Com. v. Jiggetts, L. ( 2020 )


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  • J-A23006-19
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    :        PENNSYLVANIA
    :
    v.                             :
    :
    :
    LORINDA JIGGETTS                           :
    :
    Appellant               :   No. 89 WDA 2019
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered, December 4, 2018,
    in the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County,
    Criminal Division at No(s): CP-26-CR-0000162-2018.
    BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., KUNSELMAN, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
    MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.:                           FILED JANUARY 3, 2020
    Lorinda Jiggetts appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed after
    she was found guilty of two counts each of receiving stolen property and
    possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of theft of property
    lost, and possession of unlawful body armor.1 After review, we affirm in part
    and reverse in part and remand for a new trial on all charges except the
    controlled substance charges.
    The trial court provided the facts of this case as follows:
    On September 5, 2015, Uniontown City Police Officer Jamie
    Holland was dispatched to Pershing Court on the report of a
    shooting. [Jiggetts] was standing across the street from 63
    Pershing Court, her residence, and [when asked by police who was
    ____________________________________________
    1 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3925(a), 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 780-113(a)(16), and 18 Pa.C.S.A.
    §§ 3924 and 907(c). Jiggetts was found guilty of possession of morphine and
    dihydrocodone. She was acquitted of a possession of heroin charge and the
    court entered a nolle prosequi on a possession of marijuana charge.
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    in her home, Jiggetts] stated that no one was in her apartment.
    Prior to being granted a search warrant for [Jiggetts’] apartment
    yet while visibly observing the building, Officer Holland testified
    that five or six people exited the residence.
    Once access to the apartment was granted pursuant to a search
    warrant, the Uniontown City policemen entered. A utility bill from
    West Penn Power was located on the refrigerator with a
    handwritten note stating “Please help. There are six guys here
    using all electric. Should pitch in.”
    A Taurus PT model 140, .40 caliber pistol, was located in the
    laundry area above the washing machine inside a shoebox with a
    live round in the chamber and nine live rounds in the magazine
    inserted in the firearm. The Taurus firearm was determined to be
    the same gun reported stolen by Marissa Roll on April 21, 2015.
    In the dining room above a cabinet was located a plastic baggie
    of pills, namely five purple pills marked MS30 [morphine] and one
    white oval pill marked U 03 [dihydrocodone]. In both upstairs
    bedrooms, the police found green stamp bags of heroin. In the
    master bedroom, the officers located a Ruger LCP .380 under the
    box spring of the bed loaded with one live round in the chamber
    and six live rounds in the magazine. The Ruger firearm was traced
    to that reported missing by Brent Baker on June 17, 2015. Officer
    Holland also testified that a bullet proof vest was located on the
    floor near the bed in the master bedroom. An unregistered Ruger
    10-22 rifle was next to the window in the master bedroom and a
    Heritage .22 revolver was located in the closet. The Heritage was
    registered to Robert Gratson. Also found in the house were a fully
    loaded Tapco magazine behind the washing machine and a Glock
    Model 26 nine-millimeter registered to Kathy Mudery.
    Following a search of the apartment, [Jiggetts] was brought into
    her living room and questioned on which areas of the house were
    hers, to which she responded that the master bedroom was her
    room. [Jiggetts] named Malcom Cooper, Roy Johnson, and Lance
    Campbell as also staying at her residence.
    As to ownership of the weapons, the Commonwealth presented
    testimony of Marissa Roll who stated that her .40 caliber Taurus
    handgun with serial number beginning “s-e-x” was stolen in 2012
    or 2013 and she reported the same to the Uniontown City Police.
    Brent J. Baker also testified that his Ruger LCP .380 handgun was
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    lost in 2015 in Lemont Furnace when he was quad riding and he
    also reported the missing gun. [Evidence was presented showing
    that the Glock 26 handgun registered to Kathy Mudery had been
    reported stolen.]
    With respect to the residence in question, Shalyce Blankenship,
    the property manager of Pershing Court Manor, now known as
    Beeson Square Apartments, testified that [Jiggetts] resided at 63
    Pershing Court in September 2015 and that Paula Hoffman was
    registered as her only cotenant.
    A stipulation was entered that DNA testing on the Taurus pistol
    and Glock 26 would identify male DNA.
    Trial Court Opinion, 3/15/19, at 2-4.
    Following trial, the jury convicted Jiggetts of receiving stolen property
    in relation to the Ruger and Glock, theft of property lost in relation to the
    Taurus, possession of unlawful body armor, and possession of a controlled
    substance. Jiggetts was sentenced to 2 years of probation. Jiggetts filed a
    post-sentence motion claiming, inter alia, that her convictions were against
    the weight of the evidence, which the trial court denied.
    Jiggetts timely appealed. Both Jiggetts and the trial court complied with
    Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925.
    On appeal, Jiggetts raises five issues for our review as follows:
    1. Whether the evidence presented at trial was legally and
    factually sufficient to prove that the appellant committed the
    crimes of receiving stolen property and theft of property lost or
    mislaid, when the Commonwealth did not demonstrate that the
    appellant, knew, or should have known, that the firearms in
    question were stolen . . . .
    2. Whether the evidence presented at trial was legally and
    factually sufficient to prove that [Jiggetts] committed the crime of
    possession of a controlled substance. . . .
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    3. Whether the evidence presented at trial was legally and
    factually sufficient to prove that [Jiggetts] was in possession of
    body armor. . . .
    4. As an alternative to the "sufficiency of the evidence" claims
    raised in issues no. 1, 2, and 3, whether the verdicts of guilty in
    this matter were against the weight of the evidence, and so
    contrary to the evidence as to shock one's sense of justice.
    5. Whether the trial court committed reversible error in denying
    [Jiggetts] the right to present relevant evidence of the relevant
    criminal convictions of the individuals found in the home at the
    time of the search . . . .
    Jiggetts’ Brief at 4-5.
    In her first three issues, Jiggetts challenges the sufficiency of the
    evidence to sustain her various convictions.       When analyzing whether the
    evidence was sufficient to support a conviction, this Court must “view the
    evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict
    winner in order to determine whether the jury could have found every element
    of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Commonwealth v. Thomas, 
    215 A.3d 36
    , 40 (Pa. 2019).         “The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by
    means of wholly circumstantial evidence, and we must evaluate the entire trial
    record   and   consider   all    evidence   received   against   the   defendant.”
    Commonwealth v. Hopkins, 
    67 A.3d 817
    , 820 (Pa. Super. 2013).                 “The
    evidence established at trial need not preclude every possibility of innocence
    and the fact-finder is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence
    presented.” Commonwealth v. Brown, 
    52 A.3d 320
    , 323 (Pa. Super. 2012).
    “Any doubts regarding a defendant’s guilt may be resolved by the fact-finder
    unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that as a matter of law no
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    probability of fact may be drawn from the combined circumstances.”
    Commonwealth v. Vargas, 
    108 A.3d 858
    , 867 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc).
    Additionally, this Court cannot “re-weigh the evidence and substitute our
    judgment for that of the fact-finder.” 
    Id.
     A challenge to the sufficiency of the
    evidence presents a pure question of law and, as such, our standard of review
    is de novo and our scope of review is plenary. Commonwealth v. Jacoby,
    
    170 A.3d 1065
    , 1076 (Pa. 2017).
    Jiggetts first claims that the evidence was insufficient to sustain her
    convictions for receiving stolen property and theft of property lost.
    Specifically, Jiggetts contends that the Commonwealth failed to show that
    Jiggetts knew, or believed, the guns found in her house were stolen or lost.
    Jiggett’s Brief at 11. None of the guns had altered serial numbers or any other
    apparent indicator that they were stolen. They also were not stolen or lost
    recently enough to warrant an inference of guilty knowledge. 
    Id.
    The offense of receiving stolen property is defined as follows:
    A person is guilty of theft if he intentionally receives, retains, or
    disposes of movable property of another knowing that it has been
    stolen, or believing that it has probably been stolen, unless the
    property is received, retained, or disposed with intent to restore
    it to the owner.
    18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3925(a). To establish this offense, the Commonwealth must
    show that: (1) the goods are stolen; (2) the defendant received such goods;
    (3) the defendant knew them to be stolen or had reasonable cause to know
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    that they were stolen. Commonwealth v. Davis, 
    280 A.2d 119
     (Pa. 1971);
    Commonwealth. v. Gore, 424, 
    406 A.2d 1112
    , 1114 (Pa. Super. 1979).
    The offense of theft of property lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake is
    defined as follows:
    A person who comes into control of property of another that he
    knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as
    to the nature or amount of the property or the identity of the
    recipient is guilty of theft if, with intent to deprive the owner
    thereof, he fails to take reasonable measures to restore the
    property to a person entitled to have it.
    18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3924.
    As to both of these charges, Jiggetts only contests whether the
    Commonwealth established that she knew or believed the guns were stolen or
    lost. The Commonwealth may establish the element of guilty knowledge by
    direct evidence or by circumstantial evidence. Commonwealth v. Simmons,
    
    336 A.2d 624
     (Pa. Super. 1975). “A permissible inference of guilty knowledge
    may be inferred from the unexplained possession of recently stolen goods as
    well as from the surrounding circumstances. Whether possession is recent
    and whether it is unexplained are normally questions for the trier of fact.”
    Commonwealth v. Grabowski, 
    549 A.2d 145
    , 148 (Pa. Super. 1988).
    “Relevant considerations include but are not limited to the accused's conduct
    at arrest and conduct while in possession; the time elapsed between the
    accused's possession and the theft; the type of property; the situs of the theft
    and the situs of the possession; the value of the property and the price paid
    for the property; and the quantity of the property.”      
    Id.
       However, mere
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    possession of stolen property is not by itself sufficient circumstantial evidence
    to establish the requisite guilty knowledge. Commonwealth v. Henderson,
    
    304 A.2d 154
    , 156 (Pa. 1973).
    Based upon our review of the record, we conclude that, although there
    was no direct evidence, the Commonwealth presented sufficient circumstantial
    evidence from which the jury could freely infer that Jiggetts knew or believed
    that the guns were stolen or lost.
    Here, it is undisputed that the guns in question were either stolen or
    lost. Two of the guns were stolen or lost in or near Uniontown. Following the
    theft or loss of the guns from the registered owners, they were neither
    returned to the owners nor remitted to law enforcement.
    Not long after the guns were lost or stolen, the police found them at
    Jiggetts’ home, where she was the named lessee.         One gun was found in
    Jiggetts’ own bedroom; the other two were found in common areas of her
    home.    Jiggetts admitted these guns were not registered to her. Moreover,
    although Jiggetts claimed she did not live there, she went there every day to
    feed her pets. Despite this, Jiggetts claimed to have no knowledge of the guns
    and no explanation as to why the guns were there. Additionally, on the day
    of the incident, when the police asked Jiggetts who was in her house, she said
    no one. She later acknowledged, however, that she had people staying there.
    Her conflicting and untruthful responses indicate Jiggetts sought to conceal
    from police the contents of and activities in her home.        This evidence, if
    believed, indicates guilty knowledge.
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    Thus, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    Commonwealth, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to sustain
    Jiggetts’ convictions for receiving stolen property and theft of property.
    Accordingly, Jiggetts’ first issue entitles her to no relief.
    In her second issue, Jiggetts argues that the evidence was insufficient
    to sustain her conviction for possession of a controlled substance. Specifically,
    Jiggetts contends that the Commonwealth failed to show that, since the pills
    were not found on her person, she did not constructively possess them.
    Jiggetts’ Brief at 12.
    35. P.S. § 780-113(a)(16) prohibits:
    (16) Knowingly or intentionally possessing a controlled or
    counterfeit substance by a person not registered under this act,
    or a practitioner not registered or licensed by the appropriate
    State board, unless the substance was obtained directly from, or
    pursuant to, a valid prescription order or order of a practitioner,
    or except as otherwise authorized by this act.
    35 P.S. § 780-113. Possession of a controlled substance can be found by
    “proving actual possession, constructive possession, or joint constructive
    possession.”    Commonwealth v. Parrish, 
    191 A.3d 31
    , 26 (Pa. Super.
    2018), appeal denied, 
    202 A.3d 42
     (Pa. 2019) (citation omitted).          Where
    contraband is not found on a defendant’s person, “the Commonwealth is
    required to establish that the defendant had constructive possession of the
    seized items to support his convictions.” See Commonwealth v. Brown, 
    48 A.3d 426
    , 430 (Pa. Super. 2012). With respect to constructive possession,
    this Court has noted:
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    Constructive possession is a legal fiction, a pragmatic construct to
    deal with the realities of criminal law enforcement. Constructive
    possession is an inference arising from a set of facts that
    possession of the contraband was more likely than not. We have
    defined constructive possession as conscious dominion. We
    subsequently defined conscious dominion as the power to control
    the contraband and the intent to exercise that control. To aid
    application, we have held that constructive possession may be
    established by the totality of the circumstances.
    Commonwealth v. Hopkins, 
    67 A.3d 817
    , 820 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations
    omitted).    “Individually, the circumstances may not be decisive; but, in
    combination, they may justify an inference that the accused had both the
    power to control and the intent to exercise that control, which is required to
    prove constructive possession.” Commonwealth v. Carter, 
    450 A.2d 142
    ,
    147 (Pa. Super. 1982). Considering the totality of the circumstances in this
    case, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that
    Jiggett’s had constructive possession of the pills.
    Here, the pills, like the guns, were found at Jiggetts’ home. Jiggetts
    admitted that she did not have a prescription for the pills. Jiggetts claimed
    that the pills were not hers, but belonged to others who were staying at her
    house. However, the evidence showed that Jiggetts went to her house daily,
    even though she claimed she was staying elsewhere. Although others were
    staying at her home and had access to the pills, this does not preclude a
    finding   that   Jiggetts   also   had   constructive   possession   of   the   pills.
    “[P]ossession of an illegal substance need not be exclusive; two or more can
    possess the same drug at the same time.” Commonwealth v. Macolino,
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    469 A.2d 132
    , 135 (Pa. 1983); Commonwealth v. Griffin, 
    326 A.2d 554
    (Pa. Super. 1974).
    Additionally, Jiggetts’ conduct before the search is relevant to our
    consideration. Again, when the police asked who was in the house, she told
    them no one. Control of the premises like an owner or lessee is indicative of
    possession.   See Commonwealth. v. Samuels, 
    340 A.2d 880
    , 886 (Pa.
    Super. 1975). Additionally, this evidence demonstrated that Jiggetts sought
    to protect the property and its contents. This too is indicative of possession.
    See Commonwealth v. Sweitzer, 
    177 A.3d 253
    , 259 (Pa. Super. 2017).
    Although the pills were equally accessible to others, as Jiggetts argues,
    the totality of the circumstances demonstrated that she too had constructive
    possession of these pills.
    Thus, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    Commonwealth, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to sustain
    Jiggetts’ conviction for possession of a controlled substance.    Accordingly,
    Jiggetts’ second issue entitles her to no relief.
    In her third issue, Jiggetts argues that the evidence was insufficient to
    sustain her conviction for possession of unlawful body armor. Specifically,
    Jiggetts contends that the Commonwealth failed to show that she was in
    possession, custody, or control of the body armor and did so while committing
    or attempting to commit a felony. Jiggetts’ Brief at 14.
    “A person commits a felony of the third degree if in the course of the
    commission of a felony or in the attempt to commit a felony he uses or
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    wears body armor or has in his control, custody or possession any body
    armor.”2 18 Pa.C.S.A. 907(c)(emphasis added).
    Here, the body armor was found in Jiggetts own bedroom, just lying on
    the floor. This is also where one of the stolen guns was also found. Jiggetts
    was at her home on a regular basis. Additionally, as noted above, Jiggetts
    sought to avoid having the police search her home. Thus, as with the pills,
    the totality of the circumstances demonstrated that Jiggetts had constructive
    possession of the body armor.
    Furthermore, as discussed above, the jury found Jiggetts guilty of
    receiving stolen property and theft of property lost. Both of these offenses
    are felonies. As a result, while Jiggetts had the stolen and lost guns in her
    possession and control at her home, she was committing a felony. At the
    same time, she had the body armor in her possession. Thus, the evidence
    showed that Jiggetts was committing a felony while she had the body armor
    in her control and possession. See Commonwealth. v. Phillips, 
    93 A.3d 847
    , 856 (Pa. Super. 2014) (finding sufficient evidence to sustain defendant’s
    conviction for possession of unlawful body armor where the defendant
    possessed a firearm but was a prohibited person under 18 Pa.C.S.A. §
    6105(a)(1), a felony, and was wearing a Kevlar vest).
    Thus, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    Commonwealth, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to sustain
    ____________________________________________
    2   We note that this offense falls under possession of instrument of crime.
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    Jiggetts’ conviction for possession of unlawful body armor.         Accordingly,
    Jiggetts’ third issue entitles her to no relief.
    In her fourth issue, Jiggetts challenges the weight of the evidence.
    Specifically, Jiggetts argues that the evidence presented at trial tended to
    show that she had nothing to do with the contraband found in her home.
    Instead, it showed that the others staying in Jiggetts’ home were responsible
    for it. Jiggetts’ Brief at 18. We disagree.
    When reviewing a challenge to the weight of the evidence, our standard
    of review is as follows:
    The essence of appellate review for a weight claim appears to lie
    in ensuring that the trial court's decision has record support.
    Where the record adequately supports the trial court, the
    trial court has acted within the limits of its discretion.
    ***
    A motion for a new trial based on a claim that the verdict is against
    the weight of the evidence is addressed to the discretion of the
    trial court. A new trial should not be granted because of a mere
    conflict in the testimony or because the judge on the same facts
    would have arrived at a different conclusion. Rather, the role of
    the trial judge is to determine that notwithstanding all the facts,
    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.
    ***
    An appellate court's standard of review when presented with a
    weight of the evidence claim is distinct from the standard of review
    applied by the trial court. Appellate review of a weight claim
    is a review of the exercise of discretion, not of the
    underlying question of whether the verdict is against the
    weight of the evidence.
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    Commonwealth v. Clay, 
    64 A.3d 1049
    , 1054–55 (Pa. 2013) (citations
    omitted) (emphasis added). Absent an abuse of discretion, the trial court’s
    decision will not be disturbed.   See Commonwealth v. Griffin, 
    515 A.2d 865
    , 869 (Pa. 1986).      An abuse of discretion “is not merely an error in
    judgment.    Rather, it involves bias, partiality, prejudice, ill-will, manifest
    unreasonableness or a misapplication of the law.” Commonwealth v. West,
    
    937 A.2d 516
    , 521 (Pa. Super. 2007).          By contrast, a proper exercise of
    discretion “conforms to the law and is based on the facts of record.” 
    Id.
    Initially, we note that Jiggetts does not specify how the trial court
    abused its discretion; she merely argues evidence favorable to her and,
    essentially, asks us to reweigh the evidence.      Based upon our standard of
    review for weight claims, we cannot do so. Clay, supra. Nonetheless, after
    a careful review of the record and the trial court’s reason for denying Jiggetts’
    weight claim, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.
    In reaching its decision, the trial court explained that the evidence easily
    proved that Jiggetts committed the crimes of which she was convicted, and
    that, in rendering its verdict, the jury chose to believe the circumstantial
    evidence presented by the Commonwealth. Trial Court Opinion, 3/15/19, at
    8-9. Because that determination was for the jury to make and should only be
    overturned if it is so contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of
    justice, the trial court denied Jiggett’s weight claim.     Trial Court Opinion,
    3/15/19, at 8.
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    Based upon the trial court’s rationale and our review of the evidence as
    discussed above, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
    concluding that the jury’s verdict was not against the weight of the evidence.
    As the trial court recognized, the jury was free to believe all, part, or none of
    the evidence. Commonwealth v. Watson, 
    945 A.2d 174
    , 177 (Pa. Super.
    2008). Accordingly, Jiggetts’ fourth issue entitles her to no relief.
    In her last issue, Jiggetts challenges the trial court’s refusal to admit
    into evidence the criminal histories of the others living in Jiggetts’ home when
    it was searched, and the contraband was found. Specifically, Jiggetts argues
    that the trial court erred in excluding this evidence, under Pennsylvania Rule
    of Evidence 404(b) regarding prior bad acts.      Because the evidence would
    have shown that the others living in Jiggetts’ residence had a motive for
    possessing the stolen and lost gun, an exception to the rule, she claims the
    trial court should have admitted the evidence. Jiggetts’ Brief at 19-20.
    In reviewing an evidentiary challenge, we note:
    [o]ur standard of review regarding the admissibility of evidence is
    an abuse of discretion. The admissibility of evidence is a matter
    addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court and ... an
    appellate court may only reverse upon a showing that the trial
    court abused its discretion. An abuse of discretion is not a mere
    error in judgment but, rather, involves bias, ill will, partiality,
    prejudice, manifest unreasonableness, or misapplication of law.
    Commonwealth v. Collins, 
    70 A.3d 1245
    , 1251-1252 (Pa. Super. 2013),
    appeal denied, 
    80 A.3d 774
     (2013) (citations and quotations omitted).
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    Generally, “[e]vidence of a [person’s] prior criminal activity is
    inadmissible to demonstrate his bad character or criminal propensity.”
    Commonwealth v. Cox, 
    115 A.3d 333
    , 337 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation
    omitted). However, “‘[p]rior bad acts' evidence may be admissible where it
    is relevant for some other legitimate purpose and not utilized solely to blacken
    the [person’s] character.” Commonwealth v. Russell, 
    938 A.2d 1082
    , 1092
    (Pa. Super. 2007), appeal denied, 
    956 A.2d 434
     (2008). Pennsylvania Rule
    of Evidence 404 provides in pertinent part as follows:
    (b) Other crimes, wrongs, or acts.
    (1) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to
    prove the character of a person in order to show action in
    conformity therewith.
    (2) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts may be admitted
    for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity,
    intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity or absence of
    mistake or accident.
    (3) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts proffered under
    subsection (b)(2) of this rule may be admitted in a criminal case
    only upon a showing that the probative value of the evidence
    outweighs its potential for prejudice.
    Pa.R.E. 404(b) (emphasis added).        To be admissible under the motive
    exception, “there must be a specific logical connection between the other act
    and the crime at issue which establishes that the crime currently being
    considered grew out of or was in any way caused by the prior set of facts and
    circumstances.”   Commonwealth v. Ross, 
    57 A.3d 85
    , 100 (Pa. Super.
    2012) (en banc) (quotation marks and citation omitted), appeal denied, 
    72 A.3d 603
     (Pa. 2013).
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    In explaining its reason for precluding this evidence, the trial court
    stated: “[J]iggetts’ purported use of the prior criminal record of the individuals
    she alleges to have been living in her home is the exact use prohibited by the
    Rules of Evidence—to prove these persons acted in conformity with their prior
    convictions.” Trial Court Opinion, 3/15/19, at 9. Thus, the trial court excluded
    the testimony under Rule 404 (b)(1).
    However, Jiggetts sought to introduce the evidence under Rule
    404(b)(2). Jiggetts sought to admit evidence of the criminal histories of the
    others living at her residence to demonstrate that all of these individuals,
    except for Jiggetts, were prohibited from possessing firearms.        Because of
    prior convictions, they could not legally purchase a gun. Therefore, they had
    a reason to obtain and possess stolen or lost guns. Thus, this information was
    offered to show these individuals had motive to acquire stolen or lost guns.
    Jiggetts, on the other hand, had no such motive; she could legally purchase a
    gun if needed. Rule 404(b) allows the prior bad acts evidence to establish
    motive. The trial court erred in refusing to admit this evidence.
    Additionally, the excluded evidence was harmful to Jiggetts’ case. There
    was no direct evidence of who actually possessed the guns.             Thus, the
    evidence proffered by Jiggetts would have supported her defense. Evidence
    which tends to show that the crime for which an accused stands trial was
    committed by someone else is relevant and admissible. Commonwealth v.
    McGowan, 
    635 A.2d 113
    , 115 (Pa. 1993). As a result, the exclusion of this
    evidence constituted prejudice.    It is therefore necessary to remand the case
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    for a new trial.    However, since evidentiary error only affects Jiggetts’
    convictions for receiving stolen property, theft of property lost, and possession
    of unlawful body armor, a new trial shall be held on these charges only.
    Jiggetts’ conviction for possession of a controlled substance is unaffected, and
    consequently, stands.
    Judgment of sentence vacated. Conviction for possession of a controlled
    substance affirmed.     Convictions for receiving stolen property, theft of
    property lost, and possession of unlawful body armor reversed.              Case
    remanded for a new trial in accordance with this decision.           Jurisdiction
    relinquished.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 1/3/2020
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