People v. Johnson CA4/1 ( 2016 )

Filed 8/26/16 P. v. Johnson CA4/1
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D069387
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCD237199)
ROBERT JOHNSON III,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Daniel F.
Link, Judge. Affirmed.
Patrick J. Hennessey, Jr., under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Robert Johnson III appeals from an order of the superior court denying his petition
to recall his felony sentence for second degree burglary and to resentence him to a
misdemeanor pursuant to Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (a), which was
enacted as part of Proposition 47.1 Johnson's brief on appeal, filed by appointed
appellate counsel, presents no argument for reversal, but invites this court to review the
record for error in accordance with People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).
Johnson did not respond to separate invitations from appellate counsel and from this
court to file a supplemental brief. After independently reviewing the entire record for
error as required by Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 (Anders) and Wende, we
affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In September 2012 the district attorney filed an amended information, charging
Johnson with seven counts of second degree burglary in violation of section 459
(counts 1-7) and one count of failure to appear while on bail in violation of
section 1320.5 (count 8). In count 8, the amended information alleged a penalty
enhancement under section 12022.1, subdivision (b), based on Johnson having been
released on his own recognizance pending final judgment on an earlier felony offense at
the time of the charged failure to appear while on bail on a more recent felony offense.
Finally, the amended information also alleged: Johnson suffered one strike prior within
the meaning of sections 667, subdivisions (b)-(i), 1170.12 and 668; three prison priors
1 "A person currently serving a sentence for a conviction, whether by trial or plea, of
a felony or felonies who would have been guilty of a misdemeanor under the act that
added this section ('this act') had this act been in effect at the time of the offense may
petition for a recall of sentence before the trial court that entered the judgment of
conviction in his or her case to request resentencing in accordance with . . . Section 459.5
. . . of the Penal Code, as th[at] section[] ha[s] been . . . added by this act." (Pen. Code,
§ 1170.18, subd. (a); further undesignated statutory references are to the Pen. Code.)
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within the meaning of sections 667.5, subdivision (b) and 668; and five probation denial
priors within the meaning of section 1203.
Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charges in
all eight counts of the information and admitted the allegations of the penalty
enhancement in count 8 and the three prison priors within the meaning of sections 667.5,
subdivision (b) and 668. In addition, the People agreed to strike the prior strike
conviction, Johnson agreed to waive all actual custody days and credits at the time of
sentencing, and together the parties agreed to a sentence of 12 years eight months.
In November 2012 the court sentenced Johnson to a prison term of 12 years eight
months and ordered that he pay various fees, fines, assessments and victim restitution.
On November 4, 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, the Safe
Neighborhoods and Schools Act; and under the California Constitution (art. II, § 10,
subd. (a)), it became effective the following day. (People v. Rivera (2015) 233
Cal.App.4th 1085, 1089.) "Proposition 47 makes certain . . . theft-related offenses
misdemeanors, unless the offenses were committed by certain ineligible defendants.
These offenses had previously been designated as either felonies or wobblers (crimes that
can be punished as either felonies or misdemeanors)." (Id. at p. 1091.)
In April 2015 Johnson filed a one-page form petition, requesting that his "felony
sentence(s)" be recalled and that the "conviction(s)" be reduced "to (a) misdemeanors."2
2 As part of an October 2015 "Notice of Request for Ruling," Johnson attached a
copy of an unfiled Los Angeles County Superior Court one-page form "Motion to Reduce
Charge to Misdemeanor Proposition 47," dated July 20, 2015, requesting that his felony
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(§ 1170.18, subds. (b) & (d).) Other than the requested relief, the petition alleges only
that Johnson "was convicted of a felony offense(s) (PC459) that is/are now (a)
misdemeanor(s) pursuant to . . . section 1170.18." The People opposed the petition,
asserting that Johnson is not entitled to the requested relief on the basis that "[n]o counts
[are] eligible under [section] 1170.18." On November 19, 2015, the court denied
Johnson's petition without prejudice, ruling in relevant part that the petition "fails to state
facts sufficient to make a prima facie showing that relief should be granted."
DISCUSSION
Appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief summarizing the facts and
proceedings below. Counsel presents no argument for reversal; mentions no reasonably
arguable appellate issues, pursuant to Anders, supra, 386 U.S. 738; and asks this court to
review the record for error as mandated by Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436. Counsel
invited Johnson to file a brief on his own behalf, and we granted Johnson permission to
file a brief on his own behalf, but Johnson has not responded.
Our review of the record pursuant to Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436, and Anders,
supra, 386 U.S. 738, has disclosed no reasonably arguable appellate issues.
Johnson has been adequately represented by counsel in this appeal.
charge be reduced to a misdemeanor. We express no opinion as to the effect, if any, of
this motion.
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DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
IRION, J.
WE CONCUR:
MCDONALD, Acting P. J.
AARON, J.
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