Court Opinion

ID: 2805978
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-05 19:03:15.107022+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:16.988614
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/5/15 In re Rafael S. CA5

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                     FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

In re RAFAEL S., a Person Coming Under the
Juvenile Court Law.

THE PEOPLE,                                                                                F070333

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                            (Super. Ct. No. JJD065389)

                   v.
                                                                                         OPINION
RAFAEL S.,

         Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Michael B.
Sheltzer, Judge.
         Kristen Owen, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Catherine Chatman and Michael
Dolida, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*        Before Kane, Acting P.J., Franson, J. and Smith, J.
       This case comes to us pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436 and In re
Kevin S. (2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 97, 99, which extended Wende review to a minor’s first
appeal in a delinquency case. Having reviewed the record as required by those opinions
and solicited supplemental briefing from the parties, we modify the award of credit for
time served, but otherwise affirm.
                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
       On December 8, 2011, Rafael S. was adjudged a ward of the court pursuant to
Welfare and Institutions Code section 6021, based on his commission of felony receiving
stolen property (Pen. Code, § 496, subd. (a)) and misdemeanor receiving a stolen motor
vehicle (id., § 496d, subd. (a)), battery upon an officer or emergency personnel (id.,
§ 243, subd. (b)), and resisting or obstructing a peace officer (id., § 148, subd. (a)(1)). He
was committed to the Tulare County Youth Facility (YF) and placed on probation.2
       On April 10, 2012, Rafael was readjudged a ward of the court, based on his
commission of misdemeanor battery. (Pen. Code, § 242.) He was committed to YF and
placed on probation.
       On May 9, 2013, Rafael was readjudged a ward of the court, based on his
commission of robbery with the personal use of a weapon (Pen. Code, §§ 211, 12022,
subd. (b)). He was committed to the Tulare County Youth Correctional Center Unit
(YCCU) and ordered to comply with various terms and conditions of probation.

1     Further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless
otherwise stated.
2      A probation officer’s report states this was Rafael’s original juvenile court
appearance, but also states he appeared on June 11, 2011, for a dispositional hearing on a
charge of first degree burglary, whereupon he was readjudged a ward of the court, placed
on probation, and committed to YF. However, the same report does not show a burglary
charge (or any charge on or about June 2011) as part of Rafael’s prior record. The
discrepancy is irrelevant to this appeal.

                                              2.
       On February 6, 2014, the Tulare County District Attorney filed a notice of
violation of probation pursuant to section 777, alleging Rafael failed to obey all laws in
that he drove a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission, left the scene of an
accident without complying with the requirements of Vehicle Code section 20002,
subdivision (a), and damaged and destroyed a fence belonging to the vehicle’s owner;
admitted using alcohol; left home without his mother’s permission; and removed his
electronic monitor in violation of the Aftercare portion of his YCCU commitment. That
same date, the probation officer filed a notice pursuant to section 777, alleging Rafael
failed to abide by the terms and conditions of the Aftercare program, failed to attend
school, removed his GPS monitor, and absconded from his residence.
       On February 11, 2014, Rafael admitted the violations of probation with an
agreement he would be committed to the long-term program at YCCU. The court found
Rafael knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his rights, and that there was a
factual basis for his admission. Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, the court then
proceeded to disposition. The court determined the maximum aggregate time on
previously sustained petitions was seven years 10 months, less 884 days credit for time
served. It continued Rafael as a ward of the court, and placed him in the custody and
under the supervision of the probation officer for out-of-home placement. The court
ordered that all prior terms and conditions remain in effect, and committed Rafael to the
long-term program for 240 to 365 days. Rafael subsequently was ordered to pay
restitution.
       On September 8, 2014, the court held a compliance review hearing. Rafael
requested an early release date from YCCU, and the court ordered him released that same
day on electronic monitoring for 30 days.
       On September 22, 2014, the probation department filed a notice of violation of
probation pursuant to section 777, alleging Rafael removed his GPS monitor and
absconded from his residence on September 12, 2014; used alcohol on September 12

                                              3.
and 14, 2014; and tested “presumptive positive” for marijuana and cocaine use on
September 15, 2014. On September 23, 2014, a detention hearing was held. Rafael
expressed a desire to admit the violation, but requested that the court dismiss his
probation unsatisfactorily or, in the alternative, commit him to the long-term program.
Rafael read a letter to the court. The court agreed to take Rafael’s admission, but
reserved disposition until it heard from the district attorney, probation officer, and
defense counsel. The court found Rafael knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived
his rights, and that there was a factual basis for the plea.
       On October 7, 2014, a disposition hearing was held. Through counsel, Rafael
requested that he be released again on formal probation or, in the alternative given a
“short-set review” to allow him to possibly be released early to begin attending college in
January, for which he had already registered. The probation officer recommended that
Rafael be readjudged a ward of the court and recommitted to YCCU. The People
requested Rafael be placed in a custodial program. Rafael personally made a statement to
the court and asked to be released on a suspended sentence, placed in Visalia Youth
Services, and ordered to perform some community service hours.
       The court set the maximum term of confinement at seven years 10 months, less
1,123 days of credit for time served. It continued Rafael as a ward of the court. It found
(1) Rafael’s welfare required that physical custody be removed from his parent or
guardian, (2) Rafael had been on probation in custody of his parent or guardian and had
failed to reform, and (3) reasonable efforts had been made to prevent or eliminate the
need for removal. It committed Rafael to 240 to 365 days in the long-term program.
However, it set the matter for a 90-day review, with the possibility Rafael could be
released at that time. It also set the matter for October 6, 2015, for a probation
termination review.
       Rafael filed a timely notice of appeal.

                                               4.
                            APPELLATE COURT REVIEW
       Rafael’s appointed appellate counsel has filed an opening brief that summarizes
the pertinent facts, raises no issues, and requests this court to review the record
independently. (People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal. 3d 436; In re Kevin S., supra, 113
Cal. App. 4th 97.) The opening brief also includes the declaration of appellate counsel,
stating that Rafael could file his own brief with this court. By letter dated January 27,
2015, we invited Rafael to submit additional briefing. To date, he has not done so.
However, we identified a reasonably arguable issue concerning whether Rafael’s custody
credits were properly calculated. We notified the parties accordingly and directed them
to brief the issue. (Gov. Code, § 68081.)
                                       DISCUSSION
       As shown by the statements of facts and procedural history, ante, Rafael has been
in and out of custody on numerous occasions dating back to 2011. At the most recent
disposition hearing (Oct. 7, 2014), Rafael was awarded 1,123 days of predisposition
credit. Although not required to do so before raising the issue on appeal (In re Antwon R.
(2001) 87 Cal. App. 4th 348, 350-352), his appellate counsel wrote the juvenile court,
claiming the custody credits were miscalculated and asking the court to award 1,124 days
of credit. Insofar as we know, the court never ruled on the request, and Rafael did not
raise the issue in his opening brief.3 We requested supplemental briefing, however,
because it appeared to us, from the probation officer’s report setting out Rafael’s days in
custody and calculating the credit to be awarded, that Rafael was awarded two days of
credit on several occasions when, in reality, he only spent one day in custody. The
Attorney General agreed and contended Rafael should only have been awarded 1,118
days of credit. We agree with the Attorney General’s calculation.

3     It seems likely Rafael has been released from custody. However, neither party has
claimed the issue is moot as a result.

                                              5.
       “If the minor is removed from the physical custody of his or her parent … as the
result of an order of wardship made pursuant to Section 602, the order shall specify that
the minor may not be held in physical confinement for a period in excess of the
maximum term of imprisonment which could be imposed upon an adult convicted of the
offense .…” (§ 726, subd. (d)(1).) Physical confinement includes placement in juvenile
hall (In re J.M. (2009) 170 Cal. App. 4th 1253, 1256) and boot camp (see In re Jose Z.
(2004) 116 Cal. App. 4th 953, 956-957). Generally speaking, Penal Code section 2900.5,
subdivision (a) entitles an adult offender to credit against his or her term of imprisonment
for “all days” he or she spent in custody prior to sentencing. Although the statute deals
with adults, not juveniles, the California Supreme Court has determined juveniles are
entitled to credit for all days of actual precommitment confinement against the maximum
period of confinement time, in order to comply with section 726’s mandate. (In re Eric J.
(1979) 25 Cal. 3d 522, 536; see In re Randy J. (1994) 22 Cal. App. 4th 1497, 1503.) When
a juvenile court elects to aggregate a minor’s period of physical confinement on multiple
wardship petitions, the court must also aggregate the predisposition custody credits
attributable to those petitions. (In re A.M. (2014) 225 Cal. App. 4th 1075, 1085-1086; see
§ 726, subd. (d)(3).)
       The accrual of custody credits under Penal Code section 2900.5 begins when the
individual is processed into a custodial situation, such as a juvenile detention facility
described in subdivision (a) of the statute, and not merely when the individual is taken
into the custody of police. (People v. Ravaux (2006) 142 Cal. App. 4th 914, 919-920;
accord, People v. Macklem (2007) 149 Cal. App. 4th 674, 702.)4 Because the statute
speaks in terms of “days” and not “hours,” any partial day is treated as a whole day.
Accordingly, a sentencing court is required to award presentence credit for the day of

4     Nothing in the record on appeal suggests the dates of any of Rafael’s arrests and
processing into the juvenile detention facility were different.

                                              6.
sentencing, where the defendant has remained in custody between conviction and
sentencing. (People v. Smith (1989) 211 Cal. App. 3d 523, 526.) It appears this rule is
also applicable to juvenile proceedings (see In re Antwon R., supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at
p. 352); hence, a minor must be awarded credit for the day of disposition if he or she is in
custody on that day.
       In Rafael’s case, the probation officer’s report shows several occasions on which
Rafael transitioned between the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF) and YF
or Aftercare. The probation officer calculated the date of “release” from one facility or
Aftercare and the date of “booking” into the other facility or Aftercare as two separate
days, despite the fact Rafael merely transitioned between custodial programs within the
county’s physical and legal jurisdiction. It appears the juvenile court followed this
calculation in awarding credits. In our view, only one day should have been credited
against Rafael’s maximum period of confinement in those instances, because he was
never actually released or, for example, given over into the physical custody of the state
or some other noncounty entity.
       Rafael argues that because the term “day” is statutorily defined as “the period of
time between any midnight and the midnight following” rather than as 24 hours (Gov.
Code, § 6806), the law normally views a fraction of a day as a full day (In re Jackson
(1986) 182 Cal. App. 3d 439, 442-443), and any partial day is treated as a full day (id. at
p. 442; People v. Smith, supra, 211 Cal.App.3d at p. 526), he was entitled to both days of
credit on each such occasion. We disagree. Penal Code section 2900.5, subdivision (a)
states, in pertinent part, that “when the defendant has been in custody, … all days of
custody of the defendant, … shall be credited upon his or her term of imprisonment .…”
(Italics added.) In the present case, Rafael received two days of credit for one day spent
in custody on the occasions at issue. He received the benefits to which he was entitled
under the legal authorities he cites when he was awarded credit for the dates he was

                                             7.
initially out of custody but was then booked into custody, and for the dates he spent part
of the day in custody and was then released from custody altogether.
       Calculated correctly, Rafael’s dates of actual physical confinement (as shown by
the probation officer’s report and not disputed by either party), and the number of days
for which he was entitled to credit, are as follows:
     DATE BOOKED                    DATE RELEASED                  DAYS IN CUSTODY
           4/4/11                          4/5/11                             2
          4/19/11                         4/27/11                             9
          5/23/11                         5/27/11                             5
          6/18/11                         7/14/11                            27
          8/23/11                          2/1/13                            529
           4/8/13                         9/12/14                            523
          9/15/14                         10/7/14                            23
       Adding the number of days together shows Rafael was in actual physical custody
for a total of 1,118 days. He is entitled to predisposition credit in that amount.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The October 7, 2014, disposition order and “CUSTODIAL AND OUT OF
HOME PLACEMENT DISPOSITION ATTACHMENT” are modified to reflect that
Rafael’s maximum period of confinement is 7 years 10 months less 1,118 days credit for
time served. As so modified, the judgment is affirmed. The juvenile court is ordered to
cause to be prepared and filed an amended disposition order and attachment and, if
Rafael is still in the physical custody of a county juvenile facility, to transmit a certified
copy of same to the appropriate authority.

                                               8.