D. Marshall v. PBPP ( 2020 )


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  •            IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Dwight Marshall,                        :
    :
    Petitioner :
    :
    v.                        : No. 1115 C.D. 2019
    : Submitted: May 29, 2020
    Pennsylvania Board of                   :
    Probation and Parole,                   :
    :
    Respondent :
    OPINION NOT REPORTED
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    PER CURIAM                                                  FILED: October 8, 2020
    Dwight Marshall (Parolee) petitions for review of the decision of the
    Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (Board)1 denying his administrative
    appeal of the Board’s action that denied credit for the time that he spent at liberty
    on parole following his recommitment as a convicted parole violator (CPV). We
    affirm.
    We have summarized the relevant history of this case as follows:
    In 1998, [Parolee] was sentenced to 11 to 22 years
    in prison for murder in the third degree and robbery, with
    a maximum date of January 15, 2019. He obtained
    release on parole on March 3, 2008. Almost nine years
    later, as a result of a traffic stop in Delaware, [Parolee]
    1
    Subsequent to the filing of the petition for review, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation
    and Parole has been renamed the Pennsylvania Parole Board. Sections 15, 16, and 16.1 of the
    Act of December 18, 2019, P.L. 776, No. 115 (effective February 18, 2020); see also Sections
    6101 and 6111(a) of the Prisons and Parole Code, as amended, 61 Pa. C.S. §§6101, 6111(a).
    was charged with multiple crimes related to his
    possession of 200.49 grams of powder cocaine and 67.94
    grams of crack cocaine. Specifically, a court in the State
    of Delaware, Kent County, convicted [Parolee] for
    “DDEAL Tier 4 (F) Cocaine” under 16 Del. C. §4752,
    and it sentenced him to eight years, custody level 5.
    Certified Record (C.R.) at [30] (Sentence Order,
    5/10/17). Delaware then extradited [Parolee] to serve his
    sentence in Pennsylvania.
    The new conviction subjected [Parolee] to a parole
    revocation hearing.        [Parolee] acknowledged his
    conviction, and signed a waiver of his right to a hearing.
    C.R. at [44-45]. The parole revocation hearing report
    recommended “taking [his] street time” because
    [Parolee] “was on parole for Murder and was convicted
    of felony drug related crimes.” C.R. at [57].
    As a result of his out-of-state conviction, the Board
    recommitted [Parolee] to serve 24 months as a [CPV]. In
    determining the appropriate recommitment range, the
    Board determined that [Parolee’s] Delaware conviction
    most closely related to the Pennsylvania crime of
    possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a
    controlled substance (cocaine) under Section 13(a)(30) of
    The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic
    Act (Controlled Substance Act), [Act of April 14, 1972,
    P.L. 233, as amended, 35 P.S. §780–113(a)(30),] that
    carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years. 
    37 Pa. Code §75.1
    . Pursuant to 
    37 Pa. Code §75.2
    , the
    presumptive recommitment range for that new offense is
    18 to 24 months. The Board did not award [Parolee]
    credit for his time spent at liberty on parole because of
    his “felony drug related crimes.” C.R. at [59]. Based on
    his conviction, the Board recalculated [Parolee’s]
    maximum sentence date as April 29, 2028.
    Through counsel, [Parolee] filed an administrative
    appeal of the Board’s recommitment order. The Board
    issued a decision, affirming and explaining the term of
    recommitment. Because it stated a reason for denying
    [Parolee] credit for his time spent at liberty on parole, the
    2
    Board deemed moot his challenge to its exercise of
    discretion in its denial of credit. C.R. at [84].
    Marshall v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 
    200 A.3d 643
    , 646-47
    (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018).
    On appeal to this Court, Parolee asserted that the Board: (1) violated
    his due process rights because he was not notified at the time of his revocation
    hearing waiver that a new maximum sentence date could be imposed; (2) was not
    authorized to alter his original maximum date beyond his judicially imposed
    sentence; (3) applied the incorrect recommitment range for the most serious
    Delaware conviction; and (4) abused its discretion in denying him credit for the
    time that he spent at liberty on parole and violated the due process requirements of
    Pittman v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 
    159 A.3d 466
    , 474 (Pa.
    2017), by “den[ying him] credit without conducting any individual assessment of
    the facts and circumstances surrounding his parole revocation.” Marshall, 200
    A.3d at 647, 650 (emphasis in original).
    Initially, we rejected Parolee’s claims that the Board violated his due
    process rights with respect to his waiver of a revocation hearing; the Board was not
    authorized to alter his judicially imposed sentence; and the Board applied the
    incorrect recommitment range. Marshall, 200 A.3d at 647-649. Accordingly, we
    affirmed the Board’s decision in these respects. Id. at 652.
    However, regarding Parolee’s claim that the Board erred in failing to
    grant credit for the time that he spent at liberty on parole, we stated:
    Section 6138(a)(1) of the Prisons and Parole Code
    [(Code)] provides that any parolee who commits a crime
    punishable by imprisonment while on parole, and is
    convicted or found guilty of that crime, may be
    3
    recommitted as a CPV. 61 Pa. C.S. §6138(a)(1).[2]
    Further, Section 6138(a)(2.1) of the [Code], 61 Pa. C.S.
    §6138(a)(2.1),[3] “unambiguously grants the Board
    discretion to award credit to a CPV recommitted to serve
    the remainder of his sentence,” except when the
    recommitment involves the reasons in subsections
    6138(a)(2.1)(i) and (ii) (including violent and sexual
    offender crimes), not present here. Pittman, 159 A.3d at
    473.
    Relevant here, in Pittman, our Supreme Court held
    that in not explaining its exercise of discretion with
    reasons for awarding or denying credit, the Board
    2
    Section 6138(a)(1) states, in relevant part, “A parolee under the jurisdiction of the
    [B]oard . . . who, during the period of parole . . . commits a crime punishable by imprisonment,
    for which a parolee is convicted . . . in a court of record, may at the discretion of the [B]oard be
    recommitted as a parole violator.”
    3
    Section 6138(a)(2) and (2.1) states, in relevant part:
    (2) If the parolee’s recommitment is so ordered, the parolee shall
    be reentered to serve the remainder of the term which the parolee
    would have been compelled to serve had the parole not been
    granted and, except as provided under paragraph (2.1), shall be
    given no credit for the time at liberty on parole.
    (2.1) The [B]oard may, in its discretion, award credit to a parolee
    recommitted under paragraph (2) for the time spent at liberty on
    parole unless any of the following apply:
    (i) The crime committed during the period of parole . . . is
    a crime of violence as defined in 42 Pa. C.S. §9714(g)
    (relating to sentences for second and subsequent offenses)
    or a crime requiring registration under 42 Pa. C.S. Ch. 97
    Subch. H (relating to registration of sexual offenders).
    (ii) The parolee was recommitted under [S]ection 6143
    (relating to early parole of inmates subject to Federal
    removal order).
    61 Pa. C.S. §6138(a)(2), (2.1) (emphasis added).
    4
    violated its statutory mandate and denied a parolee’s
    constitutional due process rights. The Court reasoned
    that the Board satisfies constitutional due process by
    stating the reasons for exercising its discretion to deny
    credit for the time a parolee spent at liberty on parole.
    However, the Court did not set forth criteria for such a
    statement, noting only that it need not “be extensive and
    a single sentence explanation is likely sufficient in most
    instances.” Id. at 475 n.12.
    Here, the Board’s reason for denying [Parolee]
    credit for time spent at liberty on parole consisted of four
    words: “felony drug related crimes.” C.R. at [59].
    Although the word “felony” connotes the severity of the
    offense, it remains unclear how a drug-related conviction
    warrants denying credit for almost nine years of street
    time, which is more than the sentence [Parolee] received
    for his new conviction. Further, the phrase implies he
    committed multiple felony drug crimes when he was
    convicted of just one.
    ***
    [O]ther than reference to a felony conviction, the Board’s
    stated reason does not contain any facts that relate to this
    parolee. The significance of the “drug-related” modifier
    of crime is also unclear from this record. The record
    does not indicate that his prior conviction was drug
    related, or otherwise suggest recidivism. As to the
    commission of a felony while on parole, the commission
    of a felony could be one of the factors that the Board
    considers when exercising its discretion to award or
    withhold credit; however, standing alone, the
    commission of a felony is an insufficient articulation of
    the Board’s reasoning.
    Marshall, 200 A.3d at 650, 651 (footnotes and citation omitted).
    Concluding that “[w]ithout further explication of the stated reason, the
    Board’s reason for denying [Parolee] credit is not amenable to appellate review,”
    “we remand[ed] to the Board for the limited purpose of explaining its exercise of
    5
    discretion in its credit determination, and to correct any error in exercising that
    discretion based on the facts and circumstances of [Parolee’s] parole revocation.”
    Id. at 651-52 (footnote omitted). Based on the foregoing, we issued the following
    order that stated, in relevant part:
    [T]he order of the [Board] is AFFIRMED IN PART, as
    to parole revocation and the recommitment range, and
    VACATED IN PART, as to the credit for time spent at
    liberty on parole determination.       The matter is
    REMANDED to the Board to explain its exercise of
    discretion in its credit determination as to the time
    [Parolee] spent at liberty on parole.
    Id. at 652 (emphasis in original).
    On remand, in a decision mailed January 18, 2019, the Board
    modified its prior revocation decision stating, in pertinent part:
    THE BOARD IN ITS DISCRETION DID NOT
    AWARD CREDIT TO YOU FOR THE TIME SPENT
    AT LIBERTY ON PAROLE FOR THE FOLLOWING
    REASON(S):
    PAROLEE WAS BEING SUPERVISED IN VIRGINIA
    AND LEFT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WAS
    ARRESTED IN DELAWARE WITH A VERY LARGE
    AMOUNT OF DRUGS (200 GRAMS OF POWDER
    COCAINE AND 67 GRAMS OF CRACK COCAINE).
    HE RETURNED TO VIRGINIA AND DID NOT
    REPORT HIS ARREST AS REQUIRED.
    C.R. at 86. Accordingly, the Board kept Parolee’s violation maximum date of
    April 29, 2028. Id.
    On February 15, 2019, Parolee filed a petition for administrative
    review with the Board alleging that the Board: (1) again failed to provide an
    adequate contemporaneous statement of the reasons for denying him credit for the
    time that he spent at liberty on parole; (2) illegally altered his original maximum
    6
    date beyond his judicially imposed sentence by denying credit for the time that he
    spent at liberty on parole; (3) violated his due process rights by illegally altering
    his original maximum date beyond his judicially imposed sentence; (4)
    unconstitutionally increased the punishment imposed on his original convictions by
    illegally altering his original maximum date beyond his judicially imposed
    sentence; (5) compelled Parolee to enter an illegal contract by illegally altering his
    original     maximum       date    beyond     his    judicially   imposed      sentence;   (6)
    unconstitutionally violated his right to the finality of his sentence by illegally
    altering his original maximum date beyond his judicially imposed sentence; (7)
    exhibited deliberate indifference to his liberty interests by illegally altering his
    original maximum date beyond his judicially imposed sentence; and (8) illegally
    altered his original maximum date beyond his judicially imposed sentence because
    the prior version of the Code under which the Board is acting was held to be
    unconstitutional in Commonwealth ex rel. Banks v. Cain, 
    28 A.2d 897
     (Pa. 1942).
    See C.R. at 88-101.4
    On July 22, 2019, the Board mailed a decision affirming its January
    18, 2019 recommitment decision stating, in relevant part:
    Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s ruling in [Pittman], the
    Board must articulate the basis for its decision to grant or
    deny a [CPV] credit for time spent at liberty on parole.
    In this case on your [B]oard decision mailed January 18,
    2019, the Board articulated that you were denied credit
    because while under supervision in Virginia you left the
    state without permission and were arrested in Delaware
    with a large amount of cocaine and crack cocaine and
    [your] failure to report when you returned to Virginia.
    The record accurately reflects that you were arrested in
    4
    Subsequently, the Board released Parolee on reparole. See C.R. at 103-105.
    7
    Delaware on October 22, 2016[,] and found to be in
    possession of 200 grams of cocaine and 67 grams of
    crack cocaine. Additionally, after you posted bond and
    were released from custody in Delaware you failed to
    return to Virginia for supervision and failed to report the
    arrest to parole supervision. Therefore, the reason
    provided for not awarding you credit for the time you
    were at liberty on parole is sufficient.
    Finally, the Board recalculated your maximum
    sentence date to April 29, 2028[,] based on your
    recommitment as a [CPV]. The decision to recommit
    you as a [CPV] gave the Board statutory authority to
    recalculate your sentence to reflect that you received no
    credit for the period you were at liberty on parole. 61
    Pa. C.S. §6138(a)(2). The Board denied you credit for
    time at liberty on parole in this instance. The Board
    advised you of this potential penalty on the parole
    conditions you signed on February 28, 2008.[5] You also
    had constructive notice of this potential penalty via the
    statute.    Additionally, the ability to challenge the
    recalculation decision after it is imposed satisfies your
    due process rights. Therefore, the Board’s recalculation
    of your maximum sentence date did not violate any
    constitutional provisions, including double jeopardy.
    Young v. [Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole],
    
    409 A.2d 843
     (Pa. 1979).
    The Board’s regulations provide that the scope of
    review of an administrative appeal is limited to whether
    the decision is supported by substantial evidence, an error
    of law has been committed or there has been a violation
    of constitutional law. 
    37 Pa. Code §73.1
    (a)(2). The
    record in this matter establishes that the Board decision
    mailed January 18, 2019[,] is supported by substantial
    evidence, does not constitute an error of law, and does
    not violate your constitutional rights.
    5
    See C.R. at 8 (“If you are convicted of a crime committed while on parole/reparole, the
    Board has the authority, after an appropriate hearing, to recommit you to serve the balance of the
    sentence . . . which you were serving when paroled/reparoled, with no credit for time at liberty
    on parole.”).
    8
    C.R. at 107-108. Parolee then filed the instant petition for review from the Board’s
    decision.
    On appeal, Parolee claims that the Board failed to comply with this
    Court’s remand order in that it failed to comport with the requirements of Pittman
    and Section 6138(a)(2.1) of the Code. Specifically, Parolee contends that the
    Board’s January 18, 2019 revised recommitment decision solely relies on the
    circumstances relating to his new conviction underlying his recommitment, as
    before, and is not sufficiently individualized as required in the imposition of a
    judgment of sentence. See Brief of Petitioner at 11-12. He also asserts that he
    disputes the facts upon which the Board relied in denying credit for this period of
    time. See 
    id.
    Pa. R.A.P. 2591(a) states, in pertinent part: “On remand of the record
    the . . . government unit below shall proceed in accordance with the judgment or
    other order of the appellate court[.]” See also Section 706 of the Judicial Code, 42
    Pa. C.S. §706 (“An appellate court may affirm [or] vacate . . . any order brought
    before it for review, and may remand the matter and . . . require the entry of such
    appropriate order . . . as may be just under the circumstances.”).
    As this Court has explained:
    “[I]t has long been the law in Pennsylvania that following
    remand, a lower court is permitted to proceed only in
    accordance with the remand order.” Commonwealth v.
    Sepulveda, [
    144 A.3d 1270
    , 1280 n.19 (Pa. 2016)]. In
    Levy v. Senate of Pennsylvania, 
    94 A.3d 436
     (Pa.
    Cmwlth.), appeal denied, [] 
    106 A.3d 727
     (Pa. 2014),
    which the Supreme Court cited with approval in
    Sepulveda, this Court explained: “Where a case is
    remanded for a specific and limited purpose, ‘issues not
    encompassed within the remand order’ may not be
    decided on remand. A remand does not permit a litigant
    a ‘proverbial second bite at the apple.’” Levy, 
    94 A.3d at
    9
    442 (quoting In re Indep. Sch. Dist. Consisting of the
    Borough of Wheatland, 
    912 A.2d 903
    , 908 (Pa. Cmwlth.
    2006)).
    Marshall v. Commonwealth, 
    197 A.3d 294
    , 306 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018), aff’d, 
    214 A.3d 1239
     (Pa. 2019). Accordingly, we will not consider any issues that have been
    raised that are beyond the confines of our remand order herein.
    As stated above, this Court “REMANDED [this matter] to the Board
    to explain its exercise of discretion in its credit determination as to the time
    [Parolee] spent at liberty on parole.” Marshall, 200 A.3d at 652 (emphasis in
    original). See also id. at 652 (“[W]e remand to the Board for the limited purpose
    of explaining its exercise of discretion in its credit determination, and to correct
    any error in exercising that discretion based on the facts and circumstances of
    [Parolee’s] parole revocation.”).
    As noted in the instant Board decision, Parolee was arrested in
    Delaware for possessing large quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine with
    the intent to deliver the same, which constitute separate and distinct crimes in
    Delaware comparable to violations of Section 13(a)(30) of the Controlled
    Substance Act, 35 P.S. §780–113(a)(30),6 which are punishable by up to an
    aggregate of 20 years’ imprisonment under Section 13(f)(1.1), 35 P.S. §780–
    113(f)(1.1).7 Additionally, Parolee left Virginia without permission to travel to
    Delaware to commit the foregoing crimes, and failed to notify the Virginia parole
    6
    See Marshall, 200 A.3d at 649 (“[T]he conduct underlying [Parolee’s] conviction most
    closely relates to the Pennsylvania crime of possession with intent to deliver under Section
    13(a)(30) of the Controlled Substance Act, 35 P.S. §780-113(a)(30), as the Board concluded.”)
    (emphasis in original).
    7
    Although Parolee was originally charged with six separate crimes in Delaware, he was
    only convicted of one count of possession with the intent to deliver the powder cocaine; all of the
    other charges were nolle prossed. See C.R. at 26-27, 30.
    10
    authorities of his arrest in Delaware for these crimes. All of the foregoing factors
    relied upon by the Board in refusing to grant credit under Section 6138(2) of the
    Code for the time that Parolee spent on parole are amply supported by the certified
    record of this case.8
    8
    Parolee cannot dispute the information relied upon by the Board to revoke his parole
    because he waived his right to a parole revocation hearing and admitted the facts underlying the
    revocation. In particular, Parolee admitted the following, in pertinent part:
    On the 5th day of July, 2017, I, [Parolee], do knowingly,
    intelligently, and voluntarily admit that: I was convicted of
    . . . the new criminal offense(s) listed on the attached PBPP 257N
    dated 05/15/2017[,] that the conduct underlying the charge
    occurred while I was on parole/delinquent on parole, I have been
    convicted of the offense(s) in a court of record and the offense(s)
    was punishable by imprisonment. Specifically, I knowingly,
    intelligently, and voluntarily admit that I have been convicted of
    OFFENSE DATE: 10/22/2016
    ARREST DATE: 10/22/2016
    CONVICTION DATE: 05/10/2017
    COUNTY AND STATE: Kent County, Delaware
    COURT NAME: Superior Court of the State of Delaware in and
    for Kent County
    OFFENSE AND GRADING: DDEAL TIER 4 (COCAINE) (F)
    SENTENCING: Custody for 8 years at level 5 with credit for 6
    days’ time served; suspended for 1 year at level 2 at Docket No(s).
    COURT NAME: Superior Court of the State of Delaware in and
    for Ken County
    INDICTMENT NUMBER: IK17-01-0009
    in violation of parole. I understand and agree that this admission is
    binding and may only be withdrawn if I submit a written
    withdrawal to my supervising agent, within ten (10) calendar days
    of the date written above.
    C.R. at 44.
    (Footnote continued on next page…)
    11
    (continued…)
    Additionally, Parolee waived his right to challenge the evidence relied upon by the
    Board, which included the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Arrest Report that states, in relevant
    part:
    I then conducted a search of the interior portion of the [Parolee’s]
    vehicle, starting my search inside the front passenger side. During
    the search, I reached under the center console partition (under the
    gear shift) and felt a plastic bag. I pulled the plastic bag from
    under the console, where it met the floor of the vehicle and
    retrieved a tightly tied all plastic bag.
    ***
    I returned to the vehicle and opened the plastic bag. Inside, I
    retrieved two items that were completely wrapped with electrical
    tape. As I peeled off the covering pieces of electrical tape, I
    identified the one item to be suspected powder cocaine and the
    second item to be suspected crack cocaine.
    ***
    [] These items were weighed and tested according to Divisional
    Policy. The powder cocaine was discovered to be packaged in a
    clear plastic vacuum sealed bag and weighed 200.49 grams. The
    powder cocaine was tested using a NARK test kit at 0216 hours on
    10/22/16. During the test, the substance turned blue indicating a
    positive result for powder cocaine. The crack cocaine was
    discovered to be packaged in a clear plastic vacuum sealed bag and
    weighed 67.49 grams. The crack cocaine was tested using a
    NARK test kit at 0215 hours on 10/22/2016. During the test, the
    substance turned blue indicating a positive result for crack cocaine.
    C.R. at 29.
    The Board’s evidence also included its Supervision History, which stated, in pertinent
    part:
    Staff learned . . . that [Parolee] had been arrested in Delaware on
    10/22/2016. He had been charged with possession of cocaine;
    police conducted a traffic stop and developed probable cause for a
    (Footnote continued on next page…)
    12
    As indicated above, through the plain language of Section 6138(a)(2)
    of the Code, the General Assembly has provided that “[t]he [B]oard may, in its
    discretion, award credit . . . for the time spent on parole[.]”                Thus, “‘[u]nder
    Pennsylvania law, the [Board] has wide discretion as to recommittal or
    continuance on parole of parolee regardless of whether he has been convicted
    during his parole of another crime or has been guilty of a technical parole violation
    only.’” Commonwealth ex rel. Sparks v. Russell, 
    169 A.2d 884
    , 886 (Pa. 1961)
    (citation omitted). In properly exercising this recommitment discretion, the Board
    must provide a “contemporaneous statement” explaining its rationale, but “the
    reason the Board gives does not have to be extensive and a single-sentence
    (continued…)
    search of his rented vehicle. Search yielded some 200 grams of
    powder cocaine and 67 grams of crack cocaine. [Parolee] posted
    bond and was released on 10/28/2016. Although he had not
    secured permission to be outside Virginia, he did return to Virginia
    for supervision. He failed to report this arrest to parole officer,
    however.
    C.R. at 49.
    Finally, Parolee attached a letter from his Virginia parole officer to the petition for
    administrative review that he submitted to the Board, which states, in relevant part:
    [Parolee] was arrested on 10/22/2016 in Delaware. He was not
    given permission to leave the state. He was later convicted in
    Delaware of “DDEAL TIER 4 (F) COCAINE.” He was placed on
    Supervision for 1 year by the Delaware Department of Corrections.
    Delaware initiated a transfer to Virginia. However, [Parolee] was
    taken into custody on the Parole Board Warrant from Pennsylvania
    and therefore a transfer was denied.
    C.R. at 101.
    13
    explanation is likely sufficient in most instances.” Pittman, 159 A.3d at 474, 475
    n.12. In meeting this standard, the Board’s reasoning must be “accurate and
    related to the parolee’s offenses,” and “‘in sufficient detail to permit meaningful
    appellate review.’” Marshall, 200 A.3d at 650, 651 (citation omitted). We also
    require that the Board’s stated reasoning “is documented in the record and affords
    the parolee notice of the specific acts being referenced.” Plummer v. Pennsylvania
    Board of Probation and Parole, 
    216 A.3d 1207
    , 1212 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019), appeal
    denied, 
    222 A.3d 1130
     (Pa. 2020).
    Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the Board has complied with
    our remand order and has furnished a sufficient contemporaneous statement of the
    reasons why it denied Parolee credit for the time that he was at liberty on parole,
    which is amply supported by the certified record and relates to a number of
    Parolee’s actions contravening the conditions of his parole.9 See, e.g., Tres v.
    9
    As provided in the Board’s General Conditions of Parole:
    If parole is granted, the parolee shall be subject to the following
    conditions:
    1. Report in person or in writing within 48 hours to the district
    office or sub-office specified by the Board and do not leave that
    district without prior written permission of the parole supervision
    staff.
    ***
    3. Maintain regular contact with the parole supervision staff by:
    ***
    (ii) Notifying the parole supervision staff within 72 hours of[:]
    (A) Arrest.
    (Footnote continued on next page…)
    14
    Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 828 C.D. 2018,
    filed June 3, 2019), slip op. at 7-8 (holding that the Board’s stated reasoning
    “arrested in firearms charge” satisfied the Pittman standard);10 Johnson v.
    Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 
    206 A.3d 88
    , 94 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019)
    (holding that the Board’s stated reasoning “[parolee] was being supervised for a
    drug offense when he committed this new drug offense” and that “[i]t also dealt
    with a large quantity of heroin” satisfied the Pittman standard); Vieldhouse v.
    Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 803 C.D. 2018,
    filed March 1, 2019), slip op. at 2, 8-9 (holding that the Board’s stated reasoning
    “poor supervision history” satisfied the Pittman standard); Hoover v. Pennsylvania
    Board of Probation and Parole (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 609 C.D. 2017, filed February
    15, 2019), slip op. at 4-5 (holding that the Board’s stated reasoning “[c]onviction
    was assaultive in nature” following remand satisfied the Pittman standard); Smoak
    v. Talaber, 
    193 A.3d 1160
    , 1164-65 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018) (holding that the Board’s
    stated reasoning “unresolved drug and alcohol issues” satisfied the Pittman
    (continued…)
    4. Comply with municipal, county, State and Federal criminal
    statutes[.]
    5. Additionally:
    (i) Abstain from the unlawful possession or sale of narcotics and
    dangerous drugs[.]
    
    37 Pa. Code §63.4
    (1), (3)(ii)(A), (4), (5)(i).    See also C.R. at 8 (imposing the foregoing
    conditions on Parolee’s parole).
    10
    See also 
    210 Pa. Code §69.414
    (a) (“Parties may also cite an unreported panel decision
    of this Court issued after January 15, 2008, for its persuasive value, but not as binding
    precedent.”).
    15
    standard); Hughes v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 
    179 A.3d 117
    ,
    121 n.5 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018) (holding that the Board’s stated reasoning “[r]evoke
    street time-continued drug activity” satisfied the Pittman standard).
    Accordingly, the Board’s decision is affirmed.
    16
    IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Dwight Marshall,                   :
    :
    Petitioner :
    :
    v.                     : No. 1115 C.D. 2019
    :
    Pennsylvania Board of              :
    Probation and Parole,              :
    :
    Respondent :
    PER CURIAM
    ORDER
    AND NOW, this 8th day of October, 2020, the decision of the
    Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole dated July 22, 2019, is AFFIRMED.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 1115 C.D. 2019

Judges: PER CURIAM

Filed Date: 10/8/2020

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 4/17/2021