Court Opinion

ID: 2659331
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-02 20:06:29.790412+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:35:04.200720
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/2/14 P. v. Reynard 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                                          H039652
                                                                    (Santa Clara County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. BB834607)

    v.
DUNCAN DAVID REYNARD,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         Pursuant to a negotiated disposition, Duncan Reynard (defendant) pleaded no
contest to one count of committing a lewd or lascivious act on a child who was under the
age of 14 years. (Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (a).)1 In addition, defendant admitted that he
had suffered a prior conviction within the meaning of Penal Code section 667.61,
subdivision (a). In exchange for his plea and admission, defendant was promised that the
People would dismiss a second count of committing a lewd or lascivious act on a child
who was under the age of 14 years and an associated strike allegation (Pen. Code, §§ 667,
subds. (b)-(i) and 1170.12), and his sentence would be 25 years to life in prison.
         On October 7, 2010, the court sentenced defendant pursuant to the terms of the
negotiated disposition. Over two years later, defense counsel attempted to file a notice of

1
      Defendant had a prior conviction for violating Penal Code section 288,
subdivision (a).
appeal, which was received by the Superior Court, but not filed.2 On July 8, 2013, this
court granted counsel's motion for relief from default; counsel filed a new notice of
appeal on July 16, 2013, in which he appealed from the judgment on the ground that the
court committed sentencing error.
       Defendant's appointed counsel has filed an opening brief in which no issues are
raised and asks this court for an independent review of the record as required by People
v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436 (Wende). Counsel has declared that defendant was
notified that no issues were being raised by counsel on appeal and that an independent
review under Wende was being requested.
       On November 22, 2013, by letter, we notified defendant of his right to submit
written argument on his own behalf within 30 days. That time has passed and we have
not received a response from defendant.
       Pursuant to Wende, supra, 25 Cal. 3d 436, we have reviewed the entire record and
have concluded there are no arguable issues on appeal. Pursuant to People v. Kelly
(2006) 40 Cal. 4th 106, we provide "a brief description of the facts and procedural history
of the case, the crimes of which the defendant was convicted, and the punishment
imposed." (Id. at p. 110.)
                               Facts and Proceedings Below
       No charging document appears in the record and the facts underlying the counts
are taken from the probation officer's report.
       "[T]he defendant, a dog walker for the victim's family, masturbated in front of a
five year old victim, in her bedroom. He touched her vagina and forcefully pulled her

2
       A notation on the notice of appeal indicated that it was "a recreated Notice of
Appeal, submitted have the original Notice of Appeal, placed in the U.S. Mail and
address to the Palo Alto Courthouse on Nov. 19, 2010, disappeared." The recreated
notice of appeal is dated November 19, 2010.
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hand toward his penis. The defendant had the other victim, also five years old, touch his
penis approximately 10 times.
       As noted, the record on appeal contains no charging document. Accordingly, we
have no idea as to when defendant was charged in this case.3 However, the record
indicates that on September 10, 2008, pursuant to Penal Code section 1386, a doubt was
declared as to defendant's competency to stand trial; criminal proceedings were
suspended. Two doctors were appointed to evaluate defendant. Over the course of the
next three months, two more doctors were appointed to evaluate defendant. Finally, in
November, 2009, a court trial was held on the issue of defendant's competency to stand
trial. During the trial, Dr. Martin Williams, a forensic psychologist, and Dr. Jari Larsen,
a psychologist at the San Andreas Regional Center testified for the prosecution and Dr.
David Berke, a clinical psychologist, and Dr. John Kincaid another clinical psychologist
testified for the defense. The court had before it reports authored by Dr. Williams, Dr.
Larsen and Dr. Berke and a report from a Dr. Coate who was not called as a witness.4
Defendant's mother and brother testified for the defense and defendant's probation
officers and the detective who had arrested him testified for the prosecution along with
the victims' mother. At the conclusion of trial the court took the matter under
submission.
       On February 9, 2010, the court filed a lengthy written verdict on defendant's
competency to stand trial, in which the court stated that the defense had not sustained its
burden of showing that appellant was incompetent to stand trial.
       Defendant entered his plea on August 10, 2010. On August 18, 2010, nunc pro
tunc to February 9, 2010, criminal proceedings were reinstated. At the sentencing

3
      Appellate counsel refers to a 2005 indictment that was filed in Santa Clara County
Superior Court on December 16, 2005. A review of the transcript of the grand jury
proceedings indicates that this was the indictment in defendant's prior case.
4
      Originally, Dr. Coate and a Dr. Riley were appointed by the court to examine
defendant. Then, Dr. Williams and Dr. Berke were appointed.
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hearing on October 7, 2010, the court explained that following the court's acceptance of
defendant's change of plea on August 10, the court had realized that following its
decision finding defendant competent to stand trial on February 9, 2010, the court had
neglected to reinstate criminal proceedings, although both parties and the court had
proceeded from that date on as if criminal proceedings had been reinstated. The court
went on to say that the matter was calendared for August 18, 2010, and defense counsel
had waived his presence and agreed to the court reinstating criminal proceedings nunc
pro tunc to February 9, 2010. Defense counsel reaffirmed that he had agreed to that
procedure.
       Upon our independent review of the record, we conclude there are no meritorious
issues to be argued, or that require further briefing on appeal. Defendant received the
sentence he was promised; and the record indicates that he was informed of and
knowingly and intelligently waived his constitutional rights before he entered his plea
and admission.5

5
       Defendant signed and initialed an advisement of rights, waiver and plea form, in
which he was advised of and waived his constitutional rights, was advised he would have
to register as a sex offender, was advised of the immigration consequences of his plea,
and that he was pleading to a strike.
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                                 Disposition
     The judgment is affirmed.

                                   _____________________________
                                   ELIA, J.

WE CONCUR:

____________________________
RUSHING, P. J.

_____________________________
PREMO, J.

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