People v. Vargas

Respondent disagrees, and urges us to limit section 459.5 to the "common" understanding of shoplifting, which in respondent's view is the "unauthorized entry into a retail establishment, while the establishment is open during regular business hours, with the intent to steal openly-displayed merchandise valuing not more than $950." Alternatively, respondent urges us to follow People v. Gonzales (2015) 242 Cal.App.4th 35 , 194 Cal.Rptr.3d 856 ( Gonzales ), in which the Fourth District, Division One, recently held the "intent to commit larceny" element in section 459.5 cannot be satisfied by entering a commercial establishment with the intent to commit theft by false pretenses.

As we will explain, both respondent and, in our opinion, Gonzales interpret section 459.5 too narrowly. Certainly, the lay person might understand "shoplifting" to mean entering a retail store during regular business hours with the intent to steal displayed merchandise, as respondent urges. But that is not how the voters defined "shoplifting" in section 459.5 ; instead, they defined it as entering a commercial establishment during business hours with the "intent to commit larceny." Accepting respondent's narrow interpretation would require us to rewrite the statute, which we cannot do. Similarly, we disagree with Gonzales that the phrase "intent to commit larceny" excludes the intent to commit theft by false pretenses. Larceny is statutorily equated with "theft" (§ 490a), and "theft" is defined to include theft by false pretenses, that is, "knowingly and designedly, by any false or fraudulent representation or pretense, defraud[ing] any other person of money, labor or real or personal property." (§ 484, subd. (a).) In holding otherwise, Gonzales relied on People v. Williams (2013) 57 Cal.4th 776 , 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 ( Williams ), but we find Williams distinguishable because it involved the interpretation of the "felonious taking" element of robbery, not burglary. Instead, section 459.5 redefined certain second degree burglaries, and our high court has held "[a]n intent to commit theft by a false pretense or a false promise without the intent to perform will support a burglary conviction." ( People v. Parson (2008) 44 Cal.4th 332 , 354, 79 Cal.Rptr.3d 269 , 187 P.3d 1 ( Parson ), citing People v. Nguyen (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 28 , 30-31, 46 Cal.Rptr.2d 840 ( Nguyen ).) Because respondent has not disputed that appellant entered the check cashing establishment with the intent to commit theft by false pretenses, she may qualify for resentencing. We therefore reverse.

she violated probation, and, as part of those proceedings, she petitioned for resentencing pursuant section 1170.18, a provision added by Proposition 47, contending her second degree burglary conviction fell within the newly enacted section 459.5. The People responded that the check cashing business appellant entered was not a "commercial establishment" under section 459.5, and entry with the intent to commit forgery did not constitute shoplifting as it was now defined. The trial court agreed with the latter argument, reasoning that "shoplifting to me means what we all think shoplifting means, going into Target with the intent to commit a theft. [¶] I don't think it means ... going into a check cashing establishment with the intent to commit forgery." The court believed there was "an extra element in forgery above and beyond the larceny and a theft," namely that, "if you're entering an establishment with the intent to commit a fraud in addition to the larceny, which is gaining property by the trick and by the writing, I don't think because of those extra elements, you're entitled to relief...." The court denied the petition, revoked and reinstated probation, and sentenced appellant to 120 days in county jail. Appellant timely appealed.

DISCUSSION

Appellant sought resentencing pursuant to section 1170.18, added by Proposition 47. "Under section 1170.18, a person 'currently serving' a felony sentence for an offense that is now a misdemeanor under Proposition 47, may petition for a recall of that sentence and request resentencing in accordance with the statutes that were added or amended by Proposition 47. (§ 1170.18,

measure, shoplifting property worth $950 or less would always be a misdemeanor and could not be charged as burglary." (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 4, 2014) analysis of Prop. 47 by Legislative Analyst, p. 35.)

The issue here is the proper interpretation of section 459.5, and we apply the familiar principles of both statutory and initiative interpretation, which are identical. ( Rivera, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at p. 1099, 183 Cal.Rptr.3d 362 .) " ' "The fundamental purpose of statutory construction is to ascertain the intent of the lawmakers so as to effectuate the purpose of the law. [Citations.]" ' [Citation.] In the case of a provision adopted by the voters, 'their intent governs.' [Citation.] [¶] 'In determining such intent, we begin with the language of the statute itself.' [Citation.] We look first to the words the voters used, giving them their usual and ordinary meaning. ' "If there is no ambiguity in the language of the statute, then ... the plain meaning of the language governs.' " [Citation.] "But when the statutory language is ambiguous, 'the

personal property taken" does not exceed $950. (Italics added.) In respondent's view, the difference between the two statutes means voters must have intended section 459.5 to cover theft of only personal property (i.e., merchandise), and not cash, intangible property, or real property, as in section 490.2. (See In re Ethan C. (2012) 54 Cal.4th 610 , 638, 143 Cal.Rptr.3d 565 , 279 P.3d 1052 ["When language is included in one portion of a statute, its omission from a different portion addressing a

bank] consented to transferring title and possession of $250 to Gonzales. Gonzales used false representations that he was cashing valid checks made out to him to obtain the money from [the bank.] Relying on those representations, which the bank must have believed to be true, it consented to giving Gonzales the money. Larceny requires a taking without consent ( Williams, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 788, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 ). That element was not satisfied in this case." ( Gonzales, supra, 242 Cal.App.4th at pp. 39-40, 194 Cal.Rptr.3d 856 .) As we will explain, however, we think Williams is distinguishable and, as a result, we decline to follow Gonzales.

In Williams, the defendant used re-encoded payment cards to buy gift cards at a department store. After the defendant completed the transaction, he was confronted by security. He began to walk away and ignored security's requests to stop, and then he shoved one of the guards. He was convicted of several offenses, including robbery and theft. ( Williams, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 779, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 .) Tracing the common law roots of larceny and the "felonious taking" element of robbery, the court concluded "felonious taking" must be limited to theft by larceny, and it cannot be satisfied by theft by false pretenses. ( Id. at pp. 781-789, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 .) Because the robbery statute requires " 'the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another' " by force or fear, and "[t]he taking required in larceny, as in robbery, must be 'felonious,' " the court reasoned the California Legislature likely intended the phrase "felonious taking" in the robbery statute to share the same common law meaning as larceny. ( Id. at pp. 786-787, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 .) The court further noted larceny requires asportation, which makes larceny a continuing offense, whereas theft by false pretenses does not require asportation and ends at the moment title to the property is acquired. As a result, "a defendant who uses force or fear in an attempt to escape with property taken by larceny has committed robbery," but a theft by false pretenses "cannot become robbery by the defendant's later use of force or fear." ( Id. at p. 787, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 .) And theft by false pretenses involves the consensual transfer of possession and title of the property, so a defendant does not commit a " trespassory (nonconsensual) taking" required for robbery, which was the reasoning the Gonzales court found controlling. ( Williams, at pp. 788-789, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 .)

Finally, the court rejected Justice Baxter's reliance on section 490a in his dissenting opinion, which provides: "Wherever any law or statute of this state refers to or mentions larceny, embezzlement, or stealing, said law or statute shall hereafter be read and interpreted as if the word 'theft' were substituted therefor." According to the majority, Justice Baxter's reasoning was as follows: "Section 490a says any law or statute that refers to or mentions larceny or stealing must be construed as meaning 'theft'; although the robbery statute (§ 211) does not expressly mention larceny or stealing, it refers to them indirectly through the words 'felonious taking,' which should be interpreted under section 490a as meaning 'theft,' a crime that includes

the substantive elements of robbery: asportation and a trespassory taking. [Citation.] But the 1927 legislation enacting section 490a and the theft consolidation statute (§ 484, subd. (a); Stats. 1927, ch. 619, § 1, p. 1046) left unchanged the elements of theft. [Citation.] We are not persuaded that the Legislature intended to alter the elements of robbery, to which section 490a makes no reference whatever, while also intending to leave intact the elements of theft, to which it explicitly refers. As this court said more than 80 years ago, 'the essence of section 490a is simply to effect a change in nomenclature without disturbing the substance of any law. ' " ( Ibid. )

Unlike Williams, this case involves section 459.5, which has its roots in burglary, not robbery, and Williams did not analyze the relationship between theft by false pretenses and burglary. (See People v. Knoller (2007) 41 Cal.4th 139 , 154-155, 59 Cal.Rptr.3d 157 , 158 P.3d 731 [" ' "It is axiomatic that language in a judicial opinion is to be understood in accordance with the facts and issues before the court. An opinion is not authority for propositions not considered." ' "].) Instead, the Supreme Court held in Parson that burglary may be satisfied by the intent to commit theft by false pretenses. ( Parson, supra, 44 Cal.4th at p. 354, 79 Cal.Rptr.3d 269 , 187 P.3d 1 [holding that "[a]n intent to commit theft by a false pretense or a false promise without the intent to perform will support a burglary conviction" and finding substantial evidence to support burglary conviction when defendant entered victim's home intending to " 'con' " her out of money].) Parson cited Nguyen, in which the Court of Appeal specifically held that the " 'intent to commit grand or petit larceny' " element of burglary may be satisfied by entering a victim's house with the intent to pass worthless checks, which constituted theft by false pretenses. ( Nguyen, supra, 40 Cal.App.4th at pp. 30-31, 46 Cal.Rptr.2d 840 .) The court explained: "[I]n 1927, the Legislature amended the larceny statute to define theft as including the crimes of larceny, embezzlement and obtaining property by false pretense. (Stats. 1927, ch. 619, § 1, p. 1046.) At the same time, the Legislature also enacted section 490a stating, '[w]herever any law or statute of this state refers to or mentions larceny, embezzlement, or stealing, said law or statute shall hereafter be read and interpreted as if the word "theft" were substituted therefor.' (Stats. 1927, ch. 619, § 7, p. 1047.) Thus, the Legislature has indicated a clear intent that the term 'larceny' as used in the burglary statute should be read to include all thefts, including 'petit' theft by false pretenses." ( Nguyen, supra, at p. 31, 46 Cal.Rptr.2d 840 .)

Thus, because voters adopted the phrase "intent to commit larceny" in section 459.5, which mirrors the intent element in the general burglary statute (§ 459), and that phrase includes theft by false pretenses, we believe the voters intended section 459.5 to include theft by false pretenses.

Our conclusion is consistent with the voters' general intent behind Proposition 47. As noted, the initiative was designed to "ensure that prison spending is focused on violent and serious offenses, to maximize alternatives for nonserious, nonviolent crime, and to invest the savings generated from this act into prevention and support programs in K-12 schools, victim services, and mental health and drug treatment." (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 4, 2014) text of Prop. 47, § 2, p. 70.) To achieve that end, the measure "[r]equire[s] misdemeanors instead of felonies for nonserious, nonviolent crimes like petty theft and drug possession...." (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 4, 2014) text of Prop. 47, § 3, p. 70.) Appellant's second degree burglary conviction based on using a forged check to obtain $148 is unquestionably a nonviolent offense, so reducing it to a misdemeanor certainly serves the purposes behind Proposition 47. We are confident the voters would agree, given Proposition 47 also reduced the offense of forgery involving less than $950 from a wobbler to a straight misdemeanor. (§ 473, subd. (b).)

Respondent contends our interpretation of section 459.5"is so expansive as to largely defeat the purpose of burglary laws, an absurd result the voters clearly did not intend." Respondent then provides some examples: What about a person who enters a restaurant and sneaks into the manager's office to steal $900 from the safe? What about a person who enters the 24-hour supermarket and breaks into the locked pharmacy to steal drugs? What about a person who enters the locker room of a private club and steals personal

We understand respondent's point that burglary laws are " ' "based primarily upon a recognition of the dangers to personal safety created by the usual burglary situation-the danger that the intruder will harm the occupants in attempting to perpetrate the intended crime or to escape and the danger that the occupants will in anger or panic react violently to the invasion, thereby inviting more violence. The laws are primarily designed, then, not to deter the trespass and the intended crime, which are prohibited by other laws, so much as to forestall the germination of a situation dangerous to personal safety." Section 459, in short, is aimed at the danger caused by the unauthorized entry itself.' " ( People v. Clayton (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 418 , 421-422, 76 Cal.Rptr.2d 536 .) But the voters clearly recognized that not all burglaries are created equal when it comes to the potential for violence. By ensuring shoplifting is now charged as a misdemeanor when the value of the property taken is less than $950, the voters recognized it often does not involve the risk of violence. The same is true for appellant's actions here, which involved a nonviolent entry into a check cashing establishment during business hours intending to use a forged check to obtain $148.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is reversed. There is no dispute appellant's second degree burglary involved less than $950, so she would be entitled to resentencing unless the trial court determines in its discretion that resentencing appellant would "pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety." (§ 1170.18,

shoplifting-the entry into a retail establishment to steal displayed merchandise, or in the words of the court, "going into[, e.g.,] Target with the intent to commit a theft."

Appellant argues this interpretation is too narrow, and her entry into the check cashing establishment with the intent to commit theft by false pretenses satisfies the "intent to commit larceny" element of section 459.5 and qualifies her for resentencing.

BACKGROUND

According to a police report of the incident, on February 23, 2013, appellant entered a Money Mart Check Cashing business in Bakersfield and attempted to cash a forged personal check in the amount of $148. An employee contacted the owner of the check, who had reported his checkbook stolen. Appellant was arrested and searched, yielding a methamphetamine pipe in her purse.

Appellant was charged in Kern County with felony second degree burglary (§ 460, subd. (b)), felony forgery of the $148 check (§ 470, subd. (d)), and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (Health & Saf. Code, former § 11364.1), as well as on-bail enhancements for the felony charges (Pen. Code, § 12022.1 ). Pursuant to a plea agreement, appellant pled guilty to the second degree burglary charge, and the other charges and enhancements were dismissed. She was sentenced to 16 months in custody plus 20 months of mandatory supervision.

Appellant's probation case was transferred to Los Angeles County. Thereafter,

subd. (a).) A person who satisfies the criteria in section 1170.18 shall have his or her sentence recalled and be 'resentenced to a misdemeanor ... unless the court, in its discretion, determines that resentencing the petitioner would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.' (§ 1170.18, subd. (b).) Subdivision (c) of section 1170.18 defines the term 'unreasonable risk of danger to public safety,' and subdivision (b) of the statute lists factors the court must consider in determining 'whether a new sentence would result in an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.' (§ 1170.18, subds. (b), (c).)" ( People v. Rivera (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 1085 , 1092, 183 Cal.Rptr.3d 362 ( Rivera ).)

As enacted by Proposition 47, section 459.5 redefines certain second degree burglaries as "shoplifting" if the value of the property involved is less than $950: "(a) Notwithstanding Section 459 [ (the general burglary statute) ], shoplifting is defined as entering a commercial establishment with intent to commit larceny while that establishment is open during regular business hours, where the value of the property that is taken or intended to be taken does not exceed nine hundred fifty dollars ($950). Any other entry into a commercial establishment with intent to commit larceny is burglary. Shoplifting shall be punished as a misdemeanor, except that a person with one or more prior convictions for an offense specified in clause (iv) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 667 or for an offense requiring registration pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 290 may be punished pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.[¶] (b) Any act of shoplifting as defined in subdivision (a) shall be charged as shoplifting. No person who is charged with shoplifting may also be charged with burglary or theft of the same property." As the Legislative Analyst for Proposition 47 explained, "Under current law, shoplifting property worth $950 or less (a type of petty theft) is often a misdemeanor. However, such crimes can also be charged as burglary, which is a wobbler. Under this

court may examine the context in which the language appears, adopting the construction that best harmonizes the statute internally and with related statutes.' " [Citation.] [¶] In construing a statute, we must also consider " 'the object to be achieved and the evil to be prevented by the legislation.' " ' " ( Id. at pp. 1099-1100, 183 Cal.Rptr.3d 362 .)

Respondent argues the term "shoplifting" was not previously defined in the Penal Code, and it was commonly understood to "encompass the theft of openly displayed merchandise from retail establishments." (See, e.g., People v. Gonzales (1965) 235 Cal.App.2d Supp. 887 , 892, 46 Cal.Rptr. 301 [describing shoplifting as "the practice whereby customers enter a turnstile, have free access to all the shelves displaying wares and merchandise, and the proper payment for merchandise taken away from the store depends upon the customer properly declaring it at the check-out or cashier's stand"]; Black's Law Dict. (10th ed. 2014) p. 1590, col. 1 [defining shoplifting as "[t]heft of merchandise from a store or business; specif., larceny of goods from a store or other commercial establishment by willfully taking and concealing the merchandise with the intention of converting the goods to one's personal use without paying the purchase price."].) According to respondent, the voters intended to incorporate this definition into section 459.5 when it passed Proposition 47. But respondent's position is at odds with the plain text of section 459.5. Whatever the common definition of shoplifting, the voters defined "shoplifting" in section 459.5 to mean entry into a commercial establishment during regular business hours with the "intent to commit larceny," not-in respondent's proposed revision of the statute-the "unauthorized entry into a retail establishment, while the establishment is open during regular business hours, with the intent to steal openly-displayed merchandise valuing not more than $950." Had the voters intended to adopt this understanding of shoplifting, we should be able to find some indication of that in the text. We have not. Instead, we would have to rewrite the statute to accept respondent's interpretation, which is beyond both our charge and our power as a judicial body.

Respondent advances two other arguments in support of this proposed definition of "shoplifting," neither of which is persuasive. First, respondent contends the voters' use of the undefined term "property" in section 459.5 must be contrasted with section 490.2, subdivision (a), also added by Proposition 47, which made certain theft offenses into petty theft when "the value of the money, labor, real or

[The

theft by false pretenses. Therefore, the dissent concludes, the 'felonious taking' element in the robbery statute encompasses defendant's conduct in this case." ( Williams, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 789, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 81 , 305 P.3d 1241 .) The majority found his theory unpersuasive because it would require the court "to conclude that, by enacting section 490a, the Legislature intended to alter two of

subd. (b); see People v. Contreras (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 868 , 892, 188 Cal.Rptr.3d 698 .) Because the trial court did not reach that question, we remand this matter for the trial court to make that determination in the first instance.

WE CONCUR:

BIGELOW, P.J.

RUBIN, J.