Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). · Go Syfert
Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
ScopeOverruled by Com. v. Simmons, D.: 11 citing opinions say overruled.
11 outright
How later opinions annotate it (1 example)
Counts are distinct citing opinions whose annotation names this case. The flag stays red when any point is no longer good law; the scope says how far that reaches.
147 citation events (128 in the last 25 years) across 8 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 1982 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1982 2004 2026
Cited for
420 A.2d at 630 Permitting anticipatory probation revocation and term of probation42 citing cases“a term of probation may and should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted”6 citing courts quote it · 41 listed here
  • Com. v. Roy, R., III, No. 259 MDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Oct. 21, 2021).unpublished
    (If, at any time before the defendant has completed the maximum period of probation, or before he has begun service of his probation, he should commit offenses of such nature as to demonstrate to the court that he is un…)
  • Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Rosario, K., 294 A.3d 338 (Pa. 2023).published 2 cites
    See Commonwealth v. Hill, 238 A.3d 399 , 407 (Pa. 2020) (“[A]n appellate court can address an appellant’s challenge to the legality of his sentence even if that issue was not preserved in the trial court; indeed, an appellate court may rai…
  • Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Rosario, K., 294 A.3d 338 (Pa. 2023).published 2 cites
    See Commonwealth v. Hill, 238 A.3d 399 , 407 (Pa. 2020) (“[A]n appellate court can address an appellant’s challenge to the legality of his sentence even if that issue was not preserved in the trial court; indeed, an appellate court may rai…
  • Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Rosario, K., 294 A.3d 338 (Pa. 2023).published 2 cites
    See Commonwealth v. Hill, 238 A.3d 399 , 407 (Pa. 2020) (“[A]n appellate court can address an appellant’s challenge to the legality of his sentence even if that issue was not preserved in the trial court; indeed, an appellate court may rai…
  • Com. v. Conley, B., 286 A.3d 313, 2022 PA Super 201 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022).published 4 cites
    “a term of probation may and should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted”
  • Com. v. Conley, B., No. 935 WDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 8, 2022).unpublished
    In Simmons, this Court overruled Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628 (Pa. Super. 1980) and its progeny and held that the trial court lacked statutory authority to revoke the defendant’s probation before he began serving the probation p…
  • Com. v. Chico, A., No. 808 EDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. July 14, 2022).unpublished
    “a term of probation may and should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted”
  • Com. v. Jackson, N., No. 3590 EDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Apr. 12, 2022).unpublished 3 cites
    “a term of probation may and should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted”
  • Com. v. Anderson, D., No. 805 MDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Jan. 13, 2022).unpublished 2 cites
    Indeed, for more than four decades, beginning with this Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980), the law of this Commonwealth was that, for revocation purposes, a term of probation included all tim…
  • Com. v. Conley, K., 2021 PA Super 255.published 2 cites
    Initially, we observe that this anticipatory revocation of Appellant’s order of probation was permissible at the time the trial court issued its revocation order under longstanding precedent established by this Court -5- beginning with thi…
Show 31 more citing cases
  • Com. v. Simpson, A., No. 589 WDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 3, 2021).unpublished 2 cites
    This Court agreed, but affirmed the defendant’s revocation and judgment of sentence because the court revoked probation prior to its commencement pursuant to Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980), overruled by Comm…
  • Com. v. Diaz, T., No. 1928 EDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Nov. 19, 2021).unpublished 2 cites
    Indeed, for more than four decades, beginning with this Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980), the law of this Commonwealth was that, for revocation purposes, a term of probation included all tim…
  • Com. v. Farmer, J., No. 667 MDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 21, 2021).unpublished 2 cites
    However, counsel points out that, pursuant to Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980), and its progeny, the claim lacks merit and is frivolous.
  • Com. v. Williamson, T., No. 788 MDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 17, 2021).unpublished
    He is still a person convicted of crime, and the expressed intent of the Court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not ‘change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.’ Burns v. U…
  • Com. v. Fisher, N., No. 1183 MDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 10, 2021).unpublished 2 cites
    “a term of probation may and should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted”
  • Com. v. Rosario, K., No. 1271 WDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 10, 2021).unpublished 2 cites
    (holding that “[i]f, at any time before the defendant has completed the maximum period of probation, or before he has begun service of his probation, he should commit offenses of such nature as to demonstrate to the [VOP…)
  • Com. v. Herrera, J., No. 787 MDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 7, 2021).unpublished 2 cites
    Indeed, for more than four decades beginning with this Court decision in -6- Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980), the law of this Commonwealth was that, for revocation purposes, a term of probation included all ti…
  • Com. v. Simmons, D., 262 A.3d 512 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).unpublished
    He is still a person convicted of [a] crime, and the expressed intent of the court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not ‘change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.’ Wendow…
  • Com. v. Reavis, A., No. 1360 EDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 18, 2021).unpublished
    He is still a person convicted of [a] crime, and the expressed intent of the court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not ‘change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.’ Wendow…
  • Com. v. Reavis, A., No. 1360 EDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 6, 2019).unpublished 2 cites
    “should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted”
  • Com. v. Cadora, D., No. 1922 MDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 2, 2019).unpublished
    Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980).
  • Com. v. Washington, R., No. 1720 EDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Apr. 17, 2019).unpublished
    Commonwealth v. Hoover, 909 A.2d 321, 323-24 (Pa.Super. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted; emphasis in original) (quoting Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980)).
  • Com. v. McIntyre, R., No. 961 WDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 24, 2018).unpublished
    He is still a person convicted of crime, and the expressed intent of the Court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not “change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.” Burns v. U…
  • Com. v. Goff, A., No. 1553 EDA 2016 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 19, 2017).unpublished
    Commonwealth v. Hoover, 909 A.2d 321, 323 (Pa.Super. 2006) (quoting Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980)) (emphasis in original, internal quotation marks omitted).
  • Com. v. Ostrander, K., No. 2160 MDA 2015 (Pa. Super. Ct. Jan. 27, 2017).unpublished
    Wendowski, 420 A.2d at 630 (emphasis in original).
  • Com. v. Grebb, M., No. 3330 EDA 2015 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 13, 2016).unpublished
    Otherwise, having been granted probation a defendant could commit criminal acts with impunity - as far as revocation of probation is concerned - until he commenced actual service of the probationary period. -4- J-A27020-16 Commonwealth v.…
  • Com. v. Rose, G., No. 1785 MDA 2014 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 25, 2015).unpublished
    He is still a person convicted of crime, and the expressed intent of the Court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not ‘change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.’” Commonwea…
  • Com. v. Kester, J., No. 1144 MDA 2014 (Pa. Super. Ct. Feb. 10, 2015).unpublished
    Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
  • Commonwealth v. Allshouse, 33 A.3d 31 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).published
    “change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right”
  • Commonwealth v. Hoover, 909 A.2d 321 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006).published
    Wendowski, 278 Pa.Super. at 456 , 420 A.2d at 630 (emphasis in original) (quoting James v. United States, 140 F.2d 392, 394 (5th Cir.1944) (Waller, J., concurring)). ¶ 9 Although Appellant herein did not, strictly speaking, violate the law…
  • Commonwealth v. Ware, 737 A.2d 251 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999).published
    Id. at 456, 420 A.2d at 630 (emphasis in original)[.] Id. 475 A.2d at 144 (additional citations omitted). ¶ 10 Further, this court has previously agreed that a term of probation: may and should be construed for revocation purposes as inclu…
  • Commonwealth v. Miller, 516 A.2d 1263 (Pa. 1986).published
    Id., 278 Pa.Superior Ct. at 456, 420 A.2d at 630 (emphasis in original), quoting James v. United States, 140 F.2d 392, 394 (5th Cir.1944) (Waller, J., concurring).
  • Matthews v. State, 498 A.2d 655 (Md. 1985).published
    Com. v. Wendowski, 278 Pa.Super. 453 , 420 A.2d 628, 630 (1980), quoting James v. United States, 140 F.2d 392, 394 (5th Cir.1944) (citations omitted) (emphasis added).
  • Commonwealth v. Dickens, 475 A.2d 141 (Pa. 1984).published
    He is still a person convicted of crime, and the expressed intent of the Court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not “change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.” Burns v. U…
  • Com. v. Cain, M., No. 1041 WDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 1, 2022).unpublished
    See Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980).
  • Com. v. Snyder, R., No. 447 WDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Oct. 19, 2022).unpublished
    (permitting anticipatory probation revocation)
  • Com. v. Blair, G., No. 514 EDA 2021 (Pa. Super. Ct. Sept. 21, 2022).unpublished
    See Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980).
  • Com. v. Higgs, C., No. 2361 EDA 2020 (Pa. Super. Ct. Nov. 9, 2021).unpublished
    See Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa.Super. 1980).
  • Com. v. Shonk, A., No. 526 MDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. Oct. 18, 2017).unpublished
    See Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980).
  • Com. v. Ross, N., No. 1208 EDA 2014 (Pa. Super. Ct. Apr. 13, 2015).unpublished
    See Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 (Pa. Super. 1980).
  • Com. v. Seekins, S., No. 420 WDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 18, 2017).unpublished
    (holding that term of probation includes term prior to commencement of service of probationary period)
278 Pa. Super. at 457 “otherwise, having been granted probation a defendant could commit criminal acts with impunity - as far as revocation of probation is concerned - until he commenced actual -4- j-s87035-16 service of the probationary period.”2 citing cases1 citing court quotes it · Red (inherited from the case)
  • Com. v. Ostrander, K., No. 2160 MDA 2015 (Pa. Super. Ct. Jan. 27, 2017).unpublished
    Wendowski, 420 A.2d at 630 (emphasis in original).
  • Com. v. Alexander, K., No. 1066 EDA 2014 (Pa. Super. Ct. Nov. 17, 2015).unpublished
    Commonwealth v. Wendowski, 420 A.2d 628, 630 , 278 Pa. Super. 453, 457 (quoting Burns v. United States, 287 U.S. 216, 222 (1932)).
420 A.2d at 629 cited at this page1 citing case
  • State v. Lopez, 2007-NMSC-011, 154 P.3d 668.published
    In Commonwealth v. Wendowski, the defendant’s probation sentences in separate cases were revoked by two different judges after the defendant committed additional crimes. 278 Pa.Super. 453 , 420 A.2d 628, 629 (Ct. 1980).
278 Pa. Super. at 456 “if, at any time before the defendant has completed the maximum period of probation, or before he has begun service of his probation, he should commit offenses of such nature as to demonstrate to the trial court that he is unworthy of probation . . . the trial court could revoke or change the order…”0 citing cases1 citing court quotes it · passage not found verbatim in the opinion (90%) · Red (inherited from the case)
    Other citing cases6 with no pin cite or quoted language on record
    Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
    COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania
    v.
    Anthony WENDOWSKI, Appellant
    2010.
    Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
    Jun 13, 1980.
    Published opinion
    420 A.2d 628
    1980 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2673
    John W. Packel, Chief, Appeals, Assistant Public Defender, Philadelphia, for appellant., Eric B. Henson, Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia, for Commonwealth, appellee.
    Hester, Wickersham, Lipez.
    Cited by 73 opinions  |  Published
    LIPEZ, Judge:

    The issue in this case is whether a judge may exercise his statutory authority [1] to revoke an order of probation upon violation of the terms of such order even though the defendant was not serving the probationary term at the time of revocation. Following is a chronology of the events relevant to this appeal:

    31 July 1974 The Honorable John Geisz sentences appellant to two years’ probation.
    [*455] 10 December 1974 The Honorable Norman Jenkins sentences appellant to five years’ probation on a different conviction.
    6 March 1975 Judge Jenkins, on a third conviction, imposes a sentence of time in to twenty-three months’ imprisonment.
    5 September 1975 Appellant pleads guilty, before the Honorable Curtis C. Carson, to charges of burglary and theft. Judge Carson defers sentence to October 21, 1975.
    29 September 1975 On the basis of the guilty plea of 5 September, Judge Geisz revokes the probation imposed by him in 31 July 1974; he sentences appellant to six to twenty-three months’ imprisonment. For the same reason, Judge Jenkins revokes the parole granted on 6 March 1975 and sentences appellant to the remainder of the twenty — three month maximum term. The probationary term of 10 December 1974 is continued.
    21 October 1975 Judge Carson, aware of the above events, sentences appellant to five years’ probation, commencing at the expiration of “any other sentences the [appellant] may presently be serving.”
    24 March 1976 Appellant is paroled to an out-patient drug addiction program.
    31 May 1977 Appellant pleads guilty, before the Honorable I. Raymond Kremer, to a charge of receiving stolen property.
    29 June 1977 Judge Jenkins revokes the parole of 24 March 1976 and orders appellant to serve the remaining ten months of the sentence imposed on 6 March 1975. The probation imposed on 10 December 1974 is again continued.
    Judge Carson, after a probation violation hearing, revokes the probation imposed on 21 October 1975 and sentences appellant to two and one half to five years’ imprisonment.

    [*456] Appellant now challenges Judge Carson’s sentence of 29 June 1977, asserting that, since he was not actually serving the probation imposed by Judge Carson on 21 October 1975 on the day it was revoked, the revocation was an unconstitutional augmentation of that sentence. We do not agree.

    The revocation of an order of probation and subsequent resentencing of a defendant to prison upon violation of the conditions of the probation does not unconstitutionally place such a defendant twice in jeopardy for the same offense. “[T]he initial order of probation is deemed a mere ‘conditional’ order and is not considered a ‘final order’ of sentence which is increased by the subsequent re-sentence.” Commonwealth v. White, 264 Pa.Super. 495, 500 n.6, 400 A.2d 194, 196 n.6 (1979).

    The issue before us has not been directly dealt with by our appellate courts, but those of other jurisdictions, federal and state, have addressed themselves to it. The policy behind the numerous decisions was clearly stated by Judge Waller of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:

    If, at any time before the defendant has completed the maximum period of probation, or before he has begun service of his probation, he should commit offenses of such nature as to demonstrate to the court that he is unworthy of probation and that the granting of the same would not be in subservience to the ends of justice and the best interests of the public, or the defendant, the court could revoke or change the order of probation. A defendant on probation has no contract with the court. He is still a person convicted of crime, and the expressed intent of the Court to have him under probation beginning at a future time does not “change his position from the possession of a privilege to the enjoyment of a right.” Burns v. United States, 287 U.S. 216, 222, 53 S.Ct. 154, 156, 77 L.Ed. 266, 269 (1932).

    [*457] James v. United States, 140 F.2d 392, 394 (5th Cir. 1944) (Waller, J., concurring) (Emphasis added) (Footnote omitted). We agree also with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals that a term of probation

    may and should be construed for revocation purposes as including the term beginning at the time probation is granted. Otherwise, having been granted probation a defendant could commit criminal acts with impunity-as far as revocation of probation is concerned-until he commenced actual service of the probationary period.

    Wright v. United States, 315 A.2d 839, 841-42, (D.C.App.1974). Many other jurisdictions are in agreement. See United States v. Root, 503 F.2d 940 (5th Cir. 1974); Hart v. Florida, 364 So.2d 545 (Fla.1978); State v. Morris, 563 P.2d 52 (Idaho 1977); Parrish v. Ault, 237 Ga. 401, 228 S.E.2d 808 (1976); Coffey v. Commonwealth, 209 Va. 760, 167 S.E.2d 343 (1969); Brown v. Commonwealth, 564 S.W.2d 21 (Ky.App.1977); Martin v. State, 243 So.2d 189 (Fla.App.1971).

    This position is supported by the decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in Commonwealth v. Vivian, 426 Pa. 192, 231 A.2d 301 (1967). Vivian had been sentenced to five consecutive terms of probation. During the first of these, the trial court found that a condition upon which probation had been ordered had not been met, revoked the term Vivian was then serving and the four then yet to come and imposed consecutive sentences of imprisonment. Our Supreme Court sustained the action of the trial court, holding that such revocation and resentencing did not violate the constitutional prohibition of double jeopardy. 426 Pa. at 201, 231 A.2d at 306.

    Furthermore, for the above reasons, appellant’s claims that the revocation violated his plea agreement and that his plea was involuntary because not knowing and intelligent are without merit.

    The judgment of sentence is

    Affirmed.

    1

    . See 18 Pa.C.S. § 1371(b). This section provides:

    The court may revoke an order of probation upon proof of the violation of specified conditions of the probation. Upon revocation the sentencing alternatives available to the court shall be the same as were available at the time of initial sentencing, due consideration being given to the time spent serving the order of probation.