Court Opinion

ID: 4258246
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-26 18:51:01.824452+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:07.235012
License: Public Domain

J-S69035-17

                               2018 Pa. Super. 70

 COMMONWEALTH OF                        :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 PENNSYLVANIA                           :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                        :
                                        :
              v.                        :
                                        :
                                        :
 PARIS RAYMONT MURPHY                   :
                                        :   No. 723 WDA 2017
                   Appellant

            Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence May 9, 2017
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County Criminal Division at
                      No(s): CP-26-CR-0001494-2016

BEFORE:    BOWES, J., RANSOM, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E.

OPINION BY STEVENS, P.J.E.:                        FILED MARCH 23, 2018

     Appellant Paris Raymont Murphy appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County following his

conviction by a jury on the charges of possession of a controlled

substance/contraband by an inmate, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5123(a)(2), possession

of a controlled substance, 35 P.S. 780-113(a)(16), and use/possession of drug

paraphernalia, 35 P.S. 780-113(a)(32). After a careful review, we affirm.

     The relevant facts and procedural history are as follows: On February

21, 2016, while an inmate at SCI-Fayette, Appellant engaged in an altercation

with another inmate. N.T., 5/3/17, at 12-13. Several correctional officers

restrained Appellant and then searched him, finding heroin, cocaine, a

synthetic cannabinoid known as “K2,” and stamp bags. Id. at 24, 26, 74-75.

____________________________________
* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S69035-17

       On May 3, 2017, represented by counsel, Appellant proceeded to a jury

trial, at which the Commonwealth presented the testimony of four correctional

officers,    the   investigating    Pennsylvania   State   Police   officer,   and   a

Pennsylvania State Police forensic scientist supervisor.            Relevantly, the

Commonwealth offered testimony that illegal drugs and paraphernalia were

found in Appellant’s pockets. Id. at 24. Appellant was the sole witness for

the defense; his trial strategy was that he and his cellmate borrowed each

other’s prison clothes and the drugs/paraphernalia belonged to his cellmate.

Id. at 83.

       At the conclusion of the testimony, the jury convicted Appellant of the

offenses indicated supra, and on May 9, 2017, he was sentenced to an

aggregate of 27 months to 7 years in prison, to be served consecutively to the

sentence he was then currently serving in an unrelated matter. Appellant did

not file post-sentence motions; however, this timely, counseled appeal

followed. All Pa.R.A.P. 1925 requirements have been met.

       On appeal, Appellant first claims the trial court abused its discretion in

admitting into evidence his admission of guilt, which he made with regard to

the possession of the instant drugs at an administrative disciplinary hearing

before the Department of Corrections.1 Appellant contends his admission of

____________________________________________

1 We note with disapproval that Appellant has neither pointed to that place in
the record where the challenged evidence/testimony was presented at trial
nor that place in the record where his counsel’s objection was made.

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guilt during the administrative proceeding was irrelevant in the subsequent

criminal proceeding. He further alleges the danger of unfair prejudice

outweighed the evidence’s probative value in that the jury was likely to

conclude that a plea of guilt at the administrative hearing was similar to a plea

of guilt before the Court of Common Pleas, and the evidence inflamed the jury.

      Initially, we note that:

      [t]he admission of evidence is solely within the discretion of the
      trial court, and a trial court’s evidentiary rulings will be reversed
      on appeal only upon an abuse of that discretion. An abuse of
      discretion will not be found based on a mere error of judgment,
      but rather occurs where the court has reached a conclusion that
      overrides or misapplies the law, or where the judgment exercised
      is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice,
      bias or ill-will.

Commonwealth v. Woodard, 634 Pa. 162, 129 A.3d 480, 494 (2015)

(quotation marks and citations omitted).

      Generally, all relevant evidence is admissible, and evidence is relevant

if it has “any tendency to make a fact more or less probable then it would be

without the evidence.”    Pa.R.E. 401-02.    However, the court may exclude

relevant evidence if its probative value is outweighed by a danger of “unfair

prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting

time, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.” Pa.R.E. 403.

       Evidence that might otherwise be inadmissible may be introduced for

some other purpose, particularly where Appellant’s own testimony “opens the

door” for such evidence to be used for impeachment purposes. See Pa.R.E.

607(b) (“The credibility of a witness may be impeached by any evidence

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relevant to that issue, except as otherwise provided by statute or these

rules.”).2 “A litigant opens the door to inadmissible evidence by presenting

proof that creates a false impression refuted by the otherwise prohibited

evidence.” Commonwealth v. Nypaver, 69 A.3d 708, 716-17 (Pa.Super.

2013) (citations omitted).       Further, it is noteworthy that trial judges retain

wide latitude as to the scope of cross-examination and will not be reversed

absent an abuse of that discretion. See Commonwealth v. Bozyk, 987 A.2d
753 (Pa.Super. 2009).

       In the case sub judice, the following relevant exchange occurred

between Appellant and his defense counsel upon direct-examination at the

jury trial:

       Q: And in the video you were strip searched?
       A: Yes, sir.
       Q: During that time, to your knowledge, did you have any
       synthetic marijuana?
       A: No, sir.
       Q: Did you have any heroin?
       A: No, sir.
       Q: Did you have any cocaine?
       A: No, sir.

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2 Appellant has pointed to no statute or rule generally prohibiting statements
made by a defendant at the administrative disciplinary stage from being
introduced for impeachment purposes at a subsequent criminal proceeding.
In fact, Appellant begins the instant argument with the premise that the
admissibility of such evidence is subject to an abuse of discretion standard.
Thus, we shall limit our review accordingly.

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N.T., 5/3/17, at 83-84.

     On cross-examination at trial, the following relevant exchange occurred

between Appellant and the prosecutor:

     Q: Do you recall after this incident an Administrative Hearing
     regarding the same underlying facts as this incident within the
     Department of Corrections?
           [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your honor, I would just want to
     object to this as to relevancy.
          THE COURT: Your objection [is] noted.              If it’s for
     impeachment, we’ll permit you to continue.
           [THE PROSECUTOR]: Thank you, Your Honor.
     Q: Do you recall that hearing?
     A: Can you repeat the question?
     Q: Certainly. Do you recall an Administrative Hearing within the
     Department of Corrections pertaining to this same underlying
     incident?
     A: Yes.
     Q: And do you recall the result or the disposition of that hearing?
     A: Yes.
     Q: And what was that?
     A: They gave me forty-five days DC time in the hole.
     Q: And was there a hearing or was it disposed of in some other
     way?
     A: Had a hearing.
     Q: And did you make any admissions?
     A: Are you talking about like far as the outcomes of that hearing
     that took place at SCI Fayette?
     Q: Yes.
     A: Yeah. They found me guilty.
     Q: I’m asking you if you yourself made any admissions?
     A: No.
     Q: If you took responsibility?

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     A: Uh-uh.
     Q: No?
     A: No, ma’am.

Id. at 87-88.

     At this point, the Commonwealth recalled one of the correctional

officers, Captain Frank Salvay, to the stand. The relevant exchange occurred

between the prosecutor and Captain Salvay:

     Q: Are you familiar with an Administrative Hearing relative to this
     incident and [Appellant]?
     A: Yes, ma’am.
           [THE PROSECUTOR]: May I approach, Your Honor?
           THE COURT: You may.
     (DOCUMENT   MARKED      FOR     IDENTIFICATION                  AS
     COMMONWEALTH’S EXHIBIT NUMBER 7).
     Q: Sir, I’m going to show you what been marked as
     Commonwealth’s Exhibit 7. Can you take a look at that and tell
     me if you’re familiar with it?
     A: I am.
     Q: And tell me what this document is?
     A: It’s a Disciplinary Hearing Report.
     Q: And does this document indicate that [Appellant] had a
     Disciplinary Hearing for this underlying incident?
     A: Yes, ma’am.
     Q: And does it indicate what the disposition of that hearing was?
     A: Inmate pled guilty to---
           [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I’m going to object, Your Honor.
                                     ***
           THE COURT: We’ll overrule your objection. You can testify
     as to the content.
           [THE PROSECUTOR]: Thank you, Your Honor.
     Q: Does it indicate the disposition of this hearing?

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       A: Yes, ma’am, it does.
       Q: What was that?
       A: Inmate pled guilty to charge 22 which is possession for
       contraband, controlled substance.
            [THE PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, we would move for the
       admission of Commonwealth’s Exhibit 7.
                                      ***
             THE COURT: Very well. Objection, on the record?
             [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Same objection, Your Honor.
              THE COURT: Very well. We’ll overrule your objection and
       we’ll admit Commonwealth’s Number 7.

Id. at 90-93.

       In finding no merit to Appellant’s evidentiary claim on appeal, the trial

court relevantly concluded that Appellant, by denying on direct-examination

at trial that he had knowingly possessed the controlled substances, “opened

the door” for the prosecutor to attempt to impeach Appellant’s testimony by

questioning him as to whether he admitted at the administrative disciplinary

hearing that he had knowingly possessed the controlled substances. See Trial

Court Opinion, filed 7/20/17, at 5. Further, the trial court concluded that,

after Appellant denied on cross-examination at trial that he had admitted his

knowing possession of the controlled substances during the administrative

disciplinary hearing, the prosecutor was permitted to impeach Appellant’s

testimony via the rebuttal testimony of Captain Salvay, as well as the

introduction of the disciplinary hearing report, which indicated that Appellant

admitted he had knowingly possessed the controlled substances.       See id. at

5-6.

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       We find no abuse of discretion. Simply put, we agree with the trial court

that, by denying on direct-examination that he did knowingly possess the

controlled substances, as well as denying on cross-examination that he had

admitted such possession during the administrative disciplinary hearing,

Appellant “opened the door” to the prosecutor using the evidence at issue for

impeachment purposes. See Nypaver, supra. Accordingly, there is no merit

to Appellant’s first claim.

       In his second claim, Appellant contends the trial court abused its

discretion in permitting the Commonwealth to cross-examine Appellant as to

whether he had a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance.3

       At trial, on direct-examination, the relevant exchange occurred between

Appellant and defense counsel:

              Q: Do you use cocaine?
              A: No, sir.
              Q: Do you use heroin?
              A: No, sir.
              Q: Do you use marijuana?
              A: No, sir.

N.T., 5/3/17, at 84.

____________________________________________

3 As with his previous claim, we note with disapproval that Appellant has
neither pointed to that place in the record where the challenged cross-
examination occurred nor where defense counsel’s objection was made.

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J-S69035-17

         On cross-examination, the prosecutor asked Appellant, “Have you ever

used those types of drugs[,]” and Appellant replied, “No, ma’am.” Id. The

prosecutor then asked for a sidebar conference, at which she indicated she

planned to ask Appellant about his prior convictions for possession of illegal

controlled substances. Id. at 85-86. Defense counsel objected; however, the

trial court ruled that the prosecutor was permitted “to ask [Appellant] if he’s

ever been convicted of possession of marijuana and cocaine or heroin.” Id.

at 86.

         The relevant exchange then occurred between the prosecutor and

Appellant on cross-examination:

         Q: [Appellant,] have you ever been convicted of simple
         possession or possession of marijuana or paraphernalia?
         A: I might have been charged with it. I know I had a case back
         in two thousand and I wanna [sic] say eleven. Them [sic]
         charges got withdraw[n] and that’s all I could think back to.

Id. at 87.

         Appellant argues the Commonwealth should not have been permitted to

cross-examine Appellant as to whether he had any prior convictions.

Specifically, Appellant contends the questioning was irrelevant and did not

meet the requirements of 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5918 since Appellant did not “open

the door” for the cross-examination by presenting evidence tending to prove

his own good character or reputation. In this vein, he notes that, on direct-

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examination, he testified that he does not presently use illegal substances, as

opposed to not using illegal substances in the past.4

       “Pennsylvania courts [are] cautious when considering whether to admit

evidence of prior convictions for purposes of impeaching the credibility of a

defendant testifying on his own behalf.”           Commonwealth v. Hernandez,

862 A.2d 647, 650 (Pa.Super. 2004) (citation omitted).            However, our

decisional law recognizes that evidence of a non-crimen falsi conviction, such

as in the case sub judice,5 may be admitted into evidence after the defendant

raises the issue of his good character. See id.

       42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5918 relevantly provides:

       § 5918. Examination of defendant as to other offenses
       No person charged with any crime and called as a witness in his
       own behalf, shall be asked, or if asked, shall be required to
       answer, any question tending to show that he has committed, or
       been charged with, or been convicted of any offense other than

____________________________________________

4 He also argues the prosecutor should not have been permitted “to elicit
testimony from [Appellant] concerning a prior charge of possession without
evidence of what drug [Appellant] possessed and without knowledge as to
whether [Appellant] was [actually] convicted of the charge.” Appellant’s Brief
at 14.
       At trial, during the sidebar conference, the prosecutor indicated she had
not reviewed Appellant’s entire past record; however, she was aware of a
conviction for possession of controlled substances from 2011. N.T., 5/3/17,
at 85-87. At the subsequent sentencing hearing, the trial court noted
Appellant, indeed, had a prior conviction for possession of a controlled
substance and paraphernalia. N.T., 5/9/17, at 2. Thus, we find no relief is
due on this claim.

5 Convictions for drug and paraphernalia possession are not crimen falsi
convictions. See Hernandez, supra.

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      the one wherewith he shall then be charged, or tending to show
      that he has been of bad character or reputation unless:
      (1) he shall have at such trial, personally or by counsel, asked
      questions of the witness for the prosecution with a view to
      establish his own good reputation or character, or has given
      evidence tending to prove his own good character or reputation[.]

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5918(1) (bold in original) (italics added). “We have made clear

that § 5918 allows the prosecution to cross-examine a defendant concerning

his past convictions to repudiate specific evidence of good character offered

by that defendant.”    Hernandez, 862 A.2d at 650 (quotation marks and

quotation omitted).

      In the case sub judice, the trial court explained that it permitted the

Commonwealth to cross-examine Appellant as to whether he had been

previously convicted of simple possession, possession of marijuana, or

possession of paraphernalia because “Appellant, by denying using controlled

substances, offered evidence of his good character and effectively, [pursuant

to Section 5918,] ‘opened the door’ for the prosecution to question him

concerning same.” Trial Court Opinion, filed 7/20/17, at 5 (citing Hernandez,

supra (where [the] defendant asserted he did not sell drugs, [the]

Commonwealth was permitted to question [him] about prior convictions that

contradicted this assertion)).

      We agree with the trial court in this regard. Appellant’s denial on cross-

examination as to whether he “ever used those type of drugs” clearly “opened

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the door”6 and constituted evidence given by Appellant tending to prove his

own good character or reputation. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5918(1); Hernandez,

supra. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in permitting the prosecutor to

cross-examine      Appellant     regarding     his   prior   drug   and   paraphernalia

possession convictions. See id.

       For all of the foregoing reasons, we find Appellant is not entitled to relief

on his claims of evidentiary error. Thus, we affirm.

       Affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/23/2018

____________________________________________

6Defense counsel did not object to this question by the prosecutor on cross-
examination.

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