Court Opinion

ID: 6496857
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-30 17:03:15.802139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:50:23.867349
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/30/22 In re S.E. CA4/2

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

 In re S.E., a Person Coming Under the
 Juvenile Court Law.

 THE PEOPLE,
                                                                         E077787
          Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                         (Super.Ct.No. J279436)
 v.
                                                                         OPINION
 S.E.,

          Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Bryan K. Stodghill,

Judge. Affirm.

         Tanya Dellaca, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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                                     INTRODUCTION

       Pursuant to a negotiated plea, defendant and appellant S.E. (minor) admitted as

true an allegation in the petition that he committed attempted murder. (Pen. Code,1

§§ 664, 187.) He also admitted that he personally used and discharged a firearm.

(§ 12022.53, subd. (c).) The parties stipulated that minor would be committed to the

Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). A trial court committed him to DJJ in accordance

with the agreement. Minor subsequently petitioned the court to set aside his DJJ

commitment and commit him to the Gateway to Arise program instead. The court denied

minor’s request to change the commitment.

       Minor filed a timely notice of appeal. We affirm.

                             PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       The San Bernardino County District Attorney filed a Welfare and Institutions

Code section 602 petition alleging that minor committed attempted murder (§§ 664, 187,

subd. (a), counts 1-3, 12), assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2), counts 4-6),

attempted carjacking (§§ 664, 215, subd. (a), count 7), shooting at an occupied vehicle

(§ 246, count 8), and attempted robbery (§§ 664, 211, counts 9-11).2

       On February 26, 2021, pursuant to a plea agreement, minor admitted count 1

(attempted murder) and an added firearm enhancement. (§ 12022.53, subd. (c).) In

exchange, the parties agreed that minor would be committed to the DJJ, and the

       1   All further statutory references will be to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.

       2   Count 7 was subsequently dismissed at the prosecution’s request.
                                              2
prosecution moved to dismiss the remaining counts and allegations, as well as its petition

to transfer the case to adult court. The court found the allegations true and found that

minor’s admissions were freely, intelligently, and voluntarily made. It also granted the

prosecution’s motions to dismiss and to withdraw the petition to transfer.

       On March 12, 2021, the court declared minor a ward, removed him from his

mother’s custody, and in accordance with the plea agreement, committed him to the DJJ.

He was ordered to remain in juvenile hall pending delivery to the DJJ. On April 23,

2021, minor was accepted by the DJJ, but his delivery was pending.

       On June 22, 2021, minor filed a petition to set aside his commitment to the DJJ

pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 779. He requested to be committed to

the Gateway to Arise (Arise) program instead, asserting that he would “benefit more”

from the localized program. The court scheduled a special hearing on the petition. The

probation department filed a report recommending that minor be committed to the Arise

program and noting that he had not yet been delivered to the DJJ. The prosecution filed

an opposition to minor’s petition, asserting that Welfare and Institutions Code section

779 only allowed a change in commitment upon a showing of good cause that “the Youth

Authority is unable to, or failing to, provide treatment consistent with Section 734,” and

arguing that minor failed to make such showing. The prosecution also contended that the

court had no jurisdiction to “renegotiate the terms of the plea by judicial fiat” and change

the negotiated disposition.

       The court held a hearing on August 27, 2021, and denied minor’s request to set

aside his DJJ commitment. Although the court agreed it was in minor’s best interest to

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go to the Arise program, it noted that this was a negotiated plea, and sending minor to the

DJJ was a specific term of the agreement. The court stated it was not in a position to

change specific agreements or contracts entered into by the parties.

       Minor filed a timely notice of appeal.

                                      DISCUSSION

       Minor appealed and, upon his request, this court appointed counsel to represent

him. Counsel has filed a brief under the authority of People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d

436 and People v. Feggans (1967) 67 Cal.2d 444, setting forth a statement of the case

and no arguable issues. Counsel has also requested this court to undertake a review of

the entire record.

       We offered minor an opportunity to file a personal supplemental brief, which he

has not done.

       Pursuant to the mandate of People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, we have

independently reviewed the record for potential error and find no arguable issues.

                                     DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                               FIELDS
                                                                                         J.
We concur:

McKINSTER
                Acting P. J.

MILLER
                          J.

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