People v. Scott CA6 ( 2014 )


Menu:
  • Filed 5/22/14 P. v. Scott 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    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
    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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
    SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    THE PEOPLE,                                                          H038448
    (Santa Clara County
    Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. No. 212037)
    v.
    WENDELL CHRIS SCOTT,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    A jury convicted defendant Wendell Chris Scott of six counts of lewd conduct on
    a child under 14 (Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (a))1 and found true allegations that he
    committed the acts against more than one victim within the meaning of section 667.61,
    subdivisions (b) and (e). He was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
    On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court (1) improperly imposed an
    AIDS testing requirement, (2) erroneously assessed an AIDS education fine, and (3)
    erroneously imposed a $300 section 290.3 fine. He also contends that his trial counsel
    rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object to the imposition of a $240 restitution
    fine. Finally, he asks that we review sealed documents to determine whether the trial
    court inappropriately denied him access to mental health records relevant to impeaching
    the credibility of one of his victims. We modify and affirm the judgment.
    1
    Subsequent statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.
    I. Background
    Jennifer Doe moved into defendant’s house with her three daughters in 2002.
    M. Doe was 11. B. Doe was nine. I. Doe was four. Defendant had pornographic
    movies, books, and magazines in the house. He found M. Doe looking at one of the
    magazines when she was 12. He allowed her to watch “any movies [she] wanted or look
    at any magazines . . . .” He photographed her in little or no clothing on numerous
    occasions when she was 12. He touched her breast during one photo session, “trying to
    make it seem like he was fiddling with the towel around me.” He did not show her the
    photos.
    M. Doe watched pornographic movies with defendant after school or late at night.
    He “started . . . caressing [her] crotch area” over her pajamas and “tried to . . . go
    underneath [her] pants” one time when she was 12 but she stopped him. They were
    playing cards another time when defendant started making “weird noises” as if in pain.
    He told her that his penis hurt and asked her to rub it “to make it feel better.” She
    “believed he was actually in pain . . . [s]o I did it.” When she was 13, defendant called
    her outside and “asked me if I would allow him to perform oral sex on me and he could
    videotape it.” She was “taken aback” and told him no. She avoided him after that. She
    did not tell anybody about the molestations because “I didn’t want us to get taken away
    from my mom.”
    B. Doe started watching pornographic movies with defendant when she was 11.
    They watched “[m]ostly at night, . . . when . . . everybody was asleep.” She did not tell
    her mother because defendant said “bad things would happen” if she did. Defendant
    digitally penetrated B. Doe when she was 11. They were watching a pornographic
    movie. She recalled “[m]ore than twenty” similar incidents when she was 11. Defendant
    orally copulated her on one of these occasions. That incident lasted “like over thirty
    minutes but not more than an hour.” B. Doe did not tell her mother or her sisters about
    the molestations.
    2
    B. Doe went to live with her biological father in Roseville in 2005. Her mother
    moved out of defendant’s house later that year. B. Doe moved back to San Jose in
    November 2005. There was no room in her mother’s small apartment so she had to move
    into defendant’s house. B. Doe recalled “no more than three” incidents of digital
    penetration during the month that she lived with defendant after her return from
    Roseville. It was “terrifying” to be alone in the house with him. She stopped doing her
    chores and “made messes everywhere” to give him a reason to kick her out. He did so
    after a month and she went to live with her mother.
    In 2006, federal agents investigating the trafficking of child pornography seized a
    computer and other items from defendant’s home. He wrote a statement admitting
    possession of child pornography that same day.
    B. Doe spent “a lot” of time at her friend Sara’s house and it became an issue
    between her and her mother. The issue came up in a family therapy session with B. Doe,
    her mother, and defendant in April 2007. B. Doe was 14. Things got “very heated.” Her
    mother was “yelling a lot.” B. Doe was “very much cowed” and asked to speak to the
    therapist in private. She told the therapist that defendant had molested her. The therapist
    “brought him in and my mom and she told them right there as if nothing would happen.”
    B. Doe “thought [defendant] was going to jump across the room and kill me, like just go
    off.” Her mother did not believe her. The therapist reported the molestations to Child
    Protective Services. B. Doe was interviewed by a sexual assault investigations officer.
    She was placed in a group home until she turned 18.
    M. Doe learned in 2007 that defendant molested B. Doe. She did not tell anyone
    that he also molested her. It was “a coping mechanism” to “just pretend like nothing ever
    happened.” She was “afraid that -- it happened anyways but my sister and myself would
    be taken away. They had already taken away [B. Doe] . . . .” M. Doe did not disclose
    that defendant molested her until shortly before his trial in this matter.
    3
    In 2008, defendant learned that federal charges would be filed against him. On
    February 7, 2011, he was convicted by plea of possession of child pornography (18
    U.S.C. § 2252, subd. (a)(4)(B). He was serving a five-year sentence for the federal
    conviction when he was tried in this case.
    M. Doe, B. Doe, and Jennifer testified for the prosecution. Police officers and
    federal agents described their investigations. Carl Lewis testified as an expert on Child
    Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome and investigation of child sexual abuse.
    The family therapist to whom B. Doe disclosed the abuse and the sexual assault
    team officer who interviewed B. Doe were called as witnesses for the defense. Annette
    Ermshar testified as an expert on Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome and
    forensic psychology. Defendant testified in his own behalf. He denied finding M. Doe
    looking at pornographic magazines. He denied watching pornographic movies with
    M. Doe or B. Doe. He categorically denied ever touching M. Doe or B. Doe
    inappropriately.
    After deliberating for less than four hours, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all
    counts and found the enhancement allegations true. Defendant was sentenced to 30 years
    to life in prison. He filed a timely notice of appeal.
    II. Discussion
    A. AIDS Testing
    Defendant contends that the trial court improperly ordered him to submit to an
    AIDS test pursuant to section 1202.1. We disagree.
    “Involuntary AIDS or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is strictly
    limited by statute.” (People v. Guardado (1995) 
    40 Cal. App. 4th 757
    , 763 (Guardado).
    Section 1202.1 requires the court to order “every person . . . convicted of . . . a sexual
    offense listed in subdivision (e) . . . to submit to a blood or oral mucosal transudate saliva
    test for evidence of antibodies to the probable causative agent of acquired immune
    4
    deficiency syndrome (AIDS) within 180 days of the date of conviction.” (§ 1202.1,
    subd. (a).) Conviction of a sexual offense listed in subdivision (e) automatically triggers
    mandatory testing. (§ 1202.1, subd. (e)(1)-(5).) Oral copulation in violation of section
    266c or section 288a is one such offense. (§ 1202.1, subd. (e)(5).) Certain other crimes
    constitute sexual offenses within the meaning of the statute “if the court finds that there is
    probable cause to believe that blood, semen, or any other bodily fluid capable of
    transmitting HIV has been transferred from the defendant to the victim.” (§ 1202.1,
    subd. (e)(6).) Lewd conduct on a child in violation of section 288 is included in this
    latter category. (§ 1202.1, subd. (e)(6)(A)(iii).)
    Section 1202.1 requires the court to “note its [probable cause] finding on the court
    docket and minute order if one is prepared.” (§ 1202.1, subd. (e)(6)(B).) If a court orders
    AIDS testing under section 1202.1, subdivision (e)(6) without an express finding of
    probable cause, a defendant’s failure to object on that ground forfeits appellate review of
    a claim that the lack of an express finding rendered the order unlawful. (People v.
    Stowell (2003) 
    31 Cal. 4th 1107
    , 1114.) “Nevertheless, because the terms of the statute
    condition imposition on the existence of probable cause, the appellate court can sustain
    the order . . . if it finds evidentiary support, which it can do simply from examining the
    record.” (People v. Butler (2003) 
    31 Cal. 4th 1119
    , 1127 (Butler).) “Probable cause is an
    objective legal standard—in this case, whether the facts known would lead a person of
    ordinary care and prudence to entertain an honest and strong belief that blood, semen, or
    any other bodily fluid capable of transmitting HIV has been transferred from the
    defendant to the victim.” (Ibid.)
    Defendant argues that the AIDS testing requirement must be stricken because the
    trial court did not make a finding of probable cause and “there was no evidence that any
    exchange of bodily fluids occurred in this case.” We cannot agree.
    We find sufficient evidence to support an implied finding of probable cause. The
    Legislature has recognized that oral copulation can result in a transfer of bodily fluid
    5
    capable of transmitting HIV. (§ 1202.1, subd. (e)(5).) B. Doe testified at trial that
    defendant “performed oral sex on me.” “[S]uddenly he used his mouth on me.” She told
    the jury that defendant began by touching her as he watched a pornographic movie. He
    then digitally penetrated and orally copulated her. “It was like a mixture.” She was
    sitting on the couch and he was “[o]n the floor in front of me.” The incident lasted “like
    over thirty minutes, but not more than an hour.” It seemed like a long time to her.
    The prosecutor highlighted the incident involving oral copulation during her
    closing argument. She emphasized that defendant “could have been charged twenty or so
    times. He’s been charged with three and there [are] specifically three instances [that B.
    Doe] recalls in detail.” The third such incident was “Count 6. Digital penetration and
    oral copulation. This time he’s rubbing her vagina as is usual. Inserting his fingers into
    her, as is usual. Then . . . he . . . put his mouth on her . . . .”
    Defendant categorically denied that he ever orally copulated B. Doe. He agreed
    with the prosecutor “that someone here is lying” and that the options were that either he
    was lying or M. Doe, B. Doe, and Jennifer were lying. Both counsel argued in closing
    that the case “boil[ed] down to credibility.” The verdicts show that the jury believed B.
    Doe’s testimony beyond a reasonable doubt. Given B. Doe’s testimony, the jury’s
    verdicts, and the Legislature’s recognition that oral copulation can result in a transfer of
    fluid capable of transmitting HIV, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to
    support an implied finding of probable cause here. (§ 1202.1, subd. (e)(6); 
    (Butler, supra
    , 31 Cal.4th at p. 1127.) The trial court did not err in ordering defendant to submit
    to an AIDS test.
    B. AIDS Education Fine
    Defendant contends that the trial court improperly imposed a $70 AIDS education
    fine against him pursuant to section 288a, subdivision (m). The Attorney General
    concedes that the fine and the attendant $210 penalty assessment must be stricken. We
    6
    accept the Attorney General’s concession. Section 288a, subdivision (m) authorizes
    imposition of an AIDS education fine not to exceed $70 against persons convicted of
    violating section 288a. (§ 288a, subd. (m).) Defendant was convicted of violating
    section 288, subdivision (a). Section 288, subdivision (a) does not authorize imposition
    of an AIDS education fine. The $70 fine and the $210 penalty assessment must be
    stricken.
    C. Section 290.3 Fine
    Defendant contends that the $300 section 290.3 fine was an ex post facto
    assessment. He argues that the fine must be reduced because the crimes on which it was
    based ended in 2005. The statutory fine at the time was $200. Defendant also argues that
    the $900 the trial court imposed in penalty assessments must be recalculated. We agree.
    “Article I, section 10, clause 1 of the federal Constitution and article I, section 9 of
    the state Constitution prohibit the passage of ex post facto laws. [Citation.] California’s
    ex post facto law is analyzed in the same manner as the federal prohibition. [Citation.]
    ‘[T]he ex post facto clauses of the state and federal Constitutions are “aimed at laws that
    ‘retroactively alter the definition of a crime or increase the punishment for criminal
    acts.’ ” ’ [Citations.]” (People v. Alford (2007) 
    42 Cal. 4th 749
    , 755.) “Fines arising from
    convictions are generally considered punishment.” (Id. at p. 757.) In determining
    whether a fine or penalty assessment increases the punishment for a criminal act, the
    court must consider “ ‘whether the Legislature intended the provision to constitute
    punishment, and, if not, whether the provision is so punitive in nature or effect that it
    must be found to constitute punishment despite the Legislature's contrary intent.’ ” (Ibid.)
    Section 290.3 provides that persons convicted of specified offenses “shall . . . be
    punished by a fine . . . .” Thus, the fine that section 290.3 imposes is punitive on its face.
    Section 290.3 as originally enacted required a $200 fine for a defendant’s first
    conviction and a $300 fine for each subsequent conviction. (Former § 290.3, subd. (a);
    7
    Stats. 1995, ch. 91, § 121.) The fines were raised to $300 and $500 on
    September 20, 2006. (Former § 290.3, subd. (a); Stats. 2006, ch. 337, § 18; see Historical
    and Statutory Notes, 48 West’s Ann. Pen. Code (2013 Supp.) foll. § 290.3, p. 138.)
    It was undisputed that defendant’s molestation of M. Doe and B. Doe ended in
    2005. This was almost a year before the section 290.3 fines were raised to $300 and
    $500. Thus, imposition of a $300 fine violated the constitutional prohibition against ex
    post facto punishment. (People v. Valenzuela (2009) 
    172 Cal. App. 4th 1246
    , 1249
    (Valenzuela).) The $300 fine must be reduced to $200, the amount statutorily authorized
    when defendant committed his crimes. (Ibid.)
    The Attorney General disagrees. She points out that former section 290.3
    specified a $300 fine for repeat offenders. She argues that defendant “could be
    considered a repeat offender” because his federal conviction for possession of child
    pornography subjected him to the registration requirements of section 290. We cannot
    agree.
    The problem with the Attorney General’s reasoning is that defendant was not a
    repeat offender when he molested M. Doe and B. Doe. Those molestations ended in
    2005. Federal agents did not seize defendant’s computer until November 2, 2006.
    Judgment was entered against him on February 7, 2011. Thus, he was a first time
    offender when he molested M. Doe and B. Doe. Former section 290.3’s repeat offender
    fine could not properly be applied to him.
    Defendant contends that the penalty assessments on his section 290.3 fine must
    also be recalculated. We agree.
    Our discussion of the statutory basis for each penalty assessment references the
    statute in effect when defendant committed his crimes. (See People v. Batman (2008)
    
    159 Cal. App. 4th 587
    , 590-591.) Section 290.3 fines were subject to a 100 percent state
    penalty assessment (“ten dollars ($10) for every ten dollars ($10) or fraction thereof”)
    under former section 1464. (Former § 1464, subd. (a).) They were also subject to a 20
    8
    percent state surcharge under former section 1465.7. (Former § 1465.7, subds. (a), (b).)
    They were also subject to a 10 percent penalty for implementation of the DNA
    Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act. (Former Gov. Code,
    § 76104.6, subd. (a).) When these assessments are recalculated based on a $200
    section 290.3 fine, the penalty amounts are $200 under former section 1464, $40 under
    former section 1465.7, and $30 under former Government Code section 76104.6.
    Section 290.3 fines were also subject to county penalty assessments. Subdivision
    (a) of former Government Code section 76000 imposed a 70 percent (“seven dollars ($7)
    for every ten dollars ($10) or fraction thereof”) penalty assessment. (Former Gov. Code,
    § 76000, subd. (a).) Subdivision (e) of that section provided that the $7.00 penalty “shall
    be reduced in each county by the additional penalty amount assessed by the county for
    the local courthouse construction fund established by Section 76100 as of January 1,
    1998, when the money in that fund is transferred to the state under Section 70402. The
    amount each county shall charge as an additional penalty under this section shall be as
    follows: [¶] . . . [¶] Santa Clara $5.50.” (Former Gov. Code, § 76000, subd. (e).) Thus,
    the penalty assessment in Santa Clara County under former Government Code section
    76000 was $5.50 of every $10.00 or 55 rather than 70 percent. This was the amount that
    the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors “allocated for purposes other than
    courthouse construction.” (See People v. McCoy (2007) 
    156 Cal. App. 4th 1246
    , 1254
    (McCoy).) The remaining $1.50 of every $10.00 was the amount allocated by the Santa
    Clara County Board of Supervisors for local courthouse construction. (Ibid.; former Gov.
    Code, § 76000, subd. (e).) When recalculated based on a $200 section 290.3 fine, the
    Government Code section 76000 penalty is $110.
    Former Government Code section 70372 imposed a 50 percent (“five dollars ($5)
    for every ten dollars ($10) or fraction thereof”) state court construction penalty. (Former
    Gov. Code, § 70372, subd. (a).) When recalculated based on a $200 section 290.3 fine,
    the Government Code section 70372 penalty is $100.
    9
    There are certain penalty assessments in effect now that were not in effect when
    defendant committed his crimes. The DNA Identification Fund penalty went into effect
    on July 12, 2006. (Former Gov. Code, § 76104.7; Stats. 2006, ch. 69, § 18.) The
    emergency medical services penalty went into effect on September 30, 2006. (Former
    Gov. Code § 76000.5; Stats. 2006, ch. 841, § 1.) Neither applies here.
    To sum up, the judgment must be modified to reflect a section 290.3 fine of $200
    and a total of $480 in penalty assessments attached to the section 290.3 fine, specifically,
    (1) $200 under former section 1464, (2) $40 under former section 1465.7, (3) $30 under
    former Government Code section 76104.6, (4) $110 under former Government Code
    section 76000, and (5) $100 under former Government Code section 70372.
    D. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
    Defendant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing
    to object to the trial court’s imposition of a $240 restitution fund fine under former
    section 1202.4 and a corresponding $240 parole revocation fine under former
    section 1202.45. He notes that the trial court expressed its intent to impose the statutory
    minimum fine, which did not increase from $200 to $240 until 2012. He argues that the
    court’s imposition of the higher minimum mandated by a later version of the statute
    violated the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto punishment. He maintains
    that “there was no conceivable reason” for his trial counsel’s failure to object to the
    prosecutor’s mistaken representation to the court that the statutory minimum fine was
    $240. We agree.
    A defendant seeking reversal for ineffective assistance of counsel must prove by a
    preponderance of the evidence that his counsel’s performance was deficient and that his
    defense was prejudiced by those deficiencies. (People v. Ledesma (1987) 
    43 Cal. 3d 171
    ,
    218; Strickland v. Washington (1984) 
    466 U.S. 668
    , 687 (Strickland).) When counsel’s
    conduct can reasonably be attributed to sound strategy, a reviewing court will presume
    10
    that the conduct was the result of a competent tactical decision, and [the] defendant must
    overcome that presumption to establish ineffective assistance. (Strickland, at p. 690.)
    The version of section 1202.4 in effect at the time of defendant’s crimes provided
    that “[i]n every case where a person is convicted of a crime, the court shall impose a
    separate and additional restitution fine, unless it finds compelling and extraordinary
    reasons for not doing so, and states those reasons on the record. [¶] . . . The restitution
    fine shall be set at the discretion of the court and commensurate with the seriousness of
    the offense, but shall not be less than two hundred dollars ($200), and not more than ten
    thousand dollars ($10,000), if the person is convicted of a felony . . . .” (Former
    § 1202.4, subd. (b); Stats. 2004, ch. 223, § 2.) Former section 1202.45 required the court
    to “assess an additional parole revocation restitution fine in the same amount as that
    imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4. This additional parole revocation
    restitution fine shall be suspended unless the person’s parole is revoked.” (Former
    § 1202.45, subd. (a); Stats. 2004, ch. 223, § 4.) The minimum restitution fund fine was
    raised to $240 on January 1, 2012. (Former § 1202.4, subd. (a); Stats. 2011, ch. 358,
    § 1.)
    The probation report recommended imposition of a $10,000 restitution fund fine.
    At sentencing, the trial court said, “I am going to reduce the restitution fine. The
    minimum is -- is it $200?” The prosecutor replied that he believed the minimum fine was
    $240. Defendant’s trial counsel said nothing. The court then stated, “$240. And that is
    being done for a couple of reasons: One, Mr. Scott’s financial situation in light of his
    custodial status. And also, if there is any money that can be in any way collected from
    Mr. Scott, I would rather have it paid toward restitution. [¶] An additional restitution
    fine in an equal amount is imposed pursuant to 1202.4 . . . and suspended pursuant to
    1202.45 . . . .”
    Although the trial court had the discretion to impose a higher fine, the record in
    this case makes it abundantly clear that the court intended to impose the statutory
    11
    minimum fine. The problem is that it imposed the statutory minimum fine under the
    wrong version of section 1202.4. The minimum fine at the time of defendant’s crimes
    was $200, not $240. (Former § 1202.4, subd. (b).) On the facts of this case, imposition
    of a $240 fine violated the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto punishment.
    (People v. Souza (2012) 
    54 Cal. 4th 90
    , 143.)
    Defense counsel should have objected to the trial court’s error. (People v. Le
    (2006) 
    136 Cal. App. 4th 925
    , 935-936 (Le).) As a general rule, “the failure to object is a
    matter of trial tactics that an appellate court will seldom second-guess . . . .” (People v.
    Carter (2003) 
    30 Cal. 4th 1166
    , 1209.) But an exception applies when “there simply
    could be no satisfactory explanation.” (Id. at p. 1211.) Here, the trial court intended to
    impose the minimum fine and expressly sought the parties’ input on what that minimum
    was. The mistake originated with the prosecutor, not with the court. In these
    circumstances, there can be no satisfactory explanation for defense counsel’s failure to
    object to the trial court’s imposition of a fine that exceeded the statutory minimum.
    We reject the Attorney General’s argument that counsel “could have had a tactical
    reason for choosing not to contest such a de minimus difference ($40) in light of the
    substantial reduction in sentence he was requesting.” We cannot agree with the
    suggestion that pointing out a clear error would have affected the trial court’s other
    sentencing decisions to defendant’s detriment. This is particularly so where the court
    expressly invited counsel to clarify the statutory minimum fine amount. Nor do we agree
    with the Attorney General’s argument that defense counsel could reasonably have chosen
    to focus his energies on other issues “rather than researching the legislative history of a
    statute that was only going to save [defendant] $40.” As our high court has observed, “a
    defense attorney who fails to adequately understand the available sentencing alternatives,
    promote their proper application, or pursue the most advantageous disposition for his
    client may be found incompetent. [Citations.]” (People v. Scott (1994) 
    9 Cal. 4th 331
    ,
    351.) There was no need for exhaustive research here. Defense counsel could have told
    12
    the court that he was not sure what the minimum fine was when defendant committed his
    crimes. Had he done so, it would have taken only a moment to check the language of the
    former statute.
    In Le, the trial court clearly expressed an intent to calculate the restitution fund
    fine “ ‘under the formula permitted by [section] 1202.4.’ ” 
    (Le, supra
    , 136 Cal.App.4th at
    p. 932.) But the court misapplied the formula, which resulted in much larger restitution
    fund and parole revocation fines. This court held that the trial court’s misapplication of
    the statute was error and that defense counsel’s failure to object constituted ineffective
    assistance. (Le, at pp. 934-936.) The same reasoning applies here. Here, the trial court
    unequivocally expressed its intent to impose the statutory minimum restitution fund fine.
    It initially (and correctly) identified the statutory minimum as $200. It invited the
    parties’ input. The prosecutor’s mistaken representation and defense counsel’s apparent
    acquiescence in that mistaken representation caused the court to believe that the
    minimum fine was not $200 but instead $240. As in Le, the error was prejudicial because
    there was “a reasonable probability” that the trial court would have imposed the smaller
    restitution fine and a smaller corresponding parole revocation fine had defendant’s trial
    counsel pointed out the error. 
    (Strickland, supra
    , 466 U.S. at p. 694; Le, at pp. 935-936.)
    Defendant asks us to modify the judgment to state the proper amount of the fines.
    We will reduce the restitution fund fine and the corresponding parole revocation fine to
    $200 each. (Former § 1202.4, subdivision (b), former §1202.45; see Le, at p. 936.)
    E. Review of B. Doe’s Mental Health Records
    1. Background
    The defense subpoenaed B. Doe’s mental health records before trial on the ground
    that they “would have a direct bearing on the credibility of [B. Doe] and may prove
    exculpatory for [defendant].” The prosecution moved to quash the subpoena. The
    defense responded with a motion to release the records. The trial court conducted an in
    13
    camera review on the day it heard motions in limine. It determined that some but not all
    of the records were responsive and relevant and should be provided to the defense. The
    court ruled with respect to those records that defendant’s right to present a defense
    trumped B. Doe’s Evidence Code section 1014 and Welfare & Institutions Code section
    5328 rights to keep the records confidential. The court withheld the remaining records.
    2. Analysis
    Defendant asks that we review the records that the trial court withheld to
    determine whether he was “inappropriately deprived . . . of access to any documents
    relevant to the impeachment of [B. Doe’s] credibility.” The Attorney General
    acknowledges that such review is appropriate under People v. Hammon (1997) 
    15 Cal. 4th 1117
    (Hammon) and Davis v. Alaska (1974) 
    415 U.S. 308
    . We agree.
    In Hammon, the California Supreme Court declined to “extend the defendant’s
    Sixth Amendment rights of confrontation and cross-examination to authorize pretrial
    disclosure of privileged information.” 
    (Hammon, supra
    , 15 Cal.4th at p. 1128.) But the
    court also recognized that “[w]hen a defendant proposes to impeach a critical prosecution
    witness with questions that call for privileged information, the trial court may be called
    upon . . . to balance the defendant’s need for cross-examination and the state policies the
    privilege is intended to serve.” (Hammon, at p. 1127.) We review the trial court’s ruling
    for abuse of discretion. (People v. Jackson (2003) 
    110 Cal. App. 4th 280
    , 291.)
    The documents that the trial court ruled were not discoverable were sent to this
    court under seal. We reviewed them and found nothing relevant to impeaching B. Doe’s
    credibility. We conclude that the trial court properly declined to release the remaining
    documents to the defense. No abuse of discretion appears.
    III. Disposition
    The judgment is modified to reflect a sex offender fine of $200 under former
    section 290.3.
    14
    The judgment is further modified to reflect a total of $480 in penalty assessments
    attached to the section 290.3 fine, specifically, (1) $200 under former section 1464, (2)
    $40 under former section 1465.7, (3) $30 under former Government Code section
    76104.6, (4) $110 under former Government Code section 76000, and (5) $100 under
    former Government Code section 70372.
    The judgment is further modified to reflect a $200 restitution fund fine under
    former section 1202.4, subd. (b) and a stayed $200 parole revocation fine under former
    section 1202.45, subd. (a).
    The trial court is directed to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and to
    forward a certified copy of the amended abstract to the Department of Corrections and
    Rehabilitation.
    As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
    ___________________________
    Mihara, J.
    WE CONCUR:
    _____________________________
    Premo, Acting P. J.
    _____________________________
    Grover, J.
    15