In re C.G. CA5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 21, 2024
DocketF087110
StatusUnpublished

This text of In re C.G. CA5 (In re C.G. CA5) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re C.G. CA5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

Filed 8/21/24 In re C.G. CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

In re C.G., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

THE PEOPLE, F087110

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 23JL-00106A)

v. OPINION C.G.,

Defendant and Appellant.

THE COURT* APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Merced County. Mark V. Bacciarini, Judge. Candice L. Christensen, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Louis M. Vasquez, Lewis A. Martinez and Joseph Penney, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo-

* Before Franson, Acting P. J., Meehan, J. and Snauffer, J. Minor C.G. contends on appeal that the juvenile court’s disposition order must be reversed and the matter remanded because the court abused its discretion when it imposed probation condition No. 16 (the electronic devices search condition) and probation condition No. 35 (the gang condition). The People disagree. We affirm. PROCEDURAL SUMMARY On September 18, 2023, an amended juvenile wardship petition was filed in Merced County Superior Court, pursuant to Welfare & Institutions Code section 602.11 alleging minor committed attempted murder (Pen. Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 664; count 1); conspiracy (Pen. Code, § 182; count 2); and battery with serious bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 243, subd. (d); count 3). As to count 1, it was further alleged minor inflicted great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 12022.7). It was also alleged minor was ineligible for probation because he was armed with a deadly weapon (Pen. Code, § 1203, subd. (e)(1)). Minor was detained after a Dennis H. hearing.2 On October 11, 2023, the court granted the People’s oral motion to amend count 1 to assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)), dismiss the remaining counts, and strike the section 12022.7 enhancement. Minor pled no contest to the amended count 1 and the section 1203, subdivision (e)(1) enhancement. On October 25, 2023, the juvenile court held a disposition hearing. Minor was adjudged a ward of the court and committed to the Bear Creek Academy Short Term Commitment Program, level III. The court imposed probation with various conditions. The court also imposed a fine and victim restitution. On November 21, 2023, minor filed a notice of appeal.

1 All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise noted. 2 In re Dennis H. (1971) 19 Cal.App.3d 350.

2. FACTUAL SUMMARY E.R.3 was sitting on a bench at a park when minor and his brother, A.M., approached and confronted him. Minor was armed with a kitchen knife and A.M. was armed with a hammer. Minor told E.R. he was “going to die today.” Minor then told A.M. “just hit [E.R.] already.” A.M. hit E.R. on the head with the claw end of the hammer. A.M. and minor ran away. The blow from A.M.’s hammer fractured E.R.’s skull and caused a brain bleed. E.R. was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and a metal plate was implanted on his skull to stabilize the fracture. The police viewed surveillance video footage of the incident. E.R. identified minor to police by a photograph they showed him. Police searched minor’s home and found a kitchen knife in minor’s bedroom and the hammer in A.M.’s bedroom. DISCUSSION I. Probation Condition No. 16 (Electronic Devices Search Condition) Minor contends the juvenile court abused its discretion when it imposed probation condition No. 16, the “electronic devices search” condition. The People disagree, as do we. A. Background During the disposition hearing, the juvenile court stated it was going to impose probation condition No. 16. It stated minor must,

“Submit to search of all electronic devices, including cell phones and computers at any time of the day or night by any Probation Officer or Peace Officer with or without a warrant, probable cause, or reasonable suspicion over which the minor has control over or access to for electronic communication. Minor must provide access/password to any electronic

3 Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 8.90, we refer to some persons by their initials. No disrespect is intended.

3. devices, computers, cell phones, accounts and applications to any Probation Officer or Peace Officer. Minor waives the specific consent and warrant requirements set forth in [sections] 1546 and 1546.1 of the California Penal Code.” Defense counsel objected, arguing there was no nexus between the condition and the crime, stating,

“There was no use of electronic devices, social media, [or] otherwise in this incident. It happened during the day at the park, so I would object to that.” The prosecution disagreed, arguing the condition would ensure compliance with the protective order imposed, ordering minor to stay away from the victim. He stated,

“Regarding [probation condition No.] 16 for the electronic device search, we actually—in the facts of the case it says that it first happened on [a social media application], and there is a lot of discussion in between [minor] and the victim, so we believe it’s necessary to have a possibility of searching his phone because just for the stay-away order, to control that he’s not communicating with the victim or someone who is related to the case.” Defense counsel responded,

“Your Honor, I just have one quick comment with regard to the search of electronic devices. There was a social media aspect, and this is where the detective was able to identify [minor] based on his social media profile. And on that, I’ll submit.” The juvenile court overruled minor’s objection and imposed probation condition No. 16, stating minor was required to:

“[S]ubmit to a search of any electronic devices under your control, including cellphones and computers … any time of the day or night, with or without a warrant, with or without probable cause, by any probation officer or peace officer.” B. Law When a minor is made a ward of the juvenile court and placed on probation, the court “may impose ‘any and all reasonable [probation] conditions that it may determine fitting and proper to the end that justice may be done and the reformation and

4. rehabilitation of the ward enhanced.’ ” (In re Victor L. (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 902, 910, citing § 730, subd. (b).) “ ‘In fashioning the conditions of probation, the … court should consider the minor’s entire social history in addition to the circumstances of the crime.’ ” (In re R.V. (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 239, 246.) The juvenile court has greater authority in setting probation conditions for juveniles pursuant to section 730, subdivision (b), than the court’s authority to set conditions in an adult criminal case. (§ 730, subd. (b).) A condition that would be unconstitutional applied to an adult probationer may be permissible for a minor. (In re Sheena K. (2007) 40 Cal.4th 875, 889.) Juveniles are in greater “need of guidance and supervision than adults” and “a minor’s constitutional rights are more circumscribed.” (In re Antonio R. (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 937, 941.) Additionally, the court stands in the shoes of a parent, and a parent may permissibly curtail the constitutional rights of its child. (In re Frank V. (1991) 233 Cal.App.3d 1232, 1242–1243.) However, while a juvenile court’s discretion to impose probation conditions is broad, it has limits. (In re D.G.

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