Com. v. Butler, R. ( 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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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.
REBECCA ANN BUTLER
Appellant No. 1156 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of June 6, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
Criminal Division at No.: CP-40-CR-0001829-2013
BEFORE: OTT, J., WECHT, J., and JENKINS, J.
MEMORANDUM BY WECHT, J.: FILED JULY 06, 2015
Rebecca Ann Butler appeals from the judgment of sentence entered
following her jury conviction of two counts of endangering the welfare of
children and two counts of conspiracy to commit corruption of minors.1 We
affirm.
On April 26, 2013, Butler was charged with the above counts for
enacting a scheme to allow Andre Vancliff2 to have sexual contact with
Butler’s two daughters, who were seven and eleven years old at the time.
On September 21, 2012, Butler signed a written statement admitting her
participation in the crime, and in August 2013, the Commonwealth informed
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1
See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304(a)(1); 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903 (premised upon 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 6301(a)(1)(iii)).
2
Vancliff is a life-without-parole inmate at SCI Retreat.
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Butler that her trial would be joined with that of Vancliff. On February 24,
2014, at the commencement of the pretrial suppression hearing, the
Commonwealth entered an oral motion to sever the two prosecutions
because “it had discovered a Bruton[3] issue upon a closer review of the
case.” Trial Court Opinion (“T.C.O.”), 9/2/2014, at 3. The trial court
granted the motion, and trial proceeded against Butler.
Butler was subsequently found guilty of the above-mentioned counts,4
and, on June 6, 2014, was sentenced to a term of incarceration of forty-two
to one-hundred twenty months’ incarceration. Butler timely filed post-
sentence motions, which the trial court denied on June 18, 2014. On July 9,
2014, Butler timely appealed to this Court. The same day, the trial court
ordered Butler to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal
pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and Butler complied on July 29, 2014. On
September 2, 2014, the trial court entered its opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a).
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3
Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123 (1968) (holding that a non-
testifying codefendant’s confession naming the other defendant cannot be
admissible against the defendant as it violates his rights under the
Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States
constitution).
4
After their cases were severed, on July 21, 2014, Vancliff entered a
plea of nolo contendere to one count of conspiracy to commit corruption of
minors.
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Butler raises one question for our review: “Whether the trial [court]
erred or abused [its] discretion by hearing and subsequently granting the
Commonwealth’s oral motion to sever trial on the same day that jury
selection was to begin despite the untimely request and lack of cause either
proffered or shown as required by Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 579(a)[?]” Butler’s
Brief at 6.
Specifically, Butler argues that “Pa.R.Crim.P 579 requires that the
proponent of late-filed motions show ‘cause’ as to why the motion is being
filed late,” and that Butler was prejudiced by the grant of severance in her
trial when “[t]he Commonwealth offered no such reasons beyond what is
tantamount to ignorance of the law.” Id. at 11. We disagree.
Our standard of review is well-settled:
The decision whether to grant a motion for severance is within
the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be overturned
absent a manifest abuse of discretion. The defendant bears the
burden of proving that he was prejudiced by the decision not to
sever, and he must show real potential for prejudice rather than
mere speculation. The probability of antagonistic defenses is a
factor that trial courts should consider in deciding whether to
grant severance, but the claim must be more than bare
antagonism. However, when defendants have conflicting
versions of what took place, the truth may be more easily
determined if all are tried together. When conspiracy is charged,
joint trials are advisable.
Commonwealth v. Rivera, 773 A.2d 131, 137 (Pa. 2001) (citations
omitted).
In the instant case, the Commonwealth requested that Butler and
Vancliff’s trials be severed because of the Bruton issue implicated by
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admission of Butler’s written statement. Specifically, the Commonwealth
wished to admit Butler’s written statement to the police which implicated
Vancliff. Pursuant to Bruton, the inculpating statement would have violated
Vancliff’s right to confrontation if Butler declined to testify in a joint trial.
Butler’s statement includes the following:
Andre Vancliff . . . in time revealed to me that he was a “pimp”
and I wasn’t sure how that could occur if he was in jail. . . . I
truly thought he was sincere in coming home and being a
“husband” and father to my children. He took advantage of my
past abuse . . . and told me he wanted the girls [J.] and [M.], to
learn to love him first before growing up and getting hurt by
strangers and that if they loved him they wouldn’t go out and
get pregnant or raped. . . . Eventually he asked about teaching
the girls to learn how to masturbate so that if they learned how
to love themselves first they wouldn’t seek sexual fulfillment and
get hurt. I understood his rationale so to speak and asked [M.]
and [J.] what they knew about boys and girls and they already
knew from friends at school what happens so I let it go . . . . I
had started to pull away from [Vancliff be]cause he wanted me
to “teach” the girls how to love him and when he found out [M.]
was reading Fifty Shades of Gray he became more possessive
and more controlling about the girls so I was trying to break it
off but he told me many times that if I left him he would find me
and end my life for taking me and the girls from him. . . . He
had asked me to send pictures of the girls in scanty undies. The
girls didn’t want to do that stuff. I sent [J.]’s picture of her
sitting in a dress with undies showing and I sent pictures of the
girls and my boys and his family. [Vancliff] is very coercive and
for love, me and my girls eventually would’ve done anything for
his love, including what he asked. He needs to be stopped from
hurting other women and children.
Statement, 9/21/2012, at 1-5.
The Commonwealth orally moved to sever the trial at argument on
pretrial motions on February 24, 2014. Vancliff did not object to severance.
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Butler, however, argued in favor of redaction of the statement in lieu of
severance, as follows:
[Counsel for Butler]: Your Honor, we do have opposition to
this. First, as I know we will discuss with the suppression
issue, it is filed untimely. The statement that the
Commonwealth is referring to did get delivered to us, and
obviously the Commonwealth had it in a timely fashion
way back when discovery was in the first wave of
discovery, so they had the opportunity to do this. And, in
fact, they could have, under the rules, filed a motion to
sever in the omnibus time period which was roughly the
time when discovery was produced, so they could have
done it then. My other concern is prejudice to my client,
Your Honor.
The Court: How is your client prejudiced?
[Counsel for Butler]: It greatly changes our trial strategy. The
conversation from the DA went out to co-defendant’s
counsel roughly a week and-a-half ago, and that was really
just a general statement by [counsel for Vancliff]. I did
not find out about it until [counsel for Vancliff] and I were
talking because we passed in the hallway this past Friday.
It was on Saturday that the ADA confirmed it to me. So
here I am, 48 hours before trial, and I don’t know what
direction I’m going through here.
Bruton is a very large issue in this trial. It determines
whether or not the statement comes in on its own
perhaps, because it cannot come in against my client if she
chooses not to testify. And so—
The Court: Explain that to me. A statement given by your client
to police. If the suppression motion you filed today is not
granted, how does that statement not come in against
your client?
[Counsel for Butler]: The only inculpatory parts of that
statement are not about her actions but about Mr.
Vancliff’s actions. Everything else within the statement is
not inculpatory. So the portions that we’re concerned
about that do appear to be admissions of state of mind of
my client, in fact, are statements against Mr. Vancliff. So
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if those statements get in and she does not testify, of
course, Bruton’s going to keep those out.
I would love to take the statement exactly as is, take out
the offending statements and boom, we’re done, with my
suppression.
[The Commonwealth]: Judge, obviously that’s going to be up to
the Court to decide. It’s our position that the entire
statement, other than depending on the pretrial motions
regarding mental state, that there are other statements in
there that, in fact, implicate [Butler].
The Court: Anything else?
[Counsel for Butler]: No, sir.
The Court: I’m going to grant the Commonwealth’s motion to
sever these cases. I feel the Bruton issue is an
overwhelming reason to sever these cases, and the court
cases clearly say that I have that discretion as the trial
judge.
N.T. Pretrial Motions, 2/24/2014, at 2-5.
We have long held that:
[A] co-defendant’s confession, which inculpates the [other]
defendant, cannot be used as evidence against the defendant.
Bruton, supra; Commonwealth v. Witherspoon, 392 A.2d
1313 (Pa. 1978); Commonwealth v. Johnson, 323 A.2d 813(Pa. Super. 1974). As an appropriate method of protecting a
defendant’s right to confront adverse witnesses, the Supreme
Court has approved the practice of redaction, in which all
testimonial references to persons other than the declarant are
deleted. Commonwealth v. Johnson, 378 A.2d 859 (Pa.
1977); cf. Bruton, 391 U.S. at 134 n.10; Commonwealth v.
Guess, 404 A.2d 1330 (Pa. Super. 1979). We have also
recognized, however, that redaction is not always effective in
relieving prejudice to the accused and that other remedies may
be required.
Commonwealth v. Norman, 415 A.2d 898, 901 (Pa. Super. 1979)
(citations formatted). See also Bruton, 391 U.S. at 126, 128-29; see id.-6-
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at 135 (“[T]here are some contexts in which the risk that the jury will not, or
cannot, follow instructions is so great, and the consequences of failure so
vital to the defendant, that the practical and human limitations of the jury
system cannot be ignored.”).
In general, our courts have approved of redaction as a way to admit a
co-defendant’s statement. “If a confession can be edited so that it retains
its narrative integrity and yet in no way refers to defendant, then use of it
does not violate the principles of Bruton.” Commonwealth v. Johnson,
378 A.2d 859, 860 (Pa. 1977). “[S]ubstantial deference must be afforded to
the trial court in this regard.” Commonwealth v. Wharton, 607 A.2d 710,
716 (Pa. 1992).
“In all cases in which two or more persons are jointly indicted for any
offense, it shall be in the discretion of the court to try them jointly or
severally[.]” Commonwealth v. Stukes, 257 A.2d 828, 833 (Pa. 1969).
Commonwealth v. Markman, 916 A.2d 586, 604 (Pa. 2007) (holding that
trial court violated Bruton rule by admitting statement with codefendant’s
name redacted in joint trial). “Separate trials of co-defendants should be
granted only where the defenses of each are antagonistic to the point where
such individual differences are irreconcilable and a joint trial would result in
prejudice.” Commonwealth v. Lambert, 603 A.2d 568, 573 (Pa. 1992);
see, e.g., Commonwealth v. Boykin, 460 A.2d 1101, 1102 (Pa. 1983)
(remanding for new trial for failure to grant untimely motion to sever
because there was “no potential benefit to be derived from a trial
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consolidating the remaining charges against appellant with the full list of
charges against his co-defendants”).
In the instant case, it is clear that redaction would have been
inadequate to permit admission of Butler’s statement. See Johnson, 378
A.2d at 860. If Butler and Vancliff were to be tried jointly, the jury would
easily conclude that any mention of Butler’s anonymous codefendant could
be Vancliff and no one else. Furthermore, the statement exclusively
discusses Butler’s relationship with Vancliff. Vancliff’s name could not be
redacted from the statement in such a way that it would “retain[] its
narrative integrity and yet in no way refer[] to [Vancliff].” Johnson, 378
A.2d at 860. It would be too great a test of the jury’s human limitations to
believe that redaction or instructions could overcome the Bruton issue
presented by Butler’s statement. See Bruton, 391 U.S. at 135.
Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying Butler’s motion to redact
the statement in lieu of severance.
Nonetheless, Butler argues that she was prejudiced by severance
because, if she had been tried jointly with Vancliffe, she believes that the
statement would not have been admitted at all. See Butler’s Brief at 20.
This is incorrect. In the context of a Bruton issue, the paramount concern
is the confrontation rights of the subject of the statement, not the
declarant—here, Vancliff’s confrontation rights, not Butler. Furthermore,
redaction and severance are the solutions identified to rectify that concern,
Norman, 415 A.2d at 901, and Butler cites no case law to the contrary.
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Butler argues that she is prejudiced for not having been offered a third
route: full suppression of her written statement from admission against
Butler, the declarant, as well. See Butler’s Brief at 20-21. However, Butler
does not aver that her statement was obtained in violation of her
constitutional rights, any other Pennsylvania statute or rule, or that the
police used an improper method to obtain the statement in question. See
Commonwealth v. Simmons, 56 A.3d 1280, 1286 (Pa. Super. 2012)
(holding that bald statements unsupported by law are waived under
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a)). Therefore, her argument that she was unprepared for
its admission against her is not persuasive.
Nonetheless, Butler argues that the trial court erred in granting the
motion to sever the cases because the Commonwealth’s motion was
untimely filed pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P 579. Rule 579 provides, in relevant
part:
Rule 579. Time for Omnibus Pretrial Motion and Service
(A) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the omnibus
pretrial motion for relief shall be filed and served within 30 days
after arraignment, unless opportunity therefor did not exist, or
the defendant or defense attorney, or the attorney for the
Commonwealth, was not aware of the grounds for the motion, or
unless the time for filing has been extended by the court for
cause shown.
Pa.R.Crim.P. 579(A).
Under Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 578, unless
otherwise required in the interests of justice, all pretrial
requests, including a request for suppression of evidence, must
be included in one omnibus pretrial motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P.
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578, Comment. Rule 579 states that an omnibus pre-trial
motion must be filed within 30 days of arraignment. The only
exceptions to this rule are: (1) the opportunity to do so did not
exist, (2) the defendant or defense counsel was unaware of the
grounds for the motion, or (3) the time for filing was extended
by the court for good cause shown. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 579(A).
Commonwealth v. Borovichka, 18 A.3d 1242, 1248 (Pa. Super. 2011).
Furthermore, the comment to Rule 578 provides:
The omnibus pretrial motion rule is not intended to limit other
types of motions, oral or written, made pretrial or during
trial, including those traditionally called motions in limine, which
may affect the admissibility of evidence or the resolution of other
matters. The earliest feasible submissions and rulings on such
motions are encouraged.
Pa.R.Crim.P. 578, Comment (emphasis added).
Thus, the timing of omnibus pretrial motions does not preclude oral,
pretrial motions such as the pretrial motion to sever at issue here.
Moreover, the cases cited by Butler are unpersuasive on this point. In
Commonwealth v. Baez, 21 A.3d 1280 (Pa. Super. 2011), the court
permitted the defendant to file a written omnibus pretrial motion several
months late. See Butler’s Brief at 14-15. Similarly, in Borovichka, 18 A.3d
at 1248, the court permitted the defendant to file an untimely pretrial
motion. See Butler’s Brief at 15. Butler cites no authority that would
preclude the Commonwealth from orally moving to sever trial at the
suppression hearing. See Simmons, 56 A.3d at 1286. Accordingly, the
trial court acted within its discretion when granting the motion. Rivera, 773
A.2d at 137. Butler’s issue does not merit relief.
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Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/6/2015
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