People v. Kramis
People v. Kramis
Opinion of the Court
Opinion
I. INTRODUCTION
A jury convicted defendant, Joseph Lawrence Kramis, of assaulting a woman, Nicole J., by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. (Pen. Code,
II. THE EVIDENCE
III. DISCUSSION
A.-D.*
E. Restitution
The trial court imposed a $10,000 restitution fine under former section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1) as it was in effect on the date of the offense. We asked the parties to brief the question what was the effect, if any, of Southern Union Co. v. United States, supra, 567 U.S. at pages - [132 S.Ct. at pp. 2348-2349] (Southern Union Co.) on the trial court’s imposition of a $10,000 restitution fine. Former section 1202.4, subdivision (b) provided, “In every case where a person is convicted of a crime, the court shall impose a separate and additional restitution fine, unless it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so, and states those reasons on the record.” At the time of the assault on Nicole (July 3, 2009), in the case of a felony conviction, the minimum fine was $200, while the maximum fine was $10,000. (People v. Blackburn (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 1520, 1534 [86 Cal.Rptr.2d 134].)
The amount between $200 and $10,000 is set in the court’s discretion, “commensurate with the seriousness of the” crime of which the accused has been convicted. (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(1).) A defendant’s inability to pay is not a compelling and extraordinary reason to excuse imposition of a section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1) restitution fine. (§ 1202.4, subd. (c).) However, a defendant’s ability to pay is considered, among other factors, in setting the amount of the fine above $200. (§ 1202.4, subds. (c)-(d).) At the time defendant committed the present offense as well as when he was convicted and sentenced, section 1202.4, subdivision (d) stated: “In setting the amount of the fine pursuant to subdivision (b) in excess of the two hundred-dollar ($200) or one hundred-dollar ($100) minimum, the court shall consider any relevant factors including, but not limited to, the defendant’s inability to pay, the seriousness and gravity of the offense and the circumstances of its commission, any economic gain derived by the defendant as a result of the crime, the extent to which any other person suffered any losses as a result of the crime, and the number of victims involved in the crime. Those losses may include pecuniary losses to the victim or his or her dependents as well as intangible losses, such as psychological harm caused by the crime. Consideration of a defendant’s inability to pay may include his or her future earning capacity. A defendant shall bear the burden of demonstrating his or her inability to pay. Express findings by the court as to the factors bearing on the amount of the fine shall not be required. A separate hearing for the fine shall not be required.” Here, as noted, the trial court imposed the statutory maximum—a $10,000 restitution fine.
In Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466, 490 [147 L.Ed.2d 435, 120 S.Ct. 2348] (Apprendi), the United States Supreme Court held, “Other than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” As the United States Supreme Court explained in Blakely v. Washington (2004) 542 U.S. 296, 303 [159 L.Ed.2d 403, 124 S.Ct. 2531] (Blakely), “[T]he ‘statutory maximum’ for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of the facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted by the defendant.” (Some italics omitted.) Stated differently, “[T]he relevant ‘statutory maximum’ is not the maximum sentence a judge may impose after finding additional facts, but
Southern Union Co. does not impact the restitution fine imposed in the present case. Apprendi and Southern Union Co. do not apply when, as here, the trial court exercises its discretion within a statutory range. (Apprendi, supra, 530 U.S. at p. 481; People v. Urbano (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 396, 405 [26 Cal.Rptr.3d 871], citing United States v. Booker (2005) 543 U.S. 220, 233-234 [160 L.Ed.2d 621, 125 S.Ct. 738] (maj. opn. of Stevens, J.); and id. at pp. 278-280 (dis. opn. of Stevens, J.); 3 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Punishment, § 113, p. 197; see U.S. v. Milkiewicz (1st Cir. 2006) 470 F.3d 390, 403-404; U.S. v. Reifler (2d Cir. 2006) 446 F.3d 65, 118-120; U.S. v. Leahy (3d Cir. 2006) 438 F.3d 328, 337 [en banc].) As the United States Supreme Court held in Apprendi, “[N]othing in [the common law and constitutional history] suggests that it is impermissible for judges to exercise discretion—taking into consideration various factors relating both to the offense and offender—in imposing a judgment within the range prescribed by statute.” (Apprendi, supra, 530 U.S. at p. 481; accord, People v. Urbano, supra, 128 Cal.App.4th at pp. 405-406.) As the Court of Appeal for the Fifth Appellate District noted in Urbano, “Apprendi distinguishes a ‘sentencing factor’—a ‘circumstance, which may be either aggravating or mitigating in character, that supports a specific sentence within the range authorized by the jury’s finding that the defendant is guilty of a particular offense’—from a ‘sentence enhancement’—‘the functional equivalent of an element of a greater offense than the one covered by the jury’s guilty verdict’ constituting ‘an increase beyond the maximum authorized statutory sentence.’ ([Apprendi, supra, 530 U.S.] at p. 494, fn. 19.)” (People v. Urbano, supra, 128 Cal.App.4th at pp. 405-406.) Nothing in Southern Union Co. alters that holding. Under the applicable version of section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1), absent compelling and extraordinary circumstances, the trial court was required to impose a restitution fine in an amount between $200 and $10,000. The $10,000 section 1202.4, subdivision (b) restitution fine imposed
IV. DISPOSITION
The judgment is modified to award defendant 55 days of presentence custody credit and 55 days of conduct credit for a total presentence custody credit of 110 days. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed. Upon remittitur issuance, the clerk of the superior court is to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and deliver a copy to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Mosk, J., and Kriegler, J., concurred.
Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied December 12, 2012, S206082.
All further statutory references are to the Penal Code except where otherwise noted.
See footnote, ante, page 346.
Section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1) was amended effective January 1, 2012, to provide: “The restitution fine shall be set at the discretion of the court and commensurate with the seriousness of the offense, but shall not be less than two hundred forty dollars ($240) starting on January 1, 2012, two hundred eighty dollars ($280) starting on January 1, 2013, and three hundred dollars ($300) starting on January 1, 2014, and not more than ten thousand dollars
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE PEOPLE, and v. JOSEPH LAWRENCE KRAMIS, and
- Cited By
- 59 cases
- Status
- Published