People v. Juarez CA3 ( 2024 )

Filed 1/9/24 P. v. Juarez 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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, C097983
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No.
STK-CR-SB384-2022-
v. 0005197)
ARCHIE WILLIAM JUAREZ,
Defendant and Appellant.
On June 16, 1998, defendant pleaded guilty to committing lewd and lascivious
acts upon a child (Pen. Code,1 § 288, subd. (a)) and unlawful intercourse with a child
three years younger (§ 261.5, subd. (c)) with a section 1203.066, subdivision (a)(8)
enhancement. On August 5, 1998, the trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate
prison term of three years eight months suspended and placed him on eight years’ formal
probation, including the condition that he serve 360 days in county jail.
The record shows that following his release from jail, defendant registered as a sex
offender pursuant to section 290 as required. It also appears that defendant successfully
1 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
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completed probation, including completion of a sex offender treatment program. After
registering for 22 years, defendant petitioned for release from his duty to register as a sex
offender pursuant to section 290.5. Thereafter, on December 19, 2022, the trial court
denied defendant’s petition, determining community safety would be enhanced by his
continuing to register.
Defendant appeals arguing insufficient evidence supports the trial court’s
determination. We agree that the People failed to present reasonable, credible, and solid
evidence establishing a current risk of reoffense, and without that evidence, the trial court
abused its discretion in determining that community safety would be “significantly
enhanced” by continued registration. Accordingly, we must reverse.
BACKGROUND
Following several petitions that were denied for procedural defects, on July 25,
2022, defendant filed his fourth petition for relief from registration averring he was a tier-
two registrant who had registered at least 20 years. The People opposed this petition,
asserting community safety would be significantly enhanced by defendant’s continued
registration. Included with the People’s opposition was a memorandum of points and
authorities with supporting investigative reports illuminating the nature of defendant’s
offenses and other factors to be considered by the trial court in making its determination.
According to those documents, defendant met D.M. in 1986 and began a sexual
relationship resulting in a son. Defendant later moved to Kansas to be with another
woman, but was present when the baby he fathered with D.M. was born. D.M.’s
daughter K.M. was approximately 6 years old when the couple met.
In August 1990, R.S. (who was 13 years old) began having sexual contact with
defendant. She initially lied about her age, stating she was 16 years old, but defendant
knew her true age before R.S. and defendant had sexual intercourse, and R.S. became
pregnant. This occurred prior to her 14th birthday party, which defendant attended as he
was living with her at the time. R.S. and defendant fought over defendant visiting his son
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at D.M.’s home, and eventually, defendant moved back in with D.M. R.S. did not see
defendant during most of her pregnancy, but did see him shortly after their child was
born. After the baby’s birth, defendant saw the child only when R.S. took the baby to
D.M.’s home.
In 1993, defendant pursued K.M. (then age 13) and impregnated her resulting in
their first child. The couple attempted to keep the ongoing contact secret from D.M. On
New Year’s Eve 1993, K.M. and her mother D.M. took K.M.’s child to the emergency
room. Defendant took advantage of their absence to have sex with R.S. (then 17 years
old), resulting in a second pregnancy and child for R.S. fathered by defendant. Defendant
continued his sexual acts with K.M. resulting in two more children who were conceived
when K.M. was 14 (1994) and 16 years old (1996), respectively. Defendant was 26 and
28 years old when he conceived these children with K.M.
Defendant maintained contact with K.M., and by September 1997, law
enforcement had responded, over a two-year period, to five reports of domestic violence
between K.M. and defendant. Both parties were identified as the “suspect” at different
times.
Defendant reported he loved D.M. and told D.M. that the children with K.M. were
a mistake. Defendant told both D.M. and the probation officer interviewing him for his
presentence report that he had sex with then 13-year-old K.M. only because she
threatened to report him as a child molester if he did not.
In 1998, defendant married K.M. prior to pleading guilty to sexually abusing her.
It does not appear that defendant ever addressed his sexual abuse of R.S. resulting in two
children with either the probation officer or the trial court.2
2 According to the People’s pretrial brief, the sexual abuse of R.S. was uncharged
conduct to be admitted under Evidence Code section 1108.
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The trial court ultimately sentenced defendant to an aggregate prison term of three
years eight months suspended and placed him on eight years’ formal probation, including
that he serve 360 days in county jail. It appears defendant was released early from jail for
good behavior and thereafter registered for some 22 years. Defendant completed
probation without any violations, and a total of five years of “sex treatment classes.”
Defendant maintained that he was ordered to complete three years of classes and
completed an extra two years because he found the classes beneficial.
On December 19, 2022, a hearing was held on defendant’s petition. The trial
court, aware that it was the prosecution’s burden, and with the consent of the People,
heard first from defendant and his counsel. Counsel for defendant argued that defendant
had been a law-abiding citizen for 22 years, defendant had overcome a problem with
alcohol, participated with a charity motorcycle group, and this was the type of case the
statute intended for relief. Defendant was sworn, echoed counsel, and added that he
wanted to go to college and get a credential like his counselor friend who helped
defendant with his mistakes. Defendant acknowledged those mistakes and expressed his
goal to prevent others from making similar mistakes.
In response, the People conceded defendant met the statutory requirements to
petition for release from the registration requirement. Nonetheless, the People argued
against the relief sought in the petition because “community safety would be significantly
enhanced due to the nature of the offenses, the age of the victims.” As to the age of the
victims, the People pointed out that while the victims were not under the age of 10 years
old, defendant had fathered children with two 13-year-old girls, ultimately fathering five
children between them when the victims were still minors. And at the same time,
defendant maintained a relationship with the mother of one of the young girls. The
People argued the preceding facts countered defendant’s argument that he was a good
father and had a long relationship with his wife (a victim in the case).
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In asking the court to deny the petition, the People emphasized the egregiousness
of defendant’s conduct and that defendant had just met the statutory requirement of 20
years’ registration. Conceding ultimately that defendant appeared to be a good father, the
People stated specifically that their position was based on the egregiousnessof the
conduct (years of sexual abuse resulting in pregnancies with two girls who were 13 years
old at the time the abuse began). The People also highlighted they had received
information that one of the victims opposed defendant’s petition. When the court
inquired during argument, both defense counsel and the People confirmed that neither
sought a Static-99 report.
Ultimately, the trial court denied defendant’s petition. In making this
determination, the court relied on the egregiousness of defendant’s conduct. Specifically,
that he had repeatedly abused two minors over a number of years resulting in five
children. The court further relied on the opposition from one of the victims against
defendant’s petition. In determining that community safety would be enhanced by
requiring continued registration, the court noted that the victim’s opposition was
important to the court. The court opined, without explanation, that the facts of the case
and age of the victims go to the issue of community safety. When denying the petition,
the court was mindful the victims were not strangers. The court ruled defendant could
reapply in one year, and the court encouraged the submission of a Static-99 report.
Defendant timely appealed.
DISCUSSION
Legal Background
In 2017, effective 2021, the Legislature changed the registration requirements for
sex offenders who are required to register from lifetime registration to a tiered system.
This legislation also changed the petition process for relief from registration found in
section 290.5. (Legis. Counsel’s Dig., Sen. Bill No. 384 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.)
ch. 541.)
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As noted in the legislative history, the purpose of the change was to improve
public safety by removing from the rolls of registrants those who currently posed little
risk of reoffending. By removing low-risk registrants, law enforcement would be better
able to monitor high-risk offenders. (Sen. Rules Com., Office of Sen. Floor Analyses,
Sen. Bill No. 384 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) Sept. 15, 2017, pp. 7-8.) We find the
legislative history relevant here in light of defense counsel’s argument that defendant’s
case is the type the statute intended for relief.
Prior to January 1, 2021, a conviction under section 288, subdivision (a) required
lifetime registration as a sex offender. (Former § 290, subds. (b) & (c)(1).) Section 290
now requires tier-two sex offenders convicted under section 288, subdivision (a) to
register as a sex offender (§ 290, subds. (b) & (c)(1)) for 20 years after release from
incarceration (§ 290, subd. (d)(2)(A)). As of July 1, 2021, section 290.5 allows a tier-two
sex offender to petition for termination from the sex offender registry following the
expiration of the minimum registration period, and any statutory extensions, under
section 290, subdivisions (b) and (c)(1). (§ 290.5, subd. (a)(1).) The People may oppose
a defendant’s petition and request a hearing “if community safety would be significantly
enhanced by the person’s continued registration.” (§ 290.5, subd. (a)(2).)
Because the statute does not identify the standard of proof for the community
safety inquiry (§ 290.5, subd. (a)(3)), the People bear the burden of proving, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that community safety would be significantly enhanced
by requiring continued sex offender registration. (Evid. Code, § 115; People v. Superior
Court (Kaulick) (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 1279, 1301, 1305; People v. Flores (2014)
227 Cal.App.4th 1070, 1075-1076.) This burden requires the People prove through
reliable, material, and relevant evidence, that there is a current risk of reoffense without
registration.
“In determining whether to order continued registration, the court shall consider:
the nature and facts of the registerable offense; the age and number of victims; whether
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any victim was a stranger at the time of the offense (known to the offender for less than
24 hours); criminal and relevant noncriminal behavior before and after conviction for the
registerable offense; the time period during which the person has not reoffended;
successful completion, if any, of a Sex Offender Management Board-certified sex
offender treatment program; and the person’s current risk of sexual or violent reoffense,
including the person’s risk levels on SARATSO static, dynamic, and violence risk
assessment instruments, if available.” (§ 290.5, subd. (a)(3).) “Any judicial
determination made pursuant to this section may be heard and determined upon
declarations, affidavits, police reports, or any other evidence submitted by the parties
which is reliable, material, and relevant.” (Ibid.)
“An appellate court reviews the trial court’s ruling on a petition for termination
from the sex offender registry for abuse of discretion.” (People v. Thai (2023)
90 Cal.App.5th 427, 433 (Thai).) “To establish an abuse of discretion, a defendant must
demonstrate the trial court’s decision fell outside the bounds of reason, i.e., was arbitrary,
capricious, or patently absurd. (People v. Johnson (2022) 12 Cal.5th 544, 605-606 . . .
[debatable ruling is not an abuse of discretion].)” (Thai, at p. 433.) “ ‘The abuse of
discretion standard is not a unified standard; the deference it calls for varies according to
the aspect of a trial court’s ruling under review. The trial court’s findings of fact are
reviewed for substantial evidence, its conclusions of law are reviewed de novo, and its
application of the law to the facts is reversible only if arbitrary and capricious.’
(Haraguchi v. Superior Court (2008) 43 Cal.4th 706, 711-712 . . . fns. omitted.)” (Thai,
at p. 433.)
A trial court abuses its discretion when factual findings are not supported by
substantial evidence or the decision is based on an incorrect legal standard. (People v.
Knoller (2007) 41 Cal.4th 139, 156.) When looking for substantial evidence, we “ ‘view
the evidence in the light most favorable to the People and must presume in support of the
judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the
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evidence.’ [Citation.] [¶] ‘Although we must ensure the evidence is reasonable,
credible, and of solid value, nonetheless it is the exclusive province of the trial judge or
jury to determine the credibility of a witness and the truth or falsity of the facts on which
that determination depends.’ ” (People v. Ochoa (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1199, 1206.) “ ‘In
reviewing the record to determine the sufficiency of the evidence [we] may not
redetermine the credibility of witnesses, nor reweigh any of the evidence, and must draw
all reasonable inferences, and resolve all conflicts, in favor of the judgment.’ ” (People v.
Sumahit (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 347, 352.)
Analysis
Applying these principles to the facts of this case, we agree with defendant’s
argument that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his petition because there
was not substantial evidence that he was a current risk such that community safety would
be significantly enhanced by continued registration. Defendant relies heavily on the only
published case (Thai) to have yet considered such a challenge.3
In Thai, the defendant pleaded guilty of violating section 288, subdivision (a) after
he masturbated a 12-year-old boy who was not a stranger. More than 23 years later, the
defendant filed a section 290.5 petition and provided evidence that he had participated in
counseling and had no criminal history since the crime. The prosecution opposed the
petition, arguing the facts of the underlying crime were “ ‘particularly egregious,’ ” with
the defendant taking advantage of the 12-year-old victim and (despite defendant’s guilty
plea) showing no remorse after the crime. The defendant responded that there was no
evidence that he was currently a danger, meaning the prosecution had failed to meet its
burden of proof. The trial court denied the petition, reasoning the crime was egregious
3 We note the hearing on the section 290.5 petition was held well before the
decision in Thai, which was filed April 11, 2023. As such, the trial court and the parties
did not have the benefit of the decision.
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and the defendant had taken advantage of a position of trust. (Thai, supra,
90 Cal.App.5th at pp. 430-432.) The appellate court reversed. (Id. at p. 435.)
The Thai court concluded that the trial court had abused its discretion because the
prosecution had failed to produce evidence establishing that “terminating the registration
requirement considerably raised the threat to society because [the 64-year-old defendant]
was currently likely to reoffend.” (Thai, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at p. 433.) Assuming
that the underlying crime was egregious, “those facts alone do not demonstrate [the
defendant] was a risk to the community over 24 years later.” (Id. at p. 434.)
At the hearing on defendant Juarez’s section 290.5 petition, no dispute was raised
as to the underlying facts: that defendant repeatedly sexually abused and impregnated
two different 13-year-old girls while he was in his 20’s while also maintaining a
relationship with the mother of one of the victims. In all, he fathered five children with
two teenage girls over a period of approximately five years.
We are mindful the circumstances here reflect acts of abuse beyond the single
lewd act in Thai. Nonetheless, when a trial court puts great weight on the nature and
facts of an offense (often referred to as its egregiousness) alone to deny a section 290.5
petition, the court must articulate how a defendant’s decades-old conduct is substantial
evidence of current dangerousness such that requiring continued registration will
significantly enhance community safety. (Thai, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at pp. 433-434.)
Here, the trial court considered the nature and facts concerning the registrable offense,
the age of the victims, and defendant’s criminal and relevant noncriminal conduct.
(§ 290.5, subd. (a)(3).) However, given the absence of evidence presented by the People
as to current dangerousness, the record does not support the court’s decision to deny the
petition.
The People did not present, in fact did not argue, any treatment or scientific
evidence that the pattern of defendant’s crimes requires current continued registration to
significantly enhance community safety; this was information that might well be gleaned
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from a report from a Sex Offender Management Board-certified sex offender treatment
program discussing the person’s current risk of sexual or violent reoffense, or risk levels
on SARATSO static, dynamic, and violence risk assessment instruments.4
To the contrary, factors discussed and not in dispute included that defendant was
not a stranger to the girls, he had completed more than the minimum years of required
sex offender treatment classes through his grant of probation, and he had not reoffended
since his conviction.
The only current information the trial court considered in denying the petition was
the representation from the People that a victim opposed the petition. The trial court put
great weight on the representation, finding the victim’s opposition, as stated by the
People, to be reliable. We observe, however, the manner in which the People presented
the opinion of the victim lacked substantial evidence, as the reason for the victim’s
opposition is unknown. Defendant fathered children with both victims in this case and
there was nothing presented to inform the court whether the victim’s opposition was
based on fear or something else.5 While section 290.5 lists several factors the trial court
shall consider, the opinion of a victim is not specifically listed. While a trial court can,
and should, consider the opinion of the victim in such a proceeding, that opinion still
needs to meet the statutory criteria of being “. . . reliable, material, and relevant.”
(§ 290.5(a)(3).)
We acknowledge the disturbing facts here of defendant’s prolonged years of
abuse; however, we find the evidence presented by the People at the hearing on the
petition was insufficient to meet the requirements necessary for the trial court to order
4 It was agreed, without explanation, that a Static-99 report was not available.
(§ 290.5, subd. (a)(3).)
5 We recognize the rights of victims to be heard under Marsy’s Law and the
Victims’ Bill of Rights. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 28.)
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continued registration. Consistent with the legislation’s purpose to cull from the
registration rolls low-risk offenders so that resources could be concentrated on high-risk
ones (Sen. Rules Com., Office of Sen. Floor Analyses, Sen. Bill No. 384 (2017-2018
Reg. Sess.) Sept. 15, 2017, pp. 7-8), it was incumbent upon the People to present
“reasonable, credible, and solid evidence” establishing a current risk of reoffense. (Thai,
supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at pp. 433, 435.) Without evidence establishing such risk, the trial
court abused its discretion in determining that community safety would be “ ‘significantly
enhanced’ ” by continued registration. (Id. at p. 435.) As such, the order of the trial
court must be reversed.
DISPOSITION
The order denying defendant’s section 290.5 petition is reversed.
/s/
Keithley, J.*
We concur:
/s/
Hull, Acting P. J.
/s/
Duarte, J.
* Judge of the Butte County Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant
to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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