Com. v. Campbell, J. ( 2023 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
JUSTIN FRANKLIN CAMPBELL :
:
Appellant : No. 1394 WDA 2022
Appeal from the Order Entered November 17, 2022
In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No(s):
CP-25-CR-0002641-2020
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., McCAFFERY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY McCAFFERY, J.: FILED: December 26, 2023
Justin Franklin Campbell (Appellant) appeals from the order entered in
the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, denying his motion to strike certain
conditions of his probation, which were imposed by Erie County Adult
Probation and Parole Department four months after he entered a negotiated
guilty plea to corruption of minors1 and was sentenced. The conditions
Appellant challenges prohibit him from: (1) living with or having direct or
indirect contact with any person under the age of 18, despite the fact Appellant
was living with his one-year-old child; (2) accessing the internet, without prior
permission from the probation department; and (3) loitering within 1,000 feet
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301(a)(1)(i).
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of an area where the primary activity involves persons under age 18. The trial
court found the probation department adequately explained how these
conditions related to Appellant, his offense, and the safety of the community.
Trial Ct. Op., 2/2/23, at 4. On appeal, Appellant contends, inter alia, the
proper analysis is instead whether the probation department’s conditions have
the necessary nexus to the trial court’s sentencing order, and here, they do
not.2 We agree, and thus vacate the order and remand for the trial court to
apply the proper review.
I. Procedural History
On April 28, 2022, Appellant entered a negotiated plea to one count of
corruption of minors. The Commonwealth recited the following factual
summary: in June of 2020, Appellant, then approximately 26 years old,
engaged in vaginal, anal, or oral sex with the victim, a 15-year-old girl. See
N.T., 4/28/22, at 4, 6. It was a “consensual act,” although, as the
Commonwealth pointed out, the victim was not old enough to consent. Id. at
5. When asked how he met the victim, Appellant stated his neighbor asked
him to pick her up and bring her to his town, “because their parents were drug
addicts[ ] and [the victim was] getting abused.” Id. at 8-9. The parties
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2 As we discuss infra, Appellant does not challenge the probation
department’s general authority to impose conditions of supervision, but
instead argues these particular conditions are not sufficiently related to the
trial court’s conditions of probation.
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agreed to a sentence of five years’ restrictive probation, with the first ten
months on electronic monitoring. Id. at 3. The Commonwealth stated that
in agreeing to this recommended sentence, it considered that Appellant was
working and was a caretaker to his own one-year old child and the seven- and
ten-year old children of his partner, with whom he lived. See id. at 7; N.T.,
11/14/22, at 8.
The trial court accepted Appellant’s plea and immediately imposed the
agreed-upon sentence. N.T., 4/28/22, at 4, 9. The court also ordered: (1)
an evaluation for sexual offender counseling; (2) drug and alcohol and mental
health evaluations; and (3) no contact with the victim. Id. at 9-10.
Four months later, on September 20, 2022, Appellant filed the
counseled, underlying motion to strike “extrajudicial” conditions of probation.
Appellant’s Motion [to] Strike the Extrajudicial Conditions of Probation,
9/20/22, at 1 (unpaginated). Appellant averred the following: on September
1st, he was assigned two new probation offers and was told, under threat of
imprisonment, to sign a form entitled, “Conditions of Supervision: Sex
Offenders or Those Convicted of a Crime that is Sexual in Nature” (the IASOP3
Contract). Id. at 1. This contract prohibited Appellant from living with any
child, and as a result, his own child was removed from his house, despite the
facts the child was not an alleged victim and the court had not ordered any
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3 Integrative Adult Sex Offender Program. See N.T., 11/14/22, at 6.
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such removal. Id. at 1-2. Furthermore, the contract prohibited Appellant
from accessing the internet or coming within 1,000 feet of, inter alia, schools
and playgrounds, and it required him to complete a sexual offender program.
Id. Appellant argued these conditions were not only extreme, but also
exceeded the scope of authority of the trial court’s sentencing order and had
no nexus to the underlying crime. See id. at 2.
The trial court conducted a hearing on November 14, 2022. In his
testimony, Appellant reiterated the probation department informed him he
could be in violation of probation if he did not sign the IASOP Contract. N.T.,
11/14/22, at 16. Furthermore, he was told his child, along with his partner’s
children, would have to move out that same day, and the children in fact have
moved out. Id. at 21-22.
The Commonwealth presented Erie County Parole and Probation Officer
(PO) Timothy Hardner, who testified to the following. He worked in the
probation department’s IASOP program. Generally, when a probationer has
“plead[ed] to a sexual assault[4] and is sentenced for an evaluation for the sex
offender treatment program,” his department will supervise them in the IASOP
program. N.T., 11/14/22, at 7. The IASOP Contract was drafted by “multiple
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4As stated above, in this case, Appellant pleaded guilty to corruption of
minors.
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counties” and “approved by the courts.”5 Id. at 27. The department requests
the probationer sign the IASOP Contract before they are evaluated “in an
effort to keep the community safe until” the evaluation is completed. Id. at
7-8. If the evaluation establishes the probationer does not need treatment,
other conditions in the contract would nevertheless remain in effect, for
example a prohibition against possessing pornography. Id. at 10. In addition
to the IASOP Contract, a probationer is subject to “[t]he standard probation
contract[, which also] has some sex offender conditions[.]” Id. at 7.
With respect to Appellant specifically, PO Hardner denied telling him he
would go to prison if he did not sign the contract.6 N.T., 11/14/22, at 8. The
PO further testified: although he told Appellant he could not have contact with
his partner’s two children, he could live with and have contact with his own
biological child. Id. at 9. PO Hardner stated that generally, the probation
department does not restrict contact with a biological child, unless they were
the victim. Id. Additionally, PO Hardner stated that in general, IASOP
conditions may become “less restrictive” on “a case-by-case” basis, as a
probationer “move[s] through the program;” for example, the probationer
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5 This statement was not made during the PO’s formal testimony, but rather
while the trial court and parties argued the issue. See N.T., 11/14/22, at 27.
6 PO Hardner stated the four-month delay between sentencing and Appellant’s
first meeting with him was due to the PO’s learning “about [this] case later
than normal.” N.T., 11/14/22, at 22-23.
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may “be able to have contact with minors so long as all the bases are covered.”
Id. at 11, 13. Finally, PO Hardner explained: Appellant was not in violation
of his probation; the evaluation for sexual offender counseling had yet to be
scheduled; but “it was agreed [Appellant] would not have to go further with
any proceeding until” the underlying motion to strike the supervisory
conditions was resolved. Id. at 9-10.
On cross-examination, PO Hardner conceded: (1) the plain language of
the IASOP Contract did not include an exception allowing contact with
biological children; and (2) no new contract is executed if a restriction is lifted
or loosened, and instead, the probationer remains bound by the original IASOP
Contract. N.T., 11/14/22, at 12-13, 15. Furthermore, the contract provided
the probationer “would follow all of [the] restrictions,” and PO Hardner
acknowledged that a violation of any of these terms could result in revocation
proceedings. Id. at 12-13.
The trial court asked whether there was “a responsibility to have a lot
more of [these IASOP conditions] explained at the actual sentencing.” N.T.,
11/14/22, at 23. The Commonwealth acknowledged: “Possibly[. I]t might be
a matter [sic] of giving the contract [to the defendant] at the time of the
sentencing.” Id. The trial court also commented that “maybe some language
in [the contract] should be firmed up a little bit.” Id. at 27. Nevertheless,
the Commonwealth argued the probation department must be able to “make
some . . . guidelines and parameters for individuals [who have] been
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convicted of” sexual offenses. Id. at 23. Appellant responded the imposition
of the instant supervisory conditions on a probationer was outside the
probation department’s “wheelhouse.” Id. at 24.
On November 17, 2022, the trial court entered the underlying order,
denying Appellant’s motion to strike the conditions of supervision. In response
to the trial court’s direction, Appellant filed a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of
matters complained of on appeal.
II. Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement
Preliminarily, we consider the suggestion, made by both the trial court
and the Commonwealth, that Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement failed to
identify the particular supervisory conditions he was challenging, and thus his
issues should be found waived for vagueness pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b)(4). See Trial Ct. Op. 2/2/23, at 3; Commonwealth’s Brief at 5.
Appellant responds his statement was sufficiently detailed, and in any event,
“[g]iven the narrow issue presented in the motion/hearing, . . . the challenged
conditions would not, and did not, come as any surprise to the trial court.”
Appellant’s Brief at 16.
“Rule 1925(b)(4)(ii) provides that the Rule 1925(b) statement ‘shall
concisely identify each error that the appellant intends to assert with sufficient
detail to identify the issue to be raised for the judge.’” Commonwealth v.
Price, 284 A.3d 165, 170 (Pa. 2022) (emphasis omitted), citing Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b)(4)(ii).
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However, in Commonwealth v. Laboy, 936 A.2d 1058 (Pa. 2007), our
Supreme Court allowed a broad Rule 1925(b) claim of insufficient evidence in
what it deemed was a “relatively straightforward drug case.” Id. at 1060. In
that case, while the Commonwealth alleged the defendant acted as a lookout
and money handler in multiple drug sales, “the evidentiary presentation
span[ned] a mere [30] pages of transcript[,]” and the trial court “readily
apprehended [the defendant’s] claim and addressed it in substantial detail.”
Id. at 1058, 1060.
In this appeal, Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement raised the following
claims:
1. This Honorable Court abused its discretion in delegating its
duties of imposition of conditions of probation to the Adult
Probation Department after date of sentencing.
2. This Honorable Court abused its discretion in allowing the Adult
Probation Department to impose unduly restrictive conditions in
the new probation contract than the actual sentenced imposed
where no nexus was established.
3. This Honorable Court abused its discretion in denying
Appellant[‘]s Motion to Strike the Extrajudicial Conditions pf
Probation.
Appellant’s Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal, 12/15/22.
While it is true Appellant did not identify the particular conditions of
supervision he wished to challenge, we agree with his summation that the one
issue presented in both his motion and at the hearing was narrow: he was
challenging the IASOP Contract’s prohibitions against him living with any
minor, having internet access, and coming within 1,000 feet of a place where
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the primary activity involves minors. Indeed, the trial court identified these
conditions in its opinion. Trial Ct. Op. at 3-4. Accordingly, under the guidance
of LaBoy, we decline to find waiver for vagueness. See Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b)(4)(ii); Laboy, 936 A.2d at 1058, 1060.
III. Appellant’s Arguments
On appeal, Appellant presents one issue for our review:
Did the trial court err when it denied Appellant’s motion to strike
the extrajudicial conditions of probation as (1) the trial court may
not delegate the imposition of probation conditions to the adult
probation department after sentencing, and (2) the probationary
conditions imposed by the adult probation department were
unreasonable as they lacked any nexus to the underlying
offense[?]
Appellant’s Brief at 2 (some capitalization omitted).
As stated above, Appellant does not challenge the probation
department’s general authority to impose conditions of supervision. Instead,
he argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to strike these particular
conditions of the IASOP Contract: that he is prohibited from living with, having
contact with, and even possessing photographs of any minor; that he may not
access the internet; and that he may not come within 1,000 feet of any place,
including schools and recreation areas, where the primary activity involves
minors.
First, Appellant contends the above supervisory conditions lack a
sufficient nexus to the trial court’s sentencing order or the underlying offense.
He points out that at sentencing, the Commonwealth did not seek, and the
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court did not impose, any restrictions on his ability to live with, have contact
with, or possess photographs of minors, aside from the victim. Appellant’s
Brief at 22. Instead, Appellant maintains, the court imposed only the
following: drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, payment of costs;
no contact with the victim; and an evaluation for sexual offender counseling.
Appellant’s Brief at 19. Appellant insists that none of the “new, much broader
[IASOP] proscriptions upon [his] liberty [were] ordered or deemed necessary
by the court at sentencing.” Id. at 22.
To this end, Appellant also reasons the IASOP conditions could be
considered to “run contrary to the trial court’s intentions at sentencing.”
Appellant’s Brief at 22. In support, Appellant reiterates the Commonwealth:
(1) had considered his role as a caretaker to children, along with his
employment, when it agreed to a sentencing recommendation of probation;
and (2) did not seek any restriction on Appellant’s ability to care for these
children. Id.
Appellant further asserts that while a condition of “no contact” with the
victim or other minors is appropriate in some cases, such a condition must be
individually tailored to the circumstances. Appellant’s Brief at 25-26.
Appellant alleges the present condition, that he have no contact with his one-
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year-old child or his partner’s children, is unreasonable.7 See id. at 26.
Additionally, the prohibition against accessing the internet is not reasonable,
where there was no evidence Appellant used the computer or internet for
sexually explicit materials or as a source to establish inappropriate
relationships. Id. Appellant concludes the trial court improperly delegated to
the probation department the imposition of conditions that lacked a nexus to
the underlying offense. Id. at 15, 24 n.3.
Finally, Appellant claims we cannot excuse the probation department’s
alleged inability to craft individual supervision contracts for each probationer.
Appellant’s Brief at 23, citing N.T., 11/14/22, at 28-29 (Commonwealth
arguing the “probation department is doing the best job they can to make it
a case-by-case basis[, but t]hey can’t craft the probation contracts separately
for each person”). Appellant argues that on the contrary, the conditions of
probation must be individualized. Appellant’s Brief at 23, citing
Commonwealth v. Koren, 646 A.2d 1205, 1208 (Pa. Super. 1994) (“A
probation order is unique and individualized.”). We conclude Appellant has
presented a meritorious claim for relief.
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7 We note “the right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and
control of one’s children is one of the oldest fundamental rights protected by
the Due Process Clause.” In re A.J.R.-H., 188 A.3d 1157, 1178-79 (Pa.
2018).
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IV. Law on Probation Department’s Conditions of Supervision
We first consider the relevant law:
Our Supreme Court has distinguished between “conditions of
probation,” which are imposed by a trial court, and “conditions of
supervision,” which are imposed by the Board and its agents.
[Commonwealth v. Elliott, 50 A.3d 1284, 1291-92 (Pa. 2012).]
The Sentencing Code permits trial courts to set forth “reasonable
conditions authorized by [former subsection 9754(c)8] as it deems
necessary to insure or assist the defendant in leading a law-
abiding life.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9754(b).
[Former subsection 9754(c)] delineates fourteen
conditions a sentencing court may impose upon a
defendant in the imposition of probation[, including
directing them] to attend treatment and addiction
programs, pay fines and restitution, and refrain from
frequenting “unlawful or disreputable places.” [42
Pa.C.S.] § 9754(c)(12), (8), (11), and (6), respectively.
Further, subsection (c)(13) provides a “catch-all” for trial
courts, allowing them to order defendants “[t]o satisfy
any other conditions reasonably related to the
rehabilitation of the defendant and not unduly restrictive
of his liberty or incompatible with his freedom of
conscience.” Id. § 9754(c)(13).
[Elliott, 50 A.3d at 1288.]
The Board’s authority to set forth conditions of supervision,
on the other hand, is derived from [former] sections 6131 and
6151 of the Prisons and Parole Code, which mandate that the
Board and its agents establish uniform standards for the
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8 At the time Elliott was decided, then-in effect Subsection 9754(c) set forth
the specific probation conditions that a trial court could impose. See Elliott,
50 A.3d at 1288. This list of conditions now appears at Subsection 9763(c).
See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9763(b)(1)-(15) (permissible probation conditions include:
meeting family responsibilities, undergoing counseling or drug and alcohol
screening, attending educational or vocational programs, and paying fines or
restitution).
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supervision of probationers under its authority and implement
those standards and conditions. Id. (citing 61 Pa.C.S.
§§ 6131(a)(5)(ii) & 6151). [9]
After examining the interplay between the Crimes Codes and
Prisons and Parole Code, our Supreme Court concluded that while
only the trial court could set conditions of probation, “the Board
and its agents may impose conditions of supervision that
are germane to, elaborate on, or interpret any conditions
of probation that are imposed by the trial court.” Id. at
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9 We note Sections 6131(a)(5)(ii) and 6151 were repealed in 2020 and 2021,
respectively. Nevertheless, their provisions presently appear in other sections
of the Prisons and Parole Code, as follows.
Former Subsection 6131(a)(5)(ii) stated: “The board shall have the
power and its duty shall be: . . . [t]o establish, by regulation, uniform
Statewide standards for . . . [t]he supervision of probationers.” 61 Pa.C.S. §
6131(a)(5)(ii), repealed by Act 2019-115 (S.B. 501), § 18, approved
December 18, 2019, eff. Feb. 17, 2020.
Current Subsection 6171(a)(11)(ii) provides almost identical language:
“The department shall have the following powers and duties: . . . [t]o
establish, by regulation, uniform Statewide standards for . . . [t]he supervision
of probationers.” See 61 Pa.C.S. § 6171(a)(11)(ii).
Similarly, Section 6151, a definitions section, included the following
definition for “conditions of supervision:” “Any terms or conditions of the
offender’s supervision, whether imposed by the court, the board or an agent,
including compliance with all requirements of Federal, State and local law.”
See 61 Pa.C.S. § 6151, repealed Act 2021-59 (S.B. 411), § 23, approved June
30, 2021, eff. June 30, 2021.
The current Section 6101 includes generally the same definition, with
minor revisions not relevant here: “Any terms or conditions of the offender’s
supervision, whether imposed by the court, the department or an agent, or
promulgated by the board as a regulation, including compliance with all
requirements of Federal, State and local law.” See 61 Pa.C.S. § 6101.
Accordingly, we conclude the repealed statutory provisions, discussed
in Elliott and pertaining to the Probation Department’s authority to impose
conditions of supervision, live on in current Sections 6171(a)(11)(ii) and 6151.
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1292. Stated another way, the “trial court may impose conditions
of probation in a generalized manner, and the Board or its agents
may impose more specific conditions of supervision, so long as
these supervision conditions are in furtherance of the trial court’s
conditions of probation.” Id. Therefore, “a probationer may be
detained, arrested, and ‘violated’ for failing to comply with either
a condition of probation or a condition of supervision,” as long as
the condition of supervision does not exceed the Board’s authority
to impose it. Id.
Commonwealth v. Shires, 240 A.3d 974, 977-78 (Pa. Super. 2020)
(emphasis & paragraph break added).
V. Analysis
The trial court opinion addressed Appellant’s arguments, in sum, as
follows:
At the hearing, [PO] Hardner adequately explained the
extent to which these provisions related to Appellant, and
the nexus between those safety precautions, the safety of
the community and the sexual offense. See [N.T., 11/14/22,
at 6-29.] The conditions of the probation contract will be reviewed
with Appellant after his evaluation and are subject to mitigation
depending on the results of the evaluation. Id.Implicit in the Court’s Sentencing Order that Appellant comply
with the “Conditions of Supervision” is an understanding that
Appellant is to comply with the standard probationary conditions
for a person such as Appellant who is convicted of a sexual
offense. No extra judicial conditions of probation were imposed
and no abuse of discretion at sentencing or otherwise occurred as
Appellant was presented with the standard IASOP [C]ontract. The
appeal must be dismissed.
Trial Ct. Op. at 4 (emphasis added).
We agree with the trial court that in addition to complying with
conditions of probation imposed by the court, Appellant must comply with any
proper conditions of supervision imposed by the probation department. See
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61 Pa.C.S. §§ 6131(a)(5)(ii), 6151; Elliott, 50 A.3d at 1288; Shires, 240
A.3d at 977. However, we disagree with the trial court’s one sentence,
conclusory summation that here, the IASOP supervisory conditions were
proper because PO “Hardner adequately explained the extent to which these
provisions related to Appellant, and the nexus between those safety
precautions, the safety of the community and the sexual offense.” See Trial
Ct. Op. at 4.
First, we conclude that these cited factors — whether a condition of
probation has a nexus to Appellant, his offense, or the protection of the
community —are for the trial court to consider in imposing a sentence. See
42 Pa.C.S. 9721(b) (trial court shall consider relevant sentencing factors,
including “the protection of the public, the gravity of the offense as it relates
to the impact on the life of the victim and on the community, and the
rehabilitative needs of the defendant”). To the extent Appellant avers the trial
court improperly conferred review of these factors to the probation
department, we agree. See Appellant’s Brief at 15 (“[T]he trial court may not
delegate the imposition of probation conditions to the adult probation
department after sentencing[.]”)
Instead, the authority of the probation department to impose
conditions of supervision is limited by the conditions of probation
imposed by the trial court. See Elliott, 50 A.3d at 1288; Shires, 240 A.3d
at 977. Pursuant to Elliott, such conditions must be “germane to, elaborate
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on, or interpret any conditions of probation that are imposed by the trial
court,” and must be “in furtherance of the trial court’s conditions of probation.”
See Elliott, 50 A.3d at 1291-92; Shires 240 A.3d at 978. Here, the trial
court undertook no such analysis, and indeed, did not even mention the
conditions of probation it imposed.
As stated above, the sole conditions of probation, imposed by the trial
court at the time of sentencing, were: (1) an evaluation for sexual offender
counseling; (2) drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations; and (3) no
contact with the victim. N.T., 4/28/22, at 9-10. As Appellant points out, the
Commonwealth contemplated his role as caretaker to his one-year-old child
and the minor children of his partner, when it agreed to a recommended
sentence of restrictive probation. See id. at 7. The Commonwealth also
acknowledged, “Appellant is a father, not related to this case in any way.” Id.
Neither the trial court nor the Commonwealth suggested it was proper to
prohibit Appellant from having contact with these children, or in fact any other
minors, with the exception of the victim. See id. at 7, 8.
On the other hand, however, it appears the trial court credited the
testimony of PO Hardner that regardless of the plain language of the IASOP
Contract: (1) a probationer is never prohibited contact from their own
biological child (unless the child was the victim); and (2) if Appellant shows
progress and compliance with the IASOP Contract conditions, certain
restrictions may be lifted. See N.T., 11/14/22, at 27 (“[I]f you’re headed to
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where it’s supposed to be, these restrictions will be eased as time goes on,
and I think that’s the safest thing.”); Trial Ct. Op. at 4 (“The conditions of the
probation contract will be reviewed with Appellant after his evaluation and are
subject to mitigation depending on the results of the evaluation.”).
Nevertheless, in light of myriad factors presented in this matter, we
decline to decide, in the first instance, whether the probation department
exceeded its authority when it imposed the IASOP conditions presently
challenged. Instead, we vacate the order denying Appellant’s motion to strike
the conditions of the IASOP Contract. We remand for the trial court to
undertake a proper review under Elliott — namely, whether each of the
challenged conditions is “germane to, elaborate on, . . . interpret,” or is “in
furtherance of” the particular conditions of probation imposed by the trial court
at the time of sentencing. See Elliott, 50 A.3d at 1291-92; Shires 240 A.3d
at 978. The court may hear oral argument, direct the parties to brief this
issue, or undertake any other action to facilitate its review.
VI. Conclusion
In sum, we determine the trial court applied improper factors in deciding
whether the probation department acted within its authority to impose the
supervisory conditions on Appellant. We thus vacate the order denying
Appellant’s motion to strike conditions, and remand for further review.
Order vacated. Case remanded for further proceedings consistent with
this memorandum. Jurisdiction relinquished.
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12/26/2023
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