People v. Ayala CA5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 9, 2022
DocketF081454
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Ayala CA5 (People v. Ayala 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
People v. Ayala CA5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

Filed 6/9/22 P. v. Ayala 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

THE PEOPLE, F081454 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. VCF266152) v.

JOSE AYALA, OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Kathryn T. Montejano, Judge. Rachel Varnell, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra and Rob Bonta, Attorneys General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen and Brook A. Bennigson, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo- The charges in this case arose from multiple sexual offenses allegedly committed by defendant Jose Ayala between 2010 and 2012 against a victim under the age of 14 years.1 This appeal follows defendant’s conviction on one count by plea and sentencing. As discussed herein, defendant’s appeal is dismissed in part as barred by his waiver of appellate rights and in part because the postappeal fines and fees order he challenges was entered in the absence of jurisdiction, rendering it unappealable. As to the remaining issues, we strike the unauthorized fine of $1,000 imposed under Penal Code section 294, subdivision (b),2 and we remand the matter for further proceedings in light of the trial court’s failure to impose the mandatory penalty assessments attached to the $300 fine under section 290.3, subdivision (a). PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In 2019, defendant was charged with the following five offenses: one count of committing a lewd or lascivious act against a child under the age of 14 years (count 1), two counts of kidnapping for the purpose of child molestation (counts 2 and 3), and two counts of kidnapping by force or fear (counts 4 and 5). (§§ 288, subd. (a), 207, subds. (a), (b).) As to count 1, the information alleged personal infliction of great bodily injury (GBI) and kidnap of a victim under the age of 14 years (§§ 12022.7, subd. (a), 667.8, subd. (b)), “substantial sexual conduct with a victim who is under 14 years of age” (§ 1203.066, subd. (a)(8)), and personal infliction of GBI and bodily harm on a victim under the age of 14 years within the meaning of the One Strike law (§ 667.61, subd. (d)(6)–(7)).3 As to counts 1, 2, and 3, the information alleged that defendant

1 We need not summarize the underlying facts, as they are not relevant to the issues raised on appeal. 2 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated. 3 At the preliminary hearing, the prosecution presented evidence that in 2011, the victim gave birth to a child fathered by defendant. The GBI allegations were based on the victim’s pregnancy.

2. suffered one prior serious or violent felony conviction within the meaning of the Three Strikes law (§§ 667, subds. (b)–(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)–(d)), and alleged a prior serious felony conviction enhancement and prior prison term enhancement (§§ 667, subd. (a)(1), 667.5, subd. (a)). Finally, as to counts 4 and 5, the information alleged an alternate penalty provision for kidnap of a victim under the age of 14 years by a nonparent or guardian. (§ 208, subd. (b).) Facing a lengthy indeterminate prison term, in January 2020, defendant pleaded no contest to count 1 and the GBI, the prior felony conviction, and the prior prison term enhancements in exchange for a 17-year prison sentence comprised of the middle term of six years on count 1 and consecutive sentences of three years for the GBI enhancement, five years for the prior felony conviction enhancement, and three years for the prior prison term enhancement. When defendant entered his plea, the trial court advised him he may be required to pay restitution and pay a restitution fine of between $300 and $10,000. As a term of the plea bargain, defendant waived his right to appeal. In July 2020, defendant was sentenced to a total determinate term of 17 years in prison, in accordance with the plea bargain. In addition, the trial court imposed a restitution fine of $5,100 under Penal Code section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1); a parole revocation restitution fine of $5,100 under Penal Code section 1202.45, subdivision (a), suspended; a court operations assessment of $40 under Penal Code section 1465.8, subdivision (a)(1); a court facilities assessment of $30 under Government Code section 70373, subdivision (a)(1); a sex offense restitution fine of $1,000 under Penal Code section 294, subdivision (b); and a sex offender fine of $300 under Penal Code section 290.3, subdivision (a). Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal and obtained a certificate of probable cause from the trial court. (§§ 1237, 1237.5.) On appeal, defendant claims imposition of both the prior serious felony conviction enhancement and the prior prison term enhancement resulted in an unauthorized

3. sentence, the claim is cognizable notwithstanding his waiver of appellate rights, and the prior prison term enhancement must be stricken. (People v. Jones (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1142, 1150 [“[W]hen multiple statutory enhancement provisions are available for the same prior offense, one of which is a section 667 enhancement, the greatest enhancement, but only that one, will apply.”]; accord, People v. Scully (2021) 11 Cal.5th 542, 612.) Relying on People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th 1157 (Dueñas), defendant also claims that trial counsel’s failure to object to the fines and fees constituted ineffective assistance of counsel and, in supplemental briefing, he claims the trial court erred when it denied in part his postappeal request for relief from the fines and fees. The People argue that defendant waived his right to appeal imposition of the prior felony conviction enhancement, the prior prison term enhancement and the restitution fine. Regarding his Dueñas claim, the People argue defendant fails to show that trial counsel was ineffective or that he suffered prejudice. They also argue the trial court lacked jurisdiction to rule on defendant’s postappeal motion for relief from the fines and fees. We directed the parties to file supplemental briefs on the issues of error and, assuming error, remedy with respect to the trial court’s imposition of a sex offense fine under section 294, subdivision (b), and its failure to include the penalty assessments when it imposed a sex offender restitution fine under section 290.3, subdivision (a). (Gov. Code, § 68081.) The parties agree that the trial court erred as to both issues; the unauthorized sex offense fine should be stricken; and the matter should be remanded to the trial court regarding imposition of the penalty assessments attached to the sex offender fine. As set forth below, we conclude that defendant waived his right to appeal imposition of the five-year prior felony conviction enhancement, three-year prior prison term enhancement, and restitution fine of $5,100; and we conclude that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to address defendant’s postappeal motion for relief from fines and

4. fees. Therefore, defendant’s appeal is dismissed as to those issues. However, the trial court erred when it imposed a fine under section 294, subdivision (b), which does not apply to convictions under section 288, and it erred when it failed to impose the penalty assessments attached to the fine under section 290.3, subdivision (a).

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Ayala CA5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ayala-ca5-calctapp-2022.