Com. v. Ayoub, J. ( 2021 )

J-S21044-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
JIRIES AYOUB :
:
Appellant : No. 1394 EDA 2020
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered December 11, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-23-CR-0001214-2019
BEFORE: BOWES, J., OLSON, J., and COLINS, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY COLINS, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 29, 2021
Appellant, Jiries Ayoub, appeals from the judgment of sentence of 8
years and 4 months to 16 years and 8 months’ incarceration, imposed after
he was convicted at a bench trial of aggravated assault, simple assault,
reckless endangerment, and possession of an instrument of crime. 1 For the
reasons set forth below, we affirm.
The facts out of which this case arises, as found by the trial court, are
as follows:
On February 15, 2019, officers of the Marple Police Department
were dispatched to 2221 Winding Way in Marple Township for the
report of a domestic matter between a father and a son. The
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2702(a)(1), 2701, 2705, and 907, respectively.
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victim [Appellant’s father (Victim)] had attempted to wake
[Appellant], and a short time later, when [Victim] was back in his
own bedroom, [Appellant] kicked the door heavily. To protect
himself, [Victim] grabbed a machete and cracked the door enough
to show it to [Appellant], who was 3-4 feet away from the door at
that time. At that time, [Appellant] began shooting [Victim] with
[a] pellet gun, and then the police arrived. Upon arrival at the
premises, the officers observed [Victim] who was visibly shaken,
in pain, injured, and had blood on the sleeve of his shirt. …
Officers took pictures of the scene and gathered evidence,
[Appellant] was taken into custody and [Victim] was sent for
medical treatment by ambulance.
Trial Court Opinion at 5.
A preliminary hearing was held on February 25, 2019, at which Victim
testified and charges against Appellant of aggravated assault, simple assault,
reckless endangerment, and possession of an instrument of crime were held
over for trial. Appellant was represented by counsel at the preliminary hearing
and Appellant’s counsel cross-examined Victim at length. N.T., 2/25/19, at 3,
19-36, 39-42. On October 22, 2019, Appellant waived his right to a jury trial
and a bench trial was held on October 22, 2019 and October 25, 2019.
At this trial, two of the police officers who came to the scene
immediately after the incident testified, but Victim failed to appear. At the
start of the trial, the Commonwealth advised the trial court that Victim had
been subpoenaed by the Commonwealth to appear that day and that an
attorney for Victim had advised that Victim intended to assert his Fifth
Amendment right against self-incrimination and would not testify or appear in
court. N.T., 10/22/19, at 10-11. Counsel for Victim was present and
confirmed that he had repeatedly advised Victim to come to court and that
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Victim chose not to appear. Id. at 11-12. At the Commonwealth’s request,
the trial court issued a material witness warrant for Victim. Id. On October
25, 2019, when the trial resumed, the Commonwealth represented that the
sheriff’s office and police had been looking for Victim for three days and had
not succeeded in arresting Victim on the warrant and requested that it be
allowed to introduce in evidence Victim’s testimony from the preliminary
hearing. N.T., 10/25/19, at 6-7, 14. After examining Victim’s preliminary
hearing testimony, the trial court ruled that Victim was unavailable and that
Appellant had a full and fair opportunity to cross-examine Victim at the
preliminary hearing and admitted Victim’s preliminary hearing testimony. Id.
at 11-13.
At the close of the evidence, the trial court found Appellant guilty of
aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and possession
of an instrument of crime. N.T., 10/25/19, at 56; Verdict. On December 11,
2019, the trial court sentenced Appellant to 84 months to 168 months’
incarceration for his aggravated assault conviction and a consecutive term of
16 months to 32 months’ incarceration for possession of an instrument of
crime, resulting in an aggregate sentence of 8 year and 4 months to 16 years
and 8 months. N.T., 12/11/19, at 15; Sentencing Order.2 Appellant filed a
____________________________________________
2 The trial court imposed no sentence for the reckless endangerment and
simple assault convictions on the ground that they merged with the
aggravated assault conviction. N.T., 12/11/19, at 15; Sentencing Order.
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timely post-sentence motion seeking a new trial on the grounds that the
admission of Victim’s preliminary hearing was erroneous and that the verdict
was against the weight of the evidence, seeking a judgment of acquittal on
the aggravated assault charge for insufficiency of the evidence, and seeking
reconsideration and modification of sentence. Following the denial of his post-
sentence motion by operation of law, Appellant timely appealed from his
judgment of sentence.
Appellant presents the following issues for our review in this appeal:
1. Whether the verdict of guilty of Aggravated Assault, Recklessly
Endangering another Person and Possession of Instruments of
Crime, are against the weight of the evidence, where the verdicts
were based principally on the preliminary hearing testimony of an
absent witness, and the testimony is so contradictory and
inconclusive that no findings could be made with respect to the
crimes charged?
2. Whether the verdict of guilty of Aggravated Assault is based on
insufficient evidence, where testimony showed only that Appellant
fired a pellet gun at a door at a time when the victim exposed his
arm outside the door?
3. Whether the trial court erred and abused its discretion in
admitting prior preliminary hearing testimony of an absent
witness, where the record fails to demonstrate that the
Commonwealth, as the proponent of the evidence, made
reasonable efforts to procure the attendance of the witness at
trial?
4. Whether the trial court erred and abused its discretion where
the sentence imposed upon Appellant is overly harsh and
manifestly excessive, imposed a sentence [that] is based on ill will
and animus towards the Appellant, and where the trial court
improperly interpreted Appellant's silence at sentencing as a lack
of responsibility and remorse?
Appellant’s Brief at 5-6.
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We address Appellant’s third issue, the admission of Victim’s preliminary
hearing testimony, first, as the weight and sufficiency of the evidence issues
involve consideration of that testimony. Admission of the preliminary hearing
testimony of a witness who is unavailable at trial is permissible under Rule
804(b)(1) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence and does not violate the
defendant’s right of confrontation if the defendant was represented by counsel
at the preliminary hearing and had a full and fair opportunity to cross-examine
the witness at the preliminary hearing. Commonwealth v. Wholaver, 989
A.2d 883, 901-05 (Pa. 2010); Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 152 A.3d 355,
358-59 (Pa. Super. 2016); Commonwealth v. Leak, 22 A.3d 1036, 1043-
47 (Pa. Super. 2011).
If the defendant was not denied vital impeachment evidence, such as a
prior inconsistent statement by the witness, the witness’s criminal record, or
pending criminal charges against the witness, and defense counsel was not
restricted in his cross-examination, the fact that defense counsel did not
cross-examine the witness as extensively as he would have at trial does not
constitute a deprivation of the right of confrontation and does not constitute
grounds for exclusion of an unavailable witness’s preliminary hearing
testimony. Commonwealth v. Leaner, 202 A.3d 749, 775 (Pa. Super.
2019); Mitchell, 152 A.3d at 359; Leak, 22 A.3d at 1045. “The
Commonwealth may not be deprived of its ability to present inculpatory
evidence at trial merely because the defendant, despite having the
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opportunity to do so, did not cross-examine the witness at the preliminary
hearing as extensively as he might have done at trial.” Leaner, 202 A.3d at
775 (quoting Leak). The burden is on the defendant to show that he was
denied vital impeachment evidence at the time of the preliminary hearing.
Leaner, 202 A.3d at 775; Leak, 22 A.3d at 1044.
The record shows that Appellant had a full and fair opportunity to cross-
examine Victim at the preliminary hearing. Appellant was represented by
counsel at the preliminary hearing, his counsel was not restricted in his cross-
examination of Victim, and his counsel in fact cross-examined Victim at length.
N.T., 2/25/19, at 3, 19-36, 39-42. Appellant does not identify any evidence
that he needed to fully cross-examine Victim that he was denied at the time
of the preliminary hearing.
Rather, the error that Appellant asserts with respect to the admission of
Victim’s preliminary hearing testimony is that an insufficient showing was
made that Victim was unavailable to testify at trial. A witness is unavailable
and his prior testimony may be introduced only if the party seeking to
introduce the prior testimony shows that it made a good faith effort to locate
the witness and compel his attendance. Commonwealth v. Blair, 331 A.2d
213, 214 (Pa. 1975); Commonwealth v. Cruz–Centeno, 668 A.2d 536, 541
(Pa. Super. 1995). Whether a sufficient good-faith effort to obtain the
witness’s attendance has been shown is a matter within the trial court’s
discretion and the trial court’s determination that the witness was unavailable
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cannot be reversed unless an abuse of discretion is shown. Commonwealth
v. Douglas, 737 A.2d 1188, 1196 (Pa. 1999); Commonwealth v. Jackson,
344 A.2d 842, 844 (Pa. 1975); Commonwealth v. Lebo, 795 A.2d 987, 990
(Pa. Super. 2002).
Here, the Commonwealth had subpoenaed Victim and when he did not
appear, obtained a material witness warrant for his appearance. N.T.,
10/22/19, at 10-12. The Commonwealth also represented that following the
issuance of the material witness warrant, the sheriff’s office and police actively
and unsuccessfully looked for Victim for three days to bring him into court on
that warrant. N.T., 10/25/19, at 6, 14. Appellant did not dispute that the
Commonwealth had made these substantial efforts to bring Victim in to testify
or contend that there was some additional type of search that might have
located Victim, but instead argued to the trial court that Victim’s preliminary
hearing could not be admitted because he had not had a full and fair
opportunity to cross-examine at the preliminary hearing. Id. at 7-10. Only
after the trial court ruled that Appellant had a full and fair opportunity to cross-
examine and that the preliminary hearing testimony was admissible, did
Appellant raise any issue concerning ability to obtain Victim’s attendance at
trial, and even then he only requested that the trial court delay the trial to
have “a little bit more time to actually pick up the victim,” and did not question
the extent of the Commonwealth’s efforts to find Victim. Id. at 13. Under
these circumstances, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding
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that the Commonwealth had shown that it made a good-faith effort to obtain
Victim’s attendance at trial. Compare Jackson, 344 A.2d at 844 (good-faith
effort shown and prior testimony was properly admitted where Commonwealth
had notified witness’s grandmother that he would be called as a witness, she
had witness released to her custody, and witness absconded) with Lebo, 795
A.2d at 990 (Commonwealth did not show good faith effort and prior
testimony was inadmissible where Commonwealth did not represent that it
had subpoenaed the witness).
Moving to Appellant’s other issues, Appellant in his first issue contends
that the trial court erred in denying a new trial because its verdict was against
the weight of the evidence. A new trial may be granted on the ground that
the verdict is against the weight of the evidence only where the evidence at
trial was so weak or the verdict was so contrary to the evidence that the
verdict shocks the conscience of the trial court. Commonwealth v. Gilliam,
249 A.3d 257, 269-70 (Pa. Super. 2021); Commonwealth v. Antidormi, 84
A.3d 736, 758 (Pa. Super. 2014).
Our review of the denial of a motion for a new trial based on weight of
the evidence is limited. We review whether the trial court abused its discretion
in concluding that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence, not
whether the verdict, in this Court’s opinion, was against the weight of the
evidence. Commonwealth v. Clemons, 200 A.3d 441, 463-64 (Pa. 2019).
Because the trial judge has had the opportunity to hear and see
the evidence presented, an appellate court will give the gravest
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consideration to the findings and reasons advanced by the trial
judge …. One of the least assailable reasons for granting or
denying a new trial is the lower court’s conviction that the verdict
was or was not against the weight of the evidence.
Antidormi, 84 A.3d at 758 (quoting Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049(Pa. 2013)) (brackets omitted). Here, the trial court concluded that the guilty
verdict on the evidence before it did not shock the conscience. Trial Court
Opinion at 8.
Appellant argues that Victim’s preliminary hearing testimony was so
confused and vague that a verdict based on that evidence must be held to
shock the conscience. We do not agree. While the Victim’s testimony shows
some confusion about the time of day and precise sequence and time of some
events, Victim testified clearly and unequivocally that he saw Appellant fire a
pellet gun at him, that Appellant repeatedly kicked and shot at the door of
Victim’s bedroom door, and that Appellant shot him in the arm with the pellet
gun. N.T., 2/25/19, at 10-11, 13-15, 32, 36-38, 40-42. Victim also testified
that he picked up a knife only after Appellant began acting violently and only
showed it to Appellant from several feet away. Id. at 11, 13-14, 31-34.
Moreover, Victim’s testimony was corroborated by other evidence. The
police witnesses, a police sergeant and a detective, testified that when they
arrived at the scene, they found Victim in pain with bleeding wounds on his
right arm that were consistent with pellet wounds. N.T., 10/22/19, at 19-21,
35-36; N.T., 10/25/19, at 21, 33, 36. The detective testified that he found a
.177-caliber pellet gun containing a CO2 cartridge, boxes of .177-caliber
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pellets, and two spent CO2 cartridges in Appellant’s room. N.T., 2/22/19, at
22-28, 48. The police witnesses testified that the door to Victim’s bedroom
had 15 holes that matched the .177-caliber pellets, that its molding was split
off consistent with having been hit with significant force, and that the door to
Appellant’s bedroom was not damaged. N.T., 10/22/19, at 29-34, 49-50;
N.T., 10/25/19, at 18, 31, 34-36. The police witnesses also testified that there
was no blood on Victim’s knife or any indication from its condition that it had
been used in a fight and that when he was arrested, photographed, and
fingerprinted that day, Appellant had no injuries or marks on his body. N.T.,
10/22/19, at 36-42; N.T., 10/25/19, at 19-20, 33-34.
Appellant also argues that Victim’s testimony could not be found credible
because Victim had expressed an intent to invoke his right against self-
incrimination. A witness’s refusal to testify on grounds that his testimony may
incriminate him can raise a permissible inference that his testimony at a prior
hearing was false. Commonwealth v. Melson, 637 A.2d 633, 640 (Pa.
Super. 1994); Commonwealth v. Crosland, 580 A.2d 804, 810 (Pa. Super.
1990). This rule, however, is not applicable here. Victim did not in fact invoke
his Fifth Amendment right in court and Victim’s prior testimony was ruled
admissible because he was not found despite good-faith efforts of the
Commonwealth to procure his appearance at trial, not because he claimed
self-incrimination. Moreover, this rule only requires that the fact finder be
aware that the witness invoked his right to self-incrimination and the possible
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inference that the prior testimony was false, not that the fact finder cannot
find the prior testimony credible or sufficient to support a guilty verdict. Here,
the trial court was fully aware of Victim’s expressed intent to invoke his right
against self-incrimination and the trial court was not precluded from finding
that Victim’s prior testimony, which was corroborated by other evidence, was
credible.
Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding Victim’s
preliminary hearing testimony credible and in finding that its guilty verdict
does not shock the conscience, Appellant’s contention that he is entitled to a
new trial on weight of the evidence grounds is without merit.
In his second issue, Appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient
to support his aggravated assault conviction. This argument likewise fails.
Our standard of review in a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence
is well-settled:
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we must
determine whether the evidence admitted at trial and all
reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, viewed in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict winner, were sufficient
to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
“[T]he facts and circumstances established by the Commonwealth
need not preclude every possibility of innocence.” It is within the
province of the fact-finder to determine the weight to accord to
each witness’s testimony and to believe all, part or none of the
evidence. The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving
every element of the crime by means of wholly circumstantial
evidence. As an appellate court, we may not re-weigh the
evidence and substitute our judgment for that of the fact-finder.
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Commonwealth v. Steele, 234 A.3d 840, 845 (Pa. Super. 2020) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Colon-Plaza, 136 A.3d 521 (Pa. Super. 2016)) (citations
omitted, brackets in original).
Appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove aggravated
assault because the injuries suffered by Victim did not constitute serious bodily
injury. Proof that the victim suffered serious injury, however, is not required
to prove the offense of aggravated assault. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1); Steele,
234 A.3d at 845; Commonwealth v. Galindes, 786 A.2d 1004, 1012 (Pa.
Super. 2001). Section 2702(a) of the Crimes Code provides in relevant part
that
[a] person is guilty of aggravated assault if he:
(1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or
causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under
circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of
human life[.]
18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1)(emphasis added). “Under the plain language of [this
statute], the Commonwealth need only show that the defendant attempted to
cause serious bodily injury to another, not that serious bodily injury actually
occurred.” Steele, 234 A.3d at 845.
Evidence that the defendant fired a gun at another person, whether
directly, by shooting at an occupied room, or by shooting at a closed door that
separated the defendant from the victim, is sufficient to prove an attempt to
cause serious bodily injury and satisfy the essential elements of aggravated
assault, even if no injury occurred. Steele, 234 A.3d at 845-46;
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Commonwealth v. McCalman, 795 A.2d 412, 415-16 (Pa. Super. 2002);
Galindes, 786 A.2d at 1012; Commonwealth v. Rosado, 684 A.2d 605,
608-10 (Pa. Super. 1996); Commonwealth v. Baj, 1186 EDA 2019, slip op.
at 5-7 (Pa. Super. May 4, 2020) (unpublished memorandum). Here, there
was evidence before the trial court that Appellant fired a pellet gun at Victim
and fired the pellet gun at the door of Victim’s bedroom at least 15 times,
knowing that Victim was inside the bedroom. N.T., 2/25/19, at 13-15, 34,
36-38, 40-42; N.T., 10/22/19, at 30-32, 34.
The fact that the weapon that Appellant fired at Victim was a pellet gun
does not preclude a finding that he intended and attempted to cause serious
bodily injury. The police sergeant testified that Appellant’s CO2-powered pellet
gun was more powerful than a BB gun and can put out an eye or can cause
death if an artery is hit with the pellet. N.T., 10/25/19, at 20-21, 32-33. A
CO2-powered pellet gun is a deadly weapon under the Crimes Code. 18
Pa.C.S. § 2301 (defining “deadly weapon” as including “[a]ny firearm, whether
loaded or unloaded, or any device designed as a weapon and capable of
producing death or serious bodily injury”); Commonwealth v. Ramos, 920
A.2d 1253, 1260 (Pa. Super. 2007) (pneumatic or carbon dioxide powered BB
gun is deadly weapon because it is capable of producing death or serious
injury).
In his final issue, Appellant challenges his sentence as excessive.
Appellant concedes that his sentence is within the sentencing guidelines,
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Appellant’s Brief at 48 n.5, but asserts that the trial court failed to take into
account his rehabilitative needs, that a comment made by the trial court at
the sentencing hearing shows that the sentence was the product of animus
and ill-will toward Appellant, and that the trial court impermissibly based its
sentence on Appellant’s failure at sentencing to admit guilt or take
responsibility for his actions.
These arguments are challenges to the discretionary aspects of
Appellant’s sentence. Challenges to the discretionary aspects of a sentence
are not appealable as of right and may be considered only where the appellant
has preserved the issue in the trial court at sentencing or in a motion for
reconsideration of sentence, the appellant has included in his brief a concise
statement of the reasons relied on for his challenge to the discretionary
aspects of his sentence in accordance with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f), and the
challenge to the sentence raises a substantial question that the sentence
appealed from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code.
Commonwealth v. Lucky, 229 A.3d 657, 663-64 (Pa. Super. 2020)
Commonwealth v. Dempster, 187 A.3d 266, 272 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en
banc); Antidormi, 84 A.3d at 759.
Appellant has satisfied the first two of these three requirements.
Appellant filed a motion for reconsideration and modification of sentence
raising the same arguments that he asserts in this appeal. Appellant’s Post-
Sentence Motion at 6-7. Appellant has also included in his brief a separate
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Rule 2119(f) concise statement of the reasons relied on for his challenges to
the discretionary aspects of his sentence. Appellant’s Brief at 45.
We conclude that Appellant has raised a substantial question, but only
with respect to his claims that the sentence was based on animus and ill will
and on Appellant’s failure to take responsibility at sentencing. A substantial
question exists where the appellant advances a colorable argument that the
sentencing judge’s actions were inconsistent with a specific provision of the
Sentencing Code or were contrary to the fundamental norms of the sentencing
process. Lucky, 229 A.3d at 664; Antidormi, 84 A.3d at 759;
Commonwealth v. Griffin, 65 A.3d 932, 935 (Pa. Super. 2013).
Where, as here, the sentence is not extreme in length and it is
undisputed that the sentence imposed is within sentencing guidelines and that
the trial court considered the defendant’s history, a claim that the trial court
did not consider the defendant’s rehabilitative needs does not present a
substantial question. Commonwealth v. Watson, 228 A.3d 928, 935-36
(Pa. Super. 2020); Griffin, 65 A.3d at 936-37; Commonwealth v. Cannon,
954 A.2d 1222, 1228–29 (Pa. Super. 2008); but see Commonwealth v.
Caldwell, 117 A.3d 763, 767, 769-70 (Pa. Super. 2015) (en banc) (failure to
consider defendant’s rehabilitative needs coupled with excessiveness claim
presented a substantial question where aggregate sentence was 31-62 years
in prison). In contrast, an allegation of bias in sentencing implicates the
fundamental norms of sentencing and thus raises a substantial question.
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Lucky, 229 A.3d at 664; Commonwealth v. Corley, 31 A.3d 293, 297 (Pa.
Super. 2011). In addition, a claim that the trial court based its sentence on
the defendant’s silence at sentencing is a claim that the trial court based its
sentence on an improper factor and therefore presents a substantial question.
Commonwealth v. Bowen, 975 A.2d 1120, 1122 (Pa. Super. 2009).
Therefore, we proceed to consider the merits of Appellant’s claims that his
sentence was the result of animus and ill will and that the trial court
impermissibly based its sentence on Appellant’s failure to take responsibility
at sentencing.
Both of these challenges to Appellant’s sentence fail on the merits.
Cases where a sentence has been vacated as the product of animus toward
the defendant based on statements of the trial judge at sentencing have
involved both repeated statements by the trial judge showing hostility and
imposition of a maximum sentences or a sentence that far exceeds the
sentence here. Lucky, 229 A.3d at 665-70 (trial judge increased defendant’s
sentence for a technical probation violation to the maximum sentence after
becoming frustrated with him during sentencing and expressed hostility
toward district attorney’s office when it advocated a lesser sentence);
Commonwealth v. Williams, 69 A.3d 735, 742-49 (Pa. Super. 2013)
(vacating sentence of approximately 24 to 48 years for bias where trial judge
made characterizations of the defendant as a “pathological liar” and “classic
sociopath” that were unsupported by the record and indicated that he was
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judging the defendant based on her gender); Commonwealth v. Spencer,
496 A.2d 1156, 1163-65 (Pa. Super. 1985) (vacating 35-70 year sentence for
bias where trial judge repeatedly referred to the defendant as an “animal” and
called him ”Punk”).
Here, the only statement by the trial court that Appellant contends
shows bias or animus against him was its statement that “Santa gave me a
present this year. He gave me you to sentence. And I have to thank Santa for
that.” N.T., 12/11/19, at 15. This statement was made by the trial court
immediately after Appellant interrupted the court as it was imposing sentence
and the trial court explained in its opinion that the remark was a tongue-in-
cheek comment in response to Appellant’s attempt to interrupt the sentencing,
not an expression of pleasure at being given the opportunity to sentence
Appellant. Id.; Trial Court Opinion at 12. Moreover, the trial court amply
explained the reasons for the sentence that it imposed, N.T., 12/11/19, at 12-
15, and the sentence was within the sentencing guidelines and significantly
less than the maximum sentence for the offenses of which Appellant was
convicted. Given these facts, the trial court’s isolated comment does not rise
to the level of showing bias or animus or ill will toward Appellant.
The trial court also did not impermissibly base Appellant’s sentence on
his decision not to admit guilt at sentencing. Where the defendant has
maintained his innocence and has invoked his Fifth Amendment right to
remain silent, a sentencing court may not rely on the defendant’s decision to
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remain silent at sentencing as the sole basis for concluding that the defendant
has not shown remorse. Bowen, 975 A.2d at 1127-28. At the sentencing in
this case, the trial court did state that Appellant “has not taken responsibility
for this case. He’s had an opportunity to address this Court, chooses not to,
shows no remorse or responsibility.” N.T., 12/11/19, at 14. The trial court,
however, did not base its conclusion that Appellant lacked remorse solely on
his silence; it also relied on Appellant’s prison phone calls attempting to induce
Victim to recant his testimony and lie about the attack in concluding that
Appellant showed no remorse. Id. at 10, 14. Moreover, even where the trial
court has erroneously found lack of remorse based solely on the defendant’s
silence at sentencing, that does not constitute grounds for vacating the
sentence where the record shows that the trial court set forth significant
reasons for its sentence that are unconnected to the defendant’s silence.
Bowen, 975 A.2d at 1127-28. Here, the record shows that the trial court
based Appellant’s sentence on the violent nature of the offense and Appellant’s
extensive criminal history, which included violent crimes. N.T., 12/11/19, at
12-15.
For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that none of the issues raised
by Appellant merits relief. Accordingly, we affirm Appellant’s judgment of
sentence.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 11/29/2021
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