Court Opinion

ID: 4648547
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-12-31 21:02:20.213328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:01:15.496568
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/31/20 P. v. Rios CA3
Opinion following rehearing
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                                        (Placer)
                                                            ----

    THE PEOPLE,                                                                                C086711

                    Plaintiff and Respondent,                                         (Placer Super. Ct. No.
                                                                                           62155609)
           v.
                                                                                 OPINION ON REHEARING
    ARMANDO DAVID RIOS,

                    Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Armando David Rios pleaded no contest to possession of
methamphetamine for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378)1 and admitted an enhancement
for a prior conviction for selling methamphetamine (§ 11370.2, subd. (c)). He was
sentenced to a stipulated four-year four-month split term consisting of 20 months in jail
and 32 months of mandatory supervision.

1        Undesignated statutory references are to the Health and Safety Code.

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       After defendant subsequently admitted to violating the terms of his mandatory
supervision, the trial court imposed 120 days of custody with 96 days of credit. The court
subsequently denied his motion to dismiss the enhancement pursuant to Senate Bill
No. 180 (Senate Bill 180).
       On appeal, defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to
dismiss the enhancement. In our original opinion, we found the trial court lacked
jurisdiction to rule on the motion because defendant’s conviction was already final as to
the enhancement, and accordingly dismissed the appeal.
       The California Supreme Court subsequently granted defendant’s petition for
review and transferred the case back to us with directions to vacate our opinion and
reconsider the cause in light of a case decided after our original opinion, People v.
McKenzie (2020) 9 Cal.5th 40 (McKenzie). On remand, we first concluded McKenzie did
not require us to abandon or change our original conclusion. We afterward granted
rehearing on our own motion and ordered supplemental briefing on appellate decisions
addressing this issue that were decided around the time of our original decision on
remand. After considering these decisions, we conclude that under McKenzie and
authority it applied, a split sentence is not a final judgment for the purpose of applying
the retroactivity rule of In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada). Since the trial
court retains power to modify the judgment until mandatory supervision is terminated,
under McKenzie, defendant’s split sentence is not final and he is therefore entitled to
retroactive application of Senate Bill 180. We shall reverse the order denying the motion
to dismiss the section 11370.2 enhancement, and remand with directions to dismiss the
enhancement and resentence defendant.

                                              2
                                      DISCUSSION2
       Defendant pleaded no contest on February 23, 2016, and was sentenced the same
day.3 At the time of his sentencing, section 11370.2, subdivision (c) authorized a three-
year enhancement for a defendant convicted of possession or possession for sale of
certain controlled substances “for each prior felony conviction of, or for each prior felony
conviction of conspiracy to violate, Section 11380, whether or not the prior conviction
resulted in a term of imprisonment.” (Former § 11370.2, subd. (c); Stats. 1998, ch. 936,
§ 1.) Defendant did not appeal his conviction.
       In October 2017, the Governor signed Senate Bill 180, which amended section
11370.2 by removing most of the drug offenses that gave rise to a three-year
enhancement. (Stats. 2017, ch. 677, § 1.) As of January 1, 2018, only a prior conviction
where the defendant used a minor in its commission (§ 11380) gives rise to such an
enhancement. (Stats. 2017, ch. 677, § 1.) Defendant does not have a prior conviction for
a violation of section 11380.
       Defendant admitted to violating his mandatory supervision on February 6, 2018.
He also moved to dismiss the enhancement in light of the changes to section 11370.2
following Senate Bill 180. The trial court denied the motion, finding Senate Bill 180 did
not apply to him because his conviction was final before it took effect.
       Defendant contends Senate Bill 180 applied retroactively to his case when he
made his motion. Since his section 11370.2 enhancement is no longer applicable to him
under the amended statute, he concludes that it should be dismissed.

2      We dispense with the facts of defendant’s crime as they are not relevant to this
appeal. We incorporate additional relevant procedural facts in our analysis of
defendant’s contention.
3      Defendant was originally sentenced in Sacramento County Superior Court. His
case was transferred to Placer County on August 28, 2017. The transfer has no bearing
on the merits of this case.

                                             3
       A penal statute generally does not apply retroactively unless the legislation
expressly states its retroactive effect or if there is “a clear and compelling implication”
that the Legislature intended such a result. (People v. Hayes (1989) 49 Cal.3d 1260,
1274; Pen. Code, § 3.) There is an exception to this rule for statutes reducing the
punishment for crime, which, absent a statement to the contrary, apply retroactively to all
cases that were not final when the legislation takes effect. (Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d at
p. 744.)
       Senate Bill 180 contains no statement regarding retroactivity. (People v. Chamizo
(2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 696, 700.) As a measure decreasing punishment for crime, it
applies to all cases not final on its effective date.
       Defendant argues his sentence was not final when he made his motion because the
trial court retained the authority to revoke, modify, or terminate his mandatory
supervision pursuant to Penal Code sections 1170, subdivision (h), 1203.2, subdivisions
(a) and (b), and 1203.3.
       Penal Code section 1170, subdivision (h)(5) authorizes imposition of a split
sentence under which the sentence is served “partly in county jail and partly under the
mandatory supervision of the county probation officer.” (People v. Scott (2014)
58 Cal.4th 1415, 1418-1419.) A trial court has “authority at any time during the term of
mandatory supervision . . . to revoke, modify, or change the conditions of the court’s
order suspending the execution of the concluding portion of the supervised person’s
term.” (Pen. Code, § 1203.3, subd. (a).)
       McKenzie addressed the following question: “[W]hether a convicted defendant
who is placed on probation after imposition of sentence is suspended, and who does not
timely appeal from the order granting probation, may take advantage of ameliorative
statutory amendments that take effect during a later appeal from a judgment revoking
probation and imposing sentence.” (McKenzie, supra, 9 Cal.5th at p. 43.) In November
2014, the defendant in McKenzie was placed on probation with imposition of sentence

                                                4
suspended following his plea to various felony drug offenses and admitting four prior
section 11370.2 drug convictions. (McKenzie, at p. 43.) Probation was revoked and the
defendant sentenced to prison in June 2016. (Ibid.) About a month after the Court of
Appeal affirmed the conviction with minor modifications, Senate Bill 180 was signed;
the defendant petitioned for review; the Supreme Court granted review and remanded
with directions to vacate and consider Senate Bill 180. (McKenzie, at pp. 43-44.) The
Court of Appeal held the defendant could take advantage of the revised section 11370.2,
and the Supreme Court granted the Attorney General’s petition for review. (McKenzie, at
p. 44.)
          As we have found in this case, the Supreme Court concluded the changes to
section 11370.2 applied retroactively to nonfinal judgments under Estrada. (McKenzie,
supra, 9 Cal.5th at pp. 44-45.) The Attorney General argued the relevant cutoff point for
determining finality under Estrada was the defendant’s initial plea to the crimes and the
section 11370.2 enhancements. (McKenzie, at p. 46.) The Supreme Court found the
Attorney General erred in assuming the term “ ‘judgment of conviction’ ” as used in
Estrada referred “only to ‘underlying’ convictions and enhancement findings, exclusive
of sentence. In criminal actions, the terms ‘judgment’ and “ ‘sentence’ ” are generally
considered ‘synonymous’ [citation], and there is no ‘judgment of conviction’ without a
sentence [citation].” (McKenzie, at p. 46.) In addition, the Attorney General’s argument
was also inconsistent with cases holding that an order granting probation may by itself be
final for the purposes of filing an appeal, but was not, by itself, deemed a final judgment
for any other purpose. (Id. at pp. 46-47; see, e.g., People v. Superior Court (Giron)
(1974) 11 Cal.3d 793, 796; People v. Flores (1974) 12 Cal.3d 85, 94.)
          Based on this analysis, the Supreme Court held that the defendant’s failure to
appeal from the original order granting probation did not preclude him from receiving the
benefit of Senate Bill 180. (McKenzie, supra, 9 Cal.5th at p. 48.) In coming to this
conclusion, the Supreme Court found that “ ‘ “when the [L]egislature repeals a criminal

                                               5
statute or otherwise removes the State’s condemnation from conduct that was formerly
deemed criminal, this action requires the dismissal of a pending criminal proceeding
charging such conduct. The rule applies to any such proceeding which, at the time of the
supervening legislation, has not yet reached final disposition in the highest court
authorized to review it.” ’ [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 45.) The Supreme Court also rejected
various arguments from the Attorney General based on sentencing policy and estoppel.
(Id. at pp. 48-51.) It found that rejecting the estoppel argument was consistent with
Estrada and the legislative intent of Senate Bill 180 to repeal an extreme punishment so
as to free up funds to invest in other means of reducing crime and to reduce racial
disparity in sentencing. (McKenzie, at p. 51.) The Supreme Court concluded the Court
of Appeal was correct to apply Senate Bill 180 to defendant and affirmed. (McKenzie, at
pp. 51, 52.)
       Three published cases have applied McKenzie in situations similar to the one here,
with each finding the sentence is not final for the purposes of retroactive application of an
ameliorative change in the law under Estrada. In People v. Contreraz (2020) 53
Cal.App.5th 965 (Contreraz), the defendant did not appeal from a judgment granting
probation and imposing a 10-year prison term with execution suspended. (Id. at pp. 968-
969.) Senate Bill No. 620, which gave courts the discretion to strike firearm
enhancements, took effect after this judgment became final, but before the defendant’s
probation was terminated and the original sentence executed. (Contreraz, at pp. 967-
968.) The Supreme Court vacated the original appellate opinion and transferred the case
to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration in light of McKenzie. (Contreraz, at p. 968.)
Applying McKenzie, Contreraz concluded Senate Bill No. 620 applied to the defendant’s
sentence. (Contreraz, at p. 968.)
       The Court of Appeal looked to a case McKenzie relied on, People v. Chavez
(2018) 4 Cal.5th 771 (Chavez). (Contreraz, supra, 53 Cal.App.5th at p. 971.) The court
relied on the following passage from Chavez: “ ‘[G]oing as far back as Stephens v.

                                             6
Toomey (1959) 51 Cal.2d 864, we have explained that neither forms of probation—
suspension of the imposition of sentence or suspension of the execution of sentence—
results in a final judgment.’ [Citation.] ‘In a case where a court suspends imposition of
sentence, it pronounces no judgment at all, and a defendant is placed on probation with
“no judgment pending against [him or her]” [Citation.] In the case where the court
suspends execution of sentence, the sentence constitutes “a judgment provisional or
conditional in nature.” [Citation.] The finality of the sentence “depends on the outcome
of the probationary proceeding” and “is not a final judgment” at the imposition of
sentence and order to probation.’ [Citation.] There is no final judgment in either of these
situations because ‘[d]uring the probation period, the court retains the power to revoke
probation and sentence the defendant to imprisonment’ under [Penal Code] sections
1203.2 and 1203.3. [Citation.] ‘[T]he court’s power to punish the defendant, including
by imposing imprisonment, continues during the period of probation.’ [Citation.]”
(Contreraz, at p. 971, quoting Chavez, at pp. 781, 782.) The Contreraz court concluded
that since the trial court “retained the power to revoke [the defendant’s] probation and
order the remainder of his sentence executed,” the case was not final under Estrada when
Senate Bill No. 620 took effect. (Contreraz, at pp. 971-972.)
       People v. Conaster (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 1223 (Conaster) addressed the situation
presented here, whether a split term was final under Estrada when Senate Bill 180 took
effect after the judgment imposing the split term was final. (Conaster, at pp. 1225-1226,
1227.) On transfer from the Supreme Court in light of McKenzie, the Court of Appeal
found the case was not final and Senate Bill 180 applied to the defendant’s sentence.
(Conaster, at p. 1226.) As in Contreraz, the Conaster court relied on language in Chavez
describing how a trial court retains jurisdiction when probation is imposed, even in cases
where the sentence is imposed with execution suspended. (See Conaster, at pp. 1228-
1229.) Finding a broad application of Estrada consistent with its ameliorative principles,

                                             7
as stated in McKenzie, the Conaster court concluded Senate Bill 180 applied to the
defendant’s split term. (Conaster, at pp. 1229-1230.)
       The third case, People v. Martinez (2020) 54 Cal.App.5th 885, addressed whether
legislation eliminating most applications of the prior prison term enhancement (Pen.
Code, § 667.5, subd. (b)) applied to a split sentence imposed before the legislation took
effect. (Martinez, at p. 889.) As with Contreraz and Conaster, the Martinez court
concluded that, after transfer in light of McKenzie, the defendant’s case was not final
under Estrada. (Martinez, at p. 889.) The Martinez court relied on similar reasoning
from McKenzie and Chavez in reaching the same conclusion as the Contreraz and
Conaster courts. (See Martinez, at pp. 893-894.)
       We are persuaded by these three decisions. Although McKenzie is not directly on
point, as no sentence had been imposed in that case, the Supreme Court did rely on
Chavez, which addressed the finality of a suspended prison sentence. (See McKenzie,
supra, 9 Cal.5th at pp. 46-47.) Chavez found that a grant of probation with a sentence
imposed and execution suspended was not final for the purposes of dismissal under Penal
Code section 1385 until the probation period expires. (Chavez, supra, 4 Cal.5th at pp.
776-777, 781-782.) McKenzie’s reliance on Chavez supports extending its ruling to any
situation where the court retains some jurisdiction over defendant, such as a split term. In
addition, the Supreme Court in McKenzie noted that the legislative goals in the
amendment to section 11370.2, “to ‘free[]’ up funds for ‘reinvest[ment] in community
programs that actually improve the quality of life and reduce crime,’ and to ‘ “reduce
racial disparities in the criminal justice system,” ’ ” were advanced by retroactive
application of the changes. (McKenzie, at p. 51.) Applying Senate Bill 180 to the
situation presented here, a split term that has not concluded, would likewise advance
these same legislative goals. We accordingly conclude that the change to section 11370.2

                                             8
applies to defendant and the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the
enhancement.4
                                      DISPOSITION
       The order denying the motion to dismiss the section 11370.2 enhancement is
reversed and the matter is remanded with directions to strike the enhancement and
resentence defendant. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.

                                                     /s/
                                                 BLEASE, Acting P. J.

We concur:

   /s/
MURRAY, J.

    /s/
DUARTE, J.

4      We originally declined to address the Attorney General’s contention that the
appeal should be dismissed for defendant’s failure to obtain a certificate of probable
cause as we dismissed the appeal on other grounds. We now conclude no certificate is
necessary, as this appeal addresses the retroactive application of a change in the law.
(See People v. Matthews (2020) 47 Cal.App.5th 857, 862-863.)

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