Filed 8/21/20 P. v. Amirian CA2/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
THE PEOPLE, B298094
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. GA087122)
v.
JOSEPH AMIRIAN,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los
Angeles County, Terry Smerling, Judge. Affirmed.
Law Offices of James Koester and James Koester for
Defendant and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters,
Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant
Attorney General, Steven D. Matthews and Roberta L. Davis,
Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
_________________________
I. INTRODUCTION
In 2012, appellant Joseph Amirian pled no contest to two
counts of practicing physical therapy without a license (Bus. &
Prof. Code, § 2052, subd. (a).) In 2014, after finding Amirian had
fulfilled the conditions of his probation, the court allowed
Amirian to withdraw his no-contest plea and dismissed the
charges against him pursuant to Penal Code1 section 1203.4,
subdivision (a).
In 2019, Amirian brought a motion pursuant to section
1473.7, subdivision (a)(1), which permits a noncitizen defendant
who is no longer in custody to move to vacate a conviction and to
withdraw his or her plea as legally invalid if the defendant’s
ability to meaningfully understand “the actual or potential
adverse immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere” has been damaged “due to prejudicial error.” The
superior court denied Amirian’s motion, and Amirian appealed.
Amirian contends on appeal that: (1) he was entitled to
presumptive relief under section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2);
(2) even without presumptive relief, he was otherwise entitled to
relief under section 1473.7, subdivision (a)(1), based on
prejudicial error; and (3) the trial court’s immigration advisement
prejudicially deviated from the statutory language of section
1016.5. We discern no error by the trial court and affirm the
order.
1
Further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal
Code.
2
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Background and Charges
Amirian, a permanent resident of the United States, was a
licensed physical therapist. In 2008, Amirian’s physical therapy
license was revoked as a result of a misdemeanor forgery
conviction.2
For reasons not appearing in the record, Amirian’s license
was suspended for one year, from August 2010 through August
2011. On five occasions during this period, Amirian treated a
patient using another physical therapist’s identity.
In a 10-count felony complaint filed on August 21, 2012, the
People charged Amirian with five counts of practicing physical
therapy without a license (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 2052, subd. (a))
and five counts of forging another person’s name to a medical
record (§ 470, subd. (a)).
B. Amirian’s Plea and Sentence
On December 19, 2012, prior to the preliminary hearing,
Amirian agreed to plead no contest to two felony counts of
practicing physical therapy without a license. At the plea
hearing, the court advised Amirian there were “certain
consequences that will follow from your pleas of no contest. If
you’re not a citizen, you would be deported, be denied re-entry if
you leave the country, denied naturalization.” The court inquired
whether Amirian was entering his plea because he believed it
was in his “best interest to do so,” and Amirian responded,
“That’s correct, your honor.” Amirian’s attorney stated: “I want
the record to show there are potential immigration consequences.
2
In 2009, the conviction was vacated and dismissed under
section 1203.4.
3
My client and I have discussed that. He has an immigration
lawyer.” Amirian confirmed his understanding of the
consequences of his plea. After finding Amirian had entered the
plea knowingly and intelligently, the court suspended imposition
of sentence and placed Amirian on probation for three years. All
other counts were dismissed.
C. Section 1203.4 Relief
In 2014, the court granted Amirian’s motion for relief under
sections 17 and 1203.4, after finding he had complied with all the
terms of probation. Under section 17, the court terminated his
probation and deemed the two offenses to be misdemeanors. (See
§ 17, subd. (b).) Under section 1203.4, the court allowed Amirian
to withdraw his no-contest plea and dismissed the charges.3 (See
§ 1203.4, subd. (a)(1).).
D. Section 1473.7 Motion to Vacate Conviction
On January 24, 2019, Amirian filed an unopposed motion
for relief under section 1473.7, which permits a person who is no
longer in criminal custody to file a motion to vacate a conviction
or sentence if he or she was unable to understand the actual or
potential adverse immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or
no contest. The motion explained that an expungement under
section 1203.4 does not nullify a conviction for immigration
3
The “expungement” provided by section 1203.4 is limited.
In a subsequent prosecution, “the prior conviction may be pleaded
and proved and shall have the same effect as if probation had not
been granted or the accusation or information dismissed.”
(§ 1203.4, subd. (a)(1).) The defendant must also disclose the
conviction in certain contexts, such as when applying for public
office or for licensure with a state or local agency. (Ibid.)
4
purposes,4 and thus Amirian’s application for green card renewal
and future citizenship could be denied as a result of his
conviction. The motion further stated that Amirian had recently
learned that if he had pled to a different Business and
Professions Code offense, his conviction could ultimately have
been reduced to an infraction,5 which allegedly was not a
conviction for immigration purposes. Amirian claimed that, at
the time of his plea, he did not understand the difference. In
short, he urged that the alleged prejudicial error was the failure
to negotiate a plea deal that would ultimately result in
infractions and not jeopardize his chances at citizenship.
In support of the motion, Amirian presented the
declarations of an immigration attorney, Roger Gleckman, and a
licensing attorney. They explained that vacation of the
convictions would enhance Amirian’s prospects of regaining his
physical therapy license and obtaining a favorable immigration
disposition. Amirian’s own declaration stated he would suffer
adverse immigration consequences as a result of his convictions.
Gleckman had advised Amirian that his application for green
4
See People v. Martinez (2013) 57 Cal.4th 555, 560
(Martinez), citing Ramirez-Castro v. INS (9th Cir. 2002) 287 F.3d
1172, 1174–1175; People v. Holman (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1438,
1465, 1468 (Holman); People v. Frawley (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th
784, 791.
5
“An infraction is a relatively minor violation of law, which
cannot result in imprisonment or loss of liberty, and as
distinguished from a felony or a misdemeanor, does not result in
the right of a jury trial.” (People v. Kus (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th
Supp. 17, 21; Pen.Code, § 17.)
5
card renewal and future citizenship “could be denied as a result
of this conviction.”
Amirian declared: “I have since found out that there are a
list of similar charges that are reducible to infractions, and that if
I had pled to a charge that could later be reduced to an infraction,
that an infraction would not be considered a criminal offense
under federal immigration law. [¶] If, at the time of the plea, I
had understood that there was an alternative charge to which I
could have pled that would have ultimately been reducible to an
infraction, I would have asked my attorney to negotiate a plea to
one of those offenses. [¶] Unfortunately, Mr. Gleckman has
informed me that an expungement does not get rid of the
conviction under federal immigration law.”
Amirian also explained that he and his family had escaped
persecution in Iraq and arrived in the United States when he was
15 years old. His parents became United States citizens, but they
were elderly with health problems, and Amirian lived with them
and took care of them. He considered the United States to be his
home country.
E. Hearing and Disposition
At the hearing on March 22, 2019, no testimony was heard.
The trial judge remarked that Amirian’s “conduct [which led to
his plea] was egregious. He had a prior incident . . . where his
license got suspended[.]” Defense counsel argued that Amirian
had not understood, for immigration purposes, the difference
between a disposition that resulted in an expungement as
opposed to an infraction. The trial judge responded that the
likelihood of Amirian obtaining a plea deal of an infraction was a
“complete [pie] in the sky,” and Amirian’s attorney at the time of
6
the plea had secured an “excellent disposition.” The court denied
the motion, and Amirian timely appealed.6
III. DISCUSSION
We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying Amirian’s section 1473.7 motion because: (1) Amirian
was not entitled to presumptive relief under section 1473.7,
subdivision (e)(2); (2) Amirian has not demonstrated he suffered
prejudicial error pursuant to section 1473.7, subdivision (a)(1);
and (3) the court’s immigration advisement substantially
complied with the requirements of section 1016.5.
A. Legal Standards
Section 1473.7, which took effect January 1, 2017,
authorizes a noncitizen defendant who is no longer in criminal
custody to move to vacate a conviction or sentence when the
“conviction or sentence is legally invalid due to prejudicial error
damaging the moving party’s ability to meaningfully understand,
defend against, or knowingly accept the actual or potential
adverse immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere.” (§ 1473.7, subd. (a)(1), added by Stats. 2016,
ch. 739, § 1 (AB 813), effective January 1, 2017.)
Effective January 1, 2019, section 1473.7 was amended to
impose a presumption of legal invalidity for pleas made pursuant
to certain qualifying statutes: “There is a presumption of legal
invalidity for the purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) if
the moving party pleaded guilty or nolo contendere pursuant to a
statute that provided that, upon completion of specific
6
An order denying a motion brought under section 1473.7 is
appealable as an order after judgment affecting the substantial
rights of the party. (§ 1473.7, subd. (f); § 1237, subd. (b).)
7
requirements, the arrest and conviction shall be deemed never to
have occurred, where the moving party complied with these
requirements, and where the disposition under the statute has
been, or potentially could be, used as a basis for adverse
immigration consequences.” (§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(2), as amended
by Stats. 2018, ch. 825, § 2.)
Assuming no presumption of legal invalidity applies, a
court must grant the section 1473.7 motion “if the moving party
establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence,” the grounds for
relief under subdivision (a)(1).7 (§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(1).) The only
finding required under subdivision (a)(1) is “whether the
conviction is legally invalid due to prejudicial error damaging the
moving party’s ability to meaningfully understand, defend
against, or knowingly accept the actual or potential adverse
immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.”
(§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(4), as amended by Stats. 2018, ch. 825, § 2.)
If the court grants a section 1473.7 motion to vacate a
conviction obtained through a plea of guilty or nolo contendere,
the court must allow the moving party to withdraw his or her
plea. (§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(3).)
7
A party moving for relief under subdivision (a)(1) must
“establish that the conviction or sentence being challenged is
currently causing or has the potential to cause removal or the
denial of an application for an immigration benefit, lawful status,
or naturalization.” (§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(1), as amended by Stats.
2018, ch. 825, § 2.) The People do not challenge Amirian’s alleged
standing to petition for section 1473.7 relief under that standard.
8
B. Amirian Has Not Demonstrated He Is Entitled to a
Presumption of Legal Invalidity Under Section 1473.7,
Subdivision (e)(2).
Amirian contends he is entitled to a presumption that his
plea was legally invalid under section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2).
For the reasons that follow, the contention is without merit.
1. Amirian Did Not Enter His Plea “Pursuant to” a
Qualifying Statute, and Thus He Was Not Entitled to a
Presumption of Legal Invalidity Under the Plain Terms of
Section 1473.7, Subdivision (e)(2).
The construction and interpretation of a statute is a
question of law that we consider de novo on appeal. (John v.
Superior Court (2016) 63 Cal.4th 91, 95–96.) We begin by
examining the plain, ordinary words of the statute as an
indicator of legislative intent, and if the statutory language is
clear and unambiguous, we do not indulge in further statutory
construction. (People v. Colbert (2019) 6 Cal.5th 596, 603 [“ ‘ “if
the statutory language is not ambiguous, then . . . the plain
meaning of the language governs” ’ ”]; People v. Manzo (2012) 53
Cal.4th 880, 885 (Manzo) [“the plain, commonsense meaning of
the words in the statute” is “ ‘ “generally the most reliable
indicator of legislative intent and purpose” ’ ” and when the
“ ‘language of a statute is clear, we need go no further’ ”].) “Only
when the statute’s language is ambiguous or susceptible of more
than one reasonable interpretation, may the court turn to
extrinsic aids to assist in interpretation.” (Murphy v. Kenneth
Cole Productions, Inc. (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1094, 1103.)
As relevant here, section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), creates
a presumption of legal invalidity “if the moving party pleaded
guilty or nolo contendere pursuant to a statute that provided that,
9
upon completion of specific requirements, the arrest and
conviction shall be deemed never to have occurred, where the
moving party complied with these requirements, and where the
disposition under the statute has been, or potentially could be,
used as a basis for adverse immigration consequences.”
(§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(2), italics added.)
By the plain language of subdivision (e)(2), Amirian did not
enter his plea “pursuant to” a qualifying statute. (See § 1473.7,
subd. (e)(2).) Amirian’s plea was based on a violation of Business
and Professions Code section 2052, subdivision (a), which
describes the elements of the unauthorized practice of medicine,
including physical therapy. (See Bus. & Prof. Code, § 2052,
subd. (a).) Business and Professions Code section 2052,
subdivision (a), does not provide that “upon completion of specific
requirements, the arrest and conviction shall be deemed never to
have occurred,” as required by section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2).
(Bus. & Prof. Code, § 2052, subd. (a); § 1473.7, subd. (e)(2).)
Because Amirian cannot establish that his plea was “pursuant to”
a statute that satisfied the requirements of section 1473.7,
subdivision (e)(2), he is not entitled to a presumption under that
subdivision that his plea was legally invalid.
2. Amirian’s Expansive Interpretation of Section
1473.7, Subdivision (e)(2), Is Inconsistent with the Terms
of the Statute.
Amirian contends his plea was presumptively illegal
because section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), was “meant to apply to
convictions, such as appellant’s, in which the conditions of the
plea contemplate the defendant’s ability to ultimately dismiss the
accusatory pleading under . . . section 1203.4, subdivision (a).” In
effect, Amirian characterizes his plea as one made “pursuant to”
10
section 1203.4. We reject Amirian’s proposed expansion of
subdivision (e)(2) to encompass all “section 1203.4 eligible pleas.”8
Neither the terms of the statute nor the circumstances of
Amirian’s plea support the conclusion that his plea was entered
“pursuant to” section 1203.4.
Section 1203.4 provides that under certain circumstances,
such as when a defendant has fulfilled the conditions of
probation, he or she shall “be permitted by the court to withdraw
his or her plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere and enter a
plea of not guilty; or, if he or she has been convicted after a plea
of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and, in
either case, the court shall thereupon dismiss the accusations or
information against the defendant and except as noted [ ], he or
she shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities
resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted.”
(§ 1203.4, subd. (a)(1).) “ ‘A grant of relief under section 1203.4 is
intended to reward an individual who successfully completes
probation by mitigating some of the consequences of his
conviction and, with a few exceptions, to restore him to his former
status in society to the extent the Legislature has power to do so
[citations].’ [Citation.]” (People v. Field (1995) 31 Cal.App.4th
1778, 1787.)
8
Because we reject Amirian’s preliminary contention that
section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), encompasses “section 1203.4
eligible pleas,” and that his plea was therefore “pursuant to”
section 1203.4, we need not reach the secondary issue presented:
whether section 1203.4 is a statute which meets the requirement
of section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), that “the arrest and
conviction shall be deemed never to have occurred.” (See
§ 1473.7, subd. (e)(2).)
11
Amirian asserts that “implied within a plea in which the
defendant is granted probation is an implied expectation that if
the defendant successfully completes the probation, he or she will
be eligible for the relief offered in . . . section 1203.4.”9 Thus,
according to Amirian, section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), was
intended to apply to all “section 1203.4 eligible pleas,” even if the
plea was entered “pursuant to” a different underlying statute.
But Amirian’s broad reading of subdivision (e)(2) changes its
scope and impermissibly adds to its terms. If there is no
ambiguity in the statutory language, a court must presume the
Legislature “ ‘meant what it said, and the plain meaning of the
language governs.’ ” (Lennane v. Franchise Tax Bd. (1994) 9
Cal.4th 263, 268; Manzo, supra, 53 Cal.4th at p. 885.) As a
corollary, courts “ ‘may not rewrite the statute to conform to an
assumed intention that does not appear in its language.’ ”
(California Water Impact Network v. County of San Luis Obispo
(2018) 25 Cal.App.5th 666, 678 (California Water); see also
Farnow v. Superior Court (1990) 226 Cal.App.3d 481, 486 [“a
court may not rewrite a law, supply an omission or give words an
effect different from the plain and direct import of the terms
used”].) In interpreting section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), our job
“ ‘is simply to ascertain and declare what the statute contains,
9
Amirian relies on Holman for this point, which did not
address section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2). Although Holman
observed that “ ‘plea bargains may contain implied terms,’ ” the
Holman defendant’s expectation of section 1203.4 relief was not
“implied,” but clearly articulated in a contract she signed as part
of her plea bargain. (Holman, supra, 214 Cal.App.4th at
pp. 1472–1474.)
12
not to change its scope by reading into it language it does not
contain.’ ” (California Water, at p. 678.)
A literal, commonsense reading of section 1473.7,
subdivision (e)(2), is inconsistent with Amirian’s attempted
amplification to include pleas purportedly made with “an implied
expectation” of section 1203.4 relief.10 We interpret subdivision
(e)(2) according to its plain, ordinary terms, without reading into
it words or assumed meanings it does not contain. (See
California Water, supra, 25 Cal.App.5th at p. 678.) As a
threshold requirement, section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), clearly
says the plea must have been made “pursuant to” a qualifying
statute—not pursuant to a future qualifying statute impliedly
contemplated at the time of the plea. (See § 1473.7, subd. (e)(2).)
We have already determined that Amirian’s plea was to a
violation of Business and Professions Code section 2052,
subdivision (a), which is not a qualifying statute under section
1473.7, subdivision (e)(2). Thus, Amirian is not entitled to a
presumption that his plea was legally invalid.
We are not persuaded by Amirian’s arguments regarding
public policy and the legislative intent to broadly provide relief to
noncitizen defendants who may be suffering adverse immigration
consequences as a result of their unintended pleas. Amirian
urges us to consider legislative history and analogous diversion
10
Indeed, we are doubtful the Legislature would have
intended the result Amirian advances here by proposing that
inherent in every plea resulting in probation is an implied
expectation of section 1203.4 relief, which would empower any
defendant who successfully completes probation and is granted
section 1203.4 relief to move to vacate his or her conviction as
presumptively invalid under section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2).
13
statutes, applying general principles of statutory construction
that favor granting broad relief “to ameliorate a defendant’s
reliance upon ambiguous statutory language.” But the statutory
ambiguities that are his focus are within section 1203.4, not
section 1473.7. Because section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), is clear
and unambiguous in its intended scope, it is “ ‘ “ ‘[not] necessary
to resort to [extrinsic] indicia of the intent of the Legislature.’ ” ’ ”
(City of Montebello v. Vasquez (2016) 1 Cal.5th 409, 419; see also
Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Macri (1992) 4 Cal.4th 318, 326 [“courts
will not ‘interpret away clear language in favor of an ambiguity
that does not exist’ ”].) We are mindful that “ ‘[c]rafting statutes
to conform with policy considerations is a job for the Legislature,
not the courts.’ ” (California Ins. Guarantee Assn. v. Workers’
Comp. Appeals Bd. (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 307, 316.)
Finally, the record does not support Amirian’s contention
that “the conditions of the plea contemplate[d]” section 1203.4
relief. We find no evidence that Amirian’s plea was “induce[d]”
by a promise or agreement to seek section 1203.4 relief in the
future. There is no indication that section 1203.4 was discussed
at the plea hearing, or that it was a part of the negotiated plea
deal. The only evidence Amirian adduces is a statement in his
2019 declaration in support of the section 1473.7 motion:
“Unfortunately, Mr. Gleckman has informed me that an
expungement does not get rid of the conviction under federal
immigration law.” But this statement does not support the
proposition that, seven years earlier, Amirian was misled into
entering his plea with the expectation that he would ultimately
obtain the benefits of section 1203.4. Amirian’s expansive
interpretation of section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), is neither
14
supported by the language of the statute nor the circumstances of
his plea.
C. The Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion by Denying
Amirian’s Request for Relief Pursuant to Section 1473.7,
Subdivision (a)(1), Because He Has Not Demonstrated
Prejudicial Error.
Even if a defendant is not entitled to presumptive relief
under section 1473.7, subdivision (e)(2), he may nonetheless seek
relief pursuant to section 1473.7, subdivision (a)(1). That section
authorizes a noncitizen defendant who is no longer in criminal
custody to move to vacate a conviction or sentence when the
“conviction or sentence is legally invalid due to prejudicial error
damaging the moving party’s ability to meaningfully understand,
defend against, or knowingly accept the actual or potential
adverse immigration consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere.” (§ 1473.7, subd. (a)(1).)
As relevant here, the defendant bears the burden of
establishing two elements of “prejudicial error”: (1) he failed to
“meaningfully understand” or “knowingly accept” the actual or
potential adverse immigration consequences of his plea; and
(2) had the defendant understood the consequences, it is
“reasonably probable” he or she would not have entered the plea.
(People v. Mejia (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 859, 862 (Mejia); People v.
DeJesus (2019) 37 Cal.App.5th 1124, 1133 (DeJesus).) The focus
of the inquiry is “the mindset of the defendant and what he or she
understood—or didn’t understand—at the time the plea was
taken.” (Mejia, at p. 866; see also People v. Camacho (2019) 32
Cal.App.5th 998, 1010 (Camacho).)
When an order denying a section 1473.7 motion to vacate a
conviction is challenged based on statutory error, without a
15
claimed deprivation of a constitutional right, our review is for
abuse of discretion.11 (See People v. Rodriguez (2019) 38
Cal.App.5th 971, 977–978; People v. Vivar (2019) 43 Cal.App.5th
216, 231; Ogunmowo, supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at p. 76.) Under this
standard, we must decide “ ‘whether the trial court’s findings of
fact are supported by substantial evidence, whether its rulings of
law are correct, and whether its application of the law to the facts
was neither arbitrary nor capricious.’ ” (People v. Clancey (2013)
56 Cal.4th 562, 578.)
1. Substantial Evidence Supports the Trial
Court’s Conclusion That Amirian Understood the
Immigration Consequences of His Plea.
In seeking to vacate his plea, Amirian alleges that he
entered his plea under the mistaken belief that his convictions
would have no immigration consequences. To establish error,
Amirian must show his or her failure to “ ‘meaningfully
understand’ ” or “ ‘knowingly accept’ ” the actual or potential
adverse immigration consequences of the plea. (Mejia, supra, 36
Cal.App.5th at p. 862; DeJesus, supra, 37 Cal.App.5th at p. 1133.)
Substantial evidence supports the court’s conclusion that
Amirian understood the immigration consequences of his plea.
As reflected in the reporter’s transcript and minute order from
the plea hearing, the trial court expressly advised Amirian that
his plea “will” result in immigration consequences and “would”
11
Although Amirian proposes that the applicable standard of
review is de novo, most cases applying that standard have
involved claims of ineffective assistance of counsel implicating a
defendant’s constitutional rights. (See, e.g., People v. Tapia
(2018) 26 Cal.App.5th 942, 950; People v. Ogunmowo (2018)
23 Cal.App.5th 67, 76 (Ogunmowo).)
16
lead to his potential deportation, denial of re-entry, and denial of
naturalization. Amirian’s attorney indicated on the record that
he had discussed the “potential immigration consequences” with
his client, who had also consulted an immigration attorney. The
court reasonably concluded that Amirian was sufficiently
informed of any adverse immigration consequences at the plea
hearing. Amirian and his attorney confirmed his understanding
of those consequences, and Amirian affirmed he was entering the
plea knowingly and intelligently because it was in his best
interest. (See People v. Perez (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 818, 829–830
[no lack of “meaningful[ ] understand[ing]” where defense counsel
and trial court unequivocally explained immigration
consequences, and defendant affirmed his understanding].) On
this record, the trial court properly concluded that Amirian failed
to demonstrate error within the meaning of section 1473.7,
subdivision (a)(1), by establishing he did not “meaningfully
understand” or “knowingly accept” the immigration consequences
of his plea.
Amirian relies on Camacho and Mejia to establish his
“subjective unawareness” of the immigration consequences of his
plea, but those cases are distinguishable. The Camacho
defendant, who was undocumented, pled no contest to an
aggravated felony conviction, which subjected him to mandatory
deportation. (Camacho, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1001–1002,
1004.) At the time of his plea, his attorney informed him he
would avoid jail time if he entered his plea, but did not discuss
the immigration consequences of his plea, offer other
alternatives, or direct him to consult an immigration attorney.
(Id. at pp. 1001–1002.) Camacho submitted a declaration and
testified that he would not have entered the plea if he had known
17
it would prevent him from obtaining legal status in the United
States. (Ibid.) On that record, the court concluded Camacho did
not “ ‘meaningfully understand’ ” or “ ‘knowingly accept’ ” the
mandatory immigration consequences of his plea. (Id. at
p. 1009.)
Similarly, the Mejia defendant was facing mandatory
deportation following his plea of guilty to three aggravated
felonies. (Mejia, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at pp. 862, 865.) His
attorney advised that he “had no choice but to take the deal,” and
did not discuss the immigration consequences of his plea. (Id. at
p. 863.) Mejia testified that he would not have entered the plea if
properly advised. (Id. at p. 865.) As in Camacho, the Mejia court
concluded the defendant did not “ ‘meaningfully understand’ ” or
“ ‘knowingly accept’ ” the dire immigration consequences of his
plea. (Id. at p. 872.)
As we have discussed, the circumstances surrounding
Amirian’s plea were significantly different from Camacho or
Mejia. Amirian was advised of the immigration consequences of
his plea by his defense attorney, his immigration attorney, and
the trial court. Thus, substantial evidence supported the trial
court’s finding that Amirian failed to demonstrate that he did not
understand the immigration consequences of his plea.
2. Substantial Evidence Supports the Trial
Court’s Conclusion That It Was Not Reasonably Probable
Amirian Would Have Rejected the Bargained Plea.
As we have said, to be entitled to relief under section
1473.7, subdivision (a)(1), Amirian had to show not only that he
did not understand the immigration consequences of his plea, but
also that he would have rejected the plea had he been aware of its
immigration consequences. (Mejia, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at
18
pp. 872–873; Camacho, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1009–1012.)
This analysis does not simply consider whether it is “ ‘reasonably
probable the defendant by rejecting the plea would have obtained
a more favorable outcome,’ ” but whether the defendant “ ‘would
have chosen to lose the benefits of the plea bargain despite the
possibility or probability [immigration consequences] would
nonetheless follow.’ ” (Camacho, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at
p. 1010, citing Martinez, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 565.) As relevant
to this case, the defendant must establish that he or she “would
have rejected an existing plea offer in the hope or expectation
that he or she might thereby negotiate a different bargain.”
(Martinez, at p. 567.)
Because the burden to show prejudice is on the defendant,
“the defendant must provide a declaration or testimony stating
that he or she would not have entered into the plea bargain if
properly advised.” (Martinez, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 565; see also
Camacho, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1001–1002, 1011
[declaration and testimony established defendant resided in
United States over 30 years, financially supported wife and
children who were United States citizens, and would not have
entered plea if properly advised]; Mejia, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 863–865, 872; Ogunmowo, supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at pp. 73, 78
[declaration stated “ ‘I would have rejected the plea agreement
had I known I could be subject to immigration sanctions’ ”].) “It
is up to the trial court to determine whether the defendant’s
assertion is credible, and the court may reject an assertion that is
not supported by an explanation or other corroborating
circumstances.” (Martinez, at p. 565.)
“ ‘Courts should not upset a plea solely because of post hoc
assertions from a defendant about how he would have pleaded
19
. . . . [Rather, they] should look to contemporaneous evidence to
substantiate a defendant’s expressed preferences.’ ” (DeJesus,
supra, 37 Cal.App.5th at p. 1134, citing Jae Lee v. United States
(2017) 582 U.S. __, __ [137 S.Ct. 1958, 1967] (Lee); Mejia, supra,
36 Cal.App.5th at p. 872.) Courts have found, for example, that
an immigration attorney’s declaration that the defendant sought
his advice prior to entering a plea and the attorney’s
acknowledgment that the advice given was wrong (Ogunmowo,
supra, 23 Cal.App.5th at p. 73), or the strength of a defendant’s
personal connections to the United States, corroborated the
defendant’s expressed preference for avoiding a plea that carried
serious immigration consequences. (See Lee, at p. 1968;
Ogunmowo, at pp. 78–79; Mejia, at pp. 863–865; Camacho, supra,
32 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1011–1012.)
Amirian’s declaration falls short of the unequivocal
statement required to establish prejudice, and his expressed
preference for an alternative immigration-safe disposition is
uncorroborated by substantial evidence. A party seeking to
establish prejudice under section 1473.7 must “establish[ ] he or
she would have rejected the existing plea bargain to accept or
attempt to negotiate another.” (Martinez, supra, 57 Cal.4th at
p. 559, italics added.) Amirian failed to make this necessary
showing in his declaration, which simply stated: “If, at the time of
the plea, I had understood that there was an alternative charge
to which I could have pled that would have ultimately been
reducible to an infraction, I would have asked my attorney to
negotiate a plea to one of those offenses.” The trial court was
entitled to conclude that Amirian’s declaration was too
speculative, attenuated, and unsupported by evidence
contemporaneous to his plea. There is no evidence that Amirian’s
20
prevailing concern at the time of the plea hearing was avoiding
immigration consequences. (See Ogunmowo, supra, 23
Cal.App.5th at pp. 70, 78–79; Lee, supra, 582 U.S. __ at pp. __, __
[137 S.Ct. at pp. 1960, 1967–1968].) Amirian did not identify
which alternative Business and Professions Code offense he
would have been eligible for, nor did he present any evidence
that—in light of his earlier 2008 conviction—an infraction or
alternative disposition devoid of immigration consequences was
available to him. (See DeJesus, supra, 37 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 1135–1136 [no prejudicial error where defendant failed to
identify or offer corroborating evidence of any “ ‘immigration-
neutral disposition to which the prosecutor was reasonably likely
to agree’ ”].)
Other factors weigh against a finding that Amirian would
not have entered his plea had he understood its immigration
consequences. Although Amirian argues on appeal that he was
prejudiced by his mistaken understanding of the immigration
consequences of expungement under section 1203.4, nothing in
the record indicates this mistaken understanding induced his
plea. There is no evidence that section 1203.4 was discussed at
the plea hearing, or that Amirian anticipated when he entered
his plea that he would seek section 1203.4 relief in the future.
Further, Amirian cannot demonstrate prejudice from his
acceptance of a plea bargain that resulted in a better resolution
than he was otherwise likely to obtain. (See Lee, supra, 582 U.S.
__ at p. __ [137 S.Ct. at p. 1966 [defendant who is “highly likely to
lose at trial . . . will rarely be able to show prejudice from
accepting a guilty plea that offers him a better resolution.”].)
Unlike the defendants in the cited cases who were found to have
suffered prejudice, Amirian was not subject to mandatory
21
deportation or prison time, or prevented from becoming a
permanent resident, as a result of his plea. (See Camacho, supra,
32 Cal.App.5th at p. 1002, 1004; Mejia, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at
p. 865; Martinez, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 560; Ogunmowo, supra,
23 Cal.App.5th at pp. 71, 73; Lee, at p. 1963.) In other words,
Amirian’s bargained plea—reducing ten felony counts to two,
which resulted in no prison time—yielded clear benefits, and
Amirian has not shown he would have rejected them due to
immigration concerns.
Amirian contends the trial court abused its discretion by
focusing exclusively on the unlikelihood that Amirian would have
obtained a more favorable disposition, and committed error by
basing its decision on the absence of ineffective assistance of
counsel. But the probability of obtaining a more favorable
disposition, whether through trial or further negotiation, is
inevitably a part of the defendant’s decision whether to plead
guilty or no contest. (See Martinez, supra, 57 Cal.4th at pp. 564,
567 [that a more favorable result was not reasonably probable is
a factor for the trial court to consider when assessing the
credibility of a defendant’s claim that he or she would have
rejected the plea bargain if properly advised]; Mejia, supra, 36
Cal.App.5th at p. 872.) The court considered Amirian’s prior
criminal record and noted that his attorney had obtained an
excellent disposition, concluding there was insufficient evidence
that Amirian would have rejected his bargained plea to attempt
to negotiate another. The court’s remarks are not indicative of a
finding based on the effectiveness of counsel, but rather, based on
an assessment of prejudice.
In short, we cannot conclude that Amirian met his burden
of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that he
22
entered a plea that was legally invalid due to prejudicial error.
Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying
section 1473.7 relief.
D. The Trial Court Substantially Complied with Section
1016.5.
Lastly, Amirian contends that the trial court’s immigration
admonishments did not comply with the statutory language of
section 1016.5, and thus prejudiced his understanding of the
immigration consequences of his plea. For the reasons that
follow, the claim is without merit.
As an initial matter, we conclude that Amirian forfeited
this contention by failing to raise it in the trial court. Generally,
an appellate court will not consider a challenge to a trial court’s
ruling if the aggrieved party could have, but did not, timely object
in the trial court. (People v. Fuiava (2012) 53 Cal.4th 622, 691; In
re S.B. (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1287, 1293.) Amirian failed to raise
section 1016.5 compliance in the trial court, and thus we need not
consider it on appeal.
Alternatively, we find that Amirian’s contention fails on the
merits because the court substantially complied with the
statutory requirements. Section 1016.5 provides that prior to
acceptance of a noncitizen defendant’s plea, the trial court must
administer the following advisement on the record: “If you are not
a citizen, you are hereby advised that conviction of the offense for
which you have been charged may have the consequences of
deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or
denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United
States.” (§ 1016.5, subd. (a).) If the court fails to comply, the
court must vacate the judgment and permit the defendant to
withdraw his or her plea. (§ 1016.5, subd. (b).)
23
“To prevail on a motion to vacate under section 1016.5, a
defendant must establish that (1) he or she was not properly
advised of the immigration consequences as provided by the
statute; (2) there exists, at the time of the motion, more than a
remote possibility that the conviction will have one or more of the
specified adverse immigration consequences; and (3) he or she
was prejudiced by the nonadvisement.” (People v. Totari (2002)
28 Cal.4th 876, 884.) “On the question of prejudice, defendant
must show that it is reasonably probable he would not have
pleaded guilty or nolo contendere if properly advised.” (Ibid.)
Section 1016.5 requires that a defendant be “specifically
advised of all three separate immigration consequences of his
plea”—deportation, exclusion from admission, and denial of
naturalization. (People v. Gutierrez (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th 169,
174 (Gutierrez).) Amirian’s challenge pertains to the second
consequence regarding exclusion from admission to the United
States. He alleges the trial court’s advisement materially
differed from section 1016.5 by stating: “If you’re not a citizen,
you would be deported, be denied re-entry if you leave the
country, denied naturalization.” Specifically, Amirian alleges he
was prejudiced by the court’s omission of the phrase “exclusion
from admission,” which is a term of art within the federal
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq.) and not
equivalent to a “deni[al of] re-entry,” rendering his plea legally
invalid under section 1473.7. We disagree.
The court’s advisement substantially complied with section
1016.5. Under similar circumstances, the defendant in Gutierrez
was advised he would be “ ‘denied re-entry’ ” as a result of his
plea. (Gutierrez, supra, 106 Cal.App.4th at p. 171.) Gutierrez
concluded that “substantial, not literal, compliance with section
24
1016.5 is sufficient” and “the phrase ‘denied re-entry’ is the legal
equivalent of ‘exclusion of admission.’ ” (Id. at pp. 169, 174 &
fn. 4; see also People v. Superior Court (Zamudio) (2000) 23
Cal.4th 183, 207 [noting courts have held that “ ‘[t]he exact
language of the advisement is not crucial’ ”].) Although Amirian
characterizes the Gutierrez court’s latter conclusion as dicta, it
was essential to the holding that the trial court had substantially
complied with section 1016.5.
Amirian also attempts to distinguish Gutierrez because of
the Gutierrez trial court’s curative use of a written advisement
form in accepting the plea. (See Gutierrez, supra, 106
Cal.App.4th at pp. 174–175.) But Gutierrez considered the
written advisement form as an additional ground for denying
section 1016.5 relief, only after concluding that the trial court’s
oral advisement substantially complied with the statute. (Ibid.)
Thus, the written advisement form was not central to the court’s
decision, nor is it mandated by the language of section 1016.5.
(See § 1016.5, subd. (a) [advisement must be “on the record”];
People v. Ramirez (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 519, 522 [“So long as the
advisements are given, the language of the advisements appears
in the record for appellate consideration of their adequacy, and
the trial court satisfies itself that the defendant understood the
advisements and had an opportunity to discuss the consequences
with counsel, the legislative purpose of section 1016.5 is met.”].)
Finally, Amirian urges us to reject Gutierrez because
“admission” is a term of art under the Immigration and
Nationality Act and does not apply to all circumstances in which
a permanent resident re-enters the United States. For example,
as Amirian explains, a permanent resident “shall not be regarded
as seeking an admission into the United States for purposes of
25
the immigration laws unless the alien . . . [¶] (ii) has been
absent from the United States for a continuous period in excess of
180 days.” (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(13)(C)(ii).) Without citation to
authority, Amirian argues that “the use of the term denied re-
entry would reasonably cause a legally present alien resident to
conclude that he or she was unable to ever leave the boundaries
of the country for fear that any absence would bar his or her re-
admittance to the United States.”
However, the Immigration and Nationality Act defines
“admission” as “the lawful entry of [an] alien into the United
States after inspection and authorization by an immigration
officer.” (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(13)(A).) By definition, “admission”
and “entry” are virtually synonymous. Moreover, section 1016.5
does not require the trial court to advise the defendant of any
“additional immigration consequences” beyond the three major
consequences set forth in the statute. (See People v. Arendtsz
(2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 613, 618–619 [“[n]othing in section 1016.5
requires more than advisement of the three major consequences
of a plea that are specified in subdivision (a)”].) The trial court
substantially complied with section 1016.5 by putting Amirian on
sufficient notice of the three major immigration consequences of
his plea.12
12
Courts have employed the same standards for analyzing
prejudice in reviewing section 1016.5 and section 1473.7 motions.
(See Martinez, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 559; Camacho, supra,
32 Cal.App.5th at p. 1010.) Amirian cannot establish that he
would not have entered his plea even if he had been advised with
the exact language of section 1016.5, for reasons we have already
discussed pertaining to his section 1473.7 motion.
26
IV. DISPOSITION
The order of the trial court is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL
REPORTS
EDMON, P. J.
We concur:
LAVIN, J.
DHANIDINA, J.
27