People v. Burns

Filed 8/14/19

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, D074536

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v. (Super. Ct. No. SCD273861)

DERRICK LYLE BURNS,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County,

Steven E. Stone, Judge. Conditionally reversed, with directions.

John L. Staley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Steve Oetting and Warren J.

Williams, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
 Derrick Lyle Burns struck his girlfriend and led law enforcement on a high-speed

chase. A jury convicted him of false imprisonment, evading a police vehicle, infliction of

corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and two counts of assault with a deadly

weapon; Burns admitted two prior strikes. After dismissing one of the strikes, the trial

court sentenced Burns to a total term of 19 years, eight months in state prison.

Burns seeks reversal of his convictions on counts 2 and 3 (evading a police officer

and inflicting corporal injury) on the basis that his counsel conceded guilt during opening

and closing statements without his express consent. Consistent with our recent decision

in People v. Marsh (2019) 37 Cal.App.5th 474 (Marsh), we reject this claim as contrary

to controlling precedent. However, we accept Burns's remaining claim that the case

should be conditionally reversed for the trial court to consider his eligibility for mental

health diversion pursuant to newly enacted Penal Code section 1001.36.1 As more fully

set forth in the Disposition, we conditionally reverse the judgment with directions for

further proceedings under section 1001.36.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Bystanders called 911 in September 2017 after witnessing Burns repeatedly strike

his girlfriend K.B. in a hotel parking lot while struggling over a set of car keys. K.B.

tried to drive away, but Burns managed to get into the car. After K.B. drove a short

distance, Burns made her stop the vehicle to switch seats. K.B. sat in the rear seat of the

1 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
2
parked vehicle as Burns repeatedly swung at her, prompting another bystander to call

911.

San Diego Police Department Officer Matthew Steinbach responded to the call

and ordered Burns to get out of the vehicle. Ignoring this command, Burns drove off and

led Steinbach on a high-speed chase. Steinbach briefly lost sight of the vehicle as it

headed toward the naval base in Point Loma. Spotting it a couple of seconds later, he

resumed pursuit. At some point Burns jumped out of the moving vehicle while it

continued to speed ahead. K.B. jumped out seconds later, and the car then collided with

an oncoming vehicle and crashed into a wall. An off-duty Border Patrol agent who saw

Burns jump out of the moving vehicle pursued him on foot and detained him until police

arrived.

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office charged Burns by amended

information with kidnapping (§ 207, subd. (a), count 1), evading a police vehicle (Veh.

Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a), count 2), infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant

(Pen. Code, § 273.5, subd. (a), count 3), and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon

(§ 245, subd. (a)(1), counts 4 & 5). The information further alleged an enhancement for a

prior serious felony (§§ 667, subds. (a)(1)−(2), 668, 1192.7, subd. (c)) and two prior

strikes (§§ 667, subds. (b)–(i), 668, 1170.12).

In May 2018, a jury convicted Burns of the lesser included offense of false

imprisonment on count 1 (§ 236) but otherwise found him guilty as charged. After the

jury was discharged, Burns admitted the prior conviction allegations. At sentencing, the

3
court granted Burns's Romero motion2 and struck one of the two prior strike convictions.

This decision was a "very close call"; the court stated for the record that the public would

be in "significant danger" were Burns to be paroled after three years. It imposed a total

term of 19 years and eight months in state prison.

DISCUSSION

Burns raises two contentions on appeal. First, he claims concessions by defense

counsel made during opening and closing statements compel reversal of his convictions

on counts 2 and 3. Second, he argues the case should be remanded for mental health

diversion proceedings under newly enacted section 1001.36. As we explain, we reject the

first claim but accept the second.

1. Concessions by Defense Counsel

Defense counsel conceded Burns's guilt on counts 2 and 3 during his opening and

closing arguments. In his opening statement, he commented:

"And I want to note that there were mistakes made by Mr. Burns on
September 27th, 2017. There were mistakes made. And I'm going
to ask you to hold him accountable for those mistakes because this
case is about accountability.

"He hit [the victim] . . . . He hit her. There's no question about it.
He did it. It was wrong - - and I'm going to get up here in closing
argument and ask you to hold him accountable for it.

"He drove recklessly from Officer Steinbach. He did it. It was
wrong. I'm going to ask you to hold him accountable for that."

2 People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 529−530.
4
Likewise during his closing statement, defense counsel urged the jury to convict on

counts 2 and 3:

"So this case is about accountability. . . . [¶]

"I'll start with count 2, the felony evading. Find him guilty. That's
the first thing you should go back in the jury room and find that
verdict form and find him guilty.

"The domestic violence charge. The only thing that I'm going to say
about that is yes, he is guilty."

The record is silent as to whether Burns agreed or disagreed to his counsel's concession,

and he was neither advised of, nor expressly waived, his constitutional trial rights. The

jury convicted him as charged on counts 2 and 3, finding him guilty of evading a police

officer and inflicting corporal injury.

Burns argues that counsel's concession, without his express consent, violated his

constitutional rights to the effective assistance of counsel, jury trial, confrontation, and

silence. Citing McCoy v. Louisiana (2018) 138 S.Ct. 1500 (McCoy) and People v.

Farwell (2018) 5 Cal.5th 295, 299 (Farwell), he maintains this error compels reversal on

counts 2 and 3 because it was tantamount to a guilty plea to which he never agreed. As

we explain, we reject his claim under controlling law.

"Several federal constitutional rights are involved in a waiver that takes place

when a plea of guilty is entered in a state criminal trial." (Boykin v. Alabama (1969) 395

U.S. 238, 243 (Boykin).) "These include the privilege against self-incrimination, the right

to trial by jury, and the right to confrontation." (Farwell, supra, 5 Cal.5th at p. 299.) For

a plea to be constitutionally valid, the record must demonstrate a defendant's knowing

5
and voluntary waiver of these three constitutional trial rights, now known as a "Boykin-

Tahl waiver"; waiver cannot be presumed from a silent record. (Boykin, at p. 243; In re

Tahl (1969) 1 Cal.3d 122, 132.)

Because a guilty plea constitutes a criminal conviction, it "is not simply a strategic

choice." (Florida v. Nixon (2004) 543 U.S. 175, 187 (Nixon).) Counsel lacks authority

to consent to a guilty plea on a client's behalf, and a client's tacit acquiescence in the

decision does not suffice. (Id. at pp. 187−188.) It follows that "in the event of a guilty

plea or other conduct tantamount to a plea, 'the record must demonstrate that the

defendant voluntarily and intelligently waived his constitutional trial rights.' " (People v.

Lopez (2019) 31 Cal.App.5th 55, 63 (Lopez), italics added.)3 Thus, the threshold

question is whether defense counsel's concessions during his opening and closing

statements at trial were tantamount to a guilty plea. (Ibid.)

On this threshold question, California law has long been settled: "trial counsel's

decision not to contest, and even expressly to concede, guilt on one or more charges

. . . is not tantamount to a guilty plea requiring a Boykin-Tahl waiver." (Cain, supra, 10

Cal.4th at p. 30, accord People v. Lucas (1995) 12 Cal.4th 415, 446.) The trial court has

no duty to inquire whether the defendant agrees with his attorney's concession strategy, at

least where there is no explicit indication he disagrees with the approach. (Cain, at

3 The Lopez court initially concluded defense counsel's concession of guilt on a hit-
and-run charge during arguments was tantamount to a guilty plea, requiring an express
waiver of the defendant's constitutional trial rights. Following rehearing, it vacated its
earlier decision and reversed course under People v. Cain (1995) 10 Cal.4th 1, 30 (Cain),
discussed post. (Lopez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th at pp. 57, 63−67.)
6
p. 30.) Thus in Cain, the California Supreme Court concluded that defense counsel's

concession of his client's guilt as to murder and burglary charges during closing

arguments was not equivalent to a guilty plea and did not necessitate a Boykin-Tahl

waiver. (Ibid. & fn. 4.) A decade later, the United States Supreme Court reached a

similar conclusion: An attorney's concession of guilt, to which the defendant neither

expressly consented nor objected, was not tantamount to a guilty plea because the

defendant "retained the rights accorded a defendant in a criminal trial." (Nixon, supra,

543 U.S. at pp. 188−189.)

Burns argues two recent authorities change this long-standing rule. In Farwell, the

California Supreme Court concluded that a stipulation encompassing all elements of a

charged offense was tantamount to a guilty plea because it conclusively established all

elements of the charged offense, rendering a guilty verdict a foregone conclusion.

(Farwell, supra, 5 Cal.5th at pp. 299, 308.) Although the jury still had a role, it was

constrained; presuming it followed the court's instruction to accept stipulated facts as

true, it had no option but to find the defendant guilty. (Id. at p. 300.) Burns contends his

attorney's concession, like the stipulation in Farwell, rendered guilt a foregone

conclusion, necessitating a Boykin-Tahl waiver.

Burns also relies on McCoy, in which defense counsel conceded his client's guilt

on murder charges during opening and closing statements against his client's repeated

objections. (138 S.Ct. at p. 1506.) The United States Supreme Court concluded that this

concession was structural error, violating the defendant's Sixth Amendment right to the

effective assistance of counsel. (Id. at pp. 1508−1509.) As McCoy explained, choice of

7
the defense objective is a client's prerogative; he may opt to steadfastly assert innocence,

notwithstanding his attorney's view that conceding guilt would be a better strategy.

(Ibid.; see generally, People v. Flores (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 270, 279.) Burns contends

his counsel's concession is similar to the one in McCoy, requiring reversal

notwithstanding his failure to expressly object.

Division Four of the Second Appellate District rejected a claim identical to the one

Burns makes here. (Lopez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th at pp. 63−67.) Lopez relied on Cain

and distinguished Farwell and McCoy. (Id. at pp. 63, 64, 66.) Having recently followed

Lopez in Marsh, supra, 37 Cal.App.5th 474, we decline the invitation to reject it here.

As Lopez explained, unlike in Farwell, there was no stipulation admitting the

elements of counts 2 and 3 that narrowed the jury's role. (Lopez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th

at p. 64.) The jury was still instructed that the prosecution had to prove guilt beyond a

reasonable doubt and that statements made by attorneys were not evidence. (CALCRIM

Nos. 220, 222.) Despite defense counsel's concession, the prosecution still had to present

competent evidence to establish the essential elements of each charge, something it

would not have had to do had Burns pleaded guilty. (Lopez, at p. 64.) The prosecutor's

comment during his closing argument that he would spend little time on counts 2 and 3

given the defense concession neither changed the burden of proof nor limited the scope of

the jury's role. (Ibid.) Indeed, the prosecutor emphasized that those charges remained his

burden to prove. Furthermore, unlike a guilty plea, Burns had a jury trial with the

opportunity to confront adverse witnesses "and could endeavor, as [defense counsel] did,

8
to exclude prejudicial evidence." (Nixon, supra, 543 U.S. at p. 188.) He exercised his

right against self-incrimination by not taking the stand.

Burns suggests there is no meaningful distinction between stipulating to the

elements of a crime and conceding guilt during attorney argument; he argues that both

circumstances render guilt a foregone conclusion. But as Lopez noted, courts have

repeatedly drawn such distinctions. (Lopez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th at p. 65, citing Nixon,

supra, 543 U.S. at p. 188 [concession was not tantamount to a guilty plea because the

defendant retained his constitutional trial rights]; Boykin, supra, 395 U.S. at pp. 242−243

& fn. 4 [a guilty plea is more than a confession admitting guilt; it is a stipulation that the

prosecution need not advance proof]; and People v. Hendricks (1987) 43 Cal.3d 584,

592−593 [counsel's lackluster presentation of a defense was not tantamount to a guilty

plea requiring a personal, on-the-record waiver of defendant's constitutional trial rights].)

In short, Burns's reliance on Farwell is unavailing. Defense counsel's concession was not

tantamount to a guilty plea and did not necessitate a Boykin-Tahl waiver. (Lopez, at

p. 65.)

Lopez also persuasively rejected the argument Burns makes here under McCoy,

finding no authority "allowing extension of McCoy's holding to a situation where the

defendant does not expressly disagree with a decision relating to his right to control the

objective of his defense." (Lopez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th at p. 66.) As McCoy explained,

when a defendant declines to participate in his defense, his counsel may pursue a strategy

believed to be in his best interest. (McCoy, supra, 138 S.Ct. at p. 1509.) But where a

client makes "express statements" indicating his will to maintain innocence, "counsel

9
may not steer the ship the other way." (Ibid.) McCoy is thus predicated on a client's

express objection to defense counsel's concession strategy. Writing for the majority,

Justice Ginsberg distinguished her earlier opinion in Nixon on this very basis: "in

contrast to Nixon, the defendant vociferously insisted that he did not engage in the

charged acts and adamantly objected to any admission of guilt." (McCoy, supra, 138

S.Ct. at p. 1505.) Here, as in Lopez, there is nothing in the record to suggest Burns

disagreed with his counsel's concession strategy. (Lopez, at p. 66.) McCoy does not

apply.4

2. Mental Health Diversion

Burns argues the case should be remanded for the trial court to evaluate his

eligibility for pretrial mental health diversion pursuant to newly enacted section 1001.36.

Effective June 27, 2018, the new statute authorizes diversion for eligible defendants with

qualifying mental disorders. (Stats. 2018, ch. 34, § 24.) An express purpose of the new

law is to increase diversion of individuals with mental disorders while protecting public

safety. (§ 1001.35, subd. (a).) The People assert the new law does not apply

retroactively to defendants like Burns who have already been sentenced, and that even if

it does, remand would be a futile act. For reasons we explain, we agree with Burns and

4 Burns contends that McCoy abrogates Cain. We disagree. McCoy, supra, 138
S.Ct. 1500 did not abrogate Nixon, supra, 543 U.S. 175, which like Cain differentiates a
concession strategy from a guilty plea. Burns attempts to distinguish Nixon on the
ground that he (unlike the defendant in Nixon) was not apprised of his attorney's
concession strategy. However, it was the express nature of the defendant's objection, not
the extent of attorney-client discussions on trial strategy, that distinguished Nixon from
McCoy. (McCoy, at pp. 1504, 1509.)
10
conditionally reverse the judgment to permit the trial court to evaluate his eligibility for

diversion.

The new statute defines "pretrial diversion" as "the postponement of prosecution,

either temporarily or permanently, at any point in the judicial process from the point at

which the accused is charged until adjudication, to allow the defendant to undergo mental

health treatment . . . ." (§ 1001.36, subd. (c).) A trial court has discretion to grant pretrial

diversion if it finds all of the following: (1) defendant has been diagnosed with a

qualifying mental disorder; (2) the disorder was a significant factor in the commission of

the charged offense; (3) defendant's symptoms will respond to treatment; (4) defendant

consents to diversion and waives his or her speedy trial rights; (5) defendant agrees to

comply with treatment, and (6) defendant will not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to

public safety as defined in section 1170.18 if treated in the community. (§ 1001.36, subd.

(b)(1).) Defendants charged with certain crimes, such as murder and rape, are ineligible

for diversion. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(2).) If diversion is granted, the court may postpone

prosecution for a maximum of two years and refer the defendant to an inpatient or

outpatient mental health treatment program. (§ 1001.36, subd. (c)(1)(B) & (c)(3).)

Assuming the defendant performs satisfactorily during the period of diversion, the court

must dismiss his or her criminal charges. (§ 1001.36, subd. (e).)

Burns argues section 1001.36 applies retroactively to all nonfinal judgments,

relying on the rule of retroactivity in In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada). As a

general rule, statutes are presumed to apply only prospectively. (People v. Superior

Court (Lara) (2018) 4 Cal.5th 299, 307 (Lara); see § 3.) But this is a cannon of statutory

11
interpretation—the Legislature can enact laws that apply retroactively either explicitly or

by implication. (Lara, at p. 307.) Under the Estrada rule, "[w]hen the Legislature

amends a statute so as to lessen the punishment it has obviously expressly determined

that its former penalty was too severe and that a lighter punishment is proper as

punishment for the commission of the prohibited act. It is an inevitable inference that the

Legislature must have intended that the new statute imposing the new lighter penalty now

deemed to be sufficient should apply to every case to which it constitutionally could

apply. The amendatory act imposing the lighter punishment can be applied

constitutionally to acts committed before its passage provided the judgment convicting

the defendant of the act is not final." (Estrada, at p. 745.) This rule "rests on the

presumption that, in the absence of a savings clause providing only prospective relief or

other clear intention concerning any retroactive effect, 'a legislative body ordinarily

intends for ameliorative changes to the criminal law to extend as broadly as possible,

distinguishing only as necessary between sentences that are final and sentences that are

not.' " (People v. Buycks (2018) 5 Cal.5th 857, 881 (Buycks).)

Estrada applies not only to statutes that lessen punishment for a particular crime,

but also to legislation that ameliorates the possible punishment for a class of persons.

(Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 308.) Thus in Lara, the Supreme Court retroactively applied

Proposition 57—which mandated transfer hearings for juveniles to be tried as adults—to

juvenile defendants who had already been charged in adult court. Significantly, Lara

considered a statute that included language regarding timing and procedure for transfer

hearings. A prosecutor seeking to try a minor in adult court was required to file a motion

12
"prior to the attachment of jeopardy" in juvenile court. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 707,

former subd. (a)(1), now subd. (a)(1) & (a)(2), as amended by Stats. 2018, ch. 1012, § 1.)

Despite this language, Lara concluded that the Estrada rule applied such that the new

statutory procedure could be invoked even by defendants already charged and convicted

as adults, as long as their judgments of conviction were not final.

Courts are divided as to whether section 1001.36 applies retroactively to cases not

yet final on appeal. (Compare People v. Frahs (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 784, review

granted Dec. 27, 2018, S252220 (Frahs), and People v. Weaver (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th

1103, 1121 with People v. Craine (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 744, 749 (Craine).) Frahs

observed that just as the timing requirement for transfer motions did not bar retroactive

application of Proposition 57 to nonfinal cases, section 1001.36, subdivision (c)'s

reference to "pretrial" diversion before "adjudication" merely reflected "how this

particular program is ordinarily designed to operate" and did not bar retroactivity.

(Frahs, at p. 791.) Disagreeing with Frahs, Craine relied on the statutory text to

conclude a pretrial diversion program could not apply to a defendant who had already

been convicted and sentenced. (Craine, at p. 751.) Weaver acknowledged the statutory

text cited by Craine, but found it insufficient to rebut Estrada's inference of retroactivity

as applied in Lara. (Weaver, at pp. 1120–1121.)

Were we writing on a blank slate, we might find Craine's reasoning persuasive.

Language in section 1001.36 reflects certain legislative assumptions about how the

mental health diversion program will operate, and the references to pretrial diversion

seem to suggest an understanding about the anticipated timing of such a request.

13
However, addressing a statute that also contained express timing requirements, the

California Supreme Court in Lara unanimously concluded the Estrada presumption

applied even though those requirements could not be met if the statute were invoked in

cases not final on appeal. (Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 309.)

It is true, as Craine points out, that Lara did not specifically discuss this statutory

"timing" language in Proposition 57. (Craine, supra, 35 Cal.App.5th at p. 756; see Welf.

& Inst. Code, § 707, former subd. (a)(1), now subd. (a)(1) & (a)(2).) Nevertheless, we

can find no reasonable way to factually distinguish Lara on this point. Craine's

suggestion that the statutory timing language in Lara "did not facially preclude

retroactive application of Proposition 57" and "only presented a theoretical obstacle for

prosecutors in terms of getting cases previously filed under the old law transferred from

juvenile court back into criminal court" (Craine, at p. 757) does not persuade us. The

relevance of the timing language in both statutes is that it reflects legislative intent as to

how the new procedure will normally operate. If that intent is not enough to dictate

prospective application in Lara as to Proposition 57, we do not see how it can require

prospective application as to mental health diversion in section 1001.36. And to reject

Lara on the basis that a decision is not authority for a proposition not specifically

discussed would be to conclude that the Supreme Court reached the wrong result because

it overlooked crucial statutory language. Absent further guidance from our high court,

we believe our institutional role compels us to follow Frahs and Weaver in applying Lara

to permit retroactive application of section 1001.36.

14
 Legislative history does not change our conclusion. Citing an Assembly report,

the People suggest that the Legislature was motivated by potential cost savings in

enacting section 1001.36, a motivation inconsistent with retroactive application to

defendants like Burns. (Assem. Floor Analysis of Assem. Bill No. 1810 (2017−2018

Reg. Sess.) as amended June 12, 2018, pp. 7–10.) Craine took a similar view. (Craine,

supra, 35 Cal.App.5th at pp. 758−759.) But as Burns points out, section 1001.35

provides an express statutory statement of legislative intent:

"The purpose of this chapter is to promote all of the following: [¶]
(a) Increased diversion of individuals with mental disorders to
mitigate the individuals' entry and reentry into the criminal justice
system while protecting public safety. [¶] (b) Allowing local
discretion and flexibility for counties in the development and
implementation of diversion for individuals with mental disorders
across a continuum of care settings. [¶] (c) Providing diversion that
meets the unique mental health treatment and support needs of
individuals with mental disorders."

Cost savings are not mentioned, and the first and third objectives would be promoted by

retroactive application. A similar legislative purpose, to stop the revolving door of

criminal justice for juveniles, was found in Lara to "support the conclusion that Estrada's

inference of retroactivity is not rebutted." (Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 309.) Given the

express indication of legislative intent, we need not consider legislative history. (See

People v. Cochran (2002) 28 Cal.4th 396, 400−401.) But even if we considered it, the

mention of cost savings in a legislative report does not amount to clear indication of

legislative intent overcoming normal application of Estrada. (Buycks, supra, 5 Cal.5th at

p. 881.)

15
 To the extent section 1001.36 applies retroactively, the People contend remand

would be a futile act because Burns has not made a sufficient showing of eligibility. In

Frahs, remand was warranted where the defendant appeared to meet a single

requirement, a diagnosed mental disorder. (27 Cal.App.5th at p. 791, rev. granted.)

Here, contrary to the People's claim, the record could be read to support all six threshold

eligibility requirements. Attached to Burns's sentencing brief was a postconviction

psychological evaluation by Dr. Cynthia Boyd, who diagnosed Burns with a qualifying

mental disorder. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(A).)5 Boyd believed that Burns experienced a

"fear driven limbic system response" outside his "volitional control" connected to his

disorder when Officer Steinbach confronted him, prompting him to flee. (§ 1001.36,

subd. (b)(1)(B).)

The record also potentially supports other eligibility criteria. Dr. Boyd noted that

Burns "unfortunately" did not seek psychiatric treatment and "hence, his symptoms

remained," suggesting his symptoms might respond to treatment. (§ 1001.36, subd.

(b)(1)(C).) At sentencing, defense counsel requested that Burns be screened for mental

health counseling in prison. This and the fact that Burns seeks diversion on appeal

indicate that Burns would likely consent to diversion and treatment. (§ 1001.36, subd.

(b)(1)(D)−(E).) Finally, the record does not compel the conclusion that Burns poses an

unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, as defined in section 1170.18, if treated in

5 To protect Burns's privacy interests, we do not include an extended discussion of
Dr. Boyd's diagnosis. Based on our review, it is sufficient to note that Boyd's report
supports a conclusion that Burns likely suffers from a qualifying mental disorder.
16
the community. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(F).) Section 1170.18 defines "unreasonable risk

of danger to public safety" as the likelihood a defendant will commit a new violent felony

within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (e)(2)(C)(iv). "Section 667, subdivision

(e)(2)(C)(iv) enumerates a narrow list of 'super-strike' offenses such as murder, rape and

child molestation." (People v. Hoffman (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 1304, 1310.) Burns's

prior burglary convictions are not super-strike offenses.

Next, the People argue remand is futile given the court's comment in striking only

one strike prior that Burns posed a danger to the community if he were paroled early. But

the court's evaluation of Burns's dangerousness in connection with his Romero motion

presents a different question from its consideration of mental health diversion. It made

no findings as to whether, during or after inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment,

Burns would "pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety" as defined under

section 1001.36, subdivision (b)(1)(F).

Pointing to the prior strike, the People further argue that remand would be futile

because the Three Strikes Law bars suspending a striker's sentence (§ 667, subd. (c)(2)),

which is what they claim diversion would necessitate as to Burns. Indeed, the Three

Strikes Law also expressly prohibits diversion for defendants found to have a prior strike

conviction. (§ 667, subd. (c)(4).) But the People misconstrue the conditional reversal

procedure in Frahs. Burns admitted his prior strikes in May 2018, right after he was

convicted. Section 1001.36 went into effect about a month later, and Burns was

sentenced in August. The Frahs procedure conditionally reverses both the convictions

and the sentence for an eligibility hearing under section 1001.36. (Frahs, supra, 27

17
Cal.App.5th at p. 792, rev. granted; see id. at p. 788 [defendant Frahs was also a striker].)

Conditional reversal thus restores the case to its procedural posture before the jury verdict

for purposes of evaluating Burns's eligibility for pretrial mental health diversion. At that

point, Burns faced a mere allegation of a prior strike, which was insufficient to preclude a

suspended sentence or diversion. (§ 667, subd. (c) [restricting sentencing discretion "if a

defendant has been convicted of a felony and it has been pled and proved that the

defendant has one or more prior serious or violent felony convictions"].)

In sum, we cannot say the trial court clearly indicated that it would not have

granted mental health diversion had it been aware of the option. (Compare People v.

Jefferson (Aug. 6, 2019, No. F074519) __ Cal.App.5th __ [2019 Cal.App. Lexis 717, at

pp. *18–*19].) Given evidence of several of the eligibility criteria, we cannot say

remand for consideration of this issue would be futile. Accordingly, we conditionally

reverse the judgment with directions for the trial court to consider Burns's eligibility for

mental health diversion under section 1001.36. We express no view as to whether Burns

will be able to show eligibility on remand or whether the trial court should exercise its

discretion to grant diversion if it finds him eligible.

18
 DISPOSITION

The judgment is conditionally reversed. The matter is remanded to the trial court

with directions to hold a diversion eligibility hearing under section 1001.36. If the court

finds Burns eligible under that statute, it may grant diversion. If Burns then satisfactorily

performs in diversion, the court shall dismiss the charges. (§ 1001.36, subd. (e).)

However, if the court does not grant diversion, or it grants diversion but Burns fails to

satisfactorily complete it (§ 1001.36, subd. (d)), then the court shall reinstate Burns's

convictions, conduct further sentencing proceedings as appropriate, and forward a

certified copy of the resulting abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections and

Rehabilitation.

DATO, J.

I CONCUR:

GUERRERO, J.

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Huffman, Acting P.J., Concurring and Dissenting.

I agree with the holding and the analysis of the majority in this case except for

part 2 "Mental Health Diversion." I disagree with both the holding and the reasoning in

that section. Accordingly, I concur with part 1 of the opinion. As to part 2, I respectfully

dissent.

I have previously dissented in this court in cases where the majority has applied

the diversion statute retroactively relying on their interpretation of People v. Superior

Court (Lara) (2018) 4 Cal.5th 299. It is my view that the analysis of the Fifth District

Court of Appeal in People v. Craine (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 744, 749, is correct.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to persuade my colleagues in this division of the

correctness of Craine and my agreement with it.

The Supreme Court has granted review in a number of cases including People v.

Frahs (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 784, review granted December 27, 2018, S252220.

Accordingly, I will limit this dissent to the statement Craine was correctly decided and

People v. Weaver (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 1103, was not. Ultimately, the high court will

decide whether the statute should be applied to post judgment cases. Until the court

clarifies the issue I will continue to dissent, albeit briefly.

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

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