People v. Hall CA3

California Court of Appeal·Decided May 22, 2014·No. C069609·Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 5/22/14 P. v. Hall CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Sacramento) ----

THE PEOPLE, C069609

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 08F09312)

v.

MASHAI TILLMAN HALL et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

Defendants Mashai Tillman Hall and Anthony Xavier Flynn appeal following convictions for second degree robbery (Pen. Code, § 211)1 on pleas of nolo contendere. Hall’s sole challenge is to the trial court’s imposition of a $60 crime prevention fine pursuant to section 1202.5. Hall says it should be $10; the People say it should be

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code in effect at the time of defendants’ crimes in 2008.

1 $20. We order Hall’s section 1202.5 crime prevention fine reduced to $10. We otherwise affirm the judgment as to Hall. Flynn’s attorney filed a brief asking this court to review the record for error pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende). Flynn himself asked for, and we granted, an extension of time for him to file a supplemental brief challenging the trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress evidence. However, Flynn never filed the brief. We have reviewed the record as required by Wende, and find no arguable error that would result in a disposition more favorable to defendant Flynn. We do, however, note a typographical error in Flynn’s abstract of judgment which inaccurately refers to Government Code section “703.73” as the basis for a court facility fee. The correct section number is Government Code section 70373. As corrected, we affirm the judgment as to Flynn.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This appeal involves robberies at two banks, initially filed as separate actions. The first action, case No. 08F09312, charged Hall, Flynn and others who are not parties to this appeal with a November 13, 2008 robbery. The second action, case No. 10F01962, charged Hall and others who are not parties to this appeal with an earlier robbery, which occurred on October 31, 2008. In August 2010, the prosecution moved to consolidate the two cases pursuant to section 954 on the ground that the charged crimes are “different offenses of the same class of crimes,” noting that both cases involve “bank robberies pursuant to section 211 of the Penal Code.” On August 25, 2010, the trial court granted the consolidation motion. The court minutes indicate that, in granting consolidation, the trial court dismissed case No. 10F01962 as superseded by an amended consolidated information in case No. 08F09312, which was deemed the lead case.

2 The amended consolidated information charged Hall and others in counts one through six with armed robbery of six persons occurring on October 31, 2008. (§§ 211, 12022, subd. (a).) Counts seven through ten charged Hall, Flynn, and others with conspiracy to commit robbery (§§ 182, 211), robbery of two persons (§ 211), and assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2)) occurring on November 13, 2008. The pleading alleged Hall had prior convictions for robbery (§ 211) and assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2)) on April 8, 2002, which were charged as two prior serious felony enhancement allegations (§ 667, subd. (a)) and two strike allegations (§ 1170.12). The pleading alleged Flynn had prior convictions for criminal threats (§ 422) on June 26, 2003, and assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)) on October 21, 1993, which were also charged as two prior serious felony enhancement allegations (§ 667, subd. (a)) and two strike allegations (§ 1170.12). On September 15, 2011, the trial court denied Flynn’s motion to suppress evidence. (§ 1538.5.) Hall and Flynn reached a “package deal” plea bargain to plead no contest to some counts for stipulated terms, with dismissal of other counts and one strike allegation. The prosecutor related to the trial court the factual basis for the pleas: On October 31, 2008, at least two masked individuals entered the Bank of America at 5001 Laguna Boulevard in Elk Grove, took $76,082.29 by force and fear from the immediate presence of bank tellers, fled in a vehicle, and abandoned the vehicle. In the vehicle, police found a mask containing DNA to a person (who was not before the court), and by virtue of cell phone records, law enforcement was able to trace Hall’s phone as being associated with the person whose DNA was on the mask, making Hall an aider and abettor in the October 31, 2008 robbery. On November 13, 2008, at the Bank of America at 5310 Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento, defendants took money belonging to the Bank of America from the immediate presence of bank tellers, by means of force and fear. Three males in ski

3 masks, one of whom was armed, entered the bank, took $46,213, fled in a vehicle, switched to a Cadillac, and drove to a location associated with Hall. A search revealed tens of thousands of dollars. There was DNA and cell phone evidence linking both defendants as aiders and abettors to the robbery. Pursuant to the plea bargain, Hall pleaded no contest to counts one, two, four, five, and six (the October 31st robberies) and count eight (the November 13th robbery). Flynn pleaded no contest to count eight (the November 13th robbery). Each admitted two prior serious felony convictions under section 667, subdivision (a) and one prior strike conviction pursuant to section 1170.12. The trial court accepted the pleas and admissions. The trial court sentenced defendants consistent with the negotiated plea disposition, as follows: Hall was sentenced to a total of 30 years in state prison: on count one, the upper term of five years, doubled pursuant to the strike (§ 1170.12); consecutive two year terms on counts two, four, five, six, and eight; plus five years for each of the two prior serious felony convictions (§ 667, subd. (a)). The remaining counts and allegations were dismissed. The court ordered Hall to pay restitution, fines, and fees, including a $60 crime prevention fine pursuant to section 1202.5. Flynn was sentenced to a total of 14 years in state prison: the low term of four years on count eight, plus five years for each of the two prior serious felony convictions (§ 667, subd. (a)). The court imposed fines and fees. The remaining counts were dismissed.

4 DISCUSSION

I. Hall’s Appeal

Hall’s sole contention on appeal is that the trial court erred in imposing a $60 crime prevention fine under section 1202.5,2 because the statute authorized only one $10 fine per “case.” The trial court thought it was required to impose $10 for each count. Hall asks us to reduce the fine to $10. The People agree the $60 fine was unauthorized and may be challenged on appeal despite failure to object in the trial court. (People v. Crittle (2007) 154 Cal.App.4th 368, 371.) However, the People maintain section 1202.5 authorized two $10 fines here, because the two separate bank robberies were initially filed as two separate cases (case Nos. 08F09312 & 10F01962) and were consolidated by the trial court at the prosecution’s request. As we have noted, in granting consolidation, the trial court dismissed case No. 10F01962. It was superseded by the amended consolidated information, and case No. 08F09312 was deemed the lead case. We also note that the abstract of judgment indicates only case No. 08F09312. Section 1202.5’s crime prevention fine, by its own terms, can be imposed only once in “any case.” Here, while there were two robberies at two different banks on two different days, there is nevertheless, only one case because of the consolidation.

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