People v. Puno CA2/1

Filed 6/12/23 P. v. Puno CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

THE PEOPLE, B320150

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. TA152579) v.

IVONNE ORTIZ PUNO,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a restitution order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Hector E. Gutierrez, Judge. Affirmed. Roberta Simon, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent. ____________________________

Defendant Ivonne Ortiz Puno appeals from a restitution order following her nolo contendere plea to grand theft. Her counsel filed a brief identifying no issues and requesting this court independently review the record pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, 442 (Wende). We independently review the record, find no arguable issue, and affirm the restitution order.

BACKGROUND From April 2014 to November 2016, defendant worked as a paralegal/office manager in the law office of attorney Lee Durst, the Justice Law Center.

1. Information The People charged defendant with four counts of grand theft. The People alleged that defendant fraudulently appropriated insurance settlement proceeds from Francisco Magana, Edith Ramirez, Kanisha Benton, and Carmen Ortiz. Durst was not charged in the information contained in the record on appeal, but the trial court referred to him as a defendant. Defendant pleaded nolo contendere to one count of grand theft. The court suspended imposition of sentence and placed defendant on formal probation for two years. The court also required defendant to make restitution to the victims. The court dismissed the remaining counts in accordance with the parties’ plea agreement.