Court Opinion

ID: 4102093
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-23 20:12:19.224313+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:32.656772
License: Public Domain

J-S68020-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                        PENNSYLVANIA

                       v.

JEREMIAH D. HELLER

                            Appellant                 No. 2010 WDA 2015

                Appeal from the Order dated November 18, 2015
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0007331-2014

BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., SOLANO, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY SOLANO, J.:                        FILED NOVEMBER 23, 2016

        Appellant, Jeremiah Heller, appeals from an order dated November 18,

2015, that directs his payment of restitution relative to items stolen by

Appellant from the home of his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s grandfather.

We affirm.

        On November 20, 2014, Appellant pleaded guilty to one count of

defiant trespasser – actual communication to actor, and two counts of theft

by unlawful taking – movable property.1        That same day, on one count of

theft by unlawful taking, Appellant was sentenced to five years’ probation

____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
    18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3503(b)(1)(i) and 3921(a), respectively.
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and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $83,000.00; he received no

further penalty on the remaining two counts.

      On December 12, 2014, Appellant moved for a restitution hearing; on

December 17, 2014, the trial court scheduled a hearing for January 28,

2015. During that hearing, the trial court admitted that it “can’t answer the

fundamental question why was it $83,000,” it “[did]n’t know how we came

up with that amount,” and “[t]here was nothing put on the record”

explaining the amount.    N.T., 1/28/15, at 9-10. The trial court granted a

continuance in order “to make a more informed decision.” Id. at 14.

      After the hearing was rescheduled multiple times, it ultimately was

convened on September 21, 2015. On November 18, 2015, the trial court

ordered Appellant to pay $25,000.00 in restitution, rather than the

$83,000.00 originally ordered. This appeal followed.

      Appellant raises one issue for our review:

      WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SENTENCING
      APPELLANT PURSUANT TO 18 Pa. C.S.A. §1106 BY REQUIRING
      HIM TO PAY $25,000.00 IN RESTITUTION WHEN THE VALUE OF
      ITEMS REFERENCED WERE SPECULATED UPON AND THE ORDER
      WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD?

Appellant’s Brief at 4.

      Regarding challenges to a trial court’s imposition of restitution,

appellate courts have drawn a distinction between cases where the challenge

is directed to the trial court’s authority to impose restitution and cases

where the challenge is premised upon a claim that the restitution ordered is

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excessive. Commonwealth v. Oree, 911 A.2d 169, 173 (Pa. Super. 2006).

“When the court's authority to impose restitution is challenged, it concerns

the legality of the sentence; however, when the challenge is based on

excessiveness, it concerns the discretionary aspects of the sentence.”   Id.

“[C]hallenges concerning the amount of restitution involve the discretionary

aspects of sentencing.” Commonwealth v. Pleger, 934 A.2d 715, 719 (Pa.

Super. 2007).

      A challenge to the discretionary aspects of a sentence is not

appealable as of right.   Commonwealth v. Luis Colon, 102 A.3d 1033,

1042–1043 (Pa. Super. 2014), appeal denied, 109 A.3d 678 (Pa. 2015).

Therefore, before we exercise jurisdiction to reach the merits of Appellant’s

issue, we must engage in a four part analysis to determine: (1) whether the

appeal is timely; (2) whether Appellant preserved his issue; (3) whether

Appellant's brief includes a concise statement of the reasons relied upon for

allowance of an appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects of his

sentence; and (4) whether the concise statement raises a substantial

question whether the sentence is inappropriate under the Sentencing Code.

Id.   Only if the appeal satisfies each of these four requirements may we

proceed to decide the substantive merits of the case. Id.

      Instantly, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and properly

preserved his issue in his post-sentence motion.    Additionally, Appellant’s

brief contains a concise statement of the reasons on which he relies.

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Appellant’s Brief at 10-11.2        Finally, in Commonwealth v. Pappas, 845
A.2d 829, 842 (Pa. Super. 2004), this Court held that a substantial question

is raised when an appellant argues that a sentence of restitution was not

supported by the record. Thus, we will consider the substantive merits of

Appellant’s sentencing claim.

       A trial court has discretion when it sentences a defendant:

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

Commonwealth v. Zirkle, 107 A.3d 127, 132 (Pa. Super. 2015), appeal

denied, 117 A.3d 297 (Pa. 2015) (citation omitted). Here, the trial court

included a restitution requirement as part of Appellant’s sentence, as

____________________________________________

2
   Appellate Rule 2119(f) requires that this statement provide “the reasons
relied on for allowance of appeal.”             Appellant’s statement cites
Commonwealth v. Walker, 666 A.2d 301, 307 (Pa. Super. 1995), for the
proposition “that a substantial question is raised when a defendant argues
that restitution was not supported by the record.”         The Rule 2119(f)
Statement is otherwise bereft of any analysis or explanation. Nevertheless,
in light of the argument made in the remainder of Appellant’s brief, we
decline to dismiss this appeal on the basis of the statement’s inadequacy.
See Commonwealth v. Shugars, 895 A.2d 1270, 1274 (Pa. Super. 2006)
(this Court may review an appellant’s discretionary aspects of sentence
claims in instances where the Commonwealth has not objected to his or her
failure to include an adequate Rule 2119(f) statement in the appellate brief).
In the current appeal, the Commonwealth has not raised any objections in
its brief to the adequacy of Appellant’s Rule 2119(f) Statement.

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mandated by the Sentencing Code, 42 Pa. C.S. § 9721(c) (“the court shall

order the defendant to compensate the victim of his criminal conduct for the

damage or injury that he sustained”). Where, as here, the crime is theft of

property, the Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S. § 1106(a), provides that “the

offender shall be sentenced to make restitution in addition to the

punishment prescribed therefor.”

        The statute mandates that the court order “full restitution,” 18 Pa. C.S.

§ 1106(c)(1), and requires the district attorney to recommend an amount

based     on   information   received   from   the   victim   or   “other   available

information,” id. § 1106(c)(4). In setting the restitution amount, the trial

court then “[s]hall consider the extent of injury suffered by the victim, the

victim’s request for restitution as presented to the district attorney in

accordance with paragraph (4) and such other matters as it deems

appropriate.” Id. § 1106(c)(2)(i). We have explained:

        Although restitution does not seek, by its essential nature, the
        compensation of the victim, the dollar value of the injury
        suffered by the victim as a result of the crime assists the court in
        calculating the appropriate amount of restitution. A restitution
        award must not exceed the victim's losses. A sentencing court
        must consider the victim’s injuries, the victim’s request as
        presented by the district attorney and such other matters as the
        court deems appropriate. The court must also ensure that the
        record contains the factual basis for the appropriate amount of
        restitution. In that way, the record will support the sentence.

Pleger, 934 A.2d at 720 (citations omitted).

        Appellant argues that the amount of restitution ordered by the trial

court — $25,000.00 — was based upon speculation and “not supported by

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the record.” Appellant’s Brief at 4. After a thorough review of the record,

we disagree.

      During the restitution hearing, the Commonwealth presented two

witnesses. The first was Pamela Mervos, the mother of one victim and the

daughter of the other, who recounted what was taken from the home.

According to Ms. Mervos, Appellant stole “a diamond pinkie ring,” gold

chains, money, “high school championship rings, a Steeler championship

ring,” “an 18-inch rope gold chain,” “six gold bracelets,” “various patterns,”

U.S. currency, and “a gold necklace with [a] gold cross.” N.T., 9/21/15, at

12.   Ms. Mervos was able to provide detailed descriptions of the stolen

jewelry.   Id. at 13.   Ms. Mervos also provided written lists of the stolen

items; she had previously given these lists to law enforcement. Id. at 12-

13; Exs. 1-2. Additionally, she supplied seven photographs of herself or her

father wearing the jewelry, as proof of its existence and of ownership. N.T.,

9/21/15, at 14; Exs. 3-9.

      The Commonwealth’s second witness was David Lykens, who testified

to having more than 30 years’ experience as a jeweler. N.T., 9/21/15, at

18.   Mr. Lykens was not called as an expert, but he offered testimony

quantifying the value of the stolen items.       Based on the descriptions

provided by Ms. Mervos, Mr. Lykens referenced examples from industry

guidebooks, which Ms. Mervos confirmed were approximate substitutes for

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the stolen jewelry. Id. at 18-19. Mr. Lykens estimated that the total value

of the stolen jewelry was $61,445.00. Id. at 22; Exs. 10-11.

      After taking the matter under advisement, the trial court set the

amount of restitution at $25,000.00.      In its opinion, the trial court stated

that it did not fully accept Mr. Lykens’ estimated value of $61,445.00,

because it was based on testimony by Ms. Mervos about details of the

jewelry that were not proven to the court’s satisfaction and that, as a result,

would have caused Mr. Lykens to give the items a higher value than was

appropriate. The trial court explained:

      The estimate was solely influenced by Ms. Mervos. Not that the
      Court disbelieved her regarding the items taken, the Court is
      simply not convinced that her description of the key determining
      factors (quality of gold, length of item, etc.) is as precise as
      what may have led to a higher figure. In essence, the Court
      believed some, but not all, of what Ms. Mervos said. This finding
      flowed naturally to not believing everything the jeweler/expert
      said.

Trial Court Opinion, 4/25/16, at 4. The trial court therefore discounted Mr.

Lykens’ estimate to $25,000.00 (a reduction of nearly 60%).         We find no

error in the trial court’s decision.

      Reiterating the holding of Pleger, we stated the following in

Commonwealth v. Atanasio, 997 A.2d 1181, 1183 (Pa. Super. 2010):

      When fashioning an order of restitution, the lower court must
      ensure that the record contains the factual basis for the
      appropriate amount of restitution. Commonwealth v. Pleger,
      934 A.2d 715, 720 (Pa.Super.2007). The dollar value of the
      injury suffered by the victim as a result of the crime assists the
      court in calculating the appropriate amount of restitution. Id.

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        The amount of the restitution award may not be excessive or
        speculative.

Here, the record indicates that the trial court relied on the best factual

evidence that was available in valuing the stolen items, while taking care

that the amount not be excessive or speculative.

        Appellant complains that the estimate by Mr. Lykens on which the trial

court relied lacked the precision of a formal appraisal, but, since the items

were stolen, no such appraisal was available or possible. Appellant provided

no estimate or evidence of his own regarding the value of the stolen jewelry

and relied primarily on an argument that the value must have been low

because the victims’ homeowner’s insurance policy contained a rider that

insured the jewelry for only $500.00. N.T., 9/21/15, at 16.

        The trial court based its decision on the evidence that was presented

to it: the court heard testimony from a victim to determine what was stolen,

heard testimony from a jeweler estimating the value of those items, and

then acted within its province           as a fact-finder to          make credibility

determinations regarding the evidence that it heard. In doing so, the trial

court    was   “free   to   believe   all,   part,   or   none   of    the   evidence,”

Commonwealth v. Cousar, 928 A.2d 1025, 1033 (Pa. 2007).                        We are

bound by the trial court’s credibility determinations.           Commonwealth v.

Baumhammers, 92 A.3d 708 (Pa. 2014).                      The fact that the court

discounted Mr. Lykens’ estimate by 60% shows that the court carefully

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considered the amount of restitution it would impose. We find no error or

abuse of discretion by the trial court.

       Appellant also argues that the restitution award is too high because

the trial court “failed to fully consider Appellant’s ability to pay $25,000.00 in

restitution.” Appellant’s Brief at 19. In this regard, Appellant notes that he

presented testimony that he had a limited ability to pay restitution because

he was 25 years old and working for his brother’s landscaping business

approximately 40 hours per week, earning $12.00 per hour. N.T., 9/21/15,

at 27, 29. Contrary to Appellant’s argument, however, the trial court could

not reduce the restitution award on the basis of this evidence. Rather, the

court had to order restitution, “[r]egardless of the current financial

resources of the defendant, so as to provide the victim with the fullest

compensation for the loss.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 1106(c)(1)(i) (emphasis added).

Evidence about Appellant’s ability to pay restitution thus has no bearing on

the final amount of restitution ordered. See Commonwealth v. Rush, 909
A.2d 805, 811 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citing Commonwealth v. Marshall

Colon, 708 A.2d 1279, 1282 (Pa. Super. 1998)) (“the court need not

consider the defendant’s ability to pay at the time of imposing restitution”). 3

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3
  The contrary cases cited by Appellant — Commonwealth v. Fuqua, 407
A.2d 24 (Pa. 1987); Commonwealth v. Valent, 463 A.2d 1127, 1128 (Pa.
Super. 1983); and Commonwealth v. Wood, 446 A.2d 948 (Pa. Super.
1982) — predate addition of the phrase “[r]egardless of the current financial
resources of the defendant” to Section 1106 in 1995. Similarly, the one
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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      Because the amount of restitution ordered by the trial court was

supported by the record and not manifestly unreasonable, we find no basis

to disturb the award.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 11/23/2016

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)

later opinion quoted by Appellant, Commonwealth v. Wright, 722 A.2d
157, 159 (Pa. Super. 1998), is referenced for this quotation from pre-1995
precedent:

      [A] court “must make sure that the amount awarded not only
      does not exceed damages to the victim, but also does not
      exceed the [appellant's] ability to pay.” Commonwealth v.
      Torres, 396 Pa.Super. 573, 579-81, 579 A.2d 398, 401 (1990)
      (quoting Commonwealth v. Celane, 311 Pa.Super. 93, 102,
      457 A.2d 509, 514 (1982)).

That pre-1995 precedent no longer is applicable.

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