Com. v. McIntyre, N. ( 2016 )

J-S11033-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
NATHANIEL J. McINTYRE, :
:
Appellant : No. 1322 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 11, 2014
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
Criminal Division, No(s): CP-51-CR-0013097-2012
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., OTT and MUSMANNO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED March 24, 2016
Nathaniel J. McIntyre (“McIntyre”) appeals from the judgment of
sentence imposed after he was convicted of criminal conspiracy (murder),
recklessly endangering another person, and possession of an instrument of
crime.1 We affirm.
In its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion, the trial court set forth the facts
underlying this appeal, which arises out of McIntyre’s participation in an
attempted robbery that resulted in the shooting of Tevin Adams (“Mr.
Adams”). See Trial Court Opinion, 3/3/15, at 1-4. We adopt the trial
court’s recitation herein by reference. See id.
After McIntyre was apprehended, the Commonwealth charged him
with the above-mentioned offenses, as well as attempted murder,
aggravated assault, simple assault, and violations of the Uniform Firearms
1
See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 903, 2705, 907.
J-S11033-16
Act (collectively referred to as “the remaining offenses”). The matter
proceeded to a non-jury trial, at the close of which the trial court found
McIntyre guilty of the above-mentioned offenses, and not guilty of the
remaining offenses. On February 11, 2014, the trial court imposed an
aggregate sentence of 8½ to 17 years in prison, followed by five years of
probation. McIntyre then filed a Motion for reconsideration of sentence,
which the trial court denied. McIntyre thereafter timely filed a Notice of
Appeal, and a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Concise Statement of Errors
Complained of on Appeal.
On appeal, McIntyre presents the following question for our review:
“Was the evidence insufficient to sustain the verdict of [guilt concerning]
conspiracy to commit attempted murder?”2 Brief for Appellant at 3
(capitalization omitted).
We apply the following standard of review when considering a
challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence:
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,
2
We observe that McIntyre was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder,
not conspiracy to commit attempted murder, as no such crime exists. See,
e.g., Commonwealth v. Kelly, 78 A.3d 1136, 1145 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(stating that “[t]he [trial] court plainly misspoke when it stated that
[a]ppellant could be guilty of conspiracy to commit attempted murder, since
the crime is actually conspiracy to commit murder.”); see also 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 906 (providing that a person may not be convicted of more than one of the
inchoate crimes).
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J-S11033-16
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 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. … 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. Melvin, 103 A.3d 1, 39-40 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation
omitted).
“To establish conspiracy to commit murder, the Commonwealth must
show that the defendant, with the specific intent to kill, agreed with one or
more persons to commit murder, or agreed to attempt to commit murder, or
solicited someone to commit such crime or agreed to aid in the commission,
attempt, or solicitation of such crime, and committed an overt act towards
the commission of the murder.” Commonwealth v. Stokes, 38 A.3d 846,
855 (Pa. Super. 2011) (emphasis added) (citing 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 903,
2502(a)). “Given the surreptitious nature of conspiracy, the existence of a
[conspiratorial] agreement is often proven circumstantially, such as by the
relations, conduct or circumstances of the parties or overt acts on the part of
co-conspirators.” Commonwealth v. Jacobs, 39 A.3d 977, 985 (Pa. 2012)
(citation and quotation marks omitted). “Even if [a] conspirator did not act
as a principal in committing the underlying crime, he is still criminally liable
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J-S11033-16
for the actions of his co-conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy.”
Commonwealth v. Knox, 50 A.3d 749, 755 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation
omitted).
McIntyre argues that the Commonwealth failed to prove that he had
the requisite intent for a conviction of conspiracy to commit murder, since
“the facts elicited at trial did not show a shared specific intent to kill between
[McIntyre] and his co-conspirators.” Brief for Appellant at 8; see also id.(asserting that “[i]t was [McIntyre’s] co-conspirator Samuel Wallace who
shot [Mr. Adams,] and it was [McIntyre’s] co-conspirator Corey Thompson
who had the shotgun.”). McIntyre additionally contends that evidence of a
specific intent to kill was lacking because Mr. Adams purportedly “was shot
in a non-vital part of his anatomy, from which injuries he was no longer
suffering[.]” Id. at 12.
“Th[e Pennsylvania Supreme] Court has held repeatedly that the use
of a deadly weapon on a vital part of a human body is sufficient to establish
the specific intent to kill. Additionally, the Commonwealth can prove the
specific intent to kill from circumstantial evidence.” Commonwealth v.
Simpson, 754 A.2d 1264, 1269 (Pa. 2000) (citations omitted); see also
Commonwealth v. Hall, 701 A.2d 190, 196 (Pa. 1997) (stating that
“[s]pecific intent to kill can be proven where the defendant knowingly
applies deadly force to the person of another.”). Our Supreme Court has
held that “[t]he firing of a bullet in the general area in which vital organs are
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J-S11033-16
located can in and of itself be sufficient to prove specific intent to kill beyond
a reasonable doubt.” Commonwealth v. Padgett, 348 A.2d 87, 88 (Pa.
1975).
In its Opinion, the trial court addressed McIntyre’s claim and
determined that the evidence was sufficient to support his conspiracy
conviction, and to establish specific intent to kill. See Trial Court Opinion,
3/3/15, at 5-7. We agree with the trial court’s analysis and conclusion,
which is supported by the record and the law, and affirm on this basis with
regard to McIntyre’s sole issue on appeal. See id.; see also Padgett, 348
A.2d at 88 (holding that “we are not persuaded that it must be shown that
the bullet fired from a revolver, a deadly weapon, initially entered a vital
organ before the inference of specific intent to kill can arise.”);
Commonwealth v. Wyche, 467 A.2d 636, 637 (Pa. Super. 1983) (citing
Padgett, and holding that “although the fatal [bullet] slug entered the
victim through the buttock, the jury could properly infer the specific intent to
kill from these circumstances.”); Commonwealth v. Cross, 331 A.2d 813,
814-15 (Pa. Super. 1974) (finding specific intent to kill was established
where the defendant discharged a firearm at the victim’s vehicle, though the
victim was not injured).
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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J-S11033-16
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 3/24/2016
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__J- .» I l u 5.s / I Co
Circulated 02/22/2016 03:15 PM
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL TRIAL DIVISION
COMMONWEALTH OF
PENNSYLVANIA
; Fl lEDP-51-CR-0013097-2012
'. MAR= 3 2015
v.
C,iminal Appeals Unit
NATHANIEL McINTYRE FirstJudicia\ District of PA 1322 EDA 2014
OPINION
Coleman, R. CP-51-CR-0013097-2012 Comm.
Oprrnon
v. Mcintyre, Natahniel J.
March 3, 2015
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY 1111111111111111111111111
7264679061
Following a waiver trial before the Honorable Robert P. Coleman on November 14, 2013,
Appellant/Defendant, Nathaniel Mcintyre, was found guilty of Criminal Conspiracy, Recklessly
Endangering Another Person and Possession of an Instrument of Crime. He was sentenced to a
total sentence eight and a half to seventeen years incarceration followed by five years of
reporting probation.
II. ISSUES PRESENTED BY APPELLANT
In his l 925(b) statement, Appellant alleges that;
• The evidence was insufficient to sustain the verdict of Conspiracy to Commit Attempted
Murder.
• The learned Trial Court abused its discretion in sentencing the Defendant.
III. FACTS
At a waiver trial before this court, the Commonwealth presented testimony from Cory
Thompson, Tevin Adams, Philadelphia Police Officer Joseph Weike, and Philadelphia Police
Detective Andrew Danks. The defense presented testimony from Ms. Brenda Clyburn.
On January 9, 2012, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Cory Thompson was waiting for a bus
at Loretta and Magee Streets in the City and County of Philadelphia. Appellant, Nathanial
Mcintyre, and another man, Samuel Wallace, pulled up to Mr. Thompson in a red Dodge
Caravan. (Notes of Testimony from 11/14/13 (hereinafter N.T.) at 8) Mr. Thompson had grown
1
up in the same neighborhood as the two men and was friends with them. The men offered to give
Mr. Thompson a ride to the Margaret and Orthodox El station, and he accepted. Appellant was
driving the van while Mr. Thompson rode in the passenger seat and Mr. Wallace in the back seat.
(N.T. at 9) While driving, the two other men told Mr. Thompson, "you know what we're getting
into tonight." and each man showed him a gun. (N.T. at 11) Mr. Wallace had a .38 caliber
handgun and Appellant had a shotgun. (N.T. at 13) Mr. Thompson also stated that he saw a
duffle bag in the car containing various items, including sneakers, cell phones, and a laptop.
(N.T. at 12) As the men were driving on Levick Street, Appellant stopped the van and Mr.
Wallace exited the vehicle and approached an unknown male on the sidewalk. Mr. Wallace
pulled a gun on the individual and took a cell phone and an unknown quantity of cash from the
man. (N.T. at 15-16) Mr. Wallace then reentered the vehicle and the group continued toward the
El station. (N.T. at 18)
As the men continued driving, Mr. Wallace said, "We got another one." (N.T. at 19)
Appellant stopped the van and Mr. Wallace exited the vehicle. As soon as Mr. Wallace exited,
the individual on the street, later identified as Tevin Adams, began to flee on foot. Mr. Wallace
fired his handgun five times in the direction of Mr. Adams. According to Mr. Thompson,
Appellant could not exit the driver side door and crawled over Mr. Thompson to exit through the
passenger side. Once outside the vehicle, Appellant fired the shotgun one time in the direction of
Mr. Adams. (N.T. at 20-21) Mr. Thompson testified that he then exited the vehicle and attempted
to flee the area by running down Orthodox Street. Mr. Thompson was arrested and did not see
the two other men again until afterwards. Mr. Thompson testified that he had open cases that he
had not been sentenced on and hoped that the judge would consider his cooperation in fashioning
2
a sentence, but that the District Attorney's Office had not promised him anything in exchange for
his testimony. (N.T. at 24)
Tevin Adams was walking home on Margaret Street from the Margaret and Orthodox El
station at the time of the incident. (N.T. at 60) As he was walking, a burgundy minivan pulled
over next to him, with the passenger side towards Mr. Adams. The passenger asked Mr. Adams
for "weed" and Mr. Adams pretended not to hear him. The passenger then asked again and Mr.
Adams kept walking. (N.T. at 62) A man got out of the front passenger seat and pointed a
shotgun at Mr. Adams' face and told him not to move. (N.T. at 63) Mr. Adams started to run
away and saw another man exit the back seat of the vehicle with a handgun. Mr. Adams heard
one shot from the shotgun and five shots from the handgun (N.T. at 65)
Philadelphia Police Officers Joseph Weike and Lee Newman were on duty on January 9,
2012. The Officers were a block away from the scene of the incident when they heard gunshots
and responded to the area of 1600 Margaret Street. (N.T. at 84-85) Officer Weike saw a
burgundy Dodge Caravan approaching their cruiser and blocked its route. Numerous males
exited the van and began running. Officer Newman exited the cruiser and gave flash information
of a man with a shotgun. Officer Weike exited the cruiser and gave chase to whom he thought
was the man that had been seen with the shotgun. (N.T. at 85) Officer Weike gave pursuit for
eight blocks and eventually caught and arrested the individual, later identified as Cory
Thompson. Officer Newman secured the shotgun that had been dropped near the vehicles.
Officer Newman also recovered a revolver from the center console of the van. (N.T. at 86) The
revolver contained six spent shell casings and the shotgun contained one spent shell casing. (N.T.
at 88) The Dodge Caravan came back as stolen and was impounded. (N.T. at 89) Inside the van,
3
police found a duffle bag containing sneakers and clothes and a backpack containing some
paperwork. (N.T. at 96)
Following the incident, Mr. Adams returned home and did not notice that he had been
shot until he attempted to use the bathroom at around 3:00 a.m., at which point he noticed a hole
i
in his buttocks and an exit wound in,his groin. (N.T. at 66-67) Mr. Adams awoke again at 7:00
a.m. and was in pain, casing his mother to alert the police and an ambulance. Mr. Adams was
I
transported to Hahnemann Hospital }vhere he was taken into surgery and where he remained for
I
two weeks while recuperating. (N.TJ at 68) While in the hospital, Mr. Adams was visited by
!
Detective Andrew Danks of the Philadelphia Police Department. (N.T. at 96) Mr. Adams was
!
I
shown several photo arrays and asked if he recognized any of his attackers. In a photo array
I
containing a picture of Cory Thomp~on, Mr. Adams did not identify anyone. In a second photo
I
i
array, Mr. Adams identified Appellant
I
as the front seat passenger who had fired the shotgun at
the scene. (N.T. at 98) In a third pho~o array, Mr. Adams identified Samuel Wallace as the back
i
seat passenger with the handgun. CNf T. at 99) At trial, Mr. Adams did not identify anyone as his
I
attacker and stated that he was not sure about his prior identification. (N.T. at 82)
I
Appellant's grandmother, Brenda Clyburn, testified that at the time of the incident,
I
i
Appellant owned a Lincoln Continef tal. (N.T. at 109)
IV. LEGAL ANALYSIS
II
• Sufficiency of Evidence I
In considering a challenge to! the sufficiency of the evidence, the Court must decide
whether the evidence adduced at trijl, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth,
together with all reasonable inferen~es therefrom, could enable the fact-finder to find every
I
I
I 4
element of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt. 1 In making this assessment, a
reviewing court may not weigh the evidence and substitute its own judgment for that of the fact-
finder, who is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence.2 "[A] mere conflict in the
testimony of the witnesses does not render the evidence insufficient. "3 The Commonwealth may
satisfy its burden of proof entirely by circumstantial evidence, and "if the record contains support
for the verdict, it may not be disturbed.t'" The facts and circumstances need not preclude every
possibility of innocence. The fact finder may resolve any doubts concerning the defendant's
guilt, 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.5
Appellant's 1925(b) statement misstates what he was found guilty of. Appellant was not
found guilty of "conspiracy to commit attempted murder", as no such crime exists. Instead, this
court found Appellant guilty of Criminal Conspiracy. To prove conspiracy, the Commonwealth
must show an (1) intent to commit or aid in an unlawful act, (2) agreement with a co-conspirator,
and (3) overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.6 Furthermore,.a conspiracy may be inferred
7
through the Commonwealth showing a relationship, conduct, or circumstances of the parties.
In this case, the conspiracy applied to murder, not attempted murder. This court was
convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant was involved in a crime spree that included
robbing random individuals on the street and ended in the shooting ofTevin Adams. Cory
Ar1:de0'lR, who kn ew Appe 11 ant pnor
·f...hot-1tSoilj · ident, testiif ie d that A ppe 11 ant was m
· to thiis mci · t h e ve hiic 1 e
I
Commonwealth v. Little, 879 A.2d 293, 297 (Pa. Super. 2005), appeal denied, 890 A.2d 1057 (Pa. 2005).
2
Commonwealth v. Adams, 882 A.2d 496, 498-99 (Pa. Super. 2005).
3
Commonwealth v. Mantini, 712 A.2d 761, 767-68 (Pa. Super. 1998) quoting Commonwealth v. Moore, 648 A.2d
331, 333 (Pa. Super. 1994), appeal denied, 655 A.2d 512 (Pa. 1995)).
"Commonwealth v. Adams, 882 A.2d at 499 (quoting Commonwealth v. Bums, 765 A.2d 1144, 1148 (Pa. Super.
2000), appeal denied, 782 A.2d 542 (Pa. 2001)).
5
Commonwealth v. Cassidy, 668 A.2d 1143, 1144 (Pa. Super. 1995.)
6Commonwealth
v. Spatz, 756 A.2d 1139 (Pa. 2000).
7Commonwealth
v. Gibson, 668 A.2d 552 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995).
5
and part of the crime spree that occurred. Mr. Adams later identified a photo of Appellant and
said he had been one of the shooters. This court was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt
that Appellant was himself the shooter, and therefore found him not guilty of attempted murder.
However, this court has no doubt that Appellant had the intent to commit an unlawful act and
agreed with other men, including Samuel Wallace and possibly Cory Thompson}o commit overt
acts in furtherance of their conspiracy. Appellant was involved in a conspiracy that culminated in
Mr. Adams being shot. Therefore, Appellant is guilty of criminal conspiracy. This court, as fact
finder, ruled on the credibility of all witnesses and was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that
Appellant was involved in such a conspiracy. There is nothing in the record to disturb that
finding and accordingly, Appellant's claims should be denied.
In his 1925(b) statement, Appellant further argues that because Mr. Adams' injuries were
not life threatening and he no longer suffers the effects of those injuries, there was no specific
intent to kill and therefore there can be no conspiracy to commit murder. This argument holds
absolutely no weight and is completely illogical. Essentially, appellant is arguing that because
the shooter did not have good aim, there was no attempt to murder Mr. Adams. Appellant
seriously alleges that shooting six rounds at a fleeing individual does not indicate a specific
intent to kill. This court wholeheartedly disagrees and cannot think of anything more evident of
an intent to kill than repeatedly shooting at someone on the street as they run away. Even if Mr.
Adams had not been hit by any bullets, there is still clear evidence of an intent to commit murder
by the co-conspirators. This court refuses to reward Appellant because he and his co-conspirators
were not very good shots. There is nothing in the record to indicate that the men were aiming at
non vital organs. Instead they were shooting wildly at Mr. Adams as he ran away from their
attempt to rob him. It is only through sheer luck that they did not kill Mr. Adams. Appellant's
6
counsel previously made this argument at sentencing and it was properly denied by this court.8 It
should not be given any credence here. There is nothing in the record to support Appellant's
claims and accordingly they should be denied.
• Excessive Sentence
Appellant next argues that this court abused its discretion and rendered an excessive
sentence. At sentencing, all parties agreed that Appellant had a prior record score of one and an
offense gravity score of thirteen. That made the guideline range 66 to 84 months plus or minus
twelve. However, since a firearm was used in commission of this crime, the deadly weapon
enhancement was applied, making the guidelines 78 to 96 months plus or minus twelve.9
Accordingly, Appellant's sentence of eight and half (102 months) to seventeen years
incarceration is a legal sentence within the aggravated range of the guidelines. In his l 925(b)
statement, Appellant argues that his guideline range was 75 to 93 months. Even if that were the
range, this court would still be allowed to deviate within twelve months and go as high as 105
without going beyond the guideline range. Even if this new range were correct, Appellant's
sentence is still legal and within the guidelines. Accordingly, Appellant's sentence should not be
altered and this court's determination should remain undisturbed.
V. CONCLUSION
For the above stated reasons the judgment and sentence of this court should be upheld
and Appellant's claims should be denied.
8
Notes of Testimony from 2/11/14 at 2-4.
9
Id. at 4-7.
7