Court Opinion

ID: 4367079
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-12 19:38:30.595808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:20.904766
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    GERMEL PERKINS                             :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 3272 EDA 2017

              Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence April 30, 2015
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
              Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0008441-2014

BEFORE:      OTT, J., DUBOW, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                               FILED FEBRUARY 12, 2019

        Germel Perkins appeals, nunc pro tunc, from the judgment of sentence

imposed April 30, 2015, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas,

after his post-sentence and appeal rights were reinstated pursuant to the Post

Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”).1          The trial court sentenced Perkins to an

aggregate term of eight to 17 years’ imprisonment, following his conviction,

without a jury, of drug and gun charges. On appeal, Perkins challenges the

sufficiency of the evidence and the discretionary aspects of his sentence. For

the reasons below, we vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for

resentencing. In all other respects, we affirm.

____________________________________________

   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1   42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.
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        The facts underlying Perkins’ arrest and conviction are as follows. Police

officers, responding to a radio call of a person with a gun, observed Perkins

banging on an apartment door with a hammer. When the officers ordered him

to drop the hammer, he threw it to the ground and ran towards the next

apartment.      One officer observed him struggling with something in his

waistband. As Perkins entered the apartment, the officer saw a “flash of a

silver frame revolver with a black handle.” Trial Court Opinion, 1/26/2018, at

4. Perkins eventually complied with the officers’ order to exit the apartment

with his hands up. The officers recovered a silver revolver on top of a bag

just inside the doorway of the apartment, and 47 bags of crack cocaine on his

person.

        Perkins was charged with possession with intent to deliver controlled

substances (“PWID”), possession of controlled substances, firearms not to be

carried without a license, carrying firearms on public streets in Philadelphia,

and possession of an instrument of crime (“PIC”).2 The case proceeded to a

non-jury trial, and on February 11, 2015, the trial court found Perkins guilty

of all charges, except PIC.3        On April 30, 2015, Perkins was sentenced to

____________________________________________

2See 35 P.S. §§ 780-113(a)(30) and (a)(16), and 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 6106, 6108,
and 907, respectively. When the officers learned the firearm had been stolen,
Perkins was also charged with receiving stolen property (18 Pa.C.S. § 3925),
at Docket No. 8442-2014.

3   He was also convicted of receiving stolen property at Docket No. 8442-2014.

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consecutive terms of three and one-half to seven years’ incarceration for

possessing a firearm without a license, two and one-half to five years’

incarceration for PWID, and two to five years’ incarceration for carrying a

firearm on a public street in Philadelphia, for an aggregate sentence of eight

to 17 years’ imprisonment.4 Thereafter, counsel filed both an untimely post-

sentence motion, and an untimely notice of appeal. This Court quashed the

untimely appeal on June 20, 2016. See 1651 EDA 2015.

       On August 15, 2016, Perkins filed a pro se PCRA petition, seeking

reinstatement of his post-sentence motion and appellate rights. Counsel was

appointed, and filed an amended petition on April 11, 2017. On August 8,

2017, the PCRA court granted Perkins’ requested relief. Thereafter, Perkins

filed a post-sentence motion nunc pro tunc, which the trial court subsequently

denied. This timely nunc pro tunc appeal followed.5

____________________________________________

4 On the offense of receiving stolen property at Docket No. 8442-2014, the
trial court sentenced Perkins to a term of three years’ probation to run
consecutive to the sentence imposed herein.

5 On October 12, 2017, the trial court ordered Perkins to file a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).
Perkins complied with the court’s directive, and filed a concise statement on
November 1, 2017.

      We note the court also granted Perkins PCRA relief on Docket No. 8442-
2014. An appeal in that case was docketed in this Court at 3273 EDA 2017.
However, on November 27, 2018, this Court dismissed that appeal when
Perkins failed to file a brief. See Docket No. 3273 EDA 2017.

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        In his first issue, Perkins challenges the sufficiency of the evidence

supporting his convictions of the firearm offenses.6 Specifically, he asserts

the Commonwealth failed to establish the barrel length of the handgun

recovered from his apartment. See Perkins’ Brief at 29.

        Our standard of review of a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence

is well-established:

        The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence
        is whether viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light
        most favorable to the verdict winner, there is sufficient evidence
        to enable the fact-finder to find every element of the crime beyond
        a reasonable doubt. In applying [this] test, we may not weigh the
        evidence and substitute our judgment for the fact-finder. In
        addition, we note that the facts and circumstances established by
        the Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of
        innocence. Any doubts regarding a defendant’s guilt may be
        resolved by the fact-finder unless the evidence is so weak and
        inconclusive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be
        drawn from the combined circumstances. The Commonwealth
        may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime
        beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly circumstantial
        evidence. Moreover, in applying the above test, the entire record
        must be evaluated and all evidence actually received must be
        considered. Finally, the trier of fact while passing upon the
        credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence produced,
        is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence.

Commonwealth v. Lopez, 57 A.3d 74, 79 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation

omitted), appeal denied, 62 A.3d 379 (Pa. 2013).

        Under both Sections 6106 and 6108 of the Uniform Firearms Act, the

Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant

____________________________________________

6   For ease of disposition, we address Perkins’ claims in reverse order.

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possessed a “firearm” under circumstances in which it was unlawful to do so.

See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 6106 (unlawful to carry a firearm without a license), 6108

(unlawful to carry firearm on public street or public property in Philadelphia

without a license). Section 6102 defines a “firearm” as follows:

        “Firearm.” Any pistol or revolver with a barrel length less than 15
        inches, any shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches or
        any rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or any pistol,
        revolver, rifle or shotgun with an overall length of less than 26
        inches. The barrel length of a firearm shall be determined by
        measuring from the muzzle of the barrel to the face of the closed
        action, bolt or cylinder, whichever is applicable.

18 Pa.C.S. § 6102.

        Perkins insists the evidence was insufficient to convict him of the firearm

offenses because the Commonwealth presented no evidence regarding the

barrel length of the gun at issue.             See Perkins’ Brief at 30.     Relying on

Commonwealth v. Fitzhugh, 520 A.2d 424, 430 (Pa. Super. 1987), appeal

denied, 528 A.2d 955 (Pa. 1987), Perkins maintains “[b]arrel length is an

essential element of the offenses defined in the Pennsylvania Uniform

Firearms Act.”

        The firearm was described at trial as follows.          Philadelphia Housing

Officer Brooke7 testified that after he ordered Perkins to drop the hammer, he

observed Perkins moving his arm back and forth, “like he was trying to pull

something out of his waistband.” N.T., 2/11/2015, at 17. As Perkins turned

to enter the apartment, the officer “saw the flash of a silver frame revolver
____________________________________________

7   Officer Brooke’s first name is not identified in the trial transcript.

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and a black handle coming out of [Perkins’] waistband right before he entered

the doorway.” Id. See also id. at 31 (officer describing how he saw a part

of the silver frame and black handle of the gun, which Perkins had not pulled

“all the way out” of his waistband yet). The officer then testified he recovered

“[t]he silver revolver with the black handle … on top of a white bag, just inside

the doorway” of the apartment. Id. at 22. Although the gun was not entered

into evidence, the parties agreed to the following stipulation with regard to

the receiving stolen property charge at Docket No. 8442-2014:

      [I]f Walter Donikowski were called to testify … he would testify
      that he is the owner of a Taurus model .357, serial number CS-
      18544, that he does not know Mr. Perkins, he never met Mr.
      Perkins, and that Mr. Perkins did not have his permission to have
      the firearm on the date in question.

Id. at 9.

      Although we agree the Commonwealth did not establish the barrel

length of the weapon recovered, we nevertheless find the evidence was

sufficient for the trial court to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the

gun recovered was a “firearm” as described in Section 6102.         See Lopez,

supra, 57 A.3d at 79 (“The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving

every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly

circumstantial evidence.”).

      Section 6102 defines a firearm as a “pistol or revolver with a barrel

length less than 15 inches” or “any revolver, rifle or shotgun with an overall

length of less than 26 inches.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (emphasis supplied).

Officer Brooke described the gun as a “revolver,” and the stipulation referred

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to the weapon stolen from Mr. Donikownski as a “firearm,” specifically, a

“Taurus model .357.” N.T., 2/11/2015, at 9, 17, 22. Significantly, as noted

by the trial court,8 Officer Brooke testified he observed Perkins pulling the gun

from his waistband. See id. at 17 (officer describing that he saw the silver

frame and black handle of a gun “coming out of [Perkins’] waistband”), 32

(explaining “[t]he whole gun was not out of his waistband yet” when Perkins

entered the apartment). It would have been nearly impossible for Perkins to

conceal a gun measuring more than two feet long (26 inches) in his waistband.

Accordingly, we conclude the evidence was sufficient for the court to

“reasonably conclude” that the gun recovered was “a firearm for purposes of

the statute.” Trial Court Opinion, 1/26/2018, at 11.

        Next, Perkins challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence. Such

a claim is not appealable as of right, but “must be considered a petition for

permission to appeal.” Commonwealth v. Best, 120 A.3d 329, 348 (Pa.

Super. 2015) (quotation omitted). To reach the merits of a discretionary issue,

this Court must determine:

        (1) whether the appeal is timely; (2) whether Appellant preserved
        [the] issue; (3) whether Appellant’s brief includes a concise
        statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal with
        respect to the discretionary aspects of sentence; and (4) whether
        the concise statement raises a substantial question that the
        sentence is appropriate under the sentencing code.

____________________________________________

8   See Trial Court Opinion, 1/26/2018, at 10.

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Commonwealth v. Edwards, 71 A.3d 323, 329-330 (Pa. Super. 2013)

(citation omitted), appeal denied, 81 A.3d 75 (Pa. 2013).

      Perkins complied with the procedural requirements for this appeal by

filing a timely post-sentence motion for modification of sentence, and

subsequent notice of appeal, and by including in his appellate brief a

statement of reasons relied upon for appeal pursuant to Commonwealth v.

Tuladziecki, 522 A.2d 17 (Pa. 1987), and Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). Therefore, we

must determine whether he has raised a substantial question justifying our

review.

      A substantial question exists when an appellant sets forth “a colorable

argument that the sentence imposed is either inconsistent with a specific

provision of the Sentencing Code or is contrary to the fundamental norms

underlying the sentencing process.” Commonwealth v. Ventura, 975 A.2d
1128, 1133 (Pa. Super. 2009), appeal denied, 987 A.2d 161 (Pa. 2009)

(citation omitted). Here, Perkins contends the trial court improperly relied on

(1) “second-hand accounts” of his alleged uncharged criminal conduct, (2)

unsupported    testimony   of   his   “supposed   violent   reputation   in   the

community[,]” and (3) the prosecutor’s “quasi testimony linking [] Perkins to

other nefarious individuals.” Perkins’ Brief at 22. A claim that the trial court

relied on impermissible factors when imposing sentence raises a substantial

question for our review. Commonwealth v. Rhodes, 990 A.2d 732, 745

(Pa. Super. 2009) (finding substantial question when defendant alleged the

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sentencing     court    relied    upon    impermissible   consideration,   including

unsubstantiated hearsay, uncharged crimes, and police reports not included

in the certified record), appeal denied, 14 A.3d 827 (Pa. 2010).            Finding

Perkins has raised a substantial question, we proceed to a review of his claim

on appeal.

       “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.” Commonwealth v. Bullock, 170 A.3d 1109, 1123 (Pa. Super.

2017) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 184 A.3d 944 (Pa. 2018). We note

“[t]he sentencing guidelines are advisory, and when justified, a court acts well

within its discretion to sentence outside the recommended ranges.”

Commonwealth v. P.L.S., 894 A.2d 120, 128 (Pa. Super. 2006), appeal

denied sub nom, Commonwealth v. Schaffer, 906 A.2d 542 (Pa. 2006).

       In the present case, the trial court imposed a sentence at the top of the

aggravated range of the guidelines for Perkins’ Section 6105 conviction, and

above the aggravated range for his PWID and Section 6108 convictions. See

Perkins’ Brief at 17-19.9        When a court imposes a sentence outside of the

guidelines range, it must provide contemporaneous reasons on the record for

its deviation. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b). Further, an appellate court must

____________________________________________

9 Although the sentencing guideline forms are not included in the certified
record, the Commonwealth does not dispute Perkins’ guideline calculations.

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vacate a sentence imposed outside the guidelines if it finds the sentence is

“unreasonable.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(c)(3).

      Here, Perkins contends that in imposing a sentence above the

aggravated range of the guidelines, the trial court relied on impermissible

factors, specifically, “second-hand accounts” of his alleged “uncharged

criminal conduct,” as well as his purported “violent reputation in the

community,” and the prosecutor’s “quasi testimony linking [] Perkins to other

nefarious individuals.” Perkins’ Brief at 22.

      As   Perkins   asserts,   unsubstantiated   allegations   concerning   a

defendant’s other crimes are not permitted during a sentencing hearing. In

Commonwealth v. Cruz, 402 A.2d 536 (Pa. Super. 1979), a detective

testified the defendant, who had been convicted of selling two packets of

heroin on two occasions, was “known to be what we would call a weight dealer.

He has been known to deal in large quantities other than just dime bags and

so on.” Id. at 537. When the court inquired how the detective learned that

information, the detective replied, “[i]nformants and through undercover

agents also working.” Id. Although a panel of this Court ultimately found the

issue waived because counsel never objected to the statement, the panel

opined: “An [u]nsubstantiated statement that a defendant is a major drug

dealer would be an inappropriate factor in a judge’s imposition of sentence.”

Id. at 536.

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      In Commonwealth v. Karash, 452 A.2d 528 (Pa. Super. 1982), this

Court vacated a judgment of sentence when the trial court acknowledged that

in imposing the sentence, it had relied upon television and newspaper

accounts that the defendant escaped from prison while awaiting sentencing.

See id. at 529 (finding the trial court “denied appellant’s right to the

presumption of innocence, and, in sentencing him as though he had been

proved guilty of escape, his right to due process.”).

      Similarly, in Rhodes, supra, this Court vacated a sentence when the

trial court relied upon “police reports it obtained ex parte” from which it drew

“factual inferences” to support its imposition of a sentence five times that

recommended by the Commonwealth. Rhodes, supra, 990 A.2d at 745. In

that case, the defendant, an 18-year old college student, entered an open

guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter after the death of her newborn

daughter. See id. at 734. At the plea hearing, the prosecutor informed the

court that while there was no agreement as to sentencing, the Commonwealth

would have no objection to a downward departure from the guidelines, and

stated his belief the crime fit the profile for neonatacide. Id. at 736. The trial

court, however, rejected that characterization, based in large part on its

review of police reports it obtained from the Commonwealth ex parte, and

presented an “alternate recitation of the case, drawing unfavorable inferences

against the defendant[.]” Id. at 740. The court imposed a sentence that fell

only two years’ below the statutory maximum. See id. at 741. In concluding

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the trial court erred when it relied on the ex parte police reports, the panel

stated:     “Regrettably, the trial court’s reliance on the undisclosed and

unchallenged hearsay of the police reports allowed it to reach the tendentious

characterization of [the defendant’s] conduct on which it based its rejection of

the   FBI     neonaticide   profile   and      the   Commonwealth’s   sentence

recommendation.” Id. at 747.

      Nevertheless, a panel of this Court has found that under certain

circumstances, a trial court may consider “unprosecuted criminal conduct”

when determining an appropriate sentence, such as when a defendant’s prior

record score does not adequately reflect his criminal background.       P.L.S.,

supra, 894 A.2d at 131. However, there must be an “evidentiary link between

the defendant and the uncharged prior conduct.” Id.

      In P.L.S., the trial court considered testimony by a Sexual Offenders

Assessment Board (“SOAB”) investigator that the defendant, who had been

convicted of sexually abusing his girlfriend’s minor daughter, admitted to

another investigator, who did not testify, that he abused two other minor

victims.    See id. at 128.     The investigator also claimed that when he

confronted the defendant with this prior admission, the defendant did not deny

he made the statement. See id.

      On appeal, the panel determined the trial court was permitted to

consider this prior, uncharged criminal conduct at sentencing. See id. at 132.

The panel noted the information was contained in the defendant’s SOAB

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assessment, a document the court was permitted to rely upon at sentencing.

See id. Moreover, the panel explained:

      [T]he evidence linking Appellant to these other crimes stood
      unrefuted. That evidence sprang from Appellant’s own mouth and
      was confirmed by the victims. Under [the relevant case law,] the
      sentencing court was permitted to rely upon Appellant’s
      admissions when it imposed sentence.

            In addition, we note that this sentence was increased
      beyond the guidelines not merely because Appellant could not be
      prosecuted for his abuse of the two other children. The sentencing
      court clearly found, based upon Appellant’s abuse of those victims,
      that he was a threat to children and needed to be sentenced above
      the guidelines ranges for the protection of the public.

             Finally, even if we were to conclude that the uncharged
      conduct should not have been considered by the sentencing court,
      the court offered significant other support for sentencing in excess
      of the guidelines in this case. Appellant sexually abused his victim
      nearly weekly for two years. As the sentencing court noted, the
      effect of this ongoing sexual abuse was substantial and long-term.
      The court also was appalled that Appellant would abuse a child in
      retaliation against the child's mother and attempt to justify his
      actions on that basis. …

Id. at 132-133 (some citations omitted).       See also Commonwealth v.

Vernille, 418 A.2d 713, 719 (Pa. Super. 1980) (finding no impropriety when

trial court considered defendant’s “alleged involvement in other unlawful

activities for which he was not charged, tried or convicted” when imposing

sentence; the information was included in the presentence investigation report

(“PSI”), “developed at trial,” and the defendant “admitted most of the facts”);

Commonwealth v. Medley, 725 A.2d 1225, 1228-1229 (Pa. Super. 1999)

(finding court properly relied upon hearsay testimony at sentencing regarding

defendant’s prior convictions in North Carolina; Pennsylvania officer identified

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North Carolina officer who verified defendant’s date of birth and social security

number, and then faxed a copy of North Carolina defendant’s fingerprints to

Pennsylvania sergeant certified in fingerprint comparison), appeal denied, 749
A.2d 468 (Pa. 2000).

      Here, Perkins contends the trial court’s reliance on the following

testimony was improper. First, Officer Anthony Soliman testified he had been

assigned to the 22nd District for the last nine years and spent a significant

amount of time investigating drug and gang organizations in the Blumberg

Housing Project where Perkins was arrested.       N.T., 4/30/2015, at 8.     The

officer stated Perkins was associated with the “Waterboys” drug organization

through “narcotic sales and in multiple robberies by gun.” Id. at 10. Officer

Soliman claimed he learned of Perkins’ involvement “through numerous

investigations, debriefing of other individuals, victims who are less than

encouraged to come forth.” Id. He specifically testified: “The individuals, I

have personally spoken to are definitely afraid of Mr. Perkins. And the violence

has followed him.” Id. at 11. He elaborated that other drug dealers in the

project cease operations when Perkins is in the building for fear of being

robbed by him. See id.      The officer explained that of all the people he has

spoken to in the building, “[o]ne person[’]s name that continuously re-appears

is Mr. Perkins as being violent; as somebody who – yeah – they sell drugs but

moreso they are more interested and more fearful of his robberies.” Id. at

12.   Under cross-examination, Officer Soliman conceded he was “not in a

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position to offer … documentation” regarding his investigations, and many of

the people he has spoken to are not willing to testify. Id. at 13-14.

      Second, Officer David Cikanovich testified he has also been assigned to

the Blumberg Housing Project for the last two years, and Perkins is “known

for” committing “gunpoint robberies” in elevators so he would not be seen.

Id. at 20-21.   Moreover, Officer Cikanovich testified he heard Perkins had

threatened other housing officers. See id.

      Third, the prosecutor offered three photographs into evidence, which

purportedly depicted Perkins with other members of the “Waterboys” gang.

After identifying the men in the photos, the prosecutor stated:

      Your Honor has heard, and I can offer, I have handled all of these
      cases. I can testify to them. I was there.

Id. at 17. He then proceeded to list the crimes the men had been convicted

of and explained:     “I’m not alleging Mr. Perkins is a ‘kingpin’ in this

organization. Those photos indicate a connection with this organization[.]”

Id. at 19.

      Perkins argues the second-hand accounts of his purported other criminal

acts “is clearly inappropriate based on Cruz, supra.” Perkins’ Brief at 25.

Further, he maintains the prosecutor’s “testimony” was also improper because

he was not sworn or subject to cross-examination; rather the prosecutor

“simply accused Mr. Perkins of associating with nefarious individuals and then

vouched for the credibility of those allegations.”     Id. at 27.       While he

acknowledges that “hearsay – to some extent – is admissible at sentencing[,]”

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Perkins insists the “the scenarios where hearsay is admissible bear no

resemblance to [his] sentencing hearing.” Id. We are constrained to agree.10

       The unsubstantiated allegations concerning Perkins’ reputation as a

violent individual who commits gunpoint robberies and sells narcotics are

indistinguishable from the allegation that the defendant was a “weight dealer”

in Cruz, supra, or the damaging information the trial court obtained from ex

parte police reports in Rhodes, supra. In both Cruz and the case sub judice,

the officers acquired their information from unnamed sources, who were either

unable or unwilling to testify. Here, however, unlike in Cruz, Perkins’ counsel

objected to this hearsay testimony, thereby preserving the issue for appeal.

See N.T., 4/30/2015, at 10, 15-16,             Moreover, as in Rhodes, Perkins was

____________________________________________

10 We note Perkins has not challenged the testimony provided by two other
officers at the sentencing hearing. Specificially, Officer Raymond Brook stated
he was in the courtyard of the Blumberg Projects on the morning before
Perkins’ arrest when he witnessed an argument between Perkins and his
girlfriend. See N.T., 4/30/2015, at 24. At one point, the girlfriend stated,
“don’t make me tell the police what you do.” In response, Perkins “pulled out
a wad of cash …[a]nd he said they already know what I do” as he counted the
money in front of the officers. Id. Because Officer Brook was a witness to
this encounter, any objection would have been meritless.

       Perkins also did not challenge the sentencing testimony presented by
Detective Michael Rocks, who detailed his investigation of a shooting in
September of 2014, in which the victim identified Perkins as his assailant. See
id. at 28. Although the detective arrested Perkins for the crime, the case was
eventually dismissed because the victim could not be located. See id. at 29-
30. Here, too, because Detective Rocks had firsthand knowledge of the
investigation, this testimony was permissible.

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unable to cross-examine any person who had firsthand knowledge of his

purported participation in other violent and illicit activities.

       Further, the cases in which we have permitted this type of hearsay

testimony at sentencing are distinguishable.        In P.L.S., the allegations of

uncharged abuse were documented in the official SOAB assessment, and,

significantly, not denied by the defendant. See P.L.S., supra, 894 A.2d at

128.    Similarly, in Vernille, the defendant’s involvement in uncharged

criminal activity was documented in his PSI, “developed at trial,” and he

“admitted most of the facts.” Vernille, supra, 418 A.2d at 719. Here, Perkins

did not admit any of the violent behavior of which he was accused, nor did he

acknowledge his mere presence instilled fear in the Blumberg Projects

residents.    Moreover, it does not appear that any of the allegations were

documented, or reviewed by the pre-sentence investigator.11 Accordingly, we

agree with Perkins that the testimony concerning his alleged participation in

gunpoint robberies and other violent behavior should not have been

considered by the trial court at the sentencing hearing.12
____________________________________________

11We note the PSI is not in the certified record. However, neither the trial
court nor the Commonwealth indicates these allegations were included in the
PSI.

12 However, we find no merit to Perkins’ other allegations of impropriety.
Although Officer Cikanovich’s claim that he heard Perkins had threatened
other police officers was clearly hearsay, Perkins never objected to that
testimony during the sentencing hearing, nor did he include that particular
claim in his motion seeking reconsideration of his sentence. Therefore, his
present objection is waived. See Edwards, supra. Moreover, Perkins’ claim

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       However, we are required to vacate the sentence only if we conclude

the court relied upon impermissible factors when imposing his sentence.

              “In deciding whether a trial judge considered only
       permissible factors in sentencing a defendant, an appellate court
       must, of necessity, review all of the judge’s comments. Moreover,
       in making this determination it is not necessary that an appellate
       court be convinced that the trial judge in fact relied upon an
       erroneous consideration; it is sufficient to render a sentence
       invalid if it reasonably appears from the record that the trial court
       relied in whole or in part upon such a factor.”

Commonwealth v. Scott, 860 A.2d 1029, 1030 (Pa. Super. 2004), appeal

denied, 889 A.2d 1215 (Pa. 2005).

       The court provided the following rationale for its sentence at the

conclusion of the hearing:

             I’ve considered the modified presentencing report and the
       guidelines in this case, the arguments of both counsel, the
       defendant’s allocution and certainly all of the testimony that’s
       been offered today.

             I make several summary findings in no particular order. I
       find that the evidence of the defendant’s reputation, on the
       whole, is reliable based on the testimony of the Blumberg
       law enforcement officers who stated the basis of that
       knowledge or opinion for what it’s worth.

             I also find that the evidence of the defendant’s prior deeds
       – the ones that the officers actually witnessed – which would boil
       down to his, quote, unquote: they know what I do.

____________________________________________

that the prosecutor offered “quasi testimony” is also unfounded. While the
prosecutor did list several crimes Perkins’ alleged associates had been
convicted of, that information could have been easily verified, and, in any
event, was not relied upon by the trial court.

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            I find that reliable testimony. And I accept that as direct
      evidence. I find that the circumstances of the defendant’s arrest
      are troubling in this case.

           The facts involved in that culpable conduct does place
      him in a different place than your garden variety PWID for
      a culpable defendant, same goes for his culpable conduct
      insofar as the VUFA offense.

           I do find the defendant poses a great danger to the
      community. I find that the sentencing guidelines, in this
      case, are under-representative of his history of criminality
      and his propensity to commit violent crimes.

N.T., 4/30/2015, at 40-41. (emphasis supplied).

      Upon our review of the court’s comments at sentencing, it appears the

trial court did rely upon the officers’ testimony regarding Perkins’ reputation

as a violent drug dealer and robber when imposing sentences within and above

the aggravated range of the guidelines. This fact becomes clear, however,

upon review of the trial court’s opinion:

            Here, the Court carefully considered the record before it, the
      pre-sentence reports, [Perkins’] allocution and the guidelines.
      The Court also considered the circumstances of instant offenses
      demonstrated that not only was [Perkins] dealing crack cocaine,
      but he was protecting his drug business with a firearm. The court
      also    considered     the     evidence     adduced      by     the
      Commonwealth established to the Court’s satisfaction that
      [Perkins] was a drug dealer, a robber, a member of a large
      criminal gang, and that he was terrorizing his neighbors in
      the Blumberg Public Housing Project.

            In light of these factors, the Court concluded that [Perkins]
      posed a great danger to the community. The Court also found
      that the guidelines under-represented [Perkins’] criminal conduct
      and his propensity to commit violent crime.

Trial Court Opinion, 1/26/2018, at 12. Although we recognize there may be

other bases in the present case for imposing a sentence outside of the

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guidelines range, we are constrained to agree with Perkins that it “reasonably

appears from the record that the trial court relied in whole or in part upon [an

impermissible] factor.” Scott, supra, 860 A.2d at 1030.

      In summary, we find the officer’s testimony at the sentencing hearing,

that described Perkins’ prior criminal behavior of which the officers had

firsthand knowledge, was permissible.     Nevertheless, because we conclude

the trial court relied upon other impermissible factors in imposing Perkins’

sentence within and above the aggravated range of the guidelines, we vacate

the judgment of sentence and remand for re-sentencing. In all other respects,

we affirm.

      Judgment of sentence vacated.           Case remanded for resentencing.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/12/19

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