J-S28025-23
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : MICHAEL STOFFER : : Appellant : No. 28 WDA 2022
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 5, 2021 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0008971-2020
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., OLSON, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED: April 18, 2024
Appellant, Michael Stoffer, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered on October 5, 2021, following his bench trial convictions for simple
assault and theft by unlawful taking.1 After careful consideration, we affirm
Appellant’s judgment of sentence but remand this case to allow the trial court
to correct a clerical error in the sentencing order.
We briefly summarize the facts and procedural history of this case as
follows. On October 5, 2021, the trial court found Appellant guilty of the
aforementioned charges. Following the verdict, Appellant waived his right to
a pre-sentence investigation report and proceeded directly to sentencing. See
N.T., 10/5/2021, at 23. On the record in open court, the trial court sentenced
____________________________________________
* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2701(a) and 3921(a), respectively. J-S28025-23
to “a period of probation of one year” and “to have no violent contact with the
victim.” Id. at 25-26. Appellant was further sentenced to “complete the
Batterer’s Intervention Program and [] undergo random drug screens.” Id.
at 26. On the same day, on October 5, 2021, the trial court entered a written
sentencing order reflecting the aforementioned sentence. However, the
written sentencing order also stated:
This sentence shall commence on 10/05/2021
To be confined for a minimum period of 396 [d]ays and a maximum period of 396 [d]ays at [the] Allegheny County Jail.
* * *
The defendant shall receive credit for time served [from September 5, 2020, through October 5, 2021, or] 396 [days].
Sentencing Order, 10/5/2021, at *1.
Thereafter, Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion on October 15,
2021. On November 30, 2021, the trial court denied Appellant relief. This
timely appeal resulted.2
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issues for our review:
1. Does the written sentencing order docketed in Appellant’s case [] contain a clear clerical error, in that it ordered Appellant to serve a [flat] term of 396 days of imprisonment plus one year of probation, whereas the notes of testimony from Appellant’s ____________________________________________
2 Appellant filed a notice of appeal on December 30, 2021. Sometime after the entry of the order that denied Appellant’s post-sentence motion, the original trial court judge retired and the case was reassigned. On January 20, 2022, the new trial judge ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant complied timely. The trial court entered an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) on January 10, 2023.
-2- J-S28025-23
October 5, 2021 sentencing hearing clearly and unambiguously indicate that he was ordered to serve a term of probation alone (with the remedy for that error being an order correcting the written sentencing order by striking the confinement language)?
2. Was the written sentencing order in Appellant’s case enacted improperly, in that the probation that was ordered at his sentencing hearing was changed to a sentence of confinement plus probation, with that occurring absent Appellant having notice of the proposed modification and a fair opportunity to be heard regarding it (with the failure to provide notice and a hearing [] violat[ing] 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 5505 and the due process clauses of the state and federal constitutions)?
3. Does the written sentencing order in Appellant’s case impose an illegal sentence upon him, in that its structure (that he serve a [flat] term of 396 [] days of confinement) violates 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 9756(b)(1)?
Appellant’s Brief at 4.
Initially, we reject the Commonwealth’s suggestion that Appellant
waived all of the issues presented above by failing to raise them in his
post-sentence motion or in his Rule 1925(b) concise statement. See
Commonwealth’s Brief at 7-11. All of Appellant’s issues implicate the illegality
of his sentence. Our Supreme Court has held:
Generally speaking, issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. The issue preservation requirement ensures that the trial court that initially hears a dispute has had an opportunity to consider the issue, which in turn advances the orderly and efficient use of our judicial resources, and provides fairness to the parties. However, challenges to the legality of sentences are an exception to this general issue-preservation rule. Stated succinctly, an appellate court can address an appellant's challenge to the legality of his sentence even if that issue was not preserved in the trial court; indeed, an appellate court may raise and address such an issue sua sponte.
-3- J-S28025-23
Commonwealth v. Hill, 238 A.3d 399, 407–408 (Pa. 2020) (internal
citations, quotations, and brackets omitted); see also Commonwealth v.
Postie, 110 A.3d 1034, 1043 (Pa. Super. 2015) (“[A] claim that a flat
sentence should have instead had minimum and maximum terms goes to the
legality of the sentence, and such issues are non-waivable.”); see also
Commonwealth v. Warunek, 279 A.3d 52, 54 (Pa. Super. 2022) (citation
omitted) (“A challenge to the legality of the sentence can never be waived and
may be raised by this Court sua sponte.”).
Based on the foregoing, we sua sponte address Appellant’s contentions
herein. Appellant’s appellate issues are interrelated, so we will examine them
together. See Appellant’s Brief at 10 (“In fact, all three claims relate[] to the
docketing of [the] written sentencing order that deviated, in a material way
and to [Appellant’s] detriment, from what was announced at the sentencing
hearing.”). Appellant contends that he “was ordered to serve a term of
probation at his sentencing hearing, but his sentence was deemed to be
jailtime plus probation in his written sentencing order.” Id. at 11. Appellant
argues “he was not given the opportunity to be heard when the trial court
opted to increase his sentence.” Id. at 12. Finally, Appellant suggests “the
confinement portion of the [written] sentence imposed was and is [] illegal,
given its structure (it ordered him to serve a flat sentence of 396 days of
imprisonment).” Id. at 44.
A challenge to the legality of sentence raises a question of law for which
our standard of review is de novo, and our scope of review is plenary. See
-4- J-S28025-23
Commonwealth v. Renninger, 269 A.3d 548, 567 (Pa. Super. 2022) (en
banc) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 302 A.3d 95 (Pa. 2023). This Court
has determined that if the trial court imposes a clear and unambiguous
punishment at a sentencing hearing, then the sentence imposed in open court
controls and a subsequent, nonconforming written sentencing order
constitutes a clear clerical error that is subject to correction. See
Commonwealth v. Bartic, 303 A.3d 124, 129 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2023) (cleaned
up); compare Commonwealth v.
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J-S28025-23
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : v. : : : MICHAEL STOFFER : : Appellant : No. 28 WDA 2022
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered October 5, 2021 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0008971-2020
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., OLSON, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED: April 18, 2024
Appellant, Michael Stoffer, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered on October 5, 2021, following his bench trial convictions for simple
assault and theft by unlawful taking.1 After careful consideration, we affirm
Appellant’s judgment of sentence but remand this case to allow the trial court
to correct a clerical error in the sentencing order.
We briefly summarize the facts and procedural history of this case as
follows. On October 5, 2021, the trial court found Appellant guilty of the
aforementioned charges. Following the verdict, Appellant waived his right to
a pre-sentence investigation report and proceeded directly to sentencing. See
N.T., 10/5/2021, at 23. On the record in open court, the trial court sentenced
____________________________________________
* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2701(a) and 3921(a), respectively. J-S28025-23
to “a period of probation of one year” and “to have no violent contact with the
victim.” Id. at 25-26. Appellant was further sentenced to “complete the
Batterer’s Intervention Program and [] undergo random drug screens.” Id.
at 26. On the same day, on October 5, 2021, the trial court entered a written
sentencing order reflecting the aforementioned sentence. However, the
written sentencing order also stated:
This sentence shall commence on 10/05/2021
To be confined for a minimum period of 396 [d]ays and a maximum period of 396 [d]ays at [the] Allegheny County Jail.
* * *
The defendant shall receive credit for time served [from September 5, 2020, through October 5, 2021, or] 396 [days].
Sentencing Order, 10/5/2021, at *1.
Thereafter, Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion on October 15,
2021. On November 30, 2021, the trial court denied Appellant relief. This
timely appeal resulted.2
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issues for our review:
1. Does the written sentencing order docketed in Appellant’s case [] contain a clear clerical error, in that it ordered Appellant to serve a [flat] term of 396 days of imprisonment plus one year of probation, whereas the notes of testimony from Appellant’s ____________________________________________
2 Appellant filed a notice of appeal on December 30, 2021. Sometime after the entry of the order that denied Appellant’s post-sentence motion, the original trial court judge retired and the case was reassigned. On January 20, 2022, the new trial judge ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant complied timely. The trial court entered an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) on January 10, 2023.
-2- J-S28025-23
October 5, 2021 sentencing hearing clearly and unambiguously indicate that he was ordered to serve a term of probation alone (with the remedy for that error being an order correcting the written sentencing order by striking the confinement language)?
2. Was the written sentencing order in Appellant’s case enacted improperly, in that the probation that was ordered at his sentencing hearing was changed to a sentence of confinement plus probation, with that occurring absent Appellant having notice of the proposed modification and a fair opportunity to be heard regarding it (with the failure to provide notice and a hearing [] violat[ing] 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 5505 and the due process clauses of the state and federal constitutions)?
3. Does the written sentencing order in Appellant’s case impose an illegal sentence upon him, in that its structure (that he serve a [flat] term of 396 [] days of confinement) violates 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 9756(b)(1)?
Appellant’s Brief at 4.
Initially, we reject the Commonwealth’s suggestion that Appellant
waived all of the issues presented above by failing to raise them in his
post-sentence motion or in his Rule 1925(b) concise statement. See
Commonwealth’s Brief at 7-11. All of Appellant’s issues implicate the illegality
of his sentence. Our Supreme Court has held:
Generally speaking, issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. The issue preservation requirement ensures that the trial court that initially hears a dispute has had an opportunity to consider the issue, which in turn advances the orderly and efficient use of our judicial resources, and provides fairness to the parties. However, challenges to the legality of sentences are an exception to this general issue-preservation rule. Stated succinctly, an appellate court can address an appellant's challenge to the legality of his sentence even if that issue was not preserved in the trial court; indeed, an appellate court may raise and address such an issue sua sponte.
-3- J-S28025-23
Commonwealth v. Hill, 238 A.3d 399, 407–408 (Pa. 2020) (internal
citations, quotations, and brackets omitted); see also Commonwealth v.
Postie, 110 A.3d 1034, 1043 (Pa. Super. 2015) (“[A] claim that a flat
sentence should have instead had minimum and maximum terms goes to the
legality of the sentence, and such issues are non-waivable.”); see also
Commonwealth v. Warunek, 279 A.3d 52, 54 (Pa. Super. 2022) (citation
omitted) (“A challenge to the legality of the sentence can never be waived and
may be raised by this Court sua sponte.”).
Based on the foregoing, we sua sponte address Appellant’s contentions
herein. Appellant’s appellate issues are interrelated, so we will examine them
together. See Appellant’s Brief at 10 (“In fact, all three claims relate[] to the
docketing of [the] written sentencing order that deviated, in a material way
and to [Appellant’s] detriment, from what was announced at the sentencing
hearing.”). Appellant contends that he “was ordered to serve a term of
probation at his sentencing hearing, but his sentence was deemed to be
jailtime plus probation in his written sentencing order.” Id. at 11. Appellant
argues “he was not given the opportunity to be heard when the trial court
opted to increase his sentence.” Id. at 12. Finally, Appellant suggests “the
confinement portion of the [written] sentence imposed was and is [] illegal,
given its structure (it ordered him to serve a flat sentence of 396 days of
imprisonment).” Id. at 44.
A challenge to the legality of sentence raises a question of law for which
our standard of review is de novo, and our scope of review is plenary. See
-4- J-S28025-23
Commonwealth v. Renninger, 269 A.3d 548, 567 (Pa. Super. 2022) (en
banc) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 302 A.3d 95 (Pa. 2023). This Court
has determined that if the trial court imposes a clear and unambiguous
punishment at a sentencing hearing, then the sentence imposed in open court
controls and a subsequent, nonconforming written sentencing order
constitutes a clear clerical error that is subject to correction. See
Commonwealth v. Bartic, 303 A.3d 124, 129 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2023) (cleaned
up); compare Commonwealth v. Kremer, 206 A.3d 543, 548 (Pa. Super.
2019) (A written and signed sentencing order fixes the sentence to be
implemented only where the sentencing transcript is ambiguous and the
ambiguity in the transcript must be resolved by reference to the signed,
written order). When “the written sentencing order includes a statement that
was not made by the trial court at the sentencing hearing[,]” this Court has
determined “the trial court [has] modif[ied] its judgment of sentence imposed
at the time of sentencing when it file[s] its [subsequent] written sentencing
order” containing different terms. Renninger, 269 A.3d at 568; see also
Commonwealth v. Reed, 386 A.2d 41, 42 (Pa. Super. 1978) (“A court is
empowered to modify a sentence ... only if it notifies the defendant and the
district attorney of its intention to do so [or the modified order,] therefore, is
without effect.”). In this case, there is no dispute that the modified order was
entered without notice to Appellant.
Furthermore, upon review, the trial court here clearly and
unambiguously declared at Appellant’s sentencing hearing that it intended
-5- J-S28025-23
Appellant to receive a one-year sentence of probation. The court further
ordered no contact with the victim, completion of a Batterer’s Intervention
Program, and random drug screens. The sentencing court made no mention
of imprisonment or credit for time-served at the sentencing hearing. As such,
the written sentencing order, which awarded credit for time-served and
directed Appellant to serve an additional term of imprisonment, varied from
an unambiguous oral pronouncement in open court and, thus, contained a
“clear clerical error” that is subject to correction.3 See Bartic, 303 A.3d at
129. In such instances, we have determined that “a remand to correct this
clear clerical error is necessary” and Appellant is not subject to resentencing.4
See id.
3 The Commonwealth concedes that “there is a basis for this Court to vacate the sentencing order dated October 5, 2021, and remand for additional proceedings.” Commonwealth’s Brief at 16; id. at 11 (“The written sentencing order may erroneously contain terms different than those stated at the sentencing hearing.”) (complete capitalization omitted).
4 We note that in its written sentencing order, the trial court sentenced Appellant to a flat sentence of 396 days of imprisonment with credit for time-served. That decision resulted in an illegal sentence. Pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9756, “[i]n imposing a sentence of total confinement […t]he court shall impose a minimum sentence of confinement which shall not exceed one- half of the maximum sentence imposed.” “The plain language of Section 9756 of the Sentencing Code directs the trial court to specify minimum and maximum periods imposing imprisonment.” Postie, 110 A.3d at 1044 (A “flat sentence of four months is illegal under Section 9756[.]”). The Commonwealth acknowledges that “[p]ursuant to [] statutory and case law, the written sentencing order may impose an illegal sentence upon Appellant because it does not specify a minimum or maximum sentence.” Commonwealth’s Brief at 17 (complete capitalization omitted).
-6- J-S28025-23
Judgment of sentence affirmed. Case remanded for correction of clerical
error. Jurisdiction relinquished.
4/18/2024
-7-