Com. v. Nichols, W. ( 2017 )

J-S88038-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
WARREN NICHOLS, :
:
Appellant : No. 3647 EDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence September 22, 2015
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0008876-2012
BEFORE: OLSON, RANSOM, and STRASSBURGER*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY STRASSBURGER, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 07, 2017
Warren Nichols (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed following his convictions for possession of a controlled substance,
carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a firearm on the streets of
Philadelphia, and carrying loaded weapons other than firearms. We affirm in
part and vacate in part.
Appellant was arrested and charged with the aforementioned offenses,
as well as various summary motor vehicle violations, stemming from an
incident that occurred on July 11, 2012. On September 12, 2012, following
a hearing in Philadelphia Municipal Court – Traffic Division, Appellant was
found not-guilty of the summary offenses of failure to use lights and driving
an unregistered vehicle. A suppression hearing on the indictable offenses
*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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was heard, and denied, on August 12, 2013. The matter proceeded to a
non-jury trial on April 9, 2014.
At trial, [Philadelphia Police Officer Eyleen] Archie testified
that she was traveling northbound on North Broad Street, when
she observed [Appellant] driving a vehicle traveling southbound
in the 2100 block of North Broad Street, approaching Broad and
Diamond Streets. The vehicle was being operated without
headlights. The officer activated her lights, and [Appellant’s]
vehicle stopped. The officer exited her vehicle and as she
approached [Appellant’s] vehicle, she saw [Appellant], who was
the driver, reaching under his seat, making movements between
his legs. Officer Archie ordered [Appellant] to stay still and stop
moving, but he ignored her commands. A female passenger was
also in the car.
The officer opened the door and ordered [Appellant] to exit
the vehicle. She then escorted him to the rear of the vehicle,
where [Appellant] stood with her sergeant. Officer Archie
returned to the passenger compartment of the car, where she
observed the butt of a black handgun sticking out beneath the
seat. The officer notified the sergeant she had found a loaded
gun, whereupon [Appellant] was secured in the officer’s vehicle.
Officer Archie continued her sweep of the vehicle, where she
observed a knotted clear plastic bag in an open area near the
gear shift, along with five live rounds of ammunition.
While in custody in the officer’s vehicle, [Appellant] stated
that he thought [Pennsylvania] was an open carry state, so he
didn’t need a license to carry a firearm.
The gun was test fired and found to be operable. Although
[Appellant] had previously possessed a license to carry, he did
not have a valid license on July 11, 2012. The substance found
in the plastic bag tested positive for cocaine.
Trial Court Opinion, 4/8/216, at 4-5 (unnumbered) (citations and
unnecessary capitalization omitted).
Appellant was convicted of all charges. On May 6, 2016, Appellant
filed a motion for extraordinary relief, which was denied on August 3, 2015.
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A second motion was filed on September 11, 2015 and denied on September
17, 2015.
On September 22, 2016, Appellant was sentenced to an aggregate
term of 30 to 60 months of incarceration on the charge of carrying a firearm
without a license, and a consecutive term of three years’ probation on the
charge of carrying a firearm on the streets of Philadelphia. No further
penalty was imposed at the other two counts.
Appellant, through counsel, filed timely post-sentence motions, which
were denied on December 2, 2015. This timely appeal followed. Both
Appellant and the trial court complied with the mandates of Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Appellant raises four issues for our review.
[I.] Was the evidence presented at trial sufficient as a matter of
law to support a conviction for 18 Pa.C.S.[] § 6106.1 where the
evidence of record does not establish that [Appellant] was
carrying a loaded weapon “other than a firearm as defined in
section [] 6102” of the Crimes Code in a vehicle?
[II.] Did the trial court err when it denied [Appellant’s] motion
seeking dismissal of the charges against [him] based on 18
Pa.C.S.[] § 110?
[III.] Is the verdict of guilty with respect to the charge of 35 P.S.
§ 780-113(a)(16) against the weight of the evidence and so
contrary to the evidence that it shocks one’s sense of justice in
light of the evidence presented at trial?
[IV.] Is the sentence imposed in this matter unduly harsh and
excessive under the circumstances as it is above the standard
range set forth in the guidelines, fails to take into account all
relevant and necessary factors to be considered by a sentencing
court, and/or is based upon factors or evidence which should not
be relied upon by a sentencing court?
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Appellant’s Brief at 8-9 (suggested answers and trial court answers omitted).
With respect to Appellant’s first issue, the trial court and the
Commonwealth concede that the evidence was insufficient to sustain
Appellant’s conviction for the summary offense of carrying loaded weapons
other than firearms, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.1, because that subsection does not
apply to the weapon recovered during the search of Appellant’s vehicle. Trial
Court Opinion, 4/8/2016, at 9-11; Commonwealth’s Brief at 7.
As a general matter, our standard of review of sufficiency claims
requires
that we evaluate the record in the light most favorable to the
verdict winner giving the prosecution the benefit of all
reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Evidence
will be deemed sufficient to support the verdict when it
establishes each material element of the crime charged and the
commission thereof by the accused, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nevertheless, the Commonwealth need not establish guilt to a
mathematical certainty. [T]he facts and circumstances
established by the Commonwealth need not be absolutely
incompatible with the defendant’s innocence. Any doubt about
the defendant’s guilt is to be resolved by the fact finder unless
the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that, as a matter of
law, no probability of fact can be drawn from the combined
circumstances.
Commonwealth v. Mauz, 122 A.3d 1039, 1040-41 (Pa. Super. 2015)
(citation omitted).
Section 6106.1(a) states that
except as provided in Title 34 (relating to game), no person shall
carry a loaded pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle, other than a
firearm as defined in section 6102 (relating to definitions), in
any vehicle. The provisions of this section shall not apply to
persons excepted from the requirement of a license to carry
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firearms under section 6106(b)(1), (2), (5) or (6) (relating to
firearms not to be carried without a license) nor shall the
provisions of this section be construed to permit persons to carry
firearms in a vehicle where such conduct is prohibited by section
6106.
18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.1(a) (emphasis added). The weapon recovered from
Appellant’s vehicle was an automatic handgun with a barrel length of 3 ¾
inches, Trial Court Opinion, 4/8/2016, at 10, which qualifies as a “firearm”
under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (defining firearm for the purposes of the Uniform
Firearms Act, in pertinent part, as “[a]ny pistol or revolver with a barrel
length less than 15 inches, … or any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun with
an overall length of less than 26 inches.”) (emphasis added).
Based on the foregoing, we agree that section 6106.1(a) is
inapplicable to the weapon recovered from Appellant’s vehicle; thus, the
evidence is insufficient to sustain Appellant’s conviction. Accordingly, we
vacate his conviction under section 6106.1(a). However, because Appellant
did not receive a sentence for that conviction, we need not remand this case
for imposition of a new sentence. See Commonwealth v. Thur, 906 A.2d
552, 569 (Pa. Super. 2006) (stating that when our disposition does not
upset overall sentencing scheme, there is no need for a remand).
In his second issue on appeal, Appellant contends that the trial court
erred in denying Appellant’s motion to dismiss charges pursuant to the
compulsory joinder rule outlined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 110. Appellant’s Brief at 27-
34. Specifically, Appellant argues that his acquittal of the summary traffic
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offenses on September 12, 2012, three years prior to his non-jury trial on
the remaining indictable offenses, barred the later prosecution. Id.
It is well-established that
Section 110 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal
Procedure governs when a prosecution is barred by a former
prosecution for a different offense, and thus serves as a
statutory enforcement mechanism for protecting a defendant’s
Double Jeopardy rights in Pennsylvania’s criminal courts. In
Commonwealth v. Pries, 861 A.2d 951 (Pa. Super. 2004), we
held that:
the compulsory joinder rule, set forth at [18 Pa.C.S.
§ 110], bars a subsequent prosecution if all prongs
of the following test are met:
(1) the former prosecution resulted in an acquittal or
conviction [as defined by 18 Pa.C.S. § 109] ; (2) the
current prosecution was based on the same criminal
conduct or arose from the same criminal episode;
(3) the prosecutor in the subsequent trial was aware
of the charges before the first trial; and (4) all
charges were within the same judicial district as the
former prosecution.
Commonwealth v. Miskovitch, 64 A.3d 672, 686 (Pa. Super. 2013).
When dealing with an issue arising under section 110, our scope of review is
plenary. See Commonwealth v. M.D.P., 831 A.2d 714, 717 (Pa. Super.
2003).
In his brief, Appellant argues that his subsequent prosecution is barred
by section 110(1)(ii), which applies where
[t]he former prosecution resulted in an acquittal … as defined in
section 109 … and the subsequent prosecution is for … any
offense based on the same conduct or arising from the same
criminal episode, if such offense was known to the appropriate
prosecuting officer at the time of the commencement of the first
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trial and occurred within the same judicial district as the former
prosecution unless the court ordered a separate trial of the
charge of such offense.
18 Pa.C.S. § 110(1)(ii).
However, in Commonwealth v. Splain, 364 A.2d 384 (Pa. Super.
1976), this Court held that a defendant must normally assert a section
110(1)(ii) claim in a timely manner, and may not wait until after the
Commonwealth has presented its evidence before doing so. Id. at 387. See
Commonwealth v. Block, 469 A.2d 650, 652 n. 4 (Pa. Super. 1983)
(citations omitted) (“While it is true that the lack of a specific objection will
not constitute a waiver of a particular basis for relief under double jeopardy,
… it has also been held that a defendant cannot sit back and put the
Commonwealth to the expense and time of presenting its evidence then later
object to the proceeding on double jeopardy grounds.”).
Instantly, Appellant raised his compulsory joinder argument for the
first time in his supplemental post-sentence motion, which was filed on
October 2, 2015, three years after his acquittal for the summary traffic
offenses and nearly six months after his non-jury trial. Such assertion is
patently untimely and, as such, we find Appellant’s claim waived for failure
to raise it in a timely manner.
In his third issue, Appellant claims that his conviction for possession of
a controlled substance is against the weight of the evidence. Appellant’s
Brief at 35-41. Specifically, Appellant claims the trial court erred in finding
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that the testimony of the officers that Appellant constructively possessed the
cocaine recovered from the center console of the vehicle was outweighed by
the evidence that Appellant was “seen reaching away from” the area
containing the cocaine upon being pulled over, the presence in the vehicle of
another individual with equal access to the drugs, and a lack of “forensic
evidence” connecting Appellant with the drugs. Id. at 40.
The law pertaining to weight of the evidence claims is well-
settled. The weight of the evidence is a matter 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. A new
trial is not warranted because of a mere conflict in the testimony
and must have a stronger foundation than a reassessment of the
credibility of witnesses. Rather, the role of the trial judge is to
determine that notwithstanding all the facts, certain facts are so
clearly of greater weight that to ignore them or to give them
equal weight with all the facts is to deny justice.
On appeal, our purview is extremely limited and is
confined to whether the trial court abused its discretion in
finding that the jury verdict did not shock its conscience. Thus,
appellate review of a weight claim consists of a review of the
trial court’s exercise of discretion, not a review of the underlying
question of whether the verdict is against the weight of the
evidence.
Commonwealth v. Gonzalez, 109 A.3d 711, 723 (Pa. Super. 2015)
(quotation marks and citations omitted).
Herein, the trial court, acting as fact-finder, assessed the credibility of
the witnesses and the evidence presented. It found the Commonwealth
established that Appellant had constructively possessed the recovered
cocaine and and that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence.
Trial Court Opinion, 4/08/2016, at 12. We find no abuse of discretion.
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Finally, Appellant attempts to challenge the discretionary aspects of his
sentence.
It is well settled that, with regard to the discretionary aspects of
sentencing, there is no automatic right to appeal.
Before [this Court may] reach the merits of [a challenge to
the discretionary aspects of a sentence], we must engage
in a four part analysis to determine: (1) whether the
appeal is timely; (2) whether Appellant preserved his
issue; (3) whether Appellant’s brief includes a concise
statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of
appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects of
sentence; and (4) whether the concise statement raises a
substantial question that the sentence is appropriate under
the sentencing code.... [I]f the appeal satisfies each of
these four requirements, we will then proceed to decide
the substantive merits of the case.
Commonwealth v. Disalvo, 70 A.3d 900, 902 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations
omitted).
Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal. Appellant both objected to
his sentence during the sentencing hearing, N.T., 9/22/2015, at 19, and
sought reconsideration of his sentence in his post-sentence motion.
Additionally, Appellant’s brief contains a Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) concise
statement. Thus, we must determine whether he has raised a substantial
question worthy of appellate review.
The determination of whether a substantial question exists
must be made on a case-by-case basis. It is only where
an aggrieved party can articulate clear reasons why the
sentence issued by the trial court compromises the
sentencing scheme as a whole that we will find a
substantial question and review the decision of the trial
court. This [C]ourt has been inclined to find that a
substantial question exists where the appellant advances a
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colorable argument that the sentencing judge’s actions
were either: (1) inconsistent with a specific provision of
the Sentencing Code; or (2) contrary to the fundamental
norms underlying the sentencing process.
Also, a bald allegation that a sentence is excessive does not
raise a substantial question.
Commonwealth v. Lutes, 793 A.2d 949, 964 (Pa. Super. 2002) (citations
omitted).
Appellant argues that the trial court considered improper factors in
fashioning his sentence. Appellant’s Brief at 43. This claim raises a
substantial question. Commonwealth v. Simpson, 829 A.2d 334, 338 (Pa.
Super. 2003) (“[A] claim that the sentence is excessive because the trial
court relied on impermissible factors raises a substantial question”).
Our standard for reviewing a claim challenging a discretionary aspect
of sentencing is as follows:
Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal
absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In this context, an abuse
of discretion is not shown merely by an error in judgment.
Rather, the appellant must establish, by reference to the record,
that the sentencing court ignored or misapplied the law,
exercised its judgment for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias
or ill will, or arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision.
Commonwealth v. Shugars, 895 A.2d 1270, 1275 (Pa. Super. 2006)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Fullin, 892 A.2d 843, 847 (Pa. Super. 2006)) .
A sentencing court has broad discretion in deciding the proper sentence,
following a careful consideration of the individual circumstances of the case
in light of statutory factors. Commonwealth v. Walls, 926 A.2d 957, 962–
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63 (Pa. 2007). Where the sentencing court reviews a pre-sentence
investigation report (PSI), “the presumption arises that the sentencing court
was aware of and weighed all relevant information contained therein along
with any mitigating sentencing factors.” Commonwealth v. Marts, 889
A.2d 608, 615 (Pa. Super. 2005).
Relying upon Commonwealth v. Karash, 452 A.2d 528 (Pa. Super.
1982), Appellant asserts that the sentencing court abused its discretion in
imposing a sentence outside of the applicable guideline range and based
upon “allegations relating to [Appellant’s] arrest by federal authorities for
conduct occurring between December of 2014 and March of 2015 … three-
and-one-half years after the incident at issue” in this case.1 Appellant’s Brief
at 43-45.
In setting forth the standard a court must follow in
imposing sentence, the Karash court explained:
A sentence is invalid if the record discloses that the
sentencing court may have relied in whole or in part
upon an impermissible consideration. This is so
because the court violates the defendant’s right of
due process if, in deciding upon the sentence, it
1
The conduct to which Appellant alludes in his brief is an allegation that,
while he was awaiting sentencing in this matter, Appellant was arrested on
federal drug trafficking charges. In addition, Appellant was accused of other
conduct that supported the allegations of drug trafficking activity, including
purchasing a small airplane for $50,000 in cash, which he flew frequently
between Ohio and California, reporting no income to the IRS despite having
thousands of dollars in his bank accounts and lying about his employment
status. N.T., 9/22/2015, at 15-16. These allegations were presented to the
sentencing court by the district attorney through a report compiled by the
United States Attorney’s Office which was made part of the record at
Appellant’s sentencing.
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considers unreliable information or information
affecting the court’s impartiality, or information that
it is otherwise unfair to hold against the defendant.
Id. at 528-29.
The trial judge in Karash revealed at sentencing that he
was relying on crimes allegedly committed by the defendant:
I’ve also taken into consideration the crimes
[escape] you have committed in Pennsylvania since
the time that you returned here .... The [c]ourt feels,
while I’m not sentencing you for those crimes, they
have been part of the [c]ourt’s consideration in
imposing this sentence ....
Id. at 529.
At a subsequent hearing on a motion to modify sentence,
the Karash trial judge elaborated:
Okay. So the record reflects, I don’t know
whether it’s in there or not, but the matter of
Mr. Karash’s [escape] incident was on all of the
local television channels and in all the local
newspapers. It was the only source of the
[c]ourt’s information, and actually showed
pictures of Mr. Karash being apprehended in
handcuffs at the scene, and the [c]ourt was
aware that he was supposed to be in jail
awaiting sentence and not to be out.
Id.Commonwealth v. Druce, 796 A.2d 321, 334–35 (Pa. Super. 2002)
(emphasis added).
Because the trial court relied on such impermissible information, this
Court vacated Karash’s judgment of sentence. However, the instant case is
distinguishable. Here, the sentencing court was presented with, and
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reviewed, “the sentencing guidelines form, the modified presentence report,
the Commonwealth’s sentencing memorandum as well as the
Commonwealth’s packet [from the United States Attorney’s Office detailing
the allegations against Appellant since the commission of the crime herein,
the defendant’s allocution, and the circumstances of this case in whole.”
N.T., 9/22/2015, at 17. The court then articulated its reasons for
Appellant’s sentence as follows.
I do find that the guidelines grossly [underrepresent]
[Appellant’s] history of criminality and propensity to commit
crimes. I’ve carefully considered, over the course of many
weeks, the information in the modified presentence report, and I
think there is good reason to doubt a whole lot of it. Much of the
information would have served as a mitigator. Even taking it at
face value, any mitigating circumstances before this [c]ourt
would be greatly outweighed by the aggravating circumstances
that exist in this case.
I do find that [Appellant] poses a threat to society for
reasons, not the least of which is his conduct while still on bail in
this offense.
Id. at 17-18.
It is evident that the court herein was not relying on televised reports
of illegal conduct; rather, the court was presented at sentencing with a
report concerning crimes allegedly committed while Appellant was out on
bail awaiting sentencing. It is well-settled that “[a] court may consider
criminal activity or preparation for crimes as factors in sentencing even
though no arrest or conviction resulted.” Commonwealth v. Palmer, 462
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A.2d 755, 762 (Pa. Super. 1983). Accordingly, we find that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Appellant.
In sum, we vacate Appellant’s conviction for the summary offense of
carrying loaded weapons other than firearms, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.1. Because
he was not sentenced with respect to this conviction, we need not remand
for a new sentence. We affirm Appellant’s remaining convictions and affirm
his judgment of sentence in all other respects.
Judgment of sentence vacated in part and affirmed in part.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/7/2017
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