People v. Cortez

Filed 9/14/17
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
THE PEOPLE, ) BR 053118
)
Plaintiff and Respondent, ) Van Nuys Trial Court
)
v. ) No. 6VW02208
)
CESAR CORTEZ, )
)
Defendant and Appellant. ) OPINION
)
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Van Nuys
Trial Court, Eric P. Harmon, Judge. Appeal dismissed.
Andrea Keith for defendant and appellant.
Michael N. Feuer, City Attorney, City of Los Angeles, Debbie Lew, Assistant City
Attorney, and Kent J. Bullard, Deputy City Attorney, for plaintiff and respondent.
* * *
1
Defendant and appellant Cesar Cortez was charged with possession of
methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a)) and possession of a device used for
smoking narcotics (Health & Saf. Code, § 11364, subd. (a)). Following the denial of his
motion to suppress evidence (Pen. Code, § 1538.5),1 defendant filled out a form indicating his
desire to enter a plea of guilty to the charge of possessing methamphetamine and be placed on
the trial court’s Deferred Entry of Judgment (DEJ) program (§ 1000 et seq.). The trial court
accepted defendant’s guilty plea, placed defendant on DEJ, and dismissed the remaining
charge.
Pursuant to the statutory requirements for DEJ, sentencing and judgment were deferred
for 18 months and, if defendant complied with the conditions of DEJ, his case would be
dismissed upon the expiration of that period. To achieve a dismissal, defendant was required
to: complete a court-approved counseling program or attend 52 Alcoholics (or Narcotics)
Anonymous meetings; abstain from possessing controlled substances or related paraphernalia;
refrain from associating with drug users or sellers; and submit to warrantless searches and
seizures by peace officers. Defendant represented to the trial court that he understood DEJ and
agreed to participate in the program.
After defendant was placed on DEJ, he filed a notice of appeal challenging the court’s
order denying his motion to suppress. In his opening brief, defendant states the appeal is
authorized “because it affects the substantial rights of the party . . . .” The People filed a
respondent’s brief defending the propriety of the order but also taking the position that, because
judgment has been deferred, the order is not appealable. Defendant did not file a reply brief so
the People’s argument (particularly with respect to appealability) has not been rebutted. We
agree with the People on the jurisdictional issue and dismiss the appeal.
DISCUSSION
“The right to appeal is statutory only, and a party may not appeal a trial court’s
judgment, order or ruling unless such is expressly made appealable by statute. [Citations.]”
1
All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
(People v. Loper (2015) 60 Cal.4th 1155, 1159; see also People v. Gallardo (2000) 77
Cal.App.4th 971, 980.) Because defendant only pled guilty to a misdemeanor offense, we
limit our review to four statutory provisions authorizing appeals in misdemeanor cases—
section 1466, subdivision (b)(1) (a defendant may appeal from “a final judgment of
conviction”), section 1466, subdivision (b)(2) (a defendant may appeal from “any order made
after judgment affecting his or her substantial rights”), section 1538.5, subdivision (m)
(a defendant may seek review of an order denying a suppression motion “notwithstanding the
fact that the judgment of conviction is predicated upon a plea of guilty”), and section 1538.5,
subdivision (j) (authorizing the prosecution and the defense to appeal a ruling on a suppression
motion prior to a misdemeanor trial).
It is clear that the first three provisions do not authorize defendant’s appeal in light of
our Supreme Court’s decision in People v. Mazurette (2001) 24 Cal.4th 789, 791-796
(Mazurette). To determine the applicability of the fourth cited statute (§ 1538.5, subd. (j)), we
are required to assess the statutory scheme of which it is a part, but the end result is the same,
i.e., it is not a vehicle for a defendant who has been placed on DEJ to appeal the pre-plea denial
of a suppression motion.
Mazurette
In Mazurette, our Supreme Court was faced with deciding “whether a criminal defendant
granted a deferred entry of judgment can, immediately following his or her plea of guilty . . . ,
appeal an adverse pretrial decision on a motion to suppress evidence . . . .” (Mazurette, supra,24 Cal.4th at p. 792.) Although Mazurette’s plea was to a felony, the issue is not unique to
felonies and, for that reason, the same rationale used by the Supreme Court is applicable to
misdemeanor appeals.
Those convicted of misdemeanors and felonies are expressly permitted by statute to
appeal the judgment resulting from the conviction (§ 1237, subd. (a); 1466, subd. (b)(1)), as
well as any postjudgment order affecting his or her substantial rights (§ 1237, subd. (b); 1466,
subd. (b)(2)). If, however, the judgment is the result of a guilty plea, any appeal taken
therefrom is limited to one based on “‘reasonable constitutional, jurisdictional, or other grounds
3
going to the legality of the proceedings.’” (§ 1237.5, subd. (a) [felony limitation]; People v.
Egbert (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 503, 509, quoting § 1237.5, subd. (a) [misdemeanor limitation]).
Because of this restriction, an appeal from a pre-plea denial of a suppression motion would
normally be precluded. (See Mazurette, supra, 24 Cal.4th at p. 793.) But, in section 1538.5,
subdivision (m), the Legislature sidestepped the standard limitations placed on appeals
following guilty pleas to expressly preserve a right to appeal in cases where a defendant whose
judgment is predicated on a guilty plea seeks to challenge a pre-plea order denying a
suppression motion. (Mazurette, supra, 24 Cal.4th at pp. 793-794, citing § 1538.5, subd. (m).)
This drove Mazurette to consider a narrower question: Does section 1538.5, subdivision (m),
authorize an appeal even if the guilty plea resulted in DEJ? (Ibid.) Mazurette provided the
following reasoning in holding, under these circumstances, the statutory provision does not
permit an appeal.
“[B]ecause [Mazurette] pleaded following denial of her suppression motion raising a
claim of an illegal search, section 1538.5[, subdivision] (m) would permit her to appeal from a
final judgment of conviction. In defendant’s case, however, the trial court, with her consent,
deferred entry of judgment pursuant to section 1000.1. Accordingly, there is—as yet—no
judgment from which defendant can appeal. If she successfully completes her rehabilitation,
the charges will be dismissed and the slate wiped clean. If, instead, defendant fails to
‘perform[] satisfactorily’ in her assigned program, ‘is not benefiting from education, treatment,
or rehabilitation,’ or engages in additional criminal behavior, ‘the court shall render a finding of
guilt to the charge or charges pled, enter judgment, and schedule a sentencing hearing as
otherwise provided in this code.’ (§ 1000.3, 3d par., italics added.) Only following entry of
judgment pursuant to section 1000.3 will a judgment exist from which defendant can appeal.”
(Mazurette, supra, 24 Cal.4th at pp. 793-794.)
The rationale is equally applicable to misdemeanor cases, i.e., there is no judgment
while a defendant is on DEJ, and there will be no judgment unless the defendant does not
successfully complete the program. Because the triggering mechanism to an appeal under
section 1538.5, subdivision (m), is “a judgment of conviction,” the provision is inapplicable to
4
a defendant on DEJ regardless of whether the defendant has pled guilty to a felony or a
misdemeanor.2
Section 1538.5, subdivision (j)
What is unique to misdemeanors, and therefore not addressed in Mazurette, is found in
the penultimate sentence of subdivision (j)’s lengthy text. It reads, “If the property or evidence
seized relates solely to a misdemeanor complaint, and the defendant made a motion for the
return of property or the suppression of evidence in the superior court prior to trial, both the
people and defendant shall have the right to appeal any decision of that court relating to that
motion to the appellate division, in accordance with the California Rules of Court provisions
governing appeals to the appellate division in criminal cases.”3 (§ 1538.5, subd. (j).)
“‘“‘As in any case involving statutory interpretation, our fundamental task here is to
determine the Legislature’s intent so as to effectuate the law’s purpose. [Citation.] We begin
by examining the statute’s words, giving them a plain and commonsense meaning.’”’
[Citation.] ‘[W]e consider the language of the entire scheme and related statutes, harmonizing
the terms when possible.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Gonzalez (2017) 2 Cal.5th 1138, 1141.)
Subdivision (j) does not specifically address whether the referenced right to appeal exists
even if a defendant has entered a guilty plea and been granted DEJ. If we were to adopt the
literal meaning of the statutory language, we would be mandated to hold that a defendant on
DEJ is not barred from pursuing such an appeal. But, the literal meaning of words in a statute
does not necessarily dictate its subsequent application (California School Employees Assn. v.
2
The same holds true for section 1466, subdivisions (b)(1) and (b)(2), as both provisions require
judgment to have been entered.
3
The language used in the original version of subdivision (j) was different only in the sense that
it accounted for the 1967 hierarchy of the courts. As originally enacted, the pertinent portion of
subdivision (j) read: “If the property or evidence seized relates to a misdemeanor offense, and the
defendant made a motion for the return of property or the suppression of evidence in the municipal
court or justice court prior to trial, both the people and defendant shall have the right to appeal any
decision of that court to the superior court of the county in which such inferior court is located, in
accordance with the California Rules of Court provisions governing appeals from municipal and justice
courts in criminal cases.” (Former § 1538.5, subd. (j), added by Stats. 1967, ch. 1537, § 1, p. 3652.)
5
Governing Board (1994) 8 Cal.4th 333, 339-340) and, under the circumstances presented here,
a literal interpretation of the language would be inconsistent with the purpose of section 1538.5.
“[A]lthough the words used by the Legislature are the most useful guide to its intent, we
do not view the language of the statute in isolation. [Citation.] Rather, we construe the words
of the statute in context, keeping in mind the statutory purpose. [Citation.] We will not follow
the plain meaning of the statute “when to do so would ‘frustrate[] the manifest purposes of the
legislation as a whole or [lead] to absurd results.’” [Citation.] Instead, we will “‘interpret
legislation reasonably and . . . attempt to give effect to the apparent purpose of the statute.’”’
[Citation.]” (People v. Nelson (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 1083, 1098.)
Cases addressing the procedural objectives of section 1538.5 underscore the pretrial
significance of the statute. “[T]he broad goal of the Legislature in enacting section 1538.5 was
to provide an orderly and unified procedure for making pretrial challenges to the admission of
evidence on the ground that it was the product of an unconstitutional search or seizure and
obtaining prompt appellate review of the rulings of the lower courts on such challenges.
[Citations.]” (People v. Belleci (1979) 24 Cal.3d 879, 884, italics added.) “Section 1538.5
provides a comprehensive and exclusive procedure for the final determination of search and
seizure issues prior to trial. Its enactment was chiefly aimed at redressing defects identified in
the previously existing procedures: (i) the unnecessary expenditure of time and effort in
allowing repeated challenges to the legality of a search or seizure during the course of a
criminal proceeding; (ii) the waste of jury time in permitting search and seizure questions to be
raised during trial, since the determination of these issues takes place outside the presence of
the jury; and (iii) the lack of adequate opportunity for the prosecution to obtain appellate review
of an adverse decision on a search and seizure question before trial commences and jeopardy
attaches. [Citations.]” (People v. Brooks (1980) 26 Cal.3d 471, 475-476, italics added.) In
other words, “section 1538.5 was enacted largely for the purpose of settling troublesome
questions of the admissibility of evidence before trial.” (Cornelius v. Superior Court (1972) 25
Cal.App.3d 581, 585, italics added; see also Moreno v. Superior Court (1978) 80 Cal.App.3d
932, 935.)
6
Section 1538.5 is premised on the prospect of a trial. It was enacted to streamline
criminal proceedings by providing a mechanism to resolve search and seizure issues before a
jury is summoned. Indeed, the language preceding the penultimate sentence of subdivision (j)
furthers that objective by specifying pretrial procedures applicable when a suppression motion
is granted at the preliminary hearing.4
But, after a defendant is placed on DEJ, the prospect of a trial is no longer looming.
(See People v. Ormiston (2003) 105 Cal.App.4th 676, 690 [“Once a diversion order is entered,
no trial or other criminal proceeding remains pending”].) “‘Under . . . section 1000 et seq.,
eligible drug offenders may be considered for a diversion program in lieu of criminal
prosecution. [Citation.] . . . [Citation.]’ [Citation.] ‘The deferred entry of judgment
statutes . . . provide that first time drug offenders who meet specified conditions “bypass the
4
The language preceding the last two sentences is:
“(j) If the property or evidence relates to a felony offense initiated by complaint and the
defendant’s motion for the return of the property or suppression of the evidence at the preliminary
hearing is granted, and if the defendant is not held to answer at the preliminary hearing, the people may
file a new complaint or seek an indictment after the preliminary hearing, and the ruling at the prior
hearing shall not be binding in any subsequent proceeding, except as limited by subdivision (p). In the
alternative, the people may move to reinstate the complaint, or those parts of the complaint for which
the defendant was not held to answer, pursuant to Section 871.5. If the property or evidence relates to a
felony offense initiated by complaint and the defendant’s motion for the return or suppression of the
property or evidence at the preliminary hearing is granted, and if the defendant is held to answer at the
preliminary hearing, the ruling at the preliminary hearing shall be binding upon the people unless, upon
notice to the defendant and the court in which the preliminary hearing was held and upon the filing of
an information, the people, within 15 days after the preliminary hearing, request a special hearing, in
which case the validity of the search or seizure shall be relitigated de novo on the basis of the evidence
presented at the special hearing, and the defendant shall be entitled, as a matter of right, to a
continuance of the special hearing for a period of time up to 30 days. The people may not request
relitigation of the motion at a special hearing if the defendant’s motion has been granted twice. If the
defendant’s motion is granted at a special hearing, the people, if they have additional evidence relating
to the motion and not presented at the special hearing, shall have the right to show good cause at the
trial why the evidence was not presented at the special hearing and why the prior ruling at the special
hearing should not be binding, or the people may seek appellate review . . . , unless the court, prior to
the time the review is sought, has dismissed the case pursuant to Section 1385. If the case has been
dismissed pursuant to Section 1385, . . . after the special hearing, the people may file a new complaint
or seek an indictment after the special hearing, and the ruling at the special hearing shall not be binding
in any subsequent proceeding, except as limited by subdivision (p).” (§ 1538.5, subd. (j).) The last
sentence of the provision simply explains the implications of appellate or writ review: “If the people
prosecute review by appeal or writ to decision, or any review thereof, in a felony or misdemeanor case,
it shall be binding upon them.” (Ibid.)
7
normal criminal process and enter a drug treatment program.” [Citation.]’ [Citations.] Not
only are criminal proceedings suspended, but ‘the accused is required to enter a guilty plea, and
formal judgment is deferred.’ [Citations.] If diversion is successfully completed, the charges
are dismissed and the defendant is spared ‘the stigma of a criminal record.’[5] [Citations.]”
(Ibid., italics added.)
Defendant opted to circumvent the typical progression of criminal proceedings not only
to achieve rehabilitation but also to have his case ultimately dismissed. He does not face the
prospect of a trial and, at this juncture, he is not subject to the shame associated with a
judgment of conviction. To allow an appeal of an order denying defendant’s suppression
motion when there is no pending criminal prosecution does not promote the primary objectives
of section 1538.5 to (a) “reduce the waste of unnecessary court time in resolving search and
seizure questions . . .” (People v. Sherwin (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 1404, 1409, citing People v.
Superior Court (Edmonds) (1971) 4 Cal.3d 605, 610), and (b) facilitate an orderly and efficient
trial by resolving issues regarding the constitutionality of searches and/or seizures before a jury
is summoned (Cornelius v. Superior Court, supra, 25 Cal.App.3d at p. 585).
It is not appropriate to interpret subdivision (j) in a way that frustrates the overriding
purposes of section 1538.5. “In the end, we ‘“must select the construction that comports most
closely with the apparent intent of the Legislature, with a view to promoting rather than
defeating the general purpose of the statute, and avoid an interpretation that would lead to
absurd consequences.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (Torres v. Parkhouse Tire Service, Inc. (2001)
26 Cal.4th 995, 1003.) We hold subdivision (j) does not give a defendant the right to appeal the
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5
“A defendant’s plea of guilty pursuant to [the DEJ statute] shall not constitute a conviction for
any purpose unless a judgment of guilty is entered [following a finding of unsatisfactory performance
on DEJ].” (§ 1000.1, subd. (d).)
8
denial of a suppression motion if he or she subsequently enters a guilty plea and is granted DEJ.
Rather, that provision is applicable only when the defendant is faced with the prospect of a trial.
DISPOSITION
The appeal is dismissed.
_________________________
KUMAR, Acting P. J.
We concur:
_________________________ _________________________
RICCIARDULLI, J. RICHARDSON, J.
9