Court Opinion

ID: 4526681
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-17 18:11:48.638111+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:43:34.282946
License: Public Domain

J-S05014-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                      :
              v.                      :
                                      :
                                      :
 EMMANUEL CRADLE                      :
                                      :
                   Appellant          :   No. 1046 MDA 2019

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 11, 2019
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-41-CR-0000308-2018

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                      :
              v.                      :
                                      :
                                      :
 EMMANUEL CRADLE                      :
                                      :
                   Appellant          :   No. 1047 MDA 2019

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 11, 2019
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-41-CR-0000349-2018

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                      :
              v.                      :
                                      :
                                      :
 EMMANUEL CRADLE                      :
                                      :
                   Appellant          :   No. 1048 MDA 2019

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 11, 2019
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County Criminal Division at
                     No(s): CP-41-CR-0000648-2018
J-S05014-20

BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.:                                   FILED APRIL 17, 2020

       Appellant, Emmanuel Cradle, appeals from the judgments of sentence

entered on June 11, 2019, following the revocation of his probation at three

trial court docket numbers: CP-41-CR-0000308-2018 (“308-2018”); CP-41-

CR-0000349-2018         (“349-2018”);          and   CP-41-CR-0000648-2018    (“648-

2018”).     Appellant’s counsel has filed petitions to withdraw and a brief

pursuant     to   Anders      v.    California,      386 U.S. 738   (1967),   and

Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009), which govern a

withdrawal from representation on direct appeal.1 After review, we grant

counsel’s petitions to withdraw and affirm the judgments of sentence.

       The trial court summarized the relevant facts and procedural history of

these cases as follows:

            This Opinion is written in support of this court’s judgment of
       sentence dated June 11, 2019, which was issued following the
       revocation of Appellant’s probation.

             By way of background, on March 12, 2018, [Appellant]
       entered a guilty plea to Count 2, receiving stolen property, a
       misdemeanor of the first degree, under criminal docket number
       308-2018, and the court sentenced him to one year of probation
       under the supervision of the Lycoming County Adult Probation
       Office.
____________________________________________

1 Appellant correctly filed separate notices of appeal at each docket number
in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive in Commonwealth v.
Walker, 185 A.3d 969 (Pa. 2018). However, on July 26, 2019, this Court
consolidated the appeals sua sponte pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 513. After the
cases were consolidated, Appellant filed a single brief bearing all three docket
numbers.

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           On March 19, 2018, [Appellant] entered a guilty plea to
     Count 1, theft from a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor of the second
     degree, under criminal docket number 349-2018, and the court
     sentenced him to four to eight days’ incarceration to be followed
     by one year of probation to be served consecutive to any and all
     other sentences [Appellant] was serving.

           On April 5, 2018, the court found probable cause that
     [Appellant] had violated the conditions of his probation by
     allegedly committing a retail theft (which occurred on March 25,
     2018).

           On June 1, 2018, [Appellant] entered a guilty plea to Count
     1, retail theft, a misdemeanor of the second degree, under
     criminal docket number 648-2018.            The court revoked
     [Appellant’s] probation under criminal docket number 308-2018
     and resentenced him to 30 to 67 days’ incarceration followed by
     one year [of] probation. Under criminal docket number 648-2018,
     the court sentenced [Appellant] to one year of probation
     consecutive to any and all sentences that [Appellant] was
     presently serving.

           On June 25, 2018, [Appellant] was detained for leaving his
     approved residence and not obtaining an approved address. On
     July 5, 2018, the court found that [Appellant’s] actions violated
     the conditions of his probation. The court did not revoke his
     probation, though. Instead, the court directed that he could not
     be released on continuing probation until he submitted an
     approved address and a release plan, which had to include mental
     health services. On July 17, 2018, [Appellant] was released from
     incarceration.

          On July 23, 2018, a bench warrant was issued because
     [Appellant] absconded from supervision.

           On or about August 3, 2018, [Appellant] was arrested on
     the bench warrant. He fought and struggled with the adult
     probation officers and sheriffs who were arresting him. As a
     result, he received new charges under criminal docket number
     1395-2018.

           On January 25, 2019, [Appellant] pled guilty to resisting
     arrest and two counts of harassment under criminal docket
     number 1395-2018. On March 19, 2019, the court sentenced him

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       to an aggregate term of seven to eighteen months’ incarceration.
       The court awarded [Appellant] credit for time served from
       August 30, 2018. The court also revoked [Appellant’s] probation
       under criminal docket numbers 308-2018, 349-2018, and 438-
       2018[2] and resentenced him to serve one year of probation under
       each criminal docket number to be served consecutive to each
       other and consecutive to the sentence imposed under criminal
       docket number 1395-2018. The court warned [Appellant] that if
       he failed to comply with his conditions of supervision or if he
       engaged in criminal conduct, the court might be left with no choice
       but to warehouse him in a state correctional institution.

             On April 11, 2019, [Appellant] was released from
       incarceration. Within a matter of days or weeks, [Appellant]
       violated the conditions of his supervision by failing to appear for
       two consecutive sessions of the Partial Program at Crossroads
       Counseling and by admitting to using THC on two separate
       occasions.

              On June 11, 2019, the court revoked [Appellant’s] probation
       and resentenced him to: one to two years’ incarceration on Count
       2, receiving stolen property, under criminal docket number 308-
       2018; a consecutive one to two years’ incarceration on Count 1,
       theft from a motor vehicle, under criminal docket number 349-
       2018; guilt without further punishment on Count 3, possession of
       drug paraphernalia, under criminal docket number 438-2018; and
       a concurrent one to two years’ incarceration on Count 1, retail
       theft, under criminal docket number 648-2018.1

              1Under criminal docket number 1395-2018, the court
              paroled [Appellant] to the sentence[s] imposed under
              the other criminal docket numbers.

             On June 21, 2019, [Appellant] filed a motion for
       reconsideration of his probation violation sentences.         He
       requested the court to resentence him to a county sentence or
       release him back to a treatment plan so that he could be close to
       his mother and his family due to his rehabilitation needs, his
       mental health issues, the lack of new criminal offenses, and his
       mother’s diagnosis of lung cancer, which greatly affected him.

____________________________________________

2   The sentence at 438-2018 is not part of this appeal.

                                           -4-
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       The court summarily denied this motion [in an order filed on
       June 25, 2019].

Trial Court Opinion, 10/10/19, at 1-3.           On June 26, 2019, Appellant filed

appeals at 308-2018, 349-2018, and 648-2018.              Both the trial court and

Appellant complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

       As noted, counsel seeks to withdraw representation. Before we address

any questions raised on appeal, we must resolve appellate counsel’s request

to withdraw. Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030 (Pa. Super. 2013)

(en banc). There are procedural and briefing requirements imposed upon an

attorney who seeks to withdraw on direct appeal. The procedural mandates

are that counsel must:

       1) petition the court for leave to withdraw stating that, after
       making a conscientious examination of the record, counsel has
       determined that the appeal would be frivolous; 2) furnish a copy
       of the brief to the defendant; and 3) advise the defendant that he
       or she has the right to retain private counsel or raise additional
       arguments that the defendant deems worthy of the court’s
       attention.
Id. at 1032 (citation omitted).

       In this case, we conclude that counsel satisfied these directives. Within

the petitions to withdraw,3 counsel averred that she conducted a review of the

record and pertinent legal research. Following that review, counsel concluded

that the present appeals are frivolous. Counsel sent Appellant a copy of the

____________________________________________

3 Counsel filed separate petitions to withdraw and letters to Appellant at each
Superior Court docket number. The petitions and attached letters were dated
November 26, 2019, and were filed in this Court on December 3, 2019.

                                           -5-
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Anders brief and petitions to withdraw, as well as a letter, a copy of which is

attached to the petitions to withdraw.         In the letter, counsel informed

Appellant that he could either represent himself or retain private counsel.

Appellant has not filed any additional documents with this Court.

      We now examine whether the Anders brief satisfies our Supreme

Court’s dictates in Santiago, which provide that:

      in the Anders brief that accompanies court-appointed counsel’s
      petition to withdraw, counsel must: (1) provide a summary of the
      procedural history and facts, with citations to the record; (2) refer
      to anything in the record that counsel believes arguably supports
      the appeal; (3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is
      frivolous; and (4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the
      appeal is frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of
      record, controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that have
      led to the conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Cartrette, 83 A.3d at 1032 (quoting Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361).

      If we determine that counsel has met the procedural and briefing

obligations,   it   becomes   our   responsibility   “to   make   an   independent

determination of the merits of the appeal.” Commonwealth v. Yorgey, 188
A.3d 1190, 1197 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en banc) (quoting Santiago, 978 A.2d

at 358). We review the issues identified by appellate counsel in the Anders

brief and “the record to insure no issues of arguable merit have been missed

or misstated.” Id. (quoting Commonwealth v. Vilsaint, 893 A.2d 753, 755

(Pa. Super. 2006)).

      Counsel’s brief is compliant with Santiago.          The brief sets forth the

procedural history of this case, outlines pertinent case authority, and

                                       -6-
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discusses counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous. Accordingly, the

procedural and briefing requirements for withdrawal have been met.

       Counsel has identified the following issue that Appellant believes entitles

him to relief:

       I. Did the trial court abuse its discretion when imposing an
       aggregate resentence of 2 years to 4 years of incarceration in a
       State Correctional Institution for subsequent probation violations?

Anders Brief at 6.4

       This issue presents a challenge to the discretionary aspects of

Appellant’s sentence. It is well settled that a challenge to the discretionary

aspects of a sentence is a petition for permission to appeal, as the right to

pursue such a claim is not absolute.           Commonwealth v. Treadway, 104
A.3d 597, 599 (Pa. Super. 2014). “An appellant must satisfy a four-part test

to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction when challenging the discretionary aspects

of a sentence,” by (1) preserving the issue in the court below, (2) filing a

timely notice of appeal, (3) including a Rule 2119(f) statement, and (4) raising

a substantial question for our review. Commonwealth v. Tejada, 107 A.3d

____________________________________________

4   In the Anders brief, counsel set forth an additional query: “Should an
application to withdraw as counsel be granted where counsel has investigated
the possible grounds of appeal and finds the appeal frivolous?” Anders Brief
at 6. We conclude that this is not an issue capable of providing Appellant
relief; rather, it asks whether counsel satisfied the requirements to withdraw
representation. We answer this question not as a separate issue, but as part
of our disposition of this appeal as a whole.

                                           -7-
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788, 797 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted); Commonwealth v. Austin,

66 A.3d 798, 808 (Pa. Super. 2013).

      In the instant case, Appellant filed timely appeals, the issue was

properly preserved in a post-sentence motion filed at each trial court docket,

and Appellant’s brief contains a statement of the reasons relied upon for

allowance of appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects of a sentence

pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f).     Accordingly, we must determine whether

Appellant has raised a substantial question that the sentence is not

appropriate under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(b). Commonwealth v. Moury, 992
A.2d 162, 170 (Pa. Super. 2010).

      The determination of whether there is a substantial question is made on

a case-by-case basis, and this Court will allow the appeal only when the

appellant advances a colorable argument that the sentencing judge’s actions

were either: (1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code,

or (2) contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing

process.   Commonwealth v. Caldwell, 117 A.3d 763, 768 (Pa. Super.

2015). “Our inquiry must focus on the reasons for which the appeal is sought,

in contrast to the facts underlying the appeal, which are necessary only to

decide the appeal on the merits.” Commonwealth v. Knox, 165 A.3d 925,

929 (Pa. Super. 2017) (quoting Commonwealth v. Tirado, 870 A.2d 362,

365 (Pa. Super. 2005)).

                                     -8-
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       Herein, Appellant asserts that the trial court abused its discretion when

it imposed a state sentence5 that was excessive and failed to take into

consideration his rehabilitative needs. Anders Brief at 9. We conclude that

Appellant has presented a substantial question.        See Commonwealth v.

DiClaudio, 210 A.3d 1070, 1075 (Pa. Super. 2019) (stating that a claim that

a sentence is excessive, in conjunction with an assertion that the trial court

failed to consider mitigating factors, raises a substantial question).

       “Sentencing is vested in the discretion of the trial court, and will not be

disturbed absent a manifest abuse of that discretion.” Commonwealth v.

Mrozik, 213 A.3d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citing Commonwealth v.

Downing, 990 A.2d 788, 792 (Pa. Super. 2010)).            Herein, the trial court

addressed this issue as follows:

             The court did not sentence [Appellant] out of partiality,
       prejudice, bias or ill will. The court sentenced [Appellant] to state
       incarceration, because nothing worked at the county level. See
       N.T., June 11, 2019, at 28-39; 41-45.[6]
____________________________________________

5  Generally, where the maximum term of incarceration is more than two
years, the individual is committed to the Pennsylvania Department of
Corrections for confinement. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9762.

6  At the sentencing hearing, the trial court described in detail Appellant’s
repeated failures under county supervision. Specifically, the trial court noted
that Appellant threatened law enforcement, threatened probation officers, and
behaved in a volatile and aggressive manner. N.T., 6/11/19, at 28-29.
Moreover, the trial court stated that it was “well aware of his history.” Id. at
29. Despite numerous opportunities for rehabilitation, Appellant refused to
comply with the conditions of his probation. Id. at 29-30. The trial court
reiterated a statement from Appellant’s previous sentencing hearing wherein
the trial court warned that if Appellant did not change his behavior, the court
would have no choice but to impose a state sentence. Id. at 30.

                                           -9-
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            He refused to participate in the Mental Health Court
     Program. He wanted the Job Corps program but then he changed
     his mind and didn’t want to do that either. He was referred to a
     group home back in 2017, and he left it. He was supposed to go
     to the Sharwell Building so he could get a mental health
     caseworker, but it did not follow through with going there. He had
     services through the Mental Health Forensic Team. He was
     supposed to complete the partial program. He went for one day
     but then he did not return. He gave several reasons or excuses
     for not completing the partial program including he found out his
     mom had lung cancer, he had a job interview, he wanted to go to
     individual rather than group counseling, and he didn’t want to be
     bothered.

           His approved address was at his grandfather’s residence but
     he got kicked out for not following rules. When he was released
     from incarceration, he was to stay at the American Rescue
     Workers. He stayed one night and did not go back. He was
     supposed to report to his probation officer as instructed but he did
     not report and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

            While he was incarcerated at the county prison, he began
     receiving medications but they were stopped because he was non-
     compliant with taking them as directed. He failed to follow the
     rules in the county prison and received multiple write-ups and was
     placed in disciplinary lock up. His infractions included interfering
     with prison employees in the performance of their duties, refusing
     to obey orders, disrupting prison routine, obstructing a security
     camera, instigating a fight, damaging county property, and
     disrespecting staff.

           The court tried everything, but nothing worked. Therefore,
     the court revoked [Appellant’s] probation and imposed a sentence
     of state incarceration. Even with that sentence, however, by
     making [Appellant] eligible for boot camp the court gave
     [Appellant] the opportunity to participate in programming that
     would provide him with the discipline and structure that he needs
     and allow him to be released in a matter of months rather than
     years. Unfortunately, like many of the programs and services
     offered at the county level, [Appellant] is not willing to try, let
     alone complete, boot camp.

Trial Court Opinion, 10/10/19, at 4-5.

                                    - 10 -
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      We agree with the trial court’s conclusion and we find this sentencing

challenge meritless.   The trial court previously warned Appellant that if he

continued his failures to comply with county supervision, the court would

sentence Appellant to incarceration at a State Correctional Institution.

Additionally, although Appellant complains about the length of his prison term,

the duration of the aggregate sentence was due to the trial court ordering

Appellant to serve the sentences at 308-2018 and 349-2018 consecutively. It

is well settled that the “imposition of consecutive rather than concurrent

sentences rests within the trial court’s discretion.” Commonwealth v. Foust,

180 A.3d 416, 434 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citation omitted). Criminal defendants

convicted of multiple offenses are not entitled to a “volume discount” on their

aggregate sentence. Id. Moreover, we point out that the trial court had the

option of running all of Appellant’s individual sentences consecutively, but it

chose not to do so. The trial court also noted Appellant’s history, personal

and family issues, and rehabilitative needs; nevertheless, the trial court

concluded that Appellant’s failures at rehabilitation and disruptive conduct

required the sentence imposed.       After review, we discern no abuse of

discretion.

      Finally, we have independently reviewed the record in order to

determine if counsel’s assessment about the frivolous nature of the present

appeal is correct. Yorgey, 188 A.3d at 1195. After review of the issue raised

by counsel and our independent review of the record, we conclude that an

                                    - 11 -
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appeal in this matter is frivolous. Accordingly, we grant counsel’s petitions to

withdraw and affirm the judgments of sentence.

      Petitions to withdraw as counsel granted.       Judgments of sentence

affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 04/17/2020

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