People v. Jackson CA1/4

BACKGROUND

In January 2020, the police found Jackson at a gas station in a car that had been stolen two days earlier. A search of the car and Jackson’s person revealed other property that had been stolen at the same time and from the same victim as the car, including more than $30,000 in cash and two computers. There were also burglary tools in the car. A jury convicted Jackson of driving or taking a vehicle without consent (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)) and receiving a stolen vehicle.2 (§ 496d.) The jury found the vehicle’s value to be more than $950. The court found true the allegation that Jackson had been convicted of residential burglary in 2018. Prior to sentencing, Jackson moved to convert his convictions to misdemeanors under section 17, subdivision (b). He also invited the trial court to exercise its authority under section 1385 and Romero to strike the finding of his prior conviction, to avoid having his sentence doubled under section 1170.12, subdivision (c)(1). Together with his motions, Jackson submitted a psychologist’s report. This report stated that Jackson had been raised by a foster mother who physically and emotionally abused him. The biological son of…