P. v. Morrison
In July 2012, Zimbalist Eugene Morrison stole two bottles of vodka from a grocery store. He pled guilty to petty theft with prior theft convictions (Pen. Code, §§ 484, 666) and admitted having suffered a strike conviction (Pen. Code, § 667 subds. (b)-(i)) and having served a prior prison term (Pen. Code, § 667.5, subd. (b)). In August, the court dismissed the prison prior and sentenced Morrison to 32 months in prison (twice the lower term). The court imposed a $154 criminal justice administration fee (booking fee) pursuant to Government Code, section 29550.1.[1] Morrison appeals, contending that imposition of the section 29550.1 booking fee violates the equal protection clause because that section does not require a finding of ability to pay, unlike the booking fees set forth in sections 29550 and 29550.2, and there is no rational basis for distinguishing section 29550.1 from the latter two sections.
Morrison did not object in the trial court to the imposition of the booking fee. He has thus forfeited his right to challenge the fee on appeal. (People v. McCullough (2013) 56 Cal.4th 589, 593.)
Morrison requests that we exercise our discretion to consider the merits of the equal protection issue. (People v. McCullough, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 593.) We decline to do so.
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