Until recently, defendants who were found to have used a firearm in the commission of a serious felony would receive an additional and mandatory sentence enhancement of as much as 25-years-to-life in the state prison. Merely using a firearm during the commission of a felony resulted in an additional prison sentence of 10 years. Discharging that firearm would result in a mandatory and consecutive 20-year sentence enhancement. Causing great bodily injury by discharging a firearm triggered an automatic 25-year enhancement. California Penal Code §12022.53. Needless to say that in most cases, these enhancements carried much more time than the underlying crime committed
Prior to the passage, SB 620, judges did not have the power to strike a firearm enhancement using Penal Code §1385. This meant that if the prosecution was able to prove that a gun was used, or discharged during the commission of a serious felony, the court was required to enhance the defendant’s sentence by up to 25 years-to-life. More importantly, a non-shooter (accessory) defendant could be subjected to the mandatory life term enhancement provided by Penal Code §12022.53, if the shooting was proven to be committed for the benefit of a street gang. California Penal Code §186.22(a).
For example, Paul and Josh are gang members. One night, they commit a drive-by-shooting together for the benefit of their gang. Paul is the driver and Josh fires the gun. Because Josh personally discharged his firearm, he may receive a 20 years-to-life firearm enhancement along with a gang sentencing enhancement. Because the shooting was for the benefit of a gang, Paul may also receive a firearm enhancement. It does not matter that Paul was not a shooter so long as the prosecution can prove that the shooting was committed for the benefit of a street gang. A crime is considered for the benefit of a gang if it “willfully promotes, furthers, or assists” the gang or the members of that gang. One does not even need to be a member of the gang for this rule to apply.
In October of 2017, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 620 into law, affording judges the discretion to strike or dismiss a firearm enhancement at the time of sentencing or resentencing. Effective January 1, 2018, judges may dismiss a firearm enhancement and permit concurrent sentences for a serious primary offense and enhancement, if doing so is in the “interests of justice.”
S.B. 620 was prompted by a number of nationwide studies that reviewed the (in)effectiveness of the 1998 mandatory sentencing laws. Those studies showed that such sentences were not only ineffective as deterrents, but actually had the opposite impact, by greatly increasing the population of incarcerated persons.
SB 620 does not eliminate firearm sentencing enhancements. Instead, it takes the power to decide on the severity of a sentence away from prosecutors and restores to trial courts the discretion under Penal Code §1385 to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether the requested firearm enhancement fits the nature and severity of the crime, as well as the defendant’s involvement in that crime.
In determining whether to strike a sentencing enhancement, the court considers a number of mitigating and aggravating factors. These factors include those relating to the crime, and factors relating to the defendant such as the defendant’s criminal history, reduced culpability, voluntary acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and any other factors that reasonably relate to the defendant or the circumstances under which the crime was committed.
SB 620 applies to any case that was not yet final within the meaning of In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740, when the law took effect on January 1, 2018. This means your case could be remanded to allow the sentencing judge to consider whether to strike the gun enhancement. If you are charged with a serious offense involving a firearm, or if you were sentenced prior to January 1, 2018, and your case was not yet final for purpose of appellate review when the law became effective, you will need the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. California gun laws are confusing and can add decades to your sentence. Call Wegman & Levin today at (818) 980-4000 to learn more and schedule a free consultation!
