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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA : PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
v. :
:
:
FORREST JAMES WILSON :
: No. 802 EDA 2017
Appellant :
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 17, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-09-CR-0008282-2016
BEFORE: OTT, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and RANSOM*, J.
MEMORANDUM BY McLAUGHLIN, J.: FILED MAY 09, 2018
Forrest James Wilson appeals from the judgment of sentence entered
following his conviction for possession of a controlled substance and two
counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.1 Because we conclude the
Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to support the convictions, we
affirm.
The trial court conducted a jury trial on February 17, 2017.2 Officer
Eugene Zurybida of the Brisol Township Police Department testified that he
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court
1 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(16) and 780-113(a)(32), respectively.
2 The transcript for the trial and sentencing is dated February 7, 2017.
However, the materials in the record, including the Verdict Sheet, the Bucks
County Criminal Court sheets, and Court Commitment documents, are dated
February 17, 2017. It appears the February 7 date on the transcript is a
typographical error.
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was on routine patrol on April 6, 2016, when he was dispatched to a reported
domestic dispute. N.T., 2/7/17, at 9. When Officer Zurybida arrived at the
location, he found Wilson in the driveway. Id. at 9-10, 12. After retrieving
Wilson’s name and date of birth, Officer Zurybida learned that there was an
open arrest warrant for him. Id. at 10-11. Officer Zurybida arrested Wilson
and conducted a search incident to arrest, finding, among other items, metal
cylinders containing substances that Officer Zurybida suspected to be cocaine
and marijuana. Id. at 11, 14. Branden Brunner, a forensic chemist, testified
that he conducted a chemical test on one of the substances, which tested
positive for cocaine. Id. at 40-41.
Wilson testified that when Officer Zurybida arrived at his residence he
gave the officer his identification card. Id. at 46. He told the officer he did not
want Sheila Hanes in his apartment and that she was “leaving stuff all over”
the apartment. Id. Wilson testified that he gave Officer Zurybida “two or three
vials with stuff in it” and told the officer that it was “her stuff.” Id. at 46-47.
In rebuttal, the Commonwealth recalled Officer Zurybida, who testified
that Wilson never stated the items found in his pocket belonged to Ms. Haines.
Id. at 54. He also testified that Wilson did not hand the items to him; rather,
he found them in Wilson’s pockets during search. Id. at 55.
A jury found Wilson guilty of possession of a controlled substance and
two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.3 The trial court sentenced
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3The trial court found Wilson not guilty of possession of a small amount of
marijuana, 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(31).
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Wilson to six to 12 months’ incarceration for the conviction for possession of
a controlled substance and a consecutive three to 12 months’ incarceration
for one possession of drug paraphernalia conviction. The trial court ordered
no further penalty for the second possession of drug paraphernalia conviction.
Wilson filed a timely notice of appeal.
Wilson raises the following issue on appeal: “Was the evidence sufficient
to support the conviction?” Wilson’s Br. at 4.
“Because evidentiary sufficiency is a question of law, our standard of
review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.” Commonwealth v.
Ballard, 80 A.3d 380, 390 (Pa. 2013) (citation omitted). Specifically, we must
determine whether, when viewed in a light most favorable to the verdict
winner, the evidence at trial and all reasonable inferences therefrom are
sufficient for the trier of fact to find that the Commonwealth proved each
element of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt. See
Commonwealth v. Dale, 836 A.2d 150, 152 (Pa.Super. 2003). “The
Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly circumstantial evidence.”
Commonwealth v. Brown, 23 A.3d 544, 559 (Pa.Super. 2011) (en banc)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Hutchinson, 947 A.2d 800, 805–06 (Pa.Super.
2008)).
Further, “[a]s an appellate court, we do not assess credibility nor do we
assign weight to any of the testimony of record.” Commonwealth v. Kinney,
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863 A.2d 581, 584 (Pa.Super. 2004) (citation omitted). Therefore, we will not
disturb the verdict “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. Bruce, 916 A.2d 657, 661 (Pa.Super.
2007) (quoting Commonwealth v. Frisbie, 889 A.2d 1271, 1274–75
(Pa.Super.2005)).
To establish possession of a controlled substance, the Commonwealth
must prove the defendant knowingly or intentionally possessed a controlled
substance. 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(16); Commonwealth v. Brown, 48 A.3d
426, 430 (Pa.Super. 2012).4 To establish possession of drug paraphernalia,
the Commonwealth must prove the defendant used, or possessed with intent
to use, drug paraphernalia. 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(32); Commonwealth v.
Coleman, 984 A.2d 998, 1001 (Pa.Super. 2009). The Commonwealth may
establish possession by showing actual possession, constructive possession,
or joint constructive possession. Commonwealth v. Vargas, 108 A.3d 858,
868 (Pa.Super. 2014) (en banc). Actual possession is established by proving
that the item “was found on the defendant’s person.” Id.
Wilson concedes that the items retrieved were drug paraphernalia and
cocaine, a controlled substance. Wilson’s Br. at 11, 13. He argues that the
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4The Commonwealth must also establish that the person who possessed the
controlled substance was “not registered under this Act.” 35 P.S. § 780-
113(a)(16). This is not at issue here.
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Commonwealth did not establish possession because he abandoned the items
by giving them to Officer Zurybida and explaining to the officer that the items
belonged to Ms. Haines.
The Commonwealth presented the testimony of Officer Zurybida that
the cocaine and drug paraphernalia were found in Wilson’s pockets during a
search. This was sufficient to establish possession. Credibility determinations
are for the jury, and the jury was not required to believe Wilson’s testimony
that he handed the items to the officer and that they did not belong to him.
See Kinney, 863 A.2d at 584-85 (defendant attempted to convince jury of a
different version of events, but “jury was free to believe all, part or none” of
the evidence).
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 5/9/18
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