Com. v. Lauver, N. ( 2021 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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. :
:
:
NATHAN WAYNE LAUVER :
:
Appellant : No. 916 MDA 2020
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 20, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-44-CR-0000566-2018
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., McCAFFERY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED APRIL 21, 2021
Nathan Wayne Lauver appeals from the judgment of sentence, entered
in the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County, following his conviction, after
a jury trial, of institutional vandalism.1 Upon careful review, we affirm.
This Court previously set forth the facts and procedural history of this
case as follows:
On August 15, 2019, the Commonwealth charged Lauver with
institutional vandalism and the trial court appointed counsel to
represent him. Thereafter, on December 28, 2018, Lauver filed a
“Petition for Change of Appointed Counsel Due to Conflict.” The
certified record contains no evidence that the trial court ruled on
this petition. By order entered January 31, 2019, the case was
scheduled for jury trial beginning on March 11, 2019. That same
day, Lauver’s counsel filed a petition to withdraw, based upon a
breakdown in the attorney-client relationship.
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A.§ 3307.
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On February 26, 2019, Lauver filed a pro se motion for
continuance of his trial date, which the Commonwealth opposed.
By order entered March 7, 2019, the trial court denied Lauver’s
request for a continuance. After considering pre-trial motions filed
by Lauver, the case proceeded to a jury trial on March 20, 2019.
On that date, the jury convicted Lauver of institutional vandalism.
On April 1, 2019, Lauver filed a pro se “Post Verdict Motion for
Judgment of Acquittal/Arrest of Judgment/New Trial,” as well as
[a] “Motion for Bail Pending Appeal,” and a “Motion for Transcripts
of Proceedings.” The next day, the trial court granted Lauver’s
request for transcripts, and deferred ruling on the remaining
motions until sentencing.
On May 16, 2019, the trial court sentenced Lauver to a $1,000.00
fine and a 9[-]to[-]24 month[] term of state incarceration. The
court further ruled that bail would continue pending appeal, but if
Lauver failed to file an appeal, “he shall appear at the Mifflin
County Correctional Facility [(MCCF)] on June 17, 2019, for
transfer to a State Correctional Institution.” A transcript of the
sentencing proceeding does not appear in the certified record.
The record does contain, however, Lauver’s written
acknowledgement of post-sentence procedures, which he and
standby counsel signed. There is no indication in the certified
record that the trial court disposed of Lauver’s post-verdict
motion.
On May 24, 2019, Lauver filed a “Post Sentence Motion for
Judgment of Acquittal/Arrest of Judgment/New Trial.” The trial
court denied this motion on May 29, 2019. [A] timely pro se
appeal followed.
Commonwealth v. Lauver, 975 MDA 2019, at 1-3 (Pa. Super. filed Feb. 10,
2020) (unpublished memorandum decision). On February 10, 2020, this
Court remanded the case for a Grazier2 hearing after noting that “there is no
indication in the certified record that Lauver ever made a knowing, intelligent
waiver of his right to counsel on appeal pursuant to Grazier.” Id. at 3.
____________________________________________
2 Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.3d 81 (Pa. 1998).
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At the Grazier hearing held on June 8, 2020, Lauver repeatedly
asserted his desire to proceed pro se and indicated to the trial court that he
understood: (1) his right to be represented by counsel, including free counsel
if he were indigent; (2) the nature of the charge against him and the elements
thereof; (3) the permissible range of sentences and fines; (4) that he would
be bound by all rules of procedure with which counsel would be familiar; and
(5) that he may have other rights which will be lost permanently if not timely
asserted. See N.T. Grazier Hearing, 6/8/20, at 12-15; see also Pa.R.Crim.P.
121 (requiring foregoing elements to establish knowing, voluntary, and
intelligent waiver of right to counsel). That same day, the trial court accepted
Lauver’s waiver pursuant to Rule 121, and appointed Attorney Stuart A. Cilo,
Esquire, as standby counsel regarding any and all appellate procedures. See
Order 6/8/2020. On August 11, 2020, Lauver filed his court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, and on August
20, 2020, the trial court issued its response.3
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3 On September 14, 2020, Lauver filed a pro se “Petition for Administrative
Review/Relief,” in which he argued that the June 8, 2020 Grazier hearing was
“unwarranted” and should not have occurred. See Petition, 9/14/20, at 3;
but see Commonwealth v. Robinson, 970 A.2d 445, 459-60 (Pa. Super.
2009) (en banc) (“A Grazier hearing is required before we may adjudicate an
appeal even when . . . a particular appellant clearly and unequivocally
indicates a desire to represent himself.”). In his petition, Lauver requested
that this Court “consider [his] appeal as originally docketed with no further
filing requirements imposed on [him,] thus effectively reinstating the original
appeal docket.” Petition, 9/14/20, at 4. Because Lauver failed to file a motion
for reconsideration in his prior appeal, and subsequently filed a timely Rule
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Instantly, Lauver raises nine issues for our review:
1. Is the verdict slip inconsistent/invalid [and] ambiguous by
demonstrating lack of damage/pecuniary loss? Was [the]
guilty verdict due solely to jury speculation as to a matter of
law, contrary to a finding of guilt, thus “shocking one’s sense
of justice” requiring reversal/molding/acquittal?
2. Did [the] trial [court] abuse [its] discretion [or] make an error
of law when [it] denied [the] jury[’s] request for [the] legal
definition of “vandalism” during deliberations causing [the] jury
to speculate about [a] material matter of law as it pertained to
[the] court’s written jury instructions on elements of [the]
offense, thus causing [an] erroneous verdict based on
prejudicial speculation[,] severely prejudicing [the] defense,
adversely affecting [the] outcome of trial?
3. Was [Lauver’s] right to be present at all stages of trial violated
when [the] judge denied [the] jury’s request for [the] definition
of “vandalism” during deliberation without notifying the parties
of [the] jury[’]s question or holding [a] hearing in court before
[the] verdict was reached[,] thus preventing [the] defense[’s]
objection[,] creating revers[ible] error with respect to [the]
trial judge’s erroneous denial of [the] jury request for [the]
legal definition of “vandalism” during deliberations as it applies
to [the] written jury instruction explaining [the] elements of
[the] crime possessed by the jury during deliberations?
4. Was counsel ineffective[,] prejudicing [Lauver] and adversely
affecting [the] outcome of [the] proceedings as well as failing
to preserve issues?
5. W[ere] the court’s written instructions on the elements of
“institutional vandalism” unconstitutionally vague, prejudicial,
and inadequate[,] causing jury confusion as to the elements of
the crime?
6. Did [the] court erroneously deny [Lauver’s] pretrial motion to
quash return of transcripts (preliminary hearing)?
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1925(b) statement and appellate brief at the instant docket number, which
are identical to his previous filings, we hereby deny this petition as moot.
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7. Was it a prejudicial violation of discovery where vital
exculpatory evidence was not produced by [the] prosecution
despite being ordered to be produced by [the] trial court?
8. Did [the] Commonwealth fail to meet [its] burden of proof
where the Commonwealth’s information alleges that the
camera in question is a “venerated object?”
9. Do[] the weight and sufficiency of [the] Commonwealth[’s]
evidence support a finding of guilt?
Brief of Appellant, at 10-12 (page numbers altered to reflect actual
pagination).
First, Lauver argues that the verdict was inconsistent, ambiguous, and
shocking to one’s sense of justice because the jury found him guilty of
institutional vandalism but specifically indicated that MCCF incurred no
pecuniary loss or damages. He submits that, accordingly, he is entitled to a
new trial. Because the trial court’s decision on whether to set aside a jury’s
verdict raises a pure question of law, our scope of review plenary and our
standard of review is de novo. See Commonwealth v. Rose, 960 A.2d 149,
155 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3307(a)(3), a person is guilty of institutional
vandalism if he knowingly “vandalizes, defaces[,] or otherwise damages . . .
any . . . [s]tate or local government building.” Id. The offense is graded as
a third-degree felony if the actor causes pecuniary loss in excess of $5,000;
otherwise, the offense is graded as a second-degree misdemeanor. 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 3307(b). Contrary to Lauver’s assertions, pecuniary loss is not an
element of institutional vandalism that must be proven beyond a reasonable
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doubt. See id. Instead, pecuniary loss is only relevant to the grading of the
offense. Here, the Commonwealth charged Lauver with a second-degree
misdemeanor offense, and thus, pecuniary loss need not have been proven to
adjudicate him guilty. For this reason, the verdict is not inconsistent, nor does
it shock one’s sense of justice, and Lauver is entitled to no relief.
In his second and third issues, which we address in tandem, Lauver
argues that because the trial court omitted the word “otherwise”—which
appears in the statute—from its jury instruction, and refused to define
“vandalism” for the jury without first hearing arguments from counsel,
reversal or a new trial is appropriate. See Brief of Appellant, at 43-50.
Our standard of review in regard to a trial court’s decisions on jury
instructions is one of deference; an appellate court will reverse a trial court’s
decision only when it abused its discretion or committed an error of law.
Commonwealth v. Cannavo, 199 A.3d 1282, 1286 (Pa. Super. 2018). “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.” Commonwealth v.
Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 754 (Pa. Super. 2014).
Moreover, it is well-settled that “[a] specific and timely objection must
be made to preserve a challenge to a particular jury instruction. . . .
Generally, a defendant waives subsequent challenges to the propriety of the
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jury charge on appeal if he responds in the negative when the court asks
whether additions or corrections to a jury charge are necessary.”
Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 178 (Pa. Super. 2010).
At Lauver’s trial, the court charged the jury, in relevant part, as follows:
The Court: Now, let me go ahead and read you the actual charge
then. Goes like this. Institutional vandalism. . . . To find that
the Defendant is guilty of this offense you must find that the
following elements have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
First, the Defendant vandalized, defaced[,] or damaged a certain
state or local government building or vehicle. Second, that the
Defendant did so knowingly. In other words, the Defendant knew
the nature of the place and what he was doing.
***
Now[,] if you have questions while you’re deliberating[,] you
submit those in writing underneath the door, give them to the
tipstaff who will then give them to me. Good chance I won’t be
able to answer that. Don’t expect that. If I have a question
that I could answer easily[,] I’m gonna [sic] write on it.
When we come back[,] I will notify the parties here of what
went down. In the event it’s a question that I need their
input [on], I will reconvene us here, without you hearing, and
then I’ll reach a conclusion in front of them to see whether I can
answer your question or not. Okay?
Now, any objections to my instructions[?]
***
[Lauver]: No.
N.T. Jury Trial, 3/20/19, at 167 (emphasis added).
Here, Lauver raised no timely objection to the trial court’s instructions,
nor did he propose any challenge, addition, or correction to the court’s
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instructions, such as including the word “otherwise.”4 N.T. Jury Trial, 3/20/19,
at 167. Accordingly, this issue is waived. Moury, supra.5
Similarly, Lauver failed to object to the trial court’s instruction that it
would answer “eas[y]” questions from the jury without input from counsel,
and would only reconvene if the court “need[ed]” counsel’s input. N.T. Jury
Trial, 3/20/19, at 167. Therefore, Lauver has waived his argument that the
____________________________________________
4 Lauver submits that:
Use of the word ‘otherwise’ in the Court’s written instruction would
have allowed the jury to determine that ‘damage’ was also
included in the definition of ‘vandalized,’ but the jury never had
this language from which to discern that such a connection
existed.
***
The jury was [] led to believe that the term ‘vandalism’ stood
alone with respect to the other terms and had an entirely separate
definition. Had the jury been informed that ‘vandalism’
encompasses actual damage, they would [] have . . . reached a
different verdict which reflected the fact that the jury found no
evidence of damage and therefore, the facts of the case did not
qualify as actual vandalism.
Brief of Appellant, at 43-50. This argument is flawed for the reason that
“[w]ords in statutes are not to be considered surplus. Instead, we are to give
effect to every word.” Commonwealth v. Reefer, 816 A.2d 1136, 1144 (Pa.
Super. 2003). Lauver’s interpretation fails to do so by suggesting “vandalizes”
carries the identical meaning of the word “damages.”
5 Nevertheless, this claim is without merit because the trial court quoted
verbatim from the Pennsylvania Standard Suggested Criminal Jury
Instructions. Antidormi, supra; see also Commonwealth v. Sandusky,
77 A.3d 663, 674 (Pa. Super. 2013) (where trial court quoted near verbatim
from Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Criminal Jury Instructions, trial court
committed no error in charging jury).
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trial court erred or committed reversable error in declining to answer a
question from the jury without first hearing arguments from counsel. Moury,
supra.6
Next, Lauver claims that trial counsel was ineffective. In support of his
ineffectiveness claim, Lauver provides only one citation to the record,
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6 Absent waiver, Lauver’s claim that the trial court erred in declining to provide
the jury with a definition of “vandalism” is unavailing.
The scope of supplemental instructions given in response to a
jury’s request rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge.
There may be situations in which a trial judge may decline to
answer questions put by the jury, but where a jury returns on its
own motion indicating confusion, the court has the duty to give
such additional instructions on the law as the court may think
necessary to clarify the jury’s doubt or confusion.
Commonwealth v. Davalos, 779 A.2d 1190, 1195 (Pa. Super. 2001)
(emphasis added); see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 647 (trial judge may give additional
instructions as judge deems necessary and appropriate for jury’s guidance).
Here, the trial court declined to answer the jury’s question because
“vandalism” was not defined by the statute, see 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3307, and
because the jury could utilize their common sense, in combination with the
other terms “defaced” and “damaged” to ascertain the definition of
“vandalism” as it applied to the facts of the case. Trial Court Opinion, 5/29/19,
at 2-3. The trial court further explained that the jury was free to find [Lauver]
“defaced” or “damaged” the video camera and that the court “did not want to
put extra emphasis on the definition of vandalism [because t]he court believed
providing this definition . . . would only add to their confusion.” Id. Under
these circumstances, the trial court properly exercised its discretion, and
because the instructions clearly, accurately, and adequately explained the law
to the jury, the trial court committed no error of law. Antidormi, supra;Sandusky, supra; see also Commonwealth v. Hughes, 865 A.2d 761,
800 (Pa. 2004) (jury may properly draw upon knowledge and common
experience to reach a conclusion; judge’s instruction allowing jury to reference
“youth” in terms of common experience not improper where no age explicitly
set forth defining “youth” as mitigating circumstance).
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indicating where the trial court denied his post-sentence motion for acquittal;
he does not cite to any legal authority whatsoever. See Brief of Appellant, at
50-52, 75-77. Accordingly, this issue is waived by virtue of being completely
undeveloped. See Commonwealth v. Hardy, 918 A.2d 766, 771 (Pa. Super.
2007) (appellant’s duty is to present arguments sufficiently developed for our
review; we will not act as counsel and will not develop arguments on behalf
of appellant; brief must support claims with pertinent discussion, references
to record, and citations to legal authorities); Commonwealth v. Clayton,
816 A.2d 217, 221 (Pa. 2002) (undeveloped claims are waived and
unreviewable on appeal).
In his fifth issue, Lauver contends that the court’s written jury
instructions regarding section 3307—taken verbatim from the Pennsylvania
Suggested Standard Criminal Jury Instructions—as a whole, are
unconstitutionally vague, prejudicial, “inadequate[,] not clear[,] or ha[d] a
tendency to mislead or confuse the jury” because the trial court did not
provide “the definition of ‘vandalism’ as it pertains to law[,]” which he argues
is as follows:
the action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public
or private property ([W]ikipedia) [] or alternatively, according to
Black[’s] Law Dictionary, 2nd edition, ‘mindless and malicious
harm and injury to another’s property.’
***
Such legal knowledge cannot be presumed by the court to be
possessed by a jury of lay people . . . [and] use of the term
‘vandalizes’ alongside separate elements of ‘defaces and
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damages’ . . . improperly misleads the jury into believing
that . . . to ‘vandalize’ does not entail actual damage[.]
Brief of Appellant, at 82-94 (emphasis added).
To withstand constitutional scrutiny based upon a challenge of
vagueness, a criminal statute must “define the criminal offense with sufficient
definiteness that ordinary people can understand what is prohibited and in a
manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.”
Commonwealth v. Kakhankham, 132 A.3d 986, 991 (Pa. Super. 2015).
The relevant language of section 3307, which is practically identical to
the Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Criminal Jury Instructions, describes
institutional vandalism as consisting of two principal elements: (1) knowingly
defacing, damaging, or vandalizing property, and (2) that the property
belongs to the state or a local government building. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3307. As
applied to Lauver, section 3307 is quite clear; the record shows, and Lauver
admitted, that Lauver knowingly poured water in and on a camera inside his
jail cell at MCCF, which resulted in the device having technological issues. In
enacting section 3307, the legislature intended to proscribe this conduct.
Lauver does not suggest, nor does the statute’s language indicate, that the
statute, as defined, encourages arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.
Furthermore, basic principles of statutory interpretation belie Lauver’s
assertion that “vandalizes” carries the same legal meaning as “damages”
under the language of section 3307. See Commonwealth v. Ostrosky, 866
A.2d 423 (Pa. Super. 2005) (whenever possible, each word in statutory
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provision is given meaning and not treated as surplusage); 1 Pa.C.S.A. §
1922(2) (legislature intends entire statute to be effective). Accordingly,
section 3307, and in turn, the court’s written jury instructions, are not
unconstitutionally vague. Kakhankham, supra.
Next, Lauver argues that the trial court erred in denying his “pretrial
motion to quash return of transcripts.” Brief of Appellant, at 53-54. While
the issue is briefly described in Lauver’s “summary of arguments” section,
without any citations to the record or to any legal authority, see id. at 54,
Lauver does not include any discussion thereof in the “argument” section of
his brief. See id. at 60-111. Thus, we are unable address the issue, which
has been abandoned. See Commonwealth v. Spotz, 18 A.3d 244, 323 (Pa.
2011) (claims and sub-claims that are undeveloped are unreviewable and are
accordingly waived).7
Lauver next argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the
Commonwealth withheld exculpatory evidence from him which severely
prejudiced his defense, in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83(1963). Specifically, Lauver points to a “cell accountability form” that he
allegedly signed on the date of the offense showing that no damage to the
camera had occurred. See Brief of Appellant, at 56.
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7 We note, however, that “[o]nce appellant has gone to trial and been found
guilty of the crime, any defect in the preliminary hearing is rendered
immaterial. Commonwealth v. Jackson, 849 A.2d 1254, 1257 (Pa. Super.
2004).
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In order to establish a Brady violation, a defendant must show that:
(1) evidence was suppressed by the state, either willfully or inadvertently; (2)
the evidence was favorable to the defendant, either because it was
exculpatory or because it could have been used for impeachment; and (3) the
evidence was material, in that its omission resulted in prejudice to the
defendant. Commonwealth v. Willis, 46 A.3d 648, 656 (Pa. 2012).
At trial, Lauver was able to establish that the signed “cell accountability
form” was suppressed by eliciting testimony from Warden Joshua Graver that
he “could not locate it.” N.T. Jury Trial, 3/20/19, at 72. However, Lauver has
failed to establish that the evidence was material in that its omission resulted
in prejudice. Lauver claims that the cell accountability form “would have
undoubtedly ex[]onerated [him] since it proved a contemporaneous record
existed that established a clear lack of damage to the camera in
question[,] which [he] also signed[.]”. Brief of Appellant, at 49 (emphasis
added). However, the jury’s verdict, discussed supra, indicated that they
believed Lauver’s testimony that no damage to the camera occurred, in the
sense that there was no pecuniary loss. The jury was able to determine Lauver
was guilty of institutional vandalism for vandalizing or defacing the camera.
We note again that, contrary to Lauver’s repeated assertions, the term
“vandalize” does not carry the same meaning as the word “damage” in section
3307, and proof of actual damage was not necessary to find him guilty beyond
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a reasonable doubt. See Ostrosky, supra; 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3307. Therefore,
no relief is due.
In his eighth issue, Lauver claims that the Commonwealth “fail[ed] to
meet [its] burden of proof where . . . the camera in question does not meet
the statutory definition of a ‘venerated object.’” See Brief of Appellant, at 58.
Once again, the issue is briefly mentioned, without any citations to the record
or to any legal authority, in Lauver’s “summary of arguments” section;
however, Lauver does not include any discussion thereof in the “argument”
section of his brief. See id. at 53, 60-111. Therefore, the issue is waived.
Spotz, supra; Clayton, supra.
In his two final issues, Lauver raises challenges to the sufficiency and
weight of the evidence for his institutional vandalism conviction.
When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, this Court
must review the evidence and all reasonable inferences in the light
most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict winner, and
we must determine if the evidence, thus viewed, is sufficient to
enable the fact-finder to find every element of the offense beyond
a reasonable doubt.
Commonwealth v. Goins, 867 A.2d 526, 527 (Pa. Super. 2004).
As noted supra, pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3307(3), a person is guilty
of institutional vandalism if he knowingly vandalizes, defaces, or damages
a state or local government building. Id.
The evidence presented at trial established that Lauver was an inmate
at MCCF at the time of the offense. N.T. Jury Trial, 3/20/19, at 21-23.
Corrections Officer Dakota Baumgardner testified that, on the date in
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question, he observed Lauver soaking a towel and beating it on the sink, toilet,
bunk, and walls of his cell “for no apparent reason.” Id. at 26. Officer
Baumgardner then went to the control room to notify Lieutenant Clint
Chambers of this behavior and continued observing Lauver through the
monitors in that room. Id. at 26-28. He testified that the screen from the
camera was blurry and that he could see Lauver rubbing the camera with a
wet towel. Id. at 28. As Lauver continued to do so, the screen went gray and
the officers “couldn’t see anything out of it at all.” Id. The Commonwealth
played the video to the jury, which depicted Lauver repeatedly pouring water
from a milk carton onto a towel which he used to cover the camera; each time,
the video became blurrier. Id. at 50-53. Officer Baumgardner testified that
when he and Lieutenant Chambers went back to Lauver’s cell, the clear
protective case on the camera was filled halfway with water. Id. at 29.
Warden Graver testified that the camera became inoperable due to water
damage. Id. at 53-54, 66-67. Warden Graver also testified that he was
required to replace the camera at a cost of approximately six hundred eighty
dollars, but could not corroborate that the replacement occurred. Id. at 67-
77. Lauver testified that he initially tried to cover the camera with wet toilet
paper so that he could use the toilet privately. Id. at 100-01. When this
failed, Lauver admitted that he poured water from a milk carton into the
protective bubble of the camera so that a damp rag could stay in place and
block the camera while he used the restroom:
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I partially covered this bubble up and I pour[ed] a little bit of water
out of my milk carton. I had a little bit hit the bottom. I poured
a little bit of water. You can see that in the video. You can see a
little bit of water going outside of the bubble and I catch it with
that rag. . . . Eventually, I got the camera covered.
Id. at 102.
This testimony, viewed in light most favorable to the Commonwealth as
verdict winner, is sufficient to have enabled the jury to find every element of
the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Lauver admitted to intentionally
pouring water into or on the camera, and both Officer Baumgardner and
Lieutenant Chambers testified that the camera stopped working as a result,
which was corroborated by video footage played for the jury. Based on this
evidence, the jury could have found that Lauver knowingly vandalized,
defaced, or damaged property of MCCF.
Finally, when examining a challenge to the weight of the evidence, our
standard of review is as follows:
The weight of the evidence is exclusively for the finder of fact who
is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence and to
determine the credibility of the witnesses. . . . [W]e may only
reverse the . . . verdict if it is so contrary to the evidence as to
shock one’s sense of justice.
Moreover, where the trial court has ruled on the weight claim
below, an appellate court’s role is not to consider the underlying
question of whether the verdict is against the weight of the
evidence. Rather, appellate review is limited to whether the trial
court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the weight claim.
Commonwealth v. Champney, 832 A.2d 403, 408 (Pa. 2003) (internal
citations omitted). A “trial court’s denial of a motion for a new trial based on
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a weight of the evidence claim is the least assailable of its rulings.”
Commonwealth v. Rivera, 983 A.2d 1211, 1225 (Pa. 2009).
In denying Lauver’s weight of the evidence claim, the trial court
explained that:
Although [Lauver] argues the jury’s verdict is not based on the
evidence presented at trial, the [c]ourt is not persuaded. A review
of the record shows evidence was presented that would allow the
jury to find [Lauver] knowingly vandalized, defaced[,] or
otherwise damaged a video camera at the Mifflin County
Correctional Facility. As stated above, testimony provided
[Lauver] poured water on the camera. [Lauver] admits he poured
water on the camera and that he did this knowingly. Testimony
also provided after [Lauver] poured water on the camera[,] the
camera was no longer operable. While [Lauver] testified he did
not intend to damage the camera, the jury was free to determine
Lauver’s credibility. The [c]ourt will not upset the verdict because
[Lauver’s] testimony conflicted with the other witnesses. Further,
the [c]ourt cannot find that the verdict was so contrary to shock
one’s sense of justice. As such, the [c]ourt finds this argument is
without merit.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/29/19, at 8.
With respect to Lauver’s weight challenge, after a thorough review of
the record, the parties’ briefs, the applicable law, and the opinion of the
Honorable David W. Barron, we conclude the verdict does not shock one’s
sense of justice, and that Judge Barron did not palpably abuse his discretion
in rejecting Lauver’s weight claim. Commonwealth v. Sanders, 42 A.3d
325, 331 (Pa. Super. 2012) (any conflicts in evidence or contradictions in
testimony are exclusively for jury to resolve). Accordingly, no relief is due.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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J-S01006-21
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 04/21/2021
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