Opinion ID: 2330784
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: xii.

Text: The Commonwealth argues, in issues eleven and twelve, that the trial court erred in quashing the theft counts, in part, based on a sua sponte determination (1) that the firearms were valueless and (2) that the Commonwealth's evidence as to ownership of the firearms was inadequate. Appellee's omnibus motion makes no mention of the value or ownership of the firearms; therefore, it is apparent that the trial court improperly raised the issue sua sponte. In any event, the trial court's determination to quash the theft counts on these bases was improper because the inadequacy, incompetency or even illegality of the Commonwealth's evidence does not constitute grounds for quashing an information. Commonwealth v. Meoli, 307 Pa.Super. 50, 452 A.2d 1032 (1982). Therefore, whether appellee properly raised these issues in his omnibus motion or not, the trial court erred in quashing the information based on the alleged inadequacy of the Commonwealth's evidence of value and ownership.