Legal Opinion
People v. Gonzales
California Court of Appeal, 5th District
Decided May 2, 2019No. 2d Crim. No. B289385PublishedCited by 2 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtYegan, Acting P. J.
*1083A person charged with crime may not stand trial if he is mentally incompetent. Once defense counsel declares a doubt as to competence, it may not be withdrawn. The issue can only be resolved upon a trial court finding of competence vel non.
Ruben Matthew Gonzales appeals his conviction by jury of first degree murder with personal use of a deadly weapon. (Count 1; Pen. Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 189, 12022, subd. (b)(1).)1 He was sentenced to state prison for an aggregate term of 33 years and eight months to life.
*1084He contends that his due process rights were violated because the trial court failed…
2Cases cited26 opinions
- Pate v. RobinsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1966
- Drope v. MissouriSupreme Court of the United States · 1975
- Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior CourtCalifornia Supreme Court · 1962
- United States v. SchefferSupreme Court of the United States · 1998
- Medina v. CaliforniaSupreme Court of the United States · 1992
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3Cited by2 opinions
- People v. LaraCalifornia Court of Appeal · 2025
- People v. Williams CA3California Court of Appeal · 2021