Court Opinion

ID: 866313
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-30 21:43:22.703788+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:26:34.639774
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/30/13 P. v. Diaz CA6
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                      SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,                                                          H038283
                                                                    (Monterey County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. Nos. SS091145, SS101626,
                                                                                    SS111864)
         v.

JESSE DIAZ,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         In a global settlement of three pending cases, defendant Jesse Diaz pleaded no
contest to possession of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a))
and admitted having a prior strike conviction (Pen. Code, § 1170.12, subd. (c)(1))1 as
well as a prior narcotics conviction (Health & Saf. Code, § 11370.2, subd. (a)). In
exchange for the plea, Diaz was to be sentenced to a total term of six years in prison.
         At sentencing, Diaz was sentenced in accordance with his agreement and was
awarded custody credits in varying amounts in connection with each of three cases. On
appeal, he contends that he is entitled to enhanced presentence conduct credits in each of
those cases under both the current version of section 4019 as well as a prior version of
that statute. The People concede, and we agree, that Diaz is entitled to additional credits
in one of the three cases. We find he is not entitled to additional credits in the other two
cases however.

         1
             Further unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code.
       Accordingly, we will modify the abstract of judgment to provide additional credits
in one case. As modified, we shall affirm the judgment.
I.     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       Given that the appeal is directed solely at the issue of credits, we need only briefly
summarize the facts underlying the three criminal cases at issue here.
       A.     Case No. SS091145 (case No. 145)
       On April 9, 2009, police executed a search warrant at Diaz‟s residence. Diaz was
present at the house where police also found methamphetamine, hydrocodone,
unregistered firearms, ammunition, and evidence of narcotics sales, such as scales and
pay-owe sheets. Diaz was arrested that same day.
       Diaz was charged by information with possession of hydrocodone for sale (Health
& Saf. Code, § 11351; count 1), possession of hydrocodone while armed (id. § 11370.1,
subd. (a); count 2), possession of methamphetamine for sale (id. § 11378; count 3),
possession of an assault weapon (former § 12280, subd. (b); count 4),2 and street
terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a); count 5). As to counts 1 and 3, the information further
alleged that Diaz was personally armed with four different firearms--a shotgun, an assault
rifle, a .22-caliber pistol and a .45-caliber revolver--pursuant to section 12022,
subdivision (c). The information also alleged that Diaz committed counts 1, 2 and 3 for
the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)).
       B.     Case No. SS101626 (case No. 626)
       In the course of investigating a fraudulent check, police contacted a suspect who
admitted cashing the check. The suspect said she got the check from Diaz, who
threatened to kill her if she talked to police. According to the suspect, after Diaz

       2
         Former section 12280, subdivision (b) was repealed operative January 1, 2012,
but its provisions were reenacted without substantive change as section 30605. (Stats.
2010, ch. 711, § 6.)

                                              2
overheard her talking on the telephone with the police, he hit her with a wooden dowel
and said he would kill her if she ever spoke to police about “his business” again. A few
days after that incident, the suspect said a group of Hispanics showed up at her residence
and reminded her if she said anything about Diaz or his family she “would be killed.”
       According to the probation report, the offenses were committed on May 17, 2010
and Diaz was arrested on June 28, 2010.
       Diaz was charged by complaint with threatening to commit bodily harm (§ 422)
and assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245). The complaint alleged both counts were
committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)) and that Diaz
committed the offenses while on bail or on his own recognizance in case No. 145 and
another case (§ 12022.1).
       C.     July 22, 2010 negotiated disposition in case Nos. 145 and 626
       On July 22, 2010, pursuant to a negotiated disposition, the prosecutor amended
count 5 in case No. 145 to misdemeanor street terrorism and Diaz pleaded no contest to
that charge as well as to possession of methamphetamine for sale. In case No. 626, he
pleaded no contest to the charge of making threats of violence.
       On August 27, 2010, the trial court suspended imposition of sentence in both cases
and placed Diaz on probation.
       On September 28, 2011, Diaz was found in violation of his probation in both case
Nos. 145 and 626 based on his plea in case No. MS299146 for being under the influence
(Health & Saf. Code, § 11550) and driving under the influence (Veh. Code, § 23152,
subd. (a)).

                                             3
       D.     Case No. SS111864 (case No. 864)3
       On August 5, 2011, Diaz transported, gave away or sold methamphetamine
(Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)). The complaint, filed on October 3, 2011,
further alleged Diaz had a prior narcotics conviction (id. § 11370.2, subd. (a)), as well as
a strike prior (§ 1170.12, subd. (c)(1)). Diaz‟s probation in both case Nos. 145 and 626
was violated based on this new case.
       E.     Amendment of complaint in case No. 864 and global resolution
       On February 29, 2012, the prosecutor amended the complaint in case No. 864 to
add a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Diaz pleaded no contest to the new
charge and admitted the strike prior conviction with the understanding he would receive a
six year prison term. The trial court found Diaz was in violation of his probation in case
Nos. 145 and 626, and ordered his sentences in those matters would be served concurrent
with his sentence in case No. 864.
       F.     Sentencing
       On March 7, 2012, Diaz was sentenced in all three cases. In case No. 145, the trial
court sentenced him to two years in prison and awarded him custody credits of 332 days,
consisting of 222 custody credits and 110 conduct credits. In case No. 626, Diaz was
sentenced to three years in prison and awarded 254 days of credits, consisting of 170
custody credits and 84 conduct credits. In case No. 864, Diaz was sentenced to a total
term of six years, consisting of the aggravated term of three years, doubled due to the
prior strike conviction. He was awarded 235 days of credit, consisting of 157 custody
credits and 78 conduct credits. The trial court ordered that the sentences in case Nos. 145
and 626 were to be served consecutive to each other, but concurrently with the sentence
in case No. 864.

       3
         The record does not contain any facts about this particular case other than those
set forth in the complaint.

                                              4
II.    DISCUSSION
       A.     Diaz is entitled to additional credits in case No. 145
       Diaz argues, and the People concede, that he is entitled to additional conduct
credits for the period of confinement between June 28, 2010 and February 3, 2011.
During that period of confinement, Diaz was entitled to additional credits pursuant to the
then-operative version of section 4019 which had an effective date of January 25, 2010.
       Pursuant to People v. Brown (2012) 54 Cal.4th 314 and Payton v. Superior Court
(2011) 202 Cal.App.4th 1187, we agree that the concession is appropriate and will direct
that the abstract of judgment be modified to award Diaz an additional 111 days of
conduct credit in case No. 145.
       B.     Diaz is not entitled to additional credits in case Nos. 626 and 864
       A criminal defendant is entitled to accrue both actual presentence custody credits
under section 2900.5 and conduct credits under section 4019 for the period of
incarceration prior to sentencing. Conduct credits may be earned under section 4019 by
performing additional labor (§ 4019, subd. (b)) and by an inmate‟s good behavior. (Id.
subd. (c).) In both instances, section 4019 credits are collectively referred to as conduct
credits. (People v. Dieck (2009) 46 Cal.4th 934, 939, fn. 3.) The court is charged with
awarding such credits at sentencing. (§ 2900.5, subd. (a).)
       Before January 25, 2010, conduct credits under section 4019 could be accrued at
the rate of two days for every four days of actual time served in presentence custody.
(Stats. 1982, ch. 1234, § 7, p. 4554 [former § 4019, subd. (f)].) Effective January 25,
2010, the Legislature amended section 4019 in an extraordinary session to address the
state‟s ongoing fiscal crisis. Among other things, Senate Bill No. 3X 18 amended section

                                             5
4019 such that defendants, with some exceptions,4 could accrue custody credits at the rate
of two days for every two days actually served, twice the rate as before.
       Effective September 28, 2010, section 4019 was amended again to restore the
presentence conduct credit calculation that had been in effect prior to the January 2010
amendments, eliminating one-for-one credits. By its express terms, the newly created
section 4019, subdivision (g), declared the September 28, 2010 amendments applicable
only to inmates confined for a crime committed on or after that date. (Stats. 2010, ch.
426, § 2.)
       Thereafter, the Legislature amended section 4019 yet again, reinstituting one-for-
one conduct credits and making this change applicable to crimes committed on or after
October 1, 2011, the operative date of the amendments. (§ 4019, subds. (b), (c), & (h).)
Diaz committed the crimes in case Nos. 626 and 864 before the effective date of this
particular amendment.5
       Diaz argues he is statutorily entitled to increased presentence conduct credits for
the time in custody after October 1, 2011, though he acknowledges that the case on which
he relies for this proposition6 is no longer citable. Essentially, Diaz contends that the
language of section 4019, subdivision (h) in its current form is internally inconsistent,
and to harmonize the conflicting language, the court should find that he is entitled to
enhanced credits even though his crimes were committed before October 1, 2011.

       4
         The enhanced credits were not available to defendants required to register as a
sex offender, those committed for a serious felony (as defined in § 1192.7), or those who
had a prior conviction for a violent or serious felony. (Stats. 2009-2010, 3d Ex. Sess., ch.
28, §§ 50, 62 [former § 4019, subds. (b), (c), & (f)].)
       5
         According to the probation report, the charged offenses in case No. 626 were
committed on May 17, 2010. The complaint in case No. 864 alleges that the charged
offense was committed on August 5, 2011.
       6
         People v. Olague (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 1126, review dismissed March 20,
2013.

                                              6
       The first sentence of section 4019, subdivision (h) states: “The changes to this
section enacted by the act that added this subdivision shall apply prospectively and shall
apply to prisoners who are confined to a county jail, city jail, industrial farm, or road
camp for a crime committed on or after October 1, 2011.” This language is, on its face,
clear and straightforward. The changes to the statute are to operate “prospectively,” and
the conduct credit amendment applies only to defendants whose crimes were committed
“on or after October 1, 2011.” (§ 4019, subd. (h).) Thus, the first sentence leads
ineluctably to the conclusion Diaz is not entitled to conduct credit at the enhanced rate
because he committed his crimes prior to October 1, 2011. Admittedly, however, section
4019, subdivision (h)‟s second sentence appears to confuse matters.
       The second sentence provides: “Any days earned by a prisoner prior to October 1,
2011, shall be calculated at the rate required by the prior law.” (§ 4019, subd. (h).)
Arguably, this sentence implies any days earned by a defendant after October 1, 2011, are
to be calculated at the rate required by the current law, without regard for when the
offense was committed.
       Reading the sentence in this manner, however, renders the first sentence
meaningless, and ignores the first sentence‟s express direction that the amendment is to
apply prospectively. This we cannot do. “ „ “It is an elementary rule of construction that
effect must be given, if possible, to every word, clause and sentence of a statute.” A
statute should be construed so that effect is given to all its provisions, so that no part will
be inoperative or superfluous, void or insignificant, and so that one section will not
destroy another unless the provision is the result of obvious mistake or error.‟ ”
(Rodriguez v. Superior Court (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 1260, 1269 (Rodriguez); see 2A
Sutherland, Statutory Construction (7th ed. 2007) § 46.6, pp. 230-244.)
       Rather, we must look to another well-established rule of statutory construction to
guide our interpretation of subdivision (h). “ „A statute is passed as a whole and not in
parts or sections and is animated by one general purpose and intent. Consequently, each

                                               7
part or section should be construed in connection with every other part or section so as to
produce a harmonious whole. Thus, it is not proper to confine interpretation to the one
section to be construed.‟ ” (Rodriguez, supra, 14 Cal.App.4th at p. 1268; see 2A
Sutherland, Statutory Construction, supra, § 46.5, pp. 189-201.)
       As discussed above, the first sentence reflects the Legislature‟s intent that the
enhanced conduct credit provision to apply only to those defendants who committed their
crimes on or after October 1, 2011. Section 4019, subdivision (h)‟s second sentence,
though certainly inartfully drafted, is an attempt to clarify that those defendants who
committed an offense before October 1, 2011, are to earn credit under the prior law.
(People v. Ellis (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 1546, 1553; see also People v. Rajanayagam
(2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 42, 52 [§ 4019, subd. (h) merely reaffirms that defendants who
committed their crimes before October 1, 2011, can still earn conduct credits, just under
the prior law].) We decline to ignore the Legislature‟s clear intent in the first sentence of
section 4019, subdivision (h) by relying on an implied interpretation of the second
sentence.
       We think the explicit language of the statute is clear: the 2011 amendment to
section 4019 applies only to crimes that were “committed on or after October 1, 2011.”
(§ 4019, subd. (h).) Diaz, having committed his crimes before that operative date, does
not qualify for the credits available under the amended statute. (People v. Brown, supra,
54 Cal.4th at p. 322, fn. 11; see People v. Kennedy (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 385, 396-397
[reasoning in Brown applies to version § 4019 effective Oct. 1, 2011].)
III.   DISPOSITION
       The abstract of judgment is modified to reflect that Diaz shall receive presentence
credits of 222 days of custody credits plus 221 days of conduct credits for total
presentence credits of 443 days in case No. SS091145. As modified, the judgment is
affirmed.

                                              8
                        Premo, J.

WE CONCUR:

    Rushing, P.J.

    Elia, J.

                    9