COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA UNPUBLISHED
Present: Judges Fulton, Lorish and White
ASHLEE NICOLE PHOENIX MEMORANDUM OPINION* v. Record No. 1915-23-1 PER CURIAM JULY 2, 2024 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY Jeffrey W. Shaw, Judge
(Michael T. Soberick, Jr.; Dusewicz & Soberick, on brief), for appellant.
(Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General; Justin M. Brewster, Assistant Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
The trial court found Ashlee Nicole Phoenix in violation of the conditions of her probation,
revoked her remaining suspended sentences, and ordered her to serve an active sentence of two
years and six months of incarceration. Phoenix contends that the trial court abused its discretion in
imposing the active sentence without consideration of the mitigating circumstances. She also
asserts that the trial court failed to make factual findings “in violation of public policy, due
process, and the rehabilitative nature of probation violations.” After examining the briefs and
record, the panel unanimously holds that oral argument is unnecessary because “the appeal is
wholly without merit.” Code § 17.1-403(ii)(a); Rule 5A:27(a). We find no trial court error and
affirm the judgment.
* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). BACKGROUND
Upon her guilty pleas, on February 7, 2022, the trial court convicted Phoenix for possessing
drugs and child neglect. The trial court sentenced her to a total of five years of incarceration with all
but six months suspended.
By major violation report (MVR) on August 10, 2022, a probation officer charged that
Phoenix violated her probation by using drugs and failing to complete required substance abuse
treatment. The trial court revoked Phoenix’s suspended sentences and resuspended all but six
months.
Again, on March 13, 2023, a probation officer by MVR alleged that Phoenix violated her
probation. The MVR stated that Phoenix had violated probation Condition 6 by failing to report for
scheduled meetings with her probation officer. In addenda to the MVR, the probation officer
reported that Phoenix absconded from supervision, incurred a new drug charge in Chesterfield
County, and was convicted of that charge. For the new drug conviction, Phoenix received a
sentence of five years of incarceration with four years and three months suspended.
At a September 26, 2023 revocation hearing, the trial court reviewed the most recent MVR
and addenda. Phoenix testified that initially she was working and doing well on probation, but that
she relapsed into drug use after the anniversary of her father’s death. Her drug addiction was
“completely out of control” and she could not “reel it back in.” Phoenix was pregnant, and her baby
was due to be born in November 2023. She testified that she would not be released from her
sentence on the new drug conviction until February 25, 2024. She regretted that she would give
birth while in jail but acknowledged that it was a consequence of her own actions. She planned for
the baby to stay with her mother. Phoenix said she was a drug addict and needed help. Phoenix
knew of a drug treatment program in Richmond that she believed would benefit her. She stated that
-2- she had another child and wanted to get clean for him. On cross-examination, however, she
admitted that she continued to use drugs during her current pregnancy.
The trial court found Phoenix in violation of her probation, revoked her suspended sentences
for the two offenses, and ordered her to serve them concurrently. Thus, the trial court imposed an
active sentence of two years and six months of incarceration. The trial court also recommended that
she be placed in the therapeutic community before her release from incarceration. This appeal
followed.1
ANALYSIS
I.
Phoenix contends that the trial court disregarded her mitigating circumstances and abused
its discretion in imposing an active sentence of two years and six months. She argues that not
only were her mitigating circumstances not considered, but the sentence was excessive.
“In revocation appeals, the trial court’s ‘findings of fact and judgment will not be
reversed unless there is a clear showing of abuse of discretion.’” Jacobs v. Commonwealth, 61
Va. App. 529, 535 (2013) (quoting Davis v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 81, 86 (1991)). “The
evidence is considered in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, as the prevailing party
below.” Id. “[A]n abuse of discretion has occurred” only where “reasonable jurists could not
differ” about the correct result. Grattan v. Commonwealth, 278 Va. 602, 620 (2009) (quoting
Thomas v. Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 741, 753 (2005)).
Under Code § 19.2-306(A), a trial court may “revoke the suspension of sentence for any
cause [it] deems sufficient that occurred at any time within the probation period, or within the
period of suspension fixed by the court.” Upon determining that a defendant has violated the
1 The trial court denied Phoenix’s motion for a modification of her sentence under Code § 19.2-303. Phoenix did not note an appeal of this decision. -3- terms of his suspended sentence, a trial court may revoke that suspension and “impose a sentence
in accordance with the provisions of [Code] § 19.2-306.1.” Code § 19.2-306(C). Under Code
§ 19.2-306.1(B), “[i]f the court finds the basis of a violation of the terms and conditions of a
suspended sentence or probation is that the defendant was convicted of a criminal offense that
was committed after the date of the suspension,” then the court “may revoke the suspension and
impose or resuspend any or all of that period previously suspended.”
The “revocation of a suspended sentence lies in the discretion of the trial court and . . .
this discretion is quite broad.” Peyton v. Commonwealth, 268 Va. 503, 508 (2004) (quoting
Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 217 Va. 325, 326 (1976)). But “[t]he cause deemed by the court to
be sufficient for revoking a suspension must be a reasonable cause.” Marshall v.
Commonwealth, 202 Va. 217, 220 (1960). “The exercise of judicial discretion ‘implies
conscientious judgment, not arbitrary action.’” Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 45 Va. App. 645, 650
(2005) (quoting Slayton v. Commonwealth, 185 Va. 357, 367 (1946)). “The statutes dealing with
probation and suspension are remedial and intended to give the trial court valuable tools to help
rehabilitate an offender through the use of probation, suspension of all or part of a sentence,
and/or restitution payments.” Howell v. Commonwealth, 274 Va. 737, 740 (2007).
While not claiming that the trial court lacked cause to revoke her probation, Phoenix
contends that the trial court disregarded mitigating circumstances, such as her continued struggle
with substance abuse, her pregnancy, and her acceptance of responsibility for her situation. The
record demonstrates, however, that Phoenix had a criminal record and had violated the terms of her
probation in various ways, including incurring a new criminal conviction. The weight to give any
mitigating factors presented by the defendant is within the trial court’s purview. See Keselica v.
Commonwealth, 34 Va. App. 31, 36 (2000). “Barring clear evidence to the contrary, this Court
-4- will not presume that a trial court purposefully ignored mitigating factors in blind pursuit of a
harsh sentence.” Bassett v. Commonwealth, 13 Va. App. 580, 584 (1992).
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COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA UNPUBLISHED
Present: Judges Fulton, Lorish and White
ASHLEE NICOLE PHOENIX MEMORANDUM OPINION* v. Record No. 1915-23-1 PER CURIAM JULY 2, 2024 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY Jeffrey W. Shaw, Judge
(Michael T. Soberick, Jr.; Dusewicz & Soberick, on brief), for appellant.
(Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General; Justin M. Brewster, Assistant Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
The trial court found Ashlee Nicole Phoenix in violation of the conditions of her probation,
revoked her remaining suspended sentences, and ordered her to serve an active sentence of two
years and six months of incarceration. Phoenix contends that the trial court abused its discretion in
imposing the active sentence without consideration of the mitigating circumstances. She also
asserts that the trial court failed to make factual findings “in violation of public policy, due
process, and the rehabilitative nature of probation violations.” After examining the briefs and
record, the panel unanimously holds that oral argument is unnecessary because “the appeal is
wholly without merit.” Code § 17.1-403(ii)(a); Rule 5A:27(a). We find no trial court error and
affirm the judgment.
* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). BACKGROUND
Upon her guilty pleas, on February 7, 2022, the trial court convicted Phoenix for possessing
drugs and child neglect. The trial court sentenced her to a total of five years of incarceration with all
but six months suspended.
By major violation report (MVR) on August 10, 2022, a probation officer charged that
Phoenix violated her probation by using drugs and failing to complete required substance abuse
treatment. The trial court revoked Phoenix’s suspended sentences and resuspended all but six
months.
Again, on March 13, 2023, a probation officer by MVR alleged that Phoenix violated her
probation. The MVR stated that Phoenix had violated probation Condition 6 by failing to report for
scheduled meetings with her probation officer. In addenda to the MVR, the probation officer
reported that Phoenix absconded from supervision, incurred a new drug charge in Chesterfield
County, and was convicted of that charge. For the new drug conviction, Phoenix received a
sentence of five years of incarceration with four years and three months suspended.
At a September 26, 2023 revocation hearing, the trial court reviewed the most recent MVR
and addenda. Phoenix testified that initially she was working and doing well on probation, but that
she relapsed into drug use after the anniversary of her father’s death. Her drug addiction was
“completely out of control” and she could not “reel it back in.” Phoenix was pregnant, and her baby
was due to be born in November 2023. She testified that she would not be released from her
sentence on the new drug conviction until February 25, 2024. She regretted that she would give
birth while in jail but acknowledged that it was a consequence of her own actions. She planned for
the baby to stay with her mother. Phoenix said she was a drug addict and needed help. Phoenix
knew of a drug treatment program in Richmond that she believed would benefit her. She stated that
-2- she had another child and wanted to get clean for him. On cross-examination, however, she
admitted that she continued to use drugs during her current pregnancy.
The trial court found Phoenix in violation of her probation, revoked her suspended sentences
for the two offenses, and ordered her to serve them concurrently. Thus, the trial court imposed an
active sentence of two years and six months of incarceration. The trial court also recommended that
she be placed in the therapeutic community before her release from incarceration. This appeal
followed.1
ANALYSIS
I.
Phoenix contends that the trial court disregarded her mitigating circumstances and abused
its discretion in imposing an active sentence of two years and six months. She argues that not
only were her mitigating circumstances not considered, but the sentence was excessive.
“In revocation appeals, the trial court’s ‘findings of fact and judgment will not be
reversed unless there is a clear showing of abuse of discretion.’” Jacobs v. Commonwealth, 61
Va. App. 529, 535 (2013) (quoting Davis v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 81, 86 (1991)). “The
evidence is considered in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, as the prevailing party
below.” Id. “[A]n abuse of discretion has occurred” only where “reasonable jurists could not
differ” about the correct result. Grattan v. Commonwealth, 278 Va. 602, 620 (2009) (quoting
Thomas v. Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 741, 753 (2005)).
Under Code § 19.2-306(A), a trial court may “revoke the suspension of sentence for any
cause [it] deems sufficient that occurred at any time within the probation period, or within the
period of suspension fixed by the court.” Upon determining that a defendant has violated the
1 The trial court denied Phoenix’s motion for a modification of her sentence under Code § 19.2-303. Phoenix did not note an appeal of this decision. -3- terms of his suspended sentence, a trial court may revoke that suspension and “impose a sentence
in accordance with the provisions of [Code] § 19.2-306.1.” Code § 19.2-306(C). Under Code
§ 19.2-306.1(B), “[i]f the court finds the basis of a violation of the terms and conditions of a
suspended sentence or probation is that the defendant was convicted of a criminal offense that
was committed after the date of the suspension,” then the court “may revoke the suspension and
impose or resuspend any or all of that period previously suspended.”
The “revocation of a suspended sentence lies in the discretion of the trial court and . . .
this discretion is quite broad.” Peyton v. Commonwealth, 268 Va. 503, 508 (2004) (quoting
Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 217 Va. 325, 326 (1976)). But “[t]he cause deemed by the court to
be sufficient for revoking a suspension must be a reasonable cause.” Marshall v.
Commonwealth, 202 Va. 217, 220 (1960). “The exercise of judicial discretion ‘implies
conscientious judgment, not arbitrary action.’” Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 45 Va. App. 645, 650
(2005) (quoting Slayton v. Commonwealth, 185 Va. 357, 367 (1946)). “The statutes dealing with
probation and suspension are remedial and intended to give the trial court valuable tools to help
rehabilitate an offender through the use of probation, suspension of all or part of a sentence,
and/or restitution payments.” Howell v. Commonwealth, 274 Va. 737, 740 (2007).
While not claiming that the trial court lacked cause to revoke her probation, Phoenix
contends that the trial court disregarded mitigating circumstances, such as her continued struggle
with substance abuse, her pregnancy, and her acceptance of responsibility for her situation. The
record demonstrates, however, that Phoenix had a criminal record and had violated the terms of her
probation in various ways, including incurring a new criminal conviction. The weight to give any
mitigating factors presented by the defendant is within the trial court’s purview. See Keselica v.
Commonwealth, 34 Va. App. 31, 36 (2000). “Barring clear evidence to the contrary, this Court
-4- will not presume that a trial court purposefully ignored mitigating factors in blind pursuit of a
harsh sentence.” Bassett v. Commonwealth, 13 Va. App. 580, 584 (1992).
“When coupled with a suspended sentence, probation represents ‘an act of grace on the part
of the Commonwealth to one who has been convicted and sentenced to a term of confinement.’”
Hunter v. Commonwealth, 56 Va. App. 582, 587 (2010) (quoting Price v. Commonwealth, 51
Va. App. 443, 448 (2008)). Phoenix failed to make productive use of that grace through her
conviction for a new drug offense. Additionally, Phoenix voluntarily quit substance abuse
programs and committed a new felony offense. Having reviewed the record, we hold that the
active sentence that the trial court imposed for the probation violation represents a proper
exercise of discretion. See Alsberry v. Commonwealth, 39 Va. App. 314, 321-22 (2002) (holding
the court did not abuse its discretion by imposing the defendant’s previously suspended sentence
in its entirety “in light of the grievous nature of [the original] offenses and his continuing
criminal activity”).
II.
Phoenix argues that the trial court failed to make findings of fact about her probation
violation. She maintains that this failure violated “public policy, due process, and the
rehabilitative nature of probation violations.”
First, we note that in the final order the trial court specified its reason for finding Phoenix
in violation of her probation. The trial court found that “the basis of the violation is a second
technical violation, a violation of a non-technical condition, and a conviction for a new criminal
offense.” But in any event, “[a]bsent a statutory requirement to do so, ‘a trial court is not
required to give findings of fact and conclusions of law.’” Bowman v. Commonwealth, 290 Va.
492, 500 n.8 (2015) (quoting Fitzgerald v. Commonwealth, 223 Va. 615, 627 (1982)).
-5- In the trial court, Phoenix did not raise her argument that the trial court’s alleged failure
to make factual findings violated “public policy, due process, and the rehabilitative nature of
probation violations.” “No ruling of the trial court . . . will be considered as a basis for reversal
unless an objection was stated with reasonable certainty at the time of the ruling, except for good
cause shown or to enable this Court to attain the ends of justice.” Rule 5A:18. “The purpose of
th[e] contemporaneous objection requirement [in Rule 5A:18] is to allow the trial court a fair
opportunity to resolve the issue at trial, thereby preventing unnecessary appeals and retrials.”
Creamer v. Commonwealth, 64 Va. App. 185, 195 (2015). “Specificity and timeliness undergird
the contemporaneous-objection rule, animate its highly practical purpose, and allow the rule to
resonate with simplicity.” Bethea v. Commonwealth, 297 Va. 730, 743 (2019). “Not just any
objection will do. It must be both specific and timely — so that the trial judge would know the
particular point being made in time to do something about it.” Id. (quoting Dickerson v.
Commonwealth, 58 Va. App. 351, 356 (2011)). “[T]he precise nature of the objection must be
clear because ‘[m]aking one specific argument on an issue does not preserve a separate legal
point on the same issue for [appellate] review.’” Mollenhauer v. Commonwealth, 73 Va. App.
318, 329-30 (2021) (second and third alterations in original) (quoting Johnson v.
Commonwealth, 58 Va. App. 625, 637 (2011)). If a party fails to timely and specifically object,
she waives her argument on appeal. Arrington v. Commonwealth, 53 Va. App. 635, 641 (2009).
While Phoenix points to pages 137 and 138 of the record, these portions only contain the
trial court’s ruling, with no objection from Phoenix. We find that Phoenix waived any claim
related to the alleged absence of factual findings. Although there are exceptions to Rule 5A:18,
Phoenix has not invoked them, and we do not do so sua sponte. Spanos v. Taylor, 76 Va. App.
810, 827-28 (2023).
-6- CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Affirmed.
-7-