Category Archives: Sentencing

Amelioration, Sentencing, Standard of review

Case 000021

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The timing of the defendant’s plea does not preclude him relief under section 1172.6 because, at the time of his plea, he could have been convicted under invalidated theories of attempted murder. We also find his admissions, including his admission to acting with an intent to kill, did not establish all the elements of a valid theory of attempted murder under current law. Accordingly, we reverse the summary denial of his petition and remand for further proceedings.

First Holding:

Where a petition states eligibility on its face, and the court examines the record of the conviction suggesting otherwise, the defendant must be given an opportunity to file an amended petition.

Authority:

People v. Patton (2025) 17 Cal.5th 549

Second Holding:

Effective January 1, 2019, Senate Bill 1437 amended the felony murder rule and eliminated the natural and probable consequences doctrine as it relates to murder to ensure that murder liability is not imposed on a person who is not the actual killer, did not act with the intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life.

Authority:

SB 1437

SB 775

PEN 1172.6
People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 959

Third Holding:

At the prima facie hearing, the trial court may examine the record of conviction to assess whether it refutes a defendant’s claim of eligibility.

Authority:

People v. Patton (2025) 17 Cal.5th 549

Fourth Holding:

It is only where the record of conviction establishes the petition lacks merit as a matter of law that the court may deny the petition without a hearing

Authority:

People v. Lopez (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 566, 576

Fifth Holding:

When the defendant’s conviction resulted from a guilty plea rather than a trial, the record of conviction includes the facts the defendant admitted as the factual basis for a guilty plea and the defendant’s express admissions at the plea colloquy.

Authority:

People v. Gaillard (2024) 99 Cal.App.5th 1206, 1211–1212

People v. Fisher (2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 1022, 1029

(Disagreeing) People v. Glass (2025) 110 Cal.App.5th 922

Sixth Holding:

If the trial court denies the petition without issuing an order to show cause, it must state its reasons.

Authority:

PEN 1172.6(c)

Seventh Holding:

We independently review a summary denial of a section 1172.6 petition for resentencing.

Authority:

People v. Gaillard (2024) 99 Cal.App.5th 1206

Duty of the court, Sentencing

Case: 000020

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

Following a revocation of probation, the defendant was sentenced to state prison. The trial court erred in not obtaining a probation report before sentencing him. The error was prejudicial. We reverse.

First Holding:

Absent written stipulation (or oral if in open court), the court must refer the matter to probation after probation has been revoked. The preparation of the report of the consideration of the report by the court may be waived only by a written stipulation of the prosecuting and defense attorneys that is filed with the court or an oral stipulation in open court that is made and entered upon the minutes of the court, except that a waiver shall not be allowed unless the court consents thereto.

Authority:

PEN 1203(b)(1)

PEN 1203(b)(4)

Second Holding:

The purpose of a probation report is to advise the court of the circumstances surrounding the crime and to provide information about the defendant’s history and record.

Authority:

People v. Llamas (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 35, 40

Third Holding:

Prejudice is measured under Watson.

Authority:

People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818

People v. Dobbins (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 176

Fourth Holding:

A stipulation to waive referral to probation must appear in the minutes

Authority:

PEN 1203(b)(4)

Sentencing, Sixth Amendment

Case 000018

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The trial court violated the Sixth Amendment by imposing upper term sentences; the issue was not forfeited, and as the People concede, the court erred and the error was not harmless.

First Holding:

The Sixth Amendment right to jury trial applies to any factor that may increase the sentence or range of sentence. In Wiley, our Supreme Court addressed section 1170(b)(3)’s prior conviction exception in light of the holding in Erlinger. To avoid any application that would set section 1170(b)(3) at odds with the high court’s constitutional interpretation, the court interpreted] section 1170(b)(3)’s procedure in a manner that is coextensive with high court dictates. Thus, in accordance with Erlinger, a defendant is entitled to a jury trial on all aggravating facts, other than the bare fact of a prior conviction and its elements, that expose the defendant to imposition of a sentence more serious than the statutorily provided midterm.

Authority:

PEN 1170

Erlinger v. United States (2024) 602 U.S. 821

People v. Wiley (2025) 17 Cal.5th 1069, 1086

Second Holding:

Failure to object generally results in forfeiture and can apply to constitutional claims.

Authority:

People v. Stowell (2003) 31 Cal. 4th 1107, 1114 [The forfeiture doctrine is a well-established procedural principle that, with certain exceptions, an appellate court will not consider claims of error that could have been—but were not—raised in the trial court]

People v. Scott (2015) 61 Cal.4th 363, 406 [A party in a criminal case may not, on appeal, raise claims involving the trial court’s failure to properly make or articulate its discretionary sentencing choices if the party did not object to the sentence at trial]

People v. McCullough (2013) 56 Cal.4th 589, 593 [a constitutional right may be forfeited by failure to assert the right before the tribunal with jurisdiction to determine it]

People v. Achane (2023) 92 Cal.App.5th 1037

Third Holding:

A claim of violation of Sixth Amendment right to trial is not forfeited by lack of objection as it requires express consent in open court by both the defendant and the defense attorney.

Authority:

People v. French (2008) 43 Cal.4th 36, 46

Fourth Holding:

An appellate court can exercise discretion to address a forfeited issue.

Authority:

People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 161, fn. 6 [An appellate court is generally not prohibited from reaching a question that has not been preserved for review by a party]

Fifth Holding:

Unless stipulated to by the defendant, before the factors in aggravation may be used to justify imposition of the upper term, the defendant has the right to a jury trial to determine whether the factors have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has engaged in violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society or that defendant’s prior convictions as an adult or sustained petitions in juvenile delinquency proceedings are numerous or of increasing seriousness. A defendant is entitled to a jury trial on all aggravating facts, other than the bare fact of a prior conviction and its elements, that expose the defendant to imposition of a sentence more serious than the statutorily provided midterm.

Authority:

PEN 1170

People v. Wiley (2025) 17 Cal.5th 1069, 1086

People v. Lynch (2024) 16 Cal.5th 730, 776

Amelioration, Sentencing, Sixth Amendment, Standard of review

Case 000017

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

We reverse the court’s denial of the resentencing petition, which was not based on a review of the record, and remand for further proceedings under section 1172.6(c).

First Holding:

The trial court may deny a section 1172.6 petition at the prima facie stage only if the petition and record in the case establish conclusively that the defendant is ineligible for relief as a matter of law. If a petitioner files a facially sufficient section 1172.6 petition by indicating, among other criteria, that he meets the statutory requirements for relief,it triggers the prosecution’s duty to submit a response and the petitioner’s right to file a reply on the issue of whether a prima facie case for relief exists.

Authority:

People v. Hickman (2025) 110 Cal.App.5th 1262
People v. Strong (2022) 13 Cal.5th 698, 707
People v. Rodriguez (2024) 103 Cal.App.5th 451, 456
People v. Patton (2025) 17 Cal.5th 549, 558–559

Second Holding:

The record of conviction includes documents from jury trial such as jury instructions and verdict forms.

Authority:

People v. Gallardo (2024) 105 Cal.App.5th 296

Third Holding:

We review an order denying a petition at the prima facie stage de novo.

Authority:

People v. Hickman (2025) 110 Cal.App.5th 1262

Fourth Holding:

The right to seek replacement of counsel under Marsden applies at all stages of a criminal proceeding.

Authority:

People v. Armijo (2017) 10 Cal.App.5th 1171, 1179

People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118

People v. Carter (2024) 15 Cal.5th 1092, 1096 [Marsden motion sought disqualification of the public defender’s office and individual deputy public defender]

Fifth Holding:

The record of conviction will inform the court’s prima facie inquiry, allowing the court to distinguish clearly meritless claims.

Authority:

People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 971

 

Sentencing

Case 000013

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The trial court erred in calculating defendant’s custody credits. Because he participated in the sober living program pursuant to a court order, he is entitled to custody credit for the time he spent there. The People concede this issue. We agree with the parties.

First Holding:

Credit for time served that is miscalculated must be corrected.

Authority:

PEN 2900.5(a)

Second Holding:

Involuntary time in treatment counts as credit for time served when attributable to the criminal proceedings.

Authority:

People v. Davis (2023) 87 Cal.App.5th 771, 777 [Section 2900.5 has two components: First, that the placement be custodial, and second, that the custody be attributable to the proceedings relating to the same conduct for which defendant has been convicted]

People v. Billy (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 246, 262-264, [Defendant’s voluntary stay at a rehabilitation facility did not qualify for custody credit under section 2900.5]

Fines and fees, Sentencing

Case 000012

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The restitution fine must be vacated because it was originally imposed more than 10 years ago. The court must calculate the actual time the defendant has already served and credit that against the subsequent sentence.

First Holding:

Restitution fines are uncollectible after 10 years.

Authority:

PEN 1465.9

Second Holding:

The court must recalculate credit for time served on resentencing.

Authority:

People v. Buckhalter (2001) 26 Cal.4th 20, 23

Sentencing, Sixth Amendment, Standard of review

Case 000011

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The trial court prejudicially committed constitutional and statutory error in imposing the upper term sentence based on aggravating factors not tried to the jury. The factors relied on were: the victim’s particular vulnerability; the offense was carried out with planning, sophistication, and professionalism; the defendant engaged in violent conduct which indicated a serious danger to society; the defendant had numerous prior convictions and they were of increasing seriousness.

First Holding:

The defendant is entitled to a jury trial on aggravating factors, which must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt before they can be relied on to impose the upper term (unless they are stipulated to by the defendant).

Authority:

PEN 1170

Second Holding:

The standard of review for evaluating the improper use of untried aggravating fact is whether error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Authority:

Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18

Erlinger v. United States (2024) 602 U.S. 821

Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466

People v. Lynch (2024) 16 Cal.5th 730

Third Holding:

The parties agree the court erred in relying on those circumstances to impose the upper term on the principal count. Their disagreement centers around whether such error was prejudicial under the circumstances. On the record before us, we conclude it was.

Authority:

People v. Wiley (2025) 17 Cal.5th 1069, 1078

People v. French (2008) 43 Cal.4th 36, 47

Discretion, Jurisdiction, Sentencing

Case 000009

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The defendant invited the trial court to recall his sentence under Penal Code section 1170.1. The court appointed counsel and set a hearing date, but concluded at hearing (with the defendant not being present) that no one-year priors were ever alleged [possibly conflating the request with a motion for resentencing under section 1172.5, which does pertain to resentencing on cases that had certain now-invalid prior prison term enhancements but is unrelated to an invitation for recall of a sentence under section 1170.1] and determined that he was not eligible for resentencing under 1172.1. Reversed.

First Holding:

By taking action on a purported motion that defendant did not make, it conferred jurisdiction on the Court of Appeal to rectify the error.

Authority:

Department of Water Resources Environmental Impact Cases (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 556, 573

Second Holding:

A defendant is not entitled to file a petition seeking relief from the court under section 1170.1. If a defendant requests consideration for relief under this section, the court is not required to respond.

Authority:

PEN 1170.1(c)

People v. Hodge (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 985

Third Holding:

The right to appeal is statutory only, and a party may not appeal a trial court’s judgment, order or ruling unless such is expressly made appealable by statute.

Authority:

People v. Loper (2015) 60 Cal.4th 1155, 1159

Fourth Holding:

It is an abuse of discretion when a court applies improper criteria or an incorrect legal standard to decide an issue.

Authority:

Department of Water Resources Environmental Impact Cases (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 556, 573

Amelioration, Elements of crime, Sentencing, Standard of review, Sufficiency of and substantial evidence, Vicarious liability

Case 000008

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The defendant appealed from a postjudgment order denying his petition for resentencing under Penal Code section 1172.6. The appellate court reversed and remanded the matter to the lower court because the evidence was insufficient to support the finding defendant aided and abetted the murder of the officer.

First Holding:

In this instance, the appellate court found that there was insufficient evidence to show that the defendant aided and abetted the murder.

Authority:

SB 1437

People v. Gentile (2020) 10 Cal.5th 830

People v. Wilson (2023) 14 Cal.5th 839, 869

Second Holding:

A trial court’s denial of a section 1172.6 petition is reviewed for substantial evidence. Under this standard, the appellate court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment below to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable trier of fact to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Authority:

People v. Reyes (2023) 14 Cal.5th 981, 988

Third Holding:

Under a direct aider and abettor liability theory, the prosecution must prove the person who is not the actual killer engaged in the requisite acts and had the requisite intent to aid and abet the target crime of murder.

Authority:

People v. Pacheco (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 118, 124

Fourth Holding:

Direct aiding and abetting is based on the combined actus reus of the participants and the aider and abettor’s own mens rea.

Authority:

People v. Powell (2021) 63 Cal.App.5th 689, 712-713

Fifth Holding:

It is well settled that aiding and abetting the commission of a crime requires some affirmative action.

Authority:

People v. Partee (2020) 8 Cal.5th 860, 868

Sixth Holding:

A person present at the scene of a crime—even one who is the criminal’s companion, knows a crime is being committed, fails to prevent it, and later expresses approval of it—is not guilty of aiding and abetting the crime if he takes no action to aid or encourage the crime.

Authority:

In re K.M. (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 323, 329

 

Sentencing

Case: 000007

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The court reversed and remanded with instructions that the defendant be afforded a section 1172.75 resentencing hearing where prior was imposed but stayed or imposed and punishment stricken.

First Holding:

A defendant is eligible for resentencing under Penal Code section 1172.75 (pertaining to recent legislation that eliminated enhancement for certain prior convictions that resulted in prison terms) where the enhancement for the prior conviction had been imposed but stayed or stricken

Authority:

People v. Rhodius (2025) 17 Cal.5th 1050

 

Effective assistance of counsel, Sentencing

Case: 000006

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief:

The trial court did not actually dismiss a prior conviction it had agreed to dismiss under the bargain. The court modified the judgment by dismissing the prior conviction in keeping with the bargain. (It does not appear that the defendant was sentenced to time on the prior; simply the court forgot to dismiss it on sentencing.)

First Holding:

The appellate court reviews the record as it existed at time of the lower court’s ruling.

Authority:

In re Kenneth D. (2024) 16 Cal.5th 1087, 1102 [appellate court reviews record as it existed when lower court ruled]

People v. Mendoza Tello (1997) 15 Cal.4th 264, 266-267 [ineffective assistance must be demonstrated on appellate record]

Second Holding:

A certificate of probable cause is required to challenge on appeal a no contest plea on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Authority:

PEN 1237.5

Rules of Court rule 8.304(b)

People v. Stamps (2020) 9 Cal.5th 685, 694-695

People v. Richardson (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 574, 596 [pre-plea ineffective assistance of counsel]

Third Holding:

A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel requires not only a showing of deficient performance but also prejudice–a reasonable probability, sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome, that but for counsel’s deficient performance, the result of the proceedings would have been different.

Authority:

Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687-688

People v. Patterson (2017) 2 Cal.5th 885, 900

Fourth Holding:

Where counsel’s trial tactics or strategic reasons for challenged decisions do not appear on the record, the court will not find ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal unless there could be no conceivable reason for counsel’s acts or omissions.

Authority:

People v. Nguyen (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1015, 1051

Fifth Holding:

Senate Bill No. 567 does not apply where defendant stipulated to upper term [this issue may still be pending in the Supreme Court].

Authority:

People v. Mitchell (2022) 83 Cal.App.5th 1051, review granted Dec. 14, 2022, S277314 ]Although Senate Bill No. 567’s amendments to section 1170 apply to this case, defendant cannot benefit from them because he stipulated to the upper term]

People v. Todd (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 373, review granted April 26, 2023, S279154 [disagreeing with Mitchell]

Sixth Holding:

Where not charged with substituted enhancement, the court has no authority to make findings that change the character of the crime or increase sentence.

Authority:

People v. Haskin (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 1434, 1440 [because the defendant was not charged with a substituted enhancement, the trial court was without authority to make findings that change the character of the crime or enhancement so as to increase the sentence]

Seventh Holding:

The court must proceed in keeping with Penal Code section 1192.5 and abide by terms of agreement. Because the trial court may not proceed with regard to the plea in a manner other than as specified in the approved plea (§ 1192.5), the trial court’s silence at the sentencing hearing regarding the dismissal of the strike allegation was not an exercise of judicial discretion, but rather a mistake in creating a record of the judgment.

Authority:

PEN 1192.5

In re Candelario (1970) 3 Cal.3d 702, 705

Appellate Principles, Sentencing, Statutory interpretation

Case: 000005

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief:

Section 1172.75 affords relief when the sentence enhancement was imposed but the punishment on the enhancement was stricken. Because the defendant was eligible for relief, the judgment is reversed and remanded to the lower court.

First Holding:

Penal Code 1172.75 affords relief when the sentence enhancement was imposed but the punishment on the enhancement was stricken. Any sentence enhancement that was imposed prior to January 1, 2020, pursuant section 667.5(b), except for any enhancement imposed for a prior conviction for a sexually violent offense as defined section 6600(b) of the Welfare and Institutions Code is legally invalid. If a court determines the current judgment includes an enhancement described in subdivision (a), the court shall recall the sentence and resentence the defendant.

Authority:

PEN 1172.75

People v. Espino (2024) 104 Cal.App.5th 188, 194, review granted Oct. 23, 2024, S286987 [the majority concluded section 1172.75 applies when the punishment for the section 667.5(b) enhancement was imposed but stricken]

People v. Rhodius (2025) 17 Cal.5th 1050, 1054

People v. Cota (2025) 112 Cal.App.5th 1118

Second Holding:

The court reviews de novo interpretations of statutes.

Authority:

People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 961

Third Holding:

The court’s fundamental task in construing statutes is to interpret them in a way that gives effect to the Legislature’s intent.

Authority:

Even Zohar Construction & Remodeling Inc. v. Bellaire Townhouses LLC (2015) 61 Cal.4th 830, 837

Fourth Holding:

Because the statutory language is generally the most reliable indicator of that intent, the court looks first at the words themselves, giving them their usual and ordinary meaning.

Authority:

People v. Ruiz (2018) 4 Cal.5th 1100, 1105

Fifth Holding:

If the statute’s language is unambiguous then its plain meaning controls. If the statute’s language is unclear, ambiguous, or susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation, we may look at extrinsic sources, including legislative history, as a guide to construing the statute.

Authority:

People v. Scott (2014) 58 Cal.4th 1415, 1421