What is the proper procedure for a defendant to stay execution of sentence under section 654 of the California Penal Code for multiple convictions?

Under section 654, subdivision (a), "[a]n 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. . . ." The statute does not prohibit multiple convictions for the same conduct, only multiple punishments. (People v. Monarrez (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 710, 713.) "In such a case, the proper procedure is to stay execution of sentence on one of the offenses. [Citation.]" (Ibid.)

"Whether a defendant may be subjected to multiple punishment under section 654 requires a two-step inquiry, because the statutory reference to an 'act or omission' may include not only a discrete physical act but also a course of conduct encompassing several acts pursued with a single objective. [Citations.]" (People v. Corpening (2016) 2 Cal.5th 307, 311.) We first consider whether the different crimes were completed by a " 'single physical act.' " (Ibid.) "If so, the defendant may not be punished more than once for that act. Only if we conclude that the case involves more than a single acti.e., a course of conductdo we then consider whether that course of conduct reflects a single ' "intent and objective" ' or multiple intents and objectives. [Citations.]" (Ibid.)