Court Opinion

ID: 2805431
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-03 19:15:20.782837+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:29:55.890352
License: Public Domain

J-S32039-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,               :       IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                            :             PENNSYLVANIA
                    Appellee                :
                                            :
              v.                            :
                                            :
EUGENE ISLER,                               :
                                            :
                    Appellant               :             No. 39 WDA 2015

     Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence entered on December 17, 2014
               in the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County,
                Criminal Division, No. CP-26-CR-0001102-2014

BEFORE: SHOGAN, OLSON and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                               FILED JUNE 3, 2015

        Eugene Isler (“Isler”) appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed

following his conviction of one count each of aggravated assault, simple

assault and harassment.1 We affirm.

        The trial court set forth the relevant factual and procedural history in

its Opinion, which we adopt for purposes of this appeal.        See Trial Court

Opinion, 2/19/15, at 3-4.2

        On appeal, Isler raises the following issues for our review:

        1. Did the [trial] court err in permitting the Commonwealth to
           play [a] forensic interview [of the child witness to the jury]
           prior to [the time that the] elements of the offense[s]
           charged were established?

1
    See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702(a)(1), 2701(a)(1), 2709(a)(1).
2
 Pursuant to the trial court’s order, Isler filed a Concise Statement of issues
complained of on appeal. Thereafter, the trial court issued an Opinion,
pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
J-S32039-15

      2. Was the evidence insufficient to sustain [Isler’s] conviction[s]
         based upon the testimony and evidence presented at trial by
         the Commonwealth?

      3. Was the evidence presented by the Commonwealth
         insufficient relative to the [charges of] aggravated assault
         and simple assault[,] as the Commonwealth presented no
         evidence to establish [that Isler] caused the victim[’]s
         injuries[,] or had the intent to harm the victim?

      4. Was the evidence legally and factually insufficient to show
         that [Isler] committed the crimes beyond a reasonable
         doubt[, because]

            A. The evidence did not show that any action by [Isler]
               caused or attempted to cause [sic] serious bodily
               injury[?]

            B. The evidence did not show that any action[ ]by [Isler]
               attempted to cause [sic] injury[?]

            C. There was no evidence to show [that Isler] placed the
               alleged victim in danger of death or serious bodily
               injury[?]

      5. Did[ ]the jury disregarded [sic] the judge’s charge of
         justification (self[-]defense) in the instant case?

      6. Was [sic] [Isler’s] constitutional, due process and right to
         confrontation rights violated when [the trial judge] did not
         allow [Isler] to be present at an in camera hearing of [the]
         child witness[,] which did not involve any crime of a sexual
         nature?

Brief for Appellant at 8-9 (capitalization omitted).3

      In his first issue, Isler asserts that the victim testified that she did not

recall Isler ever hitting or striking her. Id. at 14 (citing N.T., 12/8/14, at

3
  Isler does not raise any claim regarding his conviction of harassment;
rather, his claims pertain only to his convictions of aggravated assault and
simple assault.

                                   -2-
J-S32039-15

50). On this basis, Isler contends that the trial court erred by permitting the

Commonwealth to play a forensic interview of the child witness before the

elements of the offenses charged were established.            Brief for Appellant at

14. Isler claims that the child witness testified that “all [Isler] and the victim

were doing were [sic] arguing” and that he “never saw the alleged victim

fall.”    Id. at 14-15 (citing N.T., 12/8/14, at 87, 94).           Therefore, Isler

contends, the trial court erred by permitting the Commonwealth to play the

forensic interview of the child witness before the elements of the crimes

charged had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Brief for Appellant at

15.

         Isler fails to cite any legal authority in support of his claim, in violation

of Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2119(a).                 See Pa.R.A.P.

2119(a). Further, Isler has failed to identify the place in the record where

this issue was preserved in the trial court, as required by our procedural

rules.    See Pa.R.A.P. 2117(c), 2119(e).        Our independent review confirms

that no objection of this nature was contemporaneously made when the

forensic interview of the child witness was played to the jury.            See N.T.,

12/9/14, at 39-41; see also Commonwealth v. Olsen, 82 A.3d 1041,

1050 (Pa. Super. 2013) (stating that a defendant must make a timely and

specific objection at trial or face waiver of the issue on appeal).             Thus,

because Isler failed to preserve this issue for our review, it is waived. See

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Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (stating that “[i]ssues not raised in the lower court are

waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”).

      Isler’s second, third and fourth issues each present a challenge to the

sufficiency of the evidence.     Accordingly, we will address them together.

Isler contends that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to prove

every element of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt. Brief for

Appellant at 17, 18, 23, 25. Isler asserts that his convictions were based on

mere speculation. Id. at 18, 25.4 Isler claims that the Commonwealth did

not establish his intent to inflict serious bodily injury or that he attempted to

inflict such injuries.   Id. at 19.   Isler contends that he “did not commit a

series of acts that would tend to show his intent,” and that “[t]his indicates

that [Isler] did not intend to cause the victims serious bodily injury or to

place them in fear of it.”    Id. at 21, 27.    Isler asserts that the record is

“devoid of any direct or circumstantial evidence to show that [he] caused the

victims injuries or had the intent to harm the victim.” Id. at 22, 25.

      In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Isler’s second, third and fourth

issues, set forth the relevant law, and determined that they lack merit. See

4
  Isler also argues that the jury’s verdict was against the weight of the
evidence. Brief for Appellant at 18-19, 25. A claim that the verdict is
against the weight of the evidence is waived unless it is raised in the trial
court in a motion for a new trial, in a motion prior to sentencing, or in a
post-sentence motion.         See Pa.R.Crim.P. 607(A)(1)-(3); see also
Commonwealth v. Palo, 24 A.3d 1050, 1055 (Pa. Super. 2011). Here,
because Isler failed to raise this issue in the trial court, he has failed to
preserve this issue for our review.

                                      -4-
J-S32039-15

Trial Court Opinion, 2/19/15, at 5-9. We concur with the sound reasoning of

the trial court and affirm on this basis as to these issues. See id.

      In his fifth issue, Isler contends, without explanation, that the jury

disregarded the judge’s instruction on justification. Brief for Appellant at 29.

      In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Isler’s fifth issue, set forth the

relevant law, and determined that it lacks merit. See Trial Court Opinion,

2/19/15, at 9. We concur with the sound reasoning of the trial court and

affirm on this basis as to this issue. See id.

      In his final claim, Isler contends that he was removed by the trial

judge from the in camera hearing of the child witness, and that such

removal violated his constitutional, due process and confrontation rights.

Brief for Appellant at 30.

      In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Isler’s final issue, set forth the

relevant law, and determined that it lacks merit. See Trial Court Opinion,

2/19/15, at 10-13. We concur with the sound reasoning of the trial court

and affirm on this basis as to this issue. See id.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

      Shogan, J., joins the memorandum.

      Olson, J., concurs in the result.

                                   -5-
J-S32039-15

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/3/2015

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                                                                         J-
        IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF FAYETIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                          CRIMINAL DIVISION

                     v.
                                                      No. 1102 of 2014
EUGENE ISLER,

                                      Defendant.

                                          OPINION

Meghann Mikluscak, Esq. Assistant District Attorney
Mary Caf!1pbell-Spegar, Esq. for the Defendant

LESKINEN, J.

       Before the Court is a "Concise Statement of Matters Complained of Appeal" that

was filed on behalf of Defendant Eugene Isler (hereinafter "Defendant"). On December

11, 2014, Defendant was convicted by a jury of Aggravated Assault and Simple Assault.

In addition, the Court found Defendant guilty of Harassment. On December 17, 2014,

Defendant was sentenced to a period of incarceration of not less than three and one

half (3 %) years and not more than ten (10) years. This sentence is to run consecutive

to a sentence imposed on May 21, 2014 by Senior Judge Solomon at No. 1900 of 2013,

Count 1. This timely appeal followed.

       Defendant raises the following issues:

               "ISSUE NO. 1:           DID THE COURT ERR IN PERMITTING THE
                                       COMMONWEALTH TO PLAY FORENSIC
                                       INTERVIEW PRIOR TO ELEMENTS OF THE
                                       OFFENSE CHARGED WERE ESTABLISHED?

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          ('

ISSUE NO. 2:   WAS THE EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN
               CONVICTION BASED UPON THE TESTIMONY AND
               EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL BY THE
               COMMONWEALTH?

ISSUE NO. 3:   WAS THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE
               COMMONWEALTH INSUFFICIENT RELATIVE TO
               THE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SIMPLE
               ASSAULT AS THE COMMONWEALTH PRESENTED
               NO EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE APPELLANT
               CAUSED THE VICTIMS INJURIES OR HAD THE
               INTENNT [SIC] TO HARM THE VICTIM?

ISSUE NO. 4:   WAS THE EVIDENCE LEGALLY AND FACTUALLY
               INSUFFICIENT TO SHOW THAT DEFENDANT
               COMMITTED THE CRIMES BEYOND A
               REASONABLE DOUBT?

                 A THE EVIDENCE DID NOT SHOW THAT ANY
                   ACTION BY APPELLANT CAUSED OR
                   ATTEMPTED TO CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY
                   INJURY

                 B. THE EVIDENCE DID NOT SHOW THAT ANY
                    ACTIONBY [SIC] THE APPELANT
                    ATTEMPTED TO CAUSE INJURY

                 C. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW THE
                    APPELLANT PLACED THE ALLEGED VICTIM
                    IN DANGER OF DEATH OR SERIOUS
                    BODILY INJURY

ISSUE NO. 5:   DIDTHE [SIC] JURY DISREGARDED [SIC] THE
               JUDGE'S CHARGE OF JUSTIFICATION (SELF
               DEFENSE) IN THE INSTANT CASE?

ISSUE NO. 6:   WAS THE APPELLANT'S CONSTITUTIONAL, DUE
               PROCESS AND RIGHT TO CONFRONTATION
               RIGHTS VIOLATED WHEN COURT DID NOT
               ALLOW APPELLANT TO BE PRESENT AT AN IN
               CAMERA HEARING OF CHILD WITNESS WHICH
               DID NOT INVOLVE ANY CRIME OF A SEXUAL
               NATURE?"

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                                     BACKGROUND

       The victim Rita Lowery resides at 159 Connellsville Street, Uniontown,

Pennsylvania. (Trial Tr. Day 1, 42, Dec. 8, 2014). The incident in question here

occurred on May 4, 2014. Id. at 44. At that time, also residing at the Connellsville

address was the Defendant and Darion Seehoffer, a minor. Id. at 43. Rita Lowery was

acting as guardian over Darion and had been acting in such a capacity since Darion

was ten months old. Id. at 47. On the night of May 4th, an argument occurred between

the victim and the Defendant over money. Id. at 44. The argument began with verbal

insults but quickly escalated and became physical. Id. at 44-49.

       The Defendant repeatedly punched Ms. Lowery in the face, as many as three

times, and choked her with his arm around her neck. (Trial Tr. Day 2, 48-50, Dec. 9,

2014). The Defendant choked the victim more than once during the fight. Id. at 57.

Having witnessed the physical altercation between the victim and Defendant, Darion

Seehoffer confronted the Defendant and pleaded several times for him to stop. Id.

Darion then called the police after having witnessed the incident. (Trial Tr. Day 1, 88,

Dec. 8, 2014). By the time police and emergency medical personnel arrived, the

Defendant had left the residence. Id. at 89.

       Police and paramedics who arrived at the Connellsville address found Rita

Lowery unconscious, slumped over a chair making snoring respirations, and covered in

her own vomit Id. at 61, 103; (Trial Tr. Day 2, 67, Dec. 9, 2014). Ms. Lowery never

regained consciousness while paramedics attended to her at her residence. (Trial Tr.

Day 1, 63, Dec. 8, 2014). Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim needed a life

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flight from Uniontown Hospital to Ruby Hospital in West Virginia. Id. at 50, 62. Ms.

Lowery finally regained consciousness at the hospital, but has no memory from the time

the fight began until she woke up in the hospital. Id. at 46. She remained a patient at

Ruby Hospital for forty-eight (48) days because of her injuries. Id.

       On May 5, 2014, Defendant was brought to the Uniontown Police Station and

was interviewed by Captain David Rutter. (Trial Tr. Day 2, 120, Dec. 9, 2014). After

being brought into custody, Defendant was read his Miranda rights, which he waived.

Id. at 121-23. During the interview, the Defendant became emotional and stated, "I

didn't squeeze that hard. Please." Id. at 126. The Defendant then indicated he held

Rita Lowery down on the loveseat while choking her. Id. at 127-28. The Defendant

reiterated that he choked her from behind with one arm around her neck for at least

twenty (20) seconds, and further confessed he may have punched her. Id. at 132-35.

       Defendant was charged with four counts: Aggravated Assault, Criminal Attempt

to Commit Homicide, Simple Assault, and summary Harassment. A jury trial was held

before this Court on December 8-11, 2014, and Defendant was found guilty on all

counts except the Criminal Attempt.

       On December 17, 2014, Defendant was sentenced to a period of incarceration of

not less than three and one half (3 %) years and not more than ten (10) years, with this

sentence to run consecutive to a prior sentence. Counsel made no Post-Sentence

Motions and filed this timely appeal.

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                                         DISCUSSION

                      The playing of the forensic interview for the jury

          First, Defendant argues that the Court erred in permitting the Commonwealth to

play a video of the forensic interview of the child witness before the elements of the

offenses charged were presented. Defendant fails to cite any authority which gives

merit to his argument. Through our own research, the Court has not found any

cognizable authority to support this argument and does not understand the grounds for

it. Furthermore, Defense counsel offered no objection at the time the Commonwealth

played the forensic interview for the jury. (See Trial Tr. Day 2, 41, Dec. 9, 2014).

Therefore, this argument is without merit.

                                 Sufficiency of the evidence

          In Issues 2, 3 and 4, Defendant makes several claims regarding the sufficiency of

the evidence. In particular, Defendant avers the evidence was insufficient as to the

following: to sustain a conviction, relative to both Aggravated Assault and Simple

Assault, and to prove Defendant committed the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defendant further elaborates on the reasonable doubt issue by claiming the evidence

did not show 1) Defendant caused or attempted to cause serious bodily injury; 2)

attempted to cause injury; and 3) placed the victim in danger of death or serious bodily

injury.

          On appeal, the standard applied for a determination of the sufficiency of the

evidence is:

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              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 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. Snyder, 870 A.2d 336, 350 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citations omitted).

       Regarding the crimes the Defendant was convicted of here, a person is guilty of

aggravated assault if he "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). A person

is guilty of simple assault if he "attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or

recklessly causes bodily injury to another." 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2701 (a)(1 ). A person is

guilty of harassment when "with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, the person

strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects the other person to physical contact, or

attempts or threatens to do the same." 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2709(a)(1 ).

       The sum of Defendant's argument is that the Commonwealth's evidence was

insufficient in establishing that the Defendant caused or intended to cause the injuries to

Rita Lowery. This claim, however, is without merit. When considering the testimony

presented at trial, it is clear that the Commonwealth presented ample evidence of

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Defendant's guilt, and thereby carried its burden in proving the necessary elements of

these crimes. The testimony of several witnesses established that the Defendant

assaulted Rita Lowery.

       First, Rita Lowery herself testified about the incident. Lowery stated that she and

the Defendant began to argue, and he "got really mad and he came at me ... I don't know

if he hit me in the head or he hit the wall, but I turned ... he went to hit me and I turned

like away from it." (Trial Tr. Day 1, 45, Dec. 8, 2014). She then testified there was

shoving between her and the Defendant. Id. After that, Ms. Lowery has no memory of

anything until she woke up in Ruby Hospital, where she was admitted for forty-eight (48)

days. Id. at 46.

       Darion Seehoffer next testified in further detail about the confrontation between

Lowery and the Defendant, having witnessed it first-hand. At trial, Darion stated the

Defendant "started beating her up ... he like punched her in the arm." Id. at 100. Darion

then said Lowery passed out "after it happened." Id. at 103. Subsequent to Darion's

trial testimony, the Commonwealth played a video forensic interview between Darion

and Desirea Patterson of Child's Place at Mercy Hospital. In this interview, Darion said

the Defendant "punched her and kept punching her, and he punched her in the

face ... then he choked her." (Trial Tr. Day 2, 48, Dec. 9, 2014). Darion specified that

the Defendant punched Ms. Lowery three times and choked her more than once. Id. at

49-50, 57. In describing the choking, Darion said, "She couldn't breathe ... I kept telling

him to stop and then she stopped breathing." Id. at 57.

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       The Commonwealth then played a video deposition of Dr. Charles Rosen, who

was Rita Lowery's attending physician. Dr. Rosen explained the injuries to Rita Lowery

do not occur naturally and "would take a significant trauma to cause this injury." Id. at

100-01. When questioned as to whether this trauma may have occurred naturally, Dr.

Rosen replied in the negative and said "it is extraordinarily likely that this was a

traumatic subdural hematoma." Id. at 108-09.

       Lastly, the jury was able to hear Defendant himself, in a recorded interview with

Captain David Rutter of the Uniontown Police Department, describe this incident. In the

interview, the Defendant said, "I didn't squeeze that hard. Please." Id. at 126. The

Defendant indicated to Captain Rutter that he held Rita Lowery down, choking her on

the loveseat so she would stop. Id. at 126-27. The Defendant confessed he was

behind her at one point with his arm around her neck. Id. at 133-34. Moreover, the

Defendant said he "may have" punched her because he was mad at her, and during the

interview, Captain Rutter did observe physical injury to Defendant's right hand. Id. at

126, 154.

        This testimonial evidence is more than sufficient for the jury to find Defendant

guilty of the crimes charged here, and equally sufficient to sustain his conviction. See,

e.g., Commonwealth v. Faulk, 928 A.2d 1061, 1071 (Pa. Super. 2007) (holding

punching victim numerous times in the head rendering him unconscious, with physician

testifying to a "substantial force" as causing the injuries, was sufficient to establish

aggravated assault); Commonwealth v. Emler, 903 A.2d 1273, 1278-79 (Pa. Super.

2006) (finding sufficient evidence to support conviction on both simple assault and

harassment where defendant "grabbed [the victim] from behind in a choking hold,

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pinned him to the ground with his heavier body, and struggled with him for control of a

loaded shotgun."); Commonwealth v. Caterino, 678 A.2d 389, 392-93 (Pa. Super. 1996)

(holding injuries to victim requiring over three hours of emergency medical attention was

sufficient to establish serious bodily injury for aggravated assault). Thus, the

Defendant's sufficiency of the evidence arguments must fail.

                              Justification charge to the jury

       Next, Defendant questions whether the jury disregarded this Court's charge of

justification. This argument must fail because it is not for the Court to pass judgment

upon a question of how the jury may have weighed the evidence. When there is

evidence to support a defense, it is "for the trier of fact to pass upon that evidence and

improper for the trial judge to exclude such consideration by refusing the charge."

Commonwealth v. OeMarco, 809 A.2d 256, 261 (Pa. 2002) (quoting Commonwealth v.

Lightfoot, 648 A.2d 761, 764 (Pa. 1994)) (emphasis added).

       In the case sub judice, this Court properly charged the jury on a justification

defense, as there was evidence presented at trial to support such a charge. (See, e.g.,

Trial Tr. Day 1, 49, 87, Dec. 8, 2014). As the trier of fact, it was for the jury alone to

weigh the evidence and determine whether the Defendant justifiably used force in self-

defense against Rita Lowery. The jury, however, concluded that Defendant's use of

force was not justifiable by convicting him on both assault counts. It is impermissible for

this Court to now make a contrary finding as to the jury's assessment of the evidence,

or to somehow rule that the jury may have disregarded the justification charge entirely.

Therefore, Defendant's claim here fails.

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                          In camera hearing of child witness

      Finally, Defendant argues that his due process and Confrontation Clause rights

were violated when the Court did not allow him to be present for an in camera hearing

with Darion Seehoffer, a minor, since Defendant's crimes were not sexual in nature.

However, this argument is inconsistent with the mandate of the statutes governing out-

of-court statements by child witnesses. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5985.1 provides:

             Admissibility of certain statements

             (a) General rule.-An out-of-court statement made by a child victim or
             witness, who at the time the statement was made was 12 years of age or
             younger, describing any of the offenses enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. Chs. 25
             (relating to criminal homicide), 27 (relating to assault), 29 (relating to
             kidnapping), 31 (relating to sexual offenses), 35 (relating to burglary and
             other criminal intrusion) and 37 (relating to robbery), not otherwise
             admissible by statute or rule of evidence, is admissible in evidence in any
             criminal or civil proceeding if:

                    (1) the court finds, in an in camera hearing, that the evidence is
                    relevant and that the time, content and circumstances of the
                    statement provide sufficient indicia of reliability; and

                    (2) the child either:

                           (i) testifies at the proceeding; or

                           (ii) is unavailable as a witness.

             (a.1) Emotional distress.-ln order to make a finding under subsection
             (a)(2)(ii) that the child is unavailable as a witness, the court must
             determine, based on evidence presented to it, that testimony by the child
             as a witness will result in the child suffering serious emotional distress that
             would substantially impair the child's ability to reasonably communicate. In
             making this determination, the court may do all of the following:

                    (1) Observe and question the child, either inside or outside the
                    courtroom.

                    (2) Hear testimony of a parent or custodian or any other person,
                    such as a person who has dealt with the child in a medical or
                    therapeutic setting.

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              (a.2) Counsel and confrontation.-lf the court hears testimony in
              connection with making a finding under subsection (a)(2)(ii), all of the
              following apply:

                     (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the defendant, the attorney
                     for the defendant and the attorney for the Commonwealth or, in the
                     case of a civil proceeding, the attorney for the plaintiff has the right
                     to be present.

                     (2) If the court observes or questions the child, the court shall not
                     permit the defendant to be present.

       At the hearing, Defense counsel offered no specific objection to Defendant's

removal from the room, but merely stated that "anything we have ever done in camera,

the defendant has always been with me." (Trial Tr. Day 1, 75, Dec. 8, 2014).

Nevertheless, the Court questioned the child Darion outside of the Defendant's

presence in order to make a determination under § 5985.1. While the statute allows

defense counsel to be present if the court observes or questions a child witness during

the process of determining whether to permit the special procedures for taking

testimony, the court may not permit the defendant to be present. See§ 5985.1 (a.2)(2)

(emphasis added). In addition, the Defendant's assertion that his rights were violated

because his crimes were not of a sexual nature is misguided, as§ 5985.1 (a) plainly

applies to child witnesses in assault offenses as well.

      The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently held that a § 5985 hearing is not a

critical stage for purposes of a defendant's right to be confronted with the witnesses

against him. Commonwealth v. Williams, 84 A.3d 680, 686-87 (Pa. 2014) (citing

Maryland v. Craig, 497 U.S. 836, 858 (1990)). In Williams, the defendant argued that

his due process and confrontation rights were violated in not allowing him to offer

rebuttal testimony at the § 5985 hearing to the Commonwealth's expert testimony of the

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minor victim's psychological state. 84 A.3d at 685. The court found, based on the

Supreme Court's ruling in Craig, "a Section 5985 hearing is not a critical stage.

Contrary to Appellant's assertions, his substantive right 'to be confronted with the

witnesses against him,' as guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment to the United States

Constitution and Article 1, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, is not subject to

preservation or loss in a Section 5985 hearing." Williams, 84 A.3d at 686-87 (quoting

Craig, 497 U.S. at 858).

       The Williams court also concluded that there was no violation of defendant's due

process rights in denying him access to medical information and in presenting expert

testimony regarding the minor victim at the hearing. 84 A.3d at 687-88. The court

reasoned that there was no violation based on "the narrow and highly focused judicial

inquiry" under§ 5985, "which balances the state's interest in protecting a child who is

the victim of a crime against the constitutional interest of the accused in confronting the

witnesses against him or her." Id. The legislative intent behind these hearings is a

public policy concern of protection of the child in the criminal justice system, See 42

Pa.C.S.A. § 5981, while also taking into consideration the accused rights under§ 5985.

       Here, Defendant's counsel had the opportunity to be present the entire time and

question Darion at the in camera hearing. (Trial Tr. Day 1, 78-79, Dec. 8, 2014). The

Court, having used the hearing for the sole purpose of determining Darion's credibility,

believed him competent to testify at trial. Id. at 83. Darion did testify at trial, then giving

the Defendant the opportunity of face-to-face confrontation of a witness sworn under

oath, full cross-examination, and in-person observation of the witness by the court, jury,

and defendant. See Williams, 84 A.3d at 689 (finding the rights of the accused are

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preserved for§ 5985 purposes under these circumstances). Accordingly, we find no

violation of Defendant's rights in denying him access to the hearing, and his argument

carries no weight.

                                     CONCLUSION

       For the aforementioned reasons, the Court cannot agree with Defendant's

contentions, and affirms its trial rulings and Defendant's judgment of sentence.

                                                  ~--2
                                                  STEVE P. LESKINEN, JUDGE

ATTEST:

Fco~~

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                                           13