Com. v. Rosario, K.

J-A28023-20

2021 PA Super 52

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

: PENNSYLVANIA

:

v. :

:

:

KEITH ANTHONY ROSARIO :

:

Appellant : No. 1700 WDA 2019

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered February 18, 2020

In the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP-63-CR-0002611-2017

BEFORE: OLSON, J., MURRAY, J., and McCAFFERY, J.

OPINION BY MURRAY, J.: FILED: March 23, 2021

Keith Anthony Rosario (Appellant) appeals from the judgment of

sentence imposed after a jury convicted him of one count of attempted

homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of kidnapping, and

one count of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and

kidnapping.1

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In the first ten pages of its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, the trial court

recounted the procedural history of this case, accurately observing that it “is

quite lengthy and complex.” Trial Court Opinion, 2/24/20, at 2 n.2. The trial

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1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 901, 2501, 2702, 2901, and 903.

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court also detailed the evidence presented at Appellant’s four-day jury trial.2

See id. at 10-24. The evidence at trial expanded on the factual recitation in

the affidavit of probable cause, which states:

On 09/05/17 at approximately 2233 hours, PSP was dispatched to

the listed location for a report of a gunshot and a male screaming

for help. Upon the arrival of PSP units contact was made with

Marcus STANCIK. STANCIK related that he had been shot in the

head by a male known to him by the nickname of “Sin.” Tpr.

WEBB who was familiar with “Sin” asked do you mean ROSARIO

to which STANCIK replied, yes, Keith ROSARIO. STANCIK was

treated at the scene for an injury to his neck and was

subsequently transported to Allegheny General Hospital (AGH).

At AGH STANCIK was diagnosed with a gunshot wound to the neck

at the base of the skull and a bullet was found to be present in his

neck upon xray.

[The Affiant] interviewed STANCIK at AGH and STANCIK related

he had known “Sin” for about a week. “Sin” lived on Ewing Street

near Grove Street. STANCIK stayed at “Sin’s” for several nights.

“Sin” was described as a 27 year old Puerto Rican from New York.

STANCIK was walking along Rt 40 when he was approached by a

vehicle in which a male exited and requested STANCIK get in.

STANCIK refused and the vehicle left. About 15 minutes later

STANCIK was walking in an alley off of Rt 40 when “Sin” and two

other individuals stopped a vehicle near him. Sin and another

male exited the vehicle, STANCIK was assaulted and then thrown

in the vehicle. STANCIK was placed in the back of the vehicle

between Sin and another male. Then they drove STANCIK to

another location and “Sin” removed STANCIK from the vehicle and

shot him in the back of the head.

Affidavit of Probable Cause, 9/6/17.

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2 The court noted it addressed Appellant’s omnibus pretrial motion (which

included Appellant’s motions for discovery, severance of trials, severance of

offenses, suppression, dismissal as “multiplicitous and duplicitous,” writ of

Habeas Corpus, change of venue and modification of bail) by separate Opinion

and Order issued September 11, 2018. Trial Court Opinion, 2/24/20, at 4.

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In a criminal complaint filed on September 6, 2017, the Commonwealth

charged Appellant with attempted murder, alleging, “[Appellant] did

intentionally attempt to cause the death of another human being by . . .

shooting Marcus Stancik in the neck . . .” Criminal Complaint, 9/6/17, at 2.

It also charged him with two counts of aggravated assault, stating Appellant

“did attempt to cause or did intentionally, knowingly or recklessly cause

serious bodily injury to Marcus Stancik under circumstances manifesting an

extreme indifference to the value of human life . . . by shooting him with a

firearm . . .” and “[Appellant] did attempt to cause or did intentionally or

knowingly cause bodily injury to Marcus Stancik with a deadly weapon . . .

[Appellant] did use a firearm to shoot Stancik in the neck . . .” Id. at 2, 4.

The Commonwealth also charged Appellant with conspiracy to commit

aggravated assault based on Appellant shooting Stancik in the neck with a

firearm. Id. at 3.

The Commonwealth filed a criminal information on November 9, 2017.

It stated in pertinent part:

COUNT 1: Criminal Attempt - Homicide

18 Pa.C.S. § 901(a) - 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a) - Felony 1st

DEGREE The Actor, with the intent to commit the crime of criminal

homicide, in violation of Section 2501 of the Pennsylvania Crimes

Code, did an act or acts that constituted a substantial step toward

the commission of that crime, that is, the Actor,, acting alone

and/or with others, did intentionally shoot MARCUS STANCIK in

the neck, and/or head with a firearm, in violation of Section

901(a) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Act of December

6,1972:, 18 Pa.C.S, § 901(a), as amended.

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COUNT 2: Aggravated Assault

18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) - Felony 1st DEGREE

The Actor did attempt to cause serious bodily injury to another, or

caused such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under

circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of

human life, that is, the Actor, acting alone and/or with others, did

shoot MARCUS STANCIK in the neck and/or head with a firearm

intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances

manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, in

violation of Section 2702(a)(1) of the Pennsylvania: Crime Code,

Act of December 6, 1972, 18 Pa. C.S. § 2702(a)(1), as amended.

COUNT 3: Aggravated Assault

18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(4) - Felony 2nd DEGREE

The Actor attempted to cause or intentionally, knowingly or

recklessly caused bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon,

that is, the Actor, acting alone and/or with others, did shoot

MARCUS STANCIK in the neck and/or head with a firearm, in

violation of Section 2702(a)(4) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code,

Act of December 6,1972,18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(4), as amended.

***

COUNT 6: Criminal Conspiracy

18 Pa.C.S, § 903(a)(1) - Felony 1st DEGREE

The Actor, With the intent of promoting or facilitating the crimes

of criminal homicide and/or aggravated assault and/or

kidnapping, in violation of Sections 2501 and/or 2702 and/or 2901

of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, agreed with another person or

persons, namely, RICHARD LACKS, that they or one or more of

them would engage in conduct which constitutes the crime of

criminal homicide and/or aggravated assault and/or kidnapping,

and the Actor committed an overt act or acts in furtherance

thereof, in violation of Section 903 of the Pennsylvania Crimes

Code, Act of December 6, 1972, 18 Pa.C.S. § 903, as amended.

Criminal Information, 11/9/17, at unnumbered pages 1-2.

A jury trial commenced on February 4, 2019. The jury convicted

Appellant on February 7, 2019. The verdict sheet read with respect to the

charge of criminal conspiracy, which was count 6:

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If you find the defendant guilty at Count 6 [which the jury did]

please indicate whether the following crimes were proven beyond

a reasonable doubt as the objective of the conspiracy:

a) Criminal Homicide Agree Disagree

b) Aggravated Assault Agree Disagree

c) Kidnapping Agree Disagree

Verdict, 2/7/19. The jury circled agree on all three crimes. Id.

On June 3, 2019, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate

35½ to 90 years of incarceration. Appellant filed post-sentence motions which

were denied by operation of law on October 17, 2019. Appellant filed this

timely appeal; both he and the trial court have complied with Pennsylvania

Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925.

Notably, the trial court entered an order correcting Appellant’s sentence

on February 18, 2020, “to reflect that, at Count 6, [Appellant] was sentenced

on the Charge of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault. All other

terms and conditions of the Judgment of Sentence shall remain in effect.”

Order, 2/18/20 (bold in original). Citing both the record and legal authority,

the court stated:

because the typographical error made by the court reporter is

patent and obvious, this Court retains the power to correct it

although the 30-day period has expired.

Order, 2/18/20.

The record, particularly the transcript from the sentencing hearing,

confirms the court only sentenced Appellant for conspiracy to commit

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aggravated assault, rather than conspiracy to commit homicide, aggravated

assault, and kidnapping. See, e.g., N.T., 6/3/19, at 27. We have explained:

“Trial courts have the power to alter or modify a criminal sentence

within thirty days after entry, if no appeal is taken.”

Commonwealth v. Quinlan, 639 A.2d 1235, 1238 (Pa. Super.

1994), appeal dismissed as improvidently granted, 675 A.2d 711

(1996). See also 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5505 (stating except as

otherwise provided or prescribed by law, court upon notice to

parties may modify or rescind any order within 30 days after its

entry, notwithstanding prior termination of any term of court, if

no appeal from such order has been taken or allowed).

Nevertheless, once the thirty-day period expires, the trial court

usually loses the power to alter its orders. An exception to this

general rule exists to correct “clear clerical errors.” . . .

“[A]n alleged error must qualify as a clear clerical error (or a

patent and obvious mistake) in order to be amenable to

correction.” Commonwealth v. Borrin, 12 A.3d 466, 473 (Pa.

Super. 2011) (en banc), aff’d, 80 A.3d 1219 (Pa. 2013).

This Court’s case law has addressed the situations where

... the terms of a defendant’s sentence as stated at the

sentencing hearing conflict (or are deemed incompatible)

with the terms of the defendant’s sentence as stated in the

sentencing order.

In these circumstances, for a trial court to exercise its

inherent authority and enter an order correcting a

defendant’s written sentence to conform with the terms of

the sentencing hearing, the trial court’s intention to impose

a certain sentence must be obvious on the face of the

sentencing transcript. ... Stated differently, only when a

trial court’s intentions are clearly and unambiguously

declared during the sentencing hearing can there be a

“clear clerical error” on the face of the record, and the

[signed] sentencing order subject to later correction.

Commonwealth v. Kremer, 206 A.3d 543, 547–48 (Pa. Super. 2019)

(some case citations modified or omitted).

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Here, the record reflects the clerical error involving the wording of the

court’s sentence at Count 6, which had no impact on the mathematical

calculation of Appellant’s 35½ – 90 year sentence. The trial court explained

that “due to the court stenographer’s error, the [June 3, 2019] sentencing

order states that Appellant was sentenced on criminal conspiracy to commit

homicide, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. However, Appellant was only

sentenced on criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.” Trial Court

Opinion, 2/24/20, at 9 n.8; see also id. at 41-42 (citing transcript from

sentencing hearing and stating “court stenographer’s error undoubtedly

qualifies as a clear clerical error.”). We therefore proceed to address the

issues Appellant raises on appeal.3

ISSUES

I. Did the trial court err in denying [Appellant]’s motion to

suppress the .40 caliber handgun found in [Appellant]’s home by

concluding Tyree King, a teenager, had apparent authority to

consent to a police search of [Appellant]’s home when police

believed [Appellant] inside?

II. Did the jury convict on the charge of criminal conspiracy based

upon insufficient evidence?

III. Did the trial court abuse its discretion in imposing a sentence

that was manifestly excessive and/or unduly harsh making it

unreasonable under 42 Pa.C.S. §9781(c)(2) because 1) it was

disproportionate to [Appellant]’s crimes of conviction and without

consideration of him as an individual and his character references

after consideration of the factors in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b); 2) it

implied [Appellant] cannot be rehabilitated; and 3) it subjected

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3 For ease of disposition, we have reordered the issues in Appellant’s brief.

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[Appellant] to imprisonment and/or parole supervision for the

remainder of his natural life?

IV. Do [Appellant]’s individual sentences and aggregate sentence

of 35½ years to 90 years imprisonment violate the prohibition

against cruel and unusual punishments under both the federal and

Pennsylvania Constitutions?

V. Did the trial court err by sentencing [Appellant] on charges of

criminal attempt-homicide and criminal conspiracy in violation of

18 Pa.C.S. § 906?

VI. Did the trial court err in imposing two separate sentences for

same-episode conduct constituting a “kidnapping” under 18

Pa.C.S. § 2901(a)(2) and (a)(3)?

Appellant’s Brief at 10-11.

Suppression

In his first issue, Appellant argues suppression was improper because

Tyree King, who consented to the search of Appellant’s residence, lacked

authority to do so. Appellant emphasizes King’s youth, being “sixteen or

seventeen,” and claims “the record does not establish King had apparent

authority or that the police could reasonably believe King had such authority.”

Appellant’s Brief at 51, 53.

At the outset, we recognize our review,

is limited to determining whether the factual findings are

supported by the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn

from those facts are correct. We are bound by the suppression

court’s factual findings so long as they are supported by the

record; our standard of review on questions of law is de

novo. Where, as here, the defendant is appealing the ruling of

the suppression court, we may consider only the evidence of the

Commonwealth and so much of the evidence for the defense as

remains uncontradicted. Our scope of review of suppression

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rulings includes only the suppression hearing record and excludes

evidence elicited at trial.

Commonwealth v. Yandamuri, 159 A.3d 503, 516 (Pa. 2017) (citations

omitted). Additionally, “[i]t is within the suppression court’s sole province as

factfinder to pass on the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given to

their testimony. The suppression court is free to believe all, some or none of

the evidence presented at the suppression hearing.” Commonwealth v.

Byrd, 185 A.3d 1015, 1019 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citation omitted).

At Appellant’s pretrial hearing, the court observed “there are nine parts

to his omnibus.” N.T., 5/4/18, at 5. However, the only pretrial issue before

us on appeal is Appellant’s claim that the court erred in denying his request

to suppress a handgun recovered from his residence.

Appellant did not testify or present any witnesses at the pretrial hearing.

The only testimony relevant to his suppression claim came from Pennsylvania

State Troopers Fred Scott and Mateo Herrera. Trooper Scott stated that he

was dispatched to Appellant’s residence while he and his partner “were on a

call at that time, out at a scene,” which was “a serious incident,” and “based

on the circumstances, we related to the City of Washington they should be on

the lookout for an individual whose name we had gotten at that time was

[Appellant].” Id. at 40-41. When Trooper Scott arrived, “three individuals

were outside the residence at that time directly in front of the residence . . .

on the front stoop or sidewalk.” Id. at 42. Other police were already on the

scene and “indicated these three people were the only people inside, to their

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knowledge, inside the residence.” Id. Two of the individuals were “younger

white females” and the third was Tyree King, “a younger black male [who]

indicated he was house-sitting for [Appellant] and that he was watching his

dog as well. He gave the impression [Appellant] was out of town.” Id. at 43.

Trooper Scott testified he “asked Mr. King for consent to look for

[Appellant] within the residence [because] we had some concerns about his

danger level and wanted to make sure he wasn’t currently inside the house.”

Id. at 44. Trooper Scott told Tyree King “we just wanted to look for”

Appellant; although Trooper Scott had no reason not to believe Tyree King

was house-sitting for Appellant, and “felt [King’s] indication was accurate,” he

also stated he “did not believe [Appellant] was out of town.” Id. at 45-46.

This testimony does not support Appellant’s claim that Trooper Scott “believed

King a liar and [Appellant] to be present inside, [such that] apparent authority

as a housesitter/dog-sitter could not reside with King and thus law

enforcement could not rely on King’s consent to search [the residence].”

Appellant’s Brief at 54-55.

In addition, Trooper Scott’s partner, Trooper Herrera, testified to being

dispatched to Appellant’s residence because the officers were looking for

Appellant “due to a serious criminal incident that happened on Cove Road.”

Id. at 56. Trooper Herrera corroborated Trooper Scott’s testimony that three

individuals were standing outside the residence; the male, Tyree King,

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indicated he was house-sitting while Appellant was out of town, and Tyree

King consented to a search of the residence. Id. at 56-57.

On this record, Appellant argues:

[Trooper] Scott is clear that he did not believe King in this regard

and that he believed [Appellant] [was] inside his residence at 449

Ewing. Yet, no one obtained a search warrant for the residence.

The suppression court used circular logic to validate the search of

[the residence] that uncovered the handgun by finding apparent

authority to consent.

Appellant’s Brief at 53. He continues:

[Trooper] Scott’s disbelief of King’s statement that [Appellant]

was not inside is fatal to a conclusion that apparent authority

existed in King because only [Appellant’s] absence from [the

residence] would give King authority to consent. As Scott believed

King a liar and [Appellant] to be present inside, apparent authority

as a housesitter/dog-sitter could not reside with King and thus law

enforcement could not rely on King’s consent to search.

Id. at 54-55.

The record does not support Appellant’s claim that Trooper Scott “was

clear that he did not believe King,” “believed Appellant was inside his

residence,” and “believed King a liar.” Officer Scott specifically stated he “had

no reason not to believe King,” but “did not believe [Appellant] was out of

town,” and “wanted to make sure [Appellant] wasn’t currently in the house.”

In addition, both Officer Scott and Officer Herrera testified they were looking

for Appellant because he was suspected of being involved in a serious criminal

incident and may be dangerous.

The suppression court rejected Appellant’s argument, citing the

Supreme Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Strader, 931 A.2d 630,634

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(Pa. 2007), and finding Tyree King had apparent authority to consent to the

search. The court correctly explained that “police must make a determination

on whether the facts available to them at the moment would lead a reasonable

person of reasonable caution to believe that the consenting party had

authority over the premises.” Suppression Court Opinion, 9/11/18, at 4

(citing Strader, supra).

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court explained:

The Fourth Amendment protects the people from unreasonable

searches and seizures. A warrantless search or seizure is

presumptively unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment,

subject to a few specifically established, well-delineated

exceptions. One such exception is a consensual search, which a

third party can provide to police, known as the apparent authority

exception.

A third party with apparent authority over the area to be searched

may provide police with consent to search. Third party consent is

valid when police reasonably believe a third party has authority to

consent. Specifically, the apparent authority exception turns on

whether the facts available to police at the moment would lead a

person of reasonable caution to believe the consenting third party

had authority over the premises. If the person asserting authority

to consent did not have such authority, that mistake is

constitutionally excusable if police reasonably believed the

consenter had such authority and police acted on facts leading

sensibly to their conclusions of probability.

Strader, 931 A.2d at 634.

Consent in Strader was given by an individual named Thornton. The

Court stated:

[Police] knocked on the apartment door. A man who identified

himself as Thornton answered the door. Detective Knox showed

Thornton a wanted poster of Shields and asked Thornton whether

he knew him; Thornton responded he did not. Detective Knox

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asked Thornton whether appellant was in the apartment, and

Thornton said “no, he would be back shortly.” Thornton stated

he was there temporarily, and he and another man in the

apartment had been there for about a day. Detective Knox asked

Thornton whether he was in charge of the apartment. Thornton

responded, “yes.” Detective Knox asked Thornton for permission

to search the apartment for Shields; Thornton consented.

Id. at 632 (citations omitted, bold emphasis added). The Court continued,

Here, police did not immediately ask Thornton if they could enter;

instead, they spoke with him and determined appellant was not

present. Before police sought permission to enter the apartment,

they asked Thornton whether he had authority to control who

entered the apartment. Once Thornton indicated he was in control,

police asked him, as an occupant who expressly claimed authority

to control the apartment, whether they could enter. The fact

police knew appellant was likely to return soon is significantly less

important here; police were searching for Shields as a fugitive,

making time of the essence so that police could capture Shields

and protect the public.

Id. at 635.

Although the appellant in Strader was not the fugitive sought by police

in their search, the case is similar because Thornton, who gave consent, was

“there temporarily,” like Tyree King, and likewise, time was of the essence

because Appellant, although not a fugitive, was sought by police because he

was suspected of involvement in a “dangerous incident,” and thought to “pose

a danger.” N.T., 5/4/18, at 41. Confirming Trooper Scott’s testimony,

Trooper Herrera stated police “were looking for [Appellant] at this time due to

a serious criminal incident that happened.” Id. at 56.

The suppression court found that “given the totality of the

circumstances, King’s age by itself does not invalidate his consent for the

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search.” Suppression Court Opinion, 9/11/18, at 6. The court noted that

King’s age was the “only distinction,” and “given the substantial similarities in

Strader to the present case . . . the police acted reasonably in their belief

that King controlled access to the premise and had apparent authority to

consent to search.” Id. at 7. We agree. Appellant’s suppression issue does

not merit relief.

Sufficiency as to Conspiracy

Appellant next claims there was insufficient evidence to support his

criminal conspiracy conviction. Appellant asserts “[t]he facts do not establish

beyond a reasonable doubt that [Appellant] entered into a conspiracy with

Lacks and King to commit kidnapping, aggravated assault and homicide

against Stancik.”4 Appellant’s Brief at 66. Appellant filed his brief on July 6,

2020, nearly four months after the court corrected its sentence to indicate

that it only sentenced Appellant for conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.

Appellant disregards the correction in his sufficiency argument,5 and focuses

on the statutory elements of conspiracy. See Appellant’s Brief at 64-71.

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4 We note, as cited above, the criminal information only charged Appellant

with entering into a conspiracy with Lacks, not King. Criminal Information,

11/9/17, at unnumbered page 1.

5 Appellant acknowledges the correction in his sentencing argument, where

he vaguely states: “The trial court’s sentence of [Appellant] for Conspiracy to

Commit Aggravated Assault also creates a distinction without a difference

among the objects of the conspiracy that raises an academic sentencing

guidelines argument unnecessary to resolve here.” Appellant’s Brief at 40-

41.

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We begin with our standard of review:

A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence presents a

question of law. Commonwealth v. Widmer, 560 Pa. 308, 744

A.2d 745, 751 (Pa. Super. 2000). We must determine “whether

the evidence is sufficient to prove every element of the crime

beyond a reasonable doubt.” Commonwealth v. Hughes, 521

Pa. 423, 555 A.2d 1264, 1267 (1989). We “must view evidence in

the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict

winner, and accept as true all evidence and all reasonable

inferences therefrom upon which, if believed, the fact finder

properly could have based its verdict.” Id.

Our Supreme Court has instructed:

[T]he facts and circumstances established by the

Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of

innocence. Any doubts regarding a defendant’s guilt

may be resolved by the fact-finder unless the

evidence is so weak and inconclusive that as a matter

of law no probability of fact may be drawn from the

combined circumstances. Moreover, in applying the

above test, the entire record must be evaluated and

all evidence actually received must be considered.

Finally, the trier of fact while passing upon the

credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence

produced, is free to believe all, part or none of the

evidence.

Commonwealth v. Ratsamy, 594 Pa. 176, 934 A.2d 1233,

1236 n.2 (2007).

Commonwealth v. Thomas, 65 A.3d 939, 943 (Pa. Super. 2013).

With respect to criminal conspiracy, the trier of fact must find: (1) the

defendant intended to commit or aid in the commission of the criminal act;

(2) the defendant entered into an agreement with another (a “co-conspirator”)

to engage in the crime; and (3) the defendant or one or more of the other co-

conspirators committed an overt act in furtherance of the agreed upon crime.

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18 Pa.C.S.A. § 903. The essence of a criminal conspiracy is the agreement

between co-conspirators.

Mere association with the perpetrators, mere presence at the

scene, or mere knowledge of the crime is insufficient to establish

that a defendant was part of a conspiratorial agreement to commit

the crime. There needs to be some additional proof that the

defendant intended to commit the crime along with his co-

conspirator. Direct evidence of the defendant’s criminal intent or

the conspiratorial agreement, however, is rarely available.

Consequently, the defendant’s intent as well as the agreement is

almost always proven through circumstantial evidence, such as by

the relations, conduct or circumstances of the parties or overt acts

on the part of the co-conspirators. Once the trier of fact finds that

there was an agreement and the defendant intentionally entered

into the agreement, that defendant may be liable for the overt

acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy regardless of

which co-conspirator committed the act.

Commonwealth v. Golphin, 161 A.3d 1009, 1018–19 (Pa. Super. 2017)

(citations omitted).

The crux of Appellant’s argument is that there was insufficient evidence

to support his conspiracy conviction because there was no evidence of an

explicit agreement or criminal intent. He claims “the evidence reveals

[Appellant’s] actions were his own,” and his actions “can best be described as

spontaneous.” Appellant’s Brief at 70-71. Appellant asserts that “[n]othing

suggests [Appellant’s] actions were planned, or an agreement to do harm to

Stancik existed between [Appellant] and anyone else. The actions of Lacks []

do not evidence an agreement, but a lack of knowledge where [Appellant’s]

intent lied.” Id. at 70. The record does not support this argument.

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As noted and adopted above, the trial court devoted nearly 14 pages to

its recitation of the evidence presented to the jury at trial. See Trial Court

Opinion, 2/24/20, at 10-24. With regard to Appellant’s conspiracy conviction,

the court explained:

Appellant and Richard Lacks clearly engaged in a criminal

conspiracy to commit homicide, aggravated assault, and

kidnapping. The evidence demonstrates that, upon initially

sighting Mr. Stancik, Mr. Lacks phoned Appellant and informed

him he had just seen Mr. Stancik. Appellant then met Mr. Lacks

and Mr. King and the parties began to search for Mr. Stancik in

the silver Honda Pilot, with Appellant driving the vehicle. When

they found Mr. Stancik, Mr. Lacks actively participated in the

kidnapping of Mr. Stancik when he aided Appellant in assaulting

him and forcing him into the vehicle.

Mr. Lacks also aided Appellant during the commission of the

crime in several other ways. First, upon Appellant’s request, he

drove to the residence at 449 Ewing Street so that Appellant could

obtain the .22 caliber handgun, and personally retrieved the

handgun from the residence and gave it to Appellant. Appellant

held this handgun against Mr. Stancik while in the vehicle and then

later used it to shoot him. Furthermore, he complied with

Appellant’s request to drive towards any nearby body of water.

Additionally, Mr. Lacks was able to hear Appellant’s verbal threats

of violence against Mr. Stancik in the vehicle: “‘Shut the fuck up.

You’re getting what you deserve, you piece of shit[,]’” and “‘Shut

the fuck up. I’ll leave you on the side of the road.’” (Trial Tr. Vol.

1, 120:4-6; Trial Tr. Vol. 2, 17:9-11.) According to Mr. Stancik,

Mr. Lacks was in possession of a .40 caliber handgun while in the

vehicle. Finally, Mr. Lacks was present at the body of water near

400 Cove Road where Appellant shot Mr. Stancik and testified that

he heard a gunshot after Appellant forced Mr. Stancik into the

woods.

The foregoing facts indicate that Appellant and Mr. Lacks

were engaged in a conspiratorial agreement to kidnap, assault,

and murder Mr. Stancik. . . . Appellant and Mr. Lacks were

associated with one another; furthermore, they each had

knowledge of the crime, were present at the scene of the crime,

and participated in the object of the conspiracy. This [c]ourt

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ultimately finds that the jury properly inferred a criminal

conspiracy to commit homicide, aggravated assault, and

kidnapping between Appellant and Mr. Lacks, and thus, the

Commonwealth has sustained its burden with regard to this

offense.

Id. at 55-56 (citing Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 135 A.3d 1097, 1102-03

(Pa. Super. 2016)).

We agree with the trial court, and therefore find no merit to Appellant’s

sufficiency argument.

SENTENCING

In his third issue, Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his

sentence. “The right to appellate review of the discretionary aspects of a

sentence is not absolute, and must be considered a petition for permission to

appeal.” Commonwealth v. Buterbaugh, 91 A.3d 1247, 1265 (Pa. Super.

2014). “An appellant must satisfy a four-part test to invoke this Court’s

jurisdiction when challenging the discretionary aspects of a sentence.” Id.

We conduct this four-part test to determine whether:

(1) the appellant preserved the issue either by raising it at the

time of sentencing or in a post-sentence motion; (2) the appellant

filed a timely notice of appeal; (3) the appellant set forth a concise

statement of reasons relied upon for the allowance of appeal

pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) the appellant raises a

substantial question for our review.

Commonwealth v. Baker, 72 A.3d 652, 662 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation

omitted). “A defendant presents a substantial question when he sets forth a

plausible argument that the sentence violates a provision of the sentencing

code or is contrary to the fundamental norms of the sentencing process.”

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Commonwealth v. Dodge, 77 A.3d 1263, 1268 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations

omitted).

Appellant has complied with the first three prongs of the test by raising

his discretionary sentencing claim in a timely post-sentence motion, filing a

timely notice of appeal, and including a Rule 2119(f) concise statement in his

brief. See Appellant’s Brief at 23-26. Therefore, we examine whether

Appellant presents a substantial question.

Appellant contends: (1) the sentence “is disproportionate to the crime

of conviction and without consideration of [Appellant] as an individual;” (2)

“the sentencing court implied . . . he is without the possibility of

rehabilitation;” and (3) the imposition of consecutive sentences resulted in an

“excessive aggregate sentence.” Appellant’s Brief at 24-25. Each of these

claims raises a substantial question. See Commonwealth v. Swope, 123

A.3d 333, 338-39 (Pa. Super. 2015) (claim that imposition of consecutive

sentences resulted in excessive aggregate sentence may raise substantial

question); Baker, 72 A.3d at 662 (claim that failure to account for

rehabilitative needs resulted in excessive sentence raises substantial

question).

We review Appellant’s claim mindful of the following:

Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the

sentencing judge. The standard employed when reviewing the

discretionary aspects of sentencing is very narrow. We may

reverse only if the sentencing court abused its discretion or

committed an error of law. A sentence will not be disturbed on

appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In this context, an

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abuse of discretion is not shown merely by an error in judgment.

Rather, the appellant must establish, by reference to the record,

that the sentencing court ignored or misapplied the law, exercised

its judgment for reasons of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will, or

arrived at a manifestly unreasonable decision. We must accord

the sentencing court’s decision great weight because it was in the

best position to review the defendant’s character, defiance or

indifference, and the overall effect and nature of the crime.

Commonwealth v. Cook, 941 A.2d 7, 11-12 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations

omitted).

Instantly, the trial court explained:

. . . Contrary to Appellant’s assertion, this [c]ourt did

consider Appellant’s individual characteristics and the character

references submitted on his behalf. Prior to sentencing, the

[c]ourt thoroughly reviewed the presentence investigation report

prepared by John Pankopf. (Sent. Hr’g Tr. 25:17-19.) In addition,

the [c]ourt considered the character references submitted by

Kattiria Rosario Gonzalez, Venus Sepulveda, Samantha Nelson,

Ava Rivera, Alexi Mendez, Angel Mendez, and Ada Mendez. (Sent.

Hr’g Tr. 25:25-26:4.) The [c]ourt also heard testimony from Ava

Rivera, Appellant’s mother, and Kattiria Rosario Gonzalez,

Appellant’s sister, at the sentencing hearing. (Sent. Hr’g Tr. 10:7-

12:14.) Finally, contrary to Appellant’s argument, this [c]ourt did

not suggest that Appellant could not be rehabilitated but merely

stated that the “prior attempts to rehabilitate [Appellant] have

failed.” (Sent. Hr’g Tr. 29:17-18.) The [c]ourt emphasized that

Appellant “had been paroled less than four months prior to this

incident and was under the supervision of the Board of Probation

and Parole,” and was also “subject to consecutive probationary

sentences on two prior drug offenses,” when the incident

occurred. (Sent. Hr’g Tr. 29:8-12.) Further, the offense for which

Appellant was on parole was a “firearms offense,” and yet,

Appellant used a firearm in the instant matter. (Sent. Hr’g Tr.

29:18-21.) In imposing sentence, this [c]ourt had a duty to

address the rehabilitative needs of Appellant, and therefore, this

consideration was entirely proper.

The [c]ourt’s reasoning for the aggravated sentence, which

has previously been stated in its entirety, was set forth clearly and

thoroughly and with regard for the factors under Section 9721(b).

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Under the particular circumstances of this case, an aggravated

sentence was in no way unreasonable, manifestly excessive, or

unduly harsh. Appellant’s prior failed attempts at rehabilitation,

his involving a minor in this violent crime, his lack of remorse, and

the sheer brutality of the crime itself indicated to this [c]ourt that

an aggravated sentence was appropriate. Ultimately, this [c]ourt

finds that its sentence was entirely reasonable under the

circumstances, that it complied with Section 9721(b) in all

respects, and that it also considered any mitigating factors in

fashioning the sentence.

Trial Court Opinion, 2/24/20, at 32-33.

There is no merit to Appellant’s contention that the trial court imposed

a “manifestly excessive” sentence “disproportionate to the crimes of

conviction and without consideration of [Appellant] as an indvidual, his

character references or factors in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b),” or that it “implied .

. . he is without the possibility of rehabilitation.” Appellant’s Brief at 24-25.

The trial court had the benefit of a PSI. “Where pre-sentence reports exist,

we shall continue to presume that the sentencing judge was aware of relevant

information regarding the defendant’s character and weighed those

considerations along with mitigating statutory factors.” Commonwealth v.

Devers, 546 A.2d 12, 18 (Pa. 1988). Moreover, it expressly acknowledged

Appellant’s character references and testimony on Appellant’s behalf.

We also agree the imposition of consecutive sentences did not result in

an “excessive aggregate sentence.” Appellant, while on supervised release,

kidnapped Stancik, beat him both with his fists and with the gun, threatened

him, and forced him to a remote area. He dragged him from the car, shot

him execution-style in the back of his head, and when the first shot was not

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fatal, attempted a second shot, failing only because the gun jammed. We find

the aggregate sentence of 35½ to 90 years is not grossly disparate to

Appellant’s conduct and does not “viscerally appear as patently

‘unreasonable.’” Commonwealth v. Gonzalez–Dejusus, 994 A.2d 595,

599 (Pa. Super. 2010).

Next, Appellant maintains his “individual sentences and aggregate

sentence of 35½ years to 90 years’ imprisonment violate the prohibition

against cruel and unusual punishments under both the Federal and

Pennsylvania Constitutions.”6 Appellant’s Brief at 57. We disagree.

[T]he guarantee against cruel punishment contained in the

Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1, Section 13, provides no

broader protections against cruel and unusual punishment than

those extended under the Eighth Amendment to the United States

Constitution. The Eighth Amendment does not require strict

proportionality between the crime committed and the sentence

imposed; rather, it forbids only extreme sentences that are

grossly disproportionate to the crime.

In Commonwealth v. Spells, [ ] 612 A.2d 458, 462, 417 Pa.

Super. 233 (1992) (en banc), this Court applied the three-prong

test for Eighth Amendment proportionality review set forth by the

United States Supreme Court in Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277,

103 S. Ct. 3001, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637[ ] (1983):

[A] court's proportionality analysis under the Eighth

Amendment should be guided by objective criteria,

including (i) the gravity of the offense and the

harshness of the penalty; (ii) the sentences imposed

on other criminals in the same jurisdiction; and (iii)

____________________________________________

6 An individual’s right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment is a

nonwaivable challenge to the legality of the sentence. Commonwealth v.

Seskey, 86 A.3d 237, 241 (Pa. Super. 2014).

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the sentences imposed for commission of the same

crime in other jurisdictions.

Spells, 612 A.2d at 462 (quoting Solem, 463 U.S. at 292[ ] ).

However, this Court is not obligated to reach the second and third

prongs of the Spells test unless a threshold comparison of the

crime committed and the sentence imposed leads to an inference

of gross disproportionality.

Commonwealth v. Lankford, 164 A.3d 1250, 1252-53 (Pa. Super. 2017)

(some citations and quotation marks omitted).

Here, the trial court properly found that Appellant failed to satisfy the

first prong of the Spells test. Trial Court Opinion, 2/24/20, at 25-27. Given

the seriousness of Appellant’s offenses, Appellant’s sentence is not grossly

disproportionate to the crime, and does not violate prohibitions against cruel

and unusual punishment. Further, because Appellant has not satisfied the

first prong of Spells, we need not address the second and third prongs.

Finally, in his two remaining issues, Appellant challenges the legality of

his sentence. He first argues that his sentence on criminal attempt —

homicide and criminal conspiracy — violates 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 906. Appellant’s

Brief at 35-42. He also maintains his “two separate sentences for kidnapping

for the same-episode conduct are illegal sentences.” Id. at 42-49.

We have stated:

The issue of whether a sentence is illegal is a question of law;

therefore, our task is to determine whether the trial court erred

as a matter of law and, in doing so, our scope of review is plenary.

Additionally, the trial court’s application of a statute is a question

of law that compels plenary review to determine whether the court

committed an error of law.

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Commonwealth v. Williams, 871 A.2d 254, 262 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citations

and quotation marks omitted). Further, challenges to the legality of sentence

cannot be waived and may be raised for the first time on appeal.

Commonwealth v. Dickson, 918 A.2d 95, 99 (Pa. 2007) (“challenges to

sentences based upon their legality” are not subject to waiver).

Appellant first claims his sentence for conspiracy is illegal, asserting,

“[18 Pa.C.S.A.] Section 906 prohibits sentencing on both of these findings of

guilt.” Appellant’s Brief at 37 (citations omitted). Section 906 states, “A

person may not be convicted of more than one of the inchoate crimes of

criminal attempt, criminal solicitation or criminal conspiracy for conduct

designed to commit or to culminate in the commission of the same

crime.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 906 (emphasis added). Upon review, we find the

recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Commonwealth v. King, 234

A.3d 549 (Pa. 2020) to be dispositive.7

In King, the defendant was the passenger in a car driven by a co-

conspirator when he fired at least nine bullets at the victim; she survived but

suffered serious injuries. King, 234 A.3d at 553. In pertinent part, the

criminal information charged the defendant with attempted murder,

____________________________________________

7 The Supreme Court decided King on July 21, 2020, approximately two weeks

after Appellant filed his brief.

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aggravated assault, and a single count of conspiracy. Id. Relevant to our

analysis, the trial court sentenced the defendant to consecutive terms of 20

to 40 years for attempted murder, and 10 to 20 years for conspiracy to commit

aggravated assault.8 This Court affirmed the judgment of sentence. On

appeal to the Supreme Court, the defendant argued that the imposition of

consecutive sentences for the inchoate crimes of attempted murder and

conspiracy to commit aggravated assault violated Section 906. Id. at 566.

The Supreme Court summarized the defendant/appellant’s argument as

follows:

despite being charged and convicted of both conspiracy to commit

murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, there was

only one conspiracy under Section 903(c), as both crimes were

“the object of the same agreement or continuous conspiratorial

agreement.” King’s Brief at 27 (quoting 18 Pa.C.S. § 903(c)).

Accordingly, he argues the Superior Court erred in “finding there

were two separate conspiracies where there was only one

agreement.” Id. at 28. King maintains that the Superior Court

incorrectly relied on [Commonwealth v.] Kelly[, 78 A.3d 1136

(Pa. Super. 2013),] for the proposition that an offender may be

sentenced on both attempted murder and conspiracy to commit

aggravated assault because the two offenses are not necessarily

designed to culminate in the commission of the same crime. Id.

King argues that this rationale “confuses § 906, which is

concerned with the underlying crimes, with § 903(c), which is

concerned with the number of separate agreements.” Id.

Id. at 566-67.

____________________________________________

8 Like this case, the initial sentencing order was incorrect; it indicated the

conspiracy sentence was for conspiracy to commit murder. The trial court

subsequently corrected the error to reflect that defendant was sentenced for

conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. King, 234 A.3d at 553.

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The Supreme Court agreed. It noted the criminal information only

charged a single count of conspiracy, and while the verdict sheet listed two

conspiracy charges — conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit

aggravated assault — it listed them under one count, Count 2, on the criminal

information. Id. at 568. The Court found there was a single conspiracy, i.e.,

to kill the victim. Id. at 569. It opined:

The Commonwealth’s legal argument assumes that there existed

a separate conspiracy to commit aggravated assault that was not

subsumed within the conspiracy to kill. But a person cannot

conspire to kill a targeted individual and not concurrently conspire

to commit aggravated assault against the same individual. This

Court has held that “[t]he act necessary to establish the offense

of attempted murder – a substantial step towards an intentional

killing – includes, indeed, coincides with, the same act which was

necessary to establish the offense of aggravated assault, namely,

the infliction of serious bodily injury.” Commonwealth v.

Anderson, 538 Pa. 574, 650 A.2d 20, 24 (1994). As such, the

single object of both the attempt and conspiracy convictions was

[the victim’s] murder, and thus, pursuant to Section 906, King

could be convicted (i.e., sentenced) for only one of these inchoate

crimes.

***

The plain language of the specific statute governing this scenario

precludes multiple sentences because there is no possibility that

the conspiracy to commit aggravated assault existed

independently of any conspiracy to kill, nor does the

Commonwealth allege any kind of temporal separation or other

circumstances to suggest that two conspiratorial agreements

could have existed.

By enacting Section 906, the General Assembly declared that

where a defendant tries to achieve a result – in this case, murder

– but fails to do so, he may only be punished once in the absence

of distinct criminal objectives. We thus find that King is entitled

to relief.

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Id. at 569-70, 572 (footnotes omitted).

Instantly, the Commonwealth acknowledges King. Commonwealth

Brief at 18. However, the Commonwealth attempts to distinguish King by

arguing “there are distinct criminal objectives.” Id. at 19. The

Commonwealth asserts there was an agreement between Appellant,

Lacks, and King, that one more of them would kidnap and assault

Marcus Stancik, the latter two offenses being committed in the

alleyway and with a firearm in the backseat of the Honda Pilot. It

is only after those offenses were committed, and thus the

conspiracy then existing ended, that [Appellant] directed Lacks

and King to find a body of water. For his part, if the conspiracy

had not ended before, King ended the conspiracy at that point,

handing the phone to Lacks and stating, “I don’t want no parts of

it.”

Once at the chosen body of water, Dam#4 in South Franklin

Township, only [Appellant] got out of the vehicle with Stancik,

whose head was still covered. Only [Appellant] had retrieved the

firearm at that point. Only [Appellant] walked Stancik to the

water’s edge and shot him in the back of the head. In fact, it is

only because of [Appellant’s] ineffectiveness or the firearm’s

malfunction, combined with good luck, that Stancik survived.

Once at the dam, [Appellant’s] criminal objective changed to

kidnapping and homicide of Stancik. Because there are separate

and distinct criminal objectives between the attempted homicide

and the conspiracy to commit aggravated assault offenses, the

conviction and sentence does not run afoul of § 906 or the

Supreme Court’s analysis in King.

Id. at 19-20.

We are not persuaded by this argument. After careful review, we find

the Commonwealth’s account of events to be at odds with the record; in

addition, their account undercuts their argument that the evidence was

sufficient to sustain Appellant’s conviction of conspiracy to commit homicide,

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aggravated assault, and kidnapping. As set forth above, the criminal

complaint described aggravated assault as being the shooting of Stancik in

the neck, not the beating in the alleyway or the pistol whipping in the car.

Criminal Complaint, 9/6/17, at 2-3. The shooting was the same act referenced

in the attempted murder charge. Id. at 2. In the criminal information, also

cited above, the Commonwealth likewise based the aggravated assault

charges on Appellant shooting Stancik in the neck. Criminal Information,

11/9/17, at unnumbered page 1. The Commonwealth did not name King as

a participant in the conspiracy; they only identified Richard Lacks as a co-

conspirator, and stated the conspiracy as being “and/or” with respect to

homicide, kidnapping and aggravated assault. Id. at unnumbered page 2.

In its opening, the Commonwealth spoke about the events as a

continuous episode, and never mentioned or suggested that the conspiracy

ended when Appellant and Stancik reached the water. N.T., 2/5/19, at 20-

25. In its closing argument, the Commonwealth described King as an

accomplice, not a co-conspirator. N.T., 2/7/19, at 25. Again, at no point did

the Commonwealth suggest there were multiple conspiracies; to the contrary,

the Commonwealth described a single, continuous criminal episode. Id. at

12-29.

The trial court, in its charge to the jury, stated the conspiracy charge

was: “to commit criminal homicide and/or aggravated assault and/or

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kidnapping.” Id. at 57-58. It specifically named Lacks as the co-conspirator,

not Lacks and King. Id. at 61. The trial court addressed the jury as follows:

The information alleges that the defendant conspired with Richard

Lacks to commit homicide and/or aggravated assault and/or

kidnapping and that one or several overt acts were done. As far

as numbers are concerned, the minimum requirements for

conspiracy are an agreement between two people to commit one

crime and one overt act committed by one of them. Thus, you

may find the defendant guilty if you are satisfied that he conspired

with at least one alleged co-conspirator to commit at least one

alleged object crime and that he or that person did at least one

alleged overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Before any defendant can be convicted, the 12 jurors must agree

on the same person whom the defendant allegedly conspired with,

the same object crime and the same overt act. And by object:

crime, I mean attempted homicide, aggravated assault or

kidnapping; those are the object crimes.

***

As general rule, if conspirators have agreed to commit a crime and

after that one of them does any act to carry out or advance their

agreement, then he has done an overt act in furtherance of their

conspiracy. The other conspirators do not have to participate in

the overt act or even know about it. In a sense, they are partners,

and like partners, they are responsible for each other’s actions.

On the verdict sheet, there will be a special section for the crime

of conspiracy. If you find that the Commonwealth has proved the

defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, you will be asked to

mark the crime or crimes that you find proved beyond a

reasonable doubt as the objective of the conspiracy. I charge you

that a conspiracy can have as its objective one crime or many

crimes, but it is your task to determine what objective has been

proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Id. at 61-63. After this charge, the jury returned their verdict of guilty as to

conspiracy, and found the objects of the conspiracy were homicide,

aggravated assault, and kidnapping. Verdict, 2/7/19.

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It was not until sentencing that the Commonwealth first attempted to

distinguish conspiracy to commit aggravated assault from the other objects

(homicide and kidnapping), when it requested the trial court sentence

Appellant only for conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. N.T., 6/3/19, at

19. In its opinion, the trial court acknowledged that sentencing Appellant on

both attempted homicide and criminal conspiracy to commit homicide would

run afoul of Section 906. Trial Court Opinion, 2/24/20, at 41. The opinion

was written prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in King, and relies entirely

on our opinion in Kelly, which King effectively overruled. See King at 570-

71.

Consistent with the foregoing, we find the Commonwealth’s argument

unpersuasive. This case is analogous to King insofar as the jury found

Appellant engaged in a conspiracy to commit homicide, aggravated assault,

and kidnapping, but, “because [Appellant] failed in his attempt to [kill the

victim, Appellant] could not be sentenced to serve separate terms for the

inchoate crime of conspiracy and attempt.” King, 234 A.3d at 568.

Accordingly, we vacate the sentence for conspiracy.

Appellant also challenges his sentences for kidnapping, stating:

[Appellant] was illegally sentenced to consecutive sentences

under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2901(a)(2) and (a)(3) for kidnapping Stancik.

This is because the statutory construction of 18 Pa.C.S. § 2901

and the double jeopardy clauses of the Fifth Amendment to the

U.S. Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution, Article I,

Section 10 prohibit entry of a judgment of sentence under both

18 Pa.C.S. § 2901(a)(2) and (a)(3) as they are the same criminal

act.

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Appellant’s Brief at 42.

Although Appellant did not raise this claim before the trial court, a

challenge to the legality a sentence is not waivable. Dickson, 918 A.2d at

99. As Appellant’s challenge is one of statutory interpretation,

[o]ur review is further governed by the Statutory Construction

Act, 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1501 et seq., under which our paramount

interpretative task is to give effect to the intent of our General

Assembly in enacting the particular legislation under review. See

1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1921(a) (“The object of all interpretation and

construction of statutes is to ascertain and effectuate the intention

of the General Assembly. Every statute shall be construed, if

possible, to give effect to all its provisions.”). Generally, the best

indication of the General Assembly’s intent may be found in the

plain language of the statute. In this regard, it is not for the courts

to add, by interpretation, to a statute, a requirement which the

legislature did not see fit to include. Consequently, as a matter

of statutory interpretation, although one is admonished to listen

to what a statute says; one must also listen attentively to what it

does not say.

Commonwealth v. Devries, 112 A.3d 663, 670 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citations

omitted).

The crime of kidnapping is defined as follows:

(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided in subsection (a.1), a

person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another a

substantial distance under the circumstances from the place

where he is found, or if he unlawfully confines another for a

substantial period in a place of isolation, with any of the

following intentions:

(1) To hold for ransom or reward, or as a shield or hostage.

(2) To facilitate commission of any felony or flight

thereafter.

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(3) To inflict bodily injury on or to terrorize the victim or

another.

(4) To interfere with the performance by public officials of

any governmental or political function.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2901(a)(1)-(4) (emphasis added).

Appellant argues:

The statute makes clear that the actus reus of kidnapping has a

static definition but the mens rea is a changing variable.

[Appellant] was convicted of two counts of kidnapping, with the

two differing intents from (a)(2) and (a)(3), respectively. The act

of kidnapping for each of these counts was plead and presented

at trial to be the same acts that were committed in one episode.

The “any” in reference to the alternative intent makes it clear that

at least one of the intents is necessary to convict, but that

possessing multiple intents does not allow for multiple convictions

for one kidnapping episode.

Appellant’s Brief at 43. Appellant relies on this Court’s decision in

Commonwealth v. Lopez, 663 A.2d 746 (Pa. Super. 1995).

In Lopez, the appellant pled nolo contendere to two counts of arson,

endangering person, under 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3301(a)(1)(i) and (ii), arising

from a single fire. Lopez, 663 A.2d at 747. At sentencing, over appellant’s

objections, the trial court sentenced her to consecutive sentences of four to

ten years imprisonment at each count. On appeal, she argued her sentence

was illegal because, “18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3301(a)(1)(i) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. §

3301(a)(1)(ii) . . . are not themselves separate offenses, but rather are

alternative means for satisfying 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3301(a)(1).” Id. at 748. We

agreed, rejecting the Commonwealth’s argument that the two sections of the

statute, “protect distinct and separate state interests.” Id. We explained:

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Instantly, employing our Supreme Court’s example [in

Commonwealth ex rel. Specter v. Vignola, 285 A.2d 869, 871

(Pa. 1971)], it is our conclusion that the word “or,” used in its

ordinary sense, indicates an alternative between two or more

unlike actions. Applying that definition to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3301(a),

we read the statute to mean that any person who either

“recklessly places another person in danger of death or bodily

injury” or “commits the act with the purpose of destroying or

damaging an inhabited building or occupied structure of another”

may be prosecuted for and convicted of committing arson

endangering persons. However, it simply does not follow from

this reading that a person who commits both of the above acts

may be sentenced twice for arson endangering persons when only

one criminal offense, i.e., starting one fire, has been committed.

Not only does such a reading ignore the plain meaning of the word

“or,” but if applied could raise grave constitutional issues. See

Commonwealth v. Bostic, 500 Pa. 345, 456 A.2d 1320 (1983)

(intent of double jeopardy clause is to prevent courts from

imposing more than one punishment under particular legislative

enactment); Commonwealth v. Ayala, 492 Pa. 418, 424 A.2d

1260 (1981) (where, practically speaking, there was only one

offense against Commonwealth, defendant may only be punished

for one offense, despite number of chargeable offenses arising out

of single transaction); Commonwealth v. Williams, 344

Pa.Super. 108, 496 A.2d 31 (1985) (same). Accordingly, because

this Court must resolve a statutory issue by reference to the

statute’s express language, we hold that the trial court’s reading

of § 3301(a) was in error.

Id. at 749.

We see no meaningful distinction between the statutory interpretation

of the arson statute in Lopez and the kidnapping statute at issue here. A

person commits the single crime of kidnapping if he or she satisfies, “any” of

the intentions expressed in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2901(a)(1)-(4). Therefore, 18

Pa.C.S.A. § 2901(a)(2) and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2901(a)(3) “are not themselves

separate offenses, but rather are alternative means for satisfying 18 Pa.C.S.A.

§ [2901(a)].” Id. at 748. If a defendant is proven to have more than one of

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the expressed intentions, he can be convicted under two sections of the

statute, but he cannot be sentenced under both, “when only one criminal

offense, i.e., [a single kidnapping], has been committed.” Id.

On appeal, the Commonwealth asserts Lopez is inapposite because

Appellant committed two kidnappings. Commonwealth Brief at 21. In

support, the Commonwealth for the second time makes an argument that is

at odds with the record. Id. at 20-21. The Commonwealth states:

[Appellant] participated in two separate and distinct kidnapping

acts. The first was the literal kidnapping of Marcus Stancik off the

alleyway near Hayes Avenue in Washington where he was

assaulted, the hood placed over his head, and then forced into the

backseat of the Honda Pilot between [Appellant] and Tyree King,

and eventually the retrieved firearm shoved in Stancik’s side by

[Appellant] while the actors drove around. This act constituted

the removal of Stancik a substantial distance with the intent to

inflict bodily harm or terrorize him, under § 2901(a)(3). The

second kidnapping act was by [Appellant] alone when he took

Stancik out of the Honda, hood still over his head and walked him

to the water’s edge intending to kill him. The separate act, and

separate intent to facilitate the commission of the felony

(attempted) murder, is separate and apart from the kidnapping

across the street.

Id.

In addition to being implausible, this is not the argument the

Commonwealth made to the jury. In its closing, the Commonwealth recounted

a single kidnapping, which included the forcing of Stancik into the car, holding

him at gunpoint, taking him out of the car, and walking him to the water.

N.T., 2/7/19, at 21, 26, 28. The Commonwealth also argued that Appellant’s

act of shooting Stancik was part of the conspiracy between Appellant and

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Lacks, not a separate act where Appellant acted alone. Id. at 27. The

Commonwealth’s appellate argument is not logical, where anytime an

individual is forced into a vehicle, and then removed from the vehicle by

kidnappers, there would be two separate kidnappings. Had Stancik escaped

and been recaptured, for example, we might be inclined to give credence to

the Commonwealth’s argument. However, our review compels our agreement

with Appellant that there was a single kidnapping, albeit one in which the

Commonwealth proved intent under two subsections of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2901.

As such, and pursuant to Lopez, we vacate Appellant’s two kidnapping

sentences. See Lopez 663 A.2d at 749. This disposition, like our disposition

vacating Appellant’s sentence for conspiracy, compels remand.

See Commonwealth v. Bartrug, 732 A.2d 1287 (Pa. Super. 1999), appeal

denied, 561 Pa. 651, 747 A.2d 896 (1999) (holding sentencing error on one

count in multi-count case generally requires all sentences for all counts to be

vacated so court can restructure entire sentencing scheme).

OUTSTANDING MOTIONS

Appellant filed an application for relief on October 19, 2020, in which he

requested we take judicial notice of a criminal information filed against Richard

Lacks. On October 28, 2019, the Commonwealth responded by filing an

application to strike, requesting that any reference to Mr. Lacks’ criminal

information be stricken because a criminal information “constitutes allegations

and is not evidence.” Application to Strike, 10/28/19, at ¶ 2. Appellant

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responded on November 11, 2019. He “admitted that a criminal information

was not introduced into evidence at the jury trial of the Appellant below.”

Answer to Application to Strike, 11/11/19, at ¶ 2. “It is black letter law in this

jurisdiction that an appellate court cannot consider anything which is not part

of the record in the case.” Commonwealth v. Martz, 926 A.2d 514, 524

(Pa. Super. 2007). For “purposes of appellate review, what is not of record

does not exist.” Commonwealth v. Holley, 945 A.2d 241, 246 (Pa. Super.

2008). Accordingly, we deny Appellant’s application for judicial notice, and

grant the Commonwealth’s application to strike.

ORDER

Denial of suppression affirmed. Convictions affirmed. Judgment of

sentence vacated. Case remanded for resentencing consistent with this

decision. Application for judicial notice denied. Application to strike granted.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 3/23/2021

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