Com. v. Clemat, P.

J-S43037-19

                                   

  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                 :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
  PIERRE CLEMAT                                :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 1966 MDA 2018

      Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 22, 2018
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-35-CR-0002687-2017


BEFORE:      GANTMAN, P.J.E., DUBOW, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

OPINION BY STEVENS, P.J.E.:                        FILED SEPTEMBER 04, 2019

       Appellant, Pierre Clemat, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered by the Honorable Michael J. Barrasse in the Court of Common Pleas

of Lackawanna County following Appellant’s conviction by a jury on the

charges of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance

(“PWID”) and possession of drug paraphernalia.1 After a careful review, we

affirm.

       The relevant facts and procedural history have been set forth, in part,

by the trial court as follows:

            [Appellant’s] charges stemmed from a November 15,
       2017[,] incident wherein Lackawanna County and Dunmore Police
       Detectives were investigating a prostitution ring. Specifically, the
       Detectives found an escort on the internet and arranged to meet
____________________________________________


* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.


1 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30) and (32), respectively.
J-S43037-19


     with her for an appointment in Room number 416 at the Four
     Points Sheraton Hotel in Scranton.         The escort, eventually
     identified as Derrian Regan (hereinafter “Regan”), agreed to a rate
     of $160.00 per half hour of services with the Detectives via text
     message. Upon arriving at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Regan
     accepted $160.00 in exchange for a sexual act, and officers
     immediately placed Regan under arrest. While being transported,
     officers observed Regan notify an unknown male of her arrest.
     Subsequently, officers observed the male, later identified as
     Appellant, walk towards the hotel and throw a plastic bag into a
     nearby shrub.       Thereafter, the officers recovered multiple,
     individual twist bags containing heroin inside the plastic bag
     discarded by Appellant. Immediately, the officers Mirandized and
     placed Appellant into custody.      After a custodial search of
     Appellant, officers recovered two (2) Apple IPhones and $1,460 of
     U.S. currency. Officers transported Appellant and Regan to the
     Dunmore Police Station. During questioning, Regan admitted that
     she dates Appellant and he provides her [with] heroin.
           Accordingly, on July 10, 2018, a jury trial commenced
     wherein the Commonwealth presented several witnesses.
     Forensic Scientist Jennifer J. Libus, a lab technician with the
     Pennsylvania State Police Wyoming Regional Laboratory, testified
     that she tested the contents of the individual baggies and
     determined that the baggies contained fifty-four (54) grams of
     Fentanyl. Ms. Libus testified that she has been qualified as an
     expert in the field of drug identification and analysis in the
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and has rendered her opinion in
     criminal cases over 150 times.
           Additionally, Dunmore Police Detective Corey Condrad, a
     Supervisor of the Drug Unit, testified that he observed Appellant
     dispose of a plastic baggie containing Fentanyl into the bushes of
     the hotel parking lot. He also testified to the recovery of $1,460
     in U.S. currency and two (2) cell phones found on Appellant.
     Detective Condrad further testified that the suspected narcotics
     were packaged into evidence and transported to the Pennsylvania
     State Police Wyoming Crime Lab.
            Similarly, Detectives Vince Butkiewicz and Thomas Davis of
     the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office corroborated
     Appellant’s discarding of the plastic bag, the search of Appellant,
     and recovery of the suspected narcotics. Furthermore, Detective
     Harold Zech of the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office
     testified as an expert regarding factors that show an intent to
     deliver as well as tools utilized by dealers within the drug trade.

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J-S43037-19


      In this case, Detective Zech opined that the quantity of Fentanyl
      recovered demonstrated Appellant possessed the Fentanyl with
      the intent to deliver rather than possess for personal use. He
      further testified that typical factors of possession with intent to
      deliver include large amounts of cash and multiple cellular phones.
      He noted that officers recovered both items on Appellant’s person.
            Upon conclusion of all testimony, and all evidence
      presented, the jury convicted [Appellant] of one (1) count of
      Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (50 to
      100 grams of Fentanyl) and one (1) count of Possession of Drug
      Paraphernalia.     [The trial] court requested a pre-sentence
      investigation report, and upon thorough review as well as
      consideration of the sentencing guidelines, including all mitigating
      and aggravating factors, [the trial] court sentenced [Appellant] on
      October 22, 2018[,] [to 84 months to 168 months in prison, plus
      five years of probation, for PWID, and six months to twelve
      months in prison for possession of drug paraphernalia.]
           [The trial] court imposed consecutive sentences which
      aggregated to ninety (90) to one hundred and eighty (180)
      months of incarceration followed by five (5) years of probation
      supervised by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.
            On November 1, 2018, Appellant filed a Motion for
      Reconsideration of Sentence, alleging that this Court imposed an
      excessive sentence and erroneously relied upon factors
      contemplated by the guidelines.        [The trial] court denied
      Appellant’s Motion on November 13, 2018, and [Appellant] filed a
      timely Notice of Appeal…on November 29, 2018.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 2-5 (citations to record omitted).

      The trial court directed Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement,

Appellant timely complied, and the trial court filed a responsive Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a) opinion.

      On appeal, Appellant sets forth the following issues in his “Statement of

the Questions Involved” (verbatim):




                                      -3-
J-S43037-19


       1) Whether the trial court erred when it did not strike Juror
          number 20 for cause, as she was likely biased due to a recent
          drug-related overdose of a very good friend?
       2) Whether the trial court erred when it allowed Lackawanna
          County District Attorney Detective Harold Zech to testify as an
          expert witness:
              a. despite the fact the Commonwealth did not timely
                 and properly disclose their intent to call Detective
                 Zech as an Expert Witness; and
              b. despite the fact the Commonwealth had full
                 knowledge it planned to call Detective Zech as an
                 expert witness but failed to disclose the fact
                 (including subject matter) until the Friday before
                 Trial?
       3) Whether the trial court erred when it allowed Detective Zech to
          improperly testify as an expert since the matter to which
          Detective Zech testified did not require a person qualified in a
          specific science, art, or trade?
       4) Whether the trial court erred when it allowed Detective Zech to
          testify as an expert witness despite the fact that Detective Zech
          was personally and directly involved in the arrest of Appellant?
       5) Whether the trial court erred when it allowed Detective Zech to
          testify beyond the scope of his expert report, as no report was
          produced?
       6) Whether the trial court erred when it allowed Detective Zech to
          answer questions specifically related to the case, posed as
          thinly veiled “hypothetical” questions, which covered subject
          matter reserved for the jury (notwithstanding the fact that
          Detective Zech was testifying as an expert witness)?
       7) Whether the Judge abused his discretion in sentencing
          Appellant to the aggravated range by impermissibly relying on
          factors already considered in the sentencing guidelines,
          specifically the weight and nature of the substance, essentially
          multiplying those factors against Appellant twice[?]

Appellant’s Brief at 3-4.2

____________________________________________


2 We note Appellant presented all of these issues in his Rule 1925(a)
statement.

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J-S43037-19


      In his first issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred when it failed

to strike Juror number 20 for cause. Specifically, Appellant contends that,

since Juror number 20 admitted that her “very good friend” died from a drug-

related overdose just two weeks prior to Appellant’s trial, the trial court should

have presumed the likelihood that she was prejudiced, and consequently, the

trial court should have granted Appellant’s request that she be stricken for

cause.

      In developing his claim, Appellant points to the following excerpt from

voir dire:

      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: So, I just have a few additional questions.
      Again, this case involved possession with intent to deliver a
      controlled substance. Now, has anyone here had a loved one that
      died as a result of addiction or substance abuse?
                                   ***
             And your number is, ma’am?
      JUROR 20: 20.
      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Can you explain the circumstances?
      JUROR 20: A very good friend of ours just passed away two weeks
      ago.
      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Very recent.
      JUROR 20: Yes.
      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Would that fact prevent you from being a
      fair and impartial juror?
      JUROR 20: No.
                                   ***
      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Is there any other additional factors that
      any one of you feel that would lead you to not be a fair and
      impartial juror in this matter? No? Okay, let the [record] reflect
      that the answer is in the negative. Thank you. That’s all I have.



                                      -5-
J-S43037-19


N.T., 7/10/18, at 12-14, 16.

            A trial court’s decision regarding whether to disqualify a
      juror for cause is within its sound discretion and will not be
      reversed in the absence of a palpable abuse of discretion.
      Commonwealth v. Stevens, 

, 

 (1999). In determining if a motion to strike a prospective
      juror for cause was properly denied our Court is guided by the
      following precepts:
                   The test for determining whether a prospective
            juror should be disqualified is whether he [or she] is
            willing and able to eliminate the influence of any
            scruples and render a verdict according to the
            evidence, and this is to be determined on the basis of
            answers to questions and demeanor....It must be
            determined whether any biases or prejudices can be
            put aside on proper instruction of the court....A
            challenge for cause should be granted when the
            prospective juror has such a close relationship,
            familial, financial, or situational, with the parties,
            counsel, victims, or witnesses that the court will
            presume a likelihood of prejudice or demonstrates a
            likelihood of prejudice by his or her conduct or
            answers to questions.

Commonwealth v. Briggs, 

, 

 (2011) (some

quotations omitted).

      Here, in explaining the reasons it denied Appellant’s request that Juror

number 20 be stricken for cause, the trial court indicated the following:

             [J]uror number twenty (20) stated during jury selection that
      her friend recently succumbed to a drug overdose. However, she
      assured [the trial] court that she remained a fair and impartial
      juror. Because of the juror’s demeanor and unequivocal response,
      as well as the juror’s lack of fixed opinion, obvious bias, or
      relationship to any of the parties, victims, or witnesses, [the trial]
      court did not disqualify the juror. Juror 20 did not visibly manifest
      distress nor did she express substantial doubt. In fact, [the trial]
      court recognized that the underlying case did not involve an
      overdose or overdose victim so as to trigger a close situational
      relationship to the juror. See Commonwealth v. Johnson, 445

                                      -6-
J-S43037-

 (Pa.Super. 1982) (finding that prospective juror’s
      close relationship to a victim of a separate crime did not compel a
      finding of prejudice in every case). Furthermore, cognizant of the
      protections provided by peremptory challenge, Appellant had the
      opportunity to strike [J]uror number 20 if so inclined, and
      Appellant chose to retain [J]uror [number] 20 on the panel.
      Commonwealth v. Jackson, 

 (Pa.Super. 1989)
      [(en banc)] (holding the primary function of a peremptory
      challenge is to allow the parties to strike prospective jurors whom
      they have good reason to believe might be biased, but who are
      not so clearly and obviously partial that they could otherwise be
      excluded from the panel). As such, [the trial] court acted within
      its discretion and did not err in failing to dismiss for cause since
      the prospective juror assured [the trial] court of her ability to act
      impartially.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 5-6.

      Given Juror number 20’s responses, the trial court did not commit an

abuse of discretion in disallowing Appellant’s challenge for cause. See 

   It was the trial judge who was in the best position to assess the

credibility and fitness to serve of the prospective juror. See Commonwealth

v. Chambers, 

, 

 (1996) (holding trial court may

properly refuse to excuse a juror for cause when the trial judge believes that

the juror would be fair and impartial).

      Furthermore, the fact Juror number 20 had a “very close friend” who

had recently died from a drug-overdose is not dispositive given the juror’s

indications that she could be fair and impartial. See Commonwealth v. Cox,

, 

 (2009) (“[T]he fact that the prospective

juror’s son was killed and his murderer was tried before the same judge who

was presiding over Appellant’s [murder] trial is not dispositive given the


                                      -7-
J-S43037-19


prospective juror’s indications that she could be fair and impartial.”) (citations

omitted)). Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled to relief on his first claim.

      In his second issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred when it

permitted Detective Harold Zech to testify as an expert witness. Specifically,

Appellant contends that, despite the fact the Commonwealth had full

knowledge of its intent to call Detective Zech as an expert witness, the

Commonwealth failed to disclose this fact until the Friday before trial.

Appellant contends that, due to the Commonwealth’s untimely disclosure of

its intent to call Detective Zech as an expert witness, the Commonwealth

violated Pa.R.Crim. 573, thus resulting in unfair surprise to Appellant.

      Initially, we note:

      The admissibility of evidence is a matter for the discretion of the
      trial court and a ruling thereon will be reversed on appeal only
      upon a showing that the trial court committed an abuse of
      discretion. An abuse of discretion may not be found merely
      because an appellate court might have reached a different
      conclusion, but requires a result of manifest unreasonableness, or
      partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will, or such lack of support so as
      to be clearly erroneous.

Commonwealth v. Yocolano, 

 (Pa.Super. 2017) (quotation

omitted).

      Pa.R.Crim.P. 573, pertaining to pretrial discovery and inspection,

relevantly provides the following:

      (B) Disclosure by the Commonwealth.
      (1) Mandatory. In all court cases, on request by the defendant,
      and subject to any protective order which the Commonwealth
      might obtain under this rule, the Commonwealth shall disclose to


                                       -8-
J-S43037-19


      the defendant’s attorney all of the following requested items or
      information, provided they are material to the instant case. The
      Commonwealth shall, when applicable, permit the defendant’s
      attorney to inspect and copy or photograph such items.
                                   ***
            (e) any results or reports of scientific tests, expert opinions,
      and written or recorded reports of polygraph examinations or
      other physical or mental examinations of the defendant that are
      within the possession or control of the attorney for the
      Commonwealth[.]
                                   ***
      (D) Continuing Duty to Disclose. If, prior to or during trial,
      either party discovers additional evidence or material previously
      requested or ordered to be disclosed by it, which is subject to
      discovery or inspection under this rule, or the identity of an
      additional witness or witnesses, such party shall promptly notify
      the opposing party or the court of the additional evidence,
      material, or witness.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(B)(1)(e), (D) (bold and italics in original).

      Here, with regard to this issue, the trial court aptly indicated the

following:

            [P]ursuant     to   [the     trial] court’s   directive,   the
      Commonwealth submitted a Joint Trial Statement on Friday, July
      6, 2018[,] [at the final pretrial conference]. Within the Joint Trial
      Statement, the Commonwealth listed “Harold Zech-Possession
      with the Intent to Deliver and Tools of the Trade,” under
      subsection 5 titled: “Expert witness to be called at trial.”
      Correspondingly, during trial on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, the
      Commonwealth sought admission of Harold Zech as an expert in
      possession with the intent to deliver and the tools of the trade.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 8.

      The trial court concluded the Commonwealth’s disclosure of Detective

Zech in the joint trial statement, which was provided to Appellant at the final

pretrial conference, met the Commonwealth’s duty to disclose as provided by

                                      -9-
J-S43037-19


Pa.R.Crim.P. 573.     See 

     The trial court noted Appellant had a fair

opportunity to prepare his defense, including factoring into his strategy the

fact Detective Zech was going to testify as an expert. See id. at 10. Further,

the trial court noted Appellant did not request a continuance on this basis.

See id. Consequently, we conclude the trial court did not abuse it discretion

in finding no merit to Appellant’s second issue.

      In his third issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred in permitting

Detective Zech to testify as an expert since the subject matter to which he

testified did not require a person with scientific, technical, or other specialized

knowledge beyond that possessed by the average layperson. He also avers

Detective Zech’s expert testimony was unnecessary to help the jury to

understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue.

      Pa.R.E. 702, pertaining to testimony by an expert witness, relevantly

provides the following:

      A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill,
      experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an
      opinion or otherwise if:
      (a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized
      knowledge is beyond that possessed by the average layperson;
      (b) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized
      knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or
      to determine a fact in issue[.]

Pa.R.E. 702(a) and (b).

      The Comment to Rule 702 relevantly provides:

      Pa.R.E. 702 does not change the Pennsylvania rule for qualifying
      a witness to testify as an expert. In Miller v. Brass Rail Tavern,

                                      - 10 -
J-S43037-19


      Inc., 

, 

 (1995), the
      Supreme Court stated:
             The test to be applied when qualifying a witness to
             testify as an expert witness is whether the witness has
             any reasonable pretension to specialized knowledge
             on the subject under investigation. If he does, he may
             testify and the weight to be given to such testimony
             is for the trier of fact to determine.

Pa.R.E. 702, Comment.

      Here, Detective Zech, who testified he had been employed as a detective

in the narcotics unit of the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office for

ten years, indicated his day-to-day responsibilities included: conducting drug

investigations, identifying the illegal manufacture and sale of narcotics,

identifying the persons engaged therein, and arresting offenders.          N.T.,

7/11/18, at 32.       He testified that he routinely interviews confidential

informants, narcotic users, and narcotic traffickers with the aim of learning

how narcotics are being packaged, the manner and price for which they are

being sold, the street terminology for the narcotics, and the identity of persons

involved in the narcotics operations. Id. at 34.

      Detective Zech testified he has performed undercover work, including

infiltrating groups of drug dealers, and he has been the lead investigator in

approximately 1,000 drug cases. Id. at 33, 35. Moreover, he testified that

he has testified in-court over 50 times with regard to narcotics cases, and he

has testified as an expert approximately one dozen times.        Id. at 36. He

noted that he has training in drug recognition and identification, as well as

field test certification. Id. at 35.

                                       - 11 -
J-S43037-19


      Based thereon, Detective Zech was offered as an expert by the

Commonwealth in the field of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled

substance and tools of the trade. As the trial court indicated:

            An expert’s testimony is admissible when it is based on facts
      of record and will not cause confusion or prejudice. The purpose
      of expert testimony is to assist in the comprehension of complex
      issues not within the ordinary knowledge, intelligence and
      experience of the jury. Commonwealth v. Zook, 

      (Pa. 1992). Moreover, expert testimony is important in narcotic
      cases where the other evidence may not conclusively establish
      that    the    narcotics   were      intended    for   distribution.
      Commonwealth v. Kirkland, 

 (Pa.Super.
      2003). Such testimony is admissible to aid in determining
      whether the facts surrounding the possession of controlled
      substances are consistent with the intent to deliver.           See
      Commonwealth v. Jackson, 

 (Pa.Super.
      1994) (holding that expert opinion testimony is admissible
      concerning whether the facts surrounding the possession of
      controlled substances are consistent with an intent to deliver
      rather than with an intent to possess it for personal use)[.]
             As such, [the trial] court allowed Detective Zech to provide
      testimony as an expert witness regarding possession with the
      intent to deliver and tools of the trade….Detective Zech offered his
      expert opinion regarding Appellant’s possession and whether that
      possession was consistent with an intent to deliver or an intent to
      possess for personal use. [The trial] court accepted Detective
      Zech as an expert witness, and limited his testimony to his expert
      opinion. Specifically, the record reflects the Commonwealth
      sought to elicit Detective Zech’s expertise with respect to
      [F]entanyl mixtures, [F]entanyl user paraphernalia, [F]entanyl
      packaging, and [F]entanyl measurements, all relative to
      determining possession with intent to deliver. Such matters are
      beyond the common knowledge, information or skill possessed by
      ordinary jurors, who would not be cognizant of the significance of
      the quantity and form of the [F]entanyl mixture, cutting agents,
      the individual packaged baggies, lack of user paraphernalia, the
      two cell phones, and the quantity of United States currency seized
      from Appellant. Detective Zech did not express an opinion that
      Appellant actually dealt the narcotics in this case. The testimony
      of Detective Zech did not abdicate the jury’s responsibility as the
      factfinder. [The trial] court observed that the jury still held an

                                     - 12 -
J-S43037-19


      obligation to decide if the totality of the circumstances indeed
      constituted an intent to deliver narcotics. When opinion evidence
      is properly admitted, it is then up to the jury to determine its
      credibility. The jury is free to reject it, accept it, or give it some
      weight between the two.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 13-15 (some citations omitted).

      We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting

Detective Zech to testify as an expert pursuant to Pa.R.E. 702. Thus, we find

no merit to this claim.     See Commonwealth v. Powell, 

(Pa.Super. 2017) (holding police officer may testify as an expert based upon

knowledge gained from practical and occupational training); Commonwealth

v. Huggins, 

 (Pa.Super. 2013) (“A trial court has broad

discretion to determine whether evidence is admissible and a trial court’s

ruling on an evidentiary issue will be reversed only if the court abused its

discretion.”).

      In his fourth issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred in permitting

Detective Zech to testify as an expert witness since the detective was

personally and directly involved in Appellant’s arrest in the case sub judice.

      Initially, we note that, in addressing Appellant’s issue, the trial court

explained the following:

             [The trial] court allowed Detective Zech to provide
      testimony as an expert witness regarding possession with intent
      to deliver and the tools of the trade. While Appellant argues that
      Detective Zech participated in his arrest, Detective Zech did not
      testify as a fact witness/investigating officer. Detective Zech did
      not reference the underlying investigation or [his] role in the
      subsequent arrest.       Detective Zech did not testify to his
      eyewitness observations or personal knowledge of Appellant.

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J-S43037-19


         Rather, Detective Zech offered his expert opinion regarding
         Appellant’s possession and whether that possession was
         consistent with an intent to deliver or an intent to possess for
         personal use.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 14-15.

         In any event, assuming, arguendo, Detective Zech offered both expert

and lay testimony in this case, this Court has relevantly indicated:

         [W]e conclude that the [R]ules [of Evidence] do not preclude a
         single witness from testifying, or offering opinions, in the capacity
         as both a lay and an expert witness on matters that may embrace
         the ultimate issues to be decided by the fact-finder. [Pa.R.E.] 702
         permits an expert to testify to scientific, technical or other
         specialized knowledge beyond that possessed by a layperson.
         [Pa.R.E.] 701 permits a layperson to testify in the form of an
         opinion, however, such testimony must be rationally based on that
         witness’ perceptions. Thus, an expert must have additional
         specialized knowledge in rendering an opinion; whereas, a lay
         witness must form an opinion based on his or her rationally based
         perceptions. The Rules, however, do not specifically delineate
         that a witness must be only one or the other. Instead, the witness’
         association to the evidence controls the scope of admissible
         evidence that he or she may offer. Furthermore, [Pa.R.E.] 704
         clearly permits both expert and lay opinion testimony on issues
         that ultimately must be decided by the trier of fact, in this case,
         the jury.

Huggins, 

. Accordingly, we find no merit to Appellant’s fourth

issue.

         In his fifth issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred in permitting

Detective Zech to testify beyond the scope of his expert report since no report

was      produced    by   the   Commonwealth.      Appellant   reasons    that   the

Commonwealth was required to provide him with a pretrial expert report from

Detective Zech. He further reasons that he “was unfairly prejudiced in his trial


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J-S43037-19


preparation due to lack of information regarding what the Commonwealth

would elicit from their expert.” Appellant’s Brief at 29.

      Pa.R.Crim.P. 573, pertaining to pretrial discovery and inspection,

relevantly provides:

      (B) Disclosure by the Commonwealth.
                                   ***
      (2) Discretionary With the Court.
                                   ***
            (b) If an expert whom the attorney for the Commonwealth
      intends to call in any proceeding has not prepared a report of
      examination or tests, the court, upon motion, may order that the
      expert prepare, and that the attorney for the Commonwealth
      disclose, a report stating the subject matter on which the expert
      is expected to testify; the substance of the facts to which the
      expert is expected to testify; and a summary of the expert’s
      opinions and the grounds for each opinion.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(B)(2)(b) (bold and italics in original).

      As indicated, Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(B)(2)(b) sets forth that the trial court

has discretion in ordering a Commonwealth expert to prepare a report.

Moreover, the Comment to Pa.R.Crim.P. 573 relevantly indicates:

      Pursuant to paragraph[] (B)(2)(b)…, the trial judge has discretion,
      upon motion, to order an expert who is expected to testify at trial
      to prepare a report. However, these provisions are not intended
      to require a prepared report in every case. The judge should
      determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether a report should be
      prepared. For example, a prepared report ordinarily would not be
      necessary when the expert is known to the parties and testifies
      about the same subject on a regular basis. On the other hand, a
      report might be necessary if the expert is not known to the parties
      or is going to testify about a new or controversial technique.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 573, Comment.


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J-S43037-19


      Here, in addressing Appellant’s fifth issue, the trial court relevantly

indicated the following:

             Upon receipt of the Joint Trial Statement, [in which the
      Commonwealth listed Detective Zech as an expert in possession
      with the intent to deliver and tools of the trade,] trial counsel did
      not request [the trial] court to order an expert report, nor did trial
      counsel demonstrate the necessity for an expert report. Trial
      counsel did not assert unfamiliarity with [Detective] Zech or a new
      or controversial technique triggering an expert report. Trial
      counsel did not request time to consult his own expert. Trial
      counsel did not assert additional information available or that
      additional time would have enabled a different or additional line
      of inquiry on cross-examination of the witness. Importantly, trial
      counsel failed to specify how [Detective] Zech’s testimony caused
      potential prejudice or in what manner a continuance would have
      aided his defense. See Commonwealth v. Galloway, 

 (Pa.Super. 2001) (mere surprise caused by the
      Commonwealth’s failure to disclose evidence in a timely fashion is
      not sufficient to warrant a new trial). Despite trial counsel’s
      arguments, the Commonwealth explicitly disclosed via [the] Joint
      Trial Statement that [Detective] Zech’s testimony involved
      possession with intent to deliver and tools of the trade. Therefore,
      trial counsel did become aware of [Detective] Zech’s potential
      [expert] testimony prior to trial and had sufficient time to prepare
      and factor [it] into his defense strategy. [The trial] court found
      the Commonwealth’s disclosure adequately summarized the basic
      content of [Detective] Zech’s potential expert testimony and did
      not require the preparation of an expert report. Moreover, [the
      trial] court provided trial counsel ample opportunity to cross-
      examine [Detective] Zech’s qualifications and credentials. Trial
      counsel extensively questioned [Detective] Zech’s experience with
      [F]entanyl, specialized training in [F]entanyl, weight, measure,
      and mixture of [F]entanyl, as well as indicators of narcotics
      trafficking versus personal use….Here, [Detective] Zech’s
      potential testimony did not necessitate a report, nor did
      [Detective] Zech prepare a report, [and], therefore, his testimony
      [did] not exceed the scope of a report. In fact, the
      Commonwealth’s Joint Trial Statement contained language
      sufficient to notify Appellant of [Detective] Zech’s intent to testify
      regarding possession with intent to deliver and the tools of the
      trade.
                                   ***

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J-S43037-19


            Notwithstanding the absence of an expert report, a review
      of Detective Zech’s testimony reveals that Detective Zech did not
      exceed the language contained in the Commonwealth’s Joint Trial
      Statement. Indeed, Detective Zech testified to possession with
      intent to deliver and tools of the trade.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 9-13 (some citations omitted).

      We find no abuse of discretion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 573. Moreover, we

note that Appellant has failed to demonstrate that he suffered prejudice from

the admission of Detective Zech’s testimony such that he would be entitled to

relief for an alleged discovery violation. See Commonwealth v. Henry, 

, 

 (1997) (holding that even where an expert’s testimony

went beyond the scope of the expert’s report, the defendant is not entitled to

relief absent proving he suffered prejudice from the admission of the

testimony).

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

Detective Zech to answer questions posed as hypotheticals.         Specifically,

Appellant contends the Commonwealth’s use of hypotheticals improperly

permitted Detective Zech to offer testimony on an ultimate issue that was

reserved for the jury.

      Pa.R.E. 704 provides that “[a]n opinion is not objectionable just because

it embraces an ultimate issue.”       Moreover, it is well-settled that the

Commonwealth may ask an expert a hypothetical question so long as “there

is evidence of record supporting the hypothetical.” Commonwealth v.

Galvin, 

, 

 (2009). “[A]n expert may give an


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J-S43037-19


opinion in response to a hypothetical, provided the set of facts assumed in the

hypothetical is eventually supported by competent evidence and reasonable

inferences derived therefrom.” Commonwealth v. Petrovich, 

,

 (1994).

      Here, in addressing Appellant’s sixth issue, the trial court indicated the

following:

           During direct examination, [the assistant district attorney
      (“ADA”)] examined Detective Zech through the use of
      hypothetical questions. The following exchange occurred:
                   [ADA]: Hypothetically, if someone had in their
             possession 54 grams of Fentanyl packaged within 22
             separate baggies in one larger plastic bag, just based
             on that alone, would you be able to determine if that’s
             possession with the intent to deliver or possession for
             personal use?
                    [DETECTIVE] ZECH: I would deem that as
             possession with the intent to deliver, that’s a large
             quantity of Fentanyl.    As I stated earlier, two
             milligrams could lead to a fatal overdose. That’s a
             tremendous amount.
                   [ADA]: Hypothetically, if I add to that and said
             the 54 grams is packaged in 22 separate individual
             baggies in one larger bag combined with $1,460 of
             U.S. currency and two cell phones on his person,
             would you be able to determine if that’s a possession
             with intent to deliver or possession for personal use?
                   [DETECTIVE] ZECH: With a large amount of
             U.S. currency, the two cell phones and on top of that,
             the 54 grams packaged that way, yes, I would
             determine that as possession with intent to deliver.
                   [ADA]: An[d] again, lastly, hypothetically, if
             someone had the 54 grams, a large amount of U.S.
             currency, the two cell phones, no user paraphernalia
             on their person, would you be able to determine if the
             Fentanyl that was possessed was for possession with
             the intent to deliver or possession for personal use?

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J-S43037-19


                  [DETECTIVE] ZECH: It’s even stronger without
            user paraphernalia in the picture that I would deem it
            being possession with the intent to deliver.
                  [ADA]: And all these determinations that you’ve
            made today and all the answers that you’ve given
            [are] within a reasonable degree of professional
            certainty within your field?
                  [DETECTIVE] ZECH: Absolutely.
      N.T. [7/11/18 at] 48-49.
            A review of the hypothetical [questioning] above is plainly
      supported by reasonable inferences derivable from the evidence
      presented during the trial. Prior to Detective Zech’s testimony,
      the Commonwealth offered sufficient and competent evidence to
      establish that Appellant possessed narcotics with the intent to
      deliver, and not simply for personal use….Detective Zech’s expert
      opinion that Appellant possessed narcotics with the intent to
      deliver, based upon the hypothetical possession of 54 grams of
      [F]entanyl in 22 separate individual baggies inside one large bag
      combined with $1,460 in U.S. currency and two cell phones with
      no user paraphernalia, was not unreasonable in the specific
      circumstances of this case. The Commonwealth’s hypothetical
      added no additional facts, but simply allowed Detective Zech to
      render an expert opinion on whether Appellant possessed the
      narcotics with the intent to deliver, or for personal use.
      Importantly, [the trial] court specifically instructed the jury in
      [assessing] the weight to accord expert testimony along with
      other factors.

Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 17-19.

      We agree with the trial court’s sound analysis. In the case sub judice,

the record establishes that the prosecutor’s line of hypothetical questions to

Detective Zech was based on competent evidence presented at trial.

Moreover, the fact Detective Zech’s expert opinion embraced an ultimate issue

(whether a person who possessed the narcotics in the same amount and

manner as Appellant did so with the intent to deliver or for personal use) does


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J-S43037-19


not render the opinion inadmissible. See Pa.R.E. 704. Thus, we conclude the

trial court did not abuse its discretion in this regard.

      In his seventh issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred in

sentencing Appellant in the aggravated range.              Specifically, Appellant

contends the trial court relied upon factors (the weight and type of substance),

which are already considered in the sentencing guidelines, thus resulting in

the trial court impermissibly “double counting” these factors. This presents a

challenge to the discretionary aspects of Appellant’s sentence.               See

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 

 (Pa.Super. 2000).

      We have long held that the right to appeal a discretionary aspect of

sentence is not absolute.        Commonwealth v. Zirkle, 

(Pa.Super. 2014). Instead, such challenges are considered petitions for

allowance of appeal. See 

 Generally, an appellant who wishes to challenge

the discretionary aspects of his sentence must satisfy a four-part test to

invoke this Court’s jurisdiction:

      (1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal; (2)
      whether the issue was properly preserved at sentencing or in a
      motion to reconsider and modify sentence; (3) whether
      appellant’s brief has a fatal defect [pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f)];
      and (4) whether there is a substantial question that the sentence
      appealed from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code.

 (citation omitted). Finally, whether a particular issue constitutes a

substantial question about the appropriateness of sentence is a question to be

evaluated on a case-by-case basis. See 

                                      - 20 -
J-S43037-19


     Here, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal, preserved his issue in a

timely post-sentence motion, and included a separate Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f)

statement in his brief.   Moreover, Appellant’s issue presents a substantial

question permitting our review. Commonwealth v. Robinson, 

(Pa.Super. 2007) (en banc). Accordingly, we turn to a review of the merits of

Appellant’s sentencing claim.

            Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
     sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal
     absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In this context, an abuse
     of discretion is not shown merely by an error in judgment. Rather,
     the appellant must establish, by reference to the record, that the
     sentencing court ignored or misapplied the law, exercised its
     judgment for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will, or
     arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision.

Commonwealth v. Zirkle, 

 (Pa.Super. 2014) (quotation

omitted).

     When imposing sentence, the trial court is required to consider the

particular circumstances of the offense and the character of the defendant.

See Commonwealth v. Burns, 

 (Pa.Super. 2000). The trial

court should refer to the defendant’s prior criminal record, age, personal

characteristics, and potential for rehabilitation. See 

 However, where the

sentencing judge had the benefit of a pre-sentence investigation report

(“PSI”), it will be presumed that he or she was aware of the relevant

information   regarding   the   defendant’s   character   and   weighed    those

considerations along with mitigating statutory factors. 

                                     - 21 -
J-S43037-19


             [Moreover,] [w]hen imposing a sentence, the sentencing
      court must consider the factors set out in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b),
      that is, the protection of the public, gravity of offense in relation
      to impact on the victim and community, and rehabilitative needs
      of the defendant....Furthermore, [a] trial court judge has wide
      discretion in sentencing and can, on the appropriate record and
      for the appropriate reasons, consider any legal factor in imposing
      a sentence[.] The sentencing court, however, must also consider
      the sentencing guidelines.

Commonwealth v. Shugars, 

 (Pa.Super. 2006)

(quotation marks, quotations, and citation omitted).

      Generally, “[i]t is impermissible for a court to consider factors already

included within the sentencing guidelines as the sole reason for increasing or

decreasing a sentence to the aggravated or mitigated range.” Shugars, 

 (emphasis in original). However, “[t]rial courts are permitted to

use factors already included in the guidelines if they are used to supplement

other extraneous sentencing information.” 

      When deciding whether a court improperly has based an aggravated

sentence on a factor that is already considered by the sentencing guidelines,

we have stated:

      [t]he guidelines were implemented to create greater consistency
      and rationality in sentencing. The guidelines accomplish the
      above purposes by providing a norm for comparison, i.e., the
      standard range of punishment, for the panoply of crimes found in
      the crimes code and by providing a scale of progressively greater
      punishment as the gravity of the offense increases....The
      provision of a “norm” also strongly implies that deviation from the
      norm should be correlated with facts about the crime that also
      deviate from the norm for the offense, or facts relating to the
      offender’s character or criminal history that deviates from the
      norm and must be regarded as not within the guidelines
      contemplation. Given this predicate, simply indicating that an

                                     - 22 -
J-S43037-19


      offense is a serious, heinous or grave offense misplaces the proper
      focus. The focus should not be upon the seriousness, heinousness
      or egregiousness of the offense generally speaking, but, rather,
      upon how the present case deviates from what might be regarded
      as a “typical” or “normal” case of the offense under consideration.

Commonwealth v. Fullin, 

 (Pa.Super. 2006) (citation

omitted). Moreover, “[a]n aggravated range sentence [is] justified to the

extent that the individual circumstances of [the defendant’s] case are atypical

of the crime for which [the defendant] was convicted, such that a more severe

punishment is appropriate.” 

      In the case sub judice, during sentencing, the ADA informed the trial

court that Appellant had no ties to the community, but he had outstanding

criminal charges and active warrants. N.T. 10/22/18, at 2. The ADA noted

Appellant had “one misconduct at the Lackawanna County Prison,” and

Appellant was uncooperative with the probation officer, who completed the

PSI. Id. at 3. The ADA requested an aggravated range sentence. Id.

      In response, defense counsel questioned the accuracy of Appellant’s

prior record score as contained in the PSI.     Id.   Further, defense counsel

explained that Appellant was uncooperative with the probation officer because

he continues to maintain his innocence.      Id. at 4. Defense counsel noted

“[t]here were no drug deliveries observed or made in this case. There were

no controlled buys.”    Id.   Defense counsel requested a standard range

sentence. Id. at 5.

      Appellant was given his right to allocution, and he stated:


                                    - 23 -
J-S43037-19


      Well, your Honor, you know I’m not from here. I’ve been trying
      to get bail this whole time. In the beginning[,] [the ADA] had said
      he didn’t want to give me bail because I wasn’t from the area or
      something like that. My mom was in the hospital. I have a lot of
      family members that died while I was in jail. I mean this is above
      beyond, like, I don’t know.

Id.

      The trial court then stated the following:

            [Appellant,] in reviewing the facts as outlined by the [ADA],
      and the fact that you were on supervision at the time, as well as
      the weight and severity of the substance you had, the [trial] court
      does find that there is more than aggravating factors in the case.
            In regard to [PWID], the [trial] court will be sentencing you
      to 84 to 168 months plus five years’ probation. In regard to the
      drug paraphernalia, six to 12 months, for an aggregate of 90 to
      180 months [in jail] plus five years’ special probation[.]

Id. at 5-6.

      Moreover, in addressing Appellant’s sentencing issue, the trial court

relevantly stated the following in its Opinion:

             In the present case, the standard range of the Sentencing
      Guidelines relative to Count I, Possession with Intent to
      Deliver,…provided for a minimum sentence of seventy-two (72)
      months incarceration, while the aggravated range provided up to
      eighty-four (84) months incarceration. Appellant was sentenced
      to a term of eighty-four (84) [to] one hundred and sixty-eight
      (168) months incarceration, with five (5) years state probation, a
      sentence within the aggravated range. The standard range of the
      Sentencing Guidelines relative to Count II, Possession of Drug
      Paraphernalia,..provided for a minimum sentence of restorative
      sanctions to six (6) months. Appellant was sentenced to a term
      of six (6) to twelve (12) months consecutive to Count 1.
            Prior to sentencing, [the trial] court carefully reviewed the
      PSI, the applicable standard Sentencing Guidelines, Appellant’s
      character and circumstances in his life, including his lack of
      connection to the area, lack of success while under supervision,
      lack of cooperation with the Lackawanna County Probation

                                     - 24 -
J-S43037-19


     Department, and multi-state history of delinquency and
     criminality. At the time of sentencing, [the ADA] requested an
     aggravated range sentence. [The ADA] stated:
           After a review of the PSI, your Honor, there are no
           ties to the area which the Commonwealth was able to
           find. [Appellant] does have outstanding firearms
           charges and active warrant[s]. His entire criminal
           record is out of the state of Massachusetts or
           Connecticut, further showing that there [are] no ties
           to this area. [Appellant] did have one misconduct at
           the Lackawanna County Prison, and after a review of
           the [PSI,] your Honor, [Appellant] was uncooperative
           with the probation officer who was attempting to do
           the [PSI]. Your Honor[,] based on the litany of these
           factors, the Commonwealth would ask for an
           aggravated sentence in this case of 84 months.
     N.T. [10/22/18 at] 2-3.
           In response, [Appellant] agreed that he held no ties to the
     community, and [he] demonstrated an indifference to the
     seriousness of his actions.        [Appellant] made egocentric
     statements, showed a lack of remorse, and shifted responsibility.
     In an unapologetic manner, [Appellant] stated: “I’ve been trying
     to get bail this whole time. In the beginning, [the ADA] had said
     he didn’t want to give me bail because I wasn’t from the area or
     something like that. My mom was in the hospital. I have a lot of
     family members that died while I was in jail. I mean this [is]
     above beyond, like, I don’t know. Id. at 5.
            Accordingly, [the trial] court relied on several factors that
     led to Appellant’s aggravated range sentence on Count I.
     Observing [Appellant’s] failure to accept responsibility, and failure
     to express remorse, considered in relation to the factors outlined
     by [the ADA] and the [inherent] dangerousness of [F]entanyl, [the
     trial] court adopted the Commonwealth’s factors and stated:
     “[Appellant,] in reviewing the facts as outlined by the [ADA], and
     the fact that you were on supervision at the time, as well as the
     weight and severity of the substance you had, [the trial] court
     does find that there is more than aggravating factors in the case.”
     Id. Also, familiar with the testimonial and documentary evidence
     presented during trial, including the credible testimony of lab
     technician, Jennifer J. Libus, who tested the contents of the
     individual baggies, multiple police officer[s’] observations of
     Appellant disposing a plastic bag into the bushes of the hotel


                                    - 25 -
J-S43037-19


     parking lot, and recovery of two cell phones and $1,460 in U.S.
     currency, [the trial] court recognized the necessity of
     [incarceration].
                                  ***
            A review of the sentencing transcript reveals that [the trial]
     court considered the weight and severity of the substance not as
     the sole factor, but as one factor among several that led to the
     aggravated range sentence on Count I. Nothing in the record
     suggests that [the trial] court solely considered the weight and
     severity of the substance, other than in the context of his
     complete lack of acknowledgment of responsibility and remorse
     for the crimes he committed. In fact, as articulated by [the ADA],
     the record reveals that [the trial] court did consider the character,
     history, and condition of Appellant as required by 42 Pa.C.S. §
     9725. It is clear that [the trial] court based its sentence not on
     the weight of the [F]entanyl possessed, a factor considered in
     setting the sentencing guidelines, but on the [inherent]
     dangerousness of the [F]entanyl, the way the [F]entanyl was
     packaged in individual plastic baggies, combined with police
     observations, recovered U.S. currency and two cell phones to
     indicate the potential threat and fatal impact to the community by
     Appellant. Therefore, as required by 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b), [the
     trial] court upheld a duty to protect the community and exhibited
     serious concern for the impact of Appellant’s offenses on the
     public.
                                  ***
           [The trial] court found that a standard range sentence would
     depreciate the seriousness of the offense committed and create a
     greater risk of violating supervision. [The trial] court viewed
     Appellant as a danger to the community, a resident of
     Massachusetts solely entering the community to commit criminal
     offenses with no indication of productivity or lawfully contributing
     to the community.
           Therefore, fully aware of [Appellant’s] criminal offense, the
     information contained in the PSI, the applicable sentencing
     guidelines, the testimony of all the witnesses presented at trial,
     argument by both counsel, Appellant’s statements at sentencing
     as well as the punitive, deterrent, rehabilitative, and protective
     purposes of sentencing, [the trial] court weighed all factors
     accordingly, and for compelling reasons[,] imposed an aggravated
     range sentence on Count I within the statutory maximum.


                                    - 26 -
J-S43037-19




Trial Court Opinion, filed 5/6/19, at 21-25 (footnotes, citations, and bold

omitted).

      Based on the aforementioned, we find no merit to Appellant’s

discretionary aspects of sentencing claim.     Specifically, we disagree with

Appellant that the trial court impermissibly considered factors already included

in the sentencing guidelines as the sole reason for increasing his sentence to

the aggravated range. See 

      For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

      Affirmed.



Judgment Entered.




Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary



Date: 9/4/2019




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