Filed 10/10/14

CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Appellant,

v.

ABRAHAM ISAAC TUBBS,

Defendant and Respondent.

F067312

(Super. Ct. No. CF97581807)

OPINION

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Ralph Nunez, 

Judge. (Retired judge of the Fresno Sup. Ct. assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to art. 

VI, § 6 of the Cal. Const.)

Elizabeth A. Egan, District Attorney, Rudy Carrillo, Chief Deputy District 

Attorney, and Douglas O. Treisman, Deputy District Attorney, for Plaintiff and 

Appellant.

 

* Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is 

certified for publication with the exception of part III.
2.

Sylvia Whatley Beckham, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for 

Defendant and Respondent.

-ooOooRespondent Abraham Isaac Tubbs petitioned for resentencing pursuant to Penal 

Code section 1170.126,1 commonly referred to as the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012

(the Act).

2

 (People v. Superior Court (Kaulick) (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 1279, 1285, 

1289 (Kaulick).) The trial court resentenced Tubbs on March 8, 2013, and ordered that 

Tubbs be subject to postrelease community supervision (PRCS) pursuant to section 3451 

for the period prescribed by law. Eleven days later, on March 19, the trial court, on its 

own and without notice to the parties, ordered its judgment be modified to omit any 

requirement that Tubbs be subject to PRCS. The trial court concluded it had no authority 

to order PRCS; thus, an unauthorized sentence had been imposed. 

The People appeal from the March 19, 2013, modification, contending 

(1) modification of the March 8, 2013, sentence required notice and a hearing, and 

(2) any resentencing of Tubbs pursuant to the Act must include PRCS. We agree with 

the People and will reverse the March 19 order.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY

Tubbs pled guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale on 

April 1, 1997. At the time, Tubbs had two strike convictions and had served three prison 

terms. Tubbs was sentenced pursuant to the Three Strikes law as a third strike 

defendant.3

 

1All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2Proposition 36, as approved by voters, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 6, 2012).

3Some facts had to be extrapolated and discerned from the record, such as it is. 

The record on appeal did not include the petition for resentencing filed by Tubbs, the 

probation report prepared for the resentencing, or the original judgment from 1997.
3.

Tubbs petitioned for resentencing pursuant to the Act and a hearing on his petition 

was held on March 8, 2013. The People argued that Tubbs was an unreasonable risk to 

the community if released unless there was a plan in place to address Tubbs’s alcohol and 

substance abuse, such as a requirement he attend Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics 

Anonymous. The People also had a concern that Tubbs minimized his prior offenses and 

denied having sold or supplied narcotics to others, despite his prior plea to that offense.

The People conceded Tubbs was eligible for resentencing, however, and stated 

they were not opposing resentencing so long as some sort of “relapse prevention plan” 

was in place. The trial court noted it had to determine if Tubbs “pose[d] an unreasonable 

risk to public safety.” 

After much discussion and argument from both counsel, the trial court stated it 

was “persuaded that resentencing [Tubbs was] the appropriate thing to do.” The trial 

court recalled the sentence and proceeded to resentence Tubbs pursuant to the Act. It 

imposed a sentence of 13 years and awarded custody credits of 6,024 days. The trial 

court noted Tubbs was being resentenced to 13 years and had served 16 years in actual 

custody, but concluded that it did not “see any exceptions here” and ordered Tubbs to 

participate in PRCS pursuant to section 3451 upon release from custody. 

The abstract of judgment for the resentencing was filed March 14, 2013, and 

indicated Tubbs had been resentenced pursuant to section 1170.126. On March 19, 2013, 

without notice or a hearing, the trial court modified the judgment by issuing an order 

vacating that portion of the judgment requiring Tubbs to participate in PRCS. The stated 

reason was that the trial court was correcting an “unauthorized sentence” in that only the 

Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (the Department) could 

decide whether a defendant was to be placed on PRCS after release from custody. 

The People appeal from the March 19, 2013, order modifying the judgment. The 

People filed a request that we take judicial notice of the legislative analysis of Proposition 
4.

36. By order dated July 25, 2013, we deferred ruling on the request pending 

consideration of the merits of the appeal.

DISCUSSION

The People argue the trial court made two errors. First, as PRCS is mandated by 

section 3451, they contend the trial court erred in applying excess time credits resulting 

from resentencing under the Act to the PRCS term. Hence, the trial court’s March 19, 

2013, order striking the requirement for PRCS was error. Tubbs counters that the 

Department, not the trial court, is vested with exclusive authority to decide whether a 

defendant, upon release from prison, is subject to PRCS. 

Second, the People contend that any resentencing under the Act, and any 

modification or alteration of that new sentence, requires notice and a hearing. Tubbs 

asserts the trial court’s March 19, 2013, order was correcting an unauthorized sentence 

and did not require a hearing. 

I. PRCS Requirement

In its March 19, 2013, modification of the resentencing order, the trial court stated, 

“The decision of whether or not defendant will be subject to parole or postrelease 

community supervision is one made by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections 

and Rehabilitation[], and is dependent upon whether, once defendant’s post-sentence 

credits are calculated by the Department [citation], he has any period of time remaining 

for either a parole or postrelease community supervision period.” 

There are two problems with this statement: (1) excess time credits after 

resentencing cannot reduce or eliminate the statutory period a defendant is subject to 

PRCS, and (2) the Department is not the sole arbiter of eligibility for PRCS.

Excess Time Credits Do Not Impact PRCS

When a defendant has served any portion of a sentence based upon a judgment, 

and that judgment subsequently is modified or declared invalid and the defendant is then 

resentenced for that same offense, custody credits for the time served must be awarded to 
5.

the defendant. (§ 2900.1.) It is the trial court that is charged with determining the total 

number of days to be credited to a defendant for custody credits and fixing that number 

when sentence is imposed. (§ 2900.5, subd. (d).) 

Here, the trial court determined Tubbs had 6,024 days of credit for time served, 

which equates to approximately 16.5 years. The total sentence imposed at resentencing 

under the Act was 13 years. The trial court’s written order following the March 8, 2013, 

resentencing hearing specified that Tubbs was to be released immediately, not remanded 

into anyone’s custody, pursuant to resentencing under section 1170.126. 

The Act “has two primary prongs: creating a new sentencing mechanism for 

defendants who are sentenced on and after October 1, 2011, and creating a new process 

whereby certain offenders being released from prison custody would no longer be 

supervised by the state parole system, but instead would be supervised by a local 

supervision agency.” The new supervision system is PRCS. (People v. Espinoza (2014) 

226 Cal.App.4th 635, 639, fn. 3 (Espinoza), quoting Couzens & Bigelow, Felony 

Sentencing After Realignment (rev. Mar. 4, 2014) p. 62; available at 

<http://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/felony_sentencing.pdf> [as of Oct. 10, 

2014].) 

Section 3451, subdivision (a) of the Act states, “Notwithstanding any other 

law ..., all persons released from prison on and after October 1, 2011, or whose sentence 

has been deemed served pursuant to section 2900.5 after serving a prison term for a 

felony shall, upon release from prison and for a period not exceeding three years ..., be 

subject to [PRCS] ....” (Italics added.) 

The trial court was correct when it initially ordered Tubbs to participate in PRCS. 

Participation in PRCS is mandatory for anyone resentenced under the Act and released

from custody. Custody credits cannot reduce the mandatory PRCS supervision period. 

(Espinoza, supra, 226 Cal.App.4th at pp. 639-640.) Consequently, any judgment or order 
6.

that purports to eliminate or remove PRCS as a condition of resentencing under the Act is 

an illegal sentence, not the other way around.

We are not the first court to confront this issue. The appellate court in Espinoza 

thoroughly analyzed the Act and the individual statutes under facts substantially similar 

to those of this case. In Espinoza the defendant had been serving a third strike sentence 

in prison, had not been paroled, petitioned for resentencing pursuant to the Act, and at 

resentencing was awarded custody credits that exceeded the new sentence. (Espinoza, 

supra, 226 Cal.App.4th at pp. 637-638.) The defendant was ordered to be released

immediately. (Id. at p. 639.) In addition, at the resentencing hearing, and over the 

defendant’s objection, the trial court ordered the defendant to participate in PRCS. (Id. at 

p. 638.) 

As the appellate court noted in Espinoza, the Act “changed the paradigm for the 

incarceration and postconviction supervision of persons convicted of certain felony 

offenses.” (Espinoza, supra, 226 Cal.App.4th at p. 639.) After analyzing the Act and its 

various individual statutes, the appellate court concluded that the language 

“notwithstanding any other law” was all encompassing and eliminated any potential for 

conflict with other sentencing schemes. (Id. at pp. 639-640.) The Espinoza court 

concluded there was no constitutional impediment to PRCS, PRCS was mandatory for 

those sentenced after October 1, 2011, and PRCS did not constitute a term of 

imprisonment or parole. (Id. at pp. 638-641.) Thus, a defendant released after October 1, 

2011, pursuant to resentencing under the Act, who had excess custody credits, is subject 

to mandatory PRCS. (Id. at p. 640.)

Tubbs and the defendant in Espinoza both analogized PRCS to parole as a basis 

for arguing that excess credits should be applied to reduce PRCS supervision. The 

analogy fails because there is no threat of imprisonment for a violation of the terms of 

PRCS. 
7.

Tubbs mentions, without analysis, footnote 5 from this court’s opinion in People 

v. Torres (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 1151, 1157 as indicating excess time credits may 

reduce the period of supervision under PRCS. But, neither the parties nor this court’s 

opinion in Torres addressed application of excess time credits to a period of PRCS. 

Cases are not authority for propositions not considered. (People v. Jennings (2010) 50 

Cal.4th 616, 684.) 

As was the defendant in Espinoza, Tubbs is legally mandated to be subject to 

PRCS for the statutory period if he applies for and accepts resentencing, as he did here.

Department’s Role in PRCS

Tubbs contends the March 8, 2013, sentence was illegal because the Department,

not the trial court, is the only entity that determines whether he is subject to PRCS. We 

disagree. There is nothing in the Act stating the Department determines whether a 

defendant is subject to PRCS. 

The statutes provide PRCS is mandatory, not discretionary. (§ 3451, subd. (a); 

Espinoza, supra, 226 Cal.App.4th at pp. 639-640.) The Act and other statutory 

provisions also indicate that a determination whether a defendant will be subject to 

PRCS, if one need be made, will be made at sentencing or resentencing by the trial court. 

For example, section 1202.45, subdivision (b) requires the trial court to impose against a

defendant convicted of a crime, and who is subject to PRCS, a PRCS revocation 

restitution fine at the same time the section 1202.4, subdivision (b) restitution fine is 

imposed, namely at sentencing. The trial court hardly can impose the section 1202.45, 

subdivision (b) fine unless it makes a determination at sentencing that the defendant is 

subject to PRCS upon eventual release from custody.

The Act itself provides only that the Department give notice to the defendant, prior 

to release from prison, of the defendant’s obligation to report to the county agency 

responsible for supervising the defendant while on PRCS. (§ 3451, subd. (c)(2).) Section 

3452 describes what must be included in the required notice. The terms and conditions of 
8.

PRCS are set forth in section 3453. Those conditions can be refined or modified only by 

the local supervising county agency as described in section 3454. The local agency 

responsible for PRCS is required to maintain supervision over a person until one of the 

events set forth in section 3456 occurs. (Id., subd. (a).) Section 3456.5 specifies that the 

local supervising agency may require the person subject to PRCS to report to the local 

agency within two days or less of release. (Id., subd. (a).) Section 3457 makes clear that 

the Department has “no jurisdiction over any person” who is under PRCS. Nowhere in 

the Act is the Department granted the authority to set any terms and conditions of, or to 

supervise anyone on, PRCS. We find nothing in the statutes, and Tubbs has cited no 

statutory authority, indicating discretionary power is vested in the Department to 

determine who is subject to PRCS.

Tubbs seems to argue that section 3452, subdivision (a) implied the trial court’s 

authority was conditional. Previously, that section required that a defendant “shall enter 

into a postrelease community supervision agreement prior to, and as a condition of, their 

release from prison.” (Stats. 2011, ch. 15, § 479.) Tubbs points out that the People tried, 

unsuccessfully, at the March 8, 2013, resentencing hearing to have him agree to PRCS as 

a condition of resentencing. The tradeoff at that time for obtaining resentencing pursuant 

to section 1170.126 was being subject to PRCS upon release. The only conditional part 

of the section is Tubbs’s acceptance. He “cannot pick and choose which portion of 

realignment he agrees to and which portion he does not.” (Espinoza, supra, 226 

Cal.App.4th at p. 640.) If one petitions for and accepts resentencing, it is a “package 

deal” that includes PRCS. (Ibid.) If Tubbs is maintaining in this appeal that he did not

agree to be subject to PRCS, then he was not entitled to be resentenced under the Act. 

Section 3452 was modified in 2012 to delete any reference to “agreement.” (Stats. 

2012, ch. 43, § 50.) Now, the language used in section 3452 is consistent with the rest of 

the Act and refers to the “notice” that is to be given to a person subject to PRCS. 
9.

The Department’s regulations cited by Tubbs do not support his contention that 

they are “obvious indications” of the Department’s “exclusive province of deciding who 

is eligible for PRCS.” A regulation is valid only if it is (1) consistent and not in conflict 

with the statute, and (2) reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute. 

(Gov. Code, § 11342.2; Sheyko v. Saenz (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 675, 687.) Thus, if a 

regulation alters or amends the governing statute, it is invalid. (Sheyko, at p. 687.) Any 

regulation promulgated by the Department purporting to vest in the Department the 

discretion to determine who may be placed on PRCS is simply without basis in the Act. 

Regardless, we do not view the Department’s regulations as purporting to vest in 

itself the exclusive authority to determine eligibility for PRCS. The regulations cited by 

Tubbs, relating to forms Nos. 611 (rev. 8/12) and 1515-CS (7/11), are designed to 

implement the notice requirements set forth in sections 3451, subdivision (c)(2) and 

3452. It appears from the cited regulations that the Department, unlike Tubbs, recognizes 

its limited role of giving notice of mandatory PRCS upon release and is not purporting to 

expand its authority over PRCS.

Conclusion

Tubbs availed himself of the postconviction release remedy provided by the Act. 

At the March 8, 2013, resentencing hearing, the trial court determined Tubbs was eligible 

for resentencing under the Act in that he did not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to 

public safety and otherwise met the criteria for resentencing. The trial court then 

determined an appropriate new sentence, fixed and awarded custody credits, and ordered 

Tubbs be subject to PRCS upon release from custody. 

The trial court is obligated to determine custody credits upon sentencing or 

resentencing pursuant to sections 2900.1 and 2900.5. The Act mandates a period of 

PRCS for those defendants released from prison after October 1, 2011, and the terms and 

conditions of PRCS are set forth in the statute and may be refined or modified by the

local supervising agency, but not the Department. The language in the Act restricts the 
10.

Department’s role in PRCS to that of giving notice. It therefore follows that upon 

resentencing pursuant to section 1170.126, it is neither an inappropriate nor an illegal 

sentence to provide that the defendant is subject to PRCS upon release from custody.

II. Requirement of Notice and a Hearing 

The People contend the trial court was obligated to give notice and an opportunity 

to be heard before modifying the resentencing order. Tubbs claims the original 

resentencing was an illegal sentence, which can be corrected without notice and a 

hearing. As discussed ante, the original resentencing order was not illegal. So any 

modification should have been done only after notice and a hearing.

The Act expressly contemplates that a hearing be held when the trial court is 

considering any resentencing order. (§ 1170.126, subds. (a), (m); Kaulick, supra, 215 

Cal.App.4th at p. 1297, fn. 20.) Here, a resentencing hearing was held on March 8, 2013, 

but no hearing was held prior to the subsequent modification of the order. The People 

have both a statutory and a due process right to a hearing on any resentencing. (Kaulick, 

at pp. 1297-1298.) The defendant, and in many instances victims, all have the right to 

notice of any resentencing and the right to be present at any resentencing hearing. (Id. at 

pp. 1296, 1299-1300.) Any modification of the resentencing order by the trial court, 

including any modification, revocation, or termination of PRCS, should be on noticed 

hearing. (Ibid.; § 3455.) Thus, the failure to provide notice and a hearing before 

modifying the resentencing order was error. .

III. Abstract of Judgment*

Tubbs claims the abstract of judgment filed March 14, 2013, does not conform to 

the oral pronouncement of judgment. He asserts the abstract contains fines and fees that

 

* See footnote, ante, page 1.
11.

the trial court did not impose, and the description of the sentence was inaccurate. The 

People did not respond to this argument in their reply brief.

The general rule is that when there is a discrepancy between the oral 

pronouncement rendering judgment, as reflected in the reporter’s transcript, and the 

minute order or the abstract of judgment contained in the clerk’s transcript, the oral 

pronouncement controls. (People v. Mesa (1975) 14 Cal.3d 466, 471-472, superseded by 

statute on other grounds in People v. Turner (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 1258, 1268; People v. 

Crenshaw (1992) 9 Cal.App.4th 1403, 1415-1416.) It is well settled that the preparation 

of the abstract of judgment is the ministerial act and it must conform to the trial court’s 

oral pronouncement of judgment. (People v. Farell (2002) 28 Cal.4th 381, 384, fn. 2.) 

“The clerk cannot supplement the judgment the court actually pronounced by adding a 

provision to the minute order and the abstract of judgment. [Citation.]” (People v. 

Zackery (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 380, 387-389.) If the clerk includes fines or fees in the 

minute order or on the abstract that were not imposed orally, they must be stricken from 

the minute order and abstract. (Id. at p. 388; People v. Rowland (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 

119, 124.) 

The trial court is directed to prepare an amended abstract of judgment that 

accurately reflects its oral pronouncement of sentence on March 8, 2013. (People v. 

Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181, 185.)

DISPOSITION

The March 19, 2013, order vacating unauthorized sentence of postrelease 

community supervision is reversed. The resentencing order of March 14, 2013, is 
12.

reinstated. An amended abstract of judgment shall be prepared, and the trial court shall 

forward a copy of said document to the appropriate agencies.4

_____________________

CORNELL, Acting P.J.

WE CONCUR:

_____________________

GOMES, J.

_____________________

POOCHIGIAN, J.

 

4The People asked us to take judicial notice of the legislative analysis of 

Proposition 36. That request is denied.