J - S77002 - 17

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENN SYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. MICHAEL RAKEEM SPENCER, Appellant No. 334 MDA 2017 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 12 , 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 41 - CR - 0000882 - 2015 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E. * MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED FEBRUARY 22, 2018 Appellant, Michael Rakeem Spencer, appeals from the judgment of sentence of an aggregate term of 271⁄2 to 55 years’ imprisonment, imposed after a jury convicted him of, inter alia , crimi nal attempt to commit homicide and multiple counts of aggravated assault. We affirm. The trial court summarized the factual background and procedural history of this case as follows: On April 18, 2015 [,] at approximately 2:15 a.m., a sho oting incident occurred outside of Club Imbibe (hereinafter “Imbibe”) on Pine Street in the city of Williamsport. Appellant ... had gotten into a disagreement with Tyree Green inside Imbibe. Appellant left Imbibe, retrieved a handgun, and returned to the a rea outside Imbibe. As it was just after closing, numerous individuals who had been patrons of Imbibe were standing or walking outside. Appellant started firing shots toward Tyree Green. Five innocent

_________________ ____________________ _______ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.J - S7 7002 - 17

- 2 -

bystanders who happened to be standing or walking be tween Appellant and Tyree Green were shot and sustained various injuries. On April 23, 2015, the police filed a criminal complaint against Appellant and obtained a warrant for his arrest. The police charged Appellant with two counts of attempted homicid e, ten counts of aggravated assault, two firearm counts and related offenses. On July 29, 2016, following a jury trial, Appellant was found guilty of, among other charges: count 1, criminal attempt to commit homicide, 1 a felony of the first degree; counts 3, 5, and 9, aggravated assault (attempting to cause or causing serious bodily injury), 2 felonies of the first degree; and count 12, aggravated assault (attempting to cause or causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon), 3 a felony of the second degree. A lthough Appellant was found guilty of numerous other related charges, they are not relevant for the purposes of this [Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) o]pinion. 1 18 Pa.C.S.[] § 903. 2 18 Pa.C.S.[] § 2702(a)(1). 3 18 Pa.C.S. [] § 2702(a)(4). On October 12, 2016, the cou rt sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of twenty seven and a half (271⁄2) years to fifty five (55) years of incarceration in a state correctional institution, which consisted of six (6) to twelve (12) years on count 1; six and a half (61⁄2) to thirteen (1 3) years each on counts 3, 5, and 9; and two (2) to four (4) years on count 12. All of these sentences were consecutive to each other. The remaining sentence s merged or were concurrent. Due to a family medical issue, defense counsel requested an extensi on to file Appellant’s post - sentence motion within twenty (20) days of sentencing, which the court permitted. On October 31, 2016, defense counsel filed Appellant’s post - sentence motion. The court denied the post - sentence motion in an Opinion and Order d ated January 30, 2017. Trial Court Opinion , 6/19/2017, at 1 - 2.J - S7 7002 - 17

- 3 -

Following the denial of his post - sentence motion, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. He complied with the trial court’s instruction to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, and the trial court thereafter issued a Rule 1925(a) opinion. Appellant presents the following issues for our review: 1. The evidence submitted at ... Appellant’s trial in this matter was insufficient to meet the Commonwealth’ s burden of proving that ... Appellant was the [a]ctor for each offense charged in the information beyond a reasonable doubt. 2. The verdict is against the weight of the evidence because the Commonwealth’s evidence did not identify ... Appellant as the actor. 3. The trial court erred in permitting the Commonwealth to admit into evidence at trial an audio recording of [Appellant ’s ] discussing with a family member that he would be willing to accept a plea offer in the case for a minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years. Appellant’s Brief at 6. We have closely examined the certified record, the briefs of the parties, and the pertinent law. In addition, we have reviewed the comprehensive and cogent opinion of the Honorable Marc F. Lovecchio of the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County. We det ermine that Judge Lovecchio’s detailed, well - reasoned opinion accurately disposes of the issues raised by Appellant. Accordingly, we adopt his opinion as our own and affirm the judgment of sentence on that basis.J - S7 7002 - 17

- 4 -

Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 2/22/2018Circulated 02/02/2018 09:29 AM

C O M M O N \V E A L T H v s . lV Il C H A E L S P E N C E R , Ap p e 1l an t N o . C P - 4 1 - C R - 0 0 0 0 8 8 2 - 2 0 1 5

· :

_ � · . , . ' 

### \, ; ; : ; � · � C RI M I N A L D I V I S I O � / : : !_C')

, - · . - �

. :. � : < . - : _._ � i - .i ::." ; , H -', ·, . : . . � .- ; - ; � �
. l' "

_ ; . , 

### t :

_ :.- � 

# � � rn

t ; ) !,..; · �J · : - · '"il ; :;:

· · · !



### · -< O P I N I O N IN S UP P O R T O F O RD E R I N C O M P L IA

N C E W I T H R

U L E 1 92 5 ( a ) O F T H E R U L E S O F A P P E L L A T E P R O C E D U RE

1 92 5 ( a ) O p i n i o n

I ' T h i s o p i n i o n i s w ri tt e n i n s u p p o rt o f th i s c o urt ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e d a t e d O c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 . T h e r e l e v an t fa c t s fo ll o w .

O n Ap r i l 1 8 , 2 0 I 5 a t a

p p ro x i m a t e l y 2 : 1 5 a . m . , a s h o o t i n g i n c i d e n t o c c urr e d ! 

### I o u t s i d e o f C l ub I mb i b e ( h e r e i n a f t e r " I mb i b e " ) o n P i n e S tr e e t i n th e c i ty o f W ill i am s p o rt. i Ap p e ll an t M i c h a e l S p e n c e r ( h e r e i n a ft e r " Ap p e ll an t " ) h a d g o tt e n i n t o a d i s a g r e e m e n t w i th T y r e e G r e e n i n s i d e I mb i b e . Ap p e ll an t l e ft I mb i b e , r e tr i e v e d a h an d g un , an d r e t urn e d t o th e ar e a o u t s i d e I mb i b e . A s i t w a s j u s t a ft e r cl o s i n g , num e ro u s i n d i v i d u a l s w h o h a d b e e n p a tro n s o fl mb i b e w e r e s t an d in g o r w a l k i n g o u t s i d e . Ap p e ll an t s t art e d fir i n g s h o t s t o w ar d T y r e e G r e e n . F i v e i nn o c e n t b y s t an d e r s w h o h a p p e n e d t o b e s t an d i n g o r w a l k i n g b e tw e e n Ap p e ll an t an d T y r e e G r e e n w e r e s h o t an d s u s t a i n e d v ar i o u s i n j ur i e s . O n Ap r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 , th e p o li c e fi l e d a c r i m i n a l c o mp l a i n t a g a i n s t Ap p e ll an t an d o b t a i n e d a w ar

ran t fo r h i s ar

r e s t. T h e p o li c e c h ar g e d Ap p e ll an t w i th tw o c o un t s o f att e mp t e d h o m i c i d e , t e n c o un t s o f a g g rav a t e d a s s au lt , tw o fi r e arm c o un t s an d r e l a t e d o ff e n s e s . 1O n Ju l y 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , fo ll o w i n g a j ur y tri a l , Ap p e ll an t w a s fo un d g u il ty o f , am o n g o th e r c h ar g e s : c o un t 1 , c ri m i n a l att e mp t t o c o nun i t h o m i c i d e , 1 a f e l o ny o f th e fi r s t d e g r e e ; c o un t s 3 , 

### 5, an d 

### 9 , a g g rav at e d a s s au lt ( att e mp t i n g t o c au s e o r cau s i n g s e r i o u s b o d il y i n j ur y ) , 2

· . - f e l o n l c s o f th e fi r s t - d c g re e ; an d c o un t 1 2 , a g g rav a t e d a s s au lt ( att e mp ti n g t o c au s e o r c au s i n g b o d il y i n j ury w i th a d e a d l y w e a

p o n j .' a fe l o ny o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e . A lth o u g h Ap p e l l an t w a s fo un d g u il ty o f num e r o u s o th e r r e l at e d c h ar g e s , th e y ar e n o t r e l e v an t fo r th e p ur p o s e s o f th i s O p i n i o n . O n O c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 , th e c o urt s e n t e n c e d Ap p e ll an t t o an a g gr e g at e t e rm o f tw e n ty - s e v e n an d a h a l f( 2 7 Yz ) y e ar s t o fi fty - fi v e ( 5 � ) y e ar s o f i n c ar c e r at i o n i n a s t at e c o r r e c t i o n a l i n s t i tu t i o n , w h i c h c o n s i s t e d o f s i x ( 6 ) t o tw e l v e ( 1 2 ) y e ar s o n c o un t 1 ; s i x an d a h a l f ( 6 !4 ) t o th irt e e n (1 3 ) y e ar s e a c h o n c o un t s 3 , 5 an d 9 ; an d tw o ( 2 ) t o fo ur ( 4 ) y e ar s o n c o un t 1 2 . A ll o f th e s e s e n t e n c e s w e r e c o n s e c uti v e t o e a c h o th e r . T h e r e m a i n i n g s e n t e n c e s m e r g e d o r w e r e c o n c ur

r e n t. D u e t o a fam il y m e d i c a l i s s u e , d e fe n s e c o un s e l r e qu e s t e d an e x. t e n s i o n t o fil e Ap p e ll an t ' s p o s t - s e n t e n c e m o ti o n w i th i n tw e n ty ( 2 0 ) d ay s o f s e n t e n c i n g , w h i c h th e c o urt p e rm i tt e d . O n O c t o b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 1 d e fe n s e c o un s e l fil e d Ap p e ll an t ' s p o s t - s e n t e n c e m o ti o n . T h e co urt d e n i e d th e p o s t - s e n t e n c e m o t i o n i n an O p i n i o n an d O r d e r d a t e d J anu ar y 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 . Ap p e ll an t fi l e d a t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l . l n h i s c o n c i s e s t at e m e n t o f e r ro r s c o mp l a i n e d o f o n a

p p e a l , Ap p e ll an t a ss e rt s th r e e i s s u e s : 1 . T h e e v i d e n c e s ub m i tt e d at th e Ap p e ll an t ' s tri a l i n th i s m a tt e r w a s i n s u ffi c i e n t t o m e e t th e C o m m o nw e a l th ' s b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g th at th e Ap p e ll an t w a s th e a c t o r fo r e a c h o ff e n s e c h ar g e d i n th e i n t o rm at i o n 1 1 8 P a , C . S . A . § 9 0 3 . 2 1 8 

## P a . C . S . A . § 2 7 0 2 ( a ) ( l ) . 1 1 8 P a . C . S . A , § 2 7 0 2 ( a ) ( 4 ) . 2 · tb e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t. 2 . T h e v e r d i c t i s a g a i n s t th e . w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e b e c au s e th e C o m m o nw e a l th ' s e v i d e n c e d i d n o t i d e n t i fy th e Ap p e ll an t a s th e a c t o r . 3 . T h e tr i a l c o urt e rr e d i n p e rm i tti n g th e C o m m o nw e a l th 

### to a dm i t i n t o e v i d e n c e a t tr i a l an au d i o re c o r d in g o f th e [ Ap p e ll an t ] d i s c u s s i n g w ith a fam il y m e mb e r th at h e w o u l d b e w i l l i n gt o a c c e p t a p l e a o ff e r i n th e c a s e fo r a m i n i mum s e n t e n c e o f fi ft e e n ( 1 5 ) y e ars . Ap p e ll an t 

### fi rs t a s s e rt s th at th e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u ffi c i e n t t o e s t a b li s h th at h e w a s th e a c t o r 

### f

o r e a c h o ff

e n s e c h ar g e d 

### I n th e I n fo rm at i o n . T h e c o urt c ann o t a g r e e . W h e n r e v i e w i n g a c h a 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 , th e c o urt mu s t d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r th e e v i d e n c e i n tr o d u c e d at tri a l an d a ll r e as o n ab l e i n fe r e n c e s d e ri v e d fr o m th a t e v i d e n c e , v i e w e d i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th as th e v e r d i c t w i nn e r , w a s s u ffi c i e n t t o e s t ab li s h b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t e v e ry e l e m e n t o f th e o ff e n s e c h ar g e d . 

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

h v . H i c k s , l 5 6 A. 3 d 

### 1 1 1 4 , 1 1 2 3 ( P a . 2 0 1 7 ) ; 

### C o m m o n w e a l t tt v . B u r n o , 1 5 4 A. 3 d 7 6 4 , 7 9 1 ( P a . 2 0 1 7 ) . 1 i T h e C o m m o nw e a l th m ay s u s t a i n th i s b ur d e n o f p r o o f b y w h o ll y c ir c um s t an ti a l e v i d e n c e , an d th e j ury i s fr e e t ob e l i e v e a ll , p art , o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e . " Hi cks , s u p ra . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d ab un d an t e v i d e n c e t o e s t ab li s h th a t Ap p e l l an t in t e n t i o n a l l y s h o t d o w n th e a l l e yw ay a i m i n g t o 

### hi t T yr e e G r e e n , m i s s e d h i m , an d a c t u a ll y h it num e ro u s o th e r i n d i v i d

u a l s w h o w e r e s e ri o u s l y i n j ur e d a s a r e s u lt . M u l t i p l e w i tn e s s es t e s ti fi e d th a t .th e i n d i v i d

u a l i n th e w h it e s h i rt w a s th e s h o o t e r an d i d e n t i fi e d Ap p e ll an t a s th e i n d i v i d u a l i n th e w h i t e s hi rt. Ap p e ll an t a dm i tt e d i n hi s ' tr i al t e s ti m o ny th a t h e w a s th e

· h , · i n d i v i d u a l in th e w h i t e 

## s h i rt . Ap p e ll an t t o l d A dri an S t a ff o r d th at 1 1 e w a s th e s h o o t e r an d a l s o 3a dm i tt e d s u c h i n a t a p e d i n t e rv i e w w i th th e p o li c e . Ap p e ll an t l e ft th e w hi t e s h i rt i n th e v e h i c l e M r . S t a ff

o r d w a s dri v i n g . M r . S t a f

fo r d turn e d th e w h i t e s h i rt o v e r t o th e p o li c e w h o h a d i t t e s t e d fo r g un s h o t r e s i d u e . F urth e rm o r e , Ap p e ll an t fl e d t o P h il a d e l p h i a> an d i n s tru c t e d \ h i s c o u s i n 

### B ah t e e rn S i m s t o r e tri e v e th e fi r e arm an d thr o w i t i n th e ri v e r , e v i d e n c in g h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o fg u il t.

M o r e s p e c i fi c a l l y , T yr o n e G r e e n t e s t i fi e d th a t h i s tw i n b ro th e r , T y r e e , an d th e p e r s o n i n th e w h i t e s h i rt w e r e ar g u i n g an d tr a s h t a l ki n g . T y r o n e G r e e n s aw th e p e r s o n i n th e w h i t e s h i rt p o i n t i n g 

### i n th e i r d ir e c ti o n . H e s aw s p ark s 

### an d h e ar d fi v e o r s i x s h o t s . 

### H e i d e n t i fi e d Ap p e ll an t a s th e b l a c k m a l e i n th e w h i t e s h i rt. N . T . , Ju l y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 , at 9 7 - 9 8 , I 0 1 , 

### I 0 3 - 1 0 4 , 1 10 , 1 1 4 .

C hri s t o p h e r H ar

r o l d t e s t i fi e d th at h e w itn e s s e d Ap p e ll an t s h o o t i n g d o w n th e a ll e yw ay . M r . H arr o l d i n d ic at e d th a t h e w a s 1 0 0 % s ur e th a t Ap p e ll an t w a s th e s h o o t e r . N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , at 1 4 , 2 7 .

W h e n a s k e d w h i c h o f

th e pe o p l e w a s fi r i n g th e s h o t s , N ath an 

### D un l a p s t at e d , " s o m e o n e h a d 

### o n a w h i t e t - s h i rt o n th e l e ft s i d e , th e s am e 

### s i d e I s e e n th e fl a s h e s . " 

### N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , at 6 5 .

Li e ut e n an t Ar

n o l d D u c k , o fth e W ill i am s p o rt B ur e au o f P o li c e , t e s t i fi ed th at h e c o ll e c t e d s i x s p e n t . 3 8 0 c a li b e r s h e ll c a s i n g s , a s w e ll a s a b u ll e t an d b u ll e t fr a gm e n t s , fr o m th e c ri m e s c e n e . N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , at 4 9 - 5 0 , 5 7 - 5 8 .

C o rp o r a l E l w o o d S p e n c e r o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o li c e t e s ti fi e d a s th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s fi r e arm an d t o o l m ark i d e n t i fi c ati o n e xp e rt , C o r p o r a l S p e n ce r t e s ti fi e d th at th e s p e n t s h e ll c a s i n g s an d th e d i s c h ar g e d an d mut i l a t e d b u ll e t s w e r e . 3 8 0 c a li b e r an d 4 -(

## ' • d i s c h ar g e d fr o m th e s am e unkn o w n fir e arm . N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , a t 9 3 � 9 4 , 9 7 , 9 9 . B aht e e m S i m s t e s t i fi e d th a t Ap p e ll an t c o n t a c t e d . h i m b y p h o n e an d t o l d h i m th e fi r e arm w a s b e tw e e n s o m e c l o th e s i n Ap p e ll an t ' s c l o s e t i n M r . S i m s ' g ran d fa th e r ' s h o u s e . " Ap p e ll an t t o l d M r . S i m s t o t ak e th e fi r e arm an d th r o w 

### i t i n th e ri v e r , M r . S i m s r e tr i e v e d th e fi r e arm . It w a s a b l a c k , s e m i aut o m a t i c , . 3 8 0 c a l i b e r h an d g un . In s t e a d o f thr o w i n g 

### i t i n th e r i v e r , th o u g h , M r . S i m s s o l d i t. N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , at 3 0 � 3 3 .

A dri an S t a ff

o r d t e s t i fi e d th a t Ap p e ll an t an d a g u y i n a j e an j a c k e t g o t i n t o a c o n fr o n t at i o n i n s i d e I mb i b e . 

### Mr . S t a ff o r d an d Ap p e ll an t l e ft . M r . S t a ff o r d dro v e Ap pe ll an t t o h i s un c l e ' s h o u s e . Ap p e ll an t w e n t i n s i d e h i s un c l e ' s h o u s e fo r a b o u t t e n s e c o n d s , c am e o u t an d g o t b a c k i n t o th e c ar . T h e y dr o v e b a c k an d p ark e d i n a l o t n e ar I mb i b e . T h e y g o t o ut o f th e v e h i c le an d s t art e d w a l k i n g t o w ar d I mb i b e . W h e n th e y r e a c h e d th e c o n c r e t e b arr i e rs , M r . S t a ff o rd w a s s t an d i n g n e x t t o Ap p e ll an t. Ap p e ll an t s a i d " l o o k , l o o k , " an d M r . S t a ff o r d h e ar d r o un d s b e i n g fi r e d . H e an d Ap p e ll an t th e n r e turn e d t o th e i r c ar an d p u ll e d o ut. A ft e r th e y w e r e b u c k i n s i d e th e v e h ic l e , Ap p e ll an t a dm i tt e d t o M r . S t a ff o r d th a t h e d i d th e s h o o t in g . M r , S t a ff o r d a l s o s aw th e g un . L at e r , Mr . S t a f fo r d dr o v e Ap p e ll an t t o P h il a d e l p h i a . Ap p e ll an t l e ft h i s w h i t e s h irt i n th e r e n t a l v e h i c l e Mr . S t a ff o r d w a s dr i v i n g . Mr . S t a f

fo r d g av e th e w h i t e s h irt t o A g e n t R ay m o n d K o n t z o f th e W i lli am s p o rt B ur e au o f P o li c e . N . T . , Ju l y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 , at 1 3 3 - 1 3 9 , 1 5 0 - 1 5 1.

Ap p e ll an t a dm i tt e d th a t h e w a s w e ar i n g a w h i t e t - s h i rt w i th a d es i g n o n i t th a t n i g h t. Ap p e ll an t w a s li v i n g i n W i lli am s p o rt , s p li tt i n g t i m e s t ay i n g a t h i s un c l e H e r b B ro w n ' s r e s i d e n c e o n P i n e S tr e e t an d h i s un c l e K e nny S p e n c e r ' s r e s i d e n c e o n B a l dw i n S tr e e t. M r .

4 M r . S i m s ' g r an d fath e r i s Ap p e ll an t ' s un c l e , H e r b B r o w n . 5S t a ff o r d dro p p e d h i m o ff at th e P i n e S tr e e t r e s i d e n c e an d s h o rt l y th e r e a ft e r Ap p e ll an t w a l k e d t o th e r e s i d e n c e o n B a l dw i n S tre e t. A r o un d 

### 8 a . m . S t af fo r d p i c k e d h i m u p 

### an d dr o v e h i m t o P h il a d e l p h i a . Ap p e ll an t a l s o a dm i tt e d th at h e c a ll e d B ah t e e m S i m s an d a s k e d h im t o d i s p o s e o f th e fi r e arm , b u t h e c l a i m e d th a t h e d i d s o at th e d ir e c t i o n o f S t a ff o r d . N . T . Ju l y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , 

### at 5 2 , 6 1 � 6 2 1 8 0 , 8 2 .

A g e n t K o n t z s e n t th e w h it e t - s h i rt fo r t es t i n g t o d e t e rm i n e i fth e r e w a s g un s h o t re s i d u e ( O S R) o n i t. N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , a t 7 3 - 7 4 . S t e p h an i e H o rn e r t e s ti fi e d a s th e C o m m o nw e a l th ' s e xp e rt w i tn e s s o n G S R . S h e u s e d a s c ann i n g e l e c tro n m i c r o s c o p e t o an a l y z e th e t - s h i rt fo r G S R . S h e fo un d O S R o n th e r i g h t s i d e o f

th e t - s h i rt . N . T . , Ju l y 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 , at 1 0 4 , 1 0 8 , 1 1 1. Ap p e l l an t ' s un c l e , K e nn e th S p e n c e r , t e s t i fi e d th a t Ap p e ll an t i s r i gh t - h an d e d , N . T . , Ju l y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , a t 1 0 2 .

Ap pe ll an t a l s o w a i v e d h i s 

### M i r an d a ri g h t s an d a g r e e d t o a t a p e d i n t e rv i e w wi th A g e n t K o n t z . Ap p e ll an t i n i t i a ll y d e n i e d b e i n g th e s h o o t e r o r e v e n b e i n g p r e s e n t 

### at I mb i b e th a t n i g h t. W h e n th e i n t e rv i e w r e s um e d a ft e r t aki n g a c i g ar e tt e b r e ak , h o w e v e r , Ap p e ll an t a dm i tt e d 

### th at h e w a s th e s h o o t e r b u t c l a i m e d S ta ff o r d ( " Jo hnny " ) g av e h i m th e g un 

### an d t o l d h i m t o fi r e it at a g r o u

p o f b l a c k g uy s . Ap p e ll an t c l a i m e d th at h e o n l y d i d s o b e c au s e h e w a s a fr a i d o f S t a ff

o r d an d w h a t S t a ff

o r d w o u l d d o t o h i m an d h i s fam il y . D ur i n g A g e n t K o utz ' t e s ti m o ny o n Ju l y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , th e C o m m o nw e a l th p l ay e d th e t a p e o f th e in t e rv i e w . N . T . , Ju l y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , at 2 4 .

E a c h a g g rav at e d a s s au l t v i c t i m a l s o t e s t i fi e d a b o u t b e i n g s h o t i n th e a ll e yw ay an d th e i n j ur i e s th a t th e y s u ff

e r e d a s a r e s u lt o f b e i n g s h o t . 6 (W h e n v i e w e d i n th e l i g h t m o s t f av o r ab l e t o th e C o m m o nw e a lth a s th e v e r d i c t w i nn e r , th e r e w a s amp l e e v i d e n c e 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 a t Ap p e ll an t w a s th e s h o o t e r o r " a c t o r . "

Ap p e ll an t n e x t c o n t e n d s th a t th e j ury ' s v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e . In i ti a ll y , th e c o urt n o t e s th a t Ap p e ll an t h a s fa il e d t o p ro p e rl y p r e s e rv e th i s c l a i m 

### fo r a p p e ll a t e r e v i e w . A c h a ll e n g e t o th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e mu s t b e ra i s e d w ith th e tr i a l j u d g e i n a m o ti o n fo r a n e w tr i a l e i th e r o ra ll y o r i n w ri t i n g b e fo r e s e n t e n c i n g o r i n n p o s t s e n t e n c e m o t i o n . P A
. R
. C IU M
. P
. 6 0 7 ( A ) . T h e c o urt c o ul d n o t fi n d anyth i n g i n th e r e c o r d t o s h o w Ap p e ll an t c h a ll e n g e d th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e b e fo r e s e n t e n c i n g . A l th o u g h Ap p e ll an t fi l e d a p o s t - s e n t e n ce m o t i o n , i t d i d n o t c o n t a i n a c l a i m th a t th e v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e . T h e fa il ur e t o p r e s e n t th i s c l a i m t o th e tr i a l j u d g e i n an y m ann e r r e s u lt s i n w a i v e r . 

### P A . 

### R. A P P . 

### P . 3 0 2 ( a ) ( " l s s u e s n o t ra i s e d 

### i n th e l o w e r c o urt 

### ar e w a i v e d an d c ann o t b e ra i s e d fo r th e fir s t t i m e o n a p p e a l . " ) , E v e n i f th i s cl a i m h a d b ee n p r o p e r l y p re s e rv e d , it l a c k s m e r i t. " T h e fa c t fi n d e r i s fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , p art , o r n o n 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 i b ili ty o f th e wi tn e s s e s . T h e tri a l c o urt w ill aw ar d a n e w tr i a l o n l y w h e n th e j ury ' s v e r d i c t i s s o c o n trar y t o th e e v i d e n c e a s t o s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s ti c e . " 

### C

o m m o n w e a lth v . D i

g g s , 9 4 9 A. 2 d 8 7 3 , 

### 8 7 9 ( P a . 2 0 0 � ) .

A v e r d i c t i s s a i d t o b e c o n tr ar y t o th e e v i d e n c e s u c h th at i t s h o c k s o n e ' s s e n s e o f

j u s ti c e w h e n " th e fi g ur e o f Ju s t i c e t o tt e rs o n h e r p e d es t a l , " o r w h e n " th e j ury ' s v e r d i c t , at th e t i m e o fi t s r e n d iti o n , c au s e s th e tri a l j u d g e t o l o s e h i s b r e ath t e mp o r ar i l y , an d c au s e s h i m t o a l m o s t fo ll fr o m th e b e n c h , th e n 

### i t i s tru l y s h o c ki n g t o th e j u d i c i a l c o n s c i e n c e . " C o m n um w e a l t lt v . B o

y d , 7 3 A. 3 d 1 2 6 9 , 1 2 7 4 .. 7 5 ( P a , S u p e r . 2 0 1 3 ) ( qn o t i n g 

### C

o m m o n w e a i t

h 7

### v . C ru z , 9 1 9 A. 2 d 1 7 9 , 2 8 2 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 7 ) , a

p p e a l d e n i e d , 9 2 8 A. 2 d 1 2 8 9 ( P a . 2 0 0 7 ) ) . T h e j ur y ' s v e r d i c t d i d n o t s h o c k th e c o urt ' s c o n s c i e n c e , T h e c o urt h a s a lr e a dy s e t f o rth mu c h o f th e C o m m o nw e a lth ' s e v i d e n ce th at e s t a b li s h e d Ap p e ll an t w a s 

### th e s h o o t e r . I n a d d it i o n , Ap p e l l an t ' s fl i g h t t o P h il a d e l p h i a , h i s t e l e p h o n e c a ll t o 

### B ah t e e rn S i m s t o d i s p o s e o f th e fir e arm , an d h i s s t at e m e n t s t o h i s un c l e th a t h e w a s w i lli n g t o p l e n d g u il ty fo r a fi ft e e n y e ar m i n i mum s e n t e n c e s h o w e d h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f g u il t. Ap p e ll an t' s tri a l t e s t i m o ny th a t S t a ff o r d w a s th e s h o o t e r an d h i s e xp lan at i o n s fo r h i s p r i o r s t at e m e n t s w e r e n o t c r e d i b l e . 

### I t d i d n o t s h o c k th e c o urt i n th e l e a s t th at th e j ury fo un d Ap p e ll an t g u il ty .

Ap p e l l an t ' s fi n a l c o n t e n t i o n i s th a t th e c o urt e rr e d i n p e rm i tt i n g th e C o m m o nw e a l th t o a dm i t i n t o e v i d e n c e at tri a l an au d i o r e c o r d i n g o f Ap p e ll an t d i s c u s s i n g w i th a fam il y m e mb e r th at . h e w o u l d b e w i lli n g t o a c c e p t a p l e a o ff e r i n th e c a s e fo r a m i n i mum s e n t e n c e o f fi ft e e n ( 1 5 ) y e ar s .

D uri n g c r o s s - e x am l n a t i o n o f Ap p e ll an t , h e w a s qu e s t i o n e d c o n c e rn i n g n c o n v e r s at i o n b e tw e e n h e an d h i s un c l e w h i c h o c c ur r e d w h il e Ap p e ll an t w a s i n c ar c e rat e d i n th e L y c o m i n g C o un ty P r i s o n , H e w a s as k e d w h e th e r h e d i s c u s s e d w i th h i s un c l e h i s wi lli n g n es s t o e n t e r a p l e a fo r a m i n i mum o f fi ft e e n ( 1 5 ) y e ar s .

A t 

### th e t i m e , Ap p e ll an t o b

j e c t e d o n th e b a s i s th a t th e d i s c u s s i o n s w e re p art o f

" p l e a n e g o t i a t i o n s . " N . T . , Ju l y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , a t 9 4 . T h e c o urt o v e rr u l e d th e o b

j e c t i o n n o ti n g th a t D e fe n d an t' s s t a t e m e n t e v i d e n c e d c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f g u il t .

I n h i s p o s t - s e n t e n c e m o t i o n , Ap p e ll an t a s s e rt e d d i ff e r e n t o b j e c ti o n s . S p e c i fi c a ll y , Ap p e ll an t ar g u e d th at h e w a s i n j a il w ith o ut b a il an d w a s " fo r c e d t o d i s c u s s " th e p l e a w ith fam il y m e mb e r s . Ap p e l l an t ar g u e d th a t th e a dm i s s i o n o f th e s e s t at e m e n t s w o u l d 8 (h av e a " c h i l l i n g e ff e c t " o n " r e qu i r e d c o n v e r s at i o n s . " F urth e rm o re , Ap p e ll an t ar g u e d th a t th e s ta t e m e n t w a s n o t c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f g u il t b e c aus e m any d e fe n d an t s d i s c u s s p l e a o ff e r s w i th fam il y m e mb e r s . F i n a ll y , Ap p e ll an t ar g u e d 

### th at th e t e s t i m o ny w a s 

### fo r t o o p r e j u d i c i a l. T o th e e x t e n t Ap pe ll an t a s s e rt e d any o b j e c t i o n s i n h i s p o s t - s e n t e n c e m o t i o n 

### th a t w e r e n o t p r e s e rv e d 

### at 

### tri a l , th e y 

### ar e w a i v e d . 

### P A . R . E V JD . 10 3 ( a } ( l } ; 

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

h v . Po p l a w s k i, 1 3 0 A. 3 d 6 9 7 , 72 9 ( P a . 2 0 1 5 ) ( a fa il ure t o m ak e a c o n t e mp o ran e o u s an d s p e c i fi c o b j e c t i o n r e s u lt s i n w a i v e r o f th e o b j e c t i o n ) . H o w e v e r , d e s p i t e s a i d w a i v e r , th e c o urt w ill a d dr e s s Ap p e l l an t ' s ar g um e n t s .

R e g ar d l e s s o f w h e th e r Ap p e ll an t w a s in c ar c e ra t e d i s n o t re l e v an t t o w h e th e r h i s s t at e m e n t i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f g u i J t. F urth e rm o r e , d e s p i t e h i s a s s e rti o n s t o th e c o n tr ar y , Ap p e ll an t w a s n o t c o mp e ll e d t o d i s c u s s th e p l e a w ith 

### fam il y m e mb e r s o v e r a t e l e p h o n e s y s t e m th at h e kn e w w a s r e c o r d i n g h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n s . H e c o u l d h av e d i s c u s s e d any p l e a o ff e r o r h i s w ill i n g n e s s t o a c c e p t 

### a p l e a th ro u g h w ri tt e n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e o r p r i v a t e l y w i th c o un s e l an d fam il y m e mb e r s d

uri n g c o urt p ro c e e d i n g s . A d e f e n d an t ' s s t at e m e n t s t o s o m e o n e o th e r th an th e p r o s e c u t o r an d h i s ' c o un s e l r e fe r e n c i n g a w ill i n g n e s s t o e n t e r i n t o a p l e a ar e n o t p l e an e g o t i a t i o n s an d c o n s t i t u t e a dm i s s i b l e c o nf

e s s i o n s o fg u il t. 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . Vi m D i v u er

, 9 6 2 A. 2 d 1 1 7 0 ) 1 1 8 0 - 8 1 ( P a , 2 0 0 9 ) ( d e fe n d an t m a d e th e fo ll o w i n g s t a t e m e n t s t o 

### a p o li c e o ffi c e r w h i c h w e r e 

### n o t p l e a n e g o t i a t i o n s b u t w e r e r e l e v an t a dm i s s i o n s o f g u ilt : " T h i s i s a d e a th p e n a l ty c a s e an d I d o n ' t w an t th e n e e d l e , li fe fo r li f e . T e ll th e [ D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y ] I w ill p l e a d g u il ty fo r li fe . I w o u l d h av e k ill e d my s e lf i f I kn e w M i c h e ll e w a s d e a d " ) .

Ap p e l l an t ' s c o n v e r s a ti o n s w i th hi s fam i l y m e mb e rs w e re c l e arl y n o t p art o f 9e nu m e r a t e d R u l e s o f P e nn s y l v an i a C ri m i n a l P ro c e d ur e o r th e i r e qu i v a l e n t i n an o th e r j uri s d i c t i o n , an d th e p r o s e c u t i n g a tt o rn e y w a s n o t a p arty t o an y o f th e s e c o n v e r s a t i o n s . S e e P A . R . E v m . 4 1 O ( a ) . In fa c t , th e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e th a t th e C o m m o n w e a l th w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n p l e a n e g o t i a t i o n s , l e t a l o n e p art i c i p a t e d i n p l e a n e g o t i a t i o n s . T h e r e fo r e , Ap p e ll an t' s a tt e mp t t o cl o ak h i s v o l un t ar

y a dm i s s i o n s i n th e m an t l e o f p l e a

_ b ar g a i n i n g i s b a s e l e s s . F urth e rm o r e , Ap p e ll an t ' s s t a t e m e n t s th a t h e w o u l d e n t e r a p l e a h a d s i g n i fi c an t p ro b a t i v e v a l u e i n l i g h t o f

D A T E :

c c : � � i n W a d e , E s qu i r e ( AD A )

- G r e t a D a v i s , E s qu i r e

· '1 W o rk fil e / 6ar y W e b e r , E s qu i r e ( L y c o m i n g R e p o rt e r ) / s{ p e r i o r C o urt ( o r i g i n a l & 1 ) 

### B y T h e C o urt ,

M ar c F . L o v e c c h i o , Ju d g e

1 0 th e fa c t th a t h e p r e v i o u s l y d e ni e d h av in g any c u l p a b ili ty .