Court Opinion

ID: 9953204
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-21 16:14:34.897264+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:46.187327
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                   :        IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                 :             PENNSYLVANIA
                                                 :
                v.                               :
                                                 :
                                                 :
  MICHAEL J. ROBINSKY                            :
                                                 :
                       Appellant                 :        No. 619 MDA 2023

     Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered December 28, 2022
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
            Criminal Division at No(s): CP-40-CR-0001474-2021

BEFORE:      PANELLA, P.J.E., KUNSELMAN, J., and COLINS, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.E.:                                 FILED: MARCH 21, 2024

        Michael J. Robinsky appeals from the judgment of sentence entered

following his guilty plea to unlawful contact with a minor. On appeal, Robinsky

challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence. We affirm.

        On September 12, 2022, Robinsky entered a guilty plea to one count of

unlawful contact with a minor. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the

Commonwealth agreed to withdraw all other charges, and Robinsky consented

to defer sentencing in order to undergo an assessment by the Pennsylvania

Sexual Offenders Assessment Board (“SOAB”).

        On December 15, 2022, the trial court sentenced Robinsky to twenty-

four to eighty-four months’ incarceration, with credit for time served. The trial

court    ordered     Robinsky    to   register       as    a   tier   II   sexual   offender.

____________________________________________

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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       On December 21, 2022, Robinsky filed a timely post-sentence motion

for reconsideration of sentence. A week later, the trial court entered an

amended sentencing order to properly reflect the grading of the offense from

a felony of the second-degree to a felony of the first-degree.1 The order did

not address the post-sentence motion.

       On April 24, 2023, Robinsky filed a notice of appeal before the trial court

ruled on his post-sentence motion but after the 120-day deadline for entry of

an order denying post-sentence motion by operation of law pursuant

to Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(a). The trial court entered an order directing

Robinsky to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal

pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Robinsky timely complied. The trial court

thereafter issued an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).

       Subsequently, this Court entered an order directing Robinsky to show

cause as to why the instant appeal should not be quashed as having been

taken from an unappealable order. See Commonwealth v. Claffey, 80 A.3d

780, 783 (Pa. Super. 2013) (noting an appeal filed while post-sentence motion

is pending is premature); see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 720 cmt (“No direct appeal

may be taken by a defendant while his or her post-sentence motion is

pending.”). Further, we directed that if Robinsky files a praecipe with the trial

court for entry of an order denying post-sentence motions by operation of law,

____________________________________________

1 During the guilty plea hearing, the court granted, without objection, an oral

motion by the Commonwealth to amend the grading of the offense as a first-
degree felony. See N.T., Guilty Plea Hearing, 9/12/22, at 2.

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he must apprise this Court of such motion in writing. See Order, 6/28/23.

Robinsky filed a response, attaching a “Praecipe for Entry of Order Denying

Post Sentence Motions by Operation of Law”, that was filed in the trial court

on July 7, 2023. On that same date, the trial court judge signed the praecipe.

      The praecipe appears in the certified record and bears the trial court

judge’s signature, as well as a time stamp from the clerk of courts. However,

a review of the record indicates an order was never subsequently entered

officially denying the post-sentence motion by operation of law. Due to a clear

breakdown in court operations, “we shall regard as done that which ought to

have been done,” specifically that the clerk should have entered an order

denying the post-sentence motion by operation of law on the docket.

See Commonwealth v. Carter, 122 A.3d 388, 391 (Pa. Super. 2015)

(regarding as done that which ought to have been done where clerk of courts

failed to note service of order denying post-sentence motion by operation of

law in violation of Pa.R.Crim.P. 114(C)(2)); see also Commonwealth v.

Howard, 659 A.2d 1018, 1021 n.12 (Pa. Super. 1995) (reaching merits of

claim and holding “we shall regard as done that which ought to have been

done,” where post-sentence motion was denied by operation of law, clerk of

courts failed to enter an order, and appellant filed notice of appeal within 30

days of denial). Accordingly, we will proceed to reach the merits of this appeal.

      Robinsky contends the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing him

to the high end of the standard range without considering (1) Robinsky’s

remorse, (2) that the Commonwealth did not object to a mitigated range

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sentence, and (3) Robinsky’s addictions at the time of the current offense.

See Appellant’s Brief, at 1. This is a challenge to the discretionary aspects of

sentencing. We review discretionary sentencing challenges with great

deference to the sentencing court:

      Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
      sentencing judge, and 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.

Commonwealth v. Bullock, 170 A.3d 1109, 1123 (Pa. Super. 2017)

(citations and quotation marks omitted). However, “[a] challenge to the

discretionary aspects of a sentence must be considered a petition for

permission to appeal, as the right to pursue such a claim is not absolute.”

Commonwealth v. McAfee, 849 A.2d 270, 274 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation

omitted).

      To invoke this Court’s jurisdiction over this issue, Robinsky must satisfy

a four-part test:

      (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).

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

omitted; brackets in original).

      Here, Robinsky preserved his issues through a timely post-sentence

motion and filed a timely appeal. Further, counsel has included the required

Rule 2119(f) statement. We therefore review the Rule 2119(f) statement to

determine if Robinsky has raised a substantial question. See Commonwealth

v. Tirado, 870 A.2d 362, 365 (Pa. Super. 2005). “Our inquiry must focus on

the reasons for which the appeal is sought, in contrast to the facts underlying

the appeal, which are necessary only to decide the appeal on the merits.” Id.

(citation and emphasis omitted); see also Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f).

      Robinsky “must show that there is a substantial question that the

sentence imposed is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code.” McAfee,

849 A.2d at 274 (citation omitted). That is, “the sentence violates either a

specific provision of the sentencing scheme set forth in the Sentencing Code

or a particular fundamental norm underlying the sentencing process.” Tirado,

870 A.2d at 365. “Additionally, we cannot look beyond the statement of

questions presented and the prefatory 2119(f) statement to determine

whether a substantial question exists.” Commonwealth v. Provenzano, 50

A.3d 148, 154 (Pa. Super. 2012).

      Finally,

      a Rule 2119(f) statement that simply “contains incantations of
      statutory provisions and pronouncements of conclusions of law” is
      inadequate.

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         Rather, only where the appellant’s Rule 2119(f) statement
         sufficiently articulates the manner in which the sentence
         violates either a specific provision of the sentencing scheme
         set forth in the Sentencing Code or a particular fundamental
         norm underlying the sentencing process, will such a
         statement be deemed adequate to raise a substantial
         question so as to permit a grant of allowance of appeal of
         the discretionary aspects of the sentence.

Commonwealth v. Bullock, 868 A.2d 516, 529 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citations

omitted).

      Robinsky’s 2119(f) statement, consisting of only two sentences, merely

paraphrases Robinsky’s statement of issues presented. See Appellant’s Brief,

at 3. Robinsky failed to include in this statement any specific, articulable

reasons why his sentence raises doubts that the sentencing scheme as a whole

has been compromised. As pointed out by the Commonwealth, Robinsky does

not contend the court was not aware of his remorse or his addiction. Rather,

Robinsky simply argues that the court failed, or “refused” to consider these

factors sufficiently. Further, Robinsky does not assert his sentence is

excessive. Rather, the essence of Robinsky’s Rule 2119(f) statement is that

the court should have imposed a lesser sentence after considering the

available information.

      “[A]n allegation that the sentencing court ‘failed to consider’ or ‘did not

adequately consider’ various factors is, in effect, a request that this Court

substitute its judgment for that of the lower court in fashioning [an

appellant]’s sentence.” Commonwealth v. Griffin, 804 A.2d 1, 9 (Pa. Super.

2002). Such an allegation does not raise a substantial question. Although we

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could dismiss this appeal on the lack of a substantial question alone, out of

caution and respect for the rights of the appellant we reviewed the record to

better understand the details of the trial court’s decision in sentencing.

      Even if Robinsky had raised a substantial question for this Court’s

consideration, we would find no abuse of discretion. As Robinsky admits, his

sentence is within the standard range of the sentencing guidelines. Also,

contrary to Robinsky’s representation that the trial court failed to consider his

remorse and addiction when fashioning his sentence, the trial court makes

clear that this information was included in the mitigation report. The trial court

considered all relevant information, including reviewing the SOAB report, a

mitigation report, and a PSI. Where the trial court had the benefit of reviewing

a pre-sentence report, we must

      presume that the sentencing judge was aware of relevant
      information regarding the defendant’s character and weighed
      those considerations along with mitigating statutory factors. A
      pre-sentence report constitutes the record and speaks for itself.
      In order to dispel any lingering doubt as to our intention of
      engaging in an effort of legal purification, we state clearly that
      sentencers are under no compulsion to employ checklists or any
      extended or systematic definitions of their punishment procedure.
      Having been fully informed by the pre-sentence report, the
      sentencing court’s discretion should not be disturbed. This is
      particularly true, we repeat, in those circumstances where it can
      be demonstrated that the judge had any degree of awareness of
      the sentencing considerations, and there we will presume also that
      the weighing process took place in a meaningful fashion. It would
      be foolish, indeed, to take the position that if a court is in
      possession of the facts, it will fail to apply them to the case at
      hand.

Commonwealth v. Hallock, 603 A.2d 612, 616 (Pa. Super. 1992).

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      The trial court also explained its reasons for its sentence on the record.

The trial court indicated it was troubled by Robinsky’s “minimization” of his

conduct to the sexual offender interviewer. See N.T., Sentencing Hearing,

12/15/22, at 5-6. Counsel did not contradict the trial court’s interpretation of

the interview. If the court had misinterpreted the interview, it was incumbent

upon counsel to call this to the trial court’s attention. In addition, in asking for

a mitigated sentence, counsel listed numerous factors to consider, but did not

include addiction as one of those factors. A review of the record shows that

Robinsky also did not raise the effect of his addiction on the commission of

the offense, despite taking the opportunity to speak on his own behalf during

the hearing.

      Robinsky is essentially asking this Court to reweigh the sentencing

factors presented to the sentencing court to impose a lesser sentence; this we

cannot do. See Griffin, 804 A.2d at 9 (citing Commonwealth v. Williams,

562 A.2d 1385, 1388 (Pa. Super. 1989)).

      As the trial court had the benefit of a PSI, combined with the court’s

consideration of the mitigation report, sentencing guidelines, and seriousness

of the offense, we conclude that it considered all relevant sentencing factors.

Robinsky has failed to establish the 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. As we find Robinsky’s issues on

appeal merit no relief, we also affirm the judgment of sentence on this basis.

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     Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Benjamin D. Kohler, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/21/2024

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