Court Opinion

ID: 3177294
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-16 01:16:36.268683+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:21.976224
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/11/16 P. v. Ruano 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                                          H041200
                                                                    (Monterey County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. SS101367A)

         v.

EDWARD RUANO,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Edward Ruano appeals from a judgment entered upon his convictions
on drug-and weapons-related charges. He contests only the orders made at his sentencing
hearing. Defendant argues that the court violated Penal Code section 6541 by failing to
stay punishment on one of his convictions for carrying a firearm. He further contends
that the court imposed an excessive restitution fine and erroneously denied him
“Proposition 36 probation” under section 1210.1 for his drug possession offenses. We
agree that error occurred in the imposition of multiple restitution fines, and accordingly
must reverse the order.
                                                     Background
         Over four days in February 2014, defendant was tried by the court on consolidated
charges that arose in three cases in 2010, 2012, and 2013. The court found defendant

         1
        All further statutory references are to the Penal Code except as otherwise
indicated.
guilty of counts 2 and 5, possession of methamphetamine on May 22, 2010 and June 22,
2013, respectively, in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11377, subdivision (a).
Defendant was also found in count 3 to have had a concealed firearm (a 9mm Taurus
handgun) on his person, a felony under section 25400, subdivision (a)(2), on December
18, 2012; and in count 4 he was found to have carried a loaded firearm (the same gun) on
the same date, in violation of section 25850, subdivision (a). The court also found true
enhancement allegations in counts 3 and 4 that defendant was not the registered owner of
the gun (§ 25400, subd. (c)(6); 25850, subd. (c)(6)) and in each of counts 3, 4, and 5 that
he committed the offense while on bail (§ 12022.1, subd. (b).) Count 1 had previously
been dismissed, and the court found defendant not guilty on four misdemeanor drug
charges.
       Counts 3 and 42 arose from the December 18, 2012 detention of defendant and his
two companions and a search of the vehicle defendant had been driving. After
approaching the occupants, sheriff’s deputy Rafael Garcia spotted a methamphetamine
pipe in the car. When defendant repeatedly tried to reach into his front pants pocket,
Deputy Garcia instructed his partner, Officer Gibson of the Salinas Police Department, to
pat-search defendant. As he did so, Officer Gibson retrieved a handgun in a holster under
the waistband of defendant’s pants.
       At sentencing on May 20, 2014, the court suspended imposition of sentence and
ordered “four grants of felony probation”—that is, three years of “felony probation on
each of those four counts.” The terms of defendant’s probation included a restitution fine
of $300 per count, pursuant to section 1202.4, subdivision (b). Also ordered was a $300
restitution fund fine, which was “imposed, but suspended, on each count.” For counts 2

       2
         The details of the facts underlying the remaining counts are not material to the
issues raised on appeal.

                                             2
and 5, the court denied defendant’s request for treatment as a probation condition under
section 1210.1, or “Proposition 36 probation.” Finally, the court ordered defendant to
serve two concurrent terms of 16 days in jail. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal.
                                            Discussion
1. Section 654 Application to Counts 3 and 4
       Section 654, subdivision (a), provides in pertinent part: “An act or omission that
is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the
provision that provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case
shall the act or omission be punished under more than one provision.” In this case,
defendant focuses on the $300 restitution fine, which was imposed for each of the four
counts. Defendant contends that the trial court violated section 654 by failing to stay
punishment on count 4 as both counts 3 and 4 involved the single act of carrying a loaded
firearm in a holster under his waistband. Accordingly, he argues, the sentence and
restitution fine on this count should be stayed.
       The People implicitly concede, as they must, that counts 3 and 4 constituted the
same act of possessing the same firearm on the same occasion. Instead, they argue that
because the trial court suspended imposition of sentence, “[t]here was no ‘punishment’ to
stay under section 654.” The jail term and restitution fine, the People maintain, were
only conditions of probation and therefore were not subject to section 654.3
       The People’s position echoes a similar argument made in People v. Tarris (2009)
180 Cal.App.4th 612 (Tarris). There the defendant was convicted of unlawful disposal of
hazardous waste and unlawful transportation of hazardous waste in violation of Health
and Safety Code section 25189.5, subdivisions (b) and (c), and he was fined under

       3
        The 16-day jail term has not generated discussion by either party, apparently
because defendant received credit for time served.

                                              3
subdivision (e) of that section as a condition of probation. On appeal, Tarris argued that
section 654 precluded restitution fines on both counts because they were committed with
a single intent and objective. The People countered, as they do here, that section 654 was
inapplicable because the defendant’s sentence was suspended and the fines were imposed
as conditions of probation.
       The Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two, agreed with Tarris: “Since
by law, under Penal Code section 654, the court cannot impose multiple punishment for a
single act, and fines constitute punishment (People v. Hanson (2000) 23 Cal.4th 355,
361-362), the trial court could not fine defendant under [Health and Safety Code]
section 25189.5, subdivision (e), for the same act or course of action under Penal Code
section 654, even if the court ordered payment of the fines as a condition of probation
under a suspended sentence. Therefore, the court improperly imposed a restitution fine
under [Health and Safety Code] section 25189.5, subdivision (e), for both counts 1 and
2.” (Tarris, supra, 180 Cal.App.4th at p. 628, citing People v. Hanson, supra, at
pp. 361-363 [restitution fines constitute punishment subject to bar of double jeopardy
upon resentencing].)
       We have no reason to depart from the holding in Tarris; but even if we found
section 654 inapplicable, the order is nonetheless defective under section 1202.4. Of
course, the amount of a restitution fine is within the trial court’s discretion,
commensurate with the seriousness of the offense. (Former § 1202.4, subd. (b)(1);
Hanson, supra, 23 Cal.4th at p. 362.) Having consolidated three separate cases, the court
then tried a single case in a single proceeding. Section 1202.4, subdivision (b), however,
makes a restitution fine mandatory “in every case”—not, as the sentencing court imposed
it, for every count. Accordingly, there should have been only one order of probation and
only one restitution fine, imposed in an amount determined in the court’s discretion.
(Compare People v. Sencion (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 480, 483 [error to impose restitution
fine and a parole revocation restitution fine as to each count] and People v. Ferris (2000)

                                               4
82 Cal.App.4th 1272, 1277-1278 [only one set of restitution fines compelled where cases
had been charged in separate informations and not formally consolidated, but were jointly
tried and sentenced] with People v. Enos (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 1046, 1049 (Enos)
[absent consolidation or even joint trial, multiple restitution fines permissible and
nonprejudicial] and People v. Schoeb (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 861, 864 [concurring with
Enos]; see also People v. Soria (2010) 48 Cal.4th 58, 63-66 [absent consolidation, cases
separately filed though resolved jointly “remain formally distinct for purposes of the
restitution statutes” for purposes of sentencing and thus defendant is subject to restitution
fine in each].)
       Moreover, it appears from the record—and the parties implicitly infer—that the
court intended to impose the minimum restitution fine per count. At the time of
sentencing, that amount was $300. (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(1).) The parties both recognize
one of the errors in this order: When defendant committed his offenses, the minimum
restitution fines were less than $300. The lowest fine applicable was the one pertaining
to his 2010 possession of methamphetamine (count 2), which carried a mandatory
minimum of $200. (Former § 1202.4, subd. (b)(1), Stats. 2009 ch. 454, § 1, p. 2483.)4
       We cannot assume, however, that but for its error the court would have imposed a
fine of only $200; by the same token we cannot simply find the error nonprejudicial, as
did the court in Enos, supra, 128 Cal.App.4th at p. 1050. Here even the People seek a
reduction in the fine, though their suggestion diverges from the modified amount
proposed by defendant—$880 according to the People, and $720 according to defendant.5

       4
       The minimum fine applicable to counts 3 and 4, which occurred in 2012, was
$240, while in 2013 the statutory minimum was $280. (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(1).)
       5
        We also do not infer that the court intended to apply the formula set forth in
former section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(2), because that calculation calls for a
multiplication of the minimum amount ($200) by the number of years the defendant is
ordered to serve in prison, multiplied by the number of counts of which he was convicted.

                                              5
It is unclear whether the court would have imposed any amount less than $1,200 had it
been fully informed of the parameters of its discretion. A remand is therefore warranted
in this consolidated case, to give the court an opportunity to reconsider and impose a
single restitution fine, which must be between $200 and $10,000, pursuant to the 2010
version of section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1).
2. Proposition 36 Probation
       In response to defense counsel’s request, the court asked the probation department
to “look into the option of Proposition 36 treatment under . . . section 1210” for counts 2
and 5, the violations of Health and Safety Code section 11377 in 2010 and 2013,
respectively. At sentencing, having received the probation officer’s report, the court
found defendant not to be a “suitable candidate for” or “amenable to” treatment under
Proposition 36. The court apparently relied in part on the sentencing report of the
probation officer, who found defendant to be resistant to any acknowledgment of his
substance abuse.6

       6
         In the probation officer’s view, it was “strongly evident that the defendant is
determined to deny his substance abuse and illegal activity. He was antagonistic and
expressed a great deal of resentment toward law enforcement. In conjunction with the
defendant’s emphasis on, and repeated claim of tactical law enforcement training, this
officer has serious concerns about this defendant remaining in the community as an
untreated methamphetamine user, who has a history of firearm possession and firearm
training. [¶] Although there is an apparent need for a long-term treatment, a
Proposition 36 Probation recommendation for the drug offenses might have been
appropriate if the defendant had been able to express a willingness to address the issue.
However, he is clearly not amenable to the less restrictive drug and alcohol treatment
which would be offered under normal Prop 36 supervision. His use of drugs in
conjunction with his possession of weapons near the drugs is simply unacceptable on any
level. The probation officer therefore recommended a “lengthy jail sentence” to give
defendant “the message [that] he is not fooling anyone, and [that] any further criminal
conduct will be dealt with immediately and decisively.”

                                             6
       Defendant contests that finding, asserting that “Prop 36 probation” was mandatory
under section 1210.1. We disagree. As the People point out, defendant was convicted of
two felonies in the same proceeding, which made him ineligible for Proposition 36
treatment under the exception listed in section 1210.1, subdivision (b)(2). That provision
disqualifies a defendant from Proposition 36 drug treatment if he or she “has been
convicted in the same proceeding of a misdemeanor not related to the use of drugs or any
felony.” (§ 1210.1 subd. (b)(2), italics added.) Both parties cite People v. Barros (2012)
209 Cal.App.4th 1581, 1596, where the Court of Appeal, First District, Division Five,
held that the statutory words “same proceeding” were ambiguous but nonetheless were
applicable to offenses properly joined and not subsequently dismissed.
       Defendant attempts to distinguish Barros, arguing that in his case, counts 3 and 4
(the firearm counts) were not properly joined under section 954, because the drug
possession counts (2 & 5) were “of a different class” from the firearm possession counts
(3 & 4) and “resulted from nonviolent conduct that was in no way connected to” the
firearm counts. Having failed to demur or object to consolidation, however, defendant
forfeited this contention. (People v. Marvich (1941) 44 Cal.App.2d 858, 860; cf. People
v. Jenkins (2000) 22 Cal.4th 900, 949.)
       In any event, consolidation was proper here. Section 954 permits the prosecution
to “charge two or more different offenses connected together in their commission, or
different statements of the same offense or two or more different offenses of the same
class of crimes or offenses, under separate counts, and if two or more accusatory
pleadings are filed in such cases in the same court, the court may order them to be
consolidated.” It cannot be overlooked that “[b]ecause consolidation ordinarily promotes
efficiency, the law prefers it.” (People v. Ochoa (1998) 19 Cal.4th 353, 409; cf. People v.
Soper (2009) 45 Cal.4th 759, 771-772.)
       The amended information in this case resulted from three separate pleadings. The
first (Monterey County Superior case No. SS101367A), filed January 4, 2011, charged

                                             7
defendant with both drug offenses and firearm offenses. All were alleged to have been
committed on the same day, May 22, 2010, in the course of a vehicle stop.7 The second
(Monterey County Superior case No. SS130042A), filed June 3, 2013, again accused
defendant of both drug and firearm offenses committed on December 18, 2012,
discovered during an investigation of defendant’s parked vehicle.8 The third information
(Monterey County Superior case No. SS131330A), filed November 5, 2013, charged only
drug offenses committed together on June 22, 2013, arising from a vehicle search and an
examination of defendant for being under the influence.9 Each of the three accusatory
pleadings thus qualified as charging multiple offenses “connected together in their
commission”; and the court was then authorized under the statute to combine them into a
single amended information. No abuse of discretion occurred in the court’s selection of
the judicially efficient option of trying the three cases together. (See Alcala v. Superior
Court (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1205, 1220 [abuse of discretion shown only if consolidation or
denial of severance falls outside the bounds of reason and defendant makes clear showing
of prejudice]; accord, People v. Merriman (2014) 60 Cal.4th 1, 37.)

       7
         Defendant was charged in SS101367A with having a concealed firearm in a
vehicle (Former § 12025, subd. (a)(1)), transporting methamphetamine (Health & Saf.
Code, § 11379, subd. (a)), possession of methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code,
§ 11377, subd. (a)), driving with a suspended license for driving under the influence
(Veh. Code, § 14601.2, subd. (a), a misdemeanor), and possession of marijuana (Health
& Saf. Code, § 11357, subd. (b), a misdemeanor).
       8
         The information in SS130042A accused defendant of carrying a concealed
firearm on his person (§ 25400, subd. (a)(2), carrying a loaded firearm (§ 25850,
subd. (a)), and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (Former Health & Saf.
Code § 11364.1, subd. (a), a misdemeanor).
       9
        The information in SS131330A charged defendant with possession of
methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a)) and two misdemeanors,
being under the influence of a stimulant (Health & Saf. Code, § 11550, subd. (a)) and
possession of drug paraphernalia (Former Health & Saf. Code § 11364.1, subd. (a)).

                                              8
                                         Disposition
       The judgment is reversed. Sentence on count 4 is stayed under section 654, and
the matter is remanded to permit the court to exercise its discretion in setting the amount
of the restitution fine, consistently with section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1).

                                              9
                                  _________________________________
                                  ELIA, ACTING P.J.

WE CONCUR:

_______________________________
BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J.

_______________________________
MIHARA, J.

The People v. Ruano
H041200