People v. Trujillo
People v. Trujillo
Opinion of the Court
*577In separate cases, Daylo Trujillo pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury. ( *578Pen. Code, §§ 211, 664, 245, subd. (a)(4).) After a combined sentencing hearing, the court sentenced Trujillo to one year in county jail and three years' formal probation.
Trujillo's sole appellate challenge concerns an electronics-search probation condition imposed in both cases. He contends the condition is unreasonable under California Supreme Court standards (see People v. Lent (1975)
We reject these contentions. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding the condition is reasonable under Lent because it will allow the probation department to effectively supervise Trujillo. Additionally, the probation condition satisfies constitutional standards because the infringement on Trujillo's privacy rights is outweighed by the state's strong need to closely monitor Trujillo's conduct and protect public safety, and there are no facts showing Trujillo's electronics contain the type of private information meriting heightened protection or that a search of these devices would be more intrusive than a warrantless search of his home, to which Trujillo has not objected. The record does not support that the electronics-search condition is unnecessarily broad or will result in an unjustified invasion of Trujillo's privacy rights.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
We base our factual summary on the probation reports. In October 2016, at about 2:15 a.m., two individuals (S and V) were retrieving S's car left in a Smart and Final parking lot. When S and V drove into the parking lot, Trujillo was inside S's parked car. Trujillo then exited the car, approached S and V, and pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun at them (which later turned out to be an airsoft replica gun). When S got out of the car and walked towards Trujillo, Trujillo pointed the gun at S's face. S backed away, and Trujillo struck him in the head with the gun. Trujillo then pointed the gun at V and demanded she give him everything she had. When V refused, Trujillo fled. S and V called law enforcement.
*272*579S sustained a large cut to his head. S's vehicle (that had been left at the parking lot) was damaged. S reported items missing from his car, including $100 in cash, a phone charger, a backpack, and the vehicle registration.
Several hours later, at about 5:15 a.m. Trujillo approached another victim (C) at a fast-food restaurant about 100 yards away from the Smart and Final parking lot. C was in his vehicle waiting at a drive-through window. Trujillo brandished an airsoft gun, pointed it at C's face, and demanded cash. C believed the gun was real and feared for his safety, but was able to wrestle the weapon away from Trujillo. After Trujillo fled, C called the police. A security camera captured the event.
Shortly after, deputies arrested Trujillo and transported him to a sheriff's substation. Trujillo's vehicle contained a bottle with two Xanax pills (that had not been prescribed to him). Deputies interviewed Trujillo while he was in a holding cell. His breath had a strong alcohol odor and he exhibited slurred speech. Trujillo said he had been " 'drinking all night,' but could not recall what he had been drinking." He told deputies he was "desperate for money."
After being charged by separate complaint for each incident, Trujillo pleaded guilty in both cases. On the Smart and Final parking lot incident, Trujillo pleaded guilty to assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury. On the fast-food incident, Trujillo pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.
Probation Reports
A separate probation report was prepared for each case. The probation reports noted that 19-year-old Trujillo had no criminal history, and the parties had agreed he would be granted probation. On the Smart and Final case, the probation officer summarized his interview with Trujillo. He said Trujillo admitted using Xanax pills and drinking alcohol before the offenses, and Trujillo believes the combination of the pills and alcohol caused him to commit the crimes. Trujillo apologized and said he learned his lesson.
The other probation report provided a similar interview summary, and also explained various issues in Trujillo's background, including that his biological father committed suicide when Trujillo was a small child, and Trujillo's mother abandoned the family in 2013. Two of Trujillo's brothers have died. Trujillo's younger brother committed suicide in 2014 and Trujillo witnessed the suicide. The other brother died in 2015. Trujillo has three younger siblings (ages 13, 6, and 3), whom he is helping to support. Trujillo did not graduate from high school. At the time of his arrest, he had been working in the fast food industry. He said he had been working at two restaurants for a *580combined 120 hours per week, earning approximately $1,000 per month. Upon his release, Trujillo plans to live with his aunt.
Trujillo admits he drinks alcohol daily, and believes his current legal problems are related to his alcohol use. Trujillo said he abuses alcohol to cope with the death of his two siblings and is willing to participate in treatment and abide by all proposed probation conditions. Trujillo denied having a mental health disorder or having medications for mental health problems. He claimed the day of the crimes was the first time he had used Xanax pills and said "it was out of character for him to do such a crime." He indicated he "previously dealt with suicidal ideation as a youth, but ... is currently feeling 'good.' " He acknowledged he has experienced insomnia and nightmares since his brother's suicide, and said "he has coped with the event by 'drinking.' " He described his childhood as *273" 'rough.' " Trujillo has no gang tattoos and denied any gang affiliation, although his deceased younger brother had been associated with a gang. Trujillo expressed surprise that the plea agreement would permit him to avoid prison, stating the court was " 'giving me less than I thought I would get.' "
Both probation officers evaluated Trujillo under the COMPAS assessment tool (Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions). The assessments found Trujillo could be successfully guided and monitored in the community (as opposed to prison), but also identified multiple risk factors, including "Substance Abuse, Residential Instability, Social Isolation," and "Family Criminality."
The probation officers said they considered the results of the COMPAS assessment in conjunction with other relevant information to formulate the recommended probation conditions, and emphasized the importance of close supervision. One probation officer noted: "Interventions in the community may want to focus on cognitive behavioral interventions which would aim to restructure the way [Trujillo] interprets the world around him as a result of past traumatic experiences, i.e. parental abandonment, parental death, and witnessing his brother's suicide...." The other probation officer stated: "Based on the COMPAS assessment, it appears [Trujillo] would benefit from some guidance and monitoring in the community via probation supervision and referrals to community resources. Supervision, along with treatment, will likely be beneficial to the defendant as it appears he is in need of guidance and coping skills to deal with tragic events he has experienced in his life."
Both probation officers recommended 365 days in county jail, and three years of formal probation, noting they did not evaluate the appropriateness of a prison sentence because the parties had agreed to probation. Both probation officers recommended numerous probation conditions, including the condition *581at issue in this case: "Submit person, vehicle, residence, property, personal effects, computers , and recordable media ... to search at any time with or without a warrant, and with or without reasonable cause, when required by [the probation officer] or law enforcement officer." (Italics added.) The other proposed probation conditions included: (1) seek and maintain full-time employment or schooling; (2) participate in recommended treatment, therapy, and counseling; (3) provide written authorization for the probation officer to receive progress and compliance reports from any medical/mental-health provider or other treatment provider; (4) do not knowingly use or possess alcohol or controlled substances without a prescription; (5) submit to any chemical test of blood, breath, or urine to determine blood alcohol content and/or controlled substance use; (6) attend anger management classes; and (7) prohibitions on owning, transporting, selling, or possessing various types of weapons, replica firearms, and other related instruments.
The probation officer in the fast-food attempted robbery case also recommended imposing gang-related conditions, including prohibitions on knowingly associating with gang members, and on knowingly wearing any gang-related clothing or other material. The probation officer in the Smart and Final assault case did not recommend any gang conditions.
Sentencing Hearing
At the consolidated sentencing hearing, defense counsel objected to two proposed probation conditions: (1) the "computers and recordable media" Fourth Amendment waiver condition (electronics-search condition), *274arguing the condition has "no logical nexus to this charged crime" under Lent , supra ,
The court first rejected the challenge to the electronics-search condition (which it said included cell phones), explaining: "I think that in order to supervise the defendant now on two felonies, ... one is legally violent [attempted robbery], the other is just violent [assault by means likely to result in great bodily injury]. And that is to supervise him and make sure that he's not engaging in criminal activity, I think it would assist the probation department to be able to review what is on his computer, his cell phone, et cetera, to make sure he's being law abiding and also he's rehabilitating."
With respect to the challenged gang conditions in the attempted-robbery case, the court said it was going to strike those proposed conditions, but the court imposed the gang-clothing and gang-sign prohibitions, noting "I don't think it's a great idea for you to be hanging out with gang members."
*582DISCUSSION
Trujillo challenges the electronics-search condition, arguing it is unreasonable under the California Supreme Court's Lent standard, and constitutionally overbroad under the reasoning of Riley v. California (2014) --- U.S. ----,
I. Reasonableness Under Lent Standard
A. Legal Principles
Probation is not a right, but an act of leniency that allows a defendant to avoid imprisonment. ( People v. Moran (2016)
But this broad discretion "is not without limits." ( Carbajal , supra , 10 Cal.4th at p. 1121,
*275B. Analysis
The parties agree the electronics-search condition has no relationship to the crimes to which Trujillo pled guilty (attempted robbery and assault by means likely to result in great bodily injury), and the condition relates to *583conduct that is not criminal. Therefore, the main issue is whether the condition is "reasonably related to future criminality" (the third Lent factor). ( Lent , supra , 15 Cal.3d at p. 486,
The facts here show the electronics-search condition is reasonably related to preventing Trujillo's future criminality. Nineteen-year-old Trujillo pleaded guilty to committing violent offenses against innocent bystanders in two separate incidents, and claimed to have done so because of alcohol intoxication. Although these were first-time offenses, the record shows Trujillo has substantial risk factors relevant to reoffending, including significant untreated alcohol abuse, social isolation, family history of suicide (one of which he witnessed), family members who had been gang members, and economic stress. As reflected in the probation reports, this young man appears to be at a crossroads. He can choose law-abiding behavior or he can slip into continued criminal conduct that presents a substantial danger to public safety. The court imposed the electronics-search condition with the awareness of these facts and the probation department's conclusion that Trujillo was at risk and would require close supervision of his daily activities to support a successful probation. The court made an express finding that "in order to supervise the defendant now on two [violent] felonies," the probation department needs to be able to "view what is on his computer, his cell phone...." The record shows the court did not impose this condition as a matter of routine, but considered the specific facts relevant to Trujillo's case.
The court did not abuse its discretion. If the court permits this young convicted felon to avoid prison through probation despite his violent offenses, the court has the authority to take steps to help ensure Trujillo will remain crime free and that public safety objectives are satisfied. As our high court has observed, the purpose of requiring Fourth Amendment search waivers as a probation condition is "to determine not only whether [the probationer]
*584disobeys the law, but also whether he obeys the law. Information obtained [from an unexpected and unprovoked search] afford[s] a valuable measure of the *276effectiveness of the supervision given the defendant...." ( Olguin , supra , 45 Cal.4th at p. 382,
Trujillo argues this case is unlike other Court of Appeal decisions that have upheld the reasonableness of an electronics-search conditions based on facts showing: (1) a connection between the defendant's past criminal conduct and the use of electronic devices or social media, such as the defendant's use of an electronic device to facilitate the crime (see Nachbar , supra , 3 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1125, 1130 ; see also In re Erica R. (2015)
We agree the particular circumstances in Nachbar and J.E. are not present in this case. For example, unlike Nachbar , there is no evidence that Trujillo used an electronic device in committing the crimes or of any connection between Trujillo's crimes and an electronic device. (See Nachbar , supra , 3 Cal.App.5th at p. 1130.) But the absence of these facts does not mean the search condition was unreasonable as a matter of law. The primary focus of Lent's third-prong jurisprudence has been on the particular facts and circumstances of the case before the court, rather than on establishing bright-line rules. (See J.B. , supra , 242 Cal.App.4th at p. 754,
We find unavailing Trujillo's principal reliance on J.B. , supra ,
The reviewing court found the electronics-search condition was not reasonable under the three-part Lent test and also found it was constitutionally overbroad. ( J.B. , supra , 242 Cal.App.4th at pp. 754-759,
J.B. is unhelpful because the facts are materially distinguishable as it involved a shoplifting offense, whereas here Trujillo committed two violent felonies, implicating significant public safety concerns. Moreover, as have other courts, we disagree with the notion that there must always be a specific factual showing of a connection between the electronics-search condition and defendant's future criminality. (See P. O. , supra , 246 Cal.App.4th at pp. 293-296,
Trujillo's reliance on People v. Burton (1981)
II. Constitutional Overbreadth Challenge
Trujillo alternatively contends the electronics-search condition is unconstitutionally overbroad because it allows for searches of private information unrelated to his criminal conduct or future criminality.
" 'A probation condition that imposes limitations on a person's constitutional rights must closely tailor those limitations to the purpose of the condition to avoid being invalidated as constitutionally overbroad.' [Citation.] 'The essential question in an overbreadth challenge is the closeness of the fit between the legitimate purpose of the restriction and the burden it imposes on the defendant's constitutional rights-bearing in mind, of course, that perfection in such matters is impossible, and that practical necessity will justify some infringement.' " ( *278People v. Pirali (2013)
In contending the electronics-search condition is overbroad because it violates his fundamental privacy rights, Trujillo relies on the United States Supreme Court's Riley decision, in which the high court rejected the government's argument that law enforcement may, without a warrant, search a cell phone seized from an arrested individual. ( Riley , supra , 134 S.Ct. at p. 2485.) In so holding, the court discussed the fact that a modern cell phone can hold an immense amount of confidential information, including past and current medical records, past and current financial records, Internet searches involving highly personal issues, personal diaries, photographs, and intimate correspondence. ( Id. at pp. 2489-2491.) The court balanced the strong privacy intrusion arising from a search of this type of information with the law enforcement justifications for dispensing with the warrant requirement, and found the arrestee's privacy concerns outweighed the law enforcement justifications. ( Id. at pp. 2485-2493.) But the court made clear it was not holding "a cell phone is immune from search," and recognized its ruling would not necessarily extend in other situations in which law enforcement needs are stronger. ( Id. at pp. 2493-2494.) Reflecting the limited nature of its holding, the court stated: "Our answer to the question of what police must do before searching a cell phone seized incident to an arrest is ... simple-get a warrant." ( Id. at p. 2495.)
*587Relying on Riley , the Court of Appeal in Appleton concluded an electronics-search condition was constitutionally overbroad because it would allow the search of "vast amounts of personal information unrelated to defendant's criminal conduct or his potential future criminality," and remanded for the trial court to fashion a more narrowly tailored electronics-search condition. ( Appleton , supra , 245 Cal.App.4th at pp. 724-727,
In Nachbar , supra ,
First, a probationer does not " 'enjoy "the absolute liberty to which every citizen is entitled." ' " ( United States v. Knights (2001)
Second, although electronic devices can store a wealth of private information and are entitled to strong safeguards from governmental interference, a person's home also contains considerable confidential information and is a place in which a person has the absolute right to be "left alone," and thus has long been provided the highest level of protection from governmental interference. (See Riley , supra , 134 S.Ct. at p. 2494 ["[o]pposition to [unrestrained] searches [of homes] was ... one of the driving forces behind the [American] Revolution itself"]; United States Department of Defense v. Federal Labor Relations Authority (1994)
Third, the state's need to supervise a convicted criminal is different from the objectives of the arresting officer in Riley . In contrast with the United States Supreme Court's somewhat critical view of law enforcement's perceived need to routinely search an arrestee's cell phone without waiting for a warrant (see Riley , supra , 134 S.Ct. at pp. 2485-2488 ), the factual record here supports that the electronics-search condition is necessary to protect public safety and to ensure supervision and rehabilitation during a three-year period. Unlike the warrant requirement that can usually be quickly satisfied in an arrest situation, Trujillo has not identified any practical alternatives to the electronics-search condition in his particular case. Although the probation condition allows the state to potentially invade privacy interests, it was a necessary means of imposing the level of supervision required to protect public safety and prevent future criminality, as an alternative to prison. Because the probation department will need to monitor Trujillo with respect to the triggers for his criminal conduct (e.g., alcohol abuse, "desperate" financial circumstances, social isolation, family pressures, weapons purchases), a routine search of his electronic data is strongly relevant to the probation department's supervisory function. Even when a governmental action constitutes a serious invasion of privacy rights, the action may be justified if it "substantially furthers one or more legitimate competing or countervailing [governmental] interests...." ( In re Christopher M. (2005)
*280Fourth, to the extent other appellate courts have found merit to constitutional overbreadth challenges (see e.g., Appleton , supra , 245 Cal.App.4th at pp. 724-727,
To the extent Trujillo adds information on his electronic devices that would invoke stronger privacy protections beyond a warrantless search of his home and would be unrelated to his criminality or future criminality, Trujillo would have the right to seek a modification of the probation condition to protect the privacy of such information. (See Pen. Code, § 1203.2, subd. (b) ; Olguin , supra , 45 Cal.4th at p. 379,
DISPOSITION
Affirmed.
WE CONCUR:
MCCONNELL, P.J.
O'ROURKE, J.
Numerous cases addressing the propriety of an electronics-search probation condition are currently pending review in the California Supreme Court. (See In re Ricardo P. (2015)
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.