Com. v. Rannels, C. ( 2021 )

J-S06024-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
CHAD RANNELS, :
:
Appellant : No. 3106 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered April 12, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0002281-2012
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., NICHOLS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED OCTOBER 20, 2021
Appellant Chad Rannels appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed
following his jury conviction for first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit
murder, and related offenses.1 Appellant claims that the trial court erred in
allowing a detective to interpret the records of a prison phone call at trial and
in denying his motion to suppress evidence prior to his second trial. He also
claims that the sentence of life without parole for conspiracy to commit murder
is an illegal sentence. For the reasons that follow, we are constrained to
vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for further proceedings
consistent with this memorandum.
The trial court summarized the procedural history as follows:
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502, 903, 6106, 6108, and 907, respectively.
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Appellant was arrested on September 23, 2011 and charged with
murder, conspiracy to commit murder, firearms charges and
possession of an instrument of crime. On June 4, 2013, following
jury selection, Judge Lillian Ransom granted defense counsel’s
motion to suppress Appellant’s statements to homicide
detectives.[2] The Commonwealth filed an Interlocutory Appeal to
the Superior Court and the jury was excused. On June 4, 2014,
the Super[ior] Court affirmed the order granting the defense
motion to suppress. [Commonwealth v. Rannels, 1568 EDA
2013, 2014 WL 10917038 (Pa. Super. filed June 4, 2014)
(unpublished mem.), appeal denied, 106 A.3d 725 (Pa. 2015).]
On August 28, 2014 petition for allowance of appeal to the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania was filed and on January 14, 2015
it was denied.
. . . The trial was scheduled for May 23, 2016. The case was
assigned to Judge Diana Anhalt and on May 23, 2016 [the]
defense requested a continuance to hire an expert witness[, and
Appellant raised additional suppression claims.] On October 11,
2016 the jury returned with a Guilty verdict on one gun charge
and was hung on all other charges. A mistrial was declared. On
November 21, 2016 [Appellant’s] counsel withdrew from the case
and new counsel was appointed.
Retrial was scheduled for January 30, 2017. On January 30, 2017
the [second] trial was continued and rescheduled for September
11, 2017. New counsel [for Appellant] entered the case on June
5, 2017 [and filed additional motions to suppress]. Multiple
defense requests for continuance resulted in the trial being
scheduled for April 1, 2019. The case was reassigned to [Judge
Gwendolyn Bright, who denied Appellant’s motions to suppress].
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2 We add that before his first trial, Appellant initially filed motions to suppress
in an omnibus pretrial motion on April 6, 2012. At that time, court appointed
counsel represented Appellant. Appellant requested, in part, the suppression
of his statements to police and the suppression of all physical evidence.
Omnibus Pretrial Mot., 4/6/12, at 2-3 (unpaginated). Appellant retained
private counsel who filed a suppression motion on May 29, 2013. The May
29, 2013 motion did not request the suppression of any physical evidence.
See Mot. for Suppression, 5/29/13, at 2 (unpaginated). At the suppression
hearing before Judge Ransom, Appellant’s counsel only argued in favor of
suppressing Appellant’s statement based on a violation of Miranda v.
Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). See N.T., 6/4/13, at 4.
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On April 12, 2019 the jury returned with a verdict of Guilty on all
remaining charges . . . .
Trial Ct. Op., 10/28/20, at 1-2.
The trial court then summarized the evidence at Appellant’s second trial
as follows:
In the early morning hours of July 30, 2011 Kristin Shaquille
Freeman [(decedent)] was shot and killed by Appellant around the
100 block of Garfield Street in Philadelphia. Shortly after
midnight, the [decedent] was with his mother, Angela Hardy, at a
Chinese store around the intersection of Germantown Avenue and
Garfield Street. The [decedent] left the store to go to his car while
his mother walked down the street to her mother’s house. Hardy
was speaking to neighbors outside her mother’s house and heard
gunshots. Someone told her that her son’s car was shot up on
Garfield Street and she ran towards the shooting. Hardy identified
her son’s car at the scene of the shooting. [The decedent] was
pronounced dead at 1:08 a.m. on July 31, 2011 at Albert Einstein
Medical Center, cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
A car located near the [decedent]’s vehicle was searched and a
rental agreement as well as tickets to Six Flags Great Adventure
were recovered. John Fisher’s name was listed as the operator of
the car on the rental agreement. Fisher testified that his boss
rented the car and bought the ticket to Six Flags as a gift to her
employees for good performance. A few days later, on July 29,
2011, Fisher rented the car to Appellant to earn money to buy
drugs. Fisher knew Appellant as a drug dealer he had purchased
drugs from previously. Police located Appellant through cell phone
records following an interview with Fisher. Appellant’s fingerprints
were identified inside the car and on a gun found at the crime
scene. The fingerprints of various other individuals were also
found in the car.
Id. at 3 (record citations and footnote omitted).
On April 12, 2019, the trial court sentenced Appellant to life
imprisonment without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and
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conspiracy to commit murder. The trial court imposed no further penalties for
the remaining offenses.
Appellant timely filed a counseled post-sentence motion on April 22,
2019. On May 2, 2019, the trial court thereafter granted Appellant leave to
proceed pro se following a Grazier3 hearing and permitted Appellant to file a
supplemental post-sentence motion pro se. On May 21, 2019, the trial court
ordered a continuance to accommodate Appellant’s need “for video and notes
of testimony” and to “provide an affidavit verifying his investigator[,]” Order,
5/21/19. In the same order, the trial court stated that Appellant could file a
supplemental post-sentence motion by July 22, 2019. Appellant filed his pro
se supplemental post-sentence motion on July 17, 2019. On October 3, 2019,
the trial court denied Appellant’s post-sentence motion and appointed
appellate counsel to represent Appellant for appeal.
Appellant, through counsel, filed a notice of appeal on Monday,
November 4, 2019.4 This Court then granted appointed appellate counsel’s
motion to withdraw and remanded the matter to the trial court for the
appointment of substitute counsel. The trial court thereafter appointed
present counsel to represent Appellant and directed counsel to file and serve
a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement. Counsel timely complied and challenged the
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3 Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998).
4 The thirtieth day following the entry of the October 3, 2019 order denying
Appellant’s post sentence motion was Saturday, November 2, 2019.
Therefore, the notice of appeal filed on Monday, November 4, 2019, was
timely filed. See 1 Pa.C.S. § 1908.
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trial court’s rulings to (1) deny Appellant’s suppression motions before his
second trial, (2) permit a detective to interpret Appellant’s prison phone calls,
and (3) impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for conspiracy.
The trial court filed an opinion and concluded that Appellant’s first two issues
lacked merit but requested that this Court amend an illegal sentence for
conspiracy. Trial Ct. Op. at 4-6.
Appellant presents three issues, which we have reordered as follows:
1. Did the trial court err and cause irreparable harm to Appellant
by intruding upon the province of the jury and allowing
Detective John Verrecchio to engage in extensive interpretation
of the evidence that was prejudicial to Appellant?
2. Did the trial court err in not suppressing DNA, fingerprint,
phone records, and other physical evidence which was only
obtained based upon an illegally-obtained oral statement by
Appellant that was suppressed and there was no basis for
stating that the physical evidence would have been inevitably
discovered absent the unconstitutional obtaining of Appellant’s
statement by police?
3. Did the trial court err in imposing an illegal sentence of
mandatory life for conspiracy to commit murder in the first-
degree?
Appellant’s Brief at 4 (formatting altered).
Detective John Verrecchio’s Testimony
In his first issue, Appellant claims that the trial court abused its
discretion when it overruled his objection and permitted Detective Verrecchio
to interpret prison phone calls he made regarding John Fisher, who testified
at trial against him. Appellant argues that during direct and redirect
examination by the Commonwealth, the detective (1) attempted to link
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Appellant to the murder of Kevin Drinks while trying to coordinate the murder
of Fisher, the latter who testified against Appellant, (2) concluded that
Appellant was trying to set up Fisher’s murder, and (3) concluded that
Appellant was asking whether Fisher was killed at his behest.5 Id. at 16-17.
Appellant claims that the detective’s testimony invaded the province of the
jury and caused “irreparable harm” because it implicated him in the killing of
another individual. Id. at 17.
The Commonwealth responds that Detective Verrecchio’s testimony did
not invade the province of the jury. The Commonwealth notes that the
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5 Appellant cites to several portions of the trial transcript.First, before playing
the phone calls, the Commonwealth asked whether Detective Verrecchio
discovered “information that the homicide of [the decedent] and the homicide
of Kevin Drinks may be connected,” the detective responded “yes.” See N.T.,
4/9/19, at 9. Second, Appellant refers to a portion of the transcript in which
the Commonwealth played a part of a phone call and asked the detective,
“[D]id you notice anything about that call that was particularly important or
relevant in your investigation[?]” See id. at 26. Over Appellant’s objection,
the detective responded that Fisher lived at a certain address and when the
detective “made the comparison to his interview with his address and his
location, that was important to me.” Id. This portion of the trial transcript
also included the detective’s testimony defining “smoke street” as an area
frequented by people addicted to crack cocaine, “preliminary” meaning a
preliminary hearing, and “ME” as “medical examiner,” and the detective’s
identification of individuals on or referred to in the calls by, name, nickname,
and phone number. Id. at 24-41.
Third, Appellant refers to a portion of the trial transcript in which the
Commonwealth, on redirect examination, read parts of the calls to Detective
Verrecchio and asked whether the detective misunderstood or misheard the
statements on the recording. One of these exchanges included the
Commonwealth asking, “Additionally, there was no misinterpretation of ‘He
wants to know about the motherfucking old head and the motherfucking car,’
correct?” to which the detective replied, “Correct.” Id. at 56.
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detective’s testimony was limited to answering the Commonwealth’s questions
regarding the background and facts of the case. Commonwealth’s Brief at 15-
16. The Commonwealth further contends that the detective’s answers to
questions on redirect examination responded to cross-examination that
challenged whether the detective misheard or misunderstood the recordings.
Id. The Commonwealth notes that the trial court instructed the jury that
they were the sole judges of the facts, that the jury heard the audio of the
call, and that the trial court instructed the jury that the audio itself was the
actual evidence. Id. at 16. According to the Commonwealth, this instruction
cured any error or prejudice resulting from the detective’s testimony. Id.
The trial court concluded that Appellant’s claim lacked merit because the
evidence of Appellant’s prison calls and Detective Verrecchio’s testimony was
admissible as evidence of Appellant’s consciousness of guilt. Trial Ct. Op. at
5. The trial court further notes the detective’s passing references to the
meaning of terms such as “street smoke,” “ME,” and “PARS report” and
concludes that it properly instructed the jury on how to consider the
detective’s testimony. Id.
“Questions regarding the admission of evidence are left to the sound
discretion of the trial court, and we, as an appellate court, will not disturb the
trial court’s rulings regarding the admissibility of evidence absent an abuse of
that discretion.” Commonwealth v. Trinidad, 96 A.3d 1031, 1036 (Pa.
Super. 2014) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover,
“[e]ven if witness testimony causes prejudice, adequate instructions may be
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able to cure the error.”6 Commonwealth v. Ramos, 231 A.3d 955, 958 (Pa.
Super. 2020).
Instantly, the record establishes while the prison phone calls were being
played for the jury, the prosecutor asked Detective Verrecchio several
questions concerning what was being said on the recordings. See N.T.,
4/9/19, at 22-42. The Commonwealth did not ask, nor did the detective opine
on the meaning of the tapes as a whole. Instead, the exchanges between the
Commonwealth and the detective concerned factual information, which the
detective developed during the investigation and provided context to the
phone calls. See id. at 26-41. These exchanges did not call for impermissible
opinions from the detective. Accordingly, Appellant’s claims that the
Commonwealth introduced improper opinion evidence concerning the prison
phone calls fail. See Commonwealth v. Rose, 172 A.3d 1121, 1128-31 (Pa.
Super. 2017) (discussing the admissibility opinion versus lay testimony
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6 We add that our Supreme Court has stated:
Harmless error exists where: (1) the error did not prejudice the
defendant or the prejudice was de minimis; (2) the erroneously
admitted evidence was merely cumulative of other untainted
evidence which was substantially similar to the erroneously
admitted evidence; or (3) the properly admitted and
uncontradicted evidence of guilt was so overwhelming and the
prejudicial effect of the error was so insignificant by comparison
that the error could not have contributed to the verdict.
Commonwealth v. J. Fitzpatrick, 255 A.3d 452, 483 (Pa. 2021) (citations
omitted).
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concerning interpretation of “street language” in a defendant’s prison phone
call).
Even if some of the Commonwealth’s exchanges with Detective
Verrecchio could be considered impermissible opinion or interpretation
evidence, it was limited to preliminary or background information concerning
the Commonwealth’s consciousness of guilt evidence. See N.T., 4/9/19, at 9
(indicating that the Commonwealth asked whether Detective Verrecchio’s
investigation revealed information that murders of decedent and Kevin Drinks
“may be connected”). Further, although the detective interpreted terms such
as “smoke street,” “preliminary,” or “ME,” that testimony was passing, id. at
24, 41, and the trial court explained to the jury that “the actual evidence is
the audio” and that the audio “was the actual evidence [the jury was] to listen
carefully.” Id. at 21. Upon review, we conclude that any improper opinion or
interpretation evidence was de minimis. See Rose, 172 A.3d at 1131.
Additionally, any error in the admission of improper opinion or interpretation
evidence was, beyond a reasonable doubt, harmless in comparison to the
properly admitted evidence. Id.Therefore, Appellant’s claim based on Detective Verrecchio’s testimony
merits no relief.
Suppression Claim
Appellant next claims that the trial court erred in denying his
suppression motions that he filed before his second trial. Id. at 10-13.
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By way of further background, this Court, when affirming Judge
Ransom’s suppression ruling, summarized the facts underlying the
investigation into Appellant as follows:
Philadelphia Police Detective Gregory Santamala [(Detective
Santamala)], Homicide Division, began investigating [the July 30,
2011 shooting of the decedent] and questioned John Fisher . . . ,
regarding a Silver GMC Yukon SUV . . . found at the scene.
On August 1, 2011, Fisher was interviewed by Det[ective]
Santamala and his partner. Fisher stated that he was in
possession of the Yukon on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, after his
boss, Theresa Cipriano, rented two Yukons so the employees could
go to Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park (Six Flags). In
his statement, Fisher said that he and a co-worker drove the other
employees to Six Flags and returned to Philadelphia that same
day. Fisher stated that he drank and smoked crack cocaine the
evening of Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Fisher told Detective
Santamala and his partner during the interview that he was to
return the car on Thursday, July 28, 2011. On Friday, July 29,
2011, Fisher stated that he drove the Yukon to the area around
16th and Cumberland Streets in North Philadelphia. While there,
Fisher, in exchange for crack cocaine, rented the Yukon to the
dealer from whom he usually purchased his drugs. Fisher
identified the dealer as “C” and later identified a photo of
[Appellant]. On Saturday, July 30, 2011, Fisher contacted
[Appellant] regarding return of the Yukon. At which point
[Appellant] informed Fisher that he had been robbed at gunpoint
and the culprits took everything from [Appellant], including the
Yukon.
On August 2, 2011, based on information provided by Fisher,
Detective Santamala created a wanted poster stating that
[Appellant] was wanted for questioning with regard to the
shooting death of the decedent. Detective Santamala told the
officers patrolling the area to look for [Appellant] and bring him
to the Homicide Unit, and to confiscate any and all cell phones in
[Appellant’s] possession when found.
On August 8, 2011, at approximately 7:30 P.M., [Appellant] was
brought to homicide where he remained in a locked interview
room until being interviewed by Detective Santamala. At
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approximately 4:45 A.M. on August 9, 2011, [Appellant] was
questioned by Detective Santamala regarding his possession of
the Yukon and involvement in the death of Gary Wilson.[fn5]
[Appellant] gave a statement to Detective Santamala and the
interview ended at approximately 8:00 A.M. on August 9, 2011.
[fn5] Gary Wilson, a friend of the decedent who had also been
murdered, had allegedly been stealing from drug dealers in
the area, according to [Appellant].
Rannels, 2014 WL 10917038 at *1-2 (record citations omitted).
We add that around the time of the interview of Fisher, Detective
Thomas Gaul sent a subpoena, or exigent circumstances request, for
Appellant’s phone records to Appellant’s wireless carrier. The detective
received a response on July 31 or August 1, 2011. Detective Gaul then
obtained for a search warrant for Appellant’s phone on August 3, 2011.
Further, during his August 8, 2011 interrogation, Appellant signed a consent
form and provided a DNA sample.
After the Commonwealth’s appeal, the matter returned to the trial court
for Appellant’s first trial. The trial court, with Judge Anhalt presiding, held a
conference with the parties, at which the Commonwealth extended a plea offer
to Appellant. During the discussions, Appellant noted that his counsel was
supposed to litigate a suppression motion that Appellant did not voluntarily
consent to the taking of his DNA sample. N.T., 5/23/16, at 13. The
Commonwealth responded that Appellant already litigated a suppression
motion before Judge Ransom, that Appellant signed a consent form to take
the DNA sample, and that “it’s inevitable discovery” because the
Commonwealth “could get a court order today for his DNA.” Id. at 18-19.
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The trial court indicated that it would hold a suppression hearing.7 See id. at
20. The court then briefly recessed the conference for Appellant to consider
the plea offer, which Appellant rejected. Id. at 30. The trial court ended the
conference without ruling on Appellant’s request to suppress his DNA sample.
Id. at 35.
On May 26, 2016, Appellant filed a motion to suppress his DNA sample
that police obtained after his interrogation. Appellant also moved to suppress
the information recovered from his cell phone pursuant to a search warrant.
On October 3, 2016, the parties appeared for jury selection in
Appellant’s first trial. After jury selection, Appellant litigated his suppression
issue challenging probable cause to search his cell phone. N.T., 10/3/16, at
2, 201-11. Judge Anhalt issued her findings of fact and conclusions of law and
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7 During the discussions, Judge Anhalt told Appellant:
[The Commonwealth is] saying that if I was to say that your
consent for that DNA swab was not voluntarily given, I could order
today that you give over -- without your consent I can order your
DNA, and then they would test that again, I guess. I don’t know
why you would, but you could. And we are in the same position
that we are in now. So anyway, I will hear it. If you want to
litigate the motion, I suspect, I would have to, correct? It doesn't
sound like it’s something that -- it seems that the odds would be
against you on that topic. Even if I did grant your motion it would
be inevitable discovery . . . .
N.T., 5/23/16, at 19. Later, the court indicated that it would hear Appellant’s
motion but that the suppression of the DNA “more likely than not [was] going
to be inevitable discovery.” Id. at 21.
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entered an order denying Appellant’s “motion to suppress.” Order, 10/3/16;
N.T., 10/3/16, at 209-11.
After the jury hung and the declaration of a mistrial in Appellant’s first
trial, Appellant obtained new counsel who filed pretrial motions including
motions to suppress information obtained from his cell phone, his DNA swab,
and the DNA test results. See Omnibus Pre-Trial Mot., 6/7/18, at 4-5
(unpaginated); Mot. to Suppress Phone Location Data, 6/25/18; Mot. to
Suppress DNA Swab, 7/12/18. In response, the Commonwealth filed a brief
asserting that: (1) the police obtained Appellant’s cell phone information
pursuant to a search warrant and (2) Appellant’s claim regarding the DNA
evidence was previously litigated and, in any event, meritless because “a swab
of [Appellant] would be inevitable discovery.” Commonwealth’s Letter Brief,
2/26/19, at 1-4 (unpaginated).
Judge Bright, the newly assigned trial judge, convened a hearing on
Appellant’s pretrial motions. The parties argued their respective positions
concerning the suppression motions but did not present additional witnesses
or evidence. In relevant part, Appellant’s counsel summarized the procedural
history before Judge Anhalt. N.T., 3/28/19, at 2-6. Appellant’s counsel stated
that although Judge Anhalt stated she would consider a motion to suppress
Appellant’s DNA sample, “[i]t doesn’t seem like the motion was ever litigated.”
Id.
At the conclusion of the parties’ arguments, the trial court decided
Appellant’s motion to suppress his DNA sample as follows:
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Based on what has been laid out by the Commonwealth in terms
of the evidence linking [Appellant] to the crime, I would think that
inevitable discovery would apply. Again, I believe that the law of
concurrent jurisdiction applies to this matter. The issue has been
addressed. Whether or not it was litigated or whether or not the
motion was held or not, apparently Judge Anhalt believed she had
enough information to make the ruling that it would’ve been
inevitable discovery or authority to take this evidence. So based
on that, I am going to deny your motion as to that portion.
Id. at 11-12. The trial court also denied Appellant’s motions as to the phone
data after hearing arguments from counsel regarding the subpoena issued
before the police obtained a search warrant. Id. at 32.
In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court reiterated that it denied
Appellant’s suppression motions “based on the fact that the evidence would
be inevitably discovered and on the basis of concurrent jurisdiction, due to
Judge Anhalt’s prior ruling on the question.” Trial Ct. Op. at 4. The trial court
cited the trial record and added that “[h]ere, the eyewitness Fisher provided
Appellant’s phone number as well as the information relating to the car found
on the scene, from which physical evidence was obtained. Fisher’s statement
would have led to the discovery of the evidence Appellant wishes to suppress.”
Id. (record citations omitted).
On appeal, Appellant contends the police obtained “additional physical
evidence as a result of th[e] illegal statement” that Judge Ransom suppressed
for a violation of Miranda. Appellant’s Brief at 10. Appellant notes that “there
was no suppression hearing on the fruits [of the poisonous tree] issue so the
failure to suppress is not supported by the [r]ecord.” Id. Appellant claims
that although Judge Bright determined that inevitable discovery would apply
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as to the DNA evidence before the second trial, the trial court ignored “other
physical evidence” that the police obtained from Appellant based upon his
initial interrogation. Id. at 13. Appellant emphasizes that the trial court did
not hold an evidentiary hearing before his second trial and claims that “[t]he
Commonwealth did not and could not carry its burden of inevitable discovery
in this context and that [the Commonwealth’s argument] is . . . based upon
presumption only.” Id.
The Commonwealth responds that Appellant waived his arguments.
Commonwealth’s Brief at 9. The Commonwealth asserts that Appellant had
an obligation to litigate the instant motions to suppress “either before Judge
Ransom or when Judge Anhalt later invited him to do so.” Id. The
Commonwealth contends that Appellant cannot properly demand another
suppression hearing after his first trial ended in a mistrial. Id.
The Commonwealth alternatively contends that Judge Bright properly
denied Appellant’s suppression motions because the Miranda violation did not
taint the recovery of other physical evidence or information from his cell phone
pursuant to a warrant. Id. at 10-11. Concerning Appellant’s DNA sample,
the Commonwealth argues that Appellant’s consent to the DNA was valid and
that he failed to establish that the Miranda violation tainted his consent. Id.
at 11. The Commonwealth also contends that the trial court properly
determined that the DNA evidence “would have inevitably come to light” based
on the evidence linking Appellant to the crime. Id. at 12. The Commonwealth
adds that because “this case commenced before [our Supreme Court’s
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decision in In re L.J., 79 A.3d 1073 (Pa. 2013)8],” this Court may consider
the entire record, including evidence from the trial proceedings. Id. at 9 n.7.
Generally, the following principles govern our review of an order denying
a motion to suppress:
An appellate court’s standard of review in addressing a challenge
to the denial of a suppression motion is limited to determining
whether the suppression court’s factual findings are supported by
the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn from those
facts are correct. Because the Commonwealth prevailed before
the suppression court, we may consider only the evidence of the
Commonwealth and so much of the evidence for the defense as
remains uncontradicted when read in the context of the record as
a whole. Where the suppression court’s factual findings are
supported by the record, the appellate court is bound by those
findings and may reverse only if the court’s legal conclusions are
erroneous.
Commonwealth v. Gray, 211 A.3d 1253, 1260 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation
omitted).
It is well settled that “[a] criminal defendant with standing to pursue a
motion to suppress in this Commonwealth has a right to compel the
prosecution to prove its evidence was not obtained in violation of his
constitutional rights.” Commonwealth v. Enimpah, 106 A.3d 695, 703 (Pa.
2014); see Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(H). “Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure
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8 In L.J. our Supreme Court has held that the scope of reviewing a suppression
claim is limited to the suppression record. L.J., 79 A.3d at 1087 However,
this holding applies prospectively to litigation commenced after October 30,
2013. Id. at 1089; see also Commonwealth v. A. Fitzpatrick, 181 A.3d
368, 373 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2018). Instantly, the charges against Appellant were
filed in 2011.
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581 ‘is designed to provide one single procedure for the suppression of
evidence alleged to have been obtained in violation of the defendant’s rights.’”
Commonwealth v. Sodomsky, 137 A.3d 620, 626 (Pa. Super. 2016) (en
banc) (quoting Pa.R.Crim.P. 581 cmt.).
Upon the filing of a suppression motion, the trial court shall hold a
suppression hearing at which the Commonwealth bears the burden of
establishing that the defendant’s constitutional rights were not infringed. See
Enimpah, 106 A.3d at 701; see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(H). At the conclusion
of which the trial court shall enter a statement of its findings of fact and
conclusions of law. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(I).
The Commonwealth’s burden of proof under Rule 581 “is triggered only
when the defendant states specifically and with particularity the evidence
sought to be suppressed, the grounds for suppression, and the facts and
events in support thereof.” Commonwealth v. Freeman, 128 A.3d 1231,
1241-42 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted and formatting altered); see
Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(D). “Thus, when a defendant’s motion to suppress does not
assert specifically the grounds for suppression, he or she cannot later complain
that the Commonwealth failed to address a particular theory never expressed
in that motion.” Id. at 1242 (citations omitted).
Generally, a defendant must also file a suppression motion in an
omnibus pretrial motion within thirty days of arraignment. See Pa.R.Crim.P.
579(A), 581(B). The comments to Rule 581 state the failure to file a
suppression motion “within the appropriate time limit constitutes a waiver of
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the right to suppress.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 581 cmt. However, the trial court has
the discretion to consider a defendant’s supplemental suppression motion
when “the opportunity did not previously exist, or the interests of justice
otherwise require” consideration of the motion. Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(B);
Sodomsky, 137 A.3d at 626. This Court reviews the trial court’s
consideration of an untimely supplemental suppression motion for an abuse
of discretion. Commonwealth v. Johonoson, 844 A.2d 556, 561 (Pa. Super.
2004).
Of further relevance to this appeal, our Supreme Court has stated:
The general rule is that when reprosecution subsequent to the
grant of a motion for mistrial is not barred, the proceedings revert
to a pretrial status as though the original trial had never occurred.
However, this court has held that not all of the original trial court’s
pretrial rulings are subject to relitigation. Commonwealth v.
Starr, [664 A.2d 1326 (Pa. 1995)]. In Starr, we held that rulings
relating to legal questions determinative of the “law of the case”
should not be reopened.
Commonwealth v. Mulholland, 702 A.2d 1027, 1035-36 (Pa. 1997) (some
citations omitted and formatting altered). “Judges of coordinate jurisdiction
sitting in the same case should not overrule each other’s decisions.”
Commonwealth v. Turner, 73 A.3d 1283, 1286 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation
and internal quotation marks omitted).
However, the law of the case doctrine “applies only when a court is later
asked to consider the same question decided by another court of equivalent
or higher jurisdiction.” See Commonwealth v. Wright, 14 A.3d 798, 817
(Pa. 2011) (citation omitted and emphasis in original). This Court, for
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example, has stated that a defendant may litigate a new suppression motion
after the grant of a new trial “if there has been no prior determination of the
issue.” Commonwealth v. Taggart, 435 A.2d 604, 605 (Pa. Super. 1981)
(citation omitted).
Initially, we reject the Commonwealth’s waiver argument. Appellant’s
suppression motions before Judge Bright specified the evidence he sought to
suppress and the grounds for his claim.9 See Freeman, 128 A.3d at 1241-
42. Further, Judge Bright had the discretion to consider Appellant’s
supplemental suppression motions “in the interests of justice.”10 See
Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(B); Sodomsky, 137 A.3d at 626.
____________________________________________
9 We note, however, that Appellant did not seek the suppression of “other
physical evidence” before the trial court, and instead focused his supplemental
suppression motions before Judge Bright on his phone information and his
DNA sample. See Omnibus Pre-Trial Mot., 6/7/18, at 4-5; Mot. to Suppress
Phone Location Data, 6/25/18; Mot. to Suppress DNA Swab, 7/12/18.
Therefore, we will not address Appellant’s claim that he was entitled to
suppression hearing concerning “other physical evidence.”
10 The trial court did not explain its decision to review the trial record in order
to consider Appellant’s suppression motions which it ultimately determined
were previously litigated before Judge Anhalt and therefore subject to
coordinate jurisdiction. However, we note that Appellant asserted that his
prior counsel failed to litigate suppression claims before Judge Ransom. See
N.T., 3/28/19, at 6. Additionally, the record establishes that Appellant’s
counsel filed a motion to suppress Appellant’s DNA swab but did not litigate
that issue before Judge Anhalt. See N.T., 10/3/16, at 204-04. These
circumstances establish a basis for Judge Bright to consider his suppression
motions in the interests of justice rather than dismissing them as untimely.
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Appellant’s suppression motions before Judge Bright also raised
different issues than the trial court previously considered.11 See Taggart,
435 A.2d 604, 605 (Pa. Super. 1981). As noted above, neither Judge Ransom
nor Judge Anhalt entered a ruling concerning Appellant’s present claims
challenging his DNA sample and his phone records. Compare Omnibus Pre-
Trial Mot., 6/7/18, at 4-5; Mot. to Suppress Phone Location Data, 6/25/18,
and Mot. to Suppress DNA Swab, 7/12/18, with N.T., 6/4/13 at 4-5
(indicating that Appellant sought suppression of his statement to police due
to a Miranda violation); N.T., 5/23/16, at 35 (indicating that Judge Anhalt
discussed but did not rule on Appellant’s supplemental motion); N.T., 10/3/16,
at 204-05 (indicating that Appellant sought suppression of his phone records
based on a four-corners challenge to the affidavit of probable cause).
Therefore, to the extent the trial court relied on the coordinate jurisdiction
rule, we are constrained to conclude that the trial court erred. See Wright,
14 A.3d at 817; Turner, 73 A.3d at 1286-87.
To the extent the trial court denied Appellant’s motions without a
hearing, this Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Long, 753 A.2d 272 (Pa.
Super. 2000), is instructive. In Long, the defendant initially filed a
suppression motion challenging the legality of a blood draw following his arrest
for driving under the influence. Long, 753 A.2d at 275. At the suppression
____________________________________________
11 Although the Commonwealth raised the issue of previous litigation and
coordinate jurisdiction in the trial court, it does not repeat those arguments in
its brief to this Court.
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hearing, the trial court denied the defendant’s claim that his consent to the
blood draw was invalid. Id. At some time before trial, the Commonwealth
disclosed the existence of a video from the arresting officer’s dash cam
recorder. Id. After the Commonwealth presented its case at trial, the
defendant orally requested suppression based on the video. Id. After
reviewing the video, the trial court summarily denied Appellant’s oral
suppression hearing. Id. at 275-76.
Following his conviction, the defendant in Long appealed and asserted,
in part, that the trial court erred in denying his oral suppression motion. Id.
at 276, 279. The Long Court concluded that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion considering the defendant’s oral suppression motion, but that “[i]t
was not proper for the [t]rial [c]ourt to summarily consider and rule upon [the
defendant’s] suppression motion without first conducting . . . a hearing.” Id.
at 280.
The Long Court reiterated:
A trial court, by excusing a party’s failure to comply with the
timing requirements of Rule 323(b),[12] cannot thereby disregard
the remaining rules governing suppression motions. Specifically,
when a defendant files a motion to suppress, the trial judge is
required to set a time for a hearing, either prior to or at trial “which
shall afford the attorney for the Commonwealth a reasonable
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12 Present Rule 581 took effect in April 2001, after our Supreme Court
amended and renumbered prior Rule 323. The amendments resulting in Rule
581, modified the rules governing the timeliness of a motion to suppress.
However, it appears that the amendments did not affect the prior case law
discussing the interests of justice exception for considering supplemental
suppression motions under former Rule 323 and Rule 581. See
Commonwealth v. Downey, 39 A.3d 401, 404 (Pa. Super. 2012).
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opportunity for investigation . . . .” Pa.R.Crim.P. 323(e). At that
hearing, the Commonwealth bears the burden of going forward
and establishing that the challenged evidence was not obtained in
violation of the defendant’s rights. [Pa.R.Crim.P.] 323(h).
In this case, the trial judge presided not over a suppression
hearing, but over a trial. At that trial, the Commonwealth sought
to present sufficient evidence to satisfy the elements of the crimes
charged. At a suppression hearing, however, the Commonwealth
would seek to present sufficient evidence to establish that the
officer, at the time of the stop, had reasonable and articulable
grounds to suspect a violation of the Vehicle Code . . . .
* * *
The trial court was incapable of properly ruling on the suppression
motion absent a suppression hearing. In so acting, the trial court
abused its discretion.
Id. at 281 (some citations omitted). The Long Court noted that the trial court
“simply viewed the videotape and denied” the defendant’s oral suppression
motion without making findings of fact or conclusions of law based on the
video. Id. Therefore, this Court concluded that the record was incomplete,
vacated the judgment of sentence, and remanded the case for a new
suppression hearing.13 Id. at 281-82.
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13 Specifically, the Long Court noted that the defendant’s oral suppression
motion “had apparent merit” based on the video and the arresting officer’s
testimony and that the trial court, and that the Commonwealth did not have
an “opportunity to present evidence at a formal hearing to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that the stop of [the defendant’s] vehicle was
lawful.” Id. at 280-82. The Long Court remanded the matter with
instructions for the trial court to hold a new suppression hearing, reinstate the
judgment of sentence if the trial court denied the defendant’s suppression
claim, or hold a new trial if the trial court granted the suppression motion. Id.
at 282.
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Here, similar to Long, we are constrained to conclude here that the trial
court erred in ruling on Appellant’s supplemental suppression motions without
holding a hearing. See id. at 281-82; see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(E). As
discussed above, the trial court had the discretion to consider the merits of
Appellant’s motions in the interest of justice and erred in applying the
coordinate jurisdiction rule. The trial court only considered the parties’
arguments without holding a hearing for the parties to develop a proper
suppression record. See Long, 753 A.2d at 281-82; see also Pa.R.Crim.P.
581(E)-(H). Therefore, we are constrained to conclude that the trial court
abused its discretion in deciding Appellant’s suppression motions without a
holding a hearing.14 See Long, 753 A.2d at 281.
For these reasons, we vacate the judgment of sentence and remand this
matter for a new suppression hearing. See id. at 282.
Legality of Sentence—Conspiracy
Notwithstanding our conclusion that Appellant is entitled to a new
suppression hearing, we briefly address Appellant’s third issue. Appellant
argues that the trial court imposed an illegal sentence when it sentenced him
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14 We acknowledge the Commonwealth’s reliance on pre-L.J. law to assert
that the trial court properly denied Appellant’s suppression motions based on
the entire record, including the trial record. See L.J., 79 A.3d at 1081, 1085-
89. However, the Commonwealth does not cite, nor have we found, any case
law upholding a trial court’s suppression ruling based on its review of the trial
record without holding a hearing on a defendant’s previously unlitigated
suppression claim that would have provided the opportunity for the
Commonwealth and the defendant to present evidence on the motion
pursuant to Rule 581(E)-(H). Cf. Long, 753 A.2d at 281-82.
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to mandatory life in prison for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Appellant’s Brief at 14. He contends that under 18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(c), the
maximum possible sentence for conspiracy to commit murder is forty years
when there is serious bodily injury. Id. The trial court agrees that the life
sentence was illegal and suggests that this Court may amend the conspiracy
sentence to twenty to forty years’ imprisonment. See Trial Ct. Op. at 5.
It is well settled that “[i]f a court imposes a sentence outside of the legal
parameters prescribed by the applicable statute, the sentence is illegal and
should be remanded for correction.” Commonwealth v. Infante, 63 A.3d
358 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation and quotation marks omitted). As Appellant’s
claim challenges the legality of his sentence, our standard of review is de novo
and our scope of review is plenary. See Commonwealth v. Cardwell, 105
A.3d 748, 750 (Pa. Super. 2014).
Section 1102 of the Crimes Code governs the maximum sentence
permissible for a conviction of conspiracy to commit murder.
Notwithstanding section 1103(1) (relating to sentence of
imprisonment for felony), a person who has been convicted of
attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit murder, murder of
an unborn child or murder of a law enforcement officer where
serious bodily injury results may be sentenced to a term of
imprisonment which shall be fixed by the court at not more than
40 years. Where serious bodily injury does not result, the person
may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which shall be fixed
by the court at not more than 20 years.
18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(c).
Here, Appellant was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.
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Pursuant to Section 1102(c), the maximum permissible sentence is twenty
years, or forty years when serious bodily injury occurs. See generally
Commonwealth v. King, 234 A.3d 549, 562 (Pa. 2020). Accordingly, we
agree that Appellant’s sentence of life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit
murder is illegal.
Conclusion
For these reasons, we conclude that Appellant’s challenge to Detective
Verrecchio’s testimony lacks merit. However, we conclude that Appellant is
entitled to a new suppression hearing and that the trial court imposed an
illegal sentence for conspiracy to commit murder. Therefore, we vacate the
judgment of sentence in part and remand this case for a new suppression
hearing. If the trial court denies Appellant’s supplemental suppression
motions following the new hearing, the court shall proceed to a resentencing
hearing. If the trial court determines that Appellant is entitled to the
suppression of the challenged evidence, the court shall proceed to a new trial
on all charges.
Judgment of sentence vacated. Case remanded for a new suppression
hearing with instructions. Jurisdiction relinquished.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/20/2021
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