Court Opinion

ID: 2685854
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-25 22:01:17.059068+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:12:06.861730
License: Public Domain

Filed 7/25/14 P. v. Rankin 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                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                                         (Butte)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,                                                                                  C074227

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                    (Super. Ct. Nos. CM036951,
                                                                                        CM037799)
         v.

LAWSON REED RANKIN III,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

         In case No. CM036951, defendant Lawson Reed Rankin III entered a no contest
plea to infliction of corporal injury to a spouse and admitted a prior spousal abuse
conviction and a prior prison term allegation. In case No. CM037799, defendant entered
a no contest plea to false imprisonment. The court sentenced defendant to state prison for
an aggregate term of five years and imposed various fees and fines including a $280
restitution fine in both cases.

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       Defendant appeals in both cases. He contends ex post facto principles require that
the $280 restitution fines be reduced to $240, arguing that the court intended to impose
the minimum. We conclude that the issue is forfeited.
       In view of defendant’s contention, a recitation of the underlying facts in the two
cases is not required. Prior to sentencing, the probation officer recommended a
restitution fine in the amount of $1,200 in case No. CM036951 and $200 in case
No. CM037799. At sentencing, the court imposed the prison sentence and then ordered
defendant to pay a restitution fine in the amount of $280 in case No. CM036951. The
court inquired of the probation officer, “[S]houldn’t it also be two hundred eighty in the
other case” and the probation officer responded, “I believe so, Your Honor. I’m not sure,
I believe that the two hundred dollars is based on a prior probation order.” Without
objection, the court then imposed restitution fines and parole revocation restitution fines
(parole fines) in the amount of $280 in both cases as well as various other fees.
       Defendant contends that ex post facto principles dictate that the restitution fines
not exceed the minimum amount ($240) in effect at the time of the offenses. The People
respond that defendant has forfeited his claim by failing to object below. We agree with
the People.
       The $280 amount was within the lawful statutory discretionary range at the time of
defendant’s offenses in 2012. (Pen. Code, §§ 1202.4, subd. (b) [$240 minimum, $10,000
maximum], 1202.45.) Since the amount was not unauthorized, and since defendant did
not object to the amount of the restitution fine and parole revocation fine in the trial
court, his belated challenge to the amount of those fines is forfeited. (People v. Smith
(2001) 24 Cal. 4th 849, 852 [claim raised for the first time on appeal regarding the trial
court’s failure to properly make discretionary sentencing choice is forfeited].)

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                                 DISPOSITION
     The judgment is affirmed.

                                               NICHOLSON   , Acting P. J.

We concur:

     MURRAY             , J.

     DUARTE             , J.

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