People v. Scholer CA2/6

FACTS

In 1999, Scholer and Richard P. Ritchie committed three home invasion robberies in the Lancaster-Palmdale area. The two men wore stocking caps or masks, they gagged the residents with duct tape, ransacked the homes, and took household and electric goods and an automobile. Scholer was convicted of six counts of robbery (§ 211), five counts of false imprisonment (§ 236), three counts of grand theft (§§ 487, subd. (d), 498, subd. (d)), burglary (§ 459), assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)), two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 12021, subd. (a)(1)), receiving stolen property (§ 496, subd. (a)), and domestic violence involving a child (§ 273a, subd. (a)). He was sentenced to an aggregate term of 39 years 4 months in prison. While in prison Scholer made numerous efforts at rehabilitation. He worked hard in his work assignments and took “great pride in his work.” A supervisor noted that Scholer possessed “many meritorious character traits that would not only result in him being able to successfully cope in society, but also thrive and contribute as a productive and law abiding citizen.” One 2019 supervisor’s report “commended” Scholer for “his ability to…