Opinion ID: 844217
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Sentence for the Second Degree Murder

Text: Although defendant does not raise the issue, the trial court made an error in sentencing that should be corrected. The trial court imposed a sentence of death for counts 1, 2 and 3. On count 1, the murder of Carlos Adkins, defendant was convicted only of second degree murder, an offense that is not punishable by death. (§ 190, subd. (a).) The jury's verdict reflects that the jury fixed the sentence at death only on counts 2 and 3, the murders of Officers Burrell and MacDonald. Under our authority to modify an unauthorized sentence (§ 1260), we direct the trial court to issue an amended abstract of judgment reflecting the appropriate sentence for second degree murder, which is imprisonment for 15 years to life (§ 190, subd. (a)). (See People v. Lawley (2002) 27 Cal.4th 102, 172 [115 Cal.Rptr.2d 614, 38 P.3d 461].)
The judgment is modified as follows: the sentence of death imposed on count 1 for second degree murder is vacated, and the trial court is directed to send an amended abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reflecting a sentence of imprisonment for 15 years to life on that count. As so modified, the judgment is affirmed.