S.H. Steinman v. T.C. Blocker, Comm'r. of the PSP, of the Com. of PA ( 2023 )

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Seth H. Steinman, :
:
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 255 M.D. 2018
: Submitted: August 26, 2022
Tyree C. Blocker, Commissioner :
of the Pennsylvania State Police, :
of the Commonwealth of :
Pennsylvania, :
:
Respondent :
BEFORE: HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
HONORABLE CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge
HONORABLE STACY WALLACE, Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE WOJCIK FILED: June 29, 2023
Before this Court in our original jurisdiction is an application for
summary relief (Application) filed by Respondent Tyree C. Blocker, former
Commissioner (Commissioner) of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), pursuant to
Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1532(b) (Pa.R.A.P. 1532(b)). The
Application follows the Pennsylvania Supreme Court per curiam order in Steinman
v. Blocker, 247 A.3d 1018 (Pa. 2021) (Steinman II), which reversed our decision and
remanded the matter for further consideration. Upon review, we now grant the
Commissioner’s Application.
On April 12, 2018, Petitioner Seth H. Steinman (Registrant),
proceeding pro se, initiated this action by filing a petition for review in the nature of
mandamus (PFR) and an application for summary relief against the Commissioner.
In the PFR, Registrant alleged that he was found guilty of Rape, Sexual Assault, and
Simple Assault in April of 2004, for offenses which occurred in June of 2000. PFR,
¶¶4, 8. Although Registrant was not found to be a Sexually Violent Predator, he was
required to register as a sexual offender. Id., ¶¶ 4-5. Registrant challenged his sexual
offender registration obligations under the Act of February 21, 2018, P.L. 27, No.
10, 42 Pa. C.S. §§9799.10 - 9799.75 (commonly known as “Act 10”),1 which was
the version of the sexual offender registration law in effect at the time that he filed
his PFR. Registrant asked this Court to declare that he is not required to register as
a sexual offender with the PSP pursuant to Act 10, and that Act 10 is unconstitutional
as applied to him pursuant to Commonwealth v. Muniz, 164 A.3d 1189 (Pa. 2016),
cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 925 (2018).2
During the pendency of this matter, the General Assembly reenacted
and amended Act 10 by the Act of June 12, 2018, P.L. 140, No. 29, 42 Pa. C.S.
§§9799.10-9799.75 (commonly known as “Act 29”), which is now the operative
law. Pursuant to Subchapter I of Act 29, because Registrant’s offense occurred in
June 2000, he is required to register as a sexual offender. 42 Pa. C.S. §9799.55
(requiring those convicted of offenses occurring between April 22, 1996, and
December 20, 2012, to register as a sexual offender). Ultimately, we determined
that applying Act 29 to Registrant would be an ex post facto violation, and we
granted Registrant’s Application. See Steinman v. Blocker (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 255
1
Act 10 replaced the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, 42 Pa. C.S.
§§9799.10-9799.41, which is commonly referred to as SORNA.
2
In Muniz, our Supreme Court declared SORNA to be unconstitutional as applied in that
case. The General Assembly responded to the Muniz decision by enacting Act 10, which reenacted
and amended SORNA by adding several new provisions. See 42 Pa. C.S. §§9799.42, 9799.51-
9799.75. Act 10 went into effect on February 21, 2018.
2
M.D. 2018, filed November 15, 2019) (Steinman I), rev’d, Steinman II. The
Commissioner appealed.
By per curiam order dated July 21, 2020, the Supreme Court reversed
this Court’s decision upon determining that Subchapter I of Act 29 is not an ex post
facto violation. Steinman II (citing Commonwealth v. Lacombe, 234 A.3d 602 (Pa.
2020)). The Supreme Court ordered this Court to consider, on remand, Registrant’s
remaining claims. Id. (citing Commonwealth v. Butler, 226 A.3d 972, 993 (Pa.
2020)). Those claims include: (1) a bill of attainder claim, PFR, ¶¶12-14, 19-21,
43; (2) a claim that Act 29 is “arbitrary” and “excessive,” PFR, ¶¶15-16, 31-33, 44;
and (3) a claim that Act 29 is “unreasonable” because it uses facts other than a prior
conviction to increase penalties in violation of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466(2000), PFR, ¶¶17-18, 34-35, 41, 45.
We are now presented with the Commissioner’s Application seeking
summary relief as well as his brief in support. Registrant failed to file a brief in
opposition, despite extensions granted to him to do so. We will consider the matter
on the basis of Registrant’s PFR and the Commissioner’s Application and brief.3
1. Bill of Attainder
First, Registrant claims that Act 29 specifically identifies convicted
sexual offenders as the subjects of the legislation and punishes them in violation of
3
Under Pa.R.A.P. 1532(b), this Court may grant an application for summary relief “if a
party’s right to judgment is clear and no material issues of fact are in dispute.” Jubelirer v. Rendell,
953 A.2d 514, 521 (Pa. 2008); Gregory v. Pennsylvania State Police, 185 A.3d 1202, 1205 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2018). “When ruling on an application for summary relief, we must view the evidence
of record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and enter judgment only if there is
no genuine issue as to any material facts and the right to judgment is clear as a matter of law.”
Gregory, 185 A.3d at 1202 (internal quotation and citation omitted).
3
the bill of attainder. He claims Act 29 is punitive because it requires lifetime
registration without trial.
Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution serves as a
limitation on Congress’s authority to pass bill of attainder laws providing: “No Bill
of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 3. The
proscription appears for the second time in Article I, Section 10, and, in this usage,
constitutes a restriction on the power of the states: “No State shall . . . pass any Bill
of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or
grant any Title of Nobility.” U.S. Const. art. I, § 10, cl. 1.
“[A] bill of attainder is ‘a legislative enactment which determines guilt
and inflicts punishment upon an identifiable person or group without a judicial
trial.’” Shultz v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Leroy Roofing Co.),
621 A.2d 1239, 1242 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1993) (quoting Commonwealth v. Scheinert, 519
A.2d 422, 425 (Pa. Super. 1986)). Act 29 neither determines guilt nor inflicts
punishment without a judicial trial. As our Supreme Court declared, Act 29 “does
not constitute criminal punishment.” Lacombe, 234 A.3d at 626. Act 29 does not
determine guilt because that determination is made by our courts through a criminal
trial. Registration under Act 29 is merely a civil consequence that flows from a
conviction for certain sexual crimes, including rape. See id. at 626. Thus, the
Commissioner is entitled to judgment in his favor on this claim.
2. Arbitrary and Excessive
Next, Registrant claims that Act 29 is “arbitrary” because it deprives
him of his constitutional rights but “does not effectuate the state’s purpose of
protecting the public” from sexual offenders. PFR, ¶¶15, 31. He contends Act 29
“is excessive wherein the act[] continually punishes convicted sexual offenders who
4
do not commit additional sexual offenses after their release, destroying their
reputations and any hope of repairing it.” Id., ¶¶16, 32-33. He challenges the
General Assembly’s finding regarding the rate of recidivism of sexual offenders.
PFR, ¶¶32-33.
“[A]lthough whether a law is rationally related to a legitimate public
policy is a question for the courts, the wisdom of a public policy is one for the
legislature, and the General Assembly’s enactments are entitled to a strong
presumption of constitutionality rebuttable only by a demonstration that they clearly,
plainly, and palpably violate constitutional requirements.” Shoul v. Department of
Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 173 A.3d 669, 678 (Pa. 2017) (citation
omitted). The General Assembly has determined that adult sexual offenders, as a
group, have a high risk of recidivism. 42 Pa. C.S. §9799.51(a)(2). Registrant argues
that this legislative finding creates an improper irrebuttable presumption, which
violates his procedural and substantive due process and infringes on his right to
reputation. Where a colorable due process claim is presented, a petitioner “must be
given a meaningful opportunity to present evidence in an effort to rebut the
presumption with respect to an adult sexual offender’s recidivation rates and the
effectiveness of a tier-based registration and notification system.” Commonwealth
v. Torsilieri, 232 A.3d 567, 584 (Pa. 2020); J.B. v. Pennsylvania State Police, 273
A.3d 77, 84-85 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2022); R.C. v. Evanchick (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 223 M.D.
2019, filed March 17, 2021), slip op. at 18.4
Here, Registrant has been afforded such an opportunity. Although
Registrant has had ample opportunity to rebut this legislative presumption and show
4
Unreported memorandum opinions of this Court filed after January 15, 2008, may be
cited for their persuasive value pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 126(b), and Section 414(a) of the Court’s
Internal Operating Procedures, 210 Pa. Code §69.414(a).
5
how his reputation has been harmed since filing his PFR five years ago and since the
Supreme Court remanded this case almost three years ago, he has not availed himself
of this opportunity. Registrant has not sought a hearing in this case, presented any
evidence in support of his claims, presented any material issues of fact, or even filed
a brief in opposition to the Application. Without support, Registrant’s conclusory
claims that Act 29 is arbitrary and excessive based on alleged reputational harm and
risk of recidivism both fail. Thus, we conclude that the Commissioner is entitled to
judgment in his favor on these claims.
3. Apprendi
Lastly, Registrant claims that Act 29 makes a factual finding that he is
at a high risk of reoffending. PFR, ¶¶6, 41. He claims that this violates Apprendi,
in which the United States Supreme Court held it “is unconstitutional for a
legislature to remove from the jury the assessment of facts that increase the
prescribed range of penalties to which a criminal defendant is exposed. It is equally
clear that such facts must be established by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” 530
U.S. at 490.
Contrary to Registrant’s assertion, Act 29 does not make any factual
finding specific to individuals included on the sexual offender registry. Rather, the
General Assembly has merely determined that sexual offenders as a group are at
high risk of re-offending. 42 Pa. C.S. §9799.51(a)(2). Furthermore, Apprendi is
only implicated if additional criminal punishment is imposed. As discussed above,
our Supreme Court has determined that Act 29 is nonpunitive. Lacombe, 234 A.3d
at 626. Thus, the Commissioner is entitled to judgment in his favor on this claim.
6
Because we conclude that the Commissioner’s right to relief is clear
and no material issues of fact are in dispute, we grant his Application and dismiss
Registrant’s PFR.
MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
7
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Seth H. Steinman, :
:
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 255 M.D. 2018
:
Tyree C. Blocker, Commissioner :
of the Pennsylvania State Police, :
of the Commonwealth of :
Pennsylvania, :
:
Respondent :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 29th day of June, 2023, Respondent’s Application for
Summary Relief is GRANTED, and Petitioner Seth H. Steinman’s petition for
review is DISMISSED.
__________________________________
MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge