People v. Steele CA4/3

Filed 3/26/26 P. v. Steele CA4/3

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THREE

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, G066090, G066148 v. (Super. Ct. No. 97HF0954) NICOLAS STEELE, OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

Appeal from postjudgment orders of the Superior Court of Orange County, Kevin Haskins, Judge. Affirmed. Steven A. Brody for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal, Assistant Attorney General, Eric A. Swenson and Tyler L. Krentz, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Appellant. * * *

In 1997 Nicolas Steele pled guilty to multiple criminal charges, including crimes of moral turpitude and felony child endangerment. In 2025, Steele filed a petition asking the trial court to vacate his convictions. The trial court denied the petition and a motion for reconsideration. We affirm. Steele did not establish prejudice arising from his criminal defense counsel’s failure to properly advise him regarding the immigration consequences of his guilty plea. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Steele, a citizen of New Zealand, entered the United States legally in 1991, but overstayed his visa. In 1997, Steele was charged with: (1) felony theft of an automobile (Pen. Code, § 487, subd. (d)); (2) felony unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a); (3) felony child abuse causing great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 273a, subd. (a)); (4) misdemeanor driving on a suspended license (Veh. Code, § 14601, subd. (a)); and (5) misdemeanor reckless driving (id., § 23103, subd. (b)). Steele pled guilty to all charges. The factual basis for his guilty plea reads: “On or about 7/8/97 and 8/24/97, in Orange County, I unlawfully took a vehicle from Hertz Rental with intent to deprive [the] owner of possession. I also drove a vehicle while my CDL was suspended, drove recklessly and endangered a child in my car.” Steele initialed paragraph 8 of the guilty plea form: “I understand that if I am not a citizen of the United States the conviction for the offense charged may have the consequence of deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States.” (Italics added.) Steele also initialed paragraph 22 of the guilty plea form, reading in relevant part: “I understand each and every one of the rights outlined above and I