Opinion
B299056
01-09-2020
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. DANIEL LEE BIDDLE, Defendant and Appellant.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. SA068151)
THE COURT:
In 2008, Daniel Lee Biddle (defendant) fatally shot a person in the head. (See People v. Biddle (Jan. 11, 2012, B223000) 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 187 [nonpub. opn.].) In 2009, a jury convicted defendant of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)), and possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 12021, subd. (a)(1)). The jury also found that defendant personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury and death. (§ 12022.53, subd. (d).) The trial court sentenced defendant to prison for 50 years to life, comprised of a sentence of 25 years to life for the murder and a consecutive 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement.
All future statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated. --------
In February 2019, defendant filed a petition for resentencing under section 1170.95, as enacted pursuant to Senate Bill No. 1437 (Sen. Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015)) (SB 1437), effective January 1, 2019. In a nutshell, SB 1437 invalidates murder convictions when the defendant is "not the actual killer, did not act with the intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life." (Id., § 1, subd. (f), italics added.) The trial court denied defendant's petition "because the jury found the defendant [to be the] actual killer, as he personally discharged the firearm, resulting in death." Thus, the court reasoned, SB 1437 did not by its terms apply to defendant.
Defendant appealed, and his appointed counsel filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende), raising no issues. On October 18, 2019, we notified defendant of his counsel's brief and gave him leave to file, within 30 days, his own brief or letter stating any grounds or argument he might wish to have considered. That time has elapsed, and defendant has submitted no brief or letter.
We conclude that the trial court's ruling is correct. Further, we have examined the entire record and are satisfied that defendant's attorney has fully complied with his responsibilities and that no other arguable issues exist. We conclude that defendant has, by virtue of counsel's compliance with the Wende procedure and our review of the record, received adequate and effective appellate review of the judgment entered against him in this case. (Smith v. Robbins (2000) 528 U.S. 259, 278-279; People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106, 123-124.)
The judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS. /s/_________
LUI, P.J., /s/_________
CHAVEZ, J., /s/_________
HOFFSTADT, J.