Lead Opinion
Leroy Ronald Feflie was tried by jury and was found guilty of robbery,
On February 12, 1987, pursuant to an affidavit detailing the robbery and reciting a physical description of the robber and a sworn statement by Patricia Heckman that appellant had told her of his intention to commit the robbery, a warrant was issued for Feflie’s arrest. A teletype concerning the arrest warrant was promptly sent and received by Sheriff Terry Ashe of Wilson County, Tennessee. The teletype contained Feflie’s last known address in Mt. Juliette, Tennessee, and a description of Feflie’s vehicle. This vehicle was later found and identified in front of the residence of Feflie’s former wife in Mt. Juliette. Throughout the evening, Tennessee police monitored the Mt. Juliette residence, and the following morning they entered the house and arrested appellant. A search of the house produced a green fatigue jacket. Appellant consented to a search of his Dodge van, and there police found blue jeans, two green T-shirts, an “Assault Force” T-shirt, five .22 caliber shells, ten Federal .357 Magnum shells and six Remington shotgun shells.
Appellant first challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. He contends that the evidence was so circumstantial that it was insufficient to establish his identity as the perpetrator of the crimes. Further, appellant argues that the Commonwealth failed to establish the elements of the
“In reviewing appellant’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence we must determine ‘whether, viewing all the evidence admitted at trial, together with all reasonable inferences therefrom, in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the trier of fact could have found that each element of the offenses charged was supported by evidence and inferences sufficient in law to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” Commonwealth v. Sabharwal,
When viewed in this light, it is evident that the Commonwealth’s evidence was legally sufficient to support a finding that appellant had perpetrated the offenses charged. The evidence at trial established that one week prior to the robbery, a woman who resided in the neighborhood of the Bank had observed appellant near the Bank on two separate
Prior to the robbery, appellant was dating and occasionally stayed with Patricia Heckman. Heckman testified that appellant had discussed with her his plans for the bank robbery. He had told her that he planned to enter the Bank after the employees arrived and handcuff the women. Heckman testified that for approximately one month prior to the robbery appellant had been “watching” the Bank and that on two occasions she and appellant had gone to the First Valley Bank to see who was there and to examine the floor plan. On one occasion prior to the robbery, Heckman had returned home to find appellant in her living room in possession of a green duffle bag, handcuffs, rubber gloves, a dark ski mask, a pair of old tan work boots and a .357 Magnum.
The Commonwealth also elicited testimony from John Hall, appellant’s prison mate. Hall testified that appellant had related the manner in which he had staked out the Bank to learn the times when the Bank employees would arrive and depart. In relating the events of the robbery, appellant had told Hall that he was wearing blue jeans, an Army coat which covered a T-shirt on which the words “Assault Force or Attack Force” appeared, a ski mask, and gloves. He also offered that he had used a .357 Magnum to commit the robbery. Hall related that appellant had told him of an alibi which he intended to use concerning the Days Inn in Tennessee.
Appellant testified on his own behalf that he had left Pennsylvania on either February 6, 1987 or February 7, 1987 for a fishing trip to Tennessee. He said that he had arrived in Tennessee on the evening of February 9, 1987, and had slept in his van that evening. He said that on the night of February 10, 1987 he had been unable to contact his former wife and as a result had spent the night at the Days Inn. The credibility of this testimony, of course, was
The evidence was also sufficient to permit a finding of reckless endangerment of another person. The evidence, if believed, showed that the robber had entered the Bank and displayed a “long-barrel,” “large caliber handgun revolver.” Cannavo testified that she had seen the revolver which had a “round cylinder with the bullets in it.” See: Commonwealth v. Rivera,
Appellant next contends that the photographic arrays shown to Toni Pulcini, the neighbor woman who identified appellant in the vicinity of the Bank prior to the robbery, and Jay Siegel, who identified appellant as being near the Bank following the robbery, were unnecessarily suggestive and should have been suppressed because the other individuals in the arrays did not resemble appellant. These photographic displays have not been included in the record. It is the appellant’s responsibility to provide a complete and comprehensive record to the reviewing court for the purposes of appeal. Commonwealth v. Williams,
Next, appellant argues that the trial court erred in failing to suppress the inculpatory statements allegedly made by appellant to John Hall, a prison mate at the Northampton County Prison. He argues that because Hall
In the recent case of Illinois v. Perkins, — U.S.-,
The warning mandated by Miranda was meant to preserve the privilege during “incommunicado interrogation of individuals in a police-dominated atmosphere.” ... The essential ingredients of a “police-dominated atmosphere” and compulsion are not present when an incarcerated person speaks freely to someone that he believes to be a fellow inmate. Coercion is determined from the perspective of the suspect____ When a suspect considers himself in the company of cellmates and not officers, the coercive atmosphere is lacking____
Miranda was not meant to protect suspects from boasting about their criminal activities in front of persons whom they believe to be their cellmates. This case is illustrative. Respondent had no reason to feel that undercover agent Parisi had any legal authority to force him to answer questions or that Parisi could affect respondent’s future treatment. Respondent viewed the cellmate-agent as an equal and showed no hint of being intimidated by the atmosphere of the jail. In recounting the details of the Stephenson murder, respondent was motivated solely by the desire to impress his fellow inmates. He spoke at his own peril.
Id. at -,
Appellant next contends that evidence found as a result of the search of his former wife’s residence should have been suppressed because the police failed to announce their purpose prior to entering. The information which had been given to the police in Tennessee was that the suspect
Absent exigent circumstances, a police officer executing a warrant must give notice of his identity and announce his purpose prior to entering a private residence. See: Commonwealth v. Kitchener,
In Commonwealth v. Eliff,
Under either standard, there is no basis for disturbing the finding of exigent circumstances by the suppression court. The police were aware of the potential that appellant was armed with a .357 Magnum. They also knew that there had been children in the house, and suspected that others remained. Police conduct, after the back door had been opened, belies any flagrant attempt on their part to flaunt the “knock and announce” rule. The police entertained a reasonable belief that appellant was armed, since the offense had been committed with a weapon merely three days before and because no weapon had been found at the scene. Given all that had come to the knowledge of police prior to execution of the arrest warrant, it is clear that they acted reasonably and that appellant’s arrest was lawful.
Appellant also contends that evidence seized following his arrest was subject to suppression because the Tennessee police had arrested appellant without obtaining an arrest warrant in Tennessee. Because the arresting officers had received a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) teletype of the Pennsylvania arrest warrant, these NCIC printouts were of sufficient reliability to establish probable cause for arrest without additional warrant. See: Commonwealth v. Evans,
If at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply with this rule, the court may order such party to permit discovery or inspection, may grant a continuance, or may prohibit such party from introducing evidence not disclosed, other than testimony of the defendant, or it may enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.
By granting a short continuance, the trial court properly exercised its discretion to avoid any prejudice to appellant. The late production of the letter, therefore, does not warrant the grant of a new trial. See: Commonwealth v. Jacobs,
Finally,
The judgment of sentence is affirmed.
Notes
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2705.
. For purposes of sentencing, the crimes of theft and recklessly endangering another person were merged with the crime of robbery.
. Miranda v. Arizona,
. Tamandl testified to procedures in the prison, and Watras rebutted appellant’s alibi evidence.
. We have also rejected the following issues raised by appellant:
1. Whether the trial court erred in denying appellant’s motion for change of venue?
2. Whether the trial court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial based on references to drug use by appellant?
3. Whether the trial court erred in permitting testimony regarding appellant’s prior criminal record?
4. Whether the trial court erred in failing to permit appellant's testimony to be re-read to the jury?
5. Whether appellant was denied effective assistance of counsel as a result of trial counsel’s failure to make a timely motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 1100?
These issues have been fully discussed and correctly decided in the opinion authored by the trial court.
Dissenting Opinion
concurring:
While I join the majority’s conclusion that John Hall was not serving as an agent of the Commonwealth when he elicited appellant’s “jailhouse confession” and conveyed it to the authorities, I believe this conclusion resolves the suppression issue and further discussion is unnecessary. See Commonwealth v. Rhoades,
Resolving both the Fifth and Sixth Amendment arguments, the majority found persuasive: (1) that John Hall, appellant’s prison mate, was not acting at the behest of the police when he obtained appellant’s “jailhouse confession;” and (2) that he was not promised favorable treatment for giving testimony against appellant. To that, I will add two additional observations. First, the record indicates that John Hall initiated communications with the District Attorney’s office vis a vis a letter indicating that he wished to speak with the person handling appellant’s prosecution. (N.T. suppression hearing of September 18, 1987, at 29). Second, nothing can be gleaned from the record to conclude that Hall was placed strategically in the prison so as to elicit a confession. In fact, Hall’s cell was on a different tier in the prison. (N.T. 392-95, 400-03). As such, I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the informant’s legal status was no different than any other prisoner who may have elicited defendant’s “jailhouse confession.”
Once we conclude that Hall was not serving as an agent for the Commonwealth, our analysis should end. The majority’s citation to Perkins is misleading in that it runs counter to our conclusion that the informant’s legal status was no different from any other prisoner acting on his or her own initiative. We must remember that Perkins stands for the narrow proposition that “an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a fellow inmate need not give Miranda warnings to an incarcerated suspect before asking questions that may elicit an incriminating response.” Perkins,
