Com. v. Peyton, A.

J-S18030-25

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

: PENNSYLVANIA

:

v. :

:

:

ALEXANDER JAMES PEYTON :

:

Appellant : No. 995 WDA 2024

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 27, 2024

In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Criminal Division at No(s):

CP-25-CR-0001062-2023

BEFORE: DUBOW, J., NICHOLS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED: September 30, 2025

Appellant Alexander James Peyton appeals from the judgment of

sentence imposed after he pled guilty to attempted murder, aggravated

assault causing serious bodily injury, robbery, aggravated assault with a

deadly weapon, possessing an instrument of crime (PIC), drivers required to

be licensed, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property, and

careless driving.1 On appeal, Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects

of his sentence and the restitution imposed at sentencing. After careful

review, we vacate Appellant’s judgment of sentence in part and remand for

further proceedings consistent with this memorandum.

____________________________________________

* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

1 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 901(a), 2702(a)(1), 3701(a)(1)(ii), 2702(a)(4), 907(b); 75

Pa.C.S. §§ 1501(a), 3743(a), and 3714(a), respectively.

J-S18030-25

The trial court summarized the facts of the case as follows:

Appellant shot the victim as a result of a road rage incident.

Appellant pulled out a gun and demanded that the victim give

Appellant his phone with the very reasonable presumption that he

wanted the phone so that [the victim] could not provide evidence

to the authorities about Appellant’s Motor Vehicle [Code]

violations. He then shot [the victim] in the face/neck area and

left him to die.

Trial Ct. Op., 11/20/24, at 5 (some formatting altered).

Appellant pled guilty to the above charges on January 16, 2024. At the

plea hearing, Appellant was represented by Tyler Lindquist, Esq. (Plea

Counsel). On March 27, 2024, the trial court imposed an aggregate sentence

of fifteen to fifty years’ incarceration. Specifically, the trial court sentenced

Appellant to 140 to 480 months’ incarceration for attempted murder,2 40 to

120 months’ incarceration for robbery, 16 to 60 months’ incarceration for

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2 There is a discrepancy between the trial court opinion, sentencing order, and

notes of testimony from the sentencing hearing regarding Appellant’s

maximum term for attempted murder. The trial court opinion states that the

trial court imposed a maximum term of 280 months for this charge. See Trial

Ct. Op. at 4. However, the sentencing order and notes of testimony from the

hearing reflect that the maximum term was 480 months. See Sentencing

Order, 3/27/24, at 1 (unpaginated); N.T. Sentencing Hr’g, 3/27/24, at 42.

Ultimately, the text of the sentencing order determines Appellant’s sentence.

See Commonwealth v. Borrin, 80 A.3d 1219, 1226 (Pa. 2013) (plurality)

(explaining that “the text of the sentencing order, and not the statements a

trial court makes about a defendant's sentence, is determinative of the court's

sentencing intentions and the sentence imposed” (citations omitted)). We

note that both terms are within the statutory limit for this offense. See 18

Pa.C.S. § 1102(c) (stating a person convicted of attempted murder where

serious bodily injury results “may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment

which shall be fixed by the court at not more than 40 years”).

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aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and 3 to 12 months’ incarceration

for PIC.3 The trial court imposed Appellant’s sentence for robbery to run

consecutive to his sentence for attempted murder but ordered that Appellant’s

sentences for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and PIC to run

concurrent to Appellant’s attempted murder sentence.

On April 3, 2024, while still represented by Plea Counsel, Appellant filed

a pro se post-sentence motion.4 On April 9, 2024, Plea Counsel filed a motion

to reconsider sentence on behalf of Appellant.5 On May 24, 2024, the trial

court denied Appellant’s post-sentence motion.

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3 The trial court did not sentence Appellant on aggravated assault causing

serious bodily injury because it merged with attempted murder. See Trial Ct.

Op. at 4. Additionally, the trial court only imposed court costs, fines, and

surcharges on the counts of drivers required to be licensed, accidents involving

damage to attended vehicle or property, and careless driving. See id.

4 Because Appellant was represented by counsel, this filing was a legal nullity.

See Commonwealth v. Nischan, 928 A.2d 349, 355 (Pa. Super. 2007).

5 Appellant’s post-sentence motions were due by April 6, 2024, which was ten

days after he was sentenced on March 27, 2024, However, April 6, 2024 fell

on a Saturday and the Erie County Court of Common Pleas was closed on the

following Monday, April 8, 2024, due to the 2024 total solar eclipse. See Erie

Co. Admin., Some Erie County Buildings to Be Closed April 8 Due to Eclipse

Visitors Impact, https://eriecountypa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-

27-Eclipse-Info.pdf. Accordingly, the next business day was April 9, 2024.

Therefore, Appellant’s post-sentence motion was timely filed. See Pa.R.J.A.

107(b) (stating “[w]henever the last day of any such period shall fall on

Saturday or Sunday, or on any day made a legal holiday by the laws of this

Commonwealth or of the United States, such day shall be omitted from the

computation”).

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On June 17, 2024, the trial court received a letter from Appellant

alleging Plea Counsel’s ineffectiveness and requesting that Plea Counsel

withdraw. The trial court scheduled a Grazier6 hearing, which was

subsequently held on July 11, 2024. After the hearing, the trial court issued

an order removing Plea Counsel from his representation of Appellant. The

next day, the trial court appointed the Office of the Erie County Public

Defender to represent Appellant on appeal as long as Appellant qualified

financially for the office’s services. Jessica Fiscus, Esq. (Appellate Counsel),

from the Erie County Public Defender’s Office, entered her appearance on July

18, 2024. On August 2, 2024, the trial court amended its July 11, 2024 order

sua sponte to “expressly reinstate [Appellant’s] right to file a counseled direct

appeal” and directed Appellate Counsel to “file a notice of appeal within 30

days” of the order.7 Trial Ct. Order, 8/2/24.

Appellant filed a notice of appeal on August 12, 2024. Both Appellant

and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

Appellant presents two issues for our review:

1. Did the trial court commit an abuse of discretion when it

imposed a manifestly excessive sentence of fifteen to fifty

____________________________________________

6 Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998).

7 We note that, in the absence of a PCRA petition, it was improper for the trial

court to sua sponte reinstate a defendant’s appellate rights nunc pro tunc.

See Commonwealth v. Turner, 73 A.3d 1283, 1285 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2013);

see also Commonwealth v. Rosario, 5 EDA 2020, 2021 WL 2395904, at *4

(Pa. Super. filed June 8, 2021) (unpublished mem.). See Pa.R.A.P. 126(b)

(stating this Court may rely on unpublished decisions of this Court filed after

May 1, 2019, for their persuasive value).

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years’ imprisonment where the trial court failed to consider

certain mitigating factors, specifically, Appellant’s reasons for

taking the actions he did following the commission of the

crime?

2. Did the trial court impose an illegal sentence when it ordered

Appellant to pay restitution to [the victim] for his attorney fees

as such an award is not authorized by statute?

Appellant’s Brief at 9 (some formatting altered).

Before reaching the merits of Appellant’s claims, we must first address

whether we have jurisdiction. See Commonwealth v. Burks, 102 A.3d 497,

500 (Pa. Super. 2014) (noting that “[t]his Court can raise the matter sua

sponte, as the issue is one of jurisdiction to entertain the appeal” (citation

omitted)). “In order to perfect a timely appeal, a defendant must file a notice

of appeal within 30 days of the imposition of his sentence, unless he files a

timely post-sentence motion within 10 days of sentencing, thereby tolling that

30–day window.” Commonwealth v. Leatherby, 116 A.3d 73, 78 (Pa.

Super. 2015) (citations omitted). When a defendant files a timely post-

sentence motion, a notice of appeal must be filed within thirty days of the

order deciding the motion, the order denying the motion by operation of law,

or the order memorializing the withdraw of the motion in cases where the

defendant withdraws the motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(A)(2).

“Generally, an appellate court cannot extend the time for filing an

appeal.” Commonwealth v. Patterson, 940 A.2d 493, 498 (Pa. Super.

2007) (citations omitted). However, this Court may decline to quash an

appeal where there is “breakdown in the processes of the court.” Id. (citations

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omitted). A breakdown occurs when the trial court does not comply with

Pa.R.Crim.P. 720 by failing to advise a defendant of the time he has to appeal

in the court’s denial of the defendant’s post-sentence motion. Id. at 499; see

also Commonwealth v. Lehman, 379 WDA 2021, 2022 WL 366881, at *2

(Pa. Super. filed Feb. 8, 2022) (unpublished mem.). Additionally, a

breakdown occurs when the trial court’s delay in appointing counsel results in

an untimely notice of appeal. See Commonwealth v. Smith, 2061 EDA

2024, 2025 WL 658341, at *1 n.1 (Pa. Super. filed Feb. 27, 2025)

(unpublished mem.).

Here, as stated above, Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion on

April 9, 2024. On May 24, 2024, the trial court denied Appellant’s post-

sentence motion. Appellant did not file a notice of appeal until August 12,

2024, nearly three months later. Ordinarily, this would result in the quashal

of Appellant’s appeal. See Patterson, 940 A.2d at 498.

However, the record reflects that on June 17, 2024, the trial court

received two letters from Appellant in which he alleged ineffective assistance

of counsel and requested an update on the status of his post-sentence motion.

In response, the trial court scheduled a Grazier hearing, which it ultimately

held on July 11, 2024. At the conclusion of that hearing, the trial court found,

among other things, that Appellant had not received the order denying his

post-sentence motion and that Appellant would be appointed new counsel

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should he qualify financially.8 See Trial Ct. Order, 7/11/24; Trial Ct. Order,

7/12/24. Counsel did not enter her appearance until July 18, 2024. As stated

above, the trial court then erroneously sua sponte reinstated Appellant’s direct

appeal rights nunc pro tunc. Under these circumstances, where Appellant was

not properly served with the order denying his post-sentence motion and there

was delay in appointing new counsel for Appellant, we find a breakdown in the

processes of the court that excuses Appellant’s untimely notice of appeal and

decline to quash his appeal. See Patterson, 940 A.2d at 498-99; Lehman,

2022 WL 366881, at *2; Smith, 2025 WL 658341, at *1 n.1. Accordingly,

we address Appellant’s claims on the merits.

Discretionary Sentencing Claim

Appellant’s first issue implicates the discretionary aspects of his

sentence. See Appellant Brief at 9, 20. Specifically, Appellant claims that the

trial court “committed an abuse of discretion when it imposed a manifestly

excessive sentence of fifteen to fifty years’ imprisonment” without considering

Appellant’s reasons for his actions after the commission of the crime. Id. at

20. Appellant argues that the Commonwealth “argued strenuously that

Appellant’s actions after the shooting evinced his desire to cover-up his actions

and to evade detection from the police” and that he was not able to rebut this

____________________________________________

8 A review of the record confirms that Appellant was not served with the order

denying his post-sentence motion. See Order, 5/24/24. Instead, only counsel

was served with the order. See id. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court

noted that it “accept[ed] [Appellant’s] statements about the lack of

communication between himself and counsel since the time of the sentencing

proceeding.” See Trial Ct. Order, 7/11/24.

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argument at sentencing and that “the trial court denied the post-sentence

motion without ever hearing [his] explanation.” Id.

“[C]hallenges to the discretionary aspects of sentencing do not entitle

an appellant to review as of right.” Commonwealth v. Derry, 150 A.3d 987,

991 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citations omitted). Before reaching the merits of such

claims, we must determine:

(1) whether the appeal is timely; (2) whether Appellant preserved

his issues; (3) whether Appellant’s brief includes a [Pa.R.A.P.

2119(f)] concise statement of the reasons relied upon for

allowance of appeal with respect to the discretionary aspects of

sentence; and (4) whether the concise statement raises a

substantial question that the sentence is inappropriate under the

sentencing code.

Commonwealth v. Corley, 31 A.3d 293, 296 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citations

omitted).

“To preserve an attack on the discretionary aspects of sentence, an

appellant must raise his issues at sentencing or in a post-sentence motion.

Issues not presented to the sentencing court are waived and cannot be raised

for the first time on appeal.” Commonwealth v. Malovich, 903 A.2d 1247,

1251 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citations omitted); see also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a)

(stating that “[i]ssues not raised in the trial court are waived and cannot be

raised for the first time on appeal”).

“The determination of what constitutes a substantial question must be

evaluated on a case-by-case basis.” Commonwealth v. Battles, 169 A.3d

1086, 1090 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted). “A substantial question

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exists only when the appellant advances a colorable argument that the

sentencing judge’s actions were either: (1) inconsistent with a specific

provision of the Sentencing Code; or (2) contrary to the fundamental norms

which underlie the sentencing process.” Commonwealth v. Grays, 167 A.3d

793, 816 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted).

Here, the record reflects that Appellant filed a timely post-sentence

motion, a court-ordered Rule 1925(b) statement, and included a Rule 2119(f)

statement in his brief. See Corley, 31 A.3d at 296. Further, we have already

addressed Appellant’s failure to file a timely notice of appeal and determined

that the untimely notice was the result of a breakdown in the trial court’s

processes. Finally, we conclude that Appellant’s argument raises a substantial

question. See Commonwealth v. Raven, 97 A.3d 1244, 1253 (Pa. Super.

2014) (providing that a claim that a sentence was excessive in conjunction

with an assertion that the court failed to consider mitigating factors raises a

substantial question).

Our well-settled standard of review is as follows:

Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of the

sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal

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

Additionally, our review of the discretionary aspects of a sentence

is confined by the statutory mandates of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(c) and

(d). Subsection 9781(c) provides:

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The appellate court shall vacate the sentence and remand

the case to the sentencing court with instructions if it finds:

(1) the sentencing court purported to sentence within the

sentencing guidelines but applied the guidelines

erroneously;

(2) the sentencing court sentenced within the sentencing

guidelines but the case involves circumstances where the

application of the guidelines would be clearly

unreasonable; or

(3) the sentencing court sentenced outside the

sentencing guidelines and the sentence is unreasonable.

In all other cases the appellate court shall affirm the

sentence imposed by the sentencing court.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(c).

In reviewing the record, we consider:

(1) The nature and circumstances of the offense and the

history and characteristics of the defendant.

(2) The opportunity of the sentencing court to observe the

defendant, including any presentence investigation [(PSI)].

(3) The findings upon which the sentence was based.

(4) The guidelines promulgated by the commission.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(d).

Raven, 97 A.3d at 1253-54 (citation omitted).

“When imposing a sentence, the sentencing court must consider the

factors set out in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b), [including] the protection of the public,

[the] gravity of offense in relation to impact on [the] victim and community,

and [the] rehabilitative needs of the defendant[.]” Commonwealth v.

Fullin, 892 A.2d 843, 847 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citation omitted and formatting

altered). “A sentencing court need not undertake a lengthy discourse for its

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reasons for imposing a sentence or specifically reference the statute in

question, but the record as a whole must reflect the sentencing court’s

consideration of the facts of the crime and character of the offender.”

Commonwealth v. Schutzues, 54 A.3d 86, 99 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations

omitted).

Additionally, the trial court must consider the applicable sentencing

guidelines. Fullin, 892 A.2d at 848. However, “where the trial court is

informed by a PSI [report], it is presumed that the court is aware of all

appropriate sentencing factors and considerations, and that where the court

has been so informed, its discretion should not be disturbed.”

Commonwealth v. Edwards, 194 A.3d 625, 638 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citation

omitted and formatting altered); see also Commonwealth v. Antidormi,

84 A.3d 736, 761 (Pa. Super. 2014) (providing that where the trial court has

the benefit of a PSI report, we shall presume that the sentencing judge was

aware of relevant information regarding the defendant’s character and

weighed those considerations along with mitigating statutory factors).

The balancing of the sentencing factors is the sole province of the

sentencing court, which has the opportunity to observe the defendant and all

witnesses firsthand. See Commonwealth v. Kurtz, 294 A.3d 509, 536 (Pa.

Super. 2023), appeal granted on other grounds, 306 A.3d 1287 (Pa. 2023).

In conducting appellate review, this Court “cannot reweigh sentencing factors

and impose judgment in place of sentencing court where lower court was fully

aware of all mitigating factors[.]” Id. (citation omitted).

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Finally, this court has previously observed that:

The purpose of a motion for reconsideration or modification of

sentence is to afford the sentencing court the opportunity to

correct any errors that may have occurred at sentencing prior to

appellate review. A sentencing court has the authority to receive

additional evidence upon a motion for reconsideration, but the

court is not required to afford the defendant a second opportunity

to present evidence not related to any alleged error occurring at

a prior proceeding. Where the sentencing procedure has been

properly conducted, it is within the court’s discretion whether to

receive additional evidence or rely on the sentencing record.

Commonwealth v. Lekka, 210 A.3d 343, 354 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citations

and quotation marks omitted).

The trial court explained its sentence as follows:

The minimum sentence of 15 years resulted from the imposition

of 140 months as a minimum sentence for the Criminal Attempt

to Commit Homicide and the minimum sentence of 40 months

imposed consecutively for Count 3 – Robbery. It should first be

noted that both minimum sentences were within the standard

range of the applicable sentencing guidelines.

The factual basis of each of those convictions and the resulting

sentences can be summarized as follows: Appellant shot the

victim as a result of a road rage incident. Appellant pulled out a

gun and demanded that the victim give Appellant his phone with

the very reasonable presumption that he wanted the phone so

that [the victim] could not provide evidence to the authorities

about Appellant’s Motor Vehicle [Code] violations. He then shot

[the victim] in the face/neck area and left him to die.

Therefore, those specific circumstances justified the imposition of

consecutive sentences because the acts constituted very serious

and separate offenses. Appellant did not provide any acceptable

explanation for his actions during the incident or his attempts to

conceal his actions afterwards. Therefore, there was no

reasonable basis for concurrent sentences for those offenses.

Trial Ct. Op. at 5 (some formatting altered).

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After review, we discern no abuse of discretion. The court explicitly

considered the applicable sentencing guidelines. N.T. Sentencing Hr’g at 13.

As the trial court noted, Appellant’s sentences were all within the standard

range of the applicable sentencing guidelines.9 See Raven, 97 A.3d at 1253-

54. The trial court was also informed by the PSI. See N.T. Sentencing Hr’g

at 12; see also Edwards, 194 A.3d at 638. The trial court explicitly

considered Appellant’s letter to the court as well as letters submitted on behalf

of Appellant. See N.T. Sentencing Hr’g at 12-13. Additionally, the trial court

considered Appellant’s acceptance of responsibility by pleading guilty and his

remorse, which it credited as genuine. See id. at 22-23, 39. The court

considered the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and

characteristics of Appellant. See id. at 38-41. Finally, the court explicitly

considered the factors set out in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(b). See id. at 40-42.

Appellant specifically argues that the sentencing court did not consider

the reasons for his actions after the shooting. However, during the sentencing

hearing, Appellant failed to explain the reasons for his actions to the

sentencing court during his allocution. See id. at 20-21. Additionally, counsel

made no argument about these reasons at sentencing. See id. at 14-22.

Appellant does not argue that the sentencing court erred by not considering

something he presented during the sentencing hearing. See Appellant’s Brief

at 22-23 (conceding that the information Appellant wished to present was “not

____________________________________________

9 Further, Appellant does not contest that his sentences were within the

guideline ranges. See Appellant’s Brief at 16-18.

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previously addressed by him or his counsel at the sentencing”). Finally,

Appellant contends that he was not provided the opportunity to respond to

the Commonwealth’s argument that Appellant’s actions after the shooting

“evinced his desire to cover-up his actions and to evade detection from the

police.” Id. at 20. However, this contention is belied by the record. See N.T.

Sentencing Hr’g at 46 (reflecting that the sentencing court asked counsel if he

wished to present anything else to the court, to which counsel responded

“no”).

Since the sentencing court “is not required to afford the defendant a

second opportunity to present evidence not related to any alleged error

occurring at a prior proceeding” and the sentencing proceeding was properly

conducted, we discern no abuse of discretion by the trial court. See Lekka,

210 A.3d at 354 (citation omitted). The trial court was within its discretion to

rely on the record of the sentencing hearing. See id. Accordingly, no relief

is due on this claim.

Restitution Claim

Appellant next claims that the sentencing court lacked the authority to

impose restitution for the victim’s attorneys’ fees because 18 Pa.C.S. § 1106

does not authorize restitution for attorneys’ fees. Appellant’s Brief at 9, 23-

26.

“[A] challenge to the sentencing court’s authority to order restitution

raises a non-waivable legality of sentencing issue.” Commonwealth v. Weir,

239 A.3d 25, 37 (Pa. 2020). A challenge to the legality of the sentence

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“presents a pure question of law. As such, our scope of review is plenary and

our standard of review de novo.” Commonwealth v. Wright, 276 A.3d 821,

827 (Pa. Super. 2022) (citations omitted and formatting altered).

Section 1106 of the Crimes Code provides in relevant part:

Upon conviction for any crime wherein

(1) property of a victim has been stolen, converted or

otherwise unlawfully obtained, or its value substantially

decreased as a direct result of the crime; or

(2) the victim, if an individual, suffered personal injury directly

resulting from the crime,

the offender shall be sentenced to make restitution in addition to

the punishment prescribed therefor.

18 Pa.C.S. § 1106(a). Additionally, the sentencing court is required to “specify

the amount and method of restitution” at the time of sentencing. Id. at §

1106(c)(2). The sentencing court “[m]ay order restitution in a lump sum, by

monthly installments or according to such other schedule as it deems just.”

Id. at § 1106(c)(2)(ii). We have previously stated that a sentencing court’s

failure to specify the amount and method of restitution at the time of

sentencing “results in an illegal sentence” because restitution was not properly

included in the sentence and, as such, the defendant was not provided “with

certainty as to his sentence[.]” Commonwealth v. Royal, 312 A.3d 317,

325 (Pa. Super. 2024) (citations omitted and formatting altered).

Our Supreme Court has held that “restitution is a creature of statute

and, without express legislative direction, a court is powerless to direct a

defendant to make restitution as part of a sentence.” Commonwealth v.

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Harner, 617 A.2d 702, 704 (Pa. 1992) (citation omitted). Additionally,

“attorneys’ fees are recoverable from an adverse party to a cause only when

provided for by statute, or when clearly agreed to by the parties.” Id. at 706

n.2 (citations omitted). “Since [18 Pa.C.S. § 1106] makes no specific

provision for the award of counsel fees, . . . an award of attorneys’ fees under

this statute would be inappropriate.” Id.

Here, the sentencing court ordered Appellant to pay a total of

$19,522.56 in restitution to the victim but failed to specify the method of

payment. See Sentencing Order at 2 (unpaginated); N.T. Sentencing Hr’g at

42. Because the court never specified the payment schedule of the restitution,

Appellant’s sentence is illegal. See Royal, 312 A.3d at 325.

Additionally, as part of the total restitution, the trial court ordered

Appellant to pay attorneys’ fees to the victim, which were “necessitated by his

disability.” See N.T. Sentencing Hr’g at 11, 42; see also Restitution Claim

Form, 3/6/24, at 2 (unpaginated). The victim sought a total of $3,250 for

“legal fees to deal with being incapacitated [in] March [and] April 2023.”

Restitution Claim Form, 3/6/24, at 2 (unpaginated). However, because 18

Pa.C.S. § 1106 does not explicitly authorize the award of attorney’s fees as

restitution, the sentencing court erred in ordering Appellant to pay the $3,250

in attorneys’ fees. See Harner, 617 A.2d at 706 n.2.

For these reasons, we affirm the judgment of sentence in part and

vacate the judgment of sentence as to restitution only. We remand for

resentencing limited to the reimposition of restitution. At the resentencing

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hearing, the sentencing court shall remove the $3,250 of attorneys’ fees from

the total amount of restitution ordered and ensure it makes an on-the-record

specification as to the method of payment.

Judgement of sentence affirmed in part and vacated in part. Case

remanded for further proceedings consistent with this memorandum.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

DATE: 9/30/2025

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