Court Opinion

ID: 4412429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-28 16:46:46.240891+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:53.845757
License: Public Domain

J-S25037-19

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    IN THE INTEREST OF: G.Y.,                  :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    A MINOR                                    :          PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: G.Y., A MINOR                   :        No. 2022 MDA 2018

         Appeal from the Dispositional Order Entered October 16, 2018
                 in the Court of Common Pleas of York County
             Juvenile Division at No(s): CP-67-JV-0000236-2017

BEFORE: STABILE, J., MURRAY, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                                 FILED JUNE 28, 2019

        G.Y., a minor, appeals from the Dispositional Order entered following

his adjudication of delinquency for the offenses of robbery, criminal

conspiracy, simple assault, and theft by unlawful taking.1 We affirm.

        On January 18, 2017, the victim, age 19, was riding his blue, 20-inch

BMX bicycle to his sister’s house when he was stopped in an alley by a group

of male juveniles. With the exception of one individual in red clothes, the

juveniles wore dark, hooded clothing.              The victim, who is autistic and

developmentally delayed, was pushed off his bike and beaten. The group of

juveniles stole the victim’s bike and his iPhone. Although injured, the victim

was able to walk to his sister’s house, at which point the victim’s sister

contacted the police.

____________________________________________

1   See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3701, 903, 2701, 3921.
J-S25037-19

      York City Officer Ritchie Blymier (“Officer Blymier”) responded to the

area of the attack, spoke with bystanders, and interviewed the victim. Shortly

thereafter, Officer Blymier located a group of juveniles matching the

descriptions provided by the victim and bystanders, congregated in front of

239 and 241 South Belvidere Street, York, Pennsylvania. G.Y. indicated to

Officer Blymier that he resided at 241 South Belvidere Street. Officer Blymier

proceeded to the rear of that property and discovered a bike matching the

description provided by the victim. The victim later identified the bike as his.

In subsequent days, the victim’s iPhone was produced to the police by the

parents of another juvenile involved in the attack.

      The juvenile court adjudicated G.Y. delinquent of the above-mentioned

offenses at a fact-finding hearing on April 20, 2018 (the “hearing”). At the

hearing, the following evidence was presented by the Commonwealth:

            A third-party surveillance video depicting G.Y. leading a group of
             juveniles out of the alley prior to the attack, turning around to
             look into the alley, walking back into the alley, catching the
             attention of the other juveniles, leading the group back into the
             alley, and emerging from the alley with the group, including those
             who were riding the victim’s bike and re-enacting the assault of
             the victim; See N.T., 4/20/18, 38-44.

            Testimony from Officer Blymier as to the surveillance video, his
             discussion with G.Y., which affirmed G.Y.’s residence as 241 South
             Belvidere Street, and his discovery of the bike at G.Y.’s residence.
             See id. at 27-48.

            Testimony from the victim as to the details of the attack, including
             that he was confronted by one individual who then “got the rest
             of the kids,” and that he was beaten by several individuals, the
             injuries he sustained, and the property stolen. See id. at 3-21.

                                      -2-
J-S25037-19

            Testimony from the victim’s mother as to the injuries the victim
             sustained, the property stolen, the value of the property stolen,
             and the impact of the attack on the victim. See id. at 21-27.

At G.Y.’s request, adjudication was deferred pending a social investigation.

Thereafter, G.Y. was adjudicated delinquent on October 16, 2018. Following

entry of the Dispositional Order, G.Y. filed a Motion in arrest of judgment on

November 16, 2018, which was denied on November 27, 2018. G.Y. filed a

timely Notice of Appeal on December 7, 2018, and a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) Concise Statement on December 13, 2018.

      On appeal, G.Y. raises the following question for our review:

      Did the [juvenile] court err in its Order of November 27, 2018,
      affirming its Order dated [October 16], 2018, in which the court
      adjudicated G.Y. delinquent, when the evidence was insufficient
      to support G.Y.’s adjudication of [delinquent] of robbery; criminal
      conspiracy; theft by unlawful taking and simple assault?

Brief for Appellant at 4 (capitalization omitted).

      When examining a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence

supporting an adjudication of delinquency, this Court employs the following

standard of review:

      When a juvenile is charged with an act that would constitute a
      crime if committed by an adult, the Commonwealth must establish
      the elements of the crime by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
      When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence
      following an adjudication of delinquency, we must review the
      entire record and view the evidence in the light most favorable to
      the Commonwealth. In determining whether the Commonwealth
      presented sufficient evidence to meet its burden of proof, the test
      to be applied is whether, viewing the evidence in the light most
      favorable    to    the    Commonwealth       and    drawing      all
      reasonable inferences therefrom, there is sufficient evidence to

                                      -3-
J-S25037-19

       find every element of the crime charged. The Commonwealth
       may sustain its burden of proving every element of the
       crime beyond a reasonable doubt by wholly circumstantial
       evidence.

       The facts and circumstances established by the Commonwealth
       need not be absolutely incompatible with a defendant’s innocence.
       Questions of doubt are for the hearing judge, unless the evidence
       is so weak that, as a matter of law, no probability of fact can be
       drawn from the combined circumstances established by the
       Commonwealth. The finder of fact is free to believe some, all, or
       none of the evidence presented.

In re J.G., 145 A.3d 1179, 1188 (Pa. Super. 2016) (emphasis added).

       It is “not necessary that each piece of evidence be linked to the

defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. It is only necessary that each piece of

evidence include the defendant in the group who could be linked while

excluding others, and that the combination of evidence link the defendant to

the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Commonwealth v. Sullivan, 371

A.2d 468, 478 (Pa. 1977).

       G.Y. asserts that, although the Commonwealth proved beyond a

reasonable doubt that the victim was beaten and his property stolen, the

Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that G.Y. was

involved.2 Id. at 13. G.Y. acknowledges that he was present at the scene,

but contests his possession of the bicycle or iPhone. Id. G.Y. emphasizes

____________________________________________

2G.Y. does not develop distinct arguments as to each of the offenses for which
he was adjudicated delinquent. Instead, he addresses all crimes in one,
cumulative argument. See Brief for Appellant at 13-18. Nonetheless, we will
address each offense.

                                           -4-
J-S25037-19

that the surveillance video shows him walking away from the scene after the

attack had ceased, as opposed to running away or reenacting the beating with

co-conspirators.    Id. at 14.      This, he contends, evidences a lack of

consciousness of guilt.    Id.   Additionally, G.Y. claims that there was “no

evidence of agreement between G.Y. and any other person or persons that

they or one or more of them would commit the robbery.” Id. at 16. He further

states that “[n]o evidence was presented from any alleged co-conspirator

implicating G.Y.” Id. at 16-17.

     The Crimes Code defines the relevant offenses as follows:

     § 3701. Robbery

     (a)   Offense defined.--

           (1) A person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of
           committing a theft, he:
                                   …

                   (iv)   inflicts bodily injury upon another or threatens
                          another with or intentionally puts him in fear of
                          immediate bodily injury….

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3701(a).

     § 903. Criminal conspiracy

     (a)   Definition of conspiracy.--     A person is guilty of
           conspiracy with another person or persons to commit a
           crime if with the intent of promoting or facilitating its
           commission he:

           (1)     agrees with such other person or persons that they or
                   one or more of them will engage in conduct which
                   constitutes such crime or an attempt or solicitation to
                   commit such crime; or

                                       -5-
J-S25037-19

              (2)    agrees to aid such other person or persons in the
                     planning or commission of such crime or of an attempt
                     or solicitation to commit such crime.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903(a).

       § 2701. Simple assault

       (a)    Offense defined.-- Except as provided under section 2702
              (relating to aggravated assault), a person is guilty of assault
              if he:

              (1)    attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or
                     recklessly causes bodily injury to another….

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2701(a).

       § 3921. Theft by unlawful taking or disposition

       (a)    Movable property.-- A person is guilty of theft if he
              unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over,
              movable property of another with intent to deprive him
              thereof.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3921(a).

       Essentially, G.Y. argues “mere presence” as to all crimes and fails to

address which elements of the crimes were not satisfied by the evidence.3

Brief for Appellant at 13-18. However, viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the Commonwealth, the evidence presented at the hearing

____________________________________________

3 We note that an argument of “mere presence” pertains only to the offense
of criminal conspiracy. We further note that, although “mere presence,”
alone, will not support a conviction of criminal conspiracy, G.Y.’s admission
does establish his presence in the alley when the victim was attacked. See
Commonwealth v. Kimbrough, 872 A.2d 1244, 1256 (Pa. Super. 2005)
(stating that it is “well settled that mere presence at the scene of a crime is
not enough to establish accomplice liability”); see also Brief for Appellant at
13 (wherein G.Y. acknowledged his presence at the location of the attack).

                                           -6-
J-S25037-19

established more than G.Y.’s “mere presence” at the scene, and was sufficient

to prove the necessary elements of each crime charged beyond a reasonable

doubt.

      As to robbery, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the

Commonwealth, established that G.Y., and other members of the group,

injured the victim while stealing the victim’s property. We specifically note

that the victim’s bike was found at G.Y.’s residence, and draw attention to the

victim’s testimony that he was punched in the face repeatedly and “stomped”

on his face, arms, and legs while his bike was stolen. See N.T., 4/20/18, 15-

16, 33-34.

      As to criminal conspiracy, proof of an explicit, formal agreement to

conspire to commit a crime is seldom available and unnecessary to sustain a

conviction of criminal conspiracy. See Commonwealth v. Murphy, 844 A.2d

1228, 1238 (Pa. 2004) (providing that direct evidence of a conspiratorial

agreement is rare and that such an agreement may be proven through

circumstantial evidence); see also Commonwealth v. Yong, 120 A.3d 299,

312 (Pa. Super. 2015) (providing that “where the conduct of the parties

indicates that they were acting in concert with a corrupt purpose, the

existence of a criminal conspiracy may be properly inferred.”)

      Here, the circumstantial evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to

the Commonwealth, established that G.Y. agreed with the remainder of the

group to assault the victim and steal the victim’s property. We specifically

                                     -7-
J-S25037-19

note that, although the surveillance video does not depict the actual attack, it

depicts G.Y. looking into the alley; G.Y. entering the alley; G.Y. catching the

attention of the group of juveniles; and, ultimately, the group leaving the alley

with the victim’s bike. See N.T., 4/20/18, 39-40, 42-43; see also Juvenile

Court Opinion, 1/4/19, at 3,5 (wherein the juvenile court found that the video

“clearly showed [G.Y.] separating from the group of kids who were walking

down the street[,] going into the alley where [the victim] was located.

Thereafter, the video shows the rest of the kids follow [G.Y.] into the alley”

and “then shows [G.Y.] leaving the alley with the rest of the group”). We

further emphasize the victim’s testimony that he was initially stopped in the

alley by an individual, later identified in the surveillance video as G.Y., who

“went to the side and got the rest of the kids,” and that he was beaten by

“probably ten” individuals at the same time. Id. at 6, 17.

      As to simple assault, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to

the Commonwealth, established that G.Y. and his co-conspirators intentionally

caused bodily injury to the victim.     The testimony elicited at the hearing

established that the victim was not only fearful of physical violence but

actually sustained physical injury to his face, arms, and legs.       See N.T.,

4/20/18, 7-8 (wherein the victim testified that he was “punched” and

“stomped in the face, the arm and legs” by numerous individuals); see also

id. at 22-23 (wherein the victim’s mother testified as to the victim’s black

eyes, bruises and swelling in his face and limbs, and upset demeanor following

                                      -8-
J-S25037-19

the attack.) We further note that even if G.Y. did not personally touch the

victim, a conspirator is liable for all actions of his co-conspirators taken in

furtherance of the conspiracy. See Commonwealth v. Lambert, 795 A.2d

1010, 1022 (Pa. Super. 2002).

      As to theft by unlawful taking, the evidence, viewed in the light most

favorable to the Commonwealth, established that G.Y. exercised unlawful

control over the victim’s bike, with the intent to deprive the victim thereof.

We specifically note that Officer Blymier located the victim’s bike at the rear

of G.Y.’s residence shortly after the attack. See N.T., 4/20/18, 33-34.

      Based upon the foregoing, we agree with the juvenile court that there

was sufficient evidence to support G.Y.’s adjudication of delinquency for

robbery, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, and theft by unlawful taking.

      Dispositional Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 06/28/2019

                                      -9-