Com. v. Powell, J. ( 2018 )

J-S09032-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
JEFFREY SCOTT POWELL :
:
Appellant : No. 1006 MDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence June 13, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-21-CR-0000050-2017
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and PLATT*, J.
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED MARCH 06, 2018
Appellant, Jeffrey Scott Powell, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered in the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, following his jury
trial conviction of simple assault and court conviction of two counts of
harassment.1 We affirm.
In its opinion, the trial court correctly set forth the facts and
procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate
them.
Appellant raises the following issue for our review:
WAS THERE INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVE BEYOND
A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT [APPELLANT]’S USE OF
____________________________________________
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2701, 2709, respectively.
____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S09032-18
FORCE WAS NOT JUSTIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTION 505
OF THE CRIMES CODE?
(Appellant’s Brief at 6).
After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Jessica E.
Brewbaker, we conclude Appellant’s issue merits no relief. The trial court
opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the question
presented. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed August 3, 2017, at 1-7) (finding:
jury found testimony of Victim and Ms. Easy more credible than Appellant’s
testimony; jury dismissed Appellant’s claim of self-defense, likely in light of
testimony that Appellant was initial attacker; no evidence contradicted jury’s
determination). Accordingly, we affirm based on the trial court opinion.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 03/06/2018
-2-
Circulated 02/22/2018 09:48 AM
COMMONWEALTH : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
VS. : CP-21-CR-0050-2017
JEFFREY SCOTT POWELL
IN RE: OPINION PURSUANT TO PA. R.A.P. 1925
BREWBAKER, J., August , 2017
Appellant Jeffrey Scott Powell raises a single issue in his appeal, alleging that the
Commonwealth failed to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that his use of force was justified
pursuant to Section 505 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. For the reasons that follow, the Court
respectfully suggests that the jury's verdict should be upheld.
Procedural History
Appellant Jeffrey Scott Powell was tried on May 1-2, 2017 by a jury of his peers on a
charge of simple assault, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Following that trial, the jury
found him guilty of simple assault, and the Court found him guilty of two summary counts of
harassment. Appellant was sentenced on June 13, 2017 to time -served (one day) to fifteen
months on the simple assault, as well as fines and costs for all charges. He timely filed an appeal
on June 22, 2017, and pursuant to this Court's Order of that same date, timely filed his Concise
Statement on July 13, 2017.
cps
Statement of Facts
In November of 2016, Appellant was living with his wife, Ashanee Easy and her four
children.' Ms. Easy and Appellant had been together for about four years, but married for almost
three. Ms. Easy's son Murice, one of the children living in the home, was seventeen years old,
around 5'8" tall, and weighed about 140 pounds.2 Ms. Easy's and Murice's trial testimony were
very similar, and are summarized below.
On November 2, 2016, Murice was upstairs helping with his younger siblings.3 He and
his mother, Ms. Easy, were keeping watch for the Defendant's impending arrival from work as
Appellant did not approve of Murice spending time with the younger children.4 Since Murice
had revealed his homosexuality approximately a year prior, Appellant had not wanted him
around his younger siblings.5 Furthermore, Appellant constantly insulted Murice for being gay,
calling him "faggot," "gay ass," "queer," and "homo."6
When Appellant arrived home from work on November 2, 2016, his three-month old
baby was crying, and Ms. Easy was busy cooking.? When Ms. Easy asked Appellant to pick the
baby up, he told her to give him a minute because "I Ricking just got through the door."5 Ms.
Easy then asked Murice to come help with the baby, but when Appellant saw Murice holding the
baby, he told Murice to give the baby to him.9 Ms. Easy had previously heard Appellant tell
Murice not to touch the younger kids, because "he doesn't want a faggot touching his kids, or
Notes of Testimony (hereinafter "N.T."), pages 22-23.
2 N.T. pg. 24.
3 N.T. pg. 25.
4 N.T. pg. 26.
5 N.T. pg. 55.
6 N.T. pg. 56.
7 N.T. pg. 27.
8 Id.
9 N.T. pgs. 27-28, 57.
2
they are going to be gay." 10 Ms. Easy, who could see and hear Appellant from her vantage point,
heard Appellant telling Murice to hand over the baby, and ran over to them." Murice carefully
went to hand the baby to Appellant, and Appellant yelled "you almost dropped the fucking
baby."12 Murice denied that and walked away." Ms. Easy intervened in support of Murice,
telling Appellant that Murice did not almost drop the baby, and that he needed to leave him
alone."
Appellant yelled at Murice again about almost dropping the baby, and Murice told him he
was sick and tired of the defendant talking like that to him all of the time." Appellant
proceeded to put his face very close to Murice's face and threated that he would punch him in the
face if he dropped the baby again.I6 Murice calmly told Appellant that he was tired of being
talked to in that manner."
Appellant slid the baby into her swing, and walked back to Murice, grabbed him by his
shirt, shook him violently and then punched him in his right cheek with his closed fist.I8 Murice
told Appellant to let him go, and Ms. Easy jumped in and tried to pull Appellant off of Murice."
The three of them continued scuffling around until Appellant grabbed Ms. Easy and began to
choke her.2° Not being strong enough to get Appellant off of his mother, Murice grabbed his
tablet and began recording a video of the incident.2I
I° Id.
II N.T. pg. 28.
12 N.T. pgs. 30, 58.
13 N.T. pg. 58.
14 N.T. pg. 30.
15 N.T. pgs. 30-31, 59.
16 N.T. pg. 59.
17 N.T. pg. 60.
18 N.T. pgs. 32-33, 60-62.
19 N.T. pgs. 33, 63.
20 N.T. pgs. 35-36, 65.
21N.T. pgs.36, 65.
3
his hand and attacked
When Appellant saw Murice with the tablet, he slapped it out of
to get him off of Murice,
him again.22 Ms. Easy again started hitting Appellant in an attempt
Ms. Easy's fifteen -year -old son
even punching Appellant in the nose and causing it to bleed.23
Appellant, who would not let go of
then jumped in so that he and Murice were also punching
"I am going to call the
Murice's shirt until it finally ripped.24 Appellant then told the family,
definitely are going to jail.
fucking cops on you guys, you know. You guys are black. You
you guys are going to jail. You
You guys are black. I am white. You know, if I call the cops,
are going to lose your kids...."25 Appellant did call
the police, after which he changed his mind
and called back to cancel, but two officers from Lower
Allen Township Police Department
arrived soon thereafter.26
Appellant had hit Murice
When the police arrived, Ms. Easy immediately told them that
28
want him holding the baby.27 Officer
because Murice was homosexual and Appellant did not
him that Murice was not his biological
Jeremy Read spoke separately to Appellant, who told
his biological child 29 Appellant said he
child, and that Murice had dropped the baby who was
Murice "came at him," at which time
caught the baby, after Murice dropped her, but then
22 N.T. pgs. 37, 67.
23 N.T. pgs. 37-38, 67.
24 Id.
25N.T. pgs. 38-39, 68.
26 N.T. pg. 39.
assaulted Murice because he was
27 Although Ms. Easy also testified that Appellant had
preference at the cause of Appellant's
homosexual, she did not write anything about his sexual
at the preliminary hearing on this case, Ms.
ire in her written statement to the police. Similarly,
accusing him of dropping the baby, and not
Easy testified that Appellant attacked Murice after
and preliminary hearing testimony similarly
because he was gay. Murice's written statement
him due to his homosexuality, rather indicating
omitted any mention that Appellant had attacked
Murice of dropping the baby. N.T. pgs. 41-44,
that the altercation began after Appellant accused
46, 76-77.
28 N.T. pg. 81.
29 N.T. pg. 82.
4
Appellant also told Officer Read that
Appellant punched Murice in the face in self-defense.3°
family "rushed" him and began hitting
after he punched Murice in self-defense, the rest of the
him.31
Katie Justh spoke to the other
During Officer Read's questioning of Appellant, Officer
had recorded and his torn shirt.32
members of the family, who showed her the video Murice
a sore hand; additionally, Appellant
Murice complained of a sore jaw and Ms. Easy noted
he was exaggerating his injury,
defendant had a bloody nose, though Officer Read believed
officers then arrested Appellant.34
continuously dabbing at it unnecessarily.33 The police
testified in his own defense.35
Appellant, who is 5'11" and approximately 200 pounds,
on November 2, 2016, he arrived home
After finishing work at the Post Office around 6:00 p.m.
he saw Murice holding the baby, and went to
soon thereafter.36 When he came out of the shower
slipped, and he grabbed her, and then verbally
get the baby from Murice.37 He said that the baby
yelling at Murice, Ms. Easy and Murice
reprimanded Murice for dropping the baby.38 As he was
struck" Murice in the face.39 Then Ms. Easy,
both "charged" him, at which time he "gingerly
Appellant, with Ms. Easy hitting him "at
Murice, and Ms. Easy's other son all "gang-punched"
while the boys were kicking and punching
least twenty times in the nose in the exact same spot,"
choked Ms. Easy or put his arm around her neck,
him.4° Appellant further testified that he never
they were black and he was white, stating
and that he never said they would get arrested because
" Id.
31 Id.
32 N.T. pgs. 83, 88.
33 N.T. pgs. 83-85.
34 N.T. pg. 83.
35
N.T. pg. 108.
36 N.T. pg. 94.
37 N.T. pgs. 95-96.
38 N.T. pg. 96.
39 N.T. pg. 97, 107.
4° N.T. pgs. 97-98.
5
"I love my black wife. I love my two black step-children."41 Appellant produced pictures of
some bruising on his bicep, leg and foot.42 Appellant also testified that he does not dislike
Murice, had no problem with him being gay, and bought him a Lexus for his seventeenth
birthday.43 In rebuttal, Ms. Easy testified that due to a diagnosis of juvenile diabetes Murice did
not have a driver's license, and that Appellant had actually bought the Lexus for himself.44
Analysis
According to the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, "[t]he use of force upon or toward another
person is justifiable when the actor believes that such force is immediately necessary for the
purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the
present occasion." 18 Pa.C.S. § 505(a). Because the defendant properly raised his claim of self-
defense, the burden was on the Commonwealth to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant's actions were not justifiable self-defense. Commonwealth v. Smith, 97 A.3d 782, 787
(Pa. Super. 2014) (citing Commonwealth v. McClendon, 874 A.2d 1223, 1229-30 (Pa. Super.
2005)). Furthermore, the Commonwealth satisfies this burden by establishing at least one of the
following factors: 1) the accused did not reasonably believe that he was in danger of death or
serious bodily injury; 2) the accused provoked or continued the use of force; or 3) the accused
had a duty to retreat and the retreat was possible with complete safety. Smith, at 787 (citing
Commonwealth v. Hammond, 953 A.2d 544, 559 (Pa. Super. 2008), appeal denied, 964 A.2d 894
(Pa. 2009)).
41 N.T. pgs. 99, 101.
42
pgs. 101-103.
03
N.T. pgs. 104, 106.
44 N.T. pgs. 114-115.
6
In Commonwealth v. Torres, the Supreme Court held that the Commonwealth had not
met its burden of disproving the defendant's self-defense claim where the only evidence
regarding the assault was the defendant's testimony. 766 A.2d 342, 345 (Pa. 2001). Although
the police officer testified regarding the victim's statements, the victim had not addressed who
was the initial aggressor, and thus the defendant's version remained uncontested. Id.
Contrary to Torres, the instant case involved the testimony of several eyewitnesses, and
thus became an issue of credibility for the jury. It is well established that the jury "is free to
believe all, none or some of the evidence and to determine the credibility of the
witnesses." Commonwealth v. Windslowe, 158 A.3d 698, 712 (Pa. Super. 2017) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Talbert, 129 A,3d 536, 545 (Pa. Super. 2015)). Furthermore, "[a]lthough the
Commonwealth is required to disprove a claim of self-defense ... a jury is not required to believe
the testimony of the defendant who raises the claim." Commonwealth v. Houser, 18 A.3d 1128,
1135 (Pa. 2011) (quoting Commonwealth v. Carbone, 574 A.2d 584, 589 (Pa. 1990)).
The jury clearly found the testimony of Murice and his mother to be more credible than
that of the defendant, as they dismissed his claim of self-defense, likely due to the testimony that
he was the initial attacker. There is absolutely no evidence that this was an improper
determination or outside the province of the jury, and thus the jury's decision should be
upheld. This Court respectfully requests that Appellant's appeal be denied.
August 3 , 2017
Charles Volkert, Jr., Esquire Joshua Yohe, Esquire
Chief Deputy District Attorney Assistant Public Defender
:rlm
7 AUG 0 3 2017