California Court of Appeal Jul 18, 2025 No. E085201Unpublished
Filed 7/18/25 P. v. Rodriguez CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E085201
v. (Super.Ct.No. INF065737)
RUDY GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Melissa Hale, Judge.
Affirmed.
Rudy Gonzalez Rodriguez, in pro. per.; Ava R. Stralla, under appointment by the
Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
No Appearance by Plaintiff and Respondent.
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INTRODUCTION
A jury found defendant and appellant Rudy Gonzalez Rodriguez guilty of robbery
(Pen. Code1, § 211) and personally inflicting great bodily injury (GBI) in the commission
of the crime (§§ 12022.7, subd. (a), 1192.7, subd. (c)(8)). In a bifurcated proceeding, the
trial court found true that defendant had sustained five prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd.
(b)) and two prior strike convictions (§§ 667, subds. (c) & (e), 1170.12, subd. (c)(1)).
(c)(8).) It was also alleged that defendant suffered six prison priors (§ 667.5, subd. (b));
and two strike priors. (§§ 667, subds. (c) & (e)(1), 1170.12, subd. (c)(1).)
On October 4, 2010, a jury convicted defendant of count one and personally
inflicting GBI.2 In a bifurcated proceeding, the trial court found that he had suffered five
prison priors and two strike priors. (§§ 667.5, subd. (b), 667, subds. (c) & (e)(1) &
1170.12, subd. (c)(1).); see People v. Rodriguez (Oct. 31, 2011, E052013) [nonpub,
opn.].) The court sentenced defendant to 25 years to life on count 1, plus a consecutive
three years on the GBI enhancement and one year on each of the five prison priors.
On September 29, 2023, the parties stipulated to defendant being resentenced and
the court striking his prison priors as legally invalid, under section 1172.75. The court
granted a full resentencing, and apparently did it in two parts. As stipulated, the court
vacated the previous sentence, ordered the five prison priors to be stricken, and sentenced
defendant to 25 years to life plus three years. It then set the matter for further
proceedings.
Defendant filed a resentencing brief, requesting that his prior strikes be stricken
pursuant to Romero, supra, 13 Cal.4th 497. He contended the court should consider his
disciplinary record, record of rehabilitation, age, and his positive attitude and willingness
2 We note that the information contained in the appellate record shows the GBI enhancement was alleged as to count 2. However, the record reflects the court sentenced him on the GBI enhancement as to count 1. Thus, it appears that the allegations were amended at some point, and the jury found true the GBI allegation as to count 1.
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to take responsibility for his actions. The court held a hearing on October 23, 2024, and
found that, in view of the facts and circumstances of the case and defendant’s criminal
history, defendant came within the Three Strikes law. The court thus declined
defendant’s request to dismiss his prior strikes and ordered that the sentence of 25 years
to life plus three years remain.
DISCUSSION
Defendant appealed and, upon his request, this court appointed counsel to
represent him. Counsel has filed a brief under the authority of People v. Wende (1979)
25 Cal.3d 436 and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, setting forth a statement of
the case and one potential arguable issue: whether the court erred by failing to dismiss
defendant’s prior strikes. Counsel has also requested this court to undertake a review of
the entire record.
We offered defendant an opportunity to file a personal supplemental brief, which
he has done. He asks this court to reconsider his request to dismiss his prior strikes, since
they were based on non-violent offenses. Defendant further contends that he is
incarcerated because of his drug abuse, but he has not been involved in any drug activity
in prison, he has completed many programs in prison, and he has been rehabilitated.
The court found true that defendant had prior strike convictions for burglaries (§
459) he committed in 1984 and1993. The offense of burglary is a serious felony
conviction within the meaning of the Three Strikes law. (§§ 667, subd. (c), (d)(1) & (e)
and 1170.12, subd. (c)(1) & (d)(1).) Furthermore, defendant has an extensive criminal
history dating back to 1983, which includes eight felonies, multiple prison sentences, and
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multiple violations of parole. We cannot say the court abused its discretion in declining
to dismiss defendant’s prior strikes. (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 375,
377-378.)
Pursuant to the mandate of People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, we have
independently reviewed the record for potential error and find no arguable issues.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
FIELDS J.
We concur:
McKINSTER Acting P. J.
MILLER J.
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AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendant's request to strike his prior strike convictions under People v. Superior Court (Romero).
Issues
Did the trial court err by failing to dismiss the defendant's prior strikes during resentencing?
Disposition. Affirmed.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“We cannot say the court abused its discretion in declining to dismiss defendant’s prior strikes.”