People v. Medina

Both at the time defendant engaged in the conspiracy (2013) and when he entered his guilty plea, marijuana possession for sale was a felony. ( Health & Saf. Code, § 11359, Stats. 2011, ch. 15, § 161.)^[2] Because the target offense was a felony, the conspiracy was a felony. ( Pen. Code, § 182, subd. (a) ;

the conspiracy-possession of marijuana for sale-a misdemeanor offense.^[4] ( Pen. Code, § 182 ; People v. Mullins (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 594 , 611, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 198 ; People v. Tatman (1993) 20 Cal.App.4th 1 , 7, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 480 .) That defendant entered a guilty plea to a felony did not preclude the trial court from exercising its discretion under section 17(b)(3). ( People v. Feyrer (2010) 48 Cal.4th 426 , 430-431, 106 Cal.Rptr.3d 518 , 226 P.3d 998 .)

Our review of the trial court's order denying relief under section 17(b)(3) is for an abuse of discretion. ( People v. Park (2013) 56 Cal.4th 782 , 787, 156 Cal.Rptr.3d 307 , 299 P.3d 1263 .) The burden is on defendant to show the trial court's decision was irrational or arbitrary. (

or who would have been guilty of a lesser offense under [Proposition 64] had that act been in effect at the time of the offense, may file an application ... to have the conviction ... redesignated as a misdemeanor or infraction in accordance with Sections 11357, 11358, 11359, 11360, 11362.1, 11362.2, 11362.3, and 11362.4 as those sections have been amended or added by that act." ( § 11361.8(e), italics added.)

Whether defendant's conviction rendered him eligible for reduction under section 11361.8(e), presents a question of statutory interpretation, which we review de novo. ( People v. Sherow (2015) 239 Cal.App.4th 875 , 878, 191 Cal.Rptr.3d 295 .)^[7] Defendant's felony conspiracy conviction was not eligible for reduction under section 11361.8(e). Penal Code section 182, the conspiracy statute, is not a marijuana-related offense specified in section 11361.8(e). As our Supreme Court explained in discussing Proposition 47, "the mere fact that [the statute of conviction] is not one of the code sections enumerated in Penal Code section 1170.18(a) [Proposition 47] is not fatal to [defendant's] petition." ( People v. Martinez (2018) 4 Cal.5th 647 , 652, 230 Cal.Rptr.3d 673 , 413 P.3d 1125 .) Rather, defendant's eligibility for reduction turns on whether he is a person who "would not have been guilty of an offense or who would have been guilty of a lesser offense under [Proposition 64] had that act been in effect at the time of the offense." ( § 11361.8(e) ; see People v. Martinez, supra , 4 Cal.5th at p. 652, 413 P.3d 1125 .) Here, defendant would not have been guilty of a lesser offense by the mere application of Proposition 64; although he could have been guilty of a lesser offense

Moreover, the Legislature, by expressly providing in Penal Code section 182 for the felony sentencing of a defendant who conspires to commit a misdemeanor, has indicated that a felony conspiracy is a more serious crime than the underlying misdemeanor. "A conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor does not elevate the misdemeanor to a felony. It is the unlawful agreement to commit a criminal offense that constitutes a felony. The theory behind these principles is that collaborative criminal activities pose a greater potential threat to the public than individual acts." ( People v. Tatman, supra , 20 Cal.App.4th at p. 8, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 480 .) The voters, in enacting section 11361.8(e), recognized that the new law would "continue to allow prosecutors to charge the most serious marijuana-related offenses as felonies, while reducing the penalties for minor marijuana-related offenses." (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 8, 2016) text of Prop. 64, § 2G, p. 179.) In our view, defendant's felony conspiracy conviction is the type of serious offense that prosecutors may continue to charge, and courts may continue to sentence, as a felony.^[8] We thus conclude that defendant's felony conspiracy conviction is not eligible for reduction under section 11361.8(e). (See People v. Segura (2015) 239 Cal.App.4th 1282 , 1284, 191 Cal.Rptr.3d 904 [felony conspiracy conviction not eligible for reduction under Proposition 47].)

III. DISPOSITION

The trial court's June 26, 2017 order is affirmed.

We concur:

KRIEGLER, Acting P.J.

BAKER, J.

People v. Athar (2005) 36 Cal.4th 396 , 398, 400, 30 Cal.Rptr.3d 570 , 114 P.3d 806 .) However, under the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64), effective November 9, 2016, with exceptions not pertinent here, the target marijuana possession for sale offense is now a misdemeanor. ( Health & Saf. Code, § 11359, as amended by Proposition 64.)^[3]

On February 22, 2017, defendant filed a motion to reduce his felony conviction pursuant to sections 17(b)(3) and 11361.8(e). On March 22, 2017, the court held a hearing on defendant's motion and denied it. On April 27, 2017, defendant filed an amended motion to reduce under sections 17(b)(3) and 11361.8(e). The court considered the motion on June 26, 2017. Without referencing its earlier denial of defendant's motion, the court again denied it.

B. Section 17(b)(3)

Section 17(b)(3) allows a trial court, in its discretion, to declare a "wobbler" offense a misdemeanor rather than a felony when, as here, a defendant is granted probation without imposition of sentence. Section 17(b)(3) provides: "(b) When a crime is punishable, in the discretion of the [trial] court, either by imprisonment in the state prison or imprisonment in a county jail under the provisions of subdivision (h) of [Penal Code] Section 1170, or by fine or imprisonment in the county jail, it is a misdemeanor for all purposes under the following circumstances: [¶] ... [¶] (3) When the court grants probation to a defendant without imposition of sentence and at the time of granting probation, or on application of the defendant or probation officer thereafter, the [trial] court declares the offense to be a misdemeanor."

Defendant's conspiracy crime became a "wobbler" (i.e., alternatively punishable as a felony or misdemeanor) after Proposition 64 made the target of

People v. Superior Court ( Alvarez ) (1997) 14 Cal.4th 968 , 977, 60 Cal.Rptr.2d 93 , 928 P.2d 1171 ; People v. Mullins, supra , 19 Cal.App.5th at p. 611, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 198 .)

Defendant has not met his burden. The trial court properly considered the facts and circumstances of the offense as well as defendant's character. ( People v. Superior Court ( Alvarez ), supra , 14 Cal.4th at p. 978, 60 Cal.Rptr.2d 93 , 928 P.2d 1171 .) Defendant participated in a conspiracy to sell a large quantity of marijuana, at least 35 pounds.^[5] He had prior arrests involving marijuana and other illegal drugs. The trial court reasonably declined to exercise its discretion in defendant's favor. That decision was neither irrational nor arbitrary.^[6]

C. Section 11361.8(e)

Section 11361.8(e), which was added by Proposition 64, permits a person convicted of specified marijuana-related offenses, including possession for sale, to apply to have a felony conviction redesignated a misdemeanor or infraction. Section 11361.8(e) states: "A person who has completed his or her sentence for a conviction under Sections 11357 [possession], 11358 [planting, harvesting or processing], 11359 [possession for sale], and 11360 [transportation, importation or sale], ... who would not have been guilty of an offense