Opinion ID: 1254950
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: procedural outline

Text: Defendant appeals the judgment of conviction entered upon his pleas of nolo contendere to kidnaping for ransom with bodily harm (Pen. Code, § 209) [1] eight counts of forcible rape while acting in concert with another person (§§ 261, 264.1); three counts of oral copulation, while acting alone and two counts while acting in concert with another person (§ 288a, subds. (c), (d)); one count of sodomy in concert with another person (§ 286, subd. (d)); two counts of robbery (§ 211); use of a deadly weapon (knife) in the commission of all of foregoing offenses (§ 12022, subd. (b)); and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)). Defendant's pleas were entered pursuant to a plea bargain in which the People agreed to dismiss a simple kidnaping count. Although when he pleaded defendant stated that at the time of sentencing he intended to move to strike the ransom and bodily harm allegations in the aggravated kidnaping charge, the record does not show that the ability to do so was a condition of the plea bargain. The court indicated some uncertainty about its power to strike the allegations, but left the question open at that time. No promises were made as to punishment, and defendant was informed that the maximum possible term was 163 years in the state prison plus an additional sentence of life without possibility of parole. Defendant was also informed that commitment to the California Youth Authority (YA) was a possibility only if the court were to strike portions of the kidnaping charge. Based upon the parties' stipulation, the court reviewed the preliminary hearing transcript for determination of the factual basis of the pleas and found there was such a basis. Eventually defendant was sentenced on the section 209 count to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Other sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.