Com. v. Yacobozzi, B. ( 2015 )

J. S55007/15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
BROOKE A. YACOBOZZI, : No. 1614 WDA 2014
:
Appellant :
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence, August 14, 2014,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
Criminal Division at No. CP-25-CR-0000570-2014
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
BROOKE ANN YACOBOZZI, : No. 1615 WDA 2014
:
Appellant :
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence, August 14, 2014,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
Criminal Division at No. CP-25-CR-0001566-2014
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., BENDER, P.J.E., AND STRASSBURGER,* J.
MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.: FILED SEPTEMBER 08, 2015
In these consolidated appeals,1 appellant appeals the judgments of
sentence entered in two separate incidents for theft by deception.
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
By order dated November 17, 2014, this court consolidated sua sponte
the appeals at Nos. 1614 WDA 2014 and 1615 WDA 2014.
J. S55007/15
Appointed counsel, Emily M. Merski, Esq., has filed petitions to withdraw
from representation and briefs pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.
738 (1967), and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009).
After careful review, we grant the petitions to withdraw and affirm the
judgments of sentence.
On July 9, 2013, appellant appeared before the Honorable Ernest J.
DiSantis, Jr., with her then counsel, David Ungerman, Esq. of the Public
Defender’s Office, to enter a plea of guilty to one count of theft by deception
and one count of theft by unlawful taking. These charges, filed at Erie
County Docket No. 570 of 2014, were brought as a result of an incident
whereby appellant signed in to the Presque Isle Inn on September 25, 2013,
and subsequently failed to pay rentals of $802 for a 30-day lease of the
motel room. Appellant moved into the motel on a ruse claiming that
because of water damage to her home, her insurance company would pay
the rental fee. The motel also reported the theft of several electronic
devices from the same room appellant occupied during the timeframe of her
visit. The motel estimated that the cost of the missing items along with
damage to the motel room totaled $3,500.
Appellant admitted to the fraudulent theft but entered a plea of
nolo contendere for the theft of electronic items and room damages. On
August 14, 2014, appellant was sentenced to 12 to 24 months’ incarceration
for theft by deception with 204 days of credit for time served. Appellant was
-2-
J. S55007/15
also sentenced to a concurrent term of 12 to 24 months’ incarceration for
theft by unlawful taking.2 Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion that
was denied on September 2, 2014. A timely notice of appeal was filed at
Superior Court Docket No. 1614 WDA 2014.
Additionally, on July 9, 2014, appellant entered a plea of guilty to one
count of theft by deception. This charge, filed at Erie County Docket
No. 1566 of 2014, was brought as a result of an incident occurring from
May 13, 2013 to June 1, 2013, at the Days Inn in Summit Township.
Appellant created a ruse that her residence was flooded and advised the
Days Inn staff that Erie Insurance would be paying for her stay which totaled
$1,107.40.
On August 14, 2014, appellant was sentenced to 12 to 24 months’
incarceration to run consecutively to the sentence imposed at Erie County
Docket No. 570 of 2014. Appellant was also ordered to pay restitution of
$1,107.40. Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion that was denied
on September 2, 2014. A timely notice of appeal was filed at Superior Court
Docket No. 1615 WDA 2014.
In both appeals, appellant raises the identical issue:
Whether the appellant’s sentence is manifestly
excessive, clearly unreasonable and inconsistent with
the objectives of the Sentencing Code?
Appellant’s briefs at 3.
2
Restitution was also ordered in the amounts of $802 and $3,500.
-3-
J. S55007/15
Counsel having filed a petition to withdraw, we reiterate that “[w]hen
presented with an Anders brief, this court may not review the merits of the
underlying issues without first passing on the request to withdraw.”
Commonwealth v. Daniels, 999 A.2d 590, 593 (Pa.Super. 2010), citing
Commonwealth v. Goodwin, 928 A.2d 287, 290 (Pa.Super. 2007)
(en banc) (citation omitted).
In order for counsel to withdraw from an appeal
pursuant to Anders, certain requirements must be
met, and counsel must:
(1) provide a summary of the procedural
history and facts, with citations to the
record;
(2) refer to anything in the record that
counsel believes arguably supports the
appeal;
(3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the
appeal is frivolous; and
(4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding
that the appeal is frivolous. Counsel
should articulate the relevant facts of
record, controlling case law, and/or
statutes on point that have led to the
conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.
Id., quoting Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.
Upon review, we find that Attorney Merski has complied with all of the
above requirements. In addition, Attorney Merski served appellant a copy of
the Anders briefs, and advised her of her right to proceed pro se or hire a
private attorney to raise any additional points she deemed worthy of this
-4-
J. S55007/15
court’s review. Appellant has not responded to counsel’s motions to
withdraw. As we find the requirements of Anders and Santiago are met,
we will proceed to the issues on appeal.
Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of her sentence. This
court has stated:
A challenge to the discretionary aspects of
sentencing is not automatically reviewable as a
matter of right. Commonwealth v. Hunter, 768
A.2d 1136 (Pa.Super.2001)[,] appeal denied, 568
Pa. 695, 796 A.2d 979 (2001). When challenging
the discretionary aspects of a sentence, an appellant
must invoke the appellate court’s jurisdiction by
including in his brief a separate concise statement
demonstrating that there is a substantial question as
to the appropriateness of the sentence under the
Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Mouzon, 571
Pa. 419, 812 A.2d 617 (2002); Commonwealth v.
Tuladziecki, 513 Pa. 508, 522 A.2d 17 (1987);
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). “The
requirement that an appellant separately set forth
the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal
‘furthers the purpose evident in the Sentencing Code
as a whole of limiting any challenges to the trial
court’s evaluation of the multitude of factors
impinging on the sentencing decision to exceptional
cases.’” Commonwealth v. Williams, 386
Pa.Super. 322, 562 A.2d 1385, 1387 (1989)
(en banc) (emphasis in original).
Commonwealth v. McNear, 852 A.2d 401, 407-408 (Pa.Super. 2004).
Additionally, we note that:
Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound
discretion of the trial court and the lower court’s
judgment of sentence will not be disturbed by an
appellate court absent an abuse of discretion. To
constitute an abuse of discretion, a sentence must
either exceed the statutory limits or be patently
-5-
J. S55007/15
excessive. When reviewing sentencing matters, we
must accord the sentencing court great weight as it
is in the best position to view the defendant’s
character, displays of remorse, defiance or
indifference, and the overall effect and nature of the
crime.
Commonwealth v. Clever, 576 A.2d 1108, 1110 (Pa.Super. 1990)
(citations omitted).
Instantly, appellant has complied with Rule 2119(f) by including the
requisite statement in her briefs. (Appellant’s briefs at 4-5.) In her
sentencing challenge, appellant acknowledges that she received a standard
range sentence that begins at the high end of the standard range. 3 (Id.)
However, she maintains that the court failed to fully and adequately consider
the relevant sentencing factors set forth in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b), which
include “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.” In light of these alleged errors, she
avers that her sentence is manifestly excessive and an abuse of discretion.
3
Appellant entered an open guilty plea. “Upon entry of a guilty plea, a
defendant generally waives all defects and defenses except those concerning
the validity of the plea, the jurisdiction of the trial court, and the legality of
the sentence imposed.” Commonwealth v. Roden, 730 A.2d 995, 997 n.2
(Pa.Super. 1999), citing Commonwealth v. Reichle, 589 A.2d 1140(Pa.Super. 1991). “However, when the plea is open, containing no
bargained for or stated term of sentence, the defendant will not be
precluded from appealing the discretionary aspects of her sentence.” Id.citing Commonwealth v. Dalberto, 648 A.2d 16 (Pa.Super. 1994). Here,
appellant’s plea agreements contained no specific bargained for or stated
term of incarceration, and thus, her guilty pleas did not preclude the
sentencing issue she presents.
-6-
J. S55007/15
Appellant has raised a substantial question to the extent that she
contends the sentencing court failed to consider the mandatory factors set
forth in Section 9721(b). See Commonwealth v. Fullin, 892 A.2d 843,
847 (Pa.Super. 2006). However, appellant’s claim that her sentence was
excessive and the court did not consider the Section 9721(b) factors is
without any support in the record. At sentencing, the court explained:
THE COURT: Okay. All right. The Court has
considered the Pennsylvania Sentencing Code, the
presentence report and the Pennsylvania Guidelines
on sentencing.
The Court has also considered the statements
of defense counsel, the defendant and the attorney
for the Commonwealth.
The Court has considered Miss Yacobozzi’s age,
her background, character and rehabilitative needs,
the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the
offenses, the protection of the community, and the
defendant’s performance while under supervision.
It is clearly to the defendant’s credit that she
has come forward, pled guilty and accepted
responsibility for her behavior. It is unfortunate that
she comes before the Court with significant prior
criminal history, which gives her a prior record score
of five, and the sentencing guideline ranges that are
[6 to] 16 months in the standard range, and a
minimum of 19 months in the aggravated range.
The defendant, on the plus side, besides
pleading guilty, is the fact she did have a number of
years where she was clean and sober and
productive, and that is to her credit. It is
unfortunate that at the present time, there is a
warrant out for her extradition to the State of Ohio
for the crime of larceny.
-7-
J. S55007/15
It is unfortunate at the present time, there is a
detainer on her by the state for violation of her
sentence and supervision at Docket 0087 of 2003,
and it is also unfortunate that the defendant -- for
the defendant, that this is the third time she is facing
a revocation at that very same docket.
She was revoked in both 2004, and given a
state sentence, revoked in 2006, and given a state
sentence, and after all of that, and numerous
attempts to help the defendant rehabilitate herself,
she is back before the Court on three separate theft
related charges.
So in weighing all of those things, it appears,
Miss Yacobozzi, at this time, you are on the short
end of the weight. It is indeed, unfortunate, because
not only did you know better, you also knew you had
an addiction, and you knew the tools that were
necessary to deal with that addiction, and you
discarded those, and you made your choices, and
now you’re facing the consequences, and certainly,
the consequences are not going to be any better
than the last time you made choices and faced the
consequences.
Sentencing hearing, 8/14/14 at 25-27.
Clearly, appellant’s sentence fell well within the sentencing guidelines
based on her prior record score, which was a five. Further, the sentencing
court is presumed to have considered and weighed the appropriate factors
where it reviews a presentence report. Commonwealth v. Fowler, 893
A.2d 758, 766 (Pa.Super. 2006). In addition, the court discussed, at length,
appellant’s criminal history, her drug addiction, and need for rehabilitation.
Accordingly, appellant’s sentences were not unreasonable.
-8-
J. S55007/15
Having determined that the instant appeals are wholly frivolous and,
after our own independent review, that there are no other issues of arguable
merit apparent from the record, we will grant Attorney Merski’s petitions to
withdraw and affirm the judgments of sentence.
Petitions to withdraw granted. Judgments of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 9/8/2015
-9-