Court Opinion

ID: 4469598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-06 19:08:43.290549+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:45.583860
License: Public Domain

J-S58028-19

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA             :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                          :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                          :
              v.                          :
                                          :
                                          :
 ODELL JORDAN GUNN                        :
                                          :
                    Appellant             :   No. 521 WDA 2019

    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered November 29, 2017
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No(s):
                        CP-25-CR-0001212-2017

BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and DUBOW, J.

MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.:                     FILED JANUARY 06, 2020

      Appellant, Odell Jordan Gunn, appeals nunc pro tunc from the aggregate

judgment of sentence of 45 to 120 months’ incarceration, imposed after he

entered a nolo contendere plea to aggravated assault, carrying a firearm

without a license, and related offenses. On appeal, Appellant challenges the

trial court’s denial of his pretrial motion to dismiss the charges against him

based on a violation of the “compulsory joiner rule” as set forth in 18 Pa.C.S.

§ 110. We affirm.

      Briefly, Appellant’s convictions are premised on evidence that he fired

multiple gunshots into an apartment building where his ex-girlfriend lived.

After the shooting, Appellant was charged with numerous offenses including

six counts of aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a license. On

July 14, 2017, he filed a motion to dismiss all the charges, arguing that the

prosecution was barred under section 110, which states, in pertinent part:
J-S58028-19

       Although a prosecution is for a violation of a different provision of
       the statutes than a former prosecution or is based on different
       facts, it is barred by such former prosecution under the following
       circumstances:

          (1) The former prosecution resulted in an acquittal or in a
          conviction as defined in section 109 of this title (relating to
          when prosecution barred by former prosecution for the
          same offense) and the subsequent prosecution is for:
                                        ***
              (ii) any offense based on the same conduct or arising
              from the same criminal episode, if such offense was
              known to the appropriate prosecuting officer at the
              time of the commencement of the first trial and
              occurred within the same judicial district as the former
              prosecution unless the court ordered a separate trial
              of the charge of such offense[.]

18 Pa.C.S. § 110(1)(ii).1

       After conducting a hearing on Appellant’s motion, the court issued an

order and an accompanying opinion denying it on September 21, 2017. On

October 9, 2017, Appellant entered a nolo contendere plea to several of the

charges pending against him, including one count of aggravated assault and

carrying a firearm without a license.          He was sentenced on November 29,

____________________________________________

1  Appellant’s compulsory joinder claim was premised on the fact that, eight
days after the shooting in the present case, he was arrested in possession of
a semi-automatic pistol. That pistol was later determined to be the firearm
used in the shooting of the apartment building. Because Appellant was
prohibited from possessing a firearm due to an active Protection From Abuse
order that had been entered against him, he was charged in a second,
separate case with various firearm-related offenses. On February 10, 2017,
Appellant entered a guilty plea in that case. When the Commonwealth then
filed the charges against Appellant based on his shooting of the apartment,
Appellant averred, in his motion to dismiss, that the charges in the present
case were barred by the compulsory joinder rule.

                                           -2-
J-S58028-19

2017, to the aggregate term of incarceration stated supra. Appellant did not

file a direct appeal.

      On October 15, 2018, Appellant filed a petition under the Post Conviction

Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546, seeking the reinstatement of his

direct appeal rights. The court appointed counsel and an amended petition

was filed on Appellant’s behalf. On March 29, 2019, the court issued an order

granting Appellant’s petition to the extent he sought the reinstatement of his

appellate rights. On April 11, 2019, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal

nunc pro tunc. He also complied with the court’s order to file a Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal. The court filed

a Rule 1925(a) opinion on June 7, 2019. Herein, Appellant states one issue

for our review: “Whether the [trial] [c]ourt committed legal error and abused

its discretion in failing to grant [Appellant’s] Motion to Dismiss predicated on

compulsory joinder?” Appellant’s Brief at 2.

      Preliminarily, we agree with the trial court that Appellant has waived his

compulsory joinder issue by entering a nolo contendere plea. As the court

correctly observes, this Court has stated that, “in terms of its effects upon a

case, a plea of nolo contendere is treated the same as a guilty plea.”

Commonwealth v. Jabbie, 200 A.3d 500, 505 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citation

omitted); see also Trial Court Opinion, 6/7/19, at 1. Additionally, “upon entry

of a guilty plea, a defendant waives all claims and defenses other than those

sounding in the jurisdiction of the court, the validity of the plea, and what has

been termed the ‘legality’ of the sentence imposed[.]” Jabbie, 200 A.3d at

                                      -3-
J-S58028-19

505 (citation omitted).     Here, Appellant makes no argument that his

compulsory joinder claim implicates the court’s jurisdiction, the validity of his

plea, or the legality of his sentence. Accordingly, we agree with the court that

Appellant waived his present issue when he pled nolo contendere.

      In any event, even if not waived, we would conclude that Appellant’s

claim is meritless.   We have reviewed Appellant’s argument, the certified

record, and the applicable law. We have also considered the well-reasoned

opinion, filed on September 21, 2017, by the Honorable Stephanie

Domitrovich of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County. In that decision

(which the Commonwealth adopts on appeal), Judge Domitrovich assesses

Appellant’s compulsory joinder claim and correctly determines that it is

meritless. See Trial Court Opinion, 9/21/17, at 1-8. Therefore, even had

Appellant not waived his issue, we would reject it for the reasons set forth by

Judge Domitrovich in her September 21, 2017 opinion.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/6/2020

                                      -4-
J-S58028-19

              -5-
I
                                                                                              Circulated 12/17 /2019 12:08 PM

     COMMONWEALTH 0Fr���\S8':L)(:�ljt/,'..i: :.·                      IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                                      OF ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
             V.                    2611 SEP 21 PH 4� 2l+              CRIMINAL DIVISION

l    ODELL JORDAN GUNN

    : Appearances:
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                                                            I ._,
                                                                      No. CR 1212 of2017

                               Jessica L. Lasley, Assistant District Attorney (Commonwealth)
                               Robert M. Barbato Jr., Esq., on behalf of Odell Jordan Gunn (Defendant)

                                                           OPINION

     Domitrovich, J., September 2151, 2017

             The instant matter is currently before this Trial Court on Odell Jordan Gunn's (hereafter

    : referred to as "Defendant") Motion to Dismiss. Defendant's counsel, Robert M. Barbato Jr.,

    .Esq., argues the instant criminal case should be dismissed pursuant to 18 Pa. C. S. §110 as the

    · instant criminal case contains only a single criminal episode and bears a close logical and

    :temporal relationship to the criminal offenses charged docket no. 3721 of 2016, to which

     Defendant entered a guilty plea on December 301h, 2016 and sentenced was imposed on February

     10th, 2017. The Commonwealth's counsel argues compulsory joinder pursuant to 18 Pa. C. S.

     § 110 is not required as the above-referenced criminal dockets, i.e. CR 1212 of 2017 and CR

     3721 of 2016, are not part of the same criminal episode, do not contain substantial duplication of

     facts and are not logically and temporally related.

     Factual History1
     I

     (:R 1212 o/2017

             The following factual history is derived from the Affidavit of Probable Cause, authored

     by City of Erie Police Detective Michael Hertel, Affiant, attached to the PoJice Criminal

     I
       Neither the Commonwealth nor defense counsel provided this Trial Court with written Preliminary Hearing
     transcripts or an otherwise written factual history for the above-referenced criminal dockets. Therefore, this Trial
     Court relied upon the facts presented in the respective Affidavits of Probable Cause at the above-referenced criminal
     dockets.
                                                                                       -m1srr .
                                                                                       Go""'"'
                                                                                         A
Complaint, which was filed on April 24
                                         1\
                                              2017 and is of public record as to docket no. CR 1212

of 2017:

              On l 0/12/ 16 at 22:50 hours, Patrolman Gadsby was dispatched to I 302
       Wallace Street for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, Patrolman Gadsby made
       contact with a witness who advised him that there were possibly nine shots heard
       coming from the street, followed by the sound a vehicle speeding away
       southbound on Wallace Street.

              Patrolman Gadsby located eight bullet holes in the east wall of 1302
       Wallace Street, Apt. #2 (Second Floor). Patrolman Gadsby photographed and
       documented five bullet impacts that entered the outside wall of the 2nd floor
       apartment and traveled through the apartment. The bullets impacted the interior
       walls and ceilings inside the apartment causing damage. Patrolman Gadsby
       located four victims that were inside the 2"d floor apartment at the time of the
       shooting, one adult and three juveniles. Patrolman Gadsby located and recovered
       two bullets from the interior of the apartment.

               Patrolman Gadsby talked to R.M., who is currently staying at 1302
       Wallace Street, Apt. #2, but was not home at the time of the shooting. R.M. stated
       that she had obtained a PFA against her ex-boyfriend, Od�J1 Gunn. The PFA had
       the final order of court on October 6th, 2016.

               On I 0/ l 8/16, this Affiant obtained video from the St. Stans Church at 5 I 6
               3
       East I h Street. The video shows a small red four door vehicle traveling
                 1

       eastbound on East 13th Street and then turning south on Wallace Street at the time
       of the shooting. The vehicle is driven by a light skinned male with a white t-shirt.
       The brake lights on the vehicle are activated as it drives slowly in front of l 302
       Wallace Street.

               On 10/20/16, this Affiant interviewed Odell Gunn, at the Erie Police
       Department. Gunn was present at the Erie Police Department after he was arrested
       at Kramer's Bar, 820 East A venue, and was charged with possession of a .45
       caliber Colt 19 l 1 semi-automatic handgun with obliterated serial numbers. The
       gun was loaded with Perfecta brand .45 caliber ammunition.

                This Affiant completed a rights waiver form with Gunn and he was
       advised that the interview will be recorded. Gunn was asked about the shooting
       incident at l 302 Wallace Street on 10/12/16 and he denied any involvement.
       Gunn stated he does borrow a red Oldsmobile Alero from his cousin when he has
       something to do. Gunn stated at the end of the interview, "I probably was driving
       when the house got shot up." Gunn also stated, arm sorry, I wish I could tell her
       that, glad she alright, I just feel bad that I was the [ expletive removed] who was
       driving." "Sometime you just make mistakes." Gunn also added, ,:I am going to
       own up to driving the car."

                                                   2
               On 10/20/16, this Affiant and Detective Berarducci completed a consent
       search of a red Oldsmobile Alero, PA JLX-6924 in front of 650 East gm Street.
       The vehicle belongs to Jessica Nelson and she advised that she lent the vehicle to
       Odell Gunn on 10/12/16. The search of the vehicle produced one spent .45 caliber
       shell casing, Perfecta brand name ammunition.

               On 10/21116, this Affiant went to 1304 Wallace Street, Apt. #1 (First
       Floor Apt.) and talked with victim B. W., who stated that her apartment was "Shot
       Up" on 10/12/16 and she had located a bullet on the floor. This Affiant located
       three bullet strikes on the east wall of the apartment near the ceiling. This Affiant
       also recovered one bullet on the floor of the bedroom. Victim B.W. stated that she
       was home at the time of the shooting with her daughter, Victim T.W.

               On 2/5/17, this Affiant received a lab report from the Pennsylvania State
       Police Crime Labe El6-03720-1. The lab report stated that the two recovered .45
       caliber shell casings were fired from the .45 caliber Colt 1911 semi-automatic
       handgun that was recovered at Kramer's Bar, 820 east Avenue, on 10/201/16.

_CR 3721 of 2016

       In addition, the following factual history is derived from the Affidavit of Probable Cause,

'authored by City of Erie Police Patrolman Jason Russell, Affiant, attached to the Police Criminal

Complaint, which was filed on November 16'\ 2016 and is of public record as to docket no. CR

3721 of2016:

               On 20 October 2016, the defendant, Odell Jordan Gunn D.O.B. 2-24-1997,
       did appear at Kramer's on the Avenue, located at 820 East Avenue. Gunn did
       have an active warrant for his arrest. Gunn was then taken into police custody. At
       the time of his arrest, Gunn was found to have possessed a Colt Model 1911 .45
       caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was loaded and did have an obliterated
       manufacturer's number. Gunn had attempted to discard the 'weapon in a trash
       receptacle as uniformed police approached. Gunn is not permitted to possess a
       firearm due to his having an active PfA. In addition, Gunn does not have a valid
       license to carry a firearm and would be ineligible to obtain one due to his age and
       the existence of the PF A.

�rocedural History

       On December 141\ 2016, the District Attorney's Office filed a Criminal Information

(docket no. CR 3721 of 2016), charging Defendant with Tampering with/Fabricating Physical

                                                 3
 Evidence, in violation of 18 Pa. C. S. §4910(1); Possessing a Firearm with Manufacturer Number

 Altered, in violation of 18 Pa. C. S. §6110.2(a); Firearms not to be carried without a License, in

 violation of 18 Pa. C. S. §6106(a)(l ); and Persons not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control,

· Sell or Transfer Firearrns-Pf'A Party, in violation of 18 Pa. C. S. §6105(c)(6). On February         io",
 2017, Defendant, with the assistance of his counsel, Robert M. Barbato Jr., Esq., entered a guilty

 plea to Count One, amended to Firearms not to be carried without a License. Judge Brabender

 sentenced Defendant as follows:

         •   Count One (Firearms not to be carried without a License): four (4) years of
             Intermediate Punishment, beginning with seventy-three (73) days of
             incarceration, followed by four (4) months of Electronic Monitoring.

        On May 161\ 2017, the District Attorney's Office filed a Criminal Information' (docket

 no. CR 1212-2017), charging Defendant with six counts of Aggravated Assault, in violation of

 18 Pa C. S. §2702(a)(l); six counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, in violation of

'18 Pa. C. S. §2705; two counts of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Structure, in violation

 of 18 Pa. C. S. §2707.l(a); Firearms not to be carried without a License, in violation of 18 Pa. C.

 S. §6106(a)(l); Possessing a Firearm with Manufacturer Number Altered, in violation of 18 Pa.
C. S. §6110.2(a); Possessing Instruments of Crime, in violation of 18 Pa. C. S. §907(a); and two

 counts of Criminal Mischief, in violation of 18 Pa. C. S. §3304(a)(l).

        Defendant, by and through Attorney Barbato, filed a Motion to Dismiss on July 141\

 2017. At a hearing on August 181\ 2017, Defendant appeared and was represented by Attorney

 Barbato, and Assistant District Attorney Jessica L. Lasley appeared on behalf of the

 Commonwealth. Following the hearing, Attorney Barbato agreed to submit a Memorandum of

 Law within ten (10) days, and ADA Lasley agreed to submit a Memorandum of Law within ten

 2
  The criminal action at docket no. CR 1212 of2017 was initiated on March 21'\ 2017 and a Criminal Complaint
 was filed on April 24"', 2017.

                                                     4
 (10) days after receipt of Attorney Barbato's Memorandum of Law. Attorney Barbato submitted

 his Memorandum of Law on August 29'\ 2017. ADA Lasley submitted her Memorandum of

' Law on September 8'h, 20 l 7.

: Rationale and Conclusions

        A subsequent prosecution is barred by a former prosecution under the following

: circumstances, even if the subsequent prosecution charges different criminal offenses than the

: former prosecution or is based upon different facts:

     I) The former prosecution resulted in an acquittal or in a conviction as defined in
        section l 09 of this title (relating to when prosecution barred by former
        prosecution for the same offense) and the subsequent prosecution is for:

              u.    any offense based on the same conduct or arising from the
                    same criminal episode, if such offense was known to the
                    appropriate prosecuting officer at the time of the
                    commencement of the first trial and occurred within the same
                    judicial district as the former prosecution unless the court
                    ordered a separate trial of the charge of such offense.

See 18 Pa C. S. §JJO(l)(ii). Therefore, 18 Pa. C. S. §110, known as the "compulsory joinder

rule," bars a subsequent prosecution if each prong of the following test is met: (l) the former

prosecution resulted in an acquittal or conviction; (2) the current prosecution was based on the
.
same criminal conduct or arose from the same criminal episode; (3) the prosecutor in the

subsequent trial was aware of the charges before the first trial; and (4) all charges are within the

 same judicial district as the former prosecution. Commonwealth v. Reid, 17 A.3d 579, 582 (Pa.

2013) (citing Commonwealth v. Nolan, 855 A.2d 834, 839 (Pa. 2004)). In the instant criminal

case, Defendant's prosecution at docket no. CR 3721 of2016 resulted in a conviction via a guilty

plea, and the criminal offenses charged at both docket nos. CR 3721 of 2016 and CR 1212 of

2017 occurred in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Therefore, although the first and fourth prongs have

been satisfied, the second prong, i.e. "logical relationship" of the separate criminal cases, and the

                                                  5
 third prong, i.e. the Commonwealth's awareness of the subsequent criminal charges before the

 first criminal case, are at issue.

        Regarding the second prong, i.e. "logical relationship" of the separate criminal cases, the

 Pennsylvania Supreme Court has stated that trial courts must determine the "temporal" and

 "logical" relationship between the charges to determine whether they arose from a "single

 criminal episode." See id at 583 (citing Commonwealth v. Hude, 458 A.2d 177, 181 (Pa. 1983)).

 In ascertaining whether a number of statutory offenses are "logically related" to one another, a

 trial court should initially inquire as to whether there is a substantial duplication of factual,

. and/or legal issues presented by the offenses. Id. If there is duplication, then the offenses are

 logically related and must be prosecuted as one trial. Id.

         When determining if there is a duplication of legal issues, for purposes of the

 "compulsory joinder rule," a trial court should not limit its analysis to a mere comparison of the

charges, but should also consider whether, despite the variation in the form of the criminal

 charges, there is a commonality of legal issues within the two separate prosecutions. See id at

 585-586 (citing Commonwealth v. Anthony, 717 A.2d 1015, 1019 (Pa. 1998)). There is no

 substantial duplication of issues of fact exists if proof of each individual instance of criminal

conduct requires the introduction of the testimony of completely different police officers or if

there were different victims in different counties requiring different investigations, and those

 different witnesses were necessary at each trial. See id at 585.

        At docket no. CR 1212 of 2017, the Commonwealth is alleging on October Ith, 2016,

 Defendant fired a firearm into the first-floor and second-floor apartments located at 1302 and

 1304 Wallace Street, thereby placing the individuals residing therein in danger of death or

                                                   6
serious bodily injury. The affiant at CR 1212 of 2017 is City of Erie Police Detective Michael

Hertel and there are several victims and witnesses to Defendant's alleged criminal act.

       In contrast, at docket no. CR 3721 of 2016, the Commonwealth alleged on October 20
                                                                                          1'\

2016, Defendant did possess a firearm, .45 caliber Colt 1911 semi-automatic handgun, while

being subject to an active PF A Order, which prohibited Defendant from possessing said firearm.

The affiant at CR 3 721 of 2016 is City of Erie Police Patrolman Jason Russell and the only other

witness is City of Erie Police Patrolman Ira Bush, who was on patrol with Patrolman Russell

when Defendant was discovered with a firearm in his possession.

       The temporal relationship of these two (2) separate criminal dockets in clearly different,

as one incident occurred on October l 2'h, 2016 and the other incident occurred on October 20'\

2016. Furthermore, the logical relationship demonstrates only a single similarity - the firearms

-possessed by Defendant. Aside from the firearm, these two (2) separate criminal dockets have

two (2) different Affiants, different witnesses and different locations within Erie County,

Pennsylvania. Finally, proof of the offenses charged at these two (2) separate criminal dockets

requires proof from different police officers and witnesses. Clearly, this Trial Court finds and

concludes no substantial duplication of factual and/or legal issues has occurred in these two (2)

separate criminal dockets and, therefore, compulsory joinder pursuant to 18 Pa. C. S. § 110 does

not apply.

       In addition, the third prong - whether the Commonwealth was aware of the subsequent

criminal charges before the first criminal action - has not been satisfied. At docket no. CR 3721

of 2016, Defendant was found to have a firearm in his possession, which he discarded in the

waste receptacle in the men's restroom of Kramer's bar. Patrolmen Russell and Bush located the

firearm in the waste receptacle inside the men's restroom of Kramer's Bar and tagged said

                                                7
firearm into evidence. Thereafter, the firearm, as well as two (2) spent Perfecta brand .45 caliber

shell casings found during the investigation of the shooting at 1302 Wallace Street, were sent to

the Pennsylvania State Police for ballistics testing. A Report from the Pennsylvania State Police

Crime Lab was received by Detective Hertel on February           s",   2017, five (S) days before

Defendant pled guilty and was sentenced at docket no. 3 721 of 2016. Said Lab Report indicated

the two (2) spent .45 caliber Perfecta brand shell casings were fired from the .45 caliber Colt

1911 semi-automatic handgun found at Kramer's Bar. Following receipt of this Lab Report and

after further investigation, the Criminal Complaint at docket no. CR 1212 of 20 l 7 was filed on

April 24•h, 2017, officially commencing a criminal action against Defendant. At that point,

docket no. CR 3721 of 2016 had been officially closed following Defendant's guilty plea and

sentencing on February l 0 2017. The record, via the dates of initiation and the dates of
                          1\

conclusion for these two (2) separate criminal dockets, indicates the Commonwealth was

unaware of the criminal charges at docket no. CR 1212 of 2017 at the time the criminal offenses

charged at docket no. CR 3 72 l of 2016 were pending; therefore, the third prong for compulsory

joinder has not been satisfied.

         Therefore, the above-referenced factual history clearly demonstrates Defendant's

criminal dockets, CR 3 721 of 2016 and CR 1212 of 201 7, do not arise from the same criminal

episode and, therefore, are not required to be joined pursuant to 18 Pa. C. S. § 110. For alt of the

reasons set forth above and others stated on the record, this Trial Court enters the following

Order:

                                                 8
COMMONWEAL TH OF PENNSYLVANIA                         IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                      OF ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
       v.                                             CRIMINAL DIVISION

ODELL JORDAN GUNN,                                    No. CR 1212 of 2017
               Defendant

                                           ORDER

       ANO NOW, to-wit, this 21st day of September, 2017, after thorough review of the entire

record, including, but not Jimited to, the Memoranda of Law submitted by both counseJ, as well

as a thorough review of relevant statutory Jaw and case law, and consistent with the Opinion set

forth above, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Defendant Odell

Jordan Gunn's Motion to Dismiss is hereby DENIED.

                                                   BY THE COURT:

                                                   �--�v
                                                     �,Judge

cc:   /J;ssica L. Lasley, Assistant District Attorney
      ft9bert M. Barbato Jr., Esq., 1314 Griswold Plaza, Erie, PA 16501
       RfdeJJ Jordan Gunn, #3 8543, Erie County Prison, 1618 Ash Street, Erie, PA 16503
      Julia Bagnoni, Court Administration

                                               9