People v. Butler

243 Cal. App. 4th 1346, 197 Cal. Rptr. 3d 392, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 30
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 15, 2016
DocketNo. B259153
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 243 Cal. App. 4th 1346 (People v. Butler) 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. Butler, 243 Cal. App. 4th 1346, 197 Cal. Rptr. 3d 392, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 30 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

[1348]*1348Opinion

TURNER, P. J.—

I. INTRODUCTION

A jury convicted defendant, Samuel Butler, of misdemeanor false imprisonment (Pen. Code, § 236)1 and felony resisting an executive officer (§ 69). Defendant was sentenced to concurrent terms totaling two years in the county jail. Prior to the amendments resulting from the Criminal Justice Realignment Act of 2011, former section 1202.45 required imposition and stay of a parole revocation restitution fine on defendants sentenced to prison. As we shall explain, section 1202.45 has since been amended to provide for parole, postrelease community supervision or mandatory supervision revocation restitution fines. (§ 1202.45, subds. (a)-(b).) The trial court imposed what is characterized in the record as a section 1202.45 revocation fine. In the published portion of the opinion, we conclude no type of section 1202.45, subdivisions (a) and (b) revocation restitution fine could have been imposed. We modify the judgment and affirm it as modified.

II. THE EVIDENCE

On April 13, 2014, defendant was arrested following a fight with his wife, Milagros Vasquez. Ms. Vasquez, a reluctant witness, testified as follows. Defendant was not living with Ms. Vasquez at that time of the fight. But defendant came to Ms. Vasquez’s apartment that evening at her request. Ms. Vasquez’s three children — ages four, six and nine — were present. Defendant is the biological father of the younger two children.

Defendant and Ms. Vasquez had an argument in the hallway. Ms. Vasquez was angry and yelling. She went into the bedroom and began throwing defendant’s belongings around. Defendant told her, “Don’t go crazy.” They began hugging and kissing, but then Ms. Vasquez slapped defendant in the face. Defendant restrained her hands so she could not slap him again. Defendant was lying on top of Ms. Vasquez on the bed holding her hands so she could not hit him when two police officers arrived.

Ms. Vasquez telephoned an emergency operator. Ms. Vasquez said there was no emergency, but requested that the police be sent to her apartment. Ms. Vasquez said defendant had arrived at her apartment in violation of a restraining order. In the telephone call, Ms. Vasquez also said, “[H]e has my son.” At one point, the emergency operator asked: “[Y]ou said he has your [1349]*1349son. What does that mean?” Ms. Vasquez responded, “Yeah. Yeah,” and then said her son’s name. At trial, Ms. Vasquez at first denied it was her voice on the recording. Upon further questioning, Ms. Vasquez admitted calling the emergency operator.

Francesca Gonzales lived across the hall from Ms. Vasquez. Ms. Gonzales sometimes babysat Ms. Vasquez’s children. On the evening defendant was arrested, Ms. Vasquez’s oldest child, “Coco,” knocked on Ms. Gonzales’s door. Coco asked Ms. Gonzales to help Ms. Vasquez. Ms. Gonzales went into Ms. Vasquez’s bedroom. She saw defendant on top of Ms. Vasquez. Defendant was holding Ms. Vasquez down by her waist. Defendant had his arms around Ms. Vasquez’s waist. Defendant was saying: “I want to talk to you. Calm down.” Ms. Vasquez was trying to get away. She was yelling at defendant to get off her and to let her go. Ms. Vasquez appeared to be angry. As Ms. Gonzales left to call an emergency operator, police officers arrived.

Officer Steve Tallakson and a partner, Officer Deantraye Dantzler, arrived in response to Ms. Vasquez’s telephone call. As the officers approached the apartment, Officer Tallakson could hear Ms. Vasquez screaming, “Let me go.” Ms. Gonzales told Officer Tallakson: “He’s in there. He won’t let her go.” Coco told Officer Tallakson: “He’s hurting my Mommy. He won’t let her go.”

Officer Tallakson entered the bedroom. Officer Tallakson saw defendant holding Ms. Vasquez, who was on her back, down on the bed. Defendant was lying on his side looking directly at Ms. Vasquez. Officer Tallakson described how hard defendant was squeezing Ms. Vasquez: “He was squeezing her. You could see the veins popping out of his arms. [¶] . . . The muscles were tense. Veins were popping out of the neck. . . .” Defendant had his arms and legs wrapped around Ms. Vasquez in a manner that prevented her from moving. According to Officer Tallakson, Ms. Vasquez was struggling to get away from defendant. Ms. Vasquez pleaded for the officers to help her. She said: “Help me, help me. Let me go.” Defendant said multiple times, “Tell them I didn’t do anything.” Officer Tallakson repeatedly ordered defendant to release Ms. Vasquez. Defendant did not comply. The two officers attempted to pull defendant off Ms. Vasquez.

Officer Tallakson described what happened as the struggle ensued: “He whips his head back to look at me and then throws his left arm up at me. [¶] . . . He has closed fist — closed his fist, swung his arm up in my chest and head area because I was bending over.” Officer Tallakson radioed for backup. Defendant grabbed the microphone from Officer Tallakson. The struggle continued as the officers attempted to restrain defendant and Ms. Vasquez tried to get free. Defendant grabbed Officer Tallakson’s radio. Defendant tucked the radio under his waist and lay face down on the bed. As the [1350]*1350straggle ensued, Officer Dantzler placed a second radio call for backup. Defendant then reached up and knocked the radio out of Officer Dantzler’s hand. Eventually, with the help of two additional officers, Officers Tallakson and Dantzler gained control of defendant.

Officer Tallakson spoke with Ms. Vasquez later that evening. She was distraught, crying and complaining of pain. She said defendant had held her down and would not let her go. Officer Tallakson did not see any injuries on Ms. Vasquez.

On April 2, 2014, 11 days prior to the present incident, Officer Alan Coleman and a partner were present near Ms. Vasquez’s apartment building. Officer Coleman saw defendant on top of Ms. Vasquez. The two were struggling. Ms. Vasquez was calling for help. Defendant was on top of Ms. Vasquez on the sidewalk straddling her upper body. Defendant’s arms were on top of Ms. Vasquez’s arms. As Officer Coleman exited his police car, Ms. Vasquez broke free and ran toward him. Ms. Vasquez appeared to be injured. Ms. Vasquez told Officer Coleman: she had a physical fight with defendant inside her apartment; defendant was angry and grabbed at her neck; she broke free and ran outside; and defendant chased her and tackled her to the ground.

III. DISCUSSION

A.-E.*

F. No Revocation Restitution Fine Could Be Imposed

Defendant committed his misdemeanor and felony violations on April 13, 2014, and was sentenced on September 4, 2014. Defendant was sentenced to county jail for two years. As to count 1, defendant received a six-month concurrent county jail sentence for misdemeanor false imprisonment. As to count 2, he was sentenced to the middle term of two years on the felony section 69 resisting an executive officer charge. No part of the felony sentence was suspended as permitted by section 1170, subdivision (h)(5)(B).

The trial court orally imposed a $300 section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1) restitution fine. The trial court also orally imposed and stayed a $300 section [1351]*13511202.45 revocation restitution fine. We conclude no section 1202.45 revocation restitution fine could be imposed.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
243 Cal. App. 4th 1346, 197 Cal. Rptr. 3d 392, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 30, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-butler-calctapp-2016.