Com. v. Mitchell, E. ( 2017 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
EARL P. MITCHELL, :
:
Appellant : No. 1058 WDA 2016
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 18, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cambria County
Criminal Division at No.: CP-11-CR-0000826-2014
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., DUBOW, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED JULY 11, 2017
Appellant, Earl P. Mitchell, appeals from the Judgment of Sentence 1
entered by the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas following his
conviction by a jury of Third-Degree Murder and related offenses. After
careful review, we affirm.
The relevant facts, as gleaned from the certified record and the trial
court’s July 13, 2014 Opinion, are as follows. On January 24, 2014, three
men—Jareek Adams (“Adams”), Jonathan Moore (“Moore”), and Nysir Allen
“Allen”)—approached Appellant, Linda Coleman (“Coleman”), and Coleman’s
brother Hector (“Hector”) as they were entering Appellant’s vehicle. They
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1
We note that Appellant purports to appeal from the trial court’s July 13,
2016 Order denying his Post-Sentence Motions. In a criminal action, appeal
properly lies from the judgment of sentence made final by the denial of post-
sentence motions. Commonwealth v. Shamberger, 788 A.2d 408, 410
n.2 (Pa. Super. 2001). We have corrected the caption accordingly.
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exchanged words and Appellant shot Moore in his neck and leg after Moore
approached Coleman in the backseat. Appellant also shot and killed Adams.
Appellant claimed that Moore had physically assaulted Coleman in the
backseat after displaying a firearm concealed in his belt, but Coleman
testified that Moore only opened the door and did not touch her. Coleman
acknowledged that she had argued with Moore about money one week
before the shooting. After pointing the gun at Moore, who was now on the
ground on top of Adams, and telling Moore not to move, Appellant entered
his vehicle and drove away.
On February 6, 2014, Manassas Police Officer Casey Smith (“Officer
Smith”) pulled Appellant over for traffic violations in Virginia. After running
the license plate and discovering that Appellant, the registered owner of the
vehicle, was wanted for murder in Pennsylvania, Officer Smith exited his
vehicle to approach Appellant. Appellant then sped away in his vehicle.
After a four-mile pursuit, spike strips flattened one of Appellant’s tires and
the vehicle stopped shortly thereafter. Appellant and another person fled
the vehicle.
Appellant fled to a stranger’s home and hid for several hours. Armed
with the murder weapon, Appellant held two men hostage and did not permit
them to leave or call the police. While hiding in the house, Appellant
admitted to the hostages that he was the man police were searching for and
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that he had killed someone. The two men eventually escaped and police
arrested Appellant, who still possessed the murder weapon.
The Commonwealth charged Appellant with Criminal Homicide,
Criminal Attempt (Homicide), four counts of Aggravated Assault, and
Carrying a Firearm Without a License.2 Despite having received several
continuances, on January 19, 2016, Appellant sought a last-minute
continuance moments before jury selection was to begin in order to locate
and subpoena two additional witnesses: Jessica Santore and Nysir Allen. 3
The trial court denied this belated request after hearing argument and
testimony from Appellant’s private investigator regarding his efforts to locate
the witnesses.
Appellant also sought the judge’s recusal before trial after learning
about the judge’s involvement as a potential witness in an unrelated ongoing
investigation by the Attorney General’s Office in a two-page report disclosed
prior to trial. N.T., 1/19/16, at 2. Appellant’s counsel did request recusal,
but Appellant persisted in his belief that a conflict existed because judge and
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2
18 Pa.C.S. § 2501; 18 Pa.C.S. § 901; 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702; and 18 Pa.C.S. §
6106, respectively.
3
Appellant claims he presented his continuance request two weeks before
trial during a status conference on January 11, 2016. Appellant’s Brief at
15. Our review of the transcript from that status conference reveals no
continuance request on the record on that date. Rather, Appellant
presented his continuance request regarding these witnesses on January 19,
2016, moments before jury selection. See N.T., 1/19/16, at 16, 21-39.
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Attorney General’s Office were friendly and “working together.” Id. at 6.
When asked about his concerns on the record, Appellant struggled to explain
the basis for his objection and recusal request. The trial court denied
Appellant’s request.
Appellant proceeded to a jury trial. At trial, the Commonwealth
presented the testimony of numerous witnesses, including Moore, Officer
Smith, police detectives and other police officers, as well as several
eyewitnesses, including Coleman.
Appellant testified in his own defense at trial and claimed he shot
Adams and Moore to defend himself, Coleman, and Hector. Appellant also
testified that he did not turn himself in to police, and instead fled to Virginia,
because he was afraid the police would not believe him.
The court permitted additional testimony about Appellant’s flight,
Appellant’s additional crimes, and his arrest in Virginia. At the close of
testimony, the trial court provided a jury instruction regarding flight or
concealment as evidence of Appellant’s consciousness of guilt.
On January 28, 2016, the jury asked three questions in a handwritten
note, and the trial court provided the following answers:
[Q:] On page 18, Section C . . Does this mean, with an illegal
firearm[?]
[A:] Yes, if the jury decides it is an illegal firearm. PTK
[Q:] Self[-]defense is not valid. Due to Duty to retreat?
[A:] That is the jury’s decision.
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[Q:] *Also does the reducing circumstances on 5A apply due to
illegal firearm[?]
[A:] I (we) do not understand your question as worded. PTK.
Please reword. PTK
Court Exhibit 2, dated 1/28/16. The jury clarified its third question with the
following question: “Can you utilize an unregistered firearm without a
concealed weapons permit and claim self[-]defense if you had the
opportunity to flee the situation[?]” Court Exhibit 3, dated 1/28/16. The
trial court instructed the jury to “Reread the written charge I gave you and
apply the facts, as you find them, to the law.” Id.
Shortly thereafter, the jury convicted Appellant of Third-Degree
Murder, four counts of Aggravated Assault, and Carrying a Firearm Without a
License.4
On February 2, 2016, Appellant filed a “Post-Trial/Pre-Sentence
Motion” averring that counsel “received information” 5 that the trial court’s
response to one of the jury’s questions misled the jury. Appellant averred
that the jury “thought it was manslaughter but because of an instruction
with the gun they thought they had to do third degree.” Trial Court Opinion,
2/4/16, at 1. The trial court denied Appellant’s Motion on February 4, 2016.
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4
The jury found Appellant not guilty of First-Degree Murder of Adams and
not guilty of Attempted Murder of Moore.
5
A juror purportedly conveyed this information to an attorney they knew,
who in turn purportedly informed Appellant’s trial counsel.
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On February 18, 2016, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an
aggregate term of 25 to 50 years’ incarceration.6 Appellant filed a timely
Post-Sentence Motion, which the trial court denied on July 13, 2016.
Appellant filed a timely Notice of Appeal. Both Appellant and the trial
court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.7
Appellant presents seven issues for our review:
I. Whether the trial court erred in failing to grant [Appellant’s]
numerous requests for a continuance when trial counsel averred
that they were not prepared prior to the commencement of
trial[?]
II. Whether the trial court committed a reversible error in
allowing the jury to hear about [Appellant’s] post[-]incident
conduct which resulted in additional charges being filed against
him in the Commonwealth of Virginia where said testimony was
so unfairly prejudic[i]al to [Appellant] that it denied him of his
right to a fair and impartial trial based on the relevant facts of
this case[?]
III. Whether the trial court committed a reversible error in
providing answers to the jurors[’] questions they presented
during deliberations as opposed to instructing the jury to review
the jury instructions[?]
IV. Whether the trial court committed a reversible error in not
granting [Appellant’s] request for an arrest in judgment and
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6
The trial court sentenced Appellant to 15 to 30 years’ incarceration for
Third-Degree Murder, a consecutive term of 7 to 14 years’ incarceration for
Aggravated Assault of Moore, and a consecutive term of 3 to 6 years’
incarceration for Carrying a Firearm Without a License. The trial court
imposed no further penalty on the remaining offenses.
7
The trial court filed a brief Order to comply with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)
directing this court to its Opinions dated July 13, 2016 and February 4,
2016.
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motion to reconvene jurors as a result of post[-]trial information
from at least one juror indicating that the panel believed that
they could not find [Appellant] guilty of the lesser charge of
voluntary manslaughter based on the judge’s response to their
questions[?]
V. Whether the trial court committed a reversible error in failing
to give the jurors an involuntary manslaughter instruction as
requested by trial counsel[?]
VI. Whether the trial judge should have recused himself from the
instant case when it was discovered that he was a party to an
ongoing investigation being conducted by the Office of the
Attorney General of Pennsylvania when said office was
prosecuting the case at bar[?]
VII. Whether the consecutive sentences imposed by the trial
court were excessive and unwarranted[?]
Appellant’s Brief at 4.
Denial of Appellant’s Pre-Trial Motion for Continuance
Appellant first challenges the trial court’s denial of his pre-trial request
for a continuance to locate and subpoena two witnesses.
We review a trial court’s decision to deny a continuance mindful of the
following precepts:
Appellate review of a trial court’s continuance decision is
deferential. The grant or denial of a motion for a continuance is
within the sound discretion of the trial court and will be reversed
only upon a showing of an abuse of discretion. As we have
consistently stated, an abuse of discretion is not merely an error
of judgment. Rather, discretion is abused when the law is
overridden or misapplied, or the judgment exercised is
manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice,
bias, or ill-will, as shown by the evidence or the record.
Commonwealth v. Norton, 144 A.3d 139, 143 (Pa. Super. 2016). We will
reverse a trial court’s denial of a continuance only when it is based on “an
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unreasonable and arbitrary insistence upon expeditiousness in the face of a
justifiable request for delay.” Id.Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 106 provides, in pertinent
part:
(A) The court or issuing authority may, in the interests of justice,
grant a continuance, on its own motion, or on the motion of
either party.
(B) When the matter is before an issuing authority, the issuing
authority shall record on the transcript the identity of the moving
party and the reasons for granting or denying the continuance.
(C) When the matter is in the court of common pleas, the judge
shall on the record identify the moving party and state of record
the reasons for granting or denying the continuance. . . .
Pa.R.Crim.P. 106.
When deciding a continuance motion to secure a material witness, the
trial court must examine several factors:
(1) the necessity of the witness to strengthen the party’s case;
(2) the essentiality of the witness to the party’s case; (3) the
diligence exercised to procure the witness’ presence at trial; (4)
the facts to which the witness could testify; and (5) the
likelihood that the witness could be produced at the next term of
court.
Norton, supra at 143-44.
In its Opinion denying Appellant’s Post-Sentence Motion, the trial court
addressed Appellant’s challenge to the denial of his continuance request as
follows:
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a. Nysir Allen
The evidence of record indicates that Mr. Allen was with
Jonathan Moore and the late Jareek Adams on January 25, 2014.
[Appellant] fails to persuasively argue that Allen’s testimony was
a necessity to strengthen his case. First, there is [a] bald
assertion by [Appellant] in his brief that Allen was an
“exculpatory, eye witness.” However, there is no indication how
or why Allen’s testimony could have relieved him from criminal
liability, especially given the fact that [Appellant] took the stand
and admitted to firing his gun at Moore and Adams. The theory
of the defense’s presentation to the jury was that [Appellant]
fired in self-defense and he fails to explain how that theory
would have been bolstered or supported by the testimony of
Allen.
For similar reasons we find that [Appellant] has not established
that Allen’s testimony was “essential” to his justification defense.
While we assume that counsel was diligent in his attempts to
procure the testimony of Allen[,] we have not been presented
with any indication as to the facts that Allen could have
established. There is no allegation that he could provide an alibi
or similar exculpatory testimony[.]
* * *
Most importantly, [Appellant] could not at the time of the
continuance[,] nor can he now[,] establish that a continuance
would have borne any fruit in the person of Allen. It is possible
for people who do not wish to be located to evade even the most
diligent and skillful investigator in perpetuity. For these reasons,
we decline[d] to grant [Appellant’s] motion in regard to Allen.
b. Jessica Santore
There is far less indication that Santore could have added
anything to [Appellant’s] defense. Counsel tried unsuccessfully
to link a gun that was found weeks after the shooting in the area
of the crime scene with the shooting itself. This gun reportedly
was registered to Santore. Counsel makes a claim that Santore
“would establish a relationship between the victim and a gun
found at the crime scene a few weeks following the incident.”
He does not specify which victim nor does he specify how her
testimony would have been a necessity to [Appellant’s] defense
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or how it was essential to his defense. Again, we have no
reason to doubt the diligence that was used in pursuing this
witness[,] but we are again left with no indication as to what
facts she could provide or how they could have strengthened
[Appellant’s] justification defense. Finally, we are not convinced
that Santore could have been procured even if a continuance
had been granted.
Last, we wish to address the argument advanced by [Appellant]
that this case is “factually identical” to Commonwealth v.
Ross, [57 A.3d 85 (Pa. Super. 2012) (en banc)]. Even a cursory
review of the two cases belies this contention. The facts in Ross
centered on a homicide of a young woman to which there were
no [eyewitnesses], a body found many hours after the murder[,]
and a case built almost exclusively on circumstantial forensic
evidence. For these reasons, expert testimony to establish the
cause, manner[,] and time of death was the axis on which the
entire case turned. In the Ross case, defense counsel
successfully argued [] that his lack of time to review expert
testimony and consult with his own experts prior to trial
hampered his defense. Moreover, a review of Ross also
indicates that the denial of a continuance was not the sole
finding of error by the Superior Court.
Conversely, this case involves a shooting with several
corroborative [eyewitnesses], ballistics evidence linking a gun
found to be in [Appellant’s] possession with the shooting,
evidence of flight[,] and a justification defense in which
[Appellant] conceded he did in fact shoot the victims, albeit in
self-defense. The two cases could not be more different from a
factual perspective and they are easily distinguishable when
closely scrutinized.
Trial Court Opinion, dated 7/13/16, at 5-7 (emphasis in original
omitted; some paragraph breaks inserted).
We agree with the trial court’s assessment. The trial court properly
weighed the relevant factors set forth in Norton, supra, to support its
conclusion that Appellant failed to show that the witnesses were material,
that he could likely find them, or that he could procure their presence and
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testimony at trial so as to show that the trial court improperly denied the
last-minute request for a continuance. We, thus, conclude that the trial
court properly exercised its discretion in denying Appellant’s motion for a
continuance.
Evidence of Flight to Virginia, Other Acts, and Concealment
In his second issue on appeal, Appellant challenges the admission of
evidence related to Appellant’s flight and other acts in Virginia following the
shooting. Our standard of review concerning a challenge to the admissibility
of evidence is as follows:
The admissibility of evidence is a matter for the discretion of the
trial court and a ruling thereon will be reversed on appeal only
upon a showing that the trial court committed an abuse of
discretion. An abuse of discretion may not be found merely
because an appellate court might have reached a different
conclusion, but requires a result of manifest unreasonableness,
or partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will, or such lack of support so
as to be clearly erroneous.
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 42 A.3d 1017, 1027 (Pa. 2012) (citations and
quotation marks omitted).
Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 404(b) prohibits evidence of a
defendant’s prior bad acts “to prove a person’s character” or demonstrate
“that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the
character.” Pa.R.E. 404(b)(1). Nevertheless, the Rule further provides that
prior bad acts evidence “may be admissible for another purpose, such as
proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity,
absence of mistake, or lack of accident.” Pa.R.E. 404(b)(2).
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Commonly referred to as the res gestae exception or the complete
story rationale, Rule 404(b)(2) also “permits the admission of evidence
where it became part of the history of the case and formed part of the
natural development of facts.” Commonwealth v. Ivy, 146 A.3d 241, 251
(Pa. Super. 2016).
Our Supreme Court has permitted res gestae evidence of a
defendant/murder suspect taking hostages while eluding or fleeing police
after a vehicle pursuit nearly one year after the murder for which he is on
trial, including the defendant’s statements made during the hostage
situation. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Lark, 543 A.2d 491, 497-99
(holding that trial court could allow evidence of “a tangled web of threats,
intimidation and criminal activity” to complete the story of the crime where
defendant robbed victim, later murdered the victim, and threatened to kill
the prosecutor). “Evidence of prior bad acts may also be introduced to
prove consciousness of guilt, i.e., that the defendant was aware of his
wrongdoing.” Ivy, supra at 251.
“In a criminal case, this evidence is admissible only if the probative
value of the evidence outweighs its potential for unfair prejudice.” Pa.R.E.
404(b)(2). See also Daniel J. Anders, Ohlbaum on the Pennsylvania Rules
of Evidence § 404.11 et. seq. (2017 ed. LexisNexis Matthew Bender).
“Where evidence of prior bad acts is admitted, the defendant is entitled to a
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jury instruction that the evidence is admissible only for a limited purpose.”
Ivy, supra at 251.
The trial court addressed Appellant’s evidentiary challenge as follows:
As noted in the Court’s Order of January 22, 2016, we permitted
the admission of evidence of [Appellant’s] unprovoked flight
from authorities, his concealing himself within a private
residence, holding people against their will therein, and being
apprehended in possession of the firearm that ultimately was
matched to the murder by ballistics testing. We found that this
was probative for showing knowledge, consciousness of guilt[,]
and because it went to the “res gestae” of the Commonwealth’s
case. We relied on two Pennsylvania Superior Court cases,
Commonwealth v. Gooding, 649 A.2d 722 (Pa. Super. 1994)
and Commonwealth v. Hudson, 955 A.2d 1031 (Pa. Super.
2008)[].
In Gooding, immediately after committing a homicide in
Philadelphia, the [d]efendant and an accomplice fled to New
Jersey where he eventually got engaged in a standoff with police
whereby a hostage was taken and shots were fired. [Gooding,
supra at 726]. The Superior Court upheld the trial court’s ruling
that evidence of these crimes was admissible at the underlying
homicide trial both to show consciousness of guilt and to help
develop the “res gestae” of the Commonwealth’s case. Id.Likewise, in Hudson the Superior Court upheld the lower court’s
ruling that evidence of the accused’s flight was admissible to
show consciousness of guilt. [Hudson, supra at 1036].
* * *
In Hudson, the defendant immediately fled after the crime and
when approached by police once again attempted to escape.
[Id. at 1036-37].
In the instant matter, we permitted the admission of evidence
that [Appellant] fled to Virginia immediately after the shooting.
The evidence showed that when confronted by authorities in
Virginia, [Appellant] fled in his vehicle before crashing it. He
then fled on foot before entering a private residence and holding
two men hostage until they were able to escape. The purpose of
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this testimony was to show consciousness of guilt and to develop
the story of the case for the jury. The jury was instructed as to
the purpose of this testimony.2 As the Commonwealth points
out in its brief, all evidence that is prejudicial to the [Appellant]
is not necessarily [unfairly prejudicial]. The comment to
Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 403 instructs that unfair prejudice
“means a tendency to suggest decision on an improper basis or
to divert the jury's attention away from its duty of weighing the
evidence impartially.” Comment to Pa.R.E. 403. We have
indicated why we ruled that the evidence was relevant and agree
that it was prejudicial to the [Appellant], however, based on our
analysis do not find it to be unfairly prejudicial. We find our
instruction to the jury quoted in [foot]note 2[] further
ameliorated against any unfair prejudice. Based on our review
of precedent, we do not believe this evidence was admitted in
error and therefore decline to afford [Appellant] relief on this
issue.
2
The instruction was as follows: “There was evidence,
including the testimony of police officers and others, that
showed that the defendant fled from the police and hid
from the police by going to the State of Virginia and hiding
in a house. The defendant maintains he did so because he
was scared and his distrust of police. The credibility,
weight, and effect of this evidence is for you to decide.
Generally speaking, when a crime has been committed,
and a person thinks he is or may be accused of committing
it and he flees or conceals himself, such flight or
concealment is a circumstance tending to prove a person is
conscious of guilt. Such flight or concealment does not
necessarily show consciousness of [guilt] in every case. A
person may flee or hide for some other motive, and he
may do so even though innocent. Whether the evidence of
flight or concealment in this case should be looked at as
tending to prove guilt depends upon the facts and
circumstances of this case, and especially upon motive
that may have prompted the flight or concealment. You
may not find the defendant guilty solely on the basis of
evidence of flight or concealment.” Trial Transcript,
1/28/16, pp. 69-70.
Trial Court Opinion, 7/13/16, at 9-11. We agree with the trial court’s
assessment.
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Appellant’s flight to, presence in, and concealment in Virginia, as well
as his additional crimes and statements there, were admissible under
Pa.R.E. 404(b)(2) as both res gestae evidence and to prove Appellant’s
consciousness of guilt. The trial court properly weighed the probative value
of the evidence in the light of the potential for unfair prejudice in accordance
with Pa.R.E. 404(b)(2). Moreover, the trial court provided a cautionary jury
instruction explaining the limited purpose of this evidence. We, thus,
discern no abuse of the trial court’s discretion in admitting this evidence.
Appellant is not entitled to relief.
Trial Court’s Responses to Jury’s Questions
In his third issue on appeal, Appellant challenges the trial court’s
supplemental instructions to the jury. As noted above, the jury sent notes
from the jury room with 3 questions, one of which the trial court asked them
to clarify. After clarification, the trial court responded by referencing its
prior instructions.
Appellant avers that the trial court provided misleading, incomplete,
erroneous, and “conclusory” answers to the jury’s questions. Appellant’s
Brief at 22-23. Appellant argues that the trial court should have repeated
the charges “in their entirety” in order to provide “the most straightforward,
appropriate, and direct answer” to the jury’s questions. Id. at 22. Appellant
argues that the trial court’s instructions unfairly prejudiced him since “it was
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clear that the jury was struggling with whether to find him guilty of Murder
in the 3rd degree or Voluntary [M]anslaughter[.]” Id.
“Where a jury submits on its own motion a question to the court
indicating confusion or a request for clarification, the court may properly
clarify the jury’s doubt or confusion.” Commonwealth v. Kidd, 380 A.2d
416, 419 (Pa. Super. 1977) (citation omitted). “The feasibility and scope of
any supplemental instructions to the jury is a matter within the discretion of
the trial court.” Id. (citation omitted). The trial court may also “go beyond
the jury’s question in its response to the question.” Id. (citation omitted).
The trial court addressed Appellant’s issue as follows:
A review of the written jury instructions indicates that [the jury’s
clarifying fourth question was] very likely[] the jury’s attempt to
reword the prior question [that] deal[t] with the duty to retreat
and the illegal possession of a firearm. While we cannot be
certain that this is an attempt by the jury to reword the
question[,] we can be certain that the jury did have the
opportunity to submit another question, therefore, the
[Appellant’s] claim that somehow there was a lost opportunity to
clarify issues of law for the jury is not in accord with the facts.
When answering questions from the jury during deliberations[,]
the [c]ourt is mindful of further confusing issues, drawing
improper attention to facts not at issue[,] and/or usurping the
role of the jury as factfinder. We attempted to tailor our
answers in this regard because we were also mindful that the
jury had, in its possession, the instructions we had previously
read to them detailing the elements of the crimes charged and
the defenses raised. Because the [c]ourt did not understand the
first question, we made the decision that it was better to err on
the side of having the jury rephrase it, rather than answer the
wrong question or give an answer that further confused them.
Ultimately, the belief that the jury was confused is belied by
their returning a verdict shortly after our final instruction [to]
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them. For these reasons[,] we decline to afford relief to
[Appellant] on this issue.
Trial Court Opinion, 7/13/16, at 13-14. We agree with the trial court’s
assessment. We discern no abuse of the trial court’s discretion and affirm
on the basis of the trial court’s Opinion. Id.Appellant’s Attempt to Impeach the Jury’s Verdict
In his fourth issue on appeal, Appellant challenges the trial court’s
denial of his “Post-Trial/Pre-Sentence Motion” in which he sought to arrest
the judgment and reconvene the jury in order to impeach the verdict based
on the purported juror confusion regarding the supplemental jury
instruction. No relief is warranted.
“The refusal of a new trial on the basis of alleged juror misconduct is
within the sound discretion of the trial judge.” Commonwealth v. Trudell,
538 A.2d 53, 59 (Pa. Super. 1988). When ruling on a Motion in Arrest of
Judgment, “the trial court is limited to rectifying trial errors, and cannot
make a redetermination of credibility and weight of the evidence[.]”
Commonwealth v. Marquez, 980 A.2d 145, 147–48 (Pa. Super. 2009) (en
banc ) (citation omitted).
It is well established that “a juror may not impeach [his] own verdict
after the jury has been discharged, and [that] a juror is not competent to
testify as to what transpired in the jury room. Commonwealth v. Sero,
387 A.2d 63, 67 (Pa. 1978). This principle, known as the “no-impeachment”
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rule in common law, is embodied in Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 606,
which provides in relevant part:
(b) During an Inquiry into the Validity of a Verdict
(1) Prohibited Testimony or Other Evidence. During an inquiry
into the validity of a verdict, a juror may not testify about any
statement made or incident that occurred during the jury's
deliberations; the effect of anything on that juror's or another
juror's vote; or any juror's mental processes concerning the
verdict. The court may not receive a juror’s affidavit or evidence
of a juror’s statement on these matters.
(2) Exceptions. A juror may testify about whether:
(A) prejudicial information not of record and beyond common
knowledge and experience was improperly brought to the jury’s
attention; or
(B) an outside influence was improperly brought to bear on any
juror.
Pa.R.E. 606(b).
The no-impeachment rule reflects a policy of “balancing the aim to
ensure fair and impartial decision-making with the interests in confidentiality
of jury deliberations and finality of duly rendered verdicts.” Pratt v. St.
Christopher’s Hosp., 866 A.2d 313, 320 (Pa. 2005) (footnotes omitted).
Courts recognize that jury “deliberations are secret and their inviolability
must be closely guarded.” Friedman v. Ralph Bros., Inc., 171 A. 900,
901 (Pa. 1934). See also Pratt, supra at 325 (noting that the clear
purposes of the no-impeachment rule are “to discourage harassment of
jurors by losing parties, encourage free and open discussion among jurors,
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reduce incentives for jury tampering, promote verdict finality, and maintain
the viability of the jury as a judicial decision-making body.”).
Both the common law and Pa.R.E. 606(b) acknowledge two narrow
exceptions to the no-impeachment rule. First, a court may admit testimony
concerning whether “prejudicial information not of record and beyond
common knowledge and experience was improperly brought to the jury’s
attention[.]” Pa.R.E. 606(b)(2)(A); Pratt, supra at 319. Second, a court
may allow post-trial testimony regarding extraneous influences that might
have affected the jury during its deliberation. Pa.R.E. 606(b)(2)(B); Pratt,
supra at 319.
Here, Appellant does not argue that prejudicial information not of the
record and beyond common knowledge was improperly brought to the jury’s
attention. Nor does he suggest that an outside influence affected the jury
during its deliberation. Appellant’s assertions do not fall under any
exception to the no-impeachment rule. Thus, the trial court properly
exercised its discretion in denying Appellant’s Motion.
Involuntary Manslaughter Instruction
In his fifth issue on appeal, Appellant avers that the trial court erred in
failing to instruct the jury regarding Involuntary Manslaughter.
Our standard of review in assessing a trial court’s jury instruction is as
follows:
When evaluating the propriety of jury instructions, this Court will
look to the instructions as a whole, and not simply isolated
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portions, to determine if the instructions were improper. We
further note that[] it is an unquestionable maxim of law in this
Commonwealth that a trial court has broad discretion in phrasing
its instructions, and may choose its own wording so long as the
law is clearly, adequately, and accurately presented to the jury
for its consideration. Only where there is an abuse of discretion
or an inaccurate statement of the law is there reversible error.
Commonwealth v. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 754 (Pa. Super. 2014). “The
trial court is not required to give every charge that is requested by the
parties and its refusal to give a requested charge does not require reversal
unless the Appellant was prejudiced by that refusal.” Commonwealth v.
Sandusky, 77 A.3d 663, 667 (Pa. Super. 2013).
“A person is guilty of involuntary manslaughter when as a direct result
of the doing of an unlawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, or
the doing of a lawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, he causes
the death of another person.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504.
The trial court addressed Appellant’s challenge to the jury instructions
as follows:
The defense mounted in this case, including the testimony from
[Appellant] himself, was that [Appellant] did in fact discharge his
weapon purposefully at the two victims based on his belief that
he was defending both himself and the other two individuals in
the car from an attack by Moore and Adams. There are no facts
of record to suggest that [Appellant] discharged his firearm in a
grossly negligent or reckless ma[nn]er but rather that the act of
firing [the] gun was intentional. Under questioning from his
attorney, David Beyer, [Appellant] testified as follows:
Q: Okay. What happened next?
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A: He pulled him down. Hector is coming around. And I
thought I had to do what I had to do to protect my life, to
protect Janay’s life, to protect Hector’s life.
Q: What was going on in your mind at that time?
A: Shoot and run. Protect. I don’t know, protect myself.
This is only one portion of the record wherein [Appellant]
acknowledges that his action in firing his gun was an intentional
act, however, there are numerous portions of his testimony that
demonstrate this. [Appellant] can point to no evidence of record
that would establish that his action in firing the gun amounted to
recklessness or gross negligence and therefore it was not
improper to refuse the charge of involuntary manslaughter. The
facts of record simply did not support such an instruction.
Trial Court Opinion, 7/13/16, at 15-16 (citation omitted).
Our review of the record supports the trial court’s assessment.
Appellant was not entitled to an instruction on involuntary manslaughter and
the trial court did not err in refusing to provide such instructions to the jury.
We discern no abuse of the trial court’s discretion.
Recusal
In his sixth issue on appeal, Appellant challenges the trial court’s
denial of his Motion to Recuse.
Appellate courts presume judges are fair and competent. In re
Lokuta, 11 A.3d 427, 435 (Pa. 2011). We review the denial of a motion to
recuse for an abuse of discretion, while “recognizing that the judge himself is
best qualified to gauge his ability to preside impartially.” Commonwealth
v. Harris, 979 A.2d 387, 392 (Pa. Super. 2009) (citations omitted).
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A jurist’s impartiality is called into question whenever there are
factors or circumstances that may reasonably question the
jurist’s impartiality in the matter. There is no need to find actual
prejudice, but rather, the appearance of prejudice is sufficient to
warrant the grant of new proceedings.
Lokuta, supra at 435-36 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
The party requesting recusal has the burden “to produce evidence
establishing bias, prejudice[,] or unfairness[,] which raises a substantial
doubt as to the jurist’s ability to preside impartially.” Arnold v. Arnold,
847 A.2d 674, 680 (Pa. Super. 2004). If the judge determines he or she can
be impartial, the judge must then decide “whether his or her continued
involvement in the case creates an appearance of impropriety and/or would
tend to undermine public confidence in the judiciary.” Chadwick v.
Caulfield, 834 A.2d 562, 571 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citations omitted).
The trial court addressed Appellant’s issue as follows:
Simply put, the investigation pursued by the Office of Attorney
General that was ongoing at the time of the trial in this case has
nothing whatsoever to do with this case. The Court was
questioned in regards to a matter that occurred prior to
[Appellant’s] birth. Moreover, when asked what conflict of
interest [Appellant] thought existed his reply was, “it isn’t really
—has no relation.” This [c]ourt did reflect at the time of the
initial objection by [Appellant] on his ability to proceed in a fair
and impartial manner and is satisfied now, as then, that no
actual or potential conflict of interest existed. [Appellant] has
produced absolutely no evidence of “bias, prejudice, or
unfairness necessitating recusal.”
Trial Court Opinion, 7/13/16, at 8 (citation omitted). We agree with the trial
court’s assessment and conclude that Appellant failed to produce or point to
any evidence to overcome the presumption that the trial court is fair and
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competent. Accordingly, the trial court properly exercised its discretion in
denying Appellant’s recusal motion.
Discretionary Aspects of Sentence
Appellant next challenges the imposition of consecutive rather than
concurrent sentences. This implicates the discretionary aspects of his
sentence. Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 169 (Pa. Super.
2010).
A challenge to the discretionary aspects of sentencing is not
automatically reviewable as a matter of right. Commonwealth v. Hunter,
768 A.2d 1136, 1144 (Pa. Super. 2001). Prior to reaching the merits of a
discretionary sentencing issue, we conduct a four-part analysis to
determine:
(1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal,
see Pa.R.A.P. 902 and 903; (2) whether the issue was
properly preserved at sentencing or in a motion to
reconsider and modify sentence, see [Pa.R.Crim.P. 720];
(3) whether appellant’s brief has a fatal defect, Pa.R.A.P.
2119(f); and (4) whether there is a substantial question
that the sentence appealed from is not appropriate under
the Sentencing Code, 42 Pa.C.S.[] § 9781(b).
Commonwealth v. Evans, 901 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citations
omitted).
In the instant case, our careful review of the record reveals that
Appellant did not include in his Brief a separate Rule 2119(f) Statement, and
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the Commonwealth has objected to this defect.8 Thus, we find that the
defect is fatal.9
Because we conclude that Appellant failed to preserve his challenge to
the discretionary aspects of his sentence, we will not address the merits of
this claim.
Judgment of Sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/11/2017
____________________________________________
8
This Court may overlook an appellant’s failure to comply with Rule 2119(f)
where the Commonwealth fails to object to the omission and a substantial
question is obvious from the appellant’s brief. Commonwealth v. Kneller,
999 A.2d 608, 614 (Pa. Super. 2010).
9
Moreover, Appellant’s challenge to his consecutive sentences fails to
present a substantial question. Commonwealth v. Gonzalez-Dejusus,
994 A.2d 595, 598 (Pa. Super. 2010) (“Generally speaking, the court’s
exercise of discretion in imposing consecutive as opposed to concurrent
sentences is not viewed as raising a substantial question that would allow
the granting of allowance of appeal.”). Appellant’s actual argument section
also fails to make this particular argument, and Appellant instead argues
that the trial court “failed to consider” and weigh various mitigating
sentencing factors. See Appellant’s Brief at 36-39.
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