Court Opinion

ID: 2805975
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-05 19:03:13.880103+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:04.716635
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/5/15 P. v. Benitez CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,                                                         D067395

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.                                                         (Super. Ct. No. SCN060376)

LUZ ELVA BENITEZ,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, K. Michael

Kirkman, Judge. Affirmed.

         Ava R. Stralla, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

         Luz Elva Benitez appeals from the trial court's denial of her motion to vacate her

1997 guilty plea on the basis she was not aware of the immigration consequences of her

guilty plea. The record demonstrates Benitez was fully informed that a consequence of
her guilty plea could include her removal from the country. Thus, we will affirm the trial

court's decision.

       In September 1997, Benitez entered a guilty plea to possession of a controlled

substance for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378) and admitted a prior conviction for the

same type of offense. As part of the change of plea process, Benitez completed a change

of plea form which included her initials next to the statement: "I understand that if I am

not a citizen of the United States a plea of Guilty or No Contest could result in

deportation, exclusion from admission to this country and/or denial of naturalization."

       During the change of plea the trial judge questioned Benitez about her decision,

knowledge of her rights, the assistance of counsel and the potential immigration

consequences of her plea. The following discussion took place:

          "The Court: U.S. citizen?

          "Benitez: No, sir.

          "The Court: All right. If you are not, the court advises you, by
          entering this plea, you could be deported, and/or excluded from
          admission to the United States, and/or denial of naturalization. Do
          you understand those things?

          "Benitez: Yes, sir.

          "The Court: Knowing those, do you still wish to enter this plea?

          "Benitez: Yes, sir."

       In December 2014, Benitez filed a motion to vacate her 1997 conviction on the

grounds she was not fully informed by the court and counsel of the immigration

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consequences of her guilty plea. The trial court denied her request. Benitez filed a notice

of appeal.

                                        DISCUSSION

          Appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25
Cal. 3d 436 (Wende) indicating she has been unable to identify any reasonably arguable

issue for reversal on appeal. Counsel requests this court review the record for error as

mandated by Wende.

          Pursuant to Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 (Anders), counsel has

identified the following possible, but not reasonably arguable issues for our consideration

as we review the record for error:

          1. Was Benitez properly advised of the rights she was waiving and the

consequences of pleading guilty, particularly, the immigration consequences of pleading

guilty?

          2. Whether the transcript of the 1997 change of plea sufficiently supports the

court's finding the plea was knowing and voluntary?

          3. Did the trial court properly deny the motion to vacate the 1997 conviction?

          We offered Benitez the opportunity to file her own brief on appeal but she has

failed to respond.

          We have reviewed the entire record on appeal as required by Wende, supra, 25
Cal. 3d 436 and Anders, supra, 386 U.S. 738. We have not discovered any reasonably

arguable issue for reversal on appeal. Competent counsel has represented Benitez on this

appeal.

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                               DISPOSITION

    The order is affirmed.

                                             HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

               McDONALD, J.

                O'ROURKE, J.

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