gno.law

People v. Duran CA4/1

California Court of Appeal · D077259 · 2021-01-13 · Unpublished

Proceeding
appeal from a judgment
Trial court
Superior Court of San Diego County · No. SCS290869
Trial judge
Dwayne K. Moring
Outcome
affirmed — Affirmed.
Area
criminal
Panel
Patricia D. Benke (author), Judith D. McConnell, O'Rourke

Analysis

A model's reading — qwen3.8-27b, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T05:16Z · confidence high

The trial court denied the defendant's request to correct presentence custody credits, relying on People v. Delgado to assert that section 1237.1 did not apply, and erroneously awarded good behavior credits for the period between initial sentencing and resentencing. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment in all other respects but remanded the case to correct the abstract of judgment to reflect the proper calculation of actual and good conduct credits.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Denial of defendant's request to correct presentence custody credits under section 1237.1
“The court cited People v. Delgado (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 761 (Delgado), for the proposition that section 1237.1 did not apply to the alleged credit error in this case.”
de novoerroragree with court
The appellate court found the trial court's reliance on Delgado misplaced because the error involved presentence custody credits, which are correctible at any time under People v. Shabazz, rather than post-sentence credits governed by section 1237.1.
Award of 514 days of good behavior credits for the period between initial sentencing and resentencing
“The People also correctly point out that the trial court should not have awarded defendant 514 days of good behavior credits. (See Buckhalter, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 22.)”
de novoerroragree with court
The appellate court held that a defendant resentenced on remand is not restored to presentence status and therefore cannot earn good behavior credits under the formula applicable to persons detained prior to the imposition of sentence, citing People v. Buckhalter.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Buckhalter (2001) 26 Cal.4th 20 — A defendant resentenced on remand is not restored to presentence status and cannot earn good behavior credits for time served in prison between the initial sentence and the resentencing.
  • relied: People v. Shabazz (1985) 175 Cal.App.3d 468 — An erroneous grant or denial of presentence credits is an error correctible at any time by the trial court.
  • misapplied: People v. Delgado (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 761 — Section 1237.1 does not apply to the alleged credit error in this case.
  • relied: People v. Rajanayagam (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 42 — Presentence credit begins to accrue on the first day of custody, which in many cases includes the day of arrest.

The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion correctly identifies that presentence credit errors are correctible at any time under Shabazz, distinguishing them from post-sentence credit errors governed by section 1237.1. It accurately applies Buckhalter to determine that good behavior credits cannot be awarded for time served in prison between the initial sentence and the resentencing on remand.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

unusual disposition

A model's reading — claude-fable-5-1, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T04:30Z · confidence low

On remand for resentencing under Senate Bill No. 1393, the trial court declined to strike the serious felony enhancement, awarded 515 actual and 514 good-conduct credits for the period between the original sentence and resentencing, and later denied a section 1237.1 request to correct the credits, citing People v. Delgado. The Court of Appeal, with the People's concession, held the credit award was wrong under section 2900 and Buckhalter, remanded to amend the abstract to show 1148 actual days and 460 conduct days, and otherwise affirmed.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Award at February 4, 2020 resentencing of only 515 actual custody days for the period between the March 19, 2018 sentencing and the resentencing
“This calculation is incorrect. As the People correctly point out, the actual days between and including March 19, 2018 and February 4, 2020, is 688 days, rather than the 515 days that were awarded.”
unclearerror (law misapplied)agree with court
Section 2900 and Buckhalter require the resentencing court to credit all actual days served, in jail or prison, through the date of the modified sentence, and the period from March 2018 to February 2020 plainly exceeds 515 days. The appellate court's own figure of 688 days 'between and including' March 19, 2018 appears to double count March 19, 2018, which was already included in the original 460-day award, so the corrected total may be one day high; but the finding of trial-court error is correct.
Award of 514 days of good-conduct (section 4019) credit for time served in prison between the original sentencing and resentencing
“The People also correctly point out that the trial court should not have awarded defendant 514 days of good behavior credits. (See Buckhalter, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 22.)”
unclearerror (law misapplied)agree with court
Buckhalter squarely holds that a prisoner resentenced after a limited appellate remand is not restored to presentence status and cannot earn section 4019 conduct credits for time in prison; any conduct credit for that period is for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to compute. The appellate court correctly applied binding Supreme Court authority, though this issue was raised by the People rather than the appellant and the court did not discuss whether striking credits on the defendant's own appeal raised any fairness concern (it is a correction of an unauthorized award, so likely permissible).
Post-appeal written order denying defendant's section 1237.1 request to correct custody credits on the ground that, under People v. Delgado, section 1237.1 did not apply
“The court cited People v. Delgado (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 761 (Delgado), for the proposition that section 1237.1 did not apply to the alleged credit error in this case.”
unclearnot reachedunsure
Although defendant's sole stated contention was that reliance on Delgado was misplaced, the opinion never analyzes Delgado or section 1237.1; it instead cites Shabazz for the rule that credit errors are correctable at any time and corrects the credits directly. The result moots the issue, but the court did not actually decide whether the trial court erred in its reading of Delgado or explain its authority to review an order entered after the notice of appeal was filed.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Buckhalter (2001) 26 Cal.4th 20 — On remand for resentencing, the trial court must credit all actual days served in jail and prison against the modified sentence, but a defendant already committed to prison is not restored to presentence status and cannot earn section 4019 conduct credits for the prison period.
  • relied: People v. Shabazz (1985) 175 Cal.App.3d 468 — An erroneous grant or denial of presentence custody credits is an error correctable at any time by the trial court.
  • relied: People v. Rajanayagam (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 42 — Presentence custody credit begins to accrue on the first day of custody, which ordinarily includes the day of arrest.

The appellate opinion: sound with gaps — The court correctly applied section 2900 and Buckhalter to hold that the resentencing court undercounted actual days and improperly awarded conduct credits, and the remand to amend the abstract is the proper remedy. It skipped the only issue the appellant framed (whether Delgado made section 1237.1 inapplicable) and its 688-day figure 'between and including' March 19, 2018 appears to double count the day of original sentencing already included in the 460-day award.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

Opinion

Filed 1/13/21 P. v. Duran 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, D077259

Plaintiff and Respondent, v. (Super. Ct. No. SCS290869)

ANGEL DURAN,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Dwayne K. Moring, Judge. Affirmed.

Sheila O’Conner, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal and Susan Elizabeth Miller, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. FACTUAL BACKGROUND On December 15, 2016, defendant Angel Duran lunged with a screwdriver at Anthony S., who was waiting for his son in a parking lot. Anthony S. was able to move out of the way, then held defendant’s arm until he dropped the screwdriver. The police were called and defendant was arrested. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On November 27, 2017, a jury found defendant guilty of one count of assault with a deadly weapon (Pen. Code,1 § 245, subd. (a)(1)); and found true that in the commission of the offense, defendant personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon (§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(23)). Defendant also admitted a strike prior (§§ 667, subds. (b-i), 1170.12 & 668); a serious felony prior (§§ 667, subd. (a)(1), 668 & 1192.7, subd. (c)); four prison priors (§ 667.5, subd. (b)); and five probation denial priors (§ 1203, subd. (e)(4)).2 On March 19, 2018, defendant was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was awarded a total of 920 credits, which included 460 days of actual credit, and 460 days of good behavior credit. (See § 4019, subd. (b)). Defendant appealed. On April 24, 2019, in case No. D073804, this court affirmed the judgement but remanded the case for resentencing to allow the trial court to exercise its discretion to strike the enhancement under newly amended section 667, subdivision (a) and Senate Bill No. 1393.

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 This court previously granted defendant’s request to take judicial notice of the previous appeal in People v. Duran (Apr. 24, 2019, D073804 [nonpub. opn.]). 2 A resentencing hearing was held February 4, 2020. At that time, the trial court declined to strike defendant’s serious felony enhancement. The court awarded defendant custody credits, which included the good behavior credits he had earned since his original sentence. He was awarded 515 actual credits and 514 days of good behavior credits. Defendant filed a notice of appeal on February 10, 2020. On August 4, 2020, defendant filed a letter with the trial court pursuant to section 1237.1, alleging the trial court’s calculation of presentence custody credits awarded at the resentencing hearing was incorrect. He urged the court had not awarded all actual days spent in custody from his February 4 resentencing. He requested the trial court amend the abstract of judgement to show the correct number of days. He asserted the trial court could do so even though this appeal was pending. On August 26, 2020, the trial court issued a written order denying defendant’s request to correct the credits. The court cited People v. Delgado (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 761 (Delgado), for the proposition that section 1237.1 did not apply to the alleged credit error in this case. DISCUSSION Defendant’s sole contention on appeal is that the trial court’s reliance on Delgado was misplaced. The People agree, and add that the court also erred by awarding defendant good behavior credits between the time of his initial sentencing and his February 4 resentencing. The parties agree that a defendant is entitled to credit for all days spent in custody while awaiting trial and sentencing. This includes credit for time up to and including the date the sentence was imposed. (See § 2900.5, subd. (a) [providing in part: “In all felony and misdemeanor convictions, either by plea or by verdict, when the defendant has been in custody . . . all 3 days of custody of the defendant, including days served as a condition of probation in compliance with a court order . . . shall be credited upon his or her term of imprisonment”].) Presentence credit begins to accrue on the first day of custody, which in many cases includes the day of arrest. (Ibid.; see People v. Rajanayagam (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 42, 48.) As the People note, where, as here, a remand results in modification of a felony sentence during a term of imprisonment, the trial court must calculate the actual time the defendant has already served, and credit that time against the “subsequent sentences.” (§ 2900.) But the court should not award good conduct presentence custody credits. (People v. Buckhalter (2001) 26 Cal.4th 20, 22–23 (Buckhalter) [concluding that where, as here, a defendant is resentenced, the sentencing court must calculate the actual time the defendant has already served and credit that time against the modified sentence; that “a convicted felon once sentenced, committed, and delivered to prison is not restored to presentence status, for purposes of the sentence-credit statutes, by virtue of a limited appellate remand for correction of sentencing errors”; and therefore, that the defendant “cannot earn good behavior credits under the formula specifically applicable to persons detained in a local facility, or under equivalent circumstances elsewhere, ‘prior to the imposition of sentence’ for a felony”].) Thus, when a trial court modifies a defendant’s sentence on appellate remand, it must recalculate custody credits and must in the new abstract of judgement credit defendant with all actual days he or she spent in custody, whether in jail or prison, up to that time. (Id. at p. 37.) Among the errors correctible at any time by the trial court is an erroneous grant or denial of presentence credits. (People v. Shabazz (1985) 175 Cal.App.3d 468, 473–474.) Here, at defendant’s initial sentencing on 4 March 19, 2018, the trial court awarded defendant a total of 920 credits. This included 460 days of conduct credit under section 4019, subdivision (b). At his February 4, 2020 resentencing, the trial court awarded defendant 1029 total credits for the time between the initial sentencing and resentencing hearing, which included 515 actual credits and 514 good conduct credits. This calculation is incorrect. As the People correctly point out, the actual days between and including March 19, 2018 and February 4, 2020, is 688 days, rather than the 515 days that were awarded. The People also correctly point out that the trial court should not have awarded defendant 514 days of good behavior credits. (See Buckhalter, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 22.) In summary, in 2018, defendant was sentenced to 14 years in prison. At that time, his credits were calculated as 460 actual credits and 460 good conduct credits. At the time of his February 4 resentencing, he should have received an additional 688 days of actual credit, and no additional good time credit. (See Buckhalter, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 22.) Thus, we conclude defendant is entitled to 1148 actual days (460 plus 688) for the time between his initial sentencing and his resentencing, and 460 good conduct days credit, for a total of 1608 days of credit from the date he was arrested until the date of his resentencing.

5 DISPOSITION The case is remanded to the trial court to correct defendant’s abstract of judgement to reflect 1148 days of actual credit and 460 of good conduct credit. The court shall forward a certified copy of the amended abstract to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.

BENKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

McCONNELL, P. J.

O'ROURKE, J.

Cites, in this corpus