Court Opinion

ID: 4089572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-14 03:35:12.282976+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:12:25.378106
License: Public Domain

J. S72029/16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                           :          PENNSYLVANIA
                                           :
                    v.                     :
                                           :
ZACHARY R. HARNISH,                        :
                                           :
                         APPELLANT         :
                                           :     No. 477 MDA 2016

           Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 22, 2016
                In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-06-CR-0000363-2015

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., DUBOW, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                          FILED OCTOBER 13, 2016

        Appellant, Zachary R. Harnish, appeals from the February 22, 2016

Judgment of Sentence entered in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas.

After careful review, we affirm on the basis of the trial court’s Opinion, which

found that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s conviction for

Conspiracy to Commit Simple Assault.

        The trial court’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion includes a thorough and

complete narrative of the facts and procedural history in this case, which we

adopt for purposes of this appeal. See Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/23/16, at

4-6. While we will not go into exhaustive detail here, some of the relevant

facts are as follows.

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J. S72029/16

     On October 10, 2014, Joshua Zimmerman met his estranged wife,

Lacey Zimmerman, in a parking lot in order to retrieve a vehicle from her.

The relationship between the Zimmermans was hostile, and both parties

arrived at the parking lot with friends in tow.   Mr. Zimmerman brought

Appellant and his cousin, Apache Gettle.    Mrs. Zimmerman brought Peter

Petrosky.

     During the vehicle exchange, the Zimmermans began to argue.

Appellant, along with the others present, gathered around the arguing

couple.     Mrs. Zimmerman tried to return to her vehicle, but the group

followed and surrounded her. At that point, the dispute became physical.

     Although initially only Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Petrosky were fighting,

Appellant, Mr. Gettle, and an unknown individual pulled Mr. Petrosky away

from Mr. Zimmerman and began punching Mr. Petrosky.         At some point,

Appellant tackled Mr. Petrosky and pinned him to the ground while both he

and Mr. Gettle kicked and punched Mr. Petrosky.      Eventually, both sides

drew weapons, at which point Mrs. Zimmerman broke up the fight by driving

towards the group with her headlights on.    Mr. Petrosky was taken to the

emergency room, where he was treated for a laceration to his finger and a

swollen eye.

     Appellant was arrested and charged with two counts of Conspiracy to

Commit Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault, Possessing Instruments of

Crime, Conspiracy to Commit Possessing Instruments of Crime, two counts

                                   -2-
J. S72029/16

of Conspiracy to Commit Recklessly Endangering Another Person, two counts

of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, two counts of Simple Assault, two

counts of Conspiracy to Commit Simple Assault, Harassment, and Conspiracy

to Commit Harassment.

      Appellant proceeded to a jury trial. On January 20, 2016, a jury found

Appellant guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Simple Assault. On February 22,

2016, the trial court sentenced Appellant to three to twenty-three months of

incarceration, with credit for time served.

      On March 22, 2016, Appellant timely-filed the instant appeal.      Both

Appellant and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

      On appeal, Appellant raises a single issue:

      Whether the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to
      support a guilty verdict of M-2 Conspiracy to Commit Simple
      Assault where the evidence failed to establish, beyond a
      reasonable doubt, that [Appellant], with the intent of promoting
      or facilitating the commission of Simple Assault, did agree with
      one or more persons that one or more of them would engage in
      conduct which would constitute Simple Assault by physical
      menace or an attempt or solicitation to commit such crime.

Appellant’s Brief at 4.

      In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, our standard of review is

as follows:

         The standard of review for a challenge to the sufficiency of
         the evidence is to determine whether, when viewed in a
         light most favorable to the verdict winner, the evidence at
         trial and all reasonable inferences therefrom is sufficient
         for the trier of fact to find that each element of the crimes
         charged is established beyond a reasonable doubt. The
         Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every

                                     -3-
J. S72029/16

         element beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly
         circumstantial evidence.

         The facts and circumstances established by the
         Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of
         innocence. Any doubt raised as to the accused's guilt is to
         be resolved by the fact-finder. As an appellate court, we
         do not assess credibility nor do we assign weight to any of
         the testimony of record. Therefore, we will not disturb the
         verdict 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.

Commonwealth v. Vogelsong, 90 A.3d 717, 719 (Pa. Super. 2014)

(citations and quotations omitted).

      The Honorable M. Theresa Johnson has authored a comprehensive,

thorough, and well-reasoned Opinion, citing to the record and relevant case

law in addressing Appellant’s claim.    After a careful review of the parties’

arguments, and the record, we affirm on the basis of that Opinion, which

held that the there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict

where Appellant arrived with others in a “show of force” and they then

“collectively assaulted Mr. Petrosky.” Trial Court Opinion, at 2-7.

      The parties are directed to attach a copy of the trial court’s May 23,

2016 Opinion to all future filings.

      Judgment of Sentence affirmed.

                                      -4-
J. S72029/16

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 10/13/2016

                          -5-
                                                                                            Circulated 09/29/2016 01:05 PM

COMMONWEALTH                  OF PENNSYLVANIA                      IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                                   OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                                                                   CRJMINAL DIVISION
                              vs.
                                                                   No. CP-06-CR-0000363-2015

ZACHARY R. HARNISH

Amber M. Moll, Esquire
            Attorney for Appellant
                                         /                         Assigned to: Judge M. Theresa Johnson

Carmen J. Bloom, Esquire
            Attorney for the Commonwealth/Appellee

Memorandum Opinion                                May 23, 2016                        M. Theresa Johnson, J.

                                             PROCEDURAL HISTORY

            The defendant in the above-captioned case, Zachary R. Harnish (hereinafter referred to as

the "Appellant"), was charged with the following offenses arising from an incident alleged to

have occurred on October I 0, 2014: two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault',

Aggravated Assault', Possessing Instruments of Crime3, Conspiracy to Commit Possessing

Instruments of Crime 4, two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Recklessly Endangering Another

Person'; two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person 6, two counts of Simple Assault",

two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Simple Assault", Harassment", and Conspiracy to Commit

Harassment 1°. On or about January 20, 2016, a jury found th~ Appellant guilty of Conspiracy to

Commit Simple Assault and Appellant was sentenced to a period of confinement of not less than

1
    18 Pa.CS.A. §903(a)(1) to commit 18 Pa.C.S.A. §2702(a)(1}.
2
    18 Pa.CS.A. §2702(a)(4}.
3                  . .
  18 Pa.CS.A. §907(a)1-/-t , , 1 ~    ,
418                                1•
     Pa.CS.A. §903(a)C1Vto.eomrrulis}ag::~~~~7(a).
5
  18 Pa.CS.A. §903(a}(1} to commit 18 Pa.C.S.A:12705.
6
  18 Pa.CS.A. §2705.
718

818
     Pa.CS.A. §2701(~6/C         Wd f:2 AVU 9fOZ
     Pa.CS.A. §903(a}(1) to commit 18 Pa.CS.A. §2701(a)(l).
918Pa.C.S.A.§2709@tl.12tJn08
10
                                      .J()   \'>J;Jl
     18 Pa.CS.A. §903(a)(1}to' commit: '1'8 P~'7C~. ~2709(a)(l).

                                                             1
                                                                                                     11•
three (3) months nor more than twenty-three (23) months in the Berks County Jail System

Appellant was given credit for two hundred seventy four (274) days time served. Appellant was

made eligible for the Earned Time reentry program.

           On March 22, 2016, Appellant applied for leave to appeal inJonna pauperis and filed a

Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania from Judgment of Sentence entered on

February 22, 2016. On March 29, 2016, Appellant was ordered to file a Concise Statement of

Errors Complained of on Appeal, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b).

On April 19, 2016, Appellant filed a Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal

verdict of Conspiracy to Commit Simple Assault.

                                                 DISCUSSION

           When reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a defendant's

conviction, the court is required to evaluate the record "in the light most favorable to the verdict

winner giving the prosecution the benefit of all reasonable inferences to be drawn from the

evidence.''     Commonwealth v. Rahman, 75 A.3d 497, 500 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation omitted).

           The test for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is whether, viewing the evidence

           in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict winner and drawing all

           proper inferences favorable to the Commonwealth, the jury could have determined that

           all of the elements of the crime have been established beyond a reasonable doubt. The

           Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a

           reasonable doubt by means of wholly circumstantial evidence. The facts and
                  ·Yd , Ji   \!n1",.)   S''~3A
           circumstan£es testk'biisnecll5y 1.'tie Commonwealth need not be absolutely incompatible

11
     The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania withdrew one count of Conspiracy to Commit Recklessly Endangering
Another Person @1]~rf1F&.9n~:,b.,!)R¥,~~ndangering      Another Person.

                                                        2
        with the defendant's innocence, but the question of any doubt is for the jury unless the

        evidence is so weak and inconclusive that, as a matter of law, no probability of fact can

        be drawn from the combined circumstances. Commonwealth v. Smith, 848 A.2d 973,

        977 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation omitted).

        "[S]o long as the evidence adduced, accepted in the light most favorable to the

Commonwealth, demonstrates the respective elements of a defendant's crimes beyond a

reasonable doubt, the appellant's convictions will be upheld." Rahman, 75 A.3d at 501.

        The Pennsylvania Crimes Code defines Conspiracy as follows:

   . ...... -afDefirution   of consprracy .-~~A i>er-son-is-guiity- of coiisprracy with another person or
        persons to commit a crime if with the intent of promoting or facilitating its commission

        he: (1) agrees with such other person or persons that they or one or more of them will

        engage in conduct which constitutes such crime or an attempt or solicitation to commit

        such crime; or (2) agrees to aid such other person or persons in the planning or

        commission of such crime or of an attempt or solicitation to commit such crime. 18

        Pa.C.S.A. §9Q3.

"A conspiracy-conviction requires proof of (1) an intent to commit or aid in an unlawful act, (2)

an agreement with a co-conspirator and (3) an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy."

Commonwealth v. Galindes, 786 A.2d 1004, 1010 (Pa. Super. 2001) (citations omitted).

"Because it is difficult to prove an explicit or formal agreement to commit an unlawful act, such

an act may be proved inferentially by circumstantial evidence, i.e., the relations, conduct or

circumstances of the parties or overt acts on the part of the co-conspirators." Commonwealth v.

Spotz, 756 A.2d 1139, 1162 (Pa. 2000) (citation omitted).

        The Pennsylvania Crimes Code defines Simple Assault as follows:

                                                         3
       (a) Offense defined>- Except as provided under section 2702 (relating to aggravated

       assault), a person is guilty of assault ifhe: (1) attempts to cause or intentionally,

       knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; (2) negligently causes bodily

       injury to another with a deadly weapon; (3) attempts by physical menace to put another in

       fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or (4) conceals or attempts to conceal a

       hypodermic needle on his person and intentionally or knowingly penetrates a law

       enforcement officer or an officer or an employee of a correctional institution, county jail

       or prison, detention facility or mental hospital during the course of an arrest or any search

       ·a:ttlie person.   18 i>a.c~s.A. §2761(aY.

Bodily injury is defined as impairment of physical condition or substantial pain. 18 Pa.C.S.A.

2301. "The Commonwealth need not establish that the victim actually suffered bodily injury;

rather, it is sufficient to support a conviction if the Commonwealth establishes an attempt to

inflict bodily injury. This intent may be shown by circumstances which reasonably suggest that a

defendant intended to cause injury." Commonwealth v. Klein, 795 A.2d 424, 428 (Pa. Super.

2002) (citation omitted).

       The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (hereinafter referred to as the "Commonwealth")

presented evidence that Lacey Zimmerman (hereinafter referred to as "Mrs. Zimmerman") and

Peter Petrosky (hereinafter referred to as "Mr. Petrosky") came into contact with the Appellant

on October 10, 2014, in a parking lot in Womelsdorf, Berks County, Pennsylvania.         Notes of

Testimony, Jury Trial, January 19, 2016 to January 20, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as "NT"),

at 7 8-79, 145. Mrs. Zimmerman went to this parking lot to meet her estranged husband, Joshua

Zimmerman (hereinafter referred to as "Mr. Zimmerman"), to return a vehicle to him. NT. at 78-

79, 122, 279. Mr. Zimmerman had been to Mrs. Zimmerman's home earlier in the day on two

                                                    4
separate occasions. NT at 104. During the first visit, Mr. Zimmerman was very angry and had

punched the window of Mrs. Zimmerman's car but was "very calm" during the second visit. NT.

at I 04. Mr. Zimmerman asked his friend, Apache Gettle (hereinafter referred to as "Mr.

Gettle"), tocomealongwithhimfortheretrievalofthevehicle.            NT at 197-198, 278, 305-306.

Mr. Gettle's cousin, Appellant, accompanied Mr. Gettle to the parking lot. NT. at 199, 219-220.

       Mr. Petrosky accompanied Mrs. Zimmerman to the parking lot in a separate vehicle. NT.

at 80. While at the parking lot, Mr. Petrosky intervened in an argument between Mr. and Mrs.

Zimmerman prompting the Appellant and other individuals to exit their vehicles and stand

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