People v. Flemings CA2/4 ( 2015 )

Filed 11/9/15 P. v. Flemings CA2/4
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for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 FOUR
THE PEOPLE, B261593
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. YA023926)
v.
KEVIN FLEMINGS,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
Mark S. Arnold, Judge. Affirmed.
Pamela J. Voich, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
No appearance by Plaintiff and Respondent.
______________________
Kevin Flemings appeals the order denying his motion to vacate a judgment
previously entered on his conviction pursuant to a plea agreement of one count of second
degree robbery. (Pen. Code, § 211.) Finding no error, we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In 1995, defendant entered a plea agreement in which he pled no contest to one
count of second degree robbery, and, in return, the People moved to strike a firearm
enhancement allegation and a prior prison term allegation. The trial court accepted the
plea agreement, imposed a five-year sentence which was suspended, and placed
defendant on probation for three years, with the first year to be served in county jail.
Defendant received custody credits of 217 days.
In September 2014, defendant filed a petition for writ of error corum nobis,
arguing that the plea agreement was improper because he should not have been placed on
probation. Upon the denial of his petition, defendant filed a petition for writ of mandate,
seeking to overturn the trial court’s ruling. We denied that petition in September 2014.
(No. B258871.)
In December 2014, defendant filed a motion to vacate the judgment. He argued
the trial court erred in dismissing the prior robbery conviction, striking the gun use
allegation, and imposing probation. He sought to vacate the judgment and “enter into a
new plea agreement.” The trial court denied the motion, finding that it lacked merit, and
that the court had “no jurisdiction to modify the sentence.”
Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal. His attorney filed a Wende1 brief,
stating that she had thoroughly reviewed the record to determine whether it contained any
arguable issues. We issued a letter directing counsel to send the record and a copy of the
opening brief to defendant, and inviting defendant to submit a supplemental brief or
letter. Defendant filed a supplemental brief, which we have read and considered.
1 People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 436.
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DISCUSSION
Defendant seeks to set aside the judgment and restore the “Status Quo Ante.” We
conclude he is not entitled to the requested relief.
Defendant argues that his plea bargain was defective because neither the trial court
nor the prosecution had “the authority to offer [him] the deal.” His contention, as we
understand it, is that if the prior conviction and personal firearm use allegations were
proven true at trial, he would have been ineligible for probation, and therefore the trial
court lacked authority to strike the allegations and impose probation pursuant to the plea
agreement.
We conclude the motion was properly denied. First, a trial court’s power to
dismiss an action includes the lesser power to strike factual allegations relevant to
sentencing, such as allegations of prior felony convictions. (Pen. Code, § 1385; see
People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal. 4th 497, 504.) Accordingly, the trial
court was authorized to strike the prior conviction and personal firearm use allegations.
Second, defendant does not explain why the granting of probation was prejudicial, or
why he could not have raised these issues in a direct appeal from the judgment. He cites
no legal or factual ground that could not have been raised when the judgment was
entered. Because the time for filing a direct appeal from the judgment has long expired,
the general doctrine of forfeiture applies. (See Pen. Code, § 1237.5 [procedural
prerequisites for direct appeal from conviction on plea of no contest]; Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 8.308 [time to appeal]; People v. Howard (1965) 239 Cal. App. 2d 75, 77
[forfeiture doctrine].)
Finally, we turn to the Wende brief filed by defendant’s attorney. Having
reviewed the record, we are satisfied counsel has fully complied with her responsibilities
and that no arguable appellate issue exists. (Smith v. Robbins (2000) 528 U.S. 259, 278;
People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal. 4th 106, 110.)
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DISPOSITION
The order is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
EPSTEIN, P. J.
We concur:
WILLHITE, J.
MANELLA, J.
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