People v. Jones CA2/8

Filed 10/14/25 P. v. Jones CA2/8 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION EIGHT

THE PEOPLE, B337284

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. XSCTA095943-01) v.

JAMES STANLEY JONES,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Carol J. Najera, Judge. Appeal dismissed.

Micah Reyner, by appointment of the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Noah P. Hill and Nima Razfar, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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Defendant James Stanley Jones contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to vacate an illegal sentence. The trial court lacked jurisdiction to consider his motion, as do we. We dismiss the appeal. BACKGROUND In 2008, a jury convicted James Stanley Jones of murder, attempted murder, and two counts of shooting from a motor vehicle, along with firearm allegations. The trial court sentenced Jones to a total of 75 years to life on the murder and attempted murder convictions and firearm enhancements. The trial court stayed the sentences on the remaining two counts under Penal Code1 section 654 without first imposing specific terms, stating, “[F]inally, for counts 3 and 4, in light of the evidence that was presented in this case, those sentences—any sentence on those counts will be stayed, pursuant to Penal Code section 654.” The trial court never pronounced particular sentences for these counts. This was error. (People v. Alford (2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1463, 1469 [a sentence must be imposed on each count and then stayed as necessary to comply with section 654).) On January 3, 2024, Jones filed a motion to vacate his sentence, arguing that the stayed sentences were unauthorized because the trial court failed to impose any specific prison terms before ordering the terms stayed. The trial court denied the motion. This appeal followed. Jones has requested that we take judicial notice of records from his prior appeal in case No. B211677. We grant his request.