Court Opinion

ID: 4880161
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-30 20:04:49.157599+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:11.160262
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/30/21 P. v. Leal CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                         (Yuba)
                                                            ----

 THE PEOPLE,                                                                                   C092133

                    Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   (Super. Ct. No. CRF1801278)

           v.

 STANLEY JOHN LEAL,

                    Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant was charged with vandalism in an amount over $400; misdemeanor
driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage; misdemeanor hit and run resulting
in property damage; and misdemeanor resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer.
         On July 25, 2018, defendant pled no contest to the vandalism and driving under
the influence charges. In exchange, the court dismissed the remaining charges. Under
the agreement, imposition of sentence was suspended to afford defendant the opportunity
to complete a six-month residential drug treatment program. If defendant successfully
completed the program, he would be given probation with a possible jail term condition
of up to 365 days. If he failed, he agreed to be sentenced to the upper term of three years
in state prison. The factual basis for defendant’s plea was found in Marysville Police
Department Report No. 1807-1168.

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       According to the People, defendant had been involved in a minor traffic accident,
fled the scene, and in an attempt to get away from authorities, broke three windows of an
apartment, each valued at $150. Defendant had been under the influence of alcohol at the
time. After some discussion, defendant ultimately stipulated to the factual basis.
       Defendant was released from custody on August 2, 2018, for participation in the
San Francisco Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. On October 9, 2018, the
court issued a bench warrant for defendant’s arrest since he absconded from treatment on
September 29, 2018.
       Following defendant’s arrest, the court denied defendant’s Marsden1 motion and
afforded defendant a second opportunity to complete a six-month residential treatment
program. In exchange, defendant agreed to waive his accrued custody credits. Defendant
again acknowledged that failure to complete the program would result in imposition of
the upper term of three years in prison.
       On January 9, 2019, defendant was released from custody to attend residential
treatment. However, defendant again absconded from treatment, and the court issued a
warrant for his arrest on January 18, 2019. He was arrested and the court denied
defendant’s second Marsden motion. At the next hearing, defendant asked to withdraw
his plea, resulting in appointment of conflict counsel, who ultimately reported there was
no basis for plea withdrawal. Apparently dissatisfied with this conclusion, defendant
filed a pro. per. petition for habeas corpus and related papers arguing he had received
ineffective assistance of counsel prior to his no contest plea, which the court denied on
March 2, 2020.
       At the sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed the upper term of three years for
the vandalism charge and sentenced defendant to 180 days concurrent on the driving
under the influence of an alcoholic beverage violation. The court also imposed a $300

1      People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118.

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restitution fine on the vandalism charge, a $150 restitution fine on the driving under the
influence of an alcoholic beverage charge, a $450 matching suspended parole revocation
restitution fine, two $30 court conviction assessment fees, and two $40 court operations
fees. Defendant was awarded 89 actual days plus 88 conduct days for a total of 177 days
of custody credit. Defendant timely appealed and his request for a certificate of probable
cause was denied.
                                      DISCUSSION
       Appointed counsel filed an opening brief that sets forth the facts and procedural
history of the case and requests this court review the record and determine whether there
are any arguable issues on appeal. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) Defendant
was advised by counsel of his right to file a supplemental brief within 30 days from the
date the opening brief was filed. More than 30 days have elapsed, and defendant has not
filed a supplemental brief.
       Having undertaken an examination of the entire record pursuant to Wende, we
note that the trial court improperly imposed the restitution fine and parole revocation
restitution fines per count. Penal Code2 section 1202.4, subdivision (b), requires the
court impose a restitution fine “[i]n every case where a person is convicted of a crime.”
Section 1202.45, subdivision (a) requires the court impose a matching parole revocation
restitution fine in each case where defendant’s sentence includes a period of parole.
       Here, the court imposed a $300 restitution fine (§ 1202.4) on the vandalism
charge, a $150 restitution fine (§ 1202.4) on the driving under the influence of an
alcoholic beverage charge, and a $450 matching suspended parole revocation restitution
fine (§ 1202.45). This was error. (See People v. Soria (2010) 48 Cal.4th 58, 66
[restitution fines are to be imposed in each case resolved by a plea bargain]; People v.

2      Further undesignated references are to this code.

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Sencion (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 480, 483 [restitution fund fine may be imposed only
once per case].)
       Because defendant was convicted of a felony, the court had discretion to impose
one restitution fine per case in an amount between $300 and $10,000. (§ 1202.4,
subd. (b)(1).) The court was then required to impose a matching parole revocation
restitution fine. (§ 1202.45, subd. (a).) Given that we cannot tell whether the court
would have imposed an amount higher than the $300 imposed for the felony count if the
court had understood the scope of its sentencing discretion, we find it necessary to
remand the matter to allow the court to exercise its informed discretion. (People v.
Brown (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 1213, 1228 [“Defendants are entitled to ‘sentencing
decisions made in the exercise of the “informed discretion” of the sentencing court,’ and
a court that is unaware of its discretionary authority cannot exercise its informed
discretion”].)
                                      DISPOSITION
       We reverse the judgment as to defendant’s restitution and parole revocation
restitution fines and remand the matter so that the trial court may reconsider the
imposition to those fines in light of the guidance provided by this opinion. The court
shall then issue and forward to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation an
amended abstract of judgment. The judgment is otherwise affirmed.

                                                 /s/
                                                 Robie, J.
We concur:

/s/
Blease, Acting P. J.

/s/
Renner, J.

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