People v. Bennett CA2/1 ( 2022 )


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  • Filed 4/13/22 P. v. Bennett CA2/1
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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    has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 ONE
    THE PEOPLE,                                                   B314522
    Plaintiff and Respondent,                           (Los Angeles County
    Super. Ct. No. PA090952)
    v.
    MARIE BENNETT,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of
    Los Angeles County, David Walgren, Judge. Reversed and
    remanded with directions.
    Aurora Elizabeth Bewicke, 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, Assistant
    Attorney General, Noah P. Hill and Michael C. Keller, Deputy
    Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
    ____________________________
    In June 2019, the trial court imposed a six-year sentence,
    suspended execution of the sentence, and ordered defendant
    Marie Bennett to serve three years of probation. In April 2021,
    the trial court summarily revoked defendant’s probation and,
    after a contested hearing, the court sentenced defendant to state
    prison.
    Defendant mounts two challenges to the revocation of her
    probation and her resulting prison sentence. First, she contends
    the trial court did not have jurisdiction to revoke probation
    because of recent legislation1 that reduced her probation period
    to two years, which two-year period expired before the trial court
    revoked her probation. She arrives at this conclusion by applying
    her presentence incarceration, which the trial court later
    included as a condition of her probation, to reduce the new
    two-year probationary period. Second, defendant argues the trial
    court violated her right to due process when it revoked her
    probation based on grounds for which she did not receive prior
    written notice.
    We disagree with defendant’s first contention because even
    assuming Assembly Bill No. 1950’s two-year period applies
    retroactively to her, the trial court revoked her probation within
    the two-year period. Defendant’s incarceration, served as a
    condition of probation, does not reduce the two-year probationary
    period.
    1  Assembly Bill No. 1950 (2019–2020 Reg. Sess.) (Assembly
    Bill No. 1950) (Stats. 2020, ch. 328, § 2), effective on January 1,
    2021, reduced felony probation terms to two years (with
    certain exceptions not relevant here), by modifying Penal Code
    section 1203.1. Undesignated subsequent statutory citations are
    to the Penal Code.
    2
    We, however, agree with her second contention. It is
    undisputed that defendant never received prior written notice of
    all but one of the bases the trial court cited to formally revoke her
    probation. That failure violated her right to due process,
    requiring us to reverse the judgment. Upon remand, we agree
    with the parties that irrespective of whether there is a new
    probation violation hearing, the trial court must resentence
    defendant.
    BACKGROUND
    1.    Conviction and sentence
    On December 26, 2018, the People charged defendant with
    five counts of perjury. In an amended information, the People
    alleged that in 2003, defendant requested an identification card
    using an alias. The remaining counts allege the same conduct
    occurring in 2007 and three times in 2016. The People further
    alleged defendant suffered six prior convictions for possession of a
    controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11350), dating back
    to 1999. According to defendant, the perjury charges stemmed
    from her use of an alias to hide from an abuser. Defendant
    pleaded no contest to the charges. On her plea form, she
    indicated it was an open plea.
    On June 3, 2019, the trial court sentenced defendant to an
    aggregate term of six years. The court suspended execution of its
    sentence and placed defendant on three years’ formal probation.
    As a condition of probation, the court ordered her to serve
    180 days in county jail. The court credited defendant for
    180 days, consisting of 90 days actual presentence custody and
    90 days good time credit. Among other conditions of probation,
    the court ordered defendant to complete a 120-day drug
    3
    treatment program, obey all laws, and report to probation. The
    court ordered defendant to pay a restitution fine, criminal
    conviction fee, and security fee. The court also ordered and
    stayed a probation revocation fine pending successful completion
    of probation.
    2.    Probation reports
    In a report filed with the superior court on October 17,
    2019, the probation officer stated that defendant was in
    compliance with the terms of her probation. The report indicated
    defendant had completed a three-month residential drug program
    and tested negative for controlled substances in 16 random drug
    tests. This report indicated the probation period would expire on
    June 2, 2022 (three years after the June 3, 2019 sentencing date).
    In a report filed January 31, 2020, the probation officer
    represented that defendant had not reported to probation, and
    had told the probation officer that “she was going through some
    health issues.” Following that report, the trial court revoked and
    reinstated defendant’s probation.
    In an April 1, 2021 report, the probation officer indicated
    that on March 23, 2021, defendant was stopped at a traffic stop
    and did not have a valid driver’s license. Officers searched
    defendant’s vehicle and recovered three “EBT cards”, (a card used
    to redeem public assistance benefits), two credit cards, and three
    pieces of “EDD mail . . . and an unemployment insurance
    application” belonging to other people. Officers arrested
    defendant for possession of access cards. The probation report
    indicated that defendant had failed to complete 26 days of
    community labor and was delinquent in paying her fines and
    fees. (The initial sentencing court did not order defendant to
    complete community service.) The report further indicated that
    4
    “prior to the recent arrest the defendant had stated she is unable
    to pay on her financial obligation as she is not receiving an
    income. She has been waiting on unemployment.”
    The probation officer recommended that the trial court
    (1) find defendant in violation of her probation; (2) order
    defendant to attend an anti-theft program; and (3) order
    defendant to pay her financial obligation. The probation officer
    recommended “[a]ll other terms and conditions to remain the
    same.” The probation officer attached an arrest report indicating
    that defendant was arrested for identity theft based on the items
    found in her vehicle following the March 23rd traffic stop.
    In a supplemental report, the probation officer stated that
    defendant explained she was not charged with identity theft and
    that she had been helping the persons whose papers officers
    found in defendant’s vehicle. The probation officer stated, “[T]he
    defendant has sustained an arrest for grand theft of access cards.
    In addition she is in financial delinquency.” Based on the
    foregoing, the probation officer “recommended that the defendant
    be found in violation of her probation and that she be ordered to
    attend an anti-theft program and to submit proof of enrollment to
    the probation officer. It is also recommended that the defendant
    be admonished to pay on her financial obligation.”
    3.    Summary revocation of probation
    On April 16, 2021, the trial court summarily revoked
    defendant’s probation. The trial court relied on the April 1, 2021
    probation report. At the outset, the court stated, “[T]he court has
    been notified that she was arrested with essentially about ten or
    so ID’s in the name of other individuals.” The court stated: “[T]o
    be on probation for perjury and then to be arrested for essentially
    5
    the same type of behavior, identity theft. She is going to be
    remanded forthwith.”
    4.    Formal probation hearing
    The trial court held a contested probation revocation
    hearing on May 19, 2021. Officer Jake Johnson testified that on
    July 26, 2020, he observed defendant driving 35 miles per hour in
    a 65-mile-per-hour zone. According to Officer Johnson, defendant
    “drift[ed]” out of her lane. Officer Johnson stopped defendant
    and asked defendant if she had a driver’s license, and she said
    she had only an identification card. Officer Johnson searched her
    vehicle where he found a crack pipe, a small rock, and a can of
    pepper spray. A later analysis showed the rock consisted of
    .1166 net grams of cocaine in the base form. Defendant told
    Officer Johnson she was a long-time crack cocaine user.
    Deputy Sheriff Kevin Pacheco testified that on August 19,
    2020, he answered a dispatch call to respond to an unconscious
    woman in a locked vehicle. He observed defendant slumped over
    the steering wheel of her vehicle. Deputy Sheriff Pacheco
    searched her vehicle and found a plastic bindle containing two
    white rock substances resembling cocaine base. Later tests
    revealed 1.3464 grams of rock cocaine.
    Officer Mitchell Tosti testified that on March 23, 2021, he
    stopped defendant because her rear license plate light was not
    working. Officer Mitchell asked defendant if she had a driver’s
    license and defendant responded that she did not. Officer
    Mitchell found EBT cards and debit cards in other persons’
    names. Officer Mitchell also found mail that did not belong to
    defendant. Officer Mitchell made no attempt to contact the
    named individuals to find out if they had consented to
    defendant’s possession of those documents.
    6
    Boris Curtis, defendant’s boyfriend, testified for defendant.
    He stated that he had given defendant permission to have his
    EBT card because she shops for their household groceries.
    Donald Cummings, a friend gave defendant his EBT card as
    payment for defendant’s assistance. Defendant accepted
    payment in the form of EBT cards because the individuals she
    helped had no money. The prosecutor cross-examined Curtis,
    impeaching him with numerous convictions, most of which Curtis
    did not recall. Curtis believed defendant was addicted to rock
    cocaine.
    The prosecutor argued that the trial court should revoke
    defendant’s probation because defendant drove without a valid
    driver’s license, possessed rock cocaine, and possessed pepper
    spray. With respect to the March 23, 2021 incident, the
    prosecutor argued: “[S]he’s in violation of probation for violating
    the law with the traffic violations as well as not having a driver’s
    license on her because it is suspended or revoked.” The
    prosecutor further argued that Curtis’s testimony was not
    credible.
    Defense counsel acknowledged that defendant violated
    probation by possessing crack cocaine, a crack pipe, and having a
    suspended driver’s license. Counsel acknowledged that
    defendant “has a very, very heavy crack problem. And she can’t
    even leave home without having a crack pipe on her because she
    can’t go 15 minutes without smoking crack, and she desperately
    needs help.” Counsel, however, argued that with respect to the
    “current case,” the People did not prove that defendant had used
    other individuals’ identities without their consent.
    The trial court found defendant violated the terms of her
    probation by: (1) driving while unlicensed; (2) possessing cocaine;
    7
    and (3) being in the possession of pepper spray, all in violation of
    the probation requirement that she obey all laws. The court
    indicated it was not using identify theft as a basis for the
    probation violation.
    After noting defendant’s lengthy criminal history, the court
    indicated it would sentence her to state prison and did so on
    July 15, 2021 when it sentenced defendant to an aggregate
    six-year term consisting of the high term of four years on count 1
    (perjury), one-third the midterm on count 2 (perjury) one-third
    the midterm on count three (perjury), and a concurrent four-year
    sentence on count 4 (perjury). The court awarded defendant
    450 days presentence conduct credit.
    DISCUSSION
    A.    The Trial Court Had Jurisdiction Over Defendant
    When It Revoked Her Probation
    “During the probationary period, the court retains
    jurisdiction over the defendant [citation] . . . .” (People v. Howard
    (1997) 
    16 Cal.4th 1081
    , 1092.) Assembly Bill No. 1950 generally
    limits felony probation terms to two years. As we explain below,
    the trial court revoked defendant’s probation within that two-
    year period.
    Defendant attempts to avoid this conclusion by applying
    the time she served in custody as a condition of her probation to
    reduce the new two-year probation term provided in Assembly
    Bill No. 1950. According to defendant, defendant has 90 days
    actual and 90 days good conduct custody credit resulting from
    serving the jail term that was a condition of her probation.
    According to defendant, whether one subtracts the full
    180 custody credits, or just the 90 actual days spent in custody,
    8
    from the two-year probationary period under Assembly Bill
    No. 1950, her probationary period expired either on December 4,
    2020, or March 4, 2021, respectively. Defendant argues that any
    contrary interpretation would “penalize indigent defendants”
    because it “would essentially eliminate pre-sentence custody
    credits for time spent in detention against a term of probation for
    individuals who could not afford to post bail . . . .”
    1.    Assembly Bill No. 1950
    “Assembly Bill No. 1950 amended section 1203.1 to limit
    the maximum probation term a trial court is authorized to
    impose for most felony offenses to two years.” (People v. Sims
    (2021) 
    59 Cal.App.5th 943
    , 947.) Previously, section 1203.1,
    subdivision (a) allowed courts to impose a term not exceeding the
    maximum possible term of the sentence or five years, whichever
    was less. (Former § 1203.1, subd. (a), eff. Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31,
    2020.)
    Section 1203.1 now provides in pertinent part: “(a) The
    court, or judge thereof, in the order granting probation, may
    suspend the imposing or the execution of the sentence and may
    direct that the suspension may continue for a period of time not
    exceeding two years, and upon those terms and conditions as it
    shall determine. The court, or judge thereof, in the order
    granting probation and as a condition thereof, may imprison the
    defendant in a county jail for a period not exceeding the
    maximum time fixed by law in the case.” (§ 1203.1, subd. (a),
    italics added.) Section 1203.1, subdivision (a)(2) provides: “The
    court may, in connection with granting probation, impose either
    imprisonment in a county jail or a fine, both, or neither.”
    For purposes of this appeal, we assume without deciding,
    that Assembly Bill No. 1950, modifying section 1203.1, would
    9
    apply retroactively to defendant. (See People v. Quinn (2021)
    
    59 Cal.App.5th 874
    , 883–884 [Assembly Bill No. 1950 applies
    retroactively]; People v. Sims, supra, 59 Cal.App.5th at pp. 955–
    964 [same]; People v. Lord (2021) 
    64 Cal.App.5th 241
    , 244–246
    [same]; cf. Kuhnel v. Appellate Division of Superior Court (2022)
    
    75 Cal.App.5th 726
    , 736–737 [Assembly Bill No. 1950 did not
    deprive the trial court of jurisdiction summarily to revoke
    misdemeanor probation when defendant violated probation
    during the first year of her probationary term].)
    2.    The trial court revoked defendant’s probation
    within the two-year probationary period set by
    Assembly Bill No. 1950
    Assuming the two-year probation period applies to
    defendant, her probation would have expired on June 2, 2021
    (two years after her June 3, 2019 sentencing). The trial court
    summarily revoked her probation on April 16, 2021, prior to the
    expiration of her probation period. Therefore, the trial court had
    jurisdiction over defendant when it revoked her probation.
    (People v. Howard, 
    supra,
     
    16 Cal.4th 1081
     at p. 1092.)2
    Defendant’s argument that her 180-day incarceration
    reduced the two-year probation period suffers from several
    2  “[S]ummary revocation of probation preserves the trial
    court’s authority to adjudicate a claim that the defendant
    violated a condition of probation during the probationary
    period . . . [T]he purpose of the formal proceedings ‘is not to
    revoke probation, as the revocation has occurred as a matter of
    law; rather, the purpose is to give the defendant an opportunity
    to require the prosecution to prove the alleged violation occurred
    and justifies revocation.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Leiva (2013)
    
    56 Cal.4th 498
    , 515.)
    10
    fallacies. First, defendant applies her presentence incarceration
    to reduce her probation term when the applicable statute permits
    the presentence incarceration to apply only to a term of
    imprisonment or fine. Section 2900.5, subdivision (a) provides in
    pertinent part: “In all felony and misdemeanor convictions,
    either by plea or by verdict, when the defendant has been in
    custody . . . all days of custody of the defendant, including days
    served as a condition of probation in compliance with a court
    order, credited to the period of confinement pursuant to
    Section 4019, . . . shall be credited upon his or her term of
    imprisonment, or credited to any base fine that may be imposed,
    at the rate of not less than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125)
    per day, or more, in the discretion of the court imposing the
    sentence. If the total number of days in custody exceeds the
    number of days of the term of imprisonment to be imposed, the
    entire term of imprisonment shall be deemed to have been
    served.”3 The statute does not permit crediting defendant’s
    presentence custody toward the (now) maximum two-year
    probation period.
    Second, defendant’s reliance on section 4019 is misplaced
    because that statute governs the calculation of a defendant’s good
    time/work credits. Section 4019 does not authorize those credits
    3 A term of imprisonment includes “any period of
    imprisonment imposed as a condition of probation or otherwise
    ordered by a court in imposing or suspending the imposition of
    any sentence, and also includes any term of imprisonment,
    including any period of imprisonment prior to release on parole
    and any period of imprisonment and parole, prior to discharged,
    whether established or fixed by statute, by any court, or by any
    duly authorized administrative agency.” (§ 2900.5, subd. (c).)
    11
    to reduce a term of probation.4 Consistent with sections 2900.5
    and 4019, the original sentencing court credited defendant’s
    presentence incarceration (90 days plus 90 days goodtime/work
    time credits) to defendant’s term of imprisonment, imposed as a
    condition of probation.
    The original sentencing court ordered defendant to serve
    180 days as a condition of probation and additionally ordered her
    to serve a three-year probation term. Assuming Assembly Bill
    No. 1950 applies to defendant, it serves to reduce the three-year
    probation term to two years. It does not affect the additional
    condition of probation requiring defendant serve 180 days.
    Finally, in her reply brief, defendant fleetingly refers to
    equal protection stating that her “interpretation better advances
    the goal of equal protection and better respects the Legislature’s
    intent . . . .” As just noted, defendant’s interpretation is not even
    consistent with the language of the applicable statute, section
    2900.5. Defendant’s unadorned reference to equal protection also
    does not undertake the analysis required to demonstrate
    constitutional error. Defendant does not argue she is a member
    of a suspect class or that a fundamental right is at issue. Thus,
    the rational basis test applies, but appellant fails to analyze the
    following elements of that test: The legislation treats persons
    4  Defendant cites section 4019, subdivision (a)(2) which
    provides that its provisions apply to a defendant confined in
    county jail as a condition of probation. Defendant also cites to
    subdivision (f) which provides: “It is the intent of the Legislature
    that if all days are earned under this section, a term of four days
    will be deemed to have been served for every two days spent in
    actual custody.” Neither subdivision supports defendant’s
    argument that her presentence incarceration shortens the
    maximum two-year probation period.
    12
    similarly situated differently and there is no rational basis for
    that disparate treatment. (Johnson v. Department of Justice
    (2015) 
    60 Cal.4th 871
    , 881.) Under the rational basis test, the
    fact that legislation may be underinclusive as to some persons
    similarly situated does not violate the equal protection of the law.
    As our Supreme Court has stated, “ ‘[w]hen conducting rational
    basis review, we must accept any gross generalizations and rough
    accommodations that the Legislature seems to have made.’
    [Citation.] ‘A classification is not arbitrary or irrational simply
    because there is an “imperfect fit between means and ends” ’
    [citation], or ‘because it may be “to some extent both
    underinclusive and overinclusive” ’ [citation].” (Id. at p. 887.)
    In sum, even if Assembly Bill No. 1950’s ameliorative
    change in section 1203.1 applies to defendant, her probation term
    would have expired on June 2, 2021 (two years from the date of
    her sentence). The trial court revoked her probation April 16,
    2021, within the two-year period for felony probation set forth in
    Assembly Bill No. 1950.
    B.    Defendant’s Right to Due Process Was Violated
    Because She Did Not Have Prior Notice of All But
    One of the Grounds for Formally Revoking
    Probation
    Defendant argues the trial court erred in revoking her
    probation based on theories for which she had no prior notice and
    that this error violated her right to due process.
    The Attorney General does not appear to contest that
    (1) the prosecutor and trial court relied on new grounds at the
    formal revocation hearing; and (2) defendant had no prior notice
    of those grounds. The Attorney General counters that defendant
    waived her due process objection to this lack of notice by not
    13
    raising it below. The Attorney General never addresses the
    merits of defendant’s actual due process claim because the
    Attorney General misconstrues that claim. Specifically, the
    Attorney General asserts, “[a]ppellant contends her right to due
    process was violated because the trial court revoked her
    probation based on a theory that was not argued by the
    prosecution.” The Attorney General then asserts the prosecutor
    discussed the theories during the contested hearing. The basis
    for defendant’s due process claim, however, was the absence of
    notice before the contested hearing of the grounds on which the
    trial court relied to formally revoke her probation.
    1.    The Attorney General has not demonstrated
    forfeiture
    The Attorney General contends defendant cannot raise “a
    notice issue for the first time on appeal citing People v. Goolsby
    (2015) 
    62 Cal.4th 360
    , 367 and People v. Toro (1989) 
    47 Cal.3d 966
    , 976, disapproved on another ground in People v. Guiuan
    (1998) 
    18 Cal.4th 558
    , 568, footnote 3. These authorities are not
    apt; they concern a defendant’s failure to object to instructions on
    lesser-related offenses at trial. Our high court has counseled that
    a defendant cannot adopt a strategy of silence in the trial court
    when the trial court instructs on a lesser-related offense and then
    challenge the conviction on the related offense for the first time
    on appeal, especially when an information can be amended at
    trial as long as the evidence supporting the amendment was
    considered at the preliminary hearing. (Goolsby, at p. 367; Toro,
    at p. 976.)
    In contrast to cases involving instructions on a lesser
    related offense, the probation revocation hearing at issue here
    was not preceded by an evidentiary preliminary hearing. Indeed,
    14
    when the trial court summarily revoked defendant’s probation, it
    relied only on the allegations of identity theft, which the trial
    court ultimately rejected. Thus, the preliminary proceeding in
    this case afforded defendant no notice of the grounds for formally
    revoking her probation. Finally, even if arguendo defendant
    forfeited her due process argument, we would exercise our
    discretion to address the merits of this constitutional challenge
    on the merits. (People v. Lewis (1990) 
    50 Cal.3d 262
    , 282
    [considering issue on merits to forestall ineffective assistance
    claim]; People v. Williams (1998) 
    17 Cal.4th 148
    , 161–162, fn. 6
    [appellate court may consider unpreserved claims].)
    2.    Due process requires reversal of the judgment
    After a summary revocation of probation, a defendant is
    entitled to a formal hearing. (People v. Leiva, supra, 56 Cal.4th
    at pp. 505, 515–516.) The minimum requirements of due process
    include written notice of the claimed violation. (Morrisey v.
    Brewer (1972) 
    408 U.S. 471
    , 489, Gagnon v. Scarpelli (1973)
    
    411 U.S. 778
    , 782; People v. Vickers (1972) 
    8 Cal.3d 451
    , 458.)
    The due process rights set forth in Morrissey, including notice,
    apply to formal probation hearings. (People v. DeLeon (2017)
    
    3 Cal.5th 640
    , 656.)
    Consistent with these principles, it is not disputed that due
    process requires written notice of any claimed violation in
    probation revocation cases. (People v. Self (1991) 
    233 Cal.App.3d 414
    , 419; see also People v. Rodriguez (1990) 
    51 Cal.3d 437
    , 441
    [probation revocation hearing subject to minimum requirements
    of due process including written notice of claimed violations];
    In re Moss (1985) 
    175 Cal.App.3d 913
    , 929 [probationer entitled
    to written statement of reasons for revocation of probation].) In
    Self, the court stated: “As the People acknowledge, the
    15
    probationer is entitled to written notice of the alleged violations
    of probation, disclosure of the evidence against the probationer
    and an opportunity to respond to the charges. [Citations.]
    Accordingly, the trial court erred in permitting the amendment
    [to add additional grounds for probation revocation] without
    affording defendant the procedural safeguards required . . . .”
    (People v. Self, supra, at p. 419.)
    In the case before us, the probation officer primarily relied
    on defendant’s arrest for identity theft and defendant’s financial
    delinquency. The probation officer also reported that when
    defendant was arrested for identity theft on March 23, 2021, she
    did not have a valid driver’s license and (incorrectly) reported
    that she had not completed 26 days of community service. In
    summarily revoking defendant’s probation, the trial court relied
    on the alleged identity theft. In formally revoking her probation,
    the trial court relied on defendant’s: (1) driving while unlicensed
    on multiple occasions; (2) possessing rock cocaine on two
    occasions; and (3) being in the possession of pepper spray, all in
    violation of the probation requirement that she obey all laws.
    Defendant had prior notice of only one ground on which the
    trial court relied formally to revoke her probation—that is that
    on March 23, 2021, defendant was driving without a license. The
    Attorney General does not argue, and the record does not show,
    that the trial court would have revoked defendant’s probation
    based solely on defendant’s being an unlicensed driver. As
    defendant contends, she was entitled to notice of the grounds for
    formally revoking her probation in advance of the contested
    hearing. (People v. Self, supra, 233 Cal.App.3d at p. 419.) Upon
    remand, we do not preclude further probation revocation
    proceedings so long as those proceedings are consistent with
    16
    due process requirements. (See People v. Mosley (1988)
    
    198 Cal.App.3d 1167
    , 1175 [failure to follow due process
    requirements “necessitates a remand for further proceedings in
    accordance with . . . due process”].)
    C.    The Trial Court Must Resentence Defendant In Light
    of Recent Ameliorative Legislation
    The parties agree that the trial court must resentence
    defendant under section 1170, subdivision (b)(6), as modified
    effective on January 1, 2022. That statute sets a presumptive
    low term for victims of trauma or intimate partner violence.5
    We agree that this ameliorative sentencing provision applies
    retroactively. (People v. Superior Court (Lara) (2018) 
    4 Cal.5th 299
    , 307–308 [absent a contrary indication, the Legislature
    generally intends for ameliorative changes to the criminal law to
    5   Section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) provides in pertinent
    part: “[U]nless the court finds that the aggravating
    circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances that
    imposition of the lower term would be contrary to the interests of
    justice, the court shall order imposition of the lower term if any of
    the following was a contributing factor in the commission of the
    offense:
    “(A) The person has experienced psychological, physical,
    or childhood trauma, including, but not limited to, abuse,
    neglect, exploitation, or sexual violence.
    “(B) The person is a youth, or was a youth as defined
    under subdivision (b) of Section 1016.7 at the time of the
    commission of the offense.
    “(C) Prior to the instant offense, or at the time of the
    commission of the offense, the person is or was a victim of
    intimate partner violence or human trafficking.”
    17
    apply retroactively].) We agree with defendant that the trial
    court should appoint counsel for her and should expeditiously
    assess whether to hold additional probation revocation
    proceedings and proceed with any such proceedings, or
    expeditiously resentence defendant.6 Nothing in this opinion
    precludes the parties from raising additional arguments at the
    resentencing hearing.
    6  Defendant’s argument that the trial court abused its
    discretion in revoking her probation is moot given our conclusion
    that because of a due process violation, we must reverse the
    judgment.
    18
    DISPOSITION
    The judgment is reversed. The case is remanded to the
    trial court. Within 10 days of the issuance of the remittitur, the
    trial court shall appoint counsel to represent defendant. The trial
    court shall conduct additional probation proceedings, if any, or
    resentence defendant forthwith after remittitur.
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.
    BENDIX, Acting P. J.
    We concur:
    CHANEY, J.
    VOGEL, J.*
    *  Retired Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second
    Appellate District, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
    article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
    19
    

Document Info

Docket Number: B314522

Filed Date: 4/13/2022

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/13/2022