Philadelphia Criminal Defense Blog

Zak Goldstein 7/16/25 Zak Goldstein 7/16/25

Attorney Goldstein Wins New Trial in Murder Case Due to Improper Ruling on Calling Character Witnesses

Criminal Defense Lawyer Zak Goldstein — Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer Zak T. Goldstein, Esquire

Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney Zak T. Goldstein, Esquire of Goldstein Mehta LLC recently won a new trial for a client convicted of third-degree murder and aggravated assault in Commonwealth v. V.G. In a decision issued on July 16, 2025, the Pennsylvania Superior Court agreed that the trial court violated the client’s constitutional right to present a defense when it prohibited him from calling character witnesses at his retrial for a 2017 shooting in Lehigh County. The Superior Court vacated the judgment of sentence and remanded the case for a new trial, finding that the error was not harmless because the defendant’s credibility was central to the defense and character evidence could have created a reasonable doubt for the jury.

The Evidence in V.G.

The case arose out of a New Year’s Eve party held on December 31, 2017, at a private residence in Allentown. The Commonwealth alleged that the defendant attended the party after receiving an invitation through social media. At some point after midnight, another attendee, the decedent, who was heavily intoxicated, announced to his friend that he was going to take someone’s phone. He then grabbed the defendant’s phone for no reason. The two did not know each other, and the defendant ultimately shot the decedent twice. According to the defendant’s prior testimony from a previous trial which was also overturned, he acted in self-defense after the much larger decedent took his phone, cursed at him, threatened him, and tried to punch him. The defendant then shot a second individual, the decedent’s friend, who the defendant claimed was approaching in a threatening manner with one hand concealed around his waistband as the decedent assaulted him. The surviving complainant was struck three times but survived.

The defendant was eventually charged with the first-degree murder of the decedent and attempted murder on the surviving complainant. At a first trial, he was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges. That conviction was reversed on appeal after the trial court refused to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter based on imperfect self-defense. The Superior Court remanded the case for a second trial, which took place in 2023.

The Trial Court’s Ruling on Character Witnesses

Prior to the second trial, the defense indicated that it planned to call character witnesses who would have testified that the defendant, who had no criminal record at the time of the shooting, had a reputation in the community for being a peaceful and non-violent person. These traits were directly relevant to the homicide and aggravated assault charges because Pennsylvania law has long recognized that character evidence may be enough by itself to raise a reasonable doubt and require an acquittal.

The trial judge, however, refused to allow the defense to present character evidence. The trial court relied on a case called Commonwealth v. Kim, which is a diminished capacity case, and concluded that because the defendant admitted to the shootings, character evidence was irrelevant—even though the defendant’s defense at trial was that he acted in self-defense and, at most, committed voluntary manslaughter. Despite defense counsel’s repeated efforts to clarify that the defense was not one of diminished capacity, the trial court barred all character testimony.

PA Superior Court: The Defense Should Have Been Allowed to Call Character Witnesses

The defendant appealed, and Attorney Goldstein successfully convinced the Superior Court to reverse the conviction on appeal. Attorney Goldstein argued that the trial court erred in precluding the character evidence and that the error was not harmless. The Superior Court agreed. The panel held that the trial court misapplied Commonwealth v. Kim and improperly excluded the defendant’s peaceful character evidence. The Court emphasized that:

[The defendant] did not argue a diminished capacity defense. Rather, he argued that he acted in self-defense, committed at most voluntary manslaughter, and did not act with the mens rea necessary for attempted murder, murder, or aggravated assault. Therefore, Kim is inapplicable to the present case.

The Court reaffirmed that defendants are permitted to offer evidence of a reputation for peacefulness in violent crime cases and that such evidence is “substantive” and “may, in and of itself, create a reasonable doubt.” Because the defendant’s credibility was essential to the outcome of the trial—he testified to acting in self-defense while the complainant claimed the shooting was unjustified—the exclusion of this evidence could not be deemed harmless.

The Court concluded:

The character witnesses would have strengthened the defendant’s credibility, and the jury may have been more likely to credit his theory that he acted in self-defense.

The Superior Court vacated the judgment of sentence and remanded the case for a new trial at which the defendant will be able to call character witnesses.

The Importance of Character Evidence in Criminal Trials

This case highlights the critical role that character evidence can play in a Pennsylvania criminal trial. In cases involving violent crimes such as homicide and aggravated assault, the law allows defendants to introduce testimony from community members attesting to the defendant’s reputation for being peaceful, non-violent, or law-abiding. This evidence can be powerful when credibility is at issue, especially in self-defense cases where the only witnesses are the defendant and the alleged victim(s) or complainants.

The Court’s decision reinforces the principle that even when a defendant concedes involvement in a physical confrontation, they are still entitled to present a full defense, including character testimony, when disputing malice, intent, or justification. It also highlights the important of making a good record for appeal. Trial counsel did not leave any doubt that the defendant both intended to call character witnesses and had character witnesses available to testify both at a pre-trial hearing and at trial, thereby making sure that the appellate court could not find the claim undeveloped or waived for appeal.

Facing criminal charges or appealing a criminal case in Pennsylvania?

If you are facing criminal charges or under investigation by the police, we can help. We have successfully defended thousands of clients against criminal charges in courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We have successfully obtained full acquittals and dismissals in cases involving charges such as Conspiracy, Aggravated Assault, Rape, Violations of the Uniform Firearms Act, and First-Degree Murder. We have also won criminal appeals and PCRAs in state and federal court, including the successful direct appeal of a first-degree murder conviction and the exoneration of a client who spent 33 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Our award-winning Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers offer a free criminal defense strategy session to any potential client. Call 267-225-2545 to speak with an experienced and understanding defense attorney today.

Zak Goldstein 7/2/25 Zak Goldstein 7/2/25

Pennsylvania Superior Court Rejects “Place of Abode” Defense in Gun Case Where Defendant Sometimes Stayed Overnight at Girlfriend’s House and Had Keys

Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer Zak T. Goldstein, Esquire

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has decided the case of Commonwealth v. Martin, 2025 PA Super 130, narrowing the “place of abode” defense for purposes of VUFA § 6106 and affirming the defendant’s conviction for carrying a concealed firearm without a license.

The Facts of Martin

The defendant was convicted in a bench trial in Allegheny County of a number of serious offenses, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, and several firearms offenses. He appealed, and the appeal focused on whether the Commonwealth proved that he carried a firearm without a license in violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106 (VUFA 6106).

The charges arose out of an incident involving the defendant’s girlfriend. The defendant and his girlfriend had been in a relationship for years. He normally lived in a different home with his daughter and fiancée, but he would often stay at the girlfriend’s house. He had a set of keys to the house.

On the day of the shooting, the defendant went to the girlfriend’s home after she ignored his calls. They began to argue, and the argument became physical. According to the girlfriend, the defendant pulled a gun from his waistband and shot her. The defendant testified that the girlfriend was intoxicated, threatened to harm herself, and accidentally shot herself during a struggle. After the shooting, the defendant hid the gun in a trash can outside.

The trial court rejected the defendant’s version of events and found him guilty. The court sentenced him to 10.5 - 21 years’ incarceration. That sentence included a three to six year consecutive sentence for carrying a concealed firearm without a license.

The Issue on Appeal

On appeal, the defendant’s main argument was that he could not be convicted of violating § 6106 because he was carrying the firearm only inside his “place of abode.” Pennsylvania law potentially makes it a felony to carry a concealed firearm without a license, but the statute contains a number of exceptions. One important exception is that the statute does not criminalize carrying a concealed firearm in a person’s own place of abode or fixed place of business.

Accordingly, the defendant argued that he was in his place of abode because he frequently stayed at the girlfriend’s house, had a set of keys, and was even considering moving in. He argued that this made her residence one of his “places of abode,” even if his primary residence was elsewhere.

The Superior Court’s Decision

The Superior Court rejected this argument and affirmed the conviction. The Court explained that the “place of abode” exception is interpreted narrowly under Pennsylvania law. It generally requires that the defendant actually live at the property either permanently or at least temporarily at the time of the incident.

Here, the Court pointed out:

The girlfriend testified that only she and her two children lived at the house.
The defendant himself admitted in his testimony that he lived at the other house and only sometimes stayed over with the girlfriend
On the day of the shooting, the defendant drove to the girlfriend’s house from the other neighborhood after not being able to reach her “for a few days.”
When the girlfriend demanded the defendant leave after the altercation, she told him to “get the fuck out of my house,” highlighting that it was not his home.

As a result, the Court found that the defendant was not residing at the girlfriend’s house either permanently or temporarily at the time of the shooting, so he could not rely on the “place of abode” exception.

The Court also noted there was sufficient evidence to conclude that the defendant brought the gun to the house in his car. This would amount to an independent violation of § 6106, which also prohibits carrying a firearm in a vehicle without a license.

The Takeaway

For clients facing gun charges and for defense attorneys alike, Commonwealth v. Davis is an example of how strictly a Pennsylvania court may interpret the “place of abode” exception:

Occasional overnight stays and having keys are not enough.
You generally have to actually live there at the time in question. The building must either be your home or at least a temporary residence.
The Commonwealth does not necessarily have to rule out every theoretical exception.
Once the prosecution shows the defendant carried a firearm without a license outside his home or business, the burden effectively shifts to argue that the exception applies. The Commonwealth generally must disprove a defense beyond a reasonable doubt, but the defense has to introduce some evidence for a defense to apply.
Carrying in a vehicle creates a separate problem.
Even if the defendant had somehow established that he lived at the girlfriend’s house, bringing the firearm there in a car would still have violated § 6106(a)(1).

Facing criminal charges or appealing a criminal case in Pennsylvania?

Zak Goldstein 6/24/25 Zak Goldstein 6/24/25

Pennsylvania Superior Court Vacates Philadelphia Gun Conviction for VUFA § 6108 on Second Amendment Grounds

In a major Second Amendment decision for citizens of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has declared 18 Pa.C.S. § 6108 unconstitutional as applied to the open carry of firearms in Philadelphia. § 6108 makes it illegal to even open carry a firearm on the streets of Philadelphia without a license, whereas open carry is generally legal in the rest of the state. In Commonwealth v. Sumpter, the Superior Court vacated the defendant’s conviction for carrying a firearm on the streets of Philadelphia, holding that the statute was unconstitutional as applied to the defendant in that it prevented him from open carrying.

The Facts of Sumpter

The defendant was arrested after police observed the handle of a firearm visibly protruding from his waistband while he was walking in Philadelphia. He admitted to the police that he carried the weapon for self-defense due to gun violence in the area. A charge under § 6106 (concealed carry without a license) was dismissed at the preliminary hearing because the police could see the gun, but he was convicted under § 6108, which makes it illegal to carry a firearm openly on public streets in Philadelphia without a license.

Philadelphia is the only “city of the first class” in Pennsylvania, and § 6108 applies only in a city of the first class (meaning Philadelphia). In the rest of the Commonwealth, unlicensed open carry is generally legal for adults 18 and over. Because Pennsylvania law requires individuals to be at least 21 to apply for a carry license, § 6108 effectively bans open carry for 18-to-20-year-olds in Philadelphia, but it does not have the same effect in the rest of the state.

The Superior Court’s Holding: § 6108 Fails Strict Scrutiny

Writing for the majority, Judge Stabile held that § 6108 violates the Equal Protection Clause as applied to individuals exercising their Second Amendment rights in Philadelphia. The Court explained that under District of Columbia v. Heller, McDonald v. City of Chicago, and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense is a fundamental constitutional right. Because the law burdens a fundamental right, it must satisfy strict scrutiny.

The Commonwealth argued that the law was justified by Philadelphia’s high crime rate and the need for prosecutors to have additional enforcement tools. The Superior Court rejected that rationale, holding that such generalized concerns do not justify discriminatory geographic restrictions on constitutional rights. The government failed to show that § 6108 was narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest.

The End of Scarborough

The Court’s opinion expressly abrogates its earlier decision in Commonwealth v. Scarborough, 89 A.3d 679 (Pa. Super. 2014), which upheld § 6108 under rational basis review. At the time, Scarborough treated the right to carry firearms outside the home as a non-fundamental right. After Bruen and Rahimi, that position is no longer tenable. The Court clarified that because Sumpter involves a fundamental right, strict scrutiny must apply.

No Ruling on Broader Licensing Requirements

The Court limited its holding to the as-applied challenge brought by the defendant in this case. The Court did not decide whether a statewide licensing requirement for open carry would be constitutional. The Court also did not address broader challenges to Pennsylvania’s licensing regime under § 6109. Additionally, the Court declined to address arguments brought based on the potentially broader protections of the Pennsylvania Constitution, relying solely on federal equal protection principles. Accordingly, the Court vacated this defendant’s conviction, but it is hard to predict what effect the case may have for other individuals.

Key Takeaways for Gun Charges in Philadelphia

§ 6108 is unconstitutional as applied to individuals who are prohibited from openly carrying firearms in Philadelphia but who could legally do so elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
The right to bear arms in public is a fundamental constitutional right, and laws that burden it are subject to strict scrutiny.
The decision overrules prior precedent that upheld Philadelphia-specific restrictions under a lower standard of review.
Prosecutors may not be able to rely on VUFA § 6108 to prosecute open carry cases where that conduct would be lawful in other parts of the state.

This case will likely be cited by the defense in numerous challenges to gun prosecutions (VUFA cases), but the exact effect remains unclear. The Philadelphia Police Department will likely continue to arrest people both for carrying concealed firearms without licenses as well as for open carry as the Superior Court did not specifically find the statute facially unconstitutional. Instead, the Court only vacated this one specific conviction. Therefore, it is still risky to carry a firearm (openly or concealed) without a license in Pennsylvania, but if you are arrested for a firearms offense, there may be constitutional challenges which could defeat the prosecution.

Facing criminal charges or appealing a criminal case in Pennsylvania?

Zak Goldstein 6/18/25 Zak Goldstein 6/18/25

PA Superior Court: Trial Court Erred in Quashing Charges From Online Sting Operation Run by Private Citizen Based on Factual Impossibility

In Commonwealth v. Aguilar, 2025 PA Super 118, the Pennsylvania Superior Court reversed the order of the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas dismissing criminal charges against a defendant who had been caught in an online sex sting operation run by a private citizen. The Superior Court held that the trial court erred in granting the defendant’s motion to suppress because a motion to suppress was not even the correct type of motion for a defendant to bring. The Court also ruled that even if the trial court properly construe the motion as a motion to quash, the trial court erred in granting it based on factual impossibility as factual impossibility is not a defense in Pennsylvania.

Background

The defendant was targeted by a group called LC Predator Catchers. Posing as a 15-year-old boy on dating apps, a private citizen allegedly engaged in explicit conversations with the defendant. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the defendant sent sexual messages and photos, offered to be “fuck friends,” and invited the fake minor to his home. The private citizen allegedly showed up at the defendant’s house, confronted him, and then notified the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. Police later conducted a Mirandized interview, during which the defendant allegedly acknowledged the sexual intent of his messages.

Prosecutors charged the defendant with:

Criminal Attempt – Corruption of Minors (both as a misdemeanor and felony under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301(a)(1)),
Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (18 Pa.C.S. § 7512(a)).

Suppression and Trial Court Proceedings

The defendant filed a pretrial “motion to suppress,” arguing that all charges should be dismissed because his communications were with an adult civilian rather than an actual minor or police officer. He relied on the text of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6318 (the Unlawful Contact with a Minor statute), which explicitly requires the involvement of a real or undercover minor. Although the defendant was not actually charged under that statute for that reason, the trial court accepted his argument and reasoned that it was factually impossible for the defendant to have committed the charged offenses.

The trial court then sua sponte treated the suppression motion as a motion to quash and dismissed the criminal information in its entirety based on this impossibility argument. In its opinion, the trial court also concluded on its own that the Commonwealth failed to present a prima case at the preliminary hearing that the defendant committed a crime. The Commonwealth appealed.

The Superior Court’s Ruling

The Pennsylvania Superior Court reversed after concluding that the trial court made a number of mistakes.

Suppression Inapplicable: Because the communications were with a private citizen, not law enforcement, there was no Fourth Amendment or Pennsylvania constitutional violation. Thus, suppression was not a proper remedy.
Improper Sua Sponte Quashal: The defendant never filed a motion to quash. Under Pennsylvania law, quashal must be specifically requested in an omnibus pretrial motion, and sua sponte dismissal is generally improper. The Court emphasized that a suppression motion cannot be repurposed into a dispositive ruling on legal guilt.
Factual Impossibility Is Not a Defense: The Superior Court reaffirmed that under Pennsylvania law, factual impossibility is not a defense to an attempt charge. So long as the defendant believed he was communicating with a minor and took a substantial step toward completing the offense, he could be charged with attempt—even if the "minor" turned out to be an adult vigilante.
No Minor Required Under Charged Statutes: The Superior Court rejected the defendant’s argument that a minor or police officer was required to establish a violation of the statutes at issue. The Corruption of Minors statute, unlike § 6318, does not require the involvement of a real or fictitious minor. Likewise, the offense of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility requires only that the facility be used to facilitate a felony or attempted felony.
Prima Facie Case Was Established: The court found that the Commonwealth had produced sufficient evidence to support each element of the offenses charged. Chat logs, photographs, the defendant’s confession, and the arrangement to meet in person all constituted a prima facie case. Because no preliminary hearing had yet been held, the trial court’s ruling on evidentiary sufficiency was premature. Therefore, the Court reversed.

Conclusion

The Superior Court reinstated all charges and remanded the case for further proceedings. It emphasized that the charges did not require the involvement of an actual or undercover minor and that the trial court overstepped its role by misapplying both suppression doctrine and the law of attempt. Accordingly, the Court effectively held that private-citizen stings—though controversial—can lead to viable prosecutions in Pennsylvania.

Facing criminal charges or appealing a criminal case in Pennsylvania?

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