The opinion
Filed 5/17/16 P. v. Smith CA4/2
Opinion following rehearing
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E063504
v. (Super.Ct.No. FVI800708)
CHARLES AUSTIN SMITH, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Miriam Ivy
Morton, Judge. Affirmed.
Coreen Ferrentino, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Barry Carlton and Sharon L.
Rhodes, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
1
On November 4, 2014, the voters approved Proposition 47, The Safe
Neighborhoods and Schools Act (Proposition 47). Proposition 47 reduced certain
nonserious, nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors. Proposition 47 allows a person
convicted of a felony prior to its passage, who would have been guilty of a misdemeanor
under Proposition 47, to petition the court to reduce his or her felony to a misdemeanor
and be resentenced.
On September 19, 2008, prior to the passage of Proposition 47, defendant and
appellant Charles Austin Smith entered a guilty plea to a felony violation of attempted
unlawful driving or taking a vehicle, a 1999 Toyota Camry, within the meaning of Penal
Code section 664 and Vehicle Code section 10851. Defendant filed a one-page petition
to recall his sentence (Petition) stating that his conviction of “VC 664/10851(a)” should
be reduced to a misdemeanor. The trial court denied the Petition on the grounds that
defendant’s conviction was not eligible for resentencing under Proposition 47.
Defendant now claims on appeal as follows: (1) his conviction for violating Penal
Code section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851 is properly considered a theft offense,
which is a misdemeanor under the newly enacted Proposition 47; (2) the omission of
Penal Code section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851 from Proposition 47 violates equal
protection; and (3) his constitutional rights were violated when the trial court denied his
Petition without holding a hearing and securing his presence at the hearing.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On April 9, 2008, an Information was filed against defendant in San Bernardino
County case No. FVI800708, charging him with the unlawful driving or taking of a
2
vehicle in violation of Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a). Specifically, he was
charged with taking a 1999 Toyota Camry from Ernesto Guereque without the consent of
and with intent, either permanently or temporarily, to deprive the said owner of title to
and possession of said vehicle. He was further charged with the crime of receiving stolen
property, the same Toyota Camry, within the meaning of Penal Code section 496d,
subdivision (a). It was further alleged as to both counts pursuant to Penal Code section
666.5 that he had previously been convicted of a violation of Penal Code section 496d,
subdivision (a). It was also alleged that defendant had served three prior prison terms
within the meaning of Penal Code section 667.5, subdivision (b).
On September 19, 2008, defendant signed a plea agreement in which he agreed to
enter a plea of guilty to one count of “attempt unlawful driving or taking a vehicle”
within the meaning of Penal Code section 664 and Vehicle Code section 10851,
subdivision (a). On September 19, 2008, defendant pled guilty in open court to one count
of attempted unlawful taking or driving of a motor vehicle, a felony violation of Penal
Code section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a). Counsel stipulated to and
the trial court found the factual basis of the plea based on the preliminary hearing
transcript. Defendant was sentenced to eight months in state prison. He was given 272
days of custody credit. As a result, he was discharged on the case. The remaining
charges were dismissed. The abstract of judgment listed his conviction as “VC
664/10851(A) ATTEMPT: TAKE VE.”
On April 9, 2015, defendant filed his Petition. It consisted of one page.
Defendant requested a hearing date of May 1, 2015. The sole information on his
3
conviction provided in the Petition was as follows: “Defendant in the above-entitled case
requests that, pursuant to Penal Code § 1170.18, the following felony violation(s)
VC664/10851(a) be designated as misdemeanor(s).” He stated that he had completed his
sentence. Defendant provided no additional facts or argument to the trial court.
On April 9, 2015, the People filed a one-page response to the Petition and stated,
“Defendant is not entitled to the relief requested. Reason: [¶] VC 10851 is not affected
by Prop 47.”
On April 30, 2015, the trial court issued a one-page denial of the Petition. It did
not conduct a hearing. It found, “PC 664/VC 10851(A) does not qualify under Prop 47,
PC 1170.18. Petition denied.” Defendant filed an amended notice of appeal from the
denial of his Petition on May 14, 2015.
DISCUSSION
Defendant’s Petition filed in the trial court merely cited to his conviction of
violating Penal Code section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851, and that it should be
reduced to a misdemeanor. No further facts or argument regarding his eligibility for
resentencing were presented in the Petition. On appeal, defendant contends the trial court
erred by denying the Petition because the language of Proposition 47 is broadly inclusive
and covers all theft-related offenses where the value of the stolen property is $950 or less.
He insists that when a person violates Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a) by
taking a car with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of possession, “he in
essence suffers a theft conviction.” He further argues that since he was only convicted of
an attempted violation of Vehicle Code section 10851, the value of the vehicle was
4
essentially zero. He contends he qualified for reduction of his felony conviction to a
misdemeanor violation of Penal Code section 490.2.
While defendant’s claims may in fact be true, I affirm the denial of defendant’s
Petition because he failed to meet his burden in the trial court of alleging facts that he
was eligible for resentencing under Proposition 47. I further reject he has properly raised
an equal protection claim. Finally, he was not entitled to a hearing on his eligibility to be
resentenced.
A. INADEQUACY OF PETITION
“The voters approved Proposition 47 at the November 4, 2014 general election,
and it became effective the next day.” (People v. Diaz. (2105) 238 Cal.App.4th 1323,
1328.) “Proposition 47 ‘was intended to reduce penalties “for certain nonserious and
nonviolent property and drug offenses from wobblers or felonies to misdemeanors.”’”
(T.W. v. Superior Court (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 646, 652.)
Proposition 47 added Penal Code section 1170.18. Subdivision (a) of Penal Code
section 1170.18, provides in pertinent part, “A person currently serving a sentence for a
conviction, whether by trial or plea, of a felony or felonies who would have been guilty
of a misdemeanor under the act that added this section (‘this act’) had this act been in
effect at the time of the offense may petition for a recall of sentence before the trial court
that entered the judgment of conviction in his or her case to request resentencing in
accordance with Sections 11350, 11357, or 11377 of the Health and Safety Code, or
Sections 459.5, 473, 476a, 490.2, 496, or 666 of the Penal Code, as those sections have
been amended or added by this act.” Under Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (b)
5
the trial court first determines whether the petition has presented a prima facie case for
relief under Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (a). If the petitioner satisfies the
criteria in subdivision (a), then he will be resentenced to a misdemeanor, unless the court,
within its discretion, determines the petitioner would pose an unreasonable risk to public
safety. (Pen. Code, § 1170.18, subd. (b).)
Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (f) provides: “A person who has
completed his or her sentence for a conviction, whether by trial or plea, of a felony or
felonies who would have been guilty of a misdemeanor under this act had this act been in
effect at the time of the offense, may file an application before the trial court that entered
the judgment of conviction in his or her case to have the felony conviction or convictions
designated as misdemeanors.” Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (h) provides:
“Unless requested by the applicant, no hearing is necessary to grant or deny an
application filed under subsection (f).”
Vehicle Code section 10851 is not listed in Penal Code section 1170.18, and the
issue of whether a defendant is eligible for resentencing for a violation of that section is
currently under review in the California Supreme Court in People v. Page (2015) 241
Cal.App.4th 714, review granted, January 27, 2016, S230793. I only briefly address the
possibility that a violation of Vehicle Code section 10851 could be reduced to a
misdemeanor under Proposition 47.
Section 490.2 was added to the Penal Code. (People v. Rivera (2015) 233
Cal.App.4th 1085, 1091.) Penal Code section 490.2 provides in pertinent part,
“Notwithstanding [Penal Code s]ection 487 or any other provision of law defining grand
6
theft, obtaining any property by theft where the value of the money, labor, real or
personal property taken does not exceed nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) shall be
considered petty theft and shall be punished as a misdemeanor.” (Italics added.) Penal
Code section 487, subdivision (a), provides that if the value of the money, labor, real or
personal property taken exceeds $950, the offense is a felony. Penal Code section 487,
subdivision (d)(1) provides that grand theft occurs if the property is an automobile,
regardless of the value.
Penal Code section 1170.18 clearly states that a defendant must show he was
convicted of a felony but would have been convicted of a misdemeanor if Proposition 47
had been in effect at the time of the offense. For an offense under Penal Code section
490.2, which was added to the Penal Code, defendant had to allege facts in the Petition
that he would have been guilty of a misdemeanor violation of Penal Code section 490.2
rather than the felony conviction. It is true that Vehicle Code section 10851 is not listed
in Penal Code section 1170.18. However, Vehicle Code section 10851 can be violated by
the taking of a vehicle with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.
Assuming that a defendant takes a vehicle valued under $950, such violation could
constitute a violation of Penal Code section 490.2.
However, in this case, defendant failed to prove that the value of the vehicle in this
case was under $950, or to allege any facts to support that he was eligible for
resentencing. The petitioner has the burden of establishing eligibility for relief under
Penal Code section 1170.18. (People v. Sherow (2015) 239 Cal.App.4th 875, 879-880
(Sherow).)
7
In Sherow, the defendant was ultimately convicted of five counts of second degree
burglary, and filed a petition to recall his sentence, which was denied. As set forth in the
opinion, “Sherow appeals challenging only the decision as to counts 1 and 2. He
contends the record does not show the loss as to each count exceeded $950 and thus the
two counts should be resentenced as misdemeanors. Sherow’s petition sought
resentencing as to all five counts without any separate discussion of the counts, no
reference to facts or evidence and no argument.” (Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th at p.
877.) The People responded that Sherow had failed to meet his burden under Penal Code
section 1170.18 to show the losses did not exceed $950. (Sherow, at p. 877.) The
defendant, in turn, argued that his “blanket request” to reduce his convictions to
misdemeanors, without any discussion or elaboration, placed the burden on the
prosecution to discern whether he was eligible for relief under Proposition 47. (Id. at p.
878.)
The Sherow court observed that, “Proposition 47 does not explicitly allocate a
burden of proof.” (Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th at p. 878.) The court stated that
“applying established principles of statutory construction I believe a petitioner for
resentencing under Proposition 47 must establish his or her eligibility for such
resentencing. In such cases, it is important to keep in mind a person . . . was validly
convicted under the law applicable at the time of the trial of the felony offenses. It is a
rational allocation of burdens if the petitioner in such cases bear[s] the burden of showing
that he or she is eligible for resentencing of what was an otherwise valid sentence.” (Id.
at p. 878.)
8
The Sherow court also referred to background information prepared by “Judge J.
Richard Couzens and Presiding Justice Tricia A. Bigelow” on Proposition 47, which
provided, “‘The petitioner will have the initial burden of establishing eligibility for
resentencing under section 1170.18(a): i.e., whether the petitioner is currently serving a
felony sentence for a crime that would have been a misdemeanor had Proposition 47 been
in effect at the time the crime was committed. If the crime under consideration is a theft
offense under sections 459.5, 473, 476a, 490.2 or 496, the petitioner will have the initial
burden of proving the value of the property did not exceed $950.’” (Sherow, supra, 239
Cal.App.4th. at p. 879.)
The Sherow court determined that the defendant’s petition, which gave “virtually
no information” regarding his eligibility for resentencing, was properly denied. It further
noted that “[a] proper petition could certainly contain at least [defendant’s] testimony
about the nature of the items taken. If he made the initial showing the court can take such
action as appropriate to grant the petition or permit further factual determination.”
(Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th at p. 880; accord People v. Rivas-Colon (2015) 241
Cal.App.4th 444, 449 [“Under Sherow [the defendant] had the burden to establish ‘the
facts, upon which his . . . eligibility [was] based[,]’ i.e. that the value of the property he
took from the store did not exceed $950”].)
Here, defendant’s Petition only stated that he had been convicted of violating
Penal Code section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851. No further facts regarding his
eligibility for resentencing were provided. Defendant did not allege that although
Vehicle Code section 10851 is not listed in Proposition 47, he was otherwise eligible
9
because his offense constituted a theft offense under Penal Code section 490.2. He did
not allege that since he was convicted of an attempt crime, the value of the items taken
was zero. Based on the foregoing, defendant was not entitled to resentencing under Penal
Code section 1170.18 because he did not meet his burden of showing he was eligible for
resentencing under Proposition 47.
B. EQUAL PROTECTION
Defendant raises for the first time on appeal that the omission of Penal Code
section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851 from Proposition 47 violates equal protection.
Defendant argues that assuming the Proposition 47 voters intended to only reduce vehicle
thefts under Penal Code section 487, subdivision (d)(1) to misdemeanors under Penal
Code section 490.2, while leaving Vehicle Code section 10851 violations as felonies,
such discrimination is impermissible under the Equal Protection Clause of the United
States and California Constitutions.
“‘The United States and California Constitutions entitle all persons to equal
protection of the laws. [Citations.] This guarantee means “that no person or class of
persons shall be denied the same protection of the laws which is enjoyed by other persons
or other classes in like circumstances.” [Citation.] A litigant challenging a statute on
equal protection grounds bears the threshold burden of showing “that the state has
adopted a classification that affects two or more similarly situated groups in an unequal
manner.” [Citation.] Even if the challenger can show that the classification differently
affects similarly situated groups, “[i]n ordinary equal protection cases not involving
suspect classifications or the alleged infringement of a fundamental interest,” the
10
classification is upheld unless it bears no rational relationship to a legitimate state
purpose.’” (People v. Singh (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 364, 369; see also People v.
Hofsheier (2006) 37 Cal.4th 1185, 1199.)
I have not concluded in this case that a person who is convicted pursuant to
Vehicle Code section 10851 is ineligible for resentencing under Penal Code section
1170.18, but a person who is convicted of violating Penal Code section 487, subdivision
(d)(1) would be eligible for resentencing. Rather, I have concluded defendant was
required to show that he would have been eligible to be convicted of the misdemeanor
violation of Penal Code section 490.2 had it been in effect at the time he committed his
offense. It is conceivable that a person who has been convicted of a violation of Vehicle
Code section 10851, and files an adequate petition alleging the value of the vehicle taken
was less than $950, and had the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle,
could show he would have been guilty only of a violation of Penal Code section 490.2 at
the time of the offense, and could be eligible for resentencing based on the language in
the statute.
However, I simply cannot reach a decision in this case as to whether defendant
was eligible for resentencing because defendant’s Petition filed in the trial court never
raised these issues and was woefully inadequate. Moreover, “As a general rule, only
‘claims properly raised and preserved by the parties are reviewable on appeal.’” (People
v. Smith (2001) 24 Cal.4th 849, 852.) I will not address defendant’s equal protection
claim, raised for the first time on appeal; even if I were to consider the issue, defendant
failed to allege facts in the Petition to support his argument.
11
C. RIGHT TO A HEARING
Defendant further contends that his constitutional rights were violated by the
failure of the trial court to conduct a hearing and secure his presence at the hearing.
Here, the only information before the trial court was that defendant had been convicted of
an attempted unlawful taking or driving of a motor vehicle. It is clear, as set forth ante,
that Vehicle Code section 10851 is not listed in Penal Code section 1170.18. Based on
the face of the Petition, the trial court could determine that defendant was ineligible for
resentencing, and no hearing was required. Defendant had to allege additional facts, i.e.
that the value of the vehicle was under $950, or zero, as he now contends, and that his
crime constituted a theft offense. The trial court here could summarily deny the Petition
because it contained no facts or explanation how defendant was eligible for resentencing.
(See Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th at p. 877; see also People v. Oehmigen (2014) 232
Cal.App.4th 1, 6-7 [defendant not entitled to development of facts or hearing if trial court
determined he was ineligible on the face of a Penal Code section 1170.126 petition for
resentencing].)
Here, defendant’s Petition gave the trial court no information as to the value of the
property, or that his violation of Vehicle Code section 10851 was a theft offense. As
alleged, the trial court did not err by concluding that since defendant had a conviction of
violating Penal Code section 664/Vehicle Code section 10851, without more, he was not
entitled to resentencing under Proposition 47.
12
DISPOSITION
The trial court’s order denying defendant’s Petition to recall his sentence is
affirmed. Nothing in this decision or in Penal Code section 1170.18 forecloses
defendant’s ability to file a new petition alleging sufficient facts to support his claim that
his conviction should be reduced to a misdemeanor.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
MILLER
Acting P. J.
13
CODRINGTON, J., Concurring.
I concur with the lead opinion’s disposition, affirming the trial court order denying
defendant’s petition for reclassification of his felony conviction as a misdemeanor, but
respectfully disagree with its rational and with Justice Slough’s concurring opinion.
Defendant pled guilty to attempted unlawful driving or taking a vehicle (Veh.
Code, § 10851, subd. (a)1; Pen. Code, § 664). At the plea hearing, counsel stipulated the
plea was based on the facts in the preliminary hearing transcript. After defendant
completed his sentence, defendant filed a petition to reduce his felony conviction to a
misdemeanor (petition). The trial court summarily denied defendant’s petition on the
ground defendant’s section 10851 conviction was not eligible. The lead opinion affirms
the trial court order denying defendant’s petition.
I also respectfully disagree with the conclusion reached in the lead opinion and in
Justice Slough’s concurring opinion that a defendant convicted of a section 10851
conviction may qualify for resentencing or reclassification if the defendant establishes the
value of the vehicle at issue does not exceed $950 and the defendant intended to
permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle. It is my view that, as a matter of law, a
section 10851 conviction is not eligible for resentencing or reclassification as a
misdemeanor under Proposition 47, regardless of whether the defendant can show that
the theft would have qualified as a petty theft under Penal Code section 490.2.
1 Unless otherwise noted, all statutory references are to the Vehicle Code.
1
A. Ineligibility of a Section 10851 Conviction Under Proposition 47
Although the lead opinion suggests a section 10851 conviction is eligible for
resentencing under Proposition 47, the lead opinion affirms denial of defendant’s petition
on the ground he did not meet his burden of proving the value of the stolen car did not
exceed $950 and defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.
Justice Slough’s concurrence agrees defendant did not meet his burden of proof but
further discusses in depth the issue of eligibility of a section 10851 conviction for
resentencing under Proposition 47. In doing so, Justice Slough’s concurrence disagrees
with the reasoning and holding in People v. Solis (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 1099 (Solis).
The Solis court holds that a defendant convicted of a section 10851 conviction is
ineligible for resentencing under Proposition 47 as a matter of law, regardless of the facts
of the crime. (Id. at p. 1109.)
I believe the holding in Solis is correct and is supported by well-reasoned analysis.
The court in Solis concludes, “as a matter of statutory interpretation, that all convictions
under Section 10851—including those committed with the intent to deprive the owner of
permanent possession of a vehicle—are ineligible for reduction in accordance with
section 8 of Proposition 47. (See Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec.[ (Nov. 4, 2014)]
text of Prop. 47, § 8, p. 72 [adding § 490.2].)” (Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1109.)
The concurrence in Solis also provides compelling reasons for concluding “that
convictions for violation of Vehicle Code section 10851 are not eligible for Proposition
47 resentencing pursuant to Penal Code section 1170.18.” (Solis, at p. 1118 (conc. Opn.
of Aldrich, J.).)
2
I recognize that the issue of eligibility of a section 10851 conviction is under
review by the California Supreme Court in People v. Page (2016) 364 P.3d 410, and that
reasonable minds can differ on this matter (Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1109
[“[N]either the grammatical structure of Section 490.2 nor the statutory definition of theft
resolves the question of whether defendants convicted of Section 10851 under a theft
theory are eligible for resentencing.”].)
I anticipate our high court will grant review of the Solis case, as it has done with
the majority of the Proposition 47 decisions. If this occurs, Solis will no longer constitute
binding authority. Nevertheless, the majority opinion in Solis provides the better
reasoned and more persuasive analysis. Therefore its rationale and holding should be
followed. This is because Penal Code section 1170.28 does not include section 10851 as
one of the enumerated offenses eligible for resentencing. The new petty theft provision,
Penal Code section 490.2, added by Proposition 47, also does not mention that section
10851 is eligible to the limited extent a section 10851 offense might qualify as a petty
theft under Penal Code section 490.2. Furthermore, section 10851 is not strictly a theft
statute. It applies not only to thefts but also to non-theft offenses, such as driving
someone’s car without consent and without intent to permanently deprive the owner of
the car.
In construing the intent of the electorate in passing Proposition 47, we must look
to the language of Proposition 47 as a whole. (Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma Stores, Inc.
(2011) 51 Cal.4th 524, 529-330.) In doing so, the Solis concurrence notes that, “when the
Legislature—or here, the voters—‘intend[] for a statute to prevail over all contrary law, it
3
typically signals this intent by using phrases like “notwithstanding any other law” or
“notwithstanding other provisions of law.” [Citations.]’ [Citation.] Here, the electorate
included such ‘notwithstanding’ language in regard to Penal Code section 487 and
statutes defining grand theft, but not in regard to Vehicle Code section 10851. This
omission suggests the electorate did not intend Penal Code section 490.2 to apply to
Vehicle Code section 10851.” (Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1118 (conc. Opn. of
Aldrich, J.).)
In addition, applying the legal maxim that “a general provision is controlled by
one that is special” (Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1111; San Francisco Taxpayers
Assn. v. Board of Supervisors (1992) 2 Cal.4th 571, 577), section 10851 should be
construed as not falling within the purview of the more general petty theft statute, Penal
Code section 490.2. “‘A specific provision relating to a particular subject will govern in
respect to that subject, as against a general provision, although the latter, standing alone,
would be broad enough to include the subject to which the more particular provision
relates.’” (Solis, at p. 1111; San Francisco Taxpayers Assn., at p. 577.) Therefore, “to
the extent Section 10851 may be violated in a way that brings it within Penal Code
sections 484 and 490.2, we conclude the specific rule of Section 10851 is an exception to
the general rule announced in Section 490.2, subdivision (a). (See Bradwell[ v. Superior
Court (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 265,] 272 [“‘Although welfare fraud is like other
fraudulent theft in terms of conduct, it differs in terms of context,’ in part because of the
‘“unique statutory scheme”’ that blends noncriminal and criminal resolutions.].)” (Solis,
at p. 1112.)
4
Furthermore, as noted in Solis, “The inclusion of ‘auto theft under Section 10851
of the Vehicle Code[]’ alongside ‘grand theft’ and ‘petty theft’ in section 666 is therefore
a significant indication that the voters did not consider Section 10851 a variety of petty
theft. If the initiative drafters considered ‘auto theft under Section 10851’ a species of
petty theft—a term they defined in section eight (adding § 490.2)—there would have
been no need to designate it as a separate predicate in section 10 (amending § 666). (See
Bradwell v. Superior Court (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 265, 272 . . . [statute’s inclusion of
both ‘“[g]rand theft of any type”’ and ‘“[f]elony welfare fraud”’ indicates welfare fraud
is not a form of grand theft].)” (Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1110.)
I also agree with Solis that “felony prosecutions under Section 10851 serve
important public safety and deterrence functions that differ from those served by
prosecutions for theft. It is thus reasonable for the Legislature to afford prosecutors the
discretion to prosecute joyriders as felons rather than misdemeanants.” (Solis, supra, 245
Cal.App.4th at p. 1114.) Although Proposition 47 amended other statutes to change
specific offenses from wobblers to misdemeanors, a section 10851 offense remains a
wobbler, punishable either as a felony or misdemeanor. (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a);
see People v. Superior Court (Alvarez) (1997) 14 Cal.4th 968, 974, fn. 4 [listing Veh.
Code, § 10851, subd. (a), as a statute that provides for “alternative felony or
misdemeanor punishment”].)
Penal Code section 1170.18 provides a mechanism for a person “who would have
been guilty of a misdemeanor,” if Proposition 47 had been in effect at the time of the
offense, to petition for resentencing in accordance with certain enumerated sections that
5
were amended or added by Proposition 47. (Pen. Code, § 1170.18, subd. (a).) Because
section 10851 remains a wobbler, it cannot be said that defendant would have been guilty
of a misdemeanor had Proposition 47 been in effect at the time of his offense.
Proposition 47 left intact the language in section 10851, subdivision (a), which makes a
violation of that statute punishable as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Proposition 47
therefore does not apply to section 10851 conviction, because a defendant convicted of
section 10851 would not necessarily have been guilty of a misdemeanor if Proposition 47
had been in effect at the time of the offense.
Although I recognize reasonable minds can differ on the issue of whether a section
10851 conviction is eligible for resentencing/reclassification under Proposition 47,
compelling reasons support the conclusion that a section 10851 conviction is ineligible
under Proposition 47 as a matter of law.
B. Scope of Permissible Supporting Evidence
I respectfully disagree with Justice Slough’s conclusion in the final paragraph of
her concurrence that, if defendant files a new petition, he can submit supporting evidence
which “could include a copy of the probation report or a police report, the vehicle’s Kelly
Blue Book value, or a declaration under penalty of perjury regarding the vehicle’s value.”
Defendant is not entitled to a hearing on remand because his section 10851 conviction is
ineligible for reclassification as a matter of law. Even if a hearing were appropriate upon
remand, the enumerated items most likely are not part of the record of conviction and
therefore cannot be relied upon in determining whether defendant’s conviction is eligible
for resentencing.
6
As explained by Justice Bigelow and Judge Couzens in their treatise on
Proposition 47, “Additional documentation or evidence may be presented by the parties
which may be relevant to the determination of whether the petitioner meets the minimum
statutory requirements of eligibility for resentencing. [¶] The scope of evidence
admissible to prove or disprove the petitioner’s eligibility for resentencing is not defined
by the statute. It is likely the court could consider any documentary evidence that is part
of the ‘record of conviction:’ ‘those record documents reliably reflecting the facts of the
offense for which the defendant has been convicted.’ [Citation.] Depending on the
circumstances, the record of conviction can include the abstract of judgment, the section
969b prison packet, the charging document and plea form, transcripts of the petitioner’s
plea, the factual basis given for the plea, preliminary hearing and trial transcripts, and
appellate opinions. (For a full discussion of the law related to the record of conviction,
see Couzens and Bigelow, ‘California Three Strikes Sentencing,’ The Rutter Group,
§ 4:5, pp. 4-14 - 4-35 (2014).) It is not clear, however, whether the court may consider
live testimony on behalf of either the defense or prosecution. Such evidence is prohibited
in the context of proving a strike. [Citations.] It is an open question, for example,
whether live testimony will be permitted to prove or disprove the value of property taken
by the petitioner.” (Couzens & Bigelow, Proposition 47, “The Safe Neighborhoods and
Schools Act” (August 2015, Rev. 2/16), pp. 73-74 (Couzens & Bigelow), at
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/Prop-47-Information.pdf ; See Couzens & Bigelow,
California Three Strikes Sentencing (The Rutter Group 2013) § 3:1, p. 3-3 (rev. 4/2013).)
7
C. Forfeiture
Defendant contends that equal protection principles require that his section 10851
conviction be treated in the same manner as a conviction for grand theft auto in violation
of Penal Code section 487, subdivision (d)(1). The lead opinion dismisses this challenge
on the ground defendant forfeited the objection by not raising it in the trial court, but also
because defendant did not meet his burden of proof that the crime would have qualified
as a section 490.2 petty theft at the time of defendant’s offense.
I disagree with the conclusion in the lead opinion that defendant forfeited his equal
protection challenge. Generally, an appellant forfeits claims of error through inaction
that prevents the trial court from avoiding or curing the error. (Steven W. v. Matthew S.
(1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1108, 1117.) There are, however, exceptions to the general
forfeiture rule whereby certain issues may be raised on appeal despite the appellant’s
failure to raise them in the trial court. Even though defendant may not have raised the
equal protection objection in the trial court, this court has discretion to consider
constitutional issues raised for the first time on appeal, “especially when the enforcement
of a penal statute is involved [citation], the asserted error fundamentally affects the
validity of the judgment [citation], or important issues of public policy are at issue
[citation].” (Hale v. Morgan (1978) 22 Cal.3d 388, 394.) Defendant’s equal protection
challenge is such an issue, which should be addressed on the merits by this court.
D. Equal Protection
I agree with the lead opinion’s rejection of defendant’s equal protection challenge,
but not for the reasons stated in the lead opinion. Applying rational basis scrutiny, the
8
California Supreme Court has held that “neither the existence of two identical criminal
statutes prescribing different levels of punishments, nor the exercise of a prosecutor’s
discretion in charging under one such statute and not the other, violates equal protection
principles.” (People v. Wilkinson (2004) 33 Cal.4th 821, 838 (Wilkinson).) Similarly, it
has long been the case that “a car thief may not complain because he may have been
subjected to imprisonment for more than 10 years for grand theft of an automobile
[citations] when, under the same facts, he might have been subjected to no more than 5
years under the provisions of section 10851 of the Vehicle Code.” (People v. Romo
(1975) 14 Cal.3d 189, 197.)
The same reasoning applies to Proposition 47’s provision for
resentencing/reclassification of a limited subset of those previously convicted of grand
theft (those who stole an automobile or other personal property valued $950 or less), but
not for those convicted of unlawfully taking or driving a vehicle in violation of section
10851. Absent a showing that a particular defendant “‘has been singled out deliberately
for prosecution on the basis of some invidious criterion,’ . . . the defendant cannot make
out an equal protection violation.” (Wilkinson, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 839.) Defendant
here has made no such showing.
E. Conclusion
Although I agree with the lead opinion outcome, which affirms the trial court
order denying defendant’s petition seeking reclassification of his section 10851 felony
conviction as a misdemeanor, I respectfully disagree that defendant’s conviction may
qualify for reclassification as a misdemeanor if he refiles his petition and provides
9
sufficient evidence his offense would have qualified as a Penal Code section 490.2 petty
theft at the time of the offense. A section 10851 felony conviction is not one of the
crimes falling within the purview of Proposition 47. Therefore a section 10851
conviction is ineligible for resentencing or reclassification as a matter of law.
CODRINGTON
J.
10
Slough, J., Concurring.
I concur with the majority’s decision to affirm the order denying defendant’s
petition on the ground that defendant failed to demonstrate a prima facie case for
resentencing. (People v. Sherow (2015) 239 Cal.App.4th 875, 880; People v. Perkins
(2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 129, 135.) However, I do not agree with the majority’s treatment
of the central issue in this case, that is, whether Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision
(a) (Section 10851) convictions are eligible for Proposition 47 resentencing if the
petitioner can show the offense qualifies as a petty theft under Penal Code section 490.2
(Section 490.2). Our appellate courts are in disagreement over this issue and we have not
yet received guidance from the California Supreme Court. (See People v. Page (2015)
241 Cal.App.4th 714, review granted Jan. 27, 2016, S230793; People v. Haywood (2015)
243 Cal.App.4th 515, review granted Mar. 9, 2016, S232250; People v. Solis (2016) 245
Cal.App.4th 1099 (Solis); People v. Orozco (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 65, 73, rehg. granted
Feb. 8, 2016; People v. Ortiz (2016) 243 Cal.App.4th 854, review granted Mar. 16, 2016,
S232344.)
The majority opinion suggests defendant may “file a new petition alleging
sufficient facts to support his claim that his conviction should be reduced to a
misdemeanor” while at the same time refraining to conclude whether his conviction
would constitute a petty theft if he could demonstrate the vehicle he attempted to steal
was worth $950 or less. Instead, the majority only “briefly address[es]” defendant’s
eligibility by observing, but not concluding, that a violation of Section 10851 “could”
1
constitute a violation of Section 490.2 so long as “a defendant takes a vehicle valued
under $950.” (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 7.) In the face of such a disposition, defendant is left
without guidance as to whether refiling his petition would be a futile endeavor.
I write separately to answer what I view as the most important question raised by
defendant’s appeal: If he refiles a new petition that includes evidence tending to
demonstrate the vehicle he attempted to steal was worth $950 or less, has he
demonstrated a prima facie case for relief? In my view, the answer is yes. Under a plain
reading of Proposition 47, a Section 10851 conviction does constitute a petty theft under
Section 490.2 and therefore qualifies for misdemeanor resentencing provided the
conviction was for theft (as opposed to joyriding) and the stolen vehicle was worth $950
or less.
A. Petty Theft Under Section 490.2
When interpreting the meaning of an initiative like Proposition 47, our goal is to
ascertain the voters’ intent and effectuate the purpose of the initiative. (People v. Canty
(2004) 32 Cal.4th 1266, 1276.) To determine intent, we first examine the statutory
language and give the words their ordinary meaning. (People v. Park (2013) 56 Cal.4th
782, 796.) If the statutory language is unambiguous, its plain meaning controls; if the
language is ambiguous, we may refer to “ ‘other indicia of the voters’ intent, particularly
the analyses and arguments contained in the official ballot pamphlet.’ ” (People v. Rizo
(2000) 22 Cal.4th 681, 685.)
Proposition 47 changed portions of the Penal and Health and Safety Codes to
reduce various nonserious, nonviolent drug possession and theft-related offenses from
2
felonies or wobblers to misdemeanors. (People v. Rivera (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 1085,
1091.) Penal Code section 1170.18 provides a procedure for individuals who were
previously convicted of felonies now considered misdemeanors under Proposition 47 to
petition to have those convictions reduced to misdemeanors. (Pen. Code, § 1170.18,
subds. (a), (f).)
As relevant here, Proposition 47 redefined the offense of “petty theft.” Under new
Section 490.2, a person commits petty theft by “obtaining any property by theft where the
value of the money, labor, real or personal property taken does not exceed nine hundred
fifty dollars ($950).” (§ 490.2, subd. (a), italics added.) Section 490.2 mandates this
offense “shall be considered petty theft and shall be punished as a misdemeanor,” except
in the case of certain violent or serious recidivists. (Ibid., italics added.)
Before Proposition 47, petty theft was defined in the negative, by what it was not.
Penal Code section 486 provides that all theft “is divided into two degrees, the first of
which is termed grand theft; the second, petty theft.” Grand theft was generally defined
as theft of property worth more than $950 (dollar-amount grand theft). (Pen. Code,
§ 487, subd. (a).) However, the Penal Code made exceptions to this dollar-amount
threshold for certain types of property (property-type grand theft). For example, theft of
$250 worth of avocados was grand theft (Pen. Code, § 487, subd. (b)(1)(A)), as was theft
of any automobile or firearm (Pen. Code, § 487, subd. (d)(1) [grand theft auto], (d)(2)
[firearm]). (See generally Pen. Code, §§ 487-487j [provisions defining grand theft].)
Penal Code section 488 defines petty theft as “theft in other cases.”
3
Section 490.2 expanded the offense of petty theft by defining it as any theft
involving property worth $950 or less. (§ 490.2, subd. (a) [“obtaining any property by
theft . . .”].) One effect of this expansion was to eliminate the preexisting property-type
grand theft offenses. Under the new definition of petty theft, the dollar-amount threshold
($950) is the deciding factor for whether a theft is grand or petty. (§ 490.2, subd. (a)
[$950 threshold applies “[n]otwithstanding” Penal Code section 487 or any other
provision of law defining grand theft].) In other words, the nature of the property no
longer matters for determining the degree of the theft, only the value of the property
matters. However, the new definition of petty theft in Section 490.2 impacts more than
just grand theft. Under Section 490.2, all thefts of any property worth $950 or less must
be considered petty thefts and must be punished as misdemeanors.
B. Section 490.2’s Application to Section 10851
Because Section 490.2 redefines and expands petty theft to encompass the act of
obtaining any low-value property ($950 or less) “by theft,” in my view the question of
whether Section 10851 convictions are affected by Proposition 47 comes down to
whether such convictions are “theft” convictions. According to the California Supreme
Court, they are when the conviction is based on the unlawful taking of a vehicle, as
opposed to the unlawful driving of a vehicle (commonly referred to as joyriding): “[A]
defendant convicted under section 10851(a) of unlawfully taking a vehicle with the intent
to permanently deprive the owner of possession has suffered a theft conviction.” (People
v. Garza (2005) 35 Cal.4th 866, 871, italics added.)
4
Recognizing that some violations of Section 10851 are thefts, the analysis is
straightforward. If all thefts are either grand or petty (Pen. Code, § 486) and, post-
Proposition 47, a vehicle theft is petty if it involves property worth $950 or less (§ 490.2),
then a theft violation of Section 10851 involving a vehicle worth $950 or less is now, by
definition, petty. After Proposition 47, when the People charge a felony theft violation of
Section 10851, Section 490.2 requires the prosecution to prove the vehicle was worth
more than $950 in order to obtain a felony conviction. Because a low-value vehicle theft
is now a misdemeanor (§ 490.2), Penal Code section 1170.18, which gives a petitioning
defendant the benefit of placing his felony conviction in the post-Proposition 47 world,1
allows defendants convicted of vehicle theft under Section 10851 to petition for
resentencing.
I interpret the language of Section 490.2 as both broad and clear. It broadly covers
all thefts and clearly mandates that thefts be considered petty if the property stolen is
worth $950 or less. Accordingly, if a petitioner can demonstrate his violation of Section
10851 was based on the theft of a vehicle worth $950 or less, he is eligible for
resentencing under Penal Code section 1170.18 in accordance with the misdemeanor
punishment provided in Section 490.2.
To conclude otherwise would create absurd results by eliminating Proposition 47’s
intended effect on low-value vehicle thefts. By explicitly referencing Penal Code section
1 Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (a), allows a defendant currently
serving a sentence for a felony conviction to petition to have that felony reduced to a
misdemeanor if he “would have been guilty of a misdemeanor under [Proposition 47] . . .
had [it] been in effect at the time of the offense.” (Italics added.)
5
487 in Section 490.2,2 the initiative’s drafters demonstrated they intended to reduce
vehicle theft to a misdemeanor if the vehicle is worth $950 or less. (See Pen. Code,
§ 487, subd. (d)(1) [offense commonly known as grand theft auto was a wobbler].) The
information on Proposition 47 in the official voter information guide underscores the
intent to reduce punishment for low-value vehicle theft. The Legislative Analyst
explained that theft of “certain property (such as cars)” could no longer be charged as
grand theft after the passage of Proposition 47, if the property was worth $950 or less.
(Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 4, 2014) p. 35, at
<http://www.vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2014/general/en/pdf/complete-vigr1.pdf> [as of April 27,
2016].) The intent to eliminate prosecutorial discretion regarding low-value vehicle
thefts will be nullified if the prosecution can ignore the mandate in Section 490.2 and
charge such thefts as felonies under Section 10851.
C. Opposing Arguments
The remainder of my concurrence addresses the arguments of the opposing view,
that Section 10851 convictions are categorically ineligible for resentencing under
Proposition 47. There seems to be five main arguments supporting this view.
2 Section 490.2 begins: “Notwithstanding [Penal Code s]ection 487. . . .”
6
1. Section 490.2’s opening clause
The first argument is that vehicle thefts under Section 10851 are not affected by
the new definition of petty theft because Section 10851 is not explicitly mentioned in
Section 490.2’s opening clause. This clause provides that the new definition of petty
theft applies “[n]otwithstanding” any provision defining grand theft. (§ 490.2, subd. (a).)
Respectfully, I do not read this clause as a limiting provision. (Accord, Solis,
supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1108 [the opening clause of § 490.2 is a “nonrestrictive
phrase [that] does not limit the rest of the sentence, the plain language of section 490.2
stands on its own”].) In my view, the purpose of the opening clause is to clarify that the
new definition of petty theft abolishes the former property-type grand theft and replaces it
with dollar-amount grand theft. I read Section 490.2 as eliminating any previous
categorization of thefts, such that all theft offenses—regardless of whether the statute
setting out the offense identified it as grand, petty, or neither—must be considered petty
if the offense involves property worth $950 or less. This interpretation is supported by
the plain language of Section 490.2, subdivision (a), which clearly states that it applies to
the act of “obtaining any property by theft.” As Judge J. Richard Couzens and Presiding
Justice Tricia A. Bigelow observe in their treatise on Proposition 47, “[n]o effort was
made to include [in Section 490.2] every conceivable offense which may be classified as
theft.” (Couzens & Bigelow, Proposition 47: “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools
Act” (Feb. 2016) p. 121, at <http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/Prop-47-
Information.pdf> [as of April 27, 2016].)
7
Furthermore, if the opening clause functioned as a limiting provision, Section
490.2 would redefine only grand theft (as opposed to redefining petty theft) and
subdivision (b) of Section 490.2 would not make sense. Section 490.2, subdivision (b),
states: “This section shall not be applicable to any theft that may be charged as an
infraction pursuant to any other provision of law.” This subdivision indicates Section
490.2 is intended to apply to more than just grand theft. Otherwise, there would be no
reason to clarify that Section 490.2 does not apply to thefts that can be charged as
infractions, as grand thefts never can be charged as infractions. (Pen. Code, § 489.)
2. Offenses listed in Penal Code section 1170.18
The second argument is that Section 10851 is not affected by Proposition 47
because the offense is not listed in Penal Code section 1170.18, the resentencing
provision. Penal Code section 1170.18, subdivision (a), allows defendants to petition for
misdemeanor resentencing under Proposition 47 “in accordance with Sections 11350,
11357, or 11377 of the Health and Safety Code, or Section 459.5, 473, 476a, 490.2, 496,
or 666 of the Penal Code.” The sections listed in this subdivision are all those that
contain Proposition 47’s new sentencing provisions. Not included in this list are the
myriad offenses affected by these new sentencing provisions, such as grand theft (Pen.
Code, § 487), second degree robbery (Pen. Code, § 459), forgery (Pen. Code, § 476), as
well as vehicle theft (§ 10851). The list is not intended to contain every offense affected
by Proposition 47, it contains only the provisions that set forth punishment. Thus, the
fact that Section 10851 (or Pen. Code, §§ 459 or 476 for that matter) is not listed in Penal
8
Code section 1170.18 does not indicate Proposition 47 did not reclassify the offense as
misdemeanor (when the value of the vehicle is $950 or less).
3. No direct amendment to Section 10851
The third argument is that Proposition 47 did not directly amend Section 10851.
This argument posits that because Proposition 47 left the wobbler punishment language
in Section 10851 intact, the voters intended to allow the prosecution to retain its
discretion to charge those offenses as felonies. (§ 10851, subd. (a) [violations of this
subdivision are punishable as either a misdemeanor or felony].)
While it is generally true our penal provisions afford the prosecution discretion to
charge a defendant under the offense carrying the highest punishment, Proposition 47
was enacted for the specific purpose of removing prosecutorial discretion with regard to
punishing certain nonserious offenses. (Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec., supra, text
of Prop. 47, §§ 2-3, p. 70 [overall purpose of the initiative was to “ensure that prison
spending is focused on violent and serious offenses” by “[r]equir[ing] misdemeanors
instead of felonies for nonserious, nonviolent crimes like petty theft and drug
possession”], italics added.) To achieve this purpose, Section 490.2 removed
prosecutorial charging discretion for low-value property thefts. (See § 490.2, subd. (a)
[all thefts of property worth $950 or less “shall be considered petty theft”].)
This prosecutorial discretion argument underscores the importance of my point
about creating absurd results. As noted above, it is clear the voters intended to remove
prosecutorial discretion to charge low-value vehicle thefts as felonies under Penal Code
section 487. (See § 490.2, subd. (a) [explicitly referencing Pen. Code, § 487].) The
9
voters would not go through the trouble of enacting Section 490.2 for that purpose if the
prosecution could simply charge the same offenses (low-value vehicle thefts) as felonies
under a different penal provision. (§ 10851.) In order to effectuate the clear intent of
Section 490.2 as well as Proposition 47’s goal of reducing prison spending for low-value
vehicle thefts, we must apply it to both Penal Code section 487 and Section 10851.
4. Maxim against surplusage
The recent case of Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th 1099 raised two more arguments
in support of Section 10851’s ineligibility. The majority in Solis interpreted the plain
language of Section 490.2 (correctly, in my view) as broad enough to encompass thefts
under Section 10851. (Solis, supra, at pp. 1108, 1110-1111 [conceding that,
grammatically and conceptually, § 490.2 could apply to thefts under § 10851].)
However, the majority ultimately concluded such violations are categorically ineligible
for resentencing based on the maxim of statutory construction advising against “a
construction that renders a word surplusage.” (Solis, supra, at pp. 1110-1111, citing
Delaney v. Superior Court (1990) 50 Cal.3d 785, 798.) Applying this maxim, the
majority reasoned that the inclusion of Section 10851 alongside “grand theft” and “petty
theft” in Penal Code section 666 (the provision increasing the punishment for petty theft
with a prior for certain offenders) is “a significant indication that the voters did not
consider Section 10851 a variety of petty theft.” (Solis, supra, at p. 1110.) The majority
explained that if the initiative drafters considered violations of Section 10851 a “species
of petty theft—a term they defined in section eight (adding § 490.2)—there would have
10
been no need to designate it as a separate predicate in section 10 (amending Pen. Code,
§ 666).” (Solis, supra, at p. 1110.)
Like the author of the concurring opinion in Solis, I disagree with this argument.
(Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1114 (conc. opn. of Aldrich, J.).) The reference to
“auto theft under Section 10851” in Penal Code section 666 is not rendered surplus to
“petty theft” simply because some auto thefts under Section 10851, subdivision (a)
constitute petty thefts under Proposition 47. The offense remains listed in Penal Code
section 666 to cover the thefts under Section 10851 that do not constitute petty thefts
under Section 490.2, such as thefts of vehicles worth more than $950 in violation of
Section 10851, subdivision (a), and thefts of the specialized vehicles described in Section
10851, subdivision (b).3
Furthermore, the maxim against surplusage is simply a discretionary guideline to
aid in ascertaining the meaning of the statute. Interpretive maxims should not be rigidly
employed if doing so would contravene the plain meaning of an unambiguous statute like
Section 490.2. (See, e.g., Mejia v. Reed (2003) 31 Cal.4th 657, 663 [“When the plain
meaning of the statutory text is insufficient to resolve the question of its interpretation,
the courts may turn to rules or maxims of construction ‘which serve as aids in the sense
that they express familiar insights about conventional language usage’ ”], italics added.)
3 Under Section 10851, subdivision (b), it is a felony to steal ambulances,
distinctively marked law enforcement or fire department vehicles on emergency calls,
and vehicles that have been modified for the use of a disabled veteran or any other
disabled person and display a distinguishing placard or plate.
11
5. Maxim of general versus specific
The majority in Solis also relies on the general/specific interpretive maxim to
explain why the broad language of Section 490.2 does not apply to Section 10851. The
majority concludes the latter section is a more specific offense than the former and “in
the event a broader law conflicts with a specific one, the specific controls.” (Solis, supra,
245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1111.)
I do not think application of this maxim is appropriate in this context because I do
not agree that vehicle thefts under Section 10851, subdivision (a) are more specific
offenses than the offenses Section 490.2 covers. Section 490.2 applies to the specific
offense of vehicle theft. (§ 490.2, subd. (a) [“[n]otwithstanding [Penal Code s]ection
487”].) Section 10851, subdivision (a), “proscribes a wide range of conduct” (People v.
Jaramillo (1976) 16 Cal.3d 752, 759), including vehicle theft (People v. Garza, supra, 35
Cal.4th at p. 871). To the extent a violation of Section 10851, subdivision (a) is based on
a vehicle theft (as opposed to joyriding), Section 490.2 applies to that specific conduct by
mandating misdemeanor punishment if the stolen vehicle is worth $950 or less. Because
Section 490.2 and Section 10851, subdivision (a) cover the same conduct, the
specific/general interpretive canon is unhelpful in the context of those two provisions.
(See Mejia v. Reed, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 666 [concluding the specific/general canon
“offer[ed] no assistance” where each statute was “at least as specific” as the other].)
The concurring opinion in Solis points to subdivisions (b) and (e) of Section 10851
to demonstrate that it is a more specific provision than Section 490.2. The concurring
opinion concludes that because these subdivisions conflict with Section 490.2, the new
12
definition of petty theft is not intended to apply to Section 10851. (Solis, supra, 245
Cal.App.4th at pp. 1116-1118 (conc. opn. of Aldrich, J.).) I agree that Section 10851,
subdivisions (b) and (e) are more specific provisions. Where I part ways with the
concurring opinion in Solis is on whether that is a reason for concluding Section 490.2
does not apply to Section 10851, subdivision (a). I interpret Section 490.2 to work in
harmony with the other subdivisions of Section 10851. The new definition of petty theft
simply carves out a distinct offense from subdivision (a) of Section 10851, and leaves the
remainder of the provision intact.
As noted above, subdivision (b) of Section 10851 prescribes felony punishment
for the offense of taking or unlawfully driving specialized vehicles under certain
circumstances. The Solis concurring opinion finds potential for conflict where a
defendant steals a specialized vehicle described in Section 10851, subdivision (b), worth
$950 or less because that defendant would be “sentenced only as a misdemeanant, rather
than to the two-, three-, or four-year term specified by subdivision (b).” (Solis, supra,
245 Cal.App.4th at p. 1118 (conc. opn. of Aldrich, J.).) I disagree the defendant in that
circumstance would be punished as a misdemeanant. Proposition 47’s new definition of
petty theft does not apply to violations of Section 10851, subdivision (b) because those
offenses are more specific (by virtue of the special nature of the vehicles) and more
serious (by virtue of the felony punishment). If the drafters intended Proposition 47 to
apply to those offenses, they would have made that intention clear. In the hypothetical
the Solis concurrence poses, the defendant would still receive felony punishment.
Moreover, even if Section 490.2 did apply to other subdivisions of Section 10851 (and I
13
do not think it does), it is difficult to imagine any of the specialized vehicles described in
Section 10851, subdivision (b) having a value of $950 or less.
Section 10851, subdivision (e), provides that recidivists are punishable as set forth
in Penal Code section 666.5. Under these two provisions, a defendant who is convicted
of a felony violation of Section 10851 and who has previously been convicted of the
same offense, must be punished under Penal Code section 1170, subdivision (h) for two,
three, or four years. (§ 10851; Pen. Code, § 666.5.) The Solis concurring opinion finds
potential for conflict where “[a] recidivist who stole a vehicle worth less than $950 could
not be punished for his or her recidivism,” because “under [Penal Code] section 666.5
both the current and prior crimes must be felonies.” (Solis, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1118 (conc. opn. of Aldrich, J.).) I do not see how this creates a conflict of law.
Section 10851, subdivision (a) is a wobbler offense, which means that even before
Proposition 47, a recidivist could be convicted of a misdemeanor violation of that
subdivision and therefore not qualify for sentencing under Penal Code section 666.5. All
Section 490.2 does is mandate misdemeanor punishment for low-value vehicle thefts
where previously the prosecution had discretion whether to charge that offense as a
misdemeanor.
I therefore disagree that Section 490.2 conflicts with any subdivisions of Section
10851.
14
D. Voters’ Intent
Finally, even assuming the language of Section 490.2 is ambiguous as to its
application to Section 10851, I reach the same eligibility conclusion when I look beyond
the words of the provision to the voters’ intent. (See People v. Rizo, supra, 22 Cal.4th at
p. 685 [when the language of an initiative is ambiguous, courts may look to “ ‘other
indicia of the voters’ intent’ ” to determine the initiative’s meaning].) Proposition 47’s
overall purpose is to “ensure that prison spending is focused on violent and serious
offenses, to maximize alternatives for nonserious, nonviolent crime, and to invest the
savings generated from this act into prevention and support programs in K-12 schools,
victim services, and mental health and drug treatment.” (Voter Information Guide, Gen.
Elec., supra, text of Prop. 47, § 2, at p. 70.) To achieve that end, the measure
“[r]equire[s] misdemeanors instead of felonies for nonserious, nonviolent crimes like
petty theft.” (Id., § 3, at p. 70.) Furthermore, the measure is to be “broadly construed to
accomplish its purposes.” (Id., §§ 15, 18, at p. 74.) A broad construction of Section
490.2 would apply the new definition of petty theft to all vehicle thefts where the vehicle
is worth $950 or less, not just vehicle thefts under Penal Code section 487, subdivision
(d)(1).
I therefore conclude theft convictions under Section 10851, subdivision (a) qualify
for misdemeanor resentencing if the petitioner can demonstrate the stolen vehicle was
worth $950 or less. If defendant files a new petition, he should submit information or
evidence tending to show the vehicle he attempted to steal was worth $950 or less.
(People v. Perkins, supra, 244 Cal.App.4th at pp. 136-137.) Such evidence could include
15
a copy of the probation report or a police report, the vehicle’s Kelly Blue Book value, or
a declaration under penalty of perjury regarding the vehicle’s value. (Id. at p. 140;
People v. Sherow, supra, 239 Cal.App.4th at p. 881.)
SLOUGH
J.
16