Court Opinion

ID: 4364788
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-05 18:55:34.049427+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:41.118136
License: Public Domain

J-S01039-19

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                    :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                    :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                                    :
                v.                                  :
                                                    :
                                                    :
    JUSTIN LLOYD                                    :
                                                    :
                       Lloyd                        :   No. 828 MDA 2018

             Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 28, 2018
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Criminal Division at
                       No(s): CP-21-CR-0002546-2017

BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., MURRAY, J., and PELLEGRINI,* J.

MEMORANDUM BY PELLEGRINI, J.:                            FILED FEBRUARY 05, 2019

       Justin Lloyd (Lloyd) appeals from the judgment of sentence of 43 to 98

months’ imprisonment imposed by the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland

County due to his conviction of the crimes of Theft by Unlawful Taking, Simple

Assault, Criminal Mischief and Strangulation. Lloyd challenges the denial of

his request for a self-defense instruction, the sufficiency of evidence for Theft

by Unlawful Taking, and the discretionary aspects of sentencing.            For the

following reasons, we affirm.

                                               I.

       Lloyd picked up his girlfriend, Laura Liddick (Liddick), to go to the home

of Rodney Stroup, which is where the two were living. While driving, Lloyd

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*   Retired Senior Judge appointed to the Superior Court.
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became angry with Liddick. When Liddick tried to use her cell phone, Lloyd

took it and would not give it back, and when they arrived at Stroup’s, Lloyd

attacked Liddick in their bedroom, throwing her onto the bed, choking her and

punching and kicking her. Liddick screamed for help and Stroup intervened.

         Lloyd left but soon returned and tried to reenter the home. Because he

could not get in through the front door, Lloyd went to the back door and kicked

it in.   Lloyd dragged Liddick outside but she escaped and ran back inside.

Before leaving, Lloyd gave Liddick her cell phone back with its screen

smashed.

         Lloyd was charged with Burglary, Terroristic Threats, Theft by Unlawful

Taking or Disposition, Simple Assault, Criminal Mischief, Harassment, and

Strangulation. Lloyd proceeded to a jury trial and testified in his defense.

Lloyd admitted that he broke Liddick’s cell phone after looking though her text

messages, but denied that he attacked her, claiming instead that she head-

butted him after he gave the cell phone back.        Lloyd stated that he then

grabbed Liddick by the throat, picked her up and threw her onto the bed,

holding her down until Stroup came in.

         Lloyd was convicted of Theft by Unlawful Taking (for the cell phone),

Simple Assault, Criminal Mischief, and Strangulation.1         Lloyd was later

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1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921(a) (first-degree misdemeanor), 18 Pa.C.S. § 2701(a)(1)
(second-degree misdemeanor), 18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5) (third-degree

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sentenced to an aggregate 43 to 98 months’ imprisonment and timely filed a

post-sentence motion to modify sentence, which was denied.

                                               II.

                                               A.

       Lloyd first argues that the trial court erred by refusing to give a non-

deadly force self-defense instruction. However, this claim has been waived

because such objections must be raised at the close of charging.           See

Commonwealth v. Pressley, 887 A.2d 220, 225 (Pa. 2005). Although Lloyd

requested the instruction during trial, he did not object after the charge. See

Commonwealth v. Marquez, 980 A.2d 145, 150-151 (Pa. Super. 2009) (en

banc) (issue waived where appellant did not raise objection after jury charge).

       Even if preserved, we would find no error.2     Lloyd requested a non-

deadly force self-defense instruction but the trial court found that Lloyd’s

admitted actions constituted deadly force that would only be justified if he was

in fear of death or serious bodily injury. Because he never so testified, the

trial court would not give the instruction.

       Section 505 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code governs self-defense:

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misdemeanor), and 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718(a)(1) (second-degree misdemeanor),
respectively. Lloyd was found not guilty of Burglary and Terroristic Threats.

2  “Our standard of review when considering the denial of jury instructions is
one of deference—an appellate court will reverse a court's decision only when
it abused its discretion or committed an error of law.” Commonwealth v.
Yale, 150 A.3d 979, 983 (Pa. Super. 2016).

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        (a) Use of force justifiable for protection of the person.—
        The use of force upon or toward another person is justifiable when
        the actor believes that such force is immediately necessary for the
        purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by
        such other person on the present occasion.

18 Pa.C.S. § 505(a). A self-defense charge must be given upon request if

there is evidence presented that the defendant acted in self-defense. See

Commonwealth v. Gonzales, 483 A.2d 902, 903 (Pa. Super. 1984).

        Here, there was no evidence that Lloyd used force to protect himself.

Lloyd admitted that he grabbed Liddick by the throat after she head-butted

him, but there is no indication that Liddick continued to attack him and Lloyd

never testified that he acted to protect himself. Because he did not make out

the defense, the trial court properly did not give the self-defense instruction.3

                                               B.

        Lloyd next asserts there was insufficient evidence to support the charge

of Theft by Unlawful Taking. He argues that there was no evidence presented

that he intended to permanently deprive Liddick of her cell phone.4

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3Because Lloyd was not entitled to any self-defense instruction, we need not
address whether the trial court erred by determining that Lloyd unlawfully
used deadly force.

4   Our standard of review for a sufficiency claim is well-settled:

        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

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       The only element contested here is whether Lloyd intended to

permanently deprive Liddick of her cell phone. That element is established

when the defendant: “(1) withhold[s] property of another permanently;” or

(2) “dispose[s] of the property so as to make it unlikely that the owner will

recover it.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3901.5

       Lloyd emphasizes that the evidence showed only that he damaged the

cell phone and then returned it to Liddick. As a result, he did not withhold it

permanently.      Lloyd, however, admitted that he broke Liddick’s cell phone

after reading her text messages and that the cell phone was “destroyed.” See

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       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.

Commonwealth v. Thomas, 194 A.3d 159, 166 (Pa. Super. 2018)
(quotation omitted).

5 The other elements of theft by unlawful taking are that the person unlawfully
take or control movable property, and that the property belongs to another
person. See Commonwealth v. Young, 35 A.3d 54, 62 (Pa. Super. 2011).

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N.T., 1/30/18, at 102, 112. Liddick testified that the cell phone was no longer

usable. See id. at 25. When the natural consequence of an act is permanent

destruction, that act is enough to show an intent to deprive.              See

Commonwealth v. Holcomb, 498 A.2d 833, 847 (Pa. 1985) (finding

evidence sufficient to support conviction of theft where the defendant burned

the interior of a car). As Liddick could no longer use her cell phone due to the

damage, it is irrelevant that Lloyd returned it. No relief is due.6

                                               C.

       Lloyd’s final two claims challenge the discretionary aspects of his

sentence. He avers that: (1) the sentencing court gave insufficient reasons

to justify aggravated range sentences for Theft by Unlawful Taking and

Strangulation; and (2) the court relied on impermissible factors already

reflected in his prior record score.7

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6 We note that the Commonwealth presented no evidence about the value of
the cell phone. When there is sufficient evidence to convict of a theft offense
but no evidence presented about value, this Court has vacated the judgment
of sentence and remanded for resentencing of the offense as a third-degree
misdemeanor. See Commonwealth v. Goins, 867 A.2d 526, 529 (Pa.
Super. 2005) (downgrading theft offenses from first-degree to third-degree
misdemeanors where Commonwealth offered no evidence about the value of
the property).    While that failure ultimately implicates the legality of
sentencing, the underlying claim turns on sufficiency and we may not raise it
sua sponte.

7 Our review of a challenge to the discretionary aspects of sentencing is
governed by the following principles:

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                                               1.

       The sentencing court imposed aggravated range sentences for both the

Theft by Unlawful Taking and Strangulation offenses, sentencing Lloyd to

consecutive terms of          19 to 39 and 12 to 24 months’ imprisonment,

respectively.8 Instead of addressing each offense individually, the court stated

that its reasons for the sentences were applicable to both offenses:

       It is noted that the [c]ourt’s sentence on the theft by unlawful
       taking and on the strangulation charge are in the aggravated
       range of the sentencing guidelines and is given in consideration of
       the serious injuries to the victim, in consideration that [Lloyd] has
       a substantial record of domestically violent inciden[ts] with three
       separate women victims, that [Lloyd] has previously been given
       county and state sentences to which did not rehabilitate [Lloyd],
       and in consideration that it appears [Lloyd] has not done anything
       regarding being employed or his mental health that gives this
       [c]ourt any indication that he has rehabilitated his behavior.

N.T., 3/27/18, at 18.

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       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. 2014) (citations
omitted).

8 Lloyd does not challenge his sentences for simple assault and criminal
mischief, which were six to 24 months and six to 12 months’ imprisonment,
respectively, and set to run consecutively to the aggravated range sentences.

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     When an appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence,

he is not entitled to review as of right. See Commonwealth v. Allen, 24
A.3d 1058, 1064 (Pa. Super. 2011). Before reaching the merits of such a

claim, we must conduct a four-part analysis to determine:

     (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 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).

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

complied with the first three requirements and both challenges implicate

substantial questions. See Commonwealth v. Macias, 968 A.2d 773, 776

(Pa. Super. 2009) (failure to set forth adequate reasons for aggravated

sentence); Commonwealth v. Bromley, 862 A.2d 598, 605 (Pa. Super.

2004) (relying on impermissible factors).

     First, Lloyd avers that the sentencing court gave insufficient reasons for

imposing an aggravated range sentence for Theft by Unlawful Taking.         “A

sentencing court need not undertake a lengthy discourse for its reasons for

imposing a sentence or specifically reference the statute in question[.]”

Commonwealth v. Crump, 995 A.2d 1280, 1283 (Pa. Super. 2010).

“Rather, the record as a whole must reflect the court's reasons and its

meaningful consideration of the facts of the crime and the character of the

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offender.” Commonwealth v. Malovich, 903 A.2d 1247, 1253 (Pa. Super.

2006) (citation omitted). See also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b).

      Lloyd argues that the court gave insufficient reasons for its Theft by

Unlawful Taking sentence, but mistakenly claims that the court imposed

sentences outside of the guidelines. The court sentenced at the aggravated

range, which is within the guidelines. See Commonwealth v. Bowen, 975
A.2d 1120, 1128 (Pa. Super. 2009) (sentence in aggravated range still

constituted a sentence within guidelines). We also do not find that the court

abused its discretion in issuing a global explanation for the aggravated range

sentences.    While the offenses’ elements differ in nature—one a property

offense, the other an assault offense—they were both part of a single, unified

incident of domestic violence.

                                          2.

      Next, Lloyd argues that the court’s reliance on his history of domestic

violence and failed rehabilitation was improper because those factors were

already accounted for in his prior record score. “It is impermissible for a court

to consider factors already included within the sentencing guidelines as the

sole reason for increasing or decreasing a sentence to the aggravated or

mitigated range. Trial courts are permitted to use prior conviction history and

other factors already included in the guidelines, if they are used to supplement

other extraneous sentencing information.” Commonwealth v. Shugars,

895 A.2d 1270, 1275 (Pa. Super. 2006) (quotation omitted).

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       The record belies Lloyd’s claim. The sentencing court did not rely on his

prior history as the sole reason for imposing aggravated range sentences. The

court noted the harm to Liddick and Lloyd’s failure to take assertive steps to

seek employment or mental health treatment.           That the court may not

exclusively use criminal history in sentencing does not mean that it must

ignore it.

       Moreover, it was not improper for the sentencing court to consider

Lloyd’s history of domestic abuse and his failure to conform his behavior after

those convictions as it relates to his prospects for rehabilitation.          The

sentencing court highlighted Lloyd’s history of domestic abuse against three

separate women. Considering he was convicted of strangling his girlfriend,

this was a permissible consideration of the protection of the public and Lloyd’s

rehabilitative needs. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b).9 Accordingly, we do not find

an abuse of discretion by the sentencing court.

       Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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9 Lloyd also faults the sentencing court for not explaining why Liddick’s injuries
were atypical so as to warrant aggravation. Lloyd, however, does not develop
this argument, and we need not consider its merits. See Commonwealth v.
Perez, 93 A.3d 829, 838 (Pa. 2014) (claims waived for failure to provide
argument or cite supporting authorities).

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 02/05/2019

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