Court Opinion

ID: 3198033
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-26 23:08:59.669282+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:05.422117
License: Public Domain

J-S22014-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                       PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

ANTHONY JOSEPH SPUDIS

                            Appellant                 No. 648 MDA 2015

             Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 5, 2015
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-40-CR-0001913-2013
                                          CP-40-CR-0001914-2013
                                          CP-40-CR-0001955-2014
                                          CP-40-CR-0001956-2014
                                          CP-40-CR-0001957-2014
                                          CP-40-CR-0002007-2013
                                          CP-40-CR-0002756-2014
                                          CP-40-CR-0002759-2014
                                          CP-40-CR-0002893-2014

BEFORE: MUNDY, J., DUBOW, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY MUNDY, J.:                              FILED APRIL 26, 2016

        Appellant, Anthony Joseph Spudis, appeals from the March 5, 2015

aggregate judgment of sentence of 90 months to 180 months’ incarceration,

following his guilty pleas to multiple charges in several cases.1 On appeal,

____________________________________________
*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
  Appellant plead to the following counts at the following docket numbers:
at CP-40-CR-0001913-2013, one count of criminal trespass, 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 3503(a)(1)(ii); at CP-40-CR-0001914-2013, one count of criminal
trespass, id.; at CP-40-CR-0002007-2013, one count of possession of a
controlled substance (heroin) 35 P.S § 780-113(a)(16), and one count
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
J-S22014-16

Appellant challenges the trial court’s determination that he is not eligible for

a Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive (RRRI) sentence2            After careful

consideration, we affirm.

        The trial court summarizes the pertinent procedural history of this case

as follows.

                    On December 22, 2014 [Appellant] appeared
              before the undersigned for purposes of sentencing in
              four separate criminal informations…. At that time
              defense counsel and the Commonwealth indicated
              they wished to present a negotiated plea on six
              additional informations.   Sentencing on all ten[3]
              informations was subsequently scheduled for and
              conducted on March 5, 2015.

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)
possession of drug paraphernalia, id. § 780-113(a)(32); at CP-40-CR-
0001955-2014, one count of criminal attempt (theft by unlawful taking), 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 901(a); at CP-40-CR-0001956-2014, one count of criminal
attempt (burglary), id., and one count of criminal mischief, id.
§ 3304(a)(5); at CP-40-CR-0001957-2014, one count of burglary, id.
§ 3502(a)(1), and one count of theft by unlawful taking, id. § 3921(a); at
CP-40-CR-0002756-2014, one count of theft from motor vehicle, id.
§ 3934(a); at CP-40-CR-0002759-2014, one count of theft from motor
vehicle, id.; and at CP-40-CR-0002893-2014, one count of burglary, id.
§ 3502(a)(2), and one count of theft by unlawful taking, id. § 3921(a).

      At the time of his guilty plea Appellant was charged at CP-40-CR-
0002893-2014 with burglary under Subsection 3502(a)(1). However, at
sentencing the parties agreed no other person was present, making the
correct Subsection 3502(a)(2). Both counts remained first-degree felonies,
and the change of the one Subsection does not affect the issues presented in
this appeal.
2
    61 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 4501-4512.
3
 The trial court sentenced Appellant on charges from CP-40-CR-0004306-
2012, but this docket number was not included in Appellant’s appeal.

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                    Included in the multiple criminal offenses to
              which the defendant entered pleas of guilty were two
              burglaries, both felonies of the first degree. …

                                                   …

                    The defendant was represented by Assistant
              Public Defender Joseph Yeager, Esquire and Conflict
              Counsel    Janan   Tallo, Esquire    on   separate
              informations. …

                    The [trial c]ourt … imposed standard range
              sentences in each of the referenced criminal
              informations.[4] …

                    After setting forth the aggregate sentence the
              Trial Court noted the defendant was “RRRI” eligible.
              The    Commonwealth        disagreed   arguing   the
              presentence investigation was incorrect….

                                               …

                   The Sentencing Judge thereafter referenced
              the Supreme Court’s holding in [Commonwealth v.

____________________________________________
4
  Specifically, the trial court sentenced Appellant to a term of incarceration of
60 to 120 months for the burglary count at docket 1957-2014; a concurrent
term of 35 to 90 months for the burglary count at docket 2893-2014; a
consecutive term of 30 to 60 months for the criminal trespass count at
docket 1914-2013; a concurrent term of 30 to 60 months for the criminal
attempt count at docket 1955-2014; a concurrent term of 30 to 60 months
for the criminal trespass count at docket 1956-2014; a concurrent term of
12 to 24 months for the REAP count at docket 4306-2012; a concurrent term
of 6 to 24 months for the retail theft count at docket 4306-2012; a
concurrent term of 6 to 24 months for the theft from an automobile count at
docket 2759-2014; a concurrent term of 6 to 12 months for the possession
of controlled substance count at docket 2007-2013; a concurrent term of 6
to 12 months for the drug paraphernalia count at docket 2007-2013; a
concurrent term of 6 to 12 months for the theft from an automobile count at
docket 2756-2014; and a $300.00 fine for the criminal mischief count at
docket 1956-2014.

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              Chester, 101 A.3d 56 (Pa. 2014)] and agreed the
              defendant was ineligible.

                    The Office of Public Defender filed a notice of
              appeal on March 26, 2015. An order was issued
              pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) on April 1, 2015. The
              Public Defender requested and the court issued an
              order extending the time within which to file the
              concise statement on April 21, 2015. Appellant’s
              concise statement was subsequently received on
              April 27, 2015 and the Commonwealth submitted a
              response on April 29, 2015.[5]

Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/15, at 1-3 (citation omitted).

        On appeal, Appellant raises the following question for our review.

              Whether the trial court erred by refusing to impose a
              minimum sentence pursuant to the Recidivism Risk
              Reduction Incentive Act [(RRRI)] where [Appellant]
              is an eligible offender because he did not
              “demonstrate a history of present or past violent
              behavior?”

Appellant’s Brief at 2.

         “[W]here    the   trial   court   fails   to   make   a   statutorily   required

determination regarding a defendant’s eligibility for an RRRI minimum

sentence as required, the sentence is illegal.”                    Commonwealth v.

Robinson, 7 A.3d 868, 871 (Pa. Super. 2010). “[T]he determination as to

whether the trial court imposed an illegal sentence is a question of law; our

standard of review in cases dealing with questions of law is plenary.”

Commonwealth v. Main, 6 A.3d 1026, 1028 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citations

omitted).     Appellant’s challenge involves the interpretation of the RRRI
____________________________________________
5
    The trial court filed its Rule 1925(a) opinion on May 21, 2015.

                                           -4-
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statute. “[B]ecause statutory interpretation implicates a question of law, our

scope of review is plenary and our standard of review is de novo.”

Commonwealth v. Hanna, 124 A.3d 757, 759 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation

omitted).

       Pertinent    to   this   appeal,   the      eligibility   requirements       for   RRRI

participation are set forth in the statute as follows.

              § 4503. Definitions

                                               …

              “Eligible offender.” A   defendant    or    inmate
              convicted of a criminal offense who will be
              committed to the custody of the department and
              who    meets   all  of the   following   eligibility
              requirements:

                   (1) Does not demonstrate                      a   history   of
              present or past violent behavior.

                                                   …

61 Pa.C.S.A. § 4503.6

       The dispute in this case is whether Appellant has “demonstrat[ed] a

history of present or past violent behavior” as to disqualify him from RRRI

sentencing under Subsection (1). Appellant’s Brief at 5-6; Commonwealth’s

Brief at 6; Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/15, at 3-4. Appellant argues, “[n]one of

the crimes in [Appellant’s] prior record is a crime of violence, demonstrates

____________________________________________
6
   It is not contested that none of the other disqualifying convictions or
circumstances enumerated in the act apply to Appellant.

                                           -5-
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a violent nature or predisposition or is a personal injury crime….”

Appellant’s Brief at 6. Appellant acknowledges our Supreme Court’s holding

that “a conviction for first-degree burglary constitutes ‘violent behavior’

under Section 4503(1).” Chester, supra at 65. However, Appellant avers

“Chester does not by inference hold that a defendant being currently

sentenced on one current felony[-]one burglary with a person present is

sufficient to render a defendant ineligible for RRRI” and does not constitute a

“history” of violent behavior.   Appellant’s Brief at 6-7 (emphasis added).

      Upon careful review, we conclude Appellant’s argument fails because it

is based on a misinterpretation of the holding in Chester, a misstatement of

the state of the record, and an erroneous interpretation of the RRRI statute.

We first note, that in concluding first-degree felony burglaries are crimes of

violence, the Chester Court did not limit its conclusion to those first-degree

felony burglaries where a person is present during its commission as

Appellant implies.     See Chester, supra at 64-65 (noting only if a

burglarized premises is not adapted for overnight accommodation and no

person is present at the time of entry is the risk of confrontation diminished

and the crime graded as a second degree felony); Appellant’s Brief at 6.

Accordingly, Appellant’s contention that he faces only one current first-

degree felony burglary, which should be deemed insufficient to establish a

“history” under Section 4503(1) is based on a misinterpretation of Chester.

                                      -6-
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       This misinterpretation led to Appellant’s misapprehension of his

relevant record as it pertains to his history of violent behavior.         In

connection with the dockets subject to the instant sentence and appeal,

Appellant pled guilty to two first-degree felony burglaries at dockets CP-40-

CR-0001957-2014 and CP-40-CR-0002893-2014, respectively. Additionally,

Appellant had one prior conviction for first-degree felony burglary.     See

Commonwealth v. Spudis, CP-40-CR-0005024-2006, (docket sheet).7

Therefore, Appellant’s premise, that the trial court determined he had a past

or present history of violent behavior based on a single current conviction of

a first-degree felony burglary is mistaken. Rather, Appellant has one prior

and two current first-degree felony burglary convictions, which under

Chester may disqualify Appellant from RRRI participation.      See Chester,

supra at 65.

       Furthermore, even if Appellant only had a single first-degree felony

burglary conviction, we conclude Appellant misinterprets the RRRI statute on

the question of what may establish a past or present history of violent

behavior.    This Court recently addressed and rejected the identical issue

advanced by Appellant. See Commonwealth v. Cullen-Doyle, --- A3d ---

2016 WL 284428, at *4 (Pa. Super. 2016).         In that case, the appellant
____________________________________________
7
  The trial court stated that Appellant had two prior first-degree felony
burglary convictions. Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/15, at 3 n.3. However, one
of those mentioned appears to be only a second-degree felony burglary
conviction.  See Commonwealth v. Spudis, CP-40-CR-0000841-2002,
(docket sheet)

                                           -7-
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claimed “the trial court erred in finding him ineligible for the RRRI program

because this case involves only a single burglary conviction and he has

neither a past history of disqualifying convictions nor a present history of

multiple convictions.”   Id.   In Cullen-Doyle, we noted that the Chester

Court “determined that it did not need to decide whether a single conviction

qualified as a ‘history of violent behavior’ under Section 4503(1).” Id. After

analyzing the text and history of the RRRI statute, the Chester decision,

and other relevant sentencing considerations, we concluded that “Section

4503(1) does not distinguish between violent behaviors that take place in

the past and those that occur in the present; both forms of violent conduct

disqualify participation in the RRRI program.” Id. at *5. We therefore held

that “[t]he legislature’s use of general terms to describe the disqualifying

conduct set forth in § 4503(1) persuades us that a single conviction for first-

degree burglary, an admittedly violent act under long-standing Pennsylvania

law, is sufficient to establish a present history of violent behavior.” Id.

      Based on the foregoing, we discern no error by the trial court in its

determination that Appellant was not RRRI eligible based on his three past

and current convictions for burglaries graded as first-degree felonies.

Accordingly, we deem Appellant’s sentence to be a legal one and, therefore,

affirm the March 5, 2015 judgment of sentence.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

                                      -8-
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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/26/2016

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