Com. v. Weaver, N.

CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedOctober 5, 2020
Docket484 MDA 2020
StatusUnpublished

This text of Com. v. Weaver, N. (Com. v. Weaver, N.) 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. Weaver, N., (Pa. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

J-A22015-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA Appellant : : : v. : : : NATHAN WILLIAM WEAVER : No. 484 MDA 2020

Appeal from the Order Entered March 13, 2020 In the Court of Common Pleas of Clinton County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-18-CR-0000432-2019

BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., STABILE, J., and MURRAY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED OCTOBER 05, 2020

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appeals from the trial court’s order

denying its pre-trial motion to introduce prior bad acts evidence pursuant to

Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 404(b).1 We affirm.

The affidavit of probable cause filed against Nathan William Weaver

(Appellee) reads:

____________________________________________

1 Rule 404(b) provides, in relevant part, as follows:

(1) Prohibited Uses. Evidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that[,] on a particular occasion[,] the person acted in accordance with the character.

(2) Permitted Uses. This evidence may be admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident. In a criminal case[,] this evidence is admissible only if the probative value of the evidence outweighs its potential for unfair prejudice.

Pa.R.E. 404(b). J-A22015-20

On [October, 26, 2018] at approximately 4:45 AM, Lock Haven Police was dispatched to the report of a sexual assault at 237 N. Fairview St. First Floor. Officer J. Gregory and Officer Fisher did arrive on scene and made contact with the caller, [M.S.], who was outside in the passenger seat of a vehicle. [M.S.] was crying and upset.

At 6:15 AM, Officer J. Gregory did interview [M.S.] at City Hall. [M.S.] reported that there was multiple people at her apartment, 237 N. Fairview St. First Floor on [October 25, 2018]. [M.S.] reported that there was drinking involved. [M.S.] reported that she had gotten tired and went to her room to go to sleep at approximately 3:15 AM. [M.S.] reported that she was in her room by herself and was laying on her bed.

[M.S.] reported that she overheard [Appellee] telling other people that he was going to take a nap on her bedroom floor before driving home. [M.S.] reported that she heard [Appellee] say this in the [l]iving room, which is adjacent to the bedroom. [M.S.] reported that [Appellee] came into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. [M.S.] reported after the door was shut, the only light in the room came through the window. [M.S.] reported that she heard [Appellee] lay down on the floor.

[M.S.] reported that she was laying in her bed closer to the wall. [M.S.] stated that the next thing she remembered was someone laying behind her in bed, who she later realized was [Appellee]. [M.S.] reported that she was very tired and [] still possibly under the influence of alcohol. [M.S.] stated that she first thought that the [individual] in bed with her was her boyfriend, “MARK.” [M.S.] stated that she stated “MARK” a few times and did not get a response back. [M.S.] reported that [Appellee] was kissing her. [M.S.] reported that [Appellee] reached into her shorts and inserted his finger inside of her vagina. [M.S.] reported that [Appellee] completely removed her shorts and underwear and began to have sexual intercourse with her. [M.S.] reported that while [Appellee] was having sex with her, she realized that it was [Appellee]. [M.S.] stated that she saw [Appellee’s] tribal tattoo’s from the light in the window and noticed the large chain necklace that he always wears. [M.S.] stated that as soon as she realized that it was [Appellee] having sex with her, she pushed him off of her and did not say anything.

-2- J-A22015-20

[M.S.] reported that she layed [sic] on the bed facing the wall. [M.S.] stated that [Appellee] put her shorts back on her and he put his pants back on. [M.S.] stated that she curled up facing the wall until she heard [Appellee] snoring. [M.S.] stated that she checked her watch and it was 4:13 AM. [M.S.] reported her watch to be two (2) minutes fast. [M.S.] reported that she then went to the bathroom and laid on the floor. While in the bathroom a friend came to the door to check on her. [M.S.] stated that her friend got her cell phone and she went outside and called 911.

[M.S.] did go to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport after the interview and did have a sexual assault kit completed.

On [October 26, 2018] at 6:15 hours, Officer Fisher did speak with [Appellee] after he was read his Miranda warnings. [Appellee] stated that he did go into [M.S.’s] room and did try to sleep on the floor. [Appellee] reported that he could not get to sleep, so he got into [M.S.’s] bed and layed [sic] next to her. [Appellee] reported that he had no idea if [M.S.] was awake or sleeping. [Appellee] stated that he and [M.S.] did not talk and after tossing and turning he did fall asleep. [Appellee] reported the next thing that happened was his fianc[é] waking him up and telling him that [M.S.] had called the police because he tried to have sex with her.

On [October 26, 2018] at approximately 8:10 AM, [Appellee] did consent to providing a DNA sample. A buccal swab for DNA was obtained from [Appellee].

The buccal swab from [Appellee] and the sexual assault kit from [M.S.] were sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory for testing.

On [January 21, 2019] at 10:23 AM, your affiant did interview [Appellee] after he was provided his [Miranda w]arnings. [Appellee] did confirm that he went into [M.S.’s] room to go to sleep. [Appellee] stated that he was on the floor and has back issues, so he got into bed with [M.S.]. [Appellee] reported that he was on top of the covers and [M.S.] was under the covers. [Appellee] reported that he was not drinking heavy and that he was not drunk. [Appellee] reported that he did not touch [M.S.] and does not believe that [M.S.] would have touched him.

Your affiant did advise [Appellee] that a sexual assault kit was done and asked [Appellee] if his DNA would be found on [M.S.].

-3- J-A22015-20

[Appellee] replied, “it shouldn’t.” [Appellee] stated that all he knows, is that he didn’t do it.

On [February 11, 2019] at 12:55 PM, your affiant did speak with the State Police Lab. It was reported that sperm was found in the vaginal sample that was in the sexual assault kit taken from [M.S.]. The sperm sample along with the buccal swab of [Appellee] were sent for DNA analysis.

Your affiant did receive a DNA analysis from the State Police Lab, dated May 15, 2019. The analysis did show that the sperm sample was a mixture of at least two (2) individuals and that the major component of this DNA mixture profile matches the DNA profile of the swab collected from [Appellee]. . . .

Affidavit of Probable Cause, 6/11/19, at 1-2.

Pursuant to the alleged events of October 26, 2018, the Commonwealth

charged Appellee with rape of an unconscious victim, involuntary deviate

sexual intercourse with an unconscious victim, sexual assault, aggravated

indecent assault of an unconscious victim, and indecent assault of an

unconscious victim.2

At Appellee’s preliminary hearing, the involuntary deviate sexual

intercourse with an unconscious victim charge was dismissed, but the

remaining charges were bound over to the trial court. On August 26, 2019,

Appellee filed a motion for writ of habeas corpus, arguing the evidence

presented by the Commonwealth at the preliminary hearing did not establish

that M.S. was unconscious during the alleged sexual assault. After conducting

a hearing, the trial court issued an order and opinion on October 3, 2019

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Com. v. Weaver, N., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/com-v-weaver-n-pasuperct-2020.