Com. v. Brimage, J. ( 2015 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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.
JARON BRIMAGE,
Appellant No. 1151 WDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 6, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0012956-2012
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED JUNE 22, 2015
Appellant, Jaron Brimage, appeals from the judgment of sentence of
30 to 60 months’ incarceration, followed by 5 years’ probation, imposed
after a jury convicted him of robbery (serious bodily injury) and conspiracy
to commit robbery. Appellant solely challenges the weight of the evidence
to sustain his convictions. After careful review, we affirm.
Appellant was convicted of the above-stated offenses following a jury
trial on September 18 and 19, 2013. On March 6, 2014, he was sentenced
to the aggregate term stated supra. Appellant filed a timely post-sentence
motion challenging, inter alia, the weight of the evidence to sustain his
____________________________________________
*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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robbery and conspiracy convictions. After conducting a hearing on
Appellant’s motion, the trial court denied it on June 19, 2014. Appellant
filed a timely notice of appeal, as well as a timely Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal. Herein, Appellant presents
one issue for our review:
I. Did the trial court abuse its discretion in denying the post[-
]sentence motion that the verdict was against the weight
of the evidence insofar as no physical evidence tied
[Appellant] to the crimes, and the identification testimony
of the alleged victim, who was the only eyewitness, was
unreliable due to the short period of time during which he
observed the perpetrators, that his perceptions were
impaired by stress and a head injury, and his attention
was focused on the weapon, and the on-scene
identification procedure was highly suggestive?
Appellant’s Brief at 5 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).
To begin, we note that,
[t]he 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. An
appellate 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, 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. Hunzer, 868 A.2d 498, 506-507 (Pa.
Super. 2005), appeal denied, 584 Pa. 673, 880 A.2d 1237(2005). “A motion for new trial on the grounds that the verdict is
contrary to the weight of the evidence, concedes that there is
sufficient evidence to sustain the verdict. Thus, the trial court is
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under no obligation to view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the verdict winner.” Commonwealth v. Rossetti,
863 A.2d 1185, 1191-1192 (Pa. Super. 2004), appeal denied,
583 Pa. 689, 878 A.2d 864 (2005).
Commonwealth v. Lewis, 911 A.2d 558, 565-566 (Pa. Super. 2006).
Here, Appellant contends that the jury’s verdict was contrary to the
weight of the evidence because the verdict was based primarily on an
unreliable identification by the victim, Monte Austin. Appellant argues that
Mr. Austin’s identification was not credible because he only observed the
perpetrators for a brief time, “he could only describe their clothing and
relative height,” and the on-scene identification was suggestive where
Appellant “was handcuffed and surrounded by uniformed police officers.”
Appellant’s Brief at 14, 19. Appellant also claims that the jury should have
discredited Mr. Austin’s identification because there was no physical
evidence corroborating it. Id. at 19.
In rejecting Appellant’s weight-of-the-evidence challenge, the trial
court first discussed Mr. Austin’s demeanor and testimony at trial, as
follows:
The primary witness against [Appellant] was the victim,
Mr. Monte Austin. It was clear to all involved in the case that
Mr. Austin suffers from some mental disabilities. His
employment through Achieva, a non-profit that serves and
supports individuals with disabilities, and his involvement with
Mercy Behavior Health, confirm this fact. Despite his difficulties,
Mr. Austin provided clear, consistent testimony, which the jury
apparently believed given its verdict.
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Mr. Austin testified that on September 21, 2012[,] at 9:45
p.m., he exited a bus at a corner store on Race Street in the
Homewood section of the City of Pittsburgh. He had just finished
his work as a janitorial cleaner at Achieva. Mr. Austin went to
the store, and then he headed home. As he was walking home,
he was approached by two (2) men in hooded sweatshirts, one
gray and one red. Neither man had his face covered. The men
directed Mr. Austin to put his “hands up.” Mr. Austin complied
because the man in the gray hooded sweatshirt, whom Mr.
Austin identified as [Appellant], had a gun, which he pointed at
Mr. Austin’s head.
After Mr. Austin put his hands in the air, the man in the
red hooded sweatshirt locked his hands behind his head, while
[Appellant] dug through his pockets. [Appellant] removed $17,
[Mr. Austin’s] wallet, his identification and his Connect Card (bus
pass) from Mr. Austin’s pockets. As the men were leaving,
[Appellant] struck Mr. Austin in the head with the gun, causing
him to bleed, and then took his bag of snacks that he had
purchased at the store. As the men walked away, they were
giggling.
Mr. Austin went straight home after this incident, and he
called the police as soon as he arrived home. Mr. Austin
described his assailants during the 911 call to the police, stating
that both were black men and that the one with the red hooded
sweatshirt was taller than the one with the gray hooded
sweatshirt. The police arrived at [Mr. Austin’s] home within five
(5) to ten (10) minutes, and Mr. Austin provided the same
description of his assailants. Officer Miller of the City of
Pittsburgh Police Department transmitted Mr. Austin’s description
of his assailants to other police officers working the area. Within
five (5) minutes of broadcasting the description of the actors,
Officer Miller was informed that his colleagues had detained two
(2) men matching the description. Officer Miller returned to Mr.
Austin’s home, which he had just left, and requested that Mr.
Austin accompany him to attempt to identify the actors. Mr.
Austin travelled in Officer Miller’s police vehicle to a location a
few blocks from Mr. Austin’s home, where two (2) suspects,
including [Appellant] were sitting on a low wall. As soon as
Officer Miller asked Mr. Austin if the two (2) were the persons
who robbed him, [Mr. Austin] indicated that they were. Mr.
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Austin did not hesitate at all in identifying [Appellant] and his co-
Defendant.
At the time of the identification of [Appellant] by Mr.
Austin, [Appellant] was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. The
second man at the scene was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt.
The man wearing the red hooded sweatshirt was significantly
taller than [Appellant]. Officer Miller retrieved a Connect Card at
the location were the two (2) actors were identified by Mr.
Austin. The Connect Card was located only one (1) foot from
where [Appellant] and the co-Defendant were sitting on the low
wall. Officer Miller presented that Connect Card to Mr. Austin,
who identified it as his….
Trial Court Opinion (TCO), 10/23/14, at 2-5 (unnumbered; citations to the
record omitted).
The trial court then went on to explain why it denied Appellant’s claim
that the jury’s verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence. The court
stated:
[Appellant’s] challenge to the weight of the evidence
should be rejected. The jury’s verdict turned on an assessment
of the credibility of the witnesses, an assessment that was
unfavorable to [Appellant], given that he was convicted of these
charges. During trial, defense counsel cross-examined Mr.
Austin at length about his identification of [Appellant], as well as
the facts of the incident. Additionally, during her closing
argument, defense counsel raised the primary question that is
being raised on appeal, namely, that the identification of
[Appellant] by Mr. Austin was based on limited observations and
descriptions. It was the jury’s province whether to accept or
reject the issues and questions raised by defense counsel. That
the jury chose to reject the defense attacks on the victim’s
credibility does not support an argument that the verdict was
against the weight of the evidence. To put it simply, the jury
believed the testimony of the victim. Both this court and any
appellate court are without the power to revisit the jury’s
credibility determinations.
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That the jury chose to believe the victim, Mr. Austin, does
not shock this court’s conscience or sense of justice. Mr. Austin
was credible, consistent, and entirely believable in his testimony.
He, on numerous occasions to several different people, described
[Appellant and his co-Defendant] and their clothing. Two (2)
young black men were found within minutes of the event, in the
same area in which it occurred, and wearing clothing and having
physical descriptions that matched Mr. Austin’s descriptions. Mr.
Austin immediately and certainly identified the two (2) men as
being the men who robbed him. His Connect Card was found
within one (1) foot of [Appellant and his co-Defendant]. While
the Connect Card did not have any identification on its face, the
card was tied to Mr. Austin’s identity through a chip inside.
When that chip was reloaded by Mercy Behavior Health there
was no problem or indication that it was not Mr. Austin’s card.
The jury found the victim to be believable and credible. After
hearing Mr. Austin’s testimony, this court would not, even if it
had that power, change the jury’s credibility findings.
TCO at 5-6 (unnumbered; citations to the record omitted). Based on the
court’s detailed summary of the evidence presented against Appellant, and
its discussion regarding the credibility of Mr. Austin’s identification, we
ascertain no abuse of discretion in the court’s decision to deny Appellant’s
weight of the evidence claim.
However, because Appellant focuses a majority of his appellate
argument on the ostensible suggestiveness of the on-scene identification, we
add the following brief discussion. Appellant asserts that he was “presented
to the victim in what may arguably be the most suggestive manner possible”
because he was “handcuffed on the sidewalk while surrounded by six or
seven uniformed officers.” Appellant’s Brief at 18. Appellant also contends
that the on-scene identification was suggestive because he “was not
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separated from the other suspect to ensure that the identifications would not
be made solely on the bases of height and complexion disparities.” Id.
Finally, in a related argument, Appellant maintains that Mr. Austin “had a
distorted view of the detained individuals” because he was in “the rear seat
of a patrol car,” Appellant was approximately 20 feet away” from Mr. Austin,
and Appellant “was illuminated by ultra-bright lights coming from Mr. Miller’s
patrol car.” Id.
Initially, Appellant cites no legal authority to support his argument that
he and his cohort should have been separated before being viewed by Mr.
Austin. Additionally, nothing in the portions of the record cited by Appellant
indicate that Mr. Austin’s view of him and his cohort was distorted because
the windows of the police vehicle were “possibly tinted.” Appellant’s Brief at
18. Indeed, those excerpts of the transcript reveal that Mr. Austin was
“sure” that Appellant was one of the men who robbed him because his
assailants had not covered their faces and were still wearing the same
clothing. N.T. Trial, 9/18/13-9/19/13, at 69. Additionally, when making the
identification, Mr. Austin was only 12 feet away from Appellant and
Appellant’s face was illuminated with a spotlight. Id. at 80. Contrary to
Appellant’s argument, this evidence supports a conclusion that Mr. Austin
had a clear view of Appellant when he identified him.
Additionally, this Court has repeatedly held that an identification is not
unduly suggestive simply because the defendant is handcuffed and in police
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custody when the identification is made. See Commonwealth v. Kearney,
92 A.3d 51, 66 (Pa. Super. 2014) (“Appellant’s argument that his
identification by [the victim] was unduly suggestive because he was
handcuffed to a bench at the State Police barracks does not merit relief.”)
(citing Commonwealth v. Armstrong, 74 A.3d 228, 239 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(concluding identification was not unduly suggestive even though the
appellant was presented in handcuffs); Commonwealth v. Moye, 836 A.2d
973, 977-978 (Pa. Super. 2003) (finding no “special elements of unfairness”
where the appellant was shown to the complainants handcuffed in a police
van); Commonwealth v. Allen, 429 A.2d 1113, 1120 (Pa. Super. 1981)
(finding denial of suppression motion proper even though defendants were
handcuffed in the back of a police van when the victims identified them
without hesitation)). Furthermore, as the Commonwealth points out, Officer
Miller testified that as he transported Mr. Austin to the location where
Appellant was detained, he told him “that the actors that robbed him may or
may not be here….” N.T. Trial at 92 (emphasis added). Once at the scene,
the officer’s headlights illuminated Appellant’s face and the officer “asked
[Mr. Austin] if he recognized anyone.” Id. Mr. Austin immediately identified
Appellant and his companion as “the guys that robbed” him. Id.Considering these circumstances, and the case law cited supra, we do not
agree with Appellant that Mr. Austin’s on-scene identification was unduly
suggestive.
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Thus, for these reasons – and the reasons set forth by the trial court –
we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellant’s
challenge to the weight of the evidence.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/22/2015
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