Commonwealth v. BosscheCommonwealth v. Bossche
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Brosky
Lead Opinion
Appellant entered counseled pleas of guilty to the offenses of theft by deception and bad checks. In this direct appeal, appellant argues that the sentence imposed by the sentencing court in response to a petition for modification of sentence filed by the Commonwealth violated principles of double jeopardy. We do not agree and, accordingly, affirm.
Appellant entered pleas of guilty to the third degree felony of theft by deception,1 the second degree misdemean- or of bad checks and the summary offense of bad checks.2 After appellant waived a pre-sentence investigation, the distinguished Judge Richard L. Nygaard imposed a sentence of seven years probation upon the conviction for theft by deception, while concurrent terms of two years probation and ninety days probation were imposed on the convictions for bad checks. Appellant was also sentenced to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes.
During the sentencing hearing, the assistant district attorney, defense counsel and appellant all indicated to the court that this was the first criminal offense ever committed by appellant. The sentencing judge stated as he imposed sentence: “And this is your first offense as you stand before the Court. I believe that under the circumstances some leniency is in order____” [N.T. 10] A few hours after the conclusion of the sentencing proceedings, the Commonwealth filed a petition for modification of sentence pursuant to
Accordingly, I am granting the Commonwealth’s motion, petition to modify the sentence, and I am now modifying it---- With respect to count two, which is a felony of the third degree, one to two years at Mercer Correctional. With respect to count five, I believe the sentence remains the same, five years probation.[3] With respect to count seven, I believe the sentence remains the same, ninety days, all to be served concurrently. Thus, I believe the only modification is as to count two, and it’s changed from seven years total probation and reduced from [sic] one to two and to be served as time____ The only thing modified is count two. [N.T. 13-14] (footnote supplied).
Appellant did not file a petition for modification of this sentence but, rather, filed a notice of appeal to this court. Rule 1410 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that the aggrieved party “file a motion to modify sentence with the sentencing court before obtaining appellate review of a sentence.” Commonwealth v. Anderson, 304 Pa.Super. 476, 478, 450 A.2d 1011, 1012 (1982). The *5failure to file a petition for modification of sentence results in a waiver on appeal of all issues regarding the propriety of the sentence imposed. Commonwealth v. Lightly, 307 Pa.Super. 239, 453 A.2d 14 (1982); Commonwealth v. Anderson, supra 304 Pa.Super. at 481, 450 A.2d at 1014; Appellant argues that his sentence, as modified, violated the principles of double jeopardy and was, therefore, illegal. See Commonwealth v. Roach, 307 Pa.Super. 506, 508, 453 A.2d 1001, 1003 (1982). We need not, therefore, determine whether appellant in the instant case was required to file a petition for modification of sentence in response to the modified sentence imposed upon him in order to preserve issues for appellate review, since the illegality of a sentence cannot be waived by a failure to properly raise the issue in the trial court. Commonwealth v. Walker, 468 Pa. 323, 362 A.2d 227 (1976); Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 319 Pa. Super. 170, 465 A.2d 1284 (1983); Commonwealth v. Fortune, 305 Pa.Super. 441, 451 A.2d 729 (1982); Commonwealth v. Kerr, 298 Pa.Super. 257, 258, 259, 444 A.2d 758, 759 (1982).
An en banc panel of this court in Commonwealth v. Anderson, supra, held that the principles of double jeopardy are not violated by the right of the Commonwealth to petition, pursuant to
(1) a sentence lacks “such finality ... as would prevent a legislative body from authorizing its appeal by the prose-*6ration,” id. at 135, 101 S.Ct. at 436, 66 L.Ed.2d at 345; (2) it also lacks “the qualities of constitutional finality that attend an acquittal,” id. at 135, 101 S.Ct. at 436, 66 L.Ed.2d at 345; (3) the “double jeopardy considerations” —unwarranted exposure of the defendant to harassment, “embarrassment, expense, anxiety and insecurity,” of repeated prosecutions and the threat of being “found guilty even though innocent” — “have no significant application to the prosecution’s statutorily granted right to review a sentence,” id. at 136, 101 S.Ct. at 437, 66 L.Ed.2d at 346; and (4) because the defendant has no “right to know at any specific moment in time what the exact limit of his punishment will be” his “legitimate expectations are not defeated if his sentence is increased on appeal,” id. at 136, 101 S.Ct. at 437, 66 L.Ed.2d at 346. Moreover, the prohibition against multiple punishment, see Ex parte Lange, 85 U.S. (18 Wall.) 163, 21 L.Ed. 872 (1874), is inapplicable when the sentencing guideline is explicit and any sentence imposed thereunder is specifically subject to prosecutorial appeal. Id. at 138, 101 S.Ct. at 438, 66 L.Ed.2d at 346.
Commonwealth v. Love, 295 Pa.Super. 276, 284-285, 441 A.2d 1230, 1234 (1982)4 (Hoffman, J., concurring).
Appellant was sentenced pursuant to the provisions of the Sentencing Code, Act of December 30, 1974, P.L. 1052, No. 345, § 1,
Moreover, by affirmatively misrepresenting to the sentencing court that he had never previously committed a criminal offense, appellant caused the sentencing court to *7rely upon erroneous information in determining the appropriate sentence under the Sentencing Code. See
Since we find the modification of the sentence imposed upon appellant did not constitute a violation of the principles of double jeopardy, we hereby affirm the judgment of sentence.
BECK, J., filed a concurring statement.Notes
.
.
. The sentencing judge repeatedly noted that he intended to modify only the sentence imposed on count two. The original recorded judgment of sentence as well as the recorded modified judgment of sentence indicate that the sentence imposed on count five was a term of probation of two years. It would appear the reference by the court to a five year term on this count was simply an inadvertent oversight.
. Overruled on other grounds by Commonwealth v. Anderson, supra.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring:
I join in the excellent opinion of the majority and write separately solely to place the majority’s characterization of the conduct of appellant and his counsel as a “fraud upon the court” in its proper context. I emphasize that it is not necessary to this Court’s holding that the misstatements concerning appellant’s record be intentional, and the issue of whether or not they were intentional was not before us on this appeal.