Court Opinion

ID: 4306236
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-22 17:33:49.518431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:21.431637
License: Public Domain

J-S39039-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA              :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                           :          PENNSYLVANIA
                                           :
              v.                           :
                                           :
                                           :
 SEAN DONAHUE                              :
                                           :
                     Appellant             :          No. 1949 MDA 2017

        Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence September 18, 2017
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County,
           Criminal Division at No(s): CP-40-CR-0003501-2012

BEFORE: STABILE, J., MURRAY, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                           FILED AUGUST 22, 2018

      Sean Donahue (“Donahue”) appeals from the judgment of sentence

imposed following his conviction of terroristic threats.           See 18 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2706(a)(1).      Matthew P. Kelly, Esquire (“Attorney Kelly”), Donahue’s

counsel, has filed a Petition to Withdraw as counsel and an accompanying brief

pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967).                We grant

Attorney Kelly’s Petition to Withdraw, and affirm the judgment of sentence.

      This   Court   previously   articulated   the   facts   of    this   matter   in

Commonwealth v. Donahue, 122 A.3d 453 (Pa. Super. 2015) (unpublished

memorandum), as follows:

            On 17 August 2012, [Donahue] composed and sent an e-
      mail to Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis. On
      21 August 2012 [], Detective Lieutenant Kenneth Zipovsky
      [(“Detective Zipovsky”)] received a request from Chief Frank V.
      DeAndrea Jr. to investigate the threats that were made by
      [Donahue] in this e-mail. [Detective Zipovsky] was also advised
      by Chief DeAndrea that [District Attorney] Salavantis was
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       concerned and alarmed about the threats that were directed
       toward her in this email.

              In this written communication, [Donahue] threatens that he
       will essentially engage in a gun fight with police officers, if the
       District Attorney does not do as he desires. Also in the e-mail,
       [Donahue] makes the not-so-veiled threat that people will be
       killed if he does not get the actions that he demands. The text of
       this e-mail is attached below and is incorporated in this affidavit.

              [Donahue] has also continued to send additional e-mails to
       District Attorney Salavantis since the first communication on 17
       August 2012. These additional communications also contain
       threats of violence toward government employees and police
       officers. These words and treats have caused terror, and harassed
       and annoyed [District Attorney] Salavantis. Based on the above
       facts, I respectfully request that [Donahue] be charged with the
       violations of terroristic threats and harassment listed in the
       Criminal Complaint.

            ATTACHED E-MAIL FROM [Donahue] ON [17] AUGUST 2012
       FOLLOWS—

             Dear Luzerne County District Attorney Stephanie
       Salevantis,[1] [] The firing squad used by police in South Africa
       against mine workers demanding higher pay that [ was] reported
       yesterday by CNN, is exactly the kind of threat that was made
       against me by Corporal Wetzel if I attempt to use the Hazleton
       Career Link. He made it very clear to me that he will use police
       power to prevent me from going to that facility. []I am getting
       tired of you ignoring me and am no longer asking you to stop
       ignoring me. I am now telling you. The idea that law enforcement
       thinks that it can use force to take away my rights is unacceptable
       to me. If you do not respond by telling me that you will investigate
       the matter, I will prepare myself to face off against a police firing
       line that will be the result of any attempt by me to use an
       unemployment office. I will not allow you to let a corporal get
       away with threatening me with police power. If charges are not
____________________________________________

1 The email from Donahue was sent to twenty-one people, including federal,
state, and local officials, as well as members of the press, with the subject
line “Harassment and Conspiracy Complaints against Corporal Wetzel and
others.” Donahue, 122 A.3d at 2, n.2 (citation omitted).

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     brought against Corporal Wetzel, Elaine Stalfa, their security
     guard, Alan Smith, Lucy Ann Veirling and the employees in
     Harrisburg responsible for illegally denying me access to my
     rights, I WILL Re-SECURE MY RIGHTS in my capacity as a citizen
     soldier at large. Because you have allowed a law enforcement
     officer to wrongfully threaten me with the wrongful use of force
     and false arrest, despite my not having committed a crime, I must
     anticipate that the corporal and the Hazleton Career Link Staff will
     follow through on their threat to use force to prevent me from
     accessing an unemployment office and to prevent me from making
     them do their jobs. I will prepare myself to defend myself against
     these threats and police reinforcements. [] As it stands now, the
     only people trying to avoid going into a courtroom over this matter
     are the Hazleton Police Department, the Hazleton Career Link
     Workers, the PA Department of Labor and Industry, the US DOL,
     the L/S WIB and you, the DA. The very person who is supposed
     to intervene and see to it that societies [sic] troubles are brought
     before a jury and judge. Now, your [sic] allowing an officer and
     Career Link workers to use threats of wrongful use of force as a
     means of taking my rights away triggers the use of the US Second
     Amendment and Section 13 of the PA Constitution. I consider you
     to be an illegal oppressive force that has repeatedly threatened
     the use of both false arrest and physical police force to prevent
     me from using the Hazleton Career Link and to prevent me from
     making the Career Link Workers, the Workforce Investment Board
     Workers and the PA L&I workers do their jobs. I have exhausted
     all possible peaceful means to resolve this problem and my every
     attempt has been repeatedly ignored. [] When asked by Judge
     Zola on February 2, 2011, is anyone preventing me form [sic]
     using the Career Link, Elaine Stalfa and Herbert Alan Smith
     testified, under oath; “No”. Judge Zola said that because I did not
     attempt to physically go there, I cannot claim that I am being
     physically kept out of the facility and he further claimed that I
     misinterpreted the situation. However, I did not misinterpret the
     situation, Elaine Stalfa and Herbert Alan Smith lied under oath. In
     so doing, they perjured themselves. The entire hearing took place
     in front of three Hazleton Police Officers who heard the entire
     thing. After the hearing was over, I was told by Career Link
     workers that I had pissed people off and that they were told by
     their boss, Stalfa and Vierling, that they would be fired if they
     assisted me in any way in gaining employment. A separate
     workforce counselor in Philadelphia was told the same thing.
     Anyone caught assisting me will be fired. [] I was told by Career
     Link workers that they were backed by the FEDS. I then applied

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     to the Federal DOL to test this theory and was offered a job in
     Washington that I cannot afford to take. I have been told by a
     trooper that specific people in government have it in for me and
     that is all there is to it. I can do nothing other than leave
     Pennsylvania. I have been told by Career Link Workers several
     times that I am to be barred from employment in our county and
     that I must leave and start a new life elsewhere. [] I fought to get
     something in writing but the Erica Koub, of Corbett’s office,
     refused to provide any documentation and just insisted that an
     executive Pennsylvania Decision had been made to deny me
     access to services. Yudichack’s office secured a letter from PA L&I
     GC who stated the denial of access to federally funded Career Link
     services is in retaliation for having filed charges against Elaine
     Stalfa and for contacting the Secretary of L&I, which she feels is
     not my place to do. [] This is ILLEGAL. This is Harassment. This
     is Official Oppression. This complaint is falling on deaf ears.
     Therefore, I will ring the bell that is heard around the world and
     your summary denial of my rights will be physically challenged. I
     will not stand there and die at the hands of a corporal or any other
     officers in a firing line intended to keep me from using my rights.
     [] “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” but not necessarily my
     own! [] You have until COB Monday Morning to assure me that I
     will be given access to services, that the Career Link will do its
     job, that charges will be filed against Corporal Wetzel, Elaine
     Stalfa, Alan Smith, the Career Link Security guard and both Frank
     DeAndrea and Rpbert Ferdinand. You have denied me access to
     democracy. You have denied me access to the services available
     through the executive branch of government, the legislature has
     denied me access to relief through the legislative branch of
     government and the judicial branch of government has denied me
     access to relief through its channels. You are conspiring to create
     a circumstance that enables you to get me on something. The
     Magistrate says that I must actually physically go to the Career
     Link and the corporal and Career Link staff say that I will be
     arrested for something if I attempt to do so. You then ignore my
     every email complaint to resolve the matter peacefully and you do
     so just so that you can put me into a position that forces me to be
     the physical aggressor and approach a police station or a
     government office. That is why you won’t act on an e-mail. You
     are trying to set me up and the magistrate is assisting. It is a
     coordinated conspiracy and Judge Zola is part of it. You are trying
     to trap me just like you try to trap drug dealers and other
     criminals. In doing so, you are harassing me. [] PA L&I, Corporal
     Wetzel, Elaine Stalfa and Vierling have taken upon themselves to

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     label me an enemy of the state of PA and repeatedly conducted
     their business as if they are backed by the FEDS. Things have
     been repeatedly altered and moved around in my home, as if
     someone had entered. Yet, noting [sic] was stole[n], [t]hat is
     intel collection, not burglary. [] Absolutely no one from any level
     of law enforcement may contact me without a warrant from a
     judge to do so. There was an article in the paper about an
     overstuffed arms locker under the control of the Luzerne County
     Sheriff. I want the sheriff to tell me how I can take ownership of
     a weapon and protective gear from the county arms locker. I want
     the FBI to provide me with a vest, kevlar plates and kevlar helmet.
     I want the FBI or some other federal law enforcement agency to
     order the Hazleton Police Department and all other local law
     enforcement to not approach me without first coordinating with
     federal officers and I want all federal officers to be ordered to
     inform me anytime local law enforcement intends to act. [] Law
     Enforcement may only contact me through my attorney and I will
     only have an attorney when Judge Zola orders that one be
     appointed to represent me in this string of matters. The FBI may
     ship the Kevlar items and accompanying webbing and vest via
     UPS. It may not include electronic surveillance devices, I forbid
     it. The sheriff may deliver two weapons and associated equipment
     and ammunition. One weapon must be a US manufactured black
     rifle, 7.62 and other must be a 45 pistol. The sheriff must also
     grant me an exception to test-fire the weapons into the ground or
     into a barrel filled with dirt or water. The sheriff must grant me
     an exception, allowing me to jog and walk the streets with the
     gear and weapons when I leave the house and all law enforcement
     must be told to stay away from me. Law enforcement is bound
     by the US constitution to enable me to defend myself from the
     wrongful threat of the use of physical force and wrongful arrest
     and imprisonment. IT IS THEIR DUTY!!!! I EXPECT THEM TO
     CARRY IT OUT!!! [] Sincerely, [] Sean M. Donahue

Id. (unpublished memorandum at 2-7) (citing Aff. of Probable Cause,

8/21/12, at 1-3) (footnote added, footnotes omitted, emphasis in original).

     The Commonwealth charged Donahue with terroristic threats and

harassment. The police executed a search warrant on Donahue’s home and

seized, inter alia, several computer devices and a “Winchester Mod 94 30-30”

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rifle from under a bed. Thereafter, Donahue filed for writ of habeas corpus to

dismiss the charges.

       On October 28, 2013, the trial court dismissed the charges, and the

Commonwealth filed an appeal. This Court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal

of the harassment charge, reversed the dismissal of the terroristic threats

charge, and remanded the matter to the trial court. See Donahue, 122 A.3d

453.

       On July 10, 2017, a jury found Donahue guilty of terroristic threats. On

September 18, 2017, the trial court sentenced Donahue to 120 days to

twenty-three months in jail, with 280 days credit, and he was immediately

paroled.   Thereafter, Attorney Kelly was appointed as Donahue’s conflict

counsel.   On September 27, 2017, Donahue filed a Post-Sentence Motion,

which the trial court denied.

       Donahue filed a timely Notice of Appeal and a court-ordered Concise

Statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).

       Attorney Kelly has filed a brief, pursuant to Anders, that raises the

following issues on appeal:

       1) Whether the court erred in failing to grant [Donahue’s] Pre-
          Trial Motion challenging the validity of the search warrant[?]

       2) Whether the evidence was sufficient as a matter of law to
          establish guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the charge of
          Terroristic Threats[?]

       3) Whether the trial court abused its discretion in failing to
          sentence [Donahue] to time served rather than being
          paroled[?]

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Anders Brief at 1. Attorney Kelly also filed a Petition to Withdraw as counsel,

and Donahue filed multiple pro se responses to Attorney Kelly’s Anders brief.

       Before addressing Donahue’s issues on appeal, we must determine

whether Attorney Kelly has complied with the dictates of Anders and its

progeny     in   petitioning   to   withdraw   from    representation.       See

Commonwealth v. Burwell, 42 A.3d 1077, 1083 (Pa. Super. 2012) (holding

that counsel who petitions to withdraw from representation must comply with

Anders and its progeny). Pursuant to Anders, when counsel believes that

an appeal is frivolous and wishes to withdraw from representation, he or she

must

       (1) petition the court for leave to withdraw[,] stating that after
       making a conscientious examination of the record and
       interviewing the defendant, counsel has determined the appeal
       would be frivolous, (2) file a brief referring to any issues in the
       record of arguable merit, and (3) furnish a copy of the brief to
       defendant and advise him of his right to retain new counsel or to
       raise any additional points that he deems worthy of the court’s
       attention. The determination of whether the appeal is frivolous
       remains with the appellate court.

Id. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explained that a proper

Anders brief must

       1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with
          citations to the record;

       2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes arguably
          supports the appeal;

       3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous; and

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      4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is
         frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of
         record, controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that have
         led to the conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349, 361 (Pa. 2009).

      Here, we conclude that Attorney Kelly has substantially complied with

each of the requirements of Anders. See Commonwealth v. Wrecks, 934

A.2d 1287, 1290 (Pa. Super. 2007) (stating that counsel must substantially

comply with the requirements of Anders). In his Anders brief, Attorney Kelly

indicated that he made a conscientious examination of the record and

determined that an appeal would be frivolous.         Further, Attorney Kelly’s

Anders brief comports with the requirements set forth in Santiago.

Moreover, the record contains a copy of the letter that Attorney Kelly sent to

Donahue, which indicated Attorney Kelly’s intention to seek permission to

withdraw, and which advised Donahue of his right to proceed pro se, retain

alternate counsel, or file additional claims. Thus, Attorney Kelly has complied

with the procedural requirements for withdrawing from representation. We

next examine the record to make an independent determination of whether

Donahue’s appeal is, in fact, wholly frivolous.

      Donahue’s first claim alleges that the trial court erred in failing to grant

his pre-trial Motion challenging the validity of the search warrant obtained by

law enforcement to search Donahue’s home. Anders Brief at 7. Donahue

claims that the district judge signed the warrant to search his home after the

search of his home was actually conducted. Id. at 8. Donahue also claims

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that the trial court should have granted his pre-trial motion, because the

officers who performed the search used excessive and coercive conduct. Id.

      Our standard of review when addressing a challenge to a trial court’s

denial of a suppression motion is

      whether the factual findings are supported by the record and
      whether the legal conclusions drawn from those facts are correct.
      When reviewing the ruling of a suppression court, we must
      consider only the evidence of the prosecution and so much of the
      evidence of the defense as remains uncontradicted when read in
      the context of the record as a whole. Where the record supports
      the findings of the suppression court, we are bound by those facts
      and may reverse only if the legal conclusions drawn therefrom are
      in error.

Commonwealth v. Eichinger, 915 A.2d 1122, 1134 (Pa. 2007) (citations

omitted).

      Here, the district judge denied “backtiming” the warrant.       See Trial

Court Opinion and Order, 7/10/17, at 2 (unnumbered). Although Donahue

testified that he overheard an officer tell the district judge that the officer

needed a signed warrant because the police had only conducted a cursory

search, and that he observed the district judge execute the search warrant by

“rubber stamping” the warrant after the search, the suppression court was

free to reject Donahue’s testimony.          N.T., 6/26/17, at 94-98; see

Commonwealth v. Gallagher, 896 A.2d 583, 585 (Pa. Super. 2006)

(stating, “[i]t is within the suppression court’s sole province as factfinder to

pass on the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their

testimony.”) (citations and quotation marks omitted).             Further, the

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Commonwealth did not present any evidence obtained from the search of

Donahue’s home.       See Trial Court Opinion and Order, 12/1/17, at 1

(unnumbered). Therefore, the trial court did not err in denying Donahue’s

pre-trial Motion to invalidate the search warrant.

      In Donahue’s second claim, he contends that the evidence was

insufficient to support the terroristic threats conviction, because there is no

proof that he intended to terrorize the victim, nor did his conduct pose a true

threat.   Anders Brief at 9; see also id. at 10 (arguing that he never

threatened another person.) Donahue argues that his right to free speech is

constitutionally protected. Id.

      We apply the following standard of review when considering a challenge

to the sufficiency of the evidence:

      The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence
      is whether[,] viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light
      most favorable to the verdict winner, there is sufficient evidence
      to enable the fact-finder to find every element of the crime beyond
      a reasonable doubt. In applying the above test, we may not weigh
      the evidence and substitute our judgment for the fact-finder. In
      addition, we note that the facts and circumstances established by
      the Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of
      innocence. Any doubts regarding a defendant's guilt may be
      resolved by the fact-finder unless the evidence is so weak and
      inconclusive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be
      drawn from the combined circumstances. The Commonwealth
      may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime
      beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly circumstantial
      evidence. Moreover, in applying the above test, the entire record
      must be evaluated and all evidence actually received must be
      considered. Finally, the finder of fact[,] while passing upon the
      credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence produced,
      is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence.

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Commonwealth v. Melvin, 103 A.3d 1, 39-40 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation

omitted).

      The Crimes Code defines terroristic threats as follows, in relevant part:

      (a)   A person commits the crime of terroristic threats if the
            person communicates, either directly or indirectly, a threat
            to:

      (1)   Commit any crime of violence with intent to terrorize
            another.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2706(a)(1).

      This Court has held that:

      [t]he elements necessary to establish a violation of the terroristic
      threats statute are: (1) a threat to commit a crime of violence;
      and (2) that the threat was communicated with the intent to
      terrorize or with reckless disregard of the risk of causing such
      terror. Section 2706 defines the word, “communicates,” to mean
      “conveys in person or by written or electronic means . . . .”

Commonwealth v. Vergilio, 103 A.3d 831, 833 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citations

omitted). “Neither the ability to carry out the threat, nor a belief by the person

threatened that the threat will be carried out, is an element of the offense.”

Commonwealth v. Reynolds, 835 A.2d 720, 730 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation

omitted). “[I]t is unnecessary for an individual to specifically articulate the

crime of violence which he or she intends to commit where the type of crime

may be inferred from the nature of the statement and the context and

circumstances surrounding the utterance of the statement.” Commonwealth

v. Martinez, 153 A.3d 1025, 1028 (Pa. Super. 2016). “[T]he harm sought to

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be prevented by the statute is the psychological distress that follows from an

invasion of another’s sense of personal security.” Reynolds, 835 A.2d at 730.

      At trial, District Attorney Salavantis testified that Donahue’s email

frightened her. N.T., 7/10/17, at 106. Moreover, a CareerLink employee,

Elaine Stalfa (“Stalfa”), testified that she received the above-mentioned email.

Id. at 63. Stalfa testified that she and her coworkers were scared of Donahue.

Id. at 62. Stalfa further testified that the decision to hire armed guards at

two CareerLink sites was strongly based on fear of Donahue. Id.

      Viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth,

Donahue committed terroristic threats when he sent the above-captioned

words via email to District Attorney Salavantis and other government officials.

Donahue’s email, in context of Donahue’s ongoing dissatisfaction with

CareerLink and other governmental agencies, supports the inference that

Donahue would arm himself and assault or shoot police officers or other

government officials at a police station or a government office.        Indeed,

Donahue used violent imagery, referred to possible physical confrontations

with government officials, and indicated his right to use force against a

government conspiracy. Thus, the evidence presented at trial was sufficient

to sustain a charge of terroristic threats. See Commonwealth v. Butcher,

644 A.2d 174, 176 (Pa. Super. 1994) (sustaining a terroristic threats

conviction where, “[a]lthough appellant did not identify any specific crime of

violence as the object of his threat, when his words and conduct are viewed

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in context, appellant’s statement to the victim, ‘[d]on’t make me get physical,’

could reasonably be interpreted as a threat to assault the victim if she did not

give appellant a ride as he had demanded.”); see also Commonwealth v.

Fenton, 750 A.2d 863, 865 (Pa. Super. 2000) (stating that evidence sufficient

to support terroristic threats conviction where appellant “clearly spent a long

time reflecting upon his frustrations, and his threats [could not] be

characterized as less than premeditated and deliberate.”).

      In his third claim, Donahue contends that the trial court abused its

discretion in imposing an aggravated range sentence. Anders Brief at 3, 12-

13. Donahue argues that the trial court should have imposed a sentence of

time served, since Donahue served the statutorily mandated minimum

sentence. See id. at 12. Donahue challenges the discretionary aspects of his

sentence.

            An appellant challenging the discretionary aspects of the
      sentence must invoke this [C]ourt’s jurisdiction by satisfying a
      four-part test:

       (1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, see
      Pa.R.A.P. 902 and 903; (2) whether the issue was properly
      preserved at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and modify
      sentence, see Pa.R.Crim.P. [720]; (3) whether the appellant’s
      brief has a fatal defect, Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether there
      is a substantial question that the sentence appealed from is not
      appropriate under the Sentencing Code, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).

                                      ***

      The determination of what constitutes a substantial question must
      be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A substantial question
      exists only when the appellant advances a colorable argument
      that the sentencing judge’s action were either: (1) inconsistent

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      with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code; or (2) contrary
      to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing process.

Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 170 (Pa. Super. 2010) (quotation

marks and some citations omitted).

      Here, Donahue filed a timely Notice of Appeal, raised his claims in a

timely Post-Sentence Motion, and included a Rule 2119(f) Statement in his

brief. In his Rule 2119(f) Statement, Donahue asserts that “[t]he trial court

sentenced [Donahue] to a term of parole in the aggravated range rather than

for time served.” Anders Brief at 3. Donahue’s bald claim does not raise a

substantial question. See Moury, 992 A.2d at 170 (stating, “this Court does

not accept bald assertions of sentencing errors. An [a]ppellant must articulate

the reasons the sentencing court’s actions violated the sentencing code.”)

(citations omitted). Thus, Donahue’s claim is not preserved for our review.

      Nevertheless, Anders requires that we examine the merits of Donahue’s

sentencing claim to determine whether the appeal is, in fact, wholly frivolous.

See Commonwealth v. Lilley, 978 A.2d 995, 998 (Pa. Super. 2009) (stating

that where counsel files an Anders brief, this Court will review discretionary

aspects of sentencing claims that were otherwise not properly preserved).

      Our standard of review is as follows:

      Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
      sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal
      absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In this context, an abuse
      of discretion is not shown merely by an error in judgment. Rather,
      the appellant must establish, by reference to the record, that the
      sentencing court ignored or misapplied the law, exercised its

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      judgment for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will, or
      arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision.

Commonwealth v. Mastromarino, 2 A.3d 581, 589 (Pa. Super. 2010)

(citation omitted).

      At sentencing, the trial court imposed the aggravated-range sentence

based upon Donahue’s lack of remorse for the mental anguish suffered by the

victims. N.T., 9/18/17, at 3. Moreover, the trial court considered the fact

that Donahue had been convicted of another crime in Dauphin County during

the proceedings of the instant case. Id. Further, the trial court noted that

Donahue had served his minimum sentence, and was immediately paroled.

Id. at 2. Thus, we discern no abuse of discretion by the trial court in imposing

the sentence.

      Further, Donahue has filed numerous pro se responses raising a variety

of claims.   Donahue’s responses include numerous attachments, including

pictures of massacre victims in Africa, newspaper clippings, and an abundant

amount of email communications.       Upon our review of Donahue’s pro se

responses, there is no merit to his claims.

      Moreover, our independent review of all the proceedings discloses no

other non-frivolous issues that Donahue could raise on appeal.              See

Commonwealth v. Dempster, 187 A.3d 266, 273 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en

banc). Accordingly, we grant Attorney Kelly’s Petition to Withdraw and affirm

Donahue’s judgment of sentence.

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     Petition   to   Withdraw   granted;     judgment   of   sentence   affirmed.

Application to Quash Appeal denied.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 08/22/2018

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