Court Opinion

ID: 9962591
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-23 20:13:52.100364+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:09.402930
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                 :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
  SANTONIO PIERRE MALONE                       :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 516 MDA 2023

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 20, 2023
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-54-CR-0000557-2022

BEFORE:      PANELLA, P.J.E., KUNSELMAN, J., and COLINS, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.:                   FILED: APRIL 23, 2024

       Santonio Malone appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed after

a jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree, attempted murder, and

possession of an instrument of crime (“PIC”).1 He challenges the sufficiency

of the evidence to convict him of these offenses.          Additionally, Malone’s

counsel filed a petition to withdraw representation and an accompanying brief

pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Upon review, we

grant counsel’s petition, and affirm the judgment of sentence.

       The trial court set forth the facts as follows:

       Alorfi Ramirez and Tristan Wolfe, [] Juan Carlos Romero and
       another man, had been together at a bar in the Borough of
       Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania [in] the early
____________________________________________

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502(a), 901(a) – 2501, and 907.
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      morning of October 24, 2021, prior to deciding to go to an after-
      hours hookah lounge in the same borough. The men went to, but
      were not allowed in the lounge. A verbal argument ensued
      between [Romero] and [Malone] on the sidewalk outside the
      lounge. After a period of time, [Malone] pointed a handgun at
      Ramirez's head as Ramirez walked away from the lounge toward
      his car parked in the street. At the time, [Romero] was on his
      cellphone contacting 911 for help. [Malone] then went towards
      Romero, and put the handgun at Romero's head. As Romero, who
      was still on his cellphone with 911 asking for help, tried to evade
      [Malone] by moving further across the street from the lounge,
      [Malone] shot the unarmed Romero numerous times. [Malone]
      then returned to Ramirez, who was standing by his car, and shot
      Ramirez in the left arm, torso, upper thigh, and back. While
      Romero was dying, and Ramirez lay injured and bleeding on the
      road, [Malone] got into his car and left. He subsequently fled to
      Tennessee where he was eventually apprehended.

      Dr. Wayne Ross performed an autopsy on Romero who had died
      on the sidewalk across the street from the lounge prior to police
      arrival at the scene. Dr. Ross found four gunshot wounds to the
      body, including one that entered Romero's heart and lungs and
      one through each left and right buttocks. Dr. Ross opined that
      Romero died from the wounds to his heart, lungs and buttocks.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/23, at 2. Malone was arrested and charged with

multiple offenses.

      Following trial, the jury found Malone guilty of, inter alia, first-degree

murder for the shooting death of Romero, attempted homicide for the shooting

of Ramirez, and PIC. The court sentenced Malone to life in prison, 20 to 40

years’ incarceration, and 2 ½ to 5 years’ incarceration to run consecutive to

the life sentence, for these convictions respectively. Malone did not file a post-

sentence motion.

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       Malone filed a timely pro se appeal.2 He and the trial court satisfied the

requirements of Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925.3

       Counsel filed a petition to withdraw from representation and an Anders

brief with this Court. Malone did not retain independent counsel or file a pro

se response to the Anders brief.

       Before we may consider the issues raised in the Anders brief, we must

first consider counsel’s petition to withdraw from representation.          See

Commonwealth v. Garang, 9 A.3d 237, 240 (Pa. Super. 2010) (holding

that, when presented with an Anders brief, this Court may not review the

____________________________________________

2 We observe that at the time of this filing, Malone was represented by counsel.

Hybrid representation is not permitted in this Commonwealth.
Commonwealth v. Jette, 23 A.3d 1032 (Pa. 2011). However, this Court’s
Internal Operating Procedure (“I.O.P.”) 65.24 provides that “[a] pro se notice
of appeal received from the trial court shall be docketed, even in instances
where the pro se [appellant] was represented by counsel in the trial court.”
210 Pa. Code § 65.24(1); see also Commonwealth v. Ellis, 626 A.2d 1137
(Pa. 1993).

3 Malone’s Rule 1925(b) statement was filed untimely.     However, “where the
trial court addresses the issues raised in an untimely Rule 1925(b) statement,
we need not remand [pursuant to Rule 1925(c)] but may address the issues
on their merits.” Commonwealth v. Brown, 145 A.3d 184, 186 (Pa. Super.
2016); see also Commonwealth v. Burton, 973 A.2d 428, 433 (Pa. Super.
2009) (en banc) (“[I]f there is an untimely filing, this Court may decide the
appeal on the merits if the trial court had adequate opportunity to prepare an
opinion addressing the issues being raised on appeal”). Here, the trial court
addressed the sufficiency issue, albeit very briefly.

We further note that when counsel intends to file an Anders brief and asks
this Court to withdraw, counsel should file a statement pursuant to Rule
1925(c)(4) rather than Rule 1925(b).

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merits of the underlying issues without first passing on the request to

withdraw). Pursuant to Anders, when counsel believes an appeal is frivolous

and wishes to withdraw from representation, counsel must do the following:

      (1) petition the court for leave to withdraw stating that after
      making a conscientious examination of the record, counsel has
      determined the appeal would be frivolous; (2) file a brief referring
      to any issues that might arguably support the appeal, but which
      does not resemble a no-merit letter; and (3) furnish a copy of the
      brief to the defendant and advise him of his right to retain new
      counsel, proceed pro se, or raise any additional points [the
      defendant] deems worthy of this Court's attention.

Commonwealth v. Edwards, 906 A.2d 1225, 1227 (Pa. Super. 2006)

(citation omitted).   In Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa.

2009), our Supreme Court addressed the second requirement of Anders, i.e.,

the contents of an Anders brief, and required that the brief:

      (1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with
      citations to the record;

      (2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes arguably
      supports the appeal;

      (3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous; and

      (4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is
      frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of record,
      controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that have led to the
      conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.          Once counsel has satisfied the Anders

requirements, it is then this Court’s responsibility “to conduct a simple review

of the record to ascertain if there appear on its face to be arguably meritorious

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issues   that   counsel,   intentionally   or   not,   missed   or   misstated.”

Commonwealth v. Dempster, 187 A.3d 266, 272 (Pa. Super. 2018).

      Here, counsel filed both an Anders brief and a petition for leave to

withdraw as counsel. Further, the Anders brief substantially comports with

the requirements set forth by our Supreme Court in Santiago. Finally, the

record included a copy of the letter that counsel sent to Malone of counsel’s

intention to seek permission to withdraw and advising Malone of his right to

proceed pro se or retain new counsel and file additional claims. Accordingly,

as counsel has complied with the procedural requirements for withdrawing

from representation, we will conduct an independent review to determine

whether Malone’s appeal is wholly frivolous.

      In the Anders brief, counsel indicates that Malone wishes to raise the

following issue: Did the Commonwealth present sufficient evidence to prove

the charges of murder in the first degree, attempted murder, and PIC beyond

a reasonable doubt? Anders Brief at 4.

      In its opinion, the trial court noted that Malone only challenged the

sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction for first degree murder in

his Rule 1925(b) statement.      The court maintained however that Malone

waived this issue because he did not identify in his statement the elements

for which there was insufficient evidence. Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/23, at 3.

      Ordinarily, an issue is waived when the Rule 1925(b) statement fails to

set forth an issue for appellate review. In particular, an issue challenging the

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sufficiency of the evidence is waived if the Rule 1925(b) statement does not

specify the element(s) for which the evidence was insufficient. See Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b)(4)(vii); Commonwealth v. Lord, 719 A.2d 306, 309 (Pa. 1998);

Commonwealth v. Gibbs, 981 A.2d 274, 281 (Pa. Super. 2009). However,

“[p]ursuant to Anders, this Court must review the merits of all claims set

forth in an Anders brief in order to determine whether to grant counsel's

petition to withdraw from representation, despite the fact that the issues have

been waived” for failure to comply with Rule 1925.         Commonwealth v.

Bishop, 831 A.2d 656, 659 (Pa. Super. 2003). Thus, we will address Malone’s

challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence for all three convictions.

      Our standard of review when reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of

the evidence is de novo, while “our scope of review is limited to considering

the evidence of record, and all reasonable inferences arising therefrom,

viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict

winner.”   Commonwealth v. Rushing, 99 A.3d 416, 420-21 (Pa. 2014).

“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.” Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744

A.2d 745, 751 (Pa. 2000). The Commonwealth may sustain its burden by

means of wholly circumstantial evidence. Commonwealth v. Dix, 207 A.3d

383, 390 (Pa. Super. 2019). Further, the trier of fact is free to believe, all,

part, or none of the evidence presented. Commonwealth v. Beasley, 138

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A.3d 39, 45 (Pa. Super. 2016). “[T]his Court may not substitute its judgment

for that of the factfinder, and where the record contains support for the

convictions, they may not be disturbed.”     Commonwealth v. Smith, 146

A.3d 257, 261 (Pa. Super. 2016).

      To establish first degree murder, the Commonwealth must prove: (i) a

human being was unlawfully killed; (2) the defendant was responsible for the

killing; and (3) the defendant acted with malice and a specific intent to kill.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Houser, 18 A.3d 1128, 1133

(Pa. Super. 2011).      An intentional killing is a “willful, deliberate and

premeditated killing.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a) and (d). “Premeditation and

deliberation exist whenever the assailant possesses the conscious purpose to

bring about death.” Commonwealth v. Drumheller, 808 A.2d 893, 910 (Pa.

Super. 2002).

      To establish attempted homicide, the Commonwealth must prove the

following:

      A person commits an attempt when, with intent to commit a
      specific crime, he does any act which constitutes a substantial step
      toward the commission of that crime. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901(a).

      Criminal attempt is a specific-intent crime. Thus, attempted
      murder requires a specific intent to kill. Commonwealth v.
      Robertson, 874 A.2d 1200, 1207 (Pa. Super. 2005) (“For the
      Commonwealth to prevail in a conviction of criminal attempt to
      commit homicide, it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
      the accused with a specific intent to kill took a substantial step
      towards that goal.”).

Commonwealth v. Palmer, 192 A.3d 85, 88 (Pa. Super. 2018) (brackets

and some quotations omitted).

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      Regarding intent for first degree murder and attempted homicide, we

observe that, where the defendant does not “verbalize the reasons for his

actions, we are forced to look to the act itself to glean the intentions of the

actor.”   Commonwealth v. Hall, 830 A.2d 537, 542 (Pa. 2003).            To the

extent “the intention of the actor is obvious from the act itself, the finder of

fact is justified in assigning the intention that is suggested by the conduct.”

Id. We may “infer that one intends the natural and probable consequences

of his acts[.]” Commonwealth v. Gease, 696 A.2d 130, 133 (Pa. 1997).

      Lastly, to establish PIC, the Commonwealth must demonstrate that the

defendant “possesse[d] an instrument of crime with intent to employ it

criminally.”   18 Pa.C.S.A. § 907.     An instrument of crime is defined as

“[a]nything used for criminal purposes and possessed by the actor under

circumstances not manifestly appropriate for lawful uses it may have.” 18

Pa.C.S.A. § 907(d)(2).

      Here, the Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence for the jury to

convict Malone of all three crimes. As the trial court noted, the Commonwealth

presented eyewitness testimony and video evidence of the events leading up

to, during, and after the shootings at trial. Additionally, the Commonwealth

presented Romero’s 911 call asking for help, during which gunshots could be

heard.    Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/23, at 1.

      Regarding Malone’s convictions for first degree murder and attempted

murder, the evidence showed that Malone was the one that fired the shots

that night. Ramirez and Wolfe identified both identified Malone as the shooter.

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N.T., 2/6/23, at 105, 181. The Commonwealth supplemented their testimony

with the video.   Id. at 120, 191. Eddie Adams, who was outside the hookah

lounge that night, also identified Malone as the shooter, albeit reluctantly. Id.

at 164.

      The evidence further showed that Malone had the requisite intent to kill

Romero and attempt to kill Ramirez.       As the situation was escalating and

before Malone started shooting, Wolfe tried to rationalize with Malone and

diffuse the situation. Wolfe told Malone, “you don’t have to do this.” Despite

Wolfe’s pleas, Wolfe testified that Malone “had it in his head” and “he didn’t

think twice.” Id. at 176-177. Malone then said, “F this.” Malone put the gun

to Ramirez’ head and walked him over to his car. Id. at 121, 177. Malone

told Ramirez: “Empty your f’--- pockets.      I’m robbing you.”     Id. at 178.

Ramirez pleaded with Malone not to shoot him. Malone demanded Ramirez’

car keys and pushed him up against his car. The gun went off and Ramirez

fell. Id.

      Malone then realized Romero was on the phone calling for help, and he

turned his attention to Romero.      When Romero ran toward a nearby gas

station, Malone shot at him multiple times. Romero pleaded with Malone not

to shoot him.     Romero changed directions, but Malone shot at him again

several times.    Romero fell to the ground and lay there.     Id. at 178-180.

Malone hit Romero four times: one bullet hit him in the arm and traveled

through his lung and heart; another bullet grazed his abdomen; and two

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others hit each side of his buttocks. Id. at 240-241. Romero died at the

scene.

      Malone then came back over to the lounge. He saw Ramirez, who had

not been shot earlier when the gun went off, getting up. Malone shot Ramirez

multiple times. Id. 180-181. Malone shot Ramirez in the abdomen, spine,

arm, and leg. Id. at 131, 223. His injuries were very serious and could have

been life threatening. Id. at 225.

      Malone’s intent was obvious from the shootings themselves. As such, it

was reasonable for the jury to conclude that Malone possessed the specific

intent to kill.   See Hall, 830 A.2d at 542.    Moreover, the circumstances

surrounding the shootings demonstrated that intent. Despite the pleas of the

three men, Malone ignored them and proceeded to employ the gun to commit

the crimes for which he was convicted. Notably, Malone pointed the gun at

Ramirez’ head to rob him. Malone shot Romero repeatedly as he tried to run

away. He also shot Ramirez multiple times. These factors are relevant in

determining intent.   See Commonwealth v. Geathers, 847 A.2d 730, 737

(Pa. Super. 2004).     Additionally, “[a] gun is a lethal weapon; pointing it

towards a person, and then discharging it, speaks volumes as to one's

intention.” Hall, 830 A.2d at 543. Further, Malone’s use of a deadly weapon

on vital parts of Romero and Ramirez’ body demonstrates intent from which

the jury could infer Malone intended to kill both Romero and Ramirez and

acted with malice. See Commonwealth v. Jordan, 65 A.3d 318, 323 (Pa.

2013); Commonwealth v. Weiss, 776 A.2d 958, 963 (Pa. 2001).

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        Tragically, but significantly, the gunshot wound that hit Romero’s lung

and heart was fatal.

        The evidence also was sufficient to sustain Malone’s conviction for PIC.

As discussed above, the evidence clearly showed that Malone shot Romero

and Ramirez multiple times with a gun. Our Supreme Court has long held that

a defendant’s “‘use of a loaded gun on his victim is more than sufficient to

establish his guilt of possession of an instrument of crime.’” Commonwealth

v. Santiago, 980 A.2d 659, 662 (Pa. Super. 2009) (quoting Commonwealth

v. McNair, 603 A.2d 1014, 1017 (Pa. 1992)).

        Based upon our review of the record and viewing the evidence in the

light   most   favorable   to   the   Commonwealth,   we   conclude   that   the

Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to sustain Malone’s convictions.

        For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that Malone’s sufficiency claim

on appeal is frivolous.     Further, in accordance with Dempster, we have

independently reviewed the certified record to determine if there are any non-

frivolous issues that counsel may have overlooked. Having found none, we

agree that the appeal is wholly frivolous.      Therefore, we grant counsel’s

petition to withdraw and affirm the judgment of sentence.

        Petition to withdraw granted. Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Benjamin D. Kohler, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 04/23/2024

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