Court Opinion

ID: 4227258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-08 21:21:47.260373+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:51.755763
License: Public Domain

J-A18038-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                   :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
         v.                                    :
                                               :
                                               :
JOEL D. CRAFT                                  :
                                               :
                Appellant                      :   No. 62 WDA 2017

           Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 9, 2016
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0004464-2016

BEFORE:       BOWES, LAZARUS and OTT, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                               FILED DECEMBER 08, 2017

        Joel D. Craft appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed on

December 9, 2016, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. Craft

was found guilty in a non-jury trial of two counts of aggravated assault, two

counts of recklessly endangering another person (REAP), and resisting arrest.1

The trial court sentenced Craft to five years’ probation.2 Craft challenges the

sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his convictions, and claims the trial court

improperly questioned a witness.          See Craft’s Brief at 5.   Based upon the

following, we affirm.

        The trial court summarized the evidence presented at trial, as follows:

____________________________________________

1   18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2702(a)(6), 2705, and 5104.

2The court’s sentence was imposed on one count of aggravated assault. The
court imposed no further penalty on the remaining charges.
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      Saturday, April 6th, 2016, brought together a group of law
      enforcement officers. The goal was to serve family division
      warrants. One of those warrants was for Joel Craft. They had an
      address – 4737 Maripoe Street, Apartment #5, in the Oakland
      section of the City of Pittsburgh. Around 10:45 in the morning, the
      officers were able to ascertain that Mr. Craft’s place was a
      basement apartment. They descended the steps and began their
      knocking and announcing campaign. They did not hear any
      response. The one closest to the door tried to open the steel door.
      Surprisingly, there was no resistance. It opened. Sheriffs’ deputy
      [Randy] Grossman [who was in uniform] was first to cross the
      threshold. Det[ective Vincent] Longo [who was wearing a “raid”
      vest with “Sheriff” wording] was right next to him. It was very
      dark. The only real light was that beaming from the front door just
      being pushed opened. What [Deputy] Grossman saw was a gun
      being pointed at him by Mr. Craft. “Drop the gun”, “Drop the gun”,
      commands rained down. Seconds felt like minutes. The gun was
      placed on a nearby space heater by Mr. Craft as he began to take
      a position of getting on the ground. He slowly got on his knees.
      Officers then finished the task of getting him into a prone position.
      Craft was then handcuffed.

Trial Court Opinion, 3/29/2017, at 1–2.

      On December 9, 2016, the trial judge found Craft guilty as stated above,

and immediately sentenced him. On January 5, 2017, Craft filed an untimely

post-sentence motion and a petition to file post-sentence motion nunc pro

tunc. Thereafter, on January 9, 2017, Craft filed a timely notice of appeal.

On February 3, 2017, the trial court denied the request for nunc pro tunc

relief. On March 15, 2017, Craft timely complied with the order of the trial

court to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of errors complained of on appeal.

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      We first address Craft’s sufficiency challenges. Our standard of review

is well-settled:

      The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence
      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 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.

Commonwealth v. Mucci, 143 A.3d 399, 408–409 (Pa. Super. 2016).

      Craft claims the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions for

aggravated assault of a police officer (two counts, Deputy Grossman and

Detective Longo) and recklessly endangering another person (two counts,

Deputy Grossman and Detective Longo), and resisting arrest. We address his

convictions and related arguments sequentially.

      Section 2702(a)(6) of the Criminal Code provides that “[a] person is

guilty of aggravated assault if he: … (6) attempts by physical menace to put

any of the officers, agents, employees or other persons enumerated in

subsection (c), while in the performance of duty, in fear of imminent serious

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bodily injury[.]” 18 Pa.C.S.    § 2702(a)(6).     Detective Vincent Longo and

Deputy Randy Grossman, both of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department,

fall within 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(c).        See 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(c)(1), (7).

Furthermore, “serious bodily injury” is defined as “bodily 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.

      Craft argues the evidence was insufficient to convict him of aggravated

assault “because he lacked the requisite intent to place officers in fear of

serious bodily injury since he believed he was being burglarized and lowered

his firearm upon realizing the men were police officers.” Craft’s Brief at 20.

Craft’s argument warrants no relief.

       The act of pointing a gun at another person can constitute an attempt

by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.

See Commonwealth v. Little, 614 A.2d 1146, 1152 (Pa. Super. 1992)

(footnote omitted) (finding Commonwealth established simple assault by

physical menace where appellant came out of house brandishing shotgun and

threatening deputies).     See also Sheppard, supra, 837 A.2d at 556

(appellant guilty of Section 2702(a)(6) aggravated assault where, while officer

did not announce herself before entering kitchen looking for intruder, she was

in full uniform and appellant stood directly in front of the officer, pointing his

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gun at her for a length of time sufficient for the officer to draw her own

weapon, demand that he disarm himself, and radio for backup).

           Here, the Commonwealth’s evidence showed that on April 2, 2016, at

10:45 a.m.,3 Detective Longo, who was wearing a “raid” vest that was clearly

marked “Sheriff” and displayed a badge,4 and Deputy Grossman, who was in

full uniform,5 along with four or five plainclothes officers and another

uniformed deputy,6 went to Craft’s apartment building to serve him with an

arrest warrant.7      The officers determined Craft was living in a basement

apartment.8

           Cement stairs led below ground to the exterior entrance of Craft’s

apartment, and “it was very tight quarters to get to [Craft’s] front door.”9 The

officers knocked on the door and windows, trying to get someone from the

residence to come to the front door.10 The officers heard movement in the

____________________________________________

3   N.T., 12/6/2016, at 20.

4   Id. at 12.

5   Id. at 31.

6   Id. at 13.

7   Id. at 27.

8   Id. at 13.

9   Id. at 14. See also id. at 34.

10   Id.

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apartment, continued knocking on the door and windows, and announced that

they were police and that they had a warrant. 11     Deputy Grossman testified

that the police knocking and announcing their presence were “loud … because

we want everybody to know in the neighborhood that we are there[.]”12

Deputy Grossman then tried the front door handle, and the door popped

open.13     The door flung open quickly, and Detective Grossman saw Craft

handling a firearm and pointing it in his direction.14

           Deputy Grossman yelled “gun” to alert the other detectives and

deputies, and drew his own gun.15 Detective Longo, who was standing to the

right side of the door in a “tactical” position, pressed his shoulder against

Deputy Grossman so that he could get a vantage point to see into the

apartment. He then also saw Craft holding the gun at chest level, pointing

slightly to the side.16

____________________________________________

11   Id.

12   Id. at 43.

13   Id. at 14, 34.

14   Id. at 14–15, 34–35.

15   Id. at 35.

16   Id. at 15.

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        Deputy Grossman repeatedly ordered Craft to drop the gun, and

Detective Longo also ordered Craft to drop it.17       Deputy Grossman also

ordered Craft to the ground.18 Detective Longo testified, “I think anybody

with a firearm pointed in their direction is going to be scared. It was very

touch and go.” He further stated both he and Deputy Grossman both had

firearms pointed at Craft “and [Craft] had a firearm ready to go.”19 Deputy

Grossman likewise testified that the gun pointed in his general direction “puts

fear in you.”20

        Three to four seconds elapsed before Craft dropped the gun.21 Craft did

not get to the ground.22 Craft got down on his knees still within reach of the

gun.23 Deputy Grossman then grabbed and wrapped his arms around Craft,

____________________________________________

17   Id. at 16.

18   Id. at 36.

19   Id. at 19.

20   Id. at 37.

21   Id. at 24, 36.

22   Id. at 16.

23   Id. at 36.

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pushed him to the ground, and handcuffed him.24 The gun was identified as

a 9 millimeter Ruger, loaded and with a round in the chamber.25

           Craft testified on his own behalf.    He stated he was asleep in his

apartment, and got out of bed when he heard his lock being picked and the

door knob being jiggled.26 Craft believed there were burglars or heroin addicts

at the door, and grabbed his pistol.27 He put a bullet in the chamber, went to

the door, opened it, and saw badges.28 He testified the officers told him drop

the gun and get down on the ground, and repeated those commands. 29 He

put the gun down on the space heater and started to get down on his knees.

He did not drop the gun or throw the gun because he considered that to be

dangerous.30

           Craft, in suggesting that his story that he thought he was being

burglarized was more believable than the Commonwealth’s evidence, ignores

our standard of review, which requires that we view the evidence in the light

____________________________________________

24   Id.

25   Id. at 17–18.

26   Id. at 53.

27   Id. at 54.

28   Id. at 55.

29   Id. at 56.

30   Id.

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most favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict winner, along with all

reasonable inferences. In addition, Craft ignores well settled law that the trial

court, as fact finder, passes on the credibility of witnesses and is free to

believe all, part or none of the evidence.

      Here, the trial court, as fact finder, was not obliged to credit Craft’s

testimony he believed the police officers at his door were burglars. The trial

court could consider Deputy Grossman’s testimony that police outside Craft’s

apartment knocking and announcing their presence loud enough for

everybody in the neighborhood to know the officers were there. The trial court

could consider the officers’ testimony that when Craft’s front door opened,

Deputy Grossman faced Craft, and Deputy Grossman was dressed in full

uniform. The trial court could also consider the officers’ testimony that they

repeatedly commanded Craft to put the gun down before he complied with

their order.

      The Commonwealth relies on Sheppard, supra, and we agree that

Sheppard is germane to this case. In Sheppard,

      [o]n March 13, 2002, Poncho Jackson (“Jackson”) telephoned the
      Philadelphia police and reported that there were intruders in his
      residence. Officer Margurita Wilcox arrived at approximately 9:15
      p.m., in full uniform, and met Jackson in front of the house.
      Jackson unlocked the door, led the officer inside, and informed her
      that the intruders were in the kitchen area. Officer Wilcox
      proceeded to the kitchen, where she encountered Sheppard.
      According to Officer Wilcox, when she opened the kitchen door
      Sheppard “turned around with his gun facing me.” The officer drew
      her weapon and instructed Sheppard to drop his gun, which he
      failed to do. Officer Wilcox radioed for backup and moments later
      Officer Charles Lloyd entered the kitchen through the back door.

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      Sheppard dropped his weapon and was taken into custody without
      incident.

Id., 837 A.2d at 556 (footnotes and record citation omitted). This Court, in

rejecting Sheppard’s sufficiency claim, explained:

      Officer Wilcox admitted that she did not announce “police” before
      entering the kitchen, and that, in her opinion, Sheppard was not
      expecting to see the police come through the kitchen door.
      However, Officer Wilcox offered uncontradicted testimony that she
      was in full uniform during the encounter. Sheppard stood directly
      in front of Officer Wilcox, pointing his gun at her for a length of
      time sufficient for the officer to draw her own weapon, demand
      that Sheppard disarm himself, and radio for backup. We fail to see
      how Sheppard could not have known that Officer Wilcox was a
      police officer under these circumstances. We agree with the
      Commonwealth that Sheppard is really challenging the weight to
      be accorded Officer Wilcox’s testimony, a determination that is not
      reviewable on appeal. Viewing the evidence and all reasonable
      inferences therefrom in a light most favorable to the
      Commonwealth, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to
      support Sheppard's conviction under § 2702(a)(6).

Id. at 558 (case citation and record citations omitted).

      Based upon our examination of the evidence, and applying our standard

of review, we conclude the evidence presented by the Commonwealth in this

case was sufficient for the trial court to find Craft guilty of aggravated assault

pursuant to Section 2702(a)(6). See Sheppard, supra. As such, no relief is

due on Craft’s sufficiency claim for aggravated assault.

      Nor do we find merit in Craft’s argument that the evidence was

insufficient to sustain his conviction for REAP.           To prove REAP, the

Commonwealth must show the accused “recklessly engage[d] in conduct

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which place[d] or may [have] place[d] another person in danger of death or

serious bodily injury.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2705.

      Craft argues the evidence was insufficient to convict him of REAP as he

believed he was defending his home and did not disregard any risk of harm to

police as he lowered his firearm and went to the ground upon being

commanded to do so. Craft’s argument, however, is unavailing because the

same evidence that supports Craft’s conviction for aggravated assault

pursuant to Section 2702(a)(6) supports his conviction for REAP.            See

Commonwealth v. Reynolds, 835 A.2d 720, 729 (Pa. Super. 2003) (act of

merely pointing a loaded gun at another is sufficient to support a conviction

for REAP).    Accordingly, we reject Craft’s sufficiency claim as to his REAP

conviction.

      Lastly, Craft challenges his conviction for resisting arrest, contending

that “he put his firearm down as soon as he realized police officers were at his

door and complied with all commands, never requiring the use of force against

him.” Craft’s Brief at 27. Craft argues that “if [he] wanted to resist, he would

have held his firearm up longer than a couple of seconds.” Id. at 28.

      A defendant may be convicted of resisting arrest if he, “with the intent

of preventing a public servant from effecting a lawful arrest or discharging any

other duty, ... creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to the public servant

or anyone else, or employs means justifying or requiring substantial force to

overcome the resistance.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 5104.

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      “The intent of this section is to confine the offense to forcible resistance

that involves some substantial danger to the person.” Commonwealth v.

Miller, 475 A.2d 145, 146 (Pa. Super. 1984) (internal quotations and citation

omitted). “The statute does not require serious bodily injury[, n]or does it

require actual injury to the arresting officer.” Commonwealth v. Lyons, 555

A.2d 920, 925 (Pa. Super. 1989). “Rather, sufficient resistance is established

if the arrestee’s actions created a substantial risk of bodily injury to the

arresting officer.” Id. “Moreover, the statute includes the disjunctive phrase

‘or employs means justifying or requiring substantial force to overcome

resistance.’” Id.

      Here, again, Craft’s sufficiency claim disregards our standard of review,

and the court’s credibility findings. The trial court, in finding Craft guilty of

resisting arrest, stated “I believe that he knew and he didn’t comply quickly.”

N.T., 12/9/2016, at 71. In its opinion, the trial judge explained: “Craft’s action

of pointing a gun at a police officer in the course of serving an arrest warrant

is conduct which creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to those law

enforcement officials.” Trial Court Opinion, 3/29/2017, at 4.

      We defer to the trial court’s credibility determination, and we agree with

the trial court’s conclusion that the evidence presented by the Commonwealth

satisfied the elements of resisting arrest.       See Lyons, supra at 925

(defendant’s struggle with two deputies in the middle of a frigid stream with

a rocky uneven bed was sufficient to establish Section 5104 requirement that

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arrestee’s actions create a substantial risk of bodily injury to the arresting

officer). Accordingly, we reject Craft’s sufficiency challenge to his resisting

arrest conviction.

      Finally, Craft argues the trial court abused its discretion “by acting as a

second prosecutor during its protracted questioning of [Deputy] Grossman

and through its biased comments indicating what issue it was not convinced

of, prejudicing Mr. Craft and denying him due process.” Craft’s Brief at 11.

      The trial court and the Commonwealth take the position Craft has

waived this claim by failing to object to the trial court’s questioning or

comments during examination of Deputy Grossman.           See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a)

(“Issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the

first time on appeal.”).      Craft, however, contends that pursuant to

Commonwealth v. Hammer, 494 A.2d 1054 (Pa. 1985), this Court should

not find waiver. See Craft’s Reply Brief.

      In Commonwealth v. Colon, 31 A.3d 309 (Pa. Super. 2011), this Court

addressed Hammer, stating:

      We agree with Appellant that, in Hammer, our Supreme Court
      concluded that justice would not be served by strictly enforcing
      the waiver doctrine where the record revealed that objection by
      counsel would be meaningless and, in fact, intensify judicial
      animosity. Therefore, in Hammer, our Supreme Court overlooked
      defense counsel's failure to object to the trial judge's questioning
      of witnesses and addressed the substantive issue of whether such
      questioning constituted reversible error.

      Subsequently, however, in Commonwealth v. Grant, 572 Pa.
      48, 813 A.2d 726 (2002), our Supreme Court specifically
      overruled Hammer, indicating that, generally, the appellate

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      courts will not overlook defense counsel's failure to object and,
      with regard thereto, an appellant may present claims of ineffective
      assistance of counsel in a PCRA petition. Indeed, recently, in
      Commonwealth v. Barnett, 2011 PA Super 147, 25 A.3d 371
      (Pa. Super. 2011) (en banc), an en banc panel of this Court
      reaffirmed Grant's limitation on overlooking the waiver doctrine
      and held that, unless an appellant makes an express, knowing,
      and voluntary waiver of review pursuant to the PCRA, this Court
      will not engage in review of ineffective assistance of counsel
      claims on direct appeal.

Colon, 31 A.3d at 316-317.

      Based on this Court’s discussion in Colon, we cannot overlook trial

counsel’s failure to object to the questioning and comments of the trial judge

to reach the merits of Craft’s claim. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of

sentence.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/8/2017

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