Court Opinion

ID: 4162774
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-24 19:19:00.930048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:52.356802
License: Public Domain

J-S22042-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,                       IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                          PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

ALEX MARTIN PETTIS,

                            Appellant                    No. 914 MDA 2016

           Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 24, 2016
               in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
              Criminal Division at No.: CP-22-CR-0003851-2014

BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., MOULTON, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.:                                 FILED APRIL 24, 2017

        Appellant, Alex Martin Pettis, appeals nunc pro tunc from the judgment

of sentence imposed following his jury conviction of robbery, simple assault,

recklessly endangering another person, and possessing an instrument of a

crime.1 We affirm.

        We take the relevant facts and procedural history of this case from our

independent review of the record. On the night of May 25, 2014, the victim,

Andrew Webber, went to a bar with friends for approximately four hours,

until the bar closed at 2:00 a.m. the following morning. While at the bar, he

consumed alcohol and became intoxicated. Webber went home, drank two
____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
   18 Pa.C.S.A.        §§    3701(a)(1)(ii),   2701(a)(3),   2705,   and   907(a),
respectively.
J-S22042-17

beers, and decided to look up prostitutes on the website Back Page. Webber

came across an advertisement for a woman he found attractive, texted the

listed phone number, and received a response directing him to go to a local

hotel, advising that the cost of her time was $80.00.

       Webber arrived at the hotel at 4:00 a.m., and Taryn Bridges, who did

not resemble the woman in the advertisement, opened the hotel room door.

Webber had second thoughts about the encounter, and indicated that he had

the wrong room.     Appellant then stepped out of the hotel room bathroom

and stated “no, you are in the right room[.]” (N.T. Trial, 12/09/15, at 15).

Appellant was holding a silver revolver with a black handle in his right hand

down at his side. Webber turned around, walked to his car, and turned it

on.    Appellant approached the car, opened the door with his left hand,

pointed the gun at Webber’s head, and stated: “I need that $80.” (Id. at

19) (quotation marks omitted).       Webber threw the car into reverse, with

Appellant hanging onto the side of the car, and then drove forward in an

attempt to remove Appellant from the car.        Webber’s vehicle crashed into

the wall of the hotel, and Appellant was thrown from the car, dropping his

gun.    Webber picked up the gun, ran to a nearby hotel, and asked the

receptionist to call the police.    Appellant and Bridges fled from the scene.

Two days later, Webber quickly identified Appellant as his assailant from a

police photo array.    Videotape surveillance cameras at the original hotel

captured footage of the incident.

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       Appellant proceeded to a jury trial on December 8, 2015. Following a

colloquy by the trial court, Appellant chose to testify in his defense, and he

disputed Webber’s version of events. Appellant explained that he: politely

intervened in the encounter between Webber and Bridges because a dispute

arose regarding the amount of the fee; approached Webber in a “calm and

collected” manner to “salvage the service” and Webber unexpectedly

accelerated the car; and was carrying a silver water bottle with a black top,

not a gun.       (N.T. Trial, 12/10/15 at 45; see id. at 44-47; 58-60).            On

December 11, 2015, the jury found Appellant guilty of the above-stated

offenses.

       On   February     24,    2016,    after   consideration   of   a   pre-sentence

investigation report (PSI), the trial court sentenced Appellant to an

aggregate term of not less than seven nor more than twenty years’

incarceration.     Following the court’s denial of his untimely post-sentence

motions, Appellant filed a successful petition pursuant to the Post Conviction

Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546, and the PCRA court

reinstated his direct appeal rights nunc pro tunc on May 11, 2016. Appellant

filed timely post-sentence motions on May 18, 2016, which the trial court

denied the following day. This timely appeal followed.2

____________________________________________

2
  Appellant filed a timely court-ordered concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal on June 28, 2016. The trial court entered an
opinion on October 12, 2016. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

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      Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

      A. Did the trial court abuse its discretion in sentencing
      [Appellant] to an aggregate sentence of [seven] years to
      [twenty] years [of] imprisonment because said sentence violates
      the Pennsylvania Sentencing Code and is excessive and
      unreasonable in light of the factors particular to this case?

      B. Did the trial court err in denying [Appellant’s] post-sentence
      motion by failing to arrest judgment because the testimony and
      evidence introduced at trial was insufficient to prove [him] guilty
      beyond a reasonable doubt of the criminal offenses charged?

      C. Did the trial court abuse its discretion in denying [Appellant’s]
      post-sentence motion for a new trial because the jury’s guilty
      verdict was against the weight of the evidence such that it
      shocks one’s sense of justice?

      D. Did the trial court fail to properly instruct [Appellant] of his
      right not to testify during its colloquy of [him] at the close of the
      Commonwealth’s case?

      E. Did the Commonwealth improperly reference [Appellant’s]
      incarceration during cross-examination?

(Appellant’s Brief, at 6) (unnecessary capitalization omitted).

      In his first issue, Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his

sentence, arguing the trial court abused its discretion in imposing a sentence

in the aggravated range on the robbery conviction. (See Appellant’s Brief,

at 35-40). Appellant contends that the sentence is clearly unreasonable in

light of the facts of this case and his background, and that the court failed to

provide adequate reasons on the record for the sentence. (See id. at 35-

39). This issue does not merit relief.

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      It is well-settled that “[t]he right to appeal the discretionary aspects of

a sentence is not absolute.”    Commonwealth v. Dunphy, 20 A.3d 1215,

1220 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citation omitted).

             Before we reach the merits of this [issue], we must engage
      in a four part analysis to determine: (1) whether the appeal is
      timely; (2) whether Appellant preserved his issue; (3) whether
      Appellant’s brief includes a concise statement of the reasons
      relied upon for allowance of appeal with respect to the
      discretionary aspects of sentence [, see Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f)]; and
      (4) whether the concise statement raises a substantial question
      that the sentence is appropriate under the sentencing code. . . .
      [I]f the appeal satisfies each of these four requirements, we will
      then proceed to decide the substantive merits of the case.

Commonwealth v. Edwards, 71 A.3d 323, 329-30 (Pa. Super. 2013),

appeal denied, 81 A.3d 75 (Pa. 2013) (citation omitted).

      In the instant case, Appellant timely appealed, preserved his claim in

the trial court, and included a Rule 2119(f) statement in his brief.        With

respect to the fourth requirement, this Court has held that a claim the trial

court imposed an excessive sentence in the aggravated range without

placing adequate reasons on the record raises a substantial question. See

Commonwealth v. Bromley, 862 A.2d 598, 604 (Pa. Super. 2004), appeal

denied, 881 A.2d 818 (Pa. 2005), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1095 (2006).

Therefore, we will review Appellant’s claim on the merits.

      Our standard of review is as follows:

            Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of
      the sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on
      appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion. An abuse of
      discretion is more than just an error in judgment and, on appeal,
      the trial court will not be found to have abused its discretion

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       unless the record discloses that the judgment exercised was
       manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice,
       bias, or ill-will.

Commonwealth v. Clarke, 70 A.3d 1281, 1287 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal

denied, 85 A.3d 481 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted).

       Additionally, “where the sentencing judge had the benefit of a [PSI]

report, it will be presumed that he or she was aware of the relevant

information     regarding    the    defendant’s      character   and   weighed   those

considerations along with mitigating statutory factors.” Commonwealth v.

Ventura, 975 A.2d 1128, 1135 (Pa. Super. 2009), appeal denied, 987 A.2d
161 (Pa. 2009) (citation omitted).             “The sentencing judge can satisfy the

requirement that reasons for imposing sentence be placed on the record by

indicating that he or she has been informed by the [PSI] report; thus

properly considering and weighing all relevant factors.”                Id.   (citation

omitted).

       Here, at the sentencing hearing, defense counsel requested a sentence

at the low end of the guideline range, and Appellant apologized to the court

for “making [its] courtroom into a circus.”            (N.T. Sentencing, 2/24/16, at

3).3   The Commonwealth requested that the court impose an aggravated-

____________________________________________

3
  The trial notes of testimony reflect that, after the jury announced its
verdict and exited the courtroom, a disturbance took place during which
Appellant stated: “This is fucking bullshit. This is fucking bullshit. I didn’t
do it.” (N.T. Trial, 12/11/15, at 10). The court reporter then ceased
transcribing and moved location due to the deputy sheriffs addressing the
disturbance. (See id. at 11). The Commonwealth avers that Appellant had
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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range sentence, noting Appellant’s refusal to accept responsibility for the

robbery and its assessment that he is not amenable to rehabilitation. (See

id. at 4). Before imposing its sentence, the trial court stated:

            Well, we take a number of factors into consideration. His
      prior record, not just for his prior record statistically, but what
      does that prior record show. Prior record shows a degree of
      violence, of acting out, using a firearm. Those things obviously
      being quite concerning. The actions taken in the courtroom, not
      only are they offensive to the [c]ourt but the action—and I
      understand [Appellant] apologizes now, indicates to me he
      blacked out, but even the mere fact that [it] occurred, as his
      excuse was, that the officer said, you know, he ought to be
      given the max. Even if that is the officer’s opinion, [Appellant’s]
      actions are not warranted. It’s just indicative of the violent
      nature of [Appellant]. I weigh that in consideration with all the
      other aspects of his presentence investigation. I temper it with
      also weighing the facts of the case, which I don’t want to
      overstate or understate the seriousness of the actions. The
      actions were serious, and the guidelines reflect that.

            The other side of the coin is there [were] aspects of the
      offense that did not show other types of aggravating factors such
      as discharging the firearm, striking afterwards. So I’ve got to
      try to weigh and balance all aspects, including the rehabilitative
      nature of [Appellant], which is quite concerning. So in doing so,
      I have taken all those aspects into my calculations.

(Id. at 4-5).

      Thus, the record demonstrates that the court had the benefit of a PSI,

was well aware of Appellant’s background and the circumstances of this

case, and that it adequately stated its reasons for the sentence on the

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)

jumped across tables and attacked a detective who had testified as a witness
before deputy sheriffs intervened. (See Commonwealth’s Brief, at 23).

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record. See Ventura, supra at 1135. Upon review, we discern no abuse of

discretion in the court’s imposition of Appellant’s sentence.   See Clarke,

supra at 1287. Appellant’s first issue lacks merit.

      In his second issue, Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the

evidence supporting his convictions. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 40-45). This

issue is waived.

            In order to preserve a challenge to the sufficiency of the
      evidence on appeal, an appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement must
      state with specificity the element or elements upon which the
      appellant alleges that the evidence was insufficient.      Such
      specificity is of particular importance in cases where, as here,
      the appellant was convicted of multiple crimes each of which
      contains numerous elements that the Commonwealth must
      prove beyond a reasonable doubt. . . .

Commonwealth v. Stiles, 143 A.3d 968, 982 (Pa. Super. 2016), appeal

denied, 2016 WL 7106404 (Pa. filed Dec. 6, 2016) (citation and quotation

marks omitted) (finding sufficiency claim waived because appellant failed to

identify which elements he was challenging in his Rule 1925(b) statement).

      Here, in his concise statement, Appellant stated his sufficiency claim

as follows:   “[The trial] [c]ourt erred in denying [Appellant’s] [p]ost-

[s]entence [m]otion by failing to arrest judgment because the testimony and

evidence introduced at trial was insufficient to establish that [Appellant]

engaged in the criminal offenses charged and was insufficient to support the

jury’s conclusion that [Appellant] was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

(Rule 1925(b) Statement, 6/28/16, at 1).       As discussed above, the jury

convicted Appellant of four different crimes, each of which contained multiple

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elements.       Thus, we conclude Appellant’s generic concise statement failed

clearly to state any element upon which he alleged the evidence was

insufficient. Therefore, Appellant has waived his second issue. See Stiles,

supra at 982.4

          In his third issue, Appellant challenges the weight of the evidence

supporting his convictions, claiming that the jury’s verdict is shocking to the

judicial conscience.      (See Appellant’s Brief, at 45-50).5   Appellant takes

issue with Webber’s testimony and credibility, and claims that Webber’s

intoxication affected his ability to perceive events during the incident and to

remember them accurately. (See id. at 49-50). This issue does not merit

relief.

          Our standard of review is as follows:
____________________________________________

4
   Moreover, the bulk of Appellant’s sufficiency argument challenges the
veracity and credibility of Webber’s testimony, asserting Webber’s version of
events is unreliable, “defies logic[,]” and was tainted by his intoxication
during the incident. (Appellant’s Brief, at 42; see id. at 41-44). We find
this argument assailing the credibility of the victim is actually a challenge to
the weight, rather than to the sufficiency, of the evidence.                See
Commonwealth v. Griffin, 65 A.3d 932, 939 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal
denied, 76 A.3d 538 (Pa. 2013) (“This argument [challenging the
‘unbelievable’ testimony of the victim] goes to the credibility of the witness’s
testimony, and is, therefore, not an attack on the sufficiency of the
evidence, but an allegation regarding the weight it should have been
afforded.”) (citation omitted). Therefore, Appellant’s sufficiency argument
would fail for this reason as well. We note that we will address Appellant’s
properly preserved weight claim as a separate issue, infra.
5
 Appellant preserved his weight claim by raising it in his post-sentence
motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 607(A)(3).

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            The finder of fact is the exclusive judge of the weight of
      the evidence as the fact finder is free to believe all, part, or none
      of the evidence presented and determines the credibility of the
      witnesses.

             As an appellate court, we cannot substitute our judgment
      for that of the finder of fact. Therefore, we will reverse a jury’s
      verdict and grant a new trial only where the verdict is so
      contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of justice. A
      verdict is said to be contrary to the evidence such that it shocks
      one’s sense of justice when the figure of Justice totters on her
      pedestal, or when the jury’s verdict, at the time of its rendition,
      causes the trial judge to lose his breath, temporarily, and causes
      him to almost fall from the bench, then it is truly shocking to the
      judicial conscience.

            Furthermore, where the trial court has ruled on the weight
      claim below, an appellate court’s role is not to consider the
      underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight
      of the evidence. Rather, appellate review is limited to whether
      the trial court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the
      weight claim.

Commonwealth v. Boyd, 73 A.3d 1269, 1274-75 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en

banc) (citation and quotation marks omitted). “[T]he trial court’s denial of a

motion for a new trial based on a weight of the evidence claim is the least

assailable of its rulings.” Commonwealth v. Weathers, 95 A.3d 908, 911

(Pa. Super. 2014), appeal denied, 106 A.3d 726 (Pa. 2015) (citation

omitted).

      Here, a review of the record shows that, on direct examination, the

Commonwealth asked Webber whether his intoxication on the early morning

of the incident “[w]as [] affecting [his] ability to remember the events [he

was] testifying to[?]” and Webber responded “No.” (N.T. Trial, 12/09/15, at

9-10; see id. at 15).    Defense counsel cross-examined Webber regarding

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the amount of alcohol he imbibed at the bar and at home before the

incident, and Webber readily admitted that he was intoxicated. (See id. at

35-37). In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court stated that the jury, as

factfinder, was free to resolve any credibility issues and conflicts in the

testimony, and to credit the testimony of Webber instead of that of

Appellant. (See Trial Court Opinion, 10/12/16, at 7). The court concluded

that the evidence clearly supported the jury’s verdict, and that the verdict

did not shock its conscience.    (See id.).   After review of the record, we

agree with the trial court’s assessment, and conclude that it did not palpably

abuse its discretion in ruling on Appellant’s weight claim. See Boyd, supra

at 1274-75. Therefore, Appellant’s third issue does not merit relief.

      In his fourth issue, Appellant contends the trial court failed to instruct

him properly regarding his right not to testify at trial, and that the court’s

colloquy, after which he elected to testify, was confusing and misleading.

(See Appellant’s Brief, at 51-54). This issue is waived.

            Our Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure and our
      case law set forth the well-established requirements for
      preserving a claim for appellate review. “Issues not raised in the
      lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on
      appeal.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). This requirement bars an appellant
      from raising a new and different theory of relief for the first time
      on appeal.

Commonwealth v. Phillips, 141 A.3d 512, 522 (Pa. Super. 2016), appeal

denied, 2016 WL 6885765 (Pa. filed Nov. 22, 2016) (case citation and some

quotation marks omitted).        “[I]t is well established that absent a

contemporaneous objection the issue is not properly preserved on appeal[,]”

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and a party cannot preserve the issue for appellate review by raising it for

the first time in a 1925(b) statement.        Commonwealth v. Melendez-

Rodriguez, 856 A.2d 1278, 1287 (Pa. Super. 2004).

      Here, the record reflects that the trial court fully appraised Appellant of

his right to testify or to choose to remain silent, and it advised that if he did

testify, the Commonwealth could cross-examine him regarding his prior

crimen falsi convictions.   (See N.T. Trial, 12/10/15, at 15-16).      After the

court concluded its colloquy, defense counsel did not lodge any objection to

the court’s comments, and Appellant unequivocally stated that he wished to

testify.   (See id. at 16-17).    The court then specifically asked defense

counsel “[i]s there anything else you need[?],” to which counsel responded

“No.” (Id. at 17). Appellant also did not raise his purported objection to the

colloquy in his post-sentence motion. (See Post-Sentence Motion, 5/18/16,

at 2-3).     Instead, he raised it for the first time in his Rule 1925(b)

statement.    (See Rule 1925(b) Statement, at 2).         Because Appellant is

improperly attempting to raise a new theory of relief for the first time on

appeal, we conclude he has waived his fourth claim. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a);

Phillips, supra at 522; Melendez-Rodriguez, supra at 1287.

      In his fifth issue, Appellant contends that a new trial is necessary

because the Commonwealth improperly referred to his prior incarceration

during its cross-examination of him.       (See Appellant’s Brief, at 54-60).

Specifically, Appellant takes issue with the Commonwealth’s question:          “I

think you testified you spent [eighteen] months in Dauphin County Prison.

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So, it is fair to say you have had a long time to think about this situation?”

(Id. at 56 (quoting N.T. Trial, 12/10/15, at 77)) (emphasis omitted).

Although Appellant acknowledges that the jury could have inferred he was

detained on the instant charges, he argues that it more likely inferred that

the incarceration was for a previous crime. (See id. at 58-59). This issue is

also waived.

      We reiterate, “[i]ssues not raised in the lower court are waived and

cannot be raised for the first time on appeal[,]” and a party must make a

contemporaneous objection in order to preserve a claim. Pa.R.A.P. 302(a);

see also Melendez-Rodriguez, supra at 1287. A review of the record in

this matter reflects that, after the Commonwealth asked Appellant the

question at issue, defense counsel lodged no objection.      (See N.T. Trial,

12/10/15, at 77-78). Instead, Appellant responded to the Commonwealth’s

question without mentioning any prior conviction, referencing only this case.

(See id.).     Appellant also did not raise his purported objection to the

Commonwealth’s question in his post-sentence motion, (see Post-Sentence

Motion, at 2-3), and he improperly raised it for the first time in his Rule

1925(b) statement.      (See Rule 1925(b) Statement, at 2).        Therefore,

Appellant waived his final issue on appeal. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); see also

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Melendez-Rodriguez, supra at 1287.6                Accordingly, we affirm the

judgment of sentence.

       Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/24/2017

____________________________________________

6
   We note that we find Appellant’s challenge to the Commonwealth’s
question disingenuous, given that, immediately before this question,
Appellant testified, in response to a question about where the gun was
found: “ . . . Do I want to [solicit on Back Page] again? Of course not. It
made my life a living hell for the [eighteen] months I was out in Dauphin
County Prison. . . . I want to tell you everything that happened from scripted
detail because I am tired of going in the system. From [thirteen years old]
until now, it has been my life.” (N.T. Trial, 12/10/15, at 77; see id. at 76).
Also, Appellant first brought the issue of his previous crimes to the jury’s
attention by stating, unsolicited, during his initial remarks: “Well, before I
will speak, I will open, ladies and gentlemen present, to please look at me as
a man that is going to tell the truth, not the childish man that had a felony
past.” (Id. at 36; see id. at 47 (bringing up issue of criminal past on direct
examination in response to question on another topic)).             Therefore,
Appellant “unnecessarily highlight[ed]” his criminal past, not the
Commonwealth. (Appellant’s Brief, at 56).

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