Title: Com. v. Catapano

State: pennsylvania

Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Document:

347 Pa. Superior Ct. 375 (1985) 500 A.2d 882 COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Dennis Patrick CATAPANO, Appellant. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Submitted September 3, 1985. Filed November 8, 1985. *376 Frank R. Bartle, Lansdale, for appellant. Ronald T. Williamson, Assistant District Attorney, Norristown, for Commonwealth, appellee. Before JOHNSON, HOFFMAN and CERCONE, JJ. *377 HOFFMAN, Judge: This is an appeal from the judgment of sentence for burglary (eight counts), auto theft, and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Appellant contends that the lower court failed to state reasons on the record for sentencing him outside of the sentencing guidelines. For the following reasons, we vacate in part and affirm in part. On July 18, 1984, appellant pled guilty to three counts of burglary, auto theft, and driving while under the influence of alcohol. On October 19, 1984, the day scheduled for appellant's sentencing, he pled guilty to five additional counts of burglary. The same day, the court below sentenced appellant to the following terms of imprisonment: Bill of Information 3560-84 (burglary), three-to-ten years; 3560.1-84 (burglary), three-to-ten years, consecutive to 3560-84; 3560.2-84 (burglary), one-to-two-years, consecutive to 3560.1-84; 3560.3-84 (burglary), one-to-two years, concurrent to 3560.2-84; 3560.4-84 (burglary), one-to-two years, concurrent to 3560.3-84; 2104-84 (burglary), two-and-one-half-to-five years, consecutive to 3560.2-84; 4179-83 (burglary), one-to-two years, concurrent to 3560.3-84; 2416-84 (burglary), one-to-two years, concurrent to 4179-83; 4180-83 (auto theft), suspended sentence; and 4192-83 (driving while under the influence of alcohol), three-to-twenty-four months, concurrent to 4179-83. Appellant thus received a total term of nine-and-one-half-to-twenty-seven years imprisonment. His motion for modification of sentence was timely filed and, following a January 9, 1985 hearing, was denied. This appeal followed. Appellant contends that his sentences on Bills of Information 3560-84, 3560.1-84, and 2104-84, "overstep the bounds" of the sentencing guidelines, 204 Pa.Code §§ 303.1-.9, reprinted following 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721. We agree. Appellant's prior record score is zero. See N.T. October 19, 1984 at 53; id. January 9, 1985 at 15-16. The burglaries charged in bills 3560-84 and 3560.1-84 have an offense gravity score of seven. 204 Pa.Code § 303.8(d) ("Burglary of a structure adapted for overnight accommodation in *378 which at the time of the offense any person is present"); see also N.T. October 19, 1984 at 54. The sentence ranges for a prior record score of zero and an offense gravity score of seven are as follows: eight-to-twelve months (minimum range), four-to-eight months (mitigated minimum range), and twelve-to-eighteen months (aggravated minimum range). 204 Pa.Code § 303.9. Appellant received minimum sentences of three years (thirty-six months) on bills 3560-84 and 3560.1-84, twice the maximum suggested under the aggravated range. The burglary charged in 2104-84 has an offense gravity score of five. Id. § 303.8(d) ("Burglary of a structure not adapted for overnight accommodation in which at the time of the offense no person is present"); see also N.T. October 19, 1984 at 54-55. The applicable sentence ranges, with a prior record score of zero, are as follows: zero-to-twelve months (minimum range), non-confinement (mitigated minimum range), and twelve-to-eighteen months (aggravated minimum range). Appellant received a minimum sentence of two-and-one-half years (thirty months) on bill 2104-84, a minimum twelve months greater than the maximum suggested under the aggravated range. Therefore, appellant correctly states that the sentences imposed on bills 3560-84, 3560.1-84, and 2104-84 exceed the guidelines. (Brief for Appellant at 10). A sentencing court can, of course, sentence a defendant to the maximum period authorized by statute, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9756(a), and the "minimum sentence . . . shall not exceed one-half of the maximum sentence imposed." Id. 9756(b).[1] However, "where the court imposes a sentence outside the sentencing guidelines . . ., the court shall provide a contemporaneous written statement of the reason or reasons for the deviation from the guidelines. Failure to comply shall be grounds for vacating the sentence and resentencing the defendant." Id. § 9721(b) (emphasis added); see also 204 Pa.Code § 303.1(h). Therefore, "two issues are raised [here]: (1) was the statement of the court made at sentencing *379 in [appellant's] presence, and recorded, a `contemporaneous written statement'; and if so then, (2) is the statement sufficient to meet the requirements of [§ 9721(b)]." Commonwealth v. Royer, 328 Pa.Superior Ct. 60, 68, 476 A.2d 453, 457 (1984). Here, the first requirement is satisfied. The sentencing judge gave his reasons for imposing sentence at the sentencing proceedings, see N.T. October 19, 1984 at 56-62, in appellant's presence, and such statement was recorded and transcribed. See Commonwealth v. Royer, supra, 328 Pa.Superior Ct. at 69, 476 A.2d at 457.[2] It is the second requirement, however, which we find unsatisfied here. Royer requires the sentencing court to "set forth . . . the permissible range of sentences under the guidelines and, at least in summary form, the factual basis and specific reasons which compelled the court to deviate from the sentencing range." Id., 328 Pa.Superior Ct. at 71, 476 A.2d at 458. At the October 19, 1984 sentencing hearing, the sentencing judge did not refer to the guideline ranges or the reasons he deviated from them in imposing sentences on bills 3560-84, 3560.1-84, and 2104-84. The court's only reference to the guidelines was this: "And defense counsel and the Commonwealth agree that the guidelines are merely guidelines, they are not binding in any way?" (N.T. October 19, 1984 at 55). See Commonwealth v. Royer, supra, 328 Pa.Superior Ct. at 70, 476 A.2d at 458 ("Nowhere does the record indicate that the judge was aware of the guideline range."). Furthermore, after appellant's counsel brought the applicable guidelines to the court's attention at the hearing on appellant's motion to modify sentence,[3]see N.T. January 9, 1985 at 11-12, the court again failed to state why it was *380 deviating from them. A review of the hearing transcript indicates that the court may not have considered the guidelines at all: Id. at 27-30. We note that 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b) provides that a sentencing court "shall . . . consider any guidelines for sentencing adopted by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. . . ." (Emphasis added). Because the court below failed to explain on the record, in appellant's presence, why it sentenced him outside the guidelines on bills 3560-84, 3560.1-84, and 2104-84, then, the sentences on those bills must be vacated and this case remanded for resentencing on them.[4] 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b). The other sentences are affirmed.[5] Judgment of sentence on Bills of Information 3560-84, 3560.1-84, and 2104-84 is vacated and case is remanded for resentencing. Judgment of sentence on all other bills is affirmed. Jurisdiction is relinquished. [1] Burglary is a felony of the first degree carrying a maximum term of twenty years. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 1103(1), 3502(c). [2] "The purpose of the contemporaneous written requirement [is] to advise the defendant of the reasons for deviating from the guideline and provide a memorial for his [or her] use and for appellate review." Commonwealth v. Royer, supra, 328 Pa.Superior Ct. at 69, 476 A.2d at 457. [3] Appellant was present at this hearing. [4] Even if a sentencing court sentences a defendant within the aggravated or mitigated minimum ranges, it must state reasons on the record therefor. 204 Pa.Code § 303.3(2). [5] Appellant also contends that his sentence is (1) excessive and (2) disproportionate to the crimes committed and thus violative of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Because the sentences we have vacated today total eight-and-one-half-to-twenty-five years imprisonment, the bulk of appellant's ultimate sentence, we need not address these contentions. If necessary, appellant can raise these issues after his resentencing.