Com. v. Vega, N.

J-A07023-20
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
NORMAN MICHAEL VEGA :
:
Appellant : No. 359 MDA 2019
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered September 28, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-06-CR-0004559-2013
BEFORE: OLSON, J., DUBOW, J., and McLAUGHLIN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED: APRIL 13, 2020
Appellant, Norman Michael Vega, appeals from the Judgment of
Sentence of life without the possibility of parole (“LWOP”) imposed after a jury
convicted him of one count each of Murder in the First Degree and Retaliation
Against a Witness, and two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person
(“REAP”).1 He challenges the denial of several of his pre-trial Motions and his
post-sentence Motion, the grant of the Commonwealth’s Motion for a
Protective Order, and the weight of the evidence. After careful review, we
affirm.
We reproduce the trial court’s apt summary of the facts below, with
relevant additions from the certified record.
On the evening of October 3, 2004, three men entered the home
of Miguel Colon [in Reading] in an attempt to commit an armed
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1 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502(a), 4953(a), and 2705, respectively.
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robbery. They were wearing hoods over their heads which were
pulled down to obscure their faces. All three men were
brandishing guns. In the house that evening were Miguel Colon,
his wife Dallanara Colon, their young child, [Miguel’s] friend Jason
Stief, and Jason’s girlfriend Courtnee Salvati. The gunmen moved
all the people at the house to the living room and began to
interrogate Mr. Colon. At some point, Mr. Colon fled the house
and the gunmen followed. Miguel Colon was shot [with at least
one .40 caliber bullet] only a few moments later in a nearby
alleyway. He died from his wounds. Mr. Stief . . . recognized one
of the gunmen as Hector Soto, someone that he had gone to
school with. Mr. Stief cooperated with law enforcement by giving
a statement to the police identifying Mr. Soto as one of the
gunmen. The other two gunmen were never identified by the
witnesses of the incident.
[Police officers shortly thereafter stopped a vehicle matching a
description of the vehicle at the crime scene. Appellant was
driving. A search revealed live bullets of two different calibers in
the vehicle, but Appellant was not detained.]
On October 8, 2004, Hector Soto was charged with various crimes
concerning the burglary attempt [sic] and murder of Miguel Colon.
[paragraph break added].
On October 14, 2004, Jason Stief was sitting in his car at a
McDonald’s drive through in Reading[]. In the car with him was
his girlfriend, Courtnee Salvati, and a friend, Miguel Maldonado.
Jason Stief was the driver. While they waited in the line, a hooded
person walked up to the car window and shot Jason Stief six times,
killing him [with a .9 mm bullet]. No one was initially identified
as the shooter.
[While Appellant] was [subsequently] incarcerated on unrelated
charges[,]he spoke to several people, stating that he was the
shooter of Jason Stief. These people include[d] his cousin Robert
Robles, Joseph Gaston, Dean Santana, Patrick Rossi, Luke
Williams, Matthew Martin, and Matthew Neider. William Morales
also stated that he was at the McDonald’s [on] the night of the
shooting and saw [Appellant] leaving the scene. Eddie Ayala
stated that he drove to Florida with [Appellant] soon after the
murders and [Appellant] told him that he was one of the shooters
of Miguel Colon and the shooter of Jason Stief.
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Trial Ct. Op., dated 5/17/19, at 2-3.
Sergeant Harold Shenk, the Criminal Investigation Supervisor
with the Berks County Detectives Office, investigated both the Colon
and Stief murders. The Commonwealth ultimately charged Appellant
with, inter alia, the Murder of both Colon and Stief, and filed a Notice of
Intent to Seek the Death Penalty. Appellant filed two pre-trial Motions
to Sever the murder offenses, which the court denied after a hearing.
Appellant also filed numerous other Motions, which the court denied
after numerous hearings, including: (1) two pre-trial Motions to obtain
fees for experts on “jailhouse informants;” (2) two pre-trial Motions
requesting the Recusal of the Berks County District Attorney’s Office;
and (3) two Motions In Limine requesting, inter alia, that the court
preclude the admission of the bullets found in Appellant’s car during the
vehicle stop on October 3, 2004. The Commonwealth filed a Motion for
Protective Order, requesting the court to preclude Appellant from taking
physical copies of discovery materials back to prison. The court held a
hearing at which Sergeant Shenk testified. The court granted the
Commonwealth’s Motion.2
A jury trial commenced on August 13, 2018, at which the
Commonwealth presented the testimony of witnesses to the attempted
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2The court granted the Commonwealth’s Motion to Continue the Protective
Order filed just before Appellant’s sentencing hearing.
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robbery of Colon and the murder of Stief, numerous individuals to whom
Appellant had confessed his involvement in both murders, and
investigating police officers, including Sergeant Shenk. Appellant
presented no witnesses.
The jury convicted Appellant of First-Degree Murder for Stief’s
murder, Retaliation Against a Witness, and two counts of REAP. The
jury found him not guilty of Colon’s murder. The Commonwealth
withdrew its Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty, and the court
ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation (“PSI”).
On September 28, 2018, the court sentenced Appellant to LWOP.
Appellant filed a Post-Sentence Motion, which the court denied.
Appellant filed a timely Notice of Appeal. Appellant filed an
ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement and the trial court filed a
responsive Rule 1925(a) Opinion.
Appellant presents the following issues for our review:
1. Were Appellant’s constitutional rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 sec.
9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution violated when the [t]rial [c]ourt
denied Appellant’s Motion to Sever on August 21, 2015[,] and
again on April 21, 2016?
2. Were Appellant’s constitutional rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 sec.
9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution violated when the [t]rial [c]ourt
denied Appellant’s request for payment of fees for retention of an
expert on “jailhouse informants”?
3. Were Appellant’s constitutional rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 sec.
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9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution violated when the [t]rial [c]ourt
denied Appellant’s May 16, 2017 and December 6, 2017 Motions
to Recuse the Berks County District Attorney’s Office?
4. Were Appellant’s constitutional rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 sec.
9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution violated when the [t]rial [c]ourt
denied Appellant’s Motion in Limine to preclude the admission of
ballistics evidence on July 24, 2018[,] and again on August 10,
2018?
5. Were Appellant’s constitutional rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 sec.
9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution violated when the [t]rial [c]ourt
erred in granting the Commonwealth’s Motion for Protection Order
on February 20, 2014 and the Commonwealth’s Motion to
Continue Protective Order on September 26, 2018?
6. Were the verdicts [ ] against the weight of the evidence and
the [t]rial [c]ourt committed reversible error when it denied
Appellant’s Post-Sentence Motion on January 29, 2019?
7. Did the [t]rial [c]ourt commit reversible error when it denied
Appellant’s Post-Sentence Motion to Vacate the Sentence of
Mandatory Life Imprisonment?
Appellant’s Brief at 3-4.
Issue 1 – Motion to Sever
Appellant asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his
Motions to Sever, stating that the two murder charges were not based on the
same act or transaction, and that they were two different crimes, two different
victims, two different dates and at two different places. Appellant’s Br. at 11.
Appellant contends that the jury was incapable of separating the evidence
regarding each murder, noting inconsistent witness testimony, i.e.,
contradictions during a witness’s testimony as well as contradictions among
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different witnesses’ testimony.3 Id. at 12-16. He claims that the split verdict
is evidence of the jury’s confusion. Id. at 16. Appellant asserts that he was
prejudiced because the court’s refusal to sever the charges impacted his
tactical determination on whether to testify and he was, thus, “forced to give
up his constitutional right to testify on his own behalf [regarding the Colon
murder] in order to enforce his constitutional right to remain silent [regarding
the Stief murder].” Id. at 16.
Our standard of review from the denial of a Motion to Sever is well-
settled:
A motion for severance is addressed to the sound discretion of the
trial court, and . . . its decision will not be disturbed absent a
manifest abuse of discretion. The critical consideration is whether
the appellant was prejudiced by the trial court’s decision not to
sever. The appellant bears the burden of establishing such
prejudice.
Commonwealth v. Dozzo, 991 A.2d 898, 901 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation
omitted).
In proving that the decision not to sever the cases prejudiced the
defendant, the defendant must show “real potential for prejudice rather than
mere speculation.” Commonwealth v. Rivera, 773 A.2d 131, 137 (Pa.
2001).
Pa.R.Crim.P. 582 provides, in relevant part, that “[o]ffenses charged in
separate indictments or informations may be tried together if: (a) the
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3The contradictions in testimony relate to the weight of evidence, which is a
challenge he raised and we address infra.
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evidence of each of the offenses would be admissible in a separate trial for
the other and is capable of separation by the jury so that there is no danger
of confusion[.]” Pa.R.Crim.P. 582(A)(1)(a). However, where it appears that
the trial of offenses together might prejudice a party, the trial court may order
separate trials of offenses. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 583.
“Where a defendant moves to sever offenses not based on the same act
or transaction . . . the court must [ ] determine: [1] whether the evidence of
each of the offenses would be admissible in a separate trial for the other; [2]
whether such evidence is capable of separation by the jury so as to avoid
danger of confusion; and, if the answers to these inquiries are in the
affirmative, [3] whether the defendant will be unduly prejudiced by the
consolidation of offenses.” Dozzo, 991 A.3d at 902 (quoting Commonwealth
v. Collins, 703 A.2d 418, 422 (Pa. 1997)).
Here, the trial court determined that evidence related to the murder of
Mr. Stief would be admissible in a separate trial for the murder of Mr. Colon
because “there was a strong implication that the murder of Jason Stief on
October 14, 2004[,] was predicated on his being a witness and informant for
the October [3], 2014 murder of Miguel Colon.” Trial Ct. Op., dated 5/17/19,
at 4. The court noted that the Commonwealth’s theory of the murders was
that Appellant murdered Mr. Stief because he was involved in the murder of
Mr. Colon. Id. Additionally, the court concluded that the jury was able to
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distinguish between the two charges because it found Appellant guilty of the
Stief murder and not guilty of the Colon murder. Id.
After review of the certified record and the relevant case law, we
conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the Motions
to Sever. Appellant’s claim that the court’s decision prejudiced him by
“forc[ing him] to give up his constitutional right to testify on his own behalf
[regarding the Colon murder] in order to enforce his constitutional right to
remain silent [regarding the Stief murder]” is simply a bald allegation.
Appellant has failed to articulate any actual prejudice or why he was forced to
give up his constitutional right. Additionally, as noted by the trial court,
Appellant’s concession that the jury acquitted him of the charges related to
Mr. Colon’s murder undermines his claim that the jury was incapable of
separating the evidence against him. Accordingly, this issue warrants no
relief.
Issue 2 – Denial of funds for expert witnesses
Appellant next asserts that the court improperly denied his requests for
payment of expert witness fees concerning jailhouse informants. He asserts
that the jailhouse informant experts were necessary because the jailhouse
informants’ testimony was critical to the Commonwealth’s case and the
experts would provide the jury with specialized information regarding slang,
motivations of informants, benefits and compensation of informants, and the
unreliability of jailhouse informant testimony. Appellant’s Br. at 22-23.
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The decision to appoint an expert witness is within the sound discretion
of the trial court. Commonwealth v. Abdul-Salaam, 678 A.2d 342, 352 (Pa.
1996). The trial court’s determination will not be disturbed absent a clear
abuse of that discretion. Id. (citation omitted).
A defendant in a capital case is entitled to the assistance of experts
necessary to prepare a defense. Id. However, expert testimony is admissible
only where “formation of an opinion on a subject requires knowledge,
information, or skill beyond that possessed by the ordinary juror.”
Commonwealth v. Simmons, 662 A.2d 621, 630-31 (Pa. 1995) (citation
omitted). “Expert opinion cannot be offered to intrude upon the jury’s basic
function of deciding credibility.” Id. See, e.g., Commonwealth v.
Spence, 627 A.2d 1176, 1182 (Pa. 1993) (testimony of psychologist as to
the effects of stress upon people who are called to make identifications was
properly excluded); Commonwealth v. Gallagher, 547 A.2d 355 (Pa. 1988)
(error to allow expert witness in the area of rape trauma to explain that such
trauma could prevent a victim from making a timely identification of
assailant); Commonwealth v. Davis, 541 A.2d 315 (Pa. 1988) (error to
allow expert to testify that child sex abuse victims generally lack the ability to
fabricate stories of sexual experiences).
In Commonwealth v. Abdul-Salaam, our Supreme Court concluded
that the trial court properly denied the defendant’s motion for the payment of
expert witness expenses with respect to an expert on eyewitness identification
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because the expert witnesses were unnecessary for the defense. 678 A.2d at
352. The Court determined that the testimony concerning the reliability of
eyewitness identification by an expert “would have given an unwarranted
appearance of authority as to the subject of credibility.” Id. (quoting
Simmons, supra at 631). The Court further noted that the parties could
attack an eyewitnesses’ credibility through cross-examination and in closing
argument. Id.
Here, the trial court determined that the jailhouse informant experts
were unnecessary for Appellant’s defense and, therefore, denied Appellant’s
Motion for fees to retain the jailhouse informant expert witnesses. Trial Ct.
Op. at 5. We agree with the trial court that the experts were unnecessary for
Appellant’s defense. Appellant was free to question the jailhouse informant
witnesses on specific slang and attack their credibility, including eliciting
information regarding the witnesses’ motivations, and pointing out
inconsistencies of all the witnesses at trial through cross-examination and in
closing argument. See Abdul-Salaam, supra at 352. Accordingly, the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in denying the Motions for expert fees.
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Issue 3 – Motions to Recuse Berks County DA
Appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to
grant his Motions to Recuse the Berks County District Attorney’s Office. Berks
County District Attorney, John Adams, was previously a defense attorney in
private practice who, Appellant claims, had previously represented him, Mr.
Soto, and many of the jailhouse informants. Appellant’s Br. at 25-26. He
asserts that “attorneys have an ongoing duty not to work against the interests
of their former clients.” Id. at 25. (emphasis omitted) (citing Commonwealth
v. King, 212 A.3d 507 (Pa. 2019) and Rules of Professional Conduct).
Therefore, the court should have ordered the District Attorney’s Office to
recuse from the case. Id.
We review an order denying a motion to recuse a district attorney for
abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Stafford, 749 A.2d 489, 494 (Pa.
Super. 2000). A district attorney should be disqualified where “an actual
conflict of interest affecting the prosecutor exists in the case.” Id. (quoting
Commonwealth v. Eskridge, 604 A.2d 700, 702 (Pa. 1992). A mere
allegation or appearance of impropriety or animosity is insufficient to establish
an actual conflict of interest. Commonwealth v. Sims, 799 A.2d 853, 856-
57 (Pa. Super. 2002); Stafford, 749 A.2d at 495.
Courts review the facts of the case and any remedial measures to
determine whether any actual conflict of interest exists. Commonwealth v.
Faulkner, 595 A.2d 28, 38-39 (Pa. 1991). Situations where courts have found
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an actual conflict of interest include: where a district attorney’s private law
partners represented the victims of the accident in civil suits against the
defendant, Eskridge, 604 A.2d at 701; and where the assistant district
attorney was involved in a romantic relationship with the defendant’s
wife, Commonwealth v. Balenger, 704 A.2d 1385, 1386 (Pa. Super. 1997).
This Court has recognized that many lawyers who work for the
government came from private practice.
[Thus, we must] rely upon the integrity of the district attorneys of
this Commonwealth not to participate in the prosecution of cases
when such participation would generate an appearance of
impropriety. . . . [T]he government’s ability to function would be
impaired if disqualification of one lawyer automatically resulted in
disqualification of his agency. Where a lawyer who has
represented a criminal defendant joins a prosecutor’s office,
disqualification of the entire office is not necessarily appropriate.
That lawyer is of course disqualified from participating in the case
on behalf of the prosecution. But individual rather than vicarious
disqualification is the general rule.
Commonwealth v. Miller, 422 A.2d 525, 529 (Pa. Super. 1980). See also
Commonwealth v. Ford, 650 A.2d 433, 443 (Pa. 1994) (no conflict where
defendant’s trial judge became DA of the county while defendant’s case was
pending, because DA disqualified and screened herself from any participation
in the case after becoming DA); Commonwealth v. Harris, 460 A.2d 747,
749 (Pa. 1983) (no conflict of interest where the Chief Public Defender, who
did not represent defendant at trial, became DA at the time that defendant
filed post-conviction relief petition).
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Here, the trial court concluded that no conflict of interest existed. Trial
Ct. Op. at 6. The court noted that at the recusal hearing, DA Adams testified
that he had no memory of representing Appellant or the jailhouse informants.
Id. Additionally, DA Adams testified that he was not involved in the
prosecution of this case. Id.
After careful review of the record and the relevant case law, we agree
with the trial court that no conflict of interest existed. DA Adams had no
pecuniary or personal interest, nor did he participate in the prosecution of
Appellant.4 Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying
the Motions.
Issue 4 – Admission of bullet from vehicle
Appellant asserts that the trial court erred in denying his Motions in
Limine to preclude the admission of evidence of a live bullet found in his car
____________________________________________
4 Appellant’s reliance on Commonwealth v. King and Rules of Professional
Conduct is misplaced. King and the Rules do not state that “attorneys have
an ongoing duty not to work against the interests of their former clients.”
Appellant’s Br. at 25. Instead, the Rules state that “[a] lawyer who has
formerly represented a client in a matter shall not thereafter represent
another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that
person’s interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client
unless the former client gives informed consent.” Pa.R.P.C. 1.9(a).
Additionally, a lawyer has an ongoing duty to his former client to maintain the
confidentiality of information related to his representation of the client.
Pa.R.P.C. 1.6(a); King, supra at 510. The cases in which DA Adams allegedly
represented Appellant and jailhouse informants were unrelated to the instant
matter.
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three hours after Mr. Colon’s murder.5 Appellant’s Br. at 32. He contends that
the prejudice of admitting the bullet outweighed its limited probative value
because the bullet did not match the caliber of bullets at the Colon murder,
and the jury could infer he was a career criminal and had access to either
murder weapon, which he asserts was not supported by the trial record. Id.
at 34.
The admissibility of evidence lies “within the sound discretion of the trial
court, and a reviewing court will not reverse the trial court's decision absent
a clear abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Young, 989 A.2d 920, 924
(Pa. Super. 2010) (citations omitted). “An abuse of discretion is not merely
an error of judgment, but is rather the overriding or misapplication of the law,
or the exercise of judgment that is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of
bias, prejudice, ill-will or partiality, as shown by the evidence of
record.” Commonwealth v. Nypaver, 69 A.3d 708, 716 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(citations omitted).
To be admissible, evidence must be relevant. See Pa.R.E. 401, 402.
However, the court may exclude relevant evidence if it determines that its
probative value is outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice. Pa.R.E. 403.
“‘Unfair prejudice’ means a tendency to suggest [a] decision on an improper
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5 Appellant’s Brief discusses one bullet. However, his Motions in Limine
discuss two bullets found during the vehicle stop. We assume Appellant is
referring to the .9 mm bullet—the same type of bullet which was used in the
Stief murder.
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basis or to divert the jury’s attention away from its duty of weighing the
evidence impartially.” Id., cmt.
The trial court found that the bullet was relevant to show that Appellant
“likely had access to firearms, and as one of the bullets was the same caliber
as the bullets at the [Stief] murder, he possibly had access to the murder
weapon as well.” Trial Ct. Op. at 7. The court recognized that there was some
prejudice in admitting the bullet evidence; however, it determined that the
probative value outweighed any prejudice. Id. at 7. Further, the court noted
that the prejudice must have been limited because the jury found Appellant
not guilty of the Colon murder. Id. at 8.
We discern no error in the trial court’s consideration of the probative
value of this evidence against its prejudicial impact. As discussed by the Court,
the .9 mm bullet was relevant to the Stief murder. Although a .9 mm caliber
bullet was not used in the Colon murder, the jury’s finding Appellant not guilty
of the Colon murder evidences the minimal prejudicial impact of the admission
of the bullet.
Issue 5 - Commonwealth’s Motion for Protective Order
Appellant next asserts that the trial court erred in granting the
Commonwealth a Protective Order and a Continuance of the Protective Order
through the appellate process. Appellant avers that a protective order
prevents him and his counsel from reviewing thoroughly the materials
necessary for his defense prior to and during the trial, appellate, and post-
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conviction process. Appellant’s Br. at 40, 43. Additionally, he argues that the
Order and continuance were unwarranted because he had not been charged
with witness intimidation and the release of the documents would not
jeopardize the jailhouse informants or the Commonwealth’s investigation. Id.
at 39, 42-43.
Questions involving discovery in criminal cases lie within
the discretion of the trial court. Commonwealth v. Rucci, 670 A.2d 1129,
1140 (Pa. 1996). Pennsylvania Rule 573 of Criminal Procedure provides, in
relevant part, “[u]pon a sufficient showing, the court may at any time order
that the discovery or inspection be denied, restricted, or deferred, or make
such other order as is appropriate.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(F).
At the Protective Order hearing, Detective Shenk testified that Mr. Soto
had also been charged with Mr. Colon’s murder. He stated a witness against
Mr. Soto informed him that Appellant confronted him and suggested that he
not testify against Mr. Soto. Detective Shenk testified that three witnesses
against Mr. Soto, all of whom were incarcerated, had altercations in prison—
one was called a rat by another inmate; another had a document with his
picture and name, calling him a snitch circulated around prison; and the other
had his face cut open by another inmate and his mother was threatened at a
grocery store. P.O. Hearing, 2/20/14, at 10-16. Detective Shenk testified that
during a November 2013 search of Appellant’s prison cell, paperwork was
uncovered which listed the names, prison ID numbers, and locations of
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witnesses involved “in the investigation.” Id. at 21. Additionally, Mr. Shenk
stated he received, from someone related to Appellant, a copy of a report that
was generated by the district attorney’s office. Id. at 17-18.
Upon review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in granting the Commonwealth a limited Protective Order
precluding Appellant from having copies of the discovery material, and
continuing the Protective Order throughout the appellate process. The court
emphasized that Appellant was able to review discovery; however, he was not
able to possess and copy the material. Trial Ct. Op. at 8. The court explained
that it granted the limited Protective Order out of an abundance of caution
because the Commonwealth brought charges against Appellant for retaliation
against a witness. Further, the Commonwealth presented evidence
suggesting that if Appellant had access to the discovery documents, he may
inform friends or family to intimidate or threaten witnesses. Id. No relief is
due on this claim.
Issue 6 – Weight of the Evidence
Appellant next asserts that, because the Commonwealth did not present
eyewitness identification testimony and no forensic, photographic, or DNA
evidence, the verdicts were against the weight of the evidence. Appellant’s Br.
at 45. Appellant contends that the verdicts cannot stand because the
Commonwealth’s case was based on unreliable, questionable, and inconsistent
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testimony from multiple jailhouse informants who had significant self-interest
at stake. Id. at 45-46.
When considering challenges to the weight of the evidence, we apply
the following precepts. “The weight of the evidence is exclusively for the finder
of fact, who is free to believe all, none[,] or some of the evidence and to
determine the credibility of the witnesses.” Commonwealth v. Talbert, 129
A.3d 536, 545 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Resolving contradictory testimony and questions of credibility are matters for
the finder of fact. Commonwealth v. Hopkins, 747 A.2d 910, 917 (Pa.
Super. 2000). It is well-settled that we cannot substitute our judgment for
that of the trier of fact. Talbert, supra at 546.
Moreover, appellate review of a weight claim is a review of the trial
court's exercise of discretion in denying the weight challenge raised in the
post-sentence motion; this Court does not review the underlying question of
whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. See id. at 545-46.
“Because the trial judge has had the opportunity to hear and see the evidence
presented, an appellate court will give the gravest consideration to the
findings and reasons advanced by the trial judge when reviewing a trial court's
determination that the verdict is [or is not] against the weight of the
evidence.” Id. at 546 (citation omitted). “One of the least assailable reasons
for granting or denying a new trial is the lower court's conviction that the
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verdict was or was not against the weight of the evidence and that a new trial
should be granted in the interest of justice.” Id. (citation omitted).
Furthermore, “[i]n order for a defendant to prevail on a challenge to
the weight of the evidence, the evidence must be so tenuous, vague and
uncertain that the verdict shocks the conscience of the court.” Id. (internal
quotation marks and citation omitted). As our Supreme Court has made clear,
reversal is only appropriate “where the facts and inferences disclose a palpable
abuse of discretion[.]” Commonwealth v. Morales, 91 A.3d 80, 91 (Pa.
2014) (citations and emphasis omitted).
In addressing the weight challenge, the trial court reviewed the
witnesses’ testimony supporting the Appellant’s convictions, including the
jailhouse informants. Trial Ct. Op. at 9. The court concluded that it was not
against the weight of the evidence for the jury to credit the jailhouse
informants’ testimony against Appellant, noting that multiple witnesses had
very similar stories involving Appellant. Id. Further, the court noted that non-
jailhouse informants also testified against Appellant. Id.
Appellant essentially asks us to reassess the credibility of the jailhouse
informants and reweigh the testimony and evidence presented at trial. We
cannot and will not do so. Our review of the record indicates that the evidence
supporting the jury verdict is not tenuous, vague, or uncertain, and the verdict
was not so contrary as to shock the court’s conscience. We discern no abuse
of discretion in the trial court's denial of Appellant’s weight challenge.
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Issue 7 – Denial of Post-Sentence Motion
Appellant last argues that the trial court erred in denying his Post-
Sentence motion because the Commonwealth did not affirmatively prove at
trial that defendant was over 18 years old at the time of the commission of
the First-Degree Murder in order to impose a mandatory life sentence.
Appellant’s Br. at 47. No relief is due.
A claim challenging a sentencing court's legal authority to impose a
particular sentence presents a question regarding the legality of the sentence.
Commonwealth v. Hernandez, 217 A.3d 873, 878 (Pa. Super. 2019). Thus,
our scope of review is plenary and our standard of review is de novo.
Commonwealth v. Alston, 212 A.3d 526, 528 (Pa. Super. 2019).
Murder of the first degree is defined as “[a] criminal homicide . . .
committed by an intentional killing.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a). To sustain a First-
Degree Murder conviction “the Commonwealth must prove that: (1) a human
being was unlawfully killed; (2) the person accused is responsible for the
killing; and (3) the accused acted with malice and specific intent to
kill.” Commonwealth v. Hitcho, 123 A.3d 731, 746 (Pa. 2015). Pursuant to
18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(a)(1) “except as provided under section 1102.1 (relating
to sentence of persons under the age of 18 for murder . . . ), a person who
has been convicted of a murder of the first degree . . . shall be sentenced to
death or to a term of life imprisonment[.]”
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J-A07023-20
After review of the record, we agree with the trial court’s analysis that
“[t]here is no requirement in statute or case law that . . . the Commonwealth
[must] affirmatively prove that the [d]efendant was over the age of 18 at the
time of the offense” to impose a sentence of life imprisonment. Trial Ct. Op.
at 10. Appellant does not cite to case law or statute that supports his
proposition.6 Additionally, as the trial court noted, the record indicates
Appellant’s date of birth is April 2, 1983. Id. at 10. Therefore, he was 21 years
old when Mr. Stief was killed. Accordingly, this issue warrants no relief.
Conclusion
Having concluded that none of Appellant’s issues warrant relief, we
affirm Appellant’s Judgment of Sentence.
Judgment of Sentence affirmed.
Judge Olson joins the memorandum.
Judge McLaughlin concurs in result.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 04/13/2020
____________________________________________
6 Appellant cites to a concurring opinion in Commonwealth v. Bavusa, 832
A.2d 1042 (Pa. 2003), which discussed an exceptions clause in the statute
defining the crime of Carrying a Concealed Weapon without a License. Here,
that exception clause is not included in the statutory definition of Murder of
the First Degree.
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