People v. Franco CA6

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 24, 2020
DocketH047797
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Franco CA6 (People v. Franco CA6) 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. Franco CA6, (Cal. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

Filed 11/24/20 P. v. Franco CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, H047797 (Monterey County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. SS062690)

v.

DANNY FRANCO,

Defendant and Appellant.

I. INTRODUCTION On November 16, 2010, defendant pleaded no contest to attempted murder (Pen. Code, §§ 664/187, sub. (a)),1 assault with a firearm on a peace officer (§ 245, subd. (d)(1)), and evading a peace officer (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a)), and admitted the allegations that he committed the attempted murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)) and had a prior strike adjudication (§ 667, subd. (e)(1)). Pursuant to a negotiated disposition, defendant was sentenced to 25 years 4 months. On September 27, 2019, defendant filed a petition for resentencing pursuant to section 1170.95, which allows individuals convicted of felony murder or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine to petition the sentencing court to vacate the conviction under recent changes to the law. After briefing by both parties, the

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated. sentencing court denied the petition finding that defendant was ineligible for relief because he was not convicted of murder. Defendant contends the trial court erred when it denied the petition because Senate Bill No. 1437 (SB 1437), which added section 1170.95, should be interpreted to apply to convictions of attempted murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. Defendant alternatively contends that SB 1437’s failure to provide retroactive relief to individuals convicted of attempted murder violates the equal protection clauses of the state and federal constitutions. Citing this court’s decision in People v. Alaybue (2020) 51 Cal.App.5th 207 (Alaybue), the Attorney General counters that SB 1437 does not apply to attempted murder. The Attorney General further asserts that the law’s failure to provide retroactive relief to attempted murderers does not result in an equal protection violation because individuals convicted of attempted murder are not similarly situated to offenders convicted of murder and there is a rational basis to distinguish the two groups. For reasons that we will explain, we affirm the order. II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND A. Factual Background2 On the evening of September 16, 2006, Salinas police were called regarding a gang-related shooting that occurred near East Market Street and Paloma Avenue. It was reported that two Hispanic males confronted a group of five Hispanics. As the two suspects approached the group, they asked, “ ‘Where are you vatos from? Are you vatos scrapas?’ ” The victims did not recognize the suspects but stated that one wore a red cap with the letter “ ‘P.’ ” When John Doe responded, “ ‘[W]e don’t bang,’ ” the person wearing the red cap pulled out a gun and shot into the group. The two suspects fled in their SUV.

2 The facts are taken from the probation report.

2 Doe followed the suspects as they drove toward Highway 101. Doe called the police and provided a description of the suspects’ vehicle and its license plate number. At some point, Doe ended his pursuit because he feared the suspects would shoot at him again. Officers located the suspects’ vehicle and began pursuit. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the suspects failed to yield. The suspects drove into a cul-de-sac. Officers positioned themselves for a high-risk stop and yelled out verbal commands for the suspects to surrender. After a brief period, the right front passenger, Ivan Leon, opened his door and got out of the vehicle armed with a firearm. Leon faced the officers and fired twice in their direction. The officers returned fire, killing Leon. A revolver was recovered next to Leon’s body. The officers placed defendant, who was the driver, and a juvenile, who was in the right rear passenger seat, under arrest. During a search of the suspects’ vehicle, officers found a semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine. The red cap worn by the suspect who shot into the group was located in the rear passenger area of the SUV. Norteño gang indicia was also recovered in the vehicle. Defendant admitted in an interview that he saw a gun in a backpack located in the front passenger area of the SUV when he first entered the vehicle. Defendant acknowledged that his association with Leon and the juvenile was a violation of his parole because they were known gang members. Defendant denied any participation in or knowledge of the shooting near East Market Street and Paloma Avenue and maintained throughout the interview that he met up with Leon prior to the police pursuit. Defendant stated in the interview that Leon asked him to drive the SUV because he had a license. A few minutes later, when defendant saw the officers, Leon yelled at him to “ ‘[g]o, go, go!’ ” Leon directed defendant where to drive. Defendant admitted that he decided to evade the officers because he was aware that he was in violation of his parole based on his association with known gang members and his knowledge that there

3 were firearms in the car. Defendant stated that his prints would be found on the weapon because he “ ‘pushed’ ” the gun from the center console with his hand. 3 Defendant denied using the weapon in a threatening manner. Investigating officers determined that defendant, Leon, and the juvenile were Norteño gang members. Search warrants were executed at the suspects’ residences where numerous pieces of gang indicia were recovered in each of the suspects’ bedrooms. Police were unable to determine who shot into Doe’s group. B. Procedural History On November 16, 2010, defendant was charged by amended information with gang conspiracy (§ 182.5; count 1); shooting at an occupied vehicle (§ 246; count 2); attempted murder (§§ 664/187, subd. (a); counts 3-6); assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2); counts 7-10); street terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a); count 11); assault with a firearm on a peace officer (§ 245, subd. (d)(1); count 12); unlawful firearm activity (§ 12021, subd. (e); counts 13 &14); possession of an assault weapon, (§ 12280, subd. (b); count 15); concealing a firearm in a vehicle (§ 12025, subd. (a)(1); counts 16 & 18); carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle (§ 12031, subd. (a)(1); counts 17 & 19); evading a peace officer (Veh. Code § 2800.2, subd. (a); count 20); and street terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a); count 21). It was also alleged that defendant committed all the offenses except counts 1, 11, and 21 for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)) and that defendant had a prior strike adjudication (§ 667, subd. (e)(1)). Pursuant to a negotiated disposition, defendant pleaded no contest to one count of attempted murder, assault with a firearm on a peace officer, and evading a peace officer, and admitted that he committed the attempted murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang and that he had a prior strike adjudication. Defendant was sentenced to 25 years 4 months.

3 It is unclear from the probation report whether defendant was referring to Leon’s revolver or the semi-automatic pistol found in the vehicle.

4 On September 27, 2019, defendant filed a petition for resentencing pursuant to section 1170.95.

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People v. Franco CA6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-franco-ca6-calctapp-2020.