In re Webb

229 Cal. Rptr. 3d 16, 20 Cal. App. 5th 44
California Court of Appeal, 5th District·Decided January 31, 2018·No. D072981·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

O'ROURKE, J.

*47Bettie Webb was arrested and eventually charged in a felony complaint with knowingly bringing controlled substances into a state prison ( Pen. Code,1 § 4573 ) and unauthorized possession of a controlled substance in a prison (§ 4573.6). She posted a $50,000 bond in accordance with the bail schedule and was released. At her arraignment, Webb pleaded not guilty to the charges, but over her objection the magistrate imposed a condition that she would be subject to a Fourth Amendment waiver, finding it had inherent authority to do so.2 She petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus in the superior court challenging the search condition. Pointing out the magistrate had not made a verified showing of facts, the superior court denied the petition, citing facts developed at Webb's preliminary hearing.3

*19Webb files the present petition for a writ of habeas corpus contending the magistrate lacked statutory or inherent authority to impose the bail search *48condition, and imposition of the condition constitutes a pretrial restraint without due process protections such as notice and a hearing or any showing that she poses a heightened risk of misbehaving while on bail. Webb has properly sought habeas relief on this issue. ( People v. Standish (2006) 38 Cal.4th 858, 884, 43 Cal.Rptr.3d 785, 135 P.3d 32 ["it is settled that defendants may correct error in the setting of bail by seeking a writ of habeas corpus ... ordering reconsideration of custody status or release"]; In re Douglas (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 236, 247, 132 Cal.Rptr.3d 582.) We issued an order to show cause, and conclude the trial court had no authority to condition Webb's bail on a waiver of her Fourth Amendment rights. Accordingly, we grant Webb's petition and order the search condition stricken from her bail order.

DISCUSSION

I. Review Standard

On this habeas corpus appeal, " '[o]ur standard of review is de novo with respect to questions of law and the application of the law to the facts.' " ( In re Hansen (2014) 227 Cal.App.4th 906, 914, 174 Cal.Rptr.3d 146.) Here, the basic facts are undisputed, and the question before us is primarily one of law. Additionally, the trial court did not conduct an evidentiary hearing in denying Webb's habeas petition below, but, as stated, merely cited testimony from her preliminary hearing. When, as here, a superior court considers a petition for habeas corpus without an evidentiary hearing, " 'the question presented on appeal is a question of law, which the appellate court reviews de novo. [Citation.]' [Citation.] Similarly, when a trial court makes findings 'based solely upon documentary evidence, we independently review the record.' " (Cf. In re Stevenson (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 841, 857, 152 Cal.Rptr.3d 457, quoting In re Rosenkrantz (2002) 29 Cal.4th 616, 677, 128 Cal.Rptr.2d 104, 59 P.3d 174 ; In re Zepeda (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1493, 1497, 47 Cal.Rptr.3d 172 [deferential review unwarranted where trial court holds no evidentiary hearing on habeas petition and court grants petition based solely upon documentary evidence].)

II. Legal Principles

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In re Webb, 229 Cal. Rptr. 3d 16, 20 Cal. App. 5th 44 (Cal. Ct. App. 2018).

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