The People v. Gomez CA2/7 ( 2013 )

Filed 10/7/13 P. v. Gomez CA2/7
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION SEVEN
THE PEOPLE, B235186
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. BA363401)
v.
EDGAR GOMEZ,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Stephen
A. Marcus, Judge. Affirmed as modified.
Law Offices of Okabe & Haushalter, Mark J. Haushalter, Brian A. Newman and
Christine J. Esser for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Paul M. Roadarmel, Jr.
and Rama R. Maline, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
______________________
INTRODUCTION
Defendant Edgar Gomez appeals from a judgment of conviction entered after a
jury trial. The case involves a gang-related shooting that was caught on video camera.
The primary issue at trial was the identity of the killers.
The jury convicted Gomez of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187) and found
true the allegations he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm in the
commission of the crime (id., § 12022.53, subds. (d), (e)) and committed the crime for
the benefit of a criminal street gang (id., § 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(C)). The trial court
sentenced Gomez to state prison for a term of 50 years to life.
On appeal, Gomez challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his
conviction. He also argues that the judgment should be reversed because of evidentiary
error, prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, sentencing error,
judicial bias, and an erroneous restitution order. We correct the amount of the restitution
order and otherwise affirm the judgment.
FACTS
A. The Shooting
On July 29, 2008 at approximately 8:00 p.m. two members of the Eastside Trece
gang murdered Marcus Van Ellis because he was wearing red, the color of a rival gang.
The two gang members shot 10 to 15 rounds at Van Ellis as he fled. Van Ellis was shot
five times, including once in the back. Van Ellis was transported to Los Angeles County
Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m. from multiple gunshot
wounds.
The murder occurred on East Adams Boulevard between Stanford Avenue to the
west and Griffith Avenue to the east, about 100 feet from the Griffith Avenue
intersection. Ace Liquor is at the northwest corner of the Griffith Avenue intersection, a
childcare center is west of the liquor store at 853 East Adams Boulevard, and a single
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family residence is west of the childcare center, at 847 East Adams Boulevard. Van Ellis
was shot in front of the single family residence. The East Side Trece gang, a Latino
gang, and the 20 Outlaws, an African-American gang, controlled the area where Van
Ellis was killed.
B. The Eyewitnesses
1. Erick Cuevas
Erick Cuevas was watching television in his third-floor apartment on the south
side of East Adams Boulevard, west of Griffith Avenue, when he heard a gunshot and
looked out the window. He saw an African-American man running west on Adams in the
middle of the street, approximately 20 to 30 feet from Cuevas. It was still daylight and
there was nothing obstructing his view. Cuevas saw two Latino men wearing blue
clothing running from the southwest corner of Adams and Griffith and chasing the
African-American man. They had their arms extended and fired 10 to 15 shots. The two
Latino men appeared to say something, but Cuevas could not hear what they said. After
the African-American man fell to the ground, the two Latino men ran back toward
Griffith. Cuevas then heard the sound of screeching tires.
According to Cuevas, one of the Latino men was 25 to 26 years old, five feet, four
or five inches tall, with a “thicker” build, wearing long baggy pants and a blue hat. The
other man was 20 to 22 years old, about the same height, with a “skinny” build, wearing
baggy checkered shorts down to his ankles. Cuevas‟ brother called the police to report
the shooting.
2. Arlene Stewart
Arlene Stewart was at a telephone booth near a Tam‟s hamburger stand at 28th
Street and Central Avenue when a black Cadillac caught her attention.1 The Cadillac was
1 Central Avenue is two blocks east of Griffith Avenue, and 28th Street is two
blocks south of East Adams Boulevard.
3
headed west on 28th Street, and it turned right toward East Adams Boulevard. The
Cadillac “wasn‟t going that fast,” and Stewart felt “[i]t was up to something. You know,
I just had a funny feeling.”
The driver‟s side window was halfway down, and Stewart saw three Latino men in
the car. She recognized Gomez, who was sitting in the back seat, as someone she had
known for several years, although she did not know his name. She also recognized the
Cadillac because she had seen it before in the neighborhood. She “stood out in the street
to watch” the car because she “was kind of leery that something was wrong.”
As Stewart was walking north toward 27th Street she saw the Cadillac turn left
into a Valero gas station on the southwest corner of East Adams Boulevard and Central
Avenue or into an alley near the gas station. A “few seconds later, [she] heard a whole
bunch of gunshots.” She got scared and ran to a friend‟s house nearby.
3. Jose Ramirez
Jose Ramirez was jogging in the area of East Adams Boulevard and Griffith
Avenue. He grew up in the area and frequently ran five to six miles a day in the
neighborhood. At the time Ramirez was in the police academy, and he subsequently
became an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department.
As Ramirez was jogging on East Adams Boulevard approaching Stanford Avenue
he saw two young Latino men with thin builds wearing baggy clothing and looking upset.
Ramirez observed that “they immediately looked like they were canvassing the area,
looking for someone,” and that “one of the suspects had their hands inside their pockets,”
so he “stepped on to the street, kind of a way of showing them respect” in order to avoid
any trouble. Ramirez saw them “looking back and forth. Their face, their demeanor, the
body language, they looked upset, so [he] tried not to make any eye contact.” Ramirez
nevertheless made eye contact with one of the men, whom he later identified as Gomez.
He described Gomez as bald with a dark complexion, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and
baggy jeans. After they passed by, Ramirez “continued running, and stepped back on to
the sidewalk.”
4
Ramirez heard what sounded like gunfire or fireworks. He kept on running,
thinking the noise was probably fireworks because “it‟s really common in the area for
people to be popping fireworks.” When he reached Stanford Avenue, he stopped.
Someone told him, “You almost got shot.” He looked back and saw the two Latino men
running the other way. A group of people was gathering about 100 feet from the Griffith
Avenue intersection.
C. The Investigation
1. Los Angeles Police Officer Sharlton Wampler
Officer Sharlton Wampler was one of the first officers to arrive on the scene. He
observed Van Ellis unconscious on the sidewalk and a group of 10 to 15 people “at
varying distances approaching to see what had happened.” Other officers began to arrive
quickly. Officer Wampler interviewed two witnesses, Luis Salas and Trevon Smith, who
gave him information about a black Cadillac. Officer Wampler had stopped a black
Cadillac containing two “individuals that were from a gang within that certain area”
several weeks earlier.
2. Los Angeles Police Detective Rudolfo Chong
Homicide Detective Rudolfo Chong, who was assigned to investigate the shooting,
arrived at about 11:10 p.m. and spoke with officers on the scene. Detective Chong
obtained the evidence the officers had collected from the area, including bullet jackets
and fragments, but no expended shell casings. He observed bullet holes and impact
marks at the childcare center and the residence to the west of it. He also observed bullet
holes in and bloodstains on a car parked in a driveway just to the west of the residence.
One of the officers at the scene told Detective Chong that the security camera at
the childcare center might have recorded the shooting. Detective Chong contacted the
owner of the center and was able to view the video recording. The recording showed an
unidentified Latino man wearing orange shorts, standing next to a black truck parked on
the north side of the street. It also showed two men chasing Van Ellis. One of the two
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men appeared to be about five feet, four inches tall. The other man was about five feet,
six inches tall and thinner. Gomez is five feet, one inch tall.
The recording showed Van Ellis wearing a black shirt and red shorts. In that area
red shorts signify the Rolling 20‟s Blood gang. Detective Chong determined that Van
Ellis was not a gang member, but he lived at 817 East Adams Boulevard, which was a
Rolling 20‟s hangout.
The recording also showed a dark-colored Cadillac with soft or different-colored
top. Detective Chong was interested in the car because the shooters came into the picture
about 30 seconds after the Cadillac turned onto Griffith Avenue. After the shooting, the
shooters ran back in the direction the Cadillac had travelled.
Detective Chong spoke to Officer Wampler, who told him he had stopped a black
Cadillac with East Side Trece gang members in it in the same area. He had written a
ticket and impounded the Cadillac. He remembered that the registered owner of the
Cadillac lived on City Terrace Drive.
Detective Chong then spoke to Luis Salas, one of the witnesses who had spoken to
Officer Wampler about the black Cadillac on the night of the shooting. Salas said that
the car was a green Cadillac with a brown top, and he had seen it driven by an older man
who worked at the police garage. Salas also said that the suspects had entered a black
Cadillac and had shouted the name of their gang, the East Side Trece gang.2 A couple of
days later, Salas told Detective Chong that the Cadillac had tinted windows and
whitewall tires.
Detective Chong was unable to interview Trevon Smith, the other witness who
had spoken to Officer Wampler. Smith had told Officer Wampler that the car was a
black Cadillac with a rag top. He described it as an 80‟s to 90‟s sedan, possibly grey, and
said he saw it parked on the west side of Griffith Avenue, south of East Adams
2 The trial court instructed the jury that Salas‟s statement was not admitted for the
truth but to explain Detective Chong‟s subsequent actions.
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Boulevard. Some of the 911 callers who reported the shooting also described the car as a
black Cadillac with a rag top.
Detective Chong went to the City Terrace Drive address of the registered owner of
the black Cadillac that Officer Wampler had stopped and took photographs of the car. It
had a hard top and did not have tinted windows or whitewall tires.
Nine months after the shooting, on April 29, 2009, Detective Chong showed
Cuevas a binder containing five pages of photographs, each page containing six
photographs of Latino men. Detective Chong asked Cuevas if he saw a photograph of
either of the men who shot Van Ellis. While Cuevas recognized two of the men in the
photographs, neither was the shooter. He explained to Detective Chong that he did not
focus on the shooters‟ faces and he did not remember the faces.
3. Los Angeles Police Detective Julio Benavides
Homicide Detective Julio Benavides took over investigation of the case from
Detective Chong. Detective Benavides used a computer to generate a six-pack
photographic lineup containing a photograph of Gomez. On October 8, 2009 he showed
the lineup to Ramirez. Ramirez identified Gomez as the man with whom he made eye
contact before the shooting.3
On October 13, 2009 Detective Benavides spoke to Cuevas at his apartment.
Although Cuevas said that he did not see anyone‟s face, Detective Benavides asked him
to come with him to the police station. At the station Detective Benavides showed the
photographic lineup to Cuevas. Cuevas identified Gomez‟s photograph and wrote, “I saw
him running and shooting at the black guy and running back to the corner, Griffith.”4
3 On cross-examination Ramirez said he was about 70 percent sure of his
identification.
4 On cross-examination Cuevas testified that he had only seen the shooters‟ faces
for a few seconds, and he told the public defender‟s investigator that he was 60 percent
sure of his identification of Gomez. He also testified that he felt pressured by Detective
Benavides to make an identification.
7
Detective Benavides also spoke to Stewart in October 2009. While it did not
appear that she had given any useful information to Detective Chong, Detective
Benavides wanted to check her level of cooperation and determine whether she had
information that would help with his investigation. Stewart was in prison at the time of
her interview. Detective Benavides did not make any promises to Stewart in exchange
for her cooperation.
Stewart told Detective Benavides what she had observed. He showed her the
photographic lineup, and she identified Gomez as one of the two men she had seen in the
back seat of the Cadillac. She also identified Daniel Salgado and Miguel Diaz as the
other two men in the car.
D. Gomez’s Arrest and the Search of His Cell
Gomez was arrested on October 14, 2009 at his residence at 1101½ East 29th
Street, where Gomez lived with his grandmother and uncle. Detective Benavides
searched the residence and recovered from one of the bedrooms a number of items
marked with gang graffiti, including a yearbook, a tissue box with “Midget” and
“Eastside X3” written on it, and a blue “L.A.” cap. Detective Benavides also obtained a
piece of mail with Gomez‟s name on it addressed to 1101½ East 29th Street and
“oversized” male clothing. He noted that “[t]here were other people in the residence, and
nobody else claimed that bedroom.” Detective Benavides walked across East 29th Street
and photographed gang graffiti in the area and on a warehouse “on the south side of 29th
street directly across from where Mr. Gomez was living at the time,” including the
notations “ES13,” “20K,” “30K,” and “X3.” There also were walls covered in blue
graffiti.
On May 12, 2011, during the trial, Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff David
Rodriguez searched Gomez‟s cell at the Men‟s Central Jail. Deputy Sheriff Rodriguez
found a folder containing personal papers, a handwritten document, and a document
entitled “Brownside 13 reasons lyrics.” Brownside is the name of a hip hop group, and
the jury heard one the group‟s songs played in court. The handwritten document and the
8
document entitled “Brownside 13 reasons lyrics” found in Gomez‟s cell contained words
similar to the lyrics of the Brownside song.
The handwritten document contained the lines, “so if you putos see me coming,
putos go for your strap.” It also contained the lines, “Thirteen here comes even more . . .
homies breaking down the door, talking „bout how we gon kill, man. Just grab ur gun.
We gon kill some . . . tintos.” “Strap” is slang for “gun” and “tintos” is a derogatory term
that Latino gang members use to refer to African-Americans.
E. Gang Evidence
Los Angeles Police Officer Ronald Berdin, assigned to the Newton Division Gang
Enforcement Detail, testified as an expert on the Eastside Trece or Eastside 13 gang.
Officer Berdin testified that Eastside 13 was formed in the late 1970‟s or early 1980‟s.
He explained that “[a]s with the way that most gangs get started, a group of individuals
who were tired of being victimized started this particular gang within this particular area,
and they formed up as a group to protect themselves from rival gang members.” The
gang currently had about 90 members and as of the time of trial Officer Berdin had
spoken with 30 to 40 of them. The gang‟s territory was bordered by East Adams
Boulevard on the north, 32nd Street on the south, Hooper Avenue on the east, and
Griffith Avenue on the west. Its main rival gangs were the two Blood gangs, the Rolling
20 Outlaws and the Rolling 30 Pirus, which has a close alliance with the 20 Outlaws.
The gangs had been fighting since 2005 or 2006, when members of the Rolling 20
Outlaws and Rolling 30 Pirus believed an Eastside 13 member had killed one of their
members, which led to escalating retaliation. Officer Berdin stated that the particular
feud between these three gangs was one of the most active he had seen during the 16
years he had been on the job.
The primary activities of Eastside 13 included vandalism, robberies, assaults, and
murder. “[B]ut ultimately their main activity, as with most gangs, is they hang out . . .
with one another regularly. That, in and of itself, creates a sense of fear and intimidation
9
within a community.” Officer Berdin gave examples of two Eastside 13 gang members
who had been convicted of attempted murder, one in 2005 and one in 2006.
Officer Berdin explained that in gang culture, “respect is everything.” A young
individual who joins a gang must gain the respect and trust of the other gang members.
To do that, he must commit crimes and show his willingness to participate in gang
activities. The more serious the crime, the more respect is earned. Gangs use the term
“putting in work” to mean committing crimes, such as confronting rival gang members,
going into their territory and putting gang graffiti on their walls, and committing crimes
in their territory.
Officer Berdin looked at photographs of the graffiti by Gomez‟s house. He
testified that “ES13” represented Eastside 13. “LS” represented Locos, a subset of
Eastside 13. Below “LS” was the name “Midget,” indicating the name of the person who
wrote the graffiti. Additionally, “20K” and “30K,” both crossed out, indicated the writers
were killers of members of the Rolling 20 Outlaws and Rolling 30 Pirus gangs.
Officer Berdin knew that Gomez, Salgado, and Diaz were members of Eastside 13
from contacts with them by him and other officers, and from photographs. Gomez told
Officer Berdin in 2008 that he was a member of Eastside 13 and his gang moniker was
“Midget.” Gang writing on the items obtained from Gomez‟s residence represented
Eastside 13. An envelope on which the numerals 2 and 3 had been crossed out indicated
disrespect for the Rolling 20 Outlaws and the Rolling 30 Pirus. The yearbook had
writing in it stating that Eastside 13 had killed someone.
Matthew G., Edgar Gomez‟s 14-year-old cousin, testified for the defense. At the
time Gomez was arrested in October 2009 Matthew G. was 11 or 12. He lived at 1101½
East 29th Street with his grandmother and Gomez and testified that the yearbook the
police found when they searched the residence belonged to him, not Gomez.5 Matthew
5 On cross-examination Matthew stated that Gomez did not live at the 29th Street
residence, but would come over so that his grandmother would heal cuts on his body,
including one time “a mean cut on his left leg.”
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G., who was not in a gang, said that he wrote the gang graffiti and other statements in the
yearbook because he thought the writing was cool and funny, although he later realized it
was dumb to write those things. Matthew G. explained: “Well, back then when I was a
kid, I used to see it on the street and stuff, and I would be like, wow, you know, it‟s cool
writing, like I would want to have like cool writing like that, you know. So like I would
like just write, like try to write like that to have like my own style.”
Officer Berdin viewed the video recording from the childcare center. Based on the
recording and a hypothetical question mirroring the facts of the case, he characterized the
crime as “the epitome of what . . . a gang-related shooting is.” The crime occurred in
Rolling 20 Outlaw and Rolling 30 Pirus territory, and Van Ellis was wearing red shorts,
common clothing worn by members of the two Blood gangs.6 In addition, by committing
this crime during the day, Eastside 13 members were sending a message to witnesses that
they could commit this type of crime at any time without fear of retribution or
identification. Such conduct would instill fear and make witnesses unwilling to come
forward when the gang members committed crimes, and allow gang members to continue
committing crimes without fear that they would be caught.
F. Expert Testimony Regarding Eyewitness Identification
Dr. Kathy Pezdek is a cognitive psychologist who testified as an eyewitness
identification expert for the defense. She reviewed the police reports, transcripts of
witness interviews, and the video recording of the incident. Dr. Pezdek testified that
when someone sees a person very briefly, he or she does not remember that person
exactly, as he or she would a photograph or video. Thus, the video recording of the
incident was not representative of what a witness would remember.
According to Dr. Pezdek, there are five factors affecting the accuracy of
eyewitness identifications. The first is the exposure time or the amount of time the
6 Officer Berdin testified that Van Ellis was an associate of the Rolling 30 Pirus
gang. He congregated with gang members but did not commit crimes.
11
witness was able to view the face of the perpetrator. The less exposure time, the less
accurate the identification. The second factor is distraction, which relates to other
activity occurring at the time the witness viewed the perpetrator. The greater the
distraction, particularly in the form of another participant in the crime, the less time the
witness has to view the perpetrator. The third factor, time delay, is a “big factor” in terms
of the reliability of an eyewitness identification. Dr. Pezdek explained that memory is
not a perfect storage system and fades with the passage of time. The longer the delay in
making an identification, the higher the misidentification rate. The fourth factor is
experimenter expectancy. If the officer conducting a photographic lineup knows the
identity of the suspect, the officer might inadvertently give clues to who the suspect is. If
the eyewitness is unsure of his or her ability to make an identification, he or she might
look to the officer for suggestions or guidance. The fifth factor is an admonition given to
the eyewitness at the time of the photographic lineup that the suspect may or may not be
in the lineup. This warning reduces the probability of a misidentification.7 Dr. Pezdek
cautioned that even well-intentioned eyewitnesses trying to do their best are going to
make misidentifications.
DISCUSSION
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE
A. Gomez Waived His Objection to the Admission of the Eyewitness
Identification Evidence
Gomez characterizes the eyewitness identification evidence as “inherently
improbable” and contends it is insufficient to prove he was one of the shooters. As the
7 Detective Benavides gave Cuevas this admonition.
12
People point out, however, Gomez did not object to the admission of the eyewitness
identification evidence at trial.
The failure to object to the admission of eyewitness identification evidence waives
any challenge to its admission on appeal. (People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926,
989; see Evid. Code, § 353.) “This applies to claims based on statutory violations, as
well as claims based on violations of fundamental constitutional rights. [Citations.]” (In
re Seaton (2004) 34 Cal.4th 193, 198; see People v. Rodrigues (1994) 8 Cal.4th 1060,
1116, fn. 20 [failure to raise due process claims with respect to the admission of evidence
by objection at trial waives those claims on appeal].) Thus, to the extent Gomez is
arguing that the admission of “inherently improbable” eyewitness identification evidence
violated his due process rights, Gomez waived the argument by failing to object in the
trial court.
Gomez also waived his argument that the identification procedure was unduly
suggestive. The transcript of Detective Benavides‟ interview with Cuevas where Cuevas
identified Gomez‟s photograph reads as follows:
“DETECTIVE BENAVIDEZ [sic]: So I read you the admonition, I want—the—
the admonition about this photo lineup. I want you to look at these pictures and do the
right thing, Erick, okay. Which of these pictures do you think—brings something back to
memory for you? That one? Number Five?
“ERICK CUEVAS: Yeah. I guess, yeah.
“DETECTIVE BENAVIDEZ [sic]: Number Five?
“ERICK CUEVAS: Yeah, Number Five.”
The transcript does not show whether Detective Benavides suggested Number
Five and Cuevas then picked that photograph, or whether Cuevas first selected Number
Five and Detective Benavides then sought to confirm his selection. Both attorneys
questioned Cuevas at trial regarding his identification of Number Five. Cuevas stated
that Detective Benavides did not make him think that that the suspect was definitely in
the group of photographs Detective Benavides showed him, and that he selected Number
Five “because it looked like the guy.” Cuevas also testified that he suggested photograph
13
Number Five, and that Benavides then asked him “Is it photo No. 5?” Had defense
counsel objected to the identification based on the transcript, the trial court could have
held a hearing to determine whether the identification procedure was unduly suggestive
and therefore should have been excluded. (People v. Cunningham, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p.
989; see People v. Avila (2009) 46 Cal.4th 680, 700 [defendant has “the burden of
demonstrating the identification procedure was unduly suggestive”]; People v. DeSantis
(1992) 2 Cal.4th 1198, 1222 [defendant “bears the burden of showing unfairness as a
demonstrable reality, not just speculation”].) In the absence of an objection and hearing,
Gomez‟s claim that the identification procedure was unduly suggestive is speculative and
waived. (Cunningham, supra, at p. 989; DeSantis, supra, at p. 1222.)
B. There Was Sufficient Evidence of Identification
In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, “we review
the whole record to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime or special circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt.
[Citation.] The record must disclose substantial evidence to support the verdict—i.e.,
evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—such that a reasonable trier of
fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] In applying
this test, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and
presume in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the jury could reasonably
have deduced from the evidence. [Citation.] „Conflicts and even testimony [that] is
subject to justifiable suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment, for it is the
exclusive province of the trial judge or jury to determine the credibility of a witness and
the truth or falsity of the facts upon which a determination depends. [Citation.] We
resolve neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts; we look for substantial
evidence. [Citation.]‟ [Citation.] A reversal for insufficient evidence „is unwarranted
unless it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial
evidence to support”‟ the jury‟s verdict. [Citation.]” (People v. Zamudio (2008) 43
Cal.4th 327, 357; see People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 59-60.) This standard
14
applies to the sufficiency of eyewitness identification evidence to support a conviction.
(See People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 153, 248; People v. Cuevas (1995) 12 Cal.4th
252, 274-275.)
Gomez points to problems with the eyewitness identifications in this case,
including discrepancies between his appearance and the initial descriptions given by the
witnesses, Dr. Pezdek‟s factors that increase the likelihood of misidentification, the
witnesses‟ lack of complete certainty about their identifications, and the lack of physical
evidence connecting Gomez to the crime. None of these issues mandates reversal of
Gomez‟s conviction based on insufficiency of the evidence.
“Weaknesses in the testimony of eyewitnesses are to be evaluated by the jury.
[Citation.]” (People v. Mendez (2010) 188 Cal.App.4th 47, 59.) We can reject an
eyewitness identification that the jury has accepted only if the eyewitness‟s testimony is
physically impossible, or the falsity of the identification is apparent without resorting to
inference or deduction. (People v. Thompson (2010) 49 Cal.4th 79, 124.) A jury‟s
finding on the believability of an eyewitness identification “will not be reversed unless it
is clearly shown that under no hypothesis is there sufficient evidence to support it.
[Citation.]” (Mendez, supra, at p. 59.) “„[C]onflicts and even testimony which is subject
to justifiable suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment, for it is the exclusive
province of the . . . jury to determine the credibility of a witness and the truth or falsity of
the facts upon which a determination depends. [Citation.] We resolve neither credibility
issues nor evidentiary conflicts; we look for substantial evidence.‟ [Citation.]” (People
v. Letner and Tobin (2010) 50 Cal.4th 99, 161-162.)
Three eyewitnesses identified Gomez as one of the shooters. Counsel for Gomez
had the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses regarding the accuracy of their
identifications of Gomez. Gomez presented Dr. Pezdek‟s testimony on the factors
affecting the accuracy of eyewitness identifications. Defense counsel had the opportunity
to argue to the jury the reasons that the identifications were unreliable. “Under these
circumstances, the jury was able to evaluate the credibility of [the eyewitnesses‟
identifications], and the weight [their] testimony deserved was for the jury to resolve. . . .
15
[¶] In sum, there was substantial evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude,
beyond a reasonable doubt, that [Gomez] was [Van Ellis‟s] murderer.” (People v. Boyer
(2006) 38 Cal.4th 412, 481.)
C. The Amended Information Had No Effect on the Verdict
The original information filed on May 10, 2010 alleged that the murder occurred
on or about July 29, 2009. The “2009” was crossed out at some point and “2008” was
handwritten above it. At the start of trial on May 4, 2011, the trial court told the
prospective jurors that the information alleged a murder occurring on or about July 29,
2008. The People filed an amended information on May 15, 2011, again alleging that the
murder occurred on or about July 29, 2009, and Gomez was arraigned on the amended
information on May 16, out of the presence of the jury.
Gomez argues that the amended information superseded the original (Muns v.
Superior Court (1955) 137 Cal.App.2d 728, 732), and that it was impossible for him to
have murdered Van Ellis on July 29, 2009. Gomez argues that as a result of the
typographical error on the amended information, the verdict was based on a void
document and the resulting confusion caused by the amended information requires a new
trial. (See People v. Mack (1961) 197 Cal.App.2d 574, 580-581.) As a general rule,
however, a defendant‟s failure to demur to an information waives any issue regarding the
information. (See People v. Kemp (1961) 55 Cal.2d 458, 474; People v. Ramirez (2003)
109 Cal.App.4th 992, 997.) In any event, where the date the crime was committed is not
material to the offense, “the evidence is not insufficient merely because it shows the
offense was committed on another date.” (People v. Peyton (2009) 176 Cal.App.4th 642,
660.) In addition, because the trial court did not read the amended information to the
jury, the amended information with the incorrect year on it could not have caused any
confusion or prejudice.
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II. INTRODUCTION OF GANG EVIDENCE
Gomez challenges the introduction of the yearbook found in his residence, the
police notebook on the Eastside 13 gang, and the rap song lyrics found in his cell. He
contends the evidence was irrelevant, inflammatory, and prejudicial, mandating reversal
of his conviction. The trial court, however, did not abuse its discretion in admitting any
of this evidence.
A. Standard of Review
We review the trial court‟s decision to admit evidence pertaining to gangs and
gang membership for abuse of discretion. (People v. Carter (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1166,
1194; People v. Waidla (2000) 22 Cal.4th 690, 717.) Gang evidence is admissible when
it is relevant to a material issue at trial. As the California Supreme Court has stated,
“evidence of gang membership is often relevant to, and admissible regarding, the
charged offense. Evidence of the defendant‟s gang affiliation—including evidence of
the gang‟s territory, membership, signs, symbols, beliefs and practices, criminal
enterprises, rivalries, and the like—can help prove identity, motive, modus operandi,
specific intent, means of applying force or fear, or other issues pertinent to guilt of the
charged crime.” (People v. Hernandez (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1040, 1049.) Gang evidence
is admissible “when the very reason for the crime is gang related.” (People v. Ruiz
(1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 234, 239; see People v. Gonzalez (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1539,
1550.)
Evidence Code section 352 gives the trial court the discretion to exclude relevant
evidence if the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the
probability that its admission will create a substantial danger of undue prejudice,
confusing the issues, or misleading the jury. (People v. Harris (2013) 57 Cal.4th 804,
845.) We will not disturb the trial court‟s exercise of its discretion on appeal unless the
court has abused its discretion (People v. Minifie (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1055, 1070), in other
words, if its decision exceeds the bounds of reason (People v. DeSantis, supra, 2 Cal.4th
17at p. 1226). Gang evidence does have a potential for prejudice. (People v. Carter, supra,
30 Cal.4th at p. 1194; People v. Albarran (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 214, 223.) When it
meets the test of relevancy, however, it is admissible unless its prejudicial effect clearly
outweighs its probative value. (Carter, supra, at p. 1194; People v. Cardenas (1982) 31
Cal.3d 897, 904-905.)
B. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Admitting the Evidence of
Gang Membership
1. The Yearbook
Counsel for Gomez first objected to the admission of the yearbook on the ground
“there is no correlation, basically what it is, it‟s a middle school yearbook from 2007. I
don‟t believe it belongs to my client.” The trial court asked where the police found it,
and Detective Benavides responded that the police found it in the house where the
officers arrested Gomez. The trial court stated that was probably enough to connect the
yearbook to Gomez and that the defense could argue that it was not Gomez‟s.
Counsel for Gomez‟s second objection was that there were some inflammatory
writings in the yearbook that might prejudice the jury. For example, there was a picture
of an African-American girl with an X through the picture with the words “burn browns”
written above it. The trial court pointed out “the underlying theme here in this case that
this is a sort of racial gang situation where it‟s a Hispanic gang against an African
American or Black gang,” so the writings were “relevant to show racial animus.” The
court then asked whether the yearbook was Gomez‟s, and whether Gomez‟s picture was
in the book. The prosecutor responded that the police found the yearbook in a bedroom
with an envelope addressed to Gomez, with the same type of writing and Gomez‟s
moniker on the envelope, and oversized men‟s clothing in the closet.
The trial court ruled: “I‟m not going to let in the „burn browns.‟ That‟s got to be
taken out. I looked at the book here, and I‟m going to allow the book, over their
objection. I think there is probative value, the gang writing is probative, where it‟s
found, the fact that it‟s found in a room where [Gomez] has various items indicating that
18
might be his room.” The court noted that because there were many African-American
people in the yearbook and the notation was over only one picture, with no indication of a
gang motive, the court would exclude the evidence as highly inflammatory under
Evidence Code section 352.
At a later break in the proceedings, the trial court noted that it had looked at the
girl‟s picture and was not even sure she was African-American. The trial court had also
looked through the entire yearbook and found other potentially prejudicial comments.
The court invited defense counsel to review the yearbook to see if there were any other
objections he wanted to make. The prosecutor later brought to the attention of the trial
court and defense counsel a comment in the yearbook that read, “Eastside 13 smoked a
nigger.” The court indicated it had discretion to admit the comment to show gang
membership and motive, but it would allow defense counsel to argue the issue the
following day.
The following day, counsel for Gomez argued that the comment was “highly
inflammatory.” The trial court expressed concerns that the police had discovered the
yearbook 14 months after the commission of the crime and that the comment was
inflammatory. The trial court noted, however, that the comment “also, in terms of the
gang culture, fits right into that area. It‟s an acknowledgement. It‟s a proud kind of
statement that, you know, „This is what we did.‟ And it‟s relevant to this case because it
suggests, or at least there‟s a possible connection, obviously, that can be drawn that they
are talking about what happened to our person who was killed in this case. So that one
I‟m going to have to think about. I do obviously respect and understand that that is
prejudicial, highly prejudicial.” The court concluded, “And, again, I am letting this in for
a limited purpose, that this is indicia of gang involvement. It has „East Side Treces‟ on it.
[Gomez] has been identified as a member of East Side Treces by the gang expert, and it‟s
found in a location that appears that he had access to.”
Counsel for Gomez then objected to a page on which there was an X over the face
of Dr. Martin Luther King, and the word “nigger” was written next to it. The trial court
agreed that this page was more prejudicial than probative and would be excluded.
19
Counsel also objected to a picture of an Asian woman with an X over her face and the
comments “rasist” [sic] and “what the fuck, Chinese bitch.” The trial court sustained the
objection on the ground it was irrelevant and “would clearly inflame the jury.”
Counsel for Gomez brought to the court‟s attention one last page to which he
objected. This page had an X over the picture of a African-American faculty member
and the word “nigger” written on his forehead. It also had an X over the face of a White
faculty member and the word “gringo” written next to it. The trial court excluded the
page for the reasons previously given. The trial court added, “I just want to tell both
sides I am giving strong consideration to letting in this thing that „East Side 13 smoked a
nigger,‟” and invited counsel to find authority on the issue. The court also ordered the
prosecutor to redact the yearbook in accordance with the court‟s rulings.
The next day the trial court ruled it was going to allow evidence of the comment
“Eastside 13 smoked a nigger.” The court conceded it was prejudicial but found the
probative value outweighed the prejudicial effect. The court was prepared to give the
jury a limiting instruction stating that the comment could not be considered for the truth
of the matter but only as indicia of gang membership.
Later that day, the trial court discussed admission of the rap lyrics that the deputy
sheriff had found in Gomez‟s cell the previous day. The trial court ruled the lyrics were
“highly relevant” on the issue of gang membership. In addition, the court would tell the
jury that if it found, by comparing the lyrics to the writing in the yearbook, that the
comment in the yearbook was in Gomez‟s handwriting, then it could make the further
determination that the comment was an admission.
Later, when counsel for Gomez questioned Matthew G. about the writing in the
yearbook, including some of the handwritten comments that the trial court had previously
excluded, the trial court stated, “I want to put you on notice that all bets are off now, in
terms of the stuff that I struck out. [The prosecutor] can inquire about anything that‟s in
the book. [The witness is] claiming ownership . . . of these items, and anything that‟s in
that book she can ask about.” Counsel for Gomez proceeded to question Matthew G.
about the “burn browns” comment, the “Eastside 13 smokes a nigger” comment, and the
20
word “nigger” by the picture of Dr. Martin Luther King. Matthew G. claimed he had
written all of the comments.
Gomez argues that the yearbook, which Gomez refers to as “[Matthew G.]‟s
yearbook,” and the racist comments in it were not relevant to the case against Gomez. If
the yearbook was Gomez‟s yearbook, however, then it was, as the trial court found,
relevant and admissible on the issues of Gomez‟s gang membership and motive to
commit the crime. (See People v. Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1049; People v.
Ruiz, supra, 62 Cal.App.4th at pp. 239-240.) And whether the yearbook belonged to
Gomez or Matthew G. was a factual issue for the jury. While Matthew G. testified that it
was his, the police found it in a room with items that appeared to belong to Gomez.
With respect to the comments in the yearbook that the trial court excluded but that
counsel for Gomez subsequently questioned Matthew G. about, the People correctly point
out that any error in the admission of those comments was invited. Where a defendant
elicits evidence previously ruled inadmissible, he cannot claim error on appeal based on
the admission of the evidence. (People v. Gutierrez (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1083, 1139;
People v. Visciotti (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1, 72; see People v. Kovacich (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th
863, 890, fn. 5 [“defendant cannot complain that testimony he elicited was admitted into
evidence”].) Moreover, it is clear that counsel for Gomez‟s purpose in introducing the
inflammatory yearbook comments along with Matthew G.‟s testimony that he wrote them
was to prove to the jury that the yearbook belonged to Matthew G., not to Gomez, and
that therefore Matthew G. was responsible for the admissible comment “Eastside 13
smokes a nigger.” As counsel for Gomez argued in closing: “Now, that yearbook has
got vile and vulgar and ugly language all in it. So why did I put Matthew [G.] on?
Because didn‟t you all think when the prosecution put that notebook on that it must have
belonged to [Gomez]? Didn‟t you all think that?” The clear inference is that Matthew G.
would not admit writing such ugly comments unless he, not Gomez, had actually written
them.
21
2. The Rap Song Lyrics
The rap song lyrics were discovered in Gomez‟s cell while the trial was in
progress. Counsel for Gomez initially objected to the rap song lyrics on the grounds that
they were cumulative and their admission might require counsel to get a handwriting
expert to determine whether Gomez wrote the documents. The trial court stated that the
lyrics were relevant to the issue of gang membership, but the court would give defense
counsel an opportunity to obtain a handwriting expert if counsel wanted to do so.
After reading the lyrics the trial court noted one of the documents was “chock-full
of statements about the gang: „Eastside 13 is a motherfucking gang. Letting everyone
know that we‟re some fucking criminals. The rest in control, 13th Street now.‟ Then he
goes on to become more explicit, in which he talks about references to „strap,‟ which my
small understanding is that usually means carrying a gun. „Thirteen here comes even
more.‟ He‟s talking about who he gonna kill. „Man, just grab a gun, we‟re gonna kill
some fucking tintos.‟” The trial court wanted to know, however, whether the prosecution
would be recalling the gang expert to explain the lyrics. The prosecutor responded that
Detective Benavides could give the explanation.
The court stated it was going to admit the lyrics over the defense‟s objection. “I
think this is highly relevant. You‟re going to have someone, an individual who, even
years after these events, years after the murder is still carrying on, and pardon this
expression, but a love affair with the Eastside Treces. I mean, this is obviously an ode to
his loyalty and involvement with Eastside Treces, and under [Evidence Code section] 352
this is extremely relevant, if this was found with him today.” The court added that it was
also relevant to the issue of whether Gomez wrote the comments in the yearbook. The
court acknowledged that the evidence was “prejudicial, but it has very strong probative
value, and I‟m only letting them in for a limited purpose of indicia of gang membership.
I will tell the jury that as soon as she tries to admit these.”
Rap song lyrics, like other evidence, may be “probative of defendant‟s state of
mind and criminal intent, as well as his membership in a criminal gang and his loyalty to
it.” (People v. Zepeda (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 25, 35; People v. Olguin (1994) 31
22
Cal.App.4th 1355, 1372-1373.) It is true, as the trial court recognized, that some of the
lyrics were prejudicial, but the trial court properly weighed that prejudice against the
probative value of the lyrics. “[T]he trial court exercises broad discretion in this area:
„Where . . . a discretionary power is inherently or by express statute vested in the trial
judge, his or her exercise of that wide discretion must not be disturbed on appeal except
on a showing that the court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious or patently
absurd manner that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice.‟ [Citation.] We cannot
say that here.” (Olguin, supra, at p. 1373.)
Moreover, the trial court properly admonished the jury that the court was
admitting the rap song lyrics “for a limited purpose.” The trial court instructed the jury:
“What I mean by that is it‟s similar to what I said about the book, the yearbook and so
forth. The statements contained on the paper are not being admitted for the truth, but
they‟re being admitted, if you so find, as indicia or possible indicia of gang membership,
okay?” We presume the jury followed this instruction in the absence of evidence to the
contrary. (People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393, 414; People v. Boyette (2002) 29
Cal.4th 381, 436; see People v. Waidla, supra, 22 Cal.4th at p. 725 [“[t]he presumption is
that limiting instructions are followed by the jury”]; People v. Mickey (1991) 54 Cal.3d
612, 689, fn. 17 [“[a]ny prejudice that the challenged information may have threatened
must be deemed to have been prevented by the court‟s limiting instruction to the jury,”
and “[w]e presume that jurors comprehend and accept the court‟s directions”].) Gomez
does not point to any such evidence.
3. Police Notebook
Exhibit No. 28, the police notebook, was “five stapled pages, two-sided, [which]
would appear to have 16 head shots on each page,” with names on the backs of the pages.
It was admitted into evidence without objection.
Nine months after the shooting, on April 29, 2009, Detective Chong showed the
police notebook to Cuevas. Cuevas was unable to identify the shooter from the
23
photographs. Five months later, Detective Benavides showed a photographic lineup to
Cuevas. Cuevas identified Gomez‟s photograph from the lineup.
Gomez argues that the police notebook should have been excluded under Evidence
Code section 352 as unduly prejudicial and confusing. Although Gomez asserts that he
objected to the admission of this exhibit, he does not include a citation to the record to
support his claim. The failure to object to the admission of the evidence waives any
claim of error on appeal. (Id., § 353; People v. Partida (2005) 37 Cal.4th 428, 433-434.)
In any event, the admission of the exhibit did not prejudice Gomez. Gomez argues
that “by introducing the notebook full of gang pictures and making the argument that
Cuevas was being careful when he selected Gomez‟s photo fourteen months after the
shooting incident, the state was able, through subterfuge, to bolster its case by misleading
the jury and confusing the issues.” Specifically, Gomez argues that because most of the
pictures in the notebook did not match the descriptions of the shooters given by Cuevas,
the fact that Cuevas did not identify the shooters from pictures in the notebook “did not
tend to prove that Cuevas was being careful in his selection several months later when
Detective Benavides prompted Cuevas‟s selection of Gomez by suggesting No. 5 to
him.”
Gomez does not identify anything in the record suggesting that the prosecution
attempted to use Cuevas‟ failure to identify anyone in the notebook as proof that his
selection of Gomez‟s photograph from the photographic lineup was “careful” and
accurate. As noted above, Gomez‟s assertion that Detective Benavides “prompted
Cuevas‟s selection” of his photograph is speculative.
Evidence is prejudicial within the meaning of Evidence Code section 352 if it
“„uniquely tends to evoke an emotional bias against [the] defendant as an individual and
which has very little effect on the issues.‟” (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 320;
People v. Rucker (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1107, 1119.) The police notebook did not meet
this definition. Moreover, Cuevas was unable to identify either of the shooters from the
photographs in the notebook. Cuevas did make an identification from the photographic
lineup Detective Benavides subsequently showed him, and counsel for Gomez cross-
24
examined Cuevas on the accuracy of the identification. It is not reasonably probable that
the admission of the notebook confused the jury, or that the jury would have acquitted
Gomez in the absence of its admission. (Evid. Code, § 353, subd. (b); see People v. Earp
(1999) 20 Cal.4th 826, 878 [reversal for the erroneous admission of evidence is not
required unless it is reasonably probable the defendant would have obtained a more
favorable result had there been no error].)
III. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
A. Standard of Review and Waiver of Claims
“In general, a prosecutor commits misconduct by using deceptive or reprehensible
methods of persuasion. [Citations.] It is generally not necessary for the defendant to
show the prosecutor acted in bad faith because the prosecutor‟s conduct is evaluated in
accordance with an objective standard. [Citation.] „“To preserve for appeal a claim of
prosecutorial misconduct, the defense must make a timely objection at trial and request
an admonition; otherwise, the point is reviewable only if an admonition would not have
cured the harm caused by the misconduct.”‟ [Citations.]” (People v. Barnett (1998) 17
Cal.4th 1044, 1133; see People v. Fuiava (2012) 53 Cal.4th 622, 727 [“[t]he prevalence
of asserted misconduct raised for the first time on appeal cannot establish that, had
defense counsel made proper objections at trial, the trial court would have consistently
overruled those objections, the prosecutor would have persisted in engaging in the
asserted misconduct, or the jury would have been alienated by defendant‟s bringing the
prosecutor‟s asserted improprieties to the court‟s attention”].) Reversal for prosecutorial
misconduct is not required unless the defendant has been prejudiced by the misconduct
(People v. Fernandez (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 540, 564; see, e.g., People v. Fierro (1991)
1 Cal.4th 173, 209), which occurs only if it is reasonably probable the defendant would
have obtained a more favorable result absent the misconduct (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 13;
People v. Tully (2012) 54 Cal.4th 952, 1010; People v. Crew (2003) 31 Cal.4th 822, 839.)
25
B. The Prosecutor Did Not Engage in Prejudicial Misconduct by Asking an
Improper Hypothetical Question
Gomez argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by improperly inserting
hearsay into a hypothetical question posed to the gang expert, Officer Berdin. The
People correctly respond that Gomez waived this argument by failing to object to the
prosecutor‟s question to the gang expert. (See People v. Thomas (2012) 54 Cal.4th 908,
943 [defendant forfeits claims of prosecutorial misconduct by not objecting].) Gomez
concedes the point by not disputing that he failed to object or addressing the issue of
waiver in his reply brief.
In any event, there was no prejudicial misconduct. The alleged misconduct is
based on a statement within a hypothetical question asking Officer Berdin his opinion of
whether “this crime was committed to benefit the East Side Trece gang [and] in
association with East Side Trece gang members.” The prosecutor asked Officer Berdin to
assume several facts, including “that after the shooting the shooters entered a black
Cadillac which was parked along the west side of Griffith, just south of the intersection of
Griffith and Adams.”8 Gomez argues that Salas and Smith were the only two individuals
who connected the shooters to a black Cadillac, neither of them testified, and the People
introduced the hearsay statements by Salas and Smith to Officer Wampler and Detective
Chong not for the truth but only for the limited purpose of explaining Detective Chong‟s
subsequent actions. Gomez asserts that “[b]y inserting this hearsay into the hypothetical
question to the gang expert, the prosecutor was able to link the Salgado brothers‟s [sic]
8 The hypothetical question also asked Officer Berdin to assume that the camera that
captured the recording was located at 853 East Adams, the victim was found four
buildings from the intersection of Griffith and Adams, the car screeched its tires as it fled
the scene, the shooters seen in the video were admitted East Side Trece gang members,
and the “same well-documented East Side Trece gang member was seen just moments
before the shooting, standing with another male Hispanic near the scene of the shooting;
and that both men appeared to be standing tall, as if looking for someone [and] that one
of them had his hands in his pocket.” Gomez does not object to any of these portions of
the hypothetical question.
26
black Cadillac to the crime scene, thereby bolstering Arlene Stewart‟s testimony,
confusing the jury because one hearsay declarant described the Cadillac as a ragtop, and
[the prosecutor] connected [Gomez] to the crime scene through the use of unsubstantiated
hearsay.”
There was other evidence, however, connecting the shooters to the Cadillac. Both
Stewart‟s testimony and the video recording from the childcare center linked a black
Cadillac to the crime scene. The jury also heard recordings of 911 calls, some of which
mentioned a black Cadillac. It was reasonably inferable from the evidence that the
shooters left the scene in a black Cadillac.
Experts may give opinions on the basis of hypothetical questions that ask the
experts to assume the truth of certain facts. (People v. Vang (2011) 52 Cal.4th 1038,
1045.) However, the “[u]se of hypothetical questions is subject to an important
requirement. „Such a hypothetical question must be rooted in facts shown by the
evidence . . . .‟ [Citations.]” (Id. at pp. 1045-1046.) A hypothetical question “„“may
assume facts within the limits of the evidence, not unfairly assembled, upon which the
opinion of the expert is required, and considerable latitude must be allowed in the choice
of facts as to the basis upon which to frame a hypothetical question.” [Citation.]‟” (Id. at
p. 1046.) The statement about the black Cadillac in the hypothetical question was
properly based on the evidence.
Moreover, the trial court instructed the jury regarding hypothetical questions that
“[i]n permitting this type of question, the court does not rule, and does not necessarily
find that all of the assumed facts have been proved. It only determines that those
assumed facts are within the possible range of the evidence. It is for you to decide from
all the evidence whether or not the facts assumed in a hypothetical question have been
proved. If you should decide that any assumption in a question has not been proved, you
are to determine the effect of that failure of proof on the value and weight of the expert
opinion based on the assumed facts.” (CALJIC No. 2.82.) We presume the jury was able
to follow this instruction (People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619, 662; People v. Delgado
27
(1993) 5 Cal.4th 312, 331) and properly evaluate Officer Berdin‟s answer to the
hypothetical question.
C. The Prosecutor Did Not Improperly Vouch For Witnesses
Gomez argues that the prosecutor improperly vouched for the credibility of two of
the prosecution witnesses, Ramirez and Stewart. As with the hypothetical question to
Officer Berdin, Gomez did not preserve this argument by making a timely objection in
the trial court. Moreover, there was no improper vouching.
“„A prosecutor may make “assurances regarding the apparent honesty or reliability
of” a witness “based on the „facts of [the] record and the inferences reasonably drawn
therefrom.‟” [Citation.] But a “prosecutor is prohibited from vouching for the credibility
of witnesses or otherwise bolstering the veracity of their testimony by referring to
evidence outside the record.” [Citation.]‟” (People v. Redd (2010) 48 Cal.4th 691, 740;
see People v. Martinez (2010) 47 Cal.4th 911, 958 [“[a] prosecutor may comment upon
the credibility of witnesses based on facts contained in the record, and any reasonable
inferences that can be drawn from them, but may not vouch for the credibility of a
witness based on personal belief or by referring to evidence outside the record”].) While
argument generally is limited to matters in evidence, a prosecutor may also make
arguments based on common knowledge or experience. (People v. Cunningham, supra,25 Cal.4th at p. 1026.)
The prosecutor stated: “But I‟ll tell you this. When I come home at night and
there‟s a person outside that I don‟t recognize from my neighborhood, as a prosecutor,
I‟m very aware of who‟s in my neighborhood. A police officer who has been shot at
before, who is running in a gang-infested area, is not like a person who is just, you know,
walking going about his business. And I think that‟s, ladies and gentlemen, I think that‟s
common sense. I think that it doesn‟t take a person who makes $100,000 a year coming
in as an expert testifying to tell us about how people remember certain things.”
To the extent the prosecutor talked about her personal experiences, her argument
was improper. The prosecutor‟s argument regarding Ramirez‟s ability to remember the
28
face of the man he encountered, however, was “„based on the “facts of [the] record and
the inferences reasonably drawn therefrom.”‟” (People v. Turner (2004) 34 Cal.4th 406,
432.) The prosecutor did not imply she had personal information outside the record that
supported Ramirez‟s credibility.
The same is true of the prosecutor‟s argument about Stewart‟s credibility. After
discussing Stewart‟s testimony, the prosecutor stated that the defense would probably
attack Stewart‟s testimony based on her prior conviction for prostitution. The prosecutor
argued that the prior conviction did not mean Stewart was not credible. She then stated:
“And I would submit to you that if she was trying to lie, if she was trying to get
somebody in trouble, she could have done a lot better job. She could have said that she
saw the shooting. She could have said that she saw the gun in [Gomez‟s] hands. She
could have said that it was [Gomez] who hurt her in the past. She could have said a lot of
things that would have really done a lot of harm to the defense‟s case. But she didn‟t.
Because what she did was she came in here and all she did was say what she saw that
day, on July 29th, 2008.” After reviewing portions of Stewart‟s testimony, the prosecutor
added: “So did the defense demonstrate that she had any type of ax to grind against the
defendant? Absolutely not. Because when that lady came in on Friday, she was nervous,
but she was being honest. She told you that she was being honest.”
Again, the prosecutor was not personally vouching for Stewart‟s credibility based
on information she had outside the record. She was drawing reasonable inferences based
on evidence in the record.
D. The Prosecutor Did Not Mischaracterize Evidence
Finally, Gomez cites several instances in the prosecutor‟s closing argument that
Gomez contends amount to prejudicial misconduct because the prosecutor was
mischaracterizing or misstating the evidence. Again, trial counsel did not object to any of
these statements by the prosecutor in closing argument, which Gomez does not dispute
29
amounts to waivers of these issues.9 In any event, the record does not support Gomez‟s
contention.
Prosecutorial misconduct includes mischaracterizing or misstating the evidence.
(People v. Davis (2005) 36 Cal.4th 510, 550; see People v. Caldwell (2013) 212
Cal.App.4th 1262, 1268, review den. May 1, 2013.) “Although prosecutors have wide
latitude to draw inferences from the evidence presented at trial, mischaracterizing the
evidence is misconduct. [Citations.] A prosecutor‟s „vigorous‟ presentation of facts
favorable to his or her side „does not excuse either deliberate or mistaken misstatements
of fact.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 823.) Such misconduct
requires reversal under federal standards “if it is so „“„“egregious”‟”‟ as to render the trial
„fundamentally unfair‟ under due process principles. [Citation.] Under state law, . . . the
reviewing court considers the record as a whole to determine if the alleged harm resulted
in a miscarriage of justice. [Citation.] In considering prejudice „when the claim focuses
upon comments made by the prosecutor before the jury, the question is whether there is a
reasonable likelihood that the jury construed or applied any of the complained-of remarks
in an objectionable fashion. [Citation.]‟” (People v. Caldwell, supra, 212 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1269.)
Gomez‟s list of purported mischaracterizations of the evidence focuses on
minutiae, such as whether Cuevas told Detective Benavides that he did not see the
shooters‟ faces or that he did not recall seeing the shooters‟ faces. “„In the challenged
9 Rather than addressing the issue of waiver in his reply brief, Gomez repeats his
previous arguments and identifies a new instance of prosecutorial misconduct. This
claim of misconduct, based on the prosecutor‟s comment that Cuevas may have been
hesitant to identify Gomez because Cuevas did not want to be “victim number 2,” is
forfeited because Gomez did not raise it in his opening brief. “„Withholding a point until
the reply brief deprives the respondent of an opportunity to answer it . . . . Hence, a point
raised for the first time therein is deemed waived and will not be considered, unless good
reason is shown for failure to present it before. [Citations.] No good cause is shown
here.‟” (People v. Clayburg (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 86, 93, quoting People v. Baniqued
(2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 13, 29.)
30
remarks, the prosecutor did not substantially misstate the facts or go beyond the record.
Ultimately, the test for misconduct is whether the prosecutor has employed deceptive or
reprehensible methods to persuade either the court or the jury. [Citation.]‟” (People v.
Gonzales (2011) 51 Cal.4th 894, 947.) There is no evidence that the prosecutor engaged
in any such conduct here.
Moreover, the trial court instructed the jury that it “must determine what facts
have been proved from the evidence received in the trial and not from any other source”
(CALJIC No. 1.00), and that “[s]tatements made by the attorneys during the trial are not
evidence.” (CALJIC Nos. 0.50, 1.02.) “Arguments by counsel „generally carry less
weight with a jury than do instructions from the court. The former are usually billed in
advance to the jury as matters of argument, not evidence, [citation], and are likely viewed
as the statements of advocates . . . .‟ [Citations.]” (People v. McDowell (2012) 54
Cal.4th 395, 438.) In light of the relatively minor nature of the remarks Gomez
complains about and the trial court‟s instructions, it is not reasonably probable that the
jury based its verdict on any misstatements of the evidence. Therefore, any alleged
misconduct was harmless. (Ibid.; People v. Caldwell, supra, 212 Cal.App.4th at p. 1269.)
IV. NEW TRIAL MOTION
Gomez argues that the trial court denied his due process right to a fair hearing and
demonstrated judicial bias when it failed to review the evidence Gomez presented in
support of his new trial motion. Gomez‟s argument does not fairly and accurately state
what occurred in the trial court.
Gomez moved for a new trial based on insufficiency of the evidence. (Pen. Code,
§ 1181, subd. 6.) His argument was that the video recording from the childcare center
“conclusively proves that testimony given by Jose Ramirez and Arlene Stewart cannot be
considered reliable.” At the hearing on the motion, counsel for Gomez asked if the trial
court had a chance to review the recording. The trial court answered, “Actually, I did
not.” Counsel for Gomez proceeded to attack the credibility of the two witnesses because
31
their testimony “flies in the face of what actually happened that is depicted on the
videotape.” When the trial court asked him to explain, counsel for Gomez responded,
“it‟s just so disheartening for me to even have you ask that question because it just shows
that the court has accepted the version just like the jury did.” Counsel for Gomez
explained, “You have a witness saying he saw a person on a street that he couldn‟t have
seen. You have witness saying a person was in a car; that couldn‟t have happened. The
video is the best evidence. It shows what happened, and it‟s inconsistent with the
People‟s version.”
The trial court responded that it had reviewed the evidence the night before,
though it did not look at the recording, and conducted an independent review of the
evidence. The court determined that there was substantial evidence from which the jury
could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Gomez committed the crime. The court
stated that it found Cuevas, Ramirez, and Stewart were credible witnesses, even though
the court acknowledged that “their testimony is not perfect—it‟s not a hundred percent
this is absolutely the way” things occurred. The court therefore denied Gomez‟s new
trial motion.
Penal Code section 1181, subdivision 6, provides a trial court may grant a new
trial “[w]hen the verdict or finding is contrary to law or evidence.” On a motion for a
new trial, the trial court weighs the evidence independently. (People v. Guerra (2006) 37
Cal.4th 1067, 1159, disapproved on another ground in People v. Rundle (2008) 43
Cal.4th 76, 151; People v. Davis (1995) 10 Cal.4th 463, 523.) “It is, however, guided by
a presumption in favor of the correctness of the verdict and proceedings supporting it.
[Citation.] The trial court „should [not] disregard the verdict . . . but instead . . . should
consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not,
in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict.‟ [Citation.]”
(Davis, supra, at p. 524; accord, Guerra, supra, at p. 1159.) A motion for new trial is
addressed to the discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent an
abuse of discretion. (Guerra, supra, at pp. 1159-1160; People v. Coffman and Marlow
(2004) 34 Cal.4th 1, 127.) There is a strong presumption that the trial court properly
32
exercised its discretion, so abuse must appear clear and unmistakable. (Guerra, supra, at
pp. 1159-1160; Davis, supra, at p. 524.)
Although the trial court did not review the video recording before the hearing on
Gomez‟s motion for a new trial, the trial court had seen the recording during trial. The
trial court was aware of the imperfections in the eyewitnesses‟ testimony but still found
the witnesses credible. The court conducted the required independent review of the
evidence and concluded that substantial evidence supported the verdict. No “„“manifest
and unmistakable abuse of discretion clearly appears.”‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Davis,
supra, 10 Cal.4th at p. 524; see People v. Guerra, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 1160.) The trial
court did not deprive Gomez of his due process right to a fair trial or subject Gomez to
judicial bias by denying Gomez‟s motion for a new trial without (again) viewing the
video recording.
V. CONSIDERATION OF GOMEZ‟S JUVENILE STATUS DURING
SENTENCING
Gomez was 17 years old at the time of the murder. He was tried as an adult. At
the sentencing hearing the trial court imposed a sentence of 50 years to life—25 years to
life for first degree murder and an additional 25 years to life for the firearm use pursuant
to Penal Code section 12022.53, subdivisions (d) and (e).
Gomez argues that the trial court imposed “the same sentence an adult would
receive” “[w]ithout any individualized consideration for [his] age or lack of any serious
prior criminal record.” Gomez contends that Welfare and Institutions Code section 707,
subdivision (d), which permits a juvenile to be tried as an adult, violates the Eighth
Amendment‟s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment “because it fails to consider a
juvenile‟s individual characteristics before treating the child as an adult.” Gomez also
contends that his sentence of 50 years to life violates the Eighth Amendment, due
process, and equal protection, and that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to
consider Gomez‟s juvenile status at the time of sentencing.
33
By statute the minimum sentence for first degree murder is 25 years to life. (Pen.
Code, § 190, subd. (a).) The sentence for firearm use under Penal Code section
12022.53, subdivisions (d) and (e), is also 25 years to life. The People requested
imposition of a sentence of 50 years to life. At the sentencing hearing, counsel for
Gomez did not object to the sentence of 50 years to life. Gomez‟s failure to object
forfeited any claim of error with respect to the factors the trial court considered in
sentencing Gomez. (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 356; see People v. Gonzalez
(2003) 31 Cal.4th 745, 751.) As a general rule, “an appellant forfeits claims of error
through inaction that prevents the trial court from avoiding or curing the error.” (People
v. Garcia (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 1203, 1214; see People v. McCullough (2013) 56
Cal.4th 589, 593.) “„Claims of error relating to sentences “which, though otherwise
permitted by law, were imposed in a procedurally or factually flawed manner” are
waived on appeal if not first raised in the trial court. [Citation.]‟” (Garcia, supra, at
p. 1218.) There is, however, “„“a narrow exception” to the waiver doctrine that normally
applies where the sentence “could not lawfully be imposed under any circumstance in the
particular case . . . .”‟” (Ibid.)
Welfare and Institutions Code section 707, subdivision (d)(1), provides that “the
district attorney or other appropriate prosecuting officer may file an accusatory pleading
in a court of criminal jurisdiction against any minor 16 years of age or older who is
accused of committing an offense enumerated in subdivision (b).” Section 707,
subdivision (b), includes both murder and firearm use in violation of Penal Code
section 12022.53. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 707, subd. (b)(1) & (17).) The California
Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of Welfare and Institutions Code
section 707, subdivision (d). (Manduley v. Superior Court (2002) 27 Cal.4th 537, 559;
Juan G. v. Superior Court (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 1480, 1490; People v. Cavallaro
(2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 103, 116.) We are bound by the Supreme Court‟s holding.
(Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 450, 455; People v. Whitaker
(2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 999, 1008-1009; In re Stevenson (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 841,
868.)
34
Gomez further contends that we must remand the case for resentencing in order
for the trial court to consider his age under Miller v. Alabama (2012) ___ U.S. ___ [132
S.Ct. 2455, 183 L.Ed.2d 407]. In Miller, two 14-year-old defendants “were convicted of
murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. In neither
case did the sentencing authority have any discretion to impose a different punishment.
State law mandated that each juvenile die in prison even if a judge or jury would have
thought that his youth and its attendant characteristics, along with the nature of his crime,
made a lesser sentence (for example, life with the possibility of parole) more appropriate.
Such a scheme prevents those meting out punishment from considering a juvenile‟s
„lessened culpability‟ and greater „capacity for change,‟ Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S.
___, ___, ___, 130 S.Ct. 2011, 2026-2027, 2029-2030, 176 L.Ed.2d 825 (2010), and runs
afoul of our cases‟ requirement of individualized sentencing for defendants facing the
most serious penalties.” (Miller, supra, at p. ___ [132 S.Ct. at p. 2460.) The Supreme
Court held that “mandatory life without parole for those under the age of 18 at the time of
their crimes violates the Eighth Amendment‟s prohibition on „cruel and unusual
punishments.‟” (Id. at p. ___ [132 S.Ct. at p. 2460].) The court did not ban imposition of
a sentence of life without parole on a juvenile offender, but it did require sentencing
courts to consider the differences between children and adults, “and how those
differences counsel against irrevocably sentencing them to a lifetime in prison.” (Id. at
p. ___ [132 S.Ct. at p. 2469], fn. omitted.)
Here, the trial court sentenced Gomez to 50 years to life, not life without the
possibility of parole. Miller does not hold that such a sentence is unconstitutional, nor
does Miller require us to remand for resentencing to require the trial court to consider the
factors set forth in the Supreme Court‟s opinion in Miller.
Gomez argues that Miller applies because his sentence was the “equivalent” of a
term of life without the possibility of parole. (See People v. Caballero (2012) 55 Cal.4th
262, 267-268). Gomez was 20 years old when sentenced. He received 340 days of
custody credits, so that he will have to serve approximately 49 years before he is eligible
for parole when he is approximately 69 years old. His life expectancy is about 76 years.
35
(See People v. Mendez, supra, 188 Cal.App.4th at p. 63.) Therefore, his sentence is not
the equivalent of a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. (See ibid. [because
the defendant‟s life expectancy was 76 and the defendant would not be eligible for parole
until he was 88, “his sentence and an LWOP sentence are „materially
indistinguishable‟”].) Gomez‟s sentence is a long one, commensurate with and
appropriate for the nature of his crime, but it is not the equivalent of life without the
possibility of parole and it is not unconstitutional under Miller.
Gomez also argues that his sentence violates equal protection because, had he
received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, under Miller the trial court
would have had the discretion to reduce his sentence to 25 years to life. Gomez,
however, received a sentence of 25 years to life. The additional 25 years to life was for
the use of a firearm in the commission of a gang-related crime. (Pen. Code, § 12022.53,
subds. (d), (e).) “„“The concept of the equal protection of the laws compels recognition
of the proposition that persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate purpose of
the law receive like treatment.”‟ [Citation.] „The first prerequisite to a meritorious claim
under the equal protection clause is a showing that the state has adopted a classification
that affects two or more similarly situated groups in an unequal manner.‟ [Citations.]
This initial inquiry is not whether persons are similarly situated for all purposes, but
„whether they are similarly situated for purposes of the law challenged.‟ [Citation.]”
(Cooley v. Superior Court (2002) 29 Cal.4th 228, 253; see People v. Barrett (2012) 54
Cal.4th 1081, 1107; People v. Guzman (2005) 35 Cal.4th 577, 591-592.) Gomez is not
similarly situated to a murderer who is not subject to a mandatory 25 years to life firearm
use enhancement.
VI. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
A. Standard of Review
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 15,
of the California Constitution provide a criminal defendant with the right to the effective
36
assistance of counsel. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 686 [104 S.Ct.
2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674]; People v. Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal.3d 171, 215.) Thus, a
defendant is entitled to “„the reasonably competent assistance of an attorney acting as his
diligent conscientious advocate.‟” (Ledesma, supra, at p. 215; In re Jones (1996) 13
Cal.4th 552, 566; In re Edward S. (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 387, 406.)
“„To establish ineffective assistance of counsel under either the federal or state
guarantee, a defendant must show that counsel‟s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and that counsel‟s
deficient performance was prejudicial, i.e., that a reasonable probability exists that, but
for counsel‟s failings, the result would have been more favorable to the defendant.
[Citations.]‟ [Citation.]” (In re Roberts (2003) 29 Cal.4th 726, 744-745; see Strickland
v. Washington, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 694; People v. Huggins (2006) 38 Cal.4th 175, 205-
206.) “„The burden of sustaining a charge of inadequate or ineffective representation is
upon the defendant. The proof . . . must be a demonstrable reality and not a speculative
matter.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Karis (1988) 46 Cal.3d 612, 656; see People v.
Williams (1988) 44 Cal.3d 883, 933 [“[a] factual basis, not speculation, must be
established before reversal of a judgment may be had on grounds of ineffective
assistance of counsel”]; People v. Mesa (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 1000, 1008 [“[i]t is not
sufficient to show the alleged errors may have had some conceivable effect on the trial‟s
outcome; the defendant must demonstrate a „reasonable probability‟ that absent the
errors the result would have been different”].) We “must indulge a strong presumption
that counsel‟s acts were within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance,”
and the “defendant must overcome the presumption that the challenged action might be
considered sound trial strategy under the circumstances.” (People v. Dennis (1998) 17
Cal.4th 468, 541.) We “„make every effort . . . to evaluate counsel‟s conduct from
counsel‟s perspective at the time. [Citation.]‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Slaughter (2002)
27 Cal.4th 1187, 1210, italics omitted.)
37
B. Counsel for Gomez Was Not Ineffective by Failing To Make a Motion in
Limine To Exclude the Yearbook
Gomez first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to make
a motion in limine to exclude the yearbook in its entirety. Because the trial court
properly ruled that portions of the yearbook were admissible, it is not reasonably
probable that the trial court would have ruled the entire yearbook inadmissible had
Gomez‟s counsel challenged its admission by moving in limine to exclude it. Therefore,
the failure to make the motion did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.
(People v. Williams (2013) 56 Cal.4th 630, 690; In re Cudjo (1999) 20 Cal.4th 673, 687;
see People v. Thompson, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p. 122 [“[c]ounsel is not ineffective for
failing to make frivolous or futile motions”].)
C. Counsel for Gomez Was Not Ineffective by Failing To Object to Gang
Graffiti
Gomez next contends that his trial counsel should have objected to evidence of the
graffiti depicting “20K” and “30K,” both crossed out, which Officer Berdin explained
meant that the writers were killers of members of the Rolling 20 Outlaws and Rolling 30
Pirus gangs. This evidence was relevant to the issue on the issue of “defendant‟s gang
affiliation—including evidence of the gang‟s territory, membership, signs, symbols,
beliefs and practices, criminal enterprises, rivalries, and the like,” which “can help prove
identity, motive, modus operandi, specific intent, means of applying force or fear, or
other issues pertinent to guilt of the charged crime.” (People v. Hernandez, supra, 33
Cal.4th at p. 1049.) Trial counsel for Gomez did not have to make a futile objection to
exclude the evidence. (People v. Thompson, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p. 122.)
D. Counsel for Gomez Was Not Ineffective by Failing To Object to
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Gomez further contends his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
prosecutorial misconduct. As discussed above, there was no prejudicial prosecutorial
38
misconduct. Therefore, the failure to object did not constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel. (People v. Williams, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 690; In re Cudjo, supra, 20 Cal.4th
at p. 687.)
E. Issues Regarding Closing Argument and Sentencing
In closing argument, counsel for Gomez stated: “Let me make this easy for you.
Whoever did this, this was a first degree murder. They rolled by, they saw Mr. Van Ellis,
they parked, and then they walked up kind of slow, not together. Like they hunted him
down and shot him dead. This is a first degree willful, premeditated murder. No if‟s,
and‟s, or but‟s [sic]. Don‟t compromise. Don‟t even worry about second degree. Don‟t
worry about whether or not it‟s for the benefit of a gang or if there is a use of a gun. It is
all true. The only issue in this case is the identity. Have they proved to you beyond a
reasonable doubt [Gomez] is the one?”
Gomez argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for conceding that this was a
gang-related first degree murder with use of a gun. He acknowledges the Supreme
Court‟s statement in People v. Davenport (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1171, 1237: “„Recognizing
the importance in maintaining credibility before the jury, we have repeatedly rejected
claims that counsel was ineffective in conceding various degrees of guilt.‟ [Citation.]”10
Gomez appears to argue that the principle expressed in Davenport does not apply in this
case because Davenport was an adult while Gomez was a juvenile at the time of their
respective crimes. We see no reason why Davenport would be inapplicable merely
because Gomez was a juvenile at the time he committed his crimes.
Where, however, as here, “„“the record on appeal sheds no light on why counsel
acted or failed to act in the manner challenged[,] . . . unless counsel was asked for an
explanation and failed to provide one, or unless there simply could be no satisfactory
explanation,” the claim [of ineffective assistance of counsel] on appeal must be rejected.‟
10 The Supreme Court disapproved Davenport on another ground in People v. Griffin
(2004) 33 Cal.4th 536, 555, footnote 5.
39
[Citations.]” (People v. Mendoza Tello (1997) 15 Cal.4th 264, 266.) The claim “is more
appropriately decided in a habeas corpus proceeding.” (Id. at pp. 266-267.) Because
there is nothing in the record to indicate why trial counsel conceded that this was a gang-
related first degree murder, Gomez‟s claim is more appropriately raised on habeas corpus
and we reject it on appeal. (Ibid.)
Gomez briefly asserts, without citation to any supporting authority, that “trial
counsel had a duty to his client to make the jury aware that they should consider his
juvenile status, and the impulsive nature of juveniles, in evaluating whether the charge
was first degree or second degree murder.” Gomez does not sufficiently develop and
support this assertion for appellate review. “We discuss those arguments that are
sufficiently developed to be cognizable. To the extent defendant perfunctorily asserts
other claims, without development and, indeed, without a clear indication that they are
intended to be discrete contentions, they are not properly made, and are rejected on that
basis.” (People v. Turner (1994) 8 Cal.4th 137, 214, fn. 19, disapproved on another
ground in People v. Griffin, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 555, fn. 5; see People v. Redd, supra,48 Cal.4th at p. 744 [claim not considered where defendant failed to offer explanation of
how prosecutor‟s comment was improper]; People v. Barnett, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p.
1182 [defendant‟s failure to support claim “with adequate argument” is rejected “as not
properly raised”].) Moreover, Gomez‟s assertion improperly suggests that his trial
counsel should have made an argument that was unsupported by evidence in the record.
(See People v. Turner, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 432 [argument must be “„based on the
“facts of [the] record and the inferences reasonably drawn therefrom”‟”].)
Gomez also complains of his counsel‟s failure to raise the issue of his juvenile
status at the time of sentencing. As explained above, the trial court imposed a statutorily
mandated and constitutional sentence. Gomez was a gang member who chased down and
shot an unarmed man for no reason other than the color of the man‟s skin and the color of
his shorts. It is not reasonably probable Gomez would have received a more favorable
sentence had his counsel raised his juvenile status at the sentencing hearing. Gomez‟s
40
trial counsel was not ineffective for not mentioning at sentencing that Gomez was ten
months from adulthood when he murdered his victim.
F. Issues Regarding Counsel for Gomez’s Failure To Object To Unreliable
Identification Evidence
Gomez argues that his counsel should have filed a pretrial motion to exclude
unreliable identification evidence. The Supreme Court has stated that in a case based on
a pretrial identification of the defendant by a witness, “a penetrating concern as to the
propriety of [the] pretrial identification should be a commonplace consideration . . . [and]
„defense counsel . . . should consider an attack upon the identification procedure . . . on
the ground that the confrontation was unfair.‟” (People v. Nation (1980) 26 Cal.3d 169,
179.) If defense counsel fails to make a potentially meritorious objection to identification
evidence, the defendant may be able to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel by
showing that the pretrial identification procedure “„resulted in such unfairness that it
infringed his right to due process of law.‟” (Ibid.) What Gomez fails to demonstrate is
that such a motion was potentially meritorious. As discussed above, the evidence Gomez
challenges was admissible. Therefore, his counsel was not ineffective for failing to make
the motion. (See People v. Thompson, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p. 122; People v. Ybarra
(2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 1069, 1082.)
In his reply brief, Gomez claims that his counsel was ineffective for failing to
challenge Cuevas‟ identification of him from the photographic lineup based on Officer
Benavides‟ statement in the transcript, “That one? Number Five?” Gomez‟s failure to
raise this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in his opening brief, however, forfeits
the argument on appeal. (People v. Clayburg, supra, 211 Cal.App.4th at p. 93; People v.
Baniqued, supra, 85 Cal.App.4th at p. 29.) Moreover, as with Gomez‟s argument that his
trial counsel‟s closing argument was ineffective, the record is not sufficient for us to
determine whether trial counsel for Gomez was ineffective for failing to object to
Cuevas‟ identification. As discussed above, there is no way to determine from the
transcript whether Detective Benavides suggested Number Five and Cuevas then picked
41
that photograph, or whether Cuevas first circled Number Five and Detective Benavides
then sought to confirm his selection. “Under such circumstances, a claim of ineffective
assistance is generally rejected on direct appeal and more properly raised in a petition for
habeas corpus, which can include declarations and other information outside the appellate
record that reveal the reasons for the challenged conduct. [Citation.]” (People v.
Witcraft (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 659, 665; see People v. Gray (2005) 37 Cal.4th 168,
211.)
VII. RESTITUTION
One of the claims for restitution was from Van Ellis‟mother, Charlotte Van Ellis,
who sought $2,541.60 for her dental expenses. She claimed that the stress of the trial
caused her to grind and ultimately break three of her teeth. Over Gomez‟s objection, the
trial court, relying on People v. Keichler (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 1039 and People v.
Millard (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 7, included this amount as restitution. Gomez argues on
appeal that the trial court should not have included Mrs. Van Ellis‟ dental expenses in the
restitution order, and that there is no substantial evidence of the amount of these
expenses.
“Restitution is constitutionally and statutorily mandated in California.” (People v.
Keichler, supra, 129 Cal.App.4th at p. 1045; see Cal. Const., art. I, § 28; Pen. Code,
§ 1202.4.) Penal Code section 1202.4 (section 1202.4), subdivision (f), provides that “in
every case in which a victim has suffered economic loss as a result of the defendant‟s
conduct, the court shall require that the defendant make restitution to the victim or
victims in an amount established by court order, based on the amount of loss claimed by
the victim or victims or any other showing to the court.” “Victim” for purposes of
section 1202.4 includes “[t]he immediate surviving family of the actual victim.” (Id.,
subd. (k)(1).)
We review a restitution order for abuse of discretion. “„A victim‟s restitution right
is to be broadly and liberally construed.‟ [Citation.] „“When there is a factual and
42
rational basis for the amount of restitution ordered by the trial court, no abuse of
discretion will be found by the reviewing court.”‟ [Citations.]” (In re Johnny M. (2002)
100 Cal.App.4th 1128, 1132; accord, People v. Keichler, supra, 129 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1045.) “However, when the propriety of a restitution order turns on the interpretation
of a statute, a question of law is raised, which is subject to de novo review on appeal.
[Citation.]” (People v. Williams (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 142, 146 ; see In re K.F. (2009)
173 Cal.App.4th 655, 661.)
In People v. Keichler, supra, 129 Cal.App.4th 1039, on which the trial court
relied, the defendant got into a fight with three victims. The three victims sought
restitution for the cost of traditional Hmong healing ceremonies and herbal medicines.
(Id. at pp. 1042-1043.) The court held: “The restitution statute allows for recovery of a
broad variety of economic losses that are incurred as a result of the defendant‟s criminal
conduct. (§ 1202.4, subd. (f)(3).) The illustrative list of items for which restitution may
be ordered „includ[es], but [is] not limited to‟ payment for the value of stolen or damaged
property, medical expenses, mental health counseling expenses, wages or profits lost by
the victim, noneconomic losses including psychological harm, interest, attorney fees,
moving expenses, extra security, and expenses to retrofit a house or car to make them
accessible. (§ 1202.4, subd. (f)(3).)” (Keichler, supra, at p. 1046.) The court stated:
“Because the statute uses the language „including, but not limited to‟ these enumerated
losses, a trial court may compensate a victim for any economic loss which is proved to be
the direct result of the defendant‟s criminal behavior, even if not specifically enumerated
in the statute. [Citation.]” (Ibid.) The court allowed restitution for the Hmong healing
ceremonies and herbal medicines because they were the “equivalent of western medical
expenses” and the victims “underwent these traditional Hmong healing ceremonies
because [the] defendant injured them.” (Id. at p. 1047.)
In People v. Jones (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 418, on which Gomez relies, the court
analyzed the meaning of the phrase “incurred as the result of the defendant‟s criminal
conduct” in section 1202.4, subdivision (f)(3), using the traditional tort law notion of
proximate causation. (Italics added.) The court saw “no reason why the various
43
principles involved in determining proximate causation under California tort law should
not also apply in awarding victim restitution under California criminal law. As we have
noted, under the governing statute, „[t]o the extent possible, [a] restitution order . . . shall
be of a dollar amount that is sufficient to fully reimburse the victim or victims for every
determined economic loss incurred as the result of the defendant‟s criminal conduct . . . .‟
(Pen. Code, § 1202.4, subd. (f)(3), italics added.) The causal connection embodied in the
words „as the result of‟ is certainly indicative of direct causation. Just as in tort law,
however, the law must impose limitations on liability for victim restitution other than
simple direct causality or else a defendant will face infinite liability for his or her
criminal acts, no matter how remote the consequence.” (Jones, supra, at p. 425.) After
surveying causation in other areas of law, the court concluded that criminal restitution
awards should be determined in a manner “consistent with the principles of proximate
causation.” (Id. at p. 427; see People v. Holmberg (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 1310, 1320-
1321.)
We agree with Jones that a trial court should apply a proximate cause analysis
when awarding restitution under section 1202.4, subdivision (f)(3). Proximate causation
and foreseeability play a role in criminal liability and sentencing. “„The principles of
causation apply to crimes as well as torts. [Citation.] “Just as in tort law, the defendant‟s
act must be the legally responsible cause („proximate cause‟) of the injury, death or other
harm which constitutes the crime.”‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Brady (2005) 129
Cal.App.4th 1314, 1324; see People v. Dawson (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1073, 1093-
1094.) The proximate cause of a harm “„is an act or omission that sets in motion a chain
of events that produces as a direct, natural and probable consequence of the act or
omission the [harm] and without which the [harm] would not occur.‟ [Citation.]”
(Brady, supra, at p. 1324; accord, Dawson, supra, at p. 1094.) Forseeability also ensures
that a defendant‟s punishment is commensurate with his moral culpability. (Dawson,
supra, at p. 1094; Brady, supra, at pp. 1324-1325; see People v. Roberts (1992) 2 Cal.4th
271, 316, 319-320.)
44
In People v. Keichler, supra, 129 Cal.App.4th 1039 the expenses incurred for the
traditional Hmong healing ceremonies and herbal medicines were directly connected to
the defendant‟s acts. The defendant injured the victims, then they obtained medical
treatment for their injuries. The medical expenses were forseeable and proximately
caused by the defendant‟s conduct. In contrast, Charlotte Van Ellis‟ dental expenses
were neither a direct result of Gomez‟s actions nor reasonably foreseeable. Her dental
expenses did not arise from stress caused by Gomez‟s murder of her son, but by the
experience of the trial that occurred almost three years later. Mrs. Van Ellis chose to
attend the trial, the trial caused her stress, the stress caused her to grind her teeth, and the
teeth-grinding caused her to break three teeth and incur dental expenses. These expenses
were not the direct, natural and probable consequence of Gomez‟s murder of Van Ellis
nor were they reasonably forseeable. (See People v. Roberts, supra, 2 Cal.4th at pp. 316,
319-320; People v. Dawson, supra, 172 Cal.App.4th at p. 1094; People v. Brady, supra,
129 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1324-1325.). The trial court erred by awarding $2,541.60 for
Charlotte Van Ellis‟ dental expenses, and the restitution award must be reduced from
$14,915.51 to $12,373.91.
VIII. OTHER CLAIMS OF ERROR
Gomez asserts that the cumulative effect of what he claims were errors in his trial
deprived him of due process and a fair trial. As discussed above, however, any errors
were relatively minor. It is not reasonably probable that the result would have been any
different had there been no error. (People v. Cardenas, supra, 31 Cal.3d at p. 907; see
People v. Loy (2011) 52 Cal.4th 46, 77.)
In his reply brief, Gomez asserts that the trial court‟s calculation of his pretrial
custody credits was incorrect and Gomez requests that we make the correction. As
explained above, this claim of misconduct is forfeited because Gomez did not raise it in
his opening brief. (People v. Clayburg, supra, 211 Cal.App.4th at p. 93; People v.
Baniqued, supra, 85 Cal.App.4th at p. 29.) In addition, this is not the right court for this
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claim. “The most expeditious and . . . the appropriate method of correction of errors of
this kind is to move for correction in the trial court. It is the obligation of the superior
court, under [Penal Code] section 2900.5, to calculate the number of credit days and
include same in the abstract of judgment ([Pen. Code,] § 2900.5, subd. (d)). If a dispute
arises as to the correct calculation of credit days, such should be presented on noticed
motion „for resolution to the court which imposed the sentence and which has ready
access to the information necessary to resolve the dispute.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Fares
(1993) 16 Cal.App.4th 954, 958.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is modified to order restitution in the amount of $12,373.91
pursuant to section 1202.4, subdivision (f). In all other respects, the judgment is
affirmed. The trial court is directed to prepare a corrected abstract of judgment and
forward a copy to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
SEGAL, J.*
We concur:
WOODS, Acting P. J.
ZELON, J.
* Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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