Filed 5/1/15 In re Valencia CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
In re F070826
RAUL A. VALENCIA, (Stanislaus Super. Ct. No. 1453984)
On Habeas Corpus. OPINION
THE COURT*
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING; petition for writ of habeas corpus.
Raul A. Valencia, in pro. per., for Petitioner.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney
General, Julie A. Hokans and Ryan B. McCarroll, Deputy Attorneys General, for
Respondent.
-ooOoo-
Petitioner seeks permission to file a belated appeal by way of a petition for writ of
habeas corpus. We grant petitioner’s request based on petitioner’s timely filing of his
notice of appeal. Petitioner’s additional habeas claims are denied without prejudice for
consideration in the appeal.
* Before Kane, A.P.J., Detjen, J., and Smith, J.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
On December 12, 2013, petitioner was convicted of three counts of robbery with
the use of a deadly weapon. He was sentenced six months later on June 20, 2014, to
32 years 8 months in prison.
On August 14, 2014, due to counsel’s failure to file a notice of appeal, petitioner
filed his own notice of appeal in Stanislaus County Superior Court. In the notice of
appeal, petitioner mistakenly indicated the date of the rendition of judgment as
December, 12, 2013 (the date of his conviction), instead of June 20, 2014 (the date of his
sentencing). The superior court did not catch his mistake, and deemed his notice of
appeal untimely.1
On January 22, 2015, petitioner filed a writ of habeas corpus in this court.
On March 13, 2015, this court invited the Attorney General to respond to this
court’s considering granting the petition for habeas corpus because it appeared the notice
of appeal was timely filed.
On April 3, 2015, the Attorney General filed an informal response informing this
court that it does not oppose petitioner’s request to file a belated appeal.
Despite petitioner’s error of indicating his December 12, 2013, conviction as the
date of rendition of judgment, instead of his June 20, 2014, sentencing, petitioner timely
filed his notice of appeal on August 12, 2014, under California Rules of Court, rule
8.308(a).
DISPOSITION
Petitioner is entitled to relief. If petitioner still wishes to appeal, he must file a
new notice of appeal within 30 days from the filing date of this opinion in Stanislaus
County Superior Court, case No. 1453984.
1 There is no cause to discuss counsel’s failure to timely file the notice of appeal or
the constructive filing doctrine, as petitioner timely filed his notice of appeal.
2
Let a writ of habeas corpus issue directing the Clerk of the Stanislaus County
Superior Court to file petitioner’s notice of appeal in its case No. 1453984, if received
within 30 days from the date of the filing of this opinion, to treat it as being timely filed,
and to proceed with the preparation of the record on appeal in accordance with the
applicable California Rules of Court.
The substantive issues regarding the effectiveness of trial counsel and insufficient
evidence are denied without prejudice and may be presented on appeal.
A copy of this opinion shall be sent to the Central California Appellate Program.
3