Com. v. Sperl, S. ( 2019 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
SEAN CHRISTOPHER SPERL, :
:
Appellant. : No. 542 EDA 2019
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered, January 25, 2019,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County,
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-46-CR-0005172-2013.
BEFORE: BOWES, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 26, 2019
Sean Christopher Sperl appeals from the order dismissing his petition
filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”).1 We affirm.
In Sperl’s direct appeal, this Court set forth the factual background of
the case as follows:
On April 22, 2013, Sperl, Ryan Benner, Ted Stoler and Ryan
Petrille attended a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game at Citizens
Bank Park; during the game, Sperl consumed several alcoholic
beverages, including beer and whiskey. Afterward, Stoler
drove Sperl, Benner and Petrille back to his home in Landsdale,
Montgomery County. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Sperl, Benner
and Petrille left Stoler’s home to drive to a nearby gentleman’s
club; Sperl was driving the vehicle. After discovering the club was
closed, the three men detoured to a convenience store before
continuing to a different gentleman’s club in Harleysville,
Montgomery County. Sperl was still driving the vehicle on the way
to Harleysville; Benner sat in the front seat and Petrille sat in the
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1 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.
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back seat. Shortly after 12:00 a.m., on April 23, 2012, the
vehicle Sperl was operating struck a telephone pole while
traveling at approximately 80 miles per hour. The collision
separated the front of the vehicle from the rear, with the front of
the vehicle coming to rest approximately 100 feet from the
telephone pole and the rear portion coming to a stop 100 feet
away from the telephone pole opposite of the front portion.
After the collision, Sperl and Benner exited the front portion
of the vehicle; Sperl did not remain at the scene of the accident.
Ryan Petrille did not survive the collision. At approximately 12:12
a.m., police responded to a radio dispatch of a one-car accident.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., during the course of the
investigation, police received a report of a disturbance at a
residence at 31 Sugar Hill Lane, located approximately 100 to 200
feet from the collision scene. The [residents] at 31 Sugar Hill Lane
reported that Sperl had knocked on the door after awakening
inside a shed located on the property. When police
arrived, Sperl indicated that he thought he might have been in a
crash that killed someone. Sperl was visibly injured, his eyes
were glassy and bloodshot, and he had a strong odor of alcohol
coming from his person and breath, but police did not perform a
field sobriety test for safety purposes. After being transported to
a local hospital, Sperl’s blood was drawn at 4:44 a.m., which
revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.175 percent.
Commonwealth v. Sperl, 178 A.3d 207, at **1-3 (Pa. Super. 2017)
(unpublished memorandum).
Sperl was arrested and charged with homicide by vehicle,2 accident
involving death or personal injury,3 homicide by vehicle while driving under
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2 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3732(a).
3 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3742(a).
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the influence,4 driving under the influence,5 careless driving,6 and other
related offenses. The case proceeded to trial, and, on November 6, 2015, a
jury found Sperl guilty of all but the DUI-related charges. On April 15, 2016,
the trial court sentenced Sperl to a term of one to two years of imprisonment
for the charge of homicide by vehicle, and two to four years of imprisonment
for the charge of accident involving death or personal injury. The trial court
ordered that Sperl serve these sentences consecutively; therefore, Sperl
received an aggregate sentence of three to six years of incarceration.
Sperl filed post-trial motions seeking reconsideration of his sentence and
a new trial; the trial court denied both motions. On September 29, 2017, this
Court affirmed Sperl’s judgment of sentence. See Sperl, supra. He did not
seek further review from our Supreme Court. Accordingly, Sperl’s judgment
of sentence became final on or about October 29, 2017.
On March 14, 2018, Sperl filed a timely pro se PCRA petition. The PCRA
court appointed counsel, who filed an amended PCRA petition alleging that (1)
Sperl’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a claim that the trial
court engaged in double-counting of sentencing factors when imposing a
sentence in the aggravated range for the offense of accident involving death
or personal injury; and (2) Sperl’s appellate counsel was ineffective for failing
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4 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3735(a).
5 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(a)(1).
6 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3714.
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to raise the issue of whether the trial court impermissibly considered the fact
that Sperl exercised his right to remain silent and his right to a jury trial in
determining his sentence. The PCRA court issued a Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 notice
of intent to dismiss the petition without a hearing. Sperl did not respond to
the PCRA court’s notice, and on January 25, 2019, the PCRA court entered an
order dismissing the petition. Sperl filed a timely notice of appeal. Both Sperl
and the PCRA court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Sperl raises one issue in his statement of questions involved: “Did the
PCRA court err when it dismissed the petition without a hearing
notwithstanding the multiple instances of ineffective assistance of counsel
asserted in [Sperl’s] PCRA petition?” Sperl’s Brief at 6.
Our scope and standard of review is well settled:
In PCRA appeals, our scope of review is limited to the
findings of the PCRA court and the evidence on the record
of the PCRA court's hearing, viewed in the light most
favorable to the prevailing party. Because most PCRA
appeals involve questions of fact and law, we employ a
mixed standard of review. We defer to the PCRA court's
factual findings and credibility determinations supported by
the record. In contrast, we review the PCRA court's legal
conclusions de novo.
Commonwealth v. Reyes-Rodriguez, 111 A.3d 775, 779 (Pa. Super. 2015)
(citations omitted).
When the PCRA court has dismissed a petitioner’s PCRA
petition without an evidentiary hearing, we review the PCRA
court’s decision for an abuse of discretion.
Commonwealth v. Roney, 79 A.2d 595, 604 (Pa. 2013).
The PCRA court has discretion to dismiss a petition without
a hearing when the court is satisfied that there are no
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genuine issues concerning any material fact, the defendant
is not entitled to post-conviction collateral relief, and no
legitimate purpose would be served by further proceedings.
Id. To obtain a reversal of a PCRA court’s decision to
dismiss a petition without a hearing, an appellant must show
that he raised a genuine issue of material fact which, if
resolved in his favor, would have entitled him to relief, or
that the court otherwise abused its discretion in denying a
hearing.
Commonwealth v. Blakeney, 108 A.3d 739, 750 (Pa. 2014).
In support the above issue, Sperl asserts two claims of ineffectiveness
of prior counsel that involve the failure to raise and/or preserve certain
challenges to the discretionary aspects of his sentence. More specifically,
Sperl first claims that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve
the claim that the trial court, in concluding that he lacked remorse for his
crimes, “impermissibly punished [him] for exercising his constitutional right
to a trial by jury and to remain silent when accused of a crime.” Sperl’s Brief
at 21. Second, Sperl claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
preserve for appeal his claim that the trial court erred in “double-counting
factors which were already contemplated by the sentencing guidelines” when
the court imposed an aggravated range sentence for his accident involving
death or personal injury conviction. Sperl’s Brief at 23.
To obtain relief under the PCRA premised on a claim that counsel was
ineffective, a petitioner must establish, by a preponderance of the evidence,
that counsel's ineffectiveness so undermined the truth-determining process
that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place.
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 966 A.2d 523, 532 (Pa. 2009). “Generally,
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counsel’s performance is presumed to be constitutionally adequate, and
counsel will only be deemed ineffective upon a sufficient showing by the
petitioner.” Id. This requires the petitioner to demonstrate that: (1) the
underlying claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable strategic
basis for his or her action or inaction; and (3) counsel’s act or omission
prejudiced the petitioner. Id. at 533.
As to the first prong, “[a] claim has arguable merit where the factual
averments, if accurate, could establish cause for relief.” Commonwealth v.
Stewart, 84 A.3d 701, 707 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc). “Whether the facts
rise to the level of arguable merit is a legal determination.’” Id. (citing
Commonwealth v. Saranchak, 866 A.2d 292, 304 n.14 (Pa. 2005).
As to the second prong of this test, counsel's strategic decisions cannot
be the subject of a finding of ineffectiveness if the decision to follow a
particular course of action was reasonably based and was not the result of
sloth or ignorance of available alternatives. Commonwealth v. Collins, 545
A.2d 882, 886 (Pa. 1988). Counsel's approach must be "so unreasonable
that no competent lawyer would have chosen it." Commonwealth v. Ervin,
766 A.2d 859, 862-63 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citation omitted).
As to the third prong of the test for ineffectiveness, “[p]rejudice is
established if there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different." Stewart, 84 A.3d at
707. “A reasonable probability ‘is a probability sufficient to undermine
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confidence in the outcome.’” Id. (quoting Commonwealth v. Rathfon, 899
A.2d 365, 370 (Pa. Super. 2006).
Finally, when considering an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the
PCRA court “is not required to analyze these [prongs] in any particular order
of priority; instead if a claim fails under any necessary [prong] of the
ineffectiveness test, the court may proceed to that [prong] first.”
Commonwealth v. Tharp, 101 A.3d 736, 747 (Pa. 2014) (citations omitted).
In particular, when it is clear that the petitioner has failed to meet the
prejudice prong, the court may dispose of the claim on that basis alone,
without a determination of whether the first two prongs have been met.
Commonwealth v. Travaglia, 661 A.2d 352, 357 (Pa. 1995).
Both of Sperl’s ineffective assistance claims involve the discretionary
aspects of his sentence. Our standard of review is well settled:
Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the
sentencing court, and a sentence will not be disturbed on
appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion, which in this
context, is not shown merely be an error in judgment;
rather the appellant must establish by reference to the
record, that the sentencing court ignored or misapplied the
law, exercised its judgment for reasons of partiality,
prejudice, bias or ill will, or arrived at a manifestly
unreasonable decision.
Commonwealth v. Shull, 148 A.3d 820, 831-32 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citation
omitted).
Because Sperl’s sentence for accident involving death or personal injury
was in the aggravated range, the trial court was required to articulate its
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reasons for choosing to do so. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b). After hearing
witnesses for the parties, and the argument of counsel, the sentencing court
stated:
I have heard many good things about [Sperl’s] work
ethic, his tremendous politeness and likability. He appears
to have the ability to become a very successful human
being. But I am truly troubled by the following aggravating
factors:
I, too, do not believe [Sperl] is remorseful for his conduct
that caused the death of [the victim].
[Sperl], you were speeding excessively late that night
while a passenger begged you to slow down. But it was too
late. You were unable to negotiate that curve. And the rest
is history.
Then, [Sperl], you ran from the scene knowing [the
victim] was dead. Ryan Benner yelled to you to stay there.
You knew [the victim] was dead, but you left the scene.
What more can I say.
N.T., 9/15/16, at 119.
In his first claim of ineffectiveness, Sperl asserts appellate counsel was
ineffective for failing to preserve on appeal his claim that the trial court
improperly considered his decision to go to trial and remain silent as an
indication that he lacked remorse for his crimes. In essence, Sperl claims the
trial court relied upon an impermissible factor. Such a claim raises a
substantial question. See generally, Commonwealth v. Macias, 968 A.2d
773 (Pa. Super. 2009).
The PCRA court found no merit to Sperl’s claim:
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[Sperl] cannot prove counsel ineffectiveness because this
court did not hold against [Sperl] his invocation of his rights
to jury trial and to remain silent. This court is well aware of
the sanctity of those rights and did not, as [Sperl] contends
in the memorandum attached to his amended PCRA petition,
“adopt” the statements of witnesses at the sentencing
hearing regarding [Sperl’s] decision to proceed to a jury trial
and to remain silent. Rather, [Sperl’s] own words at
sentencing demonstrated his lack of remorse. He did not
take responsibility for his actions and insinuated during
allocution, as had been the defense at trial, that Ryan
Benner had been driving at the time of the crash. Thus,
because this court did not find [Sperl] lacked remorse on
the basis of improper considerations, this issue is meritless
and appellate counsel cannot be found ineffective for failing
to raise it.
PCRA Court Opinion, 4/3/19, at 8-9 (citations omitted).
Our review of the record supports the PCRA court’s conclusions. In
arguing to the contrary, Sperl improperly relies upon comments by the victim’s
mother at sentencing. He then argues that when the sentencing court stated,
“I, too, do not believe [Sperl] is remorseful,” N.T. 4/15/16, at 19, the court
“adopted the views of these family members and [sentenced Sperl] in the
aggravated range for these impermissible and unconstitutional reasons.”
Sperl’s Brief at 22. The PCRA court’s comments cited above readily indicate
that the court, at sentencing, did not adopt the victim’s statements, but
rather, only agreed that Sperl did not demonstrate remorse. Thus, Sperl’s
first ineffectiveness claim fails.
In his second issue, Sperl contends that trial counsel should have raised
the claim that the trial court erred in “double-counting” sentencing factors
already incorporated into the sentencing guidelines. We find this claim to
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raise a substantial question. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); Commonwealth v.
Walls, 926 A.2d 957, 967 (Pa. 2007).
In rejecting this claim, however, the PCRA court explained:
[T]his court did not double-count conduct when
fashioning the sentence for the offense of accident involving
death or personal injury, as alleged by [Sperl]. This offense,
codified at 75 Pa.C.S. § 3742(a), provides that:
[t]he driver of any vehicle involved in an accident
resulting in injury or death of any person shall
immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the
accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then
forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at
the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the
requirements of section 3744 (relating to duty to give
information and render aid). Every stop shall be made
without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
Id.
Here, while aware of the applicable sentencing
guidelines, this court set forth on the record the bases for
the sentence imposed for [Sperl’s] violation of § 3742(a).
See N.T., 4/15/16, pp. 118-120. In particular, this court
noted that the accident from which [Sperl] fled occurred as
a result of his speeding late at night while a passenger
begged him to slow down. Id. at 119. This court further
acknowledged that [Sperl] not only left the scene, but he
also did so despite pleas from Ryan Benner to return. Id.
These statements provide an appropriate basis for the
aggravated-range sentence imposed, and [Sperl] cannot
demonstrate that he would have achieved a reduced
sentence on direct appeal had the issue been preserved by
trial counsel. This issue, therefore, is meritless and trial
counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for having failed to
include it in a post-sentence motion.
PCRA Court Opinion, 4/3/19, at 6-7.
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Our review of the record supports this conclusion. Sperl claims that the
trial court “double-counted” as sentencing factors, elements of the crime
because “he must have known that there had been an accident and that
someone was injured or dead,” and because he was driving at an excessive
speed. Sperl’s Brief at 24. We disagree. A review of the comments above
readily indicates that the trial court properly considered the particular facts
that caused the accident, and the fact that Sperl fled the scene despite his
companion’s request that he stay. See Commonwealth v. Dotter, 589 A.2d
726, 731-32 (Pa. Super. 1991) (explaining that facts regarding the nature and
circumstances of the offense that are not elements of the crime are properly
considered when determining whether to depart from the guidelines).
In sum, because Sperl has not established his ineffective assistance of
counsel claims, the PCRA court did not err in denying his PCRA petition without
a hearing. Blakeney, supra. We therefore, affirm the court’s order denying
Sperl post-conviction relief.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 11/26/19
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