Court Opinion

ID: 4400452
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-24 15:46:01.030214+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:06.081345
License: Public Domain

J-S80021-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                             :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                             :
                 v.                          :
                                             :
                                             :
 RAYMOND L. CARMONA                          :
                                             :
                       Appellant             :   No. 3506 EDA 2017

          Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence October 2, 2017
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-CR-0007418-2014

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES, J., and NICHOLS, J.

MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.:                                   FILED MAY 24, 2019

         Raymond L. Carmona appeals from the judgment of sentence of

seventeen and one-half to thirty-five years of imprisonment imposed after he

was convicted of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful

contact with a minor, unlawful restraint, attempted sexual assault, false

imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, corrupting the morals of a

minor, attempted indecent assault, and indecent exposure. We affirm.

         The certified record supports the trial court’s succinct recitation of the

facts:

              On March 17, 2014, twelve year old C.A. lived with her
         mother and . . . Appellant. (N.T. 05/19/2017 at p. 12). C.A.
         stayed home from school that day due to severe menstrual
         cramps with Appellant. (Id. at 14-15, 68). C.A.’s mother left for
         work at or around 10:00 A.M. (Id. at 69). At some point before
         noon, both C.A. and Appellant were in the living room watching
         the movie “Despicable Me.” (Id. at 16). C.A. testified that while
         they were watching the movie, Appellant grabbed her wrist and
J-S80021-18

      led her to the bedroom. (Id.). C.A. asked him, “what are you
      doing,” but received no response. (Id.). Appellant then threw
      C.A. onto the bed and began to undress her. (Id.). Specifically,
      Appellant undressed C.A. from the waist and below, but left her
      top on. (Id. at 38, 41). C.A. testified that she physically resisted
      the Appellant by pulling back and kicking. (Id. at 41). Appellant
      then pulled his pants down, grabbed his penis, and pushed it
      towards C.A.’s face while instructing her to “put this in your
      mouth.” (Id. at 16). C.A. pushed Appellant away from her and
      ran into the living room, locking the door behind her. (Id.). C.A.
      testified that Appellant “tried to catch [her] but couldn’t.” (Id. at
      43). C.A. spoke to her mother via telephone and explained "the
      situation" and that the Appellant was “trying to kiss her and touch
      her.” (Id. at 64).

            Appellant made repeated attempts to force the living room
      door open while C.A. was on the phone with her mother. (Id. at
      16, 26). Eventually, Appellant was able to break the lock and
      enter the living room, thereby damaging the doorframe. (Id. at
      26-27). At trial, the Commonwealth entered a photo of the
      damaged doorframe into evidence as exhibit C-2A. (Id. at 27).
      Upon entering the room, Appellant said to C.A., “Why you tell your
      mom? I'm not going to see my son again.” (Id. at 26). Appellant
      immediately left the residence afterwards. Id.

Trial Court Opinion, 4/10/18, at 2-3.

      Following a bifurcated bench trial, Appellant was convicted of the above-

referenced offenses. On September 15, 2017, the trial court imposed twelve

to twenty-four years of imprisonment followed by ten years of probation.

However, upon review of Appellant’s ensuing motion for reconsideration, and

following argument by the parties, the trial court reconsidered Appellant’s

sentence and increased it to seventeen and one-half to thirty-five years of

incarceration. This timely appeal followed.

      Appellant complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and reiterates two issues for

our review:

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       I.     Whether the evidence submitted was insufficient as a matter
       of law to convict Appellant of criminal attempt—[IDSI] with a
       child[.]

       II.   Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it
       imposed an excessively punitive sentence of [seventeen and one-
       half] to [thirty-five] years’ incarceration followed by ten years’
       reporting probation on [his convictions].

Appellant’s brief at 7 (footnotes omitted).      1

       Appellant’s first issue is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence

that supported the conviction for attempted IDSI with a child. In reviewing a

challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we must determine “whether the

evidence admitted at trial, and all the reasonable inferences derived therefrom

viewed in favor of the Commonwealth as verdict winner, supports the jury’s

finding of all the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Commonwealth v. Packer, 168 A.3d 161, 163 reasons n.3 (Pa. 2017)

(quoting Commonwealth v. Cash, 137 A.3d 1262, 1269 (Pa. 2016)).

       The attempt statute provides that “[a] person commits an attempt

when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he does any act which constitutes

a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 901(a).

____________________________________________

1 As phrased in his brief, Appellant’s statement of questions presented on
appeal purported to assail the sufficiency of evidence underlying all nine of his
convictions. However, the only challenge that he raised in his Rule 1925(b)
statement related to attempted IDSI. Hence, that is the only claim of
insufficient evidence that is preserved for our review. See Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b)(4)(vii) (“Issues not included in the Statement . . . are waived”). We
modified Appellant’s first issue accordingly.

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As we explained in In re R.D., 44 A.3d 657 (Pa.Super. 2012), “The substantial

step test broadens the scope of attempt liability by concentrating on the acts

the defendant has done and does not any longer focus on the acts remaining

to be done before the actual commission of the crime.” Id. at 678 (internal

quotation marks and citation omitted).

      To sustain a conviction for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a

child, the Commonwealth must establish that the defendant, who was an

adult, engaged in deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion with a

person less than 13 years old. 18 Pa.C.S. § 3123(a), (b). The crimes code

defines deviate sexual intercourse as “[s]exual intercourse per os or per anus

between human beings[.]” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3101.

      Instantly, Appellant argues that the Commonwealth failed to adduce

sufficient evidence to establish the substantial-step element of attempted IDSI

with a child.   Appellant’s brief at 24-25.   Specifically, he asserts that the

Commonwealth’s failure to present consistent evidence “as to what happened

before Appellant allegedly attempted to assault C.A.”     Id. at 25.   For the

following reasons, Appellant’s claim fails.

      First, Appellant’s argument belies his understanding of a sufficiency of

the evidence claim.    A finding of insufficient evidence requires a lack of

evidence supporting the convictions, not the existence of evidence of opposing

force. Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745, 751-52 (Pa. 2000).

Presently, Appellant’s speculative claim sounds in weight of the evidence,

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which was not preserved for appeal. Instead of pointing to an element of the

offense that the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt,

Appellant engages in conjecture about the incident and suggests scenarios

that the fact-finder could have believed, but did not.    Indeed, Appellant’s

argument is replete with references to “what is plausible,” “[w]hat is far more

plausible,” what “is likely,” “[f]ar more likely,” and what is “far more

believable.”   Id. at 26-28.   Appellant’s speculation about what could have

happened during the assault does not negate the competent evidence that the

Commonwealth adduced to demonstrate what actually occurred.

      Furthermore,    Appellant’s   argument     conveniently    ignores   the

Commonwealth’s evidence which demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt

that, while Appellant was babysitting twelve-year-old C.A., he grabbed her by

the wrist, directed her to the bedroom, forced her onto her mother’s bed,

removed her clothes, placed his penis near the child’s face, and ordered her

to “[p]ut this in your mouth. ” N.T., 5/19/17, 16. Notwithstanding Appellant’s

protestations to the contrary, the foregoing evidence is sufficient to sustain

the trial court’s determination that Appellant made a substantial step toward

committing IDSI with a child. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Pasley, 743

A.2d 521, 524 (Pa.Super. 1999) (finding substantial step toward commission

of sexual assault where defendant threw victim on bed, straddled her, partially

removed shirt and bra, and attempted to unbutton her pants).

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       Appellant’s second argument challenges the discretionary aspect of his

sentence, which is not appealable as of right.

       [W]e conduct 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, 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. Bebout, 186 A.3d 462, 470 (Pa.Super. 2018) (quoting

Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 170 (Pa.Super. 2010)).

       Instantly, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal, leveled his

sentencing claim in a post-sentence motion,2 preserved it in a timely Rule

1925(b) statement, and included in his brief the required statement of reasons

for allowance of appeal that we find presented a substantial question. See

Commonwealth v. Swope, 123 A.3d 333, 340 (Pa.Super. 2015) (when

paired with allegation that court failed to consider mitigating factors and

rehabilitative needs, claim that sentence is manifestly excessive raises

substantial question).

____________________________________________

2  Having asserted manifest excessiveness in the post-sentence motion filed
on September 25, 2017, Appellant was not required to reassert those claims
following the court’s modified judgment of sentence that was entered on
October 2, 2017. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720 cmt-Miscellaneous (“Once a sentence
has been modified or reimposed pursuant to a motion to modify sentence
under paragraph (B)(1)(a)(v) or Rule 721, a party wishing to challenge the
decision on the motion does not have to file an additional motion to modify
sentence in order to preserve an issue for appeal, as long as the issue was
properly preserved at the time sentence was modified or reimposed.”).

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      Appellant asserts that the judgment of sentence was manifestly

excessive, unreasonable, and surpassed what was required to protect the

public or foster his rehabilitation. The crux of Appellant’s claim is that the trial

court failed to consider the statutory factors in imposing the aggregate

sentence of seventeen and one-half to thrifty-five years of imprisonment.

Specifically, he opines “it is apparent that the sentencing court allowed its

good judgment to be impeded by partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will” and

asserts that, “[e]ven with the most cautious and deferential review, it is clear

that this sentence was fashioned wholly to punish Appellant without any

regard for the appropriate considerations of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781.” Appellant’s

brief at 32. For the following reasons, no relief is due.

      Our standard of review for sentencing claims is well settled.

      Sentencing is a matter vested within the discretion of the trial court
      and will not be disturbed absent a manifest abuse of discretion.
      Commonwealth v. Johnson, 967 A.2d 1001 (Pa.Super. 2009).
      An abuse of discretion requires the trial court to have acted with
      manifest unreasonableness, or partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will,
      or such lack of support so as to be clearly erroneous.
      Commonwealth v. Walls, 592 Pa. 557, 926 A.2d 957 (2007).

Commonwealth v. Crump, 995 A.2d 1280, 1282 (Pa.Super. 2010).

      In Walls, supra, our Supreme Court observed that appellate review of

the discretionary aspects of a sentence is outlined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(c) and

(d). As it relates to the assertion Appellant levels herein, § 9781(d) directs

that we assess the reasonableness of a sentence based upon the following

factors:

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     (d) Review of record.--In reviewing the record the appellate
     court shall have regard for:

     (1) The nature and circumstances of the offense and the history
     and characteristics of the defendant.

     (2) The opportunity of the sentencing court to observe the
     defendant, including any presentence investigation.

     (3) The findings upon which the sentence was based.

     (4) The guidelines promulgated by the commission.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(d).

     This Court subsequently defined “unreasonable” as follows:

           The Walls Court noted that the term “unreasonable”
     generally means a decision that is either irrational or not guided
     by sound judgment. It held that a sentence can be defined as
     unreasonable either upon review of the four elements contained
     in § 9781(d) or if the sentencing court failed to take into account
     the factors outlined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b).1
     __________________________________________________
     1 Section 9721(b) states in pertinent part:

        [T]he court shall follow the general principle that the
        sentence imposed should call for confinement that is
        consistent with the protection of the public, the gravity of
        the offense as it relates to the impact on the life of the victim
        and on the community, and the rehabilitative needs of the
        defendant. The court shall also consider any guidelines for
        sentencing adopted by the Pennsylvania Commission on
        Sentencing[.]

Commonwealth v. Daniel, 30 A.3d 494, 497 (Pa.Super.2011).

     As noted, Appellant asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in

imposing seventeen and one-half to thirty-five years imprisonment.          We

disagree.   Upon our review of the certified record and examination of the

penalty pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781, and the sentencing factors outlined in

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42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b), we find no basis to vacate the judgment of sentence as

unreasonable.      First, Appellant had an extensive criminal history with

escalating violence and “a high risk for incurring future offenses[,]” including

myriad prison infractions while incarcerated on these offenses. N.T., 10/2/17,

at 16. Further, the certified record reveals that the trial court considered the

nature and circumstances of the attempted IDSI with a child, reviewed the

sentencing guidelines and presentence investigation report, and accounted for

Appellant’s history of violence, insincerity, and lack of genuine remorse. Id.

Immediately before passing sentence, the court pronounced, “I always hope

for the best, but honestly I don’t feel that you can be rehabilitated. I think

you are a direct threat and a danger to society.” Id. at 17.

        The foregoing references to the certified record belie Appellant’s

allegations of bias and consideration of improper factors. Stated plainly, the

trial   court   contemplated   the   sentencing   guidelines,   the   nature   and

circumstances of the attempted assault, and Appellant’s criminal history.

Likewise, it heard Appellant’s sentencing allocution, reviewed the presentence

investigation, and summarized its findings on the record. As the trial court

had the benefit of a presentence investigation, we are required to presume all

of the sentencing factors were weighed. Commonwealth v. Macias, 968

A.2d 773, 778 (Pa.Super. 2009). Accordingly, when viewed in light of the four

statutory factors outlined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(d) and the factors outlined in

§ 9721(b), we find that the trial court was not clearly unreasonable. As our

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Supreme Court stated in Walls, supra at 963, an unreasonable sentence is

irrational or not guided by sound judgment. This is not that case.3

         As the trial court considered the totality of the sentencing factors,

Appellant’s challenge to the discretionary aspect of sentencing on this basis

fails.

         Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 5/24/2019

____________________________________________

3 We observe that Appellant does not expressly assert that the trial court’s
reconsidered sentences was motivated by vindictiveness. To the extent that
Appellant’s argument implicates vindictiveness, that issue is waived because
Appellant failed to raise it during the reconsideration sentencing or included it
in his Rule 1925(b) statement. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(vii) (“Issues not
included in the Statement . . . are waived”); Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (“Issues not
raised in the [trial] court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on
appeal.”).     Significantly, in contrast to the aspects of Appellant’s
excessiveness claim that were preserved in the pre-reconsideration motion,
an allegation of vindictiveness based upon an increased penalty following
reconsideration is perforce asserted during the reconsideration hearing or in
a second post-sentence motion.

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