Court Opinion

ID: 9734306
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:31:32.388791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:47.789879
License: Public Domain

HOFFMAN, Judge,
concurring:
I join the majority opinion but write separately to emphasize two matters. First, our Supreme Court has held that the rule announced in Commonwealth v. Riggins, 474 Pa. 115, 377 A.2d 140 (1977), applies to cases which were on direct appeal at the time of that decision. Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 487 Pa. 569, 410 A.2d 758 (1980); Commonwealth v. Jefferson, 484 Pa. 115, 398 A.2d 971 (1979); Commonwealth v. Kostka, 475 Pa. 85, 379 A.2d 884 (1977). Therefore, we must apply the Riggins rule to this case. Additionally, our Court has held that Riggins requires the trial court to state its reasons for the sentence imposed on the record at the time of sentencing, rather than in its opinion. Commonwealth v. Young, 272 Pa.Super. 82, 414 A.2d 679 (1979). Therefore, even if the reasons stated in the trial court’s opinion in this case were sufficient to meet the Riggins requirement, it would still be necessary to remand for resen-tencing.
SPAETH, J., joins in this concurring statement.