Court Opinion

ID: 9389277
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-25 14:11:49.498086+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:26.258785
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

              Present: Judges Fulton, Friedman and Raphael
UNPUBLISHED

              TERRY W. GLENN, S/K/A
               TERRY WAYNE GLENN
                                                                             MEMORANDUM OPINION*
              v.     Record No. 1053-22-3                                        PER CURIAM
                                                                                 APRIL 25, 2023
              COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

                                    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PATRICK COUNTY
                                                Marcus A. Brinks, Judge

                              (Michelle C. F. Derrico, Senior Appellate Attorney; Virginia
                              Indigent Defense Commission, on briefs), for appellant.

                              (Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General; John Beamer, Assistant
                              Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

                     Terry Wayne Glenn entered a no-contest plea1 to the charge of distribution of

              methamphetamine. The trial court sentenced him to five years’ incarceration with all but

              fourteen days suspended. It also ordered that he complete three years of probation and undergo

              substance-abuse treatment. Glenn appeals, arguing that the “imposition of extended probation

              was a hardship.” After examining the briefs and record, the panel unanimously holds that oral

              argument is unnecessary because “the appeal is wholly without merit.” Code § 17.1-403(ii)(a);

              Rule 5A:27(a). We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                     *
                         This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413.
                     1
                      A no-contest plea “implies a confession . . . of the truth of the charge.” Smith v.
              Commonwealth, 59 Va. App. 710, 723 (2012) (quoting Jones v. Commonwealth, 42 Va. App.
              142, 147 (2004)). The trial court may therefore “consider [the defendant] guilty for the purpose
              of imposing judgment and sentence.” Id. (quoting Jones, 42 Va. App. at 147).
                                           BACKGROUND

       On appeal, we recite the facts “in the ‘light most favorable’ to the Commonwealth, the

prevailing party in the trial court.” Hammer v. Commonwealth, 74 Va. App. 225, 231 (2022)

(quoting Commonwealth v. Cady, 300 Va. 325, 329 (2021)). Doing so requires that we “discard”

the defendant’s evidence when it conflicts with the Commonwealth’s evidence, “regard as true

all the credible evidence favorable to the Commonwealth,” and read “all fair inferences” in the

Commonwealth’s favor. Cady, 300 Va. at 329 (quoting Commonwealth v. Perkins, 295 Va. 323,

324 (2018)).

       At the plea hearing, the Commonwealth proffered that a confidential informant conducted

a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Glenn. The informant contacted Glenn, who

agreed to sell the informant one gram of methamphetamine for $100. The police equipped the

informant with audio and video equipment and searched him before and after he met with Glenn

at Glenn’s residence. The informant returned with the drugs, which testing later confirmed to be

methamphetamine. Glenn did not contest the Commonwealth’s proffer. Glenn confirmed he

understood that the maximum punishment was 40 years and a $500,000 fine and that the trial

court did not have to follow the discretionary sentencing guidelines.

       At sentencing, the trial court reviewed the sentencing guidelines, which recommended a

sentence between eight months and one year and six months. Glenn introduced evidence

documenting his undiagnosed “seizure activity” that required medical treatment. Glenn

requested a sentence of no active time, citing his work history, young children, health issues, and

lack of prior felony convictions. The trial court approved Glenn’s proposed modification and

adjusted the sentencing guidelines to include a low end of zero time, though the basis for its

decision is not clearly stated in the record. The trial court then sentenced Glenn to five years’

incarceration with all but fourteen days suspended and imposed a condition of three years’

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probation. It emphasized that in making its sentencing decision it considered the guidelines as

well as Glenn’s mitigating evidence.

                                             ANALYSIS

       Glenn argues that the trial court abused its discretion by imposing the three-year

probation term. He alleges, without explanation, that “[i]nstead of focusing on his medical

treatment and disability, the trial court’s order required [him] to prioritize supervised probation

over even his health.”

       “The determination of sentencing lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. A

sentencing decision will not be reversed unless the trial court abused its discretion.” Garibaldi v.

Commonwealth, 71 Va. App. 64, 67 (2019) (quoting Martin v. Commonwealth, 274 Va. 733, 735

(2007)). “[W]hen a statute prescribes a maximum imprisonment penalty and the sentence does

not exceed that maximum, the sentence will not be overturned as being an abuse of discretion.”

Minh Duy Du v. Commonwealth, 292 Va. 555, 564 (2016) (quoting Alston v. Commonwealth,

274 Va. 759, 771-72 (2007)).

       It was within the trial court’s purview to weigh the mitigating evidence Glenn presented.

Keselica v. Commonwealth, 34 Va. App. 31, 36 (2000). “Criminal sentencing decisions are

among the most difficult judgment calls trial judges face.” Minh Duy Du, 292 Va. at 563.

“Because this task is so difficult, it must rest heavily on judges closest to the facts of the case—

those hearing and seeing the witnesses, taking into account their verbal and nonverbal

communication, and placing all of it in the context of the entire case.” Id.

       Here, the record shows that the trial court considered Glenn’s mitigating evidence and

imposed a sentence that it deemed appropriate. And Glenn’s sentence was within the statutory

range set by the legislature. See Code § 18.2-248. “[O]nce it is determined that a sentence is

within the limitations set forth in the statute under which it is imposed, appellate review is at an

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end.” Thomason v. Commonwealth, 69 Va. App. 89, 99 (2018) (quoting Minh Duy Du, 292 Va.

at 565). We therefore find no error in the trial court’s decision.

                                            CONCLUSION

       The trial court acted within its discretion when it imposed the condition of three years’

probation.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

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