Court Opinion

ID: 9378493
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-10 17:08:21.445552+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:21.618054
License: Public Domain

J-A02028-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    WALTER W. CABLE                            :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 645 WDA 2022

        Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered January 10, 2022
            In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
                  Criminal Division at CP-65-CR-0002290-2018

BEFORE:      BOWES, J., MURRAY, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.:                              FILED: MARCH 10, 2023

        Walter W. Cable (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence

imposed after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy to

commit first-degree murder, and abuse of a corpse.1 We affirm.

        Appellant’s convictions arose from the killing of Ronny Cable2 (the

Victim), “and the destruction of her body by fire, which were alleged to have

taken place on or about February 17, 2017.” Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22, at

1. The Commonwealth also charged Devin Akamichi (Akamichi), at docket

CP-65-CR-0002291-2018, with the Victim’s murder, conspiracy to commit

____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

118 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2501(a), 903(a)(1), and 5510; the jury found Appellant not
guilty of robbery, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3701.

2   Appellant and the Victim have the same last name but are not related.
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murder and abuse of a corpse. Akamichi testified for the Commonwealth at

Appellant’s trial. At this writing, the docket in Akamichi’s case shows his trial

is scheduled for March 20, 2023.

                                    CASE HISTORY

       Appellant met the Victim in October 2015, although they “lost touch”

when the Victim began dating Akamichi. Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22, at 5

(citations to notes of testimony omitted). The Victim and Akamichi dated for

several months in 2016. Id.

       In February 2017, Appellant was with Akamichi and another individual,

Steve Zastawniak (Zastawniak), when the men “ran into the [V]ictim at a gas

station” in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Id. at 5-6. The Victim, Appellant and

Akamichi3 spent the next day and a half drinking at the Victim’s home,

shopping at Walmart and a liquor store, and drinking at the Hillview Tavern.

Id. at 6-7. At the Hillview Tavern, Appellant “told Akamichi that he intended

to kill the [V]ictim….” Id. at 7.

       Thereafter,

             [Appellant], Akamichi, and the [V]ictim left the tavern and
       drove to a wooded area which was a campsite formerly owned by
       [Appellant’s] family. Akamichi had been to the wooded location
       before with [Appellant]. The three got out of the car and began
       walking into the woods with [Appellant] leading the way. At some
____________________________________________

3 Zastawniak accompanied Appellant and Akamichi to the Victim’s home,
where the three men “began drinking” and “spent the night.” Trial Court
Opinion, 5/10/22, at 6 (citations to notes of testimony omitted). The following
morning, Appellant, Akamichi and the Victim “dropp[ed] off Zastawniak” in
Greensburg. Id.

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      point, [Appellant] retrieved a hammer from the ground, beat the
      [V]ictim in the head with the hammer[,] and choked her until she
      died. Akamichi watched as [Appellant] arranged the [V]ictim’s
      body, removed his bloodied shirt, and set the shirt and the
      [V]ictim’s jacket on fire.

             According to Akamichi, [Appellant] then started to place
      wood on top of the [V]ictim’s body and ordered Akamichi to do
      the same. After setting fire to the wood covering the [V]ictim,
      [Appellant] and Akamichi went to Akamichi’s car and removed the
      [V]ictim’s purse. [Appellant] disposed of the [V]ictim’s cell phone
      and purse in the fire, keeping money and pills that had been
      contained in the purse. Throughout the night, [Appellant] and
      Akamichi added wood to keep the fire burning. At one point,
      [Appellant] broke up the [V]ictim’s bones with a shovel. After
      sunrise, while the [V]ictim’s body was still burning, [Appellant]
      and Akamichi drove to a GetGo gas station in Delmont,
      Westmoreland County, so that they could get food and gasoline
      (both for Akamichi’s car and to fuel the fire). [Appellant] and
      Akamichi then returned to the crime scene and added wood and
      gasoline to the fire. Once the [V]ictim’s body was fully burned,
      [Appellant] and Akamichi left the area and went to [Appellant’s]
      residence to sleep. A few days later, [Appellant] and Akamichi
      returned to the wooded area to make sure that all evidence of the
      [V]ictim’s body had been destroyed.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22, at 7-8 (citations to notes of testimony omitted).

      The Victim’s mother, Beverly Richardson, contacted police on February

27, 2017. Richardson had not heard from the Victim since February 10, 2017;

no one was home when she went to the Victim’s home, although the Victim’s

car was there. Id. at 4. When police forced entry into the home, it was “a

mess,” which according to Richardson, “was unusual.” Id. Richardson filed a

missing person’s report and began searching for the Victim.

      More than a year later, on March 30, 2018, the Commonwealth charged

Appellant with the Victim’s murder.      Police had interviewed the Victim’s

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neighbor, Tammy Domiano, who provided video footage from her home

security cameras. Domiano had contacted police after she saw “on the news

that [the Victim] was missing.” N.T., 6/2/21, 72-73. The footage showed the

Victim leaving her home with Appellant and Akamichi during the “late evening

hours of February 16, 2017.”    Affidavit of Probable Cause, 3/30/18, at 1.

“During review of additional surveillance footage in the days following, [the

Victim] never returned to her residence[.]” Id.; see also N.T., 6/2/21, at 79,

82 (Domiano testifying she “watched [the video] clear to February 28th” and

“never [saw the Victim] come back.”).

     Police also reviewed surveillance video from the Walmart where the

Victim was identified entering the store “in the company of two white males

… [who] were subsequently identified by Beverly Richardson as [] Akamichi

and [Appellant].”   Id.   Akamichi and Appellant were also seen in video

surveillance (and receipts confirmed their presence) at a Get-Go convenience

store at 4:45 a.m. on February 17, 2017. Id. at 2.

     When police interviewed Akamichi, he relayed that Appellant had killed

the Victim.   Id.   Akamichi led police to the murder scene, where the

Mercyhurst University Department of Forensic Anthropology later recovered

evidence (including the Victim’s hair and bones). When police interviewed

Appellant, he admitted to being with Akamichi and the Victim on February 17,

2017. Id. Appellant claimed he and Akamichi had dropped the Victim off at

her home around midnight. Id.

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      Appellant’s trial began on June 2, 2021, and concluded with the jury’s

verdicts on June 10, 2021. On January 10, 2022, the trial court sentenced

Appellant to life in prison. Appellant filed post-sentence motions claiming the

Commonwealth failed to disclose details of its favorable treatment of Akamichi

in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) (holding that due

process is violated when the prosecution withholds information favorable to

the defense).   Appellant also claimed the jury’s verdicts were against the

weight of the evidence.    The trial court held a hearing on April 1, 2022.

Akamichi’s attorney, Kenneth Noga, Esquire, stated, “We were hoping, due to

[Akamichi’s] cooperation, something would happen, but we had absolutely no

guarantee[.]”    N.T., 4/1/22, at 17.      Attorney Noga testified that the

Commonwealth did not extend a plea offer until after Appellant’s trial. Id. at

14-15, 16-17.     Attorney Noga repeated, “there was absolutely nothing

communicated prior to [Appellant’s] trial.” Id. at 17. The trial court denied

the post-sentence motions on May 10, 2022.

      Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) statement. After concluding it had addressed the matters raised in

Appellant’s concise statement when it denied post-sentence motions, the trial

court stated it “relies upon its Opinion dated May 10, 2022.” Statement of the

Court Issued Pursuant to Rule 1925, 6/22/22 (attaching 5/10/22 opinion).

                                   ISSUES

      Appellant presents three issues for review:

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      1. W[ere] [Appellant’s] due process rights violated when the
         Prosecution withheld specifics of a plea bargain until after Trial
         and then recommended a sentence so lenient as to
         significantly affect the credibility of their key witness and the
         integrity of the Trial?

      2. Was [Appellant] prejudiced by the Commonwealth[]
         Attorney[’s] representation to the Jury that the Co-
         Defendant/Cooperating        Witness would     only receive
         consideration if he testified TRUTHFULLY when following the
         Trial the Co-Defendant received great consideration despite
         multiple falsehoods that contradicted the Commonwealth’s
         own evidence, witnesses, including Police Officers?

      3. Did the Lower Court err in determining that the verdict was
         not against the weight of the evidence?

Appellant’s Brief at 6 (bold and capitalization in original).

                                  Brady Claim

      Appellant’s first two issues are related. Like Appellant, we address the

issues together. See Appellant’s Brief at 15-19.

      Citing Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), Appellant argues the

Commonwealth violated his right to due process. In Brady, the United States

Supreme Court declared that due process is offended when the prosecution

withholds evidence favorable to the defense. Id. at 87. Appellant claims the

Commonwealth violated his right to due process “by suppressing additional

information regarding what ‘consideration’ the Prosecution’s key witness []

Akamichi was going to be receiving for his testimony.” Appellant’s Brief at 17.

Appellant states that Akamichi “denied there were any promises or even a

thought of consideration.” Id. He contends Akamichi “did not testify truthfully

yet still received an offer that the Defense was unaware of, and as far as

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Counsel knows, has never been proffered in Westmoreland County involving

someone who has admitted to being an accomplice to murder.” Id. at 17-18.

Upon careful review, we agree with the Commonwealth that the record

contradicts Appellant’s claim. See Commonwealth Brief at 23.

     The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explained,

     Brady and subsequent precedent flowing therefrom imposes upon
     a prosecutor the obligation to disclose all favorable evidence that
     is material to the guilt or punishment of an accused, even in the
     absence of a specific request by the accused. This Court has held
     that, to establish a Brady violation, a defendant has the burden
     to prove that: (1) the evidence at issue was favorable to the
     accused, either because it is exculpatory or because it impeaches;
     (2) the prosecution has suppressed the evidence, either willfully
     or inadvertently; and (3) the evidence was material, meaning that
     prejudice must have ensued.

Commonwealth v. Bagnall, 235 A.3d 1075, 1085–86 (Pa. 2020) (citations

omitted.

     Any evidence of an understanding or promise regarding a witness’s

testimony   is   relevant   and   the   jury   is   entitled   to   that   knowledge.

Commonwealth v. Strong, 761 A.2d 1167, 1172 (Pa. 2000). Due process

requires that any potential understanding between the prosecution and a

witness be revealed to the jury. Id. (emphasis added).

     An en banc panel of this Court summarized:

     Exculpatory evidence also includes evidence of an impeachment
     nature     that  is   material  to   the   case   against   the
     accused. See Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269, 79 S.Ct.
     1173, 3 L.Ed.2d 1217 (1959). Any implication, promise or
     understanding that the government would extend leniency in
     exchange for a witness’s testimony is relevant to the witness’s
     credibility. See Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 154, 92

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      S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972). When the failure of the
      prosecution to produce material evidence raises a reasonable
      probability that the result of the trial would have been different if
      the evidence had been produced, due process has been violated
      and a new trial is warranted. See United States v. Bagley, 473
      U.S. 667, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985).

Com. v. Burkhardt, 833 A.2d 233, 241 (Pa. Super. 2003) (en banc)

(emphasis added).

      Appellant emphasizes Akamichi’s “untruthful testimony.”        Appellant’s

Brief at 15; see generally id. at 15-19.       Akamichi was one of numerous

Commonwealth witnesses at Appellant’s trial.        When the Commonwealth

called Akamichi to testify, the prosecutor observed: “Present in the courtroom

as well is [Akamichi’s] attorney, Kenneth Noga.”          N.T., 6/2/21, at 83.

Akamichi testified that he understood his Fifth Amendment right to remain

silent. Id. at 84-85. When the prosecutor asked Akamichi whether he wanted

to testify, Akamichi answered: “Yes, sir.” Id. at 85. Akamichi acknowledged

he was charged with “the same [murder, conspiracy and abuse of corpse]

crimes associated with [the Victim].” Id. at 84.

      Akamichi confirmed that Appellant was his friend, and the Victim was

his ex-girlfriend.   Id. at 86-87.   Akamichi explained that he was at a gas

station with Appellant and Zastawniak when they saw the Victim. Id. at 89.

Later that day, Akamichi drove Appellant and Zastawniak to the Victim’s

house. Id. at 90-91. According to Akamichi, Appellant told Zastawniak during

the drive that Appellant was going to steal the Victim’s gun.        Id. at 91.

Akamichi stated that upon arriving at the Victim’s house, the three men and

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the Victim “started drinking.” Id. at 92. According to Akamichi, Appellant

“got pills off of” the Victim, and Appellant and the Victim “were snorting pills.”

Id. at 93.

      The    next   morning,    Akamichi   drove    Zastawniak     to   Greensburg,

accompanied by Appellant and the Victim.           Id. at 97-98.   Later that day,

Akamichi, Appellant and the Victim returned to the Victim’s house. Id. at 104.

They left to go to Walmart and the liquor store, but returned to the Victim’s

house.     Id. at 105-08.      Next, they went to the Hillview Tavern, where

Appellant told Akamichi “he had to tell me something.” Id. at 112. Akamichi

testified that Appellant said “he was going to kill” the Victim. Id. The three

then drove to a wooded area which Akamichi described as a “hangout spot.”

Id. at 117. As they were walking into the woods, Appellant started striking

the Victim with a hammer.         Id. at 118.      Akamichi described the killing

consistent with the trial court’s recitation. See Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22,

at 7-8; see also N.T., 6/2/21, at 118-38.

      On cross-examination, Akamichi testified to meeting with the prosecutor

the week prior to trial to discuss his testimony.        Id. at 153.     Appellant’s

counsel asked Akamichi:

      Q.    Do you remember, after [police] questioned you further,
      saying well, if I tell you, what’s in it for me? Do you remember
      that?

      A.     No, sir.

      Q.     You don’t remember?

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      A.      I don’t remember ever saying that.

Id. at 155.

      Also on cross examination, Appellant’s counsel questioned Akamichi

about his role as a defendant in an unrelated criminal case.          Akamichi

answered that he had entered a plea to three felony drug charges and was

sentenced to 6 to 23 months’ incarceration.          N.T., 6/3/21, at 209-10.

Appellant’s counsel asked Akamichi:

      Q.      [D]id the District Attorney’s office offer you anything to
              plead guilty to those charges?

      A.      No, sir.

Id. at 209.

      Akamichi testified that he was released after serving 6 months of his

sentence for the drug changes. Id. at 210. He further stated, “I’m [currently]

incarcerated, sir.”      Id. at 211.   Akamichi confirmed he had been advised

multiple times, by police and prosecutors, of his constitutional right to remain

silent. Id. at 212-14.

      Throughout questioning — on direct and cross — Akamichi frequently

stated he did not remember or did not understand the question. However, his

answers to questions about testifying for the Commonwealth were clear. For

example, in response to questioning by Appellant’s counsel:

      Q.    [W]ere you promised anything -- [s]ince you’re charged
      with murder and conspiracy of murder and abuse of a corpse, were
      you promised anything from the Commonwealth for your
      testimony here and your cooperation in the case?

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     A.    No, sir.

     …

     Q.    Were you promised anything by the government, by the
     Commonwealth, for your cooperation in the case and your
     testimony as to these charges?

     A.    No, sir.

     Q.   Did they say anything? They would let the judge know or
     something like that?

     A.    No, sir.

     Q.    So you have no idea what’s going to happen? You could
     face the same punishment as [Appellant] on these homicide
     charges?

     A.    Yes, sir.

N.T., 6/3/21, at 251-52.

     On redirect, the Commonwealth asked Akamichi:

     Q.   You’ve not been offered any plea agreements or any
     recommendation to testify here today; is that correct?

     A.    Yes, sir.

     Q.   You would agree with me that I’ve indicated to you if you
     appear in court and testified truthfully, that I would show
     you consideration in your case in the future?

     A.    Yes, sir.

     Q.    You would agree with that?

     A.    Yes, sir.

     Q.    And that is something that I stated to you previously?

     A.    Yes, sir.

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Id. at 253 (emphasis added).

     Based on this testimony, the trial court explained:

            Regarding [Appellant’s] allegations of a failure of due
     process and an incomplete disclosure of an agreement between
     the Commonwealth and Akamichi, the evidence presented at trial
     disclosed that Akamichi had been arrested for three felony counts
     of possession with intent to deliver … and had entered a
     negotiated plea agreement to these charges on June 27, 2017, for
     which he received a sentence of incarceration for 6 to 23 months.
     The evidence at trial further showed that Akamichi was arrested
     and charged with murder on March 29, 2018. Further, Akamichi
     testified at [Appellant’s] trial that he was not offered anything by
     the government in exchange for his testimony. The attorney for
     the Commonwealth clarified Akamichi’s testimony and pointed out
     that there was an understanding that the Commonwealth would
     show Akamichi consideration in a sentencing recommendation
     should he appear in court and testify truthfully. The jury, thus, in
     fact was presented with evidence that Akamichi’s testimony was
     motivated, in part, by his hope or expectation of leniency from the
     government.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22, at 15-16 (citations to notes of testimony and

footnotes omitted).

     The trial court further observed:

           Additional evidence was presented at the evidentiary
     hearing [on Appellant’s] post sentence motions. At that hearing,
     Kenneth Noga, Esquire, Akamichi’s defense counsel, testified that
     he and Brian Aston, Esquire, represented Akamichi in the
     marijuana case. During the course of that representation, counsel
     became aware that Akamichi was under investigation for
     homicide. On March 29, 2018, Akamichi, with counsel, met with
     detectives to give a statement regarding the [V]ictim’s death. The
     next day, Akamichi was incarcerated and charged with Homicide.

          [Attorney] Noga was present when Akamichi testified at
     [Appellant’s] preliminary hearing, when he testified at
     [Appellant’s] trial, and when he met with the Commonwealth to
     prepare for trial. [Attorney] Noga testified that no plea offer was
     extended to Akamichi until after [Appellant’s] trial had concluded

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      …. [Attorney] Noga further testified: “I made it very clear to Mr.
      Akamichi that there was not going to be any offer until after
      [Appellant’s] charges were resolved, and that was my
      understanding of the district attorney’s policy at that time.... So
      in all honesty, we were hedging a little bit. We had no idea what
      anybody was going to offer.” [Attorney] Noga also testified, “We
      were hoping that, due to his cooperation, something would
      happen, but we had absolutely no guarantee about what any kind
      of offer was going to be — and that he had to rely on that fact —
      that really, the hope that there would be some consideration given
      for his cooperation.         But there was absolutely nothing
      communicated prior to the trial.” In his testimony, [Attorney]
      Noga was clear and certain that there was no specific offer of
      leniency in exchange for testimony extended to Akamichi prior to
      [Appellant’s] trial.

Id. at 16-17 (citations to notes of testimony and footnote omitted).

      The trial court found the jury was “fully and completely apprised of the

extent of the understanding between Akamichi and the Commonwealth … and

that no further or more specific offer had been extended[.]” Id. at 17. The

record and case law support the court’s conclusion that “Brady requires no

more from the Commonwealth than what was afforded [Appellant] in this

case.”    Id.;   see    also   Burkhardt,      833   A.2d    at   241   (discussing

Commonwealth’s responsibility to produce material evidence). Accordingly,

Appellant’s   issues   regarding    due   process    and    the   Commonwealth’s

consideration of Akamichi’s testimony do not merit relief.

                                   Weight Claim

      In his third issue, Appellant challenges the weight of the evidence.

Appellant maintains the “evidence of [Appellant’s] involvement was primarily

the information provided by [] Akamichi.” Appellant’s Brief at 20. Appellant

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concedes there was DNA evidence connecting him to the crime scene, but

emphasizes evidence that he had “been at the site … on a number of

occasions.” Id. Appellant claims that “[w]ithout [] Akamichi’s testimony[,]

the mere fact that there was DNA at the scene would not be dispositive of the

issue as to whether [Appellant] was involved in the crime.” Id. at 20-21. This

argument is tenuous.

      A claim that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence is

addressed in the first instance to the discretion of the trial court and should

not be granted because of a mere conflict in the testimony or because the

judge would have reached a different conclusion. See Commonwealth v.

Stokes, 78 A.3d 644, 650 (Pa. Super. 2013). A trial court should not overturn

a verdict unless it is so contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of

justice. See Commonwealth v. Cash, 137 A.3d 1262, 1270 (Pa. 2016).

      Because the trial judge has had the opportunity to hear and see
      the evidence presented, an appellate court will give the gravest
      consideration to the findings and reasons advanced by the trial
      judge when reviewing a trial court’s determination that the verdict
      is against the weight of the evidence.

Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049, 1055 (Pa. 2013) (citations and

emphasis omitted).

      Instantly, the trial court recounted testimony from numerous witnesses,

which supported the jury’s guilty verdicts. See Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22,

at 3-14.   The witnesses included Beverly Richardson, the Victim’s mother;

Tammy Domiano, the Victim’s neighbor; Shelby Townsend, who was working

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at the Hillview Tavern where she saw the Victim with two men; numerous

investigating law enforcement officers; and forensic experts (who testified at

length about physical evidence (including, but not limited to DNA), as well as

cell phone call, text, and site location records). See id.

      The trial court explained:

      The jury was able to consider defense counsel’s arguments and
      observe the witnesses’ demeanor while they testified, weighing
      each one’s credibility. Further, the jury was able to assess both
      corroborative and contradictory evidence presented throughout
      the trial and arrive at verdicts which are supported by the
      evidence.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/10/22, at 14.

      Our review reveals no error or abuse of discretion by the trial court in

determining the jury’s verdicts were consistent with the weight of the

evidence.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/10/2023

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