People v. Loera CA4/2 ( 2014 )

Filed 1/7/14 P. v. Loera CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E057131
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1200290)
ALEX SALVADOR LOERA, JR., OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Eric G. Helgesen, Judge
(Retired judge of the Tulare Mun. Ct. assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to art. VI,
§ 6 of the Cal. Const.) Affirmed in part; reversed in part with directions.
Barbara A. Smith, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Christopher Beesley and
Randall D. Einhorn, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
1
Jim Patton was working under the hood of Jose Meza’s car when defendant Alex
Salvador Loera, Jr. approached him and asked Patton if he thought he was a “bad ass.”
Defendant held a knife to Patton’s throat and threatened to cut him “ear to ear.” Still
holding the knife in his hand, defendant approached Meza, who was sitting inside the car,
and asked Meza if he thought he was also a bad ass. Defendant then demanded that Meza
give him a blue bandanna that was in the backseat (presumably because the color was
representative of his gang, the Corona Varrio Locos (CVL)).
Defendant was convicted by a Riverside County jury of two counts of assault with
a deadly weapon (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(1); counts 1 & 2) 1; robbery (§ 211; count
3); and active gang participation (§ 186.22, subd. (a); count 4). The jury also found that
defendant had served two prior prison terms within the meaning of section 667.5,
subdivision (b). Defendant was sentenced to a total state prison sentence of nine years.
Defendant now contends on appeal as follows:
1. Insufficient evidence was presented to support his conviction of assault on
Meza with a deadly weapon.
2. Insufficient evidence was presented to support the active gang participation
conviction under section 186.22, subdivision (a) because he was alone at the time he
committed his crimes.
3. His conviction of assault with a deadly weapon against Meza should have
been stayed pursuant to section 654.
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise
indicated.
2
4. He was erroneously sentenced to the upper term on the robbery conviction
and received ineffective assistance of counsel due to his counsel’s failure to object to the
imposition of the upper term.
We agree that defendant’s conviction of active gang participation pursuant to
section 186.22, subdivision (a) must be reversed. We affirm the judgment in all other
respects.
I
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In the afternoon of December 26, 2011, 55-year-old Joe Patton was working on
Jose Meza’s car near the 91 Freeway in Corona. Patton provided mechanic services. He
did not have a shop but generally worked in Corona. On that day, he had the hood up on
Meza’s car and was working on the engine. Meza was sitting in the driver’s seat of the
car.
As Patton was working on Meza’s car, defendant approached him, and
immediately said “You think you’re a bad ass, don’t you?” Patton had seen defendant in
the area on prior occasions and defendant had tried to intimidate him. Patton told
defendant he was just working on the car. Defendant made a few more remarks to
Patton. Suddenly, defendant grabbed Patton’s head and held a “pretty good size” knife to
his throat. Defendant told Patton, “I’m going to cut your fucking throat ear to ear and
watch you bleed.” Patton was scared and tried to talk to defendant about why he wanted
to hurt him. Defendant held the knife to Patton’s throat for about 30 seconds then walked
toward Meza.
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At this time, Meza was still in the driver’s seat. He saw defendant hold the knife
to Patton’s throat. Defendant then approached Meza. Defendant put his hand down to
his side. Although the knife was partially covered by defendant’s hand, Meza could see
the handle of the knife. He believed the knife was foldable and six-inches long.
Defendant walked to the driver’s side door and stood at the door.
Defendant asked Meza, “You think you’re a bad ass too?” Meza responded, “No,
I don’t. No.” At this time, defendant had his hand to his side and was holding the knife
in a fist he made around it with his right hand. The blade was open and visible. Meza
was scared.
Defendant looked into the car. A blue bandanna was in the backseat of the car.
Defendant demanded that Meza give him the bandanna. Meza gave the bandanna to
defendant to keep him from becoming more violent. Defendant fled.
Meza called 911. Meza reported that a Hispanic man had pulled a knife on him
and his friend. Meza was scared. The 911 dispatcher kept telling Meza that he had to
calm down. Meza told the dispatcher that the man put the knife in his shirt.
Defendant’s sister lived nearby where the incident occurred and the responding
Corona police officer observed defendant sitting outside the house. Defendant briefly
went inside to change his shirt but came back out. Meza identified defendant at a field
show-up. Inside the house, the officer found a blue bandana. A knife fitting the
description given by Meza and Patton was not found in the house.
Corona Police Detective David Vicondoa testified as a gang expert. Defendant
was an active member of the CVL criminal street gang. The primary activities of the
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gang included robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Defendant had admitted his
gang membership in 2003, 2011, and twice in 2012. The crimes committed by defendant
against Meza and Patton were signature crimes of the CVL. CVL identified with the
color blue. Blue bandannas were worn by CVL members to show their loyalty to the
gang.
II
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of
assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)) because he made no threats of violence
toward Meza and did not menace him with the knife.
“Our task is clear. ‘On appeal we review the whole record in the light most
favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence –– that
is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value –– from which a reasonable
trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citations.] The
standard of review is the same in cases in which the People rely mainly on circumstantial
evidence. [Citation.] “Although it is the duty of the jury to acquit a defendant if it finds
that circumstantial evidence is susceptible of two interpretations, one of which suggests
guilt and the other innocence [citations], it is the jury, not the appellate court which must
be convinced of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ‘“If the circumstances
reasonably justify the trier of fact’s findings, the opinion of the reviewing court that the
circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding does not
warrant a reversal of the judgment.”’ [Citations.]” [Citation.]’ [Citations.] The
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conviction shall stand ‘unless it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever is there
sufficient substantial evidence to support [the conviction].”’ [Citation.]” (People v.
Cravens (2012) 53 Cal. 4th 500, 507-508.)
Section 245, subdivision (a)(1) provides, in pertinent part that “[a]ny person who
commits an assault upon the person of another with a deadly weapon or instrument other
than a firearm . . . shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison . . . .”
Assault with a deadly weapon is a general intent crime. (People v. Rocha (1971) 3
Cal. 3d 893, 899.) “[A] defendant . . . must be aware of the facts that would lead a
reasonable person to realize that a battery would directly, naturally and probably result
from his conduct.” (People v. Williams (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 779, 788.) “[T]he question of
intent for assault is determined by the character of the defendant’s willful conduct
considered in conjunction with its direct and probable consequences. If one commits an
act that by its nature will likely result in physical force on another, the particular intention
of committing a battery is thereby subsumed. Since the law seeks to prevent such harm
irrespective of any actual purpose to cause it, a general criminal intent or willingness to
commit the act satisfies the mens rea requirement for assault.” (People v. Colantuono
(1994) 7 Cal. 4th 206, 217)
“As this court explained more than a century ago, ‘Holding up a fist in a menacing
manner, drawing a sword, or bayonet, presenting a gun at a person who is within its
range, have been held to constitute an assault. So, any other similar act, accompanied by
such circumstances as denote an intention existing at the time, coupled with a present
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ability of using actual violence against the person of another, will be considered an
assault.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Colantuono, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 219.)
In People v. Vorbach (1984) 151 Cal. App. 3d 425, the defendant disputed that the
elements of assault with a deadly weapon were proved by the evidence because his mere
display of a knife without an accompanying attempt to commit a battery, such as a lunge,
was insufficient as a matter of law. (Id. at pp. 429-430.) The appellate court rejected the
claim, finding that the victim’s testimony that the defendant “held the knife in a
threatening manner and demanded money is sufficient to satisfy the requisite intent to use
the knife. [Citations.]” (Id. at p. 429.)
Here, the evidence established that defendant committed assault with a deadly
weapon against Meza. Defendant approached Patton and asked him if he thought he was
a “bad ass.” Defendant held the knife to Patton’s throat and threatened to cut him ear to
ear. Meza witnessed this assault. Defendant then walked toward Meza with the knife in
his hand at his side. The knife was described as a folding knife, but defendant kept the
blade extended. Defendant, with the knife in his hand, while standing near the driver’s
side door of the car in which Meza was seated, asked if he thought he was a “bad ass”
too. This threat, along with the fact that defendant continued to hold the knife in his hand
and could easily lift his arm to stab Meza, supported the assault with a deadly weapon
charge.
Based on the foregoing, substantial evidence supported defendant’s conviction of
assault with a deadly weapon against Meza.
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III
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A GANG
(§ 186.22, SUBDIVISION (a))
Defendant argues that the evidence presented was insufficient to support his
conviction for active participation in a street gang pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision
(a) based on the recent California Supreme Court case of People v. Rodriguez (2012) 55
Cal. 4th 1125 (Rodriguez). Respondent concedes in its brief that the conviction must be
reversed.
“The substantive offense defined in section 186.22[, subdivision] (a) has three
elements. Active participation in a criminal street gang, in the sense of participation that
is more than nominal or passive, is the first element of the substantive offense defined in
section 186.22[, subdivision] (a). The second element is ‘knowledge that [the gang’s]
members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity,’ and the third
element is that the person ‘willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious
criminal conduct by members of that gang.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Lamas (2007) 42
Cal. 4th 516, 523.)
The California Supreme Court has held that the third element of the offense is not
satisfied when a gang member commits a felony while acting alone. The word
“members,” as the Supreme Court explained, “is a plural noun.” (Rodriguez, supra, 55
Cal.4th at p. 1132.) “Therefore, to satisfy the third element, a defendant must willfully
advance, encourage, contribute to, or help members of his gang commit felonious
criminal conduct. The plain meaning of section 186.22[, subdivision] (a) requires that
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felonious criminal conduct be committed by at least two gang members, one of whom
can include the defendant if he is a gang member.” (Ibid.) The felonious criminal
conduct referred to in the statute must be committed “‘by members of that gang.’” (Id. at
p. 1131.)
Here, there was no evidence presented that a fellow CVL member was with
defendant when he put a knife to Patton’s throat. Nor was there any other gang member
with defendant when he threatened Meza with the knife and took the bandanna from him.
As such, we agree that defendant’s section 186.22, subdivision (a) conviction must be
reversed. Since the trial court stayed the sentence on this count, there is no impact on the
resulting sentence in this case.
IV
SECTION 654
Defendant contends that his sentence for the conviction of assault with a deadly
weapon against Meza should have been stayed pursuant to section 654 because he was
sentenced to the upper term of five years on the robbery of Meza.
At the time of sentencing, defendant’s counsel argued that the robbery count
against Meza should be the principal count. However, he argued, “I believe that Count 1,
which is the 245 violation to the same victim in Count 3 - - my assessment is that Count 1
and Count 3 are 654.” The trial court responded, “In terms of Count 1 and 3 being 654,
however, it’s clear - - and the jury had no issue with this. Those are distinct and separate
crimes. The defendant’s thought process was different in both of those crimes. They
were not committed at the same time. They were two separate distinct events that
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happened.” In addition, the trial court stated, “My recollection of the evidence was - - is
that he made the assault initially using the knife, then noticed the bandanna and decided
again to steal it. And he still has the knife then at that point. So it was taken by force and
fear. But there was force and fear used before he ever had the intent to commit a robbery,
before he even knew there was something that he wanted. And on that basis I find that
they’re not 654.” Defendant was sentenced to five years on the robbery of Meza and a
consecutive sentence of one year for the assault with a deadly weapon on Meza.
Section 654, subdivision (a) states: “An act or omission that is punishable in
different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the provision that
provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or
omission be punished under more than one provision.” Section 654 applies not only to
the same criminal act, but also to an indivisible course of conduct committed pursuant to
the same criminal intent or objective. (People v. Latimer (1993) 5 Cal. 4th 1203, 1207-
1209.)
“‘“Whether a course of criminal conduct is divisible and therefore gives rise to
more than one act within the meaning of section 654 depends on the intent and objective
of the actor. If all of the offenses were incident to one objective, the defendant may be
punished for any one of such offenses but not for more than one.”’ [Citation.]” (People
v. Green (1996) 50 Cal. App. 4th 1076, 1084.) A defendant’s intent and objective are
factual determinations for the trial court, and those determinations must be upheld if
supported by substantial evidence. (Id. at p. 1085.)
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Here, it is clear from the facts that the crimes involved separate intents and
objectives. Defendant approached Meza with the knife and asked if he was a “bad ass”
like Patton. This was immediately after Patton had been approached by defendant and
defendant had threatened to kill Patton by cutting his throat from ear to ear. Patton had
previous encounters with defendant and defendant tried to intimidate him. Defendant
approached Meza and Patton to intimidate them or harm them.
The evidence supports that the robbery was just an afterthought. Defendant
looked inside the car and scanned the car. He then demanded the blue bandanna from
Meza. Certainly, defendant could not have known the bandanna was in the car when he
first approached Patton and Meza. Even defendant’s counsel argued that the robbery was
an afterthought in closing argument.2
Defendant’s intent in committing the assault with the deadly weapon was separate
from, rather than incidental to, his intent and objective in committing the robbery.
Imposing a separate, consecutive sentence for the assault with a deadly weapon offense
was thus proper under section 654 and did not constitute dual punishment. The trial court
properly imposed separate punishments on counts 1 and 3.
2 Defendant’s counsel argued the robbery was an afterthought and was not
committed through the use of force or fear. Defendant does not contest the sufficiency of
the evidence on the robbery on appeal. It was clear defendant used force or fear to take
the bandanna.
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V
UPPER TERM
Defendant contends that the trial court erroneously imposed the upper term
sentence on his robbery conviction and he received ineffective assistance of counsel due
to his counsel’s failure to object to the imposition of the upper term on the robbery.
“Establishing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel requires the defendant to
demonstrate (1) counsel’s performance was deficient in that it fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2) counsel’s
deficient representation prejudiced the defendant, i.e., there is a ‘reasonable probability’
that, but for counsel's failings, defendant would have obtained a more favorable result.
[Citations.] A ‘reasonable probability’ is one that is enough to undermine confidence in
the outcome. [Citations.] [¶] Our review is deferential; we make every effort to avoid
the distorting effects of hindsight and to evaluate counsel’s conduct from counsel’s
perspective at the time. [Citation.] A court must indulge a strong presumption that
counsel’s acts were within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.
[Citation.] . . . .Nevertheless, deference is not abdication; it cannot shield counsel’s
performance from meaningful scrutiny or automatically validate challenged acts and
omissions. [Citation.]” (People v. Dennis (1998) 17 Cal. 4th 468, 540-541.)
At the time of sentencing, defendant’s counsel asked the trial court to impose “a
midterm of three years on count 3,” which was the robbery charge. Hence, the premise
upon which defendant claims ineffective assistance is flawed as counsel did advise the
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trial court that the midterm was the appropriate sentence on count 3. There was no
failure to object.
Defendant contends that his counsel was ineffective for not stating objections to
the aggravated terms listed in the probation report and that his counsel made a “weak
sentencing presentation” when stronger arguments were available. At the time of
sentencing, the trial court noted that it had received the probation report. The trial court
also noted there had been an off-the-record discussion on the sentence. The record on
appeal does not shed light on the in-chambers discussion.
Defendant’s counsel may have had a tactical reason for not further explicating his
objection to the upper term sentence as he may have exhausted that argument in
chambers. Since we can conceive of this tactical reason for counsel’s actions, defendant
cannot prove counsel’s performance was deficient.
Based on the foregoing, it appears that counsel did object to the upper term
sentence. The trial court was on notice that defendant believed the upper term on count 3
was not appropriate. As such, we need not address the issue of prejudice due to
ineffective assistance of counsel because it has not been established, but rather, we
address whether the trial court abused its discretion by imposing the upper term on the
robbery.
The trial court stated in sentencing, “I have reviewed the probation report in terms
of the factors in aggravation and concur that there were none found in mitigation.” The
probation report listed the following aggravating factors: (1) the crime involved great
violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high
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degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421(a)(1)); (2)
the manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, or
professionalism (id., rule 4.421(a)(8)); (3) the defendant had engaged in violent conduct
that indicates a serious danger to society (id., rule 4.421(b)(1)); (4) the defendant’s prior
convictions as an adult or as a juvenile are numerous or of increasing seriousness (id.,
rule 4.421(b)(2)); (5) the defendant had served a prior prison term (noting it was used as
an enhancement) (id., rule 4.421(b)(3)); (6) the defendant was on probation or parole
when the crime was committed (id., rule 4.421(b)(4)); and (7) the defendant’s prior
performance on probation or parole was unsatisfactory (id., rule 4.421(b)(5)).
“‘Sentencing courts have wide discretion in weighing aggravating and mitigating
factors . . . .’” (People v. Avalos (1996) 47 Cal. App. 4th 1569, 1582.) “[A] trial court is
free to base an upper term sentence upon any aggravating circumstance that the court
deems significant, subject to specific prohibitions. [Citations.] The [trial] court’s
discretion to identify aggravating circumstances is otherwise limited only by the
requirement that they be ‘reasonably related to the decision being made.’ [Citation.]”
(People v. Sandoval (2007) 41 Cal. 4th 825, 848, fn. omitted.) “In making such
sentencing choices, the trial court need only ‘state [its] reasons’ [citation]; it is not
required to identify aggravating and mitigating factors, apply a preponderance of the
evidence standard, or specify the ‘ultimate facts’ that ‘justify[ ] the term selected.’
[Citations.] Rather, the court must ‘state in simple language the primary factor or factors
that support the exercise of discretion.’ [Citation.]” (Id. at pp. 850-851.) It is clear here
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that the trial court agreed with the probation department’s assessment of the aggravating
and mitigating factors.
Despite the numerous factors listed in the probation report, a single factor in
aggravation is sufficient to justify the upper term. (People v. Cruz (1995) 38 Cal. App. 4th
427, 433.) We review the trial court’s sentencing decision for an abuse of discretion.
(See People v. Superior Court (Alvarez) (1997) 14 Cal. 4th 968, 977-978.)
Here, defendant held a knife to Patton’s throat and threatened to cut him ear to ear.
He then approached Meza, threatening him with the knife. Approaching these two men
in broad daylight and threatening them as he did showed his violent conduct was a danger
to society (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421(b)(1)). In addition, he had an extensive prior
criminal history and performed poorly on his prior probation and parole. (Id., rule 4.421
(b)(2) & (b)(5)). These factors alone justified the upper term.
There were ample aggravating factors and no mitigating factors to support the
upper term on count 3. The trial court did not abuse its discretion.
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VI
DISPOSITION
We strike defendant’s conviction of active gang participation pursuant to section
186.22, subdivision (a) in count 4. We order the clerk of the Riverside County Superior
Court to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and forward it to the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
RICHLI
J.
We concur:
MCKINSTER
Acting P. J.
MILLER
J.
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