Filed 9/24/19 (unmodified opn. attached)
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION *
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
A153155
v.
WHITTIER BUCK BUCHANAN, (Alameda County
Super. Ct. No. 17CR013796)
Defendant and Appellant.
ORDER MODIFYING OPINION
AND DENYING REHEARING;
NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT
THE COURT:
Respondent’s petition for rehearing is denied. The opinion is modified as follows:
On page 9, in the second paragraph, the first sentence is amended to: “The court
sentenced Buchanan to an indeterminate sentence of 60 years to life in prison, comprised
of the following: an indeterminate term of 50 years to life on count 1 (kidnapping with
intent to commit a sex crime), plus . . . .”
On page 9, in the second paragraph, the third sentence is amended to: “The court
imposed a concurrent determinate term of 12 years on count 2 (assault with intent to
commit a sex crime) . . . .”
On page 11, heading C is amended to: “Section 654 Does Not Apply to Count 2,
but the Prior Serious Felony Conviction Enhancement Attendant to that Count Should
*
Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is
certified for publication with the exception of the Discussion parts I, II A, and C–E.
1
Run Concurrently to Count 1 and Consecutively to Count 2 if the Court Does Not Strike
or Dismiss It Pursuant to Bill 1393.”
On page 14, paragraphs one and two are amended to read: “The court,
however, erred by ordering the prior serious felony conviction enhancement attached
to count 2 to run consecutive to the sentence imposed on count 1. “[A] prior serious
felony enhancement imposed on a determinate sentence must follow the mode of
sentencing imposed on at least one of the determinate counts.” (People v. Tua (2018)
18 Cal.App.5th 1136, 1139.) If the court does not strike or dismiss this prior serious
felony conviction enhancement under Bill 1393 (see post, at pp. 15–16), the court
must order the enhancement attendant to count 2 to run concurrently to count 1 and
consecutively to count 2.”
On page 15, in the final paragraph, the final sentence is amended to: “If the court
declines to strike or dismiss the prior serious felony conviction enhancement attached to
count 2, it must run that enhancement concurrently with the sentence imposed on count
1 and consecutively to count 2.”
On page 16, in the disposition, parenthetical (3) is amended to: “order the prior
serious felony enhancement (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)) attendant to count 2 to run concurrently
to count 1 and consecutively to count 2, unless the court exercises its discretion to strike
or dismiss that enhancement pursuant to Bill 1393; and”
This modification does not affect the judgment.
Dated: _______________ _________________________________, P. J.
2
Trial Court: Alameda County Superior Court
Trial Judge: Hon. Trina L. Thompson-Stanley
Counsel:
William J. Capriola, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler and Jeffrey M. Laurence, Assistant
Attorneys General, Donna M. Provenzano and Victoria Ratnikova, Deputy Attorneys
General for Plaintiff and Respondent.
3
Filed 8/28/19 (unmodified version)
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION *
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
A153155
v.
WHITTIER BUCK BUCHANAN, (Alameda County
Super. Ct. No. 17CR013796)
Defendant and Appellant.
A jury convicted Whittier Buchanan of several crimes, including kidnapping with
intent to commit a sex offense (Pen. Code, § 209, subd. (b)(1)). 1 The trial court found
certain enhancement allegations true and sentenced Buchanan to 60 years to life in
prison, which included 10 years for two prior serious felony convictions (§ 667, subd.
(a)(1)). Buchanan appeals, raising claims of instructional and sentencing error. The
Attorney General contends the court made several sentencing errors.
We affirm the judgment of conviction and remand for resentencing.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The prosecution charged Buchanan with kidnapping to commit a sex offense
(§ 209, subd. (b)(1); count 1); assault with intent to commit a sex offense (§ 220, subd.
(a)(1); count 2); and failure to register as a sex offender (§§ 290, subd. (b), 290.018, subd.
(b); count 3). The information alleged Buchanan had seven prior strike convictions
(§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i); 1170.12), six prior serious felony convictions (§ 667, subd.
(a)(1)), and that he had served seven prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)). The
*
Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is
certified for publication with the exception of the Discussion parts I, II A, and C–E.
1
Statutory references are to the Penal Code.
1
information also alleged that as to count 1, Buchanan was a habitual sex offender
(§ 667.71, subds. (b) & (e)).
Prosecution Evidence
A. Buchanan’s Prior Convictions
In 1990, Buchanan was convicted of four counts of selling cocaine to a Drug
Enforcement Administration agent. In 1995, Buchanan sexually assaulted a woman; the
following year, he was convicted of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual
battery. He was sentenced to state prison, and was ordered to register as a sex offender.
In 2017, Buchanan was on parole.
B. The Incident Involving Jane Doe
In 2017, Doe was a college student. She was five feet four inches tall and weighed
110 pounds. At about 9:00 p.m. on a May 2017 evening, Doe went to a birthday party,
where she drank a beer, and a shot of vodka, “[m]aybe a little bit more than that.” A few
hours later, Doe and her friends went to a nearby bar, where she drank a “fish bowl” with
several other people. 2 Doe and her friends stayed at the bar until 2:00 a.m. Over the
course of the evening, Doe had approximately seven shots of alcohol.
When Doe left the bar, she was intoxicated but coherent. She and her friends went
to a restaurant. After about 15 or 20 minutes at the restaurant, Doe ordered an Uber,
which arrived at approximately 2:30 a.m. Doe checked the license plate, and got into the
sedan. The driver—a Caucasian man—took her to her house. During the ride, Doe
realized she did not have her keys, and she got upset. Doe, however, assured the driver
she would be alright. She got out of the car and sat on the front steps of her house. The
Uber left. The street was dark and deserted.
Doe called her father, who had a spare key to her house, and left him a voicemail
asking him to bring the spare key. As she sat on the front step, an African-American
2
A fish bowl is a 92-ounce mixed drink served in a large bowl. It contains six
ounces of alcohol. Doe took prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. The
medication did not cause her to hallucinate. Doe did not take the medication on the day
of the incident and she did not consume illegal drugs.
2
man—later identified as Buchanan—walked up to her and said, “ ‘It’s unsafe out here.’ ”
Buchanan grabbed Doe’s elbow. Doe mistakenly thought Buchanan was her Uber driver,
so she stood up and followed him to his vehicle, a Chevy Astro van. Doe got into the
front passenger seat, still thinking Buchanan was her Uber driver. She called her father
and left him another voicemail, saying she was fine, and that she was in an Uber. Doe’s
father called back and told Doe to ask the driver to take her to a nearby Safeway that was
open 24 hours.
Buchanan agreed, but then drove in the opposite direction, to a “woodland looking
area.” At that point, Doe realized “something was wrong” and “asked to be dropped off
anywhere.” Buchanan refused to let Doe out of the car and said Doe “ ‘wasn’t going
anywhere.’ ” Doe panicked and screamed. Buchanan covered Doe’s mouth with his
hand to muffle her scream. After a short struggle, Doe removed Buchanan’s hand and
climbed into the back seat. Shortly thereafter, Buchanan said to Doe in an ominous tone,
“ ‘Now you’ve . . . got me. You are going to get me into trouble. You made me mad.’ ”
Doe was terrified. She said, “ ‘take all my money. Just let me off anywhere.’ ”
Buchanan took the money but kept driving. He remarked that Doe “ ‘looked like a girl
who gives good head,’ ” and threatened she had “ ‘better give him the best head of his
life.’ ” Doe thought Buchanan was going to rape her, and feared he would “hurt, maybe
kill [her]” if she did not “sexually please him.” Trying to placate Buchanan, Doe
responded, “ ‘Yeah. Sure. Anything. Just please don’t hurt me.’ ” Until that point, Doe
and Buchanan had not discussed any sexual acts, and Doe had not flirted with Buchanan.
She did not tell Buchanan she had been raped. Doe did not want to perform oral sex on
Buchanan, but she agreed, to distract him while she tried to escape.
Doe could not find a door handle, so she “tinkered with the automatic window
switch.” The window was partially open but it “didn’t roll down.” As Doe concentrated
on pulling down the window, she tried to distract Buchanan by asking him questions.
Buchanan became suspicious and yelled, “ ‘Are you planning something back there?’ ”
Not sober enough to think of an excuse, Doe responded: “ ‘I’m trying to get the window
3
down.’ ” Buchanan seemed angry. He said, “ ‘Don’t you dare’ ” and reached for Doe.
Doe began climbing through the window, and Buchanan grabbed her torso and legs.
Doe managed to climb through the window. She landed on a curb, on her knees
and elbows. The van slowed to a stop, and Doe saw Buchanan’s face through the driver-
side window. He had a “displeased” expression. Doe screamed for help, and Buchanan
drove off. Doe was in the van for a total of 30 minutes.
A neighbor heard Doe repeatedly scream “ ‘Help me, help me’ ” in a desperate
voice. The neighbor ran outside and saw Doe sitting in a driveway across the street. He
approached her. Doe—terrified—asked, “ ‘Are you going to rape me?’ ” After the
neighbor assured Doe he would help her, Doe said “her Uber driver had tried to rape her”
and “was going to make her suck his dick.” Another neighbor—who had also heard the
screams—called 911.
C. Police Investigation
When the police arrived, Doe was panicked. She seemed intoxicated and was
jittery but did not appear to be under the influence of drugs. Doe told the police she was
in a minivan, and that the driver refused to let her leave “unless she orally copulated
him.” Doe said she escaped but that her phone was in the van. She gave the police a
description matching Buchanan. Later that morning, the police apprehended Buchanan,
and Doe identified him in an in-field show-up.
In Buchanan’s van, police found Doe’s phone, suspected methamphetamine, and a
pipe with burn marks and residue. There was an unused condom on the floor between the
driver and passenger seats. During the incident, Buchanan was wearing a GPS monitor.
The GPS locations matched Doe’s description of where she entered and exited
Buchanan’s van.
The police interviewed Buchanan twice. In the first interview, Buchanan told the
police he saw Doe crying. She said she could not find her house keys, so Buchanan
offered to let her sit in his van. Doe spent a few minutes in the front passenger seat of the
van. The passenger door never closed and the van did not move. Doe called someone to
give her a house key. While she waited for the key, Doe explained how she lost her keys,
4
and “she went on about her drinking problems and psychological stuff.” Eventually, Doe
got out of the van and Buchanan drove away.
In a second interview, Buchanan described the incident differently. He told the
police he saw a girl with “long . . . legs,” wearing short shorts, and knee-high boots. She
was crying. Buchanan thought Doe was attractive and imagined having sex with her.
Doe got in Buchanan’s van; she said she had been raped and forcibly orally copulated.
Based on Doe’s appearance, Buchanan believed this had happened. Doe asked Buchanan
to drive her home and offered him money. She told Buchanan she had “ ‘some kind of
mental or psychological mind problem’ ” and a “drinking problem.”
At some point, Buchanan stopped the van because he was tired of driving, and he
and Doe talked in the backseat. Doe offered to have sex with Buchanan and to “ ‘suck
[his] dick real good.’ ” She showed Buchanan her vagina. Buchanan though it was “too
good to be true” and became concerned, because Doe’s “demeanor kept flipping,” from
“crying to totally sober.” Eventually, he told Doe to get out of the car and she
“went . . . 5150 on [him]” and began yelling for help. Buchanan drove away.
Buchanan denied kidnapping Doe or holding her in the van. He denied using
methamphetamine and claimed it belonged to a homeless woman.
Defense Evidence
At trial, Buchanan conceded his description of the incident during the first police
interview was different than the description he gave in the second interview. Buchanan’s
trial testimony was somewhat similar to his second police interview but added certain
details, including that Doe smoked methamphetamine in his van. Some of Buchanan’s
trial testimony differed from the second police interview, i.e., Buchanan testified he was
not attracted to Doe. A character witness testified for Buchanan.
Verdict and Sentence
In 2017, the jury convicted Buchanan of the charges, and the court sentenced him
to 60 years to life in prison.
5
DISCUSSION
I.
The Instructional Error Claims Are Unavailing
Buchanan contends the court erred by instructing the jury with CALCRIM No.
361 (failure to explain or deny adverse testimony) and by failing to sua sponte deliver
CALCRIM No. 3500 (unanimity) for count 2 (assault with intent to commit a sex
offense).
A. Any Assumed Error in Giving CALCRIM No. 361 Was Harmless
The court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 361, which provided: “If the
defendant failed in his testimony to explain or deny evidence against him, and if he could
reasonably be expected to do so based on what he knew, you may consider his failure in
explaining or denying that evidence. Any such failure is not enough to prove the
defendant’s guilt. The people must still prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt. [¶] If the defendant failed to explain or deny, it is up to you to decide the
meaning and importance of that failure.”
CALCRIM No. 361 “applies only when a defendant completely fails to explain or
deny incriminating evidence, or claims to lack knowledge and it appears from the
evidence that the defendant could reasonably be expected to have that knowledge.”
(People v. Cortez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 101, 117.) “Even if the defendant’s testimony
conflicts with other evidence or may be characterized as improbable, incredible,
unbelievable, or bizarre, it is not, . . . ‘the functional equivalent of no explanation at all.’ ”
(Id. at p. 117.) Buchanan argues the court prejudicially erred by giving this instruction
because he did not fail to explain or deny incriminating evidence. “Assertions of
instructional error in this context are reviewed de novo.” We consider the merits of
Buchanan’s claim notwithstanding his failure to object to the instruction in the trial court.
(People v. Grandberry (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 599, 604.)
Here, any assumed error in giving CALCRIM No. 361 was harmless because it is
not reasonably probable Buchanan would have received a more favorable verdict had the
instruction not been given. The evidence supporting Buchanan’s guilt was strong. At
6
trial, Doe described the kidnapping and the assault, and her testimony was corroborated
by GPS evidence and by witnesses who saw Doe after she emerged from Buchanan’s
van. In contrast, the evidence supporting the defense—testimony from Buchanan, a
registered sex offender—was weak.
In addition to the strong evidence of Buchanan’s guilt, the impact of CALCRIM
No. 361 was mitigated by the language of the instruction, which states the failure to
explain or deny, by itself, is not a sufficient basis upon which to infer guilt. The
instruction also emphasizes the People’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt and leaves the meaning and importance of the defendant’s failure to explain
or deny to the jury. (See People v. Vega (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 484, 503.)
Other instructions—including CALCRIM No. 200, which advised the jury to
disregard inapplicable instructions, and CALCRIM No. 226, on evaluating witness
credibility—mitigated any prejudicial effect of the instruction.
In light of the ample evidence of guilt, and the jury instructions as a whole, it is
not reasonably probable Buchanan would have obtained a more favorable verdict had
CALCRIM No. 361 not been given. (People v. Vega, supra, 236 Cal.App.4th at p. 503;
People v. Lamer (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 1463, 1472.) Buchanan’s reliance on a
dissenting opinion in People v. Saddler (1979) 24 Cal.3d 671, 689–690 does not alter our
conclusion.
B. No Error in Failing to Sua Sponte Instruct on Unanimity
Buchanan claims the court erred by failing to sua sponte instruct the jury with
CALCRIM No. 3500. According to Buchanan, a unanimity instruction was required
because two acts could have formed the basis for count 2 (assault with intent to commit a
sex offense).
“[W]hen violation of a criminal statute is charged and the evidence establishes
several acts, any one of which could constitute the crime charged, either the state must
select the particular act upon which it relied for the allegation of the information, or the
jury must be instructed that it must agree unanimously upon which act to base a verdict of
guilty. [Citation.] There are, however, several exceptions to this rule. For example, no
7
unanimity instruction is required if the case falls within the continuous-course-of-conduct
exception, which arises ‘when the acts are so closely connected in time as to form part of
one transaction’ [citation], or ‘when . . . the statute contemplates a continuous course of
conduct of a series of acts over a period of time.’ [Citation.] There also is no need for a
unanimity instruction if the defendant offers the same defense or defenses to the various
acts constituting the charged crime.” (People v. Jennings (2010) 50 Cal.4th 616, 679.)
Here, no unanimity instruction was required because the acts forming the basis for
count 2 were “ ‘so closely connected as to form part of one transaction.’ ” (People v.
Benavides (2005) 35 Cal.4th 69, 98.) Doe was in the car for a total of 30 minutes. While
she was in the car, Buchanan covered her mouth to muffle her scream, and they briefly
struggled as she tried to remove his hand. Then Doe climbed into the backseat of the
van. Shortly thereafter, Doe attempted to climb out of the window. As she tried to
escape, Buchanan pulled on Doe’s legs. The two acts—covering Doe’s mouth and
pulling on her legs—occurred in a short period of time, in the same location.
Accordingly, the acts were so closely connected as to form one transaction. (People v.
Benavides, at p. 98 [unanimity instruction not required where criminal acts occurred
“within a very small window of time”]; People v. Percelle (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 164,
181–182 [continuous course of conduct exception applied where defendant used same
counterfeit access card in two separate visits to store on the same day].)
A unanimity instruction was not required for the additional reason that Buchanan
offered the same defense to “the various acts constituting” the assault. (People v.
Jennings, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p. 679.) Buchanan’s defense was he did not commit the
offenses—he claimed Doe volunteered to perform sex acts on him, and that her memory
of the events was inaccurate. Because Buchanan did not offer a defense that he either
covered Doe’s mouth or grabbed her legs, no juror could have believed he committed one
act but disbelieved he committed the other. No unanimity instruction was required. (See
People v. Williams (2013) 56 Cal.4th 630, 682; People v. Covarrubias (2016) 1 Cal.5th
838, 880.)
8
II.
The Matter Must Be Remanded for Resentencing
At the 2017 sentencing, the trial court struck one prior serious felony conviction
and found the remaining prior felony convictions true. It found the habitual sex offender
allegation true. The court made no express findings regarding the prior prison term
allegations.
The court sentenced Buchanan to an indeterminate sentence of 60 years to life in
prison, comprised of the following: 50 years to life on count 1 (kidnapping with intent to
commit a sex crime), plus 5 years, for the prior serious felony conviction enhancement
attendant to count 1. To this 55 years, the court added 5 years “for the prior conviction as
to count [2].” The court imposed a concurrent term of 12 years on count 2 (assault with
intent to commit a sex crime) and a concurrent term of six years on count 3 (failure to
register as a sex offender). The court also issued a no-contact order requiring Buchanan
to “stay away from Jane Doe directly or indirectly.” The no-contact order is not reflected
in the sentencing minute order or abstract of judgment.
Both parties raise sentencing error claims. Buchanan contends: (1) the no-contact
order is unauthorized; (2) the sentence on count 2 must be stayed pursuant to section 654;
and (3) the prior serious felony enhancement associated with count 2 must run
concurrently to the sentence imposed on count 2. The Attorney General argues
consecutive sentences on counts 2 and 3 were mandatory under the Three Strikes Reform
Act of 2012 (Proposition 36).
The parties agree the court erred by failing to impose or strike the prior prison
term enhancement(s), but disagree on the number of prior prison terms Buchanan
suffered. The parties agree the matter must be remanded for the court to exercise its
discretion regarding the two prior serious felony enhancements pursuant to Senate Bill
No. 1393 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess., Bill 1393).
A. Remand to Comply with Section 136.2
Buchanan contends the no-contact order is “statutorily unauthorized and must be
stricken.” Addressing the claim on the merits notwithstanding Buchanan’s failure to
9
object in the trial court (People v. Ponce (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 378, 381–382), we
conclude section 136.2, subdivision (i)(1) authorizes the order, but that the matter must
be remanded for the court to state a duration, and the reasons supporting that duration.
Pursuant to section 136.2, subdivision (i)(1), a trial court may issue a
postjudgment protective order where a defendant has been convicted of a crime requiring
sex offender registration. “The order may be valid for up to 10 years, as determined by
the court. . . . It is the intent of the Legislature . . . that the duration of any restraining
order issued by the court be based upon the seriousness of the facts before the court, the
probability of future violations, and the safety of a victim and his or her immediate
family.”
Here, section 136.2 authorized the no-contact order because Buchanan was
convicted of crimes requiring him to register as a sex offender under section 290,
subdivision (c). 3 The no-contact order, however, violates section 136.2 because it does
not state a duration. We decline the Attorney General’s suggestion to “presume the trial
court understood and applied the 10-year limitation set forth” in the statute and to modify
the order to impose that time limit.
“ ‘ “ We imply all findings necessary to support the judgment, and our review is
limited to whether there is substantial evidence in the record to support these implied
findings” ’ ” (People v. Therman (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 1276, 1279), but on this record
we cannot conclude substantial evidence supports a 10-year duration. Under section
136.2, subdivision (i)(1), the court must consider “the seriousness of the facts before the
court, the probability of future violations, and the safety of a victim and his or her
immediate family” when determining the duration of the no-contact order. Here, the
record does not indicate whether the court considered these factors when imposing the
no-contact order, and the Attorney General identifies no evidence supporting a 10-year
duration.
3
People v. Robertson (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 965, 996 has no application here.
That case involved a prior version of section 136.2, which authorized a protective order
only where the defendant was convicted of domestic violence.
10
We remand to the trial court to determine the duration of the no-contact order, and
to explain the reasons for that duration in accordance with the factors listed in section
136.2, subdivision (i).
B. Proposition 36 Does Not Mandate Consecutive Sentences for Counts 1 and
2, but a Consecutive Sentence Must Be Imposed on Count 3
The Attorney General argues “consecutive sentencing was mandatory under
Proposition 36.” The Attorney General, however, acknowledges People v. Torres (2018)
23 Cal.App.5th 185 (Torres) has rejected this argument. In Torres, a division of this
court held Proposition 36 did not alter the rule that “trial courts have discretion to impose
concurrent sentences for multiple serious or violent felonies against a single victim if
they were committed on the ‘same occasion’ or arose from the ‘same set of operative
facts.’ ” (Torres, supra, at p. 197, citing People v. Hendrix (1997) 16 Cal.4th 508.) We
decline the Attorney General’s suggestion to conclude Torres is wrongly decided. We
hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion by imposing a concurrent sentence on
count 2.
We reach a different conclusion with respect to count 3, failure to register as a sex
offender. Where a defendant has “been convicted of a nonserious and/or violent felony,
the term imposed for that crime [must be] consecutive to the terms of the serious and/or
violent felonies . . . regardless of whether those serious and/or violent felonies were
committed on ‘the same occasion’ or arose from ‘the same set of operative facts.’ ”
(Torres, supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at p. 203.) Buchanan concedes the “failure to register is a
nonviolent/nonserious felony” and, as a result, the trial court should have imposed a
consecutive term on that conviction.
We remand for the court to impose a consecutive sentence on count 3.
C. Section 654 Does Not Apply to Count 2, but the Prior Serious Felony
Conviction Enhancement Attendant to that Count Should Run Concurrently
if the Court Does Not Strike or Dismiss It Pursuant to Bill 1393
On count 1, the court imposed an indeterminate term of 55 years. On count 2, the
court imposed a concurrent, determinate term of 12 years. The court added 5 years to the
indeterminate term on count 1, “for the prior conviction as to count [2].”
11
Buchanan argues section 654 barred imposition of sentence on count 2, assault
with intent to commit a sex crime. “Section 654, subdivision (a), provides: ‘An act or
omission that is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be
punished under the provision that provides for the longest potential term of
imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more than one
provision.’ ‘ “Whether a course of criminal conduct is divisible and therefore gives rise
to more than one act within the meaning of section 654 depends on the intent and
objective of the actor. If all of the offenses were incident to one objective, the defendant
may be punished for any one of such offenses but not for more than one.” ’ ” (People v.
Dearborne (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 250, 262–263.)
“ ‘The defendant’s intent and objective are factual questions for the trial court; [to
permit multiple punishments,] there must be evidence to support a finding the defendant
formed a separate intent and objective for each offense for which he was sentenced.’ ”
(People v. Coleman (1989) 48 Cal.3d 112, 162.) A trial court’s “imposition of concurrent
terms” constitutes an implicit “rejection of the applicability of section 654.” (People v.
Alford (2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1463, 1468.) We uphold an implied “finding that a
defendant harbored a separate intent and objective for each offense . . . if it is supported
by substantial evidence.” (People v. Blake (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 509, 512.) Under this
standard, we “ ‘review the trial court’s findings “in a light most favorable to the
respondent and presume in support of the order the existence of every fact the trier could
reasonably deduce from the evidence.” ’ ” (People v. Lopez (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 698,
717.)
Buchanan claims the sentence on count 2 should have been stayed because counts
1 and 2 were part of a continuous course of conduct with the single goal of sexually
assaulting Doe. Our high court rejected a similar argument in People v. Perez (1979)
23 Cal.3d 545. There, a jury convicted the defendant of forcible rape, forcible sodomy,
and forcible oral copulation, and the trial court stayed sentence on the sodomy and oral
copulation convictions. (Id. at pp. 549–550.) On appeal, the defendant argued “the trial
court properly found that his sole intent and objective was to obtain sexual
12
gratification[.]” (Id. at p. 552.) Perez disagreed, and explained: “Such an intent and
objective is much too broad and amorphous to determine the applicability of section 654.
Assertion of a sole intent and objective to achieve sexual gratification is akin to an
assertion of a desire for wealth as the sole intent and objective in committing a series of
separate thefts. To accept such a broad, overriding intent and objective to preclude
punishment for otherwise clearly separate offenses would violate the statute’s purpose to
insure that a defendant’s punishment will be commensurate with his culpability. . . . [¶]
A defendant who attempts to achieve sexual gratification by committing a number of
base criminal acts on his victim is substantially more culpable than a defendant who
commits only one such act. We therefore decline to extend the single intent and objective
test of section 654 beyond its purpose to preclude punishment for each such act.” (Id. at
pp. 552–553.)
The same is true here. Buchanan kidnapped Doe with the intent to sexually
assault her. Then, when she tried to climb out of the van window, he assaulted her, again
with the intent to commit a sex offense and with a second, independent objective: to try
to prevent her from escaping. Substantial evidence supports the trial court’s implied
conclusion that Buchanan’s intent in kidnapping Doe was separate and distinct from his
later intent in assaulting her. By committing the assault, Buchanan was “substantially
more culpable” than a defendant who committed only a kidnapping, and as a result,
section 654 did not bar imposition of sentence on count 2. (See People v. Perez, supra,
23 Cal.3d at p. 553; People v. Nguyen (1988) 204 Cal.App.3d 181, 191 [section 654
“cannot, and should not, be stretched to cover gratuitous violence or other criminal acts
far beyond those reasonably necessary to accomplish the original offense”].) 4
4
Buchanan’s reliance on People v. Latimer (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1203 is unavailing.
There, the defendant kidnapped a woman, drove her to an isolated area and raped her,
then drove a few more yards and raped her again. The Latimer court held that although
the kidnapping and the rapes were separate acts, the defendant could not be punished
separately because “the sole objective of the kidnapping was to facilitate the rape.” (Id.
at pp. 1205, 1217.) Here and in contrast to Latimer, Buchanan had two independent
objectives in committing the crimes at issue.
13
The court, however, erred by ordering the prior serious felony conviction
enhancement attached to count 2 to run consecutive to the sentence imposed on count 1.
“[A] prior serious felony enhancement imposed on a determinate sentence must follow
the mode of sentencing imposed on at least one of the determinate counts.” (People v.
Tua (2018) 18 Cal.App.5th 1136, 1139.) Thus, “where the trial court . . . exercises its
discretion to run the determinate sentence concurrently with the indeterminate sentence,
the prior serious felony enhancement that attaches to those determinate counts must also
be . . . ordered to run concurrently.” (Id. at p. 1143.)
Here, the court imposed a concurrent determinate term on count 2. As a result, the
enhancement attendant to that conviction must also run concurrently. If the court does
not strike or dismiss this prior serious felony conviction enhancement under Bill 1393
(see post, at pp. 15–16), the court must order the enhancement to run concurrently to
count 2.
D. Remand to Impose or Strike a Single Prior Prison Term Enhancement
The information alleged Buchanan suffered seven prior prison terms under section
667.5, subdivision (b), which provides a one-year sentence enhancement “for each prior
separate prison term” served by the defendant. At sentencing, “the trial court was
required to impose the section 667.5, subdivision (b) prior prison term enhancements or
strike them in whole or in part pursuant to section 1385, subdivision (a).” (People v.
Garcia (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1550, 1561.)
The parties agree the court made no explicit findings on the prior prison term
enhancement allegations. The Attorney General requests remand to allow the court to
impose or strike the enhancements. Buchanan acknowledges remand is appropriate, but
contends he served only one prison term within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision
(b) because all of his “prior convictions were served in one continuous prison term.”
14
Buchanan is correct. 5 “A ‘prior separate prison term’ is ‘a continuous completed
period of prison incarceration imposed for the particular offense alone or in combination
with concurrent or consecutive sentences for other crimes . . . .’ [Citation.] Under this
provision, ‘a defendant who has served concurrent or consecutive prison sentences on
various commitments is deemed to have served only one prior prison term for the
purpose of the enhancement provisions of . . . section 667.5.’ ” (People v. Grimes (2016)
1 Cal.5th 698, 738–739.) On remand, the court must exercise its discretion to strike or
impose a single prison prior enhancement. (See People v. Langston (2004) 33 Cal.4th
1237, 1241; People v. Bradley (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 386, 392.)
E. Limited Remand for Bill 1393
The trial court imposed two five-year terms for Buchanan’s prior serious felony
convictions (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)). When Buchanan was sentenced in 2017, these
enhancements were mandatory. While Buchanan’s appeal was pending, Bill 1393
became effective. Bill 1393 amends sections 667, subdivision (a) and 1385 to provide
the trial court with discretion to strike or dismiss enhancements for serious felony
convictions. (See People v. Garcia (2018) 28 Cal.App.5th 961, 971–972.)
In supplemental briefing, the parties agree Bill 1393 applies to Buchanan’s case,
and that remand is appropriate. We remand for the trial court to exercise its discretion
under Bill 1393. If the court declines to strike or dismiss the prior serious felony
conviction enhancement attached to count 2, it must run that enhancement concurrently
with the sentence imposed on count 2. (See People v. Tua, supra, 18 Cal.App.5th at
p. 1139.)
5
At sentencing, the prosecutor stated the prosecution had proven Buchanan
“served a prior prison term for the 1996 convictions.” (Italics added.) The probation
department recommended Buchanan “should be additionally sentenced to 1 year, as
the People have pled and proven a prior prison commitment” under section 667.5,
subdivision (b).
15
DISPOSITION
The judgment of conviction is affirmed. The matter is remanded for resentencing.
At resentencing, the court shall: (1) determine the duration of the no-contact order and
explain the reasons for that duration in accordance with the factors listed in section 136.2,
subdivision (i)(1); (2) impose a consecutive sentence for count 3; (3) order the prior
serious felony enhancement (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)) attendant to count 2 to run concurrently
to count 2, unless the court exercises its discretion to strike or dismiss that enhancement
pursuant to Bill 1393; and (4) exercise its discretion to impose or strike a single prison
prior enhancement (§ 667.5, subd. (b)); and (5) exercise its discretion pursuant to Bill
1393.
Upon resentencing, the court is directed to issue a new abstract of judgment and to
forward a certified copy to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
16
_________________________
Jones, P. J.
I CONCUR:
_________________________
Burns, J.
A153155
17
NEEDHAM, J., Concurring in part and Dissenting in part:
I concur in part and dissent in part.
Although I fully agree with most of the majority opinion and its conclusion that
the case must be remanded for resentencing, I disagree that a concurrent sentence may be
imposed for the assault with intent to commit a sexual offense in count 2 (Pen. Code,
§ 220), 1 a serious and violent felony. (§§ 667.5, subd. (c)(15), 1192.7, subd. (c)(29).) In
2012, the “Three Strikes” law was amended by the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012
(Proposition 36). I believe that amendment made consecutive sentencing mandatory
when a defendant subject to sentencing under the Three Strikes law is, as here, currently
convicted of more than one serious or violent felonies.
The Three Strikes law is contained in two parallel statutes. The legislative
version, now set forth in section 667, subdivisions (b) through (j), became operative in
March 1994. The initiative version of the law, section 1170.12, was enacted by the
voters and became operative in November 1994. The two statues are “nearly identical”
in many respects. (People v. Estrada (2017) 3 Cal.5th 661, 666, fn. 2.) Both versions of
the statute were amended by Proposition 36, enacted by the voters in November 2012.
The amendments included changes that were made to section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7),
but not to identical language in section 667, subdivision (c)(7).
Prior to the enactment of Proposition 36, section 1170.12, subdivision (a) provided
in relevant part: “(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 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 and/or violent felony convictions, as defined in subdivision (b), the court
shall adhere to each of the following: [¶] . . . [¶] (6) If there is a current conviction for
more than one felony count not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the
same set of operative facts, the court shall sentence the defendant consecutively on each
count pursuant to this section. [¶] (7) If there is a current conviction for more than one
1
Further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
1
serious or violent felony as described in paragraph (6) of this subdivision, the court shall
impose the sentence for each conviction consecutive to the sentence for any other
conviction for which the defendant may be consecutively sentenced in the manner
prescribed by law.” (Italics added.) Substantially identical language was contained in
section 667, subdivision (c)(6) and (c)(7).
In People v. Hendrix (1997) 16 Cal.4th 508 (Hendrix), the state Supreme Court
was called on to construe section 667, subdivisions (c)(6) and (c)(7). It concluded (1)
subdivision (c)(6) provided that consecutive sentencing was mandatory for any felony not
committed on the same occasion and not arising from the same set of operative facts; (2)
by implication, the court retained the discretion under subdivision (c)(6) to impose
concurrent terms for any felonies committed on the same occasion or arising from the
same set of operative facts; (3) by referring to “a current conviction for more than one
serious or violent felony as described in paragraph (6),” subdivision (c)(7) incorporated
subdivision (c)(6)’s rule regarding consecutive sentencing with respect to more than one
serious or violent felonies, so that consecutive sentencing for such crimes was mandatory
when they were not committed on the same occasion and did not involve the same set of
operative facts, but concurrent terms were permissible when they were committed on the
same occasion or involved the same set of operative facts; and (4) section 667,
subdivisions (a)(6) and (a)(7) were not redundant because subdivision (c)(7)’s
requirement that a crime not committed on the same occasion and not arising from the
same set of operative facts be imposed “consecutive to the sentence for any other
conviction for which the defendant may be consecutively sentenced in the manner
prescribed by law” meant that not only must sentences for such crimes be consecutive to
each other, they must also be consecutive to sentences imposed for any
(nonserious/nonviolent) crimes, whether felonies or misdemeanors. (Hendrix, at pp.
512–514; see also 518–519 (conc. opn. of Mosk, J.); People v. Lawrence (2000) 24
Cal.4th 219, 226–234.) The same reasoning applied to section 1170.12, subdivisions
(a)(6) and former (a)(7). (People v. Deloza (1998) 18 Cal.4th 585, 590–591.)
2
Proposition 36 amended section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7) to delete the reference
to “paragraph 6” and replace it with a reference to subdivision (b) [defining serious and
violent felonies] so that it now provides, “If there is a current conviction for more than
one serious or violent felony as described in subdivision (b), the court shall impose the
sentence for each conviction consecutive to the sentence for any other conviction for
which the defendant may be consecutively sentenced in the manner prescribed by law.”
The plain meaning of section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7), as amended, is that when a
defendant stands currently convicted of more than one serious or violent felonies, the
sentences for those felonies must be imposed consecutive to any term for which
consecutive sentences are lawful, whether or not they were committed on the same
occasion or involved the same set of operative facts. This includes the sentences on the
current serious or violent felonies themselves. The amendment effectively abrogates the
holding of Hendrix, supra, 16 Cal.4th 508 to the extent that decision recognized that the
former version of the statue (in which paragraph (7) referred to paragraph (6)) allowed
the court to impose concurrent sentences for current serious or violent felonies committed
on the same occasion or arising out of the same set of operative facts. (Couzens &
Bigelow, Cal. Practice Guide: California Three Strikes Sentencing (The Rutter Group
2018) § 8:1, pp. 8-2 to 8-13.)
Proposition 36 did not similarly amend the parallel provision in section 667,
subdivision (c)(7). There is no plausible reason the voters might have had for amending
section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7), but not section 667, subdivision (c)(7). The ballot
materials do not differentiate between the two statutes. (Official Voter Information
Guide, Gen. Elec., (Nov. 6, 2012) summary of Prop. 36, pp. 48–53.) In other material
respects save one, Proposition 36 amended the comparable substantive provisions of both
sections 667 and 1170.12. 2 (Official Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec., (Nov. 6,
2
Proposition 36 also deleted section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(8), but not the nearly
identical provision in section 667, subdivision (c)(8). Both paragraphs provid(ed) that a
sentence under the strikes law must be imposed consecutive to any prison term the
defendant was currently serving. As appellant was not serving another prison term when
3
2012) summary of Prop. 36, pp.105–109; compare proposed amendments to § 667,
subds. (c), (c)(3), (d), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e), (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(2)(A)(i), (e)(2)(C), (f)(1) &
(f)(2), with § 1170.12, subds. (a), (a)(3), (b), (b)(2), (b)(3), (c), (c)(1), (c)(2)(A)(i),
(c)(2)(C), (d)(1) & (d)(2).) The amendment to section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7)
changed the rule of consecutive sentencing for current serious and violent felonies,
making such sentences mandatory in all cases, and it would be nonsensical to have two
statutes that deal with the same subject matter create different and conflicting rules, one
allowing concurrent sentences in three strikes cases, while one does not. It is not
reasonably possible to harmonize the two statutes, and the later-enacted initiative
version—section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7)—controls. (People v. Torres (2018) 23
Cal.App.5th 185, 202 (Torres); Couzens & Bigelow, supra, § 8:1, pp. 8-1 to 8-6.) The
failure to amend section 667, subdivision (c)(7) must be deemed an oversight or drafting
error. (Ibid.; see also People v. Garcia (1999) 21 Cal.4th 1, 5–6 [court may reform a
statute when “compelled by necessity and supported by firm evidence of the drafters’ true
intent”].)
This interpretation is consistent with the purpose of Proposition 36, which reduces
the penalty for certain nonserious, nonviolent offenses and maintains “a system of
lengthy prison terms for the truly dangerous and violent offenders.” (Couzens &
Bigelow, supra, 8:1, p. 8-5.) “Prop. 36 will help stop clogging overcrowded prisons with
non-violent offenders, so we have room to keep violent felons off the streets.” (Official
Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec., (Nov. 6, 2012) argument in favor of Prop. 36, p.
52.) Giving courts the discretion to make sentences concurrent when they are for
nonserious or nonviolent felonies while making consecutive sentences mandatory when
defendants are currently convicted of serious or violent crimes is consistent with this
purpose. Although the trend in recent years has been to expand rather than limit trial
court discretion (e.g., Senate Bills No. 620 and 1393, §§ 12022.5, subd. (c), 12022.53,
he was sentenced, this provision has no potential application to him, but we note that the
failure to delete section 667, subdivision (c)(8) in addition to section 1170.12,
subdivision (a)(8), appears to be an oversight.
4
subd. (h), 667, subd. (a)), such a result is not warranted when it contradicts the plain
language of a statute and when the purpose of restricting discretion—here, having truly
dangerous felons serve lengthy prison terms—is apparent.
Notwithstanding the plain meaning of current section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7),
Division One of this Court recently held that the changes wrought to this subdivision by
Proposition 36 did not abrogate Hendrix, supra 16 Cal.4th 508, and that trial courts still
have discretion to impose concurrent terms for more than one serious or violent felonies
committed on the same occasion or arising out of the same set of operative facts.
(Torres, supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at pp. 197–202.) I respectfully disagree with this
conclusion.
The Torres court noted that Proposition 36 made no changes to section 1170.12,
subdivision (a)(6), and that consequently, the Hendrix rule continues to apply. (Torres,
supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at pp. 200–201.) Torres noted that section 1170.12, subdivision
(a)(6) applied to all current felonies, including serious and violent felonies. (Torres,
supra, at pp. 200–201.) It acknowledged that section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7), which
referred only to current convictions for one or more serious and violent felonies, replaced
the reference to “paragraph 6” with a reference to “subdivision (b)” [defining serious and
violent felonies]; thus, “Proposition 36 changed the triggering language of the
subdivision, and subdivision (a)(7) now applies not only when serious or violent felonies
were not committed on the same occasion or did not arise from the same set of operative
facts, but whenever a defendant is convicted of multiple serious or violent felonies.”
(Torres, supra, at p. 201.) However, the Torres court concluded that “Proposition 36
made no change, however, to the directive portion of section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7),
which as the Supreme Court explained in Hendrix, is what makes subdivision (a)(7) not
duplicative of subdivision (a)(6). [Citation.] This portion of subdivision (a)(7),
additionally requires a court to impose the sentences for serious and violent felonies
‘consecutive to the sentence for any other conviction for which the defendant may be
consecutively sentenced in the manner prescribed by law.’ ” (Ibid.) The Torres court
found the change to section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7) “impacts only the additional
5
requirement for consecutive sentencing of ‘other’ current offenses (namely, nonserious
and/or violent felonies and misdemeanor offenses). . . . where there are multiple serious
and/or violent felony convictions, the sentences for those crimes ‘must run consecutive to
the sentence for any other offense, whether felony or misdemeanor, for which a
consecutive sentence may be imposed.’ ” (Torres, supra, at pp. 201–202.)
I interpret the amended version of section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7) differently.
Section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(6) requires consecutive sentences for any felony that
was not committed on the same occasion and which did not arise from the same set of
operative facts; the converse of that principle is that concurrent sentences are allowed for
any crime that was committed on the same occasion or arose from the same set of
operative facts. By referring to “a current conviction for more than one serious or violent
felony as described in paragraph (6),” the former version of section 1170.12 incorporated
the same principle in cases where the defendant was currently convicted of more than one
serious or violent felonies. Hendrix quite reasonably interpreted this language to mean
what it said, and extended the same rule regarding concurrent sentencing to both
nonserious/nonviolent current felonies and more than one serious/violent current felonies,
with the additional requirement that sentences for more than one serious or violent
felonies must be consecutive to other crimes for which the defendant may be
consecutively sentenced when those crimes did not occur on the same occasion and did
not involve the same set of operative facts. (Hendrix, supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 512–514.)
When the electorate passed Proposition 36, which deleted the reference to
“paragraph 6” in section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7), it signaled its intention that
defendants convicted of more than one serious or violent felonies would no longer be
subject to the rule of subdivision (a)(6). “An intention to change the law or the meaning
of a statute will generally be inferred or presumed from a material change in the statutory
language. Such an intent is inferred when the existing law is amended by deletion of an
express provision of the previous statute and the substitution of an alternative provision.”
(People v. Salazar (1983) 144 Cal.App.3d 799, 806–807.) Subdivision (a)(7) no longer
incorporates the language of “paragraph (6);” it is not potentially duplicative of that
6
subdivision; and it should be interpreted by reference to its language standing alone
rather than to subdivision (a)(6).
The amended version of section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7) eliminates any
distinction between more than one serious or violent felonies that were committed on the
same occasion or which arose from the same set of operative facts and those which did
not fall into those categories. It provides that in any case where the defendant stands
convicted of “more than one serious or violent felony” “the court shall impose the
sentence for each conviction consecutive to the sentence for any other conviction . . . .”
Now, under the plain language of section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7), consecutive
sentences—including sentences consecutive to each other—must be imposed on more
than one serious or violent felonies whenever consecutive sentences would be authorized,
not merely on those “not committed on the same occasion, and not arising from the same
set of operative facts.” (§ 1170.12, subd. (a)(6).)
When interpreting an initiative, our primary purpose is to ascertain and effectuate
the voters’ intent. (People v. Garner (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 768, 771.) We look first to
the language of the statute itself, and if there is no ambiguity, then the plain meaning of
the language governs. (Id. at p. 772.) Here, the amended version of section 1170.12,
subdivision (a)(7) is not ambiguous: when a defendant is currently convicted of more
than one serious or violent felonies, consecutive sentences must be imposed for those
crimes. To construe section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7) as allowing concurrent terms for
more than one serious or violent felonies when they meet the criteria of subdivision (a)(6)
is no longer justified by the plain language of the statute.
The effect of construing section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7) to still permit
concurrent terms where it applies would be that nonserious, nonviolent felonies are
treated more harshly than serious or violent felonies for purposes of imposing
consecutive sentences. As Torres recognizes, under section 1170.12, subdivision (a)(7),
the court must impose consecutive sentences for nonserious, nonviolent felonies
whenever a defendant has been convicted of more than one serious or violent felonies,
and must do so regardless of whether they were committed on the same occasion or
7
involved the same set of operative facts. (Torres, supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at p. 203, fn.
10.) Yet it need not make the sentences for serious or violent felonies consecutive with
each other, at least if they were committed on the same occasion or involved the same set
of operative facts. (Ibid.) “We must also avoid a construction that would produce absurd
consequences, which we presume [the electorate] did not intend.” (People v. Mendoza
(2000) 23 Cal.4th 896, 908.)
Appellant’s current convictions for kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual
offense and assault with intent to commit a sexual offense in counts 1 and 2 were serious
and/or violent felonies. (§ 667.5, subd. (c)(14) & (15); § 1192.7, subd. (c)(10), (20) &
(29).) Consecutive sentences are required on those counts pursuant to section 1170.12,
subdivision (a)(7). Appellant’s conviction for failing to register as a sex offender was not
a serious or violent felony, but because the serious/violent felonies had to be consecutive
“to the sentence for any other conviction for which the defendant may be consecutively
sentenced,” sentence on that count must also be consecutive. (§ 1170.12, subd. (a)(7).)
On remand the court should impose sentence accordingly.
NEEDHAM, J.
A153155
8
Trial Court: Alameda County Superior Court
Trial Judge: Hon. Trina L. Thompson-Stanley
Counsel:
William J. Capriola, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler and Jeffrey M. Laurence, Assistant
Attorneys General, Donna M. Provenzano and Victoria Ratnikova, Deputy Attorneys
General for Plaintiff and Respondent.
9