People v. Ruffin

Opinion

GOMES, Acting P. J.

Pursuant to a negotiated settlement, prison inmate Maurice Ruffin pled no contest to a sex offense with the understanding that the court was to determine later whether the law required him to register as a sex offender. On appeal, he challenges as a violation of his constitutional right to equal protection the court’s later order requiring him to register. We reverse.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On October 4, 2008, a correctional officer monitoring a California State Prison, Corcoran, visiting area saw a female visitor moving her head in Ruffin’s lap in an apparent act of oral…