Commonwealth v. Cottle

OPINION OF THE COURT

NIX, Justice.

The issue in the present appeal is whether the sentencing judge in imposing the maximum prison sentence upon appellant for a violation of probation abused his discretion in view of the circumstances of this case.

On February 25, 1969, one Mike Matthew Holmes was sentenced by this writer.* Mr. Holmes had been convicted as a participant in a robbery of a SEPTA trolley. At that proceeding, though he was not a party to and had never been charged, the appellant, Ernest Cottle, approached the bench regarding his participation in the robbery.

Subsequent events were…