Com. v. Sibilly, J. ( 2018 )

J-S73004-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
JAHRELL R. SIBILLY :
:
Appellant : No. 663 MDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 21, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-21-CR-0001860-2016
BEFORE: OLSON, J., DUBOW, J., and STRASSBURGER*, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED JANUARY 04, 2018
Appellant, Jahrell R. Sibilly, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered on March 21, 2017, following his open guilty plea to terroristic
threats with the intent to terrorize another.1 We affirm.
The trial court set forth the facts of this case as follows:
On or about August 27, 2015, [Appellant], while an inmate at
the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, authored a letter
to [J.B.],[2] the Institution’s Unit Manager. Within the letter,
[Appellant] threatened [J.B.] with extreme acts of torture which
included blowtorching her sexual organs, pouring boiling hot
“Drano” and bleach over her body, taking a hammer to her
extremities, and raping her. He affixed his signature and inmate
number to the letter.
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1 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2706(a)(1).

2 We use the victim’s initials to protect her identity.
____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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Sometime in November of 2015, [J.B.] received another letter
from [Appellant]. The letter, like the previous one, contained
threats against [the victim]. This time, [Appellant] reassured
her that he was going to follow through with the threats in the
previous letter, and that it was meant to show her how obsessed
he is with keeping his word on his threats. The letter ended
with, “See you soon.” Again, [Appellant] affixed his signature
and inmate number, as well as his address, to the letter.
When confronted, [Appellant] admitted to authoring and sending
the letters to [J.B.]. He explained that it was his intent to make
[the victim] take him seriously, and that he wrote the letters out
of anger and desire to scare her. He was charged with two
counts of terroristic threats for the letters. He entered an open
guilty plea to one count which resulted in the sentence which is
the subject of this appeal. [The trial court sentenced Appellant
to 9 months to five years of imprisonment on March 21, 2017].
Trial Court Opinion, 7/10/2017, at 1-2. This timely appeal resulted.3
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issue for our review:
Whether the trial court abused its discretion and committed
reversible error when it sentenced Appellant to undergo
imprisonment in a state correctional institution for not less than
nine (9) months nor more than five (5) years?
Appellant’s Brief at 4 (complete capitalization omitted).
In sum, Appellant contends:
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3 Appellant did not file a timely post-sentence motion to modify his
sentence. Instead, on April 13, 2017, Appellant filed a counseled motion to
modify sentence nunc pro tunc. Appellant did not offer a reason for the late
filing. The trial court took no express action on Appellant’s request to
proceed nunc pro tunc and, on April 20, 2017, the trial court entered an
order simply denying Appellant post-sentence relief. Appellant filed a timely
notice of appeal on April 20, 2017. The trial court entered an order on April
25, 2017, directing Appellant to file a concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant complied
timely on May 12, 2017. The trial court issued an opinion pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) on July 10, 2017.
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In the present case, Appellant submits that the trial court
abused its discretion when it sentenced Appellant to a sentence
of nine (9) months to five (5) years. Specifically, Appellant
asserts that he has never been made eligible for parole and has
only recently maxed out his original sentence of three to eight
years. In addition, Appellant is currently maxing out a one to two
year sentence imposed for a felony offense. Finally, because the
present offense occurred while Appellant was incarcerated, the
likelihood that he will be considered for parole at the expiration
of his minimum term is extremely low. Accordingly, given
Appellant’s sentencing history, it is likely that Appellant will
serve the entire five[-]year sentence imposed in this case,
despite a guideline range of [restorative sanctions] to nine (9)
months for a misdemeanor offense. As such, Appellant contends
that the maximum sentence of five years imposed in this case
was excessive and unreasonable.
In support of his argument that the five year maximum sentence
was excessive, Appellant relies upon the dissenting opinion in
Commonwealth v. Lee, 876 A.2d 408 (Pa. Super 2005).
Id. at 9.
Appellant’s claim presents a challenge to
the discretionary aspects of sentencing. “When an appellant challenges
the discretionary aspects of his sentence, we must consider his brief on this
issue as a petition for permission to appeal.” Commonwealth v. Heaster,
171 A.3d 268, (Pa. Super. 2017) (internal citation omitted). Prior to
reaching the merits of a discretionary sentencing issue,
this Court conducts 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
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the sentence appealed from is not appropriate under
the Sentencing Code, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).
Id. at 271–272 (internal citations and brackets omitted).
Initially, we note that Appellant did not file a timely post-sentence
motion within 10 days as required under Pa.R.Crim.P. 720. It is well-settled
that:
To be entitled to file a post-sentence motion nunc pro tunc, a
defendant must, within 30 days after the imposition of sentence,
demonstrate sufficient cause, i.e., reasons that excuse the late
filing....When the defendant has met this burden and has shown
sufficient cause, the trial court must then exercise its discretion
in deciding whether to permit the defendant to file the
post-sentence motion nunc pro tunc. If the trial court chooses
to permit a defendant to file a post-sentence motion nunc pro
tunc, the court must do so expressly [within thirty days after the
imposition of the sentence].
Commonwealth v. Batty, 169 A.3d 70, 72 n.4 (Pa. Super. 2017). “The
trial court's resolution of the merits of the late post-sentence motion is no
substitute for an order expressly granting nunc pro tunc relief.”
Commonwealth v. Capaldi, 112 A.3d 1242, 1244 (Pa. Super. 2015).
Here, upon review of Appellant’s untimely post-sentence motion,
Appellant acknowledged that it was filed outside of the 10-day provision of
Rule 720, but did not offer a reason for the late filing. Moreover, despite
Appellant’s request for nunc pro tunc relief, the trial court did not expressly
grant nunc pro tunc relief. Instead, it merely denied Appellant’s requested
relief, i.e., the modification of his sentence. Thus, Appellant’s discretionary
sentencing challenge is subject to dismissal because he failed to properly
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preserve his sentencing claim before the trial court in a timely post-sentence
motion or a post-sentence motion filed nunc pro tunc with express leave of
the trial court.
In addition, we note that Appellant did not set forth separate sections
in his appellate brief pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) and (f). Appellant was
required to set forth a concise statement of the reasons relied upon for
allowance of appeal with regard to the discretionary aspects of sentencing as
required under Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f), as well as a separate argument section as
required pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a). Upon review, Appellant combined
both briefing requirements into a single section in his appellate brief. See
Appellant’s Brief at 8-10. However, the Commonwealth has not objected,
we are able to discern Appellant’s claim, and we decline to find waiver based
upon non-compliance with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). See Commonwealth v.
Brougher, 978 A.2d 373, 375 (Pa. Super. 2009) (claims relating to the
discretionary aspects of a sentence are waived if an appellant does not
include a Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement in his brief and the opposing party
objects to the statement's absence; where the appellant has failed to comply
with the requirement of 2119(f) but the Commonwealth did not object to the
statement's absence, we will not find appellant's claims waived).
Nevertheless, Appellant has failed to raise a substantial question to
implicate our review. The determination of whether a particular issue raises
a substantial question is to be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis. Commonwealth v. Bishop, 831 A.2d 656, 660 (Pa. Super. 2003).
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“In order to establish 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.” Id.
“Bald allegations of excessiveness, unaccompanied by a plausible argument
that the sentence imposed violated a provision of the Sentencing Code or is
contrary to the fundamental norms underlying the sentencing scheme, are
insufficient to raise a substantial question.” Commonwealth v. Lee, 876
A.2d 408, 412 (Pa. Super. 2005).
In Lee, the appellant advanced a similar claim as in the case sub
judice.4 Lee argued “that his sentence [was] excessive because of his
expectation that he [would] not be paroled by the Pennsylvania Board of
Probation and Parole (“PBPP”) at expiration of his minimum sentence.”
Commonwealth v. Lee, 876 A.2d 408, 412 (Pa. Super. 2005) (record
citation omitted). Lee did not dispute the minimum sentence imposed and
conceded that his sentence fell within the sentencing guidelines. Id.
Ultimately, in Lee, we determined that minimum sentences, over an
aggregated term of two years, are subject to the exclusive authority of the
PBPP in granting parole. Id., citing 61 P.S. § 311.17. “Inasmuch as the
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4 Appellant currently relies upon the dissenting opinion in Lee. See
Appellant’s Brief at 9-10. However, we are not bound by dissenting
opinions. See Commonwealth v. Thompson, 985 A.2d 928, 942 (Pa.
2009)(“Of course, persuasive as they are, neither the dissent of the Chief
Justice nor the dissent by Mr. Justice Eakin is binding precedent....”).
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decision to grant parole rests exclusively with the PBPP, the issue of parole is
not a fundamental norm underlying the sentencing process.” Id. Thus, we
determined that Lee failed to raise a substantial question for our review.
Here, there is no dispute that Appellant’s sentence fell within the
sentencing guidelines. Moreover, Appellant does not challenge the minimum
sentence imposed and, instead, argues only that it is unlikely that he will be
paroled upon the expiration of his minimum sentence. As such, Appellant
does not contend that his sentence violated the sentencing code. Moreover,
the decision to grant parole does not implicate a fundamental norm
underlying the sentencing scheme. Accordingly, we conclude that, in this
case, Appellant has failed to raise a substantial question and we decline to
address the merits of Appellant’s sentencing claim.
Even if he were to find that Appellant’s claim raised a substantial
question, we would affirm the trial court’s decision. “Sentencing is a matter
vested in the sound discretion of the sentencing judge, whose judgment will
not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion.” Lee, 876 A.2d at 413
(internal citation omitted). “Discretion is abused when the course pursued
[by the trial court] represents not merely an error of judgment, but where
the judgment is manifestly unreasonable or where the law is not applied or
where the record shows that the action is a result of partiality, prejudice,
bias, or ill will.” Id. (citation omitted; brackets in original).
A standard range sentence for terroristic threats, with Appellant’s prior
record score of two, is restorative sanctions to nine months’ imprisonment.
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42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721. The offense was graded as a first-degree
misdemeanor, carrying a statutory maximum of five years of imprisonment.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1104. The trial court considered these guidelines prior to
imposing Appellant’s sentence. Additionally, the trial court had the benefit
of a pre-sentence investigation report and victim impact statements prior to
imposing Appellant’s sentence. See Commonwealth v. Ventura, 975 A.2d
1128, 1135 (Pa. Super. 2009) (stating that where a sentencing court is
informed by a pre-sentence investigation report, it is “presumed that the
court is aware of all appropriate sentencing factors,” which includes the
applicable sentencing guidelines). Thus, we presume the trial court was
aware of all of the relevant factors prior to imposing Appellant’s sentence.
A trial court is also required to state, on the record, its reasons for the
imposition of a sentence that considers “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).
When imposing Appellant’s sentence, the trial court stated that it
“appreciate[d] the changes [Appellant] made in [his] life since [the incidents
at issue] occurred, but the offense is a very serious offense, and it caused
great hardship on the victim in this case.” N.T. Sentencing, 3/21/2017, at 5.
Likewise, in its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court opined that Appellant’s
sentence was “based upon the serious nature of the offense as well as the
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devastating impact it had upon his victim, as described in her own words.”
Trial Court Opinion, 7/10/2017, at 2.
In reviewing the record on appeal, we are obligated to examine:
(1) The nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and
characteristics of the defendant.
(2) The opportunity of the sentencing court to observe the
defendant, including any presentence investigation.
(3) The findings upon which the sentence was based.
(4) The guidelines promulgated by the commission.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(d). An “appellate court shall vacate [a] sentence and
remand the case to the sentencing court with instructions if it finds […] the
sentencing court sentenced within the sentencing guidelines but the case
involves circumstances where the application of the guidelines would be
clearly unreasonable.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(c)(2).
Upon review, we discern no abuse of discretion in sentencing
Appellant. Appellant, on the verge of being released from prison, sent
intimidating letters to a prison staff member, threatening her with extreme
violence upon his release. The trial court recognized the seriousness of the
offense and the effect on the victim. It also implicitly determined that
rehabilitation efforts had been fruitless, because Appellant committed an
additional, serious crime from prison. Thus, the trial court stated its reasons
for Appellant’s sentence and we discern no abuse of discretion. Hence, we
conclude that Appellant’s sentence falls within the sentencing guidelines and
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the statutory maximum and is not manifestly excessive or clearly
unreasonable. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of sentence.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/4/2018
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