Opinion ID: 2001582
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The duplicitous information.

Text: Appellant argues that the complaint joined in a single count two separate offenses. The third count of the information charged the defendants with conspiracy to commit the crime of false reports to law enforcement officials and/or conspiracy to commit theft. Trial counsel, appellant argues, should have objected to the information. [5] In Commonwealth v. Baranyai, 278 Pa.Super. 83, 419 A.2d 1368 (1980), this Court set aside a conviction obtained on a fatally defective information, which had charged the defendant with a crime not listed in the statute books. Here, the information charged appellant with criminal conspiracy, in that he conspired to commit the crimes of false reports to law enforcement authorities and/or theft by unlawful taking or disposition. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, without stating whether appellant had conspired to commit the first, second or both offenses. [6] In our opinion, the verdict, combined with the thorough jury instructions given by the court, cured any duplicity in the information. The jury clearly found that appellant had committed both conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to make false reports. Appellant also argues that there was a variance between the charges and proof at trial. After a careful examination of the charges, the evidence brought forth, and arguments by counsel, we find there is no variance. Since counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to the information and the alleged variance, no hearing is required for this issue.