Court Opinion

ID: 3000242
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-24 20:02:46.330926+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:45:40.756643
License: Public Domain

Filed 9/24/15 P. v. Castillo 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                                          H041791
                                                                    (Monterey County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. SS120988)

             v.

JOEL ROCHA CASTILLO,

         Defendant and Appellant.

                                           STATEMENT OF THE CASE
         Defendant Joel Rocha Castillo pleaded no contest to driving with a blood alcohol
content of .08 percent or more and causing bodily injury (Veh. Code, § 23153, subd. (b)).
He admitted that he personally inflicted great bodily injury in the commission of the
offense (Pen. Code, § 12022.7, subd. (a)).
         The trial court sentenced defendant to five years in prison. The trial court ordered
defendant to pay fines, fees, and penalty assessments totaling $2,104.
         Defendant now appeals from the judgment of conviction. On appeal, defendant
contends that we must reduce penalties assessed pursuant to Government Code sections
76104.7 and 70372. Defendant also contends that we must strike a fee imposed pursuant
to Penal Code section 1205. As set forth below, we will modify the judgment in the
manner requested by defendant.
                                      BACKGROUND1
       At the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated that it was imposing a total “fine”
of $2,104. In determining the sum, the trial court adopted the recommendation made in
the supplemental probation report. The trial court explained that it “looked at the
supplemental report” and was “going to go with the 2104 fine . . . as outlined in the
supplemental report.”
       The supplemental probation report included a section regarding fines, fees, and
penalty assessments. That section of the supplemental probation report recommended
that defendant “[p]ay a fine of $390.00 plus penalty assessments, restitution fine and
administrative fees for a total of $2,104.00.” The supplemental probation report provided
the following calculation for the penalty assessments, restitution fine, and administrative
fees: “Penalty assessments total $1,209.00 and include: (1) $390.00 per PC 1464(a)(1);
(2) $273.00 per GC 76000(a)(1); (3) $78.00 per PC 1465.7; (4) $195.00 per GC 70372);
(5) $78.00 per GC 76000.5; (6) $39.00 per GC 76104.6(a)(1)); and (7) $156.00 per
GC 76104.7). Additional fees total $125.00 and include: (1) $25.00 per VC 23645(a); and
(2) $100.00 per VC 23649(a). Administrative fees total $80.00 and include ($25.00 per
PC1463.07; and (2) $55.00 per PC 1205(d). Restitution fine is $300.00 per
PC 1202.4(b).”
                                        DISCUSSION
       Defendant contends that the penalty assessed pursuant to Government Code
section 76104.7 violated ex post facto principles and must be reduced from $156 to $117.
He contends that the penalty assessed pursuant to Government Code section 70372 was
calculated at an incorrect percentage rate and must be reduced from $195 to $117. The
Attorney General concedes that those penalties must be reduced in the manner

       1
         The facts underlying defendant’s conviction are irrelevant to the issues
presented on appeal. We therefore will not summarize those facts.
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propounded by defendant. We accept the concession. We reduce the Government Code
section 76104.7 penalty to $117, and we reduce the Government Code section 70372
penalty to $117.
       Defendant also argues that we must strike the $55 fee that the supplemental
probation report describes as imposed “per PC 1205(d).” We agree. Penal Code
section 1205, subdivision (d) does not authorize imposition of a fee. Rather, that
subdivision states: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the clerk of the
court, or the judge if there is no clerk, from turning these accounts over to another county
department or a collecting agency for processing and collection.” (Pen. Code, § 1205,
subd. (d).) Because Penal Code section 1205, subdivision (d) does not authorize
imposition of any sort of fee, the trial court had no authority to impose a $55 fee pursuant
to Penal Code section 1205, subdivision (d). We therefore must strike the $55 fee.
       The Attorney General asserts that the $55 fee was actually imposed pursuant to
Penal Code section 1205, subdivision (e) and should be reduced to $30 in accordance
with that subdivision. This argument is meritless. The trial court never stated that it was
imposing the $55 fee pursuant to Penal Code section 1205, subdivision (e), and nothing
in the record shows that the trial court imposed the $55 fee pursuant to Penal Code
section 1205, subdivision (e). Moreover, although Penal Code section 1205, subdivision
(e) does authorize imposition of a processing fee, the language of that subdivision
specifies that “the fee shall not exceed thirty dollars.” (Pen. Code, § 1205, subd. (e).)
Given that Penal Code section 1205, subdivision (e) authorizes only a $30 fee, it is highly
speculative to assume that the $55 fee here was actually imposed pursuant to that
subdivision. We decline the Attorney General’s request to reduce the $55 fee to $30.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The judgment is modified in the following respects: 1) the $55 fee imposed
pursuant to Penal Code section 1205, subdivision (d) is stricken; 2) the penalty assessed

                                              3
pursuant to Government Code section 76104.7 is reduced from $156 to $117; and 3) the
penalty assessed pursuant to Government Code section 70372 is reduced from $195 to
$117. The trial court is directed to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and forward
a copy of the amended abstract to the Department of Corrections. As modified, the
judgment is affirmed.

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                                        ______________________________________
                                                   RUSHING, P.J.

WE CONCUR:

____________________________________
      ELIA, J.

___________________________________
      WALSH, J.*

People v. Castillo
H041791

      *
         Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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