Com. v. Wright, J. ( 2016 )

J-S59027-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
JAWANDA WRIGHT,
Appellant No. 338 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of December 5, 2013
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): MC-51-MD-0003189-2013
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., OLSON and FITZGERALD,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED OCTOBER 07, 2016
Appellant, Jawanda Wright, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered on December 5, 2013, after she was found guilty of direct criminal
contempt.1 We affirm.
The trial court summarized the relevant factual background and
procedural history as follows:
At the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice,
the First Judicial District permits persons to bring cell
phones and other electronic devices into the courtroom, but
requires that those devices not be seen, heard, or used.
Prominently displayed in the lobby of the courthouse, in
every elevator and on the doors outside of every courtroom
is a sign that provides the following:
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1
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 4137(a)(1).
*Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
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By the Order of the Court, all cell phones and other
electronic devices that are brought to the courtroom and
not powered off and out of sight may be confiscated and
searched by the court. Failure to comply with this policy
may result in sanctions, including punishment for
criminal contempt and expulsion from the courtroom.
On December 5, 2013, the court began its list in Courtroom
803 at 8:30 a.m. Court staff announced the court’s cell
phone and electronic device policy when court began and
one or two times after that during the day. At
approximately 1:05 p.m., the court was conducting a
sentencing hearing when the court’s attention was drawn to
Ms. Thomas [(an appellant in a related appeal, who was
using her cell phone)]. . . . Based on the court’s direction,
court staff confiscated Ms. Thomas’s cell phone . . . and
stated that the court would hold a hearing on [her] direct
criminal contempt.
Approximately five minutes later, [Appellant’s] cell phone
played a tune which the court heard. Her phone was also
confiscated, the Public Defender was appointed and
[Appellant] was advised that the court would hold a hearing
on her direct criminal contempt. [Appellant] and Ms.
Thomas complied with the court’s request to provide their
cell phones to the court.
At the hearing, the court heard from Ms. Thomas,
[Appellant,] and Ms. Price, who is Ms. Thomas’ sister. The
court learned the three of them were present in court with
Ms. Price’s four year old daughter to support [Appellant’s]
daughter[]. . . . [Appellant] explained that her phone went
off when she was in the process of turning it off.
The court held Ms. Thomas and [Appellant] in direct criminal
contempt based on its observations that they both
obstructed the court’s proceedings as a result of their failure
to follow the directions concerning cell phones that are
posted all over the courthouse. Defense counsel
recommended a sentence of no further penalty for Ms.
Thomas and [Appellant]. The court agreed with the
recommendation and sentenced [them] to no further
penalty.
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When determining what to do with the cell phones that were
in the possession of the court, the court explained that it
intended to keep the cell phones as evidence at least during
the [30]-day appeal period. Ms. Thomas and [Appellant]
decided to waive their right to an appeal and the court,
therefore, returned the phones to them. The court
conducted a colloquy in support of its findings that Ms.
Thomas and [Appellant] properly waived their right to an
appeal. Counsel for Ms. Thomas and [Appellant] agreed
that the waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.
Trial Court Opinion, 12/29/15, at 2-4 (internal citations omitted). Appellant
then filed a post-sentence motion, asking the court to vacate its contempt
verdict, claiming she had been coerced into waiving her right to appeal. The
trial court denied the motion on January 13, 2014. This timely appeal
followed.2
Appellant presents two issues for our review:
1. Did [] the [trial] court violate due process of law by
extorting an involuntary waiver of [Appellant’s] appellate
rights as the ransom for the safe return of her cell phone?
2. Was [] the evidence insufficient to prove contempt in that
there was no intent to disrupt proceedings and no actual
obstruction of the administration of justice?
Appellant’s Brief at 3.
____________________________________________
2
Appellant filed a notice of appeal on January 27, 2014 and was directed by
the trial court to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal,
pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b). Appellant
timely filed her Rule 1925(b) statement and, within the statement, Appellant
listed the claims she currently raises on appeal.
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In considering an appeal from a contempt order, we give great
deference to the trial court. Commonwealth v. Williams, 753 A.2d 856,
861 (Pa. Super. 2000). Because each trial court is the “exclusive judge of
contempts against its process,” we will only reverse the trial court’s decision
if there is a plain abuse of discretion. Id. We are limited to examining the
record to determine if the facts of record support the trial court’s decision.
Id. We must evaluate the record and consider all evidence actually
received. Id.Appellant first argues that her waiver of appellate rights was
involuntary. Appellant’s Brief at 7. The right to appeal can only be waived if
it is a knowing and intelligent act. Commonwealth v. Dosch, 501 A.2d
667, 670 (Pa. Super. 1985). Appellant’s assertion is unsupported by the
record. The trial court found Appellant had knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily waived her appellate rights. N.T. Hearing, 12/5/13, at 52.
Further, Appellant’s counsel testified that she believed the waiver was
knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. Id. at 51. In addition, the trial court
conducted a thorough colloquy to determine whether Appellant understood
her right to appeal, had spoken to her attorney, and was voluntarily,
knowingly, and intelligently waiving her appellate rights. Id. 47-52.
Although Appellant is now asserting that the trial court coerced her to waive
her rights by holding her cell phone, she testified during her colloquy that no
one, including the court, had coerced her to waive her rights. Id. 49-50.
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Appellant is bound by the statements she made during her colloquy and
cannot now obtain relief by contradicting those statements.
Commonwealth v. Barnes, 687 A.2d 1163, 1167 (Pa. Super. 1996); see
also Commonwealth v. Bishop, 645 A.2d 274, 277 (Pa. Super. 1994)
(holding an appellant cannot obtain relief by claiming he lied during his
waiver colloquy); Commonwealth v. Muhammad, 794 A.2d 378, 384 (Pa.
Super. 2002) (holding an appellant was not entitled to relief based on the
claim that his attorney coerced him to plead guilty when he stated in his
plea colloquy that he was not being forced or threatened).
Further, the record does not support Appellant’s contention of
coercion. The fact that Appellant chose to re-acquire her lawfully confiscated
cell phone instead of appealing her direct criminal contempt conviction does
not make her decision to waive her appellate rights involuntary. Appellant
used her cell phone to commit an unlawful act and accordingly, it was proper
for the court to seize her phone and retain possession of it. See
Commonwealth v. Durham, 9 A.3d 641, 645 (Pa. Super. 2010). The trial
court gave Appellant an accommodation by allowing her an opportunity to
have her cell phone returned immediately, but Appellant was free to refuse
this option and appeal the trial court’s decision. Further, the trial court
allowed Appellant to bypass the requirement that she file a motion seeking
return of her property. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 588. Appellant now contends there
was no need for the trial court to seize her phone, as she did not dispute
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that she possessed it. However, she did not raise this objection before the
trial court and has accordingly waived this issue. Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).
For these reasons, we find Appellant’s waiver was not involuntary.
Accordingly, she waived her right to appellate review. However, we will
address her argument that the evidence was insufficient to prove contempt,
as we find it to be without merit.
When reviewing a claim of sufficiency of the evidence, we must
determine whether “the evidence at trial, and all reasonable inferences
derived therefrom, when viewed in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth . . ., are sufficient to establish all elements of the offense
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Commonwealth v. Diamond, 83 A.3d 119,
126 (Pa. 2013).
Trial courts have the power to impose summary punishment for
contempt of court. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 4132. Contempt proceedings are criminal
if they “have as a dominant purpose the vindication of the dignity and
authority of the court and to protect the interests of the public.”
Commonwealth v. Marcone, 410 A.2d 759, 762 (Pa. 1980). Criminal
contempt is divided into direct and indirect contempt. Id. A direct criminal
contempt is “misconduct of a person in the presence of the court, or
disobedience to or neglect of the lawful process of the court, or to
misbehavior so near thereto as to interfere with the immediate business of
the court.” Id. Here, Appellant argues that there was not sufficient
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evidence to demonstrate she intended to disrupt proceedings or cause an
obstruction of justice. Appellant’s Brief at 9.
Evidence is sufficient to establish criminal contempt where there is
proof: “(1) of misconduct, (2) in the presence of the court, (3) committed
with intent to obstruct the proceedings, and (4) that obstructs the
administration of justice.” Commonwealth v. Moody, 125 A.3d 1, 5 (Pa.
2015).
Appellant’s behavior constituted misconduct. Misconduct is “behavior
inappropriate to the actor.” Commonwealth v. Falana, 696 A.2d 126, 129
(Pa. 1997). Here, Appellant had her cell phone present in the courtroom
without it being turned off and out of sight. This is a direct violation of the
court order posted on signs throughout the courthouse, including the lobby
and all elevators. N.T. Hearing, 12/5/13, at 7-9. Appellant asserts she was
only turning off her cell phone when it was confiscated. Even so, this clearly
violates the court’s order. Appellant asserts that turning her phone off was
appropriate conduct; however, this is inaccurate. Appropriate behavior
would have been to ensure the cell phone was off before entering the
courtroom or going outside the courtroom to turn the cell phone off.
Appellant’s actions clearly constituted misconduct.
Appellant does not dispute that her misconduct occurred in the
presence of the court, as it occurred when the trial court judge was clearly
present. Appellant’s Brief at 10. However, Appellant contends that the
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element of intent is not met because she did not intend to disrupt the
proceedings. This claim fails.
Intent can be found if the offender “knows or should reasonably be
aware that his conduct is wrongful.” Falana, 696 A.2d at 129. Appellant
concedes that she knew her conduct of having her cell phone turned on was
wrongful. Nevertheless, Appellant contends that she was not aware that
turning her cell phone off was wrongful as well. Appellant’s Brief at 10.
Clearly, if Appellant knew having her phone turned on in court was wrongful,
she should have reasonably known that any use of the cell phone in the
courtroom was wrongful, even if just to turn it off. Appellant could have and
should have exited the courtroom so as not to disrupt the court proceedings
and further violate the order.
Finally, Appellant argues that the second it took to power her phone
down and the small noise it made did not constitute a significant disruption
to constitute an obstruction of justice. Appellant’s Brief at 11. To obstruct
justice, conduct must significantly disrupt proceedings, requiring “actual,
imminent prejudice to a fair proceeding or prejudice to the preservation of
the court’s orderly procedure and authority.” Falana, 696 A.2d at 129.
Despite Appellant’s argument that her actions were not significant, her
disregard for the court order disrupted the sentencing proceeding being
conducted by the court. N.T. Hearing, 12/5/13, at 5-7. Further, as the trial
court correctly noted, cell phones in courtrooms “present unique and
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important challenges.” Trial Court Opinion, 12/29/15, at 4. Cell phones can
create potential security issues and can prevent witnesses from feeling safe
in testifying before the tribunal. Further, Appellant’s misconduct was in
open disregard to the trial court’s authority and the trial court’s order
prohibiting cell phone use in court. Without punishing Appellant, the court’s
authority would have been eroded and the ability to control the courtroom
would have been threatened. See Williams, 753 A.2d at 863 (noting failing
to respond to misconduct would have eroded the court’s authority).
Appellant’s misconduct obstructed the administration of justice. Accordingly,
even if Appellant had not waived her right to appeal, she would not be
entitled to relief.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Bender, P.J.E. joins this memorandum.
Fitzgerald, J. notes dissent.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/7/2016
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