Com. v. Rush, J. ( 2019 )

J-S64003-19
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
JOHN LEWIS RUSH :
:
Appellant : No. 1561 WDA 2018
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered September 28, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-02-CR-0003932-2012
BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED DECEMBER 17, 2019
John Lewis Rush appeals from the September 28, 2018 judgment of
sentence of one to three years of imprisonment, imposed following revocation
of his probation due to another conviction.1 We affirm.
Appellant pled guilty in January 2013 to statutory sexual assault,
corruption of minors, and indecent exposure, and was sentenced to an
aggregate term of one year less one day to two years less two days of
incarceration, a concurrent three years of probation, and credit for 321 days
of time served.
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 This is an appeal from the judgment of sentence imposed following our
remand for re-sentencing in Commonwealth v. Rush, 178 A.3d 191
(Pa.Super. 2017) (unpublished memorandum).
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Appellant was later convicted of other offenses at docket number CP-
02-CR-002090-2014. On October 20, 2015, following a probation violation
hearing, he was determined to have violated his probation based on these
new convictions and on technical violations of his probation. His probation
was revoked, and the court sentenced him to one to three years of
incarceration, consecutive to the sentence imposed at CP-02-CR-002090-
2014.
On appeal, this Court vacated the sentence due to the trial court’s failure
to make an on-the-record determination of Appellant’s eligibility for RRRI, and
remanded for resentencing. Commonwealth v. Rush, 178 A.3d 191
(Pa.Super. 2017) (unpublished memorandum). The court conducted a
probation violation hearing at which this defect was remedied, and counsel for
Appellant apprised the court of Appellant’s exemplary behavior while
incarcerated. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court imposed the same
sentence, placing its reasons on the record. Appellant filed a timely post-
sentence motion, which was denied. Appellant filed an appeal, and both he
and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Appellant presents two issues for our review, both of which are
challenges to the discretionary aspects of his sentence:
I. In again imposing [Appellant’s] revocation sentence of 1-3
years’ incarceration at CC 201203932 consecutive to his
lengthy sentence of 14 years, 10 months-36 years, 6
months’ incarceration at CC 201402090, coupled with the
fact that [Appellant’s] character and other mitigating
evidence were not considered in violation of 42 Pa.C.S.A. §
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9721(b), whether the trial court abused its sentencing
discretion?
II. Whether the trial court abused its sentencing discretion
when it fashioned the sum and substance of [Appellant’s]
revocation sentence under the incorrect belief that
[Appellant] should expect to be released on parole at (or
near) his minimum sentence, but, as a matter of law, an
offender has only the right to ask to be paroled at his
minimum sentence?
Appellant’s brief at 5.
Challenges to discretionary aspects of sentence are not entitled to
appellate review as a matter of right. Commonwealth v. Allen, 24 A.3d
1058, 1064 (Pa.Super. 2011). “An appellant must satisfy a four-part test to
invoke this Court’s jurisdiction when challenging the discretionary aspects of
a sentence.” Commonwealth v. Buterbaugh, 91 A.3d 1247, 1265
(Pa.Super. 2014). The appellant must have preserved the issue by raising it
either at sentencing, or in a timely post-sentence motion; filed a timely notice
of appeal; included in his brief a statement of reasons relied upon for the
allowance of his appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and presented a
substantial question for our review. Commonwealth v. Baker, 72 A.3d 652,
662 (Pa.Super. 2013).
Appellant preserved his claims in a timely post-sentence motion, filed a
timely appeal, and included a Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement in his brief. The
remaining threshold question is whether he has raised a substantial question
that the sentence is inappropriate under the sentencing code. A substantial
question exists where a defendant raises a colorable argument that “the
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sentence violates a provision of the sentencing code or is contrary to the
fundamental norms of the sentencing process.” Commonwealth v. Dodge,
77 A.3d 1263, 1268 (Pa.Super. 2013) (citation and internal quotation marks
omitted).
Appellant contends that his claim that his sentence is excessive due to
its consecutive nature, coupled with the fact that the trial court failed to
consider his character, personal history, and rehabilitative needs, raises a
substantial question. While acknowledging that bald excessiveness claims do
not generally raise a substantial question, Appellant directs our attention to
numerous cases where excessiveness claims, combined with allegations that
the court failed to consider certain sentencing factors have been held to
present a substantial question. See Appellant’s brief at 26-27 (citing
Commonwealth v. Johnson-Daniels, 167 A.3d 17, 25 (Pa.Super. 2017)
(substantial question raised where sentence alleged to be excessive in light of
mitigating factors and rehabilitative needs); Commonwealth v. Swope, 123
A.3d 333 (Pa.Super. 2015) (challenge to consecutive sentences as excessive,
together with claim that court failed to consider rehabilitative needs and
mitigating factors, presented a substantial question). Appellant contends
further that his claim that the court imposed a consecutive sentence under a
mistaken belief that he would be paroled at or near expiration of his minimum
sentence also raises a substantial question.
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The Commonwealth counters that Appellant’s assertion that his
consecutive sentences are excessive and that the court failed to consider
mitigating evidence does not raise a substantial question. Commonwealth’s
brief at 6. It relies upon Commonwealth v. Williams, 562 A.2d 1385, 1388
(Pa.Super. 1989) (en banc), where we distinguished between claims that the
court did not have certain information, or correct information, which arguably
raised a substantial question, and claims that the court simply did not accord
proper weight to the information when it imposed sentence, which did not
raise such a question. The Commonwealth would place Appellant’s claim in
the latter category. Furthermore, the Commonwealth maintains that
Appellant’s claim that the court abused its discretion in imposing a consecutive
sentence because it mistakenly believed that he was entitled to parole at or
near the expiration of the minimum of that sentence also fails to raise a
substantial question because it is not borne out by the record. Id. at 9.
We find that Appellant raises a colorable claim sufficient to raise a
substantial question, and that we may review his discretionary sentencing
claims. The law is well settled that “[s]entencing is a matter vested within
the discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a manifest
abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Crump, 995 A.2d 1280, 1282
(Pa.Super. 2010). “An abuse of discretion requires the trial court to have
acted with manifest unreasonableness, or partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will,
or such lack of support so as to be clearly erroneous.” Id.
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Appellant alleges that the trial court abused its discretion in again
imposing Appellant’s revocation sentence at CP-02-CR-003932-2012
consecutive to his lengthy new sentence at CP-02-CR-002090-2014. He
argues that the court unduly emphasized that his new conviction showed an
escalation in violence, and did not consider Appellant’s good behavior after
the initial probation violation hearing. It abused its discretion in imposing a
sentence of total confinement, even though he concedes that total
confinement may be imposed where, as here, the defendant has been
convicted of another crime. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9771(c). Appellant faults the
trial court for not undertaking a sufficient pre-sentence inquiry. He points to
a presentence report that was three years old, and which failed to apprise the
court of intervening circumstances that merited mitigation. Finally, Appellant
criticizes the sentencing court for failing to reference his more recent positive
behavior, and concludes that, “the trial court excluded entirely from its
consideration [Appellant’s] reformed character and other mitigating
evidence.” Appellant’s brief at 42.
Our review of the transcript of the revocation/resentencing hearing
confirms that the court was aware of mitigating circumstances that post-dated
the preparation of the presentence report as counsel for Appellant placed such
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considerations on the record.2 Counsel apprised the court that Appellant is
working as a block worker and has supervisory responsibility for other
inmates. He is on the waiting list for a masonry course. Counsel recounted
how Appellant candidly admitted that he and other inmates were involved in
a grievance involving a guard, and that he had been cited for “unauthorized
group activity” in connection therewith, as evidence of Appellant’s honesty
and integrity. Citing Appellant’s efforts to improve his situation, counsel urged
the court to either impose no additional sentence, or to run any sentence
concurrent to the sentence already imposed.
The court stated that it had considered the presentence report. See
Commonwealth v. Best, 120 A.3d 329, 348-349 (Pa.Super. 2015)
(reaffirming presumption where a pre-sentence report exists, “the sentencing
judge was aware of relevant information regarding the defendant’s character
and weighed those considerations along with mitigating statutory factors”).
However, in light of the escalation of violence on display during the latest
conviction violation, the court remained convinced that the sentence it
originally imposed was the appropriate sentence. It subsequently added that
Appellant’s continued criminal conduct demonstrated that “he is a danger to
those closest to him and to the community at large.” Trial Court Opinion,
____________________________________________
2 Appellant offers no authority mandating that the trial court reiterate or
reference mitigating circumstances on the record at sentencing.
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3/25/19, at 5. The court further explained that it “gave a short minimum and
a long maximum in order to allow Appellant to finish any and all appropriate
programs[,]” demonstrating awareness of his rehabilitative needs. Id. Thus,
the trial court properly considered the appropriate sentencing factors, and we
find no abuse of discretion.
Next, Appellant alleges that the trial court relied upon an improper and
inaccurate consideration when it ran the revocation sentence consecutively.
Counsel for Appellant represented that Appellant’s minimum sentence at the
2014 case did not expire until 2030, at which time Appellant would be thirty-
seven years of age.3 Counsel added a caveat: “But the reality is few people
are actually paroled at their minimum. They have a right to request parole.
They don’t have a right to be released at their minimum.” N.T., Probation
Violation Hearing, 9/28/18, at 7.
The court responded: “I would not necessarily agree with that summary
based on my time on the sentencing commission with the current chair of the
parole board.” Id. at 7. Defense counsel responded that he would “be happy
to be wrong” and expressed his hope that “defendants are being routinely
released.” Id. The court disagreed with counsel’s desire for “routine release,”
____________________________________________
3 According to the notes of testimony, defense counsel stated that “on January
10, 2030, Appellant would be 77 and a half years old.” N.T., 9/28/18, at 7.
We believe this was an error in transcription, and that Appellant’s
representation on appeal that he would be thirty-seven and one-half years old
in 2030 is correct.
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and discussed the purpose of the minimum and maximum sentencing scheme
as incentivizing inmates to earn their release. The court added, “just to be
clear, I'm not suggesting that he shouldn’t be paroled at his minimum to the
extent that he does well and the parole board determines that that is
appropriate.” Id. at 8.
Counsel for Appellant clarified that his point was that Appellant had no
right to be released at the expiration of the minimum, and that his release will
be determined by his conduct while he is incarcerated. He added, “But I don’t
think it’s a stretch to say many of the defendants obviously surpass the
minimum.” Id.
Appellant now suggests, based on the foregoing exchange, the trial
court did not understand that he did not have a right to release upon the
completion of his minimum sentence. He maintains that, “the sum and
substance of the revocation sentence fashioned by the trial court was based,
in whole or in part, on a misunderstanding of parole law.” Appellant’s brief at
45-46.
Appellant’s view of the foregoing discussion strains credulity. It is
apparent from the record that the trial court understood that one becomes
eligible for parole at the expiration of his minimum sentence. Based upon
personal interaction with the chair of the parole board, the court was merely
questioning defense counsel’s broad generalization that, in reality, release
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following service of a minimum seldom occurs. We find no abuse of discretion
that would entitle Appellant to relief.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/17/2019
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