Filed 6/8/16 In re Gaines CA5

Received for posting 6/9/16

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

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

publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication 

or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

In re

LESLIE JAMES GAINES, 

On Habeas Corpus.

F072604

(Kings Super Ct. No. 15CM7047)

OPINION

THE COURT*

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING; petition for writ of habeas corpus. 

Leslie James Gaines, in pro. per., for Petitioner.

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney 

General, Carlos A. Martinez and Jamie A. Scheidegger, Deputy Attorneys General, for 

Respondent.

-ooOooPetitioner seeks a belated appeal.

On February 24, 2015, petitioner was charged with one count of possession of a 

dangerous weapon by an inmate. The complaint also alleged that petitioner suffered a 

prior strike conviction. 

 

* Before Gomes, A.P.J., Kane, J., and Peña, J.
2

On June 4, 2015, pursuant to a plea agreement, petitioner pled no contest and 

admitted the prior strike conviction. He was sentenced to a term of eight years.

On July 24, 2015, the Clerk of the Kings County Superior Court received a letter 

from petitioner. The letter stated in pertinent part as follows:

“I was recently in one of the court rooms in the Hanford Superior Court. I was a 

defendant, in a possession of an inmate manufactured weapon. I would like to file 

an appeal in your court for a violation of my rights, during the filing of the 

information.

“I have the :[sic] Notice of Appeal” formating, and the letter to your court already 

prepared. I, However, do not have the form, or the format, for the required 

‘probable cause’ certification, that is to accompany that notice of appeal, pursuant 

to California’s Rules of Court. 

“... I need that case number from your office, as well as the form/formating 

information for the notice of appeal....

“This appeal is taken after plea of nolo contendere. Pursuant to penal code 

§1237.5, defendant that files the appeal must attach a certificate of probable cause, 

or declaration in support of certificate of probable cause. This appeal is based 

solely on grounds involving The Maranda [sic] rights of the defendant, discovered 

upon the application of due diligence, after the entry of such plea that do not 

challenge the validity of the plea.

“For the above reason I need the clerk’s assistance with the filing’s requirements.”

DISCUSSION

“[T]he construction of notices, particularly by incarcerated prisoners acting in pro. 

per., has been extraordinarily liberal.” (6 Witkin, Cal. Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) 

Criminal Appeal, § 92.)

The letter from the Attorney General dated April 29, 2016, does not dispute that 

the above quoted letter constitutes a constructive filing citing People v. Griggs (1967) 67 

Cal.2d 314 and In re Gonsalves (1957) 48 Cal.2d 638. 

The fact that the superior court clerk marked the letter “received” and returned it 

to petitioner does not negate the application of the doctrine of constructive filing. 
3

(People v. Griggs, supra, 67 Cal.2d 314; United Farm Workers of America v. 

Agricultural Labor Relations Bd. (1985) 37 Cal.3d 912.)

Pursuant to the Attorney General’s letter and the above analysis, this court 

concludes that petitioner’s letter to the Clerk of the Kings County Superior Court, 

received on July 24, 2015, constitutes a constructive filing entitling him to a belated 

appeal. 

DISPOSITION

The Clerk/Administrator of this court is directed to send copies of petitioner’s 

letter, the notice of appeal dated October 21, 2015, and the attached request for certificate 

of probable cause to the Clerk of the Kings County Superior Court. 

Let a writ of habeas corpus issue directing the Clerk of the Kings County Superior 

Court to file said copies in case No. 15CM7047, to deem said copies timely filed, and to 

proceed with the preparation of the appropriate record on appeal in accordance with the 

applicable rules of the California Rules of Court.