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

v. AARON HARPER , Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 918 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 24, 2018 i n the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 02 - CR - 0011623 - 2017 BEFORE: OTT, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MUSMANNO, J. MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED AUGUST 30, 2019 Aaron Harper ( “ Harper ” ) appeals from the judgment of sentence entered following his conviction of theft by unlawful taking and person not to possess a firearm. 1 

### We affirm. In its Opinion, the trial court summarized th e procedural history and facts underlying the instant appeal, which we adopt as though fully restated herein. See Trial Court Opinion, 12/6/18, at 1 - 2 ( procedural history), 3 - 4 (factual history). Harper presents the following claim for our review: Whet her the evidence is insufficient to support [] Harper ’ s conviction[ s ,] when [] Harper was not identified as the perpetrator of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt, or, in the alternative, when the Commonwealth failed to prove that any firearm depi cted in the surveillance video belonged to the complainant in this case?

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3921(a), 6105(a)(1).

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Brief for Appellant at 5. Harper claims that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain his convictions. Id. at 11. Specifically, Harper challenges the identification of him as the perpetrator of the offenses. Id. at 15. According to Harper, “ [t]he Commonwealth presented only one witness to the theft: the complainant, [Justin] Hoover [( “ Hoover ” )]. ” Id. Harp er posits that Hoover “ had little opportunity to view the perpetrator of the theft[,] at the time it occurred. ” Id. Harper asserts that Hoover did not see the perpetrator until after the perpetrator was fleeing from the scene. Id. at 16. Harper directs our attention to discrepancies between Hoover ’ s testimony at the preliminary hearing and at trial, arguing that Hoover ’ s identification w as too unreliable to sustain Harper ’ s conviction. Id. Harper further argues that Hoover ’ s prior identification of Ha rper as his assailant, at the preliminary hearing, was inaccurate, “ calling into question the reliability of [Hoover ’ s] identification at the scene and at trial. ” Id. at 17. Harper points out that, at the preliminary hearing, Hoover testified that his as sailant did not wear flip - flops, but at trial, he claimed that the assailant wore flip - flops, and that Hoover became combative when challenged about the discrepancy. Id. Harper further argues that he has no “ highly identifiable ” characteristics , and that “ myriad s of people ” could fit Hoover ’ s description of his assailant as a “ black male wearing a blue shirt. ” Id.

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Harper challenges the sufficiency of the evidence underlying his convictions. In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, [t]he standard we apply ... 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 fi nd 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 inn ocence. 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 combine d 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 evidenc e actually received must be considered. Finally, the [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. Fabian , 60 A.3d 146, 1 50 - 51 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation omitted). “ This standard of deference is not altered in cases involving a bench trial, because the province of a trial judge sitting without a jury is to do what a jury is required to do. ” Commonwealth v. Lee , 956 A.2d 1024, 1027 (Pa. Super. 2008) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Section 3921(a) of the Crimes Code provides that “ [a] person is guilty of theft if he unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, movable property of another with intent to deprive him thereof. ” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3921(a). Section 6105(a)(1) provides as follows:

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A person who has been convicted of an offense enumerated in subsection (b), within or without this Commonwealth, regardless of the length of sentence or whose conduct meets the criteria in subsection (c) shall not possess, use, control, sell, transfer or manufacture or obtain a license to possess, use, control, sell, transfer or manufacture a firearm in this Commonwealth. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(a)(1). In its Opinion, the trial court summarized the evidence in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth, as verdict winner, and concluded that it is sufficient to establish the identity of Harper as the perpetrator. See Trial Court Opinion, 12/6/18, at 3 - 4. We agree with and adopt the reasoning of the trial court, as set forth in its Opinion, see id. , with the following addendum . Harper compares the evidence in this case to cases in which Pennsylvania courts have concluded that the evidence was not sufficient to establish the identity of the perpetrator. See Brief for Appellant at 12 (directing this Court ’ s attention to Commonwealth v. Crews , 260 A.2d 771 (Pa. 1970), and Commonwealth v. Wiley , 432 A.2d 220 (Pa. Super. 1981)). Harper ’ s reli ance on these cases is misplaced. In Crews , two black males were seen entering a cab; the cab driver was robbed and beaten, and two black men were seen fleeing the scene. Crews , 260 A.2d at 772. A witness, Mrs. Schorr, who observed the two men fleeing from the cab, testified that the taller, lighter [ - ] complexioned one was wearing a gold - colored sweater, while the shorter, darker one was wearing a black leather trench coat. When [Crew s ’ s co defendant] was arrested, he was wearing a black leather coat [,]

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which Mrs. Schorr identified at trial as being the coat she saw. A gold [ - ]colored sweater was found in Crews ’ [s] home. Mrs. Schorr could not positively say that it was the same sweater [,] which the taller felon was wearing, but did indicate that the co lor appeared to be the same. Id. The Commonwealth additionally presented testimony that Crews and his co - defendant were seen together 11⁄2 hours before the crime. Id. Our Supreme Court held that the evidence was insufficient to sustain Crews ’ s conviction of murder: As stated above, the Commonwealth ’ s sole identification evidence was based on similar height and coloration, plus the clothing. In light of the myriads of people who fit the height and coloration description, and in light of the commonness of a gold sweater and a black trench coat, the evidence failed to point with sufficient certitude to Crews as the perpetrator of the crime. The jury was forced to guess whether it was Crews or another light complexioned Negro male wearing a gold sweater who committed the crime. Our system recoils at sending a man to prison for the rest of his life on a guess .... Id. In Wiley , a witness stated that he had identified the defendant because

“ it looked like ” the perpetrator. Wiley , 432 A.2d at 221. The witness , w hen asked on cross - examination, “ [H]ow positive are you in your identification? ” responded, “ Not too sure[,] ” and later stated that he was “ 50 percent ” unsure of his identification of the defendant, and then , “ [i]t ’ s somewhere — [i]t ’ s about 70 percent ” certain. Id. at 222 - 23. No such equivocation exists in the instant case. At trial, the victim, Hoover , stated that on August 21, 2017, at around 3:00 p.m., he stopped near Second Avenue and Winston Street, in Hazelwood,

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Pennsylvania. See N.T., 5/24/1 8, at 8 - 9. Hoover testified that he removed his holster, with a firearm inside of it, and placed it on the wall in front of him, in order to adjust his basketball shorts. Id. at 9 - 10. According to Hoover, he heard someone running behind him, turned, and saw Harper running away with Hoover ’ s firearm. Id. at 10 - 11. Hoover chased Harper “ up to the point where I heard him rack a bullet into the chamber [,] and I fell back and ca lled the police. ” Id. at 12. Hoover ’ s identification was not uncertain or equivocal. The trial court , as fact - finder, was free to resolve any inconsistencies or discrepancies in the testimony in either party ’ s favor. See generally Commonwealth v. Ramtahal , 33 A.3d 602, 607 (Pa. 2011) (explaining that “ [t]he Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proof by means of wholly circumstantial evidence, and the [fact - finder] , which passes upon the weight and credibility of each witness ’ s testimony, is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence ” ). Consequently, we cannot grant Harper relief on this claim. Harper also argues that, “ the fact that [he] was running on the surveillance video, and that he ran when [ a police officer] initially attempted to stop him, ” is not sufficient to sustain his conviction of person not to possess a firearm. Brief for Appellant at 20. Harper asserts that the 11 - second surveillance video does not clearly depict him as carrying a firearm. Id. At best, Harper asserts, t he video established that he was running with a black object in his hand. Id. at 21.

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Harper ’ s challenge to the video surv eillance footage does not afford him relief. Hoover testified that Harper stole his firearm from the wall and carried the weapon as he fled the scene. N.T., 5/24/18, at 10 - 11. This evidence , which the trial court found to be credible, was sufficient to establish that Harper, a felon, possessed a firearm. Counsel’s Application to Withdraw is granted. 2 

### Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 8/30/2019

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### Appellate counsel has filed an Application to Withdraw, as she has resigned from the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender.Circulated 08/12/2019 02:18 PM IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F A L L E G H E N Y C O U N T Y , P E NN S Y L V AN I A C R I M I N A L D I V I S I O N C O M M O N W E A L T H O F P E NN S Y L V AN I A ,



### v . AAR O N HA RP E R , D e fe n d an t.

O P I N I O N F L AH E R T Y , 

### J . C C N O . : 2 0 1 7 - 0 11 6 2 3 S u p e r i o r C o urt N o : 9 1 8 W D A 2 0 1 8

D e c e mb e r 6 , 2 0 18 A aro n H arp e r ( " D e fe n d an t " ) a p p e a l s fr o m th e Ju d gm e n t o f S e n t e n c e i mp o s e d b y th i s C o urt o n M ay 2 4 , 2 0 18 . O n A u gu s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 , D e f e n d an t w a s c h ar g e d w i th th e fo ll o w i n g o ff e n s e s fo r an i n c i d e n t th a t o c c ur

r e d o n th a t d a t e : • C o un t O n e : R e c e i v i n g S t o l e n P ro p e rty ( 1 8 P a . C S . A . § 3 9 2 5 ( a ) , a fe l o ny o f th e fi r s t d e g r e e ) • C o un t T w o : T h e f

t b y U n l aw fu l T ak i n g - M o v a b l e P ro p e rty ( 1 8 P a . C S . A . § 3 9 2 1 ( a ) , a fe l o n y o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e ) • C o un t T hr e e : P e r s o n n o t t o P o s s e s s a F i r e arm ( 1 8 P a . C S . A . § 6 10 5 ( a ) ( l ) , a fe l o ny o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e ) • C o un t F o ur : C ar

r y i n g a F i r e arm w i th o u t a Li c e n s e ( 1 8 P a . C S . A . § 6 10 6 ( a ) ( l ) , a fe l o ny o f th e th i r d d e g r e e ) • C o un t F i v e : E s c a

p e ( 1 8 P a . C S . A . § 5 1 2 1 ( a ) , a m i s d e m e an o r o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e ) T h e m a tt e r p ro c e e d e d t o a n o n j ur y tr i a l o n M ay 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 . P r i o r t o th e s t art o f tr i a l , th e C o m m o n w e a lth m o v e d t o am e n d C o un t 1 , r e c e i v i n g s t o l e n p ro p e rty , fr o m a fe l o ny o f th e fi r s t d e g r e e t o a fe l o n y o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e , an d C o un t 3 , p e r s o n n o t t o p o s s e s s a fi r e arm , fr o m a f e l o ny o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e t o a m i s d e m e an o r o f th e fi r s t d e g r e e . T h i s C o urt a c c e p t e d th e 

### 1am e n dm e n t s an d am e n d e d th e i n fo rm a t i o n . A t th e c o n cl u s i o n o f th e tr i a l , D e fe n d an t w a s fo un d

gu i lty o f th e f

t b y un l aw fu l t ak i n g an d p e r s o n n o t t o p o s s e s s a fi r e arm an d n o t gu i l ty a t th e r e m a i n i n g c o un t s . D e fe n d an t w a i v e d h i s r i g h t t o a p r e - s e n t e n c e r e p o rt an d th e D e fe n d an t w a s s e n t e n c e d t o s e rv e tw e n ty - fo ur ( 2 4 ) m o n th s o f p ro b a t i o n fo r th e f t b y un l aw fu l t ak i n g . D e fe n d an t t i m e l y fi l e d h i s N o t i c e o f Ap p e a l o n Jun e 2 2 , 2 01 8 . D e fe n d an t w a s d i r e c t e d t o fi l e h i s c o n ci s e s t a t e m e n t o f m a tt e r s c o mp l a i n e d o f o n a p p e a l v i a o r d e r d a t e d Jun e 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 . D e fe n d an t ' s c o n c i s e s t a t e m e n t w a s fi l e d o n S e p t e mb e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 , w h e r e i n h e ra i s e d th e fo ll o w i n g i s s u e s : 

### 1. T h e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f fi ci e n t t o c o n v i c t D e f

e n d an t o f th e f

t b y un l aw fu l t ak i n g an d p e r s o n n o t t o p o s s e s s a fi r e arm b e c au s e th e C o mm o n w e a lth d i d n o t p ro v e , b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u

b t , th a t D e fe n d an t w a s th e i n d i v i d u a l w h o un l aw fu ll y t o o k th e c o mp l a i n an t ' s fi r e arm . 2 . T h e e v i d e n c e w a s a l s o i n s u ffi ci e n t t o c o n v i c t D e fe n d an t o f th e f t b y un l aw fu l t ak i n g b e c au s e th e C o m m o nw e a lth d i d n o t p ro v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t th a t th e fi r e arm D e f e n d an t c ar

r i e d d i d , i n fa c t , b e l o n g t o th e c o mp l a i n an t i n th i s c a s e . T o th e e x t e n t th a t th e r e w a s p r o o f th a t D e fe n d an t c arr i e d a fi r e arm , th e r e w a s i n s u ffi ci e n t e v i d e n c e th a t i t w a s th e s t o l e n fi r e arm i n qu e s t i o n . 3 . D e fe n d an t i s e n t i tl e d t o a n e w tr i a l b e c au s e th i s H o n o rab l e C o urt e r r e d i n a ll o w i n g O f fi c e r C arl Y e an e y ( " O ffi c e r Y e an e y " ) t o p r e s e n t i n a dm i s s i b l e o p i n i o n t e s t im o ny a s t o th e c o n t e n t s o f a s urv e ill an c e v i d e o . O f fi c e r Y e an e y t e s t i fi e d , b a s e d o n h i s tra i n i n g an d e x p e r i e n c e , th a t h e b e l i e v e d th e s urv e ill an c e v i d e o s h o w e d D e f e n d an t h o l d i n g a fi r e arm . O f

fi c e r Y e an e y h a d n o t b e e n qu a l i fi e d a s an e x p e rt , an d h i s o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny d i d n o t fa ll w i th i n th e p e rm i s s i b l e b o un d s o f l ay o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny un d e r th e R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e . A dm i s s i o n o f th i s t e s t i m o ny w a s r e v e r s i b l e e r ro r. 4 . D e fe n d an t i s e n t i tl e d t o a n e w tr i a l b e c au s e th i s H o n o rab l e C o urt e r r e d i n a ll o w i n g O ffi c e r Y e an e y t o t e s t i f

y t o th e c o n t e n t s o f th e s urv e ill an c e v i d e o , i n v i o l a t i o n o f th e B e s t E v i d e n c e R

u l e .

2T h e fa c t s a s fo un d b y th i s C o urt a t tr i a l ar e a s fo ll o w s : Ju s t i n H o o v e r ( " H o o v e r " ) c r e d i b l y

t e s t i fi e d th a t h e w a s o n W i n s t o n A v e nu e an d S e c o n d A v e nu e i n H a z e l w o o d w a l k i n g t o s e e h i s g ran d fa th e r o n A u gu s t 2 1 , 2 01 7 . ( T . T . p p . 8 - 9 ) . H e w a s w a l k i n g t o w ar d S t. S t e p h e n ' s C hur c h aro un d 3 : 0 0 p . m . ( T . T . p . 9 ) . O n th a t d ay h e w a s c arr y i n g a fi r e arm an d w e ar i n g b a s k e t b a ll s h ort s . ( T . T . p . 10 ) . Ar o un d th a t t i m e , H o o v e r h a d t o a d j u s t h i s b a s k e t

b a ll s h o rt s , s o h e r e m o v e d h i s fi r e arm fr o m h i s p e r s o n an d s e t i t d o w n o n a w a ll i n fr o n t o f h i m . ( T . T . p . 10 ) . A t th a t p o i n t , h e h e ar d s o m e o n e run u

p b e h i n d h i m , g rab h i s fi r e arm o ff o f th e w a ll , an d t ak e o ff run n i n g d o w n th e s tr e e t. ( T . T . p p . 10 - 11 ) . H o o v e r i d e n t i fi e d th e i n d i v i d u a l w h o t o o k h i s fi r e arm fr o m th e w a ll a s D e fe n d an t. ( T . T . p . 11 ) . H o o v e r h a d n e v e r m e t D e fe n d an t b e fo r e th i s i n c i d e n t. ( T . T . p . 1 2 ) . H e c h a s e d D e fe n d an t o n fo o t un t i l h e h e ar d D e fe n d an t ra c k a b u ll e t i n t o th e c h amb e r o f th e fi r e arm . ( T .T . p . 1 2 ) . A t th i s p o i n t , H o o v e r s t o p p e d c h a s i n g D e f e n d an t an d c o n t a c t e d th e p o l i c e . ( T . T . p . 1 2 ) . H o o v e r th e n o b s e rv e d D e fe n d an t c o n t i nu e run n i n g d o w n th e s tr e e t t o w ar d H a l b l e i b ' s A u t o B o dy . ( T . T . p . 1 2 ) H o o v e r furth e r t e s t i fi e d th a t th e fi r e arm w a s o p e r a t i o n a l , a s h e h a d fi r e d i t a

p p ro x i m a t e l y o n e w e e k b e fo r e i t w a s s t o l e n . ( T. T . p . 11 ) . O ffi c e r Y e an e y , a p o l i c e o f fi c e r fo r th e C i ty o f P i tt s b ur g h P o l i c e D e p artm e n t an d a s s i g n e d t o Zo n e 4 , t e s t i fi e d th a t h e w a s o n g e n e ra l p a tro l o n A u g u s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 w h e n h e r e c e i v e d a c a ll a t a p p ro x i m a t e l y 3 : 1 5 p . m . ( T . T . p . 1 8 ) . H e r e s p o n d e d t o th e ar e a o f S e c o n d A v e nu e an d W i n s t o n S tr e e t fo r a th e f t o f a fi r e arm . ( T . T . p . 1 8 ) . Up o n ar r i v a l , h e m a d e c o n t a c t w i th th e c o mp l a i n an t , Ju s t i n H o o v e r , w h o s t a t e d th a t a " b l a c k m a l e w e ar i n g a b l u e s h i rt " h a d s t o l e n h i s fi r e arm an d fl e d o n fo o t t o w ar d H a l b e i b ' s A u t o B o dy . ( T . T . p . 1 8 ) . O f fi c e r Y e an e y n o t i fi e d o th e r un i t s i n th e ar e a o f th e d e s c r i p t i o n an d b e g an t o p a tro l th e ar e a . ( T . T . p . 18 ) . H e s h o rtl y n o t i c e d a m a l e fi tt i n g th a t d e s c r i p t i o n w a l k i n g a fe w b l o c k s ah e a d o f h i m . ( T . T . p . 1 9 ) . O f fi c e r Y e an e y a p p ro a c h e d h i m , an d c a ll e d o u t o v e r th e ra d i o a tt e mp t i n g t o i n i t i a t e a s t o p . ( T . T . p . 1 9 ) . 3W h e n D e fe n d an t s aw th e a c t i v a t e d p o l i c e l i g h t s , h e b e g an t o run aw ay . ( T . T . p . 1 9 ) . O ffi c e r

Y e an e y p ur s u e d h i m , h a d o th e r o f fi c e r s s e t a p e r i m e t e r , an d u lt i m a t e l y l o c a t e d D e fe n d an t i n b e tw e e n b u i l d i n g s o n th e 5 10 0 b l o c k o f W e s t Lan g h o rn S tr e e t. ( T . T . p . 1 9 ) . T h e r e w a s n o fi r e arm r e c o v e r e d fr o m D e fe n d an t o r a t any p o i n t d ur i n g th i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n . ( T . T . p . 2 5 ) . V i d e o s urv e ill an c e fr o m H a l b e i b ' s A u t o B o dy fr o m A u gu s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 a t 3 : 0 8 p . m . w a s s e c ur e d b y th e P i tt s b ur g h P o li ce an d p l ay e d a t tr i a l. ( T . T . p p . 2 0 - 2 2 ) . T h e v i d e o c a p t ur e d i m a g e s fr o m th e ar e a aro un d H a l b e i b ' s A u t o B o dy , an d d e p i c t e d D e f e n d an t run n i n g d o w n th e s am e ro u t e a s t e s t i fi e d t o b y H o o v e r an d O f fi c e r Y e an e y . ( T . T . p . 2 0 - 2 2 ) . D e f e n d an t ' s fi r s t i s s u e o n a

p p e a l i s th a t th e C o m m o nw e a lth fa i le d t o p ro v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t th a t D e fe n d an t w a s th e i n d i v i d u a l w h o un l aw fu ll y t o o k H o o v e r ' s fi r e arm . A t tr i a l i n th i s m a tt e r , H o o v e r i d e n t i fi e d D e fe n d an t a s th e i n d i v i d u a l w h o t o o k h i s fi r e arm o ff o f th e w a ll w i th o u t au th o r i z a t i o n o r p e rm i s s i o n t o d o s o . ( T . T . p . 11 ) . T h i s C o urt fo un d H o o v e r ' s t e s t i m o n y t o b e c r e d i b l e i n a ll r e s p e c t s . I n - c o urt i d e n t i fi c a t i o n o f th e p e rp e tra t o r o f a c r i m e i s s u f fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o p ro v e th a t a p art i c u l ar d e fe n d an t c o m m i tt e d th e o ff e n s e c h ar g e d . 

### S

e e, C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . J a r e c k i , 4 1 5 P a . S u

p e r . 2 8 6 , 2 9 0 ( 1 9 9 2 ) . A s s u c h , th e r e w a s s u f fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o p ro v e D e fe n d an t w a s th e i n d i v i d u a l w h o c o m m i tt e d th e s e o ff e n s e s . D e f e n d an t ' s s e c o n d i s s u e o n a p p e a l i s th a t th e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f fi ci e n t t o c o n v i c t D e fe n d an t o f th e f

t b y un l aw fu l t ak i n g b e c au s e th e C o m m o n w e a lth d i d n o t p ro v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t th a t th e fi r e arm D e fe n d an t c arr i e d b e l o n g e d t o H o o v e r. A p e r s o n c o m m i t s th e o ff e n s e o f th e f

t b y un l aw fu l t ak i n g o r d i s p o s i t i o n o f m o v ab l e p ro p e rty w h e n h e " un l aw fu ll y t ak e s . . . m o v ab l e p ro p e rty o f an o th e r w i th i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e h i m th e r e o f . " 18 P a . C. S . A . § 3 9 2 l ( a ) . H o o v e r t e s t i fi e d th a t h e h a d l aw fu ll y p ur c h a s e d th e B e r s a 9 m ill i m e t e r p i s t o l h e w a s c ar ry i n g o n

4A u gu s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 a p p ro x i m a t e l y e i g h t m o n th s p r i o r t o th i s i n ci d e n t. ( T .T . p . 11 ) . H e furth e r t e s t i fi e d th a t h e h a d th e p a p e rw o rk e s t ab l i s h i n g h i s o w n e r s h i p o f th e fi r e arm w i th h i m i n c o urt , a lth o u g h i t w a s n o t a dm i tt e d i n t o e v i d e n c e . ( T . T . p . 13 ) . H o o v e r ' s t e s t i m o n y th a t h e l aw fu ll y p ur c h a s e d th e fi r e arm i s s u f fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o e s t a

b l i s h b e y o n d a r e a s o n a

b l e d o ub t th a t h e w a s th e l aw fu l o w n e r an d p o s s e s s o r o f th e fi r e arm th a t w a s t ak e n fr o m h i m o n A u gu s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 . D e fe n d an t ' s th i r d an d fo urth i s s u e s o n a p p e a l i n v o l v e O ffi c e r Y e an e y ' s t e s t i m o ny c o n c e rn i n g th e s urv e ill an c e v i d e o th a t w a s a dm i tt e d i n t o e v i d e n c e . D e f e n d an t a ll e g e s th a t O ffi c e r Y e an e y ' s t e s t i m o ny w a s i mp ro p e r l ay o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny w h e n h e t e s t i fi e d , " I w o u l d s t a t e th a t b a s e d o n my tra i n i n g an d e x p e r i e n c e , h av i n g h an d l e d fi r e arm s , I c an cl e arl y s t a t e th a t I b e l i e v e w h a t h e i s h an d l i n g i n h i s p an t s i s a fi r e arm . " ( T . T . p . 2 4 ) . F urth e r , D e fe n d an t a ll e g e s th a t O f fi c e r Y e an e y ' s t e s t i m o ny r e g ar d i n g h i s o b s e rv a t i o n s o n th e v i d e o t a p e c o n s t i t

u t e a v i o l a t i o n o f th e b e s t e v i d e n c e ru l e . I n i t i a ll y , th i s C o urt n o t e s th a t th e b e s t e v i d e n c e ru l e i s n o t v i o l a t e d i n th i s m a tt e r , a s i t d o e s n o t a

p p l y . T h e b e s t e v i d e n c e ru l e i s s e t fo rth i n P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f E v i d e n c e 10 0 2 , w h i c h s t a t e s , " an o r i g i n a l w ri t i n g , r e c o r d i n g , o r p h o t o g ra p h i s r e qu i r e d i n o r d e r t o p ro v e i t s c o n t e n t un l e s s th e s e ru l e s , o th e r ru l e s p r e s c r i b e d b y th e S u p r e m e C o urt , o r a s t a t

u t e p ro v i d e s o th e rw i s e . " P a . R . E . 10 0 2 . T h e b e s t e v i d e n c e ru l e , w h i l e i t w a s i n i t i a ll y i n t e n d e d s o l e l y fo r w r i t i n g s , h a s b e e n e x t e n d e d th r o u g h c a s e l aw t o i n cl u d e v i d e o t a p e fo o t a g e . C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . G r e e n , 1 6 2 A .3 d 5 0 9 , 5 1 7 - 1 8 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 1 7 ) . H o w e v e r , th e ru l e i s d e s i g n e d t o p r e v e n t t e s t i m o ny a

b o u t a v i d e o w i th o u t a c t

u a ll y a dm i tt i n g th e o r i g i n a l v i d e o fo o t a g e . I d
. ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . I n th i s i n s t an c e , th e v i d e o fo o t a g e w a s a dm i tt e d i n t o e v i d e n c e an d r e v i e w e d p r i o r t o O ffi c e r Y e an e y ' s t e s t i m o ny . A s s u c h , th e b e s t e v i d e n c e ru l e d o e s n o t a p p l y .

5O f fi c e r Y e an e y ' s t e s t i m o ny c o n c e rn i n g h i s p e r s o n a l o b s e rv a t i o n s d o e s n o t v i o l a t e o f th e ru l e s o f e v i d e n c e . T h e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt a d dr e s s e d th e s am e i s s u e i n C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . C o le, 1 3 5 A .3 d 1 9 1 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 1 6 ) . I n C

o le, a C i ty o f P i tt s b ur g h h o m i c i d e d e t e c t i v e n ar ra t e d s urv e ill an c e v i d e o fo o t a g e d ur i n g h i s t e s t i m o ny . 

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p e r i o r C o urt fo un d th i s t o b e p e rm i s s i b l e , a s th e v i d e o w a s s i mu lt an e o u s l y b e i n g p l ay e d t o th e j ur

y , w h o c o u l d r e v i e w i t an d m ak e th e i r o w n d e t e rm i n a t i o n a s t o th e c o n t e n t s th e r e o f . I d
. T h e v i d e o w a s p r e s e n t e d i n th e s am e fa s h i o n i n th i s m a tt e r. A s s u c h , O f fi c e r Y e an e y ' s t e s t i m o ny i s p e rm i s s i b l e . F o r th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , th i s C o urt ' s M ay 2 4 , 2 0 18 O r d e r o f S e n t e n c e s h o u l d b e a f fi rm e d . B Y T H E C O U R T ,



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