P. v. Fisher CA3

Filed 5/1/13 P. v. Fisher CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Lassen) ----

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, C068360

v. (Super. Ct. No. CR028039)

TIMOTHY FISHER,

Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant Timothy Fisher appeals his conviction for felony vandalism and the state prison sentence imposed for that conviction. He contends the trial court did not preserve a record adequate for appellate review, in that the record does not contain the written jury instructions. Next, he contends the trial court committed reversible error in failing to instruct the jury that felony vandalism requires damage of over $400. Even assuming the court erred in the instructions given, on the evidentiary record before us, we find the instructional error harmless under Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 [17 L.Ed.2d 705]. With regard to his sentence, defendant contends, under the principles of equal protection, the October 1, 2011, amendments to Penal Code section 1170 must be given retroactive effect, and accordingly he must be sentenced to county jail rather

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than state prison.1 Based on our decision in People v. Lynch (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 353, we reject this contention as well. BACKGROUND Defendant was charged with felony vandalism. (§ 594, subd. (a).) The complaint specifically alleged defendant had defaced Alana Davey’s vehicle, “the amount of said damage being over $400.” In August 2010, defendant was standing next to a 2007 Honda Civic, scratching paint off the trunk with sandpaper. He whistled to get Lassen County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew MacFarland’s attention. MacFarland came over, examined the car and noted the damage to the trunk lid. Defendant acknowledged the car was not his and MacFarland arrested him for vandalism. Alana Davey, the owner of the car, took it to Bear’s Repair for an estimate and repairs. Michael Moser, the owner of Bear’s Repair, estimated the repairs would cost $810.53. The insurance company adjuster estimated the necessary repairs at $451.81. This estimate did not include all of the repairs Moser suggested. Moser made the $810.53 in repairs to the car and the insurance company covered $451.81 of the repairs. At the time of the offense, defendant was new to the area and had no place to stay. He intentionally sanded the paint off the car and summoned the police, as a “self-imposed arrest.” He hoped by going to jail, he would have stable housing and be placed in a work release program. This incident was the latest in “an extended series of self-imposed arrests” committed by defendant. Defendant disputed the cost to repair the car, stating, “I specifically dispute $810 damage, just making it a felony. I think that’s been exaggerated a little bit here.”