Com. v. Wroten, T.

J-S04013-23
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
TYRONE WROTEN :
:
Appellant : No. 83 EDA 2021
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered September 17, 2020
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at CP-51-CR-0004610-2019
BEFORE: MURRAY, J., KING, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED APRIL 12, 2023
Tyrone Wroten (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed after the trial court convicted him of indecent assault without consent
and simple assault.1 We affirm.
The trial court recounted the facts presented at trial as follows:
On June 7, 2019, at approximately 11:28 p.m., police
arrived at an apartment located at 1350 N. 10th Street in response
to a 911 call from [A.C. (the Victim)]. … When police arrived,
Appellant was in the hallway outside of the apartment. (N.T.
1/24/19 at 45:8-11.) A responding officer had a taser out and
told Appellant to get on the ground. (Id. at 107:7-16.) During a
search incident to arrest, police recovered various narcotics and
paraphernalia from Appellant. (Id.)
After[] police placed Appellant into custody they interviewed
the [Victim]. (Id. at 82:12-17.) The [Victim] told police how she
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3126(a)(1) and 2791(a).
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saw Appellant [with whom the Victim was acquainted] at a vigil
down the street and went with him to see his [new] apartment.
(Id. at 15:15-23,16:7-9,17:11-15, and 19:2-10.) The [Victim]
testified that, when they got to the apartment, Appellant put some
items away and went into the bathroom. (Id. at 23:18-24:20.)
Appellant came out of the bathroom without a shirt on looking
“really weird” and “sweating real[ly] bad.” (Id. at 25:16-21 and
27:14-28:2.) Then Appellant attacked the [Victim]. (Id. at
45:19-25.)
Appellant started choking the [Victim] with one hand,
squeezing so tightly it was hard for her to breathe. (Id. at 30:4-
11 and 31:12-32:3.) The [Victim] testified that Appellant used
his other hand to pull her pants down and digitally penetrated her
anus and vagina. (Id. at 30:13-18.) However, in the body worn
camera footage [taken by the police], the [Victim] is heard telling
police that Appellant “tried” to digitally penetrate her. (Id. at
139:17141:8 and 165:3-6.) Regardless, the [Victim] kept
tightening up her legs to try and stop Appellant. (Id. at 70:18-
24.) Appellant also sucked on the Victim’s breast. (Id. at 110:18-
19.) Appellant told the [Victim], who was trying to scream, to:
“shut the eff up” and that he was going to make her perform
fellatio on him. (Id. at 31:22-32:2 and 36:5-10.) At one-point,
Appellant punched the [Victim] in her mouth and gave her a
“busted lip.” (Id. at 48:9-14.)
The [Victim] testified that she did not consent to any of the
physical contact. (Id. at 49:11-18.) During the attack, the
[Victim] tried to shove Appellant off her, and eventually bit
Appellant on his bare chest. (Id. at 30:13-18.) Appellant jumped
up and started looking all around, grabbed his shirt and attempted
to leave the apartment. (Id. at 36:23-37:7.)
Trial Court Opinion, 1/6/22, at 3-4.
The Commonwealth charged Appellant at docket MC-51-CR-0015243-
2019 (sexual assault prosecution) with offenses related to the sexual assault.
The Commonwealth charged Appellant at docket MC-51-CR-0015244-2019
(drug prosecution) with offenses related to the drugs found incident to
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Appellant’s arrest, as well as disorderly conduct.2 The trial court summarized
the ensuing procedural history:
After [a] June 27, 2019, preliminary hearing, the
Philadelphia Municipal Court held the sexual assault [prosecution]
for court. …
[On] July 11, 2019, [the] Municipal Court trial date for the
drug [prosecution], the Commonwealth requested a continuance.
The case was listed for trial on September 4, 2019. On that day,
the Commonwealth offered Appellant a [n]egotiated [g]uilty
[p]lea to [d]isorderly [c]onduct with no further penalty. In
exchange the Commonwealth withdrew the charges of
[p]ossession of a [c]ontrolled [s]ubstance and [p]araphernalia.
Appellant accepted the Commonwealth’s offer.
In this case [related to the sexual assault], on September
25, 2019, Appellant filed a [m]otion to [d]ismiss pursuant to [18
Pa.C.S.A. §] 110. On October 2, 2019, the Commonwealth filed
its [r]esponse. On October 25, 2019, the [trial c]ourt heard
arguments on the [m]otion and held it under advisement. On
October 31, 2019[,] the [trial c]ourt denied the [m]otion.
Id. at 2.
The trial court held a bench trial on January 24, 2020, and thereafter
convicted Appellant of indecent assault without consent and simple assault.3
On September 17, 2020, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate
9 - 23 months of incarceration with immediate parole. Appellant filed post-
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2 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5503(a)(4).
3 The trial court found Appellant not guilty of attempted rape, aggravated
indecent assault without consent, terroristic threats, and strangulation.
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sentence motions which the trial court denied on December 20, 2020. This
timely appeal followed.4
Appellant presents three issues for review:
1. Did the trial court err when it denied [Appellant’s m]otion to
[d]ismiss under the [c]ompulsory [j]oinder [c]lause?
2. Did the trial court err when it sustained [an objection to]
defense counsel’s question regarding the [Victim’s]
[i]ntimidation of a [w]itness conviction?
3. Did the trial court err by not granting a new trial where the
weight of the evidence should have resulted in an acquittal?
Appellant’s Brief at 5.
In his first issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred in denying his
motion to dismiss charges pursuant to the compulsory joinder clause.
Appellant’s Brief at 10-15. Appellant maintains his cases at separate dockets
arose from the same criminal episode. The acts giving rise to the
[drug prosecution] occurred during the arrest for the [sexual
assault prosecution], the witnesses were the same, there were
overlapping issues of witness credibility relevant in both cases,
and the actions [in the drug prosecution] were relevant [to] a
guilty state of mind in the [sexual assault prosecution].
Id. at 9.
The Commonwealth counters that Appellant “failed to demonstrate at
the [trial] court hearing that his [guilty plea in the drug prosecution] was
based on facts that were from the same criminal episode as those in the
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4 Appellant and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
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[sexual assault] prosecution.” Commonwealth Brief at 11 (quotation marks
omitted).
Appellant’s claim that the trial court incorrectly declined to dismiss his
charges under the compulsory-joinder rule presents a question of law.
“Consequently, our scope of review is plenary, and our standard of review is
de novo.” Commonwealth v. Perfetto, 207 A.3d 812, 821 (Pa. 2019).
The purpose of the compulsory joinder statute is twofold: (1) to
protect a defendant from the governmental harassment of being
subjected to successive trials for offenses stemming from the
same criminal episode; and (2) to ensure finality without unduly
burdening the judicial process by repetitious litigation.
Commonwealth v. Fithian, 961 A.2d 66, 75-76 (Pa. 2008) (citations and
quotation marks omitted).
The compulsory joinder statute provides in relevant part:
Although a prosecution is for a violation of a different provision of
the statutes than a former prosecution or is based on different
facts, it is barred by such former prosecution under the following
circumstances:
(1) The former prosecution resulted in an acquittal or in a
conviction as defined in section 109 of this title (relating to
when prosecution barred by former prosecution for the
same offense) and the subsequent prosecution is for:
***
(ii) any offense based on the same conduct or arising
from the same criminal episode, if such offense was
known to the appropriate prosecuting officer at the
time of the commencement of the first trial and
occurred within the same judicial district as the former
prosecution unless the court ordered a separate trial
of the charge of such offense[.]
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18 Pa.C.S.A. § 110(1)(ii).
Section 110(1)(ii) contains the following four requirements which, if
met, preclude a subsequent prosecution due to a former prosecution for a
different offense:
(1) the former prosecution must have resulted in an acquittal or
conviction;
(2) the current prosecution is based upon the same criminal
conduct or arose from the same criminal episode as the former
prosecution;
(3) the prosecutor was aware of the instant charges before the
commencement of the trial on the former charges; and
(4) the current offense occurred within the same judicial district
as the former prosecution.
Fithian, 961 A.2d at 72 (citations omitted).
Instantly, the parties dispute the applicability of the second prong. See
Appellant’s Brief at 11; Commonwealth Brief at 11. To determine whether the
current prosecution is based on the same criminal conduct or arose from the
same criminal episode, the court must look at the temporal and logical
relationship between the charges:
Generally, charges against a defendant are clearly related in time
and require little analysis to determine that a single criminal
episode exists. However, in defining what acts constitute a single
criminal episode, not only is the temporal sequence of events
important, but also the logical relationship between the
acts must be considered.
Commonwealth v. Reid, 77 A.3d 579, 582 (Pa. 2013) (citation omitted,
emphasis added).
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In determining whether offenses are logically related, courts should
“inquire as to whether there is a substantial duplication of factual[ ] and/or
legal issues presented by the offenses.” Id. (citation omitted). If duplication
exists, “then the offenses are logically related and must be prosecuted at one
trial.” Id. (citation omitted). However, “a mere de minimis duplication of
factual and legal issues is insufficient to establish a logical relationship
between offenses. Rather[,] what is required is a substantial duplication of
issues of law and fact.” Id. at 582-83 (citation omitted).
Here, the trial court explained:
In Commonwealth v. Stewart, [] 473 A.2d 161 ([Pa. Super.]
1984), the Superior Court held that Section 110 was not a bar to
a subsequent prosecution for drug related charges based upon
evidence that had been discovered at the same time and place as
evidence that supported prior theft[-]related charges. There, the
[C]ourt found that “[t]here is no logical relationship between the
crimes of theft by receiving stolen property and possession of a
controlled substance. They are defined by separate statutes and
are intended to prevent different evils. There is no similarity of
issues involved in proving these distinct offenses.” Id. at [] 164.
Here, as in Stewart, there is a temporal relationship but
not a logical one. There is no substantial duplication of factual,
and/or legal issues presented by the offenses. Appellant was
charged in the first prosecution with [s]imple [p]ossession of
[d]rugs, [u]se of [d]rug [p]araphernalia, and [d]isorderly
[c]onduct. Different facts from different witnesses are required to
prove the charges in this case where Appellant is charged with
[assault and sexual offenses]. These offenses are defined by
separate statutes and are intended to prevent different evils.
“There is no similarity of issues involved in proving these distinct
offenses.”[FN] Id. at [] 164.
[FN] Although it may appear that the [d]isorderly
[c]onduct charge upon which Appellant was convicted
in the [drug] prosecution could factually relate to the
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charges here, it does not. There is nothing on the
record to indicate that the disorderly conduct charge
required the [Victim’s] testimony. Moreover, the
[d]isorderly [c]onduct conviction could not be
premised upon acts against the [Victim] that occurred
inside Appellant’s apartment. See Commonwealth
v. Lawson, 759 A.2d 1, 5 (Pa. Super 2000).
Trial Court Opinion, 1/6/22, at 7-8 (footnote in original).
The trial court did not err. There is nothing in the record to support
Appellant’s claim that his disorderly conduct charge in the drug prosecution
arose from the same events in the sexual assault prosecution, or that it
involved the same witnesses.5 Appellant acknowledged at the hearing on his
motion to dismiss that the events which gave rise to the drug prosecution
occurred when Appellant “was arrested in the hallway” and the Victim
“appeared to be back in [Appellant’s] abode.” N.T., 10/25/19, at 3. The
Commonwealth noted:
We have one officer who did a [report] for that sexual assault. …
He was not involved in the narcotics charges. In fact[,] that was
a different [report] and … it went to a different police detective
division. The drugs … went to Central Detectives. The [sexual
assault prosecution] went to Special Victims.
Id. at 13.
In sum, there is no “substantial duplication of factual and/or legal issues
presented by the offenses,” and no logical relationship between the
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5Appellant did not attach any documentation from the drug prosecution to his
Amended Motion to Dismiss and did not enter any exhibits at the hearing.
See Amended Motion to Dismiss, 9/25/19, at 1-5; N.T., 10/25/19, at 1-14.
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prosecutions. Reid, 77 A.3d at 582. Appellant’s first issue does not merit
relief.
In his second issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred when it
sustained the Commonwealth’s objection to defense counsel’s questioning of
the Victim about her conviction for witness intimidation. Appellant’s Brief at
16-18. Appellant specifically claims that the trial court erred in finding that
intimidation of a witness is not crimen falsi. Id.
The Commonwealth observes that there is no Pennsylvania caselaw
“addressing the question of whether intimidation of a witness is a crimen falsi
offense.” Commonwealth’s Brief at 17 n.4. However, the Commonwealth
argues that even if Appellant is correct about witness intimidation being a
crimen falsi offense, any error would be harmless. Id. at 14. We agree.
Our standard of review regarding the admissibility of evidence is
an abuse of discretion. The admissibility of evidence is a matter
addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court and ... an
appellate court may only reverse upon a showing that the trial
court abused its discretion. An abuse of discretion is not a mere
error in judgment but, rather, involves bias, ill will, partiality,
prejudice, manifest unreasonableness, or misapplication of law.
Commonwealth v. Collins, 70 A.3d 1245, 1251–52 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(citations omitted).
With respect to a witness’s criminal history, this Court has explained:
Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 609, evidence that a
witness has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty
or false statement must be admitted if the conviction or
release from confinement occurred within the last ten years.
When a defendant is impeached through introduction of prior
convictions, the witness’s opponent may only introduce the name,
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time, and place of the crime and the punishment received. We
have applied this limitation to all witnesses, not merely to
defendants, and we employ this limitation to minimize the
potential prejudice and distraction of issues already inherent in
the mention of prior offenses.
In prior cases, we have precluded a party seeking to impeach a
witness from using the facts underlying a prior conviction, in
circumstances where such facts would increase the risk of
prejudice to a party or confusion of the issues.
Commonwealth v. Creary, 201 A.3d 749, 754 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citations
omitted, emphasis added).
The harmless error doctrine “reflects the reality that the accused is
entitled to a fair trial, not a perfect trial.” Commonwealth v. Hairston, 84
A.3d 657, 671 (Pa. 2014). Further:
Harmless error exists if the record demonstrates either: (1) the
error did not prejudice the defendant or the prejudice was de
minimis; or (2) the erroneously admitted evidence was merely
cumulative of other untainted evidence which was substantially
similar to the erroneously admitted evidence; or (3) the properly
admitted and uncontradicted evidence of guilt was so
overwhelming and the prejudicial effect of the error was so
insignificant by comparison that the error could not have
contributed to the verdict.
Id. at 671–72.
Here, defense counsel questioned the Victim as follows:
Q. You said you [have] never been [] through anything like this?
A. No, I haven’t.
Q. All right. Well, isn’t it true, ma’am, that you’re currently under
parole for — on parole for a burglary?
A. I’m on parole. Yes, I am.
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Q. And you got sentenced to 11 and a half to 23 months, plus
five years[’] probation on that?
A. Correct.
[THE COMMONWEALTH]: I’m going to object, Your Honor.
We can stipulate to that. When she said she had never been
[] through anything like that, she was clearly referring to a
sexual assault.
THE COURT: Counsel, I don’t need you to testify. You can
ask her what she meant by that. You can clarify.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yeah.
Q. You were sentenced to 11 and a half to 23 months, plus five
years[’] probation for a burglary, right?
A. Correct.
Q. You pled guilty, right?
A. Correct.
Q. So you were out there robbing people’s houses, right?
A. No I didn’t—
THE COURT: Counsel, that’s sustained.
Q. Did you have to give a statement in that burglary case? Did
the detectives try to talk to you about what happened?
A. No. The detectives didn’t talk to me about what happened
during the situation.
Q. Okay.
***
Q. All right. So I just asked you about the burglary.
A. Correct.
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Q. I’m going to ask you another question. Are you on parole for
intimidating a witness, also?
A. All that is that one case.
Q. Okay. So that was all out of the burglary?
A. Correct.
Q. And you also pled guilty to intimidating a witness and you’re
on parole for that, too, right?
A. That’s all one case.
[THE COMMONWEALTH]: I’m going to object to the
relevance. That’s not a crimen [falsi] offense.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I think it is a crimen [falsi] offense.
THE COURT: Sustained. I don’t know that it is.
N.T., 1/24/20, at 128-30, 132-33 (emphasis added, some paragraphs
altered).
The trial court subsequently explained:
Here, the [c]ourt considered the [Victim’s] … testimony
regarding the attack. The [c]ourt also heard the recording of her
911 call to police. (N.T. 1/24/20 at 37:15-38:8.) Furthermore,
the [c]ourt watched the body worn camera footage from the
arresting officer. (Id. at 139:17-141:8.) The [c]ourt listened to
the Appellant’s testimony. (Id. at 143:10-161:9) And[] the
[c]ourt considered [the Victim’s] prior crimen falsi conviction
based upon a burglary charge, which related to the intimidation of
witness conviction. (Id. 128:20-129:5.) Considering the
overwhelming evidence against Appellant upon which the [c]ourt
based its judgment[, and] after giving consideration to the
[Victim’s] crimen falsi conviction, the [c]ourt’s decision to sustain
the Commonwealth’s objection to the admission of another crimen
falsi charge that was part of the burglary conviction did not result
in any prejudice to Appellant.
Trial Court Opinion, 1/6/22, at 14.
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Upon review, we agree that any error would be harmless. The testimony
was cumulative, and Appellant has not shown prejudice. See
Commonwealth v. Sattazahn, 763 A.2d 359, 364-65 (Pa. 2000)
(concluding trial court did not commit reversible error by limiting defense
counsel’s impeachment of a witness where evidence was cumulative of other
impeachment evidence and appellant failed to show prejudice). Appellant’s
second issue does not merit relief.
In his third and final issue, Appellant argues his conviction was against
the weight of the evidence. Appellant’s Brief at 18-20. Appellant asserts “the
verdict in this case rested solely upon the testimony of [the Victim, which]
“was inconsistent, incredible, and contrary to the evidence[.]” Id. at 18.
“A weight of the evidence claim concedes that the evidence is sufficient
to sustain the verdict but seeks a new trial on the grounds that the evidence
was so one-sided or so weighted in favor of acquittal that a guilty verdict
shocks one’s sense of justice.” In re A.G.C., 142 A.3d 102, 109 (Pa. Super.
2016) (citation omitted). “Appellate review of a weight claim is a review of
the exercise of discretion, not of the underlying question of whether the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence.” Commonwealth. v. Widmer,
744 A.2d 745, 753 (Pa. 2000) (citation omitted).
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 of whether the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence.
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Id. (citation omitted). This standard applies even when the trial judge sat as
the finder of fact. See Commonwealth v. Konias, 136 A.3d 1014, 1022
(Pa. Super. 2016) (reviewing trail court’s exercise of discretion in a weight
claim on appeal from a non-jury verdict).
Here, the trial court summarized the Victim’s testimony in explaining its
rejection of Appellant’s weight issue. See Trial Court Opinion, 1/6/22, at 9-
10. It is evident the trial court found the Victim to be credible. Id. The trial
court, as factfinder, “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. Roberts, 133 A.3d 759, 767 (Pa. Super.
2016). Accordingly, the trial court acted within its discretion in finding the
verdict was not contrary to the weight of the evidence. Appellant’s final issue
does not merit relief.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/12/2023
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