T hi s di s pos i t i on i s notappr opr i a t e f orpubl i c a t i on a nd i s notpr e c e de nt * e xc e pta s pr ovi de d by 9th C i r . R . 36- 3. NOT F OR P UB L I CAT I ON UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS FOR T HE NI NTH CI RC UI T UN I T E D S T AT E S OF AME R I C A, P l ai nt i ff

- A pp el l ee , v. P E DR O S OT O- L AR A, D e f

e n d a n t - A p p e lla n t. N o. 11- 10116 D . C. N o . 4 : 1 0 - c r - 0 2 3 3 2 - D CB ME MOR AN DU M *

A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt

f orthe D i s tr i c tof

A r i z ona D a vi d C . B ury , D i s tr i c tJ udge , P r e s i di ng A r gue d a nd S ubm i tt e d F e brua ry 13, 2012 S a n F r a n c is c o , C a lif

o rn ia B efo re: H U G , B . F L E T C H E R , an d P A E Z , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P e d r o S o to - L a r aap p e a ls h is 2 8 - m o n th s e n te n c e , im p o s e d f o llo w in g h is gui l ty - pl e ac onvi c t i on f ori l l e ga l r e - e ntry i n vi ol a t i on of 8 U . S . C . § 1326. W e ha ve ju r is d ic tio n u n d e r2 8 U .S .C . § 1 2 9 1 , a n d w e a f f irm . S ot o- L a r ac ont e nds tha tthe di s tr i c tc our te rr e d w he n i tc a l c ul a t e d the 

# FI LED MA R 13 2012 M OLLY C. DW Y ER, CLERK U . S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS11- 10116 2 appl i c abl e f

e de r a l S e nt e nc i ng G ui de l i ne s r a nge . I n pa r t i c ul a r , he a r gue s tha tthe di stri ctcourti ncorrec t l y det erm i ned thathi s pri or conv i ct i on for i nfl i ct i ng corporal i nj ury on a spou se or cohabi t ant , i n v i ol at i on of C al i forni a P enal C od e § 27 3. 5(a) w a s af e l ony f orpurpos e s of

s e c t i on 2L 1. 2( b) ( 1) ( A ) ( i i ) of the S e nt e nc i ng G ui del i nes. T here fore , S ot o-L ar a c l ai m s, the di stri ctcourterre d w hen i tenhanced h is o f f e n s e le v e l b y 1 6 le v e ls . W e r e vi e w adi s tr i c tc our t ’ s i nt e rpr e t a t i on of the S e nt e nc i ng G ui de l i ne s de novo, i t s f

a c tua l de t e rm i na t i ons f

orc l e a re rr or , a nd i t s appl i c a t i on of the S e n te n c in g G u id e lin e s to th e f a c ts f o rab u s e o f

d is c r e tio n . U

ni te d State s v . R is i ng Sun , 5 2 2 F .3 d 9 8 9 , 9 9 3 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 0 8 ) . S ec t i on 27 3. 5(a) is aw o b b le r , w h ic h m e a n s th a t av io la tio n o f th e s ta tu te m a y b e p u n is h e d e ith e ra s af e lo n y o ra s am is d e m e a n o r . U ni te d State s v . D e nton , 611 F . 3d 646, 651 ( 9th C i r . 2010) . I f , a c c or di ng t o C a l i f

orni al a w , ape r s on w ho w a s c onvi c t e d of

vi ol a t i ng the w obbl e rs t a tut e i s de e m e d t o ha ve be e n c onvi c t e d of af e l ony r a the rtha n am i s de m e a nor , the n the pe r s on ha s be e n c onvi c t e d of af e l ony f o rp u rp o s e s o f

s e c tio n 2 L 1 .2 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( ii) o f th e S e n te n c in g G u id e lin e s . Se e , e .g ., U n ite d S ta te s v . D ia z -A r

g u e ta , 564 F . 3d 1047, 1049- 50 ( 9th C i r . 2009) . S e c t i onS ect i o n 1 7 (b ) p ro v i d es: 1 W he n ac r i m e i s puni s habl e , i n the di s c r e t i on of the c our t , e i the rby im p r is o n m e n t in th e s ta te p r is o n o rim p r is o n m e n t in ac o u n ty ja il unde rthe pr ovi s i ons of

s ubdi vi s i on ( h) of

S e c t i on 1170, orby f

i ne or i m pri sonm enti n the coun ty j ai l , i ti s am i sdem ea no r f or al l pu rposes u n d e rth e f

o llo w in g c ir c u m s ta n c e s : ( 1) A f t e raj udgm e nti m pos i ng apuni s hm e ntothe rtha n i m pr i s onm e nt i n the s t a t e pr i s on ori m pr i s onm e nti n ac ounty j a i l unde rthe p r o v is io n s o f

s u b d iv is io n ( h ) o f

S e c tio n 1 1 7 0 . ( 2) W he n the c our t , upon c om m i tt i ng the de f e nda ntt o the D i vi s i on of J u v e n ile J u s tic e , d e s ig n a te s th e o f f e n s e to b e am is d e m e a n o r . ( 3) W he n the c our tgr a nt s pr oba t i on t o ade f e nda ntw i thouti m pos i t i on of s e nt e nc e a nd a tthe t i m e of gr a nt i ng pr oba t i on, oron appl i c a t i on of the de f e nda ntorpr oba t i on of

f i c e rthe r e a f

t e r , the c our tde c l a r e s the o f f e n s e to b e am is d e m e a n o r . ( 4) W he n the pr os e c ut i ng a tt orne y f i l e s i n ac our tha vi ng j ur i s di c t i on o v e rm is d e m e a n o ro f

f e n s e s ac o m p la in t s p e c if y in g th a t th e o f

f e n s e is a m i sdem ea no r, un l es s the defendantatthe t i m e of hi s or her arra i gn m entor pl eaobj ec t s t o the offe nse bei ng m ade am i sdem ea no r, i n w hi c h e ve ntthe c om pl a i nts ha l l be a m e nde d t o c ha r ge the f e l ony a n d th e c a s e s h a ll p r o c e e d o n th e f e lo n y c o m p la in t. ( 5) W he n, a torbe f

or e the pr e l i m i na ry e xa m i na t i on orpr i ort o f i l i ng a n or de rpur s ua ntt o S e c t i on 872, the m a gi s tr a t e de t e rm i ne s tha tthe o f f e n s e is am is d e m e a n o r , in w h ic h e v e n t th e c a s e s h a ll p r o c e e d a s if th e d e f e n d a n t h a d b e e n a rr a ig n e d o n am is d e m e a n o rc o m p la in t. C al . P enal C od e § 17 (b). 11- 10116 3 17( b) of the C a l i f

orni aP e na l C ode de t e rm i ne s w he the rac onvi c t i on f orvi ol a t i ng a 1 w o b b le ris am is d e m e a n o ro raf e lo n y . Se e U

n ite d S ta te s v . B r id

g e fo r th , 441 F . 3d11- 10116 4 86 4, 87 0-72 (9th C i r. 20 06 ); P eopl e v . P er ez , 4 5 C a l. R p tr . 2 d 1 0 7 , 1 1 2 ( C a l. C t. A pp . 19 95 ). S ot o-L ar a’ s pri or conv i ct i on do es no tqu al i fyas a m i sdem ea no r und er§ 17( b) ( 1) . S ot o- L a r ac ont e nds tha tthe s t a t e c our ts e nt e nc e d hi m t o aj a i l t e rm f or hi s vi ol a t i on of

§ 273. 5 a nd tha tthi s pr ove s tha the c om m i tt e d am i s de m e a nor ra ther than a fel on y. H ow ever , the re cord show s thatS ot o-L ar a w as no tse nt ence d t o a j ai l t erm . Inst ea d, the st at e c ou rtsuspended i m po si t i on of se nt ence , pl ac ed h im o n p r o b a tio n , a n d o r d e r e d th a t h e s e rv e 1 5 0 d a y s in c o u n ty ja il a s ate rm o f h is prob at i on . Iti s w el l -s ett l ed thata s uspensi on of the i m po si t i on of se nt ence do es no tconst i tut e a“

j ud gm enti m po si ng a pun i shm ent ” f or pu rposes of § 1 7(b)(1), e v e n if th e p e r s o n is p la c e d o n p r o b a tio n a n d o n e o f th e te rm s o f

p r o b a tio n is s e rv in g tim e in c o u n ty ja il. See C al . P enal C od e § 1 7 ( b ) ( 1 ) ; P eo p l e v. Esp a rza , 61 C a l. R p tr . 1 6 7 , 1 6 9 ( C a l. C t. A p p . 1 9 6 7 ) ; s e e a ls o D ia z -A r g u e ta , 564 F . 3d a t1049; U ni te d State s v . R obi ns on , 9 6 7 F .2 d 2 8 7 , 2 9 3 ( 9 th C ir . 1 9 9 2 ) , abr ogate d i n par t on o th er g ro u n d

s a s reco g n i

zed i n O rteg a –

Men dez v. G o n za l es, 450 F . 3d 1010, 1020 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 0 6 ) . I n c a s e s w he r e the c our ts us pe nds i m pos i t i on of as e nt e nc e , the w o b b le rc o n v ic tio n m a y b e c o m e am is d e m e a n o ru n d e r§ 1 7 ( b ) ( 1 ) o n ly if th e s ta te c o u r t s u b s e q u e n tly im p o s e s am is d e m e a n o rs e n te n c e . Se e , e .g ., B r id g e fo r th , 441 F . 3d at87 1-72 . B ec ause the re cord here s ho w s thatthe st at e c ou rtsuspended11- 10116 5 i m po si t i on of S ot o-L ar a’ s s ent ence and d i d n otsubsequent l y i m po se a s ent ence , S ot o- L a r a ’ s c onvi c t i on f orvi ol a t i ng § 273. 5( a ) doe s notqua l i f y a s am i s de m e a nor u n d e r§ 1 7 ( b ) ( 1 ) . T he r e m a i nde rof

§17( b) a l s o s uppor t s the c onc l us i on tha tS ot o- L a r a ’ s pr i or c onvi c t i on i s af

e l ony . S e c t i on 17( b) ( 2) c l e a r l y doe s notappl y he r e be c a us e S ot oL a r aw a s notc om m i tt e d t o the D i vi s i on of J uve ni l e J us t i c e , w hi c h i s ar e qui r e m e nt o f th a t s u b s e c tio n . See C a l. P e n a l C o d e § 1 7 ( b ) ( 2 ) . In ad d it io n , § 1 7 (b )( 3 ) a lso d o es n o t p ro v id e a n y s u p p o rt fo r S o to -L ar a’s c l a i m th a th i s p r i o rc o n v i c t i o n w a s ami s d e me a n o r . I n o r d e rf o raf e l o n y t o b e c o me am i s de m e a norunde r§ 17( b) ( 3) , ac our tm us tnotonl y gr a ntpr oba t i on t o a d e f e n d a n t w ith o u t im p o s itio n o f s e n te n c e , b u t m u s t a c tu a lly d e c la r e th e o f f e n s e to b e am is d e m e a n o r . See C a l. P e n a l C o d e § 1 7 ( b ) ( 3 ) ; G a r c ia - L o p ezv . A s h c r o

ft , 334 F .3 d 8 4 0 , 8 4 5 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 0 3 ) ; R obi ns on , 967 F . 2d a t293. W he n the r e i s no evi dence i n the re cord t o sho w thatthe courtdecl ar ed the offens e t o b e a m i s de m e a nor , § 17( b) ( 3) doe s notope r a t e t o turn aw obbl e rof f e ns e i nt o a m is d e m e a n o r . Se e D ia z -A r g u e ta , 564 F . 3d a t1050. H e r e , the r e i s nothi ng i n the re cord show i ng thatthe courteverdecl ar ed S ot o-L ar a’ s off ense t o b e a m i s de m e a nor . A c c or di ngl y , hi s vi ol a t i on of § 273. 5( a ) m a y notbe c ons i de r e d a m is d e m e a n o ru n d e r§ 1 7 ( b ) ( 3 ) .11- 10116 6 S e c t i on 17( b) ( 4) r e qui r e s tha tthe pr os e c ut i ng a tt orne y f i l e ac om pl a i nt s p e c if y in g th a t th e o f

f e n s e w a s m is d e m e a n o r . See C a l. P e n a l C o d e § 1 7 ( b ) ( 4 ) . T h e c o m p la in t in S o to - L a r a ’s c a s e s p e c if ie d th a t th e o f

f e n s e w a s af

e lo n y , n o t a m i s d e m e a n o r . T h e m i n u t e o r d e rf r o m th e g u i l ty p l e ah e a r i n g u n e q u i v o c a l l y s h o ws tha the pl e d gui l ty t o the f e l ony c ha r ge l i s t e d i n thi s c om pl a i nt . I n a ddi t i on, the

“ A dv i se m entand W ai ver of R i gh t s f or a F el on y G ui l ty P l ea , ” s i gn ed by S ot o-L ar a c le a r ly in d ic a te s th a t S o to - L a r aw a s p le a d in g g u ilty to af e lo n y c h a r g e . A cc ordi ng l y, S ot o-L ar a’ s off ense i s nota m i sdem ea no r und er§ 1 7(b)(4). I n o r d e rf

o raw o b b le ro f

f e n s e to b e c o m e am is d e m e a n o ru n d e r§ 1 7 ( b ) ( 5 ) , a m a gi s tr a t e m us tde t e rm i ne , by the t i m e of the pr e l i m i na ry e xa m i na t i on, tha tthe o f f e n s e is am is d e m e a n o r . See C a l . P e na l C ode § 17( b) ( 5) . H e r e , nothi ng i n the r e c o r d s h o w s th a t th is e v e rh ap p e n e d . T h u s , u n d e r§ 1 7 ( b ) , S o to - L a r a ’s p r io rc o n v ic tio n is af e lo n y , n o t a m is d e m e a n o r . N ev erth el ess, S o t o -L ara arg u es th ath i s p ri o r co n v i ct i o n m u stb e treat ed as a m is d e m e a n o rb e c a u s e th e te rm s a n d c o n d itio n s o f h is p r o b a tio n p r o h ib ite d h im f r o m p o s s e s s in g f

ir e a rm s f o rale n g th o f

tim e a s s o c ia te d w ith am is d e m e a n o r . H ow ever , the t erm s a nd cond i t i on s of S ot o-L ar a’ s probat i on ar e notre l evantun der11- 10116 7 § 17( b) , a nd w e r e

j e c t e d as i m i l a ra r gum e nti n D ia z -A r g u e ta . See 56 4 F . 3d at 1 0 5 0 . F i na l l y , S ot o- L a r aa r gue s tha tthe “ W a rni ng T o A l i e n O r de r e d R e m ove d or D eport ed, ” w hi ch w as prov i ded t o h i m atthe t i m e he w as depo rt ed, prov i des evi dence s up po rt i ng hi s a rgum entthathi s pri or conv i ct i on w as no ta f el on y. In s u p p o r t o f

th is a r g u m e n t, h e n o te s th a t th is d o c u m e n t d o e s n o t c o n ta in ac h e c k in the box i ndi c a t i ng tha tthe a l i e n ha s be e n c onvi c t e d of a n a ggr a va t e d f

e l ony . S ot oL a r aa g a in f

a ils to e x p la in h o w th is d o c u m e n t is r e le v a n t u n d e rs e c tio n 1 7 ( b ) . M oreover, a pri or conv i ct i on m ayqu al i fyas a f el on y c ri m e of vi ol ence un der § 2 L 1 .2 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) e v e n if

th e p r io rc o n v ic tio n is n o t a n a g g r a v a te d f e lo n y . See D i a zA r g u e ta , 5 6 4 F .3 d a t 1 0 5 0 ; se e al so U ni ted Stat es v. P i m entel-Flores , 339 F . 3d 9 5 9 , 9 6 3 - 6 4 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 0 3 ) . T hus , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d note rrw he n i tde t e rm i ne d tha tS ot o- L a r a ’ s pr i or c o n v ic tio n w a s af

e lo n y a n d e n h a n c e d th e o f f e n s e le v e l. AF F I RME D.