Court Opinion

ID: 2735214
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-20 01:08:54.028508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:26.499322
License: Public Domain

Filed 9/19/14 P. v. McCullough CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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.

                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,                                                         D064681

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.                                                         (Super. Ct. No. SCD248477)

ROBERT EDWARD MCCULLOUGH,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Eugenia A.

Eyherabide, Judge. Affirmed.

         Jared G. Coleman, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, A. Natasha Cortina and Ryan H.

Peeck, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

         Robert Edward McCullough appeals from a portion of a probation order which

imposes an $820 fine. Although the issue was never raised in the trial court, McCullough
now contends the imposition of this specific fine is in excess of the plea agreement. We

find the argument to be wholly without merit and affirm the probation order.

                      FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

         Pursuant to a plea agreement, McCullough entered a guilty plea to one count of

resisting an executive officer (Pen. Code, § 69). The parties stipulated McCullough

would receive three-years probation subject to 365 days in custody. The charges arose

from an incident at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in which McCullough

resisted and fought with UCSD police officers. McCullough signed a written change of

plea form, which included references to the maximum possible punishment including a

$10,000 fine as well as a mandatory restitution fine.

         McCullough was sentenced in accordance with the plea agreement, which

included three-years formal probation, 365 days custody and numerous conditions of

probation. Among the conditions of probation were various fees, a restitution fine of

$280 and a discretionary fine of $820. As we have noted McCullough did not object to

any of the conditions of probation, including any of the fines and fees ordered by the

court.

                                       DISCUSSION

         Remarkably, McCullough now contends the $820 fine was unlawful because it

was not part of the plea agreement. In making this argument appellate counsel focuses

entirely on the oral colloquy at the change of plea where the court explained the

stipulated sentence of probation and custody. Counsel ignores the change of plea form

and the oral advisement at the time of the plea that punishment could include a general

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fine and a restitution fine. Indeed, this appeal does not challenge any of the other fines

and fees or conditions of probation. We are at a loss to understand the argument that this

specific fine somehow amounts to unauthorized punishment in excess of the plea

agreement.

                                    A. Legal Principles

       A negotiated plea agreement is a form of contract. We interpret such agreements

in accordance with general contract principals. Our goal on review is to discern the

intentions of the parties. We do that by examining the terms of any written agreements

and the objective circumstances surrounding the agreement. (People v. Shelton (2006)

37 Cal.4th 759, 767.) When a negotiated agreement is accepted by the court it thereafter

binds the court and the parties to the agreement. (People v. Segura (2008) 44 Cal.4th

921, 930.)

       When a discretionary fine is imposed in a fashion which is contrary to the

agreement, such fine must be stricken so that the sentence will conform to the plea

agreement. (See People v. Walker (1991) 54 Cal.3d 1013, 1024, 1029-1030 (Walker).)

       In Walker the court found the plea agreement did not include the possibility that

the restitution fine could be imposed in an amount in excess of the minimum amount. In

Walker the parties had not utilized a written change of plea form. Thus the court could

not discern that the discretionary increase in the restitution fine was within the scope of

the plea agreement. The court recognized the value of written plea agreements in order to

avoid the issue presented there. (Walker, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 1030.)

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                                        B. Analysis

       The parties do not disagree as to the law. The dispute boils down to whether a

discretionary fine was a potential consequence recognized by the plea agreement.

Appellate counsel relies on the verbal discussions in which the court explained the parties

had stipulated to three-years probation and 365 days in custody. Counsel then deduces

that the minimum restitution and other fines and fees were "implied" in the plea

agreement, but the discretionary fine was not. We find no basis in the record for such

interpretation.

       McCullough was advised in both the change of plea form and in the colloquy that

a fine of up to $10,000 was a possible outcome in this case. Although there was no

discussion of the exact terms of probation discussed at any time, apparently McCullough

considers those "implied" as well. However, it is unreasonable to consider the court's

explanation of the term of probation and amount of custody as a condition of probation to

somehow exclude a fine, the possibility of which was specifically included in the oral and

written advisements.

       We also find significant that at the sentencing hearing neither counsel nor

McCullough raised any objection to the amount or imposition of the $820 fine. The

failure to object in these circumstances can be considered as an objective manifestation of

the rational conclusion that all of the parties were aware that such fine was possible.

       Contrary to the circumstances in Walker, supra, 54 Cal.3d 1013, the record in this

case contains abundant proof McCullough was advised of the possibility of a

discretionary fine of up to $10,000. Such advice is contained in the change of plea form

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initialed by McCullough. He was also advised of such possible fine by the trial judge at

the time of his guilty plea. While it appears from the record that McCullough was most

interested in receiving probation, the length of probation and the length of custody, it is

not reasonable to speculate that the court's answers to his questions somehow means that

the parties agreed that no discretionary fine would be imposed. If that argument is sound,

then we would also have to conclude, the parties anticipated there would be no conditions

of probation, because they were also omitted from the dialogue about probation and

custody.

       McCullough was thoroughly advised of all of the potential consequences of his

plea. He never questioned the possibility of a discretionary fine, the parties did not have

any discussions to that effect and, importantly, McCullough did not object to the

imposition of the $820 fine. McCullough's arguments to the contrary are without merit.

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                                              HUFFMAN, J.

WE CONCUR:

              McCONNELL, P. J.

                       AARON, J.

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