People v. Avila , 59 Cal. 4th 496 ( 2014 )

Filed 6/30/14
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, )
)
Plaintiff and Respondent, )
) S135855
v. )
)
ALEJANDRO AVILA, )
) Orange County
Defendant and Appellant. ) Super. Ct. No. 02CF1862
____________________________________)
A jury convicted defendant of kidnapping, committing two counts of lewd
and lascivious acts on, and then murdering Samantha Runnion under the special
circumstances of murder while kidnapping and murder while committing lewd and
lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14. (Pen. Code, §§ 187, 190.2, subd.
(a)(17)(B) and (E), 207, 288, subd. (b).)1 After a penalty trial, the jury returned a
verdict of death. The court denied the automatic motion to modify the verdict
(§ 190.4) and imposed that sentence. This appeal is automatic. (§ 1239, subd.
(b).) We affirm the judgment.
1 All further statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise
indicated.
1
I. THE FACTS
A. Guilt Phase
1. Prosecution Evidence
a. The Crime
Around 6:30 p.m. on July 15, 2002, five-year-old Samantha Runnion and
her six-year-old friend, Sarah A., were playing outside of the Smoketree
condominium complex in Stanton. Sarah observed a man driving a green car pass
by them, go around the block, and approach them a second time. The man got out
of the car and asked the girls, “Have you seen a little puppy?” Samantha asked
about its size. Suddenly, the man grabbed Samantha, threw her, screaming and
struggling, into the car, and sped away.
Samantha‟s nude body was found the next day in a remote area near Lake
Elsinore, near the intersection of the Killen Truck Trail and Ortega Highway, that
is popular with hang gliders.
An autopsy performed the next morning revealed that Samantha had been
sexually assaulted both vaginally and anally. She had suffered at least two blows
to the head at least half an hour before she died, which caused her brain to swell.
In the pathologist‟s opinion, “she died as a result of mechanical asphyxiation
through a compression of the neck and with the blunt-force trauma to the head
contributing significantly to it also.” The pathologist could not determine exactly
what had caused the compression of the neck. Based on the degree of rigor
mortis, he estimated that the child had died 30 to 36 hours before he conducted the
autopsy, that is, roughly between 8:00 p.m., July 15, and 2:00 a.m., July 16, 2002.
b. Evidence of Defendant’s Guilt
Sarah A. did not identify anyone as the assailant, but she said “he was like
Mexican,” and she gave a description that very generally matched defendant‟s
2
appearance. She worked with a police artist to create a drawing that she said
looked like the man. Tammy D. saw the drawing on the news and informed the
police that the man they sought might be defendant.
In July 2002, defendant was living with his sister, Elvira Avila, in an
apartment on Riverside Drive in Lake Elsinore. Another sister, Adelita Avila, and
defendant‟s mother, Adelina Avila, lived in the same complex. The afternoon of
Samantha‟s abduction, defendant was supposed to cook dinner for the family, with
dinner expected to be around 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. that evening. Instead, he drove
around Southern California that afternoon and evening.
Bank and other records showed that defendant withdrew money from an
ATM at a Bank of America branch in Lake Elsinore at 5:18 p.m. that afternoon,
twice stopped at service stations, and eventually checked into a Comfort Inn in
Temecula, apparently sometime shortly after 9:00 p.m. that evening.
Investigators drove the route from the bank branch to the Comfort Inn,
starting one week to the minute after defendant withdrew the money. They also
stopped for a short time at the Smoketree condominium complex where Samantha
was abducted, at the spot where her body was found, and at both service stations
where defendant had stopped. The total distance from the bank to the inn,
including all stops, was 202 miles. The driving time without stops was three hours
24 minutes, and, with the stops, three hours 40 minutes. Defendant‟s known
itinerary was consistent with his having been at the Smoketree complex at the time
of the abduction, and again at the site where the body was found before he
checked into the Comfort Inn. Specifically, the investigators arrived at the
Smoketree complex at 6:17 p.m. and, after stopping at the service stations and the
location where the body was found, they arrived at the Comfort Inn at 8:57 p.m.
3
Defendant‟s sister, Elvira, testified that defendant was familiar with the
area where the body was found; she had once gone there with him to watch a
meteor shower.
The day after Samantha‟s abduction, defendant told Elvira that he had gone
to the beach the previous day. She observed a scratch on the inside of his knee.
He told her he had scratched his knee on a baby gate. The baby gate he referred to
was plastic without rough edges.
Defendant‟s car, a 1994 Ford Thunderbird, was somewhat, although not
entirely, similar to Sarah A.‟s general description of the car the abductor had
driven. It could have made the tire tracks that were found near Samantha‟s body.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) consistent with Samantha‟s DNA, and with
fewer than one person in one trillion, was found in multiple locations in
defendant‟s car.2 DNA consistent with defendant‟s DNA, and with about one
person in 600 million, was found in scrapings taken from under Samantha‟s
fingernails.
In addition to tire tracks, investigators found shoe prints and one footprint
near Samantha‟s body. No shoes seized from defendant‟s apartment pursuant to a
search warrant could have made the shoe prints. However, a videotape of
defendant from one of the service stations where he had stopped showed he was
wearing what might have been a pair of Fila athletic shoes. Shoe store records
showed that in September 2001 he had purchased a pair of Fila Disruptor shoes,
size 12. A Fila shoebox, although no Fila shoes, was found in defendant‟s
2 Because the frequency of one person in a trillion is so small, the laboratory
that did the testing had adopted the policy of not calculating any smaller frequency
numbers. For anything smaller, the examiner would just say fewer than one in a
trillion.
4
apartment. Investigators obtained a pair of Fila Disruptor shoes, size 12. Those
shoes were consistent with the shoe prints found near the body. A forensic
specialist also compared defendant‟s feet with the footprint and found several
similarities and no dissimilarities, meaning that defendant could have left the
footprint.
The prosecution presented evidence that before Samantha‟s death,
defendant had sexually molested three young girls. Catherine C., the daughter of
defendant‟s then-girlfriend, Lizbeth V., testified that around 1997, when she was
about seven years old, defendant occasionally watched her when her mother was
working at night. When he did, he sometimes told her to take her clothes off in
the bedroom. Over a period of close to a year, on multiple occasions, he touched
her vagina with his finger and penis, “kissed” her on the mouth and vagina, and
had her kiss him on his mouth and penis. On one occasion, she also saw defendant
touch her cousin Alexis D.‟s vagina in the same bedroom. Defendant also
sometimes had her insert test tubes he got through his job into her vagina. He said
he wanted her “to practice so he could put his penis when I was older.”
Alexis D. testified that once, in Lizbeth V.‟s bedroom, when she was seven
years old, defendant put his hand on her vagina and “moved it fast.” She observed
him do the same thing to her cousin, Catherine C.
Defendant was charged with and tried for molesting these two girls but, in
January 2001, a jury acquitted him. After Samantha‟s death, another girl, Cara B.,
came forward and said that defendant had also molested her. She testified that in
1999, when she was 11 years old, defendant asked her to “touch his private parts”
and then inserted a glass test tube into her vagina. He told her that “if I told
anybody that someone could be killed.”
Lizbeth V. testified that when defendant was her boyfriend he had little
interest in having sex with her. He was preoccupied with pornographic movies
5
and sometimes asked her to dress in “junior style clothing.” Cara B.‟s father
testified that in late 1999, he had been defendant‟s roommate. In January 2000,
after defendant had moved out, he found a photograph containing child
pornography in what had been defendant‟s bedroom.
Defendant‟s sister, Elvira, testified that after he had been acquitted of the
molestation charges, and while they were watching a movie called “Double
Jeopardy,” he told her, “I could do anything I want to that little girl and I can‟t be
charged for it because of double jeopardy.”
Acting pursuant to a search warrant, investigators seized a computer from
the apartment of defendant‟s sister, Adelita. Adelita testified that she had never
accessed pornography on that computer, that her mother did not know how to use
the Internet, and that defendant had had access to the computer.
An investigator specializing in computer crimes examined the computer.
He described numerous “images of children engaged in” a wide variety of sexual
activities that had been deleted from the computer but that he was able to recover.
The parties stipulated that the images constituted child pornography. At 4:43 a.m.
on July 14, 2002 (the day before Samantha‟s abduction), someone printed from
that computer a multiple-page story involving an adult male having sex with
young children.
The investigator also discovered the record of a chat room conversation
between someone on that computer using the name “Girl*Lover” and a person in
Finland. Both stated that they “like” girls under the age of 12 years. In response
to a question about living in California, the person using the name Girl*Lover
said, “I live 4 thousand feet in the mountains where you can do anything to little
kids.”
6
2. Defense Evidence
Defendant presented evidence seeking to raise a reasonable doubt that he
had committed the crime.
A witness testified that around the time and in the area of Samantha‟s
kidnapping, she saw a car that was not defendant‟s Thunderbird but was similar to
the description Sarah A. gave of the abductor‟s car. Another witness testified that
early the morning after the kidnapping, in the area where the body was found, he
saw a motorcycle and a red “small S.U.V. or a pickup with a camper shell . . . and
somebody at the back of it bent into it.” It was unusual to see a vehicle there at
that early hour. Several witnesses testified they stayed at the Comfort Inn in
Temecula the night of the kidnapping and noticed nothing unusual. Defendant had
checked into the hotel alone without luggage and did not appear to have a child
with him. The next morning, the room in which defendant stayed seemed normal.
Another witness testified that on July 18, 2002, he saw a black Honda containing
two persons who acted suspiciously near the apartment complex where defendant
lived.
An expert who examined maggots collected from Samantha‟s body opined
that the maggots could not have appeared on the body until around 6:00 a.m. on
July 16, 2002 (i.e., after defendant checked into the Comfort Inn). He also
testified that it was possible the body could have lain where it was the previous
evening without the flies that laid the maggots discovering it before it got dark,
and the flies would not deposit the maggots in the dark.
Defendant presented several witnesses in an attempt to discredit the validity
or significance of the DNA evidence.
Several family members testified they had seen no indication defendant was
molesting any of the girls who testified he had molested them. Defendant‟s sister,
7
Elvira, testified that Lizbeth V., Catherine C.‟s mother and defendant‟s former
girlfriend, was angry with defendant and wanted to harm him.
A computer expert testified that the child pornography could have been
placed in the computer to which defendant had access, and indeed could be placed
in any computer, due to a “Trojan horse” virus.
3. Other Evidence
The prosecution presented rebuttal evidence defending the validity of the
DNA evidence, and defendant presented surrebuttal evidence responding to that
rebuttal evidence.
B. Penalty Phase
1. Prosecution Evidence
The victim‟s mother and grandmother testified about the victim and the
impact her death had on them and the rest of the family. The mother identified for
the jury eight photographs of the victim.
2. Defense Evidence
Defendant presented a wide range of evidence in mitigation. Several
family members presented evidence that, as defendant puts it in his brief on
appeal, he “came from a family which had been impoverished, sexually,
physically, and psychologically abusive, and dysfunctional for generations.” In
1989, defendant‟s father was arrested for child abuse, and the children were
removed from the family home. The father also fatally shot a man in front of
defendant, for which he eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Dr. Matthew
Mendel and Dr. Francisco Gomez, both psychologists, testified about defendant‟s
troubled family background and the negative impact it had on him. Other
witnesses testified about defendant‟s good qualities.
8
3. Rebuttal
Dr. Park Dietz, a psychiatrist, testified in response to a hypothetical
question that a person who did what the evidence showed defendant did is a
pedophile. Pedophiles have free will and can choose whether to act on their
desires by committing crimes.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Denial of Change of Venue
Defendant contends the court erred prejudicially, and violated various of
his constitutional rights, in refusing to change venue from Orange County.
1. Procedural Background
Defendant moved to change venue out of Orange County, citing extensive
publicity about the case, including that the sheriff had been widely quoted as
saying he was “100%” sure of defendant‟s guilt; even then-President George Bush
had commented on the case.
At a lengthy evidentiary hearing, both defendant and the prosecution
presented testimony by their respective pollsters, who agreed that a high
percentage of the residents of Orange County had heard of the case, but disagreed
as to the significance of this circumstance. Defendant also presented testimony of
an expert who opined that a change of venue was necessary.
After the hearing, the court denied the motion. It recognized the case had
received substantial publicity, and that selecting a fair jury would be “time-
consuming and difficult.” But, referring to two other highly publicized criminal
cases, it added that “fortunately, this case has taken a back seat to the Scott
Peterson trial, which was recently completed, and the Michael Jackson case, which
has taken center stage.” It noted that Orange County “has over three million
people,” that defendant “is not a resident of this county,” that “he has no ties to it
in the sense that he was not known before this case,” and that “Samantha Runnion
9
was just another young lady in this county until she was abducted.” It found that
these factors weigh against changing venue.
The court stated that “the obvious factor weighing in favor of change of
venue is the extensive publicity that this case has generated. National television
networks picked up the story and gave it significant air time. President Bush
commented on the arrest of the man who killed Samantha Runnion. As
demonstrated by the exhibits attached to the defense motion, the vast majority of
the publicity was generated two-and-a-half years ago. The media coverage in the
past year has been consistent with most death penalty cases and certainly less than
other cases currently pending in this county . . . . The passage of time is another
consideration. . . . This case we‟re on a two-and-a-half-year track. And it appears
to me that the passage of time has had a significant impact on the nature and
amount of publicity.”
The court “accepted” the results of the defense expert‟s poll but not the
conclusions the defense would draw from it. It found that “[a]s both sides have
demonstrated, there are flaws in the surveys. Questions can be tailored to obtain
the desired answers. However, the biases of these expert witnesses cannot be
ignored in evaluating their testimony. The conclusions they have drawn are
consistent with those biases.” The court “reject[ed] the opinion that a cold calling
survey is superior to voir dire in determining a person‟s depth of knowledge,
prejudices, and common sense.” For these reasons, and based on the court‟s
experience after having conducted some 225 felony trials in the county, it believed
it likely a fair jury could be selected. But the court stated the denial was “without
prejudice to renewing the motion during jury selection should defense concerns
that an impartial jury cannot be obtained be confirmed.”
Jury selection took place in March 1995. During this process, many jurors
were excused for various reasons, including exposure to publicity. Defendant
10
renewed the motion to change venue a number of times. Twice defense counsel
expressed concerns about inflammatory radio coverage on station KFI during the
John and Ken Show. The court denied each renewed motion, expressing
confidence that, based on what had occurred so far in jury selection, a fair jury
could be selected.
Defendant exhausted his peremptory challenges and expressed
dissatisfaction with the jury that had been selected. Defense counsel said, “We are
still left with a jury with only three people who haven‟t read or heard something
about this case.” She requested the court grant defendant additional peremptory
challenges because she wanted to challenge six more jurors, specifically, Juror
Nos. 151, 194, 201, 210, 211, and 225. The reason counsel gave for wishing to
challenge them was that “all have varying degrees of exposure to publicity. Some
of them had more information in the questionnaires than the court gave them.”
The court asked, “That‟s the only reason?” Counsel responded, “Right.” The
court then denied the motion for additional challenges.
After the alternate jurors had been selected, defendant again renewed the
motion to change venue. The court again denied the motion. It explained that
“what I observed in voir dire was entirely consistent with what I anticipated it
would be. With one small exception, more people had name recognition of the
case than I had anticipated. I think I guessed about 50 percent would not. It turns
out that — I don‟t know if you kept percentages, but I think it was probably closer
to 20 or 25 percent did not. In any case, I am satisfied that there were sufficient
numbers of jurors who had not been adversely influenced by pretrial publicity to
constitute a sufficient venire. We went through 150 prospective jurors. My
recollection is that the ones who had the most recall of the events were excused for
various and sundry reasons. The ones who were challenged for cause that were
not granted had limited knowledge of the facts of the case. And it is my feeling
11
that there is a fair and impartial jury that has been impaneled. So I would deny the
motion on change of venue.”
2. Analysis
“On a defendant‟s motion, the court must order a change of venue „when it
appears that there is a reasonable likelihood that a fair and impartial trial cannot be
had in the county.‟ (§ 1033, subd. (a); see People v. Famalaro (2011) 52 Cal. 4th
1, 21.) On appeal from the denial of a change of venue, we accept the trial court‟s
factual findings where supported by substantial evidence, but we review
independently the court‟s ultimate determination whether it was reasonably likely
the defendant could receive a fair trial in the county. In deciding whether to
change venue, the trial court, and this court in its independent review, considers
several factors, including the nature and gravity of the offense, the nature and
extent of the media coverage, the size of the community, the defendant‟s status
within the community, and the victim‟s prominence. On appeal, a defendant
challenging the court‟s denial of a change of venue must show both error and
prejudice, that is, that it was not reasonably likely the defendant could receive a
fair trial at the time of the motion, and that it is reasonably likely he did not in fact
receive a fair trial.” (People v. Rountree (2013) 56 Cal. 4th 823, 837.)
The nature and gravity of the offense are most serious, but those factors do
not alone compel a change of venue. (People v. Edwards (1991) 54 Cal. 3d 787,
807 [murder of a 12-year-old girl].) As the trial court recognized, neither the size
of the community, nor the defendant‟s status within the community, nor the
victim‟s prominence supported a change of venue. Defendant was not an outsider
in any significant respect, and the victim was little known before her death.
Although her death generated “an understandable outpouring of sympathy,” she
“had no particular celebrity status in the community.” (Id. at pp. 807-808.)
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Moreover, prospective jurors would sympathize with Samantha Runnion‟s fate
wherever the trial was held. “The horrendous crime, not the locale of trial, evokes
the sympathy.” (Id. at p. 808.) Orange County is one of the most populous
counties in California, a factor that “weighed heavily against a change of venue.”
(Id. at p. 807.)
As the trial court recognized, the extensive publicity was the factor most
heavily supporting a change of venue. But, as the court also found, the publicity
had dissipated over time. Trial was held two years and nine months after the
crime and the initial outpouring of publicity. Other highly publicized cases had
taken “center stage.” The public opinion surveys suggested that within a few
months of the trial the case still remained in the public consciousness. But it was
reasonable for the trial court to conclude that actual voir dire — during which the
court and parties could question the jurors face to face — was a more reliable way
to measure the effect of pretrial publicity than a survey conducted by a person
chosen by one of the parties.
Accordingly, we conclude the court did not err in deferring a final decision
until jury selection. During jury selection, another factor entered the case: the
John and Ken Show on radio station KFI, which urged a death verdict in this case
during the jury selection process itself. As defendant notes, transcripts indicate the
show went so far as to state that it would be “great” “to have a John and Ken
stealth juror.” But the court was warned about the show‟s activities and took steps
to prevent them from tainting the actual jury, including questioning the
prospective jurors about whether they had listened to the program. The radio
program did not alone compel a change of venue.
But even if we were to assume it was not reasonably likely defendant could
receive a fair trial at the time of the motions, defendant has not shown that it is
reasonably likely he did not in fact receive a fair trial. On the contrary, this record
13
shows that he did receive a fair trial. Citing Sheppard v. Maxwell (1966) 384 U.S.
333, defendant contends the reasonably likely test this court has established is not
the correct standard of prejudice. Rather, he argues the standard for federal
constitutional error applies, and the People must prove he received a fair trial
beyond a reasonable doubt. However, in Sheppard, the high court “concluded that
Sheppard did not receive a fair trial,” which required the judgment be reversed.
(Id. at p. 335.) That court has never held the prosecution must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that a defendant received a fair trial. If a defendant did not
receive a fair trial, the judgment must be reversed. But it is appropriate to use the
reasonable likelihood test to determine whether he did receive such a fair trial.
Indeed, the high court has used a comparable test in analogous situations.
A defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must establish a
“reasonable probability” of prejudice. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S.
668, 694.) Even more closely analogous is the high court‟s test for determining
whether instructional error occurred. The high court asks whether it is reasonably
likely the jury applied the challenged instruction in a way that violated the
Constitution. (Estelle v. McGuire (1991) 502 U.S. 62, 72-73 & fn. 4.) A
comparable test is appropriate on appeal from the denial of a change of venue.
Defendant also contends the publicity was so pervasive, and the John and
Ken Show so poisonous, that prejudice must be presumed and need not be
established. (See generally People v. Prince (2007) 40 Cal. 4th 1179, 1216-1218.)
We disagree. The United States Supreme Court recently made clear that a
“presumption of prejudice . . . attends only the extreme case.” (Skilling v. United
States (2010) 561 U.S. 358, __ [130 S. Ct. 2896, 2915] (Skilling) [finding
pervasive publicity from the Enron scandal did not require that prejudice be
presumed].)
14
This case is far different from the cases, discussed in Skilling, supra, 561
U.S. 358 [130 S. Ct. 2896], in which the high court did find a presumption of
prejudice. In Rideau v. Louisiana (1963) 373 U.S. 723, three times shortly before
trial in the small community (Calcasieu Parish) where the trial was held, a local
television station had broadcast the defendant‟s confession, taken before the
defendant was represented by counsel, which had been filmed without the
defendant‟s consent. “What the people of Calcasieu Parish saw on their
televisions sets was Rideau, in jail, flanked by the sheriff and two state troopers,
admitting in detail the commission of the robbery, kidnapping, and murder, in
response to leading questions by the sheriff.” (Id. at p. 725.) It was estimated that
over a third of the community had watched at least one of the televised
confessions, and three actual jurors had done so. (Id. at pp. 724-725.) The high
court found that the “kangaroo court proceedings” in which “the people of
Calcasieu Parish saw and heard, not once but three times, a „trial‟ of Rideau in a
jail, presided over by a sheriff, where there was no lawyer to advise Rideau of his
right to stand mute,” violated the defendant‟s right to a fair trial. (Id. at pp. 726-
727.)
The Skilling court explained that in Estes v. Texas (1965) 381 U.S. 532,
“extensive publicity before trial swelled into excessive publicity during
preliminary court proceedings as reporters and television crews overran the
courtroom and „bombard[ed] . . . the community with the sights and sounds of‟ the
pretrial hearing. The media‟s overzealous reporting efforts . . . „led to
considerable disruption‟ and denied the „judicial serenity and calm to which [Billie
Sol Estes] was entitled.‟ ” (Skilling, supra, 561 U.S. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at p.
2914].) Another high court opinion described the trial in Estes as having “been
conducted in a circus atmosphere.” (Murphy v. Florida (1975) 421 U.S. 794,
799.)
15
The Skilling court discussed the third case. “Similarly, in Sheppard v.
Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333 (1966), news reporters extensively covered the story of
Sam Sheppard, who was accused of bludgeoning his pregnant wife to death.
„[B]edlam reigned at the courthouse during the trial and newsmen took over
practically the entire courtroom,‟ thrusting jurors „into the role of celebrities.‟ Id.
at 353, 355. Pretrial media coverage, which we characterized as „months [of]
virulent publicity about Sheppard and the murder,‟ did not alone deny due process,
we noted. Id. at 354. But Sheppard‟s case involved more than heated reporting
pretrial: We upset the murder conviction because a „carnival atmosphere‟
pervaded the trial, id. at 358.” (Skilling, supra, 561 U.S. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at p.
2914].)
This case, like Skilling, does not present such an “extreme case.” (Skilling,
supra, 561 U.S. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at p. 2915].) There was no circus or carnival
atmosphere, no spectacular confession repeatedly televised in a small community
and seen by three actual jurors. Although there was indeed much publicity about
this case, especially around the time of the crime, that alone did not make this such
an extreme case. “ „[P]retrial publicity — even pervasive, adverse publicity —
does not inevitably lead to an unfair trial.‟ ” (Id. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at p. 2916].)
In Sheppard v. Maxwell, supra, 384 U.S. 333, the high court suggested that if there
is “a reasonable likelihood” that publicity “will prevent a fair trial, the judge . . .
continue the case until the [publicity] abates.” (Id. at p. 363.) Here, trial was held
some two years, nine months after the crime.
The efforts of the John and Ken Show, although a concern, do not
themselves make this an extreme case. We see no reason to assume that a court,
forewarned, cannot control possible prejudice from a single radio station, one of
many in a major metropolitan area. As the Skilling court noted, the high court
“decisions have rightly set a high bar for allegations of juror prejudice due to
16
pretrial publicity. [Citations.] News coverage of civil and criminal trials of public
interest conveys to society at large how our justice system operates. And it is a
premise of that system that jurors will set aside their preconceptions when they
enter the courtroom and decide cases based on the evidence presented.” (Skilling,
supra, 561 U.S. at p. __, fn. 34 [130 S.Ct. at p. 2925, fn. 34].) We will not
presume prejudice; defendant has to show it.
He has not shown prejudice. In determining whether defendant in fact
received a fair trial, “we consider the jury voir dire to determine whether the jurors
may have been prejudiced by the pretrial publicity surrounding the case, bearing in
mind that no presumption of a deprivation of due process of law arises from juror
exposure to publicity concerning the case.” (People v. Proctor (1992) 4 Cal. 4th
499, 526-527.) Here, the record shows the jurors were not prejudiced.
After the main jury had been selected, defense counsel stated she wished to
peremptorily challenge six other jurors, specifically Juror Nos. 151, 194, 201, 210,
211, and 225. In this appeal, defendant asserts that all six “had acknowledged
varying degrees of exposure to the publicity. These jurors had acknowledged
prejudging [his] guilt based upon information they had received from the media,
beyond the information provided to them by the court . . . .” The record does not
support the assertion.
The jury questionnaires the prospective jurors were directed to fill out
provided basic information about the facts of the case, then asked whether the
prospective jurors had been exposed to publicity regarding the case.
Juror No. 151 stated on the questionnaire that he had “heard [of the case]
on TV” but knew nothing about defendant and had no opinion about the case.
During voir dire, he said that from “TV, the name was familiar,” but he could
recall nothing specific, and had formed no opinion, about the case.
17
Juror No. 194 stated on the questionnaire that, a “long while” previously,
she had viewed “television news, general facts of the case, an interview of the
mother of Samantha Runnion.” But she recalled “nothing” about defendant and
had formed no opinion regarding his guilt. During voir dire, she said she could
recall nothing specific about the case beyond the information already provided and
reiterated that she had formed no opinion about it.
Juror No. 201 stated on the questionnaire that she had heard of the case
“briefly on the news” but knew nothing about defendant and had formed no
opinion about the case. During voir dire, she said she had heard only “what was
on the news” but had not heard enough to form an opinion.
Juror No. 210 stated on the questionnaire that the juror had “read local
newspaper reports (e.g., LA Times) and saw reports on local TV news,” but knew
about defendant “only that he was arrested.” The juror had formed no opinion
about the case. During voir dire, the juror remarked about hearing of the crime
“just early on when the event took place in the newspaper and TV,” but nothing
had jogged the juror‟s memory, and the juror had no opinion regarding the case.
Juror No. 211 stated on the questionnaire that the juror had viewed
“basically what was mentioned above [in the questionnaire] from TV news
coverage” and knew about defendant “just that he was charged w/ the crime.” The
juror had formed no opinion about the case. During voir dire, the juror said, “I
didn‟t really recall any details [about the case] though. I have thought about it
more since I‟ve been here.” The juror had no opinion at all about the case.
Juror No. 225 stated on the questionnaire, “I recall reading of Samantha‟s
murder and not much more.” He knew nothing about defendant and had formed
no opinion about the case. During voir dire, the juror described his advance
knowledge of the case as “sketchy” and said he had not formed any opinion about
it. On questioning by defense counsel, he said that Samantha Runnion‟s death was
18
“heart wrenching,” but added, “I have not made a judgment to anyone‟s guilt.” He
said his emotional reaction to the publicity would not make him more anxious to
convict than in any other case. When asked whether he listened to the John and
Ken Show on KFI, he responded that he carpools and “there are times I think they
have it on.” But he added that would not be a problem because he would just ask
them to change the channel.
In sum, this record shows these six jurors had no knowledge of the case
beyond the information they received in the selection process, and none had a
preexisting opinion about it. Although a preexisting opinion is not disqualifying if
the juror can set the opinion aside and decide the case solely on the evidence
presented in court (People v. Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 840), these jurors
did not even present that issue. It is true that one of the jurors said he found the
victim‟s death “heart wrenching.” But that circumstance has nothing to do with
the locale of the trial and everything to do with the facts of the case. Any person
familiar with the facts, as all jurors anywhere would inevitably become, could find
Samantha‟s death “heart wrenching.” The question is whether that person could
fairly judge guilt. Nothing suggests this juror, or any of the others, could not do
so.
As defendant notes, one of the actual jurors said he had recently listened to
the John and Ken Show. This juror was not one of those defendant had wished to
excuse at trial. And for good reason. The juror also said he had no knowledge of
the case, he listened to “a lot of different programs,” he had listened to the John
and Ken Show for a while even though he disagreed “with 99 percent of it,” and he
had never listened to anything about this case. He described John and Ken as
“being loud and screaming” and made clear the show did not and would not
influence him.
19
Defendant also notes that the jury convicted him of all charges and found
true both of the charged special circumstances. We and the United States Supreme
Court have sometimes cited a split verdict, with some portions favoring the
defendant, as further indicating the jury was fair and impartial. (See Skilling,
supra, 561 U.S. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at p. 2923]; People v. Harris (2013) 57 Cal. 4th
804, 831.) It is true that this additional indication of jury impartiality is lacking
here. But defendant was charged with only four counts: kidnapping, two counts
of a lewd and lascivious act, and murder. The evidence showed beyond question
that the perpetrator of this crime did kidnap Samantha, did commit at least two
lewd and lascivious acts on her (the vaginal sexual assault and the anal sexual
assault), and did murder her under the two alleged special circumstances. Once
the jury found that defendant was the perpetrator — a finding the evidence
strongly supports — conviction on all counts and a true finding of both special
circumstances was virtually inevitable. The verdict does not suggest bias.
The trial judge was satisfied the actual jury was fair. “When pretrial
publicity is at issue, „primary reliance on the judgment of the trial court makes
[especially] good sense‟ because the judge „sits in the locale where the publicity is
said to have had its effect‟ and may base her evaluation on her „own perception of
the depth and extent of news stories that might influence a juror‟ [Citation.] . . .
[¶] Reviewing courts are properly resistant to second-guessing the trial judge‟s
estimation of a juror‟s impartiality, for that judge‟s appraisal is ordinarily
influenced by a host of factors impossible to capture fully in the record — among
them, the prospective juror‟s inflection, sincerity, demeanor, candor, body
language, and apprehension of duty. [Citation.] In contrast to the cold transcript
received by the appellate court, the in-the-moment voir dire affords the trial court
a more intimate and immediate basis for assessing a venire member‟s fitness for
jury service.” (Skilling, supra, 561 U.S. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at p. 2918].) Even the
20
cold record here fully supports the trial judge‟s estimation of the jury‟s
impartiality.
This record presents no reason to find a reasonable likelihood that
defendant did not receive a fair trial before impartial jurors. “Stated slightly
differently, we are confident the guilt and penalty verdicts were due to the
evidence presented at trial and not to a biased jury or the failure to change venue.”
(People v. Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 841.)
B. Denial of Additional Peremptory Challenges
Defendant contends the court erred in denying his request for additional
peremptory challenges after he exhausted his statutory allotment of challenges. 3
We disagree. “[T]o establish the constitutional entitlement to additional
peremptory challenges argued for here, a criminal defendant must show at the very
least that in the absence of such additional challenges he is reasonably likely to
receive an unfair trial before a partial jury.” (People v. Bonin (1988) 46 Cal. 3d
659, 679.) As discussed above regarding defendant‟s change of venue contention,
he has failed to make this showing.
In this appeal, defendant asserts that when defense counsel requested the
additional peremptory challenges, she said “she wished to excuse six jurors she
believed could not be fair and impartial in light of (1) their exposure to the
inflammatory publicity, (2) their personal identification with the victim and her
3 With respect to this and other claims on appeal, defendant argues that the
asserted error also violated various of his constitutional rights. The constitutional
claims do not invoke facts or legal standards different from those defendant asked
the trial court to apply but merely assert that the alleged errors were also
constitutional violations. Because we find no error, we necessarily also find no
constitutional violation. Accordingly, we provide no separate constitutional
discussion. (See People v. Boyer (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 412, 441, fn. 17.)
21
mother, and/or (3) their sympathy with close friends and relatives who had been
victims of sexual assaults, even though they might not be excusable for cause.”
The record does not support the assertion. When defense counsel requested
additional challenges, the court specifically asked which jurors she wanted to
challenge and why she wanted to challenge them. After providing the jurors‟
numbers, counsel said, “All have varying degrees of exposure to publicity. Some
of them had more information in the questionnaires than the court gave them.”
When the court asked if that was the only reason, counsel responded that it was.
As discussed above, the six jurors in question professed to have had very
little exposure to publicity and stated that they had formed no opinion regarding
the case. The trial court assessed their states of mind, finding that they were able
to render a fair verdict. Because the questionnaire responses by these jurors, and
their answers on voir dire, comprise substantial evidence supporting the trial
court‟s rulings regarding their impartiality, we defer to the trial court‟s conclusion
that the six identified prospective jurors could be fair and impartial. The mere fact
that defendant wished to peremptorily challenge those jurors does not establish
that any of them were biased. (See Skilling, supra, 561 U.S. at p. __ [130 S.Ct. at
pp. 2924-2925] [reaching a similar conclusion regarding the defendant‟s similar
objection to six specific jurors that he had wanted to challenge peremptorily].)
Under the circumstances, defendant has not demonstrated that additional
peremptory challenges were necessary to secure his right to a fair trial. No
violation of his constitutional rights is apparent.
C. Admitting Evidence of Other Crimes
Defendant contends the court erred in admitting evidence that he had
sexually molested three girls. He had been charged with and acquitted of crimes
concerning two of the girls. The prosecution offered, and the trial court
22
specifically admitted, the evidence under Evidence Code section 1108. The court
found that its “probative value is extremely high” and exercised its discretion
under Evidence Code section 352.
Evidence Code section 1108, subdivision (a), provides: “In a criminal
action in which the defendant is accused of a sexual offense, evidence of the
defendant‟s commission of another sexual offense or offenses is not made
inadmissible by Section 1101, if the evidence is not inadmissible pursuant to
Section 352.” “[T]he Legislature‟s principal justification for adopting section
1108 was a practical one: By their very nature, sex crimes are usually committed
in seclusion without third party witnesses or substantial corroborating evidence.
The ensuing trial often presents conflicting versions of the event and requires the
trier of fact to make difficult credibility determinations. Section 1108 provides the
trier of fact in a sex offense case the opportunity to learn of the defendant‟s
possible disposition to commit sex crimes.” (People v. Falsetta (1999) 21 Cal. 4th
903, 915.) The need for such evidence is especially compelling when the sexual
assault victim was killed and cannot testify. (People v. Story (2009) 45 Cal. 4th
1282, 1293.)
Defendant was charged with a sexual offense both because he was charged
with committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 and
because he was charged with murder under the special circumstance of murder
while committing the lewd and lascivious acts. (See People v. Story, supra, 45
Cal.4th at pp. 1290-1292.) Accordingly, evidence of other sexual crimes, such as
the evidence admitted in this case, is admissible under Evidence Code section
1108.
“[Evidence Code s]ection 1108 preserves the trial court‟s discretion to
exclude evidence under [Evidence Code] section 352 if its prejudicial effect
substantially outweighs its probative value. [Citations.] In deciding whether to
23
exclude evidence of another sexual offense under section 1108, „trial judges must
consider such factors as its nature, relevance, and possible remoteness, the degree
of certainty of its commission and the likelihood of confusing, misleading, or
distracting the jurors from their main inquiry, its similarity to the charged offense,
its likely prejudicial impact on the jurors, the burden on the defendant in defending
against the uncharged offense, and the availability of less prejudicial alternatives
to its outright admission, such as admitting some but not all of the defendant‟s
other sex offenses, or excluding irrelevant though inflammatory details
surrounding the offense.‟ (People v. Falsetta, supra, [21 Cal.4th] at p. 917.) Like
any ruling under section 352, the trial court‟s ruling admitting evidence under
section 1108 is subject to review for abuse of discretion.” (People v. Story, supra,
45 Cal.4th at pp. 1294-1295.)
The court did not abuse its discretion in this case. That defendant had been
acquitted of charges regarding two of the girls did not prevent admitting the
evidence in this case. “Both this court and the United States Supreme Court have
held that principles of double jeopardy, including its collateral estoppel
component, permit the admission of otherwise proper evidence of a prior crime
even if the person had been entirely acquitted of that prior crime. (Dowling v.
United States (1990) 493 U.S. 342, 348-349; People v. Santamaria (1994) 8
Cal. 4th 903, 921.) This is so because the defendant must be found guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt of a crime to be convicted of it, but other crimes evidence need
be proven only by a preponderance of the evidence. (Dowling, at pp. 348-349;
Santamaria, at p. 921 . . . .)” (People v. Steele (2002) 27 Cal. 4th 1230, 1245,
fn. 2.)
The evidence of the other sexual offenses was, as the trial court found,
extremely probative. They were sex crimes against young girls, suggesting
defendant was a pedophile who committed the crimes against the young female
24
victim in this case. The evidence strongly corroborated the other evidence of
defendant‟s guilt of the charged offenses. This circumstance brings the evidence
precisely within the primary purpose behind Evidence Code section 1108.
Moreover, in addition to the force of the evidence to show defendant has a
disposition to commit sex crimes against young girls, the evidence was
particularly probative in light of statements defendant made after his acquittal of
some of those crimes — specifically, the evidence that defendant told his sister, “I
could do anything I want to that little girl and I can‟t be charged for it because of
double jeopardy,” and the chat room conversation in which defendant said, “I live
4 thousand feet in the mountains where you can do anything to little kids.” These
statements indicated that defendant intended to continue committing sex offenses
against young girls, thus greatly strengthening both the evidence that defendant
did commit the earlier crimes and their tendency to show defendant committed the
charged crime.
The other crimes were neither remote nor particularly inflammatory when
compared with the facts of the charged crime. Additionally, although defendant
had previously been acquitted of the crimes against two of the girls, the evidence
at this trial that he committed those crimes was much stronger. A third girl came
forward with similar testimony. Moreover, as explained, defendant‟s statements
strengthened the force of the evidence. Given all of the circumstances, the court
acted within its discretion in admitting the evidence.
Defendant argues, as he did at trial, that admitting the evidence of the
crimes for which he had been acquitted would prejudice him at a potential penalty
phase. By statute, “in no event shall evidence of prior criminal activity be
admitted for an offense for which the defendant was prosecuted and acquitted.”
(§ 190.3, 3d par.) Thus, evidence of the crimes against the two girls for which he
had been prosecuted and acquitted would not be admissible in aggravation at the
25
penalty phase. This was a legitimate concern, and one the court and parties were
fully aware of at trial. In exercising its discretion under Evidence Code section
352, the court said that “as to the death penalty aspect, I think that issue can be
dealt with. Every day we ask jurors to disregard certain things, evidence that is
stricken.”
At the penalty phase, the court ruled that the jury could consider in
aggravation evidence of the crimes against Cara B., for which defendant had not
been tried and acquitted, and that the prosecutor could argue, as a circumstance of
the charged offense, that the prior prosecution and acquittal were relevant to show
motive and premeditation regarding the charged crime. Otherwise, it ruled that the
jury could not consider in aggravation the evidence of the crimes as to the other
two girls. It instructed the jury, that “with the exception of the evidence related to
[Cara B.], such evidence [of the other sexual offenses] may not be used by you to
determine the penalty in this case. However, you may consider the fact that the
defendant was charged with and tried for a prior sexually related offense . . . as
circumstances of the crime, if you determine that such activity relates to motive or
intent for the homicide in this case.”
Defendant does not contend that this instruction itself violated section
190.3, but he argues that, given section 190.3‟s prohibition, the court should not
have admitted at the guilt phase the evidence regarding the two girls for which he
had been acquitted. We disagree. That the sexual offenses as to two of the girls
would not be admissible in aggravation as other crimes evidence at a penalty
phase was a relevant factor for the trial court to consider, as it did, in exercising its
discretion. But it did not deprive the court of discretion to conclude that the
evidence should nonetheless be admitted at the guilt phase.
Section 190.3 itself so indicates. Immediately following the sentence
quoted above that prohibits admission at the penalty phase of evidence of criminal
26
activity for which the defendant had been prosecuted and acquitted, that section
provides: “The restriction on the use of this evidence is intended to apply only to
proceedings pursuant to this section and is not intended to affect statutory or
decisional law allowing such evidence to be used in any other proceedings.”
(§ 190.3, 3d par.) Section 190.3 concerns only the penalty phase of trial, not the
guilt proceeding. Thus, this sentence evinces the intent not to restrict evidence of
other crimes at the guilt phase if otherwise admissible, notwithstanding the fact the
evidence may not be used in aggravation at the penalty phase.
Accordingly, we conclude the court acted within its discretion in admitting
the evidence under Evidence Code section 1108. The parties also debate whether
the evidence would additionally have been admissible under some other provision
of law. We need not consider the question because the evidence was offered and
properly admitted under section 1108. (See People v. Story, supra, 45 Cal.4th at
p. 1295.)
D. Admitting Crime Scene Photographs and Evidence of Child
Pornography
Defendant contends the court erred in admitting, over objection,
photographs of the crime scene and the evidence regarding the child pornography
found on the computer to which he had access.
1. Crime Scene Photographs
At a hearing held before the evidentiary portion of trial, the prosecutor
stated he did not seek to introduce any autopsy photographs, but he sought to
introduce six photographs of the crime scene that depict the condition of the body
when it was found. The court excluded two of the proffered photographs but ruled
the prosecutor could admit the other four. Those four photographs were
introduced at trial.
27
“The admission into evidence of photographs lies within the trial court‟s
discretion and will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion.” (People v.
Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 852.) In this case, the court did not abuse its
discretion but carefully exercised it. The prosecution offered no autopsy
photographs and only six crime scene photographs. In the exercise of its
discretion, the trial court excluded two of those photographs. We have viewed the
photographs the court admitted. They are disturbing, as photographs of murder
victims usually are. They show, for example, the injuries the victim suffered to
her vagina and anus. But, as we have noted many times, “murder is rarely pretty”
and “photographs in a murder case are generally unpleasant.” (Ibid.) The
photographs were highly relevant to the cause of death and, especially, to whether
defendant committed lewd and lascivious acts on the child and murdered her in the
course of doing so. The trial acted within its discretion in excluding some
photographs and admitting others.
2. Child Pornography
The prosecutor also sought to introduce evidence of the child pornography
found on the computer. Defendant objected to all of this evidence but also, more
specifically, argued that the pornographic materials themselves were unduly
prejudicial. He offered to stipulate that what was found on the computer was, in
fact, child pornography. Because of this offer, the court found that “the prejudicial
effect from the inflammatory nature of the photographs is such that it outweighs
the probative value . . . .” It excluded the photographs themselves but permitted
the witness to describe what he found on the computer. Accordingly, the jury
heard the evidence summarized in the factual recitation in part I.A.1.b., ante.
Defendant contends the court erred in permitting even this limited evidence
that he possessed child pornography. We disagree. Evidence that defendant
28
possessed child pornography, and that the day before the murder he printed out a
story involving an adult male having sex with young children, was probative of
defendant‟s intent to commit lewd acts on the young murder victim in this case.
The court took steps to minimize any prejudicial effect by excluding the
pornographic materials themselves and only permitting a witness to describe those
materials.
In People v. Memro (1995) 11 Cal. 4th 786, 864, the trial court admitted
magazines and photographs containing “sexually explicit stories, photographs and
drawing of males ranging in age from prepubescent to young adult.” We found no
abuse of discretion in admitting the evidence because “the photographs were
admissible to show defendant‟s intent to molest a young boy in violation of
section 288 [committing a lewd and lascivious act].” (Ibid.) We explained that
“the photographs, presented in the context of defendant‟s possession of them,
yielded evidence from which the jury could infer that he had a sexual attraction to
young boys and intended to act on that attraction.” (Id. at p. 865; see also People
v. Page (2008) 44 Cal. 4th 1, 40.) Similarly, we find no abuse of discretion here.
E. Admitting Victim Impact Evidence
During the penalty phase, the victim‟s mother and grandmother presented
brief victim impact evidence. Over objection, and after reviewing them, the court
admitted eight photographs of the victim while alive. They were presented
through the mother‟s testimony.
Within limits, as when it invites an irrational response from the jury, the
prosecution may present evidence of the impact of the capital crime on loved ones
and the community. (See People v. Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 858.) The
evidence here was not particularly emotional and was presented very quickly.
29
Presenting it consumed a small fraction of the time devoted to defendant‟s case in
mitigation. This testimony came well within permissible limits. (Ibid.)
Defendant argues primarily that the court should not have admitted the
photographs of the victim while alive. He especially objects to two photographs
of her in Halloween costumes dressed as a princess and an angel. However,
admitting the still photographs also came within the court‟s discretion. (People v.
Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 858; see People v. Zamudio (2008) 43 Cal. 4th
327, 365-368 [14-minute videotaped montage of photographs properly admitted].)
F. Cumulative Prejudice
Defendant contends the cumulative effect of the asserted errors was
prejudicial. However, there was no error to accumulate.
G. Other Contentions
Defendant reiterates many challenges to California‟s death penalty law that
we have repeatedly rejected. We see no reason to revisit our previous decisions.
Section 190.2 is not impermissibly broad. (People v. Beames (2007) 40
Cal. 4th 907, 933-934.) “Section 190.3, factor (a) (circumstances of the crime) is
not applied too broadly and does not result in the arbitrary and capricious
imposition of the death penalty.” (People v. Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p.
862.) “Except regarding evidence of other crimes, jurors need not find
aggravating factors true beyond a reasonable doubt; no instruction on burden of
proof is needed; the jury need not achieve unanimity except for the verdict itself;
and written findings are not required.” (People v. Livingston (2012) 53 Cal. 4th
1145, 1180.) “Intercase proportionality review is not required.” (People v.
30
Rountree, supra, at p. 862.)4 “Use of prior unadjudicated criminal activity in
aggravation [is] proper.” (People v. Livingston, supra, at p. 1180.) “Section
190.3‟s use of adjectives such as „extreme‟ and „substantial‟ in describing
mitigating circumstances does not impermissibly limit the jury‟s consideration of
mitigating factors.” (People v. Rountree, supra, at p. 863.) “The trial court was
not constitutionally required to inform the jury that certain sentencing factors were
relevant only in mitigation, and the statutory instruction to the jury to consider
„whether or not‟ certain mitigating factors were present did not impermissibly
invite the jury to aggravate the sentence upon the basis of nonexistent or irrational
aggravating factors.” (People v. Morrison (2004) 34 Cal. 4th 698, 730.) “The
California death penalty scheme does not violate equal protection by treating
capital and noncapital defendants differently.” (People v. Livingston, supra, at p.
1180.) “Use of the death penalty does not violate international law and is not
unconstitutional.” (Ibid.)
4 We do provide intracase proportionality review on request. (People v.
Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 860.) Defendant does not specifically request
such review, but it would not aid him. The crime of this case, kidnapping and then
brutally killing a five-year-old child for sexual enjoyment, was truly appalling.
And defendant was solely responsible for that crime. “The sentence defendant
received is not disproportionate to his personal culpability. It does not shock the
conscience.” (Id. at p. 862.)
31
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment.
CHIN, J.
WE CONCUR:
CANTIL-SAKAUYE, C. J.
BAXTER, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
CORRIGAN, J.
LIU, J.
REARDON, J. *
_____________________________
* Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Four,
assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California
Constitution.
32
See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.
Name of Opinion People v. Avila
__________________________________________________________________________________
Unpublished Opinion
Original Appeal XXX
Original Proceeding
Review Granted
Rehearing Granted
__________________________________________________________________________________
Opinion No. S135855
Date Filed: June 30, 2014
__________________________________________________________________________________
Court: Superior
County: Orange
Judge: William R. Freeberg
__________________________________________________________________________________
Counsel:
Jonathan P. Milberg, under appointment by the Supreme Court, for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Julie L. Garland,
Assistant Attorney, Robin Urbanski and Bradley A. Weinreb, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):
Jonathan P. Milberg
225 South Lake Avenue, 3rd Floor
Pasadena, CA 91101-3009
(626) 685-8910
Bradley A. Weinreb
Deputy Attorney General
110 West A Street, Suite 1100
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 645-2290