Com. v. Velasquez, W. ( 2021 )


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  • J-S47027-20
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                 :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    :        PENNSYLVANIA
    :
    v.                             :
    :
    :
    WILLIAM M. VELASQUEZ                         :
    :
    Appellant               :   No. 2017 MDA 2019
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered July 17, 2019
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County Criminal Division at
    No(s): CP-14-CR-0000625-2018
    BEFORE:      STABILE, J., NICHOLS, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*
    MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.:                                FILED JULY 09, 2021
    Appellant William M. Velasquez appeals pro se1 from the judgment of
    sentence imposed after a jury found him guilty of committing aggravated
    indecent assault—personal less than sixteen years of age and three counts of
    indecent assault—person less than sixteen years of age against the
    complainant, E.B.2 Appellant claims that the trial court allowed perjured and
    ____________________________________________
    * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
    1 The trial court found that Appellant’s decision to proceed pro se in this appeal
    was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. See Commonwealth v. Grazier,
    
    713 A.2d 81
     (Pa. 1998) (setting forth the procedure to determine on the
    record that a defendant wishing to proceed pro se is knowingly, intelligently,
    and voluntarily waiving the right to counsel).
    2 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3125(a)(8) and 3126(a)(8), respectively.    At trial, the parties
    agreed, and the trial court instructed the jury, that the three counts of
    indecent assault concerned separate incidents, specifically, one incident in the
    Fall of 2015 and two incidents in the Fall of 2017.
    J-S47027-20
    coached testimony at trial and erred by failing to grant him a new trial.
    Appellant also challenges the rulings that (1) granted the Commonwealth’s
    motion in limine to admit Appellant’s nearly forty-year-old robbery conviction,
    (2) allowed the Commonwealth to ask hypothetical questions to its expert
    witness in violation of a pretrial order, (3) allowed testimony regarding the
    complainant’s demeanor at school, and (4) imposed an illegal mandatory
    minimum sentence in violation of Alleyne v. United States, 
    570 U.S. 99
    ,
    103 (2013). We affirm.
    On February 16, 2018, the Commonwealth charged Appellant with
    committing sexual offenses against the complainant, from the time the
    complainant was eleven or twelve years old until she reported the abuse in
    December 2017.3 Of relevance to this appeal, the Honorable Brian Marshall
    decided the parties’ pre-trial motions, and the pre-trial court (1) granted the
    Commonwealth’s motion to admit evidence of Appellant’s 1978 conviction for
    robbery as crimen falsi if Appellant testified at trial, (2) granted, in part,
    Appellant’s motion to limit the testimony of the Commonwealth’s expert, Dr.
    Veronique Valliere, by requiring the Commonwealth to inform the trial court
    of hypothetical questions before asking her to opine on the hypothetical, and
    (3) denied Appellant’s motion to preclude testimony from the complainant’s
    teachers and school counselor to testify regarding complainant’s behavioral
    changes following the abuse. See Pre-Trial Op. & Order, 11/15/18, at 6-7.
    ____________________________________________
    3 The complainant was fourteen years old when she reported the abuse.
    -2-
    J-S47027-20
    At    the   jury   trial   before   the   Honorable   Katherine   Oliver,    the
    Commonwealth presented testimony from the complainant, the complainant’s
    sister, Dr. Valliere, and the complainant’s teachers and school counselor,
    among other evidence. Following a colloquy, Appellant elected not to testify.4
    On May 29, 2019, the jury found Appellant guilty of the above-mentioned
    offenses.5
    On April 9, 2019, the Commonwealth filed notice of intent to seek a
    mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to Section 9718.2(a)(1). According
    to the Commonwealth, Appellant’s previous conviction for a sexual offense in
    Florida constituted a predicate crime.6
    The trial court held a sentencing hearing on July 16, 2019, at which it
    determined that Appellant’s previous Florida conviction constituted an
    ____________________________________________
    4 During the colloquy, Appellant explained that “it was not that [he did not]
    want to testify” but that his criminal record could be misconstrued.               N.T.,
    3/29/19, at 36.
    5 Private counsel, Andrew Shubin, Esq. (trial counsel), represented Appellant
    throughout the pre-trial and trial proceedings. Attorney Shubin withdrew from
    representing Appellant before sentencing with the leave of the trial court.
    Assistant Public Defender Elizabeth Ramos, Esq., represented Appellant at
    sentencing.
    6 The Commonwealth also filed a separate notice of appeal for application of
    the mandatory minimum sentence based on Appellant’s prior convictions for
    multiple crime of violence pursuant to Section 9714.
    -3-
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    equivalent offense under Section 9718.2.7 The trial court sentenced Appellant
    to an aggregate sentence of twenty-six to fifty-two years’ imprisonment.8
    Appellant timely filed post-sentence motions and a supplemental post-
    sentence motion.        The trial court entered an opinion and order denying
    Appellant’s post-sentence motions. Post-Sentence Op. & Order, 11/19/19.
    Appellant thereafter sought leave to proceed pro se, which the trial court
    granted.    On December 6, 2019, Appellant timely filed a pro se notice of
    appeal9 and complied with the trial court’s order to file and serve a Pa.R.A.P.
    1925(b) statement. The trial court filed its Rule 1925(a) opinion relying on
    its November 19, 2019, opinion and order denying Appellant’s post-sentence
    motions and briefly addressed Appellant’s claim that the complainant’s sister
    committed perjury in that her mother coerced and coached the sister’s
    testimony. Rule 1925(a) Op., 1/17/20.
    ____________________________________________
    7 The trial court also determined that it was authorized to impose a twenty-
    five to fifty-year sentence based on Appellant’s prior convictions for crimes of
    violence under Section 9714.
    8 The trial court imposed a mandatory minimum sentence      of twenty-five to
    fifty years for aggravated indecent assault—personal less than sixteen years
    of age and a consecutive sentence of one to two years for one of the three
    counts of indecent assault—person less than sixteen years of age. The trial
    court imposed concurrent sentences of one to two years each on the remaining
    two counts of indecent assault—person less than sixteen years of age.
    9 Attorney Ramos filed a motion to withdraw as counsel on December 10,
    2019, which the trial court granted on December 12, 2019, following a
    hearing. The trial court also determined that Appellant’s exercise of his right
    to self-representation was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary and appointed
    Attorney Ramos as stand-by counsel.
    -4-
    J-S47027-20
    Appellant presents the following questions in his pro se appellate brief:
    1. Did the trial court err or abuse its discretion in failing to sua
    sponte stop Appellant’s trial proceedings upon hearing
    [complainant’s sister’s] testimony that she had been coerced,
    coached, and suborned to commit perjury against Appellant as
    to having witnessed Appellant’s alleged criminal conduct and
    whether (1) hold a hearing outside the presence of the jury to
    inquire into such misconduct, or (2) immediately declare a
    mistrial?
    2. In light of the multiple witnesses called to testify by the
    Commonwealth during Appellant’s trial, was the use of
    Appellant’s 40 year old robbery conviction to threaten him with
    impeachment should he call the only witness available to testify
    for the defense—himself—more prejudicial to him than
    probative for the Commonwealth; and if so, did the trial court
    err or abuse its discretion in allowing such impeachment of the
    defense’s only witness?
    3. Is the deliberate disobedience of a court order done in bad faith
    per se; and, if so, was the Commonwealth’s deliberate
    disobedience of the trial court’s order in re Appellant’s pretrial
    motion in limine as to the use of a hypothetical scenario and
    line of questioning done in bad faith? Was the use of such
    hypothetical too speculative and/or did it impermiss[i]bly
    [bolster the credibility of the [complainant] and/or further
    prejudice Appellant by inflaming the jury against him through
    the power of suggestion?
    4. Did the testimony of the school teachers called by the
    Commonwealth to testify as to the [complainant]’s post-
    incident mental well-being and academic performance too
    speculative and impermiss[i]bly bolster the credibility of the
    [complainant]; and, if so, did the trial court err or abuse its
    discretion in allowing such testimony at Appellant’s trial?
    5. Did the [trial] court err in sentencing Appellant pursuant to 42
    Pa.C.S.[ §] 9718.2?
    Appellant’s Brief at 5-6 (some formatting altered).
    Complainant’s Sister’s Perjury
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    In his first issue, Appellant contends that the complainant’s sister
    perjured herself and that the trial court violated his due process rights by
    failing to take remedial measures. Appellant’s claim arises from the following
    testimony exchanges at trial with the complainant’s sister:
    [Commonwealth]. Did you ever see [Appellant] give [the
    complainant] a kiss?
    [Complainant’s Sister]. Yes.
    [Commonwealth]. Did you ever see [Appellant] kiss [the
    complainant] in a way that you thought was unusual?
    [Complainant’s Sister]. Yes.
    [Commonwealth]. Can you describe that for us?
    [Complainant’s Sister]. He would lean in and kiss her and then he
    would touch his tongue to her tongue.
    N.T., 3/29/19, at 8-9.
    Appellant’s trial counsel cross-examined the complainant’s sister using
    her prior statement that “[the complainant’s sister] didn’t see him do anything
    but [her] mom told [her] that he did stuff.” Id. at 11. The complainant’s
    sister agreed that she recalled giving this prior statement. Id.
    On appeal, Appellant asserts that that the complainant’s sister perjured
    her testimony and that her mother coerced or coached her to do so.10
    ____________________________________________
    10 We note that Appellant’s brief appears to cite from a transcript of the
    complainant’s sister’s prior statement at the Children’s Advocacy Center
    (CAC), an excerpt of which Appellant attached to his motion in limine. See
    Appellant’s Brief at 12-13. Appellant did not move to admit any portion of the
    CAC transcript into evidence at trial, and it is not otherwise contained in the
    certified record transmitted to this Court.
    -6-
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    Appellant’s Brief at 13.     Appellant contends that trial court should have
    declared a mistrial sua sponte or taken other measure to address the perjured
    testimony. Id. at 13-14. Appellant concludes that he is entitled to a new
    trial. Id. at 14.
    The Commonwealth responds that Appellant failed to preserve his claim
    that the complainant’s sister’s testimony was perjured or coached by failing
    to raise it at trial.      Commonwealth’s Brief at 9.          Alternatively, the
    Commonwealth asserts that claim is “wholly without merit.” Id.
    The trial court, in its Rule 1925(a) opinion concluded that Appellant’s
    issue lacked merit.     Specifically, the trial court found that the record
    contradicted   Appellant’s   characterization   of   the   complainant’s   sister’s
    testimony and concluded that the complainant’s sister “did not testify that she
    had been ‘coerced, coached, and suborned to commit perjury.’” Rule 1925(a)
    Op., 1/17/20, at 1.
    “It is within a trial judge’s discretion to declare a mistrial sua sponte
    upon the showing of manifest necessity, and absent an abuse of that
    discretion, we will not disturb his or her decision.” Commonwealth v. Kelly,
    
    797 A.2d 925
    , 936 (Pa. Super. 2002) (citations omitted). Further, it is well
    settled that
    [t]he prosecution may not knowingly and deliberately
    misrepresent the evidence in order to gain a conviction.
    Nevertheless,    a     claim    of     purposeful    prosecutorial
    misrepresentation will not stand if examination of the record fails
    to reveal any indication of deceptive tactics on the part of the
    prosecution. Minor discrepancies in the Commonwealth’s case will
    not be considered false evidence.
    -7-
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    Commonwealth v. Ali, 
    10 A.3d 282
    , 294 (Pa. 2010) (citations omitted).
    Instantly, our review of the record confirms that Appellant did not
    preserve his claim that the complainant’s sister’s testimony was perjured or
    that the Commonwealth knowingly presented false evidence. Appellant did
    not object to the complainant’s sister’s testimony at trial, did not claim
    perjury, and did not move for mistrial.      To the contrary, Appellant’s trial
    counsel used the complainant’s prior statements to impeach the credibility of
    her account of seeing Appellant kiss the complainant using his tongue.
    Accordingly, Appellant’s claim is waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).
    In any event, the record does not support Appellant’s conclusory
    arguments that the complainant’s sister perjured herself, that her mother
    suborned the perjury, or that the Commonwealth knowingly and deliberately
    presented false testimony.     Instead, the inconsistencies in the testimony
    concern issues of credibility for the jury to decide. Cf. Commonwealth v.
    Lynn, 
    192 A.3d 194
    , 201 (Pa. Super. 2018) (discussing a claim that retrial
    should be barred because the Commonwealth presented a witness that it knew
    would lie and noting that “inconsistencies in evidence, in and of themselves,
    do not equate to the introduction of false evidence” (citation omitted)). For
    these reasons, we discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s conclusion.
    Accordingly, Appellant’s first claim merits no relief. See Kelly, 
    797 A.2d at 936
    .
    Appellant’s Prior Crimen Falsi Conviction
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    In his second issue, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in ruling
    that his 1978 conviction for robbery could be admitted as crimen falsi if
    Appellant testified at trial. Appellant’s Brief at 15. Appellant asserts that the
    trial court erred in its pre-trial ruling that the probative value of this prior
    conviction outweighed its prejudicial effect to his defense at trial. Id. at 17.
    Specifically, Appellant contends that “[w]hile a prior robbery would be a crime
    of crimen falsi, the age of the alleged robbery should have precluded it from
    being used at trial.” Id. at 15. Appellant further notes that he did not testify
    at trial because his prior robbery conviction could be admitted. Id. at 17.
    The Commonwealth counters that the trial court did not abuse its
    discretion. Commonwealth’s Brief at 10-11. The Commonwealth asserts that
    the trial court properly considered all relevant factors when admitting crimen
    falsi evidence based on the conviction being older than ten years. Id.
    Our Supreme Court summarized the applicable standard of review as
    follows:
    “When reviewing the denial of a motion in limine, this Court
    applies an evidentiary abuse of discretion standard of review. . . .
    It is well-established that the admissibility of evidence is within
    the discretion of the trial court, and such rulings will not form the
    basis for appellate relief absent an abuse of discretion.” Thus, the
    Superior Court may reverse an evidentiary ruling only upon a
    showing that the trial court abused that discretion.                A
    determination that a trial court abused its discretion in making an
    evidentiary ruling “may not be made ‘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.’”
    Further, discretion is abused when the law is either overridden or
    misapplied.
    -9-
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    Commonwealth v. Hoover, 
    107 A.3d 723
    , 729 (Pa. 2014) (citations
    omitted).
    Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 609 states, in relevant part:
    (b) Limit on Using the Evidence After 10 Years. This
    subdivision (b) applies if more than 10 years have passed since
    the witness’s conviction or release from confinement for it,
    whichever is later. Evidence of the conviction is admissible only
    if:
    (1) its probative value substantially outweighs its prejudicial
    effect; and
    (2) the proponent gives an adverse party reasonable written
    notice of the intent to use it so that the party has a fair opportunity
    to contest its use.
    Pa.R.E. 609(b).
    Rule 609(b) incorporates the following test summarized by our Supreme
    Court in Commonwealth v. Randall, 
    528 A.2d 1326
     (Pa. 1987):
    In making the determination as to the admissibility of a prior
    conviction for impeachment purposes, the trial court should
    consider: [1)] the degree to which the commission of the prior
    offense reflects upon the veracity of the defendant-witness; [2)]
    the likelihood, in view of the nature and extent of the prior record,
    that it would have a greater tendency to smear the character of
    the defendant and suggest a propensity to commit the crime for
    which he stands charged, rather than provide a legitimate reason
    for discrediting him as an untruthful person; 3) the age and
    circumstances of the defendant; 4) the strength of the
    prosecution’s case and the prosecution’s need to resort to this
    evidence as compared with the availability to the defense of other
    witnesses through which its version of the events surrounding the
    incident can be presented; and 5) the existence of alternative
    means of attacking the defendant’s credibility.
    - 10 -
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    Randall, 528 A.2d at 1328 (citation omitted); Pa.R.E. 609 cmt.; Hoover, 107
    A.3d at 731.
    Instantly, trial court, in its pre-trial ruling, cited Rule 609(b) and
    Hoover, and addressed the admissibility of Appellant’s 1978 conviction for
    robbery as follows:
    Although this conviction is forty (40) years old, the [c]ourt does
    find that it reflects on [Appellant]’s veracity. [Appellant] spent
    most of the years after this conviction incarcerated for various
    offenses. Though none of those other offenses were crimes of
    dishonesty, [Appellant] has spent less than ten (10) of those years
    outside of prison. The length of time between the 1978 conviction
    and the time of trial does not necessarily indicate that [Appellant]
    has reformed.
    The 1978 conviction was for robbery and [Appellant] is preparing
    to stand trial for sexual offenses. The [c]ourt finds it is unlikely
    that [Appellant’s] robbery conviction would suggest to the jury
    that [Appellant] has a propensity that would cause him to commit
    sexual offenses as well. As these charges are sufficiently different,
    the [c]ourt finds this factor weighs in favor of admitting the
    robbery conviction.
    The robbery conviction is quite old, which weighs against
    admitting the conviction into evidence.             However, the
    circumstances of [Appellant] have not significantly changed.
    [Appellant] has spent most of the time since that conviction in
    prison for various offenses. Therefore, the [c]ourt finds this factor
    weighs slightly in favor of admitting the conviction.
    The [c]ourt heard little testimony about the strength of the
    prosecution’s case. The Commonwealth indicated that this case
    will come down to the credibility of the [complainant], who is a
    minor, weighed against the credibility of the adult [Appellant].
    Although the [complainant’s] sister witnessed some portion of the
    alleged conduct, the [c]ourt is aware of no other eyewitnesses
    who would be able to provide the jury with more information about
    whether the alleged acts occurred. Therefore, the [c]ourt finds this
    factor weighs in favor of admitting the conviction.
    - 11 -
    J-S47027-20
    Finally, the [c]ourt must analyze whether the Commonwealth has
    any other means of attacking [Appellant]’s credibility. The [c]ourt
    is aware of no other means to attack [Appellant’s] credibility. As
    previously addressed, the only other witness to the events would
    be the [complainant’s] sister and it appears her knowledge is
    limited.
    After review of all five factors, the [c]ourt finds that [Appellant’s]
    1978 robbery conviction is admissible as impeachment evidence
    against [Appellant].
    Pre-Trial Op. & Order, 11/15/18, at 2-3.
    Based on the foregoing, we discern no merit to Appellant’s claim.
    Although Appellant contests the trial court’s weighing of the probative value
    of his prior conviction based solely on the age of the offense and his allegation
    that the ruling impacted his decision not to testify, see Appellant’s Brief at 17,
    the pre-trial court thoroughly considered all factors relevant to the admission
    of the prior crimen falsi conviction. See Pre-Trial Op. & Order, 11/15/18, at
    2-3. We acknowledge that the age of a prior conviction is one factor that
    should be considered by a court.       However, Appellant’s challenge fails to
    establish that that the pre-trial court abused its discretion when weighing all
    of the factors. Therefore, Appellant has not established an abuse of discretion
    in the ruling on the Commonwealth’s proffer under Rule 609(b), Randall, and
    Hoover. See Hoover, 107 A.3d at 729. Accordingly, no relief is due.
    Hypothetical Questions
    In his third issue, Appellant claims that the Commonwealth violated the
    pre-trial ruling requiring the Commonwealth to inform the trial court of the
    hypothetical questions it intended to ask Dr. Valliere, its expert on the
    - 12 -
    J-S47027-20
    dynamics of sexual violence and the impact on sexual victims. Appellant’s
    Brief at 18. Appellant further contends that the Commonwealth’s questions
    were prejudicial because the involved facts were “too similar to the case at
    issue” and resulted in testimony that improperly bolstered the complainant’s
    credibility. Id. at 19.
    The Commonwealth responds that it did not violate the pre-trial order.
    Commonwealth’s Brief at 12. The Commonwealth contends that it did not
    pose hypothetical questions to Dr. Valliere but focused her testimony to
    specific types of victim responses and behaviors.       Id.   Alternatively, the
    Commonwealth argues that the trial court properly concluded that it did not
    act in bad faith and that its questions were proper. Id.
    This Court summarized the principles relevant to our review as follows:
    A motion in limine is a pre-trial application before a trial court
    made outside the presence of a jury, requesting a ruling or order
    from the trial court prohibiting the opposing counsel from referring
    to or offering into evidence matters so highly prejudicial to the
    moving party that curative instructions cannot alleviate an
    adverse effect on the jury.
    Commonwealth v. Padilla, 
    923 A.2d 1189
    , 1193-94 (Pa. Super. 2007)
    (citation omitted). The trial court has the discretion to determine whether the
    defendant was prejudiced by a violation of a pre-trial order. 
    Id. at 1192
    . The
    trial court also has the discretion to rule on an objection to the form of
    questioning. See Commonwealth v. Pi Delta Psi, Inc., 
    211 A.3d 875
    , 885
    (Pa. Super. 2019), appeal denied, 
    221 A.3d 644
     (Pa. 2019).
    - 13 -
    J-S47027-20
    “It is well-settled that expert testimony on the issue of a witness’s
    credibility is impermissible, as it encroaches on the province of the jury to
    make such determinations.” Commonwealth v. Jones, 
    240 A.3d 881
    , 896
    (Pa. 2020) (citations omitted).      Historically, Pennsylvania courts took a
    restrictive approach to the use of expert testimony on matters concerning a
    complainant’s credibility. Commonwealth v. Maconeghy, 
    171 A.3d 707
    ,
    713 (Pa. 2017). For example, Pennsylvania courts disapproved of “expert
    testimony concerning general characteristics of sexual assault victims . . . on
    the grounds that it invades the province of the jury.” 
    Id.
     (citation omitted).
    Section 5920 of Title 42 currently governs the admission of expert
    testimony regarding the dynamics of sexual violence and, in relevant part,
    provides:
    (b) Qualifications and use of experts.—
    (1) In a criminal proceeding subject to this section, a witness may
    be qualified by the court as an expert if the witness has specialized
    knowledge beyond that possessed by the average layperson
    based on the witness’s experience with, or specialized training or
    education in, criminal justice, behavioral sciences or victim
    services issues, related to sexual violence, that will assist the trier
    of fact in understanding the dynamics of sexual violence, victim
    responses to sexual violence and the impact of sexual violence on
    victims during and after being assaulted.
    (2) If qualified as an expert, the witness may testify to facts and
    opinions regarding specific types of victim responses and victim
    behaviors.
    (3) The witness’s opinion regarding the credibility of any other
    witness, including the victim, shall not be admissible.
    42 Pa.C.S. § 5920(b)(1)-(3).
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    J-S47027-20
    In Commonwealth v. Cramer, 
    195 A.3d 594
     (Pa. Super. 2018), this
    Court addressed the defendant’s claims that an expert’s testimony improperly
    bolstered a complainant’s credibility “‘under the guise of educating the jurors
    on the varying reactions to sexual violence[.]’” 11 Cramer, 
    195 A.3d at 608
    .
    In Cramer, the Court concluded that the expert’s testimony “did not run afoul
    of Section 5920[]” because the expert did not offer an opinion of the
    complainant’s credibility or that the complainant’s response to the assault at
    issue in that case “was normal.” 
    Id.
     The Cramer Court added that
    [t]he Commonwealth did not provide [the expert] with a factual
    account of the allegations against [the defendant], and [the
    expert] testified without knowing anything about the allegations,
    the [complainant], or [the defendant] in order to comply with
    Section 5920. Moreover, the Commonwealth’s questions in this
    case were general and generic enough that [the expert]’s
    testimony did not bolster the [complainant]’s testimony as [the
    defendant]’s claims.
    
    Id.
     (footnote omitted).
    In Commonwealth v. Leap, 
    222 A.3d 386
     (Pa. Super. 2019), appeal
    denied, 
    233 A.3d 677
     (Pa. 2020), this Court considered a claim based on an
    improper hypothetical question. In Leap, the Commonwealth asked:
    “Hypothetically, if a fourteen year old had consistently given
    statements with regards to a rape that occurred; you know, they
    gave a statement to a trooper, to a SA[F]E nurse and then at
    preliminary hearing and then two years later at a trial and they
    were consistent that, hypothetically, then that person would be
    part of that tip [of the iceberg].”
    ____________________________________________
    11 Cramer also involved testimony from Dr. Valliere.    Cramer, 
    195 A.3d at 608
    .
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    J-S47027-20
    Leap, 222 A.3d at 388 n.3 (record citation omitted). The expert responded,
    “‘Well, it seems to make them credible.’” Id. (record citation omitted). The
    defendant objected and requested a mistrial, which the trial court denied. The
    trial court, however, issued cautionary and curative regarding the jury’s
    consideration of the complainant’s credibility.
    The Leap Court disapproved of the Commonwealth’s use of hypothetical
    questions that elicited an expert’s testimony that a complainant was credible.
    See id. Nevertheless, the Court rejected the defendant’s argument that the
    exchange necessitated a new trial concluding that “[t]he curative instruction
    . . . was sufficient to overcome any potential for prejudice.” Id. at 392.
    Instantly, the record shows that the following exchange occurred after
    the Commonwealth qualified Dr. Valliere as an expert.
    [Commonwealth]. Before I begin further questions I want to give
    you a brief context for your answers to these questions. Assume
    that the sexual assaults in question that we will be discussing took
    place over a roughly two-year period on a female child who was
    between the ages of 12 and 14. Okay?
    [Appellant’s Counsel]: Judge, objection to the hypothetical. This
    witness may not be used to bolster the credibility by giving this
    witness--
    The Court: Okay. Excuse me. Counsel, approach.
    (Whereupon, the following conversation was held at side bar:)
    The Court: Let me just also say that I assumed before we started
    with the hypothetical that this had been worked out in advance. I
    think this was the one thing that you know, I was not the limine
    judge, but it was my understanding that had been addressed with
    the [pre-trial c]ourt before we started.
    So why are you giving her these specific --
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    J-S47027-20
    [Commonwealth]: I am not --
    The Court : -- parameters?
    [Commonwealth]: I am not asking [Dr. Valliere] to opine on a
    specific factual scenario, but at the same time if I say victim of
    sexual assault and ask her to give educational testimony on
    reactions, et cetera, she has to have some sense of the context .
    The Court: Yeah. But it can’t be specific to this case.
    [Commonwealth]: It’s not.
    *     *      *
    [Commonwealth]: The context is [to] assume the sexual assaults
    in question took place over a roughly two-year period on a female
    child who was between the ages of 12 and 14. The alleged
    assaults--
    The Court: Keep your voice down please.
    [Commonwealth]: The alleged assaults involved indecent
    touching and digital penetration but not intercourse. I think I
    need to orient her so --
    The Court: I think we can have this witness testify without that
    kind of orientation. I think that’s getting very close to giving her
    the claim to facts in this case and then asking her her opinions.
    Why do you need to do that?
    [Commonwealth]: Her testimony there is a difference between a
    child’s reaction to full blown intercourse, and indecent touching,
    and digital penetration.
    The Court: Okay. Well, that’s very different from what you just
    laid out.
    *     *      *
    The Court: I am not telling you to do that. I am just telling you
    to make it less case specific. I am sure you can do that.
    *     *      *
    [Commonwealth]: I need some guidance from the [c]ourt on how
    I can orient her. I have a 12- to 14-year-old child and I have
    indecent touching and digital penetration. Those are three facts.
    May I proceed with that?
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    J-S47027-20
    [Appellant’s Counsel]: Judge, I am objecting because the facts are
    exactly the facts in this case. I don’t --
    The Court: Yeah. Does she say -- I am sorry to interrupt you, but
    this is nowhere in her report that she needed those facts.
    [Commonwealth]: This is educational testimony.
    The Court: Yeah. I get it. I get it.
    [Commonwealth]: We don’t give her facts upfront.
    The Court: Well, then you don’t give them to her in front of a jury
    either.
    [Commonwealth]: I have to orient her in some respect. Judge, I
    am asking for a minimum set of parameters on the basis of which
    to conduct my direct examination of this witness.
    The Court: Yeah. I am not the lawyer. You are. I am just telling
    you that you are skating very close to impermissible opinion
    testimony here. If you want to create an appeal issue for yourself,
    so be it, but try make that a little more generic.
    [Appellant’s Counsel]: Judge, for the record, is the objection
    overruled or sustained?
    The Court: What’s your proffer? What exactly are you going to
    ask her by way of hypothetical? I have already told you that I
    think what you just said is too specific. You gave the year
    parameters. You gave the age parameters. You gave the
    charges.
    [Commonwealth]: Parameters are between the ages of 12 and 14
    involving indecent touching and digital penetration.
    The Court: Okay. Then let that be your hypothetical. So the
    objection is sustained and the question will be rephrased in the
    way you just restated it.
    [Appellant’s Counsel]: Judge, note my objection to even the
    rephrased question.
    The Court: Absolutely. It’s noted. Thank you.
    (End of side bar.)
    The Court: Okay. So the objection was sustained. The question
    will just be rephrased.
    - 18 -
    J-S47027-20
    Thank you.
    *     *      *
    [Commonwealth].         The alleged victim that we are discussing
    is between the ages of 12 and 14. The acts that we will be
    concerned with involve indecent touching and digital penetration
    but not sexual intercourse. Okay?
    [Dr. Valliere]. Okay.
    [Commonwealth]. All right. And when I refer to sexual assault or
    sexual abuse, I am referring to indecent touching or digital
    penetration but not actual intercourse.
    [Dr. Valliere]. Okay.
    [The Commonwealth]. All right? Is it common for children who
    are assaulted to immediately report the abuse?
    N.T., 3/28/19, at 185-89. Dr. Valliere then opined as to general reasons why
    a minor victim may not immediately report abuse without further objections
    from Appellant. See id. at 189-99.
    The trial court concluded that Appellant’s claim did not warrant relief
    explaining:
    Preliminarily, although the Commonwealth failed to abide by the
    [pre-trial] court’s in limine ruling, there is no indication of any bad
    faith on the Commonwealth’s part. Thus, the [c]ourt does not find
    any basis for granting [Appellant’s] motion on the basis of the in
    limine Order violation, alone. With respect to the substantive
    issue raised, the [c]ourt is not persuaded that was any trial error
    warranting a new trial. [Appellant’s] challenge is based on the
    proposition that the hypothetical scenario posed by the
    Commonwealth,         and     the    Commonwealth’s         subsequent
    (unspecified) questions, injected hypothetical facts so similar to
    the case on trial so as to go beyond the scope of testimony
    permitted by 42 Pa.C.S.[] § 5920, improperly bolstered the
    victim’s credibility, and invaded the province of the jury as
    factfinder.
    - 19 -
    J-S47027-20
    The [c]ourt does not agree that the Commonwealth exceeded the
    bounds of 42 Pa.C.S.[] § 5920. Pursuant to that statute, the
    Commonwealth is permitted to introduce expert testimony
    regarding the dynamics of sexual violence and victim responses
    and impacts. See [42 Pa.C.S.] § 5920(b)(2); Commonwealth
    v. Cramer, 
    195 A.3d 594
    ; 608 (Pa. Super. 2018). Permissible
    testimony includes “opinions regarding specific types of victim
    responses and victim behaviors,” but not opinions regarding the
    credibility of other witnesses, including the victim. See 42
    Pa.C.S.[] § 5920(b)(2)-(3). The facts in the hypothetical scenario
    presented at the outset of Dr. Valliere’s testimony -- the age range
    of the alleged victim and the type of assault alleged -- were
    sufficiently generic so as not to necessarily elicit an opinion
    relative to the specific [complainant] in the case on trial. The
    questions did no more than broadly focus the inquiry in a
    potentially expansive field to that which might have bearing on
    the issues to be decided by the jury.
    Looking at the testimony overall, Dr. Valliere’s opinions related to
    general topics, and were offered in response to general questions
    regarding reporting behavior in children and emotional and
    behavioral responses to sexual abuse. This testimony falls within
    the purview of permissible expert testimony under 42 Pa.C.S.[] §
    5920.
    Furthermore, Dr. Valliere was not given specific information about
    the alleged assaults at issue, nor did she offer opinions on any
    specific circumstances that could be perceived as bolstering the
    testimony of the [complainant] or any other witnesses in the case.
    In fact, on cross examination, Dr. Valliere clearly stated she was
    not testifying about whether or not to believe a witness, and
    acknowledged that this was the jury’s role.
    On review of the testimony, the Court finds no merit in
    [Appellant’s] arguments on this issue.
    Post-Sentence Op. & Order, 11/19/19, at 7-9.
    Based on the forgoing, Appellant fails to establish an abuse of discretion
    in the trial court’s decision that Appellant was not entitled to a new trial. As
    the trial court noted, the Commonwealth should have alerted the trial court to
    its attempt to orient Dr. Valliere with questioning to provide context for her
    - 20 -
    J-S47027-20
    expert testimony. See id. at 7. Further, the trial court explained that the
    Commonwealth’s references to age and the fact that no sexual intercourse
    occurred did not call for Dr. Valliere to opine on the credibility of any witness.
    See id. at 8. Moreover, we agree with the trial court that the questions were
    not so prejudicial as to warrant a new trial considering that Dr. Valliere’s
    testimony regarding general victim reactions and the dynamics of sexual
    violence did not expressly opine on the credibility of the complainant. See id.
    at 9; Cramer, 
    195 A.3d at 608
    . Accordingly, Appellant’s contention that the
    violation of the pre-trial ruling necessitated a new trial and that the
    Commonwealth’s         questioning     improperly   bolstered   the   complainant’s
    credibility merits no relief.
    Testimony from School Teachers and Counselor
    In his fourth issue, Appellant contends that the prior trial court erred in
    its pre-trial ruling denying his motion in limine to preclude evidence from the
    complainant’s school teachers and counselor concerning the complainant’s
    demeanor and academic performance after the alleged assaults.12 Appellant’s
    Brief at 24. Appellant asserts that the prior trial court erred in balancing the
    ____________________________________________
    12 Appellant notes that one of the complainant’s teachers testified that the
    complainant disclosed the abuse to her and that the school counselor testified
    that the complainant told her that the abuse was sexual in nature. Appellant’s
    Brief at 25. However, because this testimony did not fall within the scope of
    Appellant’s motion in limine and because Appellant did not object at trial or
    develop a hearsay argument, this issue is waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a),
    2119(a); see also Commonwealth v. Kane, 
    10 A.3d 327
    , 331 (Pa. Super.
    2010) (reiterating that an appellant bears the burden of developing appellate
    arguments for our review and that this Court will not act as an appellant’s
    counsel and develop arguments on his or her behalf).
    - 21 -
    J-S47027-20
    relevance of the testimony that the complainant’s mood and behavior
    appeared to change around the time of the abuse against its prejudicial effect
    to Appellant’s trial defense. Id. at 25. Appellant contends that the testimony
    improperly bolstered the complainant’s credibility. Id. at 24.
    The Commonwealth argues that the testimony was relevant to
    “complete the story” of the complainant’s failure to report the abuse after the
    initial assault. Id. at 13-14. Commonwealth’s Brief at The Commonwealth
    further asserts that the evidence of the complainant’s emotional distress was
    relevant because, like the presence of physical injury, it “makes the
    occurrence of a violent assault more probable.” Id. at 14.
    As noted above, we review the denial of a motion in limine for an abuse
    of discretion.   See Hoover, 107 A.3d at 729.       Generally, “[a]ll relevant
    evidence is admissible, except as otherwise provided by law. Evidence that is
    not relevant is not admissible.” Pa.R.E. 402. “Evidence is relevant if: (a) it
    has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be
    without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of consequence in determining the
    action.”   Pa.R.E. 401.    However, the trial court “may exclude relevant
    evidence if its probative value is outweighed by a danger of one or more of
    the following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury,
    undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.”
    Pa.R.E. 403.
    Instantly, the prior trial court rejected Appellant’s argument that
    testimony from the complainant’s school teachers and counselor was
    - 22 -
    J-S47027-20
    irrelevant and unduly prejudicial, and explained that the complainant’s
    behavior around the time of the alleged incidents was relevant. Pre-Trial Op.
    & Order, 11/15/18, at 6. The trial court further noted:
    [Appellant] filed a pretrial motion in limine seeking to preclude
    testimony from the [complainant’s] teachers, mental health
    providers and school counselor regarding the [complainant]’s
    conduct at school on the basis of Pa.R.E. 401 and 403. [Appellant]
    also argued it would be too speculative to ascribe any change in
    the [complainant]’s demeanor to the alleged assault.
    [At the pre-trial hearing,] the Commonwealth argued that the
    proffered evidence of the [complainant]’s emotional response was
    relevant as indicia that a sexual assault had occurred as alleged.
    ...
    At trial, the Commonwealth presented brief testimony from
    several of the [complainant’s] teachers regarding their
    observations of the victim’s demeanor in the time periods before
    and after the assault in November of 2017, noting that she had
    gone from outgoing and cheerful to being withdrawn and often
    appearing upset. Defense counsel had the full opportunity to
    cross-examine these witnesses regarding whether there was, in
    fact, a change, and to probe the possible reason(s) for any such
    change. . . .
    Post-Sentence Op. & Order, 11/19/19, at 5.
    Appellant’s argument on appeal consists of a boilerplate restatement of
    his arguments in support of his motion in limine to preclude the above-stated
    testimony regarding the complainant’s behavior as irrelevant, speculative, and
    unduly prejudicial. See Appellant’s Brief at 24-25. Appellant neither cites nor
    discusses any case holding that the Commonwealth cannot present fact
    witnesses regarding the complainant’s demeanor following abuse.        See id.
    Accordingly, Appellant has failed to establish error in the prior trial court’s
    - 23 -
    J-S47027-20
    ruling concerning testimony from the complainant’s teachers and counselor.
    See Hoover, 107 A.3d at 729. Therefore, no relief is due.
    Alleyne
    In his fifth and final argument, Appellant claims that the trial court erred
    in imposing a mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to Section 9718.2.
    Appellant’s Brief at 26.            Appellant contends that Section 9178.2 is
    unconstitutional under Alleyne. Id. Specifically, Appellant contends that the
    trial court made an unconstitutional finding of fact that his previous Florida
    conviction was an “equivalent” offense under Section 9718.2. Id. at 26-27.
    In response, the Commonwealth contends that Appellant waived this
    claim by not preserving it in his Rule 1925(b) statement. Commonwealth’s
    Brief    at   15.       Concerning      Appellant’s     substantive      arguments,   the
    Commonwealth asserts that the fact of a prior conviction does not require the
    type of factual findings prohibited in Alleyne and that the trial court here
    properly limited its ruling to conclude that Appellant’s previous Florida
    conviction was equivalent to the elements of the Pennsylvania offenses. Id.
    at 16-18.
    “The matter of whether the trial court possesses the authority to impose
    a   particular      sentence   is   a   matter     of   legality   [of   the   sentence].”
    Commonwealth v. Dennis, 
    164 A.3d 503
    , 510 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation
    and quotation marks omitted). Further, it is well settled that
    [i]f no statutory authorization exists for a particular sentence, that
    sentence is illegal and subject to correction. An illegal sentence
    must be vacated. In evaluating a trial court’s application of a
    - 24 -
    J-S47027-20
    statute, our standard of review is plenary and is limited to
    determining whether the trial court committed an error of law.
    Commonwealth v. Leverette, 
    911 A.2d 998
    , 1001-02 (Pa. Super. 2006)
    (citations omitted). “[A] challenge to a sentence premised upon Alleyne . . .
    implicates the legality of the sentence and cannot be waived on appeal.”
    Commonwealth v. Newman, 
    99 A.3d 86
    , 90 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc).
    Section 9718.2 states:
    (a) Mandatory sentence.—
    (1) Any person who is convicted in any court of this
    Commonwealth of an offense set forth in section 9799.14
    (relating to sexual offenses and tier system) shall, if at the time
    of the commission of the current offense the person had
    previously been convicted of an offense set forth in section
    9799.14 or an equivalent crime under the laws of this
    Commonwealth in effect at the time of the commission of that
    offense or an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, be
    sentenced to a minimum sentence of at least 25 years of total
    confinement, notwithstanding any other provision of this title
    or other statute to the contrary. Upon such conviction, the
    court shall give the person oral and written notice of the
    penalties under paragraph (2) for a third conviction. Failure to
    provide such notice shall not render the offender ineligible to
    be sentenced under paragraph (2).
    *     *      *
    (b) Mandatory maximum.—An offender sentenced to a
    mandatory minimum sentence under this section shall be
    sentenced to a maximum sentence equal to twice the mandatory
    minimum sentence, notwithstanding 18 Pa.C.S. § 1103 (relating
    to sentence of imprisonment for felony) or any other provision of
    this title or other statute to the contrary.
    (c) Proof of sentencing.—The provisions of this section shall not
    be an element of the crime, and notice thereof to the defendant
    shall not be required prior to conviction, but reasonable notice of
    the Commonwealth's intention to proceed under this section shall
    be provided after conviction and before sentencing.            The
    - 25 -
    J-S47027-20
    applicability of this section shall be determined at sentencing. The
    sentencing court, prior to imposing sentence on an offender under
    subsection (a), shall have a complete record of the previous
    convictions of the offender, copies of which shall be furnished to
    the offender.        If the offender or the attorney for the
    Commonwealth contests the accuracy of the record, the court
    shall schedule a hearing and direct the offender and the attorney
    for the Commonwealth to submit evidence regarding the previous
    convictions of the offender. The court shall then determine, by a
    preponderance of the evidence, the previous convictions of the
    offender and, if this section is applicable, shall impose sentence in
    accordance with this section. Should a previous conviction be
    vacated and an acquittal or final discharge entered subsequent to
    imposition of sentence under this section, the offender shall have
    the right to petition the sentencing court for reconsideration of
    sentence if this section would not have been applicable except for
    the conviction which was vacated.
    42 Pa.C.S. § 9718.2(1), (b), (c).
    In Commonwealth v. Golson, 
    189 A.3d 994
     (Pa. Super. 2018), this
    Court explained:
    In Commonwealth v. Baker, [
    78 A.3d 1044
     (Pa. 2013)], the
    Pennsylvania Supreme Court held, as a matter of first impression,
    that the mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for possession
    of child pornography as a second offender did not violate the
    prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. . . . “No
    Pennsylvania case has applied Alleyne to sentences enhanced
    solely by prior convictions.” “Prior convictions are the remaining
    exception to [Apprendi v. New Jersey, 
    530 U.S. 466
     (2000)]
    and Alleyne . . . insofar as a fact finder is not required to
    determine disputed convictions beyond a reasonable doubt to
    comport with the Sixth Amendment jury trial right.”
    Golson, 
    189 A.3d 1001
    -02 (some citations omitted).
    Moreover, when determining whether offenses are “equivalent,” our
    Supreme Court instructs:
    - 26 -
    J-S47027-20
    [A] sentencing court must carefully review the elements of the
    foreign offense in terms of classification of the conduct proscribed,
    its definition of the offense, and the requirements for culpability.
    Accordingly, the court may want to discern whether the crime is
    malum in se or malum prohibitum, or whether the crime is
    inchoate or specific. If it is a specific crime, the court may look to
    the subject matter sought to be protected by the statute, e.g.,
    protection of the person or protection of the property. It will also
    be necessary to examine the definition of the conduct or activity
    proscribed. In doing so, the court should identify the requisite
    elements of the crime—the actus reus and mens rea—which form
    the basis of liability.
    Having identified these elements of the foreign offense, the
    court should next turn its attention to the Pennsylvania
    Crimes Code for the purpose of determining the equivalent
    Pennsylvania offense. An equivalent offense is that which
    is substantially identical in nature and definition to the out-
    of-state or federal offense when compared [to] the
    Pennsylvania offense.
    Commonwealth v. Northrip, 
    985 A.2d 734
    , 738 (Pa. 2009) (citation
    omitted).
    Instantly, the Commonwealth presented evidence at the sentencing
    hearing that Appellant’s 1984 Florida conviction for sexual battery was under
    F.S. § 794.011(4)(a). That offense made it a first-degree felony
    to commit sexual battery upon a person over eleven years
    of age, without that person’s consent “when the victim is
    physically helpless to resist.” Section 794.011(1)(d) defines
    “physically helpless” to mean “that a person is unconscious,
    asleep, or for any other reason is physically unable to
    communicate unwillingness to an act.”
    Perez v. State, 
    479 So. 2d 266
    , 267 n.1 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1985). Florida
    law defined sexual battery as “oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union
    with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another
    - 27 -
    J-S47027-20
    by any other object; however, sexual battery shall not include acts done for
    bona fide medical purposes.” Duke v. State, 
    444 So. 2d 492
    , 494 (Fla. Dist.
    Ct. App. 1984) (quoting F.S. § 794.011(1)(f)).
    At the time of sentencing in the instant case, Section 9799.14 listed
    numerous offenses defined as prior convictions under Section 9718.2,
    including indecent assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault,
    involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and rape.     See Pa.C.S. § 9799.14.
    Each of those offenses contain substantially similar elements to sexual battery
    under Section 794.011(4)(a) in Florida law.      Here, the trial court properly
    reviewed only the elements of the offense when determining the offenses that
    were equivalent pursuant to Northrip.         See Post-Sentence Op. & Order,
    11/19/19, at 4. Contrary to Appellant’s contentions, the trial court was not
    required to determine whether any facts of his prior Florida conviction were
    equivalent to the Pennsylvania offenses listed in Section 9799.14.         See
    Northrip, 
    985 A.2d 738
    .      Accordingly, we discern no merit to Appellant’s
    Alleyne claim. See Golson, 
    189 A.3d 1001
    -02.
    Conclusion
    For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that Appellant has failed to
    establish that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based
    on the alleged perjury of the complainant’s sister, the ruling that his prior
    crimen falsi conviction was admissible, the hypothetical questions that the
    Commonwealth asked Dr. Valliere, nor the admission of testimony from the
    complainant’s school teachers and counselor. Further, Appellant’s legality-of-
    - 28 -
    J-S47027-20
    sentence claim based on Alleyne merits no relief. Accordingly, we affirm the
    judgment of sentence.
    Judgment of sentence affirmed.
    Judge Strassburger did not participate in the consideration or decision
    of this case.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 07/09/2021
    - 29 -
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2017 MDA 2019

Judges: Nichols

Filed Date: 7/9/2021

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 11/21/2024