Com. v. Watson, J. ( 2015 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
JOSHUA RAYMOND WATSON, :
:
Appellant : No. 1479 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence April 28, 2014,
Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County,
Criminal Division at No. CP-46-CR-0002077-2013
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E, DONOHUE and STRASSBURGER*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY DONOHUE, J.: FILED JUNE 23, 2015
Appellant, Joshua Raymond Watson (“Watson”), appeals from the
judgment of sentence entered on April 28, 2014 by the Court of Common
Pleas of Montgomery County, Criminal Division, following his convictions of
persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell, or transfer firearms
and firearms not to be carried without a license.1 Watson’s appellate
counsel (“Counsel”) seeks to withdraw from representation pursuant to
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967) and Commonwealth v.
Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009). Upon review, we grant Counsel’s
petition to withdraw and affirm Watson’s judgment of sentence.
The trial court summarized the facts and procedural history of this
case as follows:
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6105(a)(1), 6106(a)(1).
*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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The charges arose from events that occurred on
February 11, 2013. Around 11:20 p.m. that
evening, Officer Daren Swain [(“Officer Swain”)] was
monitoring traffic on Lancaster Avenue, in Lower
Merion Township, Montgomery County. After he
noticed a silver Nissan travel through a red light, he
activated his overhead lights in order to initiate a
traffic stop of the vehicle. The vehicle eventually
pulled over into a Getty gas station on Lancaster
Avenue, which is in Haverford Township. Officer
Swain approached the vehicle and became aware
that Terrell Watson was in the driver’s seat, while
[Watson] was in the passenger seat.
Officer Swain detected the odor of burnt marijuana
through the driver’s side window[,] which was
cracked open. He also noticed that Terrell Watson’s
eyes were a red, glassy color, consistent with
someone smoking marijuana. Additionally, Terrell
Watson fumbled his wallet while trying to retrieve his
driver’s license in order to comply with the officer’s
request. Upon being asked, Terrell Watson indicated
that he did not have any marijuana on his person but
that he smoked earlier with a female at Rosemont
College. Officer Swain, having the suspicion that
Terrell Watson could be driving under the influence
of a controlled substance, requested backup from
another officer.
Officer Jeff Sullivan [(“Officer Sullivan”)] arrived to
help and accordingly approached the passenger side
of the vehicle. At that point, Officer Sullivan
observed American Eagle 9-millimeter ammunition in
the back of the vehicle, which he called to the
attention of Officer Swain who eventually began field
sobriety-testing Terrell Watson. Officer Sullivan then
opened the passenger’s door to speak with [Watson]
and was hit with a strong odor of marijuana.
[Watson] was asked to produce [] identification,
which he eventually did after first indicating he did
not believe he had one, and nervously patting his
pockets. Officer Sullivan asked [Watson] if there
were any weapons in the car or on him, and
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[Watson] indicated several times that there were
not.
Officer Sullivan then requested that [Watson] get out
of the vehicle in order for the officer to perform a
pat-down search. This prompted [Watson] to
exclaim, “I have a gun on my right hip.” Officer
Sullivan seized the weapon and handcuffed [Watson]
to be taken into custody. He then performed a
search incident to arrest on [Watson] and recovered
a magazine that was loaded for the gun and
marijuana that was in the pocket of his pants.
A suppression hearing was held on October 30,
2013, and the court denied the Motion to Suppress
the firearm, ammunition magazine, and marijuana.
[Watson] then continued to a stipulated bench trial
on November 1, 2013. This court found [Watson]
guilty of [the above-referenced] violations of the
Uniform Firearms Act. Thereafter, he was sentenced
on April 28, 2014 to [four to nine years of
incarceration], to be served in a State Correctional
Institution.
[Watson] did not file any post-sentence motions. On
May 12, 2014, he filed a counseled Notice of Appeal
with [the] Superior Court. [Watson] subsequently
complied with this court’s directive that he produce
and serve a Concise Statement of Matters
Complained of on Appeal within 21 days and in
accordance with Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate
Procedure 1925(b).
Trial Court Opinion, 7/18/14, at 2-4 (record citations omitted).
On appeal, Counsel has filed a petition to withdraw and brief pursuant
to Anders and Santiago. There are particular mandates that counsel
seeking to withdraw pursuant to Anders and Santiago must follow. These
mandates and the significant protection they provide to an appellant arise
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because a criminal defendant has a constitutional right to a direct appeal
and to counsel on that appeal. Commonwealth v. Woods, 939 A.2d 896,
898 (Pa. Super. 2007). We have summarized these requirements as
follows:
Direct appeal counsel seeking to withdraw under
Anders must file a petition averring that, after a
conscientious examination of the record, counsel
finds the appeal to be wholly frivolous. Counsel must
also file an Anders brief setting forth issues that
might arguably support the appeal along with any
other issues necessary for the effective appellate
presentation thereof.
Anders counsel must also provide a copy of the
Anders petition and brief to the appellant, advising
the appellant of the right to retain new counsel,
proceed pro se or raise any additional points worthy
of this Court’s attention.
If counsel does not fulfill the aforesaid technical
requirements of Anders, this Court will deny the
petition to withdraw and remand the case with
appropriate instructions (e.g., directing counsel
either to comply with Anders or file an advocate’s
brief on Appellant’s behalf).
Id. (citations omitted).
Moreover, there are requirements as to the precise contents of an
Anders brief:
[T]he Anders brief that accompanies court-appointed
counsel’s petition to withdraw … must: (1) provide a
summary of the procedural history and facts, with
citations to the record; (2) refer to anything in the
record that counsel believes arguably supports the
appeal; (3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the
appeal is frivolous; and (4) state counsel’s reasons
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for concluding that the appeal is frivolous. Counsel
should articulate the relevant facts of record,
controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that
have led to the conclusion that the appeal is
frivolous.
Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361. When faced with a petition to withdraw and an
Anders brief, we may not review the merits of the underlying issues without
first deciding whether counsel has properly requested permission to
withdraw. Commonwealth v. Wimbush, 951 A.2d 379, 382 (Pa. Super.
2008) (citation omitted). If counsel has met these obligations, “it then
becomes the responsibility of the reviewing court to make a full examination
of the proceedings and make an independent judgment to decide whether
the appeal is in fact wholly frivolous.” Santiago, 978 A.2d at 354 n.5.
We conclude that Counsel has complied with the requirements outlined
above. Counsel has filed a petition with this Court stating that after
reviewing the record, he finds this appeal to be wholly frivolous. Petition to
Withdraw as Counsel, 8/29/14, ¶ 8. Counsel has filed a brief setting forth
one issue that he believes might arguably support an appeal. See Anders
Brief at 4, 16-27. In conformance with Santiago, Counsel’s brief includes
summaries of the facts and procedural history of the case and discusses the
issue he believes might support Watson’s appeal. See id. at 5-27.
Counsel’s brief sets forth his conclusion that the appeal is frivolous and
includes citation to relevant authority. See id. at 16-27. Finally, Counsel
has attached to his petition the letter that he sent to Watson, which enclosed
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Counsel’s petition and Anders brief and advised Watson of his right to
proceed pro se or with private counsel and to raise any additional issues that
he deems worthy of this Court’s consideration.2 Petition to Withdraw as
Counsel, 8/29/14, at 5-6. Accordingly, we turn our attention to the issue
raised by Counsel in his Anders brief.
Counsel raises one issue as arguably supporting an appeal: “[d]id the
trial court commit reversible error when it denied [Watson]’s motion to
suppress physical and testimonial evidence obtained by police at the time of
the traffic stop?” Anders Brief at 4. Counsel presents three arguments in
support of this issue.
When reviewing a challenge to a trial court’s denial of a suppression
motion, our standard of review is as follows:
Our standard of review in addressing a challenge to
the denial of a suppression motion is limited to
determining whether the suppression court’s factual
findings are supported by the record and whether
the legal conclusions drawn from those facts are
correct. Because the Commonwealth prevailed
before the suppression court, we may consider only
the evidence of the Commonwealth and so much of
the evidence for the defense as remains
uncontradicted when read in the context of the
record as a whole. Where the suppression court’s
factual findings are supported by the record, we are
bound by these findings and may reverse only if the
court’s legal conclusions are erroneous. Where, as
here, the appeal of the determination of the
suppression court turns on allegations of legal error,
2
Watson did not file a pro se response raising any additional issues for our
consideration.
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the suppression court’s legal conclusions are not
binding on an appellate court, whose duty it is to
determine if the suppression court properly applied
the law to the facts. Thus, the conclusions of law of
the courts below are subject to our plenary review.
Commonwealth v. McAdoo, 46 A.3d 781, 783-84 (Pa. Super. 2012)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Hoppert, 39 A.3d 358, 361-62 (Pa. Super.
2012)). “It is within the suppression court’s sole province as factfinder to
pass on the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their
testimony.” Commonwealth v. Clemens, 66 A.3d 373, 378 (Pa. Super.
2013).
The first argument that Counsel presents is that the trial court lacked
reasonable suspicion to stop the silver Nissan because the traffic signal was
not red when the vehicle traveled through the intersection and therefore, the
vehicle was not in violation of section 3112(a)(3)(i) of the Motor Vehicle
Code. Anders Brief at 20. Section 3112(a)(3)(i) of the motor vehicle code
provides:
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone
shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, or if none,
before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the
intersection, or if none, then before entering the
intersection and shall remain standing until an
indication to proceed is shown except as provided in
subparagraph (ii).
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3112(a)(3)(i).
Additionally, probable cause to stop a motor vehicle exists “where the
facts and circumstances within the officer’s knowledge are sufficient to
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warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief that an offense has been
or is being committed. We evaluate probable cause by considering all
relevant facts under a totality of circumstances analysis.” Commonwealth
v. Brown, 64 A.3d 1101, 1105 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied, 79 A.3d
1096 (Pa. 2013) (quotations and citation omitted).
We agree with Counsel that this issue is frivolous. Officer Swain’s
testimony established sufficient probable cause to stop the silver Nissan for
a violation of section 3112(a)(3)(i). Officer Swain testified that he observed
the silver Nissan travel through a solid red signal. N.T., 10/30/13, at 9.
Officer Swain explained that the light facing him was green, and the light
perpendicular to that, which the silver Nissan travelled through, was red.
Id. at 10. The trial court found Officer Swain’s testimony credible. Trial
Court Opinion, 7/18/14, at 5. Therefore, the record supports the trial court’s
determination that Officer Swain’s stop of the silver Nissan was lawful.
The second argument that Counsel presents is that Officer Swain
violated the Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act (“MPJA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§
8951–8954, when he travelled outside of his primary jurisdiction of Lower
Merion Township to stop the silver Nissan in Haverford Township. Anders
Brief at 21-23. Section 8953 of the MPJA governs statewide municipal police
jurisdiction and provides in pertinent part:
(a) General rule.--Any duly employed municipal
police officer who is within this Commonwealth, but
beyond the territorial limits of his primary
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jurisdiction, shall have the power and authority to
enforce the laws of this Commonwealth or otherwise
perform the functions of that office as if enforcing
those laws or performing those functions within the
territorial limits of his primary jurisdiction in the
following cases:
* * *
(2) Where the officer is in hot pursuit of any
person for any offense which was committed,
or which he has probable cause to believe was
committed, within his primary jurisdiction and
for which offense the officer continues in fresh
pursuit of the person after the commission of
the offense.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8953(a)(2). Importantly, our Supreme Court has held that
“‘hot pursuit’ and ‘fresh pursuit’ require some sort of investigation and
tracking of the perpetrator and that [the] pursuit be immediate, continuous
and uninterrupted.” Commonwealth v. Peters, 965 A.2d 222, 225 (Pa.
2009).
We likewise agree with Counsel that this claim is frivolous. Here,
Officer Swain testified that he observed the silver Nissan run a red light in
his primary jurisdiction of Lower Merion Township. N.T., 10/30/13, at 9-10.
Officer Swain further testified that he immediately began to follow the silver
Nissan, that he continuously tracked the vehicle until he was able to catch
up with it, at which point he activated his emergency lights and initiated a
traffic stop. See id. at 10. Officer Swain stated that he ultimately stopped
the silver Nissan outside of his primary jurisdiction in Haverford Township.
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Id. Accordingly, the record supports the trial court’s determination that
Officer Swain’s stop of the silver Nissan was lawful as his actions were in
conformance with section 8953(a)(2). See Commonwealth v. McGrady,
685 A.2d 1008, 1011 (Pa. Super. 1996) (holding that section 8953(a)(2)
permitted police officer to continue pursuit of appellant outside the officer’s
primary jurisdiction in order to issue a citation for a motor vehicle code
violation committed in the officer’s primary jurisdiction).
The third argument that Counsel presents is that the search and
seizure of Watson by the police following the vehicle stop was illegal because
the police had no reason to suspect that Watson was involved in any criminal
activity. Anders Brief at 23-27. The law regarding investigatory stops and
frisks is well-settled:
In order to conduct an investigatory stop, the police
must have reasonable suspicion that criminal activity
is afoot. [Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30 (1968)]. In
order to determine whether the police had
reasonable suspicion, the totality of the
circumstances – the whole picture – must be
considered. United States v. Cortez, 449 U.S.
411, 417[] (1981). “Based upon that whole picture
the detaining officers must have a particularized and
objective basis for suspecting the particular person
stopped of criminal activity.” Id. at 417–418[]. To
conduct a pat down for weapons, a limited search or
“frisk” of the suspect, the officer must reasonably
believe that his safety or the safety of others is
threatened. Commonwealth v. Arch, [] 654 A.2d
1141, 1144 ([Pa. Super.] 1995). If either the
seizure (the initial stop) or the search (the frisk) is
found to be unreasonable, the remedy is to exclude
all evidence derived from the illegal government
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activity. Commonwealth v. Gibson, [] 638 A.2d
203, 206–207 ([Pa.] 1994).
The Terry totality of the circumstances test applies
to traffic stops or roadside encounters in the same
way that it applies to typical police encounters. See
Commonwealth v. Mesa, [] 683 A.2d 643, 646
([Pa. Super.] 1996). Moreover, the principles of
Terry apply to all occupants of the stopped vehicle,
not just the driver. See id. (applying the principles
of Terry to determine whether the police were
permitted to conduct a pat down search of the
passenger in a vehicle that was stopped pursuant to
a motor vehicle violation). Indeed, as we have
observed, “roadside encounters, between police and
suspects are especially hazardous, and that danger
may arise from the possible presence of weapons in
the area surrounding a suspect.” In re O.J., 958
A.2d 561, 564 (Pa. Super. 2008) (en banc)[.]
Commonwealth v. Simmons, 17 A.3d 399, 403 (Pa. Super. 2011).
We agree with Counsel that this claim is frivolous. The evidence
supports the trial court’s finding that Officer Sullivan had reasonable
suspicion to believe that Watson may have been in possession of a weapon.
Officer Sullivan testified that the stop occurred late at night, that he
observed ammunition in plain view in the back seat of the silver Nissan, and
that Watson appeared anxious and nervously patted his pockets when asked
to produce identification. N.T., 10/30/13, at 48-50, 55. Watson, just prior
to the pat down, after initially stating he had no weapons, exclaimed to
Officer Sullivan that he had a gun on his right hip. Id. at 51-52. While
Watson asserts that the trial court should have suppressed this statement, it
was nonetheless admissible as evidence against him. Our Court has held
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that “volunteered or spontaneous utterances by an individual are admissible
without the administration of Miranda warnings.” Commonwealth v.
Garvin, 50 A.3d 694, 698 (Pa. Super. 2012). Therefore, the record
supports the trial court’s conclusion that Officer Sullivan articulated specific
facts, which, under the totality of the circumstances, led him to reasonably
infer that Watson was armed, and therefore threatening his safety and the
safety of others.
Finally, after conducting our own independent review of the record, we
conclude that there are no issues of merit and agree with Counsel’s
assessment that Watson’s direct appeal is frivolous. Accordingly, we find this
appeal wholly frivolous and permit Counsel to withdraw.
Judgment of sentence affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted.
Bender, P.J.E. joins the Memorandum.
Strassburger, J. files a Concurring Memorandum.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/23/2015
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