Court Opinion

ID: 4346578
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-03 19:29:44.309123+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:40.917280
License: Public Domain

J-A25005-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 IN THE INTEREST OF: K.B., A               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                     :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                           :
                                           :
 APPEAL OF: K.B.                           :
                                           :
                                           :
                                           :
                                           :   No. 202 EDA 2018

          Appeal from the Dispositional Order December 27, 2017
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-JV-0002352-2017

BEFORE: PANELLA, J., DUBOW, J., and KUNSELMAN, J.

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                           FILED DECEMBER 3, 2018

      Appellant, K.B., appeals from the December 27, 2017 Dispositional

Order entered in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, which ordered

Appellant to be committed and placed forthwith at The Glen Mills School

residential facility (“Glen Mills”) after the juvenile court adjudicated him

delinquent for Robbery, Conspiracy, and Possessing an Instrument of Crime.

After careful review, we find that the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion

regarding all issues except the weight of the evidence issue, for which we

remand with instructions.

      The relevant factual and procedural history, as gleaned from the juvenile

court’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion, are as follows.       On June 30, 2017, at

approximately 10:30 PM, then-17-year-old J.V. (“Victim”) went for a jog in his

neighborhood.    During his jog, he saw three young men walking around

together, including then-15-year-old Appellant, M.L., and Z, a person he
J-A25005-18

recognized from the neighborhood.      The Victim was able to observe their

faces. Approximately ten minutes later, he saw the three males crouched

behind a car, periodically standing up and then crouching back down again.

As the Victim jogged past, the three young men stepped out from behind the

car and stopped the Victim. Appellant and M.L. were both wearing ski masks.

Appellant held a gun to the Victim’s head and ordered the Victim to hand over

everything he had. The Victim handed over his cellphone. Appellant, M.L.,

and Z fled the scene.

      The Victim immediately went home and called the police to report the

robbery. Police Officer James Alderfer responded to the call and the Victim

gave Officer Alderfer a detailed description of the three young males. The

Victim described all of the offenders as male, fifteen to seventeen years of

age, medium height, and skinny. The Victim stated that the gunman was

wearing a black sweatshirt with a logo on the front, black pants, and a grey

mask.

      Police Officer Colin Goshert observed three males that matched the

description standing on the side of the street within a few blocks of the scene

of the reported robbery. Officer Goshert approached the males; one began to

run and the other two began to walk in a different direction. Officer Goshert

stopped the two males who were walking and detained them; the males were

later identified as Appellant and M.L. Officer Goshert also recovered a black

hooded sweatshirt with a logo on the front and a dark grey knitted ski mask

from the ground nearby.

                                     -2-
J-A25005-18

       Officer Alderfer transported the Victim to the area where police detained

Appellant and M.L.       The Victim identified Appellant and M.L. as two of the

three males who just robbed him at gunpoint. The Victim specifically identified

Appellant as the gunman. At that time, the Victim identified the sweatshirt

and mask recovered by police as the clothing that Appellant wore during the

robbery.

       On July 1, 2017, the police arrested Appellant.       The Commonwealth

charged him as an adult with Robbery, Conspiracy, Violations of the Uniform

Firearms Act, Possessing an Instrument of Crime, and related charges.

       On November 1, 2017, the lower court transferred Appellant’s case to

the Juvenile Delinquent Division of Family Court by agreement of the parties

pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 6322.1

       On December 7, 2017, the juvenile court held an adjudicatory hearing

where the Victim testified and positively identified Appellant as the gunman

during the robbery.       The juvenile court found Appellant guilty of Robbery,

Conspiracy, and Possessing an Instrument of Crime. On the same date, the

juvenile court adjudicated Appellant delinquent and deferred disposition. On

December 27, 2017, the juvenile court committed Appellant to Glen Mills.

       Appellant timely appealed.          Both Appellant and the juvenile court

complied with Pa.R.A.P 1925.

____________________________________________

1 If the defendant is a child in a criminal proceeding, Section 6322 permits a
court to transfer the case to a juvenile division or juvenile court if certain
requirements are met. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6322(a).

                                           -3-
J-A25005-18

      Appellant raises the following issues on appeal:

      1. Was not the evidence of [A]ppellant’s identification insufficient
         to sustain a verdict of guilt for any of the charges in violation
         of [A]ppellant’s state and federal constitutional rights, where
         the identification was based on a general description of height
         and clothing, [A]ppellant did not match the description, all
         three perpetrators were wearing masks covering all but their
         eyes, and [A]ppellant presented evidence of good character?

      2. Was not the verdict against the weight of the evidence where
         the identification testimony was so inherently contradictory and
         unreliable inasmuch as all three alleged perpetrators were
         wearing masks covering all but their eyes, the complainant
         provided contradictory testimony regarding who was wearing
         what shirt and mask, and he had limited opportunity to observe
         the perpetrators, such that the juvenile court’s adjudication of
         guilt was manifestly unreasonable and a new trial should be
         granted in the interest of justice?

      3. Did not the juvenile court err and abuse its discretion in
         adjudicating [A]ppellant delinquent where the court failed to
         hear evidence as to whether [A]ppellant was in need of
         treatment, rehabilitation, or supervision, and as such, the
         finding of delinquency was based on insufficient evidence and
         not proven beyond a reasonable doubt?

      4. Did not the juvenile court err and abuse its discretion by
         committing [A]ppellant to an out-of-home placement facility
         inasmuch as it failed to set forth adequate reasons as to why
         commitment was the least restrictive alternative available as
         required by the Juvenile Act?

Appellant’s Brief at 4-5.

      Our standard of review of dispositional orders in juvenile proceedings is

well settled. The Juvenile Act grants broad discretion to juvenile courts when

determining an appropriate disposition. In re C.A.G., 89 A.3d 704, 709 (Pa.

Super. 2014). We will not disturb the juvenile court’s disposition absent a

                                     -4-
J-A25005-18

manifest abuse of discretion. In Interest of J.G., 145 A.3d 1179, 1184 (Pa.

Super. 2016).

      Appellant first challenges the sufficiency of the identification evidence,

averring that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to establish

beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant was the person who committed the

crimes. Appellant’s Brief at 18.

      When we review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence

supporting an adjudication of delinquency, we must determine “whether,

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, and

drawing all reasonable inferences therefrom, there is sufficient evidence to

find every element of the crime charged.” In re V.C., 66 A.3d 341, 349 (Pa.

Super. 2013) (citation omitted).     The Commonwealth must establish each

element of the crimes charged by proof beyond a reasonable doubt and may

sustain its burden by wholly circumstantial evidence.      Id.   “In addition to

proving the statutory elements of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable

doubt, the Commonwealth must also establish the identity of the defendant

as the perpetrator of the crimes.” Commonwealth v. Brooks, 7 A.3d 852,

857 (Pa. Super. 2010). “Any doubts regarding a defendant's guilt may be

resolved by the fact-finder unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive

that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be drawn from the combined

circumstances.”   In re K.A.T., Jr., 69 A.3d 691, 696 (Pa. Super. 2013)

(citation omitted). Moreover, “[t]he fact-finder is free to believe all, part, or

none of the evidence presented at trial.” Id. (citation omitted).

                                      -5-
J-A25005-18

         Notably, this Court has consistently held that a victim’s in-court

testimony, which identifies a defendant as the perpetrator of a crime, is by

itself    sufficient   to   establish   the   identity   element   of   that   crime.

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 180 A.3d 474, 478 (Pa. Super. 2018). Claims

that identification evidence are “unconvincing” or “vague” are directed entirely

to the credibility of a victim’s testimony and, thus, challenge the weight rather

than the sufficiency of the evidence. Commonwealth v. Kinney, 157 A.3d

968, 971-72 (Pa. Super. 2017).

         Instantly, Appellant argues that the identification evidence consisted of

general and inconsistent descriptions of height and clothing, and that the

Victim had limited opportunity to observe the masked perpetrators and could

only see their eyes. Appellant’s Brief at 17. Appellant contends that police

never recovered the stolen cell phone or a weapon. Id. Finally, Appellant

argues that he presented character evidence, which served as substantive

evidence to raise a reasonable doubt of guilt. Id. at 24. Appellant asserts

that the sum of the inconsistent and unreliable testimony coupled with the

lack of physical evidence rendered insufficient evidence to establish that

Appellant was one of the perpetrators of the crime. Id. at 26.

         Appellant’s challenge ignores the critical facts that on the night of the

robbery, and again during trial, the Victim identified Appellant as the person

who held the gun to his head during the robbery. See N.T. Trial, 12/7/17, at

7-10, 17. The juvenile court found the Victim’s testimony to be credible, and

we are bound by the juvenile court’s credibility determinations. See Trial Ct.

                                          -6-
J-A25005-18

Op., filed 3/26/18, at 5.    Because the Victim’s in-court identification was

sufficient, by itself, to prove the identity element of the crime, the

Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to prove that Appellant was the

perpetrator of the crime.

      Appellant cites Commonwealth v. Crews, 260 A.2d 771 (Pa. 1970),

to argue that identification evidence in this case was insufficient. However,

Crews is easily distinguished from the instant case. In Crews, our Supreme

Court held that the identification testimony, which was based solely on race,

height, and a description of common clothing, was insufficient to sustain a

conviction.   Id. at 772.   Unlike Crews, in this case, the trial court found

credible the Commonwealth’s descriptive evidence of Appellant’s height and

clothing but also – and most importantly – found credible the evidence of the

Victim’s in-court identification of Appellant as the male who held a gun to his

head. Accordingly, Appellant’s reliance on Crews is misplaced.

      We acknowledge that most of Appellant’s argument centers on claims

that the identification evidence was inconsistent, unconvincing, or vague.

These challenges are more properly characterized as challenges to the weight

of the evidence, discussed infra. See Kinney, supra at 971-72.

      In sum, the Victim’s in-court identification of Appellant was sufficient

evidence to prove that Appellant was the perpetrator of the crime and,

therefore, Appellant’s first issue lacks merit.

      In his second issue, Appellant avers that the verdict is against the weight

of the evidence and that a new trial should be granted in the interest of justice.

                                      -7-
J-A25005-18

Appellant’s Brief at 26.         Appellant once again argues that the Victim’s

identification testimony was inconsistent, unconvincing, or vague. Id. at 28.

Appellant also acknowledges that he failed to file a post-dispositional motion

pursuant to Pa.R.J.C.P. 6202 in juvenile court raising his weight of the evidence

challenge, and asserts that we should remand this case to allow him to file a

post-dispositional motion nunc pro tunc. Id. at 29. We agree.

       Generally, a weight of evidence claim is “addressed to the discretion of

the judge who actually presided at trial.” In re J.B., 106 A.3d 76, 95 (Pa.

2014) (citations and quotation omitted). Once a trial court rules on a weight

claim, this Court can then review the trial court’s ruling for an abuse of

discretion. Id.

       In In re J.B., supra, our Supreme Court determined that in juvenile

delinquency matters, unlike in adult criminal cases, the failure to preserve a

weight of the evidence challenge in a post-dispositional motion does not result

in automatic waiver of the claim on appeal. Id. at 98. The Court determined

that, even if an appellant raised the weight claim in a 1925(b) Statement and

the juvenile court addressed it in a 1925(a) Opinion, the appropriate remedy

is to remand the case to the juvenile court for the filing of a post-dispositional

____________________________________________

2 Rule 620(A), entitled “Optional Post-Dispositional Motion[,]” gives parties
the right to make a post-dispositional motion and states, inter alia,
that “[c]laims properly raised before or during the adjudicatory hearing
shall be deemed issues preserved for appeal whether or not the party elects
to file a post-dispositional motion on those claims.” Pa.R.J.C.P. 620(A).

                                           -8-
J-A25005-18

motion nunc pro tunc challenging the weight upon which the court could then

make a specific ruling. Id.

       Like the juvenile appellant in In re J.B., Appellant here raised his

challenge to the weight of the evidence for the first time in his Rule 1925(b)

Statement. Although the juvenile court addressed the weight of the evidence

challenge in its Rule 1925(a) Opinion, In re J.B. requires that we remand the

case to give Appellant the opportunity to file a post-dispositional motion nunc

pro tunc challenging the weight of the evidence. See also Interest of J.G.,

supra at 1187-88 (following In re J.B. and remanding to permit the juvenile

to file a post-dispositional motion nunc pro tunc challenging the weight of

evidence).3

       In his third issue, Appellant avers that the juvenile court abused its

discretion when it failed to hear any evidence as to whether Appellant was in

need of treatment, rehabilitation, or supervision.     Appellant’s Brief at 30.

Appellant argues that in order to sustain an adjudication of delinquency, the

juvenile court needs to make a finding that a juvenile is in need of treatment,

rehabilitation, or supervision, and there is no evidence in the record to support

such a finding in this case. Id. at 34-35. Appellant further argues that the

juvenile court did not give him an opportunity to present any evidence
____________________________________________

3 According to the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure that were in place at the
time of the December 27, 2017 Dispositional Order, we are constrained to
remand this case. However, we note that effective October 1, 2018, in
delinquency proceedings, a juvenile must raise a challenge to the weight of
the evidence with the juvenile court judge or it will be waived pursuant to Rule
415. See Pa.R.J.C.P. 415.

                                           -9-
J-A25005-18

regarding his need for treatment, rehabilitation, or supervision. Id. at 33.

Appellant’s argument lacks merit.

      Before a juvenile court enters an adjudication, Section 6341 of the

Juvenile Act provides, in relevant part, that after the juvenile court makes a

finding that the child committed delinquent acts:

      The court shall then proceed immediately or at a postponed
      hearing, which shall occur not later than 20 days after such finding
      if the child is in detention or not more than 60 days after such
      finding if the child is not in detention, to hear evidence as to
      whether the child is in need of treatment, supervision or
      rehabilitation, as established by a preponderance of the evidence,
      and to make and file its findings thereon.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6341(b). Section 6351 explicitly states: “[i]n the absence of

evidence to the contrary, evidence of the commission of acts which constitute

a felony shall be sufficient to sustain a finding that the child is in need of

treatment, supervision or rehabilitation.” Id.

      Here, the juvenile court found that Appellant committed Robbery and

Conspiracy, both as felonies of the first degree. As neither party presented

evidence to the contrary, the evidence of the commission of the Robbery and

Conspiracy acts itself was sufficient to show that Appellant was in need of

treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation.

      Appellant next argues that the juvenile court did not give him an

opportunity to present evidence to the contrary. However, the juvenile court

explains, and the record reflects, that Appellant did not request an opportunity

to present evidence regarding whether he was in need of treatment,

                                     - 10 -
J-A25005-18

supervision, or rehabilitation and, if he had, the juvenile court would have

allowed it. Trial Ct. Op., filed 3/26/18, at 7 n.5. Further, Appellant failed to

object when the juvenile court made a finding of delinquency without hearing

additional treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation evidence from Appellant.

Id. Accordingly, Appellant has waived this challenge. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a)

(“Issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the

first time on appeal.”); Commonwealth v. Strunk, 953 A.2d 577, 579 (Pa.

Super. 2008) (“A party may not remain silent and afterwards complain of

matters which, if erroneous, the court would have corrected.”).

      Finally, Appellant contends that the juvenile court abused its discretion

when it committed him to an out-of-home placement. Appellant’s Brief at 36.

Appellant argues that the juvenile court failed to set forth adequate reasons

why commitment was the least restrictive alternative and focused solely on

the gravity of the offense rather than Appellant’s individual circumstances.

Id.

      As stated above, we will not disturb the juvenile court’s disposition

absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In Interest of J.G., supra at 1184.

Section 6301 states that the Juvenile Act should be interpreted and construed

to effectuate the following purpose concerning delinquent children:

      Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to provide for
      children committing delinquent acts programs of supervision, care
      and rehabilitation which provide balanced attention to the
      protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for
      offenses committed and the development of competencies to
      enable children to become responsible and productive members
      of the community.

                                     - 11 -
J-A25005-18

42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(2). Section 6301 also directs that juvenile courts use

the least restrictive intervention consistent with community protection.       In

Interest of D.C.D., 171 A.3d 727, 738 (Pa. 2017) (citing 42 Pa.C.S. §

6301(b)(3)(i)).

      Section 6352 of the Juvenile Act governs disposition of a delinquent child

and essentially mirrors the language in Section 6301. Section 6352 provides

that a court’s disposition should be “consistent with the protection of the public

interest and best suited to the child’s treatment, supervision, rehabilitation,

and welfare[.]”    42 Pa.C.S. § 6352(a).        Further, “disposition shall, as

appropriate to the individual circumstances of the child's case, provide

balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of

accountability for offenses committed and the development of competencies

to enable the child to become a responsible and productive member of the

community.” Id.

      Section 6352 provides a juvenile court with a variety of options available

for placement of a delinquent child ranging from permitting the child to remain

with his or her parents to committing the child to an institution. In Interest

of D.C.D., 171 A.3d 727, 739 (Pa. 2017) (citing 42 Pa.C.S. § 6352(a)).

Notably, Section 6352 provides “when confinement is necessary, the court

shall impose the minimum amount of confinement that is consistent with the

protection of the public and the rehabilitation needs of the child.” 42 Pa.C.S.

§ 6352(a).

                                     - 12 -
J-A25005-18

      Instantly, the juvenile court considered testimony from Appellant’s

family members, reference letters from the community, and a psychological

evaluation report, which included information that Appellant was excessively

absent from school. See Trial Ct. Op., filed 3/26/18, at 7-8; N.T. Hearing,

12/17/17, at 3-22. The juvenile court heard evidence that Appellant’s parents

had recently divorced, which had placed a financial and emotional strain on

the family.   N.T. Hearing, 12/27/17, at 7.    Additionally, Appellant’s father

testified that he did not believe his son had committed the crime. Id. at 11-

13. The juvenile court considered the above information, as well as the gravity

of the offense – that Appellant held a gun to the Victim’s head and robbed

him. The juvenile court determined that committing Appellant to out-of-home

placement at Glen Mills was “consistent with the protection of public interest

and best suited to [Appellant]’s treatment, supervision, rehabilitation, and

welfare.” Trial Ct. Op., filed 3/26/18, at 7-8. The juvenile court stated on the

record that given the gravity of the offense, commitment was the least

restrictive alternative. See N.T. Hearing, 12/27/17, at 9. Our review of the

record supports the juvenile court’s findings, and, thus, we find no abuse of

discretion.

      In sum, we conclude that the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion

when it determined that there was sufficient identification evidence to

adjudicate Appellant delinquent. Likewise, the juvenile court did not abuse its

discretion when it determined that Appellant was in need of treatment,

supervision, and rehabilitation and made a finding that commitment was the

                                     - 13 -
J-A25005-18

least restrictive alternative.   We remand for further proceedings limited to

Appellant’s challenge to the weight of the evidence.

      Case remanded for further proceedings. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/3/18

                                      - 14 -