Court Opinion

ID: 4289504
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-28 18:51:16.625226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:53.464406
License: Public Domain

J-S29025-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                 :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
  BRANDON GARLAND                              :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 2992 EDA 2017

          Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence August 11, 2017
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-CR-0002646-2016,
            CP-51-CR-0004724-2015, CP-51-CR-0004943-2015

BEFORE:      PANELLA, J., MURRAY, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.:                                 FILED JUNE 28, 2018

       Brandon Garland (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence

imposed after a jury convicted him of firearms offenses at CP-51-CR-0002646-

2016 (2016 case), as well as the judgment of sentence entered following the

revocation of his probation at CP-51-CR-0004724-2015 and CP-51-CR-

0004943-2015 (collectively, 2015 case). We affirm.

       In the 2015 case, Appellant entered negotiated guilty pleas on October

27, 2015, to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled

substance (PWID) and one count of conspiracy to commit PWID. On the same

day, he was sentenced to three years’ probation on each count, all to run

____________________________________________

* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
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concurrently.

        Then, eighteen days after the trial court sentenced him on the 2015

case:

        On November 14, 2015, at about 11:00 a.m., Appellant went to
        the area of D and Indiana Streets in Philadelphia and fired
        numerous shots at a group of men standing there. Bullets hit Luis
        Rivera and Kevin Murphy, injuring them. Police investigation
        revealed that Appellant was hired to shoot up the block by a drug
        gang, the members of which were rivals of drug dealers at the
        above location in retaliation for a shooting that occurred a couple
        of days [earlier].

Trial Court Opinion, 11/30/17, at 2. Appellant fled in a car and was arrested

approximately one hour later. Id. at 3. Testing of his clothing revealed the

presence of gunshot residue. Appellant was charged, in the 2016 case, with

two counts each of attempted murder and aggravated assault, and one count

each of possession of an instrument of crime (PIC) and various offenses under

the Violations of the Firearms Act.

        The 2016 case proceeded to a jury trial on April 24, 2017. According to

Appellant, the Commonwealth called Rivera and Murphy, the two men injured

in the shooting, as well as another man, Jangdhari; all three men testified that

they were involved in drug sales and were currently incarcerated.1 Appellant’s

____________________________________________

1 Neither the trial transcript nor the sentencing hearing transcript is included
in the certified record. We remind Appellant “that the responsibility rests upon
the appellant to ensure that the record certified on appeal is complete [and]
contains all of the materials necessary for the reviewing court to perform its
duty.” See Commonwealth v. Bongiorno, 905 A.2d 998, 1000 (Pa. Super.

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Brief at 25. Rivera and Jangdhari identified Appellant as the shooter, although

— according to Appellant — their trial “testimony was significantly different

than their initial statements to police.”        Id.   Furthermore, an “eyewitness

testified that a black male fired a number of shots, [then] jumped in the

passenger side of a waiting gold sedan which immediately sped off.”             Id.

However, the eyewitness could not identify the shooter.           Id.   Philadelphia

Police Officer Sutherland testified that while he was on patrol, he “saw a gold

sedan fleeing the location of the shooting within a minute or so,” but Appellant

was the driver and not a passenger. Id. at 25-26.

        The jury found Appellant guilty of only firearms not to be carried without

a license and carrying firearms on public streets in Philadelphia.2 Appellant

thereafter pleaded guilty to persons not to possess firearms.3 Notably, the

jury found him not guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and PIC.

        On August 11, 2017, the trial court, after reviewing Appellant’s pre-

sentence report, conducted both sentencing in the 2016 case and a violation

of probation hearing in the 2015 case.4           In the 2016 case, it imposed a

____________________________________________

2006). Nevertheless, because we may address Appellant’s claims on the basis
of the trial court’s opinion, we decline to find waiver.

2   18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6106(a), 6108.

3   18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(a).

4The probationary sentences in the 2015 case were imposed by the Honorable
Susan Schulman. At Appellant’s request, the hearing on the violation of that

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sentence of 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment for persons not to possess firearms.

The court also imposed terms of 2½ to 5 years on each of the two other

firearms offenses, to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to the

5-to-10-years term. Additionally, the court found that Appellant violated his

probation in the 2015 case (by incurring the new convictions) and revoked his

probation. The court then imposed terms of 7½ to 15 years’ imprisonment

each for his PWID and conspiracy convictions, to run consecutive to each other

and to the persons not to possess firearms sentence. Appellant’s aggregate

sentence was thus 22½ to 45 years’ imprisonment. In its opinion, the trial

court cited Appellant’s conduct in the shooting, including the fact that the

shooting occurred a mere 18 days after Appellant was sentenced to probation.

Trial Court Opinion, 11/30/17, at 4-5.

       Appellant filed timely post-sentence motions in both cases, arguing that

the sentences were unduly harsh and excessive. The trial court denied the

motions without a hearing, and Appellant took this timely appeal. 5

____________________________________________

probation was transferred to the Honorable Daniel D. McCaffery, who was
presiding over the 2016 case.

5 The trial court issued Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) orders in both cases. While the
captions properly identified Appellant, the text of the orders directed another
person, “Nelson Rodriguez,” to file Rule 1925(b) statements. Nevertheless,
Appellant duly filed Rule 1925(b) statements within the time prescribed by the
court. On appeal, the Commonwealth argues that Appellant has waived the
discrete argument — that the trial court relied on improper factors in
sentencing — for failure to include it in his Rule 1925(b) statements.
Commonwealth’s Brief at 4. We decline to apply the waiver rule so strictly
against Appellant.

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      Appellant presents the following issues for our review:

      Is the sentence imposed [in the 2016 case] unduly harsh,
      excessive and unreasonable under the circumstances where the
      sentencing court failed to take into account all relevant and
      necessary factors to be considered by a sentencing court, and/or
      based the sentence upon factors or evidence which should not be
      relied upon by a sentencing court, and confinement in a state
      correctional facility for the term imposed is not the least restrictive
      sentence necessary to effectuate the aims of . . . Pennsylvania’s
      sentencing laws?

      Is the sentence imposed for a violation of probation — on the
      charge of [PWID in the 2015 case] — unduly harsh, excessive and
      unreasonable under the circumstances where the sentencing court
      failed to take into account all relevant and necessary factors to be
      considered by a sentencing court, and/or based the sentence upon
      factors or evidence which should not be relied upon by a
      sentencing court, and confinement in a state correctional facility
      for the term imposed is not the least restrictive sentence
      necessary to effectuate the aims of . . . Pennsylvania’s sentencing
      laws?

Appellant’s Brief at 5.

      We address Appellant’s sentencing claims together.          Appellant avers

that the trial court erred in imposing aggravated-range sentences and running

them consecutively on an improper basis — consideration of the alleged

crimes of which he was acquitted. Id. at 16, 27. Appellant contends that

where the jury “[a]pparently credit[ed] the testimony of the [eyewitness] and

police officer over that of Rivera and Jangdhari,” the trial court committed

reversible error in finding, contrary to the jury’s verdict, that Appellant in fact

committed the shooting, and then based its sentence on this finding. Id. at

26-27. Appellant maintains that “when a defendant has been exonerated . .

. with respect to a criminal act, that act cannot be used to enhance a

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sentence,” and that a sentencing court’s consideration of evidence of crimes

of which defendant was acquitted was reversible error. Appellant’s Brief at

21, 27, citing Commonwealth v. P.L.S., 894 A.2d 120, 130 (Pa. Super.

2006); Commonwealth v. Smithton, 631 A.2d 1053, 1054 (Pa. Super.

1993). Furthermore, Appellant asserts that the trial court failed to address

his rehabilitative needs, and the imposition of a 45-year sentence to a 27

year-old is clearly unreasonable. Appellant further points out that he received

the maximum sentence permissible for PWID. He concludes that the sentence

is contrary to the fundamental norms underlying the sentencing process and

is inconsistent with the Sentencing Code.

      Preliminarily, we must determine whether Appellant’s claims are

properly before this Court. “An appellant who challenges the discretionary

aspects of a sentence in a criminal matter shall[, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.

2119(f),] set forth in his brief a concise statement of the reasons relied upon

for allowance of appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects of a

sentence.” Commonwealth v. Archer, 722 A.2d 203, 211 (Pa. Super. 1998)

(en banc).    “Any discretionary claims must [also] present a substantial

question that the sentence imposed is not appropriate under the Sentencing

Code.” Id. at 209.

      Here, Appellant has included a Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement in his brief,

and his discrete arguments raise substantial questions. See Commonwealth

v. Dodge, 77 A.3d 1263, 1273 (Pa. Super. 2013) (claims that a sentencing

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court relied on impermissible sentencing factors, and that the consecutive

nature of sentences raises the aggregate sentence to an excessive level in

light of the criminal conduct, raise substantial questions). We thus proceed

to examine the merits of Appellant’s sentencing challenges. See Archer, 722

A.2d at 209, 211.

      We note:

      The standard of appellate review of discretionary aspects of
      sentencing is an abuse of discretion. “Discretion is abused when
      the course pursued [by the trial court] represents not merely an
      error of judgment, but where the judgment is manifestly
      unreasonable or where the law is not applied or where the record
      shows that the action is a result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill
      will.”

Id. at 211 (citations omitted).       Likewise, “[t]he imposition of sentence

following the revocation of probation is vested within the sound discretion of

the trial court.” Commonwealth v. Colon, 102 A.3d 1033, 1043 (Pa. Super.

2014) (citation omitted). “Upon revoking probation, a sentencing court may

choose from any of the sentencing options that existed at the time of the

original sentencing, including incarceration[,] 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9771(b),” and

the court “is limited only by the maximum sentence that it could have imposed

originally at the time of the probationary sentence.”              Id. at 1044.

Furthermore, “where the trial court is informed by a pre-sentence report, it is

presumed that the court is aware of all appropriate sentencing factors and

considerations.”    Commonwealth v. Downing, 990 A.2d 788, 794 (Pa.

Super. 2010).

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     We find instructive the decision in Commonwealth v. Tisdale, 334

A.2d 722 (Pa. Super. 1975) (en banc), abrogated on other grounds,

Commonwealth v. Kelly, 78 A.3d 1136, 1145 n.8 (Pa. Super. 2013). In

that case, the defendant Tisdale was charged with, inter alia, murder,

manslaughter, and firearms violations. Id. at 723. Following a non-jury trial,

the trial court granted Tisdale’s motion for a directed verdict on the murder

and manslaughter charge, but found him guilty of two firearms possessions

charges.   Id.   After announcing the sentence, the trial court, which had

reviewed a pre-sentence report, stated: “I know under the law there were

findings made by the Court.    But I am convinced that [Tisdale] was very

responsible for the death of that man. Very well. That is it.” Id.

     On appeal, Tisdale argued that in fashioning a sentence, the trial court

abused its discretion by considering evidence of another crime for which he

was acquitted. Id. at 724. This Court stated:

     “[T]he trial judge has broad discretion in imposing sentence.[” In
     Commonwealth v. Shoemaker, 313 A.2d 342 (Pa. Super.
     1973)], our Court held that a sentencing court could consider as
     “prior criminal record” the arrests of the defendant, whatever
     the outcome, that took place prior to the day of sentencing.
     However, the Court cautioned sentencing judges that a reference
     to an arrest may not be ambiguous, i.e., it may not be mistaken
     for a conviction. Therefore, our Court placed upon the sentencing
     judge the requisite of using sound judgment in making use of the
     reference. . . .

        The federal courts have similarly granted the sentencing judge
     broad discretion in imposing sentence. They have held that a
     sentencing judge may consider evidence of other crimes of which
     defendant has been tried and acquitted or for which he had never
     even been tried. United States v. Atkins, 480 F.2d 1223 (9th

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      Cir. 1973); United States v. Sweig, 454 F.2d 181 (2d Cir. 1972).

Tisdale, 334 A.2d at 724 (some citations omitted) (emphasis in original).

Applying these principles, this Court found no abuse of discretion, reasoning

that the trial court was aware that Tisdale “was not convicted of that murder

and only weighed such evidence along with other considerations (prior arrests,

possibility of employment, and family life) in determining the proper

sentence.” Id.

      Additionally, we note that in Commonwealth v. Archer, 722 A.2d 203

(Pa. Super. 1998) (en banc), the defendant Archer and four co-defendants

had a sawed-off rifle and agreed to rob someone.           Id. at 205.      They

approached their victim on the street, and while one of the co-defendants

pointed the gun at the victim, Archer and two of the men beat and kicked the

victim. Id. at 205, 207. As the group walked away, yet another co-defendant,

Taylor, shot the victim, killing him. Id. Following trial, the jury found Archer

guilty of, inter alia, robbery and conspiracy, but found him not guilty of

murder. Id. On appeal to this Court, Archer asserted that “because he was

acquitted of murder, the gunshot that killed the [victim] cannot be

considered,” and thus argued that the trial court applied an incorrect offense

gravity score when it sentenced him. Id. at 208. This Court denied relief,

holding that the trial court properly considered the death of the victim:

      The shooting was part of a continuous course of conduct in
      furtherance of the criminal conspiracy. As such, [Archer] is
      chargeable for the acts of his co-conspirators. Even though
      [Archer] was acquitted of murder, the injuries resulting from the

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      shooting are attributable to [Archer] as well as all other co-
      conspirators regardless of who fired the gun. [Archer] should not
      benefit from an inconsistent verdict. “When an acquittal on one
      count in an indictment is inconsistent with a conviction on a
      second count, the court looks upon [the] acquittal as no more than
      the jury's assumption of a power which they had no right to
      exercise, but to which they were disposed through lenity.” We
      find that the court was correct in finding a gravity score of 11, for
      regardless of the injuries sustained from the assault, the death
      resulting from the gunshot should have been considered as well.

Id. at 212 (citations omitted).

      In this case, the trial court reiterated in its opinion that it had reviewed

Appellant’s presentence report, his personal history, and the effect of his

crimes on the community.       Trial Court Opinion, 11/30/17, at 4.       It also

recognized that the jury found Appellant not guilty of two counts of attempted

murder and aggravated assault. Id. at 1 n.1. The court then explained its

reasons for Appellant’s sentence:

      The facts of the instant matter showed that [Appellant] committed
      the crimes he was convicted of committing eighteen days after
      being placed on probation in two PWID cases and that he ignored
      the law against felons possessing guns, and armed himself with a
      firearm with an extended clip. He then used that gun to shoot up
      a city block in the middle of the day for money, putting anyone
      present at risk of death. His disregard for the members of that
      community warranted the sentences this Court imposed on him.
      Also, by committing the crimes herein so soon after being placed
      on probation for drug dealing, a crime which itself fosters violence
      and community breakdown, as the instant case demonstrates,
      Appellant showed that he was not amenable to rehabilitation and
      that he represented a threat to law-biding citizens. Appellant’s
      actions showed that has a complete disregard for the law and the
      citizens of Philadelphia, making it imperative for the safely of the
      community that he receive a lengthy sentence.

Id. at 4-5. In a separate discussion on the consecutive nature of Appellant’s

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sentences, the trial court cited these same factors and “the seriousness of his

acts.” Id. at 6. It opined: “There is nothing on the record to suggest that

Appellant was entitled to a ‘volume discount’ for his crimes by having the

sentences for those separate crimes run concurrently, given his complete

disregard for the safety of the community and his commission of a crime of

violence so soon after being placed on probation.” Id.

      In light of Tisdale, Archer, the trial court’s review of Appellant’s pre-

sentence report and its recognition that Appellant was found not guilty of

attempted murder and aggravated assault, we hold that the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in considering the facts of the shooting.     As Appellant

acknowledges, at trial, two witnesses who were present among the group at

D and Indiana Streets identified Appellant as the shooter. The jury’s verdict

that Appellant was not guilty of the offenses of attempted murder and

aggravated assault is not, in itself, necessarily a finding that he did not shoot

at the crowd, and Appellant “should not benefit from an inconsistent verdict.”

See Archer, 722 A.2d at 212. It was within the trial court’s broad discretion

to consider the entire context of the shooting, even though Appellant was

found not guilty of attempted murder and aggravated assault. See Colon,

102 A.3d at 1043; Archer, 722 A.2d at 212; Tisdale, 334 A.2d at 724.

Furthermore, the trial court provided additional reasons for its sentence: that

Appellant committed this offense a mere 18 days after being placed on

probation for two counts of PWID, that his earlier PWID and conspiracy

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convictions stemmed from drug sales, and that the shooting was related to

violent conflicts between rival drug sellers. Having concluded that the court

did not abuse its discretion, we affirm the judgments of sentence in both the

2015 and 2016 cases.

     Judgments of sentence affirmed.

     Judge Panella concurs in the result.

     P.J.E. Stevens files dissenting memorandum.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/28/18

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