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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
TITO GARCIA, :
:
Appellant : No. 2844 EDA 2013
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence June 4, 2013,
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County,
Criminal Division at No. CP-51-CR-0003693-2011
BEFORE: DONOHUE, OLSON and MUSMANNO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY DONOHUE, J.: FILED MAY 15, 2015
Tito Garcia (“Garcia”) appeals from the June 4, 2013 judgment of
sentence entered by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. On
appeal, he challenges the trial court’s application of the mandatory minimum
sentence contained in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7508 as unconstitutional. After careful
review, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing.
The record reflects the following relevant facts and procedural history.
On March 12, 2011, police observed Garcia sell marijuana and/or cocaine to
three separate people. The marijuana was contained in small plastic
containers and the cocaine was packaged in small clear packets. As marked
police cars approached Garcia, he ran and the police gave chase. Following
his arrest, police recovered thirteen plastic containers containing marijuana
approximately ten feet from the location of Garcia’s arrest and a plastic bag
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containing clear packets of cocaine from a location where police observed
Garcia discard something during the chase.
On April 8, 2013, Garcia filed a precautionary motion to bar the
application of the mandatory minimum sentencing statute, 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 7508, in anticipation of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in
Alleyne v. U.S., __ U.S. __, 133 S.Ct. 2151 (2013).1 See Motion to Bar
Application of Mandatory Minimum Sentence, 4/8/13, ¶¶ 1, 8, 10. Following
argument on April 8, 2013, the trial court denied the motion.
On April 16, 2013, a jury convicted Garcia of two counts of possession
of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (“PWID”).2 On June 4, 2013,
the trial court sentenced Garcia on the drug convictions to four to eight
years of incarceration followed by three years of probation. As Garcia’s
conviction resulted in a violation of his probation, the trial court revoked his
probation and resentenced him to two to four years of incarceration followed
by three years of probation, to run consecutive to the sentence for his drug
convictions.
Garcia filed a timely post-sentence motion seeking reconsideration of
his sentence, alleging that the sentence was “manifestly excessive, clearly
unreasonable and disproportionate under the facts and circumstances of the
1
The United States Supreme Court decided Alleyne on June 17, 2013.
2
35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30).
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case.” Motion to Reconsider Sentence, 6/12/13, ¶ 6. The motion was
denied by operation of law on October 10, 2013.
Garcia filed a timely notice of appeal, followed by a court-ordered
concise statement of errors complained of on appeal. Thereafter, the trial
court issued a responsive opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
On appeal, Garcia raises three issues for our review:
1. Is not 18 Pa.C.S.A. §7508, which establishes
mandatory minimum sentences for various drug
trafficking offenses, unconstitutional under Alleyne v.
United States, 133 S.Ct. 2151 (2013), as it requires
imposition of aggravated sentences based on a
judge’s finding at sentencing of certain predicate
facts by a preponderance of the evidence?
2. Is not 18 Pa.C.S.A. §7508 wholly void and
unenforceable under Commonwealth v. Newman, [99
A.3d 86 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc)], as the
statute’s unconstitutional procedural provisions
cannot be severed from the remaining provisions of
the statute?
3. Even assuming arguendo that §7508 were severable,
is not the Commonwealth barred by state and
federal constitutional double jeopardy protections
from invoking that statute again at resentencing,
where at the original sentencing it introduced
insufficient evidence, even by a preponderance
standard, to prove the aggravated offense set out in
§7508, that is, possession with intent to deliver
between two and ten grams of cocaine?
Garcia’s Brief at 3.3
3
Based upon our disposition of the first two issues raised by Garcia, we
need not address the third issue.
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The first two interrelated issues Garcia raises on appeal challenge the
legality of his sentence. See Commonwealth v. Cardwell, 105 A.3d 748,
750 (Pa. Super. 2014) (“issues pertaining to Alleyne go directly to the
legality of the sentence”). “Issues relating to the legality of a sentence are
questions of law. Our standard of review over such questions is de novo and
our scope of review is plenary.” Id. (citation and formatting omitted).
We begin with a brief discussion of the law underlying the issues
raised. The sentencing statute in question, section 7508, states, in relevant
part:
(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this or any other act to the contrary,
the following provisions shall apply:
* * *
(2) A person who is convicted of violating section
13(a)(14), (30) or (37) of The Controlled
Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act where
the controlled substance or a mixture containing it
is classified in Schedule I or Schedule II under
section 4 of that act and is a narcotic drug shall,
upon conviction, be sentenced to a mandatory
minimum term of imprisonment and a fine as set
forth in this subsection:
(i) when the aggregate weight of the
compound or mixture containing the substance
involved is at least 2.0 grams and less than ten
grams; two years in prison and a fine of
$5,000 or such larger amount as is sufficient to
exhaust the assets utilized in and the proceeds
from the illegal activity; however, if at the time
of sentencing the defendant has been
convicted of another drug trafficking offense:
three years in prison and $10,000 or such
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larger amount as is sufficient to exhaust the
assets utilized in and the proceeds from the
illegal activity[.]
* * *
(b) Proof of sentencing.--Provisions of this section
shall not be an element of the crime. Notice of the
applicability of this section to the defendant shall not
be required prior to conviction, but reasonable notice
of the Commonwealth’s intention to proceed under
this section shall be provided after conviction and
before sentencing. The applicability of this section
shall be determined at sentencing. The court shall
consider evidence presented at trial, shall afford the
Commonwealth and the defendant an opportunity to
present necessary additional evidence and shall
determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, if
this section is applicable.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7508(a)(2)(i), (b).
On June 17, 2013, the United States Supreme Court decided Alleyne
v. U.S., wherein it held that “facts that increase mandatory minimum
sentences must be submitted to the jury.” Alleyne, 133 S.Ct. at 2163. On
November 25, 2014, in Commonwealth v. Cardwell this Court held that
pursuant to Alleyne, section 7508 was facially unconstitutional in its
entirety. Cardwell, 105 A.3d at 754-55.
Turning to the case at bar, the trial court states that Garcia did not
receive a mandatory minimum sentence, and thus, Garcia is not entitled to
relief:
[T]his was not a mandatory minimum sentence that
was influenced by the weight of narcotics. Had this
been a mandatory minimum sentence, [Garcia]
would have been subject to [three] to [six] years
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rather than the [four] to [eight] years he actually
received. This court aggravated the sentence
because of [Garcia]’s prior record and complete lack
of remorse. Since the mandatory minimum sentence
was not even implemented, it cannot be argued that
this court determined an element in order to reach
the mandatory minimum. Instead, this court went
above that minimum because of several other
factors.
Trial Court Opinion, 6/13/14, at 8. The trial court further asserts that
Alleyne is inapplicable because Garcia stipulated that all of the cocaine
recovered by police tested positive for narcotics. This evidence included the
weight of the narcotics recovered, and the jury found beyond a reasonable
doubt that Garcia possessed the cocaine with the intent to deliver it. Id. at
9. As such, the trial court concluded that because it did not make a
determination regarding the weight of the cocaine – the jury made this
determination beyond a reasonable doubt – the sentence should not be
disturbed. Id.
Garcia contends that the trial court absolutely employed the
mandatory minimum sentence in section 7508 when fashioning his sentence.
Garcia states that the court used it “as its starting point,” and then
sentenced Garcia to additional time in excess of the minimum sentence
based on other considerations. Garcia’s Reply Brief at 2. Garcia further
denies that he stipulated to the weight of the drugs or that the
Commonwealth presented any evidence of the weight of the drugs
recovered. Garcia’s Brief at 13 & n.6.
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Although the trial court did not specify that it was utilizing the
mandatory minimum sentence contained in section 7508(a)(2)(i) in
fashioning Garcia’s sentence, the record reflects that it did. Prior to trial,
Garcia filed a motion seeking to bar consideration of section 7508 at
sentencing, which the trial court denied. N.T., 4/8/13, at 8. At sentencing,
it is clear that both parties were operating under the assumption that the
mandatory minimum sentence was in play – the Commonwealth presented
evidence that the cocaine seized weighed over two grams and Garcia
requested that the trial court not go above the mandatory minimum
sentence of three to six years. N.T., 6/4/13, at 6-7. The trial court did not
make a specific finding at sentencing regarding the weight of the cocaine in
Garcia’s possession, but, as it states in its written opinion, it did not believe
it needed to because of its conclusion that the weight of the cocaine was
proven at trial. See Trial Court Opinion, 6/13/14, at 9.
The law requires the trial court to consider the sentencing guidelines
when sentencing a criminal defendant. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9721(b); see 204 Pa.
Code § 303.16(a). If the trial court imposes a sentence outside of the
guidelines, it must “provide a contemporaneous written statement of the
reason or reasons for the deviation from the guidelines[.]” 42 Pa.C.S.A. §
9721(b). However, “[w]hen the guideline range is lower than that required
by a mandatory sentencing statute, the mandatory minimum requirement
supersedes the sentence recommendation.” Commonwealth v. Diamond,
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945 A.2d 252, 260 n.10 (Pa. Super. 2008) (quoting 204 Pa. Code §
303.9(h)). The record reflects that at sentencing, the trial court made no
mention of the sentencing guidelines, and despite sentencing Garcia in
excess of the guideline range,4 the trial court did not provide a
contemporaneous written statement for its reason for deviating from the
sentencing guidelines in the record.
Moreover, at the time of Garcia’s sentencing, Garcia’s sentence would
have been illegal if the trial court had not sentenced Garcia pursuant to
section 7508:
(c) Mandatory sentencing.--There shall be no
authority in any court to impose on an offender to
which this section is applicable a lesser sentence
than provided for herein or to place the offender on
probation, parole or work release or to suspend
sentence. Nothing in this section shall prevent the
sentencing court from imposing a sentence greater
than provided herein. Sentencing guidelines
promulgated by the Pennsylvania Commission on
Sentencing shall not supersede the mandatory
sentences provided herein. Disposition under section
17 or 18 of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device
and Cosmetic Act shall not be available to a
defendant to which this section applies.
(d) Appellate review.--If a sentencing court
refuses to apply this section where applicable, the
Commonwealth shall have the right to appellate
review of the action of the sentencing court. The
appellate court shall vacate the sentence and
remand the case to the sentencing court for
imposition of a sentence in accordance with this
4
See 204 Pa. Code § 303.16(a).
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section if it finds that the sentence was imposed in
violation of this section.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7508(c)-(d) (footnote omitted).
Based upon our review of the record and the law, we conclude that the
trial court applied the mandatory minimum sentence in section 7508(a)(2)(i)
when sentencing Garcia. Simply because the trial court did not sentence
Garcia to the precise term of years called for in section 7508(a)(2)(i),
instead sentencing him to a longer term of incarceration, does not mean that
the court did not sentence Garcia pursuant to section 7508. Section
7508(c), quoted above, expressly permits the trial court to impose a
sentence greater than the mandatory minimum sentence provided in the
statute. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7508(c). Thus, although the trial court
imposed a lengthier sentence than the mandatory minimum called for, it
nonetheless sentenced Garcia pursuant to section 7508(a)(2)(i), rendering
Garcia’s sentence illegal based upon Cardwell and Alleyne.
The learned Dissent contends that this is a challenge to the
discretionary aspects of Garcia’s sentence, not a question of the legality of
his sentence, as the trial court had the authority to impose the sentence it
did when it sentenced Garcia. Diss. at 2-3. We respectfully disagree.
Although Alleyne was not decided at the time the trial court imposed
Garcia’s sentence, this Court, sitting en banc, has held that Alleyne applies
retroactively and has treated questions on appeal involving the retroactive
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application of Alleyne as a legality of sentencing issue. See Newman,
99 A.3d at 90.
Furthermore, the fact that the sentence imposed is less than the
statutory maximum does not render this a legal sentence. See Diss. at 3
n.2. In Newman, for example, a case decided nearly a year before
Alleyne, the trial court sentenced the defendant to the then-legal
mandatory minimum sentence in 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9712.1 for his PWID cocaine
conviction.5 Newman, 99 A.3d at 89. Although the defendant’s five-to-ten-
year term of imprisonment did not exceed the statutory maximum sentence
permitted,6 see id., this Court found that the defendant’s sentence was
illegal because the trial court sentenced him pursuant to section 9712.1 and
that the statute violated the dictates of Alleyne.7 Id. at 103. Thus, while
5
This statute provides: “Any person who is convicted of a violation of
[35 P.S. 780-113(a)(30)], known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device
and Cosmetic Act, when at the time of the offense the person or the person’s
accomplice is in physical possession or control of a firearm, whether visible,
concealed about the person or the person’s accomplice or within the actor’s
or accomplice’s reach or in close proximity to the controlled substance, shall
likewise be sentenced to a minimum sentence of at least five years of total
confinement.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9712.1(a).
6
Pursuant to 35 P.S. § 780-113(f)(1.1), the maximum sentence for PWID
cocaine is ten years of incarceration.
7
Specifically, this Court found section 9712.1 unconstitutional because “[i]t
permits the trial court, as opposed to the jury, to increase a defendant’s
minimum sentence based upon a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant was dealing drugs and possessed a firearm, or that a firearm was
in close proximity to the drugs,” in violation of Alleyne. Newman, 99 A.3d
at 98.
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the Dissent is correct that Garcia’s sentence was lawful at the time of his
sentencing, it is nonetheless illegal now and must be vacated as a result.
See Commonwealth v. Thompson, 106 A.3d 742, 759 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(“An illegal sentence must be vacated.”).8
Additionally, we note that although the defendant stipulated at trial to
the weight of the drugs, in Cardwell this Court held that this does not
remove the case from the ambit of Alleyne. Like Garcia, the defendant in
Cardwell stipulated at trial to the weight of the drugs recovered.
Cardwell, 105 A.3d at 754. The trial court in Cardwell concluded that the
Commonwealth proved the weight of the drugs beyond a reasonable doubt,
alleviating any Alleyne-related problem. Id. On appeal, we disagreed,
stating that section 7508(b) was not severable from the rest of the statute.
Id. Further, relying on this Court’s prior decisions in Newman9 and
8
We note that Alleyne is inapplicable to questions concerning a judicially
decided fact that elevated the sentence beyond the statutory maximum.
Rather, such cases are governed by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S.
466 (2000), wherein the United States Supreme Court held: “Other than
the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime
beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and
proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at 490.
9
In Newman, we rejected the Commonwealth’s suggestion that we
remand for a sentencing jury to make the required determination, stating
“that it is manifestly the province of the General Assembly to determine
what new procedures must be created in order to impose mandatory
minimum sentences in Pennsylvania following Alleyne.” Newman, 99 A.3d
at 102.
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Commonwealth v. Valentine, 101 A.3d 801 (Pa. Super. 2014),10 the
Cardwell Court stated, “[C]reating a new procedure in an effort to impose a
mandatory minimum sentence is solely within the province of the
legislature.” Cardwell, 105 A.3d at 754-55 (emphasis supplied). The Court
thus concluded that the trial court erred by imposing the mandatory
minimum provided for in section 7508. Id. at 755.
For all of these reasons, we conclude that the sentencing court
sentenced Garcia pursuant to the mandatory minimum sentence contained
in section 7508(a)(2)(i), and based upon its consideration of other factors
(Garcia’s prior record score and lack of remorse), sentenced Garcia above
the mandatory minimum. See Trial Court Opinion, 6/13/14, at 8; see also
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7508(c). Section 7508, in its entirety, is unconstitutional.
Cardwell, 105 A.3d at 755. As such, the trial court’s reliance upon section
10
In Valentine, we held that the mandatory sentencing provisions
contained in section 9712 and 9713 of the Sentencing Code were
unconstitutional pursuant to Alleyne, as both sections required the trial
court to determine by a preponderance of the evidence factors triggering the
implementation of a mandatory minimum sentence. Valentine, 101 A.3d at
809, 812. Although in Valentine, the jury, not the trial court, determined
on the verdict slip the existence of the factors triggering the application of
sections 9712 and 9713, we concluded that pursuant to Newman, “the trial
court performed an impermissible legislative function by creating a new
procedure in an effort to impose the mandatory minimum sentences in
compliance with Alleyne.” Id. at 811.
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7508 when sentencing Garcia was error, necessitating that we vacate
Garcia’s sentence and remand for resentencing.11
Judgment of sentence vacated. Case remanded for resentencing.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
Musmanno, J. joins the Memorandum.
Olson, J. files a Dissenting Memorandum.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 5/15/2015
11
In reaching this conclusion, we do not “transform[] Pennsylvania’s now-
invalid mandatory sentencing schemes into a sentencing cap,” as the Dissent
suggests. See Diss. at 1. Our holding here goes no further than to apply
the law to the case before us. As stated, the record reveals that the trial
court sentenced Garcia pursuant to section 7508(a)(2)(i), which the United
States Supreme Court and this Court have since found to be an illegal
sentence, requiring that we vacate Garcia’s sentence and remand for
resentencing. We do nothing to infringe upon a trial court’s discretion at
sentencing.
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