Court Opinion

ID: 9746414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 14:14:39.052164+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:12.895188
License: Public Domain

WOODS (Fred), J., Concurring.
I agree with the opinion of the court. I write separately to highlight the essence of the matter.
Since 1872 Penal Code section 245 has made two quite different kinds of assaults—felony assaults. Assaults “with a deadly weapon or instrument” are *821a felony assault. So also are assaults without a deadly weapon or instrument but by “means of force likely to produce great bodily injury." Either type of assault may result in a felony conviction of Penal Code section 245, subdivision (a)(1).
At issue is whether or not the phrase “any felony in which the defendant personally used a dangerous or deadly weapon” (Pen. Code, § 1192.7, subd. (c)(23)) includes both types of felony assault described in Penal Code section 245, those committed with a weapon and those committed without a weapon.
I agree the most reasonable interpretation is that Penal Code section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(23), insofar as it applies to felony assaults, refers only to those committed with a weapon.
If the intent of Penal Code section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(23) was to include both types of felony assault, those with and those without weapons, less apt language can hardly be imagined. Moreover, if such was the intent, apt language was at hand: the disjunctive language of section 245, subdivision (a)(1).
By restricting the scope of Penal Code section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(23) to any felony where “the defendant personally used a dangerous or deadly weapon” the drafters clearly exempted less serious felonies where, e.g., a defendant falsely claimed to have a deadly weapon and those where he used a noradangerous “weapon.” It also exempted, as here, a felony where no weapon was used.
Respondent’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied May 1, 1996.