Court Opinion

ID: 5132512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-07 18:15:02.26615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:30.459864
License: Public Domain

J-A18002-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA            :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                         :
              v.                         :
                                         :
                                         :
 MELISSA ANN SARVEY                      :
                                         :
                   Appellant             :   No. 985 WDA 2020

      Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered August 19, 2020
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-33-CR-0000605-2007

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA            :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                         :
              v.                         :
                                         :
                                         :
 MELISSA A. SARVEY                       :
                                         :
                   Appellant             :   No. 986 WDA 2020

      Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered August 19, 2020
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-33-CR-0000014-2012

BEFORE: OLSON, J., NICHOLS, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.:                       FILED: December 7, 2021

      Appellant, Melissa A. Sarvey, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered on August 19, 2020 in the Criminal Division of the Court of Common

Pleas of Jefferson County. We vacate Appellant’s judgment of sentence and

remand this matter for further proceedings consistent with this memorandum.

      This Court previously summarized the historical facts in this matter as

follows:
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     The relevant facts and procedural history are as follows: On July
     26, 2011, while Appellant was incarcerated at the Jefferson
     County Correctional Facility, she attempted to deliver one-half of
     a tablet of Oxycodone and one tablet of Zolpidem (Ambien) to
     another inmate. The incident was recorded on video. Appellant
     hid the pills under a commissary form and slid them under her cell
     door toward another inmate's cell.        N.T. Trial, 4/16/12, at
     126-133. A corrections officer noticed the papers being pushed
     underneath Appellant's cell door and attempted to pick them up.
     Id. at 94–97. Appellant refused to release the papers, and after
     a struggle, the officer was able to take the papers away from
     Appellant. Id. at 95. The officer handed the commissary form
     back to Appellant, and as the officer walked away, she noticed a
     baggie containing two pills in the place where the paper had been.
     Id. at 96. The officer confiscated the baggie and, following an
     investigation, Appellant was initially charged with two counts of
     possession with intent to deliver (“PWID”) and two counts of
     possession of a controlled substance by an inmate (“possession
     by an inmate”).       [Shortly before trial, the court granted a
     Commonwealth motion to amend its information by adding
     additional charges. Ultimately, Appellant proceeded to trial on two
     counts of PWID, two counts of possession by an inmate, two
     counts of controlled substance to prison, and two counts of
     criminal attempt].

     On April 16, 2012, a jury found Appellant guilty on all charges.
     On May 17, 2012, the trial court sentenced Appellant to
     consecutive terms of incarceration of one to three years for one
     PWID count and one and one-half years to three years for the
     second PWID count. The court further imposed consecutive terms
     of incarceration of one and one-half years to three years for each
     count of possession by an inmate, and a term of incarceration of
     two to five years for each count of controlled substance to prison.
     Finding that the criminal attempt convictions merged with the
     controlled substance to prison convictions, the sentencing court
     did not impose a sentence for the criminal attempt convictions.
     The trial court also revoked Appellant's probation on a single count
     of hindering apprehension at Docket CP-33-CR-605-2007 and
     sentenced her to an additional term of confinement of one to two
     years. Finally, the trial court revoked Appellant's probation at
     Dockets      CP-33-CR-662-2008,       CP-33-CR-387-2008,         and
     CP-33-CR-388-2008, and resentenced Appellant to five years of

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      probation at each docket, running concurrent to each other.
      Appellant's total period of incarceration was ten and one-half to
      twenty-four years of incarceration followed by five years of
      probation.

      Appellant filed a timely direct appeal, arguing that the trial court
      erred when it allowed the Commonwealth to amend the charges
      immediately before trial. [Appellant’s sole claim alleged] that the
      amendment did not allow her sufficient time to adjust her defense
      strategy and subjected her to mandatory minimum sentences that
      increased the severity of her penalty. This Court found that
      Appellant's appeal was without merit because the new charges did
      not arise from different facts nor would they have required her to
      alter her trial or defense strategy; thus, she was not prejudiced
      by the amendment. See Commonwealth v. Sarvey, 68 A.3d
      368 [(Pa. Super. 2013)] (unpublished memorandum) []. Appellant
      sought Supreme Court review, which was denied on September
      14, 2013. Commonwealth v. Sarvey, [74 A.3d 1031] (Pa.
      2013).

      Appellant sought timely collateral review, and the PCRA court
      appointed counsel. Counsel filed a no merit letter/petition to
      withdraw as counsel pursuant to Commonwealth v. Turner,
      [544 A.2d 927 (Pa. 1988)], and Commonwealth v. Finley, 550
      A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc), on February 14, 2014.
      After receiving notice of the PCRA court's intent to dismiss the
      PCRA petition without a hearing, Appellant sent the court a letter
      in which she stated she wanted to continue the appeal.
      Ultimately, and after a convoluted path and a change of counsel,
      this Court directed the PCRA court to order Appellant to file an
      amended PCRA petition within thirty days from the date of our
      memorandum. Appellant filed her timely amended petition and,
      following an extensive hearing, the PCRA court denied her
      petition.

Commonwealth v. Sarvey, 199 A.3d 436, 443-444 (Pa. Super. 2018)

(Sarvey I), appeal denied, 208 A.3d 62 (Pa. 2019).

      On appeal from the PCRA court's denial of her petition, Appellant raised

multiple issues, including an ineffective assistance of counsel claim alleging

that trial counsel “fail[ed] to raise on appeal the discretionary aspects of the

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[trial] court's sentence.”   Sarvey I, 199 A.3d at 445.     We agreed with

Appellant that her discretionary sentencing claim possessed legal merit, that

counsel lacked a rational basis to forego a challenge to the discretionary

aspects of Appellant’s sentence, and that Appellant was prejudiced by

counsel’s failure to pursue this claim.   Sarvey I, 199 A.3d at 456-457

(“Appellant's sentence of over ten years of incarceration for attempt[ing] to

pass one and one-half pills ... was unduly harsh and clearly unreasonable

given the nature and circumstances of the offenses.”). Accordingly, we

reversed the order denying Appellant’s PCRA petition, vacated Appellant's

judgment of sentence, and remanded her case for resentencing “consistent

with [our] opinion.” Id. at 457.

      On remand, the trial court convened a hearing and, upon conclusion,

resentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of eight to 17 years of

incarceration, followed by two years of probation. Again, Appellant appealed

and, once again, we concluded that the trial court’s sentence was clearly

unreasonable given the facts and circumstances in this case.             See

Commonwealth v. Sarvey, 237 A.3d 484, *5                (Pa. Super. 2020)

(unpublished memorandum) (Sarvey II) (“Here, the trial court resentenced

Appellant to an aggregate 17 years of incarceration. Upon review, we again

conclude that given the circumstances, the sentence was unreasonable.”).

Consequently, we vacated Appellant’s sentence for a second time and

remanded for further proceedings.

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       On remand, the trial court convened a second resentencing hearing on

August 19, 2020. At the conclusion of that hearing, the trial court imposed

an aggregate sentence of seven years and three months to 14½ years’

incarceration. Appellant once again appealed.1

____________________________________________

1 Following the pronouncement of sentence, Appellant filed a notice of appeal
on September 18, 2020. On September 21, 2020, the trial court entered an
order pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) directing Appellant to file a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal within 21 days. Notwithstanding
this directive, counsel did not file a concise statement on Appellant’s behalf
until January 19, 2021.

The trial court docket states that the court’s Rule 1925(b) order was served
on defense counsel via first class mail on September 21, 2020. In her brief,
however, Appellant avers that counsel received neither electronic notification
nor traditional mail notification of the Rule 1925(b) order. See Appellant’s
Brief at 18. Appellant states further that, “[she] first learned of [the court’s
September 21, 2020 Rule 1925(b) order] following the [p]rothonotary’s
January 5, 2021 letter to this Court relating to the transmission of the
underlying record[.]”     See id.     Appellant attributes this breakdown in
communications to disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the
related impacts on postal services and judicial operations. The trial court has
expressed the view that Appellant’s proffered explanations are simply “an
excuse to justify [counsel’s] failure to exercise diligence to stay informed
about the status of [Appellant’s] appeal.” Trial Court Opinion, 1/20/21.

Even if we adopt the trial court’s position that Appellant’s counsel failed to
exercise proper vigilance in this matter, Pa.R.A.P. 1925(c)(3) permits an
appellate court to treat a failure to file and serve a timely concise statement
as per se ineffectiveness where counsel’s actions completely foreclose
appellate review. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925 cmt. In such instances, the rule
envisions remand for the filing of a concise statement and the preparation of
a Rule 1925(a) opinion. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(c)(3) and cmt. Where, however,
a concise statement has been served, and the trial court has had the
opportunity to prepare an opinion, our case law permits us to reach the merits
of an appellate claim. See Commonwealth v. Burton, 973 A.2d 428, 433
(Pa. Super. 2009) (“Thus, if there has been an untimely filing [of a concise
statement], this Court may decide the appeal on the merits if the trial court
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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

       Does sentencing [Appellant] to a maximum sentence in excess of
       ten years constitute an abuse of discretion because a term
       exceeding ten years of incarceration “for attempting to pass one
       and one-half     pills”  is “clearly    unreasonable,”       see
       Commonwealth v. Sarvey, 199 A.3d 536 (Pa. Super. 2018)
       (Sarvey I) and Commonwealth v. Sarvey[, 237 A.3d 484 (Pa.
       Super. 2020)] (Sarvey II)?

Appellant’s Brief at 8.

       Appellant’s claim challenges the discretionary aspects of her sentence.

Our review of the discretionary aspects of a sentence is not a matter of right

but must be viewed as a petition for permission to appeal. Commonwealth

v. Buterbaugh, 91 A.3d 1247, 1265 (Pa. Super. 2014). We apply a four-part

test to assess whether an appellant has validly invoked our jurisdiction to

consider the discretionary aspects of a criminal sentence. Id. In applying

this test, we ask whether:

       (1) the appellant preserved the issue either by raising it at the
       time of sentencing or in a post-sentence motion; (2) the appellant
       filed a timely notice of appeal; (3) the appellant set forth a concise
       statement of reasons relied upon for the allowance of appeal
       pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) the appellant raises a
       substantial question for our review.

Commonwealth v. Baker, 72 A.3d 652, 662 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation

omitted).

____________________________________________

had adequate opportunity to prepare an opinion addressing the issues being
raised on appeal.”). Pursuant to Burton, we shall consider the merits of
Appellant’s claim.

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      Appellant has complied with the first three prongs of the test by raising

her discretionary sentencing claims at the time of sentencing, filing a timely

notice of appeal, and including in her brief a Rule 2119(f) concise statement.

See Appellant's Brief at 12-13. Therefore, we examine whether Appellant

presents a substantial question for our review.

      “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.”          In re

Arrington, 214 A.3d 703, 709 (Pa. Super. 2019). Appellant alleges that, in

the aggregate, her consecutive, guidelines range sentences were excessive.

See Appellant's Brief at 13. She further argues that “a sentence exceeding

ten years for attempting to pass one and a half pills is ‘clearly unreasonable.’”

Id. at 9-10. Appellant has cited pertinent legal authority which can be read

to support the assertion that the sentence imposed in this case was

inappropriate under the sentencing code. Moreover, while we note that the

trial court decreased Appellant's maximum sentence from 17 years to 14½

years, upon review, we again conclude that the sentence was unquestionably

harsh under the circumstances.        See Sarvey I, 199 A.3d at 455-456

(“Although we are cognizant of the danger of any amount of drugs in a prison

setting and realize the sentencing court was familiar with Appellant's history

.... [w]e also note that Appellant's crime did not involve violence. Further, we

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reiterate that Appellant's crime involved one episode of attempting to pass a

very small quantity of prescription pills.”). Thus, Appellant has raised a

substantial question. See Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 171-72

(Pa. Super. 2010) (“[T]he imposition of consecutive, rather than concurrent,

sentences may raise a substantial question ... where the aggregate sentence

is unduly harsh, considering the nature of the crimes and length of

imprisonment.”); Commonwealth v. Dodge, 77 A.3d 1263, 1271 (Pa.

Super. 2013) (“a defendant may raise a substantial question where [s]he

receives consecutive sentences within the guideline ranges if the case involves

circumstances where the application of the guidelines would be clearly

unreasonable, resulting in an excessive sentence”).

      In reviewing Appellant's sentencing claim, we recognize:

      Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
      sentencing judge. The standard employed when reviewing the
      discretionary aspects of sentencing is very narrow. We may
      reverse only if the sentencing court abused its discretion or
      committed an error of law. 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. We must accord
      the sentencing court's decision great weight because it was in the
      best position to review the defendant's character, defiance or
      indifference, and the overall effect and nature of the crime.

Commonwealth v. Cook, 941 A.2d 7, 11-12 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations

omitted).

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      At the outset, we note that, while a trial court on remand must strictly

comply with the mandate of an appellate court, “[a]n appellate [c]ourt has no

power to impose a sentence; that power is to be exercised exclusively by the

trial court and can only be usurped by the legislature.” Commonwealth v

Holiday, 954 A.2d 6, 10 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation omitted). “Therefore,

where an appellate [c]ourt determines a sentence is illegal or otherwise

improper, the [c]ourt may not superimpose its judgment on the trial court by

directing the sentence imposed[.]” Id.

      In deciding Appellant's prior appeals, we directed the trial court to

resentence Appellant. As the imposition of a particular sentence is left to the

discretion of the trial court, we do not read our prior rulings as directing a

specific sentence on remand. See Holiday, 954 A.2d at 10. Our role is simply

to examine Appellant's newly-imposed sentence and determine whether it is

excessive or unduly harsh given the nature and circumstances of the offenses.

Thus, insofar as Appellant claims the trial court erred or abused its discretion

by “flout[ing] this Court’s reasoned direction,” we reject this contention. See

Appellant’s Brief at 15.

      While sentencing resides within the sound discretion of our trial court, it

is well-settled that a trial court's discretion is not unrestricted.        See

Commonwealth v. Robertson, 874 A.2d 1200, 1212 (Pa. Super. 2005)

(deference owed to sentencing courts does not necessitate rubber-stamp

approval of sentences imposed by court) (citation omitted). Otherwise,

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“[a]ppellate review of sentencing matters would become a mockery and a

sham if all sentences were routinely affirmed under the guise of the discretion

of the trial court.” Id. (citation omitted).

      Section 9781(c)(2) of the Sentencing Code provides that, on appeal,

this Court, “shall vacate the sentence and remand the case to the sentencing

court with instructions if it finds [] the sentencing court sentenced within the

sentencing guidelines but the case involves circumstances where the

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

§ 9781(c)(2). In determining whether a particular sentence is clearly

unreasonable,

      the appellate court must consider the defendant's background and
      characteristics as well as the particular circumstances of the
      offense involved, the trial court's opportunity to observe the
      defendant, the presentence investigation report, if any, the
      Sentencing Guidelines as promulgated by the Sentencing
      Commission, and the ‘findings’ upon which the trial court based
      its sentence.

Commonwealth v. Coulverson, 34 A.3d 135, 147 (Pa. Super. 2011)

(citation omitted); see also 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(d) (factors governing

appellate review of record).

      At sentencing, the trial court explained its imposition of a 14½-year

sentence in this case by emphasizing that Appellant brought two different

controlled substances into the jail and attempted to deliver them to another

inmate. N.T. Sentencing, 8/19/20, at 13. The court also noted that, while it

refrained from imposing statutory maximum sentences, Appellant needed

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state parole to assist with her rehabilitation. See id. The court offered the

following, more detailed, explanation on the record at Appellant’s August 2020

hearing.

      That leaves the total amount as no less than seven and one-half
      nor more that fifteen years in a state correctional institution.

      I can clearly put this, there are lots of people that I’ve given ten
      years for delivery of one drug as a maximum sentence and five
      years for delivery for another drug.

      So it works out very good for those that are mathematically
      inclined, ten years for one pill, a consecutive five years for the
      other half pill. It makes them virtually equal.

      I would also say outside the record, every state sentence in
      Lebanon County of which there are today about five thousand
      people, get a maximum sentence, the maximum possible
      maximum sentence. She’s not. She still has other probation. I
      could have given her more.

      There are other counties that do that. She clearly needs state
      parole to guide her, if she really wants to get back with her family
      and other things to help her with her addiction and other things
      which are patently obvious from the record.

      This may be the most criminogenic type of case that I’ve seen in
      nineteen years on the bench.

      She did bring [contraband] into the jail. She did deliver it, and
      she delivered it while she was in solitary – or attempted to deliver
      it. It didn’t quite make it to the other cell, but it wasn’t for lack of
      trying, and that’s what the jury found.

N.T. Sentencing, 8/19/20, at 12-13.

      We begin by observing that “Pennsylvania's sentencing system, as

evidenced by the Sentencing Code and our case law, is based upon

individualized sentencing.” Commonwealth v. Walls, 926 A.2d 957, 967

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(Pa. 2007), citing Commonwealth v. Green, 431 A.2d 918, 920 (Pa. 1981).

With this principle in mind, we conclude that the sentencing decision reached

in this case, while purportedly based upon a number of relevant factors, did

not take into account other compelling factors specific to Appellant and

reflective of her criminal convictions. Therefore, we conclude that the

sentencing court did not render an individualized sentence in this matter.

       Under § 9781(d), our review of the record shall have due regard for the

Appellant’s background and characteristics, the particular circumstances of

the offenses involved, the trial court's opportunity to observe Appellant, the

applicable guidelines, and any findings upon which the trial court based its

sentencing decision. As such, we believe that the sentencing court properly

considered Appellant’s criminal history, her rehabilitative needs, and the fact

that this case involved the transport and attempted delivery of two contraband

substances within the Jefferson County Prison. We cannot agree, however,

that the trial court’s broad discretion allowed it to consider these factors to

the exclusion of other relevant circumstances such as the quantity of drugs

involved.2 Put differently, while it was reasonable for the court to consider

the factors it addressed, it was clearly unreasonable for the court to overlook

the exiguous amount of contraband at issue in this case. More alarmingly,

____________________________________________

2 The trial court’s discussion of “sentencing-by-ratio,” sentencing practices in
other counties, and sentencing under the lawful maximum do not persuade us
that Appellant received an individualized sentence in this case.

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the trial court has disregarded this clearly relevant factor on more than one

occasion.

         Finally, when we look to the general standards for sentencing found at

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b), we conclude that, while the sentencing court

exercised an acceptable level of discretion in considering the protection of the

public     and   Appellant’s   rehabilitative     needs,    its   ultimate   sentencing

determination was grossly disproportionate to the gravity of Appellant’s

offenses.     Therefore, the sentencing court did not properly consider the

requirements of § 9721(b).

         Here, the trial court resentenced Appellant to an aggregate 14½ years

of   incarceration.   Upon     review,   we       again    conclude   that   given   the

circumstances, the sentence was clearly unreasonable. Our prior decisions

recognized the danger of any amount of a controlled substance in a prison

setting, as well as the trial court's familiarity with Appellant. See Sarvey I,

199 A.3d at 455-456.       Nevertheless, the sentence imposed in this case is

inconsistent with the gravity of Appellant’s convictions and the notion of

individualized sentences.      Hence, we are constrained to again remand this

matter for resentencing.

         Judgment of sentence vacated. Case remanded for resentencing.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/7/2021

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