People v. Blake CA3

I. BACKGROUND

A detailed recitation of the facts underlying defendant’s crimes is unnecessary to our resolution of the issues on appeal. It suffices to say that defendant pled no contest to possessing drugs in jail (methamphetamine and heroin) in case No. 19CF01975. The trial court suspended imposition of sentence, placed defendant on formal probation for a term of five years, and ordered her to successfully complete a drug court program. Defendant was charged with additional drug offenses in case No. 22CF02288 in May 2022. (Health & Saf. Code, §§ 11351, 11352, subd. (a), 11378, and 11379.) She pled guilty to one count of transportation or sale of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11352, subd. (a)) and admitted violating her probation in case No. 19CF01975. Defendant, then 45 years old, appeared for sentencing in both cases in June 2023. The trial court began the hearing by asking whether the parties were ready to proceed with sentencing. Defense counsel replied: “Yes, [y]our Honor. No legal cause why judgment and sentence cannot now be pronounced.”

2 The trial court then said it had read and considered the original and supplemental probation reports in case Nos.…