Filed 7/15/15 In re V.O. CA6
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
In re V.O., a Person Coming Under the H041109
Juvenile Court Law. (Santa Clara County
Super. Ct. No. 3-12-JV39271A)
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
V.O.,
Defendant and Appellant.
V.O. (minor) appeals from a dispositional order committing her to the county
Juvenile Rehabilitation Facilities, Enhanced Ranch Program for six to eight months. She
argues that the juvenile court failed to make an express finding as to whether her offense
of theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)) was a felony or a
misdemeanor as required under Welfare and Institutions Code section 702. The Attorney
General concedes. We accept the concession and reverse and remand the dispositional
order.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The “A” Petition
On June 6, 2012, a petition was filed against minor alleging theft or unauthorized
use of a vehicle (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)), vandalism of $400 or more (Pen. Code,
§ 594, subds. (a), (b)(1)), and hit and run driving causing property damage (Veh. Code, §
20002, subd. (a)). A violation of Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a) can either
be a misdemeanor or a felony. However, the petition alleged it as a felony.
Pursuant to a negotiated disposition, minor admitted all of the allegations. During
the jurisdictional hearing, the court stated that the violation of Vehicle Code section
10851, subdivision (a) was being sustained as a felony. However, it did not indicate it
was exercising its discretion to determine whether the offense was a felony or a
misdemeanor. Minor was declared a ward of the court and placed on probation.
In the minute order entered after the jurisdictional hearing, the court listed the
violation of Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a) under the section stating that
“[t]he following allegations are admitted and found to be true,” and checked the box
indicating the allegation was a felony. On the same page of the minute order, the court
did not check the box indicating that it had “considered whether the above offense(s)
should be felonies or misdemeanors.”
On the preprinted plea form, there is a section with the heading, “the court finds.”
Included in this section is a statement reading, “For setting max time: The felonies to the
left would have been wobblers if filed against the minor in adult court. The Court is
aware of, and actually exercises it’s [sic] wobbler discretion in this case. A check in box
F is a finding of a felony. A check in box M is a finding of a misdemeanor. W&I 702.”
The court did not check either of these boxes.
The “E” Petition
On February 25, 2014, another petition was filed against minor, alleging grand
theft (Pen. Code, §§ 484, 487, subd. (c)) and resisting arrest (id., § 148, subd. (a)(1)).
Following a jurisdictional hearing, the allegations were sustained and minor was declared
a ward of the court. The juvenile court placed her in a six to eight month ranch
commitment. Minor appealed.
2
DISCUSSION
Minor did not appeal from the dispositional order entered after the court sustained
the “A” petition. However, she appealed from the later dispositional order entered after
the “E” petition was sustained. Minor argues, and the Attorney General concedes, that
the court’s failure to indicate whether the violation of Vehicle Code section 10851,
subdivision (a) sustained from her “A” petition was a felony or a misdemeanor is
tantamount to an unauthorized sentence so it can be raised at any time. (In re Ramon M.
(2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 665, 675.) We agree.
We also accept the Attorney General’s concession that remand is required.
Welfare and Institutions Code section 702 provides that in a juvenile proceeding, if a
minor “is found to have committed an offense which would in the case of an adult be
punishable alternatively as a felony or a misdemeanor, the court shall declare the offense
to be a misdemeanor or felony.” The importance of an explicit declaration under Welfare
and Institutions Code section 702 was explained in our Supreme Court’s decision in In re
Manzy W. (1997) 14 Cal.4th 1199 (Manzy W.). Requiring a court to affirmatively declare
whether an offense is a misdemeanor or a felony “facilitat[es] the determination of the
limits on any present or future commitment to physical confinement for a so-called
‘wobbler’ offense,” (id. at p. 1206) and also “serves the purpose of ensuring that the
juvenile court is aware of, and actually exercises, its discretion under Welfare and
Institutions Code section 702.” (Id. at p. 1207.) The required declaration can be made at
the contested jurisdictional hearing or at the dispositional hearing. (Cal. Rules of Court,
rules 5.780(e)(5), 5.790(a)(1), 5.795(a).)
Here, there is nothing in the record to indicate the juvenile court “was aware of,
and exercised its discretion to determine the felony or misdemeanor nature” of the
Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a) violation. (Manzy W., supra, 14 Cal.4th at
p. 1209.) Therefore, remand is required.
3
DISPOSITION
The juvenile court’s dispositional order is reversed and the matter is remanded
with directions for the court to state on the record its intent to treat the violation of
Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a) as a felony or a misdemeanor in compliance
with Welfare and Institutions Code section 702.
4
Walsh, J.*
WE CONCUR:
Rushing, P. J.
Elia, J.
H041109
*
Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.