Commonwealth v. Essey

3 Pa. D. & C.5th 129
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County
DecidedDecember 3, 2007
Docketno. 817 of 2007
StatusPublished

This text of 3 Pa. D. & C.5th 129 (Commonwealth v. Essey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Essey, 3 Pa. D. & C.5th 129 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2007).

Opinion

COX, J.,

Before the court for disposition is the omnibus pretrial motion filed on behalf of defendant, Charles G. Essey, which consists of a motion to quash information, a motion for writ of habeas corpus, and a motion to suppress test results.

On May 19, 2007, Pennsylvania State Trooper Harry Gustafson was dispatched to Byers Avenue, South New Castle Borough, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, to investigate a single vehicle accident. Upon his arrival, Trooper Gustafson noticed that a truck was in a ditch off to the north side of the road. It was apparent that the vehicle struck the embankment and came to a stop after making contact with a street sign. Trooper Gustafson first spoke with the witness who contacted the state police. The witness stated that she came upon the accident, stopped, and talked to defendant, who was standing by the driver’s side door of the truck. The witness asked if defendant was all right, and he responded that he was fine and emphatically requested that she not contact the [131]*131police. Defendant told the witness that he had not been drinking; however, the witness Could smell alcohol on his breath and determined that he was intoxicated. The witness turned on the emergency flashers in defendant’s vehicle and took defendant’s keys. The witness also had defendant sit in her vehicle with her.

Trooper Gustafson requested that defendant exit the witness’ vehicle, so he could question defendant about the accident. Defendant explained that he left a wedding reception at the local fire hall, which was located within view of the accident site, and as he was operating his vehicle, he turned too sharply and just missed the turn. Trooper Gustafson noted that defendant was dry, even though it was raining heavily. During his conversation with defendant, Trooper Gustafson also noticed many indications that defendant was currently intoxicated, such as slurring speech, staggering gait, and bloodshot eyes. Defendant subsequently failed field sobriety tests. APBT test was administered and the reading was .224 percent blood alcohol content. Defendant was transported to Jameson Hospital where a blood test was administered, which indicated that defendant’s blood alcohol content was .27 percent. Defendant was subsequently charged with driving under the influence.

I. MOTION TO QUASH INFORMATION/ MOTION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

In his motion to quash information and motion for writ of habeas corpus,1 defendant contends that the Com[132]*132monwealth has failed to provide sufficient evidence that defendant operated the motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to a degree which rendered him incapable of safe driving.

Where a criminal defendant seeks to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence presented at his preliminary hearing, he may do so by filing a writ of habeas corpus. Commonwealth v. McBride, 528 Pa. 153, 595 A.2d 589 (1991); Commonwealth v. Carmody, 799 A.2d 143 (Pa. Super. 2002). A petition for writ of habeas corpus is the proper means for testing a pretrial finding that the Commonwealth has sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case. Commonwealth v. Karlson, 449 Pa. Super. 378, 674 A.2d 249 (1996). In evaluating an accused’s entitlement to pretrial habeas corpus relief, a trial court must determine whether there is sufficient evidence to make out a prima facie case that the defendant committed the crime with which he or she is charged. Commonwealth v. Hock, 556 Pa. 409, 728 A.2d 943 (1999). In a pretrial habeas corpus proceeding, as in a preliminary hearing, the Commonwealth has the burden of establishing a prima facie case, offering some proof to establish each material element of the offense as charged. Commonwealth v. Owen, 397 Pa. Super. 507, 580 A.2d 412 (1990). This does not mean that the prosecution must prove the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather, the prosecution must establish “sufficient probable cause” that the accused has committed the offense. Commonwealth v. Prosdocimo, 331 Pa. Super. 51, 479 [133]*133A.2d 1073 (1984). The standard in determining whether the defendant is properly held for court is: (a) that the record reveals a prima facie showing that a crime or crimes have been committed; and (b) that the defendant was in some way legally responsible. Liciaga v. Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, 523 Pa. 258, 566 A.2d 246 (1989). Aprima facie case consists of evidence, read in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, that sufficiently establishes both the commission of a crime and that the accused is probably the perpetrator of that crime. Commonwealth v. Fountain, 811 A.2d 24 (Pa. Super. 2002). The weight and credibility of the evidence is not a factor at this stage, the Commonwealth only needs to present evidence of each element of the crime charged. Commonwealth v. Marti, 779 A.2d 1177 (Pa. Super. 2001).

It is unreasonable to allow a vehicle operator to be exonerated for driving under the influence because there is no other witness of the single vehicle accident, so long as there is sufficient circumstantial evidence that the defendant was in actual physical control of the motor vehicle. Commonwealth v. Taylor, 237 Pa. Super. 212, 217, 352 A.2d 137, 139 (1975). The Taylor court concurred with the court in Commonwealth v. Kloch, 230 Pa. Super. 563, 327 A.2d 375 (1974), that circumstantial evidence, such as the appellant being seated in the vehicle, the motor running, and the lights on, as sufficient circumstantial evidence to prove driving under the influence. Id.

In Commonwealth v. Johnson, 833 A.2d 260, 263-64 (Pa. Super. 2003), the court held that circumstantial evidence, such as only two vehicles were involved in the accident, the only people at the scene of the accident [134]*134were the appellant and the occupants of the other vehicle, the appellant’s car had front end damage, and the victim’s vehicle had rear end damage, was sufficient evidence to prove the appellant was in actual physical control of the motor vehicle. The Johnson court reasoned that the “inference that appellant drove his vehicle to the accident scene is strongly supported by the fact that shortly after the accident, appellant was found leaning against the driver’s side door of his vehicle which had just been involved in an accident.” Id. The Johnson

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Related

Commonwealth v. Danforth
576 A.2d 1013 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1990)
Commonwealth v. Hock
728 A.2d 943 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1999)
Commonwealth v. Johnson
833 A.2d 260 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2003)
Commonwealth v. Carmody
799 A.2d 143 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2002)
Commonwealth v. Kloch
327 A.2d 375 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1974)
Commonwealth v. Owen
580 A.2d 412 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1990)
Commonwealth v. Kelley
652 A.2d 378 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1994)
Commonwealth v. Marti
779 A.2d 1177 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2001)
Commonwealth v. Karlson
674 A.2d 249 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1996)
Liciaga v. Court of Common Pleas
566 A.2d 246 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1989)
Commonwealth v. Peters
915 A.2d 1213 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2007)
Commonwealth v. McBride
595 A.2d 589 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
Commonwealth v. Kohlie
811 A.2d 1010 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2002)
Commonwealth v. Fountain
811 A.2d 24 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2002)
Commonwealth v. Ballard
460 A.2d 1091 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1983)
Commonwealth v. Thur
906 A.2d 552 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2006)
Commonwealth v. Prosdocimo
479 A.2d 1073 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1984)
Commonwealth v. Taylor
352 A.2d 137 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1975)

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Bluebook (online)
3 Pa. D. & C.5th 129, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-essey-pactcompllawren-2007.