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____________________________________ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. CHRISTOPHE R STEWART

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 865 EDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 16, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0306731 - 2005, CP - 51 - CR - 1206971 - 2004 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., KUNSELMAN, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY STEVENS, P.J.E.: FILED MARCH 04, 2019 Appellant Christopher Stewart appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed by the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County following the revocation of his probation f or the fifth time. After review, w e affirm. The trial court detailed the relevant facts and procedural history herein in its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion. See Trial Court Opinion, filed 6/5/18, at 1 - 6. On February 16, 2018, Appellant was sentenced to an aggregate prison term of two and one - half (2 1⁄2 ) years to five (5) years. On February 26, 2018, Appellant filed his Petition to Vacate and Reconsider Sentence, and on March 19, 2018, he filed his Amended Petition to Reconsider Sentence along with his notice of appeal. On April 2, 2018, the trial court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of matters complained of on appeal pursuant to

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Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and Appellant complied on April 18, 2018. Appellant also was permitted to file an amended concise statement after he received the notes of testimony from January 17, 2018, and he did so on May 24, 2018. On appeal, Appellant presents the following Statement of the Question Presented : Did not the trial court err and abuse its discretion by se ntencing Appel l ant to 2 1⁄2 to 5 years’ state incarceration for technical probation violati o ns in contravention of 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9771 (c) , where the court’s patter n of sentencing Appellant to total confinement for technical violations of his probation throug hout the probationary period was, and is, manifestly excessive and unreasonable in view of the fact that Appellant was employed and able to return to that employment, and where the Commonwealth agreed to the recommendation of defense counsel that a sentenc e of 6 to 12 months’ incarceration with a one year probationary tail would have been [a] proportionate sentence of state incarceration, and the court failed to offer any valid reasons for the imposition of the sentence imposed? Brief for Appellant at 4. Such a claim challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence. Challenges to the discretionary aspects of sentence are not appealable as of right. Commonwealth v. Leatherby , 116 A.3d 73, 83 (Pa. Super. 2015). Rather, an appellant challenging the senten cing court's discretion must invoke this Court's jurisdiction by (1) filing a timely notice of appeal; (2) properly preserving the issue at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and modify the sentence; (3) complying with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f), which require s a separate section of the brief setting forth a concise statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects

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of a sentence; and (4) presenting a substantial question that the sentence appealed from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code. See id. An appellant raises a substantial question when he “sets forth a plausible argument that the sentence violates a provision of the sentencing code or is contrary to the fundamental norms of the sentencing proc ess.” Commonwealth v. Crump , 995 A.2d 1280, 1282 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation omitted) , appeal denied , 608 Pa. 661, 13 A.3d 475 (2010) . Herein, Appellant preserved this issue in a post - sentence motion, filed a timely notice of appeal, and included a “State ment of the Reasons for Allowance of Appeal from Discretionary Aspects of Sentence” in his appellate brief wherein he asserts a substantial question is raised for several, independent reasons . Brief for Appellant at 9 - 12. In his Section 2119(f) statement , Appellant challenges “the disproportionality and excessiveness of the sentence for a technical violation of probation .” Appellant's Brief at 11. This claim raises a substantial question . See Commonwealth v. Kelly , 33 A.3d 638, 640 (Pa.Super. 2011) (“A claim that a sentence is manifestly excessive such that it constitutes too severe a punishment raises a substantial question .”) . Furthermore, Appellant contests the trial court's imposition of a sentence of total confinement. Appellant’s Brief at 9. This claim also presents a substantial question . See Commonwealth v. Colon , 102 A.3d 1033, 1043 (Pa. Super. 2014) (“Appellant's claim that the trial court sentenced him to a term of total confinement based solely on a technical violation raises a

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substantial qu estion for our review.”). Finally, Appellant maintains the trial court imposed a sentence beyond that to which the Commonwealth agreed at the sentencing hearing without stating specific reasons for it on the record. Appellant’s Brief at 11. “[A] claim the trial court failed to state its reasons for deviating from the guidelines presents a substantial question for review.” Commonwealth v. Garcia - Rivera , 983 A.2d 777, 780 (Pa. Super. 2009). Accordingly, we find that Appellant has raised a substantial question . By raising a substantial question , along with fulfilling the other requirements of our four - part analysis, Appellant consequently has merited our discretionary review. We have reviewed the certified record, including the VOP and sentencing transcript from February 16, 2018 , the parties’ briefs, the applicable law, and the comprehensive, thorough , and well - reasoned O pinion authored by the Honorable Genece E. Brinkley filed on June 5, 2018. We conclude that Judge Brinkley’s Opinion accurately disposes of the issues Appellant presents on appeal, and we discern no abuse of discretion or error of law. Accordingly, we adopt Judge Brinkley’s Opinion as our own and affirm the judgment of sentence appeal from on that basis. The parties are instruct ed to attach a copy of the trial court's June 5, 2018, Opinion to all future filings. Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 3/4/20190055_Opinion Circulated 02/11/2019 02:42 PM

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D e fe n d an t C hr i s t o p h e r S t e w art a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r h i s fi fth v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g . T h i s C o urt fo un d h i m i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n fo r ab s c o n d i n g an d , a s a r e s u l t , r e v o k e d h i s p ro b at i o n an d s e n t e n c e d h i m t o 2 Yz t o 5 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n . 1 D e f e n d an t a p p e a l e d th i s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e t o th e S u p e r i o r C o urt an d ra i s e d th e fo ll o w i n g i s s u e s o n a p p e a l : (1 )
w h e th e r th e C o urt e rr e d an d a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n b y s e n t e n ci n g D e fe n d an t t o a t e rm o f t o t a l s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n a ft e r fi n d i n g h i m i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l ati o n i n v i o l at i o n o f 4 2 P a . C . S . § 9 7 7 1 an d fo r th e C o urt ' s " p att e rn o f s e n t e n c i n g p e t i t i o n e r t o t o t a l c o n fi n e m e n t fo r t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n s o fh i s p ro b at i o n thr o u g h o ut th e p ro b at i o n ary p e r i o d ; " ( 2 ) w h e th e r th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d w a s m an i fe s tl y unr e a s o n a

b l e an d w h e th e r th e C o urt fa il e d t o c o mp l y w i th th e r e qu i r e m e n t s o f 4 2 P a . C. S . § 9 72 1 ; ( 3 ) w h e th e r th e C o urt fa i l e d t o s t at e s u ffi c i e n tl y a d e qu at e r e a s o n s fo r th e s e n t e n c e

1 Ju d g e D e mb e ' s c a s e , C P - 5 1 - C R - 0 3 0 6 7 3 1 - 2 0 0 5 , w a s a dm i n i s tr at i v e l y r e a s s i g n e d t o th i s C o urt , an d th i s s e n t e n c e w a s t o run c o n c urr e n tl y w i th C P - 5 1 - C R - 1 2 0 6 9 7 1 - 2 0 0 4 .i mp o s e d . A ll o f th e s e cl a i m s ar e w ith o ut m e r i t an d th i s C o urt ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e s h o u l d b e

a ffi rm e d . 

### F A C T S A N D P R O C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y O n F e b ru ary 9 , 2 0 0 5 D e f e n d ant p l e d g u i lty t o o n e c o un t o f b ur g l ary g r a d e d a s a fe l o ny o f th e fir s t d e g r e e an d o n e c o unt o f c o n s p i ra c y g ra d e d a s a fe l o ny o f th e fi r s t d e g r e e ( C P - 5 1 - C R 1 2 0 6 9 7 1 - 2 0 0 4 ) . H e w a s s e n t e n c e d i n a c c o r d an c e w i th h i s n e g o t i at e d g u i l ty p l e a t o 6 t o 2 3 m o n th s c o unty i n c ar c e r at i o n , p l u s o n e y e ar r e p o rt i n g p ro b at i o n o n b o th c h ar g e s t o run c o n c urr e ntl y t o o n e an o th e r . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d D e fe n d an t t o s t ay o ut o f tr o ub l e , t o s e e k an d m a i n t a i n e mp l o y m e n t , an d t o p ay m an d at o ry c o urt c o s t s an d f e e s . O n M ar c h 2 3 , 2 0 0 5 , D e f e n d ant w a s r e l e a s e d o n p aro l e . S ub s e qu e ntl y , D e fe n d ant ab s c o n d e d fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n an d fa i l e d t o r e p o rt t o th e P ro b at i o n D e p artm e nt. O n Au g u s t 1 8 , 2 0 0 5 , D e fe n d an t a

p p e ar e d b e fo r e th e H o n o r ab l e P am e l a D e mb e an d p l e d g u i l ty t o b ur g l ar y g ra d e d a s a fe l o ny i n th e fi r s t d e g r e e ( C P - 5 1 - C R - 0 3 0 6 7 3 1 - 2 0 0 5 ) . O n O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 0 6 , w an t e d c ar d s w e r e i s s u e d fo r D e fe n d ant. H e w a s arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d w i th i n t e nt i o n a l p o s s e s s i o n o f a c o ntro ll e d s ub s t an c e . T h i s c h ar g e w a s s ub s e qu e ntl y d i s c h ar g e d . O n O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2 0 0 7 , D e f e n d an t w as b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r h i s fi r s t v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g an d w a s fo un d i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n fo r a

b s c o n d i n g fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n . T h i s C o urt t e rm i n at e d p aro l e , r e v o k e d p ro b at i o n an d s e nt e n c e d D e f

e n d an t t o 1 1 12 t o 2 3 m o n th s c o un ty i n c ar c e rat i o n p l u s thr e e y e ar s r e p o rt i n g p ro b at i o n t o run c o n c urr e ntl y o n b o th c h ar g e s an d t o run c o n c urr e ntl y w i th Ju d g e D e mb e ' s s e nt e n c e . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d D e fe n d ant t o o b t a i n j o b tr a i n i n g , s e e k an d m a i n t a i n e mp l o y m e nt w h i l e o n h o u s e arr e s t , an d p ay fi n e s an d c o s t s . Th i s C o urt w arn e d D e f e n d ant th at i f h e w e r e t o c o m e b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r an o th e r v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g , th at h e w o u l d r e c e i v e a s t at e s e nt e n c e .

2D e f e n d an t c o n t i nu e d t o fa i l t o c o mp l y w i th th e t e rm s o f h i s p ro b at i o n . O n M ar c h 1 4 , 2 0 0 8 , th i s C o urt h e l d a s e c o n d v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g an d fo un d D e f e n d an t i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n a f t e r D e f e n d ant t e s t e d p o s i t i v e mu l t i p l e t i m e s fo r b e n z o d i az e p i n e , c o c a i n e , an d m ar i j u an a . T h i s C o urt t e rm i n at e d D e fe n d an t' s p ar o l e an d r e v o k e d p r o b at i o n . T h i s C o urt i mp o s e d a n e w s e n t e n c e o f 2 t o 4 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e r at i o n p l u s fi v e y e ar s r e p o rt i n g p ro b at i o n , w i th c r e d i t fo r t i m e s e rv e d . T h i s C o urt p e rm i tt e d D e fe n d an t t o s e rv e th i s s e n t e n c e i n th e c o un ty j a i l w i th w o rk r e l e a s e e l i g i b i l i ty . D e fe n d ant w as o r d e r e d t o o b t a i n h i s G E D , p art i c i p at e i n a dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g ram , an d t o p ay fi n e s , c o s t s an d s u

p e rv i s i o n fe e s . O n F e b ru ary 2 3 , 2 0 1 2 , D e f e n d ant b e g an c o un ty p ro b at i o n a ft e r c o mp l e t i n g s t at e p ar o l e . D e fe n d ant c o n t i nu e d t o t e s t p o s i t i v e fo r m ar i j u an a an d b e nz o d i az e p i n e s thr o u g h o ut th e e n t i r e y e ar o f 2 0 1 2 an d w a l k e d aw ay fr o m ur i n a l y s e s t e s t i n g . O n Ju l y 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 , D e fe n d an t a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r a s t atu s h e ar i n g an d th i s C o urt o r d e r e d a ur i n a l y s i s fo rthw i th . D e fe n d an t w as a l s o o r d e r e d t o g e t c au g h t u p o n h i s p aym e n t s , t o r e p o rt tw o t i m e s a m o n th t o p ro b at i o n , an d t o s ub m i t r an d o m ur i n a l y s e s . O n S e p t e mb e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 2 , D e fe n d an t a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r s t at u s h e ar i n g an d a dv i s e d th i s C o urt th at h e w a s att e n d i n g D e V r y U n i v e r s i ty . D e f

e n d an t w a s s t ill t e s t i n g p o s i t i v e fo r m ar i j u an a an d o p i at e s , a l th o u g h h e d i d h av e a p r e s c r i p t i o n fo r m e d i c at i o n c o n t a i n i n g o p i at e s . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d D e f e n d ant t o att e n d th e W e d g e dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g ram . O n D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2 , D e f e n d ant a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r h i s th i r d v i o l at i o n h e ari n g . T h i s C o urt fo un d D e f e n d an t i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n b ut a ll o w e d p ro b at i o n t o c o n t i nu e . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d th at D e fe n d an t un d e r g o a F o r e n s i c I n t e n s i v e R e c o v e ry ( F I R) e v a l u at i o n an d r e t urn t o th e W e d g e dru g tr e atm e n t p r o g r am . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d D e f e n d an t t o p ay fi n e s , c o s t s , an d f e e s at a r at e o f $ 2 5 . 0 0 p e r m o n th an d t o o b t a i n p art - t i m e e mp l o y m e nt.



### 3O n M ay 10 , 2 0 13 , th i s C o urt c o n d u c t e d a fo urth v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g . T h i s C o urt o n c e a g a i n fo un d h i m t o b e i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n fo r c o n t i nu i n g t o u s e dru g s , an d a s a r e s u l t , r e v o k e d h i s p r o b at i o n . D e f

e n d an t w a s s e n t e n c e d t o an a g g r e g at e t e rm o f 1 1 

### Y 2 t o 2 3 m o n th s c o un ty i n c ar c e r at i o n p l u s 3 y e ar s r e p o rt i n g p ro b at i o n . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d th at D e fe n d an t s e rv e h i s t i m e at H o f fm an H a ll an d c o mp l e t e 9 0 d ay s i n th e O p t i o n s dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g ram . T h i s C o urt furth e r o r d e r e d D e fe n d an t t o c o mp l e t e p ar e n t i n g cl a s s e s , r e c e i v e j o b tra i n i n g , an d e nr o ll i n an g e r m an a g e m e n t cl a s s e s . O n Ju l y 1 , 2 0 1 3 , th i s C o urt h e ar d ar g um e n t r e g ar d i n g D e f e n d an t ' s m o t i o n t o r e c o n s i d e r s e n t e n c e . T h i s C o urt d e n i e d h i s m o t i o n an d o r d e r e d th at th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d o n M ay 1 0 , 2 0 13 w a s t o r e m a i n . D e f e n d an t a p p e a l e d t o th e S u

p e r i o r C o urt an d th i s C o urt ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e w a s a f fi rm e d o n Jun e 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 . O n Ap r i l 3 , 2 0 1 4 , D e fe n d an t w a s g r ant e d e arl y p aro l e e ff e c t i v e Ap r il 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 . O n Au g u s t 2 7 , 2 0 1 4 , th i s C o urt c o n d u c t e d a p r o b at i o n s t at

u s h e ar i n g . T h i s C o urt o r d e r e d p ro b at i o n t o c o n t i nu e , o r d e r e d D e f e n d an t t o p ay $ 2 5 /m o n th t o w ar d s fi n e s an d c o s t s , m a i n t a i n e mp l o y m e n t an d s t ay o ut o ftro ub l e w i th th e l aw . S ub s e qu e n tl y , D e fe n d an t a b s c o n d e d fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n . A c c o r d i n g t o th e p r o b at i o n s umm ary , D e f e n d an t l a s t r e p o rt e d t o th e p ro b at i o n d e p artm e n t o n S e p t e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 . O n F e b ru ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 , D e f e n d an t c a ll e d h i s p r o b at i o n o ffi c e r an d w a s t o l d t o r e p o rt th e n e x t d ay . H e fa i l e d t o d o s o . O n F e b ru ar y 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 , h i s p ro b at i o n o ffi c e r v i s i t e d h i s h o u s e an d g av e D e fe n d an t ' s b r o th e r a w arn i n g l e tt e r . W an t e d c ar d s w e r e i s s u e d th at s am e d ay . D e fe n d ant ' s w h e r e ab o ut s r e m a i n e d unkn o wn un t i l n e ar l y tw o y e ar s l at e r , w h e n , o n F e b ru ar y 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 , D e fe n d an t w a s arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d w i th kn o w i n g p o s s e s s i o n o f a c o n tro ll e d s u b s t an c e . T h i s m att e r w a s d i s c h ar g e d i n D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7 . O n J anu ary 1 7 , 2 0 1 8 , D e fe n d an t a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r h i s fi fth v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g . A t th at t i m e , th i s C o urt fo un d , an d d e fe n s e c o un s e l a g r e e d , th at D e f e n d an t w a s i n t e c hn i c a l


### 4v i o l at i o n fo r a b s c o n d i n g fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n . (N . T . 1 /1 7 / 1 8 , p . 7 ) . S e n t e n c i n g w a s d e f e rr e d t o F e b ru ary 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 . O n th at d at e , D e fe n d ant a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r s e n t e n c i n g . F i r s t , th i s C o urt r e v i e w e d D e f

e n d an t ' s c o n d

u c t an d c ri m i n a l h i s t o ry s i n c e h i s fi r s t a p p e ar an c e b e fo r e th i s C o urt i n 2 0 0 5 . T h e P ro b at i o n D e p artm e n t ' s s umm ary r e p o rt w a s i n c o rp o r at e d i n t o th e r e c o r d b y r e fe r e n c e , w h e r e i n th e P r o b at i o n D e p artm e n t r e c o mm e n d at i o n r e v o c at i o n an d a t e rm o f i n c ar c e r at i o n s i n c e D e fe n d an t ab s c o n d e d fr o m s u p e rv i s i o n . N e x t , d e fe n s e c o un s e l r e c o mm e n d e d a s e nt e n c e o f 6 t o 1 2 m o n th s i n c ar c e r at i o n p l u s " w h at e v e r p ro b at i o n ar y t a i l Y o ur H o n o r d e e m s a p p ro p r i at e . " S h e ar g u e d th at D e fe n d ant h a d s i g n i fi c an t t i m e c r e d i t t o b e a p p l i e d t o h i s s e n t e n c e . D e fe n s e c o un s e l furth e r ar g u e d th at D e fe n d an t h a d b e e n w o rk i n g v ar i o u s j o b s w h i l e h e w a s ab s c o n d i n g an d s ub m i tt e d p ay s t ub s an d l e tt e r s fr o m h i s e mp l o y e r s . D e f e n s e c o un s e l a l s o s t at e d th at D e fe n d ant ' s b r o th e r w a s p r e s e n t t o s h o w h i s s u p p o rt . (N . T . 2 /1 6 / 1 8 , p . 4 - 8 ) . N e x t , th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s att o rn e y s t at e d th at h e a gr e e d w i th d e fe n s e c o un s e l ' s r e p r e s e n t at i o n s a s w e ll a s h e r r e c o mm e n d at i o n o f a 6 t o 1 2 m o n th s e n t e n c e w i th a p e r i o d o f p ro b at i o n t o b e d e t e rm i n e d b y th e C o urt . I d . at 9 . N e x t , D e fe n d ant s p o k e o n h i s o w n b e h a l f . H e a p o l o g i z e d t o th i s C o urt an d t o h i s f am i l y fo r h i s b e h av i o r . H e s t at e d th at h e t o o k " fu ll r e s p o n s i b i l i ty " fo r h i s a c t i o n s , th at h e w a s try i n g t o b e c o m e a b e tt e r p e r s o n , an d h e a s k e d th i s C o urt fo r l e n i e n c y . I d . at 1 0 . T h i s C o urt th e n i n c o rp o rat e d b y r e f

e r e n c e i n t o th e r e c o r d th e e n t i r e o p i n i o n i s s u e d b y S u p e r i o r C o urt o n Jun e 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 . T h i s C o urt th e n r e v i e w e d D e f e n d an t' s mu l t i p l e a

p p e aran c e s b e fo r e th i s C o urt fo r v i o l at i o n s o f p r o b at i o n/

p ar o l e an d th e myr i a d o f C o unty p ro g r am s i n w h i c h h e p art i ci p at e d , s t at i n g th at D e fe n d an t " h a d num e ro u s o p p o rt un i t i e s t o g e t w h at h e n e e d e d i n th e C o unty . " T h i s C o urt s e nt e n c e d D e fe n d an t t o 2 

### Yi t o 5 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e r at i o n . I d . at 1 1 - 1 3 . O n F e b ru ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 , D e fe n d an t fil e d a P e t i t i o n t o V a c at e an d R e c o n s i d e r S e nt e n c e . O n M ar c h 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 , D e f

e n d ant fil e d a N o t i c e o fAp p e a l t o S u p e r i o r C o urt . O n Ap r i l 2 , 2 0 1 8 , th i s
5C o urt o r d e r e d th at D e f e n d an t fi l e a C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l P ur s u an t t o P a . R . A. P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) . O n Ap r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 8 , d e fe n s e c o un s e l fil e d a S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s a s w e ll a s a R e qu e s t fo r E x t e n s i o n o f T i m e t o fil e a S u p p l e m e n t a l S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s u p o n r e c e i p t o f th e n o t e s o ft e s t i m o ny fr o m th e Janu ar y 1 7 , 2 0 1 8 h e ar i n g . O n M ay 2 3 , 2 0 1 8 , th i s C o urt l e arn e d fr o m C o urt R e p o rt i n g A dm i n i s trat i o n th at d e fe n s e c o un s e l h a d b e e n g i v e n th e n o t e s o f t e s t i m o ny fr o m th e J anu ary 1 7 , 2 0 1 8 h e ar i n g o n M ay 3 , 2 0 1 8 . T h i s C o urt th e n o r d e r e d th at d e fe n s e c o un s e l fi l e a S u p p l e m e n t a l S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s n o l at e r th an M ay 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 . D e fe n s e c o un s e l d i d s o o n M ay 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 . 

### I S S U E S I. 

### W H E T H E R T H E C O U R T E RRE D A N D A B U S E D I T S D I S C RE T I O N B Y S EN T EN C I N G D E F EN D A N T T O A T E RM O F T O T A L IN C A R C E RA T I O N A F T E R F IN D I N G H I M IN T E C HN I C A L V I O L A T I O N . II . W H E T H E R S EN T EN C E I M P O S E D W A S M AN I F E S T L Y U N RE A S O N A B L E A N D W H E T H E R T H E C O U R T F A I L E D T O C O M P L Y W I T H T H E RE Q U I RE M EN T S O F 4 2 P A . C. S . § 9 72 1 . I II . W H E T H E R T H E C O U R T F A I L E D T O S T A T E S U F F I C I EN T L Y A D E Q U A T E RE A S O N S F O R T H E S EN T EN C E I M P O S E D . D I S C U S S I O N I. 

### T H I S C O U R T P R O P E RL Y S EN T EN C E D D E F EN D A N T T O A T E RM O F T O T A L IN C A R C E RA T I O N A F T E R F IN D I N G H I M IN T E C HN I C A L V I O L A T I O N F O R T H E F I F T H T I M E . D e fe n d an t c l a i m s th at th i s C o urt a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n w h e n i t s e n t e n c e d D e fe n d an t t o a t e rm o f t o t a l i n c ar c e r at i o n fo r a t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n i n v i o l at i o n o f 4 2 P a . C . S . 

### § 9 7 7 1 . T h i s cl a i m i s w i th o ut m e ri t. T h i s C o urt p r o p e rl y s e n t e n c e d D e fe n d an t t o 2 

### Yi t o 5 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n a ft e r fi n d i n g h i m i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n fo r th e fi fth t i m e , w h e r e D e fe n d an t ab s c o n d e d fr o m s u p e rv i s i o n an d c o n t i nu e d t o ab u s e dru g s . T h i s s e n t e n c e w a s a b s o l ut e l y n e c e s s ary t o v i n d i c at e th e auth o r i ty o f

th e c o urt . 6T h e s t an d ar d o f r e v i e w fo r s e n t e n c e s i mp o s e d fo ll o w i n g a r e v o c at i o n o f p ro b at i o n i s w e ll
- s e tt l e d : Th e i mp o s i t i o n o f s e n t e n c e fo ll o w i n g th e r e v o c at i o n o fp ro b at i o n

i s v e s t e d w i th i n th e s o un d d i s c r e t i o n o f th e tr i a l c o urt , w h i c h , a b s e n t an a

b u s e o f th at d i s c r e t i o n , wi ll n o t b e d i s t ur b e d o n a p p e a l. An ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n i s m o r e th an an e rr o r i n j u d g m e n t - a s e n t e n c i n g c o urt h a s n o t a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n un l e s s th e r e c o r d d i s cl o s e s th at th e j u d g m e n t e x e r c i s e d w a s m an i f e s tl y unr e a s o n ab l e , o r th e r e s u l t o fp art i a l i ty , p r e j u d i c e , b i as o r ill
- w ill . C o mm o nw e a l th v . S w o p e , 1 2 3 A .3 d 3 3 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 5 ) ( qu o t i n g C o mm o nw e a l th v . C o l o n , 1 0 2 A. 3 d 1 0 3 3 , 10 4 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 4 ) ) . Wh e n c o n s i d e r i n g an a

p p e a l fr o m a s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d a ft e r th e r e v o c at i o n o fp r o b at i o n o r p ar o l e , a p p e ll at e r e v i e w i s l i m i t e d t o th e d e t e rm i n at i o n o f " th e v a l i d i ty o f th e p ro b at i o n r e v o c at i o n p ro c e e d i n g s an d th e auth o r i ty o f th e s e n t e n c i n g c o urt t o c o n s i d e r th e s am e s e n t e n c i n g a l t e rn at i v e s i t h a d at th e t i m e o fth e i n i t i a l s e n t e n c i n g . " C o mm o nw e a lth v . M a c G r e g o r , 2 0 0 6 P A S u p e r . 3 3 6 , 2 0 0 6 P a . S u

p e r . L E X I S 4 0 8 8 , 3 ( 2 0 0 6 ) ( c i t i n g 4 2 P a . C. S . § 9 7 7 l ( c ) ) ; C o mm o nw e a lth v . G h e e n , 4 5 5 P a . S u p e r . 4 9 9 , 6 8 8 A. 2 d 1 2 0 6 , 1 2 0 7 ( 1 9 9 7 ) ) . O n c e p r o b at i o n o r p ar o l e h as b e e n r e v o k e d , a s e n t e n c e o ft o t a l c o n fi n e m e n t m ay b e i mp o s e d i f any o f th e fo ll o w i n g c o n d i t i o n s e x i s t: th e d e fe n d an t h a s b e e n c o nv i c t e d o f an o th e r c r i m e ; th e c o n d u c t o f th e d e fe n d an t i n d i c at e s th at i t i s l i k e l y th at h e w ill c o mm i t an o th e r c r i m e i fh e i s n o t i mp r i s o n e d ; o r , s u c h a s e n t e n c e i s e s s e n t i a l t o v i n d i c at e th e auth o r ity o f c o urt . 4 2 P a . C . S . A. § 9 7 7 l ( c ) ; C o mm o nw e a l th v . C o o l b au g h , 2 0 0 1 P A S u p e r . 7 7 , 7 7 0 A . 2 d 7 8 8 , 7 9 2 ( 2 0 0 1 ) . T h e r e i s n o r e qu i r e m e n t th at a s e n t e n c i n g c o urt ' s i mp o s i t i o n o f s e n t e n c e b e th e " m i n i mum p o s s i b l e c o n fi n e m e nt. " W a ll s , 5 9 2 P a . at 5 7 1 , 9 2 6 A . 2 d at 9 6 5 . I n th e c a s e at b ar , a t e rm o ft o t a l c o n fi n e m e n t w a s e s s e n t i a l t o v i n d i c at e th e auth o r ity o f th e c o urt . T hr o u g h h i s c o ur s e o f c o n d u c t w h i l e s e rv i n g p r o b at i o n , D e fe n d an t r e p e at e d l y

7d e m o n s tr at e d h i s d i s d a i n fo r th i s C o urt ' s ru l e s an d th e c o n d i t i o n s p l a c e d u p o n h i m . D e f

e n d ant fa i l e d t o c o mp l y w i th a ll p r e v i o u s j u d i c i a l e ff o rt s t o r e h ab il i t at e D e f

e n d an t thr o u g h h o u s e arr e s t , c o un ty p ro b at i o n , an d p ar o l e , a s w e ll a s p r i o r r e v o c at i o n s w h e r e th i s C o urt c o n t i nu e d t o g i v e D e fe n d an t l e n i e n t s e n t e n c e s an d o r d e r e d h i m t o e n t e r dru g tr e atm e n t w i th th e h o p e th at h e w o u l d m ak e m e an i n g fu l p r o g r e s s t o w ar d s h i s r e h ab ili t at i o n w i th o ut h av i n g t o r e s o rt t o s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n . E a c h t i m e , D e f e n d an t thumb e d h i s n o s e at th i s C o urt an d r e fu s e d t o t ak e h i s s e n t e n c e s e r i o u s l y . I n d e e d , a ft e r h i s m o s t r e c e n t v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g , D e fe n d an t c o mp l e t e l y d i s r e g ar d e d any o fth i s C o urt ' s o r d e r s an d a b s c o n d e d fo r tw o y e ar s . It b e ar s r e p e at i n g th at th i s w as D e fe n d an t' s fi f

t h v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g . H e h a d s e v e r a l c h an c e s t o r e h ab ili t at e h i m s e l f thro u g h c o un ty p ro g r am s ; h o w e v e r , h e c h o s e t o c o n t i nu e t o d o w h at h e w ant e d t o d o , n am e l y , u s e dru g s an d a b s c o n d fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n . A ft e r D e fe n d an t v i o l at e d y e t a g a i n , i t b e c am e cl e ar th at D e fe n d an t w a s un ab l e t o g e t th e h el p h e n e e d e d thro u g h c o un ty p ro g r am s an d th i s C o urt h a d n o c h o i c e b ut t o i mp o s e a t e rm o f s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n . A s th i s C o urt s t at e d at th e v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g ,
" T h i s s e n t e n c e i s ab s o l ut e l y n e c e s s ar y t o v i n d i c at e th e auth o ri ty o fth e C o urt . A s I i n d i c at e d thr o u g h th e h i s t o r

y o fth i s c as e , th e D e fe n d an t h a s b a s i c a ll y thumb e d h i s n o s e at th i s C o urt . D o n e w h at h e w an t e d t o d o o v e r a ll th e s e y e ar s , e v e n th o u g h I s e n t e n c e d h i m t o r e p e at e d C o un ty s e n t e n c e s w i th a c h an c e t o g e t dru g tr e atm e n t an d t o g e t h i m s e l ft o g e th e r , an d h e h a s n o t d o n e w e l l. A n d h e ' s b a c k a g a i n , b a s i c a ll y d o i n g th e s am e th i n g , a b s c o n d i n g an d n o t d o i n g w h at h e ' s s u p p o s e d t o d o . " I n s t e a d o f c o mp l y i n g w i th th e t e rm s an d c o n d i t i o n s o f h i s p ro b at i o n b y att e n d i n g dru g tr e atm e n t an d r e p o rt i n g t o h i s p ro b at i o n o f fi c e r , D e fe n d an t c h o s e t o d i s r e g ar d th i s C o urt ' s d i r e c t i o n s an d d i d w h at e v e r h e w an t e d t o d o . T hu s , th i s C o urt p ro p e rl y s e n t e n c e d D e f e n d an t t o a t e rm o f

t o t a l c o n fi n e m e n t a s i t w a s e s s e n t i a l t o v i n d i c at e th e auth o r i ty o fth e c o urt . 8D e fe n d an t ar g u e s th at th i s C o urt d e m o n s trat e d a " p att e rn o f s e n t e n c i n g [ D e fe n d an t ] t o

t o t a l c o n fi n e m e n t fo r t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n s o fh i s p ro b at i o n thro u g h o ut th e p ro b at i o n ary p e ri o d . " Th e r e c o r d s h o w s th at th i s C o urt fa s h i o n e d i n d i v i d u a l i z e d s e n t e n c e s a ft e r e a c h v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g i n an att e mp t t o h e l p D e fe n d an t a d dr e s s h i s s e r i o u s s ub s t an c e ab u s e p r o b l e m . A t m o r e th an o n e p ro b at i o n s t at

u s h e ari n g , th i s C o urt c h o s e n o t t o fi n d D e fe n d an t i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n e v e n th o u g h h e w a s t e s t i n g p o s i t i v e fo r i lli c i t dru g u s e . I n s t e a d th i s C o urt a ll o w e d p ro b at i o n t o c o n t i nu e an d o r d e r e d h i m t o att e n d dru g tr e atm e nt. I n d e e d , at D e f e n d an t ' s th i r d v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g o n D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2 , th i s C o urt fo un d D e fe n d an t i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n b ut a ll o w e d p ro b at i o n t o c o n t i nu e an d o n c e a g a i n o r d e r e d h i m t o r e t urn t o th e W e d g e dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g r am . Wh e n th i s C o urt fo un d D e fe n d an t i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n a g a i n a p p ro x i m at e l y s i x m o n th s l at e r fo r c o n t i nu i n g t o u s e dru g s , th i s C o urt i mp o s e d a c o un ty s e n t e n c e b ut r e c o mm e n d e d th at h e s e rv e h i s s e n t e n c e at H o ff

m an H a ll an d c o mp l e t e 9 0 d ay s i n th e O p t i o n s dru g tr e atm e n t p r o g r am . T hu s , th e r e c o r d i s cl e ar th at th i s C o urt d i d n o t s i mp l y s e n d D e f e n d an t t o j a i l fo r e v e r

y t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n ; r ath e r , th i s C o urt att e mp t e d s e v e r a l t i m e s t o c r a ft s e n t e n c e s th at w o u l d a ll o w D e fe n d an t t o a d dr e s s h i s s e r i o u s dru g p ro b le m e i th e r thr o u g h i np at i e n t/ o ut p at i e n t dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g r am s o r thr o u g h th e c o un ty O p t i o n s p ro g r am . E a c h t i m e , D e fe n d an t fa i l e d t o m ak e any m e an i n g fu l p r o g r e s s t o w ar d s s o b ri e ty an d r e h ab i l i t at i o n . T h e r e fo r e , th i s C o urt p ro p e rl y i mp o s e d a t e rm o f s t at e i n c ar c e r at i o n a ft e r e x h au s t i n g a ll o th e r o p t i o n s , i n cl u d i n g c o un ty i n c ar c e r at i o n , c o un ty p r o b at i o n , c o un ty p ar o l e , w o rk r e l e a s e , an d dru g tr e atm e n t fa c i l i t i e s . 

### II . T H I S C O U R T P R O P E RL Y S EN T EN C E D D E F EN D A N T T O 2 

### Yi T O 5 Y E A R S S T A T E IN C A R C E RA T I O N . T h i s C o urt p ro p e rl y s e n t e n c e d D e f e n d an t t o 2 

### Yi t o 5 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n a ft e r fi n d i n g h i m i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n o fh i s p ro b at i o n fo r th e fi fth t i m e . C o n tr ary t o D e f e n d an t ' s c l a i m th at th i s s e n t e n c e w a s m an i f e s t l y e x c e s s i v e , th i s s e n t e n c e w a s a r e a s o n ab l e e x e r c i s e o fth i s

9C o urt ' s d i s c r e t i o n i n l i g h t o f th e fa c t s an d c i r c um s t an c e s o f th i s c a s e . Wh e n c o n s i d e r i n g an

a p p e a l fr o m a s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d a ft e r th e r e v o c at i o n o f p ro b at i o n o r p aro l e , a

p p e ll at e r e v i e w i s l i m i t e d t o th e d e t e rm i n at i o n o f " th e v a l i d i ty o f th e p ro b at i o n r e v o c at i o n p ro c e e d i n g s an d th e auth o r i ty o f th e s e n t e n c i n g c o urt t o c o n s i d e r th e s am e s e n t e n c i n g a l t e rn at i v e s i t h a d at th e t i m e o f th e i n i t i a l s e n t e n ci n g . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . M a c G r e g o r , 9 1 2 A. 2 d 3 1 5 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 6 ) ( c i t i n g 4 2 P a . C. S . § 9 77 1 ( c ) ) ; C o mm o nw e a l th v . G h e e n , 4 5 5 P a . S u p e r . 4 9 9 , 6 8 8 A. 2 d 1 2 0 6 , 1 2 0 7 (1 9 9 7 ) ) . T h e s e n t e n ci n g c o urt i s l i m i t e d o n l y b y th e m a x i mum s e n t e n c e i t c o u l d h av e i mp o s e d at th e t i m e o fth e o r i g i n a l s e n t e n c i n g . I d . P ur s u an t t o 2 0 4 P a . C o d e 3 0 3 . l ( b ) , s e n t e n ci n g g u i d e l i n e s d o n o t a p p l y t o s e n t e n c e s i mp o s e d a s a r e s u lt o f r e v o c at i o n o f p ro b at i o n , i n t e rm e d i at e p un i s hm e n t o r p aro l e .
" [ W ] h e n a tri a l c o urt i mp o s e s a s e n t e n c e th at i s w i th i n th e s t at ut o ry l i m i t s , ' th e r e i s n o ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n un l e s s th e s e n t e n c e i s m an i fe s tl y e x c e s s i v e s o a s t o i n fli c t t o o s e v e r e a p un i s hm e n t ' . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . M o uz o n , 5 7 1 P a . 4 1 9 , 8 1 2 A. 2 d 6 1 7 , 6 2 4 - 6 2 5 ( qu o t i n g C o mm o nw e a lth v . P e r s o n , 4 5 0 P a . 1 , 2 9 7 A. 2 d 4 6 0 (1 9 7 2 ) ) . I n a d d i t i o n , a s e n t e n c e w ill n o t b e d i s t ur b e d un l e s s th e a

p p e ll at e c o urt d e t e rm i n e s th at th e s e n t e n c e i s " unr e a s o n ab l e . " R e a s o n ab l e n e s s i s d e t e rm i n e d b y e x am i n i n g th e fo ur s t at ut o r y fa c t o r s s e t fo rth i n 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § 9 7 8 l ( d ) a s w e ll a s th e g e n e r a l s e n t e n c i n g s t an d ar d s o ut l i n e d i n 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § 9 7 2 1 ( b ) .4 2 P a . C . S . A. § 9 72 l ( b ) r e qu i r e s th e s e n t e n ci n g c o urt t o c o n s i d e r th e p ro t e c t i o n o fth e p ub li c , th e g r av i ty o f th e o ff

e n s e i n r e l at i o n t o th e i mp a c t o f th e v i c t i m an d th e c o mmun i ty , an d th e r e h ab i l i t at i v e n e e d s o fth e d e fe n d ant. T h e r e i s n o r e qu i r e m e n t th at a s e n t e n c i n g c o urt ' s i mp o s i t i o n o f s e n t e n c e b e th e " m i n i mum p o s s i b l e c o n fi n e m e nt. " C o mm o nw e a lth v . W a ll s , 5 9 2 P a . 5 5 7 , 5 7 0 , 9 2 6 A. 2 d 9 6 7 , 9 6 5 ( 2 0 0 7 ) .

10I n th e c as e at b ar , D e fe n d an t ' s s e n t e n c e w a s w i th i n th e s t at ut o ry l i m i t s an d w a s r e a s o n ab l e i n l i g h t o f a ll r e l e v an t fa c t o r s . A s s t at e d ab o v e , th e l e n gth o f i n c ar c e rat i o n w a s s o l e l y w i th i n th i s C o urt ' s d i s c r e t i o n an d w a s li m i t e d o n l y b y th e m ax i mum s e n t e n c e th at c o u l d h av e b e e n i mp o s e d at th e o ri g i n a l s e n t e n c i n g . U n d e r P e nn s y l v an i a l aw , th e m ax i mum s e n t e n c e fo r b ur g l ary an d c o n s p i r a c y , g ra d e d a s fe l o n i e s o f th e fi r s t d e g r e e , i s 2 0 y e ar s i n c ar c e rat i o n , a $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 fi n e , o r b o th . D e fe n d ant w a s s e n t e n c e d t o 2 Yi t o 5 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n , w i th c r e d i t fo r t i m e s e rv e d . T h i s s e n t e n c e w a s wi th i n th e s t at ut o ry l i m i t s an d w a s a r e a s o n ab l e e x e r c i s e o f th e C o urt ' s d i s c r e t i o n i n li g h t o f D e fe n d an t' s c r i m i n a l h i s t o ry , r e p e at e d fa il ur e t o c o mp l y w i th th e t e rm s o f h i s p ar o l e /

p ro b at i o n , utt e r fa i l ur e t o r e h ab i l i t at e h i m s e l fw h il e s e rv i n g th i s C o urt ' s s e n t e n c e i n v ari o u s dru g tr e atm e n t p r o g ram s , an d ab s c o n d i n g fr o m s u p e rv i s i o n fo r tw o y e ar s fo r th e s e c o n d t i m e . I n d e e d , th i s w a s D e fe n d an t' s fi f t h v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g . D e fe n d ant h a d b e e n g i v e n mu l t i p l e c h an c e s t o r e h ab i l i t at e h i m s e l f thr o u g h c o un ty p ro g ram s . I n s t e a d o f u s i n g th e s e o p p o rt un i t i e s t o t

um h i s l i fe aro un d , D e fe n d an t o n c e a g a i n c h o s e t o thumb h i s n o s e at th i s C o urt an d c o n t i nu e d t o c o mm i t th e s am e s o rt o fv i o l at i o n s , n am e l y , t o u s e dru g s an d a b s c o n d fr o m s u p e rv i s i o n . A ft e r D e fe n d ant v i o l at e d y e t a g a i n , i t b e c am e cl e ar th at D e fe n d an t w a s un ab l e t o g e t th e h e l p h e n e e d e d thr o u g h c o un ty p ro g ram s an d th i s C o urt d e c i d e d t o i mp o s e a t e rm o f s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n , w i th th e h o p e th at h e c o u l d g e t th e h e l p h e n e e d e d thr o u g h s t at e p ro g ram s a s th e c o unty p ro g r am s h a d a ll fa i l e d . F urth e rm o r e , th i s C o urt p ro p e rl y c o n s i d e r e d th e fa c t o r s s e t fo rth i n 4 2 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 9 7 2 1 : th e p r o t e c t i o n o f th e p ub li c , th e g r av i ty o f D e f e n d ant ' s o ff

e n s e i n r e l at i o n t o th e i mp a c t o n th e v i c t i m an d th e c o mmun i ty , an d h i s r e h ab i l i t at i v e n e e d s . Wh i l e o n p ro b at i o n , D e f e n d an t c o n t i nu e d t o a

b u s e dru g s ; i n d e e d , h e w a s arr e s t e d tw i c e fo r dru g p o s s e s s i o n . S i n c e h i s o r i g i n a l g u i l ty p l e a i n 2 0 0 5 , th i s C o urt h a s g i v e n D e fe n d an t num e r o u s c h an c e s t o r e h ab il i t at e h i m s e l f
1 1thr o u g h v ar i o u s c o un ty dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g ram s , c o un ty p ro b at i o n an d p aro l e , an d c o un ty

i n c ar c e r at i o n . U n fo rtun at e l y , D e f e n d an t o n c e a g a i n fa i l e d t o t ak e h i s s e n t e n c e s e r i o u s l y an d h i s c o n d u c t w h i l e o n p r o b at i o n , i n c l u d i n g a b s c o n d i n g fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n fo r tw o y e ar s , i n d i c at e d th at h e w a s n o t m ak i n g m e an i n g fu l p ro g r e s s t o w ar d s r e h ab i l i t at i o n . R e v o c at i o n an d a s t at e s e n t e n c e w as an a p p r o p r i at e s e n t e n c e un d e r th e c i r c um s t an c e s i n o r d e r t o fa c ili t at e D e fe n d an t' s r e h ab i l i t at i o n an d fo r th e p ro t e c t i o n o f th e c o mmun i ty . I n o r d e r t o m ak e th i s d e t e rm i n at i o n , th i s C o urt c o n s i d e r e d D e fe n d an t ' s l o n g h i s t o ry s i n c e h i s o r i g i n a l c o nv i c t i o n i n 2 0 0 5 , r e v i e w e d th e r e c o mm e n d at i o n o f

th e P ro b at i o n D e p artm e n t , h e ar d ar g um e n t fr o m C o mm o nw e a l th an d d e fe n s e c o un s e l , an d l i s t e n e d D e fe n d an t' s o wn a ll o c ut i o n . A ft e r t ak i n g a ll o f th i s i n t o c o n s i d e rat i o n , th i s C o urt fo un d i t a

p p ro p r i at e t o i mp o s e a 2 

### \/2 t o 5 y e ar s s e n t e n c e . D e f e n d an t ar g u e s th at th e C o urt ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n w h e n i mp o s i n g th i s s e n t e n c e b e c au s e th e A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y " a g r e e d w i th th e r e c o mm e n d at i o n o f d e fe n s e c o un s e l fo r a s e n t e n c e o f 6 - 1 2 m o n th s p l u s 1 y e ar p r o b at i o n . " T h i s c l a i m i s w i th o ut m e r i t. T h i s C o urt w a s un d e r n o o b l i g at i o n t o s e n t e n c e D e f e n d an t t o w h at e v e r t e rm s th e p art i e s a g r e e d u p o n . A s s t at e d ab o v e , " [ t ] h e i mp o s i t i o n o f s e n t e n c e fo ll o w i n g th e r e v o c at i o n o fp ro b at i o n i s v e s t e d w i th i n th e s o un d d i s c r e t i o n o fth e tr i a l c o urt , w h i c h , ab s e n t an a b u s e o f th at d i s c r e t i o n , w ill n o t b e d i s t ur b e d o n a p p e a l. S w o p e s , 

### s u

p ra . Th i s C o urt i s a l s o un d e r n o o b l i g at i o n t o i mp o s e th e m i n i mum p o s s i b l e s e n t e n c e . W a ll s , 

### s u p ra . P ur s u an t t o g e n e r a l s e n t e n c i n g s t an d ar d s , th e s e n t e n c i n g c o urt mu s t c o n s i d e r th e p ro t e c t i o n o fth e p ub l i c , th e g rav i ty o f th e o ff e n s e i n r e l at i o n t o th e i mp a c t o f th e v i c t i m an d th e c o mmun i ty , an d th e r e h ab i l i t at i v e n e e d s o fth e d e f e n d an t . 4 2 P a . C . S . A. 9 72 1. T h e r e i s n o r e qu i r e m e n t th at th i s C o urt s o l e l y r e l y o n th e r e c o mm e n d at i o n s o f c o un s e l at a v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g s i mp l y b e c au s e th e y a g r e e o n a s e n t e n c e . R ath e r , th i s C o urt t o o k i n t o c o n s i d e r at i o n D e f

e n d an t' s c o ur s e o f c o n d

u c t s i n c e 2 0 0 5 , h i s r e h ab ili t at i v e n e e d s , th e i mp a c t o f

1 2h i s c r i m e s an d dru g u s e o n th e c o mmun i ty , th e p ro t e c t i o n o fth e p ub l i c , a s w e ll a s th e

r e c o mm e n d at i o n s fr o m th e P ro b at i o n D e p artm e n t an d c o un s e l. A f t e r w e i g h i n g a ll o f th e i n fo rm at i o n , th i s C o urt fo un d i t a p p ro p r i at e t o i mp o s e a 2 12 t o 5 y e ar t e rm o f s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n .



### I II . T H I S C O U R T S T A T E D S U F F I C I E N T RE A S O N S O N T H E RE C O RD F O R T H E S E N T E N C E I M P O S E D . T h e C o urt s t at e d s u ffi c i e n t r e a s o n s o n th e r e c o r d j u s t i f y i n g th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d . A t th e t i m e o f s e n t e n c i n g , th e j u d g e i s o b l i g at e d t o s t at e o n th e r e c o r d th e r e a s o n fo r th e s e n t e n c e d i mp o s e d , h o w e v e r th e e xp l an at i o n n e e d n o t b e l e n gthy an d " a d i s c o ur s e o n th e c o urt ' s s e nt e n c i n g p h i l o s o p hy i s n o t r e qu i r e d . " P a . R. C r i m . P . 7 0 8 ( C ) ( 2 ) ; C o mm o nw e a l th v . M a l o v i c h , 9 0 3 A. 2 d 1 2 4 7 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ( qu o t i n g C o mm o nw e a l th v . M c A f e e , 8 4 9 A. 2 d 2 7 0 , 2 7 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 4 ) ) . Th e p urp o s e o fth i s r e qu i r e m e n t i s t o p ro v i d e " a p ro c e d ur a l m e c h an i s m fo r th e a g g r i e v e d p arty b o th t o att e mp t t o r e b ut th e c o urt ' s e xp l an at i o n an d i n cl i n at i o n b e fo r e th e s e n t e n c e p r o c e e d i n g e n d s , an d t o i d e n t i fy an d fr am e s ub s t ant i v e cl a i m s fo r p o s t s e n t e n c e m o t i o n s o r a p p e a l. " C o mm o nw e a lth v . R e av e s , 5 9 2 P a . 13 4 , 1 5 0 - 1 5 1 , 9 2 3 A. 2 d 11 1 9 , 1 1 2 9 ( 2 0 0 7 ) . A c c o r d i n g t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt : V O P p r o c e e d i n g s ar e o ft e n s h o rt an d t o th e p o i nt. A c o nv i c t e d d e f e n d an t r e l e a s e d i n t o th e c o mmun i ty un d e r s u c h c o n tr o l o f th e s e n t e n c i n g j u d g e , w h o v i o l at e s th e t e rm s o fh i s r e l e a s e an d th e r e b y b e tr ay s th e j u d g e ' s tru s t , i s rar e l y i n a s tr o n g p o s i t i o n . U n l e s s th e d e f e n d an t' s l a

p s e s ar e e xp l a i n ab l e , o r th e r e h a s b e e n s o m e m i s t ak e o f fa c t , th e qu e s t i o n o fw h e th e r r e l e a s e w ill b e t e rm i n at e d , an d i f s o , th e l e n g th o f i n c ar c e rat i o n , r e s t s p e c u l i ar l y w i th i n th e d i s c r e t i o n o f th e V O P j u d g e . I n i n s t an c e s w h e r e p ar o l e i s r e v o k e d , th e r e a s o n fo r r e v o c at i o n an d s e n t e n c e ar e u s u a ll y o b v i o u s , an d th e r e i s n o t mu c h th at th e j u d g e w o u l d n e e d t o s ay . I d . at 1 5 3 , f

n . 1 2 . M o r e r e c e ntl y i n P a s t ur e , th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt e xp l a i n e d :
13S i mp l y p ut , s i n c e th e d e fe n d ant h a s p r e v i o u s l y a p p e ar e d b e fo r e th e s e n t e n c i n g c o urt , th e s t at e d r e a s o n s fo r a r e v o c at i o n s e n t e n c e n e e d n o t b e a s e l ab o r at e a s th at w h i c h i s r e qu i r e d at i n i t i a l s e n t e n ci n g . T h e r at i o n a l e fo r th i s i s o b v i o u s . Wh e n s e n t e n c i n g i s a c o n s e qu e n c e o f th e r e v o c at i o n o f p ro b at i o n , th e j u d g e i s a l r e a dy fu ll y i n fo rm e d a s t o th e fa c t s an d c i r c um s t an c e s o fb o th th e c ri m e an d th e n at

ur e o fth e d e fe n d an t , p art i c u l ar l y w h e r e , a s h e r e , th e tri a l j u d g e h a d th e b e n e fi t o f a P S I d ur i n g th e i n it i a l s e n t e n c i n g p ro c e e d i n g s . 10 7 A. 3 d at 4 5 3 ( c i t i n g W a ll s , 5 9 2 P a . at 5 7 4 n . 7 , 9 2 6 A. 2 d at 9 6 7 n . 7 ) . " [ W ] h e r e th e r e v o c at i o n s e nt e n c e w a s a d e qu at e l y c o n s i d e r e d an d s u ffi c i e n t l y e xp l a i n e d o n th e r e c o r d b y th e r e v o c at i o n j u d g e , i n li g h t o fth e j u d g e ' s e xp e r i e n c e w i th th e d e fe n d an t an d aw ar e n e s s o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s o f th e p ro b at i o n v i o l at i o n , un d e r th e a p p ro p r i at e d e fe r e n c e s t an d ar d o fr e v i e w , th e s e n t e n c e , i f w i th i n th e s t at

ut o ry b o un d s , i s p e c u l i ar l y w i th i n th e j u d g e ' s d i s c r e t i o n . I d . at 4 5 4 . I n th e c a s e at b ar , th i s C o urt s u ffi c i e ntl y s t at e d r e a s o n s o n th e r e c o r d fo r th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d . Th i s C o urt r e c o unt e d o n th e r e c o r d th e num e ro u s c h an c e s an d o p p o rt un i t i e s D e fe n d ant w a s o ff e r e d t o t urn h i s l i fe ar o un d . T h i s C o urt r e p e at e d l y s e nt h i m t o dru g tr e atm e n t , j o b tr a i n i n g c l a s s e s , w o rk r e l e a s e p ro g r am s ; e a c h t i m e , D e f e n d an t fa i l e d t o t ak e th e o p p o rt un i ty s e r i o u s l y . M o s t r e c e ntl y , h e c o n t i nu e d t o u s e dru g s an d a b s c o n d e d fr o m s u

p e rv i s i o n fo r tw o y e ar s . H i s w h e r e ab o ut s r e m a i n e d unkn o wn un t i l h e w a s arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d w i th dru g p o s s e s s i o n . A s th i s C o urt s t at e d at th e v i o l at i o n h e ar i n g :

T h e D e fe n d an t h av i n g h a d num e r o u s o p p o rt un i t i e s t o g e t w h at h e n e e d e d i n th e C o unty , I w ill i mp o s e a S t at e s e nt e n c e t o d ay .. . T h i s s e n t e n c e i s ab s o l ut e l y n e c e s s ar y t o v i n d i c at e th e auth o r i ty o fth e C o urt . A s I i n d i c at e d thr o u g h th e h i s t o r y o f th i s c a s e , th e D e fe n d an t h a s b a s i c a ll y thumb e d h i s n o s e at th e C o urt . D o n e w h at h e w an t e d t o d o o v e r a ll th e s e y e ar s , e v e n th o u g h I s e n t e n c e d h i m t o r e p e at e d C o un ty s e n t e n c e s w i th a c h an c e t o g e t dru g tr e atm e n t an d t o g e t h i m s e l f t o g e th e r , an d h e h a s n o t d o n e w e l l. A n d h e ' s b a c k a g a i n , b a s i c a ll y d o i n g th e s am e th i n g , a b s c o n d i n g an d n o t d o i n g w h at h e ' s s u

p p o s e d t o d o .



### 1 4(N . T. 2 / 1 6 / 1 8 , p . 1 2 - 1 3 ) . A s s t at e d a b o v e , w h e r e " th e r e a s o n fo r r e v o c at i o n an d s e n t e n c e ar e u s u a ll y o b v i o u s , an d th e r e i s n o t mu c h th at th e j u d g e w o u l d n e e d t o s ay . " R e av e s , 

### s u p ra . A c c o r d i n g l y , th i s C o urt ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e s h o u l d b e a ffi rm e d .



### 1 5C O N C L U S I O N

A ft e r r e v i e w o fth e a

p p l i c ab l e c a s e l aw , t e s t i m o ny , an d s t at ut e s , th i s C o urt c o mm i tt e d n o e rr o r. Th i s C o urt p ro p e rl y s e n t e n c e d D e fe n d an t t o a t e rm o f 2 Yi t o 5 y e ar s s t at e i n c ar c e rat i o n a ft e r fi n d i n g h i m i n t e c hn i c a l v i o l at i o n o f h i s p ro b at i o n fo r th e fi fth t i m e . T h i s s e n t e n c e w a s n o t
m an i fe s tl y e x c e s s i v e an d th i s C o urt m o r e s u f fi c i e n tl y s t at e d a d e qu at e r e a s o n s o n th e r e c o r d fo r th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d . A c c o r d i n g l y , th i s C o urt ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e s h o u l d b e a f fi rm e d .

B Y T H E C O U R T :

1 5 J.