J-S01029-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Appellant

v.

NNAEMEKA ANI

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 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 808 MDA 2020

Appeal from the Order Entered May 12, 2020

In the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County Criminal Division at 

No(s): CP-14-CR-0001582-2019

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., McCAFFERY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

JUDGMENT ORDER BY McCAFFERY, J.: FILED JANUARY 29, 2021

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania files this appeal from the May 12, 

2020, order entered in the Centre County Court of Common Pleas.

1

 The May 

12th order granted Appellee Nnaemeka Ani’s petition for writ of habeas corpus

and dismissed burglary counts against him. The Commonwealth has also filed 

an application for relief, requesting that this Court quash the above-captioned 

appeal and remand for an evidentiary hearing based on newly discovered 

evidence. We deny the request for quashal; however, we vacate the May 12, 

2020, order and remand for a new, evidentiary hearing.

Authorities charged Appellee with, inter alia, several counts of burglary 

stemming from incidents, testified to by a detective as follows:

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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

1 The Commonwealth certifies in its notice of appeal that the order terminates 

or substantially handicaps its prosecution, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 311.
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[Appellee] is charged in three separate burglaries; all three of the 

victims were female; . . . he saw similarities with other trespass 

and burglary cases in the area; and [Appellee] allegedly used his 

cell phone as a flashlight once inside the residences. Video 

evidence was presented to the Court showing a man, alleged to 

be [Appellee], walking through an apartment building’s hallway 

while checking several doors to presumably find an unlocked door. 

The video showed the individual entering an apartment for 

approximately four to five minutes before leaving, and the video 

also showed the individual cover his face when leaving the 

hallway. None of the victims were touched or harmed during the 

incidents, no personal property was reported stolen or vandalized,

and the victims were able to specifically identify [Appellee] as the 

perpetrator from a photographic lineup.

Trial Ct. Op., 5/3/20.

Appellee filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus. After the trial court 

heard argument on January 16, 2020, the court granted Appellee’s petition as 

to the burglary charges. The court found that although it was undisputed 

Appellee entered the residences without permission, license, or privilege, the 

Commonwealth failed to prove a prima facie case of burglary because there

was no evidence of Appellee’s intent to commit a crime within the residences. 

The Commonwealth filed this timely appeal.

Following issuance of this Court’s briefing schedule, the Commonwealth 

filed an application for relief, requesting quashal of its appeal and a remand 

for a new hearing due to newly discovered evidence. In this application, the 

Commonwealth averred it retained a digital-forensics company, which 

reported it found on Appellee’s cell phone a photo and video, filmed through 

a window, of one of the victims partially nude. A search warrant executed 

thereafter of Appellee’s backup data purportedly revealed a video of a couple 
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engaging in sexual acts, again filmed through a window at the same complex. 

Appellee did not file a response, and did not address the Commonwealth’s 

newly discovered evidence claims in his appellate brief.

In reviewing a decision to grant a pre-trial motion for writ of habeas 

corpus, we examine the evidence, along with reasonable inferences derived 

therefrom, in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth. See 

Commonwealth v. Starry, 196 A.3d 649, 656 (Pa. Super. 2018). “At the 

preliminary hearing stage of a criminal prosecution, the Commonwealth need 

not prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather, must 

merely put forth sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of guilt.” 

Commonwealth v. Karetny, 880 A.2d 505, 513-14 (Pa. 2005).

Initially, we address the Commonwealth’s request to quash this appeal. 

Its request is based on its desire to introduce new evidence, which it avers 

will demonstrate Appellee’s criminal intent. We note “the refiling of charges 

is a viable alternative to filing an appeal from the grant of a habeas corpus

petition.” Commonwealth v. Carbo, 822 A.2d 60, 69 (Pa. Super. 2003) (en 

banc), abrograted on other grounds, Commonwealth v. Dantzler, 135 A.3d 

1109, 1112 n.5 (Pa. Super. 2016) (en banc). The Commonwealth is permitted 

to “refile these charges if it possesses additional evidence.” Id. at 72. A court 

should deny refiling of the Commonwealth’s charges only if: (1) the statute of 

limitations had expired on the date of refiling; (2) the court determines the 

Commonwealth intended to harass the defendant; or (3) refiling of the 

charges is prejudicial to the defendant. Id. at 73.
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There is no allegation that any of the three limitations applies, nor do 

we find evidence of any such limitation. See Carbo, 822 A.2d at 73. In the 

interest of judicial economy, rather than quash the instant appeal, as it lies 

from an appealable order, we vacate the trial court’s May 12, 2020, order and 

remand for the trial court to conduct a new hearing based on the 

Commonwealth’s previous and additional evidence. See id. at 69, 72. The 

trial court shall thereafter review the Commonwealth’s evidence pursuant to 

Starry, supra. 

Commonwealth’s Application for relief DENIED IN PART and GRANTED 

IN PART. Order VACATED. Case remanded for a new hearing, with 

instructions. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 01/29/2021