People v. Laird

238 Cal. Rptr. 3d 313, 27 Cal. App. 5th 458
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal, 5th District
DecidedAugust 30, 2018
DocketD072642
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 238 Cal. Rptr. 3d 313 (People v. Laird) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal, 5th District primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Laird, 238 Cal. Rptr. 3d 313, 27 Cal. App. 5th 458 (Cal. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

O'ROURKE, Acting P. J.

*462Gavin Laird appeals the denial of his motion for expungement of his DNA sample from the state's data bank following a reduction in his conviction to an infraction *317"for all purposes" under Proposition 64. His appeal raises an issue of first impression: when an offender whose guilty plea to a felony marijuana conviction is later reduced to an "infraction for all purposes," does the redesignation justify expungement of his previously collected DNA sample from the state's database? We conclude it does not and affirm the trial court's order.

BACKGROUND

Laird was arrested on felony marijuana charges in May 2014, at which time he provided his DNA by mouth swab (buccal swab). He pleaded guilty to one felony count for violating Health and Safety Code section 11357, subdivision (a) for possessing not more than eight ounces of concentrated cannabis.1 As part of his plea, the state agreed to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor after 18 months of successful, informal probation. In October 2016, Laird filed a petition for reduction of his offense to a misdemeanor under Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivisions (f) and (g).2 The court granted the petition. In March 2017, Laird filed a petition asking the court to set aside the misdemeanor conviction and to designate an infraction under *463Proposition 64, which the court did. Laird then moved to have his DNA expunged from the state's database, which the court denied.

DISCUSSION

Laird contends his conviction's redesignation to an infraction for all purposes under Proposition 64 justifies his DNA sample's expungement under that proposition, as well as under Proposition 69. As we explain, we disagree.

The interpretation of a statute is a question of law, subject to de novo review. ( Goodman v. Lozano (2010) 47 Cal.4th 1327, 1332, 104 Cal.Rptr.3d 219, 223 P.3d 77.) We review voter initiatives by applying the same principles that govern our interpretation of statutes passed by the Legislature. ( People v. Rizo (2000) 22 Cal.4th 681, 685, 94 Cal.Rptr.2d 375, 996 P.2d 27.) In doing so, we turn first to the words of the provision adopted by voters, giving language its plain and ordinary meaning. ( People v. Birkett (1999) 21 Cal.4th 226, 231, 87 Cal.Rptr.2d 205, 980 P.2d 912.) If the language is ambiguous, "we refer to other indicia of the voters' intent, particularly the analyses and arguments contained in the official ballot pamphlet." ( Id. at p. 243, 87 Cal.Rptr.2d 205, 980 P.2d 912.) We construe statutory language "in context, keeping in mind the statutes' nature and obvious purposes," and we "harmonize the various parts of the enactments by considering them in the context of the statutory frame work as a whole." ( People v. Cole (2006) 38 Cal.4th 964, 975, 44 Cal.Rptr.3d 261, 135 P.3d 669.)

A. Proposition 64 does not require DNA expungement

As a general rule, unless a statute expressly states it is retroactive, it is treated prospectively. ( People v. Brown (2012) 54 Cal.4th 314, 324, 142 Cal.Rptr.3d 824, 278 P.3d 1182.) A statute will not be applied retroactively unless there is clearly intent to do so. ( Id. at p. 319, 142 Cal.Rptr.3d 824, 278 P.3d 1182 ; § 3 ["No part of [the Penal Code] is retroactive, unless expressly *318so declared."].) Proposition 64 is silent as to the scope of its retroactivity beyond providing a procedure for application of a lesser punishment to persons who have already been sentenced. (See Health & Saf. Code, § 11361.8 ; but see People v. Rascon (2017) 10 Cal.App.5th 388, 394, 216 Cal.Rptr.3d 385 ( Rascon ) ["Proposition 64 ... 'is not silent on the question of retroactivity.' ... It provides for a procedure ... 'for application of the new lesser punishment to persons who have previously been sentenced' "].) The statute's purpose is to reduce penalties through redesignation of marijuana felonies to misdemeanors or infractions. (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 8, 2016) text of Prop. 64, §§ 2(G) & 3, subd. (z)., pp. 179-180 (Prop. 64 Voter Materials).) Consistent with this stated purpose, Proposition 64 has been used to resentence a defendant based on the redesignated offense after a court review determines *464the offender does not pose a threat to public safety. ( Rascon , at p.

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

Related

People v. Snell CA1/2
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Lewis
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Quesada CA2/7
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Macias CA4/2
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Rocha CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Poncio CA4/3
California Court of Appeal, 2023
People v. Samra CA3
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Montano
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Bell CA6
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Garcia CA2/4
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Barrientos CA2/4
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Stranger CA3
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Esquivel CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Chamale CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2021
Center for Genetics and Society v. Bonta CA1/1
California Court of Appeal, 2021
People v. Jackson
California Court of Appeal, 2021
People v. Turner CA1/3
California Court of Appeal, 2021
People v. Smith CA2/3
California Court of Appeal, 2021
People v. Joseph CA2/4
California Court of Appeal, 2021

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
238 Cal. Rptr. 3d 313, 27 Cal. App. 5th 458, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-laird-calctapp5d-2018.