Filed 1/8/15 P. v. Espinoza CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E061346
v. (Super.Ct.No. SWF1400404)
JOHN RICHARD ESPINOZA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Timothy F. Freer, Judge.
Affirmed.
Caroline R. Hahn, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, defendant and appellant John Richard Espinoza pled
guilty to two counts of assault (Pen. Code,1 § 245, subd. (b); counts 1 & 2); negligent
1 All future statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.
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discharge of a firearm (§ 246.3; count 3); criminal threats (§ 422; count 5); and
possession of methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a); count 6).
Defendant also admitted that in the commission of counts 1 and 3 he had personally used
a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)). Defendant further admitted that he had suffered one
prior serious and violent felony strike conviction within the meaning of sections 667,
subdivisions (c) and (e)(1) and 1170.12, subdivision (c)(1). In return, the remaining
charges and enhancement allegations were dismissed and defendant was sentenced to a
total term of 17 years in state prison with credit for time served. Defendant appeals from
the judgment, challenging the validity of the plea and admissions. We find no error and
affirm.
I
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On December 26, 2013, defendant willfully and unlawfully committed an assault
upon Jane Doe and John Doe with a semiautomatic firearm and personally discharged or
displayed the firearm to Jane Doe. On this same date, defendant willfully and unlawfully
discharged a firearm in a grossly negligent manner which could have resulted in the
injury or death of a person. Defendant admitted that he had shot at a parked car in the
front yard. Defendant also admitted to making unequivocal, unconditional, and
immediate specific terrorist threats to Jane Doe with the specific intent to cause Jane Doe
to be in sustained fear for her own safety or the safety of members of her immediate
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family. Defendant further admitted to possessing a usable quantity of methamphetamine
on December 26, 2013.
On March 17, 2014, a second amended felony complaint was filed charging
defendant with two counts of assault (§ 245, subd. (b); counts 1 & 2); negligent discharge
of a firearm (§ 246.3; count 3); malicious discharge of a firearm at an inhabited motor
vehicle (§ 246); criminal threats (§ 422; count 5); possession of methamphetamine
(Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a); count 6); and felon in possession of a firearm
(§ 30305, subd. (a); count 7). The complaint also alleged that in the commission of
counts 1, 2, 3, and 4, defendant personally used a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)). The
complaint also alleged that defendant had suffered one prior serious and violent felony
strike conviction within the meaning of sections 667, subdivisions (c) and (e)(1) and
1170.12, subdivision (c)(1).
On April 28, 2014, defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing and trial
and pled guilty. Pursuant to a plea agreement, defendant pled guilty to counts 1, 2, 3, 5,
and 6. He also admitted that in the commission of counts 1 and 3 he had personally used
a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)) and that he had suffered one prior serious and violent
felony strike conviction (§§ 667, subds. (c) & (e)(1), 1170.12, subd. (c)(1)). In return, the
remaining charges and enhancement allegations were dismissed. After directly
examining defendant, the trial court found that defendant understood the nature of the
charges and the consequences of the plea; that the plea was entered into freely,
voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently; and that there was a factual basis for his plea.
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Defendant thereafter waived a presentence probation report and requested to be
immediately sentenced. Defendant was sentenced to the agreed-upon term of 17 years in
state prison and awarded 113 days of custody credit for time served.
On June 11, 2014, defendant filed a notice of appeal, challenging the validity of
the plea and admissions, based on ineffective counsel and counsel pressuring and
intimidating him to accept the plea agreement. He also filed a request for a certificate of
probable cause. The trial court granted defendant’s request for a certificate of probable
cause on June 12, 2014.
II
DISCUSSION
After defendant appealed, upon his request, this court appointed counsel to
represent him. Counsel has filed a brief under the authority of People v. Wende (1979)
25 Cal.3d 436 and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, setting forth a statement of
the case, a summary of the facts and potential arguable issues, and requesting this court to
conduct an independent review of the record.
We offered defendant an opportunity to file a personal supplemental brief, and he
has not done so.
Pursuant to the mandate of People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, we have
independently reviewed the entire record for potential error and find no arguable error
that would result in a disposition more favorable to defendant.
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III
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
RAMIREZ
P. J.
We concur:
McKINSTER
J.
MILLER
J.
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