People v. Love CA2/6 ( 2021 )

Filed 12/15/21 P. v. Love CA2/6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 SIX
THE PEOPLE, 2d Crim. No. B302725
(Super. Ct. No. YA040317)
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County)
v.
GLEN QUINTRELL LOVE,
Defendant and Appellant.
Glen Quintrell Love appeals an order denying his
petition for resentencing (Pen. Code,1 § 1170.95) of his first
degree murder conviction. In 1999, he was convicted of second
degree robbery (§ 211) and first degree murder with a robbery-
murder special circumstance finding. (§§ 187, 189, 190.2, subd.
(a)(17)(A).)
1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code.
In 2019, Love filed a petition for resentencing. The
trial court issued an order to show cause on his section 1170.95
petition and held an evidentiary hearing. It found Love was not
entitled to resentencing because he was “a major participant and
acted with reckless indifference” to human life. We conclude,
among other things, that Love has not shown that the trial court
erred by denying his petition. We affirm.
FACTS
Raymond Williams was fatally shot one night after
he won money gambling. On the night of April 11, 1997, Chaka
Thomas picked up Love and drove to a dice game in Hawthorne.
Several other men were there, including Lamar Salone and
Williams. Salone showed Thomas a semiautomatic pistol and
said he was “strapped.” Love participated in the dice game and
lost money.
Williams won his bets that evening and boasted
about his luck to the others. He left the game and drove away in
his van. Thomas left the game shortly after Williams departed
and was joined by Love and Salone. According to Thomas, he
decided to drive them home because he was nervous about Salone
having a gun.
When they reached the corner of 139th Street and
Kornblum Avenue, Salone asked Thomas to stop the car so he
could use the telephone. Thomas parked near a phone booth and
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Salone got out, followed by Love. A few moments later, Thomas
heard four or five gunshots. Love ran back to the car and
excitedly told Thomas, “Let’s go.” As they were driving away,
Love told Thomas that Williams “started trippin so we had to
knock him off.” He showed Thomas a roll of money and offered
him some, which Thomas refused.
Williams was still breathing after being shot. He was
alive when police and paramedics arrived, but he died after being
taken to the hospital.
On the day after the shooting, Thomas and Salone
drove to Love’s house, where they all discussed the crime and
agreed on a story about Thomas giving Love a ride on the night of
the dice game after Love’s car overheated.
Herschel Houston attended the dice game on April
11. He told police that he had a conversation with Love. Love
described the robbery and shooting. Love said that he had
“jacked” Williams and that Williams had been shot in the head;
Salone had fired the gun after Williams made a “funny” move.
Love was convicted of second degree robbery and first
degree murder with a robbery-murder special circumstance
finding. We affirmed his conviction. We ruled that the evidence
was sufficient to support the robbery-murder special
circumstance finding and that Love was a major participant in
the robbery and he acted with reckless indifference to human life.
3
On January 4, 2019, Love filed a petition for
resentencing under section 1170.95. The trial court issued an
order to show cause for an evidentiary hearing. At the hearing
the court found Love was ineligible for resentencing under section
1170.95. It found Love was “a major participant and acted with
reckless indifference” to human life.2
DISCUSSION
Denying the Section 1170.95 Petition
Love contends the trial court erred by denying his
section 1170.95 petition. We disagree.
The origin of section 1170.95 was the Governor’s
signing of Senate Bill No. 1437 in 2018. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015,
§ 4.) “Senate Bill 1437 ‘amend[s] the felony murder rule and the
natural and probable consequences doctrine, as it relates to
murder, to ensure that murder liability is not imposed on a
person who is not the actual killer, did not act with the intent to
kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who
acted with reckless indifference to human life.’ ” (People v.
Gutierrez-Salazar (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 411, 417, italics added.)
A defendant convicted of felony murder may file a
petition under section 1170.95 alleging he or she “could not be
convicted of first or second degree murder” because of changes to
the law required by Senate Bill No. 1437. (People v. Gutierrez-
2 We grant respondent’s request for judicial notice.
4
Salazar, supra, 38 Cal.App.5th at p. 417.) “A trial court receiving
a petition under section 1170.95 ‘shall review the petition and
determine if the petitioner has made a prima facie showing that
the petitioner falls within the provisions of this section.’
(§ 1170.95, subd (c).)” (Ibid.) “If the petitioner has made such a
showing, the trial court ‘shall issue an order to show cause.’ ”
(Ibid.) The trial court must then hold a hearing to determine
whether to vacate the murder conviction and resentence the
petitioner. (Ibid.)
Consequently, there are two stages involved in a
section 1170.95 petition. If a prima facie showing is made for
relief in the first stage, the trial court proceeds to the second
stage and issues an order to show cause and the case proceeds to
an evidentiary hearing. Where the prima facie showing is not
made in the first stage, the court may deny the petition.
The Evidentiary Hearing
This case went to a second stage section 1170.95
evidentiary hearing and we will review the trial court’s findings
from the record of that proceeding.
“At the hearing to determine whether the petitioner
is entitled to relief, the burden of proof shall be on the
prosecution to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the
petitioner is ineligible for resentencing. If the prosecution fails to
sustain its burden of proof, the prior conviction, and any
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allegations and enhancements attached to the conviction, shall be
vacated and the petitioner shall be resentenced on the remaining
charges. The prosecutor and the petitioner may rely on the record
of conviction or offer new or additional evidence to meet their
respective burdens.” (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(3), italics added.)
At the hearing, after the presentation of new
evidence or the record of conviction, the trial court will weigh the
evidence, draw inferences, and make credibility assessments.
(People v. Duchine (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 798, 816.) “ ‘[I]f the
record, including the court’s own documents, “contain[s] facts
refuting the allegations made in the petition,” then “the court is
justified in making a credibility determination adverse to the
petitioner.” ’ ” (People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 971.) We
apply the substantial evidence standard of review on appeals
from second stage section 1170.95 hearings. (People v. Lopez
(2020) 56 Cal.App.5th 936, 954, review granted Feb. 10, 2021,
S265974.)
Senate Bill No. 1437 does not provide resentencing
relief for a defendant convicted of murder who was “ ‘a major
participant in the underlying felony who acted with reckless
indifference to human life.’ ” (People v. Gutierrez-Salazar, supra,
38 Cal.App.5th at p. 417.) Here the trial court found Love was a
major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human
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life. The People contend these findings are supported by the
record.
After the trial court issued the order to show cause,
the People elected to rely on the “record of conviction.”
(§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(3).) They attached the appellate decision
that affirmed Love’s conviction and they relied on the statement
of facts in that decision.
Love responded by filing a 43-page set of points and
authorities and a copy of a 2014 declaration by defendant Salone
which had been prepared for a prior proceeding. In that
declaration, Salone stated in conclusory terms, “Glen Love had
nothing to do with the robbery or murder. I acted alone.” This
was not new evidence. The trial court had previously rejected
claims based on that 2014 declaration. The court said, “I’m not
going to retry that.” Moreover, the credibility of that declaration
is a matter exclusively decided by the trial court at the section
1170.95 evidentiary hearing. (People v. Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th
at p. 971; People v. Duchine, supra, 60 Cal.App.5th at p. 816.)
At the hearing Love appeared with counsel. He had
the opportunity to present new evidence to show his eligibility for
section 1170.95 relief. (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(3).) But Love did not
testify. He did not summit a declaration. He did not call any
witnesses. He did not present any evidence. His counsel simply
made oral arguments. Most of those arguments related to facts
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in the record of conviction found in the decision that affirmed
Love’s conviction.
In that 2001 decision, we affirmed the special
circumstances findings. We rejected Love’s claims that he was
not a major participant in the robbery and that he did not act
with reckless indifference to human life. We cited facts from the
record of conviction to show why these claims lacked merit. We
said: 1) Love “was riding in a car with Thomas and Salone, who
was armed with a gun”; 2) “Love left the car with Salone,
approached Williams, and, by his own later admission to
Herschel Houston, ‘jacked’ Williams”; 3) “Salone shot Williams
when Williams resisted, and Love took money from Williams’
pockets”; and 4) “Love had a motive to rob Williams because
Williams had won money gambling that evening while Love had
lost his bets.”
We also stated, “The jury could reasonably infer from
this evidence that Love acted with reckless indifference to human
life when he and an armed cohort approached Williams to rob
him at gunpoint.” (Italics added.) We said the jury “could further
infer that Love was a major participant in the robbery based on,”
1) “his presence at the scene of the robbery and shooting,” 2) “his
admission that he had ‘jacked’ Williams,” and 3) “his removal of
the money from Williams’ pocket.” (Italics added.)
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At the end of the second stage section 1170.95
hearing, the trial court made the following findings: 1) “Mr.
Salone was armed with a gun. Mr. Love left the car with Mr.
Salone, or within seconds after Mr. Salone left, approached the
victim”; 2) Love “admitted when he returned to the car that he
jacked the victim”; 3) “four or five gunshots were heard”; 4) “Mr.
Love had a motive to rob Mr. Williams because he had gambled
with Mr. Williams, and lost money to Mr. Williams”; and 5) “Mr.
Love returned to the car, and showed everyone a roll of money”
and “admitted to jacking Mr. Williams” with “knowledge that Mr.
Salone had fired the gun.” These findings are supported by the
record.
Love contends there are inferences that may be
drawn to support his section 1170.95 petition. But he did not
take advantage of his opportunity to present evidence to support
such inferences. Because the facts in the record support the trial
court’s findings, Love may not claim that the court should have
drawn different inferences based on claims that are not
supported by evidence. The trial court may not draw inferences
based on speculation.
Love claims the trial court’s findings and the jury’s
prior special circumstances findings are not consistent with
current legal standards involving findings involving major
participants acting with reckless indifference to human life, and
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they consequently cannot be considered in denying a section
1170.95 petition. We disagree.
Here there are unfavorable Scoggins, Banks, and
Clark factors for Love. Love had a motive to rob the victim. He
was physically present at the crime scene. He approached the
victim with the killer. He had the opportunity to help the victim,
but elected not to. (In re Scoggins (2020) 9 Cal.5th 667, 677.)
Under People v. Clark (2016) 63 Cal.4th 522, 621, Love failed to
take “[e]fforts to [m]inimize the [r]isks of the [v]iolence [d]uring
the [f]elony.” (Italics omitted.) A relevant factor under People v.
Banks (2015) 61 Cal.4th 788, 803, is “[w]hat did the defendant do
after lethal force was used?” Here Love took advantage of the
injured victim and profited from the crime. Later he met with
the killer and they all “agreed on a story” they could tell.
The People also claim Love makes the claim that he
was not a “major” participant by omitting consideration of the six
factors showing his active participation, including that Love: 1)
“rode in [the] car with Thomas and Salone,” 2) “left the car with
Salone,” 3) “approached Williams,” 4) “admitted” he “ ‘jacked’
Williams,” 5) “took money from Williams’ pockets,” and 6) “had a
motive to rob Williams.”
In addition to these six factors the People highlight,
Love also made the incriminating admission, “we had to knock
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him off.” (Italics added.) The word “we” supports a finding of his
joint participation in the crime.
The People also cite People v. Douglas (2020) 56
Cal.App.5th 1 and claim it refutes Love’s claims that he did not
act with reckless indifference to human life. In Douglas, after a
victim was shot, the court noted that the defendant “displayed no
interest in moderating violence or in aiding his bloody and
suffering victim. Rather, [defendant] picked his pocket.” (Id. at
p. 10, italics added.) This describes Love’s conduct. Love did not
stop to help Williams; instead Love, like the defendant in
Douglas, “picked his pocket.”
Trial Court’s Reliance on Inadmissible Evidence?
Love contends the facts in the appellate decision that
affirmed his conviction are inadmissible at a second stage section
1170.95 evidentiary hearing. He claims the trial court erred by
citing those facts. But our Supreme Court has rejected this
claim. (People v. Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 971.)
Moreover, during that hearing the trial court asked
Love’s counsel, “[T]he court is allowed to consider the record of
conviction and the record of conviction contains the record of facts
that the court of appeals relies on, does it not?” Love’s counsel:
“It does.”
The statute provides, “The prosecutor and the
petitioner may rely on the record of conviction . . . to meet their
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respective burdens.” (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(3), italics added.) “ ‘A
court of appeal opinion . . . is part of the appellant’s record of
conviction.” (People v. Garcia (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 100, 111,
review granted Feb. 10, 2021, S265692; see also People v. Woodell
(1998) 17 Cal.4th 448, 455.)
Love contends the trial court erred by relying on the
facts in a petition for review to the California Supreme Court.
But the People correctly note that Love forfeited this
claim because he “failed to lodge an objection in the trial court.”
(People v. Brimmer (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 782, 799-800.) And on
the merits, the result does not change.
The trial court mentioned that it had “looked at” the
petition for review. But in making its findings it referred to the
record of conviction. It said it considered what the Court of
Appeal had “summarized” as the “evidence at trial.” The trial
court’s statement that it had considered other documents does
not show reversible error where its findings show it relied on
admissible evidence. (People v. Lopez, supra, 56 Cal.App.5th at
p. 954.)
We have reviewed Love’s remaining contentions and
we conclude he has not shown grounds for reversal.
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DISPOSITION
The order denying the section 1170.95 petition is
affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.
GILBERT, P. J.
We concur:
YEGAN, J.
PERREN, J.
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Laura C. Ellison, Judge
Superior Court County of Los Angeles
______________________________
Donna L. Harris, under appointment by the Court of
Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Xavier Becerra, Attorneys General, Lance E.
Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan
Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Idan Ivri and Allison H.
Chung, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
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