People v. Pineda CA2/7 ( 2021 )


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  • Filed 11/17/21 P. v. Pineda CA2/7
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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    has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
    SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
    DIVISION SEVEN
    THE PEOPLE,                                                   B309607
    Plaintiff and Respondent,                           (Los Angeles County
    Super. Ct. No. NA107280)
    v.
    GEORGE PINEDA,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of
    Los Angeles County, Richard M. Goul, Judge. Reversed in part,
    affirmed in part, and remanded with directions.
    Nicholas Seymour, under appointment by the Court of
    Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
    Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief
    Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Senior
    Assistant Attorney General, and David E. Madeo and Theresa A.
    Patterson, Deputy Attorneys General for Plaintiff and
    Respondent.
    INTRODUCTION
    George Pineda appeals from the judgment entered after a
    jury found him guilty on three counts of arson and three counts of
    child abuse under circumstances likely to produce great bodily
    harm or death. He contends that the jury improperly convicted
    him on three counts of arson based on a single act of setting fire
    to a house, that the trial court erred in denying his request for
    pretrial mental health diversion under Penal Code section
    1001.36,1 and that the court miscalculated his presentence
    custody credits.
    The People concede and we agree with the first and third of
    Pineda’s contentions. We disagree with the second. Therefore,
    we reverse Pineda’s convictions on the three counts of arson,
    remand for the People to elect the count on which they want to
    proceed and for the trial court to reinstate the conviction on that
    count, and direct the trial court to correct Pineda’s presentence
    custody credits. Otherwise, we affirm.
    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
    A.    Pineda Sets a House on Fire
    Pineda lived on the ground floor of a two-story house that
    had two bedrooms upstairs: one occupied by Pineda’s father and
    stepmother, the other by Maritza Ruiz and her three children,
    Sarai (15 years old), Steven (13 years old), and Genesis (11 years
    old). One afternoon in August 2017 Ruiz and her children were
    in their bedroom when they heard Pineda yelling at his
    stepmother, who was also in the house. Ruiz and her children
    1     Statutory references are to the Penal Code.
    2
    came out of the bedroom and saw Pineda coming up the stairs
    with a red gas can and a pickaxe. Having poured gasoline on the
    stairs, Pineda poured more at the top of the stairs and in his
    father and stepmother’s bedroom, then started a fire. It quickly
    spread and became “one big flame.”
    With the stairs engulfed in flames, Ruiz and her children
    retreated to their bedroom. Ruiz told her children she would
    climb over a railing in the hallway and jump down to the first
    floor. She told them to follow and she would catch them. Ruiz
    climbed over the railing in the hallway and jumped to the first
    floor. In their fear and confusion, however, the children did not
    follow. Smoke filled the bedroom, and all three lost
    consciousness.
    The children were rescued by emergency personnel and
    others who braved the fire and smoke to find the children and
    carry them out of the house. The children were taken to the
    emergency room, where Steven and Genesis were put into a
    medically induced coma and intubated. Steven had burns on 30
    to 40 percent of his body, was unconscious for more than a month,
    received skin grafts, and eventually had part of his colon
    removed. Genesis had burns on 18 percent of her body, remained
    in the hospital for a month, and also received skin grafts. Sarai
    had burns on two to three percent of her body and remained in
    the hospital for five days.
    In the evening after the fire, police officers arrested Pineda
    at his mother’s house. He had burns on his hands and traces of
    accelerant on his hands and shoes. He admitted starting the fire
    and said it was an attempt to kill himself.
    3
    B.     A Jury Convicts Pineda of Arson and Child Abuse,
    and the Trial Court Sentences Him
    The People charged Pineda with five counts of attempted
    willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder (§§ 187, subd. (a),
    664; counts 1 through 5), two counts of arson causing great bodily
    injury (§ 451, subd. (a); counts 6 and 7), one count of arson of an
    inhabited structure or property (§ 451, subd. (b); count 8), and
    three counts of child abuse under circumstances likely to produce
    great bodily harm or death (§ 273a, subd. (a); counts 9 through
    11). In connection with the three counts of arson, the People
    alleged as aggravating factors that Pineda caused great bodily
    injury to more than one victim in a single violation of section 451
    (§ 451.1, subd. (a)(3)) and that the arson was caused by use of a
    device designed to accelerate the fire or delay ignition (§ 451.1,
    subd. (a)(5)). In connection with the three counts of child abuse,
    the People alleged Pineda personally inflicted great bodily injury
    within the meaning of section 12022.7, subdivision (a).
    Pineda represented himself at the jury trial. He testified
    that on the morning of the fire he woke up depressed, “just like
    any other day,” that he had a history of drug use and suicide
    attempts, that he was later “diagnosed with bipolar disorder,”
    and that he set fire to the house in an attempt to kill himself.
    The jury found Pineda not guilty of attempted murder, but
    convicted him on all other counts. The jury also found true the
    allegations of aggravating factors on the arson counts and the
    allegation Pineda personally inflicted great bodily injury in
    committing the offenses charged in the child abuse counts. After
    the jury returned its verdict, Pineda requested and was
    appointed counsel. He then requested (through counsel) pretrial
    4
    mental health diversion under section 1001.36, which the trial
    court denied.
    The court sentenced Pineda to an aggregate prison term of
    20 years: on count 6 (arson causing great bodily injury), the
    upper term of nine years, plus five years for the enhancement
    under section 451.1, subdivision (a); on count 7 (arson causing
    great bodily injury), a consecutive term of 28 months, plus 16
    months for the enhancement under section 451.1, subdivision (a);
    and on count 10 (child abuse of Sarai under circumstances likely
    to produce great bodily harm or death), a consecutive term of 16
    months, plus 12 months for the enhancement under section
    12022.7, subdivision (a). The court stated: “And on counts eight,
    nine, and 11, the remaining counts of which he was convicted,
    sentence is stayed.” Pineda timely appealed.
    DISCUSSION
    A.     The Jury Improperly Convicted Pineda on Three
    Counts of Arson
    Pineda contends, the People concede, and we agree the jury
    improperly convicted him on three counts of arson—two under
    section 451, subdivision (a), and one under section 451,
    subdivision (b)—for the single act of setting fire to the house. In
    People v. Shiga (2019) 
    34 Cal.App.5th 466
     we held that section
    451 criminalizes a single offense of simple arson, that
    subdivisions (a) through (e) of that section set forth different
    ways of committing that offense, and that therefore the
    defendant in that case could not be convicted under multiple
    subdivisions of section 451 based on “a single actus reus” of
    setting fire to a building. (Shiga, at pp. 476-481; see People v.
    5
    Vidana (2016) 
    1 Cal.5th 632
    , 650 [section 954 “‘authorizes
    multiple convictions for different or distinct offenses, but does not
    permit multiple convictions for a different statement of the same
    offense when it is based on the same act or course of conduct’”].)
    Pineda can be convicted on only one count under section 451 for
    his one act of setting fire to the house.
    We therefore reverse Pineda’s convictions on the three
    counts of arson and remand for the People to elect the count on
    which they wish to proceed and for the trial court to reinstate the
    conviction on that count. (See People v. Shiga, supra,
    34 Cal.App.5th at p. 481 [reversing the defendant’s arson
    convictions on separate counts under section 451 and remanding
    for the People to elect the count on which to proceed and directing
    the trial court to reinstate the conviction on that count].) As the
    People request and Pineda does not dispute, the trial court may
    then reconsider its discretionary sentencing choices on all
    remaining convictions. (See People v. McInnis (2021)
    
    63 Cal.App.5th 853
    , 866 [“when a defendant has an aggregate
    sentence and a count is reversed on appeal, the trial court may
    reconsider its prior sentencing choices”]; People v. Burbine (2003)
    
    106 Cal.App.4th 1250
    , 1258 [“trial courts are, and should be,
    afforded discretion by rule and statute to reconsider an entire
    sentencing structure in multicount cases where a portion of the
    original verdict and resulting sentence has been vacated by a
    higher court”]; see also People v. Buycks (2018) 
    5 Cal.5th 857
    , 893
    [“when part of a sentence is stricken on review, on remand for
    resentencing ‘a full resentencing as to all counts is appropriate,
    so the trial court can exercise its sentencing discretion in light of
    the changed circumstances’”].) In addition, the trial court
    (contrary to how the court proceeded on counts eight, nine, and
    6
    11) must impose a sentence on each count on which Pineda
    remains convicted, though the court, as appropriate, may stay
    execution of any such sentence. (See People v. Alford (2010)
    
    180 Cal.App.4th 1463
    , 1472 [“the correct procedure is to impose
    sentence on each count and stay execution of sentence as
    necessary”].)
    B.    Pineda Has Not Shown the Trial Court Erred in
    Denying His Request for Pretrial Mental Health
    Diversion, and Any Error Was Harmless
    1.    Relevant Proceedings
    In December 2020 counsel for Pineda filed a sentencing
    memorandum that requested pretrial mental health diversion
    under section 1001.36 or, in the alternative, consideration of
    Pineda’s mental illness as a mitigating circumstance at
    sentencing. Attached to the memorandum was a December 2018
    report by Dr. Raphael Morris, based on his pretrial psychiatric
    evaluation of Pineda. Dr. Morris acknowledged Pineda’s “long-
    standing substance abuse problem,” diagnosed him with bipolar
    disorder and methamphetamine dependence, and stated Pineda’s
    “prominent symptom” at the time of his offense was paranoia. He
    stated his opinion that delusions resulting from “an underlying
    mood disorder” drove Pineda to his actions on that occasion and
    that his “disorders interfered with his capacity to appreciate the
    nature of his actions during the instant offense.”
    The sentencing memorandum also included a report from
    Dr. Armando de Armas, a psychologist who interviewed Pineda in
    October 2020, specifically to assist the trial court in evaluating
    Pineda’s eligibility for pretrial diversion under section 1001.36.
    7
    Having diagnosed Pineda with “Major Depressive Disorder,
    Severe” and “Stimulant Use Disorder—Amphetamine-Type
    Substance, Severe,” Dr. de Armas addressed the other eligibility
    criteria set forth in section 1001.36, including as follows:
    “2. Was the mental disorder a significant factor in the
    commission of the offenses . . . ? Yes.
    “[¶] . . .
    “4. Do you believe that Mr. Pineda’s symptoms of the
    mental disorder motivating the criminal behavior would respond
    to mental health treatment? Yes, with two caveats, that he
    maintain sobriety and consistently adhere to psychiatric
    treatment including therapy and psychotropic medications.
    “[¶] . . .
    “6. Is Mr. Pineda willing to comply with treatment as a
    condition of diversion? While Mr. Pineda voiced a commitment to
    complying with treatment, his history reflects inconsistent
    treatment compliance. Though Mr. Pineda may desire to comply
    with treatment, he likely lacks the internal fortitude to resist
    relapse into substance abuse should methamphetamine again
    become available to him when he is in a depressed mood.
    “7. Does Mr. Pineda not pose an unreasonable risk of
    danger to public safety if treated in the community? Does pose a
    risk. Mr. Pineda’s behavior during periods of untreated
    depression and while using methamphetamines has been
    unpredictable and volatile. During these episodes, he has
    attempted suicide and started a fire in his parents’ home. While
    he ostensibly was not attempting homicide, victims in the home
    were injured and could have died as a result of his actions.
    Similarly, when Mr. Pineda walks into traffic in a suicide
    8
    attempt, drivers could be injured or killed when attempting to
    avoid driving into him.
    “It is my opinion, treatment in a secure facility would be
    appropriate until Mr. Pineda’s symptoms have been sufficiently
    stabilized.”
    At the sentencing hearing, counsel for Pineda, when invited
    to address the request for pretrial diversion under section
    1001.36, stated: “Your Honor, the only thing I would add from
    what was reflected in the paperwork is Mr. Pineda is going to be
    managed by a mental health social worker right now, and that is
    in the unit which indicates there are people with mental
    illnesses. And I did speak to the social worker. She’s indicating
    that there is a way to put him in the placement department. To
    have treatment they have to have an appropriate facility which
    would ensure that the community is protected and give him the
    services that he needs. And that’s it.”
    The trial court stated: “There are two essential issues.
    Number one is whether he is technically eligible for mental
    health diversion, and the second issue is whether this court
    determines, given the facts of this case and the background of the
    defendant and the facts at trial and the nature of the charges,
    whether he is suitable for such diversion.” The court asked the
    prosecutor if she wished to make any arguments “regarding
    suitability or eligibility.”
    The prosecutor answered that she was “unclear” whether
    Pineda was “eligible for mental health diversion,” but that she
    “would say he [was] not suitable for mental health diversion.”
    She argued, among other things, that the manner in which
    Pineda represented himself at trial “shows that he does not suffer
    from a mental health illness” and that “all of [Pineda’s] conduct
    9
    leading up to the arson and including after the arson shows that
    he was completely aware of what he was doing and not suffering
    from any sort of mental illness at the time.” She concluded: “All
    of his conduct throughout this whole incident show[s] that he was
    not suffering from a mental health illness, and I would argue he
    is not suitable for mental health diversion.”
    The trial court denied Pineda’s request for mental health
    diversion. The court ruled: “The court has read and considered
    it, and the court does make a determination based upon the facts
    in the case, the rather remarkably good performance of
    Mr. Pineda representing himself in trial and showing that at the
    time of trial certainly he was in full—seemed to be in full
    capacity and performed much better than lawyers this court has
    seen in some trials, correctly getting the jury to come back not
    guilty on the most serious charges, the multiple counts of
    attempted murder. The event itself, as testified to and admitted
    by the defendant in his testimony, was thought out, calculated, a
    number of different individual decisions made along the way
    which led to the inevitable setting of the fires and continued
    setting of the fires and trying to stop anybody from getting out.
    So the court disagrees, and the court does not believe—while the
    court does believe he is eligible, the court does not believe he is
    suitable for mental health diversion, and the court would be
    proceeding with the standard sentencing on his case.”
    2.    Applicable Law
    “Section 1001.36 authorizes a pretrial diversion program
    for defendants with qualifying mental disorders. The statute
    defines ‘“pretrial diversion”’ as ‘the postponement of prosecution,
    either temporarily or permanently, at any point in the judicial
    10
    process from the point at which the accused is charged until
    adjudication, to allow the defendant to undergo mental health
    treatment . . . .’ (§ 1001.36, subd. (c).) The stated purpose of the
    diversion statute ‘is to promote all of the following: [¶]
    (a) Increased diversion of individuals with mental disorders to
    mitigate the individuals’ entry and reentry into the criminal
    justice system while protecting public safety. [¶] (b) Allowing
    local discretion and flexibility for counties in the development
    and implementation of diversion for individuals with mental
    disorders across a continuum of care settings. [¶] (c) Providing
    diversion that meets the unique mental health treatment and
    support needs of individuals with mental disorders.’ (§ 1001.35,
    subds. (a)-(c).)” (People v. Frahs (2020) 
    9 Cal.5th 618
    , 626
    (Frahs); see 
    ibid.
     [“Section 1001.36 gives trial courts the
    discretion to grant pretrial diversion for individuals suffering
    from certain mental health disorders.”].)2
    To be eligible for diversion under the statute, a defendant
    must show he or she meets six minimum requirements: “(1) the
    defendant suffers from a qualifying mental disorder; (2) the
    mental disorder was a ‘significant factor’ in the commission of the
    charged offense; (3) a qualified mental health expert opines the
    defendant’s symptoms will respond to treatment; (4) the
    defendant consents to diversion and waives his or her speedy
    trial rights; (5) the defendant agrees to comply with the
    treatment as a condition of diversion; and (6) ‘the defendant will
    not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, as
    defined in Section 1170.18, if treated in the community.’
    (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(A)-(F).)” (People v. Moine (2021)
    2     “Section 1001.36 . . . became effective on June 27, 2018.”
    (People v. Oneal (2021) 
    64 Cal.App.5th 581
    , 587.)
    11
    
    62 Cal.App.5th 440
    , 447-448; see § 1001.36, subd. (b)(3) [“[a]t any
    stage of the proceedings, the court may require the defendant to
    make a prima facie showing that the defendant will meet the
    minimum requirements of eligibility for diversion”]; People v.
    Williams (2021) 
    63 Cal.App.5th 990
    , 995 [“To be eligible for
    diversion, the defendant must meet six statutory criteria.”].)
    The trial court may also require the defendant to show “the
    defendant and the offense are suitable for diversion.” (§ 1001.36,
    subd. (b)(3); see Moore v. Superior Court (2020) 
    58 Cal.App.5th 561
    , 572 [“if the court is satisfied that the defendant meets the
    six minimum eligibility requirements (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)),
    and that the defendant and the offense are suitable for diversion
    (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(3)), the court may divert the defendant into
    an approved mental health treatment program . . . .”].)3 In
    3      Neither the statute nor the case law offers much guidance
    on what “suitable for diversion” means or what considerations are
    appropriate when determining suitability. One treatise suggests:
    “[I]t seems clear the court can grant diversion if the minimum
    standards are met, and, correspondingly, can refuse to grant
    diversion even though the defendant meets the technical
    requirements of the program. [¶] There may be times, because of
    the defendant’s circumstances, where the interests of justice do
    not support diversion of the case. . . . It may be that because of
    the defendant’s level of disability there is no reasonably available
    and suitable treatment program for the defendant. The
    defendant’s treatment history may indicate the prospect of
    successfully completing a program is quite poor. Conduct in prior
    diversion programs may indicate the defendant is now
    unsuitable. (See § 1001.36, subd. (h) [the court may consider past
    performance on diversion in determining suitability].) The court
    may consider whether the defendant and the community will be
    better served by the regimen of mental health court. (See
    12
    addition, section 1001.36, subdivision (c)(1)(A), provides that
    pretrial diversion under the statute is subject to the following
    requirement: “The court is satisfied that the recommended
    inpatient or outpatient program of mental health treatment will
    meet the specialized mental health treatment needs of the
    defendant.” Thus, as the Supreme Court has summarized: “If
    the defendant makes a prima facie showing that he or she meets
    all of the threshold eligibility requirements and the defendant
    and the offense are suitable for diversion, and the trial court is
    satisfied that the recommended program of mental health
    treatment will meet the specialized mental health treatment
    needs of the defendant, then the court may grant pretrial
    diversion.” (Frahs, supra, 9 Cal.5th p. 627.)
    “If the trial court grants pretrial diversion and the
    defendant performs ‘satisfactorily in diversion, at the end of the
    period of diversion, the court shall dismiss the defendant’s
    criminal charges that were the subject of the criminal
    proceedings at the time of the initial diversion.’ (§ 1001.36,
    subd. (e).) If the defendant does not perform satisfactorily in
    diversion, becomes gravely disabled, or commits new crimes, the
    court may reinstate criminal proceedings. (§ 1001.36, subd. (d).)”
    (People v. Moine, supra, 62 Cal.App.5th at p. 448; accord, Frahs,
    supra, 9 Cal.5th at p. 627.)
    § 1001.36, subd. (c)(1)(B) [the court may consider interests of the
    community in selecting a program].) . . . In short, the court may
    consider any factor relevant to whether the defendant is suitable
    for diversion.” (Couzens et al., Sentencing California Crimes
    (The Rutter Group Sept. 2021 supp.) § 7:21.)
    13
    3.     Analysis
    Pineda contends the trial court erred in denying his request
    for pretrial mental health diversion because the court based that
    ruling on its observations of Pineda’s behavior during trial. He
    argues that the court’s denial “is best understood as relying on
    the second” of the minimum eligibility factors—i.e., whether “‘the
    defendant’s mental disorder was a significant factor in the
    commission of the charged offense’”—and that the court “abused
    its discretion in finding [Pineda] did not meet this factor because
    it was based on findings not supported by substantial evidence.” 4
    He argues the court’s observations of his behavior at trial were
    not substantial evidence because the court was not qualified to
    evaluate whether he suffered from a mental health disorder and,
    in any event, his behavior at trial was irrelevant to a
    determination of his psychiatric condition during the commission
    4      Although “[t]he standard of review on appeal from a trial
    court’s denial of mental health diversion is not settled” (People v.
    Moine, supra, 62 Cal.App.5th at p. 448), courts have held that a
    trial court’s “diversion eligibility determinations are reviewed for
    an abuse of discretion” (Negron v. Superior Court (Oct. 26, 2021,
    F083149) ___ Cal.App.5th ___, ___ [
    2021 WL 4963241
    , p. 5]).
    (Compare Moine, at pp. 448-449 [reviewing for abuse of discretion
    whether the defendant posed an unreasonable risk of danger to
    public safety if treated in the community] with People v. Oneal,
    supra, 64 Cal.App.5th at p. 592 [reviewing for substantial
    evidence whether the defendant’s mental disorder was a
    significant factor in the commission of the charged offense].)
    “A court abuses its discretion when it makes an arbitrary or
    capricious decision by applying the wrong legal standard
    [citations], or bases its decision on express or implied factual
    findings that are not supported by substantial evidence
    [citation].” (Moine, at p. 449.)
    14
    of the charged offense. He also argues “the additional facts cited
    by the trial court were contrary to the evidence at trial and the
    jury’s findings and thus were not supported by substantial
    evidence.”
    Contrary to Pineda’s characterization of the trial court’s
    ruling, however, the court did not find he was ineligible for
    diversion under section 1001.36 for failure to meet the second (or
    any other) minimum eligibility requirement. In fact, the court
    found Pineda was eligible for diversion, but ruled he was not
    suitable for it. Pineda does not address the latter finding, explain
    how it was error, or even suggest it was error. Because that
    finding was the basis for the court’s decision to deny his request
    for pretrial diversion, Pineda has not demonstrated error. (See
    People v. Cardenas (2015) 
    239 Cal.App.4th 220
    , 227 [“‘Perhaps
    the most fundamental rule of appellate law is that the judgment
    challenged on appeal is presumed correct, and it is the
    appellant’s burden to affirmatively demonstrate error.’”].)
    Moreover, even if the court erroneously concluded Pineda
    was ineligible for diversion or unsuitable for diversion or both,
    any such error was harmless because there remained an
    additional unmet requirement: The court had to be satisfied “the
    recommended inpatient or outpatient program of mental health
    treatment” met Pineda’s specialized mental health treatment
    needs. (See § 1001.36, subd. (c)(1)(A); Frahs, supra, 9 Cal.5th at
    p. 627.) As the People point out, and Pineda does not dispute, no
    program—inpatient or outpatient—was recommended here.
    Much less was a program recommended that addressed Pineda’s
    specialized needs, which at a minimum included, according to
    Dr. de Armas, psychiatric therapy, psychotropic medication, and
    (at least initially) a secure facility. Because the court could not
    15
    possibly be satisfied with a recommended mental health
    treatment program that was not recommended, the result would
    be the same in the absence of any error Pineda contends the court
    committed. Therefore, any such error was harmless.5
    C.     The Trial Court Miscalculated Pineda’s Presentence
    Custody Credits
    Finally, Pineda contends, the People concede, and we agree
    the trial court miscalculated Pineda’s presentence custody
    credits. “A defendant is entitled to actual custody credit for ‘all
    days of custody’ in county jail. [Citations.] Calculation of custody
    credit begins on the day of arrest and continues through the day
    of sentencing.” (People v. Denman (2013) 
    218 Cal.App.4th 800
    ,
    814; see § 2900.5, subd. (a).) In addition, “[a]bsent contrary
    authority, ‘a defendant receives what are commonly known as
    conduct credits toward his term of imprisonment for good
    behavior and willingness to work during time served prior to
    commencement of sentence.’” (People v. Philpot (2004)
    
    122 Cal.App.4th 893
    , 907; see § 4019.) For a defendant convicted
    of a felony offense listed in section 667.5, subdivision (c)—which
    includes arson in violation of section 451, subdivisions (a)
    5       “Generally, California appellate courts apply either one of
    two standards for assessing harmless error: (1) the Chapman
    [i.e., Chapman v. California (1967) 
    386 U.S. 18
    , 
    87 S.Ct. 824
    ,
    
    17 L.Ed.2d 705
    ] test (harmless beyond a reasonable doubt); and
    (2) the Watson [i.e., People v. Watson (1956) 
    46 Cal.2d 818
    ] test (a
    reasonable probability the error was harmless). [Citations.] The
    more stringent Chapman test applies in cases where federal
    constitutional errors are made; the less stringent Watson test
    applies in other cases.” (People v. Nicolas (2017) 
    8 Cal.App.5th 1165
    , 1179.) The result is the same here under either standard.
    16
    and (b)—conduct credits are “limited to 15 percent of [the
    defendant’s] actual days in custody.” (People v. Brewer (2011)
    
    192 Cal.App.4th 457
    , 462; see § 2933.1, subds. (a) & (c).)
    Pineda was arrested on August 31, 2017 and sentenced on
    December 4, 2020. He was therefore entitled to 1,192 days of
    actual custody credit, but the trial court awarded him only 1,159
    days of actual custody credit. Pineda was entitled to another 178
    days (15 percent of 1,192) of conduct credits, for a total of 1,370
    days of total presentence custody credits, whereas the trial court
    awarded him only 1,333 days of presentence custody credits. We
    direct the trial court to correct this error.
    17
    DISPOSITION
    Pineda’s convictions on the three counts of arson are
    reversed, and the trial court is directed to allow the People to
    elect the count on which they wish to proceed. The trial court is
    also directed to reinstate the conviction on the count the People
    select, to resentence Pineda, to correct his presentence custody
    credit, and to correct the abstract of judgment and send a
    corrected copy to the Department of Corrections and
    Rehabilitation. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.
    SEGAL, J.
    We concur:
    PERLUSS, P. J.
    IBARRA, J.*
    *     Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, assigned
    by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the
    California Constitution.
    18
    

Document Info

Docket Number: B309607

Filed Date: 11/17/2021

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 11/17/2021