People v. Jimenez CA6

California Court of Appeal·Decided March 25, 2015·No. H040459·Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 3/25/15 P. v. Jimenez CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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, H040459 (Monterey County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. SS132048A)

v.

JULIO JIMENEZ,

Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant Julio Jimenez appeals a judgment following his plea of no contest to numerous domestic violence charges. On appeal defendant asserts the court erred in ordering a probation condition requiring him to be employed or in school full-time, because the condition is vague. In addition, defendant argues the court erred in awarding him zero presentence custody credits for his felony case. STATEMENT OF THE CASE1 In October 2013, a complaint was filed against defendant in case No. SS132048A. The complaint alleged the following crimes: Corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant (Penal Code § 273.5, subd. (a)2; count 1); violation of a criminal protective order (§ 166,

1 The underlying facts are omitted because they are not relevant to the issues on appeal. 2 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code. subd. (c)(1); count 2); and child endangerment (§ 273a, subd. (b); count 3). As to count 1, the complaint further alleged, that defendant had a prior conviction under section 245, subdivision (a)(1), within the preceding seven years. (§ 273.5, subd. (e).) At the time of the alleged offenses referenced above, defendant was on probation in two misdemeanor cases: Monterey County Superior Court case Nos. MS301310A and MS309897A. On October 23, 2013, defendant pled no contest to count 1 and admitted the section 273.5, subdivision (e)(1), allegation in exchange for felony probation. Based on that plea, the court found defendant to be in violation of probation in the two misdemeanor cases. On December 6, 2013, in the felony case, No. SS132048A, the court suspended imposition of sentence, imposed a three-year term of probation on condition that defendant serve 150 days in jail, and awarded zero presentence credit. Counts 2 and 3 were dismissed. In misdemeanor case No. MS301310A, the court reinstated probation and ordered that defendant serve 217 days in county jail with 217 days of presentence credits. In misdemeanor case No. MS309897A, the court reinstated probation and ordered that defendant serve 30 days in county jail with 21 days of presentence credits. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal. DISCUSSION Defendant asserts on appeal that the probation condition that he maintain employment or enroll in school is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. He also argues the court erred in awarding him zero presentence credits in his felony case. Employment Probation Condition As a condition of probation, the court ordered that defendant “[m]aintain gainful employment or become enrolled as an active full-time student.” Defendant argues this

2 condition is vague, because it does not take into account lack of opportunity of employment or education. He requests that the condition be modified to read, “seek and maintain gainful employment, or become enrolled as an active full-time student as available.” While defendant did not object to the condition when it was imposed by the trial court, his argument on appeal is not waived. The forfeiture rule does not apply when a probation condition is challenged as unconstitutionally vague or overbroad on its face and the claim can be resolved on appeal as a pure question of law without reference to the sentencing record. (In re Sheena K. (2007) 40 Cal.4th 875, 888-889.) We review the question of whether the condition is unconstitutionally vague de novo. (Id. at pp. 885- 888.) “A probation condition ‘must be sufficiently precise for the probationer to know what is required of him, and for the court to determine whether the condition has been violated,’ if it is to withstand a challenge on the ground of vagueness. [Citation.]” (In re Sheena K., supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 890.) Here, defendant argues that the probation condition requiring that he maintain employment should be modified to require that he “seek and maintain” such employment. He asserts that the requirement that he maintain employment or become enrolled as a full-time student is vague and overbroad because “it fails to account for lack of opportunity.” Defendant argues that the way the condition is written, if defendant tries to find a job and fails for lack of opportunity, he will be in violation of his probation. He argues he should not be found in violation of probation for circumstances beyond his control. Probation conditions must be given a “reasonable and practical construction.” (See People v. Lopez (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 615, 630.) Here, the condition that defendant maintain employment is reasonably interpreted to include honest attempts to

3 become employed. Defendant will likely not be found in violation of probation if he is making reasonable attempts at employment under circumstances in which employment opportunities are limited. Moreover, the condition is sufficiently clear for defendant to know what is required of him. (See In re Sheena K., supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 890.) We find that the employment condition in this case is neither vague nor overbroad. Custody Credits Defendant asserts the trial court erred in awarding him zero presentence custody credits in his felony case. Specifically, defendant notes that in case No. SS132048A, he spent 44 actual days in county jail prior to sentencing; however, when the court ordered him to serve 150 days in county jail, it awarded him zero credits for time served. Defendant asserts he is actually entitled to 88 days of presentence credit toward his 150 day term. Defendant was sentenced on the felony case, as well as the two misdemeanor violations of probation during the same sentencing hearing. In the felony case that is the subject of this appeal (No. SS132048A), the court granted probation with an order that defendant serve 150 days in county jail with zero presentence credits. In misdemeanor case No. MS301310A, the court reinstated probation and ordered that defendant serve 217 days in county jail with 217 presentence credits, based on 109 actual days in custody plus 108 conduct credits. In misdemeanor case No. MS309897A, the court reinstated probation and ordered that defendant serve 30 days in county jail with 21 presentence credits, based on 11 actual days in custody plus 10 conduct credits, consecutive to all other sentences. The underlying felony occurred while defendant was on probation in each of the two misdemeanor cases. When defendant entered his no contest plea to the felony charges, the court found defendant was in violation of probation in his two misdemeanor cases.

4 Here, defendant and the Attorney General dispute whether the court ordered defendant’s term on the felony to run consecutively to the misdemeanor probation violation terms. During the sentencing hearing, after ordering the 150-day term for the felony, the court stated: “Your sentence will be consecutive to your sentence in 310 [MS301310A] and 897 [MS309897A].” While the court’s oral pronouncement at the hearing clearly states that the felony term was to run consecutive to the misdemeanor terms, some confusion occurred when the court proceeded and began discussing custody credits with the probation officer. The discussion appears to be related to whether the two misdemeanor terms of probation would run concurrent to one another, and consecutive to the felony.

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