Com. v. Grove, S.

CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 12, 2016
Docket1822 MDA 2015
StatusUnpublished

This text of Com. v. Grove, S. (Com. v. Grove, S.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Com. v. Grove, S., (Pa. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

J-A09025-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee

v.

SAMUEL ADDISON GROVE

Appellant No. 1822 MDA 2015

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence September 17, 2015 In the Court of Common Pleas of Union County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-60-CR-0000212-2002

BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., JENKINS, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY JENKINS, J.: FILED AUGUST 12, 2016

In 2002, Samuel Grove was sentenced to 4-8 years’ imprisonment plus

12 years’ probation for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (“IDSI”). 1 In

2010, he completed his entire term of imprisonment. Subsequently, the trial

court revoked his probation and resentenced him four times. The first three

revocations were for failure to have an approved residence upon completion

of his term of imprisonment. The fourth revocation of probation - the

revocation at issue in this appeal - was for violating an order dated October

9, 2013 requiring Grove to obtain sex offender treatment while on

“supervision”. The trial court held that Grove violated this term by failing to

____________________________________________

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3123.

1 J-A09025-16

obtain sex offender treatment in prison. We agree with Grove that this term

only required Grove to obtain sex offender treatment after his release from

prison. Accordingly, we reverse.

A detailed factual history is necessary. On December 18, 2002, Grove,

who has an I.Q. of 66, pled guilty to IDSI and was sentenced to 4-8 years’

imprisonment and 12 years’ consecutive probation. The original sentencing

order said nothing about the terms of probation other than directing him to

serve 144 months under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Board of

Probation and Parole. Grove served his full prison term and was released on

July 18, 2010.

First revocation. Grove’s release was short-lived. Just two days after

his release, he was detained on a probation violation for not obtaining

permission to live at his current residence.

On February 18, 2011, the trial court revoked Grove’s probation and

sentenced him to 52-106 months’ imprisonment with credit of 102 months

and 29 days, followed by 134 months’ probation. The net effect was for

Grove to serve an additional 3 months and 1 day of incarceration while his

family found suitable housing for him upon his release.

The February 18, 2011 sentencing order stated with regard to

probation:

The period of incarceration imposed above shall be followed by a period of one hundred thirty-four (134) months of consecutive probation to be supervised by the Pennsylvania State Board of

-2- J-A09025-16

Probation and Parole. The Defendant shall be subject to such terms and conditions of supervision as set forth in Judicial Administrative Order AD-0000001-2007 and such other terms and conditions as may reasonably be imposed by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole or such other appropriate supervising authority which shall include, but not be limited to, the following [11 conditions]: …

2. The Defendant shall successfully enroll in, participate in, and complete a program for sex offenders approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. The Defendant shall be responsible for all costs related to said treatment and shall satisfy those costs in a reasonable time period.

3. The Defendant shall permit his sex offender treatment provider unrestricted communication with the probation officer regarding his attendance level, participation, and any other information deemed necessary by the probation officer to protect the community from his sexually abusive behavior …

Order, 2/18/11 (emphasis added).

Second revocation. Grove was unable to provide a home plan during

his three months of imprisonment. As a result, he was detained again after

the three-month term expired, and the Commonwealth again moved to

revoke his probation.

During a hearing on July 26, 2011, Grove stipulated that he did not

have an acceptable place to live. The trial court revoked Grove’s probation

and sentenced him to 1-2 years’ imprisonment followed by 110 months’

probation. The July 26, 2011 sentencing order provided:

1. That the 134-month consecutive probation on Count No. 1 is revoked.

2. The Defendant is sentenced to a period of not less than one (1) nor more than two (2) years[’] incarceration in a State

-3- J-A09025-16

Correctional Institution, that to be followed by 110 months of probation.

3. The period of probation is to be specially supervised by the Pennsylvania State Board of Probation and Parole. While on probation, he will be subject to the conditions of probation set forth in a Judicial Administration Order filed to CP-60-AD- 0000001 of 2007. He will also be subject to a condition that he not reside in any residence where any minors reside and that he not be left in the company of any minors by anyone.

4. In addition to the conditions of supervision imposed above, the Defendant will be subject to the conditions of supervision in Numbered Paragraphs 1 through 11 in the Court's Order and Sentence of February 18, 2011.

5. Upon the Defendant’s maxing out on the incarceration portion of this Sentence, the Pennsylvania State Board of Probation and Parole is ORDERED to work with the Defendant and the Defendant’s family to find appropriate housing for the Defendant. For purpose of clarity, the Court does not believe it is sufficient to leave the matter in the Defendant’s hands. The State Board of Probation and Parole is to assist in the supervision and rehabilitation of its clients. The Court expects the Board to do exactly that with this Defendant of limited intellectual ability and apparently equally limited means.

Order, 7/26/11 (emphasis added).

Grove appealed to this Court at 1550 MDA 2011, but we quashed his

appeal for his failure to include a Rule 2119 statement in his brief explaining

why this Court should consider a discretionary challenge to his sentence.

Grove served his entire two year sentence.

Third revocation. At the conclusion of this term of imprisonment,

Grove was detained for a third time for failure to provide a suitable home

plan. On October 9, 2013, the trial court again revoked his probation

because of his failure to obtain an approved home.

-4- J-A09025-16

The October 9, 2013 sentencing order stated:

The Defendant is sentenced on Count No. 1 to a period of incarceration in a State Correctional Institution of not less than one hundred fifty-three (153) days nor more than twenty-four (24) months. The Defendant shall receive credit for time served from May 19, 2013, to today’s date, that sentence to be followed by a period of eighty-six (86) months of consecutive probation.

While under supervision, the Defendant shall be subject to the terms and conditions of supervision as set forth in Judicial Administration Order AD-0000001 of 2007 and the Standard Special Conditions for Sex Offenders as set forth by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole which were effective in March 2012 and attached hereto as Appendix 1. In addition, the Defendant shall be subject to the Optional Special Conditions for Sex Offenders established by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole with an effective date of March 2012 and attached hereto as Appendix 2.

Order, 10/9/13 (emphasis added). Appended to the sentencing order were

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Bluebook (online)
Com. v. Grove, S., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/com-v-grove-s-pasuperct-2016.