Court Opinion

ID: 4114996
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-11 19:12:35.115814+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:29.081889
License: Public Domain

J-S92003-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,                        IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                           PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

NEIL JOSEPH HARRIS,

                            Appellant                      No. 1658 WDA 2015

         Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence September 22, 2015
             In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
            Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0010562-2009

BEFORE: SHOGAN, MOULTON, and STRASSBURGER,* JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.:                                FILED JANUARY 11, 2017

       Appellant, Neil Joseph Harris, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered on September 22, 2015, following the revocation of his probation.

We affirm.

       The    facts   of    the   underlying   crimes,    as   summarized   by   the

Commonwealth at Appellant’s negotiated guilty plea hearing, are as follows:

             As to the case 200909663, had the Commonwealth
       proceeded to trial on that case, we would have called Officer
       Francis Capobianco, Officer Decenzo, Officer Fisher, and Officer
       Schweikarth, all of the East Pittsburgh Police Department or
       formerly [who] would have testified [that] on or about May 16,
       2009, Officer Capobianco observed [Appellant] running and
       hiding behind buildings.

             Officers approached [Appellant] and asked him for his ID,
       being that he was in a housing area which was a privately owned
____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S92003-16

     area. [Appellant] at that time provided what proved later to be
     a false name, DOB, and social security number.

           At this time officers attempted to handcuff him for their
     safety while they determined whether or not ID was valid. While
     the    handcuffs    were    on,   [Appellant]  knocked     over
     Officer Capobianco and ran into the woods.

           After a search using K9s and other methods, [Appellant]
     was not located. With that, the Commonwealth would rest as to
     that case.

             As to CC 200910562, had the Commonwealth proceeded to
     trial on that case, [it] would have called Officers Douglas Butler,
     Gregory Woodhall, Frank Rosato and Officer Bill Churilla, all of
     the City of Pittsburgh Police Department, who would testify on or
     about June 2, 2009, while on patrol, officers observed
     [Appellant] in what appeared to be a hand to hand transaction
     for . . . suspected crack cocaine.

            Officers approached [Appellant] and attempted to make an
     arrest at that time. [Appellant] then initiated contact with the
     officer, pushing Officer Rosato . . . . [A] long chase ensued
     down the side of an embankment onto the Boulevard of the
     Allies and then over a 10 or 15-foot wall onto the Parkway East.
     And then over another wall into a cement factory or corporation
     or some kind of company, and then proceeded to run into the
     Monongahela River where he was later recovered by River
     Rescue.

           During the chase, Officer Woodhall was injured, I believe.
     With that the Commonwealth would have rested as to that case.

N.T., 5/18/11, at 8–10.

     The trial court summarized the procedural history as follows:

           On May 18, 2011, Appellant, Neil Harris, pled guilty to
     Escape and Simple Assault. This [c]ourt sentenced him to two
     years probation on the Escape count and a consecutive period of
     two years probation on the Simple Assault count, both to be
     served consecutive to an unrelated sentence at CC200909663,
     for which Appellant was incarcerated at the time. On June 11,
     2013, this [c]ourt found Appellant to have violated probation and

                                    -2-
J-S92003-16

      resentenced him to two years probation on the Escape count and
      a consecutive period of two years probation on the Simple
      Assault count . . . . This [c]ourt again found Appellant to have
      violated probation on September 22, 2015. This time, the
      [c]ourt revoked probation and resentenced Appellant to one to
      two years of incarceration at each count run consecutively to
      each other and to an unrelated sentence at CC 201412162.
      Appellant’s Post Sentence Motion was denied on October 7,
      2015. Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal on October 22, 2015
      and a Concise Statement of Errors Complained Of [on Appeal] on
      January 12, 2016.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/12/16, at 2–3 (footnote omitted).

      Appellant raises the following single issue on appeal:

       I.   Whether      the  revocation  sentences    imposed    at
            CC200910562, counts 4 and 5, were manifestly excessive,
            unreasonable, and an abuse of discretion where the trial
            court followed a stated predetermine[d] sentence and
            failed to consider the personal history, character and
            rehabilitative needs of Mr. Harris as required by 42
            Pa.C.S.A § 9721(B) and 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9725?

Appellant’s Brief at 5.

      Appellant argues that his sentence was excessive and that the

sentencing court failed to consider his personal history, character, and

rehabilitative needs.     These issues are challenges to the discretionary

aspects of Appellant’s sentence.   Commonwealth v. Malovich, 903 A.2d
1247 (Pa. Super. 2006); Commonwealth v. Lutes, 793 A.2d 949 (Pa.

Super. 2002).

      As this Court clarified in Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030

(Pa. Super. 2013), our scope of review following the revocation of probation

is not limited solely to determining the validity of the probation revocation

                                     -3-
J-S92003-16

proceedings and the authority of the sentencing court to consider the same

sentencing alternatives that it had at the time of the initial sentencing.

Rather, it also includes challenges to the discretionary aspects of the

sentence imposed.      Specifically, we unequivocally held that “this Court’s

scope of review in an appeal from a revocation sentencing includes

discretionary sentencing challenges.” Id. at 1034. Further, as we have long

held, the imposition of sentence following the revocation of probation is

vested within the sound discretion of the trial court, which, absent an abuse

of that discretion, will not be disturbed on appeal.       Commonwealth v.

Sierra, 752 A.2d 910, 913 (Pa. Super. 2000).

     It is well settled that there is no absolute right to appeal the

discretionary aspects of a sentence. Commonwealth v. Dawson, 132 A.3d
996, 1005 (Pa. Super. 2015).      Rather, where an appellant challenges the

discretionary aspects of a sentence, the appeal should be considered a

petition for allowance of appeal. Commonwealth v. Buterbaugh, 91 A.3d
1247, 1265 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc).

     To   effectuate    this   Court’s   jurisdiction   when   challenging   the

discretionary aspects of a sentence, Appellant must satisfy a four-part test

by (1) preserving the issue in the court below, (2) filing a timely notice of

appeal, (3) including a Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement in his appellate brief,

and (4) raising a substantial question for our review.     Commonwealth v.

Spenny, 128 A.3d 234, 241 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quoting Commonwealth v.

                                     -4-
J-S92003-16

Tejada, 107 A.3d 788, 797 (Pa. Super. 2015), appeal denied, 119 A.3d 351

(Pa. 2015)).

         Applying the four-part analysis to the instant case, we find that

Appellant (1) preserved the issue; (2) timely filed his notice of appeal; and

(3) complied with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) by including in his brief a concise

statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal with respect to

the discretionary aspects of his sentence.             Appellant’s Brief at 12–16.

Acknowledging that “the determination of what constitutes a substantial

question must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,” Commonwealth v.

Johnson, 125 A.3d 822, 826 (Pa. Super. 2015), we note that this Court has

held that an excessiveness claim—in conjunction with an assertion that the

court failed to consider mitigating factors—raises a substantial question.

See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Raven, 97 A.3d 1244, 1253 (Pa. Super.

2014) (within excessiveness claim, substantial question is raised when the

appellant sufficiently articulates the manner in which the sentence violates

either    a   specific   provision   of   the   Sentencing   Code   or   a   particular

fundamental norm underlying the sentencing process).                 Therefore, we

proceed to address the merits of Appellant’s issue.

         Appellant’s argument in the body of his brief does not comport to his

statement of the question presented, wherein he asserted that the trial court

failed to consider his history, character, and rehabilitative needs. Appellant’s

Brief at 17. Instead, Appellant focuses on his assertion that the revocation

                                           -5-
J-S92003-16

sentences “were predetermined at the original 2011 sentencing, and were

invoked to the exclusion of all other factors.” Id. Appellant suggests that

the trial court’s focus “was solely upon its repeated stated intention, as early

as during the original May 18, 2011 sentencing hearing, that if [Appellant]

‘violates my probation, then I’ll max you out.’” Id. at 20. Thus, Appellant

maintains that the trial court harbored a “predetermined intention” of an

appropriate sentence in this case, rather than applying the individualized

consideration required by the Sentencing Code.

      Appellant specifically, after consultation with his attorney, chose to

waive preparation of a presentence report.            N.T., 9/22/15, at 11.

Appellant’s counsel told the trial court:

             MS. KOWALSKI: [T]he thing is he’s been trying very, very
      hard, especially in light of having a new baby, to make a positive
      change in his life. Even though he’s still being classified at this
      point in time, he has taken steps to get involved in a lot of
      different programming there.

            He’s involved in violence prevention, thinking for a change,
      therapeutic community. He attends drug and alcohol groups and
      one of the reasons he did not want to risk a presentence
      investigation is he does want to go back and continue his other
      sentence and continue in the groups without losing much
      momentum or having to apply for them again.

            They also have been able to get a good handle on his
      mental health issues, which you may be aware of as well. He
      has the posttraumatic stress from many, many gunshot wounds,
      depression, racing thoughts, at this point in time the Remeron
      and Welbutrin is working and he believes they’ll contribute to his
      success while he is completing his SCI sentence, as well.

                                      -6-
J-S92003-16

            Your Honor, we’re asking for you to take that all into
     consideration and with the possibility of giving him a sentence
     that is concurrent with his --

          THE COURT:        Are there    two      sentences   that    are
     concurrent with each other?

           MS. KOWALSKI: Excuse me.

           THE COURT:       Concurrent with his other two sentences
     that are running --

           MS. KOWALSKI: -- running concurrent as well.

           THE COURT:       So on his second violation of probation
     on my case, with convicted violations that caused him to be
     serving concurrent state sentences, I should do him the favor of
     running a third sentence concurrent to those two. Is that what
     you’re saying?

           MS. KOWALSKI: That is what we are advocating for.

          THE COURT:        Because   rewarding      bad   behavior    is
     always a good idea.

            MS. KOWALSKI: No, Your Honor. I believe he recognizes
     that and he recognizes he comes before you not in a good
     position, Your Honor.

           Do you want to address this further?

           [APPELLANT]:     I know I’m totally responsible for my
     actions. There is no excuse for my lifestyle. What I was doing,
     I’m responsible. Right now, my life, I got a good supportive
     family and a couple good people surrounding me and supporting
     me that I’m trying everything in my power to do what I need to
     do and live a positive life. I want to pay my debt to society.
     There is no way around it.

           I’m willing to do whatever needs to be done and whatever
     way this goes, I respect Your Honor’s decision. I really am
     trying my hardest right now to change my life around, not just
     for myself, but my family, my community, my friends,
     everything. I’m really trying my hardest with everything I got.

                                   -7-
J-S92003-16

          THE COURT:      Well, with that great support network,
     how did you manage to violate this probation a second time?

           [APPELLANT]:     Me and my family just started getting
     back together. My dad just came back from out of town. My
     woman, we just got back together. I was on bad terms with my
     family. I had nothing and that is my fault that I had nothing.
     But I have a lot of people supporting me right now and hanging
     in there with me giving me the support that I need. That is
     making me want to change and I’m trying everything,
     everything in my power. I really am.

           THE COURT:        Mr. Harris, you told me that before and
     I’ve given you two breaks on this case, even though you were a
     repeat felony offender with a 5 prior record score. I believed
     you and I did give you two chances.

N.T., 9/22/15, at 11–15.

     Our review of the record reveals that the trial court possessed a

multitude of information relevant to Appellant and considered all of the

factors bearing upon Appellant’s sentencing.     Appellant and his counsel

informed the trial court about mitigating factors.   Appellant minimizes his

continued violation of probation and focuses on his allegedly new-found

support system. We reject Appellant’s claim.

     The trial court stated:

            Appellant presented at his initial sentencing hearing on
     these charges as a repeat felony offender with a Prior Record
     Score of 5, the highest possible. (Transcript of Sentencing
     hearing of August 26, 2013, hereinafter ST at 15) Nevertheless,
     by the time he appeared before this [c]ourt on September 22,
     2015, this [c]ourt had given Appellant two significant sentencing
     breaks, which were opportunities for Appellant to establish his
     ability to conform his behavior to the reasonable rules of society.
     Appellant admitted on September 22, 2015 that he “wasn’t
     ready” on previous occasions, to take advantage of these

                                    -8-
J-S92003-16

      opportunities. Id. Despite fathering an 11 year old, a 1 year
      old, and a 6 month old child, Appellant admitted he lived for
      himself and acted selfishly. (ST 16) While Appellant’s words
      may have swayed this [c]ourt in the past toward lenient
      sentences, his actions, including two additional convictions since
      his original plea, compelled this [c]ourt to incarcerate Appellant
      so that society may be protected from his criminal conduct and
      so that he may receive the treatment and rehabilitation he
      clearly requires. As Appellant has repeatedly ignored his need
      for rehabilitation and treatment, and his ongoing behavior
      demonstrates the community’s need to be protected from him,
      this [c]ourt did not err in sentencing him to a sentence of
      confinement for a period of 2 to 4 years.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/12/16, at 5.

      The court concluded that incarceration for the specified time was

appropriate because Appellant’s conduct indicated he was likely to continue

on the path he had chosen over a period of years, despite the court’s past

grants of leniency.   The record adequately supports the court’s decision.

Accordingly, there is no reason to disturb the judgment of sentence.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/11/2017

                                      -9-