Opinion

This case poses the question whether a claim of error under People v. Hitch (1974) 12 Cal.3d 641 [ 117 Cal.Rptr. 9 , 527 P.2d 361], can be raised by appeal following a guilty plea. We hold that any such error is waived by a guilty plea and is not, thereafter, cognizable on appeal. Defendant was charged with forcible rape (Pen. Code, § 261, subd. (2)), oral copulation (§ 288a), and kidnapping. (§ 207.) In the trial court he moved for dismissal of the charges or other sanctions due to the failure of the sheriff’s department to preserve relevant physical evidence. (People v. Hitch, supra, 12 Cal.3d 641 .) The trial court denied the motion to dismiss but ruled the test results related to the lost evidence would not be admissible at trial. Thereafter, defendant plead guilty to the offenses. He applied for and was granted a certificate of probable cause. On appeal he challenges the trial court’s ruling on his Hitch motion, contending the sanction imposed was inadequate. He argues his guilty plea does not preclude appellate review of the alleged Hitch error or, alternatively, that the failure to preserve this issue constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. We shall affirm.

Factual and Procedural Background

On the afternoon of April 30, 1977, defendant and a friend stopped their car and gave a ride to a woman who was hitchhiking to work. After driving a few minutes, defendant drove off the main road and stopped his car. His companion left the site, saying he “[didn’t] want any part of this.” Defendant then struck the victim, raped her, and forced her to engage in an act of oral copulation. Before abandoning the victim, defendant bent his license plate in an attempt to prevent the victim from identifying the car.

Defendant subsequently left California and was gone from the state until mid-1983. On his return, he was apprehended and charged with forcible rape, oral copulation and kidnapping stemming from the 1977 assault. The victim testified at the preliminary hearing and identified defendant as the assailant. Defendant’s friend also testified regarding the events he had witnessed before leaving the scene.

Defendant initially entered pleas of not guilty to the information. Shortly afterward, he moved to dismiss the information due to the failure of the sheriff’s department to preserve evidence.

Evidence at the hearing on the Hitch motion established that the victim’s underpants, jacket and specimens taken during a physical examination of the victim were collected after the rape. Subsequent laboratory tests' indicated the presence of semen on the underwear and saliva on the jacket. The collected evidence was stored at the Amador County Sheriff’s office. A search for the items prior to trial revealed that they had been lost, possibly during a routine, periodic cleanout of the evidence locker.

Expert testimony was presented to show that, if the evidence were available, testing might be done which could conclusively eliminate defendant as the perpetrator of the charged offenses.

The trial court found that “[t]he evidence before the court shows the inadvertent loss of certain material evidence from the Amador County Sheriff’s evidence locker, which evidence could be subject to tests, which in spite of the passage of time could result in the production of evidentiary material favorable to the defendant.” As a sanction, the court ruled the prosecution would be barred from introducing the results of the laboratory tests at trial.

Defendant subsequently withdrew his not guilty pleas and pleaded guilty to the charged offenses. At the time of the plea, counsel for defendant indicated her intention to seek a certifícate of probable cause in order to appeal from the ruling on the Hitch motion. The plea, however, was not conditioned on the issuance of the certificate.

Defendant applied to the trial court for a certificate of probable cause on the ground “that the trial court erroneously denied defendant’s motion for dismissal or other sanctions under People v. Hitch . . . The certificate issued and this appeal followed.

Discussion

I

The threshold question presented by this appeal is whether a trial court ruling on a Hitch motion may be appealed following a plea of guilty. We conclude that it may not.

We begin by reviewing the principles which govern the impact of a plea of guilty on appealability and by noting the role of a certificate of probable cause. We next assess the nature of a Hitch motion in light of these principles.

Our discussion begins with section 1237.5 which governs appeals following guilty pleas. The statute tells us both how appeals may be taken and upon what they may be based. The statute first says that an appeal following a guilty plea may not be taken without a certificate of probable cause. To procure a certificate, a written application must be made to the trial court asserting the basis for appeal. Presented with the required written showing, the trial court must “certify any arguably meritorious appeal” and issue the certificate of probable cause. (People v. Holland (1978) 23 Cal.3d 77, 84 [ 151 Cal.Rptr. 625 , 588 P.2d 765 ].) The section also tells us that appeals after pleas of guilty may only be based on “reasonable constitutional, jurisdictional, or other grounds going to the legality of the proceedings” resulting in the plea. (People v. De Vaughn (1977) 18 Cal.3d 889, 895 [ 135 Cal.Rptr. 786 , 558 P.2d 872 ].) Significantly, “The issuance of a certificate of probable cause pursuant to section 1237.5 does not operate to expand the grounds upon which an appeal may be taken . . . .” (Id., at p. 896; and see People v. Ribero (1971) 4 Cal.3d 55, 63-64 [92 Cal.Rptr. 692, 480 P.2d 308 ].) We turn then to the question, what issues survive a guilty plea for purposes of appeal.

We recently assessed the nature of a guilty plea in People v. Turner (1985) 171 Cal.App.3d 116 [ 214 Cal.Rptr. 572 ]. We noted there that it constitutes an admission of each essential element of the charged offenses and recognized that “[a] guilty plea thus concedes that the prosecution possesses legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, Accordingly, a plea of guilty waives any right to raise questions regarding the evidence, including its sufficiency or admissibility, and this is true whether or not the subsequent claim of evi-dentiary error is founded on constitutional violations.” (Id., at p. 125; and see In re Hawley (1967) 67 Cal.2d 824, 828 [ 63 Cal.Rptr. 831 , 433 P.2d 919 ].) Because of these implications, on an appeal following a guilty plea, “A defendant . . . can raise only those questions which go to the power of the state to try him despite his guilt. In other words, in the language of the statute, defendant can only raise ‘grounds going to the legality of the proceedings.’ (§ 1237.5)” (Id., at p. 126.) What may not be appealed are “issues relating to [a defendant’s] guilt or to the procedure which would otherwise be required to establish his guilt.” (Ibid.) What may be appealed are claims, “which, if true, would preclude the state from prosecuting [a defendant] despite his guilt.” (Id., at p. 127.)

Of particular interest here is the illustration of this distinction afforded by cases involving alleged “speedy trial” violations. “The essence of a defendant’s speedy trial or due process claim in the usual case is that the passage of time has frustrated his ability to establish his innocence. The resolution of a speedy trial or due process issue necessitates a careful assessment of the particular facts of a case in order that the question of prejudice may be determined. [¶] Where the defendant pleads guilty, there are no facts to be assessed. And since a plea of guilty admits every element of the offense charged, there is no innocence to be established. Therefore, the issues raised by appellant are not cognizable on an appeal from a judgment entered upon a guilty plea.” (People v. Hayton (1979) 95 Cal.App.3d 413, 419 [ 156 Cal.Rptr. 426 ], fn. omitted.) Hayton involved a felony prosecution. In contrast, the speedy trial issue in Avila v. Municipal Court (1983) 148 Cal.App.3d 807 [ 196 Cal.Rptr. 286 ], involved a speedy trial claim in a misdemeanor context. There, the court reasoned, “[r] ever sal of a felony conviction on appeal because of a speedy trial error requires a showing of prejudice. [Citations omitted.] ... [1] The impact of a Penal Code section 1382[ ] violation on the prosecution of a misdemeanor is, however, quite different. When a felony is dismissed pursuant to section 1382, the prosecution may refile the same charge. Once a misdemeanor has been dismissed pursuant to section 1382, it cannot be filed again. This distinction leads to a different standard of appellate review of speedy trial issues for misdemeanors; a section 1382 error requires reversal and dismissal of a misdemeanor conviction without any showing of prejudice [citations] and has nothing to do with guilt or innocence. Thus, the rationale for the holding that a speedy trial issue is not cognizable following a guilty plea simply does not apply to a misdemeanor conviction.” ( 148 Cal.App.3d at p. 812 .)

Applying these rules, we found in Turner that a plea of guilty did not preclude appeal from error asserted under section 654 as interpreted by Kellett v. Superior Court (1966) 63 Cal.2d 822 [ 48 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 409 P.2d 206 ], because the error was one which went to the prosecution’s ability to prosecute the defendant despite his guilt because of a failure to properly join charges for prosecution.

Focusing this light from Turner , we look to see whether claimed Hitch error deals with guilt or innocence and its provability or whether it has to do with the viability of the criminal proceedings regardless of guilt or innocence.

In People v. Hitch, supra, 12 Cal.3d 641 , the Supreme Court applied general principles of due process and held that the government was obligated to preserve a breath sample taken from a person charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and that the intentional but nonmalicious destruction of such evidence would result in sanctions in the absence of compliance with appropriate procedures for collection and preservation. The principles of Hitch have been applied to other types of evidence, including evidence of the kind at issue here. (People v. Nation (1980) 26 Cal.3d 169 [ 161 Cal.Rptr. 299 , 604 P.2d 1051 ].) What is of consequence to the issue of appealability, of course, is not what objects are subject to the rules concerning preservation, but what interests the rules promote. We deduce these interests from the underpinnings of Hitch.

Hitch applied due process principles articulated in a number of earlier federal and. California cases. Foremost among these is Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83 [ 10 L.Ed.2d 215 , 83 S.Ct. 1194 ], Brady involved the government’s intentional withholding of a codefendant’s statement admitting that he, and not defendant Brady, had actually committed a murder with which Brady was charged. This admission was contrary to the prosecution’s trial evidence. Holding this suppression violative of due process, the court characterized the application of the rule it announced as not being “punishment of society for misdeeds of a prosecutor but avoidance of an unfair trial to the accused.” ( 373 U.S. at p. 87 [ 10 L.Ed.2d at p. 218 ], italics added.) The court then noted that “a prosecution that withholds evidence on demand of an accused which, if made available, would tend to exculpate him . . . helps shape a trial that bears heavily on the defendant.” (Ibid., 373 U.S. at pp. 87-88 [ 10 L.Ed.2d at p. 219 ], italics added.) Brady thus held that “the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” (Ibid., 373 U.S. at p. 87 [ 10 L.Ed.2d at p. 218 ].) Later, in Giglio v. United States (1972) 405 U.S. 150 [ 31 L.Ed.2d 104 , 92 S.Ct. 763 ], a bargain with a key prosecution witness was not disclosed by the government. The court found the evidence significant to the credibility of the witness and found the due process rule of Brady should be applied. “When the ‘reliability of a given witness may well be determinative of guilt or innocence’ nondisclosure of evidence affecting credibility falls within [the] rule.” ( 405 U.S. at p. 154 [ 31 L.Ed.2d at p. 108 ], citation omitted, italics added.) The California Supreme Court faced similar issues in People v. Kiihoa (1960) 53 Cal.2d 748 [ 3 Cal.Rptr. 1 , 349 P.2d 673 ], In Kiihoa , a prosecution was dismissed to avoid disclosure of an informant. After the informant had left the state and was unavailable as a witness for defendant, the charges were refiled. Our Supreme Court held that “[t]he denial by the prosecution of an opportunity for the defendant to seek out the informer and to defend by those means, where the testimony of the informer would be material to the issues, is unfair and oppressive to the defendant, and deprives him of due process of law.” (Kiihoa, supra, 53 Cal.2d at p. 752 .) Explicating the holding in Kiihoa in Bellizzi v. Superior Court (1974) 12 Cal.3d 33 [ 115 Cal.Rptr. 52 , 524 P.2d 148 ], the court noted that, “[t]he fundamental due process principle underlying Kiihoa is that the prosecution may not deprive an accused of the opportunity to present material evidence which might prove his innocence.” (Id., at p. 36, italics in original; and see People v. Mejia (1976) 57 Cal.App.3d 574, 579-580 [ 129 Cal.Rptr. 192 ].)

These are but a few of the cases that preceded Hitch. They express, however, the fundamental underpinnings of the Hitch rule—-the unfair impact of suppressed or lost evidence on a defendant’s opportunity to establish his innocence. The particulars vary with the kind of evidence and on the cause of its unavailability, but the central concern—the availability of evidence material to innocence or guilt—is always the same. (See People v. Hitch, supra, 12 Cal.3d at pp. 647-649.)

We indulge this brief iteration to demonstrate that the question raised in a Hitch motion is a question relating to evidence of guilt or innocence and its provability and not a question relating to the power to prosecute despite guilt. This conclusion is reinforced by looking to the concepts which guide the fashioning of remedies for Hitch violations.

The question of appropriate remedial measures to be taken by the trial court was largely left open in Hitch. Guidelines were more recently articulated in People v. Zamora (1980) 28 Cal.3d 88 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 573 , 615 P.2d 1361 ]. We discuss the factors identified by Zamora to be used in the fashioning the sanction later in this opinion in connection with defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. We note here, however, the general rule of Zamora that, “the courts enjoy a large measure of discretion in determining the appropriate sanction that should be imposed because of the destruction of discoverable records and evidence. ‘[N]ot every suppression of evidence requires the dismissal of charges. . . . The remedies to be applied need be only those required to assure the defendant a fair trial.' (Brown v. Municipal Court (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 357, 363 [ 150 Cal.Rptr. 216 ] [citation].)’’ (People v. Zamora, supra, 28 Cal.3d at p. 99 , fn. omitted, italics supplied.) Questions which go to the ability of a defendant to have a fair trial are questions which relate to the proof of guilt or innocence and not to the ultimate legality of the proceedings.

As the Attorney General correctly asserts, similar considerations have led to the conclusion that appellate review of the denial of a motion for disclosure of the identity of an informant is precluded by a plea of guilty. (People v. Barkins (1978) 81 Cal.App.3d 30, 33 [ 145 Cal.Rptr. 926 ]; People v. Castro (1974) 42 Cal.App.3d 960, 963-965 [ 117 Cal.Rptr. 295 ].) In each instance, the issue is the availability of material evidence on the issue of guilt or innocence. Indeed, the analogue to informant identity as a question of availability of evidence material to guilt or innocence is one the Supreme Court relied on in formulating the Hitch rule. (People v. Hitch, supra, 12 Cal.3d at p. 648.)

Accordingly, we hold that a guilty plea precludes an appeal based on error predicated on the rules expressed in People v. Hitch and related cases.

II

Recognizing the problems of appealability defendant contends that if he cannot appeal, his attorney’s failure to recognize that his guilty plea precluded the possibility of review of asserted Hitch error constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.

In order to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel a defendant must show trial counsel failed to act in a manner to be expected of a reasonably competent attorney acting as a diligent advocate and that counsel’s acts or omissions resulted in the withdrawal of a potentially meritorious defense, or, if a defense is not involved, it is reasonably probable a determination more favorable to defendant would have resulted in the absence of counsel’s failings. (People v. Fosselman (1983) 33 Cal.3d 572, 584 [ 189 Cal.Rptr. 855 , 659 P.2d 1154 ]; People v. Pope (1979) 23 Cal.3d 412, 425 [ 152 Cal.Rptr. 732 , 590 P.2d 859 , 2 A.L.R.4th 1 ].)

However, “[reviewing courts will reverse convictions on the ground of inadequate counsel only if the record on appeal affirmatively discloses that counsel had no rational tactical purpose for his act or omission. In all other cases the conviction will be affirmed and defendant relegated to habeas corpus proceedings at which evidence dehors the record may be taken to determine the basis, if any, for counsel’s conduct or omission.” (People v. Fosselman, supra, 33 Cal.3d at pp. 581-582.) Where the record sheds no light on the reasons for counsel’s actions, the case must be affirmed, ‘‘unless counsel was asked for an explanation and failed to provide one, or unless there simply could be no satisfactory explanation, ...” (People v. Pope, supra, 23 Cal.3d at p. 426.)

As we have explained above, in Hitch the Supreme Court held federal due process considerations require that evidence be preserved and disclosed to the defendant if there is a reasonable possibility the evidence would be favorable on the issue of guilt or innocence. (12 Cal.3d at p. 649.) The court ruled the failure to preserve this evidence may result in sanctions. (Id., at pp. 650-653.) Later in People v. Zamora, supra, 28 Cal.3d 88, 100 , the Supreme Court established three factors for the court to consider in crafting remedial sanctions. First, the circumstances surrounding the loss must be examined. If the destruction of evidence was legal, no sanctions are necessary. On the other hand, if the evidence was destroyed in bad faith, dismissal of charges may be appropriate. Second, the severity of the sanction depends on the materiality of the evidence. Third, the court must consider the impact of sanction on future police conduct and future cases. In all cases, the goal is to insure a fair trial. (Id., at p. 99.)

Turning to the instant case, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s selection of a remedy for the determined Hitch error. Although the evidence was material to guilt or innocence, the record demonstrates the loss of evidence was inadvertent. The court’s chosen sanction, suppression of the test results, was appropriate. Consequently, even had defendant’s attorney preserved this issue for review, either by going to trial or seeking a pretrial writ, we cannot conclude a result more favorable to defendant is reasonably probable.

Furthermore, for all the record shows, defendant’s plea of guilty was a rational “tactical decision.” No other reason for that decision is apparent from the record except defendant’s and counsel’s belief that the evidence was sufficient to convict defendant on all three counts. The claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is therefore unavailing on this appeal.

The judgment is affirmed.

Assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council. All further statutory references are to the Penal Code. As an alternative sanction, defendant proposed a jury instruction similar to that approved in People v. Zamora (1980) 28 Cal.3d 88, 102-103 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 573 , 615 P.2d 1361 ]: “[I]f the lost evidence were available, scientific analysis would rule Defendant out as the donor of the seminal fluid and saliva. ” The department obtained two glass slides, one labeled “vaginal” and the other “cervical,” and a glass vial labeled “wash solution.” No seminal fluid was found in the wash solution, nor were intact sperm cells found on the slides. The following colloquy took place at the change of plea proceedings: “The Court: All right. Now, has there been any promise of reward or immunity or leniency in order to get you to enter into this arrangement? “The Defendant: No. “The Court: Has there been any threat made against you of any kind or has any force been used upon you, in order to get you to enter into this plea arrangement? “The Defendant: No. “The Court: This is what—a tactical decision; is it, Counsel? “[Defense Counsel]: That’s correct. “The Court: Based upon the going over the evidence with Mr. Halstead and, I take it, that the two of you have concluded that he is likely to be found guilty is rather substantial; is that correct? “[Defense Counsel]: That’s correct. “The Court: Is that your understanding also? “The Defendant: Yes, sir.” It was at this hearing that defendant’s attorney informed the court she would be presenting an application for a certificate for probable cause. In later summarizing this discussion for the record, the court stated: “And then we have also discussed the idea that you felt that you could reserve and want to go on the record as reserving, for appeals purposes, the prior motion that you made, the hitch [s