People v. Newson CA2/5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 4, 2014
DocketB251822
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Newson CA2/5 (People v. Newson CA2/5) 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. Newson CA2/5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 9/4/14 P. v. Newson CA2/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FIVE

THE PEOPLE, B251822

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. KA101394) v.

PAUL NEWSON, JR., et al.

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEALS from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Bruce F. Marrs, Judge. Reversed in part, affirmed in part, with directions. Leonard J. Klaif, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Paul Newson, Jr. Lise M. Breakey, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Barrett Johnson. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Taryle and David A. Wildman, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. I. INTRODUCTION

A jury convicted codefendants, Paul Newson, Jr. and Barrett Johnson, of first degree residential burglary with a person present. (Pen. Code,1 §§ 459, 667.5, subd. (c)(21).) The jury also convicted Mr. Johnson of evading a peace officer, a misdemeanor. (Veh. Code, § 2800.1, subd. (a).) Mr. Johnson was sentenced to four years in state prison. The trial court found Mr. Newson had sustained prior convictions and served prior prison terms. (§§ 667, subds. (a)(1), (b)-(i), 667.5, subd. (b), 1170.12.) Mr. Newson was sentenced to 36 years to life in state prison.

II. THE EVIDENCE

On March 27, 2013, defendants broke into a home occupied by a grandmother and granddaughter. The granddaughter was at home alone when the break-in occurred. The granddaughter telephoned an emergency operator. She then hid in a bathroom. The granddaughter heard sirens. Defendants fled but were arrested shortly thereafter. Following his arrest, Mr. Newson was transported to a hospital emergency room. He had a very fast heartbeat and low blood pressure. He was treated for dehydration. Mr. Newson spoke to an emergency room physician, Dr. Dan Kiss. Mr. Newson said he had used crack cocaine and marijuana. According to Dr. Kiss, Mr. Newson’s symptoms were consistent with drug use.

1 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code except where otherwise noted.

2 III. DISCUSSION

A. Mr. Newson’s Appeal

1. The trial court did not abuse its discretion denying Mr. Newson’s motion to dismiss his prior felony conviction

Mr. Newson contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to strike a single prior serious felony conviction allegation. (§ 1385, subd. (a); People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 504.) Defendant was found to have committed two prior first degree burglaries. A trial court’s ruling on a defense motion to strike a prior serious or violent felony conviction allegation or finding is fact-based. Our Supreme Court has held: “[I]n ruling whether to strike or vacate a prior serious and/or violent felony conviction allegation or finding . . . ‘in furtherance of justice’ pursuant to . . . section 1385[, subdivision] (a), or in reviewing such a ruling, the court in question must consider whether, in light of the nature and circumstances of [the defendant’s] present felonies and prior serious and/or violent felony convictions, and the particulars of his background, character, and prospects, the defendant may be deemed outside the [sentencing] scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part, and hence should be treated as though he had not previously been convicted of one or more serious and/or violent felonies.” (People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 161; accord, In re Large (2007) 41 Cal.4th 538, 552.) Here, the trial court ruled: “I heard no educational information about how he was progressing, no residency information about how he’s progressing, no background, character, or prospects were apparent under the Williams test. [¶] And I noted that his first brush with the law was as a juvenile [burglar] back in [20]04. That’s 10 years ago, a year between the [two] burglaries . . . . [¶] None of these things seemed to have any effect upon him. He has not learned at all. The only good things would be there was no weapon actually used and fairly young age. [¶] But overall, he does not in any way,

3 shape, or form fall outside the spirit of [three] strikes. He’s right square in the center of the whole reason that [three] strikes was passed.” Our review is for an abuse of discretion. (People v. Clancey (2013) 56 Cal.4th 562, 581; People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 373; People v. Romero, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 531.) Our Supreme Court has explained that in applying the abuse of discretion standard in the present context, we are guided by two essential principles: “First, ‘“[t]he burden is on the party attacking the sentence to clearly show that the sentencing decision was irrational or arbitrary. [Citation.] In the absence of such a showing, the trial court is presumed to have acted to achieve the legitimate sentencing objectives, and its discretionary determination to impose a particular sentence will not be set aside on review.”’ (People v. Superior Court (Alvarez) (1997) 14 Cal.4th 968, 977- 978, quoting People v. Superior Court (Du) (1992) 5 Cal.App.4th 822, 831.) Second, a ‘“decision will not be reversed merely because reasonable people might disagree. ‘An appellate tribunal is neither authorized nor warranted in substituting its judgment for the judgment of the trial judge.’”’ ([People v. Superior Court (Alvarez), supra, 14 Cal.4th] at p. 978, quoting People v. Preyer (1985) 164 Cal.App.3d 568, 573.) Taken together, these precepts establish that a trial court does not abuse its discretion unless its decision is so irrational or arbitrary that no reasonable person could agree with it.” (People v. Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pages 376-377; see People v. Clancey, supra, 56 Cal.App.4th at pp. 580-581.) There was no abuse of discretion. Mr. Newson was a juvenile when he first came into contact with law enforcement authorities. Mr. Newson was arrested by Pasadena police officers for burglary in December 2004, when he was 13 years old. The matter was dismissed. Four years later, however, on August 6, 2008, Mr. Newson was arrested by Pasadena police officers for a second time. He was 17 years old. A juvenile petition for unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle in violation of Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a), was sustained. Mr. Newson was placed home on probation. Jurisdiction terminated on August 7, 2009. One year later, on September 17, 2010, Mr. Newson, now an adult, was cited in Pasadena for driving without a license. (Veh. Code, § 12500, subd.

4 (a).) On November 29, 2010, he was found guilty of an infraction. On September 23, 2010, Mr. Newson was arrested in Burbank for burglary. (§ 459.) One month later, on October 5, 2010, Mr. Newson was arrested in La Verne for burglary, receiving stolen property and driving without a license. (§§ 459, 496, subd. (a); Veh. Code, § 12500, subd. (a).) On January 5, 2011, Mr. Newson was convicted of first degree burglary in superior court case No. KA092144. He was sentenced to four years in state prison. Mr. Newson was also convicted of first degree burglary in case No. GA078743 and sentenced to four years in state prison. Mr. Newson was paroled on November 3, 2012. Shortly thereafter, on December 7, 2012, Mr. Newson was cited in Pasadena for driving without a license. (Veh. Code, § 12500, subd. (a).) On February 18, 2013, Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Newson CA2/5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-newson-ca25-calctapp-2014.