Filed 1/27/15 P. v. Sweeney CA4/3
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, G050185 (consol. with G050473)
v. (Super. Ct. No. P-01201)
THOMAS GRAYSON SWEENEY, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
Appeal from orders of the Superior Court of Orange County, John L. Flynn,
III, Judge; and Craig E. Robison, Judge (retired judge of the Orange Super. Ct. assigned
by the Chief Justice pursuant to art. VI, § 6 of the Cal. Const.). Affirmed.
James R. Bostwick, Jr., for Defendant and Appellant.
No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
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FACTS
Case No. G050185
On January 3, 2014, defendant Thomas Grayson Sweeney was released
from state prison and placed on parole after having served a prison term for his admitted
violation of Health and Safety Code section 11377, subdivision (a), possession of a
controlled substance. Sweeney was arrested on February 26, 2014, day 55 of his parole.
On March 3, 2014, day 60 of Sweeney’s parole, the California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation, Division of Adult Parole Operations (Parole Authority) completed its
assessment of the possible remedial sanctions under Penal Code section 3000.08,
subdivision (d), and, on March 4, 2014, day 61 of Sweeney’s parole, the Parole
Authority filed a petition to revoke Sweeney’s parole alleging (1) he had submitted a
urine sample that tested positive for use of methamphetamine and (2) was found to be in
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possession of a folding knife with a blade exceeding two inches. Sweeney moved to
dismiss the petition on the ground the Parole Authority lacked jurisdiction to supervise
defendant under section 3000.08, subdivision (a); instead he should have been released to
postrelease community supervision under sections 3000.08, subdivision (b) and 3450.
The court denied the motion. Sweeney waived his right to a formal revocation hearing
and admitted the methamphetamine use. The court reinstated parole and committed
Sweeney to jail for 90 days with 60 days of credit comprised of 30 days of actual custody
and 30 days of conduct credit. Sweeney timely filed a notice of appeal supported by a
certificate of probable cause under section 1237.5.
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All future statutory references are to the Penal Code.
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Case No. G050473
On May 28, 2014, the Parole Authority filed another petition to revoke
Sweeney’s parole alleging (1) on two occasions he had submitted a urine sample that
tested positive for use of methamphetamine, (2) he was found to be in possession of drug
paraphernalia, and (3) he was found to be in possession of pornographic magazines.
Sweeney once again made a motion to dismiss on the ground Parole Authority lacked
jurisdiction to supervise him. The motion was denied. Sweeney waived his right to a
formal revocation hearing and admitted the drug paraphernalia allegation. The court
reinstated parole and committed Sweeney to jail for 120 days with 36 days of credit,
comprised of 18 days of actual custody and 18 days of conduct credit. Sweeney timely
filed a notice of appeal, but his request for a certificate of probable cause was denied.
We consolidated Case Nos. G050185 and G050473.
DISCUSSION
We appointed counsel to represent Sweeney on the consolidated appeal.
Counsel did not argue against his client, but advised the court that after a full review of
the record he was unable to find an issue to argue on his client’s behalf. (People v.
Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) Sweeney was given an opportunity to file written
argument in his own behalf, but he has not done so.
Sweeney’s counsel suggested we consider whether the Parole Authority
had jurisdiction under section 3000.08, subdivision (a) to supervise Sweeney on parole
because he should have been released on postrelease community supervision under
sections 3000.08, subdivision (b) and 3450. We have reviewed the entire record and
considered counsel’s suggestion, but we are unable to find an arguable issue. Sweeney
served at least 60 days under parole supervision through the date the Parole Authority
completed its assessment of the appropriate sanctions to be imposed. Under section
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3000.08 any mistake in placing Sweeney on parole instead of community supervision
could be corrected during the first 60 days of parole, but not therafter. (§ 3000.08, subd.
(l).) Thus, even if the Parole Authority had made a classification mistake, correction was
not made during the 60-day period. Accordingly, Sweeney must remain under parole
supervision.
We affirm the challenged orders.
IKOLA, J.
WE CONCUR:
RYLAARSDAM, ACTING P. J.
FYBEL, J.
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