J 

### -A15021-19 NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE 

### SUPERIOR COURT 

### I.O.P. 

## 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF 

### PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF 

### PENNSYLVANIA 

### Appellee v. DANIEL FORMICA 

### Appellant No. 

### 1782 EDA 

### 2018 Appeal 

### from the Judgment of Sentence Entered 

### January 11, 

### 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas 

### of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): 

### CP-51-CR-0002126-2017 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., 

### GANTMAN, P.J.E., and 

### COLINS*, J. MEMORANDUM BY 

### GANTMAN, P.J.E.: 

### FILED AUGUST 

### 02, 

### 2019 Appellant, Daniel 

### Formica, appeals 

### from the 

### judgment of sentence entered in 

### the Philadelphia 

### County Court of Common Pleas, 

### following his 

### bench 

### trial conviction for persons not to possess 

### firearms.' We 

### affirm. In its 

### opinion, the 

### trial court 

### fully and 

### correctly set 

### forth the relevant facts and 

### some of 

### the procedural 

### history of 

### this case. 

### Therefore, we 

### have no 

### reason to 

### restate them. We add 

### that on 

### January 11, 

### 2018, the 

### court sentenced 

### Appellant to 

### three years' probation. Appellant 

### timely filed a 

### post - 

### sentence 

### motion on 

### January 18, 

### 2018, which was denied by 

### operation of law on 

### May 

### 21, 

### 2018. On 

### June 20, 

### 2018, 

### Appellant 

### timely filed a 

### notice 

### of appeal. The 

### court, on 

### August 27, 

### 2018, ordered 

### Appellant to 

### file a 

### concise 

### statement 

## ' 18 

### Pa.C.S.A. § 

### 6105(a)(1). Retired 

### Senior Judge assigned to 

### the Superior Court.J 

### -A15021-19 of 

### errors complained of on 

### appeal 

### pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 

### 1925(b). Appellant 

### timely filed a Rule 

### 1925(b) 

### statement on 

### September 5, 

### 2018. 

### Appellant raises 

### the following issues 

### for our review: WAS THE EVIDENCE 

### INSUFFICIENT TO SHOW THAT [APPELLANT] CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED A FIREARM FOUND 

### INSIDE OF 

### HIS UNLOCKED TRUCK WHEN HE WAS MERELY PRESENT 

### INSIDE THE 

### BUILDING BEHIND WHICH THAT TRUCK WAS PARKED, 

### AND WHERE HE WAS NEVER SEEN 

### WITH A FIREARM, 

### INSIDE THE 

### TRUCK, OR 

### OUTSIDE OF THE 

### BUILDING? DID THE 

### TRIAL COURT ABUSE 

### ITS DISCRETION BY DENYING 

### [APPELLANT'S] POST -SENTENCE MOTION 

### THAT THE 

### VERDICT WAS 

### AGAINST THE 

### WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE WHERE 

### THAT COURT 

### MISAPPLIED THE LAW REGARDING CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION? 

### (Appellant's Brief at 

### 8). A 

### challenge to 

### the sufficiency of the evidence implicates the following legal 

### principles: The 

### standard we 

### apply in 

### reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence is 

### whether viewing all 

### the evidence 

### admitted at 

### trial in 

### the 

### light most favorable to 

### the 

### verdict winner, there is 

### sufficient evidence to enable 

### the 

### fact 

### -finder to find 

### every element of the crime beyond a 

### reasonable doubt. In applying 

### [the above] 

### test, we 

### may not weigh the evidence and 

### substitute our 

### judgment for the 

### fact -finder. In 

### addition, we 

### note 

### that the facts and 

### circumstances established by 

### the Commonwealth need 

### not preclude 

### every possibility of innocence. Any doubts regarding a 

### defendant's 

### guilt may be 

### resolved by 

### the 

### fact 

### -finder unless 

### the evidence is so 

### weak and 

### inconclusive 

### that as a 

### matter of law no 

### probability of 

### fact may be 

### drawn 

### from the combined circumstances. The 

### Commonwealth may sustain its 

### burden of proving 

### every element of the crime beyond a 

### reasonable 

### doubt by 

### means of 

### wholly circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in 

### applying the above 

### test, the entire record 

### must be 

### evaluated and all 

### evidence 

### actually received 

### must be 

### considered. Finally, 

### the

- 2 -J 

### -A15021-19 

### [finder] of 

### fact while passing upon 

### the 

### credibility of witnesses and 

### the 

### weight of 

### the evidence produced, is 

### free to 

### believe all, 

### part or none 

### of the evidence. 

## Commonwealth v. 

### Jones, 874 A.2d 108, 120-21 (Pa.Super. 

### 2005). 

### After a 

### thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and 

### the well -reasoned opinion 

### of the Honorable Sierra L. 

### Thomas 

### -Street, we 

### conclude 

### Appellant's issues 

### merit no 

### relief. The 

### trial court opinion 

### comprehensively discusses and 

### properly disposes 

### of the questions presented. 

### (See Trial Court Opinion, filed 

### November 16, 

### 2018, at 

### 4-10) (finding: 

## (1-2) Appellant's 

### father testified he 

### lived 

### with Appellant on 

### Walker Street, where 

### father's gun was 

### located, and no 

### one else lived 

### at residence; Appellant's 

### father's gun 

### went missing on 

### or about 

### 12/30/16 or 

### 12/31/16; Appellant's 

### father contacted police, filed 

### report, and 

### informed police he 

### thought Appellant had 

### missing 

### gun; next day, police found missing gun in 

### Appellant's vehicle; Appellant's vehicle doors were unlocked and 

### butt of gun was on 

### floor with barrel leaning 

### against passenger side 

### seat; vehicle was 

### registered to 

### Appellant, and 

### Appellant had 

### keys to 

### vehicle on 

### his 

### person 

### at 

### time of 

### arrest; parties stipulated Appellant's prior conviction prohibited him 

### from possessing 

### firearm; Commonwealth presented 

### sufficient circumstantial evidence of 

### constructive possession to 

### sustain conviction and 

### verdict was 

### not 

### against 

### weight of evidence). The record 

### supports the 

### trial court's rationale. Accordingly, we 

### affirm on 

### the basis 

### of the 

### trial court opinion. Judgment of sentence 

### affirmed. 

## -3J 

### -A15021-19 Judgment Entered. seph D. 

### Seletyn, Prothonotary Date: 

### 8/2/19



## -4Circulated 07/22/2019 03:39 PM

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### v . D A N I E L F O RM I C A O P IN I O N 

### T H O M A S S T RE E T , 1. I . P R O C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y C P - 5 1 - C R - 0 0 0 2 1 2 6 - 2 0 1 7 S U P E RI O R C O U R T 1 7 8 2 E D A 2 0 1 8



### N o v e mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 O n J anu ar

y 1 , 2 0 1 7 , th e D e f

e n d ant , D an i e l F o rm i c a , w as arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d w i th p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi r e arm b y a p r o h ib i t e d p e r s o n , 1 

### b ur g l ar y ,2 c ri m i n al tr e s p a s s ;' c o nt e mp t fo r v i o l at i o n o f o r d e r o r a g r e e m e nt , 4 

### p o s s e s s i o n o f i n s trum e nt o f a c ri m e , 5 

### s i mp l e a s s au lt , 6 

### an d r e c kl e s s l y e n d an g e ri n g an o th e r p e r s o n . 7 

### A t th e p r e l i m i n ary h e ari n g o n M ar c h 9 , 2 0 1 7 , th e p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi r e arm b y 

### a p ro h ib i t e d p e r s o n an d c ri m i n a l tr e s p a s s c h ar g e s w e r e h e l d fo r c o urt an d th e o th e r c h ar g e s w e r e di s m i s s e d d u e t o a l a c k o f

e v i d e n c e . O n Ju l y 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 , th e D e fe n d ant' s m o t i o n t o qu a s h w a s g r ant e d as t o th e c ri m i n a l tr e s p a s s c h ar g e o n l y . A s c h e d u li n g c o n fe r e n c e w a s h e l d o n Au gu s t 9 , 2 0 1 7 , wh e r e th e D e f e n d ant r e qu e s t e d a w a i v e r tri a l an d d i s c o v e r y w a s m ark e d a s c o mp l e t e . A w a i v e r tr i a l w a s h e l d o n S e p t e mb e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 , an d th e D e fe n d ant w a s fo un d gu il ty o fp o s s e s s i o n o fa fi r e arm b y 

### a p r o h ib it e d p e r s o n .

1 1 8 § 6 1 0 5 § § A I 2 1 8 § 3 5 0 2 § § A I 3 1 8 § 3 5 0 3 §

§ A l 4 2 3 § 6 1 1 4 § § A 5 1 8 § 9 0 7 § § A 6 1 8 § 2 7 0 1 §

§ A 7 1 8 § 2 7 0 5 C P - � l · C R-O C 0 2 1 2 B - i 0 1 7 C o mm . v . F o rmi ca , D an ;, / P atn o k O r-i n i o n 

## I III 

# I I 11 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 11 8 1 9 0 5 5 2 2 8 1

### II . 

### F A C T U A L H I S T O R Y T h e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s fi r s t w i tn e s s w a s th e D e f e n d ant ' s fath e r , T h o m a s F o rm i c a , S r . , wh o t e s t i fi e d th at h e o wn e d a b l a c k an d b ro wn M ar li n fi r e arm , M o d e l JA S ri fl e , th at w e nt m i s s i n g o n o r ab o ut D e c e mb e r 3 0 1 h o r 3 15 1 , 2 0 1 6 . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P p . 9 4 10 ) . M r . F o rm i c a i d e nt i fi e d th e D e fe n d ant a s h i s s o n an d s t at e d th at h i s s o n h a d th e ri fl e wh e n i t w e nt m i s s i n g fr o m h i s h o u s e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 1 1 ) . M r . F o rm i c a c o nt a c t e d th e p o li c e , fil e d a r ep o rt a b o ut th e m i s s i n g 6 t le o n D e c e mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 , an d i n fo rm e d th e p o l i c e th at h e th o u g ht h i s s o n h a d th e fir e arm . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 1 ) . P h il a d e lp h i a P o l i c e O ffi c e r An dr e w s th e n t e s ti fi e d th at o n D e c e mb e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 , at 10 : 3 0 a . m . , h e w e nt t o 3 1 0 0 Ro b b i n s Av e nu e P h il a d e lp h i a , P e nn s y l v an i a i n r e s p o n s e t o a r a d i o c a ll fo r a p e r s o n w i th a gun . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 4 ) . O ffi c e r An dr e w s w a s m e t b y th e c o mp l a i n ant o n th e s i d e s tr e e t a d

j a c e nt t o th e p r o p e rty an d c o u l d s e e th e b a c k o f th e p r o p e rty , th e dri v e w ay , an d a p i c k u p tru c k s i tt i n g i n th e dri v e w ay . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 4 ) . O ffi c e r An dr e w s t e s t ifi e d th at h e arri v e d at th e s c e n e m i nut e s a ft e r th e c a ll an d m e t th e c o mp l a i n ant ab o ut a h a l f a b l o c k aw ay . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 5 ) . H e n o t e d th at s h e w a s s h aki n g , fr ant i c , h e r v o i c e w a s tr e mb li n g , an d th at s h e s e e m e d v e ry s c ar e d . (N .T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P p . 1 5 - 6 ) . O ffi c e r An dr e w s th e n r a d i o e d t o b a c k u p o ffi c e r s th at th e c o mp l a i n ant ' s b o y fri e n d c o u l d b e at th e p ro p e rty w i th a gun . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 6 ) . O ffi c e r An dr e w s s t at e d th at h e o n l y s aw th e D e fe n d ant fr o m a di s t an c e an d o n l y e n o u g h fo r th e c o mp l a i n ant t o i d e nt i f

y h i m . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 1 7 ) . P o li c e O ffi c e r R aym o n d L a c e y o f th e P h il a d e lp h i a H i g hw ay P atr o l Un i t th e n t e s t i fi e d th at h e arri v e d at th e p ro p e rty ar o un d l 0 : 3 0 a . m . o n D e c e mb e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 1 9 ) . O f fi c e r L a c e y e xp l a i n e d th at h e m e t th e c o mp l a i n ant b e h i n d th e p r o p e rty , l e arn e d wh at w a s h a p p e n i n g , an d th e n p ro c e e d e d t o th e c o mp l a i n ant ' s h o u s e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 11 7 P . 2 0 ) . O f fi c e r L a c e y t e s t i fi e d 

### 2

### th at h e o b s e rv e d a b l a c k D o d g e p i c k u p tru c k i n th e dri v e w ay , th e r e ar g ara g e d o o r w a s u p , an d th e r e w a s a l a d d e r o n th e b a c k o f th e p ro p e rty . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 1 ) . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th e nt e r e d thr e e p h o t o gr a

p h s o f th e p ro p e rty an d th e fi r e arm fo un d in th e D e fe n d ant' s tru c k . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 2 1 - 3 ) . O ffi c e r L a c e y t e s t i fi e d th at h e fi r s t c h e c k e d th e p i c k u p tru c k an d th e n th e g ar a g e t o e n s ur e th e r e w a s 

# n o o n e 

### in ttl l$. l o c at i o n s w i th a fi r e arm , at th at p o i nt th e o th e r un it s arri v e d an d th e y kn o c k e d o n th e fr o nt d o o r . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 3 ) . T h e D e fe n d ant an s w e r e d th e fr o nt d o o r an d a l th o u gh h e h a d li v e d th e r e i n th e p a s t , a p r o t e c t i o n fr o m ab u s e o r d e r w a s i s s u e d an d s o h e w as n o t s u p p o s e d t o b e at th e r e s i d e n c e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P p . 2 3 - 4 ) . H e t e s ti fi e d th at th e c o mp l a i nant i d e nt i fi e d th e D e f

e n d ant an d th at h i s p artn e r r e c o v e r e d a ri fl e fro m 

### th e fr o nt p a s s e n g e r s e at o f th e D e f e n d ant' s p i c k

u p tru c k . (1' .J . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 5 ) . O ffi c e r L a c e y e xp l a i n e d th at n o o n e w a s i n th e p i c k u p tru c k, th e d o o r s w e r e un l o c k e d , th e b utt o f th e gun w a s o n th e fl o o r w i th th e b arr e l l e an i n g a g a i n s t th e p a s s e n g e r s i d e s e at , an d th e p i c k u p tru c k w a s r e g i s t e r e d t o th e D e fe n d ant , Dar. i 12 I 

### F o rm i c a , (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 6 ) . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th th e n e nt e r e d th e c e rti fi e d P ENN D O T r e g i s tr at i o n fo r th e v e h i cl e i n th e

_D e f e n d ant ' s n am e i nt o e v i d e n c e , a s w e ll a s th e p r o p e rty r e c e i p t fo r th e fi r e arm fo un d i n th e D e f e n d ant ' s v e h i cl e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P p . 2 6 - 7 ) . T h e D e fe n d ant h a d th e k e y s t o th e 

### tru c k o n h i s p e r s o n wh e n h e w a s a p p r e h e n d e d b y p o l i c e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P p . 2 8 - 9 ) . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th r e c a l l e d T h o m a s 

### H . F o rm i c a , S r . wh o t e s t i fi e d th at h e l i v e d at 6 1 4 2 W a l k e r S tr e e t th e o ri g i n a l l o c at i o n o f th e gun wi th h i s s o n . · (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 3 1 ) . T h e fo ll o w i n g s t ip u l ati o n s w e re r e a d i nt o th e r e c o r d : a c e rt i fi c at e o f n o n li c e n s ur e c e rti f y i n g th at th e D e f

e n d ant w as n o t l i c e n s e d t o c arry a fi r e arm an d th e D e fe n d ant ' s F BI r e c o r d i n clu d i n g a 2 0 0 8 c o nv i c t i o n fo r P o s s e s s i o n w i th I nt e nt t o D i s trib ut e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 3 2 ) . T h e C o urt th e n fo un d th e D e fe n d ant gu ilty o f P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm b y 

### a P ro h ib i t e d P e r s o n . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 17 P . 4 0 ) . 

### 3II I. I S S U E S

I n th e P a . R . A . P . l 9 2 5 ( b ) S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l , th e Ap p e ll ant i d e nt i fi e s th e fo ll o w i n g i s s u e ( s ) : A. T h i s C o urt e rr e d b y fi n d i n g th at F o rm ic a c o n s tru c t i v e l y p o s s e s s e d c o ntr ab an d wh i c h w a s i n s i d e o f h i s v e h i c l e wh e r e th e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u ffi c i e nt t o p r o v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t th at h e h a d d o m i n i o n an d c o ntr o l o f th at c o ntr a

b an d . F o rm i c a w as n e v e r s e e n w i th th e c o ntr a b an d , i n s i d e th e v e h i c l e , o r e v e n o ut s i d e o f th e b u il d i n g b e h i n d wh i c h h i s v e h i cl e w a s p ark e d . 

### B . T h i s C o urt ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n b y d e ny i n g F o rm i c a ' s m o t i o n fo r a n e w tri a l b e c au s e th e v e r d i c t w a s a g ai n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e . T h e v e r d i c t w a s s o c o ntr a d i c t o ry t o th e e v i d e n c e th at i t s h o c k s o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . T h at e v i d e n c e i n c lu d e d , b ut i s n o t l i m i t e d t o , F o rm i c a ' s l a c k o f p r e s e n c e e i th e r i n s i d e o r n e ar th e v e h i cl e wh e r e th e c o ntr ab an d 

### w as fo un d . Wh e n an a l y z i n g w e i ght o f th e e v i d e n c e c l a i m s , a c o urt ' s ro l e i s t o d e t e rm i n e th at " n o tw i th s t an d i n g a ll th e fa c t s , c e rt a i n f ac t s ar e s o c l e arl y o f g re at e r w e i g ht th at t o i g n o r e th e m o r t o g i v e th e m e qu a l w e i g ht w i th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . " D i s c r e t i o n i s ab u s e d wh e r e th e j u d g m e nt i s m an i f e s tl y unr e as o n ab l e o r wh e r e th e l aw i s n o t a p p l i e d o r wh e r e th e r e c o r d s h o w s th at 

### th e a c t i o n s i s a r e s u lt 

### o f

p art i a li ty , b i a s o r 

### ill 

### w ill . 

### C

o m m o n w e a lth v. W

i d m e r , 7 4 4 A. 2 d 7 4 5 ( P a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 

### I V . S T AN D A RD 

### O F RE V I E W

T h e s t an d ar d o f

r e v i e w 

### i s o n e o f

d e fe r e n c e t o th e tri a l c o urt .: 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. G iles, 1 8 2 A . 3 d 4 6 0 , 4 6 1 -6 2 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 2 0 1 8 ) . T h e i s s u e s r a i s e d i n th e d e f e n d ant ' s a p p e a l ar e a ll m att e r s o f d i s c r e ti o n fo r th e tri a l j u d g e t o d e t e rm i n e . I n c o n s i d e ri n g a cl a i m th at th e tri a l c o urt e rr e d i n r e fu s i n g t o fi n d th at a v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e , " a p p e l l at e r e v i e w i s li m i t e d t o wh e th e r th e tri a l c o urt p a lp ab l y a b u s e d it s d i s c r e ti o n i n r u li n g o n th e w e i g ht 

### c l a i m . " 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. 

### T a y lo r , 6 3 A .3 d 

### 3 2 7 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 

### 2 0 1 3 } (

q u o ting C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. S h a ffe r , 4 0 A J d 1 2 5 0 , 1 2 5 3 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 2 ) ) . " A cl a i m a ll e g i n g th e v e r d i c t w a s a g ai n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e i s a d dr e s s e d t o th e d i s c r e t i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt . A c c o r d i n g l y , an a p p e ll at e c o urt r e v i e w s th e e x e r c i s e o f

th e tri a l c o urt ' s d i s c r e t i o n ; i t d o e s n o t an s w e r fo r i t s e l fwh e th e r th e v e r d i c t

4w as a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. K a rn s, 5 0 A. 3 d 1 5 8 , 1 6 5 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 2 ) . An ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n r e qu i r e s : 

### n o t m e r e l y 

### an e rr o r o f

j u d g m e nt , b ut wh e r e th ej u d g m e nt i s m an i fe s tl y unr e a s o n ab l e o r wh e r e th e l aw i s n o t a p p l i e d o r wh e r e th e r e c o r d s h o w s th at th e a c t i o n i s a r e s u lt o f p art i a l i ty , p r e

j u d i c e , b i a s o r i ll w i ll . G iles , 1 8 2 A .3 d at 4 6 1 - 6 2 q u o ti ng C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. C h m i e l , 7 3 8 A. 2 d 4 0 6 , 5 1 0 ( P a . 1 9 9 9 ) ( ci t at i o n o m i tt e d) . V . D I S C U S S I O N A . C O U R T D I D N O T E RR B Y F I N D I N G T H A T D E F E N D A N T H A D C O N S T RU C T I V E P O S S E S S I O N O F T H E F I RE A RM I N H I S T RU C K B E C A U S E H E H A D D O M I N I O N A N D C O N T R O L O V E R T H E F I RE A RM D e f e n d ant av e r s th at th i s C o urt e rr e d wh e n i t fo un d th at h e h a d c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi r e arm l o c at e d i n h i s tru c k . T h i s C o urt d i s a g r e e s . Wh e r e a d e fe n d ant d o e s n o t h av e p hy s i c a l p o s s e s s i o n o f an i ll e g a l i t e m , a c o nv i c t i o n c an s t ill s t an d thr o u g h c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n . C o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n i s d e fi n e d a s fo ll o w s : C o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n i s a l e g a l fi c t i o n , a p r a g m at i c c o n s tru c t t o d e a l w i th th e r e a li t i e s o f c ri m i n a l l aw e n fo r c e m e nt . C o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n i s an i n f e r e n c e ar i s i n g fr o m a s e t o f fa c t s th at p o s s e s s i o n o f th e c o ntr ab an d w a s m o r e li k e l y th an n o t. W e h av e d e fi n e d c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n a s c o n s c i o u s d o m i n i o n . W e s ub s e qu e ntl y d e fi n e d c o n s c i o u s d o m i n i o n a s th e p o w e r t o c o ntr o l th e c o ntr ab an d an d th e int e nt t o e x e r c i s e th at c o ntr o l. T o a i d a p p li c at i o n , w e h av e h e ] d th at c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n m ay b e e s t ab li s h e d b y th e t o t a l i ty o fth e c i r c um s t an c e s . C o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v. H o p k i n s, 6 7 A .3 d 8 1 7 , 8 2 0 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 3 ) ; 

### q u o t i ng C o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v. B ro w n , 4 8 A. 3 d 4 2 6 , 4 3 0 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 2 ) , 

### a

p p e a l d e n i e d , 6 3 A . 3 d 1 2 4 3 ( P a . 2 0 13 ) . 

### mw e h av e d e fi n e d c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n a s c o n s c i o u s d o m i n i o n , ' m e an i n g th at th e d e fe n d ant h a s ' th e p o w e r t o c o ntro l th e c o ntr ab an d an d th e i nt e nt t o e x e r c i s e th at c o ntr o l . ? ' C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. Pa rr i s h , 1 9 1 A .3 d 3 1 , 3 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 8 ) ; q u o ti ng H o p k i n s, 6 7 A. 3 d at 8 2 0 .



### 5

### C o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n c an b e p ro v e n b y c i rc um s t ant i a l e v i d e n c e . 

### C o m m o n w e a lth v. H as k i n s, 6 7 7 A. 2 d 3 2 8 , 3 3 0 ( P a . 

### S u p e r . 

## C t. 1 9 9 6 ) ; 

### c i f

1 <'. 8 C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . 

### Ma c o lin o , 4 6 9 A. 2 d 

### 1 3 2 (P a . 1 9 8 3 ) . " T h e r e qu i s i t e kn o w l e d g e 

### an d i nt e nt m ay b e i n fe rr e d fr o m e x am i n ati o n o f th e t o t a l i ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s . " 

### I

d . ; ci t i ng 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. 

### T h o m ps o n , 4 2 8 A. 2 d 

### 2 2 3 (P a . S u p e r . 

### C t. 1 9 8 1 ) . " T h e f

a c t th at th e c o ntrab an d 

### i s l o c at e d i n 

### an ar e a u s u a ll y a c c e s s i b l e o n l y t o th e d e fe n d ant m ay l e a d t o an i n f e r e n c e th at h e p l a c e d i t th e r e o r kn e w o f i t s p r e s e n c e . " 

### I d " [ I ] n a p ro s e c ut i o n b as e d u

p o n c i r c um s t anti a l e v i d e n c e , c o nv i c t i o n m ay n o t b e 

### b a s e d u p o n s u s p i c i o n o r c o n j e c ture , 

### b ut r ath e r 

### th e e v i d e n c e 

### mu s t b e 

### s u c h 

# ' a s r e a s o n ab l e 

### an d n at ur a ll y t o j u s t i f

y 

### an i n f e r e n c e o f 

### gu il t o f th e a c c u s e d . . an d o f s u c h v o lum e an d 

### qu a li ty a s 

### t o o v e r c o m e th e p r e s ump t i o n o f i nn o c e n c e . . . . " 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. 

### T o w n s e n d , 2 3 7 A. 2 d 1 9 2 , 1 9 5 ( P a . 

### 1 9 6 8 ) S e v e r a l S u p e ri o r C o urt 

### c as e s d e a l w i th 

### c o n s tru c ti v e p o s s e s s i o n o f 

### a w e a p o n . 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a lth v. C

ru z , 2 1 A. 3 d 1 2 4 7 , 

### 1 2 5 3 ( P a . S u

p e r . 

### C t. 2 0 1 I ) ( fi n d i n g c o n s tr u c ti v e p o s s e s s i o n 

### o f a fir e arm wh e r e 

### th e gun w a s 

### h i d d e n i n a c o mp artm e nt o n 

### th e p a s s e n g e r s i d e o f th e c ar 

### an d th e d e f

e n d ant w a s th e s o l e 

### o c c u

p ant) ; C o m m o n w e a lth v. H

a rv a rd , 

### 6 4 A . 3 d 6 9 0 , 6 9 9 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 13 ) ( fi n d in g c o n s tru c ti v e 

### p o s s e s s i o n wh e r e a gun w a s fo un d i n a h o u s e th at th e 

### d e f e n d ant w a s li v i n g i n 

### an d h ad th e 

### k e y s t o an d o th e r o c c u

p ant d e n i e d o wn i n g gun ) ; 

### C f C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. C a rr i ngto n , 3 2 4 A. 2 d 

### 5 3 1 , 5 3 2 ( P a . 

### S u p e r . 

### C t 1 9 7 4 ) ( fi n d i n g th at m e r e . o wn e r s h ip o f th e v e h i cl e 

### w a s n o t 

### e n o u g h t o p r o v e p o s s e s s i o n wh e r e th e d e fe n d ant ' s c ar 

### w a s s t o l e n ) . I n th e i n s t ant 

### c a s e , 

### i t w a s m o r e l i k e l y th an n o t th at th e D e fe n d ant h a d 

### p o s s e s s i o n o f th e c o ntr a b an d b a s e d o n th e fa c t s 

### un d e r th e s tan d ar d s e t o ut i n 

### B ro w n an d 

### H o p k in s . T h o m a s H . 

### F o rm i c a , S r . , th e D e fe n d ant' s fath e r , t e s t i fi e d th at h e l i v e d w i th 

### h i s s o n at 6 1 4 2 W a l k e r S tr e e t · wh e r e th e gun w a s l o c at e d . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 3 1 ) . N o 

### o n e e l s e 

### li v e d at th e r e s i d e n c e . M r . F o rm i c a t e s t i fi e d th at h e o wn e d. a b l a c k an d b r o wn M arli n fi r e arm , M o d e l 3 A S ri fl e , wh i c h w e nt m i s s i n g 6o n o r ab o ut D e c e mb e r 3 0 1 h o r 3 15 1, 2 0 1 6 . (N . T . 

### 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 1 0 ) . M r . F o rm i c a i d e nt i fi e d th e

D e fe n d ant a s h i s s o n at tri a l an d s t at e d th at hi s s o n h a d th e ri fl e wh e n i t w e nt m i s s i n g fr o m hi s h o u s e . (N . T . 

### 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 1 1 ) . M r . F o rm ic a s t at e d th at h e c o nt a c t e d th e p o l i c e , fi l e d a r e p o rt ab o ut th e m i s s i n g r i fl e o n D e c e mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 , an d i n fo rm e d th e p o li c e th at h e th o u g ht h i s s o n h a d th e fir e arm . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 1 ) . T h e w e a p o n w a s fo un d i n th e D e f e n d ant ' s v e h i cl e th e fo ll o w i n g 

### d ay . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 5 ) . O ffi c e r L a c e y t e s t i fi e d th at th e c o mp l a i n ant i d e nt i fi e d th e D e fe n d ant an d th at h i s p artn e r r e c o v e r e d a ri fl e fr o m th e fr o nt p a s s e n g e r s e at o f th e D e f e n d ant' s p i c k

u p tru c k . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 5 ) . O f fi c e r L a c e y e xp l a i n e d th at n o o n e w a s i n th e p ic k u p tru c k , th e d o o r s w e r e un l o c k e d , th e b utt o f th e gun w a s o n th e fl o o r w i th th e b arr e l l e an i n g a g a i n s t th e p a s s e n g e r s i d e s e at , an d th e p i c k u p tru c k w a s r e g i s t e r e d t o th e D e fe n d ant. (N . T . 

### 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 6 ) . P ri o r t o a p p r o a c hi n g th e r e s i d e n c e , th e p o l i c e s e ar c h e d th e s urr o un d i n g ar e a an d n o o n e e l s e w a s i n th e ar e a . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 2 3 ) . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th e nt e r e d th e c e rt i fi e d P ENN D O T r e g i s trat i o n fo r th e v e hi c l e i n th e D e f e n d ant ' s n am e i nt o e v i d e n c e , a s w e ll a s th e p ro p e rty r e c e i p t fo r th e fi r e arm fo un d i n th e D e f e n d ant ' s v e h i c l e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P p . 2 6 - 7 ) . T h e D e f e n d ant h a d th e k e y s t o th e tru c k o n h i s p e r s o n wh e n h e w a s a

p p r e h e n d e d 

### b y p o li c e . (N . T . 

### 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P p . 2 8 - 9 ) . A lth o u g h c i r c um s t ant i a l , th e e v i d e n c e s u

p p o rt s th e i n f

e r e n c e th at th e D e fe n d ant h a d c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n 

### o f th e w e a p o n . B . T H E V E RD I C T IN T H I S C A S E I S N O T A G A IN S T T H E W E I G H T O F T H E E V I D EN C E B E C AU S E O F T HE C I R C U M S T AN T I A L E V I D EN C E P RE S EN T E D A T T RI A L D e fe n d ant c l a i m s th at th e r e i s n o t e n o u g h e v i d e n c e t o c o nv i c t hi m o f p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi r e arm b y a p ro h i b i t e d p e r s o n an d th at th e C o mm o nw e a l th fa i l e d t o p ro v e c o n s tru c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n o f th e fi r e arm . T h i s C o urt d i s a g r e e s .

7I n or d e r t o fi n d th e D e fe n d ant gu i l ty o f 

### 1 8 § 

### 6 10 5 § § A l , th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p ro v e tw o e l e m e nt s b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t ; " fi r s t , th at th e d e fe n d ant w a s a p e r s o n p ro h i b i t e d b y l aw fr o m p o s s e s s i n g , u s i n g , o r c o ntro ll i n g a fi r e arm " an d " s e c o n d , th at th e d e f e n d ant , o n a d at e m o r e th an 

### 6 0 d ay s fr o m th e t i m e h e · 

### b e c am e a p e r s o n p ro h i b i t e d b y l aw fr o m p o s s e s s i n g , u s i n g , o r c o ntro lli n g a fi r e arm , k n o w i n g l y : p o s s e s s e d , u s e d , o r c o ntr o ll e d a fir e arm w i th i n th e C o mm o nw e a l th . " 

### 1 5 . 6 1 0 5 ( C ri m ) P e r s o n s N o t t o P o s s e s s , 

### U s e , M anu fa c tur e , C o ntr o l , S e ll , o r T r an s f e r a F i r e arm , P a . S S J I ( C ri m ) , § 1 5 . 6 1 0 5 ( 2 0 1 6 ) . T h e s t at ut e s t at e s , i n p e rt i n e nt p art , (I ) A p e r s o n wh o h a s b e e n c o nv i c t e d o f an o ff e n s e e num e r at e d i n s u

b s e c t i o n (b ) , w i th i n o r w i th o ut th i s C o mm o nw e a lth , r e g ar d l e s s o f th e l e n g th o f s e nt e n c e o r wh o s e c o n d

u c t m e e t s th e c ri t e ri a i n s u b s e c t i o n ( c ) s h a ll n o t p o s s e s s , u s e , c o ntr o l , s e ll , tr an s f

e r o r m anu fa c t

ur e o r o b t a i n a l i c e n s e t o p o s s e s s , u s e , c o ntro l , s e ll , tr an s fe r o r m anu fa c t

ur e a fi r e arm i n th i s C o mm o nw e a l th . 1 8 P a . S t at. an d C o n s . S t at. Ann . § 6 1 0 5 ( W e s t) . T h e p art i e s m ay s t ip u l at e t o th e p ri o r c o nv i c t i o n th at w o u l d b ar a d e fe n d ant fr o m p o s s e s s i n g a fi re arm o r th e C o mm o nw e a l th m ay p r e s e nt e v i d e n c e t o th e 

### fa c t. T h e l aw d e fi n e s a fi r e arm a s " any w e a p o n th at i s d e s i g n e d o r m ay r e a d i l y b e c o nv e rt e d t o e xp e l any p r o

j e c t i l e b y th e a c t i o n o f an e xp l o s i v e ; 

### i t a l s o i n cl u d e s 

### th e fr am e o r r e c e i v e r o f any s u c h w e a

p o n . " 1 5 . 6 1 0 5 ( C ri m ) P e r s o n s N o t t o P o s s e s s , U s e , M anu fa c t ur e , C o ntro l , 

### S e ll , o r T r an s fe r a F i r e arm , P a . S S J I ( C ri m ) , § 1 5 . 6 10 5 ( 2 0 1 6 ) . S e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. T h o m a s, 9 8 8 A. 2 d 6 6 9 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 2 0 0 9 ) , 

### a

p p . d e n i e d , 4 A .3 d I 0 5 4 ( P a . 2 0 l 0 ) an d C o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v . . Z o r t m a n , 2 3 A . 3 d 5 1 9 ( P a . 2 0 1 1 ) . T h e t e rm p o s s e s s i s d e fi n e d a s h av i n g " th e i nt e nt t o c o ntr o l an d th e p o w e r 

### t o c o ntro l th e fi r e arm . " 1 5 . 6 1 0 5 ( C ri m ) P e r s o n s N o t t o P o s s e s s , U s e , M anu fa c t ur e , C o ntro l , 

### S e ll , o r T r an s fe r 

### a F i r e arm , 

### P a . S S J I ( C ri m ) , § 1 5 . 6 10 5 

### ( 2 0 1 6 ) . A n e w tri a l m ay o n l y b e g r ant e d b y a tr i a l c o urt wh e r e th e v e r d i c t w a s 

### s o c o ntr ar y t o 

### th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e i t w o u l d " s h o c k o n e ' s 

### s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . " C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v. R o s s e tt i

, 

### 8 6 3 A . 2 d 1 1 8 5 , 1 1 9 1 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 0 4 ) (

q u o t i ng C

o m m o n w e a lth v. H

u n te r , 5 5 4 A. 2 d 5 5 0 , 5 5 5 ) ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 8 9 ) ) . " A n e w tri a l s h o u l d n o t b e g r ant e d b e c au s e o f a m e r e c o n fli c t i n th e 8

### t e s t i m o ny o r b e c au s e +e j u d g e o n th e s am e fa c t s w o u l d h av e arri v e d at a d i ff e r e nt c o n clu s i o n . " C o m m o n w e a lt

h v , W i d m e r , 7 4 4 A. 2 d 7 4 5 , 7 5 1 - 7 5 2 ( P a . 2 0 0 0 ) . R ath e r , " th e r o l e o f th e tri a l j u d g e i s t o 

### d e t e rm i n e th at ' n o tw i th s t an d i n g 

### a ll th e fa c t s , c e rt a i n 

### f a c t s ar e s o cl e arl y 

### o f g r e at e r w e i g ht th at t o i g n o r e th e m o r t o g i v e th e m e qu a l w e i g ht wi th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . ? ' 

### I d . at 7 5 2 . M o r e o v e r , c r e d ib ili ty d e t e rm i n at i o n s ar e s o l e l y w i th i n th e p ro v i n c e o f th e fa c t - fi n d e r , an d an a p p e ll at e c o urt m ay n o t r e w e i g h 

### th e e v i d e n c e an d s ub s t it ut e i t s j u d g m e nt fo r th at o f th e fi n d e r o f fa c t. C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. T a y lo r , 6 3 A . 3 d 3 2 7 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 2 0 1 3 ) (

q u o ti ng C o m m o nw e a lt

h v . S h a ff e r , 4 0 A. 3 d 1 2 5 0 , 1 2 5 3 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 2 ) ) . I n c o n s i d e ri n g a cl a i m th at th e tri al c o urt 

### e rr e d i n r e fu s i n g t o fi n d th at a v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e 

### e v i d e n c e , " a

p p e ll at e r e v i e w i s li m i t e d t o wh e th e r th e tri a l c o urt p a lp ab l y ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n r u li n g 

### o n th e w e i g ht c l a i m . " T a y lo r , 6 3 A . 3 d at 3 3 0 (

q u o ti ng S h a ffe r , 4 0 A .3 d at 1 2 5 3 ) . I t i s w e ll s e tt l e d th at th e S u p e ri o r C o urt c ann o t s ub s ti t ut e i t s j u d g m e nt fo r th at o f th e tri e r o f fa c t . C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. M ille r , 1 72 A. 3 d 6 3 2 , 6 4 2 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 7 ) , a

p p e a l d e n i e d , 1 8 3 A . 3 d 9 7 0 ( P a . 20 1 8 ) (

ci t i ng C o m m o n w e a lth v. T

a lb e r t , 1 2 9 A. 3 d 

### 5 3 6 , 5 4 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 5 ) , a p p e a l d e n i e d , 1 3 8 A .3 d 4 ( P a . 2 0 1 6 ) . " T h e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e i s e x clu s i v e l y fo r th e fi n d e r o f fa c t , wh o i s fr e e t o b el i e v e a ll , n o n e o r s o m e 

# o f th e e v i d e n c e an d t o d e t e rm i n e th e c r e d ib ili ty o f th e w itn e s s e s . " I

d . 

### ( ci t i ng T a lb e r t , 1 2 9 A .3 d at 5 4 5 ) . " R e s o l v i n g c o ntr a d i c t o ry t e s ti m o ny an d qu e s t i o n s o fc r e d ib ili ty ar e m att e r s fo r th e fi n d e r o f fa c t. " I d 

### " B e c au s e th e tri a l j u d g e h a s h ad th e o p p o rt un i ty t o h e ar an d s e e th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d , an a p p e ll at e. c o urt 

### w ill g i v e th e g r av e s t c o n s i d e r ati o n t o th e fi n d i n g s an d r e a s o n s a dv an c e d b y th e tri a l j u d g e wh e n r e v i e w i n g a tri a l c o urt ' s d e t e rm i n at i o n th at th e v e r d i c t i s [ o r i s n o t ] a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e . " I d. 

### ( ci ti n g T a lb e rt , 1 2 9 A. 3 d at 5 4 6 ) . " O n e o f th e l e a s t a s s a il ab l e r e a s o n s fo r g r anti n g o r d e ny i n g a n e w tri al i s th e

9

### l o w e r c o urt ' s c o nv i c ti o n th at th e v e r d i c t w a s o r w a s n o t a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e an d th at

a n e w tri a l s h o u l d b e g r ant e d i n th e i nt e r e s t o f j u s t i c e . " 

### I

d . 

## o:. t IP "1 3 " A gu i l ty v e r d i c t i n th i s c a s e d o e s n o t s h o c k th e c.>'\ � c. � tl'\ C t, 

### I n th i s c a s e , T h o m a s F o rm i c a , S r . 

### an d h i s s o n , th e D e f e n d ant , w e r e li v i n g t o g e th e r at 6 1 4 2 W a l k e r S tr e e t P h il a d e lp h i a , P e nn s y l v an i a wh e n th e fath e r ' s gun w e nt m i s s i n g fr o m th e h o u s e . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 3 1 ) . N o o n e e l s e li v e d i n th e h o u s e . T h e D e f e n d ant ' s fath e r d i s c o v e r e d th at h i s fi r e arm w a s m i s s i n g an d qu i c kl y .



### . . 

### c o nta c t e d th e p o li c e fe ari n g th at h i s s o n h a d t ak e n th e w e a p o n . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 1 ) . T h e fo ll o w i n g d ay p o l i c e th e n r e s p o n d e d t o a r a d i o c a ll th at a m a l e w ith a gun w a s v i o l ati n g a p r o t e c t i o n fr o m ab u s e o r d e r . 

### (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 

### P p . 2 3 · 4 ) . Up o n th e i r 

### arri v a l , th e c o mp l a i n ant i d e nti fi e d th e 

### D e fe n d ant. (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 / 1 7 P . 1 7 ) . 

### T h e o f fi c e r s at th e s c e n e s e ar c h e d 

### th e l o c ati o n , s urr o un d i n g ar ea , an d i n s i d e th e p ro p e rty wh e r e th e D e f e n d ant w as l o c at e d an d n o o n e e l s e 

### w a s p r e s e nt. (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 2 3 ) . T h e D e f e n d ant h a d th e k e y 

### t o th e tru c k o n h i s p e r s o n an d th e tr u c k w as a l s o r e g i s t e r e d t o 

### h i m . M o r e o v e r , a gun w a s fo un d i n s i d e th e D e f e n d ant ' s tru c k . (N . T . 0 9 /2 2 /1 7 P . 2 6 ) . F o r th e r e a s o n s s t at e d a b o v e th i s C o urt c o rr e c tl y fo un d th at th e D e f e n d ant c o n s tru c t i v e l y p o s s e s s e d th e fi re arm . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th p ro v e d th e i r c a s e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t as th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e s u

p p o rt s th e c o nv i c ti o n . ' V I. C O N C L U S I O N



### F o r a ll o f th e s e r e a s o n s , th i s c o urt ' s d e ci s i o n s h o u l d b e 

### a ffi rm e d . B Y T H E C O U R T :

D at e d : N o v e mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 10