Court Opinion

ID: 1042663
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-01 19:52:44.254944+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:07.296021
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/1/13 P. v. Thomas CA2/2
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION TWO

THE PEOPLE,                                                          B243153

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. BA255650)
         v.

DEVIN L. THOMAS,

         Defendant and Appellant.

THE COURT:*

         Devin L. Thomas (Thomas) appeals from a 2012 order finding him in violation of
his probation and lifting the stay on a state prison sentence which was imposed but
suspended in 2004 after he entered a plea of no contest to three counts of assault with
intent to commit rape (Pen. Code, § 220). His appointed counsel filed a brief pursuant to
People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436, 441 (Wende), raising no issues. On April 30,
2013, we notified Thomas of his counsel’s brief and gave him leave to file, within 30
days, his own brief or letter stating any grounds or argument he wants us to consider.
The deadline was extended to July 31, 2013. Thomas filed a timely letter in which he
raised issues related to the 2004 case rather than the 2012 order which he challenges in

*        BOREN, P. J., ASHMANN-GERST, J., CHAVEZ, J.
his appeal. We have reviewed the entire record. Having found no arguable issues, we
affirm the judgment.
       After Thomas pled no contest on March 1, 2004, he was sentenced to eight years
eight months in state prison. He was then placed on formal probation for eight years and
his sentence was suspended on the condition that, inter alia, he serve one year in county
jail, register as a sex offender and not use or possess narcotics.
       Thomas appealed the judgment.
       On January 6, 2005, the trial court revoked Thomas’s probation when he failed to
appear for a hearing. A bench warrant was issued.
       In People v. Thomas (Sept. 8, 2005, B175366) [nonpub. opn.], the judgment
against Thomas was affirmed.
       Thomas was arrested in early 2012 based on two outstanding warrants. After he
was driven to the police station and removed from the police car, the police officers
found two baggies of cocaine in the backseat. On August 7, 2012, the trial court held a
probation violation hearing. The trial court found that Thomas did not comply with a
substantial number of his probation conditions, such as registering as a sex offender. The
stay on the state prison sentence was lifted, and Thomas received credit for 562 days.
       In his letter, Thomas contends: (1) His arrest for the charged crimes in the
underlying case was made without probable cause and based on false evidence; (2) the
arresting officers engaged in various types of misconduct; (3) he received ineffective
assistance of counsel when his attorney failed to file a motion to dismiss and otherwise
made tactical errors; (4) his attorney should have been removed from the case; (5) he was
mistreated pending trial; (6) his no contest plea should not have been accepted because he
told the trial court he was innocent; (7) he was coerced and threatened into accepting a
plea bargain; (8) he should be permitted to rescind his plea so that he can go to trial and
prove his innocence; and (9) there is evidence outside the record that needs to be
subpoenaed to support his claims.

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       The problem with Thomas’s arguments is that they pertain to the underlying
judgment, which was affirmed on appeal in 2005. The current appeal pertains to the
order revoking his probation and lifting the stay on his sentence. Because Thomas does
not contend that there was insufficient evidence that he violated the terms of his
probation, we perceive no grounds for reversal.
       We have examined the entire record and are satisfied that Thomas’s appellate
counsel fully complied with her responsibilities and that no arguable issue exists. We
conclude that Thomas has, by virtue of counsel’s compliance with the Wende procedure
and our review of the record, received adequate and effective appellate review of the
order entered against him. (Smith v. Robbins (2000) 528 U.S. 259, 278; People v. Kelly
(2006) 40 Cal. 4th 106, 123–124.)
       The order is affirmed.
       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.

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