Court Opinion

ID: 3160459
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-07 20:07:39.065141+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:59:52.889852
License: Public Domain

J-S63044-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,            :      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :            PENNSYLVANIA
                  Appellee               :
                                         :
           v.                            :
                                         :
JAMES A. DAVIS,                          :
                                         :
                  Appellant              :           No. 1305 EDA 2015

      Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence entered on April 2, 2015
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County,
               Criminal Division, No. CP-64-CR-0000430-2014

BEFORE: DONOHUE, MUNDY and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                    FILED DECEMBER 07, 2015

     James A. Davis (“Davis”) appeals from the judgment of sentence

imposed following his guilty plea to receiving stolen property.      See 18

Pa.C.S.A. § 3925(a).    Additionally, Richard B. Henry, Esquire (“Henry”),

Davis’s counsel, has filed a Petition to Withdraw as counsel and an

accompanying brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744

(1967). We grant Henry’s Petition to Withdraw and affirm Davis’s judgment

of sentence.

     On January 29, 2015, Davis entered an open guilty plea to receiving

stolen property. Davis admitted that he intentionally received, retained or

disposed of a laptop computer, a Sony PlayStation 3, a digital camera, and

jewelry. On April 2, 2015, the trial court sentenced Davis to four months to

twenty-three and one-half months in prison, with credit for time served.
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      Davis filed a timely Notice of Appeal. The trial court ordered Davis to

file a Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b) Concise Statement.

In response to the Order, Henry filed a Notice of intent to file an Anders

brief, and the trial court issued an Opinion.

      On appeal, Henry has filed an Anders Brief raising the following

question: “Did the Trial Court err in sentencing [Davis] within the standard

sentencing guidelines?” Anders Brief at 1. Henry filed a separate Petition

to Withdraw with this Court on July 31, 2015. Davis filed neither a pro se

brief, nor retained alternate counsel for this appeal.

      We must first determine whether Henry has complied with the dictates

of   Anders   in   petitioning   to    withdraw   from   representation.   See

Commonwealth v. Goodwin, 928 A.2d 287, 290 (Pa. Super. 2007)

(stating that “[w]hen faced with a purported Anders brief, this Court may

not review the merits of any possible underlying issues without first

examining counsel’s request to withdraw.”) (citation omitted). Pursuant to

Anders, when an attorney believes that an appeal is frivolous and wishes to

withdraw as counsel, he or she must

      (1) petition the court for leave to withdraw stating that after
      making a conscientious examination of the record, counsel has
      determined the appeal would be frivolous; (2) file a brief
      referring to any issues that might arguably support the appeal,
      but which does not resemble a no-merit letter; and (3) furnish a
      copy of the brief to the defendant and advise him of his right to
      retain new counsel, proceed pro se, or raise any additional points
      he deems worthy of this Court’s attention.

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Commonwealth v. Burwell, 42 A.3d 1077, 1083 (Pa. Super. 2012)

(citation omitted).

      Additionally, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has determined that a

proper Anders brief must

      (1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with
      citations to the record; (2) refer to anything in the record that
      counsel believes arguably supports the appeal; (3) set forth
      counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous; and (4) state
      counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is frivolous.
      Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of record, controlling
      case law, and/or statutes on point that have led to the
      conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349, 361 (Pa. 2009).                 “Once

counsel has satisfied the [Anders] requirements, it is then this Court’s duty

to conduct its own review of the trial court’s proceedings and render an

independent judgment as to whether the appeal is, in fact, wholly frivolous.”

Commonwealth v. Edwards, 906 A.2d 1225, 1228 (Pa. Super. 2006).

      Here, Henry has complied with each of the requirements of Anders

and Santiago.     Henry indicates that he has conscientiously examined the

record, case law, and statutes, and determined that an appeal would be

frivolous. Further, Henry’s brief meets the standards set forth in Santiago

by providing a factual summation of Davis’s case, with support for his

conclusion that the appeal is frivolous. Henry indicates that he is thoroughly

familiar with the case, having represented Davis from trial to sentencing.

Finally, Henry provided a copy of his letter to Davis, informing him of his

intention to withdraw as counsel and advising him of his right to retain new

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counsel, proceed pro se, and file additional claims.          Because Henry has

complied   with     the   procedural   requirements     for   withdrawing     from

representation, we will independently review the record to determine

whether Davis’s appeal is, in fact, wholly frivolous.

      Davis   challenges    the   discretionary   aspects     of   his   sentence.1

“Challenges to the discretionary aspects of sentencing do not entitle an

appellant to review as of right.” Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162,

170 (Pa. Super. 2010).       Prior to reaching the merits of a discretionary

sentencing issue,

      [this Court conducts] 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, [see] 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, [see] 42
      Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).

Moury, 992 A.2d at 170 (citation omitted).

      Here, Davis filed a timely Notice of Appeal. However, he did not raise

his sentencing claim in a post-sentence motion or at sentencing.               See

Commonwealth v. Reaves, 923 A.2d 1119, 1125 (Pa. 2007) (stating that

“failure to file a motion for reconsideration after failing to object at

sentencing [] operates to waive issues relating to the discretionary aspects

1
  Davis entered an open guilty plea, so his plea did not preclude a challenge
to the discretionary aspects of his sentence. See Commonwealth v.
Tirado, 870 A.2d 362, 365 n.5 (Pa. Super. 2005).

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of sentencing”); see also Commonwealth v. Williams, 787 A.2d 1085,

1088 (Pa. Super. 2001) (stating that claims challenging discretionary

aspects of sentencing are waived when the sentencing judge is not afforded

the opportunity to reconsider or modify the sentence through a post-

sentence motion or an objection at sentencing).           Further, while a Rule

2119(f) Statement has been included in the brief, Davis fails to raise a

substantial question. See Anders Brief at 7 (wherein “Davis argues that the

trial court abused its discretion by imposing the sentence given in this

matter”); see also Commonwealth v. Titus, 816 A.2d 251, 255 (Pa.

Super. 2003) (stating that “to establish a substantial question, the appellant

must    show   actions   by   the   sentencing   court   inconsistent   with   the

Pennsylvania Sentencing Code or contrary to the fundamental norms

underlying the sentencing process.”). Regardless of these defects, Anders

requires that we examine the merits of Davis’s claims to determine whether

his appeal is, in fact, “wholly frivolous” in order to rule upon counsel’s

request to withdraw. See Commonwealth v. Wilson, 578 A.2d 523, 525

(Pa. Super. 1990) (stating that discretionary aspects of sentencing raised in

an Anders brief must be addressed on appeal, despite procedural

violations).

       Our standard of review for challenges to discretionary aspects of

sentencing is well settled:

       [S]entencing is vested in the discretion of the trial court, and will
       not be disturbed absent a manifest abuse of that discretion. An

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      abuse of discretion involves a sentence which was manifestly
      unreasonable, or which resulted from partiality, prejudice, bias
      or ill will. It is more than just an error in judgment.

Commonwealth v. Malovich, 903 A.2d 1247, 1252-53 (Pa. Super. 2006)

(citation omitted).

      Davis asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by imposing the

sentence. Anders Brief at 9.

      At sentencing, the trial court considered a letter from the victim. N.T.,

4/2/15, at 5. Additionally, the trial court had the benefit of a pre-sentence

investigation report.2   See id. at 2-8; see also Commonwealth v.

Downing, 990 A.2d 788, 794 (Pa. Super. 2010) (stating that “where the

trial court is informed by a pre-sentence report, it is presumed that the court

is aware of all appropriate sentencing factors and considerations, and that

where the court has been so informed, its discretion should not be

disturbed”) (quotation marks and citations omitted).     The record indicated

that Davis had been arrested twice for DUI since October 2014, had three

prior convictions, and had three outstanding bench warrants. N.T., 4/2/15,

at 7-8. Further, the trial court considered the sentencing guidelines. Id. at

5-6; see also Anders Brief at 10. (stating that Davis carried a prior record

score of 1 and pled guilty to receiving stolen property, which has an offense

gravity score of 3).

2
  Davis did not show up for the pre-sentence investigation interview, and,
therefore, the report reflected what was of record. N.T., 4/2/15, at 5-8.

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      In imposing the sentence, the trial court considered the pre-sentence

investigation report, the sentencing guidelines, the recommendation to the

court, and the victim’s statements.        N.T., 4/2/15, at 2-8; see also

Downing, 990 A.2d at 794.       Further, Davis’s sentence of four to twenty-

three and one-half months in prison was well within the standard range.

See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1104(1);3 see also Anders Brief at 11 (stating that the

sentencing judge showed no prejudice or ill-will, but rather partiality in favor

of Davis, by granting him a sentence of two months less than recommended

by the prosecution and requested by him). Accordingly, the trial court did

not abuse its discretion in imposing the sentence.

      Additionally, our independent review of the record indicates that there

are no other claims that arguably support the appeal.       See Anders, 386

U.S. at 744-45.      Based upon the foregoing, Davis’s appeal is wholly

frivolous, and Henry is entitled to withdraw as counsel.

      Petition to Withdraw as counsel granted. Judgment of sentence

affirmed.

      Donohue, J., joins the memorandum.

      Mundy, J., concurs in the result.

3
  Receiving stolen property is punishable by a maximum sentence of five
years imprisonment. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1104(1).

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/7/2015

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