Court Opinion

ID: 3198931
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-28 18:02:19.020187+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:23.763646
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/28/16 P. v. Cairns CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                        (Shasta)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,                                                                                  C079218

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                    (Super. Ct. No. MC RD CRF
                                                                                        140000939)
         v.

PAUL MICHAEL CAIRNS,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

         Appointed counsel for defendant Paul Michael Cairns has asked this court to
review the record to determine whether there exist any arguable issues on appeal.
(People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).) We modify the judgment to correct a
mandatory fee amount, and affirm the judgment as modified. However, as we describe,
we direct correction of the probation order (narrative minute order of judgment and
sentencing) to delete certain fines, fees, and costs not orally pronounced or otherwise
already satisfied.

                                                             1
                                     BACKGROUND
        A felony complaint filed February 28, 2014, in case No. 14F00939 accused
defendant of felony vandalism (count 1; Pen. Code, § 594, subd. (b)(1))1 and alleged that
he was released on bail or own recognizance (OR) in case No. 11F07582 when he
committed the offense (§ 12202.1).
        On March 27, 2014, defendant pleaded guilty to count 1 in return for immediate
referral to probation, credit for time served, OR release, a grant of felony probation, the
dismissal of the on-bail allegation, and the dismissal of case No. 11F07582 with a waiver
pursuant to People v. Harvey (1979) 25 Cal.3d 754. The parties stipulated to the police
report as containing the factual basis. The trial court entered a no-contact order as to the
victim in count 1.
        According to the police report, on January 7, 2014, the victim reported vandalism
on her property which consisted of damage to a 15-foot-wide sliding iron gate. A
surveillance video showed a person getting out of a truck, attaching a chain to the gate,
and driving some distance. The victim identified the driver as defendant. She had
reported him many times over the last month for vandalism, theft, or threats.
On May 14, 2014, defendant notified counsel that he wished to withdraw his plea. Based
on that interview, counsel declared a doubt. (§ 1368). On June 17, defendant was taken
back into custody. On July 9, the trial court found defendant incompetent to stand trial
and referred the matter to Northern California Conditional Release Program for a report
and recommendation as to placement. After receiving the report, the court suspended
criminal proceedings and committed defendant to Napa State Hospital (§ 1370, subd.
(a)(1)), where he remained from November 18 to December 18, 2014.

1   Further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

                                              2
       On March 3, 2015, defendant moved to withdraw his plea, claiming he entered it
on the mistaken belief he was pleading to misdemeanor (rather than felony) vandalism.
He claimed he was unable to understand the specifics of his plea at the time it was
entered. The People opposed the motion, attaching defendant’s plea agreement and the
transcript of the change of plea hearing. After a hearing on April 10, 2015, the trial court
denied the motion.
       The trial court suspended imposition of sentence and granted defendant three years
of felony probation per the plea agreement. Because defendant’s custody credits totaled
432 days (201 actual days and 200 conduct days, plus 31 days in Napa State Hospital),
the parties agreed that defendant would waive credit exceeding 365 days pursuant to
People v. Johnson (1978) 82 Cal.App.3d 183. Defendant did so. The court imposed a
$280 restitution fine and a stayed probation revocation restitution fine in the same
amount (§§ 1202.4, 1202.44), and imposed a $30 court operations assessment (§ 1465.8;
the mandatory assessment is $40), and a $30 criminal conviction assessment (Gov. Code,
§ 70373). The court ordered restitution to the victim as directed by the probation officer,
and renewed the no-contact order as to the victim.
       The trial court also ordered “a total fine of $780, which given the amount of
custody that you have served I’ll credit you $30 a day against the fine.” The greater
amount divided by the lesser is 26 days; given that defendant served hundreds of days in
actual custody, the court clearly intended defendant pay nothing toward the $780 fine.
The court did not orally order any additional fines, fees, nor did it incorporate by
reference other suggested costs and fees in the probation report.
       The resulting probation order purports to break down the $780 total fine into
various fines, fees, and assessments, and stay the total. The order also includes a
provision, separate from the terms and conditions of probation, directing defendant pay
the cost of probation services, not to exceed $75 per month; a $151 booking fee; and a
$250 fee for preparation of the presentence investigation report (§ 1203.1b, subd. (a)).

                                              3
                                       DISCUSSION
       We appointed counsel to represent defendant on appeal. Counsel filed an opening
brief that sets forth the facts of the case and requests this court to review the record and
determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal. (Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d
436.) Defendant was advised by counsel of the right to file a supplemental brief within
30 days of the date of filing of the opening brief. More than 30 days elapsed, and we
received no communication from defendant. Having undertaken an examination of the
entire record, we note the mandatory $40 court operations assessment (§ 1465.8) was
orally imposed as $30 but correctly recorded as $40 in the resulting probation order. We
modify the judgment to correct the fee amount, but need not order the probation order
amended.
       However, the probation order incorrectly stays the $780 total fine rather than
imposing it but deeming it satisfied through application of custody credit, as was the trial
court’s intent (which we have described ante). Further, the probation order refers to costs
and fees which the trial court did not orally order at sentencing. The oral pronouncement
of judgment controls, and the court clerk may not alter the judgment by adding orders not
made or incorporated by reference at sentencing. (See People v. Zackery (2007)
147 Cal.App.4th 380, 385, 389.) Therefore, we direct the trial court to correct the
probation order by acknowledging the satisfaction of the $780 total fine and deleting all
unpronounced costs and fees.

                                              4
                                       DISPOSITION
       The judgment is modified to increase the court operations assessment to $40. As
modified, the judgment is affirmed. The trial court is directed to issue a corrected
probation order to eliminate all unpronounced and satisfied monetary obligations as
described by this opinion, and to provide copies of the new order to defendant directly as
well as to all relevant authorities.

                                                       /s/
                                                 Duarte, J.

We concur:

     /s/
Robie, Acting P. J.

     /s/
Mauro, J.

                                             5