Court Opinion

ID: 3197983
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-26 23:03:18.019014+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:16.839536
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/26/16 P. v. Massey 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                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,
                                                                                           F071276
    Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                             (Super. Ct. No. SC061230A)
    v.

CHARLES DWAYNE MASSEY,                                                                   OPINION
    Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. Colette M.
Humphrey, Judge.
         John F. Schuck, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Julie A. Hokans and Clara M.
Levers, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*        Before Gomes, Acting P.J., Franson, J. and Peña, J.
                                     INTRODUCTION
       Appellant Charles Dwayne Massey was convicted on March 17, 1995, of a
violation of Penal Code1 section 278.5, deprivation of custody of a child or right to
visitation, a felony. Massey was placed on probation, violated probation, and was
incarcerated in prison. On February 10, 2015, Massey filed a petition for dismissal
seeking to dismiss his conviction in the interests of justice pursuant to section 1203.4.
The trial court denied the petition on February 25, 2015, finding Massey ineligible for
relief under section 1203.4. Massey appeals. We affirm.
                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
       Massey was convicted on March 17, 1995, of violating section 278.5, a felony.
The February 10, 2015, petition for dismissal stated that Massey had been convicted of a
felony for which he had been granted probation. Massey’s petition requested that his
conviction be dismissed pursuant to section 1203.4 in the interests of justice because he
had been granted a certificate of rehabilitation on May 1, 2012. Massey’s petition
requested that the trial court take judicial notice of the file in the case in which he
suffered the felony conviction.
       A hearing on the petition was held on February 25, 2015. At the hearing, the
People opposed the petition on the grounds Massey was not eligible for relief under
section 1203.4. The People pointed out that although Massey originally was sentenced to
a term of probation, he violated probation and was thereafter incarcerated in prison.
Massey claimed he had “actually completed [his] probation period,” but somehow
violated when he went to “go get a court date.”
       The trial court stated “the bottom line was you went to prison on a probation
violation in this case. So that means you did not successfully complete probation.” The

1      References to code sections are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.

                                               2.
trial court denied the petition for dismissal, finding that Massey was not eligible for relief
under section 1203.4.
       On March 13, 2015, Massey filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s ruling
on the petition for dismissal.
                                       DISCUSSION
       The sole issue on appeal is whether Massey is statutorily ineligible for relief under
section 1203.4. Massey contends the trial court erred in denying his petition because he
“has been rehabilitated” and “should be granted relief in the interests of justice.” Massey
contends the trial court erred in concluding he was ineligible for section 1203.4 relief on
the basis he violated probation and was incarcerated. Massey’s contention fails; the trial
court did not err.
       Where the propriety of a trial court’s order on a section 1203.4 petition is based on
interpretation of the relevant statute, it presents an issue of law, which this court reviews
de novo. (People v. Guillen (2013) 218 Cal. App. 4th 975, 983-984.)
       Relief under section 1203.4 is often referred to as an expungement of the
conviction, although the statute does not render the conviction a nullity. (People v.
Mgebrov (2008) 166 Cal. App. 4th 579, 584.) Relief under section 1203.4 “is intended to
reward an individual who successfully completes probation by mitigating some of the
consequences” of the conviction. (Mgebrov, supra, at p. 584.)
       Section 1203.4 provides in relevant part: “(a)(1) In any case in which a defendant
has fulfilled the conditions of probation for the entire period of probation, or has been
discharged prior to the termination of the period of probation, or in any other case in
which a court, in its discretion and the interests of justice, determines that a defendant
should be granted the relief available under this section, the defendant shall, at any time
after the termination of the period of probation, if he or she is not then serving a sentence
for any offense, on probation for any offense, or charged with the commission of any
offense, be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or plea of nolo

                                              3.
contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; … and, … the court shall thereupon dismiss the
accusations or information against the defendant and except as noted below, he or she
shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of
which he or she has been convicted .…”
       Based upon the plain language of the statute, cases have identified three factual
situations in which a defendant may apply for relief under section 1203.4. First, when the
defendant “has fulfilled the conditions of probation for the entire period of probation.”
Second, if the defendant “has been discharged prior to the termination of the period of
probation.” Third, “in any other case in which a court, in its discretion and the interests
of justice, determines that a defendant should be granted the relief available.” (§ 1203.4,
subd. (a); People v. Seymour (2015) 239 Cal. App. 4th 1418, 1429-1430.) If a defendant
falls into either the first or second category, he or she is entitled to relief as a matter of
right. (Seymour, supra, at p. 1430.) Under the third scenario, the trial court exercises its
discretion. (Ibid.)
       Massey argues that the trial court had discretion to grant his petition in the
interests of justice because he received a certificate of rehabilitation. He is incorrect.
Section 1203.4 applies to probationers, not parolees or former prisoners. (People v.
Parker (2013) 217 Cal. App. 4th 498, 502.) When a trial court revokes probation and
commits a defendant to prison, the defendant is no longer eligible for relief under section
1203.4. (Parker, supra, at p. 502; People v. Mendez (1991) 234 Cal. App. 3d 1773, 1780;
People v. Jones (1985) 176 Cal. App. 3d 120, 130-131; People v. Borja (1980) 110
Cal. App. 3d 378, 381-382.)
       Massey cites People v. McLernon (2009) 174 Cal. App. 4th 569 in support of his
contention that he is entitled to relief under section 1203.4. McLernon is distinguishable.
In McLernon, the defendant violated probation, but was not sent to prison. (McLernon,
supra, at p. 573.) The appellate court held that under these circumstances, when the

                                                4.
defendant had not been incarcerated, the defendant was eligible to seek relief under
section 1203.4. (McLernon, supra, at pp. 574-575.)
       While receiving a certificate of rehabilitation is laudable, it does not entitle
Massey to relief under section 1203.4. (See People v. Mgebrov, supra, 166 Cal.App.4th
at p. 584.) Massey, having been incarcerated for the offense, is not eligible for relief
under section 1203.4. (People v. Parker, supra, 217 Cal.App.4th at p. 502.)
       The trial court did not err in denying the petition for dismissal.
                                      DISPOSITION
       The February 25, 2015, order denying the section 1203.4 petition for dismissal is
affirmed.

                                              5.