Filed 1/4/24 P. v. Combs CA6

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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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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

CRYSTAL JUNE LEE COMBS,

Defendant and Appellant.

 H051115

 (Monterey County

 Super. Ct. No. 23CR001962) 

Defendant Crystal June Lee Combs appeals from a judgment entered after 

pleading no contest to the unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle. She also admitted to a 

prior conviction for auto theft. Appointed counsel for Combs filed an opening brief 

which provides the procedural and factual background of the case but raises no legal 

challenge to the disposition. Counsel asks this court to conduct an independent review of 

the record to determine whether there are any arguable issues. (See People v. Wende

(1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).) Combs was advised of the right to file written 

arguments on her own behalf but has not responded. Finding no arguable error that 

would result in a disposition more favorable to Combs, we affirm the judgment.
2

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background1

On March 6, 2023, Detective Pinon of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, 

working with a multiagency auto theft task force, located a stolen vehicle parked on 

Soledad Street in Monterey County. Pinon and California Highway Patrol Officer Rivera

began to monitor the vehicle. A short time later, they observed a white female adult get

into the driver’s seat and begin to drive away. Pinon and Rivera briefly followed the 

vehicle until a fully marked Monterey County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle arrived to 

perform a traffic stop. The driver was ordered out of the vehicle and later identified as 

Combs. 

Rivera spoke with Combs, who claimed she had permission from the registered 

owner to drive the vehicle. According to Rivera, Combs changed and contradicted her 

story multiple times by initially stating she took the vehicle in the morning with the 

registered owner’s permission, then later stating she took the vehicle in the morning 

while the owner was asleep. 

B. Procedural Background

On March 9, 2023, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony 

complaint against Combs, charging her with unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle 

(Veh. Code, § 10851(a); count 1). The complaint further alleged that Combs had 

previously been convicted of buying or receiving a stolen vehicle (Pen. Code, § 496d, 

subd. (a)), which constituted a prior auto theft conviction pursuant to Penal Code section 

666.5, subdivision (a). 

On March 22, 2023, Combs withdrew her plea of not guilty and entered a plea of 

no contest to unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle (count 1). She also admitted to the 

allegation that she had previously been convicted of auto theft (Pen. Code, § 666.5, subd. 

1 The facts of this offense are taken from the pre-trial services and probation 

reports, which are also quoted by appellate counsel in her opening brief. 
3

(a).) In exchange for her plea, Combs agreed to serve a stipulated sentence of two years 

in county jail. 

On April 19, 2023, Combs appeared for sentencing. The court denied probation 

and imposed a term of two years in county jail as to count 1. The court imposed a $600

restitution fine (Pen. Code, § 1202.4, subd. (b)(2)), a $40 court operations assessment 

(Pen. Code, § 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)), a $30 court facilities assessment (Gov. Code, § 

70373), and victim restitution.

On June 6, 2023, Combs filed a notice of appeal but did not seek a certificate of 

probable cause. 

II. DISCUSSION

Pursuant to People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436, we have reviewed the entire 

record. We find no arguable error that would result in a disposition more favorable to 

Combs.

III. DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed. 
___________________________________

Wilson, J.

WE CONCUR:

__________________________________________

 Greenwood, P.J.

__________________________________________

Bamattre-Manoukian, J.

People v. Combs

H051115