Com. v. Battle, D. ( 2016 )

J-S69004-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
DARRIN M. BATTLE
Appellant No. 2159 MDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence imposed November 17, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
Criminal Division at No: CP-40-CR-0000273-2013
BEFORE: STABILE, DUBOW, and PLATT,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED DECEMBER 30, 2016
Appellant, Darrin M. Battle, appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed on November 17, 2015, in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne
County following his conviction of crimes relating to the delivery of heroin
and possession with intent to deliver heroin. 35 Pa.C.S.A. 780-113(a)(30).
On August 13, 2013, Appellant was sentenced to 24 to 60 months in prison
and was granted credit for time served. Following denial of a motion to
modify his sentence, Appellant filed an appeal with this Court and then-
counsel filed an Anders brief and a petition to withdraw. However, counsel
failed to file a timely Rule 1925(b) statement with the trial court. In light of
counsel’s per se ineffectiveness, rather than remand for filing of a Rule
____________________________________________
*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S69004-16
1925(b) statement, a panel of this Court sua sponte vacated the judgment
of sentence and remanded for resentencing, finding that the application of a
school zone sentencing enhancement was unlawful pursuant to Alleyne v.
United States, 133 S.Ct. 2151 (2013). Commonwealth v. Battle, 106
A.3d 168 (Pa. Super. 2014) (unpublished memorandum), appeal denied,
124 A.3d 308 (Pa. 2015).
On November 17, 2015, the trial court sentenced Appellant to 16 to 48
months in prison followed by one year of special probation. Appellant again
filed a motion to modify his sentence, contending that the rehabilitative
measures undertaken since his imprisonment warranted reduction of his
sentence to make him immediately eligible for parole. By order entered on
December 2, 2015, the trial court denied the motion. This timely appeal
followed. Both Appellant and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
In the brief filed by his counsel in accordance with Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1969), as refined by Commonwealth v.
Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009), Appellant contends the trial court
abused its discretion in imposing the 16 to 48 month sentence. His counsel
concurrently filed a petition for leave to withdraw. Following review, we
grant counsel’s petition for leave to withdraw and affirm Appellant’s
judgment of sentence.
We must address the request to withdraw before reviewing the merits
of Appellant’s issue. Commonwealth v. Rojas, 874 A.2d 638, 639 (Pa.
-2-
J-S69004-16
Super. 2005). As this Court recognized in Commonwealth v. Cartrette,
83 A.3d 1030 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc), our Supreme Court’s decision in
Santiago did not change the procedural requirements for requesting
withdrawal from representation.
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 (citing Commonwealth v. Lilley, 978 A.2d 995, 997 (Pa.
Super. 2009)).
We conclude counsel has satisfied the procedural requirements set
forth in Anders. In the petition to withdraw, counsel explains his
conclusion, based on “a review of the record, . . . that this appeal is wholly
frivolous.” Petition to Withdraw as Counsel, 6/27/16, at 1. In addition,
counsel furnished a copy of the appellate brief to Appellant and advised
Appellant of his right to retain private counsel or act on his own behalf to
proceed pro se and file his own brief with this Court.1
Having concluded counsel satisfied the procedural requirements of
Anders, we must ascertain whether the brief satisfies the substantive
____________________________________________
1
Appellant did not file a response to the petition to withdraw.
-3-
J-S69004-16
mandates prescribed in Santiago. In Santiago, our Supreme Court
announced:
[I]n 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.
Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.
In the Anders brief, counsel has included a statement of the case that
includes a procedural history of the case with a citation to the record. 2
Appellant’s Brief at 4-5. Counsel has satisfied the first requirement.
The second required element of an Anders brief is reference to
anything in the record that counsel believes arguably supports the appeal.
Here, counsel notes that Appellant was initially sentenced to 24 to 60
months in a state correctional institution. On appeal, this Court vacated the
judgment of sentence and remanded for resentencing, finding that the
application of a school zone sentencing enhancement was unlawful under
Alleyne. The trial court subsequently sentenced Appellant to 16 to 48
months in prison followed by one year of special probation. Counsel raises
____________________________________________
2
While there is no specific number of citations required, we suggest to
counsel that, in the future, more than a singular citation to the record would
be more helpful.
-4-
J-S69004-16
the question of whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing
Appellant to the high-end of the standard range. Appellant’s Brief at 6.
Counsel has satisfied the second Anders requirement.
Counsel has also satisfied the third element of Anders, stating his
conclusion that the appeal is frivolous. Id. at 7. Finally, counsel provided
his reasons for concluding the appeal is frivolous. Id. Thus, counsel has
satisfied the fourth and final element of the Anders test.
We find counsel has satisfied the requirements for a petition to
withdraw. He complied with the briefing requirements, as explained above.
He also provided a letter to Appellant on June 27, 2016, advising Appellant
of counsel's conclusion that there are no meritorious issues to argue on
appeal and informing him of the right to retain private counsel or proceed
pro se and file his own brief with this Court. As reflected in the June 27,
2016 letter, counsel also furnished Appellant a copy of the petition to
withdraw and the Anders brief.3
Having determined that the technical requirements are satisfied, it is
incumbent upon this Court to “conduct an independent review of the record
to discern if there are any additional, non-frivolous issues overlooked by
____________________________________________
3
Although counsel’s June 27, 2016 letter clearly indicates that counsel
furnished Appellant a copy of his petition to withdraw, we remind counsel
that the petition to withdraw should itself contain a proof of service.
-5-
J-S69004-16
counsel.” Commonwealth v. Flowers, 113 A.3d 1246, 1250 (Pa. Super.
2015) (citations and footnote omitted).
Based upon our review, we conclude that the claim raised by counsel
in the Anders brief is frivolous and that there are no additional, non-
frivolous issues overlooked by counsel. The trial court sentenced Appellant
within the standard range. We commend Appellant on any rehabilitative
measures he has undertaken since his sentencing. However, the fact
Appellant has undertaken rehabilitative measures does not compel the trial
court to reduce his sentence to the point he is eligible for immediate parole.
Appellant’s appeal involves a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
his sentence. As such, he does not enjoy an absolute right to appeal but
must present a substantial question to this Court that his sentence violates a
particular provision of the Sentencing Code or is contrary to the fundamental
norms underlying the sentencing process. Commonwealth v. Boyer, 856
A.2d 149, 152 (Pa. Super. 2004). We agree with Appellant’s counsel that no
substantial questions exists because the trial court did not violate the
Sentencing Code. Nor was the sentence contrary to the fundamental norms
underlying the sentencing process. Consequently, Appellant’s issue is
frivolous and without merit. Appellant is not entitled to relief.4
____________________________________________
4
In light of the Commonwealth’s lack of objection, we find it unnecessary to
address the requirement—not met here—to file a statement in compliance
with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) for a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
-6-
J-S69004-16
Counsel’s petition to withdraw granted. Judgment of sentence
affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/30/2016
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
sentence. Commonwealth v. Myers, 86 A.3d 286, 289 n.3 (Pa. Super.
2014) (citing Commonwealth v. Bruce, 916 A.2d 657, 666 (Pa. Super.
2007)).
-7-