Com. v. Brannon, M.

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: April 14, 2020
• Docket: 1783 WDA 2018
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

J-A02002-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : MARIO BRANNON : : Appellant : No. 1783 WDA 2018

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered November 26, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0010168-2014

BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., OLSON, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.: FILED APRIL 14, 2020

Appellant, Mario Brannon, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered on November 26, 2018, in the Allegheny County Court of Common

Pleas. We affirm.

The record reflects that on August 25, 1991, Appellant broke into the

home of a twenty-one-year-old woman, threatened to kill her, and raped her

at knifepoint. N.T., Preliminary Hearing, 7/28/14, at 4-5. Appellant remained

a fugitive for more than two decades. However, in July of 2013, detectives

working on “cold cases” identified Appellant through DNA analysis. Trial Court

Opinion, 7/21/15, at 4; N.T., Pretrial Motion, 10/21/14, at 8. The DNA match

was possible because the DNA collected from the 1991 rape matched DNA J-A02002-20

samples obtained from other rapes that Appellant committed in the state of

Georgia in 1993 and 1994. Trial Court Opinion, 7/21/15, at 3-4.1

On September 3, 2014, the Commonwealth charged Appellant with rape

by forcible compulsion, burglary, terroristic threats, indecent assault, and

simple assault for an attack that occurred on August 25, 1991.2 Criminal

Information, 9/3/14. On October 30, 2014, Appellant proceeded to a nonjury

trial on stipulated facts, and the trial court found Appellant guilty on all counts.

N.T., Trial and Sentencing, 10/30/14, at 4. The trial court sentenced Appellant

to a period of incarceration of ten to twenty years for rape and a consecutive

term of ten to twenty years of incarceration for burglary. Id. at 18. The trial

court imposed no further penalty on the remaining counts. Accordingly,

Appellant’s aggregate sentence was twenty to forty years of incarceration.

On November 7, 2014, Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion.

The trial court denied Appellant’s motion on November 12, 2014, and

Appellant filed a timely appeal. On July 12, 2016, a panel of this Court

concluded that the trial court failed to demonstrate its awareness of the

Sentencing Guidelines, vacated Appellant’s sentence, and remanded for

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1 Although the specifics of the sentences are unclear, in 2002, Appellant was sentenced to a term of forty years of incarceration in Georgia. Trial Court Opinion, 7/21/15, at 4.

2 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3121(a)(1), 3502(c)(1), 2706(a)(1), 3126(a)(1), and 2701(a)(3), respectively.

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resentencing. Commonwealth v. Brannon, ___ A.3d ___, 2017 WDA 2014

(Pa. Super., filed July 12, 2016) (unpublished memorandum).

On November 26, 2018, the trial court resentenced Appellant via closed

circuit television because Appellant was incarcerated in Georgia. N.T.,

Resentencing, 11/26/18, at 1. The trial court again sentenced Appellant to a

term of ten to twenty years of incarceration for rape and a consecutive term

of ten to twenty years of incarceration for burglary. Id. at 17. The trial court

declined the Commonwealth’s request to run this sentence consecutively to

the Georgia sentence because the trial court’s original sentence ran

concurrently with the Georgia sentence.3 N.T., Resentencing, 11/26/18, at

15.

On December 6, 2018, Appellant filed a post-sentence motion in which

he asserted the trial court abused its discretion when it imposed excessive

sentences above the aggravated-range of the Sentencing Guidelines and failed

to adequately consider Appellant’s rehabilitative needs. Post-Sentence

Motion, 12/6/18. The trial court denied Appellant’s motion on December 11,

2018, and this timely appeal followed.

The trial court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors

complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and Appellant

3 See North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711 (1969), overruled on other grounds, Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S. 794 (1989), (establishing a rebuttable presumption of vindictiveness when a sentencing court imposes a more severe sentence when resentencing a defendant).

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complied on January 18, 2019. However, the sentencing judge, the Honorable

Donna Jo McDaniel, retired from the bench and did not draft a Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a) opinion. This matter was reassigned to the

Honorable Jeffrey Manning, who drafted an opinion stating that the sentencing

judge’s reasons for the sentence imposed were set forth at the November 26,

2018 hearing. Opinion, 4/22/19, at 3.

On appeal, Appellant raises the following issues for this Court’s

consideration:

I. Did the trial court abuse its discretion when imposing a manifestly excessive aggregate sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison on rape and burglary convictions when it failed to consider [Appellant’s] mitigating circumstances, including his advancing age, present incarceration, and successful rehabilitative efforts?

II. Did the trial court abuse its discretion when imposing manifestly excessive sentences of 10 to 20 years in prison on each of the rape and burglary convictions run consecutively when it failed to consider [Appellant’s] rehabilitative needs following his own sexual victimization at an early age?

Appellant’s Brief at 5.

Appellant’s issues challenge the discretionary aspects of his sentence.

We note that “[t]he right to appellate review of the discretionary aspects of a

sentence is not absolute.” Commonwealth v. Zirkle, 107 A.3d 127, 132

(Pa. Super. 2014). Rather, where an appellant challenges the discretionary

aspects of a sentence, the appeal should be considered a petition for allowance

of appeal. Commonwealth v. W.H.M., 932 A.2d 155, 163 (Pa. Super.

2007).

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As we observed in Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162 (Pa.

Super. 2010):

An appellant challenging the discretionary aspects of his sentence must invoke this Court’s jurisdiction by satisfying a four- part test:

We conduct a four-part analysis to determine: (1) whether appellant has filed a timely notice of appeal, see Pa.R.A.P. 902 and 903; (2) whether the issue was properly preserved at sentencing or in a motion to reconsider and modify sentence, see Pa.R.Crim.P. 720; (3) whether appellant’s brief has a fatal defect, Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether there is a substantial question that the sentence appealed from is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b).

Id. at 170 (citing Commonwealth v. Evans, 901 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa. Super.

2006)).

Here, the first three requirements of the four-part test are met:

Appellant filed a timely appeal; Appellant preserved the issue of imposition of

an excessive sentence in his post-sentence motion; and Appellant included a

statement raising this issue in his brief pursuant to Rule 2119(f). Moury, 992

A.2d at 170. Therefore, we determine whether Appellant raised a substantial

question.

“We examine an appellant’s Rule 2119(f) statement to determine

whether a substantial question exists.” Commonwealth v. Ahmad, 961

A.2d 884, 886-887 (Pa. Super. 2008). Allowance of appeal will be permitted

only when the appellate court determines that there is a substantial question

that the sentence is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code.

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Commonwealth v. Hartle, 894 A.2d 800, 805 (Pa. Super. 2006). A

substantial question exists where an appellant sets forth a plausible argument

that the sentence violates a particular provision of the Sentencing Code or is

contrary to the fundamental norms underlying the sentencing process. Id.

In his Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) statement, Appellant asserts that the trial court

abused its discretion when it imposed sentences outside the aggravated range

of the Sentencing Guidelines and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.

Appellant avers that the trial court failed to consider relevant sentencing

factors, mitigating circumstances and rehabilitative needs, and instead

imposed manifestly excessive consecutive sentences. Appellant’s Brief at 19-

20. Although not specified in his Rule 2119(f) statement, Appellant also

asserts the trial court failed to provide its reasons for sentencing Appellant

outside of the Sentencing Guidelines.4 Appellant’s Brief at 23.

Appellant’s issues raise substantial questions for our review. See

Commonwealth v. Hill, 210 A.3d 1104, 1116 (Pa. Super. 2019) (finding a

substantial question where the appellant averred that the trial court failed to

consider certain sentencing factors in conjunction with an assertion that the

4 The Commonwealth did not object to Appellant’s failure to include this issue in his Rule 2119(f) statement. Accordingly, we decline to find waiver, and we address the claim on its merits. See Commonwealth v. Anderson, 830 A.2d 1013, 1017 (Pa. Super. 2003) (“If an appellant fails to comply with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f) and the Commonwealth does not object, the reviewing Court may overlook the omission if the presence or absence of a substantial question can easily be determined from the appellant’s brief.”).

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sentence imposed was excessive); see also Commonwealth v. Rodda, 723

A.2d 212, 214 (Pa. Super. 1999) (“Where the appellant asserts that the trial

court failed to state sufficiently its reasons for imposing sentence outside the

sentencing guidelines, we will conclude that the appellant has stated a

substantial question for our review.”). Because Appellant’s issues are

interrelated, we address them concurrently.

At the outset, it is well settled that when the trial court has the benefit

of a presentence investigation (“PSI”) report, it is presumed that the court

was both aware of and appropriately weighed all relevant information

contained therein. Commonwealth v. Griffin, 804 A.2d 1, 8 (Pa. Super.

2002). Where the trial court imposes a sentence outside the Sentencing

Guidelines, “the court shall provide a contemporaneous written statement of

the reason or reasons for the deviation from the guidelines. Failure to comply

shall be grounds for vacating the sentence and resentencing the defendant.”

Rodda, 723 A.2d at 214 (quoting 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b)). “We have

interpreted these provisions to require, at minimum, that when a court

deviates from the sentencing guidelines, it must indicate that it understands

the suggested sentencing range.” Id. (citation omitted). Therefore, when

deviating from the Sentencing Guidelines, the trial court must indicate its

understanding of the suggested ranges. Id. However, there is no

requirement that the trial court must state “magic words” in a verbatim

recitation of the Sentencing Guideline’s ranges to satisfy this requirement. Id.

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at 215. When imposing sentence, the trial court has rendered a proper

“contemporaneous statement” where “the record demonstrates with clarity

that the court considered the Sentencing Guidelines in a rational and

systematic way and made a dispassionate decision to depart from them.” Id.

at 216.

At Appellant’s resentencing, the trial court stated its understanding of

the Sentencing Guidelines and its understanding of the recommended

sentences for each crime. N.T., Resentencing, 11/26/18, at 3. The court

noted that at the time of Appellant’s crimes, the Sentencing Guidelines

recommended an aggravated-range sentence of seventy-eight to 106 months,

a standard-range sentence of fifty-four to ninety months, and a mitigated-

range minimum sentence of forty-three months of incarceration.5 Id. The

trial court then stated that for Appellant’s burglary conviction, the Sentencing

Guidelines recommended an aggravated-range sentence of twenty-nine to

thirty-six months, a standard-range sentence of twelve to twenty-nine

months, and a mitigated-range minimum sentence of twelve months of

incarceration. Id. Additionally, the trial court stated that it had reviewed and

considered the PSI report. Id. at 3-5.

5 On August 25, 1991, when Appellant committed the crimes underlying this appeal, the Revised Third Edition of the Pennsylvania Sentencing Guidelines was applicable. Commonwealth v. Touw, 781 A.2d 1250, 1253 n.3 (Pa. Super. 2001); 204 Pa.Code § 303.9, effective August 9, 1991. The Revised Third Edition covered crimes committed on or after August 9, 1991, and before August 12, 1994, the effective date of the Fourth Edition. Id.

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After the trial court discussed the applicable Sentencing Guidelines and

the PSI report, it permitted Appellant his right of allocution. N.T.,

Resentencing, 11/26/18, at 8-11. Thereafter, the trial court heard from the

victim. Id. at 12-13. The victim expressed her belief that Appellant “should

have to serve the sentence he deserves in the fullest capacity.” Id. at 13.

The trial court then reiterated its considerations, noted Appellant’s history of

violent offenses including additional rape convictions, and explained its

concerns that the circumstances of the instant offenses outweighed

Appellant’s attempts at rehabilitation during incarceration. Id. at 15-16. The

trial court then imposed the statutory maximum sentence of 120 to 240

months of incarceration on both counts and ordered them to run consecutively

to each other but concurrently with the sentence Appellant was serving in

Georgia. Id. at 17.

After review, we discern no abuse of discretion. The trial court stated

its consideration of the facts of the case, the Sentencing Guidelines, and

Appellant’s criminal history. N.T., Resentencing, 11/26/18, at 3-5, 15-16.

Moreover, the trial court was aware of the appropriate sentencing factors and

mitigating evidence via its consideration of the PSI report. Griffin, 804 A.2d

at 8; Rodda, 723 A.2d at 214-216. “[I]t would be foolish, indeed, to take the

position that if a court is in possession of the facts, it will fail to apply them to

the case at hand.” Griffin, 804 A.2d at 8. Thus, it is evident that the trial

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court considered the Sentencing Guidelines and made a dispassionate decision

to depart therefrom. Rodda, 723 A.2d at 215-216.

Finally, to the extent that Appellant is unhappy with the duration of his

incarceration due to the consecutive nature of the rape and burglary

sentences, the decision to order sentences to run concurrently or

consecutively is left to the discretion of the trial court. Commonwealth v.

Radecki, 180 A.3d 441, 470 (Pa. Super. 2018). It is well settled that an

appellant is not entitled to a “volume discount” for his crimes by having all of

his sentences run concurrently. Commonwealth v. Hoag, 665 A.2d 1212,

1214 (Pa. Super. 1995). “The imposition of consecutive, rather than

concurrent, sentences may raise a substantial question in only the most

extreme circumstances, such as where the aggregate sentence is unduly

harsh, considering the nature of the crimes and the length of imprisonment.”

Moury, 992 A.2d at 171-172 (citation omitted). Herein, Appellant failed to

argue any “extreme circumstances.” Radecki, 180 A.3d at 470. We conclude

that the trial court acted within its discretion in imposing consecutive

sentences after reviewing the facts of the case, Appellant’s criminal history,

Appellant’s age and mitigating factors, and the PSI report.6

6 In his brief, Appellant discusses this Court’s decisions in Commonwealth v. McCauley, 199 A.3d 947 (Pa. Super. 2018), and Commonwealth v. Bernal, 200 A.3d 995 (Pa. Super. 2018). Appellant’s Brief at 26-28, n.4. The decisions in McCauley and Bernal involve the same trial court judge, the Honorable Donna Jo McDaniel, and the issues in those cases focused on

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For the reasons set forth above, we conclude that no relief is due.

Accordingly, we affirm Appellant’s judgment of sentence.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 4/14/2020

Judge McDaniel’s refusal to recuse based on assertions of bias when sentencing sex offenders. McCauley, 199 A.3d at 954; Bernal, 200 A.3d at 1003. We note that Appellant did not move for Judge McDaniel’s recusal. We are cognizant that Appellant cites these cases to illustrate bias and support his assertion of an abuse of discretion. However, for the reasons set forth above, we conclude there was no abuse of sentencing discretion under the facts and circumstances in the instant case.

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