Court Opinion

ID: 2904512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 22:10:43.463322+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:37:16.098627
License: Public Domain

J-S43038-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                         IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                           PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

MARCUS J. DUGAS

                            Appellant                      No. 3451 EDA 2014

            Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence August 29, 2014
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-45-CR-0001797-2013;
                            CP-45-CR-0001798-2013

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., PANELLA, J., and OLSON, J.

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.:                         FILED SEPTEMBER 09, 2015

       Appellant, Marcus J. Dugas, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, following his jury trial

convictions for one count each of aggravated assault, rape by forcible

compulsion, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (“IDSI”), recklessly

endangering another person (“REAP”), burglary, unlawful restraint, false

imprisonment,      endangering       the   welfare   of   children   (“EWOC”),   and

harassment, and two counts each of simple assault and terroristic threats.1

We affirm.

       The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows.
____________________________________________

1
  18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702(a)(1); 3121(a)(1); 3123(a)(1); 2705; 3502(a)(1);
2902(a)(1); 2903(a); 4304(a)(1); 2709(a)(1); 2701(a)(1); 2706(a)(1),
respectively.
J-S43038-15

On June 15, 2013, L.V. reported a domestic disturbance to the police. L.V.

told the responding officers that Appellant (her boyfriend) had grabbed her

by the arm and brandished a knife at her after she refused to give him her

car keys. L.V. reported that Appellant fled after learning the police were on

the way. The officers told L.V. to call the police if Appellant returned to her

apartment. L.V. and Appellant ended their relationship after this incident.

      On July 5, 2013, L.V. filed a protection from abuse (“PFA”) petition

against Appellant, alleging that since the June 15, 2013 incident, Appellant

had made a copy of L.V.’s house key, entered L.V.’s home without her

permission, and threatened her.     The court granted L.V. a temporary PFA

order that day and entered a final PFA order on July 15, 2013.

      On July 18, 2013, L.V. awoke at 11:00 p.m. to find Appellant standing

over her bed, screaming, “Oh, I’m going to kill you.” Appellant lifted L.V.

from the bed and threw her to the ground. Appellant then began to choke

L.V. until she lost consciousness.         L.V. regained consciousness and

attempted to flee her bedroom. The couple’s four-year-old son, M.D., heard

his mother screaming and attempted to run for help. Appellant threatened

to beat M.D. if he did not return to his room. After M.D. went back to his

room, Appellant dragged L.V. back into her bedroom and grabbed a knife.

L.V. was able to gain control of the knife and throw it out of Appellant’s

reach. L.V. again attempted to flee, but Appellant stopped her and bit L.V.

on the side of her face.   In an effort to stop Appellant’s attack, L.V. told

                                     -2-
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Appellant she wanted to continue their relationship.                   Appellant then

performed oral sex on L.V. and had sexual intercourse with L.V.                   After

Appellant fell asleep, L.V. fled from the apartment with the couple’s two

children. Police subsequently arrested Appellant at L.V.’s apartment.

       Procedurally, at docket number CP-45-CR-0001797-2013 (“docket

1797”), the Commonwealth charged Appellant with simple assault, terroristic

threats, and harassment, in connection with the incident on June 15, 2013.

At   docket     number       CP-45-CR-0001798-2013          (“docket    1798”),    the

Commonwealth charged Appellant with aggravated assault, rape by forcible

compulsion,     sexual    assault,    IDSI,    indecent   assault,   REAP,   burglary,

kidnapping, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, aggravated indecent

assault without consent, simple assault, false imprisonment, EWOC, and

corruption of minors, in connection with the incident on July 18, 2013.2

       On August 19, 2013, the Commonwealth filed a notice of intent to join

for trial the charges at docket 1797 and docket 1798. While Appellant was

incarcerated awaiting trial on these charges, Appellant wrote L.V. a letter

from prison, in violation of the PFA order. Appellant also wrote a letter to his

mother urging her to convince L.V. to ask the Commonwealth to drop the

charges against him. Consequently, the Commonwealth filed a third criminal

____________________________________________

2
  The Commonwealth did not charge Appellant in relation to the events after
June 15, 2013, and before July 5, 2013, which gave rise to entry of the PFA
order.

                                           -3-
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information against Appellant, at docket number CP-45-CR-0002252-2013

(“docket 2252”), charging Appellant with two counts of intimidation of a

witness or victim and one count of solicitation to intimidate a witness or

victim. On October 25, 2013, the Commonwealth filed a notice of intent to

join for trial the charges at docket 2252 with the charges at docket 1797 and

docket 1798.

       On November 4, 2013, Appellant filed an omnibus pre-trial motion to,

inter alia, sever the charges at all docket numbers. Appellant filed a brief in

support of his motion on January 21, 2014.               On January 23, 2014, the

Commonwealth filed a brief to support joinder of the charges.            The court

held a hearing on January 28, 2014.               On February 12, 2014, the court

denied Appellant’s motion to sever and granted the Commonwealth’s request

to join the charges at all three docket numbers for trial.

       Appellant proceeded to a jury trial on April 15, 2014.3            The jury

returned a verdict on April 16, 2014.            At docket 1797, the jury convicted

Appellant of all charges (simple assault, terroristic threats, and harassment).

At docket 1798, the jury convicted Appellant of aggravated assault, rape by

forcible compulsion, IDSI, REAP, burglary, terroristic threats, unlawful

____________________________________________

3
  Prior to the close of the Commonwealth’s case-in-chief, the court granted
Appellant’s motion to dismiss the kidnapping charge at docket 1798. The
Commonwealth withdrew the charges of aggravated indecent assault without
consent and corruption of minors at docket 1798; the Commonwealth also
withdrew two charges at docket 2252.

                                           -4-
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restraint, simple assault, false imprisonment, and EWOC; the jury found

Appellant not guilty of sexual assault or indecent assault at docket 1798. At

docket 2252, the jury found Appellant not guilty of one count of intimidation

of a witness.

       On July 31, 2014, the court sentenced Appellant at docket 1797 to

nine (9) to twenty-four (24) months’ imprisonment for terroristic threats.4

At docket 1798, the court sentenced Appellant to four and one-half (4½) to

ten (10) years’ imprisonment for aggravated assault; a consecutive term of

five and one-half (5½) to ten (10) years’ imprisonment for rape by forcible

compulsion; a concurrent term of two and one-half (2½) to five (5) years’

imprisonment for burglary; a concurrent term of six (6) to twelve (12)

months’ imprisonment for terroristic threats; a concurrent term of six (6) to

twelve (12) months’ imprisonment for unlawful restraint; and a concurrent

term of one (1) to two (2) years’ imprisonment for EWOC.5          The court

imposed Appellant’s sentence at docket 1797 concurrent to his sentences at

docket 1798. Thus, the court imposed an aggregate sentence of ten (10) to

twenty (20) years’ imprisonment.

       On August 1, 2014, the Commonwealth timely filed a post-sentence

____________________________________________

4
 The court determined the remaining convictions at docket 1797 merged for
sentencing purposes.
5
 The court determined the remaining convictions at docket 1798 merged for
sentencing purposes.

                                           -5-
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motion to modify Appellant’s sentence, claiming the court’s sentence was too

lenient given the gravity of the offenses, aggravating circumstances, and the

danger Appellant posed to the community. On Monday, August 11, 2014,

Appellant timely filed a post-sentence motion challenging the sufficiency of

the evidence and the legality of his sentence (claiming his sentences for

aggravated assault and rape by forcible compulsion should have merged).

The court held a hearing on the motions on August 29, 2014. During the

hearing, the Commonwealth pointed out that Appellant’s sentences for

aggravated assault and rape by forcible compulsion carried minimum

sentences which were not equal to half of the maximum sentences imposed.

The court re-sentenced Appellant on that date to five and one-half (5½) to

eleven (11) years’ imprisonment for aggravated assault and four and one-

half (4½) to nine (9) years’ imprisonment for rape by forcible compulsion.

The court did not alter the sentences for any of Appellant’s other convictions.

Thus, Appellant’s aggregate sentence remained ten (10) to twenty (20)

years’ imprisonment.6         The court said it would take Appellant’s post-

sentence motion under advisement.

       On November 19, 2014, the court denied Appellant’s post-sentence

motion. Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal on December 12, 2014. On

____________________________________________

6
  The court did not expressly deny the Commonwealth’s request for a stricter
sentence, but the court declined to impose a harsher aggregate sentence
than previously imposed.

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December 24, 2014, the court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement

of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and

Appellant complied.

        Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

           WHETHER THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN
           THE VERDICT OF:

              A.   RAPE BY FORCIBLE COMPULSION [AND]
              INVOLUNTARY DEVIATE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE[?]

              B.     AGGRAVATED ASSAULT?

              C.     ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN?

           WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED                 IN     DENYING
           [APPELLANT’S] MOTION TO SEVER?

           WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN IMPOSING
           CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
           AND RAPE BY FORCIBLE COMPULSION?

(Appellant’s Brief at 6).7

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

applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinions of the Honorable Stephen M.

Higgins, we conclude Appellant’s first issue merits no relief. The trial court

opinions comprehensively discuss and properly dispose of the question

presented. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed January 30, 2015, at 3; Opinion

in Support of Order Denying Appellant’s Post-Sentence Motions, filed

November 19, 2014, at 4-9) (finding: regarding Appellant’s rape by forcible
____________________________________________

7
    For purposes of disposition, we have re-ordered Appellant’s issues.

                                           -7-
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compulsion conviction, L.V. testified that on night of July 18, 2013, Appellant

appeared in her bedroom, standing over her and screaming, “Oh, I’m going

to kill you”; after several unsuccessful attempts to flee, L.V. pretended she

wanted to continue her relationship with Appellant so he would stop

attacking her; at one point, Appellant and L.V.’s four-year-old son heard L.V.

screaming and woke up crying; Appellant told his son to get back in his

room or Appellant would whoop him with belt; after child left, Appellant

performed oral sex on L.V. and then had sexual intercourse with L.V.; L.V.

testified that she feared Appellant would kill her if she tried to stop him; L.V.

did not want to have sex with Appellant, but did so only out of fear;

regarding Appellant’s IDSI conviction, L.V. encountered Appellant in her

bedroom while she was sleeping; L.V. testified that she had sex with

Appellant and allowed Appellant to perform oral sex on her solely out of fear

that Appellant would kill her if she refused his advances; regarding

Appellant’s aggravated assault conviction, L.V. testified that Appellant

choked her until she almost passed out; when L.V. regained consciousness,

her vision was blurry, she could not hear, and L.V. had difficulty standing;

Appellant bit L.V.’s face when she attempted to leave; L.V. was swollen and

had   broken    blood   vessels   in   her   face   after   Appellant’s   attack;

Commonwealth introduced photographs depicting L.V.’s injuries; regarding

Appellant’s EWOC conviction, Appellant and L.V.’s four-year-old son awoke

crying after hearing his mother scream during attack; L.V. instructed her son

                                       -8-
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to run and get help, but Appellant threatened to whoop his son with belt if

he did not return to his room; Appellant also grabbed knife during this

incident; Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to sustain Appellant’s

convictions for rape by forcible compulsion, IDSI, aggravated assault, and

EWOC). Accordingly, as to Appellant’s first issue, we affirm on the basis of

the trial court’s opinions.

        In his second issue, Appellant argues the Commonwealth sought

joinder of his charges at docket 1797 and docket 1798 solely to show

Appellant’s propensity for violence. Appellant contends the incident on June

15, 2013, had no probative value relative to the charges stemming from the

events on July 18, 2013, other than to show Appellant committed bad acts

by assaulting L.V. on both of those dates. Appellant asserts joinder of the

charges established only that Appellant is a violent man who assaulted L.V.

on June 15, 2013, and acted in conformity with that character on July 18,

2013.     Appellant claims the Commonwealth failed to meet its burden to

demonstrate that the probative value of this “prior bad act” evidence

outweighed the prejudice to his case. Appellant concludes the court abused

its discretion by denying his motion to sever the charges at docket 1797 and

docket 1798, and this Court should reverse and remand for separate trials at

each docket.8 We disagree.

____________________________________________

8
    Appellant does not challenge the joinder of the charges at docket 2252.

                                           -9-
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        Our standard of review of the denial of a motion to sever is as follows:

“Joinder and severance of separate indictments for trial is a discretionary

function of the trial court; consequently, the trial court’s decision is subject

to review for abuse of that discretion.” Commonwealth v. Brookins, 10

A.3d 1251, 1255 (Pa.Super. 2010), appeal denied, 610 Pa. 625, 22 A.3d

1033 (2011).

           The traditional justification for permissible joinder of
           offenses or consolidation of indictments appears to be the
           judicial economy which results from a single trial. The
           argument against joinder or consolidation is that where a
           defendant is tried at one trial for several offenses, several
           kinds of prejudice may occur: (1) [t]he defendant may be
           confounded in presenting defenses, as where his defense
           to one charge is inconsistent with his defenses to the
           others; (2) the jury may use the evidence of one of the
           offenses to infer a criminal disposition and on the basis of
           that inference, convict the defendant of the other offenses;
           and (3) the jury may cumulate the evidence of the various
           offenses to find guilt when, if the evidence of each offense
           had been considered separately, it would not so find.

Commonwealth v. Janda, 14 A.3d 147, 155 (Pa.Super. 2011) (quoting

Commonwealth v. Morris, 493 Pa. 164, 171, 425 A.2d 715, 718 (1981)).

“Thus[,] in arriving at a meaningful standard to guide the trial court in its

exercise of discretion, and to permit appellate courts to determine whether

the trial court abused this discretion, we must weigh the possibility of

prejudice and injustice caused by the consolidation against the consideration

of judicial economy.” Id.

        Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 582 provides, in pertinent

part:

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        Rule 582. Joinder—Trial of Separate Indictments or
        Informations

            (A) Standards

            (1) Offenses charged in separate         indictments   or
            informations may be tried together if:

               (a) the evidence of each of the offenses would be
            admissible in a separate trial for the other and is
            capable of separation by the jury so that there is no
            danger of confusion; or

                (b) the offenses charged are based on the same
            act or transaction.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 582(A)(1).    Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 583

provides:

        Rule 583. Severance of Offenses or Defendants

        The court may order separate trials of offenses or
        defendants, or provide other appropriate relief, if it
        appears that any party may be prejudiced by offenses or
        defendants being tried together.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 583. “Under Rule 583, the prejudice the defendant suffers due

to the joinder must be greater than the general prejudice any defendant

suffers when the Commonwealth’s evidence links him to a crime.”

Commonwealth v. Dozzo, 991 A.2d 898, 902 (Pa.Super. 2010), appeal

denied, 607 Pa. 709, 5 A.3d 818 (2010).

        The prejudice of which Rule 583 speaks is, rather, that
        which would occur if the evidence tended to convict the
        appellant only by showing his propensity to commit crimes,
        or because the jury was incapable of separating the
        evidence or could not avoid cumulating the evidence.
        Additionally, the admission of relevant evidence connecting
        a defendant to the crimes charged is a natural

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         consequence of a criminal trial, and it is not grounds for
         severance by itself.

Id. (quoting Commonwealth v. Lauro, 819 A.2d 100, 107 (Pa.Super.

2003), appeal denied, 574 Pa. 752, 830 A.2d 975 (2003)).

         Where the defendant moves to sever offenses not based
         on the same act or transaction…the court must therefore
         determine: (1) whether the evidence of each of the
         offenses would be admissible in a separate trial for the
         other; (2) whether such evidence is capable of separation
         by the jury so as to avoid danger of confusion; and, if the
         answers to these inquiries are in the affirmative, (3)
         whether the defendant will be unduly prejudiced by the
         consolidation of offenses.

Dozzo, supra at 902 (quoting Commonwealth v. Collins, 550 Pa. 46, 55,

703 A.2d 418, 422 (1997), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1015, 119 S.Ct. 538, 142

L.Ed.2d 447 (1998)). Thus, a court must first determine whether evidence

of each of the offenses would be admissible in a separate trial for the other.

Dozzo, supra.    Evidence of other crimes is not admissible solely to show

the defendant’s bad character or propensity to commit crimes. Id.

      Nevertheless, evidence of other crimes is admissible to demonstrate:

         (1) motive; (2) intent; (3) absence of mistake or accident;
         (4) a common scheme, plan or design embracing the
         commission of two or more crimes so related to each other
         that proof of one tends to prove the others; or (5) to
         establish the identity of the person charged with the
         commission of the crime on trial, in other words, where
         there is such a logical connection between the crimes that
         proof of one will naturally tend to show that the accused is
         the person who committed the other.

Janda, supra at 156 (quoting Morris, supra at 175, 425 A.2d at 720).

“Additionally, evidence of other crimes may be admitted where such

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evidence is part of the history of the case and forms part of the natural

development of the facts.” Dozzo, supra at 902 (quoting Collins, supra at

55, 703 A.2d at 423).     See also Commonwealth v. Thomas, 879 A.2d

246 (Pa.Super. 2005), appeal denied, 605 Pa. 685, 989 A.2d 917 (2010)

(holding court properly granted Commonwealth’s motion to consolidate

charges resulting from defendant’s domestic dispute with his girlfriend at

their home on March 23, 2001, with charges following another domestic

dispute between defendant and his girlfriend on April 19, 2001; second

assault occurred on day defendant was released from jail, after victim had

refused to testify against him at hearing on first assault; evidence of each

assault would be admissible in prosecution for other, as evidence constitutes

chain or sequence of events that formed history of case and is part of

natural development of case; jury was capable of separating evidence into

different incidents on different days that gave rise to different crimes;

evidence of defendant’s relationship with victim was admissible to prove

motive, malice, ill-will, and complete story of their relationship; defendant

did not suffer undue prejudice as result of consolidation of offenses for trial).

      Instantly, in denying Appellant’s request for severance of the charges

at each docket, the trial court stated: “Pursuant to prevailing Pennsylvania

case law, evidence of each offense would be admissible in prosecution for

the other, the evidence is separable by a jury, and there is no showing of

undue prejudice to [Appellant]. See [id.]. As such, [Appellant’s] Motion is

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DENIED.” (Order Denying Appellant’s Motion to Sever, 2/12/14, at 1). We

see no reason to disrupt the court’s ruling.        See Brookins, supra.

Appellant’s actions showed an escalating pattern of abuse. L.V. refused to

give Appellant her car keys on June 15, 2013, and Appellant responded by

grabbing her arm and threatening her with a knife. Appellant fled after L.V.

called the police. L.V. subsequently obtained a PFA order against Appellant

after Appellant had made a copy of L.V.’s house key, entered L.V.’s home

without her permission, and threatened her.       Appellant violated the PFA

order when he broke into L.V.’s home on July 18, 2013, choked her until she

passed out, attacked and assaulted L.V., and threatened to kill her.

Appellant’s actions on June 15, 2013 and July 18, 2013, respectively, would

constitute admissible evidence in each case if the court had conducted

separate trials, where the crimes from each incident demonstrate a

sequence of events that formed the history and natural development of the

case. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 582; Dozzo, supra; Thomas, supra. Additionally,

evidence of Appellant’s relationship with L.V. was admissible to prove

Appellant’s motive, malice, and ill-will toward L.V., and to develop the

complete story of their relationship.   See id.     Further, the jury found

Appellant not guilty of indecent assault and sexual assault at docket 1798,

and acquitted Appellant of intimidation of a witness at docket 2252,

demonstrating that the jury was capable of separating the charges at all

three dockets and did not cumulate the evidence.      See Pa.R.Crim.P. 582;

                                   - 14 -
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Dozzo, supra.        Thus, Appellant’s second issue warrants no relief.   See

Janda, supra; Dozzo, supra.

       In his third issue, Appellant argues the aggravated assault and rape by

forcible compulsion convictions were part of the same offense because the

crime of aggravated assault constituted evidence of forcible compulsion

necessary to prove the crime of rape. Appellant asserts the court erred by

imposing consecutive sentences for aggravated assault and rape by forcible

compulsion because the sentences for these convictions should have

merged.     Appellant concludes this Court must vacate and remand for re-

sentencing.9 We disagree.

       “Whether [a defendant’s] convictions merge for sentencing is a

question implicating the legality of [his] sentence.       Consequently, our

standard of review is de novo and the scope of our review is plenary.”

Commonwealth v. Baldwin, 604 Pa. 34, 38, 985 A.2d 830, 833 (2009).

       Section 9765 provides:

          § 9765. Merger of sentences

          No crimes shall merge for sentencing purposes unless the
          crimes arise from a single criminal act and all of the
          statutory elements of one offense are included in the
          statutory elements of the other offense. Where crimes
          merge for sentencing purposes, the court may sentence
          the defendant only on the higher graded offense.
____________________________________________

9
  Notwithstanding the phrasing of Appellant’s third question presented,
Appellant challenges only the legality of his sentence; he does not claim the
court abused its discretionary sentencing authority.

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42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9765.

         The statute’s mandate is clear. It prohibits merger unless
         two distinct facts are present: 1) the crimes arise from a
         single criminal act; and 2) all of the statutory elements of
         one of the offenses are included in the statutory elements
         of the other.

Baldwin, supra at 38-39, 985 A.2d at 833. In other words: “If two crimes

each require proof of at least one element that the other does not, then the

crimes are not greater and lesser included offenses, and therefore the

sentences do not merge.” Thomas, supra at 263.

      The Crimes Code defines the offenses of aggravated assault and rape

by forcible compulsion, in relevant part, as follows:

         § 2702. Aggravated assault

         (a) Offense defined.―A person is guilty of aggravated
         assault if he:

             (1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to
         another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly, or
         recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme
         indifference to the value of human life[.]

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1).

         § 3121. Rape

         (a) Offense defined.―A person commits a felony of the
         first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse
         with a complainant:

             (1)   By forcible compulsion.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3121(a)(1).

      Instantly, aggravated assault under subsection (a)(1) requires the

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element of causing or attempting to cause serious bodily injury; rape by

forcible compulsion does not require serious bodily injury or an attempt to

cause serious bodily injury.           Additionally, rape by forcible compulsion

requires sexual intercourse, which aggravated assault does not. Compare

18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702(a)(1), 3121(a)(1). Because aggravated assault under

subsection (a)(1) and rape by forcible compulsion involve at least one

separate element the other does not, the court correctly imposed separate

sentences for those crimes.           See Baldwin, supra; Thomas, supra.10

Therefore, Appellant’s third issue merits no relief. Accordingly, we affirm.

       Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/9/2015

____________________________________________

10
  Appellant relies on this Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Sanders,
489 A.2d 207 (Pa.Super. 1985) (holding defendant’s convictions for
aggravated assault and REAP merged for sentencing purposes with
defendant’s rape by forcible compulsion conviction where crimes arose from
same criminal incident and evidence of aggravated assault and REAP
constituted evidence of forcible compulsion necessary to prove rape).
Nevertheless, this Court decided Sanders before the legislature enacted the
pure elements-based merger statute under Section 9765. Thus, Sanders is
not dispositive of the present case.

                                          - 17 -
                   ,,
                                                                      Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

           COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONROE COUNTY
                 FORTY-THIRD JUDICIALDISTRICT
               COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                              NO. 1797 CR 2013
                                                              1798 CR2013
         vs.

MARCUS DUGAS,

         Defendant

               STATEMENT PURSUANT TO Pa.R.A.P.1925{a)

                The matter concerns Defendant Marcus Dugas' appeal to the

Pennsylvania Superior Court of various issues following his conviction after jury

trial.

                On April 16, 2013, a Monroe County Jury found Defendant guilty

of terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment on docket number 1797 CR 2013;

and Defendant was found guilty of aggravated assault, rape by forcible

compulsion, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, recklessly endangering

another person, burglary, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint/serious bodily

injury, simple assault, false imprisonment and endangering welfare of child on

docket number 1798 CR 2013. At docket 1797 CR 2013, this Court sentenced

Defendant to a term of imprisonment period of nine months to twenty-four

months in a state correctional facility on the conviction of terroristic threats, with

the sentence to run concurrent with the sentence imposed at 1798 CR 2013. The
                                                                                       Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

         charges of simple assault and harassment merged for the purpose of sentencing

         and therefore no sentence was imposed.

                     At docket 1 797 CR 2013, this Court sentenced Defendant to a term of

         imprisonment period of 54 months to 120 months in a state correctional facility

         on the conviction of aggravated assault.             On the charge of rape by forcible

         compulsion, this Court sentenced Defendant to a term of imprisonment to period

         of 66 months to 120 months, to run consecutive to the sentence for aggravated

         assault1•      For the burglary charge, we sentenced Defendant to a term of

         imprisonment to period of 30 months to 60 months, to run concurrent to the

         sentences for aggravated assault and rape by forcible compulsion. On the charge

         of terroristic threats, this Court sentenced Defendant to a term of imprisonment to

         period of 6 months to 12 months, to run concurrent to the other sentences imposed

         at 1798 CR 2103. On the charge of unlawful restraint serious bodily injury, we

         sentenced Defendant to a term of imprisonment to period of 6 months to 12

         months, to run concurrent to the other sentences imposed at 1798 CR 2103. For

         the endangering welfare of child, we sentenced Defendant to a term of

         imprisonment to period of 12 months to 24 months, to run concurrent to the other

         sentences imposed at 1798 CR 2103. As to the charges of involuntary deviate

         sexual assault, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and false

        imprisonment, we determined that for sentencing purposes these charges merge

        and, therefore, no sentence was imposed.

1
  n August 29, 2014, we granted the Commonwealth's Post Sentence Motion to Modify Sentence and
c ected the sentence on aggravated assault to 54 to 108 months and on the rape by forcible compulsion to
6 to 132 months resulting in an aggregate of 120 to 240 months.
                                                                 Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

       Thereafter, Defendant filed Post-Sentence Motions which were denied by

Opinion and Order dated November 19, 2014. On December 12, 2014, Defendant

filed an Appeal to the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

                 In our November 19, 2014, Opinion and Order we specifically set

forth our reasons for denying Defendant's       Post-Sentence Motions.          All of

Defendant's issued complained of on appeal have been addressed in our Opinion.

Therefore, pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1925(a), we find that northing further needs to

be determined.

                                      BY THE COURT:

cc:    Michael Rakaczewski, Esquire, ADA
       Donald M. Leeth, Esquire
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                 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONROE COUNTY
                       FORTY·TffiRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT
                     COMMONWEAL TH OF PENNSYLVANIA

     COMMONWEALTH                 OF               : NO.      1798 CR2013
     PENNSYLVANIA                                             1797 CR 2013.'

                 vs .
.... ---MARCUS    JULIENDUGAS,

                        Defendant
                                                   : POST SENTENCE MOTIONS

                                          OPINION

                 Defendant Marcus Julien Dugas ("Defendant") filed Post-Sentencing

     Motions seeking to overturn his jury conviction or, in the alternative, Defendant

     requests this Court grant a new trial. The procedural background in this case is as

     follows. On August 21, 2103, a Criminal Information in case docketed at number

     1797 CR 2013 was filed charging Defendant with the following, related to an

     incident occurring on June 15, 2013:

                 1.     Terroristic Threats [Ml], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S: §
                        2706 (a)(l);
                 2.     Simple Assault [M2], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. §
                        2701 (a)(l); and
                 3.     Harassment [S], pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. § 2709
                        (a)(l).

    On that same date, a Criminal Information in case docketed at number 1798 CR 2013

    was filed charging Defendant with the following, related to an incident occurring on

    July 19, 2013:
                                                                       Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

          1.      Aggravated Assault [Fl], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. §
                  2702(a)(l);
          2.      Rape Forcible Compulsion [Fl], pursuantto 18 Pa.
                  C.S. § 3121 (a)(l);
          3.      Sexual Assault [F2], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. §
                  3124.1;
          4. ·    Involuntary Deviate Sexual IntercourseForcible
                  Compulsion [Fl], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 3123
                  (a)(l);
          5.       Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion [Fl],
                   pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 3ti6 (a)(2);
          6.     · RecklesslyEndangeringAnother Person [M2],
                   pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 2705;
          7.       Burglary Overnight Accommodation, Persons
                   Present [Fl], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 3502 (a)(l);
          8.       Kidnap to Facilitate a Felony [Fl], pursuant to 18
                   Pa. C.S. § 2901 (a)(2);
          9.       Terroristic Threats With Intent to Terrorize Another
                   [Ml], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 2706 (a)(l);
          I0.      Unlawful Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury [F2],
                   pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 2902 (a)(l);
          11.      Aggravated Indecent Assault Without Consent [F2],
                   pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 3125 (a)(l);
          12.      Simple Assault [M2], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. §
                   2701 (a)(l);
          13.      False Imprisonment [M2], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. §
                   2903 (a);
          14.      Endangering Welfare of Children-Parent/Guardian
                   [Ml], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 4304(a)(l); and
          15.      Corruption of Minors [S], pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. §
                   630l(a)(l)(i).

On October 25, 2103, a Criminal Information in case docketed at number 2252 CR

2013 was filed charging Defendant with the following, related to an incident

occurring on August 2, 2013:

          1.      Intimidating WitnessNictim False/Misleading
                  Testimony [Fl], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 902 (a);
          2.      Intimidating Witness/Victim False/Misleading
                  Testimony [Fl], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 4952
                  (a)(2); and
          3.      Intimidating Witness/Victim-Withhold Testimony
                  [Fl], pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 4952 (a)(3).

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  On October 3, 2013, the Commonwealth filed Notice Pursuant to Pa. R. Crim. P. 582

  (B)(l) that the above three docketed cases would be joined for the purposes of trial.

              A single jury trial was held on April 15, 2014, after which, at docket

  number 1798 CR 2013, Defendant was convicted of the following: Aggravated

  Assault; Rape Forcible Compulsion; Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse;

· RecklesslyEndangering Another Person; Burglary; Terroristic Threats; Unlawful

 Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury; Simple Assault; False Imprisonment; and

 Endangering Welfare of Children. On that same date, at docket number 1797 CR

 2013, Defendant was found guilty of Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault and

 Harassment. Defendant was found not guilty of all other charges, including the

 charges filed at docket 2252 CR 2013.

             On July 31, 2014, this Court imposed a total aggregate sentence on

 Defendant of not less than 120 months nor more than 240 months 1 to be served in a

 State Correctional Institution .. Thereafter, on August 1, 2014, the Commonwealth

 filed Post Sentence Motions to Modify Sentence, seeking to increase the sentence

 imposed on Defendant. On August 11, 2014, Defendant filed Post-Sentence Motion

 ("Motion") seeking to arrest the judgment against him, or in the alternative, a new

 trial. In addition, Defendant also sought reconsideration of his sentence. During our

 hearing, held on August 29, 2014, we granted the Commonwealth's Post Sentence

 Motion to Modify Sentence and denied Defendant's Reconsideration of Sentence. In·

 granting the Commonwealth's Motion, we modified Defendant's sentence merely to

is Court's original sentence imposed upon Defendant was 66 to 120 months for the Aggravated Assault
54 to 120 months consecutive on Rape by Forcible Compulsion.

                                               3
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 correct the sentence imposed on the Aggravated Assault from 66 to 120 months to 66

 months to 132 months; and on the Rape by Forcible Compulsion from 60 to 120

 months to 54 to 108 months, for a total aggregate sentence of 120 to 240 months,

 consistent with the original sentence imposed on the Defendant. We are now

 prepared to dispose of Defendant's Motion.

             Defendant seeks an arrest of judgment in his case because he claims that

 the evidence was insufficient to convict him of Rape by Forcible Compulsion,

 Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Aggravated Assault and Endangering the

 Welfare of a Child. The test for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is

whether, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as

verdict winner, the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom support the

jury's finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Syre, 489 A.2d

1340, 1342 (Pa. 1985). Our function is to determine whether the evidence is

sufficient to permit a jury to determine that each and every element of the crimes

charged has been established beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v.

Feathers, 660 A.2d 90 (Pa. Super. 1995) (citation omitted). "The facts and

circumstances established by the Commonwealth 'need not be absolutely

incompatible 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."'      Id, ( citations

omitted).

            A review of the record indicates that the evidence was sufficient to support

a conviction for Rape by Forcible Compulsion. Pursuant to§ 3121 (a)(l), "[a]

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 person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual

 intercourse with a complainant: (1) [b]y forcible compulsion." .                        L~··            \, the
 victim and ex-girlfriend of Defendant, testified that.on the night of July 18, 2013, the

 Defendant appeared in her bedroom.               [Notes of Testimony, April 15, 2014, at p. 34

 (hereinafter "N.T.")]              . L.   v~   awoke to find Defendant standing over her

 screaming "Oh, I'm going to kill you." [N.T., p. 34] After several attempts to flee
                                        ·-- - - -·- . - - -· -·--------

 the situation,",  \_.,~a realized that she was making the situation worse. [N.T.,
 p. 35-38] She then decided to make Defendant believe that she still wanted to be

 with him so that he would stop hurting her. [N.T., p. 38] At one point, the parties'

 young son..       Ni~-- Jr .• age 4;heard                 his mother screaming and he woke up

 crying. [N.T., p. 36] Defendant then told his son to get back in his roo~ or he

would whoop him with the belt. [N.T., p. 36] After                         v,.t,.,D. returned to his room,

Defendant and ,.      L~ . . / ·      went back into her bedroom when Defendant performed

oral sex on her. [N. T., p. 39] Defendant proceeded to have sex with                           I.,,./§

 [N.T., p. 39]      L..\JI         ' testified that she feared that if she tried to stop Defendant

he would kill her. [N.T., p. 39] ·

             Defendant argues that this testimony did not demonstrate that

   L ,v. involuntarily submitted to sexual intercourse. Defendant argues that he
engaged in sexual intercourse with                     L., ..   v, "s consent.   Viewing the above

evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, we find that

  L:.J,   ·s testimony shows       that she feared that if she tried to stop Defendant from

having sexual intercourse with her, he would kill her. The victim testified that she

· did not want to have sex with Defendant; however, she feared that the Defendant

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                                                                            Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

 would harm or kill her if he learned that she was pretending to continue their

 relationship. (N.T., p. 39]

              We find the evidence is sufficient to demonstrate that Defendant engaged

 in sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion. The jury heard the evidence and

determined that Defendant was guilty of Rape by Forcible Compulsion. Therefore,

Defendant's Motion for Arrest of Judgment and Motion for New Trial based on

insufficient evidence for his conviction of Rape by Forcible Compulsion is denied.

              Defendant also challenges his conviction for IDSI on the basis that the

evidence was insufficient. "A person commits a felony of the first degree when the

person engages in deviate sexual intercourse with a complainant: (1) by forcible

compulsion.'' 18 Pa. C.S.A.§ 3123 (a)(l). "The crime of involuntary deviate sexual

intercourse occurs when the actor, by physical compulsion or threats thereof, coerces

the victim to engage in acts of anal and/or oral intercourse." Commonwealth v.

Snyder, 870 A.2d. 336, 351 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citation omitted). As we have set

forth above,          L w .../ • encountered Defendant in her bedroom while she was

sleeping. [N.T., p. 34]           1.- .,v., stated that she was compelled to have sexual

relations with Defendant because she feared that Defendant would harm or kill her if

she did not allow it. [N.T., p. 39] The victim testified that she was afraid to do

anything that looked suspicious to Defendant. [N.T., p. 41] The testimony included

       l-   :v' ~ statements that Defendant performed oral sex on her [N. T., p.39] and
that she was scared to call the cops. [N.T., p. 41]

             Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as

the verdict winner, we find that there is sufficient evidence to enable the fact-finder

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 to find every element of IDSI.                     · stated that she felt forced to allow

 Defendant to perform oral sex on her or he would kill her. We find that the evidence

 is sufficient to sustain the verdict, therefore, Defendant's Motion for Arrest of

Judgment and Motion for New Trial based on insufficient evidence for his

conviction under IDSI is denied.

           Next, Defendant contends that the evidence submitted at trial was

insufficient to convict him of Aggravated Assault. 18 Pa. C.S.A §2702 (a)(l), states

that "(a] person is guilty of aggravated assault if he: (1) attempts to cause serious

bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly

under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life."

           At trial,       L,"1, testified that on the evening of July 18, 2013, and
into the early morning of July 19, 2013, Defendant had both of his hands around her

throat and choked her until she almost passed out. [N.T., p. 34-35]                 L,,../,.

stated that she woke up and everything was blurry and she couldn't hear out if her

ears. [N.T., p. 35]         L.1 V.· 'was dizzy and she had difficulty getting up. [N.T.,
p. 35] Defendant bit her face when.       f- ~·"·    'attempted to leave the apartment.

[N.T., p. 37] The morning after the attack,         L- "v ·    looked into the mirror and

realized that there were red patches around her eyes; it looked like blood vessels

popped around her eyes; and her face was swollen. [N.T., p. 40] The

Commonwealth introduced photographs containing these injuries.

           This testimony is disturbing. The jury heard this testimony, saw the

photographs and found Defendant was guilty of Aggravated Assault. We find there

is more than .sufficient evidence to show that Defendant caused          L • '1 ~              serious

                                         7
                                                                                Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

 bodily injury. Defendant not only choked             L. ~ \I.   until she was passing out, he

 caused serious physical manifestations of the bodily injury which, under the

 circumstances, clearly demonstrates extreme indifference to the value of human life.

 In addition, Defendant bit       L.'1 ~         on her face.       l-c\I~ had many

 physical injuries which the jury found was sufficient evidence to support

 Defendant's conviction of Aggravated Assault. Accordingly, upon viewing this

 evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict winner, we

 find that there is sufficient evidence to support Defendant's conviction of

Aggravated Assault.

               Finally, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for his

conviction of endangering the welfare of children. "A parent, guardian or other

person supervising the welfare of a child under 18 years of age, or a person that

employs or supervises such a person, commits an offense ifhe knowingly endangers

the welfare of the child by violating a duty of care, protection or support." 18 Pa.

C.S.A. §4304 (a)(}). The testimony at trial indicated that Defendant was very loud

during his altercation with       L '\J •        At one point, Defendant grabbed her by the

hair and he was dragging          L#·.,/,   ~ back into her bedroom..       ()')• D~ , Jr.

woke up. [N.T., p. 36] The parties' son was only 4 years old at the time of the

altercation.       (\') ~ D, heard his mother screaming for help and he woke up crying.

[N.T., p. 36]          Liv~ : then told.         Yn-· D4 to run and get help, however,
Defendant told his son to get back in his room or he would whoop him with the belt.

[N.T., p. 36]       M,1), went back to his room and he just cried. [N.T., p. 36]

    tY" 1 D· was so overwhelmed by the incident that he did not want to go to sleep.

                                             8
                                                                             Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

 [N:T., p. 39)          L :V•    also stated at one point Defendant grabbed a knife when

 they were back in the room. [N.T., p. 36]

                Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as

 verdict winner, we find that there is sufficient evidence to enable the fact-finder to

 find every element of the crime of Endangering Welfare of a Child. The jury heard

 evidence that Defendant had a knife and that         L ,-.[,   threw it to where

Defendant couldn't reach it. [N.T., p. 36] The physical altercation with·

   L.. "\J ~   was done in from of: hi\ , D .. and Defendant threatened him if he didn't

go back into his room. [N.T., p. 36) We find this evidence is sufficient to sustain

Defendant's conviction of the crime of Endangering Welfare of a Child.

Accordingly, Defendant's Motion for Arrest of Judgment and Motion for New Trial

based on insufficient evidence is denied.

               Defendant also contends that the verdict is flawed and inconsistent

inasmuch as the jury acquitted the Defendant of Sexual Assault and Indecent Assault

by Forcible Compulsion. [Defendant's Motion, ,1(c)] A consistency verdict is not

required. Commonwealth v. Miller, 613 Pa. 584, 595, 35 A.3d 1206, 1213 (Pa.

2012). An inconsistent verdict is.allowed "to stand so long as the evidence is

sufficient to support the conviction." Id, 613 Pa. at 588, 35 A.3d at 1208 (citation

omitted). The Miller Court recognized that while "the jury's verdict appears to be

inconsistent, we refuse to inquire into or to speculate upon the nature of the jury's

deliberations or the rationale behind the jury's decision." Id, 613 Pa. at 596, 35 A.3d

at 1213. Since we have determined that.the evidence is sufficient to support the

                                            9
                                                                      Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

.conviction, we find no merit in Defendant's argument. In light of the foregoing, we

enter the following order.

                                        10
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                COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONROE COUNTY
                      FORTY-THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT
                    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

        COMMONWEALTH OF                            : NO.    1798 CR 2013
        PENNSYLVANIA                                        1797 CR2013

                  vs.

        MARCUS JULIEN.DUGAS,

                         Defendant.
                                                   : POST SENTENCE MOTIONS

                                            ORDER

                  AND NOW, this           141{,\ day of November 2014, based upon the
        foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's Post-Sentence Motions are

        DENIED.

                                                   BY THE COURT:

                                                   STEPHEN M. WGGINS, Judge
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                                              11
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                                                                       Circulated 08/13/2015 11:26 AM

                    COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONROE COUNTY
                            4Yd JUDICIAL DISTRICT
                         COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

  Commonweal th of PA:                                        NO. 1798 CR 2013
             Vs                                                   1797 CR 2013
  Marcus Julien Dugas

                           AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE - Opinion
  L Susan Deboer, depose and say that the attached Notice and Order was served
  in the following manner on November 19, 2014

  Parties:
  /}/_                .»           /:f/(~J/                   .
  ~               JI~                 .Dis tr ict: Attorney

  t%a. }JJ, ~                         /Jonald Leeth, Esq.

/~~
  Susan DeBoer