California Court of Appeal Dec 22, 2015 No. D067329Unpublished
Filed 12/22/15 P. v. Sphabmixay CA4/1
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D067329
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCD247285)
THONGSAVATH SPHABMIXAY,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Louis R.
Hanoian, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
George L. Schraer, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Sharon L. Rhodes and Seth M.
Friedman, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
In early April 2013, Thongsavath Sphabmixay (Sphabmixay) set fire to the two-
story house his sister, Pamela Sphabmixay (Pamela),1 owned in the Mira Mesa area of
San Diego. Sphabmixay lived in the house with Pamela, their mother Bouakham
Sphabmixay (Bouakham), and a renter, Dennis Pham. They were all inside the house
count of attempted first degree murder (count 3 [victim: Pham]: §§ 187, subd. (a), 189,
664), and one count of arson of an inhabited structure (count 4: § 451, subd. (b) (§
451(b)).
With respect to each of the two murder counts, the jury found to be true a special
circumstance allegation that Sphabmixay committed the murder during the commission
of arson within the meaning of section 190.2, subdivision (a)(17)(H) (section
190.2(a)(17)(H); see fn. 4, post). In addition, the jury found to be true a special
circumstance allegation that Sphabmixay committed multiple murders within the
meaning of section 190.2, subdivision (a)(3).
The court sentenced Sphabmixay to consecutive prison terms of life without the
possibility of parole for the two murder convictions, plus a consecutive term of seven
1 Because Sphabmixay, his sister, and their mother shared the same last name, in the interest of brevity and clarity we refer to Sphabmixay's relatives by their first names.
2 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code. 2
years to life for the attempted murder conviction, plus the upper term of eight years for
the arson conviction, which the court stayed under section 654.
The court also ordered Sphabmixay to pay $179,380.02 in victim restitution to
Pamela's estate under section 1202.4, subdivision (f)). In addition, the court imposed but
suspended a $10,000 parole revocation restitution fine under section 1202.45.
Sphabmixay raises three contentions on appeal. First, he contends his arson
conviction must be reversed because arson is a lesser included offense of what he refers
to as "murder with an arson special circumstance," he was convicted in this case of both
arson and "murder with an arson special circumstance," and a defendant cannot lawfully
be convicted of both a greater offense and a lesser included offense. Second, he contends
the court erred in ordering him to pay restitution to Pamela's estate for the fire damage to
her house. Third, he contends─and the Attorney General agrees─the parole revocation
restitution fine the court imposed under section 1202.45 should be stricken because the
court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
We modify the judgment by striking the parole revocation restitution fine. We
affirm the judgment in all other respects and remand the matter with directions to amend
the abstract of judgment to reflect the striking of that fine.
3
DISCUSSION3
I. ARSON IS NOT A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE OF MURDER WITH AN ARSON SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE
Sphabmixay contends his count 4 arson conviction must be reversed because (1)
"arson is a lesser included offense of murder with an arson special circumstance and a
defendant cannot be convicted of both a greater offense and a lesser included offense";
and (2) his arson offense is a lesser included offense of the murder offenses charged in
counts 1 and 2, which he variously refers to as "murder with an arson special
circumstance," "the offense of murder that is eligible for a sentence of life without parole
(LWOP)," and "LWOP-eligible murder during an arson." This contention is without
merit.
A. Background
The information charged Sphabmixay with two counts of first degree murder
(count 1 & 2). In each murder count, the information alleged an arson special
circumstance that "the murder . . . was committed by [Sphabmixay] . . . while [he] was
engaged in the commission and attempted commission of the crime of Arson, in violation
of [section] 45l(b), within the meaning of section 190.2(a)(l7)[(H)]."4 (CT 6.)
3 Because the underlying facts of this case are not pertinent to the issues raised in this appeal, we need not summarize them.
4 Section 190.2(a)(17)(H) provides: "(a) The penalty for a defendant who is found guilty of murder in the first degree is death or imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole if one or more of the following special circumstances has been found under Section 190.4 to be true: [¶] . . . [¶] (17) The murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in, or was an accomplice in, the commission of, 4
In addition, the information separately charged Sphabmixay with one count of
arson of an inhabited structure or property in violation of section 451(b) (count 4).
The jury found Sphabmixay guilty of the two murder counts and found to be true
the arson special circumstance alleged in each count. The jury also found him guilty of
arson.
B. Applicable Legal Principles
Section 954 generally permits multiple convictions for different offenses arising
out of the same act or course of conduct.5 (People v. Reed (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1224, 1226-
1227 (Reed).)
"However, an exception to this general rule allowing multiple convictions
prohibits multiple convictions based on necessarily included offenses." (People v.
Medina (2007) 41 Cal.4th 685, 701 (Medina).) This exception prohibiting a conviction
of both a greater offense and a necessarily included lesser offense is based on the
rationale that if the greater offense cannot be committed without committing the lesser,
conviction of the greater is also conviction of the lesser, and thus to permit conviction of
both offenses would allow the defendant to be convicted twice of the lesser offense. (Id.
attempted commission of, or the immediate flight after committing, or attempting to commit, the following felonies: [¶] . . . [¶] (H) Arson in violation of subdivision (b) of Section 451." (Italics added.)
5 Section 954 provides in part that "[a]n accusatory pleading may charge two or more different offenses connected together in their commission, or different statements of the same offense" and "the defendant may be convicted of any number of the offenses charged." 5
at p. 702.) There is no reason to permit the defendant to be convicted twice of the lesser
included offense. (Ibid.)
Although two tests traditionally had been used to identify necessarily included
offenses─the elements test and the accusatory pleading test─it is now established that
courts must apply only the statutory elements test when deciding whether a defendant
may be convicted of multiple charged crimes. (Reed, supra, 38 Cal.4th at pp. 1227-1228,
1231.)
"Under the elements test, if the statutory elements of the greater offense include all
of the statutory elements of the lesser offense, the latter is necessarily included in the
former." (Reed, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 1227.) Thus, a lesser offense is necessarily
included within a greater offense if the greater offense cannot be committed without also
committing the lesser offense. (People v. Montoya (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1031, 1034
(Montoya).)
In People v. Wolcott (1983) 34 Cal.3d 92 (Wolcott), the California Supreme Court
held a trial court may not consider sentencing enhancement allegations in determining
whether an offense is a lesser included offense. (Id. at p. 101.) In Wolcott, which
involved a firearm use enhancement, our high state court reasoned in part that California
courts had consistently stated that an enhancement statute does not prescribe a new
offense; it prescribes "'merely additional punishment for an offense.'" (Id. at p. 100.)
The Wolcott court also reasoned that the "orderly, step-by-step" process of criminal trials
would become "muddled" if the trier of fact had to consider "evidence of the
enhancement . . . in determining guilt of a lesser offense." (Id. at p. 101.) The Supreme
6
Court explained that "[p]resent procedure contemplates that the trier of fact first
determines whether the defendant is guilty of the charged offense or a lesser included
offense, and only then decides the truth of any enhancements." (Ibid.)
In People v. Sloan (2007) 42 Cal.4th 110 (Sloan), the California Supreme Court
reaffirmed the "long standing rule" in Wolcott (the Wolcott/Sloan rule) that
"enhancements may not be considered as part of an accusatory pleading for purposes of
identifying lesser included offenses." (Sloan, at p. 114.)
C. Analysis
The question we must decide is whether the jury's true findings on the section
190.2(a)(17)(H) arson special circumstance allegations in the two murder counts render
Sphabmixay's arson offense a lesser included offense of those murders such that his arson
conviction must be reversed under the rule prohibiting a conviction of both a greater
offense and a necessarily included lesser offense (see Medina, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p.
701). We answer the question in the negative because (1) the true findings on the arson
special circumstance allegations attached to the murder counts are akin to a true finding
on a sentence enhancement allegation in that they enhance─or, in Sphabmixay's words,
make "more severe"─the penalty for Sphabmixay's first degree murder offenses, and thus
(2) the Wolcott/Sloan rule (discussed, ante) applies and renders the true findings on the
arson special circumstance allegations irrelevant to the determination under the statutory
elements test of whether Sphabmixay's arson offense is a lesser included offense of his
murder offenses.
7
Sphabmixay acknowledges the issue of whether his arson offense is a lesser
included offense of the murder offenses charged in counts 1 and 2 must be decided
through application of the statutory elements test. (See Reed, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p.
1231.) Under that test, "if the statutory elements of the greater offense include all of the
statutory elements of the lesser offense, the latter is necessarily included in the former."
(Id. at p. 1227.) Sphabmixay also acknowledges that a lesser offense is necessarily
included within a greater offense if the greater offense cannot be committed without also
committing the lesser offense. (See Montoya, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1034.)
Sphabmixay does not contend, nor could he properly assert, that the statutory
elements of arson are necessarily included in the statutory elements of murder, or that
murder cannot be committed without also committing arson. It is obvious a person can
commit murder without also committing arson.
In his attempt to persuade this court that arson is a lesser included offense of his
murder offenses, Sphabmixay asserts "arson is a lesser included offense of a count
charging murder and an arson special circumstance." He states: "The charged offense [in
counts 1 and 2] was not simple murder. It was murder with an arson special
circumstance." (Italics added.)
In support of his contention that the crimes charged in counts 1 and 2 were not
murder, but another crime called "murder with an arson special circumstance,"
Sphabmixay seeks to avoid the Wolcott/Sloan rule─that "enhancements may not be
considered as part of an accusatory pleading for purposes of identifying lesser included
offenses" (Sloan, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 114)─by asserting "the arson special
8
circumstance is not an enhancement that is irrelevant to the nature of the charged offense,
and the rationales for treating it as irrelevant do not apply." He asserts the arson special
circumstance charged in those counts "is, instead, an element" of "murder with an arson
special circumstance."
In support of his contentions that an arson special circumstance under section
190.2(a)(17)(H) is not a sentence enhancement for purposes of the Wolcott/Sloan rule,
and that it should be considered an element of "murder with an arson special
circumstance," Sphabmixay attempts to distinguish a special circumstance from an
enhancement. Specifically, he asserts "[a]n enhancement is defined [under rule 4.405(3)
of the California Rules of Court] as 'an additional term of imprisonment added to the base
term,'" whereas under section 190.2, subdivision (a) (see fn. 4, ante), a special
circumstance attached to a first degree murder charge subjects the defendant to the
penalty of death or imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of
parole, which (he asserts) "is a more severe sentence than the one applicable to ordinary
first degree murder" (italics added). He asserts "a special circumstance does not add a
term of imprisonment to the term for first degree murder. It instead removes the
possibility of release [from prison]."
In response the Attorney General argues Sphabmixay is making "a distinction
without a difference." We agree. The arson special circumstances alleged in counts 1
and 2 under section 190.2(a)(17)(H) do not transform the crime of first degree murder
charged in those counts into a new crime Sphabmixay refers to as "murder with an arson
special circumstance." The crime charged in counts 1 and 2 is "willful, deliberate and
on the arson special circumstance allegations attached to those murder counts are akin to
a true finding on a sentence enhancement allegation in that, under section
190.2(a)(17)(H), the jury's true findings enhance─or, in Sphabmixay's words, make
"more severe"─the penalty for his first degree murder offenses. Citing section 190,
subdivision (a), Sphabmixay correctly asserts "[t]he term for ordinary first degree murder
is 25 years to life."6 However, a true finding on an arson special circumstance allegation
enhances or makes more severe the penalty for a first degree murder conviction by
imposing the penalty of either death or imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
(§ 190.2(a)(17)(H).)
Sphabmixay cites no statutory or decisional authority, and we are aware of none,
holding that a court is to consider a murder special circumstance allegation in
determining whether another charged offense is necessarily included in the charged
murder. In support of his contention that an arson special circumstance is not an
enhancement, Sphabmixay principally relies on People v. Montes (2014) 58 Cal.4th 809
in which the Supreme Court stated that "'special circumstances are sui generis─neither a
crime, an enhancement, nor a sentencing factor.'" (Id. at p. 874.) Sphabmixay's reliance
on Montes is misplaced because he quotes Montes out of context and because that case
6 Subdivision (a) of section 190 provides in part: "Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall be punished by death, imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole, or imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 25 years to life. The penalty to be applied shall be determined as provided in Sections 190.1, 190.2, 190.3, 190.4, and 190.5." (Italics added.) 10
does not hold that a court is to consider a murder special circumstance allegation in
determining whether another charged offense is necessarily included in a charged murder.
(See Montes, at pp. 874-875.)
This court has explained that "a special circumstance is a penalty enhancement."
(People v. Superior Court (Jurado) (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 1217, 1231, italics added.)
Citing Wolcott, supra, 34 Cal.3d at page 101, we also explained in Jurado that "[p]enalty
enhancements are not part of the greater or lesser offense analysis." (Jurado, p. 1231.)
We further explained that "[i]n California criminal procedure special circumstances are
decided during the guilt phase, after a verdict of first degree murder has been reached by
the jury." (Ibid., italics added, citing People v. Odle (1988) 45 Cal.3d 386, 411, fn. 11,
disapproved on another ground as recognized in People v. Prieto (2003) 30 Cal.4th 226,
256.)
Here, the verdict forms for counts 1 and 2 support our conclusion that the arson
special circumstance alleged in each of those first degree murder counts is not an element
of those murders. Those verdict forms show the jury properly followed the "orderly,
step-by-step [criminal trial] procedure" (Wolcott, supra, 34 Cal.3d at p. 101) by deciding
the arson special circumstance allegations "after a verdict of first degree murder ha[d]
been reached by the jury" (Jurado, supra, 4 Cal.App.4th at p. 1231). Specifically, the
jury returned separate verdicts finding Sphabmixay guilty of first degree murder as
charged in counts 1 and 2. As to each of those counts, after the jury found Sphabmixay
guilty, the jury returned a separate verdict finding the arson special circumstance
allegation was true.
11
Because each arson special circumstance is the functional equivalent of a sentence
enhancement and is not an element of the first degree murders charged in counts 1 and 2,
we conclude the Wolcott/Sloan rule applies so as to render the jury's true findings on the
arson special circumstance allegations irrelevant to the determination under the statutory
elements test of whether Sphabmixay's count 4 arson offense is a lesser included offense
of his murder offenses. (See Sloan, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 114.) We also conclude
Sphabmixay's arson offense is not a lesser included offense of his murder offenses, and
thus the necessarily included offense rule prohibiting a conviction of both a greater
offense and a necessarily included lesser offense does not apply. Accordingly, we affirm
Sphabmixay's arson conviction.
II. RESTITUTION TO PAMELA'S ESTATE
Sphabmixay next contends the court erred in ordering him to pay restitution in the
amount of $179,380.02 to his sister Pamela's estate for the fire damage to her house. He
complains that, as a matter of law, Pamela's estate was not a direct victim of
Sphabmixay's arson offense within the meaning of the restitution statute (§ 1202.4). We
reject Sphabmixay's contention.
A. Legal Principles (Victim Restitution)
In People v. Sy (2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 44, this court recently explained that "[t]he
California Constitution gives crime victims a right to restitution and, consequently,
requires a court to order a convicted wrongdoer to pay restitution in every case in which a
crime victim suffers a loss." (Id. at p. 62, citing Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd.
(b)(13)(B).) "To implement this requirement, section 1202.4, subdivision (f), generally
12
provides that 'in every case in which a victim has suffered economic loss as a result of the
defendant's conduct, the court shall require that the defendant make restitution to the
victim or victims in an amount established by court order, based on the amount of loss
claimed by the victim or victims or any other showing to the court.'" (Sy, at p. 62.)
We also explained in Sy that "[a] victim includes '[a] corporation, business trust,
["Determination of the amount of restitution ordered pursuant to this subdivision shall not
be affected by the indemnification or subrogation rights of a third party."].)
Accordingly, we affirm the restitution order.
III. PAROLE REVOCATION RESTITUTON FINE
Last, Sphabmixay contends the parole revocation restitution fine the court
imposed under section 1202.45 should be stricken because the court sentenced him to life
14
in prison without the possibility of parole. The Attorney General acknowledges that fine
should be stricken. We agree. (People v. McWhorter (2009) 47 Cal.4th 318, 380.)
Accordingly, we shall order the fine stricken and the judgment modified to so reflect.
DISPOSITION
The parole revocation restitution fine imposed under section 1202.45 is ordered
stricken. In all other respects the judgment is affirmed. The matter is remanded with
directions that the superior court prepare an amended abstract of judgment to reflect the
modification of the judgment striking the parole revocation restitution fine and forward a
certified copy of the corrected abstract to the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation.
NARES, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
McINTYRE, J.
AARON, J.
15
AI Brief
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Holding. The court held that arson is not a lesser included offense of murder with an arson special circumstance, affirmed the restitution order to the victim's estate, and struck the parole revocation restitution fine because the defendant was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Issues
Whether arson is a lesser included offense of murder with an arson special circumstance.
Whether a deceased victim's estate is a proper recipient of restitution for property damage.
Whether a parole revocation restitution fine is applicable when a defendant is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Disposition. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The arson special circumstances alleged in counts 1 and 2 under section 190.2(a)(17)(H) do not transform the crime of first degree murder charged in those counts into a new crime”
“a deceased victim's estate may, in appropriate cases, receive restitution”
“the parole revocation restitution fine the court imposed under section 1202.45 should be stricken because the court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.”