Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-6_18-mj-00068/USCOURTS-caed-6_18-mj-00068-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Brianna Lupia
Defendant
USA
Plaintiff

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HEATHER E. WILLIAMS, CA SBN #122664

Federal Defender

BENJAMIN A. GERSON, NY BAR #5505144

Assistant Federal Defender

Office of the Federal Defender

2300 Tulare Street, Suite 330

Fresno, CA 93721-2226

Telephone: (559) 487-5561

Fax: (559) 487-5950

Attorneys for Defendant

BRIANNA LUPIA 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

 Plaintiff,

vs.

BRIANNA LUPIA,

 Defendant.

6:18-MJ-00068-JDP

STIPULATION TO MODIFY SENTENCE;

APPEAR BY VIDEO TELECONFERENCE;

ORDER

Date: February 12, 2020 

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Judge: Hon. Jeremy D. Peterson 

It is hereby stipulated by and between the parties through their respective counsel, 

Yosemite National Park Legal Officer Susan St. Vincent, counsel for plaintiff, and Assistant 

Federal Defender Benjamin Gerson, counsel for Defendant Brianna Lupia, that Ms. Lupia’s 

sentence be modified to permit Ms. Lupia to complete the Colorado Level II DUI education 

program in lieu of the California first time offender DUI course in satisfaction of the instant 

sentence. It is further stipulated that Ms. Lupia be permitted to appear by video teleconference 

from Colorado for future appearances.

On February 26, 2019, Brianna Lupia pleaded guilty to one count of violating 36 C.F.R § 

4.23(a)(2). On that date the Honorable Jeremy D. Peterson sentenced Ms. Lupia to a term of 12 

months unsupervised probation, $1190.00 in fines, a $10.00 special assessment, and the 

California first time DUI offender course.

Case 6:18-mj-00068-JDP Document 15 Filed 02/06/20 Page 1 of 6
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Lupia: Stipulation to Modify Sentence

On April 26, 2019 Ms. Lupia enrolled in the California first time DUI course at 

Kingsview in Fresno, California. See, Docket #8. Subsequently, Ms. Lupia relocated to Taos, 

New Mexico, to work as a chef at the Taos ski resort. Kingsview terminated her registration on 

October 17, 2019. See Docket #9. Ms. Lupia then moved to Boulder, Colorado to work as a chef 

at Brasserie Ten-Ten. To date Ms. Lupia has paid the $10.00 special assessment and $530.00 of 

her required fines. However, she has not completed the California DUI course.

Because Ms. Lupia has yet to complete her probation requirements, Defense Counsel and 

Counsel for the Government have stipulated to allow Ms. Lupia until February 5, 2020 to enroll 

in a Colorado DUI program to avoid a violation of probation. See Docket #13. The instant 

stipulation moves the court to modify the conditions of Ms. Lupia’s probation to allow the 

Colorado DUI course in lieu of the California DUI course. Based on discussions between the 

parties it is agreed that the Colorado course is substantially the same as the California course, as 

set out in the included Memorandum of Points and Authorities.

The parties further stipulate that Ms. Lupia’s probation period should be extended until 

November 20, 2020, with a review hearing set October 20, 2020. The Colorado DUI course and 

fine payments are to be completed by September 20, 2020.

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Lupia: Stipulation to Modify Sentence

Because Ms. Lupia now permanently resides in Colorado, travelling to Yosemite 

National Park for her future hearings poses a financial and logistical hardship. The parties 

therefore move to court to permit Ms. Lupia to appear by video teleconference.

Respectfully submitted, 

McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

DATED: February 6, 2020 By: /s/ Susan St. Vincent

Susan St. Vincent

Yosemite National Park Legal Officer

Attorney for Plaintiff

HEATHER E. WILLIAMS

Federal Defender

DATED: February 6, 2020 By: /s/ Benjamin Gerson

Benjamin Gerson

Assistant Federal Defender

Attorney for Defendant 

Brianna Lupia

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Lupia: Stipulation to Modify Sentence

O R D E R

Brianna Lupia’s sentence is modified and she is hereby ordered to complete the Colorado 

DUI course in lieu of the California DUI course. Her term of unsupervised probation is extended 

until November 20, 2020. Ms. Lupia’s fine payments and also the DUI course are to be 

completed by September 20, 2020; review hearing is set for October 20, 2020. Future 

appearances by video teleconference are permitted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 6, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Lupia: Stipulation to Modify Sentence

MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES

I. Colorado and California DUI Classes Are Substantially Equivalent

Once convicted of Driving Under the Influence (“DUI”), both Colorado and California state 

law require the offender to register and attend an alcohol education and therapy class. The 

statutory scheme and requirements are substantially equivalent, requiring a combination of faceto-face meetings with a licensed counselor and alcohol education in an outpatient setting. The 

purpose of the instant memorandum is to illustrate the similarities in support of the position that 

either state’s DUI class will satisfy the goals of a federal sentence.

A. Time and Content Requirements

California requires first time DUI offenders with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of less 

than 0.20% to participate in a 30-hour class. The class is composed of 12 hours of educational 

sessions, 10 hours of group counseling sessions, and 8 additional hours consisting of a 

combination of educational sessions and group counseling sessions as determined to be clinically 

appropriate by the class administrator. 9 California Code of Regulations (“CCR”) § 9851. 

Education sessions cover topics such as the physiological and social effects of alcohol and other 

drugs, alcoholism and addition, and alternatives and strategies. 9 CCR § 9852. Group 

counselling sessions must be separate and apart from the educational component and may not 

substitute for the required hours. The format of group counselling requires participants to 

examine alcohol or drug related challenges they may be facing with the goal of changing 

problematic behaviors and developing strategies to avoid substance abuse. 9 CCR § 9854. The 

California Code of Regulations permits individual counselling in place of group counselling 

where each hour of individual counselling may replace two hours of group counselling, 

effectively shortening the overall length of the course by providing more individualized 

treatment.

The equivalent course in Colorado is known as “Level II Therapeutic Education” and 

consists of 24 hours of in person education. 2 Colorado Code of Regulations § 502-1:21.240.7. 

Level II Therapeutic Education may then be followed by “Level II” therapy as clinically 

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Lupia: Stipulation to Modify Sentence

appropriate. Id. Colorado requires an individual assessment to determine the appropriate course 

of therapy. 2 Colorado Code Regs. § 501-1:21:240.2-240.3 The standard of care set forth 

requires Colorado providers to offer services which may include group and individual sessions to 

develop coping strategies such as developing life skills, building support networks, or further 

education to address problematic drug and alcohol use. 2 Colo. Code Regs. § 502-1:21.210.4.

B. State Oversight

Both Colorado and California require licensure of facilities and staff providing DUI 

classes. Colo. Code Regs. § 5021-21.210 et seq.; 9 CCR § 11836 et seq. Staff providing drug 

and alcohol counselling must be certified as addiction counselors (CAC) or licensed clinical 

social workers (LCSW). Id.

C. Summary

Minor differences, such as the exact length of each course, are overshadowed by the 

similarities between California and Colorado’s approach to post conviction DUI classes. Each 

requires state licensed facilities staffed with licensed professionals. Each requires both an 

educational and therapeutic component, covering similar topics and with similar aims: to reduce 

problematic or dangerous behaviors involving drug and alcohol use. Given the wide degree of 

overlap between the states approaches, it is clear that if the California first time DUI class 

satisfies the Federal Court’s rehabilitative goals, the Colorado course should be equally 

satisfactory. 

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