Com. v. Wiggins, D. ( 2015 )

J. A03036/15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
DEREK J. WIGGINS, :
:
Appellant : No. 440 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 10, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
Criminal Division No(s).: CP-36-CR-0003291-2012
BEFORE: MUNDY, STABILE, and FITZGERALD,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY FITZGERALD, J.: FILED JUNE 09, 2015
Appellant, Derek J. Wiggins, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas following a jury trial
and his convictions for Rape of a Child,1 Involuntary Deviate Sexual
Intercourse with a Child,2 Indecent Assault,3 Corruption of Minors,4 and
Unlawful Contact with a Minor.5 Appellant contends the trial court erred in
*
Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1
18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(c).
2
18 Pa.C.S. § 3123(b).
3
18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(7).
4
18 Pa.C.S. § 6301(a)(1)(ii).
5
18 Pa.C.S. § 6318(a)(1).
J. A03036/15
(1) its rulings on several evidentiary issues and (2) improperly refusing a
requested jury instruction. He challenges, pursuant to Commonwealth v.
Wolfe, 106 A.3d 800 (Pa. Super. 2014), the imposition of a mandatory
minimum sentence pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718, which was declared
unconstitutional. We affirm the convictions below, vacate the judgment of
sentence, and remand for resentencing.
We adopt the facts set forth by the trial court’s opinion. See Trial Ct.
Op., 4/28/14, at 1-4. On February 10, 2014, the court sentenced Appellant
to a, aggregate total of ten to twenty years’ imprisonment. This timely
appeal followed. Appellant timely filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
statement of errors complained of on appeal and the trial court filed a
responsive opinion.
Appellant raises the following issues on appeal:
I. Did the trial court err when it ruled that the defense was
precluded from questioning [H.F.,] the child victim, her
Mother, and her Stepmother about the fact that the child
had previously accused a neighbor with the same name as
Appellant of asking to perform a sexual act on her?
II. Did the trial court improperly permit the prosecutor to
vouch for the veracity of the child witness by allowing her
to lead the witness, on redirect examination, to state that
during her prior testimony she had answered in the
affirmative every time counsel had ended a question with
the word “right?”
III. Did the court improperly preclude the defense from
introducing evidence to show that the child victim’s Great-
Grandfather had pled guilty to three counts of molestation
involving young girls to show: (1) that he might have been
the perpetrator in the instant case; and (2) to impeach the
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testimony of Michele Windle and to show that members of
the Cornelius family were familiar with the processes and
consequences of child abuse investigations?
IV. Did the trial court improperly prevent the defense from
questioning the child’s Mother about the contents of a
diary she maintained during the time when the child victim
was allegedly abused?
V. Did the trial court improperly rule that the defense had
opened the door to questioning regarding Appellant’s
discharge from the military?
VI. Did the trial court err in refusing to give requested
Pennsylvania Standard Criminal Jury Instruction 4.08A,
Impeachment or Substantive Evidence─Inconsistent
Statement, where the child victim, whose credibility was
dispositive to the outcome of this case, made numerous
prior inconsistent statements?
Appellant’s Brief at 5-6.
At oral argument before this Court, Appellant requested permission to
file a post-submission communication. This Court granted the request.
Order, 2/6/15. Appellant raises the following issue in its post-submission
communication: “Is Appellant entitled to a new sentencing hearing based on
this Court’s determination, in Commonwealth v. Wolfe, [ ] that 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 9718, the sentence under which he was sentenced, is unconstitutional?”6
Appellant’s Post-Submission Communication, 2/13/15, at 5 (unpaginated).
6
The statute provided for mandatory sentences. “Application of a
mandatory sentencing provision implicates the legality, not the
discretionary, aspects of sentencing.” Commonwealth v. Dixon, 53 A.3d
839, 842 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation omitted). Appellant challenges the
legality of his sentence. “[L]egality of sentencing claims per se can be
raised for the first time on direct appeal.” Commonwealth v. Brown, 71
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We summarize Appellant’s arguments for his first five issues.
Appellant avers that the fact that H.F. claimed another individual with the
same name as his abused her was relevant to the fact-finder’s assessment
of her credibility and should not have been precluded from evidence.
Appellant argues the court improperly permitted the prosecutor to bolster
H.F.’s credibility by explaining the inconsistencies in her testimony were due
to counsel’s phrasing of his questions in prior proceedings. Appellant claims
the court erred in precluding evidence that H.F.’s great-grandfather pled
guilty to three counts of molestation of young girls. He avers that this
evidence was relevant to the theory that there could have been an alternate
perpetrator. Appellant contends the court should have permitted the
defense to question H.F.’s mother about the contents of her diary in which
she observed changes in H.F.’s behavior after visits with her biological father
and his family. Appellant argues the trial court erred in permitting the
Commonwealth to introduce evidence that he was demoted from the rank of
A.3d 1009, 1016 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied, 77 A.3d 635 (Pa. 2013).
We note the Commonwealth avers that it filed a petition for allowance of
appeal in Wolfe, which is pending before the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania. See Commonwealth’s Post Submission Communication,
2/20/15, at 3. This Court has held “even though [a] petition for allowance
of appeal was pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, [the]
decision remains binding precedent as long as the decision has not been
overturned by our Supreme Court[.]” Commonwealth v. Santiago, 980
A.2d 659, 666 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2009) (citation omitted).
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Corporal to Lance Corporal and not permitted to re-enlist in the Marine
Corps.7 We hold no relief is due.
On these issues, our standard of review is as follows:
A trial court has broad discretion to determine whether
evidence is admissible and trial court’s ruling on an
evidentiary issue will be reversed only if the court abused
its discretion. Accordingly, a ruling admitting evidence
“will not be disturbed on appeal unless that ruling reflects
manifest unreasonableness, or partiality, prejudice, bias,
or ill-will, or such lack of support to be clearly erroneous.”
Commonwealth v. Huggins, 68 A.3d 962, 966 (Pa. Super.) (citations
omitted), appeal denied, 80 A.3d 775 (Pa. 2013).
We review the court’s ruling on a motion in limine as follows:
“[A] motion in limine is a procedure for obtaining a ruling
on the admissibility of evidence prior to trial, which is
similar to a ruling on a motion to suppress evidence,
[therefore] our standard of review . . . is the same as that
of a motion to suppress.” The admission of evidence is
committed to the sound discretion of the trial court, and
our review is for an abuse of discretion.
Commonwealth v. Rosen, 42 A.3d 988, 993 (Pa. 2012) (citations
omitted).
As to these issues, after careful consideration of the record, the
parties’ briefs, and the decision of the Honorable Jeffrey D. Wright, we find
7
We note Appellant raised this issue before trial and the court reserved
ruling on it. N.T., 10/29/13 at 36-37.
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no relief is due and adopt the trial court’s well-reasoned opinion.8 See Trial
Ct. Op. at 5-14 (holding H.F.’s allegations about a neighbor in Kansas, also
named Derek, were irrelevant; Commonwealth did not ask H.F. leading
questions, rather it attempted to rehabilitate H.F.; evidence of H.F.’s Great-
Grandfather’s charges, and references to them in Mother’s diary, were
irrelevant and prejudicial, as there was no established connection between
H.F. and her Great-Grandfather; and questions regarding Appellant’s
discharge from the military were properly permitted as defendant’s counsel
opened the door). We discern no abuse of discretion. See Rosen, 42 A.3d
at 993; Huggins, 68 A.3d at 966;.
Next, Appellant contends the trial court erred in refusing to give
requested Pennsylvania Standard Criminal Jury Instruction 4.08A,
Impeachment or Substantive Evidence─Inconsistent Statement. Appellant
avers the trial court erred in stating counsel had waived 9 this issue because
“counsel had already lodged his objection to the court’s refusal to issue the
requested charge . . . .” Appellant’s Brief at 32 n.6.
As a prefatory matter, we consider whether Appellant has preserved
this issue for our review. In Commonwealth v. Parker, 104 A.3d 17 (Pa.
8
We note typographical errors in the citations for Commonwealth v.
Petrillo, 19 A.2d 288 (Pa. 1941) and Commonwealth v. Myers, 621 A.2d
1009 (Pa. Super. 1993). See Trial Ct. Op. at 12, 15.
9
We note the trial court addressed the issue and held it to be meritless,
notwithstanding the fact that it found waiver. See Trial Ct. Op. at 14-16.
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Super. 2014), this Court found the appellant had waived his objection to the
jury charge, although he objected at the charging conference, because he
failed to object after the court read the charge to the jury. Id. at 29. This
Court opined:
In order to preserve a claim that a jury instruction was
erroneously given, the Appellant must have objected to the
charge at trial. See Commonwealth v. Spotz, [ ] 84
A.3d 294, 318 n. 18 ([Pa.] 2014) (citations omitted);
Pa.R.A.P. 302(b) (“A general exception to the charge to
the jury will not preserve an issue for appeal. Specific
exception shall be taken to the language or omission
complained of.”); Pa.R.Crim.P. 647(B) (“No portions of
the charge nor omissions from the charge may be
assigned as error, unless specific objections are
made thereto before the jury retires to deliberate.”).
As our Supreme Court has explained:
The pertinent rules, therefore, require a specific
objection to the charge or an exception to the trial
court’s ruling on a proposed point to preserve an
issue involving a jury instruction. Although
obligating counsel to take this additional step
where a specific point for charge has been
rejected may appear counterintuitive, as the
requested instruction can be viewed as alerting the
trial court to a defendant’s substantive legal position,
it serves the salutary purpose of affording the
court an opportunity to avoid or remediate
potential error, thereby eliminating the need
for appellate review of an otherwise correctable
issue.
Commonwealth v. Pressley, [ ] 887 A.2d 220, 224
([Pa.] 2005) (footnotes and citations omitted); see
Commonwealth v. Garang, 9 A.3d 237, 244–245 (Pa.
Super. 2010) (citations omitted); Commonwealth v.
Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 178 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citations
omitted).
Id. (emphases added).
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In the case sub judice, at the conclusion of the jury charge, the court
asked counsel “anything that wasn’t covered?” N.T., 11/1/13, at 664.
Counsel stated: “No. There was nothing that wasn’t covered.” Id. Having
failed to raise a specific objection after the charge was given and before the
jury retired to deliberate, we find the issue waived. See Parker, 104 A.3d
at 29.
Lastly, Appellant contends that he is entitled to a new sentencing
hearing based on this Court’s determination in Wolfe that 42 Pa.C.S. §
9718,10 the statute under which he was sentenced, is unconstitutional. Our
10
Section 9718 provides, inter alia, as follows:
(a) Mandatory sentence.─
(1) A person convicted of the following offenses when
the victim is less than 16 years of age shall be
sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment as
follows:
18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) and (4) (relating to aggravated
assault)--not less than two years.
18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(a)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) (relating
to rape)--not less than ten years.
18 Pa.C.S. § 3123 (relating to involuntary deviate
sexual intercourse)--not less than ten years.
18 Pa.C.S. § 3125(a)(1) through (6) (relating to
aggravated indecent assault)--not less than five years.
* * *
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standard of review of questions involving the legality of a sentence is well-
settled:
“A challenge to the legality of a sentence . . . may be
entertained as long as the reviewing court has
jurisdiction.” It is also well-established that “[i]f no
statutory authorization exists for a particular sentence,
that sentence is illegal and subject to correction.” “An
illegal sentence must be vacated.” “Issues relating to
the legality of a sentence are questions of law[.] . . . Our
(3) A person convicted of the following offenses shall be
sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment as
follows:
18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(c) and (d)--not less than ten years.
18 Pa.C.S. § 3125(a)(7)--not less than five years.
18 Pa.C.S. § 3125(b)--not less than ten years.
* * *
(c) Proof at sentencing.─The provisions of this section
shall not be an element of the crime, and notice of the
provisions of this section to the defendant shall not be
required prior to conviction, but reasonable notice of the
Commonwealth’s intention to proceed under this section
shall be provided after conviction and before sentencing.
The applicability of this section shall be determined at
sentencing. The court shall consider any evidence
presented at trial and shall afford the Commonwealth and
the defendant an opportunity to present any necessary
additional evidence and shall determine, by a
preponderance of the evidence, if this section is applicable.
42 Pa.C.S. § 9718(a)(1), (3), & (c). The Wolfe Court noted “In [Alleyne v.
United States, 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013)], the Supreme Court held that “facts
that increase mandatory minimum sentences must be submitted to the jury”
and must be found beyond a reasonable doubt. [Id.] at 1263.” Wolfe, 106
A.3d at 802.
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standard of review over such questions is de novo and our
scope of review is plenary.”
Wolfe, 106 A.3d at 801-02 (citations omitted and emphasis added).
In Wolfe, as in the instant case, the appellant was sentenced under
the mandatory minimum statute pursuant to Section 9718. Id. at 802. This
Court opined:
[T]he mandatory minimum statute in this case contains
the same format as the statutes struck down as facially
unconstitutional in [Commonwealth v. Newman, 99
A.3d 86 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc)] and
[Commonwealth v. Valentine, 101 A.3d 801 (Pa. Super.
2014)]. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9712(a), 9712(c),
9712.1(a), 9712.1(c), 9713(a), 9713(c), 9718(a),
9718(c). Following Newman’s instructions, we are
required to conclude that Section 9718 is also facially
unconstitutional.
Id. at 805 (emphasis added). This Court found that because Section 9718 is
facially unconstitutional, “we [were] compelled to conclude that the trial
court imposed an illegal sentence when it imposed the mandatory minimum
sentence.” Id. at 806. Accordingly, the Wolfe Court vacated the judgment
of sentence and remanded for resentencing. Id. Analogously, in the case
sub judice, because the trial court imposed an illegal sentence based upon
Section 9718, we vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for
resentencing. See id.
Judgment of sentence vacated. Case remanded for resentencing.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/9/2015
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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BY: WRIGHT, J. April 28, 2014
This Opinion is written pursuant to Rule 1925(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate
Procedure. Defendant, Derek Wiggins, claims that this Court issued improper rulings on
numerous evidentiary issues that arose during his trial, and that the Court provided the jury with
incomplete instructions, A review of the record and applicable law demonstrates that
Defendant's claims lack merit and, therefore, his appeal should be dismissed.
BACKGROUND
JQ I F- and W.. C4III met and began dating in 2003, and in May of
2005, while both were still teenagers, J .. · gave birth to a daughter, H.F. (N.T. Jury Trial
Vol. 3, 277: 12-25.) Eventually, J4IIII· and W .. broke up and a custody agreement was put
into place. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 278: l 1-23.)
In December of 2006, J £ $ started to date Defendant, Derek Wiggins. (N.T. Jury
Trial Vol. 3, 283:7-14.) J l 3 and Defendant married in March of 2007, and in 2009, JtlllP:
gave birth to a second daughter, Elena. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 284:6-18.) That same year,
Wtmli married, enlisted in the Army, and relocated to Kansas. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 187:4 -
188:24.) In June of 2010, J-and Defendant purchased a home located at 303 Banyan
Circle in Lancaster. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 284:22-25.) Given the distance between their
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residences, J. £ Q and W .. agreed that H.F. would live with her mother during the school
year and spend summers with W .. and his wife, Brandy. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 189:23 -
190:9.)
In July of 2011, H.F., then six years old, traveled to Kansas to visit "'9ilwhile he was
on block leave from the military. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 190: 16-25.) At the end of her stay,
W ... Brandy, and H.F. drove back from Kansas to visit W ... 's mother, Michelle Windle,
in Thomasville, Pennsylvania, (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 191 :5·24.) The family planned to stay
with Michelle fol' a week, then travel to Virginia to see Brandy's mother. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol.
3, 249:2-5.)
While the family was staying at Michelle's home, H.F. disclosed to Brandy that
Defendant, whom she referred to as "Daddy Derek," had been sexually abusing her. (N.T. Jury
Trial VoJ. 3, 251 :7 - 252:3.) Specifically, H.F. told Brandy that Defendant liked it when she put
her mouth on his penis. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 252: 19-253:3.) Shocked, Brandy asked H.F.
to repeat her statements to W-... (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 253:9·10.) H.F. told her father that
Defendant sexually assaulted her in her bedroom and in the bathroom of their home. (N.T. Jury
Trial Vol. 2, 193:20-22.) Additionally, H.F. revealed that Defendant would "pee white stuff'
into toilet paper during the encounters, and that Defendant put his mouth on her vagina. (N.T.
J my Tl'iul Vol. 2, 193 :23 - 194: 11.)
After H.F. was finished disclosing the abuse to her father, W .. instructed Brandy to
take her to talk to Michelle, who was next door at a friend's home preparing dinner for the
family. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 253: 15-21.) When confronted by Michelle, H.F. revealed, once
again, that Defendant made her suck on his penis. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 386: 13 - 387:6.)
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W[ discussed H.F.'s statements with his mother, then contacted J-and York County
Children and Youth Services ("YCCYS"). (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 195:12-196:5.)
The following day, YCCYS and the Northern Regional Police Department responded to
Michelle's home to speak with the family. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 388:7-10.) On July 25, 2011,
Detective Tricia Mazur of the Manor Township Police received a report from YCCYS assigning
her to H.F. 's case. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 4, 437:22 -438: 18.) In order to clarify the extent of the
abuse, Detective Mazur scheduled a forensic interview for H.F. at the Lancaster County
Children's Alliance on July 27, 201 l. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 4, 438:15-18.)
During her interview, and in subsequent testimony and statements, H.F. revealed the
details of the sexual abuse she had endured. H.F. stated that one night, after her family moved
into the house at 303 Banyan Street, she attempted to use the bathroom and found that Defendant
was inside. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 90:6-13.) Defendant invited her to join him in the bathroom,
and when she went in, H.F. observed that he was looking at something on the computer. (N.T.
Jury Trial Vol. 2, 90: 12-13.) Defendant put his computer aside and asked H.F. to touch his
penis. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 90:13-16.) Although she initially resisted, H.F. complied when
Defendant threatened to tell J l ]about the encounter. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 91 :4-10.)
Defendant instructed H.F. to move her hands, and eventually her mouth, up and down over his
penis. {N.T. Jury Trial Vo]. 2, 91:4 -93:3.) After this initial incident, H.F. revealed that
Defendant made her touch his penis on numerous occasions. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 93:4-9.)
Eventually, Defendant's conduct escalated to include vaginal penetration. H.F. disclosed
that one evening, while her mother was at work, Defendant gave her a bath. (N.T. Jury Trial
Vol. 2, 93:15-17.) Afterwards, Defendant told H.F. to go to her room to dry off. (N.T. Jury Trial
Vol. 2, 93:17-18.) While H.F. was still undressed, Defendant entered her room and told her to
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lean down over the bed. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 93: l O - 94: 17.) Defendant then inserted his
penis into her vagina. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 97: 19-25.) Defendant promised H.F. that he
would stop abusing her after a family beach trip in the summer of20J I, and asked her to remind
him of his promise. (N.T. Jury Trial 2, 95:2-16.)
Following H.F.'s forensic interview, on August 5, 2011, Julie Stover, a nurse practitioner
and expert in child sexual abuse, performed a physical examination of H.F. at the Children's
Alliance. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 226:12-23.) While the results ofH.F.'s examination were
normal, Ms. Stover cautioned that the mucosa] tissue lining the vagina and rectum typically heals
within seventy-two hours of injury, and that visible scarring can only be observed in 5% of cases,
(N.T. Jury Trial VoJ. l, 231 :24-233:25.)
As a result ofH.F.'s statements, on May 17, 2012, Detective Mazur charged Defendant
with one count each of Rape of'a Child, 1 Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child.'
Indecent Assault,' Corruption of Minors," and Unlawful Contact with a Minor.! (N.T. Jury Trial
Vol. 4, 442:9-20.) Following a three day jury trial, on November 1, 2013, Defendant was
convicted of all charges and a Pre-Sentence Investigation was ordered. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 5,
672:4-16; 677:8-11.) On February IO, 2014, Defendant was sentenced to a total aggregate of 10
- 20 years of incarceration.
On March 7, 20 J 4, Defendant filed a timely Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court, and
on March 28, 2014, Defendant submitted his Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on
Appeal. In his Statement, Defendant claims that this Court issued improper rulings on numerous
118Po.C.S.A.§312l(c).
z 18 P.S. § 3123(b).
3
18 Pii.C.S.A. § 3216(a)(7).
4 18 P.S. § 6301(a)(l)(ii).
s 18 Pn.C.S.A. § 6318(11)(1 ).
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evidentiary issues that arose during his trial, and that the Court provided the jury with incomplete
i nstruct ions.
DISCUSSION
I. The Trial Court Properly Prohibited Defense Counsel from Questioning H.F.,
Jtlllil"and Brandy about Irrelevnut and Prejudicial Hearsay Statements.
Defendant's first claim is that the Court improperly prevented defense counsel from
questioning H.F., ~and Brandy about a comment H.F. made to her stepmother.
Specifically, H.F. told Brandy that a neighbor in Kansas, who was also named Derek, said that
he wanted to "lick J1e1· butt." (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 170:22 - 171: 15.) Brandy relayed this
her case. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 171:16-18; 180:4-12.) During trial, lead defense counsel
Attorney Ronald Greenblatt attempted to question H.F. about the allegations, and Assistant
District Attorney Karen Mansfield objected asserting that the statements were irrelevant. (N.T.
Jury Trial Vol. 2, 170: 18 - 171 :20.) The Court sustained the Commonwealth's objection and
precluded the line of questioning. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 171 :16-172:2.)
It is axiomatic that only relevant evidence is admissible at trial. Pa.R.E. 402. Evidence is
relevant if Hit has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the
evidence, and the fact is of consequence in determining the action." Pa.R.E. 401(a-b). In
addition, a court may exclude otherwise relevant evidence if its probative value is outweighed by
a danger of "unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting
time, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence." Pa.RE. 403.
H.F. 's statements about the neighbor boy had no relevance to Defendant's trial, While
the neighbor shared Defendant's name, police reports unequivocally established that H.F. and
her family did not meet the neighbor until after she disclosed the sexual abuse. (N.T. Jury Trial
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Vol. 2, 171 :4-8.) Moreover, the probative value of H.F. 's statements was far outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues and misleading the jury. H.F. always identified
Defendant as her abuser, and Attorney Greenblatt's questions would have only served to
complicate and obscure the issues. Accordingly, Attorney Mansfield's objection was properly
sustained and the evidence excluded.
II. The Court did not Improperly Pe1·111it the Commonwealth to Lead H.F. on Re-
Direct Examination,
Defendant's second claim is that the Court improperly permitted the Commonwealth to
lead H.F. on redirect examination. Defendant asserts that, as a result of the leading questions,
the Commonwealth directed H.F. to state that in her prior testimony she had answered in the
affirmative every time defense counsel ended a question with the word "right."
At trial, after defense counsel engaged H.F. in a lengthy cross-examination that included
repeated attempts to. impeach her with prior inconsistent statements made when she was six and
seven years old, Attorney Mansfield asked H.F. the following questions during her re-direct
examination:
Atty. Mansfleld: If someone said to you, "Do you remember if that
was after you told your mom, right?" Do you think
that person is right when they say that to you?
H.F.: No. I'm guessing they just want me to say if that's
right or wrong.
Atty, Mansfield: Okay. And when they say "right" lo you, are you
agreeing with them?
H.F.: Not always because sometimes you could say no.
Atty. Mansfield: Okay. When you were six would you agree with
them?
Atty. Greenblatt: Objection ... Hypothetical, your Honor,
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The Court: I think it's appropriate. Six years old is the time of
that transcript. You can answer that ... if you
would like.
H.F.: 1 think you- wait. What was the question again?
Atty. Mansfield: When you were six years old and you were
answering these questions, when someone said
"right" to you, did you agree with them? Let me
find a page. Let me get to a page that says right. If
you look at Page 35 ... If you look at Lines I, 2
and 3 on Page 34, if you read those.
H.F.: Okay. Line Number 1.
Question: One time, did you remember if that was·
after you told your mom, right?
Answer: Yes.
Atty. Mansfield: Okay. Now, if you look down here a little further
on that page when he asked you this question: And
that was in Pennsylvania, right?
H.F.: Yes.
Atty. Mansflehh Answer was yes.
Atty. Mansfield: Down on Line 23. When that happened, you said
he was in the bathroom, right?
H.F.: Yes.
Atty. Mansfield: So your answer was yes. So every time someone
said the word right, to you, did you answer 11yes?"
H.F.: Yes.
Atty. Greenblatt: Objection. Judge, we have a full transcript. It's an
accurate transcription.
The Court: Well, the jury has heard enough to make their own
minds up.
(N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 175:3 - 178:25.)
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A careful reading of this passage demonstrates that Attorney Mansfield did not ask H.F.
any leading questions. Instead, Attorney Mansfield attempted to rehabilitate H.F. by asking her
to examine the answers she gave to leading questions in a prior proceeding, and to indicate
whether those answers were influenced by the way the questions were posed. Moreover,
Attorney Greenblatt only objected to the questions as hypothetical, never as leading.
Accordingly, the Court properly permitted this line of questioning during H.F. 's re-direct
examination.
III. The Court Properly Granted the Commonwealth's Motion in Limine
Prohibiting Defense Counsel from Introducing Evidence that H.F.'s Great-
Grandfather pied guilty to, but was not convicted of, Indecent Assault and
Corruption of Minors.
Defendant's next three allegations of error all relate to his attempts to introduce the fact
that Dll'C t • Senior pied guilty to several sexual offenses involving children. On
September 4, 2008, D., Michelle's father and H.F. 's great-grandfather, pied guilty to three
counts each of Indecent Assault6 and Corruption ofMinors.7 Ultimately,~ died before he
could be sentenced fol' these offenses and the charges were nolle prossed. At trial, Defendant
sought to introduce evidence of D.'s guilty pleas for three separate reasons: to demonstrate
vigilant in her attempts to protect H.F. from sexual abuse; and to refute Michelle's claims that
her family was not familial' with the procedures followed in child abuse investigations.
6
J 8 P.S. § J 126(11)(7).
7
18 P.S. § 630 I (a)(I ).
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A. Evidence of D ... 's Charges was Properly Excluded its Both Irrelevant and
Prejudtclal When Defense Counsel Did Not Establish any Connection Between
H.F. nnd He1· Great-Grandfather,
First, Defendant claims that the Court improperly precluded him from introducing
evidence that H.F. was in D.'s presence. Defendant sought to present th.is evidence to
demonstrate that D., not Defendant, might have sexually abused H.F. Prior to trial, the
Commonwealth made an oral Motion in Limine to exclude evidence of D-s guilty pleas. The
establish a connection between D.
Court granted the Motion, and stated that it would revisit the ruling if defense counsel could
and H.F.
During his cross-examination of Michelle, Attorney Greenblatt asked whether D. ever
came to visit when H.F. was present in her home. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 397: 15-20.) The
Commonwealth objected to this question, and the Court sustained the objection, concluding that
the testimony established that H.F. was, at most, twenty months old when she last saw her great-
inadmissible because, although D.
grandfather. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 400:4-8.) Moreover, the Court held that the evidence was
pied guilty to the offenses, he died before he could be
sentenced and the charges were ultimately no/le prossed. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 401 :24 -
402: 10.)
As previously articulated in this Opinion, only relevant evidence is admissible at trial.
Pa.R.E. 402. Moreover, a court may exclude otherwise relevant evidence if its probative value is
outweighed by the risk of "unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue
delay, wasting lime, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence." Pa.R.E. 403. In the case
sub judice, evidence ofD.'s
consequence in the proceeding. D.
criminal charges had absolutely no relevance to any fact of
died when H.F. was a toddler, and defense counsel foiled
to establish any connection between H.F. and her great-grandfather that would give the charges
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pertinence at Defendant's trial. Moreover, H.F. consistently identified Defendant as the
individual that abused her, Finally, although D. pJed guilty to Indecent Assault and
Corruption of Minors, he died before sentencing for these offenses could occur and all of the
charges were ultimately 1101/e pressed, further diminishing their relevance.
In addition, the probative value of [9's guilty pleas was significantly outweighed by
D.'s
D.
the risks of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues and misleading the jury, Without establishing
any connection between and H.F., defense counsel sought to introduce evidence of
guilty pleas in an attempt to deflect blame from Defendant by implying that D. was
the individual thal abused H.F. Since there was no basis to conclude that D. even had an
opportunity to sexually assault H.F., this evidence would have prejudiced the Commonwealth
and convoluted the issues before the jury.
B. Defense Counsel was Properly Precluded from Questioning · about
Portions of her Diary that Referred to D- C and the C••l5
Family.
Next, defense counsel sought to introduce evidence ofD.1s guilty pleas to explain
why J l F was concerned that H.F. would be sexually abused. Specifically, defense counsel
argued that D.'s charges were relevant in this context to explain why J. T "kept journals
and ... was hyper-vigilant about looking out ... for signs that her daughter was being
molested!' (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 39:20-22.) In addition, defense counsel asserted that the
evidence was admissible to show that Defendant was on notice of Jc C D's concerns, and that
Jury Trial Vol. 2, 39:22-25.)
During her cross-examination, J testified that she kept a journal detailing
5 interactions with H.F. in case a custody dispute ever arose. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3,
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310: 19- 311 :5.) While discussing the journal, defense counsel asked J-if she ever had
any concerns about allowing H.F. to stay with W.. Brandy, or the C S family. (N.T.
Jury Trial Vol. 3, 321 :20-22.) The Commonwealth objected, and the Court sustained the
objection. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 321 :23-25.)
By asking .... r questions regarding passages of her journal that detailed her concerns
about allowing H.F. to visit the aa••• family, defense counsel was engaged, once again, in a
thinly veiled attempt to open the door to the irrelevant and highly prejudicial evidence of nes
charges. As previously articulated, evidence of D-s guilty pleas was completely irrelevant to
Defendant's trial, and was significantly more prejudicial than it was probative. Accordingly, the
Court properly sustained the Commonwealth's objection to defense counsel's question.
C. Evidence of D .. 's Charges was Not Admissible to Contradict Michelle on fl
Col1ate1·al Issue.
Finally, Defendant attempted to introduce evidence of D-s charges to demonstrate
that Michelle and her family were familiar with the procedures involved in child abuse
investigations. During her direct examination, Michelle testified that after H.F. disclosed that
she was being sexually abused by Defendant, V...-. asked her who to contact to report the
don't know what to do, .. What do you do? l said, I guess start with CYS. So we looked up
York County Children and Youth Services." (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 388: l-4.)
During his cross-examination of Michelle, Attorney Greenblatt attempted to introduce
evidence ofD-s charges lo contradict Michelle's claims that she did not know how to report
H.F. 's allegations. Specifically, Attorney Greenblatt argued that the evidence was admissible "to
show that [Michelle] knows from those convictions bow to call CYS and what to do in these
kinds of situations." (N.T. Jury Trial, 3, 398:19-25.) The Court ruled that, while Attorney
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Greenblatt was permitted to question Michelle about any prior inconsistent statements she made
regarding her knowledge ofchild abuse investigations, he could not introduce evidence of
D-s charges. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 3, 402:3-17.)
It is well-settled in Pennsylvania that a witness may not be contradicted on collateral
matters. Commonwealth v. Fisher, 447 Pa. 405, 413, 290 A.2d 262, 267 (1972) (clting
Mctloldrick v. Pa. R.R. Co., 430 Pa. 597, 600, 241 A.2d 90, 92 ( 1968)). A col lateral matter is
"one which has no relationship to the case on trial." Id. tctting Commonwealth v. Petrillo, 341J ,.
Pa. 209, 223, 19 A.2d 228, 295 ( 1941 )). The Suprente l!omt of Pennsylvania has slated that "the
pivotal issues in a trial cannot be 'side-tracked' for the determination of whether or not a witness
lied in making a statement about something which has no relationship lo the case on trial"
Petrillo, 341 Pa. at 233, 19 A.2d at 295 (emphasis in original). Contradiction of a witness will
only be permitted on "matters germane to the issue trying." Id.
,:··· .~
Defendant's proffered line of questioning had no relationship to the case on trial, and
thus, was not permitted, even for the purpose of impeaching Michelle. While the Court granted
defense counsel some leeway to question Michelle about her familiarity with child abuse
investigations through the use of prior inconsistent statements, there was absolutely no reason to
permit D-s charges to be admitted to contradict Michelle's testimony, Undoubtedly,
admitting evidence of D-s guilty pleas, which was both irrelevant and highly prejudicial, for
the limited purpose of impeaching Michelle would have sidetracked the proceedings and
confused and nJis}_ecid the jury.
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IV.. The Court Properly Permitted the Commonwealth to Question Defendant about
the Circumstances of his Discharge from the Mllltary after Defense Counsel
Opened the Door to the Line of Questioning.
Defendant's next claim is that the Court erred in permitting the Commonwealth to
question Defendant about the circumstances surrounding his discharge from the military. Prior
to trial, counsel agreed that the Commonwealth could not ask any questions about the fact that
Defendant, although honorably discharged from the United States Marnie Corps, was dropped a
rank and a pay grade and was barred from re-enlisting in the military as a result of steroid use.
(N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 35: 16-22.) However, the Commonwealth indicated that the agreement
did not apply if defense counsel opened the door by portraying Defendant's military career as
flawless and without incident. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 2, 35:23 - 36:6.)
During Defendant's direct examination, defense attorney Patricia Piece questioned
Defendant about Ms military background and asked what type of discharge he received. (N.T.
Jury Trial Vol. 4, 507: 1-2.) Defendant indicated that he received an honorable discharge. (N.T.
Jury Trial Vol. 4, 507:3.) As a result, on cross-examination Attorney Mansfield asked Defendant
about the fact that he was moved back a pay grade prior to discharge and was prohibited from re-
enlisting in the military. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 4, 542:5-15.) Attorney Pierce objected to the
Commonwealth's questions as improper impeachment evidence, and the Court overruled the
objection holding that Attorney Pierce opened the door to the questions by asking Defendant
about his discharge status. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 4, 542: 16 - 543 :7.) Nevertheless, the Court
cautioned that the Commonwealth was not permitted to ask Defendant about the reason for these
sanctions. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 4, 543:6-9.)
Pennsylvania courts have held that "if [a] defendant delves into what would be
objectionable testimony on the part of the Commonwealth, then the Commonwealth can probe
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further into the objectionable area." Commonwealth v. Stakley, 243 Pa. Super. 426, 430, 365
A.2d 1298, 1300 ( 1976). This is commonly referred to as "opening the door," 01· "opening the
gate." Id. In Stakley, the Pennsylvania Superior Court concluded that defense counsel opened
the door to questions about a defendant's military discharge status merely by implying that his
discharge was honorable. Id. In the case at bar, Attorney Pierce directly asked Defendant what
type of military discharge he received, unquestionably opening the door to the Commonwealth's
questions about the circumstances surrounding his discharge. Had Attorney Pierce's objection
been sustained and the Commonwealth's questions precluded, the jury would have reasonably
inferred that Defendant's military career was flawless, enhancing his credibility and inaccurately
portraying his service. Accordingly, defense counsel's objection was properly overruled.
V. The Court's Charge, Read in its Entirety, Provided a Clear and Accurate
Explanation of the LRW to the Jury.
Defendant's flnal claim is that the Court erred in refusing to give Pennsylvania Suggested
Standard Criminal Jury Instruction 4.08A, "Impeachment 01· Substantive Evidence - Inconsistent
Statement," Specifically, Defendant claims that this instruction should have been included in the
Court's charge because HF. made several statements at trlnl which were inconsistent with her
prior testimony.
It is weJl established that a court's jury charge will be upheld so long as it adequately and
accurately reflects the law and guides the jury in its deliberations. Commonwealth v. Ort, 398
Pa. Super. 475, 482, 581 A.2d 230, 234 ( 1990). Further, there is no requirement for a trial court
to instruct the jury pursuant to every request made to the court, even if the substantive law within
the proposed charge is without error. Commonwealth v. Orgrod, 576 Pa. 412, 475, 839 A.2d
294, 331 (2003). Finally, in evaluating the correctness of a charge, a court must read the charge
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it its entirety and the general effect of the charge controls. Commonwealth v. Myers, 424 Pa.
Super, 1, 10, 612 A.2d 1009, 1014 (1993).
In the case sub judice, I provided the jury with the following instructions regarding
inconsistent statements by witnesses:
Throughout your lifetime, you've been deciding whether someone who
speaks to you is telling you something which is truthful and
straightforward, something upon which you can rely upon in your own
affairs. Use the experience that you've gained in your everyday life as
well as your own good common sense when you go into the jury room to
deliberate and in determining the credibility of the witnesses and their
testimony.
As the sole judges of the facts, you must decide the truthfulness mid
accuracy of each witness' testimony and decide whether to believe all or
part or none of that testimony. The following are some examples of
factors which you may and should consider when judging the credibility
and deciding whether 01; not to believe the testimony. Was the witness
able to see, hear, or know the things about which they testified? How well
could the witness remember and describe the things about which they
testified? Was the ability of the witness to see, hear, know, remember or
describe affected by youth or old age or by any physical, mental or
intellectual deficiency or impairment? Did the witness testify in a
convincing manner? Did the witness have any interest in the outcome of
the case, or any bias, prejudice or other motive that might affect the
witness' testimony? How well does the testimony of the witness square
with the other evidence in the case, including the testimony of the other
witnesses?
While you're judging the credibility of each witness, you're likely to be
judging the credibility of the other witnesses and evidence. If there's a
real, irreconcilable conflict, it is up to you to decide which, if any,
conflicting testimony or evidence to believe. As the sole judges of
credibility and facts, you, the jury, are responsible to give the testimony of
every witness and all the other evidence whatever credibility and weight
you think it deserves ...
. . . Where there is a conflict in testimony, you, the jury, have the duty of
deciding which testimony to believe, but you should first try to reconcile,
that is, fit together, any conflicts in the testimony if it can be done fairly
and accurately. Discrepancies and conflicts between the testimony of
different witnesses may or may not cause you to disbelieve some or all of
their testimony. Remember, two or more persons witnessing an incident
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may see or hear it happen differently. Also, it's not uncommon for a
witness to be innocently mistaken in his or her recollection of how
something happened. If you cannot reconcile a conflict in the testimony, it
is up for you to decide which testimony, if any, to believe and which to
reject as untrue or inaccurate. ·
... [i]n making this decision, consider whether the conflict involves a
matter of importance or merely some detail, and whether the conflict is
brought about by an innocent mistake or intentional falsehood. You
should also keep in mind all the other factors which I've already discussed
with you in deciding whether or not to believe a witness.
(N.T. Jury Trial Vol 5., 647:5 - 648:13; 651: 10- 652:5.)
My instructions not only furnished the jury with a clear and accurate recitation of the law,
but additionally provided the panel with extensive guidance on how to evaluate the credibility of
the witnesses, and how to reconcile inconsistent testimony. Further, at the completion of my
charge, I asked both Attorneys Greenblatt and Mansfield to indicate whether there were any
additional instructions that should be included in my charge. (N.T. Jury Trial Vol. 5, 664: 15-16.)
Both attorneys agreed that the charge was complete. (N .T. Jury Trial Vol. 5, 664: 17-18.)
Accordingly, not only was my charge an adequate and accurate recitation of the law, but no
request for or objection to the absence Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Criminal Jury
Instruction 4.08A was made a part of the record, and as a result, the issue was waived.
CONCLUSION
Since Defendant's claims of error lack merit, this Court respectfully requests that his
appeal be dismissed.
According, I enter the following:
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYI.. VANIA
v. No. 3291-2012
DEREK J. WIGGINS
ORDER
~
AND NOW, this Zf day of April, 2014, the Court hereby submits this Opinion pursuant
to Rule 1925(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure,
BY THE COURT:
Copies to:
Karen Mansfield, Assistant District Attorney
Ronald Greenblatt, Esquire
123 S. Broad Street, Suite 2500, Philadelphia, PA 19109