People v. Stortz CA1/1

Filed 3/4/26 P. v. Stortz CA1/

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 ONE

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, A171098 v. (San Francisco City & County MICHAEL STORTZ, Super Ct. No. CRI23016291) Defendant and Appellant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION1

Michael Stortz was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment after a jury convicted him of kidnapping. (Pen. Code,2 § 207, subd. (a).) In this appeal, he urges us to reverse that conviction, arguing the trial court erroneously denied Stortz’s request to represent himself under Faretta v. California (1975) 422 U.S. 806 (Faretta). As we explain below, the trial court’s denial of Stortz’s Faretta motion at the preliminary-hearing stage was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt,…