Opinion ID: 2291870
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: commonwealth appeal

Text: In its appeal, the Commonwealth contends that the court erred in arresting judgment for felonious aggravated assault and entering judgment for misdemeanor aggravated assault. The effect of a motion in arrest of judgment is to admit all facts which the Commonwealth's evidence tends to prove. The entire record must be considered in evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence. All the evidence must be read in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, which is entitled to all reasonable inferences arising therefrom. Commonwealth v. Rawles, 501 Pa. 514, 520, 462 A.2d 619, 622 (1983) (citations omitted). [T]he test requires, before the granting of a motion in arrest of judgment based on insufficiency of the evidence, that the court make a finding that the evidence supporting the verdict of guilt is so weak and inconclusive that a [factfinder] could not be satisfied as to the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Blevins, 453 Pa. 481, 487, 309 A.2d 421, 425 (1973). Section 2702(a)(1) of the Crimes Code provides that a person is guilty of felonious aggravated assault if he or she attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1). To sustain a conviction for aggravated assault, we need not find that the victim actually suffered serious bodily injury. Commonwealth v. Russell, 313 Pa.Super. 534, 539, 460 A.2d 316, 319 (1983). Where the injury actually inflicted did not constitute serious bodily injury, the charge of aggravated assault can be supported only if the evidence supports a finding that the blow delivered was accompanied by the intent to inflict serious bodily injury. Criminal intent may be proved by direct or circumstantial evidence. Id., 313 Pa.Superior Ct. at 539-540, 460 A.2d at 319 (quoting Commonwealth v. Alexander, 477 Pa. 190, 194, 383 A.2d 887, 889 (1978)). Here, at the conclusion of the trial, the court found Anthony guilty of felonious aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1). Following argument on post-verdict motions, the court arrested judgment on the felonious aggravated assault charge and entered judgment for misdemeanor aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(4). In granting Anthony's motion for arrest of judgment, the court stated only that I don't think it was clearly shown  even though he shot, it didn't show where the other bullets landed, or his marksmanship might have been bad, as you say, but it could have been bad either way. N.T. May 16, 1985 at 6. [4] In so ruling, the court concluded that the evidence presented at trial was legally insufficient to support a conviction for felonious aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1). Viewing the evidence presented in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, however, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support such a conviction. On August 27, 1984, the victim, Gary Bard, was walking north on 52nd Street in Philadelphia. N.T. February 13, 1985 at 14. His brother, Reginald Bard, was walking in the opposite direction on 52nd Street. Id. at 27. Both testified that they saw a group of six or seven men on the opposite side of the street. Id. at 14, 22-23. Anthony was standing with the group. Id. at 23. Reginald Bard crossed the street and approached the group. Id. at 23. When he was seven to ten feet from the group, Anthony pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. Id. at 23, 25. A person then shouted No, no, not that one; the other one. Id. at 9, 23. Anthony then turned the gun and pointed it at the victim. Id. at 23. Anthony fired three or four shots, one of which struck the victim in the arm. Id. at 9, 23-24. This evidence was sufficient to prove felonious aggravated assault. The fact that Anthony intentionally took aim at the victim, fired three or four shots at him, and, indeed, did injure the victim, was sufficient to allow a factfinder to conclude that Anthony had the intent to cause serious bodily injury. Thus, Anthony's argument that the victim did not actually sustain serious bodily injury is irrelevant. [5] See Commonwealth v. Russell, supra . Because the evidence was sufficient to prove aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1) beyond a reasonable doubt, the trial court erred in arresting judgment on this conviction. See Commonwealth v. Rawles, supra . Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of sentence for aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(4), reinstate the verdict for aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1), and remand for resentencing. [6] For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the judgment of sentence for aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(4), reverse the order of the trial court arresting judgment, reinstate the verdict for aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1), and remand for resentencing. VACATED AND REMANDED. Jurisdiction is relinquished.