Court Opinion

ID: 3217139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-25 00:16:23.273192+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:35:36.251613
License: Public Domain

J-S51005-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                        PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

JAMES E. LEWIS

                            Appellant                   No. 570 EDA 2015

           Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 30, 2015
             In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0010882-2013

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

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.:                            FILED JUNE 24, 2016

       Appellant, James E. Lewis, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, following his

convictions of robbery, burglary, persons not to possess firearms, criminal

trespass, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, possessing instruments of

crime, terroristic threats, and simple assault.1 We affirm.

       In its opinion, the trial court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant

facts of this case.         Therefore, we have no reason to restate them.

Procedurally, on September 6, 2013, the Commonwealth charged Appellant

with aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, persons not to possess firearms,
____________________________________________

1
  18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3701(a)(1)(ii), 3502(c)(1), 6105(a)(1), 3503(a)(1)(ii),
3921(a), 907(a), 2706(a)(1), and 2701(a), respectively.

_____________________________

*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S51005-16

criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen

property, unlawful restraint, possessing instruments of crime, terroristic

threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and false

imprisonment.      Appellant proceeded to a bench trial.       On November 20,

2014, the court convicted Appellant of robbery, burglary, persons not to

possess firearms, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, possessing

instruments of crime, terroristic threats, and simple assault.       The court

deferred sentencing pending the preparation of a pre-sentence investigation

(“PSI”) report.

        On January 30, 2015, the court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate

term of ten (10) to twenty (20) years’ imprisonment. On February 9, 2015,

Appellant timely filed a post-sentence motion, which the court denied on

February 11, 2015. Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal on February 25,

2015.     On March 2, 2015, the court ordered Appellant to file a concise

statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b),

and Appellant timely complied on March 23, 2015. That same day, Appellant

filed a motion for an extension of time to file a supplemental Rule 1925(b)

statement once       all   notes of testimony were      available.   The   court

subsequently granted the motion, and Appellant filed a supplemental Rule

1925(b) statement on September 1, 2015.

        Appellant raises the following issue for our review:

           WAS NOT THE EVIDENCE INSUFFICIENT TO CONVICT
           APPELLANT OF VIOLATING SECTION 6105 OF THE

                                       -2-
J-S51005-16

          UNIFORM FIREARMS ACT, AS THE COMMONWEALTH
          FAILED TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT
          APPELLANT POSSESSED A FIREARM WHERE HE WAS
          ARRESTED WITHIN MINUTES OF THE COMPLAINANT
          CALLING THE POLICE AND APPELLANT WAS NOT IN
          POSSESSION OF THE ALLEGED SHOTGUN AT ISSUE IN
          THIS CASE?

(Appellant’s Brief at 3).

      After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Diana L.

Anhalt, we conclude Appellant’s issue on appeal merits no relief. The trial

court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the

question presented. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed November 19, 2015, at

5-7) (finding: Commonwealth presented evidence of Appellant’s prior

robbery conviction, which prohibits Appellant from possessing, using,

controlling,   transferring,   or   maintaining   firearm;   Commonwealth   also

introduced evidence that Appellant broke into Victim’s residence, used

firearm to force Victim to strip and lie on floor, and ordered Victim to crawl

around his home to search for valuables; Victim testified that during incident

Appellant pointed firearm in between Victim’s legs and in Victim’s mouth;

Victim further stated that Appellant used butt of firearm to hit Victim in

head; court concluded Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to

establish Appellant’s use of firearm during offense; thus, court properly

convicted Appellant of persons not to possess firearms).         We accept the

court’s sound reasoning.

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J-S51005-16

      To the extent Appellant argues he could not have possessed a firearm

because he did not have time to dispose of it, the Commonwealth

established at trial that ten to fifteen minutes passed between Victim’s

escape and Appellant’s apprehension by police, which gave Appellant ample

time to discard the firearm used during the offense.       Moreover, Victim’s

testimony that Appellant used a firearm was sufficient by itself to sustain

Appellant’s   persons   not   to   possess     firearms   conviction.     See

Commonwealth v. Robinson, 817 A.2d 1153 (Pa.Super. 2003) (holding

victim’s testimony that assailant possessed firearm during offense was

sufficient to establish use of firearm in violation of Uniform Firearms Act,

even if police did not recover firearm).     Further, the evidence of Victim’s

injuries introduced at trial corroborated Victim’s testimony that Appellant

used a firearm during the offense. Thus, Appellant’s claim that he could not

have possessed a firearm because he did not have time to dispose of it has

no merit, and the court properly convicted Appellant of persons not to

possess firearms.   Therefore, we affirm on the basis of the trial court’s

opinion. Accordingly, we affirm.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

                                    -4-
J-S51005-16

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/24/2016

                          -5-
                                                                                          Circulated 06/13/2016 01:45 PM

                            IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                          FOR THE COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA
                              CRIMINAL DIVISION TRIAL
                                                              e~,(, l)l)1ot,,--~,9>
COMMONWEALTH                                          NO.: CP-51-CR-ft6188l-2fttS
OF PENNSYLVANIA
                                                                                                      F~LED
       v.                                             Superior Court No.:                                 NOV l 9 2015
                                                      570 EDA 2015
JAMES E. LEWIS                                                                                 Crimina1 Appeals Unit
                                                                                                   ··rticial District of PA
                                                                                            ~: .... , 1
                                                              CP-51-CR.0010882-2013
                                                                                  Comm. v. Lewis, James E
                                                                                Opinion

                                             OPINION

ANHALT,J.                                                          IIII Ill I II 111111111111111
                                                                          7372385181
       Appellant in the above-captioned matter appeals his conviction for Robbery, a felony of

the first degree (Fl), Burglary, a felony of the first degree (Fl), Possession of Firearm Prohibited

(F2), Criminal Trespass (F2), Theft by Unlawful Taking (Ml), Possession of an Instrument of

Crime with Intent (Ml), Terroristic Threats (Ml), and Simple Assault (M2). The Court submits

the following Opinion in accordance with the requirements of Pa. R. A. P. 1925. For the reasons

set forth herein, this Court's decision should be affirmed.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        On May 24, 2013, Appellant James E. Lewis, was arrested and charged with Aggravated

Assault, a felony of the first degree, Robbery, Burglary, Possession of Firearm Prohibited,

Criminal Trespass, Theft by Unlawful Taking, Receiving Stolen Property, Unlawful Restraint,

Possession of an Instrument of Crime with Intent, Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault,

Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and False Imprisonment.

        On November 21, 2014, Appellant waived his right to a jury trial and proceeded to a

bench trial before the Court. On that date, the Court found Appellant guilty of Robbery (Fl),

Burglary (Fl), Possession of Firearm Prohibited (F2), Criminal Trespass (F2), Theft by Unlawful
Taking (Ml), Possession of an Instrument of Crime with Intent (Ml), Terroristic Threats (Ml),

and Simple Assault (M2).

       On January 28, 2015, the Court sentenced Appellant to ten to twenty years of

incarceration on the charge of Robbery, ten to twenty years of incarceration on the charge of

Burglary, five to ten years incarceration on the charge of Possession of a Firearm Prohibited, two

and a half to five years incarceration on the charge of Possession of an Instrument of Crime, and

five years probation on the charge of Terrorist Threats, all to run concurrently for a cumulative

sentence of ten to twenty years of incarceration. The Criminal Trespass, Theft, and Simple

Assault charges merged. On February 11, 2015, Appellant filed Post-Sentence Motions which

were denied by the Court without a hearing on February 12, 2015.

       Appellant filed this timely appeal of the Court's decision on February 25, 2015. On

March 2, 2015, this Court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of the matters

complained of on appeal pursuant to Rule 1925(b) of the Pa. R.A.P. On March 23, 2015,

Appellant's counsel filed a Preliminary Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal and

requested an extension oftime to file a complete and final Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement of

Matters Complained of on Appeal because the notes of testimony from the trial and sentencing

had not yet been transcribed. The Court granted the request on that same date.

        Counsel for Appellant was finally provided the complete transcript on August 17, 2015,

and a timely Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal was filed on

September l , 2015. Appellant argues that the Court erred in finding the Appellant guilty of

Possession of Firearm Prohibited (F2) because the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt that Appellant possessed a gun in this matter.

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FACTUAL HISTORY

       At the trial for Appellant, Hans Szmezier testified that in the early morning hours of May

23, 2013, he was at home alone sleeping at his residence of 1839 Roselyn in the city and county

of Philadelphia. (N.T., 11/20/14, pp. 35-36). Mr. Szmeizer was awakened by the sound of the

Appellant kicking in his bedroom door, with a shotgun pointed at his face. (N.T., 11/20/14, p.

37). Appellant told Mr. Szmezier to strip and lay flat on the floor. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 37).

Appellant was wearing a red backwards hat, a white tank top, and orange and grey sneakers.

(N.T., 11/20/14, p. 39). Mr. Szmezier jumped off the bed, took his boxers and T-shirt off, and

laid flat on his stomach on the floor. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 43). Mr. Szmezier couldn't see anything

except the Appellant's shoes. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 43). Appellant then said to Mr. Szmezier,

referring to his buttocks, "I like that, have you ever had something stuck up your ass before?"

while pointing the shotgun barrel between Mr. Szmezier's legs. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 44). Mr.

Szmezier began begging and pleading with Appellant, telling him he would have whatever he

wanted ifhe would just get out of there. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 44).

        Appellant demanded Mr. Szmezier's money,jewelry, and gun. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 46).

Mr. Szmezier told him he had money in a shoebox in the closest and Appellant made Mr.

Szmezier crawl to the closet, retrieve the shoebox, and give it to him. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 46).

Appellant asked where the gun was, and when Mr. Szmezier told him he didn't have a gun,

Appellant demanded to know where the jewelry was. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 46). After Mr.

Szmezier pulled the jewelry out of the drawer, Appellant said "the jewelry better be real or I'm

going to kill you." (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 46). Appellant also told Mr. Szmezier, "It's okay, I'm

going to kill you anyway before I leave." (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 47). Appellant then made Mr.

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Szmezier crawl to the middle bedroom, and then to the back bedroom, where he took Mr.

Szmezier's brother's wallet and the cash that was inside. (N.T., 11/20/14, pp. 47-50). Appellant

made Mr. Szmezier tie his hands behind his back with a belt and then ordered Mr. Szmezier to

the basement, dragging him down the stairs by the back of his hair. (N.T., 11/20/14, pp. 52-53).

Appellant pointed the shotgun at Mr. Szmezier's mouth and told Mr. Szmezier "if you scream, I

will blow your head off." (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 53). In the basement, Appellant threw a blanket

over Mr. Szmezier's head, poured a bottle of water in his face, and then hit him again in the back

of the head with the butt of the shotgun. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 55). Mr. Szmezier played

unconscious, while Appellant removed the latex glove he was wearing and replaced it with a

glove Mr. Szmezier had in the basement. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 55). Mr. Szmezier was able to

remove the belt and escape the house through the basement and garage and ran behind the house

towards Church Lane. When Mr. Szmezier reached Church Lane, he flagged down a lady and

asked her to call 911; Mr. Szmezier was still naked at the time. (N.T., 11/20/14, pp. 57-58).

        Police Officer Michael Gouynn testified that on May 23, 2013, at approximately 3:57

a.m., while on duty in the area of   5th   and Champlost, he received a radio call to pick up a

complainant at the location of Church and Limekiln Pike. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 18). Officer

Gouynn testified that when he reached the location of Church and Limekiln, Mr. Szmezier

flagged him down. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 19). Officer Gouynn placed Mr. Szmezier in the back of

his patrol car and proceeded to drive to Mr. Szmezier's house, located at 1839 Roselyn Street.

(N.T., 11/20/14, p. 19). As he pulled up to close to 1839 Roselyn, Officer Gouynn observed two

men on the front porch of 1829 Roselyn, matching the flash information of the clothing given by

Mr. Szmezier.    (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 20). Officer Gouynn asked complainant ifhe recognized the

                                                      4
males, and Mr. Szmezier said "yes, that's him", indicating the Appellant. (N.T., 11/20/14, p.

20). Officer Gouynn then approached the two males on the porch; one of the males began to

walk away and disobey commands while Appellant began throwing items onto the roof. (N.T.,

11/20/14, pp. 20-21 ). The Appellant was wearing a white tank top, blue jean shorts, and blue

and orange sneakers. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 22). Officer Gouynn recovered Mr. Szemezier's iPhone

from the roof, as well as a black wallet containing Mr. Szmezier's brother's identification

information. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 26). From Appellant's right front pocket, Officer Gouynn also

recovered $140 USD. (N.T., 11/20/14, p. 27).

DISCUSSION

       Appellant argues on appeal that the Court erred in finding the Appellant guilty of

Possession of Firearm Prohibited (F2) because the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt that Appellant possessed a gun in this matter. Appellant argues that the

evidence was insufficient as a matter of law and that the verdict was against the weight of

evidence because no reasonable fact-finder could find that the Commonwealth proved Appellant

guilty. Appellant further claims that the possession of a firearm, 18 Pa.C.S.A § 6105, verdict is

so contrary to the evidence that it shocks one's sense of justice.

        In considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the reviewing court must

determine whether, viewing all the evidence at trial and the reasonable inferences therefrom in

the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the trier of fact could have found that each

element of the offense charged was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Chine,

40 A.3d 1239, 1242 (Pa. Super. 2012); Commonwealth v. Marinelli, 690 A.2d 203, 210-11 (Pa.

 1997); Commonwealth v. Gaskins, 692 A.2d 224, 227 (Pa. Super. 1997). This standard is

                                                   5
 applicable whether the evidence presented is circumstantial or direct, provided the evidence links

 the accused to the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Morales, 669 A.2d 1003,

 1005 (Pa. Super. 1996). Questions of witness credibility and the weight to be afforded the

 evidence are within the sole province of the finder of fact, who is free to believe all, part, or none

 of the evidence. Commonwealth v. Woods, 638 A.2d 1013, 1015 (Pa. Super. 1994);

. Commonwealth v. Mayfield, 585 A.2d 1069 (Pa. Super. 1991). 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. Commonwealth v. Chine, 40 A.3d 1239, 1242 (Pa. Super. 2012).

         Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a felony of the second degree (F2), is

 defined by the Uniform Firearm's statute as follows: "A person who has been convicted of an

 offense enumerated in subsection (b), ... shall not possess, use, control, sell, transfer or

 manufacture or obtain a license to possess, use, control, sell, transfer or manufacture a firearm in

 this Commonwealth." 18 Pa.C.S.A.§ 6105 (a)(l ). Here, evidence was presented that the

 Appellant had at least one prior conviction for robbery, which is one of the enumerated offenses

 listed under 18 Pa.C.S.A.§ 6105 (b). After being convicted ofrobbery, the Appellant was

 prohibited from possessing, using, controlling, transferring, or maintaining a firearm. The

 evidence presented was that Appellant broke into the complainant's residence, used a firearm to

 force complainant to strip and lie on the floor, and ordered the complainant to search his home

 for valuables. Appellant threatened the complainant with the firearm, at times pointing it

 between the complainant's legs and mouth, and also hitting the complainant in the head with the

                                                    6
butt of the gun. This evidence is sufficient to prove the Appellant is guilty of felony possession

of a firearm by a prohibited person.

       Appellant also contends that the verdict of guilty was against the weight of the evidence.

The Appellant argues that the Court erred in finding him guilty because the verdict was so

contrary to the evidence presented that it shocks one's sense of justice. This challenge to the

weight of the evidence, similar to the challenge of sufficiency of evidence, is meritless.

        The decision whether to grant a new trial based on the grounds that the verdict was

against the weight of the evidence rests solely within the discretion of the trial court.

Commonwealth v. Pronkoskie, 498 Pa. 245, 251 (1982). "For a new trial to lie on a challenge that

the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the evidence must be so tenuous, vague and

uncertain that the verdict shocks the conscience of the court." Commonwealth v. Edwards, 582
A.2d 1078, 1083 (Pa. Super. 1990); Commonwealth v. Shaffer, 722 A.2d 195, 200 (Pa. Super.

1998); Commonwealth v. Johnson, 910 A.2d 60, 64 (Pa. Super. 2006). Appellant offers nothing

additional in support of his weight of the evidence claim that has not already been raised in his

claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence.

        As stated above, in regard to Appellant's sufficiency claim, there was sufficient credible

evidence to prove aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of a crime, and felony

possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The Appellant claims that the guilty verdict,

especially the 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105 charge was so contrary to the weight of evidence that it

shocks one's sense of justice. There was evidence at trial that the Appellant broke into the

complainant's residence, used a firearm to force complainant to strip and lie on the floor, and

ordered the complainant to search his home for valuables. The complainant was able to

                                                   7
 positively identify the Appellant as the man that broke into his residence and robbed him at point

 of gun within an hour of the incident. Appellant was wearing the same clothing and shoes the

 complainant described to police. The evidence presented was not so tenuous, vague, or uncertain

 that a verdict of guilty shocks the conscience of the jury or the Court. As a result, the Court's

 verdict is not against the weight of the evidence.

        As stated above, in regard to Appellant's sufficiency claim, there was sufficient credible

 evidence to prove felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

 CONCLUSION

         For the foregoing reasons, the Court's finding of Appellant guilty of Possession of

 Firearm Prohibited (F2) should be affirmed.

 BY THE COURT:

#~£:a~
 DIANA ANHALT, J.

 November 18, 2015

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                                      PROOF OF SERVICE

        I hereby certify that on the date set forth below, I caused an original copy of the Judicial
Opinion to be served upon the persons at following locations, which service satisfies the
requirements of Pa.R.A.P. 122:

        Jill Heilman, Esquire
        Karl Baker, Esquire
        1441 Sansom Street
        Philadelphia, PA 191 02

        Hugh Burns, Esquire
        Philadelphia District Attorneys Office
        Three South Penn Square
        Philadelphia, PA 19107

          , I         I
Date:     ff J   1~/ JG                                By:    ~«;au~
                                                               Diana Anhalt, Judge
                  J

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