Commonwealth v. Beigle

37 Pa. D. & C.4th 261, 1997 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 38
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Blair County
DecidedMarch 3, 1997
Docketno. 96 CR 1440
StatusPublished

This text of 37 Pa. D. & C.4th 261 (Commonwealth v. Beigle) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Blair County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Beigle, 37 Pa. D. & C.4th 261, 1997 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 38 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997).

Opinion

CALLAN, J.,

This matter comes before the court for disposition of the defendant’s motion [262]*262for extraordinary relief challenging the constitutionality of the “sexually violent predator” provisions of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law, and to bar a second prosecution for the same offense. Briefs have been submitted and the issues argued.

FINDINGS OF FACT

On October 3, 1996, Bruce Beigle, the defendant, was charged with one count of 18 Pa.C.S. §901, criminal attempt at involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, one count of 18 Pa.C.S.§3123(b), involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, one count of 18 Pa.C.S. §3126, indecent assault, and one count of 18 Pa.C.S. §6301, corruption of minors. These offenses allegedly occurred between August 1, 1996 and August 31, 1996. The alleged victim was 3 years old at the time of the incidents.

The preliminary hearing scheduled for October 9, 1996, was waived and the charges returned to court. On January 10, 1997, pursuant to a plea agreement, the defendant pled guilty to the misdemeanor offenses of indecent assault and corruption of minors. The plea agreement restricted the defendant’s sentence to incarceration of three months to 23 1/2 months on the indecent assault charge, followed by five years probation on the corruption of minors charge.

Prior to the acceptance of the plea agreement, the victim’s family addressed the court. The family requested the maximum supervision and/or punishment allowed by law. The family was asked if they understood the terms of the written plea agreement and that if accepted by the court, the maximum terms of incarceration would be three months in jail followed by 20 1/2 months of parole, followed by an additional five years of probation. The family responded that they [263]*263had had the plea agreement explained to them, and that they consented to it.

After the entry of the plea, the court accepted the written plea agreement. The Commonwealth asserted that Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law applied. The defense objected on the basis that the plea agreement precluded any additional sentence. The objection was overruled at that time. The defendant waived his right to a presentence investigation and report. The hearing for Megan’s Law and the sentencing were scheduled for March 7, 1997, at 8:30 a.m. The defense indicated that an attack on Megan’s Law was contemplated. The court directed that any motions be filed as quickly as possible so as not to delay sentencing.

Indecent assault, 18 Pa.C.S. §3123(b), is a predicate offense under Megan’s'Law, 42 Pa.C.S. §9793(b). Megan’s Law requires that there be an assessment by the board and a separate proceeding before the court to determine if the defendant is a “sexually violent predator.” The assessment board and the court are required to presume that the defendant is a “sexually violent predator.” The defendant may overcome this presumption by clear and convincing proof at the hearing before the court, prior to sentencing.

On or about February 25, 1997, the court received the assessment of the defendant from the board. The assessment was:

“Both board members were in agreement that Bruce Joseph Beigle DOES NOT FIT the profile of a sexually violent predator. Therefore, in accordance with the provisions under Act 46 of 1996, after your review of these evaluations, and the subsequent hearing, it will be the county’s responsibility to decide if Mr. Beigle is a sexually violent predator. If the court determines that Mr. Bruce Beigle is a sexually violent predator, [264]*264then according to the statute you must sentence him to a maximum life sentence.”

On February 5, 1997, the defendant filed his motion which raises issues of the constitutionality of the sexually violent predator section of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law. The defendant raises seven constitutional issues which include:

(1) Procedural due process

(2) Substantive due process

(3) Vagueness

(4) Double jeopardy

(5) Bill of attainder

(6) Right to privacy

(7) Cruel and unusual punishment

The Commonwealth asserts that the issues are not “ripe” for review since the defendant has not been adjudicated to be a “sexually violent predator” and relies upon the presumption of the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law.

DISCUSSION

It is well established “that when a case raises both constitutional and nonconstitutional issues, a court should not reach the constitutional issue if the case can properly be decided on nonconstitutional grounds.” Ballou v. State Ethics Commission, 496 Pa. 127, 129, 436 A.2d 186, 187 (1981). (footnote omitted) A court is not to decide a constitutional question unless absolutely required to do so. Jenkins v. Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, 401 Pa. Super. 604, 585 A.2d 1091 (1991) (en banc), aff’d, 535 Pa. 252, 634 A.2d 1099 (1993). “When presented with an issue raising both constitutional and nonconstitutional grounds, this court must make a determination on non-[265]*265constitutional grounds if possible and avoid the constitutional question. Commonwealth v. Kennedy, 413 Pa. Super. 95, 604 A.2d 1036 (1992).” Commonwealth v. Crisp, 441 Pa. Super. 171, 175, 657 A.2d 5, 8 (1995).

It is also well established that a plea agreement is binding on the Commonwealth when accepted by the court pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 319. Commonwealth v. Zuber, 466 Pa. 453, 353 A.2d 441 (1976); Commonwealth v. Zakrzewski, 460 Pa. 528, 333 A.2d 898 (1975); Commonwealth v. Landi, 280 Pa. Super. 134, 421 A.2d 442 (1980).

It is well settled that the Commonwealth has the affirmative duty to honor all promises that serve as an inducement to a defendant to enter a guilty plea. Commonwealth v. Coles, 365 Pa. Super. 562, 530 A.2d 453 (1987); Commonwealth v. Potosnak, 289 Pa. Super. 115, 432 A.2d 1078 (1981). There was in the defendant’s case a written agreement signed by the assistant district attorney, the defendant and the defense counsel. The agreement indicates that the defendant would plead to indecent assault (3126(a)(7)) and corruption (6301). The defendant’s sentence was restricted to a term of incarceration of three months to 23 1/2 months on the indecent assault to be followed by five years probation on the corruption charge.

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Related

Commonwealth v. Potosnak
432 A.2d 1078 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1981)
Commonwealth v. Coles
530 A.2d 453 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1987)
Commonwealth v. Kennedy
604 A.2d 1036 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1992)
Jenkins v. Hospital of Medical College of Pennsylvania
585 A.2d 1091 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
Ballou v. State Ethics Commission
436 A.2d 186 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1981)
Commonwealth v. Zuber
353 A.2d 441 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1976)
Commonwealth v. Zakrzewski
333 A.2d 898 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1975)
Commonwealth v. Landi
421 A.2d 442 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1980)
Jenkins v. Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania
634 A.2d 1099 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1993)
Commonwealth v. Crisp
657 A.2d 5 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1995)

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Bluebook (online)
37 Pa. D. & C.4th 261, 1997 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 38, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-beigle-pactcomplblair-1997.