In re C.M. CA2/3 ( 2015 )

Filed 1/21/15 In re C.M. CA2/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for
publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
In re C.M., A Person Coming Under the B252398
Juvenile Court Law.
_____________________________________ (Los Angeles County
THE PEOPLE, Super. Ct. No. KJ38359)
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
C.M.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
Geanene M. Yriarte, Judge. Modified and affirmed.
Mary Bernstein, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, George A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Steven D. Matthews and
Analee J. Brodie, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
_________________________________
Defendant Cesar M. was adjudicated a ward of the court, after the trial court
sustained a petition charging that defendant had committed: (1) assault on a police
officer with a deadly weapon (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (c)); (2) obstructing or resisting
an officer by force or violence (Pen. Code, § 69); and (3) commercial burglary
(Pen. Code, § 459). Defendant appeals. We modify the judgment to correct sentencing
errors and otherwise affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
1. Underlying Facts
Defendant, aged 16, broke into an elementary school with two of his friends,
where they stole various items including an ELMO portable projector. Pomona Police
Department Officer Trevor Stevenson responded to an alarm call at the school at
approximately 4:40 a.m. While still in his patrol car, he saw defendant and his friends
leave a classroom, carrying bags or backpacks. The three suspects initially walked in
Officer Stevenson’s direction, but when they saw him, they turned and ran in the
opposite direction.
Officer Stevenson gave chase in his patrol car; he found the suspects on a nearby
street. Officer Stevenson got out of his patrol car, identified himself as a police officer,
and ordered the suspects to get on the ground. The suspects responded by running
away. Officer Stevenson gave chase; this time on foot. The three suspects ran along the
sidewalk; Officer Stevenson was running in the street, behind and to the right of the
suspects.
Defendant kept looking back over his right shoulder, to where Officer Stevenson
was running. When Officer Stevenson was approximately 10 or 15 feet away from
defendant, defendant threw a metal crowbar towards him. The crowbar clattered
harmlessly to the street, to the right and ahead of Officer Stevenson.
The chase continued. Officer Stevenson continued to tell defendant to get on the
ground; defendant continued to run. Eventually, defendant began slowing. Officer
Stevenson was not sure whether defendant was planning to cross the street (to his right)
or give up. Officer Stevenson continued to approach defendant. As Officer Stevenson
2
came within arm’s reach of defendant, defendant swung the black bag – containing the
stolen projector – like a baseball bat and struck Officer Stevenson in his knees. The
blow did not stop Officer Stevenson’s approach. Officer Stevenson tackled defendant
to the ground, and took him into custody. Officer Stevenson suffered some abrasions on
his hand from the tackle, and some swelling to one knee which he attributed to either
the tackle or being struck with the bag. The other two suspects were not apprehended.
Defendant was interviewed by Pomona Police Department Officer Jesse Hedrick,
sometime later, in the waiting room of Pomona Valley Community Hospital.1 Officer
Hedrick read defendant his Miranda2 rights, which defendant said he understood.
Defendant admitted following his friends into the classroom to take projectors. He
stated that he and his friends sell the projectors for $200. Defendant admitted knowing
that a police officer was chasing him. He stated that he had dropped the crowbar or
thrown it backwards. He also stated that he had thrown the black bag backwards in an
attempt to get away from the pursuing officer. Defendant claimed to be remorseful,
although he refused to provide police with the names of the individuals who had broken
into the school with him.
2. Pretrial Pitchess3 Motion
After defendant was ordered detained, he sought disclosure of information
contained in the personnel files of Officers Stevenson and Hedrick, related to their use
1
Defense counsel inferred that, since defendant was in the hospital when
questioned by police, defendant had been injured by Officer Stevenson’s tackle. There
was no evidence at trial that defendant had been injured. Officer Hedrick testified that
he later learned that defendant had been transported to the hospital “for medical
clearance for booking.” The detention report explained that defendant “was medically
clear in Valley Hospital for using meth[]amphetamine and alcoholic beverage prior to
his entry to juvenile hall.” Indeed, the detention report states that defendant admitted
marijuana use, methamphetamine use, and alcoholic beverage consumption. In the
same statement, defendant claimed that officers “punched him in the face and knocked
him to the ground during the arrest.”
2
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436.
3
Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531.
3
of excessive force and/or writing of false police reports.4 The motion was supported by
a declaration of counsel, which set forth the following scenario: While defendant was
running from Officer Stevenson, he “tossed the crowbar to his side while he was
running, not in the direction of any officer and before the officer got close[] to him.”
Defendant then “decided to stop running from the police and he stopped so he could get
to his kne[e]s on the ground to surrender. Officer Stevenson tackled [defendant] and
[defendant] stopped running.” Officer Stevenson used excessive force in detaining
defendant, and defendant sustained injuries from the tackle.5 Officer Hedrick did not
read defendant his Miranda rights before questioning him in the hospital.
Although counsel’s declaration represents that Officer Stevenson used excessive
force in tackling defendant, the declaration at no time suggests that defendant used
reasonable force against Officer Stevenson in defending himself from the use of
excessive force. Counsel’s declaration does not state that defendant struck Officer
Stevenson with the projector intentionally, in self-defense.6
The trial court granted defendant’s Pitchess motion with respect to information
relating to claims of writing false reports, but denied it with respect to claims of
excessive force. The court stated that excessive force is not a defense to the charged
crimes “because the officer according to the case as a whole never touched the minor
before the minor allegedly threw the crowbar and threw the bag.” The court held an in
camera hearing with the custodian of the relevant records, and concluded that no
documents existed which related to claims of writing false reports.
4
The motion also sought information relating to other issues such as “racial bias,
gender bias, ethnic bias, sexual orientation bias . . . fabrication of charges, fabrication of
evidence, fabrication of reasonable suspicion and/or probable cause, illegal
search/seizure, [and] false arrest . . . . ” These issues are not implicated in this appeal.
5
Defense counsel’s affidavit did not suggest Officer Stevenson had punched
defendant in the face. (See footnote 1, ante.)
6
Counsel’s declaration has two key paragraphs – one setting forth the facts from
the arrest report; and the other, the defense’s view of the facts. The latter paragraph
does not mention that defendant swung the projector at Officer Stevenson at all.
4
3. Trial and Sentencing
After trial, the court heard argument. The court was specifically concerned with
sufficiency of the evidence of the first count, assault on a police officer with a deadly
weapon. Defense counsel argued that the crowbar had simply been discarded, not
thrown at Officer Stevenson. As to striking the officer with the bag, defense counsel
argued that defendant had simply attempted to get rid of the evidence, as he knew he
was about to get tackled. Defense counsel further argued that a projector is not a deadly
weapon, nor was it used with an intent to injure. The prosecutor argued that the
crowbar was not simply dropped, but was instead thrown in the direction of the officer.
While the prosecutor believed that the act of throwing the crowbar alone constituted
assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, the prosecutor also argued that
swinging the bag like a baseball bat at an officer running full speed toward the
defendant also satisfied the requirements of the offense. The court found all three
charges true beyond a reasonable doubt. The court specifically found that the crowbar
had been thrown at Officer Stevenson, not dropped. The court determined that all three
offenses were felonies.
At the disposition hearing, defendant was ordered to camp community placement
for three months, with a possibility of release at 60 days if defendant was making
progress. The court calculated defendant’s maximum term of confinement to be seven
years.
CONTENTIONS ON APPEAL
Defendant contends: (1) the court erred in denying defendant’s Pitchess motion
with respect to complaints of excessive force against Officer Stevenson;7 (2) there was
insufficient evidence that defendant committed assault on a police officer with a deadly
weapon; and (3) the court miscalculated defendant’s maximum term of confinement.
7
Defendant also requests this court to independently review the transcript of the in
camera proceedings on the Pitchess motion. The prosecution agrees.
5
DISCUSSION
1. The Court Did Not Err in Denying the Pitchess Motion with
Respect to Evidence of Excessive Force
“The legal principles guiding our review of Pitchess motions are well
established. ‘A defendant has a limited right to discovery of a peace officer’s
confidential personnel records if those files contain information that is potentially
relevant to the defense. [Citations.] . . . [¶] To initiate discovery, a defendant must file
a motion seeking such records, containing affidavits “showing good cause for the
discovery or disclosure sought, setting forth the materiality thereof to the subject matter
involved in the pending litigation . . . . ” [Citation.] Good cause requires the defendant
to establish a logical link between a proposed defense and the pending charge and to
articulate how the discovery would support such a defense or how it would impeach the
officer’s version of events. [Citation.]’ ” (Sisson v. Superior Court (2013)
216 Cal.App.4th 24, 33-34.) “What the defendant must present is a specific factual
scenario of officer misconduct that is plausible when read in light of the pertinent
documents.” (Warrick v. Superior Court (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1011, 1025.)
In determining whether the defendant has established good cause, the trial court
considers whether materiality has been established. “The court does that through the
following inquiry: Has the defense shown a logical connection between the charges and
the proposed defense? Is the defense request for Pitchess discovery factually specific
and tailored to support its claim of officer misconduct? Will the requested Pitchess
discovery support the proposed defense, or is it likely to lead to information that would
support the proposed defense? Under what theory would the requested information be
admissible at trial? If defense counsel’s affidavit in support of the Pitchess motion
adequately responds to these questions, . . . then the defendant has shown good cause
for discovery and in-chambers review of potentially relevant personnel records of the
police officer accused of misconduct against the defendant.” (Warrick v. Superior
Court, supra, 35 Cal.4th at pp. 1026-1027.)
6
In this case, defendant contends that materiality, and thus good cause, has been
established, because charges of excessive force against Officer Stevenson are relevant to
defendant’s defense that he acted in self-defense against Officer Stevenson’s use of
excessive force. However, defendant’s counsel did not assert this defense in the
affidavit in support of defendant’s Pitchess motion.8 Defendant’s counsel posited that
Officer Stevenson had used excessive force in tackling defendant, but made no
argument that either the crowbar or the bag was thrown at Officer Stevenson in
self-defense against the alleged excessive force. Indeed, as the trial court noted, the
incidents with the crowbar and bag both indisputably occurred before Officer Stevenson
made the tackle with allegedly excessive force. It is difficult to see how defendant
could have used force to defend against purported excessive force which had not yet
occurred. The trial court therefore did not err in denying the Pitchess motion with
respect to excessive force.
Defendant next requests that we independently review the records from the in
camera hearing, to assure that the proper Pitchess procedure was followed, in
connection with the grant of the Pitchess motion with respect to the issue of filing false
police reports. The prosecutor concurs that the request is appropriate. The procedural
requirements for a Pitchess hearing are set forth in People v. Mooc (2001) 26 Cal.4th
1216. “When a trial court concludes a defendant’s Pitchess motion shows good cause
for discovery of relevant evidence contained in a law enforcement officer’s personnel
files, the custodian of the records is obligated to bring to the trial court all ‘potentially
relevant’ documents to permit the trial court to examine them for itself.
[Citation.] . . . A court reporter should be present to document the custodian’s
statements, as well as any questions the trial court may wish to ask the custodian
regarding the completeness of the record. [Citation.] [¶] The trial court should then
8
Defendant notes, correctly, that the points and authorities of the motion did argue
that discovery of excessive force complaints is mandated when a defendant alleges the
defense of self-defense. However, there was no mention of self-defense in the affidavit,
upon which the determination of good cause must be made.
7
make a record of what documents it examined before ruling on the Pitchess
motion. . . . If the documents produced by the custodian are not voluminous, the court
can photocopy them and place them in a confidential file. Alternatively, the court can
prepare a list of the documents it considered, or simply state for the record what
documents it examined.” (Id. at pp. 1228-1229.)
Here, the trial court complied with the procedural requirements set forth by
Mooc. The custodian of records for the Pomona Police Department testified under oath
that there were no responsive documents in the files of Officers Stevenson and Hedrick.
The custodian of records further described an additional document which was not
produced. The court questioned the custodian of records as to the contents of the
unproduced document, and concluded that it was not relevant to the issue of writing
false police reports. We have conducted an independent review of the transcript and
find no abuse of discretion.
2. There Was Sufficient Evidence of Assault On A Police Officer
With A Deadly Weapon
Defendant next contends there is insufficient evidence of assault on a police
officer with a deadly weapon. In a sufficiency of the evidence challenge, the appellate
court “ ‘must determine “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable
to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of
the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” [Citation.]’ ” (In re V.V. (2011) 51 Cal.4th
1020, 1026, original italics.) Every fact that could have been reasonably deduced from
the evidence in favor of the judgment must be presumed to support the judgment.
(Ibid.)
The trial court concluded that defendant threw the crowbar at Officer Stevenson.
Defendant does not argue that throwing a crowbar at a victim does not constitute assault
with a deadly weapon. (Cf. People v. Garcia (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d 781, 784
[defendant convicted of assault with a deadly weapon for throwing a tire iron at a police
officer].) Defendant argues, however, that the evidence is insufficient that he actually
threw the crowbar at Officer Stevenson, rather than simply disposing of the crowbar.
8
This consists of two arguments. First, defendant argues that Officer Stevenson was not,
in fact, running to defendant’s right, where the crowbar was found. However, Officer
Stevenson testified that he was 10-15 feet away from defendant, to his right and slightly
behind him, when defendant threw the crowbar towards him. This testimony constitutes
sufficient evidence. Defendant argues that Officer Stevenson’s testimony should not be
believed, because it is “highly dubious” that Officer Stevenson was, in fact, to
defendant’s right (where the crowbar indisputably fell) when chasing defendant. We
disagree; there is no reason to disbelieve Officer Stevenson, who clearly testified that
defendant was running on the sidewalk and he was to defendant’s right, in the street.9
Second, defendant argues that it is mere speculation that he threw the crowbar at the
officer. On the contrary, Officer Stevenson saw defendant extend his arm to the right
side of his body and make a throwing motion, while looking to his right, where Officer
Stevenson was running. This is sufficient evidence from which the court could
determine that defendant intended to throw the crowbar at Officer Stevenson.
3. Defendant’s Maximum Term of Confinement was Improperly Calculated
When a minor is removed from parental custody as the result of an order of
wardship, “the order shall specify that the minor may not be held in physical
confinement for a period in excess of the maximum term of imprisonment which could
be imposed upon an adult convicted of the offense or offenses which brought . . . the
minor under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.” (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 726,
subd. (d).) Here, the court identified defendant’s maximum term of confinement as
seven years. The record does not indicate the manner in which the court calculated that
number, but, as the prosecutor concedes, it is erroneous. Defendant’s maximum term
should be calculated as follows: the principal term is the maximum term of five years
for assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (c)), with
9
Defendant suggests that this was unlikely because, shortly thereafter, defendant
appeared to consider crossing the street to his right – something he would not have done
if Officer Stevenson was, in fact, to his right. Yet defendant did not, in fact, cross the
street. It may well be that he slowed because he saw his friends escape to his right, and
realized he could not follow without crossing directly into Officer Stevenson’s path.
9
possible consecutive terms of eight months (one-third the midterm) for each of the
remaining two offenses. (Pen. Code, §§ 1170.1, subd. (a), 461, subd. (b), 69, 1170,
subd. (h).) The issue arises, however, as to whether consecutive terms may be imposed
for assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer by force or
violence.
Penal Code section 654 provides that “[a]n act or omission that is punishable in
different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the provision that
provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or
omission be punished under more than one provision.” “The prohibition on multiple
punishments in section 654 extends to a single act or an indivisible course of conduct.
[Citation.] ‘ “ . . . Whether a course of criminal conduct is divisible and therefore gives
rise to more than one act within the meaning of section 654 depends on the intent and
objective of the actor. If all of the offenses were incident to one objective, the defendant
may be punished for any one of such offenses but not for more than one.” ’ [Citation.]
[¶] ‘If [a defendant] entertained multiple criminal objectives which were independent of
and not merely incidental to each other, he may be punished for independent violations
committed in pursuit of each objective even though the violations shared common acts
or were parts of an otherwise indivisible course of conduct.’ [Citation.]” (People v.
Leonard (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 465, 498-499.)
Defendant argues that Penal Code section 654 prohibits consecutive terms for
assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer by force or
violence, because both crimes – even if based on the different acts of throwing the
crowbar and striking the officer with the bag – were part of an indivisible course of
conduct with the single objective of avoiding arrest.
The prosecution suggests that the trial court could reasonably conclude that, in
fact, two different criminal objectives were involved. The prosecutor theorizes that the
defendant threw the crowbar at Officer Stevenson with the intent to avoid arrest, but,
after the attempt had failed and his arrest was a certainty, defendant then swung the bag
at Officer Stevenson’s knees as an act of gratuitous violence intended only to injure the
10
officer. We disagree. Preliminarily, the prosecution’s scenario assumes that the act of
resisting arrest was the throwing of the crowbar and the act of assaulting an officer with
a deadly weapon was the striking with the bag, yet the prosecution specifically
presented the case to the juvenile court on the basis that either act constituted the
assault.10 Moreover, the prosecution argues that the court impliedly concluded that
defendant’s flight had ceased by the time of the assault (with the bag), and that it “was
clear that the pursuit had ended and that [defendant] would not escape.” We see no
such evidence. Defendant struck Officer Stevenson’s knees with the bag in a clear
attempt to disable the officer’s approach. The prosecution would infer that if
defendant’s attack on Officer Stevenson had successfully hobbled Officer Stevenson,
defendant would nonetheless have remained where he stood, and offered himself to the
officer for arrest. There is no evidence that this was the case. Both acts were performed
with the intent of evading the officer; Penal Code section 654 therefore prohibits
a sentence for the crime of resisting arrest.
In sum, defendant’s maximum term of confinement should be calculated as five
years for the assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, and a consecutive eight
months for the burglary.
10
If the act of throwing the crowbar constituted the assault, both acts were
indisputably performed with the intent of avoiding arrest.
11
DISPOSITION
Defendant’s maximum term of confinement is modified from seven years to five
years and eight months. As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
LAVIN, J.*
WE CONCUR:
KITCHING, Acting P. J.
ALDRICH, J.
*
Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant
to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
12