Opinion ID: 1975439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bail Forfeiture

Text: The second issue presented requires this Court to consider whether after issuing an Order on September 4, 1986, revoking Appellee's bail, the trial court had the authority to amend that Order to require partial forfeiture of that bail to be applied towards fines, costs and fees and then order partial remission of the bail forfeiture. Appellant, the Commonwealth, argues that the Superior Court improperly characterized the action of the trial court as an abuse of discretion. The Commonwealth contends that the trial court had authority under Rule 4016 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure to forfeit the entire amount of the bail, if it so desires, when a breach of a condition of bail occurs. Additionally, it is argued that courts have been granted broad latitude to issue any and all appropriate orders in the interest of justice which may include amending existing orders. Furthermore, once the trial court ordered partial forfeiture of bail it is argued that it clearly has the authority to benefit Appellee by having part of the money credited to the debt of Appellee. Thus, Appellant sees nothing objectionable in the trial court's allowing the money forfeited to the county to be allowed in part to be credited to the Appellee's debt. Appellee, conversely, argues that the trial court was without authority to order bail forfeiture after having revoked bail and that the entire amount posted should have been returned to him upon his return to the jurisdiction as he was not truly responsible for breaching the conditions of bail due to his alleged psychological infirmities. The Superior Court concluded that once bail was revoked the monies posted no longer constituted bail and the trial court was without authority to subsequently order those monies forfeited. For the reasons that follow we conclude that the Superior Court erred in its holding and accordingly, we reverse. It has been repeatedly held by the courts of this Commonwealth that the decision to allow or deny a remission of bail forfeiture lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 368 Pa.Super. 170, 533 A.2d 770 (1987); Commonwealth v. Fleming, 336 Pa.Super. 377, 485 A.2d 1130 (1984); Commonwealth v. Nolan, 288 Pa.Super. 484, 432 A.2d 616 (1981). Pursuant to Rule 4016(A)(1)(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, the trial court has the authority to forfeit a bond if a breach of bail conditions occurs. [6] Thus, when Appellee failed to appear for either his hearing or psychological evaluation he breached the condition of his bail and the trial court had the authority to order the forfeiture of bail funds. Appellee argues however, that as a result of his flight the court did not order forfeiture per se but rather the trial court ordered that his bail be revoked and issued a bench warrant for Appellee's arrest. Accordingly, Appellee asserts that once his bail was revoked the money involved no longer possessed the character of bail and as such it was no longer eligible for forfeiture by the trial court. Bail has been long recognized as a procedure whereby an individual defendant provides a form of collateral in exchange for the defendant's release from custody; it secures his future appearance and other requirements of his bond. . . . Commonwealth v. McDonald, 476 Pa. 217, 221, 382 A.2d 124 (1978). See also Commonwealth v. Truesdale, 449 Pa. 325, 296 A.2d 829 (1972). The trial court has the authority to order forfeiture of bail upon the occurrence of a breach of condition of bail. Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 4016(A)(1)(a). However, Rule 4011 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure states:  [U]nless bail is revoked, the bond shall be valid until full and final disposition of the case. . . . Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 4011 (emphasis added). Thus, Appellee argues that the language of Rule 4011 mandates that once revocation occurs the existence of the bond terminates. Accordingly, since Appellee's bail was revoked by Order of September 4, 1986, it is claimed that the money was no longer bail under Rule 4011, and without an express declaration of forfeiture per se in the original Order, in accordance with Rule 4016(A)(1)(a), the subsequent forfeiture was beyond the authority of the trial court and therefore invalid. In support of this conclusion, Appellee cites Commonwealth v. McDonald, 476 Pa. 217, 382 A.2d 124 (1978), which was relied upon by the Superior Court below. In McDonald, the defendant was arrested on criminal charges and posted bail. Id. at 219, 382 A.2d at 125. Before a final disposition of that case occurred, defendant was convicted on an unrelated federal charge and committed to federal prison. Id. In holding that the defendant was entitled to receive his initial bail refunded to him, then-Chief Justice Eagen wrote: Rule 4015(b) authorizes the retention of a sum of money if it constitutes bail. Bail is given for the release of a person. Since bail was, in effect, revoked, by the incarceration of McDonald and the release of the surety, the money no longer constituted bail. Accordingly, the court no longer had the authority under Rule 4015(b) to retain the cash deposit until full and final disposition of the case. Our conclusion is further supported by Rule 4011 which clearly indicates that revocation of bail invalidates a bond. Id. at 222, 382 A.2d at 126 (emphasis added) (quoting Rule 4011). While we approve of the rationale and result of McDonald in that case, we believe its facts are sufficiently distinguishable from the instant matter, to find that it is not controlling. While the defendant in McDonald breached his condition of bail by failing to appear, he was technically not a fugitive. Rather than being an escaped prisoner, he was in the custody of federal prison authorities in Indiana. Thus, the Commonwealth filed a detainer with the federal authorities which allowed McDonald to be removed to a prison in the Commonwealth pending his new trial on the Pennsylvania charges. As such, bail was no longer necessary as the defendant in McDonald no longer had the freedom from custody which the money was deposited to secure, and no purpose was to be served by withholding the funds from the defendant. Id. The incarceration was properly held to be an implied revocation of bail and thus, since the money no longer possessed the characteristic of bail, those funds involved were due the defendant. In the matter sub judice, no such mitigating factors are present. Rather, Appellee fled the jurisdiction in blatant disregard of obligations agreed to and required in exchange for his release from custody. Thus, pursuant to Rule 4016(A)(1)(a), forfeiture was an authorized, constructive and appropriate sanction. While the court initially issued an order revoking bail which operates to invalidate a bond, this initially operated as a benefit to the Appellee while the bench warrants were issued for his arrest, as he could have suffered a total and immediate forfeiture. Thus, the subsequent corrective order at issue herein, requiring partial forfeiture and subsequently remitting that forfeiture, was extremely lenient and generous to Appellee. [7] Such is an appropriate consequence to one who flees in violation of their bail, and because Appellee was not prevented from appearing by virtue of some official intervention as was the defendant in McDonald, its rationale is inapplicable for our purposes here. Irrespective of whether the order of revocation was the product of leniency or administrative error, we conclude that the trial court has inherent powers to enact such measures to effectuate the administration of justice. Specifically, Section 323 of the Judicial Code states: Every court shall have power to issue, under its judicial seal, every lawful writ and process necessary or suitable for the exercise of its jurisdiction and for the enforcement of any order which it may make and all legal and equitable powers required for or incidental to the exercise of its jurisdiction, and, except as otherwise prescribed by general rules, every court shall have power to make such rules and orders of court as the interest of justice or the business of the court may require. 42 Pa.C.S. § 323 (emphasis added). The Superior Court, in its opinion reversing the trial court apparently recognized these broad powers which operate to effectuate the orderly administration of justice, including the authority to amend an existing Order or issue a new Order pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 323. The Superior Court in substituting its own judgment for that of the trial court stated: We fail to see that the interests of justice require enforcement of a bail forfeiture. . . . Commonwealth v. Chopak, No. 706 Harrisburg, 1987, slip op. at 11 (Pa.Superior Court, November 1, 1988) [385 Pa.Super. 646, 555 A.2d 242 (table)] (emphasis added). That statement implicitly recognizes that to promote the interests of justice, bail forfeiture would be an available remedy pursuant to an amended order, given the right reasons. The Superior Court erred, however, in rejecting the reasons given by the trial court and by substituting its own opinion that Appellee's alleged mental impairment was sufficient to shield him from suffering the consequences of his action. We expressly rejected that rationale in resolving the first issue presented herein. The Appellee, regardless of his reasons, had a duty to appear and deliberately failed to do so. Once captured and returned, the trial court in its capacity as fact finder, thoroughly considered Appellee's proffered excuse of mental illness and promptly rejected its consideration as a mitigating factor. In reversing the trial court, the Superior Court failed to give the trial court's determination of credibility due deference and improperly substituted its judgment for that of the trial court. Accordingly, the Order of the Superior Court is reversed. LARSEN, J., files a joining concurring opinion. ZAPPALA, J., dissents.