Court Opinion

ID: 6346792
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-03 16:18:21.284444+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:03.420074
License: Public Domain

J-A06023-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    RYAN JAMES HARDWICK                        :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 399 WDA 2021

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered February 19, 2021
                In the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-05-CR-0000485-2015

BEFORE:       MURRAY, J., SULLIVAN, J., and COLINS, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY SULLIVAN, J.:                              FILED: June 3, 2022

        Ryan James Hardwick (“Hardwick”) appeals from the judgment of

sentence and fine imposed after he pled guilty to first-degree murder1 and

other crimes. We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand for resentencing

consistent with this memorandum.

        This Court previously summarized the factual background of this case

as follows:

        On January 8, 2015, [Hardwick] (then 15 years old) and Deauntay
        Moye (“Moye”) (then 16 years old) arranged to purchase
        marijuana. The seller did not arrive for the transaction. Instead,
        his girlfriend, Stephanie Waters (“Waters”), arrived to complete
        the transaction. During the purchase, Moye shot Waters twice and
        [Hardwick] shot Waters’ dog after it began barking. [Hardwick]
        and Moye placed Waters in the back seat of her vehicle and began
____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1   See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a).
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       driving around. Although Waters was still alive, [Hardwick] and
       Moye consciously chose not to drop her off at the hospital or to
       otherwise seek medical attention.     Eventually, Waters died.
       [Hardwick] and Moye continued smoking marijuana. They then
       parked Waters’ vehicle, with her corpse in the back seat, at an
       abandoned house.

See Commonwealth v. Hardwick, 190 A.3d 681 (Pa. Super. 2018)

(unpublished memorandum at *1).

       After the trial court denied his motion for decertification, Hardwick pled

guilty to first-degree murder and other offenses based on an accomplice

liability theory.   Hardwick admitted that he was aware that Moye planned to

murder the victim and helped plan the murder. The Commonwealth did not

seek a life without parole sentence.

       The trial court originally sentenced Hardwick to a term of sixty years to

life imprisonment. On appeal, Hardwick argued that as a juvenile offender he

had received an illegal de facto life without parole sentence in violation of

Commonwealth v. Foust, 180 A.3d 416 (Pa. Super. 2018).2               This Court

remanded because the lower court had not determined whether it had

imposed a de facto life without parole sentence. Id. at *5.

       On remand, the trial court appointed Dr. Alice Applegate, Ph.D., a

forensic psychologist, as the defense’s expert for resentencing, and ordered

an updated presentence investigation report (“PSI”).         Dr. Applegate and

Hardwick testified at the resentencing hearing.      Thereafter, the trial court
____________________________________________

2Our Supreme Court recently abrogated Foust in Commonwealth v. Felder,
269 A.3d 1232 (Pa. 2022).

                                           -2-
J-A06023-22

imposed a sentence of forty years to life imprisonment and a $25,000 fine for

first-degree murder.   See, N.T., 2/19/21, at 21-34.     Hardwick timely filed

post-sentence motions, which the trial court denied, and Hardwick timely

appealed. Hardwick complied with the trial court’s order directing him to file

a Rule 1925(b) statement and, in lieu of a Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court

filed a statement referring to its discussions at resentencing as its response

to the issues raised in this appeal.

      Hardwick raises the following issues for review:

      1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing
         [Hardwick], who plead guilty to first degree murder, to 40
         years to life in prison?

      2. Whether the sentence of a $25,000.00 fine was illegal as the
         court made no inquiry of [Hardwick’s] ability to pay this fine?

Hardwick’s Brief at 5 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).

      Hardwick challenges the discretionary aspects of his prison sentence. A

challenge to the discretionary aspects of a sentence does not entitle an

appellant to review as of right. See Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d

162, 170 (Pa. Super. 2010). Rather, such a challenge must be considered a

petition for permission to appeal. See Commonwealth v. Christman, 225

A.3d 1104, 1107 (Pa. Super. 2019).

      Before reaching the merits of a discretionary sentencing issue this Court

conducts a four-part analysis to determine: (1) whether the 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

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sentence, see Pa.R.Crim.P. 720; (3) whether the appellant’s brief has a fatal

defect, see Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether there is a substantial question

that the sentence is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code, see 42

Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b). See Moury, 992 A.2d at 170.

      A review of the record and briefs in this appeal confirms that Hardwick

timely appealed, preserved his issues in a post-sentence motion, and included

a Rule 2119(f) statement in his brief.          Further, Hardwick’s Rule 2119(f)

statement, wherein he asserts that the trial court imposed an excessive

sentence by disregarding the possibility he could be rehabilitated and by failing

to consider mitigating factors such his youth at the time of the offense and

surrounding    circumstances,    raises     a    substantial   question.    See

Commonwealth v. White, 193 A.3d 977, 983-84 (Pa. Super. 2018). We

therefore grant Hardwick permission to appeal the discretionary aspects of his

sentence for murder of the first degree and proceed to review the issue on its

merits.

      Our standard of review for a challenge to the discretionary aspects of a

sentence is as follows:

      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.

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Commonwealth v. Lekka, 210 A.3d 343, 350 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation

omitted).

       Hardwick’s resentencing was governed by 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1102.1.3

Pursuant to that statute, a trial court must impose a mandatory minimum

sentence of at least thirty-five years and a mandatory maximum of life

imprisonment upon a juvenile offender convicted of first-degree murder, who,

like Hardwick, was less than eighteen years old but at least fifteen years old

at the time of the offense. See id. § 1102.1(a)(1). If the Commonwealth

does not seek a life without parole sentence, the sentencing court should apply

the traditional sentencing considerations under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b) of the

Sentencing Code when fashioning its sentence.        See Commonwealth v.

Summers, 245 A.3d 686, 693 (Pa. Super. 2021), appeal denied, 110 MAL

2021 (Pa. filed Apr. 12, 2022). Hardwick contends that the trial court failed

to consider expert testimony that he is amenable to rehabilitation and by not

considering his lessened culpability and rehabilitative potential as a juvenile,

his difficult home life, and the fact that he did not shoot Waters.        See

Hardwick’s Brief at 13-14. He asserts the trial court should have imposed a

____________________________________________

3See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1102.1(a) (stating that Section 1102.1 applies to juvenile
offenders who are convicted of murder of the first degree on or after June 25,
2012).

                                           -5-
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thirty-five year minimum sentence of imprisonment rather than a forty-year

minimum sentence.4 Id. at 14.

        At resentencing, the trial court stated that it reviewed Dr. Applegate’s

testimony and report, a presentence investigation report, and the factual basis

of Hardwick’s plea.       In addition to the factors in Section 9721(b), the trial

court discussed the factors in Section 1102.1(d), including Hardwick’s youth,

maturity, difficult home life, rehabilitative potential, as well as his culpability,

in light of his youth and circumstances, in the killing of Waters.5 See N.T.,

____________________________________________

4Hardwick erroneously refers to his prior sixty-year minimum sentence in his
appellate brief. See Hardwick’s Brief at 12-14.
5   Section 1102.1(d) states:

        (d) Findings.—In determining whether to impose a sentence of
        life without parole under subsection (a), the court shall consider
        and make findings on the record regarding the following:

              (1) The impact of the offense on each victim, including oral
              and written victim impact statements made or submitted by
              family members of the victim detailing the physical,
              psychological and economic effects of the crime on the
              victim and the victim's family. A victim impact statement
              may include comment on the sentence of the defendant.

              (2) The impact of the offense on the community.

              (3) The threat to the safety of the public or any individual
              posed by the defendant.

              (4) The nature and circumstances of the offense committed
              by the defendant.

              (5) The degree of the defendant’s culpability.
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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Resentencing Hearing, 2/19/21, at 21-24, 28-31, 33, 35. Specifically, the

court acknowledged that Hardwick was fifteen years old at the time of the

murder, and that he did not shoot Waters. See id. at 21, 24. The court noted

that he pled guilty to murder of the first degree as an accomplice and supplied

his co-defendant with the gun. See id. at 23-24, 38-40. The court observed

that Hardwick shot the victim’s dog, drove the victim in their car as she lie

dying in the back seat, helped move her body, and then concealed evidence.

See id. at 24. The court also considered Hardwick’s youth, culpability, and

potential for rehabilitation, weighing Dr. Applegate’s testimony and report as

evidence of Hardwick’s substance abuse issues at an early age, difficult home

____________________________________________

              (6) Guidelines for sentencing and resentencing adopted by
              the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.

              (7) Age-related characteristics of the defendant, including:

                     (i) Age.

                     (ii) Mental capacity.

                     (iii) Maturity.

                     (iv) The degree of criminal sophistication exhibited by
                     the defendant.

                     (v) The nature and extent of any prior delinquent or
                     criminal history, including the success or failure of any
                     previous attempts by the court to rehabilitate the
                     defendant.

                     (vi) Probation or institutional reports.

                     (vii) Other relevant factors.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1102.1(d).

                                           -7-
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life, and lack of a strong male role model. See id. at 23-24, 40-41. The court

also balanced the protection of the public, the gravity of the offense as it

relates to the victim and community, and Hardwick’s rehabilitative needs when

it imposed the forty-year minimum sentence. See id. at 38; see also 42

Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b). Based on this record, we discern no merit to Hardwick’s

claim that the trial court abused its discretion or imposed an excessive

sentence.6 Thus, his first issue merits no relief.

       In his next claim, Hardwick asserts that the trial court imposed an illegal

fine by failing to consider his ability to pay. A claim that the trial court imposed

a discretionary fine without considering the defendant’s ability to pay

challenges the legality of a sentence, and is, therefore, appealable as of right.

Commonwealth v. Boyd, 73 A.3d 1269, 1274 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc);

Commonwealth v. Thomas, 879 A.2d 246, 262 (Pa. Super. 2005). The

Sentencing Code states, in pertinent part:

       (c) Exception.—The court shall not sentence a defendant to pay
       a fine unless it appears of record that:

              (1) the defendant is or will be able to pay the fine; and

____________________________________________

6 Hardwick briefly asserts that his sentence constitutes a cruel and unusual
punishment because the trial court allegedly disregarded Miller v. Alabama,
567 U.S. 460 (2012). Hardwick’s Brief at 9. He refers to his sentence as the
most severe punishment short of the death penalty. Id. at 11. To the extent
that Hardwick suggests that he received a de facto life sentence, such a claim
would lack merit. This Court has held that minimum sentences of forty-five
years of imprisonment do not constitute de facto life sentences triggering
Miller concerns. See Lekka, 210 A.3d at 357-58.

                                           -8-
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            (2) the fine will not prevent the defendant from making
            restitution or reparation to the victim of the crime.

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9726(c). Section 9726(c) does not require a formal hearing

so long as there is an evidentiary basis on the defendant’s ability to pay. See

Boyd, 73 A.3d at 1274; see also Commonwealth v. Ford, 217 A.3d 824,

831 n.14 (Pa. 2019) (“Subsection 9726(c) does not necessarily require

testimonial evidence. It is certainly possible that non-testimonial evidence—

like a thorough presentence investigation report detailing a defendant's assets

and income—could satisfy Subsection 9726(c)’s mandate”).

      Hardwick’s sole argument on appeal is that the trial court imposed the

$25,000 fine without inquiring into, making a record of, or finding he had the

ability to pay the fine. Hardwick’s Brief at 15. In support of his contention

that the record was insufficient to impose a fine he cites to Ford, a decision

in which our Supreme Court vacated a plea bargain because the trial court

imposed agreed-upon fines without record evidence of the defendant’s ability

to pay. See id. (citing Ford, 217 A.3d at 828).

      The record here contains some information related to Hardwick’s ability

to pay. As noted by the Commonwealth, Hardwick’s counsel objected to the

amount of the fine at the resentencing hearing and stated that Hardwick was

indigent and made forty cents an hour working in jail and received money

from family members.      See N.T., Resentencing Hearing, 2/19/21, at 44.

Counsel added that the jail garnished 25% of any money he made, as well as

money his family sent to him. See id. Although not referred to by the parties,

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we note that Dr. Applegate found Hardwick to be hard-working and reported

that he wanted to take college classes and obtain a barber’s license.

       However, even with these assertions, we have found no record

evidence of Hardwick’s ability to pay.7 See Commonwealth v. Thomas,

879 A.2d 246, 264 (Pa. Super. 2005) (vacating imposition of fine where the

trial court stated it had all appropriate information and knew of the appellant’s

history, but nothing in the record supported the trial court’s statements).

Based on the foregoing, we conclude that Hardwick’s illegal fine claim merits

remand to the trial court to consider the limited issue of Hardwick’s ability to

pay the fine imposed by the trial court.           Therefore, we are constrained to

vacate that portion of the judgment of sentence imposing the fine.

       Judgment of sentence affirmed in part and vacated in part.             Case

remanded for resentencing consistent with this memorandum.              Jurisdiction

relinquished.

____________________________________________

7 We acknowledge that there may be some record evidence based on a
thorough PSI detailing Hardwick’s ability to pay. However, the PSI was not
included in the record transmitted to this Court.

Although the Commonwealth asserted that Hardwick conceded to his ability
to pay, we do not believe that there is a dispositive distinction between an
agreement to pay a fine as part of a negotiated plea and Hardwick’s concession
where there is no record evidence of Hardwick’s ability to pay. See Ford, 217
A.3d at 828, 830 (concluding that an agreement to pay a fine is not sufficient
evidence of an ability to pay that fine).

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/3/2022

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