Com. v. Zedak, C. ( 2020 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
CARL EMERY ZEDAK :
:
Appellant : No. 1655 WDA 2019
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered April 30, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-04-CR-0001590-2018
BEFORE: MURRAY, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED JULY 29, 2020
Carl Emery Zedak (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed after a jury convicted him of two counts of aggravated assault.1 For
the reasons that follow, we affirm.
The trial court set forth the relevant facts:
[A]t trial, Eric Compton … testified that on the night of July
14, 2018 and into the morning of July 15, 2018, he had invited
[Appellant] into his home [located in Aliquippa, Beaver County],
and [Appellant] stayed for a couple of hours. In that time,
Compton and [Appellant] proceeded to consume large amounts of
alcohol, and then Compton walked [Appellant] home[, which was
nearby]. Next, Compton testified that he returned to his home,
and after about fifteen minutes, [Appellant] returned to
Compton’s home, claiming he wasn’t done drinking. According to
Compton, [Appellant] refused to leave, and [Appellant] started
making inflammatory comments toward Compton’s girlfriend,
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1) and (4).
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Kimberly Carter. Compton testified that initially he brushed these
comments off, but [Appellant] continued, and asked Carter to
“shake something[,” (i.e., to exhibit her body sexually)]. At this
point, Compton demanded that [Appellant] leave. Very shortly
after, an altercation ensued between [Appellant] and Compton.
According to Compton, while [Appellant] and he were in a bear
hug, [Appellant] pulled out a knife and stabbed Compton four
times. As a result of this stabbing, Compton suffered injuries to
his diaphragm, left lung, spleen, and vital arteries, which required
surgical intervention to repair.
After Compton testified, the Commonwealth read multiple
stipulations to the jury. First, that the City of Aliquippa Police
found blood on [Appellant’s] jeans and boots when they took him
into custody. Second, that the blood was Compton’s. Third, that
clumps of long gray hair were discovered on the floor of Compton’s
kitchen. Fourth, the discovered hair belonged to [Appellant].
Lastly, [Appellant] had two bite marks on his back caused by
Compton.
Next, Dr. Graciela Bauza, a licensed trauma surgeon, was
called to testify. Dr. Bauza testified that she was working at UPMC
Presbyterian Hospital when Compton arrived for emergency
treatment. Dr. Bauza testified that Compton had a large amount
of blood loss at the scene, and that he had a large amount of blood
accumulating in his left chest that was compressing his lung. It
was this bleeding that prompted the decision to operate on
Compton. Ultimately, Compton had to undergo two operations.
Dr. Bauza then testified that it was her medical opinion that
Compton would have died but for the medical treatment he
received.
The Commonwealth also called Carter, who testified that
she was present on the night of the incident, and she drank Tito’s
vodka and Jägermeister with Compton and [Appellant]. She also
testified that she could “confidently” recall viewing [Appellant]
consume more than five drinks. Then Carter testified that at some
point later into the night, [Appellant] made some inappropriate
comments about touching Carter’s breasts and buttocks, and this
prompted Compton to jump up and punch [Appellant]. Carter
testified that [Appellant] and Compton engaged in a bear hug, and
she tried to pull them apart. At that point, Carter testified that
she ended up on the floor and [Compton] was laying in a pool of
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blood. Carter testified that she called 911 and the paramedics
came to take Compton to the hospital.
Next, the Commonwealth called Abigail Byrd, who is Carter’s
daughter that was eight years old at the time of the incident. Byrd
testified that she was sleeping in her room with her sister, and
they were caused to awaken by a loud bang on the door. She
opened up the door and witnessed [Appellant] stab Compton with
a pocket knife. After Byrd testified, the Commonwealth rested
their case.
Next, [Appellant] testified as part of his own case.
[Appellant] testified that he was invited to Compton’s home, and
they drank an entire bottle of Jägermeister and an entire bottle of
vodka over the course of the night. [Appellant] then testified that
he did not try to start a fight, but he admitted to making
inappropriate comments toward Carter, because he was so
intoxicated. Next, [Appellant] testified that Compton got up
quickly from the table and punched him two or three times, and
he tried to get away from Compton. [Appellant] testified that
Compton was biting him and the fight lasted about thirty to forty
seconds. Then[, Appellant] … pulled out a knife and stabbed
Compton “to get him off of me.” [Appellant] testified that he used
the knife because Compton was much younger and stronger than
him, and he was unable to pull himself away from Compton.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/18/19, at 2-6 (unnumbered).
The Commonwealth charged Appellant with two counts of aggravated
assault, as well as one count each of attempted homicide and possession of
an instrument of crime (PIC).2 The matter proceeded to trial in March 2019.
The jury found Appellant guilty of two counts of aggravated assault, and not
guilty of attempted homicide and PIC.
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2 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2501(a), 901(a), 907(a).
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On March 15, 2019, the Commonwealth filed notice of its intent to seek
a mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to Pennsylvania’s “three strikes”
statute, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714. The statute reads:
Where the person had at the time of the commission of the current
offense previously been convicted of two or more crimes of
violence arising from separate criminal transactions, the person
shall be sentenced to a minimum sentence of at least 25 years of
total confinement ….
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)(2) (emphasis added); see also id. § 9714(g)
(defining “crime of violence” and enumerating the various crimes that fall
under that definition).
On April 30, 2019, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. The
Commonwealth introduced evidence that Appellant had two prior convictions
that fell under Section 9714(a)(2) and (g), i.e., arson and attempted
homicide.3 The trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate 25 to 50 years
in prison pursuant to Section 9714(a)(2).
Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion, which was denied by
operation of law. Appellant then filed a timely notice of appeal, followed by a
court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on
appeal. Appellant raises three issues for our review:
I. DID THE COMMONWEALTH PRESENT SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT
APPELLANT DID NOT ACT IN JUSTIFIABLE SELF-DEFENSE?
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3 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3301(a)(1)(i), 2501(a), 901(a).
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II. DID THE TRIAL COURT ABUSE ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT
DENIED APPELLANT A NEW TRIAL ON THE BASIS THAT THE
VERDICT RENDERED WAS NOT AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF
THE EVIDENCE?
III. IS THE MANDATORY SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE TRIAL
COURT UNDER 42 PA.C.S.A. § 9714 UNCONSTITUTIONAL
AND AN ILLEGAL SENTENCE WHICH VIOLATED THE EX
POST FACTO CLAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES AND
PENNSYLVANIA CONSTITUTIONS?
Appellant’s Brief at 7.
In his first issue, Appellant argues that his convictions cannot stand
because the Commonwealth failed to disprove his claim that he stabbed
Compton in self-defense. See id. at 15-20.
Preliminarily, we recognize:
When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, this Court
must view the evidence and all reasonable inferences to be drawn
from the evidence in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth as verdict winner, and we must determine if the
evidence, thus viewed, is sufficient to prove guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. This Court may not substitute its judgment for
that of the factfinder. If the record contains support for the
verdict, it may not be disturbed. Moreover, a jury may believe all,
some or none of a party’s testimony.
Commonwealth v. Burns, 765 A.2d 1144, 1148 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citations
and paragraph break omitted).
Additionally,
[w]here there is a claim of self-defense, the Commonwealth has
the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing[,
or the infliction of serious bodily harm,] was not committed in self-
defense. In order to disprove self-defense, the Commonwealth
must prove beyond a reasonable doubt one of the following
elements: (1) that the defendant did not reasonably believe it was
necessary to kill [or seriously harm] in order to protect himself
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against death or serious bodily harm, or that the defendant used
more force than was necessary to save himself from death, great
bodily harm, or the commission of a felony; (2) that the defendant
provoked the use of force; or (3) that the defendant had a duty
to retreat and that retreat was possible with complete safety. See
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 505(b)(2); see also Commonwealth v. Hill, 629
A.2d 949, 952 (Pa. Super. 1993). If the Commonwealth
establishes any one of these three elements beyond a reasonable
doubt, then the conviction is insulated from a defense challenge
to the sufficiency of the evidence where self-protection is at issue.
See Hill, 629 A.2d at 952.
Burns, 765 A.2d at 1148-49.
Here, Appellant contends that the Commonwealth failed to meet its
burden to disprove his claim of self-defense, where the evidence established:
Compton was the initial physical aggressor by punching
[Appellant] at least three or four times in the head, pulling a clump
of hair out of [Appellant’s] head and by deeply biting [Appellant’s]
back at least two or three times before [Appellant] pulled out his
pocket knife to stab Compton to get away.
Appellant’s Brief at 16; see also id. (asserting that Appellant was prevented
from fleeing Compton’s attack because Compton and Carter “stood in place
between [Appellant] and the front door, with Compton restraining
[Appellant]”). According to Appellant, the Commonwealth failed to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that he:
(1) did not reasonably believe it was necessary to stab Compton
in order to protect himself against death or serious bodily
harm;
(2) provoked the use of force, where Compton was the initial
aggressor;
(3) failed to exercise his duty to retreat, where the evidence
showed that Compton and Carter had blocked his means of
escape.
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Id. at 17-19.
Upon review, we find the evidence of record sufficient to disprove
Appellant’s claim of self-defense and sustain his two aggravated assault
convictions.4 Both Carter and Compton testified that Appellant provoked the
confrontation by making derogatory and insulting comments about Carter,
and repeatedly refusing to leave their home. See N.T., 3/12/19, at 59-60;
N.T., 3/13/19, at 19-20. Carter stated that Appellant’s sexual comments were
unwanted and caused her to ask Appellant — unsuccessfully — to leave. See
N.T., 3/13/19, at 19-20. Compton initially declined to respond to Appellant’s
derogatory comments. See N.T., 3/12/19, at 61. However, Appellant
persisted, and defied Compton’s request that he not enter the bedrooms
where Compton’s minor daughters were sleeping. Id. at 62-64. Compton
again told Appellant to leave, but Appellant ignored him. See id. Compton
became agitated and attempted to push Appellant out the front door; in
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4 The Crimes Code provides that a person is guilty of aggravated assault, in
relevant part, where he:
(1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such
injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances
manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life;
***
(4) attempts to cause or intentionally or knowingly causes bodily
injury to another with a deadly weapon[.]
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1) and (4).
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response, Appellant punched Compton in the side. Id. at 64. It was only
after these actions that Compton punched Appellant. Id. Given this record,
we discern no support for Appellant’s claim that Compton was the initial
aggressor.
Moreover, Appellant escalated what was initially a scuffle into a knife
attack, where Appellant was the only person armed. N.T., 3/12/19, at 64-65;
N.T., 3/13/19, at 23, 31. Appellant does not dispute that he stabbed Compton
four times. N.T., 3/12/19, at 155. Compton lost substantial amounts of blood
and suffered serious injuries which, Dr. Bauza testified, would have been fatal
without surgical intervention. Id. at 165, 167-68.
Thus, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth, establishes that Appellant’s excessive and disproportionate
use of deadly force was unjustifiable to protect himself from serious bodily
harm or death. See Commonwealth v. Ventura, 975 A.2d 1128, 1143 (Pa.
Super. 2009) (where (1) defendant provoked the use of force against the
victim after a verbal dispute concerning defendant’s girlfriend; (2) the victim
initially defused the dispute and did not strike defendant; (3) after one of
defendant’s friends punched the victim’s friend, the victim stepped forward to
protect him; and (4) defendant stabbed the unarmed victim, which resulted
in his death – holding that the Commonwealth carried its burden to disprove
defendant’s claim of self-defense); Burns, 765 A.2d at 1149 (holding that
defendant “was not acting in self-defense under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 505(b)(2).
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Assuming that the victim initiated the attack, it is apparent from the severity
of the victim’s wounds[, which defendant inflicted with a knife upon the
unarmed victim,] that [defendant] used more force than was reasonably
necessary to protect himself from serious bodily injury.”); see also
Commonwealth v. Smith, 97 A.3d 782, 789 (Pa. Super. 2014) (same).5
Accordingly, the Commonwealth disproved Appellant’s claim of self-defense
beyond a reasonable doubt, and his first issue is meritless.
Appellant next claims that the trial court erred in determining that the
jury’s verdict was not against the weight of the evidence. See Appellant’s
Brief at 20-21.
To prevail on a challenge to the weight of the evidence, an appellant
must establish that the evidence is “so tenuous, vague, and uncertain that the
verdict shocks the conscience of the court.” Commonwealth v. Smith, 146
A.3d 257, 265 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citation omitted). “One of the least
assailable reasons for granting or denying a new trial is the lower court’s
conviction that the verdict was or was not against the weight of evidence ….”
Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049, 1055 (Pa. 2013). Moreover, “[t]he
weight of the evidence is exclusively for the finder of fact, who is free to
believe all, none, or some of the evidence and to determine the credibility of
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5 We further note the trial court gave the jury a thorough instruction
concerning self-defense. See N.T., 3/14/19, at 19-23; see also
Commonwealth v. Speight, 854 A.2d 450, 458 (Pa. 2004) (stating that a
jury is presumed to follow a trial court’s instructions).
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the witnesses.” Commonwealth v. Talbert, 129 A.3d 536, 545 (Pa. Super.
2015) (citation omitted).
Here, Appellant challenges the jury’s verdict, asserting that
uncontradicted evidence purportedly showed (1) Compton was the initial
aggressor, who repeatedly punched Appellant in the face, bit him, and ripped
hair from his scalp; and (2) Appellant was forced to stab Compton to escape
and avoid serious bodily injury. See Appellant’s Brief at 20-21.
The jury, as fact-finder, was free to believe all, part, or none of the
testimony (which we summarized above in addressing Appellant’s first issue);
it is well-settled that credibility determinations are solely within a fact-finder’s
province and we may not reweigh the evidence. Talbert, supra. Further, to
the extent the testimony of Appellant and Compton/Carter conflicted, the jury
ostensibly credited the latter, and rejected the former. See id. Accordingly,
the trial court did not err in rejecting Appellant’s weight challenge, nor does
the jury’s verdict shock our conscience. See Smith, supra.
In his third and final issue, Appellant argues that the trial court imposed
an illegal sentence pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)(2), in violation of the
ex post facto clauses of the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions.
See Appellant’s Brief at 21-28. Appellant concedes:
(1) he had prior convictions for arson – in 1988 – and attempted
homicide – in 1996 – both of which are enumerated as
“crimes of violence” under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(g); and
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(2) his conviction of aggravated assault (serious bodily injury) in
this case also constitutes a “crime of violence” under Section
9714(g).
Appellant’s Brief at 22. However, Appellant claims that the prior version of
Section 9714, which was in effect at the time of his first two “crimes of
violence,” contained a 7-year “lookback” period; therefore, Appellant asserts,
“at the time of his second crime of violence, … Appellant would not have even
had his conviction [of arson in 1988] considered his ‘second’ under the statute,
since the two convictions were over 8 years apart.” Id. at 24.
“Issues relating to the legality of a sentence are questions of law. Our
standard of review over such questions is de novo and our scope of review is
plenary.” Commonwealth v. Prieto, 206 A.3d 529, 534 (Pa. Super.
2019) (citation omitted). Additionally, to “fall within the ex post facto
prohibition, a law must be retrospective — that is it must apply to events
occurring before its enactment — and it must disadvantage the offender
affected by it by altering the definition of criminal conduct or increasing the
punishment for the crime.” Commonwealth v. Davis, 760 A.2d 406, 410
(Pa. Super. 2000) (citation omitted).
There is no merit to Appellant’s claim that Section 9714 is an ex post
facto law, as it is clear the statute is not retroactive. This Court, in
Commonwealth v. Ford, 947 A.2d 1251 (Pa. Super. 2008), rejected a nearly
identical claim, reasoning:
[Section 9714,] as it currently exists, reflects a legislative
amendment enacted December 20, 2000, which omitted the
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requirement that to be considered as strikes, previous convictions
must have been committed within seven years of the date of the
instant offense for which a defendant is receiving sentence.
See 2000, Dec. 20, P.L. 811, No. 113, § 2 (effective in 60 days).
Instantly, [appellant] argues that any crimes which occurred prior
to the amendment to section 9714 should not be considered
strikes for purposes of sentencing a defendant as a third strike
offender. However, in Commonwealth v. Smith, 866 A.2d 1138(Pa. Super. 2005), appeal denied, 583 Pa. 682, 877 A.2d 462(2005), a panel of this Court firmly rejected the argument that
section 9714 was retroactive. See id. at 1143. In so finding, this
Court found it determinative that section 9714 applies
“prospectively only to future offenses and [does] not change the
punishment for the predicate offense.” Id. at 1143, citing
Commonwealth v. Brown, [] 741 A.2d 726, 732 (Pa. Super.
1999) [(en banc)] (holding that section 9714 is not an ex post
facto law), appeal denied, 567 Pa. 755, 790 A.2d 1013 (2001).
Moreover, the Court found that “even if we were to deem § 9714
‘retroactive’ on some level because it takes into account
convictions that occurred prior to its enactment, we would find
that the legislature surely intended such a result, thereby
satisfying [1 Pa.C.S.A.] § 1926 [(presumption against retroactive
effect of statutes)].” Id. Accordingly, [appellant’s] argument that
the application of section 9714 is illegally retroactive is without
merit.
Ford, 947 A.2d at 1253-54.
Finally, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(e) provides that a sentencing court has no
authority to impose a sentence less than what is mandated by
statute. Accordingly, the trial court had to sentence Appellant pursuant to
Section 9714, which is not an ex post facto law or unconstitutional. See Ford,
supra.Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/29/2020
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