Court Opinion

ID: 4229769
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-18 19:22:46.998609+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:51.667818
License: Public Domain

J-S68010-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                   :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
WILLIAM TIHIEVE RUSSAW                         :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 256 MDA 2017

            Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 17, 2017
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-22-CR-0004591-2016,
               CP-22-CR-0004769-2015, CP-22-CR-0005187-2015

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

MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.:                           FILED DECEMBER 18, 2017

        William Tihieve Russaw appeals from his judgment of sentence of 1½ to

4 years’ imprisonment, entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin

County, imposed after he violated the terms of his probation and the

conditions of his intermediate punishment (“IP”).         After careful review, we

affirm.

        On September 20, 2016, Russaw pled guilty to stalking,1 three counts

of selling a non-controlled substance as a controlled substance,2 two counts

of possession of drug paraphernalia,3 and tampering with evidence.4           The
____________________________________________

1   18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2709.1.

2   35 Pa.C.S.A. § 780-113(a)(35)(ii).

3   35 Pa.C.S.A. § 780-113(a)(32).

4   18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4910(a).
____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S68010-17

same day, the trial court sentenced Russaw to an aggregate term of 60

months of IP, 12 months’ electronic monitoring, and 12 months’ probation.

The trial court summarized the procedural and factual history following

Russaw’s sentencing as follows:

     [Russaw] was arrested on November 15, 2016, less than two
     months after his sentenc[ing], for multiple violations of probation
     and the conditions of intermediate punishment. [Russaw] violated
     probation by failing to allow the probation officer access to his
     house, lying to the officer, failing to follow the officer’s
     instructions, failing to pay any of his fines or costs, using drugs,
     having access to drug paraphernalia, and possessing more than
     one cell phone. [Russaw] also violated the electronic monitoring
     requirements by having multiple unapproved outs and allowing
     the device to die. There were a total of 246 violations during the
     two[-]month period that appellant was on probation and
     intermediate punishment.

     [Russaw] asserted that he hesitated to open the door for [his]
     probation [officer] because a [woman] was not properly clothed[,]
     and he did not follow the officer’s direction because he was unsure
     that it was his probation officer. [Russaw] claimed that he was
     unable to make payments on his fines and costs because he had
     only been out of prison for one month. He then explained that he
     possessed three cellphones because of work and failed to charge
     the electronic monitor because he was working three jobs.
     Further, [Russaw] claims that the drug paraphernalia was only a
     girl’s hair beads.

Trial Court Opinion, 3/6/17, at 1-3.      On January 17, 2017, following a

revocation and sentencing hearing, the trial court resentenced Russaw to 1½

to 4 years’ imprisonment for violating technical probation rules 246 times. On

January 26, 2017, Russaw filed a timely post sentence motion for modification

                                    -2-
J-S68010-17

of sentence, and on February 3, 2017, Russaw filed a timely notice of appeal.5

Both Russaw and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925. Russaw

raises the following issue on appeal:

       Was not the imposition of a probation violation sentence of 1½ to
       4 years’ incarceration clearly unreasonable, so manifestly
       excessive as to constitute an abuse of discretion, and inconsistent
       with the protection of the public, the gravity of the offenses, and
       defendant’s rehabilitative needs where the revocation conduct
       involved technical violation of parole/probation?

Brief of Appellant, at 5.

       When reviewing the outcome of a revocation proceeding, this Court is

limited to determining the validity of the proceeding, the legality of the

judgment of sentence imposed, and the discretionary aspects of sentencing.

____________________________________________

5 Pa.R.C.P. 720(B)(3)(d) provides that “[i]f the [trial court] judge denies [a]
post-sentence motion, the judge promptly shall issue an order and the order
shall be filed and served as provided in [Pa.R.C.P. 114].” Additionally, “[i]f
the judge fails to decide [a post-sentence motion] within 120 days . . . the
motion shall be deemed denied by operation of law.” Pa.R.C.P. 720(B)(3)(a).
“When a post-sentence motion is denied by operation of law, the clerk of
courts shall forthwith enter an order on behalf of the court[.]” Pa.R.C.P.
720(B)(3)(c). A timely written order, by either the trial court or the clerk of
courts upon denial of a post-sentence motion by operation of law, is intended
to protect a defendant’s right to appeal. Commonwealth v. Braykovich,
664 A.2d 133 (Pa. Super. 1995).

Absent from the certified record and/or docket is an order by Honorable
Richard A. Lewis denying Russaw’s post-sentence motion or an order entered
by the clerk of courts denying his motion by operation of law. However,
Russaw filed his notice of appeal on February 3, 2017, and thus, even if the
trial court had denied Russaw’s motion the day he filed it, his appeal would
have been timely, as only eight days had tolled. See Pa.R.A.P. 903.
Therefore, although we acknowledge the absence of an order denying
Russaw’s post-sentence motion in the certified docket and record, we do not
find that Russaw’s appeal right was prejudiced.

                                           -3-
J-S68010-17

Commonwealth v. Carterette, 83 A.3d 1031, 1033-34 (Pa. Super. 2013).

Here, Russaw claims that the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing

him to total confinement following the revocation of his probation and

intermediate punishment.       The imposition of a sentence following the

revocation of probation is “vested within the sound discretion of the trial court,

which, absent an abuse of discretion, will not be disturbed on appeal.”

Commonwealth v. Smith, 669 A.2d 1008, 1011 (Pa. Super. 1996).                  An

abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment, such that a sentencing

court will not be found to have abused its discretion unless the record discloses

that it ignored or misapplied the law, or that the judgement exercised was

manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will.

Commonwealth v. Highland, 875 A.2d 1175, 1184 (Pa. Super. 2005).

      However, “[c]hallenges to the discretionary aspects of sentencing do not

entitle an appellant to an appeal as of right.” Commonwealth v. Sierra, 752
A.2d 910, 912 (Pa. Super. 2010).           Prior to reaching the merits of a

discretionary sentencing issue,

      we conduct a four-part analysis to determine: (1) whether
      appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, [s]ee 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,
      [s]ee 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. Evans, 901 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa. Super. 2006) (internal

citations omitted).

                                      -4-
J-S68010-17

        Accordingly, when appealing the discretionary aspects of a sentence, an

appellant must invoke the appellate court’s jurisdiction by including in his brief

a separate concise statement demonstrating that there is a substantial

question as to the appropriateness of the sentence under the Sentencing

Code.       Commonwealth       v.   Mouzon,     812 A.2d 617    (Pa.   2002);

Pa.R.A.P.2119(f). The concise statement must indicate “where the sentence

falls in relation to the sentencing guidelines and what particular provision of

the code it violates.” Commonwealth v. Kiesel, 854 A.2d 530, 532 (Pa.

Super. 2004) (quoting Commonwealth v. Goggins, 748 A.2d 721, 727 (Pa.

Super. 2000)).      A substantial question exists “only when the appellant

advances a colorable argument that the sentencing judge’s actions were

either: (1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the sentencing code; or (2)

contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing process.”

Sierra, 752 A.2d at 912-13.

        Russaw has complied with the requirements necessary for us to reach

the merits of his discretionary sentencing issue. Evans, supra. Russaw filed

a motion for reconsideration of sentence on January 26, 2017, after which he

filed a timely notice of appeal on February 3, 2017. Russaw has also included

a Rule 2119(f) statement in his brief. Brief of Appellant, at 10-12. Instantly,

Russaw argues that his sentence of total confinement following the revocation

of his probation for a technical violation, rather than a new criminal offense,

raises a substantial question; we agree. For the purpose of challenging the

discretionary aspect of a sentence, the imposition of a sentence of total

                                      -5-
J-S68010-17

confinement after the revocation of probation for a technical rule violation,

and not a new criminal offense, implicates the fundamental norms underlying

the sentencing process, thus, raising a substantial question. Commonwealth

v. Crump, 995 A.2d 1280, 1282 (Pa. Super. 2010); Sierra, supra.

      When imposing a sentence of total confinement after a probation

revocation, the sentencing court need not undertake a lengthy discourse for

its reasons for imposing a sentence or specifically reference the statute in

question, but the record as a whole must reflect the sentencing court’s

consideration of the facts of the crime and character of the offender. Crump,
995 A.2d at 1282-83. Further,

      Under [section] 9771(c), a court may sentence a defendant to
      total confinement subsequent to revocation of probation if any of
      the following conditions exist:

           1. the defendant has been convicted of another crime; or

           2. the conduct of the defendant indicates that it is likely that
           he will commit another crime if he is not imprisoned; or

           3. such a sentence is essential to vindicate the authority of
           this court.

Id.

      Russaw concedes that his sentence falls within the sentencing

guidelines, however, he avers that his “case involves circumstances where the

application of the guidelines would be clearly unreasonable.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. §

9781(c)(2). His claim is meritless. Here, Russaw violated his probation an

                                     -6-
J-S68010-17

extraordinary 246 times in less than two months.6          Russaw’s violations

included, but were not limited to, the following: (1) not allowing his probation

officer to access his residence; (2) failing to pay fines and costs; (3) smoking

marijuana and possessing suspected drug paraphernalia; (4) not reporting his

new residential address to his probation officer; (5) returning to a prohibited

residence 16 times; (6) possessing multiple cellphones in violation of signed

drug rules; (7) numerous unapproved outings while on house arrest; and (8)

allowing his electronic monitoring device to die 16 times. N.T. Revocation and

Sentencing, 1/17/17, at 2-4.

       Based on these violations, Russaw’s tendency to abscond from

supervision, and his continued inability to follow the rules of probation and

parole, the trial court determined that Russaw was likely to commit another

crime if he was not imprisoned.7 Crump, supra. After review, we discern no
____________________________________________

6 Russaw contests several of the violations his probation officer alleged. At
Russaw’s revocation hearing, Judge Lewis, acting as the factfinder, found
credible the testimony of Probation Officer Bruce Cutter. See generally N.T.
Revocation and Sentencing Hearing, 1/17/17;           see also Flowers v.
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 987 A.2d 1269, 1271 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2010) (Board of Probation and Parole, as ultimate fact-finder in
parole revocation hearing, evaluates witness credibility, resolves conflicts in
evidence, and assigns evidentiary weight).

7  Russaw argues that he poses no threat to the public, as his probation
violations are not violent in nature, and thus total confinement is unnecessary.
However, section 9771(c) does not require that a defendant’s conduct indicate
it is likely he will commit another violent crime. Rather, section 9711(c)
provides that a court may sentence a defendant to total confinement
subsequent to revocation of probation where “the conduct of the defendant
indicates that it is likely that he will commit another crime if he is not

                                           -7-
J-S68010-17

evidence that the trial court was motivated by partiality, prejudice, bias or ill

will, or that Russaw’s sentence was manifestly unreasonable.

       Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/18/2017

____________________________________________

imprisoned.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9771(c)(2). Therefore, Russaw’s argument is
unavailing.

                                           -8-