People v. Montano

6 Cal. App. 4th 118, 8 Cal. Rptr. 2d 136, 92 Daily Journal DAR 6229, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3996, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 595
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 7, 1992
DocketF015130
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 6 Cal. App. 4th 118 (People v. Montano) 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. Montano, 6 Cal. App. 4th 118, 8 Cal. Rptr. 2d 136, 92 Daily Journal DAR 6229, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3996, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 595 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Opinion

THAXTER, J.

In separate jury trials, appellants Jorge O. B. Montano, also known as George Montano, and Vicente Saldias, Jr., were convicted of offering to transport or sell cocaine, a violation of Health and Safety Code sections 11055, subdivision (b)(6), and 11352 (count 1), and conspiracy to transport or sell cocaine, a violation of Penal Code section 182, subdivision (a)(1) (count 2). Saldias was also convicted of resisting and/or obstructing a peace officer in the performance of his duties, a violation of Penal Code section 148 (count 4).

Montano was denied probation and sentenced to the midterm of four years on count 1 and to the midterm of four years on count 2, which was then stayed pursuant to Penal Code section 654. Montano was given credit for 131 days’ time served and 64 days’ good conduct credit. He was also ordered to pay $200 to reimburse the county for the cost of preparing the probation report.

Saldias was denied probation and sentenced to the midterm of four years on count 1 and the midterm of four years on count 2. The term on count 2 was stayed pursuant to Penal Code section 654. A six-month jail term was imposed on count 4 to be served concurrent to the term imposed on count 1.

Montano and Saldias raise separate and different issues on appeal. We reject all their contentions except Montano’s claim that he was improperly ordered to pay $200 as reimbursement for the cost of preparing his probation report.

Facts *

Discussion

Issues raised, by Montano

I. Instruction on Entrapment Defense*

*121 II. Sentencing Error

Montano challenges the trial court’s reasoning when imposing sentence.

It is well established that the trial court has broad discretion when it comes to sentencing. (People v. Warner (1978) 20 Cal.3d 678, 683 [143 Cal.Rptr. 885, 574 P.2d 1237].) A reviewing court is entitled to presume the sentencing court properly exercised its discretion in imposing sentence absent evidence to the contrary. (People v. Giminez (1975) 14 Cal.3d 68, 72 [120 Cal.Rptr. 577, 534 P.2d 65]; People v. Martinez (1985) 175 Cal.App.3d 881, 896 [221 Cal.Rptr. 258].)

A. Sophistication, Planning, and Premeditation *

B. Perjury

Montano argues the trial court improperly considered his perjury at trial as an aggravating factor when imposing sentence.

“A trial court’s conclusion that a defendant has committed perjury may be considered as one fact to be considered in fixing punishment as it bears on defendant’s character and prospects for rehabilitation.” (People v. Redmond (1981) 29 Cal.3d 904, 913 [176 Cal.Rptr. 780, 633 P.2d 976].) To give a harsher sentence because of an uncharged offense for which there is no conviction, however, violates due process. (United States v. Grayson (1978) 438 U.S. 41, 54-55 [57 L.Ed.2d 582, 592, 98 S.Ct. 2610].) Therefore, consideration of a defendant’s perjury at trial is limited to its reflection upon the character of the defendant and his or her prospects for rehabilitation. {Ibid.)

Montano claims there is an additional requirement—a sentencing court using a defendant’s perjury as an aggravating factor must expressly state its reasoning on the record. Montano’s position is supported by a single case, In re Perez (1978) 84 Cal.App.3d 168 [148 Cal.Rptr. 302]. Perez holds that in order to ensure a sentencing court is not violating the rule set forth in Grayson, the trial court must state on the record in what sense the perjury is being considered. (In re Perez, supra, at p. 172.) Failure to do so requires remand. This court, of course, is not bound by Perez.

People v. Redmond, supra, 29 Cal.3d 904 cites Perez with approval but does not adopt Perez's procedural “safeguard.” Redmond states only that the *122 trial court’s explanation was specific in its reasons for its sentencing choice and that defendant’s perjury was properly considered. (Redmond, supra, at pp. 913-914.)

No other court has applied the Perez requirement of an affirmative, on record statement that a defendant’s perjury was considered only for its reflection upon the defendant’s character and amenability to rehabilitation. We believe the requirement is too stringent and conflicts with the presumption that a judgment or order of the lower court is correct. (See 9 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (3d ed. 1985) Appeal, § 268, pp. 276-277; 6 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law (2d ed. 1989) Appeal, § 3203, p. 3960.) In our view, unless the record affirmatively shows the lower court used the fact of the defendant’s perjury for an impermissible purpose, the reviewing court should presume it was used for the permissible purpose.

The approach we favor was followed in In re Lawanda L. (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 423 [223 Cal.Rptr. 685]. In Lawanda L, there was a question as to whether the juvenile court improperly considered the minor’s failure to admit the offense, her demand for a hearing, and her lying to the court. All three were cited by the juvenile court when it expressed its reasoning. When addressing the minor’s right to deny the offense and demand a hearing, the appellate court stated in the absence of any clarifying language stating the perjury was the reason for the juvenile court’s action, the juvenile court’s comments suggested the sentence was impermissibly imposed. (Id. at p. 431.) Later in the opinion, however, the appellate court states consideration of the minor’s perjury when declaring wardship without specifically stating a rehabilitative reason did not violate due process. The court instead assumed rehabilitation was the juvenile court’s goal and that its orders were made accordingly. (Id. at p. 433.)

Although the Lawanda L. court dealt with a juvenile court proceeding and distinguished its case from adult criminal proceedings, we believe the reasoning applies equally here. A defendant’s willingness to commit perjury is directly related to his or her character and amenability to rehabilitation. As the court in Perez stated, “perjury is not conducive to an optimistic prognosis regarding a defendant’s rehabilitation,” (In re Perez, supra, 84 Cal.App.3d at p.

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6 Cal. App. 4th 118, 8 Cal. Rptr. 2d 136, 92 Daily Journal DAR 6229, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3996, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 595, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-montano-calctapp-1992.