Com. v. Tillotson, C.

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: April 20, 2020
• Docket: 1194 MDA 2019
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

J-S17008-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : CLAYTON MICHAEL TILLOTSON : : Appellant : No. 1194 MDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 17, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Bradford County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-08-CR-0000867-2018

BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., STABILE, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.: FILED: APRIL 20, 2020

Clayton Michael Tillotson appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered in the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas. On appeal, Tillotson

contends he was prejudiced by the trial court’s comments during closing

arguments. After careful review, we affirm.

The Canton Borough Police Department received a report from a

motorist that Tillotson was driving erratically on State Route 14. Sergeant Trey

Kurtz, the responding officer, located Tillotson’s car on the road and followed

him to the Acorn Market in Canton Borough.

There, Tillotson exited his vehicle and walked towards Sergeant Kurtz’s

patrol car. While conversing with Tillotson, Sergeant Kurtz observed that

Tillotson was confused and his pupils were constricted. Sergeant Kurtz also

noticed a smell of marijuana emanating from Tillotson’s clothes. Based on J-S17008-20

these observations, Sergeant Kurtz administered a field sobriety test, which

Tillotson failed.

Sergeant Kurtz searched Tillotson’s car and found what he suspected to

be a marijuana pipe with a small amount of marijuana in it, a skull statue with

suspected marijuana in it, and several baggies containing suspected

marijuana. Important to Tillotson’s argument on appeal, the suspected

marijuana was never chemically tested to confirm Sergeant Kurtz’s belief.

Tillotson was arrested and charged with numerous offenses. After a jury

trial, Tillotson was convicted of driving under the influence (“DUI”) of

marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and

possession of a small amount of marijuana.1 The trial court sentenced Tillotson

to ninety days to five years’ incarceration. This timely appeal followed.

In his only issue, Tillotson maintains that the trial court’s reference to

the substance found in his car as marijuana was unfairly prejudicial because

Sergeant Kurtz admitted that he did not have the substance tested nor is he

an expert. See Appellant’s Brief, at 11-12. Therefore, Tillotson contends that

he is entitled to a new trial. We disagree.

A trial judge must act with absolute impartiality and refrain from any

conduct or unwise comment which indicates favor or condemnation. See

Commonwealth v. Nesbitt, 419 A.2d 64, 67 (Pa. Super. 1980). However,

every unwise comment made by a judge during the course of a trial does not

1 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3802(d)(2); 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(16); 35 P.S. § 780- 113(a)(32); and 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(31).

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automatically necessitate the grant of a new trial. See Commonwealth v.

Enix, 192 A.3d 78, 83 (Pa. Super. 2018). A new trial is required only when a

remark is of such a nature that it may reasonably be said to have deprived

the defendant of a fair and impartial trial. See id.

During the Commonwealth’s closing argument, the Assistant District

Attorney, while showing a small pipe to the jury, stated that “[i]f you look

closely you can even see the burnt residue from the marijuana inside this

pipe.” N.T., Jury Trial, 4/3/19, at 157. In response, Tilloston’s counsel

objected and argued that “there . . . [was] no evidence that there was burnt

residue from marijuana inside . . . [the] pipe.” Id. Although the trial court

could not recall whether there was testimony regarding marijuana residue in

the pipe, the trial court permitted the Commonwealth to show the jury the

pipe, which had been admitted into evidence. See id., at 157-158.

When the Assistant District Attorney resumed his argument, he recalled

how Sergeant Kurtz testified “that he found marijuana . . . inside the

defendant’s car. . . .” Id., at 158. Tillotson objected and asserted “there ha[d]

been no evidence that the substance . . . [was] marijuana.” Id. Furthermore,

Tillotson pointed out that Sergeant Kurtz only “testified that he thought . . .

[the substance] was [marijuana]” and “he is not an expert.” Id. In response

to Tillotson’s objection, the trial court stated “[s]ure there was” and overruled

the objection. Id.

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In order to resolve this issue, we must determine whether there was

any evidence of marijuana presented at trial that would support the trial

court’s response to Tillotson’s objection.

The record shows that Sergeant Kurtz testified at trial that he observed

signs of impairment exhibited by Tillotson consistent with impairment from

taking controlled substances. See id., at 30. Having been trained to test for

impairment due to controlled substances, Sergeant Kurtz administered a field

sobriety test, which Tillotson failed. See id., at 46-49. Tillotson then “informed

[Sergeant Kurtz] there was marijuana and a pipe in his . . . vehicle.” Id., at

50.

As a result of Tillotson’s admission, Sergeant Kurtz conducted a search

of the car. During the search, Sergeant Kurtz recovered five glassine bags, a

skull statue, and a small pipe. See id., at 50. Upon opening the statute,

Sergeant Kurtz saw that there was a substance inside, which he identified as

marijuana based on its odor and appearance. See id., at 52-54.

Based on the foregoing, we cannot conclude that the trial court acted

improperly and denied Tillotson a fair and impartial trial. See Enix, 192 A.3d

at 83. Contrary to Tillotson’s assertion, “[t]he existence of narcotic drugs does

not have to be proved by chemical analysis and may be proved by direct or

circumstantial evidence.” Commonwealth v. Williams, 428 A.2d 165, 167

(Pa. Super. 1981). Sergeant Kurtz, in light of his training and experience,

established by circumstantial evidence that the substance recovered from

Tillotson’s car was marijuana. See N.T., Jury Trial, 4/3/19, at 52-54. As such,

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the trial court was justified in stating that there was evidence of marijuana

introduced at trial.

Tillotson argues that this comment impermissibly lent credibility to

Sergeant Kurtz’s testimony. We disagree. The court’s statement, “sure there

was” referenced the evidence outlined above. It was not a definitive statement

that the substance was marijuana. Further, the court clearly instructed the

jury that the jury was the ultimate finder of fact. See id., at 158; 166-167.

Tillotson has not challenged the appropriateness of the court’s jury

instructions on appeal. Under these circumstances, Tillotson cannot establish

that the court’s brief statement denied him a fair trial. Therefore, Tillotson’s

only issue on appeal is without merit.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 04/20/2020

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