People v. Cortez CA4/3

FACTS & PROCEDURE

In 2012, Cortez pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(l)), and was sentenced to prison for three years. In February 2014, he was released from prison to PRCS, on terms including that he not engage in any conduct prohibited by law. A petition to revoke Cortez’s PRCS was filed on March 25, 2014. The petition, and the probation report, both stated Cortez was arrested and charged with multiple counts of stealing liquor, worth a total of $2,336, from four different Albertson’s stores in Irvine over the course of five days. The petition and probation report both stated, “Each [Albertson’s] location had video surveillance of the offender taking the items, by which [Cortez] was identified.” Additionally, the petition and probation report both stated “the [l]oss [p]revention[] personnel at the Albertson’s locations worked together, in conjunction with [the Irvine Police Department], to use surveillance footage to positively identify [Cortez] as the main suspect.” The petition and the probation report stated a police officer interviewed Cortez at his residence and during the interview, Cortez admitted he “had a problem with stealing.” He…