Court Opinion

ID: 9399046
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-01 18:03:57.431249+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:38.350261
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/1/23 P. v. Anchondo 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                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

    THE PEOPLE,
                                                                                             F084372
           Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                            (Super. Ct. No. VCF109724-03)
                    v.

    GABRIEL ANCHONDO,                                                                     OPINION
           Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Nathan G.
Leedy, Judge.
         Robert L.S. Angres, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Galen N. Farris, Lewis A.
Martinez and Louis M. Vasquez, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*        Before Levy, A.P.J., Franson, J. and DeSantos, J.
       In 2004, defendant Gabriel Morales Anchondo was convicted by a jury of
first degree murder with a gang special circumstance and a firearm enhancement.1
Defendant was 20 years of age at the time he committed the offense. He was sentenced
to a total term of life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) plus 25 years to life. In
2022, defendant requested a hearing pursuant to People v. Franklin (2016) 63 Cal.4th 261
(Franklin), to create a record of the features of his youth that contributed to the
commission of his offense for use at a possible youth offender parole hearing. The trial
court denied the motion because defendant was sentenced to LWOP, rendering him
ineligible for a youth offender parole hearing. Defendant argues that the denial of his
request for a Franklin hearing based on his LWOP sentence constituted a violation of the
equal protection of the law. The People disagree. We affirm.
                              PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
       On April 1, 2004, the Tulare County District Attorney filed an amended
information charging defendant with the murder of John Acevedo (Pen. Code, § 187,
subd. (a);2 count 1). As to count 1, the information further alleged defendant committed
the offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)), was an active
member of a criminal street gang carrying out the offense to further gang activity
(§ 190.2, subd. (a)(22)) (the special circumstance allegation), personally used a firearm
(§ 12022.5, subd. (a)(1)), and personally discharged a firearm causing death (§ 12022.53,
subd. (d)).

1      A gang enhancement was also found true but was later vacated by this court on
appeal. The People request that we take judicial notice of our prior opinion in People v.
Anchondo (Nov. 21, 2006, F047198) [nonpub. opn.], vacating the gang enhancement but
otherwise affirming the judgment. Because the People’s request is unopposed and
because that opinion is relevant to the procedural background of this case, the request for
judicial notice is granted. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459, subds. (a)–(c).)
2      All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

                                              2.
       On November 23, 2004, the jury found defendant guilty on count 1 and found the
enhancement allegations and special circumstance allegation true.
       On January 5, 2005, the trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of
LWOP plus 25 years to life plus 10 years as follows: on count 1, LWOP, plus a
25-year-to-life enhancement for personal use of a firearm causing death (§ 12022.53,
subd. (d)), plus a 10-year gang enhancement (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)).
       On November 21, 2006, this court vacated defendant’s 10-year gang enhancement
but otherwise affirmed the judgment. (People v. Anchondo, supra, F047198.)
       On April 28, 2022, defendant requested a Franklin hearing pursuant to
section 1203.01, to create a record of the features of his youth that contributed to his
offense for use at a later youth offender parole hearing.
       On May 4, 2022, the trial court denied defendant’s request because defendant
“[w]as sentenced to life without parole for a murder committed when [defendant was] an
adult. Therefore, [he was] not eligible for a youth offender parole hearing.”
       On May 16, 2022, defendant filed a notice of appeal.
                                      DISCUSSION3
       The law provides for a youth offender parole hearing for persons sentenced to
indeterminate life sentences with the possibility of parole if they were between age 18
and 25 when they committed the offense.4 However, the law does not provide for a
youth offender parole hearing for a person in the same age group who was sentenced to
LWOP. Defendant is in the latter category—he was 20 years old when he committed the
offenses at issue and he was sentenced to LWOP. He contends that the discrepancy in

3     Because defendant raises only postconviction, sentencing-related issues, the facts
underlying the offenses are not relevant and are omitted from this opinion.
4      The law also provides for youth offender parole hearings for those under the age
of 18 when the offense was committed, but defendant does not contend that he is
similarly situated with that group.

                                             3.
treatment between the two groups violates equal protection principles. The People
disagree, as do we.
I. Youth Offender Parole Hearing and Franklin Hearing Framework
       The parties agree, as do we, regarding the basic parameters of youth offender
parole hearings and the Franklin hearing framework: In 2013, the Legislature enacted
law, effective January 1, 2014, providing a parole eligibility mechanism for juvenile
offenders. (Franklin, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 277; former § 3051; Stats. 2013, ch. 312,
§ 4.) Its purpose was “to establish a parole eligibility mechanism that provides a person
serving a sentence for crimes that he or she committed as a juvenile the opportunity to
obtain release when he or she has shown that he or she has been rehabilitated and gained
maturity.” (Stats. 2013, ch. 312, § 1.) The version of section 3051 effective on
January 1, 2014, applied only to juvenile offenders sentenced to indeterminate life terms
with the possibility of parole. (§ 3051, former subd. (b); Stats. 2013, ch. 312, § 4.) On
its face, it did not apply to juvenile offenders sentenced to LWOP or those over age 18 at
the time of the offense. (§ 3051, former subds. (a)(1), (b); Stats. 2013, ch. 312, § 4.)
       In 2015, section 3051 was amended to extend eligibility to youthful offenders
under age 23. (§ 3051, former subds. (a)(1), (b); Stats. 2015, ch. 471, § 1.) Then in
2017, section 3051 was amended again to extend eligibility to youthful offenders under
age 25. (§ 3051, former subds. (a)(1), (b); Stats. 2017, ch. 675, § 1.)
       Presently, “section 3051 … requires the Board [of Parole Hearings] to conduct a
‘youth offender parole hearing’ during the 15th, 20th, or 25th year of a juvenile
offender’s incarceration. [Citation.] The date of the hearing depends on the offender’s
‘ “[c]ontrolling offense,” ’ which is defined as ‘the offense or enhancement for which any
sentencing court imposed the longest term of imprisonment.’ ” (Franklin, supra, 63
Cal.4th at p. 277; § 3051, subd. (a)(2)(B).) “A person who was convicted of a controlling
offense that was committed when the person was 25 years of age or younger and for
which the sentence is a determinate sentence shall be eligible for release on parole at a

                                             4.
youth offender parole hearing during the person’s 15th year of incarceration”; persons
sentenced to indeterminate terms of less than 25 years to life are eligible at their 20th year
of incarceration; and persons sentenced to indeterminate terms of greater than 25 years to
life are eligible at their 25th year of incarceration. (§ 3051, subd. (b)(1)–(3).)
Section 3051 does not create youth offender parole hearing eligibility for a person
sentenced to a LWOP sentence.
       Against this backdrop, our Supreme Court has established a procedure by which
an inmate who will be entitled to a youth offender parole hearing may request a hearing
(a Franklin hearing) to preserve evidence that may be used at the eventual youth offender
parole hearing. (Franklin, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 269; In re Cook (2019) 7 Cal.5th 439,
450–451; see Cook, at pp. 453, 458 [the proper avenue for inmates who seek to preserve
youth-related evidence following a final judgment is to file a motion under
section 1203.01]; § 1203.01.) A person who cannot prove eligibility for a youth offender
parole hearing is not entitled to a Franklin hearing. (Cook, at p. 458.)
II. Equal Protection Principles
       “Both the state and federal Constitutions extend to persons the equal protection of
the law.” (People v. Chatman (2018) 4 Cal.5th 277, 287.) An equal protection challenge
requires a showing that the government has adopted a classification affecting two or more
similarly situated groups in an unequal manner. (People v. Wilkinson (2004) 33 Cal.4th
821, 836.) The level of scrutiny we apply depends on the type of classification. (Ibid.)
Statutes, such as the one in the case, neither involving a suspect class like race or national
origin nor those impinging on fundamental rights, are subject to the minimum equal
protection standard—rational basis review. (People v. Turnage (2012) 55 Cal.4th 62,
74.)
       Under the rational basis review, “equal protection of the law is denied only where
there is no ‘rational relationship between the disparity of treatment and some legitimate
governmental purpose.’ ” (People v. Turnage, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 74.) “To

                                              5.
successfully challenge a law on equal protection grounds, the defendant must negate
‘ “ ‘every conceivable basis’ ” ’ on which ‘the disputed statutory disparity’ might be
supported. [Citation.] ‘If a plausible basis exists for the disparity, “[e]qual protection
analysis does not entitle the judiciary to second-guess the wisdom, fairness, or logic of
the law.” ’ ” (People v. Acosta (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 769, 778 (Acosta).) The majority
of published case law on this issue has rejected the defendants’ arguments and upheld the
constitutionality of the provision. (See, e.g., People v. Jackson (2021) 61 Cal.App.5th
189; Acosta, at p. 769; In re Williams (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 427.)
       Rational basis review requires courts to ask two questions: (1) “ ‘whether the state
adopted a classification affecting two or more groups that are similarly situated in an
unequal manner’ ” and (2) “ ‘whether the challenged classification ultimately bears a
rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose.’ ” (People v. Ngo (2023) 89
Cal.App.5th 116, 122 (Ngo).) “ ‘A classification in a statute is presumed rational until
the challenger shows that no rational basis for the unequal treatment is reasonably
conceivable. [Citations.] The underlying rationale for a statutory classification need not
have been “ ‘ever actually articulated’ ” by lawmakers, and it does not need to “ ‘be
empirically substantiated.’ ” [Citation.] Nor does the logic behind a potential
justification need to be persuasive or sensible—rather than simply rational. [Citation.]’ ”
(Id. at pp. 122–123.)
III. Analysis
       Defendant contends that people ages 18 to 25 who are sentenced to life with the
possibility of parole are similarly situated to those of the same age who are sentenced to
LWOP for purposes of Franklin hearing eligibility. We assume without deciding that
defendant is correct. Even with that assumption, defendant’s claim fails because there is
a rational basis for different treatment of the two groups.
       As an initial matter, section 3051 creates a mechanism for a youth offender parole
hearing. A person sentenced to LWOP is definitionally ineligible for parole. It would

                                              6.
make little sense to provide defendant a Franklin hearing for a youth offender parole
hearing for which he will never be eligible.
       There also exists a rational basis to permit youth offender parole hearings to those
sentenced to indeterminate life sentences but not those sentenced to LWOP—level of
culpability. A defendant sentenced to LWOP was necessarily convicted of special
circumstance murder. The Legislature could rationally have concluded that crimes for
which a defendant can be sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, such as
first degree murder without special circumstances, are “less grave” (People v. Sands
(2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 193, 204) or less morally culpable (Ngo, supra, 89 Cal.App.5th at
p. 124) than special circumstance murder. “ ‘ “It is the prerogative, indeed the duty, of
the Legislature to recognize degrees of culpability when drafting a Penal Code.”
[Citation.]’ ” (Ngo, at p. 124.) On that basis, most courts have rejected the claim
defendant makes here. (Ibid.; Sands, at pp. 204–205; People v. Morales (2021) 67
Cal.App.5th 326, 347–349; People v. Jackson, supra, 61 Cal.App.5th at pp. 199–200;
Acosta, supra, 60 Cal.App.5th at pp. 780–781; In re Williams, supra, 57 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 433–436.) We join them.
       We recognize that one court has found that the different treatment at issue in this
case violated equal protection principles. (People v. Hardin (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 273,
review granted Jan. 11, 2023, S277487.) The Hardin court concluded that “[v]iewed in
light of section 3051’s intended purpose of permitting a determination whether a person
who committed a serious or violent crime between the age of 18 and 25 has sufficiently
matured and outgrown the youthful impulses that led to the commission of the offense, an
individual serving a parole-eligible life sentence and a person who committed an offense
at the same age serving a sentence of life without parole are similarly situated.” (Hardin,
at p. 287.) It then further concluded that “if, as the Legislature stated, the goal of section
3051 was to apply the … youth-related mitigating factors to young adults up to the age of
26 in light of neuroscience research that demonstrated the human brain continues to

                                               7.
develop into a person’s mid-20’s, and thus to permit youth offenders a meaningful
opportunity for parole if they demonstrate increased maturity and impulse control, then
for that purpose there is no plausible basis for distinguishing between same-age offenders
based solely on the crime they committed.” (Hardin, at p. 288.)
       As discussed above, we conclude that the extreme level of culpability required for
a LWOP sentence provides a rational basis for distinction between the two groups at
issue.5 We therefore disagree with Hardin, and agree with the majority of courts in
finding that a rational basis exists to distinguish between offenders 18 to 25 who are
sentenced to life with the possibility of parole and offenders 18 to 25 who are sentence to
LWOP with respect to granting a youth offender parole hearing.
       Because defendant was not eligible for a youth offender parole hearing, denial of
defendant’s request for a Franklin hearing was not error. Because a rational basis existed

5       We recognize that the Hardin court rejected the “relative culpability” basis that
this court and most other courts have accepted. It concluded that a person who shot and
killed a person one day and then robbed a person the following day has committed no less
severe crimes than a person who kills a person during a robbery (see § 190.2,
subd. (a)(17)(A) [robbery special circumstance]). (People v. Hardin, supra, 84
Cal.App.5th at p. 289, review granted Jan. 11, 2023, S277487.) We agree with the Ngo
court’s response to that conclusion: “Equal protection … allows … incomplete
regulation. ‘ “[W]hen conducting rational basis review, we must accept any gross
generalizations and rough accommodations that the Legislature seems to have made.”
[Citation.] “A classification is not arbitrary or irrational simply because there is an
‘imperfect fit between means and ends’ ” [citation], or “because it may be ‘to some extent
both underinclusive and overinclusive’ ” [citation]. Consequently, any plausible reason
for distinguishing between [two classes] need not exist in every scenario in which the
statutes might apply.’ ” (Ngo, supra, 89 Cal.App.5th at p. 126.) Moreover, the
Legislature could rationally have distinguished between de facto LWOP sentences—
indeterminate life terms of, for instance, 125 years to life—and de jure LWOP sentences
as a measure of culpability. (Ibid.) “[I]n light of the many combinations of
circumstances that could result in a de facto LWOP sentence, [the Legislature] could
rationally leave the assessment of the culpability of such an offender up to a future”
parole board. (Ibid.)

                                             8.
to distinguish between the two groups at issue, the different treatment did not violate
equal protection principles.
                                     DISPOSITION
       The order is affirmed.

                                             9.