Com. v. Idrrissa, A. ( 2016 )


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  • J-S67035-15
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,                    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    PENNSYLVANIA
    Appellee
    v.
    ABDOU IDRRISSA,
    Appellant                 No. 564 MDA 2015
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 21, 2015
    in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
    Criminal Division at No.: CP-22-CR-0001945-2009
    BEFORE: BOWES, J., PANELLA, J., and PLATT, J.*
    MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.:                          FILED JANUARY 13, 2016
    Appellant, Abdou Idrrissa, appeals from the judgment of sentence
    imposed on January 21, 2015, following his jury conviction of rape of an
    unconscious victim and indecent assault of an unconscious person.1       On
    appeal, Appellant challenges the denial of his motion to suppress his
    statement to the police, and claims that the verdict was against the weight
    of the evidence and that his sentence was excessive and unreasonable. For
    the reasons discussed below, we affirm.
    ____________________________________________
    *
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
    1
    18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3121(a)(3) and 3126(a)(4).
    J-S67035-15
    We take the underlying facts and procedural history in this matter
    from the trial court’s August 20, 2015 opinion and our independent review of
    the certified record.
    . . . [O]n December 31, 2008, [the victim] lived in an
    apartment [in] Harrisburg, PA. Prior to [that date, the victim’s]
    sister, [ ] had been staying with her until she was arrested for a
    probation violation. [The victim] knew [Appellant] through [her
    sister] although she was not sure whether they were in a “dating
    relationship” or if it was “a fling.” It was not until prior to trial
    that [the victim] questioned her sister about the relationship and
    found out that [the sister and Appellant] were in a sexual
    relationship.
    . . . On December 31, 2008, [the victim] was at her
    friend[’s] house, who was also her neighbor, when she received
    several calls on her cell phone from [Appellant]. He was asking
    if he could come by her apartment to help [the sister] “put
    money on her books,” meaning placing money in her personal
    account in the work release facility where she was being
    detained. [Appellant] was insistent about coming over, but [the
    victim] kept telling him it was too late.
    [The victim] returned to her apartment at approximately
    11:00 p.m. and proceeded to take the prescription medication
    Lexapro and Tylenol P.M. She immediately went to bed fully
    clothed in pajamas including a bra. She claimed that she just
    passed out.     She later awoke to a knock at the door at
    approximately 3:00 a.m., and when she answered, [Appellant]
    was at her door. He asked to use the restroom so, [the victim]
    let him in. [The victim] testified that she did not wait for him to
    finish in the bathroom; instead, she went back to bed and
    “passed out.”
    Later she awoke to find her pants and underwear at her
    ankles[,] which scared her and prompted her to call her mother.
    She called her mother and her friend, [ ], multiple times until
    one of them answered the call. Her mother called back at
    approximately the same time that [her friend] arrived at the
    apartment with police. [The victim’s mother] instructed her to
    touch her vaginal area and smell. She . . . did as her mother
    instructed and smelled the odor of latex.         [The victim]
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    acknowledged that a condom was not found at the scene and
    that she likely did not have condoms in her apartment at the
    time. She also stated that when she awoke, one of her breasts
    was out of her bra cup. [The victim had] no knowledge of what
    had happened for her to wake in the described state of undress.
    [The victim] remained on her bed in the condition in which she
    awoke until the police arrived and, ultimately, the paramedics
    took her to the emergency room by ambulance.
    While at the hospital, a nurse conducted a physical
    examination and completed a rape kit. [The victim] admitted to
    the nurse that she had used marijuana earlier in the evening and
    that prior to bed she had taken Lexapro and Tylenol P.M. She
    relayed the details she could remember about what had
    happened that night to the nurse.        [The victim] eventually
    appeared for an interview with Det[ective Manuel] Rivera [of the
    Harrisburg Police Bureau] to provide a statement summarizing
    her version of the events of December 31, 2008. She agreed to
    place a phone call to [Appellant], that would be recorded, during
    which she would act as if she remembered and enjoyed the
    sexual encounter for the purpose of eliciting any additional
    evidence of the crimes.
    With respect to any relationship with Appellant, [the
    victim] stated that she neither had a conversation with
    [Appellant] about any type of sexual relationship nor actually
    had sex with him. At the time of the incident, she was involved
    in a seven year relationship with a woman . . . who she referred
    to as her fiancée. She stated that she did not have a boyfriend
    at the time and that she is not sexually attracted to men.
    In December 2008, Stefanie Zeller, RN (“Nurse Zeller”)
    was an ER nurse at Harrisburg Hospital who had also been
    certified as a SAFE nurse which training qualified her to examine
    sexual assault victims. Nurse Zeller was called in for duty in the
    ER when [the victim] was admitted for an examination.
    According to Nurse Zeller, [the victim] relayed to her that, on
    December 31, 2008, she had let a male acquaintance into her
    residence, fell back to sleep and when she later woke discovered
    that she was undressed from the waist down and smelled the
    odor of latex. [The victim] disclosed to Nurse Zeller that she
    had smoked marijuana and had taken Lexapro and Tylenol
    P[.]M[.] that day. Nurse Zeller proceeded to examine [the
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    victim] for the purpose of completing a rape kit to collect any
    possible evidence of the alleged sexual assault.
    Nurse Zeller conducted an overall physical examination
    and a physical examination of the vagina and anus. A saliva
    specimen, vaginal swab, and an oral swab were collected from
    [the victim] and her pubic hair was combed. During [ ] her
    examination, Nurse Zeller did not observe any bruising on [the
    victim’s] body or trauma to the vaginal vault. According to
    Nurse Zeller, [the victim] did not report any pain but she was
    clearly upset. . . .
    *     *   *
    Det. Rivera . . . oversaw the resulting investigation. On
    the morning of December 31st, he met with [the victim] who
    ultimately provided a recorded statement recounting her version
    of events. By the time of trial however, the transcription of the
    statement was not available because the written version was lost
    and the memory of the transcribing secretary’s computer had
    been wiped clean due to her retirement.
    [The victim] agreed to participate in a wiretapped phone
    call to [Appellant] for the purpose of gaining further evidence of
    the incident and to determine his last name and address. Det.
    Rivera and another officer coached [the victim] on what she
    should say during the conversation that might elicit an admission
    relating to the crime or any other identifying information. After
    several attempts to contact [Appellant], he returned a call[,]
    which was captured by recording on January 8, 2009. . . .
    During the conversation, [Appellant] admitted to having
    sexual intercourse with [the victim] on December 30, 2008,
    while she was asleep, which information led to his arrest on
    February 4, 2009. During the recorded conversation, [Appellant]
    said that he knew [the victim] did not remember what had
    happened and that he tried to wake her up. He explained that
    he thought she [would] be mad about the encounter, so he left
    the area.
    (Trial Court Opinion, 8/20/15, at 4-9) (record citations omitted).
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    On July 13, 2009, the Commonwealth filed an information charging
    Appellant with the aforementioned crimes and other related offenses.          On
    the date scheduled for trial, January 11, 2010, Appellant failed to appear
    and the trial court issued a bench warrant. Appellant was apprehended in
    Brooklyn on January 18, 2014.             On October 15, 2014, Appellant filed a
    motion to suppress his statements to the police.           The trial court held a
    suppression hearing on October 20, 2014, following which the court denied
    Appellant’s motion.
    . . . The suppression hearing established the following
    facts: [Appellant] was arrested on February 4, 2009, and
    interviewed by [Det. Rivera]. Det. Rivera became aware that
    [Appellant] was of African ethnicity but, spoke English. He later
    learned that [Appellant] was from Niger and [Det.] Rivera
    explained that, even though he did not recall specifically asking,
    he knew Niger was a French speaking country. Det. Rivera
    stated that although [Appellant’s] English was not “the best
    English,” he was able to comfortably communicate in English
    without a problem. Prior to the commencement of the verbal
    interview, Det. Rivera spent approximately five [ ] minutes going
    over his Miranda[2] warnings to reassure himself that
    [Appellant] understood his rights. The specific legal warnings
    conveyed to Appellant included his right to remain silent, his
    right to counsel prior to speaking to police, the right to have
    counsel appointed if he could not afford an attorney, the fact
    that any statements could be used against him in a court of law,
    and his right to stop speaking to police at any time despite
    beginning an interview. After explaining the allegations against
    him and when he was sure that Appellant understood that he
    was waiving his Miranda rights, Det. Rivera began a verbal
    interview during which Appellant provided his version of events.
    [Det.] Rivera stated that during the interview, he received no
    indication that Appellant did not understand the discussion and if
    ____________________________________________
    2
    Miranda v. Arizona, 
    384 U.S. 436
     (1966).
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    he did not       understand   something,   [Appellant]   asked   for
    clarification.
    The verbal interview lasted approximately [fifteen-twenty]
    minutes. Afterwards, [Appellant] agreed to give Det. Rivera a
    recorded statement. The transcript of the recorded statement as
    well as the recording itself was admitted into evidence at the
    suppression hearing.
    [Appellant] also testified at the suppression hearing.
    [Appellant] moved to the United States from Niger in October of
    2005. In his native country he spoke Hausa and French. Upon
    arrival, he got job working for an American company where
    other French speaking Niger natives worked, some of whom
    could translate directions from English. [Appellant] paid money
    to marry an American woman, who did not speak Hausa or
    French, for the purpose of obtaining “legal papers.” While he
    was married from 2006-2008, his wife only spoke English.
    Additionally, [Appellant] was an acquaintance of the victim, [ ]
    with whom he only spoke English as she did not speak Hausa or
    French.
    Regarding the recording of the interview with Det. Rivera,
    Appellant stated that he understood he was waiving certain
    constitutional rights but[] thought he was obliged to answer.
    [Appellant] stated that he was nervous and the fact that Det.
    Rivera was in plain clothes while carrying a gun meant that he
    was required to answer everything he said. [Appellant] never
    asked for an interpreter; rather, he assumed that it was the
    police officer’s job to ask.
    (Trial Ct. Op., at 2-4) (record citations and footnotes omitted).
    A jury trial took place on October 20 through 22, 2014, at which time,
    the jury found Appellant guilty of the aforementioned offenses. On January
    21, 2015, the trial court sentenced Appellant in the upper end of the
    standard range of the guidelines to a aggregate term of incarceration of not
    less than sixty-six nor more than one hundred thirty-two months. (See N.T.
    Sentencing, 1/21/15, at 10-11).      On January 30, 2015, trial counsel filed
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    both a motion to withdraw his appearance and a post-sentence motion
    challenging the weight of the evidence and seeking a modification of
    sentence. (See Appellant’s Post-Sentence Motion, 1/30/15, at unnumbered
    pages 2-3). On February 3, 2015, the trial court granted counsel’s request
    to withdraw. On February 24, 2015, the trial court denied Appellant’s post-
    sentence motion.
    On March 12, 2015, Appellant, despite now being represented by the
    Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office, filed a pro se petition brought
    under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.
    On March 20, 2015, the trial court appointed counsel to represent Appellant.
    On March 26, 2015, appellate counsel filed the instant, timely appeal from
    the judgment of sentence. On April 16, 2015, the trial court concluded that
    Appellant had prematurely filed his PCRA petition, vacated the appointment
    of PCRA counsel, and dismissed the petition without prejudice. On April 17,
    2015, the trial court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors
    complained of on appeal. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant filed a timely
    Rule 1925(b) statement on May 7, 2015.       On August 20, 2015, the trial
    court issued an opinion. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
    On appeal, Appellant raises the following questions for our review.
    I. Whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s
    [s]uppression [m]otion where he did not knowingly, voluntarily,
    and intelligently waive his Miranda rights, in violation of Article
    I, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Fifth
    Amendment to the United States Constitution?
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    II. Whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s [p]ost-
    [s]entence [m]otion where his convictions were against the
    weight of the evidence so as to shock one’s sense of justice
    where Appellant was not shown to have engaged in acts which
    constitute the offenses of which he was convicted?
    III. Whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s [p]ost-
    [s]entence [m]otion where his sentence is excessive and
    unreasonable and constitutes too severe a punishment in light of
    the gravity of the offense, Appellant’s rehabilitative needs, and
    what is needed to protect the community?
    (Appellant’s Brief, at 7) (unnecessary capitalization, justification and
    underlining omitted).
    In his first claim, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying
    his motion to suppress his statement to the police because he was unable to
    make a knowing waiver of his Miranda rights because of his poor grasp of
    the English language. (See id. at 14-16). We disagree.
    When we review a ruling on a motion to suppress, “[w]e must
    determine whether the record supports the suppression court’s factual
    findings and the legitimacy of the inferences and legal conclusions drawn
    from these findings.”   Commonwealth v. Holton, 
    906 A.2d 1246
    , 1249
    (Pa. Super. 2006), appeal denied, 
    918 A.2d 743
     (Pa. 2007) (citation
    omitted). Because the suppression court in the instant matter found for the
    Commonwealth, we will consider only the testimony of the Commonwealth’s
    witnesses and any uncontradicted evidence supplied by Appellant. See 
    id.
    If the evidence supports the suppression court’s factual findings, we can
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    J-S67035-15
    reverse only if there is a mistake in the legal conclusions drawn by the
    suppression court. See 
    id.
    Appellant has waived this claim. Appellant’s conclusory argument that
    his motion should have been granted because of his difficulties with the
    English language is, with the exception of a general citation to Miranda,
    completely devoid of relevant legal authority.         He also completely ignores
    our standard of review, citing to elements of Appellant’s testimony that were
    contradicted by the Commonwealth’s evidence to support his argument, it is
    therefore waived. See Commonwealth v. Cotto, 
    753 A.2d 217
    , 224 n.6
    (Pa. 2000) (meaningful appellate review is not possible where argument
    consists only of bald assertions unsupported by citation to authority or
    pertinent discussion of point).
    Moreover, his assertions are without merit.            Generally, statements
    made during custodial interrogation are presumptively involuntary, unless
    the   police   first   inform   the   accused   of   his   Miranda   rights.   See
    Commonwealth v. DiStefano, 
    782 A.2d 574
    , 579 (Pa. Super. 2001),
    appeal denied, 
    806 A.2d 858
     (Pa. 2002). Further:
    The determination of whether a confession is voluntary is a
    conclusion of law and, as such, is subject to plenary review.
    Moreover, the totality of the circumstances must be considered
    in evaluating the voluntariness of a confession. The
    determination of whether a defendant has validly waived his
    Miranda rights depends upon a two-prong analysis:             (1)
    whether the waiver was voluntary, in the sense that defendant’s
    choice was not the end result of governmental pressure, and (2)
    whether the waiver was knowing and intelligent, in the sense
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    J-S67035-15
    that it was made with full comprehension of both the nature of
    the right being abandoned and the consequence of that choice.
    Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 
    902 A.2d 430
    , 451 (Pa. 2006), cert. denied,
    
    549 U.S. 1169
     (2007) (citations omitted).       “Only if the totality of the
    circumstances surrounding the interrogation reveals both an uncoerced
    choice and the requisite level of comprehension may a court properly
    conclude that the Miranda rights have been waived.” Commonwealth v.
    Cephas, 
    522 A.2d 63
    , 65 (Pa. Super. 1987), appeal denied, 
    531 A.2d 1118
    (Pa. 1987), cert. denied, 
    484 U.S. 981
     (1987) (emphasis added) (internal
    quotation marks omitted). The Commonwealth has the burden to prove “by
    a preponderance of the evidence that the waiver is also knowing, and
    intelligent.” 
    Id.
     (emphasis omitted).
    When assessing voluntariness the court should look at the following
    factors:   “the duration and means of the interrogation; the physical and
    psychological state of the accused; the conditions attendant to the
    detention; the attitude of the interrogator; and any and all other factors
    which could drain a person’s ability to withstand suggestion and coercion.”
    Commonwealth v. Nester, 
    709 A.2d 879
    , 883 (Pa. 1998).               See also
    Commonwealth v. Sanabria, 
    385 A.2d 1292
    , 1294-95 (Pa. 1978) (holding
    appellant’s waiver of Miranda rights was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent
    despite appellant’s claimed difficulty in understanding English; appellant’s
    ability to communicate effectively in English with police before and after his
    arrest belied his claims); Commonwealth v. Padilla, 
    854 A.2d 549
    , 552-53
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    J-S67035-15
    (Pa. Super. 2004) (holding appellant possessed sufficient fluency in English
    to understand verbal communication despite his inability to read or write
    English; statements made after police read Miranda warnings in English did
    not require suppression); Commonwealth v. McFadden, 
    559 A.2d 58
    , 60
    (Pa. Super. 1989), appeal denied, 
    568 A.2d 1246
     (Pa. 1989) (inability to
    read and write English did not invalidate otherwise knowing, voluntary, and
    intelligent Miranda waiver).
    After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
    applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the trial court, we conclude
    Appellant’s first issue merits no relief. The trial court credited the testimony
    of Det. Rivera that Appellant understood and spoke English and did not
    credit Appellant’s testimony to the contrary. (See Trial Ct. Op., at 11). We
    must defer to that finding. See Commonwealth v. Walker, 
    874 A.2d 667
    ,
    671 (Pa. Super. 2005).       Further, the trial court reviewed the evidence
    underlying its decision as follows:
    Review of the record reveals Det. Rivera’s interaction with
    [Appellant] began with his arrival at the police station after his
    arrest at approximately 7:45 a.m. Appellant was Mirandized
    when he was arrested and Det. Rivera went over his
    constitutional rights again prior to his verbal interview[,] which
    lasted [fifteen-twenty] minutes. The parties began recording the
    statement at 8:39 a.m. Clearly [Appellant] was not held for any
    great length of time prior to the interview and the questioning
    was of a very short duration.        Further, as pointed out by
    Appellant’s counsel, approximately [fifteen] minutes of the
    overall interaction was dedicated to Det. Rivera explaining his
    constitutional rights and ensuring that [Appellant] understood
    what was happening and what he was agreeing to do. The
    record is void of any evidence of coercion or an indication that
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    J-S67035-15
    [Appellant] was deprived of sleep, medication, food or drink. If
    Det. Rivera had any indication that [Appellant] was not
    understanding, such as when they were discuss[ing] a slang
    term of a sexual nature, he made sure to state or explain the
    term in other ways to ensure Appellant’s understanding. With
    respect to his inexperience with the criminal justice system, this
    [c]ourt finds [Appellant’s] claim without merit.       The record
    clearly highlights that he admittedly had enough knowledge of
    the legal system to know how to circumvent it by finding a
    woman whom he could pay to enter into a sham marriage so he
    could legally stay in this country. Finally, the recording of
    [Appellant’s] statement establishes a free flowing conversation
    during which there were no unresponsive answers that would
    indicate any language barrier or misunderstanding.
    Therefore, in conclusion, this [c]ourt finds that the record
    amply supports the finding that Appellant voluntarily and
    knowingly waived his Miranda rights; as such, the denial of
    Appellant’s [s]uppression [m]otion was proper.
    (Trial Ct. Op., at 13-14).    The record supports the trial court’s conclusion
    that Appellant’s statements were knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
    made. See Sanabria, supra at 1294-95; Padilla, 
    supra at 552-53
    ;
    McFadden, supra at 60. Thus, even if Appellant had not waived the claim,
    Appellant’s first issue lacks merit.
    In his second claim, Appellant argues that his conviction was against
    the weight of the evidence because the victim’s testimony was not credible.
    (See Appellant’s Brief, at 16-18). We disagree.
    Initially, we note that Appellant waived this claim because his
    argument is completely devoid of citation to any legal authority. See In re
    C.R., 
    113 A.3d 328
    , 335-36 (Pa. Super. 2015) (finding weight of evidence
    claim waived where appellant failed to cite to any legal authority).
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    J-S67035-15
    In any event, the claim is without merit.
    Our scope and standard of review of a weight of the evidence claim is
    as follows:
    The finder of fact is the exclusive judge of the weight of
    the evidence as the fact finder is free to believe all, part, or none
    of the evidence presented and determines the credibility of the
    witnesses.
    As an appellate court, we cannot substitute our judgment
    for that of the finder of fact. Therefore, we will reverse a jury’s
    verdict and grant a new trial only where the verdict is so
    contrary to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of justice. A
    verdict is said to be contrary to the evidence such that it shocks
    one’s sense of justice when the figure of Justice totters on her
    pedestal, or when the jury’s verdict, at the time of its rendition,
    causes the trial judge to lose his breath, temporarily, and causes
    him to almost fall from the bench, then it is truly shocking to the
    judicial conscience.
    Furthermore, where the trial court has ruled on the weight
    claim below, an appellate court’s role is not to consider the
    underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight
    of the evidence. Rather, appellate review is limited to whether
    the trial court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the
    weight claim.
    Commonwealth v. Boyd, 
    73 A.3d 1269
    , 1274-75 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en
    banc) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).          “Thus, the trial
    court’s denial of a motion for a new trial based on a weight of the evidence
    claim is the least assailable of its rulings.” Commonwealth v. Diggs, 
    949 A.2d 873
    , 879-80 (Pa. 2008), cert. denied, 
    556 U.S. 1106
     (2009) (citation
    omitted).
    Here, the trial court rejected Appellant’s weight of the evidence claim,
    noting that fact-finding and credibility determinations were matters for the
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    J-S67035-15
    jury. (See Trial Ct. Op., at 16). We agree. The record reflects that the jury
    chose to credit the testimony of the victim and chose to reject the defense’s
    theory of the case. The jury, sitting as finder of fact, was free to believe the
    Commonwealth’s      witnesses   and    to      disbelieve   the   defense.   See
    Commonwealth v. Griscavage, 
    517 A.2d 1256
    , 1259 (Pa. 1986). “[I]t is
    for the fact-finder to make credibility determinations, and the finder of fact
    may believe all, part, or none of a witness’s testimony.” Commonwealth
    v. Lee, 
    956 A.2d 1024
    , 1029 (Pa. Super. 2008), appeal denied, 
    964 A.2d 894
     (Pa. 2009) (citation omitted). Thus, even if Appellant had not waived
    his weight of the evidence claim, it is without merit.
    In his final claim, Appellant argues that his sentence was excessive
    and unreasonable because his fiancée testified that his is a “loving,
    compassionate, loyal, and dedicated man[,]” who is loved in the community.
    (Appellant’s Brief, at 18) (record citation omitted). We disagree.
    Preliminarily, we note, “[i]ssues challenging the discretionary aspects
    of sentence must be raised in a post-sentence motion or by presenting the
    claim to the trial court during the sentencing proceedings.           Absent such
    efforts, an objection to a discretionary aspect of a sentence is waived.”
    Commonwealth v. McAfee, 
    849 A.2d 270
    , 275 (Pa. Super. 2004), appeal
    denied, 
    860 A.2d 122
     (Pa. 2004) (citations and internal quotations marks
    omitted).   Here, Appellant properly preserved his claim by filing a post-
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    J-S67035-15
    sentence motion.       (See Appellant’s Post-Sentence Motion, 1/30/15, at
    unnumbered pages 2-3).
    The right to appeal the discretionary aspects of a sentence is not
    absolute. See McAfee, 
    supra at 274
    . When an appellant challenges the
    discretionary aspects of the sentence imposed, he must present “a
    substantial   question     as    to   the    appropriateness   of   the   sentence[.]”
    Commonwealth v. Anderson, 
    830 A.2d 1013
    , 1017 (Pa. Super. 2003)
    (citations omitted).     An appellant must, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of
    Appellate Procedure 2119(f), articulate “a colorable argument that the
    sentence violates a particular provision of the Sentencing Code or is contrary
    to   the     fundamental        norms   underlying     the     sentencing    scheme.”
    Commonwealth v. Kimbrough, 
    872 A.2d 1244
    , 1263 (Pa. Super. 2005)
    (en banc), appeal denied, 
    887 A.2d 1240
     (Pa. 2005) (citation omitted). If
    an appellant’s Rule 2119(f) statement meets these prerequisites, we
    determine whether a substantial question exists. See Commonwealth v.
    Goggins, 
    748 A.2d 721
    , 727 (Pa. Super. 2000) (en banc), appeal denied,
    
    759 A.2d 920
     (Pa. 2000). “Our inquiry must focus on the reasons for which
    the appeal is sought, in contrast to the facts underlying the appeal, which
    are necessary only to decide the appeal on the merits.” 
    Id.
     (emphases in
    original).
    Here, Appellant has included a Rule 2119(f) statement in his brief.
    (See Appellant’s Brief, at 11-13), arguing that his sentence was harsh and
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    J-S67035-15
    excessive because his fiancée testified that he was a good person. (See id.
    at 12-13).     This Court has held that “a bald assertion that a sentence is
    excessive does not by itself raise a substantial question justifying this
    Court’s review of the merits of the underlying claim.” Commonwealth v.
    Fisher, 
    47 A.3d 155
    , 159 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal denied, 
    62 A.3d 378
    (Pa. 2013) (citation omitted). Thus, because this claim is a bald allegation of
    excessiveness and does not raise any challenge in the claim itself or in the
    brief as to a violation of the Sentencing Code or a particular fundamental
    norm underlying the sentencing process, we find that it does not raise a
    substantial question. See 
    id.
    Accordingly, for the reasons discussed above, we affirm the judgment
    of sentence.
    Judgment of sentence affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 1/13/2016
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