P. v. Villapando CA4/3 ( 2013 )

Filed 6/10/13 P. v. Villapando CA4/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, G046110
v. (Super. Ct. No. 10WF0127)
VENSON VILLAPANDO, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County,
Gregg L. Prickett, Judge. Reversed.
Patrick Morgan Ford, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant
Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Meagan J. Beale and
Sharon L. Rhodes, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
* * *
INTRODUCTION
Defendant Venson Villapando appeals from the judgment entered after a
jury found him guilty of one count each of attempting to commit a lewd and lascivious
act upon a child under the age of 14 years and of attempting contact with a minor with the
intent to commit a lewd act upon the minor. Villapando argues the trial court erred by
failing to instruct the jury, sua sponte, on the defense of entrapment. He also argues the
prosecution wrongfully failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, in violation of Penal
Code section 1054.1 and Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83. (All further statutory
references are to the Penal Code.)
We reverse. For the reasons we will explain, there was substantial evidence
of entrapment admitted at trial. Therefore, the trial court erred by failing to give an
instruction on entrapment to the jury, notwithstanding Villapando‘s trial counsel‘s failure
to request such an instruction. The court‘s error was not harmless because a more
favorable result for Villapando was reasonably probable had an entrapment instruction
been provided. The jury, as the trier of fact, should have received the entrapment
instruction and reached its verdict with that instruction in mind. Because we reverse for a
new trial on this ground, we need not reach Villapando‘s other contention of error.
FACTS
I.
SUMMARY OF THE PROSECUTION‘S EVIDENCE
On July 9, 2009, Detective Alan Caouette of the Huntington Beach Police
Department, who was assigned to the special investigations bureau responsible for
prostitution, pimping, and pandering cases, posted an advertisement on an online
Internet-based advertisement board known as Craigslist. Caouette‘s advertisement was
posted in the ―casual encounters‖ section of the Craigslist Web site (the advertisement)
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and bore the heading, ―looking to get by in hard time – w4m (hb).‖ Caouette testified
that based on his training and experience, the term ―w4m‖ referred to ―women for men‖
in the ―world of prostitution.‖ He testified ―hb‖ stood for the City of Huntington Beach.
The body of the advertisement read: ―looking to have a good time are u :).‖
Caouette received over 100 responses to the advertisement, including one
from Villapando on July 9, 2009 at 6:29 p.m., in which he stated, ―hey i want to have
fun... what do you have in mind... anything is possible.‖ Within a minute, Caouette
responded to Villapando, stating, ―im only 13 and need a $100 so if still interested let me
1
know, jess.‖
We set forth below the e-mail communications exchanged between
Villapando and Caouette, and the text messages exchanged between Villapando and
Detective Brian Smith, who took over communicating with Villapando later in the
investigation; both Caouette and Smith used the undercover identity of ―Jess‖ in these
communications. All grammatical and spelling errors were contained in the original
2
messages.
A.
July 9, 2009 E-mail Messages Between Villapando and Caouette
From 6:44 p.m. to 8:04 p.m. on July 9, 2009, Villapando and Caouette
exchanged the following e-mail messages. Villapando: ―send me a pic and a number...
why do you need $100?‖ Caouette: ―cuz i wanta buy something,, i only have text
minutes I need to pay my bill... .‖ Villapando: ―what are going to do for me? to earn
that $100.‖ Caouette: ―what u want,, ill do most anything.‖ Villapando: ―where you
located at? where do you want to meet? r u trying to set me up? for my safety.‖
1
Caouette testified that he established the undercover identity on the Internet of a
13-year-old female named Jessie Browne, for the purpose of investigating cases such as
this one.
2
Caouette testified that he used language that a 13 year old would use, including
misspelled words and abbreviations.
3
Caouette: ―well seeing im 13 i cant drive so i would need to be picked up,, by my house
is cool i can go whereever,,, and NO im not setting u up ,, .‖ Villapando: ―where do you
live? r u down to fck?‖ Caouette: ―sure are u down to give me a 100 bucks ,, and can u
pickme up i cant drive.‖ Villapando: ―im sure...i promise, im a man of my word.‖
Caouette: ―ok i can do it i guess, but we need a condom cuz i cant get into trouble,,
whats the plan ,, do i need to walk to u.‖ Villapando: ―well tell me where you want to
meet and i will pick you up... just go up to me, i will get out of my car and i will where
my key chain around my neck ITS BLACK WITH LAKERS LOGO AND I WILL BE
WEARING A BLACK ANGELS HAT WITH WHITE NIKE SHOES, go up to me and
say hi... will take it from there.... but you need to tell me where to meet.‖ Caouette: ―ok,,
what do i call u ,, and what should i wear and can i shower first ,, and where we going.‖
Villapando: ―just say ‗hey dude do you have a cigaratte‘ where what ever you want... i
[3]
was think we should get a hotel room and chill for like an hour... im only 22!!! tell me
where to meet you so when your done showering im already there.‖ Caouette: ―hotel
room, wow ,, maybe i can shower there if u want.. .‖ Villapando: ―yeah we can shower
together... so where do you want me to pick you up?‖ Caouette: ―where do u live so i
can give ur directions.‖ Villapando: ―fullerton.‖ Caouette: ―shit my mom just cam
home,,gota go ill be back.‖ Villapando: ―ok well im going to play basketball, for like an
hour... if you want to do it tonight im still down or tomorrow afternoon... shoot me an
email.‖
B.
July 10, 11, 14, and 25, 2009 E-mail Messages
Exchanged Between Villapando and Caouette
At 9:20 p.m. on July 10, 2009, Caouette reestablished contact with
Villapando by sending the following e-mail: ―eyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,,hiiiiiiiiiiii hows was
3
Villapando was 25 years old at the time.
4
the game.‖ From 9:28 p.m. until 10:13 p.m., they exchanged the following e-mail
messages. Villapando: ―It was cool I played til 1030... So what‘s up?‖ Caouette:
―Nodda.‖ Villapando: ―If you still want to hang out... Tell me where to meet you at.‖
Caouette: ―im not wanting to hang out in need to make some money,, silli.‖ Villapando:
―Well make that money then... You have to let me know now where to meet.‖ Caouette:
―yes later ok.‖ Villapando: ―Well I got stuff to do today... But hit me up n we‘ll see!
Right now would be the best time.‖
On July 11, Caouette received three e-mail messages from Villapando. At
7:13 a.m., Villapando‘s e-mail stated: ―so when are we going to meet up?‖ At 3:28 p.m.,
Villapando wrote: ―hey wats up? im really bored.....‖ At 11:33 p.m., Villapando wrote:
―Hey I‘m off work today! Just hitting u up to see if u want tmake some money? I have
$150 that can be urs... Hit me up.‖ Caouette did not respond to Villapando that day.
On July 14, Caouette sent an e-mail message to Villapando, stating: ―ILL
BE BACK ON THURS HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN WITH GRANDMA. JESS.‖
On July 25, Villapando‘s e-mail stated: ―Hey hey wats up?‖
C.
August and September 2009 E-mail Messages
Exchanged Between Villapando and Caouette
On August 4, 2009 at 8:08 p.m., Villapando wrote: ―Hey let me know if
you still want to make money.‖ On August 7, Caouette wrote, ―sure where do u live‖ and
also wrote, ―notta.‖ On August 8, Villapando wrote, ―i live in fullerton... where do you
live at?‖
From August 12 through 26, Villapando and Caouette engaged in the
following e-mail exchanges. Caouette: ―Hb,, did i tell u i was 13 years old,, are u cool
with that.. and what do you have in mind.‖ Villapando: ―lets meet up and i will tell
you.... r u down for tonight?‖ Caouette: ―maybe but i dont like suprises im a straight
shooter,, i like to know what is expected.. sooo.. .‖ Villapando: ―i want to do it with you,
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you know what i mean.... when can you do it? be straight up.‖ Caouette: ―like sex u
mean,,, iil do almost anything.‖ Villapando: ―Yeah, so when can you do it?‖ Caouette:
―how old r u ,, i think im free thurs or fri.‖ Villapando: im 21... lets do it on friday
around noon. where do you want to meet?‖ Caouette: ―how bout thurs at 2 ish.‖
Villapando: ―I can‘t do it on thur at 2, I get off work at 4. I can do it on friday after
11am or thurs after 4 pm.‖
From September 1 through 29, Caouette and Villapando exchanged the
following e-mail messages. Caouette: ―hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.‖ Villapando: ―Hey hey!‖
Caouette: ―so do u have face book,, and can u meet later. do u still want me.‖
Villapando: ―I don‘t have a face book but I do have myspace. Look me up it‘s an old
one but search me under v[]@yahoo.com,,, I still want to meet but I work 11am-8pm
now! So just let me know when ur available.‖ Caouette: ―ok whats ur name any way.‖
Villapando: ―Vince! Hey can u send me more pics of u?‖ Caouette: ―i think i found
your my space thats a nice car, that the one u picking me up in,, hubbaaaaa.‖ After
Villapando had not responded for four days, Caouette wrote: ―Where u go.‖ At some
unspecified point in time, Caouette e-mailed to Villapando a photograph that he had
obtained after using the Google search engine to find a picture of a 13-year-old female.
On September 8, Villapando responded: ―So you going to send me more
pics? When do you want to meet, I want to see you.‖ Caouette: ―i might be able to get
out tomorow nite . to much to do tonite? BTW nice car on myspace =)~ is it urs.‖
Villapando: ―Yup that‘s my car! Well I get off at 8 tomorrow so just let me know.‖
Caouette: ―can we hhok up friday,, or something busy day at school.. im tired xoxox.‖
Villapando: ―hey wats up? how is school going? i have been thinking about you...lol.‖
Caouette: ―me 2,, when we meeting maybe thurs ?‖ Villapando: ―Sure around what
time?‖
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D.
October 2009 E-mail Messages Exchanged Between Villapando and Caouette
From October 1 through 20, 2009, Villapando and Caouette exchanged the
following e-mail messages. Caouette: ―im at school,,,, may go to a football game soo ill
email u k.‖ Villapando: ―ok.‖ Six days later, Caouette wrote: ―hiiiiiiiiiiiiii how are u.‖
Villapando: ―im good just chillen... wats up with you? hey send me more of your pics
and i will send you some of mine if you like.‖ Caouette: ―ok ill get a few,, so when do u
wanta meet,, .‖ Villapando: ―when ever you can... Soon i hope.‖ Five days later,
Villapando wrote: ―hey wats up?‖ Caouette: ―nodda u how bout friday :) afternoon
ish.‖ Villapando: ―i wish i could but weekends would work best for me cuz i work
nights on the weekdays... so let me know if you can do it on the weekend or weekdays
after 8pm.‖ Caouette: ―yeah after 8 is fine with me,, we have the same deal right,,,,,,u
said 100 for sex.. and since i cant drive yet at 13 ,, u gonna pick me up..........and where
will we go i think my mom will be home,, :) xoxoxxo.‖ Villapando: ―well tell me a spot
where i can pick u up... We‘ll figure it out from there.‖ Caouette: ―coolll sounds fun lets
meet this week :).‖ Villapando: ―just let me know when and where.‖
E.
November and December 2009 E-mail Messages
Exchanged Between Villapando and Caouette
On November 12, 2009, Villapando wrote: ―Hey whats up?‖ Caouette
responded on November 17, stating: ―yo been real busy sorry,, how are u doing,, whats
new.‖ On November 22, Villapando wrote: ―hey wats up? Well let me know if you
want to hang out, i get off work at 2pm now.‖
On December 10, Caouette wrote: ―cool how bout next week,, .‖
Villapando responded on December 14: ―Yea I down for that, just let me know when.
Hope to hear from you soon.‖ On December 21, Villapando and Caouette had the
following e-mail exchange. Caouette: ―hi whats new, how r u im on break from school,
7
so u wanta hook up this week or what. what do u want to do, im trying to earn some $.‖
Villapando: ―Yea fo sho... You already know what I want to do! Let me know when
you want to do this I‘m free after 2pm...$$$.‖
On December 22, Villapando and Caouette exchanged the following e-mail
messages. Caouette: ―was it a hand job for $100 or what did we negotiate i forgot.
remember im only 13 so u will have to pick me up is that cool, give me ur number and ill
text u later, k,, anytime after 3 is cool. jess.‖ Villapando: ―No that wasn‘t it... Shoot me
a text 714[].‖ Caouette: ―first tell me what u want so i know what im in for ahhaha,,, i
wanta make sure ill do it, u know :).‖ Villapando: ―S e x ! :).‖
F.
On December 22, 2009, Smith, Assuming the Identity of Jess, and
Villapando Exchange Text Messages and Set Up a Meeting at a Fast Food
Restaurant; Villapando Arrives at the Restaurant and Is Arrested.
Between 3:01 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. on December 22, 2009, Villapando and
Smith, who took over communicating with Villapando in the investigation and assuming
the identity of Jess, exchanged the following text messages and set up a meeting for that
afternoon. Smith: ―whats up... its jessie :).‖ Villapando: ―Hey.‖ Smith: ―whatcha
doing.‖ Villapando: ―Just got off work... Relaxin! U?‖ Smith: ―being lazy.‖
Villapando: ―Haha...So where do you stay at?‖ Smith: ―my moms house in hb.‖
Villapando: ―Cool! So r u still down to meet?‖ Smith: ―yeah as long as u can pick me
up...where u want to go.‖ Villapando: ―Ummm dunno... I can pick u up n we can get a
hotel.‖ Smith: ―okay I guess ill tell my mom im heading out to eat or something so il be
good for a lil bit.‖ Villapando: ―Ok where should I pick u up... It will probably take me
an hour to get there cuz of traffic.‖ Smith: ―okay... ill get cleaned up... .‖ Villapando:
―Well let me knwwhere to pick u up.‖ Smith: ―okay...um theres a carls jr around the
corner ...I hang out there.‖ Villapando: ―Wats the cross street.‖ Smith: ―beach and
yorktown.‖ Villapando: ―Ok... Hey ur not a cop r u?lol kind of scared.‖ Smith:
8
―nope.‖ Villapando: ―I hope so.‖ Smith: ―:) just.‖ Villapando: ―U wanna meet there
around 4:45.‖ Smith: ―sure ...just promise me ur a nice guy and ull wear a condom.‖
Villapando: ―No worries, I won‘t force you to do anything u don‘t want.‖ Smith:
―thanks... its actually been a while since ive done anything lol ur not gonna stick it in my
butt or anything right lol.‖ Villapando: ―Haha do u want me to... Lol.‖ Smith: ―during
the summer... .‖ Villapando: ―When is the last time u had sex.‖ Villapando: ―Have u
done this before?‖ Smith: ―u mean sex for money? Or sumthing else.‖ Villapando:
―Yea.‖ Smith: ―only once...but it was a guy I knew.‖ Villapando: ―Ok, I‘ve never done
it.‖ Smith: ―so is 100 okay with u.‖ Villapando: ―yea.‖ Smith: ―okay :)‖ and ―hey im
gonna hop in the shower real quick so don‘t text me pleeeease.‖
At 4:16 p.m., Smith sent a text message to Villapando, stating, ―okay im
out.‖ Villapando responded, ―I‘m on my way, I‘ll let u knw when I‘m close.‖
Villapando and Smith exchanged the following text messages. Smith: ―okay...is it cold
outside.‖ Villapando: ―Yup it‘s 56 degress.‖ Smith: ―brrr hope u have a warm car lol.‖
Villapando: ―Lol.‖ Smith: ―turn up ur heater.‖ Villapando: ―K.‖ Smith: ―ill just wait
inside unless u get there b4 me.‖ Villapando: ―K.‖ Smith: ―okay il head over there.‖
Villapando: ―I‘m almost there.‖ Smith: ―im wearing a purple sheatshirt and my hair is
up.‖ Villapando: ―K.‖ Smith: ―I hope ur car is warm!‖ Villapando: ―It is.‖ Smith:
―kk‖ and ―ill wait insiiide...to cold out here .. R u heree yet.‖ Villapando: ―too many red
lights, I should be there in a couple of mins... Sorry.‖ Smith: ―good cuz this place is
makin me hungry lol.‖ Villapando: ―Haha.‖
At 5:06 p.m., Villapando arrived at the parking lot of the Carl‘s Jr.
restaurant located at the intersection of Yorktown Avenue and Beach Boulevard in
4
Huntington Beach. Smith sent Villapando a text message stating, ―where r u.‖
4
Smith testified this location was selected because, inter alia, it is several miles
from the freeway and thus ―avoids anyone saying that they accidentally arrived at the
location.‖
9
Villapando responded, ―R u by itself‖ and Smith stated, ―yes.‖ Villapando then drove out
of the parking lot and was stopped by police officers in the area. Villapando told the
police officers that he thought he was being arrested ―because I came here to meet a
13-year-old girl.‖ On the driver‘s seat of Villapando‘s car was a cell phone showing
Smith‘s last text message to him. Villapando was wearing the black key chain lanyard
with the Lakers logo he had described in an earlier e-mail to Caouette. He also had $110
cash in his wallet.
II.
SUMMARY OF DEFENDANT‘S EVIDENCE
Villapando testified that on July 9, 2009, he went to the casual encounters
section of the Craigslist Web site and answered a classified advertisement, hoping to
meet someone. He stated he thought there was ―no way‖ a 13 year old would be on
Craigslist because it is an adult Web site. He testified that on July 9, he conducted a
search using Jess‘s e-mail address and found a profile on the social Web site, MySpace.
He stated that although Jess said she was 13 years old in the e-mail messages, the profile
stated she was a 17 year old from Huntington Beach and displayed a picture of her. He
admitted exchanging communications with Jess and discussing sexual activity in those
communications. (Caouette testified in rebuttal that Jess‘s MySpace page had been
changed to reflect that Jess was 17 years old, not 13 years old, but that change did not
occur until November 12, 2009.)
Villapando testified that he traveled to Huntington Beach on December 22
because he ―[j]ust wanted to find out who the person was [he] was talking to because [he]
had no idea who [he] was talking to.‖ He stated the cash he had with him that day was
―poker money.‖ Villapando also testified that he was not going to have sex with the
person he met, but was going to give her $100. He stated he did not think he was
meeting a 13-year-old girl that day.
10
Dr. Laura Brodie, a clinical and forensic psychologist, conducted an
assessment of Villapando. She testified, ―[t]he test indicated he did not, at that time, have
a deviant sexual interest in children. He had what we call a normal heterosexual profile,
which is adolescent and adult females.‖
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Villapando was charged in an information with attempting to commit a
lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of 14 years, in violation of
sections 664, subdivision (a) and 288, subdivision (a) (count 1); meeting a minor with the
intent to engage in lewd conduct, in violation of section 288.4, subdivision (b) (count 2);
and attempted contact with a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act upon the minor,
in violation of section 288.3, subdivision (a) (count 3).
The jury found Villapando guilty of counts 1 and 3, but not guilty of
count 2. The trial court imposed a total prison sentence of four years, but suspended
execution of the prison sentence and placed Villapando on formal probation for five years
with terms and conditions, which included serving 365 days in Orange County jail.
Villapando appealed.
DISCUSSION
I.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The trial court must instruct the jury on the general principles of law
relevant to the issues raised by the evidence and necessary for the jury‘s understanding of
the case. (People v. Martinez (2010) 47 Cal.4th 911, 953; People v. Breverman (1998)
19 Cal.4th 142, 154.) This obligation includes the duty to give instructions on any
affirmative defenses for which the record contains substantial evidence. (People v. Salas
(2006) 37 Cal.4th 967, 982.) A trial court must instruct the jury on the defense of
11
entrapment ―if, but only if, substantial evidence supported the defense.‖ (People v.
Watson (2000) 22 Cal.4th 220, 222-223.) The Attorney General properly agrees that a
trial court has a sua sponte duty to instruct on the defense of entrapment if substantial
evidence supports the defense, citing People v. Watson, supra, 22 Cal.4th 220.
Accordingly, we review the record to determine whether substantial evidence supported
the entrapment defense to have triggered the trial court‘s obligation to instruct the jury
regarding that defense. (People v. Salas, supra, at p. 982; People v. Federico (2011) 191
Cal.App.4th 1418, 1422.)
II.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO INSTRUCT THE JURY
ON THE DEFENSE OF ENTRAPMENT SUA SPONTE.
―In California, the test for entrapment focuses on the police conduct and is
objective. Entrapment is established if the law enforcement conduct is likely to induce a
normally law-abiding person to commit the offense. [Citation.] ‗[S]uch a person would
normally resist the temptation to commit a crime presented by the simple opportunity to
act unlawfully. Official conduct that does no more than offer that opportunity to the
suspect—for example, a decoy program—is therefore permissible; but it is impermissible
for the police or their agents to pressure the subject by overbearing conduct such as
badgering, cajoling, importuning, or other affirmative acts likely to induce a normally
law-abiding person to commit the crime.‘‖ (People v. Watson, supra, 22 Cal.4th at
p. 223; see People v. Benford (1959) 53 Cal.2d 1, 10 [the application of the entrapment
defense depends upon whether ―the intent to commit the crime originated in the mind of
5
defendant or in the mind of the entrapping officer‖].)
5
The standard jury instruction on the defense of entrapment, CALCRIM No.
3408, states: ―Entrapment is a defense. The defendant has the burden of proving this
defense by a preponderance of the evidence. This is a different standard from proof
beyond a reasonable doubt. To meet this burden, the defendant must prove that it is more
likely than not that (he/she) was entrapped. [¶] A person is entrapped if a law
12
In People v. Watson, supra, 22 Cal.4th at page 223, the California Supreme
Court identified the following two ―guiding principles‖ in determining the applicability
of the entrapment defense: (1) ―‗if the actions of the law enforcement agent would
generate in a normally law-abiding person a motive for the crime other than ordinary
criminal intent, entrapment will be established‘‖; and (2) ―‗affirmative police conduct
that would make commission of the crime unusually attractive to a normally law-abiding
person will likewise constitute entrapment. Such conduct would include, for example, a
guarantee that the act is not illegal or the offense will go undetected, an offer of
exorbitant consideration, or any similar enticement.‘‖
Here, substantial evidence of entrapment was admitted at trial, showing
police conduct that made the commission of the charged offenses unusually attractive to a
enforcement officer [or (his/her) agent] engaged in conduct that would cause a normally
law-abiding person to commit the crime. [¶] Some examples of entrapment might
include conduct like badgering, persuasion by flattery or coaxing, repeated and insistent
requests, or an appeal to friendship or sympathy. [¶] Another example of entrapment
would be conduct that would make commission of the crime unusually attractive to a
normally law-abiding person. Such conduct might include a guarantee that the act is not
illegal or that the offense would go undetected, an offer of extraordinary benefit, or
similar conduct. [¶] If an officer [or (his/her) agent] simply gave the defendant an
opportunity to commit the crime or merely tried to gain the defendant‘s confidence
through reasonable and restrained steps, that conduct is not entrapment. [¶] In evaluating
this defense, you should focus primarily on the conduct of the officer. However, in
deciding whether the officer‘s conduct was likely to cause a normally law-abiding person
to commit this crime, also consider other relevant circumstances, including events that
happened before the crime, the defendant‘s responses to the officer‘s urging, the
seriousness of the crime, and how difficult it would have been for law enforcement
officers to discover that the crime had been committed. [¶] When deciding whether the
defendant was entrapped, consider what a normally law-abiding person would have done
in this situation. Do not consider the defendant‘s particular intentions or character, or
whether the defendant had a predisposition to commit the crime. [¶] [As used here, an
agent is a person who does something at the request, suggestion, or direction of an
officer. It is not necessary that the agent know the officer‘s true identity, or that the agent
realize that he or she is actually acting as an agent.] [¶] If the defendant has proved that it
is more likely than not that (he/she) ____ because (he/she)
was entrapped, you must find (him/her) not guilty of ___ .‖
13
normally law-abiding person. Villapando answered the advertisement in the casual
encounters section of an adult forum that is limited to users age 18 and over. The
advertisement inquired, ―looking to get by in hard time‖ and offered ―w4m,‖ understood
in such circles as offering a woman for a man. The advertisement also stated, ―looking to
have a good time are u :).‖ Nothing in the advertisement revealed that the poster was
underage, much less 13 years old. Instead, the advertisement contained mature content,
and the use of terms, such as ―w4m,‖ suggested the poster was at least somewhat
experienced in the world of ―casual encounters‖ on Craigslist. There is no evidence
Villapando intended to reach out to a minor when he responded to the advertisement.
After Villapando answered the advertisement, Caouette informed him that
he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl named Jess. Caouette later sent
Villapando a picture of Jess, which Caouette had found on the Internet by using the
Google search engine. The photograph showed an attractive, sexually developed young
woman, wearing a skimpy bikini and standing in a provocative pose.
Villapando found Jess‘s MySpace profile by conducting an Internet search
using Jess‘s e-mail address. The profile contained a photograph of a similar-looking
young woman, who was also attractive and appeared to be more sexually developed than
the young woman in the photograph Caouette had sent to Villapando; the young woman
in the profile photograph was also scantily clad and in a somewhat provocative pose.
Villapando testified that on July 9, 2009, he found Jess‘s MySpace profile
which stated she was 17 years old. Caouette testified that Jess‘s MySpace profile
identified Jess as a 13 year old, until November 2009 when Caouette changed Jess‘s
profile age to 17 years old. In any event, the trial evidence showed that Jess‘s MySpace
profile stated Jess was 17 years old, not 13 years old, before Villapando drove to the
Carl‘s Jr. restaurant on December 22, 2009, and was arrested.
Our review of the e-mail exchanges between Villapando and Caouette show
that Jess had a flirtatious personality in those communications, occasionally ending
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e-mail messages with happy faces and ―xoxox.‖ During their first exchange of
communications, Jess informed Villapando that she would do what he wanted and would
―do most anything‖ to earn $100. About a month later, Caouette reiterated in an e-mail to
Villapando that Jess would ―do almost anything‖ sexually. During the first day that
Caouette and Villapando exchanged e-mail messages, after Villapando suggested that he
pick up Jess and take her to a hotel room, Jess suggested that instead of showering before
he picked her up, she could shower in the hotel room if he wanted her to. In another
e-mail, Caouette stated that meeting up with Villapando sounded ―fun.‖ On several
occasions, after Caouette had not heard from Villapando for a few days, Caouette would
reinstate contact with him by sending another e-mail from Jess.
The text messages exchanged between Villapando and Smith similarly
contained some banter of a sexual nature, including a text message in which Jess joked
that Villapando was ―not gonna stick it in [her] butt or anything right lol.‖ Also, Smith,
as Jess, told Villapando that Jess once before had ―sex for money‖ but with a guy she
knew.
The circumstances, described ante, constitute substantial evidence that
would support a finding the police conduct went beyond simply creating the opportunity
for Villapando to act unlawfully. The record supports the finding that the intent to
commit the charged offenses, by seeking out a 13-year-old girl, originated in the mind of
the police officers involved in this investigation, not in Villapando‘s mind. In the course
of seeking consensual sex with a woman in an adult forum, Villapando was arguably
induced by the police to pursue the fictional 13-year-old Jess, as they appealed to
Villapando‘s sexual fantasies and urged him to continue the exchange of communications
and meet for sex. The police officers involved in this investigation, therefore, arguably
engaged in entrapment.
As we have noted in other cases, we do not mean to endorse the practice of
pursuing casual sex on a Craigslist forum (although it is not against the law to engage in
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this behavior, at least in theory). But the test for a finding of entrapment is whether the
average law-abiding citizen would be unduly tempted by the police conduct at issue, and,
for the reasons discussed, we conclude substantial evidence would support such a finding.
We do not express any opinion on whether entrapment actually occurred in this case. On
remand, it is for the trier of fact to determine whether the police went too far in this case.
(See People v. Barraza (1979) 23 Cal.3d 675, 691, fn. 6 [―the defense of entrapment
remains a jury question‖].)
The trial court‘s failure to instruct the jury on the entrapment defense was
not harmless, as a more favorable result for Villapando was reasonably probable had an
entrapment instruction been provided. (See People v. Sojka (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 733,
738 [reasonable probability standard applies to failure to instruct on defenses].) As
discussed ante, on this record, a reasonable jury could have found that the police conduct
here was likely to induce a normally law-abiding person to commit some or all of the
charged crimes.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for a new trial.
FYBEL, ACTING P. J.
WE CONCUR:
IKOLA, J.
THOMPSON, J.
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