People v. Mitchell ( 2020 )

Filed 3/23/20
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E071660
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1605470)
GLORIA DIANE MITCHELL, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Jorge C. Hernandez,
Judge. Affirmed.
Ellen M. Matsumoto, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General,
Steve Oetting and Paige B. Hazard, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
* Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion
is certified for publication with the exception of parts III.C and III.D.
1
I. INTRODUCTION
Defendant and appellant Gloria Mitchell was convicted by a jury of several
offenses involving three minor victims, John Doe 1, John Doe 2 and Jane Doe. With
respect to John Doe 1, defendant was convicted of torture (count 1, Pen. Code,1 § 206)
and mayhem (count 2, § 2032). With respect to John Doe 2 and Jane Doe, defendant was
convicted of misdemeanor child abuse (counts 4 & 5, § 273a, subd. (b))3.
Defendant was sentenced to a term in state prison of seven years to life on count 1;
the middle term of four years on count 2; 180 days in county jail on count 4; and another
180 days in county jail on count 5. However, the trial court stayed the sentence on count
2 pursuant to Penal Code section 654 and deemed the sentence on counts 4 and 5 satisfied
based on credit for time already in custody. The trial court also imposed a restitution fine
in the amount of $300 (Pen. Code, § 1202.4, subd. (b)); a court operation assessment in
the amount of $160 (Pen. Code, § 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)); and a criminal conviction
assessment in the amount of $120 (Gov. Code, § 70373).4
1 Unless otherwise noted, all undesignated statutory references are to the Penal
Code.
2 Defendant was charged with aggravated mayhem (§ 205), but convicted of the
lesser included offense of simple mayhem (§ 203).
3In each count, defendant was charged with child abuse likely to cause great
bodily injury or death (§ 273a, subd. (a)), but convicted of the lesser included offense of
misdemeanor child abuse (§ 273a, subd. (b)).
4 The trial court also imposed a parole revocation fine in the amount of $300
pursuant to Penal Code section 1202.45, subdivision (c), but suspended the fine unless
parole is revoked.
2
Defendant appeals arguing that (1) the trial court erred in admitting a recorded
interview with each minor victim pursuant to Evidence Code section 1360; (2) the trial
court erred in admitting testimony disclosing hearsay statements made by John Doe 1 to a
doctor pursuant to Evidence Code section 1253; (3) the cumulative error of admitting
hearsay statements was sufficiently prejudicial to warrant reversal of her conviction on
counts 1 and 2; and (4) we should strike the fines and fees imposed by the trial court as
unconstitutional under People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal. App. 5th 1157 (Dueñas). We find
no error in the trial court’s application of Evidence Code sections 1360 and 1253 to admit
evidence of prior hearsay statements by minor victims and therefore no individual or
cumulative error warranting reversal. We further find that defendant has failed to show
error or prejudice in the imposition of any fines or fees. Accordingly, we affirm the
judgment.
II. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A. Facts and Charges
In 2015, defendant took custody of three of her sister’s children, John Doe 1, John
Doe 2, and Jane Doe, to prevent their placement in foster care. On the afternoon of
September 19, 2016, John Doe 1 was admitted to the hospital with severe injuries to his
genital area. John Doe 1’s penis had been “degloved”5 and a 12-centimeter long, two-
5 The treating physician described “degloving” as like skinning the body part and
specifically noted that with John Doe 1, it was possible to simply lift the loose skin, open
it like a book and view the erectile chambers of his penis, spermatic cord, and blood
vessels.
[footnote continued on next page]
3
inch deep laceration appeared on the left side of his scrotum. The wounds required two
layers of sutures to close.6 The treating physicians did not believe such an injury could
have been sustained on a playground without significant incident, significant bleeding at
the scene, and tearing of John Doe 1’s outer clothing. They referred John Doe 1’s case to
a social worker during his hospitalization.7
During the subsequent investigation of John Doe 1’s injury, defendant told
authorities that John Doe 1 sustained his injury while at school. However, John Doe 1’s
teachers reported observing symptoms of injury at the very outset of the school day and
there were no reported incidents of a fall during John Doe 1’s recess time on the date of
his hospitalization. During the investigation of the case, John Doe 2 and Jane Doe also
appeared to have visible signs of nonaccidental physical injury. Eventually all three
children were brought to the Riverside County Child Assessment Center for examination
of their injuries and interviews to be conducted by the Riverside County Child
Assessment Team (RCCAT).
In his recorded RCCAT interview, John Doe 1 told investigators that defendant hit
him with a white cord. He stated that she used the white cord to pull his “owie,” which
caused him to cry. He further stated she used the cord to hit him on his back. He had to
be taken to the hospital as a result of “the hurting” between his legs caused by defendant.
6 A doctor also opined that the wound will require future surgical intervention.
7 Child protective services also received an independent report from John Doe 1’s
school regarding suspected abuse based upon teacher observations of John Doe 1’s
behavior at school on September 19, 2016.
4
He also claimed defendant injured him with a tool that he described as something that
“closed” and “opened”; was kept in a drawer; and used on green trees. It caused him to
cry a lot and bleed in his underwear. Defendant told him not to tell anyone about the
incident. He was afraid defendant would “whoop” him again if he told anyone.
In his separate RCCAT interview, John Doe 2 told investigators that John Doe 1
injured himself by falling at school. When John Doe 1 fell, his “area” got caught and
ripped open, but John Doe 1 was not in pain and did not cry out. He did not witness the
incident himself, but stated his sister did and told him about it. On further questioning,
John Doe 2 recalled incidents in which John Doe 1 got into trouble and as a result
defendant pulled on John Doe 1’s “weenie wee.” He never saw defendant actually pull
John Doe 1’s “weenie wee,” but would hear screaming and John Doe 1 would return to
their room and tell both he and his sister about it afterward. On one occasion, he saw the
injury to John Doe 1 following one of these incidents. He described the injury to John
Doe 1 as “very bad”; “so bloody”; “the blood went on always—all over his underwear”;
“it was all blood”; “it was ripped and his guts was . . . intestines, guts . . . was inside out.”
John Doe 2 also reported defendant would discipline him with a belt, switch, or
back scratcher, although usually defendant would just ground him. Sometimes the
whooping would be so hard that it would leave marks and bruises on John Doe 2. He
showed the interviewer a mark still on his legs that he claimed resulted from being hit
with a switch. Defendant would also discipline him with an extension cord. When asked
about a noticeable burn scar on his left leg, John Doe 2 claimed he got the burn from
playing with the stove. He set a plastic bowl on fire and then accidentally placed it in his
5
lap. When asked why the burn marks appeared to show multiple lines instead of a circle
shape like a bowl, John Doe 2 acknowledged that it “should’ve burned like a round”
mark, but could not explain the lines.
In her interview, Jane Doe told investigators that John Doe 1 got hurt when he was
playing at school and his shorts got caught on something, which caused “it” to “split it all
open, and stuff.” She stated John Doe 1 tripped and got caught on something, which
sliced through him. She claimed to have witnessed the incident and that John Doe 1 did
not cry. She stated that as a result, John Doe 1 was limping the entire day at school. She
stated that when John Doe 1 was disciplined by defendant, it was defendant’s business
and she “can’t tell her business.” She acknowledged defendant would hit her with a back
scratcher as discipline. On some occasions, defendant would discipline her as well as
John Doe 2 by hitting them with an extension cord. Defendant hit her so hard that it left
permanent marks on her legs. However, she stated John Doe 1 never got hit with the
extension cord. When asked if she knew about John Doe 2’s burn injury, she recalled a
specific incident in which John Doe 2 was playing with the stove and placed a hot plastic
bowl into his lap causing burns. She also noted that John Doe 2 liked to play with fire
and recounted several incidents where he hurt himself by playing with the stove or hot
liquid.
On March 8, 2017, the People filed an information that charged defendant with
one count of torture on John Doe 1 (count 1, § 206); one count of aggravated mayhem on
John Doe 1 (count 2, § 205); one count of torture with resulting great bodily harm to John
Doe 1 (count 3, §§ 206, 12022.7, subd. (a)); one count of child abuse likely to cause great
6
bodily injury or death on Jane Doe (count 4, § 273a, subd. (a)); and one count of child
abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death on John Doe 2 (count 5, § 273a,
subd. (a)).
B. Relevant Evidence at Trial
1. Admission of RCCAT Interviews
Over defendant’s objection, the trial court admitted each child’s RCCAT interview
pursuant to Evidence Code section 1360. However, to ensure the admission of such
evidence complied with the procedural protections set forth in that statute, the parties
stipulated to a procedure where the transcripts of each interview were produced to the
trial court in advance and the recorded interviews would not be played to the jury until
after the children completed their live testimony before the jury.
2. Testimony of John Doe 1 at Trial
John Doe 1 was eight years old at the time of trial. He referred to his groin area as
his “par par” or “nee nee” and testified that defendant hit his “par par” on multiple
occasions when he used to live with her. When asked to describe the manner in which
defendant hit him, he made a fist and squeezing motion with his hands. He reported that
defendant hit him approximately 10 times in this manner. He reported that on some
occasions she would hit him to the point blood would come out. He testified that his
hospitalization was the result of an injury inflicted by defendant. However, he provided
inconsistent testimony when asked whether defendant ever hit him with any objects other
than her hands, first denying any such incidents, but later stating that he could not
7
remember. He denied defendant ever hit him with a cord, but also stated that he
witnessed defendant hit Jane Doe and John Doe 2 with a cord.
3. Testimony of John Doe 2 at Trial
John Doe 2 was 10 years old at the time of trial. He lived with defendant at the
same time as John Doe 1 and Jane Doe. He did not like living with defendant, in part
because she hurt John Doe 1’s private parts. He recalled an incident in defendant’s home
where he heard John Doe 1 scream loudly from another room. When John Doe 1
returned to their shared room, John Doe 1 was crying and told John Doe 2 that defendant
pulled on his private part area. John Doe 2 saw that John Doe 1 was bleeding from his
private area. However, he and Jane Doe initially told people that John Doe 1 got injured
on the playground at school because he feared defendant would hit them if they told the
truth. He was afraid defendant would hit him if he did not lie about John Doe 1’s
injuries.
John Doe 2 also testified defendant would discipline him by hitting him with a
wooden back scratcher, a switch, and an electrical cord. The hits with the cord
sometimes left marks on his body. Contrary to his RCCAT statement, he now claimed
the burns on his left leg occurred when defendant became angry with him and burned him
with an iron. When asked why he previously denied defendant hit him, he explained that
he was afraid defendant would hit him again in the future.
4. Testimony of Jane Doe at Trial
Jane Doe was 11 years old at the time of trial. She used to live with defendant, but
does not like speaking about what happened during that time because it makes her feel
8
bad and sad. She initially testified defendant never hurt her, but later admitted defendant
would hit both she and John Doe 2 with a back scratcher as discipline. She testified that
defendant would pull John Doe 1’s private part every time he got in trouble. She knew
because each time, she would hear John Doe 1 yell, scream, and return to their shared
room with his underwear bloody. She recalls that on one occasion after such an incident,
John Doe 1 showed her his penis and she saw marks on it. She admitted she lied to
people about John Doe 1’s injury being caused by an accident on the playground because
she thought she would get in serious trouble with defendant if she told the truth. On
cross-examination, she admitted she never saw defendant actually pull John Doe 1’s
penis. She further admitted that she previously told multiple people that John Doe 1’s
injury was caused by an accident on the school playground. She continued to assert that
John Doe 2 burned himself on the leg by setting something on fire in a bowl.
5. Testimony of Forensic Pediatrician at Trial
A forensic pediatrician was also called to testify. She works with assisting in
investigating cases of suspected child abuse and estimated she has testified in over 100
cases. She was called to the hospital to evaluate suspected abuse and first encountered
John Doe 1 while he was a patient at the hospital recovering from the injury to his genital
area. Over the course of John Doe 1’s hospital recovery, she would encounter him as she
made rounds with other patients and John Doe 1 developed a familiarity with her.
More than a week after his discharge from the hospital, John Doe 1 was brought to
the Children’s Assessment Center for his RCCAT examination and interview. The
forensic pediatrician happened to be working with a colleague in her office at the center
9
during that time. John Doe 1 saw her through her open office door, recognized her, ran
over to say hi, and initiated general conversation with her. After some time, it appeared
that John Doe 1 was lingering in her office, so she mentioned that she knew he was at the
center for the purpose of undergoing an interview. In response, she observed John
Doe 1’s demeanor change and he volunteered that “his auntie did it.” He then picked up
the forensic accountant’s phone charging cord and demonstrated the manner in which
defendant used a cord to hurt him. She did not ask any questions in response and just let
John Doe 1 continue talking voluntarily. John Doe 1 proceeded to explain and
demonstrate that defendant would wrap a cord around his genital area and pull, causing
him to cry. He went on to explain and demonstrate that defendant would take some
unspecified tool used to cut things and open and close it around his genital area, causing a
lot of bleeding. When the pediatrician stated that she didn’t understand what tool he was
referring to, John Doe 1 pointed out the window and stated it was something used on
green trees. When John Doe 1 finished, the pediatrician did not ask follow up questions
to get details, but instead went and informed the assigned interviewer of the disclosures.
C. Verdict and Sentencing
The jury returned a verdict finding defendant guilty of torture regarding John
Doe 1 on count 1; guilty of the lesser included offense of simple mayhem regarding John
Doe 1 on count 2; not guilty of torture with resulting great bodily injury on count 3;
guilty of the lesser included offense of misdemeanor child abuse of Jane Doe on count 4;
and guilty of the lesser included offense of misdemeanor child abuse of John Doe 2 on
count 5. Defendant was sentenced to a term in state prison of seven years to life on count
10
1; the middle term of four years on count 2; 180 days in county jail on count 4; and
another 180 days in county jail on count 5. The trial court stayed the sentence on count 2
pursuant to section 654 and deemed the sentence on counts 4 and 5 served based upon
credit for time already in custody.
The trial court also imposed a restitution fine in the amount of $300 (Pen. Code,
§ 1202.4, subd. (b)); a court operation assessment in the amount of $160 (Pen. Code,
§ 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)); and a criminal conviction assessment in the amount of $120
(Gov. Code, § 70373).
III. DISCUSSION
A. Admission of RCCAT Statements Were Not Erroneous
Defendant contends the trial court erred in admitting the RCCAT interviews given
by each child pursuant to Evidence Code section 1360. Specifically, defendant argues
that Evidence Code section 1360 can only be used to admit evidence when one of the
offenses enumerated in subdivision (c) of that section is charged. We disagree.
1. General Legal Principles and Standard of Review
“Section 1360 creates a limited exception to the hearsay rule in criminal
prosecutions for a child’s statements describing acts of child abuse or neglect, including
statements describing sexual abuse. [Citations.]” (People v. Roberto V. (2001) 93
Cal. App. 4th 1350, 1367.) The statute includes a number of procedural and substantive
safeguards designed to ensure the reliability of the minor victim’s hearsay statement,
requiring specific conditions be met before evidence can be admitted under its provisions.
11
(Ibid.; Evid. Code, § 1360, subd. (a).) Normally, “[w]e review a trial court’s admission
of evidence under section 1360 for abuse of discretion.” (Roberto V., at p. 1367.)
However, defendant’s challenge here is not premised upon the trial court’s
application of the procedural or substantive safeguards provided in the statute as a
condition of admissibility. Instead, defendant argues that the statute on its face cannot be
applied in cases where the criminal defendant is not charged with one of the offenses
enumerated in subdivision (c) of Evidence Code section 1360. This presents solely a
question of statutory interpretation.
“[I]n reviewing a trial court’s interpretation of a statute, we apply a de novo, or
independent, standard of review. . . . [O]ur task is to ascertain and effectuate the law’s
intended purpose. . . . [W]e look first to the statute’s words. [Citation.] . . . If the
statutory language is unambiguous, we will presume the Legislature meant what it said
and the plain meaning of the statute will prevail unless its literal meaning would result in
absurd consequences that the Legislature did not intend. [Citations.] [¶] However, if the
statutory language is ambiguous and is reasonably susceptible to more than one meaning,
we look to a variety of extrinsic aids, . . . Our ultimate objective in interpreting a statute
is to construe the statute in a way that most closely comports with the apparent intent of
the Legislature. [Citation.]” (People v. LaDuke (2018) 30 Cal. App. 5th 95, 100.) Here,
defendant takes the position that extrinsic aids are not necessary because the statute is not
ambiguous and the Legislature’s intent can be ascertained solely from the words of
Evidence Code section 1360. We therefore look to the words of the statute to evaluate
the merits of defendant’s interpretation.
12
2. The Language of Evidence Code Section 1360 Does Not Limit Its Application
Based Upon the Specific Offenses Charged
The provisions setting forth the scope of Evidence Code section 1360’s
application can be found in subdivision (a) of that section, which provides, in part: “In a
criminal prosecution where the victim is a minor, a statement made by the victim when
under the age of 12 describing any act of child abuse or neglect performed with or on the
child by another . . . is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule. . . .” (Evid. Code,
§ 1360, subd. (a).) The plain language of this subdivision sets forth several limitations on
the application of Evidence Code section 1360. The first limitation is based upon
character of the proceeding at issue (the proceeding must be a “criminal prosecution
where the victim is a minor”); the second is based upon the character of the witness
making the statement (the statement must be “made by the victim when under the age of
12”); and the third is based upon the character of the statement itself (the statement must
describe “any act of child abuse or neglect performed with or on the child by another”).
Thus, the only limitation in Evidence Code section 1360 that involves the character of the
proceeding at issue is the limitation requiring the proceeding be a criminal prosecution in
which the victim is a minor. No language indicates a limitation based upon the specific
offenses charged.
Defendant argues that because subdivision (c) of Evidence Code section 1360
references specific provisions of the Penal Code, this language shows a clear intent by
the Legislature to limit the application of the statute to cases in which these enumerated
offenses are charged. However, by its very terms, Evidence Code section 1360,
13
subdivision (c), is intended to define the terms “child abuse” and “child neglect” as used
in the statute. As already set forth ante, the terms “child abuse” and “child neglect” are
used to describe the substantive nature of the statements admissible under the statute. No
language in the statute requires that any specific charges be filed in order for it to apply.
The statute applies when the statement describes an act of child abuse as defined by
specified Penal Code sections.8 In this case, the statements unquestionably describe such
acts.
Our interpretation of Evidence Code section 1360 is supported by the fact that in
other provisions of the Evidence Code, the Legislature has specifically referenced the
charged conduct as the basis for limiting the application of an evidentiary exception.
(See Evid. Code, § 1350, subd. (a) [providing a hearsay exception “[i]n a criminal
proceeding charging a serious felony”]; Evid. Code, § 1380, subd. (a) [providing hearsay
exception “[i]n a criminal proceeding charging a violation . . . of Section 368 of the Penal
Code”].)9 Thus, had the Legislature intended to limit the application of Evidence Code
section 1360 based upon the nature of the charges made against a criminal defendant, it
certainly could have done so and knew the specific language to use in order to do so.
8 The definition of “child abuse” in Evidence Code section 1360 includes any act
proscribed by Penal Code section 273d. (Evid. Code, § 1360, subd. (c).) In turn, Penal
Code section 273d prohibits the willful infliction upon a child of any cruel or inhuman
corporal punishment or an injury resulting in a traumatic condition. (Pen. Code, § 273d,
subd. (a).)
9 Section 1380 was subsequently held unconstitutional on grounds not relevant to
this opinion in People v. Pirwani (2004) 119 Cal. App. 4th 770.
14
Finally, we avoid interpreting statutes in a manner that may produce illogical
results. Under defendant’s proposed interpretation of the statute, a minor victim’s
hearsay statement would be admissible in cases in which the defendant is only charged
with a misdemeanor pursuant to Penal Code section 273a, but inadmissible where the
defendant’s conduct is more severe, warranting more serious charges. We note that in
interpreting analogous Evidence Code provisions pertaining to domestic violence
offenses, the courts have specifically rejected interpretations that would produce this type
of limitation. For example, Evidence Code section 1109, subdivision (a)(1), provides a
statutory exception allowing admission of evidence of a defendant’s prior acts of
domestic violence “in a criminal action in which the defendant is accused of an offense
involving domestic violence.” In interpreting this statute, courts have unambiguously
rejected the suggestion that it may only be applied when a domestic violence offense is
charged, noting that such an interpretation would produce an absurd result in cases where
a defendant’s underlying conduct would qualify for a domestic violence offense, but also
a more serious offense. (People v. Brown (2011) 192 Cal. App. 4th 1222, 1234-1237
[statute applied despite the fact defendant was charged and prosecuted for murder];
People v. Dallas (2008) 165 Cal. App. 4th 940, 951-957 [statute applied despite the fact
defendant was charged with violation of child abuse statutes and not domestic violence
statutes].)
Defendant’s proposed interpretation of Evidence Code section 1360 would
produce the same incongruous result here. In this case, while defendant was formally
charged with torture and aggravated mayhem, there can be no doubt that the underlying
15
acts alleged in support of counts 1 and 2—inflicting a “degloving” injury to John Doe 1’s
penis—could also constitute “child abuse” under Evidence Code section 1360. It would
make little sense if Evidence Code section 1360 made John Doe 1’s hearsay statements
admissible only for the purpose of proving a child abuse offense when the more serious
charges are also based upon the same conduct and same injury to John Doe 1.
Accordingly, we find no merit in defendant’s argument that Evidence Code
section 1360 may only be utilized in cases in which the defendant is specifically charged
with a violation of a child abuse statute and further find no error in the trial court’s
application of Evidence Code section 1360 to the evidence at issue in this case.
B. Admission of John Doe 1’s Statements to the Forensic Pediatrician Were Not
Erroneous
Defendant also argues that the admission of the forensic pediatrician’s testimony
recounting John Doe 1’s statements regarding the cause of his injuries was erroneous.
The trial court admitted the testimony pursuant to Evidence Code section 1253, which
provides a hearsay exception for statements made by victims of child abuse for the
purpose of medical diagnosis and treatment. Again, defendant does not contend that the
conditions for admissibility set forth in the statute were not met or the trial court abused
its discretion in admitting such evidence. Instead, defendant asserts that as a matter of
statutory interpretation, the hearsay exception set forth in Evidence Code section 1253
only applies to criminal prosecutions in which a violation of a child abuse statute is
charged. For the same reasons set forth in our discussion of the application of Evidence
Code section 1360, we disagree.
16
Evidence Code section 1253 provides in pertinent part: “This section applies only
to a statement made by a victim who is a minor at the time of the proceedings, provided
the statement was made when the victim was under the age of 12 describing any act, or
attempted act, of child abuse or neglect. ‘Child abuse’ and ‘child neglect,’ for purposes
of this section, have the meanings provided in subdivision (c) of Section 1360. . . .”
Because Evidence Code section 1253 specifically incorporates the definition of “child
abuse” and “child neglect” set forth in Evidence Code section 1360, subdivision (c),
defendant argues that any limitations represented by Evidence Code section 1360,
subdivision (c), must necessarily be incorporated into Evidence Code Section 1253.
However, we have already rejected defendant’s interpretation that Evidence Code section
1360 contains a limitation based upon the charges brought against a criminal defendant.
Thus, reference to Evidence Code section 1360 cannot operate to incorporate a limitation
that does not exist in that statute, and we equally reject the argument that Evidence Code
section 1253 is limited to cases in which a defendant is specifically charged with a
violation of child abuse statutes.
C. No Combined Error Warranting Reversal
Defendant also asserts that reversal is warranted as the result of the combined
error of admitting hearsay statements pursuant to Evidence Code sections 1360 and 1253.
“In theory, the aggregate prejudice from several different errors occurring at trial could
require reversal even if no single error was prejudicial by itself.” (In re Reno (2012) 55
Cal. 4th 428, 483.) However, “[a] predicate to a claim of cumulative error is a finding of
error. There can be no cumulative error if the challenged rulings were not erroneous.”
17
(People v. Sedillo (2015) 235 Cal. App. 4th 1037, 1068.) Since we have found no merit in
defendant’s individual claims of error with respect to the trial court’s admission of
evidence under Evidence Code sections 1360 and 1253, we also find no merit in
defendant’s claim of cumulative or combined error.
D. The Imposition of Fines and Fees Was Not Erroneous or Prejudicial
Finally, defendant argues that we must strike the fines and fees imposed by the
trial court because the trial court made a finding that she had no ability to pay, rendering
the imposition of any fines or fees unconstitutional under Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal. App. 5th
1157, 1160. We disagree with defendant’s characterization of the record with respect to
the trial court’s purported findings as well as defendant’s conclusion that it runs afoul of
any principles set forth in Dueñas.
Here, at the time of sentencing, the trial court stated: “I’m going to impose a $300
restitution fine, a $300 parole revocation fine. I find that at her age she really has no
prospects for employment while she is in custody. And I do believe that she no longer
has any prospects for any financial assistance from anywhere. So that’s why I’m
assessing the $300 restitution fine and parole revocation fine.” (Italics added.)
Defendant argues that this statement constitutes a finding that defendant “had no ability
to pay any fines or fees.” However, we cannot ignore the context in which this statement
was made. At the time the trial court made this statement, the evidence before it included
a probation department report that recommended defendant be ordered to pay over
$1,000 for the costs of preparing the report; a $514.58 booking fee; $1,500 for
presentence incarceration costs; a $9,000 restitution fine; a $120 criminal conviction
18
assessment fee; a $160 court operations assessment fee; and a $10,000 parole revocation
fine. Thus, when viewed in context, the trial court’s statement is properly viewed as its
stated reasons for rejecting the probation department’s recommendations and instead
imposing a lower amount in fines and fees in light of defendant’s financial condition.
Contrary to defendant’s assertion, the trial court’s imposition of fines and fees in
this manner does not run afoul of any principles set forth in Dueñas. Even assuming
Dueñas was correctly decided,10 the case stands for the proposition that a trial court’s
imposition of fines and fees without first considering a defendant’s ability to pay violates
due process. (Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1164, 1172-1173.) Dueñas did not
declare any of the statutory provisions providing for fines or fees per se unconstitutional,
but instead held that due process required consideration of a criminal defendant’s
financial condition before such fines or fees could be imposed. (Ibid.) Here, the trial
court’s comments imply that it imposed reduced fines and fees after expressly taking into
consideration defendant’s financial condition. Such a situation does not run afoul of
Dueñas, but rather applies the very principles that Dueñas espouses.
Finally, to the extent defendant’s challenge can be construed as an argument she
was denied a formal “ability to pay hearing” or an argument that the trial court reached an
erroneous conclusion with respect to her ability to pay, we would find no prejudice
warranting reversal. Error under Dueñas is not reversible per se, but instead subject to a
harmless error analysis. (People v. Jones (2019) 36 Cal. App. 5th 1028, 1034-1035.)
10See People v. Hicks (2019) 40 Cal. App. 5th 320, review granted November 26,
2019, S258946; People v. Aviles (2019) 39 Cal. App. 5th 1055.
19
Since an alleged error under Dueñas involves a violation of due process, we consider
whether the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (Ibid.; see Chapman v.
California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24.) Here, the trial court imposed a restitution fine in the
amount of $300 (Pen. Code, § 1202.4, subd. (b)); a court operation assessment in the
amount of $160 (Pen. Code, § 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)); and a criminal conviction assessment
in the amount of $120 (Gov. Code, § 70373),11 resulting in a total monetary liability of
$580. Despite her advanced age and poor health, the probation department report noted
that defendant remains entitled to collect $1,500 in Social Security and $550 in retirement
funds each month while in custody. The suggestion that defendant will be unable to pay
a $580.00 monetary liability over time when she is entitled to collect over $2,000 each
month in retirement income while in custody has no merit. Thus, we conclude that even
assuming the trial court committed some, unspecified error under Dueñas, any such error
was harmless and does not warrant reversal.
IV. DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION
FIELDS
J.
We concur:
CODRINGTON
Acting P. J.
RAPHAEL
J.
11 The trial court also imposed but suspended a parole revocation fine.
20