People v. Ortis CA4/1

Filed 3/14/16 P. v. Ortis CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D069289
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. FSB1105354)
RANDY ORTIS,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County,
Victor Roy Stull, Judge. Affirmed as modified.
Patricia L. Brisbois, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal and Allison V.
Hawley, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
For his role in a shooting that followed an altercation outside a nightclub, a jury
convicted defendant Randy Ortis of first degree murder, attempted premeditated murder,
and assault with a firearm. The jury also found true certain firearm and great bodily
injury enhancements. The trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate determinate
sentence of 17 years, to be followed by an aggregate indeterminate sentence of 82 years
to life.
On appeal, defendant contends the trial court erred by (1) denying his posttrial
motion for a new trial on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel; (2) imposing a
three-year great bodily injury enhancement on the murder count (which the Attorney
General concedes was error); (3) sentencing defendant to "seven years to life" on the
attempted murder count instead of to "life with the possibility of parole"; (4) improperly
making dual use of the same factors to justify imposing consecutive sentences, an
aggravated base term, and the upper term on an enhancement; and (5) imposing a
restitution fine that violated the prohibition against ex post facto laws. We conclude the
great bodily injury enhancement on the murder count and the sentence on the attempted
premeditated murder count are unauthorized; we strike the enhancement on the murder
count, and direct the trial court to modify the sentence on the attempted murder count.
As so modified, we affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Prosecution Case
In the early morning hours of November 19, 2011, defendant and two of his
friends went to a nightclub in downtown Redlands, where they joined other friends.
2
Another group at the club that night included Kruze Kuaea, Jeremy Lavanway, and
Michael Aqleh. Shortly before 1:24 a.m., there was an altercation inside the club during
which Kuaea swung at someone and an unknown male punched Aqleh in the back of the
head. The nightclub's security staff kicked Kuaea's group out of the club.
Someone called 911 and hysterically reported the disturbance, which prompted a
Redlands police officer to remotely focus surveillance cameras on the nightclub area.
One of those cameras focused on the sidewalk area in front of the club, which captured
an ensuing altercation that ended with defendant shooting three people. The video
footage was played for the jury and is part of the record on appeal. The footage and other
evidence adduced at trial establish the following facts.
Defendant and several of his friends had exited the nightclub about three minutes
before Kuaea's group was kicked out. Defendant and his friends hung around the
sidewalk area in front of the club, where defendant made boxing gestures with his fists.
When Kuaea's group exited the club, an unidentified "short Hispanic male," who
was a friend of someone in defendant's group, also exited and exchanged words with
Kuaea's group. Kuaea's friend Lavanway had his hands up inside his t-shirt, but he
testified he did not "think" he had any weapons on him that night. A few seconds later,
Kuaea approached the unidentified short Hispanic man and punched him in the face,
knocking him backwards. Defendant's friend, Steven Sowa, threw a punch toward
Kuaea, and someone in Kuaea's group threw a punch back.
Defendant fired a gun toward the other group. As soon as defendant began firing,
Kuaea's group began to retreat. Defendant kept shooting, hopping as he shot. Defendant
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fired a total of five shots. Kuaea was struck and died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Lavanway suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds to his stomach, arm, and leg. An
innocent bystander who had exited the club to smoke and talk to his girlfriend was shot in
his shin; his wound later became infected and required surgery. Lavanway and the
bystander each identified defendant in photographic lineups as the shooter; the bystander
also identified defendant as the shooter at trial.
A few days after the shooting, defendant gave a .38 caliber handgun to his friend,
Jacob Topoleski, and described it as "dirty."1 Topoleski described defendant as "frantic."
Police later executed a search warrant for Topoleski's house and seized the gun.
The Defense Case
Defendant testified in his own defense. He said he did not know anyone in
Kuaea's group and had not noticed them inside the nightclub. He did not see any physical
altercations inside the club, but heard some sort of commotion as he was heading outside.
The club was too crowded for defendant to see what was happening.
Defendant admitted shooting the gun that night. He said he started carrying a gun
for protection after he was stabbed a few months earlier. He did not know who stabbed
him, and no one was ever prosecuted. Defendant claimed he shot Kuaea and Lavanway
because he was fearful for his own life and the safety of his friends. While waiting
outside the club for other friends to leave, defendant noticed that Lavanway kept putting
his hand under his shirt. Defendant was concerned Lavanway may have had a weapon,
1 Defendant testified he intended two meanings for "dirty": "dirty in residue and
dirty as in . . . it was used . . . in the incident."
4
so defendant kept an eye on him. When defendant saw Kuaea punch the unidentified
male and saw Lavanway "fumble with his right hand under his shirt," defendant put his
hand on his gun and "withdrew" to take in his surroundings before shooting; he "didn't
want to shoot just anyone."
Defendant explained he shot Kuaea because "he severely punched a friend of mine
for no reason." He fired at Lavanway because he believed that Lavanway had a gun.
Defendant claimed he used only the amount of force required "to stop the aggressors."
Defendant admitted he lied to police when they interviewed him about the
incident. He initially denied being in Redlands on the night of the incident or having any
involvement in the shooting. He never said anything to police about someone else having
a weapon or giving the impression that person did by having his hand in his shirt.
Defendant ultimately admitted he jumped around as he fired the gun; he continued firing
even though Kuaea was backing up and appeared to be trying to run away; and he
continued firing even though Lavanway was falling and people were trying to run.
Jury Verdict and Sentencing
The jury convicted defendant of first degree murder (Pen. Code,2 § 187, subd. (a);
count 4); attempted murder (§§ 664, 187, subd. (a); count 5); and assault with a firearm
(§ 245, subd. (a)(2); count 6).3 On all counts, the jury found true the allegations that
defendant personally used and intentionally discharged a firearm, causing great bodily
2 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
3 Counts 4 through 6 were initially designated as counts 1 through 3, but were
renumbered when the People amended the information.
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injury or death. (§§ 12022.5, subds. (a) & (d), 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d).) The jury also
found true the allegations that defendant committed the murder and attempted murder
willfully and with premeditation and deliberation. Finally, the jury found true the
allegations that defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury in the commission of
the attempted murder and assault with a firearm. (§ 12022.7, subd. (a).)
With enhancements, the trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate
determinate term of 17 years in prison, to be followed by an aggregate indeterminate term
of 82 years to life in prison.
DISCUSSION
I. New Trial Motion Based on Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Defendant contends the trial court "erred and violated his Sixth Amendment right
to counsel by failing to grant his motion for substitute counsel to investigate and file a
motion for new trial based on ineffective assistance of counsel . . . ." We find no error.
A. Background
After the verdict but before sentencing, defendant requested that the court appoint
new counsel to review the case and potentially file a motion for a new trial on the basis of
ineffective assistance of counsel. The court initially indicated it intended to grant the
request, but at the next hearing stated that subsequent research revealed the court must
first conduct a hearing to determine whether continued representation by the same
counsel would substantially impair defendant's right to adequate counsel. The court then
held a closed hearing with only defendant and his counsel.
6
During the closed hearing, defendant explained he was dissatisfied with three
aspects of his counsel's trial performance: his decision not to call certain witnesses, his
handling of Lavanway, and his apparent lack of effort and interest.
Regarding uncalled witnesses, defendant believed his counsel should have called
Kelsey Klepper and the nightclub's two bouncers. Defendant asserted Klepper would
have testified that "she believed that someone in [Kuaea's group] had a gun and that they
did or may have gone to their car before the shooting to get it." Defendant maintained
Klepper's statement was documented in a police report, and defense counsel should also
have had the officer testify. Defense counsel responded that Klepper lacked firsthand
knowledge of any weapons and, thus, her "blurted" comment to the officer was
speculative. In any event, defense counsel had placed Klepper and the officer on the
witness list, but concluded during trial he had sufficient evidence without them.
Regarding the bouncers, defendant argued they should have testified to explain
that Kuaea's group was "kicked out instead of them saying they walked out [of] the club,
and their . . . actions inside the bar before the incident took place." Defense counsel
explained that he chose not to subpoena one bouncer because he had a prior sex offense
with which he could be impeached, and defense counsel did not want to jeopardize the
defense's credibility. Counsel subpoenaed the other bouncer, who would have been able
to testify about a fight on the dance floor, but unable to identify any of the participants.
Defendant said he was dissatisfied with two aspects of his counsel's handling of
Lavanway. First, counsel should have brought to the jury's attention a portion of the
video in which an individual appeared to "pick up an object"—perhaps a weapon—"off
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Mr. Lavanway while he was on the ground . . . and walk[] away." Counsel responded he
chose to support the self-defense theory with other arguments, but added that in his
closing argument he encouraged jurors to review the surveillance footage and to consider
whether anyone took a gun from Lavanway. Second, defendant believed defense counsel
was "supposed to call [Lavanway] back" so that he would "tell the truth" about having a
gun that night. Counsel responded that, based on 14 years of experience, he has
"learned . . . to not follow up with witnesses when they've already given [him] a gift" like
Lavanway's uncertain response about having a weapon.
Defendant also argued his counsel suffered migraines that affected his
performance, lacked interest in the case, "wanted to hurry up and . . . get it over with,"
"could have worked harder," and fumbled over some words and names. Counsel
responded that although he suffered a bout of migraines before trial, the court provided
ample time to recover such that he was not affected during trial. Counsel recognized he
"probably suffered from lack of sleep" due to the long hours he spent preparing a
rigorous defense—consistent with his practice in other lengthy cases—but he did not
believe his sleep patterns affected his performance.4 Counsel admitted he misspoke
during his opening statement, but said he later clarified the error while the relevant
witness was testifying.
4 Counsel acknowledged that at one point during trial he put on the record his
concern that his lack of sleep may have jeopardized defendant's case. He was referring to
an earlier chambers conference during which he inadvertently revealed he would be
pursuing a self-defense theory. When counsel put the concern on the record, the court
responded it did not believe counsel jeopardized defendant's case because it had been
"known all along" that he would be presenting a self-defense or defense-of-others case.
8
The court determined, based on its 32 years of experience with hundreds of trials,
that counsel's overall performance "was not substandard and . . . was well within the
norm." The court also noted that "this was a very, very difficult case for [the defendant],
mainly because of that video. There's just no way to impeach it. . . . I don't know anyone
that could have got a better result for you, to tell you the truth . . . . So as to performance,
I think I have no problem with it—neither in my subjective opinion [n]or my legal
opinion; based on the law that I would find that, and I do find, that you were competently
represented." The court reiterated, "I don't think we're anywhere near a Strickland v.
Washington [(1984) 466 U.S. 668] standard where I would have to say that [defendant]
was not rendered effective assistance of counsel."
B. Relevant Legal Principles
" 'When, after trial, a defendant asks the trial court to appoint new counsel to
prepare and present a motion for new trial on the ground of ineffective assistance of
counsel, the court must conduct a hearing to explore the reasons underlying the request.
[Citations.] If the claim of inadequacy relates to courtroom events that the trial court
observed, the court will generally be able to resolve the new trial motion without
appointing new counsel for the defendant. [Citation.] If, on the other hand, the
defendant's claim of inadequacy relates to matters that occurred outside the courtroom,
and the defendant makes a "colorable claim" of inadequacy of counsel, then the trial court
may, in its discretion, appoint new counsel to assist the defendant in moving for a new
trial. [Citations.]' " (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal. 4th 297, 346; see People v. Stewart
(1985) 171 Cal. App. 3d 388, 395; People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal. 3d 118, 123
9
(Marsden).) "We do not find Marsden error where complaints of counsel's inadequacy
involve tactical disagreements." (People v. Dickey (2005) 35 Cal. 4th 884, 922 (Dickey).)
"[S]ubstitute counsel should be appointed when, and only when, necessary under
the Marsden standard, that is whenever, in the exercise of its discretion, the court finds
that the defendant has shown that a failure to replace the appointed attorney would
substantially impair the right to assistance of counsel [citation], or, stated slightly
differently, if the record shows that the first appointed attorney is not providing adequate
representation or that the defendant and the attorney have become embroiled in such an
irreconcilable conflict that ineffective representation is likely to result [citation]."
(People v. Smith (1993) 6 Cal. 4th 684, 696.) The decision to appoint new counsel lies in
the sound discretion of the trial court and "will not be overturned on appeal absent a clear
abuse of that discretion." (Ibid.)
C. Analysis
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant's motion to
appoint new counsel. Defense counsel made clear during the closed hearing that he had
tactical reasons for not calling certain witnesses. (See Dickey, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p.
922.) For example, Klepper's testimony was not only speculative, it was also proven
demonstrably false by the surveillance video, which showed the shooting occurred before
anyone in Kuaea's group left to retrieve a weapon. The subpoenaed bouncer could not
identify any participants in the dance floor altercation (which defendant admitted he did
not see). And the other bouncer's prior sexual offenses subjected him to impeachment,
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which may have undermined the defense's credibility, which was critical in light of
defendant's self-defense and defense-of-others defenses.
Defense counsel also clearly had a tactical reason for not re-calling Lavanway,
who had already given the defense a "gift." The record also confirms counsel did argue
to jurors in closing that they should reexamine the surveillance footage to determine
whether anyone removed a weapon from Lavanway's body after he was shot.5
Finally, the trial court observed defense counsel's courtroom performance. Based
on the trial judge's 32 years of experience, he found that defense counsel's performance
"was well within the norm," and remarked that he did not "know anyone [who] could
have got a better result." We find no abuse of discretion in this conclusion.
II. Great Bodily Injury Enhancement on Murder Count
Defendant contends the trial court erred by imposing a three-year great bodily
injury enhancement on the murder count. He asserts the jury never made such a finding,
and, in any event, no such enhancement is authorized on a murder count. (See § 12022.7,
subd. (g) ["This section shall not apply to murder or manslaughter . . . ."]; People v. Cook
(2015) 60 Cal. 4th 922, 924 ["subdivision (g) of section 12022.7 means what it says:
Great bodily injury enhancements do not apply to a conviction for murder or
5 On appeal, defendant offers a new take on this challenge. He now asserts that his
trial counsel should have had the surveillance video "enhance[d]" to conclusively identify
the object removed from Lavanway's body. We consider this new challenge forfeited. In
any event, the Attorney General convincingly argues that defense counsel could have had
a valid tactical reason for not enhancing the video—doing so might conclusively establish
that no weapon was removed from Lavanway, eliminating defense counsel's ability to
argue the contrary based on the inconclusive video and testimony.
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manslaughter."].) The Attorney General agrees the trial court erred. We accept the
concession and strike the enhancement.
III. Sentence on Attempted Premeditated Murder
The trial court sentenced defendant to seven years to life on the attempted
premeditated murder count. Defendant contends this was error because the proper
sentence for this offense is life with the possibility of parole. (See § 664, subd. (a).) The
Attorney General disagrees, citing a footnote in People v. Jefferson (1999) 21 Cal. 4th 86
(Jefferson) to support the proposition that "it is not improper for the trial court to include,
as part of a defendant's sentence, the minimum term of confinement the defendant must
serve before becoming eligible for parole." (Id. at p. 101, fn. 3.) We agree with
defendant.
The statutory sentence for willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder
is "life with the possibility of parole." (§ 664, subd. (a).) It is a straight indeterminate
sentence; it does not provide for a sentence range. (See ibid.; People v. Felix (2000) 22
Cal. 4th 651, 659.) A person sentenced to this term is not eligible for parole until he or
she has served seven years. (§ 3046.) However, although Jefferson held this parole
ineligibility period is deemed a minimum term for purposes of enhanced sentencing
under the Three Strikes Law (see Jefferson, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 96), we are not aware
of any authority that provides it is otherwise a minimum term for purposes of modifying
an indeterminate sentence of life with the possibility of parole. Given Jefferson's focus
on enhanced sentencing under the Three Strikes Law, which is not at issue here, the
footnote the Attorney General cites is inapposite dicta, which we decline to follow.
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Accordingly, the authorized sentence for count 5 is life with the possibility of parole, not
seven years to life. We will direct the trial court to modify the judgment to reflect a
sentence of life with the possibility of parole.
IV. Dual Use of Sentencing Factors
Defendant contends for the first time on appeal that the trial court erred in
selecting the sentence on count 6 (assault with a firearm) by improperly making dual use
of the same aggravating factors in (1) imposing consecutive sentences; (2) selecting the
upper term for the base term; and (3) selecting the upper term for the related
enhancement for personally using a firearm. (See People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal. 4th 331,
350 (Scott) ["the court generally cannot use a single fact both to aggravate the base term
and to impose an enhancement"]; id. at p. 350, fn. 12 ["the court cannot rely on the same
fact to impose both the upper term and a consecutive sentence"]; § 1170, subd. (b).)
Relying on well-settled law obligating defense counsel to bring such purported errors to
the trial court's attention at sentencing, the Attorney General argues defendant forfeited
this challenge. Alternatively, the Attorney General argues that a multitude of aggravating
factors support the court's sentencing selections. We agree defendant forfeited this
challenge, but even if he had not we would find no error.
A. Background
At the sentencing hearing, the trial court explained it was imposing a consecutive
sentence on count 6 because "the victim was particularly vulnerable" and defendant was
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"an active participant . . . in the commission of this crime." (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule
4.414(a)(3), (a)(6).)6
The court explained that it was selecting the aggravated base term of four years on
count 6 based on the court's findings that (1) the crimes were not committed "because of
an unusual circumstance, such as great provocation, which is unlikely to recur" (rule
4.414(a)(7)), but rather were an unjustified response to an ordinary fistfight with
disparate force; (2) "the crimes involved great violence, great bodily harm, being death
and serious and great bodily injury to two others, and acts disclosing a high degree of
cruelty, viciousness, and callousness" (see rule 4.421(a)(1)); (3) the victim "was
particularly vulnerable" (see rule 4.414(a)(3)); (4) defendant was an active and major
participant in the crime (see rule 4.414(a)(6)); and (5) defendant "has engaged in violent
conduct that indicates a serious danger to society" (see rule 4.414(b)(8)). The court
stated it "thought about this very seriously" and was "mindful of the fact that [it] cannot
use [these] factors to both aggravate a sentence and to impose a consecutive sentence."
The trial court explained that, "for the same reasons," it was selecting the
aggravated term of 10 years on the personal firearm use enhancement. (See § 12022.5,
subd. (a).)
The court found the aggravating factors outweighed any mitigating factors.
B. Defendant Forfeited This Challenge
A defendant who does not object in the trial court to the court's statement of
reasons for selecting discretionary sentencing choices forfeits his ability to challenge
6 All further rule references are to the California Rules of Court.
14
those selections on appeal. (See Scott, supra, 9 Cal.4th at pp. 336, 353.) This forfeiture
rule applies in "cases in which the court purportedly erred because it double-counted a
particular sentencing factor" (id. at p. 353), as defendant contends occurred here. The
"practical and straightforward" reasoning behind this rule is that "[r]outine defects in the
court's statement of reasons are easily prevented and corrected if called to the court's
attention." (Ibid.)
Defendant contends he did not forfeit this challenge because he did object in the
trial court. However, the "objection" he cites in the appellate record is merely his
argument in opposition to the probation report's recommendations; defendant never
objected to any purported dual use of aggravating factors. Consequently, he has
forfeited the issue on appeal.
Defendant argues the forfeiture rule does not apply because a defendant need not
object in the trial court to preserve a challenge to an "unauthorized sentence." However,
a sentence based on dual use of aggravating factors is not an "unauthorized sentence" for
purposes of avoiding forfeiture. (See Scott, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 354.)
C. Defendant's Challenge Would Fail on the Merits
Even if defendant had not forfeited this challenge, we would find no error. We
review the trial court's sentencing decision for an abuse of discretion. (See People v.
Sandoval (2007) 41 Cal. 4th 825, 847.)
As noted, the trial court used five distinct aggravating factors for three distinct
purposes. Because each use required, at most, only a single supporting aggravating factor
(see People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal. 4th 622, 728-729; People v. Chism (2014) 58
15
Cal. 4th 1266, 1336), there was no error. Although the trial court repeated certain of the
aggravating factors when discussing the different uses to which they were being put, the
court stated it was mindful that it could not make dual uses of them. No error occurs
where, as here, at least one valid aggravating factor supports each sentencing choice.
We are unpersuaded by defendant's challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence
supporting certain of the aggravating factors. Regarding the victim's vulnerability, the
trial court found the victim was "in a rather open setting, and he had no place to hide, no
place to run, . . . [h]e was taken totally by surprise, had no means to defend himself or to
seek shelter to prevent his harm; he had no opportunity to effect his escape. And it was a
situation which may not be defined by lying in wait but it was very close to it." The
record supports this finding.
The record also supports the trial court's finding that the crime was committed
with a degree of cruelty, viciousness, and callousness. The victim in count 6 was an
innocent bystander who had exited the nightclub to talk with his girlfriend and smoke a
cigarette, when defendant shot him without warning and for no reason. (See, e.g., People
v. Harvey (1984) 163 Cal. App. 3d 90, 117 [finding viciousness and callousness where the
victim had no opportunity to defend himself, there was no provocation of any sort, and
the victim was shot without any explanation].)
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in selecting defendant's sentence.
V. Ex Post Facto Challenge to Restitution Fine
Defendant contends the trial court violated the constitutional prohibition against ex
post facto laws because, although the court intended to impose a restitution fine in "the
16
minimum amount" allowed by statute ($200 when defendant committed his offenses), the
court mistakenly imposed a $330 fine because the minimum statutory fine had increased
(to $300) by the time defendant was sentenced and the fine was imposed.7 He further
asserts that if we find this challenge is forfeited because his trial counsel did not object to
the amount of the fine during the sentencing hearing, his counsel was ineffective for not
objecting. We disagree.
Preliminarily, defendant's challenge is not supported by the record. The trial court
never stated that it intended to impose a fine in the minimum amount allowed by statute;
the court stated it "will order a restitution fine in the minimal amount of $330." (Italics
added.) That the trial court did not intend to impose the minimum statutory fine is further
supported by the fact that the minimum fine in 2014 was $300, not $330.8 In any event,
7 When defendant committed his offenses in 2011, the minimum restitution fine
under former section 1202.4, subdivision (b), was $200; the maximum was $10,000.
(See Stats. 2011, ch. 45, § 1.) The Legislature subsequently amended section 1202.4,
subdivision (b)(1) to increase the minimum amount of the restitution fine in increments
over several years. (See Stats. 2011, ch. 358, § 1.) The minimum fine allowed when the
court sentenced defendant in 2014 was $300; the maximum remained $10,000. (See
§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(1); Stats. 2011, ch. 358, § 1.)
8 Defendant argues for the first time in his reply brief that the reporter's transcript
indicates the trial court "may have misspoke[n]" when it ordered a restitution fine of $330
(instead of the 2014 statutory minimum of $300) because the court also imposed a parole
revocation fine in the amount of $300, not $330. These fines are required to be in the
same amount. (See § 1202.45.) Defendant reasons the trial court therefore intended to
impose a restitution fine of $300. We will not address this apparent discrepancy because
defendant forfeited the issue by raising it for the first time in his reply brief. (See People
v. Senior (1995) 33 Cal. App. 4th 531, 537.) In any event, the sentencing minutes and
abstract of judgment make clear that the court ordered the restitution and parole
revocation fines in the equal amounts of $330.
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even if defendant's challenge were supported by the record, it would fail for the reasons
we discuss below.
A. Defendant Forfeited This Challenge
"[A] defendant's failure to object in the trial court to the imposition of a restitution
fine constitutes a waiver of the right to complain thereof on appeal." (People v. Gibson
(1994) 27 Cal. App. 4th 1466, 1469; see People v. Turrin (2009) 176 Cal. App. 4th 1200,
1207.) Defendant's trial counsel did not object to the amount of the fine the court
imposed, and thus has forfeited this challenge on appeal.
We are not persuaded by defendant's argument that we should not find a forfeiture
because his trial counsel's failure to object constituted the ineffective assistance of
counsel. "In assessing claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, we consider
whether counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under
prevailing professional norms and whether the defendant suffered prejudice to a
reasonable probability, that is, a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome." (People v. Carter (2003) 30 Cal. 4th 1166, 1211; see Strickland v.
Washington, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 694.) "A reviewing court will indulge in a
presumption that counsel's performance fell within the wide range of professional
competence and that counsel's actions and inactions can be explained as a matter of
sound trial strategy. Defendant thus bears the burden of establishing constitutionally
inadequate assistance of counsel." (Carter, at p. 1211; see Strickland, at p. 687.)
Defendant has not met his burden of showing his trial counsel lacked a sound
strategy in not objecting to the amount of the restitution fine. The probation report
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recommended the court impose the maximum fine—$10,000. Defense counsel could
reasonably have considered the $330 fine a victory. He could also have reasonably
concluded that quibbling over a $130 difference in the restitution fine amount might
undermine the credibility of his argument against imposing a longer prison sentence on
the same count. We therefore adhere to our finding of forfeiture.
B. No Ex Post Facto Violation
Even if we were to reach the merits of defendant's challenge, we would find no ex
post facto violation. "A statute violates the ex post facto clause when, on its face or as
applied, it retroactively ' "increase[s] the punishment for criminal acts." ' Thus[,] the
prohibition on ex post facto laws prevents the government from changing the punishment
for a criminal act after the act has been performed." (People v. Callejas (2000) 85
Cal. App. 4th 667, 670.) Restitution fines are subject to the prohibition against ex post
facto laws, and therefore must be imposed under the law in effect at the time of the
offense (rather than at the time of sentencing). (See People v. Souza (2012) 54 Cal. 4th
90, 143; People v. Valenzuela (2009) 172 Cal. App. 4th 1246, 1248.) Because defendant
was subject to a restitution fine of up to $10,000 when he committed his offenses, a
minimal fine of $330 did not retroactively increase defendant's punishment and,
therefore, did not violate the ex post facto prohibition.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is modified to strike the great bodily injury enhancement attached to
count 4. The trial court is directed to modify the judgment to reflect a sentence on count
5 of life with the possibility of parole. The trial court is further directed to modify the
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abstract of judgment consistent with this disposition and to forward an amended abstract
to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In all other respects the judgment is
affirmed.
HALLER, J.
WE CONCUR:
MCCONNELL, P. J.
PRAGER, J.*
* Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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