Court Opinion

ID: 2743859
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-20 20:02:28.138477+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:53:35.685495
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/20/14 P. v. Morgan CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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.

                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,                                                         D065928

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.                                                         (Super. Ct. No. SCD250949)

KASCELL E. MORGAN,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Peter L.

Gallagher, Judge. Affirmed.

         John L. Staley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         On September 16, 2013, and again on September 18, Kascell E. Morgan entered a

Kohl's store with the intent to commit theft. On the first occasion, he stole shoes. An

information charged Morgan with two counts of second degree burglary (Pen. Code,1

§§ 459, 460, subd. (b)) and one count of misdemeanor petty theft (§ 484) and alleged he

1        All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
had suffered a strike prior conviction (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i)). In December, the

prosecutor offered a plea bargain described as "one of the counts of burglary . . . with the

strike for a stipulated sentence of 32 months."

       In January 2014, Morgan pleaded guilty "to the sheet." The change of plea form

did not expressly mention the strike and at the change of plea hearing the court did not

ask Morgan whether he admitted the strike. The court indicated a "32 month lid" and

stated it would "consider alternatives (no drug court)" and "wrap [Morgan's] probation

case."2 The court told Morgan, "[T]he only promise . . . that I am making to you is that I

will go no higher than 32 months, which would probably be the mid-term[3] of count 1

times two, . . . but I would consider alternatives and I would wrap your probation case."

Morgan said he understood. Immediately after taking the plea, the court stated,

"[Morgan's] plea and admission are freely and voluntarily made[;] he understands the

nature of the charges and consequences of the plea and admission. . . . I accept the plea

and admission . . . ."

       In March 2014, the court denied Morgan's motion4 to dismiss the strike and

sentenced him to prison for 32 months: twice the 16-month lower term on one burglary

2      Morgan's probation had been revoked in an unrelated case in October 2013.

3       The lower term for second degree burglary is 16 months; the middle term is two
years. (§§ 461, subd. (b), 18, subd. (a).)

4     In his motion, Morgan argued the instant offenses were relatively minor and
stemmed from his history of substance abuse; his past crimes were mostly nonviolent; he
was not criminally sophisticated; and he would benefit from substance abuse treatment.
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count, a concurrent like term on the second burglary count and credit for time served for

petty theft. Morgan appeals. We affirm.

                                        DISCUSSION

       Appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief summarizing the facts and

proceedings below. Counsel presents no argument for reversal, but asks this court to

review the record for error as mandated by People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.

Pursuant to Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, counsel mentions as a possible but

not arguable issue "[w]hether the trial court erred by doubling the base term of

[Morgan]'s sentence based on the strike conviction because [Morgan] never admitted the

truth of that allegation when he pled guilty . . . ."

       We granted Morgan permission to file a brief on his own behalf. He has done so,

contending his 16-month sentence was doubled to 32 months as a result of the strike

although he did not admit the strike when he entered his guilty plea. Morgan's contention

is not well taken.

       Morgan's contention is a challenge to the validity of his guilty plea. Because the

trial court denied his request for a certificate of probable cause, Morgan cannot challenge

the validity of his plea. (§ 1237.5; People v. Mendez (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1084, 1095;

People v. Williams (1980) 103 Cal.App.3d 507, 511-512.) Moreover, Morgan's

contention concerns a strike. As part of his plea bargain, he waived his right to appeal

issues related to strikes.

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      A review of the record pursuant to Wende and Anders, including the possible issue

listed pursuant to Anders, has disclosed no reasonably arguable appellate issues. Morgan

has been competently represented by appellate counsel.

                                    DISPOSITION

      The judgment is affirmed.

                                                                               IRION, J.

WE CONCUR:

MCCONNELL, P. J.

HUFFMAN, J.

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