Court Opinion

ID: 4678633
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-19 20:02:14.580983+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:45.582585
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/19/21 P. v. Swinger CA1/2
                NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not
        been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

                                    FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

   THE PEOPLE,
             Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                      A160877
   v.
   JOHN SWINGER,                                                      (Del Norte County
                                                                      Super. Ct. No. CRF 199604)
             Defendant and Appellant.

        Defendant John Swinger pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and
was sentenced to 11 years in state prison. On appeal, his appointed counsel
has filed an opening brief asking this court to independently examine the
record in accordance with People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436. Defendant
was apprised of his right to file a supplemental brief, but he did not do so.
We have conducted our examination, conclude there are no arguable issues,
and affirm.
                                      FACTUAL BACKGROUND
        Because defendant entered into a negotiated plea agreement prior to
trial, we derive the background facts from the preliminary hearing transcript,
which reveals the following:
        On the morning of October 26, 2019, Del Norte County Deputy Sheriff
Travis Jolley responded to a medical call at a residence in Crescent City. On

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the property was a trailer that was being used as a residence. When he
arrived, emergency medical workers were already there, providing aid to
defendant who was inside the trailer. Defendant had blood coming from his
neck area. A zip-tie that had been around his neck had been removed.
      On a couch in the trailer, there was a deceased man under a blanket.
He had eight stab wounds on his neck and torso and two defensive stab
wounds on his right forearm and hand. Two knives, both with blood on them,
were found in the trailer: a larger one that was next to the victim and a
smaller one that was near defendant. There was an empty whiskey bottle on
a table between defendant and the victim and a half-empty whiskey bottle
near defendant’s foot.
      The victim’s father lived in a larger trailer on the property. He told the
police that his son lived in the other trailer and that defendant had been
staying with him.
      Defendant was taken via ambulance to the local hospital. En route, he
told a paramedic that he and the victim had been fighting. When defendant
was interviewed by a law enforcement officer while at the hospital, he told
the officer that he and the victim had been drinking and that the victim
stabbed him and then dropped the knife and said he was done, but defendant
told him, “I’m not done with you. You stabbed me. I’m stabbing you,” and he
stabbed him back. Defendant said he put the zip-tie around his neck to try to
control the bleeding.
      Defendant underwent surgery for his neck injury. He had no other
injuries such as defensive wounds. Upon his discharge from the hospital, he
was arrested.

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                      PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
      On October 30, 2019, defendant was charged with one count of murder
(Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)), with three enhancements: use of a deadly
weapon (id., § 12022, subd. (b)(1)), a prior serious felony conviction (id.,
§§ 422, 667, subd. (a)(1)), and a prior serious or violent felony conviction (id.,
§ 11701.12, subd. (c)(1)).
      Following a May 7, 2020 preliminary hearing, defendant was held to
answer on the murder charge. An information charging him with murder
with the same three enhancements was filed on May 15.
      On May 21, defendant pleaded guilty to an amended charge of
voluntary manslaughter with dismissal of the enhancement allegations. It
was an open plea, with a sentencing range of three, six, or 11 years.
      On August 17, defendant was sentenced to the aggravated term of 11
years in state prison, with the imposition of various fees and fines. The fines
were later stayed.
      Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal.
                                 DISCUSSION
      Where, as here, a defendant has pleaded guilty or no contest to an
offense, the scope of reviewable issues is restricted to matters based on
constitutional, jurisdictional, or other grounds going to the legality of the
proceedings leading to the plea and the sentence; guilt or innocence are not
included. (People v. DeVaughn (1977) 18 Cal.3d 889, 895–896.)
      The admonitions given defendant at the time he entered his plea fully
conformed with the requirements of Boykin v. Alabama (1969) 395 U.S. 238
and In re Tahl (1969) 1 Cal.3d 122, and his waiver was knowing and
voluntary.
      The record provides a factual basis for the plea.

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      Defendant was at all times represented by competent counsel who
protected his rights and interests.
      The sentence imposed is authorized by law.
                               DISPOSITION
      Our independent review having revealed no arguable issues that
require further briefing, the judgment of conviction and sentence are
affirmed.

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                                  _________________________
                                  Richman, Acting P.J.

We concur:

_________________________
Stewart, J.

_________________________
Miller, J.

People v. Swinger (A160877)

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