Court Opinion

ID: 3199049
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-29 00:02:59.639202+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:30.437291
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/28/16 P. v. Derbyshire 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                                          H042865
                                                                    (Santa Clara County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. 206758)

             v.

WILLIAM FREDERICK DERBYSHIRE,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         In 1998, appellant William Derbyshire was convicted of possessing a dangerous
drug in violation of former Health and Safety Code section 11377, subdivision (a). He
was originally given probation on the condition that he serve 90 days in county jail, but
he was later sentenced to 16 months in state prison, when his probation was revoked.
         On August 10, 2015, appellant filed a petition to redesignate his 1998 felony
conviction for violation of Health and Safety Code section 11377, subdivision (a) as a
misdemeanor pursuant to Proposition 47. (Pen. Code, § 1170.18, subds (f) & (g).)
Appellant also asked that the firearm ban in Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (k)
not be imposed, arguing that it applies only to resentencings, not to redesignations, and
that it should be declared unconstitutional as a violation of equal protection rights. On
September 28, 2015, the trial court granted the motion to redesignate the crime as a
misdemeanor, but denied his request to lift the firearm ban. On October 2, 2015,
appellant filed a timely notice of appeal, challenging the imposition of the lifetime
firearm ban.
       On appeal, we appointed counsel to represent appellant in this court. Appointed
counsel filed an opening brief pursuant to People v. Serrano (2012) 211 Cal. App. 4th 496
(Serrano), which states the case and the facts but raises no specific issues. Pursuant to
Serrano, on December 14, 2015 we notified appellant of his right to submit written
argument in his own behalf within 30 days. On January 28, 2016, we received a
memorandum from appellant. In his filing, the appellant accepts responsibility for his
crime and prior poor life choices, but describes the many efforts he has taken to improve
his life since serving his sentence. Without further explanation, appellant states that he
needs to posses firearms for his future employment as a “Licensed International Project
Management Professional.” Penal Code, section 1170.18, subdivision (k) states in
relevant part, “Any felony conviction that is recalled and resentenced under subdivision
(b) or designated as a misdemeanor under subdivision (g) shall be considered a
misdemeanor for all purposes, except that such resentencing shall not permit that person
to own, possess, or have in his or her custody or control any firearm . . . .” The trial court
designated appellant’s felony as a misdemeanor under subdivision (g), but under
subdivision (k), it lacked the discretion to lift the firearm ban, despite appellant’s many
personal or educational achievements, or his perceived need for firearms. As nothing in
appellant’s supplemental brief raises an arguable issue on appeal, we must dismiss the
appeal. (Serrano, supra, 211 Cal.App.4th at pp. 503-504.)

                                        DISPOSITION
       The appeal is dismissed.

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                                    _____________________________________
                                               RUSHING, P.J.

WE CONCUR:

_________________________________
      PREMO, J.

_________________________________
      ELIA, J.

People v. Derbyshire
H042865

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