Tag Archives: Prior convictions

Amelioration, Elements of crime, Retroactivity, Sentencing, Standard of review

Case 001006

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The matter is remanded for a new hearing on the defendant’s resentencing under section 1172.75, in light of new case law regarding examination of prior serious felonies and strikes depending on criminal gang activity. Further, the restitution fine must vacated, as it is more than 10 years old.

First Holding:

The Three Strikes law is a sentencing scheme that requires a court to double or sometimes triple the punishment for a felony offense if the defendant was previously convicted of a crime that qualifies as a serious or violent felony. The serious or violent felonies that trigger this sentencing scheme, commonly referred to as strikes or strike priors, are enumerated by statute. The list of serious felonies includes any felony offense that would also constitute a felony violation of section 186.22. Section 186.22 defines substantive gang offenses and gang enhancements.

Authority:

PEN 667(e)

PEN 1170.12(c)

PEN 1192.7(c)(28)

PEN 667.5(c)

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 582

Second Holding:

The Legislature enacted AB 333 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.), which among other things, changed the elements of gang offenses and enhancements by narrowing the definitions of criminal street gang, pattern of criminal activity, and what it means for an offense to have commonly benefitted a street gang. Fletcher held that prior convictions premised on section 186.22 must be examined under currently law in determining whether they qualify as prior serious felony convictions or strikes.

Authority:

AB 333

PEN 186.22

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 585, 587

Third Holding:

When the applicable law governing the defendant’s sentence has substantively changed after sentencing, it is almost always speculative for a reviewing court to say what the sentencing court would have done if it had known the scope of its discretionary powers at the time of sentencing. The Salazar court accordingly held that when a sentencing court was not fully aware of the scope of its discretionary powers, the appropriate remedy is to remand for resentencing unless the record clearly indicates that the trial court would have reached the same conclusion even if it had been aware that it had such discretion.

Though the Salazar decision is premised on the trial court’s scope of discretion being changed during pendency of appeal, whereas here the trial court’s discretion has remained the same but a material fact about defendant’s past record has been modified since the time of sentencing. We nevertheless find the test set forth in Salazar to be applicable here, because the Salazar court itself observed the similarity between the two scenarios: A court that is unaware of the scope of its discretionary powers can no more exercise informed discretion than one whose sentence is or may have been based on misinformation regarding a material aspect of a defendant’s record

Authority:

People v. Salazar (2023) 15 Cal.5th 416, 424-425

Fourth Holding:

Retrial of the strike under the current law would be appropriate, should the prosecutor so choose.

Authority:

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 608

Fifth Holding:

The restitution fine was imposed in 2011. Section 1465.9(d) has been added since then, to provide that any restitution fine is unenforceable and uncollectible upon the expiration of 10 years after date of imposition.

Authority:

PEN 1465.9

Amelioration, Retroactivity, Sentencing

Case 000946

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The true findings on the two prior strike allegations must be vacated because of changes under AB 333. The matter is remanded for retrial on those allegations to determine whether the prior convictions still qualify as strikes or serious felonies under the current law.

First Holding:

AB 333 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) amended section 186.22 by narrowing the definitions of criminal street gang, pattern of criminal activity, and what it means for an offense to have commonly benefitted a street gang.

After appellant filed his opening brief in this appeal, Fletcher resolved a conflict of authority regarding whether prior convictions with gang allegations are affected by these amendments. The court concluded that, with regard to prior convictions that are premised on violations of section 186.22, current law applies in determining whether they qualify as prior serious felony convictions under section 1192.7(c)(28).

Authority:

People v. Tran (2022) 13 Cal.5th 1169, 1206

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 58

Second Holding:

The record here shows defendant’s two pre-2018 convictions included gang enhancements, but provides no information regarding the evidence used to obtain the convictions or the defendant’s underlying conduct. Neither conviction is considered a serious felony within the meaning of section 1192.7 if not for the gang enhancement.

The current law applicable to this nonfinal proceeding includes AB 333’s redefinition of the elements of gang offenses and enhancements under section 186.22. There is no indication that the prior conviction was obtained under AB 333’s more stringent requirements, and the abstract of judgment does not alone prove the elements of the alleged prior serious felony and strike prior enhancements beyond a reasonable doubt.

The appropriate remedy is reversal of the findings on these enhancements for retrial under the correct law.

Authority:

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 606-607

Third Holding:

The true findings on the strike and the prior serious felony enhancement are reversed pursuant to Fletcher. Appellant’s sentence is vacated. The matter is remanded for retrial on the prior serious felony and strike convictions. If appellant is not timely retried regarding the prior strikes or one or both of the prior strikes are not proven, the trial court shall resentence appellant without the strikes. We also remand the matter for a full resentencing.

Authority:

PEN 1382(a)(2)

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 607-608

People v. Watts (2006) 131 Cal.App.4th 589, 597-598

Amelioration, Retroactivity, Sentencing

Case 000945

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The trial court erred by finding the defendant’s prior conviction for gang participation constituted a prior strike conviction within the meaning of the Three Strikes law. The true findings on the prior strike conviction and prior serious felony conviction are vacated and the case is remanded.

First Holding:

The trial court agreed with the prosecution that AB 333 was not before the court for consideration at the trial on whether the defendant suffered a prior strike conviction and a serious felony conviction. he court declined to consider the effect of AB 333 on the prior conviction and found true that the defendant had suffered a prior strike conviction and a prior serious felony conviction.

This was error. AB 333 applies to the determination of whether a prior conviction qualifies as a serious or violent felony. The true findings that the defendant suffered a prior strike conviction and a prior serious felony conviction are vacated and the matter is remanded.

Authority:

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 608

Second Holding:

On remand, if the People decide not to retry the enhancements, or at the conclusion of such a retrial, Jones will be entitled to a full resentencing. The court has a duty to ensure that all components of a sentence are authorized by the law and the facts at the time any new sentence is imposed.

Authority:

People v. Buycks (2018) 5 Cal.5th 857, 893 [When part of a sentence is stricken on review, on remand for resentencing a full resentencing as to all counts is appropriate, so the trial court can exercise its sentencing discretion in light of the changed circumstances.]

People v. Walker (2021) 67 Cal.App.5th 198, 206

 

Amelioration, Sentencing

Case 000943

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

The defendant is entitled to a remand for the trial court to determine whether his strike prior is valid under current law, in light of the AB 333 changes to the gang activity law since the convictions of the purported strike offenses.

First Holding:

The defendant is entitled to a remand for the trial court to determine whether one of his strike priors satisfies the current requirements of the gang statute.

Authority:

AB 333

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 583

Second Holding:

AB 333 amended section 186.22 to provide, among other things, that an offense committed on behalf of a gang may support a substantive gang offense, gang enhancement, or, by definition, a gang special circumstance finding, only if the common benefit to members of a gang is more than reputational. AB 333 applies retroactively to cases pending on appeal

Authority:

PEN 186.22

People v. Tran (2022) 13 Cal.5th 1169, 1206-1207

Third Holding:

Where a defendant has suffered a conviction under the prior version of section 186.22, AB 333 applies to the determination of whether the conviction qualifies as a prior serious felony conviction under section 1192.7(c)(28) for purposes of the Three Strikes law and prior serious felony enhancements.

If the record contains no indication that the defendant’s prior conviction was obtained under AB 333’s more stringent requirements, and the evidence used to prove the existence of the strike prior does not alone prove the elements of the alleged prior serious felony and strike prior enhancements beyond a reasonable doubt, the remedy is to provide the People an opportunity to retry the strike allegation under the current law.

And, if the People elect not to retry the strike prior or fail to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it satisfies the requirements of AB 333, the trial court must dismiss the allegation and conduct a full resentencing.

Authority:

People v. Fletcher (2025) 18 Cal.5th 576, 583, 607

People v. Buycks (2018) 5 Cal.5th 857, 893

Fines and fees, Sentencing

Case 000887

Posted on by Gary McCurdy

Error and/or relief

In this appeal from denial of resentencing under section 1172.75, we find that the court erred in concluding that he was not entitled to resentencing because the prior prison term enhancement had not been imposed.

First Holding:

In Rhodius, the court held that section 1172.75(a) applies to enhancements that were imposed as part of the defendant’s original judgment, regardless of whether the enhancement was stayed or executed.

If the enhancement is no longer authorized under the current version of section 667.5(b), section 1172.75(a) renders the enhancement invalid. And the retroactive invalidation of the previously imposed enhancements in turn mandates resentencing under section 1172.75, according to the procedures set forth therein.

Authority:

PEN 1172.75

People v. Rhodius (2025) 17 Cal.5th 1050, 1068

Second Holding:

In Espino, the court expanded on Rhodius to hold that an enhancement is imposed for purposes of section 1172.75 where the sentencing court strikes the punishment for the enhancement but not the allegation itself. The court explained that imposing a sentence on a criminal defendant has legal effect, and a true finding on a prior prison term allegation is a part of the sentencing order, even when the associated punishment is stricken.

It follows that, as a matter of ordinary usage, an enhancement included in the sentence in a criminal case may be imposed even if the punishment for that enhancement is stricken.

Here, because the jury’s true finding was neither stricken nor dismissed, it remained imposed within the meaning of section 1172.75. The order denying the defendant’s motion for resentencing is reversed and the matter is remanded for a full resentencing under section 1172.75(d), as well as for proceedings on any motion for relief under section 1465.9(d), which states that restitution fines greater than 10 years old must be vacated.

Authority:

PEN 1172.75

PEN 1465.9(d)

People v. Espino (2026) 20 Cal.5th 57

People v. Fuentes (2016) 1 Cal.5th 218, 225, [striking the punishment for an enhancement merely serves to prohibit a certain purpose for which the allegation may be used; it does not operate to defeat the factual finding of the truth of the allegation]