P. v. Aguirre CA2/5 ( 2013 )

Filed 3/18/13 P. v. Aguirre CA2/5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE
THE PEOPLE, B238540
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. BA378327)
v.
MANUEL AGUIRRE et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
APPEAL from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, William
N. Sterling, Judge. Affirmed.
Linn Davis, under appointment by the Court of Appeal; Law Offices of Andy
Miri, and Andy Miri for Defendant and Appellant Manuel Aguirre.
Sally Patrone Brajevich, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant Luis Carranza.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Mary Sanchez and
Jonathan M. Krauss, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
INTRODUCTION
Defendant and appellant Manuel Aguirre appeals from his three convictions for
second degree robbery.1 Defendant and appellant Luis Carranza appeals from his three
second degree robbery convictions, from his convictions for short barreled shotgun or
rifle activity and assault with a firearm, and from the findings that he personally used a
firearm in the commission of the robberies and in the commission of the assault with a
firearm. We affirm.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In a second amended information, the District Attorney of Los Angeles County
charged Aguirre and Carranza with three counts of second degree robbery. (Pen. Code, §
2112.) The District Attorney also charged Carranza with short barreled shotgun or rifle
activity (former § 12020, subd. (a)(1), now § 33215) and assault with a firearm (§ 245,
subd. (a)(2)). As to the robberies, the District Attorney alleged that a principal was
armed with a firearm (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)); that a principal personally used a firearm (§
12022.53, subds. (b) & (e)(1)); and that the robberies were committed for the benefit of,
at the direction of, and in association with a criminal street gang with the specific intent
to promote, further, and assist in criminal conduct by gang members (§ 186.22, subd.
(b)(1)(C).) The District Attorney further alleged that Carranza personally used a firearm
in the commission of all of the offenses (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)) and that he committed the
short barreled shotgun or rifle activity and assault with a firearm offenses for the benefit
of, at the direction of, and in association with a criminal street gang with the specific
intent to promote, further, and assist in criminal conduct by gang members (§ 186.22,
subd. (b)(1)(B) & (b)(1)(A).) The jury found Carranza guilty of short barreled shotgun
1 Counsel originally appointed for Aguirre filed an opening brief pursuant to People
v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436. We granted Aguirre‘s request to substitute new counsel
for appointed counsel.
2 All statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.
2
activity, but found not true the gang sentence enhancement allegation with respect to that
offense. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on the remaining counts, and the trial
court declared a mistrial as to those counts. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on
any count as to Aguirre, and the trial court declared a mistrial as to all counts.
In a retrial of the remaining charges and allegations, a jury found Aguirre and
Carranza guilty of three counts of second degree robbery (§ 211) and also found Carranza
guilty of assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2)). The jury found true the allegation as
to Aguirre that a principal was armed with a firearm in the commission of the robberies.
(§ 12022, subd. (a)(1).) As to Carranza, the jury found true the allegations that Carranza
personally used a firearm in the commission of the robberies (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)) and
in the commission of the assault with a firearm (§ 12022.5). The jury was unable to
reach findings on the gang sentence enhancement allegations as to all offenses (§ 186.22,
subd. (b)(1)(C)) or on the personal use of firearm allegations (§ 12022.53, subds.
(b)(1)(B) & (e)(1)) as to the robberies, and the trial court declared a mistrial as to those
allegations. The trial court sentenced Aguirre to five years and Carranza to 15 years in
state prison.
On appeal, Aguirre contends that the trial court erred in denying his request to
instruct the jury with CALCRIM No. 1750 on receiving stolen property as a lesser related
offense to robbery; the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury, sua sponte, with
CALCRIM No. 1603 on aider and abettor intent for robbery; and there is insufficient
evidence to support his convictions for robbery. Carranza contends that the trial court
erred in denying his Wheeler/Batson3 motion, and there is insufficient evidence to
support his convictions and the personal use of a firearm findings. Carranza joins in
Aguirre‘s contentions that benefit him.
3 People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258 (Wheeler); Batson v. Kentucky (1986)
476 U.S. 79 (Batson).
3
FACTUAL BACKGROUND4
About 5:45 p.m. on November 18, 2010, Luis Solis, Jorge C., and Israel R. were
walking to Israel‘s home in Los Angeles when a green SUV5 stopped abruptly in front of
Israel‘s home. Two men got out of the back of the SUV and ran toward Solis and his
companions. The men were carrying guns in their hands and lifted their shirts to partially
cover their faces. The men closed to within an ―arm‘s length‖ of the boys. Carranza
pointed his gun at Solis and said, ―give me your stuff,‖ then reached into Solis‘s pocket
and removed his iPhone and earphones. Carranza also pointed his gun at Jorge‘s face.
Carranza reached into Jorge‘s pocket and took out papers. Carranza threw the papers on
the ground. The other gunman pointed his gun at Israel and took Israel‘s Sprint phone.
Carranza and his companion ran back to the SUV and got in the back. Jorge and Israel
saw a third person in SUV‘s driver‘s seat. Solis and his friends walked to Israel‘s home
and called the police who arrived in about 10 or 15 minutes.
Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Alejandro Lomeli spoke with Solis, Jorge,
and Israel for about 15 to 20 minutes. According to Deputy Lomeli, all three boys were
―really scared.‖ After taking the boys‘ statements, Deputy Lomeli left to look for the
SUV. About two minutes later, he found an SUV that matched the boys‘ description of
their assailants‘ vehicle. The SUV, an older model green Land Rover, was stopped at a
stop sign.6 Deputy Lomeli and other officers executed a traffic stop of the SUV.
Aguirre, Anthony Ibarra, and Carranza were inside the vehicle. Aguirre was in the
driver‘s seat, Ibarra was in the front passenger seat, and Carranza was in the rear
passenger seat.
4 We omit a recitation of the gang evidence because the jury did not return findings
on the gang allegations and defendants have not raised on appeal any issues with respect
to those allegations.
5 Israel identified the SUV as a Land Rover and Jorge describe it as ―Jeep Cherokee
kind of.‖
6 The registered owner of the vehicle was ―Manuel Aguirre Barrios.‖
4
Aguirre was ordered out of the SUV. Deputy Lomeli searched Aguirre and found
an iPhone in his right front pants pocket. Aguirre was placed in a patrol car. Ibarra and
Carranza also were ordered out of the SUV and placed in patrol cars. During the traffic
stop, Deputy Lomeli found a Sprint Samsung cell phone near the vehicle, about two feet
from the rear passenger door.
Solis, Jorge, and Israel were brought to the location to view the suspects. All three
boys identified Ibarra and Carranza as the two men with guns. The boys were ―positive‖
of their identifications. None of the boys could identify Aguirre. All three boys
identified the SUV as the vehicle that had been used in the robberies. Deputy Lomeli
showed the iPhone to Solis. Solis recognized the iPhone as his and identified telephone
numbers in the iPhone. Deputy Lomeli showed the Samsung cell phone to Israel. Israel
―looked through‖ the cell phone and satisfied Deputy Lomeli that it was Israel‘s phone.
DISCUSSION
I. Sufficiency Of The Evidence
Aguirre and Carranza contend that their convictions and the firearm sentence
enhancements are not supported by sufficient evidence. Sufficient evidence supports the
convictions and firearm enhancements.
―‗When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
conviction, we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to
determine whether it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable,
credible, and of solid value—from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.‘ [Citation.]‖ (People v. Avila (2009) 46
Cal.4th 680, 701.) ―We must presume in support of the judgment the existence of every
fact that the trier of fact could reasonably deduce from the evidence. [Citation.]‖
(People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913, 919.) ―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.) ―In deciding the sufficiency of the evidence, a reviewing
5
court resolves neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts. [Citation.] Resolution
of conflicts and inconsistencies in the testimony is the exclusive province of the trier of
fact.‖ (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1181.)
―Substantial evidence includes circumstantial evidence and the reasonable
inferences flowing therefrom.‖ (People v. Ugalino (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1060, 1064.)
―We ‗must accept logical inferences that the jury might have drawn from the
circumstantial evidence. [Citation.]‘ [Citation].‖ (People v. Zamudio, supra, 43 Cal.4th
at pp. 357–358.) ―The standard of review is the same when the prosecution relies mainly
on circumstantial evidence.‖ (People v. Valdez (2004) 32 Cal.4th 73, 104.)
A. Aguirre
Aguirre contends that there is insufficient evidence to support his second degree
robbery convictions because there was no evidence that he was the getaway car driver at
the time the robberies were committed. Instead, he argues, there was only circumstantial
evidence that he was the driver because he was later found driving the getaway car.
Aguirre also apparently contends that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury‘s
finding against him that a principal was armed in the commission of the robberies within
the meaning of section 12022, subdivision (a)(1) because the evidence did not show that
he was personally armed with a firearm.
The circumstantial evidence is sufficient to support the jury‘s conclusion that
Aguirre was the getaway driver and that he intended to aid and abet the robberies. The
SUV stopped abruptly in front of Israel‘s house. Two men got out of the SUV; robbed
Solis, Jorge, and Israel; and got back in the SUV through the back doors and the vehicle
was driven off. Not more than 37 minutes after the robberies, Aguirre was stopped while
driving an SUV that matched the description of the vehicle used in the robberies.
Carranza and Ibarra, whom each of the victims positively identified as the two men who
exited from the back of the SUV with firearms, were in the vehicle. Deputy Lomeli
searched Aguirre and found Solis‘s iPhone in Aguirre‘s right front pants pocket. Based
on such circumstantial evidence, a reasonable juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt
6
that Aguirre was driving the SUV and intended to aid and abet the robberies when he
stopped the SUV abruptly in front of Israel‘s home, waited for Carranza and Ibarra to rob
the boys, and then drove Carranza and Ibarra away. (People v. Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th at
p. 701; People v. Medina, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 919; People v. Zamudio, supra, 43
Cal.4th at pp. 357-358; People v. Valdez, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 104; People v. Ugalino,
supra, 174 Cal.App.4th at p. 1064.)
The jury‘s finding that a principal was armed with a firearm in the commission of
the robberies did not depend on evidence that Aguirre was personally armed. Section
12022, subdivision (a)(1) provides, ―Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d), any
person who is armed with a firearm in the commission of a felony or attempted felony
shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment pursuant to
subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for one year, unless the arming is an element of that
offense. This additional term shall apply to any person who is a principal in the
commission of a felony or attempted felony if one or more of the principals is armed with
a firearm, whether or not the person is personally armed with a firearm.‖ (Italics added.)
Accordingly, because Ibarra and Carranza were armed with firearms (see below
regarding Carranza‘s arming), Aguirre, a principal in the robberies as the getaway driver,
did not need to be personally armed for section 12022, subdivision (a)(1) to apply.
B. Carranza
Carranza contends that there is insufficient evidence to support his second degree
robbery and assault with a firearm convictions because the identification evidence is
weak.7 The evidence is weak, Carranza contends, because the two men who were
carrying guns partially concealed their faces, the victims viewed the suspects briefly as
the robbery lasted only five minutes. Jorge identified Carranza at the preliminary hearing
7 It appears that Carranza does not contend that insufficient evidence supports his
short barreled shotgun activity conviction. If his convictions are not reversed, Carranza
requests that they be reduced to receiving stolen property. Because we find substantial
evidence that Carranza was guilty of second degree robbery, there is no basis for
reducing his offenses to receiving stolen property.
7
as the person who robbed him, but identified Aguirre at trial as the robber. With respect
to that discrepancy in Jorge‘s identifications, Carranza notes, Jorge testified that the
incident occurred ―a while back‖ and his ―knowledge‖ was ―kind of blurry‖ at the time of
the trial. As to the firearm enhancements, Carranza argues that the evidence is
insufficient because no guns were found. That the evidence is weak is shown, Carranza
contends, by the fact that the first jury was unable to reach verdicts on the robbery
charges and firearm enhancements.
Substantial evidence was presented that Carranza was one of the perpetrators.
Carranza was stopped in the SUV that was used in the robberies. Property taken during
the robbery was found near the SUV and in the pocket of one of the vehicle‘s occupants.
Deputy Lomeli testified that at the field show up Solis, Jorge, and Israel identified
Carranza as one of the two gunmen. According to Lomeli, the boys did not hesitate in
indentifying Carranza and were ―positive‖ of their identifications. At trial, Solis
identified Carranza as one of the gunmen. Israel testified at trial that Carranza pointed a
gun at Jorge. Such evidence is sufficient for a reasonable juror to conclude that Carranza
was one of the assailants and that he personally used a firearm in the robberies and in
assaulting Jorge. It was the jury‘s task to decide whether the victims had sufficient time
to view their assailants and to resolve any discrepancies in Jorge‘s identifications.
(People v. Young, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1181.)
Carranza cites no case that holds that there is insufficient evidence to support a
firearm enhancement if law enforcement was unable to recover the firearm. Instead,
where a firearm is not found, the prosecution may rely on a victim‘s description of the
weapon. (People v. Monjaras (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 1432, 1436-1437; People v.
Hayden (1973) 30 Cal.App.3d 446, 452, overruled on another point by People v. Rist
(1976) 16 Cal.3d 211, 223, fn. 10.)
8
II. CALCRIM No. 1750
Aguirre contends that the trial court erred in denying his request to instruct the
jury with CALCRIM No. 17508 on receiving stolen property as a lesser related offense to
robbery. The trial court did not err.
Defense counsel requested the trial court to instruct the jury with CALCRIM No.
1750 on receiving stolen property as a lesser related offense to robbery. Defense counsel
acknowledged that he was not entitled to such an instruction under People v. Birks (1998)
19 Cal.4th 108, but stated that he was making the request to ―preserv[e] any federal
constitution grounds that have not been addressed.‖
―Our Supreme Court has stated, ‗A defendant has no right to instructions on lesser
related offenses, even if he or she requests the instruction and it would have been
supported by substantial evidence, because California law does not permit a court to
instruct concerning an uncharged lesser related crime unless agreed to by both parties.
([People v.] Kraft [(2000)] 23 Cal.4th [978,] 1064–1065 [99 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 5 P.3d 68];
[People v.] Birks [(1998)] 19 Cal.4th [108,] 136–137 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 848, 960 P.2d
1073].) (People v. Jennings (2010) 50 Cal.4th 616, 668 [114 Cal.Rptr.3d 133, 237 P.3d
474].) In overruling its decision in People v. Geiger (1984) 35 Cal.3d 510 [199 Cal.Rptr.
8 CALCRIM No. 1750 provides, in relevant part:
―To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:
―1. The defendant (bought/received/sold/aided in selling/concealed or withheld
from its owner/aided in concealing or withholding from its owner) property that had been
(stolen/obtained by extortion);
―[AND]
―2. When the defendant (bought/received/sold/aided in selling/concealed or
withheld/aided in concealing or withholding) the property, (he/she) knew that the
property had been (stolen/obtained by extortion)(;/.)
[AND
―3. The defendant actually knew of the presence of the property.]‖
9
45, 674 P.2d 1303], in which the court permitted a defendant to determine unilaterally on
what lesser related offenses a trial court must instruct the jury, the court in People v.
Birks, supra, 19 Cal.4th at page 136 stated that a criminal defendant does not have ‗a
unilateral entitlement to instructions on lesser offenses which are not necessarily included
in the charge.‘‖ (People v. Hall (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 778, 781.) Moreover,
―‗―[T]here is no federal constitutional right of a defendant to compel the giving of lesser-
related-offense instructions. [Citation.]‖ [Citation.]‘ (People v. Foster (2010) 50 Cal.4th
1301, 1343 [117 Cal.Rptr.3d 658, 242 P.3d 105]; see also People v. Kraft, supra, 23
Cal.4th at p. 1064 [defendant not entitled to instruction on lesser related offense even if
supported by evidence].)‖ (Id. at p. 783.) The trial court was bound, as are we, by the
Supreme Court‘s decision in People v. Birks. (Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court
(1962) 57 Cal.2d 450, 455.) Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying defense
counsel‘s request that it instruct the jury with CALCRIM No. 1750.
Even if the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury with CALCRIM No.
1750, any error was harmless. From the evidence recited above, it is not reasonably
probable that Aguirre would have received a more favorable outcome if the jury had been
instructed with CALCRIM No. 1750. (People v. Hall, supra, 200 Cal.App.4th at p. 781;
People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.)
III. CALCRIM No. 1603
Aguirre contends that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury with
CALCRIM No. 1603 on the formation of intent to rob for an aider and abettor to a
robbery. Defendant‘s contention is without merit as the trial court did instruct the jury
with CALCRIM No. 1603.
IV. Wheeler/Batson
Carranza contends that the prosecutor systematically excluded from the jury panel
female Hispanic prospective jurors who were qualified and willing to sit as jurors.
Because the prosecutor‘s challenges were not justified by proper race-neutral reasons,
10
Carranza argues, the trial court erred in denying his Wheeler/Batson motion. The trial
court did not err.
A. Relevant Legal Principles
The state and federal Constitutions prohibit an advocate from using peremptory
challenges to exclude prospective jurors based on race or gender. (People v. Bonilla
(2007) 41 Cal.4th 313, 341.)9 In Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d 258, the California Supreme
Court held that ―the right to trial by a jury drawn from a representative cross-section of
the community is guaranteed equally and independently by the Sixth Amendment to the
federal Constitution and by article I, section 16, of the California Constitution.‖ (Id. at p.
272.) A prosecutor violates that right by using peremptory challenges to strike
prospective jurors who are ―members of an identifiable group distinguished on racial,
religious, ethnic, or similar grounds,‖ when the challenges are made ―on the sole ground
of group bias.‖ (Id. at p. 276.) The United States Supreme Court has held that a
prosecutor‘s discriminatory use of peremptory challenges violates a defendant‘s right to
equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
(Batson, supra, 476 U.S. at p. 88.)
―There is a rebuttable presumption that a peremptory challenge is being exercised
properly, and the burden is on the opposing party to demonstrate impermissible
discrimination. [Citations.] To do so, a defendant must first ‗make out a prima facie case
―by showing that the totality of the relevant facts gives rise to an inference of
discriminatory purpose.‖ [Citation.] Second, once the defendant has made out a prima
facie case, the ―burden shifts to the State to explain adequately the racial [or gender]
exclusion‖ by offering permissible race-neutral [or gender-neutral] justifications for the
strikes. [Citations.] Third, ―[i]f a race-neutral [or gender-neutral] explanation is
tendered, the trial court must then decide . . . whether the opponent of the strike has
9 The California Supreme Court has ―assumed‖ that Hispanic women constitute a
separate cognizable group for Wheeler/Batson purposes. (People v. Bonilla, supra, 41
Cal.4th at p. 344, fn. 14.)
11
proved purposeful . . . discrimination.‖ [Citation.]‘ (Johnson v. California [(2005) 545
U.S. 162,] 168, fn. omitted.) The same three-step procedure applies to state
constitutional claims. (People v. Bell (2007) 40 Cal.4th 582, 596 [54 Cal.Rptr.3d 453,
151 P.3d 292].)‖ (People v. Bonilla, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 341.)
―In deciding whether a prima facie case was stated, we consider the entire record
before the trial court [citation], but certain types of evidence may be especially relevant:
‗[T]he party may show that his opponent has struck most or all of the members of the
identified group from the venire, or has used a disproportionate number of his
peremptories against the group. He may also demonstrate that the jurors in question
share only this one characteristic—their membership in the group—and that in all other
respects they are as heterogeneous as the community as a whole. Next, the showing may
be supplemented when appropriate by such circumstances as the failure of his opponent
to engage these same jurors in more than desultory voir dire, or indeed to ask them any
questions at all. Lastly, . . . the defendant need not be a member of the excluded group in
order to complain of a violation of the representative cross-section rule; yet if he is, and
especially if in addition his alleged victim is a member of the group to which the majority
of the remaining jurors belong, these facts may also be called to the court‘s attention.‘
(People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 280–281, fn. omitted.)‖ (People v. Bonilla,
supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 342.)
―Review of a trial court‘s denial of a Wheeler/Batson motion is deferential,
examining only whether substantial evidence supports its conclusions. (People v.
Bonilla, supra, 41 Cal.4th at pp. 341-342.) ‗We review a trial court‘s determination
regarding the sufficiency of a prosecutor‘s justifications for exercising peremptory
challenges ―‗with great restraint.‘‖ [Citation.] We presume that a prosecutor uses
peremptory challenges in a constitutional manner and give great deference to the trial
court‘s ability to distinguish bona fide reasons from sham excuses. [Citation.] So long as
the trial court makes a sincere and reasoned effort to evaluate the nondiscriminatory
justifications offered, its conclusions are entitled to deference on appeal. [Citation.]‘
12
(People v. Burgener (2003) 29 Cal.4th 833, 864 [129 Cal.Rptr.2d 747, 62 P.3d 1].)
[Footnote omitted.]‖ (People v. Lenix (2008) 44 Cal.4th 602, 613-614.)
In fulfilling its obligation to make a sincere and reasoned effort to evaluate the
prosecutor‘s explanation, ―the trial court is not required to make specific or detailed
comments for the record to justify every instance in which a prosecutor‘s race-neutral
reason for exercising a peremptory challenge is being accepted by the court as genuine.
This is particularly true where the prosecutor‘s race-neutral reason for exercising a
peremptory challenge is based on the prospective juror‘s demeanor, or similar intangible
factors, while in the courtroom.‖ (People v. Reynoso (2003) 31 Cal.4th 903, 919.)
―Inquiry by the trial court is not even required. (Id. at p. 920.) ‗All that matters is that
the prosecutor‘s reason for exercising the peremptory challenge is sincere and legitimate,
legitimate in the sense of being nondiscriminatory.‘ (Id. at p. 924.) A reason that makes
no sense is nonetheless ‗sincere and legitimate‘ as long as it does not deny equal
protection. (Ibid.)‖ (People v. Guerra (2006) 37 Cal.4th 1067, 1100-1101, disapproved
on another ground in People v. Rundle (2008) 43 Cal.4th 76, 151, disapproved on another
ground in People v. Doolin (2009) 45 Cal.4th 390, 421, fn. 22.)
B. The Challenged Prospective Jurors
1. Juror No. 4357
Juror No. 4357 lived in West Los Angeles. She was single, did not have any
children, and worked as a schedule coordinator at USC. She had never served on a jury.
Carranza‘s counsel asked the prospective jurors what came to mind when they thought
about gangs. One of the prospective jurors said, ―I don‘t really have an opinion on it.
It‘s not my decision to be in a gang; so it‘s that person‘s choice.‖ Counsel asked that
prospective juror if she had read or heard much about gangs in newspapers or on TV.
The prospective juror responded, ―Well, gangs are everywhere, but I just choose not to be
a part of it.‖ Counsel then asked Juror No. 4357 for her thoughts on gangs. Apparently
referring to the comments of the prior prospective juror, Juror No. 4357 said, ―I think the
same way she does.‖
13
2. Juror No. 2045
Juror No. 2045 lived in South Central Los Angeles. She was divorced, did not
have any children, and worked as a therapeutic behavioral specialist with children and
teenagers who were severely and emotionally disturbed. She had never served on a jury.
In 1993, Juror No. 2045 was robbed by two men who were armed with a tire iron. She
received a few scratches and bruises. The men were never caught. Her car was also
broken into and its content taken. In 1997, her mother was robbed at a bus stop.
Juror No. 2045 grew up in South Central Los Angeles, an area where there were
many gang members. She had many relatives and friends who were gang members, the
majority of whom were then incarcerated. One of her friends was incarcerated for
robbery, another for attempted murder. Juror No. 2045 had a cousin who was an
Inglewood police officer, a friend who was a Los Angeles Police Department officer, and
a friend who was a parole officer.
3. The Prospective Juror In Seat No. 9
The Juror No. 8917 lived in East Los Angeles. She was a widow, had two
children, and worked as a babysitter. She had never served on a jury.
C. The Wheeler/Batson Motion
When the prosecutor excused the prospective juror in seat number 9, Aguirre‘s
counsel requested a sidebar conference at which he and Carranza‘s counsel made a
Wheeler/Batson motion. Aguirre‘s counsel argued that the prosecutor had excused a
series of Hispanic jurors. The trial court asked, ―Did no one observe how unbelievably
perplexed that last juror was and started to leave when I told her to take seat No. 9?
When I excused another juror, she thought it was her turn to leave. She clearly didn‘t
know what in God‘s name she was doing.‖
Carranza‘s counsel argued that the prospective juror in seat number 9 had not
―expressed any opinion as to any sort of lack of fairness. She‘s a baby-sitter.‖ The trial
court responded, ―No, she was totally confused, [counsel], and didn‘t know what was
14
going on.‖ The prosecutor stated her reason for excusing the prospective juror, stating,
―I‘ll simplify that. I‘m not sure she speaks English at all. On top of everything else, she
went the wrong way, that‘s why I‘m excusing her.‖ The trial court added, ―I don‘t
normally say anything, but it was so blatantly obviously [sic] she didn‘t have any clue
what‘s going on. I don‘t know why a Wheeler motion was based as to her. You have the
right to do so. I‘m not blind, she clearly was confused.‖
The trial court inquired if defense counsel had any other bases for their motion.
Carranza‘s counsel stated that two previously excused prospective jurors, Juror Nos.
4357 and 2045, also were female and Hispanic. Juror No. 4357, Carranza‘s counsel
stated, ―clearly expressed an opinion toward gangs.‖ The prosecutor stated that Juror No.
2045 was the prospective juror who had ―all the relatives in prison.‖ The trial court
asked if there was any further argument. Aguirre‘s counsel stated that he understood the
trial court‘s ―observations as to this witness,‖ but that a racial pattern seemed to be
developing to which he was objecting. Carranza‘s counsel had no further argument.
The trial court found that defendants had not made a prima facie showing that the
prosecutor had exercised peremptory challenges for a discriminatory purpose. It found
that there was a ―completely ethnicity neutral basis‖ to excuse the prospective juror in
seat number 9—it was clear to the court that the prospective juror had no idea what was
going on. With respect to Juror No. 2045, the trial court stated that she had ―numerous
relatives who had been arrested and incarcerated and imprisoned.‖
The trial court gave the prosecutor the opportunity to make a record. The
prosecutor noted her belief that all of the persons involved in the case—the defendants,
victims, and police officers—were Hispanic. She stated that she excused Juror No. 4357
because of ―how long it took her to answer, and her hesitancy.‖ The prosecutor
explained that her ―only case that hung 11 to 1, it was a woman to [sic] simply could not
answer the questions and her hesitancy who hung it . . . .‖ The prosecutor excused Juror
No. 2045 because she was the prospective juror ―who has all the relatives in prison.‖ She
excused the prospective juror in seat number 9 because she ―was concerned about her
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English, and became more concerned about her English and/or comprehension when she
left after the court directed her to a different location.‖
The trial court restated its finding that defendant had not made a prima facie
showing of discrimination. It further found that the prosecutor‘s reasons for excusing the
prospective jurors were credible and not race or ethnicity based. The trial court properly
found that defendants failed to make a prima facie showing that the prosecutor used
peremptory challenges for a discriminatory purpose, and the prosecutor had race and
gender neutral reasons for excusing the prospective jurors at issue.
―It is well settled that ‗[p]eremptory challenges based on counsel‘s personal
observations are not improper.‘ [Citation.]‖ (People v. Reynoso, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p.
917.) ―[N]othing in Wheeler disallows reliance on the prospective jurors‘ body language
or manner of answering questions as a basis for rebutting a prima facie case . . . .‖
(People v. Fuentes (1991) 54 Cal.3d 707, 715.) The prosecutor believed that Juror No.
4357 took too long to answer questions and was hesitant. Those were proper,
nondiscriminatory, bases for excluding Juror No. 4357. (People v. Reynoso, supra, 31
Cal.4th at p. 917; People v. Fuentes, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 715.)
The use of a peremptory challenge on the basis that a prospective juror has an
incarcerated relative is race-neutral. (People v. Roldan (2005) 35 Cal.4th 646, 703,
overruled on a different point in People v. Doolin, supra, 45 Cal.4th at p. 421, fn. 22;
People v. Cox (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 337, 360.) Juror No. 2045 had a relative who had
been incarcerated in jail. Accordingly, the prosecutor excused Juror No. 2045 for a
legitimate, nondiscriminatory, reason. (People v. Roldan, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 703;
People v. Cox, supra, 187 Cal.App.4th at p. 360.)
That a prospective juror appears to be confused is a legitimate, nondiscriminatory,
basis for exercising a peremptory challenge. (See People v. Taylor (2009) 47 Cal.4th
850, 893-894 [prospective juror‘s confusion in responding to written and oral questions
gave the prosecutor a strong reason to doubt the prospective juror‘s ability to perform her
duties as a juror]; People v. Watson (2008) 43 Cal.4th 652, 682 [substantial confusion
about the penalty phase process was a proper basis to excuse a prospective juror].)
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Insufficient command of the English language is a nondiscriminatory basis for excusing a
prospective juror. (People v. Lomax (2010) 49 Cal.4th 530, 566.) The trial court
expressed surprise when Aguirre‘s counsel‘s made a Wheeler/Batson motion with respect
to the prospective juror in seat number 9. The trial court described the prospective juror
as ―unbelievably perplexed‖ when it told her to take seat number 9. In the trial court‘s
view, the prospective juror did not know what she was doing and did not know what was
taking place. The prosecutor relied on the prospective juror‘s apparent confusion and
perceived inability to speak English in excusing her. The prosecutor properly excused
the prospective juror in seat number 9. (People v. Taylor, supra, 47 Cal.4th at pp. 888-
889; People v. Watson, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 682; People v. Lomax, supra, 49 Cal.4th at
p. 566.)
DISPOSITION
The judgments are affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
MOSK, J.
We concur:
ARMSTRONG, Acting P. J.
KRIEGLER, J.
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