Commonwealth v. Cook

220 Pa. Super. 244 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1971

Concurrence Opinion

Concurring Opinion by

Hoffman, J.:

In January, 1969, appellant was tried before a judge and jury on charges of burglary, larceny, and receiving stolen goods. Testimony at trial showed that appellant was arrested in his apartment on October 13, 1968, and pursuant to a search guns stolen from a bar on September 19, 1968, were discovered. Commonwealth witnesses established the circumstances of the theft of the guns and appellant’s later possession. Appellant’s demurrer to the evidence was overruled, and he took the stand in his own defense.

At trial appellant acknowledged that initially he had lied to the police, telling them that he had disposed of the guns because he realized that having them could cause him trouble. Appellant testified that he had acquired the guns from a stranger. He indicated that one weekend after a quarrel with his wife he went to a bar and began drinking heavily. A stranger approached him and they began discussing appellant’s marital problems. The stranger indicated that if he had a wife like that he would kill her. Appellant asked “how”, and the stranger replied, in effect, “with these guns that I am giving you.” Appellant testified that he returned home with the guns, but did not have occasion to use them.

The jury found appellant not guilty of both burglary and larceny, but guilty of receiving stolen goods. Post-trial motions were denied and from judgment of sentence this appeal followed.

In order for appellant to be guilty of receiving stolen goods the Commonwealth has the burden of proving the three distinct elements of the crime: (1) that certain goods were stolen; (2) that the defendant received some or all of such goods; and (3) that he received them knowing or having reason to know that they were stolen. Commonwealth, v. Leo, 188 Pa. Superior Ct. 36, 145 A. 2d 925 (1958). Appellant acknowledges that the Commonwealth established sufficient facts to sustain its burden as to the first two elements. However, he contends that in light of Commonwealth v. Owens, 441 Pa. 318, 271 A. 2d 230 (1970), the Commonwealth did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant knew or had reason to know the guns were stolen.

In Owens the appellant’s only connection with a stolen pistol was that he was seen with it in his possession three weeks after the theft. The Supreme Court held that in these circumstances it was not “more likely than not” that appellant knew the goods were stolen. Thus the jury could not be allowed to presume the requisite guilty knowledge.

In the instant case, appellant was shown to have possessed the guns at least twenty-four days after their theft, but the jury was presented with additional circumstances relevant to appellant’s guilty knowledge. First, appellant had the guns hidden in his apartment, and he indicated to police that he realized their possession could cause him trouble. In addition, appellant gave the police conflicting stories as to his connection with the guns, and the explanation he offered the jury was at best farfetched. Although the Commonwealth’s evidence of possession standing alone may not have been sufficient to convict appellant, when he chose not to rest his case but instead took the stand in his own defense, he did so at his peril. Commonwealth v. Ma-rino, 142 Pa. Superior Ct. 327, 16 A. 2d 314 (1940) ; Act of June 5, 1937, P. L. 1703, §1, 19 P.S. §481. The juxy was of course free to disbelieve his explanation and to coxxsider appellant’s lack of truthfulness as an additional cirexxmstance bearing on his knowledge of whether the guns were stolen.

Therefore, unlike the situatioxx in Owens, additioxxal evidence besides the mere possessioxx of stolen goods was before the jury. Fronx appellant’s possession and these additional facts the jixry could properly conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the guns were stolen. Thus, I believe the ruling of Owens is inapplicable to the present case¹ axid I concxxr in the affirmance of the jxxdgment of sentence.

1 Since I believe Owens is inapplicable, I do not consider whether that ease should be given retroactive application.

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Lead Opinion

Opinion

Per Curiam,

Judgment of sentence affirmed.