Court Opinion

ID: 2716973
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-08 21:02:52.49642+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:55:08.637412
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/8/14 P. v. Sanchez CA1/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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.

               IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                       FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

THE PEOPLE,
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                     A140422
v.
BLAS ENRIQUE SANCHEZ, JR.,                                           (Lake County Super. Ct.
                                                                     No. CR931894)
         Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Blas Enrique Sanchez, Jr. appeals from a final judgment after a plea of
no contest. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal, and appellate counsel was
appointed to represent him. Appointed counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v.
Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436 (Wende), in which counsel raises no issue for appeal and
asks this court for an independent review of the record. (See also People v. Kelly (2006)
40 Cal. 4th 106, 124.) Counsel attests that defendant was advised of his right to file a
supplemental brief. We have received no such brief.
         We have examined the entire record in accordance with Wende. We conclude that
no arguable issue exists on appeal and affirm.
                                             Procedural Background
         On September 25, 2013, the Lake County District Attorney filed an information
charging defendant with a felony violation of possession of drug paraphernalia in a place
where prisoners are located (Pen. Code, 1 § 4573.6). The information further alleged that

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             Unless otherwise noted, all further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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defendant had suffered a prior strike (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)) and
three prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)), and that he was ineligible to serve a sentence
in local custody due to a prior violent felony (§ 1170, subd. (h)(3)).
       On October 1, 2013, defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and denied all
allegations. On November 4, 2013, pursuant to a negotiated disposition, defendant
pleaded no contest to the single charge in the information (possession of drug
paraphernalia in a place where prisoners are located, a felony violation of § 4573.6), in
exchange for dismissal of the prior strike and the three prior prison terms, with a
stipulated sentence of three years, to be served consecutive to defendant’s current prison
sentence. Prior to the plea, defendant completed a plea form, and stated on the record
that he understood the terms and conditions of the plea. Defendant acknowledged that he
understood that the sentence would be three years in state prison, and that it would be
consecutive to the term that he was currently serving.
       On December 2, 2013, the court sentenced defendant pursuant to the plea
agreement, i.e., three years to run consecutive to his current sentence. Defendant was
ordered to pay a restitution fine of $720 under section 1202.4, a court operation
assessment of $40 under section 1465.8, and a criminal conviction assessment of $30
under Government Code section 70373. The court stated that this is a “half time case.”
       At sentencing the court asked if there was argument and the prosecutor responded,
“I believe it’s a stipulated sentence.” The court responded, “It was, stipulated three
years.” Defense counsel said, “I have some comments. I’m not sure they amount to
argument. [¶] . . . [¶] They amount to whining more than anything else.” Defense
counsel then argued that defendant’s three-year sentence could be subordinate to his
current prison sentence, which would reduce his three-year sentence for possession of
paraphernalia in prison to one-third of the middle term for the offense (§ 1170.1, subd.
(a)). The court disagreed with this view, finding that defendant was not entitled to the
benefit of section 1170.1, subdivision (a), for the current offense because it was
committed while defendant was in a state prison, rendering section 1170.1, subdivision

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(c) applicable. Nor did the court believe that it had the discretion to make defendant’s
new sentence subordinate to his current one.
                                    Factual Background2
       On December 2, 2012, Officer Brad Holt was on duty as a corrections officer at
the Konocti Conservation Camp, a California state prison facility. At approximately
7:30 p.m., he conducted a random security inspection. Holt entered dorm room No. 2 and
approached bed No. 214, where he observed defendant and another inmate sitting on a
bunk bed. Defendant was holding a lighter and the other inmate was holding a light bulb
that had a piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom and a tube inside the light bulb. Holt
observed white smoke inside the light bulb and watched as the other inmate inhaled the
smoke from the light bulb. Holt never saw defendant hold the light bulb.
       Holt believed the light bulb contraption was an inmate-manufactured smoking
device and instructed both inmates to give him the light bulb and the lighter. Both
inmates complied and Holt escorted them out of the dormitory building to the duty office.
As they walked through the yard, defendant started to walk away from Holt. Holt
ordered him to return, but defendant did not. Holt walked the other inmate to the office
while keeping his eye on defendant. Defendant walked to a large grass area in the center
of the yard and appeared to toss something into the drainage, then walked back toward
Holt. After leaving the other inmate in the custody of Officer Armstrong, Holt escorted
defendant inside and then searched the drainage area, but found nothing. Officer
Armstrong asked the other inmate, “What were you guys doing smoking marijuana in the
dorms?” Defendant blurted out, “It was meth.”
       Defendant was strip searched, but nothing was found. The light bulb contained
only residue that was never tested, and no methamphetamine was ever recovered. A
urine sample was collected, and defendant tested positive for methamphetamine.

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           The facts are derived from the preliminary hearing in this case.

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                                       Disposition
       We find no meritorious sentencing issues requiring reversal of the judgment. As
part of the plea agreement, defendant acknowledged that the sentence would be three
years in state prison. Defendant was represented by counsel throughout the proceedings
from entry of plea to sentencing. We find no indication in the record that counsel
provided ineffective assistance. We have reviewed the record on appeal. By entering
pleas of no contest to the charges, defendant admitted the sufficiency of the evidence
establishing the crimes for which he was sentenced. There was no error in the sentencing
process or the sentence. The court has reviewed the entire record in accordance with
Wende, and finds no arguable issues requiring further briefing.
       Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

                                                 ______________________
                                                  Becton, J.*

We concur:

______________________
 Dondero, Acting P.J.

______________________
 Banke, J.

* Judge of the Contra Costa County Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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