People v. Starrett CA5 ( 2021 )

Filed 9/10/21 P. v. Starrett CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE,
F077104
Plaintiff and Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. F15902527)
v.
MICHAEL STARRETT, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Carlos A.
Cabrera* and John F. Vogt, Judges.†
Gregory M. Chappel, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Carlos A. Martinez and Caely E.
Fallini, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
* Retired Judge of the Fresno County Superior Court assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
† Judge Cabrera presided over the Pitchess motion hearing; Judge Vogt presided
over all other hearings pertinent to this appeal.
Appellant Michael Starrett was convicted by jury of possession or control of child
pornography with a prior sexual offense (Pen. Code,1 § 311.11, subd. (b); count 1) and
resisting an executive officer (§ 69; count 2). In a bifurcated court trial, the court found
appellant had suffered nine prior strike convictions (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12,
subds. (a)-(d)). Appellant was sentenced to indeterminate prison terms of 25 years to life
for each count for a total prison sentence of 50 years to life (§ 667, subd.
(e)(2)(C)(iv)(III)).
Appellant raises several issues on appeal. First, he requests we independently
review the materials reviewed during the in camera hearing on his motion for discovery
of information from the officers’ personnel files (Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974)
11 Cal.3d 531), which respondent does not oppose. Appellant further contends: (1) the
trial court reversibly erred by making comments to the jury pool which appellant
contends implicated the presumption of innocence and lowered the prosecutor’s burden
of proof; (2) the trial court erred by denying appellant’s motion for self-representation
(Faretta v. California (1975) 422 U.S. 806); (3) the trial court erred by denying one of
appellant’s motions to substitute his appointed counsel (People v. Marsden (1970)
2 Cal.3d 118); (4) the trial court erred by failing to instruct sua sponte on simple assault
as a lesser included offense of resisting an executive officer; and (5) the prosecutor erred
during closing argument by improperly telling the jury to believe witnesses if their
testimony was reasonable. Finally, to the extent we find appellant has forfeited the issues
regarding the trial court’s comments during jury selection and the prosecutor’s comments
during closing argument because his trial counsel failed to object, he contends trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to make those objections.
Finding no error, we affirm the judgment.
1 All further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Appellant was a resident at Coalinga State Hospital. On February 5, 2014,
appellant was in his room lying on his bed using his laptop, when Coalinga State Hospital
officers Jose Gonzalez and Carlos Pizarro knocked on appellant’s door and entered his
room in order to conduct a random search. When Gonzalez told appellant the officers
would be searching his room, appellant reached over to a set of drawers and removed an
item from under a clock. Gonzalez asked appellant what the item was, and appellant said
it was “[n]othing.” Gonzalez then told appellant to open his hand, which revealed the
item to be a digital memory card. Gonzalez took the memory card from appellant, told
appellant he was going to keep it for review, and put it in his pocket.
The officers asked appellant to leave the room so they could conduct the search.
After they started searching, appellant appeared nervous and was pacing. Appellant
stepped back inside the room before being told he was allowed, causing Gonzalez to pat
appellant down for his and Pizarro’s safety. Gonzalez found no weapons or contraband
on appellant and told appellant to step outside the room again.
As soon as Gonzalez turned around, he felt appellant reach from behind him into
his pocket that contained the memory card. Gonzalez grabbed appellant’s hand and
asked him what he was doing, and appellant forcefully hit Gonzalez’s hand with a closed
fist in an effort to break loose from Gonzalez’s grip. The officers directed appellant to
stop what he was doing, and appellant continued to fight to try to get the memory card.
Because the officers were unable to gain compliance with verbal commands and
appellant continued to resist, they assisted appellant onto the floor for “ground
containment.”
Appellant had obtained the memory card during the struggle and continued to
resist and fight while Gonzalez tried to get the memory card out of appellant’s hand.
Gonzalez told appellant to stop resisting several times; appellant did not respond and
continued to fight to break loose from their hold, kicking and moving around on the floor.
3.
Gonzalez was eventually able to get a hold of appellant’s hand, open it, and grab the
memory card, at which point he called for backup. Appellant continued to resist and
started spitting toward Gonzalez’s face. Officer Luz Benitez responded and assisted
Gonzalez and Pizarro in containing appellant on the floor. During the struggle, Benitez
was kicked by appellant, which resulted in an injury to her hand. At trial, she was unable
to open her hand fully and stated she had to medically retire due to the injury.
Gonzalez was eventually able to handcuff appellant and stand him up. Appellant
had received a cut on his head from falling to the ground during the incident. Gonzalez
escorted appellant to an interview room, and a nurse assessed appellant’s cut and cleared
him to be interviewed. During his interview with appellant, Gonzalez asked him what
was on the memory card that was so important, to which appellant responded, “I don’t
know.” Appellant then told Gonzalez, “I’m sorry I hurt you.” Appellant continued to
deny he knew what was on the memory card and eventually stopped talking to Gonzalez.
Gonzalez booked the memory card into evidence.
Coalinga State Hospital Police Sergeant Jerry Duvall testified as an expert in
forensic analysis investigative techniques used for retrieving data from the digital
memory card and in determining the ages of persons depicted within the images retrieved
from it. Duvall testified there were 3,513 images and 277 videos of child pornography on
the memory card seized from appellant.
The parties stipulated appellant had suffered three prior convictions of child
molestation (§ 288, subd. (a)), which required him to register under section 290. The
parties further stipulated that police officers working for the Coalinga State Hospital
Police Department are considered executive officers under California state law.
Appellant relied on the state of the evidence and did not present any of his own
evidence.
4.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
We give a detailed procedural background to put several of appellant’s appellate
issues in context.
The Complaint is Filed, and Appellant is Held to Answer to the Charges
The complaint was filed on April 24, 2015. Appellant subsequently filed a motion
to suppress evidence based on the ground that his expectation of privacy as a patient
serving a civil commitment had been violated by the seizure of the memory card. The
court heard evidence on the motion to suppress along with the preliminary hearing
evidence over the course of three days, October 14, 15, and 16, 2015. Following the
hearing, the trial court denied appellant’s suppression motion and held appellant to
answer to five charges: possession or control of child pornography with a prior
(§ 311.11, subd. (b)); battery on a peace officer (§ 243, subd. (c)(2)); two counts of
assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)); and resisting
an executive officer (§ 69). Appellant pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in the
information on November 12, 2015, and the matter was set for jury trial on December 28,
2015.
December 17, 2015 Marsden Motion
At a settlement conference on December 17, 2015, appellant requested a Marsden
hearing. Judge Jonathan Skiles presided over the hearing. Appellant expressed concern
over his attorney, Angelica Rivera, a deputy public defender, having enough time to
devote to his case. He indicated he had expected Rivera to present evidence at the
preliminary hearing because he had provided her with “extensive exculpatory evidence
and numerous . . . witnesses who strongly support [his] innocence.” Rivera admitted the
investigation was not at a stage where she would like it to be and that appellant raised
“some valid points.” She further indicated appellant would need to enter a general time
waiver to enable her to do the work necessary for his case but ultimately she did not have
the time or resources to adequately prepare the case for trial. The court granted
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appellant’s motion and relieved Rivera, noting to appellant the attorney it would appoint
in Rivera’s place may have some of the same limitations as Rivera.
The December 28, 2015 trial date was vacated, and a new trial date was set for
January 7, 2016. Appellant was appointed attorney Kojo Moore from the firm who
handles public defender conflict cases.
January 4, 2016 Marsden Motion
At a settlement conference on January 4, 2016, appellant requested a Marsden
hearing. Judge Skiles again presided over the hearing at which appellant requested the
court to “dismiss” Moore’s entire firm from the case. In response, the court asked
appellant if he wanted to represent himself, to which he responded, “I don’t.” Appellant
went on to say there was “nobody” that could do what he wants to get done in the
timeframe he wants it done “[b]ecause the past injuries . . . are impossible to cure,” later
clarifying he had not had a “proper preliminary hearing.” Moore stated that he had
received the case the previous week and had not had time to review the “voluminous”
discovery or to speak to appellant and would have to move to continue the trial date. The
court found appellant had not shown grounds for granting a Marsden motion “specifically
given the very short period of time the attorney has been assigned the case” and denied
appellant’s motion. The settlement conference was continued to January 7, 2016.
First Amended Information and October 17, 2016 Marsden Motion
On January 7, 2016, the prosecutor filed a first amended information, which
included only two of the four original charges: possession of child pornography with a
prior (§ 311.11, subd. (b)) and resisting an executive officer (§ 69). That day, appellant
pleaded not guilty to the charges. A tentative trial date was set for February 4, 2016.
The case was continued a number of times over the next several months, with
several trial dates being vacated and new tentative dates being set. Appellant had entered
a general time waiver that remained in effect during this period of time.
6.
On August 29, 2016, appellant withdrew his general time waiver, and a tentative
trial date was set for October 17, 2016. On October 14, 2016, defense counsel filed a
written motion to continue the trial because he had not been able to interview or
subpoena certain witnesses but appellant did not want to continue to waive time.
On October 17, 2016, appellant requested a Marsden hearing. Judge Alan
Simpson presided over the hearing. Appellant stated he needed to “go into a little history
on this issue” and explained his previous Marsden motion was based on the public
defender’s officer being underfunded. He stated Rivera did not put any evidence on at
the preliminary hearing and it “unjustifiably” resulted in the denial of his suppression
motion. He indicated Moore had not done anything to prepare for trial and he no longer
wanted to waive time. In response, Moore stated appellant was “fixated” with the
preliminary hearing and suppression motion. Moore indicated he had gone over the
relevant transcripts and had not found any grounds for further motions in relation to those
issues. The court found no good cause to relieve Moore and denied the Marsden motion.
The matter was trailed to October 27, 2016.
The matter was continued a few more times, with appellant entering a series of
specific time waivers.
Trial Commences and January 31, 2017 Marsden Motion
The case was assigned to a trial department, and trial proceedings commenced on
January 31, 2017. Appellant requested a Marsden hearing that day. Judge John F. Vogt,
who was assigned appellant’s trial, presided over the hearing. Appellant expressed there
was “a lot of evidence” he believed to be critical which Moore had not discussed with
him, and Moore had not investigated several witnesses. Appellant also contended the
trial court did “not possess the jurisdiction to hear” the case because he had had a
“meaningless and ineffective preliminary hearing.” In response, Moore stated his
investigator had interviewed all witnesses provided by appellant. Moore had considered
the option of refiling appellant’s suppression motion or filing a writ petition but
7.
ultimately decided not to. Moore also indicated he had drafted a Pitchess motion but was
unable to file it because appellant would not waive time to allow it to be served. The
court asked appellant what he thought granting the Marsden motion would “do to your
situation?” Appellant replied, “[n]othing,” adding that granting the Marsden motion
would “force us to trial with preestablished prejudice.” Appellant went on to say the
most “expeditious way” to resolve the case would be to have it dismissed before trial. He
indicated he desired to file a new motion to suppress supported by “new evidence
presented from the transcripts of the preliminary hearing.” The court encouraged
appellant to discuss the issues with Moore and stated it did not find the conflicts appellant
identified were “permanent or ultimately destructive” to the case and there was not a
personality conflict that would interfere with the ability of Moore and appellant to
effectively work together. The court denied appellant’s Marsden motion.
The court conducted trial proceedings on February 1, 3, and 14, 2017, including
hearing several in limine motions and conducting Evidence Code section 402 hearings.
February 15, 2017 Marsden Motion and Trial Proceedings are Paused for Appellant to
File a Pitchess Motion
On February 15, 2017, appellant requested another Marsden hearing. During the
hearing, appellant stated that Moore had done “nothing” in the two weeks since his last
Marsden motion and there was more “crucial” evidence that needed to be investigated.
Appellant stated he had asked Moore to file a section 995 motion,2 a “[section] 999a for a
writ of prohibition,”3 and a Pitchess motion. In response, Moore reiterated he had
2 Pursuant to section 995, a criminal defendant may move to set aside the
information if he or she was held to answer without reasonable or probable cause.
3 Pursuant to section 999a, a criminal defendant may file a petition for writ of
prohibition on the grounds the defendant was committed on an information without
reasonable or probable cause. Such a filing must be made in the appellate court “within
15 days after a motion made under Section 995 to set aside the indictment on the ground
. . . that the defendant had been committed on an information without reasonable or
probable cause, has been denied by the trial court.”
8.
investigated everything appellant had asked him to, had considered a section 995 motion
but believed it to be inappropriate and frivolous, and had looked into a petition for writ of
prohibition but believed it too was inappropriate. Moore again stated he did feel a
Pitchess motion was appropriate; he had drafted one but had not had time to serve it
because appellant had not wanted to waive time. The trial court told appellant it was not
inclined to grant the Marsden motion because it found the disagreement between he and
Moore revolved around appellant’s decision not to waive time. The court explained it
felt Moore had approached the case appropriately and was prepared to go to trial. The
court told appellant that it would give appellant the opportunity to have his Pitchess
motions heard in the “home court” on the condition that he waive further time. Appellant
agreed to vacate the trial date and to waive time so he could pursue the Pitchess motions.
In open court, the court stated it was accepting a general time waiver from
appellant, vacating that day’s trial date, “with the understanding that the matter will
remain assigned here for trial but will be sent back to the home court for further pretrial
hearings.” The following day, the trial court clarified on the record the trial was vacated
but actually was “in progress for all intents and purposes.”
May 4, 2017 Marsden Motion and June 22, 2017 Pitchess Hearing
On May 4, 2017, appellant requested a Marsden hearing. Judge Dennis A.
Peterson presided over the hearing. At the hearing, appellant stated “the whole problem”
“stems from the fact that I have been asking . . . for some remedy to the fact that I have
not had a proper preliminary hearing. That’s my main issue.” He stated he had asked
Moore when Moore was first appointed to file a section 995 motion and to have a “proper
preliminary hearing.” He then stated he wanted to file an “extraordinary writ of
prohibition” to present evidence from his first Marsden hearing where the public
defender was relieved. Appellant explained he wanted to show the preliminary hearing
was not properly conducted and have the case dismissed so he would not have to go to
trial. In response, Moore expressed he thought appellant’s Marsden motion was a “delay
9.
tactic.” Moore again stated he had investigated every witness appellant had asked him to
investigate. Moore indicated he did not believe there was a breakdown in
communication, that he had put a lot of work into the case, and could adequately
represent appellant. The court denied appellant’s motion noting that tactical
disagreements between counsel and defendant were not grounds for granting a Marsden
motion.
On June 22, 2017, the court granted appellant’s Pitchess motion as to Gonzalez
and Pizarro – only as to prior complaints of fabrication of facts justifying use of force in
making an arrest or detention. The court held an in camera hearing where it determined
there was no discoverable material.
Appellant’s trial was subsequently set to recommence in the original trial
department.
Appellant’s Faretta Motion and Trial Recommences
On October 2, 2017, appellant filed a written Faretta motion and a motion to
continue the trial date to an unspecified date. In his motion to continue, appellant stated
he “will be assuming control of this case and will need additional time to investigate
issues not previously considered by prior counsel and will need additional time to prepare
for trial.”
On October 23, 2017, the parties reconvened in the trial department for what was
noted on the minute order as the sixth day of trial. After beginning to hear appellant’s
Faretta motion and determining it may cross over to a potential Marsden issue, the court
excluded all persons from the courtroom except appellant, Moore, and court staff and
proceeded with the Faretta motion in a closed session.
Appellant stated he believed the case should be dismissed “based on a conflict of
interest with the attorney at the preliminary hearing.” Appellant explained he understood
the court had already found Moore to be appropriate counsel but wished to represent
himself in order to file a petition for writ of prohibition so that he would not “lose [his]
10.
right to [a] proper preliminary hearing.” Moore stated he had reviewed with appellant the
reasons he would not be filing a writ petition. Appellant acknowledged Moore felt the
writ petition was “frivolous” but he believed that was not a “valid reason” not to file.
Appellant went on to say there were a “number of officers” and “a dozen” or
“maybe ten” witnesses to the incident that appellant believed needed to be interviewed
though he did not know who these potential witnesses were. Moore explained he
interviewed the witness appellant provided, but the witness’s statement hurt appellant’s
defense. Moore advised the court he was satisfied with the investigation he had
conducted in order to identify potential witnesses with exculpatory information.
The court told appellant his request was not timely based on his concurrent request
to continue the trial proceedings and its finding appellant had not raised proper grounds
for a continuance. The court also did not find appellant had made an “unequivocal
request” to represent himself as it appeared it was more based on dissatisfaction with
Moore. The court denied appellant’s request to represent himself.
When the court was back in open session, the court stated appellant’s motion was
untimely. The court noted there had already been five days of trial proceedings before a
continuance was granted for appellant to make discovery motions and conduct further
investigation prior to completion of the trial, and that the trial had already commenced.
The court found despite the trial already having commenced, it did not find appellant
made a showing of reasonable cause for making his request at that stage of the
proceedings. The court then analyzed the quality of representation afforded appellant,
appellant’s prior proclivity to substitute counsel, the length and the stage of the
proceedings, and that appellant had requested a continuance, as set forth in People v.
Windham (1977) 19 Cal.3d 121 (Windham). The court added in addition to appellant’s
request being untimely, the court did not view appellant’s request as unequivocal.
11.
Appellant’s October 24, 2017 Marsden Motion
The following day, appellant requested a Marsden hearing, raising two issues:
(1) that his trial clothes did not fit properly; and (2) that Moore did not retain an expert
witness to verify Benitez could not have sustained carpal tunnel by being kicked, as she
claimed in the preliminary hearing. Appellant stated, “[T]his is the last straw, Your
Honor. I will not deal with Mr. Moore or [his firm]. This trial will be a sham, in my
opinion, if it proceeds. He is going to run this trial and I will not communicate with him
because he never listens to me. I—I’m just—I’m beside myself.” Moore explained that
in looking at the transcripts, Benitez “doesn’t necessarily say. She says she has multiple
injuries, that carpal tunnel is just one of the injuries.” Moore confirmed there was
evidence of carpal tunnel being documented in Benitez’s medical records and that there
was no need for an expert to impeach Benitez’s testimony on her injuries. The court
noted it had witnessed a discussion between the prosecutor and Moore regarding a
conflict between the documentary evidence and Benitez’s preliminary hearing statements
and stated, “[I]t was my understanding before you even mentioned it today that it was
something that Mr. Moore was quite prepared to deal with. [¶] . . . [¶] . . . And it doesn’t
require another expert to be brought in to say this is what the records say. I mean, the
witness can be confronted and their prior testimony is of record. [¶] . . . [¶] . . . I don’t
see that as being a problem at this point.” The court went on to state “it’s my
understanding that [Moore] has reviewed the medical records and that the dates of . . .
documented history of carpal tunnel are there for him to impeach [any opinion appellant
caused carpal tunnel] . . . . [This issue] hasn’t been ignored. . . . I’ve seen [Moore]
confront [the prosecutor] with the issue and I know he’s prepared to address it in front of
the jury.” The court found appellant’s motion was based on conflicts that arose from
difference of opinion about the course of strategy in the case, which the court noted was
Moore’s responsibility, and denied the motion.
12.
The Remainder of Trial and Sentencing
Jury selection began the afternoon of October 24, 2017, and a jury was empaneled
on October 25, 2017. Evidence was presented on October 25 and 26, 2017. The jury
began deliberations on October 31, 2017, and returned their verdict that afternoon.
Appellant’s court trial on his priors was held on November 2, 2017, and he was sentenced
on February 28, 2018.
DISCUSSION
I. Independent Review of Materials Reviewed at June 22, 2017 Pitchess
Proceedings
Appellant requests we independently review the records reviewed at the in camera
Pitchess hearing to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining
there was no discoverable information. Respondent does not oppose this request.
Under Pitchess, a defendant may bring a motion for disclosure of certain relevant
information in the personnel files of police officers by showing good cause for discovery
and how it would support a defense to the charge against him. (Warrick v. Superior
Court (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1011, 1018‒1019; §§ 832.7, 832.8; Evid. Code, §§ 1043‒1045.)
When the court finds good cause and conducts an in camera review pursuant to
Pitchess, the court must hold an in camera hearing, during which the custodian of records
brings “all documents ‘potentially relevant’ to the defendant’s motion.” (People v. Mooc
(2001) 26 Cal.4th 1216, 1226.) “Subject to statutory exceptions and limitations . . . , the
trial court should then disclose to the defendant ‘such information [that] is relevant to the
subject matter involved in the pending litigation.’ ” (Ibid.)
The court must make a record that will permit future appellate review. (People v.
Mooc, supra, 26 Cal.4th at pp. 1229‒1230.) The court may preserve the record by either
copying the documents and placing them in a confidential file, preparing a sealed list of
the documents it reviewed, or “simply stat[ing] for the record what documents it
examined” and sealing the transcript. (Id. at p. 1229.)
13.
“A trial court’s decision on the discoverability of material in police personnel files
is reviewable under an abuse of discretion standard.” (People v. Jackson (1996)
13 Cal.4th 1164, 1220.)
Here, the trial court granted appellant’s Pitchess motion “as to prior complaints of
fabrication of facts justifying use of force in making an arrest or detention” pertaining to
officers Gonzalez and Pizarro, held an in camera hearing and ultimately found no
discoverable material. The court had not retained copies of the records it considered and,
accordingly, pursuant to order by this court, held an in camera hearing on October 17,
2018, with the custodians present and placed under oath, where the court was presented
with the relevant records. The superior court subsequently transmitted to this court the
oral proceedings of the June 22, 2017 and October 17, 2018 hearings, copies of the
records considered by the trial court, and a settled statement prepared by the trial court
subsequent to the October 17, 2018 hearing further documenting the records it reviewed.
We have reviewed all documents provided by the superior court and find they
comprise an adequate record for review. In independently reviewing the records
provided, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in declining to disclose
any information to appellant.
II. The Court’s Denial of Appellant’s October 23, 2017 Motion for Self-
Representation (Faretta Motion)
Appellant contends the court erred by denying appellant’s October 23, 2017
Faretta motion. We disagree.
A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to self-representation. (Faretta v.
California, supra, 422 U.S. at pp. 835-836.) A trial court must grant a defendant’s
request for self-representation if the request is timely and unequivocal, and voluntary,
knowing, and intelligent. (People v. Johnson (2019) 8 Cal.5th 475, 499 (Johnson).)
Whether to grant an untimely Faretta motion, however, is “ ‘within the sound discretion
of the trial court.’ ” (Id. at p. 499.) Denial of a timely, unequivocal, and voluntary
14.
Faretta motion is reversible per se; we review denial of an untimely Faretta motion,
however, for abuse of discretion. (People v. Best (2020) 49 Cal.App.5th 747, 756.)
A. Timeliness
To determine the proper standard of reversible error, we must determine whether
appellant’s Faretta motion was timely.
Our high court has “long held that a Faretta motion is timely if it is made ‘within
a reasonable time prior to the commencement of trial.’ ” (Johnson, supra, 8 Cal.5th at
p. 499.) “[T]he ‘reasonable time’ requirement ‘must not be used as a means of limiting a
defendant’s constitutional right of self-representation,’ but rather to prevent the defendant
from ‘misus[ing] the Faretta mandate as a means to unjustifiably delay a scheduled trial
or to obstruct the orderly administration of justice.’ ” (Ibid.) A timeliness requirement
“reflects that ‘the government’s interest in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the
trial at times outweighs the defendant’s interest in acting as his own lawyer.’ ” (Ibid.)
“[A] defendant should not be permitted to wait until the day preceding trial before he
moves to represent himself and requests a continuance in order to prepare for trial
without some showing of reasonable cause for the lateness of the request.” (Windham,
supra, 19 Cal.3d at p. 128, fn. 5.)
In determining whether a motion is timely, the California Supreme Court has
rejected the idea of applying a “bright-line rule, explaining that ‘nothing in Faretta or its
progeny either expressly or implicitly precludes consideration of factors other than the
number of weeks between the self-representation motion and the trial in determining
timeliness.’ ” (Johnson, supra, 8 Cal.5th at p. 502.) Rather, our high court has held a
trial court “may consider the totality of the circumstances,” including “ ‘not only the
time between the motion and the scheduled trial date, but also such factors as whether
trial counsel is ready to proceed to trial, the number of witnesses and the reluctance or
availability of crucial trial witnesses, the complexity of the case, any ongoing pretrial
15.
proceedings, and whether the defendant had earlier opportunities to assert his right of
self-representation.’ ” (Id. at p. 500.)
The California Supreme Court has not decided whether we review a court’s
finding that a Faretta motion is untimely under the de novo standard of review or
standard deferential to the trial court. (Johnson, supra, 8 Cal.5th at p. 501.) Under either
standard we find no error.
Both parties’ positions are based on whether the trial in appellant’s case had
technically commenced at the time he filed his Faretta motion on October 2, 2017.
Respondent simply contends that trial commenced on January 31, 2017, and thus
appellant’s request was untimely because it was made long after that date. Appellant,
however, contends trial did not commence until October 23, 2017; therefore, his motion
was made three weeks before trial. Relying on Faretta and Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals cases, he contends the standard in determining whether a motion is timely made
is whether it is made “ ‘weeks before trial.’ ” As such, because his motion was made
“ ‘weeks before trial,’ ” his motion was timely, and the court’s denial constitutes per se
reversible error.4
Appellant recognizes in passing that the California Supreme Court has adopted a
“ ‘totality of the circumstances’ ” analysis for determining whether a Faretta request is
timely but nonetheless insists the proper analysis only requires us to determine whether
4 Appellant states the trial court “acknowledged” his motion was timely. He bases
this on a statement made by the trial court: “But at this time having reviewed the motion
to proceed in pro per to what is called a Faretta motion and in light of all the information
received from [appellant] I think it is a questionable call as to whether the request is in
fact timely. As I explained to [appellant and Moore], however, for purposes of making
sure that all issues of due process are adequately addressed I have entertained any
discussions with the idea that the request could be deemed timely.” The court went on to
explain why it ultimately concluded the request was untimely. We interpret the court’s
comments not as an “acknowledg[ment]” the request was timely but as a statement
indicating it allowed appellant to make his request without summarily denying it as
untimely.
16.
or not his request was made “ ‘weeks before trial,’ ” under Faretta and Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals decisions. As we have explained, the California Supreme Court has
expressly held that Faretta does not preclude the consideration of other factors and we
are bound by those decisions. (Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57
Cal.2d 450, 455.)5
That is to say, even if we were to accept appellant’s interpretation that for the
purpose of analyzing the timeliness of a Faretta request, trial commenced on October 23,
2017, and we do for the benefit of appellant’s argument, we are not precluded from
considering the unique procedural posture of the case at the time appellant made his
motion. We conclude, in the context of the case as a whole, under appellant’s
interpretation of when trial began – and certainly under respondent’s – appellant’s motion
was not made within “ ‘a reasonable time prior to the commencement of trial.’ ”
(Johnson, supra, 8 Cal.5th at p. 499.)
The present case had been pending for approximately two and a half years when
appellant requested to represent himself in October 2017. Trial had commenced in
January 2017, and was only continued for appellant’s benefit, a decision the trial court
made based on Moore’s representations that he thought Pitchess motions could assist in
appellant’s defense. Before appellant was given the opportunity to pause trial
proceedings to bring his Pitchess motions, the court had heard the bulk of the parties’ in
limine motions and was just about to start the jury selection process. At the time, the
5 Appellant’s suggestion we should put weight on the fact that the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals has adopted a “weeks before trial” standard is not persuasive. Our high
court has recently reiterated that “[a]lthough we recognize that some federal appellate
decisions have adopted a different approach [such as holding a Faretta motion timely if it
is made before trial], we see no compelling reason to reconsider the [totality of the
circumstances] standard set forth by Lynch at this time.” (Johnson, supra, 8 Cal.5th at
p. 502.) While state courts applying federal law are bound by decisions of the United
States Supreme Court (Elliott v. Albright (1989) 209 Cal.App.3d 1028, 1034), we are not
bound by district or circuit court decisions (Yee v. City of Escondido (1990) 224
Cal.App.3d 1349, 1351).
17.
prosecutor represented that witnesses had been subpoenaed for trial a total of three times,
which would make October 2017 the fourth.
More importantly, in the years appellant’s case was pending, appellant had ample
opportunity to raise his request to represent himself. As early as the January 2016
Marsden hearing, just two weeks after Moore was appointed to appellant’s case, the court
directly asked appellant if he wanted to represent himself, to which appellant responded
in the negative. Yet, the reasons appellant stated for wishing to represent himself in
October 2017—to pursue motions and writ relief related to his preliminary hearing and
denied suppression motion—existed at the time of the January 2016 Marsden hearing and
were subsequently raised several times throughout the duration of the case through the
many other Marsden motions appellant made. The record thoroughly demonstrates
appellant was well aware, for a period of years, Moore had considered the options
appellant wished to pursue and had no intention of complying with appellant’s wishes as
he felt further litigation on them would have been frivolous. Appellant even concedes in
his opening brief that he “primarily raised the exact same complaints” (italics added) in
each of his Marsden motions. Despite this concession and the well-developed record on
his wishes to pursue remedies in connection with his preliminary hearing, however, he
does not, on appeal nor below, explain why he could not have requested self-
representation earlier. Appellant’s waiting to raise this request until the trial was ready to
proceed to jury selection for the second time, was not timely under the circumstances.
In considering the totality of the circumstances, we conclude the motion was not
brought within a reasonable time before trial.
B. Abuse of Discretion
Having concluded appellant’s Faretta motion was untimely, we now turn to
whether the trial court’s denial was an abuse of discretion.
In assessing an untimely Faretta motion, the court must consider “the quality of
counsel’s representation of the defendant, the defendant’s prior proclivity to substitute
18.
counsel, the reasons for the request, the length and stage of the proceedings, and the
disruption or delay which might reasonably be expected to follow the granting of such a
motion.” (Windham, supra, 19 Cal.3d at p. 128.)
The trial court here did not abuse its discretion by denying appellant’s Faretta
motion. Appellant required additional time to pursue remedies for perceived errors
relating to his preliminary hearing and denied suppression motion and to investigate
witnesses he admitted were unknown. Appellant’s dissatisfaction with Moore for not
adequately addressing these issues were, as we have stated, well documented, so the
record amply demonstrates Moore had considered the remedies appellant wished to
pursue and believed them to be frivolous, had investigated all witnesses identified by
appellant, and had investigated other potential witnesses who may have had exculpatory
information. Moore was prepared to go to trial and had considered all issues raised by
appellant, whereas appellant required additional time to do either what Moore had
already done or deemed unnecessary.
The court did not err by denying appellant’s Faretta motion.
III. The Court’s Denial of Appellant’s October 24, 2017 Motion for New Counsel
(Marsden Motion)
Appellant contends the trial court erred by denying appellant’s October 24, 2017
Marsden motion. We disagree.
In considering whether to grant or deny a defendant’s motion to obtain new
counsel on the basis that his appointed counsel is providing inadequate representation,
commonly referred to as a Marsden motion, the trial court “must permit the defendant to
explain the basis of his contention and to relate specific instances of inadequate
performance.” (People v. Smith (2003) 30 Cal.4th 581, 604 (Smith).) “A defendant is
entitled to relief if the record clearly shows that the appointed counsel is not providing
adequate representation or that defendant and counsel have become embroiled in such an
irreconcilable conflict that ineffective representation is likely to result.” (Ibid.) A trial
19.
court’s inquiry is sufficient to develop a record for review when the court gives the
defendant “full opportunity to air all of his complaints, and counsel to respond to them.”
(Id. at p. 606.)
We review a court’s denial for abuse of discretion. Denial is not an abuse of
discretion “unless the defendant has shown that a failure to replace counsel would
substantially impair the defendant’s right to assistance of counsel.” (Smith, supra,
30 Cal.4th at p. 604.) The reviewing court must consider: “ ‘ “(1) [the] timeliness of the
motion; (2) adequacy of the court’s inquiry into the defendant’s complaint; and
(3) whether the conflict between the defendant and his attorney was so great that it
resulted in a total lack of communication preventing an adequate defense.” ’ ” (Id. at
p. 606.) To the extent there are credibility questions between defendant and counsel at a
Marsden hearing, a trial court is entitled to accept counsel’s explanation. (People v.
Jones (2003) 29 Cal.4th 1229, 1245.)
First, appellant contends the court erred by failing to inquire as to whether Moore
had consulted with an expert witness to impeach Benitez’s testimony that she could not
have received carpal tunnel from being kicked. We conclude the trial court’s inquiry was
adequate regarding appellant’s claims with regard to Benitez. The court demonstrated a
clear understanding of the factual issue and asked Moore to respond to appellant’s claim
an expert witness was needed. Moore clearly expressed he did not feel there was a need
for an expert to impeach Benitez. There was discussion indicating carpal tunnel was
documented in Benitez’s medical records in Moore’s possession, which could be used for
the same impeaching effect. This was adequate and no specific inquiry as to whether
Moore actually consulted with an expert was necessary; the court gave appellant an
opportunity to raise his concerns about the need for an expert witness. After hearing
appellant’s concerns and having a discussion with Moore, the court reasonably satisfied
itself based on the representations of appellant and Moore as well as its own
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understanding of the issues that Moore’s decision not to retain an expert did not
constitute inadequate representation.6
Next, appellant contends the court erred by failing to inquire into the nature of the
attorney-client relationship with Moore regarding his attempts to communicate with
appellant over the months leading up to trial and the content of those discussions, if any.
Appellant represented to the court he had not spoken to Moore “in several months now”
and had expected him to consult with an expert in that period of time. Though the court
did not specifically address this claim with Moore, we conclude inquiry into the details of
Moore’s alleged lack of communication with appellant was not necessary in light of the
detailed inquiry the court made into Moore’s preparedness of the issues appellant raised.
6 We note that though the court did not specifically ask Moore whether he had
consulted an expert, there is evidence on the record that he had in fact previously done so.
During the January 31, 2017 Marsden hearing, Moore stated he had subpoenaed a
worker’s compensation doctor who could state Benitez’s injury came from carpal tunnel,
“not necessarily from [appellant].” It appears Moore eventually determined the doctor
was not needed as a witness based on the reasons discussed at the October 24, 2017
Marsden hearing.
We also note the issue of carpal tunnel did not come up during Benitez’s trial
testimony, and though appellant contends the issue was “critical to his defense on count
2,” appellant does not raise any ineffective assistance of counsel claims with regard to
Moore’s cross-examination of Benitez on appeal or that we are aware of by writ petition.
We further note that though appellant had suggested to the trial court that during her
preliminary hearing testimony Benitez had claimed appellant caused carpal tunnel and
that an expert was needed to impeach that testimony, in reviewing the transcripts, it
appears Benitez did not make such a statement. Thus, the impeachment value of
evidence that tended to show appellant could not have caused carpal tunnel was low. In
any event, the exact nature of Benitez’s injuries were more relevant to charges alleging
great bodily injury and battery, charges to which appellant was initially held to answer
but were later dropped from the case. In fact, during the February 15, 2017 Marsden
hearing, appellant characterized her statement that way, stating Benitez “claims there was
great bodily injury because I kicked her wrist,” to which the court responded, “Well,
that’s not alleged at this point so that’s not an issue.” In response, appellant went on to
explain he felt Benitez’s claim was “in part due to a conspiracy. All four of these officers
conspired to, you know, just—I mean, it’s a general environment of, you know, making
sure that they back each other.”
21.
When a court has satisfied itself that counsel is adequately prepared, it may deny a
Marsden motion even if he or she had not communicated fully with his or her client.
(People v. Wharton (1991) 53 Cal.3d 522, 580‒581.) Here, appellant’s main issue was
whether Moore could adequately impeach Benitez’s testimony. As we have explained,
the court inquired thoroughly into this topic and Moore indicated he understood the issue
and was prepared to deal with it. The court was reasonable in finding Moore was
prepared to cross-examine Benitez despite the alleged lack of contact.
Finally, appellant contends he had met his burden of showing there had been a
total breakdown of the relationship between himself and Moore. We are not convinced.
Moore contended he was ready to proceed to trial and made no claim he was unable to
represent appellant. While appellant and Moore disagreed about the need for an expert to
impeach Benitez, the trial court was well within its discretion in determining this was not
grounds to grant appellant’s Marsden motion. A defendant does not have the right to
present a defense of his own choosing, but merely the right to an adequate and competent
defense. (See People v. Hamilton (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1142, 1162.) “Tactical
disagreements between the defendant and his attorney do not by themselves constitute an
‘irreconcilable conflict.’ ‘When a defendant chooses to be represented by professional
counsel, that counsel is “captain of the ship” and can make all but a few fundamental
decisions for the defendant.’ ” (People v. Welch (1999) 20 Cal.4th 701, 728–729.)
Further, appellant’s claim he would no longer communicate with Moore is not
enough to satisfy his burden at a Marsden hearing. A Marsden motion may be denied if
the defendant has willfully refused to cooperate with appointed counsel, thereby possibly
hampering his own defense. (People v. Roldan (2005) 35 Cal.4th 646, 682, disapproved
on other grounds by People v. Doolin (2009) 45 Cal.4th 390, 421, fn. 22; see People v.
Johnson (2018) 6 Cal.5th 541, 574 [a defendant may not force the substitution of counsel
by manufacturing a conflict or a breakdown in the relationship through his own conduct];
see Smith, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 606 [“A defendant may not effectively veto an
22.
appointment of counsel by claiming a lack of trust in, or inability to get along with, the
appointed attorney.”].)
Appellant failed to make a showing that Moore was truly providing inadequate
representation or there had been a total breakdown in the relationship that appellant did
not cause. The court allowed appellant to express each issue fully, addressed each of
appellant’s issues, and satisfied itself that Moore was prepared to address all appellant’s
concerns at trial.
We find no abuse of discretion.
IV. The Court’s Comments to the Jury Pool Explaining the Criminal Process
During jury selection, one of the prospective jurors made the following comment:
“I understand [the court] said over and over again, just that I know that obviously
[appellant’s] come to trial, so the D.A. feels like there’s evidence to—to bring charges.”
In response to this comment, the court stated:
“You raise [a] point about—while the district attorney has brought
these charges and we’re here at trial and, you know, the implication is or
the inference is that, well, obviously, there’s something there, but let’s talk
about that. This case and all cases go through a number of processes before
they reach [this department] for trial, okay. There are a number of steps
and there are a number of standards of review that things go through to
advance along in the process.
“When an officer makes an arrest on the streets, and I’m not—I’m
going to make it specifically not particular to this case. When an officer
makes an arrest out on the street, it’s based on a standard of probable cause.
Is there reason to believe that a crime has been committed in my presence
or in somebody’s presence who is reporting it directly to me, okay? If
there’s reasonable suspicion for that, probable cause, then the officer has
the right and the authority to make an arrest. Thereafter, further into the
process the district attorney will make a determination as to whether there
is a basis for filing charges and bringing the matter to court at all, and then
there is a step of a—what is usually called a preliminary hearing in which
there is a further probable cause determination as to whether there is
sufficient evidence to allow the case to go to trial, okay. Never in that
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process is the case examined at this level of proof beyond a reasonable
doubt. That’s what the trial is all about.
“Now, there can be smoke above a fire and you can see the smoke
and assume there’s a fire, but you have no idea how the fire got started,
where it actually is and what is fueling it, okay. So there are all kinds of
questions that you have to answer in order to get to the ultimate conclusion
of whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. We wouldn’t be here
for no reason, but we have never examined this case at the standard of proof
beyond a reasonable doubt. So the way I’ve defined it is the best I can do.
There’s no numerical standard for what proof beyond a reasonable doubt is.
The other—the other standards of proof have a more—a more numerical
kind of value to them. Probable cause is more likely than not, okay, but
that’s certainly a lot different than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. So
when you look at what this job actually calls upon you to do, it’s to make
that ultimate call.
“Remember when you guys first came in here yesterday, I said you
guys make the most important decisions in this courthouse, and that’s it,
that’s—that’s the ultimate call that gets made in this courthouse. Is there
proof beyond a reasonable doubt that somebody is guilty? So that’s the job
that we’re asking you to do.”
Appellant contends the court’s comments had the effect of “unnecessarily
compromis[ing] the presumption of innocen[c]e and lighten[ing] the burden of proof on
the prosecution.” Appellant contends the court inappropriately apprised the jury pool
that: (1) law enforcement must make a determination “of probable cause” before
arresting a suspect; (2) the district attorney must make a “determination as to whether
there is a basis for filing charges and bringing the matter to court at all”; and (3) at a
preliminary hearing, there must be a “further probable cause determination as to whether
there is sufficient evidence to allow the case to go to trial.”
To the extent we find any of appellant’s claims have been forfeited, appellant
contends his counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object below. Without
deciding whether appellant forfeited any of his claims, we review them on their merits
because such is relevant to his ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
We conclude the court’s comments did not constitute error.
24.
People v. Mitcham (1992) 1 Cal.4th 1027, a California Supreme Court case relied
on by respondent, is on point. In Mitcham, during cross-examination of a witness on her
preliminary hearing testimony, the trial court, on its own initiative, explained to the jury
what a preliminary examination was, including that “ ‘a judge in the Municipal Court
must make the determination if there’s sufficient evidence to hold a person to answer for
trial. [¶] Now, the standard of proof is not beyond a reasonable doubt, it has to be a
reasonable suspicion. [¶] How does a Municipal Court judge determine that? He
determines that by testimony.’ ” (Id. at p. 1052, italics omitted.) The appellant in
Mitcham contended the trial court’s comments constituted prejudicial error because the
trial court improperly referred to the appellant’s guilt and in essence that at least one
judge previously had concluded, after hearing evidence, that the appellant was guilty.
(Id. at p. 1053.) The Mitcham court rejected the appellant’s argument and concluded the
trial court did not indicate to the jury that another judge or anyone else had determined
the appellant was guilty. The Mitcham court explained “rather than create a prejudicial
misconception of the preliminary hearing process, the comments tended to eliminate any
misconception.” (Ibid.) The court found no error “[b]ecause the court’s comments were
accurate and nonargumentative.” (Ibid.)
We find the comments here are analogous to the comments made in Mitcham. At
the outset, the context of the court’s comments tended to, like the comments in Mitcham,
eliminate misconception about what, if any, factual determinations had been made about
appellant’s case before trial. The comments were made in response to the juror’s
incorrect suggestion that appellant’s mere presence in trial negated the presumption of
innocence and were clearly intended to neutralize the juror’s statement and disabuse the
jurors of such a misconception. Second, the comments themselves, like those in
Mitcham, were accurate. By noting the case had never been scrutinized by a standard of
beyond a reasonable doubt, the court reinforced, rather than undermined, the prosecutor’s
burden of proof. Further, and also like in Mitcham, the comments were
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nonargumentative. The court never suggested the previous determinations tended toward
appellant’s guilt, but just the opposite, that the jury was scrutinizing the evidence at a
standard that no other party ever had. This reinforced the presumption of innocence.
Finally, the court’s comments were general and did not align with the facts of appellant’s
case; the court even expressly stated its comments were not specific to appellant’s case.
None of the cases appellant cites persuade us that Mitcham is substantially
distinguishable and that it does not control in the circumstances of the present case. In
People v. Wayne (1953) 41 Cal.2d 814, 829, during closing argument, the prosecutor told
the jury to “ ‘keep in mind’ ” that the grand jury had heard the evidence and “ ‘the
indictment was returned by a responsible group of citizens who believed the evidence
showed that [the defendant] had committed the crimes charged.’ ” (Id. at pp. 828‒829.)
The California Supreme Court held the prosecutor’s comment “as to what the grand jury
believed was improper [citations] and in any reasonably close case could well require
reversal of the judgment.” (Id. at p. 829.)
In People v. Modesto (1967) 66 Cal.2d 695, the California Supreme Court found
error where the prosecutor repeatedly impressed upon the jury he was personally
convinced of the defendant’s guilt and that he had persuaded two previous juries and two
other trial judges that the appellant “deserved to die.” (Id. at p. 714.) The court held:
“Whatever the guilt of the defendant, he is surely entitled to a trial uninfected by hearsay
references to conclusions which others have reached on the basis of unspecified evidence,
much of which has subsequently been ruled improper, and none of which defendant could
effectively challenge in the present trial.” (Id. at pp. 715‒716, fns. omitted.)
Both Wayne and Modesto are distinguishable because, unlike in Mitcham, the
prosecutor’s comments were argumentative and were meant to persuade the jury to come
to the same conclusion as others had. In contrast, the trial court’s comments in the
present case were meant to have the opposite effect, to explain the jury’s task was to
evaluate a case at a higher standard of proof than it had been previously.
26.
Appellant also relies on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case, Mach v. Stewart
(9th Cir. 1998) 137 F.3d 630. In Mach, a case of sexual conduct with a minor under age
14, during voir dire, a juror had stated she worked with children as a social worker for at
least three years and made four separate statements she had never been involved in a case
in which a child accused an adult of sexual abuse that had not been proven and another
statement she had never known a child to lie about sexual abuse. (Id. at pp. 632‒633.)
The appellate court held such statements created a bias which violated the appellant’s
right to an impartial jury and necessitated reversal. (Id. at p. 633.) Appellant contends
the trial court’s comments here amounted to “ ‘expert-like’ opinions and conclusions”
akin to the comments in Mach. We disagree with appellant’s characterization. The
court’s comments were much more akin to those in Mitcham—an accurate summary of
the criminal process intended to demonstrate the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of
proof—and were a far cry from the inflammatory, prejudicial, and relatively fact-specific
comments in Mach.
Because we find no error, we reject appellant’s argument that his counsel was
ineffective in failing to object to it. (See People v. Anderson (2001) 25 Cal.4th 543, 587
[“Counsel is not required to proffer futile objections.”]; People v. Price (1991) 1 Cal.4th
324, 387 [“Counsel does not render ineffective assistance by failing to make motions or
objections that counsel reasonably determines would be futile.”].)
V. The Court’s Failure to Instruct on Simple Assault as a Lesser Included
Offense to Resisting an Executive Officer
Appellant contends the court erred by failing to instruct the jury sua sponte on
simple assault (§ 240) as a lesser included offense of count 2. Count 2 alleged appellant
violated section 69, resisting an executive officer, by “unlawfully attempt[ing] by means
of threats or violence to deter or prevent Luz Maria Benitez, Carlos Pizarro and Jose
Gonzalez, who was then and there an executive officer, from performing a duty imposed
27.
upon such officer by law, and did knowingly resist by the use of force or violence said
executive officer in the performance of his/her duty.”
The parties agree simple assault was a necessarily included offense of resisting an
executive officer in the present case under the accusatory pleading test. Respondent does
not address whether the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on simple assault
but contends any error by failing to instruct on simple assault was harmless. We agree
with respondent that any error was harmless.
As the California Supreme Court explained in People v. Breverman (1998) 19
Cal.4th 142 (Breverman), “an erroneous failure to instruct on a lesser included offense is
[not] necessarily prejudicial, on the premise that if the evidence was substantial enough
to warrant lesser offense instructions in the first place[;] [the evidence] must have been
strong enough to affect the outcome had the instructions not been omitted.” (Id. at
p. 177.) The standard used to determine whether the evidence supports the instruction be
given and the standard used to determine whether the error affected the outcome of the
trial meriting reversal are “distinct.” (Ibid.)
A trial court’s erroneous failure to instruct on a lesser included offense in a
noncapital case is state law error to be reviewed under the standard articulated in People
v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836. (People v. Beltran (2013) 56 Cal.4th 935, 955;
Breverman, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 177‒178.) Under Watson, “ ‘a defendant must show
it is reasonably probable a more favorable result would have been obtained absent the
error.’ ” (People v. Beltran, at p. 955.) The test “ ‘focuses not on what a reasonable jury
could do, but what such a jury is likely to have done in the absence of the error under
consideration. In making that evaluation, an appellate court may consider, among other
things, whether the evidence supporting the existing judgment is so relatively strong, and
the evidence supporting a different outcome is so comparatively weak, that there is no
reasonable probability the error of which the defendant complains affected the result.’ ”
(Id. at p. 956, quoting Breverman, at p. 177.)
28.
As relevant here, a defendant can reasonably be found not guilty of section 69 but
guilty of the lesser crime of simple assault when the defendant uses force or violence to
resist arrest in response to an officers’ unreasonable force. (People v. Brown (2016)
245 Cal.App.4th 140, 154.) In such a case, an executive officer would not be lawfully
executing his or her duty, negating that element of the crime. (See CALCRIM
No. 2652.)
Appellant contends the failure to instruct on simple assault was prejudicial
because the jury could have concluded from the record both the officers and appellant
used unreasonable force and therefore that the lesser offense of simple assault, but not the
greater offense of resisting an executive officer, was committed. Appellant contends the
jury could have determined the officers used unreasonable force by bringing him down to
the ground because of the evidence that appellant sustained a laceration to his forehead.
We disagree.
There is no reasonable probability the failure to give the simple assault instruction
would have affected the jury’s verdict on count 2. Though appellant sustained a
laceration to his forehead during the incident, the evidence the officers did not use
unreasonable force was strong. According to Pizarro, appellant was “assisted . . . to the
floor” because he was ignoring verbal commands and physically fighting Gonzalez to
regain possession of the memory card. The officers pushed forward on appellant’s upper
body to contain him to the floor, which was a technique they were trained to use. When
cross-examined, Gonzalez did not recall kicking or sweeping appellant’s feet to get him
on the floor. Gonzalez testified the technique used was approved by the police
department and the Coalinga State Hospital, and Pizarro testified it was “appropriately
appl[ied].” The officers were armed with pepper spray and a baton, but did not use them,
and there was no evidence the officers kicked or beat appellant.
While Gonzalez testified appellant fell on his head and the impact caused
appellant to bleed, there was no evidence of an injury disproportionate to the
29.
circumstances of the technique used by the officers to raise an inference the officers used
unreasonable force. The injury was described as a “small laceration above his eyebrow.”
Appellant was immediately evaluated by a nurse, who cleared him to be questioned by
Gonzalez, and though he was later taken to an urgent care room for further treatment of
the injury, appellant did not need to be taken to the emergency room. Appellant did not
present affirmative evidence that the officers used unreasonable force.
Because the evidence the officers used unreasonable force was relatively weak and
the evidence they were acting in lawful performance of their duty as executive officers
was strong, we conclude there is no reasonable likelihood that giving the instruction on
simple assault would have affected the jury’s verdict. Any error was harmless.
VI. The Prosecutor’s Comments to the Jury in Closing Argument That They
Should Consider Whether the Witnesses’ Testimony Was “Reasonable”
In the prosecutor’s closing argument, he reiterated the factors on witness
credibility outlined in CALCRIM No. 226. At the end of this discussion, he stated:
“Finally, how reasonable is the testimony when you consider all the
other evidence in the case? Is their testimony reasonable? Does it seem
reasonable to you or does it seem unreasonable? No, this—this couldn’t
have happened. You take that into account when you make your
deliberations.”
Appellant contends the prosecutor committed misconduct by making these comments
because they constituted “urg[ing] the jury to accept the testimony of the prosecution
witnesses if the testimony appeared ‘reasonable.’ ”
Appellant’s argument fails at the outset and requires little discussion because he
mischaracterizes the record. The prosecutor did not in any way suggest to the jury that if
a witness’s testimony is reasonable, it should be accepted, as appellant contends. Rather,
the prosecutor’s comments on their face were a direct reiteration of the portion of
CALCRIM No. 226, which reads: “How reasonable is the testimony when you consider
all the other evidence in the case?” The prosecutor did not improperly tell the jury what
30.
to do with the reasonableness of witnesses’ testimony other than simply to consider it,
which was permissible, as they were instructed to do so by the trial court in CALCRIM
No. 226. Appellant does not assert CALCRIM No. 226 misstates the law. We find no
error.
Appellant asserts Moore rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to
object to the prosecutor’s comments. Because the prosecutor committed no error, we
find no ineffective assistance of counsel. (See People v. Anderson, supra, 25 Cal.4th at
p. 587.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
DE SANTOS, J.
WE CONCUR:
MEEHAN, ACTING P. J.
SNAUFFER, J.
31.