Court Opinion

ID: 4319203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-09 17:34:14.07285+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:10.628642
License: Public Domain

J-S32026-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    BRANDI MIA ROLLAND                         :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 1741 MDA 2017

            Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence October 10, 2017
     In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County Criminal Division at
                       No(s): CP-36-CR-0003653-2016

BEFORE: PANELLA, J., NICHOLS, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.:                            FILED OCTOBER 09, 2018

        Appellant Brandi Mia Rolland appeals from the judgment of sentence of

ten days to six months’ imprisonment imposed following a bench trial held in

absentia and conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) of a controlled

substance, graded as a misdemeanor.1 On appeal, she contends the court

erred by holding a trial in her absence and challenges the sufficiency of

evidence. We affirm.

        We adopt the facts as set forth in the trial court’s opinion:

        On April 20, 2016 at 11:50 [p.m.], Officer Andrew Orwig, a patrol
        officer for the Ephrata Police Department, received a report of a
        reckless driver in a dark color sedan traveling southbound on
        South Reamstown road. While driving north to intercept the
        vehicle, he observed the headlights of an oncoming vehicle cross
____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1   75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(d)(2).
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     the center lane and halfway enter his lane of traffic. The vehicle
     then abruptly swerved to the other side and nearly struck the curb
     along the roadway. Officer Orwig then turned onto a side street
     and allowed the vehicle to pass him. The vehicle subsequently
     came to a complete stop in the middle of the traveling lane for
     two to five seconds before proceeding southbound. At that time,
     Officer Orwig matched the description provided in the radio report
     to the vehicle. The officer then pulled out from the side street and
     continued southbound to follow the vehicle.

     Upon approaching the vehicle Officer Orwig entered the
     registration of the car into his patrol car’s database. The vehicle
     was registered to [Appellant].        While following [Appellant’s]
     vehicle he observed a broken right taillight on the passenger side.
     As the two vehicles advanced towards a four-way stop sign Officer
     Orwig noticed that [Appellant’s] vehicle traveled one car length
     into the intersection before stopping. As [Appellant] continued to
     travel southbound the officer observed the vehicle cross over the
     double yellow line until 25 percent of her vehicle was in the
     opposing lane of traffic.       Officer Orwig then activated the
     emergency lights and sirens on his patrol car to conduct a traffic
     stop.

     Sergeant Philip Snavely and Officer Beth Rivera, with the Ephrata
     Police Department, who were following Officer Orwig, then took
     over the traffic stop and Officer Orwig was instructed to provide
     cover. Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Snavely observed
     what appeared to be a marijuana pipe in the driver’s side door.
     He requested that [Appellant] hand the pipe to Officer Rivera
     which she did. At that time Sergeant Snavely observed that
     [Appellant] had trouble focusing and finding the appropriate
     documents to hand to Officer Rivera and suspected that
     [Appellant] may be impaired. After two or three minutes Officer
     Rivera received the documents from [Appellant] and matched
     [Appellant] to her out of state driver’s license, her temporary
     Pennsylvania driver’s license, and her PennDOT photo as Brandi
     Rolland.

     Sergeant Snavely conducted preliminary impairment tests and
     asked [Appellant] to recite the alphabet and perform a finger
     dexterity test. Based on the results of those tests he believed that
     standard field sobriety tests were warranted. After conducting the
     standard field sobriety tests, [Appellant] presented with multiple

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      cues of impairment and Sergeant Snavely instructed Officer Rivera
      to arrest her for D.U.I. He then contacted drug recognition expert
      Sergeant Jared Hahn from the Lititz Borough Police station to
      perform an evaluation on [Appellant].

      [Appellant] was transported to the Lititz Borough Police Station
      and Sergeant Hahn obtained a waiver of rights from [Appellant]
      who agreed to proceed with the drug recognition evaluation. After
      performing a series of tests designed to assess impairment and
      observing [Appellant] give multiple clues of impairment consistent
      with marijuana use, Sergeant Hahn determined that [Appellant]
      was impaired to the level that she could not operate a vehicle
      safely.

Trial Ct. Op., 2/20/18, at 1-3 (unpaginated and citations omitted).

      Appellant was charged with DUI, among other offenses, and released on

bail. In relevant part, on August 24, 2017, the court scheduled the bench trial

for October 10, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. Order, 8/24/17. The order stated that

the “trial date will not be continued except for extraordinary circumstances.”

Id. The order was served on, among others, Appellant’s counsel.

      At the October 10, 2017 bench trial, the following transpired:

      (1:40 p.m.)

      The court: The date is October 10, and this is the time scheduled
      for the non-jury trial in the case of the Commonwealth versus
      Brandi Rolland, Docket 3653 of 2016. [Appellant] is not here.
      [Appellant’s counsel], were you able to send notice of time and
      place of the trial to your client?

      [Appellant’s counsel]: Your Honor, on August 25th of this year, I
      did send a letter to the last address that I had on file for
      [Appellant] informing her that trial was set for today at 1:30 p.m.
      in courtroom number 5. The letter was not returned. However,
      I’m not satisfied that my client did receive the letter. First of all,
      she’s not here. She has attended previous court dates on getting
      notice. Second of all, my client is a little more transient as she
      was homeless at the time of this incident, and the phone numbers

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      that I have had on file no longer work. So I was not able to get
      in contact with her. That being said, I understand Your Honor did
      wish to issue a bench warrant under these circumstances, but we
      would submit there’s not enough showing for cause to proceed in
      absentia at this time.

      The court: The notice of the date and time of today’s proceeding
      was sent to her last address and it was not returned?

      [Appellant’s counsel]: Yes, Your Honor.

      The court: Very good. We’re going to proceed. Commonwealth
      call your first witness.

N.T. Trial, 10/10/17, at 3-4 (all-capitalization omitted).

      At trial, in relevant part, Officer Rivera testified that Appellant provided

her California driver’s license and a temporary Pennsylvania driver’s license to

her. Id. at 56-57. Officer Rivera specifically testified that the photo on the

temporary driver’s license matched Appellant.       Id. at 57.   Sergeant Hahn

testified that it was his usual practice to verify the identity of the person he

evaluates for drug impairment, although he did not specifically recall doing so

for Appellant. Id. at 115. Appellant’s counsel cross-examined both witnesses.

At the conclusion of the trial, the court found Appellant guilty. Id. at 130.

      The court asked the prosecutor for the sentencing guidelines and asked

Appellant’s counsel whether she had any objection. Id. Appellant’s counsel

stated, “I would object with the court proceeding to sentencing, but I agree

that my client has no prior record and the current offense gravity score is

one.” Id. The court then imposed its sentence of ten days to six months’

imprisonment, a fine of $1,000, and costs. Id. The court issued a bench

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warrant that same day, which listed the address that Appellant’s counsel used.

Bench Warrant, 10/11/17.2           Appellant did not file any post-trial motions.

Appellant timely appealed and timely filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)

statement.3

       In support of her first issue, Appellant begins her argument by

summarizing several cases, including Commonwealth v. Wilson, 712 A.2d
735 (Pa. 1998), and Commonwealth v. Hilburn, 746 A.2d 1146 (Pa. Super.

____________________________________________

2 The bench warrant was dated October 10, 2017, and docketed on October
11, 2017. Given that the court had sentenced her to a maximum of six
months’ imprisonment and that the docket reflects parole was granted on
October 24, 2017, and set to expire on April 23, 2018 (six months later), it
would appear that Appellant was apprehended on October 24th and
immediately paroled.
3 Subsequently, on December 12, 2017, the Commonwealth filed a petition to
issue capias and bench warrant. The petition noted that parole was granted
on October 24, 2017, and was set to expire on April 23, 2018. Pet. to Issue
Capias and Bench Warrant, 12/2/17, at 1 (unpaginated). The petition alleged
that on November 21, 2017, Appellant failed to report for intake and failed to
appear for a December 8, 2017 appointment. Id. The court granted the
petition and ordered a bench warrant for Appellant’s arrest, which listed the
address Appellant’s counsel had on file. Id. On December 18, 2017, the court
dismissed its capias and bench warrant. Order, 12/18/17. The court
instructed Appellant to report to intake within “24 hours of her release.” Id.
On January 11, 2018, the Commonwealth filed a second petition to issue
capias and bench warrant. The petition averred that parole was granted on
December 18, 2017, and set to expire on April 23, 2018. The petition also
claimed that parole was ineffective because Appellant violated two conditions
of parole and that Appellant was presently in custody in the Lancaster County
prison. Pet. to Issue Capias and Bench Warrant, 1/11/18, at 1 (unpaginated).
The court granted the petition and issued a bench warrant. On February 23,
2018, the court held a parole violation hearing, found her in violation, and
sentenced her to ten days to six months’ imprisonment.

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2000).4 Appellant’s Brief at 11-14. Appellant contends that her cases are

distinguishable because, unlike the defendants in Hilburn and Wilson, she

was not present at trial, did not know the date and time for trial, and thus

could not be willfully absent. Id. at 14. Appellant points out that her trial

counsel notified the court that Appellant was homeless at the time of the

offense. Id. She contends the evidence was insufficient to establish she knew

the date and time of her trial and thus, the Commonwealth failed to establish

“by a preponderance of the evidence that Appellant’s absence was without

cause.” Id. at 15.

       The following principles govern our review.      “A defendant has the

absolute right to be present at all stages of the criminal proceedings against

him.    The trial court has the discretion to grant or deny a request for a

continuance. Such grant or denial will be reversed only on a showing of an

abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Pantano, 836 A.2d 948, 950 (Pa.

Super. 2003) (citations omitted). “Where a trial court denies a request for

continuance, discretion is abused where the defendant’s right outweighs the

Commonwealth’s need for efficient administration.” Id. (citation omitted).

       Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 602(A) governs:

       (A) The defendant shall be present at every stage of the trial
       including the impaneling of the jury and the return of the verdict,
       and at the imposition of sentence, except as otherwise provided
       by this rule. The defendant’s absence without cause at the time

____________________________________________

4   We summarize these cases below.

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     scheduled for the start of trial or during trial shall not preclude
     proceeding with the trial, including the return of the verdict and
     the imposition of sentence.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 602(A).

     The comment to Rule 602(A) states as follows:

     This rule was amended in 2013 to clarify that, upon a finding that
     the absence was without cause, the trial judge may conduct the
     trial in the defendant’s absence when the defendant fails to appear
     without cause at the time set for trial or during trial. The burden
     of proving that the defendant’s absence is without cause is upon
     the Commonwealth by a preponderance of the evidence. See
     Commonwealth v. Scarborough, 491 Pa. 300, 421 A.2d 147
     (1980) (when a constitutional right is waived, the Commonwealth
     must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the waiver
     was voluntary, knowing and intelligent); Commonwealth v.
     Tizer, 454 Pa. Super. 1, 684 A.2d 597 (1996). See also
     Commonwealth v. Bond, 693 A.2d 220, 223 (Pa. Super. 1997)
     (“[A] defendant who is unaware of the charges against him,
     unaware of the establishment of his trial date or is absent
     involuntarily is not absent ‘without cause.’”).

                                  *    *    *

     A defendant’s presence may be deemed waived by the defendant
     intentionally failing to appear at any stage of the trial after proper
     notice. See Commonwealth v. Wilson, 551 Pa. 593, 712 A.2d
735 (1998) (a defendant, who fled courthouse after jury was
     impaneled and after subsequent plea negotiations failed, was
     deemed to have knowingly and voluntarily waived the right to be
     present); Commonwealth v. Sullens, 533 Pa. 99, 619 A.2d
1349 (1992) (when a defendant is absent without cause at the
     time his or her trial is scheduled to begin, the defendant may be
     tried in absentia).

Pa.R.Crim.P. 602(A) cmt.

     In Wilson, the defendant appeared at a suppression hearing, jury

selection, and the morning of the first day of trial but before the jury was

sworn. Wilson, 712 A.2d at 736. The defendant fled the courtroom before

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the jury was sworn. Id. The Commonwealth argued that it did nothing to

force Appellant’s flight, and the court held trial in absentia. Id. The defendant

appealed the trial court’s decision to have a trial without him.

      In Wilson, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court explained:

      A defendant who is released on bail before trial gives the court his
      or her assurance that he or she will stand trial and submit to
      sentencing if found guilty. Unless the defendant is prevented from
      attending the proceedings for reasons beyond his or her control,
      then the defendant is expected to be present at all stages of the
      trial. A defendant owes the court an affirmative duty to advise it
      if he or she will be absent. If a defendant has a valid reason for
      failing to appear, for example, if he or she has a medical
      emergency or is called to leave because of a family emergency,
      then the defendant can alert the court personally or through
      counsel of the problem. When, however, the defendant leaves the
      trial abruptly, without an explanation to either his lawyer or the
      court, this may be regarded as an absence without cause.

Wilson, 712 A.2d at 738 (citation omitted). Based on this reasoning, the

Wilson Court affirmed the trial court’s decision to hold a trial in absentia. Id.

at 739.

      In Hilburn, the defendant was tried in absentia, and she appealed that

decision to this Court. Hilburn, 746 A.2d at 1148. The Hilburn Court held

that the defendant was present for jury selection, after which the trial court

notified her that trial would begin the next day. Id. at 1149. The defendant’s

trial counsel testified that she was aware her attendance was mandatory. Id.

The Hilburn Court concluded that “the trial court made a logical and sufficient

inquiry into the circumstances of” her absence and the record revealed no

evidence of good cause. Id.

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      Here, Appellant was released on bail prior to trial. On the day of trial,

the trial court questioned whether Appellant was notified of the time and date

of trial. See N.T. Trial at 3-4. Appellant’s counsel informed the court that she

had mailed the notice to Appellant’s last known address and was unable to

phone her. See id. Counsel noted, however, that Appellant had consistently

attended prior court dates after receiving notice. See id. Like the defendant

in Wilson, Appellant was released on bail and appeared at all prior hearings

and failed to provide any reason or explanation for not appearing at trial. See

Wilson, 712 A.2d at 738-39. Similar to Hilburn, the court inquired into the

circumstances of Appellant’s absence. See Hilburn, 746 A.2d at 1149. We

note that to date, Appellant has not explained her absence despite appearing

at prior court proceedings after receiving notice at the address her counsel

had on file. See N.T. Trial at 3-4. Accordingly, Appellant has not established

an abuse of discretion. See Pantano, 836 A.2d at 950.

      With   respect   to   her   last   issue,   Appellant   contends   that   the

Commonwealth failed to prove that she was the driver. Appellant’s Brief at

15. According to Appellant, although the police “ran the information” through

the computer, the police “could not recall checking to make sure the picture

matched the driver or the photos on the documentation” that Appellant had

provided. Id. at 16. The police, according to Appellant, also could not recall

whether they asked Appellant for her identification prior to performing a drug

recognition evaluation, although they testified it was “regular practice.” Id.

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In Appellant’s view, there was no testimony proving beyond a reasonable

doubt that Appellant was the actual culprit “and not someone with her

paperwork.” Id.

     The standard of review for a sufficiency challenged is well-settled:

     A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is a question of
     law. Evidence will be deemed sufficient to support the verdict
     when it establishes each material element of the crime charged
     and the commission thereof by the accused, beyond a reasonable
     doubt. Where the evidence offered to support the verdict is in
     contradiction to the physical facts, in contravention to human
     experience and the laws of nature, then the evidence is insufficient
     as a matter of law. When reviewing a sufficiency claim the court
     is required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
     verdict winner giving the prosecution the benefit of all reasonable
     inferences to be drawn from the evidence.

Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745, 751 (Pa. 2000) (citations

omitted).

     In addition to proving the statutory elements of the crimes
     charged beyond a reasonable doubt, the Commonwealth must
     also establish the identity of the defendant as the perpetrator of
     the crimes. Evidence of identification need not be positive and
     certain to sustain a conviction.

     Our Supreme Court has stated that any indefiniteness and
     uncertainty in the identification testimony goes to its weight.
     Direct evidence of identity is, of course, not necessary and a
     defendant may be convicted solely on circumstantial evidence.

Commonwealth v. Strafford, ___ A.3d ___, 2018 Pa. Super. 223, at 13 (Pa.

Super. 2018) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).

     Here, Officer Rivera testified at trial that Appellant’s appearance

matched the photo on her temporary driver’s license.          See N.T. Trial,

10/10/17, at 56-57. Sergeant Hahn similarly testified that it was his usual

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practice to verify a person’s identity before testing that person for drug

impairment. See id. at 115. Their verification of Appellant’s identity was

subject   to   cross-examination.     After   viewing   the   record   in   the

Commonwealth’s favor, we perceive no error by the trial court. See Widmer,
744 A.2d at 751; Strafford, 2018 Pa. Super. 223, at 13. Accordingly, we affirm

the judgment of sentence.

     Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 10/09/2018

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