Com. v. Nelson, K.

CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 8, 2016
Docket1291 EDA 2015
StatusUnpublished

This text of Com. v. Nelson, K. (Com. v. Nelson, K.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Com. v. Nelson, K., (Pa. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

J-S35042-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA v. : : KENNETH NELSON, JR., : : Appellant : No. 1291 EDA 2015

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 2, 2015 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Criminal Division, No(s): CP-51-CR-0006090-2014

BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., BENDER, P.J.E. and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED JUNE 08, 2016

Kenneth Nelson, Jr. (“Nelson”) appeals from the judgment of sentence

imposed following his conviction of firearms not to be carried without a

license.1 We affirm.

In its Opinion, the trial court set forth the relevant factual and

procedural background, which we adopt herein for purposes of this appeal.

See Trial Court Opinion, 8/4/15, at 1-6.

On appeal, Nelson raises the following issues for our review:

1. Was [Nelson’s] conviction against the clear weight of the evidence where the uncontradicted testimony established that [Nelson] was acting in the scope of his employment at the time of his arrest for possessing an unlicensed firearm?

2. Was the evidence sufficient to support [Nelson’s] conviction [of] violating 18 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 6106, firearms not to be carried without a license, where[,] at the time of his arrest, [Nelson] possessed a certificate of licensure pursuant to the

1 See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106(a)(2). J-S35042-16

Lethal Weapons Training Act[ (“the Act”),2] and was carrying his firearm in the scope of his employment?

3. Even if this Court determines that the evidence was sufficient to sustain [Nelson’s] conviction [of] carrying a firearm without a license, was [Nelson] entitled to dismissal of this charge on the basis that [Nelson’s] conduct constituted a de minimus infraction of the law?

Brief for Appellant at 4 (footnote added, some capitalization omitted, issues

renumbered for ease of disposition).

In his first issue, Nelson contends that the trial court found him guilty

of firearms not be carried without a license because it “disbelieved [Nelson’s]

testimony that he was acting within the scope of his employment and[,]

thus[,] determined that [Nelson’s] actions at the time of his arrest were

outside the purview of [the] Act [].” Id. at 15. Nelson asserts that, because

he was on his way to a restaurant supply store and was carrying a large

amount of cash, he was acting within the scope of his duties as a security

guard at the time of his arrest. Id. at 17. Nelson points to the trial court’s

determination that he was not acting as a security guard at the time of his

arrest because he had stopped his car to talk to another individual, and

claims that the trial court’s ruling “imposes an unduly restrictive

interpretation of the Act’s definition of “on duty or going to and from duty.”

Id. (citing 22 Pa.C.S.A. § 48(a)). Nelson argues that the trial court’s

“misunderstanding of the scope and application of [the] Act” constitutes an

abuse of discretion. Brief for Appellant at 18.

2 See 22 Pa.C.S.A. § 41, et seq.

-2- J-S35042-16

The trial court set forth the relevant law, addressed Nelson’s weight of

the evidence claim, and determined that it lacked merit. See Trial Court

Opinion, 8/4/15, at 7-9. We agree with the sound reasoning of the trial

court and affirm on this basis as to Nelson’s first issue. See id.

In his second issue, Nelson contends that he was convicted of firearms

not to be carried without a license because the Commonwealth introduced

into evidence a certificate of non-licensure which showed that he did not

possess a valid license to carry a firearm. Brief for Appellant at 9. Nelson

asserts that, because he possessed a certification issued under the Act, and

was acting within the scope of his employment at the time of his arrest, his

conviction under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106(a)(2)3 cannot stand. Id. Nelson

concedes that he was in constructive possession of a firearm at the time of

his arrest, but claims that he was exempt from the firearm licensure

requirement pursuant to sub-sections 6106(b)(6) and (11).4 Id. at 12.

3 Section 6106(a)(2) provides that “[a] person who is otherwise eligible to possess a valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and has not committed any other criminal violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106(a)(2). 4 Sub-sections 6106(b)(6) and (11) provide the following exemptions from the firearms licensing requirement: “(6) [a]gents, messengers and other employees of common carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the discharge of such duties[;] … (11) [a]ny person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle, which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106(b)(6), (11).

-3- J-S35042-16

Nelson argues that the uncontradicted evidence established that he (1) is

the owner of a restaurant in North Philadelphia; (2) worked as the

establishment’s security guard; (3) in his capacity as security guard, carried

large amounts of money from his restaurant to banks and restaurant supply

stores; and (4) worked as a security guard for several bar owners. Id. at

13. Nelson contends that his qualification for certification under the Act

showed that he was required to perform the duties of a security guard,

thereby rendering him exempt from the firearm licensure requirement

pursuant to section 6106(b)(6). Id. at 14. Nelson further asserts that,

because he possessed a certification under the Act, he was exempt from the

firearm licensure requirement pursuant to section 6106(b)(11). Id.

The trial court set forth the relevant law, addressed Nelson’s

sufficiency claim, and determined that it lacked merit. See Trial Court

Opinion, 8/4/15, at 6-7, 9-10. We agree with the sound reasoning of the

trial court and affirm on this basis as to Nelson’s second issue. See id.

In his third issue, Nelson contends that, in the event that this Court

determines that the evidence was sufficient to convict him under section

6106(a)(2), this Court should nevertheless vacate his judgment of sentence

on the basis that his conduct constituted a de minimus infraction of the law.

Brief for Appellant at 19.

-4- J-S35042-16

Here, Nelson failed to raise this issue in his court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal. Accordingly, Nelson

failed to preserve this issue for our review. See Commonwealth v. Lord,

719 A.2d 306, 309 (Pa. 1998) (holding that, when an appellant is directed to

file a concise statement of matters to be raised on appeal pursuant to

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), any issues not raised in that statement are waived).

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 6/8/2016

-5- Circulated 05/13/2016 04:25 PM

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA ! CRIMINAL TRIAL DIVISION .._....,:·

COMMONWEALTH OF rFs['~b CP-51-CR-0006090-2014

v. \ AUG O 4 2.0\5 \ Criminal App~a\? Unit'.

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