Com. v. Lucas, T. ( 2016 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
TERRENCE JAMES LUCAS,
Appellant No. 2221 MDA 2015
Appeal from the PCRA Order December 1, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-36-CR-0001060-2014
BEFORE: SHOGAN, LAZARUS, and JENKINS, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.: FILED AUGUST 11, 2016
Terrence James Lucas (“Appellant”) appeals pro se from the
December 1, 2015 order dismissing his petition for collateral relief filed
pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541–
9546. We affirm.
The PCRA court summarized the history of this case as follows:
On Docket Number 1060-2014, [Appellant] was charged
with one count of Criminal Attempt-Criminal Homicide, one count
of Aggravated Assault, and one count of Possession of Firearm
Prohibited. On October 8, 2014, the Commonwealth provided
notice to [Appellant] that the Commonwealth intended to seek
imposition of a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence, based
upon [Appellant’s] prior conviction of a “crime of violence,”
pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9714(a)(1). The Commonwealth
sought a mandatory sentence because [Appellant] was convicted
on April 1, 2002 of Robbery.
That same day, [Appellant] entered a negotiated guilty
plea to the charges of attempted homicide and possession of
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firearm prohibited. Consistent with the plea agreement, the
[c]ourt sentenced [Appellant] to ten to twenty years of
imprisonment on the count of attempted homicide, invoking
Pennsylvania’s second strike statute for repeat violent offenders,
and three and one half to ten years imprisonment on the count
of possession of firearm prohibited. The two counts were made
consecutive to each other. In sum, [Appellant] was sentenced to
an aggregate period of incarceration of not less than thirteen
and one half years nor more than thirty years.
[Appellant] did not file a post-sentence motion or a direct
appeal. As a result, his judgment became final under the PCRA
on November 7, 2014, upon expiration of the time to file an
appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. See Pa.R.A.P.
903(a). He timely filed the instant pro se petition for PCRA relief
on August 20, 2015, challenging the legality of his sentence in
light of Alleyne v. United States and Commonwealth v.
Newman.9 [Appellant] claims that his sentenced violated Alleyne
and it’s [sic] Pennsylvania progeny because the determination of
whether section 9714(a)(1) was satisfied must be made by a
fact-finder and proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Counsel was
appointed to represent [Appellant] and filed a motion to
withdraw as Counsel and a Turner/Finley letter on October 28,
2015.
9
Commonwealth v. Newman, 99 A.3d 86 (Pa.Super.
2014)(held that 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 9712.1, which
requires a mandatory minimum sentence for certain
drug offenses committed with firearms, is
unconstitutional under Alleyne).
PCRA Court Rule 907 Notice, 11/3/15, at 1–3 (some footnotes omitted).
Following an independent review of the record, the PCRA court determined,
“[N]o purpose would be served by any further proceedings and [Appellant] is
not entitled to PCRA relief.” Id. at 1. The PCRA court filed a Pa.R.Crim.P.
907 notice and order on November 3, 2015, advising Appellant of its intent
to dismiss his petition and affording Appellant twenty days in which to file a
response. Order, 11/3/15, at ¶ 1. The PCRA court also permitted counsel to
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withdraw. Id. at ¶ 2. When no response was forthcoming, the PCRA court
dismissed Appellant’s petition by order dated November 30, 2015, and
docketed December 1, 2015. This appeal followed. Appellant and the PCRA
court have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.1
Appellant presents two questions for our consideration, which we
reproduce below verbatim:
I.
PETITIONER MAINTAINS THAT HIS MANDATORY
MINIMUM SENTENCE(S) IS ILLEGAL AND THAT BY ENFORCING
SUCH SENTENCE UPON THOSE WHO HAVE A PRIOR RECORD
AND NOT FOR THOSE WHO DON’T CREATWES VIOLATIONS OF
EQUAL PROTECTION, DUE PROCESS AND CRUEL AND UNUSUAL
PUNISHMENT. LEAVING ALL PRIOR COUNSEL INEFFECTIVE FOR
FAILING TO OBJECT OR RAISE SUCH CLAIM CREATING
REVERSIBLE ERROR?
II.
PETITIONER MAINTAINS THAT THE TRIAL COURT
ABUSED IT’S DISCRETION BY SENTENCING HIM TO TWO
MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES AND THEN RUNNING THEM
CONSECUTIVELY. FURTHER LEAVING ALL PRIOR COUNSEL
INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO OBJECT OR RAISE SUCH CLAIM
ON APPEALCREATING REVERSIBLE ERROR?
Appellant’s Brief at 4.
Our standard of review of a trial court order granting or denying relief
under the PCRA requires us to determine whether the decision of the PCRA
court is supported by the evidence of record and is free of legal error.
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1
The PCRA court submitted the opinion accompanying its November 3,
2015 Rule 907 Notice as its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. Memorandum,
12/31/15.
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Commonwealth v. Perez, 103 A.3d 344, 347 (Pa. Super. 2014). “The
PCRA court’s findings will not be disturbed unless there is no support for the
findings in the certified record.” Commonwealth v. Lippert, 85 A.3d 1095,
1100 (Pa. Super. 2014).
Initially, we note that, in both questions presented, Appellant raises
claims of ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”). However, our review of
the record reveals that, although Appellant raised an IAC claim related to
plea counsel in his petition, he did not include any IAC claims in his Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b) statement. Therefore, his current IAC claims are waived. Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b)(4)(vii); see also Perez, 103 A.3d at 347 n.1 (holding that issues
not included in PCRA petitioner’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement were waived
for purposes of appeal).2 Thus, we address only the legality-of-sentence
claims.
Appellant first argues that the mandatory minimum sentence he
received is illegal under Alleyne v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S. Ct.
2151 (2013). In his own words, Appellant “is challenging the permitance of
a Judge to impose a mandatory minimum sentence without presenting the
facts and circumstances to a jury, a Constitutionally recognized fact finder.
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2
Even if Appellant’s IAC claims were not waived, we would not grant him
relief because both of his underlying sentencing claims lack merit. See
Commonwealth v. Paddy, 15 A.3d 431, 443 (Pa.2011) (“Because we have
determined that Appellant’s underlying claims lack merit, the PCRA court did
not abuse its discretion in rejecting Appellant’s layered claims of
ineffectiveness of counsel based upon those assertions.”).
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This would create an equal platform for all of those convicted of crimes
which could receive mandatory minimum sentences.” Appellant’s Brief at 8.
Appellant argues that, because not all crimes are similar, “an individual
could commit a brutal and heinace [sic] crime and receive less punishment
than an individual who committed a crime that is non-violent or not
anywhere close to the degree of another just because of a prior conviction of
a felony.” Id. at 7. We acknowledge Appellant’s attempt to present his
challenge in a novel framework; however, we conclude that no relief is due.
“Alleyne held that any fact that, by law, increases the penalty for a
crime must be treated as an element of the offense, submitted to a jury,
rather than a judge, and found beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Commonwealth v. Washington, ___ A.3d ___, 37 EAP 2015, 2016 WL
3909088, at *1 (Pa. July 19, 2016); see also Apprendi v. New Jersey,
530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000) (“[A]ny fact that increases the penalty for a crime
beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and
proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”).
Appellant’s mandatory minimum sentence was imposed pursuant to 42
Pa.C.S. § 9714, which reads, in relevant part, as follows:
(a) Mandatory sentence.--
(1) Any person who is convicted in any court of this
Commonwealth of a crime of violence shall, if at the time
of the commission of the current offense the person had
previously been convicted of a crime of violence, be
sentenced to a minimum sentence of at least ten years of
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total confinement, notwithstanding any other provision of
this title or other statute to the contrary.
* * *
(d) Proof at sentencing.--Provisions of this section shall not
be an element of the crime and notice thereof to the defendant
shall not be required prior to conviction, but reasonable notice of
the Commonwealth’s intention to proceed under this section
shall be provided after conviction and before sentencing. The
applicability of this section shall be determined at sentencing.
The sentencing court, prior to imposing sentence on an offender
under subsection (a), shall have a complete record of the
previous convictions of the offender, copies of which shall be
furnished to the offender. If the offender or the attorney for the
Commonwealth contests the accuracy of the record, the court
shall schedule a hearing and direct the offender and the attorney
for the Commonwealth to submit evidence regarding the
previous convictions of the offender. The court shall then
determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, the previous
convictions of the offender and, if this section is applicable, shall
impose sentence in accordance with this section. . . .
42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(a)(1), (d).
Furthermore, as stated by the United States Supreme Court:
[T]he sentencing factor at issue here—recidivism—is a
traditional, if not the most traditional, basis for a sentencing
court’s increasing an offender’s sentence. Consistent with this
tradition, the Court said long ago that a State need not allege a
defendant’s prior conviction in the indictment or information that
alleges the elements of an underlying crime, even though the
conviction was necessary to bring the case within the statute.
Graham v. West Virginia, 224 U.S. 616, 624, 32 S. Ct. 583,
585–86, 56 L. Ed. 917 (1912). That conclusion followed, the
Court said, from “the distinct nature of the issue,” and the fact
that recidivism “does not relate to the commission of the
offense, but goes to the punishment only, and therefore ... may
be subsequently decided.” Id., at 629, 32 S.Ct., at 588
(emphasis added). The Court has not deviated from this view. . .
[T]o hold that the Constitution requires that recidivism be
deemed an “element” of petitioner’s offense would mark an
abrupt departure from a longstanding tradition of treating
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recidivism as “go[ing] to the punishment only.” Graham, supra,
at 629, 32 S.Ct., at 587–588.
Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 243–244 (1998)
(some internal citations omitted). Thus, because recidivism is a sentencing
factor, not a factual element, the lower standard of proof in section 9714
does not violate Alleyne. In fact, Apprendi and its progeny expressly
delineate an exception to the general rule for “prior convictions.” See
Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 490 (“Other than the fact of a prior conviction, any
fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory
maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable
doubt.”); Alleyne, 133 S.C.t at 2160 n.1 (“In Almendarez-Torres, we
recognized a narrow exception to [the] general rule for the fact of a prior
conviction.”).
After analyzing and applying the above jurisprudence, the PCRA court
concluded as follows:
Here, [Appellant] was legally sentenced under 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 9714(a)(1). That statute provides for a mandatory minimum
sentence for a defendant previously convicted of a crime of
violence. The fact triggering [Appellant’s] mandatory minimum
sentence was solely the existence of his prior conviction, which,
under the law, need not be presented to a jury and proven
beyond a reasonable doubt. As such, neither Alleyne nor
Newman are applicable to [Appellant’s] case. The imposition of
a mandatory minimum sentence on [Appellant] as a second
strike offender was not unconstitutional. [Appellant] is not
entitled to post-conviction relief, and no purpose would be
served by any further proceedings.
PCRA Rule 907 Notice, 11/3/15, at 5.
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Upon review, we conclude that the decision of the PCRA court is
supported by the evidence of record and is free of legal error. Thus,
Appellant’s legality-of-sentence claim does not merit relief.
In response to Appellant’s trifold constitutional concerns—e.g., equal
protection, due process, cruel and unusual punishment—we endorse the
Commonwealth’s arguments:
[First,] equal protection objections to criminal recidivist statutes,
those based upon prior conduct/convictions are subject to a
rational basis analysis. . . . The underlying rational basis for
imposing greater sentences upon recidivists is . . . to enhance
punishment when the defendant has exhibited an unwillingness
to reform his miscreant ways and to [conform] his life according
to the law.
Commonwealth’s Brief at 8–9 (quoting Commonwealth v. Shawyer, 18
A.3d 1190, 1197 (Pa. Super. 2011)). Here, Appellant has exhibited an
unwillingness to reform his ways, to conform his life to the law, and to
respect the value of human life.
Second, “Appellant’s due process claim is put forth with no specificity;
he merely makes the bald assertion that his due process rights have been
violated. . . . [T]he claim should be denied.” Commonwealth’s Brief at 9
(citing Commonwealth v. Mann, 820 A.3d 788, 794 (Pa. Super. 2003)).
See also Commonwealth v. Spotz, 896 A.2d 1191, 1229 (Pa. 2006)
(“Other than making [a] bald assertion, Spotz does not direct the Court to
any evidence to support his argument.”).
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Third, regarding Appellant’s cruel and unusual punishment claim,
“there is no gross proportionality between the Appellant’s criminal conduct
and the punishment imposed.” Commonwealths’ Brief at 12 (applying
Commonwealth v. Baker, 78 A.3d 1044, 1051–1052 (Pa. 2013) (affirming
that mandatory minimum sentence of twenty-five years as second offender
for possession of child pornography did not violate prohibition against cruel
and unusual punishment)). Here, Appellant pleaded guilty to attempted
homicide as a repeat felony offender. His sentence of ten years for
attempted homicide and his sentence of three and one-half years for the
firearm violation were within the standard guideline ranges. Basic
Sentencing Matrix (7th ed.), 204 Pa.Code § 303.16(a). Thus, we further
conclude that Appellant’s aggregate sentence of thirteen and one-half to
thirty years does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment and,
therefore, is constitutionally sound.
In his second question presented, Appellant complains that the trial
court erred in sentencing him (a) to a mandatory minimum sentence on the
firearm charge where no notice of a sentencing enhancement was given and
(b) to consecutive sentences. Appellant’s Brief at 8. The first complaint is
belied by the record. Appellant did not receive a mandatory minimum or
sentencing enhancement on the firearm conviction. Sentencing Guidelines
Worksheet, 10/8/14. As the Commonwealth explains:
On the Firearm charge, a felony of the second degree, the
maximum term of incarceration is ten years. 18 Pa.C.S.
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§ 1103(2). On that charge, the Appellant received a sentence of
three and one-half to ten years; he could have received five to
ten years, so he received less than the statutory maximum.
Commonwealth’s Brief at 13. Thus, this claim does not merit relief.
The second complaint is a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
Appellant’s sentence. See Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 169
(Pa. Super. 2010) (claim that imposition of consecutive sentences was an
abuse of discretion was a challenge to the discretionary aspects of
sentencing). Requests for relief with respect to the discretionary aspects of
sentence are not cognizable in PCRA proceedings. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2);
Commonwealth v. Wrecks, 934 A.2d 1287, 1289 (Pa. Super. 2006).
Accordingly, this claim does not afford Appellant relief.
In sum, Appellant’s various claims either lack merit or are not
reviewable. Accordingly, we affirm the order dismissing his PCRA petition.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/11/2016
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