Com. v. Daniels, C.

Case Information

J-A29039-17 NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P.65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

: PENNSYLVANIA Appellee : : v. : : CLINTON DANIELS, : : Appellant : No. 3835 EDA 2015 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence November 24, 2015 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0003662-2014

BEFORE: LAZARUS, PLATT,* and STRASSBURGER,* JJ. MEMORANDUM BY STRASSBURGER, J.: FILED DECEMBER 13, 2017

Clinton Daniels (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence entered November 24, 2015, after he was found guilty of robbery, conspiracy, and possessing an instrument of a crime. We affirm.

As we write for the parties, we need not restate the underlying facts of the case herein. Suffice it to say that the factual summary offered in the trial court’s opinion accurately summarizes the evidence offered at trial. See Trial Court Opinion, 2/16/2017 at 4-8.

Appellant was subsequently charged with several offenses, and following a non-jury trial on September 15, 2015, Appellant was found guilty of the aforementioned crimes. On November 24, 2015, Appellant was sentenced to an aggregate term of 15 to 40 years’ incarceration. * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court

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Appellant timely filed a post-sentence motion, which the trial court denied. Appellant then timely filed a notice of appeal. 1 On appeal, Appellant raises a claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his convictions. Appellant’s Brief at 3.

We address Appellant’s issue mindful of the following. [O]ur standard of review of sufficiency claims requires that we evaluate the record in the light most favorable to the verdict winner giving the prosecution the benefit of all reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Evidence will be deemed sufficient to support the verdict when it establishes each material element of the crime charged and the commission thereof by the accused, beyond a reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth need not establish guilt to a mathematical certainty. Any doubt about the defendant’s guilt is to be resolved by the fact finder unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that, as a matter of law, no probability of fact can be drawn from the combined circumstances.

Commonwealth v. Lynch , 72 A.3d 706, 707-08 (Pa. Super. 2013) (internal citations and quotations omitted). “[I]f [the factfinder] could have reasonably determined from the evidence adduced that all of the necessary elements of the crime were established, then the evidence will be deemed sufficient to support the verdict.” Commonwealth v. Davalos , 779 A.2d 1190, 1193 (Pa. Super. 2001). The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by means of wholly circumstantial evidence, and we must evaluate the entire trial record and consider all evidence received against the defendant. Commonwealth v. Markman , 916 A.2d 586, 598 (Pa. 2007).

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An individual commits a robbery under [18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(ii)] if, in the course of committing a theft, he “threatens another with or intentionally puts him in fear of immediate serious bodily injury.” [ Id. ] A conviction under that subsection is dependent upon the type of bodily harm threatened.

Commonwealth v. Rodriquez , 673 A.2d 962, 966 (Pa. Super. 1996) (citation omitted). Serious bodily injury is defined as “[b]odily 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.

A conviction for criminal conspiracy is sustained where the Commonwealth establishes that the defendant entered an agreement to commit or aid in an unlawful act with another person or persons with shared criminal intent and one of the conspirators committed an overt act in furtherance of the agreed upon crime. Commonwealth v. Lambert , 795 A.2d 1010, 1016 (Pa. Super. 2002); see also 18 Pa.C.S[] § 903. The essence of a criminal conspiracy is the agreement made between the co-conspirators. Commonwealth v. Murphy , [844 A.2d 1228, 1238 (Pa. 2004)]. “Mere association with the perpetrators, mere presence at the scene, or mere knowledge of the crime is insufficient.” Lambert , 795 A.2d at 1016. Additional proof that the defendant intended to commit the crime along with the co-conspirators is needed, that is, that the Appellant was “an active participant in the criminal enterprise and that he had knowledge of the conspiratorial agreement.” Id.

Commonwealth v. Figueroa , 859 A.2d 793, 798 (2004). To prove [possessing an instrument of a crime], the Commonwealth must demonstrate that the defendant “possesses any instrument of crime with intent to employ it criminally.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 907. An instrument of crime is defined as “[a]nything specially made or specially adapted for criminal use” or “[a]nything used for criminal purposes and possessed by the actor under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for lawful uses it

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may have.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(d). It is undisputed that a gun can be an instrument of crime.

Commonwealth v. Stokes , 38 A.3d 846, 854 (Pa. Super. 2011), abrogated in part by Alleyne v. United States , 570 U.S. 99 (2013).

Upon our review of the certified record, the parties’ briefs, and the relevant law, we conclude that the opinion of the Honorable Anne Marie B. Coyle comprehensively and correctly addresses and disposes of Appellant’s issues and supporting arguments and evidences no abuse of discretion or errors of law. Trial Court Opinion, 2/16/2017, at 13-20. Specifically, the trial court thoroughly addressed Appellant’s sufficiency arguments, 2 concluding that Mr. Netzel’s

identification through recognition of [Appellant’s] grey hoodie and dark jeans was buttressed by compelling direct and circumstantial evidence. The details of this event, particularly as it related to the timing of the police response and their unequivocal observations and positive identification of [Appellant] as the driver of the getaway vehicle, proved [Appellant’s] active participation in the robbery. [Mr.] Netzel, by convincingly relating the manner in which the crimes occurred, provided the qualifying offense

2 Appellant’s main argument in support of his sufficiency claims is that Mr. Netzel was unable to identify anyone involved in the robbery, including Appellant, “by their face.” Appellant’s Brief at 9. As set forth in more detail infra , the trial court, while acknowledging that “common items of clothing and general physical characteristics are usually insufficient to support a conviction,” found that there was a plethora of additional evidence presented that linked Appellant as a perpetrator of the robbery and related offenses. Trial Court Opinion, 2/16/2017, at 12 (citing Commonwealth v. Minnis , 458 A.2d 231, 233 (Pa. Super. 1983) (“[A]lthough identification based solely on common items of clothing and general physical characteristics is insufficient to support a conviction, such evidence may be considered to establish identity along with other circumstances and the proffered identification testimony[.]”) (internal citation omitted)).

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elements for [r]obbery. Mr. Netzel was certainly threatened with and was placed in fear of serious bodily injury when he was beaten and robbed of his possession at point of a fired gun.

Id. at 14-15. Sitting as finder of fact, the court found Appellant’s testimony that he was innocently sitting in the vehicle and had no part in the robbery not to be believable, noting Appellant was identified by Officer Klepac as the driver of the getaway vehicle, Mr. Netzel’s wallet was found on the ground right outside the driver’s side door, and Mr. Netzel’s cellphone was recovered by officers from the porch where Appellant was eventually found and arrested after he fled on foot. Id. at 8, 16. Furthermore, the trial court determined that the evidence sufficiently set forth the elements of criminal conspiracy, as the facts presented revealed that Appellant had acted in concert with his cohorts to commit the robbery, and by finding as such, the elements of possessing an instrument of a crime were “firmly established via the evidence establishing [Appellant’s] role as an accomplice or co-conspirator with the weapon wielder.” 3 Id. at 20.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 12/13/2017

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P I N I O N 7 90 7 5 34 38 1 A p p e ll a n t , C l i n t o n D a n i e l s , a s t h e a b o v e - n a m e d D e f e nd an t , s e e k s r e v i e w o f t h e O r d e r s a nd J u d g m e n t s o f S e n t e n c e s i m p o s e d o n N o v e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 b y t h e H o n o r a b l e A n n e M a r i e C o y l e , J u d g e of t h e C ou r t o f C o m m o n P l e a s f o r t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t C r i m i n a l D i v i s i on . W i t h i n t h e D e f e nd an t ' s S t a t e m e n t o f M a t t e rs C o m p l a i n e d O f O n A pp e a l P u rs ua n t t o P a . R . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) , t h e A p p e ll a n t c l a i m s h e w a s ill e g a ll y s e n t e n c e d t o a m and a t o r y m i n i m u m s e n t e n c e o f t e n y e a r s o f i n c a r c e r a t i o n f o r R o b b e r y a s a s e c o n d s t r i k e p u r s u a n t t o a m an d a t o r y m i n i m u m s t a t u t e w h i c h p r e v e n t e d t h e s e n t e n c i ng j u dg e fr o m i m p o s i n g a g u i d e l i n e s en t e n c e i n c l u d i n g A p p e ll a n t ' s o ff e n s e g r a v i t y s c o r e . T h e D e f e n d a n t c l a i m s t ha t t h e b a s i s f o r t h e i ll e g a l i t y w a s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t n e v e r m e n t i o n e d w h a t c r i m e a n d y e a r D e f e n d a n t w a s p r e v i o u s l y c o n v i c t e d a s a f i rs t st r i k e o f f e n s e . A dd i t i o n a ll y , t h e A p p e ll a n t c l a i m s t h e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u s t a i n t h e c on v i c t i o n s f o r R o bb e r y , C o n s p i r a c y , a n d P o s s e s s i n g a nd I n s t r u m e n t o f C r i m e .

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R O C E D U R A L H I S T O R Y

T h e u n d e r l y i n g c h a r g e s s t e m fr o m t h e a rr e s t o f D e f e n d a n t , C l i n t o n D a n i e l s , o n F e b r u a r y 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 a t 3 : 3 0 a . m . i n t h e a r e a o f F r a n k f o r d A v e nu e a n d B e nn e r S t r e e t i n t h e c i t y a n d c o u n t y o f Ph i l a de l p h i a , f o ll o w i n g t h e g un p o i n t r o bb e r y o f t h e c o m p l a i n a n t T h o m a s N e t z e l . A f t e r t h e

1 p r e l i m i n a r y he a r i n g , a rr a i g n m e n t , a n d n u m e r o u s c o n t i n u a n c e s , t h e c a s e w a s e v e n t u a ll y s c h e d u l e d f o r t r i a l be f o r e t h e H o n o r a b l e A nn e M a r i e B . C o y l e o n Se p t e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 . P r i o r t o be g i nn i n g t h e t r i a l, t h i s C ou r t r e v i s i t e d a n d l i t i g a t e d a p r e v i ou s l y f i l e d M o t i on t o S u pp r e s s , w h i c h ha d b e e n p a r t o f a n o m n i b u s m o t i o n t ha t h a d b e e n f il e d o n t h e D e f e n dan t ' s b e h a l f o n N o v e m b e r 4 ; 2 0 1 4 , b y t h e D e f e nd e r A ss o c i a t i on . A f t e r f u ll a n d f a i r h e a r i n g s , t h e t r i a l c o u r t d e n i e d a ll m o t i on s .

T h e D e f e n d a n t kn o w i ng l y a n d v o l u n t a r i l y w a i v e d h i s r i g h t t o a j u r y t r i a l a s e v i d e n c e d b y t h e o r a l a n d w r i t t e n c o ll o qu i e s a nd t h e c a s e p r o cee d e d t o t r i a l b e f o r e t h e H o n o r a b l e A nn e M a r i e B . C o y l e , J u d g e o f t h e C o u r t o f C o mm o n P l ea s f o r t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , C r i m i n a l D i v i s i o n . T h e c a s e i n c h i e f p r e s e n t e d b y t h e C o mm o n w e a l t h o f P e nn s y l v a n i a , b y a n d t h r o ug h i t s A ss i s t a n t D i s tr i c t A tt o r n e y , T r a c i e G a y d o s , w a s c o m p l e t e d o n S e p t e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 . T h e D e f e n d a n t w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y h i s t r i a l c o u n s e l D o u g l a s P . E a r l , E s q u i r e .

T h e D e f e nd a n t t e s t i f i e d a t t r i a l t h a t h e d i d n o t p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e a c t u a l r o bb e r y b u t a d m i tt e d d r i v i n g t h e g e t a w a y v e h i c l e . A f t e r a f u ll a n d f a i r t r i a l c o n c l u d i n g o n S e p t e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 , t h e D e f e n d an t w a s f o u n d g u i l t y o f : ( 1 ) R o bb e r y - T h r e a t e n e d I mm e d i a t e S e r i o u s B o d il y I n j u r y , u n d e r 1 8 § 3 7 0 1 § § A ll , g r a de d a s a F e l o n y o f t h e F i rs t D e g r e e ; ( 2 ) C o n s p i r a c y , und e r 1 8 § 9 0 1 , g r a d e d a s a F e l o n y o f t h e F i r s t D e g r e e ; a n d ( 3 ) Po ss e s s i ng I n s t r u m e n t o f C r i m e , u nd e r 1 8 § 9 0 7 § § A , g r a d e d a s a M i s d e m e a n o r o f t h e F i r s t D e g r ee .

A s t h e p r e s i d i n g t r i a l j u r i s t , t h e H o n o r a b l e A nn e M a r i e B . C oy l e d i r e c t e d t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f P r e s e n t e n c e E va l u a ti o n s a nd M e n t a l H e a lt h E v a l u a t i o n s b y t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t P r o b a ti o n a n d P a r o l e D e p a r t m e n t , a n d s c h e du l e d t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g i n d u e c o u r s e f o r N o v e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 . A f t e r r e v i e w o f a ll c o m p l e t e d p r e s e n t e n c e r e po r t s a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f a ll r e l e v a n t d a t a s u b m i t t e d c on ce r n i ng t h e D e f e n d a n t a t a f u ll a n d f a i r s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g , t h e H o n o r a b l e A nn e M a r i e B . C oy l e i m po s e d t h e f o ll o w i n g s e n t e n c e s :

2 C o u n t 1 : R o bb e r y - M i n i m u m t e n ( 1 0 ) y e a r s st a t e t e r m i n c a r c e r a t i o n t o M ax i m u m t w e n t y ( 2 0 ) y ea r s i n c a r ec e r a t i on ; C o u n t 2 : C on s p i r a c y - M i n i m u m f i v e ( 5 ) y e a r s s t a t e t e r m i n c a r c e r a t i o n t o M a x i m u m t w e n t y ( 2 0 ) y e a r s i n c a r c e r a t i o n , t o r u n c o n s e c u t i v e l y t o c o u n t 1 ; C o u n t 8 : P o s s e ss i n g I n s tr u m e n t o f C r i m e - M i n i m u m t w o a n d o n e ha l f ( 2 . 5 ) y e a r s s t a t e t e r m i n c a r c e r a t i o n t o M a x i m u m f i v e ( 5 ) y e a r s i n c a r ec e r a ti o n , t o r u n c o n c u r r e n tl y t o a ll o t h e r c o u n t s .

T h e r e s u l t i n g a g g r e g a t e s e n t e n c e w a s a m i n i m u m p e r i o d o f c on f i n e m e n t o f f i f t e e n ( 1 5 ) ye a r s s t a t e t e r m i n c a r c e r a ti on t o m ax i m u m p e r i o d o f c o n f i n e m e n t o f f o r t y ( 4 0 ) y e a r s . T h e D e f e n d a n t w a s o r d e r e d t o h av e n o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c o m p l a i n a n t o r a n y m e m b e r o f t h e c o m p l a i n a n t ' s f a m i l y . Pa r o l e c o n d i t i o n s i n c l ud i n g r a n d o m d r u g a nd a l c o h o l t e s t i n g a n d r a ndo m ho m e v i s i t s w er e i m p o s e d .

O n N o v e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 , t r i a l c o u n s e l f o r t h e D e f e nd a n t , D o u g l a s E a r l , E s qu i r e , f i l e d a M o t i o n t o W i t h d r a w a s t h e D e f e nd an t ' s a p p e ll a t e a tt o r n e y . O n D e ce m b e r 4 , 2 0 1 5 , M r . E a r l , a s t r i a l c o u n s e l , a l s o f i l e d a M o t i o n f o r R ec o n s i d e r a ti o n o f S e n t e n c e . T h e m a tt e rs w e r e s c h e du l e d f o r D ece m b e r 9 , 2 0 1 5 , b u t c o n t i n u e d u n t il D e c e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 . O n D ece m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 , t h e D e f e n d a n t w a s n o t t r a n s po r t e d t o t h e C o u r t ho u s e c au s i n g de l a y o f o n e da y . O n D e c e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 , t h i s C o u r t de n i e d t h e M o t i o n F o r R ec on s i d e r a t i on . O n D e c e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 , a ti m e l y N o t i ce o f A p p e a l w a s f il e d o n b e h a l f o f t h e D e f e n d a n t .

O n D e c e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 5 , t h i s C o u r t d i r ec t e d D o u g l a s E a r l , E s q u i r e a s t r i a l c o un s e l t o f i l e a c o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t o f E rr o r s C o m p l a i n e d o f o n A p p e a l o n b e h a l f o f t h e D e f e n da n t p u r s u a n t t o Pa . R . A . P . 1 9 25 ( b ) . O n J a n u a r y 5 , 2 0 1 6 , D o u g l a s E a r l , E s q . w a s p e r m it t e d t o w i t h d r a w a s c o u n s e l , a n d M i c h a e l M a rr y s h o w , E s q u i r e w a s a p p o i n t e d a s a p p e ll a t e c o u n s e l o n b e h a l f o f t h e D e f e n d a n t . O n M a r c h 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , a s e c o n d o r de r d i r e c t i n g t h e f i l i n g o f t h e 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S t a t e m e n t w a s e n t e r e d b y

3 t h e C o u r t . O n A p r i l 5 , 2 0 1 6 , a c o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t o f E rr o r s w a s f i n a ll y f i l e d o n b e h a l f o f t h e D e f e nd a n t .

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A CT U A L H I S T O RY

A t t r i a l , t h e C o mm o n w e a lt h of P e nn s y l v a n i a es t a b l i s h e d b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t t h a t o n F e b r u a r y 25 , 2 0 1 4 , a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 : 0 0 a . m . t h e v i c t i m , M r . T h o m a s N e t z e l, w a s w a l k i ng t o w a r d t h e F r a nk f o r d E l e v a t e d T r a i n T e r m i n a l o n h i s w a y t o w o r k t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g s h i f t a t t h e P h il a d e l p h i a S o f t P r e t z e l C o m p a ny l o c a t e d i n C e n t e r C i t y s ec t i o n o f P h i l ad e l p h i a . A s M r . N e t ze l t r a v e ll e d ne a r t h e i n t e r s e c t i on o f F r a n k f o r d A v e nu e a n d B e n n e r S tr e e t , h e h e l d a c u p o f c o ff e e i n o n e h a nd , h a d h e a d phon e s i n h i s e a r s , a n d w o r e a b ook ba g st r a p p e d a c r o ss h i s c h e s t . H i s p h o n e a n d w a ll e t w e r e s a f e l y t u c k e d i n h i s p o c k e t s .

A t t r i a l, M r . N e t z e l c r e d i b l y t e s t i f i e d t h a t t w o u n m a s k e d b l a c k m a l e s m an u p fr o m be h i n d M r . N e t z e l a nd g r a b b e d a nd p u ll e d h i m d o w n fr o m b o t h s i d e s i n t o a n e a r by pa r k i n g l o t . H e r e p o r t e d o n e o f t h e b l a c k m a l e s w o r e a g r a y h o o d i e a n d r i f l e d t h r o u g h h i s p o c k e t s , r e m o v i n g h i s c e ll p h o n e a n d w a ll e t w i t h c on t e n t s . H e st a t e d t h e o t h e r b l a c k m a l e w o r e a b l a c k h oo d i e a n d h e l d a s m a ll h a n dg un t o h i s b a c k a n d r e s t r a i n e d h i s a r m s . M r . N e t z e l r e l a t e d t h a t t h e m a l e s a tt e m p t e d t o a l s o t a k e h i s m e s s e n g e r b ag , w h i c h w a s r i p p e d o ff o f h i s b od y a n d f e ll t o t h e g r o u nd . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 9 0 - 95 ) .

T ho m a s N t e z e l r e m e m b e r e d t h a t a f t e r t h e w a ll e t a nd t h e p h o n e w e r e t a k e n b y t h e m a l e i n t h e g r e y h o o d i e , t h e m a l e i n t h e b l a c k ho od i e a tt e m p t e d t o s w i n g t h e g u n a t h i m , a n d i s s o d o i n g l o s t c o n t r o l o f t h e w e a p o n . T h e m a l e i n t h e g r e y h o o d i e t h e n kn o c k e d t h e v i c t i m t o w a r d t h e g r o u n d a n d p u n c h e d h i m a n u m b e r o f ti m e s i n t h e h e ad . A s M r . N e t z e l f o u g h t b a c k , t h e m a l e i n t h e b l a c k h o o d i e r e t r i e v e d t h e g u n a nd po i n t e d i t d i r ec tl y a t M r . N e t z e l . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 9 6 - 99 ) . T h e m a l e i n t h e g r e y h o o d i e t h e n s h o u t e d " J u s t s h o o t h i m a l r e a d y . " ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p . 9 9 ) . B o t h

4 m a l e s f a c e d t h e v i c t i m a s t h e m a l e i n t h e b l a c k h o o d i e f i r e d t h e g u n d i r ec t l y a t M r . N e t z e l . B o t h m a l e s t h e n r a n t o g e t h e r t o a n a w a i t i n g v e h i c l e l o c a t e d f u r t h e r d o w n t h e b l o c k .

M r . N e t z e l t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e w a s s h oc k e d w h e n h e " s a w t h e f l a s h o f t h e m u z z l e g o o ff " . H e i mm e d i a t e l y l o o k e d b e h i n d h i m a n d s a w b o t h m e n r u n t o g e t h e r u p B e nn e r a nd F r a nk f o r d t o w a r d a T o y o t a C o r o ll a , w h i c h a p p e a r e d t o be p a r k e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e s t r e e t . H e s i m u lt a n e o u s l y s a w a u n i f o r m e d po li c e p a t r o l c a r a p p r o a c h t h e s a m e b l o c k . M r . N e t ze l r e p o r t e d , " So , I r a n t o t h e c o p , t h e p o l i c e c a r , t o l d t h e m I w a s j u s t r o bb e d , t h e y t o o k m y p h o n e , t h e y t o o k m y w a ll e t , t h e y h a d a g u n a n d t h e y f i r e d i t a t m e . " ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 9 6 - 1 0 0 ) . J u s t a f t e r h e p o i n t e d o u t t h e v e h i c l e t h e o f f i ce r s r e s po n d e d a n d a t t e m p t e d t o s t o p t h i s a u t o m o b il e t h a t c on t a i n e d t h e f l e e i n g pe r p e t r a t o rs .

U n i f o r m e d P h i l a d e l p h i a Po l i c e O f f i c e rs M a r t i n K l e p a c a n d R o e bu c r e po r t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e o n r o u t i n e p a t r o l i n t h e a r e a o f F r a nk f o r d A v e n u e a n d B e nn e r S tr e e t o n F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 : 3 0 a . m . w h e n O ff i ce r K l e p a c h e a r d a g u n s h o t a s h e t u r n e d h i s m a r k e d pa t r o l v e h i c l e fr o m F r a nk f o r d A v e n u e o n t o B e nn e r S t r e e t . H e f u r t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r h e a r i n g t h e g u n s h o t h e a nd h i s f e ll o w o ff i c e r o b s e r v e d M r . N e t z e l r u nn i n g fr o m t h e c o r n e r , w a v i n g h i s a r m s e x c i t e d l y i n t h e a i r . M r . N e t z e l t o l d t h e o ff i c e rs t h a t he w a s j u s t r o bb e d o f h i s c e ll p h o n e a n d w a ll e t , t w o m a l e s p o i n t e d a g un a t h i m , a n d t h a t t h e m a l e s go t i n t o a s il v e r v e h i c l e t h a t w a s d o u b l e p a r k e d o n B e nn e r S t r e e t . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 1 7 - 1 9 ; 10 0 ) .

O ff i c e r K l e p a c t e s t i f i e d a t t r i a l t h a t h e s i m u lt a n e o u s l y o b s e r v e d t h e s il v e r T o y o t a C o r o ll a t h a t M r . N e t z e l d e s c r i b e d , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y p u ll e d h i s p a t r o l c a r d i r ec t l y b e h i n d t h e s il v e r T o y o t a C o r o ll a . H e a c t i v a t e d h i s l i g h t s a nd s i r e n s t o a tt e m p t t o p u ll t h e v e h i c l e o v e r t o t h e s i d e o f t h e r o a d . T h e ve h i c l e c o n t i n u e d t o d r i v e d o w n t h e s t r ee t t o w a r d s B r o u s S t r e e t , w h i c h i s t h e n e x t b l o c k n o r t h o f F r a nk f o r d A v e n u e . T h e v e h i c l e st o p p e d a f t e r m ak i ng t h e r i g h t t u r n o n t o B r o u s S t r ee t , a t

5 w h i c h p o i n t O ff i c e r s K l e p a c a nd R o e b u c g o t o u t o f t h e i r pa t r o l c a r a nd c a r e f u ll y a p p r o a c h e d w i t h t h e i r g un s d r a w n .

T he o ff i c e r s o b s e r v e d t h e D e f e n d a n t , w e a r i n g a g r e y h ood i e a n d da r k p an t s s i t t i n g i n t h e d r i v e r ' s s e a t o f t h e T o y o t a C o r o ll a w i t h t w o o t h e r o cc u pan t s . O f f i ce r R o e bu c t o l d a ll o c c u p a n t s t o n o t m o v e a nd p u t t h e i r h a n d s o u t o f t h e w i n d o w s o f t h e v e h i c l e . T h e v e h i c l e s p e d a w a y a s t h e o f f i c e r s a p p r o a c h e d o n f o o t . T h e O f f i c e rs r a n b a c k t o t h e i r p a t r o l c a r a nd p u r s u e d t h e f l ee i n g T o y o t a n o r t h bo u nd o n B r o u s S t r e e t . T h e D e f e n d a n t s p e d t h r o u gh a st o p s i g n a n d r e d li g h t a t a h i g h r a t e o f s p e e d . T h e c a r e v e n t ua ll y s t o pp e d o n M e r s h o n S tr e e t n e a r R o bb i n s A v e n u e , w h e r e up o n a ll t h r e e occ u p a n t s e x i t e d a n d r a n i n d i ff e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s . O f f i c e r K l e p a c t e s t i f i e d t h a t he p u r s u e d t h e D e f e n d a n t , w h o w a s w e a r i n g a g r a y ho od i e s w e a t s h i r t a nd w h o h ad e x i t e d fr o m t h e a u t o m o b i l e fr o m t h e d r i v e r ' s s i d e d oo r . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 2 0 - 2 4 ) .

O ff i c e r K l e p a c t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e h ad b r i e f l y l o s t s i g h t o f t h e D e f e n d a n t i n t h e f o o t c h a s e a s h e r a n d o w n M e r s h o n S t r ee t i n t o a d a r k b r e ez e w ay . B a c k up o ff i c e r s ha d b ee n r a d i o e d , a n d a m o m e n t l a t e r a n o t h e r r e s p o n d i n g Ph il a d e l ph i a P o l i c e O ff i c e r Sc o tt A m r i k l o c a t e d t h e D e f e n dan t o n C a r d i ff S t r e e t , w h i c h w a s r o ug h l y o n e b l o c k a w a y fr o m M e rs h o n S t r ee t . A s O ff i c e r A m r i k s u r v e y e d t h e a r e a , a n e i g hbo r o n C a r d i ff S tr e e t a l e r t e d h i m t o a b l a c k m a l e i n a g r a y h o od i e w ho h a d o b s e r v e d r u nn i ng a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t a n d h i d i n g be h i n d a w h i t e M az d a S U V . O ff i ce r A m r i k r a n p a s t t h e M a z d a a nd up t o a n e a r b y r e s i d e n t i a l p o r c h , a n d a p p r e h e nd e d t h e D ef e n d a n t a s he l a y h i d i n g f a c e p r o n e o n a p o r c h b e h i n d b u s h e s . O ff i ce r A m r i k a l s o o b s e r v e d a c e ll p h o n e o n t h e p o r c h p o s i t i o n e d n e x t t o t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s c o n ce a l e d h ead .

O ff i c e r A m r i k f u r t h er t e s t i f i e d t h a t w h e n h e a rr e s t e d t h e D e f e n d an t , h e w a i t e d f o r O ff i ce r K l e p a c , w h o p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d h i m a s t h e d r i v e r o f t h e f l ee i ng v e h i c l e , a n d t h e m a l e h e p u rs u e d i n t h e g r e y h oo d i e a f t e r e x i t i n g t h e v e h i c l e f r o m t h e d r i v e r ' s s i d e d o o r w h e n i t h a d f i n a ll y s t o pp e d

6 o n R o b b i n s A v e n u e . T h e H T C c e ll p h o n e w a s r e c o v e r e d b y t h e o f f i ce r s fr o m t h e p o r c h w h e r e t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s h e ad ha d b e e n p o s i t i on e d o n t h e g r o u nd w h e n he h a d c on c e a l e d h i m s e l f o n t h e p o r c h . ( N . T . 0 9 /1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 3 6 - 3 8 ) . A w a ll e t c o n t a i n i n g i d e n t i f i ca t i o n a n d i t e m s be l o n g i n g t o T ho m a s E . N e z t e l w e r e a l s o r e c o v e r e d fr o m t h e g r o u n d o n R o bb i n s A v e nu e j u s t o u t s i d e o f t h e o p e n d r i v e r ' s d o o r o f t h e a s s a i l a n t s ' v e h i c l e . A s m a ll b l a c k s i m u l a t e d f i r e a r m p i s t o l w i t h b l a c k b a r r e l , l o ad e d w i t h o n e 9 m m b l a nk c a r t r i d g e a n d m ag az i n e w a s r ec o v e r e d fr o m t h e r i g h t p a s s e n g e r f l o o r i n s i d e t h i s s a m e v e h i c l e . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 1 2 5 , 1 2 8 ) .

O ff i c e r M i c h ae l D a v i s t e s t i f i e d t ha t h e w a s i n s t r u c t e d t o d r i v e M r . N e t z e l t o m u l t i p l e l o c a t i o n s t o v i e w t h e t h r e e a p p r e h e n d e d m a l e s w ho ha d be e n d e t a i n e d a f t e r b e i n g o b s e r v e d r u nn i n g fr o m t h e T o y o t a C o r o ll a . M r . N e t ze l f i r m l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e s il v e r T o yo t a C o r o ll a o n R o b b i n s A v e n u e a s t h e v e h i c l e t ha t p r o v i d e d t h e e s c a p e o f t h e f l e e i n g pe r p e t r a t o rs . H e c o n f i r m e d o w n e rs h i p o f h i s s t o l e n w a ll e t a nd i t s c o n t e n t s , i n c l u d i ng h i s p h o t o g r a p h i c i d e n t i f i c a ti o n , S E P T A m o n t h l y T r a n s P a s s , T D B ank C a r d , G a m e S t o p m e m b e r s h i p c a r d , r e c o v e r e d t e n f e e t a w a y fr o m t h e T o y o t a C o r o ll a d r i v e r ' s s i d e d o o r . H e c o n f i r m e d o w n e rs h i p o f h i s s t o l e n c e ll u l a r p h o n e w i t h a r e d , b l a c k a n d b l u e c a s e t h a t h a d be e n r e c o v e r e d n e a r t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s f i n a l h i d i n g s po t .

W h e n t h e o ff i c e rs t r a n s p o r t e d M r . N e z t e l t o v i e w t h r e e a p p r e h e n d e d p e r s o n s w h o ha d e x i t e d t h e f l e e i ng v e h i c l e i n c l u d i n g t h e D e f e nd an t , he w a s u n s u r e o f t h e f a c i a l f e a t u r e s a n d t h u s c ou l d o n l y i d e n t i f y t h e a ss a i l a n t s fr o m t h e i r c l o t h i n g . H e p o s i t i v e l y r e c o g n i z e d t h e D e f e nd a n t ' s c l o t h i n g a s t h e s a m e w o r n b y t h e b l a c k m a l e w i t h t h e g r e y ho o d i e a n d da r k j e a n s w h o h ad r i f l e d t h r o u g h h i s p oc k e t s , t a k e n h i s c e ll p h o n e a n d w a ll e t , be a t h i m a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e m a l e i n t h e b l a c k h o o d i e t o s h o o t h i m j u s t be f o r e t h e g u n w a s f i r e d . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 5 5 ; 1 0 3 - 1 0 6 ) . O ff i ce r K l e p a c a l s o u n e q u i v o c a l l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e D e f e n dan t a s t h e d r i v e r o f t h e s a m e v e h i c l e t h a t h a d

7 p r o v i d e d t h e es c a p e o f t h e f l e e i n g a s s a il a n t s a n d a s t h e s a m e pe rs o n t h a t h e h a d c h a s e d o n f o o t a f t e r t h e d an g e r o u s h i gh s p e e d c h a s e h a d c o m e t o a n e n d o n R o bb i n s S tr e e t .

P h i l a d e l ph i a P o l i c e O ff i c e r D a v i d C a r t e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e h a d r e s po n d e d t o t h e R o b b i n s A v e n u e t o t r a n s p o r t t h e D ef e n da n t a f t e r h e w a s a rr e s t e d . H e s t a t e d t h a t w h e n h e s i m p l y a s k e d t h e D e f e nd a n t f o r h i s n a m e w h i l e b e i n g p l a c e i n t h e b a c k o f t h e t r a n s po r t i n g p o li c e w a go n , t h e D e f e n d a n t r a n t e d t ha t " W e a i n ' t r o b n o b ody . " H e j u s t w a n t e d s o m e" d o I ha v e t o s a y t h e e x p l e t i v e ? s o m e yo u kn o w c r a c k . H e s a i d " L i s t e n m a n , I g o t t h i s p h o n e a n d s o m e m o n e y . . . " ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 20 1 5 , p p . 5 0 ) . T h e g un t h a t h a d b e e n r e c o v e r e d fr o m t h e a s s a i l a n t s ' c a r w a s a n a l y z e d , t e s t f i r e d a n d d e e m e d b y t h e e x p e r t f i r e a r m s e x a m i n e r t o be a n o p e r a b l e b l ank b l a c k p i s t o l r e s e m b l i n g a s e m i - a u t o m a t i c 9 mm B e r e tt a h a n d g u n .

T h e D e f e n d a n t i n c r e d i b l y t e s t i f i e d t h a t w h il e t h e r o bb e r y w a s o c c u rr i n g h e w a s s i m p l y s i t ti n g i n h i s v e h i c l e p a r k e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e B e nn e r S tr e e t w i t h h i s h a z a r d l i gh t s f l a s h i n g f o r i nn o c e n t p u r p o s e s a t 3 : 0 0 a . m . H e h e a r d a l o u d b a n g j u s t b e f o r e h i s fr i e n d s j u m p e d i n t o h i s c a r u n a nn o u n c e d a n d d i s p l a y e d a n d d i s c u ss e d t h e w e a po n , c l a i m e d t o h av e a d i s p u t e w i t h s o m e w h i t e d u d e o v e r d r u g s w h i c h s o m e h o w r e s u l t e d i n v i c t i m vo l un t a r i l y g i v i n g t h e m h i s w a ll e t a nd c e ll p h o n e . H e a d m i t t e d t o s u b s e qu e n tl y d r i v i n g a w a y fr o m t h e a p p r o a c h i ng u n i f o r m e d o ff i c e rs a n d r unn i n g fr o m t h e v e h i c l e a f t e r i t f i n a ll y s t o pp e d . H e c l a i m e d t h a t o n e o f h i s c o m p a n i o n s r e v e rs e d w e a r i n g a g r e y h o o d i e t o d i s p l a y t h e b r o w n c o l o r e d s i d e o f t h e hoo d i e d u r i n g t h e h i g h s p e e d ve h i c l e c h a s e .

T h e D e f e n d a n t a l s o i n c r e d u l o u s l y d e n i e d ha v i n g e v e r t ou c h e d t h e v i c t i m ' s c e ll p h o n e t h a t m i r a c u l o u s l y a p p e a r e d o n t h e s a m e p o r c h w h e n he w a s a p p r e h e nd e d . H e a l s o m a i n t a i n e d t h a t ne v e r d r o p p e d t h e v i c t i m ' s w a ll e t t h a t ha d b e e n r e c o v e r e d j u s t o u t s i d e o f t h e o p e n e d d r i v e r ' s s i d e d o o r t h a t h e ha d e x i t e d . F i n a l l y , b y w a y o f s t i p u l a ti o n b y a n d b e t w e e n t h e D e f e n d a n t a n d h i s c o u n s e l

8 a nd t h e C o m m on w e a l t h ' s a tt o r n e y , t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s p r i o r F i r s t D e g r ee F e l o n y R o bb e r y c o n v i c t i o n und e r D o c k e t N u m b e r CP - 5 1- C R - 00 0 1 4 9 3 - 2 0 07 w h i c h ha d o c c u rr e d o n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 , 2 008 b e f o r e t h e H o n o r a b l e S a n d y L . B y r d J u d g e o f t h e C o u r t o f C o m m o n P l e a s f o r t h e F i r s t J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t o f Pe nn s y l v a n i a C r i m i n a l D i v i s i o n w a s e n t e r e d a s r e b u tt a l e v i d e n c e i n t o t h e t r i a l r e c o r d .

T h e t r i a l c o u r t p e r m i tt e d t h e D e f e nd an t t o e xp l o r e t h e p o ss i b l e i n t r o d u c t i on o f a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e fr o m o n e of t h e o t h e r m a l e s a p p r e h e n d e d a l on g w i t h h i m a f t e r t h e r o b b e r y . T h a t m a l e a f t e r c o n f e rr i n g w i t h h i s c oun s e l , de c l i n e d t o t e s t i f y d u e t o a c kn o w l e dg e d F i f t h A m e nd m e n t c o n c e r n s . T h e t r i a l c o n c l u d e d o n S e p t e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 a f t e r t h e D e f e nd a n t ' s i n t r o d u c t i o n o f s t i p u l a t e d m e d i c a l e v i d e n c e o f t r e a t m e n t of o n e o f t h e a p p r e h e nd e d c o - co n s p i r a t o r s m a l e s e n t e r e d b y w a y o f s t i p u l a t i on . I n l i gh t o f a ll o f t h e c o m p e ll i n g d i r e c t a n d c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n ce p r e s e n t e d , t h i s C o u r t f o u n d t h e D e f e n d a n t g u il t y o f R o bb e r y , a s a F e l o n y F i r s t D e g r ee , C o n s p i r a c y a s a F e l on y F i r s t D e g r e e , a n d Po ss e s s i o n o f C r i m i n a l I n s t r u m e n t a s a M i s d e m e a n o r o f t h e F i r s t D e g r e e .

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I n h i s S t a t e m e n t o f M a tt e r s C o m p l a i n e d o f o n A pp ea l, t h e D e f e nd a n t a s s e r t s t h a t h e w a s ill e g a ll y s e n t e n ce d t o a m a n d a t o r y m i n i m u m s e n t e n ce o f t e n ye a r s ' i n c a r c e r a t i o n f o r R o bb e r y a s a s ec o nd s t r i k e p u r s u a n t t o a m a n d a t o r y m i n i m u m s t a t u t e w h i c h p r e v e n t e d t h e s e n t e n c i n g j u dg e fr o m i m po s i n g a g u i d e li n e s e n t e n c e i n c l u d i n g t h e D e f e n da n t ' s o ff e n s e g r a v i t y s c o r e . T h e D e f e n d a n t c l a i m s t h e s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t n e v e r m e n t i o n e d w h a t c r i m e a n d y e a r t h e D e f e n dan t w a s p r e v i o u s l y c o n v i c t e d f o r a f i r s t s t r i k e . S e c o n d l y , t h e D e f e n d a n t c l a i m s t h e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u s t a i n a c o n v i c t i o n o f R o b b e r y , C o n s p i r a c y , a nd Po s s e s s i o n o f C r i m i n a l I n s t r u m e n t w h e r e t h e c o m p l a i n a n t ne v e r s a w t h e D e f e n da n t ' s f a c e d u r i n g t h e c o u rs e o f t h e r o b b e r y a nd i n i t i a ll y o n l y i d e n ti f i e d t h e D e f e n da n t b y h i s c l o t h i n g .

9 L T h e C o u r t c or r e c t l y s e n t e n c e d t h e D ef e n d a n t u nd er 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § 9 71 4 ( a ) ( l) , a nd c o r rec t l y s t a t e d t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s p a s t c o n v i c t i o n f o r R o bb e r y o n t h e R e c o r d .

T h e D e f e n d a n t a s s e r t s h e w a s ill e g a ll y s e n t e n c e d t o a m a n da t o r y m i n i m u m s e n t e n c e o f t e n ( 10 ) y e a r s t o a m a x i m u m of t w e n t y ( 2 0 ) y e a r s s t a t e s u p e r v i s e d c o n f i n e m e n t f o r t h e f i r s t d e g r e e R o bb e r y o ff e n s e a s a s e c o n d s t r i k e p u r s u a n t t o a m a n d a t o r y m i n i m u m s t a t u t e u nd e r 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § 9 7 1 4 ( a ) ( l ) . H e f u r t h e r a ll e g e s t h a t t h i s s t a t u t e p r o h i b i t e d t h e s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t fr o m c on s i d e r i ng t h e o ff e n s e g r a v i t y s c o r e a n d i m po s i n g a g u i d e l i n e s e n t e n c e . L a s t l y , t h e D e f e n dan t c l a i m s t h e s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t n e v e r m e n t i o n e d w h a t c r i m e a nd y e a r t h e D e f e n d a n t w a s p r e v i ou s l y c o n v i c t e d f o r a f i r s t st r i k e . T h e r e l e v a n t s t a t u t e s t a t e s i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t :

( a ) M a n d a t o r y s e n t e n c e . -- ( 1 ) A n y pe rs o n w ho i s c o n v i c t e d i n a n y c o u r t o f t h i s C o m m o n w e a lt h of a c r i m e . o f v i o l e n c e s h a ll , i f a t t h e t i m e o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f t h e c u rr e n t o ff e n s e t h e p e rs o n ha d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n c o n v i c t e d o f a c r i m e o f v i o l e n c e , be s e n t e n c e d t o a m i n i m u m s e n t e n ce o f a t l e a s t t e n y e a r s o f t o t a l c o n f i n e m e n t , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y o t h e r p r o v i s i o n o f t h i s ti tl e o r o t h e r st a t u t e t o t h e c o n t r a r y . U p o n a s e c o n d c o n v i c t i o n f o r a c r i m e o f v i o l e n c e , t h e c o u r t s h a ll g i v e t h e p e r s o n o r a l a n d w r i tt e n n o t i c e of t h e p e n a l t i e s u n d e r t h i s s ec t i on f o r a t h i r d c o nv i c t i o n f o r a c r i m e o f v i o l e n ce . 4 2 P a . S t a t . a nd C o n s . S t a t . A nn . § 9 7 1 4 ( W e s t ) . A f t e r h ea r i ng a ll e v i d e n c e a t t r i a l a nd p r i o r t o t h e S e n t e n c i n g H e a r i n g , t h i s C o u r t d u l y

d i r e c t e d t he c o m p l e t i on o f t h e P r e s e n t e n c e R e p o r t b y t h e A d u lt P r o ba ti o n & P a r o l e D e p a r t m e n t f o r t h e F i r s t J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t o f P e nn s y l v an i a C o u r t o f C o mm o n P l e a s C r i m i n a l D i v i s i o n . T h e P r e s e n t e n c e R e po r t w a s p r e pa r e d a nd r e v i e w e d b y c o u n s e l f o r b o t h p a r t i e s a nd t h i s C o u r t p r i o r t o s e n t e n c i n g . N o c h a ll e n g e s w e r e r a i s e d t o t h e a c c u r a c y o f t h e c o m p u t e d o f t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s P r i o r R e c o r d S co r e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e S e n t e n c i n g G u i d e l i n e s p r o s c r i b e d by t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a C o m m i s s i o n o n S en t e n c i n g a n d p u r s u a n t t o t h e R u l e s o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e . A t t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g , a ll p a r t i e s t h r o u g h t h e i r c ou n s e l a c kn o w l e d g e d t h e i r r e s p ec t i v e r e v i e w o f t h e P r e s e n t e n c e

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- · µ - - - · - · >< - < , · · -- · · · ·· · · · · · · ·· I nv es t i g a ti v e R e p o r t a n d M e n t a l H e a l t h E v a l u a t i on . T h e e n t i r e P r e s e n t e n ce I nv e s t i g a t i v e R e p o r t w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d as i f s e t f o r t h i n f u ll b y t h i s C o u r t a t t h e s e n t e n c i ng h e a r i n g .

I n a d d i t i o n , M r . E a r l , a s t r i a l c o u n s e l f o r t h e D ef e n d a n t , a g r e e d o n t h e r ec o r d t h a t t h e c o m p u t a t i o n o f t h e D e f e nd an t ' s P r i o r R e c o r d S c o r e r e f l ec t i v e o f t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s r e c o r d e d cr i m i n a l h i s t o r y w a s a " f i v e" b a s e d u p o n t h e da t a p r o v i d e d w i t h i n t h e P res e n t e n ce R e po r t t h a t h a d bee n d u l y p r e p a r e d b y A d u l t P r o b a ti on & P a r o l e D ep a r t m e n t f o r t h e F i r s t J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t o f P e nn s y l v an i a C ou r t o f C o m m o n P l ea s C r i m i n a l D i v i s i on . T h i s . i n c o r p o r a t e d d a t a ac c u r a t e l y i n c l u d e d t h e q u a l i f y i n g f i rs t s t r i k e c o n v i c t i o n o f t h e D e f e n d a n t f o r R o bb e r y h a d o c c u r r e d i n 2 00 8 i n fr o n t o f t h e H o n o r a b l e S a n d y L . B y r d , J u d g e o f t h e C ou r t o f C o m m o n P l e a s f o r t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t o f P e nn s y l v a n i a . A dd i t i o n a ll y , i t w a s u n d i s pu t e d t h a t t h e O ff e n s e G r a v i t y Sc o r e f o r t h e c u rr e n t R o bb e r y o ff e n s e w a s g r a d e d a s a " t e n ( 1 O ) " a n d he c o rr e s p o nd i n g r e c o m m e n d e d s t a n d a r d r a n g e o f s e n t e n c e f o r r o b b e r y w a s s i x t y ( 6 0 ) m o n t h s t o s e v e n t y - t w o ( 7 2 ) m o n t h s w i t h a p l u s o r m i n u s r a n g e o f t w e l v e ( 1 2 ) m o n t h s . T h u s t h e r ec o m m e n d e d g u i d e li n e s w h i c h a ll p a r t i e s a d op t e d a s va li d w e r e f i r m l y b a s e d u p o n c o m p u t a t i o n o f c o rr e c t d a t a i n c l u d i n g t h e q u a l i f y i n g c o n v i c t i o n .

I n a d d i t i on a s D o u g l a s E a r l, E s q u i r e a r g u e d o n be h a l f o f h i s c l i e n t d u r i n g t h e s e n t e n c i n g h ea r i ng , h e h i g h l i gh t e d h o w t h e C o mm o n w e a l t h w o u l d b e s e e k i n g a m and a t o r y s e n t e n c e und e r § 9 7 1 4 . S p e c i f i c a ll y t h e r e c o r d s t a t e s :

M R . D O U G L A S : Y o u r H o n o r , i n t h i s c a s e t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h i s s ee k i n g a m an d a t o r y s e n t e n c e u nd e r s e c t i o n 9 7 1 4 . A l , w h i c h M r . D a n i e l s h a s ac qu i r e d a f e l o n y o n e c o n v i c t i o n f o r r o bb e r y . A n d I b e li e v e t h e r e i s a m a n da t o r y m i n i m u m o f t e n y e a r s . ( N . T . 1 1 / 2 4 / 2 0 1 5 , p g . 4 ) .

I n s o d o i n g , c o u n s e l f o r t h e D e f e nd a n t a d m i t t e d t h e q u a l i f i c a ti on o f t h e m an d a t o r y m i n i m u m R o bb e r y c on v i c t i o n a s a f i r s t s t r i k e o ff e n s e p u r s u a n t t o t h e s t a t u t e . T o c l a i m upo n a p p e a l t h a t t h e i m p o s e d s e n t e n ce p u rs u an t t o t h e a c c r e d i t e d R o bb e r y c o n v i c t i on w a s " ill e g a l " b ec a u s e t h e C o u r t

1 1 -

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, - -------------------------- - - - - - . � · · · " " " " " " ' ' " ' ' ' " " " · " ' " d i d n o t v e r b a ll y r e p e a t t h e a do p t e d d a t a i s d i s i n g e n u o u s . T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y t r u e i n t h i s c a s e b eca u s e t h e d a t e o f t h e 2 0 0 8 R o b b e r y c o n v i c t i o n w a s s p e c i f i c a ll y e n t e r e d i n t o t h e t r i a l r e c o r d b y w a y o f s t i p u l a t i o n b y a n d b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s t h r o u g h c o u n s e l d u r i ng t h e h e a r i n g c o n c e r n i n g t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s M o t i o n T o S u pp r e s s E v i d e n c e a n d a g a i n d u r i n g t h e t r i a l h e l d be f o r e t h i s s a m e s e n t e n c i ng j u r i s t .

S p e c i f i ca ll y , A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A tt o r n e y T r a c i e G ayd o s a nn o un c e d a t t h e e n d o f t h e M o t i o n T o S u p p r e s s he a r i ng t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t h a d a p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n f o r R o b b e r y i n 2 008 i n fr o n t o f t h e H o n o r a b l e S a ndy L . B y r d , J u dg e o f t h e C o u r t o f C o m m o n P l e a s f o r t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t . D e f e n s e c o un s e l , M r . E a r l , r e s po n d e d a n d ac kn o w l e d g e d o n t h e r ec o r d d u r i n g t h e M o t i o n t o S u p p r e ss t h a t h e h a d a d v i s e d t h e D e f e n d a n t r e g a r d i n g h i s p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n a n d t h e i m p a c t i t c o u l d h a v e u p o n h i s s e n t e n ce . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p g . 71 ) . A dd i t i o n a ll y , du r i n g t h e w a i v e r t r i a l o n S e p t e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 , A ss i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y T r a c i e G a y do s i n t r o d u c e d i n t o e v i d e n c e b y w a y o f s t i p u l a t i o n w i t h t h e D e f e n da n t a n d h i s t r i a l c o u n s e l , t h e d a t e o f t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s p r e v i o u s R o bb e r y c o n v i c t i o n a s e v i d e n c e o f cr i m e n f a l s i f o ll o w i n g t h e D e f e n dan t ' s t e s t i m on y . O v e r a ll , t h e r e c o r d o f t h i s c a s e o v e r w h e l m i n g l y de m on s t r a t e s t h a t d u e no t i c e r e g a r d i ng t h e f u t u r e a p p li c a ti o n of t h e p r o v i s i o n of t h e M a n d a t o r y M i n i m u m S t a t u t e p u r s u a n t t o § 9 7 1 4 w a s p r o v i d e d b y t h e C o mm o n w e a lt h of P e nn s y l v an i a a n d a d o p t e d a s v a li d r e p e t i t i v e l y b y t h e D e f e n d a n t t h o u g h h i s t r i a l c o un s e l .

M o r e o v e r , a s t h e i n c o r p o r a t e d P r e s e n t e n c e R e p o r t r e f l e c t s , t h e q u a l i f y i ng c on v i c t i o n w a s s p ec i f i c a ll y d oc k e t e d u nd e r C P - 5 l - C R - 00 0 1 4 9 3 - 2 0 0 7 , f o r R o b b e r y a s a F e l on y o f t h e f i rs t D e g r e e o n t h e da t e o f Se p t e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 0 8 be f o r e t h e H o n o r a b l e S a n dy L . B y r d , s i t t i n g a s d u l y e l e c t e d J ud g e o f t h e C o u r t o f C o m m on P l e a s f o r t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s tr i c t o f P e nn s y l v a n i a C r i m i n a l D i v i s i o n . ( N . T . 0 9 / 1 5 / 2 0 1 5 , p p . 1 6 9 - 1 7 0 ) . T h u s , t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i ng r e c o r d e x p l i c i t l y a n d

1 2 • - . - . - - • - = - · = · - ---------------------- - - . - · v • • • • · · • · " ' ' " ' " '' i m p li c i t l y es t a b l i s h e s t ha t t h e D e f e nd a n t had b e e n c o n v i c t e d f o r R o b b e r y w i t h i n t h e p r o p e r ti m e p e r i o d . B e c au s e a ll r e l e v a n t d a t a c o n c e r n i n g t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s p r i o r r o bb e r y c o n v i c t i o n w a s p r o p e r l y a d m i t t e d i n t o e v i d e n c e a n d st i pu l a t e d t o b y a ll p a r t i e s , n o " i ll e g a l " s e n t e n c e w a s i m po s e d .

II . T h er e i s s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p or t c o nv i c t i o n s o f R o b b e r y , C o n s p i r a c y , a nd P o s s e s s i n g I n st r u m e n t o f C r i m e . T h e D e f e n d an t c o m p l a i n s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s v e r d i c t s o f g u il t y f o r e a c h o ff e n s e w e r e no t s u ff i c i e n t l y s u p p o r t e d w i t h e v i d e n c e . I n r e v i e w i n g t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f e v i d e n c e , a n a p p e ll a t e c o u r t c on s i d e r s " w h e t h e r t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l w a s s u ff i c i e n t t o e s t a b l i s h a ll e l e m e n t s o f t h e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t . " C o m m on w e a l t h v . B u r t o n , 2 A . 3 d 5 9 8 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 1 0 ) . T h e a p p e ll a t e c o u r t v i e w s a ll o f t h e e v i d e n c e a n d r e a s o n ab l e i n f e r e n c e s t h e r e fr o m i n a l i gh t m o s t f a vo r a b l e t o t h e C o m m o n w e a lt h a s v e r d i c t w i nn e r . I d . W h e r e t h e r e i s s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n ce . t o e n a b l e t h e t r i e r o f f a c t t o f i n d e v e r y e l e m e n t o f t h e c r i m e ha s b ee n e s t ab li s h e d be y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e do u b t , t h e s u ff i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c l a i m m u s t f a i l . I d . T h e e v i d e n ce e s t a b li s h e d a t t r i a l n e e d n o t p r e c l u d e e v e r y p o s s i b ili t y o f i nn o ce n c e a n d t h e f a c t - f i n d e r i s fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , p a r t , o r n o n e o f t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d . " C o m m o n w e a lt h v . F e li c i a no , 2 0 1 3 P A S u p e r 1 1 7 , 6 7 A . 3 d 1 9 q u o t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t h v . S t oke s , 2 0 1 1 P A S u p e r 2 6 1 , 3 8 A . 3 d 8 4 6 , 8 5 3 - 85 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) ( i n t e r n a l c i t a ti o n s a n d q u o t a t i o n s o m i t t e d ) .

a . S u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i st e d a t t r i a l t o s u pp or t a c o n v i c t i o n f o r R o b b e r y T h e D e f e n d a n t ' s f i r s t c l a i m i s t h a t t h e r e w a s i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p po r t t h e v e r d i c t o f

g u i lt y o f R o bb e r y . T h e P e nn s y l v a n i a C r i m e s C od e r e c i t e s t h a t a p e r s o n i s g u il t y o f " R o bb e r y " i f , i n t h e c o u r s e o f c o m m i tt i n g a t h e f t , h e o r s h e : i n f li c t s s e r i o u s b od i l y i n j u r y u p o n a n o t h e r ;

( i ) ( i i ) t h r e a t e n s a n o t h e r w i t h o r i n t e n t i o n a ll y p u t s h i m i n f e a r o f i mm e d i a t e s e r i ou s

b od il y i n j u r y ; ( i ii ) c o m m i t s o r t h r e a t e n s i m m e d i a t e l y t o c o mm i t a n y f e l o n y o f t h e f i rs t o r s ec o n d d e g r e e ; 1 3 ( i v ) i n f li c t s b o d i l y i n j u r y u p o n a n o t h e r o r t h r e a t e n s a n o t h e r w i t h o r i n t e n t i o n a ll y p u t s h i m i n f e a r o f i mm e d i a t e b o d i l y i n j u r y ; o r ( v ) p h y s i c a ll y t a k e s o r r e m o v e s p r o p e r t y fr o m t h e p e r s o n o f a n o t h e r b y f o r c e ho w e v e r s li g h t . 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 3 70 1 ( a ) ( l ) . " A n a c t s h a ll b e dee m e d ' i n t h e c o u r s e o f c o mm i t t i n g a t h e f t ' i f i t o c c u r s i n a n a tt e m p t t o c o m m i t t h e f t o r i n f li g h t a f t e r t h e a tt e m p t o r c o m m i s s i on . " I d . § 3 7 0 1 (a ) ( 2 ) . A p e r s o n c o mm i t s t h e c r i m e o f " t h e f t b y u n l a w f u l t a k i n g " i f he u n l a w f u ll y t a k e s t h e m o v a b l e p r o p e r t y o f a n o t h e r w i t h i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e h i m t h e r e o f . I d . , § 3 9 2 l ( a ) . C o mm o n w e a l t h v . H o p k i n s , 2 0 00 P A S u p e r 4 7 , 7 4 7 A . 2 d 91 0 , 9 1 4 ( 2 0 0 0 ) ; S e e C o mm o n w e a l t h v . S t e v e n s , 2 3 7 Pa . S u p e r . 4 5 7 , 3 52 A . 2d 5 0 9 , 5 1 3 ( 1 9 7 5 ) ( t h e f t i s a l e ss e r i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e o f r o b b e r y ) .

T h e D e f e nd a n t c l a i m s t h e C o m m o n w e a lt h p r e s e n t e d i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n c e a t t r i a l t o s u s t a i n t h e r o b b e r y c o nv i c t i on b e c au s e t h e c o m p l a i n a n t n e v e r s a w t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s . f a c e . d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e r o b b e r y , a n d o n l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e D e f e n da n t b y h i s c l o t h i n g . " E v i d e n c e o f i d e n t i f i ca t i o n n e e d no t b e p o s i t i v e a n d c e r t a i n t o s u s t a i n a c o n v i c t i o n . " C o m m on w e a l t h v . S . J o n e s , 9 5 4 A . 2 d 1 1 9 4 , 1 1 9 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 200 8 ) , a p p e a l d e n i ed , 5 9 9 Pa . 7 0 8 , 9 6 2 A . 2 d 1 1 9 6 ( 2 00 8 ) . A lt h o u gh c o m m o n i t e m s o f c l o t h i n g a n d g e n e r a l p h y s i ca l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a r e u s u a ll y i n s u ff i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t a c o nv i c t i o n , s u c h e v i d e n c e c an be u s e d a s o t h e r c i r c u m s t a n ce s t o e s t a b li s h t h e i d e n ti t y o f a p e r p e t r a t o r . C o m m on w e a lt h v . M i n n i s , 3 1 2 Pa . S u p e r . 5 3 , 4 5 8 A . 2 d 2 31 , 2 3 3 - 3 4 ( 1 9 8 3 ) . O u t- o f - c o u r t i d e n t i f i c a ti o n s a r e r e l e v a n t t o o u r r e v i e w o f s u ff i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c l a i m s , pa r t i c u l a r l y w h e n t h e y a r e g i v e n w i t h o u t he s i t a t i o n s ho r t l y a f t e r t h e cr i m e w h i l e m e m o r i e s w e r e fr e s h . I d . a t 2 3 4 . G i v e n a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n t i a r y c i r c u m s t a n c e s , " a n y i n d e f i n i t e n e s s a nd u n c e r t a i n t y i n t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t e s t i m o n y g o e s t o i t s w e i g h t . " I d . a t 2 3 3 .

I n t h e i n s t a n t c a s e , t h e v i c t i m ' s i d e n t i f i c a ti o n t h r o u gh r e c o g n it i on o f t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s g r e y h o od i e a n d d a r k j e an s w a s b u tt r e s s e d b y c o m p e ll i n g d i r e c t a n d c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n ce . T h e de t a i l s o f t h i s e v e n t , p a r t i c u l a r l y a s i t r e l a t e d t o t h e ti m i n g of t h e po li ce r e s po n s e a n d t h e i r u n e qu i v o c a l

1 4 o b s e r va ti o n s a n d p o s i t i v e i d e n t i f i c a ti o n o f t h e D e f e nd a n t a s t h e d r i v e r o f t h e ge t a w a y v e h i c l e , p r o v e d t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s a c t i v e p a r t i c i pa t i on i n t h e r o bb e r y . T h o m a s N e t z e l , b y c o n v i n c i n g l y r e l a t i n g t h e m a nn e r i n w h i c h t h e cr i m e s o c c u rr e d , p r o v i d e d t h e q u a l i f y i n g o ff e n s e e l e m e n t s f o r R o b b e r y . M r . N e t z e l w a s c e r t a i n l y t h r e a t e n e d w i t h a nd w a s p l a c e d i n f e a r o f s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j u r y w h e n h e w a s bea t e n a n d r o b b e d o f h i s p o ss e s s i o n a t po i n t o f a f i r e d g u n .

M r . N e t z e l t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e h a d b ee n s i m p l y w a l k i n g t o w a r d t h e F r a nk f o r d E l e v a t e d T r a i n t e r m i n a l t o g o t o w o r k a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 : 0 0 a . m . w h e n a t l e a s t t w o b l a c k m a l e s a p p r o a c h e d fr o m b e h i n d h i m o n e a c h s i d e . T h e y b o t h p u ll e d h i m b o d i l y i n t o a p a r k i n g l o t . T h e c o m p l a i n a n t t e s t i f i e d t h a t o n e m a l e w o r e a g r e y h o od i e s w e a t s h i r t w i t h d a r k j e a n s , a n d t h e o t h e r m a l e w o r e a b l a c k ho o d i e s w e a t s h i r t . M r . N e t z e l s t a t e d t h a t t h e m a l e w i t h t h e g r e y ho od i e r e a c h e d i n t o h i s p o c k e t s , g r a b b e d h i s p h o n e a n d w a ll e t . B o t h b r o k e h i s bo ok b a g a s t h e y p u ll e d t h e ba g fr o m a c r o ss h i s s h o u l d e r . M r . N e t ze l f u r t h e r s p e c i f i e d t h a t t h e m a l e w i t h t h e b l a c k h o o d i e k e p t h i s a r m s p i nn e d a nd h e l d a g u n t o h i s b a c k a s t h e g r e y h ood e d m a l e r i f l e d t h r o u g h h i s p o c k e t s a n d r e m o v e d h i s w a ll e t a nd c e ll u l a r t e l e p h o n e . T h e m a n i n t h e g r a y h o od i e t o l d t h e m a n i n t h e b l a c k h o o d i e t o s h o o t t h e v i c t i m a f t e r h e t r i e d t o f e nd o ff t h e m u l t i p l e f i s t e d p u n c h e s t h r o w n b y t h e g r e y h oo d e d m a l e .

T h e f o r t u i t o u s ti m i n g o f t h e p o li ce r e s p o n s e a n d r e s u lt i n g c h a i n o f e v e n t s p r o v i d e d t h e n e c e ss a r y n e x u s e v i d e n c e t o l i nk t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s c o m p l i c i t y i n t h e g r o u p a tt a c k a nd r o b b e r y . I mm e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e s h o t w a s f i r e d , M r . N e t z e l s a w t h e t w o m e n w h o r o b b e d h i m r u n t o a w a i t i n g v e h i c l e . S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , h e o b s e r v e d a m a r k e d p o l i c e c a r t u m o n t o t h e s a m e b l o c k j u s t b e h i n d t h e ge t a w a y ve h i c l e . M r . N e t z e l i mm e d i a t e l y f l a g g e d do w n t h e o ff i c e rs , r e p o r t e d w h a t hap p e n e d t o h i m a n d p o i n t e d t o t h e c a r t h a t h e ha d j u s t o b s e r v e d . T h e o ff i ce r s p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e

1 5 D e f e nd a n t a s t h e d r i v e r o f t h i s s a m e g e t a w a y v e h i c l e . T h e v i c t i m i d e n t i f i e d t h e s a m e v e h i c l e a s t h e o n e h e o b s e r v e d t he pe r p e t r a t o rs e m p l o y e d t o e s c a p e .

T h e s e q u e n c e o f e v e n t s f o ll o w i n g t h e p h y s i c a l b e a ti n g a n d t a k i n g o f M r . N e t ze l ' s b e l o n g i n g s c o n ti n u e d t o i m p l i c a t e t h e D e f e n d a n t w h e n h e d r o v e t h e g e t a w a y v e h i c l e a w a y fr o m a t a h i gh r a t e o f s p e e d j u s t a s t h e o ff i ce rs a p p r o a c h e d o n f o o t a f t e r d i re c t i n g e v e r yo n e r e m a i n i n p l a c e . I n s o d o i ng , h e d i s p l ay e d h i s c o n s c i o u s n e ss o f g u i l t . T h e D e f e nd an t a t t e m p t e d t o e v ad e a p p r e h e n s i o n o f h i m s e l f a nd i s f e ll o w c o n s p i r a t o rs i n t h e v e h i c l e a n d es c a pe w i t h t h e g u n u s e d i n t h e r o bb e r y a l o ng w i t h M r . N e t z e l' s pe r s o n a l p o ss e s s i o n s . I r o n i c a ll y , t h e D e f e n da n t ' s t e s t i m o n y c o n ce r n i n g h i s c o n t o r t e d v e r s i o n o f e v e n t s c o n f i r m e d t h e i d e n t i f i c a ti on s m ad e b y t h e O ff i ce r s ' o f h i s i d e n t i t y a s t h e ge t a w a y d r i v e r .

F o ll o w i n g t h e a u t o m ob il e c h a s e , t h e D e f e nd an t ' s f o o t f li gh t fr o m t h e d r i v e r ' s s i d e do o r o f t h e i d e n t i f i e d T o yo t a C o r o ll a a n d h i s c o n c e a l m e n t o n a p o r c h o f C a r d i ff S t r e e t a l s o c i r c u m s t a n t i a ll y c o nn e c t e d t h e D e f e n d a n t t o h i s a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a ti o n i n t h e r o bb e r y o f M r . N e t z e l . M r . N e t z e l ' s w a ll e t w i t h h i s p h o t o g r a p h i c i d e n t i f i c a ti o n , S E P T A m o n t h l y T r a n s P a ss , T D B a nk C a r d , G a m e S t o p m e m b e rs h i p c a r d ha d bee n r e c o v e r e d t e n f e e t a w a y fr o m t h e T o y o t a C o r o ll a d r i v e r ' s s i d e d oo r fr o m w h i c h t h e D e f e n da n t h ad e x i t e d . T h e v i c t i m ' s s t o l e n r e d w i t h b l a c k a n d b l u e c a s e H TC c e ll u l a r t e l e p h o n e t h a t ha d b e e n r e c o v e r e d fr o m w h e r e t h e D e f e nd a n t ' s h e ad h a d b ee n o n t h e g r o u n d a s h e u n s u c c e ss f u ll y a t t e m p t e d t o c o n c e a l h i m s e l f . W h e n t h e o ff i c e r s d r o v e t h e c o m p l a i n a n t a r o u n d t o i d e n t i f y t h e t w o m a l e s w ho r o b b e d h i m he w a s a b l e t o i d e n t i f y t h e g e t a w a y c a r , h i s s t o l e n i t e m s a n d t h e D e f e n d a n t ' s c l o t h i n g a s m a t c h i n g t h e c u l p r i t i n t h e g r a y h o o d i e .

1 6 T h e c u m u l a t i v e d i r ec t a n d c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d t h r o u gho u t t h e t r i a l p r o v e d b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d ou b t t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t i n t e n ti on a ll y a n d a c t i v e l y p a r t i c i pa t e d i n t h e v i o l e n t r o bb e r y o f T h o m a s N e t z e l a s c h a r g e d .

b . S u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i st e d a t t r i a l t o s upp o r t a c o n v i c t i o n f o r c o n s p i r a c y a s t h e D e f e n d a n t p l a ce d t h e v i c t i m i n f e a r o f s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j u r y w h il e w or k i n g i n c o n cer t w i t h a n o t h e r p e r s o n .

T h e D e f e nd a n t n e x t a s s e r t s t h a t i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n ce e x i s t e d t o c o n v i c t h i m o f C o n s p i r a c y . T h e C o n s p i r a c y g o a l a s a ll e g e d w i t h i n t h e c h a r g i n g B ill s of I n f o r m a ti on w a s R o bb e r y . A s p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i on e d , t h e D e f e n d a n t w a s c h a r g e d w i t h r o b b e r y u nd e r 1 8 Pa . C . S . § 3 7 0 1 ( a ) ( l ) ( i ) a n d (ii ) . U n d e r t h o s e p r o v i s i o n s , a p e rs on i s g u i l t y o f r o b b e r y , " i f , i n t h e c o u r s e o f c o mm i t t i n g a t h e f t , h e : ( i ) i n f li c t s s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y u p o n a n o t h e r ; ( i i ) t h r e a t e n s a no t h e r w i t h o r i n t e n t i o n a ll y p u t s h i m i n f e a r o f i m m e d i a t e s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y . " 1 8 P a . C . S . § 3 7 0 1 ( a ) (l ) ( i ) - { i i ) . C o m . v . M it c h e ll , 2 0 1 6 P A S u p e r 5 3 , 13 5 A . 3 d 1 0 97 , 1 10 2 , a p p e a l d e n i e d , 1 4 5 A . 3 d 7 2 5 ( P a . 2 0 1 6 ) .

" A n ac t s h a ll b e d e e m e d ' i n t h e c o u rs e o f c o m m i t t i n g a t h e f t ' i f i t o cc u r s i n a n a tt e m p t t o c o mm i t t h e f t o r i n f l i g h t a f t e r t h e a t t e m p t o r c o m m i s s i o n . " I d . § 3 7 0 l ( a ) ( 2 ) . A p e rs o n c o m m i t s t h e c r i m e of " t h e f t b y u n l a w f u l t a k i n g " i f he u n l a w f u ll y t a k e s t h e m o v ab l e p r o p e r t y o f a no t h e r w i t h i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e h i m t h e r e o f . I d . , § 3 9 2 1 ( a ) . C o m m o n w e a l t h v . H o p k i n s , 2 0 0 0 P A S u p e r 4 7 , 7 4 7 A . 2 d 9 10 , 91 4 ( 2 0 00 ) ; Se e C o mm o n w e a l t h v . S t e v e n s , 2 3 7 Pa . S u p e r . 4 5 7 , 3 5 2 A . 2 d 5 0 9 , 5 1 3 ( 1 9 7 5 ) (t h e f t i s a l e s s e r i n c l ud e d o ff e n s e o f r o bb e r y ) .

A d e f e n d a n t a l s o m a y be g u i l t y o f R o bb e r y a s a n ac c o m p l i c e o r c o - c o n s p i r a t o r a s l o n g a s t h e d e f e nd a n t p o s s e s s e d t h e r e qu i s i t e " m e n s r e a " t o c o m m i t t he cr i m i n a l ac t a n d t h e a d d i t i o n a l e l e m e n t s o f ac c o m p l i c e li a b ili t y o r c o n s p i r a t o r i a l l i a b ili t y a r e es t a b li s h e d . S e c t i o n 9 0 3 o f t h e P e nn s y l v a n i a C r i m e s C o d e s e t s f o r t h t h e c r i m e of c o n s p i r a c y :

1 7 ( a ) D e f i n i t i o n o f c on s p i r a c y . - A p e rs on i s g u i l t y o f c o n s p i r a c y w i t h a n o t h e r p e rs o n o r p e rs o n s t o c o mm i t a c r i m e i f w i t h t h e i n t e n t o f p r o m o t i n g o r f a c i l i t a t i n g i t s c o m m i s s i o n h e :

( 1 ) a g r e e s w i t h s u c h o t h e r p e r s on o r pe rs on s t h a t t h e y o r o n e o r m o r e o f t h e m w ill e ng a g e i n c o n du c t w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s s u c h c r i m e o r a n a tt e m p t o r s o li c i t a t i o n t o c o m m i t s u c h cr i m e ; o r

( 2 ) a g r e e s t o a i d s u c h o t h e r p e rs o n o r p e r s on s i n t h e p l a nn i n g o r c o m m i s s i o n of s u c h c r i m e o r o f a n a tt e m p t o r s o l i c i t a t i o n t o c o mm i t s u c h c r i m e . 1 8 P a . C . S . § 9 0 3 . A pe rs o n i s a c o n s p i r a t o r i f " t h e de f e n d an t : 1 ) e n t e r e d i n t o a n a g r e e m e n t t o c o mm i t o r a i d

i n a n u n l a w f u l a c t w i t h a n o t h e r pe r s o n o r p e rs o n s ; 2 ) w i t h a s h a r e d c r i m i n a l i n t e n t ; a nd 3 ) a n o v e r t ac t w a s d on e i n f u r t h e r a n ce o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y . " C o m m o n w e a l t h v . D e v i n e , 2 6 A . 3 d 1 13 9 , 1 1 4 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) . " T h e c o n d u c t o f t h e p a r t i e s a n d t h e c i r c u m s t an c e s s u rr o un d i n g s u c h c o n d u c t m ay cr e a t e a w e b o f e v i d e n c e l i nk i n g t h e a c c u s e d t o t h e a ll e g e d c o n s p i r a c y b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t . " I d . T h e c o n s p i r a t o r i a l a g r e e m e n t " c an b e i n f e rr e d fr o m a v a r i e t y o f c i r c u m s t a n ce s i n c l u d i n g , b u t no t li m i t e d t o , t h e r e l a ti o n be t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s , kno w l e d g e o f a nd p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e c r i m e , a n d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d c o n d u c t of t h e p a r t i e s s u r r o u nd i n g t h e c r i m i n a l e p i s o d e . " I d

T h e D e f e n d a n t ' s o n l y c l a i m , i s t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l w a s i n s u ff i c i e n t t o s u s t a i n a c on v i c t i o n f o r c o n s p i r a c y t o c o mm i t r o b b e r y be c a u s e t h e c o m p l a i n a n t w a s o n l y a b l e t o i d e n t i f y t h e D e f e nd an t v i a r e c o g n i t i o n o f h i s c l o t h i n g . T h e o v e r w h e l m i n g e v i d e n ce i n t r o du c e d a t t r i a l i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e c o m p l a i n a n t ' s f l a w e d i d e n t i f i c a ti o n , h o w e v e r , p r o v e d t h a t t h e D e f e nd a n t a n d h i s c o h o r t s a c t e d i n c o m p l e t e c o n c e r t w i t h e a c h o t h e r i n f u r t h e r a n ce o f t h e i r g o a l t o p e r m an e n t l y r e m o v e M r . N e t z e l o f h i s pe rs o n a l p r o p e r t y a f t e r t h r e a t e n i n g h i m w i t h s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y . E a c h p l ay e d a n a c t i v e pa r t t o f a c i l i t a t e t h i s g oa l t o g e t he r .

A t l e a s t t w o m e n a p p r o a c h e d T h o m a s N e t z e l t o g e t h e r . O n e st o o d b y e a c h of h i s s i d e s a n d b o t h p u l l e d h i m i n t o t h e pa r k i n g l o t a w a y fr o m t h e s t r e e t . T h e m a l e i n t h e b l a c k ho od i e h e l d t h e 1 8 g u n t o t h e v i c t i m ' s b a c k a t i n d e e d s h o t a t h i m w h il e t h e m a l e i n t h e g r a y h o o d i e g r a b b e d h i s w a ll e t a n d c e ll p h o n e a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e o t h e r m a l e t o s h o o t h i m . C l e a r l y t h i s d e m o n s t r a t e d a c o ll e c t i v e e f f o r t . T h e v i c t i m s a w h i s a tt a c k e rs r u n t o g e t h e r t o a w a i t i ng v e h i c l e . T he D e f e nd a n t d r o v e t h e g e t a w a y ve h i c l e w i t h t w o p a s s e n g e r s t o e v a d e p o l i ce a p p r e h e n s i on . A ll t h r e e m a l e s r a n fr o m t h e v e h i c l e a n d l e f t t h e g un u s e d i n t h e r o b b e r y b e h i n d i n t h e c a r . U p o n a p p r e h e n s i o n , t h e D e f e nd a n t ' s c l o t h i n g m a t c h e d t h e c l o t h i n g o f t h e m a l e w i t h t h e g r e y h oo d i e w h o p h y s i c a ll y b e a t h i m , t o o k h i s be l o n g i n g s a n d e n c o u r a g e d h i s c o - c o n s p i r a t o r t o s h o o t h i m . A g a i n t h e D e f e nd a n t ' s f l i gh t a nd c o n c e a l m e n t de m o n s t r a t e d h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f g u i lt . T h e D e f e n d a n t ' s u n s o li c i t e d c o m m e n t s t o t h e t r a n s po r t i n g po li ce o f f i c e r i ll u m i n a t e d h i s c o m p l i c i t y w i t h h i s a s s o c i a t e s .

E v e n i f w a s no t s u ff i c i e n t l y d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e _ D e f e n d a n t w a s o n e o f t h e t w o p e r s o n s w h o p h y s i ca ll y a tt a c k e d T h o m a s N e t z e l, i t w a s p r o v e n d i r e c tl y a nd c i r c u m s t a n t i a ll y t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t e n g a g e d i n o v e r t a c t s t h a t s u f f i c i e n tl y c o n f i r m e d h i s c u l p a b ili t y a s a c o - c o n s p i r a t o r . H e d r o v e t h e g e t a w a y v e h i c l e w i t h t h e c o - c o n s p i r a t o r s , g u n a nd ill i c i t p r o c e e d s i n s i d e a t a h i gh r a t e of s p ee d t o e v ad e p o li ce a p p r e h e n s i o n . H e r a n a n d c o n c ea l e d h i m s e l f o n a p o r c h a nd w a s a pp r e h e n d e d w i t h i n a h a n d s w e e p o f M r . N e t z e l ' s s t o l e n c e ll p ho n e . T h e o ff e n s e e l e m e n t s o f t h e c o n s p i r a t o r i a l i n t e n t a n d a g r e e m e n t a n d o v e r t ac t i on s w e r e s u ff i c i e n tl y s u pp o r t e d .

c . S u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i s t e d t o s u p p o r t a c o n v i c t i o n f o r p o s s e ss i n g a n i n s t r u m e n t o f a c r i m e . D e f e n d a n t n e x t a s s e r t s t h a t t h e r e w a s i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n t t o s up p o r t a c o n v i c t i on f o r Po ss e s s i o n o f a n I n s t r u m e n t o f C r i m e . F o r a p e r s o n t o b e f o u n d g u i lt y o f p o s s e ss i n g a n i n s t r u m e n t o f c r i m e , t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h m u s t p r o v e t h r e e e l e m e n t s be yo n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t . It m u s t b e p r o v e n t h a t ( 1 ) a d e f e nd an t p o ss e ss e d t h e i n s t r u m e n t w i t h t h e i n t e n t t o e m p l o y i t c r i m i n a ll y ; ( 2 ) t h e i n s t r u m e n t i s o n e c o m m o n l y u s e d f o r c r i m i n a l p u r p o s e s ; a n d ( 3 ) a d e f e n d a n t p o s s e s s e d t h e

1 9 i n s t r u m e n t u nd e r c i r c u m s t a n ce s no t m a n i f e s t l y a pp r o p r i a t e f o r l a w f u l u s e s . C o m m on w e a l t h v . G l a d d e n , 4 4 5 P a . S u p e r . 4 3 4 , 4 44 , 6 6 5 A . 2 d 1 2 0 1 , 1 2 0 6 ( 1 9 9 5 ) ; C o m m on w e a l t h v . F o s t e r , 43 8 P a . S u p e r . 4 0 , 4 4 , 6 5 1 A . 2d 1 6 3 , 1 6 5 ( 1 9 9 4 ); C o m m on w e a l t h v . C o r re a , 4 3 7 P a . S u p e r . 1 , 1 0 , 6 48 A . 2d 1 1 9 9 , 1 2 0 3 ( 1 9 9 4 ) , a ll o c a t u r d e n i e d , 5 4 0 Pa . 6 1 7 , 6 5 7 A . 2d 48 7 ( 1 9 9 5 ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t h v . M e e k i n s , 4 3 4 P a . S u p e r . 5 8 7 , 5 9 0 , 6 44 A . 2 d 7 6 5 , 7 6 6 ( 1 9 9 4 ) . S e e 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 9 0 7 .

T h e t e s t i m ony a t t r i a l e s t a b li s h e d t h a t T ho m a s N e t z e l r e po r t e d t h a t a h an d g u n h ad b ee n p o i n t e d t o h i s b a c k a n d f i r e d w h e n t h e i t e m s w e r e f o r c i b l y t a k e n fr o m h i m b y a t l e a s t t w o m e n a c t i n g i n c o n c e r t w i t h e a c h o t h e r . F u r t h e r , w h e n t h e D e f e n d a n t t e s t i f i e d h e a d m i tt e d t h a t h i s a s s o c i a t e , M r . E ll i s W a s h i n g t o n , h e l d t h e r e c o v e r e d h a n d g un i n t h e ge t a w a y c a r ' s b a c k s e a t w h i l e a ll p a s s e n g e r s d i s c u s s e d t h e i r e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e v i c t i m a s t h e D e f e n d a n t d r o v e a w a y a t a h i g h r a t e o f s p ee d fr o m t h e r e s po n d i n g p o li c e o ff i c e r s . A b l a nk l o a d e d a nd o p e r a b l e p i s t o l w a s r e c o v e r e d fr o m t h e s a m e g e t a w a y v e h i c l e . T h e e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y e s t ab l i s h e s t h e r e c ov e r e d w e apo n w a s u s e d d u r i n g t h e c o mm i s s i o n o f r o b b e r y w h i c h i s a cr i m i n a l p u r p o s e . T h i s t y p e o f w e a p o n o r han d gu n i s a l s o c o m m o n l y u s e d f o r c r i m i n a l p u r p o s e s . U t il i z i n g t h i s w e a p o n t o f a c i li t a t e a r o b b e r y i s u nd oub t e d l y t h e o p p o s i t e o f u s i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t i n a l a w f u l m a n n e r . T h e D e f e nda n t ' s li a b i li t y f o r p o s s e s s i o n o f t h i s i n s t r u m e n t o f c r i m e w a s f i r m l y es t a b l i s h e d v i a t h e e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h i n g h i s r o l e a s a n a c c o m p l i c e o r c o - c o n s p i r a t o r w i t h t h e w e a po n w i e l d e r . T h u s , a ll e l e m e n t s o f t h i s o ff e n s e w e r e s u f f i c i e n t l y s u pp o r t e d b y c o m p e t e n t a n d c o m p e lli ng t r i a l e v i d e n ce .

2 0

C

ON CL U S I O N I n r e v i e w i n g t h e e n t i r e r e c o r d , t h i s C o u r t f i n d s n o ha r m f u l , p r e j u d i c i a l , o r r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r . A c c o r d i ng l y , t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t s h o u l d b e a ff i r m e d . B y t h e C o u r t , t : f < f t : ,. / ; . 7 D A T E : 2 1

NOTES

[1] Both Appellant and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925. - 2 -

[3] See also Commonwealth v. Davalos , 779 A.2d 1190, 1194 (Pa. Super. 2001) (“Once conspiracy is established and upheld, a member of the conspiracy is also guilty of the criminal acts of his co-conspirators. Commonwealth v. Roux , 350 A.2d 867, 871-872 (Pa. 1976). There is sufficient evidence to uphold [a]ppellant’s convictions for aggravated assault and possessing an instrument of crime as well as criminal conspiracy.”). - 5 -

Case Details

Case Name: Com. v. Daniels, C.

Court Name: Superior Court of Pennsylvania

Date Published: Dec 13, 2017

Docket Number: 3835 EDA 2015

Court Abbreviation: Pa. Super. Ct.