Opinion
Appellant Edwin Franklin appeals his commitment as a sexually violent predator (SVP) on the basis that his 1978 conviction for rape fails to qualify as a conviction for a sexually violent offense under Welfare and Institutions Code 1 section 6600, subdivisions (a)(2) or (g). We conclude that Franklin’s 1978 rape conviction falls within the purview of section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D) and will affirm.
Procedural and Factual Summary
Franklin was bom on June 26, 1960. On September 22, 1977, he was arrested on charges of rape, oral copulation, kidnapping, and robbery.
As Franklin was 17 years old at the time he committed these offenses, a petition pursuant to section 602 was filed in juvenile court. On October 27, 1977, however, he was found unfit to be tried as a juvenile and thereafter, on December 21, 1977, an information was filed charging him as an adult.
On January 16, 1978, Franklin entered a plea of no contest to the rape, kidnapping, and robbery charges. Prior to accepting the plea, the trial court informed Franklin that the “crime of rape consists of having sexual intercourse with a female who was not then your wife by force and fear, and overcoming her resistance by either force or the threat of force.” After accepting the plea, the trial court found Franklin guilty of a violation of former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2. Since Franklin was under 21 years of age at the time of sentencing, he was committed to the California Youth Authority for a minimum term of four years and a maximum term of five years.
This 1978 conviction was used as one of the qualifying convictions under section 6600, subdivision (a) (1). The other qualifying conviction occurred on September 30, 1981, as a result of Franklin’s guilty plea to the charge of forcible rape.
At the conclusion of a jury trial, Franklin was found to be an SVP.
*535 Discussion
Franklin maintains that the 1978 conviction cannot be used as a qualifying conviction because it does not satisfy any of the definitions of a sexually violent offense set forth in section 6600, subdivision (a)(2) or (g). Franklin contends that the 1978 conviction does not qualify under section 6600, subdivision (g), because he was not declared a ward of the court under section 602. He also argues that the 1978 conviction does not qualify under any of the subparts of section 6600, subdivision (a)(2), because it was for an offense committed after July 1, 1997, and he was sentenced to an indeterminate, rather than a determinate, term.
The trial court concluded that the 1978 conviction qualified under section 6600, subdivision (g), finding that the Legislature could not have intended to create a loophole whereby a juvenile convicted of forcible rape was considered to have a qualifying conviction, but a juvenile tried as an adult and convicted of forcible rape would not be viewed as having a qualifying conviction.
We review judicial action and not judicial reasoning.
(People v. Lawley
(2002)
I. Predecessor Statute
For purposes of the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVP Act), section 6600, subdivision (a)(1) defines a SVP as a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more persons. These qualifying convictions are sometimes referred to as the predicate convictions.
(Garcetti v. Superior Court
(Pierre) (1999)
The term “sexually violent offense” is defined in subdivisions (a)(2) and (g). Among the definitions of sexually violent offense is a “conviction for an offense under a predecessor statute that includes all of the elements of an offense described in subdivision (b).” (§ 6600, subd. (a)(2)(D).) Section 6600, subdivision (b), includes within its definition of a sexually violent offense a conviction under Penal Code section 261, subdivision (a)(2), rape when it is accomplished by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate bodily injury.
*536 The legislative history for the amendment (Stats. 1999, ch. 350, § 1) that added the language found in section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D), makes it clear that the intent of the language is to include within the definition of a sexually violent offense any conviction under a predecessor statute that includes all the elements of the current statute, regardless of whether the offense had a different code section number, different name, or used different language at the time of the conviction, (<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/ 99-00/billsen/sb_0751 -0800/sb_786_cfa_l 9990512_203240_sen_floor.html> [as of Jan. 21, 2003].)
Franklin’s 1978 conviction is for a violation of former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2. That code section stated, “Rape is an act of sexual intercourse, accomplished with a female not the wife of the perpetrator, . . . [ID • • ■ [1] 2. Where she resists, but her resistance is overcome by force or violence; . . . .” (Stats. 1970, ch. 1301, § 1, p. 2405.) Former Penal Code section 261 was amended in 1979 (Stats. 1979, ch. 994, § 1, p. 3383) and again in 1980. (Stats. 1980, ch. 587, § 1, p. 1595.) The 1980 amendment modified subdivision (2) to state: “Where it is accomplished against a person’s will by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the person or another.” (Stats. 1980, ch. 587, § 1, p. 1595.) Currently, Penal Code section 261, subdivision (a)(2), provides that rape includes acts of “sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator,” where “it is accomplished against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the person or another.”
In
People
v.
Hubbart
(2001)
It is apparent that the language of current Penal Code section 261, subdivision (a)(2), tracks the language of former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2. All of the elements of current section 261, subdivision (a)(2), are included in former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2: intercourse, with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator, accomplished by force or violence. Thus, we conclude that former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2, is a predecessor statute of current Penal Code section 261, subdivision (a)(2).
It follows that Franklin’s conviction under former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2, constitutes a conviction for an offense under a predecessor *537 statute that includes all of the elements of an offense described in section 6600, subdivision (b).
II. Predicate Conviction
Franklin maintains that even if his 1978 conviction under former Penal Code section 261, subdivision 2, is a conviction under a predecessor statute that includes all of the elements of an offense described in section 6600, subdivision (b), the 1978 conviction still does not constitute a predicate conviction. Franklin argues that he had to have received a determinate sentence if tried and convicted as an adult, or a declaration of wardship if tried as a juvenile, in order for the prior conviction to constitute a predicate conviction.
We need not address the provisions of section 6600, subdivision (g), which sets forth the conditions under which a juvenile adjudication of a sexually violent offense may constitute a predicate conviction, because Franklin was tried and convicted as an adult in 1978. Thus, the 1978 conviction is not a juvenile adjudication and section 6600, subdivision (g), is inapplicable.
For an adult conviction to constitute a predicate conviction, one of the subparts of section 6600, subdivision (a)(2) must be satisfied:
“[a] (2) For purposes of this subdivision any of the following shall be considered a conviction for a sexually violent offense:
“(A) A prior or current conviction that resulted in a determinate prison sentence for an offense described in subdivision (b).
“(B) A conviction for an offense described in subdivision (b) that was committed prior to July 1, 1997, and that resulted in an indeterminate prison sentence.
“(C) A prior conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense that includes all of the elements of an offense described in subdivision (b).
“(D) A conviction for an offense under a predecessor statute that includes all of the elements of an offense described in subdivision (b).
“(E) A prior conviction for which the inmate received a grant of probation for an offense described in subdivision (b).
“(F) A prior finding of not guilty by reason of insanity for an offense described in subdivision (b).
*538 “(G) A conviction resulting in a finding that the person was a mentally disordered sex offender.”
Section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D) does not specify whether the offender must have received a determinate or indeterminate sentence. To ascertain whether Franklin’s position is correct and a determinate sentence is a requirement under section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D), we look to the plain language of the statute and the legislative intent.
In determining the intent of the Legislature, we first look to the plain language of the statute, giving the words their ordinary meaning. We follow the statute’s plain meaning unless doing so would lead to absurd or unintended results. If the statutory language is ambiguous, we look to other evidence of the Legislature’s intent.
(People
v.
Birkett
(1999)
Section 6600, subdivision (a)(2), contains seven categories within which a finding or conviction will be deemed to be a predicate conviction. Only two of those categories, section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(A) and (B), specify whether the sentence for the predicate conviction must be either determinate or indeterminate. The Legislature clearly could have, but did not, specify whether sentences for convictions in other jurisdictions (§ 6600, subd. (a)(2)(C)) or under predecessor California statutes (§ 6600, subd. (a) (2)(D)) must be determinate or indeterminate.
A long-standing rule of statutory construction provides that qualifying phrases are to be applied to the words or phrases immediately preceding and are not to be construed as applying to more remote phrases. This is known as the “last antecedent rule.”
(White v. County of Sacramento
(1982)
Further support for this reading is supplied by the punctuation of the statute.
(White v. County of Sacramento, supra,
Interestingly, the
Blake
court noted, “had the Legislature used a colon and semicolons instead of merely commas” to separate the categories, the issue “never would have arisen.”
(Blake, supra,
The legislative history of section 6600 also supports application of the last antecedent rule.
(Blake, supra,
85 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1122-1123.) When initially enacted in 1995, section 6600 specified that persons must have received a determinate sentence in order to be candidates for commitment as an SVP.
2
(Stats. 1995, chs. 762, pp. 5912-5921, 763, pp. 5921-5929;
People v. West
(1999)
The statute was amended in 1996. In part, the 1996 amendment added the following paragraph to subdivision (a) of section 6600: “For purposes of this subdivision, a prior finding of not guilty by reason of insanity for an offense described in subdivision (b), a conviction prior to July 1, 1977, for an offense described in subdivision (b), a conviction resulting in a finding that the person was a mentally disordered sex offender, or a conviction in another *540 state for an offense that includes all the elements of an offense described in subdivision (b), shall also be deemed to be a sexually violent offense even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence for that prior offense.” (Stats. 1996, ch. 462, § 4.) The appellate court in Pierre, in analyzing the 1996 version of the statute, concluded that the phrase “shall also be deemed to be a sexually violent offense even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence for that prior offense” applied to convictions which otherwise qualify. (Pierre, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at pp. 691-692.)
As the Pierre court pointed out, the 1996 version of the statute was ambiguous on its face in that the first paragraph of section 6600, subdivision (a), made qualifying convictions contingent upon the imposition of a determinate sentence. (Pierre, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 691.) To resolve the ambiguity between the language of the first and second paragraphs of the 1996 version of the statute, the appellate court looked to the legislative intent. (Ibid.) The Pierre court concluded “that the indicia are overwhelming that the Legislature intended the amended [SVP] Act to apply to convictions for which an indeterminate term was imposed, so long as the conviction otherwise qualifies as a ‘sexually violent offense.’ ” (Id. at p. 693.)
In 1999, section 6600 again was amended. The 1999 amendment in part added language to subdivision (a) of section 6600 to specify that a predicate conviction included “a conviction for an offense under a predecessor statute that includes all of the elements of an offense described in subdivision (b).” (Stats. 1999, ch. 350, § 3.) When this language was added, it was placed in the second paragraph of section 6600, subdivision (a), which had been added by the 1996 amendment. The end of that second paragraph continued to include the phrase, “even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence for that prior offense.” Therefore, following the Pierre court’s analysis, convictions under a predecessor statute were qualifying convictions even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence.
The 1999 amendment adding what is now section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D), was intended to be declaratory of existing law, as stated in
People v. Butler
(1998)
*541 The 1999 amendment was adopted as an urgency measure. With respect to the addition of language encompassing convictions under predecessor statutes, the legislative history for this amendment specifically states: “for the purpose of determining who is a SVP—that a conviction for an offense under a predecessor statute that includes all the elements of an offense described statutorily as a ‘sexually violent offense’ shall qualify as a ‘sexually violent offense’ even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence for that prior offense.” (Stats. 1999, ch. 350, § 3; <http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/sen/sb_075 l-0800/sb_786_cfa_19990831_ 142120_asm_comm.html> [as of Jan. 21, 2003].) Franklin’s 1972 conviction falls squarely within the purview of section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D), as stated in the legislative history.
Section 6600 was amended once again in 2000. (Stats. 2000, ch. 643, § 1.) The Legislative Counsel’s Digest stated that the existing version of section 6600 included within the definition of sexually violent predator those persons who had been convicted of sexually violent offenses, “even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence.” (Legis. Counsel’s Dig., Assem. Bill No. 2849 (1999-2000 Reg. Sess.); Stats. 2000, ch. 643.) The 2000 amendment recast subdivision (a) of section 6600 and set forth the qualifying convictions in subdivision (a)(2)(A) through (G). This amendment also deleted the language from the first paragraph of section 6600, subdivision (a), which referenced a determinate sentence. (Stats. 2000, ch. 643, § 1.) There have been no further amendments to section 6600 and the present form of the statute is the one adopted in 2000.
In our view, the 2000 amendment deleting the determinate sentence language from the first paragraph of section 6600, subdivision (a), eliminated the ambiguity on the face of the statute and obviated the need for the phrase “even if the offender did not receive a determinate sentence” in the second paragraph. Therefore, the omission of this phrase from section 6600, subdivision (a)(2), is not a substantive change, but merely a deletion of surplus language. This view is supported by the legislative history of the 2000 amendment indicating that it was the author’s intent, in part, to clarify that persons serving indeterminate sentences after 1977 qualify under the SVP law. (Stats. 1999, ch. 350, § 3; <http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/99-00/ bill/asm/ab_2801-2850/ab_2849> [as of Jan. 21, 2003].)
As this court previously observed in
West, supra,
*542 Also, to construe the statute otherwise would lead to absurd results. Those persons convicted of an offense described in section 6600, subdivision (b), are considered to have a predicate conviction regardless of whether a determinate or indeterminate sentence was imposed. (§ 6600, subd. (a)(2)(A), (B).) Those convicted of an out-of-state offense that includes all the elements of an offense set forth in section 6600, subdivision (b), are considered to have a predicate offense regardless of the type of sentence imposed. (§ 6600, subd. (a)(2)C).) It defies logic and would lead to an absurd result to ascribe to the Legislature an intent to make application of the SVP Act dependent upon the type of sentence imposed if the conviction is under a predecessor statute.
Our reading of section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D), furthers the purpose of the SVP Act to identity those individuals who previously have committed sexually violent crimes and who pose a danger to society if released without treatment for their disorder. (Stats. 1995, ch. 762, § 1, p. 5913.) Franklin has been found to be an individual who has previously committed sexually violent crimes, who poses a danger to society if released, and who would benefit from commitment and treatment for his mental disorder.
The language of section 6600, subdivision (a)(2)(D) is clear and unambiguous; its application is not dependent on the type of sentence imposed.
Disposition
The judgment is affirmed.
Vartabedian, Acting P. L, and Levy, L, concurred.
Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied April 9, 2003.
Notes
References to code sections are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise specified.
The first paragraph of section 6600, subdivision (a), read in part as follows until the 2000 amendment: “ ‘Sexually violent predator’ means a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more victims for which he or she received a determinate sentence ....’” (Stats. 1995, ch. 762, § 3, p. 5914.)