Court Opinion

ID: 6227004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 18:12:24.183905+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:41.900536
License: Public Domain

J-A03044-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    ARNOLD BELL                                :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 536 EDA 2021

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 22, 2020
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at
                       No(s): CP-39-CR-0003916-2019

BEFORE: STABILE, J., DUBOW, J., and McCAFFERY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY McCAFFERY, J.:                        FILED FEBRUARY 17, 2022

        Arnold Bell (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed

on October 22, 2020, in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas following

his jury conviction of two counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault,

and recklessly endangering another person (REAP).1 Appellant’s sole issue on

appeal is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his

convictions of aggravated assault. We affirm.

        On July 15, 2019, Appellant was charged with the aforementioned

offenses following an incident at his home earlier that day when the two

victims, Donte Dennis2 and Rodney Walker, suffered chemical burns. The case

____________________________________________

1   18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2702(a)(1), 2701(a)(1), and 2705, respectively.

2 Throughout the trial, Dennis was also referred to as “Abigail Walker,” the
name provided to police. See Trial Ct. Op., 4/22/21, at 1 n.1. We, like the
trial court, will refer to the individual as Dennis. Id.
J-A03044-22

proceeded to a jury trial commencing on August 17, 2020, during which

Appellant was represented by a public defender. The testimony presented

during Appellant’s trial is aptly summarized by the trial court as follows:

      On July 15, 2019, Donte Dennis was staying with Appellant at
      Appellant’s residence located [on] North Sherman Street,
      Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Dennis and Appellant
      met online in approximately 2017-2018 and developed a
      friendship. In October of 2018, Dennis moved in with Appellant.
      Dennis testified that on July 14, 2019, Rodney Walker, Dennis’
      paramour, had attended a gathering with Dennis, Appellant, and
      other individuals at Appellant’s house. Dennis testified that
      Appellant generally got along with Walker. Dennis believed
      Walker felt Dennis’ friendship with Appellant detracted from the
      time Dennis spent with Walker.

            Walker stayed at Appellant’s residence after the gathering.
      During the evening hours of July 14, 2019 into July 15, 2019,
      Walker and Dennis got into an ongoing argument that lasted much
      of the night. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on July 15, 2019,
      Appellant approached Dennis and said that Walker had to go.
      Dennis testified that Walker was “rude” to Appellant and got into
      a verbal altercation with him. At some point during this dispute,
      Appellant directed Dennis to move and threw a cup of paint
      stripper at Walker, which also struck Dennis.

             Appellant testified in his own defense at trial and described
      this incident. He explained he viewed his apartment as a safe
      zone for Dennis. Appellant explained that on the evening of the
      incident, Dennis and Walker were on the third-floor attic area of
      Appellant’s apartment having an argument. Appellant was asleep
      at about 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. on July 15, 2019 when he was
      awakened by a loud commotion. Appellant testified that Walker
      was carrying on, so he told Walker that he had 15 minutes to leave
      the residence.

             After Appellant instructed Walker to leave, Appellant
      testified that Walker began coming toward him. In picking up his
      belongings, Walker knocked over a mug containing paint stripper
      that Appellant was using for a project. Appellant picked up the
      container and was holding it. Appellant testified that Walker
      attempted to strike punch him, which caused the mug to fly out

                                     -2-
J-A03044-22

     of Appellant’s hands and sent paint stripper into a nearby fan.
     This allegedly caused the paint stripper to splatter “everywhere,”
     including on Appellant’s arms. The paint stripper also landed on
     both Dennis and Walker. Neighbors heard the noise at this time
     and began knocking on Appellant’s door and Appellant, Dennis,
     and Walker believed they were going to call the police. Dennis
     and Appellant attempted to rinse the paint stripper off of
     themselves. Walker was trying to leave the residence.

           Walker also testified about the incident at trial. Walker
     indicated that Appellant yelled at both him and Dennis prior to the
     incident. Walker testified that Appellant threw the paint stripper
     at him while he was walking down the stairs to get away from his
     confrontation with Appellant. The paint stripper was on the back
     of Walker’s shoulder, on his neck, and partially on his forearm.
     Walker denied seeing Appellant throw the mug at him. Walker
     and Dennis subsequently left Appellant’s residence and proceeded
     to Sacred Heart Hospital.

            Office[r] Theodore Kiskeravage of the Allentown Police
     Department testified that on July 15, 2019, at approximately 2:30
     a.m., he was working in the early-morning hours when he heard
     a call go out over the radio for a report of individuals who had acid
     thrown on them. At approximately 3:30 a.m., a second call went
     out indicating people had shown up at Sacred Heart Hospital who
     had acid thrown on them. Officer Kiskeravage proceeded to
     Sacred Heart and encounter[ed] Dennis, who self-identified as
     Abigail Walker. Officer Kiskeravage observed what appeared to
     be chemical burns on Dennis’ neck, right arm, and back. He also
     observed Rodney Walker, who appeared to have more severe
     chemical burns on his neck, right arm, flank, and back. Officer
     Kiskeravage took pictures of the burns, which were admitted into
     evidence as Commonwealth’s Exhibits 1-5. Walker and Dennis
     were subsequently transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Burn
     Unit, which was better equipped to treat chemical burns than
     Sacred Heart Hospital.

           While at Sacred Heart Hospital, Officer Kiskeravage
     interviewed Dennis and Walker. He learned that the incident had
     occurred at . . . Appellant’s address, and that the suspect was
     Appellant. Officer Kiskeravage also ascertained that Appellant had
     a history of using and possibly cooking methamphetamines, so
     prior to obtaining a search warrant and an arrest warrant,
     Allentown Police Department contacted the Clandestine Lab Team

                                     -3-
J-A03044-22

      from the Pennsylvania State Police to become involved due to the
      suspected presence of toxic and corrosive chemicals.

            At approximately 3:00 p.m. on July 15, 2019, after
      obtaining the necessary warrants, Officer Kiskeravage arrived at
      Appellant’s residence along with members of the Clandestine Lab
      Team and other Allentown Police Department officers to effectuate
      the warrants. There was not any evidence of methamphetamine
      or chemicals needed to cook methamphetamine in the apartment.
      Appellant was arrested at that time for the incident involving
      Dennis and Walker.

             During its case-in-chief, the Commonwealth offered the
      testimony of Lisa Kurth, a surgical resident at Lehigh Valley
      Hospital. Dr. Kurth testified that she had experience in the burn
      unit at the hospital, and was qualified as an expert in burn
      treatment and diagnosis. Dr. Kurth was one of the physicians who
      treated the victims. Dr. Kurth testified that at approximately 5:50
      a.m. on July 15, 2019, she encountered Dennis and Walker at the
      burn unit shortly after their arrival. Both were treated with
      Bacitracin ointment, IV fluids, and pain medication. Dr. Kurth
      testified that both Dennis and Walker appeared to be in pain.

Trial Ct. Op. at 2-6 (footnotes omitted).

      At the conclusion of trial, on August 18, 2020, the jury returned a verdict

of guilty on all charges.   On October 22, 2020, the trial court sentenced

Appellant to an aggregate term of 7 to 15 years’ imprisonment. Appellant

filed a timely, counseled post-sentence motion on October 29th, challenging

the weight of the evidence supporting his convictions and requesting

modification of his sentence. The trial court denied the motion on November

2, 2020.

      Thereafter, on November 9, 2020, Appellant filed two documents, pro

se, which are listed on the trial court docket as (1) “Motion to Modify and

Reduce Sentence” and (2) “Petition for Appeal of Conviction.” See Trial Ct.

Docket, 11/9/20. In the latter document, Appellant requested the trial court

                                      -4-
J-A03044-22

“grant his petition for Appeal of Conviction” based upon allegations of trial

counsel’s ineffectiveness and prosecutorial misconduct.     See Petition for

Appeal of Conviction, 11/9/20, at 1 (unpaginated).    The trial court did not

forward the pro se notice of appeal to this Court.

        On November 19, 2020, the Public Defender’s Office filed a motion for

appointment of new counsel because Appellant’s petition “alleg[ed] ineffective

assistance of counsel.” Motion for Appointment of Counsel, 11/19/20, at 1

(unpaginated). The trial court granted the motion, and entered an order on

November 23, 2020, appointing present counsel, Matthew Rapa, Esquire, to

represent Appellant. See Order, 11/23/20. The next day, November 24th,

the trial court entered an order purporting to “STAY[ ]” Appellant’s petition

for appeal, and extend the appeal period until December 14, 2020, “pending

review by counsel.” Order, 11/24/20. The court noted that while Appellant’s

document “identified as an appeal, [it] raises issues which would be pursued

under the Pennsylvania Post Conviction Relief Act [(PCRA)3.]”     Id. at n.1.

Thus, the court directed Attorney Rapa to “consult” with Appellant and

determine if he wanted to file a direct appeal or pursue relief through the

PCRA.     Id.   On December 4, 2020, the trial court entered another order,

____________________________________________

3   42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.

                                           -5-
J-A03044-22

dismissing Appellant’s petition for appeal of conviction without prejudice based

upon its November 24th order, which purported to extend the appeal period.4

       Thereafter, Attorney Rapa filed two motions for extension of time, both

of which the trial court granted. He ultimately filed an “[a]mended” notice of

appeal on March 5, 2021. See Appellant’s Amended Notice of Appeal, 3/5/21.

On March 9th, the trial court directed Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)

concise statement of errors complained of on appeal within 45 days. Appellant

complied and filed a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement on April 14, 2021.

       On June 3, 2021, this Court directed Appellant to show cause why the

appeal — filed on March 5, 2021, from the judgment of sentence imposed on

October 22, 2020 — should not be quashed as untimely.             Order, 6/3/21.

Appellant filed a timely reply, asserting that the trial court extended the period

for filing a notice of appeal. See Appellant’s Reply to Rule to Show Cause,

6/4/21. On June 9, 2021, this Court entered a per curiam order referring the

issue to the merits panel. Order, 6/9/21. Accordingly, before we address

Appellant’s substantive issue, we must first determine whether this appeal is

properly before us.

       Generally, a notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after entry of

the order from which the appeal is taken. Pa.R.A.P. 903(a). In a criminal
____________________________________________

4On November 25, 2020, the trial court denied Appellant’s pro se motion to
modify or reduce his sentence. See Order, 11/25/20.

                                           -6-
J-A03044-22

case, the appeal lies from the judgment of sentence, unless a defendant files

a timely post-sentence motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(A)(3). In that instance,

the appeal must be filed within 30 days of the order denying the post-sentence

motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(A)(2)(a).

      Here, the trial court entered an order denying Appellant’s counseled,

timely post-sentence motion on November 2, 2020. Thus, Appellant’s notice

of appeal was due by December 2, 2020. The notice of appeal forwarded to

this Court was filed on March 5, 2021, and is facially untimely.

      Appellant asserts, however, that the trial court “extended the period” to

file a notice of appeal, and that counsel filed the appeal within that extended

time period. See Appellant’s Reply to Rule to Show Cause, 6/4/21, at 1-2

(unpaginated). This argument fails. Indeed, it is well-settled that neither a

trial court nor this Court has the authority to extend the time for filing a notice

of appeal. See Pa.R.A.P. 105(b) (“An appellate court . . . may not enlarge the

time for filing a notice of appeal[.]”); Commonwealth v. Anwyll, 482 A.2d

656, 657 (Pa. Super. 1984) (“When an Act of Assembly fixes the time within

which an appeal may be taken, a court may not extend time for appeal.”).

Thus, the trial court’s purported “extension” orders were legal nullities.

      Nevertheless, upon our review of the record and relevant case law, we

conclude that a “breakdown in the processes of the court” occurred when the

trial court clerk failed to forward Appellant’s timely-filed, pro se Petition for

Appeal of Conviction to this Court. See Commonwealth v. Patterson, 940

A.2d 493, 498 (Pa. Super. 2007) (general rule prohibiting appellate court from

                                       -7-
J-A03044-22

extending time for filing an appeal “does not affect the power of the courts to

grant relief in the case of fraud or breakdown in the processes of the court.”).

Although, generally, courts will not accept pro se filings by a defendant who

is represented by counsel, we have recognized an exception to this rule when

the pro se filing is a notice of appeal. This Court’s decision in Commonwealth

v. Williams, 151 A.3d 621 (Pa. Super. 2016), is instructive.

      In that case, like here, the appellant filed a timely, counseled post-

sentence motion, which the trial court denied. Williams, 151 A.3d at 623.

Within the relevant 30-day period, the appellant filed a pro se notice of appeal.

Id. However, instead of forwarding it to this Court, the trial court forwarded

the notice of appeal to counsel. Id. Counsel then filed an untimely notice of

appeal. Id.

      Despite the facial untimeliness of the appeal, the Williams panel

accepted the appeal as timely filed. The panel opined that, although hybrid

representation is generally not permitted,

      Superior Court Internal Operating Procedure (“I.O.P.”) 65.24
      addresses hybrid representation in the context of a notice of
      appeal as follows:

         Where a litigant is represented by an attorney before the
         Court and the litigant submits for filing a petition, motion,
         brief or other type of pleading in the matter, it shall not be
         accepted for filing, but noted on the docket and forwarded
         to counsel of record.

         Exceptions:

              1. A pro se notice of appeal received from the trial
              court shall be docketed, even in instances where

                                      -8-
J-A03044-22

              the pro se [appellant] was represented by
              counsel in the trial court.

              2. A motion by the pro se for appointment of new
              counsel, for reasons such as abandonment by counsel,
              or to proceed pro se shall be docketed and referred to
              Central Legal Staff, or the merits panel if constituted,
              for review and further action by the Court.

              3. A pro se brief or writing filed in response to
              counsel's petition to withdraw from representation.

       210 Pa. Code § 65.24 (emphasis added). Thus, we must address
       the difference between pro se filings, generally, that are “noted
       on the docket” under Pa.R.Crim.P. 576(A)(4), as opposed to a
       notice of appeal being “docketed” under I.O.P. 65.24.

                                       *       *   *

              Because a notice of appeal protects a constitutional right, it
       is distinguishable from other filings that require counsel to provide
       legal knowledge and strategy in creating a motion, petition, or
       brief. We thus hold that this Court is required to docket a
       pro se notice of appeal despite [the a]ppellant being
       represented by counsel[.] Additionally, in the case at bar, [the
       a]ppellant’s pro se notice of appeal was docketed in the trial court
       but not forwarded to this Court pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 902
       (note).[5] We deem this a breakdown in the operation of the
       courts. Therefore, we shall accept this appeal as timely.

Id. at 623-24 (some emphasis added and footnotes omitted).

       The same is true here.              Indeed, the trial court recognized that

Appellant’s pro se Petition for Appeal of Conviction — filed within 30-days of

the order denying his post-sentence motion — appeared to be a notice of

appeal. See Order, 11/24/20, at n.1. At that point, the trial court should
____________________________________________

5 The Note to Pa.R.A.P. 902 provides that, when an appellant files a notice of
appeal, “[t]he clerk of the trial court transmits one set of the filed papers to
the appellate prothonotary (with the requisite filing fee).” Pa.R.A.P. 902,
Note.

                                            -9-
J-A03044-22

have forwarded the document to this Court, which would have preserved

Appellant’s direct appeal rights.   Thus, here, as in Williams, we conclude

there was a breakdown in the operation of the courts, and we will accept

Appellant’s appeal as timely filed.      See Williams, 151 A.3d at 624.

Accordingly, we proceed to an examination of Appellant’s substantive claim

on appeal.

      Appellant raises one issue for our review:

      Whether the sum total of all the evidence adduced at trial, even
      when viewed in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth as
      verdict winner, was sufficient as a matter of law to convict
      Appellant of two counts of aggravated assault?

Appellant’s Brief at 4.

      Our review of a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is well-

settled:

             [We consider] whether viewing all the evidence admitted at
      trial in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, there is
      sufficient evidence to enable a fact-finder to find every element of
      the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In applying the above test,
      we may not weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for
      the fact-finder.     In addition, we note that the facts and
      circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not
      preclude every possibility of innocence. 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. The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of
      proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt by
      means of wholly circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in applying
      the above test, the entire record must be evaluated and all
      evidence actually received must be considered. Finally, the finder
      of fact while passing upon the credibility of witnesses and the
      weight of the evidence produced is free to believe all, part or none
      of the evidence.

                                     - 10 -
J-A03044-22

Commonwealth v. Riggs, 63 A.3d 780, 784 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation

omitted).

      In    order   to   secure   a   conviction   for   aggravated   assault,   the

Commonwealth must prove, inter alia, the defendant

      attempt[ed] to cause serious bodily injury to another, or cause[d]
      such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under
      circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of
      human life[.]

18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1). The Crimes Code defines “serious bodily injury” as

“[b]odily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes

serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the

function of any bodily member or organ.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2301. When a victim

suffers serious bodily injury, the Commonwealth is not required to prove the

defendant acted with the specific intent to cause that injury.                   See

Commonwealth v. Nichols, 692 A.2d 181, 185 (Pa. Super. 1997). Rather,

as noted above,

      [t]he Commonwealth need only prove [the defendant] acted
      recklessly under circumstances manifesting an extreme
      indifference to the value of human life. For the degree of
      recklessness contained in the aggravated assault statute to occur,
      the offensive act must be performed under circumstances
      which almost assure that injury or death will ensue.

Id. (citations and quotation marks omitted; emphasis added).             See also

Commonwealth v. O'Hanlon, 653 A.2d 616, 618 (Pa. 1995) (explaining that

under the aggravated assault statute, “[t]he recklessness must . . . be such

that life threatening injury is essentially certain to occur[; t]his state of mind

is, accordingly, equivalent to that which seeks to cause injury”).

                                        - 11 -
J-A03044-22

      Here, Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove he

intended to cause serious bodily injury to Walker and Dennis. Appellant’s Brief

at 11. He asserts that there was no testimony he threatened either one of

the victims or had to be restrained from harming them. Id. at 11-12. Instead,

Appellant maintains he permitted Walker and Dennis to stay in his home, and

“only asked Walker to leave when he began to become aggressive and rude.”

Id. at 11. Appellant insists that it was “[o]nly after Walker . . . refused to

leave and rushed . . . Appellant [that Walker was struck] with paint stripper.”

Id. He also emphasizes that after the victims “came in contact with the paint

stripper, [he] attempted to get them into the shower to wash off the

chemical.” Id. at 12 (record citation omitted). Thus, Appellant insists “the

Commonwealth failed to prove that [he] acted with the required mens rea to

support a conviction of aggravated assault[.]” Id.

      In the present case, the jury found that both Walker and Dennis

sustained “serious bodily injury.” See Verdict, 8/18/20, at 1 (unpaginated).

Appellant does not dispute that finding on appeal. Thus, to the extent his

argument focuses on his intent – or lack thereof — to injure the victims, it is

misplaced. Indeed, when serious bodily injury occurs, “[t]he Commonwealth

need only prove [Appellant] acted recklessly under circumstances manifesting

an extreme indifference to the value of human life.” Nichols, 692 A.2d at

185. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth,

as verdict winner, we conclude there was sufficient evidence for the jury to

                                    - 12 -
J-A03044-22

find Appellant intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused serious bodily

injury to Walker and Dennis. See Riggs, 63 A.3d at 784.

      Here, Appellant focuses on his own testimony that the liquid was

splashed on the victims as a result of an accident — according to Appellant, it

was only after Walker “rushed” him that Walker was “struck with paint

stripper[,]” and immediately thereafter, Appellant attempted to get both

Walker and Dennis in the shower to “wash off the chemical.” See Appellant’s

Brief at 11-12; N.T., 8/18/20, at 82-84. However, as the trial court opines,

“the testimony and evidence concerning the location of the chemical burns on

both victims supported the finding that, contrary to Appellant’s testimony, the

chemical burns resulted from Appellant throwing the mug at them.” Trial Ct.

Op. at 10.

      Indeed, Walker testified that he and Dennis were walking down the

stairs leaving the apartment when Appellant “threw” the liquid on them. N.T.,

8/18/20, at 18-19. Dennis confirmed that Appellant was holding the cup in

his hand, and told Dennis — who was in between the two men — to “move

out of the way.” N.T., 8/17/20, at 112, 117. Dennis did not see Walker touch

Appellant. Id. at 117. Moreover, Appellant’s own testimony confirmed that

he knew the liquid in the mug was paint stripper, and in particular was “really

strong stuff,” because it was “the most abrasive one [he] could find for

removing all kinds of paint.” N.T., 8/18/20, at 81. Finally, the jury observed

the location of chemical burns on the neck, arm and back of both victims. See

N.T., 8/17/20, at 71, 74-76 (Trooper Kiskeravage testifying regarding the

                                    - 13 -
J-A03044-22

location of the burns, and displaying photographs to the jury); 122 (Dennis

showing the jury the scar on her arm); N.T., 8/18/20, at 23-24 (Walker

showing jury the scars on his chest and back).      As the sole determiner of

credibility, the jury was free to believe Walker’s testimony that Appellant

threw the liquid at the victims, and reject Appellant’s claim that the spill was

accidental. See Riggs, 63 A.3d at 784.

      Furthermore, to the extent Appellant argues he did not intend to harm

Dennis, we conclude the evidence was sufficient for the jury to find Appellant

acted recklessly. The testimony at trial established that Appellant knew when

he was about to throw “abrasive” paint thinner at Walker, Dennis was in the

crosshairs because he told Dennis to “move out of the way.” N.T., 8/17/20,

at 112. Although Dennis did not move, Appellant still threw the paint thinner

at Walker. Based upon this testimony, the jury could determine that Appellant

“could [have] reasonably anticipate[d] that serious bodily injury [to Dennis]

would be the likely and logical consequence of his actions.” O’Hanlon, 653

A.2d at 618. Thus, we conclude Appellant is entitled to no relief.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/17/2022

                                     - 14 -