Filed 3/12/25 P. v. Sandor CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E081787
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF2104569)
CHRISTOPHER ALEXIS SANDOR, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. William S. Lebov, Judge.
Affirmed.
Matthew A. Lopas, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal and James
M. Toohey, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. I. INTRODUCTION
In October 2021, defendant and appellant Christopher Alexis Sandor was involved
in a physical altercation with his elderly parents. As a result of this incident, defendant
was convicted of two counts of elder abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death
(Pen. Code,1 § 368, subd. (b)(1)) and sentenced to 14 years eight months in state prison.
In sentencing defendant, the trial court used the middle term for each offense and applied
the alternate sentencing provisions of the Three Strikes law (§§ 667, subd. (b)-(i);
1170.12) as the result of a prior conviction.
On appeal, defendant argues: (1) the trial court abused its discretion by failing to
apply a presumptive low term pursuant to section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)(A), because
there was evidence that childhood trauma may have contributed to the commission of the
offenses; (2) the trial court abused its discretion by denying his Romero2 invitation to the
trial court to dismiss his prior strike offense in the interest of justice pursuant to section
1385; and (3) to the extent any claim of error has been forfeited for failure to raise the
issue at the time of sentencing, it was due to ineffective assistance of trial counsel.3 We
conclude that defendant’s claim of error with respect to application of section 1170,
1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2 People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497.
3 Defendant also initially argued that the trial court abused its discretion by failing
to dismiss the great bodily injury enhancements (§ 12022.7, subd. (c)) in the interests of justice pursuant to section 1385. However, defendant subsequently withdrew the argument in light of People v. Walker (2024) 16 Cal.5th 1024.
2 subdivision (b)(6)(A), has been forfeited for failure to raise the issue at the time of
sentencing and that the record on direct appeal is inadequate to conclude that defendant’s
trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the issue. We further conclude that the
record does not show an abuse of discretion with respect to the trial court’s denial of
defendant’s invitation to strike a prior strike offense as permitted by Romero and affirm
the judgment.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Facts and Conviction
In October 2021, defendant was involved in a physical altercation with his mother
and father. At the time, both parents were over 70 years of age and suffered from various
medical conditions. Following the incident, both parents were transported by ambulance
to the hospital, and defendant’s mother eventually required surgery to remove blood in
her brain.
As a result of this incident, defendant was convicted of two counts of elder abuse
likely to cause great bodily injury or death (§ 368, subd. (b)(1)). The jury also found true
special allegations that defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury in the
commission of each offense (§ 12022.7, subd. (c)), and defendant admitted that he had
suffered a prior conviction for an offense qualifying as a serious and violent felony
(§§ 667, subd. (b)-(i); 1170.12). Additionally, the trial court found true four factors in
aggravation: (1) the current offenses involved great violence, great bodily harm, the
threat of bodily harm, or acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or
callousness (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421(a)(1)); (2) defendant had numerous prior
3 convictions of increasing seriousness (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421(b)(2));
(3) defendant engaged in conduct indicating a serious danger to society (Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 4.421(b)(1)); and (4) the current offenses were committed against particularly
vulnerable victims (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421(a)(3)).
B. Romero Invitation and Opposition
Prior to sentencing, defendant filed a request inviting the trial court to dismiss his
prior strike offense in the interest of justice pursuant to section 1385 as authorized in
Romero. Defendant argued that his prior strike offense was remote in time because it was
committed in 2017 and he had not been convicted of any serious or violent crimes in the
period of time between his 2017 conviction and the current offenses. Defendant also
generally asserted that “[e]xamination of the general objectives in sentencing and the
other factors . . . reveal several bases for striking the strike prior [in] the interests of
justice” but did not otherwise specifically identify any of those factors for the trial court’s
consideration.
The People filed an opposition to the motion, arguing that (1) defendant had a
criminal history with multiple offenses that were escalating in severity;4 (2) defendant
suffers from an unresolved substance abuse issue that manifests in violent behavior;
(3) defendant has failed to show remorse or take responsibility for his actions; and (4) the
4 Specifically, the invitation identified that defendant had been convicted of three
misdemeanor offenses prior to his conviction for robbery (§ 211) in 2017 and that defendant had a pending criminal action against him involving burglary (§ 459) and grand theft (§ 487).
4 nature of the current offenses were particularly violent, indicating defendant presented a
risk of harm to others.
C. Probation Report
The probation report prepared in advance of sentencing noted that defendant
suffered from substance abuse issues involving the use of alcohol, amphetamine, and
marijuana for decades at least through 2021. He was (1) convicted in 1993 for carrying a
concealed weapon (former § 12020, subd. (a)); (2) convicted in 1996 for disorderly
conduct arising from public intoxication (§ 647, subd. (f)), vandalism (former § 594,
subd. (b)(4)), and possession of controlled substances (Health and Saf. Code, § 11377,
subd. (a)); (3) convicted in 2017 of second degree robbery (§ 211); and (4) had a pending
criminal case involving grand theft (§ 487, subd. (a)) and burglary (§ 459) allegedly
committed in 2018.
In an interview with the probation officer regarding the current offenses, defendant
asserted that (1) he had been emotionally and physically abused by his parents as a child;
(2) he had a history of addiction with methamphetamine but denied any use prior to the
commission of the offenses; (3) he suffered from major depression and had not been
taking his prescribed psychotropic medication as instructed at the time of the current
offenses; (4) the victims of his current offenses provoked him; and (5) he was confident
there would be no further violence if he simply separated himself from his parents. The
probation officer opined that defendant did not appear to show any remorse for inflicting
traumatic injury on the victims; appeared to repeatedly rationalize his behavior by
blaming the victims; and continued to present a risk of volatility because of his
5 unwillingness to seriously treat ongoing substance abuse, despite acknowledging an
addiction.
The probation report recommended a sentence of 14 years eight months in state
prison. The recommendation included imposition of the middle term for defendant’s
primary offenses and application of the alternate sentence provisions of the Three Strikes
law in light of defendant’s prior conviction for a serious and violent felony.
D. Sentencing
The trial court held a sentencing hearing in June 2023. The trial court first
considered defendant’s Romero invitation and permitted the parties to make any
additional arguments not already set forth in their written submissions. However, all
parties declined to make any further arguments beyond their written submissions. The
trial court then denied the request, stating: “The motion to dismiss the strike will be
denied for the following reasons: The defendant has never addressed his addiction to
both alcohol and drugs. He denies addiction, but it’s clear from reading the probation
report that he is addicted to both substances, methamphetamine being the controlled
substance. [¶] He has shown no remorse for his actions. He has blamed the victims for
all of his difficulties. He has inflicted serious bodily injury to both [victims], especially
to [one victim] who needed brain surgery. [¶] So, for those reasons, the Romero motion
is denied.” Defendant did not request clarification with respect to the reasons offered by
the trial court for denial of his Romero invitation.
The trial court then inquired whether any party wished to make any other
comments or arguments prior to pronouncement of judgment. In response, defense
6 counsel waived argument but informed the trial court that defendant had been making
progress in classes while in custody. Defendant also made a personal statement, asserting
that (1) prior to the incident, he had resolved any substance abuse issues; (2) he had been
successfully working toward self-employment; and (3) defendant merely “had a bad
night,” and the incident was “just a singular incident.” Defense counsel did not argue or
suggest that childhood trauma contributed to the commission of the offenses such that
defendant was entitled to a presumptive lower term pursuant to section 1170, subdivision
(b)(6)(A).
The trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of 14 years eight months
in state prison consistent with the probation report’s recommendation. Specifically, the
trial court sentenced defendant to: (1) 11 years on count 1, representing the middle term
of three years (§ 368, subd. (b)(1)), doubled to six years as the result of defendant’s prior
strike (§§ 667, subd. (b)-(i); 1170.12), and enhanced by an additional five years for the
great bodily injury enhancement (§ 12022.7, subd. (c)); and (2) three years eight months
on count 2, representing one-third the middle term (§ 368, subd. (b)(1)), doubled to two
years as the result of defendant’s prior strike (§§ 667, subd. (b)-(i); 1170.12) and
enhanced by one year eight months representing one-third of the five-year great bodily
injury enhancement (§ 12022.7, subd. (c)). Defendant appeals.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Defendant’s Section 1170, Subdivision (b)(6) Claim Has Been Forfeited
On appeal, defendant contends the trial court erred by imposing the middle term at
the time of sentencing because section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)(A), generally provides
7 for a presumptive lower term sentence where a defendant has experienced psychological,
physical, or childhood trauma that was a contributing factor in the commission of the
offense (§ 1170, subd. (b)(6)). We conclude that this argument has been forfeited for
failure to raise it at the time of sentencing.
The California Supreme Court has repeatedly held that “complaints about the
manner in which the trial court exercises its sentencing discretion and articulates its
supporting reasons cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.” (People v. Scott (1994)
9 Cal.4th 331, 356; see People v. Wall (2017) 3 Cal.5th 1048, 1075 [“[A] defendant
forfeits on appeal any ‘claims involving the trial court’s failure to properly make or
articulate its discretionary sentencing choices’ in the absence of objection below.”].) The
rule of forfeiture applies in “ ‘cases in which the stated reasons allegedly do not apply to
the particular case, and cases in which the court purportedly erred because it double-
counted a particular sentencing factor, misweighed the various factors, or failed to state
any reasons or to give a sufficient number of valid reasons.’ ” (People v. Boyce (2014)
59 Cal.4th 672, 730-731; People v. Scott (2015) 61 Cal.4th 363, 406.)
Here, the record does not show that defendant ever asserted he was entitled to a
presumptive lower term pursuant to section 1170, subdivision (b)(6), as the result of
psychological, physical, or childhood trauma. Even when circumstances might justify the
application of this statute, it is the defendant who bears the burden to raise the issue at the
time of sentencing (People v. Fredrickson (2023) 90 Cal.App.5th 984, 991-992 [the
record must show compliance with § 1170, subd. (b) only after the defendant makes an
initial showing to trigger an applicable presumption]), and the failure to do so forfeits any
8 claim of error on appeal (People v. Tilley (2023) 92 Cal.App.5th 772, 778 [defendant
forfeited argument by failing to object to trial court’s imposition of middle term despite
circumstances that created a presumptive lower term under amended section 1170, subd.
(b)]; People v. Achane (2023) 92 Cal.App.5th 1037, 1043-1044 [same]). Thus, any claim
the trial court failed to consider a mitigating circumstance that might have justified
imposition of a lower term under section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) has been forfeited.
To avoid forfeiture, defendant argues that trial counsel’s failure to raise the issue
constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. However, a reviewing court presumes that
“counsel’s actions fall within the broad range of reasonableness, and afford[s] ‘great
deference to counsel’s tactical decisions.’ ” (People v. Mickel (2016) 2 Cal.5th 181,
198.) Thus, a defendant’s burden to show ineffective assistance is “ ‘difficult to carry on
direct appeal,’ as a reviewing court will reverse a conviction based on ineffective
assistance of counsel on direct appeal only if there is affirmative evidence that counsel
had ‘ “ ‘no rational tactical purpose’ ” ’ for an action or omission.” (Ibid.) Absent such
affirmative evidence, where the “appellate record does not disclose what mitigating
evidence was available that was not presented, or what reasons defense counsel may have
had for not presenting it,” we “ ‘ “will not assume that the defense counsel’s failure to
present mitigating evidence rendered his assistance ineffective. Any assertion that
counsel was inadequate in this regard must be raised on habeas corpus.” ’ ” (People v.
Anderson (2001) 25 Cal.4th 543, 598.)
In this case, defendant has not directed our attention to anything in the record that
discloses the actual reasons for trial counsel’s decision not to invoke the provisions of
9 section 1170, subdivision (b)(6). Further, the record suggests at least one reasonable
tactical reason for trial counsel’s decision not to do so. “Section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)
. . . requires that the low term presumption applies only when the identified factor ‘was a
contributing factor in the commission of the offense.’ ” (People v. Knowles (2024)
105 Cal.App.5th 757, 768.) And while the probation report listed childhood trauma as a
possible mitigating factor, defendant elected to make a statement at the time of
sentencing urging the trial court to apply leniency on the basis that the offenses were the
result of an isolated incident because defendant was simply having a “bad night.”
Defendant, himself, never claimed that the offenses of which he was convicted occurred
as a result of any ongoing trauma he suffered as a child. Given defendant’s own
statements at the time of sentencing, defense counsel could reasonably conclude that
arguing that some repressed, ongoing childhood trauma contributed to the commission of
the offenses would undercut defendant’s alternative narrative that the entire incident was
simply the result of an isolated, bad decision. Where two plausible, but potentially
competing arguments for leniency exist, it is not unreasonable for trial counsel to elect to
focus on one argument instead of the other.
Because the record does not disclose trial counsel’s actual reasons for failing to
argue defendant was entitled to a presumptive lower term pursuant to section 1170,
subdivision (b)(6)(A), and there exists at least one reasonable basis upon which counsel
could have decided not to raise the issue at the time of sentencing, the record does not
show ineffective assistance of counsel warranting reversal on direct appeal, and we
decline to reach the merits of defendant’s otherwise forfeited claim.
10 B. The Record Does Not Show Denial of the Romero Invitation Was an Abuse of
Discretion
The only remaining argument asserted on appeal is that the trial court abused its
discretion in denying defendant’s Romero request, inviting the trial court to dismiss one
of his prior strike offenses in the interests of justice pursuant to section 1385. We
disagree.
In Romero, 13 Cal.4th 497, our Supreme Court held “ ‘that a trial court may strike
or vacate an allegation or finding under the Three Strikes law that a defendant has
previously been convicted of a serious and/or violent felony, on its own motion, “in
furtherance of justice” pursuant to . . . section 1385(a).’ ” (People v. Carmony (2004)
33 Cal.4th 367, 373.) “When considering whether to strike a prior conviction, the factors
a court considers are 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
the defendant’s background, character, and prospects, the defendant may be deemed
outside the scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part, and hence should be treated as though the
defendant had not previously been convicted of one or more serious and/or violent
felonies.” (People v. Avila (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 1134, 1140.) “[A] [trial] court’s
failure to dismiss or strike a prior conviction allegation is subject to review under the
deferential abuse of discretion standard.” (Carmony, at p. 374.) “Only extraordinary
circumstances justify finding that a career criminal is outside the Three Strikes law . . . .
Therefore, ‘the circumstances where no reasonable people could disagree that the
criminal falls outside the spirit of the three strikes scheme must be even more
11 extraordinary.’ ” (Avila, at p. 1140.)
Here, defendant argues that the trial court erred because the record fails to show
that it “demonstrably balance[ed]” the relevant factors necessary to reach an informed
decision regarding his Romero invitation. He contends that absent such a showing,
remand for reconsideration is necessary so the trial court may properly weigh all of the
relevant factors when ruling on his request. We disagree with the premise of this
argument.
“While a court must explain its reasons for striking a prior . . . , no similar
requirement applies when a court declines to strike a prior.” (In re Large (2007)
41 Cal.4th 538, 550; In re Coley (2012) 55 Cal.4th 524, 560-561 [There is no statutory
requirement of an on-the-record statement of reasons when a court declines to strike a
prior strike conviction.].) Because there is no requirement that the trial court explain its
reasons for denying a Romero invitation, the fact that the record does not show what
factors the trial court balanced in reaching its decision is not sufficient to show an abuse
of discretion.
Instead, “ ‘ “[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 legitimate sentencing
objectives, and its discretionary determination to impose a particular sentence will not be
set aside on review.” ’ ” (Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 376-377.) And the fact that
a trial court focuses its explanatory comments on a specific factor “does not mean that it
considered only that factor.” (People v. Myers (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 305, 310.) Thus,
12 defendant has not met his burden on appeal by simply arguing that the record is not
sufficiently detailed to show whether the trial court considered and balanced mitigating
factors in its analysis. Absent an affirmative indication in the record, we presume the
trial court considered all relevant factors when reaching its decision.
To the extent defendant suggests the trial court abused its discretion by relying on
improper factors, we conclude that the record does not support this contention. The trial
court explicitly referenced four factors when denying relief: defendant’s continued
struggles with substance abuse; his lack of remorse; his failure to take responsibility for
his actions by blaming the victims for his difficulties; and the fact that the current offense
involved infliction of great bodily injury to two victims. And established case authority
holds that each of these factors can be considered in the context of a Romero request.
(Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 378 [listing fact that a defendant has “done little to
address his substance abuse problems” as a factor “relevant to the trial court’s decision
under Romero”]; People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 163 [trial court may consider
whether defendant “ ‘failed or refused to learn his lesson’ ” from prior offenses]; People
v. Nunez (2023) 97 Cal.App.5th 362, 373 [trial court may consider a defendant’s “lack of
remorse as relevant to his character, future prospects, and improbability of
rehabilitation”]; People v. Philpot (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 893, 907 [seriousness of the
present offense is a factor that may be considered in denying a Romero invitation].)
Thus, contrary to defendant’s contentions on appeal, the record does not
affirmatively show that the trial court relied on any improper factors when reaching its
decision with respect to the Romero invitation. Because the record contains no
13 affirmative indication that the trial court failed to consider any relevant factors and does
not contain any affirmative indication that the trial court relied on improper factors when
ruling on the Romero invitation, defendant has not met his burden to show the trial court
abused its discretion and reversal is not warranted.
IV. DISPOSITION
The order is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
FIELDS J. We concur:
McKINSTER Acting P. J.
RAPHAEL J.