Court Opinion

ID: 9950321
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-13 19:04:40.482439+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:36.846900
License: Public Domain

Filed 3/13/24 P. v. Lyburtus 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                        G062194

           v.                                                          (Super. Ct. No. 16NF1922)

 JOSEPH LYBURTUS,                                                      OPINION

      Defendant and Appellant.

                   Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Gary S.
Paer, Judge. Affirmed.
                   Paul R. Kraus, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
                   Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Robin Urbanski, Lynne G.
McGinnis and Brendon Marshall, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
                Defendant Joseph Lyburtus challenges the trial court’s prima facie denial of
his petition for resentencing of his conviction for attempted murder under Penal Code
                 1
section 1172.6. We conclude the record of conviction established Lyburtus failed to
satisfy the conditions for relief under section 1172.6; we therefore affirm.
                          FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
                In an information, Lyburtus was charged with one count of attempted
murder (§§ 187, subd. (a), 664, subd. (a) [count 1]), and two counts of assault with a
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deadly weapon (§ 245 subd. (a)(1) [counts 2 and 3]). The information alleged
sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)) and
personal infliction of great bodily injury (§ 12022.7, subd. (a)) as to the attempted murder
and assault charges.
                In August 2018, Lyburtus pled guilty to attempted murder and assault with
a deadly weapon and admitted all sentencing enhancement allegations. The factual basis
                                      3
of Lyburtus’s plea in the Tahl form reads: “In Orange County, California, on 5/19/16, I
unlawfully, with the specific intent to kill, attempted to murder Brandon T. a human being
and personally inflicted GBI on him, he was not an accomplice in this offense. On that
date, I also willfully and unlawfully committed assaults with a deadly weapon on Marcus
H. and Jesus G., who were not accomplices and inflicted GBI on them. I committed all
of these offenses for the benefit of Westside La Habra [gang], with the specific intent to
furthur [sic], and assist in criminal conduct by gang members.” (Italics added.)

1
    All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
  One count of street terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a)) was dismissed by the court after the
preliminary hearing.
3
    In re Tahl (1969) 1 Cal.3d 122.

                                               2
              The trial court and Lyburtus engaged in the following colloquy before the
court accepted Lyburtus’s plea:
              “Q On page 5 of 8 at line 34 at the bottom you made a statement about
your involvement in the case. Is that a true and accurate statement of your involvement?
              “A Yes, your Honor.
              “Q Going back to page 1 of the plea form it’s alleged in count 1 that you
violated Section 664-187 of the Penal Code, also known as attempted murder. To that
felony change how do you plea[d]; guilty or not guilty?
              “A Guilty.
              “Q It’s alleged that during the commission of that offense you inflicted
great bodily injury on someone by the name of Brandon T. Is that true?
              “A Yes, your Honor.” (Italics added.)
              The trial court sentenced Lyburtus to a total of 11 years in state prison:
seven years for attempted murder, three years consecutive for the great bodily injury
sentencing enhancement on that charge, and one year (one-third the middle term)
consecutive for the assault in count two. The court imposed a three-year concurrent term
for the assault in count three and struck both the great bodily injury sentencing
enhancements on counts 2 and 3 and the gang sentencing enhancements on all counts for
purposes of sentencing.
              In August 2022, Lyburtus, in propria persona, filed a petition for
resentencing pursuant to section 1172.6. The trial court appointed the public defender to
represent Lyburtus.
              After further briefing, the court summarily denied Lyburtus’s petition:
“The Court has reviewed the handwritten petition, the court minutes, the
information/charging documents, abstract of judgment, the Tahl form/plea of guilty and
the briefs of all the parties. [¶] There has been no showing of a prima facie case that
petitioner was convicted under any now-void legal theory of attempted murder as

                                             3
described in section 1170.95 of the Penal Code, now section 1172.6 of the Penal Code.
[¶] In support of his plea, defendant admitted he acted with the intent to kill. Defendant
admitted he personally inflicted great bodily injury on Brandon T. (victim of the
attempted murder charge) and personally inflicted injury on two other individuals
(victims of two separate felony assaults). [¶] The plea was very specific and in no way
vague or ambiguous. The defendant admitted to acting with the intent to kill, the intent
necessary for attempted murder. Defendant’s plea is consistent with the requirements
under current law for an attempted murder conviction. Defendant’s admissions to
personally inflicting great bodily injury on three victims supports a finding that he
admitted more than just the statutory language for attempted murder. Furthermore,
defendant’s plea did not involve a ‘no contest’ plea or a plea without admitting any
crimes. By contrast, defendant’s admissions were detailed, specific and leave no room
for speculation. [¶] Defendant was charged alone and there was no reference to any
other perpetrator in the case. Additionally, there was never any reference to the natural
and probable consequence theory or aiding and abetting anyone else. This was not a
felony-murder case either. [¶] The Court finds that defendant is ineligible as a matter of
law. [¶] The petition is denied.”
              Lyburtus timely filed a notice of appeal.
                                       DISCUSSION
                                             I.
                                    STANDARD OF REVIEW
              “We review de novo an order denying a section 1172.6 petition at the prima
facie review stage. [Citations.] Although at that stage a court presented with a section
1172.6 petition may not engage in factfinding that requires weighing evidence or
exercising discretion, the court may consider jury instructions, jury verdicts, and other
documents that are part of the record of conviction to determine whether the petitioner
satisfies the conditions for relief.” (People v. Flores (2023) 96 Cal.App.5th 1164, 1170.)

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              “[T]he prima facie inquiry . . . is limited. Like the analogous prima facie
inquiry in habeas corpus proceedings, ‘“the court takes petitioner’s factual allegations as
true and makes a preliminary assessment regarding whether the petitioner would be
entitled to relief if his or her factual allegations were proved. If so, the court must issue
an order to show cause.”’ [Citations.] ‘[A] court should not reject the petitioner’s factual
allegations on credibility grounds without first conducting an evidentiary hearing.’
[Citations.] ‘However, if the record, including the court’s own documents, “contain[s]
facts refuting the allegations made in the petition,” then “the court is justified in making a
credibility determination adverse to the petitioner.”’” (People v. Lewis (2021) 11
Cal.5th 952, 971 (Lewis).)
                                              II.
                               RELEVANT LEGAL AUTHORITY
              Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017–2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 1437) amended
existing law on accomplice liability for murder “‘to ensure that murder liability is not
imposed on a person who is not the actual killer . . . .’” (People v. Gutierrez-Salazar
(2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 411, 417.) To accomplish this goal, Senate Bill 1437 limited
accomplice liability under the felony-murder rule and eliminated the natural and probable
consequences doctrine as it relates to murder, to ensure a person’s sentence is
commensurate with his individual criminal culpability. (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at
p. 971.)
              Senate Bill 1437 also authorized an individual convicted of felony murder
or murder based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine to petition the
sentencing court to vacate the conviction and be resentenced on any remaining counts if
he could not have been convicted of murder because of Senate Bill 1437’s changes to the
definition of the crime. (See Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 959–960.)
              Senate Bill No. 775 (2021–2022 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 775) extended to
“persons who were convicted of attempted murder . . . under . . . the natural [and]

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probable consequences doctrine . . . the same [resentencing] relief as those persons
convicted of murder under the same theor[y].” (Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 1, subd. (a).)
Senate Bill 775 also clarified the burden of proof at a section 1172.6 hearing is beyond a
reasonable doubt. (§ 1172.6, subd. (d)(3).)
              “Attempted murder requires the specific intent to kill and the commission
of a direct but ineffectual act toward accomplishing the intended killing.” (People v. Lee
(2003) 31 Cal.4th 613, 623.) An intent to kill is shown if the defendant either desires the
death of the victim or knows to a substantial certainty that death will occur as the result
of the defendant’s action. (People v. Smith (2005) 37 Cal.4th 733, 739.)
                                              III.
                                         ANALYSIS
              Although a defendant may no longer be held liable for attempted murder
based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine, under current law, a “sole and
actual perpetrator of the attempted murder . . . is ineligible for resentencing as a matter of
law.” (People v. Patton (2023) 89 Cal.App.5th 649, 657, review granted June 28, 2023,
S279670.) Thus, the question here is whether the record of conviction shows, as a matter
of law, Lyburtus was the sole and actual perpetrator of the attempted murder of
Brandon T.
              Neither the amended information nor the plea form contains any reference
to the natural and probable consequences doctrine or any other theory of imputed or
vicarious liability. The information alleges only Lyburtus was involved in the attempted
murder and assaults; Lyburtus acted “with the specific intent to kill” victim Brandon T.;
and Lyburtus “personally inflicted great bodily injury” on Brandon T. Lyburtus admitted
in his guilty plea that he attempted to murder Brandon T. with the specific intent to kill
by personally inflicting great bodily injury on him. In his colloquy with the court
regarding his guilty plea, Lyburtus admitted he committed great bodily injury on the
victim “during the commission” of the attempted murder. Because section 1172.6

                                               6
“applies by its terms only to attempted murders based on the natural and probable
consequences doctrine” (People v. Coley (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 539, 548), the lack of
reference to the natural and probable consequences doctrine anywhere in the record of
conviction places this case outside section 1172.6.
              People v. Fisher (2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 1022 supports our conclusion. The
defendant pled guilty to two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. (Id. at
p. 1024.) At the plea colloquy, the prosecutor summarized the facts as follows: “‘On
March 31, 1983, it’s alleged that you entered an apartment at 910-1/2 West 94th Street,
and that during that evening, events took place where you eventually shot and killed
Richard Harrison, a gentleman named in Count I, and that you shot and killed a lady by
the name of Dabney in Count II, and that you shot and injured a lady by the name of
Debra Thomas, the lady in Count III.’” (Id. at p. 1025.) The defendant stated he
understood the charges against him and agreed the prosecutor had accurately summarized
the crimes. (Ibid.)
              Based on the transcripts of the plea hearing and the sentencing hearing and
the probation report, the trial court summarily denied the defendant’s later section 1172.6
petition: “‘Petitioner was the sole defendant and actual shooter in this matter, acting with
specific intent required for a conviction pursuant to Penal Code sections 187(a) and 664-
187(a) and personally discharging a firearm causing death and great bodily injury.
Therefore, petitioner/defendant is ineligible for resentencing pursuant to Penal Code
[s]ection 1170.95.’” (People v. Fisher, supra, 95 Cal.App.5th at p. 1026.) Fisher’s
admission he was the direct perpetrator of the crimes meant he could not have been
convicted under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (Id. at p. 1029.)
              Similarly, in People v. Saavedra (2023) 96 Cal.App.5th 444, another panel
of this court affirmed the summary denial of the defendant’s section 1172.6 petition
based solely on the language in the defendant’s guilty plea to three counts of attempted
murder. The defendant’s admission he “‘attempted to murder’” three people by

                                             7
“‘personally discharging a firearm at the vehicle’” in which they were riding established
he was the actual shooter and was not convicted based on a theory of vicarious liability.
(People v. Saavedra, supra, at p. 448.)
              Further, Lyburtus admitted the personal infliction of great bodily injury
allegation made in connection with the attempted murder count pursuant to
section 12022.7, subdivision (a). Section 12022.7, subdivision (a) states: “Any person
who personally inflicts great bodily injury on any person other than an accomplice in the
commission of a felony or attempted felony shall be punished by an additional and
consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for three years.” By enacting
section 12022.7, “the Legislature intended to impose an additional penalty for causing
great bodily injury only on those principals who perform the act that directly inflicts the
injury, and one who merely aids, abets, or directs another to inflict the physical injury is
not subject to the enhanced penalty of section 12022.7.” (People v. Cole (1982) 31
Cal.3d 568, 571, italics added; see People v. Slough (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 419, 423.)
Thus, Lyburtus’s guilty plea admitted he had personally and directly inflicted great
bodily injury on victim Brandon T. and did not merely aid and abet someone else.
Lyburtus, by his own admission, was a direct perpetrator of the attempted murder.
              In the trial court, Lyburtus relied on three cases—People v. Davenport
(2021) 71 Cal.App.5th 476, People v. Enyon (2021) 68 Cal.App.5th 967, and People v.
Rivera (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 217—each of which is distinguishable.
              In People v. Davenport, supra, 71 Cal.App.5th at page 479, the trial court
summarily denied the defendant’s petition for resentencing based on facts stated in the
transcript of the preliminary hearing. The appellate court reversed the trial court’s order
because the defendant had not stipulated the preliminary hearing facts supplied a basis for

                                              8
his guilty plea. Here, by contrast, the trial court’s prima facie denial of the resentencing
                                                                               4
petition was based on Lyburtus’s own admissions in his written guilty plea.
              In People v. Enyon, supra, 68 Cal.App.5th at page 979, the appellate court
held the defendant was prima facie eligible for resentencing relief where he admitted he
was guilty “on an unspecified theory, of a premeditated and deliberate murder [but] did
not admit that he acted with premeditation, deliberation, or intent to kill.” (Id. at
pp. 970–971.) At the change of plea hearing, the prosecutor noted the theory of murder
as to defendant Enyon was “‘felony murder, first-degree murder theory.’” (Id. at p. 971.)
All sentencing enhancement allegations, including an enhancement for personal use of a
firearm, were dismissed. (Ibid.) Unlike Enyon, Lyburtus admitted he had the “specific
intent to kill” and made factual admissions regarding the personal infliction of great
bodily injury that rendered him ineligible for relief.
              And in People v. Rivera, supra, 62 Cal.App.5th at page 224, the appellate
court held “a defendant who entered a plea to murder ‘with malice aforethought’ is not
categorically incapable of making a prima facie showing of eligibility for [resentencing]
relief.” Unlike the case before us, the defendant in People v. Rivera neither admitted he
had acted “with the specific intent to kill” nor admitted he had personally inflicted great
bodily injury on the victim in his guilty plea.

4
  People v. Das (2023) 96 Cal.App.5th 954 is similar to People v. Davenport. In
People v. Das, at the hearing on the defendant’s change of plea, the prosecutor provided a
statement as the factual basis for the plea, which the trial court accepted without asking
the defendant or his attorney if the defendant stipulated to the factual basis. (People v.
Das, supra, at p. 957.) Because the defendant “did not . . . stipulate to the stated factual
basis or otherwise admit the truth of the facts recited by the prosecutor,” there was no
basis to prima facie reject the defendant’s section 1172.6 petition. (People v. Das, supra,
at p. 961.)

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                                DISPOSITION
          The postjudgment order is affirmed.

                                           GOODING, J.

WE CONCUR:

MOORE, ACTING P. J.

DELANEY, J.

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