People v. Perry CA1/1

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 25, 2016
DocketA144901
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Perry CA1/1 (People v. Perry CA1/1) 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. Perry CA1/1, (Cal. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

Filed 7/25/16 P. v. Perry CA1/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A144901 v. JOSHUA LEE PERRY et al., (Contra Costa County Super. Ct. Nos. 51314970, 41764893 & Defendants and Appellants. 51309616)

Defendants Joshua Perry and Felicia Viscaina appeal from judgments entered pursuant to a negotiated disposition resolving three cases. In case No. 51309616, they pleaded no contest to first degree burglary (Pen. Code, §§ 459, 460, subd. (a))1 and admitted several enhancements, including that they had suffered a prior “strike” conviction (§§ 667, subds. (b)–(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)–(d)). In case No. 51314970, they pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter (§ 192, subd. (a)) and admitted suffering a prior “strike” conviction (§§ 667, subds. (b)–(i), 1170.12, suds. (a)–(d)). In case No. 41767893, Viscaina pleaded no contest to receiving stolen property (§ 496, subd. (a)). In accordance with the terms of the negotiated disposition, the trial court sentenced Perry to a total term of 22 years in state prison and Viscaina to a total term of 25 years in state prison (the upper term doubled for 22 years on the manslaughter conviction, one- third the midterm for one year four months consecutive sentence on the burglary conviction, one-third the midterm for eight months consecutive on the receiving

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated. 1 conviction, and one year for the prior strike). Perry raises a single issue on appeal—that the trial court erroneously failed to hold a Marsden2 hearing on the continued date for sentencing. Viscaina asks this court for an independent review of the record to determine whether there are any issues that would, if resolved favorably to her, result in reversal or modification of the judgment. (People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106; People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) We conclude there was no error and that are no arguable issues presented for review, and affirm the judgment. DISCUSSION3 A. Perry’s Appeal On September 11, 2013, the trial court denied Perry’s section 995 motion based on the challenged admissibility of a dying declaration wherein the victim identified defendant. A little over a year later, on November 24, the court was apprised defendant was contemplating pleading to the burglary case, allowing the murder case to go to trial, and codefendant Felicia Viscaina desired to accept a plea deal resolving all her outstanding cases. Perry’s counsel raised the issue of whether there was a factual basis for the out-on-bail/OR enhancement. The trial court agreed the issue should be resolved, observing counsel “would be engaging in ineffective assistance of counsel by advising his client to admit to something or to plead no contest to something that could not possibly be true.” Ultimately, Perry and Viscaina executed felony advisement and waiver of rights forms, were fully advised of the rights they were waiving by the trial court, and entered no contest pleas to some of the pending charges, in anticipation of the murder case being sent out for trial the following week. These were “open” pleas, leaving sentencing to the discretion of the court following completion of the anticipated murder trial. With the

2 People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118 (Marsden). 3 Given the issue on appeal, we do not separately set forth the facts and procedural history, instead, reciting the relevant events in connection with our discussion of the issue. 2 express agreement of Perry and Viscaina, the court continued the resolved cases to December 11 for status and to set for sentencing. On December 10, the parties appeared for trial on the murder case. The defense filed a number of in limine motions, including to exclude evidence under Miranda4 and potentially for severance. The following day, the court indicated it had not reached even a tentative on the Miranda issue, but was likely to grant a severance if the prosecution intended to present evidence of Viscaina’s postarrest statements. The prosecutor advised he could, and would, proceed without the problematic statements if that was ultimately the ruling of the court. After a brief recess, and just prior to the court commencing hardship rulings as to potential jurors, the parties advised the court they were continuing to discuss a global resolution of the cases. The court agreed to give the parties a brief opportunity to conclude discussions, but made it clear that once it called up the jury panel and commenced hardship examination, the court would not entertain any plea deal. At the end of the recess, the parties advised the court there was a negotiated disposition. As to Perry, the prosecutor stated there would be an amendment to count 2 of the information, to charge voluntary manslaughter (§ 192), instead of murder, to which Perry would plead no contest and additionally admit one “strike” allegation, with the expectation he would be sentenced to 22 years (11 years on the manslaughter charge, doubled for the “strike”). The conviction would be of a “violent felony” for which he would receive 15 percent credit for time served. The sentence to be imposed in connection with his prior plea was to run concurrently with the agreed-to sentence on the trial docket. Perry and Viscaina also expressly agreed the trial judge could do the sentencing on all the cases. Perry and Viscaina executed additional felony advisement and waiver of rights forms, were fully advised of the rights they were waiving by the court, and entered no contest to pleas in accordance with the global negotiated disposition.

4 Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 (Miranda). 3 The court’s voir dire included the following colloquy as to defendant: “The Court: Again, having reviewed a good deal of materials, in connection with the motions in limine, I’m personally aware that there is a factual basis for the plea. [¶] Mr. Perry, you’re charged in [amended] Count Two of the information with a violation of Penal Code section 192(a), voluntary manslaughter, on or about November 8th, 2012 with the victim being Vaughn Walker. [¶] What is your plea to that charge? “Defendant Perry: No contest.

“[¶] . . . [¶]

“The Court: Mr. Perry, you also have the right to be sentenced within 20 days of today. [¶] Do you agree to waive that right so I could set the sentencing date for February 6th? “Defendant Perry: Yes, I do.”

All parties appeared for sentencing on February 6, 2015. At the outset of the hearing, the trial court stated it had a request that the victim’s family members be heard and the matter be continued again for sentencing to March 13 to allow other individuals to attend. Defense counsel both agreed to this proposal. On March 13, the following exchange occurred, quoted at length given defendant’s assertion on appeal: “The Court: . . . Are all sides prepared to proceed on the sentencing? “Mr. Caron [prosecutor]: We are, your Honor. “Mr. Kuluk [Perry’s counsel]: On behalf of Mr. Perry, we are not prepared to proceed. [¶] My client’s giving me some new information this morning that I need to look into. “The Court: Ms. Harrigan [Viscaina’s counsel]. “Ms. Harrigan: Your Honor, Ms. Viscaina has asked me to continue the sentencing hearing until the later part of April. [¶] I wasn’t aware of her request until just now.

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Related

Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
People v. Sanchez
264 P.3d 349 (California Supreme Court, 2011)
People v. Marsden
465 P.2d 44 (California Supreme Court, 1970)
People v. Wende
600 P.2d 1071 (California Supreme Court, 1979)
People v. Cole
106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 174 (California Court of Appeal, 2001)
People v. Reed
183 Cal. App. 4th 1137 (California Court of Appeal, 2010)
People v. Eastman
52 Cal. Rptr. 3d 922 (California Court of Appeal, 2007)
People v. Washington
27 Cal. App. 4th 940 (California Court of Appeal, 1994)
People v. Lee
115 Cal. Rptr. 2d 828 (California Court of Appeal, 2002)
People v. Mejia
72 Cal. Rptr. 3d 76 (California Court of Appeal, 2008)
People v. Kelly
146 P.3d 547 (California Supreme Court, 2006)
People v. Buttram
69 P.3d 420 (California Supreme Court, 2003)
People v. Shelton
125 P.3d 290 (California Supreme Court, 2006)
People v. Barnett
954 P.2d 384 (California Court of Appeal, 1998)

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Perry CA1/1, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-perry-ca11-calctapp-2016.