People v. Fiske CA3

Filed 5/31/24 P. v. Fiske CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 (Yuba) ----

THE PEOPLE, C100048

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. CRF23-01811)

v.

JAMES MATTHEW FISKE,

Defendant and Appellant.

Appointed counsel for defendant James Matthew Fiske asked this court to review the record and determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) We dismiss the remaining charges and enhancement allegations that were not part of defendant’s plea agreement, modify the judgment to reflect that the trial court imposed the upper term (as stipulated to by defendant), and affirm the judgment as modified.

1

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In June 2023, while there was a state of emergency in effect, defendant threw a lit Stormproof match or Typhoon match out his car window while he was driving. The match landed on a victim, who suffered burns so bad they left scars on the victim’s neck and hand. A fire ignited and eventually burned more than 97 acres. Defendant was charged with seven counts of arson (counts I-VI, VIII) and two counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child’s parent (counts VII, IX). As to the arson counts, it was further alleged each offense was committed during and within an area of a state of emergency, defendant had a prior strike, and defendant had a prior serious felony. As to count VII, it was further alleged defendant personally used a deadly weapon and had a prior strike and a prior serious felony. As to count IX, it was further alleged defendant committed the crime while released on bail or on his own recognizance and that he had a prior strike. In September 2023, defendant pled no contest to one count of arson (count IV). He admitted the state of emergency enhancement, a great bodily injury enhancement, and the prior strike. The parties stipulated to a 21-year term and agreed to dismiss the remaining counts and enhancement allegations during sentencing. In November 2023, the trial court sentenced defendant to prison for an aggregate term of 21 years, as follows: 18 years for arson (although the court incorrectly described this as the lower term, it is actually the upper term of nine years1 doubled due to the prior strike) plus three years for the great bodily injury enhancement. The court also imposed a $300 restitution fine, a corresponding $300 parole revocation fine (suspended unless parole is revoked), a $40 court operations fee, and a $30 criminal conviction assessment