People v. Reta CA3

BACKGROUND

Defendant entered the United States in 2003, when he was 23 years old. In March 2007, he pleaded no contest to vehicle theft (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)) in El Dorado County Superior Court. He had two prior convictions in Sacramento County for burglary (§ 459). A Spanish interpreter assisted him during his court proceedings because he had a limited ability to speak or read English. When defendant reviewed the plea form, he signed where his attorney directed him to sign, but he does not believe the interpreter read the entire form to him. As a result of the conviction, the trial court placed defendant on three years of formal probation with 45 days in custody. In June 2007, defendant pleaded no contest to receipt of stolen property (§ 496, subd. (a)) in Placer County. He was placed on probation in that case and served 180 days in custody. The judge in the Placer County case told defendant he would be taken into custody after completing his sentence, and defendant subsequently agreed to voluntary deportation. Defendant reentered the country but was caught and taken to El Dorado County for violating probation. He admitted the violation and served 180 days in custody.…