Court Opinion

ID: 902830
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-17 19:03:29.832467+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:22:33.726075
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/17/13 P. v. Pelayo CA1/5
Opinion on remand from Supreme Court

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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 FIVE

THE PEOPLE,
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                     A123042
v.
ANTONIO PLASCENCIA PELAYO,                                           (Solano County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. FCR243938)
         Defendant and Appellant.

         Appellant, Antonio Plascencia Pelayo, challenges his conviction and sentence for
possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of ecstasy for sale, and evading a
police officer. He challenges the validity of a search warrant for his residence, which
was based primarily on information received from confidential informants and contained
in a partially sealed affidavit. Pelayo also argues that Penal Code section 654 bars his
punishment for possession of both methamphetamine and ecstasy for sale. Finally, he
argues that he is entitled to the benefit of 2009 amendments to Penal Code section 4019
which went into effect on January 25, 2010 pursuant to Senate Bill No. 18 (2009–2010
3d Ex. Sess.) and increased the good conduct credits available to a defendant for
presentence custody in a local detention facility. (Stats. 2009, 3d Ex. Sess. 2009–2010,
ch. 28, § 50.) We find no error and affirm.1

         1
        We filed our first opinion in this appeal on February 16, 2010. In that opinion,
we addressed only the search warrant and section 654 issues that had been raised in
Pelayo‘s appellate briefs. We affirmed the judgment. On February 22, 2010, before our

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                                  I.     BACKGROUND
       On June 12, 2007, the superior court issued a warrant authorizing a search of a
single-family home at 375 Mountain Meadows Drive in Fairfield and the person of
Pelayo for, among other items, methamphetamine and items associated with the sale of
methamphetamine. In the supporting affidavit, Solano County Sheriff‘s Deputy
Detective Dax R. West averred that he had extensive experience in narcotics trafficking
investigations and arrests, and that, ―Within the past ten (10) days, (S) Antonio Pelayo
sold Methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant (CI#2).[2] The CI#2 confirmed with
me by a photograph of Antonio Pelayo that he was the one who sold him/her
Methamphetamine.‖3 An ―Appendix A‖ to the affidavit provided additional information
in support of the warrant. West asked the court to file the appendix under seal in order to

opinion became final, Pelayo filed a petition for rehearing seeking the benefit of 2009
amendments to section 4019, which had taken effect in January 2010. We granted the
petition for rehearing, vacated our original decision, and after supplemental briefing
issued a new opinion on May 6, 2010, that granted Pelayo the retroactive benefit of the
amendments to section 4019. On July 21, 2010, the Supreme Court granted the People‘s
petition for review and deferred the case pending a decision in People v. Brown
(No. S181963). On June 18, 2012, the Supreme Court issued its decision and held that
the 2009 amendments to section 4019 did not have retroactive effect. (People v. Brown
(2012) 54 Cal.4th 314, 318 (Brown).) On May 16, 2013, the Supreme Court transferred
this case back to this court ―with directions to vacate its decision and to reconsider the
cause in light of‖ Brown. We have vacated the prior opinion by separate order. The
People filed a supplemental letter brief pursuant to California Rules of Court,
rule 8.200(b)(1), and Pelayo informed us that he did not intend to file supplemental
briefing.
       2
        As discussed post, the detective also received information, set forth in the sealed
portion of the search warrant affidavit, from another confidential informant identified as
CI#1.
       3
         West also stated, ―I ran Pelayo through NCIC and Cal Photo to obtain a criminal
history and photograph. Antonio Pelayo (DOB 072178) has been arrested for the
following crimes in the past; 23152(A)/23152(B) CVC Driving Under the Influence,
23103 CVC Reckless Driving, 14601.5(A) CVC Driving with a Suspended License,
12677 H&S Possess Fireworks w/o Permit, 1320(A) PC Fail to Appear Misdemeanor
Charges.‖

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protect the confidentiality of informant identity. The court granted the request and issued
the warrant.
       On June 20, 2007, West observed Pelayo driving on public streets and attempted a
traffic stop. Pelayo sped away and led police on an extended car chase that ended only
when a police vehicle blocked Pelayo‘s car. After Pelayo was placed under arrest,
officers searched 375 Mountain Meadows Drive pursuant to the warrant. There the
officers seized almost two kilograms of methamphetamine, 52 pills containing both
ecstasy and methamphetamine, three loaded firearms stored in three different locations in
the home, a digital scale, pay/owe sheets, indicia of ownership or residence, $19,375 in
U.S. currency, almost $100,000 in jewelry, three fully-paid vehicles, $11,000 in receipts
for electronics, $11,000 in receipts for furniture, a $10,000 certificate of deposit, and
payment records for a Las Vegas timeshare. Pelayo waived his Miranda rights,
acknowledged ownership of the methamphetamine, and admitted that he sold
methamphetamine to a select group of about four or five people.
       Pelayo was charged by felony complaint, which was later amended to charge
Pelayo with possession of methamphetamine and ecstasy while armed with a loaded
firearm (Health & Saf. Code, § 11370.1, subd. (a); counts 1 and 2); possession of
methamphetamine for sale and possession of ecstasy for sale (Health & Saf. Code,
§ 11378; counts 3 and 4); and evading a police officer in willful or wanton disregard for
the safety of persons or property (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a); count 5). As to
count 3, it was alleged that Pelayo possessed more than one kilogram of
methamphetamine within the meaning of Health and Safety Code section 11370.4,
subdivision (b)(1). As to counts 3 and 4, it was alleged that the quantity of the substance
possessed was an aggravating sentencing factor within the meaning of Penal Code
section 1170.73, and that Pelayo was personally armed with a firearm during the
commission and attempted commission of the crimes, within the meaning of Penal Code
section 12022, subdivision (c). It was further alleged that counts 1 through 4 were
offenses that would render Pelayo ineligible for probation if convicted except in unusual
cases pursuant to Penal Code section 1203.073, subdivision (b)(2).

                                              3
       Pelayo moved to unseal the search warrant affidavit, to quash and traverse the
search warrant, and to reveal the identity of the confidential informant. The court
conducted an in camera review of Appendix A to the search warrant affidavit and
concluded it supported issuance of the search warrant. The court ordered the unsealing of
a portion of Appendix A that explained how West determined that 375 Mountain
Meadows likely was Pelayo‘s residence. The court specifically declined to unseal the
details of police contacts with two confidential informants referenced in the appendix,
which might disclose their identities.
       The unsealed excerpt from Appendix A explained that West did a ―work up‖ on
Pelayo and found two vehicles registered in his name at 375 Mountain Meadows Drive in
Fairfield (a 2006 Hummer and a 2006 Chrysler), and four vehicles registered in his name
at 2267 Atherton Court in Fairfield (a tan Chevrolet pickup with license plate
no. 8E80904, a 2004 BIGDG motorcycle, a 1988 Ford, and a 1963 Chevrolet). The
address listed on Pelayo‘s 2005 driver‘s license was 2267 Atherton Court. Pelayo owned
375 Mountain Meadows Drive, and Esperanza Zavala owned 2267 Atherton Court. The
Fairfield Police Department informed West that in December 2006 they responded to an
alarm call at 375 Mountain Meadows Drive and a person with the surname Pelayo was
the contact person. West drove by 2267 Atherton Court and saw a car there that was
registered to Zavala. At 375 Mountain Meadows Drive, the Chevrolet pickup registered
to Pelayo was parked in the driveway. Another detective had observed that same pickup
truck during surveillance of a narcotics transaction.
       Pelayo waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Both parties waived jury trial.
On September 25, 2008, following a bench trial, the court convicted Pelayo of counts 3, 4
and 5, and granted the People‘s motion to dismiss counts 1 and 2.
       At sentencing, the court denied Pelayo‘s motion to strike the Health and Safety
Code section 11370.4, subdivision (b)(1) allegation and grant him probation. The court
sentenced Pelayo to the low term of 16 months for count 3, a consecutive eight-month
term (one-third the middle term) each for counts 4 and 5, a three-year enhancement
pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 11370.4, subdivision (b)(1) for count 3, and a

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three-year enhancement pursuant to Penal Code section 12022, subdivision (c) for
count 3. A three-year enhancement pursuant to Penal Code section 12022,
subdivision (c) for count 4 was stayed. The total term was eight years, eight months.
                                     II.    DISCUSSION
A.     Challenges to Search Warrant
       Pelayo asks this court to conduct an in camera review of the sealed portions of the
search warrant affidavit to determine if they were properly sealed and whether the search
warrant was supported by probable cause.
       The test for determining whether an affidavit establishes probable cause for the
issuance of a search warrant is a ―totality-of-the-circumstances analysis.‖ (Illinois v.
Gates (1983) 462 U.S. 213, 238 (Gates); see In re Lance W. (1985) 37 Cal.3d 873, 896
[evidence may be suppressed only if it was seized in violation of the federal
constitution].) ―The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical,
common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit
before him, . . . there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be
found in a particular case.‖ (Gates, at p. 238.)
       When an affidavit consists in part of an informant‘s tip to the police, the
informant‘s veracity, reliability and basis of knowledge are relevant considerations in the
totality-of-the-circumstances test, but no single factor is determinative. (Gates, supra,
462 U.S. at p. 233.) ―[A] deficiency in one [of these elements] may be compensated for,
in determining the overall reliability of a tip, by a strong showing as to the other, or by
some other indicia of reliability. [Citations.]‖ (Ibid.) Indicia of reliability include prior
accurate reports by the informant, a lack of ulterior motives in making the report, explicit
and detailed description of the alleged wrongdoing, the informant‘s first-hand
observation of the alleged wrongdoing, and corroboration by independent police work.
(Id. at pp. 233–234, 241.)
       When the sufficiency of a search warrant affidavit is challenged on appeal, ―the
duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the magistrate had a ‗substantial basis
for . . . conclud[ing]‘ that probable cause existed. [Citation.]‖ (Gates, supra, 462 U.S. at

                                              5
pp. 238–239.) ―[A]fter-the-fact scrutiny by courts of the sufficiency of an affidavit
should not take the form of de novo review. A magistrate‘s ‗determination of probable
cause should be paid great deference by reviewing courts.‘ [Citation.]‖ (Id. at p. 236.)
Moreover, ― ‗the resolution of doubtful or marginal cases in this area should be largely
determined by the preference to be accorded to warrants.‘ [Citation.] This reflects both a
desire to encourage use of the warrant process by police officers and a recognition that
once a warrant has been obtained, intrusion upon interests protected by the Fourth
Amendment is less severe than otherwise may be the case.‖ (Id. at p. 237, fn. 10.)
       In People v. Hobbs, the California Supreme Court authorized the sealing of a
search warrant affidavit when necessary to protect the identity of a confidential
informant, and prescribed a procedure to review the sufficiency of a sealed affidavit.
(People v. Hobbs (1994) 7 Cal.4th 948, 971–975 (Hobbs).) Hobbs directed that ―[w]hen
a defendant seeks to quash or traverse a warrant where a portion of the supporting
affidavit has been sealed, the relevant materials are to be made available for in camera
review by the trial court. (Hobbs, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 963; see Evid. Code, § 915,
subd. (b).) The court should determine first whether there are sufficient grounds for
maintaining the confidentiality of the informant‘s identity. If so, the court should then
determine whether the sealing of the affidavit (or any portion thereof) ‗is necessary to
avoid revealing the informant‘s identity.‘ (Hobbs, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 972.) Once the
affidavit is found to have been properly sealed, the court should proceed to determine
‗whether, under the ―totality of the circumstances‖ presented in the search warrant
affidavit and the oral testimony, if any, presented to the magistrate, there was ―a fair
probability‖ that contraband or evidence of a crime would be found in the place searched
pursuant to the warrant‘ (if the defendant has moved to quash the warrant) or ‗whether
the defendant‘s general allegations of material misrepresentations or omissions are
supported by the public and sealed portions of the search warrant affidavit, including any
testimony offered at the in camera hearing‘ (if the defendant has moved to traverse the
warrant). (Id. at pp. 975, 974.)‖ (People v. Galland (2008) 45 Cal.4th 354, 364.)

                                              6
       We have conducted our own in camera review of the sealed portions of
Appendix A and have considered each of the issues Hobbs directs us to assess. We
conclude the trial did not err in either its denial of Pelayo‘s motion to unseal the search
warrant affidavit or his request to reveal the identity of the confidential informant. We
also find that the ―totality of the circumstances‖ presented in the search warrant affidavit
established a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime would be found in
Pelayo‘s residence.
       1.     Sufficient Grounds to Maintain Confidentiality of Informant
       Generally, disclosure of a confidential informant‘s identity is required only if the
informant was a potential material witness on the issue of guilt in the defendant‘s case.
(Hobbs, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 959.) In contrast, ―the identity of an informant who has
supplied probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant need not be disclosed where
such disclosure is sought merely to aid in attacking probable cause.‖ (Ibid.) Our review
of the sealed portion of the affidavit confirms that the confidential informants mentioned
therein were not material witnesses to the possession and evasion charges with which
Pelayo was charged. Therefore, the trial court properly refused to disclose the
informants‘ identities.
       2.     Necessity of Sealing the Affidavit
       Because the trial court properly refused to disclose the identities of the
confidential informants, the court was justified in keeping sealed any portions of
Appendix A that would have disclosed the informants‘ identities. (See Hobbs, supra,
7 Cal.4th at p. 972.) The trial court determined that only part of the appendix potentially
disclosed the identities of the informants, and it ordered the unsealing of other material
portions of the appendix. Our review of the portion of the appendix that remains sealed
confirms that disclosure of any material information contained therein might lead to
identification of the informants. Therefore, we affirm the trial court‘s decision to keep
that part of the appendix under seal.

                                              7
       3.     Probable Cause to Issue Search Warrant
       Having determined that much of the search warrant affidavit must remain under
seal, the trial court had to ―take it upon itself both to examine the affidavit for possible
inconsistencies and insufficiencies regarding the showing of probable cause, and inform
the prosecution of material or witnesses it requires.‖ (Hobbs, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 973.)
The trial court concluded the affidavit on its face established probable cause, without the
necessity of calling witnesses or production of other evidence. Our review confirms that
the sealed and unsealed portions of the affidavit, without more, provided a substantial
basis for the magistrate‘s probable cause determination. Information provided by an
initial informant about a drug sale was directly corroborated by the police. Information
provided by the second informant identifying Pelayo as the drug seller was substantially
corroborated by the police. Moreover, the affidavit included an expert opinion that
Pelayo was an upper-midlevel dealer and this opinion is supported by information
provided by one informant and uncovered by the police investigation. This information
established probable cause to believe Pelayo was a drug dealer, and a magistrate may
reasonably conclude that evidence of drug dealing is likely to be found in a drug dealer‘s
residence. (See People v. Pressey (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 1178, 1184 [listing cases].)
Therefore, the affidavit established probable cause to believe drugs would be found at
Pelayo‘s residence and thus to issue the search warrant.
       4.     Material Misrepresentations
       Our review of the sealed portion of the affidavit discloses no basis to suspect that
it contains knowingly or recklessly false representations material to the finding of
probable cause. (See Hobbs, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 974.)
       In conclusion, we affirm the trial court‘s decisions to maintain the confidentiality
of the informants mentioned in the search warrant affidavit, to keep a portion of the
affidavit under seal to maintain that confidentiality, to affirm the magistrate‘s finding of
probable cause to issue the warrant, and to deny Pelayo‘s motions to traverse the warrant
and suppress the evidence seized pursuant to the warrant. Because these are Pelayo‘s
only challenges to his conviction, we affirm his conviction.

                                               8
B.     Penal Code Section 6544
       Pelayo argues that section 654 bars imposition of sentences for both counts
charging possession for sale under Health and Safety Code, section 11378—count 3
(possession of methamphetamine) and count 4 (possession of ecstasy). Pelayo notes that
the pills found in his possession contained both ecstasy and methamphetamine and argues
he cannot be multiply punished for the single act of possessing these pills, citing In re
Adams (1975) 14 Cal.3d 629. This argument, however, ignores the fact that crystal
methamphetamine was also found in Pelayo‘s possession.
       Section 654 prohibits multiple punishment for an ―act or omission which is made
punishable in different ways by different provisions of this Code‖ or by the penal
provisions of other codes, including the Health and Safety Code. (In re Adams, supra,
14 Cal.3d at p. 633; see § 654.) ―If one offense is necessarily included within another
offense, section 654 bars punishment for both offenses. [Citation.] . . . [¶] The reach of
section 654 is not limited, however, to necessarily included offenses. [Citation.] By its
terms, the section forbids multiple punishments for the commission of a single ‗act‘ or
‗omission.‘ The ‗act‘ necessary to invoke section 654 need not be an act in the ordinary
sense that it is a separate, identifiable, physical incident, but may be ‗a course of conduct
which violates more than one statute and comprises an indivisible transaction punishable
under more than one statute within the meaning of section 654. The divisibility of a
course of conduct depends upon the intent and objective of the actor, and if all the
offenses are incident to one objective, the defendant may be punished for any one of them
but not for more than one.‘ [Citation.]‖ (In re Adams, at pp. 633–634.) ―[T]he principal
inquiry [is:] was the defendant‘s criminal objective single or multiple?‖ (Id. at p. 635;
see also People v. Latimer (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1203, 1216 [criticizing but reaffirming this
―intent and objective‖ interpretation of § 654].)
       In In re Adams, the Supreme Court held that the petitioner was improperly
sentenced for five counts of transporting drugs based on the single act of delivering an

       4
           All further code references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

                                               9
attaché case and several plastic bags containing five different types of drugs to another
person‘s car, since the ―petitioner‘s simultaneous transportation of the various drugs in
his possession was clearly motivated by the single objective of delivering them to [a
single person].‖ (In re Adams, supra, 14 Cal.3d at pp. 632, 635.) The court distinguished
cases holding that simultaneous possession of different types of drugs may properly be
multiply punished, and commented, ―In each of the[se] drug possession cases, the
defendant‘s possession may or may not have been motivated by a single intent and
objective, for one may possess drugs for a variety of reasons.‖ (Id. at p. 635.)
       ―Whether a course of criminal conduct violating more than one penal statute is
committed with a single criminal intent or with multiple criminal objectives is ordinarily
a question of fact for the trial court, whose implied finding of multiple criminal intent
will be upheld if supported by substantial evidence.‖ (People v. Green (1988)
200 Cal.App.3d 538, 543–544.) The court below presided over Pelayo‘s bench trial and
thus was well acquainted with the evidence against him. That evidence showed that
Pelayo possessed about two kilograms of methamphetamine in a white crystalline form,
stored in large plastic bags, and also possessed 52 pink pills containing both
methamphetamine and ecstasy. The trial court implicitly found that Pelayo had separate
criminal objectives for possessing the methamphetamine powder and the
ecstasy/methamphetamine pills, and that finding is supported by the record. The trial
court could easily infer from the evidence that Pelayo had separate criminal objectives to
sell crystal methamphetamine and to sell the pills that contained a combination of ecstasy
and methamphetamine. Moreover, Pelayo admitted to police that he sold drugs to several
people, and evidence uncovered in his home (three firearms stored at three locations, a
digital scale with white residue, and pay/owe sheets) supported an inference that Pelayo
conducted an ongoing, large-scale drug sales operation serving multiple customers.
       In contrast to a single act of transportation and delivery of multiple types of
controlled substances, ― ‗[t]he act of possession cannot be conceptualized as a single ‗act‘
covering possession of two kinds of illicit drugs.‘ [Citation.]‖ (In re Adams, supra,
14 Cal.3d. at p. 635.) Possession of two types of drugs in large amounts supports the

                                             10
inference that Pelayo intended multiple sales to different customers. ―Under [such]
circumstances, section 654 does not prohibit punishment for each drug offense.‖ (People
v. Briones (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 524, 529–530.)
       Pelayo also argues that he cannot be multiply punished for the possession of
methamphetamine in both power and pill form, citing People v. Schroeder (1968)
264 Cal.App.2d 217 (Schroeder). Schroeder, however, held that a defendant cannot be
multiply convicted of the possession of different forms of the same drug. (Id. at p. 228.)
Pelayo was not multiply convicted for possession of methamphetamine and his reliance
on Schroeder is misplaced. The court in Schroeder further expressly acknowledged that
―possession of narcotics under different classifications of the Health and Safety Code
may be charged and punished as separate crimes notwithstanding a simultaneous
possession constituting but one transaction.‖ (Ibid.) For the reasons already discussed,
he was properly punished for both possession of ecstasy and possession of
methamphetamine.
C.     Retroactivity of 2009 Amendments to Section 4019
       Pelayo argues that the 2009 amendments to section 4019, which took effect in
January 2010, and have since been superseded, must be retroactively applied to his case
under the authority of In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada). With certain
exceptions not applicable here, the amendments increased the good conduct credits a
defendant could receive for time spent in presentence custody.
       The Supreme Court resolved this issue in Brown, holding that the amendments
applied prospectively only. (Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 318.) The court specifically
held that the Estrada rule did not apply: ―The holding in Estrada was founded on the
premise that ‗ ―[a] legislative mitigation of the penalty for a particular crime represents a
legislative judgment that the lesser penalty or the different treatment is sufficient to meet
the legitimate ends of the criminal law‖ ‘ (Estrada,[supra, 63 Cal.2d] at p. 745, italics
added) and the corollary inference that the Legislature intended the lesser penalty to
apply to crimes already committed. In contrast, a statute increasing the rate at which
prisoners may earn credits for good behavior does not represent a judgment about the

                                             11
needs of the criminal law with respect to a particular criminal offense, and thus does not
support an analogous inference of retroactive intent. Former section 4019 does not alter
the penalty for any crime; a prisoner who earns no conduct credits serves the full
sentence originally imposed. Instead of addressing punishment for past criminal conduct,
the statute addresses future conduct in a custodial setting by providing increased
incentives for good behavior.‖ (Brown, at p. 325, fn. omitted.)
       Brown compels our rejection of Pelayo‘s argument that he is entitled to additional
presentence custody credits.
                                   III.   DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                 _________________________
                                                 Bruiniers, J.

We concur:

_________________________
Jones, P. J.

_________________________
Simons, J.

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