People v. Ortiz CA6 ( 2014 )

Filed 6/17/14 P. v. Ortiz CA6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H039863
(Santa Cruz County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. F22932)
v.
FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ ORTIZ,
Defendant and Appellant.
Defendant Francisco Hernandez Ortiz appeals after pleading no contest to
possession of heroin (Health & Saf. Code, § 11350, subd. (a)) and admitting that he
had a prior strike within the meaning of the Three Strikes law (Pen. Code, § 667,
subds. (b)-(i)).1 He was sentenced to a two-year, eight-month prison term.
On appeal, defendant’s appointed counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v.
Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 that states the case and facts, but raises no issue. We
notified defendant of his right to submit written argument on his own behalf within
30 days. The 30-day period has elapsed and we have received no response from
defendant.
Pursuant to People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436 and People v. Kelly (2006)
40 Cal.4th 106, we have reviewed the entire record. Following the California Supreme
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All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
Court’s direction in People v. Kelly, supra, at page 110, we provide a brief description of
the facts and the procedural history of the case.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Current Offenses (Possession of Heroin & Possession of a Smoking
Device)
On June 17, 2012, Watsonville police officers went to defendant’s home to
conduct a probation search. On defendant’s person, officers found a bindle of heroin, a
piece of foil, and a rolled up $10 bill. The foil had black soot on it, and the rolled up
$10 bill had a brown substance on one end and the odor of heroin.
B. Strike Prior and Criminal History
On June 22, 2010, Watsonville police officers responded to a report of a fight.
They located defendant and another male together near a gas station. Defendant had a
fixed blade knife in a sheath around his neck. Defendant subsequently pleaded no contest
to active participation in a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (a)) and unlawful
possession of a weapon (former § 12020, subd. (a)).
Defendant’s criminal history began in 2004, when he was a juvenile. His prior
adult convictions and juvenile dispositions include drug charges, attempted robbery,
possession of stolen property, battery, and weapons charges.
C. Charges and Plea
Defendant was charged with possession of a controlled substance (count 1; Health
& Saf. Code, § 11350, subd. (a)) and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device
(count 2; Health & Saf. Code, § 11364.1, subd. (a)). The information alleged that
defendant’s prior conviction for active participation in a criminal street gang qualified as
a strike. (§ 667, subds. (b)-(i).)
On December 4, 2012, defendant pleaded no contest to count 1 and admitted the
strike allegation. The plea agreement provided that defendant would be sentenced to a
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term of two years eight months, that he could serve less time if the trial court granted a
Romero motion (see People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497), and that
count 2 would be dismissed.
D. Challenge to Strike Prior
Defendant filed a motion to dismiss his prior strike conviction. He first argued
that his prior conviction of active participation in a criminal street gang was not valid
under People v. Rodriguez (2012) 55 Cal.4th 1125 (Rodriguez), which held that a gang
member does not violate section 186.22, subdivision (a) if he or she “commits a felony,
but acts alone” because the requisite “ ‘felonious criminal conduct’ ” must “be committed
by at least two gang members.” (Rodriguez, supra, at pp. 1128, 1132.)
Defendant also argued that the trial court should exercise its discretion to dismiss
the strike pursuant to Romero. He argued that the current offense was a minor crime
since he possessed only a small amount of heroin for personal use, that imposition of a
two-year term would be sufficient punishment, and that the conduct underlying his prior
strike offense “would not today constitute a violation of that statute.”
The prosecution opposed defendant’s motion to dismiss his prior strike conviction.
Regarding the Rodriguez issue, the prosecution noted that when defendant pleaded no
contest to active participation in a criminal street gang, other charges—including another
potential strike—were dismissed. The prosecution argued that the only way for
defendant to challenge the prior conviction was to file a motion to withdraw his plea in
that case.
As to the Romero motion, the prosecutor listed defendant’s seven juvenile
dispositions and nine criminal cases and argued that defendant “is the picture of a
recidivist.” The prosecutor noted that defendant had been to drug programs in the past
and that he had been offered numerous services through the probation department but
“continues his criminal lifestyle.”
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E. Sentencing Hearing
At the sentencing hearing held on June 6, 2013, the trial court denied defendant’s
motion to strike his prior strike conviction. First, after defendant indicated he did not
want to “vacate the plea” in the prior case, the trial court denied defendant’s motion to
dismiss the strike as invalid under Rodriguez. The trial court then denied defendant’s
Romero motion, based on defendant’s “prior criminal history,” the fact that defendant had
never successfully completed any term of probation, the fact that defendant was on
probation at the time of the current offense, and the fact that defendant had been
“unwilling to comply with any treatment program.”
The trial court imposed a two-year, eight-month prison term, along with a number
of fees and fines.
F. Appeal
In conjunction with his notice of appeal, defendant requested a certificate of
probable cause, indicating he would challenge the legality of his prior strike conviction
based on Rodriguez. The trial court granted defendant’s request.
DISCUSSION
Having carefully reviewed the entire record, we conclude that there are no
arguable issues on appeal. (People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d at pp. 441-443.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
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___________________________________________
BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, ACTING P.J.
WE CONCUR:
__________________________
MÁRQUEZ, J.
__________________________
GROVER, J.
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