Court Opinion

ID: 2769643
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-13 22:02:52.479885+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:09:19.345095
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/13/15 P. v. Miller 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                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                                         (Butte)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,                                                                                  C074725

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                    (Super. Ct. Nos. CM036781,
                                                                                 CM037186 & CM037187)
         v.

JAMES LAWRENCE MILLER,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

         This case comes to us pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436 (Wende).
Having reviewed the record as required by Wende, we affirm the judgment.
         We provide the following brief description of the facts and procedural history of
the case. (See People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal. 4th 106, 110, 124.)

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                 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1
        Defendant James Lawrence Miller pleaded no contest to assault with a firearm
(Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(2)2; case No. CM036781, count 2), willfully evading a peace
officer (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a); case No. CM037186, count one), and failure to
appear while on bail (§ 1320.5; case No. CM037187). He admitted an allegation that he
was released from custody on bail or his own recognizance at the time of his failure to
appear. (§ 12022.1.) In exchange, three related counts, several related allegations, and
two unrelated cases (case Nos. CM037344 & SCR89688) were dismissed with a Harvey
waiver.3
        Defendant was sentenced to prison for seven years four months, awarded 27 days’
custody credit and 26 days’ conduct credit, ordered to make restitution to his victims, and
ordered to pay a $240 restitution fine (§ 1202.4) in each case, a $240 restitution fine
suspended unless parole is revoked (§ 1202.45) in each case, an $850 fine (§ 672)
including a $40 court operations fee (§ 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)), a $30 court facilities
assessment (Gov. Code, § 70373) in each case, and a single $736 probation report fee
(§ 1203.1, subd. (b)).
                                 Assault with a Firearm
        On July 2, 2012, Oroville Police Department officers were dispatched to an
apartment regarding a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, the officers met with Keith M., who
was holding his chest, appeared to be in pain, and stated that he had been shot in the
chest. Keith M. stated he had been shot in front of an inn by a white male adult who

1 Because these matters were resolved by plea, our statement of facts is taken from the
probation officer’s report.
2 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code in effect at the time of the
charged offenses.
3   People v. Harvey (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 754.

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“was trying to rob him and take his money.” Keith M. did not know the assailant who,
prior to the shooting, had disclosed that he was staying in room 108 of a local motel. The
officer recalled that on the previous day, he and another officer had contacted defendant
and a female at that motel room. Keith M.’s description of his assailant matched that of
defendant. The motel manager confirmed that defendant had been the tenant of that
room. The room was searched and was found to be empty.
       Later, an officer met with Keith M. in the trauma unit. Keith M. stated he had
been staying at the inn. He answered a knock at the door and saw two men:
Christopher D., whom he had known for more than a year, and defendant. Defendant
pointed a revolver at Keith M.’s chest and said “Give me your shit!” Keith M. responded
that defendant might as well shoot him because he “didn’t have any shit.” Defendant
shot Keith M. once in the chest.
       The officer conducted a photo lineup. Keith M. positively identified
Christopher D. as the person he saw when he opened the door. Keith M. positively
identified defendant as the person who shot him.
       Four days later, defendant went to the Oroville Police Department to retrieve his
identification card. He was taken into custody and denied shooting Keith M. or being
involved in a shooting.
                                      Failure to Appear
       On August 29, 2012, defendant failed to appear in court after having been released
from custody.
                                   Evading a Police Officer
       On September 2, 2012, an Oroville Police sergeant observed defendant, whom he
knew from prior contacts, driving a vehicle. Dispatch confirmed that defendant did not
have a driver’s license. The officer attempted to catch up to defendant, who appeared to
be evading him. Defendant drove at high speed through an alley. The officer activated
his patrol car’s emergency lights. Defendant looked toward the officer and accelerated.

                                              3
Defendant traveled at 50 to 80 miles per hour within a residential area. He passed
through several intersections without stopping or slowing down for the posted stop signs.
       The officer observed defendant turn and stop in the driveway of a mobile home
park. The officer positioned his patrol car to block defendant’s exit, but defendant
backed into the patrol car with enough force to push it backwards. The officer tried to
disable defendant’s car by striking it with his push bumper.
       Defendant drove onto the sidewalk where he knocked down a tree and a street
sign. Defendant fled from his car as another officer arrived on the scene. The officer
grabbed defendant’s hand and tried to place him in a control hold. When defendant failed
to comply, he was ordered to stop resisting and lie on his stomach. When he refused to
comply with those directives, officers used a Taser to immobilize defendant and take him
into custody.
                                    WENDE REVIEW
       We appointed counsel to represent defendant on appeal. Counsel filed an opening
brief that sets forth the facts of the case and requests this court to review the record and
determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal. (Wende, supra, 25 Cal. 3d
436.) Defendant was advised by counsel of the right to file a supplemental brief within
30 days of the date of filing of the opening brief. More than 30 days elapsed, and we
received no communication from defendant. Having undertaken an examination of the
entire record, we find no arguable error that would result in a disposition more favorable
to defendant.

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                                 DISPOSITION
     The judgment is affirmed.

                                               MURRAY   , J.

We concur:

     NICHOLSON          , Acting P. J.

     MAURO              , J.

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