People v. Delacruz CA2/4

INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 2023, a jury convicted defendant and appellant Benjamin Delacruz of possession of a firearm by a felon. (Pen Code,1 § 29800, subd. (a)(1).) The jury acquitted him of misdemeanor driving on a suspended or revoked license. (Veh. Code, § 14601.1, subd. (a).) The trial court sentenced him to an upper term of three years in state prison. Delacruz timely appealed, and we appointed counsel to represent him. On February 23, 2024, appellate counsel filed a brief raising no issues and asking us to review the record independently. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).) Delacruz did not respond to our letter advising him of his right to file supplemental briefing. Following our review of the record pursuant to Wende, we affirm.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

George Buhkin of the Hawthorne Police Department was on patrol on October 8, 2021, when he recognized Delacruz driving the car in front of him. Buhkin had come in contact with Delacruz numerous times in the past. Delacruz’s car was missing a front license plate, and Buhkin knew Delacruz’s license had been suspended, so he decided to conduct a traffic stop. Buhkin made a U-turn to catch up to…