Court Opinion

ID: 9939665
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-12 13:09:42.512835+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:41:45.919202
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Jesse Collier,                        :
                           Petitioner : No. 584 C.D. 2022
                                      : Submitted: May 19, 2023
            v.                        :
                                      :
Pennsylvania Parole Board,            :
                          Respondent :

BEFORE:        HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
               HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
               HONORABLE STACY WALLACE, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE WALLACE                                                FILED: February 8, 2024

       Jesse Collier (Collier) petitions for our review of the Pennsylvania Parole
Board’s (Board) order mailed May 10, 2022, and its addendum mailed July 14, 2022
(collectively, the Order),1 which affirmed its prior decision and recommitted Collier
as a convicted parole violator (CPV), denied him credit for time spent at liberty on

1
  The Board’s May 10, 2022 order contained numerous factual errors and affirmed a non-existent
decision. On July 14, 2022, the Board mailed Collier an addendum which corrected these mistakes
and affirmed its decision mailed July 23, 2021. Under Rule 1701(b)(1) of the Pennsylvania Rules
of Appellate Procedure, a Commonwealth agency may “[t]ake such action as may be necessary to
. . . correct formal errors in papers relating to the matter . . ., and take other action permitted or
required by these rules or otherwise ancillary to the appeal or petition for review proceeding.”
Pa.R.A.P. 1701(b)(1). Accordingly, the Board was permitted to modify its order. Collier also
filed an amended petition for review which acknowledges the July 14, 2022 decision. See
Amended Petition for Review ¶¶ 4, 6.
parole (street time), and recalculated the aggregate range of his sentence.
Furthermore, Collier’s appointed counsel, Jessica A. Fiscus, Esq. (Counsel), filed an
Application to Withdraw Appearance (Application to Withdraw). After careful
review, we grant Counsel’s Application to Withdraw and affirm the Order.
                           I. Factual and Procedural History
       Collier is in the custody of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
(Department) at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Albion. Certified Record
(C.R.) at 139.2 In 2013, Collier pled guilty to (i) two charges of theft in Jefferson
County and (ii) one drug-related charge in Clarion County. Id. at 1. The Court of
Common Pleas of Jefferson County (Jefferson County) sentenced him to an
aggregate term of 8 to 21 years’ imprisonment (the original term), and the Court of
Common Pleas of Clarion County (Clarion County) sentenced him to a concurrent
term of 1 year and 6 months to 3 years’ imprisonment. Id. The Department
established Collier’s controlling minimum sentence date (Minimum Sentence) as
April 5, 2019, and his controlling maximum sentence date (Maximum Sentence) as
April 5, 2032. Id. at 2-3. The Board paroled and released Collier to an approved
residence in August 2019. Id. at 7-13.
       On December 4, 2019, the Board declared Collier delinquent for violating the
terms of his parole and issued a Warrant to Commit and Detain. C.R. at 14-16.
Reynoldsville Borough Police (Reynoldsville Police) detained Collier on December
6, 2019. Id. at 17, 22-27. The following day, Reynoldsville Police charged Collier

2
  We note the absence of a Reproduced Record. Petitioners are generally required to reproduce
the record; however, Rule 2151(b) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure waives this
requirement if the petitioner is permitted to proceed in forma pauperis. Pa.R.A.P. 2151(b). This
Court granted Collier’s in forma pauperis application on September 7, 2022. Order Granting
Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, Collier v. Pa. Parole Bd. (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 584 C.D.
2022, filed Sept. 7, 2022). Therefore, Collier was not required to reproduce the record.

                                               2
with new criminal offenses3 and transported him to the Jefferson County jail where
he did not post bail. Id. at 17, 28-31. Collier waived his right to a detention hearing
and his right to legal representation. Id. at 19-21. As a result, Collier remained at
Jefferson County jail pending the disposition of these new charges. Id. at 32-37.
       On January 20, 2021, Collier pled guilty to 3 counts of burglary, and Jefferson
County sentenced him to a consecutive term of 3 to 10 years’ imprisonment (the new
term) and awarded him a time-served credit of 411 days on the new term. C.R. at
38, 43, 56, 110. Collier also pled guilty to one count of burglary and to one count
of theft (graded as a third-degree felony) on May 3, 2021, and Clarion County
sentenced Collier to a concurrent term of 2 to 4 years’ incarceration and a
consecutive 3-year term of probation. Id. 46-47, 65-79. Additionally, both Jefferson
County and Clarion County recommended Collier for admission to the state drug
treatment program (SDTP).4 Id. at 56, 64, 78, 85.
       After conducting a parole revocation hearing, see C.R. at 40-41, a hearing
examiner proposed that Collier serve a term of backtime5 and receive no credit for
street time. Id. at 86-93. The Board adopted these recommendations, and, by
decision mailed July 23, 2021, recommitted Collier to serve 24 months’ backtime at
an SCI as a CPV, awarded him a backtime credit of one day,6 declined to award him

3
  The Pennsylvania State Police filed additional criminal charges against Collier. C.R. at 44-49;
58-85.
4
  See 61 Pa.C.S. §§ 4101-08.
5
  Backtime is “part of an existing judicially-imposed sentence which the Board directs a parolee
to complete following a finding after a civil administrative hearing that the parolee violated the
terms and conditions of parole, which time must be served before the parolee may again be eligible
to be considered for a grant of parole.” Krantz v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 483 A.2d 1044, 1047
(Pa. Cmwlth. 1984); see also 37 Pa. Code § 61.1.
6
  Collier’s total backtime owed equaled 4,614 days (12 years, 7 months, and 18 days). C.R. at
142-43, 162.

                                                3
credit for street time, recalculated his Minimum Sentence as June 9, 2023, and
recalculated his Maximum Sentence as January 27, 2034. Id. at 140-45.
       Collier subsequently filed an Administrative Remedies Form and sent the
Board multiple handwritten letters, challenging its decisions. C.R. at 146-57. The
Board mailed Collier the Order in response which affirmed its decision mailed July
23, 2021. Id. at 158-59, 161-62. On appeal, Collier asks us to reverse the Order.
                               II. Application to Withdraw
       As an initial matter, we shall address Counsel’s Application to Withdraw.
Where a petitioner seeks our review of a decision of the Board, is represented by
counsel and counsel believes the petitioner’s case lacks merit, this Court may permit
counsel to withdraw from the representation if, after conducting our own
independent review of the issues raised, we determine the petitioner’s arguments are,
in fact, meritless. Zerby v. Shanon, 964 A.2d 956, 960-61 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009)
(relying on Commonwealth v. Turner, 544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988)). However, to
properly withdraw, counsel must first submit a Turner letter7 which “detail[s] the
nature and extent of his [or her] review and list[s] each issue the petitioner wished
to have raised, with counsel's explanation of why those issues [are] meritless[.]”
Turner, 544 A.2d at 928.
       Here, Counsel’s Turner letter (Turner Letter) recites the relevant factual and
procedural history of this case, and Counsel explains her assessment is based on a
review of “the Certified Record, the documents in [her] file, and all of Mr. Collier’s
correspondence,” in addition to legal research of applicable case law, statutes, and
regulations. Turner Letter at 1. Counsel also analyzes the issues Collier raises

7
  We use the term “Turner letter” in reference to our Supreme Court’s decision in Turner in which
the Court set forth “the appropriate procedures for withdrawal of court-appointed counsel in
collateral attacks on criminal convictions.” Turner, 544 A.2d at 927-29.

                                               4
before this Court, and she concludes “Collier’s administrative challenge lacks
merit[.]” Id. at 7. Counsel provided Petitioner a copy of the letter informing him of
his right to retain new counsel and his right to file a pro se brief with this Court. Id.
Because Counsel satisfied Turner’s technical requirements for withdrawal, we now
review the merits of Collier’s Amended Petition for Review.8
                                         III. Discussion
       We review an appeal of a decision of the Board to determine (i) whether
substantial evidence supports the Board’s necessary findings of fact, (ii) whether the
Board committed an error of law, and/or (iii) whether the Board violated a parolee’s
constitutional rights. McNally v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 940 A.2d 1289 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2008); 2 Pa.C.S. § 704. When presented with a question of law, our
standard of review is de novo, and our scope of review is plenary. Pittman v. Pa.
Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 159 A.3d 466, 473 (Pa. 2017). In other words, in considering
the proper meaning of a given rule of law on appeal, we do not defer to the Board’s
own conclusions of law, and we review the entire record with a fresh pair of eyes.
       Where the law grants the Board administrative discretion, we also review for
an abuse of that discretion. An abuse of discretion occurs when “the judgment
exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill
will, as shown by the evidence or the record.” Id. at 474 (citation omitted).
                                    A. Parole Calculations
       Collier first argues the Board “miscalculated the presumptive background
ranges and/or should have deviated from the presumptive ranges, given this was [his]

8
  This Court also notified Collier of his right to obtain substitute counsel and directed him to file
four copies of a brief in support of his Amended Petition for Review within 30 days. Order ¶ 1,
Collier v. Pa. Parole Bd. (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 584 C.D. 2022, filed Jan. 4, 2023). Collier did not
file a supporting brief, and no substitute counsel entered an appearance on his behalf.

                                                 5
first state parole violation.” Amended Petition for Review ¶ 13. Section 75.1(a) of
the Board’s regulations provides that “[p]resumptive ranges of parole backtime to
be served will be utilized if a parolee is convicted of a new criminal offense while
on parole and the Board orders recommitment as a convicted parole violator after
the appropriate revocation hearing.” 37 Pa. Code § 75.1(a). The Board’s regulations
also stipulate that “[t]he presumptive ranges of parole backtime are intended to
structure the discretion of the Board while allowing for individual circumstances
in terms of mitigation and aggravation to be considered in the final decision.” 37
Pa. Code § 75.1(b) (emphasis added). Significantly, “the Board’s exercise of its
discretion, within the reasonable parameters reflected by the establishment of the
presumptive range, must be upheld” unless there are “some special circumstances
which would justify a reconsideration of” the Board’s discretion. Smith v. Pa. Bd.
of Prob. & Parole, 574 A.2d 558, 561 (Pa. 1990).
      The presumptive range for burglary is 15 to 24 months’ imprisonment. 37 Pa.
Code § 75.2. The presumptive range for theft, graded as a third-degree felony, is 6
to 12 months’ imprisonment. Id. Here, the Board imposed 24 months of backtime—
which is within the presumptive range of one burglary offense—and recommitted
Collier to an SCI as a CPV. We observe no special circumstances warranting
reconsideration of the Board’s discretion in this case. The Board’s calculation of
Collier’s Minimum and Maximum Sentences, as stated in the Order, do not
constitute an abuse of discretion. See C.R. at 161-62.
                B. Backtime, Street Time, and Time Served Credits
      Collier asserts the Board “erred when it did not permit [him] to serve the
backtime on his original sentence concurrently with his new state sentences.”
Amended Petition for Review ¶ 11. Section 6138(a)(5) of the Prisons and Parole

                                         6
Code9 is clear that a CPV must serve his original sentence consecutively with any
new sentences. 61 Pa.C.S. § 6138(a)(5)(i)-(iii). “Therefore, the Board may not
impose backtime to run concurrently with a new sentence for an offense committed
while on parole.” Palmer v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 134 A.3d 160, 165 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2016) (citations omitted). Collier’s position thus lacks merit.
         We next address the Board’s determination to deny Collier a credit for street
time. Where the Board recommits a parolee as a CPV, “the offender shall be
recommitted to serve the remainder of the term which the offender would have been
compelled to serve had the parole not been granted and . . . shall be given no credit
for the time at liberty on parole.” 61 Pa.C.S. § 6138(a)(2); see also Boyd-Chisholm
v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 240 A.3d 1005, 1011 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2020). The Board,
nevertheless, “may, in its discretion, award credit to an offender recommitted under
[Section 6138(a)(2)] for the time spent at liberty on parole . . . .” 61 Pa.C.S. §
6138(a)(2.1). Our Supreme Court has held that when the Board exercises its
discretion under Section 6138(a)(2.1), “the Board must articulate the basis for its
decision to grant or deny a CPV credit for time served at liberty on parole” because
“an appellate court hearing the matter must have [a] method to assess the Board's
exercise of discretion.” Pittman, 159 A.3d at 474. Accordingly, our task is to
evaluate whether the Board abused its discretion by denying Collier credit for the
time he spent at liberty on parole.
         The Board articulated its reasons for not awarding Collier a street time credit
and noted he (i) “committed a new conviction that is the same or similar to the
original offense[,]” (ii) “absconded while on parole supervision[,]” and (iii)
“demonstrate[d] unresolved drug and/or alcohol issues[.]”           C.R. at 144.    We

9
    Prisons and Parole Code, 61 Pa.C.S. §§ 101-7301.

                                                7
therefore determine Collier’s claim that the Board erred in denying him a street time
credit is without merit.
      Collier also alleges the Board “erred when it failed to apply any credit for time
served from December 7, 2019[,] through June 10, 2021[,] to the [original term].”
Amended Petition for Review ¶ 12. As a general rule, where “a defendant . . .
remains incarcerated prior to trial because he has failed to satisfy bail requirements
on the new criminal charges, then the time spent in custody shall be credited to his
new sentence.” Gaito v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 412 A.2d 568, 571 (Pa. 1980);
see also Woodard v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 582 A.2d 1144, 1147 (Pa Cmwlth.
1990) (citation omitted). Nonetheless, “if a defendant is being held in custody solely
because of a detainer lodged by the Board and has otherwise met the requirements
for bail on the new criminal charges, the time which he spent in custody shall be
credited against his original sentence.” Gaito, 412 A.2d at 571.
      In recalculating Collier’s Minimum and Maximum Sentences, the Board
awarded Collier a backtime credit of one day—which represents the duration under
which he was detained solely by the Board’s detainer—and properly credited this
time to the original term. See Smith v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 171 A.3d 759,
761 n.7 (Pa. 2017). Jefferson County, in addition, properly awarded Collier a time-
served credit of 411 days on the new term. Consequently, the Board did not err.
                           C. State Drug Treatment Program
      Collier additionally disputes:

      By not awarding any credit toward the [original term], [he] will
      ultimately lose approximately six months of credit, as he would have
      been immediately eligible to enter the state drug treatment program
      after he served one year of the [new term]. The additional six months
      applied on the [new term] is essentially null, as it cannot reduce the
      length of the state drug treatment program.

                                          8
Amended Petition for Review ¶ 12. As part of his sentencing, Jefferson County and
Clarion County each recommended that Collier be admitted to the SDTP, “a 24-
month intensive treatment program[] available to eligible individuals[.]”10 In Bouie
v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 206 M.D. 2022, filed
July 10, 2023), 2023 WL 4417476 (unreported),11 a panel of this Court analyzed the
provisions of the SDTP and concluded:

       First, though the Department is ultimately responsible for determining
       whether an “eligible” inmate should be admitted into the SDTP, that
       determination can only occur after the relevant court has made a
       threshold eligibility decision during the course of sentencing that
       inmate. Second, the Department has broad latitude when considering
       whether to place an eligible inmate in the SDTP, as well as regarding
       how to handle an inmate post-admission. Finally, and regardless of an
       inmate’s Program eligibility or the results of a Department-
       administered addiction assessment, nothing in the statutes that govern
       the SDTP gives an inmate a legally enforceable right to gain admission
       thereto.

Id. at *5 (citations omitted).         Collier’s admission to the SDTP, therefore, is
ultimately within the Department’s discretion. See 61 Pa.C.S. § 4104(c). We
observe no abuse of the Board’s discretion.
                                         D. The Order
       Finally, Collier contends the Order constitutes reversible error to the extent
“[t]he third and fourth paragraphs of [the Order] contain numerous factual errors
regarding [Collier’s] new charges . . . .” Amended Petition for Review ¶ 10.

10
   State Drug Treatment Program (SDTP), Pa. Dep’t of Corr., https://www.cor.pa.gov/community-
reentry/Documents/JRI%202/SDTP%20Brochure.pdf (last visited Feb. 7, 2024).
11
   Unreported memorandum opinions of this Court issued on or after January 15, 2008, may be
cited for their persuasive value. See Section 414(a) of this Court’s Internal Operating Procedures,
210 Pa. Code § 69.414(a).

                                                9
However, the Board, as authorized by Pa.R.A.P. 1701(b)(1), corrected these errors,
and this issue is now moot.
                                 IV. Conclusion
      Based on the foregoing, Counsel fulfilled the requirements to withdraw from
representation as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Turner, and our
independent review of the record confirms Collier’s appeal lacks merit.
Accordingly, we grant Counsel’s Application to Withdraw. Furthermore, as the
Board did not commit any errors of law or abuse its discretion, we affirm.

                                             ______________________________
                                             STACY WALLACE, Judge

                                        10
          IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Jesse Collier,                        :
                           Petitioner : No. 584 C.D. 2022
                                      :
            v.                        :
                                      :
Pennsylvania Parole Board,            :
                          Respondent :

                                  ORDER

      AND NOW, this 8th day of February 2024, the December 21, 2022
Application to Withdraw Appearance filed by Jessica A. Fiscus, Esq. is GRANTED.
Moreover, the order of the Pennsylvania Parole Board mailed May 10, 2022, as
modified by the July 14, 2022, addendum, is AFFIRMED.

                                      ______________________________
                                      STACY WALLACE, Judge