Com. v. Lee, D. ( 2016 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
DOMINIQUE MARSHON LEE,
Appellant No. 1299 EDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence April 17, 2015
in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County
Criminal Division at No.: CP-15-CR-0001738-2013
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., SHOGAN, J., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED DECEMBER 29, 2016
Appellant, Dominique Marshon Lee, appeals from the judgment of
sentence imposed after his jury conviction of murder of the second degree,
robbery, burglary, and criminal conspiracy.1 We affirm.
In its May 3, 2016 opinion, the trial court aptly set forth the relevant
facts, as follows:
Shortly after midnight on June 29, 2012, three armed men
burst into the living room of the apartment shared by Dominick
Williams and Aaron Crawford. Mr. Crawford was asleep in his
bedroom. Mr. Williams was awake and playing video games in
the living room. All three intruders wore t-shirts wrapped
around their faces to disguise their identity. One of the intruders
immediately shot Mr. Williams in the groin. Another of the
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*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502(b), 3701(a), 3502(a), 903, respectively.
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intruders went to Mr. Crawford’s bedroom and grabbed a clear,
plastic jar that contained marijuana, money and a pack of
cigarettes. All three intruders then ran from the apartment.
Dominick Williams remained on his living room floor bleeding to
death. Later, at the hospital, he died.
Shortly after the robbery[,] the police located the plastic
jar about two blocks away from the victim’s apartment. Located
nearby was a black t-shirt. Subsequent testing revealed the
presence of [Appellant’s] thumbprint on the jar, and co-
defendant Marquis Rayner’s[2] DNA on the t-shirt. Marquis
Rayner and [Appellant], who are half-brothers, were
subsequently arrested for the murder of Dominick Williams.
On November 20, 2014, after a four-day trial, a jury found
Appellant guilty of second degree murder, robbery, burglary, and
criminal conspiracy. He was sentenced to life in prison on April
17, 2015. [The trial court] denied his optional post-sentence
motion by order dated April 23, 2015. This appeal followed.
(Trial Court Opinion, 5/03/16, at 1-2).
Appellant raises four questions for this Court’s review:
1. Were the convictions for murder of the second degree,
robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery and
burglary against the weight of the evidence? Were the verdicts
against the weight of the evidence when the only evidence was
[Appellant’s] fingerprint on the glass jar with other persons’ DNA
found [one and one-half] blocks from the crime and [fifteen] feet
from another persons’ DNA on a black tee shirt?
2. Were the convictions for murder of the second degree,
robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery and
burglary not supported by sufficient evidence?
3. Did the Assistant District Attorney err in his opening
statement and err again when presenting Detective Dutter by
stating his office received an anonymous tip linking [Appellant]
(half-brother of Mr. Rayner) as a participant in the crime? Did
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2
Marquis Rayner filed an appeal at docket number 1263 EDA 2015.
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[the trial court] err in denying the defense request for a mistrial?
Did this intentional error violate [Appellant’s] right to confront a
critical witness in violation of the Sixth Amendment of the United
States Constitution and Article I, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania
Constitution and further, was this improper hearsay, particularly
since Mr. Rayner [sic] was charged with conspiracy?
4. Did [the trial court] err by interfering improperly with Mr.
Stretton’s[3] cross-examination of a key prosecution witness on
his critical testimony on the tee shirt, and did [the trial court] err
in criticizing Mr. Stretton before the jury? Did [the trial court]
further err in repeatedly and incorrectly criticizing Mr. Stretton
during his closing argument on the issue of burden of proof? Did
[the trial court] wrongly criticize Mr. Stretton in front of the jury?
Did [the trial court] err in not granting a mistrial? Did [the trial
court’s] improper interference and criticism of Mr. Stretton
prejudice [Appellant], deny him a fair trial, and impact on
[Appellant’s] [Sixth] Amendment right to effective counsel?
(Appellant’s Brief, at 6-8).4
Appellant’s first two issues challenge the sufficiency and weight of the
evidence to support his convictions. (See id. at 40-52).5 For ease of
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3
Attorney Samuel Stretton was trial counsel for Appellant’s co-defendant,
Marquis Rayner.
4
In the argument section of his brief, Appellant includes a claim that the
prosecutor committed misconduct during his closing argument. (See
Appellant’s Brief, at 58-65). However, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of
Appellate Procedure 2116(a), “[n]o question will be considered unless it is
stated in the statement of questions involved or is fairly suggested thereby.”
Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a). Therefore, the allegation is waived. See
Commonwealth v. Hodge, 144 A.3d 170, 172 n.4 (Pa. Super. 2016)
(waiving claim raised in argument section of brief that was not raised in
statement of questions involved).
5
Although Appellant recognizes that each of these issues has its own
standard, (see Appellant’s Brief, at 47), he appears to confuse the legal
concepts. (See id. at 40-52). For example, “[a] motion for new trial on the
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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disposition, we will address Appellant’s sufficiency challenge first, and then
his weight of the evidence claim. Appellant’s challenge to the sufficiency of
the evidence lacks merit.
Our standard of review of this matter 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 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
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
finder 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.
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
grounds that the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence, concedes
that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the verdict.” Commonwealth v.
Widmer, 744 A.2d 745, 751 (Pa. 2000) (citation omitted). However, in
support of his weight of the evidence challenge, Appellant repeatedly states
that the Commonwealth failed to prove the elements necessary to support
his convictions. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 43-45). Also, in his sufficiency
challenge, Appellant maintains that “[t]he speculative and conflicting nature
of the testimony would warrant a reversal on the basis of sufficiency of
evidence.” (Appellant’s Brief, at 50). However, this allegation goes to the
weight of the evidence. See Commonwealth v. Doleno, 633 A.2d 203,
206 (Pa. Super. 1993) (“claim goes to the weight of the evidence because it
depends upon a resolution of the conflicting testimony of competing
witnesses.”).
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Commonwealth v. Stiles, 143 A.3d 968, 981 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citation
omitted). In other words, “[a] mere conflict in the testimony of the
witnesses does not render the evidence insufficient because it is within the
province of the factfinder to determine the weight to be given to the
testimony and to believe all, part, or none of the evidence.”
Commonwealth v. Rabold, 920 A.2d 857, 858 (Pa. Super. 2007),
affirmed, 951 A.2d 329 (Pa. 2008) (citation omitted).
In this case, Appellant was convicted of murder of the second degree,
robbery, burglary, and conspiracy.
Pursuant to section 2502 of the Crimes Code, “[a] criminal homicide
constitutes murder of the second degree when it is committed while
defendant was engaged as a principal or an accomplice in the perpetration of
a felony.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(b). The Crimes Code also provides, in
pertinent part, that “[a] person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of
committing a theft, he . . . inflicts serious bodily injury upon another [or]
threatens another with or intentionally puts him in fear of immediate serious
bodily injury[.]” 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii). It further provides, “[a]
person commits the offense of burglary if, with the intent to commit a crime
therein, the person . . . enters a building or occupied structure, or separately
secured or occupied portion thereof that is adapted for overnight
accommodations in which at the time of the offense any person is
present[.]” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a). Finally:
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A person is guilty of conspiracy with another person or persons
to commit a crime if with the intent of promoting or facilitating
its commission he . . . agrees with such other person or persons
that they or one or more of them will engage in conduct which
constitutes such crime . . . or . . . agrees to aid such other
person or persons in the planning or commission of such crime .
...
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903(a).
Here, the evidence at trial established that three men burst into
Dominick Williams’ apartment with the intent of robbing him. (See N.T.
Trial, 11/17/14, at 67, 69, 150). The men were armed with guns and wore
t-shirts across their faces. (See id. at 66-68, 77, 118-19, 132). After
shooting Mr. Williams, and pistol whipping his roommate, Aaron Crawford,
one of the men stole a plastic-lidded jar that contained marijuana and other
items. (See id. at 155-57). The individual was not wearing gloves. (See
id. at 150).
As further described by the trial court:
Approximately [ninety] minutes after Dominick Williams
had been shot, police officer Stephen Galletta of the Coatesville
City Police Department located the clear plastic jar tossed in a
hedge row approximately a block and a half from the crime
scene. (See id. at 244). The jar contained a pack of Newport
cigarettes. (See id. at 163). Located several feet away was a
black t-shirt. (See id. at 244, 248). Witness Aaron Crawford
was brought to the discovery scene and identified the jar as the
one taken from his bedroom earlier that morning, and the t-shirt
as the type of shirt that one of the robbers had been wearing
across his face. (See id. at 161-64).
Chester County Detective Kenneth Beam testified as an
expert in the field of fingerprint analysis. Detective Beam
received as evidence the plastic jar and t-shirt found close to the
scene of the robbery. (See N.T. Trial, 11/18/14, at 49).
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Detective Bean testified that the print with the sharpest and
clearest detail found on the plastic jar belonged to Appellant.
(See id. at 65, 69, 73). . . .
(Trial Ct. Op., at 4-5) (some record citation formatting provided).
Considering the foregoing evidence in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, we conclude that the trial court properly found that it was
sufficient to support each of Appellant’s convictions. See Stiles, supra at
981. In fact, Appellant’s argument, that the testimony was insufficient
because it conflicted, fails where it was within the province of the jury, as
fact finder, “to determine the weight to be given to the testimony and to
believe all, part, or none of the evidence.” Rabold, supra at 858.
Appellant’s challenge the sufficiency of the evidence does not merit relief.
Next, Appellant challenges the weight of the evidence on the basis that
“[t]he only evidence placing [him] at the crime is particularly flimsy in that
[his] fingerprints were found on the jar that was taken and was sitting in a
bush [fifteen] feet [away].” (Appellant’s Brief, at 43; see id. at 40-47).
Appellant’s claim does not merit relief.
The Court’s standard of review of a weight of the evidence claim is a
stringent one:
The finder of fact is the exclusive judge of the weight of
the evidence as the fact finder is free to believe all, part, or none
of the evidence presented and determines the credibility of the
witnesses.
As an appellate court, we cannot substitute our judgment
for that of the finder of fact. Therefore, we will reverse a jury’s
verdict and grant a new trial only where the verdict is so
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contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of justice. A
verdict is said to be contrary to the evidence such that it shocks
one’s sense of justice when the figure of Justice totters on her
pedestal, or when the jury’s verdict, at the time of its rendition,
causes the trial judge to lose his breath, temporarily, and causes
him to almost fall from the bench, then it is truly shocking to the
judicial conscience.
Furthermore, where the trial court has ruled on the weight
claim below, an appellate 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. Boyd, 73 A.3d 1269, 1274-75 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(citation and quotation marks omitted).
In this case, the trial court “presided over Appellant’s trial. . . . [It
did] not find the jury’s verdict so contrary to the evidence as to shock the
[c]ourt’s sense of justice. Thus, [it] specifically [found] that the verdict
entered in this matter was not against the weight of the evidence.” (Trial
Ct. Op., at 6). We decline Appellant’s invitation to re-weigh the evidence in
this matter, and conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying his weight of the evidence challenge. See Boyd, supra at 1274-
75. Appellant’s weight of the evidence claim does not merit relief.
In Appellant’s third issue, he challenges the trial court’s denial of his
co-defendant’s motions for a mistrial after the Commonwealth’s attorney
referenced an anonymous tip during his opening statement and his
examination of Detective Dutter. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 52-58). This
issue is waived.
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It is well settled that a claim of prosecutorial misconduct is waived on
appeal if the defendant did not lodge a contemporaneous objection to the
alleged impropriety at trial. See Commonwealth v. May, 887 A.2d 750,
758 (Pa. 2005); see also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); Commonwealth v. Cannady,
590 A.2d 356, 362 (Pa. Super. 1991), appeal denied, 600 A.2d 950 (Pa.
1991) (concluding where defendant did not object or join in co-defendant’s
objection, issue was waived as to defendant for purposes of appeal);
Commonwealth v. Woods, 418 A.2d 1346, 1352 (Pa. Super. 1980) (issue
waived where appellant failed to join objection of co-defendant).
In this case, although Rayner’s counsel objected to the prosecutor’s
remarks and moved for mistrials, Appellant neither lodged his own objection
nor joined in his co-defendant’s objections and motions. (See N.T. Trial,
11/17/14, at 18; N.T. Trial, 11/18/14, at 183-84). Therefore, because the
objection by co-defendant did not preserve the issue for Appellant’s appeal,
this issue is waived.6 See Cannady, supra at 362; Woods, supra at
1352; see also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); May, supra at 758. Moreover, it would
not merit relief.
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6
Appellant’s issue also is waived for his failure to identify where he
preserved this issue, in contravention of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate
Procedure. See Pa.R.A.P. 2117(c) (appellant’s statement of the case must
state where in record issue raised and preserved for appeal); Pa.R.A.P.
2119(e) (argument section of brief must state where issue raised and
preserved for appeal); Commonwealth v. Kane, 10 A.3d 327, 333 (Pa.
Super. 2010), appeal denied, 29 A.3d 796 (Pa. 2011) (finding claim waived
for appellant’s failure to identify where issue preserved).
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It is well-settled that the review of a trial court’s denial of
a motion for a mistrial is limited to determining whether the trial
court abused its discretion. An abuse of discretion is not merely
an error of judgment, but if in reaching a conclusion the law is
overridden or misapplied, or the judgment exercised is
manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice,
bias or ill-will . . . discretion is abused. A trial court may grant a
mistrial only where the incident upon which the motion is based
is of such a nature that its unavoidable effect is to deprive the
defendant of a fair trial by preventing the jury from weighing
and rendering a true verdict. A mistrial is not necessary where
cautionary instructions are adequate to overcome prejudice.
Commonwealth v. Chamberlain, 30 A.3d 381, 422 (Pa. 2011), cert.
denied, 132 S. Ct. 2377 (2012) (citations and quotation marks omitted);
see also Commonwealth v. Jemison, 98 A.3d 1254, 1263 (Pa. 2014)
(observing that “the jury is presumed to follow the court’s instructions.”)
(citation omitted).
In the case sub judice, Appellant first argues that the trial court erred
in denying the motion for a mistrial where the Commonwealth’s counsel
referred to prejudicial hearsay during his opening statement. (See
Appellant’s Brief, at 53). This argument lacks merit.
It has long been the law of this Commonwealth that:
Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by the
declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in
evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. [See]
Pa.R.E. 801(c). Thus, any out of court statement offered not for
its truth but to explain the witness’s course of conduct is not
hearsay.
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 42 A.3d 1017, 1035 (Pa. 2012), cert. denied,
133 S. Ct. 1795 (2013) (case citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
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Here, during the Commonwealth’s opening statement, the prosecutor
explained the process by which the fingerprint on the jar was identified.
Specifically, after stating that investigators had been unable to identify the
fingerprints for approximately six months, the prosecutor stated:
Now it’s time for me to talk about that second lucky break
that happened in January of 2013 when Detective Harold Dutter
received an anonymous tip from someone who identified
[Appellant] as one of the men who [was] involved in the home
invasion robbery.
(N.T. Trial, 11/17/14, at 18). This statement about the tipster was made to
explain the course of conduct pursued by the police, not for the truth of the
matter asserted. Therefore, it was not hearsay. See Johnson, supra at
1035. Additionally, even if the remark were hearsay, after the
Commonwealth’s counsel completed his opening statement, the court
instructed the jury:
Ladies and gentlemen, before we get to the defense
opening, I need to give you an instruction. You recall that
during the course of [the prosecutor’s] opening[,] he made
mention of what a tipster said and certain tipster information
was provided to the police and there was an objection by
defense. I need to give you an instruction with respect to that.
When an anonymous tip comes to the police[,] the police
are allowed to act on an anonymous tip. In other words, they
are allowed to check fingerprints and identities and these types
of things. But what the tipster said, his actual words[,] is not
evidence of [Appellant’s] guilt and you may not consider what
the tipster said as being evidence of any defendant’s guilt.
However, the prints that were checked as a result of the
tip is evidence that you may consider in this particular case. . . .
(N.T. Trial, 11/17/14, at 30-31).
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Therefore, based on the foregoing, any prejudice allegedly suffered by
Appellant was cured by the court’s cautionary instruction, which the jury is
presumed to have followed. See Jemison, supra at 1263; Chamberlain,
supra at 422. Hence, Appellant’s argument would lack merit.
Similarly, Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion
when it denied co-defendant’s motion for a mistrial on the basis of the
prosecutor’s questioning of Detective Dutter about the anonymous tip. (See
Appellant’s Brief, at 54-56). Appellant maintains that, because the
anonymous tip led to the identification of his fingerprint, the tip was “very
damning evidence” that denied him the right of confrontation. (Id. at 55).
However, this argument also would fail.
A review of the testimony reveals that the Commonwealth’s attorney
asked Detective Dutter at what point during the investigation Appellant’s
name came up, to which the detective responded that it was through an
anonymous tip. (N.T. Trial, 11/18/14, at 183). Co-defendant objected and
moved for a mistrial, which the trial court denied after cautioning the jury
that: “[J]ust because somebody’s name comes up in an anonymous tip, it is
not to be construed in any way by you as evidence against that individual.
It[ is] simply being used in this context to show that the police took [a] step
and went forward. . . .” (Id. at 183-84).
As previously observed, the statement by the anonymous tipster was
not hearsay because it was offered to show why the police took the
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investigation in the direction that they did, not for the truth of the matter
asserted; and, in any event, the cautionary instruction provided by the trial
court was sufficient to overcome any potential prejudice. See Johnson,
supra at 1035; Chamberlain, supra at 422; see also Jemison, supra at
1263. Therefore, this argument would fail, and Appellant’s third issue would
lack merit.
In his fourth issue, Appellant argues that the trial court improperly
interfered with trial. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 65-79). Specifically, he
maintains:
[The trial court] improperly interfered with Mr. Stretton’s cross-
examination of a key prosecution witness and commented on the
evidence. Further, [the trial court] criticized Mr. Stretton
repeatedly in front of the jury and incorrectly and repeatedly
interrupted his closing speech and criticized Mr. Stretton for the
closing speech in front of the jury, even though Mr. Stretton
gave an appropriate closing speech. [The trial court] refused a
mistrial request. [The trial court’s] interference, commenting on
evidence, improper criticism and interruption of Mr. Stretton’s
closing speeches denied Mr. Rayner, his right to due process and
a fair trial and impacted on Mr. Rayner’s Sixth Amendment right
to effective counsel.
(Id. at 65) (underlining omitted). Appellant’s issue is waived, and would not
merit relief.
Mr. Stretton was Mr. Rayner’s trial counsel. (See, e.g., N.T. Trial,
11/17/14, at 1). Appellant had his own legal representation at trial. (See
id.). Appellant’s counsel failed to object to any of the trial court’s
interactions with co-defendant’s counsel. (See N.T. Trial, 11/17/14, at
186-87, 190-91, 198-99; N.T. Trial, 11/19/14, at 160-61). Therefore,
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Appellant’s claim is waived. See Cannady, supra at 362; Woods, supra
at 1352; see also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); May, supra at 758.
Moreover, not only does Appellant fail to provide any argument about
how the court’s interactions with Mr. Stretton prejudiced him, (see
Appellant’s Brief, at 65-79), after our independent, exhaustive review of the
entire record in this matter, we are unable to discern how any of the trial
court’s exchanges with Mr. Stretton “so prejudice[d] the jurors against
[Appellant] that it may reasonably be said [that the remarks] deprived [him]
of a fair and impartial trial.” Commonwealth v. Melvin, 103 A.3d 1, 39
(Pa. Super. 2014) (citation, footnote, and quotation marks omitted).
Appellant’s fourth issue would not merit relief.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/29/2016
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