People v. Williamson CA4/2 ( 2014 )

Filed 1/17/14 P. v. Williamson 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E055227
v. (Super.Ct.No. SWF10000631)
DANIEL NATHAN WILLIAMSON, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Alfred J. Wojcik, Judge.
Affirmed with directions.
Mary Woodward Wells, 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, Assistant Attorney General, Melissa Mandel, and Laura A.
Glennon, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
1
I
INTRODUCTION
Defendant Daniel Nathan Williamson appeals from judgment entered following
jury convictions for aggravated sexual assault (forcible oral copulation) of a minor under
the age of 14 (count 3; Pen. Code, § 269, subd. (a)(4))1; lewd and lascivious conduct on a
child under age 14 (counts 5-9 and 11-13; § 288, subd. (a)); continuous sexual abuse of a
child (count 10; § 288.5); and battery (§ 242; count 18). The court also found true the
allegation as to counts 3 and 5 through 13, that the crimes were committed against
multiple victims (§ 667.61, subd. (e)(5)). The trial court sentenced defendant to 135
years to life in prison.
Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his
post-arrest statement to the police, and there was insufficient evidence to support his
conviction for count 3. Defendant also argues the trial court violated his constitutional
rights by admitting evidence of his prior sexual offenses, and the multiple victim
allegations should be reversed because the trial court directed the jury to reconsider its
initial not true findings.
We conclude that, as to count 3, there was insufficient evidence of force and
duress to support defendant’s conviction for violating section 269, subdivision (a)(4).
Therefore, the conviction on count 3 must be reduced to a conviction for the lesser
included offense of violating section 288a, subdivision (c)(1), and remanded for
1 Unless otherwise noted, all statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
resentencing. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment, there being no other
prejudicial or cumulative error requiring reversal.
II
FACTS
In 2006, defendant met Sarah W. They married in 2007, when Sarah was around
20 years old and defendant was 30. Sarah had three biological sisters, Does 1, 2, and 3,
and three stepsisters, Does 4, 5,2 and 6. Sarah’s six younger sisters lived with her father,
Ra.D., and stepmother, Ro.D. Ra.D. shared custody of Does, 1, 2, and 3 with his ex-wife,
K.D. From Christmas 2009, until Easter 2010, defendant sexually assaulted five of
Sarah’s sisters, four of whom were under the age of 14. At the time of trial in October
2011, Doe 1 was 14, Doe 2 was 10, Doe 3 was 12, Doe 4 was 15, and Doe 6 was 18.
In September 2009, Sarah and defendant moved with their infant son into an
apartment with a pool and spa. K.D. and Does 1, 2, and 3 visited Sarah and defendant at
their apartment. Sarah noticed defendant spent a lot of time with her sisters and got too
close to them. K.D. noticed that defendant spent more time with Doe 1 than the other
girls. In March 2010, K.D. found Doe 1 and defendant lying under a blanket on the
living room floor.
On Easter, April 4, 2010, Sarah and defendant visited K.D. and Ra.D. Defendant
sat next to Doe 4 in the TV room and touched her leg. When Doe 4 told him to stop,
defendant sat next to Doe 6. Doe 6 testified that, while she was playing a game on her
2 Because defendant was found not guilty of charges involving Doe 5, only
limited facts regarding her are included in this opinion.
3
laptop computer, defendant sat next to her, laid a blanket over her lap, and played with
her foot under the blanket. Then he rubbed her inner thigh, up to about two inches from
her “private area.” Doe 6 stopped playing her computer game and went upstairs because
defendant made her feel “[u]ncomfortable and creeped out.” Doe 4 also left the room.
After defendant and Sarah went home that day, Doe 4 and 6 told Ra.D. what defendant
had done to them. RaD. asked his other daughters whether defendant had done anything
to them. Each said he had. After calming down the girls, RaD. and K.D. called the
police and reported defendant’s conduct.
On April 6, 2010, Katie Heibert of Riverside Child Assessment Team (RCAT)
interviewed each of the six girls. Two days later, Doe 6 made a pretext call to defendant.
During the call, defendant apologized to Doe 6 for rubbing her leg on Easter. That same
day, the police arrested defendant, advised him of his Miranda3 rights, and transported
him to the police station. The police also searched defendant’s home. About an hour
after defendant’s arrest, police detectives interviewed defendant at the police station.
Defendant acknowledged he had recently been advised of his Miranda rights and agreed
to waive them and talk to the officers. During his recorded interview, defendant admitted
sexually abusing his wife’s sisters. After the interview, defendant wrote a letter to Doe 1,
apologizing for touching her.
3 Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 (Miranda).
4
A. Doe 1 (Counts 1 through 10)
According to Maria Hughes, the school psychologist who assessed Doe 1’s
cognitive abilities, Doe 1 had “mild mental retardation,” which qualified her for special
education. According to Hughes, this meant she had the least severe form of mental
retardation. Doe 1 was able to function in society and had been mainstreamed in some of
her classes. Doe 1 was identified as having a learning disability but not a developmental
disability. In some cognitive areas, Doe 1 showed mental development approaching that
of a normal child her age but in the majority of areas, she was less developed than a
normal child, particularly in the area of understanding requests made of her and the
ability to communicate her desires. Doe 1 qualified for special education services for
speech and language impairment but not for mental retardation or brain injury.
On Easter 2010, and before then, when Doe 1 was 11 or 12 years old, defendant
touched Doe 1 in inappropriate places (“wrong spots”) numerous times, including in the
genital area several times and on her breasts three or four times.
The following facts are from Doe 1’s recorded statement, taken on April 6, 2010,
and her trial testimony.
Counts 1 and 2
Defendant inserted his penis in Doe 1’s vagina while she was sitting on his lap in a
Jacuzzi at defendant’s apartment. He forced her to do it even though she did not want to.
Defendant lifted Doe 1’s body up and down. Doe 1 was scared of defendant because he
was bigger than her, she was a child, and defendant was an adult.
5
Counts 3 and 4 (Oral Copulation against Doe 1)
The same day as the Jacuzzi incident, while Doe 1 and defendant were in his
apartment playing on the computer in the bedroom, defendant licked Doe 1’s genital area.
Doe 1 was scared when he did it. She did not try to push him away or object. Doe 1
testified that defendant forced her. She testified this meant she did not want to do it. She
also testified defendant did not physically force her or threaten her. Other than when she
eventually reported the incident, Doe 1 did not tell anyone about the incident because she
was afraid of defendant and afraid to tell anyone.
Count 5
On Christmas 2009, Doe 1 and defendant played a video game upstairs, while the
rest of the family was downstairs. Defendant digitally penetrated Doe 1’s vagina with
one hand while playing the video game with his other hand. Defendant said to Doe 1,
“You feel so good.” Defendant told her not to tell anyone. Doe 1 did not tell anyone
until April 5, 2010, when she told her sisters, who told her parents. She did not tell
anyone before that because she was scared she would get in trouble.
Count 7
Defendant penetrated Doe 1’s vagina when she was at defendant’s apartment,
sitting next to him on the couch under a blanket, while watching a movie. Doe 1 did not
tell defendant to stop because she was scared.
Count 8
On another occasion at Doe 1’s mother’s house, defendant forced Doe 1 to sit on
his lap, on the couch. She did not want to do it. Defendant pulled her onto his lap and
6
covered himself and Doe 1 with his jacket. Defendant then inserted his finger into Doe
1’s vagina.
Counts 6 and 9
Doe 1 saw defendant’s penis twice. Both times she was at defendant’s apartment.
He made her hold it and squeeze it with her hand. Another time, defendant squeezed
white liquid out of his penis and rubbed the liquid on her lips.
B. Counts 11 through 18, involving Does 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
Because defendant is not challenging the sufficiency of evidence as to counts 11
through 18, the following is only a brief summary of evidence relating to the other
charges involving Does 2, 3, 4, and 5, and misdemeanor battery involving Doe 6.
Count 11 (Doe 2)
While Doe 2 was at defendant’s apartment, sitting on the living room couch in her
bathing suit, playing a computer game, defendant suddenly touched her leg with his hand.
Doe 2 told defendant, “Don’t touch me right there.”
Count 12 (Doe 3)
When Doe 3 was around 11 years old, defendant touched her “butt and [her]
private part.” Doe 3 was upstairs at Ra.D.’s home watching Doe 5 play video games.
Doe 3 was lying on her stomach on the floor and defendant was lying next to her. When
defendant touched her, Doe 3 told him to “stop it,” got up, and walked away.
Count 13 (Doe 4)
On Christmas 2009, while defendant and Does 1 and 4 were in Ra.D.’s backyard,
defendant told Does 1 and 4 they were thin and his favorites. He placed his hand on Doe
7
4’s back, underneath Doe 4’s shirt. Defendant moved his hand down Doe 4’s back and
swept his finger across her right buttocks, under her jeans. This made Doe 4 nervous.
She told him she was thirsty and left.
Counts 14, 15, 16 and 17 (Doe 5)
While defendant and Doe 5 were at the park with the rest of the family on
Christmas 2009, defendant climbed up a tube slide behind Doe 5 and touched her
buttocks. Doe 5 was 13 years old.
Several months later, on Easter, while Doe 5 and her sisters were playing Play
Station, Doe 5 saw defendant pull out his penis and show it to Doe 1. Later that day, Doe
5 put her legs up on the backyard patio table. Defendant started touching her hip. Doe 5
pushed defendant’s hand away but he put it back. Doe 5 then walked away. A little later,
when the family was in the kitchen saying grace with their eyes closed before dinner,
defendant touched the side of Doe 5’s breast. Doe 5 moved away from defendant.
Count 18 (Doe 6)
While at Ra.D.’s home on Easter 2010, defendant sat next to Doe 6 while she was
playing a computer game on her laptop. Defendant placed a blanket over Doe 6 and
himself, rubbed the inner part of Doe 6’s thigh, within two inches of her genitalia. Doe 6
left the room because the touching made her feel uncomfortable.
III
VALID MIRANDA WAIVER
Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his
recorded statement made to the police. Defendant argues the police obtained his
8
statement in violation of Miranda and his constitutional rights to counsel and due
process, and against self-incrimination. We conclude there was no error in denying
defendant’s motion.
A. Procedural Background
When defendant was arrested for molesting his wife’s younger sisters in April
2010, Murrieta Police Detective Whittington read defendant his Miranda rights.
Whittington told defendant that Detective Dorcas, who was nearby on the telephone, was
in charge of investigating the criminal allegations against defendant and would be
contacting defendant to ask him questions. Whittington thereafter told Dorcas he had
advised defendant of his rights, defendant understood and waived his rights, and
defendant was willing to talk.
Police Officers Stotts and Swearingen transported defendant to the police station.
Meanwhile Whittington and Dorcas went to defendant’s house. Dorcas spoke to
defendant’s wife and seized property. Defendant was not questioned until Dorcas and
Whittington interviewed him at the police station about an hour and a half after
defendant’s arrest. During the first 10 minutes of the interrogation, Dorcas, Whittington,
and defendant talked about defendant’s employment as a security guard, his military
career, and his arm injury. Before questioning defendant about the sexual abuse crimes,
Dorcas reminded defendant that Whittington had previously read him his Miranda rights.
Defendant said he remembered them. Thereafter the following recorded discourse took
place between defendant, Dorcas and Whittington:
9
“[Dorcas]: So keeping your rights in mind, do you want to talk to us about what’s going
on?
“[Defendant]: Umm . . . is there a chance I could talk with legal representation? Because
I don’t know. I don’t know how this will play out.
“[Dorcas]: Yeah, if you want to. Is that what you’re asking for?
“[Defendant]: Umm, what is, what is that option? Is, when, when it comes to . . .
“[Dorcas]: Remember your rights? Your right to an attorney before, during and after
questioning.
“[Defendant]: Yes.
“[Unidentified speaker]: So it’s up to you.
“[Whittington]: Basically, we have a certain set of statements and the reason why we
want to talk to you is get your, your side of the story. But if, you know, and it’s
completely up to you but, if you decide to talk to an attorney first, we’re not gonna get
your side of the story and we just kinda go with what we have. ‘Cuz if you decide you
want an attorney we’re just, you just get transported and just gets played out from there
through court.
“[Dorcas]: So it’s really up to you. Like he said, we have their side. . .
“[Defendant]: But if I, I say anything and that could [be] used against me in a court of
law.
“[Dorcas]: Right.
“[Defendant]: So it won’t help me, it’ll actually go against me.
“[Dorcas]: Well, depends what you have to say.
10
“[Whittington]: Yeah, a lot of it depends on how truthful you want to be.
“[Dorcas]: I mean, we know . . . we gotta get your side or we try to get your side,
otherwise we’ll just stay with what we know and we’ll go from there. It’s your chance to
clear the air and tell us your side of the story. But it’s up to you.
“[Defendant]: I want to be honest.
“[Dorcas]: Well, it’s good to be honest.
“[Defendant]: I just, I don’t . . . well, I guess I’ll just tell you then.
“[Dorcas]: Okay, so you’re willing to talk to us?
“[Defendant]: I would, I would assume that’s probably the best, best way to go.
“Dorcas]: Okay. Alright, well why do you think you’re here today?
“[Defendant]: Because I have, umm, I, I fondled one of my . . . I guess it’d be sister-in-
law, younger sister-in-law.”
During the remainder of defendant’s recorded interview, which lasted over an
hour, he admitted to inappropriately touching all six of his victims. He denied, however,
committing lewd conduct against Doe 5. Defendant also denied penetrating Doe 1’s
vagina with his penis and orally copulating her in his apartment. Defendant, however,
admitted oral copulating Doe 1 in the pool. At the end of defendant’s interview,
defendant wrote an apology letter to Doe 1.
On May 3, 2011, defendant filed a motion to suppress his recorded statement on
the grounds the interview violated his rights to remain silent and to an attorney.
Defendant argued Dorcas and Whittington improperly continued to question him after he
invoked his right to counsel. After hearing Whittington’s testimony and reviewing
11
defendant’s recorded statement and transcription, the trial court denied defendant’s
motion to suppress on the ground defendant was properly advised of his Miranda rights
and waived them. The court also found that defendant did not make an unambiguous or
unequivocal request for counsel and, when defendant waived his rights to remain silent
and to an attorney, the police did not place defendant under duress or coerce him to waive
his rights.
B. Applicable Law and Analysis
The Supreme Court held in Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. 436, that certain warnings
must be given before a suspect’s statement made during custodial interrogation can be
admitted in evidence in order to protect the privilege against self-incrimination. The
Supreme Court in Edwards v. Arizona (1981) 451 U.S. 477, 484-485, further held: “[A]n
accused, . . . having expressed his desire to deal with the police only through counsel, is
not subject to further interrogation by the authorities until counsel has been made
available to him, unless the accused himself initiates further communication, exchanges,
or conversations with the police.” “This ‘second layer of prophylaxis for the Miranda
right to counsel,’ [citation], is ‘designed to prevent police from badgering a defendant
into waiving his previously asserted Miranda rights,’ [citation ].” (Davis v. United States
(1994) 512 U.S. 452, 458 (Davis), quoting McNeil v. Wisconsin (1991) 501 U.S. 171, 176
and Michigan v. Harvey (1990) 494 U.S. 344, 350.)
To make an effective invocation of the right to counsel, “the suspect must
unambiguously request counsel.” (Davis, supra, 512 U.S. at p. 459.) “[I]f a suspect
makes a reference to an attorney that is ambiguous or equivocal in that a reasonable
12
officer in light of the circumstances would have understood only that the suspect might be
invoking the right to counsel, our precedents do not require the cessation of questioning.
[Citation.]” (Id. at p. 459.) “[W]hen a suspect makes an ambiguous or equivocal
statement it will often be good police practice for the interviewing officers to clarify
whether or not he actually wants an attorney.” (Id. at p. 461; see also People v. Williams
(2010) 49 Cal. 4th 405, 428 (Williams).)
“It is the function of the trial judge to determine whether the defendant did in fact
knowingly and voluntarily waive his right to remain silent and his right to have the
assistance of counsel. This determination is to be made based on the totality of the
circumstances surrounding the interrogation. [Citations.] The assertion of privilege or its
waiver constitutes a question of fact which can only be decided after taking into account
the special circumstances of each case. [Citation.]” (People v. Bestelmeyer (1985) 166
Cal. App. 3d 520, 526 (Bestelmeyer).)
Here, defendant does not dispute that, at the time of his arrest, Whittington
properly advised him of his Miranda rights and defendant waived them. Defendant
argues, however, that later at the police station, at the outset of his recorded interrogation,
he invoked his right to an attorney and therefore all subsequent questioning by the police
violated his rights to counsel and to remain silent. We disagree. Defendant did not
unequivocally request an attorney. He asked Dorcas, “is there a chance I could talk with
legal representation? Because I don’t know. I don’t know how this will play out.”
Pondering whether or not to request an attorney and requesting clarification
regarding the right to an attorney is not an invocation of the right. (Bestelmeyer, supra,
13
166 Cal.App.3d at pp. 526-527.) In response to defendant’s inquiry, Dorcas told
defendant he could speak to an attorney, and then asked for clarification: “Is that what
you’re asking for?” Dorcas reminded defendant that he had a “right to an attorney
before, during and after questioning.” Defendant confirmed that he remembered he had
this right and acknowledged that he was aware that if he said anything, it could be used
against him in court and would not help him. Defendant ultimately decided that he
wanted to be honest and tell the police his side of the story. Defendant then proceeded to
answer questions about the alleged crimes.
Under these circumstances, Dorcas appropriately clarified defendant’s ambiguous
response in which defendant inquired whether it might be possible to talk to an attorney.
We conclude “. . . it does not appear that the officers were ‘badgering’ defendant into
waiving his rights; his response reasonably warranted clarification.” (Williams, supra, 49
Cal.4th at p. 429.) Although Dorcas clearly reiterated that defendant had a right to an
attorney and could speak to an attorney, defendant equivocated. When Dorcas asked
defendant if he wanted an attorney, defendant did not say yes. He ultimately said he had
decided it would be best to be honest and tell his side of the story. The transcript of
Dorcas, Whittington, and defendant’s discussion of defendant’s right to an attorney
shows that defendant considered requesting an attorney but ultimately, voluntarily
decided to proceed with giving a recorded statement without an attorney.
We conclude there was substantial evidence to support the trial court’s findings
that defendant knowingly waived his right to counsel and voluntarily made the
14
subsequent statements to the investigation officers. (Bestelmeyer, supra, 166 Cal.App.3d
at p. 528.)
IV
SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
Defendant contends there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction on
count 3 for aggravated sexual assault (forcible oral copulation; § 269, subd. (a)(4)).
A. Applicable Law
We are limited in our review of a claim of insufficiency of the evidence. “‘In
assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the entire record in the light most
favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses evidence that is reasonable,
credible, and of solid value such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citations.] Reversal on this ground is unwarranted
unless it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial
evidence to support [the conviction].” [Citations.]’ [Citations.]” [¶] “Given this court’s
limited role on appeal, defendant bears an enormous burden in claiming there is
insufficient evidence to sustain his molestation convictions. If the verdict is supported by
substantial evidence, we are bound to give due deference to the trier of fact and not retry
the case ourselves. [Citation.]” (People v. Veale (2008) 160 Cal. App. 4th 40, 45-46
[Fourth Dist., Div. Two] (Veale).) Applying this standard of review, we conclude there
was insufficient evidence to support defendant’s count 3 conviction.
The elements of aggravated sexual assault of a child, as alleged in count 3, are:
(1) the defendant committed oral copulation in violation of section 288a, subdivision
15
(c)(2) or (3), or subdivision (d); (2) the victim was under 14 years of age; and (3) the
alleged victim was seven or more years younger than the perpetrator. (§ 269, subd.
(a)(4).)
The trial court instructed the jury on the elements of forcible oral copulation
(§ 288a) in relevant part as follows: “In order to prove this crime, each of the following
elements must be proved: [¶] 1. A person participated in an act of oral copulation with
an alleged victim; [and] [¶] 2. The act was accomplished against the alleged victim’s
will by means of force, violence, duress, menace or fear of immediate and unlawful
bodily injury on the alleged victim or any other person.” (CALJIC No. 10.10.)
B. Evidence of Force or Violence
Defendant argues there was insufficient evidence he committed oral copulation
against Doe 1 through the use of “force, violence, duress, menace or fear.” (§ 288a, subd.
(c)(2)(B).) We agree.
The trial court instructed the jury that “[t]he ‘force’ required as an element under
Counts 1 and 3 means physical force substantially different from, or substantially in
excess of, that required for the commission of the act of sexual intercourse and/or the act
of oral copulation.” Such physical force must be “substantially different from or
substantially greater than that necessary to accomplish the lewd act.” (People v.
Griffin (2004) 33 Cal. 4th 1015, 1026; People v. Guido (2005) 125 Cal. App. 4th 566, 575.)
“[O]ral copulation by force within the meaning of section 288a, subdivision (c)(2) is
proven when a jury finds beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant accomplished an act
16
of oral copulation by the use of force sufficient to overcome the victim’s will.” (Guido,
at p. 576.)
In the instant case, there was insufficient evidence of force or violence. Doe 1
testified at trial that, while Doe 1 and defendant were in his apartment playing on the
computer in the bedroom, defendant orally copulated Doe 1. Doe 1 was scared when he
did it. When asked during the trial if defendant did anything to get her to allow him to
commit oral copulation against her, Doe 1 testified: “He forced me.” Doe 1 said this
meant, “I didn’t want to do it,” “He made me do it.” When asked what Doe 1 meant
when she said he made her do it, Doe 1 replied, “Made me do something that I didn’t
want to do because it wasn’t the right thing to do.” Doe 1 was asked if defendant did
anything else physically to touch or hold her while he committed oral copulation against
her. Doe 1 replied, “I don’t know.” When later asked again if defendant physically did
anything to her to make her let him orally copulate her, Doe 1 said, “don’t think so.” Doe
1 also testified she did not tell defendant not to orally copulate her, push him away, or try
to prevent him from doing what he was doing.
During cross-examination, Doe 1 acknowledged that when she used the word,
“force,” she was not referring to physical force. Rather, she meant defendant did
something she did not want him to do. She could have said “no” to defendant when he
committed oral copulation against her but she chose not to say anything or do anything.
She did not try to leave. Doe 1 further acknowledged that defendant did not threaten her.
He did not tell her he was going to hurt her and did not use any force or violence against
her.
17
Even though Doe 1 initially testified that defendant forced her to submit to oral
copulation, during cross-examination her testimony clarified that, what she meant was
that defendant did something to her that she did not want him to do but passively
complied with his unwanted acts. Doe 1’s testimony established that defendant did not
use any physical force or violence or verbal threats when orally copulating Doe 1.
C. Evidence of Duress
The prosecution alternatively argued that defendant committed oral copulation
against Doe 1 through the use of duress. “‘“Duress” has been defined as “a direct or
implied threat of force, violence, danger, hardship or retribution sufficient to coerce a
reasonable person of ordinary susceptibilities to (1) perform an act which otherwise
would not have been performed or, (2) acquiesce in an act to which one otherwise would
not have submitted.” . . . [D]uress involves psychological coercion. Duress can arise
from various circumstances, including the relationship between the defendant and the
victim and their relative ages and sizes. . . . “Where the defendant is a family member
and the victim is young, . . . the position of dominance and authority of the defendant and
his continuous exploitation of the victim” [are] relevant to the existence of duress.’
[Citation.]” (People v. Espinoza (2002) 95 Cal. App. 4th 1287, 1319-1320 (Espinoza),
quoting People v. Schulz (1992) 2 Cal. App. 4th 999, 1005.) “‘Other relevant factors
include threats to harm the victim, physically controlling the victim when the victim
attempts to resist, and warnings to the victim that revealing the molestation would result
in jeopardizing the family.’ [Citations.]” (Veale, supra, 160 Cal.App.4th at p. 46,
18
quoting People v. Cochran (2002) 103 Cal. App. 4th 8, 14; see also People v. Senior
(1992) 3 Cal. App. 4th 765, 775 and People v. Schulz, supra, 2 Cal.App.4th at p. 1005.)
The People rely on this court’s decision in Veale, supra, 160 Cal. App. 4th 40, for
the proposition there was sufficient evidence of force and duress to support the
defendant’s conviction. In Veale, the defendant committed numerous lewd acts upon his
seven-year-old stepdaughter. The victim said she was afraid of the defendant but could
not say why. She also feared that if she reported the defendant’s conduct, the defendant
would kill her or her mother, although the defendant never told her he would do so. A
couple of times the victim objected to the defendant molesting her. The defendant
relented and did not make the same requests again. The victim testified at trial that the
defendant did not threaten her or use physical force. The defendant in Veale argued on
appeal that there was no evidence he used force or duress.
This court concluded in Veale that, based on evidence of these facts, there was
sufficient evidence of duress. (Veale, supra, 160 Cal.App.4th at p. 47.) We explained in
Veale, that “A reasonable inference could be made that defendant made an implied threat
sufficient to support a finding of duress, based on evidence that Brianna feared defendant
and was afraid that if she told anyone about the molestation, defendant would harm or kill
Brianna, her mother or someone else. Additional factors supporting a finding of duress
include Brianna’s young age when she was molested; the disparity between Brianna and
defendant’s age and size; and defendant’s position of authority in the family. The totality
of this evidence was sufficient to support a finding that defendant molested Brianna by
means of duress, in violation of section 288, subdivision (b).” (Veale, at p. 47.)
19
The instant case is distinguishable from Veale. Here there was no evidence
supporting a finding defendant committed forcible oral copulation by means of a direct or
implied threat. Although there was evidence that perhaps on another occasion Doe 1 told
defendant not to touch her in the future, there is no evidence that Doe 1 objected to or
resisted defendant’s act of molesting her when he committed the instant offense. There is
also no evidence Doe 1 feared that if she reported the molestation, defendant would kill
her, her mother, or another family member. In addition, Doe 1 was four years older than
the seven-year-old victim in Veale, although in the cognitive areas of speech and
language, Doe 1’s abilities may have been at about the same age level as those of the
victim in Veale.
The evidence further demonstrates that, although Doe 1 had a learning disability
relating to speech and language, her disability was not severe. Doe 1 was capable of
comprehending that what defendant was doing to her was wrong. In addition, unlike in
Veale, the relationship between Doe 1 and defendant was not of a parental nature.
Defendant was Doe 1’s older brother-in-law. His relationship with Doe 1 was similar to
that of a visiting uncle and niece. Defendant did not live with Doe 1’s family. There is
no evidence that, as a visiting relative, he held a position of parental authority over
Doe 1.
The instant case is more analogous to Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal. App. 4th 1287,
relied on by defendant for the proposition that there was insufficient evidence of duress
because there was no evidence Doe 1’s participation was impelled by defendant making
direct or implied threats. (Id. at p. 1321.) In Espinoza, the defendant was convicted of
20
forcible lewd conduct (§ 288, subd. (b)). The defendant began molesting his biological
daughter shortly after she moved in with him. The victim was 12 years old and in special
education classes. She was described as not as “bright” as her sisters and had difficulty
concentrating. The Espinoza court reversed the trial court conviction, finding there was
insufficient evidence of duress because of the lack of any direct or implied threat.
(Espinoza, at pp. 1321-1322.)
Although the defendant in Espinoza was convicted of committing forcible lewd
conduct, whereas the instant case concerns forcible oral copulation, Espinoza is
instructive because both offenses require the same finding of force or duress. Here, as in
Espinoza, Doe 1 was molested by a relative who was much larger in size and older than
her. In addition, Doe 1 had limited mental ability, as did the victim in Espinoza, and both
victims said they were scared and did not resist.
The Espinoza court explained there was insufficient evidence of duress: “The
only way that we could say that defendant’s lewd act on L. and attempt at intercourse
with L. were accomplished by duress is if the mere fact that he was L.’s father and larger
than her combined with her fear and limited intellectual level were sufficient to establish
that the acts were accomplished by duress. What is missing here is the ‘“direct or
implied threat of force, violence, danger, hardship or retribution sufficient to coerce a
reasonable person of ordinary susceptibilities to (1) perform an act which otherwise
would not have been performed or, (2) acquiesce in an act to which one otherwise would
not have submitted.”’ [Citation.] Duress cannot be established unless there is evidence
that ‘the victim[’s] participation was impelled, at least partly, by an implied threat . . . .’
21
[Citation.] No evidence was adduced that defendant’s lewd act and attempt at intercourse
were accompanied by any ‘direct or implied threat’ of any kind. While it was clear that
L. was afraid of defendant, no evidence was introduced to show that this fear was based
on anything defendant had done other than to continue to molest her. It would be circular
reasoning to find that her fear of molestation established that the molestation was
accomplished by duress based on an implied threat of molestation.” (Espinoza, supra, 95
Cal.App.4th at p. 1321.)
The Espinoza court noted that, “[T]he Legislature has recognized that all sex
crimes with children are inherently coercive.” (Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal.App.4th at p.
1321.) As with section 288, subdivision (b), the Legislature enacted subdivisions (c) and
(d) of section 288a, in recognition that “defendants who compound their commission of
such acts by the use of violence or threats of violence should be singled out for more
particularized deterrence.’ [Citation.]” (Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal.App.4th at p. 1321,
quoting People v. Hecker (1990) 219 Cal. App. 3d 1238, 1250-1251.)
Here, as in Espinoza, there was no evidence in the record that defendant used any
direct threats when committing oral copulation against Doe 1. The People argue the
following evidence, however, was sufficient to support a finding that defendant used
implied threats: Doe 1 suffered from mild mental retardation, making her more
susceptible to coercion through fear; defendant’s relationship with Doe 1 was like that of
an uncle, since defendant was 20 years older than Doe 1; Doe 1 was 11 years old;
Defendant was 6’6” and over 200 pounds; defendant sexually abused Doe 1 on numerous
occasions; on one occasion, defendant told Doe 1 not to tell anyone what he had just
22
done; and Doe 1 testified that she was scared when defendant orally copulated her.
Defendant admitted knowing that when he sexually abused Doe 1, she did not want
defendant to touch her. We conclude there is no evidence establishing duress by implied
threat. There were no threats, direct or implied, that Doe 1 would suffer adverse
consequences if she did not acquiesce to defendant’s acts of sexually abusing Doe 1.
When denying defendant’s motion for acquittal under section 1118.1, the trial
court stated it found there was sufficient evidence of force and duress to support a
conviction on count 3, based on evidence Doe 1’s mental disability affected her ability to
learn. Specifically, it prevented her from perceiving fully what was happening when
defendant molested her. She appeared to be slow mentally and did not have the degree of
understanding one would expect of someone her age. The court therefore concluded Doe
1 was unable to consent knowingly and voluntarily to defendant’s acts.
But evidence of Doe 1’s mental disability, as described by the school psychologist,
was insufficient to establish duress. There must also be evidence of a direct or implied
threat, and there was no such evidence. Although the evidence established that Doe 1
was mentally slow for someone her age, the evidence also demonstrated she understood
that what defendant did was wrong and did not want him to do it. She nevertheless was
passive. Defendant did not resort to threats or physical force when committing count 3 or
the other offenses, other than using a limited amount of force required to commit the
sexual crimes in question.
The People argue there was evidence of duress based on defendant molesting Doe
1 on numerous occasions and using force during several of the incidents, including an
23
incident occurring before the oral copulation incident, on the same day, when defendant
and Doe 1 were in the Jacuzzi (counts 1 and 2). During this incident, defendant allegedly
inserted his penis in Doe 1’s vagina while she was sitting on his lap in a Jacuzzi at
defendant’s apartment. Defendant lifted Doe 1’s body up and down. The jury did not
find defendant guilty of this incident (counts 1 and 2), and the force used to commit the
offense was inherent in committing the sexual offense, rather than to overcome resistance
by Doe 1.
The prosecution also argued there was evidence defendant used force when he
made Doe 1 hold his penis and squeeze it with her hand (counts 6 and 9; lewd and
lascivious conduct on a child under age 14). Again, this force was inherent in
committing the sexual offense, rather than to overcome resistance by Doe 1. Because
Doe 1 did not resist defendant’s sexual acts, the force used by defendant, if any, was
limited to that required to commit the sexual acts against Doe 1. As in Espinoza, the only
way that we could say that defendant’s act of orally copulating Doe 1 was accomplished
by duress is if the mere fact that defendant was a close relative and larger and older than
her, combined with her fear and limited intellectual level “were sufficient to establish that
the acts were accomplished by duress. What is missing here is the ‘“direct or implied
threat of force, violence, danger, hardship or retribution. (Espinoza, supra, 95
Cal.App.4th at p. 1321.)
Here, no evidence was adduced that defendant’s oral copulation against Doe 1 was
accompanied by any direct or implied threat of any kind. Although Doe 1 said she was
scared when defendant sexually abused her, “no evidence was introduced to show that
24
this fear was based on anything defendant had done other than to continue to molest her.
It would be circular reasoning to find that her fear of molestation established that the
molestation was accomplished by duress based on an implied threat of molestation.”
(Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal.App.4th at p. 1321.)
Because there was insufficient evidence that defendant committed oral copulation
against Doe 1 by means of force, violence, duress, menace or fear of immediate, unlawful
bodily injury, defendant’s section 269, subdivision (a)(4), conviction for forcible oral
copulation must be reduced to reflect a conviction of the lesser included offense of
nonforcible oral copulation under section 288a, subdivision (c)(1). (Espinoza, supra, 95
Cal.App.4th at p. 1321; People v. Kelly (1992) 1 Cal. 4th 495, 528.)
V
PRIOR SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE
Defendant contends the trial court committed prejudicial error by allowing
evidence of his prior uncharged sexual acts. He argues the prior acts did not qualify as
sexual offenses under Evidence Code section 1108 and therefore the evidence was
inadmissible character evidence under Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (a). We
disagree.
A. Procedural Background
The People filed a motion in limine to admit under Evidence Code section 1108
defendant’s recorded statement to the police admitting that he was involved in the
following four unreported prior sexual incidents: (1) In 1997, when defendant was 22
years old, he touched two young girls while he was on a missionary trip; (2) he had
25
sexual relations with his sister when he was 15 years old; (3) he had sexual relations with
his cousin when he was 15 years old; and (4) he had sexual relations with his adult sister-
in-law, Christina. The People argued that evidence of these prior offenses demonstrated
that defendant had a substantial history of committing sexual assaults.
Defendant filed a motion in limine requesting the court to exclude this evidence.
Defendant asserted that Christina would testify that he sexually assaulted her in Las
Vegas when she was 21 years old. The incident was never reported to law enforcement
and was not revealed until the prosecution of defendant in the instant case. During
defendant’s recorded statement to the police, he admitted to a consensual sexual
relationship with Christina prior to his marriage to Sarah. As to the other three incidents,
defendant argued that his admissions made in his recorded statement to the police did not
provide a sufficient basis for allowing evidence of the acts. There was no independent
evidence of the incidents and the “corpus delicti” of the offenses could not be proved by a
preponderance of the evidence.
During the hearing on the motions in limine, defense counsel objected to the
evidence of the prior sexual acts on the ground there was insufficient evidence
establishing that the four incidents qualified as sex offenses under Evidence Code section
1108. The trial court concluded the evidence was admissible because the evidence
constituted admissions of the prior criminal acts. Defense counsel inquired as to what
sexual offenses were actually committed when defendant committed the four prior
offenses. The court said the acts might constitute lewd and lascivious acts but deferred
discussing the matter further until later, when the jury instructions were discussed.
26
At trial, Christina did not testify. Defendant’s recorded statement was admitted
under Evidence Code section 1108 and played for the jury. Defendant admitted in his
recorded statement that he “fooled around” with Christina but claimed it was mutually
consensual. When asked if defendant had committed inappropriate touchings of any girls
under 18, other than Does 1 through 6, defendant admitted “mess[ing] around” with his
sister and his cousin when he was 15 years old and had been taking sex education in high
school. He and his sister, and later his cousin, were receptive to “fooling around with one
another.” The next time “that something like this occurred” was when he was 22 years
old, on a church mission in the West Indies. He was staying at a home of missionaries
who had two young girls who ran around “smacking everybody on the butt constantly.”
When the oldest girl smacked defendant, he put her over his knee, pulled down her pants,
and “smack[ed] her butt a whole bunch of times. She freaked out.”
At the end of the trial, during a discussion of the proposed jury instructions, the
trial court noted that there was no evidence establishing the age of the four females
involved in the prior touching incidents. The court therefore believed the jury could not
consider any of defendant’s admissions as prior uncharged acts of lewd and lascivious
conduct with a child under the age of 14. The court therefore suggested giving an
instruction admonishing the jury not to consider the evidence of defendant’s prior
uncharged misconduct.
Defense counsel requested the court to give the following special instruction:
“The Prosecution introduced evidence that the defendant engaged in sexual conduct other
than that charged in this case. The Prosecution has the burden of proving that the
27
defendant engaged in this other conduct by a preponderance of the evidence. The
Prosecution has not met this burden. Therefore, you must disregard any evidence that the
defendant engaged in sexual conduct other than that charged in this case. You must treat
it as though you had never heard of it and not consider this evidence for any purpose.”
The trial court rejected defendant’s proposed instruction, and gave the following
instruction: “You must disregard any evidence that the defendant engaged in sexual
conduct other than that charged in this case. You must treat it as though you had never
heard of it and not consider this evidence for any purpose.”
B. Admissibility of Prior Acts Evidence
As a general rule, evidence of a defendant’s conduct is not admissible to show
disposition or propensity, but is admissible to prove identity, plan, intent, knowledge, or
opportunity. (§ 1101.) Section 1108 provides a statutory exception, allowing propensity
evidence to be admitted in sex offense cases to show a defendant is more likely to have
committed the charged offense. (People v. Falsetta (1999) 21 Cal. 4th 903, 911.) Section
1108, subdivision (d)(1), defines a sex offense as a crime under state or federal law that
involves certain enumerated sexual acts and crimes. If the uncharged conduct qualifies as
a sex offense, it is admissible subject to section 352. (People v. Crabtree (2009) 169
Cal. App. 4th 1293, 1315.) The trial court weighs the probative value against the potential
risk of prejudice, confusion, and undue consumption of time. (Ibid.) On appeal, we
review the trial court’s ruling for an abuse of discretion. (Ibid.)
In the instant case, after the parties submitted on the evidence, the trial court
correctly concluded that there was insufficient evidence establishing that defendant’s
28
prior uncharged acts of touching four females qualified as sexual offenses under section
1108, since there was no evidence of the age of the females. The sexual offense of
committing a lewd act in violation of section 288, requires a finding that the victim was
under the age of 14 years. In addition, there was insufficient evidence the prior acts
qualified as sexual offenses, since defendant did not specify in his recorded statement the
nature of his acts as to his sister and cousin. Also, defendant claimed in his recorded
statement that his sexual activity with Christina was consensual, and Christina did not
testify to the contrary. The prior uncharged acts evidence therefore was inadmissible
under Evidence Code sections 1101 and 1108.
C. Harmless Error
Defendant argues that allowing the inadmissible prior acts evidence constituted
prejudicial error because the evidence would have confused the issues and unfairly
distracted the jury from its consideration of the charged offenses. Defendant asserts that
the evidence was damaging to defendant because this was a close case, and the
propensity evidence showed that he was unfaithful to his wife and had a long history of
sexually “fooling around,” including with his own family members.
We conclude it is not reasonably probable that, had the evidence of defendant’s
prior uncharged sexual acts been excluded, there would have been a more favorable
result. (People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal. 2d 818, 836.) The trial court appropriately
instructed the jury that the prior uncharged sexual acts evidence should be disregarded.
Under Evidence Code section 403, subdivision (c), “If the court admits the proffered
evidence under this section, the court: [¶] (1) May, and on request shall, instruct the jury
29
to determine whether the preliminary fact exists and to disregard the proffered evidence
unless the jury finds that the preliminary fact does exist. [¶] (2) Shall instruct the jury to
disregard the proffered evidence if the court subsequently determines that a jury could
not reasonably find that the preliminary fact exists.”
In accordance with Evidence Code section 403, subdivision (c)(2), the trial court
instructed the jury not to consider any evidence that “defendant engaged in sexual
conduct other than that charged in this case. You must treat it as though you had never
heard of it and not consider this evidence for any purpose.” It is presumed the jury
properly followed the court’s instructions. (People v. Sanchez (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 834,
852.)
In addition, there was overwhelming evidence supporting defendant’s convictions,
including the victims’ testimony, the victims’ RCAT statements, and defendant’s
recorded statement, admitting he had inappropriately touched Does 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and
committed lewd acts, oral copulation, and digital penetration. Also, the prior uncharged
acts were, in most instances, less egregious than the charged acts and, as a whole, were
not likely to have been inflammatory or changed the jury’s view of defendant, in light of
the evidence of the seriousness of the crimes defendant committed.
VI
CONTINUATION OF JURY DELIBERATIONS
Defendant contends the trial court improperly directed the jury to reconsider its
findings that the multiple victim enhancement allegations attached to counts 3 and 5
through 13, were untrue. We disagree.
30
A. Procedural Background
The jury found defendant guilty of committing lewd and lascivious acts against
Does 1, 2, 3, and 4, and also forcible oral copulation against Doe 1. After the court clerk
announced the jury verdicts and related allegation findings, the prosecutor asked the court
to poll the jury on its allegation findings rejecting the multiple victim allegations. The
prosecutor noted that the guilty verdicts involved multiple victims, and this was
inconsistent with the jury’s related allegation findings that there were not multiple
victims (§ 667.61, subd. (e)(5)).
In response, the trial court reread to the jury the instruction for the multiple victim
allegation. The trial court further told the jury: “What the People . . . is suggesting [is]
that the verdicts seem to be inconsistent. In other words, you made a finding that there
was not more than one victim. And [the prosecutor] is taking the position that’s
inconsistent because that same exact crime – the 288, subparagraph (a) – we had guilty
verdicts on four Jane Does. So logic would seem to dictate there are more than one
victim. [¶] Now maybe there was something in the proof that you did not accept
regarding that.”
The jury foreman told the court that the jury misunderstood the instruction: “The
way we understood it is that it was more than one person at the time of the incident
against Jane Doe. So I think all of us were under the impression that while Jane Doe was
being victimized, someone else was being victimized at the same time . . . .” The trial
court asked the jury foreman whether he would suggest that the jurors reconsider the
multiple victim findings. The jury foreman indicated that, because the jury misconstrued
31
the instruction on the multiple victim allegations, the jury needed to reconsider its
decision.
After noting that the trial court had not yet recorded the verdict, the court asked
several other jurors if they were confused about the multiple victim enhancement.
Several jurors stated that, as stated by the foreman, they misconstrued the enhancement
as requiring a finding of multiple victims during the commission of the particular charged
crime.
After clarifying that the enhancement merely required a finding that defendant had
committed crimes against multiple victims, the trial court polled the jury as to whether
their findings on the multiple victim allegations were true and correct. All of the jurors
stated that their findings on the multiple victim allegations were not true and correct. The
court found the jury had made an honest error regarding the multiple victim allegations
and therefore sent the jury back to reconsider the allegations. Defense counsel objected
to the entire manner in which the trial court addressed the inconsistency between the
multiple victim allegations and verdicts. Later that same day, after reconsidering the
enhancements, the jury found true the multiple victim allegations, contrary to its previous
findings rejecting the allegations. The trial court denied defendant’s motion to dismiss
the judgment on the ground the trial court should have accepted the original not true
findings on the multiple victim allegations.
B. Applicable Law and Analysis
Section 1161 provides that if there is a verdict of conviction and the court thinks
the jury may have mistaken the law, the court may explain its reasons to the jury and
32
direct it to reconsider the verdict; “‘but when there is a verdict of acquittal, the Court
cannot require the jury to reconsider it.’” (Bigelow v. Superior Court (1989) 208
Cal. App. 3d 1127, 1133 (Bigelow).) Although the jurors rendered not true verdicts on
enhancement allegations, rather than acquittal verdicts on charges of substantive offenses,
the two are equivalent for purposes of applying section 1161 to this case. (People v.
Guerra (2009) 176 Cal. App. 4th 933, 941, fn. 2 (Guerra).)
In Bigelow, supra, 208 Cal.App.3d at page 1129, the court held that the trial court
erred in sending the jury back to redeliberate after it entered a verdict acquitting the
defendant of first degree murder but finding true murder special circumstances. The
court in Bigelow explained the following basic principles: “First, once the jury submits a
verdict of acquittal to the trial court, the court may not order reconsideration of that
verdict but rather must order that judgment be entered on the verdict. [Citations.]
Second, a trial court may not coerce a jury by rejecting its verdict and requesting it to
continue deliberating. [Citations.]” (Id. at p. 1134.)
In Bigelow, the finding of not guilty of murder was inconsistent with the special
circumstances findings. The court noted that, “if the initial verdict unequivocally
manifested the intent to acquit, it was a valid verdict regardless of its formal defects or
legal inconsistency.” (Bigelow, supra, 208 Cal.App.3d at p. 1136.) The Bigelow court
concluded, however, that the verdict was ambiguous because of the inconsistency of
acquittal of murder and findings that special circumstances existed. (Ibid.) Therefore,
the trial court had the following limited options: “The court could have either 1) granted
the motion to record the verdict of acquittal, 2) polled the jury to determine if there were
33
12 votes for acquittal, or 3) informed the jury that the acquittal was not consistent with
findings of special circumstances and asked it to clarify its verdict to show its true
intent.” (Ibid.) The Bigelow court held the trial court erred because the trial court did not
proceed under any of these options. Instead, the trial court merely sent the jury back to
deliberate. (Bigelow, supra, 208 Cal.App.3d at p. 1136.)
In Bigelow, the court explained that it was distinguishable from cases in which the
trial court properly resubmitted inconsistent verdicts to the jury. Cases upholding
resubmission “presented patent and necessary inconsistency, namely, findings of guilty
and not guilty on the same charge.” (Bigelow, supra, 208 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1137-1138.)
In addition, “the jury error was immediately corrected, with no lengthy further
deliberations.” (Id. at p. 1138.)
We recognize the general principle that “an inherently inconsistent verdict is
allowed to stand; if an acquittal of one count is factually irreconcilable with a conviction
on another, or if a not true finding of an enhancement allegation is inconsistent with a
conviction of the substantive offense, effect is given to both.” (People v.
Santamaria (1994) 8 Cal. 4th 903, 911; see also People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 491,
600 and People v. Espiritu (2011) 199 Cal. App. 4th 718, 727.) But, as explained in
Bigelow, when the verdict or enhancement has not yet been entered or recorded and a
verdict of acquittal is ambiguous due to blatant inconsistency, the trial court can properly
explain the inconsistency to the jurors, obtain clarification from the jury, and allow
reconsideration. (Bigelow, supra, 208 Cal.App.3d at p. 1136; People v. Caird (1998) 63
Cal. App. 4th 578, 586-590; People v. Keating (1981) 118 Cal. App. 3d 172, 181-182.)
34
Here, the jury’s rejection of the multiple victim allegations was patently
inconsistent with the jury’s finding defendant guilty of committing sexual offenses
against multiple victims. Because of this clear inconsistency, the trial court appropriately
exercised its options of polling the jury, informed the jury of the inconsistency, and
assessed the jury’s true intent, in accordance with Bigelow. After the jurors stated that
their not true findings on the multiple victim allegations were not their true and correct
findings and requested to reconsider their findings, the trial court appropriately allowed
the jury to redeliberate. (Bigelow, supra, 208 Cal.App.3d at p. 1136.) In raising the
inconsistency, “‘the trial court has broad latitude in fair commentary, so long as it does
not effectively control the verdict.’” (People v. Espiritu (2011) 199 Cal. App. 4th 718,
728, quoting People v. Rodriguez (1986) 42 Cal. 3d 730, 768.) Here, the trial court did
not effectively control the verdict or jury findings on the multiple victim allegations.
Defendant’s reliance on Guerra, supra, 176 Cal. App. 4th 933, for the proposition
that the trial court erred in refusing to accept the jury’s not true findings on the multiple
victim allegations, is misplaced. In Guerra, the jury found the defendant guilty of
committing sexual offenses against his daughter and another girl. The jury also initially
returned not true findings on the multiple victim allegations. (Id. at pp. 935-936.) The
trial court told the jury the verdicts appeared to be inconsistent with the allegation
findings. The jury foreman conceded that she and the jury must have misunderstood the
instruction on the multiple victim allegations. The court reread the instruction for the
multiple victim allegation and further instructed the jury: “‘The instructions and the
verdict form would indicate to the court that if in the case being tried before you there is
35
more than one victim that the defendant has been convicted of sexually assaulting as
charged, that the answer to those allegation questions should be true.’” (Guerra, supra,
176 Cal.App.4th at p. 939.)
The Guerra court held that the trial court improperly informed the jury that they
should find the multiple victim allegation true, and sent the jury back to deliberate,
without first discerning the jury’s true intent. (Guerra, supra, 176 Cal.App.4th at pp.
943-944.) The instant case is distinguishable from Guerra because the trial court
explained the inconsistency to the jury and polled the jury to determine each juror’s
intent. Upon the jurors stating that their allegation findings were not true and correct, the
court asked the jury if it wanted to reconsider its findings, and the jury said it wished to
do so. In this case, the trial court did not mandate that the jury redeliberate. The trial
court also did not direct the jury to change its findings on the multiple victim allegations
to “true.” The trial court told the jury, that upon redeliberation, it could still find the
allegations “not true.” The trial court allowed the jury to redeliberate and reach its own
result, without directing a particular outcome. Because the trial court properly addressed
the clear inconsistency between the verdicts and multiple victim allegations in
accordance with Bigelow, the trial court did not exceed its statutory or constitutional
authority by allowing the jury to reconsider its findings on the multiple victim
allegations.
36
VII
DISPOSITION
The conviction for violating section 269, subdivision (a)(4), (count 3) is reduced to
a conviction for the lesser included offense of violating section 288a, subdivision (c)(1),
due to the insufficiency of evidence of force, violence, duress, menace or fear of
immediate, unlawful bodily injury. As modified, the judgment of conviction is affirmed
as modified and remanded for resentencing on count 3.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
CODRINGTON
J.
We concur:
HOLLENHORST
Acting P. J.
KING
J.
37