Court Opinion

ID: 2782069
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-02-25 19:03:21.649739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:07.558833
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/24/15 P. v. Hernandez 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                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                                     (Sacramento)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,                                                                                  C077270

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                     (Super. Ct. No. 96F06256)

         v.

RAUL ALVAREZ HERNANDEZ,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Raul Alvarez Hernandez appeals from an order denying a motion to
recall his so-called “three strikes” sentence of 25 years to life, brought pursuant to the
provisions of the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012 (the Act), codified at Penal Code
section 1170.126.1 (CT 2-5, 6-7, 9) (See Teal v. Superior Court (2014) 60 Cal. 4th 595.)
         Defendant’s petition to recall his sentence and for resentencing was denied upon
determination that he was not eligible for relief under the Act because he had sustained a

1   Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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prior conviction for first degree murder. (See §§ 667, subd. (e)(2)(C)(iv)(IV), 1170.12,
subd. (c)(2)(C)(iv)(IV), 1170.126, subd. (e)(3).) (CT 6-7)
       Counsel was appointed to represent defendant on appeal. Counsel filed an
opening brief setting forth the facts of the case and requesting this court to review the
record and determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal. (People v. Wende
(1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436.) Counsel advised defendant of his right to file a supplemental
brief within 30 days of the date of filing of the opening brief.
       Defendant timely filed a supplemental brief by which he first argues that the “will
of the People” is not furthered by deeming defendant not eligible for relief under the Act
when the commitment offense is “simple possession of a controlled substance without
more.” (Supp AOB 1) However, “[t]o determine the intent of legislation, we first
consult the words themselves, giving them their usual and ordinary meaning. [Citations.]
When ‘ “statutory language is . . . clear and unambiguous there is no need for
construction, and courts should not indulge in it.” ’ [Citation.] The plain meaning of
words in a statute may be disregarded only when the meaning is ‘ “repugnant to the
general purview of the act,” or for some other compelling reason. . . .’ [Citation.] These
principles apply as much to initiative statutes as to those enacted by the Legislature.
[Citation.]” (DaFonte v. Up-Right, Inc. (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 593, 601; accord, People v.
Robinson (2010) 47 Cal. 4th 1104, 1138.) The Act expressly and unambiguously
precludes recall of sentence and resentencing if defendant has a prior conviction for any
homicide offense. (§§ 667, subd. (e)(2)(C)(iv)(IV), 1170.12, subd. (c)(2)(C)(iv)(IV),
1170.126, subd. (e)(3).) Hence, defendant’s prior conviction for first degree murder (CT
3, 6), renders him ineligible for resentencing without regard to the severity of the
commitment offense.
       Otherwise, defendant’s supplemental brief presents challenges to the validity and
constitutionality of the commitment judgment. (Supp. AOB 1-2) “ ‘It is settled that the
right of appeal is statutory and that a judgment or order is not appealable unless expressly

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made so by statute.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Meza (2012) 54 Cal. 4th 146, 152.) Appeal
of the order denying relief under the Act is authorized by subdivision (b) of section 1237,
as an order made after judgment, affecting the substantial rights of defendant. (Teal v.
Superior Court, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 601.) However, that statutorily conferred
appellate jurisdiction is limited to review of the decision to deny relief under the Act. To
convert that limited grant of jurisdiction to effectuate appellate review of the commitment
judgment would in substance allow a belated motion to vacate that judgment, thereby
violating the proscription on so “bypass[ing] or duplicat[ing] appeal from the judgment
itself.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Totari (2002) 28 Cal. 4th 876, 882.) Defendant’s
challenges to the commitment judgment are not cognizable on this appeal of the order
denying relief under the Act.
       Having undertaken an examination of the entire record, we find no arguable error
that would result in a disposition more favorable to defendant.
                                     DISPOSITION
       The judgment (order) is affirmed.

                                                            RAYE              , P. J.

We concur:

      BLEASE                , J.

      NICHOLSON             , J.

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