Commonwealth v. Garrett
Commonwealth v. Garrett
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Appellant, David Garrett, appeals from a conviction of burglary before the Court of Common Pleas of
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth as we must, Commonwealth v. Portalatin, 223 Pa. Superior Ct. 33, 297 A. 2d 144 (1972), the evidence, as found by the lower court sitting without a jury, is as follows:
On June 25, .1972, appellant entered the record shop of James Sumner in order to obtain drugs. After entering the store, an argument ensued, and the appellant struck Sumner and removed money from Sumner’s pocket. Sumner did not report this incident to the police; however, about two weeks later, appellant was arrested for fighting with Sumner in front of a state welfare office, and, upon arrest, Sumner informed the police that appellant had robbed him two weeks before.
Sumner, the Commonwealth’s only witness at the preliminary hearing, died before trial, and his entire preliminary hearing testimony was incorporated at trial. The transcript of the earlier testimony indicated that appellant and another man entered the store, and while the second man held a gun to Sumner’s head, appellant took $27.00 from the cash register. An argument then ensued, during which appellant hit Sumner in the face with his hand, took $130.00 from the cash register, and fled from the store with the second man.
The appellant, testifying in his own behalf, contends that on June 24, 1972, he purchased $35.00 worth of heroin at Sumner’s store. Appellant, upon later discovering the heroin was actually quinine, telephoned Sumner, who informed appellant that he was to return to the record shop the next day to have the quinine
Appellant was charged with burglary, aggravated robbery, and carrying a firearm on a public street. He waived his right to a jury trial and was found guilty of burglary by the lower court on September 6, 1973. Oral motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment were denied. Appellant was sentenced to one to ten years in a state correctional institution.
Appellant contends that a conviction of burglary was not justified because his actions did not give rise to the required elements necessary for burglary. Specifically, appellant alleges that the evidence does not show the requisite element of intent necessary for a conviction of burglary.
The lower court, in convicting appellant of burglary, found the necessary element of intent to commit a felony in the fact that appellant had returned to Sumner’s store in order to obtain authentic heroin and in “some way to maim Mr. Sumner, and the fact that he did . . . [was] a manifestation of that intent.”
The elements of the offense of burglary are defined as the intent to commit a felony, and the successful and effective overt act directed toward the commission of the felony by the wilful and malicious entry into a building. Act of June 24, 1939, P. L. 872, §901 (18 P.S. §4901). Commonwealth v. Procopio, 200 Pa. Superior Ct. 226, 188 A. 2d 773 (1963). Though a wilful and malicious entry is required, the entry into a store may be such, if made with the intent to commit a felony. Commonwealth v. Schultz, 168 Pa. Superior Ct. 435, 79 A. 2d 109 (1951). The specific intent required to make out a burglary charge may be found in appellant’s words or conduct or from the attendant circumstances together with all reasonable inferences therefrom.
This court, in determining whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict of burglary, finds, after careful examination of the record, that as a matter of law, the Commonwealth did not present sufficient evidence to show appellant’s intention to commit a felony in entering the victim’s store.
A review of the evidence indicates no testimony that the appellant intended to cause harm or in “some way to maim” Sumner. No prior conversations or actions showed that appellant desired vengeance by attempts or threats of harm to Sumner’s person. The record also indicates that Sumner was willing to replace the quinine with authentic heroin, or in the alternative, return appellant’s money. It should also be noted that the lower court, by acquitting appellant of the charges of aggravated robbery and carrying a firearm, found that appellant did not enter the victim’s store with the intent to forcibly remove his money by violence or threats.
The findings of the lower court show that appellant entered the victim’s store to carry out a drug sale, a misdemeanor under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.
Judgment of sentence is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial.
Since the facts in this case occurred in 1972, the new Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S. §101 et seq. (1973), which became effective on •Tune 6, 1973, does not apply.
The lower court’s reference to “maiming” presumably refers to the crime of assault with intent to maim, Act of June 24, 1939,
Act of April 14, 1972, P. L. 233, No. 64, §13, as amended, Oct. 26, 1972, P. Ii. 233, No. 64, §13 (35 P.S. §780-113(a) (19)).
Concurring in Part
Concurring and Dissenting Opinion by
I concur in the majority’s conclusion that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction of burglary. However, I do not think it proper to remand this ease for a new trial.
The scope of our authority to fashion a remedy in cases on appeal before us is set forth in §504 of the Appellate Court Jurisdiction Act of 1970, Act of July 31, P. L. 673, No. 223, art. I, §101, 17 P.S. §211.504, which states: “An appellate court may affirm, modify, vacate, set aside or reverse any order brought before it for review, and may remand the matter and direct the entry of such appropriate order, or require such further proceedings to be had as may be just under the circumstances.”
There are some cases where it is just to order a new trial after finding that the evidence is insufficient. For example, a new trial is appropriate when the prosecution through no fault of its own has been deprived by the trial judge of the opportunity fully to develop its case. United States v. Howard, 432 F. 2d 1188, 1191 (9th Cir. 1970) (concurring opinion). See also Commonwealth v. Stoffan, 228 Pa. Superior Ct. 127, 323 A. 2d 318 (1974). In the present case, however, no special circumstances appear that warrant our order
The majority cannot rely on the fact that appellant filed motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment.
As the majority suggests, appellant might have been properly convicted of unlawful entry, Act of June 24, 1939, P. L. 872, §901.1, added Nov. 19, 1959, P. L. 1518, No. 532, §1, 18 P.S. §4901.1, which is a lesser included offense of burglary. See Commonwealth v. Freeman, 225 Pa. Superior Ct. 396, 313 A. 2d 770 (1973). Appellant entered Sumner’s store with the intent to carry out a drug sale; at the very least he entered to procure or possess drugs. I see no reason why we should not enter an order remanding the case
Section 504 appears to be patterned after 28 U.S.O. §2106 (1973), which is nearly identical.
Retrial where the conviction has been reversed because of insufficient evidence may impair the defendant’s double jeopardy rights. The law is far from clear. Compare Bryan v. United States, 338 U.S. 552 (1950) with Sapir v. United States, 348 U.S. 373, 374 (1955) (Douglas, J., concurring) and Forman v. United States, 361 U.S. 416 (1960). See generally Comment, Double Jeopardy: A New Trial After Appellate Reversal for Insufficient Evidence, 31 U. Chi. L. Rev. 364 (1964). There is no need to discuss the double jeopardy aspects of the majority’s ruling since, in my opinion, it is incorrect as a matter of statutory law.
Appellant did not ask for a new trial on appeal to this court.
Reference
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- Commonwealth v. Garrett, Appellant
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