Com. v. Brown, C.

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
CLINTON BROWN
Appellant No. 1046 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence August 13, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0004946-2014
*****
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
CLINTON BROWN
Appellant No. 3151 EDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence August 13, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0004944-2014
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., MOULTON, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED AUGUST 24, 2017
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Clinton Brown appeals from his judgments of sentence1 entered in the
Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, following his conviction for
robbery,2 conspiracy to commit robbery,3 and conspiracy to commit
aggravated assault.4 Upon review, we affirm.
Sharday Williams testified that on January 30, 2014, she and her
boyfriend, Derrick Moye, left Moye’s house and were approaching her car
when Brown approached her from behind, snatched her wallet, and started
running. When Moye started to chase after Brown, Rasheed Hall stepped
out from in front of a parked car and fired one shot into Moye’s chest from
approximately one foot away. Brown and Hall then fled together on foot,
running in the same direction. When the police arrived, Williams described
the assailant who stole her wallet as a black male in his twenties who was
six feet and one inch tall, with a thin build and brown complexion, and
wearing a black hoodie and black pants. Williams described the shooter as
wearing a black jacket with a “Dickies” brand logo on the front and blue
pants.
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1
This Court has consolidated these appeals, sue sponte, pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 513.
2
18 Pa.C.S. § 3701.
3
18 Pa.C.S. § 903.
4
Id.
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Philadelphia Police Officer Matthew Lally testified that on January 30,
2014, he was working in the neighborhood where the robbery occurred when
he received information about the shooting and robbery and received a
“flash” description of one of the assailants. The flash information described
one assailant as a black male in his twenties with a thin build, facial tattoos,
and a black hoodie. Based on his experience as an officer for the 39 th Police
District for ten years, and his numerous interactions with Brown during that
time, Officer Lally knew that Brown matched the flash description. Officer
Lally went to Brown’s home and spoke with his mother. While there, Brown
called his mother, and Officer Lally got on the phone and asked Brown where
he was. Brown claimed to be with his girlfriend in West Philadelphia. Officer
Lally left the house, and continued searching for Brown. Approximately
twenty to thirty minutes later, Officer Lally found Brown, together with Hall
and a third man, several blocks away.
Williams was brought to the street where Brown and Hall had been
detained. She identified Brown as the one who had robbed her and Hall as
the one who had shot Moye. Williams testified that her identification of them
was based solely on their clothing. Brown and Hall were then taken into
custody, and their cell phones were confiscated during a search incident to
arrest. Although Hall’s phone was locked, investigators secured access to
Brown’s phone. The call logs of Brown’s phone listed multiple calls to and
from a contact listed as “Sheed,” including two calls immediately after the
shooting. When investigators called this number, Hall’s phone rang.
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Investigators obtained a warrant to search Hall’s home, where they
discovered several rounds of ammunition. Among the ammunition were
fourteen .22 caliber rounds. A silver .22 caliber revolver was found roughly
one block from Brown’s house. The gun had five live rounds and one spent
casing. Hall’s clothes tested positive for gunpowder residue.
Detective Ted Wolkiewicz testified that he interviewed Brown on
January 31, 2014. During the interview, Brown refused to sign any
statements prepared by Detective Wolkiewicz, but admitted verbally that he
was the one who had grabbed Williams’ wallet, although he did not know
that Hall had a gun at the time. Despite this admission, Brown attempted to
procure alibi testimony from an ex-girlfriend, Tyenesha Leach. However, in
Leach’s statement to Detective Wolkiewicz, she admitted that she was not
with Brown that night, and she was testifying because Brown had asked her
to support him.
Brown was charged in two separate dockets, one of which contained
the charge for conspiracy to commit aggravated assault (Brown I) and the
other which contained the charges for robbery and conspiracy to commit
robbery (Brown II). However, these two dockets were consolidated for the
purpose of trial. A jury convicted Brown on May 22, 2015. On August 13,
2015, Brown was sentenced to 72 to 144 months’ imprisonment for criminal
conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, 102 to 204 months’ imprisonment
for robbery, and 78 to 156 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit
robbery. The robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery sentences were
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ordered to run concurrent to each other, while the conspiracy to commit
aggravated assault sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the other
sentences. On August 24, 2015, Brown filed a post-sentence motion for
reconsideration of sentence for the Brown I charges, which was denied on
September 17, 2015. On April 4, 2016, Brown filed a timely notice of appeal
for Brown I. On April 4, 2016, Brown filed a timely notice of appeal nunc
pro tunc for Brown II. Brown filed a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement
of errors complained of on appeal on February 16, 2016 for Brown I.
Brown filled a Rule 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on
appeal on April 4, 2016 for Brown II. The trial court filed its Rule 1925(a)
opinion for Brown I on May 2, 2016, and its Rule 1925(a) opinion for
Brown II on July 1, 2016.5
Brown raises the following issues on review:
A. Did the trial court err when it found that there was sufficient
evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, the crimes of
robbery, criminal conspiracy (to commit robbery) and criminal
conspiracy (to commit aggravated assault)?
B. Did the trial court err when it sentenced appellant Clinton
Brown to a term of incarceration which departed from the
Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines for the criminal offenses of
robbery and criminal conspiracy (to commit aggravated assault)
and was in the aggravated range for criminal conspiracy (to
commit robbery) which was manifestly excessive?
Brief of Appellant, at 2.
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5
The trial court filed the same Rule 1925(a) opinion for both appeals.
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Brown first claims that there was insufficient evidence to support his
conviction. Our standard of review upon a challenge to the sufficiency of the
evidence is well settled:
The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence is whether viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in
the light most favorable to the verdict winner, there is sufficient
evidence to enable the fact-finder to find every element of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In applying [the above] test,
we may not weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for
the fact-finder. In addition, we note that the facts and
circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not
preclude every possibility of innocence. Any doubts regarding a
defendant’s guilt may be resolved by the fact-finder unless the
evidence is so weak and inconclusive that as a matter of law no
probability of fact may be drawn from the combined
circumstances. The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of
proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt
by means of wholly circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in
applying the above test, the entire record must be evaluated and
all evidence actually received must be considered. Finally, the
trier of fact while passing upon the credibility of witnesses and
the weight of the evidence produced, is free to believe all, part
or none of the evidence.
Commonwealth v. DiStefano, 782 A.2d 574, 582 (Pa. Super. 2001),
quoting Commonwealth v. Hennigan, 753 A.2d 245, 253 (Pa. Super.
2000) (citations and quotation marks omitted).
Brown does not argue that the elements of robbery or aggravated
assault were not satisfied, but instead argues that the evidence was
insufficient to prove his identity as one of the two men involved in the
robbery. In addition, Brown argues that there was insufficient evidence to
show that Brown and Hall entered into a conspiracy. Both of these
argument lack merit.
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As to Brown’s first argument, he relies on the fact that Williams never
saw his or Hall’s face and on the fact that Williams’s identification of them
was based solely on clothing. He contends, therefore, that identity could not
be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. “Although common items of clothing
and general physical characteristics are usually insufficient to support a
conviction, such evidence can be used as other circumstances to establish
the identity of a perpetrator.” Commonwealth v. Orr, 38 A.3d 868, 874
(Pa. Super. 2011) (en banc).
Upon review of the record and viewing all evidence in a light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, DiStefano, supra, we find that there was
sufficient evidence to prove Brown’s and Hall identification and involvement
in the robbery. First, Brown lied about his location when Officer Lally asked
Brown where he was. Brown also tried to coerce Leach into giving false alibi
testimony. Both of these reflect Brown’s consciousness of guilt and support
the jury’s determination that Brown was the one who robbed Williams.
Commonwealth v. Carbone, 574 A.2d 584, 589 (Pa. 1990) (citation
omitted). Hall’s identity as the shooter was supported by other evidence in
addition to Williams’s identification. The search of Halls’ home produced
numerous rounds of ammunition, including the type of ammunition used by
a gun with one spent casing found near Brown’s house and the location were
Brown and Hall were arrested. Hall’s clothing also tested positive for
gunpowder residue. Brown’s identity of the robber was supported by his
own admission that he was the one who grabbed Williams’s wallet.
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Therefore, the claim that the identification was based solely on clothing is
meritless. See Orr, 38 A.3d at 876 (finding that, while appellant’s
identification by victim was based on clothing, evidence that appellant was
located near location of robbery shortly after it occurred and possessed
exact amount stolen from victim was sufficient evidence to prove identity).
Brown also argues that there was insufficient evidence to prove that
he entered into a conspiracy with Hall in order to commit robbery and
aggravated assault. Criminal conspiracy is defined, in relevant part, as:
(a) Definition of conspiracy. — A person is guilty of
conspiracy with another person or persons to commit a crime if
with the intent of promoting or facilitating its commission he:
(1) agrees with such other person or persons that they or
one or more of them will engage in conduct which constitutes
such crime or an attempt or solicitation to commit such crime; or
(2) agrees to aid such other person or persons in the
planning or commission of such crime or of an attempt or
solicitation to commit such crime.
18 Pa.C.S. § 903(a)(1-2) (bold and italics in original). A conspiracy
agreement “can be inferred from a variety of circumstances, including, but
not limited to, the relation between the parties, knowledge of and
participation in the crime, and the circumstances and conduct of the parties
surrounding the criminal episode.” Commonwealth v. Perez, 931 A.2d
703, 708 (Pa. Super. 2007) (quoting Commonwealth v. Jones, 874 A.2d
108, 121-22 (Pa. Super. 2005)).
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Upon review of the record and viewing all evidence in a light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, DiStefano, supra, and given our above
finding on identification, we find that there was sufficient evidence to prove
that a criminal conspiracy existed. Brown argues that the fact that he and
Hall were located together and had numerous phone calls with each other
suggests that the two were friends. However, this evidence also supports
the conclusion that they had an agreement to commit the robbery together
and to use force to escape if necessary. In addition, the fact that the two
fled together after the commission of the crime, and called each other twice
immediately afterwards, supports the conclusion that Brown and Hall had an
agreement to commit this crime. Therefore, we find that there was
sufficient evidence to allow the jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt
that Brown and Hall entered into a conspiracy to commit robbery and
aggravated assault. Perez, supra.
Brown’s last claim is that his sentence was manifestly excessive.
Initially, we note that while Brown argues in his brief that each of his three
sentences were excessive, Brown only challenged his sentence for
conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in his post-sentence motion for
reconsideration of sentence. Consequently, we find that Brown waived his
challenges of excessiveness for his robbery sentence and for his conspiracy
to commit robbery sentence. See Pa.R.A.P. 302; see also Commonwealth
v. Watson, 835 A.2d 786, 791 (Pa. Super. 2003) (issues challenging
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discretionary aspects of sentencing must be raised in post-sentence motion
or during sentencing proceeding).
Brown’s claim involves a discretionary aspect of his sentence. “It is
well-settled that appeals of discretionary aspects of a sentence are not
reviewable as a matter of right.” Commonwealth v. Ladamus, 896 A.2d
592, 595 (Pa. Super. 2006). Before a challenge to the discretionary aspects
of a sentence will be heard on the merits, an appellant must set forth in his
brief a separate and concise statement of the reasons relied upon for
allowance of appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects of a sentence.
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). An appeal of the discretionary aspects of a sentence will
only be granted when there is a substantial question that the sentence
imposed was not appropriate under the Sentencing Code. Pa.C.S. § 9781.
Historically, this Court has found a substantial question exists for the
purposes of section 9781 when the Rule 2119(f) statement reveals a
plausible argument that procedures followed by the sentencing court were
either inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code or
contrary to the fundamental norms underlying the sentencing process.
Commonwealth v. Goggins, 748 A.2d 721, 726 (Pa. Super. 2000) (en
banc) (citations omitted).
Brown has included the necessary Rule 2119(f) statement in his brief.
In his statement, Brown argues that his sentence was an abuse of discretion
because his prior record was generated largely from arrests when he was a
juvenile, and the court did not adequately consider the mitigating evidence.
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Philadelphia Police Officer Matthew Lally testified that on January 30,
2014, he was working in the neighborhood where the robbery occurred when
he received information about the shooting and robbery and received a
“flash” description of one of the assailants. The flash information described
one assailant as a black male in his twenties with a thin build, facial tattoos,
and a black hoodie. Based on his experience as an officer for the 39 th Police
District for ten years, and his numerous interactions with Brown during that
time, Officer Lally knew that Brown matched the flash description. Officer
Lally went to Brown’s home and spoke with his mother. While there, Brown
called his mother, and Officer Lally got on the phone and asked Brown where
he was. Brown claimed to be with his girlfriend in West Philadelphia. Officer
Lally left the house, and continued searching for Brown. Approximately
twenty to thirty minutes later, Officer Lally found Brown, together with Hall
and a third man, several blocks away.
Williams was brought to the street where Brown and Hall had been
detained. She identified Brown as the one who had robbed her and Hall as
the one who had shot Moye. Williams testified that her identification of them
was based solely on their clothing. Brown and Hall were then taken into
custody, and their cell phones were confiscated during a search incident to
arrest. Although Hall’s phone was locked, investigators secured access to
Brown’s phone. The call logs of Brown’s phone listed multiple calls to and
from a contact listed as “Sheed,” including two calls immediately after the
shooting. When investigators called this number, Hall’s phone rang.
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