J. A35026-PA Super 14 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, Appellee LENORA RODRIQUEZ, Appellant : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

929 EDA 2009

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence entered February 20, 2009 in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County, Criminal, at No. CP-15-CR-03281-2007. BEFORE: DONOHUE, ALLEN, and FITZGERALD,* JJ. OPINION BY ALLEN, J.: 1 Filed: January 29, 2010
Lenora Rodriquez (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed following a stipulated non-jury trial in which she was found guilty of one count each of retail theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.1 On appeal, Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence with respect to the retail theft conviction. We vacate the judgment of
sentence only as to the retail theft conviction, and remand for resentencing. 2 The trial court recited the stipulated facts as follows: At 10:33 a.m., a green Ford Taurus (Reg. GTN4763) pulled into the Wal-Mart store parking lot, in which [Appellant] and two black females exited the vehicle. All three then entered the Wal-Mart. Upon entering the store, [Appellant] had nothing in her possession except for her pocket book. The two females proceeded toward the costumer [sic] service desk, while [Appellant] proceeded towards the electronics department alone. At 10:41 a.m., at the electronics department, [Appellant] selected a portable stereo (Sharp CD-MPX850), which was
18 Pa.C.S.A. 3929(a)(1), 3922(a)(1), and 3925(a), respectively.
*Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J. A35026-09 on display for sale and placed the stereo in her shopping cart. At around 11:09 a.m., [Appellant] proceeded to the customer service desk. At the customer service desk, [Appellant] told Wal-Mart employee Jordan Hunter that she wanted to return the stereo and provided Mr. Hunter [with] an alleged sales receipt for the stereo. Mr. Hunter printed out a return receipt and asked [Appellant] to sign it. [Appellant] then signed the return receipt in the name F. Jackson. Mr. Hunter completed the return and gave [Appellant] $137.66 in cash. The net refund for the stereo was $129.86, plus $7.80 sales tax, for a total of $137.66. At 11:13 a.m., [Appellant] left the store pushing an empty shopping cart. [Appellant] left the store parking lot in the same green Ford Taurus she arrived in along with the two black females. Registration plate GTN4763. Upon closer inspection, Wal-Mart Loss Prevention Officer, Zacharius Zahariadis, learned that the receipt used by [Appellant] for the return was for a stereo purchased at another Wal-Mart store located in Boothwyn, PA. And the stereo which [Appellant] allegedly returned had a store label on it indicating it belonged to the Exton Wal-Mart Store. Thus, [Appellant] used a receipt for a different stereo that was purchased at a different store to create a false impression during the return, which [Appellant] fraudulently gained $137.66. Trial Court Opinion, 5/19/09, at 4-5. 3 On February 20, 2009, the trial court sentenced Appellant to eleven
and a half to twenty-three months incarceration for the retail theft conviction. The trial court did not sentence Appellant on the theft by
deception or receiving stolen property convictions because the trial court
J. A35026-09 determined that those convictions merged with the conviction for retail theft. This timely appeal followed.Appellant presents the following question for our review: Is proof that [Appellant] carried a stereo from a stores display shelf to the customer service desk, where she obtained cash by pretending to return the stereo for a refund, using a false receipt, sufficient evidence to convict [Appellant] of Retail Theft? Appellants Brief at 2. 5 Our well-settled standard of review when evaluating a challenge to
the sufficiency of the evidence mandates that we assess the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the verdict-winner. Commonwealth v. Salomone, 897 A.2d 1209, 1213 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 592 Pa. 766, 923 A.2d 1173 (2007). We must determine whether there is sufficient evidence to enable the fact finder to have found every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Commonwealth v. Kerry, 906 A.2d 1237, 1240 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citation omitted). In applying the above test, we may not weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for that of the fact-finder. In addition, we note that the facts and circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of innocence. Any doubts regarding a defendants guilt may be resolved by the fact-finder unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be drawn from the combined circumstances. The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable

The trial court and Appellant have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925. -3-
J. A35026-09 doubt by means of wholly circumstantial evidence. Moreover, in applying the above test, the entire record must be evaluated and all evidence actually received must be considered. Finally, the trier of fact while passing upon the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence produced, is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence. Id. 6 Appellant contends that she did not commit retail theft because she
did not take, carry away, or transfer the stereo with the intention of depriving Wal-Mart of the possession, use or benefit of the merchandise. Appellants Brief at 4. Rather, Appellant maintains that she had custody of the stereo until she went to the customer service desk, where Wal-Mart regained actual possession when [Appellant] gave the stereo to the store clerk. Id. at 7. It is then that Appellant concedes that her criminal
conduct began.3 Id. We agree. Pa.C.S.A. 3929(a) provides: Offense defined.A person is guilty of retail theft if he: (1) takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise without paying the full retail value thereof[.] The trial court correctly noted that there are no cases directly on point. Trial Court Opinion, 5/19/09, at 5. However, we have held that an intent to
Appellant concedes that she committed theft by deception and receiving stolen property. See Appellants Brief at 7-8. -4-
J. A35026-09 deprive is an essential element of the crime of retail theft.
Commonwealth v. Martin, 446 A.2d 965, 969 (Pa. Super. 1982). 8 Our review of the uncontroverted facts of record indicates that the
evidence introduced by the Commonwealth was insufficient to prove that Appellant took possession of, carried away or transferred any merchandise in this case the stereo which was displayed for sale by Wal-Mart -- with the intent of depriving Wal-Mart of the use or benefit of the stereo without paying the full retail value. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. 3929(a)(1); Martin, supra. Here, Appellants intent was to obtain cash from Wal-Mart through deceptive means. The retail theft statute specifies that a person takes
possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale Id. The reasonable inference to be drawn from Appellants actions is that her intent was to deprive Wal-Mart of cash rather than the stereo. Accordingly, Appellant was properly convicted of theft by deception, which is set forth in 18 Pa.C.S.A. 3922(a) as follows: Offense defined.--A person is guilty of theft if he intentionally obtains or withholds property of another by deception. A person deceives if he intentionally: (1) creates or reinforces a false impression, including false impressions as to law, value, intention or other state of mind; 9 Given the foregoing, the evidence was sufficient to prove that

Appellant intentionally created a false impression to obtain cash from Wal-
J. A35026-09 Mart and therefore committed theft by deception. The evidence was
insufficient, however, to demonstrate that Appellant intended to deprive Wal-Mart of the use or benefit of the stereo which she temporarily possessed to facilitate the theft by deception. We therefore vacate Appellants
judgment of sentence with regard to the retail theft conviction, and remand for resentencing. 10 Judgment of sentence vacated. Remanded for resentencing.

WattsinStandby 0.5 0.57 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 0.8 0.8 0.8
OrganizationName JVCAmericasCorp LGElectronics,Inc. LightSPEEDTechnologies, Inc. LightSPEEDTechnologies, Inc. LightSPEEDTechnologies, Inc. LightSPEEDTechnologies, Inc. MultimediaDevicesLtd. MultimediaDevicesLtd. MultimediaDevicesLtd. MultimediaDevicesLtd. MultimediaDevicesLtd. MultimediaDevicesLtd. NuVoTechnologies NuVoTechnologies NuVoTechnologies NuVoTechnologies JVC LG

BrandName

ModelName HRXVC41S BDRedcat DTA800B1 RS2764 RS2767i RT2870 RTD315 RTD317 DualAM/FMTuner, Export DualDAB/FMTuner DualSIRIUSReady AM/FMTuner NewEssentiaE6G
ModelNumber HRXVC41S BDRedcat(RC) DTA800B1 RS2764A RS2767iA RT2870A RTD315A RTD317A NVT2FAMEX NVT2DAB NVT2SIR NVE6GM
ProductName VCR/DVD CombinationUnit DVDProduct Receiver Receiver Receiver Receiver Tuner CompactDisc Player/Changer CompactDisc Player/Changer Receiver DVDProduct DVDProduct Tuner Tuner Receiver StereoAmplifier
WattsinStandby 0.8 0.9.7.92.96.75 0.57 0.95 0.97 0.93 0.45 0.57 0.789 0.62 0.74 0.856
LightSPEED LightSPEED LightSPEED LightSPEED RCA RCA RCA RCA RCA RCA NuVoTechnologies NuVoTechnologies NuVoTechnologies NuVoTechnologies
OrganizationName Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic
BrandName Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic
ModelName DMPBD30 DMPBD35 DMPBD50 DMPBD55 DVDS1 DVDS100 DVDS26 DVDS42 DVDS422 DVDS52 DVDS53 DVDS54 HomeTheater HomeTheater HomeTheater HomeTheater
ModelNumber DMPBD30 DMPBD35 DMPBD50 DMPBD55 DVDS1 DVDS100 DVDS26 DVDS42 DVDS422 DVDS52 DVDS53 DVDS54 SCHT15 SCHT17 SCPM71SD SCHT16
ProductName DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct Receiver DVDProduct DVDProduct Receiver Receiver Receiver Receiver
WattsinStandby 1.0 0.6 1.0 0.6 1.1Watts 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1Watts 1Watts 0.3Watts 1Watts
BrandName Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic na

ModelName

ModelNumber SAXR30 DVDF61 DVDF61A DVDF65 DVDF65U DVDF85 DVDLS5 DVDLX9 DVDS25 DVDS25U DVDS29 DVDS31 DVDS31A DVDS35 DVDS35U DVDS49
ProductName Receiver DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct
WattsinStandby 1.0Watts 0.6Watts 0.6Watts 0.6Watts 0.6Watts 0.6Watts 0.9Watts.8Watts 1.0Watts 1.0Watts 1Watts 1.0Watts 1.0Watts 1.0Watts 1.0Watts 1.0Watts
Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic Panasonic

ModelNumber HTS3565D/37 HTS3566D/37 HTS3568/51 HTS3568DW/98 HTS3568W/93 HTS3569/98 HTS6100/05 HTS6100/12 HTS6100/37 HTS6100/55 HTS6100/75 HTS6100/93 HTS6100/98 HTS6515/05 HTS6515/12 HTS6515/55
WattsinStandby 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
ModelName HTS6515/75 HTS6515/93 HTS6515/98 HTS6515D/37 HTS6600/37 HTS8100/37 HTS8140 HTS8140/05 HTS8140/12 HTS8140/37 HTS8140/55 HTS8140/75 HTS8140/93 HTS8140/98 HTS8150 HTS8150/12
ModelNumber HTS6515/75 HTS6515/93 HTS6515/98 HTS6515D/37 HTS6600/37 HTS8100/37 HTS8140 HTS8140/05 HTS8140/12 HTS8140/37 HTS8140/55 HTS8140/75 HTS8140/93 HTS8140/98 HTS8150 HTS8150/12
WattsinStandby 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
OrganizationName PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhilipsConsumerElectronics PhonicEar,Inc. PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation
BrandName Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Philips Frontrow Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
ModelName HTS8150/98 HTS9810/12 HTS9810/59 HTS9810/93 MCM118D/37 MCM298/37 MCM704D/37 MCM760/37 Micro Micro Mini Streamium FrontrowProDigital BDPLX70A BlurayDiscPlayer BlurayDiscPlayer
ModelNumber HTS8150/98 HTS9810/12 HTS9810/59 HTS9810/93 MCM118D/37 MCM298/37 MCM704D/37 MCM760/37 MCM275/37 MCM276R/37 FWM575/37 MCi200 940R BDPLX70A BDP05FD BDP09FD
ProductName DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Receiver DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct
WattsinStandby 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.8.8Watts 0.78 0.5 0.5 0.3
OrganizationName PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation PioneerCorporation
BrandName Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
ModelName BlurayDiscPlayer BlurayDiscPlayer CDPlayer CDPlayer DV250 DV251 DV353K DV353S DVD DVD DVD DVD DVDHomeTheater System DVDHomeTheater System DVDHomeTheater System DVDPlayer
ModelNumber BDP51FD BDPLX71 PDD6J PDD6S DV250 DV251 DV353K DV353S DV444 XVDV620 XVDV820 DV343 XVDV171 XVDV575 XVDV580 DV45A/KUXJ/C A

ProductName Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem VCR/DVD CombinationUnit Receiver Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem MinidiscPlayer MinidiscPlayer MicroSystems MicroSystems DVDProduct MicroSystems MicroSystems
WattsinStandby 0.3Watts 0.3Watts 0.6Watts.6Watts.5Watts.95Watts.6Watts.3Watts 0.6.6Watts.6Watts 0.6 0.6 0.52 0.6 0.6
ModelName XLUH242 XLUH260 XLUH270
ModelNumber XLUH242 XLUH260 XLUH270 CDBA200 CDBA2100 CDCH1000 CDCH1500 CDDD4500 CDDVD500 CDE600 CDE66 CDE700 CDE77 CDE800 CDE88 CDMP70C
ProductName MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem RackSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem
WattsinStandby 0.6 0.6 0.6.3Watts.3Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.3Watts.3Watts.3Watts.3Watts.3Watts.3Watts.3Watts
ModelNumber CDMP77 CDPC3500 CDRW5000 DV750U DVD710U DVD770U DXAT50 HTCN300 MDC2 MDMX20 MDMX30 SDAT100 SDAT50 SDEX100 SDEX101 SDEX111
ProductName Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem RackSystem DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct Receiver Mini/MidiSystem MinidiscPlayer MinidiscPlayer DVDProduct StereoAmplifier Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem
WattsinStandby.3Watts.3Watts.6Watts.5Watts.5Watts.5Watts.8Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.7Watts.5Watts.5Watts.5Watts
OrganizationName SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SharpElectronicsCorporation SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc.
BrandName Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sharp Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony
ModelNumber SDNX10 SDSG11 SDSH111(BK) SDSH111(S) XL1700 XL35 XL3700 XL55 XL70 XL70C XLHP500
ProductName Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem DVDProduct DVDProduct MinidiscPlayer MinidiscPlayer MinidiscPlayer MinidiscPlayer Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem Mini/MidiSystem PoweredSpeaker PoweredSpeaker PoweredSpeaker StereoAmplifier StereoAmplifier

WattsinStandby.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.9Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.6Watts.3Watts 1Watts.8Watts 1Watts 0.5Watts 0.5Watts
ActiveHome Speaker Activesubwoofer Activesubwoofer ActiveSubWoofer ActiveSubWoofer
SAVAD900 SAWD200 SAWM40 SAWM500 SAWX700
OrganizationName SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. SonyElectronicsInc. Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony
ModelName ActiveSubWoofer ActiveSubWoofer CDPlayer CDPlayer CDPlayer CDPlayer CDPlayer CMTDV2D CMTHEZ3 CMTHPZ9 CMTNEZ5 CMTSV2D DAVDX150 DAVDX170 DAVDX250 DAVDZ100
ModelNumber SAWX90 SAWX900 CDPCX335 CDPCX400 CDPCX450 CDPM333ES CDPM555ES CMTDV2D CMTNEZ3 CMTHPZ9 CMTNEZ5 CMTSV2D DAVDX150 DAVDX170 DAVDX250 DAVDZ100
ProductName PoweredSpeaker StereoAmplifier CompactDisc Player/Changer CompactDisc Player/Changer CompactDisc Player/Changer CompactDisc Player/Changer CompactDisc Player/Changer MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems MicroSystems DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct DVDProduct
WattsinStandby 1Watts 0.5Watts 1Watts 1Watts 1Watts 1Watts 1Watts 0.18 0.236 0.179Watts 0.167Watts 0.18 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130
ModelName DAVDZ550 DAVFX10 DAVFX100W DAVFX80 DAVFX999W DAVLF1 DAVLF10 DAVX1 DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer
ModelNumber DAVDZ550 DAVFX10 DAVFX100W DAVFX80 DAVFX999W DAVLF1 DAVLF10 DAVX1 DVPC650D DVPC660 DVPC670D DVPC675D DVPCX850D DVPCX860 DVPCX870D DVPCX875P
WattsinStandby 0.230 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.230 0.18 0.18 0.110 1Watts 1Watts 1Watts 1Watts.5Watts 1Watts 1Watts 1Watts
ModelName DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer DVDPlayer
ModelNumber DVPF25 DVPNC555ES DVPNC600 DVPNC615 DVPNC625 DVPNC655P DVPNC665P DVPNC685V DVPNS300 DVPNS315 DVPNS325 DVPNS400D DVPNS415 DVPNS425P DVPNS700P DVPNS715P
WattsinStandby 1Watts.5Watts.5Watts 1Watts.5Watts 1Watts.5Watts.5Watts.5Watts 1Watts.5Watts.5Watts 1Watts.5Watts.5Watts 1Watts