Com. v. Teague, M. ( 2019 )

J-S64010-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
MARCUS TEAGUE :
:
Appellant : No. 3248 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence February 18, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0002400-2014,
CP-51-CR-0002401-2014, CP-51-CR-0002405-2014,
CP-51-CR-0002406-2014, CP-51-CR-0002408-2014,
CP-51-CR-0002409-2014, CP-51-CR-0002410-2014,
CP-51-CR-0002411-2014, CP-51-CR-0003291-2014.
BEFORE: BOWES, J., OLSON, J., and KUNSELMAN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 19, 2019
Marcus Teague appeals from the aggregate judgment of sentence,
composed of sentences entered at nine separate docket numbers, of twenty
to forty years of incarceration, followed by seven years of probation, imposed
after he pled guilty to multiple counts of robbery, possession of a firearm
prohibited, and firearms not to be carried without a license.1 We affirm.
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1 This Court issued a rule to show cause why the appeal should not be quashed
for failure to file separate notices. See Pa.R.A.P. 341, Note. See also
Commonwealth v. Walker, 185 A.3d 969 (Pa. 2018) (holding,
prospectively, that appellants are required to file separate notices of appeal
at each docket number implicated by an order resolving issues that involve
more than one trial court docket). In his response, Appellant indicated that
he did in fact file a notice at each docket number, although each was identical
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Between October 25, 2013, and November 3, 2013, Appellant
perpetrated ten robberies involving twelve victims. The majority were
committed on a single day. Some of the robberies were at knifepoint, others
at gunpoint. One victim sustained injuries after Appellant tackled him to the
ground and hit him on the head. Appellant’s crime spree ended when he was
apprehended while fleeing from a final robbery.
Appellant entered an open guilty plea to ten counts of robbery, five
counts of possession of a firearm prohibited, five counts of carrying a firearm
without a license, and six counts of possession of an instrument of crime
(“PIC”). At sentencing on February 18, 2015, the trial court, for the most
part, imposed at each docket number a sentence of ten to twenty years of
incarceration for each robbery with a consecutive term of five to ten years for
prohibited possession of a firearm, followed by seven years of probation for
carrying a firearm without a license and no further penalty for PIC. In the
case that involved two separate robberies, the trial court imposed consecutive
terms of ten to twenty years of incarceration for each, followed by the same
consecutive sentences ordered for the other crimes in the other cases. As the
trial court indicated that the sentence in each case was to be served
____________________________________________
and listed all involved docket numbers. This Court discharged the rule for the
issue to be decided by the merits panel. Our review of the trial court’s
separate dockets supports Appellant’s contentions. Moreover, even if it did
not, the Walker Court indicated that its ruling, handed down after Appellant
appealed, was to be applied prospectively. Therefore, we see no basis to
quash the appeals.
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concurrently with those in the other cases, the result was an aggregate
sentence of twenty to forty years of imprisonment followed by seven years of
probation.
Appellant’s motion for reconsideration of sentence was denied on March
20, 2015. Appellant filed no direct appeal. Following the filing of a timely
PCRA petition, Appellant’s direct appeal rights were reinstated, after which he
filed the instant timely appeal.
Appellant presents one question for our review: “Did the Lower Court
err in failing to reconsider the Appellant’s sentence after a motion was filed
arguing that the court failed to consider the Appellant’s acceptance of
responsibility and his remorse?” Appellant’s brief at 25
Appellant presents a challenge to the discretionary aspects of his
sentence. The following principles apply to our consideration of whether
Appellant’s claim is viable.
An appellant is not entitled to the review of challenges to the
discretionary aspects of a sentence as of right. Rather, an
appellant challenging the discretionary aspects of his sentence
must invoke this Court’s jurisdiction. We determine whether the
appellant has invoked our jurisdiction by considering the following
four factors:
(1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of
appeal; (2) whether the issue was properly preserved
at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and modify
sentence; (3) whether appellant’s brief has a fatal
defect; and (4) whether there is a substantial question
that the sentence appealed from is not appropriate
under the Sentencing Code.
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Commonwealth v. Samuel, 102 A.3d 1001, 1006-07 (Pa.Super. 2014)
(citations omitted).
Appellant filed a motion for reconsideration of his sentence, and a timely
notice of appeal after his direct appeal rights were reinstated. Appellant’s
brief contains a statement of reasons relied upon for his challenge to the
discretionary aspects of his sentence as required by Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). As to
whether Appellant’s claim presents a substantial question, he avers that the
trial court “failed to state an adequate basis for the sentence imposed at the
sentencing” hearing, and that his aggregate sentence is excessive and
“grossly disproportionate with the crime he committed.” Appellant’s brief at
29.
We conclude that Appellant has raised a substantial question, and hence
proceed to address the merits of his claim. See, e.g., Commonwealth v.
Vega, 850 A.2d 1277, 1281 (Pa.Super. 2004) (determining the appellant
raised a substantial question with the claim that the sentence was grossly
disproportionate to “the facts surrounding the criminal episode and his
background”); Commonwealth v. Simpson, 829 A.2d 334, 338 (Pa.Super.
2003) (holding substantial question was presented by allegation that trial
court failed to state sufficient reasons for the sentence imposed).
The following principles apply to our substantive review of Appellant’s
claim. “When reviewing sentencing matters, this Court must accord the
sentencing court great weight as it is in the best position to view the
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defendant’s character, displays of remorse, defiance or indifference, and the
overall effect and nature of the crime.” Commonwealth v. Ventura, 975
A.2d 1128, 1134 (Pa.Super. 2009). “We cannot re-weigh the sentencing
factors and impose our judgment in the place of the sentencing court.”
Commonwealth v. Macias, 968 A.2d 773, 778 (Pa.Super. 2009). Rather,
we review the trial court’s determination for an 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. Antidormi, 84 A.3d 736, 760 (Pa.Super. 2014).
A trial court’s sentence “should call for confinement that is consistent
with the protection of the public, the gravity of the offense as it relates to the
impact on the life of the victim and on the community, and the rehabilitative
needs of the defendant.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b). “When imposing sentence, a
court is required to consider the particular circumstances of the offense and
the character of the defendant. In considering these factors, the court should
refer to the defendant’s prior criminal record, age, personal characteristics
and potential for rehabilitation.” Id. at 761 (citations and quotation marks
omitted).
Appellant acknowledges that each individual sentence he received was
within the guideline ranges. Appellant’s brief at 31. However, he contends
that the consecutive structure of “many of the sentences” resulted in an
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“extreme” aggregate sentence. Id. Appellant further asserts that the court
failed to consider Appellant’s expressed remorse, or that, by entering open
guilty pleas in all nine cases, he spared the Commonwealth and the victims
“the expense and trauma of a trial.” Id.
Appellant’s claims are belied by the record. The sentencing hearing was
conducted after a presentence investigation and the court’s review of the
resulting report. Further, the transcript from the sentencing hearing reveals
the following. The trial court was advised that Appellant has an extensive
criminal history dating back to 1989. N.T. Sentencing, 2/18/15, at 9-11.
Appellant had two dozen prior convictions, resulting in his having been
incarcerated twenty-two times, the longest term having been eight to eighteen
months. Id. at 10-11, 26. Appellant violated probationary sentences seven
times, and committed the robberies at issue while under a sentence of
intermediate punishment. Id. at 11. With a prior record score of repeat felony
offender (“RFEL”), the sentencing guidelines called for incarceration of ninety
to 102 months for each of the robberies committed at gunpoint. Id. at 9-10.
With the “multiple, multiple opportunities” to reform given to Appellant in the
past, the Commonwealth sought an aggregate sentence of twenty to forty
years. Id. at 13.
The court also considered letters from Appellant’s family members, in
which they indicated that Appellant had stolen from “family, friends and
strangers,” that they had been awaiting word that Appellant was dead or in
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jail, and were relieved to learn that he was in custody rather than “on drugs
or dead.” Id. at 13-14.
During his allocution, Appellant apologized to the victims and
acknowledged having “a terrible drug problem.” Id. at 22. Appellant spoke
of past efforts to stay clean, detailing periods during which he went into
recovery, had many consecutive negative drug screens upon release, and had
attended college classes. Id. at 22-23. Appellant explained that, after he had
to leave his brother’s home, he was homeless and unable to find a job;
thereafter, “these robberies started occurring because I was on the streets
doing drugs.” Id. at 24. Appellant indicated that he had resisted the
compulsion to use drugs for more than a year while attending Narcotics
Anonymous meetings, explaining “[i]nside the jails, I get into it, but I need a
structure whereas though it will help me with my drug addiction. Without the
drugs, I wouldn’t be doing this.” Id. at 27.
The trial court heard additional mitigating evidence. Specifically, the
court was advised that Appellant’s father was not involved in his life, and did
not acknowledge Appellant until he was in his forties. Id. at 29. Appellant
had been spending time with his family and children, but both his mother and
father died “and then everything went downhill.” Id. at 27. Counsel for
Appellant also highlighted that Appellant had been diagnosed with bipolar
disorder within the past ten years, that he had some periods of treatment,
and was “now getting treatment in jail.” Id. at 33. Counsel therefore
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indicated that “mental health has to be a component” in the court’s decision.
Id.
Before imposing Appellant’s sentence, the trial court stated as follows:
I’ve looked at the sentencing guidelines. I’ve taken into
consideration the presentence investigation [report], mental
health evaluation. Taking into consideration that the defendant
pled guilty today. I’ve taken into consideration the victim’s impact
who was here today who come forward to speak. I’ve taken into
consideration that moneys were taken, weapons were used. I’ve
taken into consideration the defendant’s been before [me o]n at
least two prior occasions. I’ve taken into consideration his long
criminal record. I’ve taken into consideration that his brothers
and sisters have written letters about him and that his father
walked out. His mother passed away, but he needs help. He’s in
a life of crime.
So, I’ve factored all of that and I factored in a sentence for
the protection of the public, punishment, rehabilitation that will be
the basis of my sentence.
Id. at 34-35.
As the foregoing indicates, the trial court clearly did consider and weigh
all relevant factors. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Kitchen, 162 A.3d 1140,
1147 (Pa.Super. 2017) (noting that, when a trial court has reviewed a
presentence investigation report, it is presumed that it properly considered
and weighed all relevant sentencing factors). Based upon the circumstances,
the trial court determined that the mitigating evidence was insufficient “to
overcome the abundant aggravating factors present in this case.” Trial Court
Opinion, 12/11/17, at 8. Time and again, Appellant was given opportunities
to pursue recovery and reform his behavior, but, as Appellant himself
acknowledged, he has been unable to maintain sobriety when he is not in the
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structure of total confinement. Further, as the trial court summarized in its
opinion,
absolutely everything about his course of conduct, from his
criminal record spanning at least 25 years, to choosing to commit
multiple armed robberies, to possessing firearms even after
numerous previous arrests disqualifying him from possessing a
firearm, indicates . . . that [Appellant] does not understand the
gravity of his actions and is unwilling to comport his behavior with
the confines of the law and the most basic expectations of society.
Id.Upon this record, we conclude that Appellant has failed to show any
abuse of discretion in the trial court’s decision to impose an aggregate term
of incarceration of twenty to forty years followed by seven years of probation.
Accord Commonwealth v. Crork, 966 A.2d 585 (Pa.Super. 2009) (finding
no abuse of discretion in above-guidelines sentence for robbery defendant
given that his prior record evidenced his refusal to abide by the rules of society
and that prior attempts at drug and alcohol rehabilitation had been
unsuccessful).
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/19/19
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