People v. Villegas CA6 ( 2023 )

Filed 7/26/23 P. v. Villegas CA6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H050260
(Monterey County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. 21CR010223)
v.
RICHARD JOHN PONTINO
VILLEGAS,
Defendant and Appellant.
Appealing from the trial court’s denial of his post-plea Romero1 motion to dismiss
a prior strike conviction, defendant Richard John Pontino Villegas contends that the court
was not permitted to find that the “great weight” afforded to certain statutory “mitigating
circumstances” was outweighed by other factors “in the furtherance of justice” unless the
trial court found “that dismissal of the [prior strike] would endanger public safety.” (Pen.
Code, § 1385, subds. (c)(1)-(2).)2 We reject that contention. Accordingly, even
1
People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 530-531 (Romero).
2
Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
assuming subdivision (c) of section 1385 applies to requests to dismiss a prior strike,3 we
affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
On the evening of December 9, 2021, Villegas was sitting in the front passenger
seat of a Cadillac when police conducted a traffic stop. Because both Villegas and the
driver were subject to Postrelease Community Supervision (PRCS), the police searched
the Cadillac, finding a loaded handgun in a backpack. Although Villegas told police that
the backpack was already in the Cadillac before he got in, the driver told police that
Villegas brought the backpack. The police arrested Villegas.
The Monterey County District Attorney charged Villegas with three counts:
(1) felony possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1)); (2) felony carrying a
concealed firearm (§ 25400, subd. (a)(1)); and (3) felony possession of ammunition
(§ 30305, subd. (a)(1)). The district attorney alleged that Villegas had one prior strike, a
January 19, 2016 conviction for making criminal threats (§ 422). In return for the district
attorney’s agreement to cap his sentence at four years in prison (the two-year middle
term, doubled), Villegas pleaded no contest to count 1 and admitted the prior strike.
As set forth in the probation officer’s sentencing report, Villegas, who was
24 years old at the time of sentencing, committed two felonies on separate occasions
while he was 18 years old: (1) making criminal threats (§ 422); and (2) carrying a
concealed dirk or dagger (§ 21310). As found by the trial court without objection from
Villegas, the conviction for making criminal threats resulted from an episode in which
Villegas “severely beat his girlfriend” and, when she “was able to get away, he armed
himself with a knife and threatened to kill her. He repeatedly told his girlfriend that if
Villegas’s appellate arguments depend on the disputed premise that section 1385,
3
subdivision (c), applies to strike priors. To the extent it does not, Villegas has asserted no
alternative basis for reversal.
2
she told anyone what happened, that he would kill her.”4 While on probation for the
criminal threats, Villegas incurred the dirk or dagger conviction and was sentenced to
two-year prison terms for the violation of probation and the new conviction. Just over
three years following the second offense, Villegas committed a felony vehicle theft (Veh.
Code, § 10851, subd. (a)) together with misdemeanors relating to the possession of a
switchblade and controlled substances (§ 21510; Health & Safety Code, § 11350) and
misrepresenting his identity to a peace officer (§ 148.9, subd. (a)). This resulted in
another prison sentence.
As to the current offense, the probation officer noted that the “weapons charge
involved a loaded firearm with a high-capacity magazine containing seventeen rounds of
ammunition.” Moreover, the probation officer wrote that Villegas “self-reported being
an active . . . gang member” and while on PRCS “failed to report as directed” and “tested
positive for methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol.”
In his briefing to the trial court in support of his Romero motion, Villegas’s
counsel acknowledged that “[m]uch of [Villegas’s] life in [the last seven years] ha[d]
been spent in prison.” But he stated that prior to the present arrest Villegas had “made
the effort to turn his life around,” as demonstrated by finding housing and employment
and preparing himself to participate in a “program.”5 Counsel acknowledged that
Villegas was “in a repetitive pattern” and stated that a prison sentence would “be a
4
The trial court’s characterization of the prior strike appears to derive from the
district attorney’s brief filed and served in anticipatory opposition to the Romero motion
Villegas would file a month later. The District Attorney purports to summarize an
incident report by Placer County Sheriff’s Department; the report itself is not in the
appellate record. Villegas, in his Romero brief and his oral argument alike, offered
neither objection to the District Attorney’s reliance on the report nor any dispute as to the
proffered facts.
5
Villegas’s brief to the trial court was internally inconsistent as to whether
Villegas had housing at the time of his arrest. The brief was not accompanied by an
evidentiary filing. Villegas did not offer any additions or corrections to the probation
report at the sentencing hearing.
3
continuation of the life he has known for the past six years,” but urged the court to “break
that pattern” “[f]or him to be successful.”
In an oral ruling denying Villegas’s motion, the trial court stated that it had
considered all of the mitigating factors set forth in section 1385, subdivision (c). The
court specifically noted that the facts necessary to satisfy section 1385,
subdivision (c)(2)(F), were present—the current offense was not a violent felony under
the statute. But the court proceeded to explain that although “[t]he existence of the
previously[ ]mentioned mitigating factors weigh strongly in favor of dismissal of the
prior strike allegation; . . . there is substantial evidence of countervailing considerations”
“that outweigh the aforementioned relevant mitigating factors” in the “furtherance of
justice.” The court predicated this finding on Villegas’s criminal history, including the
facts surrounding his prior strike; his past performance on PRCS, including his drug use;
his unsuccessful stint on Pretrial Release Services; and “the particulars of his
background, character and prospects which are not positive given his continued decision
to consistently violate the law.” The court underscored Villegas’s “history of violence
and weapons-related offenses” and his “fail[ure] or refus[al] to learn his lesson.”
The trial court sentenced Villegas two years, doubled to four as a consequence of
the strike prior, with 248 days’ credit for time spent in custody. Villegas timely appealed.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Romero
A trial court’s authority under section 1385, subdivision (a), to dismiss “an action”
includes the authority to dismiss allegations of prior serious or violent convictions (i.e.,
prior strikes) in the furtherance of justice, considering “ ‘ “both . . . the constitutional
rights of the defendant, and the interests of society represented by the People . . . .” ’ ”
(Romero, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 530, italics omitted; see also People v. Williams (1998)
17 Cal.4th 148, 161 (Williams) [identifying factors to be considered in determining
whether a defendant “may be deemed outside the scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part”].)
4
We review for abuse of discretion the grant or denial of a Romero motion.
(Williams, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 162; see also People v. Garcia (1999) 20 Cal.4th 490,
503.) Absent a showing that the trial court’s refusal to dismiss a strike allegation was
arbitrary or irrational, we presume that the court “ ‘ “acted to achieve [the] legitimate
sentencing objectives, and its discretionary determination to impose a particular sentence
will not be set aside on review.” ’ ” (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 377
(Carmony).) Such a discretionary decision “ ‘ “will not be reversed merely because
reasonable people might disagree.” ’ ” (Ibid.)
B. Senate Bill 81 and Section 1385, Subdivision (c)
Senate Bill 81 (Reg. Sess., 2021-2022) added subdivision (c) to section 1385.
Subdivision (c) provides,6 “Notwithstanding any other law, the court shall dismiss an
enhancement if it is in the furtherance of justice to do so, except if dismissal of that
enhancement is prohibited by any initiative statute.” (§ 1385, subd. (c)(1).) “In
exercising its discretion under [subdivision (c)], the court shall consider and afford great
weight to evidence offered by the defendant to prove that any of the mitigating
circumstances in [the subparagraphs to subdivision (c)(2)] are present. Proof of the
presence of one or more of these circumstances weighs greatly in favor of dismissing the
enhancement, unless the court finds that dismissal of the enhancement would endanger
public safety. ‘Endanger public safety’ means there is a likelihood that the dismissal of
the enhancement would result in physical injury or other serious danger to others.”
(§ 1385, subd. (c)(2).) The mitigating circumstances identified in the subparagraphs
include, among others: (1) “The current offense is not a violent felony as defined in
subdivision (c) of Section 667.5[;]” and (2) “The enhancement is based on a prior
conviction that is over five years old.” (§ 1385, subd. (c)(2)(F) & (H).)
6
Section 1385, subdivision (c), was further modified by amendments that went
into effect on June 30, 2022. Those amendments did not alter the substantive statutory
provisions we discuss here.
5
In People v. Ortiz (2023) 87 Cal.App.5th 1087, 1093, review granted
April 12, 2023, S278894 (Ortiz), we held that the statutory “specification of mandatory
factors did not displace the trial court’s obligation to exercise discretion in assessing
whether dismissal is ‘in the furtherance of justice.’ ” Moreover, we rejected the
contention that the existence of a statutory mitigating circumstance compels a trial court
to dismiss an enhancement absent a finding that a dismissal would endanger public
safety. (Id. at p. 1098; see also People v. Mendoza (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 287, 297
[“consideration of the mitigating factors in section 1385(c)(2) is not required if the court
finds that dismissal of the enhancement would endanger public safety”]; but see People v.
Walker (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 386, 399-400, review granted March 22, 2023, S278309
[“the term ‘great weight’ places a thumb on the scale that balances the mitigating
circumstances favoring dismissal against whether dismissal would endanger public
safety, and tips that balance in favor of dismissal unless rebutted by the court’s finding
that dismissal would endanger public safety”].) Under our interpretation in Ortiz, unless
dismissal of an enhancement will endanger public safety, a trial court must afford great
weight to evidence of statutory mitigating circumstances in exercising its discretion to
determine whether dismissal of the enhancement is in the furtherance of justice.
C. Analysis
Villegas contends that the trial court erred in its application of section 1385,
subdivision (c), in two ways: (1) the trial court did not assign great weight to the fact that
Villegas’s prior strike conviction was more than five years old; and (2) the trial court
found that the great weight afforded to mitigating circumstances was outweighed by other
considerations without finding that dismissal of the prior strike would endanger public
safety. Applying our recent decision in Ortiz to the record in this case, we reject
Villegas’s contentions. Villegas has not shown that the trial court abused its discretion in
denying his Romero motion. (See Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 376-377.)
6
First, we are unable to infer from the present record that the trial court failed to
give great weight to the age of Villegas’s prior strike conviction. In its oral ruling, the
court stated that it had “considered the mitigating factors listed in section 1385[(c)(3)(A)-
(I),]”7 among other things. The court stated that “the current firearm possession offense
is not a violent felony as defined in Penal Code Section 667.5(c).” Without expressly
identifying the connection between that fact and the mitigating circumstances or
identifying other facts relevant to the mitigating circumstances, the trial court stated that
“[t]he existence of the previously[ ]mentioned mitigating factors weigh strongly in favor
of dismissal of the prior strike allegation.”
Villegas interprets the trial court’s comments as reflecting a failure to give great
weight to the fact that his prior strike occurred more than five years prior to the current
offense. But the trial court’s subsequent comments concerning Villegas’s criminal
history leave no doubt that the trial court was aware that the prior strike conviction
occurred more than five years prior to the present offense. Moreover, the trial court
referred to the existence of statutory “mitigating factors,” plural, and Villegas has
identified only two statutory mitigating factors that were shown on the present record—
the nonviolent nature of the current offense and the age of the prior strike. On this
record, we are not persuaded that the trial court failed to give great weight to the age of
the prior strike in its analysis. (See Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 376-377.)
Second, consistent with our analysis in Ortiz, the trial court’s treatment of the
mitigating circumstances was within the scope of its discretion. Having found that
mitigating circumstances were present, the trial court afforded them great weight. Even
so, upon a holistic consideration of the Williams factors, the trial court determined that
other considerations outweighed the great weight afforded to the mitigating
7
At the time of the sentencing hearing, the relevant factors were listed under
subdivision (c)(3) rather than subdivision (c)(2) of section 1385.
7
circumstances. Under Ortiz, this is a proper mode of analysis. (See Ortiz, supra, 87
Cal.App.5th at p. 1099, review granted.) Nor do we infer on this record that the trial
court—having ruled before issuance of the divergent opinions in Walker, Mendoza, or
Ortiz—resolved the public safety issue in Villegas’s favor. The trial court’s focus on the
violence involved in his prior strike offense, Villegas’s continuing gang membership, and
the persistence of his armed criminal activity while under supervision suggest that it
considered public safety in its decision to sentence Villegas to the maximum term
permitted by the parties’ plea agreement.
Accordingly, we reject Villegas’s contention that the trial court’s analysis
constituted an abuse of discretion because the trial court found that the mitigating
circumstances present here were outweighed without an express finding that dismissal of
the enhancement would endanger public safety. (See Ortiz, supra, 87 Cal.App.5th at
p. 1099, review granted.)8
III. DISPOSITION
We affirm the judgment.
8
We do not reach the Attorney General’s argument that the trial court need not
have conducted as section 1385, subdivision (c), analysis at all. (See People v. Burke
(2023) 89 Cal.App.5th 237, 243-244.)
8
____________________________
LIE, J.
WE CONCUR:
_____________________________________
GREENWOOD, P.J.
_____________________________________
GROVER, J.
People v. Villegas
H050260