Opinion ID: 2575903
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Sentence Enhancement for Prior Convictions

Text: Defendant asserts, and respondent agrees, that defendant's sentence enhancement for prior convictions under section 667, subdivision (a), must be set aside because defendant was not represented by counsel during the hearing at which the trial court imposed it. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has held that this result is constitutionally compelled ( Robinson v. Ignacio (9th Cir. 2004) 360 F.3d 1044, 1050, 1054-1055; see also id. at p. 1056), and accepting the parties' jointly held view, we will set aside the sentence enhancement in this case. (See also In re Perez (1966) 65 Cal.2d 224, 228-231, 53 Cal.Rptr. 414, 418 P.2d 6 [holding that the state Constitution requires the presence of counsel at pronouncement of judgment and sentence].) The enhancement may, however, be imposed at a new hearing at which defendant is represented by counsel, if the hearing establishes that the enhancement is applicable.