Court Opinion

ID: 9401373
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-12 21:04:52.674533+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:52.419065
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/12/23 P. v. Puno CA2/1
   NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

                         SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                        DIVISION ONE

 THE PEOPLE,                                                   B320150

           Plaintiff and Respondent,                           (Los Angeles County
                                                               Super. Ct. No. TA152579)
           v.

 IVONNE ORTIZ PUNO,

           Defendant and Appellant.

      APPEAL from a restitution order of the Superior Court of
Los Angeles County, Hector E. Gutierrez, Judge. Affirmed.
      Roberta Simon, under appointment by the Court of Appeal,
for Defendant and Appellant.
      No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                             ____________________________
       Defendant Ivonne Ortiz Puno appeals from a restitution
order following her nolo contendere plea to grand theft. Her
counsel filed a brief identifying no issues and requesting this
court independently review the record pursuant to People v.
Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, 442 (Wende). We independently
review the record, find no arguable issue, and affirm the
restitution order.

                        BACKGROUND
      From April 2014 to November 2016, defendant worked as a
paralegal/office manager in the law office of attorney Lee Durst,
the Justice Law Center.

1.    Information
       The People charged defendant with four counts of grand
theft. The People alleged that defendant fraudulently
appropriated insurance settlement proceeds from Francisco
Magana, Edith Ramirez, Kanisha Benton, and Carmen Ortiz.
Durst was not charged in the information contained in the record
on appeal, but the trial court referred to him as a defendant.
       Defendant pleaded nolo contendere to one count of grand
theft. The court suspended imposition of sentence and placed
defendant on formal probation for two years. The court also
required defendant to make restitution to the victims. The court
dismissed the remaining counts in accordance with the parties’
plea agreement.

2.    Restitution hearing
      At the hearing at which Puno and Durst were represented
by separate counsel, it was undisputed that Ortiz, Magana, and
Ramirez hired Durst and defendant to assist them with

                                   2
insurance claims. Ortiz had hired Durst in connection with
water damage to her house. Magana hired Durst after Magana
incurred damages in an automobile accident. Ramirez hired
Durst to pursue claims under her homeowner’s insurance for
damage to her home. Ortiz testified that the $15,480 was owed
based on amounts defendant never paid Ortiz’s contractor and on
rent Ortiz paid and defendant failed to reimburse. Magana
testified that Mercury Insurance paid $3,502.38 and $7,300 on
his insurance claim but Magana never received the money. He
also testified that his out-of-pocket costs to repair his vehicle
totaled $1,100. Ramirez testified that a judgment in the amount
of $45,000 was entered against her for unpaid rent, and she paid
another landlord rent for four months, which the parties
stipulated was $2,400 a month. Ramirez hired different counsel
to assist in obtaining the money Durst and defendant had
misappropriated. In a brief filed for purposes of the restitution
hearing, the latter counsel indicated that his attorney fees totaled
$20,323.63. Benton did not testify at the hearing.
       After the hearing, the court ordered defendant (and Lee
Durst as jointly and severally liable) to pay Carmen Ortiz
$15,480 and Francisco Magana $11,902.38 in restitution. The
court also ordered defendant (and Lee Durst) to pay Edith
Ramirez (also known as Edith Hernandez) $9,600 for rent of an
apartment, $45,000 for a judgment that was entered against her
for rent of another apartment, and attorney fees in the amount of
$20,323.63. (Pen. Code, § 1202.4, subd. (f)(3)(H) [restitution
includes [“[a]ctual and reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs
of collection accrued by a private entity on behalf of the victim.”].)
The court ordered 10 percent interest from the date of sentencing.
(Id., subd. (f)(3)(G) [restitution includes “[i]nterest, at the rate of

                                      3
10 percent per annum, that accrues as of the date of sentencing
or loss, as determined by the court.”].)

3.    Appeal
       On appeal, defendant’s counsel filed a brief identifying no
issues and requesting this court independently review the record.
       This court sent defendant the following notice: “Counsel
appointed to represent appellant on appeal has filed an
appellant’s opening brief that raises no issues. (People v. Wende
(1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, 442.) [¶] Appointed counsel is directed to
send the record of this appeal and a copy of appellant's opening
brief to appellant immediately. Within 30 days of the date of this
notice, appellant may submit a supplemental brief or letter
stating any grounds for an appeal, or contentions, or arguments
which appellant wishes this court to consider.” Defendant did not
file a supplemental brief.

                          DISCUSSION
      We have independently reviewed the record and find no
arguable issue on appeal. Appointed counsel has fully complied
with counsel’s responsibilities and no arguable issue exists. (See
People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, 126; see also Wende, supra,
25 Cal.3d at pp. 441–443.)

                                   4
                        DISPOSITION
     The restitution order is affirmed.
     NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.

                                          BENDIX, J.

We concur:

             ROTHSCHILD, P. J.

             WEINGART, J.

                                   5