People v. Tagaban CA1/1 ( 2021 )

Filed 4/8/21 P. v. Tagaban CA1/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 publi-
cation or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or or-
dered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, A160875
v. (Del Norte County Super.
DAVID TAGABAN, Ct. No. CRPB18-5099)
Defendant and Appellant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION1
Defendant David Tagaban appeals from his conviction following a plea
of guilty to one count of possessing a weapon in a penal institution (Pen.
Code, § 4502, subd. (a)). In accordance with the negotiated disposition, the
multiple strike and prison prior allegations were dismissed and he was
sentenced to a stipulated three-year prison sentence, to run consecutively
from the prison term he was then serving.
Defendant filed a notice of appeal but did not request a certificate of
probable cause. Defendant’s counsel on appeal has filed a brief raising no
issues and asking this court to independently review the record to determine
This case is appropriately resolved by way of memorandum opinion
1
pursuant to pursuant to California Standards of Judicial Administration,
section 8.1.
1
whether any arguable issues exist. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436;
People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106.) Defendant was informed of his right to
file a supplemental brief but has not done so.
Penal Code section 1237.5 generally precludes an appeal from a
judgment of conviction after a plea of no contest or guilty unless the
defendant has applied for, and the trial court has granted, a certificate of
probable cause. There are two exceptions: (1) a challenge to a search and
seizure ruling, as to which an appeal is proper under Penal Code section
1538.5, subdivision (m); and (2) postplea sentencing issues. (People v.
Shelton (2006) 37 Cal.4th 759, 766; see People v. Buttram (2003) 30 Cal.4th
773, 780.)
Defendant made a motion to suppress. The principle issue was
whether defendant, who was in administrative segregation at Pelican Bay at
the time, should have been given Miranda2 warnings prior to making
statements to a hearing officer as a witness in an administrative proceeding
against a former cellmate. Based on the evidence, the trial court found the
hearing officer conversed with him at the cell door, defendant was not subject
to any restraint beyond that to which he was otherwise subject, and he was
not under compulsion to speak, but could have declined to say anything. The
trial court accordingly found defendant was not subject to a custodial
interrogation and therefore was not entitled to Miranda warnings prior to
speaking. Having reviewed the record on the suppression motion, it is
apparent defendant received able representation, the issue was very
thoroughly briefed, and the trial court’s ruling from the bench is grounded in
the law and supported by evidence in the record. (See People v. Leonard
(2007) 40 Cal.4th 1370,1376, 1401-1402 [although defendant was in custody
2 Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436.
2
for murder, Miranda warnings not required prior to video-taped conversation
with his father that took place in interrogation room; police “did not compel
or coerce defendant to talk to his father”]; People v. Macklem (2007)
149 Cal.App.4th 674, 686-696 [extensive analysis of when defendant already
in custody is subject to custodial interrogation for Miranda purposes;
Miranda warnings not required before defendant, who was in custody on
murder charges, spoke with detective about altercation with another inmate,
as reasonable person in defendant’s position would have understood he could
end questioning and interview].)
We have also reviewed the transcript of the change of plea proceeding.
The trial court duly reviewed with defendant his executed waiver of rights
form, confirmed with counsel there was a factual basis for the plea, and
advised and questioned defendant to confirm he understood the terms of the
disposition, agreed with them, and entered into the negotiated disposition
freely and knowingly. Again, defendant was ably represented by counsel, he
was sentenced in accordance with the negotiated disposition, and the court
addressed defendant’s ability to pay the fines and fees imposed.
DISPOSITION
Having reviewed the record, we conclude there are no arguable issues
and AFFIRM the judgment.
3
_________________________
Banke, J.
We concur:
_________________________
Humes, P.J.
_________________________
Margulies, J.
A160875, People v. Tagaban
4