Court Opinion

ID: 7799569
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-10 18:01:39.406113+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:28:58.099234
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/10/22 In re A.R. CA4/2
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
 California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
                                     or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

           IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

 In re A.R., a Person Coming Under the
 Juvenile Court Law.

 THE PEOPLE,
                                                                         E077863
          Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                         (Super.Ct.No. J289755)
 v.
                                                                         OPINION
 A.R.,

          Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Charles J. Umeda,

Judge. Reversed in part; remanded with directions.

         Paul R. Krause, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Christopher P. Beesley and

Warren J. Williams, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

                                                             1
       A.R., a minor, appeals from a disposition order setting his maximum term of

confinement at five years, after the juvenile court found he committed one count of

domestic violence and one count of assault by means likely to produce great bodily

injury. On appeal, A.R. identifies a number of errors in his sentence.

       He correctly argues the juvenile court erred by: (1) selecting the upper felony term

as the maximum period of confinement for the domestic violence offense, in violation of

Welfare and Institutions Code section 726, which limits the maximum period of

confinement to the middle term; (2) imposing a period of confinement for the assault

offense based on the incorrect determination that Penal Code section 654 does not apply

in juvenile proceedings; and (3) failing to exercise its discretion on whether to punish the

offenses—which are both wobblers in the case of adults—as felonies or misdemeanors.

Because these errors require a new determination of A.R.’s maximum period of

confinement, we reverse the appealed order and remand the case for a new disposition

hearing. In addition, as a result of recently enacted Assembly Bill No. 177 (Assem. Bill

No. 177 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.), ch. 257, §§ 1-48) (A.B. No. 177), we vacate the

remaining balance of the administrative collections fee imposed on the restitution fine.
                                         1
(Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 730.6, 730.7).

       1   Unlabeled statutory citations refer to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
                                               2
                                              I

                                          FACTS

       In July 2021, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office filed an

amended wardship petition alleging three counts against 15-year-old A.R.—domestic

violence (Pen. Code, § 273.5, subd. (a)), assault with a deadly weapon (Pen. Code, § 245,

subd. (a)(1)), and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury (Pen. Code,

§ 245, subd. (a)(4)). The petition alleged all three counts were felonies.

       The incident occurred on April 4, 2021. A.R. and his girlfriend, who had been

dating for about a year, got into an argument at the girlfriend’s mother’s house. A.R. left,

but returned later to retrieve his belongings, which the girlfriend had set out on the porch.

Against the girlfriend’s wishes, A.R. came back inside the house, and their argument

escalated.

       The girlfriend testified that A.R. began punching her in the face and arms, and

when she fell to the floor, he bit her and kicked her in the stomach. She noticed a knife

nearby, grabbed the blade, and was cut when A.R. flung it across the room. Then A.R.

pinned her against the wall and choked her with one hand for five to 10 seconds before

fleeing to a neighbor’s house. As soon as he was gone, she called her sister, who called

the police and told them to send an ambulance. Before the police arrived, A.R. came back

and threw a rock at her window.

                                              3
       A.R. told a different version of the incident. He said his girlfriend picked a fight

with him while he was watching T.V. and started throwing his belongings in the front

yard. He took the discarded items to a neighbor’s house and, when he came back to

collect more of his things, she came at him with a knife. He grabbed her wrist, then

punched her several times but did not choke her.

       A.R. said he had a scar on his chest from when she had previously stabbed him.

A.R.’s sister testified that the girlfriend was often the aggressor in fights with her brother.

She said she saw the girlfriend wield a knife at A.R. on multiple occasions and had been

present the time she stabbed him.

       On July 29, 2021, San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Denise Trager

Dvorak found A.R. had committed one count of domestic violence and one count of

assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury. However, she found the assault

with a deadly weapon allegation not true, because, by the girlfriend’s own testimony,

A.R. did not attack her with the knife—she was injured when he threw it out of reach. In

making her findings, the judge observed: “[C]learly this was a toxic relationship. This

was something that was not good for either one of them. And the hope is that somewhere

down the road they learn to appropriately deal with relationships, anger, and make better

choices.” She rejected A.R.’s claim of self-defense, informing him that being hit by

someone does not give one license to attack that person. She told A.R. he had gone

“overboard” in his reaction and used unnecessary force, hitting his girlfriend “multiple

times” and causing bruising.

                                               4
       The judge declared the injury and assault offenses “would have been a felony if

committed by an adult,” adjudged A.R. a ward of the court under section 602, and set his

disposition hearing. After A.R. waived his right to have his disposition hearing before

Judge Dvorak, the hearing took place on August 16, 2021 before San Bernardino County

Superior Court Judge Charles Umeda.

       A.R.’s counsel argued for the least restrictive environment of at-home probation,

whereas the probation officer and the prosecution recommended placement. The

probation officer testified that, in his opinion, A.R. required and would benefit from the

structure of placement. By A.R.’s own admission, he had been living outside his mother’s

home for the last four years (since he was 11 years old), doing drugs and running scams

to make money. And, although he liked school, he wasn’t going because he feared

repercussions due to his association with a local gang. A.R.’s mother testified that she

was unable to keep him from doing drugs or associating with gang members and that she

did not want him placed in her home. She also said she spoke with A.R.’s adult relatives

and none were open to placement.

       Judge Umeda concluded A.R. required out-of-home placement based on “the

seriousness of the offense” and the fact his mother had a history of being unable to

supervise him. The judge imposed a maximum period of confinement of four years (the

upper felony term) for the domestic violence count. He imposed a period of confinement

of one year (one third the middle felony term) for the assault, but stayed the sentence

                                             5
under Penal Code section 654 after finding the offense arose from the same occurrence as

the domestic violence offense.

       Two days later, the judge held a hearing to revisit the sentence for the assault

count and concluded Penal Code section 654 “is not considered” in juvenile proceedings

unless the count is “an alternative count.” As a result, he imposed a consecutive one-year

confinement term for the assault, making the maximum period of physical confinement

five years. A.R. filed a timely appeal.

                                             II

                                          ANALYSIS

       A.     Maximum Period of Confinement

       A.R. argues, and the People correctly concede, that the judge erred by setting the

maximum period of confinement for the domestic violence offense too high. Welfare and

Institutions Code section 726, subdivision (d)(1) provides that a minor found to be a ward

of the court under Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 “may not be held in physical

confinement for a period in excess of the middle term of imprisonment which could be

imposed upon an adult convicted of the offense.” (Italics added.) For felony domestic

violence, the sentencing triad is 2, 3, and 4 years. (Pen. Code, § 273.5, subd. (a).) Thus,

under Welfare and Institutions Code section 726, the judge cannot set A.R.’s maximum

period of confinement any higher than three years.

                                              6
       Next, A.R. argues, and the People again correctly concede, that the judge erred by

concluding Penal Code section 654 does not apply in juvenile proceedings unless the

relevant count was charged in the alternative. In juvenile proceedings, Penal Code section

654 applies whenever “the court elects to aggregate the period of physical confinement

on multiple counts.” (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 726, subd. (d)(3).) Specifically, section 726

provides that when aggregating terms for multiple offenses, “the ‘maximum term of

imprisonment’ shall be the aggregate term of imprisonment specified in subdivision (a) of

Section 1170.1 of the Penal Code.” (Id., § 726, subd. (d)(3).) In turn, Penal Code section

1170.1, which governs aggregate sentencing, explicitly states that it is “subject to [Penal

Code] Section 654.” (Pen. Code, § 1170.1, subd. (a).)

       Thus, the only circumstance where Penal Code section 654 would not apply in a

juvenile proceeding is when the court elects to run the sentences concurrently and the

length of the minor’s term of confinement is not increased by the fact of multiple

sentences. (E.g., In re Billy M. (1983) 139 Cal.App.3d 973, 979; In re Samuel B. (1986)

184 Cal.App.3d 1100, 1105; In re Asean D. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 467, 475.) Because

the judge elected to run the terms for both of A.R.’s offenses consecutively, and because

he previously found the offenses arose from the same occurrence, Penal Code section 654

does apply. On remand, the judge should stay the term for the assault.

                                             7
       B.     Sentencing Discretion on Wobblers

       A.R. argues that both judges who presided over his case failed to exercise their

discretion regarding whether to punish his wobbler offenses as felonies or misdemeanors.

We agree.

       Section 702 provides that when a minor “is found to have committed an offense

which would in the case of an adult be punishable alternatively as a felony or a

misdemeanor, the court shall declare the offense to be a misdemeanor or felony.” To

effectuate compliance with this rule, California Rules of Court, rule 5.975(a) requires that

“[i]f any offense may be found to be either a felony or a misdemeanor, the court must

consider which description applies and expressly declare on the record that it has made

such consideration and must state its determination as to whether the offense is a

misdemeanor or a felony.” As our Supreme Court explained in In re Manzy W. (1997) 14

Cal.4th 1199 (Manzy), the purpose behind this rule “is not solely administrative,” rather,

“the requirement that the juvenile court declare whether a so-called ‘wobbler’ offense

was a misdemeanor or felony also serves the purpose of ensuring that the juvenile court is

aware of, and actually exercises, its discretion under Welfare and Institutions Code

section 702.” (Id. at p. 1207, italics added.)

       The facts of Manzy are instructive. There, the juvenile judge imposed a felony

term for the offense but made no comment indicating he was aware the offense was a

wobbler and could be punished as a misdemeanor. (Manzy, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 1210.)

Additionally, the prosecution charged the offense as a felony and the probation

                                                 8
department consistently referred to the offense throughout the disposition report as a

felony. Based on these facts, our Supreme Court concluded the judge had not fulfilled

section 702’s mandate. (Ibid.) “Under these circumstances, . . . it would be mere

speculation to conclude that the juvenile court was actually aware of its discretion in

sentencing Manzy. Although the juvenile court stated that it had considered, and rejected ,

‘lesser alternative placements,’ it did not at any time indicate that it actually considered a

lesser alternative term of confinement, based on whether the possession offense would, in

the case of an adult, be a misdemeanor, as opposed to a felony.” (Ibid., italics added.)

       Our circumstances are similar. Though Judge Umeda imposed felony terms for the

offenses, neither he nor Judge Dvorak indicated they were aware the offenses were

wobblers and, as such, could be punished as misdemeanors. Nor did the fact the offenses

were wobblers ever come up during proceedings—the prosecution charged the offenses

as felonies and the disposition report referred to the offenses as felonies and

recommended felony-length confinement.

       The People argue Judge Dvorak exercised her discretion to treat the offenses as

felonies at the jurisdiction hearing, when, after finding true the allegations of domestic

violence and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, she stated, “I find

these offenses would have been a felony if committed by an adult.” But as A.R. correctly

points out, stating the offenses are felonies is not the same as recognizing their status as

wobblers. The statement neither recognizes the offenses are wobblers nor complies with

California Rules of Court, rule 5.975’s requirement that a court “expressly declare on the

                                              9
record that it has made [the] consideration” of whether to treat a wobbler as a

misdemeanor. In short, the statement doesn’t shed light on the “key issue,” of “whether

the record as a whole establishes that the juvenile court was aware of its discretion to

treat the offense as a misdemeanor and to state a misdemeanor-length confinement

limit.” (Manzy, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 1209, italics added.)

       And, because we are remanding this case for sentencing on separate issues in any

event, we think the most prudent course is to direct the sentencing judge to exercise their

discretion on how to punish the wobbler offenses and explain their decision for the

record. Assuming the judge decides to punish at least one of the offenses as a felony,

A.R.’s maximum period of physical confinement will be three years (the middle term for

both offenses). (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 726, subd. (d); Pen. Code, §§ 273.5, subd. (a), 245,

subd. (a)(4).) If, however, the judge decides to treat both offenses as misdemeanors, the

maximum period of physical confinement will be one year. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 726,

subd. (d); Manzy, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 1210.)

       C.     Administrative Collections Fee

       At the disposition hearing, the judge imposed a $100 victim restitution fine (Welf.

& Inst. Code, §§ 730.6, 730.7) plus a 10 percent administrative collections fee (Pen.

Code, § 1203.1, subd. (d)). At the time, the fee was lawful under Penal Code section

1203.1, which authorized an administrative collections fee of up to 15 percent of the

restitution fine. (Former Pen. Code, § 1203.1, subd. (l).)

                                             10
       However, A.B. No. 177 became effective in January 2022, while this appeal was

pending, and repealed the trial courts’ authority to impose various fees, including the

administrative collections fee in Penal Code section 1203.1. (Pen. Code, § 1203.1, as

amended by Stats. 2022, ch. 257, §§ 21, 22.) The new law also repealed the authority to

collect the remaining balance of any of the fees it made unlawful. (Pen. Code, § 1465.9,
            2
subd. (b).) The parties argue the collection provision applies to A.R.’s sentence, and we

agree. We therefore vacate the balance remaining on the administrative collections fee.

       D.       Probation Term

       Lastly, A.R. argues his probation condition that says he cannot possess any

weapons or “act like” he does is unconstitutionally vague because it doesn’t provide fair

notice of what conduct is prohibited and it restricts more conduct than necessary. We

disagree.

       A judge has “wide discretion” to select appropriate probation conditions and may

impose “any reasonable condition that is fitting and proper to the end that justice may be

done and the reformation and rehabilitation of the ward enhanced.” (In re Sheena K.

(2007) 40 Cal.4th 875, 889 [cleaned up].) Faced with a challenge of unconstitutional

vagueness, we independently review the probation condition to determine whether its

terms are “sufficiently precise,” that is, whether they “have a ‘plain commonsense

       2  Specifically, A.B. No. 177 amended Penal Code section 1465.9, subdivision (b)
to state: “On and after January 1, 2022, the balance of any court-imposed costs pursuant
to Section 1001.15, 1001.16, 1001.90, 1202.4, 1203.1, 1203.1ab, 1203.1c, 1203.1m,
1203.4a, 1203.9, 1205, 1214.5, 2085.5, 2085.6, or 2085.7, as those sections read on
December 31, 2021, shall be unenforceable and uncollectible and any portion of a
judgment imposing those costs shall be vacated.”
                                            11
meaning, which is well settled.’” (In re R.P. (2009) 176 Cal.App.4th 562, 566.) Thus, to

withstand a vagueness challenge, “a probation condition ‘must be sufficiently precise for

the probationer to know what is required of him, and for the court to determine whether

the condition has been violated.’” (Ibid.)

       A.R. argues the condition is vague because it could apply to “a virtually

inexhaustible number of subjectively defined objects, behaviors, and situations.” To the

contrary, we think the condition can be easily understood in commonsense terms to apply

when an innocuous object is used to imitate a weapon. As the court explained in In re

A.C. (2019) 37 Cal.App.5th 262, the condition means that A.R. must not “perform an

‘act’ that simulate[s] his possession of a weapon.” (Id. at p. 269.) So, for example, though

a banana is not a gun, A.R. could handle one in a way that simulates a gun by putting it in

his pocket and pressing it against someone the same way you would with a butt of a

handgun. That would violate the condition, whereas eating a banana in front of someone

would not. Or, though a water or laser tag gun is not a real weapon, A.R. would violate

the condition if he pointed one at someone outside the setting of a game. The key is how

A.R. uses the object, and we think a person of common intelligence understands what it

means to use an object as if it were a weapon.

                                             12
                                           III

                                    DISPOSITION

      We reverse the disposition order and remand to the juvenile court to recalculate

A.R.’s maximum period of physical confinement in a manner consistent with this

opinion. We also vacate the balance remaining on the administrative collections fee.

      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                              SLOUGH
                                                                                         J.

We concur:

McKINSTER
                Acting P. J.

MENETREZ
                          J.

                                           13