Com. v. Johnson, S. , 125 A.3d 822 ( 2015 )


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  • J-S59022-15
    
    2015 Pa. Super. 221
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,            :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    :        PENNSYLVANIA
    Appellee               :
    :
    v.                          :
    :
    STEFON JOHNSON,                          :
    :
    Appellant              :   No. 243 WDA 2015
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 28, 2015,
    Court of Common Pleas, Erie County,
    Criminal Division at No(s): CP-25-CR-0001038-2014
    and CP-25-CR-0002133-2014
    BEFORE: BOWES, DONOHUE and FITZGERALD*, JJ.
    OPINION BY DONOHUE, J.:                           FILED OCTOBER 20, 2015
    Appellant, Stefon Johnson (“Johnson”), appeals from the judgment of
    sentence entered on January 28, 2015 in the Court of Common Pleas, Erie
    County.    Upon review, we find no support for Johnson’s claim that the
    sentencing court abused its discretion by imposing a sentence that is
    manifestly excessive.    We further conclude that the sentencing court
    properly considered Johnson’s prior record score, as opposed to the number
    of prior convictions in his criminal record, in determining that Johnson was a
    repeat felony offender. We therefore affirm.
    A brief summary of the relevant facts and procedural history is as
    follows.   Between March 9 and March 17, 2014, Johnson entered three
    separate businesses with a small handgun and instructed the individuals
    *Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
    J-S59022-15
    therein to empty the contents of the cash registers.      State police officers
    arrested Johnson on March 18, 2014 and charged him with conspiracy,
    robbery, receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a
    license, terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, theft by unlawful
    taking, persons not to possess a firearm, simple assault, recklessly
    endangering another person, and possessing instruments of crime.1
    On November 26, 2014, Johnson pled guilty to two counts of robbery,
    and in exchange, the Commonwealth nolle prossed all other charges.
    Johnson appeared for a sentencing hearing on January 28, 2015. During the
    hearing, Johnson presented his mother, father, and grandmother as
    character witnesses. They testified that Johnson was immature and made
    mistakes, but that he could be rehabilitated.          Johnson also testified,
    apologizing for his actions. Defense counsel requested that the sentencing
    court consider his young age, his rehabilitative potential, his juvenile record,
    and the fact that he accepted responsibility for his actions when deciding
    Johnson’s sentence.      Defense counsel specifically requested that the
    sentencing    court   “consider   a   concurrent,   low-end   standard    range
    sentence[.]” N.T., 1/28/15, at 19.
    Defense counsel also contested the presentence investigation report
    (“PSI Report”), which designated Johnson a repeat felony offender (“RFEL”)
    1
    18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 903(c), 3701(a)(1)(ii), 3925(a), 6106(a)(1), 2706(a)(1),
    3921(a), 6105(a)(1), 2701(a)(3), 2705, 907(b).
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    pursuant to 204 Pa. Code § 303.4. Defense counsel asserted that a strict
    statutory   construction   of   section   303.4(a)(2)   requires   six   or   more
    convictions or adjudications, not six or more points as reflected by the PSI
    Report.     Since Johnson did not have six or more prior convictions or
    adjudications, defense counsel challenged the RFEL designation.
    Following its review of section 303.4(a)(2), the sentencing court
    rejected defense counsel’s argument, stating that a RFEL designation
    requires six points, not convictions, based upon the defendant’s prior record
    score.    The sentencing court determined that Johnson was appropriately
    designated a RFEL based on his prior record score of six for first- and
    second-degree felonies and that the sentencing guidelines in the PSI Report
    were calculated correctly. After considering the PSI Report, the statutorily
    required factors set forth in the Sentencing Code, and the testimony offered
    by Johnson and his witnesses, the sentencing court sentenced Johnson to
    two concurrent terms of 102 to 204 months of incarceration and ordered him
    to pay the costs of prosecution plus restitution in the amount of $793.
    Johnson filed a motion for reconsideration on the same date as the
    sentencing hearing, requesting that the sentencing court reconsider its
    sentence and reduce the period of incarceration.        Johnson alleged that he
    was improperly designated as a RFEL and that the sentencing court should
    have imposed a standard range guideline sentence rather than an
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    aggravated range sentence.      On January 29, 2015, the sentencing court
    denied Johnson’s motion for reconsideration.
    Johnson timely filed a notice of appeal on February 6, 2015 and a
    concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Rule
    1925(b) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure.           On appeal,
    Johnson raises the following two issues for our review, which we have
    reordered for ease of disposition:
    1. Whether [Johnson’s] sentence is manifestly
    excessive, clearly unreasonable and inconsistent with
    the objectives of the Sentencing Code?
    2. Whether the [s]entencing [c]ourt erred in
    sentencing [Johnson] with a prior record score of a
    [RFEL] instead of with a prior record score of five
    (5)[?]
    Johnson’s Brief at 4.
    In his first issue on appeal, Johnson challenges the discretionary
    aspects of his sentence. Johnson’s Brief at 4. This Court has held, “[w]here
    an appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of a sentence, there is no
    automatic right to appeal and an appellant’s appeal should be considered a
    petition for allowance of appeal.” Commonwealth v. Crork, 
    966 A.2d 585
    ,
    590 (Pa. Super. 2009).
    Before we reach the merits of this [issue], we
    must engage in a four part analysis to determine:
    (1) whether the appeal is timely; (2) whether
    Appellant preserved his issue; (3) whether
    Appellant’s brief includes a concise statement of the
    reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal with
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    respect to the discretionary aspects of sentence; and
    (4) whether the concise statement raises a
    substantial question that the sentence is appropriate
    under the sentencing code.
    Commonwealth v. Clarke, 
    70 A.3d 1281
    , 1286 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citing
    Commonwealth v. Malovich, 
    903 A.2d 1247
    , 1250 (Pa. Super. 2006)).
    In this case, Johnson filed a timely notice of appeal and preserved his
    claim on appeal in a post-sentence motion as well as in his Rule 1925(b)
    statement.    Johnson also included a concise statement of reasons relied
    upon for allowance of appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) in his brief. The
    question remaining for our determination, therefore, is whether Johnson
    raised a substantial question.
    The determination of what constitutes a
    substantial question must be evaluated on a case-
    by-case basis. A substantial question exists “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. Griffin, 
    65 A.3d 932
    , 935 (Pa. Super. 2013) (internal
    citations omitted).
    In his Rule 2119(f) statement, Johnson argues that the sentencing
    court abused its discretion by imposing an excessive sentence “given the
    mitigating factors of his case.” Johnson’s Brief at 9. In support of his claim,
    Johnson relies on the testimony of his character witnesses that testified that
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    he was immature and made mistakes, but that he had potential for
    rehabilitation. 
    Id. “This Court
    has held that an excessive sentence claim—in conjunction
    with an assertion that the court failed to consider mitigating factors—raises a
    substantial question.” Commonwealth v. Raven, 
    97 A.3d 1244
    , 1253 (Pa.
    Super. 2014) (citing Commonwealth v. Perry, 
    883 A.2d 599
    , 602 (Pa.
    Super. 2005)).2 Thus, we will address the merits of Johnson’s claim.
    Our standard of review for challenges to the discretionary aspects of
    sentencing is as follows:
    Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound
    discretion of the sentencing judge, and a sentence
    will not be disturbed on appeal absent a manifest
    abuse of discretion. In this context, an abuse of
    discretion is not shown merely by 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. Disalvo, 
    70 A.3d 900
    , 903 (Pa. Super. 2013) (quoting
    Commonwealth v. Glass, 
    50 A.3d 720
    , 727 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal
    denied, 
    63 A.3d 774
    (2013)).
    2
    This Court has offered “less than a model of clarity and consistency” in
    determining whether this particular issue raises a substantial question. See
    Commonwealth v. Dodge, 
    77 A.3d 1263
    , 1272 n.8 (Pa. Super. 2013); see
    also Commonwealth v. Seagraves, 
    103 A.3d 839
    , 841-42 (Pa. Super.
    2014). Nevertheless, as the Dodge Court stated, “unless an en banc panel
    of this Court or our Supreme Court overturns these decisions, we are bound
    to follow them.” 
    Dodge, 77 A.3d at 1273
    .
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    J-S59022-15
    Additionally, our review of the discretionary aspects
    of a sentence is confined by the statutory mandates
    of 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] §§ 9781(c) and (d). Subsection
    9781(c) provides:
    The appellate court shall vacate the sentence and
    remand the case to the sentencing court with
    instructions if it finds:
    (1) the sentencing court purported to sentence
    within the sentencing guidelines but applied the
    guidelines erroneously;
    (2) the sentencing court sentenced within the
    sentencing guidelines but the case involves
    circumstances where the application of the
    guidelines would be clearly unreasonable; or
    (3) the sentencing court sentenced outside the
    sentencing guidelines and the sentence is
    unreasonable.
    In all other cases[,] the appellate court shall affirm
    the sentence imposed by the sentencing court.
    42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 9781.
    In reviewing the record, we consider:
    (1) The nature and circumstances of the offense
    and the history and characteristics of the
    defendant.
    (2) The opportunity of the sentencing court to
    observe the defendant, including any presentence
    investigation.
    (3) The findings upon which the sentence was
    based.
    (4) The     guidelines      promulgated    by    the
    commission.
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    42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 9781(d).
    
    Raven, 97 A.3d at 1253-54
    .
    Johnson does not argue that the sentencing court applied the
    guidelines erroneously or sentenced him outside the guidelines.            Rather,
    Johnson asserts that the sentence was excessive in light of mitigating factors
    testified to at his sentencing hearing that the sentencing court failed to
    consider. Johnson’s Brief at 9. Our review of the record reveals, however,
    that the sentencing court had the benefit of a PSI Report when fashioning
    Johnson’s sentence.     “Where, as here, the trial court has the benefit of a
    pre-sentence report, we presume that the court was aware of relevant
    information    regarding   the   defendant’s   character   and   weighed    those
    considerations along with any mitigating factors.”         Commonwealth v.
    Seagraves, 
    103 A.3d 839
    , 842 (Pa. Super. 2014).
    Furthermore, the record reflects that the sentencing court considered
    all mitigating factors prior to sentencing Johnson.          At the sentencing
    hearing, the sentencing court detailed the factors it considered, stating:
    I’ve considered a number of things here. I’ve
    considered the presentence report in its entirety and
    I’m going to make it a part of the record in this case.
    I’ve also considered the Pennsylvania Sentencing
    Code and all its factors, the guidelines, the testimony
    of the witnesses that have appeared in support of
    the defendant, and the various statements made by
    counsel and the defendant here today.
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    N.T., 2/12/15, at 21. The sentencing court further stated that it considered
    Johnson’s age, the seriousness of the offenses, and the fact that Johnson
    had a significant juvenile record. 
    Id. at 21-22.
    Thus, after reviewing the record, we conclude that there is no evidence
    of record to establish that the sentencing court “ignored or misapplied the
    law, exercised its judgement for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill
    will, or arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision.” 
    Disalvo, 70 A.3d at 903
    . Nor is there any basis for us to conclude that the sentencing court’s
    application of the guidelines in this case was clearly erroneous. See Raven;
    42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(c)(2).     As a result, we are unable to discern of any
    abuse of discretion by the sentencing court. Johnson is not entitled to relief
    on his first issue.
    In his second issue on appeal, Johnson raises a question of statutory
    construction of the sentencing guidelines under 204 Pa. Code § 303.4. This
    is a question of law and “[t]hus, our standard of review is de novo and our
    scope of review is plenary.”   Commonwealth v. Wilson, 
    101 A.3d 1151
    ,
    1153 (Pa. Super. 2014) (italicization omitted) (citing Commonwealth v.
    Spence, 
    91 A.3d 44
    , 46 (Pa. 2014)). “Consequently, we are not bound by
    the lower court’s conclusions regarding the proper meaning of the applicable
    provisions of this statute.” Commonwealth v. Devries, 
    112 A.3d 663
    , 670
    (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted).
    The statute in question provides:
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    (a) Prior Record Score categories. Determination of
    the correct Prior Record Score category under this
    section is based on the type and number of prior
    convictions (§ 303.5) and prior juvenile adjudications
    (§ 303.6).     There are eight Prior Record Score
    categories: Repeat Violent Offender (REVOC), Repeat
    Felony 1 and Felony 2 Offender (RFEL), and point-
    based categories of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
    (1) Repeat Violent Offender Category (REVOC).
    Offenders who have two or more previous
    convictions or adjudications for four point offenses
    (§ 303.7(a)(1) and § 303.15) and whose current
    conviction carries an Offense Gravity Score of 9 or
    higher shall be classified in the Repeat Violent
    Offender Category.
    (2) Repeat Felony 1 and Felony 2 Offender
    Category (RFEL). Offenders who have previous
    convictions or adjudications for Felony 1 and/or
    Felony 2 offenses which total 6 or more in the
    prior record, and who do not fall within the
    Repeat Violent Offender Category, shall be
    classified in the repeat Felony 1 and Felony 2
    Offender Category.
    (3) Point-based Categories (0-5). Offenders who
    do not fall into the REVOC or RFEL categories
    shall be classified in a Point-based Category. The
    Prior Record Score shall be the sum of the points
    accrued based on previous convictions or
    adjudications, up to a maximum of five points.
    204 Pa. Code § 303.4.
    Johnson assails the sentencing court’s application of the guidelines
    under section 303.4.    Johnson’s Brief at 7-8.   Johnson contends that the
    language of subsection 303.4(a)(2) requires six prior convictions or
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    J-S59022-15
    adjudications, rather than six points, to designate an offender as a RFEL.3
    
    Id. On that
    basis, Johnson asserts that he does not meet the requirements
    of subsection 303.4(a)(2), and thus, the sentencing court improperly
    designated him as a RFEL. 
    Id. 4 In
    its order denying Johnson’s motion for reconsideration, the
    sentencing court explained its rationale for classifying him as a RFEL,
    stating, “Four points were ascribed to the burglary charge and two points for
    the robbery charge, for a total of six.       Therefore, the defendant met the
    RFEL criteria.” Order, 1/29/15, at 1. The sentencing court further states in
    its 1925(a) opinion that “[t]he defendant was a RFEL under the guidelines.
    Prior record score is just that, a ‘score’ or ‘points,’ not prior ‘convictions.’
    3
    In Johnson’s post-sentence motion, he conceded that a representative of
    the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing informed him that the
    commission “interprets the statutes to mean points – not separate
    convictions/adjudications as defense counsel argues[.]” See Johnson’s Post-
    Sentence Motion, 1/28/15, at 2. Johnson, nevertheless asserted that the
    commission’s “interpretation is at odds with a plain reading of the statute.”
    
    Id. For the
    reasons set forth herein, we disagree.
    4
    Johnson also asserts that he should have been sentenced based on a prior
    record score of five. Johnson’s Brief at 7. Johnson relies on 204 Pa. Code §
    303.6 which states, “Only the most serious juvenile adjudication of each
    prior disposition is counted in the Prior Record Score. No other prior juvenile
    adjudication shall be counted in the Prior Record Score.” Id.; 204 Pa. Code
    § 303.6. Johnson, however, does not present any argument on how the
    sentencing court erred in applying sections 303.4 and 303.6 to his prior
    record score. Moreover, Johnson failed to present any evidence before the
    sentencing court that the prior adjudications used in Johnson’s PSI Report
    were part of the same prior disposition or were otherwise improperly
    considered for prior record score purposes.         Accordingly, this claim is
    waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (“Issues not raised in the lower court are
    waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”).
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    J-S59022-15
    The   defendant’s   [prior   record   score]   was   accurately   calculated   and
    incorporated into the guidelines.” Sentencing Court Opinion, 2/13/15, at 1.
    After conducting extensive research on this issue, we have not
    uncovered any Pennsylvania legal authority addressing the question raised.
    We must therefore undertake an interpretation of the statutory text to
    ascertain whether section 303.4 requires six points or six convictions or
    adjudications to designate an offender as a RFEL. In undertaking our review
    of this issue, we are mindful that the Statutory Construction Act guides our
    interpretation and provides that “[t]he object of all interpretation and
    construction of statutes is to ascertain the effectuate the intention of the
    General Assembly.” 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(a).
    As we have often recognized, “[t]he General
    Assembly’s intent is best expressed through the plain
    language of the statute.”       Commonwealth v.
    Brown, [] 
    981 A.2d 893
    , 897 ([Pa.] 2009);
    Commonwealth v. McCoy, [] 
    962 A.2d 1160
    , 1166
    ([Pa.] 2009). Therefore, when the terms of a statute
    are clear and unambiguous, they will be given effect
    consistent with their plain and common meaning. 1
    Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(b); Commonwealth v. Kelly, []
    
    801 A.2d 551
    , 554 ([Pa.] 2002). This means
    ascribing to the particular words and phrases the
    definitions which they have acquired through their
    common and approved usage. 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1903. It
    is only in instances where the words of a statute are
    not explicit, or they are ambiguous, is there need to
    resort to consideration of the factors in aid of
    construction enumerated in 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(c).
    McCoy, 
    [] 962 A.2d at 1166
    ; Commonwealth v.
    Fithian, [] 
    961 A.2d 66
    , 74 ([Pa.] 2008); see also
    1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(b) (“When the words of a statute
    are clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter of it
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    is not to be disregarded under the pretext of
    pursuing its spirit.”).
    Commonwealth v. Gerald, 
    47 A.3d 858
    , 859-60 (Pa. Super. 2012)
    (quoting Commonwealth v. Hart, 
    28 A.3d 898
    , 908 (Pa. 2011)).
    Our review of the statutory text of section 303.4(a)(2) reveals that it
    instructs, in relevant part, that “[o]ffenders who have previous convictions
    or adjudications for Felony 1 and/or Felony 2 offenses which total 6 or more
    in the prior record” are deemed a RFEL. 204 Pa. Code § 303.4(a)(2). We
    agree with Johnson that it is unclear from this language alone whether the
    number six refers to prior convictions or prior record score points. Johnson’s
    Brief at 7-8. As the statutory language is ambiguous in this regard, we must
    ascertain the legislature’s intention. In so doing, the Statutory Construction
    Act states that we may consider:
    (1) The occasion and necessity for the statute.
    (2) The circumstances under which it was enacted.
    (3) The mischief to be remedied.
    (4) The object to be attained.
    (5) The former law, if any, including other statutes
    upon the same or similar subjects.
    (6) The consequences of a particular interpretation.
    (7) The contemporaneous legislative history.
    (8) Legislative and administrative interpretations of
    such statute.
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    J-S59022-15
    1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(c).
    Furthermore, the following presumptions may be used to determine
    the legislature’s intention:
    (1) That the General Assembly does not intend a
    result that is absurd, impossible of execution or
    unreasonable.
    (2) That the General Assembly intends the entire
    statute to be effective and certain.
    (3) That the General Assembly does not intend to
    violate the Constitution of the United States or of
    this Commonwealth.
    (4) That when a court of last resort has construed
    the language used in a statute, the General
    Assembly in subsequent statutes on the same
    subject matter intends the same construction to be
    placed upon such language.
    (5) That the General Assembly intends to favor the
    public interest as against any private interest.
    1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1922.
    This Court has further established that
    [s]ections of statutes are not to be isolated from the
    context in which they arise such that an individual
    interpretation is accorded one section which does not
    take into account the related sections of the same
    statute. Statutes do not exist sentence by sentence.
    Their sections and sentences comprise a composite
    of their stated purpose.
    Commonwealth v. Berryman, 
    649 A.2d 961
    , 956 (Pa. Super. 1994)
    (quoting Commonwealth v. Lurie, 
    569 A.2d 329
    , 331 (Pa. 1990)).       “An
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    J-S59022-15
    interpretation of the language of a statute must remain consistent
    throughout the statute.” 
    Id. Viewing section
    303.4 in the context of the Criminal Sentencing
    Guidelines, we conclude that there is no support for Johnson’s assertion that
    subsection 303.4(a)(2) requires six convictions or adjudications, and not six
    points on his prior record score. Section 303.2 provides the procedure for
    determining the guideline sentence. See 204 Pa. Code § 303.2. Pursuant
    to section 303.2, the sentencing court must, in relevant part, “[d]etermine
    the Prior Record Score as described in § 303.4--§ 303.8.” 204 Pa. Code §
    303.2(a)(2). Section 303.7 of the Criminal Sentencing Guidelines, entitled,
    “Prior Record Score--guideline points scoring[,]” establishes the points
    allocated to each prior conviction and adjudication on a defendant’s criminal
    record.    204 Pa. Code § 303.7(a).    Under section 303.7, the prior record
    score is determined by calculating the number of points for each conviction,
    which range from one to four points.         
    Id. Section 303.7
    further cites to
    section 303.15 of the Criminal Sentencing Guidelines, which provides a
    “listing of offenses” with a corresponding number of prior record score
    points allocated to each offense.      See 204 Pa. Code § 303.15.          Thus,
    sections 303.7 and 303.15 indicate that a defendant’s prior record score is a
    calculation of points, not convictions or adjudications.
    Viewing section 303.4 in this context, we find it significant that the
    language     of   subsection   303.4(a)(2)    only   provides   that   subsection
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    303.4(a)(2) classifies as RFEL those offenders whose previous convictions or
    adjudications “total 6 or more in the prior record[.]”        See 204 Pa.Code
    303.4(a)(2)     (emphasis    added).       Subsection    303.4(a)(1),   however,
    specifically delineates that an offender falls within the Repeat Violent
    Offender Category (“REVOC”) if he or she has “two or more previous
    convictions or adjudications for four point offenses[.]”             204 Pa.Code
    303.4(a)(1) (emphasis added).           The     differing language   of the   two
    subsections belies Johnson’s contention that the legislature intended a RFEL
    designation to be based upon the number of convictions, not points, in his
    prior record. As this Court has held:
    [W]here the legislature includes specific language in
    one section of the statute and excludes it from
    another, the language should not be implied where
    excluded. Moreover, where a section of a statute
    contains a given provision, the omission of such a
    provision from a similar section is significant to show
    a different legislative intent.
    Commonwealth v. Kinney, 
    777 A.2d 492
    , 495 (Pa. Super. 2001) (quoting
    Fonner v. Shandon, Inc., 
    724 A.2d 903
    , 907 (Pa. 1999) (citations and
    emphasis omitted)).
    We find further support for our conclusion in section 303.16(a), which
    provides the Basic Sentencing Matrix. See 204 Pa.Code § 303.16(a). The
    sentencing matrix in section 303.16(a) is based on the same prior record
    score categories as those defined in section 303.4 and delineates a
    sentencing recommendation for each category, increasing in severity with
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    each subsequent category. See 
    id. The categories
    are arranged beginning
    with the point-based categories in ascending order from zero to five,
    followed by the RFEL category, and ending with the REVOC.           This lends
    support for the interpretation that after the point-based categories of zero to
    five points, the legislature intended to impose stricter punishments for those
    offenders whose prior record scores carry more than five points on their
    prior record scores. Thus, an offender with six or more points for first- and
    second-degree felonies is designated as a RFEL and faces a more severe
    sentencing recommendation. An offender that has two or more four point
    offenses (totaling eight or more) and meets the required offense gravity
    score, receives a designation in the REVOC and receives an even more
    severe sentencing recommendation than those designated as a RFEL.
    Johnson baldly states that “a strict interpretation of [section 303.4]
    requires the [a]ppellant to have six (6) previous juvenile adjudications for
    Felony 1 or 2 offenses.” Johnson’s Brief at 8. Although we agree that we
    must strictly construe penal statutes,
    courts are not required to give words of a criminal
    statute their narrowest meaning or disregard evident
    legislative intent.”  Thus, we will not adopt the
    strictest possible interpretation if doing so would
    defeat the plain intent of the legislature. Again, we
    must bear in mind that the legislature “does not
    intend a result that is absurd, impossible of
    execution, or unreasonable, and that the legislature
    intends the entire statute to be effective and
    certain.”
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    Commonwealth v. Brown, 
    956 A.2d 992
    (Pa. Super. 2008) (internal
    citations omitted).
    If we endorsed Johnson’s interpretation of section 303.4, we would be
    determining that the legislature intended to require a sentencing court to
    designate an offender in the REVOC and point-based categories by
    considering the total number of points in their prior record score, but when
    designating an offender as a RFEL, ignore the number of points and focus
    solely    on   the   number   of   convictions.   Johnson’s   interpretation    is
    unreasonable, as the sentencing court would have to apply two separate
    standards to determine the proper category. The sentencing courts would
    be required to calculate the number of points for subsections (a)(1) and
    (a)(3), but would be required to consider only the number of convictions or
    adjudications without regard for points when considering subsection (a)(2).
    As our legislature does not intend absurd or unreasonable results, we will
    not employ an interpretation that would produce such a result.
    Accordingly, we conclude that the sentencing court appropriately
    determined that a RFEL designation under subsection 303.4(a)(2) is based
    on a calculation of points in a defendant’s prior record score rather than the
    number of convictions or adjudications in his criminal history.                The
    sentencing court therefore properly designated Johnson as a RFEL. Finding
    no error in the sentencing court’s determination, we affirm the judgment of
    sentence.
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    J-S59022-15
    Judgment of sentence affirmed.
    Bowes, J. joins the Opinion.
    Fitzgerald, J. concurs in the result.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 10/20/2015
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