Court Opinion

ID: 2682606
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-11 00:01:18.131666+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:39.282907
License: Public Domain

Filed 7/10/14 P. v. Moreno CA2/5
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION FIVE

THE PEOPLE,                                                          B254207

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. KA047370)
         v.

MANUEL ROSAS MORENO,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles,
William C. Ryan, Judge. Affirmed.
         Jonathan B. Steiner, Executive Director, Richard B. Lennon, under appointment
by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
         No appearance by Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                       INTRODUCTION

       Defendant and appellant Manuel Rosas Moreno (defendant) appeals1 from the
denial of his petition for recall of sentence made pursuant to Penal Code section
1170.126.2 The trial court denied defendant’s petition because he was convicted of first
degree burglary, a serious felony, making him ineligible for resentencing pursuant to
section 1170.126.
       On appeal, appointed counsel for defendant filed an opening brief in accordance
with People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436 requesting that this court conduct an
independent review of the record to determine if there are any issues which if resolved in
defendant’s favor would require reversal or modification of the judgment or appealable
order. On March 27, 2014, we gave notice to defendant that his counsel had failed to find
any arguable issues and that defendant had 30 days within which to submit by brief or
letter any grounds of appeal, contentions, or arguments he wished this court to consider.
Defendant filed a supplemental brief in which he contends that the “facts and
circumstances” underlying his first degree burglary conviction does not justify his
sentence of an indeterminate term of 40 years to life under sections 667, subdivisions (b)
through (i) and 1170.12, subdivisions (a) through (d) (“Three Strikes” law). We have
reviewed the record and affirm the order.

1
       The California Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether denial of a section
1170.126 petition for recall and resentencing is an appealable order. (Teal v. Superior
Court (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 308, review granted July 31, 2013, S211708; People v.
Hurtado (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 941, review granted July 31, 2013, S212017.)
Defendant contends that he is entitled to relief under People v. Romero (1991) 235
Cal.App.3d 1423, holding that an order denying motion for early termination of probation
and relief under section 1203.4 is appealable. (Id. at pp. 1425-1426,) We assume,
without deciding, that denial of an order denying a section 1170.126 petition for recall
and resentencing is appealable. In addition, although there is authority that defendant in
not entitled to appellate review of the denial of his petition under People v. Wende (1979)
25 Cal.3d 436 (People v. Anderson (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 1368, 1371-1376), we review
the order.
2
       All statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.

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                               FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       In 2000, defendant was convicted after a jury trial in the instant case on charges of
first degree burglary (§ 459) and petty theft (§ 666). Because he also suffered three prior
“strike” convictions (§§ 667, 1170.12), he was sentenced under the Three Strikes law to
an indeterminate term of 40 years to life.
       In December 2013, defendant filed a petition “to assess for resentencing” under
section 1170.126. The trial court denied defendant’s petition, finding that defendant was
ineligible for recall of his sentence under section 1170.126 because his current burglary
conviction is defined as a serious felony. Defendant timely filed a notice of appeal from
this denial order.

                                        DISCUSSION

       Section 1170.126 provides in relevant part: “(b) Any person serving an
indeterminate term of life imprisonment imposed pursuant to [the Three Strikes law]
upon conviction, whether by trial or plea, of a felony or felonies that are not defined as
serious and/or violent felonies by subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 or subdivision (c) of
Section 1192.7, may file a petition for a recall of sentence . . . before the trial court that
entered the judgment of conviction in his or her case, to request resentencing . . . .”
Defendant’s current conviction is for first degree burglary (§ 459). First degree burglary
is defined as a serious felony under section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(18). Therefore
defendant’s petition was properly denied.
       Defendant contends that the “facts and circumstances” underlying his first degree
burglary conviction do not justify his sentence of an indeterminate term of 40 years to life
under the Three Strikes law, characterizing it as “grossly unfair.” As noted above,
defendant was convicted of first degree burglary in violation of section 459. Section 459
provides, “Every person who enters any house . . . with intent to commit grand or petit

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larceny or any felony is guilty of burglary.” The legislature has determined that first
degree burglary, regardless of the “facts and circumstances,” is a serious felony. (§
1192.7, subd. (c)(18).) “Residential burglary is an extremely serious crime presenting a
high degree of danger to society. ‘“Burglary laws are based primarily upon a recognition
of the dangers to personal safety created by the usual burglary situation—the danger that
the intruder will harm the occupants in attempting to perpetrate the intended crime or to
escape and the danger that the occupants will in anger or panic react violently to the
invasion, thereby inviting more violence.” [Citation.]’” (People v. Weaver (1984) 161
Cal.App.3d 119, 127.)
       In addition to reviewing and addressing the matters raised in defendant’s
supplemental brief, we have made an independent examination of the entire record to
determine if there are any other arguable issues on appeal. Based on that review, we have
determined that there are no other arguable issues on appeal. We are therefore satisfied
that defendant’s counsel has fully complied with his responsibilities under People v.
Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436.

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                              DISPOSITION

     The order is affirmed.
     NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.

                                       MOSK, J.

We concur:

             TURNER, P. J.

             KRIEGLER, J.

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