Com. v. Capers, A. ( 2019 )

J-A06003-19
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
ANWAR A. CAPERS :
:
Appellant : No. 800 MDA 2018
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 23, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-21-CR-0001048-2017
BEFORE: OTT, J., NICHOLS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.: FILED JUNE 26, 2019
Anwar A. Capers appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed on
January 23, 2018. On December 13, 2017, a jury found Capers guilty of
unlawful delivery of a controlled substance under accomplice liability and
possession of a controlled substance.1 The trial court sentenced Capers to
serve an aggregate term of 16 to 48 months’ incarceration. On appeal, Capers
challenges the sufficiency and weight of the evidence. Based upon the
following, we affirm.
____________________________________________
 Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
135 P.S. §§ 780-113(a)(30), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 306, and 35 P.S. 780-113(a)(16),
respectively.
J-A06003-19
As the parties are well acquainted with the facts and procedural history
of this case, which are fully set forth in the trial court’s opinion, we do not
restate them. See Trial Court Opinion, 7/13/2018, at 1–7.
In his issues on appeal, Capers challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence underlying his conviction for unlawful delivery of a controlled
substance and the weight of the evidence. For the reasons discussed below,
these claims fail.
“A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is a question of law.”
Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745, 751 (Pa. 2000).
The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of 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 its judgment for that of the fact-
finder. 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. The entire
record must be evaluated and all evidence actually received must
be considered. 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. Ratsamy, 934 A.2d 1233, 1235–1236, 1237 (Pa. 2007)
(citations and quotation marks omitted).
A weight of the evidence claim concedes the sufficiency of the evidence.
Widmer, supra at 751. A weight claim addresses the discretion of the trial
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court. Id. at 752 (citation omitted). On review, the appellate court decides
whether the trial court abused its discretion when ruling on the weight claim;
it does not consider the underlying question of whether the verdict was against
the weight of the evidence. Id. at 753. We will only find an abuse of discretion
where the verdict is so contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of
justice. Our review of a challenge to the weight of the evidence supporting
the verdict is settled:
The weight of the evidence is a matter exclusively for the finder
of fact, who is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence
and to determine the credibility of the witnesses. A new trial is
not warranted because of a mere conflict in the testimony and
must have a stronger foundation than a reassessment of the
credibility of witnesses. Rather, the role of the trial judge is to
determine that notwithstanding all the facts, certain facts are so
clearly of greater weight that to ignore them or to give them equal
weight with all the facts is to deny justice. On appeal, our purview
is extremely limited and is confined to whether the trial court
abused its discretion in finding that the jury verdict did not shock
its conscience. Thus, appellate review of a weight claim consists
of a review of the trial court’s exercise of discretion, not a review
of the underlying question of whether the verdict is against the
weight of the evidence. An appellate court may not reverse a
verdict unless it is so contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s
sense of justice.
Commonwealth v. Rosser, 135 A.3d 1077, 1090 (Pa. Super. 2016) (en
banc) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 168 A.3d 1237 (Pa. 2017).
Based on our review of the record, the arguments presented by Capers,
and the relevant case law and statutes, we conclude Capers’ sufficiency and
weight challenges warrants no relief. Furthermore, as the trial court has
addressed these issues in its opinion, we adopt the trial court’s thorough and
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J-A06003-19
well reasoned opinion as dispositive of Capers’ sufficiency and weight claims
and affirm on that basis. See Trial Ct. Op., at 7–16. Accordingly, no relief is
due.
Judgment of sentence affirmed. We direct the parties to attach a copy
of the trial court opinion in the event of further proceedings.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 06/26/2019
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Circulated 06/07/2019 11:03 AM
COMMONWEALTH IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
TRIAL COURT NO. CP-21-CR-1048-2017
ANWAR A. CAPERS SUPERIOR COURT NO. 800 MDA 2018
OPINION PURSUANT TO PA. R.A.P. 1925
FINDINGS OF FACT & PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Peck, J., July 12, 2018
On December 11th through 13th, 2017, Appellant' was tried by jury on three
criminal counts related to an incident that occurred on March 3, 2017 in Carlisle
Borough, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.2 The Commonwealth's evidence to
support the charges was as follows:
On March 3, 2017, Detective Christopher Collare, a Carlisle Police Department
Detective and member of the Cumberland County Drug Task Force, and several other
officers conducted a controlled buy of heroin with the use of a confidential informant
("CI") at the Harvon Motel.3 At 4:13 p.m., the CI, under the supervision of the Detective,
placed a call to purchase heroin from the motel room phone to a (267) area code phone
number.4 The call was recorded.5 After the CI ordered a "bundle," he was searched and
1
"Appellant" and "Defendant" are used interchangeably for the purposes of this opinion.
2
Appellant was charged at Count I with Unlawful Delivery of a Schedule I Controlled Substance -
Heroin; at Count 2 with Criminal Conspiracy to Unlawful Delivery of a Schedule I Controlled Substance
- Heroin; and at Count 3, Unlawful Possession of a Schedule Il Controlled Substance -
Methamphetamine. See Criminaf Information, June 13, 2017. Defendant was charged at Counts 1 and 3
under the theory of accomplice liability as well.
3
Transcript of Proceedings, In Re: Jury Trial, December 12, 2017, at 10-11 (Peck, J.) (hereinafter "N.T.
Vol. II at JI).
4
Id. at 16-17.
5
Id. at 18. Only the CPs end of the conversation was recorded due to the lack of a speakerphone on the
landline that was used to place the call. Id. When the audio recording was played for the jury, the seller's
voice could not be heard. See generally Commonwealth's Exhibit No. 6, Audio Recording Compact Disc, 1.
December 12, 2017.
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then provided with serialized funds to pay for the drugs. 6 The Detective then hid in the
bathroom, with the door ajar.7 At 5:02 p.m., Sadiq Beasley8 arrived and delivered the
heroin.9 The controlled buy was captured on video.l" After Mr. Beasley left the room, the
CI handed the Detective sixteen bags of heroin.11 The Detective radioed to the other
officers that it was a "good purchase" and two individuals were arrested in the motel
parking lot while attempting to leave the scene: Mr. Beasley and the instant Defendant.12
Defendant was driving the vehicle.13
The vehicle was secured and taken to the police impound lot.14 It was later
searched and photographs were taken of its contents.15 Multiple cell phones. and cell
phone c��rgers were found in the car.16 The cell phone found in the center console of the
vehicle had the same phone number as the phone number that the CI called to make the
controlled buy.17 No luggage, travel kits, or workman's tools were found.18 The vehicle
was registered and insured in the Defendant's name, at a Philadelphia address.19 Mr.
Beasley is also from Philadelphia.i" A second license plate with a different number was
found in the vehicle, also registered to the Defendant.21 A receipt found in the car showed
6
See Commonwealth's Exhibit No. 6, Audio Recording Compact Disc, December 12, 2017; N.T. Vol. II
at 20. A "bundle" is several postage stamp-sized bags of heroin, typically 10 or more bags. N.T. Vol. II at
20.
7
8
N.T. Vol. II at 24.
Sadiq Beasley is the co-Defendant.
9
N.T. Vol. II at 20, 23-24.
10
Id. at 23.
11
Id. at 24, The parties stipulated that the substance contained in the bags was heroin. Id. at 26. The
parties also stipulated that later lab testing did not find fingerprints on any of the bags. Id. at 27.
12 -
N.T. Vol. II at 24, 28, 31.
13
Id. at 30. ·
14
Id. at 28.
15
Id. at 34. ,
16
A black flip phone was found in the center console. N.T. Vol. II at 35, 63. A black iPhone was found in
the passenger door. Id. Another inoperable flip phone was found in the driver's side front door panel. Id.
at 54-55; 64. A charger matching the black phone found in the center console was found in the glove box.
Id. at 56. An iPhone charger was found in the center console area. Id. at 78-79.
17 I
N.T. Vol. II at 56, 65-68. :
18 d
Lat 37.
19
Id. at 46-48. I
20
Id. at 28.
21
Id. at 51-52. ii II
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I l
i
I .
that Defendant was in Philadelphia at 1:51 p.m. the previous day.22 Two other receipts
found in the vehicle placed the Defendant in Philadelphia on February 4, 2017, and in
Carlisle on February 17, 2017.23 During the search of Mr. Beasley's person, $1,233 in
cash was discovered, including the serialized monies given to the CI to purchase the
drugs, and twenty-four of the bills were $20 bills.24 Defendant had $1,198 in cash, an
1Phone, and two pills on his person.25 .
Detective Collare testified that he has been involved in numerous drug
·· investigations and that Philadelphia is the "source city'' for approximately 80% of the
26
' heroin found in Carlisle. Some other indications of drug trafficking are multiple cell
phones, specifically "burner phones," multiple individuals working together, and multiple
> license plates or vehicles to conceal identity or travel.27 On cross-examination, Detective
ii Collare admitted that police were expecting Mr. Beasley and another person to deliver the
drugs during the controlled buy, and had no prior information that the Defendant would
be involved.28 He also admitted that the cell phone charger found in the glove box was
likely a universal charger, also accessible to Mr. Beasley, the passenger.29
The co-Defendant, Sadiq Beasley, testified that he pied guilty to the charges of
Possession with Intent to Deliver (PWID) heroin and Criminal Conspiracy to PWID of
heroin in exchange for a no/le prosequi of a third charge, and as part of the plea, he
admitted to the facts as related by the Commonwealth as it pertained to those charges. 30
Even though the facts he admitted to as part of his plea bargain included that he conspired
with the instant Defendant to deliver heroin on March 3, 2017, lie testified at trial that he
22
N.T. Vol. II at 50.
23
Id. 49, 53. . .
24
Id. 58-59. $20 bills are significant in drug investigations because heroin is usually purchased in $20
denominations: Id. at 59.
25
N.T. Vol. II at59-60, 64, 84-85. The parties stipulated that the two pills contained methamphetamine.
Id. at 65.
26
Id. at 4-5, 8.
2
' Id. at 8-10, 52, 62-63.
28-
Id. at 69-70.
29
N.T. Vol. II at 78.
30
Id. at 92, 94-96.
ii
/1--3 i
never conspired with the Defend�nt.31 Specifically, he stated that he agreed with
whatever the District Attorney said in order to get a lower plea and he couldn't remember
the facts he admitted.32 He stated that on March 3, -2017, he asked the Defendant for a
ride to the Greyhound bus station and asked him to stop at the Harvon motel on the way
there.33 He dictated and signed two sworn statements of the Defendant's non-involvement
in the controlled buy, once on April 28, 2017 and again on September 11, 2017.34 He .
entered his plea of guilty to conspiracy with this Defendant on August 29, 2017 .35
K-9 Officer Jeffrey Kurtz of the Carlisle Police Department testified that he was
present in the parking lot of the Harvon motel on March 3, 2017 during the time the arrest
of the Defendant and Mr: Beasley was made.36 He stated that after Defendant was
ordered to leave the vehicle, he saw Defendant place a small, dark object that was in his
right hand down into the center console before he got out of the car.37 He believed that
item was a cell phone.38 He also testified that he had seen Mr. Beasley the previous night
driving the Defendant's vehicle with two passengers inside but could not say whether the
Defendant was one of the passengers.39
After the Commonwealth rested its case, this Court heard argument by the parties
regarding the Defendant's Motion for Acquittal on Counts 1 and 2.40 After consideration
of the arguments of counsel, the Defendant' s motion was denied.41
Defendant presented testimony from several witnesses to rebut the charges:
Heather Klinger, a "subpoena compliance specialist" for T-Mobile; Alesye Ortiz;
31
Id. at 92.
32
Id. at 92-94.
33
Id. at 98, 108. . ·
34
N.T. Vol. II at 98-100, 102-05. The letters were an attempt to get the District Attorney to drop the
conspiracy charges against himself and/or the Defendant. Id. at 104-06.
35
Id. at 103
36 Id. at 11 O� 12. .
37
Id. at 114-15.
38
N.T. Vol. II at 115.
39
Id. at 115-17.
40 !J
At trial, as in the instant appeal, Defendant argued that the Commonwealth did not prove that the
Defendant had the intent to facilitate a delivery of heroin and so he could not be convicted as a matter of
law with Unlawful Delivery of heroin as an accompliceor of Criminal Conspiracy to Unlawful Delivery ii
:JI
of heroin, See generally N.T. Vol. JI at 123-30. "
41
Id. at 130. 'I
ii
//- - 4
I!
11
IJ!
1!
·,iiiJ
Defendant's girlfriend; and Jermaine Lewis, the general manager of 11th Street Auto
Sales in Philadelphia, where Defendant purchased his vehicle. Their testimony was as
follows:
Defendant subpoenaed the telephone· records for his personal phone, which was
the iPhone that was found in his pocket during his arrest.42 The phone. records showed
that there were a substantial number of calls over an a�proximately one-month period
between his personal phone and Mr. Beasley's personal iPhone.43 There were also
numerous calls between the Defendant's phone and the black "center console" phone that
had been involved in the controlled buy.44 The records also showed that the Defendant's
phone initiated .ru.1 approximately 15-minute phone call at 5:03 p.m, on March 3, 2017.45
On cross-examination, the Commonwealth pointed out that there was an unusual amount
of communication between the Defendant's phone and Mr. Beasley's personal phone on
March 2 and March 3, 2017 (the day before and the day of the incident).46 The phone
records also indicated calls between the Defendant's personal phone and the phone used
in the controlled buy over the same time period.47
Ms. Ortiz testified that Defendant was with her on the day and night of March 2,
and the morning of March 3, 2017. 48 She stated that she is from Carlisle, the Defendant is
from Philadelphia, and he comes to visit her every other weekend.49 On cross-
examination, the witness stated she has been in an intimate relationship with the
Defendant for. eight years, and that she does not know Mr. Beasley.i'' She also testified
that she had a specific recollection of staying up past midnight on March 2nd and
42
Id. at 60-61, 133-34.
43
Id. at 62, 136, 140-43; Def.'s Exhibit No. 5, T-Mobile Phone Records, 1-5, December 12, 2017. The
records reflected activity from February 1, 2017 to March 3, 2017. N.T. Vol. II at 142-43.
44
N.T. Vol. II at 143-44; Def.'s Exhibit No. 5, T-Mobile Phone Records, 6, December 12, 2017.
45
N.T. Vol. IT at 145, 155-56.
46
Id. at 146, 148-52. There were calls between the phones on March 2nd at 10:03 a.m., 1:57 p.m., 2:28
p.m., 2:44 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 5:57 p.m., 5:58 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 10:14 p.m., 10:23 p.m., 10:25 p.m., 10:30
r,,m.,
1
10:40 p.m., 10:50 p.m., and on March 3rd at 1:03 a.m., 2:25 a.m., 2:45 a.m., 2:49 a.m., and 3:06 a.m.
Id. at 153. There were ca1ls between the phones on March 3rd at 12:44 a.m. and 1:03 a.m.
48
Id. at 157-59.
49
.
N.T. Vol. II at 160-61. The witness immediately thereafter stated that he visits her every weekend, if
she calls him. Id. at 161. '
50
Id. at 162. -
/I- - 5
watching a movie with Defendant, and that the Defendant was not on the phone a lot that
night.51
Mr. Lewis telephonically testified that his office . had mistakenly given the
Defendant and another customer each other's license tags.52 He provided Defendant with
the correct tag after the other customer returned it to the shop. 53 He asked Defendant to
return the other tag, which he never did.54 Because he !lever received the incorrectly
issued tag back from the Defendant, he processed it as a "dead tat' which would not
exist in PennDOT records.55
Based on the foregoing evidence, on December 13, 2017, at the conclusion of the
jury trial, Appellant was found guilty of the following charges: Count 1, Unlawful
Delivery of a Schedule I Controlled Substance - Heroin, an ungraded felony; and Count
3, Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - Methamphetamine, an
ungraded misdemeanor" Appellant was found not guilty at Count 2, Criminal
Conspiracy to Unlawful Delivery of a Schedule I Controlled Substance - Heroin, an
ungraded felony.57 On January 23, 2018, following review of a pre-sentence investigation
report (PSI), we sentenced Appellant to the following: on Count l, Appellant was given a
state prison sentence of not less than sixteen months nor more than forty-eight months,58
and was further required to pay the costs of prosecution, a $100 fine, to pay $100 jointly
and severally with his co-Defendant to the Drug Task Force, and to have no contact with
his co-Defendant; on Count 3, Appellant was required to pay the costs of prosecution and
was given a concurrent state prison sentence of not less than three months nor more than
six months. 59
51
Id. 163-64.
52
Id. at 167-68, 172-73.
53
N.T. Vol. II at 168-69.
54
Id. at 168-69.
55
Id. II at 173-74.
56
See Order of Court, In R�: Verdict/Appear for Sentence, December 13, 2017 (Peck, J.).
57 Id. .
58
Appellant was given credit for time served between March 3, 2017 and December 13, 2017.
59
Order of Court, In Re: Sentence, January 23, 2018 (Peck, J.).
;J-- 6
On May 4, 2018, Appellant filed timely post-sentence Motions for Judgment of
Acquittal and for a New Trial, alleging there was insufficient evidence adduced at trial to
support his conviction on the Unlawful Delivery charge as a matter of law, and
furthermore that the jury's verdict of guilty was against. the weight of the evidence.i''
After a review of the Appellant's . brief in support of his Motions and the
Commonwealth's Response in objection thereto, on May 7, 2018, this Court denied
. Appellant's Motions.61 On May 16, 2018, Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal to the
62
Superior Court. On May 16, 2018, this Court directed the filing of a concise Statement
ofErrors Complained of on Appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. §1925(b).63 On May 24, 2018,
Appellant filed his Concise Statement of Errors. In his Statement of Errors, Appellant
complains:
1. The trial court erred when it denied the Defendant's motion
for acquittal based on the sufficiency of the evidence.
Specifically, the Commonwealth failed to prove the
Defendant acted with the requisite intent required to prove
count one, Unlawful Delivery, Manufacture, Possession with
Intent to Deliver a Schedule I Controlled Substance - Heroin
under the theory of accomplice liability.
2. The trial court erred when it denied the Defendant's motion
for a new trial based on the weight of the credible evidence
presented at trial.· The jury verdict shocked one's sense of
justice demanding the award of a new trial.64
This Court offers this Opinion, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a), in support of its
judgments,
DISCUSSION
Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act provides,
in relevant part: "[tjhe following acts and the causing thereof within the Commonwealth
are hereby prohibited: ... knowingly or intentionally possessing a controlled or counterfeit
60
See Def.ts Post-Sentence Motions, April 11, 2018. .
61 .
In Re: Post-Sentence Motions, Order of Court, May 7, 2018 (Peck, J.).
62
Def.'s Notice of Appeal, May 16, 2018. ....
63
Order of Court, May 16, 2018 (Peck, J.).
64
Def.'s Concise Statement of the Errors Complained of on Appeal, May 24, 2018.
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1!·;
substance by a person not registered under this act [] unless the substance was obtained
directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription order or order of a practitioner ... [and]
the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, a
controlled substance by a person not registered under this act." 35 P.S. §780-
I 13(a)(16),(a)(30)(emphasis added). The Pennsylvania Crimes Code also provides that
"[a] person is legally accountable for the conduct of another person when ... he is an
accomplice of such other person in the commission of the offense." 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§306(b )(3 ). "An accomplice is equally criminally liable for the acts of another 'if he acts
with the intent of promoting or facilitating the commission of an offense and agrees, aids,
or attempts to aid such other person in either planning or committing that offense.!"
Commonwealth v. Toritto, 67 A.3d 29, 34 (Pa. Super. 2013)(intemal citations omitted):
Pennsylvania courts have held that in order to prove accomplice liability, the following
must be present:
First, there must be evidence that the defendant intended to
aid or promote the underlying offense. Second, there must be
evidence that the defendant actively participated in the crime
by soliciting, aiding, or agreeing to aid the principal. While
these two requirements may be established by circumstantial
evidence, a defendant cannot be an accomplice simply based
on evidence that he knew about the crime or was present at
the crime scene. There must be some additional evidence that
the defendant intended to aid in the commission of the
underlying crime, and then did. or attempted to do so. With
regard to the amount of aid, it need not be substantial so long
as it was offered to the principal to assist him in committing
or attempting to commit the crime.
Commonwealth v. Murphy, 844 A.2d 1228, 1234 (Pa. 2004)(intemal citations omitted).
On appeal, Appellant first challenges the sufficiency of the evidence presented by
the Commonwealth at trial to sustain his conviction for Unlawful Delivery of heroin as an
accomplice under 35 P.S. §780-l 13(a)(30) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. §306(b)(3). As his second
issue on appeal, Appellant also challenges his conviction based on the weight of the
credible evidence presented at trial. Appellant does not identify which criminal Count to
which his weight claim applies, so it is difficult for this Court to address Appellant's
second argument with specificity. Regardless, we address both of Appellant's arguments
below.
a. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Defendant contends that the verdict of guilty was based on insufficient evidence as
a matter of law, and as such, this Court erred by denying his Motion of acquittal. We .
disagree. "The test to be applied in ruling on a [motion for judgment of acquittal] is
whether, accepting as true all of the prosecution's evidence and all reasonable inferences
therefrom, it is sufficient to support a finding by the fact-finder that the defendant is
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Commonwealth v. Snowdy, 603 A.2d 1044, 1045 (Pa.
Super. 1992) (internal citations omitted).65 "When a defendant does not rest following
denial of a [motion for judgment of acquittal], but instead presents a defense, the
correctness of the ruling on the [motion] is not preserved for appellate review; the proper
procedure is to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence." Commonwealth v. Johnson,
2018 PA Super 193, *5 (Pa. Super. 2018) (quoting Commonwealth v. Zambelli, 695 A.2d
848, 849 n.1 (Pa; Super 1997)). The appellate .standard of review for a challenge to the
sufficiency of the evidence is as follows:
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
65
A "Motion for Judgment of Acquittal" was previously referred to in case law as a "demurrer."
Pa.R.Crirn.P. Rule 606 standardized the language so that all challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence
raised on appeal are now referred to as motions for judgment of acquittal, and the use of the word
"demurrer" in past law or present motions does not affect their present validity under the new language of
the Rule. See comment to Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 606.
II- - ·9
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 finder 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. McDonald, 17 A.3d 1282, 1285 (Pa. Super. 201 l)(interrial citations
· omitted). Additionally, the jury is not . obligated to accept a defendant's evidence.
Commonwealth v. Morales, 91 A.3d 80, 90 (Pa. 2014).
Defendant seeks to overturn his conviction by' pointing out that individual pieces
of circumstantial evidence presented by the Commonwealth were insufficient to establish I
that Defendant had the required mens rea to impute to him liability as an accomplice in
the drug delivery at issue·.66 Specifically, Defendant argues that his momentary
66 In his post-sentence motions, Defendant cites to two Pennsylvania cases to show there was not enough
evidence in this case to hold him liable as an accomplice, viz. Commonwealth v. Torrito, 67 A.3d 29 (Pa.
Super. 2013) and Commonwealth v. Murphy, 844 A.2d 1228 (Pa. 2004). In Torrito, the defendant drove
his cousin to a bar, where his cousin sold narcotics to an undercover agent. Torrito, supra at 32. The
defendant was intermittently present for their discussions regarding the sale, although he personally did
not participate. Id. The defendant then gave his car keys to his cousin to retrieve the drugs from the
vehicle after the sale was made. Id. In Torrito, as here, the defendant was found guilty of unlawful
delivery of a controlled substance under an accomplice theory of liability, and was found not guilty on the
companion charge of conspiracy. Id. On appeal, the Superior Court held that the evidence was not
insufficient as a matter of law to sustain the verdict of guilty because the jury could infer from the
testimony that defendant drove the car to the scene, was present during the transaction, and gave his car
keys to his cousin, that the defendant had knowledge of and intended to aid in the underlying crime. Id. at
34-3 5. In Murphy, the defendant was solicited on the street to make a drug sale by an undercover police
officer. Murphy, supra at 1231. After assurances that be was "not a cop," defendant called over another
individual who ultimately consummated the drug sale with the officer, in which serialized funds were
used to make the purchase, outside of the defendant's presence. Id. The defendant later asked the officer
for half of one bag of heroin after the deal was made. Id. at 1231. When the defendant was arrested, he
did not have any drugs or marked bills on his person. Id. The Supreme Court upheld the defendant's
convictions for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance as an accomplice and conspiracy to deliver a
controlled substance, as the jury could have found, in light of the evidence that the defendant introduced
the buyer and seller, and that he approached the officer after the sale was made requesting a portion of the
drugs "for his efforts," that he had an active interest in the sale and intended to help the principal deliver
the contraband. Id. at 1237-38. Upon review, we find that nothing in either case above mentioned·
precludes a finding of guilty in the instant case for Unlawful Delivery of Heroin as an accomplice.
/l-- io
possession of the cell phone used to set up the controlled buy, his presence outside the
. .
motel wherethe drug transaction tookplace, his driving the car with Mr. Beasley in it
away from the scene where Mr. Beasley had just sold heroin to a CI, his association with
Mr. Beasley and Philadelphia, and the large amount of money and the drugs recovered
from his person at the time of arrest do not bear upon his knowledge or intent with regard
to the delivery of heroin.67 As outlined above, the Commonwealth is permitted to prove
the charges against a defendant· by purely circumstantial evidence, so long as the totality
of the evidence convinces the fact-finder beyond a reasonable doubt of the Defendant's
guilt. Here there was sufficient circumstantial evidence for the jury to reasonably
conclude that Defendant intended and actually took steps to affirmatively aid Mr. Beasley
in his delivery of heroin to the CI.
The jury received extensive instructions on the credibility of witnesses, both
before and after hearing the evidence.68 The jury was free to draw their own conclusions
about the credibility of each witness; and what weight such evidence deserved. They
were instructed at length orally and received written jury instructions on accomplice
liability and the substantive offense of unlawful delivery of heroin.69 Defendant heard the
oral instructions, reviewed the written instructions, and was present for the second set of
clarifying instructions given to the jury on the substantive offenses and accomplice
liability after they began their deliberations. This Court notes that no objection was made
thereto at any. time by the Defendant." The jury, therefore, had all the necessary
information to decide whether to believe or disbelieve any or all of either party's
evidence. The jury also was instructed that the Commonwealth could prove their case by
Here there are sufficient pieces of circumstantial evidence to show that Defendant had the mens rea to be
an accomplice.
67
See Def.'s Memorandum in Support of Post Sentence Motions, 2-5 (May 4, 2018); N.T. Vol. II at 124-
25.
68
See Transcript of Proceedings, In Re: Jury Trial, December 11, 2017, at 42-43 (Peck, J.)(hereinafter
"N.T. at _n); Transcript of Proceedings, In Re: Jury Trial, December 13, 2017, at 42-44 (Peck,
J.)(hereinafter ''N.T. Vol. ill at_").
69
See N.T. at 38-41; N.T. Vol. ill at 48-50, 53-57, 93-95, 98-105; see also Court's Exhibit No. 1, Written
Jury Instructions, December 13, 2017.
70
See N.T. Vol. III at 89, 92, 95, 105.
I\
J
/l- - 11
circumstantial evidence, and were aware that this case rested largely on the presence of
and interpretation they would give to circumstantial evidence.71
Defendant argues here that the evidence that Mr. Beasley used the phone found in
the center console 'to make a drug sale, and that Defendant was momentarily in
possession of that same phone prior to his arrest, does not show his intent to participate in
the drug sale. The Commonwealth presented evidence to. the contrary. Detective Collare,
an experienced police officer and member of the Drug Task Force, testified that in the
context of drug trafficking, multiple phones, specifically "burner" phones, are a staple in
the industry and are often used for anonymous illicit drug transactions. In this case, there
were four phones present
··-·.
in Defendant's car at
. .
the. scene
,. ..
of the
..
..
controlled buy,
..
two....
being
.. .
"burner" phones within the Defendant' s reach and realm of control, and one being the
specific phone used earlier that day to set up the drug sale. The phone used in the sale
was present in Defendant's car, and was actually in his hand, prior to his arrest.
Defendant also contends that his mere presence at the scene, and the fact that he
had given Mr. Beasley a ride to the location, does not prove that he had the intent to aid
Mr. Beasley in the delivery of the drugs. Defendant was driving the car with Mr. Beasley
as passenger immediately after the heroin sale.72 Detective Collare testified that there was
no luggage, personal hygiene kits, or workman's tools suggestive of an intent to travel
found in the Defendant's car, despite the Defendant's proffered explanation that he was
simply giving the codefendant a ride to the Greyhound station, and stopped at the Harvon
on the way there.73 Officer Kurtz also testified that he had seen Mr. Beasley driving the
Defendant's vehicle the previous day. These facts could reasonably lead to the inference
that Mr. Beasley was working as a "team" with Defendant being the getaway driver, and
71
N.T. at 52; N.T. Vol. Ill at 24, 40"42.
72
Photographs taken by investigating officers at the scene depict Defendant driving the car before and
after the drug sale was consummated and Mr. Beasley returning to the car and getting into the passenger
side. See N.T. Vol. II at 29-33; Commonwealth's Exhibits No. 8-9, Surveillance Photographs, December
12, 2017. Detective Collare also testified that he saw Mr. Beasley walkout of the hotel after the drug sale
and get into the Defendant's car. N.T. Vol. II at 28-29, 31.
73
N.T. Vol. II at 37, 98.
that Defendant knew and intended to transport Mr. Beasley to the motel to make the drug
sale.
Defendant also coinplains that evidence that he had a large amount of cash, as well
as methamphetamine pills, on his person at the time of his arrest is irrelevant to showing
his intent to deliver heroin or aid Mr. Beasley in doing so. The Commonwealth presented
evidence through the testimony of Detective Collare that the presence of a large amount
of cash on a person in denominations of $20 is a "red flag" for drug trafficking, since
illegal transactions are made in cash and specifically, heroin is usually purchased with
74
$20 bills. Furthermore, there was evidence that the Defendant had no reason to carry
that' much cash on his person �s his employment wasIistedas "laborer" ona document
discovered in his car dated the previous day, with no employer information listed.75 There
also -were two methamphetamine pills found in Defendant's pocket. Mr. Beasley, at the
'
time of his arrest, had a comparable amount of cash on his person. The jury could have
inferred from this evidence that the codefendants were working as a team in dealing
various kinds of drugs.
Lastly, Defendant claims evidence that he is from Philadelphia has no connection
with any intent on his part to aid Mr. Beasley in delivering heroin. Detective Collare
testified that in his experience, over 80% of the heroin found in Carlisle originated in
Philadelphia, and also that "teams" of drug traffickers regularly bring the drugs from
Philadelphia for sale in Carlisle. Evidence was presented that Defendant lives in
Philadelphia, but regularly and consistently travels to Carlisle, shown by dated receipts
and other documents found during a search of Defendant's vehicle.76 Mr. Beasley is also
from Philadelphia, and there was evidence to show that the codefendants are closely
associated (e.g. Mr. Beasley was seen the �revious day driving the Defendant's car), and
at least in the instant case, had travelled to Carlisle on the same weekend.
74
Id. at 59.
75
N.T. at 50-51; Commonwealth's Exhibit No. 19, Photographs of Search of Defendant's Vehicle,
...
December 12, 2017.
76
N.T. Vol. Il at 49-51, 53; Commonwealth's Exhibits No. 11, 18, 19, December 12, 2017.
A- ·13
; (
From the above testimony, it was reasonable for the jury to make several
I
inferences supporting the Defendant's guilt in being an accomplice to Mr. Beasley in the
unlawful delivery of heroin. The evidence supports an inference that Defendant and Mr.
Beasley were partners, or at least close acquaintances, working as accomplices in an
illegal drug operation.
Additionally, Mr. Beasley, the co-Defendant, said on the record during his guilty
plea that he conspired with Defendant to deliver heroin. The jury could have accepted
that as evidence that Defendant knew that the drug transaction was. taking place and
planned to, and actually did, transport Mr. Beasley to and away from the scene of the
drug delivery in order to further the crime'. 1:'he_ju� wa� free to di�r�gard ¥1'· Beasley's
later attempt to exculpate this Defendant after Mr. Beasley already got the benefit of a
. plea deal. The jury also was free to use this evidence to find Defendant guilty,of being an
accomplice even if they did not find an express agreement for purposes of Conspiracy.
Thus, when viewing the evidence. in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as
verdict-winner, as is required on appeal, it is clear that the Commonwealth met its burden
of establishing that the Defendant intended to aid or promote the delivery of heroin and
that he actively participated in the crime by aiding and/or agreeing to aid Mr. Beasley in
doing so. In addition, the elements of the underlying crime were established beyond a
reasonable doubt, as the jury heard the testimony of Mr. Beasley, who admitted that he
committed the underlying heroin delivery, together with the Commonwealth's law
enforcement witnesses, who were at the scene of the crime and made the arrests. After a
review of the record, there was no error in denying Defendant's motion for acquittal at
trial, as the Conunonwealth proffered sufficient circumstantial evidence to prove beyond
a reasonable doubt to the jury that Defendant was guilty of unlawful delivery of heroin as
an accomplice.
b. Weight of the Evidence
Defendant also contends that the verdict of guilty was against the weight of the
evidence. This Court disagrees. When reviewing weight of the evidence claims, the
...
standard of review is as follows:
[a] challenge to the weight of the evidence is directed to the
discretion of the trial judge, who heard the same evidence and
who possesses only narrow authority to upset a jury verdict.
The trial judge may not grant relief based merely on some
conflict in testimony or because. the judge would reach a
different conclusion on the same facts. Relief on a weight of
the evidence claim is reserved for extraordinary
circumstances, when the jury's verdict is so contrary to the
evidence as to shock one's sense of justice and the award of a
new trial is imperative so that right may be given another
opportunity to prevail.
Commonwealth v. Sanchez, 36 A.3d 24, 39 (Pa. 2011)(intemal citations omitted),
"Furthermore, where. the trial. court has ruled on the weight claim below, an appellate
court's role is not to consider the underlying question of whether the verdict is against the
weight of the evidence. Rather, appellate review is limited to whether the trial court
palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the weight claim." Commonwealth v. Cruz,
919 A.2d 279, 281-82 (Pa. Super. 2007) (internal citations omitted).
In the present case, the jury's verdict of guilty on the count of unlawful delivery of
heroin under the theory of accomplice liability was not contrary to the evidence nor did it
shock this Court's sense of justice. As discussed extensively supra, the jury's verdict of
guilty was supported by the testimony and the physical evidence offered by the
Commonwealth at trial.
This Court ruled against the Appellant's weight of the evidence claim when we
denied his Post-Sentence Motions. The conviction hinged on the credibility of the
witnesses and the weight of the circumstantial evidence as to whether Defendant knew
that Mr. Beasley was going to be delivering heroin to the confidential informant at the
Harvon motel in Carlisle on March 3, 2017,. and whether Defendant drove Mr. Beasley to
the motel on that day with the intent to further the delivery. The jury, as the finder of fact,
is the sole judge of the credibility of witnesses at trial. Commonwealth v. Gooding, 818
A.2d 546, 552 (Pa. Super. 2003). In finding the Defendant guilty, the jury found the
Commonwealth's witnesses and theory of the case to be more credible than the
...
Defendant's. This Court is not in a position to substitute its judgment on the credibility or
ll- - 15
weight of the evidence for that of the jur� unless the jury's decision shocks the Court's
sense of justice. In the present case, based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury's
verdict did not shock the Court's sense of justice. Thus, Defendant's conviction should be
upheld on appeal.
To the extent that Defendant challenges his conviction for Possession of
Methamphetamine at Count 3, that conviction also wa.s not against the weight of the
evidence. Officer John Hanner testified that upon Defendant's arrest, two pills were
discovered in his pants pocket. 77 The parties agreed that the pills · contained
methamphetamine. 78 Defendant elicited evidence on cross-examination of the officer that
no photographs were taken of the pills before they were put into evidence, and that the
••• • • • + • • • •• • ,, • ·- ••.••••
+ -
pills taken from Defendant were sent to the lab on a different day than the heroin that was
recovered from the codefendant.79 However, although raising the spectre of alleged
'
improper documentation of the drugs, Defendant did not challenge the authenticity of the
drugs themselves and did not present any evidence that the police officers fabricated or
otherwise misrepresented the evidence found on the Defendant's person at the time of his
arrest. Based on all the evidence with regard to Defendant's possession of
methamphetamine, the jury's verdict of guilty was warranted by the weight of the
evidence and did not shock our sense ofjustice.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing reasons, this Court found that sufficient evidence was
presented at trial to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, each of the elements of
Unlawful Delivery of a Schedule I Substance - Heroin based on Accomplice Liability,
and that the verdicts on each charge for which Defendant was convicted were not against
77
N.T. Vol. II at 84-86.
18
Id. at 26.
79
Id. at 87�88.
IJ...:. 16
( the weight of the evidence. Appellant's errors are without merit, and respectfully, his
convictions shouldbe upheld on appeal.
BY THE COURT,
� of the District Attorney
Christopher R. Sherwood, Esq.
Assistant Public Defender
. . .. .· --�
.-:..- ;
/i..J. 17