People v. Henning CA4/1 ( 2015 )

Filed 7/24/15 P. v. Henning CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D065950
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. JCF32026)
MIRANDA ALEXIS HENNING,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Imperial County,
William D. Lehman, Judge. Affirmed as modified.
Theresa Osterman Stevenson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General,
Anthony DaSilva and Peter Quon, Jr. for Plaintiff and Respondent.
A jury convicted Miranda Alexis Henning of possessing a controlled substance
and child endangerment. The trial court sentenced her to prison for an aggregate term of
four years. Henning appeals, contending substantial evidence did not support her child
endangerment conviction. She also contends the trial court (1) abused its discretion when
it failed to grant probation, and (2) imposed improper fines. We modify the fines
imposed, but otherwise reject Henning's arguments and affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On November 5, 2013, Henning resided in Holtville, California with her father,
Philip Castro, her grandmother, Stefana Castro, her then-two-year-old, son A, and her
infant daughter. At times, Henning's boyfriend, Fernando Munoz, also lived at the home.
That morning, Irma Rodriguez, Philip's fiancé, arrived at the home and knocked on the
front door. Son A partially opened the door by unlocking the front door's deadbolt and
other locking mechanism; however, he was not tall enough to reach a latch higher on the
door. Stefana later released the upper latch to let Rodriguez into the home.
Later that morning, officers, including Imperial County District Attorney Special
Agent Raphael Peraza and Imperial County Probation Department Special Agent
Armando Merino, executed a search warrant at the residence. Henning and Munoz were
not in the home at the time, but were contacted and brought to the home. Inside the
residence, officers noticed a strong stench emanating from the bathroom in the master
bedroom created by a septic tank backup. The toilet had overflowed and soaked the rug
in the master bedroom. When he entered Henning's bedroom, Special Agent Peraza saw
a bed, a crib and a dresser with drawers. Some drawers of the dresser were missing and
many items, including a transparent blue-colored plastic box, were on top of the dresser.
Inside one of the drawers, officers found a glass pipe commonly used by people to smoke
methamphetamine, a cigarette lighter and a barbecue lighter. Inside the plastic box were
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a Ziploc-type plastic bag and a heat-sealed plastic bag, both containing a white crystalline
substance. Later, forensic testing of the contents of the two plastic bags confirmed they
contained, respectively, 4.606 grams and 0.32 grams of methamphetamine.
DISCUSSION
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
A. Standard of Review
In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, we examine the whole record in the
light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial
evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. (People v. Hillhouse (2002) 27 Cal.4th 469, 496.) We must presume
in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier of fact could reasonably
deduce from the evidence. (People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1053.) Unless it is
clearly shown that "on no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to
support the verdict," we will not reverse. (People v. Hicks (1982) 128 Cal.App.3d 423,
429.)
"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
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contrary finding does not warrant a reversal of the judgment.' " [Citations.]' [Citation.]
' "Circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to connect a defendant with the crime and to
prove . . . guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." ' [Citations.]" (People v. Stanley (1995) 10
Cal.4th 764, 792-793.)
B. Analysis
Henning contends the evidence did not support her conviction for felony child
endangerment as it did not prove that her acts exposed son A to circumstances or
conditions in her home that were likely to produce or result in great bodily harm or death.
She notes that the children slept in the living room and did not frequent her bedroom.
She asserts the drugs belonged to Munoz and there was no evidence son A had the
manual dexterity to manipulate the door handle to open her bedroom door, open the
plastic box, open the plastic containing the drugs and consume four grams of
methamphetamine.
As relevant here, to support a conviction for felony child endangerment, the
evidence must show that a person "under circumstances or conditions likely to produce
great bodily harm or death," "willfully cause[d] or permit[d] [a] child to be placed in a
situation where his or her person or health is endangered." (Pen. Code, § 273a, subd. (a);
see CALCRIM No. 821.) The statute is intended to protect children from the risk of
injury and does not require actual injury. (People v. Valdez (2002) 27 Cal.4th 778, 784.)
In endangerment cases, "the necessary mens rea . . . is criminal negligence." (In re L.K.
(2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 1438, 1445.) Criminal negligence involves " ' "aggravated,
culpable, gross, or reckless . . . conduct . . . [that is] such a departure from what would be
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the conduct of an ordinarily prudent or careful [person] under the same circumstances as
to be incompatible with a proper regard for human life. . . ." ' " (People v. Valdez, supra,
at p. 783.)
Henning testified she was not aware of the existence of drugs in her room, that the
children slept in the living room and did not sleep in or use her room. Other evidence,
however, contradicted Henning's testimony. Rodriguez, who was familiar with the living
arrangements at the home, testified that she has seen Henning sleep in the living room
with her children and the children sleeping inside Henning's room. Special Agent Merino
saw children's clothes, toys and other child-type articles in Henning's bedroom that
suggested the two children stayed in that bedroom. Additionally, the jury could
reasonably infer Henning knew of the existence of the methamphetamine inside the
plastic box as she admitted the plastic box and some of the items inside the box belonged
to her.
Henning testified that when she left in the morning, the children were asleep on
the living room sofa and her bedroom door was closed. The jury, however, could infer
son A had the ability to open the bedroom door based on Rodriguez's testimony that son
A reached and manipulated the deadbolt and locking mechanism of the home's front door
to open the door for her earlier that morning. Based on the foul odor, officers never had
son A stand by the dresser to determine if he could reach the plastic box. Nonetheless,
ample evidence supported the inference that son A could reach the box, open the box and
open the Ziploc bag to access the methamphetamine inside.
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Namely, son A measured approximately 34 inches tall and could reach items 13
inches over his head. The door knob of Henning's bedroom measured 36 inches above
the floor. The dresser in Henning's room stood 31 inches tall. Although there was no
evidence presented regarding the depth of the dresser, the jury could infer based on a
photograph of the dresser, that a child 34 inches tall who could reach items 13 inches
over his head, could also reach anything located on top of the dresser. Moreover, Special
Agents Peraza and Merino and a social worker all opined that son A could reach the
plastic box. Finally, a physician opined that the consumption of four grams of
methamphetamine would be lethal for the average two year old.
Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the judgment, the jury could
reasonably find Henning placed son A in a situation endangering his health and under
circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death. (See People v. Toney (1999)
76 Cal.App.4th 618, 622-623 [storage of chemicals used to manufacture
methamphetamine in home with child sufficient to support conviction for felony child
endangerment]; People v. Hansen (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 473, 479-480 [felony child
endangerment where the caretaker stores a loaded gun in a home occupied by children
without denying the children access to the weapon].)
II. Denial of Probation
Henning conceded that she was statutorily ineligible for probation because she had
previously suffered two felony convictions, one in 2008 (receiving stolen property), and
one in 2011 (harboring aliens), at the ages of 20 and 23, respectively. (Pen. Code § 1203,
subd. (e)(4).) Nonetheless, she argued to the trial court that it should grant probation with
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participation in a drug program based on her young age, the existence of two young
children, her history of drug abuse, the nature of the crimes and because the drugs
belonged to Munoz. She asserts the trial court abused its discretion by rejecting her claim
that her case was " 'unusual' " and then denying her probation. Specifically, she argues the
trial court did not adequately consider all mitigating factors as set forth in California
Rules of Court, rules 4.413 and 4.414. (Undesignated rule references are to the
California Rules of Court.) We disagree.
When a defendant is presumptively ineligible for probation, the trial court must
determine whether the presumption against probation has been overcome using the
criteria set forth in rule 4.413. (People v. Superior Court (Du) (1992) 5 Cal.App.4th 822,
830 (Du) [applying former rules 413 and 414, predecessors to rules 4.413 and 4.414].) If
the court finds the case to be an unusual one, it must then decide whether to grant
probation, utilizing the statutory criteria set forth in rule 4.414. (Ibid.) "[M]ere
suitability for probation does not overcome the presumptive bar. . . . [I]f the statutory
limitations on probation are to have any substantial scope and effect, 'unusual cases' and
'interests of justice' must be narrowly construed and, as rule [4.413] provides, limited to
those matters in which the crime is either atypical or the offender's moral
blameworthiness is reduced." (People v. Superior Court (Dorsey) (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th
1216, 1229.)
We review the trial court's finding that a case may or may not be unusual for abuse
of discretion. (Du, supra, 5 Cal.App.4th at p. 831.) We will not reverse the trial court's
decision merely because reasonable people might disagree; rather, the trial court's
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decision must be so irrational or arbitrary that no reasonable person could agree with it.
(People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 377.)
Rule 4.413(c)(2) sets forth three criteria upon which a trial court may find a
defendant's case to be unusual. As relevant here, rule 4.413(c)(2)(C) states that an
unusual case may be found where the defendant "is youthful or aged, and has no
significant record of prior criminal offenses." (Italics added.) While Henning is
youthful, she has a significant record of prior criminal offenses. At ages 15 and 16,
juvenile courts found true the crime of being under the influence of a controlled
substance. At ages 18 and 19, Henning was convicted of misdemeanor possession of
drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor burglary. At age 20, she suffered her first felony
conviction for receiving stolen property. That same year, she suffered a conviction for
misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. After all these true findings or
convictions, the trial court placed Henning on probation. At age 23, she received federal
probation for transporting illegal persons.
Henning has not demonstrated that the trial court abused its discretion in arriving
at its decision that the presumption of probation ineligibility was not overcome. Because
the trial court determined the presumption of probation ineligibility had not been
overcome, there was no need for the court to address the rule 4.414 factors governing a
grant of probation. Accordingly, there is no need for us to discuss Henning's arguments
relating to these factors. (See Du, supra, 5 Cal.App.4th at p. 830.)
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III. Fines
At the sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered Henning to pay "the minimum"
restitution fine and parole revocation fine of $300. As the Attorney General concedes,
the statutory minimum fines under Penal Code sections 1202.4 and 1202.45 at the time
Henning committed the crimes were $280. Henning asks us to order the currently
imposed restitution and parole revocation fines be reduced to $280 each. Based on the
record, the Attorney General concedes, and we agree, that the fines must be reduced.
DISPOSITION
The restitution fine and parole revocation fine are each ordered reduced from $300
to $280, under the version of Penal Code sections 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1), and 1202.45
in effect at the time defendant committed the charged crimes. The superior court is
ordered to modify the abstract of judgment to reflect the reduction in the restitution and
parole revocation fines to $280 each, and to forward a certified copy to the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation. As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
MCINTYRE, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
IRION, J.
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