Commonwealth v. Mola

838 A.2d 791, 2003 Pa. Super. 479, 2003 Pa. Super. LEXIS 4462

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: December 8, 2003
• Status: Published

Opinion

KLEIN, J.

¶ 1 After Ernesto Mola pled guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), Judge Scott D. Keller sentenced him to concurrent terms of two to 15 years in prison. Fifteen years is the statutory maximum sentence. Judge Keller imposed this sentence because he had reached the conclusion that sentencing defendants in drug and gun cases to maximum sentences of less than the statutory maximum was ineffective in specifically or generally deterring drug trafficking. (Trial Court Opinion, 5/5/03, at 5.) Mola has appealed, challenging his sentence. Finding that Mola has raised a substantial question about discretionary aspects of sentencing, we reach the merits, and reverse and remand for resentencing.

1. Mola has raised a substantial question.

¶ 2 The fundamental issue in determining whether we will hear an appeal challenging discretionary aspects of sentencing is whether “the appellant advances a colorable argument that the trial judge’s actions were inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code or contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie the sentencing process.” Commonwealth v. Petaccio, 764 A.2d 582, 586-87 (Pa.Super.2000); see also 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781(b); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f).

¶ 3 Both the Commonwealth and the trial court believe Mola is merely arguing that the trial court gave insufficient weight to one factor or another. They point out that a challenge to the relative weight given to various factors at sentencing generally does not state a substantial question. Petaccio, 764 A.2d at 587.

¶ 4 But that is not the crux of Mola’s complaint. His issue is that Judge Keller has announced a blanket policy that “there must be some changes in the city of Reading and this court believes that the imposition of the lawful maximum sentences on drug delivery cases will help to serve as a deterrent to those who would consider dealing drugs in Reading and Berks County.” (Trial Court Opinion, 5/5/03, at 5.) A colorable claim of a blanket sentencing policy raises a substantial question whether the sentence violates the Sentencing Code, which requires sentences tailored to each case. See Commonwealth v. Schueg, 400 Pa.Super. 52, 582 A.2d 1339, 1340-41 (1990).

¶ 5 We proceed to the merits.

2. The trial court committed a manifest abuse of discretion. 1

¶ 6 When fashioning a sentence, the trial court must consider the factors set out in 42 Pa.C.SA. § 9721(b) (requiring sentence consistent with protection of public, gravity of offense in relation to impact on victim and community, and rehabilitative needs of defendant), and impose an individualized sentence. Commonwealth v. Devers, 519 Pa. 88, 546 A.2d 12, 13 (1988). A sentence must be based on the minimum confinement consistent with the gravity of the offense, the need for public protection, and the defendant’s needs for rehabilitation. Commonwealth v. Simpson 353 Pa.Super. 474, 510 A.2d 760, 762 (1986).

¶ 7 At sentencing, defense counsel argued for a two-to-four-year jail sentence, pointing to Mola’s seventh-grade education, his drug addiction, and his selling to support his addiction. Apparently referring to comments Judge Keller made either off the record in this case or on another occasion, defense counsel remarked that he “was present for the Court’s announcement regarding its intention regarding anybody convicted of a drug offense.” (N.T. Sentencing, 2/3/03, at 7.) Neither the Commonwealth nor Judge Keller elaborated or objected to the remark as a misrepresentation of Judge Kel ler’s position. The Commonwealth recommended 2 to 6 years in prison and agreed to concurrent sentences.

¶ 8 Judge Keller then sentenced Mola. Judge Keller said he had reviewed the presentence report, listened to arguments of counsel, and would impose the “School Zone” two-year mandatory minimum sentence in each case. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6317. Judge Keller next stressed the need for general deterrence:

But I see as my obligation to this community and to this Defendant to do the very best I can to have some impact upon his behavior in the future and the behavior of anybody else who is thinking of selling drugs in the City of Reading or the County of Berks.

(N.T., 2/3/03, at 9.) Judge Keller then imposed a maximum sentence of 15 years on each count (concurrent) — the statutory maximum.

¶ 9 He further explains in his Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion that in his view, a maximum sentence of the statutory maximum was necessary to deter drug dealing:

The imposition on drug dealers of maximum sentences far lower than the statutory maximum and making drug dealers eligible for boot camp has not deterred drug trafficking in the city of Reading at large nor individuals, such as the defendant. This court has decided that there must be some changes in the city of Reading and this court believes that the imposition of the lawful maximum sentences on drug delivery cases will help to serve as a deterrent to those who would consider dealing drugs in Reading and Berks County. Although the imposition of higher maximum sentences will not appreciably lengthen the period of incarceration for drug dealers, it will serve as a reminder that they need to reform once they are released from incarceration or risk suffering the consequences of violating parole.

(Trial Court Opinion at 5.) Judge Keller’s opinion then asserts that because the General Assembly set the maximum penalty for distributing heroin at 15 years, he ipso facto did not abuse his discretion in setting Mola’s maximum sentence at 15 years. He then reiterated that “in appropriate cases this court intends to impose the maximum sentence from now on.” (Trial Court Opinion at 5-6.)

¶ 10 Imposing a standardized sentence on all drug offenders is a manifest abuse of discretion. Pennsylvania has long endorsed a policy of indeterminate, individualized sentencing. Devers, 546 A.2d at 13. That policy is incompatible with a one-size-fits-all sentence. In effect, the trial court chose the maximum sentence based on seriousness of the crime alone, which is impermissible. Commonwealth v. Mickell, 409 Pa.Super. 595, 598 A.2d 1003, 1008 (1991). The trial court must consider each crime and each defendant in light of the total circumstances and fashion an appropriate sentence. See Commonwealth v. Catanch, 398 Pa.Super. 466, 581 A.2d 226 (1990).

¶ 11 And although the trial court stated in its opinion that it would impose the statutory maximum “in appropriate cases,” any doubt that “appropriate cases” meant all drug cases is eroded by the other evidence. The trial court did not correct defense counsel’s statement that the court had announced it would give the statutory maximum as a maximum sentence to “anybody convicted of a drug offense.” (N.T. Sentencing, 2/3/03, at 7 (emphasis added).) The assertion that a standard policy applied to “anybody” is consistent with the trial court’s deterrence rationale, which is directed at drug dealers generally.

¶ 12 Moreover, a 15-year maximum was excessive in this case. The trial court itself acknowledged that “this [was] primarily an addiction problem.” (N.T., 2/3/03, at 9.) The trial court gave this sentence with the belief that the extended maximum sentence would not cause a longer term of confinement. As a practical matter, that is not necessarily so. How much of the maximum sentence a state inmate serves in jail is in the hands of the Board of Probation and Parole (subject to judicial review, of course), and depends on a variety of factors. See 61 P.S. § 331.19. It could be that a defendant would be granted parole once he completes his minimum, or he could remain in jail for quite a while longer, depending on the individual case.

¶ 13 More to the point, if this is a case of addiction, a less blunt instrument will deter this defendant and others at least as well from committing similar acts. A jail sentence of some length with a significant probation tail with a recommendation for treatment, for example, would serve the purpose and offer the defendant help with the root problem. This is not to say that on remand the trial court cannot give Mola a maximum of more than the two years the defense wanted or even the six years the Commonwealth sought. The specific sentence will depend on the record developed at the new sentencing hearing. We do not in any way denigrate Judge Keller’s concern for deterrence. However, the record as it stands now does not support the 15-year maximum.

¶ 14 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Appellant’s convictions but vacate the judgment of sentence and remand this case to the Court of Common Pleas for resentencing consistent with this decision. Jurisdiction relinquished.

1 . We review challenges to discretionary aspects of sentencing for manifest abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Walker, 446 Pa.Super. 43, 666 A.2d 301, 306 (1995).