Court Opinion

ID: 2898311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 23:09:33.924432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:32:01.898361
License: Public Domain

J. S55007/15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA           :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                       :           PENNSYLVANIA
                  v.                   :
                                       :
BROOKE A. YACOBOZZI,                   :         No. 1614 WDA 2014
                                       :
                       Appellant       :

         Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence, August 14, 2014,
               in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
            Criminal Division at No. CP-25-CR-0000570-2014

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA           :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                       :           PENNSYLVANIA
                  v.                   :
                                       :
BROOKE ANN YACOBOZZI,                  :         No. 1615 WDA 2014
                                       :
                       Appellant       :

         Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence, August 14, 2014,
               in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
            Criminal Division at No. CP-25-CR-0001566-2014

BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., BENDER, P.J.E., AND STRASSBURGER,* J.

MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.:          FILED SEPTEMBER 08, 2015

     In these consolidated appeals,1 appellant appeals the judgments of

sentence entered in two separate incidents for theft by deception.

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
  By order dated November 17, 2014, this court consolidated sua sponte
the appeals at Nos. 1614 WDA 2014 and 1615 WDA 2014.
J. S55007/15

Appointed counsel, Emily M. Merski, Esq., has filed petitions to withdraw

from representation and briefs pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.

738 (1967), and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009).

After careful review, we grant the petitions to withdraw and affirm the

judgments of sentence.

         On July 9, 2013, appellant appeared before the Honorable Ernest J.

DiSantis, Jr., with her then counsel, David Ungerman, Esq. of the Public

Defender’s Office, to enter a plea of guilty to one count of theft by deception

and one count of theft by unlawful taking.       These charges, filed at Erie

County Docket No. 570 of 2014, were brought as a result of an incident

whereby appellant signed in to the Presque Isle Inn on September 25, 2013,

and subsequently failed to pay rentals of $802 for a 30-day lease of the

motel room.       Appellant moved into the motel on a ruse claiming that

because of water damage to her home, her insurance company would pay

the rental fee.     The motel also reported the theft of several electronic

devices from the same room appellant occupied during the timeframe of her

visit.   The motel estimated that the cost of the missing items along with

damage to the motel room totaled $3,500.

         Appellant admitted to the fraudulent theft but entered a plea of

nolo contendere for the theft of electronic items and room damages. On

August 14, 2014, appellant was sentenced to 12 to 24 months’ incarceration

for theft by deception with 204 days of credit for time served. Appellant was

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also sentenced to a concurrent term of 12 to 24 months’ incarceration for

theft by unlawful taking.2 Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion that

was denied on September 2, 2014. A timely notice of appeal was filed at

Superior Court Docket No. 1614 WDA 2014.

        Additionally, on July 9, 2014, appellant entered a plea of guilty to one

count of theft by deception.        This charge, filed at Erie County Docket

No. 1566 of 2014, was brought as a result of an incident occurring from

May 13, 2013 to June 1, 2013, at the Days Inn in Summit Township.

Appellant created a ruse that her residence was flooded and advised the

Days Inn staff that Erie Insurance would be paying for her stay which totaled

$1,107.40.

        On August 14, 2014, appellant was sentenced to 12 to 24 months’

incarceration to run consecutively to the sentence imposed at Erie County

Docket No. 570 of 2014.       Appellant was also ordered to pay restitution of

$1,107.40.     Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion that was denied

on September 2, 2014. A timely notice of appeal was filed at Superior Court

Docket No. 1615 WDA 2014.

        In both appeals, appellant raises the identical issue:

              Whether the appellant’s sentence is manifestly
              excessive, clearly unreasonable and inconsistent with
              the objectives of the Sentencing Code?

Appellant’s briefs at 3.

2
    Restitution was also ordered in the amounts of $802 and $3,500.

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     Counsel having filed a petition to withdraw, we reiterate that “[w]hen

presented with an Anders brief, this court may not review the merits of the

underlying issues without first passing on the request to withdraw.”

Commonwealth v. Daniels, 999 A.2d 590, 593 (Pa.Super. 2010), citing

Commonwealth v. Goodwin, 928 A.2d 287, 290 (Pa.Super. 2007)

(en banc) (citation omitted).

           In order for counsel to withdraw from an appeal
           pursuant to Anders, certain requirements must be
           met, and 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 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.

Id., quoting Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.

     Upon review, we find that Attorney Merski has complied with all of the

above requirements. In addition, Attorney Merski served appellant a copy of

the Anders briefs, and advised her of her right to proceed pro se or hire a

private attorney to raise any additional points she deemed worthy of this

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court’s review.     Appellant has not responded to counsel’s motions to

withdraw. As we find the requirements of Anders and Santiago are met,

we will proceed to the issues on appeal.

      Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of her sentence.   This

court has stated:

            A challenge to the discretionary aspects of
            sentencing is not automatically reviewable as a
            matter of right. Commonwealth v. Hunter, 768
            A.2d 1136 (Pa.Super.2001)[,] appeal denied, 568
            Pa. 695, 796 A.2d 979 (2001). When challenging
            the discretionary aspects of a sentence, an appellant
            must invoke the appellate court’s jurisdiction by
            including in his brief a separate concise statement
            demonstrating that there is a substantial question as
            to the appropriateness of the sentence under the
            Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Mouzon, 571
            Pa. 419, 812 A.2d 617 (2002); Commonwealth v.
            Tuladziecki, 513 Pa. 508, 522 A.2d 17 (1987);
            42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). “The
            requirement that an appellant separately set forth
            the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal
            ‘furthers the purpose evident in the Sentencing Code
            as a whole of limiting any challenges to the trial
            court’s evaluation of the multitude of factors
            impinging on the sentencing decision to exceptional
            cases.’”     Commonwealth v. Williams, 386
            Pa.Super. 322, 562 A.2d 1385, 1387 (1989)
            (en banc) (emphasis in original).

Commonwealth v. McNear, 852 A.2d 401, 407-408 (Pa.Super. 2004).

Additionally, we note that:

                  Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound
            discretion of the trial court and the lower court’s
            judgment of sentence will not be disturbed by an
            appellate court absent an abuse of discretion. To
            constitute an abuse of discretion, a sentence must
            either exceed the statutory limits or be patently

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            excessive. When reviewing sentencing matters, we
            must accord the sentencing court great weight as it
            is in the best position to view the defendant’s
            character, displays of remorse, defiance or
            indifference, and the overall effect and nature of the
            crime.

Commonwealth v. Clever, 576 A.2d 1108, 1110 (Pa.Super. 1990)

(citations omitted).

      Instantly, appellant has complied with Rule 2119(f) by including the

requisite statement in her briefs.       (Appellant’s briefs at 4-5.)     In her

sentencing challenge, appellant acknowledges that she received a standard

range sentence that begins at the high end of the standard range. 3         (Id.)

However, she maintains that the court failed to fully and adequately consider

the relevant sentencing factors set forth in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b), which

include “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.” In light of these alleged errors, she

avers that her sentence is manifestly excessive and an abuse of discretion.

3
   Appellant entered an open guilty plea. “Upon entry of a guilty plea, a
defendant generally waives all defects and defenses except those concerning
the validity of the plea, the jurisdiction of the trial court, and the legality of
the sentence imposed.” Commonwealth v. Roden, 730 A.2d 995, 997 n.2
(Pa.Super. 1999), citing Commonwealth v. Reichle, 589 A.2d 1140
(Pa.Super. 1991).      “However, when the plea is open, containing no
bargained for or stated term of sentence, the defendant will not be
precluded from appealing the discretionary aspects of her sentence.” Id.
citing Commonwealth v. Dalberto, 648 A.2d 16 (Pa.Super. 1994). Here,
appellant’s plea agreements contained no specific bargained for or stated
term of incarceration, and thus, her guilty pleas did not preclude the
sentencing issue she presents.

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     Appellant has raised a substantial question to the extent that she

contends the sentencing court failed to consider the mandatory factors set

forth in Section 9721(b).   See Commonwealth v. Fullin, 892 A.2d 843,

847 (Pa.Super. 2006).    However, appellant’s claim that her sentence was

excessive and the court did not consider the Section 9721(b) factors is

without any support in the record. At sentencing, the court explained:

           THE COURT:     Okay.    All right. The Court has
           considered the Pennsylvania Sentencing Code, the
           presentence report and the Pennsylvania Guidelines
           on sentencing.

                 The Court has also considered the statements
           of defense counsel, the defendant and the attorney
           for the Commonwealth.

                 The Court has considered Miss Yacobozzi’s age,
           her background, character and rehabilitative needs,
           the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the
           offenses, the protection of the community, and the
           defendant’s performance while under supervision.

                  It is clearly to the defendant’s credit that she
           has come forward, pled guilty and accepted
           responsibility for her behavior. It is unfortunate that
           she comes before the Court with significant prior
           criminal history, which gives her a prior record score
           of five, and the sentencing guideline ranges that are
           [6 to] 16 months in the standard range, and a
           minimum of 19 months in the aggravated range.

                 The defendant, on the plus side, besides
           pleading guilty, is the fact she did have a number of
           years where she was clean and sober and
           productive, and that is to her credit.          It is
           unfortunate that at the present time, there is a
           warrant out for her extradition to the State of Ohio
           for the crime of larceny.

                                    -7-
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                  It is unfortunate at the present time, there is a
            detainer on her by the state for violation of her
            sentence and supervision at Docket 0087 of 2003,
            and it is also unfortunate that the defendant -- for
            the defendant, that this is the third time she is facing
            a revocation at that very same docket.

                  She was revoked in both 2004, and given a
            state sentence, revoked in 2006, and given a state
            sentence, and after all of that, and numerous
            attempts to help the defendant rehabilitate herself,
            she is back before the Court on three separate theft
            related charges.

                  So in weighing all of those things, it appears,
            Miss Yacobozzi, at this time, you are on the short
            end of the weight. It is indeed, unfortunate, because
            not only did you know better, you also knew you had
            an addiction, and you knew the tools that were
            necessary to deal with that addiction, and you
            discarded those, and you made your choices, and
            now you’re facing the consequences, and certainly,
            the consequences are not going to be any better
            than the last time you made choices and faced the
            consequences.

Sentencing hearing, 8/14/14 at 25-27.

      Clearly, appellant’s sentence fell well within the sentencing guidelines

based on her prior record score, which was a five. Further, the sentencing

court is presumed to have considered and weighed the appropriate factors

where it reviews a presentence report.      Commonwealth v. Fowler, 893

A.2d 758, 766 (Pa.Super. 2006). In addition, the court discussed, at length,

appellant’s criminal history, her drug addiction, and need for rehabilitation.

Accordingly, appellant’s sentences were not unreasonable.

                                     -8-
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     Having determined that the instant appeals are wholly frivolous and,

after our own independent review, that there are no other issues of arguable

merit apparent from the record, we will grant Attorney Merski’s petitions to

withdraw and affirm the judgments of sentence.

     Petitions to withdraw granted. Judgments of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/8/2015

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