Court Opinion

ID: 2802696
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-05-21 18:03:17.737278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:29:45.492551
License: Public Domain

Filed 5/21/15 P. v. Butera 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                                          H040996
                                                                    (Santa Clara County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. C1245498)

             v.

ROBERT SALVADORE BUTERA,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Robert Salvadore Butera appeals from a conviction for contracting
without a license (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 7028, subd. (a)), failure to secure payment of
compensation (Lab. Code, § 3700.5), and diversion of construction funds (Pen. Code,
§ 484b). On appeal, defendant challenges probations conditions related to substance
abuse and a $10 crime-prevention fine. As set forth below, we will strike the $10 fine
and otherwise affirm the judgment of conviction.
                              FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
         Defendant and Linda Gross entered a contract in which defendant agreed to
remodel Gross’s kitchen for $29,600. Gross was unaware that defendant was not a
licensed contractor. During construction, Gross paid defendant over $46,000. When
Gross refused to pay additional costs, defendant stopped working and left the project
incomplete. Gross reviewed invoices for materials used in the remodel, and she learned
that she had paid defendant for materials that he never purchased. An inspector reviewed
defendant’s work and determined that it was substandard and did not satisfy the building
codes. The cost to correct defendant’s work and complete construction on the kitchen
was $55,000. Defendant did not have workers’ compensation insurance, and he filed a
claim against Gross’s homeowner’s insurance for injuries he asserted had occurred at
Gross’s home.
       Based on the foregoing conduct, defendant pleaded guilty to contracting without a
license (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 7028, subd. (a)), failure to secure payment of compensation
(Lab. Code, § 3700.5), and diversion of construction funds (Pen. Code, § 484b). The trial
court suspended imposition of sentence and placed defendant on formal probation for
three years. Among the various terms and conditions of probation, the trial court ordered:
1) defendant must “submit to chemical tests as directed by the probation officer,” 2)
defendant is “not to possess or use illegal drugs or illegal controlled substances or go
anywhere you know illegal drugs or non-prescribed controlled substances are used or
sold,” and 3) defendant “shall enter and complete a substance abuse treatment program as
directed by the probation officer.” In addition to other fines and fees, the trial court
imposed a $10 crime-prevention fine pursuant to Penal Code section 1202.5.
       Defendant moved to strike the three probation conditions related to substance
abuse. At a hearing on the matter, defense counsel argued the conditions were
inappropriate because drugs and alcohol played no role in the crimes, defendant had been
“clean and sober for five years,” and defendant “regularly attends A.A. meetings on his
own volition.” The prosecutor objected, arguing the conditions were appropriate because
defendant had a pending charge for driving under the influence. Defense counsel argued
the pending charge resulted from defendant’s use of prescription drugs that he “possessed
lawfully” and “was lawfully taking.” Defense counsel also noted there had been “an
offer of a dry reckless” in the pending case. The trial court refused to strike the probation
conditions related to substance abuse, explaining: “There’s this new case that you’ve just
alluded to. Part of the objective of imposing probation conditions is to avoid future
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criminality, and that’s what I believe, in light of the new case, no matter what the offer is,
or no matter what the reason or the types of drugs that were actually found, that is,
prescription as opposed to illicit illegal drugs or alcohol, it seems to the Court that,
especially in light of that offense, that it’s warranted, that . . . these conditions . . . will
serve [defendant] well in the future to avoid future criminality. That’s what the Court is
most interested in.”
                                           DISCUSSION
I. PROBATION CONDITIONS
       Defendant contends that we must strike the three probation conditions related to
substance abuse. He first asserts that the conditions are unreasonable and thus constitute
an abuse of discretion. He next asserts that the condition regarding use of drugs,
possession of drugs, and travel to places where drugs are used or sold is
unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. As explained below, the trial court did not err in
imposing the conditions.
       A. Reasonableness
       “Probation is generally reserved for convicted criminals whose conditional release
into society poses minimal risk to public safety and promotes rehabilitation.” (People v.
Carbajal (1995) 10 Cal.4th 1114, 1120.) “The sentencing court has broad discretion to
determine whether an eligible defendant is suitable for probation and, if so, under what
conditions.” (Ibid.) Penal Code section 1203.1 authorizes the trial court to impose
“reasonable conditions, as it may determine are fitting and proper to the end that justice
may be done, that amends may be made to society for the breach of the law, for any
injury done to any person resulting from that breach, and generally and specifically for
the reformation and rehabilitation of the probationer.” (Pen. Code, § 1203.1, subd. (j).)
       “We review conditions of probation for abuse of discretion.” (People v. Olguin
(2008) 45 Cal.4th 375, 379 (Olguin).) “Generally, ‘[a] condition of probation will not be
held invalid unless it “(1) has no relationship to the crime of which the offender was
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convicted, (2) relates to conduct which is not in itself criminal, and (3) requires or forbids
conduct which is not reasonably related to future criminality . . . .” [Citation.]’ ” (Ibid.)
“This test is conjunctive—all three prongs must be satisfied before a reviewing court will
invalidate a probation term.” (Ibid.) “As such, even if a condition of probation has no
relationship to the crime of which a defendant was convicted and involves conduct that is
not itself criminal, the condition is valid as long as the condition is reasonably related to
preventing future criminality.” (Id. at pp. 379-380.)
       Here, defendant’s trial counsel conceded that defendant had a history of substance
abuse, defendant had a pending charge for driving under the influence, and the pending
charge was based on defendant’s use of prescription drugs. Given this record, the
probation conditions regarding substance abuse are reasonably related to preventing
future criminality. Because the conditions regarding substance abuse are reasonably
related to preventing future criminality, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
imposing them. (See Olguin, supra, 45 Cal. 4th at pp. 379-380.)
       Defendant contends the conditions constitute an abuse of discretion because there
is no “factual nexus” between the conditions and the crimes of conviction. He
emphasizes that there was no evidence he was abusing drugs or alcohol at the time of his
crimes. Defendant’s argument is unavailing. Our Supreme Court has held that “even if a
condition of probation has no relationship to the crime of which a defendant was
convicted,” the condition is valid as long as it “is reasonably related to preventing future
criminality.” (Olguin, supra, 45 Cal.4th at pp. 379-380.) Thus, contrary to defendant’s
assertion, it is irrelevant that there was no evidence linking the crimes of conviction to
substance abuse. Because the probation conditions regarding substance abuse are
reasonably related to preventing future criminality, they are valid and do not constitute an
abuse of discretion.

       B. Constitutionality
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       Probations conditions “may be challenged on the grounds of unconstitutional
vagueness and overbreadth.” (People v. Freitas (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 747, 750.) “A
probation condition ‘must be sufficiently precise for the probationer to know what is
required of him, and for the court to determine whether the condition has been violated,’
if it is to withstand a challenge on the ground of vagueness.” (In re Sheena K. (2007) 40
Cal.4th 875, 890.) “A probation condition that imposes limitations on a person’s
constitutional rights must closely tailor those limitations to the purpose of the condition
to avoid being invalidated as unconstitutionally overbroad.” (Ibid.) “[W]e review
constitutional challenges to a probation condition de novo.” (In re Shaun R. (2010) 188
Cal.App.4th 1129, 1143.)
       Defendant raises a constitutional challenge to only one of the probation conditions.
He challenges the condition that states he is “not to possess or use illegal drugs or illegal
controlled substances or go anywhere you know illegal drugs or non-prescribed
controlled substances are used or sold.”
       In his opening brief, defendant asserts that the portion of the condition that
prohibits him from possessing and using illegal drugs is unconstitutionally vague because
it lacks a knowledge requirement. Defendant’s argument’s conflicts with People v.
Rodriguez (2013) 222 Cal.App.4th 578 (Rodriguez), a case cited by the Attorney General
in the respondent’s brief. In Rodriguez, this court held that a knowledge requirement was
“reasonably implicit” in a probation condition that commanded a defendant to “ ‘[n]ot
use or possess alcohol, intoxicants, narcotics, or other controlled substances without the
prescription of a physician.’ ” (Id. at pp. 592-593.) This court reasoned: “What is
implicit is that possession of a controlled substance involves the mental elements of
knowing of its presence and of its nature as a restricted substance.” (Id. at p. 593.)
Citing Rodriguez in his reply brief, defendant now concedes that the commands “ ‘[n]ot
to use or possess illegal drugs’ reasonably contain an implicit knowledge requirement.”

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In light of Rodriguez and defendant’s concession, we cannot conclude that an absence of
a knowledge requirement renders the condition unconstitutionally vague.
       Defendant additionally asserts that the portion of the condition that commands him
to not “go anywhere you know illegal drugs or non-prescribed controlled substances are
used or sold” is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. He contends that this portion of
the condition is vague “because it fails to identify geographic areas that are prohibited.”
He asserts that this portion of the condition is overbroad because it places a “tremendous”
burden on his constitutional right to travel, it “is tied to geographic places that encompass
parts of the entire world,” it “fails to carve out exceptions for his legitimate travel,” and
he could unwittingly violate the condition if he were on a bus and someone started selling
or using drugs on the bus. Defendant’s arguments are unconvincing.
       The condition is not unconstitutionally vague. The condition states defendant
cannot go anywhere he knows illegal drugs or non-prescribed controlled substances are
used or sold. Because the condition contains an explicit knowledge requirement,
defendant has sufficient notice of those locations that are prohibited. Given the express
knowledge requirement, the condition need not identify particular locations where drugs
are used or sold. As the condition is written, defendant has fair warning of the locations
to which he may not travel. (See generally People v. Castenada (2000) 23 Cal.4th 743,
751 [the “due process concept of fair warning is the underpinning of the vagueness
doctrine”].)
       Nor is the condition overbroad. Probation conditions are interpreted with
“common sense.” (In re Ramon M. (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 665, 677.) “A probation
condition should be given ‘the meaning that would appear to a reasonable, objective
reader.’ ” (Olguin, supra, 45 Cal.4th at p. 383.) Applying a reasonable, common sense
interpretation of the condition, we cannot conclude that the condition places a
tremendous burden on defendant’s right to travel. Defendant is prohibited from going to
only those places where he knows illegal drugs or non-prescribed controlled substances
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are used or sold. He provides no reason why he would need to legitimately travel to such
places. Given the express knowledge requirement, defendant would not be in violation of
the condition if he goes to a location that, unbeknownst to him, is a location where illegal
drugs are used or sold. Defendant has thus failed to convince us that the condition is
overbroad.
       Defendant finally asserts that the condition “is not narrowly tailored” because it
will have “minimal effect on his rehabilitation” as he “could arrange to buy and use drugs
in places where he knows illegal drugs are not sold or used.” This argument is meritless.
The condition prohibits defendant from possessing illegal drugs, using illegal drugs, and
going anywhere he knows illegal drugs or non-prescribed drugs are used or sold. We
believe that these prohibitions are a reasonable and effective means for preventing
defendant from abusing drugs. The circumstance that defendant could potentially arrange
to buy and use drugs at locations not described in the condition does not render the
condition unconstitutional. (See generally People v. Jungers (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th
698, 704 [a probation condition that restricts a constitutional right is valid if it is
“carefully tailored and ‘reasonably related to the compelling state interest’ in reforming
and rehabilitating the defendant”].)
       C. Conclusion
       Defendant has failed to show the probation conditions related to substance abuse
are unreasonable or unconstitutional. We therefore will not modify or strike those
probation conditions.
II. CRIME-PREVENTION FINE
       Defendant contends that the trial court erred in imposing a $10 crime-prevention
fine pursuant to Penal Code section 1202.5, and he requests that we strike the fine. The
Attorney General concedes that the fine must be stricken. We therefore will strike the
$10 crime-prevention fine.

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                                    DISPOSITION
      The judgment is modified to strike the $10 crime-prevention fine. As so modified,
the judgment is affirmed.

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                                 ______________________________________
                                            RUSHING, P.J.

WE CONCUR:

____________________________________
           PREMO, J.

____________________________________
           ELIA, J.

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