J-S25011-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
GEROD MAURICE JARRETT,
Appellant No. 1197 WDA 2014
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence June 27, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-25-CR-0001884-2013
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED JULY 07, 2015
Appellant, Gerod Jarrett, appeals from the judgment of sentence of an
aggregate term of 30 to 60 years’ incarceration, imposed after he was
convicted of robbery, theft by unlawful taking, recklessly endangering
another person, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, possession
of a firearm, terroristic threats, and receiving stolen property. Appellant
argues on appeal that the trial court erred by denying his motion to sever
the charge of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited from his trial on
the remaining charges. After careful review, we affirm.
____________________________________________
*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S25011-15
The trial court summarized the factual and procedural history of
Appellant’s case as follows:
This case involves the robbery of Bryce Dupree Moffett
that took place on April 8, 2013. On that date, at approximately
2:00 p.m., Moffett drove his two cousins to Latia Flemings’
residence on East 21st Street in the City of Erie, [Pennsylvania].
When they arrived, Moffett observed Appellant sitting alone in
the driver’s seat of a parked black SUV in front of Flemings’
home.2 Moffett and his two cousins entered Flemings’ residence.
2
Moffett never met Appellant before this incident.
After approximately ten minutes, Moffett exited the
residence and Appellant approached him with a black automatic
handgun. Appellant pointed the gun at Moffett’s head and told
Moffett to hand over his belongings or he would shoot him.
Appellant took $400.00 in cash and approximately $2,200.00
worth of jewelry from Moffett. After Appellant fled the scene,
witnesses informed Moffett that Appellant was from Pittsburgh
and [was] known as “Smoke.”
Moffett left the scene and immediately returned with a
shotgun. Police were called and arrested Moffett for having the
shotgun. Moffett was transported to the police station, where he
informed investigators that “Smoke” from Pittsburgh robbed him
at gunpoint. Erie Police Detective Jason Triana knew that
Appellant was known as “Smoke” and [he] prepared a photo
lineup that included Appellant’s picture. Moffett immediately
identified Appellant’s picture as [that of] the assailant. Moffett
further described his stolen jewelry and the black semi-
automatic pistol used in the robbery.
Police later arrested Appellant and recovered a black
handgun under the driver’s seat of the black SUV. Police also
recovered Moffett’s jewelry from Appellant and inside the
vehicle.
On April 10, 2014, Appellant proceeded to a jury trial on all
counts except for the [18 Pa.C.S.] § 6105 count (possession of a
firearm [by a person] prohibited). The trial was bifurcated, and
the trial on the §[]6105 count was deferred. During the first
portion of the trial, Moffett identified the recovered firearm as
the weapon used in the robbery. Moffett also identified the
recovered jewelry.
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On April 11, 2014, after the first portion of the bifurcated
trial, the jury reached a verdict on the foregoing counts. Over
Appellant’s objections, the second portion of the trial
commenced and the Commonwealth presented evidence
regarding Appellant’s prior criminal record to the jury. After
deliberation, the jury found Appellant guilty of the § 6105
offense.
On June 27, 2014, Appellant was sentenced as follows: 25
to 50 years’ imprisonment at Count 1 (robbery), consecutive to
his current state sentence; 1 to 2 years’ imprisonment for Count
4 ([recklessly endangering another person]), concurrent to
Count 1; 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment for Count 5 (possession of
a firearm [by a person] prohibited), consecutive to Count 1; 30
to 60 months’ imprisonment at Count 6 (possession of a
firearm), concurrent to Count 1; and, 2 to 5 years’ imprisonment
for Count 7 (terroristic threats), concurrent to Count 1. Counts
3 and 8 merged for sentencing purposes.
Trial Court Opinion (TCO), 10/22/14, at 1-3 (citations to the record
omitted).1
____________________________________________
1
We note that Appellant’s 25-year sentence for his robbery conviction is a
mandatory minimum required by 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(a)(2). That provision
mandates that where an offender is convicted of a crime of violence, and has
“previously been convicted of two or more such crimes of violence arising
from separate criminal transactions, the person shall be sentenced to a
minimum sentence of at least 25 years of total confinement….” 42 Pa.C.S. §
9714(a)(2). In Alleyne v. United States, 133 S.Ct. 2151 (2013), the
United States Supreme Court held that “[a]ny fact that, by law, increases
the penalty for a crime is an ‘element’ that must be submitted to the jury
and found beyond a reasonable doubt.” Alleyne, 133 S.Ct. at 2155.
However, in Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 246
(1998), the Supreme Court stated that “the fact of a prior conviction does
not need to be submitted to a jury and found beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The Alleyne Court explicitly noted that Almendarez-Torres remains good
law and is a narrow exception to the holding of Alleyne. See Alleyne, 133
S.Ct. at 1260 n.1. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has determined that
the Pennsylvania Constitution does not afford greater protections. See
Commonwealth v. Aponte, 855 A.2d 800 (Pa. 2004). Therefore, as the
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal, as well as a timely Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal. Herein, he
raises one issue for our review: “Whether the trial court abused its discretion
in denying Appellant’s Motion to Sever Count 5 [(possession of a firearm by
a person prohibited)] and [by] allowing the Commonwealth to present
evidence of Appellant’s prior conviction[?]” Appellant’s Brief at 3.
We begin by noting that:
A motion for severance is addressed to the sound
discretion of the trial court, and ... its decision will not be
disturbed absent a manifest abuse of discretion. The
critical consideration is whether the appellant was
prejudiced by the trial court's decision not to sever. The
appellant bears the burden of establishing such prejudice.
Commonwealth v. Dozzo, 991 A.2d 898, 901 (Pa. Super.
2010). The Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure govern the
severance of offenses. Rule 583 reads, “The court may order
separate trials of offenses or defendants, or provide other
appropriate relief, if it appears that any party may be prejudiced
by offenses or defendants being tried together.” Pa.R.Crim.P.
583.
Commonwealth v. Mollett, 5 A.3d 291, 305 (Pa. Super. 2010).
Here, Appellant argues that the trial court erred by denying his pretrial
motion to sever the charge of possession of a firearm by a person
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
law currently stands, Appellant’s mandatory minimum sentence under 42
Pa.C.S. § 9714(a)(2) is not illegal. See Commonwealth v. Hale, 85 A.3d
570, 585 n.13 (Pa. Super. 2014) (“Prior convictions are the remaining
exception to Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), and Alleyne
…, insofar as a fact-finder is not required to determine disputed convictions
beyond a reasonable doubt to comport with the Sixth Amendment jury trial
rights.”) (citing Almendarez-Torres, supra).
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prohibited. That offense is defined in section 6105 of the Pennsylvania
Uniform Firearms Act of 1995, as follows:
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) A person who has been convicted of an offense
enumerated in subsection (b), within or without this
Commonwealth, regardless of the length of sentence or
whose conduct meets the criteria in subsection (c) shall
not possess, use, control, sell, transfer or manufacture or
obtain a license to possess, use, control, sell, transfer or
manufacture a firearm in this Commonwealth.
18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(a)(1). “It is axiomatic that a … charge under 18 Pa.C.S.[]
§ 6105, former convict not to possess a firearm, requires evidence that the
defendant was previously convicted of a crime.” Commonwealth v. Jones,
858 A.2d 1198, 1206 (Pa. Super. 2004).
As Appellant correctly points out, where a defendant has been charged
with a section 6105 offense, as well as with other charges that do not
require evidence of a prior conviction, this Court has held that the trial court
abused its discretion by denying the defendant’s motion to sever the 6105
charge. See Jones, 858 A.2d at 1208; Commonwealth v. Galassi, 442
A.2d 328 (Pa. Super. 1982); Commonwealth v. Neely, 444 A.2d 1199 (Pa.
Super. 1982); Commonwealth v. Carroll, 418 A.2d 702 (Pa. Super. 1980).
However, in each of those cases, “the jury [was] exposed to the fact that
[the] particular defendant had previously committed a violent crime” when
deciding his guilt of not only the 6105 offense, but all of the other charges,
as well. Jones, 858 A.2d at 1207 (quoting Carroll, 418 A.2d at 704).
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The same is not true in Appellant’s case. Here, “[e]vidence of
Appellant’s prior conviction was not introduced during the first phase of the
bifurcated trial. Once the jury reached its verdict during the first phase, the
second portion of the trial commenced and the Commonwealth introduced
evidence regarding Appellant’s prior criminal record as it related to the §
6105 count.” TCO at 4. Accordingly, the trial court concluded, and we
agree, that Appellant was not prejudiced in his trial on the charges that did
not require evidence of his prior conviction. Additionally, Appellant has not
argued, let alone proven, that he suffered prejudice in his trial on the section
6105 charge. See Mollett, 5 A.3d at 305 (stating the appellant bears the
burden of establishing prejudice); see also Jones, 858 A.2d at 1208
(finding that the defendant did not “suffer[] any prejudice on the § 6105
charge[,]” despite that that charge was tried together with his remaining
offenses). Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by denying Appellant’s pretrial motion to sever.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/7/2015
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Com. v. Jarrett, G.
Combined Opinion