Court Opinion

ID: 3209822
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-06 21:02:26.556331+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:30.713367
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/6/16 P. v. Guzman CA2/3
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                DIVISION THREE

THE PEOPLE,                                                          B262276

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. KA107404)
         v.

BRIAN JOHNATHAN GUZMAN,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Tia Fisher,
Judge. Reversed and remanded.
         Trenton C. Packer, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Mary Sanchez and Viet H.
Nguyen, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                        _________________________
       Defendant and appellant Brian Johnathan Guzman appeals the trial court’s order
denying his petition for resentencing pursuant to Proposition 47, the Safe Neighborhoods
and Schools Act. The trial court determined Guzman was eligible for resentencing, but
denied the petition based on its discretionary finding that resentencing would pose an
unreasonable risk of danger to public safety. Because the trial court employed an
incorrect standard and relied on facts not supported by the record before it, we reverse
and remand for a new hearing.
                                    BACKGROUND
       1. The current offense
       On October 1, 2014, pursuant to a negotiated disposition, Guzman pleaded no
contest to a felony violation of Health and Safety Code section 11377, subdivision (a),
possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Guzman also admitted suffering
a 2010 conviction for making criminal threats in violation of Penal Code section 422, a
“strike” offense.1 (§§ 667, subd. (d), 1170.12, subd. (b).) In accordance with the agreed
upon sentence, the trial court sentenced Guzman to 32 months in prison.
       Just over a month later, on November 4, 2014, the electorate enacted Proposition
47, which went into effect the following day. (People v. Diaz (2015) 238 Cal.App.4th
1323, 1328; People v. Rivera (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 1085, 1089.) Proposition 47
reclassified certain drug and theft offenses to misdemeanors, unless committed by
ineligible defendants. (People v. Shabazz (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 303, 308; People v.
Diaz, supra, at pp. 1327-1328.) As pertinent here, Proposition 47 reduced possession of
methamphetamine in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11377 from a
“wobbler” to a misdemeanor, unless the defendant is required to register as a sex offender
pursuant to section 290 or has one or more prior convictions for an offense enumerated in
section 667, subdivision (e)(2)(C)(iv), sometimes known as “super strikes.” (See
People v. Lynall (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 1102, 1108-1109.) Proposition 47 also enacted

1      All further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

                                             2
section 1170.18, which created a procedure whereby an eligible defendant who has
suffered a felony conviction of one of the reclassified crimes can petition to have it
redesignated a misdemeanor. (People v. Sherow (2015) 239 Cal.App.4th 875, 879;
People v. Lynall, supra, at p. 1109.) Section 1170.18 lists Health and Safety Code
section 11377 as an offense eligible for resentencing. (§ 1170.18, subd. (a).)
       2. The petition and resentencing hearing
       On December 22, 2014, the public defender’s office filed a petition on Guzman’s
behalf requesting that he be resentenced as a misdemeanant pursuant to Proposition 47.
The petition averred Guzman had no disqualifying prior convictions, had never been
convicted of an offense requiring sex offender registration, and resentencing did not
present an unreasonable risk Guzman would reoffend. On December 31, 2014, Guzman,
acting in propria persona, filed a second petition for recall and resentencing.
       At the January 14, 2015 hearing on the petitions, Guzman was present and
represented by counsel. The trial court determined, without objection from the People,
that Guzman was eligible for resentencing. It then turned to the issue of whether
resentencing posed an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety. On its own motion,
the court had obtained a copy of Guzman’s “rap sheet”; it also had before it a copy of the
plea agreement and the 2014 preplea report. During the hearing, the court stated, “The
burden on these motions is on the defense. At the same time, the People aren’t offering
anything in conflict of that.”
       The trial court’s review of Guzman’s criminal history, based on the preplea report
and the Criminal Investigation and Identification (CII) “rap sheet,” was as follows. In
August 2004, Guzman had a sustained juvenile petition for making unlawful 911 calls
(§ 653x, subd. (a)), and was placed in camp community placement. In November 2005
he was placed home on probation after a juvenile petition alleging felony vandalism was
sustained. (§ 594, subd. (a).) In March 2007, another petition alleging felony vandalism
was sustained and Guzman was again placed in camp community placement.

                                              3
       In April 2008 Guzman was convicted of misdemeanor battery upon a current or
former spouse, fiancé, cohabitant, or child’s parent (§ 243, subd. (e)(1)). He was placed
on three years summary probation and ordered to serve 20 days in jail. On April 24,
2008, he was convicted of robbery (§ 211), placed on three years formal probation, and
ordered to serve 134 days in jail. At the January 2015 resentencing hearing, the court
reasoned that the 2008 robbery was likely not serious and did not involve the use of a
weapon, given the grant of probation.
       On July 10, 2010, Guzman was convicted of making criminal threats (§ 422) and
sentenced to two years in prison. At the January 2015 resentencing hearing, the trial
court observed, based on its review of the CII rap sheet, that the 2010 matter had been
resolved by a “plea disposition.” Two other charges, for assault with a firearm and felon
in possession of a firearm, as well as a section 186.22 gang enhancement, had been
dismissed. At the resentencing hearing, the court opined that “what . . . concerns me the
most in terms of the dangerousness assessment” was the 2010 criminal threats case. The
court stated: “It’s that plea disposition, clearly charges were dismissed, but based on the
CII it appears as if in addition to the 422 that [Guzman] may well have admitted –
couldn’t tell by looking, but well may have admitted the 186.22 allegation.” (Italics
added.)
       In December 2010, probation was revoked in the robbery case as a result of the
criminal threats conviction. The court imposed a five-year prison sentence on the
robbery, to run concurrently with the sentence on the criminal threats conviction.
Guzman was released on parole in April 2014. Due to a violation he was returned to
custody and released on September 2, 2014. The 2014 preplea report indicated that while
on parole Guzman had had several parole violations, including “gang association, use of
narcotics, failure to report, [and] possession of alcohol.” He had also tested positive for
narcotics and was removed from a drug rehabilitation program due to a curfew violation.
       At the January 2015 resentencing hearing, the trial court also noted, apparently in
regard to the 2014 preplea report: “Probation records, relative to the gang membership

                                             4
that the People have addressed, poor supervision on parole.” The rap sheet listed
Guzman’s monikers as “Snipes” and “Spooks.”
       Four days after being released on parole, Guzman committed the current offense.
According to the 2014 preplea report, on September 6, 2014, at approximately 10:00
p.m., officers observed Guzman holding a beer in violation of a municipal code
provision. Upon conducting a parole search they discovered 0.28 grams of
methamphetamine in the lining of Guzman’s cap.
       Based on the foregoing, the prosecutor argued that Guzman’s gang membership
precluded resentencing. The prosecutor averred that the preplea report stated Guzman
was a gang member, and Guzman was “full of tattoos. He’s got tattoos on his face, on
his neck. [¶] To continue in the gang lifestyle . . . in and of itself” was a strong
indication Guzman was likely to commit a “super strike” offense if resentenced. Defense
counsel countered that the tattoos were old; Guzman had not been involved in gang
activity for five years; his priors were run-of-the-mill; and it was a “very large leap” to
reason that because “at some point” Guzman was a gang member, he was likely to
commit a super strike offense if released.
       The trial court determined that resentencing Guzman posed an unreasonable risk
to public safety and denied the petition. It declined to consider Guzman’s tattoos as
evidence of gang membership, reasoning that tattoos were ubiquitous and did not
“connect” to the dangerousness assessment.
       However, the trial court viewed Guzman’s criminal history as “unique.” It
observed that Guzman had been arrested for the current crime within four days of his
release on parole. He had also violated parole. “The convictions for threatening a crime
and a street gang act – so the context of the 422, based on the CII, it’s fair to assume is
not domestic violence. It’s street gang and involving a firearm while on probation on a
211. And this new offense occurred in very, very short order after parole, after already
having been violated. [¶] And in the context of this entire record as to Mr. Guzman, I
don’t see Mr. Guzman’s criminal history and this conduct that I’ve set forth as that sort of

                                              5
average everyday young gang member. I’m not willing to look at it that way.” (Italics
added.) The court noted that Guzman had a supportive family and a drug problem. But,
the court further reasoned: “And it is my view that the pivotal determination on [the
issue of public safety] is this most recent 2010 that violated, the 211 with the gun, with
the gang allegation, with the violation of parole and everything I’ve read into the
record . . . [¶] I think that a release under [section] 1170.18 . . . would result in an
unreasonable risk to public safety. This court is of the view that that public safety would
be murder, attempt murder. [¶] And very specifically, there are a lot [of] crimes that
carry life in prison, but I think it’s important to acknowledge as well in this circumstance
that a 211—there’s also a felony murder rule. But if it weren’t for that most recent gang
activity with the firearm, I’d be resentencing; but I’m not.” (Italics added.) Continuing,
the court explained: “I have handled untold felony jury trials involving murders,
attempted murders, and . . . probably over 50 percent of those cases have been gang
involved. And many, many, many of those gang involved murders and attempted
murders are cases where the defendant has been using methamphetamine and/or alcohol
and/or substances. It is a very lethal combination of factors on the street . . .
methamphetamine, gang membership, active gang membership.” “And this, in the
context of a person who has exhibited a lack of control consistently, and a lack of
impulse control, battery, misdemeanor, vandalism as a young person, multiple violations,
drugs, a lack of control, a young 25-year-old man, gang member with a history of
possession of firearms in the context of a [section] 422 and the methamphetamine, all
combin[e] to create a circumstance where there is an unreasonable risk.” Accordingly,
the trial court denied the resentencing petition.
       Guzman appeals the trial court’s order. (See Teal v. Superior Court (2014)
60 Cal.4th 595.)

                                               6
                                        DISCUSSION
       1. Applicable legal principles
       Section 1170.18 provides that a “person currently serving a sentence for a
conviction, whether by trial or plea, of a felony or felonies who would have been guilty
of a misdemeanor” under Proposition 47, may “petition for a recall of sentence before the
trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in his or her case to request
resentencing.” (§ 1170.18, subd. (a); see People v. Hoffman (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th
1304, 1308-1309.) If the petitioner satisfies the statutory criteria, the trial court must
resentence him, “unless the court, in its discretion, determines that resentencing the
petitioner would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.” (§ 1170.18,
subd. (b).)
       Section 1170.18 defines “unreasonable risk of danger to public safety” as “an
unreasonable risk that the petitioner will commit a new violent felony within the meaning
of clause (iv) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 667,”
i.e., a super strike offense: enumerated sex crimes; any attempted homicide or homicide
offense; vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated; solicitation to commit murder; assault
on a peace officer or firefighter with a machine gun; possession of a weapon of mass
destruction; and any serious and/or violent felony offense punishable by life
imprisonment or death. (§ 1170.18, subd. (c); see People v. Hoffman, supra,
241 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1309-1310; § 667, subd. (e)(2)(C)(iv).) Section 1170.18 specifies
factors for the trial court’s consideration when making the dangerousness inquiry:
“(1) The petitioner’s criminal conviction history, including the type of crimes committed,
the extent of injury to victims, the length of prior prison commitments, and the
remoteness of the crimes. [¶] (2) The petitioner’s disciplinary record and record of
rehabilitation while incarcerated. [¶] (3) Any other evidence the court, within its
discretion, determines to be relevant in deciding whether a new sentence would result in
an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.” (§ 1170.18, subd. (b)(1)-(3).)

                                               7
       Section 1170.18 thus contemplates a three-step process. Upon the defendant’s
filing of a petition for recall and resentencing, the trial court must first determine whether
the petitioner is eligible, that is, whether he would have been guilty of a misdemeanor
had Proposition 47 been in effect when he committed the offense, and whether he has
suffered a disqualifying offense. Second, if the court determines the defendant is eligible,
it must then make the factual determination of whether reduction of petitioner’s sentence
would present an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety. Third, if the prisoner is
eligible and resentencing would not pose an unreasonable risk of danger, the court must
actually resentence him. (See People v. Superior Court (Kaulick) (2013) 215
Cal.App.4th 1279, 1299 [construing similar resentencing procedure for Proposition 36,
§ 1170.126].)
       A petitioner seeking resentencing under section 1170.18 bears the initial burden of
establishing he or she is eligible for resentencing, that is, the facts upon which his or her
eligibility is based. (People v. Perkins (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 129, 136-137; People v.
Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th at pp. 879-880; People v. Rivas-Colon (2015)
241 Cal.App.4th 444, 449-450.) However, the People have the burden to establish, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that resentencing would pose an unreasonable risk of
danger to public safety. (See People v. Superior Court (Kaulick), supra, 215 Cal.App.4th
at pp. 1301-1305 [construing Proposition 36, section 1170.126]; People v. Flores (2014)
227 Cal.App.4th 1070, 1075-1076 [same]; People v. Florez (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th
1176, 1186 [for purposes of Proposition 36 resentencing, the facts considered by the trial
court in making the dangerousness determination must be established by the People by a
preponderance of the evidence]; Couzens & Bigelow, Proposition 47: “The Safe
Neighborhoods and Schools Act” (May 2016) p. 50
 [as of June 3, 2016]
(hereinafter “Proposition 47”).)
       The parties agree that because section 1170.18 provides that the dangerousness
determination is within the trial court’s discretion, we review its ruling for abuse of

                                              8
discretion. “ ‘Where, as here, a discretionary power is statutorily vested in the trial court,
its exercise of that discretion “must not be disturbed on appeal except on a showing that
the court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious or patently absurd manner that
resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice. [Citations.]” ’ ” (People v. Williams (2013)
58 Cal.4th 197, 270-271; People v. Rodrigues (1994) 8 Cal.4th 1060, 1124-1125.) A trial
court abuses its discretion when the factual findings underlying its decision are
unsupported by the evidence, or when its decision is based on an incorrect legal standard.
(People v. Cluff (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 991, 998; People v. Knoller (2007) 41 Cal.4th
139, 156; People v. Iraheta (2014) 227 Cal.App.4th 611, 619.) It is the defendant’s
burden to demonstrate an abuse of discretion. (See People v. Superior Court (Alvarez)
(1997) 14 Cal.4th 968, 977-978.)
       2. Application here
       Guzman argues that the trial court abused its discretion by (1) impermissibly
placing the burden on him to establish resentencing did not pose an unreasonable risk of
danger; (2) using his status as a purported gang member as the dispositive factor in
denying the petition; and (3) relying on speculation alone to find dangerousness. The
People counter that the trial court correctly allocated the burden of proof, and its decision
was appropriately based on Guzman’s conduct rather than on his perceived status as a
gang member.
       a. Burden of proof
       We conclude that the trial court erred in two respects. First, the court incorrectly
allocated the burden of proof on the dangerousness inquiry. We explained in People v.
Superior Court (Kaulick), supra, 215 Cal.App.4th 1279 in the context of resentencing
pursuant to Proposition 36, the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, that the prosecution
bears the burden of establishing dangerousness by a preponderance of the evidence. (Id.
at pp. 1301-1305; People v. Esparza (2015) 242 Cal.App.4th 726, 741-745.) Proposition
47 and Proposition 36 use identical language when describing the trial court’s
discretionary determination (defendant shall be resentenced “unless the court, in its

                                              9
discretion, determines that resentencing the petitioner would pose an unreasonable risk of
danger to public safety”). (§§ 1170.18, subd. (b); 1170.126, subd. (f).) Both statutes list
identical factors for the court’s consideration when making the dangerousness
determination. (Compare §§ 1170.18, subd. (b)(1)-(3) with 1170.126, subd. (g)(1)-(3);
Couzens & Bigelow, Proposition 47, supra, at p. 6 [in light of the striking similarities
between the statutes, appellate interpretation of Proposition 36 is likely relevant to
interpretation of Proposition 47].)2 Accordingly, our analysis in Kaulick applies to the
Proposition 47 dangerousness determination as well.
       The People argue that the trial court correctly placed the burden on Guzman to
prove resentencing did not pose an unreasonable risk of danger. But the cases the People
cite do not support their point. People v. Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th 875 and
People v. Rivas-Colon, supra, 241 Cal.App.4th 444, held that the defendant has the initial
burden to make the threshold eligibility showing. Neither case addressed the burden of
proof on the dangerousness inquiry. In Sherow, for example, the defendant argued the
People had to prove, in a theft case, that the amount of loss exceeded $950. (People v.
Sherow, at pp. 877-878.) Sherow rejected this argument, concluding that the defendant
“had the burden to show the property loss . . . did not exceed $950 and thus fell within the
new statutory definition of shoplifting.” (Id. at p. 877; see Couzens and Bigelow,
Proposition 47, supra, at p. 42 [“The petitioner will have the initial burden of establishing
eligibility for resentencing under section 1170.18(a): i.e., whether the petitioner is
currently serving a felony sentence for a crime that would have been a misdemeanor had
Proposition 47 been in effect at the time the crime was committed”; if the crime was a

2      Unlike Proposition 47, Proposition 36 does not contain a definition of
“unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.” (See § 1170.18, subd. (c).) Our Supreme
Court is currently considering whether Proposition 47’s definition of unreasonable risk of
danger to public safety applies in Proposition 36 resentencing proceedings. (People v.
Chaney (2014) 231 Cal.App.4th 1391, review granted Feb. 18, 2015, S223676; People v.
Valencia (2014) 232 Cal.App.4th 514, review granted Feb. 18, 2015, S223825.) That
question is not at issue here.

                                             10
theft offense, “the petitioner will have the additional burden of proving the value of the
property did not exceed $950”].)
       Here, it is evident the trial court believed Guzman bore the burden to establish
resentencing would not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety. As noted,
during the resentencing hearing the court stated, in regard to the dangerousness
assessment, that the “burden on these motions is on the defense.” It does not appear the
People made any evidentiary showing; the trial court obtained Guzman’s “rap sheet” on
its own motion and the People were not in possession of Guzman’s file at the hearing.
After confirming that the People did not have a copy of Guzman’s file, the court stated
that nonetheless, the People “may have some information in there on those criteria that
the court is tasked with evaluating.” These comments, among others, illustrate that the
court was operating under the assumption the burden was Guzman’s. We cannot say, on
the record before us, that this error was harmless. As the People presented no evidence,
the trial court’s decision was based entirely on the limited record before it. Guzman’s
conviction history did not present an overwhelming basis for the dangerousness finding.
Further, as discussed post, at least one of the court’s key conclusions was based on
speculation. Under these circumstances, we cannot say the court’s misstep was harmless.
(See People v. Esparza, supra, 242 Cal.App.4th at pp. 741-745.)
       b. Evidence of gang membership
       Second, as noted, the trial court appears to have relied on speculation for at least
one fact crucial to its dangerousness determination, that is, that Guzman was a current,
active gang member. Based on counts dismissed pursuant to a plea bargain, the trial
court assumed the 2010 criminal threats conviction was a gang-related crime in which
Guzman had used a gun. Although the court admittedly could not determine, by
examining the rap sheet, whether Guzman had admitted a section 186.22 gang allegation
in connection with the 2010 offense, it assumed Guzman “may well have” done so. The
court further reasoned “it’s fair to assume” the 2010 criminal threats conviction involved
street gang activity with a firearm. The problem with the court’s analysis is that

                                             11
assumptions and speculation cannot substitute for evidence. “A trial court abuses its
discretion when the factual findings critical to its decision find no support in the
evidence. . . . ‘[I]t would seem obvious that, if there were no evidence to support the
decision, there would be an abuse of discretion.’ ” (People v. Cluff, supra,
87 Cal.App.4th at p. 998; People v. Esparza, supra, 242 Cal.App.4th at p. 745.) There
was scant evidence in the record demonstrating Guzman was, at the time of the
resentencing hearing, a current, active gang member. The preplea report stated Guzman
had violated parole by engaging in “gang association,” but did not elaborate on the
nature, frequency, or dates of the association. It was undisputed that prior to his
incarceration Guzman was a gang member, and the rap sheet indicated he had used
monikers. But there was no evidence of the extent of Guzman’s gang involvement at the
time of the hearing. When determining dangerousness, the question is whether the
defendant currently poses a danger. (See People v. Esparza, supra, at p. 745; Couzens
and Bigelow, Proposition 47, supra, at pp. 52-53.) Certainly, a defendant’s past history is
relevant to this question. But here, the trial court’s conclusion appears to have been
colored by its assumption that Guzman admitted a gang allegation in regard to the 2010
criminal threats crime. The assumption that the 2010 crime was gang related was crucial
to the court’s ruling; the court explained that “if it weren’t for that most recent gang
activity with the firearm, I’d be resentencing.” Therefore, “the trial court’s analysis
became disconnected from the evidence presented,” and its finding was an abuse of
discretion. (See People v. Esparza, supra, at p. 744.)
       c. A new resentencing hearing is required
       The trial court’s misallocation of the burden of proof, coupled with its reliance on
assumptions, rather than evidence, constituted an abuse of discretion. Therefore, a new
resentencing hearing is required.
       Guzman argues that the matter should be remanded with instructions to the trial
court to grant the petition. He argues the People cannot carry their burden to prove, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that resentencing would pose an unreasonable risk of

                                             12
danger to public safety. We disagree. The court – and apparently the People – were
under the erroneous impression that Guzman had the burden of establishing his early
release did not pose a danger. Therefore, the People did not attempt to make the requisite
showing. There is no indication that they would be unable to do so on remand. Evidence
that a defendant is a current, active gang member, who has used a firearm in making
gang-related criminal threats, and who is a current user of methamphetamine, is relevant
to the determination of current dangerousness. As the trial court found, if supported by
the evidence, this is a potentially lethal combination of factors, especially when the
defendant’s criminal conduct a mere four days after being released on parole
demonstrates his unwillingness or inability to comply with the law.
       Guzman also argues that the trial court should be instructed it “cannot rely so
extensively on appellant’s gang membership when deciding the petition.” Relying on the
precept that mere active and knowing participation in a criminal street gang is not a crime
(People v. Rodriguez (2012) 55 Cal.4th 1125, 1130), he contends the petition cannot be
denied solely on the basis of his purported gang membership. But Guzman is not being
punished for his gang membership; his sentence was imposed for his conviction on the
current offense, possession of methamphetamine. In making the dangerousness inquiry
on a Proposition 47 resentencing petition, it cannot seriously be contended that a
petitioner’s past history of gang crimes and/or current gang membership must be
excluded from the court’s calculus. Section 1170.18, subdivision (b)(3), states that in
exercising its discretion, the trial court may consider, in addition to the petitioner’s
criminal history and disciplinary record while incarcerated, “[a]ny other evidence the
court, within its discretion, determines to be relevant.” Gang activity and membership
certainly fall within that category. When enacting the Street Terrorism Enforcement and
Prevention Act, section 186.20 et seq., our Legislature found “California is in a state of
crisis which has been caused by violent street gangs whose members threaten, terrorize,
and commit a multitude of crimes against the peaceful citizens of their neighborhoods.
These activities, both individually and collectively, present a clear and present danger to

                                              13
public order and safety and are not constitutionally protected.” (§ 186.21, italics added.)
As we explained in In re H.M. (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 136: “As recognized by our
Supreme Court, the threat posed by violent street gangs ‘is of the most serious
dimensions and state policy urgently seeks its alleviation. The Legislature has said as
much, and the Official Reports are replete with examples of the problem.’ [Citation.] . . .
[¶] It is . . . common knowledge that members of criminal street gangs often carry guns
and other weapons. ‘When rival gangs clash today, verbal taunting can quickly give way
to physical violence and gunfire. No one immersed in the gang culture is unaware of
these realities, and we see no reason the courts should turn a blind eye to them.’
[Citations.]” (Id. at p. 146.) We do not suggest that gang membership alone may suffice
to establish resentencing poses an unreasonable risk of dangerousness. But neither can a
court ignore such evidence. On remand the trial court may consider evidence related to
Guzman’s past and current gang membership and activities.
       Finally, to the extent Guzman suggests the trial court must limit its consideration
of his prior criminal history to actual convictions or true findings on enhancements, we
disagree. Nothing in the statutory language suggests the court’s inquiry is so
circumscribed.3 As Couzens and Bigelow explain, in conducting the dangerousness

3      It “is well settled under California law that in cases involving plea agreements, it
is ‘improper and unfair to permit the sentencing court to consider any of the facts
underlying [a] dismissed count . . . for purposes of aggravating or enhancing defendant’s
sentence’ ” unless the defendant consents or a transactional relationship exists between
the admitted charge and the dismissed charge. (People v. Berry (2015) 235 Cal.App.4th
1417, 1426; People v. Martin (2010) 51 Cal.4th 75, 77; People v. Harvey (1979)
25 Cal.3d 754, 758.) For purposes of Proposition 36’s initial eligibility finding, a court
may not rely on facts underlying counts upon which the defendant was acquitted
(People v. Arevalo (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 836, 847-848) or counts or allegations that
were dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement (People v. Berry, supra, at pp. 1425-1426).
On the other hand, when sentencing a defendant after a trial, a court is not prohibited
from considering evidence underlying charges of which a defendant has been acquitted.
(People v. Towne (2008) 44 Cal.4th 63, 71.) Guzman does not contend the trial court
violated Harvey by considering conduct underlying counts that were dismissed as a result
of the 2010 plea agreement, nor did he make such an objection below. The parties do not
discuss whether, or how, the foregoing principles apply in the instant matter. Therefore,
                                              14
inquiry, “It is clear that since the court has the authority to consider any relevant
evidence, the inquiry is not limited to the record of conviction.” (Couzens and Bigelow,
Proposition 47, supra, at p. 54; cf. People v. Arevalo, supra, 244 Cal.App.4th at p. 852
[“the People can . . . present new evidence at the discretionary resentencing stage in order
to show that an otherwise eligible defendant is too dangerous to be released”], citing
People v. Bradford (2014) 227 Cal.App.4th 1322, 1349 (conc. opn. of Raye, P. J.).)
                                      DISPOSITION
       The order is reversed. The matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent
with the opinions expressed herein.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                   ALDRICH, Acting P. J.

We concur:

              LAVIN, J.

              HOGUE, J.

and in light of the limited record before us, we express no opinion on the issue.
       Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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