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NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. DON CARVICA HOGUE

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1049 EDA 2017 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 3, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0006741 - 2014 BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., NICHOLS, J., and MURRAY, J. MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED AUGUST 05, 2019 Don Carvica Hogue (Appellant) appeals pro se from the judgment of sentence imposed after a jury convicted him of aggravated assault , possession of an instrument of crime (PIC) , and recklessly endangering another person (REAP). 1 

### Upon review, we affirm . The charges in this case arise from an incident that occurred on March 16, 2014 , in which Appellant “ viciously stabb[ed] and nearly kill[ed ] a man [ . ] ” Trial Court Opinion, 6/28/18, at 1 - 2. The Commonwealth filed a criminal information on June 13, 2014 . Thereafter, A ppellant filed a suppress ion motion, seeking to preclude “the Commonwealth from playing the cell phone recording” made by his adult daughter, Rashada Siojo. Omnibus Pretrial

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### 18 Pa.C.S.A. § § 2702(a) , 907(a), and 2705 .

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Motion, 4/25/16, at 1 - 3. A fter conducting a hearing on June 17, 2016, the trial court deni ed the motion . The case proceeded to trial. On December 16, 2016, a jury convicted Appellant of the above crimes . At sentencing on March 3, 2017, the trial court determined that Appellant ’ s conviction of aggravated assault was his fifth crime of violence under Section 9714 of the Sentencing Code. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a) (mandatory minimum sentences for second and third convic tions of crimes of violence). Accordingly, t he trial court imp osed a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)(2) ( “ Upon conviction for a third or subsequent crime of violence the court may, if it determines that 25 years of total confinement is insufficient to protect the public safet y, sentence the offender to life imprisonment without parole. ” ). The court further sentenced Appellant to 21⁄2 to 5 years of imprisonment for PIC and 1 to 2 years of imprisonment for REAP, both consecutive to the life sentence. Appellant , who was represente d by Mark Adams, Esquire, did not file a post - sentence motion , but instead filed a pro se petition under the Post Conviction Relief Act . 2 

### The trial docket reflects this “ filing from a represented defendant not signed by attorney. ” 3 

### Trial Doc ket Entry, 3/ 16 /17. On March

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### 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541 - 9546. 3 

### See Pa.R.Crim.P. 576(A)(4) (if a represented criminal defendant submits for filing a written motion that has not been signed by his attorney, the clerk of courts shall accept it for filing , and a copy of the time - stamped document shall

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20, 2017 , Attorney Adams filed a timely notice of appeal together with a motion to withdraw as counsel. O n March 22, 2017 , the trial court allowed Attorney Adams to withdraw , and James Lloyd, Esq uire , entered his appearance on behalf of A ppellant. On April 12, 2017, t he trial court directed Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of errors complained of on appeal , and following two extensions for additional time, Attorney Lloyd file d a statement on behalf of Appellant on November 8, 2017. Meanwhile, Appellant filed in Superior Court a pro se application to proceed pro se on appeal. By per curiam order dated October 10, 2017, this Court direct ed the trial court to conduct a Grazier 4 

### hearing . The trial court conducted the hearing on November 13, 2017 — sub s equent to Attorney Lloyd filing Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement — and thereafter granted Appellant ’ s motion to proceed pro se , along with permission for Attorney Lloyd to withdr a w from representation. On December 7, 2017, App ellant filed a n untimely pro se Rule 1925(b) statement, without first obtaining leave from the trial court to do so. The trial court issued an opinion on June 28, 2018. On appeal, Appellant presents three multi - part issues for our review:

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### be forwarded to the defendant ’ s attorney and the Common wealth within 10 days); Commonwealth v. Jette , 23 A.3d 1032, 1044 (Pa. 2011) ( “ [T] he proper response to any pro se pleading is to refer the pleading to counsel, an d to take no further action on the pro se pleading unless counsel forwards a motion. ” ). 4 

### See Commonwealth v. Grazier , 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998).

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1. WERE APPELLAN T’S FEDERAL FOURTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS VIOLATED AND DID THE LOWER COURT ERR AS A MATTER OF LAW AND/OR ABUSE DISCRETION IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS INTERCEPTED WIRE OR ORAL COMMUNICATION WHERE EXCEPTION NO. 17 OF THE WIRETAP ACT IS VOID FOR VAGUENESS ON ITS FACE AND AS - APPLIED TO APPELLANT’S CASE, AND/OR DESPITE THE SELF CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY OF AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DURING THE SUPPRESSION HEARING, AND/OR DESPITE A SUPPRESSION RECORD REPLETE WITH EVIDENCE OF STATE ACTION BY THE ADA IN COLLUDING WITH APPELLANT’S [SIC] TO INTERCEPT APPELLANT’S WIRE AND ORAL COMMUNICATION ? 2. WAS IT A DENIAL OF APPELLANT’S FEDERAL SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 9 STATE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, AND WAS THE TRIAL COURT’S SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION NOT LAWFULLY INVOKED TO AUTHORIZE IT TO HEAR APPELLANT’S CASE BASED ON A FATALLY DEFECTIVE INFORMATION WHICH FAILED TO GIVE FORMAL AND SPECIFIC ACCUSATION OF JURISDICTIONALLY - REQUIRED ESSENTIAL FACTUAL ELEMENTS, I . E ., MISCONDUCT, “TO WIT: BY STABBING THE VICTIM” AS MANDATED BY THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS, PA.R.CRIM.P. 560(B)(5), AND CLEARLY ESTABLISHED FEDERAL LAW, AS DETERMINED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES AND PA. STATE SUPREME COURT, THEREBY ENABLING APPELLANT TO PREPARE A DEFENSE AND PLEAD DOUBLE JEOPARDY, AND FURTHER ENABLING THE TRIAL COURT (AND ANY SU BSEQUENT COURT) TO REVIEW FACTS FROM THE FACE OF THE INFORMATION SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A CONVICTION FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ? 3. WAS APPELLANT DEPRIVED ON HIS SIXTH, TENTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND CONTRACT CLAUSE RIGHTS UNDER THE FEDERAL CONSTIT UTION WHERE APPELLANT WAS NOT GIVEN NOTICE OF THE “THREE STRIKES” SENTENCING PROVISION IN THE INFORMATION, AND/OR WHERE THE IMPOSITION OF THE “THIRD STRIKE” LIFE SENTENCE WAS BASED ON A STATE STATUTE COERCED AND COMPELLED BY THE FEDERAL REGULATORY PROGRAM OF VOITIS, AND/OR WHERE 42 PA.C.S. § 9714 IS MODELED ON A DETERMINATE SENTENCING SCHEME WHICH MAKES A 25 YEAR MAXIMUM SENTENCE THE LEAST ONEROUS SENTENCE THAT CAN BE IMPOSED BASED ON

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THE BARE STATUTORY ELEMENTS OF A “THIRD STRIKE” OFFENSE, AND/OR WHERE THE LIFE SENTENCE IMPOSED WAS BASED ON OTHER SENTENCING FACTORS NOT CHARGED IN THE INFORMATION, SUBMITTED, AND PROVEN TO A JURY BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT AS REQUIRED BY THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS? Appellant ’ s Brief at 2. Throughout his first issue, Appellant presents an imprecise and often confusing argument regarding the court’s denial of his suppression motion. 5 

### For example, he a rgues that Sub section 17 of 18 Pa.C.S. A. § 57 04, regarding exceptions to the prohibition of interception and di sclosure of communications , is facially void for vagueness and ambigu ity . 6 

### Appellant ’ s Brief at 6 - 9. W e note that generally, “ no person shall disclose the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication, or evidence derived therefrom, in any proce eding in any court[.]” 18 Pa.C.S. A. § 5721.1 . However, Section 5704 sets forth several exceptions, including Subsection 17: It shall not be unlawful and no prior court approval shall be required under this chapter for . . .

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### We remind Appellant that “a ppellate briefs and reproduced records must materially conform to the requirements of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure ,” and “[ a] lthough this Court is willing to liberally construe materials filed by a pro se litigant, pro se status confers no speci al benefit upon the appellant. To the contrary, any person choosing to represent himself in a legal proceeding must, to a reasonable extent, assume that his lack of expertise and legal training will be his undoing. ” Commonwealth v. Adams , 882 A.2d 496 , 497 - 98 (Pa. Super. 2005) (some citations omitted). 6 

### We recognize that a subpart of the Wiretap Act , not relevant to this appeal, has been preem pted by the Federal Wiretap Act . Commonwealth v. Witmayer , 144 A.3d 939, 950 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2016); s ee also Bansal v. Russ , 513 F.Supp.2d 264 (E.D.Pa. 2007).

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Any victim, witness or privat e detective licensed under the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L. 1273, No. 361), known as the Private Detective Act of 1953, to intercept the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication, if that person is under a reasonable suspicion that the interce pted party is committing, about to commit or has committed a crime of violence and there is reason to believe that evidence of the crime of violence may be obtained from the interception. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5704(17). Appellant’s challenge to the validity of this su bsection was not raised in the timely , court - ordered Rule 1925(b) statement filed by Attorney Lloyd , and the trial court did not address the issue . Although Appellant included this issue in his subsequent pro se Rule 1925(b) statement, Appellant ne ver asked the court for leave to file a supplemental statement. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(2) (“ Upon application of the appellant and for good cause shown, the judge may enlarge the time period initially specified or permit an amended or supplemental Statement to be filed. ”) . Thus , this claim is waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925 (b)(4)(vii) ( “ Issues not included in the Statement and/or not raised in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (b)(4) are waived. ” ) ; see also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (issues not raised wit h the lower court are waived on appeal) . Also within his first issue, we discern the following claims: this Court should find that the Wiretap Act ’ s definition of an “ e lectronic, mechanical or

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other device ” includes a telephone 7 

### ; and the suppression court made improper credibility findings in denying suppression where “ someone knowledgeable of the parameters of the Wire Tap Act advis[ed] Appellant’s d aughter in the matter . ” Appellant’s Brief at 9 - 13. With respect to th e recorde d tele phone call, Appellant asserts “it is clear that ADA Nixon and Mark Gilson both engaged in ‘ state action ’ . . . and it is wholly unfathomable [that] neither one of them, especially ADA Nixon, did not tell Appellant’s d aughter to get some proof. ” Id. at 13 - 14. No relief is due. Appellant first asks this Court to hold that for purposes of the Wiretap Act, the definition of an “electronic, mechanical or other device” incl udes a telephone. Appellant’s Brief at 11. “Statutory interpretation is a question of law, therefore our standard of review is de novo , and our scope of review is plenary.” Commonwealth v. Hall , 80 A.3d 120 4 , 1211 (Pa. 2013). Section 5702 defines “Electronic, mechanical or other device” as follows: Any device or apparatus, including, but not limited to, an induction coil or a telecommunication identification interception device, that can be used to intercept a wire, electron ic or oral communication other than : (1) Any telephone or telegraph instrument, equipment or facility , or any comp onent thereof, furnished to the subscriber or user for connection to the facilities of such service and used in the ordinary course of its business, or being used by a communication common carrier in the ordinary course of its business, or by an investigat ive or law

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### See 18 Pa.C.S. A. § 5702 (defining “ e lectro nic, mechanical or other device ” as used in the Wiretap Act).

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- 8 - enforcement officer in the ordinary course of his duties. . . . 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5702 (emphasis added) . W e deny Appellant’s request to find that a telephone is included in the Wiretap Act’s definition of an “electronic, mechanical or other device.” To the contrary, a plain reading 8 

### of Section 5702 evidences the General Assembly’s clear intent to purposefully exclude telephones from the definition, and our Supreme Court has held the same. See Commonwealth v. Spence , 91 A.3d 44, 47 (Pa. 2014 ) (“The language of the statute states that telephones are exempt from the definition of device.”). Therefore, Section 5702’s definition of “electronic, mechanical or other device” excludes telephones. Next, Appellant assails the trial court’s findings f ollowing the June 17, 2016 suppression hearing, with specific reference to the court’s credibility finding s and its determination that there was no improper state action on the part of Assistant District Attorney Deborah Nixon and her colleague, Mark Gilson . Appellant’ s Brief at 12 - 14. Our review of the denial of a suppression motion “is limited to determining whether the factual findings are supported by the record and

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### “We will only look beyond the plain meaning of the statute when words are unclear or ambiguous, or the plain meaning would lead to “a result that is absurd, impossible of execution or unreasonable.” 1 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 1922(1). Theref ore, when ascertaining the meaning of a statute, if the language is clear, we give the words their plain and ordinary meaning.” Commonwealth v. Torres - Kuilan , 156 A.3d 1229, 1231 (Pa. Super. 2017) (some citations omitted).

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whether the legal conclusions drawn from those facts are correct.” Commonwealth v. Soto , 202 A.3d 80 , 90 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citation omitted). “When reviewing the denial of a suppression motion, this Court reviews only the suppression hearing record, and not the evidence elicited at trial.” Commonwealth v. Frein , 206 A.3d 1049, 106 4 (Pa. 2019) (citation omitted). Further: We may consider only the evidence of the prosecution and so much of the evidence for the defense as remains uncontradicted when read in the context of the record as a whole. Where the record supports the findings of the suppression court, we are bound by those facts and may reverse only if the court erred in reaching its legal conclusions based upon the facts. Moreover, it is within the [trial] court’s province to pass on the credibility of witnesses and determin e the weight to be given to their testimony. Id. “The suppression court is free to believe all, some or none of the evidence presented at the suppression hearing.” Commonwealth v. Elmobdy , 823 A.2d 180, 183 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation omitted). Mindful of the foregoing, we recognize that “ [t] he Fourth Amendment of the Federal Constitution and Article I, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.” Commonwealth v. Walls , 53 A.3d 889, 892 (Pa. S uper. 2012). However, i t is well - settled that th e “proscriptions of the Fourth Amendment and Article I, § 8, do not apply to searches and seizures conducted by private individuals.” Commonwealth v. Shaffer , --- A.3d --- , 2019 WL 2509345, *11 (Pa. 2019) ( citation omitted). “[A]t the core of the reasoning underlying this refusal to

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extend application of the exclusionary rule to private searches is the concept of ‘state action,’ the understanding that the Fourth Amendment operates only in the context of the relationship be tween the citizen and the state .” Id. (citation omitted). “In the absence of governmental action, the search or seizure in question cannot give [an a] ppellant ground for a claim of violation of constitutionally - protected interest under e ither the Federal or Pennsylvania Constitutions.” Commonwealth v. Johnson , 727 A.2d 1089, 1098 (Pa. 1999) (citation omitted). “To determine whether a particular search or seizure constituted governmental action, we must examine the purpose of the search, the party who initiated it, and determine whether the government acquiesced in it or ratified it.” Id. “Moreover, individual acts do not become imbued with the character of governmental action merely because they are later relied upon and used by the go vernment in furtherance of their objectives.” Id. Here , Appellant sought to suppress evidence from a telephone conversation recorded by his adult daughter, Rashada Siojo . At the suppression hearing, the Commonwealth presented testimony from Ms. Siojo and Ms. Siojo’s friend and assistant district attorney, Deborah Nixon. Appellant did not present any witnesses. Ms. Siojo testified that on the morning after the stabbing , she spoke with her mother by telephone. Ms. Siojo’s mother was crying and she told her d aughter that “there was some kind of altercation” ; Ms. Siojo’s mother “ was

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afraid ” and asked Ms. Siojo to pick her up. N. T., 6/17/16, at 19, 22. Ms. Siojo then called her friend, Ms. Nixon, “to tell her what was going on because [ Ms. Nixon was her] friend ” and Ms. Siojo was worried about her mother Id. at 19. Later that day, while Ms. Siojo and her younger brother were driving to get t he i r mother, Ms. Siojo engaged in a telephone call with her mother and Ms. Nixon , which began as a call between jus t Ms. Siojo and her mother . Id. at 22. Ms. Siojo described her mother during this call as “probably not sober,” and Ms. Siojo “heard a lot of yelling and arguing in t he background . . . between [her mother and Appellant ].” Id. at 24. Ms. Siojo testifi e d that she added Ms. Nixon to the call because Ms. Nixon was her friend , not because Nixon was an assistant district attorney , and she wanted to let Ms. Nixon know where she was going because Ms. Siojo “didn’t know what [she] was going into .” Id. at 22 - 23. Ms. Siojo did not speak directly wi th Appellant during this call, and did not record the call. After picking up her mother , and while driving with her mother and younger brother in the car, Ms. Siojo had a telephone conversation w ith Appellant, which was connected t o the car’s Bluetooth. 9 

### N.T., 6/17/16, at 2 5 - 27 . Ms. Siojo testified that she “borrowed” her brother’s telephone to record the conversation because she was afraid, “didn’t know what was true and . . .

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### Ms. Siojo testified that she did not remember whether Appellant called her or she called him. N.T., 6/17/16, at 26.

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needed to be safe.” Id. at 27 - 28. Ms. Siojo stated that she asked Appellant “what happened?” and “why did you do that to that man?”, and reiterated that she was afraid for herself and her mother. Id. at 26 - 28. She also testified repeatedly that no one instructed her to record the conversation , and Ms. Nixon was “absolutely not ” aware that Ms. Siojo record ed the Bluetooth call with Appellant . Id. at 28 - 29, 34. Ms. Siojo also clarified that the earlier call between her, her mother, and Ms. Nixon was not recorded. Id. at 33. T he Commonwealth called Ms. Nixon, who has been employed as an assistant district attorney since 1992. Ms. Nixon testified that Ms. Siojo was her friend, and on the morning of March 17, 2014, Ms. Siojo called her and relayed that Ms. Siojo’s mother had tol d her that A ppellant “admitted to her that he had stabbed a man,” that Ms. Siojo was “terrified for her mother,” and “there was a situation unfolding where there were threats of violence toward her moth er.” N.T., 6/17/16, at 53 - 54. During the conversatio n, Ms. Nixon “calmed [Ms. Siojo] down . . . and told her I’d speak to her later.” Id. at 55. Later that day, when Ms. Nixon was at work, she received a second phone call from Ms. Siojo, and could hear “chaos erupting.” N.T., 6/17/16, at 56. Ms. Siojo to ld Ms. Nixon, “I’m on my way to my moth er’s and my mother’s in trouble ” ; Ms. Nixon told Ms. Siojo not to go and instead call the police. Id. Meanwhile, Ms. Nixon could hear “chaos,” “commotion,” and “yelling and screaming. ” Id. at 55 - 56. Ms. Nixon heard a male and a female, but did not know the male voice and could not “make out what’s being said.” I d. at 56,

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59, 61. Ms. Nixon then set her telephone on speaker mode so that her colleague Mark Gilson could hear the conversation. Ms. Nixon ask ed Mr. Gilson to “send the cops wherever the mother lives.” Id. at 57. Mr. Gilson used his own telephone to call 911 and request a police dispatch to the mother’s location. Id. at 57 - 58. Ms. Nixon testified that she “absolutely [ did ] not ” advise Ms. Si ojo to “make a recording of any of this,” and she never looked at the file for the criminal case against Appellant. Id. at 57 - 58. She emphasized: My focus was on the domestic incident with [Ms. Siojo’s] mother and [Ms. Siojo] not getting involved with it at all. This young girl does not need to be pulled into some mess with her father and her mother, some violence with her father and mother . N.T., 6/17/16, at 57 - 58. During the suppression hearing, Appellant, who was r epresented by Attorney Adams, present ed no evidence , but claime d that he had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the “family conversation” with Ms. Siojo’s m other, which was heard by Ms. Siojo during the three - way call between Ms. Siojo, her mother, and Ms. Nixon . N.T., 6/17/16, at 64 - 65. Appellant argu ed that the exception in the Wiretap Act, as stated in Subsection 5704(17) — allow ing interception if the interceptor is under a reasonable suspicion that the intercepted party is committing, about to commit, or has committed a crime of violence — should be ruled unconstitutional. Id. at 65; see 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5704(17) . T he Commonwealth co untered that Appellant ’s argument was

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“specious” because the unrecorded call in which Appellant is yelling in the background while Ms. Siojo is tal king to her mother “and the d aughter who happens to merge in Deb Nixon . . . is not protected under the Wiretap Act.” N.T., 6/17/16, at 68. The Commonwealth also argued that Ms. Siojo ’s recording of her subsequent conversation with Appellant was squarel y within the Wiretap Act exception at Section 5704(17). Id. at 66. The trial court denied Appellant’s suppression motion, finding that the Commonwealth’s witnesses w e re credible and its argument persuasive . Appellant , on appeal, now askes “ th[is] Court t o find the lower court’s findings . . . are an abuse of discretion.” Appellant’s Brief at 13. Appellant claims that “ADA Nixon a nd Mark Gilson both engaged in ‘ state action ’” , asserting that it is “wholly unfathomable to neither one of them, especially ADA Nixon, did not tell the daughter to get some proof.” Id. at 1 4. Essentially, Appellant claims that Ms. Siojo improperly recorded the conversation with Appellant at the prompt ing of Ms. Nixon in her capacity as a district attorney. Id. This argument lacks merit . As discussed , Ms. Siojo testified that she did not record the conversation between herself, her mother (in which Appellant could be heard in the background ), and Ms. Nixon. Ms. Siojo st ated that she added Ms. Nixon to the call because Ms. Nixon was a friend, and while on her way to get her mother, Ms. Siojo was concerned for the safety of her mother and herself. With regard to the conversation with Appellant that Ms. Siojo recorded on h er

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brother’s phone from her car’s Bluetooth, Ms. Siojo likewise testified that “nobody related to law enforcement” was “in on that call” — and she recorded the conversation with Appellant because she “needed to be safe” and “was afraid for me and my mother .” N.T., 6/17/16, at 27 - 28. Ms. Siojo testified repeatedly that no one told her t o record the conversation, and Ms. Nixon was unaware that she was record ing it. Id. at 28 - 29, 34. Ms. Nixon ’s testimony c orroborat ed Ms. Siojo’s, where Ms. Nixon stated th at she did not advise Ms. Siojo to record her conversation with Appellant, was not involved in Appellant’s criminal case, and “her whole concern [was for] Ms. Siojo and her safety.” Id. at 57 - 59 . The burden of proof at a suppression hearing is on the Commonwealth to “establish[] that the challenged evidence was not obtained in violation of the defendant’s rights.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(H). “This does not, however, excuse the defendant from meeting the bu rden of persuasion[.]” Commonwealth v. Enimpah , 62 A.3d 1028, 1033 (Pa. Super. 2013). Appellant has not persuaded us of any error, and emphasize that “i t is within the [trial] court’s province to pass on the credibility of witnesses and determine the wei ght to be given to their testimony. ” Frein , 206 A.3d at 1064. Instantly, t he trial court stated, “I find specifically in terms of the findings of facts as testified to by the witnesses to be credible.” N.T., 6/17/16, at 69. The trial court further concl u ded that “ there was no state action

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involved through Ms. Nixon in any way, shape, or form. ” Id. Upon review, we agree. Appellant’s first issue lacks merit. In his second issue , Appellant argues that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction and “ Tenth Amendment sovereign state police power to hear [his] case , ” because the criminal information lacked sufficiency. Appellant ’ s Brief at 14 - 15 . He also claims the trial “ court failed to address the assertion that the Commonwealth ’ s prosecution of Appellant under the federal mandates of the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth In Sentencing (VOITIS) Incentive Grant Program, 12 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., . . . was a violation of Appellant ’ s personal Tenth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. ” Id. at 14. Appellant contends that the alleged “‘ cutting or stabbing ’ of the victim is an essential factual element of the [aggravated assault charge] establishing the essential mens rea /culpability element of malice, ” but the informa tion did not “ charge any ‘ acts, ’ ‘ facts, ’ ‘ conduct, ’ or ‘ misconduct ’ to establish malice. ” Id. at 17. Appellant thus concludes that he was deprived of his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to notice and due process. In his third issue , Appellant a rgues that his rights under the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions were violated when he was not given notice in the bill of information filed by the Commonwealth of its intention of prosecuting him under the “three strikes” mandatory minimum sentencing parameters in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a) . Appellant further assert s that Section 9714 provides for an illegal sentencing scheme in light of the United States

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Supreme Court’s holding in Apprendi v. New Jersey , 120 S. Ct. 2348 (U.S. 2000 ) and its progeny. Upon review of Appellant’s second and third issues , together with the record and prevailing legal authority, we conclude that the Honorable Ann Marie B. Coyle, sitting as the trial court, has authored a comprehensive opinion addr essing and disposing of these issues. Accordingly, we adopt those portions of Judge Coyle’ s opinion as our own. Trial Court Opinion, 6/28/18, a t 12 - 15, 15 - 20. We note that i n addressing Appellant’s second issue , the trial court accurately states that t he Commonwealth’s information “was signed by the District Attorney, contained a proper caption, the date of the offense, the name of the victim, the county where the offense took place, a plain and concise statement of the essential elements of each offens e, and a proper concluding statement.” Trial Court Opinion, 6/28/18, at 15. The trial court thus concluded that the information was “ sufficient for [Appellant] to address the charges and prepare a defense , ” and accordingly, the court had proper subject m atter jurisdiction over Appellant’s criminal prosecution. Id. ; s ee also Pa.R.Crim.P. 560 (Information: Filing, Contents, Function) . In addressing Appellant’s third issue , the trial court referenced the notice requ irements of 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714, and explained that Appellant received notice of the Commonwealth’s intent to pursue a “three strike” mandatory minimum sentence in its sentencing memo randum filed February

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10, 2017 — well before Appellant’ s sentencing nearly a month later in March 2017. Tria l Court Opinion, 6/28/18, at 18 ; s ee also 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(d) (“[R]easonable notice of the Commonwealth’s intention to proceed under this section shall be provided after conviction and before sentencing.”). Further, in addressing the legality of Appel lant’s sentence, the trial court accurately concludes that Appellant fails to state a viable claim for relief under Apprendi v. New Jersey , 530 U.S. 466 ( 2000), Alleyne v. United States , 570 U. S. 99 (2013), and successive Pennsylvania cases. The trial court explained: [Appellant’s] argument also fails as Apprendi and its progeny[] all exclude prior convictions from what is required to be submitted to the jury when seeking to increase a sentence. * * * [T]he Superior Court has recognized that Alleyne does not invalidate mandatory minimum sentencing statutes that pertain to a defendant’s prior convictions. Section 9714 increases mandatory minimum sentences based on prior convictions. Accordingly, this section is not unconstitutional under Alleyne .”) . Trial Cou rt Opinion, 6/28/18, at 18 - 19 (citing Commonwealth v. Watley , 81 A.3d 108 (Pa. Super. 2013) ) . See also Apprendi , supra (“Other than the fact of a prior conviction , any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”) (emphasis added). In sum, Appellant’s claims do not merit relief, and we affirm the judgment o f sentence. Because we have partially adopt ed the trial court’s

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opinion, we direct the parties to include it in relevant future filings. Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judge Shogan joins the memorandum. Judge Nichols concurs in the result. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 8/5/19Circulated 07/12/2019 02:38 PM > :> J 

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s h e e t , an d N at i o n a l C r i m e I n fo rm at i o n C e n t e r ra p s h e e t , s u

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c o nv i c t i o n s fo r v i o l e n t c r i m e s )
. Ap p e ll an t ' s i n i t i a l ar g um e n t th at h e w a s d e p r i v e d o f h i s c o n s t i t ut i o n a l r i g h t s b e c au s e h e w a s n o t g i v e n n o t i c e o f a p o s s i b l e " thr e e s tr i k e s " s e n t e n c e i n th e b i l l o f i n fo rm at i o n fa i l s a s th e s t at ut e cl e ar l y an d un e qu i v o c a ll y s t at e s th at fa i l ur e t o p ro v i d e n o t i c e s h a l l n o t r e n d e r th e o ff e n d e r i n e l i g i b l e t o b e s e n t e n c e d un d e r p ara g ra p h ( 2 )
. 

### S e e 4 2 P a . C. S
. § 9 7 1 4 ( a )
. M o r e o v e r , a s r e qu i r e d b y s t at ut e , th e C o mm o nw e a l th p ro v i d e d n o t i c e o f th e i r i n t e n t t o s e e k a m an d at o r y s e n t e n c e un d e r s e c t i o n 9 7 1 4 i n th e i r F e b r

u ary l 0 , 2 0 1 7 S e n t e n c i n g M e m o r an d um t o Ap p e ll an t an d th i s C o urt , p r i o r t o s e n t e n c i n g o n M ar c h 2 , 2 0 1 7 . F i n a ll y , Ap p e ll an t c o n t e n d s th at th e m an d at o ry l i f e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d o n h i m i s i ll e g a l i n l i g h t
o f Ap p r e n d i [ v . N e w J e r s e y , 5 3 0 U . S
. 4 6 6 , 4 9 0 , 1 2 0 S
. C t. 2 3 4 8 , 2 3 6 2
- 6 3 , 1 4 7 L . E d
. 2 d 4 3 5 ( 2 0 0 0 ) ) l i n e o f c a s e s . T h i s ar g um e nt a l s o fa i l s a s Ap p r e n d i an d i t s p ro g e ny , a ll e x cl u d e p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n s fr o m w h at i s r e qu i r e d t o b e s ub m i tt e d t o th e j ury w h e n s e e k i n g t o i n c r e a s e a s e n t e n c e . I n Ap p r e n d i , s u

p ra . , th e U n i t e d S t at e s S u p r e m e C o urt , h e l d th at " O th e r th an th e fa c t o f a p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n , any fa c t th at i n c r e a s e s th e p e n a l ty fo r a c r i m e b e y o n d th e p r e s c r i b e d s t at ut o ry
m ax i mum mu s t b e s u

b m i tt e d t o a j ury , an d p ro v e d b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t . [ e mp h a s i s a d d e d ] W i th th at e x c e p t i o n , th e C o urt e n d o r s e th e s tat e m e n t o f th e ru l e s e t fo rth i n th e c o n c urr i n g o p i n i o n s i n th at c a s e : " [ I ) t i s un c o n s t i t ut i o n a l fo r a l e g i s l at

ur e t o r e m o v e fr o m th e j ur y th e a s s e s s m e n t o ffa c t s th at i n c r e a s e th e p r e s c r i b e d r an g e o f p e n a l t i e s t o w h i c h a c r i m i n a l d e f e n d an t i s e xp o s e d
. I t i s e qu a ll y 1 8cl e ar th at s u c h fa c t s mu s t b e e s t ab l i s h e d b y p ro o f b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t. " 5 2 6 

### U
. S
. , at 2 5 2
- 2 5 3 , 1 1 9 S
. C t. 1 2 1 5 ( o p i n i o n o f S T E V EN S , J . ) ; s e e a l s o i d.
. at 2 5 3 , I 1 9 S
. C t. 1 2 1 5 ( o p i n i o n o f S C A LI A , J . )
. Ap p r e n d i v . N e w J e r s e y , 5 3 0 U . S
. 4 6 6 , 4 9 0 , 1 2 0 S
. C t. 2 3 4 8 , 2 3 6 2 -6 3 , 1 4 7 L. E d
. 2 d 4 3 5 ( 2 0 0 0 )
. T h e Ap p e l l at e C o urt s h av e c o n t i nu o u s l y h e l d th at p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n s ar e n o t fa c t s th at n e e d t o b e s u b m i tt e d t o a j ury an d p ro v e n b e y o n d r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t i n s e n t e n c i n g . 

### S

e e A ll e yn e v . U n i t e d S t at e s , 1 3 3 S
. Ct
. 2 1 5 1 , 2 1 6 0 n . l ( 2 0 1 3 )
. 

### S e e a l s o , C o mm o nw e a lth v . R e i d , 1 1 7 A .3 d 7 77 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 5 )
. I n A ll e yn e , th e S u p r e m e C o urt o f th e U n i t e d S t at e s h e l d th at th e S i x th A m e n dm e n t r e qu i r e s th at any fa c t--o t

h e r t h a n a p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n - th a t i n c r e a s e s a m an d at o r y m i n i mum s e n t e n c e fo r an o ff e n s e mu s t b e s u

b m i tt e d co th e j ury an d p ro v e n b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t. I mp o rt an t l y , A ll e yn e d i d n o t o v e rt

urn p r i o r p r e c e d e n t th at p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n s ar e s e n t e n c i n g fa c t o r s an d n o t c l e m e n t s o f
o ff e n s e s . A l l e yn e , 1 3 3 S
. Ct
. at 2 1 6 0 n . I ; s e e a l s o A l e m e n d ar c z - T o r

r c s v . U n i t e d S t at e s , 5 2 3 U . S
. 2 2 4 , 2 4 3 -4 4 , 1 1 8 S
. Ct
. 1 2 1 9 , 1 2 3 0- 3 1 , 1 4 0 L. E d
. 2 d 3 5 0 ( 1 9 9 8 )
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e S u p e r i o r C o urt h a s r e c o g n i z e d th at A ll e yn e d o e s n o t i nv a l i d at e m an d at o ry m i n i mum s e n t e n c i n g s t atut e s th at p e rt a i n t o a d e f e n d an t ' s p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n s . S e e C o mm o nw e a lth v . W at l e v , 8 1 J\. 3 d I 0 8 , 1 1 7 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 1 3 )
. S e c t i o n 9 7 1 4 i n c r e a s e s m an d at o ry m i n i mum s e n t e n c e s b a s e d o n p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n s . 

### S e e 4 2 P a . C. S
. § 9 7 1 4 ( a ) ( I )
. A c c o r d i n g l y , th i s s e c t i o n i s n o t un c o n s t i t ut i o n a l un d e r A ll e yn e . S e e A l l e yn e . s u p ra ; s e e a l

s o C o mm o nw e a l th v . A k b ar , 9 1 A
. J d 2 2 7 , 2 3 9 n . 9 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 1 4 ) , a

p p e a l g ra nte d 

### a n d o rd e r v a c a te d o n o t

h e r g ro u n d s, - P a . - - , 1 1 1 A .3 d 1 6 8 ( 2 0 I 5 )
. I n s um , Ap p e l l an t ' s ar g um e n t s fa i l e d t o d e m o n s trat e th at h e i s s e rv i n g an i ll e g a l s e n t e n c e .

1 9I V . C O N C L U S I O N



### I n s umm ary , th i s C o urt h a s c ar e fu l l y r e v i ew e d t h e 

### e nt i r e r e c o rd 

### an d fo u n d 

### n o h arm fu l , p r e j u d ici a l , o r r e ve r s i b l e e r

r o r an d n o th i n g "t o



### j u s t i f y t h eg ra n tin g 

### o f

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_ u � s . t f o r r el i e f i n th i s c a s e , F o r th e r e a s o n s , s e f f o rth a b o v e , . . Ap p e l l an t 's j u d g rn en t o f s e n t e n c es h o u l d b e a ffi rm e d ,

2 0

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