Filed 7/8/16 P. v. Cowan CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for 

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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

STUART LELAND COWAN,

Defendant and Appellant.

F070422

(Super. Ct. No. SC078781A)

OPINION

THE COURT*

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Kern County. Michael G. Bush, 

Judge.

Jeffrey S. Kross, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Appellant.

Office of the State Attorney General, Sacramento, California, for Plaintiff and 

Respondent.

-ooOoo-

 

* Before Franson, Acting P.J., Peña, J. and Smith, J.
2

Appellant Stuart Leland Cowan appeals from the court’s denial of his petition for 

recall of sentence pursuant to Penal Code section 1170.126.1 Following independent 

review of the record pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende), we 

affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

 On October 29, 1999, Bakersfield police officers stopped a vehicle in which 

Cowan was a passenger. During the stop, the officers found a dagger eight to nine inches 

long in Cowan’s waistband and two syringes in Cowan’s backpack. A subsequent blood 

draw from Cowan tested positive for amphetamines, barbiturates, and opiates. 

On January 21, 2000, a jury convicted Cowan of possession of a dirk or dagger 

(former § 12020, subd. (a)), possession of narcotics paraphernalia (Health & Saf. Code, 

§ 11364), and being under the influence of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, 

§ 11550, subd. (a)). On January 24, 2000, the court found true three prior prison term 

enhancements (§ 667.5, subd. (b)) and allegations that Cowan had three prior convictions 

within the meaning of the Three Strikes law (§ 667, subds. (b)-(i)).

On March 1, 2000, the court sentenced Cowan to 25 years to life on his possession 

of a dagger conviction, plus three one-year prior prison term enhancements. 

On November 6, 2012, California voters passed the Three Strikes Reform Act of 

2012 (the Act; § 1170.126) which became effective the next day. In pertinent part, the 

Act establishes a procedure for an offender serving an indeterminate life sentence for a 

third strike conviction that is not deemed a serious and/or a violent felony to file a 

petition for recall of sentence and to be resentenced as a second strike offender. (Teal v. 

Superior Court (2014) 60 Cal.4th 595, 596-597, § 1170.126, subd. (f).)

On August 7, 2014, Cowan filed a Petition for Recall of Sentence pursuant to 

section 1170.126. 

 

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code, unless otherwise indicated.
3

On August 19, 2014, the district attorney filed a response arguing that Cowan was 

ineligible for resentencing pursuant to that section because he was armed with a weapon 

when he committed the possession of a dagger offense. (Cf. People v. Osuna (2014) 225 

Cal.App.4th 1020, 1030-1032 [defendant convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon 

was armed with a firearm because of the firearm defendant was holding at the time].) 

On October 28, 2014, the court agreed with the prosecutor and denied Cowan’s 

motion. 

Cowan’s appellate counsel has filed a brief which summarizes the facts, with 

citations to the record, raises no issues, and asks this court to independently review the 

record. (Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436.) However, in a document filed on April 24, 2015, 

Cowan raises three issues relating to his 2000 convictions for possession of a dirk or 

dagger. These contentions are not cognizable because they should have been raised in an 

appeal filed 60 days from the date he was sentenced in that matter. (Cal. Rules of Court, 

rule 8.308 [notice of appeal must be filed within 60 days after the rendition of the 

judgment]; People v. Ramirez (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 1412, 1421 [the failure to file a 

timely appeal forfeits a claim because it deprives the appellate court of jurisdiction].) 

Further, following an independent review of the record, we find that no reasonably 

arguable factual or legal issues exist.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.