People v. Thomas CA3

Filed 1/30/25 P. v. Thomas CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Sacramento) ----

THE PEOPLE, C100287

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 23FE011789)

v.

DEWITT JAMAR THOMAS,

Defendant and Appellant.

Appointed counsel for defendant Dewitt Jamar Thomas asked this court to review the record and determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) We will affirm the judgment. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In August 2023, in an attempt to dissuade the victim from testifying in a case, defendant willfully threatened to use force or violence against her because she had given assistance or information to police or the prosecution in furtherance of that case.

1

Later that month, defendant was charged with making criminal threats while armed with a firearm. (Pen. Code, §§ 422, 12022, subd. (a)(2).)1 A preliminary hearing was held the same day. In October 2023, over a defense objection, the trial court granted the prosecution’s motion to dismiss the action and refile. Later that month, after a second preliminary hearing, an amended information was filed alleging defendant made criminal threats (§ 422), dissuaded a witness from testifying at trial (§ 136.1, subd. (a)(2)), and committed misdemeanor battery (§ 242). A firearm enhancement was alleged as to the criminal threats count. (§§ 12022.5, subd. (a), 12022, subd. (a)(1).) On December 20, 2023, the prosecution requested a continuance based on an absent witness. Defendant opposed the request and asked the trial court to dismiss the matter, arguing section 1382 required a felony trial to commence within 60 days of arraignment (or by December 22, 2023). Defendant further argued the prosecution’s motion to continue was untimely and violated the spirit of section 1050, which delineates certain requirements for continuing criminal matters. The court granted the request to continue. Later that month, defendant filed another motion to dismiss pursuant to section 1382. The prosecution again requested a continuance. The trial court again continued the matter during a January 2, 2024, hearing. Two days later, defendant pled no contest to felony threatening a witness (a related charge to the dissuading a witness count). (§ 140.) The parties agreed the remaining allegations would be dismissed, imposition of sentence would be suspended, and