People v. Ernest R.

65 Cal. App. 4th 443, 76 Cal. Rptr. 2d 453, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5346, 98 Daily Journal DAR 7479, 1998 Cal. App. LEXIS 610, 1998 WL 366419
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 7, 1998
DocketNo. C026702
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 65 Cal. App. 4th 443 (People v. Ernest R.) 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. Ernest R., 65 Cal. App. 4th 443, 76 Cal. Rptr. 2d 453, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5346, 98 Daily Journal DAR 7479, 1998 Cal. App. LEXIS 610, 1998 WL 366419 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

Opinion

SIMS, J.

This appeal arises from delinquency proceedings in juvenile court.

The minor, Ernest R., was a ward of the court due to previously sustained petitions for second degree misdemeanor burglary (Pen. Code, §§ 459, 460), misdemeanor theft (Pen. Code, § 484), possession of a knife on school grounds (Pen. Code, § 626.10), making terrorist threats (Pen. Code, § 422), and battery with serious bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 243, subd. (d)).

On March 18, 1997, a supplemental petition (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 777; hereafter all references to undesignated sections are to the Welfare and [446]*446Institutions Code) was filed against the minor. The petition set forth the formerly sustained petitions and alleged that his prior disposition had not been effective in his rehabilitation because the minor had damaged property and committed battery on a staff member at his latest placement. Following a contested hearing the petition was sustained.

The probation officer’s report recommended a Youth Authority commitment with aggregation of the previously sustained petitions for the maximum period of confinement. At the disposition hearing the minor argued that a petition filed pursuant to section 777 did not permit aggregation of previously sustained petitions. The matter was continued for the minor to file points and authorities on the issue.

At the continued hearing the court, relying on In re Michael B. (1980) 28 Cal.3d 548 [169 Cal.Rptr. 723, 620 P.2d 173], rejected the minor’s argument. The court committed him to the Youth Authority and aggregated his previously sustained section 602 petitions for a maximum confinement time of five years and six months.

On appeal, the minor contends (1) a section 777 petition is not a proper •vehicle for aggregation of previously sustained petitions and the court erred in relying on Michael B., (2) the instant petition cannot be considered a unitary petition, and (3) aggregation cannot be permitted because the minor was not provided with written notice of intent to aggregate. We shall affirm.

I

Section 777 provides for the modification of a previously ordered disposition when that disposition has not been effective in the minor’s rehabilitation and a more restrictive disposition, including a Youth Authority commitment, is sought. (§ 777, subd. (a); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1430(c)(1); hereafter rule refers to California Rules of Court.)1 Where, as here, the minor’s wardship was the result of the sustaining of a section 602 [447]*447petition, the section 777 petition must allege either a violation of a condition of probation or a new criminal offense. (§ 777, subd. (a)(2); rule 1430(c)(1).) Nothing in either section 777 or in its analogue, rule 1430, expressly provides for aggregation of previously sustained petitions.

However, section 726 governs aggregation of confinement time, and provides in pertinent part: “. . .In any case in which the minor is removed [448]*448from, the physical custody of his or her parent or guardian as the result of an order of wardship made pursuant to Section 602, the order shall specify that the minor may not be held in physical confinement for a period in excess of the maximum term of imprisonment which could be imposed upon an adult convicted of the offense or offenses which brought or continued the minor under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. HQ . . . If the court elects to aggregate the period of physical confinement on multiple counts, or multiple petitions, including previously sustained petitions adjudging the minor a ward within Section 602, the ‘maximum term of imprisonment’ shall be the aggregate term of imprisonment specified in subdivision (a) of Section 1170.1 of the Penal Code . . . .”

In essence the minor argues that section 726 cannot authorize aggravation because that statute applies only where the minor is removed from physical custody of a parent “as the result of an order of wardship made pursuant to Section 602 . . . .” Here, the minor suggests physical custody is removed pursuant to section 777.

In our view, the minor’s argument proves too much. Thus, the ultimate adjudication of a section 777 petition (which is sustained) involves a dispositional hearing at which the court may make a new dispositional order: “The dispositional hearing is the second phase of the supplemental petition proceedings. Therein, the juvenile court must consider evidence as to the appropriate disposition for the minor. After hearing evidence, the court must reassess the disposition in light of the then prevailing circumstances. (In re Chad S. (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 607, 612 [35 Cal.Rptr.2d 795].) At disposition, if the juvenile court removes custody from the parent, it must make the findings required by section 726 and California Rules of Court, rule 1493(c) . . . .” (In re Jorge Q. (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 223, 233 [62 Cal.Rptr.2d 535].)

Thus, contrary to the minor’s suggestion, section 111 contemplates the court may undertake a new disposition, including the setting of maximum time of confinement and aggregation if appropriate. The statutory authority for doing so lies in section 726. When the court makes a new disposition removing the minor from parental custody under section 777, the disposition is still “the result of an order of wardship made pursuant to Section 602,” as section 726 requires; the order of wardship was simply entered earlier in the proceedings but still constitutes the basis for the court’s disposition. By the minor’s reading of section 726, that statute would not apply to section 111 dispositions at all. That reading would eliminate the juvenile court’s authority to set terms at a section 111 dispositional hearing and would therefore result in an absurd consequence. Statutes are to be given a reasonable and commonsense interpretation consistent with the apparent legislative [449]*449purpose and intent and which, when applied, will result in wise policy rather than mischief or absurdity. (Dyna-Med, Inc. v. Fair Employment & Housing Com. (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1379, 1392 [241 Cal.Rptr. 67, 743 P.2d 1323].)

We conclude the juvenile court’s aggregation order was authorized by section 726.

The minor is correct that In re Michael B., supra, 28 Cal.3d 548, is not relevant on the issue of whether aggregation may be made where only a section 777 petition is filed. In Michael B., the minor had a third section 602 petition sustained against him. He was committed to the Youth Authority with the juvenile court aggregating his two previously sustained section 602 petitions in determining his confinement time. (28 Cal.3d at pp. 551-552.)

On appeal, the court rejected the minor’s claim that since a section 777 petition had not been filed the court was precluded from aggregating his prior sustained petitions in determining his confinement time. (In re Michael B., supra, 28 Cal.3d at pp. 552-553.) The court noted that while section 777 does state that a supplemental petition is required in order to change or modify a previous order by removing the minor from his parents’ custody or committing him to the Youth Authority, “. . .

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In re J.F. CA3
California Court of Appeal, 2021
People v. Kasaundra D.
16 Cal. Rptr. 3d 920 (California Court of Appeal, 2004)
In Re Eddie M.
122 Cal. Rptr. 2d 872 (California Court of Appeal, 2002)
In Re Samuel J.
112 Cal. Rptr. 2d 831 (California Court of Appeal, 2002)
Ignacio v. Superior Court
114 Cal. Rptr. 2d 375 (California Court of Appeal, 2001)
In Re Ernest R.
76 Cal. Rptr. 2d 453 (California Court of Appeal, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
65 Cal. App. 4th 443, 76 Cal. Rptr. 2d 453, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5346, 98 Daily Journal DAR 7479, 1998 Cal. App. LEXIS 610, 1998 WL 366419, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ernest-r-calctapp-1998.