Com. v. Amin, A. ( 2018 )

J-S59020-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
ABDURRAHMAN AMIN :
:
Appellant : No. 1209 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence November 16, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Criminal Division
at No(s): CP-46-CR-0009344-2015
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., LAZARUS, J., and OTT, J.
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED OCTOBER 29, 2018
Abdurrahman Amin appeals from the judgment of sentence, entered in
the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, following entry of an open
guilty plea to third-degree murder.1 After our review, we affirm.
On September 27, 2015, Amin and three other men planned a home
invasion at 2388 Philmont Avenue in Huntingdon Valley. The residence was
the home of Egyniah Mohammad, the ex-girlfriend of one of the conspirators.
The four men drove to the home at approximately 11 p.m. They approached
the home from the back yard; two of the men, both masked and armed with
handguns, entered the home by kicking in the back door. Amin and the other
man remained at the back door. The two men went up to the second floor,
and encountered Kevin Brown, who was Mohammad’s father. A struggle
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1 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502.
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ensued and the victim was able to shut the door to his bedroom to protect his
wife. Five shots were fired through the door, one striking Brown in the throat
and killing him. Brown’s wife was not injured. Their children and their
grandchild, hiding in closets, were also not injured. The two men fled the
house and were joined in their flight by Amin and the other man. Once in the
car, they drove to Philadelphia.
Amin was arrested two months later. He entered an open guilty plea,
based on his accomplice liability, to third-degree murder. At sentencing on
November 16, 2016, the parties agreed that the standard-range guidelines
provide for a minimum sentence of 96 to 240 months’ imprisonment, or 8 to
20 years, and Amin indicated that he understood the guideline range as well
as the statutory maximum sentence that the court could impose of 20 to 40
years’ imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.
The Honorable Thomas P. Rogers imposed a sentence of 15 to 30 years’
imprisonment. Amin filed a timely post-sentence motion, which was denied,
and this appeal followed. Amin raises one issue for our review:
Did the sentencing court abuse its discretion by failing to properly
consider the factors set forth in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b), to wit:
the rehabilitative needs of the defendant, by failing to consider
the defendant’s age, personal characteristics, and potential for
rehabilitation?
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Appellant’s Brief, at 2.2
As this Court has explained, in order to reach the merits of a
discretionary aspects claim,
we must engage in a four[-]part analysis to determine: (1)
whether the appeal is timely; (2) whether Appellant preserved his
[or her] issue; (3) whether Appellant’s brief includes a concise
statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal with
respect to the discretionary aspects of sentence; and (4) whether
the concise statement raises a substantial question that the
sentence is appropriate under the [S]entencing [C]ode.
Commonwealth v. Machicote, 172 A.3d 595, 602 (Pa. Super. 2017)
(citation omitted). Here, Amin has filed a timely notice of appeal, preserved
the issue in his post-sentence motion, and included a Pennsylvania Rule of
Appellate Procedure 2119(f) statement in his appellate brief. See Appellant’s
Brief, at 5. Thus, we turn to whether Amin raises a substantial question.
In his Rule 2119(f) statement, Amin states that “the court sentenced
him based solely on the seriousness of the offense and failed to consider any
rehabilitative needs of the defendant including his age, personal
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2 Where there have been no sentencing restrictions in a plea agreement, an
“open plea,” the entry of a guilty plea will not preclude a challenge to the
discretionary aspects of sentencing. Commonwealth v. Dalberto, 648 A.2d
16 (Pa. Super. 1994), appeal denied, 540 Pa. 594, 655 A.2d 983, cert. denied,
516 U.S. 818, 116 S.Ct. 75, 133 L.Ed.2d 34 (1995); accord Commonwealth
v. Coles, 530 A.2d 453, 457 (Pa. Super. 1987) (noting, “where a plea
agreement is an open one as opposed to one for a negotiated sentence,
unquestionably, after sentencing the defendant can properly request
reconsideration as the court alone decided the sentence and no bargain for a
stated term, agreed upon by the parties, is involved.”) (citation omitted).
Therefore, despite his open plea of guilty, Amin may challenge the
discretionary aspects of his sentence. See Dalberto, 648 A.2d at 20.
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characteristics and potential for rehabilitation.” Id. The determination of
what constitutes a substantial question is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Commonwealth v. Battles, 169 A.3d 1086, 1090 (Pa. Super. 2017). “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.” Commonwealth
v. Grays, 167 A.3d 793, 816 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted).
Pursuant to statute, “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). “The
[trial] court is not required to parrot the words of the Sentencing Code, stating
every factor that must be considered under [s]ection 9721(b), however, the
record as a whole must reflect due consideration by the court of the statutory
considerations at the time of sentencing.” Commonwealth v. Bullock, 170
A.3d 1109, 1126 (Pa. Super. 2017) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
As such, we find Amin has raised a substantial question. See
Commonwealth v. Riggs, 63 A.3d 780, 786 (Pa. Super. 2012) (allegation
that sentencing court failed to consider “relevant sentencing criteria” set forth
in section 9721(b) raises substantial question); see also Commonwealth v.
Caldwell, 117 A.3d 763, 769-70 (Pa. Super. 2015) (“a claim the trial court
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focused solely on the nature of the offense . . . presents a substantial
question.”).
We now turn to the merits of Amin’s claim.
Our review of a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
sentencing is limited. Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound
discretion of the sentencing judge and a sentence will not be
disturbed absent a manifest abuse of discretion. . . . [T]he
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. Hyland, 875 A.2d 1175, 1184 (Pa. Super. 2005) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Rodda, 723 A.2d 212, 214 (Pa. Super. 1999) (en banc)).
Amin argues that the court failed to consider that his age, nineteen at
the time of the crime, and his immaturity, led to his poor decision-making.
He also argues that the evidence showed that “he was a follower, not a
leader[,]” and that the court should have considered that as well. Appellant’s
Brief, at 6. Amin further points to his mother’s testimony that there was not
a time when he “wasn’t in school or working at a job,” and that this was a
reflection of his character. Id. at 7. Amin argues that his history of working
whenever possible and earning college credits portrays a “responsible
individual” and that he can be “rehabilitated in far less time than the 15 years
the Court feels it will take[.]” Id.
We have reviewed the parties’ arguments, the record, including the plea
colloquy and sentencing hearing, and the relevant law. We conclude that the
sentencing court’s decision was the product of a thoughtful and considered
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assessment of Amin’s individual circumstances. That the court highlighted the
violent and senseless nature of this crime does not negate that fact. The
record indicates that the court did consider Amin’s age, his upbringing, and
the fact that he was not the shooter. See N.T. Sentencing, 11/16/16, at 33
(“[W]e know that he was not the shooter in the case. He was the extra
muscle, rounded up for this home invasion. And due to his age, the
Commonwealth took all that into consideration. And we felt that a sentence
of less than life was appropriate for Mr. Amin. . . . They all went along with
this, and they all actively participated.”).
Further, the court reviewed the presentence investigation report, and
considered it as well as Amin’s juvenile adjudications (possession of a firearm
by a minor, firearms not to be carried on the street, and carrying a firearm on
public streets in Philadelphia in 2012, and the same three charges in 2013).
Id. at 42. Where the court had the benefit of a presentence report, we
presume that the court was aware of relevant information regarding the
defendant’s character and weighed those considerations along with any
mitigating factors. Commonwealth v. Seagraves, 103 A.3d 839, 842 (Pa.
Super. 2014), citing Commonwealth v. Griffin, 65 A.3d 932, 937 (Pa.
Super. 2013). Thus, we presume the court properly weighed the mitigating
factors in Amin’s case. See Commonwealth v. Fowler, 893 A.2d 758, 766
(Pa. Super. 2006). Moreover, while Amin repeatedly states that the court
failed to consider his rehabilitative needs, he at no point specifies what those
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needs are, nor identifies where in the record of the sentencing hearing he
alerted the court to his unspecified rehabilitative issues. Additionally, contrary
to Amin’s argument, the trial court was required to consider the seriousness
of his offenses in fashioning his sentence, and the court did not focus on that
factor alone. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b). We find no manifest abuse of
discretion. Hyland, supra.Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/29/18
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