People v. Venable CA4/2 ( 2022 )

Filed 9/14/22 P. v. Venable CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE, E071681
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super.Ct.No. FSB17002517)
TRAVON RASHAD VENABLE, SR.,
Defendant and Appellant. The County of San Bernardino
ORDER MODIFYING OPINION
AND DENYING PETITION FOR
REHEARING
[No Change in Judgment]
_______________________________________
THE COURT:
The petition for rehearing is denied. The Opinion filed in this matter on August 22,
2022, is modified to add the following.
In Section X, page 41, at the end of the second paragraph ending in “was
harmless” we add the sentence, “We reject Venable’s argument that failing to bifurcate
was structural error because, as we discuss next, it’s possible to determine whether it is
reasonably probable Venable would have obtained a more favorable result if his trial had
been bifurcated under section 1109.”
In Section X, page 42, before the last paragraph of that section, beginning with
“It’s true the prosecution,” we add this additional paragraph, “For the same reasons, we
conclude failing to bifurcate trial as called for under new state law did not render his trial
fundamentally unfair in violation of Venable’s federal due process rights.8 (See People v.
Gonzales (2013) 56 Cal.4th 353, 385 [“The governing United States Supreme Court
decisions establish that “ ‘a “mere error of state law” is not a denial of due process’”].)”
Footnote 8 states, “Venable argues failing to bifurcate is not harmless when taken in
combination with the other errors he identified. However, we have rejected these other
1
claims of error, so we need not consider their cumulative effect. (People v. Hovarter
(2008) 44 Cal.4th 983, 1030.)”
Except for the modification, which doesn’t affect the judgment, the opinion is
unchanged.
NOT TO PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
SLOUGH
J.
We concur:
RAMIREZ
P. J.
MENETREZ
J.
cc: See attached list
2
MAILING LIST FOR CASE: E071681
The People v. Travon Venable, Sr.
Superior Court Clerk
San Bernardino County
8303 N. Haven Ave
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Warren J. Williams
Office of the State Attorney General
P. O. Box 85266
San Diego, CA 92186-5266
Joshua Lee Siegel
Attorney at Law
171 Pier Avenue #314
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Appellate Defenders, Inc.
555 West Beech Street, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101 2396
3
Filed 8/22/22 P. v. Venable CA4/2 (unmodified opinion)
Opinion following transfer from Supreme Court
See Concurrence/Dissent
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
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E071681
v. (Super.Ct.No. FSB17002517)
TRAVON RASHAD VENABLE, SR., OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Ronald M.
Christianson, Steve Malone, and Michael A. Smith, Judges.1 Affirmed in part, reversed in
part, and remanded with directions.
Joshua L. Siegel, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
1
Judge Christianson and Judge Malone both granted continuances of the trial,
which defendant contends violated his right to a speedy trial. (See part II, post.) Judge
Smith presided over the trial and made all of the other challenged rulings. (See parts III-
IX, post.)
1
Rob Bonta and Xavier Becerra, Attorneys General, Lance E. Winters, Chief
Assistant Attorney General, Julie L. Garland and Charles C. Ragland, Senior Assistant
Attorneys General, and Steve Oetting, Christopher Beesley and Warren J. Williams,
Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Bullets fired from a small white car killed one victim and wounded another. Both
victims were members or associates of the Westside Projects (Projects) gang. Months
later, when the police arrested a known informant for an unrelated offense, he offered to
give them information about the shooting. He told the police — and he eventually
testified — that defendant Travon Rashad Venable, Sr. was the driver of the car and one
Elgin Johnson was the shooter. Both defendant and Johnson were members of the
California Gardens Crips (California Gardens) gang, a rival of the Projects.
In a jury trial, defendant was found guilty of first degree murder (Penal Code,
§ 187)2 and attempted murder (§§ 187, 664, subd. (a)).3 On each count, a gang
enhancement (§ 186.22, subd. (b)) and a gang-related firearm enhancement (§ 12022.53,
subds. (d), (e)) were found true. In a bifurcated proceeding, after defendant waived a jury
trial, one prior serious felony conviction enhancement (§ 667, subd. (a)) and one “strike”
2 All further statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise
indicated.
3 Defendant was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
(§ 29800, subd. (a)(1).) However, the trial court granted a motion for acquittal (§ 1118.1)
on this count.
2
prior (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12) were also found true. Defendant was sentenced to a
total of 129 years to life.
In this appeal, defendant contends:
(1) The trial court violated defendant’s speedy trial rights by repeatedly continuing
the trial to accommodate counsel for his then-codefendant Johnson.
(2) The trial court erred by admitting a rap video in which defendant appeared.
(3) The trial court erred by giving CALCRIM No. 315, which required the jury to
consider a witness’s level of certainty when evaluating an identification by that witness.
(4) The jury found defendant guilty of simple attempted murder, not willful,
deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder. The People concede this point.
(5) The trial court erred by sentencing defendant on both the firearm
enhancements and the gang enhancements. The People concede this point.
(6) Defendant is entitled to a remand so the trial court can consider striking the
prior serious felony conviction enhancement pursuant to newly enacted legislation. The
People concede this point.
(7) Pursuant to newly enacted legislation, defendant is entitled to a retrial so the
gang allegations can be tried separately.
(8) The gang enhancements and the gang-related firearm enhancements must be
reversed because the jury was not instructed in accordance with newly enacted
legislation. The People concede this point.
3
(9) Defendant is entitled to a remand so the trial court can consider reducing the
firearm enhancements pursuant to newly enacted legislation. The People concede this
point.
We find no error other than those conceded by the People. We will remand to give
the People the opportunity to retry the gang enhancements and the gang-related firearm
enhancements and for resentencing.
I
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. Victim Drake’s Account
The surviving victim, Kiyon “Kiki” Drake, testified at trial. Drake admitted that he
“sometimes h[u]ng out with” members of the Projects.
On March 5, 2014, around 12:15 p.m., Drake and his friend Enon “Bubba”
Edwards were at the intersection of Medical Center Drive and Union Street in San
Bernardino.
As they were crossing the street, someone in a small, older white car going north
on Medical Center started shooting at them. They “took off running.”
A bullet hit Drake in the back and came out through his chest. After he rounded a
building, he looked back and saw Edwards lying on the ground. At a hospital, Drake was
found to have a collapsed lung. Edwards died from a single gunshot wound to the back of
the head.
4
Drake told police that the car slowed down as it approached. The passenger was
leaning out the rear driver’s side window. Both the driver and the passenger had
handguns and started shooting. They were both Black males in their mid-20s. He
testified, however, that he did not see the shooter.
B. Bystander Burley’s Account
Bystander Burley heard the shots. He saw a small, older white car, possibly a
Honda, going by. A young black male was “hanging out of” the rear driver’s side
window, aiming a .22 rifle. Burley did not get a good look at his face and could not see
the driver at all.
C. The Investigation
At the scene, the police found a total of nine .22-caliber shell casings. They had all
been fired from the same gun. The number of rounds indicated that the gun was a
semiautomatic.
The police also obtained surveillance videos from some of the nearby businesses.
These showed a small white car going south on Medical Center, then going north on
Medical Center a few minutes later. As it passed the victims, it slowed down. A male was
leaning out the rear driver’s side window. A “shadowy thing,” which could have been the
barrel of a rifle, was sticking out the driver’s side rear window.
D. Doe’s First Statement to the Police
Nearly three months after the shooting, on May 25, 2014, two officers — Officer
Sims and Officer Plummer — conducted a traffic stop of a person referred to at trial as
5
John Doe. Officer Plummer had previously used Doe as a paid informant. Officer Sims
searched Doe’s car and found nothing. Officer Plummer, however, pointed out that
Officer Sims had not looked under the rear seat cushion; there, they found a gun.
Doe then indicated that he had information about the shooting. The officers
therefore took Doe to the station, where he was interviewed by the lead investigator,
Detective William Flesher. Officer Plummer monitored the interview.
Doe said he was at the intersection and saw the shooting. An older white Kia
Sephia that was going south on Medical Center turned around and waited in a parking lot.
As the victims were crossing the street, the car drove north, slowly. It stopped in the
middle of the street and “just started shooting.” Doe heard the shots, looked, and saw
more shots fired. He saw Drake run “around the thing,” then fall. Edwards turned around
but was hit in the head.
Doe identified defendant as the driver and Johnson as the shooter. Johnson was on
his knees in the back seat, pointing a .22-caliber rifle “with a long clip” out the window.
Defendant and Johnson were both members of California Gardens; Drake was a member
and Edwards was an associate of the Projects.
After the shooting, Doe communicated with Johnson on Facebook; Johnson
bragged, “Yeah. I shot him. So what.” Johnson soon deactivated his Facebook account.
Later, Doe asked Johnson why he did it; Johnson replied that he was “putting in work”
for California Gardens.
6
Detective Flesher showed Doe individual photos of defendant and Johnson, and he
identified them.
The police obtained Johnson’s Facebook records but found nothing bragging about
the shooting. However, it may be possible to delete Facebook messages. A photo of
Johnson from his Facebook page showed him with a magazine that could be used in a
rifle.
The surveillance videos, however, did not show Doe at the intersection where he
claimed to have been.
E. Doe’s Second Statement to the Police
On June 3, 2015, Detective Flesher re-interviewed Doe. Doe said his first
statement had been truthful, except about “the proximity.” Actually, he was a block north
of the intersection when he heard the shots. Afterwards, though, the car “drove right by
[him].” He had “[n]o doubt” that he saw defendant and Johnson.
Doe also said that, while he did see a long gun, only later did someone else tell
him it was a .22.
After the shooting, Doe asked defendant — not Johnson — why they did it.
Neither of them told him they were putting in work for California Gardens; he inferred
that.
This time, Detective Flesher showed Doe “six-pack” photo lineups; once again,
Doe identified defendant and Johnson.
7
F. Doe’s Statement to a Defense Investigator
In April 2018, a defense investigator interviewed Doe. Doe told the investigator he
did not see the shooting. He claimed the police were forcing him to identify defendant
and Johnson; Officer Plummer planted a gun in his car, said it had been used in a murder,
and used that as leverage to get him to give a false statement.
According to Doe, Officer Plummer said, “I need you to place yourself at the
scene.” Officer Plummer also told him that he was going to be shown “six-pack” photo
lineups with tiny x’s under the photos that he was supposed to identify.
Doe also told the investigator, however, that “he doesn’t want a huge target on his
back, his main concern was for his life and safety[.]”
Detective Flesher testified there were no x’s on the photo lineups.
G. Doe’s Testimony at the Conditional Examination
On April 16, 2018, Doe testified at a conditional examination. When asked about
his interviews with the police, he said an officer “told [him] to say it or else [he] was
going to get charge[d] with murder.” He added that defendant and Johnson were being
framed.
H. Doe’s Testimony at Trial
At trial, Doe testified he was in protective custody and afraid for his safety.
He was acquainted with the victims. He was aware of defendant, whom he knew
as “Trocc,” and Johnson, whom he knew as “Mongoo.”
8
On the day of the shooting, Doe was about a block west of the intersection when
he saw a white Kia Sephia going south on Medical Center.
Some 20 to 25 minutes later, he was about a block north and slightly west of the
intersection. He heard eight or nine “pops” and saw people running. Then the same white
car “flew by [him].”
Defendant was the driver. Johnson was the passenger, sitting in the rear seat on the
driver’s side. Johnson was just pulling a rifle “back inside in the window.” The rifle was
a .22, with a clip.
In earlier interviews, when he said he was at the intersection, he saw Drake run,
and he saw Edwards fall, he “might have been[] kind of[] confused . . . .”
Johnson did not tell Doe directly that he did the shooting to “put in work” for
California Gardens. Rather, Doe saw a female receive Facebook messages from Johnson
saying that “they” did the shooting.
Doe repeated his allegation that, after Officer Sims stopped and searched his car,
Officer Plummer planted a gun in it; Officer Plummer then said he was going to charge
Doe with a murder that had been committed with the gun, unless he provided certain
information. Doe pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the gun and was sentenced to
two years in prison.
Later, Doe was charged with felony evading. He entered into a plea bargain that
required him to testify truthfully in this case in exchange for a “favorable disposition” in
that case.
9
His statement to the defense investigator was a lie.
I. Gang Evidence
It was stipulated that California Gardens and the Projects are both “criminal street
gangs.” This included a stipulation that the primary activities of California Gardens
included murder, attempted murder, possession of controlled substances for sale, assaults
with firearms, unlawful possession of firearms, carjackings, robberies and burglaries. It
also included a stipulation that members of California Gardens had been convicted of five
predicate offenses. Finally, it was stipulated that defendant and Johnson were members of
California Gardens.
Officer Sims testified as gang expert for the prosecution. He explained that
California Gardens and the Projects are rivals. The shooting occurred in Projects territory.
Victims Drake and Edwards were both members or associates of the Projects.
Defendant’s moniker is “Trocc” and Johnson’s moniker is “Mongoo.”
In the expert’s opinion, Johnson committed the shooting to get back in good
standing with California Gardens. He had been in “bad standing”; in fact, a high-ranking
member of the gang had shot him. After the charged shooting, however, Johnson was
back in good standing.
The gang expert opined, in hypothetical form, that the shooting was committed at
the direction of, for the benefit of, and in association with the gang.
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J. The Rap Video
On YouTube, the police found a rap video featuring defendant’s younger brother,
“Young Trocc.” Defendant and other California Gardens members were also in the video.
They could be seen flashing gang signs; they displayed guns, drugs, and money. At one
point, defendant held a rifle with an extended magazine.
One of the lines in the rap was: “Got word from a bird[] that they did that nigga
dead wrong/Slid up Medical and left that nigga head gone.” According to the gang
expert, this meant defendant’s brother had heard that a California Gardens member shot
someone else in the head on Medical Center. Until the charged shooting, no one had been
shot in the head on Medical Center since 2007.
In the expert’s opinion, the video was a way of “claiming ownership” of the
shooting and bragging about it. He conceded it was the gang as a whole taking credit, and
not any particular member of the gang.
K. Defense Evidence.
Defendant lived with his aunt. She testified that, on the day of the shooting, he was
at home all day. She remembered because, that same day, he was arrested for an
unrelated probation violation. She had told police, however, that she did not remember
what defendant did that day, but she did not think he was there the whole day.
Defendant testified on his own behalf. At first — despite his stipulation — he
denied being a member of California Gardens. However, after being confronted with his
own prior admissions, to the police and others, he admitted he was a member.
11
He denied being present at the shooting. He had never met Johnson until they were
both arrested.
He participated in the rap video to support his brother. In it, he was just
“portraying an image.” The guns in the video were props, not real guns.
After the shooting, the police asked defendant if he had ever been in a white Kia.
He said he had not. However, when they pointed out that in 2009, he had been stopped
while in a white Kia, he said he used to drive his girlfriend’s white Kia.
L. Prosecution Rebuttal
Officer Plummer denied planting a gun in Doe’s car. Both Officer Plummer and
Officer Sims testified that neither of them ever threatened Doe. Officer Plummer denied
making any promises to Doe or telling him what to say.
II
SPEEDY TRIAL
Defendant contends that the trial court violated his speedy trial rights by
repeatedly continuing the trial to accommodate counsel for his then-codefendant.
A. Additional Factual and Procedural Background
The complaint and the information jointly charged both defendant and Johnson.
The complaint was filed on June 29, 2017. On November 3, 2017, the information
was filed and defendant was arraigned.
12
Trial was initially set for December 18, 2017. After five continuances, which
defense counsel either requested or did not object to, the case was set for trial on March
2, 2018.
On that date, counsel for Johnson requested a continuance because he was in trial
in a death penalty case that was estimated to last through June. Counsel for defendant
objected. The trial court found there was good cause for a continuance — namely, to
“continue the joinder.” It continued the trial to May 18.
On that date, Johnson’s counsel requested another continuance because he was
still in trial. Counsel for defendant objected. The trial court nevertheless found good
cause and continued the trial to June 22.
On that date, Johnson’s counsel was not present. Defendant’s counsel made a
special appearance for him, noted he was still in trial, and requested a continuance on his
behalf. The trial court found good cause and continued the trial to July 27.
On that date, the trial began. On August 13, as he was delivering his opening
statement, Johnson’s counsel had a heart attack. He died later that day. The trial court
declared a mistrial as to Johnson. Thus, defendant was tried alone.
B. Forfeiture and Ineffective Assistance
As we will discuss in part II.C.2.c, post, the federal constitutional right to a speedy
trial is not automatically forfeited by failure to raise it in the trial court.
By contrast, the state constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial can be
forfeited. “The right to a speedy trial . . . will be deemed waived unless the defendant
13
both objects to the date set and thereafter files a timely motion to dismiss.” (People v.
Wilson (1963) 60 Cal.2d 139, 146.)
“It is not enough that the defendant has objected at the time the cause was set for
trial beyond the statutory period . . . . [Citation.] The defendant must also move to
dismiss after the expiration of the allowable delay (but before the beginning of trial) so
that if the court decides that the statutory period has been exceeded, that there has not
been good cause for the delay, and that a proper and timely objection was made, a futile
trial will be avoided.” (People v. Wilson, supra, 60 Cal.2d at p. 147.)
Here, defense counsel objected, but he did not move to dismiss. Thus, he forfeited
defendant’s state speedy trial rights.
Defendant argues that, because the trial court overruled his objection, a motion to
dismiss would have been futile. We recognize that “‘[r]eviewing courts have traditionally
excused parties for failing to raise an issue at trial where an objection would have been
futile . . . .’ [Citations.]” (People v. Brooks (2017) 3 Cal.5th 1, 92.) In Wilson, however,
the Supreme Court specifically held that even after a defendant has objected to a
continuance, and even after that objection has been overruled, the defendant still must
also move to dismiss — and that failure to do so is a forfeiture.
Defendant therefore also argues, alternatively, that his trial counsel rendered
constitutionally ineffective assistance by failing to move to dismiss.
“To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, [defendant] must show that [his]
counsel’s performance was deficient and that [he] suffered prejudice from the deficient
14
performance. [Citation.] On direct appeal, if the record ‘“sheds no light on why counsel
acted or failed to act in the manner challenged,”’ we must reject the claim ‘“unless
counsel was asked for an explanation and failed to provide one, or unless there simply
could be no satisfactory explanation.”’ [Citation.]” (People v. Caro (2019) 7 Cal.5th 463,
488.)
In this case — assuming the objection had merit — there could be no satisfactory
reason for not moving to dismiss. There could be many reasons why defense counsel
might choose not to object; once he objected, however, there could be no reason not to
move to dismiss. The People speculate that “counsel may have simply concluded that the
extra time gained from the continuances, although against appellant’s interest in a timely
trial, was counterbalanced by the additional time provided to appellant to investigate
various avenues of defense.” This, however, would be a reason not to object in the first
place. Adding a motion to dismiss, whether granted or denied, could not make defendant
or his counsel any worse off.
Accordingly, the issue of ineffective assistance boils down to whether defendant’s
state statutory or constitutional speedy trial rights were violated. If they were, then
defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance by not moving to dismiss. On the other
hand, if they were not, this failure was not deficient and not prejudicial. We therefore
address the merits below.
15
C. Discussion
In California, there are three sources of the right to a speedy trial. Defendant relies
on all three.
1. The state statutory right
Section 1382, subdivision (a)(2), as relevant here, provides that “[i]n a felony case,
when a defendant is not brought to trial within 60 days of the defendant’s arraignment on
an . . . information,” “[t]he court, unless good cause to the contrary is shown, shall order
the action to be dismissed . . . .” (§ 1382, subd. (a).) “However, an action shall not be
dismissed under this paragraph if” (§ 1382, subd. (a)(2)), among other things, “[t]he
defendant requests or consents to the setting of a trial date beyond the 60-day period. . . .”
(§ 1382, subd. (a)(2)(B).) The defendant’s consent may be express or implied. (Ibid.)
“No affirmative showing of prejudice is necessary to obtain a dismissal for
violation of the state constitutional speedy trial right as construed and implemented by
statute. [Citation.] Instead, ‘an unexcused delay beyond the time fixed in section 1382 of
the Penal Code without defendant’s consent entitles the defendant to a dismissal.’
[Citation.]” (People v. Martinez (2000) 22 Cal.4th 750, 766, italics omitted.)
“[W]e review a trial court’s decision to grant a continuance for good cause for
abuse of discretion. [Citations.]” (Burgos v. Superior Court (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 817,
824.)
Section 1050.1, as relevant here, provides: “In any case in which two or more
defendants are jointly charged in the same . . . information, and the court . . . , for good
16
cause shown, continues the . . . trial of one or more defendants, the continuance shall,
upon motion of the prosecuting attorney, constitute good cause to continue the remaining
defendants’ cases so as to maintain joinder. The court . . . shall not cause jointly charged
cases to be severed due to the unavailability or unpreparedness of one or more defendants
unless it appears to the court . . . that it will be impossible for all defendants to be
available and prepared within a reasonable period of time.”4
“Furthermore, long before the enactment of section 1050.1 in 1990, California
decisions had recognized that a trial court properly may find that the significant state
interests that are furthered by conducting a single trial of jointly charged criminal
defendants constitute good cause to continue a codefendant’s trial beyond the
presumptive statutory period designated in section 1382.” (People v. Sutton, supra, 48
Cal.4th at p. 559.)
“[A] joint trial . . . ‘“ordinarily avoids the increased expenditure of funds and
judicial resources which may result if the charges were to be tried in two or more separate
trials.” [Citation.] “A unitary trial requires a single courtroom, judge, and court
attach[és]. Only one group of jurors need serve, and the expenditure of time for jury voir
dire and trial is greatly reduced over that required were the cases separately tried. In
addition, the public is served by the reduced delay on disposition of criminal charges both
4 Despite its reference to a “motion of the prosecuting attorney,” section 1050.1
“was not intended, and reasonably cannot be interpreted, to require an explicit motion by
the prosecutor seeking such a continuance.” (People v. Sutton (2010) 48 Cal.4th 533,
559.)
17
in trial and through the appellate process.” [Citations.]’ . . . [¶] Further, . . . a joint trial of
multiple defendants charged with the same or related offenses avoids the often significant
increased burden on crime victims and witnesses that would be imposed by multiple
trials.” (People v. Sutton, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 560, fn. 15.)
Defendant argues that a continuance to maintain joinder is not necessarily
authorized under section 1050.1. He cites Smith v. Superior Court (2012) 54 Cal.4th 592,
which stated: “[W]hen the proposed delay to permit a single joint trial is relatively brief,
the substantial state interests that are served in every instance by proceeding in a single
joint trial generally will support a finding of good cause to continue the codefendant’s
trial under section 1382”; however, “the state interests in a joint trial must be ‘especially
compelling’ if the continuance to allow a joint trial will be lengthy . . . .” (Id. at p. 599,
citing People v. Sutton, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 560.)
At this point in its opinion, however, the Smith court (like the Sutton court before
it) was not discussing section 1050.1. Rather, it was discussing California decisions
“‘[l]ong before the enactment of section 1050.1.’” (Smith v. Superior Court, supra, 54
Cal.4th at p. 599.) Neither Smith nor Sutton held that section 1050.1 is similarly limited.
By its terms, it is not. Any limitations on a continuance to maintain joinder must find
their source in due process, not in section 1050.1.
Alternatively, however, even assuming a continuance under section 1050.1 must
be either “relatively brief” or else justified by “especially compelling” state interests in a
joint trial, the trial court here did not abuse its discretion.
18
The first continuance to which defendant objected was about two and a half
months (from March 2 to May 18). The second one was about a month (from May 18 to
June 22). In support of its distinction between a “relatively brief” continuance and a
“lengthy” continuance, Sutton cited Greenberger v. Superior Court (1990) 219
Cal.App.3d 487. (People v. Sutton, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 560.) Greenberger, in turn,
indicated that merely maintaining joinder, without more, will justify a continuance of two
and a half or three months, though not a continuance of six months. (Greenberger v.
Superior Court, at p. 501.) The continuances here, whether considered separately or
together, were within this window.
Moreover, the interest in a joint trial was particularly compelling in this case. At
the time, everyone expected this to be a multi-defendant gang murder case. Even though
the trial ended up being solely against defendant, it required 22 witnesses, and it went
from July 27 through September 17 (not including the trial on the prior conviction
allegations). Under these circumstances, there was a sufficiently compelling interest in a
joint trial to justify both of these continuances.
2. The federal constitutional right
“The Sixth Amendment to the federal Constitution, as applied to the states through
the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment [citation], guarantees a criminal
defendant the ‘right to a speedy and public trial.’” (People v. Harrison (2005) 35 Cal.4th
208, 225.
19
“To determine whether defendant’s federal right was violated, we evaluate the
length of the delay, the reason for the delay, defendant’s assertion of his right, and the
prejudice to defendant. [Citations.]” (People v. Harrison, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 227;
accord, Barker v. Wingo (1972) 407 U.S. 514, 530.)
a. The length of the delay
“‘Simply to trigger a speedy trial analysis, an accused must allege that the interval
between accusation and trial has crossed the threshold dividing ordinary from
“presumptively prejudicial” delay [citation] . . . . If the accused makes this showing, the
court must then consider, as one factor among several, the extent to which the delay
stretches beyond the bare minimum needed to trigger judicial examination of the claim.
[Citation.] . . .’ [Citation.]” (People v. Williams (2013) 58 Cal.4th 197, 234.)
What is presumptively prejudicial “is necessarily dependent upon the peculiar
circumstances of the case. . . . [T]he delay that can be tolerated for an ordinary street
crime is considerably less than for a serious, complex conspiracy charge.” (Barker v.
Wingo, supra, 407 U.S. at pp. 530-531.)
For federal constitutional purposes, delay is measured from when the right
attaches through trial. (LaFave, Criminal Procedure (4th ed. 2015) § 18.2(b).)5 The right
attaches “upon ‘“either a formal indictment or information or else the actual restraints
5 The People identify the relevant delay as the four months from defendant’s first
objection and up to a continuance to the start of trial. That is incorrect. Defendant’s time
waivers are relevant to the third factor — his assertion of his speedy trial right — but not
to the total length of the delay. (LaFave, Criminal Procedure (4th ed. 2015) § 18.2(b).)
20
imposed by arrest and holding to answer a criminal charge.”’ [Citation.]” (People v.
DePriest (2007) 42 Cal.4th 1, 26.) Here, defendant was arrested on July 5, 2017. He
remained in custody until trial began on July 27, 2018. (Cf. People v. Williams (2012)
207 Cal.App.4th Supp. 1, 7.) Thus, the total delay was a little over a year. Such a delay
has been generally recognized as presumptively prejudicial; however, it is at the extreme
low end of the range. (Doggett v. United States (1992) 505 U.S. 647, 652, fn. 1; LaFave,
Criminal Procedure (4th ed. 2015) § 18.2(b) & cases cited.) Moreover, because this was a
moderately complex, multidefendant gang murder case, arguably a delay of a little over a
year was not presumptively prejudicial at all.
b. The reason for the delay
“A deliberate attempt to delay the trial in order to hamper the defense should be
weighted heavily against the government. A more neutral reason such as negligence or
overcrowded courts should be weighted less heavily but nevertheless should be
considered since the ultimate responsibility for such circumstances must rest with the
government rather than with the defendant. Finally, a valid reason, such as a missing
witness, should serve to justify appropriate delay.” (Barker v. Wingo, supra, 407 U.S. at
p. 531, fn. omitted.)
Here, as already discussed (see part II.C.1, ante), the reason for the delay was
valid — to promote judicial economy.
Defendant argues the delay was attributable to the state, because it “was the result
of the state’s failure to provide a sufficient number of appointed defense counsels.” It has
21
been held, however, that for purposes of the federal constitutional speedy trial right, delay
caused by the defendant’s own appointed counsel is not normally attributable to the state.
(Vermont v. Brillon (2009) 556 U.S. 81, 91-93.) There may be exceptions when the delay
“resulted from the trial court’s failure to appoint replacement counsel with dispatch,” or
when “there is ‘a breakdown in the public defender system.’” (Id. at p. 85.) But neither
was the case here. We see no reason to treat delays caused by a codefendant’s appointed
counsel any differently.
c. Defendant’s assertion of his right
For purposes of the federal constitutional speedy trial right, a failure to object to a
delay is not a forfeiture. (People v. Seaton (2001) 26 Cal.4th 598, 633-634.) “This does
not mean, however, that the defendant has no responsibility to assert his right. . . . [T]he
defendant’s assertion of or failure to assert his right to a speedy trial is one of the factors
to be considered in an inquiry into the deprivation of the right.” (Barker v. Wingo, supra,407 U.S. at p. 528.)
The trial was continued a number of times, without any objection by defendant,
until it was set for March 2. Defendant did object to the next two continuances; however,
he did not make a motion to dismiss (or a motion to sever). As to the third and final
continuance, not only did he not object, but his counsel affirmatively requested the
continuance on behalf of Johnson’s counsel. This wavering posture suggests that
defendant was not seriously concerned about a speedy trial.
22
d. The prejudice to defendant
This brings us to defendant’s claim of prejudice. He points out that, at a
conditional examination, Doe recanted his statements to the police. At trial, however,
Doe recanted his recantation and (largely) reaffirmed his statements to the police.
Defendant concludes there is “at least a reasonable chance”6 that, if the trial had begun in
March 2018, Doe would have testified in accordance with his testimony at the conditional
examination.
The People deride this reasoning as “speculat[ion].” Not so. At the conditional
examination, Doe was uncooperative and unruly. He answered most questions with, “I
don’t recall.” He launched into nonresponsive outbursts, complaining, “This is double
jeopardy” and “These dudes is being framed.” Finally, he said, “I plead the Fifth on every
and all questions.”
After the conditional examination, however, but before trial, Doe was arrested and
charged with felony evading. He entered into an agreement that, if he testified truthfully
at defendant’s trial, “the felony evading charge will go away . . . .” Thus, at trial, he was
cooperative and largely reaffirmed his statements to the police.
When assessing what would have happened, there is always an element of
speculation. Nevertheless, it is clear that (1) as of April 2018, Doe was uncooperative and
(2) at trial, he was cooperative only as a result of his subsequent felony evading arrest.
6 In his reply brief, he amends this to “almost certainly.”
23
The only reasonable conclusion is that, if the case had gone to trial in March 2018, Doe
would have either denied his statements to the police or refused to testify at all.
Nevertheless, this was not “prejudice” for speedy trial purposes.
“Prejudice . . . should be assessed in the light of the interests of defendants which
the speedy trial right was designed to protect,” namely, “(i) to prevent oppressive pretrial
incarceration; (ii) to minimize anxiety and concern of the accused; and (iii) to limit the
possibility that the defense will be impaired.” (Barker v. Wingo, supra, 407 U.S. at
p. 532.)
“‘Prejudice’ is not caused by allowing the Government properly to strengthen its
case, but rather by delays intended to hamper defendant’s ability to present his defense.
[Citations.]” (United States v. Tedesco (7th Cir. 1984) 726 F.2d 1216, 1221-1222
[continuance granted to allow the prosecution to obtain a witness was not prejudicial];
accord, United States v. Toombs (10th Cir. 2009) 574 F.3d 1262, 1275 [the fact that the
prosecution was able to locate and procure the testimony of its primary witness was not
cognizable prejudice]; Skinner v. State (Del. 1990) 575 A.2d 1108, 1117 [“The harm to
the defendant which the speedy trial right protects . . . is not that the delay may cause new
witnesses to emerge for the State, but that witnesses for the defense might disappear”].)
In United States v. Thomas (7th Cir. 2019) 933 F.3d 685, as here, the defendant
argued that, but for the delay, a prosecution witness “might not have decided to plead
guilty and agree to testify against him.” (Id. at p. 695.) The appellate court responded,
“Perhaps, but we have explained that the fact that ‘the government was able to strengthen
24
its case against [the defendant] during the delay . . . is not relevant to the prejudice
analysis.’ [Citation.]” (Ibid.)
Defendant was not deprived of the ability to use Doe’s recantation. Quite the
contrary, defense counsel impeached Doe with it at trial. The fact that, at trial, Doe
recanted his recantation did strengthen the People’s case, but it did not weaken the
defense case.
e. Balancing
In sum, the only factor that supported defendant’s contention was the length of the
delay, and that only marginally. To the extent it raised a presumption of prejudice, the
presumption was entitled to little weight because defendant could not point to any way
his defense was impaired.
Separately and alternatively, even assuming defendant did show prejudice, this is
not the end of the analysis. “No one factor, including prejudice, is considered ‘either a
necessary or sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy
trial.’ [Citation.] Rather, the weight accorded to each factor depends on the circumstances
of the case.” (People v. Hill (1984) 37 Cal.3d 491, 496.)
As noted, the length of the delay was at or below the threshold of the
presumptively prejudicial. Defendant asserted his speedy trial right only fitfully. And the
delay was for a valid reason, which was not attributable to the state.
25
The fact that Doe had agreed to testify against defendant, even if deemed
prejudicial, was only weakly so. Defense counsel was free to argue that this agreement
deprived his trial testimony of any credibility.
The prosecution already had Doe’s statements to the police. These were reliable
— and his testimony at the conditional examination was unreliable — as shown by the
fact that he described details of the crime scene that were corroborated by witnesses and
surveillance videos. He had an obvious reason to recant — namely, fear of gang
retaliation. Thus, even if Doe had testified at trial in accordance with his conditional
examination, the jury most likely would have believed his statements to the police, rather
than his later recantation.
Most important, there was a valid reason for the delay, which was not attributable
to the state. This was sufficient to outweigh the minimal prejudice that defendant claims.
3. The state constitutional right
Under our state Constitution, “[t]he defendant in a criminal cause has the right to a
speedy public trial . . . .” (Cal. Const., art. I, § 15.)
The analysis under the federal Constitution and under the state Constitution is
similar, except in two respects (People v. Martinez, supra, 22 Cal.4th at p. 754); neither
helps defendant.
“The first difference concerns the point at which the speedy trial right attaches.
Under the state Constitution, the filing of a felony complaint is sufficient to trigger the
protection of the speedy trial right. [Citations.] Under the federal Constitution, however,
26
the filing of a felony complaint is by itself insufficient to trigger speedy trial protection.
[Citation.]” (People v. Martinez, supra, 22 Cal.4th at pp. 754-755.) Here, it is undisputed
that defendant’s state and federal speedy trial rights had attached by the time the trial
court granted the challenged continuances.
“The second difference is in the showing that a defendant must make to obtain a
dismissal for violation of the speedy trial right.” (People v. Martinez, supra, 22 Cal.4th at
p. 755.) Under the state Constitution, no matter how long the total delay after attachment
of the right and before trial, there is no presumption of prejudice. (Id. at pp. 765-767.)
“[A] showing of specific prejudice is required to establish a violation of our state
Constitution’s speedy trial right.” (Id. at p. 756.)
Here, for purposes of the federal constitutional analysis, we have already assumed
that there was a presumption of prejudice. Nevertheless, after weighing the other factors
— including defendant’s failure to show any significant actual prejudice — we concluded
that his federal constitutional right to a speedy trial was not violated. Under the state
constitutional analysis, there is no presumption of prejudice. A fortiori, we also conclude
that defendant’s state constitutional right to a speedy trial was not violated.
III
THE ADMISSION OF THE RAP VIDEO
Defendant contends the trial court erred by admitting the rap video.
27
A. Additional Factual and Procedural Background
Defense counsel requested a ruling on the admissibility of the video. The trial
court watched it, then held an Evidence Code section 402 hearing at which the gang
expert testified. Defense counsel then objected that the video was “very inflammatory
and not very relevant.” The trial court overruled the objection and admitted the video.
Thus, the video was played for the jury and the gang expert testified about it.
The prosecutor played the video again during her closing argument. She then said:
“There he is, Travon Venable. There he is. They kill them on-scene. They kill. Slid up
Medical, left that nigga’s . . . head gone. That’s our victim’s murder. There he is. There
he is[,] Travon Venable. There he is. There’s Travon Venable with a rifle. That’s the
California Garden [sic] Crips.”
B. Discussion
Under Evidence Code section 352, “[t]he trial court enjoys broad discretion in
determining the relevance of evidence and in assessing whether concerns of undue
prejudice, confusion, or consumption of time substantially outweigh the probative value
of particular evidence. [Citation.] ‘The exercise of discretion is not grounds for reversal
unless “‘the court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious or patently absurd
manner that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice.’”’ [Citation.]” (People v. Clark
(2016) 63 Cal.4th 522, 572.)
Here, on one hand, the video had substantial probative value.
28
The parties stipulated that California Gardens was a criminal street gang and that
defendant was a member of California Gardens. For purposes of the gang enhancement,
however, the prosecution still had to prove defendant committed the crime “for the
benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with” a gang, and “with the specific intent
to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members . . . .” (§ 186.22,
subd. (b)(1).) And, of course, it had to prove that he was the driver.
The gang expert opined that the fact the video was posted on YouTube tended to
show the shooting was committed for the benefit of the gang and with the intent to
promote criminal conduct by the gang. The video “boast[ed]” about the crime and
“celebrat[ed]” it, thus encouraging other members of the gang “to go out and commit
these crimes because of the praise they will get from within the gang.” Moreover,
referencing the crime in the video enhanced the gang’s reputation.
Other cases have found insufficient evidence to support a gang allegation at least
in part because the perpetrator made no effort to associate the gang with the crime.
(People v. Perez (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 598, 609 [no evidence “that any participant
shouted out a gang name or threw up a gang sign,” that anyone was “wearing gang
colors,” or that bystanders “knew defendant was a member of a gang”]; People v.
Ramirez (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 800, 819 [“no gang signs were flashed, no gang names
were called out, and no gang attire was worn”].) Thus, it is crucial for the prosecution to
present evidence of any such effort, if it can. That is precisely why the video was
probative here.
29
The video also tended to show defendant was the driver. His younger brother was
aware of the crime and proud it had been committed by a fellow gang member or
members.7 Admittedly, the video did not prove exactly which gang members committed
the shooting. Nevertheless, because Doe identified defendant as the driver, and because
defendant was a member of California Gardens, the video evidence that some member of
California Gardens committed the shooting significantly corroborated Doe.
The video also showed defendant had access to a rifle with an extended magazine,
like the one used in the shooting.
It must also be remembered defendant was also charged with unlawful possession
of a firearm. Photographic evidence of him holding a rifle was highly probative evidence
on this count. At the end of trial, the trial court granted a motion for acquittal on this
count, because the prosecution had not introduced any evidence defendant was a
convicted felon. This does not take away from the fact that, when defense counsel
objected to the video, the video was probative on this count.
On the other hand, the trial court could reasonably find that the video was not
unduly prejudicial. It did show defendant and his fellow gang members with money,
firearms, and drugs. It also expressed pride in committing crimes and specifically in
killing rival gang members. In these respects, however, the video was not significantly
different from many professional rap videos, which also glorify crime and violence, as
7Defense counsel forfeited any hearsay objection by failing to object on this
ground. (Evid. Code, § 353, subd. (a).) In any event, it would appear to be an adoptive
admission by defendant. (Evid. Code, § 1221.)
30
well as the drugs, firearms, and money that go along with them. It is commonly
understood that, while some professional rappers are genuine gang members, others are
poseurs — “studio gangsters” — and it can be hard to tell the difference.
Photos of Johnson, showing him with a gun and throwing gang signs, were
admitted without objection. As noted, it was already stipulated that California Gardens
was a criminal street gang; in particular, it was stipulated that the gang’s primary
activities included murder, attempted murder, assaults with firearms, drug sales,
carjackings, robberies, and burglaries. It was also stipulated that members of California
Gardens had been convicted of five predicate offenses. The gang expert testified
members of the gang had committed murder and attempted murder. He added that they
are expected to commit crimes on behalf of the gang, including murder and assault.
Against the background of this other evidence, the jury would hardly have been shocked
that members of California Gardens, including defendant, behaved as they did in the
video.
Defendant also complains about the prosecutor’s references to the video in closing
argument. We may assume, without deciding, that she urged the jury to consider the
video for prejudicial purposes rather than for permissible purposes. Even if so, when the
trial court admitted the video into evidence for those permissible purposes, it acted
properly. Defense counsel forfeited any claim of prosecutorial misconduct by failing to
object and request an admonition. (People v. Hoyt (2020) 8 Cal.5th 892, 942.)
31
In sum, then, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting
the video.
In a subsidiary argument, defendant also contends the admission of the video
violated due process. “‘The admission of relevant evidence will not offend due process
unless the evidence is so prejudicial as to render the defendant’s trial fundamentally
unfair.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Jablonski (2006) 37 Cal.4th 774, 805.) “‘[A]pplication of
the ordinary rules of evidence generally does not impermissibly infringe on a . . .
defendant’s constitutional rights.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Lindberg (2008) 45 Cal.4th 1,
26.) Precisely because the video was more probative than prejudicial, its admission did
not render the trial fundamentally unfair. (See People v. Thomas (2012) 53 Cal.4th 771,
807.)
IV
INSTRUCTION TO CONSIDER A WITNESS’S
CERTAINTY ABOUT AN IDENTIFICATION
Defendant contends that the trial court erred by giving CALCRIM No. 315,
because it required the jury to consider a witness’s level of certainty in evaluating an
identification by that witness.
A. Additional Factual and Procedural Background
CALCRIM No. 315, as given here, began: “You have heard eyewitness testimony
identifying the defendant. As with any other witness, you must decide whether an
eyewitness gave truthful and accurate testimony. In evaluating the identification
32
testimony, you may consider the following issues or questions . . . .” One of these
questions was: “How certain was the witness when the witness did make an
identification?” Defense counsel did not object to this instruction.
B. Discussion
Defendant argues that the quoted portion of the instruction is erroneous “in light of
the numerous scientific studies showing ‘at best, a weak correlation between witness
certainty and accuracy’ [citation] . . . .”
Preliminarily, the People respond that defense counsel forfeited this contention by
failing to request a modification of the instruction. However, defendant also contends,
alternatively, that his counsel’s failure to request a modification constituted ineffective
assistance. Rather than decide the forfeiture issue, we reach the merits, because they are
dispositive of both alternative contentions.
In People v. Lemcke (2021) 11 Cal.5th 644 (Lemcke), our Supreme Court held that
the instruction did not violate due process under the circumstances of that case. It noted:
“[W]e have repeatedly endorsed the use of instructions that direct the jury to consider an
eyewitness’s level of certainty when evaluating identification evidence.” (Id. at p. 655.)
First, it rejected the argument the instruction lowered the prosecution’s burden of
proof. “[T]he instruction does not direct the jury that ‘certainty equals accuracy.’
[Citation.] Nor does the instruction state that the jury must presume an identification is
accurate if the eyewitness has expressed certainty. [Citation.] Instead, the instruction
merely lists the witness’s level of certainty at the time of identification as one of 15
33
different factors that the jury should consider when evaluating the credibility and
accuracy of eyewitness testimony. The instruction leaves the jury to decide whether the
witness expressed a credible claim of certainty and what weight, if any, should be placed
on that certainty in relation to the numerous other factors listed in CALCRIM No. 315.”
(Lemcke, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 657.)
Second, it rejected the argument the instruction denied the defendant “‘a
“meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense”’ as to why the identification was
flawed . . . .” (Lemcke, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 660.) It noted he called an expert who
testified “about the weak correlation between certainty and accuracy . . . .” (Ibid.) He also
had a chance to cross-examine the witness who identified him and the investigating
officers. (Ibid.)
The court did “acknowledg[e] that this form of instruction has the potential to
mislead jurors.” (Lemcke, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 665.) It therefore recommended that the
Judicial Council and its Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions reevaluate
CALCRIM No. 315. (Lemcke, at pp. 668-669.) It also directed trial courts to omit the
certainty factor from CALCRIM No. 315 pending the reevaluation. (Lemcke, at p. 669.)
The instruction likewise did not violate due process under the circumstances here.
For the reasons stated in Lemcke, it did not lower the prosecution’s burden of proof. It
also did not deprive defendant of a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense,
because he could and did cross-examine both Doe and the investigating officers. The only
time Doe said he was certain of his identification was at the June 3, 2015 interview;
34
however, he recanted it in his statement to the defense investigator and his testimony at
the conditional examination. At trial, he recanted his recantation, but he expressed no
particular certainty. He admitted that, in his statements to the police, he “might have
been[] kind of[] confused,” he continued to imply that Officer Plummer coerced his
testimony by planting a gun in his car, and he admitted that he was testifying pursuant to
a plea bargain. Defense counsel impeached Doe to the maximum possible extent with all
of his flip-flops. Admittedly, defendant did not call an expert on eyewitness
identification; however, he had the opportunity to do so. (See People v. E.H. (2022) 75
Cal.App.5th 467, 476 [“there was nothing to stop E.H. from presenting expert evidence
on eyewitness identification”].) There was no due process violation.
V
THE JURY’S FAILURE TO FIND THAT THE ATTEMPTED MURDER
WAS WILLFUL, DELIBERATE, AND PREMEDITATED
Defendant contends the jury found him guilty of simple attempted murder, not
willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder; thus, the trial court erred by
sentencing him for the latter. The People concede the point. We agree.
Count 2 charged defendant with willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted
murder. However, the jury was never given the necessary verdict form for a finding that
the attempted murder was willful, deliberate, and premeditated. It could not and therefore
it did not make any such finding.
35
Using the verdict form it was given, the jury did find defendant guilty of attempted
murder “as charged in Count 2.” The People, however, do not argue that this was
equivalent to a finding that the attempted murder was willful, deliberate, and
premeditated. Under the circumstances, it was not. The jury was given this form, and
only this form, to find defendant guilty, regardless of whether it found premeditation.
Even if it found no premeditation, it had to use this wording.
The jury’s finding that the murder charged in count 1 was of the first degree does
not necessarily mean it would also have found that the attempted murder charged in count
2 was willful, deliberate, and premeditated. The People prosecuted defendant for first
degree murder on two alternative theories — (1) premeditation and deliberation, and
(2) murder by means of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle. (See § 189, subd.
(a).) We cannot tell on which theory the jury relied.
Nevertheless, on count 2, the trial court sentenced defendant to 14 years to life —
the prescribed sentence for willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder (§ 664,
subd. (a)) with one strike. (§§ 667, subd. (e)(1), 1170.12, subd. (d)(1), 3046, subd. (a)(1).)
We will direct the trial court to correct this error on remand.
36
VI
DUAL SENTENCING ON BOTH
THE FIREARM ENHANCEMENTS AND THE GANG ENHANCEMENTS
Defendant contends the trial court erred by sentencing him on both the firearm
enhancements and the gang enhancements. Again, the People concede the point. And
again, we agree.
On the firearm enhancement to each count, the trial court sentenced defendant to
25 years to life. On the gang enhancement to each count, it sentenced him to 10 years
(although it stayed the enhancement on count 2 pursuant to § 654).
It was undisputed defendant was not the shooter. Accordingly, he could be subject
to a firearm enhancement under section 12022.53 only if a gang enhancement was also
pleaded and proved. (§ 12022.53, subd. (e)(1)(A).) When an enhancement is imposed on
a nonshooter under this subdivision, a gang enhancement cannot also be imposed.
(§ 12022.53, subd. (e)(2).)
It follows that the trial court erred by imposing both the firearm enhancements and
the gang enhancements.
VII
IMPOSITION OF A 10-YEAR TERM, RATHER THAN
A 15-YEAR MINIMUM PAROLE PERIOD, ON THE GANG ENHANCEMENTS
As defendant points out in a footnote, the trial court also erred by imposing a 10-
year term on the gang enhancements. Because it imposed indeterminate terms on the
37
underlying crimes in both count 1 and count 2, a 10-year enhancement did not apply; a
15-year minimum parole period applied instead. (§ 186.22, subds. (b)(1)(C), (b)(5);
People v. Lopez (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1002, 1004, 1006-1011.)
With respect to count 2, however, the error is moot, because the trial court also
erred by imposing an indeterminate term on that count. (See part V, ante.)
For a different reason, the error is also moot as to both counts. We are holding that
the trial court could not impose both the firearm enhancements and the gang
enhancements. (See part VI, ante.) On remand, the trial court must impose the firearm
enhancements; it cannot impose the gang enhancements, because a firearm enhancement
of any length is a greater penalty and provides for a longer term of imprisonment than a
15-year minimum parole period. (§ 12022.53, subd. (j); People v. Valenzuela (2011) 199
Cal.App.4th 1214, 1238.)
VIII
THE EFFECT OF SB 1393 ON
THE PRIOR SERIOUS FELONY CONVICTION ENHANCEMENTS
Defendant contends that, under Senate Bill No. 1393 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.)
(SB 1393), he is entitled to a remand to allow the trial court to consider striking the prior
serious felony conviction enhancement. (§ 667, subd. (a).) The People concede the point.
We agree.
38
On October 26, 2018, when defendant was sentenced, the trial court had no power
to strike a prior serious felony conviction enhancement. (See former § 1385, subds. (b),
(c)(2), Stats. 2014, ch. 137, § 1.) On January 1, 2019, however, while this appeal was
pending, SB 1393 went into effect. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1013.) It gives a trial court discretion
to strike a prior serious felony conviction enhancement. (Ibid.)
SB 1393 applies to all judgments that were not yet final when it went into effect.
(People v. Garcia (2018) 28 Cal.App.5th 961, 971-973; see generally People v. Brown
(2012) 54 Cal.4th 314, 323.)
The People do not argue it would be an abuse of discretion to strike the prior
serious felony conviction enhancement. Accordingly, we will direct the trial court to
consider striking the prior serious felony conviction enhancement on remand. We express
no opinion on how it should exercise that discretion.
IX
SB 620
Defendant contends he is entitled to a remand so the trial court can consider
whether to reduce the firearm enhancements under Senate Bill No. 620 (2017-2018 Reg.
Sess.) (SB 620).
SB 620 was enacted on October 11, 2017; it became effective on January 1, 2018.
(Stats. 2017, ch. 682.) It amended sections 12022.5 and 12022.53 so as to give a trial
court discretion to strike a firearm enhancement under those sections. (§§ 12022.5, subd.
(c), 12022.53, subd. (h).) Defendant was sentenced on October 26, 2018. In 2022, the
39
Supreme Court held that SB 620 also gives the trial court discretion to reduce a firearm
enhancement to a lesser included firearm enhancement, even when the lesser
enhancement was not charged. (People v. Tirado (2022) 12 Cal.5th 688, 697-702
(Tirado).)
Because the law on this point was not clear until Tirado was decided, defense
counsel did not forfeit defendant’s present argument by failing to ask the trial court to
reduce the firearm enhancements. (See People v. Perez (2020) 9 Cal.5th 1, 7-8.)
Moreover, again because the law was not clear, we cannot indulge the usual presumption
that the trial court was aware of its sentencing discretion. (See People v. Mosley (1997)
53 Cal.App.4th 489, 496.) To the contrary, we conclude it was unaware of its discretion
to reduce the firearm enhancements. (See People v. Morrison (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 217,
224.) Again (see part VIII, ante), the People do not argue it would be an abuse of
discretion to reduce the firearm enhancements. Thus, we must remand to give the trial
court an opportunity to exercise this discretion.
X
AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1109
Defendant contends that, under section 1109, enacted while this appeal was
pending, he is entitled to a complete retrial so the gang allegations can be tried separately.
Subdivision (a) of section 1109, effective January 1, 2022, provides that, on a
defendant’s request, any gang enhancements must be bifurcated and tried after a guilt
phase.
40
There is a split of authority on whether section 1109 is retroactive. (Cf. People v.
Burgos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 550, 564-568 [Sixth Dist.] [retroactive], review granted
July 13, 2022 (S274743); People v. Ramos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 1116, 1128-1131
[Fifth Dist.] [retroactive]; with People v. Ramirez (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 48, 64-65 [Sixth
Dist.] [not retroactive], petn. for rev. filed July 5, 2022; People v. Perez (2022) 78
Cal.App.5th 192, 206-207 [Second Dist., Div. Three] [not retroactive], petn. for rev. filed
June 23, 2022; see also Ramirez, at pp. 67-70 [conc. opn. of Wilson, J.] [retroactive];
Burgos, at pp. 569-575 [dis. opn. of Elia, J.] [not retroactive].)
We need not take sides on this split in authority because we conclude allowing the
evidence relevant only to the gang enhancement at the murder trial was harmless.
The main evidence of Venable’s guilt came from an informant eyewitness who
identified Venable as the driver of the vehicle in the shooting. In a second interview, the
informant backed off parts of his story, and in an interview with a defense investigator he
recanted entirely and told the investigator he didn’t want a target painted on his back.
However, at trial the informant identified Venable as the driver. Defense counsel
impeached him with his inconsistent statements, the informant said he had lied to the
defense investigator, and it fell to the jury to decide whether his testimony was credible.
Meanwhile the parties avoided a great deal of gang evidence by entering a
stipulation. The parties stipulated that California Gardens and the Projects are both
“criminal street gangs” and that the primary activities of California Gardens included
murder, attempted murder, possession of controlled substances for sale, assaults with
41
firearms, unlawful possession of firearms, carjackings, robberies, and burglaries. They
also stipulated members of California Gardens had been convicted of five predicate
offenses. Finally, they stipulated defendant and Johnson were members of California
Gardens. Given the strength of evidence of Venable’s involvement in the crime and the
limited role evidence of gang involvement played in the trial, we conclude it’s not
reasonably likely he would have obtained a more favorable result if the judge had
bifurcated the proceedings and limited the gang evidence to a second trial.
It’s true the prosecution also showed a YouTube video featuring Venable’s brother
rapping about the shooting. Venable appeared in the video with a firearm like the one
used in the killing. The prosecution’s gang expert testified the video indicated the murder
had been carried out for the benefit of the gang. However, the video also tended to show
Venable was the driver of the vehicle and to corroborate the testimony of the informant.
As a result, the video evidence would have been admissible at the guilt phase of trial even
if the guilt and gang enhancement phases had been bifurcated.
XI
AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 186.22
Defendant contends the gang enhancements (§ 186.22, subd. (b)) and the gang-
related firearm enhancements (§ 12022.53, subd. (e)) must be reversed because the jury
was not instructed in accordance with the most recent version of section 186.22. The
People concede the point.
42
Section 186.22 was amended, effective January 1, 2022. Among other things, the
amendments: (1) require that a gang be “organized” (§ 186.22, subd. (f)); (2) require that
the members of the gang must “collectively” engage in a pattern of criminal gang activity
(ibid.); (3) define “benefit, promote, further, or assist” — as used both in the definition of
the enhancement and in the definition of a pattern of criminal gang activity — as “to
provide a common benefit to members of a gang where the common benefit is more than
reputational” (§ 186.22, subd. (e)(1)); and (4) prohibit the use of the currently charged
crime to prove the pattern of criminal gang activity (§ 186.22, subd. (e)(2)). (Stats. 2021,
ch. 699, § 3, pp. 8863-8866.)
The gang-related firearm enhancement requires, as one of its elements, that the
defendant violated section 186.22, subdivision (b). (§ 12022.53, subd. (e)(1)(A).)
The amendments to section 186.22 apply retroactively to all cases in which the
judgment is not yet final. (People v. E.H., supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 478.)
As mentioned, defendant stipulated that California Gardens was a criminal street
gang and that members of California Gardens had been convicted of five predicate
offenses. The People do not argue, however, that defendant is bound by that stipulation,
despite the subsequent change in the law. A court may set aside a stipulation “where the
facts stipulated have changed, there is fraud, mistake of fact, or other special
circumstance rendering it unjust to enforce the stipulation.” (Gonzales v. Pacific
Greyhound Lines (1950) 34 Cal.2d 749, 755.) Arguably, it might be different if the
43
People were objecting that they are being deprived of some bargained-for benefit, but
they are not.
Finally, the People specifically concede that the failure to instruct the jury on the
subsequently enacted amendments to section 186.22 was not harmless.
It follows that we must reverse the gang enhancements and gang-related firearm
enhancements. (The non-gang-related firearm enhancements under section 12022.53,
subdivision (d) will stand.) On remand, the People will have the opportunity to retry these
enhancements.
XII
DISPOSITION
The true findings on the gang enhancements (§ 186.22, subd. (b)) and the gang-
related firearm enhancements (§ 12022.53, subd. (e)) are reversed. (See part XI, ante.)
The People may retry these enhancements. However, if the People elect, in a writing filed
in the trial court, not to retry them, or if they fail to bring defendant to a new trial on them
within the applicable time limit (see Pen. Code, § 1382, subd. (a)(2)), the trial court must
strike the gang enhancements and the gang-related firearm enhancements. In all other
respects, the judgment with respect to the conviction is affirmed.
The judgment with respect to the sentence is reversed. On remand, the trial court
must resentence defendant. In doing so, it must (1) correct the errors identified in parts V
and VI, ante; (2) consider striking the prior serious felony conviction enhancement, as
44
discussed in part VIII, ante; and (3) consider reducing the firearm enhancements, as
discussed in part IX, ante.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
SLOUGH
J.
I concur:
MENETREZ
J.
45
[The People v. Travon Rashad Venable, Sr., E071681]
Ramirez, P. J., Concurring and Dissenting.
I concur in the judgment. I also concur in the opinion and reasoning of the court,
except with respect to part X. In that part, the majority holds that the failure to bifurcate
the gang allegations, if error, was harmless. I respectfully disagree.
I
THE FAILURE TO BIFURCATE, IF ERROR, WAS NOT HARMLESS
For purposes of this section only, I assume that Penal Code section 11091 applies
retroactively on appeal, and therefore that we must treat the failure to bifurcate the gang
allegations as error (even though it was not error at the time).
The applicable harmless error standard is whether “it is ‘reasonably probable’
[defendant] would have obtained a more favorable result if his trial had been bifurcated.
[Citation.]” (People v. E.H. (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 467, 480.) ‘““‘“[A] ‘probability’ in
this context does not mean more likely than not, but merely a reasonable chance, more
than an abstract possibility.””’’ [Citation.]” (People v. Sandoval (2015) 62 Cal.4th 394,
422.)
Defendant contends that the error made the trial fundamentally unfair, in violation
of due process. However, “a ‘mere error of state law’ is not a denial of due process.
[Citation.] If the contrary were true, then ‘every erroneous decision by a state court on
state law would come [to the United States Supreme Court] as a federal constitutional
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
1
question.’ [Citations.]” (Engle v. Isaac (1982) 456 U.S. 107, 121, fn. 21.) If I conclude
that, under the state law standard, there is no reasonable probability that the error affected
the outcome, then I can hardly say that, under the federal standard, the trial was
fundamentally unfair.
As courts have repeatedly recognized, gang evidence is “inherently prejudicial.”
(People v. Mora and Rangel (2018) 5 Cal.5th 442, 480; see also People v. Huynh (2021)
65 Cal.App.5th 969, 980 [“Our courts have long recognized the potentially prejudicial
effect of gang membership.”]; People v. Memory (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 835, 862
[“‘Legions of cases and other legal authorities have recognized the prejudicial effect of
gang evidence upon jurors.’”]; People v. Samaniego (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1148, 1167
[“California courts have long recognized the potential prejudicial effect of gang
evidence.”].)
Of course, gang evidence is often relevant to the charged offense(s) and therefore
more probative than prejudicial, even in a guilt phase. Here, for example, some gang
evidence was highly relevant to show that defendant had a motive to shoot the two
victims, since, as far as the evidence showed, he knew of them but did not interact with
them; thus, it was also highly relevant to corroborate Doe’s testimony identifying him as
the shooter.
However, not all of the gang evidence was relevant for this purpose. The relevant
gang evidence was that (1) defendant and Johnson were members of California Gardens;
(2) the victims were members or associates of the Projects; (3) California Gardens and
2
the Projects were rival gangs; (4) the shooting took place in the Projects’ territory; and
(5) Johnson needed to do something to get back into good standing with California
Gardens. As the majority concludes in part III.B, the relevant evidence included the rap
video.
Evidence that California Gardens met the legal definition of a “criminal street
gang” (See § 186.22, subd. (f); see also id., subd. (e)) was relevant solely to the gang
enhancements and not to guilt. This included evidence that the primary activities of
California Gardens included murder, attempted murder, possession of controlled
substances for sale, assaults with firearms, unlawful possession of firearms, carjackings,
robberies, and burglaries. It also included evidence that a member or members of
California Gardens had been convicted of five predicate offenses, including murder,
attempted murder, robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
This latter evidence was significantly prejudicial. It painted the charged shooting
as not just an isolated incident, but rather as one episode in a sustained gang reign of
terror menacing the good citizens of San Bernardino County. In closing, the prosecutor
argued, “[C]riminal street gang activity is a form of terrorism.” She likened the shooting
to “the Las Vegas shooting” and “[t]he Pulse Night Club shooting.” She said, “The
Gardens benefited because . . . witnesses now are afraid of coming forward. [¶] [That]
allows the Gardens to continue . . . to commit robberies [and] burglaries . . . .” “They are
doing things like stealing people’s identity. They are robbing people. They are selling
drugs.”
3
The question of guilt was close. Doe was the only person who could identify
defendant, and he flip-flopped like a fish on the floor. He came forward at first only
because he was facing unrelated charges. He claimed that he was at the intersection and
he saw the shooting, he saw Drake run, and he saw Edwards fall. When surveillance
videos proved that this was a lie, he claimed he was a block north and he merely saw
Johnson and defendant driving away after the shooting, albeit with a long gun.
He claimed that he saw a .22 rifle; later, he said someone just told him it was a .22.
He claimed that Johnson bragged about the shooting on Facebook; the police found no
such Facebook post. He claimed that Johnson told him he was putting in work for
California Gardens; later, he denied this. Finally, he recanted all of his statements to the
police. He claimed that he had been coerced and that defendant and Johnson had been
framed. He recanted his recantation only after (and inferably because) he was once again
facing new unrelated charges.
Admittedly, the rap video showed defendant and other California Gardens
members in possession of what appeared to be guns, money, and drugs. The rap song
included the line, “Got word from a bird[] that they did that n---a dead wrong/Slid up
Medical and left that n---a head gone.” Defendant, however, took the stand and
explained that the guns were fake — it was all for show. The quoted line did not say that
defendant (or any other California Gardens member) actually committed the shooting on
Medical, only that they had heard about it. As the majority says, “the video did not prove
exactly which gang members committed the shooting” (maj. opn. at p. 30), and the jury
4
could have accepted that defendant and the other participants were merely “poseurs”
(maj. opn. at p. 31).
Because much of the gang evidence would have been inadmissible in the guilt
phase of a bifurcated trial, because that inadmissible gang evidence was significantly
prejudicial, and because the evidence of guilt was skinny, there is at least a reasonable
possibility that, if the trial had been bifurcated, defendant would have been acquitted.
The majority concludes that the asserted error was harmless in part because the
parties stipulated to the facts that, if the trial had been bifurcated, would not have come in
during the guilt phase. (Maj. opn. at pp. 41-42.) But if section 1109 had been in effect,
defense counsel would never have entered into any such stipulation.
I repeat, the question is whether it is reasonably probable that defendant would
have obtained a more favorable result if his trial had been bifurcated pursuant to section
1109 — i.e., if section 1109 had been in effect. Before section 1109, defense counsel
prudently entered into a stipulation that minimized the prejudicial effect of the “criminal
street gang” evidence. Nevertheless, defendant was convicted. After section 1109,
defense counsel would have no reason to enter into such a stipulation in the guilt phase.
In fact, if he did, that would fall below an objective standard of reasonable representation.
And, as I have already discussed, in a bifurcated trial, without any such stipulation, it is
reasonably probable that defendant would have been acquitted.
5
II
THE FAILURE TO BIFURCATE WAS NOT ERROR
I turn, then, to whether section 1109 is retroactive. As the majority notes, there is
a 50-50 split of authority on this point. (Maj. opn. at p. 41.) I conclude that section 1109
is not retroactive, for the reasons stated in People v. Ramirez (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 48,
64-65 (Ramirez), pet. for rev. filed Jul. 5, 2022, People v. Perez (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th
192, 206-207 (Perez), pet. for rev. filed Jun. 23, 2022, and the dissent in People v. Burgos
(2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 550, 569-575 [dis. opn. of Elia, J.], review granted Jul. 13, 2022,
S274743.)
I need not explain my reasoning in full. Those cases speak for themselves. Also,
it is very likely that our Supreme Court will decide the issue as soon as reasonably
feasible; my opinion is just chalk on a blackboard, which its eventual opinion will erase.
In brief summary, however, section 1109 is not retroactive because it does not ameliorate
punishment.
“(i) [I]n the absence of a contrary indication of legislative intent, (ii) legislation
that ameliorates punishment (iii) applies to all cases that are not yet final as of the
legislation’s effective date.” (People v. Esquivel (2021) 11 Cal.5th 671, 675.)
“Notably, section 1109 ‘does not alter the punishment for an offense, make a
lesser punishment possible, or change the elements of an offense or defense.’ [Citation.]
Rather, ‘[s]ection 1109 . . . is a prophylactic rule of criminal procedure expressly
intended to employ new procedures aimed at enhancing the fairness of future criminal
6
proceedings. It makes no change to any crime or defense and makes no change to any
punishment provision, and it does not create the possibility of lesser punishment or any
other “ameliorative” benefit from which it could be inferred that failing to extend that
benefit retroactively must have been motivated by a “desire for vengeance.”’
[Citations.]” (Ramirez, supra, 79 Cal.App.5th at p. 65.) Thus, defendant is not entitled
to the benefit of section 1109.
RAMIREZ
P. J.
7