People v. Egly CA3

DISCUSSION

I Romero Motion Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying his Romero motion to strike his prior convictions. We are not persuaded. A. The Law A trial court has the discretion to strike a prior serious felony conviction for purposes of sentencing only if the defendant falls outside the spirit of the three strikes law. (§ 1385; People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 161 (Williams).) In deciding whether to do so, the court “must consider whether, in light of the nature and circumstances of his present felonies and prior serious and/or violent felony convictions, and the particulars of his background, character, and prospects, the defendant may be deemed outside the scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part, and hence should be treated as though he had not previously been convicted of one or more serious and/or violent felonies.” (Williams, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 161.) Dismissal of a strike is a departure from the sentencing norm, and as such, we will not reverse the ruling on a Romero motion for an abuse of discretion unless the defendant shows the decision was “so irrational or arbitrary that no reasonable person could agree with it.” (People…