Court Opinion

ID: 9757074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 22:17:49.603269+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:34.631868
License: Public Domain

SPAETH, Judge,
concurring:
I agree with the majority that the bonds found at appellant’s residence were in plain view, but I wish to note that appellant makes an initial argument, which the majority has not dealt with: that the warrant was issued without proba*272ble cause. The warrant was issued on the basis of a stolen bond found in appellant’s car (the authority of that search is not in question). In my opinion, this was sufficient to cause a man of reasonable caution to believe that other fruits of the same law firm robbery would be at appellant’s residence. See Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 93 L.Ed. 1879 (1949); Commonwealth v. Frye, 242 Pa.Super. 144, 363 A.2d 1201 (1976).
The majority holds that the trial judge adequately instructed the jury on the issues of control, custody, and access. I disagree. The judge's instructions were unclear and at least one part ("[Y]ou must eliminate from your minds that another person had any dominion or control over the area. . . .") could have been interpreted as meaning that whether or not another person had control or access was irrelevant. Nonetheless, I believe the lack of adequate instructions was harmless error in the face of the fact that stolen bonds were found in appellant's dresser drawer at his residence. Cf. Commonwealth v. Ferguson, 231 Pa.Super. 327, 331 A.2d 856 (1974) (contraband found in defendant's garage in out-of-the-way place; held, sufficient evidence of possession since place was usually accessible only to defendant; presence of other persons not dispositive).
I would affirm the conviction for these reasons.