People v. Lynall , 233 Cal. App. 4th 1102 ( 2015 )

Filed 1/29/15
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H041737
(Santa Cruz County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. F27697)
v.
DAVID LEE LYNALL,
Defendant and Appellant.
In this case, as in the companion case of People v. Rivera (2015) __ Cal.App.4th
__ (Rivera), we review the effect, if any, of recently enacted Proposition 47, the Safe
Neighborhoods and Schools Act, on appellate jurisdiction.
In Rivera, after the court imposed a felony sentence, the defendant petitioned to
have his sentence recalled and to be resentenced as a misdemeanant pursuant to Penal
Code section 1170.18, which the voters enacted as part of Proposition 47. (Further
undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.) Rivera also asked the court to
designate his conviction a misdemeanor under section 1170.18. The trial court granted
his requests. (Rivera, supra, __ Cal.App.4th at pp. __.) The question presented in Rivera
is whether the case is a felony case or a misdemeanor case for the purpose of appellate
jurisdiction. The question arises because section 1170.18, subdivision (k) provides that
“[a]ny felony conviction that is recalled and resentenced . . . or designated as a
misdemeanor under [that section] shall be considered a misdemeanor for all purposes.”
(Italics added.)
In Rivera, we held that nothing in Proposition 47, including the provision that the
conviction “shall be considered a misdemeanor for all purposes,” alters existing rules
regarding appellate jurisdiction. If the defendant was charged with at least one felony in
an information, an indictment, or in a complaint that has been certified to the superior
court under section 859a, it is a felony case and appellate jurisdiction properly lies with
this court, regardless of the outcome on the felony charge. (Rivera, supra, __
Cal.App.4th at pp.__.)
The procedural context here is different from that in Rivera. This case does not
involve either resentencing or the designation of a prior felony conviction as a
misdemeanor under section 1170.18. In this case, prior to the passage of Proposition 47,
the prosecution charged defendant David Lee Lynall with a felony violation of Health
and Safety Code section 11377 (possession of a controlled substance) in a complaint that
the parties stipulated would serve as the information after defendant was held to answer.
With the passage of Proposition 47 on November 4, 2014, violations of Health and Safety
Code section 11377 became misdemeanors. Thereafter, as part of a plea agreement, the
parties agreed that defendant’s charge would be reduced to a misdemeanor pursuant to
Proposition 47. Defendant was convicted by plea and the court imposed a 24-month
conditional sentence with Proposition 36 probation. Like Rivera, we must determine
whether this is a felony case or a misdemeanor case for the purpose of appellate
jurisdiction.
As in Rivera, we identified the appellate jurisdictional question on our own motion
and asked the parties to brief the issue. Both parties agree that this case is a felony case
and that this court, as opposed to the appellate division of the superior court, has
jurisdiction over Lynall’s appeal. We agree with the parties. We hold that appellate
jurisdiction in cases where a defendant is charged with a felony in an information, an
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indictment, or in a complaint that has been certified to the superior court under section
859a lies with the Court of Appeal, even if Proposition 47 subsequently reduced the
charged offense to a misdemeanor.
FACTS
The facts are based on evidence presented at the preliminary hearing. In
September 2014, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Deputy Stephen Ragusano received a
complaint from a motorcycle shop that several people were camping illegally in the
wooded ravine behind the shop and “leaving feces in that area.” Deputy Ragusano met
with the reporting party, who showed him an area adjacent to the shop’s parking lot
where the campers were located. According to Deputy Ragusano, it was not a public
camp ground and no one was allowed to camp there. The reporting party asked Deputy
Ragusano to patrol the area and to ask the campers to “move along.”
On October 1, 2014, at night, Deputy Ragusano chased a suspect in a “strong-
armed robbery” into the wooded area behind the motorcycle shop and lost contact with
him. On October 5, 2014, Deputy Ragusano and two other deputies patrolled the wooded
area. Deputy Ragusano saw three tents in a clearing in the ravine. The deputies
announced their presence and asked the campers to come out of their tents. Defendant
emerged from one of the tents. Deputy Ragusano testified that defendant resembled the
robbery suspect he had chased into the ravine a few days earlier. Deputy Ragusano asked
defendant for his name and date of birth, which defendant provided. Deputy Ragusano
then asked his dispatcher to run a status check to determine whether defendant had any
warrants. The dispatcher reported that defendant was a “parolee at large,” which means
defendant had absconded from parole supervision. The dispatcher also reported that
there was an active parole warrant for his arrest. Deputy Ragusano confirmed the
warrant, placed defendant in handcuffs, and then searched his tent.
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Inside the tent, Deputy Ragusano found: (1) a glass pipe with burn marks, (2) a
“loaded syringe” with a liquid substance that tested presumptively positive for
methamphetamine; (3) a small glass container with a wet cotton swab inside that tested
presumptively positive for methamphetamine, (4) three knives, and (5) a 15-inch billy
club. Deputy Ragusano testified that there was a usable amount of methamphetamine
both in the syringe and on the cotton swab.
Parole Agent Jeffrey Clark testified that on October 5, 2014, defendant was on
active parole with search terms, that defendant had absconded from parole in Pasadena,
and that a court had issued a parole warrant for his arrest on September 17, 2014.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The prosecution filed a complaint that charged defendant with one felony count of
possession of methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, count 1), with an
enhancement allegation that he had served two prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)).
The prosecution also charged defendant with one misdemeanor count of unlawful
possession of a billy club (§ 22210, count 2) and one misdemeanor count of possession of
an injection or smoking device (Health & Saf. Code, § 11364.1, subd. (a), count 3).
Initially, defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts and denied the enhancement
allegation. Defendant then filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained in the search
of his tent. The prosecution opposed the motion.
On November 4, 2014, the court conducted a preliminary hearing. The court also
took evidence and heard argument on the motion to suppress. At the end of the
preliminary hearing, the court held defendant to answer and denied the motion to
suppress. The court observed that if Proposition 47 passed in the general election that
day, then Health and Safety Code section 11377 would be amended prospectively the
following day. The parties then stipulated that the complaint would serve as the
information. Defendant was therefore charged with at least one felony in an information.
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Defendant was arraigned on the information. He pleaded not guilty to all counts and
denied the enhancement allegation. The court set the matter, along with three other cases
defendant had pending,1 for a trial setting conference on November 6, 2014, two days
after the election.
At the trial setting conference, the parties entered into a negotiated disposition.
Both counsel agreed that in light of the passage of Proposition 47, the felony charged in
count 1 (possession of methamphetamine, Health & Saf. Code, § 11377) “is now, by
operation of law, a misdemeanor.” The court amended the information to reflect “Count
1, as a misdemeanor, pursuant to Proposition 47,” and struck the enhancement allegation.
Defendant pleaded guilty to count 1. On the prosecution’s motion, the court dismissed
the misdemeanor charges in counts 2 and 3. The court then suspended imposition of
sentence and imposed a 24-month conditional sentence with Proposition 36 probation.
On November 6, 2014, defendant also pleaded guilty in the petty theft case
(M81505), and the court found probation violations in the other two cases (M27331 and
F26937) based on defendant’s conviction in this case.
Defendant filed his notice of appeal on the Judicial Council form for misdemeanor
appeals and the case was assigned a case number in the appellate division of the superior
court. The superior court clerk decided the appeal belonged in this court, and sent the
notice of appeal here. On December 11, 2014, before counsel was appointed, we asked
the parties to brief the question whether this court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal or
whether the appeal should be transferred to the appellate division of the superior court.
Our order referred the parties to section 1170.18, subdivision (k) and our decision in
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The court also set (1) misdemeanor case number M81505, in which defendant
was charged with petty theft (§ 484) at a grocery store, for trial setting; (2) misdemeanor
case number M27331, in which defendant was convicted of domestic violence (§ 273.5),
for “probation violation setting,” and (3) felony case number F26937, in which defendant
was convicted of possession of controlled substances (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377), for
“probation violation setting.”
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People v. Morales (2014) 224 Cal. App. 4th 1587 (Morales). In their letter briefs, both
parties assert that this court, not the appellate division of the superior court, has appellate
jurisdiction in this case. We agree.
DISCUSSION
Pertinent Provisions from Proposition 47
The voters enacted Proposition 47 on November 4, 2014. It went into effect the
next day. (Cal. Const., art. II, § 10, subd. (a).) Proposition 47: (1) added Chapter 33 to
the Government Code (section 7599 et seq.), (2) added sections 459.5, 490.2, and
1170.18 to the Penal Code, and (3) amended Penal Code sections 473, 476a, 496, and 666
and Health and Safety Code sections 11350, 11357, and 11377. (Ballot Pamp., Gen.
Elec. (Nov. 4, 2014) text of Prop. 47, §§ 4-14, pp. 70-74.) Proposition 47 makes certain
drug- and theft-related offenses misdemeanors, unless the offenses were committed by
certain ineligible defendants. These offenses had previously been designated as either
felonies or wobblers (crimes that can be punished as either felonies or misdemeanors).
Relevant here, Proposition 47 amended Health and Safety Code section 11377.
Prior to that amendment, possession of controlled substances in violation of Health and
Safety Code section 11377 was a wobbler. (Health & Saf. Code, former § 11377; In re
Manzy W. (1997) 14 Cal. 4th 1199, 1210.) “By making violation of Health and Safety
Code section 11377, subdivision (a), a wobbler, the Legislature [had] determined that
either a misdemeanor or a felony punishment may be appropriate in the discretion of the
sentencing court. The Legislature has also granted [trial courts] broad authority under the
express terms of section 17[, subdivision ](b) to make that determination.” (People v.
Superior Court (Alvarez) (1997) 14 Cal. 4th 968, 980-981.)
As amended by Proposition 47, Health and Safety Code section 11377 now
provides that a violation of that section is a misdemeanor, unless the defendant “has one
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or more prior convictions” for an offense specified in section 667, subdivision
(e)(2)(C)(iv)—which lists serious and violent felonies that are sometimes referred to as
“ ‘super strike’ offenses”—or for an offense that requires the defendant to register as a
sex offender under section 290, subdivision (c). Such defendants “may instead be
punished pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 . . . .” (Section 1170, subdivision
(h) sets forth rules regarding the sentencing of felony offenders under the Criminal
Justice Realignment Act of 2011.)
As we observed in Rivera, Proposition 47 also created a new resentencing
provision—section 1170.18. Under section 1170.18, a person “currently serving” a
felony sentence for an offense that is now a misdemeanor under Proposition 47, may
petition to recall that sentence and request resentencing. (§ 1170.18, subd. (a).) A person
who satisfies the statutory criteria shall have his or her sentence recalled and be
“resentenced to a misdemeanor . . . unless the court, in its discretion, determines that
resentencing the petitioner would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.”
(Id. subd. (b).) Section 1170.18 also provides that persons who have completed felony
sentences for offenses that would now be misdemeanors under Proposition 47 may file an
application to have their felony convictions “designated as misdemeanors.” (§ 1170.18,
subds. (f)-(h).) Section 1170.18, subdivision (k) provides in part that “[a]ny felony
conviction that is recalled and resentenced . . . or designated as a misdemeanor . . . shall
be considered a misdemeanor for all purposes.”
Statutes and Rules Governing Appeals
Generally speaking, in criminal cases, the Courts of Appeal have “appellate
jurisdiction over appealable orders from ‘felony case[s]’ ” and “the appellate divisions of
the superior courts, by contrast, have appellate jurisdiction over appealable orders from
‘misdemeanor case[s].’ ” (People v. Nickerson (2005) 128 Cal. App. 4th 33, 36
(Nickerson), citing §§ 1235, subd. (a), 1466, and Cal. Const., art. VI, § 11.)
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Section 691 defines a “felony case” as “a criminal action in which a felony is
charged and includes a criminal action in which a misdemeanor or infraction is charged
in conjunction with a felony.” (§ 691, subd. (f), italics added.) “ ‘Misdemeanor or
infraction case’ means a criminal action in which a misdemeanor or infraction is charged
and does not include a criminal action in which a felony is charged in conjunction with a
misdemeanor or infraction.” (§ 691, subd. (g).)
Section 17, subdivision (a) defines the terms “felony” and “misdemeanor.” It
provides that a “felony is a crime that is punishable with death, by imprisonment in the
state prison, or notwithstanding any other provision of law, by imprisonment in a county
jail under the provisions of subdivision (h) of Section 1170. Every other crime or public
offense is a misdemeanor except those offenses that are classified as infractions.”
Section 17, subdivision (b) provides, in relevant part, that a crime that is
punishable alternatively as a felony or a misdemeanor (a wobbler), “is a misdemeanor for
all purposes under the following circumstances: [¶] (1) After a judgment imposing a
punishment other than imprisonment in the state prison or imprisonment in a county jail
under the provisions of subdivision (h) of Section 1170. [¶] [¶] (3) When the court
grants probation to a defendant without imposition of sentence and at the time of
granting probation, or on application of the defendant or probation officer thereafter, the
court declares the offense to be a misdemeanor.” (Italics added.) Since defendant was
granted probation without imposition of sentence and the court subsequently declared his
offense a misdemeanor, does section 17, subdivision (b) make this a misdemeanor case
for the purpose of determining which court has appellate jurisdiction? As we shall
explain, it does not.
The California Supreme Court has held that under section 17, an offense that is
punishable alternatively as a felony or a misdemeanor is “a felony for every purpose up
to judgment” and if it is subsequently declared a misdemeanor, “it is deemed a
misdemeanor for all purposes thereafter—the judgment not to have a retroactive effect
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. . .’ ” (People v. Banks (1959) 53 Cal. 2d 370, 381-382; People v. Feyrer (2010) 48
Cal. 4th 426 (Feyrer) [“When a defendant is convicted . . . of a wobbler . . . his or her
offense is ‘deemed a felony’ unless subsequently ‘reduced to a misdemeanor by the
sentencing court’ ”; if a “misdemeanor sentence is imposed, the offense is a misdemeanor
from that point on, but not retroactively”].)
California Rules of Court, rule 8.304(a) (all further rules citations are to the Rules
of Court) provides in part: “To appeal from a judgment or an appealable order of the
superior court in a felony case . . . the defendant or the People must file a notice of appeal
in that superior court. . . . [¶] (2) As used in (1), ‘felony case’ means any criminal action
in which a felony is charged, regardless of the outcome. A felony is ‘charged’ when an
information or indictment accusing the defendant of a felony is filed or a complaint
accusing the defendant of a felony is certified to the superior court under . . . section
859a. A felony case includes an action in which the defendant is charged with: [¶]
(A) A felony and a misdemeanor or infraction, but is convicted of only the misdemeanor
or infraction; [¶] (B) A felony, but is convicted of only a lesser offense; or [¶] (C) An
offense filed as a felony but punishable as either a felony or a misdemeanor, and the
offense is thereafter deemed a misdemeanor under . . . section 17(b).” (Italics added.)
Applying this authority, we hold that this case is a “felony case” for the purpose of
appellate jurisdiction. Section 691 defines a “felony case” as “a criminal action in which
a felony is charged,” including a case like this where the defendant is charged with a
misdemeanor in conjunction with a felony. Rule 8.304 provides that a felony is
“charged” for the purpose of determining appellate jurisdiction “when an information or
indictment accusing the defendant of a felony is filed or a complaint accusing the
defendant of a felony is certified to the superior court under . . . section 859a.” Even
though defendant’s offense was a wobbler, it was charged as a felony in an information
and remained a felony when the court suspended imposition of sentence and granted a
conditional sentence with Proposition 36 probation. (Feyrer, supra, 48 Cal.4th at pp.
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438-439.) Since under section 691 and rule 8.304 we look at how the offense was
charged to determine appellate jurisdiction, the court’s later declaration that the offense
was a misdemeanor under Proposition 47 does not retroactively convert this case from a
felony case to a misdemeanor case for the purpose of appellate jurisdiction. (Feyrer,
supra, 48 Cal.4th at pp. 438-439.)
In the companion case, Rivera, we described our previous decision in Morales,
supra, 224 Cal. App. 4th 1587, as well as the holdings in Nickerson, supra,
128 Cal. App. 4th 33 and People v. Scott (2013) 221 Cal. App. 4th 525. (Rivera, supra, __
Cal.App.4th at pp. __.) We need not reiterate that discussion here, except to note that the
procedural facts here closely resemble those in Morales and that this case, like Morales,
is therefore distinguishable from Scott and Nickerson.
In summary, we hold that since defendant was charged with a felony in the
complaint and the parties agreed that the complaint would be deemed the information for
the purpose of initiating felony proceedings in the superior court, this case is a felony
case for the purpose of appellate jurisdiction and the appeal lies in this court. Although
defendant’s offense was ultimately reduced to a misdemeanor as part of plea negotiations
and declared a misdemeanor by the trial court, it still meets the rule 8.304(a)(2)(C)
definition of a felony case.
That defendant erroneously filed his notice of appeal on the Judicial Council form
for misdemeanor appeals does not alter our conclusions. (See Morales, supra,
224 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1593, 1599 [although the defendant’s notice of appeal was filed
on the form for misdemeanor appeals, the case was a felony case for the purpose of
appellate jurisdiction]; but see Scott, supra, 221 Cal.App.4th at p. 533 [appellate court
considered forms used to initiate appeal in determining that case was a misdemeanor
case].)
Nothing in this opinion should be understood as expressing an opinion about the
merits of any issues the parties may raise when they file their briefs on appeal.
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DISPOSITION
Appellate jurisdiction properly lies with this court. The appeal will proceed on the
merits in this court.
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_______________________________
Márquez, J.
WE CONCUR:
_____________________________________
Rushing, P. J.
______________________________________
Premo, J.
No. H041737
People v. Lynall
Trial Court: Santa Cruz County
Superior Court No.: F27697
Trial Judge: The Honorable Stephen S. Siegel
Attorney for Defendant and Appellant Jonathan Grossman
David Lee Lynall: under appointment by the Court of
Appeal for Appellant
Attorneys for Plaintiff and Respondent Kamala D. Harris,
The People: Attorney General
Catherine A. Rivlin,
Supervising Deputy Attorney General
People v. Lynall
H041737