Court Opinion

ID: 9547157
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:42:32.698603+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:17:24.213343
License: Public Domain

MOSK, J.
I concur in the opinion of the court prepared by Justice Brown. I believe that its reasoning is sound and its result correct.
Among the issues that we are here presented with is the question of the “consecutiveness” of sentences. Of course, to use “consecutive” with regard *517to a sentence is not to state anything about the sentence in and of itself, but rather to imply that it is related to another. I write separately in order to focus on this point: What sentences must, or may, be “consecutive” to what other sentences?
The legislative version of the so-called “Three Strikes" law (Stats. 1994, ch. 12, §§ 1-2), with which we are here concerned, is codified in Penal Code section 667, subdivisions (b) to (i) (hereafter section 667(b) to (i)).1 In pertinent part, section 667 declares as follows:
“(c) Notwithstanding any other law, if a defendant has been convicted of a felony and it has been pled and proved that the defendant has one or more prior felony convictions as defined in subdivision (d)”—which includes convictions for serious or violent felonies, convictions for certain out-of-state felonies, and particular juvenile adjudications—“the court shall adhere to each of the following:
“(6) If there is a current conviction for more than one felony count not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts, the court shall sentence the defendant consecutively on each count pursuant to subdivision (e)”—which fixes the term of imprisonment.
“(7) If there is a current conviction for more than one serious or violent felony as described in paragraph (6), the court shall impose the sentence for each conviction consecutive to the sentence for any other conviction for which the defendant may be consecutively sentenced in the manner prescribed by law.”
Thus, under section 667(c)(6): If, in a prosecution under the Three Strikes law, the defendant is convicted of more than one felony “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (ibid..), the court must impose the sentence for each such “different occasions/different facts" felony as fixed by that law and must order the sentence for each such “different occasions/different facts” felony so fixed to run consecutive. But to what? To the sentence for any other such “different occasions/different facts” felony. The provision states that “the court shall sentence the defendant consecutively on each count . . . .” (Ibid., italics *518added.) The reference to “each count” is to each of the “more than one felony count[s] not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts.” (Ibid.)
Likewise, under section 667(c)(7): If, in a prosecution under the Three Strikes law, the defendant is convicted of more than one serious or violent felony “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)), the court must order the sentence for each such serious or violent “different occasions/different facts” felony to run consecutive. But, again, to what? To the sentence for any other offense, whether felony or misdemeanor, for which a consecutive sentence may be imposed. The reference in section 667(c)(7) to “paragraph (6)” is to section 667(c)(6). The reference here to the “description” there is to the phrase, “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)). The provision states that “the court shall impose the sentence for each conviction consecutive to the sentence for any other conviction for which the defendant may be consecutively sentenced . . . .” (§ 667(c)(7), italics added.) The reference here to “each conviction” is to each of the “more than one serious or violent felon[ies]” (ibid.), “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)).
As a consequence, section 667(c)(6) and (7) show themselves to state two rules—a general one, for all felonies “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)); and a special one, for only “serious or violent felon[ies]" of that description (§ 667(c)(7)).
Accordingly, section 667(c)(6) governs whenever a defendant is convicted of more than one felony of any kind “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (ibid.), and mandates that the sentence for each such “different occasions/different facts” felony must run consecutive to the sentence for any other such “different occasions/ different facts” felony.
By contrast, section 667(c)(7) governs only when a defendant is convicted of more than one serious or violent felony “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)), and mandates that the sentence for each such serious or violent “different occasions/different facts” felony must run consecutive to the sentence for any other offense, whether felony or misdemeanor, for which a consecutive sentence may be imposed.
It follows that a defendant who is convicted of more than one nonserious or nonviolent felony “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising *519from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)), must be sentenced under section 667(c)(6), which covers felonies of every kind, with the result that his sentence for each such nonserious or nonviolent “different occasions/ different facts” felony must run consecutive to his sentence for any other such nonserious or nonviolent “different occasions/different facts” felony.
It also follows that a defendant who is convicted of more than one serious or violent felony “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same set of operative facts” (§ 667(c)(6)), must be sentenced under section 667(c)(6), which covers “different occasions/different facts” felonies of every kind, with the result that his sentence for each such serious or violent “different occasions/different facts” felony must run consecutive to his sentence for any other such serious or violent “different occasions! different facts” felony. But he must also be sentenced under section 667(c)(7), which covers only serious or violent “different occasions/different facts” felonies, with the result that his sentence for each such serious or violent “different occasions/different facts” felony must run consecutive to his sentence for any other offense, whether felony or misdemeanor, for which a consecutive sentence may be imposed.2
Because I find the opinion of the court altogether consistent with the views expressed above, I join in it fully.

The initiative version of the Three Strikes law (Prop. 184, § 1, as approved by voters, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 8, 1994)), which was enacted later but is “nearly identical” (People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 504 [53 Cal.Rptr.2d 789, 917 P.2d 628]), is codified in Penal Code section 1170.12.

Because the People and defendant have litigated this case on the assumption that the felonies of which defendant was convicted were “committed on the same occasion” and/or “ar[o]s[e] from the same set of operative facts” within the meaning of section 667(c)(6), I need not, and do not, undertake to construe the quoted phrases at this time.