez “raped [her] without consent,” and that Mother’s statement
that Lopez admitted that he “raped” H.Z. “smack[] a little too much of canned
preparation.” Appellant’s Brief, at 25, quoting N.T. Jury Trial, 2/14/22, at 126,
138. Additionally, Lopez reiterates the arguments in his sufficiency claim.
This Court reviews weight of the evidence claims for an abuse of
discretion:
The weight of the evidence is exclusively for the finder of fact[,]
who is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence and to
determine the credibility of the witnesses. [This Court] cannot
substitute its judgment for that of the finder of fact. Thus, we
may only reverse the lower court’s verdict if it is so contrary to
the evidence as to shock one’s sense of justice. Moreover, where
the trial court has ruled on the weight claim below, [this Court’s]
role is not to consider the underlying question of whether the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence. Rather, appellate
review is limited to whether the trial court palpably abused its
discretion in ruling on the weight claim.
Commonwealth v. Hunzer, 868 A.2d 498, 506-07 (Pa. Super. 2005).
Additionally, “[a] motion for a new trial on the grounds that the verdict is
contrary to the weight of the evidence concedes that there is sufficient
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evidence to sustain the verdict. Thus, the trial court is under no obligation to
review the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict winner.”
Commonwealth v. Dupre, 866 A.2d 1089, 1101 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citations
omitted).
The trial court addressed Lopez’s weight claim as follows:
The jury in the matter sub judice was free to assign credibility to
the testimony and evidence presented at the trial, including H.Z.'s
testimony that [Lopez] had rape[d] and sexually assaulted her by
forcible compulsion and without her consent. The jury was well
within its province as the finder of fact to believe Dr. Riddle[,] who
stated that [] her examination of H.Z, was a “normal examination”
to the extent that the body was able to heal from any damage
caused. The jury also heard testimony regarding Appellant’s DNA
found on the couch cushions where H.Z. testified that the sexual
assaults occurred. Therefore, we believe that this court did not
err in denying Appellant's post-sentence motion challenging the
weight of the evidence.
Trial Court Opinion, 8/11/22, at 12.
Based on our comprehensive review of the record, we can discern no
palpable abuse of discretion in the trial court’s ruling on this issue. Thus, we
conclude that Lopez’s rape and sexual assault convictions were not against
the weight of the evidence. Hunzer, supra.
Lopez’s third claim challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence,
from which there is no automatic right to appeal. See Commonwealth v.
Austin, 66 A.3d 798, 807-08 (Pa. Super. 2013). Rather, when an appellant
challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence, we must consider his
brief on this issue as a petition for permission to appeal. Commonwealth v.
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Yanoff, 690 A.2d 260, 267 (Pa. Super. 1997). Prior to reaching the merits of
a discretionary aspects of sentencing issue,
[this Court conducts] a four-part analysis to determine: (1)
whether the 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, 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, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).
Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 170 (Pa. Super. 2010) (quotation
marks and some citations omitted).
Presently, Lopez filed a timely notice of appeal and preserved his issues
in a post-sentence motion for reconsideration. Further, Lopez’s brief includes
a concise statement of reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal with
respect to the discretionary aspects of his sentence pursuant to Rule 2119(f).
Thus, we must determine if Lopez raises a substantial question.
A substantial question exists when “the appellant advances a colorable
argument that the sentencing judge’s actions were either: (1) inconsistent
with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code; or (2) contrary to the
fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing process.” Commonwealth
v. Austin, 66 A.3d 789, 808 (Pa. Super. 2013). Additionally, “we cannot look
beyond the statement of questions presented and the prefatory Rule 2119(f)
statement to determine whether a substantial question exists.”
Commonwealth v. Radecki, 180 A.3d 441, 468 (Pa. Super. 2018).
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Lopez’s Rule 2119(f) statement and questions presented on appeal
allege that the sentencing court abused its discretion where the length and
consecutive nature of the sentence imposed is manifestly unreasonable
because the sentencing court did not adequately consider the mitigating
factors. Appellant’s Brief, at 13.
In Commonwealth v. Johnson, 961 A.2d 877 (Pa. Super. 2008), this
Court determined that a defendant’s claim that a sentencing court abused its
discretion by imposing consecutive sentences without properly considering
mitigating factors failed to present a substantial question. Id. at 880; see
Commonwealth v. Hoag, 665 A.2d 1212, 1213 (Pa. Super. 1995) (“we see
no reason why [a defendant] should be afforded a ‘volume discount’ for his
crimes by having all sentences run concurrently”). Accordingly, Lopez has not
raised a substantial question and is not entitled to a review of this claim on
the merits.
However, even if we were to find a substantial question, Lopez is
afforded no relief. Lopez argues that the court failed to consider the relative
lack of disparity between the parties’ ages, the lack of evidence involved, and
that the acts, if non-consensual, were barely so. Appellant’s Brief, at 27.
Lopez also claims the indictments should be treated as a single criminal
episode warranting concurrent sentences. Id.Pursuant to section 9721, of the Sentencing Code, it is within a trial
court’s discretion to impose sentences of imprisonment consecutively or
concurrently to one another, and this determination will not be disturbed
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absent a finding of manifest excessiveness of an aggregate sentence. 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(a). Additionally, in fashioning a sentence the trial court shall
consider the gravity offense scores, the defendant’s rehabilitative needs, the
impact on the victim and the community, and the need to protect the public.
Id. at § 9721(b). Further, where the sentencing court has the benefit of a
PSI, we can assume it was aware of the defendant’s character and weighed
those considerations along with mitigating factors. See Moury, supra at 171.
Here, in fashioning Lopez’s sentence the trial court considered the
testimony at trial, H.Z.’s statement at sentencing, a PSI, offense gravity
scores, Lopez’s prior record score (0), and the surrounding circumstances,
including that “[Lopez] was given refuge and shelter [at H.Z.’s family’s home]
and chose to commit these horrible assaults on his niece.” N.T. Sentencing,
5/25/22, at 10-11.
Further, any purported lack of disparity in age is of no consequence
when forcible compulsion exists. Additionally, there is no sliding scale consent
determination recognized anywhere in our law. Moreover, Lopez’s conduct
was not a single criminal episode. Starting in September 2018, Lopez began
to tickle H.Z.’s arms and legs. N.T. Jury Trial, 2/14/22, at 83. Sometime in
November 2018, Lopez began to touch underneath H.Z.’s clothing and then
have intercourse with her. Id. at 86. H.Z. testified that Lopez had sexual
intercourse with her “three or four times.” Id. at 92.
Based on the foregoing, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
fashioning Lopez’s sentence. Johnson, supra; Hoag, supra.- 14 -
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Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/22/2023
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