People v. Robinson

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 8, 2026
DocketF089332
StatusPublished

This text of People v. Robinson (People v. Robinson) 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. Robinson, (Cal. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

Filed 5/8/26

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, F089332 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. SC058124A) v.

HENRY WAYNE ROBINSON, OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. Andrew Kendall, Judge. David L. Polsky, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Kimberley A. Donohue, Assistant Attorney General, Christopher J. Rench and Tyrone Sandoval, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo- INTRODUCTION Defendant Henry Wayne Robinson was scheduled for recall and resentencing pursuant to Penal Code1 section 1172.75 because his judgment included three 1-year sentencing terms for prior prison term enhancements imposed pursuant to section 667.5, former subdivision (b). Ultimately, however, the trial court determined defendant was ineligible for resentencing based on subdivision (f) of section 1172.75 because his sentence included a term of life without the possibility of parole. Accordingly, the court granted the People’s motion to dismiss resentencing. As of January 1, 2025, subdivision (f) of section 1172.75 provides that “an individual who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 6600 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and sentenced to death or a life term without the possibility of parole, who, as of January 1, 2025, has not had their judgment reviewed and verified by the sentencing court as provided in subdivision (c), is not eligible for recall and resentencing under this section.” Defendant contends the court erred because subdivision (f) of section 1172.75 does not apply to him. He argues subdivision (f) should be construed conjunctively to exclude from resentencing only those individuals who have been convicted of a qualifying sexually violent offense and sentenced to death or a term of life without the possibility of parole.2 Because defendant was not convicted of a qualifying sexually

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 He also asserts subdivision (f) of section 1172.75 does not apply to him because his judgment was reviewed and verified by the sentencing court prior to January 1, 2025, when the trial court reviewed his criminal case to confirm the existence of a now-invalid prior prison term enhancement and calendared the matter for recall and resentencing. However, he states that he “does not rely on [the] retroactivity provision” of section 1172.75, subdivision (f) on appeal. Because defendant does not rely on this argument and we resolve the appeal on other grounds, we do not address the retroactivity provision or whether defendant’s judgment was reviewed and verified by the court prior to January 1, 2025.

2. violent offense, he contends he does not meet the criteria to be excluded from resentencing pursuant to subdivision (f) of section 1172.75. The People argue subdivision (f) should be construed disjunctively to exclude from resentencing any individuals who have been convicted of a qualifying sexually violent offense or sentenced to death or a term of life without the possibility of parole. Because defendant’s sentence includes a term of life without the possibility of parole, the People contend he is ineligible for resentencing. We conclude both the plain language of the statute and its legislative history support a conjunctive interpretation of section 1172.75, subdivision (f). Because defendant was not convicted of a qualifying sexually violent offense, he remains eligible for resentencing. Accordingly, we reverse the order granting the People’s motion to dismiss and remand for further resentencing proceedings. BACKGROUND3 In 1997, a jury convicted defendant of first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a); count 1), attempted murder (§§ 187, subd. (a), 664; count 2), attempted robbery (§§ 212.5, subd. (b), 664; count 3), and second degree burglary (§ 460, subd. (b); count 4). As to count 1, the jury found robbery and burglary special circumstances to be true (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)). As to all counts, the jury found true that defendant personally used a firearm. (§ 12022.5, subd. (a).) Additionally, defendant admitted three prior prison term allegations. (§ 667.5, former subd. (b).) Defendant was sentenced on count 1 to a term of life without the possibility of parole, plus five years for the firearm enhancement. On count 2, he was sentenced to a consecutive determinate term of nine years, plus five years for the firearm enhancement, and three years for the prior prison

3 The facts underlying defendant’s offenses are not relevant to the issues presented on appeal, and we therefore dispense with a statement of facts.

3. term enhancements. Sentence on counts 3 and 4 was imposed and stayed pursuant to section 654. On November 1, 2023, the court scheduled defendant’s case for resentencing pursuant to section 1172.75 and referred the case for a supplemental probation officer’s report. Although resentencing initially was scheduled for December 13, 2023, the matter was continued numerous times. On December 10, 2024, defendant filed a resentencing brief in advance of a resentencing hearing scheduled for January 10, 2025. He asked the court to strike the prior prison term enhancements and to conduct a full resentencing. On January 9, 2025, the prosecutor filed a motion to dismiss resentencing, arguing that Senate Bill No. 285 (2023–2024 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill No. 285) (Stats. 2024, ch. 979, § 2), which added subdivision (f) to section 1172.75 effective January 1, 2025, excluded from resentencing persons, such as defendant, who are serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole. Defendant opposed the motion, arguing Senate Bill No. 285 does not apply retroactively to him because his sentence had been reviewed and verified by the sentencing court before Senate Bill No. 285’s effective date. The matter was continued to February 7, 2025. On that date, the parties presented argument on the points raised in their briefs. The trial court determined Senate Bill No. 285 applied retroactively to defendant because he had not yet been resentenced. Additionally, the court determined that subdivision (f) of section 1172.75 excludes from resentencing all persons serving a term of life without the possibility of parole or subject to the death penalty. Accordingly, the trial court granted the motion to dismiss resentencing. DISCUSSION I. Principles of Statutory Interpretation We are asked to decide whether subdivision (f) of section 1172.75 excludes from resentencing persons who are serving a term of life without the possibility of parole, but

4. who have not been convicted of a sexually violent offense. This is a question of statutory interpretation that we review de novo. (See Brown v. City of Inglewood (2025) 18 Cal.5th 33, 40.) “ ‘When interpreting any statute, our goal is to determine the Legislature’s intent and give effect to the statute’s purpose.’ ” (Iloff v. LaPaille (2025) 18 Cal.5th 551, 560.) “ ‘We begin by examining the statute’s words, giving them a plain and commonsense meaning. [Citation.] We do not, however, consider the statutory language “in isolation.” . . . [W]e construe the words in question “ ‘in context, keeping in mind the nature and obvious purpose of the statute . . . .’ ” ’ [Citation.] We also ‘construe every statute with reference to the whole system of law of which it is a part, so that all may be harmonized and anomalies avoided.’ ” (Hohenshelt v. Superior Court (2025) 18 Cal.5th 310, 330.) “ ‘ “[T]he statute’s plain meaning controls the court’s interpretation unless its words are ambiguous.” ’ ” (People v.

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

Related

People v. Davis
208 P.3d 78 (California Supreme Court, 2009)
People v. Edward C.
223 Cal. App. 4th 813 (California Court of Appeal, 2014)
People v. C.H.
264 P.3d 357 (California Supreme Court, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
People v. Robinson, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-robinson-calctapp-2026.