Court Opinion

ID: 2796270
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-23 21:01:52.056996+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:13.491808
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/23/15 P. v. Delgado 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                                          H040648
                                                                    (Santa Clara County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. CC109377)

         v.

TOMAS OCHOA DELGADO,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         In 2004, defendant Tomas Ochoa Delgado was convicted of two felonies:
resisting arrest (Pen. Code, § 69)1 and assault on a peace officer by force likely to
produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (c)). Delgado was sentenced under the Three
Strikes law to an indeterminate term of 25 years to life on each felony; the sentence on
the assault was stayed pursuant to section 654. Delgado filed a petition for resentencing
under the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, passed by the voters as Proposition 36, and
requested that counsel be appointed to represent him. The trial court denied the petition
without a hearing and without appointing counsel, concluding Delgado was ineligible for
resentencing because one of his third-strike commitment offenses--assault on a peace
officer by force likely to produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (c))--is a serious
felony under section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(31).
         Delgado appeals on two grounds. First, he contends he was deprived of his
constitutional right to counsel. Second, while conceding he is not entitled to resentencing
         1
             All further statutory references are to the Penal Code, unless otherwise specified.
on his serious felony offense (§ 245, subd. (c)), he argues the court erred in concluding he
is ineligible for resentencing on his nonserious felony current offense (§ 69). We shall
affirm.
I.        FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2
          A.    The Underlying Offenses
          San Jose Police Officer James Hussey pulled Delgado over in May 2001 on
suspicion of driving while intoxicated. At the time, Delgado was on parole and there was
an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Delgado exited the vehicle and ran into an alley.
Officer Hussey pursued Delgado on foot. Eventually, the two collided and fell down
when Delgado circled around a tree. A struggle ensued during which Delgado grabbed
Officer Hussey’s neck and began choking him and bit Officer Hussey’s hand. Officer
Hussey hit Delgado in the head with a flashlight several times to subdue him. With the
assistance of another officer, Delgado was handcuffed. The second officer searched
Delgado and found methamphetamine. When officers attempted to put Delgado in a
police vehicle, he again fled on foot before eventually submitting to custody.
          B.    Indictment, Trial, Conviction, and Sentencing
          The Santa Clara County District Attorney filed an information charging Delgado
with resisting arrest (§ 69; count 1); assault on a peace officer by means likely to produce
great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (c); count 2); battery on a peace officer (§ 243, subd.
(c)(2); count 3); and possession of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377,
subd. (a); count 4). The information alleged Delgado had four prior strike convictions
(§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12).

          2
         We take the facts of Delgado’s underlying conviction from our opinion in his
prior appeal, People v. Delgado (Jun. 23, 2006, H027914 [nonpub. opn.]), and from the
record in that appeal, of which we take judicial notice. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d),
459, subd. (a).)

                                              2
       On February 4, 2004, following a trial, a jury convicted Delgado of counts 1, 2,
and 4, acquitted him of count 3, and convicted him of the lesser included offense of
misdemeanor battery. The trial court found the prior strike conviction allegations true.
       The trial court sentenced Delgado on August 20, 2004. It imposed a term of 25
years to life on count 1 for resisting arrest and a term of 25 years to life on count 2 for
assault on a peace officer by means likely to produce great bodily injury. The court
stayed the sentence on count 2 under section 654. The court also imposed a concurrent
term of six months on count 3 and a concurrent term of six months on count 4, after
reducing that offense to a misdemeanor.
       This court upheld Delgado’s conviction and sentence on appeal. (People v.
Delgado (Jun. 23, 2006, H027914) [nonpub. opn.].)
       C.     Petition for Recall of Sentence
       On December 11, 2013, Delgado, acting in propria persona, filed a petition for
recall of sentence under section 1170.126. In his petition, Delgado requested that “able
counsel be appointed to represent him during the pre-sentencing and actual sentencing
phase.” The trial court denied the petition on December 18, 2013, finding Delgado
ineligible for resentencing because “[h]is third qualifying conviction included a violation
of Penal Code § 245[, subdivision] (a) (assault on a peace officer by means of force likely
to produce great bodily injury),” which “is a serious felony as defined in Penal Code
§1192.7[, subdivision] (c)(31).” This appeal followed.
II.    DISCUSSION
       A.     The Three Strikes Reform Act
       In the November 6, 2012 election, California voters approved Proposition 36, the
so-called Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012. Prior to the passage of Proposition 36, the
Three Strikes law (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12) required that a defendant convicted of
two prior serious or violent felonies be subject to a sentence of 25 years to life upon
conviction of a third felony. As amended by the Three Strikes Reform Act, section

                                              3
1170.12, subdivision (c)(2)(C), and section 667, subdivision (e)(2)(C), now mandate that
a defendant with two or more strikes who is convicted of a felony that is neither serious
nor violent be sentenced as a second strike offender (unless certain exceptions apply).
       The Reform Act also added section 1170.126, which allows eligible inmates who
are currently subject to 25-years-to-life sentences under the Three Strikes law to petition
the court for resentencing. “Section 1170.126, subdivisions (a) and (b), broadly describe
who is eligible to file a petition and to be resentenced. Subdivision (a) of section
1170.126 states: ‘The resentencing provisions under this section and related statutes are
intended to apply exclusively to persons presently serving an indeterminate term of
imprisonment pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 667 or paragraph
(2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1170.12, whose sentence under this act would not have
been an indeterminate life sentence.’ ” (Teal v. Superior Court (2014) 60 Cal. 4th 595,
598 (Teal).) “Subdivision (b) of section 1170.126 states: ‘Any person serving an
indeterminate term of life imprisonment imposed pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subdivision (e) of Section 667 or paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1170.12
upon conviction, whether by trial or plea, of a felony or felonies that are not defined as
serious and/or violent felonies by subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 or subdivision (c) of
Section 1192.7, may file a petition for a recall of sentence. . . .’ ” (Id. at p. 599.)
       Subdivision (e) of section 1170.126 addresses eligibility more specifically. It
provides that an inmate is “eligible for resentencing” if (1) he or she is “serving an
indeterminate term of life imprisonment” imposed under the Three Strikes law “for a
conviction of a felony or felonies that are not defined as serious and/or violent felonies”3
and (2) his or her current and prior convictions are not for certain designated offenses. (§
1170.126, subd. (e)(1); Teal, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 600.) An eligible prisoner “shall be

       3
        This requirement is “the same . . . as [that] stated in [section] 1170.126,
subd[ivision] (b).” (Teal, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 600.)

                                               4
resentenced” as a second strike offender unless the court determines that resentencing
him or her “would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.” (§ 1170.126,
subd. (f).)
       B.     Appealability
       The People contend the trial court’s denial of Delgado’s petition on the ground he
fails to meet the threshold eligibility requirements is not an appealable order. Since the
People filed their respondent’s brief, our Supreme Court ruled otherwise, holding that an
order denying a section 1170.126 petition for recall of sentence is an appealable order
under section 1237, subdivision (b). (Teal, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 601.) Accordingly,
Delgado’s appeal is properly before this court.
       C.     Right to Counsel
       Delgado maintains the trial court violated his constitutional rights by summarily
denying the petition without appointment of counsel to represent him on the issue of
section 1170.126 eligibility. He contends a defendant who makes a prima facie showing
of entitlement to resentencing under the Three Strikes Reform Act in a petition for recall
of sentence is entitled to counsel. For that contention, he relies on two lines of cases: (1)
those holding defendants have a Sixth Amendment right to counsel at sentencing and (2)
those holding defendants have a due process right to counsel in postconviction
proceedings challenging the judgment where a prima facie case for relief has been made.
According to Delgado, he established prima facie eligibility for resentencing by pleading
in his petition that at least one of his current offenses was a nonserious felony. As
discussed in part D below, Delgado failed to make such a showing.

              1.     No Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel Exists at the Section 1170.126
                     Eligibility Stage
       The right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment applies to all critical stages of a
criminal prosecution. (Iowa v. Tovar (2004) 541 U.S. 77, 80-81; People v. Ebert (1988)
199 Cal. App. 3d 40, 44.) “ ‘The determination whether the hearing is a “critical stage”

                                              5
requiring the provision of counsel depends . . . upon an analysis “whether potential
substantial prejudice to defendant’s rights inheres in the [particular] confrontation and the
ability of counsel to help avoid that prejudice.” ’ ” (People v. Ebert, supra, at p. 44.)
“[T]he essence of a ‘critical stage’ is . . . the adversary nature of the proceeding,
combined with the possibility that a defendant will be prejudiced in some significant way
by the absence of counsel.” (U.S. v. Leonti (9th Cir. 2003) 326 F.3d 1111, 1117.)
       “A sentencing hearing is [considered a ‘critical’] stage, and a defendant has a
constitutional right to counsel at sentencing.” (People v. Bauer (2012) 212 Cal. App. 4th
150, 155.) “The Sixth Amendment does not include any right to appeal.” (Martinez v.
Court of Appeal of Cal., Fourth Appellate Dist. (2000) 528 U.S. 152, 160.) Thus, “ ‘[t]he
right to counsel on appeal stems from the due process and equal protection clauses of the
Fourteenth Amendment, not from the Sixth Amendment.’ ” (Id. at p. 155; In re Barnett
(2003) 31 Cal. 4th 466, 472.)
       In our view, a section 1170.126, subdivision (e) eligibility determination is not
part of a criminal prosecution. A section 1170.126 petition is a postjudgment vehicle by
which certain legally sentenced inmates may benefit from the later enacted Three Strikes
Reform Act. Thus, by definition, a petition for recall of sentence under the Three Strikes
Reform Act arises after the end of the criminal prosecution, including imposition of
sentence, and is outside the scope of the Sixth Amendment. (See U.S. v. Whitebird (5th
Cir. 1995) 55 F.3d 1007, 1011 [no Sixth Amendment right to counsel in connection with
motion for modification of sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) because “the
constitutional right to counsel extends only through the defendant’s first appeal”]; United
States v. Nevarez-Diaz (N.D.Ind. 1986) 648 F. Supp. 1226, 1230 [motion for sentence
reduction under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35 “is a post-trial proceeding and,
logically, because it is not part of the criminal prosecution, it is outside the scope of the
sixth amendment”]; U.S. v. Palomo (5th Cir. 1996) 80 F.3d 138, 142 [same].)

                                               6
Accordingly, any right to counsel at the section 1170.126, subdivision (e) eligibility
determination stage must be grounded either in equal protection or due process.
       Because we are concerned only with the initial section 1170.126, subdivision (e)
eligibility determination, and not any subsequent resentencing, Delgado’s reliance on
sentencing cases is unpersuasive. For the same reason, we express no opinion as to
whether the Sixth Amendment right to counsel applies to resentencing of inmates
determined to be eligible under the Three Strikes Reform Act.
              2.     Due Process
       Due process requires the appointment of counsel in certain proceedings where the
Sixth Amendment does not. For example, due process “prohibit[s] discrimination against
convicted indigent inmates; consequently, an indigent inmate has a constitutional right to
counsel appointed at the state’s expense where . . . the state confers a criminal appeal as
of right.” (In re Barnett, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 472, citing Douglas v. California (1963)
372 U.S. 353, 356-357.) An imprisoned defendant also “is entitled by due process to
reasonable access to the courts, and to the assistance of counsel if counsel is necessary to
ensure that access.” (In re Clark (1993) 5 Cal. 4th 750, 779; Ross v. Moffitt (1974) 417
U.S. 600, 611 [due process is violated where “indigents are singled out by the State and
denied meaningful access to the appellate system because of their poverty”].)
Accordingly, our Supreme Court has held that “if a petition attacking the validity of a
judgment states a prima facie case leading to issuance of an order to show cause, the
appointment of counsel is demanded by due process concerns.” (In re Clark, supra, at p.
780 [petition for writ of habeas corpus]; People v. Shipman (1965) 62 Cal. 2d 226, 232-
233 [petition for writ of error coram nobis].)
       The state, having chosen to establish “a substantial right to be resentenced” if
eligible (Teal, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 600), must determine eligibility and accomplish
resentencing in a manner that “comport[s] with the demands of ‘the Due Process and
Equal Protection Clauses [to] protect persons . . . from invidious discriminations.’ ”

                                             7
(People v. Scott (1998) 64 Cal. App. 4th 550, 558.) Thus, the question is whether
“fundamental fairness--the touchstone of due process--. . . require[s] that the State
provide at its expense counsel for indigent” inmates at the eligibility determination stage.
(Gagnon v. Scarpelli (1973) 411 U.S. 778, 790, superseded by statute on another ground,
Parole Commission and Reorganization Act, Pub.L. No. 94–233, 90 Stat. 228 (1976).)
       In the majority of cases the answer is no. Frequently, the eligibility inquiry is
uncomplicated, making the presence and participation of counsel constitutionally
unnecessary. We acknowledge that “there may be some eligibility determinations for
resentencing that are neither routine nor straightforward.” (Teal, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p.
601, fn. 3.) For example, in some instances, whether a conviction is for a serious felony
will depend on the facts of the crime, rather than the statutory elements of the offense.
(Ibid., citing § 1192.7, subd. (c)(8) [personal infliction of great bodily injury or personal
use of firearm]; id., (c)(23) [personal use of dangerous or deadly weapon].) In those
cases, the trial court “must make ‘ “serious felony” ’ findings beyond the established
elements of the current offense and any attendant enhancements found true by the trier of
fact” in making the section 1170.126, subdivision (e) eligibility determination. (Teal,
supra, at p. 601, fn. 3.) In other cases, trial courts will be required to determine whether
the defendant “ ‘intended to cause great bodily injury’ during the commission of his or
her original offense (§§ 667, subd. (e)(2)(C)(iii), 1170.12, subd. (c)(2)(C)(iii)), even if the
accusatory pleading did not allege that the defendant intended to cause great bodily injury
during the commission of that offense.” (People v. Chubbuck (2014) 231 Cal. App. 4th
737, 748; § 1170.126, subd. (e)(3) [inmate is eligible for resentencing only if he or she
“has no prior convictions for any of the offenses appearing in clause (iv) of subparagraph
(C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 667 or clause (iv) of subparagraph (C)
of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1170.12”].) Such more nuanced cases may
require the appointment of counsel to satisfy due process.

                                              8
       However, Delgado has not demonstrated that the fundamental fairness demanded
by due process required the appointment of counsel to represent him in connection with
the eligibility determination on his petition for recall. For the reasons discussed below,
the question of eligibility is not a complex one here. Rather, Delgado’s serious felony
conviction clearly renders him ineligible for resentencing. Accordingly, the trial court
did not violate Delgado’s constitutional rights by refusing to appoint counsel.
       D.     Eligibility for Resentencing Under the Three Strikes Reform Act
       Delgado concedes he is ineligible for resentencing on his conviction for assault on
a peace officer by force likely to produce great bodily injury, which is a serious felony
under section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(31). (§ 1170.126, subd. (e)(1) [an inmate is eligible
for resentencing if he or she “is serving an indeterminate term of life imprisonment
imposed [under the Three Strikes Law] for a conviction of a felony or felonies that are
not defined as serious and/or violent felonies by subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 or
subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7”] italics added.) He contends, however, that he is
eligible for resentencing on his conviction for resisting arrest because that offense is not
defined as a serious or violent felony. We disagree based on the plain language of
section 1170.126.4
       Section 1170.126, subdivision (a) sets forth the purpose of the statute: “The
resentencing provisions under this section and related statutes are intended to apply
exclusively to persons presently serving an indeterminate term of imprisonment pursuant
to [the Three Strikes law], whose sentence under this act would not have been an
indeterminate life sentence.” (§ 1170.126, subd. (a), italics added.) An inmate’s
sentence is comprised of the terms of imprisonment imposed on each count. Under the

       4
        This issue currently is under review in the California Supreme Court. (See, e.g.,
In re Machado (2014) 226 Cal. App. 4th 1044, review granted July 30, 2014, S219819;
Braziel v. Superior Court (2014) 225 Cal. App. 4th 933, review granted July 30, 2014,
S218503.)

                                              9
Three Strikes Reform Act, Delgado would have been sentenced to a determinate term for
resisting arrest and an indeterminate term of 25 years to life for assault on a peace officer
by force likely to produce great bodily injury. His sentence would have been an
indeterminate life sentence of 25 years to life. Because Delgado is not someone “whose
sentence under this act would not have been an indeterminate life sentence” had he been
sentenced under the Three Strikes Reform Act, that statute’s resentencing provisions do
not apply to him.
       Delgado argues that section 1170.126, subdivision (a)’s use of the singular phrase
“an indeterminate term of imprisonment” evinces an intent that resentencing be
performed on a count-by-count basis. We disagree. Had that been the intent, then
drafters would not have used the word “sentence”--which generally refers to all terms of
imprisonment--in the second clause of subdivision (a).
       Our reading of the statutory language finds support in the Legislative Analyst’s
view of the Three Strikes Reform Act in the ballot pamphlet. (San Francisco Taxpayers
Assn. v. Board of Supervisors (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 571, 579 [“we consider the Legislative
Analyst’s views because we assume the voters considered them along with the other
materials in the ballot pamphlet”].) The analysis stated: “This measure reduces prison
sentences served under the three strikes law by certain third strikers whose current
offenses are nonserious, non-violent felonies. The measure also allows resentencing of
certain third strikers who are currently serving life sentences for specified nonserious,
non-violent felonies.” (Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 6, 2012), Legis.
Analyst’s Analysis of Prop. 36, p. 49, italics added.)
       Delgado urges us to adopt his reading of the statute to avoid constitutional
problems--namely, a potential equal protection challenge to the Three Strikes Reform Act
on the ground that it treats those sentenced under it more favorably than those seeking to
be resentenced. The canon of constitutional avoidance “ ‘is a tool for choosing between
competing plausible interpretations’ of a provision.” (Warger v. Shauers (2014) __ U.S.

                                             10
__ [2014 U.S. Lexis 8294] [135 S. Ct. 521, 529].) “It ‘has no application in the absence
of . . . ambiguity,’ ” and we see none here. (Ibid.)
       The rule of lenity does not help Delgado for the same reason. The rule of lenity
applies “ ‘only if the court can do no more than guess what the legislative body intended;
there must be an egregious ambiguity and uncertainty to justify invoking the rule.’ ”
(People v. Avery (2002) 27 Cal. 4th 49, 58.) The meaning of the statute is reasonably
clear such that the rule of lenity does not apply.
       Finally, Delgado contends only his interpretation is consistent with the goals of the
Three Strikes Reform Act. In his view, one goal was to deprive only truly dangerous
criminals like rapists, murderers, and child molesters of its benefits. We disagree. As
Delgado notes, one of the stated purposes of Proposition 36 was to allow for the early
release of “low-risk, non-violent inmates serving life sentences for” “petty” or “minor”
crimes. (Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 6, 2012), text of Prop. 36, p. 105.)
Having been convicted of a serious felony, Delgado is not the sort of low-risk, nonviolent
inmate serving time for a petty crime that the Three Strikes Reform Act was designed to
benefit.
III.   DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                              11
                    Premo, J.

WE CONCUR:

    Rushing, P.J.

    Elia, J.