Com. v. Simmons, L. ( 2018 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
LANEILL C. SIMMONS, : No. 491 MDA 2017
:
Appellant :
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence, March 9, 2017,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
Criminal Division at No. CP-40-CR-0002378-2014
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., MURRAY, J., AND FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.: FILED AUGUST 13, 2018
Appellant, Laneill C. Simmons, appeals from the March 9, 2017
judgment of sentence following his conviction of manufacture, delivery, or
possession with intent to manufacture or deliver cocaine; tampering with
evidence; and possession of marijuana.1 The trial court appointed the Luzerne
County Public Defender’s Office as appellant’s counsel for his appeal.
Richard M. Buttner, Esq., filed a petition to withdraw on April 9, 2018, alleging
1 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4910(1), and 35 P.S. § 780-
113(a)(31), respectively. Appellant was also charged with manufacture,
delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver marijuana and
resisting arrest. 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5104,
respectively. The Commonwealth withdrew the possession with intent to
deliver charge, and the jury acquitted appellant of resisting arrest.
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that the appeal is frivolous, accompanied by an Anders brief.2 After careful
review, we grant Attorney Buttner’s withdrawal petition and affirm the
judgment of sentence.
The trial court provided the following factual and procedural history:
On August 20, 2014, the Luzerne County District
Attorney filed a Criminal Information charging
[appellant] with manufacture, delivery, or possession
with intent to manufacture or deliver cocaine,
manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to
manufacture or deliver marijuana, resisting arrest,
tampering with evidence, and possession of
marijuana. [Appellant] pleaded not guilty and a jury
trial commenced on January 17, 2017. On
January 19, 2017, the jury returned guilty verdicts on
Counts 1, 4, and 5. A Pre-Sentence Investigation
(PSI) was ordered to be completed by the Luzerne
County Adult Probation and Parole Department, and a
sentencing hearing was scheduled for March 9, 2017.
At the sentencing hearing, counsel for the
Commonwealth and [appellant] were heard, and
[appellant] made a statement on his own behalf.
After review and consideration of the submissions of
counsel, the statement of [appellant], and a review of
the PSI, [the trial c]ourt sentenced [appellant] to an
aggregate sentence of thirty-nine (39) to one hundred
twenty (120) months[’] imprisonment in a state
correctional facility. Following the imposition of
sentence, [appellant] was advised of his
post-sentence rights. Defense counsel requested
permission to withdraw, and indicated to [the trial
c]ourt that [appellant] intended to secure a public
defender to pursue an appeal of his sentence. The
[trial c]ourt the[n] granted defense counsel
permission to withdraw, and on March 20, 2017, the
Luzerne County Public Defender’s Office approved
[appellant’s] application for representation.
2See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Commonwealth v.
Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009).
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A counseled defense motion was then filed on
March 21, 2017, seeking permission to file
post-sentence motions nunc pro tunc. [The trial
c]ourt lacked jurisdiction to hear the motion, however,
because on March 16, 2017, unbeknownst to defense
counsel, [appellant] had filed a pro se Notice of
Appeal of his judgment of sentence. This procedural
posture was altered on May 31, 2017, when the
Superior Court granted a defense application for
remand and directed [the trial c]ourt to dispose of
[appellant’s] motion for permission to file
post-sentence motions nunc pro tunc. [(Per curiam
order, 5/31/17.)] Thereafter, on June 5, 2017, we
allowed [appellant] to file post-sentence motions
nunc pro tunc.
[Appellant] then filed a counseled post-sentence
motion, which, for purposes of this appeal, raised an
allegation that the verdict with regard to [appellant’s]
conviction for possession with intent to deliver cocaine
was against the weight of the evidence. [Appellant’s]
post-sentence motion was denied by [the trial c]ourt
on June 29, 2017.
Subsequently, an issue arose regarding whether
[appellant] desired continued representation by the
Luzerne County Public Defender’s Office. At the
direction of the Superior Court, this [c]ourt held a
hearing on August 8, 2017, to determine whether
[appellant] wanted to proceed pro se, or whether he
wanted to proceed represented by Public Defender
Attorney Amanda Young. Following that hearing,
during which [appellant] did not waive his right to
counsel but instead indicated that he wished to be
represented by counsel, [the trial c]ourt ordered that
Attorney Young and the Luzerne County Public
Defender’s Office remain as counsel for [appellant].
[Appellant] was then directed to file a Concise
Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal
pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) and the
Commonwealth was requested to respond thereto.
[Appellant] filed a timely, counseled Rule 1925(b)
Statement on August 31, 2017, and the
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Commonwealth filed its response on September 25,
2017.
Trial court opinion, 11/20/17 at 1-3 (footnotes and citations to the record
omitted). The trial court filed an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) on
November 20, 2017.
On April 9, 2018, Attorney Buttner filed in this court a petition to
withdraw as counsel and an Anders brief, wherein Attorney Buttner states
there are no non-frivolous issues preserved for our review.
A request by appointed counsel to withdraw pursuant
to Anders and Santiago gives rise to certain
requirements and obligations, for both appointed
counsel and this Court. Commonwealth v. Flowers,
113 A.3d 1246, 1247-48 (Pa.Super. 2015).
These requirements and the significant
protection they provide to an Anders
appellant arise because a criminal
defendant has a constitutional right to a
direct appeal and to counsel on that
appeal. Commonwealth v. Woods, 939
A.2d 896, 898 (Pa.Super. 2007). This
Court has summarized these
requirements as follows:
Direct appeal counsel seeking
to withdraw under Anders
must file a petition averring
that, after a conscientious
examination of the record,
counsel finds the appeal to be
wholly frivolous. Counsel
must also file an Anders brief
setting forth issues that might
arguably support the appeal
along with any other issues
necessary for the effective
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appellate presentation
thereof.
Anders counsel must also
provide a copy of the Anders
petition and brief to the
appellant, advising the
appellant of the right to retain
new counsel, proceed pro se
or raise any additional points
worthy of this Court’s
attention.
Woods, 939 A.2d at 898 (citations
omitted).
There are also requirements as to the
precise content of an Anders brief:
[T]he Anders brief that
accompanies court-appointed
counsel’s petition to withdraw
. . . 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.
Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.
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Id. at 1248. If this Court determines that appointed
counsel has met these obligations, it is then our
responsibility “to make a full examination of the
proceedings and make an independent judgment to
decide whether the appeal is in fact wholly frivolous.”
Id. at 1248. In so doing, we review not only the
issues identified by appointed counsel in the Anders
brief, but examine all of the proceedings to “make
certain that appointed counsel has not overlooked the
existence of potentially non-frivolous issues.” Id.
Commonwealth v. Hankerson, 118 A.3d 415, 419-420 (Pa.Super. 2015).
Our review of Attorney Buttner’s petition to withdraw, supporting
documentation, and Anders brief reveals that he has complied with all of the
foregoing requirements. We note that counsel also furnished a copy of the
brief to appellant; advised him of his right to retain new counsel, proceed
pro se, or raise any additional points that he deems worthy of this court’s
attention; and attached to the Anders petition a copy of the letter sent to
appellant as required under Commonwealth v. Millisock, 873 A.2d 748, 752
(Pa.Super. 2005) (citation omitted). See Commonwealth v. Daniels, 999
A.2d 590, 594 (Pa.Super. 2010) (“While the Supreme Court in Santiago set
forth the new requirements for an Anders brief, which are quoted above, the
holding did not abrogate the notice requirements set forth in Millisock that
remain binding legal precedent.”). Appellant did not respond to
Attorney Buttner’s Anders brief. As Attorney Buttner has complied with all of
the requirements set forth above, we conclude that counsel has satisfied the
procedural requirements of Anders.
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Once counsel has met his obligations, “it then becomes the responsibility
of the reviewing court to make a full examination of the proceedings and make
an independent judgment to decide whether the appeal is in fact wholly
frivolous.” Santiago, 978 A.2d at 355 n.5, quoting Commonwealth v.
McClendon, 434 A.2d 1185, 1187 (Pa. 1981). Thus, we now turn to the
merits of appellant’s appeal.
Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
1. Whether the verdict was against the weight of
the evidence, specifically the charge of PWID-
cocaine, and whether [a]ppellant possessed the
contraband for personal use as opposed to
distribution?
2. Whether [a]ppellant was not tried before a jury
of his peers in violation of his Six [sic]
Amendment right?
3. Whether the transcript from the suppression
hearing of July 30, 2016 was tampered with and
altered in any way?
4. Whether [a]ppellant was subject to
prosecutorial misconduct?
5. Whether the trial court erred in failing to grant
[a]ppellant’s suppression motion?
6. Whether [a]ppellant’s sentence was harsh and
excessive?
Anders brief at 4.
I.
In his first issue on appeal, appellant avers that the jury’s verdict was
contrary to the weight of the evidence. Specifically, appellant contends that
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his evidence was more credible and that the jury should have believed his
contention that his possession of cocaine and marijuana was for personal use
and not for distribution. (See id. at 16.) Our standard of review for
determining whether a verdict is compatible with the weight of the evidence
is well settled:
A motion for a new trial based on a claim that the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence is
addressed to the discretion of the trial court.
Commonwealth v. Widmer, [] 744 A.2d 745,
751-52 (Pa. 2000); Commonwealth v. Brown, []
648 A.2d 1177, 1189 (Pa. 1994). A new trial should
not be granted because of a mere conflict in the
testimony or because the judge on the same facts
would have arrived at a different conclusion.
Widmer, [] 744 A.2d at 752. Rather, “the role of the
trial judge is to determine that ‘notwithstanding all the
facts, certain facts are so clearly of greater weight that
to ignore them or to give them equal weight with all
the facts is to deny justice.’” Id. at 752 (citation
omitted). It has often been stated that “a new trial
should be awarded when the jury’s verdict is so
contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of
justice and the award of a new trial is imperative so
that right may be given another opportunity to
prevail.” Brown, [] 648 A.2d at 1189.
An appellate court’s standard of review when
presented with a weight of the evidence claim is
distinct from the standard of review applied by the
trial court:
Appellate review of a weight claim is a
review of the exercise of discretion, not of
the underlying question of whether the
verdict is against the weight of the
evidence. Brown, 648 A.2d at 1189.
Because the trial judge has had the
opportunity to hear and see the evidence
presented, an appellate court will give the
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gravest consideration to the findings and
reasons advanced by the trial judge when
reviewing a trial court’s determination
that the verdict is against the weight of
the evidence. Commonwealth v.
Farquharson, [] 354 A.2d 545 (Pa.
1976). 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 and that a new trial should be
granted in the interest of justice.
Widmer, [] 744 A.2d at 753 (emphasis added).
This does not mean that the exercise of discretion by
the trial court in granting or denying a motion for a
new trial based on a challenge to the weight of the
evidence is unfettered. In describing the limits of a
trial court’s discretion, we have explained:
The term “discretion” imports the exercise
of judgment, wisdom and skill so as to
reach a dispassionate conclusion within
the framework of the law, and is not
exercised for the purpose of giving effect
to the will of the judge. Discretion must
be exercised on the foundation of reason,
as opposed to prejudice, personal
motivations, caprice or arbitrary actions.
Discretion is abused where the course
pursued 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.
Widmer, [] 744 A.2d at 753 (quoting Coker v. S.M.
Flickinger Co., [] 625 A.2d 1181, 1184-85 (Pa.
1993)).
Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049, 1054-1055 (Pa. 2013).
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A fact-finder is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence
presented. Commonwealth v. Mosley, 114 A.3d 1072, 1087 (Pa.Super.
2015). This court cannot assume the task of assessing the credibility of the
witnesses or the evidence presented at trial, as that task is within the
exclusive purview of the fact-finder. Hankerson, 118 A.3d at 420.
Appellant’s weight of the evidence argument is grounded in the theory
that the jury should have found both appellant’s own testimony and the
testimony of his expert, Ned Delaney, to be more credible. (Anders brief at
16-17.) In declining to find that the conviction was against the weight of the
evidence, the trial court found the verdict reached was not so contrary to the
evidence as to shock one’s “sense of justice.” (Trial court opinion, 11/20/17
at 5.) We find no abuse of discretion in such a conclusion. Accordingly,
appellant’s weight of the evidence claim is without merit.
II.
In his second issue on appeal, appellant contends that his Sixth
Amendment rights were violated because he was not tried before a jury of his
peers. Specifically, appellant avers that he was not tried by a “fair
cross-section of his peers and the community,” and as a result, he was
deprived of his equal protection rights under the Sixth Amendment. (Anders
brief at 19.)
Issues pertaining to the racial composition of a jury are governed by the
Supreme Court of the United States’ holding in Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S.
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79 (1986.) “In Batson, the [High Court] held that a prosecutor’s challenge
to potential jurors solely on the basis of race violates the Equal Protection
Clause of the United States Constitution.” Commonwealth v. Reid, 99 A.3d
470, 484 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted), citing Batson, 476 U.S. at 89.
Before we can determine the merits of appellant’s Batson claim, we
must first determine whether it was properly preserved. The Pennsylvania
Rules of Appellate Procedure mandate that any issue not raised before the
lower court cannot be raised for the first time on appeal and is, therefore,
waived on appeal. Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); see also Commonwealth v. Edwards,
177 A.3d 963, 971 (Pa.Super. 2018).
In the instant appeal, there is no record of any Batson claim being
raised before the trial court; rather, appellant is raising this issue for the first
time before this court. Accordingly, we find that appellant’s second issue is
waived on appeal.
III.
Appellant next argues that the transcript from the July 30, 2016
suppression hearing was tampered with and altered. Specifically, appellant
“maintains that the transcript from that evidentiary [] hearing was tampered
with by the [Commonwealth] and, therefore, he was deprived of a fair
suppression hearing and, therefore, a fair trial.” (Anders brief at 19.)
Based on our review of the record, we agree with Attorney Buttner’s
following analysis of this issue:
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The record reflects that the trial court rendered its
decision on the record at the suppression hearing,
even before a transcript from the suppression hearing
had been prepared and filed. Therefore, it is
impossible to see how this assertion could have
affected the outcome of the trial court’s decision on
whether to suppress evidence. Appellant’s private
trial counsel reviewed this challenge with the trial
court at the start of trial. There, trial counsel indicated
to the trial court that he discussed it with [a]ppellant’s
original counsel who handled the suppression hearing
and had her review the transcript. She, in turn,
indicated that the transcript was accurate.
Finally regarding any prejudice that can be discerned
from inaccuracies in the suppression transcript, the
trial transcript reveals that the suppression transcript
was not utilized for impeachment. Therefore, even if
there were inaccuracies in the suppression transcript,
that it was not utilized presents a situation absent of
prejudice to [a]ppellant.
Anders brief at 29.
Accordingly, we find that appellant’s third issue is without merit.
IV.
Appellant next avers that the Commonwealth engaged in prosecutorial
misconduct. Appellant specifically alleges that the Commonwealth altered the
suppression hearing transcript; that the Commonwealth “lied at a bail hearing
about his knowledge of a DUI arrest and, also, called [a]ppellant’s bondman
asking that his bail be revoked[;]” and that during closing argument, the
Commonwealth argued that appellant, “deserved to be beaten up by the police
because he was disrespectful.” (Anders brief at 19-20.)
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When addressing claims of prosecutorial misconduct, we are governed
by the following standard of review:
Our standard of review for a claim of prosecutorial
misconduct is limited to whether the trial court abused
its discretion. In considering this claim, our attention
is focused on whether the defendant was deprived of
a fair trial, not a perfect one. Not every inappropriate
remark by a prosecutor constitutes reversible error. A
prosecutor’s statements to a jury do not occur in a
vacuum, and we must view them in context. Even if
the prosecutor’s arguments are improper, they
generally will not form the basis for a new trial unless
the comments unavoidably prejudiced the jury and
prevented a true verdict.
Commonwealth v. Toritto, 67 A.3d 29, 37 (Pa.Super. 2013), appeal
denied, 80 A.3d 777 (Pa. 2013), quoting Commonwealth v. Lewis, 39 A.3d
341, 352 (Pa.Super. 2012), appeal denied, 51 A.3d 838 (Pa. 2012). See
also Commonwealth v. Robinson, 877 A.2d 433, 441 (Pa. 2005)
(prosecutorial misconduct does not occur unless the jurors form a fixed bias
and hostility toward the defendant based on the prosecutor’s comments).
We shall address each of appellant’s allegations separately. Appellant’s
first allegation that the Commonwealth altered the suppression hearing
transcript was discussed in detail above. Appellant next avers that the
Commonwealth “lied at a bail hearing about his knowledge of a DUI arrest
and, also, called [appellant’s] bondman asking that his bail be revoked.”
(Anders brief at 19-20).
As noted by Attorney Buttner in his Anders brief, there is no indication
that the Commonwealth’s conduct relating to appellant’s bail affected the
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outcome of the trial. (See id. at 30.) Accordingly, pursuant to our supreme
court’s holding in Robinson and our court’s holding in Toritto, we find that
the trial court did not abuse its discretion, as there is no evidence of record
that the Commonwealth’s conduct produced a fixed bias or hostility against
appellant among the jurors.
Finally, appellant avers that during its closing argument, the
Commonwealth stated that appellant “deserved to get beaten up by the police
because he was disrespectful.” (Id. at 20.) Putting aside that this is an
incorrect statement regarding the Commonwealth’s closing arguments, as
noted above, the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure require that an
issue first be raised before the trial court. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). An objection
to prosecutorial misconduct must be raised before the trial court in order to
preserve the issue for appellate review. Commonwealth v. Tedford, 960
A.2d 1, 29 (Pa. 2008) (“Where, as here, no objection was raised, there is no
claim of ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ as such available.”).
Upon our review of the record, appellant failed to object to the
Commonwealth’s remarks cited during closing argument.3 Accordingly, this
sub-issue is waived on appeal. Appellant’s fourth issue is without merit.
3 Appellant did make an objection to one of the Commonwealth’s remarks
during closing arguments, but that objection is not before us. (See notes of
testimony, 1/17/17 at 309.)
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V.
In his fifth issue on appeal, appellant contends that the trial court erred
when it failed to grant his motion to suppress evidence. Appellant argues that
the Commonwealth failed to establish that the police had either reasonable
suspicion or probable cause to detain him and conduct a pat-down search.
(Anders brief at 21.)
When reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress evidence, we are
held to the following standard of review:
[An appellate court’s] standard of review in
addressing a challenge to the denial of a suppression
motion is limited to determining whether the
suppression court’s factual findings are supported by
the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn
from those facts are correct. Because the
Commonwealth prevailed before the suppression
court, we may consider only the evidence of the
Commonwealth and so much of the evidence for the
defense as remains uncontradicted when read in the
context of the record as a whole. Where the
suppression court’s factual findings are supported by
the record, [the appellate court is] bound by [those]
findings and may reverse only if the court’s legal
conclusions are erroneous. Where . . . the appeal of
the determination of the suppression court turns on
allegations of legal error, the suppression court’s legal
conclusions are not binding on an appellate court,
whose duty it is to determine if the suppression court
properly applied the law to the facts. Thus, the
conclusions of law of the courts below are subject to
. . . plenary review.
Commonwealth v. Jones, 121 A.3d 524, 526-527 (Pa.Super. 2015), appeal
denied, 135 A.3d 584 (Pa. 2016), quoting Commonwealth v. Jones, 988
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A.2d 649, 654 (Pa. 2010), cert. denied, 562 U.S. 832 (2010) (internal
citations and quotation marks omitted).
“[I]t is hornbook law that the [F]ourth [A]mendment
to the United States Constitution as well as Article I,
§ 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution protect citizens
from ‘unreasonable searches and seizures.’”
Commonwealth v. Baer, [] 654 A.2d 1058, 1059
(Pa.Super. 1994). Warrantless searches and seizures
(such as occurred in this case) are unreasonable
per se, unless conducted pursuant to specifically
established and well-delineated exceptions to the
warrant requirement. Katz v. United States, 389
U.S. 347 [] (1967). One such exception, the Terry
“stop and frisk,” permits a police officer to briefly
detain a citizen for investigatory purposes if the officer
“observes unusual conduct which leads him to
reasonably conclude, in light of his experience, that
criminal activity may be afoot.” Commonwealth v.
Fitzpatrick, [] 666 A.2d 323, 325 (Pa.Super. 1995);
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30 [] (1968).
Terry further held that “[w]hen an officer is justified
in believing that the individual whose suspicious
behavior he is investigating at close range is armed
and presently dangerous to the officer or to others”
the officer may conduct a pat down search “to
determine whether the person is in fact carrying a
weapon.” Terry, 392 U.S. at 24 []. “The purpose of
this limited search is not to discover evidence of
crime, but to allow the officer to pursue his
investigation without fear of violence.” Adams v.
Williams, 407 U.S. 143, 146 [] (1972).
In order to conduct an investigatory stop, the police
must have reasonable suspicion that criminal activity
is afoot. Terry, 392 U.S. at 30 []. In order to
determine whether the police had reasonable
suspicion, the totality of the circumstances—the whole
picture—must be considered. United States v.
Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 417 [] (1981). “Based upon
that whole picture the detaining officers must have a
particularized and objective basis for suspecting the
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particular person stopped of criminal activity.” Id. at
417-418 []. To conduct a pat down for weapons, a
limited search or “frisk” of the suspect, the officer
must reasonably believe that his safety or the safety
of others is threatened. Commonwealth v. Arch, []
654 A.2d 1141, 1144 (Pa.Super. 1995). If either the
seizure (the initial stop) or the search (the frisk) is
found to be unreasonable, the remedy is to exclude
all evidence derived from the illegal government
activity. Commonwealth v. Gibson, [] 638 A.2d
203, 206-207 (Pa. 1994).
The Terry totality of the circumstances test applies to
traffic stops or roadside encounters in the same way
that it applies to typical police encounters. See
Commonwealth v. Mesa, [] 683 A.2d 643, 646
(Pa.Super. 1996). Moreover, the principles of Terry
apply to all occupants of the stopped vehicle, not just
the driver. See id. (applying the principles of Terry
to determine whether the police were permitted to
conduct a pat down search of the passenger in a
vehicle that was stopped pursuant to a motor vehicle
violation). Indeed, as we have observed, “roadside
encounters, between police and suspects are
especially hazardous, and that danger may arise from
the possible presence of weapons in the area
surrounding a suspect.” In re O.J., 958 A.2d 561,
564 (Pa.Super. 2008) (en banc), citing Michigan v.
Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1049 [] (1983).
Commonwealth v. Simmons, 17 A.3d 399, 402-403 (Pa.Super. 2011),
appeal denied, 25 A.3d 328 (Pa. 2011).
At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the trial court determined
that the police conducted a lawful traffic stop of the vehicle in which appellant
was a passenger, the police had reasonable suspicion to believe that criminal
activity was afoot, and that the police were justified in conducting a pat-down
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of appellant for the purposes of officer safety. (Notes of testimony, 7/30/16
at 52.)
The record supports the trial court’s conclusions through
Officer James Conmy’s testimony. Officer Conmy testified that he observed
the vehicle make a right turn without using a turn signal. (Id. at 5.)
Officer Conmy initiated a traffic stop and, upon his approach to the vehicle,
smelled marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle. (Id. at 5-6.) As he
was speaking to the occupants of the vehicle, Officer Conmy observed
appellant making movements “consistent with someone who was either hiding
or concealing some type of contraband on his person.” (Id. at 7.)
Officer Conmy articulated that he was concerned that appellant was
attempting to conceal a weapon. (Id.) Specifically, Officer Conmy observed
that appellant “was not keeping his hands visible. . . . [H]e was kind of
squirming or ducking down in the seat. He wasn’t displaying what I would
describe as normal behavior for a passenger.” (Id. at 8.)
Officer Conmy’s testimony provides ample support within the record that
articulable facts existed that justified a pat-down search of appellant. We
therefore find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied
appellant’s motion to suppress evidence. Accordingly, appellant’s fifth issue
is without merit.
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VI.
In his sixth and final issue, appellant contends that his aggregate
sentence of 39-120 months’ imprisonment was harsh and excessive.
Specifically, appellant’s challenge to the discretionary aspects of sentence is
on the grounds that the trial court failed to consider his mitigating
circumstances including battling a lengthy drug addiction and that his
possession of a controlled substance was for personal use relating to his
addiction. (See Anders brief at 27-28.)
[T]he proper standard of review when
considering whether to affirm the
sentencing court’s determination is an
abuse of discretion. . . . [A]n abuse of
discretion is more than a mere error of
judgment; thus, a sentencing court will
not have abused its discretion unless the
record discloses that the judgment
exercised was manifestly unreasonable,
or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias
or ill-will. In more expansive terms, our
Court recently offered: An abuse of
discretion may not be found merely
because an appellate court might have
reached a different conclusion, but
requires a result of manifest
unreasonableness, or partiality,
prejudice, bias, or ill-will, or such lack of
support so as to be clearly erroneous.
The rationale behind such broad
discretion and the concomitantly
deferential standard of appellate review is
that the sentencing court is in the best
position to determine the proper penalty
for a particular offense based upon an
evaluation of the individual circumstances
before it.
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[Commonwealth v.] Walls, [926 A.2d 957,] 961
[(Pa. 2007)] (internal citations omitted).
Challenges to the discretionary aspects of sentencing
do not entitle an appellant to review as of right.
Commonwealth v. Sierra, 752 A.2d 910, 912
(Pa.Super. 2000). An appellant challenging the
discretionary aspects of his sentence must invoke this
Court’s jurisdiction by satisfying a four-part test:
[W]e conduct 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 the sentence appealed from
is not appropriate under the Sentencing
Code, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).
Commonwealth v. Evans, 901 A.2d 528, 533
(Pa.Super. 2006), appeal denied, [] 909 A.2d 303(Pa. 2006) (internal citations omitted). Objections to
the discretionary aspects of a sentence are generally
waived if they are not raised at the sentencing hearing
or in a motion to modify the sentence imposed.
Commonwealth v. Mann, 820 A.2d 788, 794
(Pa.Super. 2003), appeal denied, [] 831 A.2d 599(Pa. 2003).
The determination of what constitutes a substantial
question must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Commonwealth v. Paul, 925 A.2d 825, 828
(Pa.Super. 2007). 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
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norms which underlie the sentencing process.”
Sierra, supra at 912-13.
As to what constitutes a substantial question, this
Court does not accept bald assertions of sentencing
errors. Commonwealth v. Malovich, 903 A.2d
1247, 1252 (Pa.Super. 2006). An appellant must
articulate the reasons the sentencing court’s actions
violated the sentencing code. Id.Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 169-170 (Pa.Super. 2010).
Here, we begin our analysis by determining whether appellant has
complied with the procedural requirements of challenging his sentence. First,
appellant timely filed his notice of appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 902 and 903.
Second, appellant filed a motion for reconsideration of sentence nunc pro
tunc on June 15, 2017, in which he averred that the trial court failed to
adequately consider mitigating circumstances surrounding his addiction to
controlled substances.
The third procedural prong set forth in Evans requires us to determine
whether appellant’s brief has a fatal defect—or put another way, fails to
include a statement containing the reasons relied on for an allowance of an
appeal “with respect to the discretionary aspects of sentence.” See
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). Appellant includes such a statement in his Anders brief,
in which he alleges that his sentence is excessive because the trial court failed
to adequately consider the mitigating circumstances surrounding his addiction
to controlled substances. (Anders brief at 27.)
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Finally, we must now determine whether appellant has raised a
substantial question. We have specifically held that an averment that the trial
court failed to adequately consider mitigating circumstances does not raise a
substantial question. Commonwealth v. Downing, 990 A.2d 788, 794
(Pa.Super. 2010), citing Commonwealth v. Matroni, 923 A.2d 444, 455
(Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied, 952 A.2d 675 (Pa. 2008). Additionally,
the trial court had the benefit of a pre-sentence report. We therefore find that
appellant failed to raise a substantial question. Accordingly, we do not have
jurisdiction to decide appellant’s final issue on the merits.
In sum, the record supports Attorney Buttner’s conclusion that the
appeal is frivolous. Moreover, our independent review of the entire record
reveals no additional non-frivolous issues. Consequently, we grant
Attorney Buttner’s petition to withdraw, and we affirm the judgment of
sentence.
Judgment of sentence affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/13/18
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