Court Opinion

ID: 4710253
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-10 15:30:24.971345+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:07:02.268974
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                            AUGUST 10, 2021
                                                       In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                      WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                            DIVISION THREE

In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of:   )        No. 36996-0-III
                                              )
MIZAEL MAGANA,                                )        UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                              )
                     Petitioner.              )

       PENNELL, C.J. — Mizael Magana has filed a petition for relief from personal

restraint imposed following his 2009 conviction for two counts of first degree assault with

firearm enhancements and one count of drive-by shooting. At the age of 16, Mr. Magana

was tried in adult court for these crimes. Recognizing Mr. Magana’s youth, the trial court

imposed an exceptional downward sentence of 24 months for each his two first degree

assault convictions, which were to be run consecutively. It also imposed a standard range

sentence of 48 months on his conviction for drive-by shooting, to be run concurrently

with his assault sentences. Finally, the court imposed 120 months with no credit for good

behavior for the two mandatory firearm enhancements, resulting in a total term of

confinement of 168 months. When imposing the firearm enhancements, the court

lamented its lack of discretion to impose a lighter sentence. In 2019, Mr. Magana filed a

personal restraint petition, seeking resentencing under State v. Houston-Sconiers, 188

Wn.2d 1, 21, 391 P.3d 409 (2017).
No. 36996-0-111
In re Pers. Restraint of Magana

       Mr. Magana's petition is timely, falling under an exception to the one-year time

bar because Houston-Sconiers is retroactively applicable. See RCW 10.73.100(6); In re

Pers. Restraint ofAli, 196 Wn.2d 220,233,474 P.3d 507 (2020), cert. denied sub nom.

Washington v. Ali, 141 S. Ct. 1754 (2021). The State concedes that based on the trial

court's comments expressing its desire to impose a lower sentence had it the discretion to

do so, Mr. Magana can establish both error and prejudice. See Ali, 196 Wn.2d at 243-44.

Accordingly, the State agrees that Mr. Magana is entitled to resentencing consistent with

Houston-Sconiers.

       Based on our own review of Mr. Magana's petition, and the State's concessions,

we grant the personal restrain petition and remand to the superior court for resentencing.

       A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in

the Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to

RCW 2.06.040.

                                             Q.           ~
                                                            -
                                                                  ~   .....
                                                                ' "'-- J,
                                          Pennell, C.J.

WE CONCUR:

                                          Staab, J.

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