This is an appeal from a judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County. Appellant Barbara Reichle was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), 75 Pa.C.S. § 3731(a), reckless driving, 75 Pa.C.S. § 3714, and a violation of 75 Pa.C.S. § 3301, driving on the right side of the roadway. Reichle entered into a negotiated guilty plea to one DUI charge in exchange for the Commonwealth’s agreement to
nol pros
the remaining charges and recom
The sentencing court accepted the plea agreement, and Reichle was sentenced to serve 48 hours imprisonment and 50 hours of community service with the Salvation Army. A motion to modify sentence was filed and denied. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 1410. On appeal, Reichle challenges the discretionary aspects of her sentence, and raises the following issues:
1. Whether a substantial question about the appropriateness of the sentence exists where the sentence was excessive for this particular defendant?
2. Whether the court erred by imposing an excessive sentence?
3. Whether the court erred by failing to consider all the information regarding this defendant?
Generally, a plea of guilty amounts to a waiver of all defects and defenses except those concerning the jurisdiction of the court, the legality of the sentence, and the validity of the guilty plea.
Commonwealth v. Moyer,
Where the plea agreement contains a negotiated sentence which is accepted and imposed by the sentencing court, there is no authority to permit a challenge to the discretionary aspects of that sentence. “If either party to a negotiated plea agreement believed the other side could, at any time following entry of sentence, approach the judge and have the sentence unilaterally altered, neither the Commonwealth nor any defendant would be willing to enter into such an agreement.”
Coles,
The Commonwealth has included in its brief a request for costs and counsel fees.
See
Pa.R.A.P. 2744. The Commonwealth contends that Reichle’s appeal is frivolous and, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent decision in
Smith v. Board of Probation and Parole,
The authority to assess counsel fees and costs for the filing of a frivolous appeal is found in Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2744, which states in part:
Rule 2744. Further Costs. Counsel Fees. Damages for Delay.
In addition to other costs allowable by general rule or act of Assembly, an appellate court may award as further costs damages as may be just, including
(1) a reasonable counsel fee and
(2) damages for delay ...,
if it determines that an appeal is frivolous or taken solely for delay or that the conduct of the participant against whom costs are to be imposed is dilatory, obdurate or vexatious. The appellate court may remand the case to the trial court to determine the amount of damages authorized by this rule.
Pa.R.A.P. 2744. In Smith, the supreme court stated:
This Court has affirmed the power of an appellate court to award attorney’s fees pursuant to this Rule in a civil action, see Gossman v. Lower Chanceford Township Board of Supervisors,503 Pa. 392 ,469 A.2d 996 (1983), but we have never addressed a court’s power to impose such a sanction where, as here, appellate counsel isrequired by constitutional mandate to represent the client.... We now hold that despite the constitutional right to counsel in an appeal from a criminal conviction, costs and attorney’s fees may be assessed against court-appointed appellate counsel for the filing of a frivolous appeal.
Smith,
On appeal, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirmed and determined that Smith’s appeal was frivolous because the court had repeatedly held that it would not review the discretionary recommitment when the recommitment period is within the presumptive range.
Id.
The Commonwealth Court, on this basis, granted the Board’s petition for counsel fees pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2744. Smith appealed, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed.
Smith v. Board of Probation and Parole,
In the case before us, we note that the limited right of appeal following the entry of a negotiated .guilty plea is, as noted above, a well established principle in this Common
We find that appellant’s claim lacks any basis in law or fact. We conclude, therefore, that the appeal is frivolous.
Smith, supra; Commonwealth v. Greer,
Notes
. Section 3731(e) of the Motor Vehicle Code provides in part:
(e) Penalty.—
(1) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree and the sentencing court shall order the person to pay a fine of not less than $300 and serve a minimum term of imprisonment of:
******
. The colloquy provides, in part:
Q: Knowing all of that, Mrs. Reichle, is the plea that you’re tendering to the Court today a free, knowing, and voluntary act on your part?
A: Yes, it is.
Q: To ask it another way, has anyone pressured, threatened, or forced you in any way to have you enter the plea?
A: No.
Q: Again, the plea being D.U.I., with a possible maximum penalty of two years and a $5,000.00 fine, or both. It’s the Court's understanding this is your first offense. So, there is a mandatory penalty of at least 48 hours and the terms of the plea agreement indicate that you will receive the mandatory minimum. Is that your understanding of the extent of the plea agreement?
A: Yes.
******
Q: Finally, do you understand that in the event I accept the plea and sentence you accordingly you [would] only be able to appeal to the higher Court on four grounds. Those grounds are whether the plea today is free, knowing, and voluntary, whether this Court has jurisdiction, whether [the] sentence is illegal, or whether your attorney was allegedly ineffective. Those are the only four grounds you can raise to a higher Court.
A: Yes.
We note that following sentencing the appellant was again informed of her limited appellate rights, and again acknowledged her understanding of the limited issues she could raise on appeal.
. We note that Reichle has not challenged the validity of her guilty plea. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 321.
