Court Opinion

ID: 9650088
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 15:24:24.430854+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:18.137099
License: Public Domain

WIEAND, Judge,
concurring and dissenting.
I concur in the majority’s determination that sufficient evidence was presented to sustain appellant’s conviction for obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function. I find no merit in appellant’s contention that the “breach of official duty” forming the basis for his prosecution under section 5101 of the Crimes Code must in itself constitute a criminal act. A breach of official duty becomes criminal under section 5101 when it is undertaken intentionally “with the purpose and effect of obstructing a governmental function.” Model Penal Code, § 242.1, Comment at p. 206. In the instant case, I am satisfied that the jury could have found that appellant breached his duty as a district justice to impartially administer justice by exerting undue influence upon Chief Thomas to provide favorable treatment regarding the traffic citation which had been issued to Andrew Kramer.
I also agree with the majority’s determination that the trial court erred when it refused to permit appellant to cross-examine Chief Thomas regarding his fear of prosecution or loss of employment stemming from his own involvement in signing the name of another officer on the substituted citation charging Andrew Kramer with a lesser offense. Such cross-examination would have been directly relevant to exploring the potential bias, interest or motive of Chief Thomas in testifying against appellant. Upon review of the record, how*391ever, I am unable to agree with the majority that this error was harmless. I cannot conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the result of appellant’s trial would not have been different if the trial court had not improperly limited the cross-examination of Chief Thomas. Therefore, I would reverse the judgment of sentence and remand for a new trial.