Case Name: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Joseph YOUNG, Appellant
Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1978-07-12
Citations: 256 Pa. Super. 392
Docket Number: No. 2218
Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Joseph YOUNG, Appellant.
Judges: Before WATKINS, President Judge, and JACOBS, HOFFMAN, CERCONE, PRICE, VAN der VOORT and SPAETH, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports
Volume: 256
Pages: 392–397

Head Matter:
389 A.2d 1180
COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Joseph YOUNG, Appellant.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Submitted March 30, 1977.
Decided July 12, 1978.
John W. Packel, Assistant Public Defender, and Benjamin Lerner, Public Defender, Philadelphia, for appellant.
Steven H. Goldblatt and Deborah E. Glass, Assistant District Attorneys, and F. Emmett Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Philadelphia, for Com., appellee.
Before WATKINS, President Judge, and JACOBS, HOFFMAN, CERCONE, PRICE, VAN der VOORT and SPAETH, JJ.

Opinion:
PRICE, Judge:
On April 26, 1976, appellant was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault, one count of carrying a firearm on a public street and one count of possessing an instrument of crime. No post-trial motions were filed, and on July 13, 1976, appellant was sentenced as follows: Six to twelve years imprisonment on the aggravated assault conviction at No. 75 March Term, 1976, six to fifteen years imprisonment on the two other aggravated assault convictions at Nos. 76 and 77 March Term, 1976, and two to five years imprisonment on each of the two weapons offenses at Nos. 78 and 79 March Term, 1976. In this appeal it is contended that (1) the sentences on the aggravated assault convictions are illegal, (2) appellant was not advised of his post-verdict rights under Pa.R.Crim.P. 1123, and (3) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file post-verdict motions and failing to object to the illegal sentences. We find appellant's first two claims to be meritorious and do not reach the third.
Aggravated assault is an offense which constitutes under the indictments herein a felony of the second degree. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(b). The maximum term of imprisonment which may be imposed on a second degree felony conviction is ten years, 18 Pa.C.S. § 1103(2), and the minimum term cannot exceed half the maximum, 19 P.S. § 1057, or in this case five years. Claims based on sentences which are unlawful per se are not subject to waiver. Commonwealth v. Walker, 468 Pa. 323, 362 A.2d 227 (1976); Commonwealth v. Richardson, 238 Pa.Super. 410, 357 A.2d 671 (1976); Commonwealth v. Lane, 236 Pa.Super. 462, 345 A.2d 233 (1975). The sentences on appellant's aggravated assault convictions are patently illegal, exceeding the statutory limits as to both maximum and minimum, and cannot be allowed to stand.
Appellant also seeks relief on the basis of the trial court's failure to apprise him of his post-conviction rights. Pa.R.Crim.P. 1123(c) states:
Upon the finding of guilt, the trial judge shall advise the defendant on the record: (1) of his right to file post-verdict motions and of his right to the assistance of counsel in the filing of such motions and on appeal of any issues raised therein; (2) of the time within which he must do so as set forth in paragraph (a); and (3) that only the grounds contained in such motions may be raised on appeal.
None of this information was imparted to appellant following the verdict herein. The lower court's total failure to comply with Rule 1123(c) precludes a finding that appellant's failure to file post-trial motions was voluntary and understanding, as the law requires. Commonwealth v. Carter, 463 Pa. 310, 344 A.2d 846 (1975); Commonwealth v. Schroth, 458 Pa. 233, 328 A.2d 168 (1974). Appellant is thus entitled to file post-verdict motions nunc pro tunc. Commonwealth v. Cathey, 477 Pa. 446, 384 A.2d 589 (1978); Commonwealth v. Babb, 246 Pa.Super. 471, 371 A.2d 933 (1977); Commonwealth v. Miller, 232 Pa.Super. 171, 335 A.2d 528 (1975).
The other lower court proceeding included in this appeal, No. 1150 May Term, 1976, is appellant's guilty plea to a charge of escape. No claims are asserted as to this conviction or the sentence imposed thereon. The judgment of sentence at No. 1150 May Term, 1976, is, therefore, affirmed.
As to Nos. 75/79 March Term, 1976, the case is remanded for compliance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 1123. Should appellant's post-trial motions be denied, he must be resentenced on the convictions at Nos. 75, 76 and 77 in accordance with this opinion.
CERCONE, J., concurs in the result.
HOFFMAN, J., files a concurring and dissenting opinion in which VAN der VOORT, J., joins.
WATKINS, former President Judge, did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 6108.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 907.
. The Commonwealth has not favored us with a brief.
. Act of June 19, 1911, P.L. 1055, § 6 (19 P.S. § 1057) as amended.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5121.