[J-27-2015] 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA 

MIDDLE DISTRICT 

SAYLOR, C.J., EAKIN, BAER, TODD, STEVENS, JJ. 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,

 Appellee 

 v. 

JASON ANDREW DOUGHTY, 

 Appellant 

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No. 120 MAP 2014 

Appeal from the Order of the Superior 

Court dated March 26, 2014 at No. 998 

MDA 2013 Affirming the Judgment of 

Sentence of the Cumberland County Court 

of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, 

entered May 7, 2013 at No. 

CP-21-CR-2182-2012. 

ARGUED: April 7, 2015 

OPINION 

MR. JUSTICE EAKIN DECIDED: November 18, 2015 

Appellant appeals the decision of the Superior Court affirming his conviction under 

18 Pa.C.S. § 4952 for intimidation of a witness, requesting we overrule or clarify 

Commonwealth v. Brachbill, 555 A.2d 82 (Pa. 1989). 

On June 30, 2012, while arguing with his wife, appellant struck her, knocked her to 

the ground, and attempted to force her back into their home; she escaped and drove to 

the police station. Police charged appellant with harassment and simple assault. While 

in prison awaiting his preliminary hearing, appellant tried to call his wife multiple times; 

she did not answer because the calls upset her. On July 14, 2012, appellant called his 

father, who called appellant’s wife on a separate phone and relayed appellant’s 

statements to her, establishing a three-way call on the two phones. Appellant insisted 

his wife tell the magistrate she would not testify, that she made a mistake, and that she 

caused her own injuries. If she failed to do so, appellant stated he would go to jail for two 
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years, starve, and lose everything. He also told her that she must comply for the sake of 

their marriage, which he repeatedly described as “priceless.” Prison Recording, 

Commonwealth’s Exhibit 4, at 13:39-14:45. Appellant stated that if his wife was charged 

with making false statements, he would pay her fines. Two days later, she told police 

she no longer wished to press charges. See N.T. Hearing, 3/19/13, at 170-71. 

In light of the phone call, the Commonwealth charged appellant with intimidation of 

a witness under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952. A jury convicted appellant of simple assault and 

intimidation of a witness, and the trial court convicted him of harassment. He was 

sentenced to an aggregate term of 33 to 66 months imprisonment. 

Appellant challenged the sufficiency of the evidence for the intimidation conviction. 

In particular, he argued the Commonwealth failed to prove the element of intimidation, as 

his wife testified she was not intimidated during the three-way conservation, see N.T. 

Hearing, 3/19/13, at 138, and there was no evidence he attempted to intimidate her. The 

trial court disagreed, concluding sufficient evidence existed to prove the attempt to 

intimidate. The court noted appellant “berated his wife, directly and indirectly, to not 

testify” and stated “there [was] simply no other way to parse [appellant’s] words or his 

invective.” Trial Court Opinion, 7/30/13, at 4-5. 

Before the Superior Court, appellant conceded he tendered a pecuniary benefit by 

offering to pay potential fines, but he asserted such a fact related only to grading under 18 

Pa.C.S. § 4952(b), and did not comprise intimidation under subsection (a). The court 

rejected this sufficiency claim, interpreting it as a functional request to overrule Brachbill. 

Commonwealth v. Doughty, No. 998 MDA 2013, unpublished memorandum at 6 (Pa. 

Super. filed March 26, 2014) (“[O]ur Supreme Court has held that an individual violates [§] 

4952(a) even where ‘the Commonwealth’s evidence only established inducements and 

did not prove any threats or attempts of coercion.’” (emphasis in original) (quoting 
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Brachbill, at 85)). Recognizing it was bound by Brachbill, the Superior Court affirmed the 

intimidation conviction. Id., at 7. We granted allocatur to determine whether Brachbill 

“should be partially overturned[] or clarified so that it isn’t in conflict with the plain 

language reading of 18 Pa.C.S.[] § 4952 and in conflict with the well[-]recognized rule of 

statutory construction that penal statutes must be strictly construed.” Commonwealth v. 

Doughty, 101 A.3d 1150 (Pa. 2014) (per curiam) (alterations in original). 

In relevant part, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952 provides: 

(a) Offense defined.—A person commits an offense if, with the intent to or 

with the knowledge that his conduct will obstruct, impede, impair, prevent or 

interfere with the administration of criminal justice, he intimidates or 

attempts to intimidate any witness or victim to: 

* * * 

(3) Withhold any testimony M relating to the commission of a 

crime from any law enforcement officer, prosecuting official or 

judge. 

 * * * 

(b) Grading.— 

(1) The offense is a felony of the degree indicated in

paragraphs (2) through (4) if: 

(i) The actor employs force, violence or 

deception, or threatens to employ force or 

violence, upon the witness or victim or, with the 

requisite intent or knowledge upon any other 

person. 

(ii) The actor offers any pecuniary or other 

benefit to the witness or victim or, with the 

requisite intent or knowledge, to any other 

person. 

(iii) The actor’s conduct is in furtherance of a 

conspiracy to intimate a witness or victim. 
[J-27-2015] - 4 

(iv) The actor accepts, agrees or solicits another 

to accept any pecuniary or other benefit to 

intimidate a witness or victim. 

* * * 

(4) The offense is a felony of the third degree in any other 

case in which the actor sought to influence or intimidate a 

witness or victim as specified in this subsection. 

(5) Otherwise the offense is a misdemeanor of the second 

degree. 

18 Pa.C.S. § 4952(a)(3), (b)(1)(i)-(iv), (b)(4)-(5). 

Appellant avers courts, pursuant to Brachbill, are convicting where only the mens 

rea and a grading provision are present, without requiring proof of intimidation. See 

Appellant’s Brief, at 11 (“‘The Pennsylvania Supreme Court clarified that any offer of 

benefit M violates the statute even if unaccompanied by M intimidation[.]’” (omissions in 

original) (quoting Commonwealth v. Lynch, 72 A.3d 706, 710 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en 

banc))). Thus, appellant claims intimidation has been read out of subsection (a), which 

leads to the “absurd” result that “‘[a]ny offer’ will do” to support a conviction. Id. (quoting 

Lynch, at 710). Appellant argues, under Brachbill, courts are treating § 4952(b)(1)(ii) as 

a “super element” which constitutes proof of intimidation under § 4952(a). Id., at 10. As 

18 Pa.C.S. § 4952(a) requires intimidation or an attempt to intimidate, appellant posits 

such an interpretation conflicts with the plain language of the statute and the rule of lenity, 

which provides penal statutes are to be strictly construed. See 1 Pa.C.S. § 1928(b)(1). 

Appellant submits that Brachbill, despite referencing the rule of lenity and that statutory 

terms are to be given their ordinary meanings, ignored both notions, as evidenced by the 

statement “‘it is nevertheless clear that the legislature intended to proscribe M any offers 

of benefit with the’” applicable mens rea. Appellant’s Brief, at 9-10 (omission and 

emphasis in original) (quoting Brachbill, at 86). He further notes the legislature meant to 

give a narrow meaning to intimidation since 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952’s predecessor, id., § 4907 
[J-27-2015] - 5 

(repealed),1 used the broader term “induce,” id. Accordingly, appellant posits Brachbill’s 

holding that mere inducements may satisfy intimidation under subsection (a) “tortur[es] 

the English language[.]” Appellant’s Brief, at 10. 

The Commonwealth asserts it is unnecessary to overrule Brachbill because rather 

than abolishing the need to prove intimidation, Brachbill simply “describes the intent for 

and manner in which one can be intimidated[.]” Commonwealth’s Brief, at 10 (emphasis 

omitted). The Commonwealth posits the pecuniary benefit provision does not replace 

the need to prove intimidation but instead stands for the proposition § 4952(a) is not 

limited to overtly threatening acts, and that Lynch reaffirmed this notion. Observing 

appellant selectively quoted Lynch, the Commonwealth submits Lynch merely clarified 

the type of intimidation “need not be of the bodily harm type.” Id., at 9. As to appellant’s 

claim that “any offer will do[,]” Appellant’s Brief, at 11, the Commonwealth highlights 

Lynch specifically rejected such an assertion, Commonwealth’s Brief, at 9 (“‘[A]n offer of 

 

1

 The repealed statute provided in relevant part: 

(a) Offense defined.—A person commits an offense if, believing that an 

official proceeding or investigation is pending or about to be instituted, he 

attempts to induce or otherwise cause a witness or informant to: 

(1) testify or inform falsely; 

(2) withhold any testimony, information, document or thing 

except on advice of counsel; 

(3) elude legal process summoning him to testify or provide 

evidence; or 

(4) absent himself from any proceeding or investigation to 

which he has been legally summoned. 

Act of December 6, 1972, No. 334, § 4907, 1972 Pa. Laws 1557 (repealed) (emphasis 

added). 
[J-27-2015] - 6 

benefits may be so vague, incredible, or frivolous on its face that it necessarily fails to 

constitute the criminal act proscribed[.]’” (quoting Lynch, at 710)). 

The Commonwealth argues it proved intimidation here since the totality of the 

circumstances, in particular appellant’s history of abusive conduct, reveal appellant’s wife 

was “being intimidated with the loss of her existing livelihood.” Id., at 11 (emphasis 

omitted). It suggests appellant’s pecuniary offer “served only as a vehicle for [appellant] 

to remind [his wife] of the underlying violence that w[ould] be visited upon her if she d[id] 

not comply with his demands.” Id. The Commonwealth further notes appellant 

previously told his wife he would kill her and used a racial epithet when she attempted to 

leave the house and call the police. The Commonwealth avers that, viewed through this 

prism, appellant’s statements during the three-way conversation take on a threatening 

character that constitutes “textbook intimidation.” Id., at 13. 

Amicus curiae, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, argues this Court 

is barred from revisiting Brachbill since Brachbill was decided upon legislative-intent 

grounds and thus Brachbill’s interpretation became part of the act. See Commonwealth 

v. Shaffer, 734 A.2d 840, 844 (Pa. 1999) (“[O]ur interpretation [of a statute’s legislative 

intent] bec[o]me[s] a part of the legislation from the date of enactment.”). Amicus 

suggests further statutory construction is prohibited because an alleged error as to 

legislative intent may “‘only be remedied prospectively’” by the legislature via 

amendment. Amicus Brief, at 6 (quoting Shaffer, at 844). Amicus contends 

reinterpreting a statute would raise separation-of-powers concerns. Id., at 14 (citing 

Kendrick v. Dist. Attorney of Phila., 916 A.2d 529, 540 (Pa. 2007)). Moreover, as 

Brachbill was decided 25 years ago without subsequent legislative modification, amicus 

posits Brachbill’s interpretation is presumed correct and further statutory interpretation is 

prohibited. 
[J-27-2015] - 7 

While the doctrine of stare decisis is important, it does not demand unseeing 

allegiance to things past. See Tincher v. Omega Flex, Inc., 104 A.3d 328, 352 (Pa. 

2014) (citations omitted); O.W. Holmes, The Path of the Law, 10 Harv. L. Rev. 457, 469 

(1897) (“It is revolting to have no better reason for a rule of law than that so it was laid 

down in the time of Henry IV. It is still more revolting if the grounds upon which it was laid 

down have vanished long since, and the rule simply persists from blind imitation of the 

past.”). In cases resolved upon statutory interpretation, stare decisis does implicate 

greater sanctity because the legislature can prospectively amend the statute if it 

disagrees with a court’s interpretation. See Shambach v. Bickhart, 845 A.2d 793, 807 

(Pa. 2004) (Saylor, J., concurring) (“[S]tare decisis has ‘special force’ in matters of 

statutory M construction[] because M the legislat[ure] is free to correct any errant 

interpretation of its intentions[.]”). 

Although this Court has been mindful of the distinct status afforded precedent 

based upon statutory interpretation, see Kendrick, at 540; Shambach, at 807, we are 

never per se barred from reconsidering such cases. Amicus cites Kendrick and Shaffer 

to suggest only the legislature can clarify the result of a decision interpreting a decision, 

but this argument would prevent an appellate court from ever reconsidering such 

precedent. That is, taken to its logical conclusion, amicus’s argument would effectively 

abolish stare decisis in favor of a bright-line rule prohibiting reconsideration of statutory 

precedent. In contrast, stare decisis inherently accounts for the separation-of-powers 

concern by erecting a high standard needed to overrule statutory precedent. See 

Shambach, at 807. With this in mind, we move to Brachbill and its progeny. 

In Brachbill, two prison guards abused an inmate, who told prison officials, also 

indicating they attempted to deter him from reporting their misconduct. After the 

inmate’s release, the guards again tried to dissuade him from speaking with authorities, 
[J-27-2015] - 8 

requesting he call them every day and offering to pay for the phone calls. One of the 

guards told the inmate not to speak with police, gave him money, and offered to take his 

family to dinner. The guards were convicted of intimidation under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952. 

On appeal to this Court, they argued the evidence was insufficient because no evidence 

was presented that they threatened the inmate, asserting the courts below erroneously 

viewed the terms “intimidate” and “induce” as interchangeable. Since the prior version of 

the intimidation statute used the term “induce[,]” 18 Pa.C.S. § 4907 (repealed), the guards 

averred the legislature did not intend to use “induce” and “intimidate” interchangeably in § 

4952. 

This Court affirmed the convictions, concluding this argument “totally ignore[d]” 

subsection (b). Brachbill, at 85. The Court opined “although [§] 4952(a) uses the word 

‘intimidates’ and not the former[,] broader term ‘induce,’ it is nevertheless clear that the 

legislature intended to proscribe M any offers of benefit with the intent to ‘obstruct, 

impede, impair, prevent or interfere with the administration of criminal justice[.]’” Id., at 

85-86. As to the rule of lenity, the Court noted “a rule of construction may never be 

permitted to give a restrictive meaning to [terms] where the clear language of the text M 

indicates otherwise.” Id., at 86. In the Court’s view, accepting the guards’ argument 

would have required it to disregard the plain text of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952(b)(2).2 Brachbill, 

at 86. 

In Lynch, the appellant brutally beat his girlfriend, the mother of his children. 

While in prison, the appellant called and wrote the victim, asking her to drop the charges 

or refuse to testify. Although the victim was not intimidated by the contact, the trial court 

 

2

 Section 4952(b) was amended in 2001, resulting in a renumbering of the grading 

provisions, but not their text. Under the present statute, Brachbill’s reference to 

paragraph (b)(2) actually refers to subparagraph (b)(1)(ii). Compare 18 Pa.C.S. § 

4952(b)(1)(ii), with Act of December 4, 1980, No. 187, § 4952(b)(2), 1980 Pa. Laws 1098. 
[J-27-2015] - 9 

“‘inferred from the surrounding circumstances[,]’” the appellant intended to intimidate her. 

Lynch, at 709 (quoting Trial Court Opinion, 6/8/11, at 2-3). On appeal, the appellant 

argued the evidence was insufficient because his communications were not threatening. 

Writing for the Superior Court en banc, then-President Judge Stevens noted that, given 

the nature of domestic abuse, a “plea for compassion” by an abusive partner may, 

“without more, qualify as ‘intimidation.’” Id., at 710. Notwithstanding this suggestion, 

the majority concluded such an examination was unnecessary since the appellant’s letter 

“communicate[d] a clear offer of pecuniary and other benefit[.]” Id. In particular, the 

court determined the appellant “offer[ed] M improved household stability and financial 

support [in the form of a tax refund] for her and their children[.]” Id., at 711. In the 

court’s view, the letter “specifically targeted a parent’s basic drive to meet childcare 

needs.” Id. Remarking Brachbill “clarified that any offer of benefit with such intent 

violates the statute even if unaccompanied by threats or overt intimidation[,]” the Lynch 

majority held the appellant’s conduct fell within § 4952. Id., at 710-11. 

In dissent, Judge Bender, joined by Judges Donohue and Wecht, stated the 

evidence demonstrated only begging and pleading — “the antithesis of intimidation.” Id., 

at 712 (Bender, J., dissenting). The dissent underscored that neither the trial court nor 

the Commonwealth cited the pecuniary benefit provision, id., at 712-13, and criticized the 

majority for implying “any offer of benefit” would suffice, noting an offer must be pecuniary 

in nature, given the statute’s text and the rule of lenity, id., at 714. Hence, despite the 

fact that previous cases had “already stretched the text of the [witness intimidation] 

statute to the outermost limits of reason[,]” the dissent opined “[t]he bar ha[d now] been 

set so low M a prosecutor need only trip over it to satisfy the [m]ajority.” Id., at 715. 

As noted supra, Brachbill was decided on statutory-interpretation grounds, and a 

strong presumption weighs against overruling it. See Shambach, at 807. Yet, as 
[J-27-2015] - 10 

mentioned by the dissent in Lynch, Brachbill placed its perception of legislative purpose 

above the language of the criminal statute. In § 4952, the elements of the crime are 

complete within subsection (a); subsection (b) deals with penalty, not elements of the 

crime itself. However, while findings relevant to penalty do not replace elements of the 

crime, the former may reflect that a broader interpretation of the latter is appropriate. 

Thus, it is true the Court in Brachbill gave short shrift to the fact the legislature replaced 

the broader term “induce” with the narrower term “intimidate,” and based its holding 

primarily on purpose gleaned from grading provisions. It is also true the Court rejected 

the argument that overt intimidation was necessary, as inducement enumerated in (b) 

was recognized by the legislature as a potential component of intimidation under 

subsection (a). See Brachbill, at 85-86. 

Clearly, intimidation may be accomplished with no words at all, for a mere look or 

posture can bully, threaten, coerce, frighten, or intimidate beyond question. See, e.g., 

Clint Eastwood. It is equally true that an offer of benefit can be presented in such a 

Machiavellian manner as to contain an unarticulated act of intimidation. See, e.g., The 

Godfather (Paramount Pictures 1972) (“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”). 

Indeed, one need not go to the movies to understand that people may purposely 

intimidate in any number of ways, without manifesting bullying or fearsome words, and if 

they do so with the requisite mens rea, the crime is made out. 

Given the interpretations in the Superior Court’s precedent, we find it appropriate 

to clarify Brachbill’s parameters. To be clear, Brachbill did not vitiate the need to prove 

intimidation. Rather, it disagreed with the appellants’ argument that the statute requires 

“threats or attempts of coercion.” Brachbill, at 85. Where Brachbill goes awry is in 

suggesting a pecuniary benefit, in and of itself, comprises intimidation. Such an 

inducement may or may not intimidate, but the legislature replaced the element of 
[J-27-2015] - 11 

inducement with the element of intimidation. The legislature did not state that 

inducements cannot suffice to constitute intimidation; it said the opposite. 

Brachbill did not abolish the Commonwealth’s need to prove intimidation. 

Whether an offer of a pecuniary or other benefit contains sufficient indicia of intimidation is 

to be determined by the fact finder and assessed under the totality of the circumstances, 

cognizant that proof of manifest threats is not required. Insofar as Brachbill is read to 

mean pecuniary inducement alone will suffice without proof of intimidation, it is 

disapproved. While understandable, to the extent the Superior Court relied on Brachbill 

to find intimidation is not needed to satisfy a conviction under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952, see 

Doughty, at 6-7, we hold the court erred. 

Despite clarifying Brachbill, we see no need to remand to the Superior Court to 

review the sufficiency of the evidence; as the jury was properly instructed and found 

intimidation, additional fact finding is unnecessary. See Commonwealth v. Edmiston, 65 

A.3d 339, 357 (Pa. 2013) (declining to remand where further fact finding was 

unnecessary). In reviewing claims challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, our 

standard of review is well settled: 

[W]e examine whether the evidence admitted at trial, and all reasonable 

inferences drawn therefrom, viewed in the light most favorable to the 

Commonwealth as verdict winner, support the jury’s finding of all the 

elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. The Commonwealth 

may sustain its burden by means of wholly circumstantial evidence. 

Commonwealth v. Mattison, 82 A.3d 386, 392 (Pa. 2013) (internal citation omitted). 

Here, the transcript reveals the jury was properly instructed that intimidation was a 

necessary element of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952, proof of which was required for conviction. 

N.T. Hearing, 3/19/13, at 185. Moreover, alluding to the prison recording, the trial court 

pointed out that appellant “berated his wife, directly and indirectly, to not testify[.]” Trial 

Court Opinion, 7/30/13, at 4. Although, as noted by the dissent in Lynch, one may 
[J-27-2015] - 12 

choose to interpret the cold record of appellant’s words as demonstrating mere pleading 

and begging, our standard of review requires us to view the evidence in the light most 

favorable to the Commonwealth. Mattison, at 392. Given appellant’s history of 

threatening behavior toward his wife, see N.T. Hearing, 3/18/13, at 58 (“[H]e said if I ever 

tried to leave him he’d kidnap me and chain me into a basement, or M kill [me].”), and 

“invective” during the prison recording, Trial Court Opinion, 7/30/13, at 4, we agree there 

was sufficient evidence for the jury to find appellant attempted to intimidate his spouse. 

Accordingly, we affirm appellant’s conviction under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952. 

Order affirmed; jurisdiction relinquished. 

Mr. Justice Baer, Madame Justice Todd and Mr. Justice Stevens join the opinion. 

Mr. Chief Justice Saylor files a concurring opinion.