Does section 654 of the California Criminal Code prohibit multiple punishment for a single physical act that violates different provisions of law?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Thomas, E071359 (Cal. App. 2020):
"Section 654 prohibits multiple punishment for a single physical act that violates different provisions of law." (People v. Jones (2012) 54 Cal.4th 350, 358 (Jones).) Section 654 provides: "An act or omission that is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the provision that provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more than one provision."5
"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." (People v. Jones (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1143.) The court's express or implied findings in support
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