What is the standard of review in the context of section 654 of the Criminal Code?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Valdovinos, H037095 (Cal. App. 2012):

The applicable standard of review is well established. "Whether section 654 applies in a given case is a question of fact for the trial court, which is vested with broad latitude in making its determination. [Citations.] Its findings will not be reversed on appeal if there is any substantial evidence to support them. [Citations.] We review the trial court's determination in the light most favorable to the respondent and presume the existence of every fact the trial court could reasonably deduce from the evidence. [Citation.]" (People v. Jones (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1143.)

Where, as here, the trial court did not refer to section 654 during sentencing, "the fact that the court did not stay the sentence on any count is generally deemed to reflect an implicit determination that each crime had a separate objective. [Citations.]" (People v. Tarris (2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 612, 626-627.) The court's implicit factual determination that the crimes involved more than one objective must be sustained on appeal if it is supported by substantial evidence. (People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 730.)

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