Court Opinion

ID: 9927321
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-26 20:02:35.840804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:07.742627
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/26/24 P. v. Stuart CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                    (San Joaquin)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,                                                                                  C098635

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                         (Super. Ct. No.
                                                                                  STKCRFE20200008121)
         v.

ANTHONY DEMONE STUART,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

         Appointed counsel for defendant Anthony Demone Stuart has asked this court to
review the record and determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal.
(People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) Defendant filed a supplemental brief which we
understand to challenge the evidence supporting a portion of the trial court’s restitution
award. Having reviewed defendant’s arguments and finding no arguable error that would
result in a disposition more favorable to defendant, we affirm the trial court’s order.

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                                    BACKGROUND
       On August 9, 2021, a jury found defendant guilty of second degree murder with
two firearm enhancements and illegal possession of a firearm. The trial court determined
defendant had suffered a prior strike and sentenced him to an aggregate prison term of 55
years to life plus 16 months.1 We upheld these convictions in an unpublished opinion but
remanded the matter for the trial court to consider its sentencing discretion consistent
with People v. Tirado (2022) 12 Cal.5th 688. (People v. Stuart (Mar. 8, 2023,
C094818).)
       On November 8, 2021, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office sent
defendant a letter informing him he owed $16,069.45 in victim restitution and requesting
defendant execute a stipulation and waiver of the restitution hearing. Defendant
requested a restitution hearing.
       Thereafter, on April 11, 2023, defendant’s Marsden2 motion to replace his
attorney was denied when defendant indicated he wanted to represent himself.
Thereafter, the trial court granted defendant’s Faretta3 motion and his appointed counsel
was relieved.
       The contested restitution hearing took place on April 25, 2023. Defendant’s
motion to recuse the judge at the outset of the hearing was denied as untimely.
Thereafter, the People presented certified records documenting $9,424.35 in funeral
home expenses and $6,645.10 in cemetery expenses. Defendant objected that the
paperwork for the $6,645.10 expense did not reflect that payment had been made and that

1      At sentencing, the trial court ordered restitution in an amount to be determined and
reserved jurisdiction for that purpose. (Pen. Code, § 1202.4, subd. (f).)
2      People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118.
3      Faretta v. California (1975) 422 U.S. 806.

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portions of the document were illegible. The trial court found the two bills corresponded
to each other and admitted the exhibits over defendant’s objection. Accordingly, the trial
court awarded a total of $16,069.45 in victim restitution with $7,500 payable to the
Victim Compensation Board and $8,569.45 payable to W.H. Defendant timely appealed.
                                       DISCUSSION
       We appointed counsel to represent defendant on appeal. Counsel filed an opening
brief that sets forth the facts and procedural history of the case and requests this court to
review the record and determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal.
(People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436.) Defendant was advised by counsel of the right
to file a supplemental brief within 30 days from the date the opening brief was filed.
Defendant filed a supplemental brief challenging a portion of the trial court’s restitution
order. He accepts the validity of the trial court’s award of $9,424.35 for funeral
expenses, but challenges the remaining award of $6,645.10 in cemetery expenses on the
ground that there is insufficient evidence supporting the award.
       We have located no published authority that speaks to the applicability of Wende
procedures to an appeal from a trial court’s original order setting victim restitution where
the court reserved jurisdiction at the original sentencing hearing. (Pen. Code, §§ 1202.4,
subd. (f), 1202.46.) Nonetheless, because defendant’s contested restitution hearing was
part of his original criminal prosecution and a continuation of sentencing (People v.
Dehle (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 1380, 1386), we have reviewed the record in accordance
with Wende. Having done so, including the consideration of defendant’s arguments, we
find no arguable issue that could result in a disposition more favorable to defendant.
       “Restitution is constitutionally and statutorily mandated in California. ([Citation];
Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (b).) The constitutional mandate for restitution is carried
out through Penal Code section 1202.4 . . . .” (People v. Keichler (2005)
129 Cal.App.4th 1039, 1045, fn. omitted.) Penal Code section 1202.4, subdivision (f)
provides in part: “Except as provided in subdivisions (q) and (r), in every case in which a

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victim has suffered economic loss as a result of the defendant’s conduct, the court shall
require that the defendant make restitution to the victim or victims in an amount
established by court order, based on the amount of loss claimed by the victim or victims
or any other showing to the court. . . . The court shall order full restitution.” (Pen. Code,
§ 1202.4, subd. (f).)
       “The standard of proof at a restitution hearing is preponderance of the evidence,
not reasonable doubt.” (People v. Holmberg (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 1310, 1319.) The
victim must make “a prima facie showing of economic losses incurred as a result of the
defendant’s criminal acts,” and once the victim does so, “the burden shifts to the
defendant to disprove the amount of losses claimed by the victim.” (People v. Taylor
(2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 757, 761.)
       We review a restitution order for abuse of discretion, broadly and liberally
construing a victim’s restitution right. (People v. Taylor, supra, 197 Cal.App.4th at
p. 761.) “ ‘ “When there is a factual and rational basis for the amount of restitution
ordered by the trial court, no abuse of discretion will be found by the reviewing
court.” ’ ” (People v. Holmberg, supra, 195 Cal.App.4th at p. 1320.)
       Here, defendant does not challenge that funeral and burial expenses incurred by
the family of a murder victim are subject to a victim restitution order. (Pen. Code,
§ 1202.4, subd. (f)(4)(B); People v. Rojas (2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 48.) Defendant only
challenges the $6,645.10 portion of the restitution award corresponding to the expenses
the victim incurred at the Roselawn Cemetery. The victim provided a document
evidencing this expense to the California Victim Compensation Board (the Board) and
that certified document was presented as evidence at the restitution hearing. As
acknowledged in the trial court, certain portions of the document are illegible. However,
the document clearly reflects that Roselawn Cemetery entered into an agreement with
W.H. dated August 10, 2020, for a single grave and that $6,645.10 had to be prepaid
within 48 hours of the funeral. Moreover, Chapel of Chimes is identified as the funeral

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director, and the Board certified that W.H. paid Chapel of Chimes for a graveside service.
We also note that the Board’s nonpayment of the $6,645.10 in cemetery expenses was not
for lack of documentation, but because W.H. had already received the maximum
allowable amount for funeral and burial expenses. Accordingly, we find a factual and
rational basis supporting the trial court’s restitution award of $6,645.10 for expenses
incurred from Roselawn Cemetery (People v. Holmberg, supra, 195 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1320) and will affirm the trial court’s restitution order.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The trial court’s order is affirmed.

                                                    /s/
                                                   Ashworth, J.

We concur:

 /s/
Earl, P. J.

 /s/
Krause, J.

     Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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