Com. v. Schlott, R. ( 2015 )

J-S58033-14
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
RICKY SCHLOTT
Appellant No. 457 WDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 17, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-26-CR-0001026-2013
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED MAY 04, 2015
Appellant, Ricky Schlott, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, following his jury trial
convictions for persons not to possess firearms, firearms not to be carried
without a license, flight to avoid apprehension, disorderly conduct, and
possession of marijuana.1 We affirm.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this appeal are as follows.
On March [11], 2013, at approximately 12:18 a.m.,
Captain David Rutter of the Uniontown City Police
Department advised Officer Jonathan Grabiak of a fight in
the parking lot of the Uniontown Welfare Office. Officer
Grabiak and Officer Charles David responded to the call
____________________________________________
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6105; 6106; 5126; 5503; 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(31),
respectively.
_________________________
*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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and observed a man later identified as [Appellant]. When
[Appellant] observed the police officers, he began to flee.
The parking lot was fenced in with the entrance and exit
chained. [Appellant] was able to successfully climb over
the fence and continue running from them. As he was
running, Officer Grabiak observed [Appellant] reaching into
the front of his waistband. Officers Grabiak and David
began to pursue [Appellant] on foot in the Great Bethel
Baptist Church parking lot until they ordered him to the
ground.
[Appellant] eventually complied with the order, and Officer
Grabiak proceeded to the west corner of the lot where
[Appellant] was standing and recovered a Springfield XD
.45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The firearm was fully
loaded when it was recovered. After running the serial
number on the firearm, it was discovered that the firearm
was reported stolen.
Once [Appellant] told the officers his name, it was further
discovered that [Appellant] is a convicted felon who was
wanted for Possession with Intent to Deliver cocaine.
Accordingly, he was not permitted to carry a concealed
firearm in Pennsylvania. When asked about the firearm,
[Appellant] responded that he had “found it.”[2] He was
then placed under arrest.
(Trial Court Opinion, filed May 20, 2014, at 2-3).
On March 11, 2013, the Commonwealth filed a criminal information
charging Appellant with receiving stolen property, possession of firearm with
manufacture number altered, possession of firearm prohibited, flight to avoid
apprehension, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of
marijuana, and disorderly conduct. Following a preliminary hearing on June
____________________________________________
2
Actually, Captain Rutter directed his questions about the firearm to Officer
Grabiak, but Appellant volunteered the answer. (N.T. Trial, 3/7/14, at 22).
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11, 2013, all of Appellant’s charges were bound over to the Court of
Common Pleas.
On March 7, 2014, a jury convicted Appellant of charges on counts 3
through 7.3 The court sentenced Appellant on March 17, 2014, to four (4) to
eight (8) years’ imprisonment at count 3, for the persons not to possess
firearms conviction and imposed no further penalty on the other
convictions.4 The court also determined Appellant was ineligible for the RRRI
program, due to the nature of the firearms convictions.
Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal on March 21, 2014. The court
ordered Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal. On March 25, 2014, Appellant timely filed his Rule
1925(b) statement.
Appellant now raises three issues for our review:
DID THE COURT ERR IN PERMITTING THE INTRODUCTION
OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM APPELLANT’S PHONE DEPICTING
A FIREARM AND THE APPELLANT WITH A FIREARM?
DID THE COURT ERR[] IN INSTRUCTING THE JURORS
THAT THE COMMONWEALTH IS NOT BOUND BY THE
DATES IN THE INFORMATIONS?
____________________________________________
3
The trial court dismissed the charge of receiving stolen property at count 1.
The jury adjudicated Appellant not guilty of possession of a firearm with
manufacturer’s number altered at count 2.
4
With a prior record score of 5 and an offense gravity score of 10 (gun
loaded), the mitigated range of the sentencing guidelines for this offense
was 48 to 60 months. Thus, the court sentenced Appellant at the low end of
the mitigated range.
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DID THE COMMONWEALTH FAIL TO PROVE THAT THE
APPELLANT POSSESSED A FIREARM[?] SPECIFICALLY[,]
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE
COMMONWEALTH THAT APPELLANT HELD THE FIREARM IN
QUESTION[.]
(Appellant’s Brief at 7).
Appellant first argues the cell phone pictures, portraying him holding a
firearm, were wrongfully admitted at trial. Appellant contends the
Commonwealth had no way to establish when the photographs of Appellant
had been taken or if the firearm in the pictures was the same firearm
recovered at the scene of Appellant’s arrest and introduced at trial. Absent
concrete evidence that the two firearms were the same, Appellant claims
introduction of the photographs at trial was far more prejudicial than
probative; and they should have been excluded under Pa.R.E. 403.
Appellant maintains introduction of the photographs of Appellant with a
firearm, on a previous date, served to divert the jury’s attention from
weighing the facts relating to the 3/11/13 incident at issue. Appellant
submits the pictures persuaded the jury to convict him on an improper basis.
Next, Appellant complains the court erroneously instructed the jury
that it was not “bound by the date alleged in the criminal information.”
(N.T., 3/7/14, at 97). Specifically, the criminal information referenced the
date of the incident as 3/11/13, and the Commonwealth charged him with
actions committed on 3/11/13, but not on the possibility that he might have
held a firearm on a previous date, as in the photographs. Appellant also
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insists the Commonwealth failed to establish the purported firearm in the
photographs was the same firearm recovered in Appellant’s vicinity on
3/11/13. Appellant testified he did not know if the firearm in the pictures
was even a real firearm. Appellant asserts the court’s instruction allowed
the jury to consider the pictures of Appellant holding a firearm and to convict
him, based on prior bad acts which were not set forth in the criminal
information. Appellant emphasizes he had no notice he would have to
defend against charges not included in the criminal information. Appellant
reiterates the only reason for introducing the photographs at trial was to
prejudice him with irrelevant evidence. Appellant concludes he is entitled to
a new trial on these grounds.
Finally, Appellant complains the Commonwealth presented insufficient
evidence in connection with his firearm possession convictions. Specifically,
Appellant argues police did not see Appellant physically possess or discard
the firearm during flight. Appellant further asserts Officer Grabiak’s
recollection of the lab report was that no latent fingerprints were recovered
from the firearm during forensic testing, so Appellant insists this testimony
proves he did not possess the firearm recovered on 3/11/13. Appellant
concedes the Commonwealth can use circumstantial evidence to prove
Appellant possessed the firearm, but he believes the only reason the
Commonwealth was able to convict him in this case was the erroneous
admission of the photographic evidence. Appellant concludes he is entitled
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to have the verdict set aside. We cannot agree with Appellant’s contentions.
“Admission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial court
and will be reversed only upon a showing that the trial court clearly abused
its discretion.” Commonwealth v. Drumheller, 570 Pa. 117, 135, 808
A.2d 893, 904 (2002), cert. denied, 539 U.S. 919, 123 S. Ct. 2284, 156
L. Ed. 2d 137 (2003) (quoting Commonwealth v. Stallworth, 566 Pa. 349,
363, 781 A.2d 110, 117 (2001)). Relevance is the threshold for admissibility
of evidence. Commonwealth v. Cook, 597 Pa. 572, 602, 952 A.2d 594,
612 (2008). Relevant evidence is “evidence having any tendency to make
the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the
action more probable or less probable than it would be without the
evidence.” Pa.R.E. 401. “Evidence is relevant if it logically tends to
establish a material fact in the case, tends to make a fact at issue more or
less probable or supports a reasonable inference or presumption regarding a
material fact.” Drumheller, supra at 135, 808 A.2d at 904. “Evidence that
is not relevant is not admissible.” Pa.R.E. 402. “Although relevant,
evidence may be excluded if its probative value is outweighed by the danger
of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by
considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of
cumulative evidence.” Pa.R.E. 403. “Evidence will not be prohibited merely
because it is harmful to the defendant.” Commonwealth v. Dillon, 592 Pa.
351, 367, 925 A.2d 131, 141 (2007).
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Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 404 provides:
Rule 404. Character evidence not admissible to
prove conduct; exceptions; other crimes
(a) Character evidence generally. Evidence of a
person’s character or a trait of character is not admissible
for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith
on a particular occasion, except:
* * *
(b) Other crimes, wrongs, or acts.
(1) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not
admissible to prove the character of a person in order to
show action in conformity therewith.
(2) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts may be
admitted for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity
or absence of mistake or accident.
(3) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts proffered
under subsection (b)(2) of this rule may be admitted in a
criminal case only upon a showing that the probative value
of the evidence outweighs its potential for prejudice.
* * *
Pa.R.E. 404(a), (b)(1)-(3). Evidence of prior bad acts or unrelated criminal
activity is inadmissible for the sole purpose of showing a defendant acted in
conformity with those past acts or has a criminal propensity.
Commonwealth v. Malloy, 579 Pa. 425, 439, 856 A.2d 767, 775 (2004);
Pa.R.E. 404(b)(1). Rule 404(b)(2), however, does provide for the
admissibility of prior crimes, wrongs or other acts evidence in certain limited
instances “where it is relevant for some other legitimate purpose and not
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utilized solely to blacken the defendant’s character.” Commonwealth v.
Russell, 938 A.2d 1082, 1092 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied, 598 Pa.
766, 956 A.2d 434 (2008). Specifically, “This evidence may be admissible
for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of
accident. In a criminal case, this evidence is admissible only if the probative
value of the evidence outweighs its potential for unfair prejudice.” Pa.R.E.
404(b)(2). The particular prejudice the rule seeks to prevent “is the misuse
of the other-offense evidence−specifically, that jurors might convict a
defendant because they perceive the defendant has a bad character or
propensity to commit crimes.” Commonwealth v. Cascardo, 981 A.2d
245, 251 (Pa.Super. 2009), appeal denied, 608 Pa. 652, 12 A.3d 750
(2009).
Likewise, the trial court has the discretion to admit photographic
evidence and, absent an abuse of that discretion, the admission will prevail
on review. Commonwealth v. Baez, 554 Pa. 66, 720 A.2d 711 (1998),
cert. denied, 528 U.S. 827, 120 S. Ct. 78, 145 L. Ed. 2d 66 (1999);
Commonwealth v. Lowry, 55 A.3d 743, 753 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal
denied, 619 Pa. 701, 63 A.3d 1245 (2013). When making the admissibility
decision, the court must analyze whether the photograph is inflammatory by
its very nature and, if so, whether the essential evidentiary value of the
photograph outweighs “the likelihood that the photograph will improperly
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inflame the minds and passions of the jury.” Baez, supra at 97, 720 A.2d
at 726.
As a general rule, a weapon may not be admitted in evidence unless it
is specifically linked to the crime charged. Commonwealth v. Antyane
Robinson, 554 Pa. 293, 721 A.2d 344 (1998), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1082,
120 S. Ct. 804, 145 L. Ed. 2d 677 (2000). Nevertheless,
[A]n exception exists where the accused had a weapon or
instrument suitable to the commission of the crime
charged.
A weapon shown to have been in a defendant’s
possession may properly be admitted into evidence,
even though it cannot positively be identified as the
weapon used in the commission of a particular crime,
if it tends to prove that the defendant had a weapon
similar to the one used in the perpetration of the
crime.
Uncertainty whether the weapons evidence was actually
used in the crime goes to the weight of such evidence, not
its admissibility.
Commonwealth v. Williams, 58 A.3d 796, 801 (Pa.Super. 2012), appeal
denied, 620 Pa. 708, 68 A.2d 908 (2013) (internal citations omitted)
(affirming admission of photograph of defendant in possession and control of
weapon similar to one used to commit crimes charged). See also
Commonwealth v. Owens, 929 A.2d 1187 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal
denied, 596 Pa. 705, 940 A.2d 364 (2007) (affirming admission of handgun
parts and ammunition found in defendant’s home and car, where evidence
was relevant to show defendant had weapons similar to ones used in
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commission of crime charged; evidence was not unduly prejudicial such that
it would cause verdict to be based on something other than relevant legal
propositions).
When reviewing a challenge to a jury instruction:
[W]e must review the jury charge as a whole to determine
if it is fair and complete. A trial court has wide discretion
in phrasing its jury instructions, and can choose its own
words as long as the law is clearly, adequately, and
accurately presented to the jury for its consideration. The
trial court commits an abuse of discretion only when there
is an inaccurate statement of the law.
Commonwealth v. Baker, 963 A.2d 495, 507 (Pa.Super. 2008), appeal
denied, 606 Pa. 644, 992 A.2d 885 (2010) (quoting Commonwealth v.
Samuel Jones, 954 A.2d 1194, 1198 (2008), appeal denied, 599 Pa. 708,
962 A.2d 1196 (2008)). See also Commonwealth v. Kareem Jones, 858
A.2d 1198, 1200-01 (Pa.Super. 2004) (stating: “We will not rigidly inspect a
jury charge, finding reversible error for every technical inaccuracy…rather
[we] evaluat[e] whether the charge sufficiently and accurately apprises a lay
jury of the law it must consider in rendering its decision. … [W]e must
review the charge as a whole. Error cannot be predicated on isolated
excerpts of the charge…it is the general effect of the charge that controls”).
Importantly, a specific and timely objection is essential to preserve a
challenge to a particular jury instruction. Commonwealth v. Forbes, 867
A.2d 1268, 1274 (Pa.Super. 2005). Failure to do so results in waiver of the
issue for appeal. Id. Consider also Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate
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Procedure 302, which provides:
Rule 302. Requisites for Reviewable Issue
* * *
(b) Charge to jury. 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.A.P. 302. Similarly, Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 647 states
in pertinent part:
Rule 647. Request for Instructions, Charge to the
Jury, and Preliminary Instructions
* * *
(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. All
such objections shall be made beyond the hearing of the
jury.
* * *
Pa.R.Crim.P. 647 (emphasis added). Thus, a defendant’s failure to object
specifically to the jury charge, before the jury retires to deliberate, precludes
appellate review of that jury charge. Commonwealth v. Gwynn, 555 Pa.
86, 106, 723 A.2d 143, 152 (1999), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 969, 120 S. Ct.
410, 145 L. Ed. 2d 320 (1999). See Commonwealth v. Fisher, 493 A.2d
719 (Pa.Super. 1985) (stating specific objection must be made, even where
jury instructions have been timely offered and refused; objection assures
trial court has fair opportunity to avoid error).
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When examining a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence:
The standard we apply…is whether viewing all the evidence
admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict
winner, there is sufficient evidence to enable the fact-
finder to find every element of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. In applying [the above] test, we may
not weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for
the fact-finder. In addition, we note that the facts and
circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not
preclude every possibility of innocence. Any doubts
regarding a defendant’s guilt may be resolved by the fact-
finder unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that
as a matter of law no probability of fact may be drawn
from the combined circumstances. The Commonwealth
may sustain its burden of proving every element of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly
circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in applying the above
test, the entire record must be evaluated and all evidence
actually received must be considered. Finally, the [finder]
of fact while passing upon the credibility of witnesses and
the weight of the evidence produced, is free to believe all,
part or none of the evidence.
Commonwealth v. Barnswell Jones, 120-21 (Pa.Super. 2005)(quoting
Commonwealth v. Bullick, 830 A.2d 998, 1000 (Pa.Super. 2003)).
Section 6105 of the Crimes Code defines the offense of persons not to
possess a firearm as follows:
§ 6105. Persons not to possess, use, manufacture,
control, sell or transfer firearms
(a) Offense defined.—
(1) A person who has been convicted of an offense
enumerated in subsection (b), within or without this
Commonwealth, regardless of the length of sentence
or whose conduct meets the criteria in subsection (c)
shall not possess, use, control, sell, transfer or
manufacture or obtain a license to possess, use,
control, sell, transfer or manufacture a firearm in this
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Commonwealth.
* * *
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(a)(1). Section 6106 of the Crimes Code in relevant
part provides:
§ 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license
(a) Offense defined.―
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person
who carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person
who carries a firearm concealed on or about his
person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of
business, without a valid and lawfully issued license
under this chapter commits a felony of the third
degree.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106(a)(1).
Instantly, the trial court admitted photographs of Appellant, taken
from his own cell phone, which pictured Appellant holding in his waistband a
firearm that met the description of the firearm recovered near Appellant
during the incident on 3/11/13. At least one picture was admittedly taken in
Appellant’s apartment. Appellant also admitted he was the person in the
photographs holding the firearm.
The fact that Appellant had in his possession a weapon substantially
similar to the one recovered on 3/11/13, was relevant for several reasons.
Admission of the photographs challenged Appellant’s claim that the firearm
recovered on 3/11/13, did not belong to him and that he had just “found it.”
The photographs also showed Appellant had access to a firearm almost
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identical to the firearm recovered on 3/11/13. Furthermore, the confirmed
date of the photographs was March 4, 2013, or one week before the 3/11/13
incident giving rise to the charges in this case. As the probative value of the
photographs outweighed the potential for undue prejudice, we see no abuse
of discretion in their evidentiary use at trial. See Williams, supra.
With respect to Appellant’s jury instruction challenge, the trial court
instructed the jury as follows:
Before I define the crimes, I do want to mention one
principle in the law. The information in this case charge[s]
that the crimes were committed on March 11, 2013. But,
you are not bound by the date alleged in the criminal
information. It is not an essential element of any of the
crimes charged. You may find the Defendant guilty of a
particular crime if you are satisfied beyond a reasonable
doubt that he committed the crime charged in the
information, even though you are not satisfied that he
committed it on the exact date alleged in the information.
(N.T. Trial, 3/7/14, at 97). Significantly, at no time did Appellant object to
this or any of the other jury instructions, prior to commencement of jury
deliberations. Therefore, Appellant waived this issue at trial, and it is not
subject to appellate review. See Gwynn, supra; Forbes, supra; Pa.R.A.P.
302(b); Pa.R.Crim.P. 647.
Moreover, this instruction as presented is capable of legitimate
interpretation, other than Appellant’s claim, where the instruction did not
direct the jury to convict Appellant on uncharged crimes. The court merely
explained that the date of the offenses was not an element of any of the
crimes charged. Notably, this short instruction was only a small part of
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twenty pages of jury instructions. Thus, even if Appellant had properly
preserved this challenge, we would consider it unworthy of relief.
With respect to Appellant’s issue implicating the sufficiency of the
evidence, the trial court said:
[Appellant] was observed reaching into his waistband as
he was running from the police. Furthermore, a firearm
was recovered in the immediate area where [Appellant]
had been. Finally, when asked about the firearm,
[Appellant] stated that he had “found it.”
In order to be convicted of Possession of a Firearm
Prohibited, a person need not be the owner of the firearm.
[Appellant] admitted that he had knowledge of the firearm
in stating that he “found it.” He never said he did not
know anything about it. Based on those circumstances,
the Commonwealth met [its] burden of proof, and the jury
properly and reasonably inferred that [Appellant]
possessed the firearm.
(Trial Court Opinion at 5-6) (internal citations omitted). Pursuant to the
governing statute, the Commonwealth proved Appellant “possessed” the
firearm recovered at the scene of his arrest. Police observed Appellant reach
into his waistband, and later police found the firearm in the immediate area
where Appellant had been running. Also, in response to a question directed
to Officer Grabiak, Appellant volunteered that he had “found” the firearm.
The jury was free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence and could
reasonably conclude Appellant possessed the firearm recovered on 3/11/13.
See Barnswell Jones, supra. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of
sentence.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 5/4/2015
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