Commonwealth V Rozplochi

561 A.2d 25 (1989)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Barbara Cavaliere and Elizabeth DeJesse worked for the Financial Exchange Company. Their office is situated inside an ACME food store. Cavaliere heard a knock on the office door and looked out of a window to determine the identity of the person knocking. D was standing outside the door. D said he had a package from her superior, 'Bobby Louisa', and held up a picture identification card and a manila envelope that resembled the envelopes she received daily from the Department of Public Welfare. Cavaliere asked D to state his business and he replied that he was 'on route' and was in a hurry. Cavaliere started to admit D but asked for a closer inspection of his identity card. When she opened the door, she saw that D had pulled a revolver from the manila envelope, and, upon seeing this, both she and DeJesse attempted to push the door closed. D threatened to 'blow them away.' The relevant facts are accurately summarized in the opinion of the trial court. D got in and pushed DeJesse against a wall in front of the company safe and pushed Cavaliere up to the safe. Cavaliere emptied the safe of approximately $ 22,000.00 in cash and food stamps. There was a knock at the door. cocked the gun, held it to the back of Cavaliere's head, and demanded that she hurry stating 'If I don't get out of here . . . you aren't either.' The gun was loaded. D left the store with the money and food stamps. The robbery lasted about 10 minutes. D was eventually arrested. and charged with one count of robbery based upon his conduct toward Cavaliere and one count of robbery based upon his conduct toward DeJesse. D was found guilty of both and appealed.