J-A24027-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : HYKEEM SESSOMS : : Appellant : No. 634 EDA 2021
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 17, 2021 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0004761-2017
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., DUBOW, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 15, 2021
Appellant, Hykeem Sessoms, appeals from the Judgment of Sentence
entered in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas on March 17, 2021,
following a parole violation. After careful review, we affirm in part, vacate in
part, and remand with instructions.
Police arrested Appellant on October 5, 2017, for Driving Under the
Influence (“DUI”). On February 13, 2018, Appellant entered a guilty plea to
one count of DUI—Highest Rate of Alcohol (second offense).1 On March 14,
2018, the court sentenced him, pursuant to the negotiated plea, to 3½ months
to 2 years of incarceration, followed by 3 years of probation. Appellant served
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(c). J-A24027-21
approximately 3 months of his jail sentence and received parole on June 23,
2018.
On August 6, 2019, while on parole, Appellant committed the offense of
Possession of synthetic marijuana. Then on December 11, 2019, while still on
parole, the Commonwealth charged Appellant in Northampton County with
Kidnapping, Robbery, Terroristic Threats, Theft, and Simple Assault following
an incident where Appellant kidnapped and assaulted an elderly victim outside
a Northampton County casino. On January 27, 2021, the Northampton County
Court of Common Pleas sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of 12 to 24
years’ incarceration following his conviction of the kidnapping-related
offenses,2 and, on February 24, 2021, the court sentenced Appellant to pay a
fine on his Possession conviction.
Appellant’s 2019 arrests and subsequent convictions gave rise to parole
and probation revocation proceedings in the 2018 DUI matter. Based on the
information presented at Appellant’s revocation hearing, including information
pertaining to Appellant’s extensive criminal history,3 and after considering the
arguments of counsel and the testimony of Appellant’s parole officer, the court
revoked Appellant’s parole. The court then sentenced Appellant to serve the ____________________________________________
2 The court sentenced Appellant to two consecutive terms of six to 12 years’
incarceration for his first-degree felony Kidnapping and first-degree Robbery convictions.
3 The court noted that Appellant’s criminal history included convictions in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2012, and 2014 for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession With Intent to Deliver, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, and Forgery, respectively.
-2- J-A24027-21
approximately 21-months of incarceration remaining on the term of
incarceration imposed for his 2018 DUI conviction. The court also revoked
Appellant’s 3-year sentence of probation, which he had not yet begun to serve,
and resentenced him to a term of 1 to 3 years’ incarceration. The court
ordered both portions of this sentence to run consecutive each other and to
the sentence imposed in Northampton County on Appellant’s kidnapping-
related offenses. Appellant did not challenge the discretionary aspects of his
sentence at his sentencing hearing.
On March 19, 2021, Appellant filed a Motion to Modify Sentence where
he averred generally that his revocation sentence was “unduly harsh and
excessive, disproportionate to the underlying offense and other attendant
circumstances.” Motion, 3/19/21 at ¶ 8. He further averred that his
revocation sentence “was not supported sufficiently by the record.” Id. at ¶
9. On March 22, 2021, the trial court denied Appellant’s motion to modify
sentence.
This appeal followed. Both Appellant and the trial court have complied
with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Appellant presents the following issue on appeal:
[] Was the sentence imposed by the lower court manifestly excessive or otherwise unjustified based upon the court failing to sufficiently support on the record the reason for the severity of the sentences and the consecutive service of the sentence when no reasons or justification was placed on the record for these decisions as required by 42 Pa.C.S.[] § 9721(b)?
Appellant’s Brief at 7 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).
-3- J-A24027-21
Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence.
Challenges to the discretionary aspects of a sentence do not entitle an
appellant to review as of right; rather, a challenge in this regard is properly
viewed as a petition for allowance of appeal. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(b);
Commonwealth v. Tuladziecki, 522 A.2d 17, 18 (Pa. 1987);
Commonwealth v. Buterbaugh, 91 A.3d 1247, 1265 (Pa. Super. 2014).
An appellant challenging the discretionary aspects of his sentence must
satisfy a four-part test: (1) whether the appellant filed a timely notice of
appeal; (2) whether the appellant preserved the issue at sentencing or in a
motion to reconsider and modify sentence; (3) whether the appellant’s brief
includes a concise statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal
as required by Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether the concise statement
raises a substantial question that the sentence is appropriate under the
Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Carrillo-Diaz, 64 A.3d 722, 725 (Pa.
Super. 2013).
Appellant filed a timely Notice of Appeal from his Judgment of Sentence
and his brief included a statement of reason relied upon for allowance of
appeal, as required by Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). However, although Appellant filed
a motion to modify sentence, we find that he did not raise in it the issue he
has raised on appeal, namely that the sentencing court failed to place
sufficient reasons on the record in support of Appellant’s sentence and the
imposition of consecutive sentences.
-4- J-A24027-21
Accordingly, Appellant has not properly preserved this claim and he is
not entitled to review of the discretionary aspects of his sentence.
Our inquiry does not end there, however. As indicated above, the
conduct which served as the basis for the revocation of Appellant’s parole and
probation—Appellant’s commission of subsequent crimes—took place during
his period of parole. Thus, the trial court anticipatorily revoked Appellant’s
probation for crimes perpetrated before he began serving his consecutive
probationary term.
This issue implicates the trial court’s statutory authority to revoke
Appellant’s probation sentence. Although Appellant has not challenged the
legality of the revocation of his probation sentence and the imposition of a
term of confinement, legality of sentence questions are not waivable and may
be raised sua sponte by this Court. Commonwealth v. Watley, 81 A.3d
108, 118 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc). Our standard of review of challenges
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
J-A24027-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : HYKEEM SESSOMS : : Appellant : No. 634 EDA 2021
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 17, 2021 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0004761-2017
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., DUBOW, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 15, 2021
Appellant, Hykeem Sessoms, appeals from the Judgment of Sentence
entered in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas on March 17, 2021,
following a parole violation. After careful review, we affirm in part, vacate in
part, and remand with instructions.
Police arrested Appellant on October 5, 2017, for Driving Under the
Influence (“DUI”). On February 13, 2018, Appellant entered a guilty plea to
one count of DUI—Highest Rate of Alcohol (second offense).1 On March 14,
2018, the court sentenced him, pursuant to the negotiated plea, to 3½ months
to 2 years of incarceration, followed by 3 years of probation. Appellant served
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(c). J-A24027-21
approximately 3 months of his jail sentence and received parole on June 23,
2018.
On August 6, 2019, while on parole, Appellant committed the offense of
Possession of synthetic marijuana. Then on December 11, 2019, while still on
parole, the Commonwealth charged Appellant in Northampton County with
Kidnapping, Robbery, Terroristic Threats, Theft, and Simple Assault following
an incident where Appellant kidnapped and assaulted an elderly victim outside
a Northampton County casino. On January 27, 2021, the Northampton County
Court of Common Pleas sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of 12 to 24
years’ incarceration following his conviction of the kidnapping-related
offenses,2 and, on February 24, 2021, the court sentenced Appellant to pay a
fine on his Possession conviction.
Appellant’s 2019 arrests and subsequent convictions gave rise to parole
and probation revocation proceedings in the 2018 DUI matter. Based on the
information presented at Appellant’s revocation hearing, including information
pertaining to Appellant’s extensive criminal history,3 and after considering the
arguments of counsel and the testimony of Appellant’s parole officer, the court
revoked Appellant’s parole. The court then sentenced Appellant to serve the ____________________________________________
2 The court sentenced Appellant to two consecutive terms of six to 12 years’
incarceration for his first-degree felony Kidnapping and first-degree Robbery convictions.
3 The court noted that Appellant’s criminal history included convictions in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2012, and 2014 for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession With Intent to Deliver, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, and Forgery, respectively.
-2- J-A24027-21
approximately 21-months of incarceration remaining on the term of
incarceration imposed for his 2018 DUI conviction. The court also revoked
Appellant’s 3-year sentence of probation, which he had not yet begun to serve,
and resentenced him to a term of 1 to 3 years’ incarceration. The court
ordered both portions of this sentence to run consecutive each other and to
the sentence imposed in Northampton County on Appellant’s kidnapping-
related offenses. Appellant did not challenge the discretionary aspects of his
sentence at his sentencing hearing.
On March 19, 2021, Appellant filed a Motion to Modify Sentence where
he averred generally that his revocation sentence was “unduly harsh and
excessive, disproportionate to the underlying offense and other attendant
circumstances.” Motion, 3/19/21 at ¶ 8. He further averred that his
revocation sentence “was not supported sufficiently by the record.” Id. at ¶
9. On March 22, 2021, the trial court denied Appellant’s motion to modify
sentence.
This appeal followed. Both Appellant and the trial court have complied
with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Appellant presents the following issue on appeal:
[] Was the sentence imposed by the lower court manifestly excessive or otherwise unjustified based upon the court failing to sufficiently support on the record the reason for the severity of the sentences and the consecutive service of the sentence when no reasons or justification was placed on the record for these decisions as required by 42 Pa.C.S.[] § 9721(b)?
Appellant’s Brief at 7 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).
-3- J-A24027-21
Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence.
Challenges to the discretionary aspects of a sentence do not entitle an
appellant to review as of right; rather, a challenge in this regard is properly
viewed as a petition for allowance of appeal. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(b);
Commonwealth v. Tuladziecki, 522 A.2d 17, 18 (Pa. 1987);
Commonwealth v. Buterbaugh, 91 A.3d 1247, 1265 (Pa. Super. 2014).
An appellant challenging the discretionary aspects of his sentence must
satisfy a four-part test: (1) whether the appellant filed a timely notice of
appeal; (2) whether the appellant preserved the issue at sentencing or in a
motion to reconsider and modify sentence; (3) whether the appellant’s brief
includes a concise statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal
as required by Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether the concise statement
raises a substantial question that the sentence is appropriate under the
Sentencing Code. Commonwealth v. Carrillo-Diaz, 64 A.3d 722, 725 (Pa.
Super. 2013).
Appellant filed a timely Notice of Appeal from his Judgment of Sentence
and his brief included a statement of reason relied upon for allowance of
appeal, as required by Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). However, although Appellant filed
a motion to modify sentence, we find that he did not raise in it the issue he
has raised on appeal, namely that the sentencing court failed to place
sufficient reasons on the record in support of Appellant’s sentence and the
imposition of consecutive sentences.
-4- J-A24027-21
Accordingly, Appellant has not properly preserved this claim and he is
not entitled to review of the discretionary aspects of his sentence.
Our inquiry does not end there, however. As indicated above, the
conduct which served as the basis for the revocation of Appellant’s parole and
probation—Appellant’s commission of subsequent crimes—took place during
his period of parole. Thus, the trial court anticipatorily revoked Appellant’s
probation for crimes perpetrated before he began serving his consecutive
probationary term.
This issue implicates the trial court’s statutory authority to revoke
Appellant’s probation sentence. Although Appellant has not challenged the
legality of the revocation of his probation sentence and the imposition of a
term of confinement, legality of sentence questions are not waivable and may
be raised sua sponte by this Court. Commonwealth v. Watley, 81 A.3d
108, 118 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc). Our standard of review of challenges
to the legality of a sentence is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.
Commonwealth v. Williams, 980 A.2d 667, 672 (Pa. Super. 2009). See
also Commonwealth v. Hall, 994 A.2d 1141, 1144 (Pa. Super. 2010) (a
sentence is illegal and subject to mandatory correction where there is no
statutory support for its imposition).
This court recently addressed this issue in Commonwealth v.
Simmons, ___ A.3d ___, 2021 WL 3641859 (Pa. Super. filed Aug. 18, 2021)
(en banc). In Simmons, the trial court sentenced the defendant to a term of
six to 23 months’ incarceration followed by a 3-year term of probation. Id.
-5- J-A24027-21
at *1. While Appellant was on parole, he pleaded guilty to new crimes. Id.
As a result of his new convictions, the trial court revoked the defendant’s
parole, anticipatorily revoked his probation, and resentenced him to a term of
2½ to 5 years’ imprisonment. Id. The defendant challenged the legality of
the anticipatory revocation of his probation sentence. Id.
The Simmons Court held that, where the trial court imposes a sentence
of probation to be served consecutively to a defendant’s sentence of
incarceration, the defendant may not prospectively violate the conditions of a
probationary order by committing a new crime after sentencing, but before
the commencement of his probationary sentence. Id. at *10. Stated another
way, the Simmons Court held that no statutory authority exists that permits
a trial court to anticipatorily revoke an order of probation. Id. at *12.
Accordingly, the Simmons Court vacated the defendant’s judgment of
sentence and remanded with instructions that the trial court reinstate the
original order of probation.4 Id. at *12-13.
Thus, guided by this Court’s holding in Simmons—that the trial court
lacks the statutory authority to anticipatorily revoke a probationary sentence
a defendant had not yet begun to serve when he committed the crimes giving
4 The Simmons Court also concluded that the defendant’s sentence of incarceration was illegal because the court imposed a new term of incarceration rather than ordering him to serve the balance of the valid sentence previously imposed. Accordingly, the Court remanded for resentencing on the defendant’s parole violation. Instantly, the trial court properly sentenced Appellant to serve the balance of the valid sentence of incarceration it had previously imposed.
-6- J-A24027-21
rise to the parole violation proceedings—we conclude that the court revoked
Appellant’s sentence of probation without statutory authority and imposed an
illegal 1- to 3-year sentence of incarceration. Accordingly, we vacate the
Judgment of Sentence of incarceration imposed following the revocation of
Appellant’s probation, and remand for the court to reinstate the original order
of probation. We affirm Appellant’s Judgment of Sentence of 21 months, the
balance of his sentence for his DUI conviction following his parole violation.
Judgment of Sentence affirmed in part and vacated in part. Case
remanded with instructions. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 11/15/2021
-7-