Court Opinion

ID: 4179166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-20 17:16:38.861923+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:51.165543
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    AKEEM LEE                                  :
                                               :
                      Appellant                :   No. 1112 EDA 2016

             Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 24, 2016
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0001812-2012,
                             CP-51-CR-0001816-2012

BEFORE:       GANTMAN, P.J., OTT, J. and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                                     FILED JUNE 20, 2017

        Akeem Lee appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed on March

24, 2016, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. The trial court

sentenced Lee to an aggregate term of six to 12 years’ imprisonment,

following his non-jury conviction of attempted murder1 and related charges

for a January 2012 shooting. On appeal, Lee challenges the sufficiency of

the evidence supporting his conviction of attempted murder, and the trial

court’s denial of his motion to dismiss based upon a violation of his speedy

trial rights. For the reasons below, we affirm.

____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
    See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 901, 2502.
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       The facts underlying Lee’s conviction are summarized by the trial court

as follows:
             On January 5, 2012, at approximately 8:00 p.m.,
       complainant #1 got into a physical altercation with a female
       classmate outside of Carnell Elementary School in Philadelphia,
       Pennsylvania. Complainant #1’s older brother, complainant #2,
       broke up [the] fight between the two (2) younger girls. As
       complainant #2 attempted to separate the girls, the female
       classmate that was fighting threatened that she was going to tell
       her cousin, [Lee], to shoot complainant #2 (complainant #1’s
       brother).[2]

             After the altercation, complainant #1 walked back to her
       residence on Langdon Street with her brother’s friend. Later
       that same evening, complainant #1 was home with only her two
       (2) younger siblings and her brother’s friend, when she heard a
       knock at the front door. As minor complainant #1 opened the
       door, [Lee], co-defendant, the female classmate, and another
       female classmate, barged into the home. [Lee] grabbed minor
       complainant #1 by her shirt and yelled, “where your brother at?”
       [Lee] pushed minor complainant #1 to the ground and her
       classmates began to hit her. While the classmates were fighting
       complainant #1, [Lee] pulled a handgun out of his pocket and
       ran upstairs yelling, “if I find anyone in here, it’s a rap.” [Lee]
       came back downstairs with the handgun touching the back of the
       head of complainant #2’s friend. [Lee] forced the friend out of
       the home while the other intruders followed; complainant #1
       and her younger siblings were left alone in the house. Several
       hours later, complainants’ mother returned home from work.
       Once the mother learned what had transpired, she escorted the
       children to the Northeast Detectives’ Division so that the children
       could provide statements.

            Subsequent to the intruders leaving the residence,
       complainant #2 was standing in front of a pharmacy located at
       Oxford and Frontenac Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
       when a white Chrysler pulled up in front of him. [Lee] jumped
____________________________________________

2
 At the time of the incident, both complainants were minors. Complainant
#1 was 13 years old, and complainant #2 was 15 years old. See N.T.,
11/10/2015, at 19, 127.

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       out of the car and began to hit complainant #2. A physical
       altercation ensued. Two (2) women jumped out of the car and
       also began hitting complainant #2. [Lee] stopped fighting, ran
       back to the car, and returned to the fight with a black handgun.
       [Lee] fired approximately six (6) shots at complainant #2.
       Complainant #2 started to run and felt the bullets whiz by his
       head, but he escaped unharmed.          On January 10, 2012,
       complainant #2 provided a statement to the Northeast
       Detectives.

Trial Court Opinion, 9/21/2016, at 2-4 (record citations omitted).

       Lee was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder,

aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, firearms not to

be carried without a license, and carrying a firearm on a public street in

Philadelphia.3 On March 16, 2015, Lee filed a petition for dismissal of the

charges pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 600. The trial court denied Lee’s motion

following a hearing immediately preceding trial on November 10, 2015.

After the Commonwealth presented its case-in-chief, the trial was continued

until January 22, 2016. Following additional testimony that day, the court

entered a verdict of guilty on all charges. Lee was sentenced on March 24,

2016, to a term of six to 12 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder, and

____________________________________________

3
  See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 907/2502, 2702, 2705, 6106, and 6108, respectively.
Lee’s co-defendant, Ebony Hinton, was charged with burglary, conspiracy
and related offenses for the break-in at the complainants’ home. She was
convicted of multiple offenses and sentenced to an aggregate term of 12 to
24 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years’ probation. See Docket
No. CP-51-CR-0001815-2012.

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concurrent prison terms on the remaining charges. This timely appeal

follows.4

         In his first issue, Lee contends the evidence was insufficient to support

his   conviction    of   attempted      murder.   Specifically,   he   asserts   the

Commonwealth failed to present any evidence he possessed the specific

intent to kill complainant #2. See Lee’s Brief at 11. Further, he claims no

witness observed him firing a weapon, and complainant #2’s testimony that

he heard bullets “whizz by” his head was insufficient to demonstrate Lee

“was firing a handgun at a vital part of the complainant’s body.” Lee’s Brief

at 12.

         Our review with respect to a sufficiency of the evidence challenge is

well-settled:

         The standard we apply … is whether viewing all the evidence
         admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict winner,
         there is sufficient evidence to enable the 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
____________________________________________

4
  On July 6, 2016, the trial court ordered Lee to file a concise statement of
errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Lee complied
with the court’s directive, and filed a concise statement on July 25, 2016.

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      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
      trier 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.

Commonwealth v. Truong, 36 A.3d 592, 597 (Pa. Super. 2012) (en banc)

(quotation omitted), appeal denied, 57 A.3d 70 (Pa. 2012).

      “A conviction for attempted murder requires the Commonwealth to

prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had the specific intent

to kill and took a substantial step towards that goal.” Commonwealth v.

Blakeney, 946 A.2d 645, 652 (Pa. 2008), citing 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 901, 2502,

cert. denied, 555 U.S. 1177 (2009). Moreover, we must bear in mind:

      “The Commonwealth may establish the mens rea … specific
      intent to kill, solely from circumstantial evidence.” Further, our
      Supreme Court has repeatedly determined that “[t]he use of a
      deadly weapon on a vital part of the body is sufficient to
      establish the specific intent to kill.”

Commonwealth v. Tucker, 143 A.3d 955, 964 (Pa. Super. 2016) (internal

citations omitted), appeal denied, ___ A.3d ___, 2017 WL 401331 (Pa. Jan.

30, 2017).

      Our review of the trial transcript reveals ample evidence to support the

trial court’s verdict.   Lee accompanied his co-defendant and two juveniles

who forced their way into the complainants’ home looking for complainant

#2. Complainant #1 testified Lee grabbed her chest, pushed her up against

the wall, and asked where her brother was. N.T., 11/10/2015, at 35. When

she told him she did not know, Lee then proceeded up the stairs, with a gun

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in his hand, and stated: “If I find somebody in here, it’s a rap[,]” meaning

he intended to shoot someone. Id. at 38-39. Lee then came back down the

stairs, holding a gun to the head of complainant #2’s friend. See id. at 39-

40.

       Later that evening, Lee and his cohorts tracked down complainant #2

on the street and began punching him.5 See id. at 134. Lee then ran back

to his car and retrieved a black handgun. Complainant #2 indicated Lee was

pointing the gun in his direction when Lee began shooting. See id. at 141.

He stated:

       I ran. I heard like six shots. Two went by my head, and the
       rest went either onto the pavement or into cars. I ran like two
       blocks and hid in someone's bushes.

Id. at 134-135.

       Accordingly, the evidence presented at trial demonstrated:    (1) Lee

made threatening comments at the complainants’ home while searching for

complainant #2 and brandishing a firearm; (2) complainant #2 told police

Lee was “pointing the firearm in [his] direction” when he fired the weapon;

and (3) Lee fired six shots near complainant #2’s head. See id. at 38-39,
____________________________________________

5
  At trial, complainant #2 testified he did not remember any of the events in
question, and did not know either of the co-defendants.           See N.T.,
11/10/2015, at 132 (complainant #2 stated: “I blocked this stuff out. I
don’t want to be here. I don’t want to testify.”). The Commonwealth
introduced his version of the events and identification of Lee via his
statement to police and testimony at the preliminary hearing. See id. at
131-145.

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134-135, 141. This evidence was sufficient to establish Lee possessed the

specific intent to kill, and took a substantial step toward that goal.      See

Commonwealth v. Manley, 985 A.2d 256, 272 (Pa. Super. 2009)

(evidence that appellant fired multiple shots at the victim, five of which

struck the victim although not in a vital organ, was sufficient for the jury to

infer the appellant had a specific intent to kill), appeal denied, 996 A.2d 491

(Pa. 2010). See also Commonwealth v. Chambers, 980 A.2d 35, 47 (Pa.

2009) (“[I]t is well-established in Pennsylvania law that the specific intent to

kill can be formed in a fraction of a second, and may be found whenever the

defendant acts with a conscious purpose to bring about the death of the

victim.”), cert. denied, 560 U.S. 928 (2010).          Therefore, no relief is

warranted on Lee’s first issue.

      Next, Lee contends the trial court erred in denying his petition for

dismissal of the charges based on a violation of his speedy trial rights

pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 600.

             Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600 was designed
      “to protect a defendant’s speedy trial rights, as well as society’s
      right to effective prosecution of criminal cases.” The Rule
      mandates, inter alia, that a defendant must be tried on criminal
      charges no later than 365 days after the criminal complaint is
      filed. Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(A)(1, 3).7
      __________
         7
          We note that a new Rule 600 was adopted, effective July
        1, 2013, “to reorganize and clarify the provisions of the
        rule in view of the long line of cases that have construed
        the rule.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 600, Comment. However, because
        the criminal complaint in this case was filed prior to the
        new rule, we will apply the former version of Rule 600.
      __________

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             This straightforward calculation is known as the
       mechanical run date. However, those periods of delay caused by
       a defendant are excluded from the computation of the length of
       time of any pretrial incarceration.        Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(C).
       Following these exclusions, if any, we arrive at an adjusted run
       date by extending the mechanical run date to account for these
       exclusions.    Any other delay that occurs, despite the
       Commonwealth’s due diligence, is deemed excusable and results
       in further adjustments to the effective run date. Pa.R.Crim.P.
       600(G)

             After the expiration of the 365–day period, but before trial,
       a defendant may move for dismissal of the charges with
       prejudice. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(G). Thereafter, the trial court
       is required to hold a hearing to determine whether the
       Commonwealth “exercised due diligence and [whether] the
       circumstances occasioning the postponement were beyond the
       control of the Commonwealth,” in which case, the motion should
       be denied. Id. When considering whether the Commonwealth
       acted with due diligence, we note:

          “[T]he Commonwealth must do everything reasonable
          within its power to guarantee that a trial begins on time,”
          and the Commonwealth has the burden of demonstrating
          by a preponderance of the evidence that it exercised due
          diligence. “As has been oft stated, [d]ue diligence is fact-
          specific, to be determined case-by-case; it does not
          require perfect vigilance and punctilious care, but merely a
          showing the Commonwealth has put forth a reasonable
          effort.”

Commonwealth v. Dixon, 140 A.3d 718, 722–723 (Pa. Super. 2016)

(internal case citations omitted) appeal denied, ___ A.3d ___, 2016 WL

6094188 (Pa. Oct. 19, 2016).        We review an order denying a Rule 600

motion for an abuse of discretion. Id. at 723.

       Here, the trial court, in its opinion, provided a detailed analysis of each

delay, and the reason for the delay. See Trial Court Opinion, 9/21/2016, at

6-8.     The court determined which delays were attributable to the

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Commonwealth, and which ones constituted excludable or excusable time.

See id. Our review of the criminal docket supports the trial court’s findings,

and, accordingly, we rest on the court’s thorough opinion.

      Moreover, we note Lee’s analysis of his Rule 600 claim consists solely

of the following paragraph:

            In the instant case, the mechanical run date began on
      January 6, 2012, with the filing of the criminal complaint. There
      is no dispute with the trial court’s analysis that approximately
      eighteen (18) months of excludable time are attributed to [Lee]
      or co-defendant or defense counsel. However, since almost four
      (4) years transpired before the matter came to trial on
      November 10, 2015, it is clear that 365 days had elapsed taking
      into account excludable time and excusable delay.

Lee’s Brief at 14. Lee does not discuss any of the specific time periods which

the trial court determined were excusable delay as a result of the

Commonwealth’s due diligence, but rather simply asserts the four-year delay

must be violative of Rule 600. We remind Lee that “[i]t is not the obligation

of this Court … to formulate [his] arguments for him.” Commonwealth v.

Johnson, 985 A.2d 915, 924 (Pa. 2009), cert. denied, 562 U.S. 906 (2010).

Accordingly, based on Lee’s “limited development of the argument,” we

could also find this issue waived. Commonwealth v. Cornelius, 856 A.2d

62, 77 (Pa. Super. 2004), appeal denied, 895 A.2d 548 (Pa. 2006).

Therefore, Lee’s second issue warrants no relief.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/20/2017

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