In re D. B. ( 2014 )

Filed 12/17/14 In re D. B.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In re D. B, a Person Coming Under the
Juvenile Court Law.
D064992
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. J230605)
v.
D. B,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Melinda J.
Lasater, Judge. Affirmed.
Mazur & Mazur and Janice R. Mazur, under appointment by the Court of Appeal,
for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Senior Assistant Attorney
General, Barry Carlton and Christopher P. Beesley, Deputy Attorneys General, for
Plaintiff and Respondent.
D. B. (the Minor) appeals a juvenile court's decision making a true finding on two
counts of robbery (Pen. Code,1 § 211), two counts of grand theft (§ 487, subd. (c)), one
count of resisting arrest (§ 148, subd. (a)(1)), one count of falsely representing his
identity to a peace officer (§ 148.9, subd. (a)), and one count of using a firearm during the
commission of a felony (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)(1)).
On appeal the sole issue is whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying
the Minor's request for a continuance. Although we are convinced the court's denial of a
continuance to produce a potential exculpatory witness was an arbitrary abuse of
discretion, we are satisfied the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Prosecution Evidence
On August 12, 2013, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Nicole Southwood and Jared
Falls were walking on Campanile Drive by San Diego State University (SDSU). Both
Southwood and Falls were students at SDSU. Southwood and Falls noticed a group of
African-Americans, including the Minor, wearing "hoodies." As Southwood and Falls
walked towards their car, they heard footsteps and turned around to see four African-
Americans in "hoodies" approaching them. The Minor held a gun to Southwood's head
and demanded her purse and keys. Another member of the group held a gun to Fall's
head and demanded his phone, wallet, and keys. After the group took Southwood's and
Fall's possessions they left the scene. Southwood and Falls immediately went to their
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
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nearby friend's house and called the police. Police arrived shortly thereafter and
interviewed both victims for the details and descriptions of the incident.
At approximately 11:48 p.m., San Diego Police Officer Quinton McGee received a
radio call about a robbery near SDSU. The radio call described the suspects as a group of
African-American men and possibly one female. Soon after, McGee saw a group of
African-American men matching the description on the radio call. Officer McGee
slowed down to take a closer look but when the group of men saw his patrol vehicle they
ran. The group was apprehended a short time later.
San Diego Police Officer Amanda Howard transported Southwood to the location
of the apprehended suspects for a curbside lineup. San Diego Police Officer Kai Johnson
transported Falls. The officers admonished both Southwood and Falls about the curbside
lineup prior to arriving at the scene. Officer Howard used her patrol vehicle's headlights,
spotlights, and take down lights to illuminate the apprehended group and then
individually presented them to Southwood. During trial, Officer Howard testified that
Southwood identified the Minor as the individual who had put the gun to her head.
During the curbside lineup, Officer Howard asked Southwood to confirm this was the
individual and she replied, "I'm pretty positive that was him. Yeah, he was the one that
threatened me."
Falls positively identified one of the individuals and stated, "He looks really
familiar. It looks like him. The hat and size. He looks like the one that had the gun to
my head."
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Defense Evidence
During trial, the defense presented the testimony of Dr. Robert Shomer, a forensic
psychologist. Dr. Shomer testified about the potential inaccuracy of cross-racial
identification. Dr. Shomer also testified that curbside identifications are suggestive and
prone to incorrect identifications.
The Minor testified during trial. The Minor testified that on the afternoon of the
incident he had been at his grandfather's home. The Minor was aware at the time that he
was on probation and had a curfew of 6:00 p.m. However, he testified that he left his
grandfather's home at 8:00 p.m. to go meet some friends. The Minor met a group of eight
to 10 people and attended a hotel party in Fashion Valley. The Minor testified that the
group stayed at the party for about 30 minutes and then left by taking the trolley at the
Fashion Valley station.
The entire group got off the trolley at the SDSU stop at around 11:45 p.m. The
Minor explained that he intended to get off at the La Mesa trolley stop and take the bus
back to his grandfather's home. However, the SDSU station was the last stop of the night
for the trolley. As the group exited the SDSU trolley station they saw police cars and ran.
The Minor jumped over a fence and hid under a stairwell but was detained by police.
During trial, the Minor testified that he did not recall anyone in the group being dressed
in "hoodies."
Proceedings Relating to Exculpatory Evidence
On October 24, 2013, during the adjudication hearing, the Minor's defense counsel
indicated that he intended to introduce surveillance video from cameras at the SDSU
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trolley station. The prosecution objected on the grounds that the videos lacked proper
foundation. The trial court sustained the objection but allowed a one-week continuance
for defense counsel to find the necessary foundational evidence.
On October 25, 2013, defense counsel presented the Minor's testimony and then
subsequently informed the court that there were no further witnesses. The court informed
defense counsel that it "want[ed] everything except the video. The video is the only thing
that I am allowing you to bring later. Yesterday was the day set for trial." Defense
counsel replied by informing the court that there was an additional witness2 he wanted to
call and that this witness possessed exculpatory evidence. The prosecution objected on
the grounds that defense counsel was presenting "verbal evidence." Furthermore, the
prosecution explained to the court that defense counsel did not give notice of his intent to
call this witness and he did not make an effort to obtain the contact information of this
witness despite having the police report since October 18, 2013.
The court explained to both parties, "I have been very specific that the only thing
that we're going to continue the trial for is for foundation for the video. That's it. Other
than that, I'm saying nothing else will come in." The court denied defense counsel's
request for a continuance.
2 Appellant's opening brief explains that this witness was listed in a police report
concerning a robbery that had taken place earlier that evening. Appellant argues that "an
attempted robbery which occurred on Mississippi near Howard Street, a little over an
hour before the robbery [of Nicole Southwood and Jared Falls] by four African-American
young men wearing hoodies. The alleged victim of that incident did not identify
[appellant] as one of the perpetrators."
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DISCUSSION
I
ABUSE OF DISCRETION
The Minor contends the juvenile court abused its discretion in denying his request
to bring in potentially exculpatory evidence on the date to which the court had continued
the trial for the purpose of considering a video from the trolley station. As we will
discuss, we find the court's refusal to permit the defense to attempt to introduce its
evidence was arbitrary and an abuse of discretion. However, as we will discuss later,
after reviewing the material submitted to the court, we are satisfied the error was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We will therefore affirm the true findings and
disposition of the juvenile court.
A. Legal Principles
As a general principle, continuances of criminal or juvenile delinquency
proceedings may only be granted upon a showing of good cause. (§ 1050, subd. (e);
People v. Beeler (1995) 9 Cal.4th 953, 1003.) The determination of whether there is
good cause for a continuance is vested in the sound discretion of the trial court. (People
v. Jenkins (2000) 22 Cal.4th 900, 1037.)
In ruling on a request for continuance by the defense, the court must determine
whether the defense has acted with due diligence, but must also consider whether defense
counsel has had a reasonable opportunity to prepare. (People v. Doolin (2009) 45
Cal.4th 390, 450.)
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In order for the defense to demonstrate good cause for a continuance to produce
further evidence, it must show that the proposed evidence is material and that the defense
has acted with reasonable diligence to pursue the production of the evidence. (People v.
Beeler, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 1003.) Appellate courts will not overturn a trial court's
decision to grant or deny a continuance in the absence of a clear showing of an abuse of
discretion. (People v. Beames (2007) 40 Cal.4th 907, 920-921.)
Even where a trial court acts within its discretion under state procedure, the United
States Supreme Court has held that such procedural rules may not deprive a defendant of
the right to a fair trial and to present a relevant defense. (Chambers v. Mississippi (1973)
410 U.S. 284, 302; see People v. Williams (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1767, 1777.)
Moreover, considerations of due process require that the government produce
exculpatory material to the defense. Where information in the government's possession is
reasonably likely to lead to a better outcome of the case, it is deemed material within the
meaning of the due process clause. (Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83.)
B. Analysis
There is no dispute in the record that although the events reflected in the police
reports occurred on August 12, 2013, the reports were not provided to the defense until
Friday, October 18, 2013, one week before the scheduled trial date. It is also undisputed
that the address and contact information for the witness in the reports were blacked out.
Finally, it is without dispute that defense counsel had only been recently appointed to try
this case.
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As the record reflects, the trial could not be completed on the day scheduled. The
defense sought to introduce a video from the trolley authorities, however the prosecution
objected on foundational grounds. As a result, the court decided to continue the
completion of the trial for a week in order to produce the necessary foundational
testimony for the video. The court was absolutely adamant, however, that all she would
hear on the continued date was evidence relating to the video.
When defense counsel advised the court about the need to call the witness from
the police reports the prosecutor objected. First the prosecutor made an odd objection to
"verbal evidence," which was understandably overruled. Next, there was an objection to
calling the defense witness because the prosecution did not receive advance notice,
notwithstanding the fact the prosecution only turned over the redacted police reports on
the Friday before trial.
True to the court's earlier pronouncement, it absolutely refused to even consider
the defense evidence, based on the court's earlier decision that there would be nothing
further allowed at the continued date except video evidence.
We conclude the court abused its discretion. It gave no consideration to the fact
the defense had almost no time to analyze the possible exculpatory evidence, nor the
difficulty it faced in locating a witness where all contact information had been redacted.
Our review of the record indicates the court made no evaluation of the materiality of the
proposed evidence and gave no consideration to the issue of tardy disclosure by the
prosecution. Our reading of the record simply shows the court had earlier said it would
not consider any other evidence, and true to its word, it did not. That was not a rational
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weighing of the reasons for the delay, materiality of the proposed evidence or the
existence of prejudice. It was simply an arbitrary pronouncement, which is not an
exercise of discretion.
II
HARMLESS ERROR
When defense counsel made the request to be permitted to call a witness at the
continued date, counsel did not make an offer of proof. He did, however, lodge a copy of
a redacted police report regarding an attempted robbery which occurred earlier on the
same night as the robbery in this case, but at a location some distance away from the
instant crime. The report shows there were somewhere between three and five young
black males, wearing hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) who were involved in an attempted
robbery. According to the report the victim pushed one of the would-be robbers away
and the group ran away in two different directions.
The Minor contends the excluded evidence was material and that he was
prejudiced by the failure to allow its production. The respondent contends any error was
harmless. Although we have expressed strong disagreement with the manner in which
this issue was dealt with in the juvenile court, we are satisfied the error is harmless by
any standard of review.
A. Legal Principles
Ordinarily the erroneous denial of a request for a continuance is reviewed under
the ordinary harmless error standard set forth in People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818,
836. (People v Gonzales (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1539, 1549.) Under that standard, trial
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court error is harmless unless we can say that it is reasonably probable that a different
result would have occurred in the absence of the error.
The Minor argues that the trial court's action deprived him of his right to present a
defense in violation of the Sixth Amendment and due process. (Chambers v. Mississippi,
supra, 410 U.S. 284.) Thus he argues we should apply the standard for constitutional
harmless error under Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S.18, 24. We will apply the
Watson standard, although we are satisfied that on this record the error was harmless
under either standard.
B. Analysis
The Minor relies on the fact the victim in the attempted robbery was transported to
the place where the Minor was arrested, but did not identify anyone as being involved in
the attempted robbery. Presumably, the Minor would then argue that since the two
crimes were probably committed by the same people, and the victim of the first crime
could not identify the Minor as a perpetrator, that would raise a reasonable doubt as to the
validity of the identifications by the victims of the robbery. There is nothing in this
record that would support such an inference.
The attempt occurred at about 10:25 p.m. on the date of the current offense in a
different part of the city. The only similarity is that there were between three and five
young, tall, black males who were wearing hoodies. Otherwise, there is virtually no
reason to assume the perpetrators of the attempt were the same people who robbed two
people an hour and 20 minutes later in a different part of the city. Further, the witnesses
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in the robbery were able to identify several of the participants in the robbery offense,
shortly after the commission of the crime.
In the robbery at least two of the men had guns, which they pointed at the victims.
Police were called within minutes of the crime and promptly encountered the group of
young men, who were later identified by victims. When the group saw the patrol car they
fled.
When the Minor testified and offered an exculpatory explanation of his actions, he
said he spent the evening with his friend Rocky Jones, who the Minor acknowledged had
pleaded guilty to the robbery. The trial court found the Minor's testimony about his
actions not to be credible.
The limited information provided about the attempted robbery does not aid in any
challenge to the identifications here. As we have noted, save for the fact there were
young black males wearing "hoodies" there is nothing to justify an inference they were
the same people that were involved in this crime. No weapons were used and the group
fled when the victim resisted. The group ran away in two different directions. As best
we can tell, the suspects in the attempt were all dressed in blue jeans and "hoodies." The
group with the Minor included one person wearing red shorts. Another had a large "afro"
and there was at least one unusual hat worn by a suspect. In sum, the mere fact that a
group of young black males wearing "hoodies" attempted a robbery at a different time
and a different place does not support an inference that the two groups of suspects were
the same people.
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Our analysis, of course is based on the record before us, which does not include an
offer of proof and only provides the sparse information contained in the police report
lodged with the court. On this record we can say that we are satisfied beyond a
reasonable doubt that the error by the trial court did not contribute to the true findings on
the petition. (Chapman v. California, supra, 386 U.S. 18, 24.)
DISPOSITION
The true findings on the petition in this case are affirmed.
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, J.
HALLER, J.
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