Case: 000236

Error and/or relief

The abstracts of judgment for all of the defendants reflect assessments that were not orally pronounced (in fact, the trial court had found that the defendants did not have the ability to pay the fees) and must be stricken. The People agree. We agree with the parties and will order those assessments stricken from the abstract of judgment.

Holding:

It is well settled that an abstract of judgment is not the judgment of conviction; it does not control if different from the trial court’s oral judgment and may not add to or modify the judgment it purports to digest or summarize. When an abstract of judgment does not reflect the actual sentence imposed in the trial judge’s verbal pronouncement, the court has the inherent power to correct such clerical error on appeal, whether on our own motion or upon application of the parties.

Authority:

People v. Jones (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1, 89