People v. Gonzalez CA3 ( 2021 )

Filed 8/16/21 P. v. Gonzalez 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
(San Joaquin)
----
THE PEOPLE, C087851
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No.
TRACRFE20000017521,
v. TF030490A)
ALEJANDRO RANGEL GONZALEZ,
Defendant and Appellant.
In 2001, defendant Alejandro Rangel Gonzalez was sentenced to 35 years four
months after he fired a shotgun from the passenger side of a speeding car through the
window of another car occupied by a mother and her two young children. We affirmed
his conviction on appeal and incorporate by reference our unpublished opinion. (People
v. Gonzalez (Mar. 19, 2003, C038852) [nonpub. opn.] (Gonzalez).) In 2018, California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) recommended the trial court
review and correct defendant’s unauthorized sentence, which the trial court did through
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an ex parte order. On appeal, defendant argues that the letter authorized the trial court to
resentence defendant, yet the trial court failed to consider exercising its discretion to
dismiss or reduce defendant’s 20-year firearm enhancement under Penal Code section
12022.53 (statutory section citations that follow are to the Penal Code). Defendant
further argues, relying on People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th 1157 (Dueñas), that
imposing fines and fees without considering his ability to pay violated his due process
rights. We affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
No discussion of the facts underlying the offense is necessary to the issues raised
by defendant on appeal. Instead, we summarize the relevant procedural history.
A jury found defendant guilty of three counts of attempted murder (§§ 664/187;
counts one, two, and three) and two counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle (§ 246;
counts four, five). The jury found the charged firearms enhancements true (§§ 12022.53,
subd. (c), 12022.5, subd. (a)(1), 12022, subd. (a)(1)) but rejected the charge that
defendant committed the attempted murder with deliberation and premeditation. (People
v. Gonzalez, supra, C038852 at pp. 1-2.)
The trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of 35 years four months
in state prison as follows: the upper term of nine years on count one; 28 months each
(one-third the midterm) on counts two and three, plus 20 years consecutive on count three
for the firearm enhancement (§ 12022.53, subd. (c)); and 20 months (one-third the
midterm) on count five. The trial court stayed the sentence on count four under section
654 and stayed the lesser firearm enhancements. It further ordered defendant to pay
$1,800 in restitution. (§§ 1202.4, subd. (b), 1202.45.) We affirmed defendant’s
judgment in a March 19, 2003 nonpublished opinion. (People v. Gonzalez, supra,
C038852 at p. 21.)
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On August 8, 2018, CDCR sent a letter to the trial court stating that the “Abstract
of Judgment and/or Minute Order may be in error or incomplete” because count one,
rather than count three, was erroneously designated the principal term. The letter noted
that count three should be the principal term and be fully imposed with count one as the
subordinate term. The letter further stated: “Please review your file to determine if a
correction is required. When notified by the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation that an illegal sentence exists, the trial court is entitled to reconsider all
sentencing choices, People v. Hill, 185 Cal.App.3d 831.” (Italics in original.)
Two weeks later, the trial court issued an ex parte order in response to the letter,
which said, “Original sentence of 07/06/2001 to remain in full force and effect except as
modified herein.” The trial court then imposed the firearm enhancement (§ 12022.53,
subd. (c)) under count one, which had previously been stayed, and stayed the firearm
enhancement under count three, which had previously been imposed. It noted that the
total term remained 35 years four months.
DISCUSSION
I
Firearm Enhancement
Defendant argues that the CDCR letter opened the matter for resentencing, which
in turn required the trial court to consider whether to strike defendant’s firearm
enhancement per the newly enacted Senate Bill No. 620 (Stats. 2017, ch. 682, §§ 1-2)
(SB 620). Noting the trial court simply resentenced defendant in an ex parte order,
without any reference to its newly bestowed discretion under SB 620, defendant argues
the trial court was not aware that it had the discretion to strike defendant’s firearm
enhancement when it resentenced defendant. Thus, defendant asks us to remand the
matter to the trial court to consider whether to exercise its discretion under SB 620. The
People counter that the trial court did not resentence defendant in August 2018, but rather
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used its inherent authority to correct an unauthorized sentence, which they characterize as
correcting a clerical error. Because the trial court did not resentence defendant, the
People argue, defendant is not entitled to remand for the court to consider whether to
grant relief under SB 620.
The People’s argument relied primarily on People v. Abdullah (2019)
38 Cal.App.5th 218, which the California Supreme Court ordered depublished shortly
after the People submitted their responsive brief. (People v. Abdullah (2019)
38 Cal.App.5th 218, review denied and depublished Oct. 30, 2019, S257756.) We
therefore ordered supplemental briefing providing additional authority, if any, supporting
the People’s argument that defendant is not entitled to remand because the trial court
merely corrected an unauthorized sentence and did not resentence defendant under
section 1170, subdivision (d)(1). Having reviewed the authority proffered by the parties,
we conclude the trial court did, in fact, resentence defendant. However, as we will
explain, defendant is still not entitled to remand.
A trial court typically lacks jurisdiction to change a defendant’s sentence once
execution of the sentence begins. (People v. Karaman (2001) 4 Cal.4th 335, 344.)
However, there are exceptions to this rule. First, section 1170, subdivision (d)(1)
authorizes a trial court to, “within 120 days of the date of commitment on its own motion,
or at any time upon the recommendation of the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings
in the case of state prison inmates . . . recall the sentence and commitment previously
ordered and resentence the defendant in the same manner as if they had not previously
been sentenced, provided the new sentence, if any, is no greater than the initial sentence.”
Under section 1170, subdivision (d)(1), the prior sentence and order of
commitment is effectively “vacate[d],” and the trial court may sentence defendant anew,
to an equal or lesser sentence. (Dix v. Superior Court (1991) 53 Cal.3d 442, 456.)
Separate and apart from correcting an unauthorized sentence or illegal sentence, a
trial court has the inherent power to correct clerical errors in the judgment “so as to make
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these records reflect the true facts.” (In re Candelario (1970) 3 Cal.3d 702, 705.) A
clerical error in the judgment includes a mismatch between the minutes or abstract of
judgment and the judgment pronounced by the court, or the erroneous calculation of
presentencing credits. (People v. Humphrey (2020) 44 Cal.App.5th 371, 379
(Humphrey).)
We agree with defendant that the CDCR letter triggered defendant’s resentencing,
and did not merely advise the trial court to correct a clerical error on its own authority.
Here, the CDCR letter stated that defendant’s sentence was “illegal” and advised the trial
court it could “reconsider all sentencing choices,” citing to People v. Hill, supra,
185 Cal.App.3d 831. Hill held that upon receipt of a letter from the CDCR advising the
court that a sentence was illegal, the trial court is authorized by section 1170, subdivision.
(d)(1) to rethink the entire sentencing scheme and wholly resentence the defendant. (Hill,
at p. 834.) As the letter here advised the trial court that defendant’s sentence was
illegally imposed – rather than legally imposed but incorrectly transcribed into the record
– the letter disclosed an illegal sentence rather than a clerical error, which authorized the
trial court to resentence defendant.
Indeed, the trial court responded to the letter by changing defendant’s unlawful
sentence, exchanging the principal and subordinate terms and applying the firearm
enhancement to the new principal term. This correction involved the exercise of judicial
discretion and thus constituted a resentencing. On this record, we must conclude that the
CDCR letter triggered defendant’s resentencing under section 1170, subdivision (d)(1),
and the court resentenced defendant rather than simply correcting a clerical error on its
own authority. (See, e.g., People v. Arias (2020) 52 Cal.App.5th 213, 217, 219 [CDCR
letter recommending recall of the defendant’s sentence based on trial court’s illegal
imposition of two enhancements triggered resentencing under section 1170, subd.
(d)(1)].)
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The cases relied upon by the People in their supplemental brief are distinguishable
on this point, as in both cases the trial court corrected clerical errors rather than fixing
unauthorized sentences per section 1170, subdivision (d)(1). Specifically, in Humphrey,
supra, 44 Cal.App.5th 371, the trial court corrected its erroneous calculation of the
defendant’s presentence credits in the abstract of judgment, while keeping the
defendant’s sentence intact. The appellate court concluded that the trial court’s actions
resolved a clerical error and the defendant was not entitled to resentencing. (Id. at
p. 378.) Similarly, in People v. Magana (2021) 63 Cal.App.5th 1120, also discussed by
the People, the CDCR letter notified the trial court that the clerk erroneously doubled the
prior prison terms on the abstract of judgment, resulting in a faulty transcription of the
sentence. (Id. at p. 1125.) Therefore, Magana found that the trial court’s correction
rectified a clerical error and did not constitute resentencing. (Id. at pp. 1125-1127.)
Here, unlike in Humphrey and Magana, the CDCR letter informed the trial court that the
sentence was unauthorized, rather than improperly transcribed or miscalculated. The trial
court then, in an exercise of judicial discretion, resentenced defendant by changing the
principal and subordinate terms and imposing the firearm enhancement with the new
principal term, while staying the firearm enhancement that was previously imposed.
Thus, the People’s cases are not persuasive.
As we conclude defendant was resentenced, we turn to the question of whether the
trial court considered striking his firearm enhancement when it resentenced defendant.
When the trial court first sentenced defendant in 2001, section 12022.53, subdivision (c)
mandated an additional 20 years added to a prison sentence where, as here, the factfinder
found the allegation true. However, on January 1, 2018, SB 620 became effective.
(Stats. 2017, ch. 682, §§ 1-2.) That measure vested the court with authority to exercise
its discretion to strike firearm enhancements imposed under section 12022.53.
(§ 12022.53, subd. (h).) Senate Bill 620 applies retroactively to cases that are not yet
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final, and the law “applies to any resentencing that may occur pursuant to any other law.”
(§ 12022.53, subd. (h); People v. Woods (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1080, 1090-1091.)
Senate Bill 620 became effective prior to defendant’s resentencing and thus the
trial court had the authority to strike defendant’s firearm enhancement when it
resentenced defendant. “Generally, when the record shows that the trial court proceeded
with sentencing on the erroneous assumption it lacked discretion, remand is necessary so
that the trial court may have the opportunity to exercise its sentencing discretion at a new
sentencing hearing. [Citations.]” (People v. Brown (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 1213, 1228.)
“Remand for resentencing is not required, however, if the record demonstrates the
trial court was aware of its sentencing discretion. (People v. Belmontes[ (1983)]
34 Cal.3d [335,] 348, fn. 8; People v. White Eagle (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1511, 1523.)
Further, remand is unnecessary if the record is silent concerning whether the trial court
misunderstood its sentencing discretion. Error may not be presumed from a silent record.
(People v. White Eagle, supra, 48 Cal.App.4th at p. 1523.) ‘ “[A] trial court is presumed
to have been aware of and followed the applicable law.” [Citations.]’ (People v.
Martinez (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 1511, 1517.)” (People v. Brown, supra,
147 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1228-1229.)
Here, the record is silent. Nothing indicates the trial court did not understand its
discretion under SB 620. Defendant bore the burden to show affirmatively that the trial
court did not understand its sentencing discretion, and this burden was not met. (See
People v. Davis (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 168, 172.) We accordingly presume the trial
court exercised its discretion under SB 620 when it did not strike the firearm
enhancement, and we will not ask the trial court to repeat that undertaking.
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II
Fines and Fees
Defendant next argues, relying on Dueñas, that he is entitled to remand for a
hearing on whether he has the ability to pay the fines, fees, and assessments imposed by
the trial court. The Dueñas court held that “due process of law requires the trial court to
conduct an ability to pay hearing and ascertain a defendant’s present ability to pay before
it imposes court facilities and court operations assessments under [ ]section 1465.8 and
Government Code section 70373.” (Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal.App.5th at p. 1164.) That
court also held that, “although [ ]section 1202.4 bars consideration of a defendant’s
ability to pay [a restitution fine] unless the judge is considering increasing the fee over
the statutory minimum, the execution of any restitution fine imposed under this statute
must be stayed unless and until the trial court holds an ability to pay hearing and
concludes that the defendant has the present ability to pay the restitution fine.” (Dueñas,
at p. 1164.) Defendant insists his claim is not forfeited, because Dueñas had not yet been
decided at the time he was resentenced. The People argue that defendant’s due process
claim under Dueñas is not cognizable because his conviction is final.
Even assuming defendant’s Dueñas claim is not forfeited and is cognizable on
appeal, we reject defendant’s argument because we are not persuaded the analysis used in
Dueñas is correct.
Our Supreme Court is now poised to resolve this question, having granted review
in People v. Kopp (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 47, review granted November 13, 2019,
S257844, that agreed with the court’s conclusion in Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal.App.5th 1157that due process requires the trial court to conduct an ability to pay hearing and ascertain
a defendant’s ability to pay before it imposes court facilities and court operations
assessments under section 1465.8 and Government Code section 70373, but not
restitution fines under section 1202.4. (Kopp, at pp. 95-96, review granted.)
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In the meantime, we join those authorities that have concluded the principles of
due process do not require determination of a defendant’s present ability to pay before
imposing the fines and assessments at issue in Dueñas and in this proceeding. (People v.
Kingston (2019) 41 Cal.App.5th 272, 279; People v. Hicks (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 320,
329, review granted Nov. 26, 2019, S258946; People v. Aviles (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th
1055, 1069; People v. Caceres (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 917, 928.) Accordingly, we
conclude the imposition of fines, fees, and assessments on an indigent defendant without
consideration of ability to pay does not violate due process or equal protection and there
is no requirement that the trial court conduct an ability to pay hearing prior to imposing
these fines, fees, and assessments.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
HULL, J.
We concur:
RAYE, P. J.
MURRAY, J.
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