Court Opinion

ID: 2641607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-11-08 01:02:34.827252+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:43:37.461192
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/7/13 P. v. Chinchilla CA4/3

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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 THREE

THE PEOPLE,

     Plaintiff and Respondent,                                         G048245

         v.                                                            (Super. Ct. No. 08CF3485)

BYRON CHRISTOPHER CHINCHILLA,                                          OPINION

     Defendant and Appellant.

                   Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Frank F.
Fasel, Judge. (Retired judge of the Orange Super. Ct. assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to art. VI, § 6 of the Cal. Const.) Affirmed.
                   Ellen M. Matsumoto, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
                   No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
              We appointed counsel to represent Byron Christopher Chinchilla on appeal.
Counsel filed a brief that set forth the facts of the case. Counsel did not argue against her
client but advised the court no issues were found to argue on his behalf. Pursuant to
Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, to assist the court with its independent review,
counsel provided the court with information as to issues that might arguably support an
appeal. Counsel raised the following two questions: (1) Was Chinchilla’s
Sixth Amendment right to counsel violated when trial counsel waived his own personal
presence for the resentencing hearing, instead of appearing by telephone; and (2) was
Chinchilla’s right to be present at a critical stage of the criminal proceedings against him
violated by trial counsel’s waiver of Chinchilla’s presence.
              We granted Chinchilla 30 days to file a supplemental brief. That time has
passed, and he did not file a supplemental brief. We have reviewed the information
counsel provided, and we have independently examined the record. We found no
arguable issues. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436.) The judgment is affirmed.
                                          FACTS
              A jury convicted Chinchilla of four counts of attempted murder (Pen. Code,
§§ 664, subd. (a), 187, subd. (a))1 (counts 1-4), shooting at an occupied motor vehicle
(§ 246) (count 5), four counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm (§ 245, subd. (b))
(counts 6-9), second degree robbery (§§ 211, 212.5, subd. (c)) (count 11), street terrorism
(§ 186.22, subd. (a)) (count 12), being an active participant in a criminal street gang and
having a concealed firearm in the vehicle (§ 12025, subds. (a)(1) & (b)(3)) (count 13),
and receiving stolen property (§ 496, subd. (a)) (count 14). The jury also found true
street terrorism and firearm enhancements (§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 12022.53, subds. (b),
(c) & (e)(1), 12022.5, subd. (a)).

1             All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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              In his first appeal, Chinchilla argued the trial court erred in imposing
10-year enhancements for vicarious use of a firearm and 10-year enhancements for
street terrorism on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11. The Attorney General conceded the error.
As to counts 6 through 9, Chinchilla contended the trial court erred in imposing 10-year
terms on the street terrorism enhancements. Again, the Attorney General conceded the
error. Additionally, relying on People v. Mesa (2012) 54 Cal. 4th 191, Chinchilla asserted
his sentence on count 12, street terrorism, must be stayed because he could not be
punished for committing both street terrorism, and the charged felonies used to establish
the felonious criminal conduct element of street terrorism. The Attorney General agreed
again. We affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for resentencing.2 We
remanded the matter for resentencing on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11. The matter was also
remanded for resentencing on counts 6 through 9, and count 12.
              Consistent with our opinion, the trial court resentenced Chinchilla. The
record reflects no court reporter was present at the resentencing, and that both the
prosecutor and defense attorney appeared by telephone. The trial court vacated the
enhancement sentences on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11. The court did not impose
enhancement punishment on any of these counts. The court also vacated the
enhancement sentences on counts 6, 7, 8, and 9. The court did not impose enhancement
punishment on any of these counts. Lastly, the trial court vacated the sentence on
count 12. It then imposed a sentence of two years and stayed execution of the sentence
pursuant to section 654. Chinchilla filed a timely notice of appeal.
                                      DISCUSSION
              A defendant’s right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment applies at all
critical stages of a criminal proceeding where the defendant’s substantial rights are at
stake. (People v. Crayton (2002) 28 Cal. 4th 346, 362.) Sentencing is a critical stage in a

2             People v. Chinchilla (Dec. 27, 2012, G045111) [nonpub opn.].

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criminal prosecution. (People v. Doolin (2009) 45 Cal. 4th 390, 453.) A criminal
defendant also has a statutory right to be present at sentencing. (See § 977, subd. (b).) A
defendant shall be present during sentencing, unless he waives that right and asks that his
lawyer appear. (People v. Davis (2005) 36 Cal. 4th 510, 532 (Davis).)
              The right to be present at sentencing and the right to counsel are federal
constitutional rights. Accordingly, we apply the “harmless beyond a reasonable doubt”
standard in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18 (Chapman). (Davis, supra,
36 Cal.4th at p. 532.) “Error under sections 977 and 1043 is state law error only, and
therefore is reversible only if ‘“it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to
the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error.” [Citation.]’
[Citations.]” (Davis, supra, 36 Cal.4th at pp. 532-533.) The defendant has the burden of
demonstrating his absence and the lack of counsel resulted in prejudice or violated his
right to a fair and impartial trial. (People v. Blacksher (2011) 52 Cal. 4th 769, 799.)
              The record reflects Chinchilla was not present at the resentencing hearing,
and his attorney appeared by telephone. It is unclear from the record whether counsel
was authorized to waive Chinchilla’s presence. Counsel questions whether Chinchilla’s
Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated when trial counsel waived his own
presence for the resentencing, and whether Chinchilla’s right to be present at the
resentencing was violated by trial counsel’s waiver of Chinchilla’s presence.
              Even assuming it was error for the trial court to have proceeded with the
resentencing without counsel and Chinchilla being personally present, we find no error
under either the Chapman standard or the less stringent Watson standard. The court was
simply following the specific directions given it by the appellate court. Those directions
did not afford the trial court any discretion and resulted in a benefit to Chinchilla. We
find beyond a reasonable doubt no more favorable result could have occurred had counsel
and Chinchilla been personally present.

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                                  DISPOSITION
            The judgment is affirmed.

                                            O’LEARY, P. J.

WE CONCUR:

ARONSON, J.

IKOLA, J.

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