People v. Sandoval

Opinion

AARON, J.

I

INTRODUCTION

Steven Sandoval, Jr., pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter (Pen. Code, 1 § 192, subd. (a)), and admitted having incurred a prior serious felony conviction (§§ 667, subd. (a)(1), 668, 1192.7, subd. (c)) and a prior strike conviction (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1192.7, subd. (c)(23)), pursuant to a plea agreement that provided for a stipulated sentence of 27 years in state prison. Before he was sentenced, Sandoval filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea on the ground that his plea had not been a product of his own free will. Sandoval claimed that one…