Com. v. Phillips, D. ( 2017 )

J-S57020-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
v.
DERRICK PHILLIPS
Appellant No. 388 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence dated November 10, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-23-CR-0002489-2016
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., SOLANO, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY SOLANO, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Appellant Derrick Phillips appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed after he was convicted of possession with intent to deliver a
controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession
of drug paraphernalia.1 We affirm.
On April 5, 2016, at approximately 6:00 a.m., police executed a
search warrant at the home of Tiesha Spriggs in Chester. The warrant was
based on Spriggs’ sales of methamphetamines to confidential informants.
While executing the warrant, police found Appellant in a closet in a bedroom
on the first floor of Spriggs’ house. Appellant asked what was going on, and
after being informed that the police were investigating sales of
methamphetamines, Appellant stated that he had only a small amount of
cocaine. The closet where Appellant was found contained men’s clothing,
____________________________________________
1 35 P.S. §§ 780-113(a)(30), (a)(16), and (a)(32).
J-S57020-17
including a jacket with sixteen bags of cocaine inside weighing a total of
7.89 grams – nine small blue baggies of cocaine inside a sandwich bag and
seven larger clear baggies of cocaine. In the first floor bedroom area, police
also found Appellant’s wallet, containing his driver’s license (which listed a
different address from Spriggs’), and two cell phones. In Spriggs’ upstairs
bedroom, police found Apple brand bagging material identical to the bags
found in the jacket, several razor blades, and a grinder. In the kitchen,
police found a bag of cocaine weighing 11.35 grams.
After the search, Appellant was charged with possession with intent to
deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance,
possession of drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy to possess with intent to
deliver a controlled substance.2
Jury selection in Appellant’s case took place on September 13, 2016.
During voir dire, Juror 10, who was African American, said she had younger
brothers and sisters who had been homeless and had been arrested. Juror
10 said she did not know if her siblings had drug-related problems, and
added, “But I’ve heard.” She said she would be sympathetic to someone
“down on their luck,” but not to a defendant merely because he was a
defendant. N.T., 9/13/16, at 55-57. Juror 16, who was also African
American, said her first cousin was accused of drug-related crimes three
times, but said that her cousin’s experiences would not affect her ability to
____________________________________________
2 Spriggs was charged with the same offenses but was not tried with
Appellant.
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be a fair and impartial juror. Id. at 64.
The Commonwealth used its peremptory challenges to strike, among
others, Jurors 10 and 16. Appellant claimed that the prosecutor had used
his peremptory challenges in a racially discriminatory manner in violation of
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986). Appellant, who is African
American, asserted that the prosecutor had used his peremptory strikes to
eliminate the only two African American jurors remaining after one African
American venireperson was excused by agreement for a hardship. 3 The
prosecutor argued that he struck Juror 10 because she indicated that her
brothers and sisters had drug problems and struck Juror 16 because her
cousin had been charged with drug crimes. The prosecutor explained,
“Anytime someone has family members closely related that have been
affected by narcotics and the nature, and the alleged charges in the present
case are drug-related, I think it bears a fair inference that the person could
potentially be affected or biased one way or another, Your Honor. And for
those reasons, those jurors were stricken, Judge.” N.T., 9/13/16, at 104.
The prosecutor also noted that he struck Caucasian jurors who had relatives
who had been charged with crimes. Id. at 107-08. The trial court denied
Appellant’s Batson challenge. The trial court did not explain its rationale at
that time, but in the opinion it issued after Appellant filed this appeal, the
trial court explained that it found Appellant established a prima facie case of
____________________________________________
3 Jury selection was completed before two other African American
venirepersons were reached.
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discrimination, the Commonwealth offered a race neutral explanation, and
Appellant failed to carry his burden of proving purposeful discrimination.
Trial Ct. Op., 5/15/17, at 11-16.
Appellant was tried by the jury on September 14, 2016. At the trial,
Detective Steven Bannar and Officer James Nolan, who participated in the
execution of the search warrant on April 5, 2016, testified. Detective Bannar
and Officer Nolan averred that that they found Appellant in the ground floor
bedroom closet and that Appellant said he had a small amount of cocaine.
Detective Bannar also testified about the drugs and paraphernalia found in
the jacket and in other parts of Spriggs’ house. Detective Michael Honicker,
an expert in drugs and drug investigations, opined that packaging of the
drugs found in the jacket led him to conclude that the cocaine was for
distribution, not for personal use. Appellant testified that the bedroom in
which he was found was Spriggs’ son’s room, the jacket in the closet was
not his, he did not tell the police he had cocaine, and he did not have any
cocaine.
The jury found Appellant guilty of all four crimes with which he was
charged. With regard to the charge of possession with intent to deliver, the
jury found Appellant possessed the 7.89 grams of cocaine found in the
jacket, but not the 11.35 grams found in the kitchen. On November 10,
2016, the trial court imposed the following concurrent sentences: 24 to 60
months’ incarceration, followed by five years’ probation for possession with
intent to deliver a controlled substance; 24 to 60 months’ incarceration for
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conspiracy; and one year of probation for possession of drug paraphernalia.4
On November 18, 2016, Appellant filed a post-sentence motion in which he
argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he committed any of
the crimes of which he was convicted. On December 13, 2016, the trial
court granted Appellant’s post-sentence motion with regard to the
conspiracy charge and denied it with regard to the other charges.
On January 9, 2016, Appellant’s trial counsel filed a timely notice of
appeal and a petition to withdraw. After the trial court granted the petition
to withdraw, Appellant’s new counsel filed another notice of appeal on
January 11, 2016 (254 EDA 2017). This Court dismissed the latter appeal as
duplicative of the former.
Appellant raises the following issues, as stated in his brief:
1) Whether the judgment of sentence should be vacated and
Appellant, an African American, granted a new trial since the
Commonwealth violated Batson v. Kentucky by using
peremptory challenges to exclude two potential jurors (numbers
ten and sixteen) based upon their race, especially where these
strikes eliminated the only two remaining African American
panelists available to serve on the jury, and the purported race-
neutral reasons for striking them were pretextual and
unsupported by the record?
2) Whether the evidence is insufficient to sustain the convictions
for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver,
possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug
paraphernalia since the Commonwealth failed to prove, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that Appellant actually or constructively
possessed the alleged cocaine and paraphernalia at issue herein?
Appellant’s Brief at 5.
____________________________________________
4 The charge of possession of a controlled substance merged with the crime
of possession with intent to deliver for purposes of sentencing.
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Sufficiency of the Evidence
We initially address Appellant’s second claim, challenging the
sufficiency of the evidence, because a successful sufficiency challenge would
result in discharge, rather than a retrial. See Commonwealth v. Toritto,
67 A.3d 29, 33 (Pa. Super.) (en banc), appeal denied, 80 A.3d 777 (Pa.
2013).
We apply the following well-established standard of review:
A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence presents a
question of law. We must determine whether the evidence is
sufficient to prove every element of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. We must view evidence in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict winner, and
accept as true all evidence and all reasonable inferences
therefrom upon which, if believed, the fact finder properly could
have based its verdict.
Commonwealth v. McFadden, 156 A.3d 299, 303 (Pa. Super.) (citation
omitted), appeal denied, No. 118 EAL 2017, 2017 WL 3600378 (Pa., Aug.
22, 2017).
Appellant challenges only the element of possession, which is common
to all three charges of which he was convicted.5 Possession may be actual
____________________________________________
5 Appellant was found to have violated the following provisions of Section
13(a) of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act:
The following acts and the causing thereof within the
Commonwealth are hereby prohibited: . . .
(16) Knowingly or intentionally possessing a controlled or
counterfeit substance by a person not registered under this act,
or a practitioner not registered or licensed by the appropriate
State board, unless the substance was obtained directly from, or
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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or constructive.
Constructive possession is a legal fiction, a pragmatic construct
to deal with the realities of criminal law enforcement.
Constructive possession is an inference arising from a set of
facts that possession of the contraband was more likely than not.
We have defined constructive possession as “conscious
dominion.” We subsequently defined “conscious dominion” as
“the power to control the contraband and the intent to exercise
that control.” To aid application, we have held that constructive
possession may be established by the totality of the
circumstances.
The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by means of wholly
circumstantial evidence, and we must evaluate the entire trial
record and consider all evidence received against the defendant.
Commonwealth v. Roberts, 133 A.3d 759, 767–68 (Pa. Super.) (citations
omitted, some quotation marks omitted, and some formatting altered),
appeal denied, 145 A.3d 725 (Pa. 2016).
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
pursuant to, a valid prescription order or order of a practitioner,
or except as otherwise authorized by this act. . . .
(30) Except as authorized by this act, the manufacture, delivery,
or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, a controlled
substance by a person not registered under this act, or a
practitioner not registered or licensed by the appropriate State
board, or knowingly creating, delivering or possessing with intent
to deliver, a counterfeit controlled substance. . . .
(32) The use of, or possession with intent to use, drug
paraphernalia for the purpose of planting, propagating,
cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding,
converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing,
packing, repacking, storing, containing, concealing, injecting,
ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body
a controlled substance in violation of this act. . . .
35 P.S. § 780-113(a). It is undisputed that cocaine is a controlled substance
under the statute.
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After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Kevin F.
Kelly, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence presented to establish
beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant constructively possessed the
cocaine and paraphernalia (baggies) found in the jacket. See Trial Ct. Op.
at 20-26 (finding that the evidence, when viewed in a light most favorable to
the Commonwealth, was sufficient to prove Appellant’s constructive
possession, based on Detective Bannar’s and Officer Nolan’s testimony that
Appellant was hiding in a bedroom closet when they executed the search
warrant; Appellant was the only person in that bedroom; Appellant told the
officers he had a small amount of cocaine; and police found cocaine and
baggies in a jacket in the closet where Appellant had been hiding).
Batson Challenge
Appellant claims the trial court erred in rejecting his Batson challenge
to the prosecutor’s use of peremptory strikes to exclude two African
American potential jurors.
The trial court rejected Appellant’s Batson claim after concluding that,
although Appellant established a prima facie case of discrimination, the
Commonwealth offered a race-neutral explanation for its strikes and
Appellant failed to carry his burden of proving purposeful discrimination.
Trial Ct. Op. at 11-16.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has explained:
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In Batson, [476 U.S.] at 89, . . . the United States Supreme
Court held that the federal Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause
prohibits a prosecutor from challenging potential jurors solely on
the basis of race. In J.E.B. [v. Alabama, 511 U.S. 127, 129,
146 (1994)], the High Court extended Batson’s holding to
encompass challenges on the basis of gender. As we have
previously explained, the framework for analyzing a Batson
claim involves the following three steps.
First, the defendant must make a prima facie showing that
the circumstances give rise to an inference that the
prosecutor struck one or more prospective jurors on
account of race; second, if the prima facie showing is
made, the burden shifts to the prosecutor to articulate a
race-neutral explanation for striking the juror(s) at issue;
and third, the trial court must then make the ultimate
determination of whether the defense has carried its
burden of proving purposeful discrimination. Batson, 476
U.S. at 97 . . . .
The second prong of the Batson test, involving the
prosecution’s obligation to come forward with a race-
neutral explanation of the challenges once a prima facie
case is proven, “does not demand an explanation that is
persuasive or even plausible.” Rather, the issue at that
stage “is the facial validity of the prosecutor’s explanation.
Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the
prosecutor’s explanation, the reasons offered will be
deemed race neutral.”
If a race-neutral explanation is tendered, the trial court
must then proceed to the third prong of the test, i.e., the
ultimate determination of whether the opponent of the
strike has carried his burden of proving purposeful
discrimination. It is at this stage that the
persuasiveness of the facially neutral explanation
proffered by the Commonwealth is relevant.
As we have recently reaffirmed, “a trial court’s decision on the
ultimate question of discriminatory intent represents a finding of
fact of the sort accorded great deference on appeal and will not
be overturned unless clearly erroneous.” Such great deference
is appropriate and warranted because the trial court, having
viewed the demeanor and heard the tone of voice of the
attorney exercising the challenge, is uniquely positioned to make
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credibility determinations. Although the demeanor of the
attorney exercising the peremptory challenge is often the best
evidence as to the question of discriminatory intent, the trial
court should consider the totality of the circumstances before
making its ruling. Other relevant evidence as to the ultimate
question of whether the prosecutor exercised purposeful
discrimination and acted with discriminatory intent includes the
following: the final composition of the jury, the race or gender
sensitivity of the case, and any questionable remarks made by
the prosecutor during jury selection.
Commonwealth v. Roney, 79 A.3d 595, 618–19 (Pa. 2013) (emphasis in
original) (most citations omitted).
After a careful review of the record, for the reasons expressed in the
opinion of the Honorable Kevin F. Kelly, we conclude that the trial court’s
decision was not clearly erroneous. See Trial Ct. Op. at 14-16 (finding
prosecutor’s race-neutral explanations for peremptory strikes were credible;
prosecutor did not make any statements or pose any questions “even
suggesting, let alone showing an invidious discriminatory motive”;
prosecutor’s demeanor did not suggest an inappropriate intent; and
Appellant’s case did not involve a victim of a different race than Appellant).
Appellant argues that two white jurors (numbers 24 and 33) also
“knew people who had contact with the criminal justice system,” and the
prosecutor’s failure to strike those jurors constitutes evidence that his
reasons for striking the African American jurors were pretextual. Appellant’s
Brief at 19-21. Appellant did not make this argument in the trial court or in
his Appellate Rule 1925(b) statement of matters complained of on appeal,
and thus the trial court did not have the opportunity to address it. Even if
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the argument had been preserved, we would conclude that knowing
someone who had contact with the criminal justice system is distinguishable
from having a relative with a drug problem. We are therefore unpersuaded
by Appellant’s argument.
The parties are instructed to attach a copy of the trial court’s opinion
of May 15, 2017, to all future filings that reference this Court’s decision.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 11/17/2017
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Circulated 10/26/2017 03:52 PM
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF DELA WARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMIN.AL
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA NO. 2489~16
DERRICK PHILLIPS -: Superior Court No. 388 EDA 2017
A. Sheldon Kovach, Esquire Deputy District Attorney for the Commonwealth
w
Patrick J. Connors, Esquire -Attorney for Derrick Phillips
OPlNION.
Kelly, J, Date: May 15, 2017
A criminal complaint was flied on April 5, 2016, by Detective Steven Bannar, Delaware
County Criminal Investigation Division, charging Derrick Phillips (hereinafter referred to as
"Defendant" or "Phillips") with, inter alia, possession with intent to deliver a controlled
1
substance, criminal conspiracy to commit possession with intent to de1iver,2 and related
offenses.
On April 21, 2016,. a preliminary hearing took place before the magisterial district. court
and .after the Commonwealth's presentation of evidence, the magisterial district judge held
Defendant Phillips for trial court proceedings as to all prosecuted offenses. N.T. 4/21/16.
The Defendant was formally arraigned on May 18, 2016, at which time.the Office of the
District Attorney of Delaware County lodged against him a criminal information averring. the
following: Count 1 - Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance;3 Count 2 -
1
35 Pa.C.S. §780-I I 3(a)(30).
2 18 Pn.C.S. §903(35 Pa.C.S. §78'0-113(a)(30)).
3 35 Pa.C.S. §.780-1 l3.(a)(30).
Possession of a Controlled Substance;" Count 3 - Possession of Drug Paraphernaliar' and Count
4 - Criminal Conspiracy to commit Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance.6
On June 14, 2016, Defendant Phi11ips lodged a counseled, Omnibus Pretrial Motion for
Relief. TWs omnibus filing included a Motion for Discovery and a Motion for Suppression of
Evidence. See. Omnibus Pretrial Motion dated June 14, 2016.
This court scheduled a hearing relevant to the Defendant's pretrial motion for June 27,
2016. See Hearing Notice dated June 14, 2016. On June 29, 2016, this past scheduled listing
took place. N.T. 6/19/16. At the conclusion of this hearing, the Commonwealth's attorney and
the defense lawyer came to an agreement material to the Defendant's exclusionary challenge."
N.T. 6/29/16, p. 32.
Defendant Phillips lodged a counseled Motion for Separate Trials of Defendant on
September 7, 2016. See Motion for Separate Trials of Defendant dated September 7, 20·16. This
court set such a proceeding for September 12, 2016, material to this motion. See Notice of
Hearing dated September 7, 2016. On that date (September 12, 2016), the court ruled that the
Defendant's motion seeking separate trials was moot.8 N.T. 9/12/16, p. 5. See also Order dated
September 14, 2016.
4
35 Pa.C.S.§780-113(a)(l6}.
s 35 Pa.C.S. §180-l 13(a)(32).
618
Pa.C.S: §903(35 Pa.C.S.§780-113(a}(30)}.
7At this hearing, defense counsel advised the majority of the claims past advanced via his discovery motion had
become moot, while the remaining would be resolved during the exclusionary hearing. N.T. 6/29/16, pp.·8-10.
8 A Joint trial ofthe above-captioned matter; as well as the co-defendant's companion prosecution, Commonwealth
v. Spriggs, No. 2488-16, was scheduled to commence the week beginning September 12, 2016, before this court.
Recognizing that co-Defendant Spriggs several days prior had just been arrested in an unrelated matter and the
possibility that it may have been in her best interests to subsequently negotiate with the Commonwealth acombined
resolution of this newer prosecution arid the case presently pending before this court (No . .2488-16}, the matter of
Commonwealth v. Spriggs, No. 2488-16 previously joined with the above-captioned case was continued, .without
objection, at the request of defense counsel, until October 18, 2016, with the. defense's in Iimine motion carried until
that future trial date (October 18, 2016).
2
A jury triaJ commenced on September 13, 2016, and concluded the following day
(September 14, 2016). N.T. 9/13/16. N.T. 9/14/16. The jury found the Defendant guilty as to
the following: Count 1 - Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance." Count 2 -
°
Possession of a Controlled Substance; 1 Count 3 • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; 11 and Count
4 - Criminal Conspiracy to commit Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substapce.12
N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 291-95. See also Jury Verdict. Immediately subsequent to the jury's verdict,
defense counsel orally proffered a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal material to Count 4 -
Criminal Conspiracy to commit Possession With Intentto Deliver a Controlled Substance.l'' The
court heard argument relevant to this motion and denied the same. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 296-98.
This court as sentencing aids ordered a presentence investigation and directed Defendant Philips
to undergo a substance abuse evaluation. N.T. 9/14/16, p. 299. See also Pa.RCrim.P. 702. The
court scheduled sentencing for November 10, 2016. N.T. 9/14/16, p. 299.
A sentencing hearing took place before this court on November 10, 2016.14 N.T.
11/10/16. This court then sentenced Defendant Phillips to the following: Count 1 (Possession
With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance(; -A term of twenty-four (24) through sixty (60)
Appreciating that the above-named Defendant since the instant matter's commencement and through that time had.
been incarcerated, as well as relatedly thatdefense counsel was ready to so proceed, the court then called the above-
captioned case for trial, despite any -su.ch past Commonwealth joinder notification.
The court further memorialized its ruling denying .the Defendant's severance motion as moot per 011 order dated
September 14~ to 16. See also Order dated September 14, 2016,
9
35 Pa.C.S. §780-1 I 3(a)(30).
to 35 Pa.C.S. §780-l 13(a)(16}.
11
35 Pa.C.S. §780-113(a)(32).
12
18 Pa.C.S. §903(35 Pa.C.S. §780-l 13(a)(30)).
IJ Id.
14 For sentencing purposes and with counsel's agreement, Count 2 - Possession of a Controlled Substance, 35
Pa.C.S. §780-l 13(a)(16), was merged into Count I - Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, 35
Pa.C.S. §780-I I 3(a)qO). N.T. 11/10/16, pp. 3-4.
15
35 Pa.C.S. §78.0-l 13(a)(30).
3
months incarceration at a state correctional facility followed by a period of five (5) years state
probationary oversight to run consecutive to his parole; Count 4 (Criminal Conspiracy to commit
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance)16 - A term of twenty-four (24)
through sixty (60) months imprisonment at a state penal institution to run concurrently to Count
1 (possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance);17 and Count 3 (Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia) 18 - A one (1) year period of state probationary oversight to run concurrent to both
Count l (possession with intent to deliver a controlled substancej'' and Count 4 (criminal
conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance).20 The Defendant
was afforded the applicable time served credit and deemed ineligible for risk recidivism
reduction incentive conslderation." absent objection. N.T. 11/10/16, pp. 25-27. See also
Certificate ofImposition of Judgment of Sentence.
The Defendant on November 18, 2016, lodged a counseled, Post-Sentence Motion. See
Defendant's Post-Sentence Motion dated November 1'8, 2016. On December 8, ~016, a listing
relevant to this motion was scheduled. See Hearing Notice dated November 22, 2016. The post-
sentence motion hearing as then set commenced and concluded on December 8, 2016.
On December 13, 2016, this court entered an order denying and granting in part the
defense's post-sentence motion. See Order dated December 13, 2016. The court denied the
Defendant's motion relevant to his convictions of Count 1 - Possession With Intent to Deliver a
Controlled Substance,22 as well as Count 3 - Possession of Drug Paraphemalia,23 while granting
the Defendant's judgment of acquittal application regarding Count 4 - Criminal Conspiracy to
I(>18 Pa.C.S. §903(35 Pa.C.S. §780-1 I 3(a)(30)).
17
35 {>a.C.S. §780-113(a)(30). .
18
35 Pa,C.S. §780-l 13(a)(32).
19
35 P~.c.s. §7&0-113(a)(30).
20
18 Pa.C.S. §!>03(35Pa.C.S. §780~113(a)(30)).
21
61 Pa.C.S. §§4501.et seq.
22
35 Pa.C.S. §780-113(n)(30). See also Criminal Information Count I.
23 35 Pa.C.S. §780- J.1.3(a)(32). See. also Criminal Information Count ·3.
4
commit Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance and vacated his sentence as to
that offense.24 See Order dated December 13, 2016.25
The Defendant's trial attorney contemporaneously lodged on January 9, 2017, a Notice of'
Appeal, as well as. a Motion to Withdraw as Counsel. See Notice of Appeal dated January 9,
2017, and Motion to Withdraw as Counseldated January 9, 2017. See also Superior Court No.
254 EDA 2017.
TI1is court on that same date (January 9, 2017) forwarded correspondence to Patrick J,
Connors, Esquire of the Delaware 'County Public Defender's· Office requesting he determine if
Defendant Phillips was eligible for that office's stewardship. See Correspondence dated January
9, 2017.
On January 11, 2017, the Defendant lodged a second Notice of Appeal via Attorney
Connors. See Notice of Appeal dated January I J, 2017. See also Superior Court No. 388 EDA
2017.26
24
18 Pa.C.$. §903(35 Pa.C.S. §780-113(a)(30)). See also Criminal Information Count 4.
2i
With the setting aside of the Defendant's criminal conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a
controlled substance conviction (Count 4) and its resultant sentence, the Defendant's aggregate sentence at bar
ut
remained two (2) through five (5) years lncaroerauon to be served n stme corrcctlonal inatitution followed by five
(5) years consecutive, state probationary oversight. See Certificate of Imposltlon of Judgment of Sentence.
Recognizing the Defendant's now vacated sentence per Count 4 - Criminal Conspiracy to commit Possession with
Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, 18 Pa.C.S. §903(35 Pa.C.S. §780-l 13(a)(30)), was an identical
incarceration term and imposed wholly concurrent to that of Count 1 (Possession with Iutentto Deliver a Controlled
Substance, 35 Pa.C.S. §780- I I 3(a)(30)), this court's intended sentencing scheme yet stayed wholly intact and
resentencing was not needed. Commonwealth v. Serrano, 61 A.3d ·279, 287-88 (Pa.Super, 2013XRemanded for
resentencing as vacated judgment may have upset sentencing scheme.); Commonwealth v. Carter, 122 A.3d 388,
393 (2015)(Vacated and remanded when entire sentencing scheme was affected.); and Commonwealth v. Ferguson,
107 A.3d 206, 213-14, 216 (2015XVacating entire sentence pursuant to Alleyne and remanding for resentencing on
all counts, where the sentence encompassed both counts subject to mandatory minimum sentencing provisions and
counts not subject to mandatory minimum sentencing provisions.) See also Certificate of Imposition of Judgment of
Sentence.
26
With the filing of this second appeal notice, the Superior Court dismissed sua sponie the first appeal under
Superior Court No. 254 EDA 2017, as duplicative of the matter in Superior Court No. 3 88 EDA 2017. See Superior
Court No. 254 EDA 2017, Order dated February 14, 2017.
s
By an order of February 2, 2017, this court instructed Defendant Phillips' lawyer to lodge
a concise statement of matters complained of on appeal. See Order dated February .2, 2017. See
also Pa.RA.P. 1925(b). This court per a separate oi:der of this same date (February 2, 2017)
permitted the trial lawyer (John I-1. Pavloff, Esquire) to withdraw as the Defendant's counsel,
See Order dated February 2, 2017.
Defendant Phi1lips via Attorney Connors on February 21, 2017, filed the below appellate
complaints statements. See Statement of Matters Complained.
I. Tlte iudgme11t of seuteuce should be. vacated a11d Mr; Pl,illips; a11.Africa1t American, should
be granted a new trial since the Commo11weaftJ,violated Batso11 v. Ke1itt1ckv by usi11g
peremptory cl1alle11ges to exclude two.pote11tial furors (numbers ten and sixtee11) based upon
tlieir race, especially where tltese strikes elimi,,aied the 011ly two. r~mainlngAfrican.Americau
pa11elists available to serve on the i11rv1. a1td tlte purported i'ace-ne11trai reaso11s for strikliig
tltem were pretextual a11d tmsupporiedhy 'ti,e record.
By this first appellate complaint, the Defendant Phillips advances that the
Commonwealth's use of two (2) peremptory challenges to exclude two (2) potential, African-
American jurors were not based on racially neutral justifications and thus in violation of the
United States Supreme Court decision, Batson v. Kentucky, 416 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712 (1986),
and its Pennsylvania appellate court progeny. As the record at bar demonstrates, the assistant
district attorney's exercise of such peremptory challenges was not racially motivated, but were
each supported by race-neutral reasons. Resultantly, this error assignment is without merit.
In Batson, the Supreme Court of the United States recognized that·" . . . the Equal
Protection Clause forbids [a] prosecutor to claim potential jurors solely on account of their
race .... " Id. 476 U.S. at 89, 106.S.Ct. at 1719: Subsequent caselaw has established and refined
the controlling analysis of a Batson claim. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth
v. Coale, detailed a defendant's initial burden in advancing such an attack as follows:
6
[F]irst, the defendant must make a prlma facie showing that the
circumstances give rise to an inference- that the prosecutor struck
one or more prospective-jurors on account of race; . ·, .
To establish a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination ... the
defendant [must] show that he [i]s a member of a cognizable racial
group, that the prosecutor exercised a peremptory challenge or
challenges to remove from the venire members of the defendant's
race; and-that other relevant circumstances combine [] to raise an
inference that the prosecutor removed the jurorts) for racial
reasons. Batson, 476 U.S.. at 96, 106 S.Ct. 1712.....
Commonwealth v. Cook, 597 Pa. 572, 586, 952 A.2d 5.94, 602 (2008) quoting Commonwealth v.
Harris, 572 Pa. 489, 506-07, 817 A.2d 1033, 1042~43 (2002) citing Batson v. Kentucky supra476 U.S. at 93-97, 106 S.Ct. at l712-23. See also Commonwealth v. Williams, 602 Pa. 360, 393,
980 A.2d 510, 530 (2Q09).
"[T]he necessary inference may derive from a pattern of strikes against minority jurors or
from the manner of the prosecution's questions and statements during votr dire examination."
Commonwealth v. Uderra, 580 Pa. 492, 509, 862 A.2d 74, 84 (2004) citing Batson v. Kentucky
supra 476 U.S. at 97, 106 S.Ct. at 1723.
Under Batson, once the objecting party makes out a prlma facie case of discrimination,
the burden shifts to the .striking party to provide for the challenged, prospective juror a race-
neutral explanation. Commonwealth v. Cook supra 591 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602 quoting
Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 506-07; 817 A.2d at l042-43 citing Batson v,
Kentucky supra 476 U.S. at 93-97, 106 S.Ct. at 1712-23; Commonwealth v. Watkins, 630 Pa.
652, 680, 108 A.3d 692, 708 (2014) citing Commonwealth v, Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952
A.2d at 602; and Commonwealth v. Wtlliams supra 602 Pa. at 393, ·980 A.2d at 530 citing
.. Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602-03. The race-neutral explanation
" ' ... does not demand an explanation that is persuasive, or even plausible.' " Commonwealth v.
Cook supra 597 Pa. at 5861 952 A.2d at 602 quoting Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765., 767-68, 115
S.Ct 1769, 1771 (1.995). Rather, the issue at that stage" ' is the facial validity of the
prosecutor's explanation. Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the prosecutor's
explanation, the reason offered will be deemed race neutral.' " Id. 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at
602 quoting Purkett v, Elem supra 514 U.S. at 767-768, 115 S.Ct. at 1771 quoting Hernandez v.
New York, 500 U.S. 352, 360, 111 S.Ct. 1859, 1866 (1991'). The Commonwealth's race-neutral
rationale must be " ' ... clear and reasonably specific, as well as related to the particular case to
be tried.' ., Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 593, 952 A.2d at 606 quoting Batson v.
Kentucky supra 476 U.S. at 98, 106 S.Ct. at 1724. Explanations considered race-neutral include
" ... characteristics that relate to a prospective juror's ability to serve (i.e., 'the inability to
understand the law; prior exposure to the criminal justice system; reluctance to impose the death
penalty; the inability to respond appropriately to questions asked; and youth, indicating a
possible inability to comprehend the seriousness of the penalty soughr.)." Commonwealth v.
Williams supra 602 Pa. at 396, 980 A.2d at 531-32 citing Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa.
at 592-593, 952 A.2d at 60~.
In determining whether the prosecution has satisfied its burden of producing a
race-neutral explanation for a questioned peremptory strike, it is important to be mindful that
" ' ... the ultimate burden of persuasion regarding racial motivation rests with, and never shifts
from, the opponent of the strike.' " Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa at 593-94, 952 A.2d
at 607 (Emphasis in original.) quoting Rice. v. Collins, 546 U.S. 3-33, 338, 126 s.c. 969, 974
(2006). "[W]hile a defendant can prove a Batson violation by showing that even one black juror·
was struck for a racial reason, ... a prosecutor's failure to explain every peremptory challenge of
black jurors is not necessarily fatal to the prosecutor's burden .of production." Id. 597 Pa. at 594,
952 A.2d at 607 citing Harrison v. Ryan, 909 F.2d 84, 88 (3d Cir.1990); United States v. Batlle,
836 F.2d 1084, 1086 (8th Cir.1987); United States v. David, 803 F.2d 1567, 1571 (11th
8
Cir.1986); Yee v. Duncan, 463 F.3·d 893, 900 (9th Cir.20'06), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 1043, 128
S.Ct. 653, 169 L.Ed.2d 517 (2007); Bui v. Haley, 321 F.3d 1304, 1317 (11th Cir. 2003); and
United States v. Forbes, 8 J 6 F.2d 1006,.1011 Fn. 7 (5th Cir.1987). "Circumstantial evidence) in
addition to the prosecutor's explanation, may be probative in the. ultimate determination of
whether peremptory challenges were made for racial reasons." Id 597 Pa. at 594, 952 A.2d at
607.
Salient to current considerations, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth v.
Harris previously opined that below:
In the typical peremptory challenge inquiry, the decisive· question
will be whether counsel's race-neutral explanation for a
peremptory challenge should be believed. There will seldom be
. much evidence bearing on that issue, and the best evidence often
will be the demeanor of the attorney who exercises the challenge.
As with the state of mind of a juror, evaluation of the prosecutor's
state of mind based on demeanor and credibility lies 'peculiarly
within a trial judge's province.'
Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 507, 817 A.2d at 1043 quoting Hernandez v. New
York supra 500 \J.S. at 365, 111 S.Ct. at 1869.
" 'If a race-neutral explanation is tendered, the trial court must then proceed to the third
prong of the test, i.e., the ultimate determination of whetherthe opponent of'the strike has carded
his burden of proving purposeful discrimination.' " Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at
586-87, 952 at 602-03 quoting Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 507, 817 A.2d at 1042-
43 citing Purkett v. Elem supra 514 U.S. at 768, 115 $.Ct. at 1771; Commonwealth v, Williams
supra 602 Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d-at 530 citing Commonwealth v, Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586, 95.2
A.2d at 602-03 quoting Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 507, 817 A.2d at 1042-43; and
Commonwealth v. Watkins supra 630 Pa. at 680, 108 A.3d at 708 citing Commonwealth v. Cook
supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602. "It is at this stage that the persuasiveness of the facially-
9
neutral explanation proffered by the Commonwealth is relevant." Commonwealth v. Williams
supra 602 Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d. at 530 citing Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa .. at 586-87,
952 A.2d at 602-03 quoting Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 489, 817 A.2d.at 1042-43.
The totality of the circumstances is reviewed in deciding whether a defendant sufficiently
established purposeful discrimination. Commonwealth v. Williams supra 602 Pa. at 396, 980
A.2d at 531-532.
" '[T]he trial court's decision on the ultimate question of discriminatory intent represents
a finding of fact of the sort accorded great deference on appeal' and will not be overturned unless
clearly erroneous.' ... 'Such great deference is necessary because a reviewing court, which
analyzes only the transcripts from voir dire, is not as well positioned as the trial court is to make
credibility determinations.' " Commonwealth v, Cook supra 591 Pa. at 587, 952 A.2d .at 603
quoting Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 340, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 1041 (2003) quoting
Hernandez v. New York supra 500 U.S. at 364, 111 S.Ct.,at 1866. See also Commonwealth v.
Sneed, 587 Pa. 318, 899 A.2d 1067, 1076 (2006)("Batson contemplated a central role for the trial
judge ... in assessing the credibility of the neutral reasons for peremptory strikes proffered by the
lawyer who exercised them."), abrogated on other grounds by Commonwealth v. Jones, 591 Pa.
286, 951 A.2d 294 (2008); Commonwealth v. Williams supra 6.02 Pa. at 395, 980 A.2d at 531
quoting. Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 587, 952 A.2d at 603 quoting Miller-El v.
Cockrell supra 537 U.S. at 340, 123 S.Ct. at 1041; Commonwealth v. Smith, 866 A.2d 1138,
1140 (Pa.Super. 2005)("With regard to appellate review of Batson claims, we recognize that the
trial court. is in the best position to observe the proceedings and so is called upon to make a
credibility determination with regard to counsel's proffered reasons for a strike. . . . The trial
court's determination may be overturned on appeal only if it is 'clearly erroneous.' ") citing
10
Commonwealth v. Doyen, 848 A.2d 1007, 1013 (Pa.Super, 2004), appeal denied, 579 Pa. 700,
&57 A.2d 677 (2004).
Immediately following the seating of the jury, but prior to it being sworn, defense counsel
at side bar brought to the attention of the court the following:
Your, Honor, the Batson challenge to make [sic]. I think the
record will be clear that out of the entire panel there were only five
I will refer to as dark-skinned jurors, African American perhaps,
but certainly with dark skin. One of the women may have been
Hispanic. Two of them were not even reached, #48 and 49. 28
was excused for a, hardship. The only two remaining African
. American jurors were stricken by the Commonwealth. That leaves
none. I make a challenge to that decision.
N.T. 9/13/16, p. 1.03.
At this point e.primafacie showing having been established by Defendant Phillips giving
rise to an inference that the prosecutor struck one (1) or more prospective jurors on account of
race, Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 585, 952 A.2d at 602, the court turned to the
Commonwealth, the striking party, to provide for the exercising of these challenges a race-
neutral explanation, if any. N.T. 9/13/16, pp. 103w04. See also Commonwealth v. Cook supra
597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602 quoting Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 506-07, 8"17
A.2d at 1042-43 citing Batson v. Kentucky supra 476 U.S. at 93-97, 106 S.Ct. at 1712-23; and
Commonwealth v. Williams supra 602 Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d at 530.
The assistant district attorney as to panelist No. w· offered that she had related her
siblings suffered from drug addictions and thatthey Were "on the streets.". N.T. 9/13/16, p, 104.
The prosecutor further advanced "[q]uite frankly, Judge, I don't know what or now [sic]that fact
impacts the potential juror's decision-making process in this case. Therefore I did not want her
to be on our jury panel." N.T. 9/13/16, p. 104. Regarding potential juror No. 16, the
Commonwealth's attorney proffered that " ... her first cousin had been charged with and
IJ
!
i
convicted of drug charges and again, Judge, I think that's - that can't be minimized." N.T.
9/13/16, p. 104. The prosecutor concluded his explanation by stating, "[ajnytime someone has
family members closely related that have been affected by narcotics and the nature, and the
alleged charges in the present case are drug-related, I think it bears a fair inference that the
person could potentially be affected or biased one way or another, Your Honor. And for those
reasons, those jurors were stricken, Judge." N.T. 9/13/16, p. 104.
Defense counsel summarily contended that the prosecution's reasons for excluding the
two (2) potential jurors were in fact not race-neutral and that he did not find the
Commonwealth's justifications to be persuasive. N.T. 9/13/16, p. 107.
In response to this generalized argument, the Commonwealth's attorney presented his
other strikes as follows:
Judge, I struck #14 because he indicated - a Caucasian Individual
because him and his brother have been charged with DUis. . . . I
struck #21 because her husband had Aggravated Assault charges. I
struck #26 because her friend was charged with a crime. . .. Toe
ethnicity of 26 was also Caucasian.
N.T. 9/13/16, pp. 107-08.
A race-neutral explanation clearly being tendered by the prosecution as to both panelist
Nos. 10 and 16, the trial eourt then proceeded to the third prong of the Barson challenge analysis
" ' ... the ultimate determination of whether the opponent of the strike has· carried his burden of
proving purposeful discrimination.' " Commonwealth v, Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586-86, 952 at
602-03 quoting Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 507, 817 A.2d at 1042-43 citing
Purkett v. Elem supra 514 U.S. at.768, 115 S.Ct at 1771; Commonwealth v. Williams supra 602
Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d at 530 citing Commonwealth v. Cook 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602-03
citing Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 507, 817 A.2d at 1042-43; and Commonwealth
l2
v. Watkins supra 630 Pa. at 680, 108 A.3d at 708· citing Commonwealth v, Cook supra 597 Pa. at
586, 952 A.2d at 602. The court having concluded that the Commonwealth bed advanced
sufficient race-neutral reasons as it related to panelists l O and 16 as well as that those
explanations appeared reasonable and credible in light of the salient record and Defendant
Phillips thus having failed to carry his. burden of proving purposefu1 discrimination, his "Batson"
claim was refused. N.T. 9/13/16, p, 108.
In light o-f the totality of the material circumstances, the court's decision on the ultimate
question of discriminatory intent was not "clearly erroneous." Commonwealth v. Cook supra
597 Pa. at 587, 952 A.2d at603 quoting Miller-El v, Cockrell supra 537 U.S. at 340, 123 S.Ct. at1041 quoting Hernandez v. New York supra 500 U.S. at 364, 111 S.Ct. at 1866~ Commonwealth
v. Smith supra 866 A.2d at 1140 citing Commonwealth v. Doyen supra 848 A.2d at 1013. The
prosecutor's specific explanations were given moments after the challenged peremptory strikes
were exercised, and the court, who directly observed the demeanor of the assistant district
attorney throughout the entire jury selection process, made an express determination that the
justifications for the peremptory strikes were both credible and race-neutral, Each of the
explanations offered about these panelists (Nos. 10 and 16) referred to articulated considerations
that related directly to these prospective jurors' ability to fairly and impartially serve in a, drug
trial, both individuals have family members suffering from.illicit substance addictions, as well as
one .(1) relative having been charged and convicted of controlled substance offenses. See
Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 592, 952 A.2d at 606 and Commonwealth v. Smith
supra 866 A.2d at 1140. Further, defense counsel failed to identify any statements and/or other
acts or omissions by the prosecutor indicating a racial .bias. Commonwealth v, Cook supra 597
Pa. at 594-595, 952 A.2d at 607. See also N.T. 9/13/16, p. I 07.
Under the burden shifting framework of Batson, the Defendant was required to establish
a prima facte case of purposeful discrimination in challenging the certain peremptory strikes
made by the Commonwealth before the prosecution was required to provide race-neutral reasons
forthose challenges. Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602 quoting
Commonwealth v, Harris supra 572 Pa. at 506-07, 817 A.2d at 1042-43 citing Batson v.
Kentucky supra 476 U.S. at 93-97, I 06 S.Ct. at 1112.:23; Commonwealth v, Watkins supra 630
Pa. at 680, l 08 A.3d at 708 cittng Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at S86, 952 A.2d.at 602;
and Commonwealth v. Williams supra 602 Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d at 530 citing Commonwealth v.
Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602-03. After such ~ prlma facie showing, once the
prosecution advanced such reasons, the burden returned to Defendant Phillips to reasonably
dispute the persuasiveness of those explanations. Id. 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602 quoting
Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 P~. at 5"07, 817 A.2d at 1042-43 ctttng Purkett v. Elem supra514 {J.S. at 768, 115 S.Ct. at 1771; Commonwealth v, Williams supra 602 Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d at
530 citing Commonwealth v. Cook supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602-03 citing
Commonwealth v. Harris supra 572 Pa. at 507, 817 A.2d at 1042-43; and Commonwealth v.
Watkins supra 630 Pa. at 680, I 08 A.3d at 708 citing Commonwealth v, Cook supra 597 Pa. at
586, 952 A.2d at 602.
The court in the matter at bar made a preliminary finding as to potential jurors 10 and 16
that Defendant had established e primafaciecase of purposeful discrimination. N.T. 9/13/16, p.
l 03. This court then listened attentively to tbe explanations by Commonwealth's attorney that
the prosecutor proffered to rebut DefendantPhillips' prima facie case related to these panelists
(Nos. 10 and 16). N.T. 9/13/16, p. 104. For striking the panelists, the assistant district attorney
was able to provide various, specific and race neutral explanations. The Commonwealth's
14
attorney stated, inter alta, that due to the adverse impacts of controlled substances on immediate
family members, including homelessness, as well as criminal convictionts), and the present trial
involving allegations about the illicit substance, cocaine, these potential jurors (Nos. 10 and 16)
.could be resultantly biased unfairly prejudicing the prosecution or the defense. N.T. 9/13/16, p.
104.
The court determined these explanations offered by the prosecutor to be credible and
race-neutral reasons for the exercise of the challenged peremptory strikes. N.T. 9/13/16, p. 108.
Accordingly, the court concluded the Defendant failed to carry his burden of showing that the
assistant district attorney exercised his peremptory 'challenges in a racially, discriminatory
manner. N.T. 9/13/16, p. 108.
Unquestionably, Defendant Phillips is African-American. It is equally uncontroverted
the Commonwealth did exercise peremptory challenges. to strike panelists No. 10 and No. 16,
both African-Americans. As offered by defense counsel, there were five (5) "dark-skinned,
African-American perhaps" panelists among the venire, two (2) of which were not reached and
unavailable thus to be seated, while another for hardship was excused. N.T. 9/13/16, p. 103.
Yet, throughout the entirety of the juror selection process the record is devoid ofany questions or
statements made by the assistant district attorney and/or any other material evidence, even
suggesting, let alone showing an invidious discriminatory motive related to the Commonwealth's
seating of the jury, nor did this court note anything about the prosecutor's demeanor consistent
with an inappropriate intent material to jury selection. In addition, unlike most other crimes, this
matter did not involve a specific, individual victim of a differing ethnicity from the Defendant as
he was tried with several Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act27 violations.
27
See 35 Pa.C.S. §§780· l O 1 et seq.
IS
In light of the foregoing, Defendant Phillips failed to carry his burden of proving that the
Commonwealth engaged in purposeful racial discrimination when seating the jurors, the court
having found the facially-neutral explanations by the Commonwealth to be credibly persuasive
pursuant to Batson and its progeny. Defendant Phillips' claim that the court erred in failing. to
sustain defense counsel's Batson grounded objection is meritless, See Commonwealth v. Cook
supra 597 Pa. at 586, 952 A.2d at 602 quoting Commonwealth v, Harris supra 572 Pa. at 506-07,
817 A.2d at 1042-43 citing Batson v. Kentucky supra 476 U.S. at 93-97, 106 S.Ct. at 1712-23;
and Commonwealth v. Williams supra 602 Pa. at 393, 980 A.2d at 530. See also Commonwealth
v, Cook supra 5.97 Pa. at 587, 952 A.2d at 603 quoting Miller-El v. Cockrell supra 537 U.S. at
340, 123 S.Ct.. at 1041 quoting Hernandez v. New York supra 500 U.S. at 364, 111 S.Ct. at 1866;
and Commonwealth v. Smith supra 866 A.2d at 1140 citing Commonwealth v. Doyen supra 848
A.2d at 1013.
II. The evidence is insufflcieut to sustain the cotivicti940
A.2d 493, 500 (Pa.Super. 2007) and Commonwealth v. Rosario, 438 Pa.Super. 241, 260-61, 652
A.2d 354, 364 (1994) citing Commonwealth v. Calderini, 416 Pa.Super. 25~, 260-61, 61 I A.2d
206, 207 (1992) citing Commonwealth v. Jackson, 506 Pa. 469, 472-73, 485 A.2d 1102, 1103
(1984). A court deciding a sufficiency challenge" ... may not weigh the evidence and substitute
[the court's] judgment for the fact-finder." Commonwealth v. Orr, 38 A.3d 868, 872 (Pa.Super.
2011) citing Commonwealth v. Hansley, 24 · A.3d 410, 416 (Pa.Super. 2011) quoting
Commonwealth v. Jones, 874 A.2d 108, 120-21 (Pa.Super, 2005) quoting Commonwealth v.
Bullick; 830 A.2d 998, 1000 (Pa.Super. 2003) quoting Commonwealth v. Gooding, 818 A.2d
546, 54-9 (Pa.Super. 2003), appeal denied, 515 Pa. 691, 835 A.2d 109 (2003).
The evidence at trial need not '' ... preclude every possibility of innocence, and the fact
finder is free to resolve any doubts regarding a defendant's guilt." 'Commonwealth v. Hansley
Accordingly, these otherwise necessary elements of these crimes will not in this opinion be discussed. See
Commonwealth v, Veon, 109 A.3d 754, 77S (Pa.Super, 2015), reversed on other grounds, 150 A.3d 435 (Pa.
2016)(''In order to preserve a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, lite appellant's Rule 1925(b)
statement must state with speclflcity. tlte element or elements of tile crime upon which lite appella111 alleges tile
evidence was lmmjJlcie111. Commonwealth v. Garland, 63 A.3d 33!), 344 (Pa.Super. 2013); Commonwealth v.
Gibbs, 981 A,2d 274, 281 (Pa.Super, 2009). 'Such specificity is of particular importance In cases, where, as here,
the appellant was convicted of multiple crimes each of which contains numerous elements that the Commonwealth
must prove beyond ·a reasonable doubt.' "), (Emphasis added.) See also Commonwealth v, M~Cree, 857 A.2d 188,
192 (Pa.Super, 2004) citing C011!111onwea//hv. Lemon, 80.4 A.2d 34, 37 (Pa.Super .. 200i); Commonwealth v. Selbert;
799 A.2d 54, 62 (Pa.Super, 2002); and Pa. SSJl (Crim) 16.0J and J6.13(a)(31).
17
supra 24 A.3d at 416 quoting Commonwealth v. Jones supra 874 A.2d at 120-.21 quoting
Commonwealth v. Bullick supra 830 A.2d at 1000 quoting Commonwealth v. Gooding supra 818
A.2d at 549. Although a conviction must be based on " ... more than mere suspicion or
conjecture, the Commonwealth need not establish guilt to a mathematical certainty."
Commonwealth v. Davis, 861 A.2d 3 rn, 323 (Pa.Super. 2004) citing Commonwealth v. Coon,
695 A.2d 794, 797 (Pa.Super, 1997). " ... [I]f the record contains support for the convictions,
they may not be disturbed." Id. 861 A.2d at 323-24 citing Commonwealth v. Marks, 104 A.2d
I 095, 1098 (Pa.Super. 1997) citing Commonwealth v. Mudrick, 510 Pa. 305, 308, 507 A.2d
1212, 1213 (1986).
These long established principles of law governing a sufficiency challenge are equally
applicable to cases where fhe evidence is circumstantial rather than direct, provided that the
combination of inferential evidence links the accused to the criminality and/or establishes the
crime's requisite element(s) beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Kriegler, 127 A.3d
840, 847 (Pa.Super. 2015) quoting Commonwealth v. Harlie, 894 A.2d 800, 803-04 (Pa.Super.
2006) quoting Commonwealth v. Thomas, 867 A.2d 594, 597 (Pa.Super. 2005). See also
Commonwealth v. Cox, 546 Pa. 515, 528, 686 A.2d 1279, 1.285 (1996).
In deciding whether as a matter of Jaw the trial evidence was sufficient to. sustain a
conviction, it must be remembered "[wjhen evaluating the credibility. and weight of the evidence,
the fact finder is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence." Commonwealth v. Patterson
supra 940 A.2d at 500 quoting Commonwealth v. Emler, 903 A.2d 1273, 1276-77 (Pa.Super.
2006). See also Commonwealth v. Hansley.supra 24 A.3d at 416. Furthermore, the fact-finder is
tasked with being the " ... sole judge] ] of the credibility and weight of al) testimonyt and is
certainly free to reject or accept, in whole or part, the testimony of any witness. Pa. SSJI (Crim)
18
2.04. Regarding the offered testimony and other trial evidence; the finder of fact in making a
decision may choose what they value and discount what they find unpersuasive.
"In narcotics possession cases, the Commonwealth may meet its burden by showing
actual, constructive, or joint constructive possession of the contraband." Commonwealth v.
Vargas, lO~ A.3d 8,58, 868 (Pa.Super. 2014) quoting Commonwealth v. Thompson, 286.
Pa.Super, 31, 428 A.2d 223, 224 (1981).
"Where the contraband a person is charged with possessing is not found on the person of
the defendant, the Commonwealth is required to prove constructive possession." Commonwealth
v. Walker, 874 A.2d 667, 677 (Pa.Super, 2005) citing Commonwealth v. Kirkland, 831 A.2d 607,
611 (Pa.Super, 2003), appeal denied, 577 Pa. 712, 847 A.2d 1280 (2004). See also
Commonwealth v. Vargas supra 108 A.3d at 868 citing Commonwealth v. Macollno, 503 Pa.
201, 469 A.2d 132, 134 (1983); Commonwealth v. Brown, 48 A.3d 426, 430 (Pa.Super, 2012),
appeal denied, 619 Pa. 697, 63 A.3d 1243 (2013) citing Commonwealth v. Kirkland supra 831
A.2d at 611; Commonwealth v. /011es, 874 A.2d 108, 121 (Pa.Super, 2005) quoting
Commonwealth v. Haskins, 4SO Pa.Super, 540, 677 A.2d 328, 330 (1996), appeal denied, 547
Pa. 751, 692 A.2d 563 (1997).
The Superior Court has past further elaborated on S'JCh constructive possession:
Constructive possession is a legal fiction, a pragmatic construct to deal
with the realities of criminal law enforcement. Constructive possession is
an inference arising from a set of facts that possession of the contraband
was more likely than not. We have defined constructive possession as
'conscious dominion.' (citation omitted}. We subsequently defined
'conscious dominion' as 'the power to control the contraband and the intent
to exercise that control.' (citation omitted). To aid application, we have
held that constructive possession may be established by the totality of the
circumstances.
Commonwealth v. Cruz, 21 A.3d 1247, 1253 (Pa.Super, 2011) quoting Commonwealthv. Parker,
847 A.2d 745, 750 (Pa.Super, 2004) quoting Commonwealth v. Thompson, 779 A.2.d 1195, 1199
19
(Pa.Super. 2001), appeal denied, 567 Pa. 760, 790 A.2d 1016 (2001). See also Commonwealth
v, Hopkins, 67 A.3d 817, 820 (Pa.Super. 2013) quoting Commonwealth v. Brown supra 48 A.3d
at 430; Commonwealth v. Vargas supra t 08 A.3d at 868 quoting Commonwealth v. Macolino
supra 503 Pa. at 206, 469 A.2d at 134, and Commonwealth v. Johnson, 61 t Pa. 381, 407, 26
A.3d 1078, 1093 (2011)~ Commonwealth v. Hutchinson, 947 A.2d 800, 806 (Pa.Super. 2008)
citing Commonwealth v. Dargan, 897 A.2d 496, 503, 504 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal denied, 591
Pa. 671, 916 A.2d 1101 (2007); Commonwealth v. Bricker, 882 A.2d 1008, 1014 (Pa.Super.
2005) citing Commonwealth v. Petteway, 847 A.2d 713, 716 (Pa.Super. 2004) and
Commonwealth v. Parker supra 847 A.2d at 750; Commonwealth v. Brown supra 48 AJd at 430
quoting Commonwealth v. Parker supra 847 A.2d at 750; and Commonwealth v. Jones supra
874 A.2d at 121 quoting Commonwealth v. Kirkland supra 831 A.2d at 610 citing
Commonwealth v. Macolino supra 503 Pa. at 206, 469 A.2d at 134.
Salient to current considerations, the facts summarized infra were credibly established at
Defendant Phillips' trial. N.T. 9/14/16.
Detective Steven Bannar, Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division, and other
police officials in March 2016 were conducting an ongoing investigation regarding illicit drug
sales about the residence located at 2507 Bethel Road, Chester City. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 24-25.
The detective advised that the focus of their enforcement efforts was an individual. named Tiesha
Spriggs, who investigators believed was selling from that home (2507 Bethel Road)
methamphetamine. N.T. 9/14/16, p, 25. During the course of this investigation, Detective
Bannar sought and obtained a warrant for 2507 Bethel Road which authorized a controlled
substance and related evidence search. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 27-28. See Commonwealth Exhibit
C-1 =Search Warrant Control No. 2016031 OM7 t 02.
On April 5, 2016, at 6:00 A.M., Detective Bannar and other law enforcement personnel
dressed in plainclothes and wearing bulletproof vests displaying in large letters, "POLICE,"
executed the .magisterial district judge approved search warrant. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 28-30, 73.
Literally within seconds after entering the residence, 2507 Bethel Road, several officers
proceeded to a rear bedroom 011 the first floor where in an open closet they found Defendant
Phillips hiding among articles of clothing. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 31-33, 70. Detective Banner, at
20
trial, absent any qualifications; identified Defendant Phillips as the individual the police found in
the closet concealed about clothing items. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 31-32, 33-34.
The officers removed the Defendant from the closet and "detained him. N.T. 9/14/16, p.
32. Defendant Phillips then questioned the officers "what was going on," to which Detective
Bannar " ... explained that Thad numerous buys of methamphetamines out of this house." N.T.
9/14/16, pp. 32, 72-73. The detective described Defendant Phillips' immediate reply as 0[h]e
alluded to the fact that he only had cocaine on him, a small amount, ... ." N.T. 9/14/16, p. 32.
More specifically, Detective Bannar testified the Defendant stated, 111've got a little bit of
cocaine." N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 33, 73-74.
While further searching this rear bedroom, the officers discovered a jacket among the
men's clothing in the closet where the Defendant had just moments before been found hiding.
N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 36, 37, 69, 71,. 74, 100. Additional examination of this coat produced a cJear
sandwich bag. N.T. 9/14/16, p, 36. The contents of this bag included seven (7) clear bags and
nine (9) blue bags, each containing what Detective Bannar described as cocaine. N.T. 9/14/16,
pp. 36, 100. At trial, Detective Banner Identifled the larger bag and the sixteen (16) small bags.
N.T. 9/14/16; pp. 37-38. See also Commonwealth Exhibit C-4 - Large bag containing smaller
bags of cocaine.
Of-fleer James Nolan, Chester City Police Department, was the first law enforcement
official during the execution of the search warrant to enter the residence (2507 Bethel Road).
N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 123, 127. Officer Nolan during trial detailed that the officers continuously
announced their presence and that they were police authorities as they proceeded into as well as
throughout the house. N.T. 9/14/16, p. 128.
21
At first glance, Office Nolan did not encounter any individuals in the rear bedroom;
however, on more closely examining the closet, he observed Defendant Phillips standing against
the wall and leaning his head out of the same. N.T. 9/14/16, pp, 124, 127-28. The Defendant
· was then taken info custody. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 128, 129. Officer Nolan testified that the
aggregate time from when he first saw the Defendant to his being detained was a matter of mere
seconds. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 129-30.
Officer Nolan recounted Defendant Phillips inquiring as to the officers' purpose on the
morning of the arrest. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 124, no. In reply to the Defendant's question, the
officer recalled Detective Bannar responding police were searching for methamphetamines,
prompting Defendant Phillips to voice that he was in possession of cocaine. N.T. 9/14/16, pp.
124, 130~31. Throughout the course of these exchanges, Detective Bannar and Officer Nolan .
were standing next to each other. N.T. 9114/16, pp. 131-32.
Following the law enforcement officials' recovery of the sixteen (16) baggies, the
contents were field tested and yielded positive reactions for the Schedule II controlled substance,
cocaine. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 43-44. These bags were subsequently sent for laboratory testing to
the Pennsylvania State Police.n N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 43~44. The resulting Pennsylvania State
Police Laboratory Report revealed the seven (7) clear bags tested positive for the Schedule II
controlled substance cocaine and the total weight of the contents of the seven (7) bags was six.
grams and seven hundredths (6.07) of a gram. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 44-45. See also
Commonwealth Exhibit C-8 - Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory Report >- L-16-01905-1.
The nine (9) blue bags also tested positive for cocaine and weighed a total of one (1) gram and
eighty-two (82) hundredths of a gram. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 44-45. See also Commonwealth
32
A proper custodial chaln regarding these recovered bags of cocaine was established vie counsel's stipulation. See.
Commonwealth Exhibit C-10 - Stipulation. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 47-48.
22
Exhibit C-8 - Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory Report - L-16-01905-1. The aggregate
weight of the sixteen (I 6) bags was seven grams and eighty-nine hundredths (7.89) of a gram.
N.T. 9/14/16, p. 46. See also Commonwealth Exhibit C-8 - Pennsylvania State Police
Laboratory Rep011- L-16-01905-1.
Defendant Phillips per this assignment of error advances on appeal that the case record
was insufficient as a matter of Jaw to establish he possessed any items of contraband and his
convictions33 must thus be set aside. See Statement ofMatters Complained, No. 2.
Based on the above-recounted salient facts credibly established at trial; as well as
accepting the evidence in the' light most beneficial to the prosecution and the reasoned inferences
flowing from such, Defendant Phillips' sufficiency challenge is meritless. Commonwealth v.
Patterson supta 940 A.2d at 500 and Commonwealth v. Rosario supra 438 Pa.Super. at 260-61,
652 A.2d at 364 citing Commonwealth v. Calderini supra 416 Pa.Super, at 260-61, 611 A.2d at
207 citing Commonwealth v. Jackson supra 506 Pa. at 472- 73, 485 A.2d at 1103.
On a review . of the totality of the circumstances seen most favorable to the
1'
Commonwealth, it is without question that the Defendant had ••• the power to control the
[controlled substance and paraphernalia] and the intent-to exercise thatcontrol," Commonwealth
v. Cruz supra 21 A.3d at 1253 quoting Commonwealth v. Parker supra 847 A.2d at 750 quoting
Commonwealth v. Thompson supra 779 A.2d at 1199. See also Commonwealth v. Patterson
supra 940 A.2d at 500 and Commonwealth v. Rosario supra 438 Pa.Super. at 260-61, 652 A.2d
at 364 citing Commonwealth v, Calderini supra 416 Pa.Super. at 260-61, 611 A.2d at 207 citing
Commonwealth v. Jackson supra 506 Pa. at 472h73,-485 A.2d at 1 I 03.
At the time the search warrant was executed Defendant Phillips was the only individual
in the rear bedroom and also hidden within the very closet where the controlled substances arid
3J
35 Pa.C.S. §780- l 13(a)(30); 35 Pa.C.S. §780-1 l 3{a)(J6); and 35 Pa.C.S. §780-113(a)(32).
23
paraphernalia (baggies) were recovered. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 31-33, 34, 70, 124, 127-28, 129-30.
See also Commonwealth Exhibit CA - Large bag containing smaller bags of cocaine. On being
discovered by the police and advised that · they were looking for methamphetamine, the
Defendant volunteered that he was in possession of " ... a .little bit of cocaine." N.T. 9/14/16)
pp. 32, 72-73, 74, 124, 130-32. The police officers found in this same closet only a few
moments later a jacket which contained in a pocket a large, clear bag which held sixteen (16)
smaller bags that contained the Schedule lJ control1ed substance, cocaine, the same illicit drug
Defendant Phillips just told investigators he possessed. N.T. 9/14/16, pp. 36, 37-38, 43-46, 741
100.
It is not necessary for the various bags of cocaine to have been on the Defendant>s person
at the time the police detained him to legally prove he possessed the controlled substance and
paraphernalia (baggies). Commonwealth v. Walker supra 874 A.2d at 677 citing Commonwealth
v. Kirkland supra 831 A.2d at 611. See also Commonwealth v. Vargas supra 108 A.3d at 868
citing Commonwealth v. Macolino supra; Commonwealth v. Brown supra 48 A.3d at 430 citing
Commonwealth v. Kirkland supra 831 A.2d at 611; Commonwealth v. Jones supra 874 A.2d at
121 quoting Commonwealth v. Haskins supra 450 Pa.Super. at 677 A.2d at 330. Rather, the
totality of the evidence must demonstrate that Defendant Phillips had " 'the power to control the
[cocaine and paraphernalia] and the intent to exercise that control.' " Commonwealth v. Cruz
supra 21 A.3d at 1253 quoting Commonwealth v. Parker supra 84 7 A.2d at 750 quoting
Commonwealth v. Thompson supra 779 A.2d at 1199. See also Commonwealth v. Hopkins supra67 A.3d at 820 quoting Commonwealth v. Brown supra 48 A.3d at 430; Commonwealth v.
Vargas supra 108 A.3d at 868 quoting Commonwealth v. Macolino supra 503 Pa. at 206, 469
A.2d at q4, and Commonwealth v. Johnson supra 611 Pa. at 4071 26 A.3d at 1093;
24
Commonwealth v. Hutchinson supra 947 A.2d at 806 citing Commonwealth v. Dargan supra 897
A.2d at 503, 504; Commonwealth v. Bricker supra 882 A.2d at 1014 citing Commonwealth v.
Petteway supra 847 A.2d at 716 and Commonwealth v. Parker supra 847 A.2d at 750;
Commonwealth v. Brown supra 48 A.3d at 430 quoting Commonwealth v. Parker supra 847
A.2d at 75.0; and Commonwealth v. Jones supra- 874 A.2d at 1.21 quoting Commonwealth v.
Kirkland supra 831 A.2d at 610 citing Commonwealth v. Maco lino supra 503 Pa. at 206, 469
A.2d at 134. The trial evidence must also show in its totality the Defendant was " ... aware of
the presence and nature of the substance." Pa. SSJI (Crim) 16.02(b)A. As the cocaine and
paraphernalia (baggies) were found in a coat in the closet where Defendant Phillips was only
seconds before hiding prior to being removed by the police, and he as well verbally
acknowledged to the. officers· that he was then in possession of cocaine, it was proven as a matter
of law that Defendant Phillips constructively possessed the controlled substance cocaine and
paraphernalia (baggies). Commonwealth v. Cruz supra 21 AJd at 1253 quoting Commonwealth
v. Parker supra 847 A.2d at 750 quoting Commonwealth v, Thompson. supra 779 A.2d at 1199.
Based on the foregoing trial evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, together with the rational inferences such reasonably allows, Defendant
Phillips' possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver;" possession of a controlled
substance,35 and possession of drug paraphemalia36 convictions are each legally sound. See
generally Commonwealth v. Patterson supra 940 A.1d at 500 and Commonwealth v. Krieg/er
supra 127 A.3d at 847 quoting Commonwealth v. Hartle supra 894 A.2d at 903-04 quoting
Commonw~alth v. Thomas st!J)ra 867 A.2d at 597.
34
35 Pa.C.S. §780-l 13(a)(30).
n 35 Pa.C.S. §780-1'13(a)(16).
36
35 Pa.C.S. §780· 1 l3(a)(32).
25
The jury as the " . . . sole judge[] of the credibility and weight of all testimony" was
"free to believe all, part or none of the evidence." Pa. SSJI (Crim) 2.04. See also
Commonwealth v. Patterson supra 940 A.2d at 500 quoting Commonwealth v; Emler supra 903
A.2d at 1276-77.
1n reviewing Defendant Phillips' sufficiency challenges to his convictions, the court
1.,
may not weigh the evidence and substitute [the court's] judgment for the fact-finder."
Commonwealth v. Orr supra 38 A.3d at 872 citing Commonwealth v. Hansley supra 24 A.3d at
416 quoting Commonwealth v. Jones supra 874 A.2d at 1-20-21 quoting Commonwealth v.
Bu/lick supra 830 A.2d at 1000. If the court finds " ; .. the record contains support for the
convictions," the decision must remain as the jury concluded. Commonwealth v. Davis supra
861 A.2d at 323-24 citing Commonwealth v. Marks supra 704 A.2d at 1098 citing
Commonwealth v. Mudrick supra 510 Pa. at 308, 507 A.2d at 1213.
Ill Co11clusio11
For all the above reasons, Defendant Phillips' convictions and judgment of sentence
should be affirmed.
26