People v. Brown CA1/1 ( 2015 )

Filed 11/25/15 P. v. Brown CA1/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
A139357
v.
JERRY BROWN, (Alameda County
Super. Ct. No. 167871)
Defendant and Appellant.
A jury convicted defendant Jerry Brown of sexual and related offenses involving
four women. He was sentenced to a determinate term of 37 years, eight months in prison
and a consecutive indeterminate term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole
(with the requirement that he serve at least seven years of that sentence).
On appeal, Brown argues that the trial court erred by (1) questioning him and his
wife when they testified, (2) instructing the jury it could use a finding that he fled the
scene of a crime to indicate his awareness of guilt, and (3) imposing a sentence that,
according to him, constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. He also argues, and the
Attorney General concedes, that a restitution fine was excessive and must be reduced.
We reject Brown’s arguments except we agree that the restitution fine must be reduced.
As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
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I.
BACKGROUND
A. Evidence at Trial.
1. The Prosecution’s Case
a. Aisha Doe
On June 11, 2008, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Aisha Doe left the Berkeley Adult
School campus. She was 18 years old at the time. After she used an ATM at the corner
of San Pablo and University Avenues, a gray pickup truck pulled up next to her. Aisha
later identified Brown as the driver of the truck. Brown asked Aisha if she needed a ride.
Aisha initially ignored him, but Brown asked her a second time. He also asked about her
age and told her it was not safe for her to be out so late at night. She got into Brown’s
truck and said she was headed home to Richmond.
When Aisha got into the truck, Brown was headed toward Richmond, but he
turned the truck around and drove in the opposite direction. Aisha told Brown he was
going the wrong way, and he responded he was taking a different route. When he
continued driving in the wrong direction, Aisha began to panic and asked Brown where
he was taking her. Brown told her he was a police officer. Aisha no longer wanted to be
in the truck with him. Brown stopped the truck on a dead-end street. He showed her the
barrel or handle of a gun, plastic cuffs, and something that looked like a badge. He told
her he was arresting her for prostitution, and he asked to see her identification and the
contents of her purse. She had $260 in the purse. Brown dumped the contents of the
purse on the seat between them, and told her to give him the ring she was wearing. She
complied. Brown told Aisha that if she did not cooperate with him, he would put the
cuffs on her and take her to jail.
Brown drove the two away from that location. He entered the freeway toward
Oakland and told Aisha he was taking her to jail. He asked her what she would do for
him in exchange for being released. When Brown drove by the police station in
downtown Oakland, Aisha asked him to stop and take her to jail, but he kept driving.
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Brown exited the freeway at Embarcadero in Oakland. He said he was going to find a
hotel. Aisha thought Brown might rape or kill her.
Aisha saw two men standing next to a disabled car. She started banging on the
window and yelling to get their attention. She got out of the truck while it was still
moving and ran toward the men. Brown braked his vehicle and backed up toward
Aisha’s location. He then drove away. Aisha used a borrowed cell phone to call 911.
Brown drove by Aisha and the men a few minutes later, and they were able to obtain the
truck’s license plate number.
b. Cynthia Doe
On March 16, 2009, at about 9:30 a.m., 20-year-old Cynthia Doe was at a bus stop
at 45th Avenue and International Boulevard in Oakland. A silver four-door car pulled up.
The driver, whom Cynthia later identified as Brown, rolled down his window and asked
her if she remembered him. Cynthia was considering acting as a prostitute because she
needed the money, and she thought Brown wanted a “date.” After Cynthia told Brown
she did not remember him, he said he was a police officer and told her she was under
arrest. Cynthia saw handcuffs and a radio in the car. She was frightened. Brown told
Cynthia to get into the car, and she complied.
Brown drove by an Oakland police station, pointed it out, and told Cynthia she
was going to jail. He parked near the station and honked his horn. He explained he was
signaling to his partner, who was in another car, that “everything was okay.” Brown
ordered Cynthia out of the car and patted her down. He then ordered her to get into the
back seat of the car. Brown took a small walkie-talkie out of the glove compartment,
spoke briefly into it, and showed Cynthia a badge. Brown began driving again. Cynthia
asked Brown to arrest her and take her to jail.
As he was driving, Brown told Cynthia that he liked anal sex but his wife did not.
Brown stopped at a second building and moved Cynthia to the front seat.
He then drove to a parking garage in Emeryville. He first stopped on the top level
of the garage, where he used his cell phone to make a call and spoke into the walkie-
talkie again. He then drove to a lower level in the parking garage. He unzipped his pants
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and exposed his erect penis. He pulled Cynthia’s face toward him. She would not look
at him. He grabbed her hair and pulled her toward his penis. His penis touched her lips
and cheek. Cynthia told Brown she was going to bite him. Brown released her hair and
walked around to her side of the car.
Brown opened the car door and pulled Cynthia out of the car. He turned her
around and pushed her back into the car. He pulled her underwear to the side and used
his hands to pull apart her buttocks. Cynthia asked Brown three times to use a condom.
He did not respond the first two times but, after the third, said he would use a condom.
Cynthia was scared. Brown inserted his finger into her anus twice, and then penetrated
her anus with his penis. The penetration was painful, and Cynthia was crying. After a
few minutes, Brown ejaculated. Cynthia felt liquid running down her leg. Brown walked
around the car. He returned with a napkin and wiped Cynthia’s “butt” and legs. Brown
fixed Cynthia’s clothing and got back into the car.
Brown drove Cynthia back toward Oakland. During the drive, he told her that if
he saw her again, he would not take her to jail. He identified himself as Sergeant
Crenshaw of the Oakland Police Department. He asked Cynthia for her name and birth
date. Brown dropped Cynthia off about a block away from where he had picked her up.
Cynthia walked to a Walgreens store and asked employees to call 911. She told an
employee she had been raped and that the rapist was in a silver car. She also told the
employee the rapist had identified himself as a police officer. Cynthia provided
additional information to the 911 operator. The Walgreens employee testified that
Cynthia was shocked and scared when she entered the store.
Cynthia went to Highland Hospital, where a sexual-assault examination was
performed. She told the examiner that her assailant had penetrated her anus, twice with
his finger and three times with his penis. Cynthia experienced extreme pain and multiple
external abrasions; the examiner testified that Cynthia’s injuries were consistent with her
account of what had occurred.
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c. A. Doe
In March 2009, 20-year-old A. Doe was working as a prostitute near the corner of
San Pablo Avenue and 35th Street in Oakland. One night at about 10:00 or 11:00, a
pickup truck stopped near her. The driver, whom A. later identified as Brown, stepped
out of the truck and stated he was a police officer. Brown showed A. a badge, put her
into the truck, and handcuffed her to the door handle. A. had had a bad feeling about the
situation, and she had not wanted to get into the truck. Brown got into the truck with her.
His penis was exposed.
Brown drove down San Pablo Avenue and parked behind a school near Lake
Merritt. He used a walkie-talkie to ask for backup. A. asked Brown if he was going to
take her to jail. Brown asked her if she wanted to live, and A. was scared and did not
respond. She did not want to be in Brown’s truck. She thought Brown had a gun because
he kept holding his side.
After about 30 minutes, Brown drove his truck to a location near North County
jail. He told A. that if she wanted to live she was going to “suck his dick without a
condom.” Brown uncuffed A.. Brown said he needed to urinate, and he got out of the
truck and started walking toward the passenger side of the truck. A. then got out the
driver’s side door and started to run. She went to her sister’s residence. She did not call
the police at that time because she did not think they would believe her.
A few weeks later, A. saw Brown’s truck and called the police with the license
plate number. She then gave the police a statement about the incident. A. identified
Brown from a photographic lineup.
d. Georgia Doe
At about 9:00 p.m. on April 4, 2009, a pickup truck approached 27-year-old
Georgia Doe, who was walking near the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Carrison Street
in Berkeley. Georgia later identified Brown as the driver. Brown offered $100 for a
“half and half,” which is oral and vaginal sex. Georgia asked Brown if he was law
enforcement; he said he was not. Georgia then got into the truck. Brown drove to a spot
on Heinz Street and flashed his headlights before stopping. He then said he was an
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undercover Berkeley police officer. Brown showed Georgia a badge and a walkie-talkie,
and he said he had a service revolver under the seat. Georgia was frightened and wanted
to cooperate to avoid going to jail.
Brown allowed Georgia to step out of the truck and smoke a cigarette, but warned
her not to do anything stupid. Brown then asked her if she was ready. Brown told
Georgia to give him oral sex. She pulled out a condom, but he snatched it and told her
that a condom was unacceptable. She orally copulated him for about 15 minutes, but did
not do so willingly. Brown then got out of the truck and walked to Georgia’s side of the
truck. She was standing in the passenger’s side doorway. Brown urinated. He put on a
condom and proceeded to have anal sex with Georgia for 45 minutes to one hour. The
anal sex tore her, and she was crying. Brown stopped when he ejaculated. He told
Georgia to pull up her pants and get into the truck. Brown then drove her to San Pablo
Avenue and dropped her off.
Georgia went back to the car in which she was living. She later went to the corner
of University Avenue and flagged down a police officer. She returned to the scene of the
incident with the police and gave a statement to the police. The police took Georgia to
Highland Hospital, where she was examined by a physician’s assistant. The examiner
testified that Georgia had multiple tears to her anus. The injuries were significant and
consistent with Georgia’s statement she had been anally raped. She was in pain for at
least five days.
2. The Defense Case
Brown testified that he is married to Tricia Foster Brown. In 2009, he drove a
truck that was registered to her. He testified that he used a walkie-talkie for work and
kept it in the truck, but he did not use it to impersonate police officers. He maintained
that he did not have a gun, badge, or handcuffs.
In additional testimony, Brown said that he supplemented his income with drug
sales. Beginning in 1996, he used some of his profits to pay for acts of prostitution at
strip clubs, and beginning around 2006, he started picking up prostitutes on the street.
Between 2006 and 2009, Brown solicited acts of prostitution more than 100 times. He
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also testified that, when he paid prostitutes for sex, he frequently paid one-half of the
agreed-upon amount before the sexual acts, and paid the remainder afterwards.
Brown admitted interacting with Aisha Doe, Cynthia Doe, and Georgia Doe, but
he denied interacting with A. Doe. In testifying about his interaction with Aisha Doe, he
stated that he saw her walking on San Pablo Avenue sometime in 2008. He offered her a
ride. Aisha said she was working and asked if Brown was looking. Brown said yes, and
Aisha got into his truck. According to Brown, they negotiated a price for sex acts, but he
never told her he was a police officer and did not threaten her. Aisha told him she had a
room and gave him directions. But he claimed that she asked for his identification to rent
a room, and he refused to give it to her. Brown testified that he then told her he did not
want to use her services and she became angry and tried to grab his truck keys. Brown
told her to get out of the truck. She got out of the truck and started running and waving
her arms. He left, came back, saw her with two men, and drove away.
In testifying about his interaction with Cynthia Doe, Brown stated that he saw her
on International Boulevard in March 2009. He asked her if she was “dating,” and she
said she was. He testified that he asked her if she would engage in anal sex, and she
agreed to do so for $100. According to Brown, she voluntarily got into his truck.
Cynthia told Brown to get on the freeway, and he followed her directions. He drove to
the parking structure in Emeryville, where they had anal sex. Cynthia told him to hurry.
Brown testified that he only paid her half of the money because she did not perform oral
sex and that he later dropped her off.
Brown testified that he saw Georgia Doe a few weeks later near Ashby and San
Pablo. He asked her if she was “dating,” she said she was, and she then got into his
truck. Brown agreed to pay her $100. Georgia directed him to drive, and they stopped
on Heinz Street. Brown testified that he told her that he would pay half the money up
front and the other half after the sexual act. Georgia grudgingly agreed. According to
Brown, she refused to orally copulate him because she said he smelled like he had been
having sex, but she agreed to have anal sex. He started to perform anal sex, but she
rushed him. They stopped and got back into the truck a few times when a security guard
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in a truck drove by. Brown never finished the sex act, and he refused to pay Georgia the
rest of the money. Brown testified that Georgia became upset and stated that he “fucked
with the wrong one” and would “get” his. Brown stated that he did not threaten Georgia
or identify himself as a police officer.
B. The Charges, Verdict, and Sentence
An information charged Brown with committing crimes against all four women.
For his conduct with Georgia Doe, he was charged with forcible oral copulation (count
1), sodomy by means of force (count 2), and kidnapping to commit sodomy (count 3).
For his conduct with Aisha Doe, he was charged with second degree robbery (count 4)
and kidnapping to commit rape, oral sex, and sodomy (count 5). For his conduct with A.
Doe, he was charged with kidnapping to commit rape, oral sex, and sodomy (count 6).
And for his conduct with Cynthia Doe, he was charged with sodomy under color of
authority (count 7) and oral copulation under color of authority (count 8). The
information alleged that Brown personally used a firearm in connection with counts 4, 5,
and 6, and it alleged four prior felony convictions.1 The court later granted the People’s
motion to dismiss the firearm allegation as to count 6.
The jury found Brown guilty of the sodomy and oral copulation charges as to
Georgia Doe and Cynthia Doe (counts 1, 2, 7, and 8) and kidnapping to commit sodomy
as to Aisha Doe (count 5). As to the kidnapping charges in counts 3 and 6, the jury found
Brown guilty of the lesser included offenses of false imprisonment (count 3, Georgia
Doe) and simple kidnapping (count 6, A. Doe). The jury acquitted Brown of robbing
Aisha Doe (count 4), and it found not true the personal firearm use allegation in count 5.
1
All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated. Forcible
oral copulation was charged under section 288a, subdivision (c)(2); sodomy by means of
force was charged under section 286, subdivision (c)(2); kidnapping to commit rape, oral
sex, or sodomy was charged under section 209, subdivision (b)(1); second degree robbery
was charged under sections 211 and 212.5; sodomy under color of authority was charged
under section 286, subdivision (k); and oral copulation under color of authority was
charged under section 288a, subdivision (k). The allegations that Brown personally used
a firearm in connection with counts 4, 5, and 6 were made pursuant to section 12022.5,
subdivision (a) and section 12022.53, subdivision (b).
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The court dismissed the prior conviction allegations. The court sentenced Brown to a
determinate term of 37 years, eight months in prison for counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, and a
consecutive indeterminate term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole on
count 5.
II.
DISCUSSION
A. The Trial Court Did Not Improperly Question Witnesses.
During the trial, the court questioned numerous witnesses. When Brown testified,
the court asked him about his transactions with prostitutes, including the names he used
to identify himself and his stated practice of paying only a portion of the agreed price
before the sexual act. When Brown’s wife testified, the court asked her whether Brown’s
activities with prostitutes affected her opinion of Brown’s honesty. According to Brown,
these questions, which we describe more fully below, improperly undermined his
credibility, “telegraphed” to the jury that the court viewed him as dishonest, and deprived
him of his rights to due process and a fair trial.
1. Additional Background
a. The Court’s Questioning of Brown
After the prosecutor completed her re-cross-examination of Brown and both
counsel stated they had no further questions, the court questioned Brown as follows:
“[Court]: I have some questions for you, sir. [¶] When you were arrested for
soliciting an act of prostitution in Vallejo in 2011, when the officer asked for
identification, where was your I.D. located?
“[Brown]: I want to say the trunk.
“[Court]: Okay. The trunk.
“[Brown]: The backseat. I’m sorry. It was the backseat.
“[Court]: Okay. The backseat. Okay. [¶] During the time you were dealing
drugs, what name did you use?
“[Brown]: My name.
“[Court]: And that would be Jerry Brown?
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“[Brown]: Yes.
“[Court]: Okay. And when you solicited prostitutes, did you use any names?
“[Brown]: I would use, um, a lot of different names.
“[Court]: Which are?
“[Brown]: I can’t recall.
“[Court]: Well, think of, if you can, any one name you would use when you
solicited a prostitute.
“[Brown]: Mike. Sometimes I would use my own. If I was comfortable with the
person, I would use my own name.
“[Court]: Jerry?
“[Brown]: Yes.
“[Court]: As you sit there now in these—I don’t know—ten years or more of
soliciting acts of prostitution, the only two names that you can remember now that you
ever used that was not yours was Mike?
“[Brown]: Well, I mean—I can’t—I just—
“[Court]: I am asking the question. [¶] As you sit there now, in all of the years
that you have testified you solicited acts of prostitution, is the only name you could ever
remember you told someone, the prostitutes, Mike?
“[Brown]: Dave.
“[Court]: Dave. Any other name you remember telling them?
“[Brown]: John.
“[Court]: John. [¶] Any other name you remember telling them?
“[Brown]: No. That’s about it.
“[Court]: Okay. So Mike, Dave, and John, and sometimes your own.”
After the prosecutor asked one follow-up question on this point and both counsel
again stated they had no further questions, the court questioned Brown again:
“[Court]: Okay. I just have one [question]. [¶] When you testified yesterday, and
this is during the portion when we were talking about Cynthia Doe—
“[Brown]: Um-hum.
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“[Court]: —and you said that you rode over to the IKEA lot—this is just
foundational—and she was talking about her husband and her kids. And you arrived at
the IKEA lot, and you told her at that time that you would give her $40 now and $40 after
the sexual act. She hesitated. By your testimony, she wanted to hold your bank card, but
you said ‘no.’ And she agreed. So—[¶] Correct? Is that all correct? Do you remember
that testimony yesterday?
“[Brown]: Well, because she—she—
“[Court]: I am just asking if [you] remember that testimony.
“[Brown]: Yes.
“[Court]: Okay. And then you said in—over 50 times you have sort of arranged
with a prostitute an amount, and then when you arrived to perform that amount—to
perform the sex act, you then told them that you would give them one half now and one
half later; is that correct?
“[Brown]: Yes, ma’am.
“[Court]: And since you’ve testified, you have had approximately 150, I think it
was—over 150 prostitution encounters, correct?
“[Brown]: Yes, ma’am.
“[Court]: And in these encounters that you’ve had, has it been your—is it your
experience that prostitutes will perform this sexual act without getting their money?
“[Brown]: Yes, ma’am.”
b. The Court’s Questioning of Tricia Foster Brown
On direct examination, Brown’s wife testified that she trusts Brown, and he has a
reputation for honesty. She stated, “People trust him. This is my opinion. People trust
him. I trust him. Everyone that I know trusts him and knows him to be honest.” During
cross-examination, the prosecutor followed up by asking Ms. Brown about Brown’s
convictions for selling drugs, for domestic violence against his former wife, and his
sexual liaisons with prostitutes. The prosecutor asked Ms. Brown if her opinion that
Brown was honest and truthful would change if Ms. Brown knew that Brown “admitted
to us yesterday that he had had anal sex with prostitutes over 150 times.” Ms. Brown
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testified that, although she would be upset if Brown told her that, it would not change her
opinion of him because she loves him and will honor him and cannot judge him.
The prosecutor asked Ms. Brown whether she had known before the trial that her
husband had “admitted to having anal sex more than 150 times,” “has had sex with
hundreds of prostitutes since 1996,” “has admitted to having sexual acts with prostitutes
in both cars and hotels,” “has admitted to spending thousands of dollars on prostitutes
[since 2006],” and “has admitted that he would engage in sex acts with prostitutes
whenever he had time.” Ms. Brown stated she had not been aware of these things. In
response to the prosecutor’s questions, Ms. Brown testified that she was not aware that
Brown had testified that he repeatedly anally penetrated one of the victims in this case in
Ms. Brown’s car, that he anally penetrated two different victims in the case, and that he
anally penetrated one victim more than ten times. In response to further questioning by
the prosecutor, Ms. Brown stated she was not aware that Brown had testified that he was
looking to pick up a prostitute almost every day between March and April 2009, when
Ms. Brown was eight to nine months pregnant. The prosecutor concluded her cross-
examination by asking: “After hearing all the things that your husband has admitted to us
about his prostitution habits, does that change your opinion as to whether he is an honest,
trustworthy person?” Ms. Brown responded: “Not at all.”
After redirect and re-cross-examination, the court questioned Ms. Brown:
“[Court]: I have a question to clarify. [¶] Now, you stated your husband is honest.
“[Ms. Brown]: Yes.
“[Court]: The District Attorney went through a series of statements to you about
what she says your husband stated under oath here in court yesterday, and it was to you
from the D.A. The defendant said that he used your car to solicit prostitutes, he admitted
that he repeatedly anally penetrated one of the victims in your vehicle. [¶] I have a
question, Counsel. I am just laying my foundation.
“[Defense Counsel]: Well, it’s a question on the evidence, your Honor.
“[Court]: No, it’s not. I am going to ask her a question, Counsel. It is foundation
as to what was just stated by the D.A. to her. I just want her to understand my
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foundational question before I ask my question. [¶] It was also indicated that he admitted
that he picked up two victims and anally penetrated them, and he anally penetrated, by
his admission, per the D.A, one victim more than 10 times, and between March of ’09
and April of ‘09 he was looking for prostitutes daily during the time you were pregnant.
“[Court]: Do you remember all of that?
“[Ms. Brown]: Do I remember her asking?
“[Court]: Yes.
“[Ms. Brown]: Yes.
“[Court]: And this is not information you said you knew about, correct?
“[Ms. Brown]: Correct.
“[Court]: May I ask, um, how does your view of honesty—this presentation to
you of information that was indicated your husband admitted under oath on the stand,
how does that, in your view, relate to your own view of—well, strike that. [¶] In your
view, given the information, is this—is what you viewed with your husband an honest
presentation?
“[Ms. Brown]: Can I ask you what I think you are asking me?
“[Court]: Well, no. If you are unclear, I am going to ask.
“[Ms. Brown]: Okay.
“[Court]: You have heard all the information, and my question is[], is this an
honest presentation that those things were actually occurring to you, what you saw your
husband engaging in daily with you, would that have been an honest presentation.
“[Ms. Brown]: That instance—well, this instance or the prostitute incident, no,
it’s not something that I would consider being honest because I didn’t know.
“[Court]: Okay.
“[Ms. Brown]: But in other aspects of our marriage and our life together and me
knowing him, and much more than just that, then, yes, I do, and I trust him with my life
and my kids.
“[Court]: Okay. So thank you. [¶] So the presentation about the prostitutes in
your view, would not have been an honest presentation, correct?
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“[Ms. Brown]: When you say ‘presentation’—
“[Court]: Well, I mean, what was stated about engaging—your husband engaging
in the acts of prostitution, that, in your view, would not be honest?
“[Ms. Brown]: To act in that way?
“[Court]: Yes.
“[Ms. Brown]: I don’t think honest—
“[Court]: For you as his wife.
“[Ms. Brown]: Towards me, okay.
“[Court]: I am asking about your view and how you view honesty.
“[Ms. Brown]: I don’t think that’s honest with—no. If you didn’t tell me
something, then it’s not being honest. If you withheld information, you didn’t lie about
it, you just didn’t tell me, you withheld it from me, then no, I don’t think that in that
instance is being honest.
“[Court]: And if that’s not being honest, and how is your opinion that he is
honest, how is that impacted, if at all?
“[Ms. Brown]: It’s not.
“[Court]: Because?
“[Ms. Brown]: Because he’s done so much. He raises our children. I can’t raise a
man. He has raised our children. He’s been there all the time. My kids have grown up
in the gym. My baby still knows his dad. He hasn’t seen him, but he knows his dad. If
he sees a picture, he says, That’s my daddy.
“[Court]: Okay.
“[Ms. Brown]: And—
“[Court]: I don’t want to put words in your mouth. In your view, on balance,
even though there may be some things that are not honest, you feel overall he is honest.
“[Ms. Brown]: His other attributes of him as a person as a human outweigh
mistakes that he has made.
“[Court]: Okay. All right. Thank you.”
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After this questioning, the prosecutor asked Ms. Brown: “Does a married man
who visits hundreds of prostitutes, does that speak to his honesty or his dishonesty?” Ms.
Brown said that, as a woman, she could not “honestly give you an opinion on what a man
might be.” During this line of questioning, the court restated the prosecutor’s question to
clarify that it sought from Ms. Brown (who already had opined about Brown’s honesty) a
more general opinion about married men who visit prostitutes. The following exchange
occurred:
“[Prosecutor]: I am not asking for a man’s opinion. I am asking for your opinion.
“[Ms. Brown]: You are asking my opinion on a man.
“[Prosecutor]: I am asking your opinion.
“[Court]: It is your opinion—because you have rendered an opinion already about
honesty in this case with the defendant, and the question is just more generally: Do you
view a married man who visits prostitutes, is that honest, in your view?
“[Ms. Brown]: I don’t think that visiting a prostitute is—I don’t think the word
would be him being honest. The action or maybe not telling his wife would be dishonest,
so—”
Finally, the prosecutor asked Ms. Brown whether it would be disloyal for a
married man to visit a prostitute, and Ms. Brown agreed it would be. The prosecutor then
asked whether Brown had been disloyal, and the court overruled defense counsel’s
objections to that question.
“[Prosecutor]: The activity we have talked about with your husband and his
activities with prostitutes, that shows disloyalment [sic], right?
“[Defense Counsel]: That’s argumentative. [¶] The D.A. has asked, the Court has
asked. The point is made. You can’t beat a dead horse.
“[Court]: Well, yeah. You don’t beat dead horses usually, but she certainly gets
to go into the area that, in fact, is raised by the question. [¶] So go on.
“[Defense Counsel]: The question should have been raised. The examination was
completed.
“[Prosecutor]: Can I continue?
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“[Court]: Yes.
“[Prosecutor]: Thank you. . . . Visiting prostitutes, your husband visiting
prostitutes, that is disloyal to you?
“[Ms. Brown]: Yes.”
c. The Parties’ Discussion of the Court’s Questioning
After Ms. Brown was excused and another witness testified, the court spoke with
counsel outside the presence of the jury and referred to defense counsel’s statements near
the end of Ms. Brown’s testimony.
“[Court]: Counsel, may I just say this? And I know you did not mean to be
disrespectful, and I am not going to say anything to the jury, because I have already
indicated to them that from time to time the Court will ask questions to bring out matters
that it seeks to clarify. Your statement after the Court had questioned and you began
questioning and you indicated, Well, the testimony was already concluded and no
question should have been asked at all, that’s not really an accurate statement that no
questions should have been asked. [¶] The Court has again the ability to ask the
questions that it believes, in fact, should be clarified. And I actually had an issue that I
thought should be addressed regarding her view of honesty. [¶] And with all due respect
to everybody, particularly the defendant in this case, she really made a better presentation
after the Court’s inquiry because she essentially said, in my view, that what I viewed in
terms of what he did, is sort of in balance with who I know him to be. You still think he
is an honest person, I still think he is trustworthy. But I just want to say, to suggest that
the Court should not ask anything, that is simply just not the case.
“[Defense Counsel]: I didn’t suggest that, with all due respect.
“[Court]: That’s how I understood it.
“[Defense Counsel]: I said the examination was concluded.
“[Court]: You said it shouldn’t have been asked anyway. [¶] I am not upset with
anybody. I am just saying, for the jury I do ask questions from time to time. My—
“[Defense Counsel]: I do want to say for the record at the end of my client’s
testimony you asked a question that was indicating, in my view, to the jury that you
16
didn’t believe him that a prostitute would accept money without performing the sex act.
And then you asked a question of his wife how it could be indicated that you didn’t
believe the guy could be honest who was visiting prostitutes? That’s how it came up.
“[Court]: No. I’m sorry that you took it that way. That’s not how the Court asked
it nor why I asked it. I don’t have a view. I am trying to clarify what I have heard in the
evidence that I believe should be clarified as the jury does their duty. I am not the trier of
fact here, but I don’t want to suggested [sic] that the Court cannot ask a question and it is
improper for the Court to do so because that’s not the [case].”
2. Analysis
We reject Brown’s judicial-misconduct argument both because it was not properly
preserved and on its merits.
First, we reject the argument because it was not properly preserved. Although
defense counsel objected to some of the prosecutor’s questions, defense counsel did not
object to any of the trial court’s questions of Brown or his wife during their testimony.
The failure to object below generally forfeits an appellate claim that a judge’s
examination of a witness constituted misconduct. (People v. Harris (2005) 37 Cal. 4th
310, 350.) But the claim is not forfeited if it can be established that the objection below
would have been futile. (People v. Houston (2012) 54 Cal. 4th 1186, 1220.)
Brown argues that it would have been futile for him to have objected below in
light of the trial court’s statement after the challenged questioning that it believed its
examination was proper. We are not persuaded. When defense counsel stated (outside
the presence of the jury, and after the conclusion of Brown’s and Ms. Brown’s testimony)
that some of the court’s questions suggested a disbelief in aspects of the testimony, the
court responded by emphasizing that it had sought to clarify the testimony to assist the
jury in performing its factfinding duty, and had not sought to convey any bias or personal
view of the testimony. The court also noted that any suggestion by defense counsel that a
trial court may not ask any questions of witnesses was incorrect. These comments show
that the court correctly understood that it could question witnesses to clarify testimony
but could not assume the role of an advocate for either side or usurp the jury’s factfinding
17
power. (See People v. Hawkins (1995) 10 Cal. 4th 920, 947–948, overruled on another
point in People v. Lasko (2000) 23 Cal. 4th 101, 109–110.) Nothing in the record
suggests that the court would have been unwilling to express this understanding in the
presence of the jury if defense counsel had objected during Brown’s or his wife’s
testimony. (See People v. Corrigan (1957) 48 Cal. 2d 551, 556 [“We must assume that,
had an objection been made, the judge would then have informed the jury that his
purpose in so questioning the witness was to establish facts which might affect her
credibility, but that it was the exclusive province of the jury to determine the credibility
of the witness and the weight to be given her testimony. Such an instruction, given at the
time the questions were asked, would have removed any danger that the jury might
misunderstand the purpose of the examination.”].) Thus, we conclude that Brown
forfeited any claim of judicial misconduct by failing to object on that ground at trial.2
But even if we assume that the argument was properly preserved, we reject it on
its merits. “The trial judge has the duty to control all proceedings during the trial with a
view to the expeditious and effective ascertainment of the truth regarding the matters
involved. (Pen. Code, § 1044.) To this end [she] may examine witnesses to elicit or
clarify testimony. [Citations.] The mere fact that a judge examines a witness at some
length does not establish misconduct, nor does the fact that the testimony elicited by the
judge’s questions would probably have been elicited by counsel.” (People v. Pierce
(1970) 11 Cal. App. 3d 313, 321; see People v. Raviart (2001) 93 Cal. App. 4th 258, 270.)
On the other hand, “[u]nwarranted interruptions of counsel that interfere with a
properly conducted examination, excessive questioning that virtually takes the witness
out of counsel’s hands, or a display of partisanship are improper. [Citations.]”
2
Brown contends that, if his trial counsel’s failure to object resulted in a forfeiture
of the claim of judicial misconduct, the failure to object constituted ineffective assistance
of counsel. Because (as we shall explain) the court did not commit misconduct, counsel’s
failure to object to the court’s questioning did not constitute deficient performance. (See
Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687–688, 694 (Strickland) [defendant
must show counsel’s performance was deficient to establish ineffective assistance claim];
People v. Carter (2003) 30 Cal. 4th 1166, 1211 (Carter) [same].)
18
(5 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Criminal Trial, § 649, p. 1006.)
“The question for us to decide is whether the judge ‘officiously and unnecessarily
usurp[ed] the duties of the prosecutor . . . and in so doing create[d] the impression that
[she] [was] allying [herself] with the prosecution[.]’ ” (People v. Clark (1992) 3 Cal. 4th
41, 143, overruled on another point as stated in People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal. 4th 393,
462; see People v. Cummings (1993) 4 Cal. 4th 1233, 1305.)
Whether a particular question or series of questions by a judge goes too far is
difficult to assess on a cold record, in part because we cannot determine if the tone of any
particular question was other than neutral. (See People v. Raviart, supra, 93 Cal.App.4th
at p. 272 [trial court is “ ‘in a better position than the reviewing court to know when the
circumstances warrant or require the interrogation of witnesses from the bench’ ”].) As
the appellant, Brown has the burden to show error, and we cannot assume the trial court
intervened too quickly or inappropriately.
Here, although the trial court asked a fair number of questions, we cannot
conclude that it lost its neutrality. Nothing about the content of the questions indicates as
much. The court asked questions of many witnesses, not just Brown and his wife. As the
court explained, its questions to Brown and his wife were for the purpose of clarifying the
witnesses’ testimony. The questions addressed points that the jury might have found
relevant to the witnesses’ credibility, but the court did not say or suggest that it, rather
than the jury, should determine the credibility of the witnesses or the weight to be given
to their testimony. (See People v. Corrigan, supra, 48 Cal.2d at p. 556.) Its questions
did not necessarily favor either side. The court’s questions of Ms. Brown, for example,
elicited a “better presentation” of her view that Brown’s other attributes outweighed his
mistakes. We also note that, in the case of both Brown and his wife, the court asked the
challenged questions at the least intrusive time, i.e., after counsel had conducted their
own examinations of the witnesses (although the court then allowed counsel to ask
further questions on the subjects addressed by the court’s questions). (See People v.
Robinson (1960) 179 Cal. App. 2d 624, 639.) This is not a case in which the judge
19
excessively interrupted a questioning attorney or took over an attorney’s examination of a
witness.
Finally, the trial court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 3550, which in part
provides: “Do not take anything I said or did during the trial as an indication of what I
think about the facts, the witnesses, or what your verdict should be.” The court also
instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 101 (which includes virtually identical language)
before the trial testimony began. We must presume that the jury followed these
instructions and considered the substance of the answers to the trial court’s questions
(and not the fact that the questions were asked by the trial court) in assessing the
evidence. (See People v. Sanchez (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 834, 852.)
B. The Flight Instruction Was Not Improper.
1. Additional Background
The court’s instructions at the end of the trial included a standard flight
instruction, CALCRIM No. 372, which provides: “If the defendant fled immediately
after the crime was committed, that conduct may show that he was aware of his guilt. If
you conclude that the defendant fled, it is up to you to decide the meaning and
importance of that conduct. However, evidence that the defendant fled cannot prove guilt
by itself.”
During the court’s colloquy with counsel about which instructions would be given,
the prosecutor argued that the flight instruction should be given in light of the evidence
concerning Aisha Doe. Defense counsel objected, arguing Brown just “left” the scene
after Aisha got out of his car. The trial court overruled the objection, stating: “Well,
there is a conflict in the evidence on that. The conflict on the evidence is that she was
screaming, she was calling, her face was against the window. Finally, she was essentially
able to escape, and then the defendant pulled off and then came back, and by his own
testimony, he saw the guys, and he left. [¶] So by that alone, I think it speaks to an
inference under 372 that would be allowed. Of course if [the jury doesn’t] find that he
fled, then this instruction is not going to apply. [¶] The Court will certainly tell [the jury]
that just because the instructions are given, it does not suggest what [the jury finds] the
20
evidence to be. Depending on what [the jury finds] the evidence to be, some instructions
will apply and some not.”
2. Analysis
Brown argues that the evidence did not support giving a flight instruction, and the
court’s instruction on that point improperly lightened the prosecution’s burden of proof
and thereby denied Brown due process and a fair trial. We disagree.
A flight instruction is entirely appropriate when there is evidence of flight.
(§ 1127c; People v. Mendoza (2000) 24 Cal. 4th 130, 179 (Mendoza).) “ ‘[A] flight
instruction is proper whenever evidence of the circumstances of defendant’s departure
from the crime scene or his usual environs, . . . logically permits an inference that his
movement was motivated by guilty knowledge.’ ” (People v. Lucas (1995) 12 Cal. 4th
415, 470.) Contrary to Brown’s argument, the evidence allows such an inference here.
Aisha Doe testified that when she was able to get out of Brown’s truck, she ran to the two
men who were standing near a disabled car. Brown continued to drive for a short
distance but started to back toward Aisha’s location. He then drove away. Aisha and the
two men walked to a nearby parking lot where, two or three minutes later, Brown drove
by them. The passenger window of the truck was down, suggesting Brown might have
been trying to say something to Aisha. Brown testified that, after Aisha got out of his
car, he turned around and came back and saw her talking to the two men, and then “I just
took off. I just left.”
This evidence allows an inference that Brown, after attempting to communicate
with Aisha and seeing her with the two men, fled to avoid being observed or arrested.
(See People v. Turner (1990) 50 Cal. 3d 668, 695 [evidence of hasty departure supports
inference of flight].) The court’s instruction appropriately permitted, without requiring,
the jury to draw such an inference and, if it did so, to then give Brown’s flight the weight
it deemed appropriate. The instruction did not direct the jury to draw a particular
inference from the evidence and did not unconstitutionally lessen the prosecution’s
burden of proof. (Mendoza, supra, 24 Cal.4th at pp. 180–181.) Indeed, the instruction
emphasized that evidence of flight cannot prove guilt by itself. (See People v. Boyette
21
(2002) 29 Cal. 4th 381, 438–439 [“ ‘The cautionary nature of [a flight instruction and
other challenged instructions] benefits the defense, admonishing the jury to
circumspection regarding evidence that might otherwise be considered decisively
inculpatory’ ”].)
Finally, we note that, apart from the flight instruction itself, the court specifically
instructed the jurors to disregard any instructions that did not apply in light of their
factual findings. The court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 200, which provides:
“Some of these instructions may not apply, depending on your findings about the facts of
the case. Do not assume just because I give a particular instruction that I am suggesting
anything about the facts. After you have decided what the facts are, follow the
instructions that do apply to the facts as you find them.”
Brown contends that, assuming the flight instruction was appropriate in light of
the evidence concerning Aisha Doe, Brown’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
ask the court to direct the jury to apply the instruction only to the two counts that
pertained to Aisha Doe. We disagree. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, a defendant must show that (1) trial counsel’s performance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2) the
defendant suffered prejudice, i.e., there is “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
(Strickland, supra, 466 U.S. at pp. 687–688, 694; Carter, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 1211.)
A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome. (Strickland, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 694; Carter, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 1211.)
Finally, the defendant must show that “ ‘the [act or] omission was not attributable to a
tactical decision which a reasonably competent, experienced criminal defense attorney
would make.’ ” (People v. Gurule (2002) 28 Cal. 4th 557, 610–611.)
Brown has not established that his trial counsel performed deficiently by failing to
ask the court to limit the flight instruction to certain counts, or that any prejudice resulted
from this failure. As we have discussed, the court’s instructions already made clear that
any inference of consciousness of guilt based on flight would not arise in connection with
22
a charged incident unless the jury found, based on the evidence, that Brown fled after that
incident. The flight instruction (CALCRIM No. 372) states any inference from flight
arises only if the jury finds that the defendant fled, and the court separately instructed the
jury (in CALCRIM No. 200) to disregard instructions that did not apply in light of their
factual findings. Moreover, as the Attorney General notes, Brown’s trial counsel
reasonably could have decided not to ask the court to limit the flight instruction to certain
counts because he may not have wanted to highlight the applicability of the flight
instruction to those counts. We conclude that Brown has not shown ineffective assistance
of counsel.
C. There Was No Cumulative Error.
Brown contends the cumulative impact of the court’s alleged misconduct and
instructional error requires reversal of his convictions. We reject this argument in light of
our conclusions that the court did not commit misconduct or engage in instructional error.
D. Brown’s Sentence Does Not Amount to Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
Brown contends briefly that his sentence of 44 years, eight months to life (i.e., a
determinate sentence of 37 years, eight months, plus a consecutive indeterminate life
sentence with a requirement that he serve a minimum of seven years) constitutes cruel
and unusual punishment. Although we recognize that Brown’s sentence is long, and
although we might not have exercised our sentencing discretion in the same manner as
the trial court, we are unable to conclude that the sentence is unconstitutional.
1. Additional Background
As to the determinate sentence, the court imposed the upper term of eight years for
count 1 (oral copulation as to Georgia Doe) (§ 288a, subd. (c)(2)(A)), and full,
consecutive upper terms of eight years each for counts 2, 7, and 8 (respectively, sodomy
as to Georgia Doe; sodomy as to Cynthia Doe; and oral copulation as to Cynthia Doe)
(§§ 286, subds. (c)(2)(A), (k), 288a, subd. (k), 667.6, subds. (c), (d)). As to count 6
(kidnapping A. Doe), the court imposed a consecutive term of five years (the middle
term) (§§ 207, subd. (a), 208, subd. (a), 1170.1). The court imposed a consecutive
23
sentence of eight months (one-third the middle term) for count 3 (false imprisonment of
Georgia Doe) (§ 237, subd. (a)).
As to count 5 (kidnapping of Aisha Doe to commit sodomy), the court imposed an
indeterminate sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after a
minimum of seven years. (§§ 209, subd. (b)(1), 3046, subd. (a).) The court ordered that
this sentence be served consecutively to (and after the completion of) the determinate
sentence.
2. Analysis
In assessing cruel and unusual punishment claims under Article I, section 17 of the
California Constitution, “courts have typically looked to the following factors: 1) the
degree of danger the offender and the offense pose to society; 2) how the punishment
compares with punishments for more serious crimes in the same jurisdiction; and 3) how
the punishment compares with punishments for the same offense in other jurisdictions.”
(People v. Andrade (2015) 238 Cal. App. 4th 1274, 1310, citing In re Lynch (1972)
8 Cal. 3d 410, 425–427 and People v. Dillon (1983) 34 Cal. 3d 441, 479–482 [disapproved
on another point as stated in People v. Chun (2009) 45 Cal. 4th 1172, 1186].) The Eighth
Amendment to the United States Constitution also contains a “ ‘narrow proportionality
principle,’ ” but that principle “ ‘forbids only extreme sentences that are “grossly
disproportionate” to the crime.’ ” (Ewing v. California (2003) 538 U.S. 11, 20, 23;
People v. Andrade, supra, 238 Cal.App.4th at p. 1310.)
On appeal, Brown does not contend that the court erred or abused its discretion in
making any of the individual sentencing determinations that resulted in the total sentence
(such as selecting the upper term or imposing a consecutive sentence for a particular
count). Nor does Brown expressly argue that his sentence is improper under any of the
prongs of the In re Lynch analysis. Instead, he asserts generally that the sentence is cruel
and unusual because he is in his late forties and may not complete the imposed sentence
in his lifetime. We are not persuaded.
The trial court explained in detail the reasons for its sentencing decisions. It
explained that Brown’s crimes included sexual assaults on Cynthia Doe and Georgia Doe
24
that involved “great violence and a high degree of cruelty” and caused the victims to
suffer extreme physical trauma and pain. And it explained that Brown physically and
mentally traumatized his victims by threatening them with arrest or violence, handcuffing
A. Doe to his vehicle, and sexually assaulting Cynthia Doe and Georgia Doe. It further
explained that Brown’s crimes involved planning and sophistication, and he intimidated
the victims under false pretenses by using badges and a walkie-talkie and pretending to
be a police officer. Finally, the court noted that Brown had expressed no remorse for his
conduct and had not acknowledged any wrongdoing.
While we might not have reached the same determination as the trial court on each
of the sentencing decisions in this case had we been in the trial court’s position, we
cannot conclude that the trial court abused its sentencing discretion or that the sentence
imposed was shocking or inhumane. (See People v. Andrade, supra, 238 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1310 [rejecting argument that sentence of 195 years to life was cruel and unusual,
where the defendant committed sexual assaults against five young women and
intimidated them with threats and statements that he was affiliated with law
enforcement].)
E. The Restitution Fine Shall Be Modified as Agreed by the Parties.
At sentencing, the trial court imposed a restitution fine of $87,808 under section
1202.4, subdivision (b). Brown argues, and the Attorney General concedes, that this fine
must be reduced to $10,000. We agree.
Under the current version of section 1202.4, the amount of the restitution fine
must be “commensurate with the seriousness of the offense,” and, “[i]f the person is
convicted of a felony, the fine shall not be less than two hundred forty dollars ($240)
starting on January 1, 2012, two hundred eighty dollars ($280) starting on January 1,
2013, and three hundred dollars ($300) starting on January 1, 2014, and not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000).” (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(1).)3 “ ‘[T]he maximum [restitution]
3
The versions of section 1202.4, subdivision (b) in effect on the dates of Brown’s
offenses in 2008 and 2009 provided that, in the case of a felony conviction, the minimum
fine was $200, while the maximum fine was $10,000. (Stats. 2007, ch. 302, § 14,
25
fine that may be imposed in a criminal prosecution is $10,000 “regardless of the number
of victims or counts involved.” ’ ” (People v. Blackburn (1999) 72 Cal. App. 4th 1520,
1534; accord, People v. Martinez, supra, 226 Cal.App.4th at p. 1191, fn. 14.)
Section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(2) sets forth a formula trial courts may use to
calculate the restitution fine within the range permitted by subdivision (b)(1). Under that
formula, the court multiplies the applicable minimum fine by the number of years of
imprisonment the defendant is ordered to serve, and by the number of felony counts of
conviction. (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(2); see Stats. 2007, ch. 302, § 14, pp. 3071–3072; Stats.
2008, ch. 468, § 1, p. 3341.) The trial court stated it used this formula to calculate the
restitution fine of $87,808 for Brown. But a restitution fine cannot exceed $10,000, and
we will reduce Brown’s restitution fine to that amount.4
III.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is modified to reduce the restitution fine (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)) and
the parole revocation restitution fine (§ 1202.45) to $10,000 each. The parole revocation
restitution fine is suspended unless parole is revoked. As modified, the judgment is
affirmed. The trial court is directed to prepare an amended abstract of judgment to reflect
the reduced fines, and to forward a certified copy of the amended abstract of judgment to
the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
pp. 3071–3072; Stats. 2008, ch. 468, § 1, p. 3341; see People v. Martinez (2014)
226 Cal. App. 4th 1169, 1189–1190 [court should have calculated restitution fine using
minimum fine in effect on date of offense].)
4
Section 1202.45 requires imposition of a parole revocation restitution fine in the
same amount as the restitution fine; the parole revocation restitution fine is suspended
unless parole is revoked. (§ 1202.45, subds. (a), (c).) We will reduce the parole
revocation restitution fine imposed by the trial court (which the court also set at $87,808)
to $10,000.
26
_________________________
Humes, P.J.
We concur:
_________________________
Dondero, J.
_________________________
Banke, J.
People v. Brown (A139357)
27