People v. Maldonado CA4/1 ( 2015 )

Filed 8/25/15 P. v. Maldonado CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D067477
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. RIF1204393)
JOSE MALDONADO,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County,
Patrick F. Magers, Judge. Affirmed.
Theresa Osterman Stevenson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Gerald A. Engler, Chief
Assistant Attorneys General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, William M.
Wood, A. Natasha Cortina, Marvin E. Mizell and Meagan J. Beale, Deputy Attorneys
General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
A jury convicted Jose Maldonado of five counts of possessing stolen property, two
counts each of burglary, possessing a completed check with intent to defraud, passing or
attempting to pass an altered check, and one count of resisting or delaying a peace
officer. The jury also found true an allegation that Maldonado committed the crimes
while he was released from custody. Maldonado appeals, contending: (1) the trial court
abused its discretion by failing to exclude or sanitize evidence of his prior convictions,
(2) insufficient evidence supported his convictions on three counts of possessing stolen
property, one count of burglary, one count of passing or attempting to pass a fraudulent
check, and one count of possessing a completed check with the intent to defraud, (3) he
received ineffective assistance when his attorney told the jury that Maldonado was guilty
of certain charges, (4) cumulative error warrants reversal, and (5) Proposition 47, passed
by voters on November 4, 2014, requires we reduce his convictions on seven counts to
misdemeanors and remand the matter for resentencing. We reject Maldonado's
arguments and affirm.
BACKGROUND
This case involves a series of theft-related offenses that occurred between
September and November 2012. (Undesignated date references are to the year 2012.) In
sum, Maldonado possessed stolen mail, checks and a money order, cashed or attempted
to cash fraudulent checks at two banks, and attempted to flee from an officer after one of
the bank incidents. We summarize the relevant facts below as they pertain to each of
Maldonado's arguments.
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DISCUSSION
I. Prior Offense Evidence
A. Background
Maldonado had five prior felony convictions, including assault with a deadly
weapon in 1996, assault on a peace officer in 2001, making a criminal threat in 2002,
vehicle theft in 2005, and theft of personal property in 2010.
Maldonado's counsel informed the court that Maldonado intended to testify on his
own behalf and requested that the court exclude evidence of Maldonado's prior
convictions under Evidence Code section 352. Defense counsel argued the prior
convictions were prejudicial and remote in time. The People opposed Maldonado's
request, contending the jury was entitled to hear about crimes involving moral turpitude
and the evidence was relevant to evaluate Maldonado's veracity.
The court excluded evidence of the 2001 conviction for assault on a peace officer,
finding it was more prejudicial than probative. The court found the remaining
convictions were relevant to determining Maldonado's veracity. In regard to the 1996
conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, the court found that although it was remote
in time, it showed "a pattern of criminal conduct bearing on veracity itself."
During his direct testimony, Maldonado acknowledged his prior convictions. He
testified that he pleaded guilty in 2002 to making a criminal threat. Maldonado described
the crime as an incident in which he told a person to "pay me my money or I'm going to
kick your ass." Maldonado also testified that he pleaded guilty to an assault in 1996,
receiving a stolen vehicle in 2005, and petty theft with a prior in 2010. Maldonado
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attempted to explain that he was not convicted of those crimes beyond a reasonable doubt
because he pleaded guilty rather than going to trial.
On cross-examination, the prosecutor questioned Maldonado about his prior
convictions. When asked about his 1996 assault conviction, Maldonado stated he did not
remember it because it was years ago. He went on to state that the only assault he had
ever been convicted of was on an officer who he described as a "crooked cop." When
referring to Maldonado's conviction for making a criminal threat, the prosecutor
repeatedly called the crime "making terrorist threats." At one point, the prosecutor asked,
"And you want this jury to believe you despite the fact that you were convicted of
making terrorist threats; is that right?" Defense counsel objected on the grounds that the
question was argumentative and the court sustained the objection.
B. Analysis
Maldonado argues the trial court abused its discretion by failing to exclude or
sanitize evidence of his prior convictions to impeach his credibility. We reject this
argument.
"Any prior felony conviction of any person in any criminal proceeding . . . shall
subsequently be used without limitation for purposes of impeachment . . . in any criminal
proceeding." (Cal. Const., art. 1, § 28, subd. (f)(4).) "A witness may be impeached with
any prior conduct involving moral turpitude whether or not it resulted in a felony
conviction, subject to the trial court's exercise of discretion under Evidence Code section
352." (People v. Clark (2011) 52 Cal. 4th 856, 931.) Because the trial court's discretion
to admit or exclude impeachment evidence is broad, a reviewing court ordinarily upholds
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the trial court's exercise of discretion. (Id. at p. 932; People v. Hinton (2006) 37 Cal. 4th
839, 887.)
"When determining whether to admit a prior conviction for impeachment
purposes, the court should consider, among other factors, whether it reflects on the
witness's honesty or veracity, whether it is near or remote in time, whether it is for the
same or similar conduct as the charged offense, and what effect its admission would have
on the defendant's decision to testify." (People v. Clark, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 931.) To
minimize any prejudicial effect of admission of evidence regarding a witness's prior
felony conviction, a trial court may sanitize that evidence (e.g., by excluding the title or
other details of the prior felony conviction). (People v. Mickle (1991) 54 Cal. 3d 140,
172; People v. Gray (2007) 158 Cal. App. 4th 635, 641-642; People v. Ballard (1993) 13
Cal. App. 4th 687, 698, fn. 6.)
Here, Maldonado does not dispute that his prior offenses are the types of crimes
that are admissible for impeachment purposes. As the People point out, making criminal
threats and crimes of violence involve moral turpitude. (People v. Thornton (1992) 3
Cal. App. 4th 419, 424; People v. Hinton, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 888.) Additionally,
theft-related crimes reflect on a witness's honesty. (People v. Mendoza (2000) 78
Cal. App. 4th 918, 925.)
The trial court properly exercised its discretion in admitting the prior offenses. In
doing so, the court considered whether the crimes reflected on Maldonado's veracity and
their remoteness in time. Ultimately, the court excluded the offense involving assault on
a peace officer as more prejudicial than probative but allowed the remainder of the
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offenses, finding they showed "a pattern of criminal conduct bearing upon veracity
itself." Moreover, admission of the prior offenses did not discourage Maldonado's
decision to testify as he went forward with testifying on his own behalf. We find no
abuse of discretion in the trial court's ruling.
Maldonado contends the impeachment evidence was prejudicial because his
defense was largely based on "his credibility in explaining the circumstances of each of
the incidents and his intent and understanding of his actions." Thus, he argues the
evidence created a risk that the jury would determine that since he was a thief before, he
must be guilty of the crimes in this case. We acknowledge the risk of prejudice resulting
from prior offense evidence even if it is for the limited purpose of impeachment. (People
v. Gray, supra, 158 Cal.App.4th at p. 641.) "The Evidence Code, however, entitles the
People to present evidence of the credibility of any witness, including a criminal
defendant [citation] and '[n]o witness including a defendant who elects to testify in his
own behalf is entitled to a false aura of veracity.' " (Ibid.) Further, the danger that the
jury might misuse the prior offense evidence was reduced because the court instructed the
jurors that they could consider the prior offenses only in evaluating credibility, a
conviction does not necessarily destroy or impair a witness's credibility, and it was up to
the jury to decide the weight of the prior convictions and whether they made Maldonado
less believable. Defense counsel also told the jury in closing argument that it could
consider Maldonado's prior felonies only in evaluating his credibility and not for
determining whether Maldonado committed the crimes in this case.
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Maldonado also contends the court should have "sanitized" his prior offenses by
allowing the jury to only hear that he was convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude,
rather than that the crimes were theft-related offenses or "terrorist threat[s]." Maldonado
did not request that the trial court sanitize the prior offenses and thus forfeited the
contention on appeal. (See People v. Partida (2005) 37 Cal. 4th 428, 433-435.) Even if
the issue was preserved, however, we conclude sanitation would not have made a
difference. There was nothing particularly inflammatory in Maldonado's testimony about
his prior crimes and although some of the offenses were theft-related, they did not
involve facts similar to the crimes in this case. Specifically, based on Maldonado's
testimony, the prior offenses did not relate to stolen mail or cashing fraudulent checks.
Lastly, Maldonado argues the prosecutor's characterization of his 2002 criminal
threat conviction as a "terrorist threat" was especially prejudicial due to heightened
concerns and news coverage regarding terrorists. We reject this argument as there is no
reasonable probability that the jury concluded Maldonado was a terrorist. Maldonado
explained that the crime was an incident in which he told a person to "pay me my money
or I'm going to kick your ass." Moreover, the crime of making a criminal threat under
Penal Code section 422 is often referred to as a "terrorist threat" and, in this case, both the
prosecutor and defense counsel referred to Maldonado's crime with that designation.
Thus, the prosecutor's reference to "terrorist threats" did not improperly taint the jury's
view of Maldonado's character.
Based on the foregoing, we reject Maldonado's argument that the court abused its
discretion in admitting or failing to sanitize his prior offenses for impeachment.
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II. Sufficiency of the Evidence
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we evaluate
the whole record to ascertain whether there is substantial evidence to support the verdict.
(People v. Cole (2004) 33 Cal. 4th 1158, 1212.) We " 'view the evidence in a light most
favorable to respondent and presume in support of the judgment the existence of every
fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence' " to determine whether a
reasonable trier of fact could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (People v. Young
(2005) 34 Cal. 4th 1149, 1175; People v. Cole, at pp. 1212-1213.) The same standard
applies when the prosecution relies primarily on circumstantial evidence. (People v.
Young, at p. 1175.)
Substantial evidence includes circumstantial evidence and the reasonable
inferences the evidence allows. (People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal. 4th 1, 11; People v.
Pierce (1979) 24 Cal. 3d 199, 210.) " '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 be reasonably reconciled with a
contrary finding does not warrant a reversal of the judgment.' " ' " (People v. Palmore
(2000) 79 Cal. App. 4th 1290, 1298; see also People v. Thomas (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 489,
514.) Thus, " 'where the jury rejects the hypothesis pointing to innocence by its verdict,
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and there is evidence to support the implied finding of guilt as the more reasonable of the
two hypotheses, this court is bound by the finding of the jury.' " (People v. Towler (1982)
31 Cal. 3d 105, 118.)
B. September Mail Incident (Counts 1-2)
1. Facts
On a night in September, Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Javier Morando saw
Maldonado staggering down the street. Deputy Morando believed Maldonado was
intoxicated and asked if he could talk to him. Maldonado was carrying a beer bottle and
mail. When Deputy Morando contacted Maldonado, Maldonado dropped the mail he was
holding.
Maldonado had told Deputy Morando his name and Deputy Morando observed
that none of the mail was addressed to Maldonado. Maldonado stated the mail belonged
to a friend, but was unable to provide the friend's name. Maldonado later said that two
white men gave him the mail. Deputy Morando placed Maldonado under arrest for
possession of stolen property and took his wallet and cell phone for safety. In the wallet,
Deputy Morando found a money order that did not belong to Maldonado. Maldonado
later told Deputy Morando that he had found the mail and money order on the ground as
he was walking past the post office. Maldonado said he should never have taken the mail
and money order; instead, he should have left them.
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Deputy Morando contacted Josephine Evans, who was identified as the sender on
the money order found in Maldonado's wallet. Evans testified she did not know
Maldonado and he had no right to possess the money order. She had purchased the
money order, made it payable to her sister, and subsequently put it in a mailbox.
Maldonado testified that as he was walking to his house, he saw two white men
scuffle, drop a bag and run away. Maldonado picked up the bag and saw that it had
unopened mail inside. He took the bag with him and intended to leave it on top of a
mailbox a few blocks away. He did not intend to keep the mail or money order for
himself.
Maldonado also denied having told Deputy Morando different stories about how
he came into possession of the mail. According to Maldonado, the only thing he told
Deputy Morando was that two males dropped the mail. Maldonado also denied having
any money orders.
2. Analysis
Maldonado argues insufficient evidence established that he had the requisite intent
and knowledge to possess stolen mail and a money order arising from the September
incident. We reject this argument.
In order to convict a person of receiving stolen property, the prosecution must
prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that (1) the property was stolen; (2) the defendant
knew it was stolen; and (3) that the defendant possessed the property. (Pen. Code, § 496;
People v. Land (1994) 30 Cal. App. 4th 220, 223.) Proof of the required mental state can
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be proved by direct evidence, but is often shown by circumstantial evidence. (People v.
Alvarado (1982) 133 Cal. App. 3d 1003, 1019.) "[T]he knowledge element is inferred
from the defendant's failure to explain how he came to possess a stolen item or his offer
of an unsatisfactory explanation or from suspicious circumstances attendant upon his
possession of the item." (Id. at pp. 1019-1020.) Possession of recently stolen property
raises a strong inference of knowledge of its stolen nature. (People v. Anderson (1989)
210 Cal. App. 3d 414, 421.) Moreover, "[f]alse or evasive answers to material questions
with reference to the ownership of stolen property tend to prove such knowledge."
(People v. Reynolds (1957) 149 Cal. App. 2d 290, 294.)
Here, Maldonado gave Deputy Morando varying accounts of how he came into
possession of the mail he was carrying. He first stated the mail belonged to a friend, but
could not provide the friend's name, and later said that two white men gave him the mail.
In a third version of events, Maldonado said he had found the mail and money order on
the ground as he was walking past the post office. He also admitted that he should not
have taken the items. In regard to the money order, Maldonado possessed it just a few
days after Evans had placed it in the mail. Based on Maldonado's false and evasive
statements regarding how he came to possess the mail and the suspicious circumstances,
including that Evans had placed the money order in a mailbox, the jury could reasonably
have found that Maldonado knew the mail was stolen.
Maldonado asserts his intoxication at the time that Deputy Morando stopped him
was relevant to negate the knowledge element of the crime. However, Maldonado did
not testify that he did not know what he was doing when he came into possession of the
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mail. Rather, Maldonado testified that he picked up a bag containing unopened mail after
two men dropped it and that he intended to leave the mail on top of a mailbox. Thus,
according to Maldonado, he knew exactly what he was doing. Additionally, Maldonado
had the ability to tell Deputy Morando at least three different versions of events, none of
which included impairment due to intoxication. Based on this evidence, we reject
Maldonado's argument that his intoxication negated his knowledge.
C. November Provident Bank Incident (Counts 3-6)
1. Facts
In November, Maldonado went into Provident Bank in Riverside to cash a check.
Maldonado did not have an account at the bank, but the bank's policy was to cash checks
under $500 for noncustomers if they had two forms of identification and signed the check
in front of the teller. If the check was for an amount over $500, the bank would call the
owner of the account to see if he or she wrote the check. The check Maldonado
presented was for $420.
Maldonado presented a California driver's license and an inmate release card as
identification. Maldonado matched the photograph on the driver's license and he signed
the check in the bank teller's presence. Thus, the teller cashed the check and gave
Maldonado $420. Photographs from the bank's surveillance camera showed Maldonado
at the teller's window and leaving the bank. The photograph of Maldonado leaving the
bank also showed an unidentified woman leaving the bank ahead of him.
After Maldonado left the bank, bank employees realized he had left his cell phone
in the lobby. Maldonado did not return to retrieve his phone. Thus, the bank manager
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called the maker of the check, Ramon Larranaga, and said his friend left a phone at the
bank. The bank manager also specified the friend's check was for $420. Larranaga said
he had not written a check in that amount. Larranaga had written the check Maldonado
cashed to LaCuracao, a furniture store, in the amount of $120. Larranaga put the check
in a mailbox. Someone had changed the amount of the check and the payee. Larranaga
did not know Maldonado and had not given anyone permission to cash the check other
than LaCuracao.
Maldonado testified that he met a woman in the parking lot outside of Provident
Bank. The woman was with Larranaga. While Larranaga waited inside a car, the woman
asked Maldonado to do her a favor by cashing a check because she did not have
identification to do so. In exchange, the woman agreed to give Maldonado half of the
money from the cashed check.
Maldonado stated he did not realize what he was doing was illegal. He did not
alter the check and was unaware that it was altered. According to Maldonado, the check
was already filled out when the woman gave it to him. Maldonado explained that he
walked into the bank with the woman, endorsed the check, and cashed it. Thereafter, the
woman gave Maldonado half of the money and then she walked off.
2. Analysis
In connection with the check he cashed at Provident Bank, the jury found
Maldonado guilty of burglary, receipt of stolen property, passing an altered check, and
possessing a completed check with intent to defraud. Maldonado argues the evidence
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failed to prove his intent to defraud Provident Bank, commit larceny or a felony when he
entered, and that he knew the check he presented was stolen.
a. Intent to Defraud
Under Penal Code section 475, subdivision (c), "[e]very person who possesses any
completed check, . . . whether real or fictitious, with the intent to utter or pass or facilitate
the utterance or passage of the same, in order to defraud any person, is guilty of forgery."
Similarly, Penal Code section 476 makes it a crime to pass or attempt to pass an altered
check with intent to defraud.
Maldonado argues no reasonable juror could have found he possessed the requisite
intent to defraud under the circumstances of this case where he used his own name and
identification, personally endorsed the check in the teller's presence and left his cell
phone at the bank. Maldonado essentially asserts that the jury should have believed his
version of events that he cashed the check as a favor for an unidentified woman in
exchange for half of the money. However, the jury was free to reject Maldonado's
testimony and draw reasonable inferences from the evidence.
Based on the evidence, a jury could reasonably infer that Maldonado intended to
defraud. As Maldonado acknowledges, there was sufficient evidence to establish that the
check he negotiated was altered. Both the amount and payee had been changed.
Larranaga, the check's maker, testified that he did not know Maldonado, had not seen him
before, and had not given anyone permission to cash the check other than LaCuracao
furniture store. Further, Larranaga stated he put the check in the mail. The jury was free
to reject Maldonado's testimony in favor of Larranaga's version of events. Simply
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because Maldonado used his own name and identification does not make Larranaga's
testimony less credible or the inferences drawn therefrom unreasonable. We will not
substitute one hypothesis for another where the jury's findings are reasonably justified
and supported by substantial evidence. (People v. Palmore, supra, 79 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1298; People v. Towler, supra, 31 Cal.3d at p. 118.)
b. Intent to Commit Larceny or a Felony
Maldonado argues there was no substantial evidence to support his burglary
conviction because there was no evidence that he intended to commit larceny or a felony
upon entering the bank. We disagree.
Burglary is committed when a person enters a building "with intent to commit
grand or petit larceny or any felony." (Pen. Code, § 459; People v. Montoya (1994) 7
Cal. 4th 1027, 1041; see People v. Lawrence (2000) 24 Cal. 4th 219, 232-233.) "[I]n
reviewing the sufficiency of evidence to support a burglary finding, the requisite intent is
rarely demonstrated by direct proof, and as a result, may be inferred from facts and
circumstances." (In re Leanna W. (2004) 120 Cal. App. 4th 735, 741; see People v. Lewis
(2001) 25 Cal. 4th 610, 643.) The intent to steal may be inferred from the totality of the
facts and circumstances. (People v. Frye (1985) 166 Cal. App. 3d 941, 947.) If the
circumstances of a particular case and the conduct of the defendant reasonably indicate
that his or her purpose in unlawfully entering a building is to commit larceny, a reviewing
court will not disturb a guilty verdict on a burglary charge. (People v. Swenson (1938) 28
Cal. App. 2d 636, 639-640.)
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Here, Maldonado entered the bank with an altered check. The payee had been
changed to Maldonado instead of LaCuracao and the amount was increased from $120 to
$420. Larranaga stated he had put the check in the mail after writing it to LaCuracao.
Although Maldonado testified that he was unaware that the check was altered and that it
was already filled out when the unidentified woman gave it to him, the jury was free to
reject that testimony and to infer from the circumstances that Maldonado had a felonious
intent upon entering the bank. "It is the exclusive function of the trier of fact to assess the
credibility of witnesses and draw reasonable inferences from the evidence." (People v.
Sanchez (2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 325, 330.) The fact that Maldonado used his own name
and identification and left his cell phone at the bank does not convince us that the
evidence is insufficient to find the requisite intent for burglary.
c. Knowledge of Stolen Check
Maldonado argues there was no substantial evidence to support his conviction for
receipt of stolen property because there was no evidence that he knew the check he
presented at Provident Bank was stolen.
"[T]o sustain a conviction for receiving stolen property, the prosecution must
prove (1) the property was stolen; (2) the defendant knew the property was stolen; and (3)
the defendant had possession of the stolen property." (People v. Land, supra, 30
Cal.App.4th at p. 223; People v. Kunkin (1973) 9 Cal. 3d 245, 249.) "[P]ossession of
stolen property, accompanied by no explanation, or an unsatisfactory explanation of the
possession, or by suspicious circumstances, will justify an inference that the goods were
received with knowledge that they had been stolen. The rule is generally applied where
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the accused is found in possession of the articles soon after they were stolen." (People v.
Lopez (1954) 126 Cal. App. 2d 274, 278.)
Here, Maldonado cashed the stolen check one day after Larranaga put it in the
mail. Although Maldonado offered an explanation as to how he came to possess the
check, the jury was not required to credit his story, especially where the circumstances
were suspicious. Maldonado stated an unidentified woman he met in the bank's parking
lot asked him to cash the check, it was already filled in with his name before he obtained
it, and he received a fifty percent fee for simply using his identification to cash the check.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, including the suspicious events surrounding
the check, the jury could reasonably infer that Maldonado knew the check was stolen.
III. Alleged Ineffective Assistance
A. Background
During closing argument, defense counsel asked the jury to find Maldonado
"guilty only of the charges he is guilty of" and "not guilty of any charges that he's not
guilty of." Defense counsel continued, "Counts 3 through 6 [relating to Provident Bank]
he's guilty. He went into the bank, either should have known or knew that he shouldn't
have been doing that on that day. That wasn't a legitimate check. But all the other counts
haven't been proven. [¶] So what we're asking you to do is follow the law, follow your
duties, find Mr. Maldonado guilty of Counts 3 through 6, but not guilty of everything
else."
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B. Analysis
Maldonado argues his counsel provided ineffective assistance by telling the jury
that he was guilty of counts 3 through 6 relating to the Provident Bank incident. We
reject this argument.
A defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden to show: (1)
counsel's performance was deficient, falling below an objective standard of
reasonableness under prevailing professional norms; and (2) the deficient performance
resulted in prejudice. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687; People v.
Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal. 3d 171, 216, 218.) Prejudice is shown when "there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome." (Strickland, at p. 694.)
Further, as is important here, "[r]eviewing courts reverse convictions on direct
appeal on the ground of incompetence of counsel only if the record on appeal
demonstrates there could be no rational tactical purpose for counsel's omissions."
(People v. Lucas (1995) 12 Cal. 4th 415, 442; see People v. Anderson (2001) 25 Cal. 4th
543, 569.) "In the usual case, where counsel's trial tactics or strategic reasons for
challenged decisions do not appear on the record, we will not find ineffective assistance
of counsel on appeal unless there could be no conceivable reason for counsel's acts or
omissions." (People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 876, 926.)
"The right to effective assistance extends to closing arguments. [Citations.]
Nonetheless, counsel has wide latitude in deciding how best to represent a client, and
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deference to counsel's tactical decisions in his closing presentation is particularly
important because of the broad range of legitimate defense strategy at that stage."
(Yarborough v. Gentry (2003) 540 U.S. 1, 5-6.) "The decision of how to argue to the jury
after the presentation of evidence is inherently tactical[,]" and in that context our
Supreme Court has acknowledged "the importance of maintaining credibility before the
jury." (People v. Freeman (1994) 8 Cal. 4th 450, 498.) "[G]ood trial tactics often
demand complete candor with the jury, and . . . in light of the weight of the evidence
incriminating a defendant, an attorney may be more realistic and effective by avoiding
sweeping declarations of his or her client's innocence." (People v. Mitcham (1992) 1
Cal. 4th 1027, 1060-1061.) "Defense counsel must not argue against his or her client
[citation], but it is settled that it is not necessarily incompetent for an attorney to concede
his or her client's guilt of a particular offense." (People v. Lucas, supra, 12 Cal.4th at
p. 446.)
Here, in light of the evidence, defense counsel reasonably could have concluded
that he would lose credibility if he attempted to argue that Maldonado did not commit the
crimes alleged as to the Provident Bank incident. Surveillance photos from the bank
showed Maldonado cashing the check. Maldonado did not dispute that the check had
been altered. The payee was changed to Maldonado and the amount was increased from
$120 to $420. Larranaga testified he had put the check in a mailbox after writing it to a
furniture store and he had not given Maldonado permission to cash it.
Although Maldonado offered an explanation that he met a woman in the Provident
Bank parking lot who asked him to do her a favor by cashing the check in exchange for
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half of the money, the evidence undermined that claim. Maldonado claimed the woman
was with Larranaga. However, Larranaga testified that he had not previously seen
Maldonado. Moreover, Larranaga's testimony contradicted Maldonado's claim that the
unidentified woman gave him the check because Larranaga had dropped the check in a
mailbox. Additionally, Maldonado's version of events was suspicious in that he claimed
the check was filled out with his name before he obtained it and he received a substantial
fee of $210 for simply cashing it.
Based on the evidence, defense counsel could have reasonably concluded that the
jury would not believe Maldonado's version of events. Accordingly, it was a reasonable
tactical choice for defense counsel to concede Maldonado's guilt as to the charges
associated with the Provident Bank incident and to concentrate instead on weaknesses in
the evidence supporting the other charges. We conclude Maldonado has not established
ineffective assistance of counsel as he has not shown defense counsel had no tactical
purpose for his concession of guilt.
IV. Cumulative Error
Maldonado argues that even if the errors he raises on appeal were not prejudicial
individually, reversal is required because their cumulative effect rendered his trial
fundamentally unfair in violation of due process. We find no merit to Maldonado's
cumulative error contention. As discussed above, the trial court did not commit any error
and, even if it did, such errors were harmless individually, as well as cumulatively.
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V. Proposition 47
Maldonado argues Proposition 47 (the Act), passed by voters on November 4,
2014, applies retroactively and requires we reduce his convictions on counts 1 through 7
to misdemeanors and remand the matter for resentencing. The People do not dispute that
counts 1 through 7 qualify for misdemeanor sentencing. The People assert, however, that
Maldonado's exclusive remedy is to petition for recall of his sentence when his
conviction becomes final.
The Act "makes certain drug- and theft-related offenses misdemeanors, unless the
offenses were committed by certain ineligible defendants. These offenses had previously
been designated as either felonies or wobblers (crimes that can be punished as either
felonies or misdemeanors)." (People v. Rivera (2015) 233 Cal. App. 4th 1085, 1091.) The
Act also added section 1170.18 to the Penal Code, which provides: "A person currently
serving a sentence for a conviction, whether by trial or plea, of a felony or felonies who
would have been guilty of a misdemeanor under the act that added this section ('this act')
had this act been in effect at the time of the offense may petition for a recall of sentence
before the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in his or her case to request
resentencing."
In People v. Noyan (2014) 232 Cal. App. 4th 657 (Noyan), the court considered the
same issue before us and concluded that a defendant subject to the Act "is limited to the
statutory remedy of petitioning for recall of sentence in the trial court once his judgment
is final, pursuant to Penal Code section 1170.18." (Id. at p. 672 [citing People v.
Yearwood (2013) 213 Cal. App. 4th 161 [concluding that a provision of Proposition 36,
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the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, which created a postconviction resentencing
procedure similar to Penal Code section 1170.18 was the "functional equivalent" of a
saving clause].) We agree with the conclusion in Noyan and several other recently
published decisions that Maldonado is limited to the statutory remedy of petitioning for
recall of sentence under Penal Code section 1170.18. (Noyan, at p. 672; People v.
Delapena (July 30, 2015, H041363) __ Cal.App.4th __ [2015 Cal.App.LEXIS 663];
People v. Dehoyos (2015) 238 Cal. App. 4th 363, 366, petition for review filed August 3,
2015; People v. Shabazz (2015) 237 Cal. App. 4th 303, 314.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
McINTYRE, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
AARON, J.
IRION, J.
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