Com. v. Adams, R. ( 2015 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
RAYMOND LEROY ADAMS,
Appellant No. 213 WDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of October 15, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-07-CR-0000960-2010
and CP-07-CR-0000961-2010
BEFORE: SHOGAN, OLSON and WECHT, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 09, 2015
Appellant, Raymond Leroy Adams, appeals from the judgment of
sentence entered on October 15, 2014, following the revocation of
probation. Upon review, we affirm.
We briefly summarize the facts and procedural history of this case as
follows. On October 4, 2010, Appellant pled guilty to four counts of
possession with intent to deliver (PWID) narcotics. As per the terms of a
plea agreement with the Commonwealth, the trial court sentenced Appellant
to an aggregate term of two to four years of incarceration on the first two
counts of PWID, followed by a consecutive term of five years of special
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probation on the second two PWID counts.1 While on parole for the first two
counts of PWID, the Pennsylvania Department of Probation and Parole
alleged that Appellant committed three technical violations of his probation
and parole, including failure to: (1) receive permission to change
residences; (2) report to supervision staff, and; (3) attend and complete
batterer’s intervention, specifically, the “Men Helping Men” program. The
trial court summarized the resulting procedural history as follows:
Although [Appellant] admitted to violating his supervision at
a parole hearing, [he] contested the violations at the
[revocation of probation] hearing on October 14, 2014.
After hearing from both parties, the [trial] [c]ourt found
[Appellant] had violated his probation as alleged above.
The [trial] [c]ourt revoked [Appellant’s] five[-]year period[]
of special probation [] and resentenced him [] to a period of
incarceration of 9 to 24 months at S.C.I. Camp Hill[.] [This
sentence was] consecutive to the []sentence [Appellant] []
received from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and
Parole [as a result of his parole violations].
On October 24, 2014, [Appellant] filed a timely motion for
reconsideration of the [trial] court’s sentence averring that
9 to 24 months ‘was too harsh’ as this was [his] first
probation violation and the Pennsylvania State Parole Board
had sentenced [Appellant] for the same technical violations.
The [trial] court denied [Appellant’s] motion for
reconsideration without a hearing on November 6, 2014.
[Appellant] filed a motion for appeal nunc pro tunc on
December 30, 2014 which the [trial] court granted on
January 20, 2015. [Appellant] filed a notice of appeal on
January 29, 2015 and the [trial] court directed [Appellant]
to file a concise statement of matters pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
____________________________________________
1
Special probation directs supervision by the Parole Board by order of the
court of common pleas. See 37 Pa.Code §§ 65.1 – 65.7.
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1925(b) by order dated February 10, 2015; [Appellant]
complied on February 19, 2015.
Trial Court Opinion, 3/27/2015, at 3 (superfluous capitalization and record
citation omitted).
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issue for our review:
Whether the [s]entencing [c]ourt abused its discretion and
imposed a [] grossly disproportionate [sentence] on
[Appellant] for technical violations of his probation [by]
failing to adequately consider this was [Appellant’s] first
violation of probation after serving a two year period of
parole, as well as failing to take into account his age?
Appellant’s Brief at 9.
Appellant initially “admits there was a basis to find a violation of [his
special probation] conditions[.]” Id. at 16. He claims the trial court “only
considered the violations of probation” but, “did not consider [his] successful
period of parole[, which showed that] supervision was working for him[.]”
Id. at 17. Appellant also claims the trial court failed to take his age into
account. Id. In sum, he avers the trial court abused its discretion and
should have sentenced him to an additional period of probation or six-
months of concurrent imprisonment commensurate with the sentence
imposed following revocation of his parole. Id. at 18.
This claim does not challenge the revocation of Appellant’s probation.
Rather, Appellant’s claim challenges the discretionary aspects of his
sentence. See Commonwealth v. Schutzues, 54 A.3d 86, 91 (Pa. Super.
2012), appeal denied, 67 A.3d 796 (Pa. 2013); Commonwealth v.
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Rhoades, 8 A.3d 912, 916 (Pa. Super. 2010), appeal denied, 25 A.3d 328(Pa. 2011). “[T]his [C]ourt’s scope of review in an appeal from a revocation
sentencing includes discretionary sentencing challenges.” Commonwealth
v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030, 1034 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc).
“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.” Commonwealth v. Clarke, 70 A.3d 1281,
1287 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied, 85 A.3d 481 (Pa. 2014) (citation
omitted). Pursuant to statute, Appellant does not have an automatic right to
appeal the discretionary aspects of his sentence. See 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 9781(b). Instead, Appellant must petition this Court for permission to
appeal the discretionary aspects of his sentence. Id.
As this Court has explained:
To reach the merits of a discretionary sentencing issue, we
conduct a four-part analysis to determine: (1) whether
appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, Pa.R.A.P. 902, 903;
(2) whether the issue was properly preserved at sentencing or in
a motion to reconsider and modify sentence, Pa.R.Crim.P. [708];
(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 from is not appropriate under the Sentencing
Code, 42 [Pa.C.S.A.] § 9781(b).
Commonwealth v. Cook, 941 A.2d 7, 11 (Pa. Super. 2007); see also
Commonwealth v. Kalichak, 943 A.2d 285, 289 (Pa. Super. 2008) (“when
a court revokes probation and imposes a new sentence, a criminal defendant
needs to preserve challenges to the discretionary aspects of that sentence
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either by objecting during the revocation sentencing or by filing a post-
sentence motion”).
Here, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and the issue was
properly preserved in a post-sentence motion. Appellant includes a
statement pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2119(f) in
his brief. Thus, we turn to whether the appeal presents a substantial
question.
Since Appellant was sentenced following the revocation of probation,
the sentencing guidelines do not apply to Appellant’s sentence. 204 Pa.
Code § 303.1(b); Commonwealth v. Williams, 69 A.3d 735, 741 (Pa.
Super. 2013), appeal denied, 83 A.3d 415 (Pa. 2014). “[U]pon sentencing
following a revocation of probation, the trial court is limited only by the
maximum sentence that it could have imposed originally at the time of the
probationary sentence.” Commonwealth v. Coolbaugh, 770 A.2d 788,
792 (Pa. Super. 2001) (citation omitted). Thus, in sentencing Appellant, the
trial court was required to “consider the general principles and standards of
the Sentencing Code.” Commonwealth v. Russell, 460 A.2d 316, 322 (Pa.
Super. 1983). Section 9721 expresses these general principles in the
following manner:
the sentence imposed should call for confinement that is
consistent with the protection of the public, the gravity of the
offense as it relates to the impact on the life of the victim and on
the community, and the rehabilitative needs of the defendant.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b). As we have explained:
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The determination of whether a particular case raises a
substantial question is to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Generally, however, in order to establish that there is a
substantial question, the appellant must show actions by the
sentencing court inconsistent with the Sentencing Code or
contrary to the fundamental norms underlying the sentencing
process.
Commonwealth v. Marts, 889 A.2d 608, 612 (Pa. Super. 2005) (internal
citations omitted).
In his Rule 2119(f) statement, Appellant states that the trial court’s
sentence of nine to 24 months’ incarceration for technical probation
violations is excessive. He contends that he was a good candidate for
rehabilitation, because he successfully completed two years of parole before
committing technical violations. He also argues that the trial court failed to
consider he is 62 years old as a mitigating factor.
We have previously determined that a challenge to the discretionary
aspects of a sentence imposed following the revocation of probation presents
a substantial question when an appellant “argues that the trial court’s
sentence is not consistent with the gravity of his violation, the need for
public protection, or his needs for rehabilitation” under 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 9721(b). See Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030, 1042 (Pa.
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Super. 2013) (en banc). Thus, we will review this aspect of Appellant’s
claim.2
Here, the trial court determined:
[O]n October 14, 2014, [the trial court] heard testimony
from Agent James Yaworksi of the Pennsylvania State Board
of Parole and Probation regarding [Appellant’s] three
alleged violations for changing his approved residence
without permission, failing to maintain regular contact with
parole supervision staff, and failing to successfully complete
Men Helping Men. Agent Yaworksi’s testimony demonstrated
that [Appellant] admitted to [absconding] in a telephone
conversation on March 4, 2014 and in a parole hearing on
September 22, 2014. Agent Yaworski further testified that
[Appellant] had failed to maintain regular contact with him
after January 3, 2014.
However, the most concerning violation to the [trial court]
was [Appellant’s] failure to successfully complete Men
Helping Men. [Appellant] who was subject to a special
[d]omestic [a]buse condition, was directed numerous times
____________________________________________
2
We note that Appellant also suggests the trial court abused its discretion in
sentencing him consecutively to the sentence imposed upon violation of his
parole. Appellant did not present this aspect of his argument in his Rule
2119(f) statement. Moreover, Appellant’s claim does not present a
substantial question. See Commonwealth v. Dodge, 77 A.3d 1263, 1270
(Pa. Super. 2013) (“[A] bald claim of excessiveness due to the consecutive
nature of a sentence will not raise a substantial question.”). Thus, we will
not examine that facet of Appellant’s discretionary aspect of sentencing
claim.
Moreover, Appellant did not raise the trial court’s alleged failure to consider
his age in his concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant
to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). He cannot raise the claim for the first time on appeal.
See Pa.R.A.P. 302. Thus, we are constrained to find this portion of
Appellant’s claim waived. See Commonwealth v. Hill, 16 A.3d 484, 488
(Pa. 2011)
(“any appellate issues not raised in a compliant Rule 1925(b) statement will
be deemed waived.”).
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to complete Men Helping Men, a well-respected educational
course for men who have been involved in [d]omestic
[v]iolence. [Appellant] alleged at the [revocation] hearing
that he was discharged from Men Helping Men because he
was [having trouble reading and writing] and could not
complete the required paperwork; he further asserted that
the Men Helping Men coordinator was ‘very ignorant, rude
and disrespectful.’ The [trial court] simply did not find
[Appellant] credible, particularly his reasons for not
successfully completing Men Helping Men.
The record demonstrates that [Appellant] was discharged
from this program on August 8, 2013, September 12, 2013,
and December 26, 2013 for lack of attendance despite
Agent Yaworksi’s clear instructions to re-enroll and
complete treatment. [Appellant] was provided a fourth and
final opportunity to report to Men Helping Men on January
13, 2014, but instead he absconded. Agent Yaworksi
testified[:]
This is not a fellow who simply didn’t do a couple of
things. This is a guy who decided consciously, even
though I told him this would, I literally told him in
March in a phone conversation. I said if you walk
through the door and turn yourself in, I won’t revoke
your probation. If I have to arrest you and the cops
get you, I’m going to revoke your probation. Five
months later he is finally arrested by the police.
Here is a person who every day woke up and decided
I’m not going to play by the rules. I’m not going to
report; they’re going to have to come get me. This
is not someone who is amenable to supervision.
He’s not someone who deserves a probation
sentence.
It was abundantly clear to the [trial court] that [Appellant]
had violated his probation and was incapable of following
the conditions of his probation.
* * *
The [trial court] believed that a sentence of 9 to 24 months
was necessary based on [Appellant’s] refusal to comply with
the probation conditions; moreover, this sentence would
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provide [Appellant] with sufficient time to successfully
complete the necessary rehabilitation programs required by
the Department of Corrections.
Trial Court Opinion, 3/27/2015, at 4-7 (record citations omitted).
Here, the trial court credited the probation officer’s testimony over
Appellant’s testimony. We will not usurp those credibility determinations.
See Commonwealth v. Emler, 903 A.2d 1273, 1277 (Pa. Super. 2006)
(“As a reviewing court, we may not re-weigh the evidence, substitute our
judgment for that of the fact-finder, or usurp the fact-finder's prerogative to
make credibility determinations and accept all, part, or none of the
evidence.”). The trial court looked at the gravity of his probation violations
and determined Appellant absconded from supervision and treatment.
Appellant’s probation officer gave him multiple opportunities to comply with
the terms of his probation and he refused them. It took police seven
months to arrest him. As a result, the trial court declared Appellant a poor
candidate for rehabilitation and imposed a sentence of total incarceration to
protect the public. We conclude the trial court carefully weighed the factors
set forth in Section 9721. Thus, we discern no abuse of discretion in
imposing Appellant’s sentence following the revocation of his probation.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
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Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 11/9/2015
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