In the Interest of: N.J.W., a Minor

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
N.J.W., A MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
:
APPEAL OF: COMMONWEALTH OF : No. 3752 EDA 2016
PENNSYLVANIA :
Appeal from the Order Entered November 21, 2016,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County
Criminal Division at No. CP-45-JV-0000192-2016
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., MOULTON, J., AND FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.: FILED AUGUST 18, 2017
The Commonwealth appeals from the November 21, 2016 order
entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County that reversed the
trial court’s delinquency adjudication and dismissed all charges against
N.J.W., a minor. After careful review, we affirm.
The trial court set forth the following:
On September 22, 2016, the Commonwealth
filed a delinquency petition against N.J.W.
(“Juvenile”), alleging that on September 20, 2016,
he exposed himself, masturbated and ejaculated
during afterschool detention at Pleasant Valley High
School. The petition charged Juvenile with two
counts of Indecent Exposure,[Footnote 1] two counts
of Open Lewdness,[Footnote 2], and three counts of
Disorderly Conduct.[Footnote 3]
[Footnote 1] 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3127(a)[.]
[Footnote 2] 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5901[.]
[Footnote 3] 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5503(a)(3).
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We held an adjudication hearing on October 7,
2016. The Commonwealth presented two female
witnesses, I.F. and A.D. Both witnesses testified
that there were four female students including
themselves, Juvenile, and teacher Daisy Genovese in
the classroom at the time of the alleged incident.
The classroom was arranged in several clusters of
2-5 desks pushed together. Each student sat at a
separate cluster. Genovese’s desk was located in
the back corner of the classroom, and a chalkboard
was located in the front of the
classroom.[Footnote 4]
[Footnote 4] Photographs of the
classroom were marked for identification
purposes, but never received into
evidence.
I.F. testified that she sat at a cluster furthest
away from Genovese’s desk by the chalkboard.
From her vantage point, I.F. could see everyone in
the room. A.D. also sat in the front of the classroom
in the cluster directly across from I.F. Juvenile sat in
the back of the classroom 10-12 feet across from
Genovese’s desk and facing I.F. and A.D. The other
two female students sat with their backs toward
Juvenile.
With approximately twenty minutes remaining
in detention, I.F. and A.D. noticed Juvenile staring at
them while masturbating with his penis exposed.
Juvenile periodically stopped masturbating and
covered his penis whenever Genovese left her desk
to walk around the room. Both students testified
that Juvenile finally stopped when he ejaculated with
five minutes remaining in detention; however, their
versions differed. I.F. saw [sic] Juvenile ejaculated
on himself. Conversely, A.D. stated that Juvenile
ejaculated on parts of the desk and himself.
Both students never alerted Genovese that
Juvenile was masturbating even when they were
given the opportunity to tell Genovese discreetly.
Specifically, after Juvenile and the other two female
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students left the classroom, I.F. and A.D. returned to
retrieve I.F.’s cellphone when only Genovese was in
the room. I.F. testified that she did not mention
Juvenile’s actions to Genovese because she was still
in shock by what she saw. A.D. stated that she did
not tell Genovese because she was scared and
disgusted. Five minutes after leaving Genovese’s
classroom, I.F. testified that she “saw the Dean of
Students and decided to tell him what had
happened.” I.F. and A.D.’s testimony never
identified the Dean of Students by name or what
they told this person.
In his defense, Juvenile called Genovese to
testify. The teacher testified that she had 28 years
of teaching experience and was familiar with Juvenile
and the female witnesses. Genovese stated that she
had a clear view of Juvenile throughout detention;
however, she was not watching Juvenile the entire
time. In addition, there was no semen found in the
classroom. Moreover, Genovese indicated that she
was interacting with A.D. throughout detention and
her demeanor was normal.
In a close call, we found the female students’
testimony credible and adjudicated Juvenile
delinquent for one count each of indecent exposure,
open lewdness, and disorderly conduct. We
dismissed the remaining charges as
duplicative.[Footnote 5]
[Footnote 5] Prior to announcing our
decision, the Commonwealth withdrew
one count of disorderly conduct.
The Monroe County Juvenile Probation
Department completed a social summary on
Juvenile. The summary states:
It is believed that a more thorough
investigation may have been needed in
this case as several questions have
arisen while speaking to school staff that
were involved in this incident, which in
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turn has led this officer to question the
credibility of the individuals involved in
this case . . . [I.F. and A.D.] did
approach an Assistant Principal following
detention that day, and their report to
him at that time was that [Juvenile] was
rubbing himself outside of his pants, not
the report that they later provided to the
Trooper.
Unfortunately, this Court was not made
aware of some of the above mentioned
facts, and therefore, this case was
decided on the creditability [sp] of the
witnesses and their testimonies given
that day.
Social Summary Report P. 10.
Following Juvenile’s disposition hearing on
November 14, 2016, he was placed on probation for
a minimum period of one year.
Juvenile filed a timely post-dispositional motion
to reconsider and dismiss the charges claiming our
adjudication decision was against the weight of the
evidence. The motion premised the contradictory
testimony of I.F. and A.D. regarding how Juvenile
allegedly ejaculated.
We held a reconsideration hearing on
November 21, 2016. Juvenile underscored the
discrepancies between I.F. and A.D.’s adjudication
hearing testimony and Juvenile’s social summary
that detailed the story I.F. and A.D. told Assistant
Principal David Pacchioni immediately following the
incident. Juvenile stated that he was never aware of
Pacchioni’s involvement in the case prior to the social
summary. Juvenile’s attorney asserted that he went
to the school to investigate the incident prior to the
adjudication hearing, and the school’s principal never
mentioned Pacchioni’s association in the matter. The
principal only disclosed Genovese’s involvement.
Juvenile’s attorney indicated that Pacchioni was
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available by phone to testify that what the female
students told him was contradictory to their
adjudication hearing testimony.[Footnote 6]
[Footnote 6] Juvenile’s attorney stated
that Pacchioni recently changed school
districts and was unable to attend the
reconsideration hearing, but available by
phone.
We asked the juvenile probation officer if his
investigation in completing the social summary
showed anything different from what was said at the
adjudication hearing. The juvenile probation officer
informed the court that I.F. and A.D. told a very
different story to Pacchioni right after the incident.
Specifically, I.F. and A.D. told Pacchioni that Juvenile
was rubbing himself outside of his pants. They
never mentioned to Pacchioni that Juvenile exposed
his penis, masturbated, or ejaculated. The probation
officer stated that the girls’ story changed to include
exposure and ejaculation only after speaking with
police later that evening.
The Commonwealth asked for a re-hearing in
the case. The assistant district attorney
representing the Commonwealth at the
reconsideration hearing never read Juvenile’s social
summary and was unaware of Pacchioni’s
involvement in the case.[Footnote 7]
[Footnote 7] The Assistant District
Attorney at the Reconsideration Hearing
also represented the Commonwealth at
Juvenile’s adjudication hearing.
We noted our reservations after the
adjudication hearing that Juvenile was delinquent
beyond a reasonable doubt. We acknowledged the
rarity of the situation, reversed our finding of
delinquency, and dismissed all charges based on the
revelations in Juvenile’s social summary. There was
no objection raised by the Commonwealth
throughout the reconsideration hearing.
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Trial court opinion, 1/11/17 at 1-6 (citations to notes of testimony omitted;
ellipses and brackets contained in original social summary report).
The record reflects that following entry of the order that reversed the
finding of delinquency and dismissed all charges against N.J.W., the
Commonwealth filed a timely notice of appeal. The trial court then ordered
the Commonwealth to file a concise statement of errors complained of on
appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). The Commonwealth timely complied.
Thereafter, the trial court filed its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.
The Commonwealth raises the following issue for our review:
“Whether the trial court erred in sua sponte reversing its finding of
delinquency in this matter and dismissing all of the charges?”
(Commonwealth’s brief at 3.)
Preliminarily, we note that the trial court and N.J.W. contend that the
Commonwealth waived this issue on appeal for failure to raise it below. Our
review of the record reflects that following N.J.W.’s adjudication of
delinquency and disposition, N.J.W. filed a timely optional post-dispositional
motion pursuant to Pa.R.J.C.P. 620(1) requesting reconsideration of the
delinquency adjudication and dismissal of all charges as against the weight
of the evidence. (N.J.W.’s motion for reconsideration, 11/15/16.) The trial
court held a hearing on N.J.W.’s motion.
At that hearing, N.J.W. challenged the weight of the evidence based on
teacher Daisy Genovese’s testimony. (Notes of testimony, 11/21/16 at 3-4.)
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N.J.W. also advanced an argument based on the social summary report that
the Monroe County Juvenile Probation Department completed after N.J.W.’s
adjudication that revealed inconsistencies in I.F.’s and A.D.’s versions of the
incident. (Id. at 4-6.) Specifically, I.F. and A.D. provided one account of
the incident to the former assistant principal of the school and another
account to police. (Id. at 6-7.) In response, Andrew Kroeckel, the attorney
representing the Commonwealth at the hearing, stated that he “had no
notice of this” and did not “even know who [the former assistant principal]
is.”1 (Id. at 4-5.) Attorney Kroeckel also stated that the information was
“not in the motion,” and “it’s not appropriate for it to be raised now.” (Id.
at 5.) At this point, the juvenile probation officer, who was identified in the
transcript as “Mr. Sheller,” appeared at the hearing and confirmed the
inconsistent reports provided by I.F. and A.D. (Id.)
Following Juvenile Probation Officer Sheller’s statements,
Attorney Kroeckel requested a recess of approximately one week to speak
with the former assistant vice principal, as well as I.F. and A.D., to “try to
figure out what’s going on, if anything.” (Id. at 7.) The trial court then
stated:
When the hearing was held back on October 7th of
this year, I found [N.J.W.] delinquent of the charges.
But I remember it was not a slam dunk, in my
opinion. The rule, of course, is delinquent beyond a
1
Attorney Kroeckel acknowledged that the Commonwealth attorney who
attended N.J.W.’s disposition read the social summary report. (Notes of
testimony, 11/21/16 at 5.)
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reasonable doubt, but I began to have doubts after
the decision.
And in reading the pre-sentence -- the social
summary and what has developed, I can’t say in all
honesty that [N.J.W.] should have been found
delinquent beyond a reasonable doubt for these
charges.
It’s a rare thing when you make a finding and then
reconsider reversing your finding a month or two
later. But in this case, I think it’s the right thing to
do. So I am going to make an order[.]
Id. at 7-8.
The trial court then entered an on-the-record order, which was later
reduced to writing and entered on the docket, that reversed the delinquency
finding and dismissed the charges against N.J.W. (Id. at 8.) After entering
that on-the-record order, the following took place:
THE COURT: If the Commonwealth wishes to appeal
that decision, then --
[N.J.W.’S COUNSEL]: Thank you, Your Honor.
Id.
The proceedings then concluded. Presently, the trial court and N.J.W.
contend that the Commonwealth waived the issue of whether the trial court
erred in sua sponte reversing the delinquency finding and dismissing the
charges against N.J.W. on appeal because it failed to raise the claim with the
trial court. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (“Issues not raised in the lower court are
waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”). After a close
reading of the hearing transcript, however, we afford the Commonwealth the
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benefit of the doubt because it did object to the trial court’s consideration of
the social summary report as outside the scope of the motion for
reconsideration as that motion only challenged the weight of the evidence.
It follows then that because the trial court based its reversal and dismissal
on its consideration of the social summary report, and the Commonwealth
objected to such consideration, that the Commonwealth preserved the issue
it raises on appeal. We will, therefore, address the Commonwealth’s claim.
In its brief, the Commonwealth first argues that the trial court lacked
authority to sua sponte reverse its finding of delinquency by relying on
cases that hold that the reconsideration procedure set forth in 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 5505, which provides for modification or rescission of any order with
certain exceptions, does not authorize a trial court to change a previously
recorded guilty verdict to a not guilty verdict. (Commonwealth’s brief at
10.) The Commonwealth then argues that although Pa.R.Crim.P. 704(B)(1),
which outlines certain procedures to be followed at the time of sentencing,
permits a trial court to entertain an oral motion for arrest of judgment under
extraordinary circumstances when justice requires, that rule provides no
such authority absent an oral motion. Therefore, according to the
Commonwealth, because N.J.W. failed to make an oral motion for arrest of
judgment at N.J.W.’s motion for reconsideration hearing, the trial court “did
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not conduct the appropriate review.”2 (Id. at 11.) The Commonwealth then
reiterates its position that once the verdict was entered, the trial court had
no authority over the case. (Id.) In so doing, the Commonwealth relies on
criminal cases wherein post-verdict courts were found to have abused their
discretion by reweighing the evidence and then changing verdicts. (Id. at
11-14.)
The Commonwealth’s argument is misguided. It is well-settled that an
adjudication of delinquency is not a conviction. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. 6354(a)
(“[a]n order or disposition or other adjudication in a proceeding under [the
Juvenile Act] is not a conviction of crime”); see also Commonwealth v.
Hale, 128 A.3d 781, 584 (Pa. 2015.) Indeed,
this Court has expressly recognized that juvenile
proceedings are not criminal proceedings. Under the
Juvenile Act, juveniles are not charged with crimes;
they are charged with committing delinquent acts.
They do not have a trial; they have an adjudicatory
hearing. If the charges are substantiated, they are
not convicted; they are adjudicated delinquent.
Indeed, the Juvenile Act expressly provides [that] an
adjudication under its provisions is not a conviction
of a crime. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6354(a). These are not
insignificant differences or the transposing of
synonyms. The entire juvenile system is different,
with different purposes and different rules.
2
Contrary to the Commonwealth’s interpretation of Pa.R.Crim.P. 704(B)(1),
the rule provides that “[u]nder extraordinary circumstances, when the
interests of justice require, the trial judge may, before sentencing, hear an
oral motion in arrest of judgment, for a judgment of acquittal, or for a new
trial.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 704(B)(1).
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In re L.A., 853 A.2d 388, 393 (Pa.Super. 2004) (internal citations omitted;
brackets in original).
The purpose of the Juvenile Act is:
[c]onsistent with the protection of the
public interest, to provide for children
committing delinquent acts programs of
supervision, care and rehabilitation which
provide balanced attention to the
protection of the community, the
imposition of accountability for offenses
committed and the development of
competencies to enable children to
become responsible and productive
members of the community.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6301(b)(2). “This section evidences
the Legislature’s clear intent to protect the
community while rehabilitating and reforming
juvenile delinquents.” In the Interest of J.C., 751
A.2d at 1181.
Id.
Therefore, the Commonwealth’s argument necessarily fails because it
rests on the flawed premise that N.J.W. was convicted of crimes in a criminal
proceeding when the reality is that N.J.W. was adjudicated delinquent for
committing delinquent acts. Our analysis, however, does not end there.
Following his adjudication and disposition, N.J.W. chose to file a
post-dispositional motion for reconsideration challenging the weight of the
evidence pursuant to Pa.R.J.C.P. 620(1). The purpose of Rule 620 “is to
promote the fair and prompt resolution of all issues relating to admissions,
adjudication, and disposition” of the delinquency matter. See
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Pa.R.J.C.P. 620, cmt. At the hearing, N.J.W. also presented the social
summary report, which was prepared after the adjudication. The trial court
deemed the social summary report to be “after-discovered evidence.” (Trial
court opinion, 1/11/17 at 7.) We note that although Pa.R.J.C.P. 620(F)
provides that “[a] motion for a new adjudication on the grounds of after-
discovered evidence shall be filed in writing promptly after such discovery,”
because N.J.W. sought a reversal of the delinquency finding and dismissal of
the charges, as opposed to a new adjudication, nothing in the rule prohibited
him from presenting the social summary report to the trial court at the
motion for reconsideration hearing. Moreover, “[j]uvenile proceedings, by
design of the General Assembly, have always lacked much of the trappings
of adult criminal proceedings.” See Hale, 85 A.3d at 584 (citations
omitted). “[J]uvenile hearings [are] non-adversarial, informal proceedings,
where the strict rules of evidence and procedure [are] relaxed and in which
the judge could analyze the child’s needs and fashion the best possible
remedy.” Id. (citations omitted).
Here, the trial court reconsidered the facts of the case and also
considered the social summary report to arrive at the conclusion that the
after-discovered evidence “debunked I.F. and A.D.’s testimony”, the
Commonwealth failed to prove N.J.W. delinquent beyond a reasonable
doubt, and that the interest of justice required that the adjudication be
reversed and the charges dismissed. (See notes of testimony, 11/21/16 at
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7-8; see also trial court opinion, 1/11/17 at 6-7.) Our review of the record
compels the conclusion that the trial court effectuated the purpose of the
Juvenile Act, which is “to provide for the just determination of every
delinquency proceeding.” See Pa.R.J.C.P. 101(A).
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/18/2017
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