People v. Morales CA4/1

Filed 1/26/26 P. v. Morales CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, D086164

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v. (Super. Ct. No. RIF2303385)

JUAN CRISTOBAL MORALES,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County, Joshlyn Pulliam, Judge. Affirmed; remanded with directions to correct abstract of judgment. Jake E. Stanton, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearances for Plaintiff and Respondent. In January 2025, Juan Cristobal Morales pleaded guilty to assault with

force likely to cause great bodily injury (Pen. Code,1 § 245, subd. (a)(4)) and

1 Statutory references are to the Penal Code.

resisting or delaying a police officer (§ 148, subd. (a)(1).) He also admitted a strike prior conviction (§ 667, subds. (c) &(e)). The court found Morales ineligible for mental health diversion because no long-term treatment plan could be identified. He was sentenced to a total

carceral term of four years and the trial court struck all fines and fees.2 Morales filed a timely notice of appeal. Appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 indicating counsel has not been able to identify any arguable issues for reversal on appeal. Counsel asks the court to independently review the record for error as mandated by Wende. We offered Morales the opportunity to file his own brief on appeal, but he has not responded. DISCUSSION As we have noted, appellate counsel has filed a Wende brief and asks the court to independently review the record for error. To assist the court in its review, and in compliance with Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, counsel has identified two possible issues that were considered in evaluating the potential merits of this appeal. 1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when denying Morales’s motion for mental health diversion. 2. Whether Morales waived his right to challenge the court’s denial of the motion for mental health diversion when he entered his guilty plea.