People v. Maldonado CA3

BACKGROUND

An information charged Maldonado with battery with serious bodily injury (§ 243, subd. (d)).2 Pursuant to a plea agreement, the information was subsequently amended to add a count of felony dissuading a witness. (§ 136.1, subd. (b)(1).) Maldonado then pled no contest to the dissuading a witness charge in exchange for two years’ formal probation, conditioned on serving 90 days in county jail. On the People’s motion, the trial court dismissed the remaining count. In a written plea form, Maldonado acknowledged that she understood that if she was not a United States citizen, her no contest plea “may result” in her deportation, exclusion from admission, or denial of naturalization. Maldonado also acknowledged in the plea form that she had a full opportunity to discuss the case with her attorney, including the immigration consequences of the plea. The trial court confirmed Maldonado understood everything on the plea form. During the plea colloquy, the court advised Maldonado, “if you are not a citizen of this country, by entry of your plea today and conviction herein, it can result in your deportation, denial of readmission into this country, or affect your ability to become…