Com. v. Robinson, N. ( 2015 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
NORMAN ROBINSON
Appellant No. 2064 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of November 6, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of York County
Criminal Division at No.: CP-67-CR-0002111-2014
BEFORE: WECHT, J., STABILE, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY WECHT, J.: FILED OCTOBER 16, 2015
Norman Robinson appeals the November 6, 2014 judgment of
sentence. Because the trial court abused its discretion by giving an
inaccurate jury instruction, we vacate the judgment of sentence and remand
for a new trial.
Robinson was charged with, and found guilty of, making a materially
false written statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm, 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 6111(g)(4)(ii). The trial court provided the following summary
of the evidence that was developed at trial:
The Commonwealth presented testimony that showed [that,]
back in February of 2013, [Robinson] attempted to purchase a
handgun at a gun show held at the York Expo Center in York
County, Pennsylvania. Tyler Brightbill, the Commonwealth’s first
witness, was operating a booth for Treeline Sports. . . . Mr.
Brightbill explained the general process an individual must go
through in order to purchase a gun in the state of Pennsylvania.
He explained that[,] for a long gun[,] an individual must fill out
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one form, but for a handgun[,] two forms are required. After
the potential buyer fills out the form(s), it is the job of the seller
to verify the buyer’s identity by comparing the picture on the
identification card provided with the person standing in front of
him. The seller records all the information from the identification
card on the form and then calls an 800 number, which is known
as the PICS system. After entering the information into the PCIS
system, the seller will then be notified whether the buyer is
approved. If the buyer is approved, the seller is given an
approval number, which is recorded on the form and the
transaction is completed.
With respect to [Robinson], Mr. Brightbill was unable to
specifically recall the interaction because of the number of
people he dealt with at the York gun show. However, he was
shown the forms [that Robinson] filled out that day and he did
testify that it was his signature on those forms, which led him to
conclude that he was the one dealing with [Robinson] that day.
Mr. Brightbill performed all the necessary steps discussed above,
but he was informed by the PICS system that [Robinson’s]
application had been denied. On cross-examination, Mr.
Brightbill indicated that he did not remember anything out of the
ordinary from the gun show, so he assumed [Robinson] just
walked away after being denied.
The Commonwealth’s last witness was Detective Jeffrey Snell
from the West Manchester Township Police Department. He
testified that he was contacted by the Pennsylvania State Police
Firearms Division regarding a possible case of deceptive
practices with respect to the purchase of a firearm. During his
investigation, Detective Snell spoke with Tyler Brightbill, who
told him, like he told the jury, he was unable to specifically
remember the transaction with [Robinson].
In the process of his investigation, Detective Snell found that
[Robinson] was convicted of more than one felony in New
Jersey. While reviewing the forms filled out by [Robinson],
Detective Snell noticed that [Robinson] checked “no” to
questions relating to felony convictions. Because [Robinson]
was seeking to purchase a handgun he was required to fill out
two forms, which contained a combined three questions
regarding felony convictions. Question 11c of the federal form
asked, “Have you ever been convicted in any court of a felony
and any other crime for which the Judge could have imprisoned
you for more than one year, even if you received a shorter
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sentence including probation?” Question 31 of the Pennsylvania
state form asked, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime
enumerated in Section 6105(b), or do any of the following
conditions under [Section] 6105(c) apply to you?” Lastly,
Question 32 of the state form asked, “Are you now charged with
or have you ever been convicted of a crime punishable by
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year?” [Robinson]
checked “no” to all three questions.
Detective Snell completed his investigation and determined that
[Robinson] was being deceptive in his attempts to purchase a
firearm because he had been convicted of more than one felony
and did not disclose this fact on the application. On cross-
examination, Detective Snell stated that he did not interview
[Robinson] as part of his investigation. He also testified that
[Robinson] did not attempt to purchase a firearm under a fake
identity. The Commonwealth rested.
[Robinson] was the only witness for the defense. He explained
that back in February of 2013, his son-in-law invited him to the
York gun show. [Robinson] decided to go because it sounded
fun and he had never attended a gun show before. While there,
[Robinson] wanted to see if he would be able to legally obtain a
firearm. He pointed to a gun and the seller provided him with
two forms to fill out. [Robinson] testified that he filled out the
forms to the best of his ability, but he was confused by a few
questions; however, he did not ask for clarification. With respect
to the questions regarding his prior record[, Robinson] explained
that he assumed the questions were related to a prior record in
Pennsylvania, not the entire country. Once [Robinson] was
informed he was denied[,] he walked away.
On cross-examination, [Robinson] reiterated that he was
attempting to “do something legally.” When asked if this meant
he was aware that it might not be legal for him to have [a] gun,
[Robinson] stated he did not think that his record from 19 years
ago in New Jersey would “carry over” into Pennsylvania.
[Robinson] also admitted that neither form stated that the felony
conviction had to occur in Pennsylvania. He again stated that he
“didn’t think it would be a crime for [him] trying to do something
legally.” In fact, [Robinson] testified that he did not even have
the money to purchase the gun. He indicated that he did not
read the certification and warning that stated providing false or
misleading information was a crime.
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Trial Court Opinion (“T.C.O.”), 1/12/2015, at 2-5 (citations to record and
footnote omitted).
After deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict. On November 6,
2014, Robinson was sentenced to three to seven years’ imprisonment. On
December 3, 2014, Robinson filed a notice of appeal. On December 5, 2014,
the trial court ordered Robinson to file a concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Robinson timely
complied. The trial court filed an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) on
January 12, 2015.
Robinson raises two issues for our review:
1. Whether the evidence was insufficient to find [Robinson]
guilty of violating 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111(g)(4) relating to the
sale or transfer of firearms, where the evidence failed to
establish that [Robinson] knowingly and intentionally made a
materially false written statement when he attempted to
purchase a firearm?
2. Whether the trial court provided a jury instruction relating to
the sale or transfer of firearms, which failed to sufficiently and
accurately apprise the jury of the law it must consider in
rendering its decision?
Robinson’s Brief at 6.
Robinson first challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his
conviction. Our standard of review for such a claim is well-settled:
[O]ur applicable standard of review is “whether the evidence
admitted at trial, and all reasonable inferences drawn from that
evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth as verdict winner, was sufficient to enable the
factfinder to conclude that the Commonwealth established all of
the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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Commonwealth v. Eichinger, 915 A.2d 1122, 1130 (Pa.
2007). Additionally, when examining sufficiency issues, “we
bear in mind that: the Commonwealth’s burden may be
sustained by means of wholly circumstantial evidence; the entire
trial record is evaluated and all evidence received against the
defendant considered; and the trier of fact is free to believe all,
part, or none of the evidence when evaluating witness
credibility.” Commonwealth v. Markman, 916 A.2d 586, 598
(Pa. 2007).
Commonwealth v. Crabill, 926 A.2d 488, 490-91 (Pa. Super. 2007).
Robinson was convicted pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111(g)(4)(ii),
which states as follows:
Any person, purchaser or transferee commits a felony of the
third degree if, in connection with the purchase, delivery or
transfer of a firearm under this chapter, he knowingly and
intentionally:
* * *
(ii) makes any materially false written statement, including a
statement on any form promulgated by Federal or State
agencies[.]
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111(g)(4).
Specifically, Robinson argues that the evidence was insufficient to
demonstrate that he acted knowingly or intentionally. In support of his
argument, he cites his testimony that he did not understand or completely
read some of the questions, that he believed the forms only sought
information about Pennsylvania convictions, and that he did not review the
directions on the form. Robinson’s Brief at 20-25.
Here, the jury heard Robinson’s testimony that he did not read the
form or understand that his New Jersey convictions would require him to
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answer yes to certain questions. The jury also saw the forms that Robinson
filled out. The state form included the following question:
Are you now charged with, or have you ever been convicted of a
crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one
year? This is the maximum sentence that you “could have
received,” not the actual sentence you did receive. (This does
not include federal or state offenses pertaining to antitrust,
unfair trade practice, restraints of trade, or regulation of
business or state offenses classified as misdemeanors and
punishable by a year of imprisonment not to exceed two years)
(Read information on back prior to answering).
Pennsylvania State Police Application/Record of Sale, Exh. 2 at 1. The
question specifically mentions federal crimes, which contradicts Robinson’s
claim that he believed only Pennsylvania convictions were reportable.
Further, both forms include verifications that a false statement is
punishable as a felony, and the federal form’s verification states that a
person convicted of a felony is prohibited from purchasing a firearm.
Robinson admitted that he filled out the forms and that he signed the
verifications. Viewing that evidence in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, the jury could have concluded that Robinson knew he was
ineligible to purchase a firearm and, therefore, that he knowingly provided
false information in an attempt to skirt those prohibitions. Because the jury
is free to reach its own conclusions about credibility and to believe all, some,
or none of Robinson’s testimony, the evidence sufficed to prove that
Robinson acted knowingly or intentionally.
Next, Robinson challenges the court’s jury instructions.
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When reviewing a challenge to part of a jury instruction, we
must review the jury charge as a whole to determine if it is fair
and complete. A trial court has wide discretion in phrasing its
jury instructions, and can choose its own words as long as the
law is clearly, adequately, and accurately presented to the jury
for its consideration. The trial court commits an abuse of
discretion only when there is an inaccurate statement of the law.
Commonwealth v. Jones, 954 A.2d 1194, 1198 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Robinson argues that the trial court inserted language into the statute
when instructing the jury. At the close of the first day of trial, the court
began discussing the jury instructions that it would deliver. Notes of
Testimony (“N.T.”), 10/6-7/2014, at 100. The Commonwealth suggested
that “in connection with” the purchase of a gun should be explained to the
jury so they understood that the crime could be committed even though the
purchase was not completed. Id. Robinson’s counsel argued that an actual
purchase was required as an element of the crime.1 Id. at 101. The trial
judge concluded that the language of the statute was broad enough to
include potential purchasers. Id. at 103. The Commonwealth proposed a
jury instruction that would include the following statement: “The term ‘in
connection with’ includes a completed purchase, delivery, or transfer of a
firearm as well as an attempt to purchase, deliver, or transfer a firearm.”
Commonwealth’s Proposed Jury Instruction. Robinson requested that the
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1
Robinson also moved for a judgment of acquittal upon that same
basis. Id. at 101. The motion was denied. Id. at 103-04.
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court give the standard instruction, which tracked the language of the
statute. Id. at 105. The trial court took the issue under advisement.
After the close of evidence, the trial court revisited the issue. Again,
Robinson’s counsel sought the standard instruction. Id. at 137. The trial
court decided not to give either the standard instruction or the
Commonwealth’s suggested instruction. Instead, the trial court inserted the
words “or attempted to do so” into the standard instruction. The trial court
also added a definition of attempt. It then noted both parties’ objections for
the record. Id. at 138. The court ultimately instructed the jury as follows:
To find [Robinson] guilty of an offense under the Firearms Act,
you must find that the following three elements have been
proven beyond a reasonable doubt:
First, that [Robinson] purchased, delivered, or transferred a
firearm or attempted to do so;
Second, that in connection with such purchase, delivery, or
transfer, or attempt to do that, [Robinson] made a materially
false written statement, including a statement on any form
promulgated by the federal or state government;
Third, that [Robinson] did so knowingly and intentionally.
A person acts intentionally when it is his or her conscious object
or purpose to engage in the conduct prohibited by law. A person
acts knowingly when they are aware that their conduct is not in
conformity with the law of the Commonwealth. And with
regard to attempt, one attempts to do something when
one intends to do a particular act and then takes a
substantial step toward accomplishing that act.
Id. at 161-62 (emphasis added). The trial court then repeated the three
elements to the jury. Id. at 162-63.
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Robinson argues that, by not using the standard jury instruction, the
trial court provided the jury with an inaccurate statement of the law.
Robinson asserts that the jury could have been confused by the insertion of
the attempt language. Robison’s Brief at 26-28.
The trial court found that the statutory language required a broad
reading that included attempt. In explaining its bases for including that
language, the trial court highlights the phrase “[a]ny person, purchaser or
transferee,” and argues that “any person” would be unnecessary surplusage
if the legislature only intended to include purchasers and transferees. Thus,
the trial court concluded that attempted purchases must be encompassed by
the law. T.C.O. at 8-9. The Commonwealth argues that “in connection with
the purchase” was broad enough to include attempted purchases and not
just completed purchases. N.T. at 100.
To resolve Robinson’s challenge, we must examine the statutory
language of section 6111(g).2
The principal objective of interpreting a statute is to effectuate
the intention of the legislature and give effect to all of the
provisions of the statute. 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(a);
Commonwealth v. Drummond, 775 A.2d 849, 855-56 (Pa.
Super. 2001) (en banc) (stating that appellate courts must
evaluate each section of a statute because there is a
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2
Neither of the two cases cited in the concurring and dissenting
memorandum directly addresses the issue that we confront in this
case. They hold no value other than to note that other people have been
prosecuted for providing false information in connection with an attempted
purchase of a firearm.
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presumption that the legislature intended for the entire statute
to be operative). “In construing a statute to determine its
meaning, courts must first determine whether the issue may be
resolved by reference to the express language of the statute,
which is to be read according to the plain meaning of the words.”
In re Jacobs, 936 A.2d 1156, 1163 (Pa. Super. 2007) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Lopez, 663 A.2d 746, 748 (Pa. Super.
1995)). When analyzing particular words or phrases, we must
construe them “according to rules of grammar and according to
their common and approved usage.” 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1903(a).
“Words of a statute are to be considered in their grammatical
context.” Drummond, 775 A.2d at 856 (citation omitted).
“Furthermore, we may not add provisions that the General
Assembly has omitted unless the phrase is necessary to the
construction of the statute.” Id. (citation omitted); see also
Jacobs, 936 A.2d at 1163 (stating that “[t]his Court does not
have the authority to insert a word or additional requirement
into a statutory provision where the legislature has failed to
supply it”). A presumption also exists that the legislature placed
every word, sentence and provision in the statute for some
purpose and therefore courts must give effect to every word.
Commonwealth v. Ostrosky, 909 A.2d 1224, 1232 (Pa. 2006).
Commonwealth v. Morris, 958 A.2d 569, 578-79 (Pa. Super. 2008)
(citations modified); see Key Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Louis John, Inc., 549
A.2d 988, 991 (Pa. Super. 1988) (“[The court] is without authority to insert
a word into a statutory provision where the legislature has failed to supply
it.”).
The Commonwealth and Robinson offer reasonable interpretations of
the phrase “in connection with the purchase” of a gun. Thus, we have no
difficulty concluding that the term “in connection with the purchase” is
ambiguous. The trial court, attempting to given meaning to every word of
the statute, focused upon the phrase “any person, purchaser or transferee,”
in defining the phrase to avoid rendering any of the statute’s language as
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mere surplusage. It is also fair to say that it would be an absurd result to
conclude that the General Assembly meant to criminalize the false written
statement on an application for a gun when the purchase was completed,
but not when the background check system caught the falsehood before the
purchase concluded. See Commonwealth v. Hooks, 921 A.2d 1199, 1205
(Pa. Super. 2007) (“General Assembly does not intend a result that is
absurd, impossible of execution or unreasonable.”); 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1922.
However, we must weigh these considerations of statutory
interpretation against the rule of lenity.
[P]enal statutes are to be strictly construed. See 1 Pa.C.S.
§ 1928(b)(1); Commonwealth v. Wooten, 545 A.2d 876, 879
(Pa. 1988). The need for strict construction does not require
that the words of a penal statute be given their narrowest
possible meaning or that legislative intent be disregarded, see
Wooten, 545 A.2d at 880; Commonwealth v. Gordon, 515
A.2d 558, 561 (Pa. 1986); Commonwealth v. Duncan, 321
A.2d 917, 919 (Pa. 1974), nor does it override the more general
principle that the words of a statute must be construed
according to their common and approved usage, see 1 Pa.C.S.
§ 1903(a). It does mean, however, that where ambiguity exists
in the language of a penal statute, such language should be
interpreted in the light most favorable to the accused. See
Wooten, 545 A.2d at 879. More specifically, where doubt exists
concerning the proper scope of a penal statute, it is the accused
who should receive the benefit of such doubt. See
Commonwealth v. Allsup, 392 A.2d 1309, 1311 (Pa. 1978);
see also Rewis v. United States, 401 U.S. 808, 812, 9 (1971)
(observing that “ambiguity concerning the ambit of criminal
statutes should be resolved in favor of lenity”). Significantly, a
court may not achieve an acceptable construction of a penal
statute by reading into the statute terms that broaden its scope.
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Commonwealth v. Booth, 766 A.2d 843, 846 (Pa. 2001) (some citations
and footnote omitted; some citations modified).
Keeping these principles in mind, we must resolve the ambiguities in
the statute in favor of Robinson. Here, Robinson was not charged with a
criminal attempt. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901. Instead, the trial court
construed the statute broadly to include attempted purchase within its
language. In doing so, the trial court added terms to the statute that
broadened its scope relative to more narrow available interpretations, which
it had no authority to do. See Booth, supra. Because the trial court failed
to resolve the ambiguity in the statute in favor of Robinson and inserted
words into the statute, the jury instruction did not convey an accurate
statement of the law. Instead, the court broadened the statute, which
increased the likelihood that Robinson would be convicted by the jury.
Moreover, the jury deliberated about and convicted Robinson of a crime that
was incorrectly defined. No such conviction can stand, and no error that
produces such a conviction is harmless. Thus, we must vacate Robinson’s
judgment of sentence and remand for a new trial.
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Judgment of sentence vacated. Remand for new trial. Jurisdiction
relinquished.
Judge Musmanno joins the memorandum.
Judge Stabile files a concurring and dissenting memorandum.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/16/2015
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