Opinion

People v. Hampton

Court
California Court of Appeal
Filed
Feb 10, 2022
Status
Published
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 6.7%

The opinion

Filed 2/10/22

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT

(Sacramento)

----

THE PEOPLE, C093270

Plaintiff and Appellant, (Super. Ct. No. 04F11184)

v.

DANNY HAMPTON,

Defendant and Respondent.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Sacramento County, Michael

P. Kenny, Judge. Affirmed.

Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Michael P. Farrell, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen,

Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Christopher J. Rench, Deputy Attorney General,

for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Sandra Gillies, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Respondent.

A jury found defendant Danny Hampton guilty of first degree murder and two

counts of robbery. The trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of 33 years

to life. This court affirmed the judgment. (People v. Hampton (Dec. 29, 2009, C056867)

1

[nonpub. opn.] (Hampton).)1 The jury could not reach a verdict on the robbery-murder

special-circumstance allegation, and that allegation was dismissed on the People’s motion

for insufficient evidence.

Defendant filed a petition for resentencing under Penal Code2 section 1170.95 and

requested appointment of counsel. The trial court granted the petition finding the

dismissal of the special-circumstance allegation for insufficient evidence was equivalent

to an acquittal. The People appeal contending the dismissal of the special-circumstance

allegation was not an acquittal. We affirm the order granting the petition for

resentencing.

BACKGROUND

A

Relevant Facts Underlying Conviction

Defendant and three of his friends planned a robbery of defendant’s marijuana

dealer, Larry Elliott. Defendant did not want to participate in the robbery, but the

codefendants told him he had no choice. The plan included defendant setting up a

pretextual drug buy to determine how much marijuana Elliott had at his home.

Defendant and codefendant Camitt Doughton went to Elliott’s house and were there for

about eight minutes, smoking marijuana and listening to music with Elliott and his two

guests. Then, codefendants Edward Quintanilla and Deandre Scott burst into the garage,

wearing masks, all black clothing, and armed with firearms. They ordered everyone onto

the ground and pistol-whipped Elliott. Defendant pleaded with the codefendants to stop

assaulting the victims and tried to reassure the victims they were safe. Quintanilla and

Scott went into the home and searched for things to steal. Defendant remained in the

1 We granted defendant’s request to incorporate by reference the records in

defendant’s prior appeal. (Hampton, supra, C056879.)

2 Undesignated section references are to the Penal Code.

2

garage. He was not armed. When Scott came back into the garage from the house, he had

a shotgun and an assault rifle. Quintanilla and Scott ordered defendant to take a bucket

containing marijuana and leave the garage. Defendant did. As he was running from the

scene, he heard a gunshot. Doughton had shot Elliott in the back of the head. When

defendant met back up with codefendants, he received some of the marijuana, Quintalla

and Scott kept the money and guns. (Hampton, supra, C056867.)

There was also evidence that defendant knew his codefendants planned to be

armed, had handled one of the guns earlier on the day of the robbery, and that one of his

codefendants indicated a willingness to shoot the victims, if necessary.

B

Relevant Procedural Background Original Trial

At close of evidence, defendant made a motion to dismiss the special-circumstance

allegation under section 1118.1, contending there was insufficient evidence he acted with

reckless indifference to life. The trial court denied the motion stating: “[T]he evidence

presents that [defendant] was involved in a discussion with his confederates and that guns

were essentially brought out during that discussion, and that [defendant] actually handled

one of those guns in advance of going to Mr. Elliott’s home, and further discussion was

that they may not leave any witnesses, there is at least a pretty strong implication from

those set of facts that, in fact, the person is acting in reckless disregard.”

On the second day of deliberations, the jury indicated it had reached a verdict,

except as to the special-circumstance allegation. The court provided additional

instruction and allowed counsel to conduct additional argument focused on the issue the

jury had indicated it was divided on. After additional deliberation, the jury remained

unable to reach a verdict. They were split six to six. The court declared a mistrial as to

the special-circumstance allegation. The court asked the prosecutor what he wanted to do

regarding the allegation and the prosecutor requested the issue be put over to the time of

sentencing.

3

The jury found defendant guilty of first degree murder and two counts of robbery.

The trial court sentenced defendant to a term of 25 years to life for the murder, plus one

year for the firearm enhancement, a consecutive midterm of six years on one robbery

conviction, plus one year for each firearm enhancement, and an identical term on the

other robbery conviction stayed under section 654, for an aggregate term of 25 years to

life plus eight years. He was granted 1,008 days of credit for time served.

After sentencing, the People stated: “With respect to the special circumstances

charge that the Court had declared a mistrial on . . . the People would move to dismiss

that for insufficient evidence.” The trial court responded: “All right. The special

circumstance charge will be dismissed for insufficient evidence.”

C

Section 1170.95 Petition

In 2019, defendant filed a petition for resentencing under section 1170.95. The

trial court reviewed the section 1170.95 petition, found defendant had made a prima facie

case, and set an order-to-show-cause hearing. The court requested briefing explicitly

addressing the effect of the trial court’s order dismissing the special-circumstance

allegation upon the jury’s inability to reach a verdict and at the request of the People.

Defendant argued the dismissal of the special-circumstance allegation for

insufficient evidence on the People’s motion barred any relitigation of the issue as a

violation of double jeopardy. Defendant also argued “the prosecution concluded, as a

matter of law, that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the special circumstance

allegation. They cannot now reverse course and assert the opposite.”

The People argued given the prior denial of the section 1118.1 motion, and the

record as a whole, it was clear neither the People nor the court considered the record in

the light most favorable to the People and concluded that no reasonable jury could find

defendant was a major participant acting with reckless indifference. Thus, the dismissal

was not an acquittal. The People also asserted when the prosecutor moved to have the

4

allegation dismissed he “was not claiming that the evidence was legally insufficient to

prove the special circumstances allegation. Rather, the prosecutor was simply dismissing

the special circumstance so that the jury’s first degree verdict could stand. Whether the

evidence could be legally sufficient to meet the People’s burden was not actually litigated

to decision, thus it is incorrect to state as a matter of law the evidence was insufficient.”

In ruling on the section 1170.95 petition, the court considered the murder-robbery

jury instructions given and the People’s motion to dismiss the special-circumstance

allegation for insufficient evidence. The court concluded “that the dismissal of that

special circumstance for insufficient evidence is equivalent to a finding that the defendant

did not act with reckless indifference. Consequently the People have failed to carry their

burden of proving ineligibility.” The court then proceeded to resentencing, vacated the

murder conviction, and lifted the stays on the robbery convictions, leaving a sentence of

seven years.

DISCUSSION

I

General Legal Background

Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) amended “the felony murder rule

and the natural and probable consequences doctrine, as it relates to murder, to ensure that

murder liability is not imposed on a person who is not the actual killer, did not act with

the intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who acted with

reckless indifference to human life.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1, subd. (f).) The bill

amended section 188, which defines malice, and section 189, which defines the degrees

of murder to address felony-murder liability. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, §§ 2 & 3.) It also

added section 1170.95, which provides a procedure by which those convicted of murder

premised on either a felony murder or natural and probable consequences theory can

petition for retroactive relief, if the changes in the law would affect their previously

sustained convictions; that is, if “[t]he petitioner could not be convicted of first or second

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degree murder because of changes to Section 188 or 189 made effective January 1,

2019.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 4; § 1170.95, subd. (a).)

If the defendant makes a prima facie showing of eligibility for relief (§ 1170.95,

subds. (b) & (c)), the court must issue an order to show cause and hold an evidentiary

hearing to determine whether to vacate the murder conviction and resentence the

defendant on any remaining counts (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(1)). At the hearing the

prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is

ineligible for resentencing. (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(3), as amended by Stats. 2021, ch. 551,

§ 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2022.)

As relevant here, since there is no dispute defendant was not the actual killer and

did not act with intent to kill, to now be convicted of murder the prosecution was required

to prove defendant “was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with

reckless indifference to human life, as described in subdivision (d) of Section 190.2.”

(Stats. 2018, ch. 15, § 3.) If there was a prior finding by a court or jury that defendant did

not act with reckless indifference to human life or was not a major participant in the

felony the court was required to vacate the conviction and resentence defendant.

(§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(2).)

II

Appealability

As a threshold issue, defendant contends the order granting the petition is not an

order the People are statutorily entitled to appeal.3 The People contend this order is

3 Also under the heading of appealability, defendant argues the appeal violates

double jeopardy because the dismissal for insufficient evidence was an acquittal. That

argument relies on the resolution of whether the dismissal was an acquittal, the

substantive issue raised in the People’s appeal. Accordingly, we will reach the merits of

that claim.

6

appealable under section 1238, subdivision (a)(5) as an order after judgment affecting the

People’s substantial rights.

“The People’s right to appeal is statutory, and appeals that do not fall within the

exact statutory language are prohibited.” (People v. Salgado (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 5,

11.) The statutory circumstances permitting a People’s appeal are specified in

section 1238. (People v. Chacon (2007) 40 Cal.4th 558, 564.) Section 1238,

subdivision (a)(5) permits a People’s appeal from “[a]n order made after judgment,

affecting the substantial rights of the people.” An order after judgment affecting the

substantial rights of the People is generally one that affects the judgment or its

enforcement, alters the defendant’s status, or hampers the prosecution’s ability to carry

out future prosecutorial duties. (People v. Benavides (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 100, 105-

106.) Such cases include orders that affect the defendant’s sentence or the timing of his

release. (In re Anthony (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 204, 211-212; People v. Douglas (1999)

20 Cal.4th 85, 88 [reducing a felony to a misdemeanor]; People v. Minjarez (1980) 102

Cal.App.3d 309, 311-312 [order erroneously granting a defendant credits against his or

her prison sentence]; People v. Maggio (1929) 96 Cal.App. 409, 410-411 [reducing a

judgment of imprisonment to a fine].)

The resentencing scheme of section 1170.95 is analogous to the provisions of

Proposition 36, the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, which “created a postconviction

release proceeding whereby a prisoner who is serving an indeterminate life sentence

imposed pursuant to the three strikes law for a crime that is not a serious or violent felony

. . . may have his or her sentence recalled and be sentenced as a second strike offender

unless the court determines that resentencing would pose an unreasonable risk of danger

to public safety. (§ 1170.126.)” (People v. Superior Court (Martinez) (2014)

225 Cal.App.4th 979, 984.) Under both resentencing schemes, after a multi-step process

that includes a hearing on the petition, the trial court determines if the defendant is

eligible for relief under the act and, if so, sets the matter for resentencing. (Id. at p. 986;

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People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 960; § 1170.95, subds. (c) & (d)(3).) That is,

there is an initial determination of eligibility for relief and a separate resentencing

decision. Under both statutory schemes, an initial eligibility determination affects

whether the trial court will exercise resentencing discretion. This initial determination is

not “an idle exercise as far as the People are concerned” as such a determination shifts the

burden to the prosecution to establish defendant could still be convicted of murder; and,

if the prosecution does not carry its burden, resentencing necessarily follows “Thus, an

initial finding of eligibility affects enforcement of the judgment (in which the People

clearly have a substantial interest), and it affects the inmate’s status with relation to the

judgment already imposed.” (Martinez, at p. 987.)

Given the analogous processes, we conclude the Martinez court’s analysis applies

in the current situation and the People may appeal the trial court’s determination that

defendant is entitled to relief. The order was indisputably made “after judgment”;

judgment was imposed in defendant’s case when he was originally sentenced. It also

affects the People’s substantial rights in that it determines whether the trial court will

exercise its powers to recall the previous judgment and resentence defendant. (People v.

Benavides, supra, 99 Cal.App.4th at p. 105.) Ultimately, the order resulted in a

substantial modification of the original judgment. (People v. Gilbert (1944) 25 Cal.2d

422, 444 [order is “obviously” appealable when its effect is “to modify substantially the

judgments originally entered”].) Thus, the trial court’s order determining defendant is

entitled to relief qualifies as “[a]n order made after judgment, affecting the substantial

rights of the people,” and is appealable under section 1238, subdivision (a)(5).

We are not persuaded by defendant’s argument, relying on People v. Rivera

(1984) 157 Cal.App.3d 494, that the court did not issue an order, but rather entered a new

judgment that is not appealable as an order after judgment. The statutory resentencing

scheme at issue in Rivera, under former section 1170, subdivision (f)(1), did not require a

multi-step process in the trial court, including an initial finding of eligibility. Rather, in

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Rivera, the initial determination of eligibility for resentencing was made by the Board of

Prison Terms referring a case back to the trial court because the sentence imposed was

“disparate in comparison with the sentences imposed in similar cases.” (Rivera, at

p. 496, fn. 1.) Upon receiving that referral from the Board of Prison Terms, the trial court

“scheduled a hearing, recalled the previously ordered sentence and commitment order,

and resentenced” the defendant. (Id. at p. 496.) Importantly, there was no order of the

trial court prior to the resentencing; rather, as required by the statute, the court simply

recalled the initial sentence and resentenced defendant. The sentence imposed at the

resentencing thus became the judgment. (Id. at p. 497.) That is, the appeal was, in effect,

an appeal from the judgment, not from an order after judgment and as such, was not

permitted under section 1238, subdivision (a)(5). (Rivera, at p. 497.)

Moreover, in Rivera, the substance of the appeal was directed at the resentencing

decision; that is, the new judgment itself. Specifically, the appeal challenged whether a

portion of the sentence should run consecutively rather than concurrently. (People v.

Rivera, supra, 157 Cal.App.3d at p. 495.) Here, on the other hand, the People challenge

the trial court’s conclusion that the dismissal for insufficient evidence acted as an

acquittal, a decision that then required the court to vacate the murder conviction and

resentence defendant. Thus, the People in this instance are challenging an order made

after judgment, rather than the new judgment itself. Thus, we conclude the trial court’s

order finding defendant entitled to relief under section 1170.95 is appealable under

section 1238, subdivision (a)(5).4

4 Because we determine section 1238, subdivision (a)(5) applies, we need not

consider the parties’ arguments as to subdivision (a)(6).

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III

Dismissal For Insufficient Evidence

The People contend the record here does not clearly indicate that the dismissal was

based on insufficient evidence. Specifically, they argue the use of the language

“insufficient evidence,” without more, does not clearly reflect that the court applied the

substantial evidence test. Defendant claims the People are estopped from raising the

issue. Defendant also argues the record is unambiguous and the dismissal served as an

acquittal.

A

Procedural Bar -- Judicial Estoppel, Invited Error, And Forfeiture

Defendant argues if the original trial court erred in dismissing the matter for

insufficient evidence, the People cannot challenge that ruling under principles of judicial

estoppel, invited error, or forfeiture. Since these claims raise procedural bars that, if

applicable, would obviate the need to address the merits, we consider them first and

conclude none apply.

Judicial estoppel is intended to protect the integrity of the judicial process, by

preventing a party from asserting a position in a legal proceeding that is contrary to a

position previously taken in the same or an earlier proceeding. (Jackson v. County of Los

Angeles (1997) 60 Cal.App.4th 171, 181.) With respect to judicial estoppel, initially it is

unclear whether the doctrine can be applied to the prosecution, but in any event, the

People’s “earlier concession of a legal point does not constitute the successful assertion

of a position.” (People v. Suff (2014) 58 Cal.4th 1013, 1061, fn. 12.) In addition, the

doctrine of judicial estoppel cannot be invoked where the first position was taken as a

result of ignorance or a good faith mistake (Jackson, at pp. 181-182), rather than as part

of a scheme to mislead the court, an intentional wrongdoing (Levin v. Ligon (2006) 140

Cal.App.4th 1456, 1484).

10

“The doctrine of invited error is designed to prevent an accused from gaining a

reversal on appeal because of an error made by the trial court at his behest. If defense

counsel intentionally caused the trial court to err, the appellant cannot be heard to

complain on appeal.” (People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 Cal.4th 1, 49.) Again,

assuming this doctrine also applies to the prosecution, under the doctrine, it must be clear

that counsel intentionally caused the trial court to err, and that counsel acted for tactical

reasons and not out of ignorance or mistake. (Ibid.)

In moving for dismissal on the grounds of insufficient evidence, the prosecutor

conceded a legal point; that concession is not the same as an assertion of a position.

Nothing in the record suggests there was any intent on the prosecutor’s part to make the

concession as part of a scheme to mislead the court to gain an unfair advantage or to

deliberately induce the court to err for tactical reasons. Nor is there any indication in the

record that the prosecution’s motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence was not the

result of mistake in offering that as the reason for the dismissal or ignorance that

dismissal on that basis would effectively act as an acquittal. Defendant does not claim

otherwise. Accordingly, although this motion was granted in the language of the

People’s motion, we cannot rely on the doctrines of judicial estoppel or invited error, to

resolve this claim.

Nor does forfeiture bar the People’s claim. Forfeiture is the failure to make a

timely assertion of a right. (United States v. Olano (1993) 507 U.S. 725, 733.) When the

legal effect of the dismissal became an issue in dispute, the People timely raised their

objection to the conclusion the dismissal was the equivalent of an acquittal. That

argument preserved this issue for appeal.

B

Dismissal

Section 1385 dismissals should not be construed as an acquittal for legal

insufficiency unless the record clearly indicates the trial court applied the substantial

11

evidence standard. (People v. Hatch (2000) 22 Cal.4th 260, 271, 273 (Hatch).) There

are no “magic words” the court must use to demonstrate it has applied the substantial

evidence standard, and the court need not restate the substantial evidence standard.

(Ibid.) But, the record must make it clear for the reviewing court that the trial court

viewed the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and found that no

reasonable trier of fact could convict. (Ibid.) Whatever label the ruling is given, the

appellate court “ ‘must determine if the ruling actually represents a resolution, correct or

not, of some or all of the factual elements of the offense charged.’ ([United States v.

Martin Linen Supply Co. (1977) 430 U.S. 564, 571].)” (Id. at p. 270.)

“Insufficient evidence” is a term of art and -- absent a contrary indication -- means

the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction as a matter of law. (Hatch, supra,

22 Cal.4th at p. 276; Mannes v. Gillespie (9th Cir. 1992) 967 F.2d 1310, 1315 (Mannes).)

If the jury has not been able to reach a verdict and the trial court rules the evidence is

insufficient as a matter of law to sustain a conviction, the ruling bars retrial even if the

ruling is patently erroneous or the court has no statutory authority to make it. (Hatch, at

pp. 270-271; see Sanabria v. United States (1978) 437 U.S. 54, 75 [there is no exception

permitting retrial once the defendant has been acquitted, no matter if the acquittal is

egregiously erroneous.].)

We note, we are not called on here to determine whether the trial court correctly

dismissed the case for insufficient evidence, because even when a case is wrongly

dismissed for insufficient evidence, that dismissal will act as an acquittal. (Hatch, supra,

22 Cal.4th at pp. 270-271, and cases cited therein.) Thus, we are only required to

determine if the dismissal was, in fact, a determination that there was insufficient

evidence as a matter of law to sustain a true finding on the enhancement.

In Hatch, following a jury deadlock, the court declared a mistrial. (Hatch, supra,

22 Cal.4th at p. 266.) Following argument from the parties, the trial court dismissed the

case in the interest of justice, because it concluded no reasonable jury would find the

12

defendant guilty. (Ibid.) The court did not state it was dismissing the case for

insufficient evidence. Our Supreme Court noted while a court is allowed to dismiss for

insufficient evidence under section 1385, it usually does not. Because such dismissals

are not usually based on insufficiency of the evidence as a matter of law, and the trial

court had not stated that as the grounds for the dismissal, the Supreme Court concluded

the record must show the court intended to dismiss for insufficiency. (Hatch, at pp. 273-

274.)

Although there are no “magic words” the court must use, we have not found, and

the People have not cited, any authority where the trial court has used the language

“insufficient evidence” in its dismissal and the dismissal was not found to be the

equivalent of an acquittal. (See People v. Salgado, supra, 88 Cal.App.4th at p. 10 [trial

court stated insufficient evidence was as a matter of law to show the defendant aided and

abetted carjacking]; People v. Pedroza (2014) 231 Cal.App.4th 635, 642 [trial court

stated there was insufficient corroboration of accomplice testimony as a matter of law,

and retrial barred by double jeopardy]; Mannes, supra, 967 F.2d at p. 1314 [trial court

stated there was insufficient evidence for implied malice or conscious disregard and no

likelihood retrial would result in unanimous verdict].)

The trial court and the prosecutor each explicitly stated the matter was being

dismissed for “insufficient evidence.” While the prosecutor may have mistakenly offered

that as the basis for the dismissal or been unaware that such a dismissal would be the

equivalent of an acquittal, we cannot presume both the prosecutor and the trial court

intended the dismissal to be on some other, unmentioned, grounds. The People offer

various speculative reasons as to what the prosecutor might have meant when he used the

language “insufficient evidence.” We will not engage in this speculation to suppose the

prosecutor meant something other than what he said. Moreover, none of these reasons

explains why, if the prosecutor did not mean “insufficient evidence,” he would not have

13

simply used the language of section 1385 and requested dismissal in furtherance of

justice.

Even more importantly, what the prosecutor meant when he used the phrase

“insufficient evidence” is not the controlling consideration. What matters is what the trial

court intended when it dismissed the allegation.

Section 1385 requires the trial court to state reasons for the dismissal. The court’s

stated reason for dismissing the allegation “is the strongest evidence of the grounds for

the dismissal.” (Mannes, supra, 967 F.2d at p. 1315.) The trial court stated it was

dismissing the special-circumstance allegation based on insufficient evidence. There is

no authority that the trial court was required to state anything more than that to

demonstrate its intent to dismiss for insufficiency. The People claim that concluding the

use of the phrase “insufficient evidence” demonstrates the trial court found the evidence

insufficient as a matter of law would be a “hyper-technical” use of “magic words.” The

phrase “insufficient evidence” is not “magic words.” Rather, it is a legal term of art.5

And, presuming the trial court intended that legal term of art to carry its ordinary and

accepted meaning is not a hyper-technical application of the phrase.

Absent any contrary indication, we must presume the trial judge intended the

phrase to carry its accepted, and precise, meaning -- that the evidence presented at the

trial was not legally sufficient to support a conviction for the crime charged. There is no

contrary indication. Although the trial judge previously denied defendant’s motion for

acquittal under section 1118.1, that ruling does not act as a bar to later reconsideration by

5 “ ‘Terms of art are words having specific, precise meaning in a given specialty.

Having its origins in Lord Coke’s vocabula artis, the phrase term of art is common in law

because the legal field has developed many technical words whose meanings are locked

tight. . . .’ (Garner, Dict. of Legal Usage (3d ed. 2011) p. 883; see also People ex rel.

Lungren v. Superior Court (1996) 14 Cal.4th 294, 302.)” (People v. Gonzales (2017) 2

Cal.5th 858, 871, fn. 12.)

14

the trial court of the sufficiency of the evidence. (See Mannes, supra, 967 F.2d at

p. 1315, fn. 5.) The Attorney General has not shown that in stating it was dismissing the

case for insufficient evidence, the trial court failed to understand the legal import of the

words used or that it meant some other words that it did not use. The words “insufficient

evidence” were not required to effectuate a dismissal under section 1385. This dismissal

being on the People’s motion, all that was required was that the dismissal be “in

furtherance of justice,” with reasons given. (See People v. Johnson (2015) 61 Cal.4th

734, 769.) The trial court did not give, or even suggest, any other reason for dismissal.

Instead, the court explicitly stated the dismissal was due to insufficient evidence. The

most reasonable interpretation of this record is that the court used the specific language of

insufficient evidence, given its accepted meaning, to convey that it had weighed the

evidence in the light most favorable to the People and found it lacking. That is, that the

court knew the legal import of its words and meant what it said. Because the original

trial court dismissed the case for insufficient evidence, this dismissal acted as the

equivalent of an acquittal and the court properly granted the petition for resentencing

under section 1170.95.

DISPOSITION

The order granting defendant’s section 1170.95 petition for resentencing is

affirmed.

/s/

Robie, J.

We concur:

/s/

Raye, P. J.

/s/

Hull, J.

15

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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