Citation Codes Equivalent Citations citation codes See more information ... Smart Summary Please sign up to generate summary. COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, Respondent v. MELVIN APONTE, Petitioner. ORDER PER CURIAM. AND NOW, this 5th day of June, 2002, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal is hereby GRANTED, limited to the following issue: Whether 35 P. S. § 780-115(a), which permits the doubling of the statutory maximum penalty upon proof of a prior conviction for a similar crime, without requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt and providing for a right to a jury trial, violates the Pennsylvania and United States constitutions?