People v. Chavez ( 2016 )


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  • Filed 11/3/16
    CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
    IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
    THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
    (Yolo)
    ----
    THE PEOPLE,
    Plaintiff and Respondent,                          C074138
    v.                                                 (Super. Ct. No. CRF042140)
    LORENZO CHAVEZ,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Yolo County, Stephen L.
    Mock, Judge. Affirmed.
    Matthew A. Siroka, Retained Counsel for Defendant and Appellant.
    Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
    General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen,
    Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Robert C. Nash, Deputy Attorney General, for
    Plaintiff and Respondent.
    Defendant Lorenzo Chavez pleaded no contest to charges that he offered to sell
    a controlled substance and failed to appear. The trial court suspended imposition of
    sentence and placed defendant on probation for four years.
    After defendant successfully completed his probation in 2009, he filed a motion
    pursuant to Penal Code section 1385,1 asking the trial court to dismiss the action in the
    1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
    1
    interests of justice based on ineffective assistance of counsel and asserted legal errors.
    The trial court concluded that because the motion was brought pursuant to section 1385
    rather than section 1203.4, it did not have authority after probation ended to grant the
    requested relief. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss.
    The People contend the denial was not an appealable order. Defendant asserts
    the order is appealable and the trial court erred in ruling that it lacked authority to dismiss
    under section 1385.
    We conclude the order is appealable and the trial court did not err. Section 1203.4
    is the exclusive method for a trial court to dismiss the conviction of a defendant who has
    successfully completed probation.
    We will affirm the judgment.
    BACKGROUND
    Defendant negotiated, but did not show up to complete, the sale of
    methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. The People initiated a
    criminal case against defendant and the trial court released him on his own recognizance.
    Defendant failed to appear. In May 2005, defendant pleaded no contest to offering to sell
    a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a) -- count 1) and failure to
    appear (§ 1320, subd. (b) -- count 2). The trial court suspended imposition of sentence
    and placed defendant on probation for four years.
    In 2009 defendant successfully completed his probation. Years later, in March
    2013, he filed a motion pursuant to section 1385, asking the trial court to dismiss the
    action in the interests of justice. Among other things, defendant claimed he received
    ineffective assistance of counsel in entering his plea. He said that because of various
    legal errors he entered a guilty plea without knowing the immigration consequences.
    Defendant argued a trial court has authority under section 1385 to dismiss a case after
    probation is ordered.
    2
    The People countered that although defendant raised significant concerns, he used
    the wrong procedure to request relief. The People argued that because probation had
    been terminated, the trial court did not have authority to grant section 1385 relief.
    The trial court said it did not find any case holding that section 1385 authorizes a
    trial court to grant a motion to dismiss after probation has expired. According to the trial
    court, such authority comes under section 1203.4 rather than section 1385, but defendant
    did not bring his motion pursuant to section 1203.4. The trial court denied the motion to
    dismiss.
    DISCUSSION
    As a threshold matter, the People claim the trial court denial was not an appealable
    order because defendant did not appeal or challenge the negotiated plea he entered in
    2005. We disagree.
    Except in circumstances not applicable here, a defendant may appeal from a final
    judgment of conviction and from any order made after judgment, affecting the substantial
    rights of the party. (§ 1237, subds. (a), (b).) Where a defendant is granted probation and
    the probationary period expires without revocation, the order granting probation is a
    “final judgment” within the meaning of section 1237, subdivision (a). (People v.
    Chandler (1988) 
    203 Cal. App. 3d 782
    , 787.) An order denying defendant relief under
    section 1203.4 is an appealable order made after judgment affecting the substantial rights
    of the defendant. (§ 1237, subd. (b); 
    Chandler, supra
    , 203 Cal.App.3d at p. 787;
    People v. Johnson (1955) 
    134 Cal. App. 2d 140
    , 142-143 (Johnson) [in a case involving a
    denial of a section 1203.4 motion, a different panel of this court stated, “if the
    probationary period expires without revocation, there can then be no formal judgment,
    and the order granting probation under the provisions of Penal Code, section 1237,
    must be considered as the final judgment insofar as any order made thereafter ‘affecting
    the substantial rights of the party’ are concerned.”]; see also People v. Feyrer (2010)
    
    48 Cal. 4th 426
    , 433, fn. 5; People v. Totari (2002) 
    28 Cal. 4th 876
    , 886-887.)
    3
    Turning to defendant’s contention, he argues section 1203.4 does not limit the trial
    court’s power to dismiss a case pursuant to section 1385 after the defendant successfully
    completes probation.
    We review de novo issues involving the interpretation of statutes. (People v.
    Mgebrov (2008) 
    166 Cal. App. 4th 579
    , 585 (Mgebrov).) “ ‘The fundamental purpose of
    statutory construction is to ascertain the intent of the lawmakers so as to effectuate the
    purpose of the law. [Citations.] In order to determine this intent, we begin by examining
    the language of the statute. [Citations.] But “[i]t is a settled principle of statutory
    interpretation that language of a statute should not be given a literal meaning if doing so
    would result in absurd consequences which the Legislature did not intend.” [Citations.]
    Thus, “[t]he intent prevails over the letter, and the letter will, if possible, be so read as
    to conform to the spirit of the act.” [Citation.] Finally, we do not construe statutes in
    isolation, but rather read every statute “with reference to the entire scheme of law of
    which it is part so that the whole may be harmonized and retain effectiveness.”
    [Citation.]’ ” (People v. Thomas (1992) 
    4 Cal. 4th 206
    , 210 (Thomas).) “[A] wide variety
    of factors may illuminate the legislative design, ‘ “such as context, the object in view,
    the evils to be remedied, the history of the time and of legislation upon the same subject,
    public policy and contemporaneous construction.” ’ [Citations.]” (Walters v. Weed
    (1988) 
    45 Cal. 3d 1
    , 10.)
    Section 1203.4 applies to probationers whose period of probation has ended.
    (§ 1203.4, subd. (a)(1); People v. Morrison (1984) 
    162 Cal. App. 3d 995
    , 997-998.)
    The statute allows a qualifying defendant, at any time after the termination of the period
    of probation, to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of
    not guilty. (§ 1203.4, subd. (a)(1).) If the defendant was convicted after a plea of not
    guilty, section 1203.4 requires the court to set aside the verdict of guilty. (Ibid.) In either
    case, the court shall dismiss the accusations or information against the defendant. (Ibid.)
    The defendant is entitled to relief under section 1203.4 if (1) he or she has fulfilled the
    4
    conditions of probation for the entire period of probation, (2) he or she has been
    discharged prior to the termination of the period of probation, or (3) the trial court, in its
    discretion and in the interests of justice, determines that the defendant should be granted
    relief under section 1203.4, and (4) the defendant is not then serving a sentence for any
    offense, is not on probation for any offense, or is not charged with the commission of any
    offense. (Ibid.)
    Dismissal of the accusations or information under section 1203.4 releases the
    defendant from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction, except as
    provided in section 1203.4. (§ 1203.4, subd. (a)(1).) Such relief is intended to reward a
    defendant who successfully completed probation by mitigating some of the consequences
    of the conviction. 
    (Mgebrov, supra
    , 166 Cal.App.4th at p. 584.) However, dismissal
    under section 1203.4 does not erase a conviction; it “merely frees the convicted felon
    from certain ‘penalties and disabilities’ of a criminal or like nature.” (Adams v. County
    of Sacramento (1991) 
    235 Cal. App. 3d 872
    , 877-878.) As we will explain later in this
    opinion, there are numerous exceptions to the relief authorized by section 1203.4.
    (§ 1203.4, subds. (a), (b); People v. Frawley (2000) 
    82 Cal. App. 4th 784
    , 790-792.)
    Section 1385 is different. Pursuant to that section, a judge or magistrate may, on
    his or her own motion or upon application of the prosecuting attorney, and in furtherance
    of justice, order an action dismissed.2 (§ 1385.) A dismissal pursuant to section 1385
    2 In People v. Fuentes (2016) 1 Cal.5th 218, the California Supreme Court recently held
    that section 186.22, subdivision (g) does not eliminate a trial court’s discretion under
    section 1385 to dismiss a section 186.22 sentencing enhancement allegation for a gang-
    related offense. (Fuentes, at pp. 221-222.) Section 186.22, subdivision (g) provides:
    “Notwithstanding any other law, the court may strike the additional punishment for the
    enhancements provided in this section . . . where the interests of justice would best be
    served . . . .” The Supreme Court said a trial court’s dismissal authority is broader under
    section 1385. (Fuentes, at pp. 224-225.) Whereas a trial court can dismiss a sentencing
    enhancement allegation under section 1385, a trial court’s discretion under section
    186.22, subdivision (g) is limited to striking the additional punishment for the
    enhancement. (Fuentes, at pp. 224-225.) The distinction is significant because an
    5
    may be proper before, during, or after trial. (People v. Hatch (2000) 
    22 Cal. 4th 260
    ,
    268.) Unlike a dismissal under section 1203.4, “[t]he effect of a dismissal under
    section 1385 is to wipe the slate clean as if the defendant never suffered the prior
    conviction in the initial instance. In other words, ‘[t]he defendant stands as if he had
    never been prosecuted for the charged offense. (People v. Simpson (1944) 
    66 Cal. App. 2d 319
    , 329.)’ (People v. Superior Court (Flores) (1989) 
    214 Cal. App. 3d 127
    , 136
    [(Flores)].)” (People v. Barro (2001) 
    93 Cal. App. 4th 62
    , 67.)
    A trial court’s discretionary power to dismiss an action under section 1385 has
    been recognized by statute since 1850. (Stats. 1850, ch. 119, § 629, p. 323.) With slight
    changes, the provision became section 1385 when the Penal Code was enacted in 1872.3
    
    (Williams, supra
    , 30 Cal.3d at p. 478.)
    enhancement finding may impact a defendant in a future case even if the punishment for
    the enhancement is struck. (Id. at p. 225.) The Supreme Court did not find in the
    language of section 186.22 the clear legislative direction necessary to abrogate a trial
    court’s discretion under section 1385. (Fuentes, at p. 231.) The conclusion in this case
    is different. Here, sections 1203.4 and 1385 both authorize the dismissal of an action.
    (§§ 1203.4 subd. (a)(1), 1385, subd. (a).) As we will explain, the original section 1203.4
    also had the same restorative effect as section 1385. And an examination of the language
    and history of the two statutes demonstrates clear legislative intent to eliminate section
    1385 discretion in cases where section 1203.4 applies.
    3 “In 1851, the phrase ‘after indictment’ was changed to ‘or indictment.’ (Stats. 1851,
    ch. 29, § 597, p. 279.) The 1872 version read, ‘The Court may, either of its own motion
    or upon the application of the District Attorney, and in furtherance of justice, order an
    action or indictment to be dismissed. The reasons of the dismissal must be set forth in an
    order entered upon the minutes.’ In 1951, ‘Court’ became ‘court,’ ‘District Attorney’
    was changed to ‘prosecuting attorney,’ the phrase ‘or indictment’ was dropped, and the
    third sentence was added. (Stats. 1951, ch. 1674, § 141, p. 3857.) In 1980, ‘judge or
    magistrate’ was substituted for ‘court.’ (Stats. 1980, ch. 938, § 7, p. 2968.)” (People v.
    Williams (1981) 
    30 Cal. 3d 470
    , 478, fn. 5 (Williams), superseded by statute on another
    point as noted in Raven v. Deukmejian (1990) 
    52 Cal. 3d 336
    , 348.) In 1986, the existing
    provision became subdivision (a) and subdivision (b) was added to restrict the authority
    of the trial court to strike prior convictions of serious felonies when imposing an
    enhancement under section 667. (People v. Valencia (1989) 
    207 Cal. App. 3d 1042
    ,
    1045.) In 2000, subdivision (c) was added to give the court authority to “strike the
    6
    The judicial authority to dismiss a criminal action or allegation in furtherance of
    justice is statutory and may be withdrawn by the Legislature. (People v. Superior Court
    (Romero) (1996) 
    13 Cal. 4th 497
    , 504, 518.) A court may exercise such authority unless,
    in a given context, the Legislature has clearly evidenced a contrary intent. 
    (Williams, supra
    , 30 Cal.3d at p. 482; 
    Thomas, supra
    , 4 Cal.4th at p. 211.) Courts will not interpret
    another statute as eliminating the power to dismiss under section 1385 unless there is
    clear legislative direction to that effect. (Romero, at p. 518.) But the Legislature can
    provide such clear direction without expressly referring to section 1385. (Romero, at
    p. 518.)
    People v. Tanner (1979) 
    24 Cal. 3d 514
    , 518 (Tanner) shows how the Legislature
    can provide clear direction without mentioning section 1385. That case involved section
    1203.06, a statute specifying, among other things, that probation shall not be granted to a
    person who personally uses a firearm during the commission of a robbery. (§ 1203.06,
    subd. (a)(1)(B).) The California Supreme Court considered whether a trial court could
    use section 1385 to strike a firearm allegation and thereby avoid the mandatory
    prohibition in section 1203.06. 
    (Tanner, supra
    , 24 Cal.3d at p. 518.) The Court said no,
    the mandatory provisions of section 1203.06 could not be avoided by employing section
    1385. (Tanner, at p. 519.) To hold otherwise would nullify section 1203.06 and restore
    prior law allowing a trial court to grant probation anytime it deemed such a grant
    appropriate in the interests of justice. (Tanner, at pp. 519-520.) The Court observed that
    “whereas section 1385 is general in nature, relating to the broad scope of dismissal,
    section 1203.06 is specific, relating to the limited power of dismissal for purposes of
    probation -- the very matter at issue.” (Tanner, at p. 521.) In addition, section 1203.06 is
    “the later enactment, adopted by the Legislature in response to the particular problem at
    additional punishment” for an enhancement provided the court “has the authority
    pursuant to subdivision (a) to strike or dismiss [such] enhancement.” (Stats. 2000,
    ch. 690, § 3.)
    7
    hand. A specific provision relating to a particular subject will govern a general provision,
    even though the general provision standing alone would be broad enough to include the
    subject to which the specific provision relates.” (Tanner, at p. 521; See People v.
    Rodriguez (1986) 
    42 Cal. 3d 1005
    , 1019 [confirming continuing validity of Tanner])
    Like section 1203.06, what is now section 1203.4 was enacted after section 1385
    and is more specific. (Stats. 1909, ch. 232, § 1, p. 359) Section 1203.4 was paragraph 5
    to the original section 1203, a statute directed at the subject of probation. (Stats. 1905,
    ch. 166, § 1, pp. 162-164; Stats. 1909, ch. 232, § 1, p. 359.) In contrast, section 1385
    is a general statute “relating to the broad scope of dismissal.” 
    (Tanner, supra
    , 24 Cal.3d
    at p. 521.) Section 1385 does not reference probation. Section 1203.4 relates to “the
    limited power of dismissal for purposes of probation -- the very matter at issue.”
    (Tanner, at p. 521.)
    Section 1203.06 involves a particular prohibition not present in section 1203.4.
    But like the probation statute in 
    Tanner, supra
    , 
    24 Cal. 3d 514
    , the original section 1203.4
    contained mandatory terms. (Stats. 1909, ch. 232, § 1, p. 359; see also People v. Field
    (1995) 
    31 Cal. App. 4th 1778
    , 1788 [probationer who fulfills the conditions of probation
    for the entire period of probation or who has been discharged before the termination of
    the probationary term is entitled as a matter of right to expungement of the conviction];
    
    Johnson, supra
    , 134 Cal.App.2d at p. 144 [interpreting the word “shall” in section 1203.4
    as mandatory].) It required dismissal of the accusation or information when the
    conditions for relief were present. (Stats. 1909, ch. 232, § 1, p. 359.)4
    4 The original version of section 1203.4 provided, “Every defendant who has fulfilled
    the conditions of his probation for the entire period thereof, or who shall have been
    discharged from probation prior to the termination of the period thereof, shall at any time
    prior to the expiration of the maximum period of punishment for the offense of which he
    has been convicted, dating from said discharge from probation or said termination of said
    period of probation, be permitted by the court to withdraw his plea of guilty and enter a
    plea of not guilty; or, if he has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set
    8
    Moreover, dismissal of an accusation or information under the original section
    1203.4 had the same effect as a dismissal under section 1385. (People v. Mackey (1922)
    
    58 Cal. App. 123
    , 130-131; 
    Flores, supra
    , 214 Cal.App.3d at p. 136.) A defendant was
    released “from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense or crime of which
    he [or she] has been convicted.” (Stats. 1909, ch. 232, § 1, p. 359.) The Legislature
    intended the original version of section 1203.4 “to wipe out absolutely the entire
    proceeding in question in a given case and to place the defendant in the position which he
    would have occupied in all respects as a citizen if no accusation or information had ever
    been presented against him. Such is the legal effect of the dismissal of a criminal charge
    before conviction, and . . . the lawmaking body intended, by [paragraph 5 of] section
    1203, that the same effect should attend a dismissal after conviction.” 
    (Mackey, supra
    ,
    58 Cal.App. at pp. 130-131; see In re Disbarment of Herron (1933) 
    217 Cal. 400
    (Herron) [dismissal of action under then section 1203 released the defendant from all
    penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction], disapproved on another point in
    In re Phillips (1941) 
    17 Cal. 2d 55
    , 59-60.)
    The Legislature could not have intended to preserve the court’s discretionary
    power to dismiss under section 1385 when it mandated dismissal in a later-enacted statute
    with the same restorative effect that specifically addressed the dismissal of accusations or
    an information against a successful probationer. (
    Thomas, supra
    , 4 Cal.4th at p. 213 [the
    Legislature intended to preclude exercise of power under section 1385 when exercise of
    such power could effectively negate a later-enacted and more specific statute]; 
    Tanner, supra
    , 24 Cal.3d at pp. 519-520.) A contrary interpretation would nullify the original
    section 1203.4. “Under well-established rules of construction, any inconsistency between
    aside the verdict of guilty and the court shall thereupon dismiss the accusation or
    information against such defendant who shall thereafter be released from all penalties and
    disabilities resulting from the offense or crime of which he has been convicted.” (Stats.
    1909, ch. 232, § 1, p. 359.)
    9
    the two provisions would be resolved by applying the more specific provision.”
    (
    Thomas, supra
    , 4 Cal.4th at p. 213.)
    The 1971 amendment of section 1203.4 supports our conclusion. That year
    the Legislature expanded the class of defendants who might obtain section 1203.4 relief
    to include those who did not successfully complete probation but who should be granted
    relief in the court’s discretion and in the interests of justice. (Stats. 1971, ch. 333, § 1,
    p. 667; People v. McLernon (2009) 
    174 Cal. App. 4th 569
    , 576-577; see 
    Mgebrov, supra
    ,
    166 Cal.App.4th at p. 587 [the 1971 amendment gave the courts considerable flexibility
    in their application of the statute].) It would not have been necessary for the Legislature
    to amend section 1203.4 to authorize a court to dismiss “in its discretion and the interests
    of justice” if courts had retained authority to dismiss “in furtherance of justice” under
    section 1385 after the Legislature enacted the original section 1203.4.
    Other California Supreme Court cases also support our conclusion that section
    1203.4, and not section 1385, governs dismissal in a case where the defendant is granted
    probation and seeks dismissal after the expiration of the probationary period. 
    Herron, supra
    , 
    217 Cal. 400
    , involved a proceeding to disbar an attorney. One issue before the
    Supreme Court was whether a trial court could set aside a conviction and dismiss an
    action after expiration of the probation period. (Id. at p. 405.) The Supreme Court ruled
    that the power to dismiss an action in that circumstance was found in the original version
    of section 1203.4. (Herron, at p. 405; see also People v. Behrmann (1949) 
    34 Cal. 2d 459
    , 462, fn. 1 [citing section 1203.4 and stating that the court’s power to vacate the
    judgment and dismiss the cause after probation is fulfilled depends on the statutory
    procedure].) The Supreme Court did not say section 1385 gave the trial court the power
    to dismiss after a defendant completed probation.
    Likewise, in In re 
    Phillips, supra
    , 
    17 Cal. 2d 55
    , another attorney disbarment case,
    the Supreme Court once again acknowledged that section 1203.4 established the authority
    of a trial court to set aside the verdict after satisfactory completion of probation. (In re
    10
    
    Phillips, supra
    , 17 Cal.2d at p. 59.) Moreover, in 
    Banks, supra
    , 
    53 Cal. 2d 370
    , the Court
    again referenced section 1203.4 as the statutory basis for dismissing a case when a
    defendant successfully completed probation. (Banks, at pp. 384-388, 391; see also
    
    Stephens, supra
    , 51 Cal.2d at pp. 870-871.)
    The Court of Appeal in People v. Barraza (1994) 
    30 Cal. App. 4th 114
    reached a
    similar conclusion, stating that section 1203.4 is the only statutory avenue available for
    an adult convicted of a felony and placed on probation rather than sentenced to prison.
    (Barraza, at p. 120; see also Comment, Expungement in California: Legislative Neglect
    and Judicial Abuse of the Statutory Mitigation of Felony Convictions (1977) 12 U.S.F.
    L.Rev. 155, 166 (Comment) [“With the single and rare exception of pardon, section
    1203.4 is the only statutory enactment that presumptively relieves the legal and collateral
    disabilities of a felony conviction.”].)
    In addition, the amendatory history of section 1203.4 discloses a continuing
    legislative intent, based on public safety and other considerations, to limit a court’s
    authority (like it might otherwise have under section 1385) to wipe a probationer’s slate
    clean or even free the probationer from certain penalties and disabilities. (People v.
    Ansell (2001) 
    25 Cal. 4th 868
    , 879-880; 
    Tanner, supra
    , 24 Cal.3d at p. 519; 
    Comment, supra
    , 12 U.S.F. L.Rev. at pp.167-172.) Starting in 1927, the Legislature narrowed the
    ameliorative effect of a dismissal under section 1203.4 so that section 1203.4 no longer
    renders the prior conviction a legal nullity. (Compare § 1203.4 with Stats. 1909, ch. 232,
    § 1, p. 359; see also People v. Vasquez (2001) 
    25 Cal. 4th 1225
    , 1230-1231.) The 1927
    amendment provided that “in any subsequent prosecution of such defendant for any other
    offense such prior conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same effect
    as if probation had not been granted or the accusation or information dismissed.” (Stats.
    1927, ch. 770, § 1, p. 1496.) That amendment stripped the defendant of all the privileges
    and rights restored under the original statute, and provided that if the defendant
    committed a second offense, he or she forfeited all the remaining rights and benefits
    11
    restored when the information was dismissed. (People v. Majado (1937) 
    22 Cal. App. 2d 323
    , 325.)
    The 1961 amendment to section 1203.4 provides that dismissal under the statute
    does not permit a person to own, possess, or have in his or her custody or control any
    firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, and does not prevent conviction
    under section 12021. (Stats. 1961, ch. 1735, § 1, p. 3744.) Pursuant to the 1978
    amendment, dismissal under section 1203.4 does not affect the revocation or suspension
    of the defendant’s privilege to drive a motor vehicle. (Stats. 1978, ch. 911, § 1, p. 2870;
    Veh. Code, § 13555.) The 1979 and 1989 amendments indicate dismissal under the
    statute does not relieve the defendant of the obligation to disclose the prior conviction in
    response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public
    office or for licensure by any state or local agency, or for contracting with the California
    State Lottery. (Stats. 1979, ch. 199, § 6, p. 444; Stats. 1989, ch. 917, § 11, p. 3190.) The
    2005 amendment provides that, except as provided in section 290.5, dismissal under the
    statute does not relieve a person of the duty to register as a sex offender under section
    290. (Stats. 2005, ch. 704, § 3, p. 5629.) Under the 2008 amendment, dismissal does not
    permit a person to hold public office who is otherwise barred. (Stats. 2008, ch. 94, § 1.)
    And consistent with the foregoing amendments, cases have held that section 1203.4 does
    not bar use of a prior conviction in licensee disciplinary proceedings. (See, e.g., Meyer v.
    Board of Medical Examiners (1949) 
    34 Cal. 2d 62
    , 67; Copeland v. Department of
    Alcoholic Beverage Control (1966) 
    241 Cal. App. 2d 186
    , 188.) As this review of the
    amendatory history demonstrates, it would nullify the restrictions imposed by the
    Legislature and interpreted by the courts if we were to construe the statutes as preserving
    a trial court’s discretion under section 1385 to completely erase a probationer’s
    conviction.
    The cases cited by defendant in support of his position are inapposite. There is no
    indication in People v. Orabuena (2004) 
    116 Cal. App. 4th 84
    that the defendant had
    12
    completed probation and was eligible for relief under section 1203.4. (Orabuena, at
    p. 89.) That decision does not discuss dismissal under section 1203.4. Moreover, the
    defendant in People v. Kim (2012) 
    212 Cal. App. 4th 117
    was sentenced to three years in
    prison and sought relief under section 1385 years after he was released on parole. (Kim,
    at pp. 119-121.) He was not granted probation on the conviction he invited the trial court
    to dismiss pursuant to section 1385. (Kim, at pp. 119-121.) The court in Kim did not
    discuss dismissal under section 1203.4.
    In cases involving a request for dismissal of accusations or an information against
    a defendant after the period of probation has ended, the Legislature has provided clear
    legislative direction that the courts do not have authority under section 1385 to grant the
    requested relief. Section 1203.4 is the exclusive method by which a court can dismiss the
    conviction of a defendant who has successfully completed probation. Accordingly, the
    trial court properly concluded it was without discretion to dismiss defendant’s conviction
    under section 1385.
    DISPOSITION
    The judgment is affirmed.
    /S/
    MAURO, J.
    We concur:
    /S/
    RAYE, P. J.
    /S/
    BUTZ, J.
    13
    

Document Info

Docket Number: C074138

Judges: Mauro, Raye, Butz

Filed Date: 11/3/2016

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 11/3/2024