Opinion ID: 4360924
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Post-Sentence Motions and Pa.R.A.P. 1925

Text: 5 During the penalty phase, the Commonwealth introduced evidence that, as a juvenile, Clemons had been adjudicated delinquent for aggravated assault, and, that, as an adult, he had pleaded guilty in two separate robberies. N.T., Vol. VI, 5/12/2015, at 2432. 6 The jury rejected the following proposed mitigating factors: (1) that Clemons was under the influence of extreme emotional or mental disturbance; (2) that Clemons’ capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the law was substantially impaired; (3) Clemons’ age at the time of the crime; (4) Clemons’ family and extended familial relationships; (5) Clemons’ brain injury and cognitive functioning; and (6) Clemons’ loss of his brother in 2001. N.T., Vol. VIII, 5/14/2015, at 83-84. [J-16-2018] - 25 On May 22, 2015, Clemons filed timely post-sentence motions. Clemons also sought an extension of ten days to amend the motions, which the trial court granted. On May 29, 2015, Clemons filed his amended post-sentence motions. Therein, Clemons raised a multitude of issues, only some of which are material to this direct appeal. Clemons maintained that: (1) the Commonwealth’s evidence was insufficient to prove him guilty of first-degree murder; (2) the verdict was against the weight of the evidence; and (3) the trial court erred by (a) denying his motion for a change of venue; (b) admitting into evidence photographs depicting the injuries sustained by Kunco that prompted her to obtain the PFA; and (c) rejecting Clemons’ request for a voluntary intoxication jury instruction. On April 17, 2017, following numerous delays and extensions in order to allow the parties to file briefs and to conduct an evidentiary hearing on an issue that no longer is part of this case, Judge Gilman denied Clemons’ post-sentence motions by order and opinion.7 On May 4, 2017, Clemons filed a notice of appeal. The trial court did not direct Clemons to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and he did not file one. On July 25, 2017, the court issued a statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) in which it adopted its April 17, 2017 opinion issued in 7 Typically, post-sentence motions must be decided by a trial court within one hundred and twenty days (or within one hundred and fifty days if the defendant seeks, and is granted, a thirty-day extension pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(b)). If the court takes no action within that time period, the motions automatically are deemed denied by operation of law. Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(a). However, Pa.R.Crim.P. 811 exempts postsentence motions filed after the imposition of a death sentence from Rule 720’s time parameters. Rule 811 counsels trial courts to decide such motions “promptly” but specifically prohibits automatic denials by operation of law in capital cases. In this case, the Washington County Clerk of Courts initially entered an order denying Clemons’ post-sentence motions by operation of law. However, on December 14, 2015, the Clerk of Courts vacated that order pursuant to Rule 811. [J-16-2018] - 26 support of its denial of Clemons’ post-sentence motions as its opinion for purposes of Rule 1925(a).