People v. Brown CA4/3 ( 2014 )

Filed 6/24/14 P. v. Brown CA4/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, G048977
v. (Super. Ct. No. 06NF1301)
BRANDON LAMAR BROWN, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Patrick
Donahue, Judge. Affirmed.
Siri Shetty, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
No appearance for Respondent.
* * *
This matter is before us for the second time after we earlier reversed
defendant’s sentence and remanded the case for resentencing. Accordingly, we quote
liberally from our prior nonpublished opinion. (People v. Brown (Sept. 25, 2012,
G045242) (Brown I).)
Defendant Brandon Lamar Brown was convicted by jury of nine counts of
committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under the age of 14. (Pen. Code, § 288,
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subd. (a).) “Each offense occurred between July 1 and September 30 of 2005. The jury
found true the allegations that defendant committed the offenses against more than one
victim (§ 1203.066, subd. (a)(7)) and had substantial sexual conduct with them (§
1203.066, subd. (a)(8).)” (Brown I, supra, G045242.) The court sentenced defendant “to
15 years to life on one count and concurrent terms of 15 years to life on the remaining
eight counts.” (Ibid.)
We reversed the sentence and remanded the case for resentencing because
“the court erroneously applied statutory law that came into effect after [defendant had]
committed his crimes” (Brown, supra, G045242), thereby violating ex post facto
principles. “Under the versions of sections 667.61 and 1203.066 in effect in 2005 (when
defendant committed the crimes), he was eligible for probation if the court made five
specific findings under section 1203.066, subdivision (c), and, if the court found him
eligible for probation he was not subject to a mandatory prison term of 15 years to life
per offense under section 667.61, subdivision (b).” (Ibid.) Under a later version of
section 1203.066, defendant was statutorily ineligible for probation. The sentencing
court applied the later version of the law, and thus did not consider the five specific
criteria (or make findings thereon) under the earlier and relevant version of the statute
which, if true, would have made defendant eligible for probation and not subject to a
mandatory prison term of 15 years to life.
1
All statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
2
On remand, the court held a sentencing hearing in which it reviewed the
transcripts of the trial testimony, other evidence received at the trial, the parties’
resentencing briefs, (defendant’s brief included declarations by the victims of each of
defendant’s crimes and defendant’s mother), an assessment of defendant done by a
psychologist at defendant’s request, a probation and sentencing report, and additional live
testimony from the victims and defendant’s mother.
The court found that defendant met four of the five specific criteria for
probation eligibility, but did not meet the third criteria, namely, that “[r]ehabilitation of
the defendant is feasible, the defendant is amenable to undergoing treatment, and the
defendant is placed in a recognized treatment program . . . .” (Former § 1203.066,
subdivision (c)(3).) Defendant was again sentenced to nine concurrent prison terms of 15
years to life. The court awarded total presentence custody credits of 2,962 days.
Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal and we appointed counsel to
represent him. Counsel did not argue against defendant, but advised the court she was
unable to find an issue to argue on defendant’s behalf. (People v. Wende (1979) 25
Cal.3d 436.) Defendant was given the opportunity to file written argument in his own
behalf, but he has not done so.
Defendant’s appellate counsel has suggested we review the record to
determine whether the court abused its discretion by denying probation and imposing a
life sentence under the One Strike Law, section 667.61, former subdivision (c)(7). But by
filing a brief pursuant to People v. Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436, counsel represents that
after a thorough review of the record, she was unable to identify an arguable issue. We
disregard the potential issue suggested by counsel because, by the very nature of a Wende
brief, counsel is unable to provide supporting arguments. Issues not supported by
reasoned argument need not be addressed. (Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. v.
2
A different sentencing judge was assigned to preside over the resentencing.
The original sentencing judge was deceased.
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San Francisco Airports Com. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 352, 366, fn. 2.) In any event, in the
course of conducting our independent review, we have considered the potential issue
suggested by counsel and conclude, as did she, that it is not arguable.
The court found rehabilitation of defendant was not feasible and that he was
not amenable to undergoing treatment, one of the necessary conditions of probation
eligibility under former section 1203.066, subdivision (c)(3). That finding is supported
by substantial evidence. The court observed that the psychologist’s report, which had
recommended “‘applying for Delancy Street or another self-motivated life-change
program that involves a long-term residential period,’” had concluded, “‘[W]hat is
needed for [defendant] is not rehabilitation, but habilitation, as he has not yet learned to
provide for his basic needs.’” The court concluded that it did “not believe that there is
anything that the court reviewed that rehabilitation was feasible.” “Where I have a
problem with the five factors is basically the amenability and the feasibility.”
The court also noted that defendant “did not complete sex offender
counseling after he was placed in the juvenile facility for the sex offense committed
against his sister.” The court went further and considered “the criteria affecting probation
listed in California Rules of Court, [rule] 4.414,” and concluded that probation was not an
appropriate disposition.
Even if all five factors under former section 1203.066, subdivision (c) were
met, the “sentencing court ‘retain[ed] the discretion’ to find the defendant unsuitable for
probation and to order imprisonment.” (People v. Wutzke (2002) 28 Cal.4th 923, 932, fn.
7; former § 1203.066, subdivision (c)(5).) The court did not abuse its discretion.
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DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
IKOLA, J.
WE CONCUR:
MOORE, ACTING P. J.
ARONSON, J.
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