Opinion ID: 2607459
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Effect of Prior Plea Bargains

Text: Defendant notes that criminal charges concerning the forcible rape of Josephine H. in 1971 were apparently dismissed in exchange for defendant's plea of guilty to the forcible rape of Gloria G. He also apparently pled guilty to one count of breach of the peace, a misdemeanor, in exchange for dismissal of battery charges stemming from his 1976 confrontation with the Marks family. Defendant argues that prior violent crimes subject to a plea bargain are inadmissible in a subsequent capital trial. He claims a contrary rule would subject the defendant to adverse sentencing consequences beyond those agreed to at the time the bargains were made. Defendant admits we rejected the same claim in People v. Melton (1988) 44 Cal.3d 713, 755 [244 Cal. Rptr. 867, 750 P.2d 741], on grounds there was no statutory, due process, or double jeopardy bar to admitting bargained violent crimes at the penalty trial for a subsequent offense. Defendant asks us to reconsider Melton because vague reliability and speedy trial concerns are allegedly at stake. As in other cases, we see no basis for doing so. (See People v. Taylor, supra, 52 Cal.3d 719, 743; People v. Frank (1990) 51 Cal.3d 718, 728-729 [274 Cal. Rptr. 372, 798 P.2d 1215]; People v. Douglas (1990) 50 Cal.3d 468, 529 [268 Cal. Rptr. 126, 788 P.2d 640].)