Court Opinion

ID: 9401290
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-12 17:10:16.407511+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:51.792397
License: Public Domain

J-A01030-23

                                 2023 PA Super 106

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                            :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                            :
              v.                            :
                                            :
                                            :
 JESSIE JAMES                               :
                                            :
                     Appellant              :   No. 1146 EDA 2022

     Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 28, 2021
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Carbon County Criminal Division at
                      No(s): CP-13-CR-0000040-2018

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., NICHOLS, J., and McCAFFERY, J.

OPINION BY NICHOLS, J.:                                  FILED JUNE 12, 2023

      Appellant Jessie James appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed

after a jury convicted him of possession with intent to deliver (PWID),

conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled

substance (simple possession), and related offenses. Appellant argues that

his trial counsel was ineffective. Appellant also claims that the trial court erred

in denying his motion to amend his post-sentence motion to add a claim of

after-discovered evidence. Lastly, Appellant challenges the sufficiency and

the weight of the evidence. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of

sentence in part, and vacate in part as to the sentence for simple possession.

      The trial court summarized the underlying facts and procedural history

in this case as follows:

      Appellant was identified as a subject selling cocaine and other
      controlled substances following an investigation conducted by
      Officer Matthew Schwarz of the Jim Thorpe Police Department and
J-A01030-23

     other members of the Carbon County Drug Task Force.
     Arrangements were made for a confidential informant, later
     identified as Jeremy Rawlins [(the CI)], to make a controlled
     purchase of cocaine from Appellant near his residence situated at
     75 Bear Creek Drive, Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
     [The CI] contacted Appellant via telephone to arrange controlled
     purchases of cocaine which took place on September 13, 2017,
     and September 20, 2017, near Appellant’s residence. Agent Kirk
     Schwartz, then-Carbon County Drug Task Force Coordinator, and
     other officers observed these controlled purchases and performed
     field tests which indicated the presence of cocaine from the
     September 13, 2017 purchase and suspected counterfeit cocaine
     from the September 20, 2017 purchase. Subsequent lab analysis
     identified the substance from the September 13, 2017 purchase
     as cocaine, but did not identify the composition of the substance
     from the September 20, 2017 purchase. Arrangements were then
     made for [the CI] to purchase Percocet tablets from Appellant on
     November 16, 2017. On that date, Appellant was taken into
     custody before the transaction took place based on the September
     13, 2017 and September 20, 2017 controlled purchases.

     Appellant was charged with three counts of [PWID], (35 P.S. §
     780-113(a)(30)); [and one count each of] [simple possession] (35
     P.S. § 780-113(a)(16)); [conspiracy] (18 Pa.C.S. § 903); and
     criminal use of communication facility (18 Pa.C.S. § 7512(a)).

     On August 18, 2020, Appellant filed an “Omnibus Pretrial Motion,”
     which included a habeas corpus motion challenging the sufficiency
     of the evidence supporting the charges, a motion to disclose the
     identity of the confidential informant, a motion to compel
     discovery, and a reservation of rights to file supplemental pre-trial
     motions. On October 6, 2020, we entered an order granting
     Appellant’s habeas corpus motion as to count four - [PWID]
     pertaining to the attempted controlled purchase on November 16,
     2017, and dismissing that charge, denying the habeas corpus
     motion in all other respects, and dismissing the remaining motions
     as moot. [Order, 10/6/20].

     Following a jury trial held on June 10-11, 2021, Appellant was
     found guilty on all five remaining counts. [On July 27, 2021, the
     trial court appointed new counsel to represent Appellant because
     of a conflict of interest in the Public Defender’s Office.] On
     October 28, 2021, Appellant was sentenced to a period of
     incarceration in a State Correctional Institution of not less than

                                     -2-
J-A01030-23

       eighteen months nor more than sixty months.1               [Order,
       10/28/21].

       On November 7, 2021, Appellant filed post-sentence motions
       which included an acquittal motion, a motion for a new trial based
       upon the weight of the evidence, and a motion for a new trial
       based upon ineffective assistance of counsel. Appellant requested
       that this court: (1) enter a judgment of acquittal for the charges
       contained in count two - delivery of a controlled substance
       pertaining to the controlled purchase on September 20, 2017, and
       count five - conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, arguing
       that the Commonwealth failed to prove that Appellant delivered a
       controlled substance on that date and that Appellant participated
       in a conspiracy because the alleged co-conspirator was a
       confidential informant; and (2) vacate his sentence and order a
       new trial, arguing that the verdict was against the weight of the
       evidence and that Alexandria J. Crouthamel, Esquire, rendered
       ineffective assistance of counsel at trial.      [Appellant’s Post-
       Sentence Mot., 11/7/21].

       On February 2, 2022, Appellant filed a “Motion for Leave to File an
       Amended Post-Sentence Motion Asserting Racial Bias and
       Permitting Defendant to Submit a Juror’s Affidavit and
       Statement.” Appellant requested that this court: (1) grant him
       leave to file an amended post-sentence motion alleging juror
       misconduct based on racial bias and premature deliberations; and
       (2) grant him leave to submit a juror’s affidavit and testimony
       concerning juror misconduct. Appellant’s request was based on
       defense counsel’s communication with Lonnie Hird,[2] who served
       as an alternate juror during Appellant’s trial, who stated that
       members of the principal jury made purported racist comments

____________________________________________

1 Specifically, the trial court sentenced Appellant to concurrent terms of
eighteen to sixty months’ incarceration for count one, PWID cocaine, eighteen
to sixty months’ incarceration for count two, PWID cocaine, sixteen to sixty
months’ incarceration for count three, simple possession of cocaine, eighteen
to sixty months’ incarceration for count five, conspiracy, and eighteen to sixty
months’ incarceration for count six, criminal use of a communication facility.
Id.; see also N.T. Sentencing Hr’g, 10/28/21, at 8-9.

2Throughout the record, Hird’s first name is spelled both Lonnie and Lonney.
For consistency, we use the same spelling as the trial court.

                                           -3-
J-A01030-23

      pertaining to Appellant being African-American during the course
      of the trial. [Mot. to Amend, 2/2/22].

      On March 18, 2022, we entered an order denying Appellant’s
      motion for leave to amend finding that a decision on the proposed
      supplemental motion could not be made in compliance with the
      time limits of Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3), noting that Mr. Hird was an
      alternate juror who did not participate in deliberations with the
      principal jurors and did not communicate any concerns relative to
      any comments of his fellow jurors until seven months after the
      trial had concluded. [Order, 3/18/22]. That same day, Appellant
      filed a “Motion to Submit the Affidavit of Lonnie Hird to
      Supplement the Record on Appeal”. On April 1, 2022, we entered
      an order denying that motion.

Trial Ct. Op., 6/13/22, at 1-5 (formatting altered).

      On April 6, 2022, the trial court issued an order granting in part, and

denying in part Appellant’s post-sentence motion. Specifically, the trial court

concluded that the evidence was insufficient to sustain Appellant’s conviction

at count two, PWID, and vacated that conviction. Trial Ct. Order, 4/6/22, at

1. The trial court denied Appellant’s motion in all other respects. Id. at 3.

      Appellant subsequently filed a timely notice of appeal. Both Appellant

and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

      On appeal, Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

      1. Did the trial court err in denying Appellant’s claim of
         ineffectiveness of trial counsel arising from trial counsel’s
         failure to object to and/or request a mistrial during and
         immediately after testimony of a Commonwealth witness, a
         confidential informant, who testified to prior, remote instances
         of Appellant engaging in uncharged and unrelated sales of
         crack cocaine?

      2. Did the trial court err in denying Appellant’s motion to amend
         post-sentence motion on the basis of after-discovered evidence
         of juror misconduct, premature deliberations and racial bias
         and animus?

                                     -4-
J-A01030-23

      3. Did the trial court err in denying Appellant’s request for
         judgment of acquittal on the charge of conspiracy to delivery a
         controlled substance where a Commonwealth confidential
         informant, could not, as a matter of law, possess a shared
         criminal intent with Appellant?

      4. Did the trial court err in not ordering a new trial on the basis
         that the verdicts of guilty on all counts were against the great
         weight of the evidence?

Appellant’s Brief at 5 (some formatting altered).

                    Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

      In his first claim, Appellant argues that his trial counsel, Alexandria J.

Crouthamel, Esq. (trial counsel), was ineffective for failing to object to the

admission of “prior bad acts” evidence at trial. Appellant’s Brief at 15-16.

Appellant argues that this Court may address his claim on direct appeal

because trial counsel’s “ineffectiveness was apparent on the record, was

[discrete] and would have served the interests of justice by addressing it

immediately since he was within weeks of his parole eligibility date.” Id. at

11-12.

      Generally, a criminal defendant may not assert claims of ineffective

assistance of counsel on direct appeal. See Commonwealth v. Holmes, 79

A.3d 562, 577-80 (Pa. 2013). Instead, such claims are to be deferred to PCRA

review. Id. However, our Supreme Court has recognized three exceptions to

the general rule. In Holmes, the Court held that a trial court has discretion

to address ineffectiveness claims on direct review in cases where (1) there are

extraordinary circumstances in which trial counsel’s ineffectiveness is

apparent from the record and “meritorious to the extent that immediate

                                     -5-
J-A01030-23

consideration best serves the interests of justice;” or (2) “there is good cause

shown,” and the defendant knowingly and expressly waives his entitlement to

seek subsequent PCRA review of his conviction and sentence. Id. at 563-64.

More recently, our Supreme Court adopted a third exception, which requires

“trial courts to address claims challenging trial counsel’s performance where

the defendant is statutorily precluded from obtaining subsequent PCRA

review.” Commonwealth v. Delgros, 183 A.3d 352, 361 (Pa. 2018).3

       Here, Appellant argues that he met the “meritorious and apparent from

the record” exception as stated in Holmes. In rejecting Appellant’s claim, the

trial court explained:

       The “meritorious and apparent from the record” exception is
       limited to exceptional circumstances. Holmes, 79 A.3d at 57[7].
       In an unpublished decision, the Superior Court defined the
       exception as follows: “[A]n extraordinary circumstance is one
       where counsel’s ineffectiveness is so blatant and ‘so shocking to
       the judicial conscience’ that there is no need for a hearing and the
       court is compelled to grant relief.” Commonwealth v. Alford,
       No. 1052 WDA 2020, 2021 WL 2907814, at *4 (Pa. Super. Jul. 9,
       2021) [(citations omitted)].[4]      While the trial court retains
____________________________________________

3 We acknowledge that there is an additional circumstance in which a
defendant may raise an ineffectiveness claim outside of a PCRA petition. This
occurs where a defendant alleges PCRA counsel’s ineffectiveness in connection
with a first PCRA petition. In that situation, the defendant may challenge
PCRA counsel’s ineffectiveness at the first opportunity, even if on appeal. See
Commonwealth v. Bradley, 261 A.3d 381, 405 (Pa. 2021). However, in the
instant case, Appellant has not pursued PCRA relief and has not been
represented by PCRA counsel.          Therefore, Bradley is inapplicable to
Appellant’s case, which is on direct appeal. See id.

4Non-precedential decisions of this Court that were filed after May 1, 2019
may be cited for their persuasive value. See Pa.R.A.P. 126(b).

                                           -6-
J-A01030-23

       discretion to address ineffectiveness claims on post-sentence
       motions, “the presumption weighs heavily in favor of deferring
       such claims to collateral review.” Commonwealth v. Knox, 165
       A.3d 925, 928 (Pa. Super. 2017). We find that Appellant’s
       ineffectiveness claim does not rise to the level of an extraordinary
       circumstance warranting immediate review.

Trial Ct. Op. at 7-8 (some formatting altered).

       Following our review of the record, we discern no abuse of discretion by

the trial court in declining to consider Appellant’s ineffectiveness claim on

direct appeal. See Commonwealth v. Green, 204 A.3d 469, 487 (Pa. Super.

2019). As noted by the trial court, Appellant’s ineffectiveness claims were not

apparent from the record or meritorious, and they did not rise to the level of

requiring immediate consideration in the interests of justice.5 See Holmes,

79 A.3d at 563, 577.

       Therefore, we conclude that Appellant’s ineffectiveness claim cannot be

considered on direct appeal, and we dismiss these claims without prejudice to

Appellant’s right to raise them in a timely filed PCRA petition.

                                  Motion to Amend

       In his next issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying

his motion to amend his post-sentence motion to include a claim of after-

discovered evidence. Appellant’s Brief at 27. Specifically, Appellant refers to
____________________________________________

5 We note that although Appellant only raises the “meritorious and apparent
from the record” exception, the trial court also concluded that the remaining
exceptions were inapplicable. See Trial Ct. Op. at 7. Following our review of
the record, there is no indication that Appellant waived his right to file a PCRA
nor is he statutorily precluding from obtaining subsequent PCRA review. See
Holmes, 79 A.3d at 564, 578; see also Delgros, 183 A.3d at 361.

                                           -7-
J-A01030-23

a statement from alternate juror Lonnie Hird, who allegedly overheard

comments from other jurors that showed racial bias and “called into question

the integrity of the verdict.” Id. at 28-29, 35. Appellant asserts that although

trial counsel attempted to contact Mr. Hird after sentencing, Mr. Hird did not

respond to counsel until late January of 2022. Id. at 28. Appellant argues

that he complied with Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(C) by promptly raising his claim on

February 2, 2022. Id. at 28. Therefore, Appellant concludes that the trial

court erred in denying his motion to amend the post-sentence motion and that

he is entitled to a new trial or a remand for counsel to present the affidavit

and testimony from Mr. Hird. Id. at 34-35.

      This Court has held that trial courts have “discretion to allow the filing

of supplemental post-sentence motions.” Commonwealth v. Robinson, 834

A.2d 1160, 1168 n.4 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation omitted); see also

Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(1)(b). Therefore, we review the trial court’s denial of

Appellant’s request for leave to amend his post-sentence motion for an abuse

of discretion. See generally Commonwealth v. Gill, 206 A.3d 459, 466

(Pa. 2019) (explaining that an appellate court should not disturb a trial court’s

discretionary ruling absent an abuse of that discretion).

      This Court has explained that

      [a]n abuse of discretion is not merely an error of judgment, but is
      rather the overriding or misapplication of the law, or the exercise
      of judgment that is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of bias,
      prejudice, ill-will or partiality, as shown by the evidence of record.
      If in reaching a conclusion the trial court overrides or misapplies
      the law, discretion is then abused and it is the duty of the appellate
      court to correct the error.

                                      -8-
J-A01030-23

Commonwealth v. Belknap, 105 A.3d 7, 10 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citations

omitted and some formatting altered); see also Gill, 206 A.3d at 466-67.

     Rule 720 provides, in relevant part:

     (B) Optional Post-Sentence Motion.

        (1) Generally.

                                 *    *     *

           (b) The defendant may file a supplemental post-sentence
           motion in the judge’s discretion as long as the decision on
           the supplemental motion can be made in compliance with
           the time limits of paragraph (B)(3).

                                 *    *     *

        (3) Time Limits for Decision on Motion. The judge shall not
        vacate sentence pending decision on the post-sentence motion,
        but shall decide the motion as provided in this paragraph.

           (a) Except as provided in paragraph (B)(3)(b), the judge
           shall decide the post-sentence motion, including any
           supplemental motion, within 120 days of the filing of the
           motion. If the judge fails to decide the motion within 120
           days, or to grant an extension as provided in paragraph
           (B)(3)(b), the motion shall be deemed denied by operation
           of law.

           (b) Upon motion of the defendant within the 120-day
           disposition period, for good cause shown, the judge may
           grant one 30-day extension for decision on the motion. If
           the judge fails to decide the motion within the 30-day
           extension period, the motion shall be deemed denied by
           operation of law.

                                 *    *     *

     (C) After-Discovered Evidence. A post-sentence motion for a
     new trial on the ground of after-discovered evidence must be filed
     in writing promptly after such discovery.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(1)(b), (B)(3)(a)-(b), (C).

                                     -9-
J-A01030-23

      Here, the trial court addressed Appellant’s claim as follows:

         [FN1] Appellant’s timely post-sentence motion was filed on
         November 7, 2021. Therefore, a decision on that motion
         was required to be filed no later than March 7, 2022.
         Appellant’s motion for leave to amend was filed on February
         2, 2022. A hearing on both the motion for leave to amend
         and the initial post-sentence motion was held on February
         17, 2022. During that hearing, Appellant made an oral
         motion for a thirty (30) day extension of the one hundred
         twenty (120) day time limit for rendering a decision on his
         post-sentence motion. We granted that oral motion which
         extended the time for the court’s decision until April 6, 2022.
         Following a teleconference with counsel on March 15, 2022
         discussing the logistics of a potential hearing on an
         amended post-sentence motion, our decision to deny
         Appellant’s motion for leave to amend was based on both
         the limited time remaining to dispose of the post-sentence
         motion and the issues with scheduling and coordinating a
         lengthy hearing including the testimony of at least fourteen
         (14) witnesses within the allotted time frame.

                                  *     *      *

      Pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(a), a post-sentence motion
      must be decided within one-hundred-and-twenty days of the date
      of filing unless, for good cause shown, the court grants a thirty
      day extension for such decision in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P.
      720(B)(3)(b). Commonwealth v. Perry, 820 A.2d 734, 735 (Pa.
      Super. 2003). As previously noted, we denied Appellant’s motion
      for leave to amend finding that a decision on the proposed
      supplemental motion could not be made in compliance with the
      time limits of Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3).

Trial Ct. Op. at 5 n.1, 10-11.

      Following our review of the record, we discern no abuse of discretion by

the trial court in denying Appellant’s motion to amend his post-sentence

motion. See Belknap, 105 A.3d at 10; see also Gill, 206 A.3d at 466-67.

When Appellant filed his motion to amend the post-sentence motion on

                                      - 10 -
J-A01030-23

February 2, 2022, the trial court had thirty-three days to rule on the post-

sentence motion.       See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(a).      Following a hearing on

February 17, 2022, the trial court granted Appellant’s request to extend the

court’s deadline for an additional thirty days. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(b).

However, after a conference with counsel, the trial court concluded that it

could not decide Appellant’s proposed after-discovered evidence claim within

the timeframe allowed by Rule 720. See Trial Ct. Op. at 5 n.1, 10-11. In

reaching that conclusion, the trial court explained that such a hearing would

involve the testimony of at least fourteen witnesses, i.e., Mr. Hird and the

other thirteen jurors from Appellant’s trial, which could not be completed

before the extended deadline. See id. at 5 n.1. Under these circumstances,

we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Appellant’s motion to amend his post-sentence motion.           See Pa.R.Crim.P.

720(B)(1)(b). Therefore, Appellant is not entitled to relief on this issue.6

                            Sufficiency of the Evidence

       In his next issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying

his motion for acquittal because there was insufficient evidence to support his

conspiracy conviction.       Appellant’s Brief at 35-36.    Specifically, Appellant

argues that because his alleged co-conspirator was a CI, the CI “could not, by

definition, share criminal intent with the Appellant for purposes of the crime

____________________________________________

6 Although we find that Appellant is not entitled to relief on direct appeal, our
conclusion does not preclude Appellant from raising claims regarding his
discovery of possible juror misconduct in a timely filed PCRA petition.

                                          - 11 -
J-A01030-23

of criminal conspiracy, which requires shared criminal intent.” Id. at 35. In

support, Appellant relies on the dissenting statement in Woodson, an

unreported decision in which the dissent stated that Pennsylvania continues

to follow the “bilateral” approach to conspiracy.           Id. at 37 (citing

Commonwealth v. Woodson, No. 1378 MDA 2011, 2013 WL 11282822, at

*3 (unpublished mem.) (Pa. Super. filed Mar. 12, 2013) (Fitzgerald, J.,

dissenting)). Further, Appellant argues that although Section 904(a) states

that a co-conspirator’s irresponsibility or immunity from prosecution is

immaterial to a defendant’s guilt for conspiracy, there was no evidence that

the CI “was irresponsible or was granted immunity from prosecution.” Id.

Therefore, Appellant concludes that the Commonwealth failed to present

sufficient evidence to prove conspiracy.

      In reviewing Appellant’s claim, our standard of review is as follows:

      A motion for judgment of acquittal challenges the sufficiency of
      the evidence to sustain a conviction on a particular charge, and is
      granted only in cases in which the Commonwealth has failed to
      carry its burden regarding that charge. Therefore, in usual
      circumstances, we apply the following standard of review to
      sufficiency claims which arise in the context of a motion for
      judgment of acquittal:

         A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is a
         question of law. Evidence will be deemed sufficient to
         support the verdict when it establishes each material
         element of the crime charged and the commission thereof
         by the accused, beyond a reasonable doubt. Where the
         evidence offered to support the verdict is in contradiction to
         the physical facts, in contravention to human experience
         and the laws of nature, then the evidence is insufficient as
         a matter of law. When reviewing a sufficiency claim, the
         court is required to view the evidence in the light most

                                     - 12 -
J-A01030-23

        favorable to the verdict winner giving the prosecution the
        benefit of all reasonable inferences to be drawn from the
        evidence.

Commonwealth v. Stahl, 175 A.3d 301, 303-04 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citations

omitted and formatting altered). “In applying the above test, we may not

weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for the fact-finder.”

Commonwealth v. Fabian, 60 A.3d 146, 150-51 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation

omitted).

     To the extent that Appellant’s claim requires us to interpret a statute,

that raises a question of law. See Commonwealth v. Andrews, 173 A.3d

1219, 1221 (Pa. Super. 2017). Therefore, our scope of review is plenary, and

our standard of review is de novo. Id.

     This Court has explained:

     When interpreting a statute, this Court must apply the Statutory
     Construction Act of 1972. See 1 Pa.C.S. §§ 1501-1991. The
     object of all interpretation and construction of statutes is to
     ascertain and effectuate the intention of the legislature and give
     effect to all of the provisions of the statute. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a).
     “When the words of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity,
     the letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of
     pursuing its spirit.” 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(b). Generally, a statute’s
     plain language provides the best indication of legislative intent.
     In reading a statute’s plain language, words and phrases shall be
     construed according to rules of grammar and according to their
     common and approved usage, while any words or phrases that
     have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning must be
     construed according to that meaning.

Id. (some citations omitted and formatting altered).

     Section 903 of the Crimes Code provides that “[a] person is guilty of

conspiracy with another person . . . to commit a crime if with the intent of

                                    - 13 -
J-A01030-23

promoting or facilitating its commission he agrees with such other person . . .

that they or one or more of them will engage in conduct which constitutes

such crime[.]” 18 Pa.C.S. § 903(a)(1). Additionally, “[n]o person may be

convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime unless an overt act in pursuance of

such conspiracy is alleged and proved to have been done by him or by a person

with whom he conspired.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 903(e).

      Section 903(a) is taken verbatim from Model Penal Code § 5.03(1).

Compare 18 Pa.C.S. § 903(a), with Model Penal Code § 5.03(1).               The

comment to Section 5.03 of the Model Penal Code states, in relevant part:

      Guilt as a conspirator is measured by the situation as the actor
      views it; he must have the purpose of promoting or facilitating a
      criminal offense, and with that purpose must agree (or believe
      that he is agreeing) with another that they will engage in the
      criminal offense or in solicitation to commit it.

Model Penal Code § 5.03 cmt.

      Further, this Court has held that “the express language of the

[Pennsylvania conspiracy] statute does not require that an alleged co-

conspirator be charged or convicted of the conspiracy.” Commonwealth v.

Fremd, 860 A.2d 515, 521 (Pa. Super. 2004). Indeed, Pennsylvania courts

have concluded that “the path of prosecution, or non-prosecution, of a

defendant’s alleged co-conspirator(s) is irrelevant as to the prosecution of the

defendant” and instead, “all that is required is proof of the elements of

conspiracy, one of which is that the defendant conspired with one or more

persons to commit or plan a crime.” Id. at 521-22.

                                     - 14 -
J-A01030-23

      Section 904(a) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code codifies two scenarios

that are immaterial to a defendant’s liability for solicitation or conspiracy.

Specifically, the statute provides:

      (a) General rule.—Except as provided in subsection (b) of this
      section, it is immaterial to the liability of a person who solicits or
      conspires with another to commit a crime that:

         (1) he or the person whom he solicits or with whom he
         conspires does not occupy a particular position or have a
         particular characteristic which is an element of such crime, if
         he believes that one of them does; or

         (2) the person whom he solicits or with whom he conspires is
         irresponsible or has an immunity to prosecution or conviction
         for the commission of the crime.

18 Pa.C.S. § 904.

      Section 904 is derived from Model Penal Code § 5.04. Compare 18

Pa.C.S. § 904, with Model Penal Code § 5.04. The comment to Section 5.04

of the Model Penal Code states, in relevant part:

      Subsection [(a)] provides for two contingencies that are made
      immaterial to liability for solicitation or conspiracy. Paragraph
      [(a)(1)] deals with offenses that can be committed only by a
      person who occupies a particular position or has a particular
      characteristic. The failure of the actor or the person whom he
      solicits or with whom he conspires to occupy the position or have
      the characteristic is immaterial if he believes that one of them
      does and that the offense will thereby be committed. Paragraph
      [(a)(2)] provides a similar result in cases where the person
      solicited or the person with whom the actor conspires has a
      defense of irresponsibility or immunity that he can assert.
      Consistent with the [Model Penal] Code approach to
      conspiracy and solicitation, the actor’s liability is not
      affected by these factors, which are extraneous to his
      culpability.

                                      - 15 -
J-A01030-23

Model Penal Code § 5.04 cmt (emphasis added).

       Several other states have enacted conspiracy statutes that are based

on Model Penal Code § 5.04.              See, e.g., Ind. Code § 35-41-5-2(c)(5)

(providing, in part, that “[i]t is no defense that the person with whom the

accused person is alleged to have conspired . . . cannot be prosecuted for any

reason”);” N.Y. Penal Law § 105.30 (reflecting that “[i]t is no defense to a

prosecution for conspiracy that . . . one or more of the defendant’s co-

conspirators could not be guilty of conspiracy or the object crime”); N.J. Rev.

Stat. § 2C:5-3(a)(2) (stating that it is immaterial whether “[t]he person with

whom [the defendant] conspires is irresponsible or has an immunity to

prosecution or conviction”); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-304(1) (same); Colo. Rev.

Stat. § 18-2-205(1)(b) (same).           Like Section 904, none of these statutes

explicitly mention government agents or law enforcement officers.

       Additionally, in Model Penal Code jurisdictions, state courts have held

that a defendant can be found guilty of conspiracy even if the defendant only

entered into a conspiracy with police officers and/or police informants.7 See

e.g. Garcia v. State, 394 N.E.2d 106, 108-10 (Ind. 1979) (affirming the

defendant’s conviction for conspiracy where the defendant’s co-conspirator

was a police informant because “the absence of criminal culpability on the part

of a co-conspirator including a sole co-conspirator” was not a defense to
____________________________________________

7 This Court may consider the decisions of other states as persuasive
authority. See Commonwealth v. Lang, 275 A.3d 1072, 1083 (Pa. Super.
2022).

                                          - 16 -
J-A01030-23

conspiracy under the Indiana statute); People v. Vecellio, 292 P.3d 1004,

1010 (Colo. App. 2012) (affirming the defendant’s conspiracy conviction and

concluding that “because the unilateral approach requires only that the

defendant agree to proceed in a prohibited manner, the fact that the other

party is an undercover police officer is irrelevant” (citation omitted)); State

v. Roldan, 714 A.2d 351, 355 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1998) (applying the

New Jersey statute and concluding that “[u]nder this unilateral approach to

conspiratorial liability, a person may be guilty of conspiracy even though the

other party to the criminal agreement is an undercover police officer or police

informant who has no intention of actually committing a crime”); People v.

Schwimmer, 411 N.Y.S.2d 922, 923-28 (N.Y. App. Div. 1978) (concluding

that the defendant could “be found guilty of conspiracy even though neither

[the undercover New York City police officer] nor [the police informant]

possessed the prescribed mental state required for the commission of

conspiracy or the object crimes”).

      Here, in its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court addressed Appellant’s

sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim as follows:

      Appellant argues that [the CI], who acted as an agent for the
      police, is not a person who shares a criminal intent to commit a
      crime as contemplated within the statute. While there is limited
      caselaw on this particular subject, the Superior Court in an
      unpublished decision held that there was sufficient evidence to
      uphold a conspiracy conviction where a defendant agreed to
      deliver cocaine to a confidential informant and then delivered said
      cocaine, and reiterated that the statute does not require that all

                                     - 17 -
J-A01030-23

       parties have criminal intent. [Woodson, 2013 WL 11282822, at
       *2-3.8]

       [Here, the CI] testified that he made arrangements via telephone
       to meet Appellant to purchase cocaine on September 13, 2017
       and September 20, 2017. Agent Schwartz testified that he and
       other officers observed Appellant at these controlled purchases.
       We find that the record contains sufficient evidence to support the
       charge of conspiracy against Appellant. Therefore, we find that
       this court did not err in denying Appellant’s motion for judgment
       of acquittal on the charge of conspiracy to deliver a controlled
       substance.

Trial Ct. Op. at 15-16.

       Following our review of the record, and in viewing the evidence in the

light most favorable to the Commonwealth, we conclude that there was

sufficient evidence to sustain Appellant’s conviction for conspiracy to commit

PWID. See Stahl, 175 A.3d at 303-04; 18 Pa.C.S. § 903(a). As noted by the

trial court, the Commonwealth presented evidence establishing that Appellant

and the CI arranged to meet for the sole purpose of committing PWID and

that Appellant committed the overt act of providing cocaine to the CI in

exchange for currency. See Commonwealth v. Johnson, 180 A.3d 474,

479 (Pa. Super. 2018).

       Finally, insofar as Appellant argues that he cannot be convicted of

conspiracy because his co-conspirator was a CI, we disagree. We recognize

____________________________________________

8  We note that Woodson is an unpublished decision by this Court that was
filed prior to May 1, 2019. Therefore, the case is not only non-precedential,
but may not be cited or relied upon for its persuasive value. See, e.g.,
Commonwealth v. Finnecy, 249 A.3d 903, 910 n.9 (Pa. 2021); Pa.R.A.P.
126(b).

                                          - 18 -
J-A01030-23

that there are no Pennsylvania decisions specifically addressing the

circumstances present in the instant case. However, although Pennsylvania

has not explicitly adopted the unilateral approach to conspiracy, our statutes

and case law clearly reflect that the Commonwealth can prove a defendant’s

guilt for conspiracy without establishing the co-conspirator’s guilt.         See

Fremd, 860 A.2d at 521; see also 18 Pa.C.S. § 904(a)(2). In any event, the

record reflects that Appellant and the CI entered an agreement to commit

PWID and actually completed that transaction by exchanging cash for cocaine.

Therefore, to the extent the CI had other intentions aside from the parties’

shared criminal purpose, that does not affect Appellant’s conviction for

conspiracy. Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled to relief on this claim.

                          Weight of the Evidence

      In his final issue, Appellant argues that his guilty verdicts were against

the weight of the evidence. Appellant’s Brief at 39. In support, Appellant

contends that the evidence presented at trial came from the Commonwealth’s

CI, who was a “corrupt source” and an “admitted drug addict and thief.” Id.

Appellant further claims that the only other witness to the drug transactions

was the Commonwealth’s Agent Schwartz, who “stated that he did not

personally observe the first and second transactions take place.”             Id.

Appellant concludes by arguing that the accounts provided by the CI and

Agent Schwartz diverged on key matters including “time, location and chain-

of-custody of material physical evidence” and that Appellant’s verdicts

shocked the conscience. Id. at 40-41.

                                     - 19 -
J-A01030-23

      In reviewing Appellant’s claim, our standard of review is as follows:

      A claim alleging the verdict was against the weight of the evidence
      is addressed to the discretion of the trial court. Accordingly, an
      appellate court reviews the exercise of the trial court’s discretion;
      it does not answer for itself whether the verdict was against the
      weight of the evidence. It is well settled that the fact-finder is
      free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence and to determine
      the credibility of the witnesses, and a new trial based on a weight
      of the evidence claim is only warranted where the fact-finder’s
      verdict is so contrary to the evidence that it shocks one’s sense of
      justice. In determining whether this standard has been met,
      appellate review is limited to whether the trial judge’s discretion
      was properly exercised, and relief will only be granted where the
      facts and inferences of record disclose a palpable abuse of
      discretion.

Commonwealth v. Landis, 89 A.3d 694, 699 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation

omitted and formatting altered).

      This Court further explained that

      [a] new trial should not be granted because of a mere conflict in
      the testimony or because the judge on the same facts would have
      arrived at a different conclusion. Rather, the role of the trial court
      is to determine that notwithstanding all the evidence, certain facts
      are so clearly of greater weight that to ignore them, or to give
      them equal weight with all the facts, is to deny justice. A motion
      for a new trial on the grounds that the verdict is contrary to the
      weight of the evidence concedes that there is sufficient evidence
      to sustain the verdict; thus the trial court is under no obligation
      to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict
      winner.

Id. (citation omitted).

      Here, the trial court addressed Appellant’s claim as follows:

      In a similar case where a defendant was convicted of delivering
      cocaine based on the testimony of a [CI] and the trial court denied
      the defendant’s motion for a new trial based upon the weight of
      the evidence, the Superior Court held that “[t]he jury was free to

                                     - 20 -
J-A01030-23

      make credibility determinations and accept or reject [the CI’s]
      testimony, and all the other testimony, as it chose.”
      Commonwealth v. West, 937 A.2d 516, 522 (Pa. Super. 2007).
      Here, we do not find that the jury’s verdict is so contrary to the
      evidence as to shock our sense of justice. Therefore, we find that
      this court did not err in denying Appellant’s motion for a new trial
      based upon the weight of the evidence.

Trial Ct. Op. at 17-18.

      Following our review of the record, we discern no abuse of discretion by

the trial court in rejecting Appellant’s weight claim. See Landis, 89 A.3d at

699. The jury was free to believe all, part, or none of the witness testimony,

and was entitled to make credibility determinations regarding the CI and

Agent Schwartz. See id.; West, 937 A.2d at 522. We will not disturb the

trial court’s credibility determinations on appeal. Therefore, Appellant is not

entitled to relief on this issue.

                                    Merger

      Finally, we must address whether Appellant’s sentences for simple

possession and PWID should have merged for sentencing purposes. Although

Appellant did not raise this issue on appeal, we may address this issue sua

sponte. See Commonwealth v. Watson, 228 A.3d 928, 941 (Pa. Super.

2020) (holding that questions concerning merger implicate the legality of a

sentence, and this Court may address such issues sua sponte); see also

Commonwealth v. Tucker, 143 A.3d 955, 960 (Pa. Super. 2016) (stating

that “[a]n illegal sentence must be vacated” (citation omitted)).

                                     - 21 -
J-A01030-23

      When reviewing the legality of a sentence, “our standard of review is de

novo and our scope of review is plenary.” Commonwealth v. Tighe, 184

A.3d 560, 584 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citations omitted).

      Section 9765 of the Sentencing Code provides as follows:

      No crimes shall merge for sentencing purposes unless the crimes
      arise from a single criminal act and all of the statutory elements
      of one offense are included in the statutory elements of the other
      offense. Where crimes merge for sentencing purposes, the court
      may sentence the defendant only on the higher graded offense.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9765.

      This Court has explained that “[t]he statute’s mandate is clear.          It

prohibits merger unless two distinct facts are present: 1) the crimes arise from

a single criminal act; and 2) all of the statutory elements of one of the offenses

are included in the statutory elements of the other.”       Commonwealth v.

Martinez, 153 A.3d 1025, 1030 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citations omitted).

      The crimes of simple possession and PWID are defined as follows:

      (a) The following acts and the causing thereof within the
      Commonwealth are hereby prohibited:

                                   *     *      *

         (16) Knowingly or intentionally possessing a controlled or
         counterfeit substance by a person not registered under this act,
         or a practitioner not registered or licensed by the appropriate
         State board, unless the substance was obtained directly from,
         or pursuant to, a valid prescription order or order of a
         practitioner, or except as otherwise authorized by this act.

                                   *     *      *

         (30) Except as authorized by this act, the manufacture,
         delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, a
         controlled substance by a person not registered under this act,

                                       - 22 -
J-A01030-23

         or a practitioner not registered or licensed by the appropriate
         State board, or knowingly creating, delivering or possessing
         with intent to deliver, a counterfeit controlled substance.

35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(16), (30).

      As this Court recently reiterated, a conviction for simple possession

should merge with a conviction for PWID for sentencing purposes when “both

charges stemmed from the same act of possession.”        Commonwealth v.

Knupp, 290 A.3d 759, 777 (Pa. Super. 2023) (quoting Commonwealth v.

Murphy, 592 A.2d 750, 753 (Pa. Super. 1991)).

      Instantly, Appellant was charged with PWID and simple possession at

counts one and three based on allegations that Appellant possessed cocaine

on September 13, 2017. See Criminal Information, 2/6/18, at 1. Therefore,

because both charges stemmed from the same act, Appellant’s conviction for

simple possession should have merged with his PWID conviction for

sentencing purposes. See Knupp, 290 A.3d at 777; see also Martinez, 153

A.3d at 1030.    Accordingly, we are constrained to vacate the sentence

imposed for simple possession.     See, e.g., Tucker, 143 A.3d at 967-68

(affirming the defendant’s convictions but vacating an illegal sentence).

Further, we note that because the trial court imposed a concurrent sentence

for the simple possession conviction, our disposition does not upset the trial

court’s overall sentencing scheme. Therefore, it is not necessary to remand

this matter for resentencing. See Commonwealth v. Thur, 906 A.2d 552,

569-70 (Pa. Super. 2006).

                                    - 23 -
J-A01030-23

      For these reasons, we affirm Appellant’s convictions, vacate the

sentence imposed for simple possession, and affirm the judgment of sentence

in all other respects.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed in part, and vacated in part as to the

sentence imposed for simple possession. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/12/2023

                                   - 24 -