Com. v. Ellis, K.

J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
KASHIF OMAR ELLIS :
:
Appellant : No. 1577 WDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered April 16, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County Criminal Division at No(s):
CP-07-CR-0001880-2017

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
KASHIF ELLIS :
:
Appellant : No. 1580 WDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered April 16, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County Criminal Division at No(s):
CP-07-CR-0000773-2018

BEFORE: MURRAY, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED AUGUST 11, 2020

In these consolidated appeals, Kashif Omar Ellis (Appellant) appeals

from the judgment of sentence imposed after a jury convicted him of first-

degree murder, robbery, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, burglary,

____________________________________________

* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

criminal trespass, recklessly endangering another person, discharging a

firearm into an occupied structure, criminal use of a communication facility,

and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (collectively, “the

murder charges”).1 The jury also convicted Appellant, in a separate case, of

intimidation of a witness/victim, and retaliation against a witness/victim2

(collectively, “the intimidation charges”). We affirm.

On July 13, 2013, Appellant orchestrated a robbery with his then-

paramour and co-defendant, Taylor Griffith (Griffith), and Quasim Green

(Green). At Appellant’s direction, Griffith visited the residence of the victim,

Stephen Lamont Hackney (Decedent). While inside the residence, Griffith

texted Appellant, informing him that she saw large quantities of narcotics and

U.S. currency, and that the Decedent was alone and unarmed. Griffith, who

was a Commonwealth witness at trial, testified that she unlocked the back

door to the Decedent’s residence so that Appellant and Green could enter.

Appellant barged into the Decedent’s bedroom and shot him three times,

resulting in his death. Appellant and his co-defendants then stole the cash

and narcotics and fled.

____________________________________________

1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502(a), 3701(a)(1)(i), 903(a), 2702(a)(1) and (4),
3502(a)(1), 3503(a)(1)(i), 2705, 2707.1(a), 7512(a); 35 P.S. § 780-
113(a)(30).

2 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 4952(a)(1), 4953(a).

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

The police responded to the scene and discovered the Decedent’s body,

as well as large quantities of cash nearby. After securing and searching the

surrounding area, police seized a Samsung cellphone (Samsung phone), which

had been discarded in the alley behind the Decedent’s residence. The police

obtained a search warrant for the digital contents of the Samsung phone.

Forensic analysis of the Samsung phone revealed that it belonged to Green.

The investigation into the murder went on for several years. During the

investigation, the police utilized a software geo-location mapping program

called CellHawk.3 The investigating officers accessed CellHawk geo-location

data for two separate cell phones that, police determined, were respectively

associated with Appellant and Griffith. The data showed these phones in the

general area of the Decedent’s residence on the night of the murder. It further

showed that both Appellant and Griffith’s phones were in the Philadelphia area

shortly after the murder, which corroborated Griffith’s account. The police

obtained the CellHawk evidence, with respect to both Appellant and Griffith’s

phones, via a court order.

Notably, one of the police officers involved in the investigation was

former Altoona police detective Matthew Starr (Officer Starr). After most of

____________________________________________

3 This program collects historical data from cellular tower “pings” to locate
cellphone users on a given date and time.

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

the investigation had occurred, Officer Starr was terminated from the police

force and convicted of fraud in an unrelated matter.4

In July 2017, the Commonwealth filed the murder charges against

Appellant at CR 1880-2017 (No. 1880-2017). The Commonwealth

subsequently initiated a second case against Appellant in May 2018, docketed

at CR 773-2018 (No. 773-2018), charging him with the intimidation charges.5

The trial court joined the two cases.

Appellant subsequently filed an omnibus pre-trial motion (OPT motion).

The OPT motion sought, inter alia, suppression of (1) Appellant’s CellHawk

historical cell site location information; and (2) recordings of inculpatory

telephone calls and letters that Appellant made while incarcerated pending

trial (“the prison calls evidence.”). The trial court conducted two hearings,

after which it denied the OPT motion.

In November 2018, Appellant filed a motion (the recusal motion),

asserting that the entire bench of Blair County, as well as the District

Attorney’s Office, should be disqualified from participating in his trial. He

argued that there was a conflict of interest because Griffith was the daughter

____________________________________________

4 Neither party called Officer Starr as a witness at Appellant’s trial.

5 These charges arose out of Appellant’s threatening to kill Griffith because
she agreed to testify as a Commonwealth witness against Appellant in
exchange for pleading guilty to third-degree murder, and receiving a sentence
of 15 to 30 years in prison.

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of the Blair County Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts, Robin Patton (Prothonotary

Patton). The trial court denied the recusal motion.

On January 3, 2019, four days prior to jury selection, Appellant filed a

motion for a continuance, which the trial court denied. Jury selection

commenced on January 7, 2019. Appellant was shackled during jury selection

and trial. For this reason, Appellant filed a motion for a mistrial, which the

trial court denied. The jury convicted Appellant of the murder charges and

the intimidation charges.

On April 16, 2019, the trial court sentenced Appellant, at No. 1880-

2017, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. At No. 773-2018, the

court imposed an aggregate sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison, to run

consecutively to the sentence at No. 1880-2017.

On April 26, 2019, Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion for

reconsideration of sentence/new trial. He challenged the trial court’s denial

of his claims raised in the OPT motion and recusal motion. He further asserted

that he should not have been shackled during jury selection, and that the

Commonwealth committed a discovery violation by failing to provide the

defense with certain witness statements prior to trial. The trial court denied

the post-sentence motion by an order and opinion entered on December 2,

2019.

Appellant timely filed notices of appeal at each docket number, followed

by court-ordered concise statements of errors complained of on appeal,

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b). This Court

consolidated the appeals sua sponte.

In the appeal at No. 1880-2017, Appellant presents nine issues for

review:

I. WAS [APPELLANT] DENIED HIS RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS
AND A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL WHEN HE WAS
PARADED IN FRONT OF THE JURY AT JURY SELECTION IN
SHACKLES?

II. WAS [APPELLANT] DENIED DUE PROCESS AND A RIGHT TO
A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL WHEN THE TRIAL COURT
REFUSED TO SUPPRESS THE INTERCEPTION OF
[APPELLANT’S] PHONE RECORDS AND WRITTEN
COMMUNICATIONS OBTAINED FROM THE STATE
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF GRATERFORD AND
HUNTINGDON WITHOUT A WARRANT?

III. DID THE COMMONWEALTH COMMIT BRADY[6] VIOLATIONS
IN FAILING TO TIMELY DISCLOSE THE STATEMENT OF
ASHLEY BRUBAKER AND TO TIMELY REVEAL THE
COMMONWEALTH’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE
UNTRUTHFULNESS OF THE STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH WITNESS KELSEY BERGMAN?

IV. DID THE COMMONWEALTH VIOLATE THE RULES OF
DISCOVERY BY FAILING TO PROVIDE TIMELY NOTICE OF
THE TESTIMONY OF ASHLEY BRUBAKER AND THE
UNTRUTHFULNESS OF THE STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH WITNESS KELSEY BERGMAN[,] ALONG
WITH FAILING TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE EXPERT
TESTIMONY OF AGENT THOMAS MOORE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL’S OFFICE[,] ALL OF WHICH INFORMATION
SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVEALED IN DISCOVERY[?]

____________________________________________

6 See Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963) (holding that “the
suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon
request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or
to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.”).

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

V. DID THE COURT VIOLATE [APPELLANT’S] RIGHT UNDER
THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE OF BOTH THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSTITUTION TO CROSS-EXAMINE TRAVIS DENNY[,]
WITH RESPECT TO A LETTER SUBMITTED TO HIS ATTORNEY
BY HIS GIRLFRIEND SEEKING A REDUCTION IN THE
SENTENCE HE WAS SERVING?

VI. DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DENYING A HEARING ON
[APPELLANT’S] FRANKS[ V. DELAWARE, 438 U.S. 154
(1978)] MOTION WITH RESPECT TO THE SEARCH
WARRANTS BASED UPON THE STATEMENTS AND
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AN UNRELIABLE WITNESS[,]
AS WELL AS THE ACTIONS AND ACTIVITY FROM [OFFICER]
STARR WHO WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONVICTED AND
SENTENCED ON CHARGES INVOLVING FRAUD?

VII. DID THE COURT DENY [APPELLANT’S] RIGHT TO A FAIR
AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL BY REFUSING TO RECUSE ITSELF
AND/OR RECUSE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF BLAIR
COUNTY WHEN HIS CO-DEFENDANT, TAYLOR GRIFFITH[,]
AND MAIN COMMONWEALTH WITNESS WAS THE
DAUGHTER OF THE PROTHONOTARY AND CLERK OF COURT
OF BLAIR COUNTY?

VIII. WAS [APPELLANT] IMPROPERLY DENIED HIS REQUEST FOR
A CONTINUANCE FILED WITH THE COURT ON JANUARY 3,
2019 AND DENIED BY ORDER OF COURT DATED JANUARY
4, 2019 FILED ON JANUARY 7, 2019[?]

IX. WAS [APPELLANT] DENIED HIS RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS
AND A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL WHEN THE
COMMONWEALTH OBTAINED EVIDENCE AS TO PINGING
[O]F … [APPELLANT’S] CELL PHONE THROUGH A COURT
ORDER INSTEAD OF PROPERLY OBTAINING A WARRANT
FOR SAID EVIDENCE AS REQUIRED BY CARPENTER V.
UNITED STATES, 585 U.S. ___, 138 [S. CT.] 2206, 201
LAWYERS EDITION 2D. 507[] (2018)[?]

Appellant’s Brief (1577 WDA 2019) at 6-9 (footnote added, issues ordered).

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

In the appeal at No. 773-2018, Appellant raises three issues. These

issues are identical to and correspond with three of the issues that Appellant

presents above; namely, issues 1, 7 and 8.7 See Appellant’s Brief (1580 WDA

2019) at 6. Accordingly, we will address those issues together.

In his first issue, Appellant argues that he was deprived of his right to a

fair trial, and his presumption of innocence, where he was “paraded” in front

of the jury while restrained with shackles. Appellant’s Brief at 19-24.

Appellant contends that the trial court thus erred in denying his motion for a

mistrial. Id. at 19.

It is well settled under common law and the Constitution
that, part and parcel of the concept of a fair trial, is a defendant’s
right to be permitted to appear free from shackles or other
physical restraint – this right, however, is not absolute.
Commonwealth v. Jasper, 610 A.2d 949, 955 (Pa. 1992).
Circumstances that have justified the use of restraint include
where a defendant disrupts the proceedings, where there is a
danger of escape, and where the court believes that an
unrestrained defendant may attack others. Id. Proper security
measures are within the sound discretion of the trial court, and,
thus, will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion.
Commonwealth v. Patterson, 308 A.2d 90, 94 (Pa. 1973).

In the Interest of F.C. III, 2 A.3d 1201, 1222 (Pa. 2010) (citations

modified). Additionally, “where the trial evidence shows that a violent

defendant was incarcerated at the time of trial, no prejudice occurs even when

restraints are visible to the jury.” Jasper, 610 A.2d at 955.

____________________________________________

7 Citations to Appellant’s arguments for these issues reference Appellant’s
Brief at 1577 WDA 2019.

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

The trial court rejected this issue on the basis that:

(1) Appellant failed to establish that the jury actually saw him in
restraints at any point;

(2) Even if the restraints were visible, the jury already knew that
Appellant was incarcerated by other information, and thus, he
suffered no prejudice; and

(3) In light of Appellant’s numerous misconducts in pre-trial
incarceration, his threatening to kill a Commonwealth witness,
and his unruly courtroom behavior, it was necessary to place him
in restraints to ensure safety and courtroom order.8

See Opinion and Order, 9/20/19, at 20-22. Upon review, we incorporate

further the trial court’s reasoning, which is supported by the law and the

record. See id. In so doing, we note that during pre-trial proceedings, the

trial court expressly warned Appellant that his threatening and unruly conduct

could result in him being restrained during trial. See N.T., 3/23/18, at 7;

N.T., 7/30/18, at 35-36. In addition, during jury selection, Appellant was

dressed in civilian clothing, his right hand was free, and the defense table was

equipped with a “skirt”, which blocked the jury from seeing anything below

Appellant’s waist. N.T., 1/7/19, at 20. Finally, the court stated that it would

have been willing to issue a curative instruction to the jury concerning

restraints and/or Appellant’s incarceration, but defense counsel did not

____________________________________________

8 While Appellant was incarcerated in the Blair County Prison awaiting trial, he
threatened to harm Griffith and prison personnel. In pre-trial proceedings,
the trial court warned Appellant that if he continued this conduct, the court
would have no choice but to shackle him in further court proceedings.

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

request an instruction. See id. at 10-15. We therefore find no merit to

Appellant’s first issue.

In his second issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred by

depriving him of a fair trial when it refused to suppress the prison calls

evidence; Appellant claims the evidence was the product of an unlawful search

and seizure. See Appellant’s Brief at 27-31.

The trial court likewise addressed this claim in its opinion, summarizing

the relevant law concerning the admissibility of such evidence, and

determining that denial of the suppression request was proper because:

(1) The court initially denied Appellant’s motion to suppress the
evidence “without prejudice” to Appellant to renew and further
develop the claim, but he never did so;

(2) Appellant never objected to the admission of this evidence at
trial; indeed, he actually consented to the entire recording of
Appellant’s calls from prison being played to the jury; and

(3) Appellant failed to articulate any reasonable expectation of
privacy that he had concerning these communications.

See Opinion and Order, 9/20/19, at 16-19. Again, the court’s reasoning is

supported by the record and law, and we agree with its conclusion. We further

note that the Commonwealth’s interception of Appellant’s prison phone calls

was permitted under Pennsylvania’s Wiretap Act, which provides in relevant

part that it is not unlawful for:

an investigative officer, a law enforcement officer or employees of
the Department of Corrections for State correctional facilities to
intercept, record, monitor or divulge any telephone calls from or
to an inmate in a facility [provided that delineated conditions are
met].

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5704(13). Appellant, as a state inmate, was given an

automated warning that any inmate telephone call could be monitored or

recorded. Accordingly, we reject Appellant’s second issue. See id.

We address Appellant’s third and fourth issues together because they

are related. Appellant claims the Commonwealth violated Brady, supra, by

failing to alert him to material untruths in the police statement given by

“proposed” Commonwealth witness Kelsey Bergman (Bergman), and to give

him advance notice of her testimony.9 See Appellant’s Brief at 31-34; 37-38.

Appellant argues that this information would have assisted his defense theory

and provided him an opportunity to undermine the credibility of Griffith’s

testimony. Id. at 33-34. Appellant further contends that the Commonwealth

committed a second Brady violation concerning Ashley Brubaker (Brubaker),

who testified as a Commonwealth witness and spoke with police on the night

of the murder. Id. at 34, 37-38.

Appellant’s claim presents a question of law; our standard of review is

de novo and our scope of review is plenary. Commonwealth v. Mullins, 918

A.2d 82, 84 (Pa. 2007). To prove a Brady violation, a defendant must show:

“(1) the prosecutor has suppressed evidence; (2) the evidence, whether

exculpatory or impeaching, is helpful to the defendant; and (3) the

suppression prejudiced the defendant.” Commonwealth v. Tharp, 101 A.3d

____________________________________________

9 Neither party called Bergman as a witness at trial.

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

736, 747 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted). “Conversely, the mere possibility that

an item of undisclosed information might have helped the defense, or might

have affected the outcome of the trial does not establish materiality in the

constitutional sense.” Commonwealth v. Dennis, 17 A.3d 297, 308 (Pa.

2011) (citation omitted). The burden of proof is on the defendant to

demonstrate that the Commonwealth withheld or suppressed material

evidence. Commonwealth v. Cam Ly, 980 A.2d 61, 75 (Pa. 2009); see

also id. (stating that the “prosecutor is not required to deliver his entire file

to defense counsel, but only to disclose evidence favorable to the accused

that, if suppressed, would deprive the defendant of a fair trial”) (citation

omitted).

Appellant’s claims are unavailing. Concerning Bergman, the

Commonwealth never called her to testify. Appellant had an opportunity to

present her testimony; however, he declined to do so. Moreover, Appellant

fails to identify Bergman’s alleged “untruths,” and advances only a general

claim of a Brady violation. See Commonwealth v. Tielsch, 934 A.2d 81,

93 (Pa. Super. 2007) (holding that undeveloped claims will not be considered

on appeal). Finally, the record supports the Commonwealth’s response that

it: (1) provided Appellant with Bergman’s police statement during discovery;

and (2) spoke with Appellant’s defense counsel prior to trial and pointed out

the discrepancies in Bergman’s statements. See Response to Post-Sentence

Motion, 8/27/19, at 10; see also id. at 11 (asserting that the inconsistencies

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

in Bergman’s statements had nothing to do with Appellant because she was

not present at the Decedent’s residence when the murder occurred).

Regarding Appellant’s second Brady claim implicating Brubaker,

Appellant raises this claim for the first time on appeal; accordingly, it is

waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (stating that a claim cannot be raised for the

first time on appeal); see also Commonwealth v. Melendez-Rodriguez,

856 A.2d 1278, 1288 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en banc) (“[a] party cannot rectify

the failure to preserve an issue by proffering it in response to a Rule 1925(b)

order.”) (citation omitted). Additionally, Appellant’s counsel did not object to

the introduction of Brubaker’s testimony or assert any unfair surprise, even

after an offer of proof by the prosecutor. See N.T., 1/29/19, at 138-39.10 We

discern no record support for Appellant’s claim that the Commonwealth

possessed materials documenting Brubaker’s statements that were not

provided in discovery.

Finally, in connection with Appellant’s fourth issue, he merely asserts,

in two sentences, that the Commonwealth committed a third Brady violation

by failing to provide the defense advance notice of the testimony of Agent

____________________________________________

10 The record reflects that there was no formal police interview of Brubaker
until the time of trial, on January 29, 2019, and defense counsel thoroughly
cross-examined Brubaker about her statements. See N.T., 1/29/19, at 138-
39, 156-63.

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

Thomas Moore (Agent Moore) of the Attorney General’s Office.11 Appellant’s

Brief at 38. However, because Appellant has failed to develop this claim in

any meaningful fashion, we are precluded from considering it. See Tielsch,

supra; see also Coulter v. Ramsden, 94 A.3d 1080, 1088-89 (Pa. Super.

2014) (stating that mere issue spotting without analysis or legal citation to

support an assertion precludes appellate review of a matter).12 Appellant’s

third and fourth issues do not merit relief.

In his fifth issue, Appellant asserts that the trial court committed

reversible error by precluding his counsel from cross-examining

Commonwealth witness Travis Denny (Denny), who was Appellant’s former

cellmate.13 See Appellant’s Brief at 38-41. Specifically, Appellant argues that

he was deprived of his right to confrontation concerning a certain letter that

Denny allegedly had “knowledge of”;14 the letter purportedly expressed

____________________________________________

11The Commonwealth presented Agent Moore as an expert witness regarding
the meaning of certain phrases Appellant used in telephone calls he placed
while incarcerated.

12 Even if Appellant had properly developed this claim, we would have
concluded that it lacks merit for the reasons set forth in the trial court’s
opinion. See Opinion and Order, 12/2/19, at 19-20 (stating that Agent
Moore’s expert testimony was not a surprise to the defense where the
Commonwealth filed of record a document that outlined his testimony).

13Denny testified that he was incarcerated with Appellant in 2015, when
Appellant confessed to him that he shot someone named Steve and stole his
money.

14 Denny’s girlfriend authored this letter and mailed it to Denny’s attorney.

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J-S30011-20 & J-S30012-20

Denny’s request for a reduced sentence in exchange for his testimony at

Appellant’s trial. See id. at 38, 40.

The standard of review applicable to this question of law is de novo.

Commonwealth v. Tejada, 161 A.3d 313, 317 (Pa. Super. 2017). The trial

court has once again capably addressed Appellant’s issue, citing applicable

law, and determining that Appellant was not deprived of his right to confront

Denny where:

(1) Appellant’s counsel, in fact, attacked Denny’s credibility and
motive for testifying against Appellant;

(2) Denny did not author the letter; and

(3) The trial court did not bar Appellant from seeking to admit the
letter via the testimony of its author.

See Opinion and Order, 9/20/19, at 23-25. The trial court’s reasoning is

supported by the record and law, and we agree with its determination; thus,

we affirm on this basis. See id.

In his sixth issue, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying

his request for a hearing pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154

(1978). Appellant argues that he should have been permitted to “explore the

issues which resulted in [Officer] Starr’s termination” and conviction, where

Officer Starr was the affiant of the affidavit of probable cause for the Samsung

cellphone belonging to co-defendant Green.15 Appellant’s Brief at 41-43.

____________________________________________

15 Appellant joined in Green’s omnibus pre-trial motion for a Franks hearing.

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court summarized the United States

Supreme Court’s holding as follows:

[Franks] addressed whether a defendant has the right, under the
Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, to challenge the truthfulness
of factual averments in an affidavit of probable cause. The Court
held where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary
showing the affiant knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless
disregard for the truth, included a false statement in the affidavit,
the Fourth Amendment requires a hearing be held at the
defendant’s request. The Court emphasized the defendant’s
attack on the affidavit must be “more than conclusory and must
be supported by more than a mere desire to cross-examine”; the
defendant must allege deliberate falsehood or reckless disregard
for the truth, accompanied by an offer of proof. If the defendant
meets these requirements, but the remainder of the affidavit’s
content is still sufficient to establish probable cause, no hearing is
required. If the affidavit’s remaining content is insufficient, a
hearing is held, at which the defendant must establish, by a
preponderance of the evidence, the allegation of perjury or
reckless disregard. If he meets this burden, the affidavit’s false
material is disregarded; if its remaining content is insufficient to
establish probable cause, the search warrant is voided, and the
fruits thereof are excluded.

Commonwealth v. James, 69 A.3d 180, 188 (Pa. 2013) (citations omitted).

Essentially, Appellant claims that because Officer Starr committed fraud

in an unrelated matter, he may have committed fraud in Appellant’s case.

This claim is unavailing. The Samsung phone belonged to Green, not

Appellant, and Appellant asserted no possessory interest in it. Appellant never

requested a Franks hearing relative to the probable cause affidavit.

Moreover, Appellant’s claim is undeveloped; he fails to reference any

statements in the affidavit he contends to be purportedly false. See James,

supra (emphasizing that a defendant’s Franks attack on an affidavit must be

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more than conclusory, and that the defendant must put forth a “substantial”

preliminary showing that the affidavit contains falsehoods); Commonwealth

v. Iannaccio, 480 A.2d 966, 969 n.1 (Pa. 1984) (holding that bald,

conclusory statements are insufficient to rise to the level of a substantial

preliminary showing under Franks).

In his seventh issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in

denying his recusal motion. See Appellant’s Brief at 45-52. Appellant

contends that the family relationship between Griffith and Prothonotary Patton

created a conflict of interest implicating the Blair County District Attorney’s

Office and the entire bench of Blair County. See id. According to Appellant,

Patton, who was not a witness at Appellant’s trial, had a “vested interest” in

the outcome. Id.

We review a claim challenging the denial of a recusal motion for an

abuse of discretion, and our review is “exceptionally deferential.” In re L.V.,

209 A.3d 399, 415 (Pa. Super. 2019).

We recognize that our trial judges are honorable, fair and
competent, and although we employ an abuse of discretion
standard, we do so recognizing that the judge himself is best
qualified to gauge his ability to preside impartially. A trial judge
should grant the motion to recuse only if a doubt exists as to his
or her ability to preside impartially or if impartiality can be
reasonably questioned. In order to prevail on a motion for
recusal, the party seeking recusal is required to produce evidence
establishing bias, prejudice or unfairness which raises a
substantial doubt as to the jurist’s ability to preside impartially.

Id. (citations omitted).

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We also review the denial of a motion to disqualify a prosecutor for an

abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Sims, 799 A.2d 853, 856 (Pa. Super.

2002). A district attorney should be disqualified where “an actual conflict of

interest affecting the prosecutor exists in the case.” Commonwealth v.

Eskridge, 604 A.2d 700, 702 (Pa. 1992). However, a mere allegation or

appearance of impropriety or animosity is insufficient to establish an actual

conflict of interest. Sims, 799 A.2d at 857.

In support of his claim, Appellant primarily relies on two decisions,

Eskridge, supra, and Comm. Ex rel. Amor v. Amor, 398 A.2d 173 (Pa.

Super. 1979) (en banc). See Appellant’s Brief at 49-51. However, both cases

are readily distinguishable. See Eskridge, 604 A.2d at 701-02 (holding that

an actual conflict barring prosecution existed where the county district

attorney’s law firm represented a car accident victim in a personal injury

action previously instituted against the defendant, and the accident victim

would be a witness in the same defendant’s separate criminal case); Amor,

398 A.2d at 174 (holding that recusal of the entire county bench was required

where a woman who was remarried to a common pleas judge of that county

would have to appear before one of her husband’s judicial colleagues in a child

support action initiated by the woman’s ex-husband).

There is no legal authority for the proposition that when a biological

relative of a county row officer is called as a witness, the district attorney and

entire bench of that county must remove themselves from the case. See,

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e.g., Commonwealth v. Lutes, 793 A.2d 949, 956-57 (Pa. Super. 2002)

(holding that the trial court did not err in denying a motion to disqualify the

district attorney’s office and no conflict of interest existed where the victim

was a county commissioner).

Furthermore, during jury selection, the trial court informed the jury of

the family relationship between Griffith and Prothonotary Patton. N.T.,

1/7/19, at 69-70. The court inquired as to whether this fact would have any

impact on their ability to be fair and impartial. Id. No juror responded that

it would, and Appellant’s counsel made no further inquiries. Id. The trial

court has also considered testimony from Blair County First Deputy

Prothonotary Vicky Claar about any conflict of interest. Ms. Claar stated that

steps were taken to insulate Prothonotary Patton from any involvement with

Appellant’s case and any issues related to Griffith, and averred that no conflict

of interest existed. See N.T., 8/7/18, at 27-34. Moreover, Appellant concedes

that he “is not challenging any personal impropriety on the part of the [trial]

court or the District Attorney’s Office”; Appellant’s Brief at 48. Upon review,

we discern no evidence to support a finding of bias, prejudice or unfairness.

See, e.g., Opinion and Order, 9/20/19, at 13 (explaining that the trial court

had no social and minimal professional contacts with Prothonotary Patton).

Finally, to the extent Appellant emphasizes the plea deal that the District

Attorney’s Office offered Griffith in exchange for her testimony at Appellant’s

trial, see Appellant’s Brief at 46-48, this is a routine occurrence and function

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of the prosecution’s authority, and there is no evidence indicating that the

prosecution was partial. Accordingly, Appellant’s seventh issue does not merit

relief.

In his eighth issue, Appellant contends that the trial court abused its

discretion in denying his motion for a continuance filed four days prior to jury

selection. See Appellant’s Brief at 53-55. According to Appellant, his defense

counsel:

needed further investigation of various matters which was
exemplified by what occurred at the trial with respect to the
introduction of testimony of Ashley Brubaker, the purported false
statements given by Kelsey Bergman[,] and the previous
undisclosed testimony of the expert witness, Agent Thomas
Moore.

Id. at 55.

We recognize:

Appellate review of a trial court’s continuance decision is
deferential. The grant or denial of a motion for a continuance is
within the sound discretion of the trial court and will be reversed
only upon a showing of an abuse of discretion. … Discretion is
abused when the law is overridden or misapplied, or the judgment
exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality,
prejudice, bias, or ill-will, as shown by the evidence or the record.

Commonwealth v. Brooks, 104 A.3d 466, 469 (Pa. 2014) (citation

modified). Trial judges “necessarily require a great deal of latitude in

scheduling trials. Not the least of their problems is that of assembling the

witnesses, lawyers, and jurors at the same place at the same time, and this

burden counsels against continuances except for compelling reasons.”

Commonwealth v. Sandusky, 77 A.3d 663, 671 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation

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omitted); see also Commonwealth v. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 745-46 (Pa.

Super. 2014) (stating that an appellant “must be able to show specifically in

what manner he was unable to prepare for his defense or how he would have

prepared differently had he been given more time. We will not reverse a

denial of a motion for continuance in the absence of prejudice.”). To

determine whether a trial court erred in denying a continuance request, “we

must examine the circumstances present in the case, especially the reasons

presented to the trial court for requesting the continuance.” Sandusky, 77

A.3d at 672.

The case against Appellant was initiated in July 2017. Appellant filed

the motion for continuance approximately 1½ years later, and just four days

prior to jury selection on January 7, 2019. The record shows that the trial

court had: (1) considered numerous pre-trial motions filed by Appellant; (2)

previously granted several other continuances requested by Appellant; (3)

ensured that discovery was completed; and (4) appointed an expert witness

and an investigator to assist Appellant’s defense. Additionally, trial had

previously been delayed after Appellant fired his first counsel and chose to

proceed pro se, but eventually had new counsel appointed to represent him.

Further, Appellant’s defense counsel was informed in October 2018 that

the case would proceed to trial in late January 2019. See N.T., 10/9/18, at

43-44. Notably, on November 27, 2018, the following exchange occurred

between the trial court and defense counsel:

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BY THE COURT: … I can resolve [any outstanding matters] for
this matter to go to trial January 28th[, 2019]. It is two full
months. …

[Defense counsel]: I am okay with January 28th.

N.T., 11/27/18, at 113 (emphasis added).

The record supports the trial court’s statement that there “was no

presentation to the court, nor did it appear to the court prior to trial, that

counsel for [Appellant] felt he was unprepared for trial.” Opinion and Order,

9/20/19, at 34. Finally, we discern no record support for Appellant’s claim

that he was prejudiced by the court’s refusal to afford him yet another

continuance, especially one requested so close to trial. See, e.g., Antidormi,

84 A.3d at 746 (holding that the trial court properly denied the defendant’s

fifth request for a continuance, made on the first day of trial, which was based

upon nothing more than a bald allegation by defense counsel of insufficient

time to prepare). Accordingly, the trial court acted within its discretion in

denying Appellant’s request for a continuance.

In his ninth and final issue, Appellant contends that the trial court

deprived him of a fair trial by permitting the Commonwealth to introduce the

CellHawk historical cell site location information (CSLI) for his phone without

first obtaining a search warrant pursuant to Carpenter, 138 S. Ct. 2206. See

Appellant’s Brief at 25-26. The United States Supreme Court held that, absent

a specific exception to the warrant requirement, law enforcement must first

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obtain a search warrant supported by probable cause in order to obtain CSLI

from wireless service providers. Carpenter, 138 S. Ct. at 2221.

In reviewing Appellant’s claim:

our standard of review in addressing a challenge to a trial court’s
denial of a suppression motion is limited to determining whether
the factual findings are supported by the record and whether the
legal conclusions drawn from those facts are correct. We are
bound by the suppression court’s factual findings so long as they
are supported by the record; our standard of review on questions
of law is de novo. Where, as here, the defendant is appealing the
ruling of the suppression court, we may consider only the evidence
of the Commonwealth and so much of the evidence for the defense
as remains uncontradicted.

Commonwealth v. Yandamuri, 159 A.3d 503, 516 (Pa. 2017) (citations

omitted).

The trial court concluded that Appellant waived this issue because he

failed to timely raise a claim implicating Carpenter prior to his post-sentence

motion. See Opinion and Order, 9/20/19, at 25-32; see also id. at 32-33

(opining that even if the claim was preserved, it lacks merit because any error

in admitting the CSLI evidence was harmless given the totality of the other

overwhelming evidence of Appellant’s guilt). We agree, as the rationale is

again supported by the record and law. Therefore, we affirm Appellant’s final

issue on this basis. See id. at 25-33.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/11/2020

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