Com. v. Leonard, T. ( 2015 )

J-S13021-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
TYRONE NELSON LEONARD
Appellant No. 894 WDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 19, 2013
In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-65-CR-0001848-2012
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., MUNDY, J., and STABILE, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MUNDY, J.: FILED JUNE 02, 2015
Appellant, Tyrone Nelson Leonard, appeals from the December 19,
2013 judgment of sentence, wherein the trial court imposed an aggregate
sentence of 12 to 36 months’ incarceration, following his conviction at a
bench trial for unlawful employment by, or association with, a corrupt
organization, and delivery of a controlled substance (heroin).1 After careful
review, we affirm based on the thorough and well-supported opinion of
Senior Judge Paul H. Millin.
A review of the certified record discloses the following history of this
case. As part of an ongoing investigation into suspected heroin trafficking,
conducted between January 2011 and March 2012, the Pennsylvania State
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1
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 911(b)(3) and 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30), respectively.
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Police and the Greensburg City Police Department identified Appellant as a
participant, together with numerous other individuals, in an organization
involved in a series of heroin transactions. As a result, the police charged
Appellant on April 23, 2012, with 20 counts related to that criminal activity.2
Appellant proceeded to a trial without a jury on October 16-17, 2013.
At the conclusion of the trial, Appellant was convicted of one count of
being employed by, or associated with, a corrupt organization, a felony of
the first degree, and one count of delivery of a controlled substance, an
ungraded felony. On December 19, 2013, the trial court sentenced
Appellant to 12 to 36 months’ incarceration on the first count and to a
concurrent sentence of six to 36 months’ incarceration on the delivery of a
controlled substance count. Appellant filed timely post-sentence motions on
December 30, 2013, seeking acquittal or a new trial based on challenges to
the sufficiency and the weight of the evidence, respectively.3 The trial court
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2
Specifically, Appellant was charged with being employed by or associated
with a corrupt organization, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 911(b)(3); conspiracy to
participate in corrupt organization, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 911(b)(4); criminal
conspiracy, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903(a)(1); 12 counts of delivery of a controlled
substance (heroin), 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30); four counts of possession
with intent to deliver a controlled substance (heroin), 35 P.S. § 780-
113(a)(30); and hindering apprehension or prosecution, 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 5105(a)(2).
3
December 29, 2013, the final day for Appellant to file timely post-sentence
motions, fell on a Sunday. The post-sentence motions, being filed on
Monday, December 30, 2013, are therefore timely. See 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1908.
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denied the motions on April 23, 2014. Appellant filed a timely notice of
appeal on May 22, 2014.4
On appeal, Appellant raises the following issues for our review.
I. Whether the trial court erred by denying []
Appellant’s post-sentence motion for a judgment of
acquittal, for the reason that there was insufficient
evidence to support the guilty verdicts for the
offenses of corrupt organizations-employee and
delivery of a controlled substance at counts 1 and 4
of the Commonwealth’s amended information?
II. Whether the trial court erred by denying []
Appellant’s post-sentence motion for a new trial, for
the reason that the guilty verdicts for the offenses of
corrupt organizations-employee and delivery of a
contolled [sic] substance at counts 1 and 4 of the
Commonwealth’s amended information were
contrary to the weight of the evidence?
Appellant’s Brief at 7.
Appellant first challenges the sufficiency of the Commonwealth’s
evidence to prove he participated in either of the crimes for which he was
convicted. Id. at 10. “Appellant argues that the evidence presented at trial
was insufficient to establish that he was employed by or associated with an
enterprise, or that he conducted or participated in an enterprise’s affairs
through a pattern of racketeering activity.” Id.
Appellant [also] argues that the evidence presented
at trial was insufficient to establish that he
manufactured, delivered or possessed a controlled
substance with the intent to manufacture or deliver
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4
Appellant and the trial court have complied with Pennsylvania Rule of
Appellate Procedure 1925.
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the same. The Delivery of a Controlled Substance
offense for which the Appellant was convicted … did
not involve a controlled drug transaction which was
conducted in the presence of trained law
enforcement officers, and at trial, the
Commonwealth did not present any reliable physical
evidence, or testimony regarding any surveillance
activities which were conducted by law enforcement
officers, in support of its contention that the
Appellant delivered the controlled substance in
question.
Id. at 12.
“A claim impugning the sufficiency of the evidence presents us with a
question of law.” Commonwealth v. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 756 (Pa.
Super. 2014) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 95 A.3d 275 (Pa. 2014).
Our standard and scope of review are well settled.
The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of
the evidence 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
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and the weight of the evidence produced, is free to
believe all, part or none of the evidence.
Commonwealth v. Fabian, 60 A.3d 146, 150-151 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(citation omitted), appeal denied, 69 A.3d 600 (Pa. 2013). “This standard of
deference is not altered in cases involving a bench trial, because the
province of a trial judge sitting without a jury is to do what a jury is required
to do.” Commonwealth v. Lee, 956 A.2d 1024, 1027 (Pa. Super. 2008)
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted), appeal denied, 964 A.2d
894 (Pa. 2009).
However, the inferences must flow from facts and
circumstances proven in the record, and must be of
such volume and quality as to overcome the
presumption of innocence and satisfy the [finder of
fact] of an accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt. The trier of fact cannot base a conviction on
conjecture and speculation and a verdict which is
premised on suspicion will fail even under the limited
scrutiny of appellate review.
Commonwealth v. Kearney, 92 A.3d 51, 64 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation
omitted), appeal denied, 101 A.3d 102 (Pa. 2014).
In his second issue, Appellant makes a similar claim that the verdicts
were contrary to the weight of the evidence relative to each offense charged.
Appellant’s Brief at 13. “A motion for a new trial alleging that the verdict
was against the weight of the evidence is addressed to the discretion of the
trial court.” Commonwealth v. Diggs, 949 A.2d 873, 879 (Pa. 2008), cert.
denied, Diggs v. Pennsylvania, 556 U.S. 1106 (2009).
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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. Gibbs, 981 A.2d 274, 282 (Pa. Super. 2009)
(quotations and citations omitted; emphasis added), appeal denied, 3 A.3d
670 (Pa. 2010).
In reviewing the entire record to determine the
propriety of a new trial, an appellate court must first
determine whether the trial judge’s reasons and
factual basis can be supported. Unless there are
facts and inferences of record that disclose a
palpable abuse of discretion, the trial judge’s reasons
should prevail. It is not the place of an appellate
court to invade the trial judge’s discretion any more
than a trial judge may invade the province of a jury,
unless both or either have palpably abused their
function.
To determine whether a trial court’s decision
constituted a palpable abuse of discretion, an
appellate court must “examine the record and assess
the weight of the evidence; not however, as the trial
judge, to determine whether the preponderance of
the evidence opposes the verdict, but rather to
determine whether the court below in so finding
plainly exceeded the limits of judicial discretion and
invaded the exclusive domain of the jury.” Where
the record adequately supports the trial court, the
trial court has acted within the limits of its judicial
discretion.
Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049, 1056-1057 (Pa. 2013), quoting
Commonwealth v. Brown, 648 A.2d 1177, 1190 (Pa. 1994) (emphasis
added in Clay). “Furthermore, since issues of credibility are left to the trier
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of fact, the trial court, sitting as fact finder, was free to accept all, part, or
none of a witness’s testimony.” Commonwealth v. Pirela, 580 A.2d 848,
852 (Pa. Super. 1990) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 594 A.2d 658 (Pa.
1991). “One of the least assailable reasons for granting or denying a new
trial is the lower court’s conviction that the verdict was or was not against
the weight of the evidence and that a new trial should be granted in the
interest of justice.” Commonwealth v. Brown, 23 A.3d 544, 557-558 (Pa.
Super. 2011) (en banc) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).5
After careful review, we conclude that the trial court’s October 3, 2014
Rule 1925(a) opinion fully sets forth Appellant’s claims, identifies the proper
standard of review, discusses the relevant law, including the elements of
each offense, discusses the evidence adduced at trial, and explains the basis
for its conclusion that said evidence was sufficient and of adequate weight to
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5
We note that Appellant’s issues on appeal could be found waived for failure
to sufficiently argue his positions in his appellate brief. Relative to each
issue, Appellant cites to no authority in support of his bald assertions that
the evidence was insufficient or lacking in weight beyond cases articulating
the relevant standards of review, and provides no cogent analysis of the
evidentiary record to develop his claims. See Appellant’s Brief at 10-14.
Our Supreme Court held such briefing deficiencies may result in waiver of an
issue on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Johnson, 985 A.2d 915, 924 (Pa.
2009) (stating, “where an appellate brief fails to provide any discussion of a
claim with citation to relevant authority or fails to develop the issue in any
other meaningful fashion capable of review, that claim is waived”), cert.
denied, Johnson v. Pennsylvania, 562 U.S. 906 (2010). As noted above,
however, the trial court has adequately addressed the merits of Appellant’s
issues on appeal, and we adopt the trial court’s reasons as our own for
purposes of our disposition.
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support its verdict. Instantly, we have carefully reviewed the entire record
and Appellant’s arguments, and we conclude that the thorough and well-
reasoned opinion of Judge Paul H. Millin is in agreement with our own views.
Specifically, we agree that the absence of police observation of a controlled
buy involving Appellant did not render the direct evidence of
informant/purchasers insufficient. Those witnesses testified that they
purchased heroin from Appellant and others with whom he was associated.
Further, it was for the trial court to assess the credibility of those witnesses.
See Pirela, supra.
Based on the foregoing, we conclude the trial court did not err in
denying Appellant’s motion for acquittal based on an allegation the evidence
was insufficient, and we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion
when it denied Appellant’s post-trial motion for a new trial on the basis the
verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Accordingly, we adopt the
opinion by the Honorable Paul H. Millin as our own for purposes of our
appellate review. See Trial Court Opinion, 10/3/14.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/2/2015
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA ) CRIMINAL DIVISION
)
vs. ) No. 1848 C 2012
)
TYRONE NELSON LEONARD, )
Defendant )
OPINION
This opinion is entered to comply with Pa.R.A.P.1925(a).
After a two-day bench trial before the undersigned judge on
October 16 and 17, 2013 the defendant was found guilty of the
offenses of Count 1: Corrupt Organizations-Employee in
violation of 18 PA. C. S. A. Section 911 (b) (3), graded as a
felony of the first degree, and Count 4: Delivery of a Controlled
Substance in violation of 35 P. S. Section 780 - 113 (a) (30), an
ungraded felony.
On December 19, 2013 the Defendant was sentenced by the
undersigned judge at Count 1 to serve a term of 12 months to
36 months of incarceration in a state correctional institution.
At Count 4 the defendant was sentenced to serve a term of six
months to 36 months of incarceration in a state correctional
institution to run concurrently with the sentence imposed in
Count 1.
On December 30, 2013 the Defendant filed post sentence
motions, which alleged that the guilty verdicts were contrary
to both, the sufficiency and weight of the evidence. Said
motions were denied by an order of court dated April 23, 2014.
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Thereafter, on May 22, 2014, the Defendant filed a notice of
appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
On June 19, 2014 the Defendant filed a concise statement of
errors complained of on appeal which set forth that:
"The Defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying his
post sentence motion for a judgment of acquittal based upon a
verdict contrary to the sufficiency of the evidence for the
reason that there was insufficient evidence to support the non-
jury guilty verdict for the offense of corrupt organization-
employee and delivery of a controlled substance at counts one
and four of the amended information.
The Defendant further argues that the trial court erred by
denying his post sentence motion for a new trial based upon a
verdict contrary to the weight of the evidence, for the reason
that the guilty verdict for the offenses of corrupt organizations-
employee and delivery of a controlled substance at counts one
and four of the amended information were contrary to the
weight of the evidence. "
Sufficiency:
In reviewing sufficiency of the evidence claims, the court must
determine whether the evidence admitted at trial, as well as all
reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, are sufficient to
support each of the elements of the offense, when it is viewed
in the light most favorable to the verdict winner.
Commonwealth v. Moreno, 14 A. 3d 133, 136 (Pa. Super. 2011).
Entirely circumstantial evidence is sufficient to sustain a
conviction, so long as the combination of the evidence links the
accused to the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Commonwealth V. Karkaria, 625 A. 2d 1167 (Pa. 1993). The
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factfinder is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence
presented at trial. Moreno, 14 A. 3d at 136. Inferences and
presumptions "are staples of our system of fact-finding."
Commonwealth v. MacPearson, 752 A. 2d 384, 389 (Pa. 2000).
The factfinder may infer an elemental fact from proof of a
different basic fact. Id. An inference is permissive, as the
factfinder is free to accept or reject the inference. Id. Often
mens rea cannot be proven directly, but must be inferred from
examination of the totality of circumstances from the case.
Commonwealth v. Pond, 846 A. 2d 699, 703 (Pa. Super. 2004).
Count 4 of the information alleges, "on one or more dates on or
about and between January 2011 and April 19, 2012," [the
Defendant] "delivered heroin, a schedule I controlled
substance, to one or more heroin users and or other dealers in
and around Westmoreland County ... ",
Count 1 of the information alleges that the Defendant, "while
employed by or associated with an enterprise, namely, and
illicit drug trafficking network, conducted and or participated,
directly or indirectly, in the conduct of said enterprise's affairs
through a pattern of racketeering activity, namely, the actor
did commit, cause, cause to be committed, promote or facilitate
the commission, or aid or agree to aid another in the planning
or commission of two or more violations of one or more of the
following criminal offenses: Delivery and/ or Possession with
Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, and/ or Conspiracy to
Deliver and/ or Possess with Intent to Deliver a Controlled
Substance ... "
Here, of course, it is alleged that the actions constituting the
offenses enumerated at Count 4 are the basis for the charge at
Count 1. Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Criminal Jury
Instructions spell out the specific facts which must be proved
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beyond a reasonable doubt to convict the Defendant of the
crimes charged. PA-JICRIM 12.9 11A, Pa.SS]/ {Crim}, Section
12.911A (2012) states "the Commonwealth must prove that
the Defendant committed two or more crimes that are called
acts of racketeering." The specific crimes charged in this case
are delivering a controlled substance , specifically, heroin in
violation of The Drug Device and Cosmetic Act. An
enterprise under the act encompasses groups engaged in
the commerce of illicit drug trafficking. Commonwealth v.
Dellisanti, 876 A. 2d 366 (PA. 2005) . The jury instructions
go on to state that if the determination is made that the
Defendant committed two or more of these acts then the
factfinder must determine that the defendant committed them
as part of a "pattern of racketeering activity." It goes on to set
out that in order to find two or more such acts forming a
pattern it must be found beyond a reasonable doubt that they
represented a course of conduct, and were not simply random
criminal events. To be a course of conduct, "the acts must
somehow relate to each other, with one crime either helping to
make the other possible or helping to cover it up." Pa.SS]/
(Crim), Section 12.911A (2012).
The corrupt organizations act provides: "it shall be unlawful
for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise
to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly in the conduct
of such enterprise's affairs through a pattern of racketeering
activity." 18 Pa. C.S.A. Section 911( b) (3). The act specifically
defines "enterprise" to include "any individual, partnership,
corporation, association or other legal entity, and any union or
group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal
entity, engaged in commerce and includes legitimate as well as
illegitimate entities and governmental entities." 18 Pa. C.S.A.
Section 911 (b) (3). (emphasis added).
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A pattern of racketeering activity is defined as a "a course of
conduct requiring two or more acts of racketeering which
include inter alia conspiracy to commit or the commission of a
violation of the Controlled Substance, Drug Device and
Cosmetic Act. An enterprise encompasses groups engaged in
the commerce of illicit drug trafficking. Dellisante, 876 A.2d at
370.
In this case the Commonwealth established that the Defendant
was associated with individuals who were actively engaged in
the sale of heroin. The Defendant's association with some of
these individuals was admitted by him at trial (Trial Transcript
(T.T.), 361 - 372). The testimony of Jillian Davis indicated that
the defendant together with an individual she knew as "Sky"
sold her heroin (T.T., 13 - 22, 27 - 28). Davis not only bought
drugs from the Defendant and "Sky"but at their request agreed
to allow them to come to her house from which they proceeded
to sell drugs. (T.T., 25, 29). The Defendant introduced Davis to
a number of other individuals from which she purchased
heroin. Davis very credibly stated that she purchased heroin
twice from the Defendant in November 2011 and that she used
the heroin both times to "get high". (T.T., 13 - 16.)
Sarah Householder testified that she purchased heroin from a
number of individuals using the same telephone number. One
of the individuals was the Defendant. She testified to the
specific phone number that being "724 - 217 - 6662".
Householder stated that she purchased heroin from the
Defendant "less than 10 times" between December 10, 2011
and January 4, 2012. (T.T., 324 - 332). As Jillian Davis had
testified that she met James Moore, Dominic Haynes and others
through the Defendant, Sarah Householder also met James
Moore, Dominic Haynes and others during her association with
the Defendant. Householder became more involved with the
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organization than Davis. Householder actually accompanied
"Sky" to New Jersey to purchase a large quantity of heroin to be
delivered to James Moore on two occasions. (T.T.,334 - 335).
Kelsey Graham who was a 15 - 20 bag a day heroin addict
stated that she knew the Defendant through James Moore.
(T.T., 283 - 285, 289). Graham had purchased heroin on a
regular basis from James Moore and his runners, "Sky", Kristin
Weightman and Dominic Haynes, but had also purchased
heroin from Defendant three times. (T.T., 284 - 286). Graham
testified that she knew that the substance she purchased from
the individuals was heroin because it gave her the same high
she always got from heroin although sometimes "I got stuff
that wasn't that good, but I knew it was still heroin." (T.T., 289
- 290).
The Commonwealth clearly proved the existence of an illicit
drug organization; that various named individuals were part of
that organization; that the Defendant associated with the
individuals and participated with the individuals in selling
heroin on numerous occasions. Although the Defendant was
not caught by law enforcement in a "controlled buy "situation,
there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence to convict the
Defendant. The Commonwealth may meet its burden of
proving every element of the crimes charged beyond a
reasonable doubt through wholly circumstantial evidence.
Commonwealth v. Robertson, 87 4 A.2d 1200 (Pa. Super. 2005).
Thus a new trial based on lack of sufficient evidence is not
merited.
AGAINST THE WEIGHTOF THE EVIDENCE:
An appellate court, reviewing a claim that a conviction is
against the weight of the evidence, may only reverse the lower
court's verdict if it is so contrary to the evidence as to shock
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one's sense of justice. Commonwealth v. Champney, 832 A2d
403, 409 (Pa. 2003). The weight of the evidence is exclusively
for the fact finder, 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
fact finder. Appellate review is limited to a determination of
whether the trial court palpably abused its discretion in ruling
on the weight of the evidence. An appellate court is not to
consider the underlying question of whether the verdict is
against the weight of the evidence. Id.The same testimony applies to a consideration of the weight of
the evidence determination that applied to consider the
sufficiency question and for all the reasons hereinabove stated
the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL H. MILLIN, S.J.S.P.