Court Opinion

ID: 904280
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-21 18:45:34.48043+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:33.082375
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/21/13 In re Rafael Z. CA1/5
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

In re RAFAEL Z., a Person Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law.

THE PEOPLE,
          Plaintiff and Respondent,                                  A137724
v.
                                                                     (Contra Costa County
RAFAEL Z.,                                                           Super. Ct. No. J12-01599)
          Defendant and Appellant.

          Appellant Rafael Z. was found by the juvenile court to have committed a second
degree robbery (Pen. Code, § 211, 212.5, subd. (c)).1 He was placed at a youth ranch
facility, but absconded from that facility the following day. He later admitted a probation
violation resulting from that escape and was ordered detained in a different youth facility.
Rafael has filed a timely notice of appeal from both the jurisdictional and dispositional
orders.
          Assigned counsel has submitted a Wende2 brief, certifying that counsel has been
unable to identify any issues for appellate review. Counsel also has submitted a
declaration confirming that Rafael has been advised of his right to personally file a
supplemental brief raising any points which he wishes to call to the court‟s attention. No

          1
              All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
          2
              People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.

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supplemental brief has been submitted. As required, we have independently reviewed the
record. (People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, 109–110.)
       We find no arguable issues and therefore affirm.
                                   I.     BACKGROUND
The Jurisdictional Hearing
       Jurisdictional hearings were held in the juvenile court on December 13 and
December 24, 2012, and the following evidence adduced:
       On November 17, 2012, at about 10:00 a.m., 14-year-old Juan was walking home
with two shopping bags of clothing he had just purchased. An older blue Honda pulled to
the curb in front of him and Rafael‟s codefendant, Jesus C., exited the car, said something
to Juan about “talking shit.” Juan saw Rafael exit the car sometime after Jesus. Jesus
demanded that Juan empty his pockets. Jesus punched Juan, knocking him to the ground,
while someone that Juan believed was Rafael rifled through Juan‟s pockets. Rafael and
Jesus took Juan‟s cell phone, knife, a photo of his girlfriend, hat, and the bags of clothing.
Rafael and Jesus then returned to the vehicle and drove away towards Detroit Avenue in
Concord, California.
       Juan walked home, called the police and provided the officers with a description
of his attackers. He told the investigating officer that one of the people who robbed him
was known as “Stomper” or “Little Stomper.” The officer retrieved a photograph of
Rafael from a police database based on the moniker, and Juan identified the photograph
as “Stomper.” At about 11:45 a.m., Rafael and Jesus were stopped by the Concord police
walking on the street approximately one street over from the scene of the robbery. Juan
was brought to the scene and identified both Jesus and Rafael as the people who robbed
him.
       A greenish-gray folding knife was found on Rafael‟s person. Juan told the
investigating officers that Rafael was the one that had told him to empty his pockets, and
that Rafael had used the knife in the robbery, holding it in his left hand. At trial, Juan
admitted that the knife was his, and said that it had been taken from his pocket during the

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robbery. The stolen phone and clothing were not recovered, and the officers could not
locate the blue Honda.
       Jesus testified. He admitted to being in a friend‟s car on the day of the incident,
and initiating a fight with Juan because Juan had been “talking smack” about him. He
denied taking anything from Juan. Jesus said that Rafael was present, but did not
participate in the confrontation with Juan.
       The court found Juan to be a credible witness and found Jesus not to be credible.
The court found beyond a reasonable doubt that both defendants were guilty of second
degree robbery. The court declined to find true allegations against Rafael that he
personally used a knife in the robbery (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1)) and that the crime was
committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)).
The Dispositional Hearing3
       At the time of the incident, Rafael was 16 years old and living with his mother,
three sisters and nephew in Concord. His father‟s whereabouts were unknown. Rafael
had no prior juvenile court history.
       The probation department‟s report and recommendations noted that Rafael had
been expelled from Pleasant Hill Middle School for punching a teacher. He admitted
using marijuana, and said he did so on the date of the robbery. Rafael met the criteria for
special education due to an emotional disturbance and specific learning disability and had
an individualized education program. Rafael admitted to the probation officer that he
associated with members of the Sureños gang. While in custody, juvenile hall staff
reported that Rafael exhibited defiant and disrespectful behavior, had threatened other
residents in his unit, and was placed on maximum security after he attacked another
resident. Noting that Rafael‟s mother was in denial about his offense and his gang
membership, the probation officer recommended an out-of-home placement in a “highly
structured setting.” The court determined the maximum period of confinement to be five
years, less credit for actual custodial time.

       3
           The dispositional hearing was held on January 14, 2013.

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       Rafael‟s attorney requested placement in to the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation
Facility (OAYRF), a Contra Costa County youth ranch. The probation department
sought a more restrictive placement that could accommodate Rafael‟ special education
needs, but the court stated that it wanted to give Rafael “a chance” at the less restrictive
ranch facility. The court found that Rafael‟s welfare required that he be removed from
the custody of his mother (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 726, subd. (a)(3)) and committed Rafael
to OAYRF for a period not to exceed 12 months, plus an additional 90-day conditional
release/parole period. The trial court noted that during the jurisdictional hearing
members or friends of Rafael‟s family had made gang signs and that both defendants
“have gang problems.” The court found that it was appropriate to impose probation
conditions including gang orders. The court imposed probation conditions including that
Rafael: (1) be at his legal residence between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless
accompanied by a parent or guardian; (2) not use or possess illegal drugs or alcohol and
submit to testing; (3) not use or possess weapons or replica guns; (4) submit his person,
property, any vehicle under his control, and his residence to search and seizure by any
peace officer any time of the day or night with or without a warrant; (5) avoid gang
associations, colors, clothing, insignias, signs, paraphernalia and activities; (6) not be on
a school campus unless enrolled in the school; (7) provide restitution in an amount to be
determined; (8) attend and participate in individual counseling; (9) have no contact with
Jesus or the victim; and (10) write an apology letter to the victim within 30 days. The
court also imposed a restitution fine of $300.
       Within a day of his arrival at OAYRF, Rafael escaped. On January 16, 2013, a
Welfare and Institutions Code section 777 probation violation was filed and a bench
warrant was issued. Rafael surrendered to police on January 26, 2013. On February 4,
2013, Rafael, represented by counsel, admitted the probation violation. The court
requested an updated disposition report. On March 18, 2013, the court again found that
custody in the home was contrary to Rafael‟s welfare and ordered him detained in a
different out-of-home placement called Courage to Change. It imposed the same
probation conditions.

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       On January 23, 2013, Rafael filed a notice of appeal from the findings and orders
of December 24, 2012 (jurisdiction), and January 14, 2013 (disposition).
                                    II.    DISCUSSION
       We find no arguable issues. Rafael was represented by competent counsel
throughout the proceedings. “ „The decision of the juvenile court or superior court may
be reversed on appeal only upon a showing that the court abused its discretion in its
commitment of the minor. A reviewing court must indulge in all reasonable inferences to
support the findings of the juvenile court, and such findings will not be disturbed on
appeal when there is substantial evidence to support them. [Citations.]‟ ” (In re Jose R.
(1983) 148 Cal.App.3d 55, 59.) In determining whether there is sufficient evidence to
support a court‟s findings, we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the
prosecution to see if any rational trier of fact could have been so persuaded. (People v.
Hovarter (2008) 44 Cal.4th 983, 996–997.) It is the exclusive province of the trier of fact
to determine the credibility of a witness and to resolve evidentiary inconsistencies, and
we must defer to the factfinder‟s credibility resolutions. (People v. Young (2005)
34 Cal.4th 1149, 1181.) Our examination of the record indicates the requisite evidentiary
support for the findings made by the trial court.
       A juvenile court‟s dispositional order may be reversed on appeal only upon a
showing the court abused its discretion. “ „ “We must indulge all reasonable inferences
to support the decision of the juvenile court and will not disturb its findings when there is
substantial evidence to support them.” ‟ [Citation.]” (In re Robert H. (2002)
96 Cal.App.4th 1317, 1330.) We find no abuse of discretion in the out of home
placement ordered by the court, or in the probation conditions imposed. A juvenile court
has broad discretion in formulating probation conditions, and may impose “ „ “any
reasonable condition that is „fitting and proper to the end that justice may be done and the
reformation and rehabilitation of the ward enhanced.‟ ” ‟ [Citations.]” (In re Sheena K.,
(2007) 40 Cal.4th 875, 889; see Welf. & Inst. Code, § 730, subd. (b).)
                                    III.   DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

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                                _________________________
                                Bruiniers, J.

We concur:

_________________________
Simons, Acting P. J.

_________________________
Needham, J.

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