Court Opinion

ID: 4554672
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-11 19:11:28.297738+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:19:18.720231
License: Public Domain

J-S28020-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    CURTIS JOHN IRVIN                          :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 66 MDA 2020

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 28, 2019
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Clinton County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-18-CR-0000225-2019

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

MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.:                               FILED AUGUST 11, 2020

        Appellant, Curtis John Irvin, appeals from the October 28, 2019

judgment of sentence1 imposing an aggregate 96 to 240 months’ incarceration

after Appellant pleaded nolo contendere to possession with the intent to

deliver a controlled substance (fentanyl) and possession of firearms

prohibited.2 We affirm.

        The trial court summarized the procedural history as follows:

        [Appellant] was charged by Trooper Jared Fluck of the
        Pennsylvania State Police concerning an incident that occurred on
        October 9, 2018[,] in the Borough of Flemington, Clinton County,
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1 Appellant purports to appeal from the November 8, 2019 order denying his
motion for reconsideration of sentence. See Notice of Appeal, 12/9/19. In a
criminal action, however, an appeal properly lies from the judgment of
sentence. Commonwealth v. Flowers, 149 A.3d 867, 872 (Pa. Super.
2016) (citation omitted).

2   35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(a)(1), respectively.
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      Pennsylvania.       [Appellant] subsequently entered a nolo
      contendere plea on September 6, 2019[,] to count [one],
      possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance,
      [which is an ungraded felony. The controlled substance was less
      than one gram of fentanyl, which is a Schedule I controlled
      substance. Appellant] also entered a nolo contendere plea to
      count [two], possession of firearms prohibited, [which is] a felony
      of the second degree.         [Upon Appellant entering his] nolo
      contendere pleas, [the trial] court entered an order directing the
      preparation of a pre[-]sentence investigation [(“PSI”) report].
      [The trial] court thereafter received and reviewed the [PSI] report
      prior to sentencing. On October 28, 2019, [Appellant] was
      sentenced. The sentence imposed [at] count [one], possession
      with the intent to deliver fentanyl, an ungraded felony, was a term
      of incarceration of [42] months to [120] months[. The] sentence
      imposed [at] count [two], possession of firearms prohibited, a
      felony of the second degree, was a term of incarceration of [54]
      months to [120] months. [The trial] court directed that the
      sentences were to be served consecutively, it being the intention
      of the [trial] court that [Appellant] serve a sentence of [96] to
      [240] months[’ incarceration].

      [Appellant] had a prior record score [(“PRS”)] of [4.            For]
      possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl[, the offense] gravity
      score [(“OGS”)] was [9 and] the standard range [for sentencing]
      being [36] to [48] months[’ incarceration]. [The trial] court
      sentenced [Appellant] to a minimum sentence of [42] months[’
      incarceration] and[,] therefore, [Appellant’s] sentence was within
      the standard range.

      Concerning count [two], possession of firearms prohibited, the
      [OGS] was [10] and the standard range was [48] to [60] months[’
      incarceration].   [The trial] court sentenced [Appellant] to a
      minimum sentence of [54] months[’ incarceration] and[,]
      therefore, [Appellant’s] sentence was within the standard range.

      [Appellant] filed a motion for reconsideration of sentence on
      November 7, 2019[,] which was denied by [the trial court on]
      November 8, 2019.

Trial Court Opinion, 1/8/20, at 1-2 (extraneous capitalization omitted).

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       Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal on December 9, 2019.3 The

trial court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors complained

of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant timely complied. The

trial court subsequently filed its Rule 1925(a) opinion on January 8, 2020.

       Appellant raises the following issue for our review:

       Did the [t]rial [c]ourt issue a [s]entencing [o]rder that was cruel
       and excessive in sentencing [Appellant] to an aggregate sentence
       of not less than [8] years nor more than [20] years[’
       incarceration] when [Appellant] was found in possession of a
       firearm that was not on his person and not being used in the
       commission of any alleged drug offense?

Appellant’s Brief at 4.

       Appellant challenges the discretionary aspect of his sentence, arguing

that the trial court abused its discretion by imposing a sentence that was cruel

and excessive. Id. at 9-10.

       It is well-settled that “the right to appeal a discretionary aspect of
       sentence is not absolute.” Commonwealth v. Dunphy, 20 A.3d
1215, 1220 (Pa. Super. 2011). Rather, where an appellant
       challenges the discretionary aspects of a sentence, we should
       regard his appeal as a petition for allowance of appeal.
       Commonwealth v. W.H.M., 932 A.2d 155, 162 (Pa. Super.
       2007). As we stated in Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162
       (Pa. Super. 2010):

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3 If a defendant files a timely post-sentence motion, including a motion for
reconsideration of sentence, as is the case sub judice, the notice of appeal
must be filed within 30 days of the entry of the order deciding the motion.
Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(A)(2)(a). Here, Appellant filed his notice of appeal within
30 days of the November 8, 2019 order denying his motion for reconsideration
of sentence. Therefore, Appellant’s notice of appeal was timely filed.

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         An appellant challenging the discretionary aspects of his
         sentence must invoke this Court's jurisdiction by satisfying
         a four-part test:

         We 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).
Id. at 170. We evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether a
      particular issue constitutes a substantial question about the
      appropriateness of sentence. Commonwealth v. Kenner, 784
A.2d 808, 811 (Pa. Super. 2001).

Commonwealth v. Hill, 210 A.3d 1104, 1116 (Pa. Super. 2019) (original

brackets omitted).    If the appellant fails to raise a challenge to the

discretionary aspects of a sentence either by presenting a claim to the trial

court at the time of sentencing or in a post-sentence motion, then the

appellant’s challenge is considered waived. Commonwealth v. Lamonda,

52 A.3d 365, 371 (Pa. Super. 2012) (en banc) (citation omitted), appeal

denied, 75 A.3d 1281 (Pa. 2013).     A substantial question exists when the

appellant presents a colorable argument that the sentence imposed is either

(1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the Pennsylvania Sentencing Code

or (2) is “contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing

process.” Commonwealth v. Mastromarino, 2 A.3d 581, 585 (Pa. Super.

2010), appeal denied, 14 A.3d 825 (Pa. 2011).        “While a bald claim of

excessiveness does not present a substantial question for review, a claim that

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the sentence is manifestly excessive, inflicting too severe a punishment, does

present a substantial question.” Commonwealth v. Hicks, 151 A.3d 216,

227 (Pa. Super. 2016), citing Commonwealth v. Haynes, 125 A.3d 800,

807-808 (Pa. Super. 2015), appeal denied, 167 A.3d 1287 (Pa. 2017).

      Here, the record reflects that Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal,

properly preserved a challenge to the discretionary aspect of his sentence in

his motion for reconsideration of sentence, and included a Rule 2119(f)

statement in his brief. See Appellant’s Brief at 7-8. Appellant presents a

colorable argument that his sentence was excessive and cruel because: (1)

“the crimes were non-violent”, (2) he “was not in physical possession of the

firearm involved and was cooperative with the police”, (3) he pleaded nolo

contendere to the aforementioned crimes “thereby avoiding the necessity for

a costly jury trial”, and (4) he “was not using the firearm during the

commission of any drug offenses, but rather indicated the firearm was for

protection.” Id.; see also Mastromarino, 2 A.3d at 585; Haynes, 125 A.3d

at 807-808.    Therefore, we proceed to consider the merits of Appellant’s

discretionary sentencing claim.

      Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the [trial
      court], 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
      [trial] 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.

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Commonwealth v. Caldwell, 117 A.3d 763, 770 (Pa. Super. 2015), appeal

denied, 126 A.3d 1282 (Pa. 2015). “When imposing sentence, a [trial] court

is required to consider the particular circumstances of the offense and the

character of the defendant.” Commonwealth v. Kitchen, 162 A.3d 1140,

1146 (Pa. Super. 2017). “When a [trial] court [] reviewed a pre[-]sentence

investigation report, we presume that the [trial] court properly considered and

weighed all relevant factors in fashioning the defendant's sentence.”

Commonwealth v. Baker, 72 A.3d 652, 663 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal

denied, 86 A.3d 231 (Pa. 2014).           A trial court is vested with discretion to

impose a sentence concurrently or consecutively to other sentences being

imposed at the same time. Commonwealth v. Radecki, 180 A.3d 441, 470

(Pa. Super. 2018).

       Here, Appellant contends,

       it is readily apparent from the nature of the charges that they are
       not violent. It is further evident from the criminal charges in this
       matter that the firearm involved was found in the [Appellant’s]
       bedroom and not on his person. Appellant was not actively using
       [the] firearm to commit a crime and indicated that he possessed
       the same for his protection. Finally, [] Appellant entered pleas in
       the above-captioned matter, thereby negating the need for a
       costly jury trial. This was not taken into account by the [trial]
       court.

Appellant’s Brief at 9-10.4

____________________________________________

4Appellant fails to cite any pertinent statutory or case law authority supporting
his argument that the trial court’s failure to consider the factors, as identified
by Appellant, such as avoidance of the expense of a jury trial, constituted an

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       A review of the record demonstrates that the trial court ordered the

preparation of a PSI report and noted in its Rule 1925(a) opinion that it

received and reviewed the PSI report prior to sentencing Appellant. See Trial

Court Order, 9/6/19; see also Trial Court Opinion, 1/8/20, at 3. Because the

trial court received and reviewed the PSI report prior to sentencing, we

presume that the trial court considered and weighed all of the relevant factors

in sentencing Appellant.5 Moreover, the trial court stated, in its Rule 1925(a)

opinion, that it “was aware of the facts involved in this case.” See Trial Court

Opinion, 1/8/20, at 3. The sentencing guidelines demonstrate that Appellant

was sentenced within the standard ranges for the two crimes to which he

pleaded nolo contendere.6 See 204 Pa.Code § 303.16(a) (effective December
____________________________________________

abuse of discretion or error of law. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (stating, the
argument section in an appellant’s brief shall, inter alia, include a discussion
followed by citation of authorities deemed pertinent).

5  Appellant argues that the trial court failed to consider several factors,
including the non-violent nature of the crimes, Appellant’s use of the firearm
allegedly for protection and not in the commission of a crime, and Appellant’s
avoidance of the expense of a jury trial by pleading nolo contendere. See
Appellant’s Brief at 9-10. The notes of testimony from Appellant’s sentencing
hearing, however, are not part of the certified record. Therefore, Appellant
waived his claim that the trial court failed to consider these factors, as
identified by Appellant, prior to sentencing. Commonwealth v. Manley, 985
A.2d 256, 263 (Pa. Super. 2009) (stating, “[a] failure by Appellant to insure
that the original record certified for appeal contains sufficient information to
conduct a proper review constitutes waiver of the issue sought to be examined
(citation and original brackets omitted)), appeal denied, 996 A.2d 491 (Pa.
2010).

6 With a PRS of 4 and an OGS of 9, the standard range of sentence for the
charge of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance

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1, 2017 to December 5, 2019). Finally, the trial court had discretion to impose

consecutive sentences.7 See Radecki, 180 A.3d at 470.

       Based upon our review of the record before us, we find no support for

Appellant’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion or committed

an error of law in imposing the judgment of sentence.           Consequently,

Appellant’s issue is without merit.

       Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 08/11/2020

____________________________________________

(fentanyl) was 36 to 48 months’ incarceration. 204 Pa.Code § 303.16(a)
(effective December 1, 2017 to December 5, 2019). When the controlled
substance is a Schedule I narcotic, as is the case here, the sentence is not to
exceed 15 years’ incarceration. 35 P.S. § 780-113(f)(1). With a PRS of 4 and
an OGS of 10, the standard range of sentence for the charge of possession of
firearms prohibited was 48 to 60 months’ incarceration with the sentence not
to exceed more than 10 years. 204 Pa.Code § 303.16(a) (effective December
1, 2017 to December 5, 2019); see also 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1103.

7  A review of Appellant’s plea statement demonstrates that Appellant
understood that the aggregate maximum sentence could be 25 years’
incarceration and that the trial court had discretion to impose the sentences
consecutively or concurrently. See Appellant’s Plea Statement, 9/6/19, at 7.

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