Com. v. Evans, W. ( 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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P 65.37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. :
:
WARREN S. EVANS, :
:
Appellant : No. 1517 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 19, 2013,
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County,
Criminal Division at No. CP-51-CR-0014523-2011
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., DONOHUE and MUNDY, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY DONOHUE, J.: FILED DECEMBER 03, 2015
Appellant, Warren S. Evans (“Evans”), appeals from the judgment of
sentence dated December 19, 2013, following his convictions of endangering
the welfare of a child (“EWOC”), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304(a), corruption of
minors (“COM”), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6301(a)(1), and involuntary deviate sexual
intercourse (“IDSI”) with a child under 13, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3123(b). For the
reasons that follow, we affirm Evans’ convictions, but remand for
resentencing on the IDSI conviction.
The Commonwealth’s case against Evans depended primarily on the
testimony of Courtney Brooks (“Brooks”). In its opinion filed pursuant to
Rule 1925(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, the trial
court summarized Brooks’ trial testimony as follows:
When [Brooks] was growing up, she and her
brothers lived with George Johnson at 5301 Hadfield
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Street in Philadelphia. (N.T. 8/28/12 at 11). Though
unrelated to [Brooks], Mr. Johnson was her primary
caretaker and eventually she called him "grandpop".
(Id. at 10). One of Mr. Johnson's sons, [Evans],
who the victim thought of as an "uncle", also lived
from time to time with Mr. Johnson. (Id. at 11 -12).
When [Brooks] was eight (8) years old, [Evans]
started to sexually assault her. (Id. at 12 -13).
During one assault, [Brooks] woke up to find [Evans]
watching a movie called, "The Players Club ". (Id. at
13). As [Brooks] tried to leave, [Evans] told her that
she didn't have to leave and the victim sat down on
her bed. (Id. at 14). After [Brooks] sat down,
[Evans] went to a dresser in the room and obtained
a coin. (Id.). He then turned to [Brooks], flipped
the coin in the air, and then proceeded to pull out his
penis and tell her, "You got to suck it like a lollipop."
(Id.). [Brooks] told [Evans] she didn't want to, at
which point [Evans] grabbed her head and forced his
penis into her mouth. (Id. at 15). [Brooks] said
that she didn't want to do that and got up from the
bed. (Id.). [Evans] then ordered [Brooks] to lay
down, and once she complied he proceeded to put
his mouth on her vagina. (Id. at 16). Afterwards
[Evans] put his penis between her legs, ejaculated
on her legs, and then threw her a towel. (Id.).
After [Brooks] wiped off [Evans’] semen, she told
[Evans] that she was going to tell on him, to which
[Evans] replied, "If you tell, you're going to get in
trouble and foster care is going to take you away
from your brothers." (Id. at 16-17). Terrified about
this prospect, [Brooks] did not tell Mr. Johnson about
the incident. (Id. at 16 -17, 95).
Another assault by [Evans] occurred as [Brooks] was
watching television in her brothers' room. (Id. at
18). The victim's brothers were asleep on the floor,
but [Brooks] was awake watching television when
[Evans] entered the room and tried to put his penis
into her anus. (Id. at 19). [Evans] eventually
ejaculated on the victim's legs, after which [Brooks]
asked [Evans] if she could go to the bathroom. She
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proceeded to the bathroom and wiped off the
defendant's semen. (Id. at 21). [Brooks] then went
downstairs and slept next to Mr. Johnson for the rest
of night without telling him what had happened out
of fear in getting in trouble. (Id. at 22). [Evans]
sexually assaulted [Brooks] numerous other times as
well, including one instance where he tried to play
"doctor" with her. (Id. at 23 -24).
After [Brooks] turned eleven (11) years old, she
gave a forensic interview at Philadelphia Children's
Alliance and informed authorities as to [Evans’]
crimes. (Id. at 24, 55 -56). Subsequently,
[Evans] left Mr. Johnson's home and she did not
see him again for four or five years. (Id. at 24).
When [Brooks] returned to Mr. Johnson's home,
she informed the police. (Id. at 25 -26).
Trial Court Opinion, 12/22/2014, at 3-4 (footnote omitted).
On August 28-31, 2012, the late Honorable Adam Beloff presided over
a jury trial. On August 30, 2012, the jury returned guilty verdicts on the
EWOC and COM charges, and on August 31, 2012, the jury also found Evans
guilty on the IDSI charge. The jury acquitted Evans on a charge of rape of a
child under the age of 13 (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3121(c)). On December 19, 2013,
the Honorable Denis P. Cohen, assigned to the case following the death of
Judge Beloff, sentenced Evans to a term of incarceration: (1) of from six
and a half to thirteen years on the IDSI conviction, (2) of from one to two
years on the EWOC conviction, to run consecutively to the IDSI sentence,
and (3) of from one to two years on the COM conviction, to run
consecutively to the EWOC sentence. On April 23, 2014, Evans’ post-
sentence motion was denied by operation of law.
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On appeal, Evans raises the following six issues for our review and
determination:
1. The admissible evidence introduced during trial was
insufficient as a matter of law to establish [Evans’]
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on the charges of
[EWOC] and [COM].
Additionally, the weight of the evidence introduced
during trial failed to establish beyond a reasonable
doubt that [Evans] was guilty of IDSI, EWOC and
COM. The evidence was so contradictory that a new
trial is required.
2. Prior to sentencing [Evans] was deemed to be a
sexually violent predator. The evidence introduced
during the hearing was insufficient to establish that
[Evans] should be classified as a SVP.
3. The trial court erred when sentencing [Evans] with
regard to his right to allocate.
4. The trial court erred in failing to grant time credit to
[Evans] for time he had spent on house arrest prior
to his sentencing.
5. The [COM] charge merges with IDSI for sentencing
purposes.
6. The trial court’s request that it be allowed to sua
sponte raise a sentencing issue and thereby have the
matter remanded for resentencing on the IDSI
charge must be denied.
Evans’ Brief at 10.
We will address Evans’ last issue first, as it requires consideration of
the precise nature of his conviction of IDSI, which in turn affects our
consideration of the remaining issues. For his sixth issue on appeal, Evans
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refers us to a footnote in the trial court’s Rule 1925(a) opinion, in which
Judge Cohen requests that we remand this case for resentencing because he
mistakenly sentenced Evans for the crime of IDSI by forcible compulsion, 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 3123(a)(1), rather than IDSI upon a child who is less than 13
years of age, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3123(b). Trial Court Opinion, 12/22/2014, at 2
n.4.
Evans opposes a remand, claiming that he was in fact convicted of
IDSI by forcible compulsion. Evans’ Brief at 45. Evans points out that the
Commonwealth’s original bills of information stated that he was charged with
a violation of section 3123(a)(1), and that at no time thereafter (either
before or during trial) did the trial court or the Commonwealth specify that
the actual charge being pursued was a violation of section 3123(b). Id. The
Commonwealth responds that while the bills of information identified a
violation of section 3123(a)(1), Evans was therein also provided notice of
the Commonwealth’s intention to “proceed under 18 [Pa.C.S.] §§ 3123(b),
(c) & (d)” which relate to “involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child
less than 13 years of age.” Commonwealth’s Brief at 36 (emphasis added).
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to review the bills of
information. Although the docket reflects that the Commonwealth filed an
information on January 6, 2012, this document is not contained in the
certified record on appeal. The case docket does reflect that the information
charged Evans with “IDSI Forcible Compulsion,” a first-degree felony under
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“18 § 3123 §§ A1.” The docket also reflects that after a preliminary hearing
in the Magistrate Court on December 23, 2011,1 Evans was “Held for Court”
on the “IDSI Forcible Compulsion” charge. The Commonwealth’s initial
criminal complaint, filed in the Magistrate Court on or around August 8,
2011, provided only that Evans was charged with, inter alia, IDSI under
section 3123, without further specificity, although it (along with the
accompanying Affidavit of Probable Cause) did make clear that the victim
was between 8 and 11 years old at the time of the offenses. Complaint,
8/8/2011, at 2; Affidavit of Probable Cause, 8/8/2011, at 2.
These vagaries aside, there is no question that at trial Evans was
convicted of the crime of IDSI of a child under 13. On the first day of trial
on August 28, 2012, Evans was arraigned on, and entered a plea of not
guilty to, IDSI of a child under 13 on that charge.
[COURT CRIER]: To the same docket number, charging
you with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a
child under 13, how do you plead?
[THE DEFENDANT]: Not guilty.
N.T., 8/28/2012, at 6-7. Evans was not similarly arraigned on IDSI by
forcible compulsion. At the close of the evidence, the trial court instructed
the jury on IDSI of a child under 13:
[THE COURT]: The defendant is also charged with
involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. A person
1
The case was transferred to the trial court on or about December 27,
2011.
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commits involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with
a child when the person engages in deviate sexual
intercourse with a child who is less than 13 years of
age.
N.T., 8/28/2012, at 74-75. Again, the trial court did not instruct the jury on
IDSI by forcible compulsion. Finally, the jury sheets for August 30 and 31,
2012, list “INVOLUNTARY DEVIATE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE of a CHILD
UNDER 13,” and the August 31, 2012 sheet reflects a verdict of guilty on this
crime. Verdict Report, 8/31/2012, at 1. The jury sheets do not reference
IDSI by forcible compulsion. Evans’ counsel did not assert any objection to
the nature of the IDSI charge being pursued at trial by the Commonwealth.
Accordingly, the certified record plainly demonstrates that the jury
convicted Evans of IDSI of a child who is less than 13 years of age, 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 3123(b). Any earlier references to section 3123(a)(1) in the
bills of information are of no current moment, since Evans has not raised,
either in the trial court or now on appeal, any issues relating to lack of notice
of the charges against him. Variance between an information and the proof
at trial is not fatal as long as the defendant had adequate notice of the
nature of the crime and it did not cause any prejudicial surprise.
Commonwealth v. Lohr, 468 A.2d 1375 (Pa. 1983); Commonwealth v.
Murgallis, 753 A.2d 870, 872 (Pa. Super. 2000); Commonwealth v.
Johnson, 719 A.2d 778, 783, n. 4 (Pa. Super. 1998). Evans has not
asserted any lack of adequate notice of the charges against him or any
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prejudicial surprise relating to his arraignment, trial, or conviction on the
charge of IDSI of a child under 13 years of age.
Instead, the only issue presently before us is one of sentencing. As a
result of Judge Beloff’s untimely death, Evans was sentenced by Judge
Cohen. As the transcript of the sentencing hearing and the sentencing order
both reflect, Judge Cohen mistakenly sentenced Evans for IDSI by forcible
compulsion rather than IDSI of a child under 13. N.T., 12/19/2013, at 3;
Order of Sentence, 12/19/2013, at 1. We would generally not expect that
sentences for these two IDSI crimes to be substantially different, as both are
first-degree felonies, both had the same offense gravity score (12) under the
applicable sentencing guidelines, and the trial court expressly took into
consideration the victim’s tender age when imposing sentence. N.T.,
12/19/2013, at 20-21. Nevertheless, as a technical matter, the trial court
sentenced Evans for a crime for which he was not convicted, which was an
illegal sentence because it lacked statutory authority. See, e.g.,
Commonwealth v. Bradley, 834 A.2d 1127, 1131 (Pa. 2003). This Court
may raise illegality of sentence sua sponte,2 and upon remand the trial court
2
When sentencing Evans, the trial court indicated that IDSI crimes against
children carry a mandatory minimum sentence of from five to ten years of
imprisonment. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9718. This Court has ruled that mandatory
minimum sentencing pursuant to section 9718 is facially unconstitutional,
per the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Alleyne v. United
States, 133 S.Ct. 2151 (2013). Commonwealth v. Wolfe, 106 A.3d 800,
801 (Pa. Super. 2014), appeal granted, 121 A.3d 433 (Pa. 2015). In the
present case, however, Judge Cohen, citing to standard guideline ranges,
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will have jurisdiction to resentence Evans to correct a “patent and obvious
mistake,” i.e., an order inconsistent with what in fact occurred in the
proceedings below. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Borrin, 80 A.3d 1219,
1228 (Pa. 2013); Commonwealth v. Holmes, 933 A.2d 57, 59-60 (Pa.
2007); Commonwealth v. Young, 695 A.2d 414, 416-18 (Pa. Super.
1997).
For his first issue on appeal, Evans challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence to support the convictions for EWOC and COM, and that the weight
of the evidence did not support any of his convictions. We begin with his
challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, which we review based upon
the following standard:
As a general matter, our standard of review of
sufficiency claims requires that we evaluate the
record “in the light most favorable to the verdict
winner giving the prosecution the benefit of all
reasonable inferences to be drawn from the
evidence.” Commonwealth v. Widmer, 560 Pa.
308, 744 A.2d 745, 751 (2000). “Evidence will be
deemed sufficient to support the verdict when it
establishes each material element of the crime
charged and the commission thereof by the accused,
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Commonwealth v.
Brewer, 876 A.2d 1029, 1032 (Pa. Super. 2005).
sentenced Evans on the IDSI conviction to a term of incarceration in excess
of the mandatory minimum (six and one half to thirteen years). Where a
sentencing court exceeds a mandatory minimum by applying a standard
guideline range, it has not sentenced in accordance with the applicable
mandatory minimum statute and thus the sentence is not illegal on this
ground. Commonwealth v. Shoemaker, 2015 WL 6675130, at *7 (Pa.
Super. Aug. 19, 2015) (quoting Commonwealth v. Ziegler, 112 A.3d 656,
662 (Pa. Super. 2014)). As a result, we do not remand on this basis.
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Nevertheless, “the Commonwealth need not
establish guilt to a mathematical certainty.” Id.;
see also Commonwealth v. Aguado, 760 A.2d
1181, 1185 (Pa. Super. 2000) (“[T]he facts and
circumstances established by the Commonwealth
need not be absolutely incompatible with the
defendant's innocence”). Any doubt about the
defendant's guilt is to be resolved by the fact finder
unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that,
as a matter of law, no probability of fact can be
drawn from the combined circumstances. See
Commonwealth v. DiStefano, 782 A.2d 574, 582
(Pa. Super. 2001).
The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by
means of wholly circumstantial evidence. See
Brewer, 876 A.2d at 1032. Accordingly, “[t]he fact
that the evidence establishing a defendant's
participation in a crime is circumstantial does not
preclude a conviction where the evidence coupled
with the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom
overcomes the presumption of innocence.” Id.(quoting Commonwealth v. Murphy, 795 A.2d
1025, 1038–39 (Pa. Super. 2002)). Significantly, we
may not substitute our judgment for that of the fact
finder; thus, so long as the evidence adduced,
accepted in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, demonstrates the respective
elements of a defendant's crimes beyond a
reasonable doubt, the appellant's convictions will be
upheld. See Brewer, 876 A.2d at 1032.
Commonwealth v. Franklin, 69 A.3d 719, 722-23 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Pettyjohn, 64 A.3d 1072, 2013 49 (Pa. Super.
2013)).
The crime of EWOC is defined by statute, in relevant part, as follows:
“[a] parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a child
under 18 years of age commits an offense if he knowingly endangers the
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welfare of the child by violating a duty of care, protection or support.” 18
Pa.C.S. § 4304.3 This Court has established a three-element test for EWOC:
(1) the accused was aware of his/her duty to protect the child; (2) the
accused was aware that the child was in circumstances that could threaten
the child's physical or psychological welfare; and (3) the accused has either
failed to act or has taken action so lame or meager that such actions cannot
reasonably be expected to protect the child's welfare. Commonwealth v.
Pahel, 456 159, 689 A.2d 963, 964 (Pa. Super 1997) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Cardwell, 515 A.2d 311, 315 (Pa. Super. 1986)).
On appeal, Evans contests the sufficiency of the evidence on the first
element, contending that the Commonwealth failed to prove that he was a
“caretaker” for Brooks. Evans’ Brief at 13-22. Evans directs our attention to
testimony from Brooks in which she indicated that she considered Evans to
be akin to an “uncle,” but not her caretaker. N.T., 8/28/2012, at 49-51 (“I
knew he wasn’t my caretaker.”). Evans further contends that he had no
legal obligation to care for Brooks, and that instead his father (George
Johnson, Sr.) was Brooks’ caregiver.4 Evans’ Brief at 13.
3
This is the version of section 4304 in effect at the time of Evans’ offenses.
4
Evans’ appellate brief includes a detailed description of various events and
circumstances relating to the Johnson household, including that at the time
of Brooks’ birth, her mother was having an extramarital affair with George
Johnson, Sr., that Brooks’ mother abandoned her children (including Brooks
and her brothers) at Johnson, Sr.’s home after the money from a civil suit
ran out, and that there was considerable animosity between Johnson, Sr.’s
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Contrary to Evans’ assertions, the crime of EWOC does not require
either that the defendant be the child’s “caretaker” or have any legal
responsibility as a parent or guardian. Instead, as the statutory language
makes clear, any person who supervises a child is potentially criminally
liable. In interpreting the statutory language, this Court has acknowledged
that the legislature attempted “to prohibit a broad range of conduct in order
to safeguard the welfare and security of our children.” Commonwealth v.
Brown, 721 A.2d 1105, 1106 (Pa. Super. 1998). In Brown, we explained:
In the present case, we must focus on the meaning
of the term “other person supervising the welfare of
a child” as an element of the crime in light of the
common sense of the community. In an age when
nontraditional living arrangements are commonplace,
it is hard to imagine that the common sense of the
community would serve to eliminate adult persons
residing with a non-custodial child from the scope of
a statute protecting the physical and moral welfare
of children. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304 Official Comment,
1972. Accepting appellant's argument would be to
accept the idea that this statute is limited to only
children (including Evans) and Brooks and her brothers. Evans’ Brief at 13-
14. Evans’ also claims that a Department of Human Services’ investigation
concluded that he was not a caretaker for Brooks. Id. at 15.
No evidence in support of these points was introduced at trial, however, and
was not otherwise included in the certified record on appeal. Accordingly,
we will decide the issues presented on appeal without any consideration of
this information. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Lawson, 2015 WL
6114513, at *4 (Pa. Super. July 30, 2015) (Pennsylvania appellate courts
cannot consider anything that is not included in the certified record on
appeal); In re Estate of Tigue, 926 A.2d 453, 459 (Pa. Super. 2007) (“This
Court does not rely on facts dehors the certified record.”); Commonwealth
v. Montalvo, 641 A.2d 1176, 1183 (Pa. Super. 1994) (“For purposes of
appellate review, what is not of record does not exist.”).
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those persons with permanent, temporary, or other
quasi-legal custody of children. The common sense
interpretation of the language of the statute and this
Court's recent case law do not support such a narrow
reading.
Deciding that adults who share a residence with a
child not in their legal custody are not responsible for
the welfare of that child would undermine both the
language and application of the endangering statute.
Under such a limited reading, stepparents,
grandparents, adult siblings, adult roommates, life
partners, and others could not be prosecuted for
endangering the welfare of a child. Our courts
should not and have not limited the scope of the
statute to exclude this broad and diverse category of
persons.
Brown, 721 A.2d at 1107.
More recently, in Commonwealth v. Bryant, 57 A.3d 191 (Pa. Super.
2012), we rejected out of hand the appellant’s contention that he could not
be criminally responsible for EWOC because he was not a relative or a
permanent resident of the victim’s home and thus was “not in the role of
caretaker and had no duty to protect the child.” Id. at 197. Similarly, in
Commonwealth v. Trippett, 932 A.2d 188 (Pa. Super. 2007), we affirmed
the appellant’s conviction for EWOC even though “he was not the parent or
natural guardian” of the victim and was not living in the same house. Id. at
195. We recognized that “[t]he plain language of the statute does not
indicate a person need only be a parent or guardian of a child before they
can be charged and convicted under section 4304,” and that “any ‘other
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person’ who supervises the child is eligible to be charged and convicted
under the statute.” Id.In the present case, the Commonwealth introduced sufficient evidence
that Evans supervised Brooks for purposes of section 4304. During cross-
examination by the Commonwealth, Evans’ brother, Michael Johnson,
testified as follows:
Q. [Evans] would help your dad take care of the kids; is
that right?
A. Yes.
Q. Sometimes if your dad wasn’t there, [Evans] would
take care of things for him, including the children,
right?
A. Yes.
N.T., 12/29/2012, at 55. Similarly, Evans’ brother George Johnson, Jr.
testified that:
Q. Sometimes [Evans] would help your dad take care of
[Brooks] and her brothers; is that right?
A. Yes.
Id. at 60.
Finally, we note that Brooks’ testimony about her view of Evans as an
uncle rather than a caretaker was offered on cross-examination in relation to
her concern that Evans might have her removed from the house and
separated from her brothers if she told anyone about the molestation. N.T.,
12/28/2012, at 49-51. Read in the light most favorable to the
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Commonwealth, as our standard of review requires, Brooks was arguably
relating only her fear that Evans possessed sufficient authority to make good
on his threats, even though he technically was more like an uncle than her
primary caretaker. As such, her testimony need not be understood as a
denial that Evans ever provided supervision over her and her brothers.
The crime of COM requires proof that a person age 18 years and
above, “by any act corrupts or tends to corrupt the morals of any minor less
than 18 years of age, or who aids, abets, entices or encourages any such
minor in the commission of any crime ….” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6301(a)(1).
Evans argues that the Commonwealth’s evidence was insufficient to support
his conviction on this charge because he did not encourage Brooks to
commit a criminal act, and because there was no evidence that Brooks was
in fact “corrupted or tended to be corrupted” by the sexual acts at issue.
Evans’ Brief at 22.
There is no requirement of any underlying criminal activity as a basis
for COM conviction, as the statute states "by any act," not "by any criminal
act." Commonwealth v. Decker, 698 A.2d 99, 100 (Pa. Super. 1997),
appeal denied, 705 A.2d 1304 (Pa. 1998). “Corruption of a minor can
involve conduct towards a child in an unlimited number of ways. The
purpose of such statutes is basically protective in nature[, and they] cover a
broad range of conduct.” Id. at 101 (quoting Commonwealth v. Todd,
502 A.2d 631, 635 n. 2 (Pa. Super. 1985)). As such, the Commonwealth
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does not have to prove that the appellant’s actions actually corrupted the
morals of the victim, but rather only provide evidence that the appellant’s
actions “tend to have the effect of corrupting the morals of a minor.”
Commonwealth v. Slocum, 86 A.3d 272, 277 (Pa. Super. 2014). This
Court has held that the types of acts constituting “corruption” are those that
“would offend the common sense of the community and the sense of
decency, propriety and morality which most people entertain.” Decker, 698
A.2d at 100.
Presently, the Commonwealth’s evidence showed that Evans engaged
in inappropriate sexual contact with Brooks on multiple occasions. 5 Brooks
testified that the molestation caused “her whole life to change,” including
anger issues that resulted in her expulsion from school. N.T., 8/28/2012, at
25. She also indicated that Evans’ actions caused her to “hate all men for a
very long time.” Id. Accordingly, we have no basis to question the trial
court’s determination that Evans’ “heinous acts … against a young girl are
more than sufficient, when taken in the light most favorable to the verdict
5
Evans also cites to Commonwealth v. Karkaria, 612 A.2d 1167 (Pa.
1993) and related cases to argue that the evidence here was so
contradictory that the defendant’s conviction for forcible rape could not be
sustained. Evan’s Brief at 27-28. In Karkaria, however, our Supreme
Court concluded that the evidence, even when read in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, was so unreliable and contradictory that it
did not prove that “a single act of intercourse occurred” during the time
frame in question. Id. at 1171-72. In significant comparison, based upon
our careful review, we conclude that the Commonwealth’s evidence in this
case, including Brooks’ testimony, suffers from no similar irreconcilable
defects.
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winner, to prove [him] guilty of [COM].” Trial Court Opinion, 12/22/2014, at
7.
Evans also challenges the trial court’s determination that his
convictions were not against the weight of the evidence. Our standard of
review applicable to a challenge to the weight of the evidence is as follows.
[A] verdict is against the weight of the evidence only
when the jury's verdict is so contrary to the evidence
as to shock one's sense of justice. It is well
established that a weight of the evidence claim is
addressed to the discretion of the trial court.... The
role of the trial court is to determine that
notwithstanding all the evidence, certain facts are so
clearly of greater weight that to ignore them, or to
give them equal weight with all the facts, is to deny
justice. A motion for a new trial on the grounds that
the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence
concedes that there is sufficient evidence to sustain
the verdict; thus the trial court is under no obligation
to view the evidence in the light most favorable to
the verdict winner.
Significantly, in a challenge to the weight of the
evidence, the function of an appellate court ... is to
review the trial court's exercise of discretion based
upon a review of the record, rather than to consider
de novo the underlying question of the weight of the
evidence. In determining whether this standard has
been met, appellate review is limited to whether the
trial judge's discretion was properly exercised, and
relief will only be granted where the facts and
inferences of record disclose a palpable abuse of
discretion. It is for this reason that the trial court's
denial of a motion for a new trial based on a weight
of the evidence claim is the least assailable of its
rulings.
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Commonwealth v. Rivera, 983 A.2d 1211, 1225 (Pa. 2009) (internal
citations and quotation marks omitted).
Evans’ weight of the evidence claim depends primarily on his challenge
to the credibility of Brooks’ testimony. In his appellate brief, Evans
describes Brooks as a “fantasy laden young woman” and attempts to identify
inconsistencies and shortcomings in the substance of her testimony. Evans’
Brief at 13-30. It is not this Court’s function, however, to pass on the
credibility of trial witnesses. Rather, it was the jury’s function to evaluate
Brooks’ credibility, and to this end it was free to believe all, part, or none of
the evidence. Commonwealth v. Houser, 18 A.3d 1128, 1135-36 (Pa.
2011). In this case, Evans had a full and fair opportunity to cross-examine
Brooks and to raise for the jury’s consideration all of his reasons for
doubting her credibility. Through its guilty verdicts, the jury plainly found
Brooks’ testimony to be credible, disagreeing with Evans’ contentions to the
contrary. Based upon our review of the certified record on appeal, the trial
court did not abuse its discretion when determining that the jury's verdict is
not so contrary to the evidence that it shocks one's sense of justice. As
such, we find no palpable abuse of discretion that would necessitate a new
trial.
For his second issue on appeal, Evans challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence supporting the trial court’s ruling that he should be classified as a
sexually violent offender (SVP).
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In order to affirm an SVP designation, we, as a
reviewing court, must be able to conclude that the
fact-finder found clear and convincing evidence that
the individual is a sexually violent predator. As with
any sufficiency of the evidence claim, we view all
evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in the
light most favorable to the Commonwealth. We will
reverse a trial court's determination of SVP status
only if the Commonwealth has not presented clear
and convincing evidence that each element of the
statute has been satisfied.
The standard of proof governing the determination of
SVP status, i.e., “clear and convincing evidence,” has
been described as an “intermediate” test, which is
more exacting than a preponderance of the evidence
test, but less exacting than proof beyond a
reasonable doubt.
***
The clear and convincing standard requires evidence
that is “so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as
to enable the [trier of fact] to come to a clear
conviction, without hesitancy, of the truth of the
precise facts [in] issue.”
Commonwealth v. Fuentes, 991 A.2d 935, 942 (Pa. Super.) (en banc),
appeal denied, 12 A.3d 370 (Pa. 2010).
At the time of Evans’ conviction, he was subject to the assessment
provisions of the former Megan's Law, which stated, in relevant part:
After conviction but before sentencing, a court shall
order an individual convicted of an offense specified
in section 9795.1 (relating to registration) to be
assessed by the board. The order for an assessment
shall be sent to the administrative officer of the
board within ten days of the date of conviction. 42
Pa.C.S. § 9795.4(a). After the court entered such an
order, a member of the Sexual Offenders'
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Assessment Board (“SOAB”) was assigned to conduct
an assessment to determine if the individual should
be classified as a sexually violent predator. 42
Pa.C.S. § 9795.4(b).15 The Act defined a “sexually
violent predator” as:
A person who has been convicted of a sexually
violent offense as set forth in section 9795.1
(relating to registration) and who is determined to be
a sexually violent predator under section 9795.4
(relating to assessments) due to a mental
abnormality or personality disorder that makes the
person likely to engage in predatory sexually violent
offenses ....
42 Pa.C.S. § 9792. Furthermore,
“predatory” conduct, which is indispensable to the
designation, is defined as an “act directed at a
stranger or at a person with whom a relationship has
been initiated, established, maintained or promoted,
in whole or in part, in order to facilitate or support
victimization.” Meals, 590 Pa. at 120, 912 A.2d at
218–19 (quoting 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9792).
Fuentes, 991 A.2d at 943. Section 9795.4 also provides in relevant part:
An assessment shall include, but not be limited to, an
examination of the following:
(1) Facts of the current offense, including:
(i) Whether the offense involved multiple
victims.
(ii) Whether the individual exceeded the
means necessary to achieve the offense.
(iii) The nature of the sexual contact with
the victim.
(iv) Relationship of the individual to the
victim.
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(v) Age of the victim.
(vi) Whether the offense included a
display of unusual cruelty by the
individual during the commission of the
crime.
(vii) The mental capacity of the victim.
(2) Prior offense history, including:
(i) The individual's prior criminal record.
(ii) Whether the individual completed any
prior sentences.
(iii) Whether the individual participated
in available programs for sexual
offenders.
(3) Characteristics of the individual, including:
(i) Age of the individual.
(ii) Use of illegal drugs by the individual.
(iii) Any mental illness, mental disability
or mental abnormality.
(iv) Behavioral characteristics that
contribute to the individual's conduct.
(4) Factors that are supported in a sexual offender
assessment field as criteria reasonably related to the
risk of reoffense.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9795.4(b) (repealed).
In this case, Evans’ assessment was conducted by Dr. Barry Zakireh,
Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and a member of the SOAB. Evans’ trial
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counsel stipulated to the admission of Dr. Zakireh’s report and neither
challenged its findings nor introduced any contrary evidence. N.T.,
12/19/2013, at 6. In reviewing Dr. Zakireh’s report, the trial court
concluded as follows:
In his report, Dr. Zakireh stated that the defendant
met the necessary criteria for Pedophilia, and that,
"[i]ndividuals with Pedophilia tend to experience
recurrent or intense fantasies, urges and behaviors
involving sexual activity with prepubescent children."
(SVP Report, p. 9). In explaining his determination,
the doctor stated:
"There is significant evidence of a
repetitive pattern of offending against a
prepubescent victim which is associated
with a pedophilic urges and interests.
Although the sexual contacts with the
victim may have possibly extended into
hear early pubescence, this pattern
remains consistent with many individuals
manifesting pedophilic characteristics as
they do not necessarily assault
prepubescent children exclusively or limit
their sexual behaviors to a specific group
of minors. Hence, the offender's
behavior in this case indicates significant
and prolonged pedophilic interests,
arousal, or sexual interest/urges toward
a prepubescent or young minor and
significantly exceeds the required
duration of a six-month period for the
presence of sexual urges, fantasies or
behaviors involving a prepubescent child
as required by the criteria for
Pedophilia."
(SVP Report, p.9-10)
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With regard to the [Evans’] predatory conduct, the
doctor found that the defendant's conduct was
predatory:
"From the statutory viewpoint, it is
imperative to establish that the defined
mental abnormality can lead to or
increase the likelihood of predatory
behavior. The mental abnormality in this
case involves repetitive and/or prolonged
acting out of deviant sexual interests,
proclivities, or urges toward
prepubescent or minor children. In this
evaluator's opinion the statutory criteria
is met along this dimension ... it is
evident that [Evans] extended,
augmented, transformed, or promoted
his relationship as family based, long-
term acquaintance in a supervisory or
care- taking role with the victim at least
in part (if not primarily) for the purpose
of sexual gratification, victimization, and
stemming from deficits in controlling
sexual impulses toward prepubescent
children or young minors. As well, the
presence of multiple sexual contacts over
a period of several years with the victim
clearly indicates an evolving relationship
initiated, developed or maintained by the
offender toward the victim at least
partially if not predominantly for sexual
purposes. Furthermore, his behavior
was intentional, deliberate, anteceded by
sexual thoughts or fantasies, and
involved planning and/or risk- taking in
order to gratify his sexual impulses ...
given these aspects, it is the opinion of
this examiner that [Evans'] behavior
during the Instant Offense represents
and corresponds to the legal conception
of "predatory" as defined in the
Pennsylvania Statutes.
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(SVP Report, p. 10 -11).
This Court, after reviewing the report, determined
that there was clear and convincing evidence that
[Evans] was a SVP. The impetus behind the
commission of the crime was clearly sexual in nature,
and this Court firmly believed that based on Dr.
Zakireh's report, [Evans] was likely to reoffend.
Trial Court Opinion, 12/22/2014, at 9-10. Based upon our review, the
record supports the trial court's findings. Dr. Zakireh’s report indicated that
Evans has the mental abnormality of pedophilia, which our Supreme Court
has held to be sufficient to sustain a criminal defendant as a SVP.
Commonwealth v. Meals, 912 A.2d 213, 223 (Pa. 2006).
On appeal, Evans argues that Dr. Zakireh failed to give sufficient
consideration to certain factors, including that Evans had only one victim
(Brooks) and that he made no sexual advances towards her when she
returned to the home after being away for several years. Evan’s Brief at 31.
In support of his arguments, Evans cites to Commonwealth v. Krouse,
799 A.2d 835 (Pa. Super. 2002) (en banc). In Meals, however, the
Supreme Court disapproved of our decision in Krouse, holding that the
section 9795.4(b) factors do not “operate as a checklist where each factor
weights, in some absolute fashion, either for or against a SVP classification.”
Meals, 912 A.2d at 222. It was for Dr. Zakireh, and not for this Court, to
weigh the statutory factors to arrive at a diagnosis and determination of SVP
status.
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A review of Dr. Zakireh’s report reflects that he reviewed all of the
listed statutory factors, including those Evans’ contends are absent in his
case. For example, while Dr. Zakireh considered the lack of multiple victims,
he decided that other factors were more important -- including the disparity
in age (45 years), Evans’ position of authority, the length of time over which
the molestation occurred (three years), and his increasing oblivion to
detection (molesting her while her brothers were sleeping in the same
room). See generally Commonwealth v. Stephens, 74 A.3d 1034, 1040
(Pa. Super. 2013) (SVP classification affirmed where a single victim was
molested over an extended period of time). In addition, although Evans
made no sexual advances on Brooks when she returned to the home several
years later, she was no longer prepubescent by this point in time, and thus
his behavior was not inconsistent with a diagnosis of pedophilia.
For his third issue on appeal, Evans contends that the trial court failed
to extend to him his right to allocute prior to sentencing. There is no
question that the trial court provided Evans with an opportunity to speak
prior to sentencing, as is clear from these transcript excerpts cited in Evans’
appellate brief:
[THE COURT]: And, sir, will you stand up? Mr. Evans,
before I hear from the Commonwealth, I want to
give you allocution rights which means anything you
might want to tell the Court before the Court hears
from Ms. McNabb, the assistant DA, and imposes
sentence, the Court would be happy to hear from
you
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[THE DEFENDANT]: Can I speak?
[THE COURT]: Yes, you can speak. Whatever you'd like
to tell me, I'd be happy to hear from you
[THE DEFENDANT]: The only thing I would like to say is
that I hired Mr. Sagot to represent me because when
I had Randolph Goldman represent me, he didn't do
any investigation in my case and the case is so
conflicting, its pathetic.
[THE COURT]: You're not making argument on the
effectiveness of counsel? Why don't you just
address the sentencing, because it's this Court's
decision as to what the sentence should be. So your
attorney has asked that I simply impose the
mandatory minimum, and, as you understand, I'm
sure Mr. Sagot explained to you the Court has to
impose that.
[THE DEFENDANT]: Yes.
* * *
[THE COURT]: I'm going to hear from you. I'm going to
hear from Ms. McNabb. I was not at the trial. I've
got all the notes of testimony right here that I
reviewed. Whatever you'd like to tell me, I will be
very happy to hear from you, sir. A lot is on the
line.
This is your case.
[THE DEFENDANT]: I understand. Like I was saying, and
in the case, there's five different stories. That's all I
have to say.
[THE COURT]: There were five different stories?
[THE DEFENDANT]: Yes. It was never investigated, yes.
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[THE COURT]: Here's my question to you, just so you
understand, I want you to understand as much as
possible. My job is to impose a sentence. So part of
the sentence relates to what the impact of the
sentence would be. So I'm not here to try the case
all over again. Your statement about five different
stories really relates to the trial. The jury returned
the verdict, so the verdict is what it is I now have to
impose a sentence on that. Is there anything you
might want to tell me about yourself that will be
helpful for me to decide what the sentence would
be? Mr. Sagot addressed it, he talked about your
age and all that, but anything, this is your
opportunity. Mr. Sagot is not telling you not to say
stuff, so he's letting you say whatever you want to
bring to my attention. Am I correct, Mr. Sagot?
* * *
[MR. SAGOT]: That's correct.
[THE COURT]: So you're not going to retry the trial right
now The notes of testimony are in my hands. We're
not going to retry the trial, because that's not my
function. My function right now is to impose
sentence. So whatever you might want to tell me
that might be relevant to what the sentence is, I
would be very happy to hear from you.
[THE DEFENDANT]: I would like to go back to work. I miss
working. I miss my family. I miss my kids. That's it
[THE COURT]: Thank you very much.
N.T. 12/19/13 at 9 -13.
On appeal, Evans argues that while the trial court provided him with
an initial opportunity to speak, “in actuality” the trial court refused “to
consider [his] allocutorial statements.” Evan’s Brief at 36. Evans further
claims that the trial court attempted to “dissuade [him] from allocuting
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further about the fact[s] of the case, a thing he really needed to do since the
prosecution would use those same facts to ask for a severe sentence.” Id.To preserve an appellate claim for lack of the right to allocution, the
appellant must raise the claim before the trial court. Pa.R.A.P. 302(a);
Commonwealth v. Hardy, 2014 187, 99 A.3d 577, 579 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(to preserve a claim of error pertaining to the right of allocution, the
defendant must raise the claim before the trial court at the time of
sentencing or in a post-sentence motion) (citing Commonwealth v.
Jacobs, 900 A.2d 368, 372 (Pa. Super. 2006) (en banc)). In this case,
Evans did not assert any objections relating to his right of allocution, either
at the sentencing hearing on in a post-sentence motion, and therefore it is
waived for purposes of this direct appeal. Citing to Arizona v. Fulminate,
499 U.S. 279 (1991), Evans contends that interference with allocution rights
constitutes a non-waivable “structural error.” Evans’ Brief at 27-28. In our
en banc decision in Jacobs, however, this Court considered this argument at
some length and concluded that the right of allocution does not implicate the
legality of sentence and thus is waivable. Jacobs, 900 A.2d at 372-77.
For his fourth issue on appeal, Evans posits that the trial court erred in
refusing to grant him credit for time served while on house arrest prior to his
sentencing.6 This issue is easily resolved. In Commonwealth v. Kyle, 874
6
Evans did not raise either this issue or the next one (sentencing merger)
in the trial court. We agree with Evans, however, that both issues relate to
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A.2d 12 (Pa. 2005), our Supreme Court ruled that an individual is not
entitled to sentencing credit for time spent at home and subject to electronic
monitoring. Id. at 17-22. “Incarceration in an institutional setting is
different in kind, not in mere degree, from ‘confinement’ to the comforts of
one's home.” Id. at 22.
Evans cites to various decisions from this Court in support of a
contrary result, including Commonwealth v. Vanskiver, 819 A.2d 69 (Pa.
Super. 2003), Commonwealth v. Mallon, 406 A.2d 569 (Pa. Super. 1979),
and Commonwealth v. Usher, 399 A.2d 1129 (Pa. Super. 1979). To the
extent that these cases support Evans’ claim for sentencing credit, they have
been overruled by Kyle. Evans also argues that Kyle was wrongly decided,
insisting that the basis for the decision is not sound, as it “constantly
harkens back to the notion that serving a sentence in the ‘comfort’ of one’s
home is repugnant to the idea of jail.” Evans’ Brief at 41-42. This Court,
however, has no authority to reconsider or ignore decisions of our Supreme
Court, as we must in all instances follow its mandates. Walnut Street
Associates, Inc. v. Brokerage Concepts, Inc., 20 A.3d 468, 480 (Pa.
2011).
the legality of his sentence and thus are non-waivable. Jacobs, 900 A.2d at
372. We further note that because both issues raise questions of law, our
standard of review is plenary. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Duffy, 832
A.2d 1132, 1137 (Pa. Super. 2003), appeal denied, 845 A.2d 816 (Pa.
2004).
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For his fifth issue on appeal, Evans argues that the crimes of EWOC
and COM should each have merged with IDSI for sentencing purposes, and
as a result the sentencing court erred in imposing separate sentences for
these crimes. “[T]he same facts may support multiple convictions and
separate sentences for each conviction except in cases where the offenses
are greater and lesser included offenses.” Commonwealth v. Anderson,
650 A.2d 20, 22 (Pa. 1994). Whether particular crimes merge for
sentencing purposes depends in the first instance upon 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9765,
which provides as follows:
§ 9765. Merger of sentences
No crimes shall merge for sentencing purposes
unless the crimes arise from a single criminal act and
all of the statutory elements of one offense are
included in the statutory elements of the other
offense. Where crimes merge for sentencing
purposes, the court may sentence the defendant
only on the higher graded offense.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9765.
In the present case, neither of the two requirements for merger exists.
First, the charges against Evans did not arise from a single criminal act.
While Brooks was able to relate the details of just two specific episodes of
molestation, she testified that Evans’ sexual improprieties occurred on
multiple occasions between the time she was 8 until she was 11. N.T.,
8/28/2012, at 12-24. On appeal, Evans contends that merger is
nevertheless required because the Commonwealth only charged him with
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single counts for IDSI, EWOC and COM. This Court rejected such an
argument in Commonwealth v. Snyder, 870 A.2d 336 (Pa. Super. 2005).
All that is required is that the jury, based upon the testimony received, could
reasonably have concluded that multiple separate criminal acts took place.
Id. at 349-51. Here, based upon Brooks’ testimony, such a finding was well
within the jury’s province.
Second, the three crimes at issue here all necessitate proof of at least
one element that the others do not. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9765; Commonwealth
v. Thomas, 879 A.2d 246, 263 (Pa. Super. 2005). Evans’ conviction of IDSI
required proof that he engaged in involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
with a child under the age of 13, while EWOC did not. Conversely, EWOC
required proof that he was providing care or supervision to a child under the
age of 18, and IDSI did not. Likewise, Evan’s conviction for COM required
proof that his actions tended to corrupt the morals of a child under the age
of 18, while his IDSI conviction did not, whereas IDSI required proof of an
act of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child under the age of
13, which is not an element of COM. As a result, neither EWOC nor COM is a
lesser-included offense to IDSI, and pursuant to section 9765 none merge
for sentencing purposes.
For these reasons, we affirm Evans’ convictions on all charges, but
remand to the trial court for resentencing on the IDSI conviction.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/3/2015
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