Opinion
In May 2005, defendant Jon Burgess Wilson entered a plea of guilty to second degree burglary (Pen. Code, § 459) 1 in exchange for the dismissal of an additional charge of petty theft (shoplifting) (§ 490.5). The trial court placed defendant on three years’ formal probation. In October 2007, defendant admitted three violations of his probation. In November 2007, the trial court denied defendant reinstatement of probation and sentenced him to state prison for the upper term of three years.
On appeal, defendant claims the trial court’s imposition of the upper term violated his federal constitutional rights under
Apprendi v. New Jersey
(2000)
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In July 2004, defendant and his wife entered a Wal-Mart store in Yuba County, with the intent to commit theft. 2 They gathered a number of items into a shopping cart, removed the UPC (uniform product code) labels, and left the store without paying for the merchandise. Store security stopped the couple outside the store and escorted them back inside.
The information subsequently filed charged defendant with second degree burglary and shoplifting. Defendant pled guilty to the burglary charge, the shoplifting charge was dismissed, and defendant was placed on formal probation.
*991 A petition for revocation of defendant’s probation was filed in August 2007, alleging defendant violated the terms of his probation by (1) failing to report to his probation officer after July 2007, (2) moving on or before July 4, 2007, and failing to report his change of address, and (3) failing to pay the court-ordered restitution fine and court fees when he had an ability to pay. Defendant admitted the violations.
After consideration of defendant’s original probation report and a supplemental probation report, the trial court denied defendant further probation and sentenced him to state prison for the upper term of three years.
DISCUSSION
Defendant’s sole claim on appeal is that the trial court’s imposition of the upper-term sentence violated his federal constitutional rights to jury trial, to proof beyond a reasonable doubt and to due process as those rights have been interpreted by the United States Supreme Court in
Apprendi, supra,
In
Apprendi, supra,
In
Blakely, supra,
In
Cunningham, supra,
*992 The California Legislature quickly responded to the Cunningham decision. Senate Bill No. 40 (2007-2008 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 40) amended section 1170 in response to Cunningham's suggestion that California could comply with the federal jury-trial constitutional guarantee while still retaining determinate sentencing, by allowing trial judges broad discretion in selecting a term within a statutory range, thereby eliminating the requirement of a judge-found factual finding to impose an upper term. (Cunningham, supra, 549 U.S. at pp. 292-294 [166 L.Ed.2d at pp. 876-877]; see Stats. 2007, ch. 3, § 1.) Senate Bill 40 amended section 1170 so that (1) the middle term is no longer the presumptive term absent aggravating or mitigating facts found by the trial judge; and (2) a trial judge has the discretion to impose an upper, middle or lower term based on reasons he or she states. As amended, section 1170 now provides as pertinent: “When a judgment of imprisonment is to be imposed and the statute specifies three possible terms, the choice of the appropriate term shall rest within the sound discretion of the court. . . . The court shall select the term which, in the court’s discretion, best serves the interests of justice. The court shall set forth on the record the reasons for imposing the term selected . . . .” (§ 1170, subd. (b).) This amended version of section 1170 became effective on March 30, 2007. (Stats. 2007, ch. 3, § 2.)
Here, the trial court sentenced defendant on November 5, 2007. The trial court stated its reasons for imposing the upper term as “the defendant’s multiple prior convictions and continued abuse of controlled substances even while in residential treatment.” 3 The trial court’s sentencing of defendant in compliance with the requirements of amended section 1170, subdivision (b), did not violate defendant’s federal constitutional rights under Apprendi, Blakely, and Cunningham.
Moreover, even if
Cunningham
had applied to defendant’s sentencing, there would be no error.
People
v.
Black
(2007)
*993 DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
Morrison, Acting P. J., and Robie, J., concurred.
