Opinion
J-S41033-17 No. 110 MDA 2017 No. 111 MDA 2017
08-02-2017
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. LANCE EVERETT CHECCHIA Appellant
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 19, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-06-CR-0003356-2009 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 19, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-06-CR-0000409-2016 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., LAZARUS, J., and PLATT, J. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.:
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
Appellant, Lance Everett Checchia, appeals from the judgments of sentence entered in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, following the revocation of his probation. We affirm.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows. Appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea on September 24, 2009, to robbery at docket no. 3356-2009. The court immediately sentenced Appellant to a term of one (1) to three (3) years' imprisonment, followed by a consecutive term of four (4) years' probation. On January 9, 2016, police arrested Appellant and charged him with, inter alia, tampering with physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia at docket no. 0409-2016. Appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea on April 4, 2016, to tampering with physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia. That same date, the court sentenced Appellant to concurrent one (1) year terms of probation on both offenses, to be served consecutive to Appellant's probation at docket no. 3356-2009.
Appellant signed written instructions on October 18, 2016, which detailed the terms and conditions of his probation. From October 19, 2016, to October 26, 2016, Appellant committed several technical violations of his probation. Specifically, Appellant was not home on October 19, 2016, at 8:35 a.m. for the initial home visit. Later that evening, Appellant's probation officer conducted a curfew check at 10:30 p.m., and Appellant was not home. On October 25, 2016, Appellant failed to report to his probation officer as instructed. The next day, Appellant's probation officer conducted a curfew check at 9:10 p.m., and Appellant was not home. Appellant's mother informed the probation officer that Appellant had moved out of the home on October 23, 2016, which was in direct violation of his probation. The probation officer searched the home and did not find any of Appellant's belongings. As a result, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole ("Board") charged Appellant with changing his residence without the written permission of parole supervision staff and failing to maintain regular contact with parole supervision staff. The court held a Gagnon II hearing on December 19, 2016. At the hearing, Appellant entered an open guilty plea to violating the terms of his probation. The court revoked Appellant's probation at docket nos. 3356-2009 and 0409-2016, and immediately sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of two (2) to four (4) years' imprisonment. Appellant filed post-sentence motions on December 23, 2016, which the court denied. On January 12, 2017, Appellant timely filed notices of appeal. The court ordered Appellant on January 19, 2017, to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal per Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) at docket no. 0409-2016, and ordered Appellant on January 24, 2017, to file a concise statement at docket no. 3356-2009. Appellant timely complied on January 26, 2017.
Gagnon v. Scarpelli , 411 U.S. 778, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973).
Appellant raises three issues for our review:
WHETHER APPELLANT'S SENTENCE OF TWO TO FOUR YEARS TO BE SERVED CONCURRENTLY WITH TERMS OF ONE TO TWO YEARS AND SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WAS MANIFESTLY EXCESSIVE, CLEARLY UNREASONABLE, AND CONTRARY
TO THE FUNDAMENTAL NORMS UNDERLYING THE SENTENCING CODE, GIVEN THE TECHNICAL NATURE OF THE VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS...APPELLANT'S MENTAL HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE NEEDS?(Appellant's Brief at 6).
WHETHER APPELLANT'S SENTENCE OF TWO TO FOUR YEARS TO BE SERVED CONCURRENTLY WITH TERMS OF ONE TO TWO YEARS AND SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WAS MANIFESTLY EXCESSIVE, CLEARLY UNREASONABLE, AND CONTRARY TO THE FUNDAMENTAL NORMS UNDERLYING THE SENTENCING CODE, WHERE THE COURT IMPOSED A SENTENCE BASED ON THE SENTENCING RECOMMENDATION FOR STABILIZING THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF APPELLANT MADE BY OFFICERS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF PROBATION AND PAROLE AND THE BERKS COUNTY ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICE WITHOUT ADDRESSING A PROSPECTIVE TIMELINE FOR THIS TREATMENT?
WHETHER THE SENTENCING COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN DENYING APPELLANT'S POST SENTENCE MOTION FOR MODIFICATION OF SENTENCE, WHERE SUCH DENIAL WAS CONTRARY TO THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE SENTENCING CODE, IN THAT THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC, THE GRAVITY OF THE OFFENSE AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPACT ON THE LIFE OF THE VICTIM AND THE COMMUNITY, AND APPELLANT'S INDIVIDUAL REHABILITATIVE NEEDS WERE NOT CONSIDERED?
For purposes of disposition, we combine Appellant's issues. Appellant argues the court did not appropriately consider the statutory factors under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b) when it sentenced Appellant. Appellant avers the court's consideration of Appellant's technical violations of probation and the Board's recommendation of incarceration, without offering a true timeline or plan for mental health treatment, failed to recognize Appellant's individual rehabilitative needs. As a result, the court imposed an unreasonable and excessive sentence that violated the fundamental norms underlying the Sentencing Code. Appellant claims he admitted he needed treatment and had been taking steps to address his mental health issues. Appellant asserts the Board's push for incarceration placed more emphasis on containment than on treatment. Appellant further alleges the court did not properly consider the protection of the public and the gravity of the offense as it relates to the community. Appellant points out his technical violations did not involve any threats, harm, or violence to the community, or any illegal, destructive, or unstable behavior that gave rise for concern.
Next, Appellant argues his sentence of total confinement was improper under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9771(c). In support of his argument, Appellant avers he did not commit a new crime, his behavior at the time his probation was revoked did not indicate that he was likely to commit another crime if he were not imprisoned, and the sentence was not essential to vindicate the court's authority. Appellant claims his purely technical violations occurred over the course of only a few days, and were not so excessive that a period of imprisonment was essential to vindicate the court's authority, even when considering these violations collectively. Appellant maintains he has not repeatedly violated the terms of his probation over an extended period and did not have the benefit of mental health treatment court or an appropriate treatment facility. For these reasons, Appellant asserts his sentence was excessive, unreasonable, and did not merit total confinement under Section 9771(c).
In a related argument, Appellant argues the court had the option of committing Appellant to a treatment facility for rehabilitation instead of prison. Appellant claims the Board's contention that incarceration was necessary to address Appellant's rehabilitative needs was nonsensical in light of 50 P.S. § 4410 of the Mental Health Act. Appellant asserts the court had multiple opportunities to compel Appellant to seek treatment, which would have satisfied both the court's authority and addressed Appellant's mental health problems. Appellant maintains the court ignored the various sentencing alternatives available. Appellant contends prison is incapable of addressing his treatment needs at the same level as a mental health facility. Appellant also suggests his commitment to prison for the explicit purpose of receiving mental health treatment was tantamount to an involuntary commitment. For these reasons, Appellant concludes his sentence was an abuse of discretion and we should vacate and remand for resentencing. As presented, Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence. See Commonwealth v. Cartrette , 83 A.3d 1031 (Pa.Super. 2013) (en banc) (explaining claim sentencing court failed to consider Section 9721(b) factors pertains to discretionary sentencing matters); Commonwealth v. Lutes , 793 A.2d 949 (Pa.Super. 2002) (stating claim that sentence is manifestly excessive challenges discretionary aspects of sentencing); Commonwealth v. Cruz-Centeno , 668 A.2d 536 (Pa.Super. 1995), appeal denied, 544 Pa. 653, 676 A.2d 1195 (1996) (stating claim that sentencing court failed to consider or did not adequately consider certain factors implicates discretionary aspects of sentencing).
When reviewing the outcome of a revocation proceeding, this Court is limited to determining the validity of the proceeding, the legality of the judgment of sentence imposed, and the discretionary aspects of sentencing. Cartrette , supra at 1033-34 (explaining appellate review of revocation sentence includes discretionary sentencing challenges). Challenges to the discretionary aspects of sentencing do not entitle an appellant to an appeal as of right. Commonwealth v. Sierra , 752 A.2d 910, 912 (Pa.Super. 2000). Prior to reaching the merits of a discretionary aspects of sentencing issue:
[W]e conduct a four-part analysis to determine: (1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, see Pa.R.A.P. 902 and 903; (2) whether the issue was properly preserved at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and modify sentence, see [Pa.R.Crim.P. 720]; (3) whether appellant's brief has a fatal defect, Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether there is a substantial question that the sentence appealed from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).Commonwealth v. Evans , 901 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal denied, 589 Pa. 727, 909 A.2d 303 (2006). Objections to the discretionary aspects of sentence are generally waived if they are not raised at the sentencing hearing or raised in a motion to modify the sentence imposed at that hearing. Commonwealth v. Mann , 820 A.2d 788, 794 (Pa.Super. 2003), appeal denied, 574 Pa. 759, 831 A.2d 599 (2003). "This failure cannot be cured by submitting the challenge in a Rule 1925(b) statement." Commonwealth v. McAfee , 849 A.2d 270, 275, (Pa.Super. 2004), appeal denied, 580 Pa. 695, 860 A.2d 122 (2004).
When appealing the discretionary aspects of a sentence, an appellant must invoke the appellate court's jurisdiction by including in his brief a separate concise statement demonstrating that there is a substantial question as to the appropriateness of the sentence under the Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Mouzon , 571 Pa. 419, 812 A.2d 617 (2002); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). "The requirement that an appellant separately set forth the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal furthers the purpose evident in the Sentencing Code as a whole of limiting any challenges to the trial court's evaluation of the multitude of factors impinging on the sentencing decision to exceptional cases." Commonwealth v. Phillips , 946 A.2d 103, 112 (Pa.Super. 2008), appeal denied, 600 Pa. 745, 964 A.2d 895 (2009), cert. denied, 556 U.S. 1264, 129 S.Ct. 2450, 174 L.Ed.2d 240 (2009).
A substantial question exists "only when the appellant advances a colorable argument that the sentencing judge's actions were either: (1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code; or (2) contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing process." Sierra , supra at 913. A claim of excessiveness can raise a substantial question as to the appropriateness of a sentence under the Sentencing Code, even if the sentence is within the statutory limits. Mouzon , supra at 430, 812 A.2d at 624. See , e.g., Commonwealth v. Malovich , 903 A.2d 1247 (Pa.Super. 2006) (stating defendant raised substantial question with respect to claim that revocation sentence was excessive in light of underlying technical probation violations). An allegation that the sentencing court failed to consider a specific mitigating factor, however, generally does not raise a substantial question. Commonwealth v. Berry , 785 A.2d 994 (Pa.Super. 2001) (holding claim that sentencing court ignored appellant's rehabilitative needs failed to raise substantial question).
"In general, the imposition of sentence following the revocation of probation is vested within the sound discretion of the trial court, which, absent an abuse of that discretion, will not be disturbed on appeal." Commonwealth v. Hoover , 909 A.2d 321 (Pa.Super. 2006). Following the revocation of probation, the court may impose a sentence of total confinement if any of the following conditions exist: the defendant has been convicted of another crime; the conduct of the defendant indicates it is likely he will commit another crime if he is not imprisoned; or, such a sentence is essential to vindicate the authority of the court. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9771(c). The Sentencing Guidelines do not apply to sentences imposed following a revocation of probation. Commonwealth v. Ferguson , 893 A.2d 735 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal denied, 588 Pa. 788, 906 A.2d 1196 (2006). "[U]pon sentencing following a revocation of probation, the trial court is limited only by the maximum sentence that it could have imposed originally at the time of the probationary sentence." Commonwealth v. Coolbaugh , 770 A.2d 788, 792 (Pa.Super. 2001).
Pursuant to Section 9721(b), "the court shall follow the general principle that the sentence imposed should call for confinement that is consistent with 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." 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b). "[T]he court shall make as part of the record, and disclose in open court at the time of sentencing, a statement of the reason or reasons for the sentence imposed." Id. Nevertheless, "[a] sentencing court need not undertake a lengthy discourse for its reasons for imposing a sentence...." Commonwealth v. Crump , 995 A.2d 1280, 1283 (Pa.Super. 2010), appeal denied, 608 Pa. 661, 13 A.3d 475 (2010). Rather, "the record as a whole must reflect the sentencing court's consideration of the facts of the crime and character of the offender." Id.
Instantly, Appellant raised the following issues in his post-sentence motion:
9. With regard to the sentences imposed[, ...Appellant] avers that this Court sentenced [Appellant] to a greater period of confinement than that which was consistent with 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 [Appellant].
10. [Appellant] avers that a sentence of probation would have been consistent with 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 [Appellant].(Appellant's Post-Sentence Motion, filed December 23, 2016, at 2-3). Appellant's claims on appeal are far more detailed, particularly as they pertain to his mental health/rehabilitative needs and the court's sentencing alternatives. To the extent his remaining claims on appeal are reasonably deducible from his post-sentence motions, we decline to waive them.
Wherefore, [Appellant] requests that this Honorable Court hold a hearing to determine a sentence that would be consistent with 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 [Appellant].
Appellant's arguments for a "timeline" for mental health treatment, his preference for a mental health facility over prison, the purely technical nature of his probation violations in a short time, and against the need for a sentence to vindicate the authority of the court are waived for purposes of this appeal, even if the trial court addressed them in its Rule 1925(a) opinion. See McAfee , supra ; Mann , supra. --------
Moreover, in its opinion, the trial court set forth its reasons for the sentence imposed. ( See Trial Court Opinion, filed January 31, 2017, at 2-5) (finding: court recognized Appellant's serious need for mental health treatment; Appellant previously failed to acquire treatment on his own volition; incarceration was necessary to ensure Appellant actually received treatment; court was not required to consider timeline for Appellant's treatment; additionally, period of incarceration was necessary to vindicate court's authority; Appellant's violations, in aggregate, affronted court's authority; specifically, Appellant had not responded to progressive sanctioning, failed to develop home plan, and appeared before probation officer only once to address Appellant's mental health issues; Appellant failed to comply with evaluation to diagnose his mental health issues, as well as numerous other technical violations; period of incarceration was warranted as Appellant's actions were affront to court's authority; court considered all relevant sentencing principles and found Appellant's rehabilitative needs were significant; incarceration was necessary in light of Appellant's serious mental health issues for safety of Appellant and community; court also considered Appellant's original offenses of robbery, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia; Appellant's prior offenses and evidence of his serious mental health and rehabilitative needs outweighed mitigating circumstances and justified period of incarceration imposed). The record supports the court's rationale. Therefore, Appellant's challenges to the discretionary aspects of his sentences merit no relief. Accordingly, we affirm.
Judgments of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered. /s/_________
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary Date: 8/2/2017
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