Com. v. Santiago, D.

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: September 22, 2021
• Docket: 2003 EDA 2020
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

J-S25035-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : DANIEL SANTIAGO : : Appellant : No. 2003 EDA 2020

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 16, 2020 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0005003-2018

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., McLAUGHLIN, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PELLEGRINI, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Daniel Santiago (Santiago) appeals from the June 16, 2020 judgment

of sentence imposed by the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County (trial

court) following his negotiated guilty plea to indecent assault of a person

under the age of 13 and statutory sexual assault.1 Santiago challenges the

sufficiency of the evidence to support his designation as a Sexually Violent

Predator (SVP) under Revised Subchapter H of the Sexual Offenders

Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). We affirm.

The trial court summarized the facts of this case as follows:

In April of 2018, [Mother] made reports to the Salisbury Police Department regarding sexual assaults against her daughters, A.S. ____________________________________________

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3126(a)(7) & 3122.1(b). J-S25035-21

(age 14) and D.P. (age 10). She indicated that the assaults occurred the previous summer (2017) and that the perpetrator was her ex-boyfriend, [Santiago].

A.S. underwent a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center and during the interview indicated that [Santiago] began touching her two weeks before she finished the eighth grade, when she was 14 years old. The assaults continued through the summer. Specifically, A.S. reported that [Santiago] would enter her bedroom in the morning hours and would ask to give her a massage. While massaging A.S., [Santiago] would touch her breasts. She indicated that at other times he would come in and touch her vagina. She indicated that on at least one occasion he penetrated her vagina with his fingers.

A.S. indicated that at some point in time, [Santiago] had her perform oral sex on him and he masturbated in front of her. On other occasions, A.S. indicated that [Santiago] would lick her vagina. She further indicated that [Santiago] would tell her not to tell anyone. At the time, A.S. was 14 years old and [Santiago] was 29 years old.

D.P. was separately interviewed and indicated that one night during the summer of 2017, she awoke from sleeping to find [Santiago] in her bedroom. She indicated that she went back to sleep but [Santiago] returned to the bedroom. She stated that [Santiago] pulled her pants and underwear down and “touched her butt.”

Trial Court Opinion, 11/30/2020, at 3-4. Santiago pled guilty to the above-

mentioned offenses and the trial court ordered that he be assessed by the

Sexual Offenders Assessment Board (SOAB). He was sentenced to an

aggregate of one year less one day to two years less two days of incarceration

followed by ten years’ probation.

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On September 18, 2020, Santiago proceeded to a hearing to determine

whether he was an SVP.2 The Commonwealth and the defense stipulated to

the admission of the written assessment by Dr. Veronique Valliere, Psy.D.,

(Dr. Valliere) of the SOAB in which she opined that Santiago was an SVP. No

other evidence was submitted at the hearing. Santiago argued that Dr.

Valliere’s findings were not supported by clear and convincing evidence.

Following argument, the trial court determined that Santiago was an SVP. He

timely appealed and he and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

On appeal, Santiago argues that the trial court erred in designating him

as an SVP because the Commonwealth did not present clear and convincing

evidence that he suffered from a mental illness, disability or abnormality.3 He

contends that Dr. Valliere’s opinion was formed without speaking with him or

performing any diagnostic testing or evaluation.4 He further argues that Dr.

Valliere’s diagnosis of “Other Specified Personality Disorder with Antisocial and

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2 Santiago waived his right to have the SVP hearing prior to sentencing. See Commonwealth v. Schrader, 141 A.3d 558, 561 (Pa. Super. 2016).

3 The sufficiency of the evidence to support an SVP designation is a question

of law and our standard of review is de novo. Commonwealth v. Stephens, 74 A.3d 1034, 1038 (Pa. Super. 2013). Our scope of review is plenary and we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the prevailing party below. Id.

4 Santiago declined to participate in the assessment on advice of his attorney.

See Notes of Testimony, 9/18/20, at 18-20.

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Narcissistic Traits” was too vague and unsupported to justify his SVP

designation.

Under Revised Subchapter H of SORNA, the SOAB must assess all

individuals convicted of sexually violent offenses to determine whether they

should be classified as an SVP and subject to increased registration,

notification and counseling requirements. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24. An SVP

is an individual who has committed one of the enumerated offenses and has

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

mental abnormality is “[a] congenital or acquired condition . . . 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.” Id.

When determining whether a particular offender is an SVP, the SOAB

must examine numerous factors:

(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:

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(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.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(b)(1)-(4). The SOAB then submits a written report of

its determination to the district attorney, who may file a praecipe for a hearing

on the matter. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(d), (e)(1). At the hearing, the trial court

must determine whether the Commonwealth has proven by clear and

convincing evidence that the offender is an SVP. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(e)(3).

Clear and convincing evidence 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 at issue.” Commonwealth v. Stephens, 74

A.3d 1034, 1039 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation omitted, alteration in original).

While the SOAB must consider all factors in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(b)

during its assessment, no single factor is required or dispositive.

Commonwealth v. Feucht, 955 A.2d 377, 381 (Pa. Super. 2008). Instead,

the trial court must determine by clear and convincing evidence that the

defendant has a “mental abnormality” that makes him likely to engage in

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predatory sexually violent offenses. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.12. “[T]he statute

does not require proof of a standard or diagnosis that is commonly found

and/or accepted in a mental health diagnostic paradigm.” Commonwealth

v. Hollingshead, 111 A.3d 186, 190 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted). A

challenge to the validity of an expert’s diagnosis of a mental abnormality is a

challenge to the weight, not the sufficiency, of the evidence. Id. at 193. Thus,

if a trial court finds the expert opinion to be credible and supported by facts

of record, we may not disturb that credibility determination. Id. at 194.

As pointed out by the trial court, Santiago’s challenge to the validity of

Dr. Valliere’s diagnosis of Other Specified Personality Disorder with Antisocial

and Narcissistic Traits implicates the weight and not the sufficiency of the

evidence. Trial Court Opinion, 11/30/2020, at 9-10; see also

Commonwealth v. Fuentes, 991 A.2d 935, 944-45 (Pa. Super. 2010) (en

banc) (holding that a challenge to an expert opinion rendered with a

reasonable degree of professional certainty implicates the weight of the

evidence, which is properly addressed by the trial court). Santiago offered

argument on this point at the hearing and preserved a challenge to the weight

of the evidence in his concise statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). See

Notes of Testimony, 9/18/20, at 9-13; Concise Statement of Errors

Complained of on Appeal, 11/9/20. However, he abandoned his weight claim

on appeal and argues only that the determination was not supported by

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sufficient evidence. As a result, any challenge to the weight of the evidence

is waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a), 2119(a).

Moreover, our review of the record of the SVP hearing and Dr. Valliere’s

report confirms that the trial court’s determination was supported by sufficient

evidence. Dr. Valliere’s report set forth detailed factual findings concerning

the elements of a mental abnormality and the definition of predatory behavior,

as well as each of the enumerated factors in Section 9799.24(b). In making

her factual findings and reaching her professional opinions, she considered

reports, court documents and other materials from all of Santiago’s past and

current criminal offenses; documents from Lehigh County Children, Youth and

Families’ involvement with Santiago; his presentence investigation report; his

army discharge summary; PennDOT records; civil dockets; the letter from his

attorney declining participation in the assessment; and documents related to

past Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders filed against him. Regarding his non-

participation in the process, Dr. Valliere explained: “Because the diagnosis of

a personality disorder relies on the exhibition of pervasive and long-standing

behavioral and interpersonal patterns, it is possible to make this diagnosis

when a comprehensive view of records over a substantial period of the

offender’s life span is performed.” Notes of Testimony, 9/18/20,

Commonwealth Exhibit 1, at 3.

Based on the information set forth in Dr. Valliere’s report, the trial court

reasoned as follows:

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We determined that the Commonwealth presented clear and convincing evidence that [Santiago] suffered from a mental abnormality, namely Other Specified Personality Disorder with Antisocial and Narcissistic Traits and that his behavior related to these charges was clearly predatory in nature. Dr. Valliere determined that [Santiago] was physically abusive to his paramour and the victims, had been arrested for criminal activity numerous times, had an unsteady job history, and suffers from substance abuse which related to his offense behavior. He admitted to being unfaithful in romantic relationships, violated probation supervision, and had been other than honorably discharged from the United States Army. His egotistical, immature, and irresponsible behaviors persisted throughout his life. [Santiago] has a history of abusing family members, both physically and after the instant facts, sexually. He has had multiple victims and is described as interpersonally exploitive.

Dr. Valliere opined that individuals with personality disorders “have a difficult time in treatment. Change is difficult for a number of reasons. First, the traits are characterological and difficult to change. Second, typically persons with personality disorders have little distress about their own behaviors and impact of them, decreasing the internal motivation to change.” Personality disorders are “disorders of a foundational, chronic, and persistent nature.” She also opined that the antisocial traits exhibited by [Santiago] “contribute to the likelihood of violent recidivism.” Although “these traits do not necessarily contribute to the risk of recidivism of sexual violence,” traits such as callousness, a lack of empathy, egocentricity, impulsivity, and aggression could make it more likely for an individual to be able to hurt another for their own gratification.

Dr. Valliere further opined that because [Santiago] abused the victims, whom he was raising as his own children, thereby abdicating his role as a parent and instead promoted a secretive, exploitive, and abusive relationship with A.S. and abused D.P., his behavior met the statutory definition of “predatory behavior.”

Having determined that [Santiago] suffered from a mental disorder and engaged in predatory behavior, Dr. Valliere determined that [Santiago] met the criteria to be classified as [an SVP] under the Act. All of Dr. Valliere’s opinions were rendered to a reasonable degree of professional certainty.

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***

After consideration of Dr. Valliere’s determination of a mental abnormality and predatory behavior, a review of the facts contributing to Dr. Valliere’s assessment, and the facts of the instant matter, this Court found by clear and convincing evidence that [Santiago] was a sexually violent predator.

Trial Court Opinion, 11/30/2020, at 12-13 (citations omitted). We agree.

Following a review of all available documents concerning Santiago’s history,

Dr. Valliere opined with a reasonable degree of professional certainty that he

met the diagnostic criteria for Other Specified Personality Disorder with

Antisocial Traits. Notes of Testimony, 9/18/20, Commonwealth Exhibit 1, at

8. Her analysis was supported by reference to specific facts in Santiago’s

history and the documents available to her when performing the assessment.

She explained that the personality disorder was “of a foundational, chronic,

and persistent nature” that was associated with a likelihood of reoffending in

the future. Id. The trial court credited Dr. Valliere’s opinion. Viewing the

evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, it was sufficient

for the trial court to find by clear and convincing evidence that Santiago is an

SVP. Accordingly, his issue has no merit.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 9/22/2021

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