People v. Lara

In this case concerning the proper interpretation of Proposition 47, the ballot initiative that reduced certain felony offenses to misdemeanors, the Supreme Court held that defendants who had not yet been sentenced as of Proposition 47's effective date were entitled to initial sentencing under Proposition 47's amended penalty provisions without regard to the resentencing procedures applicable to those who were already serving their sentences.Proposition 47 took effect after Defendant committed his offense but before he was charged, tried, or sentenced. On appeal, Defendant argued that his felony Vehicle Code section 10851 conviction must be reduced to a misdemeanor under Cal. Penal Code 490.2(a), the new Penal Code provision added by Proposition 47. The court of appeal affirmed Defendant's felony conviction and sentence. The Supreme Court granted Defendant's petition for review and held (1) the court of appeal erred in holding that Proposition 47 is inapplicable to violations of Cal. Veh. Code 10581; but (2) the court of appeal correctly affirmed Defendant's conviction on that charge because the evidence at trial was sufficient to sustain a felony conviction under Cal. Veh. Code 10851. View "People v. Lara" on Justia Law