People v. Velazquez CA6

Filed 12/3/25 P. v. Velazquez CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, H053162 (Monterey County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. 23CR008221)

v.

LORENZO VELAZQUEZ,

Defendant and Appellant.

Pursuant to a plea agreement, defendant Lorenzo Velazquez pleaded no contest to two counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child. The trial court sentenced Velazquez to 20 years in prison. On appeal, Velazquez’s appointed counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende) that states the case and facts but raises no issues. This court notified Velazquez of his right to submit written argument on his own behalf within 30 days. That period has elapsed, and we have received no response from Velazquez. Pursuant to Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436 and People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106 (Kelly), we have carefully reviewed the entire record and have determined that there are no arguable issues on appeal that would result in a disposition more favorable to Velazquez. Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND A Salinas police detective testified at a preliminary examination that Velazquez’s stepdaughter disclosed Velazquez sexually abused her when she was 10 years old. She stated Velazquez touched her vagina and then told her he would hurt her brothers if she told anyone. Velazquez’s stepdaughter also said she saw Velazquez touch her younger sister. The detective then observed an interview in which the younger sister said Velazquez rubbed her vagina over her clothes and told her “something bad would happen” if she reported his actions. The prosecution charged Velazquez by amended information with four counts: two counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child (Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (b)(1); counts 1 and 3)1 and two counts of lewd acts upon a child (§ 288, subd. (a); counts 2 and 4), with various aggravating circumstances alleged. Velazquez pleaded no contest pursuant to a plea agreement to the two counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child: one count for each of the two sisters. He admitted aggravating circumstances that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offense.2 As part of the plea agreement, Velazquez agreed to waive “the right to appeal my conviction, the judgment, the sentence, and any other orders previously issued by this court or any other court . . . .” Velazquez confirmed this waiver in a colloquy with the trial court.