Court Opinion

ID: 2674312
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-15 00:03:36.043048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:05:24.517530
License: Public Domain

Filed 5/14/24 P. v. Giron CA6
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                      SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,                                                          H040230
                                                                    (Santa Clara County Super. Ct.
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   No. F1242914)

         v.

LIZA MARIE GIRON,

         Defendant and Appellant.

                                              I. INTRODUCTION
         Defendant Liza Marie Giron pleaded no contest to one count of vandalism. She
was placed on three years’ formal probation and ordered to pay fines, assessments, and
fees.
         By letter dated January 9, 2014, this court notified defendant that her appellate
counsel filed a brief identifying no arguable issues on appeal and invited defendant to
submit any argument on her own behalf. Defendant did not respond to that letter. For
the reasons stated below, we will affirm the judgment.
                                       II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
         We review the entire record to determine whether appointed counsel has correctly
determined that there are no arguable appellate issues. (People v. Wende (1979) 25
Cal.3d 436, 441.) In performing our review, we are required to give a brief description of
the facts, the procedural history, the crimes of which the defendant was convicted, and
the punishment imposed, and to address any contentions personally raised by the
defendant. (People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, 124.)
                    III. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
       Defendant was charged by felony complaint with one count of vandalism over
$10,000 (Pen. Code, § 594, subds. (a), (b)(1)), occurring on or about June 5 or 6, 2012.
According to the probation report, police responded to a possible burglary at a Morgan
Hill residence. Police observed clothes and personal property strewn over the floor. The
washing machine hose had been cut, releasing water that damaged carpet, flooring and
cabinets. Police contacted defendant, the resident’s caretaker, who admitted vandalizing
the home because she was angry with the resident. On September 6, 2012, pursuant to a
negotiated agreement which included up to five years’ probation and no additional jail
time, defendant pleaded no contest to the felony complaint and was released from
custody that day.
       The victim told the probation officer that damages totaled $52,000, but he had not
submitted any receipts for repairs as of November 2, 2012, the date the probation report
was written. Defendant told the probation officer that the incident was caused by a faulty
washing machine, and she disputed the amount of restitution requested by the victim.
Over the next twelve months, the matter was reset several times for sentencing and a
restitution hearing. On August 22, 2013, anticipating that restitution would be left as a
general order, the prosecutor asked that the restitution hearing be taken off calendar. At
the court’s suggestion, the parties agreed to proceed to sentencing instead of having the
case return to the judge who had accepted defendant’s plea. The court indicated that the
probation report was in the file and that and it would follow the plea bargain.
       The trial court suspended imposition of sentence, credited defendant for 96 days
served in county jail, and placed defendant on three years’ formal probation. The court
ordered no contact with the victim and restitution to be determined. It imposed search
conditions and a ban on possessing firearms or ammunition. The court also ordered
defendant to seek and maintain gainful employment or school enrollment. It imposed a
$240 restitution fine, a 10 percent administrative fee, and a $240 suspended probation
revocation fine. The court ordered paid to the Department of Revenue a $40 court
security fee, a $30 criminal conviction fee, a presentence investigation fee not to exceed
$450, and a probation supervision fee not to exceed $110 per month.
       Defendant requested a certificate of probable cause, in which she describes the
public defender’s investigation of the damages caused by a broken washing machine and
states that she is appealing because she was given alcohol and drug probation conditions.
She contends that she was not arrested for alcohol or drugs so she should not be subject
to those conditions. The trial court denied the request for a probable cause certificate
noting that no conditions related to drugs or alcohol were imposed.
       Defendant timely appealed
                                    IV. DISCUSSION
A.     ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBATION CONDITIONS
       To the extent defendant sought a certificate of probable cause to challenge the
imposition of alcohol and drug restrictions, we agree with the trial court that no such
conditions were imposed.1 Although the box next to the phrase “No alcohol / drugs or
where sold” is checked on the clerk’s form minute order, that order is not controlling.
(People v. Smith (1983) 33 Cal.3d 596, 599 [when the record is in conflict, the part
entitled to greater credence will prevail]; (In re A.C. (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 796, 799
[presuming reporter’s transcript to be more accurate than recitals in clerk’s transcript].) It
is clear from the reporter’s transcript and the written order denying defendant’s certificate
of probable cause that the trial court did not impose alcohol and drug conditions as part of
defendant’s probation. The absence of those conditions also is consistent with the

       1
       A certificate of probable cause is not required to challenge probation conditions
on appeal. (California Rules of Court, rule 8.304(b)(4)(B).)
probation officer’s report, which, by all indications, the sentencing judge intended to
follow.
B.      ARBUCKLE WAIVER
        As a general matter, a defendant has the right to be sentenced by the judge who
accepted defendant’s plea if that judge retained sentencing discretion under the plea
agreement. (People v. Arbuckle (1978) 22 Cal.3d 749, 756-757.) Courts are split
regarding the manner in which a defendant waives her Arbuckle right to be sentenced by
the judge who accepted her plea. (Compare People v. Serrato (1988) 201 Cal.App.3d
761, 765 [“when faced with a different sentencing judge, a defendant must object at that
time or waive his Arbuckle rights[]”] and People v. Adams (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 1540,
1544 [same] with People v. Horn (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 701, 709 [defendant’s waiver
must be supported by some affirmative statement or conduct].)
        We conclude that defendant waived her right to be sentenced by the judge who
accepted her plea even applying the more protective standard in Horn. Although the
sentencing judge did not expressly inform defendant of her Arbuckle right, he gave the
parties the option of handling defendant’s sentencing at that time or sending the matter
back to the judge who handled the plea: “[I]s there any reason I might not be able to
sentence right now according to the plea bargain? [¶] All I’m saying is that I’m happy to
do it if you both agree; otherwise, I can put it over for Judge Lee.” After the sentencing
judge explained to defendant that there still may be a restitution hearing in the future, and
defendant conferred with counsel, counsel indicated defendant’s willingness to proceed
to sentencing. Opting to be sentenced at that time instead of returning for sentencing
before the judge who accepted her plea, in our view, constitutes a sufficient waiver under
Horn.
        Aside from the issues discussed above, our complete review of the record reveals
no other arguable issues on appeal.
                                   V. DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed. The trial court is directed to correct the August 22,
2013 minute order to delete the checkmark representing the imposition of probation
conditions restricting alcohol and drugs.

                                            ____________________________________
                                            Grover, J.

WE CONCUR:

____________________________
Bamattre-Manoukian, Acting P.J.

____________________________

Mihara, J.
The People v Giron
H040230