Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: charges dropped but already sentenced

The probation officer has no power to sentence you. Only the judge can do that -- and even then, he can only do it at a scheduled sentencing hearing.

The probation department routinely submits its sentencing recommendation to the court before the sentencing hearing, and that report must be what you saw. The judge is not obligated to accept this recommendation, and your lawyer will have an opportunity to argue for a lighter sentence.

The title of your question says that charges were dropped after you were sentenced, but there is nothing in your question that discusses this claim. You were arrested a second time before you were sentenced for your first offense, and this happens quite often. I don't know which charge you believe was dismissed or what sentence you received on the first charge at the January 18 hearing, but I see nothing improper or unusual in the facts you have presented.