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Commonwealth v. McDuffieCommonwealth v. McDuffie

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Dec 23, 1982
Appeal 80-3-458
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
O'Brien

Dissenting Opinion

*327McDERMOTT, Justice,

dissenting.

I dissent from the order of the Court insofar as it vacates appellant’s sentence for the attempted robbery of Ernest Lang on the authority of Commonwealth v. Tarver, 493 ‍​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‍Pa. 320, 426 A.2d 569 (1981). Appellant committed two separate and distinct offenses: attempted robbery and murder of the second degree. I would overrule Tarver and hold that the lower court did not abuse its broad discretion in sentencing appellant for both crimes. See Commonwealth v. Tarver, 493 Pa. at 331, 426 A.2d at 575 (dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Larsen).






Lead Opinion

ORDER

PER CURIAM.

The Judgments ‍​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‍of Sentence are affirmed under Criminal Information Nos. 6887-A-78 (murder of the second degree— E. Lang) and 6887-D(2)-78 (attempted robbery — 0. Lang). The Judgment of Sentence imposed under Criminal Information No. 6887-D(l)-78 (attempted robbery — E. Lang) is vacated. Commonwealth v. Tarver, 493 Pa. 320, 426 A.2d 569 (1981). Judgment of Sentence imposed under Criminal Information No. 6887-J-78 (crimes ‍​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‍committed with a firearm) is vacated. Commonwealth v. Turner, 265 Pa.Super. 486, 402 A.2d 542 (1979), citing Commonwealth ex rel. Curry v. Myers, 195 Pa.Super. 480, 171 A.2d 792 (1961). The sentence imposed under Criminal Information No. 6887-K-78 (conspiracy) is vacated. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 906.*

LARSEN and McDERMOTT, JJ., filed dissenting opinions.

Notes

Subsequent to the original sentences imposed in this case, pursuant to a Writ of Habeas Corpus ‍​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‍filed with the court below February 19, 1980, an order was entered by that court vacating the judgment entered under Criminal Information No. 6887-E (robbery — two counts) finding that the said information merged with Criminal Information No. 6887-D and suspending the sentence originally entered under Criminal Information No. 6887-1 (prohibited offensive weapons).






Dissenting Opinion

LARSEN, Justice,

dissenting.

I dissent ‍​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‍from the majority’s order of this Court vacating appellant’s sentence for attempted robbery. In support thereof I cite my dissenting opinion in Commonwealth v. Tarver, 493 Pa. 320, 426 A.2d 569 (1981).

Case Details

Case Name: Commonwealth v. McDuffie
Court Name: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Date Published: Dec 23, 1982
Citations: 453 A.2d 331; 499 Pa. 325; 1982 Pa. LEXIS 675; Appeal 80-3-458
Docket Number: Appeal 80-3-458
Court Abbreviation: Pa.
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