People v. Ventura CA5 ( 2022 )

Filed 6/29/22 P. v. Ventura CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE,
F081771
Plaintiff and Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. VCF306221)
v.
CHRISTIAN ANGEL VENTURA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Melinda
Myrle Reed, Judge.
Susan L. Jordan, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Michael A. Canzoneri and Eric
L. Christoffersen, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
INTRODUCTION
In 2017, appellant Christian Angel Ventura entered a plea of no contest to
voluntary manslaughter (Pen. Code,1 § 192), robbery (§ 211), and shoplifting (§ 459.5).
In addition, Ventura admitted to two criminal street gang enhancements (§ 186.22, subd.
(b)(1)(B) & (C)), and that he had suffered a prior strike conviction within the meaning of
the Three Strikes law (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)). In exchange for a
stipulated prison sentence of 32 years four months, Ventura agreed to cooperate with the
People in the investigation and prosecution of Uriel Vasquez and Raul Cardona,
Ventura’s accomplices to the crime.
On January 1, 2019, Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill No.
1437) was enacted, eliminating the natural and probable consequences doctrine and
amending the felony murder rule as it pertains to vicarious murder liability.
In August 2020, Ventura filed a motion to withdraw his plea/request for the trial
court to withdraw its assent to the plea agreement. The trial court denied Ventura’s
motion. On appeal, Ventura contends the trial court abused its discretion in so doing. In
supplemental briefing, Ventura further contends that the recent enactment of Senate Bill
No. 775 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill No. 775) (Stats. 2021, ch. 551)—which
extended Senate Bill No. 1437’s ameliorative provisions to convictions for attempted
murder and manslaughter—supplies good cause to withdraw from his plea. We disagree.
The main problem is that Ventura is attempting to put the proverbial cart before
the horse. Ventura begins from the assumption that he could not be convicted of murder
under the new laws, and based on this premise, he argues he is therefore entitled to
withdraw his manslaughter plea. However, in our view, the new laws simply afford
Ventura the opportunity to make his case by seeking an evidentiary hearing under the
new legislation where the prosecution must prove Ventura remains eligible for murder
1 All undefined statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
2.
liability. Ventura seeks to bypass this step in the process and obtain the relief on appeal
without ever making a prima facie case for relief in the trial court. For the reasons
discussed in this opinion, we are not persuaded that he is entitled to such relief. We
therefore affirm.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On March 2, 2016, in case No. VCF306221, the Tulare County District Attorney’s
Office filed an information charging Ventura with murder (§ 187, subd. (a); count 1);
active participation in a criminal street gang (§ 182.5; count 2); second degree robbery
(§ 211; counts 3 & 4); and conspiracy to commit shoplifting (§§ 182, subd. (a)(2)/459.5,
count 5).2 As to count 1, the information further alleged a robbery-murder special
circumstance (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)), a gang enhancement (§ 186.22, subd. (b)), and an
on bail enhancement (§ 12022.1). As to counts 3 and 4, the information alleged Ventura
had personally used a deadly weapon in the commission of the crime. (§ 12022, subd.
(b)(1).) As to all counts, it was alleged that Ventura had suffered a prior strike conviction
within the meaning of the Three Strikes law (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-
(d)).
On August 2, 2016, following argument by the parties, the Honorable Lloyd L.
Hicks denied Ventura’s section 995 motion.
On June 29, 2017, Ventura entered a no contest plea pursuant to People v. West
(1970) 3 Cal.3d 595, to voluntary manslaughter, one count of robbery, and one count of
second degree burglary. He also admitted the gang enhancement for the voluntary
manslaughter (§ 192) and robbery counts (§ 211), the prior strike allegation (§§ 667,
subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)), and that he had suffered a prior serious felony
conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)). The Honorable Gary Paden took Ventura’s plea. The
2 Counts 3 and 4 resulted from case No. VCF305460 and count 5 resulted from case
No. VCF306219.
3.
parties stipulated the factual basis for the plea was based upon the transcript from
Ventura’s preliminary hearing.
On August 5, 2017, in front of Judge Paden, Ventura’s prior plea was withdrawn.
The plea agreement was modified to reduce the burglary conviction to a misdemeanor
and the court struck Ventura’s prior serious felony conviction. The total stipulated prison
term of 32 years four months remained unchanged. Ventura entered a plea of no contest
to voluntary manslaughter (§ 192) and robbery (§ 211), both with gang enhancements,
and to misdemeanor shoplifting (§ 459.5). Ventura also admitted the prior strike
allegation. (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d).) The parties stipulated that
the factual basis for the plea was based upon the preliminary hearing transcripts or police
reports.
On October 28, 2017, Ventura testified at Cardona’s preliminary hearing.
Cardona was one of his accomplices.
On January 1, 2019, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill No. 1437 to “amend the
felony murder rule and the natural and probable consequences doctrine, as it relates to
murder, to ensure that murder liability is not imposed on a person who is not the actual
killer, did not act with the intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying
felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1,
subd. (f).)
On January 14, 2020, a substitution of counsel was filed in Ventura’s case.
On August 6, 2020, Ventura filed a motion to withdraw his plea/request for the
trial court to rescind its assent to the agreement so that he could renew his section 995
motion.
On August 27, 2020, following additional briefing and argument by the parties,
the Honorable Judge Melinda Reed denied the motion. Ventura waived his rights
4.
under People v. Arbuckle (1978) 22 Cal.3d 749 and was sentenced to a term of 34 years
four months in state prison in accordance with his negotiated sentence.
Ventura filed a timely notice of appeal. His request for a certificate of probable
cause was granted by the trial court.
FACTS
The Underlying Crime
The following statement of facts is derived from the transcript from Ventura’s
February 8, 2016 preliminary hearing.
On September 10, 2014, at around 1:53 a.m., Officer Quintero with the Dinuba
Police Department was dispatched to Delgado Park, where he found Arturo Hernandez
deceased. Hernandez had suffered multiple puncture wounds to his torso.
C.P., a witness, observed Ventura and Raul Cardona together at about midnight.
C.P. identified Ventura and Cardona pursuant to a photographic lineup. That same
morning, M.R., a nearby neighbor, heard an argument. She looked outside of her
bathroom window and saw three men fleeing. She also heard an individual crying for
help.
On September 12, 2014, Ventura was arrested for an unrelated burglary and
questioned by Quintero. During questioning, Ventura stated that on the morning of the
murder, he was at Delgado Park with Uriel Vasquez and Raul Cardona when Hernandez
approached them. Cardona and Hernandez started fighting. Hernandez tried to flee by
running toward an alleyway, but the group pursued Hernandez and assaulted him.
Ventura punched and kicked Hernandez. During the incident, Hernandez’s
pockets were searched. At some point during the altercation, Vasquez unintentionally
stabbed Cardona’s arm.
As Ventura began to run away, he claimed that he turned and saw Vasquez on top
of Hernandez, stabbing him. Ventura and Vasquez then fled to Ventura’s residence.
5.
Later that same morning, Ventura located a screwdriver wrapped in a cloth on the
counter of his home. Ventura retrieved the screwdriver with his hands and stored it.
Officer’s searched Ventura’s home and located a screwdriver and blood-stained shorts
underneath a sink in a cabinet. The blood belonged to Hernandez.
On September 17, 2014, Quintero spoke to H.E. H.E. told Quintero that on the
morning of the murder, he had spoken with Cardona, and while at Cardona’s residence,
he located a wallet in Cardona’s backyard. When H.E. examined the wallet, he found
identification cards inside belonging to someone with the last name of Hernandez.
Cardona burned the wallet.
Quintero asked H.E. whether he knew how Hernandez had died. H.E. stated that
Hernandez had been stabbed with a screwdriver.
Trial Court’s Ruling on Ventura’s Motion to Withdraw the Plea
On August 6, 2020, Ventura filed a motion to withdraw his plea/request for the
court to rescind its approval of the plea agreement. He did not attach a sworn affidavit to
his motion.
On August 27, 2020, following consideration of written briefs by the parties, the
trial court denied Ventura’s motion to withdraw from the plea. Ventura did not testify at
the hearing on his motion.
Prior to explaining the reasons for its ruling, the prosecutor addressed section
1016.8, which became effective on January 1, 2020. Under section 1016.8, subdivision
(b), any “provision of a plea bargain that requires a defendant to generally waive future
benefits of legislative enactments, initiatives, appellate decisions, or other changes in the
law that may retroactively apply after the date of the plea is void as against public
policy.” Defense counsel argued that prohibiting Ventura from withdrawing from his
plea to take advantage of a subsequent change in the law brought section 1016.8’s
prohibition into operation. The court observed that there was no provision in the plea
6.
agreement which would conflict with section 1016.8, but found the principle generally
applicable.
The trial court denied Ventura’s motion for several reasons. First, the court
explained that “[b]oth sides agree that there is no basis for the motion under Penal Code
section 1170.95 because defendant’s pleas here involve voluntary manslaughter and not
murder.”
The trial court then summarized the evidence adduced at the preliminary hearing
as follows:
“As to the facts underlying the charges of the evidence produced at
the preliminary hearing and argued by both sides, shows that the defendant
and the two co-defendants pursued the victim after an altercation in a park
late at night.Defendant admitted beating and assaulting the victim. One of
defendant’s co-defendants stabbed the victim repeatedly with a screwdriver,
causing his death. A witness saw three persons fleeing from the victim as
he cried for help.
“The defendant described the co-defendant’s actions as finishing
him off.The screwdriver with the victim’s blood traces was found at the
defendant’s house, where he admittedly fled to with the co-defendant who
stabbed the victim.The defendant’s clothes had blood on them, presumably,
although I recognize there’s a dispute between the parties as to whether that
was the defendant’s blood or the victim’s blood or not.”
The parties corrected the trial court by clarifying that the victim’s blood was on
the shorts recovered from Ventura’s home, but they disputed whether the shorts belonged
to Ventura or Vasquez.
Second, the court held that from the evidence adduced at the preliminary hearing,
“the defendant was a principle in the murder by aiding and abetting the killing of the
victim.” According to the court, Ventura “intended to kill the victim, … was a major
participant in the crime of robbery, and acted with reckless disregard and indifference to
human life under Penal Code Section 189(e).”
7.
Finally, the trial court observed there had been no claim of error by Ventura which
would support the conclusion that his plea was not knowingly and voluntarily made. The
court further held that the record did not support prejudice to Ventura from entering into
a negotiated plea, stating: “I find defendant did receive a substantial benefit from the
plea as he was facing the death penalty and the aspect or potential of life without the
possibility of parole. [¶ ] Indeed, there were three different felony cases involved in this
plea, and they were negotiated overall favorably to the defendant. I’m not convinced that
defendant would have had a better outcome or that there is a likelihood of a better
outcome for defendant if he would have gone to trial.”
DISCUSSION
I. The Trial Court’s Denial of Ventura’s Motion to Withdraw From His
Plea/Request for the Court to Rescind its Approval of the Agreement
Ventura contends that a subsequent change in the law—the enactment of Senate
Bill No. 1437 and Senate Bill No. 775—constitutes good cause to withdraw his plea of
no contest, and that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion to withdraw
his plea. We conclude Ventura has failed to meet his burden of showing the trial court
abused its discretion in denying his motion.
A. Senate Bill Nos. 1437 and 775
Senate Bill No. 1437, effective January 1, 2019, was enacted to amend the felony-
murder rule and eliminate the natural and probable consequences doctrine as it relates to
murder. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1, subd. (f); People v. Superior Court (Gooden) (2019)
42 Cal.App.5th 270, 275.) To that end, Senate Bill No. 1437 amended sections 188 and
189 and added section 1170.95 to the Penal Code. (People v. Gentile (2020) 10 Cal.5th
830, 842-843 (Gentile).)
Senate Bill No. 1437 added section 188, subdivision (a)(3), which requires a
principal to act with malice aforethought before he or she may be convicted of murder.
(§ 188, subd. (a)(3); accord, Gentile, supra, 10 Cal.5th at pp. 842-843.) The bill also
8.
amended section 189, subdivision (e), by limiting the circumstances under which a
person may be convicted of felony murder:
“A participant in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of
[qualifying felonies] in which a death occurs is liable for murder only if one
of the following is proven: [¶] (1) The person was the actual killer. [¶] (2)
The person was not the actual killer, but, with the intent to kill, aided,
abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, solicited, requested, or assisted
the actual killer in the commission of murder in the first degree. [¶] (3) The
person was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with
reckless indifference to human life, as described in subdivision (d) of
Section 190.2.” (§ 189, subd. (e); accord, Gentile, supra, 10 Cal.5th at p.
842.)
Finally, Senate Bill No. 1437 added section 1170.95 to provide a procedure for
those convicted of a qualifying offense “to seek relief under the two ameliorative
provisions above.” (Gentile, supra, 10 Cal.5th at p. 843.)
Our Supreme Court previously held that the exclusive method to obtain relief
under Senate Bill No. 1437 was through the petition procedure set forth under section
1170.95. (Gentile, supra, at pp. 851-852 [“[t]he ameliorative provisions of Senate Bill
No. 1437 do not apply on direct appeal to nonfinal convictions obtained before the law
became effective. Such convictions may be challenged on Senate Bill 1437 grounds only
through a petition filed in the sentencing court under section 1170.95”].) California
appellate courts were also uniform in concluding that resentencing relief under section
1170.95 was limited to murder convictions and did not extend to persons convicted of
manslaughter or attempted murder. (See, e.g., People v. Sanchez (2020) 48 Cal.App.5th
914, 919; People v. Turner (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 428, 435-436; People v. Flores (2020)
44 Cal.App.5th 985, 992-997; People v. Cervantes (2020) 44 Cal.App.5th 884, 887.)
During the pendency of this appeal, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill No. 775,
which took effect on January 1, 2022. (Cal. Const., art. IV, § 8, subd. (c)(1) [absent
urgency clause, statutory amendments enacted during regular session of the Legislature
become effective on January 1 of the following year].) Among other changes, the bill
9.
amended section 1170.95 to expressly authorize individuals convicted of attempted
murder and/or manslaughter to seek resentencing relief. (Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 2; see
Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 1, subd. (a) [“[T]his legislation ... [¶ ] [c]larifies that persons who
were convicted of attempted murder or manslaughter under a theory of felony murder and
the natural [and] probable consequences doctrine are permitted the same relief as those
persons convicted of murder under the same theories”].) Senate Bill No. 775 also added
subdivision (g) to section 1170.95, which provides: “(g) A person convicted of murder,
attempted murder, or manslaughter whose conviction is not final may challenge on direct
appeal the validity of that conviction based on the changes made to Sections 188 and 189
by Senate Bill 1437 (Chapter 1015 of the Statutes of 2018).”
B. Relevant Legal Principles
Ventura argues the subsequent enactment of Senate Bill Nos. 1437 and 775
supplies good cause to permit him to withdraw his plea, or alternatively, for the trial court
to rescind its prior approval of the plea agreement.
1. The Court’s Discretion to Rescind its Prior Approval of a Negotiated
Plea
Prior to sentencing, the trial court has “ ‘broad discretion to withdraw its prior
approval of a negotiated plea.’ ” (People v. Silva (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 578, 588.)
Indeed, the trial court’s authority to withdraw approval or otherwise reject a plea bargain
under section 1192.5 is “ ‘near-plenary.’ ” (People v. Kim (2011) 193 Cal.App.4th 1355,
1361, quoting People v. Stringham (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 184, 195.)
A trial court may exercise its discretion to withdraw approval of a plea bargain,
where, for example: “ ‘(1) it believes the agreement is “unfair” [citation]; (2) new facts
have come to light; (3) the court has become more fully informed about the case; or (4)
when, after further consideration, the court concludes that the agreement is “ ‘ “not in the
best interests of society.” ’ ” ’ ” (People v. Stamps (2020) 9 Cal.5th 685, 706, quoting
10.
People v. Mora-Duran (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 589, 595-596.) “[T]his list is not
exhaustive.” (People v. Mora-Duran, at p. 596.)
“In exercising their discretion to approve or reject proposed plea bargains, trial
courts are charged with the protection and promotion of the public’s interest in vigorous
prosecution of the accused, imposition of appropriate punishment, and protection of
victims of crimes.” (In re Alvernaz (1992) 2 Cal.4th 924, 941.) Thus, “a trial court’s
approval of a proposed plea bargain “must represent an informed decision in furtherance
of the interests of society.” (Ibid.) We review the trial court’s decision for abuse of
discretion, reversing only if the decision is outside the bounds of reason. (People v. Loya
(2016) 1 Cal.App.5th 932, 946-947.)
2. Good Cause to Withdraw a Plea
A defendant may move to withdraw his or her plea. At any time before judgment,
or within six months after an order granting probation if entry of judgment is suspended,
a trial court may permit a defendant to withdraw a guilty plea for “good cause shown.”
(§ 1018; People v. Grey (1990) 225 Cal.App.3d 1336, 1340, overruled on another ground
by In re Jordan (1992) 4 Cal.4th 116, 130, fn. 8.) “[A] plea of guilty may be withdrawn
for mistake, ignorance, or inadvertence or any other factor overreaching defendant’s free
and clear judgment, the facts of such grounds must be established by clear and
convincing evidence.” (People v. Urfer (1979) 94 Cal.App.3d 887, 892.) Denial of a
motion to withdraw a guilty or nolo contendere plea will not be reversed unless the
defendant clearly demonstrates an abuse of discretion. (Ibid.; People v. Grey, supra, at p.
1340.)
Where a change in the law clearly and directly implicates a term of the plea
agreement and negates the benefit of that agreement, at least one appellate court has
found the defendant was entitled to withdraw his plea, implicitly finding good cause
supported his request. In People v. Gallego (1979) 90 Cal.App.3d Supp. 21, the
11.
defendant entered a plea of guilty. The plea was primarily based upon the parties’
understanding that the defendant would participate in an alcohol rehabilitation program to
avoid the otherwise mandatory suspension of his driving privileges. The sentencing
hearing was continued until the law, allowing non-suspension of the driver’s license to
one meeting program participation requirements, would become effective. However,
before its effective date, the law was amended to include only those persons charged after
the effective date, making the defendant ineligible. The defendant moved to withdraw
his plea. His motion was denied.
On appeal from his motion, the appellate department of the superior court found
that the record unequivocally established that at the time the defendant entered his plea,
he, the prosecutor, and the court intended and expected that the defendant would reap the
benefits of the anticipated legislation. Since the defendant was deprived a benefit that
induced him to enter the bargain, and since that benefit could not be provided, the
appellate court held that the defendant was entitled to withdraw his plea. (People v.
Gallego, supra, 90 Cal.App.3d Supp. 21, 31-34.)
The Attorney General directs this court to a line of authority which he contends
shows that a subsequent change in the law cannot constitute good cause to withdraw from
a plea agreement. The cases he directs this court to provide limited guidance concerning
the issue before this court.
In People v. Barton (1971) 19 Cal.App.3d 990 (Barton), the defendant pleaded
guilty to grand theft and the unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle. The defendant
subsequently moved to withdraw from his plea. (Id. at p. 992.) He argued, in part, that
his plea was induced by knowledge of the fact that the prosecutor would use statements
made by the defendant in violation of Escobedo v. Illinois (1964) 378 U.S. 478, a case
filed after entry of his plea. (Barton, at p. 993.)
12.
On review, the Barton court held that “even if the motion to change defendant’s
plea had been made while the ink on Escobedo was not yet dry, and even if the trial court
had believed that the guilty pleas were the product of the confessions, it was not
compelled to grant the motion.” (Barton, supra, 19 Cal.App.3d at p. 993.) According to
the court, the “[d]efendant’s problem [was] that he pleaded guilty.” (Id. at p. 994.)
In reaching this conclusion, the Barton court examined three decisions by the
United States Supreme Court to ascertain the effect of a subsequent change in the law
upon guilty pleas: Brady v. United States (1970) 397 U.S. 742 (Brady); McMann v.
Richardson (1970) 397 U.S. 759 (McMann) and Parker v. North Carolina (1970) 397
U.S. 790 (Parker). (Barton, supra, 19 Cal.App.3d at p. 994.)
In Brady, the petitioner pleaded guilty to kidnapping under a federal statute to
avoid the death penalty. (Brady, supra, 397 U.S. at p. 743.) Following the entry of his
plea, the death penalty provision in the federal statute under which he had entered his
plea was declared unconstitutional. The petitioner sought habeas corpus relief, claiming
that his plea had been coerced by the statute’s death penalty provision. The Supreme
Court rejected the petitioner’s argument, stating, “(A) voluntary plea of guilty
intelligently made in the light of the then applicable law does not become vulnerable
because later judicial decisions indicate that the plea rested on a faulty premise.” (Id. at
p. 757.)
The Brady court added, the fact that the petitioner did not anticipate the change in
the law “does not impugn the truth or reliability of his plea. We find no requirement in
the Constitution that a defendant must be permitted to disown his solemn admissions in
open court that he committed the act with which he is charged simply because it later
develops that the State would have had a weaker case than the defendant had thought or
that the maximum penalty then assumed applicable has been held inapplicable in
subsequent judicial decisions.” (Brady, supra, 397 U.S. at p. 757.)
13.
In McMann, the Supreme Court explained, “ ‘[i]t is no denigration of the right to
trial to hold that when the defendant waives his state court remedies and admits his guilt,
he does so under the law then existing; further, he assumes the risk of ordinary error in
either his or his attorney’s assessment of the law and facts. Although he might have
pleaded differently had later decided cases then been the law, he is bound by his plea and
his conviction unless he can allege and prove serious derelictions on the part of counsel
sufficient to show that his plea was not, after all, a knowing and intelligent act.’ ”
(McMann, supra, 397 U.S. at p. 774.)
Finally, in Parker, the defendant pleaded guilty to first degree burglary under a
statute which provided for life imprisonment on guilty pleas to first degree burglary, but
for a possible death penalty after trial by a jury. (Parker, supra, 397 U.S. at p. 792.) The
statute was subsequently held unconstitutional. (Id. at pp. 794-795.) The defendant
claimed his guilty plea was induced by an unconstitutional statute and that it was the
product of a coerced confession. (Id. at p. 794.) Relying upon Brady, the Parker court
held, “[A]n otherwise valid plea is not involuntary because induced by the defendant’s
desire to limit the possible maximum penalty to less than that authorized if there is a jury
trial.” (Parker, supra, 397 U.S. at p. 795.)
From Barton, Brady, McMann, and Parker, it is clear that a voluntary plea which
is intelligently made in the light of then applicable law does not become vulnerable
because subsequent changes in the law indicate the plea rested on a faulty premise.
(Brady, supra, 397 U.S. 742; People v. Camenisch (1985) 166 Cal.App.3d 594, 608-609
[subsequent changes in law do not nullify a defendant’s guilty plea]; Doe v. Harris
(2013) 57 Cal.4th 64, 70 [“the parties to a plea agreement ... are deemed to know and
understand that the state ... may enact laws that will affect the consequences attending the
conviction entered upon the plea”].)
14.
In the case at bench, we have no question that Ventura’s no contest plea was valid
when entered. Contrary to Ventura’s assertions, the subsequent enactment of Senate Bill
Nos. 1437 and 775 do not present new facts not available at the time of the plea, nor does
the enactment of these new laws support the conclusion that Ventura’s plea was
involuntary or coerced. Although Ventura might have proceeded differently if Senate
Bill Nos. 1437 and 775 had been in effect at the time he entered his plea, there is no
evidence that Ventura’s plea was anything but voluntarily made at the time of his change
of plea hearing. However, this does not end our inquiry.
To the extent Ventura contends a subsequent change in the law constitutes good
cause to withdraw from a plea we presume without deciding that he is correct. (See,
People v. Nance (1991) 1 Cal.App.4th 1453, 1461, fn. 5 [conc. opn. of Timlin, J.], citing
People v. Collins (1978) 21 Cal.3d 208 [“it is conceivable that a situation could occur in
which a change of law, rather than the state of the defendant’s freedom of judgment,
constituted good cause to permit the withdrawal of a guilty plea under section 1018”].)
Such a remedy has been held appropriate where a subsequent change in the law
retroactively applies to a nonfinal conviction and it affects a material term of the plea
agreement. (See, People v. Stamps, supra, 9 Cal.5th at p. 704 [finding that if the trial
court were inclined to exercise its newly conferred discretion under to strike a serious
felony enhancement following the enactment of Senate Bill No. 1393 (2017-2018 Reg.
Sess.), the prosecution may withdraw assent to the plea or the court may withdraw its
prior approval of the plea]; see also, People v. Scarano (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 993, 1000
[stating that if the trial court did not withdraw assent to plea agreement, the prosecution
may withdraw from plea where Assembly Bill No. 1950 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.)
retroactively reduced the defendant’s term of probation to two years]; People v. Collins,
supra, 21 Cal.3d 208 [the prosecution may withdraw from a plea agreement and reinstate
dismissed charges when, before sentencing, a subsequent legislative change entirely
15.
eliminates a defendant’s conviction and his or her vulnerability to incarceration, thereby
depriving the People of the benefit of their bargain].) We therefore turn to Ventura’s
contention that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion.
C. Analysis: The Trial Court’s Denial of Ventura’s Motion
The trial court denied Ventura’s motion on three grounds. We acknowledge that
“ ‘ “a ruling or decision, itself correct in law, will not be disturbed on appeal merely
because given for a wrong reason.” ’ ” (People v. Zapien (1993) 4 Cal.4th 929, 976.)
However, we examine the trial court’s statement of reasons insofar as Ventura discusses
them in his opening and supplemental briefs and to the extent that some of the court’s
findings are relevant to our analysis of whether Ventura has demonstrated error on
appeal.
1. The Trial Court’s Conclusion that Ventura’s Voluntary Manslaughter
Conviction is Excluded from Relief Under Senate Bill No. 1437
At the time of the evidentiary hearing on Ventura’s motion, appellate courts
uniformly held that Senate Bill No. 1437 did not apply to convictions for voluntary
manslaughter. (See, e.g., People v. Sanchez, supra, 48 Cal.App.5th at pp. 917-920;
People v. Turner, supra, 45 Cal.App.5th at pp. 435-436; People v. Flores (2020) 44
Cal.App.5th 985, 992-997; People v. Cervantes, supra, 44 Cal.App.5th at p. 887.) As the
trial court observed, “[b]oth sides agree[d] that there [was] no basis for the motion under
Penal Code section 1170.95 because [Ventura’s] pleas here involve voluntary
manslaughter and not murder.”
The recent enactment of Senate Bill No. 775 has since made clear that Senate Bill
No. 1437’s ameliorative provisions apply to convictions for attempted murder and
voluntary manslaughter. As a result, the trial court’s denial of Ventura’s motion on the
grounds that Senate Bill No. 1437 does not apply to convictions for voluntary
manslaughter is no longer valid. However, because the court did not premise its ruling
solely upon the fact that Ventura’s voluntary manslaughter conviction did not qualify for
16.
relief under Senate Bill No. 1437, and we review the correctness of the court’s ruling
rather than the reasons for the court’s ruling (see People v. Zapien, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p.
976), we find no error. The fact that the court denied Ventura’s motion, in part, because
he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter is not sufficient to demonstrate the court
abused its discretion.
2. The Trial Court’s Finding That Ventura Acted as an Aider and Abettor With
the Intent to Kill or as a Major Participant With Reckless Indifference to
Human Life
Next, the trial court observed that Ventura had been held to answer for murder
with a robbery-murder special circumstance allegation (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)(A)), and
that following a section 995 motion, Ventura’s challenge to the murder charge had been
denied. A defendant charged with a special circumstance who is not the actual killer can
only be found guilty of special circumstance felony-murder if they aided in the murder
with the intent to kill (§ 190.2, subd. (c)), or, lacking intent to kill, aided in the felony
“with reckless indifference to human life and as a major participant.” (§ 190.2 subd. (d).)
Ventura did not challenge the special circumstance allegation following his
preliminary hearing. However, according to the court, the record contained sufficient
evidence showing Ventura had aided and abetted the actual killer with the intent to kill,
and that Ventura was a major participant in the robbery who had acted with reckless
indifference to human life. We interpret the trial court’s statements to mean that if
Ventura were permitted to withdraw his plea, a renewed section 995 motion challenging
the murder charge and the special circumstance allegation would be unsuccessful. In
light of the low evidentiary standard required to support a determination of probable
cause, we agree with the court’s finding.
The standard applied for probable cause is distinct from that which is required to
prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A magistrate or grand jury is not required to be
convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed every element of the
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offense, but rather “ ‘ “ ‘must be convinced only of such a state of facts as would lead a
[person] of ordinary caution or prudence to believe, and conscientiously entertain a
strong suspicion of the guilt of the accused. [Citations.] In other words, “Evidence that
will justify a prosecution need not be sufficient to support a conviction.” ’ ” ’ ” (People
v. Rivera (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 217, 237; accord, People v. Superior Court (Bolden)
(1989) 209 Cal.App.3d 1109, 1114 [a holding order does not require findings of fact or
substantial evidence which will support a conviction].)
The standard applied for probable cause is “ ‘exceedingly low.’ ” (People v.
Superior Court (Sahlolbei) (2017) 3 Cal.5th 230, 245.) “[I]f there is some evidence
supporting the information, the sufficiency thereof is not an issue.” (People v. Colvin
(1971) 19 Cal.App.3d 14, 21.) On review, the court must “draw every legitimate
inference from the evidence in favor of the information. [Citation.] If there is some
evidence to support the information, [the appellate court] may not inquire into its
sufficiency.” (Sea Horse Ranch, Inc. v. Superior Court (1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 446, 454.)
Here, the evidence elicited at Ventura’s preliminary hearing was sufficient to
establish probable cause to support his murder charge as well as the robbery-murder
special circumstance allegation under amended sections 188 and 189. With respect to the
lower court’s conclusion that, at a minimum, Ventura acted as a major participant in the
underlying robbery and acted with reckless indifference to human life, we emphasize the
record need only contain some evidence to support the allegation.
To determine whether a defendant was a major participant in a crime, a court must
examine: what role the defendant had in planning the criminal enterprise that led to one
or more deaths; what role the defendant had in supplying or using lethal weapons; what
awareness the defendant had of particular dangers posed by the nature of the crime,
weapons used, or past experience or conduct of the other participants; and whether the
defendant was present at the scene of the killing, in a position to facilitate or prevent the
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actual murder, or played a particular role in the death. (People v. Banks (2015) 61
Cal.4th 788, 803 (Banks).) “No one of these considerations is necessary, nor is any one
of them necessarily sufficient. All may be weighed in determining the ultimate question,
whether the defendant’s participation ‘in criminal activities known to carry a grave risk
of death’ [citation] was sufficiently significant to be considered ‘major.’ ” (Ibid.)
People v. Clark (2016) 63 Cal.4th 522 (Clark) addressed the mens rea requirement
of the special-circumstance statute. The mens rea requirement has “subjective and
objective elements.” (Id. at p. 617.) “The subjective element is the defendant’s
conscious disregard of risks known to him or her,” while the objective element considers
“what ‘a law-abiding person would observe in the actor’s situation.’ ” (Ibid.) Clark
identified the following factors, many of which overlap with the Banks factors, as
pertinent to whether a defendant acted with reckless indifference to human life: the
defendant’s knowledge that weapons would be used and/or his personal use of weapons;
the defendant’s physical presence at the scene and his opportunity to restrain the killer or
aid the victim; the duration of the felony; the defendant’s knowledge of his accomplice’s
propensity to kill; and the defendant’s efforts to minimize the risk of violence in the
commission of the felony. (Clark, at pp. 618-623.)
The record from Ventura’s preliminary hearing supports the following
conclusions: The robbery was not part of a preconceived plan by the group; Ventura
participated in a three-on-one attack on Hernandez after Vasquez chased Hernandez, who
was then unarmed, with a screwdriver; Hernandez was stabbed multiple times and his
wallet was taken during the attack; Ventura did not render aid or offer assistance to
Hernandez as he called out for help; immediately after the murder, Ventura and Vasquez
(the actual killer) fled together to Ventura’s home; and finally, Ventura hid the murder
weapon and an article of clothing containing the victim’s blood.
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There is no indication from the facts adduced at Ventura’s preliminary hearing
concerning who supplied the murder weapon or exactly how long the incident took place.
Further, the record lacks any affirmative indication that Hernandez knew Vasquez was
likely to use lethal force—at least prior to the point when Ventura began stabbing
Hernandez. While the lack of evidence supporting the Banks/Clark factors upon this
record may be fatal if we were reviewing a jury’s true finding upon the special
circumstance finding for substantial evidence, it is sufficient for purposes of a probable
cause determination.
No singular factor is dispositive under Banks (Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 803),
and the evidentiary showing required at a preliminary hearing is minimal. We therefore
agree with the trial court’s determination that there is sufficient evidence showing
Ventura acted as a major participant with reckless indifference to human life.
While Ventura insists that he was not present when the killing occurred, and only
saw Vasquez finishing Hernandez off, circumstantial evidence shows otherwise.3 Three
men were observed fleeing the scene of the murder as a man was heard crying out for
help. From this evidence, a magistrate could reasonably conclude that Ventura, Cardona,
and Vasquez fled together after Ventura and Cardona beat Hernandez while Vasquez
simultaneously stabbed him. And, assuming the beating and stabbing occurred
simultaneously, this progression of events supports the conclusion that Ventura acted as
an aider and abettor with the intent to kill. The record therefore suggests that if Ventura
would have elected to proceed to trial based upon changes made to the law from the
3 The court did not make an express credibility determination concerning Ventura’s
claim that he was fleeing when he initially observed Vasquez stabbing Hernandez.
However, we presume the court did not find Ventura’s claim credible in light of the fact
that it concluded the evidence showed he acted as an aider and abettor with the intent to
kill. We defer to the court’s implied determination. (People v. Tapia (2018) 26
Cal.App.5th 942, 951, 953.)
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enactment of Senate Bill No. 1437, he would have done so facing a charge of first degree
murder with a robbery-murder special circumstance.
3. The Trial Court’s Determination That Ventura Received a Substantial
Benefit From His Plea/Ventura’s Entitlement to Relief Under Senate Bill
No. 1437
Finally, the trial court concluded that Ventura had received a substantial benefit
from his plea based upon the fact that he was facing the death penalty or a potential
prison term of life without the possibility of parole, and he had resolved three pending
felony cases against him. The court added, “I’m not convinced that defendant would
have had a better outcome or that there is a likelihood of a better outcome for defendant if
he would have gone to trial.” In other words, the trial court concluded Ventura could still
have been convicted of murder following the changes to section 188 and 189 by Senate
Bill No. 1437, assuming he had proceeded to trial.
We do not doubt that Ventura benefited from entering into a negotiated plea
agreement. Not only did Ventura resolve several criminal cases pending against him, he
chose the certainty of a negotiated prison sentence based upon then-available evidence
over the uncertainty of trial, and whatever additional evidence may have been adduced to
prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To that end, the record contains statements
documented in a police report which were made by a witness who spoke with Vasquez
after the murder. The witness, B.V., claimed that the stabbing occurred while Ventura
and Cardona were beating Hernandez. Moreover, Hernandez’s autopsy report indicates
that he was stabbed 33 times. If admitted at trial, this evidence, in addition to the fact
that three men were observed fleeing together as Hernandez lay dying and the fact that
Ventura hid the murder weapon in his home, would only have strengthened the
conclusion that Ventura acted as an aider and abettor with the intent to kill.
Insofar as Ventura contends the existing record contains insufficient evidence
showing he could still be convicted of murder following changes made to sections 188
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and 189, we acknowledge that the existing record is sparse compared to records available
following a criminal trial. Nonetheless, the instant appeal is from a motion to withdraw
from a plea, and the burden therefore rests with Ventura to demonstrate error. (See
People v. Alvarez (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 679, 694.) To the extent the trial court failed to
make certain explicit factual determinations below, we are required to draw all factual
inferences in favor of the judgment on appeal. (Denham v. Superior Court (1970) 2
Cal.3d 557, 564 [“[a]ll intendments and presumptions are indulged to support [the
judgment] on matters as to which the record is silent, and error must be affirmatively
shown”].) Accordingly, based on the factual inferences we have discussed, we conclude
that Ventura has failed to show error from the denial of his motion.
Ventura asserts that the stabbing was the result of a rash impulse rather than
premeditation and deliberation, and that the instant case is a second degree murder case.
His assertion is not supported by the record.
“A person who kills unlawfully and intentionally is guilty of first degree murder if
the intent to kill is formed after premeditation and deliberation. [Citations.] If the person
kills unlawfully and intentionally but the intent to kill is not formed after premeditation
and deliberation, the murder is of the second degree.” (People v. Gonzalez (2012) 54
Cal.4th 643, 653.) Hernandez was chased down, and although he was unarmed, he was
beaten and stabbed multiple times during a three-on-one attack. Despite the fact that
Vasquez did not express a stated intent to kill Hernandez, Ventura could reasonably infer
Vasquez intended to kill Hernandez during the beating based upon the circumstances of
the murder. (People v. Bloyd (1987) 43 Cal.3d 333, 348 [“premeditation and deliberation
can occur in a very short period of time”].) And, as discussed, Vasquez’s intent to kill
may be inferred from circumstantial evidence of his conduct before, during, and after the
stabbing. (See generally, People v. Canizales (2019) 7 Cal.5th 591, 602 [“[d]irect
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evidence of intent to kill is rare, and ordinarily the intent to kill must be inferred from the
statements and actions of the defendant and the circumstances surrounding the crime”]
We conclude Ventura has failed to show the trial court abused its discretion in
denying his motion to withdraw his plea following the enactment of Senate Bill
No. 1437. Although Ventura seeks to withdraw from his plea, the parties acknowledge
that he may still challenge his conviction for voluntary manslaughter under the section
1170.95 petition procedures. We express no view on the merits of his petition, should he
choose to file one.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
SMITH, J.
WE CONCUR:
PEÑA, Acting P. J.
DESANTOS, J.
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