Court Opinion

ID: 9926027
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-23 18:03:11.540566+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:58.750508
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/23/24 P. v. Geller CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                     (Sacramento)
                                                            ----

 THE PEOPLE,                                                                                   C098064

                    Plaintiff and Respondent,                                    (Super. Ct. No. 22FE001459)

           v.

 ELIJAH GELLER,

                    Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Elijah Geller pled no contest to robbery, admitted he had been
convicted of a serious felony, and admitted that another participant of the robbery was
armed with a handgun. The trial court sentenced him to 13 years in prison.
         Defendant appeals. His appointed counsel filed an opening brief raising no legal
issues and asking this court to independently review the record pursuant to People v.
Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436. Having done so, we affirm.

                                                             1
                   FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
        The People charged defendant with robbery and burglary and alleged he
committed the robbery in concert with two or more other people while another participant
was armed with a handgun. The People also alleged defendant had personally used a
firearm in committing the offenses and had been convicted of a serious felony.
        On the day set to begin defendant’s trial, the parties agreed to a negotiated plea
agreement. Before pleading, defendant moved to continue trial to permit him to retain
counsel. Defendant had no complaints about his appointed counsel. The court confirmed
that the negotiated plea agreement would be withdrawn if it granted defendant’s request
for a continuance, but defendant wanted to proceed with his motion. The court then
denied the motion as untimely because defendant made the motion the morning of trial,
defendant did not have retained counsel ready to step in, and the codefendant was ready
for trial.
        Appointed counsel then objected that the People had not introduced sufficient
evidence to prove defendant was 16 years old when he committed the prior serious
felony. The trial court confirmed defendant understood his counsel’s objection but still
wanted to admit that his prior conviction counted as a serious felony. Defendant then
pled no contest to robbery and admitted committing the robbery in concert with two or
more other people. Defendant also admitted that another participant was armed with a
handgun during the robbery and admitted he had been convicted of a serious felony.
        At the sentencing hearing, appointed counsel renewed his objection to the
evidence supporting defendant’s age at the time he committed the prior serious felony.
The People provided a document that had not been available at the time of the prior
hearing showing defendant had been 16 when he committed the prior offense. Defendant
then confirmed he wanted to stand by his prior admission that he had been 16 when he
committed the prior serious felony.

                                              2
       In accordance with the negotiated plea, the trial court sentenced defendant to the
middle term of six years in prison, doubled due to the prior serious felony conviction.
The court added one consecutive year for the firearm enhancement, for a total of 13
years. The court granted the People’s motion to dismiss the burglary charge and the
remaining allegations.
       Defendant timely appealed, indicating he based his appeal on his sentence or other
matters occurring after his plea that did not affect the validity of the plea.
                                        DISCUSSION
       We appointed counsel to represent defendant on appeal. Counsel filed an opening
brief setting forth the facts of the case and, pursuant to People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d
436, asking this court to review the record and determine whether there are any arguable
issues on appeal. Defendant was advised by counsel of the right to file a supplemental
brief and he has not done so.
       After independently reviewing the entire record, we find no arguable error that
would result in a disposition more favorable to defendant.

                                               3
                                     DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                  /s/
                                                 MESIWALA, J.

We concur:

 /s/
HULL, Acting P. J.

 /s/
WISEMAN, J.*

*      Retired Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, assigned
by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

                                             4