Filed 7/6/16 P. v. Hickman CA2/7

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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SEVEN

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

WILBURT HICKMAN JR.,

Defendant and Appellant.

 B268480

 (Los Angeles County

 Super. Ct. No. A772219)

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, David M. 

Horwitz, Judge. Appeal dismissed. 

Lisa M. Sciandra, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Appellant. 

No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

____________________
2

On October 8, 1985 Wilburt Hickman Jr. pleaded guilty to transporting or selling 

marijuana in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11360, subdivision (a). 

Imposition of sentence was suspended, and Hickman was placed on three years of 

probation on condition he serve 90 days in county jail. 

On July 17, 2015 Hickman applied pursuant to Penal Code section 1170.18, 

subdivision (f), to reclassify the felony conviction as a misdemeanor. Although the 

record does not contain the trial court’s ruling, the wording of a September 11, 2015 

minute order indicates the application was denied. According to the minute order, the 

court held an ex parte hearing in chambers to address a “Letter From The Defendant 

Regarding Reconsideration For Proposition 47 Application Due To Defendant’s Error.” 

Having read and considered Hickman’s letter, the court concluded Hickman’s application 

was to “remain denied” because the offense of transporting or selling marijuana does not 

qualify for reclassification as a misdemeanor under Proposition 47. 

On November 17, 2015 Hickman filed a handwritten notice of appeal from the 

September 11, 2015 order denying his motion for reconsideration. Attached to the notice 

were a number of exhibits including a copy of the 1985 felony complaint for the 

underlying matter and a form confirming Hickman’s guilty plea to the charge of violating 

Health and Safety Code section 11360, subdivision (a).

We appointed counsel to represent Hickman on appeal. After an examination of 

the record, counsel filed an opening brief in which no issues were raised. On 

February 29, 2016 we advised Hickman he had 30 days in which to personally submit 

any contentions or issues he wished us to consider. On March 23, 2016 we received a 

handwritten letter in which Hickman claimed his October 8, 1985 conviction was not for 

transporting or selling marijuana, but for possession for marijuana, thereby making him 

eligible for Proposition 47 relief.1

 

1 Although one of the forms attached to Hickman’s notice of appeal, somewhat 

similar in appearance to the current abstract of judgment form, identified his crime as 

“Possess Narcotic Controlled Substance,” the relevant statute is listed on that sheet as 

Health and Safety Code section 11360, subdivision (a), which is consistent with the other 
3

The initial order denying Hickman’s petition for reclassification of his felony as a 

misdemeanor under Proposition 47 was an appealable order. (Pen. Code, § 1237, 

subd. (b); see Teal v. Superior Court (2014) 60 Cal.4th 595, 601.) We seriously question 

whether the subsequent order denying his motion for reconsideration is separately 

appealable under Penal Code section 1237, subdivision (b), as a postjudgment order 

affecting the substantial rights of the party. (Cf. Code Civ. Proc., § 1008, subd. (g) [an 

order denying a motion for reconsideration is not separately appealable but is reviewable 

as part of an appeal from the order that was the subject of the motion for 

reconsideration].) But even if it were appealable, or if we were to somehow construe the 

September 11, 2015 ruling as an order denying Hickman’s petition to reclassify his 

felony offense as a misdemeanor, his appeal, filed on November 17, 2015, more than 

60 days after entry of the September 11, 2015 order, is untimely. (Cal. Rules of Court, 

rule 8.308(a) [notice of appeal must be filed within 60 days after the making of the order 

being appealed].) Accordingly, the appeal must be dismissed.

DISPOSITION

The appeal is dismissed. 

PERLUSS, P. J. 

We concur: 

ZELON, J. GARNETT, J.*

 

documents in the record on appeal confirming Hickman’s plea to one felony count of 

transporting or selling marijuana.

*

Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to 

article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.