People v. Denman

145 Cal. App. Supp. 3d 40, 193 Cal. Rptr. 863, 1983 Cal. App. LEXIS 2066
CourtAppellate Division of the Superior Court of California
DecidedJune 23, 1983
DocketCrim. A. No. A19016
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 145 Cal. App. Supp. 3d 40 (People v. Denman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Superior Court of California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Denman, 145 Cal. App. Supp. 3d 40, 193 Cal. Rptr. 863, 1983 Cal. App. LEXIS 2066 (Cal. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

Opinion

BERNSTEIN, J.

In 1979 the Legislature enacted a statutory scheme1 (“special proceedings in cases involving domestic violence”) embodied in Penal Code2 sections 1000.6 to 1000.11, inclusive,3 which provides for the [Supp. 42]*Supp. 42diversion of certain misdemeanor defendants charged with crimes involving [Supp. 43]*Supp. 43“domestic violence.”4 For the most part, these statutes run parallel to the statutes which comprise the better-known statutory scheme for diversion of defendants charged with minor drug violations (“special proceedings in narcotics and drug abuse cases;” §§ 1000-1000.3, 1000.5).

The instant case requires that we determine the effect of certain proceedings required by the domestic violence diversion statutes on a misdemeanor defendant’s statutory speedy trial rights under section 1382, subdivision 3.5 [Supp. 44]*Supp. 44Specifically, we must decide whether, and to what extent, a defendant’s rights under section 1382, subdivision 3 are modified when said defendant is considered for diversion pursuant to the provisions of section 1000.7, subdivision (b),6 but subsequently is not diverted.

Section 1000.7 requires that a defendant who wishes to be considered for diversion waive his or her right to a speedy trial during the pendency of the investigation into that defendant’s suitability for diversion by the probation department. If, following the probation department’s investigation, the defendant is found by the court to be a person who would be benefited by diversion, the defendant must, to be diverted, waive speedy trial rights for the duration of the diversionary proceedings (§ 1000.8, subd. (a)).7 On the other hand, if, following the investigation of the defendant by the probation department, “the court does not deem the defendant a person who would be benefited by diversion, or if the defendant does not consent to participate, the proceedings shall continue as in any other case.” (§ 1000.8, subd. (a).) It is in the context of the latter situation that we must construe the elfect of section 1382, subdivision 3 in disposing of the instant appeal.

Facts

On December 26, 1980, appellant, Eugene Denman, then in custody, was arraigned on a misdemeanor complaint charging him with violations of sections 242 (battery), 273.5 (infliction of corporal injury upon spouse), and 245, subdivision (a) (assault with a deadly weapon).8 Appellant entered a not guilty plea and did not waive his right to a trial within 30 days of the date of his arraignment (§ 1382, subd. 3). Trial was set for January 15, 1981, a date within the 30-day period. The public defender represented appellant at arraignment. On January 15, 1981, appellant moved to continue the trial to January 19, 1981, a date still within 30 days of December 26, 1980. The motion was granted.

On January 19, 1981, with appellant’s consent, the cause was referred to the probation department, pursuant to the provisions of section 1000.6, subdivision (b), for an investigation of appellant’s suitability for diversion. Appellant on this occasion, waived his right to a speedy trial as required by section 1000.7, subdivision (b) (see fn. 3, ante).

[Supp. 45]*Supp. 45On February 18, 1981, the probation department filed its report of its investigation of appellant. For reasons not altogether clear from the record, appellant was not diverted. The court thereupon purported to “trail” the matter to the following day for “trial setting.”

On February 19, 1981, appellant requested that the public defender be relieved. This request was granted, and thereafter appellant remained in pro. per. status for the duration of the proceedings in the lower court. On the same dates, the municipal court docket reflects appellant’s case was continued to March 12, 1981, “on motion of the defendant.”9

At the proceedings of March 12, appellant insisted that contrary to the February 19 docket entry, he had not moved for any continuance on that date, nor had he done so at any time other than the period from January 19 through February 18 (while he was being considered for diversion). The following colloquy ensued:

“The Court: Apparently arraignment was December the 26th at that time in custody, bail was set at $750.
“All right, assuming that was the case, then the last day on that matter would have been January 25.
“Mr. Pritsker [deputy city attorney]: My records reflect on January the 19th it was continued for diversion until February the 18th.
“The Court: Yes. Indicates here on January the 19th it was continued to February the 18th, making the last day—
“Mr. Pritsker: I assume there was a time—
“The Defendant: No, there wasn’t.
[Supp. 46]*Supp. 46“The Court: There was a time waiver, sir, because he wouldn’t have continued it without your agreement.
“The Defendant: They continued it to the 19th.
“The Court: Your not being an attorney, but I am telling you right now legally it was a time waiver. March 2 was the last day at that time.
“Mr. Pritsker: There was a further continuance from the 19th of February to March the 12th.
“The Court: That’s correct.
“Mr. Pritsker: My records don’t reflect on whose motion the case was continued.
“The Court: The record here does not reflect any objection, however. The last day calculated, Mr. Denman, is the 23rd. [of March].” (See footnote 9, ante.)

On March 23, 1981, some 33 days after diversion was denied, appellant’s trial began. Prior to the commencement of trial, appellant renewed his claim that he had at no time (subsequent to Feb. 18) waived his speedy-trial rights; he thereupon moved for dismissal of the charges against him. The court denied appellant’s motion. Upon the conclusion of trial, the court acquitted appellant of counts I and III (infliction of corporal injury on a spouse and assault with a deadly weapon, respectively). However, the court found appellant guilty of count II (battery).

On April 28, 1981, appellant was placed on formal probation for a period of two years on condition he spend fifteen days in the county jail (with credit for nine days served). The jailtime portion of appellant’s sentence was stayed until final disposition of this appeal.

The Decision of January 13, 1983

Our original decision in the instant case (filed on Jan. 13, 1983) held that, in the absence of any contrary authority, section 1382, subdivision 3 required that a defendant, who at one point in the proceedings had consented to a trial date beyond the statutory 30 or 45-day limit, but subsequently objected to any further delay, be brought to trial no later than 10 days from the date upon which the defendant makes known his objection. This holding [Supp. 47]*Supp. 47accords with existing law (§ 1382, subd. 3); Owens v. Superior Court

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Related

People v. Murphy
61 Cal. App. Supp. 4th 5 (Appellate Division of the Superior Court of California, 1998)

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Bluebook (online)
145 Cal. App. Supp. 3d 40, 193 Cal. Rptr. 863, 1983 Cal. App. LEXIS 2066, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-denman-calappdeptsuper-1983.