Com. v. Wykoff, X. ( 2023 )

J-A02013-23
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
XAVIER PHILLIP WYKOFF :
:
Appellant : No. 162 WDA 2022
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 25, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No(s):
CP-25-CR-0000638-2021
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
XAVIER PHILLIP WYKOFF :
:
Appellant : No. 163 WDA 2022
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 25, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No(s):
CP-25-CR-0001848-2021
BEFORE: BOWES, J., OLSON, J., and MURRAY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED: April 28, 2023
Appellant, Xavier Phillip Wykoff, appeals from the judgments of
sentence entered October 25, 2021, as made final by the denial of his
post-sentence motions on January 7, 2022. We affirm Appellant’s convictions
together with the penalties of total confinement imposed by the trial court.
We vacate the imposition of a one-year term of reentry supervision at trial
court docket number 638 of 2021.
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The trial court summarized the facts and procedural history of this case
as follows:
[Appellant’s first set of] convictions arose from [his] actions on
January 27, 2021[,] at the 400 block of East 14th Street, in the
City of Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania[.] … According to the
criminal complaint, at the time of arrest, Appellant, a
paraplegic, while riding as a passenger in a vehicle[,] possessed
the loaded Glock, an additional 35-round magazine,
$2,225[.00] in various denominations consistent with narcotics
distribution, and a clear knotted sandwich baggie containing 38
blue pills of suspected Oxycodone. The gun and baggie with
the pills inside were located in Appellant's underwear. A
subsequent search of the vehicle pursuant to a warrant led to
the recovery of other drugs and drug-related contraband.
[On April 29, 2021, at Erie County docket no. 638 of 2021,
Appellant pled guilty as charged to Count One-Firearms Not To
Be Carried Without A License (a loaded Glock 17), a third degree
felony, and to Count Two-Possession With Intent to Deliver
(Oxycodone), a felony.]
As part of the plea, Appellant agreed to forfeit the $2,225.00 in
cash, and the Commonwealth agreed it would not object to the
imposition of concurrent sentences.
***
At the conclusion of the April 29, 2021 plea hearing, the [trial
c]ourt informed Appellant [that] his sentencing hearing was
scheduled for July 6, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. in the same court room,
and instructed Appellant he was to return for sentencing at that
time.
***
[Appellant’s] second set of convictions arose from Appellant’s
activities on July 2, 2021, just four [] days before the July 6,
2021 sentencing hearing on Appellant’s convictions at docket
no. 638 of 2021. According to the criminal complaint, on July
2, 2021, Appellant was speeding through a residential area in
the City of Erie[, Pennsylvania]. When the police signaled for
Appellant to stop, Appellant pulled over, but then sped off
again. A high-speed chase ensued, with Appellant's vehicle
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reaching speeds of up to 50 to 70 miles per hour in a posted 25
mile-per-hour zone. During the chase, Appellant ran through
two red traffic signals at the intersections of East 21st and Ash
Streets and East 21[st] and Parade Streets. According to the
[c]omplaint, only after a malfunction of a vehicle modification
for Appellant's disability did Appellant finally stop. At the time
of the traffic stop, Appellant possessed 45 blue Fentanyl pills
hidden in a sock, [four] grams of suspected marijuana,
$1,280.00 in cash and a fully loaded firearm later found to be
reported as stolen.
[On October 21, 2021, at docket no. 1848 of 2021, Appellant
pled guilty to fleeing or attempting to elude [a] police officer
and possession with the intent to deliver (fentanyl).] Pursuant
to the plea agreement at [docket] no. 1848 of 2021, the
Commonwealth agreed to nolle pross the numerous remaining
charges. Also, Appellant and the Commonwealth stipulated
[that] the quantity of Fentanyl . . . was 4.84 grams; the
[o]ffense [g]ravity [s]core was [10]; Appellant would pay lab
fees of $176.00 to the Pennsylvania State Police; Appellant
would forfeit the $1,280.00 in cash; and Appellant would pay
costs.
***
Due to the events of July 2, 2021 which led to the additional
charges at docket no. 1848 of 2021, the parties agreed to
continue the sentencing hearing originally scheduled for July 6,
2021 at docket no. 638 of 2021. Also, on July 13, 2021 the
[trial c]ourt revoked Appellant's bond at docket no. 638 of 2021
upon motion of the Commonwealth. A combined sentencing
hearing at both dockets was scheduled for October 25, 2021.
Additional background concerning the events of July 2, 2021
(including the flight from the police and ensuing high-speed
chase), as related by Assistant District Attorney Maskrey [“ADA
Maskrey”)] at the combined sentencing hearing held on October
25, 2021, [as follows]:
[ADA Maskrey]: ... [O]n [July 2, 2021], just days before
[Appellant] was supposed to be sentenced at docket [no.]
638 of 2021, he decides to flee from the officer during a
multiple traffic stop, going over 70 miles per hour through
the City of Erie, [Pennsylvania,] running stop signs as well
as red lights.
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He eventually pulls over. And after he pulls over, he is
found to be in possession of another $1,280[.00] in cash
and 45 of those pills - - the blue fentanyl pills - - that came
back to 4.84 grams of fentanyl.
And when the officer asked him why he would run in that
situation, he tells the officer, because I [am] going to jail
on Tuesday, bro. That [is] his response.
Obviously, he has zero regard for the court system or the
police officers in our [c]ounty, and the jobs they have to
do. Because of what he did in this case, fleeing just days
before [July 6, 2021,] the original scheduled sentencing [at
docket no. 638 of 2021,] and saying he [is] going to jail.
And it [is] beyond clear that he was continuing to sell
fentanyl on our streets while awaiting sentencing at []
docket [no. 638 of 2021], as noticed by having 45 more
fentanyl pills and another $1,280.00 in cash. So, complete
disregard for the courts.
And I understand his situation, being handicapped, and
what he has to go through with that, Judge. But that does
not excuse any of his conduct in these cases.
[N.T.] Sentencing Hearing, 10/25/21, [at] 13 (emphasis
[omitted]).
On October 25, 2021, Appellant was sentenced at both dockets
to an aggregate of 60 months to 120 months ([five] to 10 years)
of incarceration as follows.
***
At Erie County docket no. 638 of 2021, Appellant was sentenced
to an aggregate of 24 months to 48 months ([two] to [four]
years) of incarceration:
Count One: Firearms Not to Be Carried Without A License[1]
- 24 months to 48 months of incarceration.
____________________________________________
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106 (a).
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Count Two: Possession With Intent to Deliver
(Oxycodone)[2] — [three] months to [six] months of
incarceration, concurrent with Count One.
The sentences at Counts One and Two were at the low end of
the standard range of the sentencing guidelines. The [trial
c]ourt imposed the sentences to run concurrently, consistent
with the stipulation at the plea hearing. Appellant was directed
to pay lab fees and costs. … The Court ordered one-year
mandatory reentry supervision in accordance with 61 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6137.2.
At Erie County docket no. 1848 of 2021, Appellant was
sentenced to an aggregate of 36 months to 72 months ([three]
years to [six] years) of incarceration as follows:
Count One: Fleeing Or Attempting to Elude Police Officer[3]
— [three] months to [six] months of incarceration.
Count Five: Possession With Intent To Deliver (Fentanyl)[4]
— 36 months to 72 months of incarceration, concurrent
with Count One.
The sentences at Counts One and Five were at the low end of
the standard range of the guidelines, and the sentence at Count
Five was imposed concurrent with Count One at [docket] no.
1848 of 2021. The [trial c]ourt specified the sentences at this
docket were to run consecutive to the sentence imposed at
Count One at docket [no.] 638 of 2021, for a total aggregate of
[five] to 10 years of incarceration. The [trial c]ourt directed
Appellant to pay lab fees and costs. At [docket no. 1848 of
2021] the sentencing order also reads the [trial c]ourt ordered
another period of one-year mandatory reentry supervision in
accordance with 61 Pa.C.S.A. § 6137.2.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/24/22, at 1-6 (internal citations, unnecessary
capitalization and footnotes omitted) (footnotes added).
____________________________________________
2 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30).
3 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3733(a).
4 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30).
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On November 1, 2021, Appellant’s trial counsel filed a motion to
withdraw as counsel, which the trial court granted that same day. Thereafter,
Appellant’s new counsel filed timely post-sentence motions at each trial court
docket. The trial court denied Appellant’s post-sentence motions on January
7, 2022. This timely appeal followed.5
Appellant raises the following issues on appeal:
1. Did the trial court impose a manifestly excessive sentence,
in light of Appellant’s paraplegia and attendant medical
needs/safety concerns, where other sentencing options
would still have ensured the protection of the public, held
Appellant accountable, and provided for Appellant’s
rehabilitative needs?
2. Did the trial court err[] when it ordered Appellant to serve
one-year of [reentry] supervision at each [trial court]
docket?
Appellant’s Brief at 10.
In his first issue, Appellant argues that the trial court imposed an
“excessive and unreasonable” sentence. Appellant’s Brief at 20. Before we
may conduct a merits analysis of Appellant's discretionary sentencing
challenge, we must determine whether he properly invoked this Court's
jurisdiction. See Commonwealth v. Luketic, 162 A.3d 1149, 1159-1160
(Pa. Super. 2017) (“Only if the appeal satisfies [a four-part test] may we
proceed to decide the substantive merits of [an a]ppellant's claim.”)
____________________________________________
5By per curiam order entered on March 4, 2022, this Court consolidated the
appeals sua sponte.
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We 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, [see] 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, [see] 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 9781(b).
Commonwealth v. Griffin, 65 A.3d 932, 935 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations
omitted).
Instantly, Appellant filed timely notices of appeal, properly preserved
his claims by filing post-sentence motions at each trial court docket, and
included a Rule 2119(f) statement in his brief. See Appellant's Brief at 18-21.
Thus, we turn to whether he raised a substantial question. A substantial
question is raised by demonstrating that the trial court's actions were
inconsistent with the Sentencing Code or contrary to a fundamental norm
underlying the sentencing process. Commonwealth v. Bonner, 135 A.3d
592, 603 (Pa. Super. 2016). This issue is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Id. This Court will not look beyond the statement of questions involved and
the prefatory Rule 2119(f) statement to determine whether a substantial
question exists. Commonwealth v. Radecki, 180 A.3d 441, 468 (Pa. Super.
2018) (citation omitted). Moreover, for purposes of determining what
constitutes a substantial question, “we do not accept bald assertions of
sentencing errors,” but rather require an appellant to “articulat[e] the way in
which the court's actions violated the sentencing code.” Commonwealth v.
Malovich, 903 A.2d 1247, 1252 (Pa. 2006).
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Upon review, we conclude that Appellant failed to articulate a substantial
question within his Rule 2119(f) statement. Rather, Appellant references each
conviction at each docket, conceding that, in each instance, the trial court
imposed a sentence within the standard range. Appellant’s Brief at 18-20.
Appellant nonetheless argues that “the length of the aggregate sentence is
excessive and unreasonable, as is the place of confinement and/or the
imposition of total confinement in light of Appellant’s paraplegia and
associated medical risks.” Id. at 20. At no point does Appellant ever state,
with specificity, a colorable claim alleging that his sentence is inconsistent with
a provision of the Sentencing Code or a fundamental norm underlying the
sentencing process. See generally id. at 18-20; see also Commonwealth
v. Crawford, 257 A.3d 75, 79-80 (Pa. Super. 2021) (explaining that the Rule
2119(f) statement fails to raise a substantial question where it “fails to explain
what portion of the Sentencing Code, if any, with which his sentence was
inconsistent or how it ran contrary to fundamental sentencing norms.”).
Ostensibly, Appellant's Rule 2119(f) statement implies that the trial
court failed to adequately consider mitigating factors, disabilities, or
rehabilitation needs in imposing Appellant's sentence. See Appellant's Brief
at 20 (claiming that, in light of Appellant’s physical condition, this Court should
“vacate [his] sentence and remand to the trial court with instructions” that
“application of the [sentencing guidelines] is clearly unreasonable”). Our case
law is clear, however, that claims of inadequate consideration of mitigating
factors do not raise a substantial question. See Crawford, 257 A.3d at 79;
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see also Commonwealth v. Velez, 273 A.3d 6, 10 (Pa. Super. 2022) (noting
that the “weight accorded to the mitigating factors or aggravating factors
presented to the sentencing court is within the [sentencing] court's exclusive
domain.”). As Appellant did not raise a substantial question, we will not review
the merits of his discretionary sentencing claim.
Next, Appellant challenges the legality of his sentence.6 Appellant’s
Brief at 26-30. Specifically, Appellant asserts that “the trial court lacked the
authority to impose one-year of [reentry] supervision at each of the [trial
court] dockets” because “the sentences only exceeded the minimum of four
years when aggregated.” Id. at 27. Appellant requests this Court to “vacate
the imposition of the one-year of [reentry] supervision at [d]ocket [n]o. 638
of 2021 as an illegal sentence.” Id. at 30.
The relevant standard and scope of review are as follows:
[T]he determination as to whether the trial court imposed an
illegal sentence is a question of law; our standard of review in
____________________________________________
6 Herein, Appellant argues that the trial court imposed an illegal sentence
when it ordered one-year reentry supervision at each trial court docket.
Appellant did not raise this issue in his post-sentence motions. In general,
issues not properly raised and preserved before the trial court “are waived
and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). “A
challenge that implicates the legality of an appellant's sentence, however, is
an exception to this issue preservation requirement.” Commonwealth v.
Thorne, 276 A.3d 1192, 1196 (Pa. 2022). “Stated succinctly, an appellate
court can address an appellant's challenge to the legality of his sentence even
if that issue was not preserved in the trial court; indeed, an appellate court
may [even] raise and address such an issue sua sponte.” Id.,Commonwealth v. Hill, 238 A.3d 399, 407 (Pa. 2020). Hence, because
Appellant challenges the legality of his sentence, his failure to raise the claim
by way of a post-sentence motion does not preclude our review.
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cases dealing with questions of law is plenary. This case will
also necessarily call upon us to engage in statutory
construction, which similarly presents a pure question of law
and also implicates the legality of [the] sentence. Thus, our
standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is
plenary.
Commonwealth v. Hunt, 220 A.3d 582, 585 (Pa. Super. 2019) (internal
citations and quotation marks omitted).
Section 6137.2 provides, in relevant part, as follows:
§ 6137.2. Reentry supervision
(a) General rule.—This section applies to persons
committed to the department with an aggregate minimum
sentence of total confinement under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9756(b)
(relating to sentence of total confinement) of 4 years or
more. Regardless of the sentence imposed, this section
does not apply to persons sentenced to death, life
imprisonment, persons otherwise ineligible for parole or
persons subject to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9718.5 (relating to
mandatory period of probation for certain sexual
offenders).
(b) Reentry supervision.—Any person under subsection (a)
shall be sentenced to a period of reentry supervision of 12
months consecutive to and in addition to any other lawful
sentence issued by the court.
61 Pa.C.S.A. § 6137.2(a)-(b).
The Sentencing Guidelines also outline the criteria for imposing reentry
supervision. Section 303.12 provides, in relevant part, as follows:
(f) Reentry Programs
***
(2) State Reentry Supervision (as provided in 61 Pa.C.S.
§ 6137.2)
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(i) Requirement that applies to persons committed
to the Department of Corrections with an aggregate
minimum sentence of total confinement of four years
or more.
(ii) At the time of sentencing, a period of reentry
supervision of 12 months shall be imposed
consecutive to and in addition to any other lawful
sentence issued by the court.
(iii) The Court may impose the period of reentry
supervision required in addition to the maximum
sentence permitted for the offense for which the
person was convicted.
(iv) Persons who have been granted any period of
parole during the same period of incarceration shall
be deemed to have served the reentry supervision
requirement.
204 Pa. Code § 303.12(f)(2)(i)-(iv). Therefore, pursuant to the plain language
of both Section 6137.2(a) and Section 303.12(f)(2)(i)-(iv), if an individual is
sentenced to total confinement and his aggregate minimum sentence is for a
period of at least four years, a sentencing court is required to impose a period
of one-year reentry supervision. See Brown v. Levy, 73 A.3d 514, 517 (Pa.
2013) (“When interpreting an unambiguous statute, such as the one at issue,
the plain meaning of the statute must control.”).
In this instance, at docket no. 638 of 2021, the trial court sentenced
Appellant to an aggregate term of two to four years’ incarceration. In addition,
at docket no. 1848 of 2021, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an
aggregate term of three to six years’ incarceration. Hence, neither docket,
alone, reflected an aggregate minimum sentence of four years. Thus, the trial
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court lacked authority to order a one-year period of reentry supervision at
both docket no. 638 of 2021 and docket no. 1848 of 2021.
Importantly, the trial court agreed with Appellant’s contention that the
imposition of reentry supervision at both dockets was improper. In its 1925(a)
Opinion, the trial court stated:
At sentencing on October 25, 2021, the following exchange
occurred between the Probation/Parole Officer and the [trial
c]ourt:
[Probation/Parole Officer]:. ... And the last thing I would
say is because the minimum is more than four years, we
would ask for that one year [reentry] supervision.
The [trial court]: Right. He would have to.
[N.T.] Sentencing Hearing, 10/25/21, [at] 19.
The record reflects the Probation/Parole Officer requested one
year of [reentry] supervision (rather than two years of [reentry]
supervision) pursuant to 61 Pa.C.S.A. § 6137.2(a), since the
combined aggregate minimum at both dockets exceeded the
four-year minimum requirement of total confinement under 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 9756(b).
It was the [trial c]ourt's intention to impose a
combined/aggregate minimum sentence at both dockets of five
years. This is apparent by the [trial c]ourt's directives: 1) the
sentence at [docket] no. 638 of 2021 was to aggregate with the
sentence imposed at [d]ocket [n]o. 1848 of 2021 for a total
aggregate sentence of [five] to 10 years of incarceration, and
2) the sentences at [docket] no. 1848 of 2021 were to run
consecutive to the sentence imposed at Count One at docket
[no.] 638 of 2021, for a total aggregate of [five] to 10 years of
incarceration. See Sentencing Order of October 25, 2021 at
Erie County Docket No. 1848-2021; [see N.T.] Sentencing
Hearing, 10/25/21, [at] 16-17. At sentencing, the Court
stated:
[The trial court]: ... [docket no.] 1848 of 2021, as a whole,
will run consecutive to [docket no.] 638 of 2021. And any
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special conditions that were applied to [docket no.] 638 [of
2021] also are attached to [docket no.] 1848 [of 2021].
This is an aggregate sentence of five to ten years. I think
it [is] justified, concerning the fact of this case, and despite
the problems the [Appellant] has had[.]
[N.T.] Sentencing Hearing, 10/25/21, [at] 16-17.
Through inadvertent error, each sentencing order directs one
year of [reentry] supervision. The record should be corrected
to reflect the period of [reentry] supervision only applies to
docket no. 1848 of 2021, because the Court directed the
sentence at [docket] no. 1848 of 2021 is consecutive to docket
no. 638 of 2021, bringing the aggregate minimum sentence of
total confinement to five years.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/24/22, at 13-14 (unnecessary capitulation omitted).
Based upon the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court imposed an
illegal sentence under Section 6137.2. We therefore vacate that aspect of
Appellant’s judgment of sentence that imposes a one-year term of reentry
supervision at trial court docket no. 638 of 2021. In all other respects, we
affirm.
Judgment of sentence affirmed, in part, and vacated, in part.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/28/2023
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