Filed 4/14/15 P. v. Pearley CA4/1 

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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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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

DIVISION ONE 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

THE PEOPLE, 

 Plaintiff and Respondent, 

 v. 

RONALD BERNARD PEARLEY, 

 Defendant and Appellant. 

 D065068 

 (Super. Ct. No. SCD226872) 

 APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Amalia L. 

Meza, Judge. Affirmed and remanded with directions. 

 Athena Shudde, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Appellant. 

 Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, 

Eric A. Swenson and Joy Utomi, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and 

Respondent. 
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 In October 2013, a jury found Ronald Bernard Pearley guilty of aggravated sexual 

assault of a child (Pen. Code,1 § 269, subd. (a)) (count 1), two counts of committing a 

forcible lewd act upon a child (§ 288, subd. (b)(1)) with substantial sexual conduct with a 

child under 14 years of age (§ 1203.0666, subd. (a)(8)) (counts 2 and 7), two counts of 

committing a lewd act upon a child (§ 288, subd. (a)) with substantial sexual conduct 

with a child under 14 years of age (§ 1203.0666, subd. (a)(8)) (counts 3 and 6), 

committing a lewd act upon a child (§ 288, subd. (a)) (count four) and attempting to 

commit a forcible lewd act upon a child (§§ 664, 288, subd. (b)(1)) (count 8). In 

December, the court sentenced Pearley to prison for 15 years to life on count 1 plus 11 

years; a stayed (§ 654) three-year lower term on count 2; two years each (one-third the 

middle term) on counts 3, 4 and 6; the five-year lower term on count 7 (the principal 

term) and a concurrent lower term of two years six months on count 8. Pearley appeals, 

contending the sentences on counts 7 and 8 were unlawful and asks us to correct those 

sentences. He also contends clerical errors in the abstract of judgment concerning counts 

3, 4, and 6 and credits must be corrected to reflect the court's oral pronouncement of 

judgment. 

 The offenses in counts 7 and 8 occurred between March 2008 and September 

2009. During those years, the lower, middle and upper terms for the offense in count 7, 

committing a forcible lewd act upon a child, were three, six, and eight years. (Former 

§ 288, subd. (b)(a).) As is still the case today, the terms for the offense in count 8, 

 

1 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code. 
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attempting to commit a forcible lewd act upon a child, were one-half the terms for the 

offense attempted. (§ 664, subd. (a).) Ex post facto principles proscribe a punishment 

greater than that prescribed when the offenses occurred. (People v. Riskin (2006) 

143 Cal.App.4th 234, 244.) Thus, the correct lower term on count 7 in the instant case is 

three years, not five years, and the correct lower term on count 8 is one year six months, 

not two years six months. "[A]n ex post facto violation resulting in an unauthorized 

sentence may be raised on appeal even if the defendant failed to object below." 

(People v. Hiscox (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 253, 258.) Respondent correctly concedes the 

sentences the court imposed on counts 7 and 8 are unauthorized and asks us to vacate 

those sentences and remand the matter so that the sentencing court may exercise its 

discretion to select the appropriate terms. Although the court stated its intent to impose 

the lower term on counts 7 and 8, and gave reasons for its choice, the court 

misunderstood the possible lower, middle and upper terms and thus the scope of its 

sentencing discretion. Because it is not clear the court would have imposed the same 

terms had it been fully informed, we remand for resentencing. (People v. Gutierrez

(2014) 58 Cal.4th 1354, 1391.) 

 As to counts 3, 4, and 6, the abstract of judgment reflects two-year terms 

characterized as one-third the lower term. The terms are, rather, one-third the middle 

term (§ 1170.1, subd. (a)), and vary from the court's oral pronouncement of judgment. 

Additionally, the court awarded Pearley 1033 days' actual credits and 154 days' conduct 

credits (§ 2933.1), a total of 1187. The abstract reflects 1017 and 154 days, respectively, 
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and a total of 1185. Respondent correctly concedes the abstract must be corrected. 

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

DISPOSITION 

 The judgment of conviction is affirmed. The case is remanded to the superior 

court for resentencing in a manner consistent with this opinion. After resentencing, the 

court shall prepare an amended abstract of judgment (including the corrections discussed 

above) and forward the amended abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections 

and Rehabilitation. 

O'ROURKE, J. 

WE CONCUR: 

MCCONNELL, P. J. 

HALLER, J.