Court Opinion

ID: 4364381
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-04 18:54:11.565013+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:10.243593
License: Public Domain

J-A05014-19

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                       Appellee                :
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
    DEAN BRIAN WILLIAMS                        :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :      No. 101 WDA 2018

           Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 19, 2017
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0002183-2016

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., SHOGAN, J., and MURRAY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.:                       FILED FEBRUARY 04, 2019

        Appellant, Dean Brian Williams, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, following his bench

trial convictions for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a

controlled substance with the intent to deliver, possession of drug

paraphernalia, and criminal conspiracy.1 We affirm.

        In its opinion, the trial court accurately set forth the relevant facts and

procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate them.

        Appellant raises one issue for our review:

           DID THE [TRIAL] COURT ERR WHEN IT DENIED THE
           MOTION TO SUPPRESS AND DETERMINED THAT,
           CONSIDERING THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SEARCH
           WARRANT, THE WARRANT WAS SUPPORTED BY PROBABLE
           CAUSE TO JUSTIFY THE SEARCH?
____________________________________________

1   35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(16), (30), (32); 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903, respectively.
J-A05014-19

(Appellant’s Brief at 5).

        “Our standard of review in addressing a challenge to a trial court’s denial

of a suppression motion is limited to determining whether the factual findings

are supported by the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn from

those facts are correct.” Commonwealth v. Williams, Hope L., 941 A.2d
14, 26 (Pa.Super. 2008) (en banc) (internal citations omitted).

           [W]e may consider only the evidence of the prosecution and
           so much of the evidence for the defense as remains
           uncontradicted when read in the context of the record as a
           whole. Where the record supports the findings of the
           suppression court, we are bound by those facts and may
           reverse only if the court erred in reaching its legal
           conclusions based upon the facts.

Id. at 27.

        “[A] determination of probable cause based upon information received

from a confidential informant depends upon the informant’s reliability and

basis of knowledge viewed in a common sense, non-technical manner.”

Commonwealth v. Clark, 611 Pa. 601, ___, 28 A.3d 1284, 1288 (2011).

“[A]n    informant’s   tip   may   constitute   probable   cause    where    police

independently corroborate the tip, or where the informant has provided

accurate information of criminal activity in the past, or where the informant

himself participated in the criminal activity.” Id. at ___, 28 A.3d at 1288.

“[U]nder the totality-of-the-circumstances approach, there is no talismanic

recitation of a particular phrase with respect to ‘reliability’ or ‘basis of

knowledge’ that will either be required or will suffice to conclusively establish,

                                        -2-
J-A05014-19

or conclusively disaffirm, the existence of probable cause.” Id. at ___, 28

A.3d at 1292 (holding probable cause supported search warrant even though

affidavit of probable cause contained no explicit recitation whether confidential

informant had previously supplied information leading to arrests, or whether

informant had previously been inside subject residence, or whether appellee

had told informant there were drugs in residence; probable cause necessary

to support search warrant existed because independent police investigation

corroborated information provided by informant that appellee was packaging

and distributing cocaine out of his residence; police observed appellee depart

his residence, go directly to site of pre-arranged controlled buy, exchange

cocaine for money, and return directly to his residence; common sense, non-

technical reading of these facts properly established fair probability that

contraband or evidence of crime would be found in residence).

      After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Thomas E.

Flaherty, we conclude Appellant’s issue merits no relief. The trial court opinion

comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the question presented.

(See Trial Court Opinion, filed June 26, 2018, at 4-5) (finding: probable cause

supported search warrant for Appellant’s residence, where police were able to

confirm, through ongoing surveillance of residence in question and personal

observation of controlled drug buy between confidential informant and

Appellant, that Appellant was selling drugs from his residence; under totality

                                      -3-
J-A05014-19

of circumstances and current law, search warrant was valid). Accordingly, we

affirm the judgment of sentence based on the trial court’s opinion.

     Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/4/2019

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                                                                                           Circulated 01/25/2019 02:05 PM

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              IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

                                                           CRIMINAL DIVISION

             COMMONWEALTII OF PENNSYLVANIA,                                  CC NO.: 2016-02183
                                                                             Superior Court No: 101 WDA 2018

                      v.

             DEAN WILLIAMS,

                                              Defendant.
                                                                      OPINION

                                                                      JUDGE THOMAS E. FLAHERTY

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   IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                          CRIMINAL DIVISION

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,                               CC NO.: 2016-02183
                                                            Superior Court No: 101 WDA 2018

       v.

DEAN WILLIAMS,
                               Defendant.

                                            OPINION

FLAHERTY, J.                                                               June 18, 2018

       Dean Brian Williams ("Defendant") appeals from the Judgment of Sentence imposed by

this Court on December 19, 2017.

       On January 30, 2016, Defendant was charged with the following offenses for an incident

that occurred on January 29, 2016:

            •   Count One: person not to possess a firearm (18 Pa.C.S.A. §6105(a)(l), a felony of
                the second degree)
            •   Count Two: possession with intent to deliver cocaine (35 P.S. §780-113(a)(30), an
                ungraded felony)
            •   Count Three: possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) (35 P.S. §780-
                113(a)(16), an ungraded misdemeanor)
            •   Count Four: possession of paraphernalia (35 P.S. § 780-113( a)(32), an ungraded
                misdemeanor)
            •   Count Five: criminal conspiracy (18 Pa.C.S.A. §903, an ungraded felony)
            •   Count Six: driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked (75
                Pa.C.S.A. §1543(a), a summary offense)

Defendant filed a Motion to Suppress on October 4, 2017 challenging the issuance of the search

warrant and the arrest of Defendant. After a hearing thereon, this Court denied Defendant's

Motion to Suppress. On December 19, 2017, the matter proceeded to a non-jury trial after which

                                                1
Defendant was found not guilty of counts one and six and guilty of the remaining charges.

Defendant waived his right to a pre-sentence report and was sentenced to serve a total of fifteen

(15) months on restrictive intermediate punishment and a concurrent three (3) year period of

probation.

       Defendant timely filed his Notice of Appeal on January 16, 2018. Defendant was

directed to file his concise statement of matters complained of on appeal via order dated January

22, 2018. Defendant's concise statement was filed on April 13, 2018 wherein he raised the

following issues:

       1. The four corners of the Affidavit attached to the request for a search warrant fail to

             establish probable cause to search the residence, for the reasons set forth at the

             suppression hearing.

       2. Police lacked probable cause or reasonable suspicion in their initial contact with the

             defendant, such that all items recovered thereafter are fruit of the poisonous tree.

       Defendant's first issue on appeal is that the four corners of the Affidavit of Probable

Cause that was attached to the January 28, 2016 Application for Search Warrant do not establish

probable cause to search Defendant's residence. The Application for Search Warrant was

entered into evidence at the suppression hearing after brief testimony from Lieutenant Mark

Steele. (Supp. T. p. 20). The Affidavit of Probable Cause states as follows:

       Your Affiant has 19 years['] experience with the City of McKeesport Police Dept.
       and is currently assigned to the narcotics investigation unit since 2004. Your
       Affiant has been involved in thousands of VCSDDCA arrests stemming from
       undercover operations and search warrants. Also assisted other agencies such as
       Pa. State Attorney Generals [Office l and F.B.I. with wiretap violations. Your
       Affiant has been trained by the D.E.A., D.A.N.E.T., and the Pa. State in the field
       of narcotics.

       This specific investigation began on or about January 15, 2016 when your Affiant
       was contacted by a confidential informant who will be referred to as CI

                                                   2
throughout this affidavit for fear of retaliation and harm. This CI informed
detectives that a black male known as DEAN is selling cocaine from his residence
at 3414 Oakland St. in McKeesport Pa 15132. And that DEAN will inform you to
come to his residence or he will walk or drive his maroon Dodge Durango SUV
and meet your [sic] for the cocaine sale. CI states that DEAN sells $20 to $40
pieces of cocaine packaged in small plastic baggie[s] and has several plastic
baggies on his person for sale at all times.

At this point this Det/Sgt. and Det. SUMMERS set up spot surveillance on 3414
Oakland Street in the City of McKeesport and observed the maroon Dodge
Durango parked in front of 3414 Oakland St. and also a black male exiting the
residence and driving the Durango. This Det/Sgt. recognized the balck male as
DEAN WILLIAMS from a traffic stop conducted the early month's [sic] of 2015
in which DEAN advised this Det/Sgt. that be was residing at 3414 Oakland St.
with his brother CHRIS WILLIAMS. Also during the spot surveillance detectives
observed short term foot traffic from known drug users and also short vehicle
traffic where DEAN would exit the apartment door at 3414 Oakland St. and
approach vehicles.

This Det/Sgt. is very familiar with the male known as DEAN WILLIAMS and has
[had] conversation[s] with WILLIAMS in the past year. The McKeesport police
Narcotics unit investigated Williams in the past in the McKeesport area and made
an arrest and conviction of WILLIAMS for possessing cocaine with the intent to
deliver.

This Det/Sgt. then retrieved a photograph of WILLIAMS from JNET and showed
the CI who confirmed the black male photo as WILLIAMS who is supplying
cocaine from his residence.

Within the past 24 to 48 hours prior to the application of this search warrant, this
McKeesport Detective met this CI who is willing to cooperate with this
investigation buy f sic] conducting a controlled buy of cocaine from the male
known as DEAN WILLIAMS from his address 3414 Oakland St. McKeesport,
PA 15132. For this buy Detectives will handle the CI who was searched prior to
the buy for contraband and money with negative results. The CI contacted the
target via cellphone in which WILLIAMS advised the CI of a meet location and
he will arrive shortly. The CI was given official funds for the purchase and· driven
to the meet location in an unmarked police vehicle and released and advised
where to stand and not to talk to anyone during this controlled buy. The CI was in
detectives('] eyesight the entire time and did exactly what was instructed by
detectives. Det. SUMMERS conducted spot surveillance on 3414 Oakland St.
and after the phone call was made by the CI observed WILLIAMS exit the front
door of 3414 Oakland St and go directly to the CI meet location and observed by
detectives was a hand to hand transaction between WILLIAMS and the CI.
WILLIAMS then immediately left and was followed by Det. SUMMERS directly
back to 3414 Oakland St. McKeesport and close the door. The CI was then

                                         3
       picked up and gave this Det/Sgt. a quantity of cocaine which was purchased from
       WILLIAMS. The CI was then searched a second time for contraband and money
       with negative results. The cocaine was field tested by Det. SUMMERS using
       narco pouch tester with positive results.

(Affidavit of Probable Cause, pp. 1-2). The Pennsylvania Superior Court, in Commonwealth v.

Huntington, 924 A.2d 1252 (Pa. Super. 2007), outlined the standard for issuance of a search

warrant as follows: "[t]he task of the magistrate acting as the issuing authority is to make a

practical, common sense assessment of whether given all the circumstances set forth in the

affidavit, a fair probability exists that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a

particular place." Commonwealth v. Huntington, 924 A.2d 1252, 1255 (Pa. Super. 2007)

(citations omitted). Further, the Huntington Court stated, "the duty of the reviewing court is

simply to verify that the issuing magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable

cause existed." Id. (citations omitted).

       In this situation, the issuing magistrate had information that beginning on January 15,

2016, two McKeesport detectives who have experience investigating drug related offenses,

observed known drug users frequenting Defendant's residence and staying for brief periods of

time. The same holds true with vehicular traffic at the residence. Further, on January 28, 2016,

the Detectives had the CI complete a controlled buy of crack cocaine from Defendant. During

the controlled buy, the McKeesport detectives witnessed the CI arrange the transaction,

Defendant leave his residence, go to the designated location, complete a hand-to-hand

transaction with the CI, and then return to his residence. McKeesport detectives sought a search

warrant for the person and residence of Defendant, and common sense dictates that contraband

would be found on Defendant's person and in his residence. As such, there was sufficient

probable cause to issue the search warrant for Defendant's person and residence.

                                                  4
       Defendant's second issue on appeal is that the po1ice lacked probable cause during their

initial contact with Defendant, therefore, the items recovered are fruit of the poisonous tree. This

court assumes that Defendant takes issue with Defendant's traffic stop and subsequent arrest on

January 29, 2016. After the search warrant was issued for Defendant's person, Detectives Steele

and Summers went to the residence to execute the search warrant. At that time, they observed

Defendant enter his maroon Dodge Durango and pull away. This is the same vehicle used by

Defendant when he was observed selling crack cocaine to the confidential informant.
                                                             fJv    c+-
Detectives then effectuated a traffic stop in order to conduc�searchfefendant's person as

authorized by the search warrant. (Supp. T. pp. 21, 26). As Detective Steele had a valid search

warrant for Defendant's person, and Defendant had just left his residence, the traffic stop and

search were permissible.

       For the foregoing reasons, this Court's December 19, 2017 Order of Sentence should be

affirmed.

                                                      BY THE COURT,

                                                      Thomas E. Flaherty, Judge
                                                      Court of Common Pleas

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