### J - S50010 - 19

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

v. K .D.S. Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1726 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered November 8, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 04 - CR - 0001900 - 2016 BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., MURRAY, J., and COLINS, J. * 

### MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 K.D.S. (Appellant) a ppeals from the judgment of sentence, entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County, following his convictions of rape of a child, 1 

### s tatutory sexual assault, 2 

### aggravated indecent assault of a child, 3 

### sexual assault, 4 

### indecent assault 5 

### and endangering the welfare of a child. 6

_________________ ____________________ _______ * 

### Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(c). 2 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 3122.1(b). 3 

### 18 Pa.C.S. 3125(a)(7). 4 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1. 5 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(7). 6 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304(a)(1).

### J - S50010 - 19

- 2 -

After our review, we affirm the judgment of sentence based on the trial court opinion, authored by the Honorable Harry Knafelc. V.W. , the victim’s maternal grandmother and primary caretaker, dropped the victim off at the home of the victim’s father for an overnight visit. V.W. testified that the next day, the victim , who was six years old at the time, reported, “ [D] addy put his thing in me. He peed in me, and it was white.” N.T. Bench Trial, 7/17/17 (Vol.1) , at 34. V.W. contacted Children and Youth Services, and was advised to take the victim to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Id. at 36. There, Sally Rile y, a sexual assault nurse examiner, performed a sexual assault kit on the victim. N.T. Bench Trial, 7/19/17 (Vol.2), at 37, 41. Officer Steven Roberts, who took the initial report of the victim , transported the sexual assault kit to the Pennsylvania Sta te Police Crime Laboratory for forensic testing. N.T. Bench Trial, 7/19/17, Vol.2, at 7 - 8, 14. Thereafter, Officer Robert obtained a DNA sample from Appellant. Id. at 14. Forensic testing results indicated the victim’s vagina contained Appellant’s seme n. Id. at 80, 107. The victim , who was seven years old at the time she testified, stated that Appellant got into the bathtub with her and [h]e made me sit on his private part” and he “stuck . . . his thing in me.” Id. at 72. She also testified that Ap pellant showed her “nasty pictures with . . . some women having sex with their boyfriends.” Id. at 75 - 76.

### J - S50010 - 19

- 3 -

Appellant also testified. He denied sexually assaulting his daughter. Id. at 154. He testified that during the time in question he had sexual re lations with his girlfriend, id. at 153 - 54, and that he wore a condom and discarded the condom in the toilet. Id. at 153. Following trial, Judge Knafelc convicted Appellant of the abovementioned offenses. On November 8, 2017, Judge Knafelc sentenced App ellant to an aggregate term of imprisonment of sixteen to forty years. Appellant filed timely post - sentence motions, which were denied. On appeal, 7 

### he raises the following issues:

1. Whether [ Appellant’s ] conviction should be reversed because the C ommonwealth failed to present sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [he] was guilty of the crime of rape of a child[?] 2. Whether [ Appellant’s ] conviction, assuming that sufficient evidence has been presented, should be reversed because the guilty verdict rendered contradicts the weight of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth at trial[?] Appellant’s Brief, at 8. When reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence, this Court must determine “whether the evidence admitted at tr ial, and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, when viewed in the light most favorable to the

_________________ ____________________ _______ 7 

### The appeal in this matter was originally quashed for failure to file an appellate brief. On May 22, 2019, the Beaver C ounty Public Defender’s Office filed an application to reinstate the appeal, aver ring that it had not received either the briefing schedule or the notice of dismissal. On May 29, 2019, this Court entered an order reinstating Sims’ appeal.

### J - S50010 - 19

- 4 -

Commonwealth as verdict winner, was sufficient to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Wise , 171 A.3d 784, 790 (Pa. Super. 2017). Further, The evidence established by the Commonwealth at trial need not preclude every possibility of innocence, and the finder of fact is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence presented. It is not within this Court’s authorit y to re - weigh the evidence presented and substitute our own judgment over that of the fact finder. M oreover, the Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proof by wholly circumstantial evidence. Commonwealth v. Shaw , 203 A.3d 281, 284 (Pa. Super. 2019) (cit ations omitted). Appellant also contends that even if the evidence is legally sufficient, the guilty verdict “contradicts the weight of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth.” Appellant’s Brief, at 11. The Supreme Court has set forth the followin g standard of review for weight of the evidence claims: The essence of appellate review for a weight claim appears to lie in ensuring that the trial court’s decision has record support. Where the record adequately supports the trial court, the trial court has acted within the limits of its discretion. A motion for a new trial based on a claim that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence is addressed to the discretion of the trial court. A new trial should not be granted because of a mere conflic t in the testimony or because the judge on the same facts would have arrived at a different conclusion. Rather, the role of the trial judge is to determine that notwithstanding all the facts, certain facts are so clearly of greater weight that to ignore t hem or to give them equal weight with all the facts is to deny justice. An appellate court’s standard of review when presented with a weight of the evidence claim is distinct from the standard of review applied by the trial court. Appellate review of a we ight claim is a review of the exercise of discretion, not of the underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence.

### J - S50010 - 19

- 5 -

Commonwealth v. Clay , 64 A.3d 1049, 1054 - 55 (Pa. 2013) (citations and quotation omitted). In order for an ap pellant to prevail on a challenge to the weight of the evidence, “the evidence must be so tenuous, vague and uncertain that the verdict shocks the conscience of the court.” Commonwealth v. Sullivan , 820 A.2d 795, 806 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation omitted). With the foregoing standard s of review in mind, after examining the briefs of the parties, the record, and the applicable law, we find that the trial court’s verdict is supported by the record and free of legal error. We further find that the trial court ably addressed the issues presented on appeal. Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of Judge Knafelc’s opinion disposing of post - sentence motions. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/8/18, at 8 - 13. The parties are directed to attach a copy of that opinion in the event of further proceedings. Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 9/13/2019Circulated 09/04/2019 10:14 AM 

### ' 

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end ant w e r e p resent at 

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rec usa l any t i m e b e fo re o r d uri n g th e tri al . F urth erm o r e , p ri o r to th e s t art o f th e b e n c h tri a l , D e f

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uri n g th e tri a l d i d D e f

en dant m ent i on any co n c erns w i th Ju d g e Kn a f e l c b ei n g th e so l e d eci der o fl aw an d f ac t. In li ght o f

th e fo r eg o in g , th e C o urt fi n d s th at du e t o D e f en d ant' s f ai lur e t o r ai s e th i s i s s u e

" at th e earli es t po s s ib l e m o m ent , " th e i s s u e i s w a i v ed . C . Co urt 

### Erred i n A dm i tt i n g T e s t i m o nx. b y 

### an I n co mp et ent W i tn es s : As a g en eral ru l e , e v ery pers o n i s p r es um ed co mp e t ent t o b e a w i tn es s . P a . RE . , R u l e 60 1 . Th e b ur d en t o s h o w i n c o mp et en c y l i es upo n th e p arty wh o as serts i t. R o s c h e v. M c C o y , 3 9 7 P a. 6 1 5 , 6 2 0 , 1 5 6 A . 2 d 3 0 7 , 3 0 9 ( 1 9 5 9 ) . I n th e cas e o fa c h i l d w i tn es s o ft e n d er y ears h o w e v er , " [ T ] h e p r e s e ntl y p r e v a ili n g rul e ( i n th e ab se n c e o f s tat ut e ) i s th at c o mpe t e n c y i s p re s um e d wh e r e th e c h il d i s m o r e th an 1 4 ye ars o f a g e . Un d er 1 4 , th ere mus t b e j u d i c i al in qu iry a s to m ent al 9 T ria l T ra nsc rip t , V o l. I , Ju l y 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 , p . 9 [ here ina fte r T. T. , Y o l
. l] . 1 0 I d
. a l 9 . 

### sca

pa ci ty , wh i c h mu st b e m o r e s ear c hi n g i n p ro po rti o n t o c hro n o l o g i c a l i mm aturi ty . " Id
. 3 9 7 P a . at 6 2 1. Th e qu e s t i o n o f

co mp et e n c y , i n c l u d i n g co mp et en c y d u e t o t en d er y ears , i s i n th e so un d di s creti o n o f

th e 

### tri al j u d g e . 

### I

d
. at 6 2 0 . I n d et erm i ni n g wh e th e r a c h il d o f 

### l e s s th an 1 4 y e ars i s co mp et ent t o t esti fy , " [ Tj be re mus t be 

### ( 1 ) 

### s u c h ca p a c i ty t o co mmun i cat e , i n c lu d i n g 

### as i t d o es b o th an ab ili ty t o un d e rs t an d 

### qu es ti o n s an d t o fram e an d e xp r e s s i nt e lli g ent an s w ers , ( 2 ) m e nt a l c ap a c i ty t o o b s erv e th e o cc urren c e i ts e l f and th e ca p ac i ty o f r em emberin g wh at i t i s th at s h e i s cal l ed t o t es ti fy ab o ut an d ( 3 ) a co n sc i o u s n ess o fthe d

uty t o s peak th e truth . I

d
. 3 9 7 P a . 6 2 0- 2 1 ; s ee , e . g . , C o m . v . T r im b le, 6 1 5 A . 2 d 4 8 , 4 1 9 P a. S u

per . 10 8 ( 1 9 9 2 ) ( fi n d i n g fi v e- y ear - o l d v i ctim co mp e t ent t o t es t i fy i n pro sec ut i o n a g ai n s t h e r fath er fo r rap e wh er e v i cti m un d e rs to od qu es ti o n s , f o rmul at ed int e lli g ent , respo n s i v e an s w ers , d em o ns trat ed ab ili ty t o o b s erv e an d r em ember r e l ev ant e v ents , an d a p p reci at ed d

uty t o t e ll truth ) ; C

o m . v . Pa y t o n , 3 9 2 A . 2 d 72 3 , 2 5 8 P a . S u per . 1 4 0 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ( tri a l co urt di d n o t a

b u s e di s cr eti o n fi n di n g s i x - y e ar -o l d co mp l ai ni n g w i tn es s co mpet e nt wh er e s h e st at ed h er b e li e fth at i t w as wro n g t o t e ll li e , that s h e w o u l d be p un i s h ed b y h er m o th er 

### i f s h e to l d 

### li e , an d p ro m i s ed t o t e ll truth, an d co urt r e li ed , i n 

### p art, o n 

### i t s ob s erv ati o n o f wi tn e s s ' t e s ti m o ny an d d em ean o r) ; C

o m . v. Ma ngello , 3 7 8 A .2 d 8 9 7 , 2 5 0 P a . S u p er . 2 0 2 , (1 9 7 7 ) (Up h o l d i n g tri al co urt ' s fi n di n g o f

co mp e t en c y o fs i x - y ear - o l d v ic t im o f ra pe wh e r e s h e ad equat e l y d em o n strat ed 

### h er a p p reci ati o n o fth e m o ral res po n s ib ili ty t o b e truth ful o r h er co n sc i o u sn es s o f th e d uty t o s peak th e truth ) . Th e p res en ce o fi nco nsi s t e nt an s w ers t o qu e st i o n s w i th o ut m o r e , h o w ev er , d oes n o t requi re a co urt t o fi nd a c h il d w i tn ess i n co mpet e nt t o t es ti fy . " Q u e s ti o ns c o n c e rn i n g inc o ns i s t e nt te stim o ny

.. . g o t o the c red ib ili ty o f

th e wi tn e s s e s . " C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v . D eles us, 5 8 0 P a . 3 0 3 , 8 6 0 A . 2 d 10 2 , 61 06 ( 2 004 ) . " A d e t e rm in ati o n o f c red i b ili ty li e s so l e l y wi th i n th e p r o v i n c e o f th e f act fi n d e r . M o reo v er , any c o n fl i ct i n th e t es ti m o ny g oe s t o th e credib ili ty o f th e w i tn es s e s an d i s so l e l y t o h e re s o l v e d b y th e f

a c tfi n d e r . " 

### C

o m . v. Pa ge, 2 0 13 P A S u

p er 2 , 

### 5 9 A . 3 d 1 1 1 8 , 1 1 3 0 ( 2 0 1 3 ) . 

### In 

### th e i n s tant cas e , d es p i t e th e fr equ ent d i gr es s io n s an d o b vi o us 

### att emp ts at av o i dan ce , th e V i cti m - W i tn es s ( K . S . ) c l e arl y h ad th e ca p a c i ty t o co mmun i cat e , ab ili ty t o un d ers t an d qu es ti o n s 

### an d t o fram e an d e xpr es s i nt e l l i g e nt an s w ers . T h e V i c tim - W i tn es s d em o ns tr at ed ab ili ty t o o b s erv e an d rem emb er re l e v ant e v e nt s : sh e kn e w h er fu ll n am e , a g e , an d b i rth d at e , th o u gh s h e co u l d n o t reca ll th e y ear o f h er b i rth ; 1 1 s t at ed wh ere s h e li v ed ( L i nm ar T erra c e ) an d th at i t w as l o cat ed i n A li qu ipp a ; 1 2 kn ew s h e w as abo ut t o enter th e fi rs t gr ad e an d n am ed h er ki n d e rg art en t ea c h er ( Mrs . D i B en ed ett o ) ; 1 3 V i c ti m - wi tn es s al s o kn e w th at s h e li v ed wi th h er gran dm o ther , k n e w h er n am e w as V ic t o ri a , an d th at s h e Ji v ed w i th h e r cat , n am ed D r . S e us s . 1 4 Th e V i ctim - wi tn e ss kn e w di ff er en ce b etw e en th e truth an d a li e , 1 5 a pp r ec i at ed th e d

uty t o t e ll th e truth , an d sa i d s h e w o u l d t e ll th e truth . 1 6 A l so , V i cti m - w i tn es s co ul d reca ll re l ev ant d eta il s s u c h as th e l as t ti m e sh e s tayed wi th h e r fath er ( th e D e f

en d ant) an d wh o w as p r e s ent , su c h as h i s gi rl fri en d C i c i - wh o v i cti m wi tn e s s kn ew t o be th e m o th er o f

h er ba b y s i s t er . 1 7 D u e t o th e fo re g o i n g, th e C o urt 

### finds V i c ti m - W i tn ess { K. S . ) co mpet ent to t e st i fy . Th e Co urt n o t es th at V i ctim - W i tn ess w as c l early un co m fo rt a b l e t al ki n g a

bo ut th e in c i d ent . S h e frequ entl y c h an g ed t o p i c s i n th e m i d d l e o f h er s ent en ces . S h e e xp re s sed mu l tip l e t i m e s th at s h e di d n o t w ant

1 1 T. T. , V o l
. I , at 6 1. 1 1 T. T. , V o l
. I , at 6 2 -6 3 . 1 3 T. T . • V o l
. I , at 6 3 . 1 4 T. T.
. V o l
. I , at 64 . i s T. T. , V o l
. I , at 6 S . 1 6 T. T. , V o l
. I , at 6 7 . 1 7 T. T. , Y o l
. L ; at 7 0- 7 1. 7t o talk abo ut wh at ha p pen ed and h ad t o b e en co ur a g ed fr equ ent l y t o an s w er th e qu es ti o n s ab o ut wh at h er d a d d i d to h e r th at d ay ; 1 8 at t i m es , s h e w o u l d s tart t o wh i s tl e o r m ak e n o i ses to d i s tra ct fro m th e t o p i c b e i n g di s c u s s ed . 1 9 Th e C o urt fi n ds th at s u c h b e h av i o r i s n o t i n di cati v e o f th. e c hi l d ' s 

### i n ab ili ty t o c o mmuni c at e o r un d ers tan d th e qu e sti o ns as k ed o f h er , b ut rath er s u c h b e h av i o r i s co n s i s t ent w i th th e type o f 

### traum a o n e w o u l d e xpect s u c h a y o un g gi rl 

### t o e xp eri en ce as a res ul t o f th e in ci d e nt 

### and h avi n g 

### t o r e lu ctantl y re li v e i t throu gh d et a il ed an d e xh aus t i v e qu es ti o ni n g . D . I n su ffi c i ent E v i d en ce as t o th e C h arg e o f 

### R ap e o f a C h i l d : Wh en revi ewi n g a s u ffi c i en c y o f th e e vi d en ce cl ai m . an a

p pe ll at e co urt mu st v i e w a ll th e ev i d e n ce an d r easo n ab l e i n f eren ce s th ere fr o m i n a l i ght m o st fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw eal th as th e v erdi c t w i nn er an d mu s t d et e rm i n e wh e ther th e evi d en ce w as su c h as to e n ab l e a fa c t fi n d er to fi n d th at al l o f th e e l em ents o fth e o ff en se w er e e s tab l i s h ed b e y o n d a r easo n a b l e d o ub t. I n a

p p lyin g th e abo v e t es t , w e m ay no t 

### w ei gh th e e vi d en ce an d s ub s ti tut e o ur j u d gm ent fo r th e f a ct - fi n d er . Th e fa c t s an d c i rcumstan ces es t a b li sh ed b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th n eed n o t p r ec lu d e e v ery po s s ib ili ty o f i nn o cen c e . Any d o u b ts re gard i n g a d e f

en dant ' s 

### gu il t m ay be re so l v ed b y th e fa ct - fi n d e r un l e ss th � e v i d en ce i s 

### so w eak an d in co n c lus i v e th at as a m att er o f l aw n o p r o b ab ili ty o f f a c t m ay be dr awn fro m th e co mb in ed ci r c um s t an ces . Th e C o mm onw ea l th m ay s u s ta in i t s b urd en o f p ro vi n g 

### ev ery e l em ent o f th e c ri m e be yo n d a r easo n ab l e d o u b t 

### b y m eans o f 

### who ll y c irc um s t anti al e vi d en ce . M o reo v er , in a p p l yi n g th e ab o v e t e s t , th e enti re reco rd mus t b e e v alu at ed an d al l ev i d ence a ctu a ll y r ece i v ed mu s t be co ns i d ered . F i n al l y , th e tri er o f f

act wh i l e p as s i n g u

po n th e cred i b ili ty o f

wi tn es ses an d th e w e i ght o f th e e v i d en c e p r o d

u ced, i s fre e t o b 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 . C o m m o n w e a lt

h v , R e e d , 8 5 1 A . 2 d 9 5 8 , 9 6 3 ( P a . S u per . 2 0 0 4 ) ( i nt erna l c i tat i o n s an d qu o tat i o n s o m i tt ed) . Th e f a c t - fi n d er i s pe rm i tt e d t o be li e v e " a ll , part , o r n o n e o f a wi tn e ss ' s t e s ti m o ny . " C o m . 

### v. A ndru lewicz, 2 00 6 P A S u

per 3 09 , ,i 

### 1 2 , 9 1 1 A. 2 d 1 6 2 , 1 6 6 ( 2 0 0 6 ) ; see al so C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . A da m s, 8 8 2 A. 2 d 4 9 6 , 4 99 (P a . S u pe r . 2 0 0 5 ) .

I & Se e gen e ra ll

y , T . T . , V o l I. , pp . 6 1 - l 1 4 . 1 9 S e e, e .g . , T. T. , V o l
. I , at 9 7 ( .. A. Y epp i e d ee , yipp ee d ee , ye pp i e d ee , yippe e de e . " ) . 8Un d er P enn s y l v an i a l aw , " A perso n co mm i t s th e o ff e n s e o f ra p e o f a c h i l d , a fe l o ny o f

th e fi rs t d egr e e , wh e n th e p e rs o n en ga g e s i n s e xu a l i nt er co urs e 

### wi th a c o mp l ai n ant wh o i s l es s th an 1 3 

### years o f

a g e . " 1 8 P a . C. S . § 3 1 2 1 ( c ) . P e nn s y l v an i a S u g g es t ed 

### S t an d ard C ri m i n al 

### Jury Ins tru cti o n s li s t th e fo ll o w i n g e l em e nt s that co mp ri s e th e o ff en s e o f C h il d R a pe ; 1 . A pers o n comm i ts r a

pe o f a c h il d wh en th e p erso n en g a g e s in s e xu a l i nt er cours e w i th a ch il d wh o i s l es s th an 1 3 y ears o f a g e . 2 . Un der o ur C rim e s C o d e , su c h a ra pe c an b e co mm i tt ed b y ei th er a m a l e o r a f em al e u po n a c h il d o f

th e s am e o r o p po s i t e s e x . 3 . .. S e xua l i nt e r c o ur se " h as a p arti c u l ar m e an in g i n c ri m i nal l aw . 

### S e x ual i nt e rc o urse occ urs if a m an ' s pe n i s p e n etr at es th e f em a l e s e xual o rg an, o r th e m o uth o r anu s o f a p erso n . S exu al i nt e rco urs e al s o o ccurs i f th e t o n gu e pe n e tr at es th e f em al e s e xu al o rg an . Th e s li ght es t d e gr ee o fp en e trat i o n i s s u ffi c i ent , an d n o emi s s i o n o f s em en i s requ ired , 

### fo r s exu a l int er co urse 

### t o o ccur und er cri m i nal l aw . 4 . I t i s i mm at eri a l wh eth er th e c h il d co n s ent ed to the co ntact . C o n sent o f th e c h il d i s n o d e f e n s e . S
. It i s al so n o d e f

en s e 

### i f th e d e f

en dant d i d n o t kn o w th e a g e o f th e c h il d . o r th e c h il d l i ed abo ut h is o r h er a g e , o r th e d e f en dant h o n e stly be l i ev ed th at th e c hi l d w as 1 3 o r o l d er , o r th e d e f

en dant re aso n ab l y b e li e v ed th at th e c h il d w as 1 3 o r o l d er . 1 5 . 3 1 2 1 0 ( C ri m ) Rape o f A Chi l d , P a . S S JI ( C ri m ) , § l S . 3 1 2 1 0 ( 2 0 1 6 ) . A s th e e l em ent o f

a g e c ann o t reaso n ab l y b e c h al l e n g ed i n th i s c as e-- V i cti m w as c l earl y un der th e a g e o f 13 wh e n th e i n c i d ent o cc urr ed - th i s C o urt 

### w ill co n s tr ai n i ts an al ys i s o f th e s u ffi c i en c y qu es ti o n to wh eth er s e xu a l i nt er co urs e - m e an i n g p e n etr ati o n o f th e v i cti m s s e xual o r g an , m o uth o r anu s , b y D e f en d ant ' s p en i s o r t o n gu e=o cc urred . Un co rr o b o rat ed t e s t i m o ny as t o p en a l pen e trati o n b y vi c tim i s s u ffi c i ent t o estab li s h se xual i nt er co urs e an d thu s s u ppo rt a co nv i c ti o n fo r th e o ff en s e o f Ch il d R a

pe . C o m . v. W a ll , 9 5 3 A . 2 d 5 8 1 ( P a . S u

p er . 2 00 8 ) , 

### a

p p e a l d e n i e d 9 6 3 

### A . 2 d 4 7 0 , 60 0 P a . 7 3 3 ; 

### s e e a l s o , C o m . v. Po i nd ex te r , 64 6 A . 2 d 1 2 1 1 , 4 3 5 P a . S u p er . 5 0 9 ( 1 9 9 4 ) , 

### a

p p e a l d e n i e d 6 5 5 A . 2 d 5 1 2 , 5 40 P a . 5 8 0 ( t es ti m o ny o f

v i cti m n ee d n o t be co rro bo r at ed) ; 

### S e e, e .g . , C o m. v. T rim b le, 6 1 5 A. 2 d 4 8 , 4 1 9 9P a. S u p er . 10 8 (1 9 9 2 ) . ( F i v e - y ear - o l d v i ct i m ' s t es t i m o ny that d e f e n dant p l a c e d h i s " wi e n e r, " pe ni s , i n h e r "t oo t e r , " v a gi na l ar e a , e s t a b li s h e d pe n e trati o n an d s u p po rt ed ra pe c o nv i cti o n . ) ; 

### C o m . v. Pr i c e, 6 1 6 A . 2 d 6 8 1 , 4 2 0 P a . S u per . 2 5 6 ( 1 9 9 2 ) (T es ti m o ny o fo n e p e rso n , i n j ur ed · v i ctim , as t o e l em ent o f

pen e tr ati o n i s s u ffi c i ent t o co nv i ct d ef en d ant o f ra pe ) . Th i s i s tru e e v en i f th er e are so m e i n co n s i s t e n c i es i n th e t es ti m o ny . 

### C o m . v. K ing , 4 3 4 A . 2 d 1 2 9 4 , 2 90 P a. S u p er , 5 6 3 

### ( 1 9 8 1 ) (E vi d en ce w as s u ffi c i ent t o s u s tai n d e f en d ant' s co nvi c ti o n s fo r att emp t ed ra pe an d i n d ec ent e xpo s ure . n o tw i th stan di n g th at th e r e w as an a ll eg ed in co n s i s t en c y b etw een vi c ti m ' s tri a l an d p re l i m in ary h e ari n g t es ti m o n i es re g ard i n g th e dat e o n wh i c h d e f en d ant e xpo s ed h i m se l f. ) ; 

### s e e a l s o , C o m . v. B ride ll, 3 8 4 A . 2 d 9 4 2 , 2 5 2 P a . S u p er . 

### 6 0 2 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ( In 

### ra

p e pro secuti on , a l th o u gh th er e w er e in co n si s t en ci es re l atin g t o h o w vi cti m m et d e f en dant o n ni ght o f

ra p e an d h o w d e fen d ant g ai n ed ac ces s t o h er a partm e nt , evi d en c e w as su ffi ci e nt t o s u st a i n co nv i c ti o n . ) I n th e i n s tant ca se , vi c ti m t e st i fi ed co n s i st entl y on mul tip l e o ccasi o n s th at D e f en d ant mad e h er s i t o n hi s pri v at e part an d p ut h i s ' th i n g ' i n h er 

### coody --cat. 2 0 A . H e m a de m e s i t o n h i s p ri v at e p art. Q . O kay . An d d

i d hi s p ri v at e p art g o i n s i d e y o ur p ri v at e p art ? A . I n s id e my p ri v at e p art. Q . O k ay . An d wh at h ap p en ed wh e n h i s th in g w ent i n s i d e y o ur p ri v at e p art ? A . I t s tart ed f

r o m g ettin g o n m y d a d dy - Q . O kay . 

### A . - wh i th I 

### d l dn ' t w ant hi m t o . Q . O k ay . 

### An d d i d anyth i n g h ap p e n t o hi s p ri v at e 20 T. T. , V o l
. 

### t, at 8 2 . 1 0p art ? A . T h e r e, th e r e w a s wh i t e s ta ff co mi n g o ut . 

### Q . Th ere w as wh i t e s t

u ff co m i n g o ut ? A . B ut h e s h ak e hi s thin g , w e ll, n e v e r mi n d , n e v e r m in d
. 

### Q . 

### Wh at di d h e sh ak e ? A . H i s , h is p ri v at e p art . Q . O k ay . W as th at b e fo r e o r a ft e r th e wh i te s tu ffw a s co m i n g o ut ? A . A c tu a ll y , h e s h oo k i t s o th e wh it e s tu ff e an c o :m e o ut . T. T. , V o l
. / , at 7 8 - 7 9 . S u ch un co rr o b o r at ed t es t i m o ny o f ra p e v i cti m , i f

b e li e v ed b yj ury , i s s u ffi c i ent t o s u p p o rt ra pe co nvi cti o n an d n o m ed i cal t es ti m o ny i s n eed e d t o co rr o b o r at e v i cti m ' s t es ti m o ny , 

### C o m . v , 

### Gab ri e l s o n , 5 3 6 A . 2 d 40 1 , 

### 3 7 0 P a. S u per . 2 7 1 (1 9 8 8 ) , 

### a

p p ea l d e n ie d 5 4 2 A . 2 d 1 3 6 5 , 5 1 8 P a. 6 3 6 ; h o w ev er , i n thi s c a s e , th e tes tim o ny o f th e vi c ti m was co rro b o rat ed b y m ed i ca l t esti m o ny2 1 as w e ll as p hy s i c al ev i d en c e . 2 2 Th e t es t i m o ny o f S a ll y Ril e y p ro v i d ed s ub s tanti a l c i r c um st anti al ev i d e n ce o f

p en e trati o n , 

### C

o m . v. U s h e r , 3 71 A . 2 d 9 9 5 , 2 4 6 P a . S u p er . 6 0 2 (1 9 7 7 ) ( th e e l em e nt o f pen e trati o n m ay b e e s tab li s h ed thro u g h c ir c um st anti al e v i d en ce ) ; an d th e t es t im o ny o f th e v i c tim 

### w as co rr o b o rat ed b y th e p res en ce o f sem in a l flu i d , 23 s penn , 2 4 and D e f en d ant ' s D NA i n s i d e

1 1 Se e . T r ia l T ra ns c ri p t , Ju l y 1 9 , 20 1 7 , V o l. II , pp . S 6 -6 S ( T esti mo ny o f S a ll y Ri ley , Nurse at UP M C Chi l dre n ' s H os p i tal i n di c at i n g redn e ss and s we ll ing i ns i d e v i c tim ' s v a g in a l vau l t . S ee , I d
. at 6 1 - 6 3 ) [ h ere in after T

. T. , Y o l
. [/J
. n Se e, T. T.
. V

o l
. I I , pp . 7 1 · 8 9 ( T e s t imo ny o f

As hle e M angan, F o rees i c Sc i e nti st in Sero l o gy Sec ti on o fthe Gree n s b urg R e g i o nal Cri m e L a bo rat o ry ) ; T. T. , V

o l
. ll , p p . 9 6- 1 2 8 (T es tim o ny o f S ab in e P anzer · K a e l in. F orens i c S c ienti st at th e P e nn s y l v ania S tate P o l i c e D NA Le bo rat o ry ) ; s e e a lso , C o mm o nwe al th ' s E xh ib i t S ( Sero l o gy R epo rt o f As hl ee M an g an) , an d Exhib i t 6 ( D NA An a l y s i s o f S a b in e P anz er - Ka e l i n) , 23 A. I t w as a s tro n g p osi ti n . JIvi cti m ' s v a gi n a l v au l t. 2 5 C f , C o m . v. 

### M ille r. 72 4 A . 2 d 8 9 5 , 5 5 5 P a . 3 5 4 ( 1 999 ) , c e rti o ra ri d e n i e d 1 2 0 S . C t. 2 4 2 , 5 2 8 U . S . 90 3 , 1 4 5 L . E d . 2 d 2 0 4 ( fi n d i n g e v i d e n c e s u ffi c i ent t o u p h o l d D e f en dant ' s ra p e co nv i c ti o n wh ere i t w as s u p p o rt ed b y fo ren si c p ath o l o gi s t ' s t e st i m o ny an d d eo xyribo nu c l ei c a c i d ( D NA ) ev i d e n ce o fd e f en d ant ' s s em i n al m at e ri al ) . 

### It 

### i s th e o p i n i o n o f

th i s C o urt th at th e e v i d en c e 

### o f pen etrati o n s u

p po rt i n g th e co nv i cti o n 

### o f Ra pe o fa 

### C h il d in 

### thi s c as e i s n o t o n l y s u ffi c i ent , b ut o v erwh e l m in g . 

### Th e V i c tim - W i tn ess i n th i s case t es t i fi ed th at h er fath e r m a d e h e r s i t o n hi s 

### p e n i s an d furth e r t es ti fi ed th at h e p ut h i s pe ni s 

### i ns i d er h er v a gi na , i n d i cati n g th at i t 

### p i n c h ed , an d h er t es ti m o ny w as co rr o bo rat ed b y th e t es tim ony o f S a lty Ril e y - wh o e x am i n ed th e v i cti m at U P M C fi nd in g redn ess an d s w el l i n g o f th e v a gin a. 2 6 V i ctim ' s tes ti m o ny w as furth e r co rr o bo rat ed b y th e fi n d i n g s o ffo ren si c sc i ent i s t s Ash l ee M an g an (wh o co nfi rm ed th e presen c e o f s em i n a l flu i d an d s p erm i n vi cti m ' s v a gin a l Q , O kay . An d , an d I gues s , wh at does that u l ti mate l y mean ? A. It m e an s th at I t ' s a g ood f ndi c a d o u th at se min a l flu id m ay be p r ese nt u d th at I 1 m r equlred t o mo v e o a to lcl e n d fy s perm. T . T. , V o l
. JI , pp . 8 0 - 8 1 . 2 � Q . And w ere y o u ab ] e to vis ua lize spe rm ? A. Y es , T. T. , Y o /
. I I , p . 80 . 2 5 Q . Ob y . N o w , g o ing b ac k to y o ur co n c lusio n wi th re gard to th e s perm frac ti o n o f 1he v a g i na l s w ab s , i s that l i sted i n y our c o ne lus i on repo rt in c onc lus i on tw o , is that il lus uatcd there ? A. Yu, th e p r o ffl e ' 1 ar e lilt ed. lt ' t th e f ourth c o lumn l a It Q l M - Q . O kay . A. - that ii t il e p r o fil e th at I o b t ain ed fro m bo th th e v a gla al. th e sperm f r ac ti o n o ff th e v a gina l sw ab • a n d th e 1 p e rm f r a d l o n o ff t

be r ee t al s w abs . Q . An d was th e matc h in al l l o c i t es t e d • • A. Y es. Q . - · fro m th e kn o wn o f wh i c h i n d i v i d

ua l ? A. I t m at c h ed th e I te m Ia , th e kn o wn r e f e re n c e 11 mple f r o m K es t umr S i m s. Q . I n al l o f

, o fth e te st s ? A. Y es. T. T. , V o l
. JI , p . l 1 2 . 2 6 S ee not e 2 1 , su

p ra . 1 2

### v au l t) an d S ab i n e P anz er - K a e li n ( wh o co n firm ed vi a D NA an al ys is 

### th at th e sem i n al flu i d an d

s perm be l o n g ed t o D e f

en dant) . E . V erdi ct A g ain s t th e W e i ght 

## o fth e E v i d en ce : A tri a l co urt s h o u l d aw ard n e w tri a l o n gro un d s th at v er d i ct is 

### a gai n s t th e w e i ght o f e vi d e n ce o nl y wh e n th e v e rd i c t i s so c o ntrary t o e v i d e n c e a s t o s h oc k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e an d m ak e 

### aw ard o f n ew tri al imperati v e , so th at ri ght m ay 

### b e gi v en an o th er o ppo rtun i ty to 

### p r ev a il . C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. Wh i t n e y , 5 1 1 P a . 2 3 2 , 2 3 9 , 5 1 2 A . 2 d 1 1 5 2 1 

### 1 1 5 S- l 1 S 6 ( 1 9 8 6 ) . 

### As stat ed i n S ecti o n D , s u p ra, 

### th e ev i d e n ce o fgui l t 

### as re g ar ds th e mo s t s eri o us c h arg e i n th i s c as e ( C h il d R a

pe ) i s n o t o nl y s u ffi c i ent , b ut o v erwh e l m i n g. In dee d , th e e vi d en ce a g ai n s t th e D e f en dant i s so damnin g , an y 

### o th er v erd i ct w o u l d s h o c k th i s C o urt ' s s en s e o f j u s ti c e . Th er e fo re , thi s C o urt fi n d s De f

en d ant ' s argum ent that 

### any v e r d i ct i s a g ain s t th e w ei ght o f th e ev i d e n c e 

### to be entire l y 

### w i th o ut m eri t . 

### F . V i o l ati o n o f



### D e f en d ant ' s 4 th 

### Am en dm ent Ri ght s : D e f en d ant c l a im s i n h i s P o s t - S ent en ce M o ti o n, fo r th e v ery fi rs t t i m e , th at h i s 4 lh 

### Am en dm ent ri g ht s w ere vi o l at ed b y 

### th e C o mm o nw ea lth . D e f en d ant c l ai m s th at h i s arr es t an d s ub sequ ent s ear c h and se i zure w ere unl aw fu l an d as a res u l t o f s u c h vi o l ati o n s , th e v erdi ct o f gu il ty 

### t o a ll c h ar g es s h o u l d b e arr es t ed an d v a cat ed . Th e C o urt i s unpersu ad ed . Th e r e co rd i s enti r e l y d e v o i d o f

### any o f th e ab o v e c l aim s b e in g m ad e p ri o r t o o r d uri n g tri al . At n o po i nt d id d e f

en s e co uns e l o b

j ec t to 

### th e i ntro d

u ct i o n o fD e fe n d ant ' s D NA e vi d en ce . 2 7 

### C o m . v , 

### K o h a n , 2 0 0 3 P A S u

p er 2 0 3 , � 7 , 8 2 5 A . 2 d 7 0 2 , 7 0 5-0 6 ( 2 00 3 ) (" a cri m i nal d ef en dant co u l d no t as sert a cl ai m i n a po s t - se nt en c e m o ti o n fo r a n e w tri a l th at e v i d en c e w as erro n eo us l y adm i tt ed d

uri n g hi s tri al i f

h e h adn ' t l od g ed an o b

j ect i o n d uri n g th e tri a l wh e n th e e v i d en ce w a s

21 D e f ense co unse l lfi d n ot o b

j ec t wh en th e C o mm o nw e a l th m o v e d to ente r C o mm o nwea l th ' s e xh ib i t 6 ( D NA ana lys i s ) int o e vt de oee , T. T. , Y o /
. II , p . 11 3 : 9 . 1 3adm i tt ed . " 

### I d
. ) ; C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . 

### Pea r s o n . 4 54 P a. S u

p er . 3 1 3 , 6 8 5 A . 2 d 5 5 1 , 

### 5 5 5 ( 1 99 6 ) 

### ( e n ba n e ) ( F ai lure t o o b

j ect r es u lt s i n a w a i v er o f th e c l a i m ) . B e caus e o f

D e f e n d ant ' s f ai lur e t o rai s e th i s i s s u e at any ti m e be fo re o r d urin g tri al , th er e i s n o 

### r eco rd b y whi ch thi s C o urt o r an a p p e ll at e co urt co u l d co n du c t a m eani n gfu l revi ew . Thus, thi s c l aim i s w a i v ed . 

### C

o m . v. J o h ns, 8 1 2 A . 2 d 1 2 6 0 ( P a . S u per . 2 0 0 2 ) ( F ai lur e t o ens ure th at th e 

### r eco rd p ro vi d e s s u ffi ci e nt i n f o rm ati o n t o co n d

u ct a m ean i n gfu l r ev i e w 

### co n sti tut es w ai v er o f th e i s s u e s o u ght t o b e r ev i ew ed) . C O N C L U S I O N H av i n g ad dres s ed a ll o f

th e i ss u es an d a ll egat i o n s m ad e b y D e f en d ant i n th e fo reg o i n g Op i n i o n an d fin d in g ev ery i s s u e r ai sed t o b e w i th o ut m eri t , D e f en d ant ' s r equ e sted re li ef i s 

### D EN I E D . An a p p r o p ri at e Ord er s h al l fo ll o w :

1 4

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N IA 

### C RIM INA L D I V I S I O N - L A W C O M M O N W EA L TH O F 

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### , , D e f en d ant O RD E R N o . 1 90 0 o f 2 0 1 6

� h. 

### AN D N O W , t o w i t , th i s 

# i d ay o f M arc h , 2 0 1 8 , i t i s h er e b y O RD E RE D an d D IRE CT E D th at D e f

en d ant ' s m o ti o n f

or po s t - sent en ce r e li e f

b e d i s po sed o f i n th e fo ll o w i n g 

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en d ant ' s tri a l co un s e l , G eral d B e ny o , Jr . ' s r equ es t t o wi th draw a s D ef en d ant' s co un s e l o f

re co rd is G RA

N T E D . 

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en d ant' s m o ti o n 

### fo r arre st o f 

### j u d gm ent i s D EN I E D . 

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e n d ant ' s m o t i o n 

### fo r a n ew tri al i s D EN I E D 4 . I n a c co rd an ce w i th P a . R . Cri m . P . 72 0 ( B ) ( 4 ) , D e f en dant i s h ere b y n o ti fi ed o fth e fo ll o w i n g ri g ht s u

p o n entry o f

th i s o rd er: a. D e f en d ant has th e ri ght t o 

### fi l e an a p peal 

### w i th th e S u

p eri o r C o urt o f P enn sy l v an i a . Th e peri o d t o fi l e an a p p e al e xp i r e s th i rty ( 3 0 ) d ays fo ll o w in g th e dat e o f

th e d en i a l o f

thi s po s t - s ent en ce m o ti o n . b . D e f en d ant h a s th e ri ght t o as si st an ce o f co unsel i n th e p reparati o n o fth e a p p e al . c . D e f e n d ant h as th e ri ght , i f

D e f en dant i s i n d i g ent, to a

p peal 

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