COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee v. Andrew PONCALA, Appellant.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Filed Dec. 8, 2006.
Reargument Denied Feb. 15, 2007.
915 A.2d 97
David W. Lupas, Asst. Dist. Atty., Wilkes-Barre, for Com., appellee.
BEFORE: JOYCE, GANTMAN, JJ. and McEWEN, P.J.E.
OPINION BY GANTMAN, J.:
¶ 1 Appellant, Andrew Poncala, appeals from the judgment of sentence entered in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, following his guilty plea to two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol (“DUI“) 1 and one count of endangering the welfare of minors.2 Appellant asks us to determine whether the trial court erred when it denied Appellant‘s application for the county intermediate punishment program (“IPP“), based on the conclusion that the current offense/conviction constituted Appellant‘s fourth DUI in ten years. As a prefatory matter, we hold that the issue Appellant raised on appeal is properly before this Court, because Appellant‘s claim is in direct response to the trial court‘s Rule 1925(a) opinion and raised at the first opportunity Appellant could raise the issue. We further hold that the mandatory and specific sentencing provision set forth in
¶ 2 The certified record provides the relevant facts and procedural history of this case as follows. On February 21, 2004, at about 3:04 p.m., police were called to the scene of a one-car motor vehicle accident. According to the record, Appellant had taken his girlfriend‘s seven-year old son in her car, without her permission, while Apрellant was intoxicated. Appellant drove the vehicle north on South Main Street, crossed into oncoming traffic, struck a utility pole with the rear driver‘s-side quarter panel, crossed both lanes, and drove the car into the front porch of a residence on South Main Street. At the time of this accident, Appellant was driving while his license was suspended or revoked, related to a previous DUI conviction.
¶ 4 Appellant was extracted from the vehicle by the local fire and rescue team and transported by ambulance to CMC Medical Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was advised of his rights under the implied consent law. Appellant consented to the blood alcohol (“BAC“) testing and two tubes of blood were drawn at 4:20 p.m. The blood was analyzed and the result was a BAC of 0.236%.
¶ 5 On July 6, 2004, Appellant entered an open guilty plea to one count of DUI at
¶ 6 At the sentencing hearing on August 19, 2004, Appellant‘s current conviction was again presented to the court as Appellant‘s third DUI in ten years. Aрpellant‘s counsel argued Appellant was eligible for IPP under
¶ 7 Appellant filed a timely appeal, followed by a timely Rule 1925(b) statement, in which he identified one issue: Whether the trial court has discretion to impose IPP on a defendant convicted of driving under the influence for a third time in ten years.
¶ 8 In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the court did not address the issue Appellant raised in his Rule 1925(b) statement. Instead, the court said Appellant‘s record revealed that his current DUI was actually his fourth offense/conviction in ten years not his third, the prior convictions having occurred in 1994, 1997, and 2002. The court noted that
¶ 9 On appeal, Appellant raises the following issue for our review:
WHETHER THE INSTANT OFFENSE IS A THIRD OR FOURTH DUI RENDERING [APPELLANT] ELIGIBLE FOR I.P.P.?
(Appellant‘s Brief at 2).
¶ 10 Initially, we must decide whether Appellant‘s issue is properly be
¶ 11 Nevertheless, if the appellant has no way to anticipate the court‘s rationale for its decision, the appellant‘s Rule 1925(b) statement will of necessity challenge the court‘s ruling in terms based on the available information. Commonwealth v. Zheng, 908 A.2d 285 (Pa.Super.2006). The court knows best why it sentenced the appellant and is in a “better position to explain the details. In such circumstances, a general Rule 1925(b) statement does give the [court] sufficient guidance to draft a Rule 1925(a) opinion and will not constitutе waiver.” Id. at 287. “Just as the [court] cannot be made to guess what an appellant is complaining of on appeal, an appellant cannot be made to guess what the [court] is thinking in [its] ruling.” Id. at 288. Thus, we will not penalize an appellant “for failure to include [] in the Rule 1925(b) statement [an issue] that could not be known until clarification is made in the [court‘s] Rule 1925(a) opinion. Justice requires such a result.” Id.
¶ 12 Instantly, Appellant‘s issue on appeal is in direct and proper response to the sentencing rationalе, which the court set forth in its Rule 1925(a) opinion. Until the court issued its opinion, Appellant had no way of knowing that the court would justify the sentence by finding the present DUI was Appellant‘s fourth DUI in ten years. Appellant‘s Rule 1925(b) statement challenged the sentence imposed following a guilty plea to a third DUI that had been prosecuted as a third DUI in ten years. Under the circumstances of his case, Appellant could not be expected to say more. See id. Appellant‘s Rule 1925(b) statement still gave the cоurt sufficient guidance to draft a Rule 1925(a) opinion. The fact that Appellant‘s current DUI might actually have been his fourth DUI in ten years was not before the trial court at any time, including sentencing. Therefore, Appellant should not be penalized for failing to dispute in his Rule 1925(b) statement whether his current DUI was his third or fourth DUI in ten years, or for failing to anticipate the court‘s wholly new and independent reason for its sentence. Id. Instead, we will address the merits of this appeal, as this case does not represеnt the kind of situation the Lord waiver rule was designed to address.
¶ 13 Appellant argues he pleaded guilty to a third DUI offense, as reflected in the guilty plea and sentencing transcripts. At sentencing, Appellant requested IPP, which the court denied. Appellant maintains he qualifies for intermediate punishment under
¶ 14 This case involves the interplay between the mandatory sentencing provision under the DUI statute and a discretionary sentencing provision under the Sentencing Code, which presents “a question of law that compels plenary review to determine whether the court committed an error of law.” Commonwealth v. Williams, 871 A.2d 254, 262 (Pa.Super.2005). “As with all questions of law, the appellate standard of review is de novo and the appellate scope of review is plenary.” In re Wilson, 879 A.2d 199, 214 (Pa.Super.2005) (en banc).
§ 9804. County intermediate punishment programs
(a) Description.--County intermediate punishment program options shall include the following:
(1) Restrictive intermediate punishments providing for the strict supervision of the offender including programs that:
(i) house the offender full or part time;
(ii) significantly restrict the offender‘s movement and monitor the offender‘s compliance with the program; or
(iii) involve a combination of programs that meet the standards set forth under subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
(2) When utilized in combination with restrictive intermediate punishments, restorative sanctions providing for nonconfinement sentencing options that:
(i) Are the least restrictive in terms of the constrаint of the offender‘s liberties.
(ii) Do not involve the housing of the offender, either full or part time.
(iii) Focus on restoring the victim to pre-offense status.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) No person other than the eligible offender shall be sentenced to a county intermediate punishment program.
(2) The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing shall employ the term “eligible offender” to further identify offenders who would be appropriate for participation in county intermediate punishment programs. In developing the guidelines, the commission shall give primary consideration to protеction of the public safety.
* * *
(5) A defendant subject to
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3804 (relating to penalties) may only be sentenced to county intermediate punishment for a first, second, or third offense.
¶ 16 On the other hand, the Commonwealth cites several sections of the Motor Vehicle Code, for example, Section 3802, which defines the relevant DUI offenses as follows:
§ 3802. Driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance
(a) General impairment.----
(1) An individual mаy not drive, operate or be in actual physical control of the movement of a vehicle after imbibing a sufficient amount
of alcohol such that the individual is rendered incapable of safely driving, operating or being in actual physical control of the movement of the vehicle.
* * *
(c) Highest rate of alcohol.--An individual may not drive, operate or be in actual physical control of the movement of a vehicle after imbibing a sufficient amount of alcohol such that the alcohol concentration in the individual‘s blood or breath is 0.16% or higher within two hours after the individual has driven, operated or been in actual physical control of the movement of the vehicle.
* * *
§ 3804. Penalties.
* * *
(b) High rate of blood alcohol; minors; commercial vehicles and school buses and school vehicles; accidents.--Except as set forth in subsection (c), an individual who violates section 3802(a)(1) where there was аn accident resulting in bodily injury, serious bodily injury or death of any person or damage to a vehicle or other property ... shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) For a first offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 48 consecutive hours;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(2) For a second offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 30 days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $750 nor more than $5,000;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(3) For a third offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 90 days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $10,000; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(4) For a fourth or subsequent offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than one year;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $10,000; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
* * *
(c) Incapacity; highest blood alcohol; controlled substances.--An individual who ... violates section 3802(c) or (d) shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) For a first offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 72 consecutive hours;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(2) For a second offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 90 days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,500;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than one year;
(ii) pay a fine of not less that $2,500; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sectiоns 3814 and 3815.
* * *
(g) Sentencing Guidelines.--The sentencing guidelines promulgated by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing do not supersede the mandatory penalties of this section.
(h) Appeal.--The Commonwealth has the right to appeal directly to the Superior Court any order of court which imposes a sentence for violation of this section which does not meet the requirements of this section. The Superior Court shall remand the case to the sentencing court for imposition of a sentence in accordance with the provisions of this section.
§ 3806. Prior offenses
(a) General rule.--Except as set forth in subsection (b), the term “prior offense” as used in this chapter shall mean a conviction, adjudication of delinquency, juvenile consent decree, acceptance of Accelerated Rеhabilitative Disposition or other form of preliminary disposition before the sentencing on the present violation for any of the following:
(1) an offense under section 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance);
(2) an offense under former section 3731;
(3) an offense substantially similar to an offense under paragraph (1) or (2) in another jurisdiction; or
(4) any combination of the offenses set forth in paragraph (1), (2) or (3).
(b) Repeat offenses within ten years.--The calculation of prior offenses for purposes of sections 1553(d.2) (relating to occupational limited license), 3803 (relating to grading) and 3804 (relating to penalties) shall include any conviction, adjudication of delinquency, juvenile consent decree, acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or other form of preliminary disposition within the ten years before the present violation occurred for any of the following:
(1) an offense under section 3802;
(2) an offense under former section 3731;
(3) an offense substantially similar to an offense under paragraph (1) or (2) in anothеr jurisdiction; or
(2) any combination of the offenses set forth in paragraph (1), (2) or (3).
¶ 17 Application of these statutory sections further implicates the following principles of statutory interpretation and construction:
The principal objective of statutory interpretation and construction is to ascertain and effectuate the intention of the legislature.
1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(a) ; Commonwealth v. Menezes, 871 A.2d 204, 209 (Pa.Super.2005)[, appeal denied, 586 Pa. 724, 890 A.2d 1057 (2005)]; Commonwealth v. Reaser, 851 A.2d 144, 148 (Pa.Super.2004), appeal denied, 581 Pa. 674, 863 A.2d 1145 (2004). When possible, every statute should be construed to give effect to all its provisions.1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(a) ; Commonwealth v. Drummond, 775 A.2d 849, 855-56 (Pa.Super.2001) (en banc), appeal denied, 567 Pa. 756, 790 A.2d 1013 (2001). Courts must read and evaluate each sеction of a statute in the context of, and with reference to, the other sections of the statute, because there is a presumption that the legislature intended the entire statute to be operative and effective. Id. at 856; Commonwealth v. Campbell, 758 A.2d 1231, 1234 (Pa.Super.2000); Commonwealth v. Lopez, 444 Pa.Super. 206, 663 A.2d 746, 748 (1995).
The plain language of a statute is the best indication of legislative intent. Reaser, supra at 149; Drummond, supra at 856. “The basic tenet of statutory construction requires a court to construe words of the statute according to their plain meaning.” Commonwealth v. Heberling, 451 Pa.Super. 119, 678 A.2d 794, 795 (1996). “When the words of a statute are clear and free frоm all ambiguity, the letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.” Menezes, supra at 204;
1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(b) .
Another guiding principle stated in the Statutory Construction Act provides:
§ 1933 Particular controls general
Whenever a general provision in a statute shall be in conflict with a special provision in the same or another statute, the two shall be construed, if possible, so that effect may be given to both. If the conflict between the two provisions is irreconcilable, the special provisions shall prevail and shall be construed as an exception to the general provision, unless the general provision shall be enacted later and it shall be the manifest intention of the General Assembly that such general provision shall prevail.
¶ 18 Instantly, Appellant pleaded guilty to a third DUI. His offense fell
¶ 19 Here, Appellant‘s current DUI under Section 3802(c) placed him squarely under Section 3804(c), because his BAC was 0.236%. See
¶ 20 Based upon the foregoing, we hold that the issue Appellant raised on appeal is properly before this Court, because Appellant‘s claim is in direct response to the trial court‘s Rule 1925(a) opinion and raised at the first opportunity Appellant could raise the issue. We further hold that the mandatory and specific sentencing provision set forth in
¶ 21 Judgment of sentence affirmed.
¶ 22 *JUDGE JOYCE FILES A CONCURRING OPINION.
CONCURRING OPINION BY JOYCE, J.:
¶ 1 Although I agree that the judgment of sentence should be affirmed, I would affirm on the basis that thе issue raised by Appellant was not preserved in his 1925(b) statement and is waived. Therefore, while I concur in the result, I write separately to distance myself from the Majority‘s analysis of the 1925(b) issue and its consideration of the merits of an issue that should be deemed waived.
¶ 2 As the Majority correctly notes, Appellant filed a timely appeal from his judgment of sentence for driving under the influence. In his 1925(b) statement, Appellant identified one issue: Whether the sentencing court has discretion to impose an intermediаte punishment sentence on a defendant convicted of driving under the influence for a third time in ten years.
¶ 3 In its 1925(a) opinion, the trial court did not address the issue raised by Appellant. Instead, the trial court stated that a review of Appellant‘s record revealed that
¶ 4 In his brief on appeal, Appellant raises a new issue: “Whether the instant offense is a third or fourth D.U.I. rendering [Appellant] eligible for [intermediate punishment]?” Appellant‘s Brief, at 2.6 This issue was not preserved in Appellant‘s 1925(b) statement. The Majority nevertheless concludes that the issue is not waived on appeal. In doing so, the Majority ignores the mandate of Commonwealth v. Castillo, 585 Pa. 395, 888 A.2d 775 (2005), in which our Supreme Court reaffirmed the bright-line rule first enunciated in Commonwealth v. Lord, 553 Pa. 415, 420, 719 A.2d 306, 309 (1998), that “[a]ny issues not raised in a 1925(b) statement will be deemed waived.” Lord, 553 Pa. at 420, 719 A.2d at 309. In Castillo, the Supreme Court also “specifically [voiced its] disapproval of prior decisions of the intermediate courts to the extent that they have created exceptions to Lord and have addressed issues that should have been deemed waived.” Castillo, 585 Pa. at 403, 888 A.2d at 780.
¶ 5 Relying on this Court‘s recent decision in Commonwealth v. Zheng, 908 A.2d 285 (Pa.Super.2006), the Majority endorses the Zheng panel‘s creation of an exception to Lord by addressing an issue that was not raised in Zheng‘s 1925(b) statement, an issue that should have been deemed waived under the bright-line rule announced in Lord.7 The Majority adopts the position taken in Zheng, stating “we will not penalize an appellant for failure to include in the Rule 1925(b) statement an issue that could not be known until clarification is made in the court‘s Rule 1925(a) opinion. Justice requires such a result.” Majority Opinion at ¶ 11 (quoting Zheng, supra, at 288 (internal quotations and brackets omitted)). In doing so, the Majority has sanctioned an exception to Lord, disregarding the Supreme Court‘s express disapproval of such exceptions as restated in Castillo. For that reason, I cannot join in the Majority Opinion, and instead concur in the result only.8