Court Opinion

ID: 4557172
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-20 14:10:38.898538+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:14.128235
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Khatib Cousins,                                :
                      Petitioner               :
                                               :
              v.                               :
                                               :
Pennsylvania Board of                          :
Probation and Parole,                          :    No. 4 C.D. 2020
                  Respondent                   :    Submitted: June 5, 2020

BEFORE:       HONORABLE P. KEVIN BROBSON, Judge
              HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
              HONORABLE CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE FIZZANO CANNON                             FILED: August 20, 2020

              Khatib Cousins (Cousins) petitions for review of the December 13,
2019 decision of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (Board)1 denying
Cousins’ petition for administrative review challenging the Board’s calculation of
his parole violation maximum date. Upon review, we affirm.
              In 1999, Cousins was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and

       1
         Prior to the filing of the petition for review, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and
Parole was renamed the Pennsylvania Parole Board. The effective date of the name change,
however, occurred after the filing of Cousins’ petition for review. See Sections 15, 16, and 16.1
of the Act of December 18, 2019, P.L. 776, No. 115 (effective Feb. 18, 2020); see also Sections
6101 and 6111(a) of the Prisons and Parole Code, as amended, 61 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101, 6111(a).
aggravated assault and sentenced to a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 30
years’ imprisonment at a state correctional institution (SCI), with a minimum
sentence date of August 12, 2013 and a maximum sentence date of August 18, 2028.
Sentence Status Summary at 1, Certified Record (C.R.) at 1; Board Decision, 5/22/13
at 3, C.R. at 6. The Board released Cousins on parole on August 12, 2013, leaving
an unserved balance of 5,479 days on his sentence. Order to Release on Parole,
5/22/13 at 1, C.R. at 7; Response to Admin. Remedies Form at 1, C.R. at 62.
            On January 1, 2016, Cousins was arrested for various firearm and drug
related crimes. See Criminal Complaint, 1/2/16 at 1-2, C.R. at 12-13. That same
day, the Board issued a warrant to commit and detain Cousins. Warrant to Commit
and Detain, 1/1/16 at 1, C.R. at 11; Phila. Cty. Mun. Court Crim. Dkt. at 1, C.R. at
16. On January 2, 2016, Cousins was formally charged with multiple felony and
misdemeanor offenses and did not post bail. Criminal Complaint, 1/2/16 at 1-2, C.R.
at 12-13, 17; Phila. Cty. Mun. Court Crim. Dkt. at 1, C.R. at 16. On September 25,
2018, Cousins pled guilty to the new charges and was subsequently sentenced to a
minimum of two years and six months to a maximum of five years’ imprisonment
in an SCI. Sentencing Order, 9/25/18 at 1-2, C.R. at 21-22; Notice of Charges and
Hearing, 12/13/18 at 1, C.R. at 27. Cousins was moved to SCI-Phoenix on October
12, 2018. Moves Report at 1, C.R. at 39.
            On December 13, 2018, Cousins waived his right to a parole revocation
hearing and admitted that he had been convicted of criminal offenses in violation of
the terms of his parole. Waiver/Admission Form, 12/13/18 at 1, C.R. at 29. On
March 19, 2019, the Board voted to revoke Cousins’ parole and to recommit him to
an SCI as a convicted parole violator. Revocation Hearing Report, 3/19/19 at 6, C.R.
at 36. The Board computed a parole violation maximum date of March 18, 2034 by

                                           2
adding 5,478 days2 of backtime to Cousins’ “custody for return” date of March 19,
2019. See Order to Recommit, 3/21/19 at 1, C.R. at 54. The Board decision, dated
March 21, 2019 and mailed March 29, 2019, explained that because Cousins’
conviction involved possession of a weapon, the Board refrained from awarding
Cousins credit for time spent at liberty on parole. Notice of Board Decision, 3/29/19
at 1-2, C.R. at 56-57.
                On April 12, 2019, Cousins filed an administrative remedies form,
which the Board treated as a petition for administrative review, asserting that his
“[back]time” should have started on October 12, 2018, the date on which he was
moved to SCI-Phoenix, such that he was “missing 6 months [of] credit.”3
Administrative Remedies Form, 4/12/19, C.R. at 58.4 Citing Section 6138(a)(2) of
the Prisons and Parole Code (Parole Code),5 61 Pa.C.S. § 6138(a)(2), the Board
affirmed its March 29, 2019 decision and stated that recommitting Cousins as a
convicted parole violator authorized its denial of credit for time at liberty on parole
in calculating his parole violation maximum date and that Cousins is required to

       2
         The Board credited Cousins one day, from January 1, 2016 to January 2, 2016, for his
detention on the Board’s warrant.
       3
         Cousins’ assertion that he is missing six months of credit presumably refers to the time
period ranging from October 12, 2018, the date he was moved to SCI-Phoenix, to March 19, 2019,
the date on which the Board voted to revoke Cousins’ parole and the date the Board used to
recalculate a new parole violation maximum date.
       4
          Though not clearly legible, Cousins also appears to state in the administrative remedies
form that he was paroled from August 12, 2013 to January 1, 2016, when he was taken into
custody. This likely corresponds to Cousins’ assertion in his petition for review that the Board
failed to credit him for time in good standing on parole. See Petition for Review at 2, ¶ 6. However,
Cousins failed to provide any argument in his appellate brief to support this claim or allow for
meaningful review. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (providing that the argument contained within an
appellate brief shall contain “such discussion and citation of authorities as are deemed pertinent”);
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 985 A.2d 915, 924 (Pa. 2009).
       5
           61 Pa.C.S. §§ 101–7123, as amended.
                                                 3
serve his original sentence from the date he first became available to resume serving
that sentence, the day the Board voted to recommit him as a convicted parole
violator. The Board reasoned that adding 5,478 days of backtime to that date, March
19, 2019, yields a parole violation maximum date of March 18, 2034, and that any
period of incarceration not allocated towards Cousins’ original sentence would be
credited toward his new sentence upon commencement thereof. Board Decision,
12/13/19 at 1, C.R. at 62. Cousins petitioned this Court for review.
               Before this Court,6 Cousins argues that the Board erred in calculating a
parole violation maximum date of March 18, 2034,7 asserting that the correct date is
in fact October 12, 2033—5,479 days8 from his move to SCI-Phoenix on October
12, 2018. Cousins’ Brief at 9. Cousins acknowledges that “he owe[s] 15 years [or
5,479 days] to complete his [original] sentence.”9 Id. Inconsistently, Cousins
subsequently contends that the 5,479 days should be added to September 25, 2018,

       6
          Our scope of review of the Board’s decision denying administrative relief is limited to
determining whether necessary findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence, whether an
error of law was committed or whether constitutional rights have been violated. Fisher v. Pa. Bd.
of Prob. & Parole, 62 A.3d 1073, 1075 n.1 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013); see also Section 704 of the
Administrative Agency Law, 2 Pa.C.S. § 704.
       7
         The Board determined Cousins’ maximum date of March 18, 2034 by adding 5,478 days
to March 19, 2019, the date on which the Board voted to recommit Cousins as a convicted parole
violator. See Order to Recommit, 3/21/19 at 1, C.R. at 54. While the Board incorrectly stated this
recommitment date was March 21, 2019 in one part of its brief, it correctly notes elsewhere in its
appellate brief that it added Cousins’ backtime to March 19, 2019. Board’s Brief at 8.

       8
         Cousins fails to take into account that he received one day of credit towards his original
sentence for the time during which he was detained exclusively pursuant to the Board’s warrant
(January 1, 2016 to January 2, 2016), such that he in fact owed 5,478 days of backtime. See Order
to Recommit, 3/21/19 at 1, C.R. at 54.
       9
          We note that Cousins apparently abandons the assertion in his petition for review that the
Board “abused its discretion by failing to give [him] credit for all time in good standing on parole,”
as he concedes in his appellate brief that he was required to serve the remaining 15 years of his
original sentence. See Petition for Review at 1, ¶ 6.

                                                  4
the sentencing date on his new charges, which would yield a parole violation
maximum date of September 25, 2033. See id. at 10. Neither Cousins’ summary of
argument in his appellate brief nor his petition for review elucidates this discrepancy.
             Cousins also claims that because “his bail was set on January 2, 2016
and never posted, . . . he should receive credit on [his new] sentence from January
2, 2016.” Id. at 8. Cousins asserts that the time period between the date bail was set
(January 2, 2016) and the date of sentencing (September 25, 2018) spans 997 days
(2 years, 8 months and 23 days), such that he “ha[s] served in excess of the minimum
of two and one-half to five years[’] sentence” imposed as a result of his subsequent
conviction. Id. at 8-9. Cousins contends that “[t]he Certified Record does not
indicate how much credit [he] received on his new conviction in Philadelphia
County,” and that he “should receive credit from the time of his sentencing having
served in excess of his minimum sentence and the credit for backtime should begin upon
the effective service of the backtime.” Id. at 10.
                 Section 6138(a) of the Parole Code is instructive and provides, in
relevant part:

             (1) A parolee under the jurisdiction of the [B]oard released
             from a correctional facility who, during the period of
             parole or while delinquent on parole, commits a crime
             punishable by imprisonment, for which the parolee is
             convicted or found guilty by a judge or jury or to which
             the parolee pleads guilty or nolo contendere at any time
             thereafter in a court of record, may at the discretion of the
             [B]oard be recommitted as a parole violator.

             ....

             (2) If the parolee’s recommitment is so ordered, the
             parolee shall be reentered to serve the remainder of the

                                            5
               term which the parolee would have been compelled to
               serve had the parole not been granted and, except as
               provided under paragraph (2.1) [(granting the Board the
               discretion, with certain exceptions, to credit recommitted
               parole violators for time spent at liberty on parole)], shall
               be given no credit for the time at liberty on parole.

               ....

               (4) The period of time for which the parole violator is
               required to serve shall be computed from and begin on the
               date that the parole violator is taken into custody to be
               returned to the institution as a parole violator.

61 Pa.C.S. § 6138(a)(1), (2), (4).
               “[W]hen a parolee: (1) is incarcerated on both new criminal charges
and a detainer filed by the Board and (2) does not post bail for the new criminal
charges, the time spent incarcerated shall be credited against the sentence for his new
criminal charges.” Williams v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 68 A.3d 386, 389-90 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2013) (citing Gaito v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 412 A.2d 568, 571 (Pa.
1980)). However, “[i]f a parolee is being held solely on the Board’s detainer, the
parolee is entitled to credit on an original sentence for time served while incarcerated
awaiting resolution of new criminal charges.” Williams, 68 A.3d at 390 (citing
Gaito, 412 A.2d at 571).
               Cousins was held solely on the Board’s detainer from January 1, 2016
to January 2, 2016, and he does not dispute that the Board correctly credited this day
towards his original sentence.            See Williams, 68 A.3d at 390.                The Board
acknowledges that credit for time confined from January 2, 2016 onward10 will be

       10
           The Board incorrectly stated in its brief that credit for the time period from January 2,
2016 through March 29, 2019 will be applied to Cousins’ new sentence after he is released from
his original sentence. Board’s Brief at 8 n.1. Based on the Board’s actions as reflected in the record
and the Board’s appellate arguments, it appears this date should be March 18, 2019, as the Board
                                                  6
applied to Cousins’ new sentence upon completion of his original sentence. See
Board’s Brief at 8 n.1. However, the dispute sub judice centers on when Cousins
became available to begin serving backtime on his original sentence.
              As noted above, service of backtime “shall be computed from and begin
on the date that the parole violator is taken into custody to be returned to the
institution as a parole violator.” 61 Pa.C.S. § 6138(a)(4). The date on which the
Board revokes parole to recommit a parolee as a convicted parole violator constitutes
the “custody for return” date for purposes of determining when the parole violator
begins serving backtime in order to compute the parole violation maximum date.
See Wilson v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 124 A.3d 767, 770 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015);
Campbell v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 409 A.2d 980, 982 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1980) The
Board officially revokes parole when the requisite number of Board members signs
the hearing examiner’s recommendation. See Palmer v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole,
134 A.3d 160, 166 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2016) (holding that “a parole violator’s new
maximum date is calculated from the date on which the Board obtain[s] the second
signature needed to recommit him as a [convicted parole violator]”); Wilson, 124
A.3d at 770 (finding that “the Board did not err in calculating [a parole violator’s]
new maximum date from . . . the date on which the Board obtained the second
signature from a panel member that was necessary to recommit him as a convicted
parole violator”).
              Here, the Board’s revocation hearing report indicates that two members
of the Board signed the hearing examiner’s recommendation to recommit Cousins

asserts Cousins resumed service of backtime on March 19, 2019. See Order to Recommit, 3/21/19
at 1, C.R. at 54 (identifying Cousins’ “custody for return” date as March 19, 2019); see also
Board’s Brief at 8 (stating that the Board calculated Cousins’ parole violation maximum date by
adding 5,478 days to March 19, 2019).
                                              7
as a convicted parole violator on March 19, 2019.11 See Revocation Hearing Report,
3/19/19 at 7-8, C.R. at 37-38. Contrary to Cousins’ contention, it is of no moment
that he was moved to SCI-Phoenix on October 12, 2018, prior to the date on which
the Board revoked his parole. Wilson, 124 A.3d at 769 (rejecting a parole violator’s
argument that “his maximum date should have been calculated from . . . the date that
he was actually returned to the [SCI]” and finding that “the Board did not err in
calculating [the] new maximum date from . . . the date on which the Board obtained
the second signature from a panel member that was necessary to recommit [the
parolee] as a convicted parole violator”); Seilhamer v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole
(Pa. Cmwlth., No. 551 C.D. 2009, filed Sept. 15, 2010), slip op. at 9 (reasoning that
“[a]lthough [the parolee] may have been returned to SCI-Camp Hill on October 7,
2008, [he] did not become available to begin serving his backtime on his original
sentence until the Board revoked his parole”).12 Thus, the Board correctly computed
a parole violation maximum date of March 18, 2034 by adding Cousins’ backtime
to the “custody for return” date of March 19, 2019. See Order to Recommit, 3/21/19
at 1, C.R. at 54.
              Accordingly, we affirm the Board’s decision.

                                            __________________________________
                                            CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge

       11
          The Board incorrectly stated in its brief that Cousins became available to serve the
remainder of this original sentence on March 29, 2019. Board’s Brief at 7-8. However, the Board
correctly argues elsewhere in its appellate brief that the Board voted to recommit Cousins as a
convicted parole violator on March 19, 2019. See Board’s Brief at 3; see also Revocation Hearing
Report, 3/19/19 at 6-7, C.R. at 36-38.
       12
          While this Court’s unreported memorandum opinions may not be cited as binding
precedent, they may be cited for persuasive value. 210 Pa. Code § 69.414(a).
                                               8
         IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Khatib Cousins,                       :
                  Petitioner          :
                                      :
            v.                        :
                                      :
Pennsylvania Board of                 :
Probation and Parole,                 :   No. 4 C.D. 2020
                  Respondent          :

                                 ORDER

            AND NOW, this 20th day of August, 2020, the December 13, 2019
decision of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole is AFFIRMED.

                                    __________________________________
                                    CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge