People v. Ford CA3 ( 2015 )

Filed 10/28/15 P. v. Ford 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
(Tehama)
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THE PEOPLE, C077721
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. Nos. NCR87147,
NCR88743, NCR90533,
v. NCR90759)
JUSTIN FRED FORD,
Defendant and Appellant.
Defendant Justin Fred Ford entered into a plea bargain, pleading guilty to second
degree burglary, failure to appear, and taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s
consent. (Pen. Code, §§ 459, 1320, subd. (b); Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a).)1
Defendant also agreed to a felony drug court referral. Subsequently, the Tehama County
Health Services Agency (Agency) determined that defendant did not meet the criteria for
the program. The trial court ultimately sentenced defendant to seven years’ incarceration.
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise designated.
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Defendant appeals, contending his plea bargain was violated when he was found
ineligible for the drug court program and he should be allowed to withdraw his plea.
Defendant also argues counsel performed ineffectively. We shall affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In September 2014 four separate informations were filed against defendant.
The Charges
The information filed in case No. NCR87147 alleged three counts of commercial
burglary, one count of elder theft, and misdemeanor access card fraud. (§§ 459, 368,
subd. (d), 484g, subd. (b).) The parties stipulated the factual basis for the charges is
contained in the sheriff’s department report. The report states that defendant made eight
transactions on a friend’s ATM card without permission.
The information filed in case No. NCR88743 alleged failure to appear. (§ 1320,
subd. (b).) The information further alleged defendant committed the crime while free on
bail within the meaning of section 12022.1.
The information filed in case No. NCR90533 also alleged one count of failure to
appear. (§ 1320, subd. (b).) The information again alleged the underlying crime had
been committed while defendant was free on bail within the meaning of section 12022.1.
Finally, the information filed in case No. NCR90759 alleged defendant had
unlawfully taken or driven a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent in violation of
Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a). The parties stipulated the charge was based
on the California Highway Patrol report that states defendant was allowed to drive a
friend’s vehicle but failed to return it as agreed.
The Plea Bargain
As part of a plea bargain arrangement, defendant entered the following guilty
pleas: (1) in case No. NCR87147, a plea of guilty to one count of second degree
burglary; (2) in case No. NCR88743, a plea of guilty to failure to appear; (3) in case
No. NCR90533, a plea of guilty to failure to appear; and (4) in case No. NCR90759, a
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plea of guilty to taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. Defendant also
admitted the special allegation in case No. NCR88743.
The parties further agreed to a felony drug court referral and stipulated to seven
years’ incarceration to be served pursuant to section 1170, subdivision (h). The
agreement states that defendant “may not withdraw [his] plea if found
ineligible/unsuitable for drug court” and stipulated the seven-year sentence would be
“suspended.”
Subsequent Events
A month later, the Agency determined that, because of defendant’s plans to move
out of Tehama County, defendant did not meet the suitability criteria for the adult felon
drug court program.
The court sentenced defendant to seven years under section 1170, subdivision (h):
(1) three years as the upper term for the offense of failure to appear; (2) three consecutive
eight-month terms for the burglary, the auto theft, and the second failure to appear
charges; and (3) two years, to be served consecutively, for the section 12022.1
enhancement. Defendant and defense counsel orally consented to the sentence.
Defendant filed timely notices of appeal.
DISCUSSION
Defendant argues the court, in sentencing him to seven years, violated the plea
bargain “when the [Agency’s] County Drug Court team denied Mr. Ford’s entrance into
the program based on a false premise that he was not planning on living in Tehama
County to attend the program, and apparently, there was a residency requirement.”
According to defendant, he did not realize when entering the plea agreement that listing
an out-of-county address as an alternative address would foreclose his ability to obtain
the bargained-for drug court. Therefore, there was not a meeting of the minds sufficient
to form a contract, which the plea bargain represents.
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Background
The plea form states: “Adult Felony Drug Court Referral. Stipulate to 7 years
incarceration suspended to be served as per [section] 1170[, subdivision] (h)(5)(B) [of the
Penal Code]. Defendant may not withdraw plea if found ineligible/unsuitable for drug
court.” The minute order for the change of plea hearing merely refers to the terms of a
referral to the drug court, with no indication that any particular conditions are required
for eligibility.
The record reveals the following discussion between the court and defense counsel
regarding the plea agreement:
“[Defense Counsel]: It’s an Adult Felony Drug Court referral. So if it goes out,
we’re going to get whatever the Court decides to give for the Adult Felony Drug Court.
“The Court: If he gets it.
“[Defense Counsel]: If he gets it.
“The Court: But if he doesn’t, he gets, what, probation and up to seven years and
seven years suspended no matter what?
“[Defense Counsel]: Correct.
“The Court: All right. Sir, other than that, has anyone made any threats or
promises to you?
“The Defendant: No, sir.
“The Court: You realize the max is seven years on the felonies, and it could be,
technically, another year between the two misdemeanors added?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And you understand, sir, there’s no guarantees that you’ll be in Adult
Felon Drug Court?
“The Defendant: Yes.”
The Agency assessed defendant as ineligible because of his expressed plans to
move out of Tehama County; he did not meet the suitability criteria for the drug court
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program. Subsequently, the probation report noted “[t]he drug court team assessed the
defendant and determined he was ineligible and unsuitable for the program due to his
statement in his interview that he intended to move to Shasta County when he is released
from jail.” As defendant notes, the probation report indicates he mentioned several
potential places to live after his release, including one in Tehama County and one in
Shasta County. However, defendant told the Agency’s drug program administrators that
“he intended to move to Shasta County.”
At the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated: “All right. And the court has read
and considered the [adult felon drug court] assessment along with the [probation] report
that was combined for all six cases, four felonies, two misdemeanors.
“Mr. Miller [defense counsel], go ahead.
“[Defense Counsel]: This is a stipulated agreement to seven years in local county.
“The Court: Seven years had been suspended previously, correct?
“[Defense Counsel]: Yes.
“The Court: Or is that the total?
“[Defense Counsel]: That is the total.
“The Court: All right.
“[Defense Counsel]: We’re prepared to submit on that.
“The Court: Mr. Alvey [the prosecutor], submitted?
“[Prosecutor]: Submit it.” The court then sentenced defendant to a seven-year
term. There were no objections, nor did defendant claim the plea agreement had been
breached.
Discussion
Defendant contends the drug court’s determination that he was ineligible for the
program violated the plea agreement and he is now entitled to withdraw his plea as not
knowingly made. According to defendant, he “did not understand the necessary
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conditions of the plea bargain that he entered into, or he would have never provided an
out of county residence as an alternate possibility.”
A plea bargain agreement, as a form of contract, is subject to the same rules of
construction as other contracts. (People v. Kim (2011) 193 Cal. App. 4th 1355, 1360.) As
defendant points out, a meeting of the minds is essential to the formation of a valid
contract. (In re First Capital Life Ins. Co. (1995) 34 Cal. App. 4th 1283, 1288.)
Defendant asserts no such meeting of the minds occurred in the present case.
However, despite defendant’s protestations to the contrary, the plea bargain in the
present case was not violated by the Agency’s finding that he was ineligible for the
program. When defendant entered into the plea agreement, he was informed that there
were no guarantees that the Agency would find him eligible for the program. Under the
agreement, if defendant was deemed ineligible, he would not be able to withdraw his
plea. The Agency determined defendant’s intention to move outside the county would
prevent proper supervision and found him ineligible to participate. This decision did not
violate the plea bargain.
In a related claim, defendant argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel.
According to defendant, had defense counsel performed effectively, defendant would
have known the requirements of the drug court program and would not have listed an out-
of-county residence. In addition, defense counsel failed to argue at sentencing that the
plea agreement had been violated.
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant must show counsel’s
performance was deficient, falling below an objective standard of reasonableness under
prevailing norms, and the deficient performance prejudiced defendant. (People v.
Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal. 3d 171, 216-217.) We accord trial counsel’s tactical decisions
substantial deference and do not second-guess counsel’s reasonable tactical decisions.
(People v. Maldonado (2009) 172 Cal. App. 4th 89, 97.)
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We will not reverse on appeal if the record does not affirmatively show why
counsel failed to object and the circumstances suggest counsel had a valid tactical reason
for not objecting. If the record sheds no light on why counsel acted or failed to act, we
affirm unless there could be no satisfactory explanation for the act or omission.
(People v. Mendoza Tello (1997) 15 Cal. 4th 264, 266-267.)
The record provides no information as to what advice, if any, defense counsel
provided defendant vis-à-vis the drug court program requirements. We cannot find
counsel ineffective based on speculation. As to defense counsel’s failure to argue the
plea bargain was violated, we have found no such violation occurred. Accordingly, we
find no ineffective assistance of counsel.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
RAYE , P. J.
We concur:
MAURO , J.
DUARTE , J.
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