Com. v. Green, T. ( 2022 )

J-S36020-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
TYRIK GREEN :
:
Appellant : No. 1305 EDA 2020
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 26, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0009457-2016
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., KING, J., and COLINS, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY KING, J.: FILED JANUARY 14, 2022
Appellant, Tyrik Green, appeals nunc pro tunc from the judgment of
sentence entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, following
his jury trial convictions for attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery,
criminal conspiracy, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a firearm in
public in Philadelphia, and possession of an instrument of crime.1 We affirm.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows. In
August 2015, Appellant was in a romantic relationship with Fayana Graham.
Ms. Graham became acquainted with Vincent Burrell (“Victim”) when she
messaged him on Craigslist to sell old phones to him. On August 11, 2015,
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
118 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502(a), 2702(a), 3701(a), 903(a), 6106(a), 6108, and
907, respectively.
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Victim met with Ms. Graham with the understanding that he would purchase
a phone from her cousin. Unbeknownst to Victim, Ms. Graham was engaged
in a scheme with Appellant to rob Victim.
Ms. Graham directed Victim to drive to an alleyway in North Philadelphia
where her cousin was supposed to meet them. While Victim and Ms. Graham
were parked, a third cohort involved in the scheme approached the vehicle
and entered the backseat. He pulled out a gun, put it to Victim’s neck and
said, “You know what this is.” Immediately after, Appellant walked up to the
driver’s side window and held a gun to Victim’s head through the open window.
Appellant reached in the car and tried to take money out of Victim’s pockets.
The man in the backseat began shooting and Victim was struck in the neck.
Victim began driving away and Appellant began to fire shots at Victim. Victim
testified that the bullet fired by Appellant struck his upper shoulder. The bullet
in the shoulder hit bone, causing Victim to lose full rotation of that shoulder
for nine months. Ms. Graham was also shot in the left calf during the exchange
Following trial, a jury convicted Appellant of all charges on April 6, 2017.
At the sentencing hearing held on June 26, 2017, Appellant’s counsel
requested an aggregate sentence of 10 to 20 years’ incarceration. In support
of this request, counsel cited mitigating factors such as Appellant’s difficult
upbringing, struggles with substance abuse and recent diagnosis of bipolar
disorder and depression. In turn, the Commonwealth requested an aggregate
sentence of 25 to 50 years’ incarceration. The Commonwealth noted the
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serious nature of Appellant’s crimes, his prior record, and his history of
misconduct while in state custody. After considering the relevant factors
presented, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate sentence of 25
to 50 years of incarceration.
Appellant timely filed a post-sentence motion, which the court denied
on September 28, 2017. On April 11, 2018, Appellant requested
reinstatement of his appellate rights nunc pro tunc, which the court granted
on February 13, 2020. Following the COVID-19 court closure, the court issued
a second order reinstating Appellant’s direct appeal rights nunc pro tunc on
June 18, 2020. On June 29, 2020, Appellant timely filed a nunc pro tunc
notice of appeal. On October 22, 2020, Appellant filed a voluntary Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal.
On appeal, Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
Was the evidence insufficient to sustain the attempted
murder conviction because the Commonwealth failed to
prove that Appellant acted with specific intent to kill?
Did the sentencing court commit an abuse of discretion by
denying Appellant’s motion for reconsideration of
sentencing because the sentence was excessive under the
circumstances and the court did not consider mitigating
factors when deciding upon the sentence it imposed?
(Appellant’s Brief at 4).
In his first issue on appeal, Appellant argues that Victim started to drive
away before he fired his gun. Appellant avers that he only fired his gun to
make Victim stop the car. Thus, Appellant maintains that “it is impossible to
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ascertain, absent other evidence of his intent, whether [Appellant] was aiming
at a vital part of the body or a non-vital part, if he was aiming at the body at
all.” (Id. at 24). Given this uncertainty, Appellant concludes that the
Commonwealth failed to meet its burden of proving the specific intent required
to sustain a conviction for attempted murder. We disagree.
When examining a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence:
The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence is whether viewing all the evidence admitted at
trial in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, there
is sufficient evidence to enable the fact-finder to find every
element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In
applying the above test, we may not weigh the evidence and
substitute our judgment for 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 defendant’s 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 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.
Commonwealth v. Hansley, 24 A.3d 410, 416 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal
denied, 613 Pa. 642, 32 A.3d 1275 (2011) (quoting Commonwealth v.
Jones, 874 A.2d 108, 120-21 (Pa.Super. 2005)).
The Crimes Code defines criminal attempt as follows:
§ 901. Criminal attempt
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(a) Definition of attempt.―A person commits an
attempt when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he
does any act which constitutes a substantial step toward the
commission of that crime.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901.
The Crimes Code defines first-degree murder as follows:
§ 2502. Murder
(a) Murder of the first degree.―A criminal homicide
constitutes murder under the first degree when it is
committed by an intentional killing.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a). “A person may be convicted of attempted murder if
he takes a substantial step toward the commission of a killing with the specific
intent in mind to commit such an act.” Commonwealth v. Dale, 836 A.2d
150, 153 (Pa.Super. 2003) (quoting Commonwealth v. Hobson, 604 A.2d
717, 719 (Pa.Super. 1992)). “Specific intent to kill can be established though
circumstantial evidence, such as the use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of
the victim’s body.” Commonwealth v. Montalvo, 598 Pa. 263, 274, 956
A.2d 926, 932 (2008), cert denied, 556 U.S. 1186, 129 S.Ct. 1989, 173
L.Ed.2d 1091 (2009). A gun is a deadly weapon. See Commonwealth v.
Bond, 539 Pa. 299, 305, 652 A.2d 308, 311 (2003). Further, the neck and
head are vital parts of the body. Montalvo, supra. See also
Commonwealth v. Mattison, 623 Pa. 174, 185, 82 A.3d 386, 392 (2013).
“Also, we are cognizant that the period of reflection required for
premeditation to establish the specific intent to kill ‘may be very brief; in fact
the design to kill can be formulated in a fraction of a second. Premeditation
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and deliberation exist whenever the assailant possesses the conscious purpose
to bring about death.’” Commonwealth v. Rivera, 603 Pa. 340, 355, 983
A.2d 1211, 1220 (2009), cert. denied, 560 U.S. 909, 130 S.Ct. 3282, 176
L.Ed.2d 1191 (2010) (quoting Commonwealth v. Drumheller, 570 Pa. 117,
146, 808 A.2d 893, 910 (2002), cert. denied, 539 U.S. 919, 123 S.Ct. 2284,
156 L.Ed.2d 137 (2003)).
Instantly, Appellant held a gun up to Victim’s head while standing right
outside of the driver’s side window. Both Victim and Ms. Graham testified that
Appellant fired his gun into the car. Although Victim started to drive away,
Appellant began to fire immediately and was still in close range when he fired
his gun. Thus, Appellant fired shots with a deadly weapon at Victim’s head
and neck area (vital parts of the body) at close range, ultimately hitting Victim
on the shoulder. Viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as
the verdict winner, the Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to
sustain Appellant’s conviction for attempted murder. See Hansley, supra.In his second issue on appeal, Appellant argues that imposing a
consecutive sentence with a maximum of 50 years’ imprisonment essentially
ensures that Appellant will spend the rest of his life in prison. Appellant
contends that the sentence imposed conflicts with the requirements that a
sentence be consistent with the need to protect the public, the gravity of the
offenses as it relates to the impact on the life of the victim and on the
community, and the rehabilitate needs of the offender. Appellant insists that
the sentence imposed “discounts the possibility of rehabilitation and
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effectively removes Appellant from society for most of his potential life,
thereby precluding the possibility of his ever becoming a contributing member
of society.” (Appellant’s Brief at 44). Appellant further avers that the
sentencing court did not properly consider mitigating factors when imposing
the sentence and focused only on the seriousness of the crime and the need
to protect the public. Thus, Appellant concludes that the sentence imposed is
“manifestly excessive with regard to the circumstances and must be
overturned as clearly unreasonable.” (Id. at 52). We disagree.
As presented, Appellant’s claims challenge the discretionary aspects of
his sentence. See Commonwealth v. Austin, 66 A.3d 798, 808 (Pa.Super.
2013), appeal denied, 621 Pa. 692, 77 A.3d 1258 (2013) (considering
challenge to imposition of consecutive sentences as claim involving
discretionary aspects of sentencing); Commonwealth v. Lutes, 793 A.2d
949 (Pa.Super. 2002) (stating claim that sentence is manifestly excessive
challenges discretionary aspects of sentencing).
Challenges to the discretionary aspects of sentencing do not entitle an
appellant to an appeal as of right. Commonwealth v. Sierra, 752 A.2d 910(Pa.Super. 2000). Prior to reaching the merits of a discretionary sentencing
issue:
[W]e conduct a four-part analysis to determine: (1) whether
appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, see Pa.R.A.P.
902 and 903; (2) whether the issue was properly preserved
at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and modify
sentence, see Pa.R.Crim.P. 720; (3) whether appellant’s
brief has a fatal defect, Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether
there is a substantial question that the sentence appealed
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from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code, 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).
Commonwealth v. Evans, 901 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal
denied, 589 Pa. 727, 909 A.2d 303 (2006) (internal citations omitted).
When appealing the discretionary aspects of a sentence, an appellant
must invoke this Court’s jurisdiction by including in his brief a separate concise
statement demonstrating a substantial question as to the appropriateness of
the sentence under the Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Mouzon, 571
Pa. 419, 812 A.2d 617 (2002); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). “The requirement that an
appellant separately set forth the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal
furthers the purpose evident in the Sentencing Code as a whole of limiting any
challenges to the trial court’s evaluation of the multitude of factors impinging
on the sentencing decision to exceptional cases.” Commonwealth v.
Phillips, 946 A.2d 103, 112 (Pa.Super. 2008), cert. denied, 556 U.S. 1264,
129 S.Ct. 2450, 174 L.Ed.2d 240 (2009) (emphasis in original) (internal
quotation marks omitted).
“The determination of what constitutes a substantial question must be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis.” Commonwealth v. Anderson, 830
A.2d 1013, 1018 (Pa.Super. 2003). A substantial question exists “only when
the appellant advances a colorable argument that the sentencing judge’s
actions were either: (1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing
Code; or (2) contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing
process.” Sierra, supra at 912-13. A claim of excessiveness can raise a
substantial question as to the appropriateness of a sentence under the
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Sentencing Code, even if the sentence is within the statutory limits. Mouzon,
supra at 430, 812 A.2d at 624. Bald allegations of excessiveness, however,
do not raise a substantial question to warrant appellate review. Id. at 435,
812 A.2d at 627. Additionally,
Pennsylvania law affords the sentencing court discretion to
impose [a] sentence concurrently or consecutively to other
sentences being imposed at the same time or to sentences
already imposed. Any challenge to the exercise of this
discretion does not raise a substantial question. In fact, this
Court has recognized the imposition of consecutive, rather
than concurrent, sentences may raise a substantial question
in only the most extreme circumstances, such as where the
aggregate sentence is unduly harsh, considering the nature
of the crimes and the length of imprisonment.
Austin, supra at 808 (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
Further,
“[T]his Court has held on numerous occasions that a claim
of inadequate consideration of mitigating factors does not
raise a substantial question for our review.”
Commonwealth v. Disalvo, 70 A.3d 900, 903 (Pa.Super.
2013) (internal citation omitted).
However, “prior decisions from this Court involving whether
a substantial question has been raised by claims that the
sentencing court ‘failed to consider’ or ‘failed to adequately
consider’ sentencing factors has been less than a model of
clarity and consistency.” Commonwealth v. Seagraves,
103 A.3d 839, 842 (Pa.Super. 2014) (citing
[Commonwealth v. Dodge, 957 A.2d 1198 (Pa.Super.
2008), appeal denied, 602 Pa. 662, 980 A.2d 605 (2009)]).
In Commonwealth v. Dodge, this Court determined an
appellant’s claim that the sentencing court “disregarded
rehabilitation and the nature and circumstances of the
offense in handing down its sentence” presented a
substantial question. Dodge, supra at 1273.
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This Court has also held that “an excessive sentence claim—
in conjunction with an assertion that the court failed to
consider mitigating factors—raises a substantial question.”
Commonwealth v. Raven, 97 A.3d 1244, 1253 (Pa.Super.
2014), appeal denied, 629 Pa. 636, 105 A.3d 736 (2014)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Perry, 883 A.2d 599, 602
(Pa.Super. 2005)).
Commonwealth v. Caldwell, 117 A.3d 763, 769-70 (Pa.Super. 2015).
Nevertheless:
[A bald] allegation that the sentencing court failed to
consider certain mitigating factors generally does not
necessarily raise a substantial question. Commonwealth
v. McNabb, 819 A.2d 54, 57 (Pa.Super. 2003). Accord
Commonwealth v. Wellor, 731 A.2d 152, 155 (Pa.Super.
1999) (reiterating allegation that sentencing court “failed to
consider” or “did not adequately consider” certain factors
generally does not raise substantial question). Compare
Commonwealth v. Felmlee, 828 A.2d 1105, 1107
(Pa.Super. 2003) (en banc) (stating substantial question is
raised, however, where appellant alleges sentencing court
imposed sentence in aggravated range without adequately
considering mitigating circumstances).
“When imposing a sentence, a court is required to consider
the particular circumstances of the offense and the
character of the defendant.” Commonwealth v. Griffin,
804 A.2d 1, 10 (Pa.Super. 2002), appeal denied, 582 Pa.
671, 868 A.2d 1198 (2005), cert. denied, 545 U.S. 1148,
125 S.Ct. 2984, 162 L.Ed.2d 902 (2005). “In particular, the
court should refer to the defendant’s prior criminal record,
his age, personal characteristics and his potential for
rehabilitation.” Id. Where the sentencing court had the
benefit of a [pre-sentence investigation (“PSI”) report], we
can assume the sentencing court “was aware of relevant
information regarding the defendant’s character and
weighed those considerations along with mitigating
statutory factors.” Commonwealth v. Devers, 519 Pa.
88, 101-02, 546 A.2d 12, 18 (1988). See also
Commonwealth v. Tirado, 870 A.2d 362, 368 (Pa.Super.
2005) (stating if sentencing court has benefit of PSI, law
expects court was aware of relevant information regarding
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defendant’s character and weighed those considerations
along with any mitigating factors). Further, where a
sentence is within the standard range of the guidelines,
Pennsylvania law views the sentence as appropriate under
the Sentencing Code. See Commonwealth v. Cruz-
Centeno, [668 A.2d 536 (Pa.Super. 1995)], appeal denied,
544 Pa. 653, 676 A.2d 1195 (1996) (stating combination of
PSI and standard range sentence, absent more, cannot be
considered excessive or unreasonable).
Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 171 (Pa.Super. 2010).
Instantly, Appellant preserved his sentencing claims in a post-sentence
motion and filed a timely nunc pro tunc notice of appeal. Appellant also
included the requisite Rule 2119(f) statement. To the extent that Appellant’s
claim of an excessive sentence, in conjunction with his assertion that the court
failed to consider mitigating factors, raises a substantial question (see
Caldwell, supra; Raven, supra), we will address the appeal on the merits.
We observe that:
Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on
appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In this
context, an abuse of discretion is not shown merely by an
error in judgment. Rather, the appellant must establish, by
reference to the record, that the sentencing court ignored
or misapplied the law, exercised its judgment for reasons of
partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will, or arrived at a manifestly
unreasonable decision.
Commonwealth v. Shugars, 895 A.2d 1270, 1275 (Pa.Super. 2006).
Here, Appellant’s sentencing claims do not warrant relief. The court did
not impose all sentences consecutively and did not impose any sentences
beyond the standard range. As well, the court explained that the serious
nature of Appellant’s crimes warranted some consecutive sentences in this
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case. The court also noted that Appellant has prior criminal convictions and
committed assault and other violations while in state custody.
The record further belies Appellant’s claim that the court did not
adequately consider his background, struggles with substance abuse and
mental health. The court had the benefit of a PSI report in this case, which
included Appellant’s personal history, struggles with substance abuse, and
recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder and depression. Appellant’s counsel
discussed these details during argument at sentencing and requested that
Appellant be treated while in prison. (See N.T. Sentencing Hearing, 6/26/17,
at 3-4). Beyond this, the court explicitly stated: “I’ll accept [Appellant’s
apology] and the record should reflect that the presentence reports, between
history, his upbringing—[Appellant] was diagnosed with bipolar. The court
always looks for any kind of mitigation with respect to medical problems or
other problems….” (Id. at 8). Thus, the record shows the court considered
the mitigating factors but simply chose to impose a sentence greater than
Appellant had hoped. Under these circumstances, we see no reason to disrupt
the court’s sentencing discretion. See Shugars, supra. Accordingly, we
affirm.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/14/2022
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