California v. Johnson

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After months of investigation by police, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and authorities in Kansas City, Missouri, Peter Johnson and Ian Patrick Guthrie were arrested and eventually charged with murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm for the shooting death of Lamar Canady in 2014. The investigation into Canady's death revealed Johnson and Guthrie were participants in a conspiracy to kill Canady led by drug kingpin Omar Grant, who ordered a hit on Canady, executed by Johnson with help from Guthrie and other uncharged coconspirators. After the trial, which was conducted jointly but with separate juries, Johnson and Guthrie were both convicted of first degree murder. Johnson's jury also found true the allegation that Johnson personally discharged a firearm resulting in Canady's death. Johnson and Guthrie appeal their convictions on various grounds; the Court of Appeal concluded these claims lacked merit and affirmed both men's convictions. However, while the appeal was pending, the Court granted Johnson's motion to file a supplemental brief to explain the impact of the newly enacted Penal Code section 12022.53(h) on his sentence. The Attorney General conceded the change in law applied to Johnson, but argued the record showed the trial court would not have struck the firearm enhancement even if it had had discretion to do so. Although the Court of Appeal agreed there was some support in the record for the State's position, section 12022.53(h) was not effective when the trial court sentenced Johnson and the court lacked the discretion to strike the firearm enhancement. After the Court of Appeal issued its opinion, the California Supreme Court accepted certiorari review of Guthrie's case, and denied Johnson. The Court mandated the appellate court review its decision in light of the recently enacted Senate Bill 1393 (Stats. 2018, ch. 1013). As with the changes in 2018 to section 12022.53, the Attorney General conceded the law applied retroactively to Guthrie's case, but argued remand was futile because the record was clear that the trial court would not have struck the enhancement had it had discretion to do so. Although the trial court indicated it would not strike the serious prior felony enhancement even if it had the discretion to do so, Guthrie did not have the opportunity to address the question. Therefore, "out of an abundance of caution," the Court of Appeal remanded the matter for the limited purpose of allowing the trial court to consider whether to strike the firearm sentencing enhancement imposed on Johnson and to consider whether to strike the serious prior felony enhancement imposed on Guthrie. View "California v. Johnson" on Justia Law