What is the appropriate remedy for a defendant who is convicted of both a lesser included and a greater included crime?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Smith, H044392 (Cal. App. 2018):

Defendant asserts that the conviction for count 1 must be reversed and the punishment imposed on that conviction must be stricken because count 1 was a lesser included offense of count 2. "A judicially created exception to the general rule permitting multiple conviction 'prohibits multiple convictions based on necessarily included offenses.' [Citation.] '[I]f a crime cannot be committed without also necessarily committing a lesser offense, the latter is a lesser included offense within the former.' [Citation.]" (People v. Reed (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1224, 1227 (Reed).)

Page 14

The appropriate remedy for conviction of both the greater offense and the lesser included offense is to strike the conviction of the lesser included offense. (See People v. Medina (2007) 41 Cal.4th 685, 703.)

In deciding whether multiple conviction is proper, "a court should consider only the statutory elements." (Reed, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p.1229; id. at p. 1231.) "Under the elements test, if the statutory elements of the greater offense include all of the statutory elements of the lesser offense, the latter is necessarily included in the former." (Id. at p. 1227.) "In other words, ' "[i]f a crime cannot be committed without also necessarily committing a lesser offense, the latter is a lesser included offense within the former." ' [Citations.]" (People v. Delgado (2017) 2 Cal.5th 544, 570.)

Other Questions


If a defendant is convicted of a lesser included crime, can he appeal against his conviction for the alleged greater crime? (California, United States of America)
If a defendant is convicted of a lesser charge of a greater charge of sexual assault, is the lesser charge necessarily included in the greater charge? (California, United States of America)
Can a court correct an error that resulted in a sentence being issued to a defendant who was convicted of a lesser crime but who is convicted of the lesser crime of assault? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant be convicted of both a greater crime and a necessarily included lesser crime for the same conduct? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a defendant to be convicted of a lesser included or lesser included crime? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant be convicted of both the lesser included and the greater included crime? (California, United States of America)
Is a conviction of a lesser crime necessarily included in the charge of a greater crime set to be overturned? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant who is convicted of receiving stolen property in one crime, but never charged or convicted of the other crime, be required to pay restitution for losses sustained in other crimes? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant be convicted of a lesser included crime of the same crime under both sections of the California Penal Code and Section 654 of the Penal Code? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant be convicted of an uncharged crime of a lesser included offense of a charged crime? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.