P. v. Bennett CA3 ( 2013 )

Filed 3/22/13 P. v. Bennett CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Placer)
----
THE PEOPLE, C067362
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 62097686)
v.
THOMAS KELLER BENNETT,
Defendant and Appellant.
After officers responded to a 911 call from Denise N., they found both Denise and
her boyfriend, defendant Thomas Keller Bennett, sporting injuries and smelling strongly
of alcohol. An information charged defendant with corporal injury on a cohabitant and
assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. (Pen. Code, §§ 273.5,
subd. (a)—count one, 245, subd. (a)(1)—count two.)1 A jury found defendant guilty of
both counts and the court sentenced him to seven years in state prison. Defendant
appeals, arguing the trial court erred in admitting evidence of an uncharged domestic
violence incident and sentencing error. We shall affirm the judgment.
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise designated.
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FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Officers responded to a 911 call from a female who stated her boyfriend had
beaten her. When they arrived, officers found Denise N., who told them defendant had
choked and pushed her, causing injuries. An information charged defendant with
inflicting corporal injury on a cohabitant and assault by means of force likely to produce
great bodily injury. As to the corporal injury count, the information alleged defendant
had suffered a 2004 conviction involving domestic violence and, as to both counts, that
defendant had served two prior prison terms. (§§ 273.5, subd. (e), 667.5, subd. (b).)
The prosecutor filed an in limine motion seeking to admit evidence, pursuant to
Evidence Code sections 1109 and 1101, subdivision (b), that defendant had committed
several instances of prior domestic violence, including a 1994 sexual battery on
Jo Ann B. (Pen. Code, § 243.4.) The court granted the motion.
The jury trial revealed the following facts.
The Incident
Late one evening in March 2010, Deputy Joshua Barnhart was dispatched to
investigate a 911 call from a female who said “she‟d been beat [sic] up by her boyfriend
and had fled her apartment and was at the neighbor‟s house.” Deputy Haskell, Sergeant
Clark, and Deputy Ames arrived at the scene shortly afterward.
The officers contacted Denise N., who stood in front of an apartment with her
neighbors waving the officers toward them. A visibly shaken Denise was crying and
upset. Her lips and nose were puffy and swollen, and there was dried blood around her
mouth and on her shirt. Denise had a black-and-blue mark on her right eye and a mark
on her neck. At trial, Barnhart identified photos depicting Denise‟s injuries that evening.
Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Denise‟s breath. Barnhart asked
Denise what had happened. Denise appeared to understand Barnhart‟s words and
responded coherently. Denise‟s speech was not slurred, and she did not need to hold on
to anything to steady herself.
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Denise told the officers that she and defendant had been drinking that night. The
pair began to argue and defendant pushed her to the floor, calling her names. Defendant
got on top of Denise and choked her with both hands, telling her, “ „You‟re gonna die,
girl.‟ ” Denise struggled to get free, but defendant put his hand over her mouth and
began pushing her face against the floor, injuring her mouth. After Denise went limp,
defendant released her. She ran to a neighbor‟s apartment and called 911. At the scene,
Denise declined any medical attention.
Barnhart asked Denise if she wanted him to try and obtain an emergency
protective order to keep defendant away from her. She agreed and Barnhart obtained an
order, had it served on defendant, and gave a copy to Denise.
During cross-examination, Barnhart agreed that if Denise was a long-time abuser
of alcohol, that might cause redness and puffiness in her face. However, he believed the
puffiness in Denise‟s face went beyond being caused by alcohol and was consistent with
her statement that defendant had choked her.
Denise told Barnhart her black eye was the result of a fistfight with another
woman earlier that week. The black eye appeared old, and Denise never accused
defendant of punching her. The smell of alcohol was stronger on Denise than on
defendant. Barnhart acknowledged that people who drink habitually are better able to
handle their alcohol and appear sober. He did not ask Denise how much she had drunk
that night.
Interview with Defendant
Barnhart spoke with defendant at the scene. Barnhart described defendant as
angry and flippant. Defendant smelled of alcohol and had small scratches on his arms
and dried blood on his nose, but no visible injuries to his face.
Defendant said Denise‟s injuries were caused by a fight she had had with another
woman and adamantly denied any physical altercation with Denise. Any injuries not
caused by that fight were caused by the dog. Defendant did admit restraining Denise,
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which caused the scratches on his arms. Defendant did not mention Denise drinking or
being in any type of alcoholic blackout. After defendant‟s arrest, Barnhart questioned
people at the neighboring apartment, but they were not very cooperative.
Relationship Between Defendant and Denise
Defendant and Denise had lived together in an apartment for six years. They
began dating a few months before he moved in.
Denise still loved defendant when she testified at trial, and she considered him her
fiancé. She had seen defendant several times after the incident, about twice a week.
Denise stated she was testifying pursuant to subpoena and hoped defendant would be
acquitted.
Denise’s Testimony
Denise had two Yorkshire terriers, which were very feisty and protective of her.
She did not remember how much she had drunk the night of the incident. However,
Denise testified she probably started drinking cups of wine around 11:00 a.m. and might
have drunk eight six-ounce cups of wine by early evening. Denise could not remember if
she felt the effects of the wine that evening, but did not remember having trouble talking
or standing.
Although Denise remembered going to another apartment that evening, she did not
remember calling 911. The tape of the 911 call was played for the jury. In the call, the
caller asked for someone to come over because her fiancé was hurting her and had
threatened to kill her. The caller said her fiancé had burnt her, bitten her, and beaten her
up. She identified herself as “Denise [N.]” and gave the dispatcher the phone number
and the address. The caller said her fiancé had tried to choke her. She identified
defendant as her fiancé and said he had threatened to hurt her pet. Defendant had tried to
“asphyxiate” her and hit her in the face with his fist.
Denise identified her voice as the voice on the recording. She explained she
suffered a sort of blackout during the call and “was elaborating” because she was angry
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with defendant and wanted to get him in trouble. When the officers arrived, she was in a
drunken state and did not recall telling them that defendant had called her names and told
her she was going to die.
Denise did remember defendant drinking wine the evening of the incident but
stated he drank less than she did. She did not recall arguing with defendant, but if she
had, it was not loud nor was it a fight. Denise might have told the officer that she and
defendant had argued about a woman who had come to her apartment and hit her in the
face, blacking her eye. Or, she may have falsely told the officer defendant caused her
black eye.
Denise did not remember telling the officer that defendant threw her down or put
his hands around her throat, nor did she remember defendant doing those things. Instead,
she recalled being upset about something and defendant trying to calm her down by
placing his hand lightly on her mouth.
When shown the photograph taken that evening of her injuries, Denise testified
she might have been wrestling with defendant while she was blacked out. She also stated
she swells up and bruises easily. Denise made the 911 call because she was trying to get
attention and wanted to dramatize things.
Denise testified she told the prosecutor that she had exaggerated her prior claims
about the incident. She wrote the prosecutor‟s office a letter stating she was in an
alcoholic blackout the night of the incident and was responsible for what had happened.
In addition, Denise discussed prior incidents in 2002 and 2004 of alleged domestic
violence between her and defendant. In each instance she either did not recall the
incident or minimized defendant‟s actions.
Criminalist Testimony
A criminalist who qualified as an expert on alcohol consumption testified that an
alcoholic has a much higher tolerance for alcohol and would have to drink much more
than an occasional drinker would to appear impaired. After the criminalist was given a
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hypothetical mirroring of Denise‟s testimony about her alcohol consumption the night of
the incident, the criminalist testified that person would not show outward signs of
intoxication such as stumbling or slurring of speech.
2002 Incident
Sheriff‟s Deputy Paul Long testified about an incident of domestic violence
between defendant and Denise that took place in January 2002. Long responded to a
911 call and found Denise with red eyes and smelling of alcohol. Denise told the officer
that she and defendant had been dating for a couple of months and had begun arguing
about their relationship. When Denise tried to leave, defendant grabbed her and she fell
to the floor. Defendant began to pull her clothes off, called her names, and told her not to
walk out on him. Denise said she was not injured and did not want a protective order.
Long interviewed defendant, who also smelled of alcohol. Defendant said the
couple argued because Denise had been picking on him, provoking him until he yelled at
her. He denied preventing Denise from leaving, and said she had scratched and kicked
him. Defendant attempted to stand up for himself and reacted verbally, not physically.
2004 Incident
Deputy Nelson Resendes testified regarding an incident of domestic abuse
between defendant and Denise that took place in January 2004. When he arrived at their
residence, the deputy found Denise frightened and crying, with bruises on her wrist,
hand, and lower legs. Denise told him she and defendant had been arguing for days. The
arguments had turned physical, and defendant had grabbed her wrists and kicked her.
On the day the officer arrived at Denise and defendant‟s residence, Denise said
defendant had asked her for sex and became angry when she refused. He began yelling
and poking at her. Denise threatened to call 911, and defendant told her if she did he
would “ „gut [her] ass‟ ” when he got “ „out.‟ ” A deputy who accompanied Resendes
confirmed that Denise was upset and emotional. She wanted defendant out of the
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apartment and wanted a protective order. Denise had bruises on her legs and wrist. The
deputy obtained the order.
Resendes interviewed defendant, who said he and Denise argued but there was no
physical contact. Defendant said Denise grabbed him by the testicles during the earlier
argument. He decided to not call the police and explained that he was having a difficult
time dealing with Denise because she was going through menopause. Denise‟s bruising
was caused by kickboxing lessons he was giving her.
Expert on Domestic Violence
The court recognized Linda Barnard, a licensed marriage and family therapist, as
an expert in domestic violence. Barnard had no knowledge of the parties or their
relationship.
Barnard described battered woman‟s syndrome, a description of a variety of
characteristics and behaviors applicable to a specific class of violence. Female victims
who report such battering frequently become uncooperative or resist having their
assailants arrested or prosecuted. They often change their stories or recant, and
commonly testify in court on behalf of the accused.
Barnard cited several reasons for such behavior: the victim may still be in a
relationship with her assailant, or the violence has ceased; she may be trying to keep their
family together, or be economically dependent on the accused; and sometimes the victim
has been threatened or believes it is safer to stay. In addition, there is a high correlation
between substance abuse and domestic violence by both the victim and the perpetrator.
The victim‟s substance abuse helps numb the feelings of being abused. Domestic
violence tends to escalate over time in both the frequency and severity of the violence.
On cross-examination, Barnard stated she knew of relationships that were
mutually combative, but one party was usually stronger than the other. Male victims of
domestic violence are reluctant to report it out of embarrassment or a fear of not being
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believed. Barnard also testified that a person can make a false report of domestic
violence out of anger, revenge, or in an attempt to seek attention.
Stipulation of 1994 Incident
The parties stipulated that in November 1994 defendant was convicted of felony
sexual battery. (§ 243.4.) A probation report that was prepared in lieu of the victim‟s
testimony was entered into evidence. According to the probation report, defendant forced
his girlfriend, Jo Ann B., to have sexual intercourse. Jo Ann stated she and defendant had
lived together on and off. The evening of the incident, the couple argued and Jo Ann
tried to leave. Defendant threw her on the bed and covered her mouth to prevent her
from screaming. Defendant let her go when she stopped screaming. About an hour later
defendant forced Jo Ann to have intercourse, despite her resistance, after threatening to
tie her up. Defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Defense Case
A defense investigator identified photographs he took of defendant in jail one
morning several days after the incident. The photos revealed bruising on defendant‟s
hand and breast area, bruises which appeared several days old.
Verdict and Sentencing
The jury found defendant guilty of both counts. The court sentenced him to seven
years in state prison: the upper term of five years for count one; the upper term of four
years for count two, stayed pursuant to section 654; and consecutive one-year terms for
each of the two prior prison term enhancements.
DISCUSSION
Admission of 1994 Incident
Defendant argues the court erred in admitting evidence of his November 1994
conviction of sexual assault on Jo Ann. According to defendant, the incident was over
16 years old and the facts were very different from the current charged offense. In
addition, the incident was unduly prejudicial under Evidence Code section 352.
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Background
In support of its motion to admit the incident under Evidence Code sections 1109
and 1101, subdivision (b), the prosecutor provided the court with details of the
1994 incident with Jo Ann. Defendant was convicted of a felony violation of Penal Code
section 243.4 and placed on probation. He was later sentenced to prison as the result of a
probation violation.
The prosecutor argued the 1994 crime against Jo Ann was admissible under both
Evidence Code sections 1109 and 1101. The evidence was admissible under
section 1109 even though it was more than 10 years old because it was probative of
defendant‟s propensity for violence against domestic partners and the conduct was very
similar to the conduct in the present case. The evidence was admissible under
section 1101, subdivision (b) because it showed a common scheme or plan, identity, and
motive.
The court determined the evidence was admissible, noting: “[F]irst of all, there
was a conviction in the case. Secondly, there are similarities. The victim in the March
2010, the instant case, complained of threats and that the defendant tried to asphyxiate
her. In the 1994 incident, the victim also complained she‟d been threatened, and she
could not breathe. [¶] I also would note that the 1994 incident did pertain to an argument
or a fight over sex, which is similar to the 2004 [incident], and I feel that the 1994
[incident], in addition to the 2002 and the 2004 [incidents] shows [sic] a pattern really of
abuse of women. If it had just been the 1994 [incident] standing alone and then the
instant case, I think it would be a lot stronger case for prejudice. [¶] I think in light of
the fact that the victim of the . . . 1994 incident, [Jo Ann], will testify[,] will permit the
defendant to cross-examine her. I think that the jurors -- that the district attorney can
introduce as evidence the conviction, but I would feel that unless the victim testifies -- I
would require that the victim testify in that case that I feel the People cannot prove that
just with the prior conviction because just the prior conviction alone would be -- it would
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not provide the relevance, I feel, the background facts, the threats, the attempts to prevent
the victim from breathing. So for those reasons the Court has exercised its discretion
under [Evidence Code section] 352 and will allow the November 1994 offense to be
testified to by the victim.”
Defense counsel stated her preference that the 1994 conviction be admitted
without details of the victim‟s testimony, because the facts would be extremely
prejudicial. The court noted the objection but stated it had adequately provided a basis
for admission of the testimony.
Based on the court‟s ruling, defense counsel agreed to a stipulation allowing for
admission of portions of the probation report of the 1994 incident. The stipulation read to
the jury states, in pertinent part: “November 15, 1994, the defendant was convicted of
the crime of violating Penal Code Section 243.4, a felony, a sexual battery, and that the
probation report based on that crime in lieu of having the actual victim come in and
testify, the probation report that was prepared . . . which we will enter into evidence that
part of it stated: (Reading) [¶] „Present offense: The defendant forced sexual
intercourse with his girlfriend. . . . [¶] On October 28th, 1994, Officer Clark went to a
domestic disturbance at an Auburn residence. Victim Jo Ann [B.] stated she and the
defendant, Thomas Bennett, had been residing together for approximately two weeks and
had previously resided together from June 1993 to June 1994. On the evening of October
27th, she and [defendant] engaged in a verbal argument resulting in her attempting to
leave the residence. At that time [defendant] reportedly threw her onto a bed and covered
her mouth to prevent her from screaming. When she stopped trying to scream, the
defendant let her get up. Approximately one hour later she went to bed as she thought the
defendant would not allow her to leave. [¶] Approximately one hour later the defendant
got into bed with the victim and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. [She]
physically resisted and told [him] to leave her alone. At his point the defendant indicated
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he was going to rape [her] and threatened to tie her hands and feet.‟ [¶] . . . [¶] . . .
Defendant pled guilty to that count and was sentenced.”
Afterward, out of the presence of the jury, the court again discussed the
admissibility of the incident and noted: “[T]his was a separate victim and tended to me to
show that further evidence of the defendant‟s propensity and also would tend to shed
light on the question of . . . whether [Denise] is just making this up out of whole cloth
and . . . defendant didn‟t do anything, as he alleges. [¶] The fact that a separate victim
has reported a similar instance, I felt it was highly probative, so I have weighed under
[Evidence Code section] 352, and I would note it was over the defendant‟s objection that
they stipulated only to avoid the victim from having to further testify and possibly
prejudice your case. That was a trial strategy decision on your [part].” The court also
stated the stipulation read to the jury lessened the prejudicial impact because it did not
contain some of the more explicit facts.
The court instructed the jury on the evidence of uncharged domestic violence
pursuant to CALCRIM No. 852. During closing argument, the prosecutor alluded to the
1994 incident with Jo Ann, reiterating the facts and informing the jury it could consider
the stipulated facts “to determine if [defendant] did it before, did he do it this time?”
Defense counsel, during closing argument, noted the evidence of uncharged violent acts
and stated: “You can‟t find him guilty just based on the fact he‟s done it before. The
People have to prove he did it this time.”
Discussion
Under Evidence Code section 1109, evidence of prior domestic abuse is
admissible for any relevant purpose but is subject to Evidence Code section 352. Under
section 352, a trial court “may exclude evidence if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by the probability that its admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption
of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of
misleading the jury.”
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In evaluating evidence under Evidence Code section 352, the trial court evaluates
the similarity of the uncharged act to the charged offense, whether the source of the
evidence is independent of the charged offenses, and the amount of time that elapsed
between the uncharged and charged offenses. To determine the prejudicial effect, the
court examines whether the uncharged act is more inflammatory than the evidence of the
charged offense. (People v. Hollie (2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1262, 1274.)
We review the court‟s decision for an abuse of discretion. (People v. Branch
(2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 274, 282.) We have held that the trial court has broad discretion
in deciding whether the probative value of evidence is substantially outweighed by the
potential danger of prejudice. (People v. Holford (2012) 203 Cal.App.4th 155, 167-168.)
Defendant argues the trial court‟s decision to admit the “totality of the facts of the
1994 incident created prejudice, confused the issues and in all likelihood turned the jury
against [defendant]. It is one thing to admit similar evidence to that of the charged
offenses but another to introduce dramatically more prejudicial testimony about an
alleged sexual assault in 1994.”
In considering whether to admit prior acts of domestic violence, the court must
consider whether the prior acts are more inflammatory than the charged conduct, the
possibility the jury might confuse the prior acts with the charged acts, the closeness in
time of the prior act, and whether the defendant has been convicted of the prior acts.
(People v. Rucker (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1107, 1119.)
Defendant zeroes in on the consideration of the similarity between the prior and
the current conduct, conceding there are similarities between them but arguing the
dissimilarity between the acts was prejudicial. In support, defendant cites People v.
Morton (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 239 (Morton).
In Morton, the defendant argued the admission of a prior uncharged incident of
domestic violence against a prior girlfriend was unduly prejudicial. The prior incident
had taken place nine years before. The Morton court ultimately found the probative
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value of the evidence was not outweighed by its prejudicial effect. The court considered
the differences between the two incidents, provocation in one and a lack of provocation
in the other, and concluded: “Whether Morton‟s rage is capable of spontaneous
combustion, or requires some ignition to get it going is hardly the point. In either case,
the evidence suggests he is prone to violent rages, and engages in punching and choking
when in the throes of one.” (Morton, supra, 159 Cal.App.4th at p. 247.)
In Morton the court found the prejudicial impact was thwarted by the trial court‟s
precluding any mention that the prior assault was part of an attempted sexual assault.
Therefore, the portion of the prior assault allowed was much less inflammatory than the
charged assault. (Morton, supra, 159 Cal.App.4th at pp. 247-248.) Here, defendant
argues the opposite occurred to his prejudice: the court allowed in a prior incident that
was much more inflammatory.
Here, the assault on Jo Ann in 1994 bore striking similarities to the charges against
defendant in the present case. Defendant argued with Jo Ann, threw her down on the
bed, restrained her, and then choked her. The parties, in an effort to exclude the more
inflammatory aspects of the assault on Jo Ann, crafted a stipulation based on the
probation report, omitting the most lurid aspects of the assault. Such a redaction
comports with Morton. Jo Ann did not testify.
On balance, the trial court did not err in exercising its discretion and determining
the evidence of Jo Ann‟s assault was more probative than prejudicial. Although the
offense against Jo Ann occurred 16 years prior to the current offense, both incidents
revealed defendant had a “problem with anger management, specifically with regard to
female intimate partners, and specifically when he feels rejected or challenged by such a
partner.” (People v. Johnson (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 520, 533.) The evidence of the
prior assault was highly probative, and the prejudicial impact was lessened by having the
stipulation read in lieu of Jo Ann‟s testimony.
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Sentencing Error
Defendant argues his sentence should be modified to a four-year upper term, or
one of the section 667.5 priors must be stricken. According to defendant, a section 667.5
prior cannot be used to both subject him to a higher sentence and to add an additional
one-year term. He requests that we reduce his sentence by one year because of an
improper dual use of facts.
Defendant was charged with willful infliction of corporal injury on a cohabitant.
In a separate allegation it was asserted defendant had suffered a prior conviction for
corporal injury to a spouse within seven years of the charged offense. (§§ 273.5, 273.5,
subd. (e)(1).) The information also charged defendant with two prison term priors.
(§ 667.5, subd. (b).)
Defendant admitted both priors and acknowledged that the prior conviction in
2004 would increase the possible sentence range from two, three, or four years to three,
four, or five years. The court sentenced defendant to the upper term of five years and
imposed an additional, consecutive two years, one for each of the two priors.
Defendant argues he is entitled to have his sentence reduced to the upper term set
forth in section 273.5, subdivision (a) or to have the one-year term imposed for the prison
prior stricken. According to defendant, use of the prior prison term for the dual purpose
of enhancing the sentence range and imposition of the one-year term was improper.
Defendant concedes that in People v. White Eagle (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1511,
the court found a defendant could be sentenced to an additional one-year term for a
prison prior even where the same prior conviction was used to elevate the misdemeanor
crime of petty theft to the felony offense of petty theft with a prior conviction. The White
Eagle court found the sentence did not violate section 654 or constitute an improper
multiple use of the prior conviction. (White Eagle, at pp. 1519-1520.) Defendant argues
White Eagle is distinguishable.
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Section 273.5, subdivision (e) is an elevated sentencing scheme for repeat
offenders. As such, the court properly increased defendant‟s sentence under that section
and under section 667.5, subdivision (b). (People v. Demara (1995) 41 Cal.App.4th 448,
451-455.) Defendant‟s 2004 domestic violence conviction brought him within
section 273.5, subdivision (e) sentencing provisions and would have done so whether or
not he had been imprisoned for that conviction. The fact of imprisonment is a distinct
factor supporting the enhancement under section 667.5, subdivision (b). (People v.
Cressy (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 981, 992.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
RAYE , P. J.
We concur:
DUARTE , J.
HOCH , J.
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