FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In May 2015, Austin was charged with several offenses arising out of a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend Lisa H. and an assault on Lisa's adult son Brent M. the following day. He pleaded guilty to a single count, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury as to Brent ( Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(4) ), and admitted a prior serious felony conviction.
Austin later tested positive for controlled substances, violating the terms of his probation. In September 2016, defense counsel sought reinstatement of probation, while the prosecution requested a three-year middle term. The court revoked probation, sentencing Austin to three years with credit for time served. After Austin appealed, we remanded for the sole purpose of clarifying the court's ruling during sentencing. ( People v. Austin
Austin was released on parole in July 2017. He acknowledged receiving notice of the general and special conditions of his parole. Among the special conditions of parole was condition 25:
"You shall not contact or attempt to contact your crime victim(s): [No.] SCE350433 PC 245 [ ](a)( [4] ) Assault w/Force Likely to Produce GBI Lisa [H.] or Brent [M.] ... 'No contact' means no contact in any form, whether direct or indirect, personally, by telephone, by writing, electronic media, computer, or through another person, etc."2
In October 2017, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) filed a parole revocation petition (§ 1203.2, subd. (b)(1)), alleging Austin had violated the terms of his parole by contacting Lisa and using drugs. Austin waived an evidentiary hearing and was ordered to serve 120 days in custody for both violations.
On December 6, 2017, the court in case No. SCE350433 held a hearing following remittitur to clarify the sentence imposed.
Austin failed to report to his parole agent within 24 hours of being released from custody. CDCR filed a parole revocation petition, prompting the court to impose a 16-day sentence in mid-December. Austin and Lisa got married on December 27, and he was arrested on January 4, 2018 for violating parole condition 25. CDCR filed another parole revocation petition. This time, Austin requested an evidentiary hearing.
On January 29, 2018, the court heard testimony from Lisa, the police officer who arrested Austin, Austin's parole agent, and the public defender who represented Austin at the December 6 hearing in the underlying case. Lisa testified she did not want to remain married but did want to maintain contact and was not afraid of Austin. Lisa's account was challenged by Hilda P., Austin's parole agent, who testified that Lisa had expressed her fear of Austin several times through text messages. Hilda had seen a copy of the December 6 minute order in the underlying case, but she and her supervisor concluded the no-contact parole condition could be validly imposed given the nexus between Lisa and the convicted offense. Hilda explained that the parole condition would be lifted if Lisa wanted contact after Austin completed his anger management classes.
Austin's counsel called the public defender to the stand to explore events in the underlying case. The court questioned the relevance of her testimony, stating, "this is not a probation case, this is a parole case." "The fact that parole made it a condition is not my jurisdiction.... They paroled him with that condition. That's what I'm stuck with." When defense counsel stated parole condition 25 was based on a dismissed charge in the underlying case, the court replied, "[t]hat might be an appellate issue, but he signed the parole conditions. [¶] I don't know where the jurisdiction is, counsel. Do you know what -- how do you change a parole condition? [¶] I can't not violate someone because a judge in a trial court said he shouldn't have a protective order for that." The court rejected the offer of proof by Austin's counsel that rulings by the probation court would provide a basis to invalidate a parole condition as unreasonable. It further asked: "What legal authority do I have to change a parole condition after it has been imposed for over two years?"
After both sides rested, the court heard arguments from counsel. The prosecutor clarified that "the court does have discretion to modify the terms and conditions of Mr. Austin's parole in the interest of justice" but argued it should not exercise that discretion. Citing
The prosecutor argued there were changed circumstances-Lisa had repeatedly contacted Austin's parole agent asking for help and expressing fear. Under these facts, CDCR was entitled to condition resumed contact on Lisa's approval and on Austin taking anger management classes. The court agreed, revoking parole and imposing a 180-day commitment.
After the court made its ruling, defendant Austin interjected that he had not violated the plain terms of parole condition 25. He asked, "show me in black and white where she's my victim." "Your honor, all I want you to do is re[ad] condition parole number 25. That's all I ask. Read that out loud." The court responded that it didn't believe it had authority to change the parole condition and directed Austin to "go back to your parole officer." The minute order stated, "Parole is to maintain control of the no contact order with Lisa."
DISCUSSION
Austin argues the court misconstrued its authority to invalidate or modify condition 25. Although he appears to concede on reply that a differently framed no-contact condition as to Lisa could validly be imposed, he challenges the condition actually imposed as vague in light of the December 6 ruling that Brent, not Lisa, was the victim and protected party in the underlying case.
The People argue these claims are not properly before us. To the extent we address them, the People focus on the merits of a generic no-contact condition restricting contact with Lisa and suggest it was reasonably imposed. They further claim Austin forfeited his vagueness and overbreadth challenges by failing to object below.
We reject the threshold issues raised by the People and evaluate the merits of Austin's claims. The court misconstrued its authority to construe
A. Threshold Issues
The People raise four threshold arguments as to why Austin's claims on appeal are not properly before us. Addressing these in turn, we conclude none have merit.
The first two are related. The People contend Austin was required to administratively appeal the condition and that the proper vehicle, habeas corpus, cannot
Next, the People claim Austin has not provided an adequate record "to evaluate CDCR's decision to impose the no-contact order." We disagree. The parole agent testified why CDCR believed a no-contact restriction was necessary during the revocation hearing. Austin's vagueness challenge centers on a written parole condition and the December 6 ruling in the underlying case, both included in our record on appeal.
Finally, the People argue that Austin's challenge to parole condition 25 is untimely, noting that Austin did not challenge the condition during parole revocation proceedings in October 2017. As a factual matter, Austin's
B. Mootness
Austin was sentenced to a 180-day parole revocation term in January 2018, and that term has long since ended. Austin argues we should consider his challenges to parole condition 25 notwithstanding his release because the case involves issues of public importance likely to recur. The People do not claim otherwise.
Under similar circumstances, courts have entertained technically moot challenges to parole conditions. ( People v. DeLeon (2017)
C. The Court Erred in Finding a Violation of Condition 25
1. Background on parole conditions and revocation procedures.
The Legislature has declared that the period immediately following incarceration is critical to successful reintegration of offenders, warranting effective parolee supervision and judicious revocation actions. (§ 3000, subd. (a)(1).) Before
Historically, the Board of Parole Hearings conducted parole revocation hearings. ( DeLeon , supra ,
"Together, sections 1203.2 and 3000.08 establish a statutory framework for parole revocation." ( DeLeon , supra ,
Because parolees retain constitutional protection against arbitrary and oppressive official action, "parole conditions, like conditions of probation, must be reasonable." ( Burgener , supra ,
During the revocation hearing, Austin challenged parole condition 25 as unreasonable, overbroad, and vague. In revoking parole, the court repeatedly expressed its view that it lacked authority to invalidate a parole condition on these grounds. When Austin asked the court to "show me in black and white where she's my victim", the court responded that it could not change the condition and told him to "go back to your parole officer." We agree with Austin that the court misconstrued its authority: "the courts have the power to pass on the constitutionality or validity of parole conditions and may require their modification." ( Kevin R. , supra ,
Even though the court misconstrued its authority, remand is not necessary on our record. We are presented with pure legal issues on uncontested facts. (See People v. Baker (2018)
3. Parole condition 25 is vague as applied.
Turning to the merits of Austin's claims, we conclude the December 6 ruling in the underlying case did not modify parole condition 25 or otherwise have preclusive effect. Nevertheless, that ruling and other factors lead us to agree with Austin that condition 25 was vague as applied.
a. Collateral estoppel
Austin argues the December 6 finding in the underlying case "should have been construed to have already modified the parole condition by finding Lisa H. was not a crime victim." He claims: "because the sentencing court in case [No.] SCE350433 made an express factual determination that Lisa H.
The argument fails at the threshold. A prerequisite of collateral estoppel is that the issue was "necessarily decided" in a prior proceeding. ( Lucido v. Superior Court (1990)
Even if the threshold elements were met, public policy would not favor its application. Factual findings made during probation revocation hearings do not bar relitigation of those allegations in a criminal trial. ( Lucido , supra ,
In short, the sentencing court's determination in the underlying case that Lisa was never a protected party did not modify condition 25 or have preclusive effect on Lisa's status as a crime victim at the parole revocation hearing.
b. Vagueness
Although the December 6 order had no preclusive effect, it may still be relevant in determining whether parole condition 25 was unconstitutionally
The facts here are uncontested. Parole condition 25 restricted Austin from contact with the "crime victim(s)" in case No. SCE350433, specified as "Lisa [H.] or Brent [M.]" Austin's parole agent Hilda construed this to bar any contact with Lisa unless Austin took anger management classes and Lisa agreed to contact. Although Lisa was not the victim of the aggravated assault on Brent, Hilda found a sufficient nexus between Lisa and the convicted offense for the condition to apply. Austin's parole was earlier revoked, partly for his contact with Lisa, and he served a 120-day revocation term.
Then on December 6, 2017, the court in the underlying case received the remittitur from an unrelated appeal. It clarified the
Austin gave this information to Hilda, who then checked with her supervisor before concluding the parole condition was nevertheless validly imposed. No attempt was made to modify or clarify the condition to address the patent ambiguity. Austin married Lisa on December 27. A month later his parole was revoked for contacting Lisa.
As Austin makes clear on appeal, he is not arguing "that parole could not have or could not still issue some valid condition involving Lisa H., which [he] would be required to sign and to adhere." He concedes a properly worded condition could be imposed but contends that in context parole condition 25 as worded at the time of the alleged violation was unconstitutionally vague.
In that Austin concedes that a valid no-contact order could be crafted as to Lisa, we leave it to the court on remand to consider appropriate modifications to parole condition 25 that do not label Lisa as a "crime victim." Any such modifications may also warrant revision of parole conditions 24 and 26, related restrictions that also refer to Lisa as a "crime victim." (See fn. 2, ante. ) The parties may raise any challenges to the propriety of a no-contact order involving Lisa, or to the wording of any modification, on remand.
DISPOSITION
The order is reversed, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings to consider whether to modify special condition 25 of parole consistent with this opinion.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
GUERRERO, J.
Notes
Further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
Special parole condition 24 barred Austin from traveling near where "your victim(s)" Lisa or Brent lived, worked, or attended classes. Likewise, condition 26 barred him from harassing, stalking, or committing further crimes against "the victim(s)" Lisa or Brent. These related conditions are not at issue on appeal.
Contrary to the People's claim, the vagueness challenge was not forfeited. Defense counsel stated Austin was "hearing two separate things" from different courts and, lacking clear directive on "which one he is supposed to follow," he "continue[d] to be arrested and put into custody for contacting a person a court has told him he's able to contact." Austin asked the court to "Read [condition 25] out loud" and "show me in black and white where she's my victim." On this record, Austin's as-applied vagueness challenge to condition 25 is preserved for appellate review.
Because we find the condition invalid on vagueness grounds, we need not address Austin's challenge that the condition is unconstitutionally overbroad. (Navarro, supra ,
