J-A29023-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: B.F., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
APPEAL OF: B.F. :
:
:
:
:
: No. 1324 EDA 2018
Appeal from the Dispositional Order Entered March 27, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-23-JV-0000570-2017
BEFORE: OTT, J., DUBOW, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED APRIL 02, 2019
Appellant, B.F., appeals from the March 27, 2018 Dispositional Order
that was entered in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, which
ordered Appellant to serve a period of probation after being adjudicated
delinquent for Rape, Sexual Assault, and Indecent Assault.1 After careful
review, we affirm.
The relevant factual and procedural history is as follows. On April 13,
2017, then 15-year-old Appellant invited his neighbor, then 16-year-old M.B.
(“Victim”), over to his basement to watch television where Appellant sexually
assaulted Victim.
On June 6, 2017, the Commonwealth filed a Juvenile Delinquent Petition
charging Appellant with Rape and related offenses. On December 19, 2017,
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1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(a)(1); 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1; and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(2),
respectfully.
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
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the juvenile court held an adjudicatory hearing. The Commonwealth
presented testimony from psychiatrist Jeffrey Naser, M.D. and Victim.
Appellant testified on his own behalf, and presented testimony from Police
Detective Michael Erickson, and his parents as character witnesses.
Dr. Naser testified that he had been Victim’s treating psychiatrist for the
past seven years. Dr. Naser explained that Victim is diagnosed with Autism,
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), borderline intelligence with
an IQ of 72, and some developmental delays in terms of fine and gross motor.
Dr. Naser stated that Victim functions at a fourth or fifth grade level and
struggles with social cues.
Victim testified to the following version of events. Victim stated that
Appellant asked her to come over to watch television in his basement. Once
they were alone in the basement, Appellant stated that he had a scar on his
hip and asked Victim to show him her hip. After Appellant asked repeatedly,
Victim lowered her pants to reveal her hip. Appellant grabbed Victim’s pants,
forcibly removed her clothes, laid on top of her, and forced his penis inside of
her vagina. Initially, Victim vocalized objection and physically resisted.
Eventually, she gave up resisting because she was scared and tired.
Afterward, Appellant told Victim that if she disclosed the incident to anyone
that she would go to jail and he would threaten her best friend. The next day,
Victim disclosed the incident to her Mother and about a week later, they
reported the incident to the police. On April 27, 2017, Victim submitted to a
medical evaluation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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Appellant testified to the following version of events. Appellant stated
that he met Victim approximately 6 years ago, he and Victim kissed
approximately two years ago, and he had not been alone with Victim in two
years. Appellant confirmed that on the day in question, he walked across the
street, knocked on Victim’s door, and asked her to come over to his house.
Appellant testified that he engaged in consensual sexual activity with Victim
in his basement.
Detective Erickson testified that Victim’s medical records lacked
evidence of injury, but that was normal for victims of sexual assault. He also
testified that, in this case, the police did not interview friends and parents
because they were not eyewitnesses. Finally, he testified that the police
investigation did not include forensic evaluation of clothing or execution of a
search warrant to determine if Appellant had a scar. Detective Erickson
explained that the police did not test the clothing for DNA because there was
no indication that any DNA evidence would be present on Victim’s clothing and
Appellant claimed the sexual encounter was consensual.
Appellant’s parents testified that Appellant had a peaceful and non-
violent reputation in the community. Parties stipulated that other witnesses,
if called, would testify favorably as to Appellant’s character.
After the adjudicatory hearing, the juvenile court adjudicated Appellant
delinquent. On March 28, 2017, after a dispositional hearing, the juvenile
court determined that Appellant was in need of treatment, rehabilitation, and
supervision and placed Appellant on probation pending further order of the
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court and imposed an Order requiring Appellant to stay away from Victim. The
juvenile court also ordered Appellant to follow all recommendations of the
completed psychosexual evaluation, complete 4 hours of community service,
and report to juvenile probation to submit a DNA sample. Appellant filed a
timely Post-Dispositional Motion raising, inter alia, a challenge to the weight
of the evidence, which the juvenile court denied.
Appellant timely appealed. The juvenile court did not order Appellant to
file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement. The juvenile court filed a Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a) Opinion.
Appellant raises the following issues on appeal:
1. Was the verdict in this matter as to counts charging Rape,
Sexual Assault, and Indecent Assault against the great weight
of the evidence?
2. Did the Commonwealth present sufficient evidence to sustain
the adjudication of [Appellant] on the counts charging Rape,
Sexual Assault, and Indecent Assault?
3. Did the [juvenile] court err in permitting Jeffrey A. Naser, M.D.
to testify at the December 19, 2017 adjudication hearing?
4. Did the [juvenile] court err in precluding Stacey Ferry’s trial
testimony on December 19, 2017 as it pertained to prior sexual
contact between B.F. and M.B.?
Appellant’s Brief at 3 (some capitalization omitted).
Our standard of review of dispositional orders in juvenile proceedings is
well settled. The Juvenile Act grants broad discretion to juvenile courts when
determining an appropriate disposition. In re C.A.G., 89 A.3d 704, 709 (Pa.
Super. 2014). We will not disturb the juvenile court’s disposition absent a
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manifest abuse of discretion. In Interest of J.G., 145 A.3d 1179, 1184 (Pa.
Super. 2016).
In his first issue, Appellant avers that the verdict is against the weight
of the evidence. Appellant’s Brief at 11. Appellant argues that Appellant and
Victim testified to two different versions of events, and that the juvenile court
should have found that Victim had diminished credibility due to inconsistencies
in her statements and her delay in reporting the incident. Id. at 13, 16, 19,
27-29. Appellant also claims that police investigatory efforts were lacking and
the failure to interview corroborating witnesses, conduct forensic evaluation
of clothing, and execute search warrants resulted in no corroborating evidence
and casts doubt upon Victim’s allegations. Id. at 20-29. Appellant asserts
that in light of the evidence supporting Victim’s diminished credibility and the
failed police investigatory efforts, the juvenile court abused its discretion in
denying his challenge to the weight of the evidence. Id. at 30. This claim
fails.
Generally, a weight of evidence claim is “addressed to the discretion of
the judge who actually presided at trial.” In re J.B., 106 A.3d 76, 95 (Pa.
2014) (citations and quotation omitted). Once a juvenile court rules on a
weight claim, this Court’s role is not to consider the underlying question of
whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, rather we are limited
to whether the juvenile court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the
weight claim. In re. J.M., 89 A.3d 688, 692 (Pa. Super. 2014).
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“A trial court should award a new trial if the verdict of the fact finder is
so contrary to the evidence as to shock one's sense of justice and the award
of a new trial is imperative so that right may be given another opportunity to
prevail.” In re J.B., supra at 95 (citation and internal quotation marks
omitted). A new trial should not be granted because of a conflict in testimony
or because the facts could have supported a different conclusion. In re C.S.,
63 A.3d 351, 357 (Pa. Super. 2013). “Conflicts in the evidence and
contradictions in the testimony of any witnesses are for the fact finder to
resolve.” Id. (citation omitted). An appellate court will not substitute its
assessment of credibility for that of the finder of fact. Commonwealth v.
Manley, 985 A.2d 256, 262 (Pa. Super. 2009). Accordingly, a juvenile court’s
denial of a weight claim is “the least assailable of its rulings.” In re J.M.,
supra at 692 (citation omitted).
Instantly, Appellant argues that Victim had diminished credibility and
the court should have accepted Appellant’s version of events. However, the
juvenile court made the opposite finding. The juvenile court wholly believed
Victim’s testimony and found Appellant to have diminished credibility. The
juvenile court opined:
[This court] heard and assessed the testimony of [Victim]. Her
testimony regarding the events, were presented in a cogent,
straight-forward and credible fashion. The court accepted her
rendition of the events of April 13, 2017.
***
We resolve the issues based upon the impression derived from the
testimony of witnesses and the reliability ascribed to that
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testimony. Here, [Victim]’s testimony left the court [with] little
doubt that her credible rendition of events was clear and accurate.
***
The court observed [Appellant]’s presentation with particular
focus on his voice and appearance. He fidgeted and shifted
uneasily as he discussed the facets of the situation which deviated
from [Victim]’s rendition of events. The court was puzzled by
[Appellant]’s decision (when nobody was home at his house), after
nearly two years of not having had any significant contact with
[Victim], to walk across the street and invite [Victim] over to his
house to watch television and hangout. The situation struck the
court as a premeditated, conscious effort to isolate [Victim],
alone, in his family’s home. Then, [Appellant]’s statement that
they mutually decided to “mess around” – in direct contradiction
of what [Victim] stated – seemed implausible. [Appellant] also
denied having penetrated [Victim]’s vagina. [Appellant]’s
testimony did not rise to the level of certitude as that which
attached to [Victim]’s presentation to the court.
Juvenile Court Opinion, filed 6/12/18, at unpaginated 4-5, 7, 9. The juvenile
court also noted, and we acknowledge, that a victim’s uncorroborated
testimony is sufficient to support a conviction for Rape. See id. at
unpaginated 11; see also Commonwealth v. Wall, 953 A.2d 581, 584 (Pa.
Super. 2008).
The juvenile court found the Victim’s uncorroborated testimony to be
credible. We decline to disturb the juvenile court’s credibility determinations
or reweigh the evidence to support a different conclusion. Further, because a
victim’s uncorroborated testimony is sufficient to support a conviction for
Rape, it is of no moment that the police investigation failed to uncover
corroborating evidence. The verdict does not shock one’s conscience, and,
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therefore, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion when it denied
Appellant’s challenge to the weight of the evidence.
Appellant next challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, averring that
the evidence was insufficient to support Appellant’s adjudication of
delinquency for Rape, Sexual Assault, and Indecent Assault. Appellant’s Brief
at 30. Appellant argues that the Commonwealth’s evidence lacks credibility,
corroboration and believability in light of the contradictions between Victim
and Appellant’s testimony and the lack of corroborating evidence. Id. at 33-
34. Appellant’s argument is essentially a challenge to the weight of the
evidence. Appellant concedes this when, in his sufficiency of the evidence
argument section, he adopts the arguments previously set forth in his weight
of the evidence argument section. Id. at 33, 37. As stated above, this claim
fails.2
In his third issue, Appellant avers that the juvenile court erred in
permitting Jeffrey A. Naser, M.D. to testify at the adjudicatory hearing. Id.
at 38. Appellant argues that Dr. Naser’s testimony improperly suggested that
Victim was incapable of consent when Appellant was not charged with Rape of
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2 Moreover, Appellant fails to develop this issue properly in his Brief by failing
to specify which elements of which crimes he is challenging for lack of
sufficient evidence. Accordingly, in the alternative, this claim is waived for
lack of development. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a)-(b) (requiring a properly
developed argument for each question presented including a discussion of and
citation to authorities in appellate brief); Commonwealth v. Buterbaugh,
91 A.3d 1247, 1262 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc) (stating failure to conform
to the Rules of Appellate Procedure results in waiver of the underlying issue).
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a person incapable of consent and was, therefore, irrelevant and highly
prejudicial. Id. at 40. In turn, the Commonwealth argues that Dr. Naser’s
testimony was relevant to whether Appellant committed to the crime of Rape
by forcible compulsion, and, therefore, the juvenile court did not abuse its
discretion in admitting his testimony. Commonwealth Brief at 34-35. We
agree.
We review a juvenile court’s evidentiary rulings for an abuse of
discretion. In re N.C., 105 A.3d 1199, 1210 (Pa. 2014). “Evidence is relevant
if it logically tends to establish a material fact in the case or tends to support
a reasonable inference regarding a material fact.” Commonwealth v.
Gonzalez, 109 A.3d 711, 726 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted). Trial
judges enjoy broad discretion regarding the admission of evidence and have
the authority to exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice or confusion. Commonwealth v.
Parker, 882 A.2d 488, 492 (Pa. Super. 2005); see also Pa.R.E. 403. “[T]he
function of the trial court is to balance the alleged prejudicial effect of the
evidence against its probative value, and it is not for an appellate court to
usurp that function.” Id. (citation omitted).
The Crimes Code defines Rape, in pertinent part, as follows: “A person
commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual
intercourse with a complainant . . . by forcible compulsion.” 18 Pa.C.S. §
3121(a)(1). The Crimes Code defines “forcible compulsion” as “compulsion
by use of physical, intellectual, moral, emotional or psychological force, either
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express or implied.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3101. “This Court has observed ‘forcible
compulsion’ as the exercise of sheer physical force or violence and has also
come to mean an act of using superior force, physical, moral, psychological[,]
or intellectual to compel a person to do a thing against that person's volition
and/or will.” Gonzalez, supra at 720–21 (citation omitted). To determine
whether forcible compulsion occurred, a juvenile court must weigh:
the respective ages of the victim and the accused, the respective
mental and physical conditions of the victim and the accused, the
atmosphere and physical setting in which the incident was alleged
to have taken place, the extent to which the accused may have
been in a position of authority, domination or custodial control
over the victim, and whether the victim was under duress.
Commonwealth v. Rhodes, 510 A.2d 1217, 1226 (Pa. 1986).
Instantly, Dr. Naser, who the Commonwealth called as Victim’s treating
psychiatrist, testified that he diagnosed Victim with Autism, ADHD, an IQ of
72, and delays in fine and gross motor skills. Dr. Naser’s testimony regarding
Victim’s mental and physical state is most certainly relevant to determine
whether Appellant used physical, intellectual, or psychological force to coerce
Victim. It is within the trial court’s discretion to determine whether this
relevant evidence is unfairly prejudicial or confusing and, upon review, we find
no abuse of discretion.
In his final issue, Appellant asserts that the juvenile court erred in
precluding Appellant’s mother from testifying regarding her knowledge of prior
sexual conduct between Appellant and Victim. Appellant’s Brief at 43.
Appellant explains that he filed a Motion to Pierce the Rape Shield, which the
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juvenile court granted, but failed to include one incident of prior sexual
conduct that Appellant’s mother witnessed. Id. at 43-46. Appellant made an
oral Motion to present this evidence at the start of the hearing, which the
juvenile court denied. Id. Appellant argues that the juvenile court abused its
discretion when it granted the written Motion and then subsequently denied
the oral Motion. Id. We disagree.
We review a trial court's ruling on the admissibility of evidence of the
sexual history of a sexual abuse complainant for an abuse of discretion.
Commonwealth v. K.S.F., 102 A.3d 480, 483 (Pa. Super. 2014). The Rape
Shield Law precludes any evidence of specific instances of the alleged victim’s
past sexual conduct “except evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual
conduct with the defendant where consent of the alleged victim is at issue and
such evidence is otherwise admissible pursuant to the rules of evidence.” 18
Pa.C.S. § 3104(a). This Court has repeatedly stated “a defendant who desires
to introduce evidence of the victim's prior sexual conduct must file a written
motion and make a specific offer of proof prior to trial.” Commonwealth v.
Burns, 988 A.2d 684, 690 (Pa. Super. 2009); 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104(b). An oral
motion on the eve of trial does not comply with the Rape Shield Law. Id. at
691.
Regarding the testimony of Appellant’s mother and the specific
instances of past sexual conduct that she witnessed, Appellant did not make
a specific written proffer to the court asking to Pierce the Rape Shield pursuant
to 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104(b). Appellant’s oral Motion on the eve of trial did not
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comply with the Rape Shield law. Accordingly, the juvenile court did not abuse
its discretion when it precluded the testimony.
In conclusion, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion when it
adjudicated Appellant delinquent for Rape and related offenses, found that he
was in need of treatment, rehabilitation, and supervision, and ordered him to
serve a period of probation.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/2/19
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In the Interest of: B.F., a Minor
Combined Opinion