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NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENN SYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. GREGORY D. ADAMS, Appellant No. 930 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered November 16 , 2015

In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 25 - CR - 000 0854 - 201 5 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., NICHOLS , J., and COLINS , J. * MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED JUNE 12, 2019 Appellant, Gregory D. Adams, appeals nunc pro tunc from the judgment of sentence of an aggregate term of 10 to 20 years’ incarceration, imposed after a jury convicted him of one count of aggravated assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count of possessing an instrument of crime. Appellant also entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited , which had been severed from his other charges. After careful review, we affirm. On appeal, Appellant presents three issues for our review: A. Whether there was insufficient evidence as a matter of law to sustain the guilty verdicts of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment [,] in that none of the occupants of the vehicle

_________________ ____________________ _______ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.J - S23010 - 19

- 2 - were injured [,] nor did [Appellant] form the specific intent to cause injury to any of said occupants of the vehicle? B. Whether there was insufficient legal and factual predicate to grade the aggravated assault charges in the first degree [,] given the absence of specific intent of [Appellant] to injure any of the occupants of the vehicle and his voluntary intoxicat[ion] ... at the time of the incident? C. Whether it was an abuse of discretion and legal error to permit the possession of a prohibited firearm charge to be severed and then reinstated by the Commonwealth [,] thereby resul ting in [Appellant’s] ent ry of a guilty plea subsequent[] to the reinstated and severed charge? Appellant’s Brief at 2. Initially, we conclude that Appellant has waived his issues for our review. Appellant combines his first two issues into one argument and cites no relevant legal authority to support those sufficiency claims. Indeed, Appellant does not even set forth the elements of the offenses for which he is claiming the Commonwealth’s evidence was insufficient, or provide any law regarding the volun tary intoxication defense that he insists was proven in this case. See Appellant’s Brief at 4 - 6. Additionally, Appellant’s entire analysis for his third issue consists of two sentences. See id. at 6. Based on Appellant’s undeveloped arguments, we deem his issues waived. See Commonwealth v. Hardy , 918 A.2d 766, 771 (Pa. Super. 2007) (“When briefing the various issues that have been preserved, it is an appellant’s duty to present arguments that are sufficiently developed for our review. The brief must support the claims with pertinent discussion, with references to the r ecord and with citations to legal authorities. ... [W]hen defects in a briefJ - S23010 - 19

- 3 -

impede our ability to conduct meaningful appellate review, we may dismiss the appeal entirely or find certain issues to be waived.”). Notwithstanding waiver, we would conclude tha t Appellant’s issues are meritless. We have reviewed the certified record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law. Additionally, we have reviewed the thorough and well crafted opinion of the Honorable William R. Cunningham of the Court of Comm on Pleas of Erie County. We would conclude that Judge Cunningham’s well - reasoned opinion accurately disposes of the issue s presented by Appellant. Accordingly, had Appellant preserved his issues for our review, we would adopt Judge Cunningham’s opinion a s our own and affirm Appellant’s judgment of sentence for the reasons set forth therein. Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 6/12/2019Circulated 05/13/2019 12:43 PM

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### O - P o s s e s s i o n o f F i r e arm , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 6 1 0 5 ( a) ( l ) , w as s e v e r e d fr o m th e tri a l s u b judi c e an d Ap pe ll ant s ub s e qu e ntl y e nt e r e d a gui l ty p l e a t o th e c h ar g e o n N o v e mb e r 9 , 2 0 1 5 . Th e c h arg e s ar o s e i n th e l at e e v e ni n g an d e arl y m o rnin g h o urs 

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### E RIE C O UN T Y , P ENN S Y L VAN IA : C RIMINAL D l V I S i O Nri d e h o m e t o hi s tra il e r o n C o nti D ri v e . T. T
. p . 9 4
. T ammy Jo n e s w a s dri v in g , J am a l J o n e s w as in th e fr o nt p as s e n g e r s e at , S h ann o n J o n e s an d Ap p e ll ant w e r e in th e b a c k s e at o f th e v e hi cl e . T. T. pp . 5 9, 9 5
. An ar gum e nt ar o s e b e tw e e n Ap p e ll ant an d J am a l J o n e s o n th e w ay t o Ap p e ll ant ' s h o m e . T. T. pp . 1 0 7 , 14 3 , 1 4 4
. Upo n arri v al at Ap p e ll ant ' s tr a il e r , Ap p e ll ant e xi te d th e v e hi cl e an d e nt e r e d hi s h o m e . S h ann o n Jo n e s c arri e d s o m e b a g s t o Ap p e ll ant' s d o o r an d th e n r e turn e d t o th e v e hi c l e . T
. T
. pp . 9 7
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. S h ann o n Jo n e s l a i d d o wn o n th e b a c k s e at o f th e v e hi c l e . T. T. pp . 6 2
- 6 3
. W i th th e v e hi cl e s t ill i n Ap p e ll ant ' s dri v e w ay , Ap p e ll ant c o m e o ut o f hi s tra il e r w avi n g a gun . T. T. pp . 9 9, 1 4 1
- 4 3
. Ap p e ll ant s h o t at th e wi n d s hi e l d an d r e ar p as s e n g e r wi n d o w o f th e v e hi c l e . T. T. p . 1 0 0
. T h e fr o nt wi n d s hi e l d h a d tw o guns h o t h o l e s , an d th e r e ar p a s s e n g e r wi n d o w h a d o n e gun s h o t h o l e . T. T. p . I 0 0
. T ammy Jo n e s an d th e tw o p a s s e n g e rs l e ft th e tr ai l e r p ark an d w e nt t o a n e ar b y p l az a wh e r e th e y c a ll e d th e p o li c e . 

### T. T. p . · 1 0 3
. Th e p o li ce fo un d s h att e re d c ar g l as s o n th e gr o un d i n Ap p e ll ant ' s · dri v e w ay an d sp e nt s h e ll cas in g s in hi s tr ai l e r . T. T
. pp . 1 1 7 , 1 2 0, 1 2 5
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p ant s o fth e v e hi cl e w a s in j ur e d . At tri a l , Ap p e ll ant p r o ff e r e d a v o luntary int o xi c at i o n d e fe n s e i n mi t i g at i o n o f th e r e c kl e s s n e s s o fhi s a c t i o ns . Ap p e ll ant c l a im e d hi s int e nt w as m e re l y t o s c ar e hi s n ep h e w , J am al Jo n e s . Ap p e ll ant a dm i tt e d h e w as drunk , h e w a s r e c kl e s s l y w avi n g th e gun a b o ut an d h e fir ed th e s h o t s whi c h hi t th e o c c u p i e d v e hi c l e : 

### THE C O MM O NWE ALT H : . . . Y o u w e r e r e c kl e s s l y w av i n g y o ur h an d wi th a gun an d y o u p ut tw o s h o t s thr o u g h th e wi n d o w . An d y o u c an s e e ri ght b e hin d th o s e b ul l e t h o l e s . .:. - o r th o s e b u ll e t strik e s th at s eat s ar e ri ght th e r e an d h e a dr e s t s ar e ri g ht th e r e : C an y o u a gr e e w i th m e th at ' s wh at th at p h o t o s h o w s ? I s th at wh at that p h o t o s h o w s ? · T HE D E F E N D A N T : S it , I w as drunk an d un d e r th e influ e n c e o f m e d i c ati o n at th e t im e . I di d n o t i nt e n d t o - - w ant t o hurt anyb o dy . I w ant e d t o s c ar e th e h e ll o ut o f my n e p h e w [ J am al J o n e s ] fo r wh at h e s a i d (unint e lli g ib l e ) . .. I j u s t w ant e d t o s c ar e th e h e ll o ut o fmy n e p h e w an d I d i dn ' t w ant t o hurt - - I w as drunk . W e 2w e r e a ll drunk an d un d e r th e influ e n c e . An d I w a s o n m e d i c at i o n fr o m th e d o c t o r

fr o m H e a l th N e t. I c o ul dn ' t hurt anyb o dy i fl tri e d (uni nt e lli g ib l e ) . 

## * * * T HE C O MM O NWE AL T H : Y o u w o ul d a gr e e wi th m e th at a fte r - � aft e r th e b u ll e t w e nt o fftwi c e an d w e nt int o th e , y o u 

### kn o w « - s tru c k th e w i n d s hi e l d , th at ' s g o i n g t o s c ar e p e o p l e , ri ght ? · T HE D E F EN D ANT : I d i dn ' t - - T HE C O MM O NWE AL TH : Y e s o r n o ? W o u l d th at b e s c ary , tw o b ul l e ts s trikin g th e win d s h i e l d ? T H E D E F EN D ANT : N o , I d i dn ' t i nt e n d t o s trik e th e win d s hi e l d . T H E C O M M O NWE AL TH : Y o u d i dn ' t i nt e n d t o s trik e th e win d s hi e l d ? T HE D E F END AN T : N o . T HE C O MM O NWE A L T H : O k ay . Y o u d i dn ' t i nt e n d t o s h o o t o ut thi s w in d o w [ r e ar p a s s e n g e r] e i th e r , d i d y o u ? T HE D E F EN D AN T : N o , s ir , I d i dn ' t. I d i dn ' t att e mp t t o s h o o t i t. I w a s j us t w av i n g . T HE C O MM O NWE AL TH : N o w , y o u d i dn ' t att e mp t t o s h o o t ? T HE D E F EN D AN T : I w a s w av in g - - r e c kl e s s l y j u s t s h o o tin g . T HE C O MM O N WE AL T H : Y o u w e r e j u s t w av in g th e gun ? T HE D E FEN D AN T : Y e s . An d I fi r e d i t . 

### T im C O MM O N WE AL T H : It j u s t w e nt 

### o ff? THE D E F EN D ANT : I a dm i t to i t , Lfi r e d i t . T HE C O MM O NWE AL T H : Y o u p ul l e d th e tri g g e r , ri g ht ? THE D E FEN D A

N T : Y e s . T HE 

### C O MM O NWE AL T H : Y o u kn o w wh at a gun d o es , ri g ht ? T HE D E F EN D A

N T : Y e s , I kn o w wh at i t c an d o .

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thi s b a c k w in d o w ; i s th at ri g ht ?

. . T HE D E FE N D A N T : T h at' s wh at i t a p p e ar s th at ' s wh at h a

p p e n e d . T. 

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- 1 4 3 (

E m p h as i s a d d e d )
. O n N o v e mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 , Ap p e ll ant w as s e nt e n c ed t o an a g gr e g at e - t e rm o f 1 0 - 2 0 y ear s o f in c ar c e r ati o n . ' as fo ll o w s : C o unt 4 : A g grav at e d A s s au l t ( J am alP a g e j f f'
- I ) : 7 t o 1 4 y e ar s o f

i n c ar c e r ati o n ; C o unt 7 : Re c kl e s s ly E n d an g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n (J am a l P a g e ) : M e r g e s wi th C o unt 4 ; C o unt 8 : Re 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 (T ammy P a g e ) : l t o 2 y e ar s o f in c ar c e r ati o n c o ns e c ut i v e t o C o unt4 ; C o unt 9 : R e c kl e s s ly E n d an g e ri n g An o th e rP e r s o n ( S h ann o n Jo n e s ) : 1 t o 2 y e ar s o f i n c arc e rat i o n c o ns e c uti v e t o Co unt 8 ; C o unt 10 : P e rs o n n o t t o P o s s e s s , U s e , M anuf a c tur e , C o ntr o l , S e ll o r T rans fe r F i re arm s : 4 t o 8 y e ar s o f

i n c ar c e r at i o n c o n c urr e ntwi th Co unt 4 ; an d · C o unt U : P o s s es s i n g I n s trum e nts o f C ri m e : 1 t o 2 y e ar s o fi n c ar ce r ati o n c o ns e c ut i v e t o .

C o unt 9 . · · Ap p e ll ant fil e d a M o t i o n fo r N e w T ri al an d / o r Arr e s t o f Ju d gm e nt Nun c P r o T un e o n M ay 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 . Ap p e ll ant r a is e d th e fo ll o w i n g c l ai m s i n th e po s t - s e nt e n c e m o ti o n : A. Th e e v i d e n c e w a s i ns uffi ci e nt t o s u s tai n th e gu il ty v e r d i c t s o f a g gr av at e d as sau l t an d r e c kl e s s e n d an g e rm e nt 

### in that n o n e o f th e o c c u p ant s o fth e v e hi c l e w e r e i n j ur e d n o r d i d th e D e fe n dant fo rm th e s p e c i fi c i nte nt t o c au s e i n j ury t o th e o c c u p ants o fth e v e hi c l e . B . Th e r e w a s an i n s u ffi c i e nt l e g a l an d fa c tu al p r e d i c at e t o gr a d e th e a g gr av at e d as sau lt c har g e i n th e fi r s t d e gr ee gi v e n th e a b s e n c e of s pe ci fi c · i nt e nt o f th e D e fe n d ant t o . i n

j ur e any o f th e o c c u

p ant s o f th e v e hi cl e an d hi s v o luntary i nt o xi c ate d s tat e at th e t im e o f th e i n c i d e nt. · C . I t w a s an ab u s e o f di s c r e ti o n an d l e g al e rr o r t o pe rmi t th e p o s s e s s i o n o f a p ro hib i t e d fi r e arm c h arg e t o b e s e v e r e d an d th e n r e i ns tat e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th th e r e b y r e s ul t in g in th e D e fe n d ant ' s e ntry o f a gu il ty p l e a s u b s e qu e ntly t o th e r e inst at e d an d s e v e r e d c h arg e . 

### M o ti o n f o r N e w T r i a l a n d/ o r A rres t o f J u d g m e n t Nu n c Pro T

u n e, M ay 2 9, 2 0 1 8, p . 2
.

4

### T h e p o s t - s e nt e n c e m o ti o n nun c p ro tun e w as d e n i e d M ay 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 . Ap p e ll ant ti m e ly

fil e d a d ir e c t a

p p e a l wi th th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt o f P e nns y l v ani a o n Jun e 2 8 , 2 0 1 8 at S u p e ri o r C o urt D o c k e t Numb e r 9 3 0 WD A 2 0 1 8 , an d a C o n ci s e S tat e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l a in e d o f o n Ap pe al o n Jul y 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 . Th e C o n c i s e S tat e m e nt r e i t e rat e s th e p o s t - s e nt e n c e c l a im s fo r a p pe ll at e r e v i e w . Ap p e ll ant ' s cl ai m s wi ll b e an al y z e d s e r i a tim .
S UFF I C IEN C Y O F T H E E VI D E N C E Wh e n e v a lu at in g a c hal l e n g e t o th e su ffi ci e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e , th e e v i d e n c e mus t b e v i e w e d in th e li g ht m o s t fav o r a b l e t o th e C o mm o nw e al th as th e v e r d i c t wi nn e r . C o m . v . H a r grav e, 7 4 5 A . 2 d 2 0 , 2 2 (P a . S u pe r . 2 0 0 0 ) , a

p p e a l d e n i e d, 5 6 3 P a 6 8 3 � 7 6 0 A . 2 d 8 5 1 ( 2 0 0 0 ) · ( int e rn a l c i tat i o n s o mi tt e d) . E v i d e n c e wi ll b e d e e m e d s u ffi c i e nt wh e n i t e stab li s h e s e a c h m at e ri a l e l e m e nt o f th e c rim e c h arg e d , an d th e c o mmi s s i o n th e r e o fb y th e a c c u s e d , b e y o n d a r e as o n ab l e d o ub t C o m . v . J o n es, 8 7 4 A. 2 d 1 0 8 , 1 2 0 - 2 1 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 5 ) . F ir s t , Ap p e ll ant c h al l e n g e s th e s u ffi c i e n c y o fth e e v i d e n c e t o s u s tai n th e gu il ty v e r di c t s o f A g gr av at e d A s s au l t an d Re c kl e s s l y E n dan g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n as n o n e o f th e o c c u p ant s o fth e v e h i c l e w as in

j ur e d . Thi s c o nte nti o n i s wi th o ut m e ri t. N e i th e r th e c ri m e o fA g gr av at e d As s aul t n o r Re 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 r e qu ir e s p r o o f th at s e ri o u s b o d il y in j ury w as infl i c t e d b ut o nl y th at an att e mp t w as m a d e t o c au s e s u c h an i n j ury . S e e 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 2 7 0 2 ( a) (l ) ; 1 8 P a C . S . A. § 2 7 0 5 . · An int e nt t o c au s e s e ri o u s b o d il y i n j ury m ay b e s h o wn b y th e c ir c um s tan c e s s urr o un d in g th e i n ci d e nt. C

o m . v . El ro d, 5 7 2 A. 2 d 1 2 2 9 ( 1 9 9 0 ) ; In thi s c as e , th e i nt e nt t o d o s e ri o u s bo d il y h arm c an b e inf

e rr e d b y th e a c t o f

Ap p e ll ant d i s c h arg in g a l o a d e d fi r e arm int o a v e hi cl e h e kn e w t o b e o c c u

p i e d . S e e C o m . v . H u n t e r , 6 4 4 A. 2 d 7 6 3 (P a . S u

p e r . 1 9 9 4 ) . Th e e v i d e n c e w as
5s uffi ci e nt t o s us t a i n th e c o nv i c t i o ns th o u gh th e o c c u p ants o f th e v e hi cl e d i d n o t s u s t a i n b o d il y i n j ury . Ap p e ll ant p l a c e d th e o c c u p ants o f th e v e hi cl e i n d an g e r o f d e ath o r s e ri o u s b o d il y 

### inj ury b y firin g a l o a d e d gun int o th e o c c u p i e d v e hi c l e fo r p urp o s e s o f A g gr av at e d As s au l t an d Re c kl e s s ly E n d an g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n . N e xt, Ap p e ll ant c l a im s h e w as t o o int o x i c at e d 

### to fo rm th e s p e c i fi c int e nt t o c aus e in j ury t o th e o c c u

p ants o f th e v e hi cl e . Th e d e fe n s e o f v o luntary int o xi c ati o n i s a li m it e d d e fe n s e whi c h d o e s n o t e x c u lp at e th e d e fe n d ant fr o m c rimin al li a b ili ty e nt ir e ly , b ut in s t e a d n e g at e s th e e l e m e nt o f s p e ci fi c int e nt C

o m . v . T ay lo r , 8 7 6 A. 2 d 9 1 6 ( P a . 2 0 0 5 ) . A d e fe n d ant as s e rt in g th e d e fe n s e o f v o luntary i nt o x i c at io n a dmi ts r e s p o n s ib ili ty fo r th e un d e rl y in ga c ti o n , b ut c o nt e s t s th e d e gr e e o f c ulp ab ili ty b as e d o n h i s in ab ili ty t o fo rmul at e th e r e qu i s i t e m e ntal s tat e . C o m . v. J o n es , 6 5 1 A. 2 d 1 10 1 , 11 0 9 (P a . 1 9 9 4 ) . In thi s c as e , Ap p e ll ant a dmi ts th e un d e rl y i n g a c ti o n an d c o nt e s ts th e d e gr e e o f c ulp ab ili ty b as e d o n hi s d e gr e e o fv o lunt ary int o x ic at io n . Ap p e ll ant ' s argum e nt i s unp e rs u as i v e . 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 3 0 8 p r o v i d e s : N e i th e r v o luntary int o x ic at i o n n o r v o luntary dru g g e d c o n d i t i o n i s a d e fe n s e t o a c rimi n al c h ar g e , n o r m ay e v i d e n c e o f s u c h c o n d i t i o ns b e i ntr o d u c e d t o n e g at i v e th e e l e m e nt o f int e nt o f th e o ff e ns e , e x c e p t th at e v i d e n c e o f s u c h i nt o x i c at i o n o r dru g g e d c o n d i t i o n o f th e d e fe n d ant m ay b e o ff e r e d b y th e d e fe n d ant wh e n e v e r i t i s r e l e v ant to r e d

u c e mur d e r f

r o m a hi g h e r d e gr e e t o a l o w e r d e gr e e o f mur d e r . ( E mp h as i s a d d e d . ) H e r e , Ap p e ll ant ' s r e li an c e o n th e d e fe n s e o f v o luntary int o x i c at i o n i s mi s p l a c e d as Ap p e ll ant w as n o t c o nv i c t e d o f any d e gr e e o f mur d e r . A s s umin g ar

gu e n d o th at th e d e fe n s e o fv o luntary int o xi c ati o n c o u l d a p p l y t o Ap p e ll ant ' s c o nv i c ti o n s , th e j ury n o n e th e l e s s fo un d thi s as s e rt i o n t o b e unp e r s u a s i v e . 6

### T h e m e r e fa c t o f v o lunt ary i nt o x i c ati o n d o e s n o t g i v e ri s e t o a d imini s h e d c a p a c i ty d e fe n s e . I n o r d e r · t o p ro v e d i m i ni s h e d c a p a c i ty d u e t o v o luntary i nt o x i c at i o n , a d e f e n d ant mu s t

. . s h o w th at h e w a s o v e rwh e lm e d t o th e p o int o f l o s i n g hi s fa c ul ti e s an d s e n s ib ili ti e s . 

### C o m . v . 

### Pa d illa , 8 0 A. 3 d 1 2 3 8 , 1 2 6 3 (P a . 2 0 1 3 ) . Th o u gh Ap p e ll ant t e s ti fi e d h e h a d v o lunt ari l y c o n s um e d al c o h o l an d m e d i c at io n , 

### th e j ury c o n c lu d e d Ap p e ll ant h ad n o t b e e n o v e rwh e lm e d o r o v e rp o w e r e d b y a lc o h o l an d m e d i c ati o n s u ffi c i e nt t o e s ta b li s h d imini s h e d c a

p a c i ty t o th e po i nt h e c o u l d n o t fo rm th e e l e m e nt o f i nt e nt. I t i s th e p r o v in c e o f th e tri e r o f fa c t t o p as s u p o n th e c r e d i b ili ty o f wi tn e s s es an d th e w e i g ht t o b e a c c o r d e d th e e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d . 

### C o m . 

### v. W illi a m s, 1 7 6 A. 3 d 2 9 8 . ( P a . S u pe r . 2 0 1 7 ) . T h e j ur y , as th e f

a c t fi n d e rs , i s fr e e t o · a c c e p t al l , p art , o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e , in c lu d in g th e t e s ti m o ny o f e a c h wi tn e s s . 

### C o m . v. J o h ns o n , 5 4 2 P a . 3 8 4 , 6 6 8 A. 2 d 9 7 , 1 0 1 ( 1 9 9 5 ) . C r e d ib ili ty d e t e rm i n ati o ns ar e r e s e rv e d e x c lu s i v e l y fo r th e j ury . 

### C o m . 

### v. D av i

s, 5 1 8 P a . 7 7 , 8 2 , � 4 1 A. 2 d 3 1 5 , 3 1 7 (1 9 8 8 ) . I n thi s c a s e , th e j ury fo un d Ap p e ll ant f ai l e d t o p r o v e a d e fe n s e 

### o f d imini s h e d c a p a c i ty b as e d o n v o lunt ary i nt o x i cat i o n .
S UF FI C I EN CY O F TH E CRIM E S I . A G G RAVA T E D A S S AUL T A g gr av at e d A s sau l t , 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 2 7 0 1 ( a) ( l ) , i s d e fi n e d an d gr a d e d as : ( a } O f f e n s e d e fin e d . c - A pe r s o n i s gui l ty o fa g grav at e d as s au l t i fh e : (1 } att e mp t s t o c au s e s e ri o u s b od il y in j ury t o an o th e r , o r c au s e s s u c h i n j ury int e nt i o nal l y , kn o win g l y o r r e c kl e s s l y un d e r c ir c um s t an c e s m ani fe st i n g e xtre m e i n di ff e r e n c e t o th e v a lu e o f hum an li f e . . . . . A g gr av at e d a s s aul t un d e r s ub s e c t i o n ( a) ( l ) , ( 2 ) an d · ( 9 ) i s a f

e l o ny o f th e firs t d e gr e e . Ap p e ll ant as s e rts h e d i d n o t p o s s e s s a s p e c ifi c i nt e nt t o h arm J am al J o n e s b ut o nl y i nt e n d e d t o s c ar e 

### him . Th i s a s s e rt i o n i s m o r e p r o p e rly an ar gum e nt o f fa c tu al i nf e r e n c e whi c h
7w as a d dr e s s e d t o th e j ur y . Th e j ury w a s al s o fr e e t o b e li e v e o r d i s b e li e v e th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d r e g ar d i n g th e d e fe n d ant ' s l e v e l o f int o x i c at i o n at th e t i m e o f th e o ff e n s e . 

### C o m . v. T u c ke r , 4 0 6 A . 2 d 7 8 5 ( P a . S u

pe r . 1 9 7 9 ) . Th e j ury c h o s e n o t t o fin d Ap p e ll ant w a s int o x i c at e d t o th e p o int o f n e g at in g th e s pe c i fi c i nte nt o f th e c rim e . In 

### C o m . v. H u n te r , 4 3 4 P a . S u

pe r . 5 8 3 , · 6 44 A. 2 d 7 6 3 ( 1 9 9 4 ) , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt m ad e c l e ar th at a s pe c i fi c int e nt t o i n j ur e c an b e i nf

e rr e d fr o m th e c i r c um st an c e s o f firin g a gun int o an o c c u p i e d h o u s e wh e r e n o b o d il y in j ury o c c urr e d . Th e sam e rul e o f l aw a p p li e s t o th e firin g o f a w ea p o n int o an o c c u

p i e d v e hi cl e . 

### C

o m . v. W o o d s, 7 1 0 A. 2 d 6 2 6 (P a . S u

p e r . 1 9 9 8 ) . T h e r e i s e v e n gr e at e r r eas o n t o r e a c h a s im il ar r e s u l t h e r e in . Unl ik e Hunt e r , t o th e Ap p e ll ant ' s kn o w l e d g e h e s h o t a gun at c l o s e r an g e t o w ard thr e e · p e o p l e s e at e d 

### in a v e hi cl e h e j u s t d e p art e d . A g grav at e d as s au l t d o e s n o t r e qu ir e p ro o f th at s e ri o u s bo d il y i n j ury w as infl i c t e d b ut o nl y th at an att e mp t w as m a d e t o c au s e s u c h i n

j ury . T h e j ury c o u l d fin d th e n ec e s s ary int e ri t t o s u p p o rt an a g gr av at e d a s s aul t c h arg e fr o m Ap p e ll ant ' s a dmi s s i o n h e fi r e d hi s w e a p o n int o a v e h i c l e h e kn e w w as o c c u p i e d . As su c h , Ap p e ll ant' s c ha ll e n g e t o th e s u ffi c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e i s .w i th o ut m e ri t.


# n . RE C KL E S S L Y . E ND AN G E RIN G AN O T H E R P E RS O N T h e e l e m e nt s o f R e c kl e s s l y E n d an g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n ar e : " A p e r s o n c o mmi ts a m i s d e m e an o r o f

th e s e c o n d d e gr e e 

### i f

h e r e c kl e s s l y e n g a g e s in c o n d u c t whi c h p l a c e s o r m ay p l a c e an o th e r p e r s o n i n d an g e r o f d e ath o r s e ri o u s bo d il y inj ury . " 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 2 7 0 5 . " S e ri o us b o d il y in j ury " i s d e fi n e d a s " [b ] o d il y i n j ury whi c h c r e at e s a s ub s tanti a l ri s k o f d e ath o r whi c h c au s e s s e ri o us , p e rm an e nt d i s fi gur e m e nt , o r p r o tr a c t e d l o s s o r imp a irm e nt o f th e fun c ti o n o f any b o d il y m e mb e r o r o rg an . " 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 2 3 0 1.
8T o s u s tai n a c o nv i c t i o n , th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p r o v e th at th e d e fe n d ant h a d an a c tua l

p r e s e nt ab ili ty t o infl i c t h arm an d n o t m e r e l y th e a p p ar e nt a b ili ty t o d o s o . 

### C

o m . v. T h o m as, 8 7 9 A. 2 d 2 4 6 (P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 5 ) . D an g e r , n o t m e r e l y th e a p p r e h e ns i o n o f d an g e r , mu s t b e c r e at e d . 

### C o m v. C i a n c i, 13 0 A. 3 d 3 4 9 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 5 ) . Th e 

### m e n s re a fo r Re c kl e s s l y E n d an g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n i s a c o n s ci o u s d i s r e g ard o fa kn o wn ri s k o f d e ath o r gr e at b o d il y h arm t o an o th e r pe r s o n . 

### C

o m . v . H o p kins, 7 4 7 A. 2 d 9 1 0 , 9 1 5 - 1 6 (P a S u p e r . 2 0 0 0 ) ( ci tat i o ns an d qu o tati o ns o m i tt e d) . In thi s c a s e , Ap p e ll ant t e s ti fi ed h e h a d a gun an d h e fir ed th e gun at an o c c u p i e d v e hi cl e wh e r e J am al P ag e w a s s e at e d in th e fr o nt p as s e n g e r s e at. Ap p e ll ant h a d th e p r e s e nt ab ili ty t o infl i c t h arm an d c r e at e d a d an g e r o u s s i tuat i o n b y re c kl e s s l y w av in g ar o uri d a l o a d e d w e a p o n . As a m att e r o f c o mm o n s e n s e , a fi r e d gun c an ki ll , m a im , imp a ir o r pe rm an e ntl y d i s fi gur e a p e r s o n . W i th o ut qu e st i o n , Ap pe ll ant c r e at e d a d an g e r o u s s i tuati o n fo r J am a l P a g e . J am al P a g e a p p r e h e n d e d th e d an g e r o u s s i tuat i o n h e w as in a ft e r th e fir s t s h o t hi t th e w in d s hi e l d . T. T. p . 8 0
. Aft e r th e fir s t s h o t, T ammy P a g e i mm e di at e l y b a c k e d o ut o f Ap p e ll ant ' s dri v e w ay t o e s c a p e th e d an g e r o u s s i tu ati o n c au s e d b y Ap p e ll ant. T. T
. p . 8 0, 1 0 3. Th at i s wh e n Ap p e ll ant s h o t at th e r e ar p as s e n g e r w in d o w . T. T. p . 8 1
. A c c o rd in g ly , Ap pe ll ant a c t e d wi th a c o ns c i o u s di s r e g ar d o f a kn o wn ri s k o f d e ath o r gr e at b o d il y h arm t o th e o c c u p ant s in th e v e hi c l e . A s n o te d a

b o v e , th e · d e f

� n s e · o f v o luntary · . hl to x i c ati o n d o e s · n o t a p p l y t o mi t i g ate th e d e g r e e o fRe c kl e s s l y E n d an g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n . E v e n s t ill , th e j ury r e j e c t e d Ap p e ll ant ' s p r o ff e r e d d e fe ns e o fv o luntary i nt o xi c at i o n in mi ti g ati o n o f th e r e qu ir e d 

### m e n s 

### re a o f R e c kl e s s l y E n d an g e rin g An o th e r P e r s o n . T h e e l e m e nts o f th e c rim e w e r e p r o v ed b e y o n d a r e as o n ab l e d o ub t.

9

### W H E T HE R T HE A G G RAVA T E D A S S AU L T C HARG E WA S P RO P E RL Y G RAD E D

Th e e v i d e n c e w a s s u ffi c i e nt t o p r o v e th e c rim e o f A g gr av at e d · A s s aul t as a fi r s t d e gre e fe l o ny p ur s u ant t o 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 2 7 0 2 ( a) (l ) . Th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r o v e d an d th e j ury fo un d Ap pe ll ant a c t e d r e c kl e s s ly un d e r c ir c um stan c e s m anif e s tin g e xtr e m e in di ff

e r e n c e t o th e v alu e o f hum an li fe b y fi ri ng a l o a d e d gun at an o c c u p i e d v e hi c l e . Th e s tatut e p r o v i d e s th at A ggrav at e d As s au l t un d e r s e c t i o n 2 7 0 2 ( a) ( l ) i s a fi r st d e gr e e fe l o ny . Th e r e f o r e , th e c rim e w a s p r o pe rly gr a d e d . 

### T HE S E VE RE D F IRE ARM S C HAR G E Ap pe ll ant c l a im s i t w a s e rr o r o r an ab u s e o f di s c r e t i o n t o pe rm i t th e p o s s es s i o n o f a p r o hib i te d fi r e arm c h arg e . t o b e s e v e r e d ' an d th e n r e ins tat e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th th e r e b y r e s u l t i n g in th e D e fe n d ant ' s e ntry o f a gu il ty p l e a s ub s equ e nt t o th e r e in s tat e d an d s e v e r e d c h ar g e . Th e cl a i m i s un cl e ar g i v e n th e p r o c e d ura l hi s t o ry o f th e fi r e arm s c h arg e . A c o n ci s e s tat e m e nt whi c h i s t o o v a gu e t o a ll o w th e c o urt t o i d e nt i fy th e i s s u e s r a i s e d o n a p pe al i s th e fun c ti o n a l e qu i v a l e nt o f ri o c o n c i s e s tate m e nt at a ll . 

### C o m . v. R e e v es, 9 0 1 A. 2 d 1 , 2 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) , 

### a p p e a l d e n i e d, 9 1 9 A . 2 d 9 5 6 (P a . 2 0 0 7 ) . Th e c o urt ' s r e v i e w an d le g a l an al y s i s 

## can b e fatal l y imp ai r e d wh e n th e c o urt h as t o gu es s at th e i s s u e s ra i s e d . I d. Thu s , if a c o n c i s e s tat e m e nt i s t o o v a gu e , th e c o urt m ay fi n d w ai v e r . I d. A s th e p re c i se i s s u e c ann o t be di s c e rn e d , th e c l a i m i s w ai v e d . As s um i n g 

### ar

gu e n d o th e c l a im i s n o t w a i v e d , i t a p pe ar s Ap p e ll ant m i s a

p p r e h e n d s wh at o c c urr e d wi th th e fi r e arm s c h ar g e . Th e fir e arm s c h ar g e w as s e v e r e d . T h e c h ar g e w as n o t w i th dr awn an d r e i n s tat e d b y th e C o mm o nw e al th , as m i s s tat e d b y Ap p e ll ant. Th e fir earms c h arg e w a s p r o p e rly s e v e r e d fr o m th e tri a l t o av o i d p r e j u d ic e t o Ap p e ll ant. T h e cl aim l a c ks any 10

## . 

# .

m e anin g fu l art i c u l at i o n co n s i s t e nt 

### wi th th e fa c ts o f th e c as e . Th e c l a im i s w a i v e d an d/ o r

m e ri tl e s s . C O N C L U S I O N F o r th e r e a s � n s s tat e d h e r e in , Ap p � l . l ant ' s cl aim s ar e w a i v e d an d/ o r ar e m e ri t l e s s . Th e e v i d e n c e w a s s u ffi ci e nt t o s u s ta in th e Ap p e l l ant ' s c o nv i c ti o ns . Ap p e ll ant · f ai l e d 

## to e stab li s h v o luntary i nt o x i c at i o n in mi ti g ati o n o fhi s c u lp ab ili ty .

c c : D i s tri c t Att o rn e y ' s O ffi c e . W ill i am J . H ath aw ay , E s qu ir e , 1 9 0 3 W e s t 8 th S tr e e t , P MB # 2 6 1 , E ri e , P A 1 6 5 0 5

11