gno.law

People v. Bryant CA4/1

California Court of Appeal · D086409 · 2026-05-21 · Unpublished

Proceeding
appeal from a judgment
Trial court
Superior Court of San Diego County · No. SCD305750
Trial judge
Steven E. Stone
Outcome
affirmed — Affirmed.
Area
criminal
Panel
Joan K. Irion (author), Laurence D. Rubin, Michele M. Castillo

Analysis

A model's reading — qwen3.8-27b, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T03:23Z · confidence high

The trial court revoked Bryant's probation and ordered the execution of a four-year prison term after finding he violated conditions by failing to report and entering a prohibited area. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment following an independent review of the record under People v. Wende, finding no error.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Revocation of probation and execution of suspended sentence
“We have reviewed the record, as required by Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436, and determined there are no grounds for reversal or modification of the judgment.”
de novonot reachedagree with court
The appellate court conducted an independent review of the entire record as required by People v. Wende because appointed counsel raised no specific issues. The court found no error in the trial court's decision to revoke probation and execute the sentence, thereby affirming the judgment.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 — Appellate court must conduct a review of the entire record whenever appointed counsel submits a brief which raises no specific issues.
  • relied: Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 — When counsel raises no claims of error, defendant must be given time to raise any points that he chooses.
  • relied: People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106 — Anders and Wende recognize the defendant's right in a Wende appeal to file supplemental contentions.

The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion correctly applies the Wende/Anders procedure for appointed counsel who raises no issues. It confirms the defendant was advised of the right to file a supplemental brief and that the court independently reviewed the record, finding no error.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

unusual disposition

A model's reading — claude-fable-5-1, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T04:29Z · confidence low

The trial court found Bryant violated two probation conditions (failing to report monthly and entering a prohibited downtown San Diego area), revoked probation, and ordered execution of the previously suspended four-year prison term for selling cocaine base. On appeal, appointed counsel filed a Wende brief raising no issues, Bryant filed no supplemental brief, and the Court of Appeal independently reviewed the record, found no arguable error, and affirmed.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Revocation of probation and execution of the suspended four-year prison term based on findings that Bryant violated condition No. 6.i. (failure to report) and condition No. 14.b. (entering prohibited area)
“The trial court found Bryant violated the terms of probation by failing to report to probation as required by condition No. 6.i. and by entering and remaining in the area out of which condition No. 14.b. required him to stay.”
unclearcorrectagree with court
The opinion applied Wende independent review rather than a stated standard for the revocation ruling itself. The record recited shows Bryant admitted both violations (not reporting after the initial check-in, and being in the prohibited area), and his only dispute was whether he engaged in a drug transaction, which was not the basis of the finding. The sentence executed was the stipulated term previously imposed with execution suspended, so the court had no discretion to reduce it on revocation. No arguable error appears on the facts stated.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 — When appointed appellate counsel files a brief raising no specific issues, the appellate court must conduct an independent review of the entire record for arguable error.
  • relied: Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 — When counsel finds no arguable issues, the defendant must be given time to raise any points he chooses in a supplemental brief.
  • relied: People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106 — Anders and Wende recognize the defendant's right in a Wende appeal to file supplemental contentions, and the appellate opinion should describe the facts and procedural history and confirm the court's review.

The appellate opinion: sound — The court followed the Wende/Anders/Kelly procedure correctly: it confirmed counsel raised no issues, confirmed the defendant was advised of and declined the opportunity to file a supplemental brief, summarized the facts and proceedings, and conducted an independent review. Given Bryant's own admissions to both violations and the stipulated, previously imposed sentence, the conclusion that no arguable issues exist is well supported.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

Opinion

Filed 5/21/26 P. v. Bryant CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, D086409

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. SCD305750)

v.

DONALD DENNIS BRYANT,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Steven E. Stone, Judge. Affirmed. Chambers Law Firm and Dan E. Chambers, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Donald Dennis Bryant appeals the judgment sentencing him to prison for four years after he pled guilty to a drug offense, was granted probation, and violated the conditions of probation. His appointed counsel filed a brief in which he raised no claims of error and invited us to review the record independently for error. (See People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).) We have done so and found no error requiring reversal or modification of the judgment. We therefore affirm. BACKGROUND Bryant pled guilty to selling a controlled substance (cocaine base) without a prescription. (Health & Saf. Code, § 11352, subd. (a).) The trial court imposed the stipulated prison term of four years, suspended execution, and placed him on formal probation for two years. Probation condition No. 6.i. required Bryant to report to probation within 72 hours of release from custody and on the first day of each month thereafter. Condition No. 14.b. required him to stay out of the area in downtown San Diego where he sold the cocaine base except to pick up mail. Approximately two months after Bryant was granted probation, San Diego Police Officer Zackary Richardson spotted Bryant in the prohibited area. Based on a hand-to-hand exchange Richardson observed between Bryant and another person, Richardson believed Bryant was engaged in a drug transaction. Richardson spoke to Bryant and, after learning he was on probation, contacted his probation officer. The probation officer informed Richardson that Bryant was not allowed to be in the area and had a Fourth Amendment waiver. Richardson searched Bryant, found no mail, and arrested him for violating the conditions of probation. At a probation revocation hearing, Richardson testified about the circumstances of Bryant’s arrest, as summarized in the previous paragraph. Bryant’s probation officer testified that Bryant reported to probation within 72 hours after release from custody but did not thereafter report. Bryant testified that when he was arrested, he was in the area in which probation condition No. 14.b. forbade him to remain but did not engage in any drug transaction. He said he was on his way to pick up mail when he encountered 2 a friend who gave him two dollars to buy a soda. Bryant admitted he did not report to probation as required. The trial court found Bryant violated the terms of probation by failing to report to probation as required by condition No. 6.i. and by entering and remaining in the area out of which condition No. 14.b. required him to stay. The court revoked probation and ordered execution of the previously suspended four-year prison term. DISCUSSION Bryant’s appointed counsel filed a brief in which he summarized the facts and proceedings, raised no claims of error, and asked us independently to review the record for error. (See Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d at p. 441 [appellate court must “conduct a review of the entire record whenever appointed counsel submits a brief which raises no specific issues”].) Counsel and this court advised Bryant that he could file a supplemental brief. (See Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, 744 [when counsel raises no claims of error, defendant must be given time “to raise any points that he chooses”]; People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, 120 [Anders and Wende “recognize the defendant’s right in a Wende appeal to file supplemental contentions”].) He has not done so. We have reviewed the record, as required by Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436, and determined there are no grounds for reversal or modification of the judgment. We also have determined Bryant received competent representation on appeal.

3 DISPOSITION The judgment is affirmed.

IRION, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

CASTILLO, J.

RUBIN, J.

Cites, in this corpus