1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CIRON B. SPRINGFIELD, ) NO. SACV 20-428-DDP (AGR) ) 12 Petitioner, ) ) 13 ) OPINION AND ORDER ON JARED D. LOZANO, ) PETITION FOR WRIT OF 14 ) HABEAS CORPUS Respondent. ) 15 ) ) 16 ) ) 17 18 On February 24, 2020, Petitioner constructively filed a Petition for Writ of 19 Habeas Corpus (“Petition”) that seeks a court order (1) finding that his parents 20 are liable for payment of restitution ordered as part of his criminal judgment; and 21 (2) requiring the prison to reimburse Petitioner for funds previously deducted from 22 his prison account for payment of the restitution. (Petition at 5D, 5E.) I. 23 PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 24 25 On October 26, 1998, the prosecution filed a Petition to Declare Minor a 26 Ward of the Court pursuant to Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 602.1 (Exh. 1 to Petition.) 27 1 “Except as provided in Section 707, any minor who is between 12 years 28 of age and 17 years of age, inclusive, when he or she violates any law of this 1 The petition contained a Notice of Financial Liability to the parents regarding joint 2 and several liability for any restitution order. (Id. at 2.) Although the copy of Exh. 3 1 was cut off on the right margin, Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 730.7 provides, in 4 pertinent part, as follows: “In a case in which a minor is ordered to make 5 restitution to the victim or victims, . . . a parent or guardian who has joint or sole 6 legal and physical custody and control of the minor shall be rebuttably presumed 7 to be jointly and severally liable with the minor in accordance with Sections 8 1714.1 and 1714.3 of the Civil Code for the amount of restitution . . . so ordered, 9 up to the limits provided in those sections, subject to the court’s consideration of 10 the parent’s or guardian’s inability to pay. . . .” 11 A jury found Petitioner guilty of first degree murder and attempted robbery, 12 and found true a firearm enhancement. Petitioner was sentenced to 50 years to 13 life. (Petition at 2; Exh. 2 at 3 to Petition.) On January 28, 2000, the Orange 14 County Superior Court entered a minute order after sentencing. Petitioner was 15 ordered to pay a restitution fine of $2000 and victim restitution in the amount of 16 $12,461. The Court ordered that “rest. to be paid from prison wages.” (Exh. 3 at 17 2 to Petition.) 18 Petitioner states that on July 31, 2017, he filed a Request to Modify 19 Restitution Per P.C. 1202.4(b)(1)and (f)(1).”2 (Petition at 5C.) After not receiving 20 a ruling within 60 days, Petitioner filed a second motion and a state habeas 21 corpus petition. On November 20, 2017, the Superior Court denied his request 22 23 minor to be a ward of the court.” Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 602(a). 24 2 “The restitution fine shall be set at the discretion of the court and 25 commensurate with the seriousness of the offense. If the person is convicted of a felony, the fine shall not be less than three hundred dollars ($300) and not more 26 than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).” Cal. Penal Code § 1202.4(b)(1). With respect to the victim restitution order: “The court may modify the 27 amount, on its own motion or on the motion of the district attorney, the victim or victims, or the defendant.” Id. § 1202.4(f)(1). 28 1 for modification of restitution.3 (Petition at 5C.) 2 Petitioner filed a notice of appeal. The California Court of Appeal issued an 3 order advising Petitioner that it was considering dismissing the appeal from a 4 non-appealable order and inviting him to file points and authorities “to explain why 5 the appeal should not be dismissed.” (Exh. 7 to Petition (citing Cal. Penal Code § 6 1202.4(g) and People v. Turrin, 176 Cal. App. 4th 1200 (2009) (holding trial court 7 lacks jurisdiction to modify restitution fine and therefore order denying motion 8 requesting modification is not appealable).) Petitioner filed a memorandum in 9 response to the Court’s order. (Petition at 5D.) On March 1, 2018, the California 10 Court of Appeal noted Petitioner’s arguments that “the trial court retains 11 jurisdiction to modify restitution orders, he has demonstrated his inability to pay, 12 and the restitution order is incorrect.” (Exh. 8 to Petition.) The Court dismissed 13 the appeal on its own motion and for good cause. (Id. (citing Cal. Penal Code §§ 14 1202.4(f)-(g) and 1237(b), and Turrin). 15 On June 20, 2019, Petitioner filed a state habeas petition in the California 16 Supreme Court. On September 25, 2019, the California Supreme Court denied 17 the petition as untimely and successive. (Exh. 10 to Petition.) 18 II. 19 DISCUSSION 20 A federal court “shall entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in 21 behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on 22 the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties 23 of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). 24 The term “in custody” appears twice in the statute. “The first requirement is 25 that the petition be filed ‘in behalf of a person in custody,’ and the second is that 26 27 3 Petitioner states that his request and the Superior Court’s order are attached as Exhibits 4 and 5. The court did not receive those exhibits. 28 1 the application for the writ of habeas can only be entertained ‘on the ground that 2 [the petitioner] is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of 3 the United States.’” Bailey v. Hill, 599 F.3d 976, 978 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting 28 4 U.S.C. § 2254(a)). 5 Petitioner has satisfied the first requirement, namely, that he is in custody 6 pursuant to the state judgment of conviction and sentence challenged in the 7 Petition. Id. at 978-79. 8 Petitioner, however, does not satisfy the second requirement. In Bailey, a 9 state prisoner challenged the restitution portion of his sentence. The Ninth Circuit 10 observed that the imposition of a restitution order alone would not satisfy § 11 2254(a)’s jurisdictional requirements. Id. at 979. The court concluded that the 12 result is the same when the prisoner is in physical custody pursuant to the state 13 court judgment when he challenges the restitution order. “The plain meaning of 14 the text of § 2254(a) makes clear that physical custody alone is insufficient to 15 confer jurisdiction.” Id. at 980. The statutory language “explicitly requires a 16 nexus between the petitioner’s claim and the unlawful nature of the custody.” Id. 17 Bailey’s challenge to the restitution order lacks any nexus, as 18 required by the plain text of § 2254(a), to his custody. While 19 Bailey’s liberty has been severely restrained by his 20 conviction and sentence, the remedy that Bailey seeks, the 21 elimination or alteration of a money judgment, does not 22 directly impact – and is not directed at the source of the 23 restraint on – his liberty. If successful, Bailey could reduce 24 his liability for restitution but would still have to serve the rest 25 of his custodial sentence in the same manner; his remedy 26 would affect only the fact or quantity of the restitution that he 27 has to pay to the victim.” 28 1 Id. at 981. Thus, “§ 2254(a) does not confer jurisdiction over a state prisoner’s in- 2 custody challenge to a restitution order imposed as part of a criminal sentence.” 3 Id. at 982.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CIRON B. SPRINGFIELD, ) NO. SACV 20-428-DDP (AGR) ) 12 Petitioner, ) ) 13 ) OPINION AND ORDER ON JARED D. LOZANO, ) PETITION FOR WRIT OF 14 ) HABEAS CORPUS Respondent. ) 15 ) ) 16 ) ) 17 18 On February 24, 2020, Petitioner constructively filed a Petition for Writ of 19 Habeas Corpus (“Petition”) that seeks a court order (1) finding that his parents 20 are liable for payment of restitution ordered as part of his criminal judgment; and 21 (2) requiring the prison to reimburse Petitioner for funds previously deducted from 22 his prison account for payment of the restitution. (Petition at 5D, 5E.) I. 23 PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 24 25 On October 26, 1998, the prosecution filed a Petition to Declare Minor a 26 Ward of the Court pursuant to Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 602.1 (Exh. 1 to Petition.) 27 1 “Except as provided in Section 707, any minor who is between 12 years 28 of age and 17 years of age, inclusive, when he or she violates any law of this 1 The petition contained a Notice of Financial Liability to the parents regarding joint 2 and several liability for any restitution order. (Id. at 2.) Although the copy of Exh. 3 1 was cut off on the right margin, Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 730.7 provides, in 4 pertinent part, as follows: “In a case in which a minor is ordered to make 5 restitution to the victim or victims, . . . a parent or guardian who has joint or sole 6 legal and physical custody and control of the minor shall be rebuttably presumed 7 to be jointly and severally liable with the minor in accordance with Sections 8 1714.1 and 1714.3 of the Civil Code for the amount of restitution . . . so ordered, 9 up to the limits provided in those sections, subject to the court’s consideration of 10 the parent’s or guardian’s inability to pay. . . .” 11 A jury found Petitioner guilty of first degree murder and attempted robbery, 12 and found true a firearm enhancement. Petitioner was sentenced to 50 years to 13 life. (Petition at 2; Exh. 2 at 3 to Petition.) On January 28, 2000, the Orange 14 County Superior Court entered a minute order after sentencing. Petitioner was 15 ordered to pay a restitution fine of $2000 and victim restitution in the amount of 16 $12,461. The Court ordered that “rest. to be paid from prison wages.” (Exh. 3 at 17 2 to Petition.) 18 Petitioner states that on July 31, 2017, he filed a Request to Modify 19 Restitution Per P.C. 1202.4(b)(1)and (f)(1).”2 (Petition at 5C.) After not receiving 20 a ruling within 60 days, Petitioner filed a second motion and a state habeas 21 corpus petition. On November 20, 2017, the Superior Court denied his request 22 23 minor to be a ward of the court.” Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 602(a). 24 2 “The restitution fine shall be set at the discretion of the court and 25 commensurate with the seriousness of the offense. If the person is convicted of a felony, the fine shall not be less than three hundred dollars ($300) and not more 26 than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).” Cal. Penal Code § 1202.4(b)(1). With respect to the victim restitution order: “The court may modify the 27 amount, on its own motion or on the motion of the district attorney, the victim or victims, or the defendant.” Id. § 1202.4(f)(1). 28 1 for modification of restitution.3 (Petition at 5C.) 2 Petitioner filed a notice of appeal. The California Court of Appeal issued an 3 order advising Petitioner that it was considering dismissing the appeal from a 4 non-appealable order and inviting him to file points and authorities “to explain why 5 the appeal should not be dismissed.” (Exh. 7 to Petition (citing Cal. Penal Code § 6 1202.4(g) and People v. Turrin, 176 Cal. App. 4th 1200 (2009) (holding trial court 7 lacks jurisdiction to modify restitution fine and therefore order denying motion 8 requesting modification is not appealable).) Petitioner filed a memorandum in 9 response to the Court’s order. (Petition at 5D.) On March 1, 2018, the California 10 Court of Appeal noted Petitioner’s arguments that “the trial court retains 11 jurisdiction to modify restitution orders, he has demonstrated his inability to pay, 12 and the restitution order is incorrect.” (Exh. 8 to Petition.) The Court dismissed 13 the appeal on its own motion and for good cause. (Id. (citing Cal. Penal Code §§ 14 1202.4(f)-(g) and 1237(b), and Turrin). 15 On June 20, 2019, Petitioner filed a state habeas petition in the California 16 Supreme Court. On September 25, 2019, the California Supreme Court denied 17 the petition as untimely and successive. (Exh. 10 to Petition.) 18 II. 19 DISCUSSION 20 A federal court “shall entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in 21 behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on 22 the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties 23 of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). 24 The term “in custody” appears twice in the statute. “The first requirement is 25 that the petition be filed ‘in behalf of a person in custody,’ and the second is that 26 27 3 Petitioner states that his request and the Superior Court’s order are attached as Exhibits 4 and 5. The court did not receive those exhibits. 28 1 the application for the writ of habeas can only be entertained ‘on the ground that 2 [the petitioner] is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of 3 the United States.’” Bailey v. Hill, 599 F.3d 976, 978 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting 28 4 U.S.C. § 2254(a)). 5 Petitioner has satisfied the first requirement, namely, that he is in custody 6 pursuant to the state judgment of conviction and sentence challenged in the 7 Petition. Id. at 978-79. 8 Petitioner, however, does not satisfy the second requirement. In Bailey, a 9 state prisoner challenged the restitution portion of his sentence. The Ninth Circuit 10 observed that the imposition of a restitution order alone would not satisfy § 11 2254(a)’s jurisdictional requirements. Id. at 979. The court concluded that the 12 result is the same when the prisoner is in physical custody pursuant to the state 13 court judgment when he challenges the restitution order. “The plain meaning of 14 the text of § 2254(a) makes clear that physical custody alone is insufficient to 15 confer jurisdiction.” Id. at 980. The statutory language “explicitly requires a 16 nexus between the petitioner’s claim and the unlawful nature of the custody.” Id. 17 Bailey’s challenge to the restitution order lacks any nexus, as 18 required by the plain text of § 2254(a), to his custody. While 19 Bailey’s liberty has been severely restrained by his 20 conviction and sentence, the remedy that Bailey seeks, the 21 elimination or alteration of a money judgment, does not 22 directly impact – and is not directed at the source of the 23 restraint on – his liberty. If successful, Bailey could reduce 24 his liability for restitution but would still have to serve the rest 25 of his custodial sentence in the same manner; his remedy 26 would affect only the fact or quantity of the restitution that he 27 has to pay to the victim.” 28 1 Id. at 981. Thus, “§ 2254(a) does not confer jurisdiction over a state prisoner’s in- 2 custody challenge to a restitution order imposed as part of a criminal sentence.” 3 Id. at 982. 4 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States 5 Courts provides that “[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the petition and any 6 attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court, the 7 judge must dismiss the petition and direct the clerk to notify the petitioner.” 8 Summary dismissal is appropriate in this case because the court lacks jurisdiction 9 over the Petition. 10 The court takes judicial notice that Petitioner has a separate pending 11 habeas action in this court in which he contends: (1) he is entitled to 12 resentencing under the retroactive application of Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 13 (2012); (2) he is entitled to a Franklin hearing to create a record of youth-related 14 Miller factors for use in future parole hearings; and (3) he is entitled to recall or 15 reconsideration of his sentence under Cal. Penal Code § 1170(d)(2). Springfield 16 v. Asuncion, CV 19-13 DDP (AGR) (hereinafter Springfield I).. 17 Petitioner has understandably filed a separate habeas petition to challenge 18 the restitution order because the two petitions are inconsistent. In the Petition 19 filed in this case, Petitioner seeks to shift liability for payment of restitution to his 20 parents and obtain reimbursement of the restitution he has already paid. (Petition 21 at 5D-5E.) Petitioner also alleges an inability to pay restitution. (Id. at 5C.) By 22 contrast, in Springfield I, Petitioner states that he has already paid the entirety of 23 his restitution obligation of $14,451 and relies on that fact, among others, to 24 support his grounds for relief. (Springfield I, Dkt. No. 12 at 239, 253.) The court 25 26 27 28 1 therefore declines, on its own motion, to consolidate the two petitions.’ 2 ll. 3 ORDER 4 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Judgment be entered summarily 5 dismissing the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. 6 7 8 DATED: March 29, 2021 DEAN D. PREGERSON 9 United States District Judge 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 “ Nor has Petitioner identified any legal basis for jurisdiction in this court for 27 a aim to impose Tabllity on Petitioner's parents for the restitution order and 28