Com. v. Perez, J. ( 2021 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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. :
:
:
JAIME PEREZ :
:
Appellant : No. 727 MDA 2021
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 13, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-06-CR-0000725-2019
BEFORE: DUBOW, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and McCAFFERY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY McCAFFERY, J.: FILED: DECEMBER 16, 2021
Jamie Perez (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of sentence1 entered
in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas after he pled guilty to one count
of indecent assault (person under 16 years).2 Appellant claims there was
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1 The notice of appeal states that the appeal is “from the order determining
Appellant is a Sexually Violent Predator . . . entered on April 8, 2021, and the
Judgment of Sentence in this matter entered on May 13, 2021.” Appellant’s
Notice of Appeal, 6/9/21. While counsel for Appellant purports to appeal from
both the SVP determination and the judgment of sentence, an appeal properly
lies from the judgment of sentence alone. Commonwealth v. Harris, 972
A.2d 1196, 1201 (Pa. Super. 2009) (imposition of SVP status is component of
judgment of sentence even though ultimate collateral consequences are non-
punitive); Commonwealth v. Schrader, 141 A.3d 558, 561 (Pa. Super.
2016) (when defendant waives pre-sentence SVP determination, his judgment
of sentence is not final until SVP determination is rendered). See also
Commonwealth v. Shamberger, 788 A.2d 408, 410 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2001)
(en banc) (correcting caption when appellant misstates where appeal lies).
2 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(8).
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insufficient evidence to support his designation as a sexually violent predator
(SVP) under Revised Subchapter H of the Sexual Offenders Registration and
Notification Act (SORNA II).3 For the following reasons, we affirm.
We glean the facts supporting Appellant’s conviction, which were placed
on the record, from his guilty plea hearing. In November 2018, Appellant put
his hand under the victim’s dress and touched her vagina outside her
underwear. He then handed her $20 and walked away. At the time of the
sexual assault, Appellant was 62 years old, and the victim was 15 years old.
Appellant and the victim were neighbors, and have never been married to
each other. See N.T. Guilty Plea, 5/30/19, at 5-6.
Appellant was subsequently arrested and charged with criminal attempt
of aggravated indecent assault (complainant less than 16 years old) 4 and
indecent assault (person under 16 years old). Pursuant to an agreement,
Appellant elected to plead guilty on May 30, 2019, to one count of indecent
assault. See N.T. Guilty Plea, 5/30/19, at 6. Under SORNA, indecent assault
is classified as a Tier II sexual offense. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.14(c)(1.3).
Tier II offenses require a defendant register as a sexual offender for 25 years.
See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.15(a)(2). See also Commonwealth v. Martinez,
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3 See 42 Pa.C.S. §§9799.10 - 9799.42. Subchapter H applies to individuals
who were convicted of a sexually violent offense that occurred on or after
December 20, 2012. See 42 Pa.C.S § 9799.11(c). As noted below, Appellant
committed the sexual assault in 2018.
4 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 901, 3125(a)(8).
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147 A.3d 517, 523 (Pa. 2016). The trial court thereafter ordered Appellant
be assessed by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board (SOAB) to determine
if he qualified as an SVP and if he would be subjected to increased registration,
notification, and counseling requirements. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(a)
(“After conviction but before sentencing, a court shall order an individual
convicted of a sexually violent offense to be assessed by the board.”).
On April 1, 2021, the trial court held an SVP hearing.5 There, the
Commonwealth presented the testimony of Veronique Valliere, Psy.D, of the
SOAB. Appellant stipulated to Dr. Valliere’s “expertise in the classification of
individual’s as [SVP’s].” N.T. SVP Video H’rg, 4/1/21, at 5. Dr. Valliere had
submitted an eight-page assessment report of Appellant on August 10, 2019,
which was then entered into evidence at the hearing. See id. at 6-7. The
expert testified that she reviewed the following documents in order to
complete her assessment:
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5 The hearing had been deferred for a period of time “while several cases
dealing with the constitutionality of SORNA II . . . moved through the appellate
court process.” Trial Ct. Op., 7/12/21, at 1 (unpaginated). Pertinent to this
appeal, in Commonwealth v. Butler, 173 A.3d 1212 (Pa. Super. 2017)
(Butler I), a panel of this Court held that the statutory mechanism for
determining SVP status was unconstitutional because it “increase[d] the
criminal penalty to which a defendant [was] exposed without the chosen fact-
finder making the necessary factual findings beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.
at 1218. However, our Supreme Court reversed that ruling in
Commonwealth v. Butler, 226 A.3d 972 (Pa. 2020) (Butler II), holding:
“[T]he [SVP registration, notification, and counseling] requirements do not
constitute criminal punishment and therefore the procedure for designating
individuals as SVPs under Section 9799.24(e)(3) . . . remains constitutionally
permissible.” Id. at 976.
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[Numerous] affidavits of probable cause, arraignment
information, [the trial court’s] order, ChildLine reports, criminal
action reports, an investigation by the Board Investigator,
numerous protection from abuse [(PFA)] violations, numerous
criminal complaints, presentence investigation, some [PFA]
orders, police reports, records from Probation and Parole, both
county and state, as well as records from Pennsylvania
Department of corrections, and the victim impact statement.
Id. at 8. Dr. Valliere also relied on Appellant’s prior bad acts history, which
included: (1) a 1989 rape arrest where charges were later dismissed; (2) a
report from a 1991 incident where Appellant had “an intent to commit rape[,
but it] did not result in a conviction[;6]” and (3) “[a] 2015 arrest for
involuntary deviate sexual intercourse as well as some other charges.” Id. at
11. She indicated Appellant did not participate in the evaluation, but this fact
did not preclude her from making a diagnosis. Id. at 7. As will be discussed
in more detail below, Dr. Valliere opined that Appellant had a condition that
met the definition of a mental abnormality, namely “other specified paraphilic
disorder to non-consent,” and he had a history of predatory behavior based
on prior offenses and this assault. Id. at 8, 11-12.
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6 Dr. Valliere described the 1991 incident as follows: Appellant violated a PFA
his “estranged wife” filed against him when he “forcibly entered” her home.
Appellant’s SVP Assessment 8/10/19, at 4 (unpaginated). He told her to take
her clothes off and she ran into another room and locked the door. Id. When
police arrived, Appellant’s wife stated she was “terrified” of Appellant and
“thought he wanted her dead.” Id. Appellant sexually assaulted her in the
past and intended to do so again that night. Id. He was charged with
burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, and harassment. Id. Appellant
was sentenced to 1 and 1/2 to 4 years’ imprisonment for criminal trespass
and harassment for this incident and was released in 1995. Id.
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The trial court subsequently issued an order finding Appellant “is a
person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and that the
Commonwealth has proven by clear and convincing evidence that [Appellant]
has a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes [him] likely to
engage in predatory sexually violent offenses, thereby meeting the criteria to
be classified as” an SVP. Order, 4/8/21. On May 13, 2021, the court
sentenced Appellant to 160 days’ to 23 months’ incarceration. Appellant filed
this appeal and a concise statement of matters complained of on appeal
pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) on the same day.7
Appellant raises one issue on appeal:
Whether the [trial] court erred in designating Appellant as [an
SVP] where the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that
makes him likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses;
specifically, the Commonwealth’s evidence relied solely on either
unadjudicated arrests, dismissals, and not upon actual convictions
in determining Appellant was [an] SVP.
Appellant’s Brief at 8.
Our standard of review on this issue is limited:
In order to affirm an SVP designation, we, as a reviewing court,
must be able to conclude that the fact-finder found clear and
convincing evidence that the individual is a sexually violent
predator. As with any sufficiency of the evidence claim, we view
all evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth. We will reverse a trial court’s
determination of SVP status only if the Commonwealth has not
presented clear and convincing evidence that each element of the
statute has been satisfied.
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7Because Appellant simultaneously submitted a 1925(b) statement with his
notice of appeal, the trial court did not issue an order to file one.
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Commonwealth v. Fuentes, 991 A.2d 935, 942 (Pa. Super. 2010) (en banc)
(citation omitted). Moreover,
[t]he clear and convincing standard requires evidence that is so
clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to enable the [trier of
fact] to come to a clear conviction, without hesitancy, of the truth
of the precise facts [in] issue.
Commonwealth v. Maldonado, 838 A.2d 710, 715 (Pa. 2003) (citations and
quotation marks omitted).
SORNA II defines an SVP as:
An individual who committed a sexually violent offense on or after
December 20, 2012, for which the individual was convicted, . . .
who is determined to be a sexually violent predator under section
9799.24 (relating to assessments) due to a mental abnormality or
personality disorder that makes the individual likely to engage in
predatory sexually violent offenses.
42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.12. The statute further defines mental abnormality and
predatory as follows:
“Mental abnormality.” —A congenital or acquired condition of a
person that affects the emotional or volitional capacity of the
person in a manner that predisposes that person to the
commission of criminal sexual acts to a degree that makes the
person a menace to the health and safety of other persons.
* * *
“Predatory.” —An act directed at a stranger or at a person with
whom a relationship has been initiated, established, maintained
or promoted, in whole or in part, in order to facilitate or support
victimization.
Id.
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The statute delineates several factors the SOAB evaluator must consider
to determine if an offender meets the criteria for classification as an SVP,
which include:
(1) Facts of the current offense, including:
(i) Whether the offense involved multiple victims.
(ii) Whether the individual exceeded the means necessary
to achieve the offense.
(iii) The nature of the sexual contact with the victim.
(iv) Relationship of the individual to the victim.
(v) Age of the victim.
(vi) Whether the offense included a display of unusual
cruelty by the individual during the commission of the crime.
(vii) The mental capacity of the victim.
(2) Prior offense history, including:
(i) The individual’s prior criminal record.
(ii) Whether the individual completed any prior sentences.
(iii) Whether the individual participated in available
programs for sexual offenders.
(3) Characteristics of the individual, including:
(i) Age.
(ii) Use of illegal drugs.
(iii) Any mental illness, mental disability or mental
abnormality.
(iv) Behavioral characteristics that contribute to the
individual’s conduct.
(4) Factors that are supported in a sexual offender assessment
field as criteria reasonably related to the risk of reoffense.
See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(b)(1)-(4).
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[W]ith regard to the various assessment factors listed in
Section [9799.24], there is no statutory requirement that all of
them or any particular number of them be present or absent in
order to support an SVP designation. The factors are not a
checklist with each one weighing in some necessary fashion for or
against SVP designation. Rather, the presence or absence of one
or more factors might simply suggest the presence or absence of
one or more particular types of mental abnormalities.
Thus, while the Board is to examine all the factors listed
under Section [9799.24], the Commonwealth does not have to
show that any certain factor is present or absent in a particular
case. Rather, the question for the SVP court is whether the
Commonwealth’s evidence, including the Board’s assessment,
shows that the person convicted of a sexually violent offense has
a mental abnormality or disorder making that person likely to
engage in predatory sexually violent offenses.
Feucht, 955 A.2d at 381 (citations omitted). Lastly, we note that an issue
concerning an expert’s diagnosis of a mental abnormality is a challenge to the
weight, not the sufficiency, of the evidence. See Commonwealth v.
Hollingshead, 111 A.3d 186, 193 (Pa. Super. 2015).
Here, Appellant contends the trial court erred in designating him an SVP
because the evidence was insufficient and did not meet the clear and
convincing standard of review. See Appellant’s Brief at 19. Appellant centers
his argument on attacking the credibility of Dr. Valliere’s expert testimony and
opinion. Appellant insists Dr. Valliere’s diagnosis of other specified paraphilic
disorder to non-consent relied on “uncharged, unsupported, [dismissed,] and
unproven offenses to decide that Appellant is an SVP[,]” which she was not
permitted to do. Id. at 22-23. For example, he claims the expert relied on
his prior 1991 conviction for criminal trespass in her SVP determination.
Appellant points out the prior offense was never charged as a sexual offense
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and he was never convicted of a sexual offense. See id., at 23. Furthermore,
he alleges the prior sexual offenses that he was arrested for in between the
criminal trespass conviction and the present conviction were dismissed. See
id. As such, Appellant alleges those dismissals were not “indicative of his
proclivities since they [were] just bare allegations or unproven assertions[.]”
Id.
Appellant also argues he had a prior record score of zero, his last
criminal conviction was in 2004, and his history of PFA’s and violations could
not support the expert’s opinion that he had a “long history of violence towards
women.” Appellant’s Brief at 24-25. He complains the PFA violations were
merely for breaking a no-contact order, and “[t]he incident of alleged violence
giving rise to the PFA was never proven [ ] or admitted to” by him. Id. at 25.
Appellant maintains Dr. Valliere could not indicate where in the record he
“admitted to intending to rape” the victim in the 1991 criminal trespass case.
Id. at 23 (record citation omitted). Appellant argues without these
considerations, Dr. Valliere “would have reached a different diagnosis[.]” Id.
at 24.
Lastly, Appellant challenges Dr. Valliere’s opinion regarding the “current
offense” and the “characteristics of the individual” factors pursuant to Section
9799.24. He states:
In regards to facts of the current offense, Dr. Valliere conceded
the [present] offense had a single victim, Appellant did not do
more than was necessary to gain compliance from the [minor
victim], there was no unusual cruelty by the individual during the
commission of the crime, the [minor victim] was not unusually
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compromised in any way. However, Dr. Valliere does qualify the
facts of the current offense by stating that Appellant also admitted
intending to rape another victim and that the pain and terror of
the victim was no deterrent to his aggressive behavior and
motivation to rape in the past. These allegations have no place in
determining facts of the current offense, especially when these
allegations were never charged or proven. In regards to the
characteristics of the offender, Dr. Valliere conceded that
Appellant was intoxicated at the time of the offense and substance
use increased Appellant’s individual risk of offending.
Appellant’s Brief at 25-26.
We note Appellant’s claim on appeal mainly goes to the weight, and not
the sufficiency, of the evidence. “Appellant’s arguments ignore the well-
settled law that an expert’s opinion, which is rendered to a reasonable degree
of professional certainty, is itself evidence.” See Fuentes, 991 A.2d at 944(citation and emphasis omitted). To the extent Appellant claims Dr. Valliere’s
diagnosis was erroneous, “he was free to introduce evidence to that effect
and/or to argue to the fact-finder that the Commonwealth’s expert’s
conclusions should be discounted or ignored.” Id. at 945 (citation omitted).
This Court is not permitted to reweigh the evidence and make credibility
determinations. Id. at 944-45. Moreover, Appellant has not properly
preserved a weight claim. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 607; Pa.R.A.P. 302. As such,
any challenge to the weight of the evidence is waived.
Furthermore, to the extent Appellant argues Dr. Valliere erred when she
relied on prior instances of uncharged conduct in her SVP determination, he
fails to cite any authority in support of this claim. Appellant’s Brief at 22-23.
The argument portion of an appellate brief must be developed with sufficient
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citations to relevant authority. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a). When an appellant
fails to develop his argument in such a way, the claim is subject to waiver.
Commonwealth v. B.D.G., 959 A.2d 362, 372 (Pa. Super. 2008) (finding
waiver where an appellant fails to cite sufficient legal authority).
Moreover, we note an evaluator is not limited by the factors in Section
9799.24(b). See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(b) (“[a]n assessment shall include,
but not be limited to, an examination” of enumerated factors) (emphasis
added). Nevertheless, to the extent Appellant does raise a sufficiency
argument, we will proceed to the merits.
The trial court deemed Appellant to be an SVP based on Dr. Valliere’s
assessment and testimony. Trial Ct. Op., 7/12/21, at 4. The trial court relied
upon Dr. Valliere’s conclusions as follows:
[Appellant] had a long history of mental health treatment and
medication, but those underlying conditions were not the impetus
to his sexual offending behavior. [The expert] indicated that
based on records of past interaction with the legal system that it
does not deter him from aggressive action and of a sexual nature
on more than one occasion. While the age of [Appellant]
statistically indicates a reduced risk of violence, [Appellant] was
continuing to offend and he was over age [60] at the time of the
current offense. The particular cognitive limitations of [Appellant]
were discussed as making complex self-management more
difficult and noting his treatment needs are more particular than
offenders without those limitations. [Dr. Valliere] found
[Appellant’s] behavior met the statutory definition of predatory
behavior. After vigorous cross examination, Dr. Valliere ultimately
stood firm with her opinion that based on the statutory definition,
[Appellant] met the qualifications to be designated [an SVP].
Trial Ct. Op. at 4-5.
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After a careful review, and viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, we conclude the record supports the trial
court’s SVP classification. First, it merits repeating that Appellant stipulated
to Dr. Valliere’s expertise in the SVP field. See N.T., SVP Video H’rg, at 5.
Second, in addressing the mental abnormality element, Dr. Valliere referenced
an incident where Appellant committed a sex offense in 1991. The expert
testified that even though Appellant was only charged with burglary and
convicted of criminal trespass, he “was placed into sexual offender treatment
while incarcerated” as a result of the incident. Id. at 9, 13; Appellant’s SVP
Assessment at 3. Dr. Valliere stated Appellant admitted to an “intent” to
commit rape during the 1991 incident that was recorded in a presentence
investigation report. N.T., SVP Video H’rg, at 11. She could not “quite
remember” exactly where she saw the admission because she did not “have
the records in front of [her.]” Id. at 13-14. Counsel for Appellant never
objected to the admission of this testimony.8 See id. Dr. Valliere emphasized
that after Appellant “was discharged from sex offender treatment, there was
a very significant concern about his future dangerousness, especially in light
of the fact that he admitted his offending but did not show any regard for the
impact or take responsibility for his actions[.]” Id. at 12. The expert noted
that “recidivism after sexual offender treatment is considered a significant
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8Though Appellant’s counsel argued with Dr. Valliere regarding the source of
her information, he never made a formal objection to her testimony.
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risk[.]” Id. at 11. In comparing the 1991 incident and the present assault,
Dr. Valliere commented that Appellant “used force and aggression to engage
in nonconsensual sexual assault of an unwilling victim.” Id. at 9.
As for Appellant’s diagnosis of a paraphilic disorder, Dr. Valliere stated
“the fact that [Appellant is] capable of engaging in this behavior in 1991 and
again [about 20] years later, [and] has been arrested in between then for
other sex offenses, suggests [ ] a pattern of arousal to nonconsensual sexual
behavior that continues to express itself over time.” N.T. SVP Video H’rg, at
9.
Regarding Appellant’s predatory behavior, Dr. Valliere opined Appellant
used his relationship with the victim to “sexually victimize her” similar to the
1991 incident with another victim. N.T. SVP Video H’rg, at 10. Dr. Valliere
stated if she did not rely on Appellant’s prior dismissed sex offense charges,
it would “change [Appellant’s] diagnosis.” Id. at 11. However, she pointed
out her finding of predatory behavior and Appellant’s diagnosis were also
based on “his offense characteristics, [ ] personality traits, [ ] treatment
records[,]” “substance abuse history, [and his] history of diagnoses.” Id. at
11, 17-18. For example, Dr. Valliere considered that two women had
previously filed PFA’s against Appellant. Id. at 15. Between 1989 and 2003,
Appellant had been convicted for 8 violations of these PFA orders. Id. At 16.
Additionally, Dr. Valliere stated “once an offender, especially a domestic
violence offender, rises to the level of being convicted for [PFA] orders, that
is highly significant regarding his danger to others . . . because what it reveals
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about the person’s character and danger level is they’re not deterred by the
only agency that the victim has to protect themselves[.]” Id.
In the present case, Appellant had only one victim, but Dr. Valliere
emphasized his “long history” of “violence against women” as well as his
substance abuse and mental health issues. Appellant’s SVP Assessment, at
6. Dr. Valliere stated in her assessment Appellant’s history is an indicator that
his “risk of acting upon his deviance [is] more likely.” Id. Dr. Valliere opined
Appellant acts “without regard to the risks to himself or the victim[,]” and his
behaviors “indicate [he] has deviant arousal and is willing to make plans to
have it fulfilled[.]” Id.
Based on this assessment, we agree with the trial court’s determination
that the Commonwealth presented clear and convincing evidence that
Appellant suffers from a mental abnormality, engages in predatory behavior,
and Appellant qualified as an SVP. Trial Ct. Op. at 5; Fuentes, 991 A.2d at
942, 944 (when “the expert’s report and testimony support the trial court’s
finding that [defendant] was an SVP, there is no basis for granting sufficiency
relief”) (citation omitted). Dr. Valliere based Appellant’s diagnosis for a
mental abnormality on his “persistent interest and arousal to non-consensual
sexual acts[.]” Appellant’s SVP Assessment at 6-7; see 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.12.
Dr. Valliere also concluded Appellant engaged in predatory behavior when he
“promot[ed] a relationship with money and sexualized comments” and used
his relationship to [the victim] as her neighbor “to gain access [ ] to assault
her.” Appellant’s SVP Assessment at 8; see 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.12.
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Though Appellant is correct in asserting he has no prior convictions for
sexual offenses, the statute does not require such prior offenses for an SVP
determination. Moreover, Appellant offers no legal authority suggesting
otherwise. We emphasize the statute merely requires a determination the
offender have “a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes the
individual likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses.” 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 9799.12. A court may determine an individual is an SVP based on expert
testimony and the surrounding facts of the case. See Commonwealth v.
Hollingshead, 111 A.3d 186, 193 (Pa. Super. 2015) (trial court may rely on
expert testimony and facts in a given case to conclude an individual’s diagnosis
is sufficient to find they have a mental abnormality under the statute).
Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not err in concluding the
Commonwealth met its burden in establishing that Appellant is an SVP. See
Fuentes, 991 A.2d at 942; see Maldonado, 838 A.2d at 715. Therefore,
Appellant’s sole argument on appeal is unavailing.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/16/2021
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