People v. Maeda CA1/4
Court
California Court of Appeal
Decided
June 30, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
45%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
Filed 6/30/25 P. v. Maeda CA1/4 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION FOUR THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A172940 v. MITCHELL MAEDA, (Sacramento County Super. Ct. No. 05F09119) Defendant and Appellant. The trial court resentenced defendant Mitchell Maeda pursuant to a stipulation after the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) notified the court that defendant was eligible for resentencing under Penal Code section 1172.75. (Pen. Code1, § 1172.75). In this appeal, defendant’s appointed counsel filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende) summarizing the facts and asking the court to review the record to identify any issues warranting relief. Defendant was advised of his right to file a supplemental brief, but failed to do so. After our independent review of the record, we find no issues warranting further briefing and therefore affirm. 1 All subsequent statutory references are to the Penal Code. 1 BACKGROUND After a 2007 jury trial, defendant was convicted of first-degree murder, felony vehicle theft, and robbery. In a bifurcated proceeding, the trial court found true two prior prison term allegations pursuant to section 667.5, subdivision (b). The court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of 28 years and 4 months to life, which consisted of a term of 25 years to life for murder and a consecutive determinate term of three years and four months. The determinate term consisted of the low term of 16 months for the vehicle theft count and two years for the two prior prison terms.2 In August 2023, having been informed by the CDCR that defendant was eligible for resentencing pursuant to section 1172.75, the trial court appointed counsel for defendant and ordered the district attorney to submit a brief setting forth its position on resentencing. The district attorney agreed that defendant was eligible for resentencing because his two one-year prison prior enhancements were no longer valid under section 1172.75, as his prior convictions were not for sexually violent offenses.3 On January 30, 2024, the parties agreed that defendant was eligible for resentencing and stipulated that the trial court should resentence defendant by striking the two invalid one-year enhancements from the previously- imposed determinate term, with “[a]ll other aspects of the original sentencing to remain as previously ordered.” The court resentenced defendant 2 The court ran the sentence on the robbery conviction concurrent to the sentence on the murder count and stayed it pursuant to section 654. 3 Section 1172.75, subdivision (a) provides as follows: “Any sentence enhancement that was imposed prior to January 1, 2020, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 667.5, except for any enhancement imposed for a prior conviction for a sexually violent offense as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 6600 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is legally invalid.” 2 consistently with the parties’ stipulation, although it also reduced the restitution and parole revocation restitution fines from $10,000 each to “[m]inimum fines and fees.” The amended abstract of judgment filed the same date, however, erroneously set forth the $10,000 fines imposed at the original sentencing. Additionally, it repeated the original calculation of presentence credits rather than updating them for the time spent in custody since the original sentencing date. On March 20, 2024, defendant timely filed a notice of appeal. On October 7, 2024, defendant’s counsel wrote to the trial court requesting an amended abstract of judgment reflecting the minimum fines and fees and the award of actual custody credits pursuant to People v. Buckhalter (2001) 26 Cal.4th 20, 29. In particular, counsel pointed out that defendant had served 732 actual days prior to his original sentencing, and from that date to the resentencing date was another 5,954 days. Defendant’s counsel stated that the total award should therefore be 6,686 days. On November 19, 2024, the trial court issued a written order a
Case Details
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 30, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: People v. Maeda
Citation: Unknown
Court: California Court of Appeal (CA1/4)
Date: June 30, 2025
Jurisdiction: Sacramento County
In the case of People v. Maeda, the California Court of Appeal addressed the resentencing of Mitchell Maeda under Penal Code § 1172.75. The court affirmed the trial court's decision to resentence Maeda after the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) determined he was eligible for such relief. This case highlights the evolving landscape of sentencing laws in California, particularly regarding enhancements that are no longer valid.
Key Legal Issues
- Eligibility for Resentencing: Whether Maeda was eligible for resentencing under Penal Code § 1172.75.
- Validity of Sentence Enhancements: The legal status of prior prison term enhancements under the current penal code.
Court's Decision
The California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's resentencing of Mitchell Maeda, finding no issues warranting further briefing. The court's decision was based on the stipulation between the parties regarding the invalidity of certain sentence enhancements.
Legal Reasoning
The court's reasoning centered on the stipulation that the enhancements imposed prior to January 1, 2020, were invalid under Penal Code § 1172.75. The law states that any enhancement for prior convictions not involving sexually violent offenses is legally invalid. The district attorney agreed with this assessment, leading to the trial court's decision to resentence Maeda by striking the invalid enhancements.
Key Holdings
- The trial court properly resentenced Maeda by removing the invalid one-year enhancements.
- The amended abstract of judgment corrected previous errors regarding fines and custody credits.
- The court found no further issues requiring additional briefing or legal action.
Precedents and Citations
- People v. Wende (1979)
- People v. Buckhalter (2001)
- Penal Code § 1172.75
Practical Implications
The ruling in People v. Maeda serves as a significant reference for future cases involving resentencing under Penal Code § 1172.75. It underscores the importance of reviewing past enhancements that may no longer hold legal weight, particularly in light of evolving penal code provisions. Legal practitioners should be aware of the implications of this case for their clients who may be eligible for resentencing due to changes in the law. This case also emphasizes the necessity for accurate documentation in sentencing, as errors in the abstract of judgment can lead to further legal complications.
Overall, People v. Maeda illustrates the court's commitment to ensuring that sentencing aligns with current legal standards and the rights of defendants. Legal professionals should consider this case when advising clients on potential resentencing opportunities under California law.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 30, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools