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Filed 6/24/15; pub. order 7/17/15 (see end of opn.)

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Appellant,

v.

ZACKARIAH WILLIAM BORYNACK,

Defendant and Respondent.

E061733

(Super.Ct.No. BAF1100559)

OPINION

APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Becky Dugan, Judge. 

Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with directions.

Michael A. Hestrin, District Attorney, and Emily R. Hanks, Deputy District 

Attorney, for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Melanie K. Dorian, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Respondent.
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On November 22, 2013, defendant and appellant Zackariah William Borynack 

pled guilty to one count of possession of a destructive device (Pen. Code,1 § 18715, subd. 

(a)(1)); 39 counts of possession of a destructive device and explosive (§ 18715, subd. 

(a)(3)); one count of possession of substances with the intent to make a destructive device 

and explosive without a permit (§ 18720); one count of possession of a zip gun 

(§ 33690); and one count of possession of a shuriken (§ 22410). On June 27, 2014, the 

trial court sentenced him to two years for possession of a destructive device (§ 18715, 

subd. (a)) and concurrent two-year terms on all remaining counts. After applying 

defendant’s 117 days of custody credits, the court suspended execution of the entire 

remaining sentence and placed him on mandatory supervision pursuant to section 1170, 

subdivision (h)(5).

On appeal, the People challenge the court’s sentence as unlawful (§ 1238, subd. 

(a)(10)), contending that while defendant’s crimes were subject to local custody 

confinement under section 1170, subdivision (h), section 18780 prohibits suspending 

execution of his sentence to place him on mandatory supervision. We agree and reverse.

I. FACTS

On August 7, 2011, when defendant was pulled over for a traffic violation, it was 

discovered that he was carrying a homemade explosive in the car’s glove compartment. 

 

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 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
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The device was made from potassium nitrate and sugar and had a fuse to ignite it. 

Deputy Jeff Lundgren opined this was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) whose

materials burned rapidly. The deputy also discovered in the vehicle a cardboard tube 

with a fuse, fireworks, and “exploding targets.” Defendant admitted he had created the 

IED, had exploded targets, and that he had additional explosives at his home.

A search of defendant’s residence produced a zip gun, an improvised rocket 

launcher, shurikens, materials used to construct the IEDs, as well as other materials that 

could be used to make explosives, including metal shavings, firecrackers, and oxidizer. 

In two nearby locked storage sheds, deputies found grenade bodies, nitro methane, black 

powder, metal shavings, two .50-caliber armor piercing incendiary projectiles, 20-

millimeter training practice tracer rounds and high explosive incendiary rounds.

II. DISCUSSION

The People contend the trial court erred in finding defendant eligible under the 

Criminal Justice Realignment Act of 2011 (Realignment Act) to suspend execution of his

sentence for the destructive devices and explosives charges in order to place him on 

mandatory supervision. The People assert that under the provisions of section 18780, the 

trial court has no authority under section 1170, subdivision (h) to suspend the execution 

of a sentence for a defendant convicted under the Destructive Devices and Explosives 

Chapter of the Penal Code. This assertion raises an issue of statutory interpretation, 

which we review de novo. (People v. Love (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 276, 284.)
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A. Principles of Statutory Interpretation

“‘The fundamental purpose of statutory construction is to ascertain the intent of 

the lawmakers so as to effectuate the purpose of the law. [Citations.]’” (Horwich v. 

Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 272, 276 (Horwich).) “In determining intent, we look 

first to the words themselves. [Citations.] When the language is clear and unambiguous, 

there is no need for construction. [Citations.] When the language is susceptible of more 

than one reasonable interpretation, however, we look to a variety of extrinsic aids, 

including the ostensible objects to be achieved, the evils to be remedied, the legislative 

history, public policy, contemporaneous administrative construction, and the statutory 

scheme of which the statue is a part. [Citations.]” (People v. Woodhead (1987) 43 

Cal.3d 1002, 1007-1008; see People v. Verduzco (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 1406, 1414.) 

“‘“The meaning of a statute may not be determined from a single word or sentence; the 

words must be construed in context, and provisions relating to the same subject matter 

must be harmonized to the extent possible. [Citation.]”’” (People v. Mohammed (2008) 

162 Cal.App.4th 920, 928.) “‘[W]e do not construe statutes in isolation, but rather read 

every statute “with reference to the entire scheme of law of which it is part so that the 

whole may be harmonized and retain effectiveness.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (Horwich,

supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 276.)

B. Analysis

In 2011, the Legislature enacted the Realignment Act, creating section 1170, 

subdivision (h), and realigning housing for certain felony convictions from state prison to 
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local custody. 2 Subdivision (h)(5) of section 1170 created the “split sentence” which 

allows a defendant to serve a realigned sentence partially in local custody and partially on 

mandatory supervision by the probation department. (§ 1170, subd. (h).) Under this 

subdivision, mandatory supervision is achieved by suspending execution of the 

concluding portion of the realigned sentence.

In this case, defendant was convicted of committing offenses proscribed under the 

Destructive Devices and Explosives Chapter of the Penal Code (§ 18710 et seq.). Both 

sides agree that defendant’s crimes (§§ 18715, 18720) were subject to realignment; 

however, they disagree on the trial court’s discretion to place defendant on mandatory 

 

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 In 2014, when defendant was sentenced, former section 1170, subdivision (h), in 

relevant part, provided: “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable 

pursuant to this subdivision where the term is not specified in the underlying offense shall 

be punishable by a term of imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or two or three 

years. [¶] (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable pursuant to this 

subdivision shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for the term described in 

the underlying offense. [¶] . . . [¶] (4) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to 

prevent other dispositions authorized by law . . . . [¶] (5) The court, when imposing a 

sentence pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subdivision, may commit the defendant 

to county jail as follows: [¶] . . . [¶] (B)(i) For a term as determined in accordance with 

the applicable sentencing law, but suspend execution of a concluding portion of the term 

selected in the court’s discretion, during which time the defendant shall be supervised by 

the county probation officer in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures 

generally applicable to persons placed on probation, for the remaining unserved portion 

of the sentence imposed by the court. The period of supervision shall be mandatory, and 

may not be earlier terminated except by court order. . . . [¶] (ii) The portion of a 

defendant’s sentenced term during which time he or she is supervised by the county 

probation officer pursuant to this subparagraph shall be known as mandatory 

supervision.” (Stats. 2012, ch. 828 (S.B.9), § 1; Stats.2013, ch. 508 (S.B.463), § 5.)
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supervision. According to the People, defendant’s crimes are subject to section 18780’s 

prohibition on suspended sentencing. Section 18780 provides: “A person convicted of a 

violation of this chapter shall not be granted probation, and the execution of the sentence 

imposed upon that person shall not be suspended by the court.” (§ 18780, italics added.) 

Thus, the People argue that although defendant was subject to a local custody 

commitment, the trial court was prohibited from suspending execution of that sentence by 

placing defendant on mandatory supervision. We agree.

The language in section 18780 is clear and without any ambiguity. Section 

18780’s prohibition does not only apply to “traditional” suspended sentences, i.e., 

suspending execution of a sentence in conjunction with a grant of probation. Rather, it 

precludes both a grant of probation and suspension of a sentence. In other words, any 

suspension of a sentence for a crime defined in the Destructive Devices and Explosives 

Chapter is prohibited, regardless of whether it is accompanied by a grant of probation.

Although section 1170, subdivision (h) authorizes trial courts to impose 

mandatory supervision when suspending execution of a concluding portion of a term, the 

creation of mandatory supervision did not result in the creation of a “‘different animal,’”

as defendant would have it.3 In our view, the phrase “mandatory supervision” merely 

describes the type of supervision the probation department must provide for certain felons 

 

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 According to defendant, mandatory supervision is “a unique procedure, distinct

from a grant of probation or a conditional sentence.”
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sentenced under the Realignment Act. The purpose of the Realignment Act was to shift 

“responsibility for the custodial housing and postrelease supervision of certain felons 

from the state to the local jails and probation departments. [Citations.] . . . [To that end,]

[t]he Legislature stated that California must support ‘community-based corrections 

programs and evidence-based practices that will achieve improved public safety,’ and 

that realigning low-level felony offenders to ‘locally run community-based corrections 

programs, which are strengthened through community-based punishment, evidencebased practices, improved supervision strategies, and enhanced secured capacity, will 

improve public safety outcomes among adult felons and facilitate their reintegration 

back into society.” [Citation.] . . . [¶] . . . [¶] To implement this shift from the state to 

local communities, the Realignment Act provides that eligible felons will serve their 

prison terms in local jails rather than state prison. [Citations.] When imposing these 

local sentences, the trial court may select a straight commitment to jail for the applicable 

term, or it may select ‘a hybrid sentence in which it suspends execution’ of a portion of 

the term and releases the felon into the community under the mandatory supervision of 

the county probation department. [Citations.] Describing the split sentence option,

section 1170, subdivision (h), provides that the court shall ‘suspend execution’ of the 

portion of the term to be served under mandatory supervision in the community, and 

during the mandatory supervision period the defendant shall be supervised by the 

probation department ‘in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures 
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generally applicable to persons placed on probation . . . .’ [Citation.]” (Wofford v. 

Superior Court (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 1023, 1032-1033, fn. omitted, original italics.)

Furthermore, the phrase “suspend execution of a sentence” is a term of art. As the 

People point out, there are several sections of the Penal Code that use this phrase or 

words very similar, as follows: Section 1203, subdivision (k) [“Probation shall not be 

granted to, nor shall the execution of, or imposition of sentence be suspended for,” a 

person convicted of a violent or serious felony who was on probation at the time of the 

current offense]; section 1203.06, subdivision (a) [“probation shall not be granted to, nor 

shall the execution or imposition of sentence be suspended for,” a person who used 

firearms during the commission of enumerated serious and violent felonies]; sections 

1203.065, subdivision (a) and 1203.066, subdivision (a) [“probation shall not be granted 

to, nor shall the execution or imposition of sentence be suspended for,” persons convicted 

of enumerated sex offenses]; section 1203.075, subdivision (a) [“probation shall not be 

granted to, nor shall the execution or imposition of sentence be suspended for,” persons 

who personally inflicted great bodily injury upon another during the commission of 

certain offenses]; section 1203.08, subdivision (a) [“probation shall not be granted to, nor 

shall the execution or imposition of sentence be suspended for,” persons convicted of 

designated felonies who were previously convicted of at least two prior designated 

felonies within 10 years]; and section 1203.09, subdivision (a) [“probation shall not be 

granted to, nor shall the execution or imposition of sentence be suspended for,” persons 

who committed designated crimes against elderly or disabled victims]. When the 
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Legislature uses a term of art, it is presumed to be aware of its established meaning and 

“a court construing that use must assume the Legislature was aware of the ramifications 

of its choice of language.” (Creutz v. Superior Court (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 822, 829

[Fourth Dist., Div. Two].) Thus, by using the words “suspend execution” in section 

1170, subdivision (h)(5), the Legislature indicated its intent to adopt the established 

meaning of the term, such that placing defendant on mandatory supervision simply means 

suspending the execution of his or her sentence and placing him or her on probation. 

In requiring defendant be subject to mandatory supervision by the probation 

department, the trial court suspended the execution of his remaining sentence and, in 

effect, placed him on probation. However, section 18780 prohibits such action. Thus, 

we conclude the trial court imposed an unlawful sentence.

III. DISPOSITION

The judgment is reversed as to defendant’s sentence, and the case is remanded for 

resentencing consistent with the views expressed herein. In all other respects, the 

judgment is affirmed.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

HOLLENHORST

 J.

We concur:

RAMIREZ

 P.J.

KING

 J.
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Filed 7/17/15

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Appellant,

v.

ZACKARIAH WILLIAM BORYNACK,

Defendant and Respondent.

E061733

(Super.Ct.No. BAF1100559)

ORDER CERTIFYING OPINION 

FOR PUBLICATION

A request having been made to this court pursuant to California Rules of Court, 

rule 8.1120(a) for publication of a nonpublished opinion heretofore filed in the above-
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entitled matter on June 24, 2015, and it appearing that the opinion meets the standard for 

publication as specified in California Rules of Court, rule 8.1105(c);

IT IS ORDERED that said opinion be certified for publication pursuant to 

California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(c)(4) and 8.1105(c)(6). The opinion filed in this 

matter on June 24, 2015, is certified for publication.

RAMIREZ

 P. J.

I concur:

KING

 J.