Filed 9/23/13 P. v. Chavez CA2/7
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or
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purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION SEVEN
THE PEOPLE, B247623
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. BA399303)
v.
JOSE ANDREA CHAVEZ,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, William
N. Sterling, Judge. Affirmed.
Richard L. Fitzer, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
_____________________
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Defendant Jose Andrea Chavez, armed with a baseball bat, entered three fast food
restaurants, threatened on-duty employees, and attempted to break open numerous cash
registers. Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested Chavez, who was charged by
information with one count of second degree robbery (Pen. Code, § 211)1 and two counts
of attempted second degree robbery (§§ 211, 664) with special allegations he had used a
deadly and dangerous weapon to commit the attempted robberies (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1);
counts 2 & 3). Represented by counsel, Chavez pleaded not guilty to the charges and
denied the special allegations.
At a pretrial conference on August 29, 2012 the trial court declared a doubt about
Chavez’s mental competence under section 1368. The court suspended criminal
proceedings and ordered an examination of Chavez by a court-appointed mental health
expert. At a hearing on October 19, 2012 the court reviewed a psychiatric evaluation
prepared by the court-appointed expert, found Chavez competent to stand trial under
section 1368, and resumed criminal proceedings. The court also heard and denied
Chavez’s requests to have new counsel appointed for him under People v. Marsden
(1970) 2 Cal.3d 118.
On January 30, 2013 Chavez agreed to enter into a negotiated plea of no contest to
second degree robbery in count 1 in exchange for a sentence of five years. Chavez then
changed his mind and wanted to plead no contest to both count 1 and attempted second
degree robbery in count 2 as strikes, in exchange for a state prison sentence of two years,
with the remaining count and special allegations dismissed. By doing so, Chavez
essentially agreed, against the advice of his attorney, to “take the two strikes for two
years” rather than five years in state prison.
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
The transcript of the plea hearing establishes that the trial court advised Chavez of
his constitutional rights and the consequences of his plea. Chavez waived his
constitutional rights and acknowledged that he understood the consequences of his plea.
Counsel for Chavez stipulated to a factual basis for the plea. The trial court found that
Chavez had knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his constitutional rights and
entered his no contest plea. In accordance with the plea agreement, the court sentenced
Chavez to concurrent lower terms of two years for second degree robbery and 16 months
for attempted second degree robbery. The trial court ordered Chavez to pay on each
count a $40 court operations assessment and a $30 criminal conviction assessment, and it
ordered him to pay a $10 crime prevention fine. The court imposed a $240 restitution
fine and imposed and suspended a $240 parole revocation fine. The trial court awarded
Chavez a total of 250 days of presentence credit (218 actual days and 32 days of conduct
credit). The court dismissed the remaining count and special allegations on the People’s
motion.
Chavez filed a timely notice of appeal. He checked the preprinted boxes
indicating his appeal was “based on the sentence or other matters occurring after the
plea.” He requested but did not obtain a certificate of probable cause.
We appointed counsel to represent Chavez on appeal. After an examination of the
record, counsel filed an opening brief raising no issues. On June 28, 2013, we advised
Chavez he had 30 days to personally submit any contentions or issues he wished us to
consider. We have received no response to date.
With respect to potential sentencing or post-plea issues that do not in substance
challenge the validity of the plea, we have examined the record and are satisfied that
Chavez’s attorney has fully complied with the responsibilities of counsel and that there is
no arguable issue. (See Smith v. Robbins (2000) 528 U.S. 259, 277-284 [120 S.Ct. 746,
145 L.Ed.2d 756]; People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, 118-119; People v. Wende
(1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, 441.)
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DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
SEGAL. J.*
We concur:
WOODS, Acting P. J.
ZELON, J.
* Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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