Court Opinion

ID: 9900963
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-20 21:03:27.070063+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:23.068775
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/20/23 P. v. Edwards CA6

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                      SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

 THE PEOPLE,                                                         H050789
                                                                     (Santa Cruz County
             Plaintiff and Respondent,                               Super. Ct. No. F22711)

             v.

 CHARLES ANTHONY EDWARDS,

             Defendant and Appellant.

         In 2015, a jury found Charles Anthony Edwards guilty of first-degree murder.
The jury also found true allegations that Edwards used a deadly weapon in the
commission of the murder. The trial court sentenced Edwards to a total term of 88 years
to life in prison.
         In 2022, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
identified Edwards’ case as eligible for the dismissal of any enhancements imposed
pursuant to Penal Code section 667.5, subdivision (b),1 which had been declared legally
invalid pursuant to Senate Bill No. 483 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 483). After a
hearing, the trial court declined to dismiss the enhancements and resentence Edwards.
         On appeal, Edwards argues that the trial court erred in declining to strike the
enhancements. The Attorney General concedes that the trial court erred but contends that
a remand for resentencing is not required as this court may simply strike the
enhancements.

         1
             Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
       For the reasons explained below, we reverse the trial court’s order declining to
dismiss the enhancements and reduce Edwards’ sentence, and remand with directions for
the trial court to resentence Edwards.
                     I.   FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       A. Factual Background2
       On May 7, 2012, Edwards attacked Shannon Collins, a woman whom he did not
know, as she was walking on Broadway in Santa Cruz. (People v. Edwards (2017) 11
Cal.App.5th 759, 761 (Edwards).) He stabbed her neck and torso 12 times. (Ibid.) As
Collins bled to death, Edwards dropped his jacket and his knife near her body, walked
away, and threw his bloodstained shirt into a nearby garbage can. (Ibid.) Shortly
thereafter, Edwards was arrested a few blocks away from the crime scene, with blood
spatter on his hands, head, and shoes. (Ibid.)
       B.       Procedural Background
                1. Charges, Verdict, and Original Sentence3
       On August 12, 2013, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office filed a first
amended information charging Edwards with the murder of Collins (§ 187, subd. (a);
count 1). The information also alleged that in the commission of the murder, Edwards
personally used a deadly weapon, a knife. (§§ 12022, subd.(b)(1); 1192.7, subd. (c)(23).)
The information further alleged that Edwards had previously been convicted of assault
with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)), battery with serious bodily injury (§ 243, subd.
(d)), and criminal threats (§ 422), which constituted prior strike offenses pursuant to
section 667, subdivisions (b) through (i), and serious felonies pursuant to section 667,
subdivision (a)(1). It was also alleged that Edwards was previously convicted of gassing

       2
           We derive our facts from this court’s published opinion in Edwards’ first appeal.
       3
         This information is taken from the record in Edwards’ first appeal (No.
H042144), which this court granted judicial notice of on March 13, 2023 (Appellant’s
request) and August 17, 2023 (Respondent’s request).

                                               2
upon another person while in state prison (§ 4501.1) and had served prison terms for his
prior offenses of assault with a deadly weapon, battery, criminal threats, and gassing.
(§ 667.5, subd. (b).)
       Edwards entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by way of insanity.
       On February 4, 2015, a jury convicted Edwards of murder (count 1). The jury
found true the allegation that Edwards had used a deadly weapon in the commission of
the murder. Following testimony regarding Edwards’ sanity, the jury found that Edwards
had been sane at the time of the offense.
       After the jury verdict, Edwards admitted to the allegations regarding his prior
convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats. The parties also
stipulated that Edwards had been previously convicted of gassing upon another person
while in prison. Following a court trial, the court found true the allegation regarding
Edwards’ prior conviction for battery with serious bodily injury.
       On March 26, 2015, the trial court sentenced Edwards to 25 years to life in state
prison for murder (count 1), which was tripled to 75 years to life based on his prior strike
convictions. (§ 667, subd. (b)-(i).) The court also imposed two consecutive five-year
terms for Edwards’ prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and criminal
threats (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)) and one consecutive one-year term for the deadly weapon
enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1).) Finally, the court imposed two consecutive one-
year terms for Edwards’ prior convictions of battery with serious bodily injury and
gassing upon another person, which had resulted in prison terms. (§ 667.5, subd. (b).)
       Edwards subsequently appealed, challenging the jury’s sanity finding. (Edwards,
supra, 711 Cal.App.5th at p. 761.) This court affirmed the judgment. (Ibid.)
              2. Senate Bill 483 Proceedings
       On June 16, 2022, the CDCR published a list of inmates whose sentences included
enhancements imposed pursuant to section 667.5, subdivision (b), thus making them

                                             3
eligible for resentencing under Senate Bill 483. Edwards’ name and case number from
the instant matter appeared in this list.
       On February 6, 2023, the trial court held a hearing on resentencing pursuant to
Senate Bill 483. At that time, Edwards’ counsel requested that the two one-year
enhancements imposed pursuant to section 667.5, subdivision (b) be stricken on the
grounds that these enhancements were no longer valid. Defense counsel also requested
that the court consider striking the two five-year enhancements imposed pursuant to
section 667, subdivision (a)(1).4 In making this request, Edwards’ counsel noted that
Edwards’ sentence was 88 years to life; therefore, reducing 12 years from this sentence
would not create a public danger as he would still be serving a “lengthy, lengthy, lengthy
sentence if he ever [got] out.” The prosecution opposed the request, citing how
“horrifying” Edwards’ crime was and arguing that any modification to the sentence
would pose a public safety risk.
       The trial court ultimately declined to resentence Edwards. In making its decision,
the trial court noted that it remembered the circumstances of the offense, the verdict, and
the trial, and that it did not believe the circumstances of the offense “len[t] themselves to
any type of adjustment or modification” of the original sentence.
              Edwards timely appealed.
                                    II.     DISCUSSION
       Edwards argues that the trial court erred in declining to dismiss the enhancements
because it failed to demonstrate reduction of his sentence would endanger public safety
as required by Senate Bill 483, which enacted what is now section 1172.75. The
Attorney General concedes that the trial court should have stricken the enhancements but

       4
         Although not stated by defense counsel in her argument, it appears this request
may have been pursuant to Senate Bill No. 1393 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.), which amended
section 1385 to give trial courts discretion to strike enhancements in the furtherance of
justice.

                                               4
argues that remand for resentencing would not serve any purpose as the trial court already
imposed the maximum possible sentence; therefore, this court should simply strike the
enhancements.
       For the reasons below, we agree that the trial court erred in not striking the
enhancements but find that a remand for resentencing is required based on the express
language of section 1172.75.
       A. Legal Principles and Standard of Review
       Prior to January 2020, subdivision (b) of section 667.5 permitted enhancements
for any prior prison term for a felony. (Stats. 2018, ch. 423, § 65.) Effective January 1,
2020, however, the Legislature passed Senate Bill No. 136 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.),
which amended subdivision (b) to limit prior prison term enhancements to sexually
violent offenses only. (Stats. 2019, ch. 590, § 1.) The Legislature subsequently passed
Senate Bill 483, which made this change retroactive by adding section 1171.1 (Stats.
2021, ch. 728, § 3), which was later renumbered as section 1172.75. (Stats. 2022, ch. 58,
§ 12.) Under section 1172.75, “[a]ny sentence enhancement that was imposed prior to
January 1, 2020, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 667.5,” except for enhancements
for certain sexually violent offenses, “is legally invalid.” (§ 1172.75, subd. (a).)
       Section 1172.75 also provides that the Secretary of the CDCR shall identify
individuals in its custody currently serving a term for judgment involving such
enhancements, and to provide each individual’s information, including his or her name,
date of birth, and relevant case or docket number, to the sentencing court that imposed
the enhancement. (§ 1172.75, subd. (b).) Once the trial court has received such
information and confirmed that the current judgment includes a prior prison term
enhancement that is now legally invalid, the trial court “shall recall the sentence and
resentence the defendant.” (§ 1172.75, subd. (c).)
       Further, the trial court is directed to follow specific instructions while
resentencing. (§ 1172.75, subd. (d).) For example, section 1172.75, subdivision (d)(1)

                                              5
provides that “[r]esentencing pursuant to this section shall result in a lesser sentence than
the one originally imposed as a result of the elimination of the repealed enhancement,
unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that imposing a lesser sentence
would endanger public safety. Resentencing pursuant to this section shall not result in a
longer sentence than the one originally imposed.” In addition, when resentencing, the
court “shall apply . . . any other changes in law that reduce sentences or provide for
judicial discretion so as to eliminate disparity of sentences and to promote uniformity of
sentencing.” (§ 1172.75, subd. (d)(2).) “The court may consider postconviction factors,
including, but not limited to, the disciplinary record and record of rehabilitation of the
defendant while incarcerated, evidence that reflects whether age, time served, and
diminished physical condition, if any, have reduced the defendant's risk for future
violence, and evidence that reflects that circumstances have changed since the original
sentencing so that continued incarceration is no longer in the interest of justice.”
(§ 1172.75, subd. (d)(3).)
       As this matter is one of statutory interpretation, namely, the scope of a statutory
scheme, we review the trial court’s decision de novo. (See People v. Jimenez (2020) 9
Cal.5th 53, 61.) In so doing, “[w]e look first to ‘ “the language of the statute, affording
the words their ordinary and usual meaning and viewing them in their statutory
context.” ’ [Citation.] We must construe statutory language in context, bearing in mind
the statutory purpose, and giving effect to the intended purpose of an initiative’s
provisions. [Citations.]” (Ibid.)
       B. The Trial Court Erred in Declining to Dismiss the Section 667.5
          Enhancements as Required Under Section 1172.75
       Edwards claims that while the trial court stated it had reviewed the case, the court
failed to cite any clear and convincing evidence that the reduction of Edwards’ 88 years
to life sentence by two years would endanger public safety, as required under section
1172.75, subdivision (d)(1). Edwards further argues that no such finding could have been

                                              6
made, given that he is already 55 years old, and his earliest parole release date – if the
enhancements were stricken - would only be in 2075, when he would be over 100 years
old. Edwards therefore contends that the likelihood of him endangering public safety
upon his release is “not just remote, it is impossible.”
       In conceding that the trial court erred, the Attorney General notes that the
language of section 1172.75, when read as a whole, does not convert a legally invalid
section 667.5 enhancement into a valid one if the court finds clear and convincing
evidence that a lesser sentence would endanger public safety. Accordingly, even if such
a finding is made, this is only pertinent to the trial court’s decision whether to impose a
lesser sentence, and the trial court must still strike the legally invalid section 667.5
enhancements.
       The Attorney General’s concession is well-taken. Section 1172.75, subdivision
(d)(1) clearly states that resentencing shall result in a lesser sentence than the original
sentence as a result of the elimination of the enhancements, unless the court finds by clear
and convincing evidence that a lesser sentence would endanger public safety. Therefore,
based on the plain language of the statute, the trial court was required to strike the legally
invalid section 667.5 enhancements before proceeding with resentencing. (See, e.g.
People v. Monroe (2022) 85 Cal. App. 5th 393, 402 [noting that the plain language of
section 1172.75 involves both striking the enhancements and conducting a full
resentencing].) Accordingly, the trial court erred by failing to strike the enhancements.
       Further, as noted by Edwards, the record does not reflect that the trial court cited
clear and convincing evidence that a lesser sentence would endanger public safety.
Under section 1385, “ ‘[e]ndanger public safety’ means there is a likelihood that the
dismissal of the enhancement would result in physical injury or other serious danger to
others.” (§ 1385, subd. (c)(2).) Although the trial court indicated its familiarity with the
circumstances of the crime, it did not identify any specific facts demonstrating that a
lesser sentence would result in physical injury or other serious danger to others. As

                                               7
section 1172.75, subdivision (d)(1) mandates that a lesser sentence be imposed unless
such a finding is made, we find that the trial court erred in declining to resentence
Edwards.
       C. Remand is Required for a Full Resentencing as Contemplated Under Section
           1172.75
       Although the Attorney General concedes that the enhancements should have been
stricken, he contends that a remand for resentencing is not required as this court may
simply strike the enhancements. In making this argument, the Attorney General relies on
People v. Gastelum (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 757 (Gastelum), which also involved a prior
prison enhancement imposed under section 667.5, subdivision (d). In that case, the
appellate court found that the enhancement could no longer be imposed on the defendant
based on a recent amendment to section 667.5; however, the court simply struck the
enhancement and did not remand for resentencing. (Gastelum, supra, 45 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 772-773.) The court noted that “[when]… an enhancement is erroneously imposed
and the trial court has already imposed the maximum possible sentence, a remand for
resentencing is unnecessary. [Citation.] We may simply strike the enhancement and
affirm the judgment as modified. [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 773.) The Attorney General
therefore argues that since the maximum possible sentence was imposed in the instant
matter, this court should similarly strike the enhancements without remanding.
       We disagree. Gastelum was decided prior to the passage of Senate Bill 483 and
the enactment of what is now section 1172.75. As discussed above, section 1172.75,
subdivision (d) expressly contemplates a full resentencing that not only considers the
dismissal of the legally invalid section 667.5 enhancements, but also applies any
ameliorative changes in the law and examines any relevant postconviction factors. (See
§ 1172.75, subd. (d)(1)-(3).) Accordingly, a remand for a full resentencing is required.

                                              8
                                  III.   DISPOSITION
      The judgment of conviction is reversed, the sentence is vacated, and the matter is
remanded for resentencing. The trial court is directed to resentence Edwards under the
current law.

                                           9
                                     ___________________________________
                                                  Wilson, J.

WE CONCUR:

__________________________________________
                 Greenwood, P.J.

__________________________________________
                 Bamattre-Manoukian, J.

People v. Edwards
H050789