Com. v. Sawyer, W.

J-A10014-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
WALTER SAWYER
Appellant No. 1530 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence April 22, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-22-CR-0004317-2013
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., MUNDY, J., and JENKINS, J.
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED APRIL 22, 2015
Appellant, Walter Sawyer, appeals pro se from the judgment of
sentence entered in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, following
his jury trial convictions for kidnapping, unlawful contact with a minor, and
false identification to law enforcement authorities.1 We affirm the
convictions, but vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for
resentencing.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this appeal are as follows.
On December 15, 2012, sixteen-year-old B.B. (“Victim”) was traveling by
bus from Indianapolis to Hazleton. During a stop in Harrisburg, Victim left
the bus station to smoke a cigarette. Appellant approached Victim and
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1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2901, 6318, and 4914, respectively.
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started a conversation. Victim told Appellant she was hungry, and Appellant
offered to drive Victim to a gas station where she could buy food. Victim
accepted the offer and entered Appellant’s vehicle.
Instead of driving to a gas station, Appellant took Victim to a secluded
parking lot under a nearby bridge. Appellant told Victim to have sex with
him, or else he would not drive her back to the station in time for Victim to
catch the bus to Hazleton. Believing she had no other choice, Victim climbed
into the backseat. As Appellant began to pull down Victim’s pants, State
Capitol Police Sergeant Michael Schmidt encountered Appellant’s vehicle
during a routine patrol of the area. Sergeant Schmidt questioned Victim,
who informed the sergeant of Appellant’s attempt to coerce her into having
sex. Sergeant Schmidt also questioned Appellant, who provided the birth
certificate and Social Security card of another individual as his own
identification.
The Commonwealth filed a criminal complaint against Appellant on
May 9, 2013.2 Following trial, a jury convicted Appellant of kidnapping,
unlawful contact with a minor, and false identification. The jury acquitted
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2
At the time of the incident with Victim, Appellant had escaped from a
halfway house. The Commonwealth charged Appellant with escape at No.
695 of 2013, and Appellant pled guilty to the escape charge on March 25,
2013. Due to the ongoing investigation into Appellant’s escape case, the
Commonwealth did not immediately file the criminal complaint for the crimes
against Victim. (See Commonwealth’s Answer to Appellant’s Amended Post-
Sentence Motion, filed 7/30/14, at 2.)
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Appellant of unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, and attempted indecent
assault. Prior to sentencing, the Commonwealth provided notice of intent to
seek a mandatory minimum sentence under the “three strikes” provision of
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)(2). On April 22, 2014, the court sentenced
Appellant to twenty-five (25) to fifty (50) years’ imprisonment for the
kidnapping conviction. The court imposed the sentence pursuant to Section
9714(a)(2). For the unlawful contact with a minor conviction, the court
imposed a concurrent term of five (5) to ten (10) years’ imprisonment. For
the false identification conviction, the court imposed a concurrent term of
one (1) to two (2) years’ imprisonment. The court ordered all sentences to
run concurrent with any sentences Appellant was already serving, including
the sentence for the escape conviction.
Appellant timely filed counseled post-sentence motions on May 2,
2014, arguing that the court imposed an illegal sentence above the statutory
maximum for the false identification conviction. Appellant also claimed the
verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Before the court ruled on
the counseled post-sentence motions, Appellant filed a request to proceed
pro se. On June 16, 2014, the court conducted a hearing, pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Grazier, 552 Pa. 9, 713 A.2d 81 (1998). Following the
hearing, the court determined Appellant’s waiver of counsel was knowing,
voluntary, and intelligent, and it permitted trial counsel to withdraw. Also on
June 16, 2014, the court issued an amended sentencing order, modifying
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Appellant’s sentence for the false identification conviction to six (6) to twelve
(12) months’ imprisonment. The court did not alter Appellant’s remaining
sentences, and it did not rule on the weight claim from the counseled post-
sentence motion.
On June 24, 2014, Appellant filed a pro se amendment to his
counseled post-sentence motions. In the pro se amendment, Appellant
included claims regarding subject matter jurisdiction, due process violations,
defects in the pretrial proceedings and charging instruments, Pa.R.Crim.P.
600 violations, the legality of the mandatory minimum sentence, and the
sufficiency of the evidence supporting the convictions. On August 6, 2014,
the court granted Appellant’s post-sentence motions in part. Specifically,
the court determined that Appellant had not committed two prior crimes of
violence to support the imposition of a “third strike” sentence under Section
9714(a)(2); instead, Appellant had committed only one prior crime of
violence. Thus, the court vacated Appellant’s sentence for kidnapping and
resentenced him to a mandatory minimum term of one hundred twenty
(120) months’ imprisonment for a “second strike” conviction, pursuant to
Section 9714(a)(1).3 The court did not alter Appellant’s remaining
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3
In the trial court’s opinion and order granting the post-sentence motions in
part, the court initially stated it had resentenced Appellant “pursuant to
[Section] 9714(a) to a term of 120-240 months of incarceration in a State
Correctional Institute at Count 1.” (Trial Court Opinion and Order, filed
August 6, 2014, at 13) (emphasis added). Nevertheless, the court later
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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sentences, and it denied relief on all other claims raised in the counseled and
pro se post-sentence motions.
Appellant timely filed a pro se notice of appeal on August 20, 2014.
On September 18, 2014, the court ordered Appellant to file a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).
Appellant timely filed a pro se Rule 1925(b) statement on September 22,
2014.
Appellant raises six issues for our review:
WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT
THE VERDICTS FOR KIDNAPPING AND UNLAWFUL
CONTACT WERE NOT CONTRARY TO THE WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE SO AS TO SHOCK ONE’S SENSE OF JUSTICE,
WHERE THE NECESSARY UNDERLYING OFFENSES WERE
NOT PROVEN.
WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT IT
DID NOT LACK SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION WHERE
APPELLANT WAS NEVER FORMALLY CHARGED VIA AN
ARRAIGNMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT
THE COMMONWEALTH COULD PRESENT CHARGES NOT
PRESENTED AT THE PRELIMINARY HEARING NOR
AMENDED BY FORMAL ARRAIGNMENT PRIOR TO TRIAL.
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
states it resentenced Appellant “to a term of 120-140 months [of]
incarceration in a State Correctional Institute at Count 1.” (Id. at 14)
(emphasis added). Further, the relevant docket entry states: “The
court…resentences [Appellant] to a term of 120-140 months [of]
incarceration in a State Correctional Institute at Count 1.” (Criminal Docket
Entries, printed 10/10/14, at 9) (emphasis added). The court’s opinion and
order and the docket entry are the only two writings in the record, which
memorialize the amended judgment of sentence.
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WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT
THERE WAS NO VIOLATION OF PA.R.CRIM.P. 600.
WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT
THE COMMONWEALTH’S DELAY IN BRINGING CHARGES
AGAINST APPELLANT DID NOT DENY HIM HIS DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS AND PERMIT A CONVICTION WHERE
APPELLANT IS IN FACT INNOCENT.
WHILE THE COURT FOUND THAT IT HAD ILLEGALLY
SENTENCED APPELLANT UNDER THE RECIDIVIST STATUTE
AND PROPERLY VACATED SAID ILLEGAL SENTENCE, THE
TRIAL COURT AGAIN ILLEGALLY SENTENCED APPELLANT
UNDER THE RECIDIVIST STATUTE. AS SUCH, THE
QUESTION IS WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN
RESENTENCING APPELLANT UNDER THE RECIDIVIST
STATUTE….
(Appellant’s Brief at vi-vii).
In his first issue, Appellant asserts that the jury convicted him of
kidnapping and unlawful contact with a minor, but it acquitted him of
attempted indecent assault. Appellant insists the jury’s verdict was
inconsistent, because kidnapping and unlawful contact with a minor include
the same statutory elements as attempted indecent assault. On this basis,
Appellant concludes the trial court should have overturned his kidnapping
and unlawful contact with a minor convictions. Appellant, however, failed to
include this claim in his Rule 1925(b) statement.4 Consequently, the claim is
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4
In his Rule 1925(b) statement, Appellant included a boilerplate challenge
to the weight of the evidence. Likewise, in the statement of questions
presented, Appellant also couched this issue in terms of weight of the
evidence. Significantly, claiming “the verdict is contrary to the weight of the
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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waived. See Commonwealth v. Castillo, 585 Pa. 395, 888 A.2d 775
(2005) (stating general rule that any issue not included in Rule 1925(b)
statement is waived for purposes of appellate review).
In his second, third, fourth, and fifth issues, Appellant challenges the
trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction, alleged due process violations,
alleged defects in the pretrial proceedings, and a purported Rule 600
violation. After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties,
the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Deborah
E. Curcillo, we conclude Appellant’s second, third, fourth, and fifth issues
merit no relief. The trial court opinion comprehensively discusses and
properly disposes of the questions presented. (See Trial Court Opinion and
Order at 8-12) (finding: (2)−(3) Court of Common Pleas has subject matter
jurisdiction over all cases arising under Crimes Code; at preliminary hearing,
Appellant received copy of criminal complaint, notice of right to counsel,
notice of right to waive counsel, notice of right to preliminary hearing, and
notice of right to have bail set; Appellant was not unlawfully detained or
deprived of any rights; Commonwealth established prima facie case against
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
evidence concedes that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the verdict….”
Commonwealth v. Moreno, 14 A.3d 133, 136 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal
denied, 615 Pa. 791, 44 A.3d 1161 (2012). Here, Appellant’s proposed
argument actually implicates the sufficiency of the evidence rather than its
weight. See Commonwealth v. Miller, 613 Pa. 584, 588, 35 A.3d 1206,
1208 (2012) (stating inconsistent verdicts “are allowed to stand so long as
the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction”).
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Appellant at preliminary hearing; Commonwealth included unlawful contact
with a minor charge in criminal information; Commonwealth is permitted to
use criminal information to charge offenses, which are substantially same as
or cognate to offenses charged in criminal complaint; here, Commonwealth
included kidnapping and attempted indecent assault charges in criminal
complaint; kidnapping and attempted indecent assault implicate all essential
elements of unlawful contact with minor; thus, unlawful contact with minor
was cognate offense and properly charged in criminal information; (4) trial
occurred within 365 days of Commonwealth filing criminal complaint; no
Rule 600 violation actually occurred in Appellant’s case; (5) regarding
Appellant’s complaint that Commonwealth’s delay in bringing charges
resulted in loss of certain surveillance videos, such evidence was de minimis
and circumstantial where Victim consistently indicated she willingly entered
Appellant’s vehicle outside bus station; dismissal of charges was not
warranted). Therefore, Appellant is not entitled to relief on his second,
third, fourth, and fifth issues on the basis of the trial court opinion. 5
In his sixth issue, Appellant relies on Alleyne v. United States, ___
U.S. ___, 133 S. Ct. 2151, 186 L. Ed. 2d 314 (2013), for the proposition that
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5
We also note Appellant failed to cite to relevant authority in support of his
third and fourth issues. See Commonwealth v. Knox, 50 A.3d 732
(Pa.Super. 2012), appeal denied, 620 Pa. 721, 69 A.3d 601 (2013)
(reiterating failure to cite to legal authority to support argument results in
waiver).
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any fact increasing a minimum sentence is an element of the crime that
must be submitted to the jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Appellant asserts the jury did not determine the facts triggering the court’s
sentencing under Section 9714(a), and the court should not have imposed a
mandatory minimum sentence. Appellant also argues that the
Commonwealth did not initially seek a “second strike” sentence under
Section 9714(a)(1); rather, the Commonwealth sought a “third strike”
sentence under Section 9714(a)(2). Because the Commonwealth failed to
prove the applicability of Section 9714(a)(2), Appellant argues the court
should not have imposed any sentence under Section 9714(a).
Further, Appellant contends the court’s August 6, 2014 order
amending the kidnapping sentence imposed a term of one hundred twenty
(120) to one hundred forty (140) months’ incarceration. Appellant claims
the docket entries list an identical sentence of one hundred twenty to one
hundred forty months’ incarceration. Appellant maintains this sentence is
illegal, because the minimum sentence exceeds one-half of the maximum
sentence. Appellant’s claims challenge the legality of his kidnapping
sentence. See Commonwealth v. Vasquez, 560 Pa. 381, 744 A.2d 1280
(2000) (stating application of mandatory sentencing provisions implicates
legality of sentence); 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a.1).
“Issues relating to the legality of a sentence are questions of law….”
Commonwealth v. Diamond, 945 A.2d 252, 256 (Pa.Super. 2008), appeal
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denied, 598 Pa. 755, 955 A.2d 356 (2008). “The defendant or the
Commonwealth may appeal as of right the legality of the sentence.” 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(a). See also Commonwealth v. Edrington, 780 A.2d
721 (Pa.Super. 2001) (maintaining legality of sentence claims cannot be
waived, where reviewing court has proper jurisdiction). When the legality of
a sentence is at issue on appeal, our “standard of review over such
questions is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.” Diamond, supra
at 256. “If no statutory authorization exists for a particular sentence, that
sentence is illegal and subject to correction. An illegal sentence must be
vacated….” Commonwealth v. Pombo, 26 A.3d 1155, 1157 (Pa.Super.
2011) (quoting Commonwealth v. Bowers, 25 A.3d 349, 352 (Pa.Super.
2011), appeal denied, 616 Pa. 666, 51 A.3d 837 (2012)).
Section 9714 provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
§ 9714. Sentences for second and subsequent
offenses
(a) Mandatory sentence.―
(1) Any person who is convicted in any court of
this Commonwealth of a crime of violence shall, if at the
time of the commission of the current offense the
person had previously been convicted of a crime of
violence, be sentenced to a minimum sentence of at
least ten years of total confinement, notwithstanding
any other provision of this title or other statute to the
contrary. Upon a second conviction for a crime of
violence, the court shall give the person oral and
written notice of the penalties under this section for a
third conviction for a crime of violence. Failure to
provide such notice shall not render the offender
ineligible to be sentenced under paragraph (2).
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(2) Where the person had at the time of the
commission of the current offense previously been
convicted of two or more such crimes of violence arising
from separate criminal transactions, the person shall 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.
Proof that the offender received notice of or otherwise
knew or should have known of the penalties under this
paragraph shall not be required. Upon conviction for a
third or subsequent crime of violence the court may, if
it determines that 25 years of total confinement is
insufficient to protect the public safety, sentence the
offender to life imprisonment without parole.
(a.1) 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.
* * *
(d) Proof at sentencing.―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 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
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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.
(e) Authority of court in sentencing.―There shall
be no authority in any court to impose on an
offender to which this section is applicable any
lesser sentence than provided for in subsections (a)
and (a.1) or to place such offender on probation or
to suspend sentence. Nothing in this section shall
prevent the sentencing court from imposing a sentence
greater than that provided in this section. Sentencing
guidelines promulgated by the Pennsylvania Commission
on Sentencing shall not supersede the mandatory
sentences provided in this section.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)-(a.1), (d)-(e) (some emphasis added).
In Alleyne, the United States Supreme Court expressly held that any
fact increasing the mandatory minimum sentence for a crime is considered
an element of the crime to be submitted to the fact-finder and found beyond
a reasonable doubt, but the Alleyne Court also recognized “a narrow
exception to this general rule for the fact of a prior conviction.” Alleyne,
supra at ___, 133 S.Ct. at 2160 n.1, 186 L.Ed.2d at ___ (citing
Almendarez–Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S. Ct. 1219, 140
L. Ed. 2d 350 (1998)).
Instantly, Appellant’s kidnapping conviction constituted a crime of
violence under Section 9714. At sentencing, the Commonwealth presented
evidence of Appellant’s prior conviction for robbery, which also constituted a
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crime of violence. Significantly, Appellant conceded that the prior robbery
conviction constituted a “first strike.” See Pro Se Amendment to Counseled
Post-Sentence Motions, filed 6/24/14, at 8 (stating: “It is therefore clear
that prior to this crime [Appellant] had only one strike for a conviction of a
crime of violence”). On this record, Section 9714 mandated that the court
impose a mandatory minimum sentence. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(e).
Regarding Appellant’s reliance on Alleyne, its holding does not apply to
mandatory minimum sentences based on the fact of a prior conviction. See
Alleyne, supra.
Appellant correctly recognizes, however, that the amended sentencing
order and the criminal docket entries list the kidnapping sentence as one
hundred twenty to one hundred forty months’ imprisonment. Because the
maximum sentence does not equal twice the minimum sentence, the
sentence violates Section 9714(a.1); and Appellant’s kidnapping sentence is
illegal. We acknowledge that the illegal sentence might be attributable to a
mere scrivener’s error. Nevertheless, we leave any sentence correction to
the trial court; otherwise, we risk invading the trial court’s sentencing
intentions. See Commonwealth v. Bartrug, 732 A.2d 1287 (Pa.Super.
1999), appeal denied, 561 Pa. 651, 747 A.2d 896 (1999) (stating sentencing
error in multi-count case requires that all sentences for all counts be vacated
so court can restructure entire sentencing scheme). See also
Commonwealth v. Goldhammer, 512 Pa. 587, 593, 517 A.2d 1280, 1283
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(1986), certiorari denied, 480 U.S. 950, 107 S. Ct. 1613, 94 L. Ed. 2d 798
(1987)) (stating, “When a defendant challenges one of several
interdependent sentences, he, in effect, challenges the entire sentencing”
scheme; if appellate court alters overall sentencing scheme, then remand for
resentencing is proper). Accordingly, we affirm Appellant’s convictions, but
we vacate the judgment of sentence in its totality and remand for
resentencing.
Judgment of sentence vacated; case remanded for resentencing.
Jurisdiction is relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/22/2015
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COMMONWEAL TH OF : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
PENNSYLVANIA : DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v. : NO. 4317 CR 2013
WALTER KEITH SAWYER a/k/a KEITH
WALTER SAWYER a/k/a WALTER : CRIMINAL MATTER
SAWYER a/k/a KEITH SAWYER
TRIAL COURT MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Presently before the Court is the post-sentence motion of Keith Walter Sawyer
(hereinafter "Defendant") from the judgment of sentence entered by this Court following a jury
trial on April 21-22, 2014.
Procedural History
Defendant was charged with kidnapping', unlawful restraint', false. imprisonment',
unlawful contact with a minor", criminal attempt', open lewdness", false identification to law
enforcement and defiant trespass. He was found guilty of kidnapping, unlawful contact with a
minor and false identification to law enforcement.
He was immediately sentenced to 25-50 years SCI on the kidnapping charge. Five to ten
years concurrent with Count I on the unlawful contact charge and one to two years for the false
identification charge.
Defendant's attorney, Amanda Batz of the Public Defenders' Office, filed a timely post-
sentence motion first requesting a modification of sentence with regard to the false identification
charge and second requesting a new trial or arrest of judgment as the verdict was against the
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2901 (a)(l),(2)
2
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2902(a)(2)
3
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2903(a)
4
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6318(a)(2)
5
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901
6
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5901
718
Pa.C.S.A. § 4914(a)
I
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weight of the evidence. Prior to this Court ruling on that motion, Defendant filed a Motion for a
Grazier hearing indicating that he wished to proceed pro se. This Court granted the Grazier
hearing request and held a video hearing during which Defendant was apprised of his right to
counsel and chose to waive it. Further, at that hearing, this Court did modify the sentence with
regard to the false identification charge.
Defense counsel withdrew as requested and Defendant filed an "Amendment to Omnibus
Post-Sentence Motions". At this time we address both the original Post Sentence Motion and the
Amendment.
Factual Background
Sergeant Michael Schmidt's Testimony
Sergeant Michael Schmidt, of the State Capitol Police Department, explained that the
Capitol Police have statewide jurisdiction and protect state employees and state property. (Notes
of Testimony Jury Trial April 21-22, 20148, 22). He indicated they back up the Harrisburg police
whenever they are busy. (N.T. 22). The State Street Bridge is part of their jurisdiction. (N.T. 23).
Underneath the Bridge is parking for state employees and the police patrol the area pretty heavily
because it is rather secluded and there can be illegal activity there. (N.T. 25-27). :
On December 15, 2012, Schmidt was patrolling the area when he saw the defendant's car
under the bridge. (N.T. 28-29). Defendant and a white female were in the back seat of the car;
Defendant attempted to block Schmidt's view of the interior and it appeared to Schmidt that the
female was trying to pull her pants up. (N.T. 30-31). Schmidt made contact with the female and
discovered she was travelling from Indianapolis to Hazleton with Harrisburg as a layover. (N.T.
,.
33). She said the candy machines weren't working at the Harrisburg station and Defendant
approached her and offered to take her to a gas station for food. (Id.) The victim told him that
8
Hereinafter N.T.
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after getting the car, Defendant told her if she did not have sex with him, she would not get the
bus to Hazleton. (N.T. 35). She was crying and only became more at ease when she was away
from the Defendant. (N.T. 35). The Defendant indicated that he believed the female was older
than her actual age. (N.T. 61).
Victim B.B.'s Testimony
She is 17 years old, and was 16 years old at the time of the incident (N.T. 70, 71). She
said that on her layover in Harrisburg, she was outside the bus/train station smoking a cigarette
when a man approached her and they started talking. (N.T. 74). She told him she was hungry
and he offered to take her to a gas station for food to which she agreed. (Id.). They got in the car
and he drove her to under the bridge where he told her to have sex with him or she would not
make the bus. (N.T. 74-75). She was afraid that she would miss her bus and be lost and along in
Harrisburg, a city with which she is not familiar. (Id.). She thought she had no· other choice so
she climbed into the back seat with him. (N.T. 78). The Defendant unbuttoned her pants and she
pulled them partway down her legs. (N.T. 80). She was scared and there was no one around who
would hear her if she screamed for help. (N.T. 81). He began to pull down her pants when Sgt.
Sclunidt arrived. (N.T. 79). Sgt. Schmidt took her away from the Defendant and started to ask
her what happened. She was frantic, crying hysterical and afraid of the Defendant. (N.T. 83).
B.B. testified that she was not sure what to do in the situation she was in, nor was she
ever told how to handle such a situation. (N.T. 104-105). She was scared of the Defendant
because he is bigger and she was physically afraid of him. (N.T. 105).
On cross-examination, B.B. recalled that they did in fact go to a gas station before going
under the bridge. (N.T. 93). The Defendant never told her not to get out of the car, he never told
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her she was not allowed to leave, nor did he ever physically restrain her. (N.T. 97). She also
admitted that she had marijuana in her bag, but denied having it in the car with her. (N.T. 94).
B.B. was recalled and testified that she never told Defendant her age. (N.T. 148).
Officer Nicole Herb's Testimony
She has been an officer with the Capitol Police since 1996 and has experience
interviewing or making contact with young victims or witnesses of all sorts of crimes - domestic
violence, sexual assault, DUis etc. (N.T. 112·113). On December 15, 2012, she was dispatched
to back up Sgt. Schmidt. (N.T. 113). Schmidt asked her to watch the male he had been speaking
with while he spoke with the female around the corner. (N.T. 115). By Officer Herb's
estimation, the female was about 15; and her pants were unbuttoned and sort of rolled down.
(Id.).
Officer Herb testified that they always separate the victim from the perpetrator because
they are scared and will not speak freely if they have someone staring at them and listening to
what they say. (N.T. 116). B.B. was scared, crying and upset and said several times she wanted
to go home. (N.T. 117). Officer Herb transported B.B. to Harrisburg Hospital to see a SAFE
nurse and possibly get a rape kit done. (N.T. 118). B.B. and Officer Herb spoke about why B.B.
was not at home and her personal life. B.B. was upset the whole time, probably three to four
hours. (N.T. 119).
B.B. told Officer Herb that she had been at the bus station smoking a cigarette when the
Defendant approached her. (N.T. 120). She told him she was hungry and he offered to take her
to a gas station. (Id.). They went to the gas station where she bought a candy bar and then he
took her under the bridge. (Id.). He stopped, backed in and told her to get in the back seat where
he unzipped her pants and started to take them off. (Id.).
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She testified that the Defendant said he thought B.B. was 19 years old. (N.T. 124).
Officer Herb was recalled on direct. She testified that the Defendant told her that B.B.
said she was 19 and that he had needs and as long as the girl was legal he needed someone to
fulfill his needs. (N.T. 145).
Officer David DeLellis's Testimony
Officer David Delellis, of the Capitol Police, started to inventory the vehicle as it was
going to be towed. (N.T. 129). Officer DeLellis indicated that there were ashes all over the
vehicle and there was a duffel bag with folded clothing in the back of the vehicle. (N.T. 129). He
then transported the Defendant back to the station for processing. (N.T. 133-134). At the station,
· the Defendant demanded a phone call and Officer Delellis explained he was not entitled to one
until Officer Schmidt authorized it. (N.T. 134-135). Further, he gave the Defendant his Miranda
warnings because the Defendant was still demanding a call and claiming he had a right to a
phone call. (N.T. 135). The Defendant continued to speak to Office Delellis after these
warnings. (N.T. 136). The Defendant said he didn't use any force or take .the girl .and the she
carried luggage to his car. (Id.). Officer DeLellis explained to him that he did not need to talk
and the Defendant said he understood but continued to make statements. (Id.). Specifically he
said "she didn't fuck me for no candy bar" and that she had told him she was 19. (N.T. 136-137).
Officer Delellis saw B.B. on the day of the incident and in his training and experience thought
she was about 15. (N.T. 137).
Detective Dennis Woodring's Testimony
Detective Woodring of the District Attorney's Office is the coordinator of the county
forensics team. (N.T. 155). In December 2012, he was asked to look for bodily fluids in a
vehicle used in a sexual assault case. (N.T. 156). In this case, they used an alternate light source
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to determine if bodily fluids were present in the car. (N.T. 156). There was an area on the seat
that was identified and cut out and sent for analysis. (N.T. 156). It was his understanding that the
results of that testing were negative. (N.T. 157).
Discussion
In his original post sentence motion, Defendant first requests a modification of his
sentence with regard to the false identification charge. False identification to law enforcement is
a third degree misdemeanor and the statutory maximum is one year. We granted this
modification.
Next, he requests a new trial or arrest of judgment as the verdict was against the weight
of the evidence. Per his motion, the appearance and demeanor of the victim at the time of the
incident demonstrates mistake of age and that her decision to go with him voluntarily precludes
kidnapping. Thus he argues the kidnapping and unlawful contact verdicts were contrary to the
weight of the evidence so as to shock one's sense of justice.
"It is the province of the trier of fact to pass upon the credibility of witnesses and the
weight to be accorded to the evidence produced. The factfinder is free to believe all, part or none
of the evidence." Commonwealth v. Graham, 81 A.2d 137 (2013).
Evidence will be deemed sufficient to support a verdict when it
established each material element of the crime charged and the
commission thereof by the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. .. A
motion for new trial on the grounds that the verdict is against the
weight of the evidence concedes that there is sufficient evidence to
sustain the verdict; thus the trial· court is under no obligation to
view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict
winner ... A new trial should not be granted because of a mere
conflict in the testimony or because a judge on the same facts
would have arrived at a different conclusion .... The role of the trial
judge is to determine that notwithstanding the all the facts, certain
facts are so clearly of greater weight that to ignore them or give
them equal weight with all the facts is to deny justice.
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Commonwealth v. Widmer, 560 Pa. 308 (2000)
A trial court should award a new trial on grounds that the verdict is against the weight of
evidence only when the verdict is so contrary to evidence as to shock one's sense of justice and
make award of new trial imperative, so that right may be given another opportunity to prevail.
Commonwealth v. Cruz-Centeno, 668 A.2d 536, 447 Pa. Super. 98 (1995), appeal denied 676
A.2d 1195, 544 Pa. 653, habeas corpus denied 1997 WL 16626, affirmed 142 F.3d 427.
In the present case, the jury, as the factfinder, determined that there was sufficient
evidence to convict Defendant of kidnapping and unlawful contact with a minor.
Kidnapping is defined as unlawfully removing another a substantial distance under the
circumstances from the place where he is found, or if he unlawfully confines another for a
substantial period in a place of isolation, with any of the following intentions: .(1) To hold for
ransom or reward, or as a shield or hostage or (2) To facilitate commission of any felony or flight
thereafter. (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2901). In this case, the issue is whether B.B. was unlawfully removed
from where she was found. _B.B. admits that she initially agreed to go with Defendant to get
food at a gas station. However, she did not testify that she agreed to go under the South Street
Bridge. The jury was free to believe her testimony that she only agreed to go to the gas station
and was afraid when he took her under the bridge.
The jury's decision does not shock the conscience of the court as there is ample
testimony from the victim and from the various officers who were at the scene that she was not
under the bridge voluntarily. Just because she initially agreed to go with the Defendant to a
public place does not mean she agreed to be taken to a hidden location in :a city she was
unfamiliar with.
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"A person commits an offense if he is intentionally in contact with a minor, or a law
enforcement officer acting in the performance of his duties who has assumed the identity of a
minor, for the purpose of engaging in an activity prohibited under any of the following, and
either the person initiating the contact or the person being contacted is within this
Commonwealth: (1) Any of the offenses enumerated in Chapter 31 (relating to sexual offenses)."
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6318.
In his post sentence motion, Defendant claims that the victim told him she was 19 years
old. Indeed, throughout the trial the officers testified that he told them she told him she was 19.
Conversely, the victim testified that she never told the Defendant her age. Further, .the officers
all testified that they believe the victim to be around the age of 15 based on her appearance.
As the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said in Widmer, "A new trial should not be granted
because of a mere conflict in the testimony." Based on the testimony, it is clear that there is a
conflict as to whether B.B. told the Defendant her age or not. However, the jury chose to believe
that she did not and that based on her appearance, the Defendant should have known she was
under age.
While there were discrepancies in B.B.'s testimony, the jury is the ultimate determiner of
credibility and they chose to believe B.B. 's testimony.
In his Amendment to Omnibus Post-Sentence Motions, Defendant raises six (6) issues.
Lack of subject matter jurisdiction
"Subject matter jurisdiction speaks to the competency of a court to hear and adjudicate
the type of controversy presented. Commonwealth v. Bethea, 574 Pa. 100, 828 A.2d 1066, 1074
(2003)." Commonwealth v. Seiders, 2010 Pa. Super. 194, 11 A.3d 495, 496 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010).
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"[A]ll courts of common pleas have statewide subject matter jurisdiction in cases arising under
the Crimes Code." Commonwealth v. Bethea, 574 Pa. 100, 113, 828 A.2d 1066, 1074 (2003)
Defendant argues that this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction as he was arrested
without a warrant and there was no preliminary arraignment. As this is a Court of Common
Pleas, we have subject matter jurisdiction over all cases arising under the crimes code,
Defendant was arrested on December 12, 2012, and charged with Escape. He was not
charged with the above-captioned crimes until May 9, 2013. At that time, Sergeant Smith
requested a warrant for Defendant's arrest. Defendant had been transported to SCI-Retreat to
serve his sentence on the Escape charge." The Honorable Magisterial District Judge Stewart
issued notice of the charges to Defendant via summons and set a bail hearing and a preliminary
hearing date of June 26, 2013. Upon filing of the charges, the issuing authority should have
issued the Commonwealth's requested warrant of arrest; however, Defendant was provided with
notice of the June hearing and at that hearing he was provided with all the procedural rights he
would have been afforded at a preliminary arraignment. That is, he was given a copy of the
criminal complaint requesting a warrant for his arrest, notice of his right to secure counsel, notice
of his right to waive the presence of counsel, notice of his right to a preliminary hearing and his
right to have bail set. Defendant's substantive rights were maintained and Defendant failed to
raise any procedural issues prior to his preliminary hearing.
As the Commonwealth notes, Defendant fails to raise any prejudice he suffered as a
result of the procedural history of the case. He was never unlawfully detained nor deprived of
any rights.
Commonwealth v. Abdul-Salaam, 678 A/2d 342, 349 (Pa. 1996) indicates that any issue
concerning a defect in the affidavit is rendered moot by a magisterial district court's finding of a
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prima facie case at a preliminary hearing. A prima facie case was found at his "preliminary
hearing and he was provided with all his substantive procedural rights at the June 26, 2013
hearing.
Court error in allowing charges not presented at the preliminary hearing nor amended
by formal arraignment to proceed to trial
Defendant contends that the Unlawful Contact with a Minor - Open Lewdness charge
was never presented at the preliminary hearing, nor was it formally amended to the Defendant,
thus it was improperly placed before the jury.
Defendant was actually charged with Unlawful Contact with a Minor relating to the
charge of Indecent Assault. That Unlawful Contact charge was in the original Criminal
Information and the Defendant had been notified of the Commonwealth's intent to introduce the
cognate offense prior to the filing of the information through the Charging Memorandum filed on
or about October 17, 2013.
Per Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 560(8)(5), the Commonwealth is permitted
to charge in a criminal information "the essential elements of the offense substantially the same
as or cognate to the offense alleged in the complaint." In this case, kidnapping and criminal
attempt to commit indecent assault were including the complaint. Kidnapping includes an
element that the victim is under 18 years of age'. 18 Pa.C.S.A. §2901(a.1)(2). Criminal attempt
to commit indecent assault, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901 and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3126(a)(l) include an
essential element that the defendant attempted to indecently contact the victim for the purpose of
sexual gratification. The crime of unlawful cont~ct with a minor, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6318(a)(2)
includes as essential elements that the defendant make contact with a victim under 18 years of
age and that the contact be made with the intent to commit a sexual offense. The charged offense
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of kidnapping and criminal attempt to commit indecent assault implicate all the essential
elements of unlawful contact with a minor, thus it is a cognate offense and was properly charged.
Once a defendant has been to trial and been found guilty of a crime, any defect in the
preliminary hearing is immaterial. Commonwealth v. Jacobs, 640 A.2d 1326 (Pa.Super. 1994).
Thus, Defendant is not entitled to dismissal of this charge.
A Rule 600 violation
Next Defendant argues that Rule 600 - Prompt Trial was violated. He contends that the
defense never continued the case thus the time from arrest to trial was greater than 365 days.
Defendant was arrested on December 12, 2012 on the escape charge. He was not charged
with the above captioned offenses until May 9, 2013. He proceeded to trial on April 21, 2014- a
total of 348 days. This is within the 365 day time limit in Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal
Procedure 600. On February 18, 2014, Attorney Amanda Batz requested a continuance and
again on March 24, 2014, Attorney Batz waived Rule 600 again until April 21, 2014, for a total
period of 55 days which would not count towards the 365 day limit. No violation of Rule 600
occurred.
Court error in proceeding to trial when the Commonwealth delay denied Defendant
due process and error in permitting conviction when Defendant is innocent
Defendant contends that he was never informed of the charges against him. We find this
difficult to accept as he had three dates before MDJ Stewart between the filing of the criminal
complaint on May 9, 2013 and formal arraignment on November 22, 2013. He was provided
with a copy of the criminal complaint on June 26, 2013. Further on September 11, 2013, MDJ
Stewart held a preliminary hearing at which the victim testified and the court held the charges for
the Court of Common Pleas. He was present and would have been made aware of the allegations
at that point.
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Defendant then contends that he met with Chief Detective John Goshert on November 26,
2013, and asked him to the video from the bus terminal, train station and Hess Express Gas
Station as he believed it would prove his innocence. Defendant indicates in 'his motion that
Chief Goshert attempted to retrieve the videos but was told they were destroyed and that the
delay resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice and denied him his right to an adequate
defense.
The Commonwealth response indicates that while the meeting did take place and Chief
Goshert did attempt to obtain the videos he was unable to for various reasons. First, the bus
terminal video system was inoperable at the time of the incident. Officer Schmidt learned of this
during his initial investigation, thus no prejudice was suffered by the Defendant as no video ever
existed. Next, the train station and Hess station videos were unavailable for the date in question.
There is no indication as to why the videos are unavailable and the Commonwealth avers that
any video would only provide de minimus circumstantial evidence as the victim consistently
indicated she willing entered defendant's car at the bus/train station. She also willingly entered
the car at the gas station, but the unlawful detention occurred when defendant transported her
from the gas station to underneath the State Street Bridge.
We agree with the Commonwealth that even if there were video for the date in question
of the areas Defendant requested, the evidence would be de minimus and , even if there were
error here, dismissal of charges would be an inappropriate remedy.
Illegal sentence under the Recidivist Statute
The Defendant was sentenced under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)(l) which indicates that "Any
person who is convicted in any court of this Commonwealth of a crime of violence shall, if at the
time of the commission of the current offense the person had previously been convicted of a
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crime of violence, be sentenced to a minimum sentence of at least ten years of total confinement,
notwithstanding any other provision of this title or other statute to the contrary. Upon a second
conviction for a crime of violence, the court shall give the person oral and written notice of the
penalties under this section for a third conviction for a crime of violence."
While the defendant has an extensive criminal history including several felony
convictions, in the context of sentencing he does not have two crimes of violence that would
enhance his sentence per 42 Pa.C.S.A § 9714. Thus his post sentence motion is granted as to his
request to vacate the sentence and resentence him pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A § 971:4,(a) to a term of
at 120-240 months of incarceration in a State Correctional Institute at Count 1.
Verdict against the weight of the evidence
This claim was raised in the original post-sentence motion and addressed above;
however, the Defendant revisits this contention with different arguments in his Amendment,
therefore we address it again here.
Defendant argues that in order to be found guilty of Unlawful Contact with a Minor, there
must be sufficient evidence to convict the defendant of the underlying offense. In his case, he
indicates Open Lewdness. However, the Commonwealth contends that the underlying charge is
also Criminal Attempt- Indecent Assault.
The Commonwealth says that 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6318(a) only requires that the
Commonwealth prove that the Defendant intended to commit one of the offenses, not that
sufficient evidence is present to convict him of the offense. "In other words, a defendant need not
be successful in completing the purpose of his communication with a minor in order to be found
guilty of§ 6318( a). For example, the actual rape of a child is not an element of the crime under
§ 6318( a); rather a defendant is guilty if he contacts a minor for the purpose of engaging in that
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prohibited behavior." Commonwealth v. Reed, 9 A.3d 1138, 1146 (Pa. 2010) (Court's
emphasis), citing Commonwealth v. Morgan, 913 A.2d 906, 910 (Pa. Super. 2006), see also
Commonwealth v. Evans 909 A.2d 303 (Pa. 2006). "Defendant need not successfuliy complete
purpose of contact or communication with minor; once contact or communication for purpose of
engaging in prohibited activity occurs, "crime of unlawful contact with a minor has been
completed." Commonwealth v. Evans, 901 A.2d 528, 537 (Pa. Super. 2006) appeal denied 909
A.2d 303 (Pa. 2006).
The jury, as fact finder, was free to believe any all or none of the evidence and testimony.
They chose to believe enough evidence and testimony so as to convict the Defendant of
Unlawful Contact with a Minor as discussed supra.
For these reasons, we DENY the motion for arrest of judgment or new trial but GRANT
the motion as to his request to vacate the sentence and resentence him pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. §
9714(a) to a term of 120 - 140 months incarceration in a State Correctional Institute at Count 1.
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All other aspects of his sentence remain the same. >
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