Commonwealth v. Haynes , 125 A.3d 800 ( 2015 )


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  • J-A20017-15
    
    2015 Pa. Super. 214
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,                  IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    PENNSYLVANIA
    Appellant
    v.
    ROYSCE HAYNES,
    Appellee                      No. 2067 EDA 2014
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence July 1, 2014
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
    Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0014368-2012, CP-51-CR-0014369-
    2012
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,                  IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    PENNSYLVANIA
    Appellee
    v.
    ROYSCE HAYNES,
    Appellant                     No. 2219 EDA 2014
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence July 1, 2014
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
    Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0014368-2012, CP-51-CR-0014369-
    2012
    BEFORE: DONOHUE, SHOGAN, and WECHT, JJ.
    OPINION BY SHOGAN, J.:                           FILED OCTOBER 05, 2015
    In   these   cross-appeals,    Roysce   Haynes     (“Haynes”)   and   the
    Commonwealth appeal from the judgment of sentence entered on July 1,
    2014, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.       On appeal, the
    J-A20017-15
    Commonwealth challenges the trial court’s refusal to apply 42 Pa.C.S. §
    9715, which mandates a life sentence for a defendant “who has previously
    been convicted at any time of murder,” based on the trial court’s conclusion
    that the term “murder” excludes “murder of an unborn child.” In his cross-
    appeal, Haynes claims that the sentence of thirty-five to seventy years of
    incarceration is manifestly excessive and fails to take into consideration his
    mental health needs. After careful review, we conclude that neither party is
    entitled to relief, and we affirm the judgment of sentence.
    The trial court set forth the relevant factual background of this matter
    as follows:
    During the afternoon of September 10, 2012, Philadelphia
    Probation and Parole Officers Shondell Williams and Evan Moore-
    Mathis visited [Haynes]. As they approached his apartment, they
    saw him sitting on the steps outside the apartment entrance. He
    appeared stunned and was somewhat unresponsive to questions.
    His head was lowered and when asked whether the police should
    be summoned, he said yes. N.T. April 29, 2014, pp. 81-87.
    Philadelphia Police Officer Jonathan Ransom was called to
    850 Chelton Avenue in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
    There he encountered [Haynes], who told him that he had been
    in an argument with his girlfriend, that the argument had
    become physical, and that he had choked her. When Officer
    Ransom went inside [Haynes’s] apartment, he saw the decedent,
    Atiya Perry, lying on the floor and bleeding from the head. She
    had no signs of life. Officer Ransom noticed a bloody towel lying
    on the floor near her head. 
    Id. at 32-46.
    Dr. Marlin Osbourne, Assistant Medical Examiner,
    performed the autopsy on the decedent and determined that her
    death was a homicide achieved by strangulation. [The decedent]
    also had small lacerations on her left cheek. Dr. Osbourne
    determined that based on the size of the fetus in her uterus, she
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    had been pregnant for seven weeks at the time of her death. 
    Id. at 113-124.
    Detective Edward Tolliver took a statement from [Haynes]
    the day of the killing. In it, [Haynes] acknowledged killing the
    decedent. He said that the decedent had been hitting him with a
    closed fist on the side of his head and that she had tried to use
    pepper spray against him, and that he choked her. He also said
    that the decedent had told him that she was pregnant, but that
    he did not believe her. 
    Id. at 139-157.
    Detective Tracey Byard
    searched the apartment in the immediate aftermath of the
    murder. He did not find any mace or pepper spray anywhere in
    the apartment. 
    Id. at 189.
    Prenatal vitamins and magazines
    about pregnancy were found in the apartment. 
    Id. at 68-69.
    Trial Court Opinion, 9/18/14, at 2-3 (footnote omitted).
    On September 10, 2012, Haynes was arrested and charged with
    murder and murder of an unborn child.1 On April 30, 2014, following a jury
    trial, Haynes was found guilty of murder in the third degree for killing Atiya
    Perry and third-degree murder of her unborn child.                  On July 1, 2014, the
    trial court sentenced Haynes to a term of twenty to forty years of
    incarceration on the third-degree murder charge and a consecutive term of
    fifteen to thirty years of incarceration for third-degree murder of an unborn
    child.    This resulted in an aggregated sentence of thirty-five to seventy
    years. On July 21, 2014, the Commonwealth filed a timely notice of appeal
    and      on   July   22,   2014,   Haynes      filed   a   timely   cross-appeal.   The
    ____________________________________________
    1
    An additional charge of abuse of a corpse was dismissed at the preliminary
    hearing.
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    Commonwealth, Haynes, and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P.
    1925.
    Commonwealth’s Appeal at 2067 EDA 2014
    In a case of first impression, in the appeal at Superior Court Docket
    Number 2067 EDA 2014, the Commonwealth presents the following issue for
    this Court’s consideration:
    Did the lower court impose an illegal sentence by declining to
    comply with 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715?
    Commonwealth’s Brief at 2.
    We review an illegal-sentence claim pursuant to the following
    parameters:
    The scope and standard of review applied to determine the
    legality of a sentence are well established. If no statutory
    authorization exists for a particular sentence, that sentence is
    illegal and subject to correction. An illegal sentence must be
    vacated. In evaluating a trial court’s application of a statute, our
    standard of review is plenary and is limited to determining
    whether the trial court committed an error of law.
    Commonwealth v. Poland, 
    26 A.3d 518
    , 523 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citation
    omitted).
    Here, the Commonwealth avers that the trial court erred in failing to
    apply the sentencing requirement set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715, which
    provides as follows:
    Life imprisonment for homicide
    (a) Mandatory life imprisonment.--Notwithstanding the
    provisions of section 9712 (relating to sentences for offenses
    committed with firearms), 9713 (relating to sentences for
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    offenses committed on public transportation) or 9714 (relating to
    sentences for second and subsequent offenses), any person
    convicted of murder of the third degree in this Commonwealth
    who has previously been convicted at any time of murder
    or voluntary manslaughter in this Commonwealth or of the same
    or substantially equivalent crime in any other jurisdiction shall be
    sentenced to life imprisonment, notwithstanding any other
    provision of this title or other statute to the contrary.
    42 Pa.C.S. § 9715(a) (emphasis added).
    The crimes for which Haynes was convicted, third-degree murder and
    third-degree murder of an unborn child, are defined as follows:
    § 2501. Criminal homicide
    (a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of criminal homicide if
    he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently causes the
    death of another human being.
    (b) Classification.--Criminal homicide shall be classified as
    murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter.
    18 Pa.C.S. § 2501.
    § 2502. Murder
    (a) Murder of the first degree.--A criminal homicide
    constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an
    intentional killing.
    (b) Murder of the second degree.--A criminal homicide
    constitutes murder of the second degree when it is committed
    while defendant was engaged as a principal or an accomplice in
    the perpetration of a felony.
    (c) Murder of the third degree.--All other kinds of murder
    shall be murder of the third degree. Murder of the third degree is
    a felony of the first degree.
    18 Pa.C.S. § 2502.
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    § 2604. Murder of unborn child
    * * *
    (c) Third degree murder of unborn child.--
    (1) All other kinds of murder of an unborn child shall
    be third degree murder of an unborn child.
    (2) The penalty for third degree murder of an unborn
    child is the same as the penalty for murder of the
    third degree.
    18 Pa.C.S. § 2604(c).
    The Commonwealth argues that the trial court erred in not imposing a
    life sentence and cites to Commonwealth v. Morris, 
    958 A.2d 569
    (Pa.
    Super. 2008) (en banc) as support for its argument. Commonwealth’s Brief
    at 7. In Morris, a case where the appellant was convicted of two separate
    counts of third-degree murder, an en banc panel of this Court concluded that
    even though both convictions arose from the same criminal incident and
    trial, the trial court did not err in applying 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715 and imposing a
    life sentence.   The Morris Court concluded that while the appellant was
    convicted of two third-degree murders in the same trial, the “at any time”
    language from the statute allowed one of the murder convictions to mandate
    a life sentence for the other murder conviction.
    The Commonwealth also argues that the term “murder” as used in the
    phrase “previously been convicted at any time of murder” is unambiguous
    and includes “murder of an unborn child.”          Commonwealth’s Brief at 7.
    Thus, the Commonwealth asserts that Haynes was “previously convicted of
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    murder” because the jury convicted him of third-degree murder of an
    unborn child as well as third-degree murder of decedent, Atiya Perry.
    Accordingly, the Commonwealth claims the trial court imposed an illegal
    sentence when it did not sentence Haynes to a mandatory term of life in
    prison. Commonwealth’s Brief at 7.
    It is undisputed that 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715 provides that when a
    defendant “has previously been convicted at any time of murder or voluntary
    manslaughter in this Commonwealth or of the same or substantially
    equivalent crime in any other jurisdiction” it triggers the application of a life
    sentence for a separate third-degree murder conviction.           Morris further
    instructs us that the order of commission or conviction of the offenses is
    immaterial so long as the defendant has been convicted of another
    “murder.”     
    Morris, 958 A.2d at 580
    .         However, the facts of the case sub
    judice raise an additional issue: does murder of an unborn child qualify
    as a crime contemplated by section 9715 that requires a life sentence upon
    a separate third-degree murder conviction?            Because we conclude that
    murder of an unborn child is not an offense enumerated in section 9715
    which triggers a mandatory life sentence,2 we affirm.
    ____________________________________________
    2
    Given our disposition, we decline to address the applicability of Morris.
    However, we note that Morris may raise issues under Alleyne v. United
    States, 
    133 S. Ct. 2151
    (2013). In Alleyne, the United States Supreme
    Court recognized a narrow exception for the fact of a prior conviction. 
    Id. at 2160,
    n.1 (citing Almendarez–Torres v. United States, 
    523 U.S. 224
    (Footnote Continued Next Page)
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    Section 9715 states that if a defendant is convicted of murder or
    voluntary     manslaughter       in   the   Commonwealth   of   Pennsylvania,   the
    mandatory sentence of life in prison applies if that defendant is convicted of
    an additional third-degree murder. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715(a). However, section
    9715(a) makes no mention of the separate crime of murder of an unborn
    child.      This creates some ambiguity, or uncertainty, in the statute.
    Accordingly, we look to our well-established rules of statutory construction.
    In considering a question of statutory construction, we are
    guided by the sound and settled principles set forth in the
    Statutory Construction Act, including the primary maxim that the
    object of statutory construction is to ascertain and effectuate
    legislative intent. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a). In pursuing that end, we
    are mindful that “when the words of a statute are clear and free
    from all ambiguity, the letter of it is not to be disregarded under
    the pretext of pursuing its spirit.” 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(b). Indeed,
    “as a general rule, the best indication of legislative intent is the
    plain language of a statute.” In reading the plain language,
    “words and phrases shall be construed according to rules of
    grammar and according to their common and approved usage,”
    while any words or phrases that have acquired a “peculiar and
    appropriate meaning” must be construed according to that
    meaning. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1903(a). However, when interpreting non-
    explicit statutory text, legislative intent may be gleaned from a
    variety of factors, including, inter alia: the occasion and
    necessity for the statute; the mischief to be remedied; the
    object to be attained; the consequences of a particular
    interpretation; and the contemporaneous legislative history. 1
    _______________________
    (Footnote Continued)
    (1998)).     In Morris, however, the defendant did not have a prior
    conviction, but rather was convicted concurrently of crimes, one of which
    triggered the application of the mandatory minimum. Furthermore, the
    Supreme Court in Alleyne appeared willing to revisit Almendarez–Torres,
    but it declined to do so because the parties did not raise the issue of the
    continued viability of Almendarez–Torres. 
    Alleyne, 133 S. Ct. at 2160
    ,
    n.1.
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    Pa.C.S. § 1921(c). Moreover, while statutes generally should be
    construed liberally, penal statutes are always to be construed
    strictly, 1 Pa.C.S. § 1928(b)(1), and any ambiguity in a penal
    statute should be interpreted in favor of the defendant.
    Commonwealth v. Grow, 
    2015 Pa. Super. 186
    , at *1-*2, ___ A.3d ___,
    ___ (Pa. Super. 2015) (en banc) (citation omitted).
    “Murder of an unborn child” is contained in Chapter 26 of the Crimes
    Code, entitled “Crimes Against the Unborn Child Act,” as opposed to
    “criminal homicide,” which is set forth in Chapter 25. Thus, the legislature
    separated crimes against unborn children, including murder of an unborn
    child, from crimes committed against other victims, and it placed crimes
    against unborn children in a wholly separate chapter of the Crimes Code.
    The Commonwealth argues that: “it cannot be seriously suggested
    that ‘murder’ as used in § 9715 does not include all the degrees of
    murder[.]” Commonwealth’s Brief at 12 (emphasis in original). Insofar as
    this assertion labels murder of an unborn child as a degree of murder
    generally, the Commonwealth is incorrect. Murder of an unborn child as set
    forth in Chapter 26 of the Crimes Code, be it of the first, second, or third
    degree, is not a “degree” of Chapter 25 murder – it is a crime distinct from
    murder as defined in Chapter 25. Additionally, the available sentences for
    crimes committed under Chapter 25 and Chapter 26 are markedly different
    in that first degree murder is a capital offense, but first-degree murder of an
    unborn child is not. Commonwealth v. Murray, 
    83 A.3d 137
    (Pa. 2013).
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    We are aware of no published case where a conviction for murder of
    an unborn child under Chapter 26 served as the predicate to a life sentence
    under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715 for a separate conviction of Chapter 25 homicide,
    or vice versa. Rather, what our research has uncovered is that in instances
    where the facts are analogous to those in the case at bar, section 9715 was
    not applied.
    In Commonwealth v. Luster, 
    71 A.3d 1029
    (Pa. Super. 2013), the
    defendant was convicted of third-degree murder and third-degree murder of
    an unborn child, but he received an aggregate sentence of fourteen to
    twenty-eight years of incarceration.           Similarly, in Commonwealth v.
    Bullock, 
    913 A.2d 207
    (Pa. 2006), the defendant was found guilty, but
    mentally ill, of third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter of an
    unborn   child;   however,   the   trial   court   sentenced   the    defendant   to
    consecutive terms of imprisonment of fifteen to forty years for the murder of
    the adult victim, and to a term of five to twenty years for voluntary
    manslaughter of the victim’s unborn child. 
    Id. at 211.
    Additionally, a case
    distinguishing murder of an unborn child from homicide generally is
    Commonwealth v. Booth, 
    766 A.2d 843
    (Pa. 2001).                      In Booth, the
    Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the death of an unborn child resulting
    from a motor vehicle accident where the defendant was driving under the
    influence does not serve as the predicate for the crime of homicide by
    vehicle while driving under the influence.
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    Moreover, in another mandatory sentencing statute, 42 Pa.C.S. §
    9714, which deals with sentences for second and subsequent offenses, the
    Legislature specifically enumerated murder and murder of an unborn child as
    separate offenses which can serve as a predicate offense to the imposition of
    a mandatory minimum sentence. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(g).             The decision to
    specifically include murder of an unborn child in section 9714 illustrates the
    Legislature’s awareness that murder and murder of an unborn child are
    separate offenses, and conversely, the absence of murder of an unborn child
    from section 9715 indicates that the omission was volitional.
    In sum, the legislature chose to distinguish murder of an unborn child
    from murder generally, and it chose not to add murder of an unborn child to
    the predicate crimes specified in section 9715. The ambiguity evidenced in
    this case could have been alleviated by the Legislature by its inclusion of
    murder of an unborn child in section 9715, as it did in section 9714.
    Because we conclude that murder of an unborn child is not one of the
    offenses set forth in section 9715 triggering the imposition of a mandatory
    life sentence for a separate conviction of third-degree murder, the trial court
    was correct in holding that section 9715 did not mandate a life sentence in
    the case at bar. The Commonwealth is entitled to no relief on its appeal.
    Haynes’s Appeal at 2219 EDA 2014
    In Haynes’s cross-appeal at Superior Court Docket Number 2219 EDA
    2014, Haynes presents the following issue for this Court’s consideration:
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    Did not the sentencing court abuse its discretion and impose a
    manifestly excessive sentence when it sentenced the appellant
    to 35 to 70 years[’] incarceration following a jury trial on the
    charges of third degree murder, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(c) and third
    degree murder of an unborn child, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2604(c), where
    even the aggravated range of the sentencing guidelines called
    for a lesser sentence and the trial court failed to take into
    consideration appellant’s mental health needs?
    Haynes’s Brief, at 4.
    Haynes’s issue challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence.
    We note that “[t]he right to appeal a discretionary aspect of sentence is not
    absolute.”   Commonwealth v. Martin, 
    727 A.2d 1136
    , 1143 (Pa. Super.
    1999). Rather, where an appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of a
    sentence, the appeal should be considered a petition for allowance of appeal.
    Commonwealth v. W.H.M., 
    932 A.2d 155
    , 163 (Pa. Super. 2007).
    As we observed in Commonwealth v. Moury, 
    992 A.2d 162
    (Pa.
    Super. 2010):
    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.
    [708]; (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).
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    Id. at 170
    (citing Commonwealth v. Evans, 
    901 A.2d 528
    (Pa. Super.
    2006)).   The determination of whether there is a substantial question is
    made on a case-by-case basis, and this Court will grant the appeal 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 norms which underlie
    the sentencing process. Commonwealth v. Sierra, 
    752 A.2d 910
    , 912-913
    (Pa. Super. 2000).
    Herein, the first three requirements of the four-part test are met:
    Haynes brought a timely appeal, raised the challenges in a post-sentence
    motion, and included in his appellate brief the necessary separate concise
    statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal pursuant to
    Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). Therefore, we next determine whether Haynes raises a
    substantial question requiring us to review the discretionary aspects of the
    sentence imposed by the trial court.
    In his Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement, Haynes argues first that the trial
    court failed to consider his mental health issues and rehabilitative needs.
    Haynes’s Brief at 10. However, this Court has held on numerous occasions
    that a claim of inadequate consideration of such factors does not raise a
    substantial question for our review. E.g., Commonwealth v. Cannon, 
    954 A.2d 1222
    , 1229 (Pa. Super. 2008).      We point out that Haynes does not
    allege that the trial court was unaware of his mental health issues or his
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    rehabilitative needs.       Indeed, Haynes has not raised an issue that his
    sentence is “(1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing
    Code; or (2) contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the
    sentencing process.” 
    Moury, 992 A.2d at 170
    . Thus, we conclude that this
    claim fails to present a substantial question for review.3
    Next, Haynes avers that the trial court sentenced him to a term of
    imprisonment that exceeded the aggravated range of the sentencing
    guidelines resulting in a manifestly excessive sentence.     Haynes’s Brief at
    11-12. While a bald claim of excessiveness does not present a substantial
    question for review, a claim that the sentence is manifestly excessive,
    inflicting too severe a punishment, does present a substantial question.
    Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 
    83 A.3d 1030
    , 1038 (Pa. Super. 2013).
    Because Haynes’s second issue arguably presents a claim that the sentence
    is manifestly excessive and too severe, we conclude that Haynes has
    presented a substantial question, and we proceed with our analysis.
    Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the sentencing
    judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal absent a manifest
    ____________________________________________
    3
    We also point out that this argument is belied by the record. The trial
    court specifically noted that it reviewed Haynes’s Presentence Investigation
    (“PSI”) report and Mental Health Report prior to sentencing.            N.T.,
    Sentencing, 7/1/14, at 4. Where a sentencing court is informed by a PSI
    report, “it is presumed that the court is aware of all appropriate sentencing
    factors and considerations, and that where the court has been so informed,
    its discretion should not be disturbed.” Commonwealth v. Ventura, 
    975 A.2d 1128
    , 1135 (Pa. Super. 2009).
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    abuse of discretion.    Commonwealth v. Fullin, 
    892 A.2d 843
    , 847 (Pa.
    Super. 2006). In this context, an abuse of discretion is not shown merely by
    an error in judgment.       
    Id. Rather, the
    appellant must establish, by
    reference to the record, that the sentencing court ignored or misapplied the
    law, exercised its judgment for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will,
    or arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision. 
    Id. Haynes argues
    that the trial court sentenced him to “a sentence that
    far exceeded the aggravated range of the sentencing guidelines.” Haynes’s
    Brief 35. Haynes is mistaken.
    Haynes correctly notes that the offense gravity score (“OGS”) was
    fourteen while his prior record score (“PRS”) was two. Haynes’s Brief at 11.
    Haynes also correctly notes that the sentencing guidelines provide a
    minimum recommended sentence of between eight years up to the statutory
    limit. 
    Id. It is
    at this point, however, that Haynes proffers a non sequitur.
    He asserts that:
    the trial court imposed a sentence that far exceeded the
    aggravated range of the sentencing guidelines. [Haynes’s] prior
    record consisted of an aggravated assault conviction, graded as
    a felony of the second degree and a simple assault conviction,
    thereby adding two points to his prior record score. The offense
    gravity score for both crimes he was convicted of, third degree
    murder and third degree murder of an unborn child, was
    fourteen. 204 Pa.Code § 303.7. Consequently, the sentencing
    guidelines recommended a range of ninety-six (96) months (or
    eight years) to the statutory limit, plus or minus twelve months.
    204 Pa.Code § 303.7. The trial court essentially disregarded
    this range and sentenced Mr. Haynes to an aggregate
    term of 35 to 70 years in custody.
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    Haynes’s Brief at 35 (emphasis added).
    After review, the trial court clearly did not disregard the sentencing
    guidelines.     In fact, in both the third-degree murder and third-degree
    murder of a child convictions, Haynes received a sentence in the standard
    range of the guidelines.
    As noted, the applicable standard minimum-range sentence for each
    crime was between eight years and the statutory limit.                204 Pa.Code §
    303.16. For the third-degree murder charge, Haynes received a sentence of
    twenty to forty years of imprisonment. Because forty years is the statutory
    maximum,4 and because a minimum sentence cannot be more than half of
    the maximum sentence,5 the statutory limit for the minimum was twenty
    years.      Therefore,    Haynes’s     sentence    of   twenty   to   forty   years   of
    incarceration for third-degree murder was a standard-range sentence.
    The same logic holds true for the sentence imposed for murder of an
    unborn child.      For the third-degree murder of an unborn child charge,
    Haynes received a sentence of fifteen to thirty years of imprisonment.
    Again, forty years is the statutory maximum,6 and because, as explained
    above, a minimum sentence cannot be more than half of the maximum
    ____________________________________________
    4
    18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(d).
    5
    42 Pa.C.S. § 9756(b)(1).
    6
    18 Pa.C.S. § 1102(d).
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    sentence, the statutory limit on the minimum was twenty years.              Thus,
    Haynes’s sentence of fifteen to thirty years of incarceration for third-degree
    murder of an unborn child was a standard-range sentence, and no relief is
    due.7
    In conclusion, we discern no error in the trial court’s conclusion that 42
    Pa.C.S. § 9715 was not applicable under the facts of this case, and
    therefore, the Commonwealth is entitled to no relief in the appeal at 2067
    EDA 2014. Additionally, we conclude that there was no abuse of discretion
    in the sentence the trial court imposed, and Haynes is entitled to no relief in
    the appeal at 2219 EDA 2014.              Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of
    sentence.
    Judgment of sentence affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 10/5/2015
    ____________________________________________
    7
    To the extent that Haynes views his aggregate sentence of thirty-five to
    seventy years as excessive due to the consecutive nature of the sentences,
    that claim is completely undeveloped in his brief. As such, we deem any
    argument as to the sentences being served consecutively waived on appeal.
    Commonwealth v. Palo, 
    24 A.3d 1050
    , 1058 (Pa. Super. 2011).
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