In re L.L. CA2/3

INTRODUCTION

In this juvenile wardship proceeding under Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 602, the juvenile court sustained a petition alleging that L.L. had committed murder and attempted murder. On appeal, L.L. contends that the court abused its discretion in committing him to a secure youth treatment facility (SYTF), rather than attempting a less restrictive alternative. Relying on In re Ernesto L. (2022) 81 Cal.App.5th 31 (Ernesto L.), L.L. further argues that the court erred in applying his precommitment custody credits to his maximum term of confinement rather than the baseline term of confinement under section 875 and that the court violated his equal protection rights in so doing. We affirm.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In July 2022, the Los Angeles County District Attorney filed a petition under section 602 alleging that L.L., who was then 15 years old, had committed murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a); count 1) and attempted murder (Pen. Code, §§ 664/187, subd. (a); count 2) on June 3, 2022. L.L. was detained on July 26, 2022. Following an adjudication hearing, the juvenile court found both counts to be true beyond a reasonable doubt and sustained the petition.2 In…