Court Opinion

ID: 2764555
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-24 18:06:57.065638+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:12:27.501502
License: Public Domain

J. S71036/14

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,               :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                            :          PENNSYLVANIA
                          Appellee          :
                                            :
                    v.                      :
                                            :
                                            :
KENNETH ALLAN DORSEY,                       :
                                            :
                          Appellant         :     No. 370 MDA 2014

           Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 20, 2013
                 In the Court of Common Pleas of York County
               Criminal Division No(s).: CP-67-CR-0002134-2013

BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., PANELLA, and FITZGERALD,* JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY FITZGERALD, J.:                     FILED DECEMBER 24, 2014

        Appellant, Kenneth Allan Dorsey, appeals from the judgment of

sentence entered in the York County Court of Common Pleas following his

bench trial and conviction for, inter alia, driving under the influence1 (“DUI”).

Appellant’s counsel has filed a petition to withdraw pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978

A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009), with this Court. Appellant claims the Commonwealth

lacked probable cause to stop his vehicle. We grant counsel’s petition and

affirm the judgment of sentence.

*
    Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1
    75 Pa.C.S. § 3802.
J. S71036/14

      We adopt the facts set forth in the trial court’s opinion. See Trial Ct.

Op., 7/1/14, at 1-2. On December 20, 2013, the court sentenced Appellant

to six months’ intermediate punishment.       Appellant filed, and the court

denied, a timely post-sentence motion.       Appellant timely appealed and

timely filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement.

      On August 12, 2014, Appellant’s counsel filed a petition to withdraw

with this Court. Appellant did not file a pro se brief with this Court. “[T]his

Court may not review the merits of the underlying issues without first

passing on the request to withdraw.” Commonwealth v. Garang, 9 A.3d

237, 240 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation omitted).

         [T]he three requirements that counsel must meet before
         he or she is permitted to withdraw from representation
         [are] as follows:

           First, counsel must petition the court for leave to
           withdraw and state that after making a conscientious
           examination of the record, he has determined that
           the appeal is frivolous; second, he must file a brief
           referring to any issues in the record of arguable
           merit; and third, he must furnish a copy of the brief
           to the defendant and advise him of his right to retain
           new counsel or to himself raise any additional points
           he deems worthy of the Superior Court’s attention.

         Commonwealth v. Santiago, 602 Pa. 159, 978 A.2d
         349, 351 (2009).

Id. (footnote and some citations omitted).

         [I]n the Anders brief that accompanies court-appointed
         counsel’s petition to withdraw, counsel 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

                                     -2-
J. S71036/14

         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.

Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.

         [I]n Pennsylvania, when counsel meets his or her
         obligations, “it then becomes the responsibility of the
         reviewing court to make a full examination of the
         proceedings and make an independent judgment to decide
         whether the appeal is in fact wholly frivolous.”

Id. at 355 n.5 (citation omitted).

      Instantly, in counsel’s Anders brief, he stated that he made a

conscientious examination of the record.     He summarized the factual and

procedural history with citations to the record. He referred to every issue

and everything in the record that he believes arguably supports the appeal.

He articulated the facts from the record, case law, and statutes that led him

to conclude that the appeal is frivolous. He furnished a copy of the brief to

Appellant.   He also advised him of his right to retain new counsel or to

himself raise any additional points pro se that he deems worthy of the

Court’s consideration. We find that Appellant’s counsel has complied with all

the requirements set forth above. See id. at 361; Garang, 9 A.3d at 240.

Therefore, we now review the underlying issue on appeal. See Santiago,

978 A.2d at 355 n.5.

      The Anders brief raises the following issue:

         Whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s motion
         to suppress evidence and post-sentence motion when the

                                     -3-
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           trooper failed to establish probable cause for a speeding
           violation by failing to clock Appellant’s vehicle for the
           requisite 3/10ths of a mile pursuant to 75 Pa.C.S. § 3368
           and no other basis consistent with the 4th Amendment and
           Article I, Section 8 [of the Pennsylvania Constitution]
           provided justification for a traffic stop?

Anders Brief at 4.2 The Anders brief suggests the trooper was obligated to

chase Appellant for 3/10th of a mile to establish probable cause to stop him

for a traffic violation. We hold Appellant is due no relief.

               Our standard of review in addressing a challenge to a
           trial court’s denial of a suppression motion is limited to
           determining whether the factual findings are supported by
           the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn from
           those facts are correct. Where the prosecution prevailed in
           the suppression court, we may consider only the
           Commonwealth’s evidence and so much of the evidence for
           the defense as remains uncontradicted when read in the
           context of the record as a whole. Where the record
           supports the factual findings of the trial court, we are
           bound by those facts and may reverse only if the legal
           conclusions drawn therefrom are in error.

In re J.E., 937 A.2d 421, 425 (Pa. 2007) (citations omitted). In evaluating

the legal conclusion drawn by the suppression court, this Court may also

consider uncontradicted testimony from the suppression hearing not

included in the suppression court’s findings of fact.3         Commonwealth v.

2
    As stated above, Appellant has not filed a pro se response.
3
   We acknowledge the holding of In re L.J., 79 A.3d 1073 (Pa. 2013), that
after October 30, 2013, the scope of review for a suppression issue is limited
to the record available to the suppression court. Id. at 1085, 1089 (stating
holding applies to “all litigation commenced Commonwealth-wide after the
filing of this decision”). Because the instant criminal complaint was filed
prior to October 30, 2013, In re L.J. does not apply.

                                      -4-
J. S71036/14

Mendenhall, 715 A.2d 1117, 1119 n.1 (Pa. 1998). We may also affirm on

any basis. See Commonwealth v. Clouser, 998 A.2d 656, 661 n.3 (Pa.

Super. 2010).

       Instantly, after careful review of the parties’ briefs, the record, and the

decision of the Honorable John S. Kennedy, we affirm based on the trial

court’s opinion.   See Trial Ct. Op. at 3-5 (holding police had reasonable

suspicion of DUI thus justifying stop; thus, unnecessary for police to pace

vehicle for three-tenths of mile).     Our independent review of the record

reveals no other issue of arguable merit. See Santiago, 978 A.2d at 355

n.5.    Accordingly, we conclude that the appeal is frivolous and grant

counsel’s petition for leave to withdraw.

       Counsel’s petition for leave to withdraw granted.           Judgment of

sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/24/2014

                                       -5-
                                                                         Circulated 12/05/2014 03:36 PM

     IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                          CRIMINAL DIVISION

  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                    •

                      v.                         :    No. CP-67-CR-2134-2013

        KENNETH A. DORSEY

               APPEARANCES:

               THOMAS L. KEARNEY, Esq.
               For the Commonwealth

               ANTHONY J. TAMBOURINO, Esq.
               For the Appellant

      OPINION PURSUANT TO RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 1925(a)

        On February 21, 2014 Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal from this Court's

 denial of his suppression and post-trial motions. We directed Appellant to file a

 Concise Statement of Errors pursuant to Rule 1925(b) on February 24, 2014, and

we received the sarne on March 17, 2014. We now issue the following Opinion.

                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       On January 13, 2013 at approximately 1:30a.m., Appellant was driving along

East Market Street in York City while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.

N.T. 8/29/13 at 4.    At precisely the same time Trooper Matthew Templin was

patrolling the streets through which Appellant was traveling in a fully marked police

cruiser. N,T. 8/19/13 at 7. The particular stretch of road in question is subject to a

25 mile per hour speed restriction, and traffic was minimal at the time. N.T 8/19/13
                                                                          Circulated 12/05/2014 03:36 PM

 at 6-8. Trooper Templin's testimony indicates he was driving along East Market

 Street at a rate of 35 miles per hour when he observed Appellant's vehicle quickly

 approaching in his rearview mirror. Id. Appellant continued to operate the vehicle at

 a high rate of speed until it was no longer possible to do so, having shortened the

 following distance between himself and Trooper Templin's cruiser to a mere half of

 one car length. Id. Trooper Templin responded by maneuvering from the left lane of

East Market Street to the right lane while maintaining his speed of 35 miles per hour.

ld. Trooper Templin then initiated a traffic stop when Appellant proceeded to pass

his marked police cruiser at a rate of speed well in excess of the posted limit.

       Appellant was cited with several violations of the Motor Vehicle Code,

including 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 (DUI), 75 Pa.C.S. § 3362 (speeding), 75 Pa.C.S. §

3714 (careless driving), and 75 Pa.C.S. § 4581 (failure to use safety belt). Following

a non-jury trial, Appellant was convicted of driving under the influence and was

sentenced on December 20, 2013.

                                  ISSUE ON APPEAL

      Appellant's Concise Statement of Errors raises only one issue on appeal:

             Whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant's Motion to Suppress
             Evidence and Post-Sentence Motion when the trooper failed to establish
             probable cause for a speeding violation by failing to clock Appellant's
            vehicle for the requisite 3/10ths of a mile pursuant to 75 Pa.C.S. §3368
            and no other basis consistent with the 4th Amendment and Article I,
            Section 8 provided justification for a traffic stop?

                                            2
                                                                         Circulated 12/05/2014 03:36 PM

        11 is clear from the foregoing that this appeal is narrowly limited in scope to

 whether the traffic stop was effectuated in accordance with applicable law.

                                 STANDARD OF REVIEW

        The standard of appellate review applied to the denial of a suppression motion is

 well-established:

               We determine whether the [trial] court's factual findings are supported by
              the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn from them are correct.
              Where, as here, it is the defendant who is appealing the ruling of the
              suppression court, we consider only the evidence of the prosecution and
              so much of the evidence for the defense which remains uncontradicted
              when fairly read in the context of the whole record. lf, upon our review, we
              conclude that the record supports the factual findings of the suppression
              court, we are bound by those facts, and may reverse only if the legal
              conclusions drawn therefrom are in error.

Com. v. Perry, 982 A.2d 1009, 1011 (Pa. Super. 2009)(citing Commonwealth v. Crork,

966 A.2d 585, 586-87(Pa. Super. 2009)). Stated differently, "if sufficient evidence is of

record to support the suppression court's ruling and that court has not misapplied the

law, the appellate court will not substitute our credibility determination for that of the

suppression court judge." Com. v. Ulman, 902 A.2d 514, 516 (Pa. Super. 2006)(citing

Commonwealth v. Marinelli, 690 A.2d 203, 214 (1997)).

                                      DISCUSSION

       Appellant relies upon Commonwealth v. Whitmyer, 668 A.2d 1113 (Pa. Super.

1995) in support of his contention that the traffic stop was rendered illegal by virtue of

Trooper Templin failure to pace or clock Appellant's vehicle for three-tenths of a mile.
                                            3
                                                                          Circulated 12/05/2014 03:36 PM

  N.T. 3/26/14 at 2. Appellant's reliance on Whitmyer is misplaced for several reasons.

  In Whitmyer, a police officer effectuated a traffic stop after observing the defendant

 drive at an unsafe speed for only two-tenths of a mHe. The officer smelled marijuana

 during the traffic stop and charged the defendant with DUI, possession of marijuana,

 and failing to drive at a safe speed. Id. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held there

 was no reasonable or articulable basis for the officer to suspect a violation of the Motor

 Vehicle Code because he had not paced the defendant for the requisite three-tenths of

 a mile pursuant to 75 Pa.C.S. §3368. The Whitmyer Court made clear, however, that

 the "articulable and reasonable grounds" standard mandated in the former iteration of

 75 Pa.C.S. §3368 was a "probable cause" standard. Id, at 1116.

        The legislature has since amended 75 Pa.C.S.A § 6308(b) to clarify that,

 whenever an officer "has reasonable suspicion that a violation of fthe Motor Vehicle

Code] is occurring or has occurred, he may stop a vehicle". 75 Pa.C.S.A. §6308(b).

The legislative history of this amendment clearly indicates that it was the legislature's

intent to authorize police officers to stop a vehicle based upon a "reasonable suspicion"

that the driver has violated the Motor Vehicle Code rather than the heightened standard

of probable cause applied in Whitmyer. Com. v. Ulman, 902 A.2d 514, 517-18 (Pa.

Super. 2006). Given that Whitmyerwas decided under the former version of 75 Pa.C.S.

§6308(b), which required a stricter standard for a traffic stop than the current version of

the statute, Whitmyer is neither controlling precedent nor particularly helpful in

interpreting the current statute.

       The record supports this Court's factual finding that Trooper Templin had

reasonable suspicion Appellant was in violation of several provisions of the Motor

                                            4
                                                                          Circulated 12/05/2014 03:36 PM

  Vehicle Code. Trooper Templin's testimony indicates Appellant was traveling at least

  11 miles per hour in excess of the posted speed limit. Although traffic was minimal at

  1:30a.m., Appellant proceeded to tailgate a marked police cruiser at an unsafe following

 distance before he ultimately sped past it. Appellant was cited for speeding, careless

 driving, and failure to wear a seatbelt. Based on the testimony presented, it seems

 Appellant could also have been charged with following another vehicle at an unsafe

 distance.

        Taken together, these facts reasonably demonstrate Appellant was unable to

 exercise ordinary prudence at the time in question. Trooper Templin testified that,

 based on his training and experience, these facts led him to suspect Appellant was

 driving under the influence before the stop was initiated, which was in fact accurate in

 the instant matter.   We find Trooper Templin's testimony to be credible and are

confident the traffic stop was effectuated in accordance with applicable law.

                                     CONCLUSION

       This Court has thoroughly reviewed all of the relevant pleadings and

transcripts in this matter.   We rely on and incorporate those pleadings and

transcripts, as well as the within Opinion, as our 1925(a) Opinion in the above-

captioned matter.

                                               BY THE COURT,

                                               Jphn S. Kennedy, Judge

Filed: July 1, 2014
                                           5
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                                                     Defendant-Name:
                                                Kenneth Allan Dorsey

                                                     Case Number
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                                                                                                                   L 758200-2

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                                                           •  Reason:
                                                                         RE-SCAN needed

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                                                                              RETURN TO RECORDS UNIT
  Notes:

                                                             l attest and certify that as Deputy Clerk of Courts f have
                                                             properly Serviced and Docketed the documents related
                                                              to this case action and have verified the completeness
  N.11•1111•11
                                                                   and image quality of the scanned documents.
                                        Date:
                  Docketed in CPCMS

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                                  Don O'Shell - York County Clerk of Courts
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541591                                                                                      Wednesday, July 02, 2014 08:13:59 AM