THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. LISA MARIE PRESTON, Defendant and Appellant.
No. C075938
Third Dist.
Aug. 12, 2015
239 Cal. App. 4th 415
COUNSEL
Lindsay Sweet, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen and John G. McLean, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
OPINION
RENNER, J.—This case raises a number of issues involving the proper application of the statutes governing restitution fines, probation revocation fines and parole revocation fines. At its core, this case requires us to consider how these fines should be applied when a sentence is imposed but the trial court suspends execution and, alternatively, how these fines should be applied when the trial court initially suspends imposition of sentence but later imposes a sentence that includes a period of parole.1
This appeal arises from three separate cases. In each case the trial court granted defendant probation. In the first case, the trial court suspended execution of sentence and imposed a restitution fund fine. In the second and third cases, the trial court suspended imposition of sentence and imposed a restitution fund fine and a probation revocation fine. In September of 2013, the trial court revoked probation in all three cases and, in each case, imposed an additional restitution fund fine of $300 and a parole revocation fine of $300. Defendant Lisa Marie Preston raised a number of issues relative to the imposition of these additional fines. We requested supplemental briefing on four questions:
(1) Whether the trial court‘s failure to impose a parole revocation fine when sentence was imposed and execution stayed in cases Nos. SF091142A/12F5679 (case 1)2 was an unauthorized sentence. - (2) Whether the trial court was authorized to impose a parole revocation fine years after it imposed the restitution fund fines in cases Nos. SF112662A/12F5677 (case 2) and cases Nos. SF117635A/12F5678 (case 3).
- (3) Whether the trial court was authorized to impose both a probation revocation fine and a parole revocation fine in cases 2 and 3.
- (4) Whether the trial court erred in failing to lift the stays on the probation revocation fines when it revoked defendant‘s probation in cases 2 and 3.
Taking each of these four questions in order, we conclude as follows: First, we find that when the trial court imposes sentence and suspends execution, and the suspended sentence includes a period of parole, the trial court must impose the parole revocation fine at sentencing. Accordingly, the trial court‘s failure to do so here was an unauthorized sentence that we will correct.
Second, we find that when the trial court initially suspends imposition of sentence and orders a restitution fund fine, the trial court must impose a parole revocation fine when it later imposes a sentence that includes a period of parole.
Third, we find when the sentence includes both a grant of probation and a sentence with a period of parole, the trial court must impose both a probation revocation fine and a parole revocation fine. Accordingly, we conclude that the imposition of parole revocation fines was proper.
Fourth, the parties agree the trial court was required to lift the stays on the two previously imposed probation revocation fines when it revoked probation in cases 2 and 3. We will order those stays lifted.
Finally, we agree with defendant that the trial court erred when it imposed a second round of restitution fund fines in the amount of $900. Accordingly, we will strike those fines.
As modified, we will affirm the judgment.
BACKGROUND3
Case 1—In July 2005 defendant pleaded guilty to one count of forgery. (
Case 2—In January 2010 defendant pleaded guilty to another count of forgery. (
Case 3—In September 2011 defendant pleaded guilty to one count of burglary (
In September 2013 the probation department filed petitions to revoke defendant‘s probation in all three cases. Following a hearing on all three petitions, the trial court found the allegations true and sustained the petitions. The trial court revoked probation in all three cases and sentenced defendant to an aggregate stipulated term of five years four months in state prison. The trial court also imposed $900 in additional restitution fund fines and $900 in new parole revocation fines, $300 in each case. The trial court did not lift the stays on the probation revocation fines in case 2 or 3.
DISCUSSION
This case raises a number of issues about the interplay of the statutes authorizing restitution fines, and the mechanics of how those statutes work when the trial court imposes sentence and suspends execution or suspends imposition of sentence and later imposes a sentence with a period of parole. We are called upon in each instance to interpret the statutory scheme and
Section 1202.4, subdivision (b), provides: “In every case where a person is convicted of a crime, the court shall impose a separate and additional restitution fine, unless it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so and states those reasons on the record.” As relevant in this case, section 1202.44 provides that: “In every case in which a person is convicted of a crime and a conditional sentence or a sentence that includes a period of probation is imposed, the court shall, at the time of imposing the restitution fine pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4, assess an additional probation revocation restitution fine in the same amount as that imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4.” Similarly, section 1202.45, subdivision (a), provides: “In every case where a person is convicted of a crime and his or her sentence includes a period of parole, the court shall, at the time of imposing the restitution fine pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4, assess an additional parole revocation restitution fine in the same amount as that imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4.”6
As in any case involving statutory interpretation, our task is to determine the Legislature‘s intent and effectuate the law‘s purpose. (White v. Ultramar, Inc. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 563, 572.) “We begin by examining the statute‘s words, giving them a plain and commonsense meaning. [Citation.] We do not, however, consider the statutory language ‘in isolation.’ [Citation.] Rather, we look to ‘the entire substance of the statute . . . in order to determine the scope and purpose of the provision . . . [Citation.]’ [Citation.] That is, we construe the words in question ‘“in context, keeping in mind the nature and obvious purpose of the statute. . . .” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] We must harmonize ‘the various parts of a statutory enactment . . . by considering the particular clause or section in the context of the statutory framework as a whole.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Murphy (2001) 25 Cal.4th 136, 142.)
“‘If the language is clear and unambiguous there is no need for construction, nor is it necessary to resort to indicia of the intent of the
When “the legislative language is unclear or ambiguous, we may review available legislative history to determine legislative intent. [Citation.] Such legislative history can include bill analyses prepared by staff for legislative committees considering passage of the legislation in question. [Citation.]” (People v. Taylor (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 433, 437-438 (Taylor).) “[A] wide variety of factors may illuminate the legislative design, ‘“such as context, the object in view, the evils to be remedied, the history of the time and of legislation upon the same subject, public policy and contemporaneous construction.“’ [Citation.]” (Walters v. Weed (1988) 45 Cal.3d 1, 10.)
I.
The Trial Court Erred in Imposing Additional Restitution Fund Fines (§ 1202.4) upon Revocation of Probation
Defendant contends the trial court erred in imposing additional restitution fund fines in all three cases. We agree.7
In Chambers, the defendant pleaded no contest to first degree burglary and was granted probation. As a condition of that probation, the defendant was ordered to pay a $200 restitution fine. (Chambers, supra, 65 Cal.App.4th at p. 821.) Four years later, the trial court revoked the defendant‘s probation, sentenced her to state prison and imposed a second restitution fine of $500. We held that because the first restitution fine remained in effect, the trial court was without authority to impose the second restitution fine. (Id. at p. 823.)
On this issue, the holding in Chambers is dispositive of the case before us. Here, defendant pleaded guilty to forgery in 2005, another forgery in 2010, and burglary in 2011. In each case, the trial court granted her probation and ordered her to pay a $200 restitution fund fine as a condition of probation. Subsequently, the trial court revoked defendant‘s probation, sentenced her to state prison, and imposed additional restitution fund fines of $300 in each case. Because the trial court was without authority to impose these additional $300 restitution fund fines, we will strike them. (Chambers, supra, 65 Cal.App.4th at p. 823.)
II.
The Trial Court Must Impose a Parole Revocation Fine (§ 1202.45) when the Sentence Imposed Includes the Possibility of Parole and Execution of Sentence Is Suspended
In case 1, following her guilty plea, the trial court sentenced defendant to three years in prison, suspended execution of the sentence and granted her
Defendant relies on People v. Hannah (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 270 (Hannah) to support her claim that the trial court was not authorized to impose a parole revocation fine. In Hannah, the court concluded section 1202.45 does not apply when sentence is imposed but execution is suspended and the defendant is placed on probation. (Hannah, supra, at p. 274.) Relying on its earlier decision in People v. Oganesyan (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 1178 (Oganesyan), in which the court addressed whether a section 1202.45 fine could be imposed in the case of a defendant receiving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Hannah court found: “‘Section 1202.45 indicates that it is applicable to a “person . . . whose sentence includes a period of parole.” At present, defendant‘s “sentence” does not allow for parole. When we apply a commonsense interpretation to the language of section 1202.45 [citations], we conclude that because the sentence does not presently allow for parole and there is no evidence it ever will, no additional restitution fine must be imposed.’ [Citation.] Similarly, in the present case, defendant is not presently subject to a sentence which carries a period of parole.” (Hannah, supra, at p. 274.) Several subsequent cases have disagreed with Hannah.
In People v. Tye (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th 1398 (Tye), the court declined to follow Hannah because the analysis relied extensively on Oganesyan, which involved a sentence without the possibility of parole. (Id. at p. 1401.) Tye found that when a “prison sentence, including a period of parole, has been imposed and only the execution has been suspended, . . . Penal Code section 1202.45 applies and the restitution fine may properly be imposed.” (Tye, supra, at p. 1401, fn. omitted.) The court in People v. Calabrese (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 79 (Calabrese) agreed with Tye, stating: “When execution of sentence is suspended, the defendant‘s sentence comes within Penal Code section 1202.45 because, if ultimately executed, the sentence ‘includes a period of parole’ which could be revoked. [Citation.]” (Calabrese, supra, at p. 86.) Therefore, the Calabrese court held “when a prison sentence has been imposed, and only the execution of sentence has been suspended, Penal Code section 1202.45 requires imposition of a restitution fine, which then ‘shall be suspended unless the person‘s parole is revoked.‘” (Calabrese, supra, at p. 87.)
We find the reasoning of Tye and Calabrese more persuasive than the reasoning that underlies Hannah. “[P]arole is a mandatory component of any prison sentence. ‘A sentence resulting in imprisonment in the state prison . . . shall include a period of parole supervision or postrelease community supervision, unless waived . . . .’ (
Defendant‘s sentence in case 1 included a period of parole and the trial court was, therefore, required to impose a parole revocation fine when defendant was initially sentenced. A parole revocation fine was ultimately imposed when probation was revoked, but the amount of that fine did not match the amount of the restitution fine as required by section 1202.45. This error constitutes an unauthorized sentence, which may be corrected at any time. (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 354-355.) Therefore, we will reduce the $300 parole revocation fine imposed on February 14, 2014, to $200.
III.
A. The Trial Court Must Impose a Parole Revocation Fine (§ 1202.45) in Every Case Where the Sentence Includes a Period of Parole, Even when Sentencing Occurs After Imposition of the Restitution Fund Fine (§ 1202.4)
In cases 2 and 3, the trial court suspended imposition of sentence and placed defendant on probation. The trial court imposed a $200 restitution fund fine as required by section 1202.4 and a corresponding probation revocation fine under section 1202.44. Upon the revocation of probation, the trial court also imposed a parole revocation fine under section 1202.45.
Defendant contends the trial court was not authorized to impose parole revocation fines in these cases, because the statute explicitly requires that fine be assessed “at the time of imposing the restitution fine.” The People rely on People v. Andrade (2002) 100 Cal.App.4th 351 (Andrade) to support their claim that the trial court was authorized to impose a probation revocation fine at the later date.
In Andrade, the trial court suspended imposition of sentence and placed the defendant on probation for five years. The trial court ordered the defendant to pay a restitution fund fine of $7,000. (Andrade, supra, 100 Cal.App.4th at p. 354.) Four years later, the trial court revoked and terminated the defendant‘s probation, sentenced him to prison, and imposed a parole revocation
At first blush, defendant‘s reading of the statute appears correct and the statutory language appears clear—the trial court is to assess the parole revocation fine at the time it imposes the restitution fund fine. But defendant‘s reading disregards the first three words of the statute: The requirement that a parole revocation fine be imposed “in every case.” The trial court must impose a parole revocation fine “[i]n every case where a person is convicted of a crime and his or her sentence includes a period of parole.” (
A number of factors convince us that the Andrade court was correct when it allowed a parole revocation fine to be imposed when sentence was imposed after the date the original restitution fine was imposed.
First, we note that Andrade has been in effect since 2002. The Legislature has amended section 1202.45 three times since 2002. “When a statute has been construed by the courts, and the Legislature thereafter reenacts that statute without changing the interpretation put on that statute by the courts, the Legislature is presumed to have been aware of, and acquiesced in, the courts’ construction of that statute.” (People v. Bouzas (1991) 53 Cal.3d 467, 475.)8
Second, to construe the statute as defendant proposes would create an inconsistency in the treatment of cases in which the trial court suspends
Moreover, “the legislative purpose of the entire statutory restitution scheme is to recoup from prisoners and parole violators some of the costs of providing restitution to crime victims. ([Oganesyan, supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at p. 1184]; see also [Andrade], supra, 100 Cal.App.4th at pp. 356-357.) Restitution fines also serve additional important objectives of rehabilitation and deterrence. (People v. Jennings (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 42, 57; Stats. 1994, ch. 1106, § 1, pp. 6547-6548.)” (People v. Soria (2010) 48 Cal.4th 58, 66 (Soria).) Giving effect to the “in every case” directive contained in sections 1202.4, 1202.45 and 1202.44 serves all of these objectives. “The phrase ‘in every case’ was apparently taken from the 1982 voter initiative called the Victim‘s Bill of Rights. The initiative added article I, section 28, subdivision (b) to the California Constitution, which established the right of crime victims to receive restitution directly ‘from the persons convicted of the crimes for losses they suffer.’ [Citation.] The new provision stated, ‘It is the unequivocal intention of the People of the State of California that all persons who suffer losses as a result of criminal activity shall have the right to restitution from the persons convicted of the crimes for losses they suffer. . . . Restitution shall be ordered from the convicted persons in every case, regardless of the sentence or disposition imposed, in which a crime victim suffers a loss, unless compelling and extraordinary reasons exist to the contrary.’ [Citation.]” (Soria, supra, 48 Cal.4th at pp. 65-66, fn. 7, some italics added.) Elevating the procedural timing of the fines over the substantive mandate that the fines be imposed in every case does not advance these legislative objectives.
The mandatory nature of the statutes, the clear language requiring the fines be imposed in every case, the overriding purpose of the entire statutory scheme, and the legislative inaction in the face of Andrade all convince us that the trial court must impose the parole revocation fine at the time sentence is imposed, irrespective of whether there is a lapse of time between the
B. The Trial Court Must Impose Both a Probation Revocation Fine (§ 1202.44) and a Parole Revocation Fine (§ 1202.45) when There is Both a Grant of Probation and a Sentence with a Period of Parole
Defendant relies on Hunt to argue that the trial court was not authorized to impose both probation and parole revocation fines.
In Hunt, the trial court sentenced the defendant to prison, suspended execution of sentence, and placed the defendant on probation. (Hunt, supra, 213 Cal.App.4th at p. 15.) The trial court imposed a restitution fund fine, and imposed and stayed a parole revocation fine, but did not impose a probation revocation fine. (Ibid.) Hunt found the trial court erred in failing to impose the probation revocation fine, but went on to conclude that the trial court could not impose both the probation revocation fine and the parole revocation fine. Hunt reasoned that to allow the imposition of both fines would result in treating cases where imposition of sentence is suspended differently from cases where execution of sentence is suspended. “To construe the statutory framework differently would require all three restitution fines be imposed when the execution of sentence is suspended. But when the imposition of sentence is suspended, under this view, only two restitution fines need be imposed. Under this hypothesis, only the section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1) restitution fine and section 1202.44 probation revocation restitution fine must be imposed (and stayed) when the imposition of sentence is suspended. There is no evidence of such an unusual legislative distinction and intention. (See [Taylor,] supra, 157 Cal.App.4th at pp. 438-439 [there is no evidence of a legislative intent in adopting § 1202.44 to treat suspension of imposition or execution of sentence differently in probation cases].)” (Hunt, supra, 213 Cal.App.4th at p. 20.)
We agree with Hunt and Taylor that there is no evidence the Legislature intended to treat suspended imposition differently than suspended execution. But we disagree with Hunt‘s conclusion that imposing both revocation fines results in disparate treatment of those procedural approaches. Hunt‘s concern that all three fines can be imposed only when execution is suspended ignores Andrade‘s holding that a parole revocation fine must be imposed whenever the ultimate sentence includes a period of parole. As explained above, we agree with Andrade. For this reason, we conclude that all three fines can be imposed regardless of whether the trial court suspends imposition or suspends execution of sentence.
As discussed above, there is also evidence the Legislature intended all three restitution fines to be imposed. By their explicit terms, each statute requires the trial court impose the fine in every case.
Furthermore, as noted above, the purpose of the entire statutory scheme is to provide for compensation of crime victims (Andrade, supra, 100 Cal.App.4th at pp. 356-357), rehabilitate defendants, and deter future criminality. (Soria, supra, 48 Cal.4th at pp. 65-66.) Section 1202.44 was specifically enacted “to recoup more restitution fines and increase revenue to the Restitution Fund.” (Assem. Com. on Appropriations, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 631 (2003-2004 Reg. Sess.) as amended Mar. 30, 2004, p. 1.) These legislative objectives are furthered by imposing all three fines in appropriate cases. We conclude that, notwithstanding the earlier imposition of probation revocation fines, the imposition of additional parole revocation fines was proper. As discussed above, and required by section 1202.45, we will order the parole revocation fines reduced to $200 to match the restitution fund fines.
IV.
The Trial Court Was Required to Lift the Stays on the Two Probation Revocation Fines (§ 1202.44) when Probation Was Revoked
In cases 2 and 3, the trial court imposed a probation revocation fine under section 1202.44. The fine under section 1202.44 is stayed, unless probation is revoked. Once probation is revoked, imposition of the fine under section 1202.44 is mandatory and the court must lift the stay. (People v. Guiffre (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 430, 434-435.) The
DISPOSITION
In all three cases (cases Nos. SF091142A/12F5679, cases Nos. SF112662A/12F5677, and cases Nos. SF117635A/12F5678) the additional $300 restitution fund fines under section 1202.4, imposed on February 14, 2014, are stricken. In cases 2 and 3 (cases Nos. SF112662A/12F5677 and cases Nos. SF117635A/12F5678) the stays on the probation revocation fines, imposed on January 13, 2010, and September 26, 2011, are lifted. In all three cases (cases Nos. SF091142A/12F5679, cases Nos. SF112662A/12F5677, and cases Nos. SF117635A/12F5678) we order the parole revocation fines of $300 reduced to $200. The trial court is directed to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and to forward a certified copy of the amended abstract to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
Mauro, Acting P. J., and Hoch, J., concurred.
