Com. v. Bush, T. ( 2018 )

J-S65004-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
THOMAS BUSH :
:
Appellant : No. 660 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 18, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-09-CR-0000171-2013
BEFORE: OLSON, J., OTT, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 09, 2018
Thomas Bush appeals from the judgment of sentence entered on
January 18, 2017, in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County, after the
court granted in part, and denied in part, relief sought pursuant to his first
petition filed under the Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541,
et seq. Bush’s counsel has filed an Anders brief1, asserting Bush’s appeal is
____________________________________________
1 We recognize:
Counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.
738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967), apparently in the
mistaken belief that an Anders brief is required where counsel
seeks to withdraw on appeal from the denial of PCRA relief. A
Turner/Finley no-merit letter, however, is the appropriate filing.
See Commonwealth v. Turner, 518 Pa. 491, 544 .2D 927
(1988); Commonwealth v. Finley, 379 Pa. Super. 390, 550
A.2d 213 (1988) (en banc). Because an Anders brief provides
greater protection to a defendant, this Court may accept an
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wholly frivolous and without merit, along with a motion to withdraw as
counsel. He has fulfilled all his duties that are required to withdraw as
counsel.2 In this timely appeal, the issue identified in the Anders brief is the
PCRA court erred in resentencing Bush to a manifestly excessive sentence.
After a thorough review of the submissions by the parties, relevant law, and
the certified record, we affirm and grant counsel leave to withdraw.3
The factual and procedural history of this matter is well known to the
parties. We refer to and incorporate pages 1-4 of the PRCA court’s Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a) opinion rather than reciting those facts herein. Bush was originally
sentenced to a term of 20-42 years’ incarceration. In reviewing the PCRA
____________________________________________
Anders brief in lieu of a Turner/Finley letter. Commonwealth
v. Fusselman, 866 A.2d 1109, 1111 n. 3 (Pa. Super. 2004).
Commonwealth v. Widgens, 29 A.3d 816, 817 n. 2 (Pa. Super. 2011).
2 Specifically,
PCRA counsel who seeks to withdraw must
contemporaneously serve a copy on the petitioner of
counsel's application to withdraw as counsel, and must
supply to the petitioner both a copy of the “no-merit” letter
and a statement advising the petitioner that, in the event
that the court grants the application of counsel to
withdraw, he or she has the right to proceed pro se or with
the assistance of privately retained counsel.
Id. quoting Commonwealth v. Friend, 896 A.2d 607, 614 (Pa. Super. 2006)
(emphasis in original).
3 Additionally, we have conducted the required independent review of the
certified record pursuant to Commonwealth v. Flowers, 113 A.3d 1246 (Pa.
Super. 2015) (Superior Court must conduct independent review of record
where an Anders brief has been filed with our Court.)
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petition, the court agreed that certain charges merged for sentencing
purposes and one charge had originally been misgraded. Bush was
resentenced to a 15-30 year term of incarceration on January 18, 2017. This
aggregate term of incarceration includes a 10-20 year sentence for a single
count of burglary, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502(a), and a consecutive five to ten year
sentence for a single count of criminal trespass, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3503(a)(1)(ii).
Both sentences represent the statutory maximum sentences and are outside
the sentencing guidelines.
Counsel for Bush lists two issues in the Anders brief. The first is a claim
the PCRA court erred in not granting a new trial based on trial counsel’s
ineffective assistance. Specifically, Bush believes trial counsel failed to
request a jury instruction for burglary of an occupied structure when any
person was present. Both PCRA counsel and the PCRA court accurately point
out that no evidence at trial was presented that Bush burglarized an occupied
structure in which any person was present, therefore, there could be no error
in failing to so charge the jury. See Commonwealth v. Browdie, 654 A.2d
1159, 1163 (Pa. Super. 1995) (review of jury charge must be considered in
light of the evidence presented at trial). Accordingly, Bush is not entitled to
a new trial based upon a faulty jury instruction.
Next, Bush raises two challenges to the discretionary aspect of his
sentence. First, he claims his restitution order exceeded the statutory
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description of the theft charge he was convicted of.4 We agree with counsel
and the PCRA court that the restitution statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 1106(a), is both
mandatory, and is not limited to the statutory definition of the crime the
defendant was convicted of. Accordingly, there was no error in the amount of
restitution imposed.
The second aspect of Bush’s challenge to his sentence is a claim that
the re-imposition of the 15-30 year aggregate sentence for burglary and
criminal trespass was manifestly excessive.5 We note that Bush properly
preserved this issue by filing a motion for reconsideration of sentence
following the resentencing of January 18, 2017.6
When reviewing a challenge to the discretionary aspects of a sentence,
we are mindful, 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
____________________________________________
4 Bush was ordered to pay $4,265.00 in restitution, but at the PCRA hearing
it was agreed that the evidence presented regarding theft required a grading
of a third degree misdemeanor. The amount of restitution represents the value
of the property taken and the cost to repair the damage to the trailer caused
by the break-in.
5 Bush also claimed that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge
the excessive nature of his original sentence. Our resolution of this claim
necessarily disposes of the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
6 Although Bush is challenging both the imposition of the original sentence and
the resentence, procedurally, he can only challenge the new sentence.
-4-
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judgment for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will, or
arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision.
Commonwealth v. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 760 (Pa. Super. 2014).
Finally, an appellant must usually file a Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement
within the brief demonstrating the existence of a substantial question
sufficient for appellate review. “If an appellant fails to comply with Pa.R.A.P.
2119(f) and appellee fails to object, this Court may review appellant's claims
with regard to the discretionary aspects of sentence.” Commonwealth v.
Spenny, 128 A.3d 234, 241 (Pa. Super. 2015). Here, Bush did not include a
2119(f) statement in his brief. Because the Commonwealth has failed to
object, we will address the issue.
The certified record reveals that the sentence imposed on Bush for
burglary and criminal trespass both exceeded the sentencing guidelines. The
minimum aggravated range sentence for burglary was 51 months (Bush
received a 120 month minimum sentence), and the minimum aggravated
range sentence for criminal trespass was 33 months (Bush received a 60
month minimum sentence). However,
In every case where a sentencing court imposes a sentence
outside of the sentencing guidelines, the court must provide in
open court a contemporaneous statement of reasons in support of
its sentence.
The statute requires a trial judge who intends to sentence a
defendant outside of the guidelines to demonstrate on the record,
as a proper starting point, [its] awareness of the sentencing
guidelines. Having done so, the sentencing court may deviate
from the guidelines, if necessary, to fashion a sentence which
takes into account the protection of the public, the rehabilitative
needs of the defendant, and the gravity of the particular offense
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as it relates to the impact on the life of the victim and the
community, so long as [it] also states of record the factual basis
and specific reasons which compelled [it] to deviate from the
guideline range.
When evaluating a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
sentence ... it is important to remember that the sentencing
guidelines are advisory in nature. If the sentencing court deems it
appropriate to sentence outside of the guidelines, it may do so as
long as it offers reasons for this determination. [O]ur Supreme
Court has indicated that if the sentencing court proffers reasons
indicating that its decision to depart from the guidelines is not un
reasonable [ (sic ) ], we must affirm a sentence that falls outside
those guidelines.
A sentencing court, therefore, in carrying out its duty to impose
an individualized sentence, may depart from the guidelines when
it properly identifies a particular factual basis and specific reasons
which compelled [it] to deviate from the guideline range.
Commonwealth v. Kitchen, 162 A.3d 1140, 1147 (Pa. Super. 2017)
(citation omitted).
Instantly, counsel asserts in the Anders brief and the record confirms
that the sentencing court provided the required, specific reasons for the
imposition of the sentence. We note that prior to imposing sentence, the
sentencing court properly considered “the presentence report, considered the
nature and character of the defendant, the sentencing guidelines, the need to
protect the community, the impact it’s had upon the victim in the community,
and your [Bush’s] need for rehabilitation.” N.T. Sentencing, 12/17/2013, at
23.7 The specific reasons relied upon by the sentencing judge have been
____________________________________________
7 At resentencing on January 18, 2017, the sentencing judge specifically
adopted his reasoning from the original sentencing hearing.
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related on pages 11-13 of the PCRA court’s opinion as well as from the 2013
sentencing hearing. See N.T. Sentencing, 12/17/2013 at 18-24. Once again,
we adopt and incorporate this reasoning into our decision.
However, we will relate highlights from the sentencing court’s
commentary. Bush had 16 prior convictions in the prior 15 years. Many of
the convictions were for crimes of violence, including armed robbery and
assault. Bush told the officer conducting the presentence investigation that if
given the opportunity, he would kill his former cellmate who testified against
him, and he would willingly face the death penalty or a life sentence for doing
so. At sentencing, a tape was played of a phone call Bush made to his
girlfriend/co-defendant, where he also threatened to kill her if she ever left
him or cheated on him. The sentencing court concluded,
And, quite frankly, Mr. Bush, listening to those tapes and having
you in court and reading the presentence report, I don’t think you
wish to be rehabilitated and function in the community as a
productive member of our society. I think you enjoy the criminal
life, I think you enjoy victimizing people, and I think you enjoy
terrorizing all of those who come in contact with you. The words
you used to the person you love demonstrates that. Your
unabated fear of the death penalty and a life sentence, take
another’s life demonstrates that, and of course your criminal
history demonstrates that.
Id. at 23-24.
We see no abuse of discretion therein. Accordingly, we affirm the
judgment of sentence and the order of the PCRA court.
Judgment of sentence affirmed. PCRA Order affirmed. Motion to
withdraw as counsel granted.
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Judge Musmanno joins the memorandum.
Judge Olson concurs in the result.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/9/18
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Circulated 01/30/2018 01:44 PM
THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL DIVISION
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA CP-09-CR-0000171-2013
v.
·,
THOMAS BUSH
OPINION
Defendant Thomas Bush (hereinafter "Appellant") appeals to the Superior Court of
Pennsylvania from the Orders imposed by this Court on January 17, 2017, and January 27, 2017.
We file this Opinion pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure (Pa.R.A.P.) 1925(a).
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Appellant was charged with Count one (1) - Burglary, 1 Count two (2) - Conspiracy to
commit Burglary.? Count three (3) - Criminal Trespass.' Count four (4) - Conspiracy to commit
Criminal Trespass,4 Count five (5) - Theft by Unlawful Taking, Count six (6) - Conspiracy to
commit Theft by Unlawful Taking,5 Count seven (7)- Receiving Stolen Property,6 Count eight (8)
- Conspiracy to commit Receiving Stolen Property," Count nine (9) - Criminal Mischief,8 Count
ten (10) - Conspiracy to commit Criminal Mischief'?
On August 7, 2013, Appellant was found guilty on Count one (1) - Burglary, Count three
(3) - Criminal Trespass, Count five (5) - Theft by Unlawful Taking, Count seven (7) - Receiving
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a).
2
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903.
3
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3503(a)(l)(ii).
4
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903.
5
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903
6
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3925(a).
7
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903.
8
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3304(a)(2).
9
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903.
1
Stolen Property, and Count eight (8) - Conspiracy to commit Receiving Stolen Property. Appellant
was found not guilty of Criminal Mischief, Conspiracy to Criminal Mischief, Conspiracy to
Burglary, Conspiracy to Criminal Trespass, and Conspiracy to Theft by Unlawful Taking.
Appellant was sentenced on December 17, 2013, to ten (10) to twenty (20) years imprisonment on
Count one (1 ); five ( 5) to ten (10) years imprisonment on Count three (3 ), consecutive to Count
one (1 ); one and a half (1 Yz) to five (5) years imprisonment, consecutive to Counts one (1) and
three (3); and three and a half (3 Yz) to seven (7) years imprisonment on Count eight (8), consecutive
to the aforementioned counts. In the aggregate, Appellant's total incarceration was twenty (20) to
forty-two (42) years. Appellant was also ordered to pay $4,265 in restitution to the victim.
On December 24, 2013, Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal. On April 1, 2015, the Superior
Court affirmed the judgment of sentence. Thereafter Appellant filed a PCRA Petition on August
7, 2015. As a result of developments during the filing of amended PCRA petitions, and the
diligence of counsel, this Court scheduled a resentencing hearing on December 9, 2016. On
January 18, 2017, this Court resentenced Appellant on Counts five (5) and eight (8). We found
Count five (5) merged with Count one (1) and reduced Count eight (8) to twelve (12) months'
concurrent probation. The Court left Appellant's sentence on the remaining counts and restitution,
undisturbed.
After the newly imposed sentence, this Court denied Appellant's PCRA Petition on January
19, 2017. Appellant filed a Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence on January 24, 2017. This
Court denied Appellants Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence on January 27, 2017. On
February 13, 2017, Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal from this Court's January 19111, and
January 27th orders, to Superior Court.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
2
On August 20, 2012, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Officer Katherine Deppenschmidt of
the Bensalem Township Police Department received a call from a trailer unit within the Top of the
Ridge complex in Bensalem Township. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 29). The call reported a burglary to the
residence of Linda Phillips, Unit Dl. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 29). When Officer Deppensclunidt arrived at
the scene of the burglary, she noticed damage to the front doorframe of the residence (N.T. 8/5/13,
p. 29). She also observed markings on the door and debris on the ground in the vicinity of the front
door, consistent with someone having pried it open. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 30).
Upon entering the residence, Officer Deppenschmidt observed a pair of red-handled
clippers that were lying on the porch close to the front door. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 34). Officer
Deppenschmidt swabbed the clippers for DNA evidence, as well as the door handle to the front
door. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 42). While at the residence, Linda Phillips informed Officer Deppenschmidt
that there was a Maverick cigarette butt in her bathroom sink which did not belong to anyone in
her household. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 42). The Maverick cigarette butt was secured and submitted for
DNA testing. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 42)
Detective John Monaghan of the Bensalem Township Police Department arrived at the
scene soon after Officer Deppenschmidt. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 65). When Detective Monaghan first
arrived, he spoke with Officer Deppenschmidt and noticed that the front door of the residence had
been damaged and appeared to be forced open. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 65). Upon entering the residence,
Detective Monaghan noticed that many of the drawers of the bedroom were open. (N.T. 8/5/13, p.
66). Linda Phillips, the owner of the residence, stated to police that when she arrived home on the
night of August 201h, 2012, her front door was ajar and the back door was wide open. (N.T. 8/5/13,
p. 179). It appeared that her belongings had been ransacked, and that her jewelry box and a 32-
inch flat screen television were missing. (N.T. 8/5/13, pp. 181-83). Linda Phillip's niece, Tawny
3
Phillips, who had been living at the residence, stated to police that her jewelry box, Nook, two
laptops, and Desktop were also missing from the residence. (N.T. 8/5/13, pp. 157-58).
Officer Deppenschmidt and the other police officers on the scene talked to a juvenile
witness, who advised police that he was walking around the area of the residence several hours
prior and observed the Appellant at the front door with a crow bar. (N.T. 8/6/13, p. 48). Based on
that information, Detective Monaghan went to the residence where Appellant was staying in the
same Complex. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 73). While en route to find Appellant, Detective Monaghan found
a pack of Maverick cigarettes on the floor of a parked car, situated in front of the residence that
Appellant was reported to have been staying. (N.T. 8/5/13, p. 73).
Detective Monaghan and Detective Jackson, another Detective from Bensalem Township
Police Department, met with the Appellant at a residence in the Top of the Ridge Complex. (N.T.
8/5/13, p. 78). The residence was a little over one hundred yards away from the site of the burglary.
Appellant voluntarily gave Detective Jackson and Detective Monaghan a swab of his DNA. (N.T.
8/5/13, p. 78). The DNA tests of the wire clippers and the cigarette butt revealed a consistent match
with Appellant. (N.T. 8/5/13, pp. 123-25).
During the ongoing investigation of the burglary, Detective Jackson was contacted by
Kimberly Shupe, an acquaintance of Appellant's girlfriend, Kimberlee Martin. (N.T. 8/6/13, p.
114). Ms. Shupe advised Detective Jackson that she was in possession of a computer that she
received from Kimberlee Martin. (N.T. 8/6/13, p. 114). Kimberlee Martin had asked Ms. Shupe to
wipe the computer clean. (N.T. 8/6/13, p. 114). Detective Jackson went to Ms. Shupe's residence,
took possession of the computer, and brought it to the police station. (N.T. 8/6/13, p. 115). Tawny
Phillips came to the police station and identified the computer as the one that had been stolen.
(N.T. 8/6/13, p. 115).
4
STATEMENT OF MATTERS COMPLAINED OF ON APPEAL
On February 21, 2017, this Court issued an Order pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. §1925(b) requiring
Appellant to file a Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal no later than twenty-one
(21) days after entry of the Order. Appellant filed such a Statement on March 3, 2017, which raised
the following issues, verbatim:
1. The Court erred in not finding counsel ineffective, and refusing to order a new trial, on
account of counsel's failure to object to the jury instruction regarding 18 Pa.C.S.
§3502(a)(2), 18 Pa.C.S. §3502(a)(l).
2. The court erred in not granting reconsideration of sentence because:
a) The restitution portion of the sentence was illegal because the defendant's theft
charges were not greater than a misdemeanor of the third degree, and therefore
restitution could not exceed $2,000.00.
b) The sentence exceeded that necessary to accomplish the goals stated in 42 Pa.C.S.
§9721.
3. The Court erred, and committed an error of law, by incorporating the reason for sentence
it gave at the Defendant's first sentencing as its reasons for imposing the second sentence,
rather than restating and reconsidering its reasons and its consideration of the sentencing
guidelines, at the second sentencing.
ANALYSIS
I. Appellant's PCRA is Meritless
The standard of review on appeal of a denial of PCRA relief is whether the PCRA Court's
findings are supported by the record and are free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Hawkins, 894
A.2d 716, 722 (Pa. 2006); see Commonwealth v. Steele, 961 A.2d 786 (Pa. 2008); see also
5
Commonwealth v. Allen, 732 A.2d 582, 586 (Pa. 1999). Pursuant to the PCRA, in order to sustain
a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, Appellant has the burden to prove by a preponderance
of the evidence that his conviction and judgment of sentence resulted from the "[i]neffective
assistance of counsel which, in the circumstances of [his] particular case, so undermined the truth-
determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place." 42
Pa.C.S.A. §9543(a)(2)(ii).
In reviewing an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a court presumes that counsel was
effective. Commonwealth v. Fletcher, 986 A.2d 759, 772 (Pa. 2009). In order to overcome this
presumption, a defendant has the burden of showing that (1) the underlying claim is of arguable
merit; (2) counsel's course of conduct was without a reasonable basis designed to effectuate his
client's interest; and (3) he was prejudiced by counsel's ineffectiveness. Commonwealth v. Pierce,
961 A.2d 786 (Pa. 1987); see Commonwealth v. Walls, 993 A.2d 289, 296 (Pa. Super. 2010)
(quoting Commonwealth v. Wallace, 724 A.2d 916, 921 (Pa. 1999)). Appellant must individually
discuss and prove each prong of the Pierce test to be entitled to relief. Commonwealth v. Steele,
961 A.2d 786, 799 (Pa. 2008); Conunonwealth v. Williams, 980 A.2d 510, 520 (Pa. 2009). Failing
to meet any prong of the Pierce test defeats an ineffectiveness claim. Commonwealth v. Peterkin,
649 A.2d 121, 125-27 (Pa. 1994) (abrogated in part on other grounds by Commonwealth v.
Tedford, 960 A.2d 1 (2008)). Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to raise a meritless
claim. Commonwealth v. Spotz, 896 A.2d 1191, 1122 (Pa. 2006) (citation omitted). Moreover,
counsel's representation does not lack a reasonable basis if the chosen course of strategy or tactics
"had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client's interests. Courts should not deem
counsel's strategy or tactics unreasonable unless it can be concluded that an alternative not chosen
offered a potential for success substantially greater than the course actually pursued."
6
Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 132 (Pa. 2012). Furthermore, a Court will not find
prejudice unless a defendant proves that there is a "reasonable probability that but for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Walls, 993 A.2d at
296, quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. A claim of ineffectiveness may be denied where a
defendant's evidence fails to meet any of these prongs. Commonwealth v. Rainey, 928 A.2d 215,
224 (Pa. 2007).
Appellant argues trial counsel was ineffective for failing to ensure the Court charged the
jury with instructions for 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a)(l), rather than 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a)(2). At the
time of Appellant's offense, trial, and sentencing the Pennsylvania Burglary statute read as
follows:
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of burglary if, with the intent to
commit a crime therein, the person:
(1) enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied
portion thereof that is adapted for overnight accommodations in which at the time
of the offense any person is present;
(2) enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied
portion thereof that is adapted for overnight accommodations in which at the time
of the offense no person is present;
(3) enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied
portion thereof that is not adapted for overnight accommodations in which at the
time of the offense any person is present; or
(4) enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied
portion thereof that is not adapted for overnight accommodations in which at the
time of the offense no person is present.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502, effective September 4, 2012, to February 20, 2014 (emphasis added)."
This Court charged the jury as follows:
To find the defendant guilty of this offense, you must find that all of the
following elements have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt:
10
See S.B. 100, 196th Gen. Assemb., § 19(4) (Pa. 2012).
7
First, that the defendant entered the, I think it was trailer umber D-2, Top of
the Hill (sic) trailer park on Gibson Road. It would be- 1446 Gibson Road, D-1, in
Bensalem Township. In any event, it's the trailer that belonged to Ms. Phillips.
So first, defendant entered the trailer.
Secondly, that the place was an occupied structure.
Third, the defendant entered the trailer with the intent to commit the crime
of theft inside, and that the trailer was not open to the public at the time, and that
the - fifth, [sic] that the defendant did not have permission or lawful authority to
enter.
You cannot find the defendant guilty of burglary if you find that the trailer
was an abandoned or occupied - an abandoned occupied structure. Abandoned
means this place was wholly forsaken and deserted by the owner. I don't think that's
an issue, but to summarize it, that he entered at a time when it was his intent to
commit a crime therein.
You should understand that an occupied structure is any structure or place
adapted for overnight accommodation of persons.
N.T. 8/6/13, pp. 192-93.
First, Appellant was charged with 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a), with no specification as to what
subsection of the offense applied. The criminal information reflects the same statutory citation.
Appellant's argument lacks merit in that he received notice of the charge of burglary, and the jury
was provided instructions describing the elements of a burglary - this Court was under no
obligation to instruct the jury on which subsection of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a) they should focus on
as no subsection was charged.
Appellant argues the jury would have delivered a not guilty verdict on the burglary, if only
it was told an element of burglary is the presence of a person in the home. Appellant's hypothetical
fails to address that he still committed a burglary under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a)(2). Appellant was
provided notice of the Commonwealth's charge of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a), which obviously
encapsulates all subsections, and a plain reading of the defined offense makes burglary a crime
whether or not a person is present in the home. As a result, Appellant cannot prove the prejudice
prong of the Pierce test, and pursuant to Peterkin, supra, no further analysis of this issue is
necessary.
8
II. Appellant's Motion for Reconsideration was Properly Denied
Appellant challenges the restitution portion of his sentence, and the validity of this Court's
justification whilst shortening his sentence by at least five (5) years, at most twelve (12) years.
No automatic right of appeal exists for a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
sentencing. Rather, this type of appeal is more appropriately considered a petition for allowance
of appeal. Commonwealth v. Rossetti, 863 A.2d 1185, 1193 (Pa. Super. 2004). Before reaching
the merits of a discretionary sentencing issue, a court must ascertain whether an appellant (i) filed
a timely notice of appeal, (ii) properly preserved the issue to be heard on appeal, (iii) filed a brief
free of fatal defects, and (iv) raised a substantial question that the sentence appealed from is not
appropriate under the Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Mastromarino, 2 A.3d 581, 588 (Pa.
Super. 2010), cert. denied, 14 A.3d 581.
A court evaluates whether a particular issue raises a substantial question on a case-by-case
basis. Commonwealth v. Rossetti, 863 A.2d at 1193. "[The court] will grant an appeal 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." Commonwealth v. Brown, 741 A.2d 726, 735 (Pa.
Super. 1999) (en bane).
We believe, no substantial question exists as Appellant received appropriate sentences
based on his conduct, the sentencing guidelines, public safety, his criminal history, impact on the
victim and community, and the defendant's rehabilitative needs. N.T. 12/17/13, pp. 18-24. Absent
a substantial question that the imposed sentence violates the Sentencing Code, Appellant failed to
meet the Mastromarino test and the merits of this claim need not be considered.
9
It is well-established law that the sentencing phase of trial rests soundly to the discretion
of the trial court, not to be disturbed absent manifest abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Walls,
926 A.2d 957, 961 (Pa. 2007). "[A]n abuse of discretion [at sentencing] is more than a mere error
ofjudgment .... [A] sentencing court will not have abused its discretion unless the record discloses
that the judgement exercised was manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice,
bias or ill-will." Id. ( quotations omitted)." An abuse of discretion may not be found merely because
an appellate court might have reached a different conclusion .... " Grady v. Frito-Lay, Inc., 839
A.2d 1038, 1046 (Pa. 2003). The rationale offered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for this
deferential standard is as follows:
Simply stated, the sentencing court sentences flesh-and-blood defendants and the
nuances of sentencing decisions are difficult to gauge from the cold transcript used
upon appellate review. Moreover, the sentencing court enjoys an institutional
advantage to appellate review, bringing to its decisions an expertise, experience,
and judgment that should not be lightly disturbed. Even with the advent of the
sentencing guidelines, the power of sentencing is a function to be performed by the
sentencing court. Thus, rather than cabin the exercise of a sentencing court's
discretion, the guidelines merely inform the sentencing decision.
Walls, 926 A.2d at 961-62 (citations omitted). Furthermore, a sentence of confinement must be
"consistent with the protection of the public, the gravity of the offense as it related to the impact
on the life of the victim and on the community, and the rehabilitative needs of the defendant." 42
Pa.C.S. § 9721(b). A sentencing court may determine a defendant's potential for rehabilitation by
considering his demeanor, apparent remorse, manifestation of social conscience, and cooperation
with law enforcement agents. Commonwealth v. Begley, 780 A.2d 605, 644 (Pa. 2001);
Commonwealth v. Constantine, 478 A.2d 39 (Pa. Super. 1984); Commonwealth v. Gallagher, 442
A.2d 820 (Pa. Super. 1982).
At sentencing this Court imposed a sentence of twenty (20) to forty-two ( 42) years and
$4,265 in restitution to replace the victim's stolen items. N.T. 12/17/2013, p. 28. The presentence
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report recommended a max sentence on every count to be served consecutively- twenty-four (24)
to forty-eight (48) years. 12/17/2013, p. 4. This Court imposed the maximum sentence for
Appellant on Counts one (1) and three (3). After a reconsideration of sentence, Appellant's term
of imprisonment was reduced by five (5) years, then Appellant filed another reconsideration of
sentence, at issue in this appeal.
Appellant has an extraordinary criminal history as summarized by the Assistant District
Attorney at sentencing:
Beginning in 1996 with a felony one robbery in the State of Florida, which he did
do a jail sentence for. 1997 disorderly conduct. 1998, felony one robbery he
received a four-year sentence for. 2000, felony one robbery he received a four-year
sentence for. 2000, felony one armed robbery, received a four-year sentence. 2002,
false ID, misdemeanor in Florida. 2005, theft and resisting arrest in Florida. In
2011, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. In 2012, theft. In
2012, a second incidence of theft. And a third incident also of theft in 2012.
Your Honor, all of those convictions were from the State of Florida. This is the
defendant's first criminal foray into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
N.T. 12/17/2013, pp. 5-6. Aside from the criminal history, this Court placed the remainder of our
reasoning on the record:
All right, Mr. Bush, you should understand that there are a lot of things I need to
consider when imposing sentence. I have taken a look at your criminal record, I've
listened to Mr. Hyde and Mr. Williams. I've read the presentence report, and of
course we had the presentence report done so that we could have as much
information as is available concerning you prior to sentencing because this is a
serious case. You have a serious criminal history, and I thought it would be of some
benefit to learn a little bit more about you, and I did.
In order for me to impose a sentence I have to consider a number of factors. As I
said, one is the nature and character of the defendant, which is you. The impact it's
had upon the victim, the community, the need to deter others, the sentencing
guidelines, and of course your rehabilitative needs. And I've considered all of those
things as I'm obligated to do.
With respect to the.nature.and .character of the defendant, .presentence, report
reflects, and I heard it from the Commonwealth, that you have 16 prior convictions.
Most notably there are three robbery convictions, one is an armed robbery, there is
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a burglary, a number of thefts and assaults. Those offenses have taken place over
approximately 15 years. So you have 16 convictions, that's almost one a year, not
taking into account all of the time that you've spent in an institution.
I've also reviewed the report which reflects you have a long and sordid history,
family history. You did not grow up under the best of circumstances. In fact, you
were probably born and raised to be a criminal, which is what you turned out to be.
You are, in my judgment, extremely dangerous, and I suspect that's in part why the
presentence report recommended such a lengthy sentence.
You told the officer who interviewed you that a former cellmate testified against
you during the trial, and you told the officer that if you see that person - if he sees
that person, meaning you, he will take his life. The defendant stated he is willing to
serve a life sentence or potentially face a death sentence for this.
You have no fear of incarceration, you have no fear of anything or anyone, and so
I look at your history, and I think you are extremely dangerous. You've
demonstrated that not just by your words but by your conduct. And I have to look
at, of course, the impact this has had upon the victim, which in this case is not so
severe. It was a, as I recall, Mr. Hyde and Mr. Williams, it was a burglary and theft
of a television, but it's the course of conduct that seems to take place wherever you
go. And so I have to look at that.
I have to look at the need to protect the community as has been pointed out by the
Commonwealth. You have committed a number of crimes and victimized a number
of different types of people, and you will continue to do that. As I said, I think you
were born and bred to be a criminal, and that's turned out to be the case. I am
convinced that you are a dangerous person who will continue to victimize the
community as you go forward in life.
Sentencing guidelines in this case, of course, recommend a sentence much less than
the presentence report. The burglary recommends, the guidelines recommend 51
months in the aggravated, 35 to 45 in the standard and 29 in the mitigated. Criminal
trespass recommends 33 in the aggravated, 21 to 30 in the standard and 18 in the
mitigated. And of course the theft recommends 39 months, 24 to 36 in the standard
and 21 in the mitigated range.
So I've considered the presentence report, considered the nature and character of
the defendant, the sentencing guidelines, the need to protect the community, the
impact it's had upon the victim in the community, and your need for rehabilitation.
And, quite frankly, Mr. Bush, listening to those tapes and having you in court and
reading the presentence report, I don't think you wish to be rehabilitated and
function in the community as a productive member of our society. I think you enjoy
the criminal life, I think you enjoy victimizing people, and I think you enjoy
terrorizing all of those who come in contact with you. The words you used to the
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person you love demonstrates that. Your unabated fear of the death penalty and a
life sentence, take another's life demonstrates that, and of course your criminal
history demonstrates that. So I've considered all of those things in imposing
sentence.
N.T. 12/17/2013, pp. 18-24.
Appellant objects to the Court incorporating its justification at resentencing, by reference.
Assuming, arguendo, that Appellant satisfied the four prongs laid out in Mastromarino, no abuse
of discretion occurred at sentencing. The record shows every consideration provided by this court
in accordance with pertinent case law, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721, and Appellant's constitutional rights.
The reference to this court's prior reasoning does not mean we failed to consider the same
obligatory factors, it means our reasoning at the reconsideration of sentence has not changed since
the original sentencing. It serves no purpose to repeat the same thing twice. Counter to Appellant's
proposition, the fact that his sentence was reduced demonstrates a thoughtful reconsideration of
the imposed sentence.
Appellant also challenges the legality of the restitution imposed by this Court.
Appellant believes the restitution amount must be capped at $2,000 because the "theft charges
were not greater than a misdemeanor of the third degree." Aside from a glaring lack of legal
authority supporting Appellant's claim, 11 this Court is statutorily required to impose $4,265 in
restitution to the victim. Appellant's criminal actions caused $4,265 in property damage to the
victim. Under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1106(a), restitution for a victim suffering personal injury or
property damage is mandatory.12 See Commonwealth v. Brown, 981 A.2d 893, 895-96 (Pa.
11 See contra Commonwealth v. Keams, 150 A.3d 79 (Pa. Super. 2016) (affirming the sentence on a third degree ...
misdemeanorthat included $832,460:oo in restitution)". .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .
12
"Upon conviction for any crime wherein property has been stolen, converted or otherwise unlawfully obtained, or
its value substantially decreased as a direct result of the crime, or wherein the victim suffered personal injury
directly resulting from the crime, the offender shall be sentenced to make restitution in addition to the punishment
prescribed therefor." 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1106(a).
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2009). Accordingly, the plain language of the statute directs the Court to impose $4,265 in
restitution, regardless of Appellant's ability to pay. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1106(c)(l)(i).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, this Court perceives that the present Appeal is meritless, and
that this Court's January 17, 2017, Order denying Appellant PCRA Petition and January 27, 2017,
Order denying Appellant's Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence is supported by both the law
and the record in this case. We respectfully request the Superior Court to affirm this Court's
decision.
BY THE COURT:
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