Com. v. Quodos, D. ( 2016 )

J-S26022-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
DAOOD QUODOS
Appellant No. 531 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered September 6, 2013
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No: CP-51-CR-0016059-2008
BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE, and STRASSBURGER,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED JULY 21, 2016
Appellant Daood Quodos appeals from the September 6, 2013
judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia
County (“trial court”), following a jury trial that resulted in his being
convicted of aggravated assault, possessing a firearm without a license,
carrying a firearm on a public street, and possessing an instrument of
crime.1 Upon review, we affirm.
The facts and procedural history of this case are as follows.2 On the
evening of May 26, 2008, Tariq Hannibal (the “Victim”), Kalim Williams
____________________________________________
*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702(a), 6106(a)(1), 6108, and 907(a), respectively.
2
Unless another source is cited, the facts are taken from pages 1 and 3 of
the trial court’s June 30, 2015 Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.
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(“Williams”) and Tonnell Fuller went to the Lucky Strikes bowling alley at
40th and Spruce Street in Philadelphia. N.T. Trial, 4/1/13, at 61-62, 65-66.
These three individuals were associated with a gang from 60th Street in
West Philadelphia that was engaged in active hostilities against a rival gang
from 56th Street, to which Appellant belonged. The hostilities between the
gangs had resulted in multiple shootings. Id. at 86-87, 109-14; see N.T.
Trial, 4/2/13, at 61-62, 143-44. At the bowling alley, a female approached
the three men to warn them that some guys from the 56th Street gang were
present. To avoid any conflict, the three friends left the bowling alley in the
Victim’s car. They noticed that a black car was following them down Walnut
Street. The Victim attempted to lose the black car by dodging in and out of
the two lanes on Walnut Street. However, at 56th Street and Walnut Street,
the Victim was forced to stop at a red light. Appellant stepped out of the
black car into the middle of traffic and fired his “black chrome
semi[-]automatic handgun” into the Victim’s car and fled. Before running
away from the scene, Williams attempted to assist the Victim, who had been
shot and was motionless. The Victim—who survived—was shot in his head
and arm and still experiences trouble with his short-term memory, vision,
and arm mobility. Williams later informed the police that he observed that
Appellant was only three feet away from the driver’s side of the car when
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Appellant fired his gun into the car.3 During their investigation, detectives
recovered sixteen brass casings from the scene of the shooting.
Appellant eventually was charged with, inter alia, aggravated assault,
and various firearms offenses. The case proceeded to a jury trial, 4 at which
the trial court, over Appellant’s objection, permitted the Commonwealth to
introduce evidence of gang violence between the 60th and 56th Street gangs
and Appellant’s prior firearms conviction. The trial court also disallowed
Appellant from cross-examining Williams about Williams’ firearms offenses
under Pa.R.E. 404(b). Finally, the trial court, over Appellant’s objection, and
in accord with Pa.R.Crim.P. 646, allowed the jury to review redacted written
statements that Williams gave to the police. Following trial, the jury
convicted Appellant of aggravated assault, possessing a firearm without a
license, carrying a firearm on a public street, and possessing an instrument
of crime. The trial court sentenced Appellant to 9½ to 19 years’
imprisonment. Appellant did not file any post-sentence motion; and timely
appealed to this Court. Following Appellant’s filing of a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
statement of errors complained of on appeal, the trial court issued a
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.
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3
Williams recognized Appellant as a former schoolmate and a 56th Street
gang member. N.T. Trial, 4/1/13 at 182-83; N.T. Trial, 4/2/13, at 160.
4
This was Appellant’s third trial, as his first two trials resulted in mistrials in
2010 and 2011, respectively.
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On appeal, Appellant raises six issues for our review:
1. Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of other
crimes through hearsay statements provided by [Williams]
under the guise of establishing motive or providing the
complete picture when the evidence was more prejudicial
than probative of any material fact or issue in the case, was
admitted in violation of Appellant [sic] right to confront
witnesses under the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutional
right to confrontation, and where none of the criminal activity
referred to in the statements or referenced during testimony
related specifically to Appellant?[5]
2. Whether the trial court erred, in violation of the confrontation
clause and Appellant’s 6th Amendment and Art. I, sec. 9 of
the Pennsylvania Constitutions’ right to counsel by limiting
the Appellant’s ability to cross examine the eyewitness
regarding instances he possessed firearms, his firearms
convictions and arrests, and any sentences and/or probations
he has served or was serving for a firearm offense?
3. Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of
Appellant’s prior conviction for a weapons offense for an
arrest in 2006 in violation of Pa.R.E. §§ 401 and 403, where
the gun was confiscated and presumably destroyed after the
____________________________________________
5
To the extent Appellant alludes to hearsay statements provided by
Williams, he fails to identify what those statements are and whether he
properly preserved a hearsay challenge by making an objection on the
record. Accordingly, any hearsay concerns on appeal are waived. See
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a). Insofar as Appellant may characterize as hearsay
Williams’ account of gang activity, Appellant is mistaken. As detailed infra
in footnote 6, Williams testified about his first-hand, personal experience
with gang activities between the 56th and 60th Street gangs. Also, to the
extent Appellant’s first issue implicates Confrontation Clause concerns, we
must agree with the Commonwealth that those concerns are waived.
Appellant fails to discuss and develop in any meaningful way how Williams’
written statements to the police run afoul of the Confrontation Clause. See
Commonwealth v. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 754 (Pa. Super. 2014) (noting
that it is settled that where an appellate brief fails to provide any discussion
of a claim with citation to relevant authority or fails to develop the issue in
any other meaningful fashion capable of review, that claim is waived); see
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (providing that each point treated in an argument must be
“followed by such discussion and citation of authorities as are deemed
pertinent”).
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conviction, and where the alleged prior offense occurred more
than two years prior to the current offense?
4. Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict the Appellant
where the only evidence of the alleged offense came from a
tainted source that lack [sic] credibility where his first
statement to police occurred 5-6 months after the incident,
where he was involved in other shooting incidents, where he
had been convicted on multiple occasions of firearm offenses,
where the witness had consistently testified during and since
the preliminary hearing that the Appellant did not commit the
offense, and where the physical evidence at trial conflicted
with his testimony regarding how the offense occurred?
5. Whether the trial court erred in permitting the jury to review
the statement(s) of Kalim Williams during jury deliberations
where the statements contained highly prejudicial statements
unrelated to the offense for which the Appellant was on trial,
specifically where Appellant was not named as an offender or
potential offender in the unrelated events testified to during
the trial which resulted in an unfair trial?
6. Whether the verdict was against the weight of the evidence?
Appellant’s Brief at 3-4.
Preliminarily, we note that Appellant’s fourth and sixth issues are
waived. Even though Appellant’s fourth argument refers to sufficiency of
evidence, it does not appear to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence with
respect to any elements of the crimes for which he was convicted. Viewed in
context, Appellant’s fourth argument assails only the jury’s credibility
determination to the extent it found Williams’ testimony to be credible. See
Commonwealth v. Mobley, 14 A.3d 887, 889–90 (Pa. Super. 2011) (“It is
not within the province of this Court to re-weigh the evidence and substitute
our judgment for that of the fact-finder.”). Assuming Appellant properly
challenged sufficiency, he still would not obtain relief based on the reasons
outlined in the trial court’s Rule 1925(a) opinion, which we adopt by
reference. See Trial Court’s Rule 1925(a) Opinion, 6/30/15, at 10-13.
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Appellant’s sixth issue, relating to weight of the evidence is waived.
Appellant did not raise weight of the evidence before the trial court orally on
the record, by written motion before sentencing, in a post-sentence motion,
or in his Rule 1925(b) statement. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 607(A), Pa.R.A.P.
302(a) and 1925(b)(4)(vii).
Having disposed of Appellant’s fourth and sixth issues, we now turn to
Appellant’s remaining four issues on appeal, all of which implicate the trial
court’s evidentiary rulings.
It is settled:
[a]dmission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial
court and will be reversed only upon a showing that the trial
court clearly abused its discretion. An abuse of discretion is not
merely an error of judgment, but is rather the overriding or
misapplication of the law, or the exercise of judgment that is
manifestly unreasonable, or the result of bias, prejudice, ill-will
or partiality, as shown by the evidence of record.
Commonwealth v. Tyson, 119 A.3d 353, 357-58 (Pa. Super. 2015)
(internal citations omitted). Moreover, an appellant bears a “heavy burden”
to show that the trial court has abused its discretion. Commonwealth v.
Christine, 125 A.3d 394, 398 (Pa. 2015).
With the foregoing in mind, and after careful review of the parties’
briefs, the record on appeal, and the relevant case law, we conclude that the
trial court’s 1925(a) opinion, authored by the Honorable Lisette Shirdan-
Harris, cogently disposes of Appellant’s first, second and fifth issues on
appeal. See Trial Court Rule 1925(a) Opinion, 6/30/15, at 5-7, 9-10, and
13-14.
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We now address Appellant’s remaining argument, his third. Appellant
argues that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the
Commonwealth to introduce into evidence Appellant’s prior conviction for a
firearms offense in 2006 that involved possession of a handgun of a different
caliber than the one used in the shooting sub judice. Relying now on
overruled cases,6 the trial court concluded that the Commonwealth could
introduce evidence of Appellant’s prior handgun possession to demonstrate
that Appellant “had access to [the] same type of guns, in the same exact
area where the [Victim] was shot.” Trial Court Rule 1925(a) Opinion,
6/30/15, at 8. As the Commonwealth points out, however, the .45 caliber
handgun Appellant possessed in 2006 was not the same gun that he used to
shoot the Victim in 2008. See Commonwealth’s Brief at 37. In light of
Christine, the Commonwealth now urges us to uphold the trial court’s
evidentiary ruling on alternative grounds. Specifically, the Commonwealth
argues that evidence of Appellant’s prior handgun possession was admissible
to demonstrate Appellant’s connection to 56th Street and Walnut Street and
to the 56th Street gang that controlled that location. Id. at 38. We
disagree.
____________________________________________
6
As the Commonwealth concedes, in Christine, which was decided during
the pendency of this appeal, our Supreme Court held that a trial court
abuses its discretion when it introduces a weapon into evidence that was not
the weapon used in the commission of the crime giving rise to the criminal
proceedings. See Christine, 125 A.3d at 400-01.
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Instantly, our review of the trial transcript reveals that Appellant’s
connection to 56th and Walnut Street and his gang affiliation were
uncontested.7 In addition to Williams’ testimony about Appellant’s gang
affiliation, the Commonwealth also presented the testimony of Detective
Daniel Brooks who testified that Appellant had a distinct tattoo on his arms—
the number five on one arm and number six on the other. N.T. Trial, 4/4/13
at 10. Because the trial court’s evidentiary ruling concerning Appellant’s
prior handgun possession was anchored in cases that have been overruled
by Christine and Appellant’s connection to the 56th and Walnut Street and
the 56th Street gang were not in dispute, we are constrained to conclude
that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting Appellant’s prior
firearms offense.
Our inquiry, however, does not terminate here. In determining
whether the trial court’s error requires the grant of a new trial, we must
consider whether the error was harmless.8
In Commonwealth v. Cooley, 118 A.3d 370 (Pa. 2015), our
Supreme Court explained that “[a]n error is harmless if it could not have
contributed to the verdict. In other words, an error cannot be harmless if
____________________________________________
7
Appellant did not call any witnesses or offer any evidence in his defense.
8
“The harmless error doctrine, as adopted in Pennsylvania, reflects the
reality that the accused is entitled to a fair trial, not a perfect trial.”
Commonwealth v. Reese, 31 A.3d 708, 719 (Pa. Super. 2011) (en banc)
(citation omitted).
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there is a reasonable possibility the error might have contributed to the
conviction.” Cooley, A.3d at 380 (citation omitted); see also
Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 839 A.2d 202, 214-15 (Pa. 2003) (“An error
will be deemed harmless where the appellate court concludes beyond a
reasonable doubt that the error could not have contributed to the verdict.”).
Harmless error exists where: (1) the error did not prejudice the
defendant or the prejudice was de minimis; (2) the erroneously
admitted evidence was merely cumulative of other untainted
evidence which was substantially similar to the erroneously
admitted evidence; or (3) the properly admitted and
uncontradicted evidence of guilt was so overwhelming and the
prejudicial effect of the error was so insignificant by comparison
that the error could not have contributed to the verdict.
Commonwealth v. Hutchinson, 811 A.2d 556, 561 (Pa. 2002) (citation
omitted).
Instantly, the trial court’s admission of Appellant’s prior firearm
conviction was a harmless error because the properly admitted evidence of
guilt was so overwhelming and the prejudicial effect of the error was so
insignificant by comparison that the error could not have contributed to the
verdict. As stated earlier, the evidence at trial established that Appellant
belonged to the 56th Street gang that was engaged in deadly hostilities with
the 60th Street gang, to which the Victim and Williams belonged. It was
against the backdrop of these active hostilities that Appellant shot the Victim
in 2008 at 56th and Walnut Street. Williams, who was a passenger in the
car, witnessed the shooting and identified Appellant, who was only three feet
away from the driver’s side of the car, as the shooter. Williams had known
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Appellant since childhood. The admission of Appellant’s prior firearm
conviction only established that Appellant illegally possessed a firearm two
years prior. There was no connection between this possessory conviction
and any other crime. As mentioned, the Commonwealth presented
overwhelming evidence to the jury identifying Appellant as the shooter in
this case and demonstrating that violent confrontations occurred between
the two rival gangs, and Appellant’s membership in one of them. Based on
this overwhelming evidence, the admission of Appellant’s prior conviction for
illegally possessing a firearm was not so prejudicial such that evidence of
this prior conviction could have contributed to the verdict.
In sum, we affirm Appellant’s judgment of sentence. We direct that a
copy of the trial court’s June 30, 2015 Rule 1925(a) opinion be attached to
any future filings in this case.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/21/2016
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Circulated 06/29/2016 03:59 PM
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL TRIAL DIVISION
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
v.
FjLE CP-51-CR-OO 16059-2008
JUN 3 0 2015
DAOOD QUDOOS SUPERIOR COURT NO.:
Cl'f'rn;11::d ,\ r;·,·,,::;a•.-.
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First duaic:al (Jistnct of PA 531 EDA 2014
OPINION
Defendant, Daood Qudoos, files this direct appeal from his April 8, 2013 guilty convictions
following a jury trial before this Court. In accordance with the requirements of Pa. R. A. P.
1925, the Court submits the following Opinion. For the reasons set forth herein, this Court's
decision should be affirmed.
L FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Defendant, Daood Qudoos ("Defendant"), was arrested on November 4, 2008 and charged
with various offenses surrounding the May 26, 2008 shooting of Tariq Hannibal. A jury trial
was held on March 25, 2013. At trial, the Commonwealth presented the testimony of
Complainant Tariq Hannibal, eye witness Kalim Williams, police officers Dennis Moore, Robert
Flade, and Hector Rodriguez, and police detectives John Langan, Donald Liebsch, Daniel Brooks
and Matthew Farley. The defense presented the testimony of Anthony Mack and Crystal
Bradley. Viewing their testimony in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the
CP-51-CR-0016059-2008 Comm v Qudoos. Daood
verdict winner, the following facts were established. Opmion
I
II I I II I7313749921
II 111111111111111
On May 26, 2008, the complainant was at a bowling alley (Lucky Strikes) at 40111 and Locust
Street in Philadelphia with his friends Kalim Williams and Tonnell Thorpe. N.T. 04/01/2013 at
146. These three individuals were associated with a gang from 60111 street in West Philadelphia.
Id. at 62. During this time, there was an active gang war between gangs from 56111 Street and
60111 Street. Id. at 113. On the night of the shooting, a female approached the complainant and his
friends and warned them that "some guys" from 56111 street were at the bowling alley. Id. at 146.
N.T. 03/28/2013 at 4. In an effort to avoid any conflict, the three friends left the bowling alley
by car, but they noticed a black car following them down Walnut Street. N.T. 04/01/2013 at 146.
The complainant was driving, and attempted to lose the black car by dodging in and out of the
two lanes on Walnut Street. Id. at 146. At 56111 and Walnut Street, the complainant was forced to
stop at a red light, and Defendant stepped out of the black car into the middle of traffic and fired
his "black chrome semiautomatic handgun" into the complainant's car and fled. Id. at 148. Mr.
Williams noticed that the complainant was shot and not moving and attempted to offer assistance
before ultimately running from the scene. Id. at 151-153. The complainant - who survived-
was shot in his head and arm and still experiences trouble with his short-term memory, vision,
and arm mobility. N.T. 03/28/2013 at 128-131. Mr. Wil1iamslater told officers that he observed
that Defendant was only three feet away from the driver's side of the car when he fired his gun
into the car. N.T. 04/01/2013 at 156-157. During their investigation, detectives recovered
sixteen brass casings from the scene of the shooting. N.T. 03/28/2013 at 90.
II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On April 8, 2013, following an eight day jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of
Aggravated Assault (18 Pa.C.S. § 2702), Possession of a Firearm without a License (18 Pa.C.S. §
6106), Carrying a Firearm on Public Streets in Philadelphia ( 18 Pa.C.S. § 6108), and Possession
2
of an Instrument of a Crime ("PIC") (18 Pa.C.S. § 907(a)). On June 3, 2013, this Court imposed
an aggregate sentence of nine and a half (9 \/2) to nineteen (19) years. Defendant received a
sentence of seven (7) to fourteen (14) years for Aggravated Assault; a consecutive term of two
and a half (2Yi) to five (5) years for Possession of a Firearm without a License; a concurrent term
of one (1) to two (2) years for Carrying a Firearm on Public Streets in Philadelphia; and a
concurrent term of one (1) to two (2) years for PIC. On February 15, 2013 Defendant filed the
instant appeal on the following grounds, listed verbatim below:
1) Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of other crimes through hearsay
statements provided by Kalim Williams under the guise of establishing motive or
providing the complete picture when the evidence was more prejudicial than
probative of any material fact or issue in the case, and where none of the criminal
activity referred to in the statements of referenced during testimony related
specifically to the Defendant.
2) Whether the trial court erred, violating the defendant's U.S. and Pennsylvania
constitutional rights to confrontation when it admitted evidence of other crimes which
implicated the defendant through statements provided by Kalim Williams under the
guise of establishing motive or providing the complete picture whether the evidence
was more prejudicial than probative of any material fact or issue in the case.
3) Whether the trial court erred, in violation of the confrontation clause, by limiting the
defendant's ability to cross examine the Commonwealth witness regarding instances
he possessed firearms, and his firearms convictions, and any sentences and
or/probations he has served or was serving for a firearm offense
4) Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of defendant's prior conviction for
a weapons offense for an arrest in 2006 where the gun was confiscated and
presumably destroyed after the conviction, and where the alleged prior offense
occurred more than two years prior to the current offense
5) Whether the trial coun erred in violation of the 6th Amendment by failing to permit
cross examination of the Commonwealth's eyewitness regarding his convictions and
possessions of firearms close in time to the alleged shooting in the current instance
and particularly where the facts of the case indicate that the witness may have
possessed a weapon during the incident.
6) Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant where the only
evidence of the alleged offense came from a tainted source that lack credibility where
his first statement to police occurred 5-6 months after the incident, where has was
involved in other shooting incidents, where he had been convicted on multiple
occasions of firearm offenses, where the witness had consistently testified during and
since the preliminary hearing that the defendant did not commit the offense, and
where the physical evidence at the trial conflicted with his testimony regarding how
the offense occurred?
3
7) Whether the trial court erred in permitting the jury to review the statements of Kalim
Williams during jury deliberations where the statements contained highly prejudicial
statements unrelated to the offense for which the defendant is on trial, specifically
where the defendant was not named as an offender or potential offender in the
unrelated events testified during the trial.
See Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal ("Statement of Errors").
III. DISCUSSION
A. Dismissal Based on Defendant'sInadequateStatementof Errors
Defendant's Statement of Errors is wholly inadequate and will render meaningful appellate
review impossible and therefore should be dismissed pursuant to Pa. R. App. P. 1925 and
2116(a) for being neither brief, clear nor concise. A Statement of Errors must conform in
material respects with the requirements set forth in the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate
Procedure. See Pa. R. App. P. 1925; Pa. R. App. P. 2116. Pa. R. App. P. 1925(b)(4)(ii) and (iv)
require that the statement "concisely identify each ruling or error that the appellant intends to
challenge" without being "redundant or provid[ing] lengthy explanations as to any error". Pa. R.
App. P. 2116(a) plainly states that it "is to be considered in the highest degree mandatory" that
the en-ors alleged be stated in the "briefest and most general terms ... should not exceed 15 lines,
[and] must never exceed one page". When appellate filings contain substantial defects, it may
preclude appellate review, leading to dismissal. Karn v. Quick & Reilly, 912 A.2d 329 (Pa.
Super. Ct., 2006).
Defendant's Statement of Errors consists of seven lengthy explanations listed in confusing
and redundant paragraphs and exceeds forty lines of text as a three page, mostly single spaced
document. Accordingly, the statement fails to adhere to the applicable Pennsylvania Appellate
Rules of Procedure and, for that reason, Defendant's appeal should be dismissed. For the limited
4
purpose of writing this opinion, this Court summarizes the possible errors alleged by Defendant
as follows:
1. The admissibility of evidence of defendant's other crimes and convictions
(original errors l , 2 and 4);
2. Limitations on defendant's cross examination of Commonwealth witnesses
(original errors 3 and 5);
3. Insufficiency of the Evidence ( original error 6); and
4. impermissible jwy review of trial materials ( original error 7).
B. TrialCourtProperlyAdmitted Evidence of Defendant'sPriorBad Acts
Defendant's original errors l , 2 and 4 take issue with the admission of evidence relating to
Defendant's prior crimes and convictions. See Statement of Errors. This claim is without merit.
"The admission of evidence is a matter vested within the sound discretion of a trial court, and
such a decision shall be reversed only upon a showing that the trial court abused its discretion."
Commonwealth v. Reid, 811 A.2d 530, 550 (2002). "An abuse of discretion is not merely an
error in judgment, but if in reaching a conclusion the law is overridden or misapplied or the
judgment exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill
will, as shown by the evidence of record, discretion is abused." Commonwealth v. Causey, 833
A.2d 165, 178-179 (2003).
These prior crimes and convictions (bad acts) are within the admissibility standards
proscribed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence, and accordingly, this court did not err. See
Pa. R. E. 401. The general rule states that the admission of evidence of prior crimes and
convictions of the accused is prohibited. However, these prior bad acts may be introduced under
the following five exceptions:
5
to prove (1) motive; (2) intent; (3) absence of mistake or accident; (4) a common scheme,
plan or design; or (5) to establish the identity of the person charged with the commission
of the crime on trial. Commonwealth v. Ramos, 366 Pa. Super 624, 628 (1987); See Pa.
R. E. 401.
Evidence of prior bad acts may be admitted only upon a showing that the probative value
outweighs its potential for prejudice. Pa. R. E. 404(b)(3).
1. Motive
In the instant case, this court properly allowed the Commonwealth to introduce Kalim
Williams' May 16, 2008 statements to police merely to show Defendant's motive and provide
the complete story and background. N.T. 03/28/2013 at 6. This was permissible pursuant to
Pa.R.E. 401, and accordingly, this court did not err. In Commonwealth v. Gwaltney, 497 Pa. 505
(1982), appellant was convicted by a jury of third degree murder and criminal conspiracy.
Appellant took issue with evidence of gang activity-membership, rivalries and resultant injuries-
that was introduced by the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth intended to use this evidence to
prove motive, intent, plan, design, ill will or malice which are all relevant and permissible under
the criminal rules of evidence. Id. Further, the evidence was probative of appellant's possible
motive. Id. The Court held that the trial court had properly admitted this evidence. Id.
In Commonwealth v. Ramos, 366 Pa.Super. 624 (1987), the court allowed three
witnesses to testify regarding the Commonwealth assertion that appellant murdered a competing
rival drug dealer. Id. at 627. The victim's sister testified that her brother engaged in the
distribution of narcotics and that she had witnessed a physical altercation between appellant and
her brother. Id. A friend of the victim also described an incident in which the appellant and three
other males had shot at the victim. Id. Finally, a Philadelphia police officer that conducted
narcotics investigations in the area of the incident described appellant's movements during that
6
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shooting. Id. His testimony also characterized appellant's activities as a drug operation and stated
that the victim was a small-time drug dealer within the same area. Id. Appellant objected to the
abovementioned testimony on the grounds that its introduction was a violation of the general rule
against the introduction of prior criminal activities. Id. at 628. The Court ruled that the evidence
had been properly admitted because evidence of appellant's drug dealing activities directly
established his motive for the murder. Moreover, the prior incidents that had taken place between
the parties established both intent and motive. Id.
In the instant case, this court allowed the statements of eyewitness Kalim Williams to be
admitted into evidence since they demonstrated the defendant's motive in shooting the
complainant as part of a gang war between 561h and 60111 street gangs. However, while permitting
this evidence to be introduced, the Court also included a limiting instruction to the jury regarding
its weight. Id. at 6. The evidence was not used for the truth of the matter asserted, but instead
used to demonstrate why Defendant shot the complainant at the corner of 56111 and Walnut. The
facts in this case are analogous to those found in Gwaltney. The Commonwealth in both cases
introduced evidence of rival groups and that appellant/defendant and victim were from opposite
factions. Just as the Gwaltney court held that the evidence was probative of motive and therefore
admissible, so too was it appropriate for this court to admit prior bad acts evidence in this
manner. The evidence provided a concrete reason for why the shooting between defendant and
complainant took place. This is also consistent with the court in Ramos who found that the
previous activities of appellant were instrumental in establishing motive and intent. There was
no abuse of discretion by the trial court in permitting the admission of defendant's prior bad acts
pursuant to the applicable rules of evidence.
7
2. Defendant's Prior Firearms Conviction was Relevant
The court properly admitted evidence of Defendant's prior conviction for a firearms
offense because it was relevant to the immediate issues in this case. Relevant evidence means
"evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the
determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
Pa.R.E. 401. The probative value must also outweigh any potential for prejudice. Id. "Because
all relevant Commonwealth evidence is meant to prejudice a defendant, exclusion is limited to
evidence so prejudicial that it would inflame the jury to make a decision based upon something
other than the legal propositions relevant to the case." Commonwealth v. Serge, 837 A.2d 1255,
1260-61(Pa. Super. 2003). Evidence of Defendant's prior conviction for firearms offenses was
relevant as it made the existence of a fact at issue more as less probable.
In Broaster, the Court admitted a gun into evidence, with a limiting instruction, to show
that the defendant had access and knowledge of a particular type of firearm. Commonwealth v.
Broaster, 863 A.2d 588, 593 (Pa. Super 2004). In the instant case, Defendant's prior conviction
is relevant since it was only two years prior to the current shooting, and Defendant had been
arrested on the corner of 561h and Walnut, the same corner where the Complainant was shot. ·
N.T. 03/27/2013 at 12~ N.T. 03/28/2013 at 5. When Defendant was arrested previously on April
7, 2006, Police Officer Hector Rodriguez recovered a .45 caliber handgun with one round in the
chamber and five rounds in the magazine. N.T. 04/02/2013. At 179. This handgun is very
similar to the "black chrome semiautomatic handgun" that Kalim Williams described in his
statements to police after the shooting of the complainant. N.T. 04/01/2013 at 148. This recent
conviction was admitted to demonstrate that Defendant had access to same type of guns, in the
same exact area where the Complainant was shot. N.T. 03/28/2013 at 5. The court did not abuse
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its discretion is permitting the admission of this relevant evidence and the convictions should be
affirmed.
C. Defendant's Cross Examination of Commonwealth Witnesses Was Not Unfairly
Limited.
The defendant asse1is that the trial court erred in limiting his ability to cross-examine
Commonwealth witness Kalim Williams about his firearm offenses, convictions and/or
sentences. When addressing permissible cross-examination of a witness, "a witness may be
examined about prior criminal convictions due to the possibility that the witness may be guilty of
the crime in question and motivated to deflect blame from him." Commonwealth v. Bozyk, 987
A.2d 753, 757 (2009). Similarly, "a witness may be questioned about pending criminal charges
because the witness may be tempted to help convict the defendant in order to obtain leniency on
the charges that he currently faces." Id. Thus, "whenever a prosecution witness may be biased in
favor of the prosecution because of outstanding criminal charges or because of any non-final
criminal disposition against him within the same jurisdiction, that possible bias, in fairness, must
be made known to the jury." Commonwealth v. Evans, 511 Pa. 214, 224 (1986).
In the instant case, cross examination of the witness, Kalim Williams', prior criminal history
was improper because there was no evidence provided pointing to the possibility that he may
have been guilty of the crime in question and attempting to deflect blame as detailed in Bozyk.
There was no evidence indicating that Kalim Williams was involved in firing a weapon during
the incident in question. The evidence actually suggested that Defendant was in fact a target as
the vehicle that he was traveling in was shot at a total of 16 times. N.T. 4/2/2013 at 36. These
facts, coupled with the permissible grounds for cross-examining a witness about prior
convictions as stated in Bozyk show that the trial court did not en- in limiting defendant's cross-
9
examination of Mr. Williams. Any testimony elicited from Mr. Williams regarding his prior
convictions would have been irrelevant and overly prejudicial; and, was thus correctly excluded
by the trial court.
Additionally, the threat of witness testimony based on bias or self-interest in exchange for
favored treatment was not present in this case. Nonetheless, on direct examination Mr. Williams
was directly asked whether he had any bias towards the Commonwealth. Specifically, whether
he had testified in a certain way in exchange for a plea deal. N. T. 4/1/2013 at 60. Mr. Williams
unequivocally responded that no promises had been made to him by the Commonwealth. Id. Mr.
Williams' previous and/or pending sentences were made known to the jury although they had no
bearing on a material fact of this case. The trial court did not abuse its discretion or err in
limiting Defendant's ability to cross examine Mr. Williams about any prior or pending sentences.
D. Sufficiency of Evidence Claim
Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict on al I charges, but this
insufficiency challenge lacks merit. See Statement of Errors at 6. When reviewing a challenge
to the sufficiency of the evidence, the Court must determine whether the evidence at trial, viewed
in the light most favorable to the verdict winner. was sufficient to enable the fact-finder to find
every clement beyond a reasonable doubt. Commomvealth v. Di Stefano. 782 A.2d 574, 582 (Pa.
Super. 2001 ). In applying this test. the Court may not weigh the evidence and substitute its own
judgment in place of the judgment of the fact-finder. ld. The fact-finder, while passing
judgment upon the credibility of the vv'itnesses and weight of the evidence produced, is "free to
believe all, part, of none of the evidence." lc:L The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by
10
means ofwholly circumstantial evidence. hi "If the record contains support for the verdict, it
may not be disturbed." Commonwealth v. Adams, 882 A.2d 496, 499 (Pa. Super. 2005).
I. Aggravated Assault
The evidence at trial was sufficient to enable the jury to find Defendant guilty of
aggravated assault. A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he "attempts to cause or
intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon." 18 Pa.C.S. §
2702(a)( 4 ). "Serious bodily injury" is defined as "bodily injury which creates a substantial risk
of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of
the function of any bodily member or organ." 18 Pa.C.S. § 2301. Whether the evidence is
legally sufficient to establish intent to cause serious bodily injury is determined on a case-by-
case basis, and turns on the totality of the circumstances. Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A2d
1254, 1257 (Pa. 2006).
Evidence of statements made by eye witnesses to detectives were properly introduced to
the jury at trial. Witness statements indicated that Defendant shot into the complainant's car
when it was stopped at the intersection of56t11 and Walnut. N.T. 04/01/2013 at 151-160. Kalim
Williams even told detectives that Defendant was only three feet away from driver's side of the
car when he fired the shots that struck the complainant in the head and arm. Id. at 156-157. The
jury, as fact-finders, were able to judge the credibility of Mr. Williams and they were free to
believe "all, part, or none" of his testimony. After weighing his testimony against his prior
statements to the police, the jury rightfully determined that this evidence was sufficient to
establish that the defendant had intentionally or knowingly caused bodily injury to the
complainant when he shot him in the head and arm with a deadly weapon, and serious injury
11
resulted. Therefore. Defendant's attempt to challenge the sufficiency of the aggravated assault
conviction is without merit and this Court did not err.
2. PIC
The evidence at trial was also sufficient to enable the jury to find the defendant guilty of
PIC. A person is guilty of PIC if he "possesses a firearm or other weapon" with "intent to
employ it criminally." 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(b). The term firearm is defined as any weapon that is
"designed to or may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action of an explosive or
the frame or receiver of any such weapon." 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(i). As the evidence established
above, Defendant shot into the complainant's car with a "black chrome semiautomatic handgun",
striking the complainant in the head and aim. N.T. 04/01/2013 at 148. A "black chrome
semiautomatic handgun" would be classified as the type of firearm prohibited by the statute.
Defendant's actions demonstrated his intent to employ the firearm criminally - to commit an
aggravated assault. Therefore, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find the defendant
guilty of PIC and this Court did not err.
3. Possession of a Firearm without a License
The evidence at trial was also sufficient to sustain a conviction for possession of a
firearm without a license. A person is guilty of this offense ifhe carries a firearm without a valid
license. Pa.C.S. § 6106(a). At the appropriate time at trial, the jury was informed that the
defendant could not obtain a valid license due to a prior conviction. Based on this evidence
offered at trial surrounding the shooting, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find
Defendant guilty of possession of a firearm without a license, and this Court did not err.
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4. Carrying a Firearm on Public Streets in Philadelphia
The evidence at trial was also sufficient to for the jury to find Defendant guilty of
carrying a firearm on public streets in Philadelphia. Under§ 6108, no person shall carry a
firearm on the public streets of Philadelphia unless he is licensed to carry that firearm. 18
Pa. C.S. § 6108. Based on the facts and evidence offered at trial surrounding the shooting - the
defendant being on a public street; possession and firing a firearm - there was sufficient evidence
for the jury to find the defendant guilty of carrying a firearm on public streets in Philadelphia.
Accordingly, this court did not err.
E. All Exhibits Offered to the JuryDuring Deliberations Were Proper
Defendant next alleges that the trial court erred in permitting the jury to review the
statements of Mr. Williams during jury deliberations. Pursuant to Pa. R. Crim. P. 646(A) "upon
retiring, the jury may take with it such exhibits as the trial judge deems proper, except as
provided in paragraph (C)." Subsection (C) provides that "during deliberations, the jury shall not
be permitted to have: (I) a transcript of any trial testimony; (2) a copy of any written or
otherwise recorded confession by the defendant; (3) a copy of the information or indictment; and
(4) except as provided in paragraph (B), written jury instructions." Pa. R. Cr. P.646(C). ''A trial
court's decision as to which exhibits may be taken out with the jury is within the sound
discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion."
Commonwealth v. Hawkins, 549 Pa. 352, 393, 701 A.2d 492, 5 I 2 (1997).
The statements in question do not fall 'within the limitations set out in Pa. R. Crim.
P.646(C). Therefore, publication to the jury was purely within the discretion of the trial court.
Thus, as per the abovementioned standard. the decision cannot be overturned unless an abuse of
discretion is established. The courts in Pennsylvania have allowed a number of items to be
13
provided to the jury during deliberations. In Commonwealth v. Sparks, 351 Pa.Super. 320, 505
A.2d 1002, 1006 (1986). Witness statements are typically provided to juries during their
deliberations.
In cases where reversible error has been found, the prejudicial effect of the evidence has
been evident. In Commonwealth v. Bricker, 525 Pa. 362, 581 A.2d 147 (1990), in appellant was
convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death after the trial court provided the jury
with written plea agreements made by two key witnesses in the case. Bricker, 581 A.2d at 377.
In holding that the trial courts actions were improper, the Supreme Court stated that it was
"beyond question that permitting the prosecution to send these documents out with the jury
during deliberations impermissibly bolstered the credibility of [the witnesses]. In so bolstering
their credibility, the court violated the defendant's right to a fair trial." Id. Furthermore, the court
reasoned that by having the plea agreements before them, the jurors could draw an inference that
appellant was given a similar opportunity as the witnesses to cooperate but chose to remain
silent. Id. at 3 78.
In the instant case, the statements provided to the deliberating jury were admissible.
They provided a complete story and background to the events that led to the shooting. N.T.
3/25/2013 at 4. This evidence showed a sequence of events, was relevant, and its probative
value outweighed any undue prejudice. Id. It can, therefore, be concluded that this court did not
14
err in permitting the jury to review the statements of Mr. Williams during deliberations.
IV. CONCLUSION
For all of the foregoing reasons, Defendant's convictions should be affirmed.
BY THE COURT:
Lisette Shirdan-Harris, J.
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