J-S77009-14
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee
v.
MICHAEL LEACH
Appellant No. 2833 EDA 2013
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence August 14, 2013 In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Criminal Division at No: CP-09-CR-0008065-2012
BEFORE: STABILE, JENKINS, and STRASSBURGER,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 09, 2015
Appellant Michael Leach appeals from the August 14, 2013 judgment
of sentence of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County (trial court),
which, following a jury trial, convicted him of, inter alia, two counts of
manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a
controlled substance.1 Upon review, we affirm the judgment of sentence.
The facts and procedural history underlying this appeal are
uncontested. On October 12, 2012, Officer Robert Compton Jr., Bedminster
Township Police Department, charged Appellant with, inter alia,
manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30). J-S77009-14
controlled substance. In his affidavit of probable cause accompanying the
complaint, Detective Kosch alleged in part: Your affiant conducted a criminal investigation into a subject selling Oxycodone, in Bucks County Pennsylvania using a confidential informant [(CI)]. The [CI] providing the information has provided accurate and reliable information resulting in arrests. During the course of my investigation, I was able to cooberate [sic] the [CI’s] information being provided to me. . . . On 3/9/12, at your affiant’s direction, [the] CI and an undercover police officer met with [Appellant] at a predetermined location. . . . During this meeting, the CI and undercover police officer gave [Appellant] $100.00 in pre- recorded buy money. [Appellant] then gave the CI 10 Oxycodone 10mg pills. There were other officers in the area conducting surveillance during the transaction. . . . . The evidence was submitted to the Bucks County Crime Laboratory and was confirmed as Oxycodone. On 4/5/12, at your affiant’s direction, [the] CI and an undercover officer met with [Appellant] at a pre-determined location. During this meeting, [Appellant] provided the CI with 2 Oxycodone 30mg pills. The CI in return, gave [Appellant] $60.00 in pre-recorded buy money. There were other officers in the area providing surveillance for this transaction. .... [Appellant] used the same vehicle for both narcotics deals. [Appellant] operates a burgundy 2002 Oldsmobile sedan . . . .
Affidavit of Probable Cause, 10/12/12.
On May 3, 2013, Appellant filed an “Omnibus Pretrial Motion,”
requesting the trial court to order the Commonwealth to disclose the identity
of the CI. In his pretrial motion, Appellant alleged “[t]he only person who
can identify the person on the sale is the [CI].” Omnibus Pretrial Motion,
5/3/13, at ¶ 3. Following a hearing on the motion, the trial court denied
Appellant’s request for disclosure of the CI’s identity. See N.T. Pretrial
Hearing, 5/13/13, at 84-85.
-2- J-S77009-14
After the jury returned a guilty verdict, the trial court sentenced
Appellant to serve concurrently three to six years in prison on two counts of
manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a
controlled substance. Appellant filed a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement,
reproduced here verbatim: 1. [Appellant] is entitled to a new trial because [the trial court] repeatedly, unreasonably, and unfairly restricting [sic] his efforts to cross-examine Commonwealth witnesses, violated [Appellant’s] rights under U.S. Const. Amend. V, VI, and XIV and Pa. Const. Art. I, §§ 1 and 9, to confront witnesses against him, when it sustained Commonwealth objections to questions about a confidential informant, including (but not limited to) those objections interposed during cross-examination at NT 5/14/2013, pp. 77, 136, 174-75, 179-despite repeated references by Commonwealth witnesses to hearsay evidence form [sic] and observations of the confidential informant (see e.g. NT 5/14/2013, pp. 16, 17, 23, 27, 37, 49, 51, 56, 58, 61, 62, 63, 65, 80, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 98, 102, 121, 128, 136, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155, 156, 157, 159, 160, 161, 166, 170, 171, 181, 186, and 187) and a curative instruction, that bolstered the weight and credibility of hearsay testimony coming form [sic] the informant (NT 5/14/2013, 169).
Rule 1925(b) Statement, 3/17/14. On April 1, 2014, the trial court issued
its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, wherein it addressed, inter alia, Appellant’s
argument that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the omnibus
pretrial motion requesting the disclosure of the CI’s identity.
On appeal,2 Appellant argues only that the trial court erred “when,
even though the Commonwealth only offered police officers as witnesses to ____________________________________________
2 “Our standard of review of claims that a trial court erred in its disposition of a request for disclosure of an informant’s identity is confined to abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Washington, 63 A.3d 797, 801 (Pa. Super. 2013).
-3- J-S77009-14
a controlled buy of controlled substances, it denied [Appellant’s] motion to
reveal the identity of the [CI.]” Appellant’s Brief at 3. In other words,
Appellant argues: [T]hough in this case there was more than one witness testifying about the alleged sales of drugs by [Appellant], all of the witnesses shared a characteristic that, for [all] intents and purposes, rendered them as a single witness: they were all law enforcement working on an investigation of [Appellant], who only saw [Appellant] in person at night under the light of streetlamps.
Id. at 11-12. Appellant, however, does not provide any indication on how
and when he raised and preserved this argument for our review. As a
result, we must deem this argument waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 2117(c),
2119(e); see also Commonwealth v. Williams, 980 A.2d 667, 671 (Pa.
Super. 2009) (noting that under the rules of appellate procedure, an
appellant must specify where in the record a claim on appeal was
preserved). Additionally, “it is not the responsibility of this Court to scour
the record to prove that an appellant has raised an issue before the trial
court, thereby preserving it for appellate review.” Commonwealth v.
Baker, 963 A.2d 495, 502 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2008). Nonetheless, upon our
review of the record, we observe that Appellant failed to preserve this
argument below by not raising it before the trial court or in his 1925(b)
statement. See Williams, 980 A.2d at 671 (noting issues not raised in the
trial court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal); see
Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).
-4- J-S77009-14
Additionally, Appellant here fails to cite to any legal authority in his
brief in support of his novel argument that multiple police officers who
witness the commission of a crime are reduced to a single entity. See
Commonwealth v. Janda, 14 A.3d 147, 164 (Pa. Super. 2011) (where an
appellant’s brief is devoid of any legal citations or evidence of record in
support of his contention, the issue is deemed waived); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(b).
To the extent Appellant’s argument can be construed as challenging
the trial court’s denial of his omnibus pretrial motion for disclosure of the
CI’s identity, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion. After
careful review of the parties’ briefs, the record on appeal, and the relevant
case law, we conclude that the trial court’s Rule 1925(a) opinion authored by
the Honorable Clyde W. Waite, adequately disposes of Appellant’s issue on
appeal. See Trial Court Opinion, 4/1/14, at 12-17. We, therefore, affirm
the trial court’s judgment of sentence. We direct that a copy of the trial
court’s April 1, 2014 Rule 1925(a) opinion be attached to any future filings in
this case.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 2/9/2015
-5- Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM 1 )
IN THE COURT OF COMM ON PLEAS OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNS YLVAN IA CRIMfNAL DIVISION ~
No. 8065 01'20 12 COMM ON WEALTH OF PENNSY LVAN IA
MI CHAEL LEACH
OPINION
Appell ant Michae l Leach was arrested and charged on Criminal In fo rmati on 8065-20 12
wit h three counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facili ty, 18 Pa.C.S. § 75 12(a}; three
counts of Manufacture, De livery, or Possession with Intent to Manufacture or Deli ver a
Controll ed Substance, 35 P.S. § 780-11 3(a}(30); three counts of Intentionally Possessing a
Contro ll ed Substance by a Person Not Registered, 35 P.S. § 780-11 3(a}( 16); and three counts of
Driving Wh ile Operating Privilege is Suspended or Revoked, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § I 543(a}.
On May 14, 20 13, aner a two-day trial by jury, prior to which defense co unsel' s pretrial
moti on requesting di sclosure of the confidenti al in fo rmant 's identity was denied, Leach was
found guilty upon Counts I and 2, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility; Co unts 3 and 4, ... .,.. '/ r" • Manllfllcture,('Deli very or Possession wi th Intent to Manu facture or Deli ver; and Counts 5 and 6, , Intent~nal - \ Possession of Contro lled Substance by Person Not Regi stered. Aller the
annolll emenl ot the jury' s verdict, th is Court also found Leach guilty of the summary offenses ~ I-- ("-
under Cq~J1ts 7 air~-f Driving Whil e Operati ng Pri vil ege is Suspended.
On Jul y 10, 20 13, the Bucks County Public Defender' s Office fi led a Petition for
Appoi ntment of Private Co unsel to handl e Leac h's appell ate matters. On Jul y 12, 20 13, thi s
Court approved the Petiti on and appointed Stuart Wil der, Esquire to represent Leach. Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
On July 16, 2013, Leach's court-appointed appellate counsel filed a "Motion for
Transcription of Notes of Testimony for Aid in Representation of the Defendant in Post-
Conviction/Appellate Proceedings." On July 18, 2013, and again on July 29, 2013, this Court
issued an Order approving the Motion and ordering that the Notes of Testimony from the May
13,2013 hearing be transcribed and forwarded to defense counsel.
On August 14,2013, after Leach exercised his right of allocution, this Court sentenced
Leach upon each of Counts 3 and 4, Manufacture, Delivery or Possession with Intent to
Manufacture or Deliver, to pay the costs of prosecution and undergo imprisonment in a State
Correctional Facility for not less than three (3) nor more than six (6) years. The sentences were
to be served concurrently. No further penalties were imposed upon Counts 1 and 2, Criminal Use
of a Communications Facility; Counts 5 and 6, Intentional Possession of Controlled Substance
by Person Not Registered; or Counts 7 and 8, Driving While Operating Privilege is Suspended.
On September 12, 2013, Leach filed a Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court of
Pennsylvania from this Court's Order of August 14, 2013, imposing sentence. He also
contemporaneously filed another Motion for Transcripts.
On September 13, 2013, this Court ordered Leach to file a Statement of Errors
Complained of on Appeal no later than twenty one (21) days from the date of the Order pursuant
to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).
On October 2,2013, Leach filed a Motion to Extend Time for Filing Statement Under
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). By Orders docketed on October 2, 2013 and October 10, 2013, this Court
granted Leach's request and extended the time to file his Statement of Errors Complained of on
Appeal to November 12, 2013.
2 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
On November 6, 2013, Leach filed another Motion to Extend Time for Filing Statement
Under Pa.R.A.P. I 925(b), asserting that the Notes of Testimony had not yet been prepared. On
November 12, 2013, this Court granted Leach's request and extended the time for filing the
Statement of Errors to January 2, 2014.
On December 27, 2013, Leach again filed another Motion to Extend Time for Filing
Statement Under Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), asserting that the Notes of Testimony had still not been
prepared. On December 31, 2013, this Court issued an Order again granting Leach's request and
extended the time to file his Statement of Errors to February 2,2014.
On February 3, 2014, Leach filed another Motion to Extend Time for Filing Statement
Under Pa.R.A.P. I 925(b). On February 7, 2014, this Court issued an Order denying Leach's
fourth Motion.
On February 18,2014, the transcripts were filed for the May 14 and 15,2013 trial and the
August 14, 2013 sentencing hearing.
On February 24, 2014, Leach filed a "Defendant's Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.App.Pro.
I 925(b)."
On March II, 2014, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania issued an Order permitting
Appellant "to file with the trial court and serve upon the trial judge a statement of errors
complained of on appeal, pursuant to Pa,R,A, 1925(b), within twenty-one (21) days of the date
that this Order is filed." In addition, the Order directed the trial judge to prepare an opinion,
pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a), in response to the Rule 1925(b) statement, within thirty (30) days
of the date the statement is received.
3 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
On March 17,2014, Leach's appellate counsel filed the "Defendant's Statement Pursuant
to Pa.R.App.Pro, 1925(b) Submitted Pursuant to the March 11,2014 Order of the Superior Court
Allowing the Defendant to Submit a Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.App.Pro. 1925(b)."
This Opinion is filed pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict
winner, the following relevant evidence was presented at Leach's jury trial conducted on May 13
and 14,2013:
Officer Hope Hatton of the Upper Makefield Township Police Department testitied that
on March 9, 2012, she was performing an undercover narcotics investigation with Officer
Compton and met with Officer Wayne Jones, Sergeant Pfaff, and a confidential informant
("C.I.") at the Bedminster Police Department Headquarters. After performing a full body cavity
search of the c.1. to insure there were no drugs upon her person, Officer Hatton was issued
$200.00 in pre-recorded bills, and she and the c.1. left to conduct a purchase of narcotics from
Leach, whom she identified in the courtroom. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 12-18.
Otlicer Hatton testified that she was a passenger in a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by
the C.1. They drove to 200 North Ridge Road in Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where
they parked in the driveway and waited for Leach to arrive. She testified that Leach arrived in a
maroon-colored Oldsmobile, parked on the driver's side of their vehicle, got out and approached
the driver's window and conversed with the c.1. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 19-23.
Officer Hatton testified that the area where this transaction occurred was lit by a street
lamp and she had no difficulty in observing Leach's face. She said she identified Leach ti'om a
4 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
driver's license photo she had been provided earlier, and described his goatee, light colored eyes
and discolored and "not very straight" teeth. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 22-24, 28.
Officer Hatton testified that Leach gave the C.1. ten pills and the C.1. gave Leach $100.00
of the pre-recorded money. The C.1. then gave the pills to her, and they observed Leach re-enter
the Oldsmobile and drive away. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 25-27.
Officer Hatton and the C.1. left the area to conduct another narcotics transaction and then
returned to the Bedminster Township Police headquarters where she gave the pills to Officer
Compton and conducted another complete body search of the C.1. N.T. May 14, 2013, pp. 28-
30.
On cross-examination, Officer Hatton stated that the transaction lasted "a minute or two,"
she had not met Leach before, and she admitted that she did not recall what he was wearing at
that time. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 32-41.
Officer Melissa Herman, a patrol officer for the Warminster Township Police
Department, testified that on April 5, 2012, she served as an undercover police officer with the
Bedminster Township Police Department. After arriving at the Bedminster Police Station she
met with Officer Compton, Officer Dockery, Detective Jones, Officer Harold and the C.I., and
they reviewed the operations planned for that evening. She testified that she was responsible for
searching the C.l. to insure "there was no contraband" and ensuring the safe execution of the
planned operation. She testified that was also shown Leach's driver's license photograph at that
time, and she identified him in court as the defendant. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 44-49.
Officer Herman stated she was present when the C.1. made a telephone call to arrange the
narcotics purchase, and she then conducted a full body search of the c.1. Ot1icer Herman said
she was a passenger in the vehicle driven by the c.1. She said they drove to a meeting for another
5 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
investigation and then, after the C.l. and Leach exchanged text messages, they drove to the
Revivals Restaurant and Bar, located at 4 South Ridge Road in Perkasie, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. Officer Herman then identified and read into the record the Commonwealth
exhibits which depicted the text messages. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 49-58.
Officer Herman testified that they parked in the front parking lot of Revivals, which was
well lit, and that Leach had already arrived there and was waiting in a maroon-colored older
model Oldsmobile sedan. She said that upon their arrival, Leach exited his vehicle and came
directly to the driver's side window, where she was able to immediately recognize that he was
bald, had a goatee and very bad "rotted looking" teeth. She said they briefly conversed, and the
c.l. handed the pre-recorded money to Leach who in turn handed the C.l. two pills. In Court,
Officer Herman identified the prerecorded bills used in the transaction. She stated they then
returned to the Bedminster Police station where she again conducted a search of the C.l. N.T.
May 14,2013, pp. 58-66.
On cross-examination, Officer Herman stated that she had never met or seen Leach prior
to April 5,2012. She said the transaction on that evening lasted about two to three minutes, and
she had not been involved in the March 9, 2012 investigation. She stated that she could identify
his face, but could not recall what he was wearing on that particular night. N.T. May 14,2013,
pp.66-79.
Detective Wayne Jones is a detective with the Doylestown Borough Police Department
who assisted with the March 9, 2012 investigation by searching the "informant's vehicle prior to
and after the buy, and provid[ing] security observation for the detail." He testified that his
searches of the C.l. 's vehicle revealed it was "free and clear of contraband." He stated that he
had "deploy[ ed] to the area where the narcotics buy was going to take place" at North Ridge in
6 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
Perkasie, Bucks County, at approximately 9:30 in the evening. He said he observed the arrival of
the c.1.'s vehicle and then, within minutes, the arrival of a maroon-colored Oldsmobile, from
which Leach emerged. He said Leach went to the driver's side of the C.I.'s vehicle, remained
there for "maybe two minutes," and then returned to his vehicle and left. Detective Jones said he
then followed Leach for about two miles and noted his license plate number, HLN1163, which
he radioed to Officer Compton. He then returned to the Bedminster Police station and conducted
a follow-up search of the c.1.'s vehicle which did not reveal the presence of any contraband or
narcotics. N. T. May 14, 2013, pp. 82-93.
Detective Jones testified that he had also been involved with the April 5, 2012
investigation by providing "security surveillance." After meeting with the other officers at the
Bedminster Police station, Detective Jones said he drove a Toyota Corolla to Revivals Restaurant
where he parked in the lot which had very good lighting. He stated that Officer Dockery had also
parked there in a silver-colored Equinox. He said he then observed a maroon-colored Oldsmobile
enter the lot, which he recognized as the same vehicle he had observed during the March 9, 2012
investigation, and observed Leach in the vehicle. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 94-97.
Detective Jones said the c.1.'s vehicle then entered the lot and Leach exited his vehicle
and approached the C.l.'s vehicle. He said Leach was out of his view for two or three minutes at
that point, but then he saw Leach get back into his vehicle and leave the parking lot. Detective
Jones then followed him for a brief distance and observed that the license plate was HLN 1166.
Detective Jones identified Leach in the courtroom as the individual he observed during the
March 9, 2012 and April 5, 2012 transactions. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 98-103.
Officer Timothy Dockery is a patrolman and SWAT team member of the P1umstead
Township Police Department. He testified that he conducted a search of the c.1.'s silver Dodge
7 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
pickup vehicle on the evening of April 5, 2012, and did not tind any weapons or controlled
substances in it. He said he then conducted surveillance at the Revivals restaurant at around 8:30
p.m. while driving a Chevy Equinox. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 112-117.
Officer Dockery testified that he parked next to Detective Jones, who was on his right,
and then Leach arrived and parked his vehicle directly next to his on his left side. He testified
that Leach remained in his vehicle until the c.r. 's vehicle arrived, and then Leach "exited the
driver's side, walked around the [C.r. 's] truck to the driver's side of the C.l. 's vehicle and the
transaction was made. He walked back to his vehicle and got in." After Leach left, Detective
Jones followed the c.l. 's vehicle back to the police station and conducted another search of it
which revealed no contraband or weapons. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 117-124.
Officer Robert Compton, a patrolman with the Bedminster Township Police Depaliment
and a special Bucks County-sworn narcotics officer, testified that he was the case manager and
lead investigator for the March 9, 2012 investigation. He testified that he set the predetermined
location for the meeting with Leach on North Ridge Road in Perkasie, Bucks County, and that he
had information that Leach would be driving a burgundy-colored Oldsmobile. He testified that
Sergeant Pfaff issued him $200.00 in pre-recorded currency, which he gave to Officer Hatton
who in turn gave it to the c.l. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 134-140.
Officer Compton testified that Leach was contacted from the c.l.'s cell phone, at
telephone number 267-221-0766, which had been identified as "Mike L" on the c.r.'s cell phone,
tor the purpose of "set[ting] up the buy location, and the amount and for what price." Otlicer
Compton testified that the buy location was North Ridge Road and the purchase price was
$100.00. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 141-144.
8 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
Oflicer Compton read the text messages that had been exchanged between the C.l. and
"Mike L." which he had photographed from the C.1. 's cell phone, including the following:
C.l.: I have a really bad toothache, do you have anything at all? Mike L.: Yeah, I'll call you soon. C.I.: K. Thanks. Mike L.: Call me, 1 got shit for you. c.1.: Traffic is crazy. I'll be there closer to 8:30 and I need ten. Thanks.
The messages were time and date stamped March 9, 2012, 7:30 p.m. N.T. May 14,2013, pp.
145-146.
Officer Compton testified that he had followed the other officers to the predetermined
location and was in the area but did not personally observe the transaction. He said that after the
transaction, they returned to the police headquarters where the evidence of ten pink Oxycodone
pills, also known as Percocet, was turned over to him. The pills were photographed, sealed,
labeled and sent to the Bucks County Crime Laboratory for testing, which eventually confirmed
that the pills were Oxycodone. N.T. May 14,2013, pp.147-154.
Officer Compton testified that he was also involved in the AprilS, 2012 investigation and
transaction that occurred at the Revivals Restaurant. He testified that Leach was again contacted
by the c.1. using her cell phone to call "Mike L." at the same telephone number that was used in
the March 9 investigation, and that the C.1. arranged for the purchase of two 30-milligram
Oxycodone pills. Officer Compton related that the "going rate on the street is a dollar a
milligram, so a 30-milligram pill is going to cost $30, and a 10-milligram pill only costs $10.00."
He testified that the pills involved in the March 9, 2012 transaction were lO-milligram pills.
N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 155-158.
Officer Compton testified that when the officers returned to the police station after the
transaction, the two Oxycodone pills were turned over to him by Officer Herman. As before, the
9 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
pills were photographed, logged, sealed and placed into the receiving locker, and eventually sent
to the Bucks County Crime Laboratory where they tested positive for Oxycodone. N.T. May 14,
2013, pp. 161-166.
Officer Compton explained that Leach was not arrested immediately after the purchases
because he will often first meet with a suspect, describe the charges involved and provide the
choice to become a confidential informant or face the charges. He also explained that Leach was
not arrested immediately after the April 5 transaction in order to protect the identity of the
confidential informant. N.T. May 14,2013, p. 166,168-170.
Officer Compton testified that he subsequently contacted Leach using the same cell
phone number used in the March 9 and April 5,2012 transactions. He testified that the individual
who answered identified himself as "Mike," and they arranged to meet at the police station.
Officer Compton testified that after arranging the meeting, Leach was the individual who arrived
at the police station. Officer Compton testified that when Leach was asked if he was the one
involved in the narcotic sales, Leach "hesitated and then simply nodded his head yes." N.T. May
14,2013, pp. 166-167.
On cross-examination, Officer Compton was asked a number of questions pertaining to
the C.I., to which the Commonwealth consistently objected. This Court in turn sustained those
objections, and explained to the jury:
Ladies and gentlemen, if there is information that would be material and important to a defendant's defense, then the Court would have to weigh the potential exposure of the c.1. to the defendant's right to protect and defend the charges that were being brought. This is by way of explain[ing) to you why this line of questions that deal with possibly identifying this confidential informant, and [ 1 these objections are being sustained and that information is being denied the defendant. I don't want to go into any further detail about that. But the line of questions are not going to be allowed to be answered so long as the objections are made. So you might hear a continuing line of objections and a continuing
10 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
sustaining of those objections, and I want to try to explain to you why this is happening.
N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 171- 181, 183-186.
Officer Compton testified that the number he dialed to contact Leach was identified in the
C.1. 's cell phone as "Mike L." He explained that he did not order that photographs or videos be
taken of the transactions because the officers involved in those transactions were well trained and
sitting in the passenger seat right next to the C.I., and he was confident in their ability to make an
identification. N.T. May 14,2013, pp. 187-188.
As noted above, on May 14, 2013, upon conclusion of the trial, the jury returned with
verdicts of guilty upon Counts I and 2, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility; Counts 3
and 4, Manufacture, Delivery or Possession with Intent to Manufacture or Deliver; and Counts 5
and 6, Intentional Possession of Controlled Substance by Person Not Registered. This Court also
found Leach guilty of the summary offenses under Counts 7 and 8, Driving While Operating
Privilege is Suspended.
As also previously noted, Leach's court-appointed appellate counsel initially filed a
"Defendant's Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.App.Pro. 1925(b)" on February 14, 2014, but he
subsequently substituted that Statement with the "Defendant's Statement Pursuant to
Pa.R.App.Pro, 1925(b) Submitted Pursuant to the March 11,2014 Order of the Superior Court
Allowing the Defendant to Submit a Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.App.Pro. 1925(b)," which he
filed on March 17,2014.
In his latest "Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.App.Pro. 1925(b)," Leach argues verbatim:
I. The Defendant is entitled to a new trial because the Court repeatedly unreasonably, and unfairly restricting his effolis to cross-examine Commonwealth witnesses, violated
11 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
the Defendant's rights under U.S.Const. Amend. V, VI, and XIV and Pa. Const. Art. I, §§ I and 9, to confront witnesses against him, when it sustained Commonwealth objections to questions about a confidential informant, including (but not limited to) those objections interposed during cross-examination at NT 5/14/2013, pp. 77, 136, 174-175, 179- despite repeated references by Commonwealth witnesses to hearsay evidence form and observations of the confidential informant (see e.g. NT 5/14/2013, pp. 16, 17,23,27, 31,49,51,56,58,61,62,63,65,80,85,86,87,88,89,90,91, 93, 98,102,121,128,136, 141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,155,156,157,159, 160, 161, 166, 170, 171, 181, 186 and 187) and a curative instruction, that bolstered the weight and credibility of hearsay testimony coming from the informant (NT 5/14/2013, 169) [sic J.
Defendant's Statement, March 17,2014.
DISCUSSION In this appeal Leach argues that he is entitled to a new trial because this Court
"repeatedly unreasonably, and unfairly restricted" his cross-examination of Commonwealth
witnesses by sustaining the Commonwealth's objections to questions about a confidential
informant and alleged "hearsay evidence coming from the informant." Leach's appeal is based
solely upon this Court's ruling which denied his pre-trial Motion to disclose the confidential
informant's identity at trial after the Commonwealth argued, and we agreed, that the informant's
identity should remain confidential. According to Leach, this was a violation of his
Constitutional rights "to be confronted with the witnesses against him."
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has stated that "[o]ur standard of review of claims
that a trial court erred in its disposition of a request for disclosure of an informant's identity is
confined to abuse of discretion." Commonwealth v. Withrow,932 A.2d 138, 140 (Pa. Super.
2007).
12 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
"It is well settled that an abuse of discretion is not merely an error of judgment, but rather
the overriding or misapplication of the law, or the exercise of judgment that is manifestly
unreasonable, or the result of bias, prejudice, ill-will or partiality, as shown by the evidence on
the record." Commonwealth. v. Moore,978 A.2d 988, 991 (Pa. Super. 2009) (citing
Commonwealth v. Barnes, 871 A.2d 812, 819 (Pa.Super. 2005).
In Commonwealth v. Marsh, 997 A.2d 318 (Pa. 2010), which involved an undercover
purchase of controlled narcotic substances similar to the case sub judice, the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania discussed in depth the issue of the disclosure of a confidential informant's identity.
In an etTot1 "to provide greater clarity regarding the circumstances under which disclosure of a
confidential informant's identity should be made to a criminal defendant," Jd at 319, the Court
observed that:
[0 ]ur case law provides that if a defendant shows that disclosure of an informant's identity would yield information material to his or her defense, and that the request for disclosure is reasonable, the trial court must then balance relevant factors to determine, in its discretion, whether the informant's identity should be revealed. Commonwealth v. Bing, 551 Pa. 659, 713 A.2d 56, 58 (1998). In this case, as a threshold matter, the identity of the informant was completely immaterial to the asserted defense, and the request for disclosure was not reasonable. Moreover, the trial court and Superior Court apparently determined that where the only eyewitnesses to an illegal drug transaction are a confidential informant and a police officer, the balance automatically tips toward disclosing the informant's identity to the defendant, regardless of all other attendant facts and circumstances. However, there is no fixed rule with respect to disclosure of an informant's identity. Instead, the determination regarding whether disclosure should be made depends on the particular circumstances of each case, taking into consideration the crime charged, the possible defenses, the possible significance of the informer's testimony, and other relevant factors essential to a fair balancing of the competing interests involved. Jd
Marsh, 997 A.2d at 321. The Court in Marsh reiterated that: [t]he Commonwealth enjoys a qualified privilege to withhold the identity of a contidential source. Commonwealth v. Bing, supra at 58; Commonwealth v. Roebuck, 545 Pa. 471, 681 A.2d 1279, 1283 n. 6 (1996). In order to overcome this
13 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
qualified privilege and obtain disclosure of a confidential informant's identity, a defendant must first establish, pursuant to Rule 573(B)(2)(a)(i), that the information sought is material to the preparation of the defense and that the request is reasonable. Roebuck, supra at 1283. Only after the defendant shows that the identity of the confidential informant is material to the defense is the trial court required to exercise its discretion to determine whether the information should be revealed by balancing relevant factors, which are initially weighted toward the Commonwealth. Bing, supra at 58; Commonwealth v. Herron, 475 Pa. 461,380 A.2d 1228 (1977).
In striking the proper balance, the court must consider the following principles:
A further limitation on the applicability of the privilege arises from the fundamental requirements of fairness. Where the disclosure of an informer's identity, or of the contents of his communication, is relevant and helpful to the defense of an accused, or is essential to a fair determination of a cause, the privilege must give way. In these situations[,J the trial court may require disclosure and, if the Government withholds the information, dismiss the action.
[NJo fixed rule with respect to disclosure is justifiable. The problem is one that calls for balancing the public interest in protecting the flow of information against the individual's right to prepare his defense. Whether a proper balance renders nondisclosure erroneous must depend on the particular circumstances of each case, taking into consideration the crime charged, the possible defenses, the possible significance of the informer's testimony, and other relevant factors.
Commonwealth v. Carter, 427 Pa. 53, 233 A.2d 284, 287 ( 1967) (quoting Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 60-62, 77 S.C!. 623, I L.Ed.2d 639 (1957)).
Marsh, 997 A.2d at 321-322. Significantly, the Court in Marsh stressed that "[tJhis Court has repeatedly 'recognized
the importance of the Commonwealth's qualified privilege to maintain the confidentiality of an
informant in order to preserve the public's interest in effective law enforcement. Also, the safety
of the confidential informant is a controlling factor in determining whether to reveal his
identity.'" Jd. At 324 (citing Bing, 713 A.2d at 58).
In the case sub judice, Leach's trial counsel filed an Omnibus Pretrial Motion on May 3,
2013, which asserted that "on the day of the alleged sale, the confidential informant placed a
14 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
phone call to set up the sale [and] [t]he only person who can identify the person on the sale is the
confidential informant." The Motion therefore requested the disclosure of the identity of that
confidential informant.
After careful consideration of the competing interests and positions of the patties, this
Court denied that Motion at the start of the trial on May 13, 2013. Recognizing that the
Commonwealth enjoys a qualified privilege to withhold the identity of a confidential source, this
Court determined that the Commonwealth's expressed concerns for the safety of the confidential
informant, the potential danger that may exist from possible retribution, and the desirability of
maintaining the flow of information provided by this and other confidential informants were of
paramount importance, and in the particular circumstances of this matter outweighed Leach's
Constitutional rights to confront that witness.
Neveltheless, in his allegation of trial cOUlt error, Leach implies that he has been
prejudiced by his inability to confront the confidential informant, and he attempts to bolster this
allegation by alluding to impermissible "hearsay evidence" and "hearsay testimony coming from
the informant."
In responding to this allegation, we note that, aside from the original defense Motion
arguing that the confidential informant was the only person who could identify the other
individual involved in arranging the transactions during the telephone conversations, Leach has
not presented any compelling argument to convince us that the identity of the confidential
informant was material to his defense. While he may have sought to test the confidential
informant's credibility and examine the circumstances surrounding the arrangements made
during those telephone conversations, Leach has not explained how that information or the
identity of the participants in those telephone conversations was relevant, critical and/or material
15 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
in any way to his defense, or how that information would rebut the overwhelming evidence of
his actual participation in the transactions, including the testimony of numerous law enforcement
officials who, in addition to the confidential informant, personally witnessed the actual illicit
transactions and identified the defendant as a participant.
For example, we noted that after the transactions had been completed and Officer
Compton used the confidential informant's cellular telephone to call the telephone number
identified as "Mike L.," it was Leach who answered and agreed to meet with Officer Compton.
Furthermore, it was Leach who actually arrived at the police station, and according to Officer
Compton, nodded his head in the affirmative when asked if he had participated in the
transactions. We are unable to discern how knowledge of the confidential informant's identity
would contradict or impeach this evidence or materially contribute in any other way to Leach's
defense.
This Court observed that this was not a case, in accordance with the suggestion in Marsh,
supra, that involved the testimony of only the confidential informant and one law enforcement
official, which then potentially militate in favor of the disclosure of the informant's identity.
Instead, this was a case where multiple law enforcement officials were present during the
transactions and the testimony of each of those involved corroborated the identity and
involvement of the defendant in those transactions.
We also observed throughout the trial that the Commonwealth avoided reference to the
confidential informant's identity and any potential hearsay statements made by that confidential
informant. Although the Commonwealth presented evidence of the text messages that had been
sent from and received by the confidential informant's cellular telephone, such evidence did not
constitute impermissible hearsay. While the text messages were relevant and informative to the
16 , , Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
jury, those messages were clearly not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted in them
since the jury did not need to "believe the actual text of the text messages, that is, the matters
asse11ed therein, to grasp what the text messages were offered at trial to prove." See
Commonwealth v. Koch, 39 A.3d 996, 1006 (Pa.Super. 20 II).
It was clearly this Court's prerogative and duty to determine whether the confidential
informant's identity was material to Leach's defense and should therefore be disclosed, but atter
a careful evaluation and balancing of the competing interests, we declined to do so. In arriving at
our decision, we were mindful that the Commonwealth has a qualified privilege to withhold the
identity of a confidential source, particularly for concerns of safety, and we were not convinced
that Leach's request for disclosure of the informant's identity was reasonable or material to his
defense. Consequently, this claim of error is meritless.
In an apparent attempt to provide support for his allegation that it was error for this Court
to deny disclosure of the confidential informant's identity, Leach has alluded to impermissible
"hearsay evidence" and "hearsay testimony coming from the informant." He further suggests that
the explanation provided to the jury in response to repeated objections to questioning related to
the identity of the confidential informant which were sustained by this Court, was actually "a
curative instruction that bolstered the weight and credibility of hearsay testimony coming from
It is well-established that:
[h]earsay is a statement, other than a statement made by the declarant while testifying under oath, which is offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Pa.R.E. 801(c). Generally, hearsay is inadmissible at trial. Pa.R.E. 802. However, where an out-of-court statement is not admitted for the purpose of proving the truth of what was said, the hearsay rule does not bar admission of that statement. See, e.g, Spotts v. Reidell, 345 Pa.Super. 37, 497 A.2d 630 (1985); Bachman v. Artinger, 285 Pa.Super. 57, 426 A.2d 702 (1981). "Testimony as to an out of court statement, written or oral, is not hearsay if offered to prove, not that the content of
17 " , Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
the statement was true, but that the statement was made." Id. at 705. "The hearsay rule does not apply to all statements made to or overheard by a witness, but only those statements which are offered as proof of the truth of what is said. Thus, a witness may testify to a statement made to him when one of the issues involved is whether or not the statement was, in fact, made." Commonwealth v. Wright, 455 Pa. 480, 485, 317 A.2d 271,273 (1974).
American Future Systems, Inc. v. BBB, 872 A,2d 1202, 1213 (Pa.Super. 2005).
In addition, the Superior Court has consistently stated that:
[a]dmission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial cOUli and we review the trial court's determinations regarding the admissibility of evidence for an abuse of discretion. Smalls v. Pills burgh-Corning Corp., 843 A.2d 410, 413 (Pa.Super. 2004), appeal denied, 579 Pa. 704, 857 A.2d 680 (2004). To constitute reversible error, an evidentiary ruling must not only be erroneous, but also harmful or prejudicial to the complaining party. Ellinger v. Triangle-Pacific Corp., 799 A.2d 95, 110 (Pa.Super. 2002), appeal denied, 572 Pa. 742, 815 A.2d 1042 (2003). For evidence to be admissible, it must be competent and relevant. Ralli v. Wheeling Pillsburgh Steel Corp., 758 A.2d 695, 707 (Pa.Super. 2000), appeal denied, 567 Pa. 715, 785 A.2d 90 (2001). Evidence is competent if it is material to the issue to be determined at trial. Id. Evidence is relevant if it tends to prove or disprove a material fact. Id. at 707-08. Relevant evidence is admissible if its probative value outweighs its prejudicial impact. Id. at 708. The trial court's rulings regarding the relevancy of evidence will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion. Romeo v. Manuel, 703 A.2d 530, 532 (Pa.Super.1997).
American Future Systems, 872 A.2d at 1212.
As previously noted, while the text messages introduced into evidence at trial were
relevant and probative, they were clearly not impermissible hearsay since they were not offered
to prove the truth of the matter asserted in them.
Furthermore, a careful review of Leach's numerous references in the Notes of Testimony
to "hearsay evidence and observations of the confidential informant" fails to reveal any examples
of actual hearsay. Leach's references all relate to questioning and testimony of the police officers
which described their conduct with and physical observations of the confidential informant, but
they do not identify any actual impermissible hearsay statements made by the confidential
informant.
18 Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
Finally, because there was a complete absence of evidence of inappropriate hearsay
introduced at Leach's trial , the "curative instruction" which Leach alleges was issued by thi s
Court could not possibly "bolster the weight and credibility of hearsay testimony coming from
the informant" as Leach complains, and therefore this claim is also meritless.
CONCLUSION
In denying Leach's request to disclose the identity of the confidential informant who
assisted in arranging the transactions involving the sale of controlled substances for which Leach
was convicted, this Court recognized that the Commonwealth has a qualified privilege to
withhold the identity of a confidential source which must be balanced with Leach ' s need for
information that may be material to his defense. We concluded, however, that while the
Commonwealth had demonstrated a significant interest in protecting the safety of the
confidential informant, Leach had not established that his request for the confidential informant's
identity was in any way material to the preparation of his defense or that this evidence would in
any way contradict, rebut or impeach the overwhelming evidence of his guilt in this matter.
Consequently, our denial of his request for disclosure was proper and just, and Leach 's claims
are meritless.
For the foregoing reasons, we recommend that this appeal be denied.
BY THE COURT:
19 " , Circulated 01/30/2015 04:00 PM
COMMONWEALTH v. MICHAEL LEACH NO. 8065 of 2012
COPIES SENT TO:
Thomas C. Gannon Deputy District Attorney 4th Floor Bucks County Courthouse 55 East Court Street Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901
Attorney/or COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Stuart Wilder, Esquire PRATT, BRETT & LUCE, P.c. 68 East Court Street P.O. Box 659 Doylestown, PA 18901
Attorney/or Appellant MICHAEL LEACH