P. v. Amaya CA2/8 ( 2013 )

Filed 6/27/13 P. v. Amaya CA2/8
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION EIGHT
THE PEOPLE, B241108
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. BA380072)
v.
EVARISTO AMAYA,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.
Lisa B. Lench, Judge. Affirmed.
Edward J. Haggerty, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Victoria B. Wilson and Carl N.
Henry, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
**********
Defendant and appellant Evaristo Amaya was convicted by jury of sex crimes
involving three minor victims, including three counts of lewd act upon a child (Pen.
Code, § 288, subd. (a)),1 one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child (§ 289, subd.
(a)), and one lesser included count of assault (§ 240). Multiple victim special allegations
pursuant to section 667.61, subdivisions (b) and (e) were found true. Defendant was
sentenced to an aggregate state prison term of 30 years to life. Defendant was awarded
546 days of presentence custody credits and ordered to pay various fines and fees,
including a $1,000 restitution fine pursuant to section 1202.4. Defendant raises multiple
claims of instructional error, and also argues it was error for the trial court to have denied
his motion to suppress his statements to police officers, and that the victim restitution fine
is punitive and was imposed in violation of his constitutional rights. We affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The events at issue in this case took place between 2002 and 2004, and 2009
through 2010, and involved three separate minor female victims, all under the age of 14.
Victims L.S. and A.S. are sisters and defendant is their uncle. He is married to one of the
sisters of the girls’ mother. The third minor victim is M.A.,2 the daughter of friends of
defendant.
In 2002, defendant was living with his wife and her son from a previous
relationship (defendant’s stepson) in an apartment across a driveway from a duplex where
L.S. and A.S. lived with their parents and their brother. Around this time, and continuing
for a period of months, defendant regularly came over to L.S. and A.S.’s house, asking to
borrow certain items, like milk or juice for his stepson. Defendant would often come
over when L.S. was home alone, because L.S.’s parents and younger siblings left for
school and work before L.S. took the bus to her school.
1 All further undesignated section references are to the Penal Code.
2 We refer to the minor victims by their initials to protect their privacy. M.A. is
referred to in the information as M.F., but we refer to her by the initials she gave during
her testimony.
2
Sometimes defendant would knock on the window near the bathroom when L.S.
was showering. When defendant came over to borrow things, he usually did not leave
right away, but would come inside and engage L.S. in conversation. He started touching
L.S. during these visits (beginning when L.S. was 11 years old), first just rubbing her
shoulders or sitting close to her on the couch. Then he began to rub or touch her breasts
over her clothing. He progressed to putting his hands inside her pants and touching her
vagina. This conduct frightened L.S. and she would say she needed to get to school, but
defendant would reply that if she missed the bus, he would drive her to school.
Occasionally, defendant would take L.S.’s hand and hold it on top of his penis and rub
her hand back and forth.
One time when defendant had cornered L.S. on the couch, he pushed her down
onto the mattress at the foot of the couch. He took off her clothes and lay down on top of
her. L.S. was scared, but could not get up because defendant held her down. Defendant
penetrated her vagina with his penis, and also with his finger. He eventually stopped
when L.S. repeatedly told him no, and said he was hurting her.
Defendant also was alone on occasion with A.S. He touched her several times on
her buttocks, sometimes over her clothes and sometimes under. It happened at least one
time when A.S. was riding in the front passenger seat of defendant’s car. Several
incidents also occurred at defendant’s home, when A.S. had been invited over to play or
watch movies with her cousin (defendant’s stepson). One incident occurred when A.S.
was at defendant’s apartment and he offered her $1 to read a book. While she was
reading, defendant started putting his hand down the back of her pants. His hand was
inside her clothes against her skin and came close to touching her vagina. She felt
disgusted and scared to say anything, feeling no one would believe her.
At some point after the incidents involving L.S. and A.S., defendant and his family
moved from their apartment across from the girls’ home. By 2009, defendant was living
with his wife, his stepson, and their daughter (born in 2007), at the home of a friend. The
friend was M.A.’s stepfather. Defendant and his family lived in a detached guest room
located on the same property as the house in which M.A. and her family lived.
3
One afternoon when M.A. was 12 years old, defendant asked her if she could help
him with his computer. She said yes and accompanied him to his room. M.A. was alone
with defendant. He told her to sit on the bed and placed the laptop computer on her legs.
Defendant then sat behind her, and placed his arms around her so that he was embracing
her. Defendant began to rub his hands up and down M.A.’s inner thighs, telling her that
her hair smelled nice. Defendant stopped when he heard his wife calling him and left the
room. The incident scared M.A. and made her feel “weird.” She confided in her uncle
Hugo about the incident, who in turn told M.A.’s mother. Defendant and his family then
moved away.
Several months later, M.A. was texting with defendant’s stepson. She sent a text
with a picture of herself in shorts (“booty shorts”) that she and a cousin had taken just
“playing around.” At some point, she received a text asking her to send more pictures
and she said no. Then, she received a text with an unusual amount of misspellings. She
sent a text asking who was texting her. M.A. eventually received a text with a
photograph of a penis. She did not believe it came from defendant’s stepson. M.A. then
received a text that told her to save the texts, because they were a “secret,” and also
expressing M.A. was “so sexy. I am older than you, but I like you so much.” M.A. was
concerned and scared by the texts and showed them to her mother, but she was afraid of
making a “big deal” about it and of not being believed. M.A.’s parents reported the
incident to the police.
Detective Jorge Oseguera of the Los Angeles Police Department was assigned to
investigate M.A.’s report. During his investigation, Detective Oseguera learned of an
earlier report regarding defendant made by L.S. and A.S. Detective Oseguera telephoned
defendant, advised him of the report that had been filed, and asked if he would come
speak with him about the allegations. Defendant agreed to be interviewed and went to
the police station on October 4, 2010. At the start of the interview, defendant was told he
was not under arrest and was free to leave at any time.
While Detective Oseguera was still asking background questions, defendant
volunteered he was separated from his wife because of the “problem” with M.A., and he
4
really wanted “to fix this problem first” so they could be together again. He also
voluntarily admitted to texting the photograph of his penis to M.A.
Defendant initially denied anything improper happened with L.S. and A.S.
Detective Oseguera told defendant several times that he could fix things on a “family
level” by apologizing to the girls because they did not want to press charges. He also told
defendant that when someone tries to be accountable for their mistakes, it “counts for a
lot” in an investigation.
Defendant eventually admitted to touching L.S. and confirmed he would apologize
to all three girls to help resolve “the problem.” Defendant then stated “and if . . . you’re
going . . . to make me face charges, I’ll accept them.” Detective Oseguera explained he
was going to continue his investigation, and asked defendant about contacting him again
if necessary, and defendant responded yes “whenever you want.” Defendant was allowed
to leave the station at that time.
Several months later, a warrant was issued and defendant was detained and
brought to the police station for another interview on January 21, 2011. Detective
Oseguera conducted the interview again, and read defendant his Miranda rights.3
Defendant signed a written waiver and agreed to speak with the detective.
Detective Oseguera told defendant that during the course of his investigation over
the last several months, he had spoken further with the victims and he needed to clarify a
few more things. He said he hoped defendant would be honest, because when someone is
willing to be held accountable it is given a “lot of weight” in an investigation.
Defendant admitted again that he sent the photograph of his penis to M.A, but did
not admit he had touched her in his bedroom during the computer incident.
Defendant also admitted that what L.S. had told the detective was true. Detective
Oseguera said defendant should explain what happened in his own words because he did
not want to put words in defendant’s mouth. Defendant explained that “we kissed” but,
as the adult, defendant knew he “was supposed to stop that, you know, and I couldn’t.”
3 Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 (Miranda).
5
He admitted it was a mistake that should not have happened. He admitted he placed his
penis against L.S.’s vagina on one occasion but denied penetration.
Defendant eventually admitted, without much detail, he also touched A.S. on her
buttocks at least one time in his bedroom.
At several points, defendant expressed remorse and said he had “to fix this no
matter what; I have to set it right” with the family and “I’m the liar, officer. I’m the liar,
not them.”
Near the end of the interview, Detective Oseguera asked defendant why defendant
did not just explain everything earlier. Defendant said: “I was embarrassed, officer. It’s
embarrassing. No, it’s not out of fear because if it was fear I would have denied it all
from the beginning. You know what I’m saying? . . . But what for, officer, if one did it?
Why not facing [sic] things? But it’s embarrassing. Do you think I like to be telling you
these things . . . ?”
In July 2011, defendant was charged with various sex offenses. Counts 1 through
4 concerned the victim L.S. Counts 1 and 2 alleged lewd act on a child under the age of
14 (§ 288, subd. (a)). Counts 3 and 4 alleged aggravated sexual assault on a child under
the age of 14 (§ 269, subd. (a)(1), (5)) based on rape (§ 261, subd. (a)(2), (6)) and sexual
penetration (§ 289, subd. (a)), respectively. Count 5 alleged continuous sexual abuse of
victim A.S. (§ 288.5, subd. (a)). Counts 7 through 9 concerned the victim M.A. Count 7
alleged lewd act on a child under the age of 14 (§ 288, subd. (a)). Count 8 alleged the
sending of harmful matter to a minor (§ 288.2, subd. (a)). Count 9 alleged improper
contact with a minor for a sexual purpose (§ 288.3, subd. (a)). It was also specially
alleged as to counts 1, 2, 5 and 7 that defendant had committed offenses against multiple
victims within the meaning of section 667.61, subdivisions (b) and (e).
Trial by jury proceeded in January 2012. All three victims testified, as did
Detective Oseguera. The parents of M.A. testified, and M.A.’s mother stated sometime
after they made the police report, defendant came to their home and admitted that he sent
the photograph of his penis to her daughter. A friend of L.S.’s testified to the fact that
L.S. had confided in her about the mattress incident, but did not specifically recall L.S.
6
stating defendant had actually penetrated her vagina with his penis. Defendant’s wife and
one of her sisters testified for the defense, and both stated they had never seen defendant
act inappropriately around L.S. or A.S.
The jury returned a verdict finding defendant guilty on counts 1 and 2 (lewd acts
as to L.S.), count 4 (aggravated sexual assault of L.S.), count 5 as to the lesser included
count of assault (A.S.), and count 7 (lewd act as to M.A.). The jury found the multiple
victim allegations true as to counts 1, 2 and 7. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on
counts 3, 8 and 9, and the court declared a mistrial.
Defendant was sentenced to a total state prison term of 30 years to life. The court
selected count 4 as the base term and imposed a sentence of 15 years to life, plus a
consecutive 15-to-life term on count 7, a concurrent 15-to-life term on count 1, and a
concurrent six-month term on count 5. A 15-to-life term on count 2 was imposed and
stayed pursuant to section 654. The court awarded total presentence custody credits of
546 days, and imposed various fines, including a $1,000 restitution fine, payable to the
state fund, pursuant to section 1202.4.
This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
1. There Was No Instructional Error
Defendant raises four claims of instructional error. He argues CALCRIM
No. 1110 contains an erroneous statement of law negating an element of the offense of
lewd act on a child in violation of his constitutional rights. Defendant further contends
CALCRIM No. 1110 is argumentative and biased in favor of the prosecution. Defendant
seeks reversal on this ground only as to count 7.
Defendant also argues the trial court erred in failing to instruct sua sponte on the
defense of a reasonable and good faith belief in consent to the aggravated sexual assault
counts. And finally, defendant contends the modified version of CALCRIM No. 1191 on
propensity evidence created an impermissible burden shifting presumption in favor of
guilt.
7
Respondent contends all of defendant’s claims of instructional error were forfeited
by failure to object at trial, and that they also fail on the merits. We address each claim in
turn, exercising our independent judgment in reviewing the propriety of the challenged
instructions. (People v. Posey (2004) 32 Cal.4th 193, 218; People v. Sigala (2011) 191
Cal.App.4th 695, 698 (Sigala).)
a. Forfeiture
Respondent contends defendant failed to preserve his objections regarding the
alleged instructional errors. However, defendant raises the specter of a constitutional
deprivation affecting his substantive rights in light of the alleged erroneous instructions.
The failure to object or otherwise preserve a claim of instructional error in the trial court
does not preclude appellate review “for constitutional error.” (People v. Flood (1998) 18
Cal.4th 470, 482, fn. 7; see also § 1259.) We shall consider the merits of defendant’s
claims.
b. CALCRIM No. 1110
Defendant contends the inclusion of the phrase “[t]he touching need not be done in
a lewd or sexual manner” in CALCRIM No. 1110 directly conflicts with the express
statutory language defining the nature of the crime of lewd act upon a child (§ 288, subd.
(a)), confuses the jury and negates an essential element of the crime. Section 288,
subdivision (a), provides: “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or
lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1,
upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of
14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or
sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”
Defendant argues the plain language of the statute requires proof the inappropriate
touching of a minor was performed both “willfully and lewdly” and that CALCRIM
No. 1110’s inclusion of the sentence that the touching need not be done “lewdly” negates
that element of the crime. We disagree. CALCRIM No. 1110, as presented to the jury
below, correctly stated the law regarding the crime of lewd act upon a child.
8
The trial court instructed the jury with the full form language of CALCRIM
No. 1110,4 modified only as to appropriate pronouns and identification of the relevant
counts, as follows: “To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
prove that, one, the defendant willfully touched any part of a child’s body either on the
bare skin or through the clothing, or the defendant willfully caused a child to touch her
own body, the defendant’s body, or the body of someone else, either on the bare skin or
through the clothing; two, the defendant committed the act with the intent of arousing,
appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of himself or the child; and
three, the child was under the age of 14 years at the time of the act. The touching need
not be done in a lewd or sexual manner. Someone commits an act willfully when he or
she does it willingly or on purpose. It is not required that he or she intend to break the
law, hurt someone else, or gain any advantage. Actually arousing, appealing to, or
gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of the perpetrator or the child is not
required. It is not a defense that the child may have consented to the act. Under the law,
a person becomes one year older as soon as the first minute of his or her birthday has
begun.” We have italicized the language defendant claims is objectionable.
The language of CALCRIM No. 1110 properly comports with the statutory
elements of the offense of lewd or lascivious act on a child. In discussing the definition
of a “lewd” act under section 288, the Supreme Court has explained the “statute itself
declares that to commit such an act ‘wilfully and lewdly’ means to do so ‘with the intent
of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires’ of the
persons involved.” (In re Smith (1972) 7 Cal.3d 362, 365 (Smith).) The focus of the
offense is on the intent of the perpetrator. “[T]he courts have long indicated that section
288 prohibits all forms of sexually motivated contact with an underage child. Indeed, the
‘gist’ of the offense has always been the defendant’s intent to sexually exploit a child, not
the nature of the offending act. [Citation.] ‘[T]he purpose of the perpetrator in touching
4 The language reflects the form of the instruction in effect at the time of trial in
January 2012. (CALCRIM No. 1110 (Summer 2011 ed.) p. 941.)
9
the child is the controlling factor and each case is to be examined in the light of the intent
with which the act was done . . . . If [the] intent of the act, although it may have the
outward appearance of innocence, is to arouse . . . the lust, the passion or the sexual
desire of the perpetrator [or the child,] it stands condemned by the statute . . . .’
[Citation.]” (People v. Martinez (1995) 11 Cal.4th 434, 444 (Martinez).)
The sentence to which defendant takes offense correctly states the law and makes
clear to the jury the physical act of touching involved need not be seen as lewd or
offensive in and of itself. Even a physical touching that may appear innocent, if done
with the requisite statutory intent, can be found to be a prohibited act under section 288.
“As suggested in Smith, we can only conclude that the touching of an underage child is
‘lewd or lascivious’ and ‘lewdly’ performed depending entirely upon the sexual
motivation and intent with which it is committed.” (Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p.
449; accord, People v. Lopez (1998) 19 Cal.4th 282, 289 [“Any touching of a child under
the age of 14 violates [section 288, subdivision (a)], even if the touching is outwardly
innocuous and inoffensive, if it is accompanied by the intent to arouse or gratify the
sexual desires of either the perpetrator or the victim.”]; see also Sigala, supra, 191
Cal.App.4th at pp. 700-701 [holding same language in CALCRIM No. 1120 to be correct
statement of law].) CALCRIM No. 1110 does not improperly negate a statutory element
of section 288.
Defendant’s reliance on People v. Cuellar (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 1067 is
unavailing. Cuellar concerned the identical language in CALCRIM No. 1120. The court
in Cuellar did not conclude the instruction was infirm, constitutionally or otherwise.
Cuellar stated the language is “possibly confusing” (Cuellar, at p. 1071), but, reading the
instructions as a whole and given the overwhelming evidence against the defendant, the
language did not mislead the jury. (Id. at p. 1072.) Subsequent to Cuellar, and effective
February 26, 2013, the Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions deleted the
sentence from the form jury instructions for both CALCRIM No. 1110 and No. 1120.
The revision to CALCRIM No. 1110 does not alter our assessment of the validity
of CALCRIM No. 1110 as given below. There has been no change in the well-
10
established law that a violation of section 288 does not require an explicitly sexual
touching. We reject defendant’s argument the instruction was likely confusing to the jury
when applied to count 7 regarding M.A. because that count did not involve conduct that
was “explicitly sexual.” M.A. testified defendant lured her into his room alone with him,
on the pretext that he wanted her to look at a problem on his computer, sat her on the bed,
then sat behind her, placing his arms around her in an embrace, and began to rub his
hands up and down her inner thighs, telling her that her hair smelled nice. In our view,
this behavior was explicitly sexual, and the jury no doubt found the behavior was
explicitly sexual. Defendant has not persuaded us the instruction misled the jury.
Nor are we persuaded by defendant’s argument that CALCRIM No. 1110 is
argumentative or unfairly biased in favor of the prosecution because of inclusion of the
following sentence: “Actually arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or
sexual desires of the perpetrator or the child is not required.” Defendant contends the
language is not only argumentative and biased, but also improperly suggests to the jury
that such evidence should be given no weight at all. None of defendant’s arguments have
merit.
Once again, the challenged language is a correct statement of the law. Actual
sexual arousal is not an element of the offense. (People v. McCurdy (1923) 60 Cal.App.
499, 502; see also 2 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Crim. Law (4th ed. 2012) Sex Offenses and
Crimes Against Decency, § 53, p. 453 [“whether passions are actually aroused or
gratified is of no consequence except as it may support the inference of intent”].)
Section 288, subdivision (a) only requires the touching of the child be performed with the
intent of arousing, appealing or gratifying the sexual desires of the perpetrator or the
child. Whether the touching actually accomplishes the desired result is immaterial.
c. Reasonable and good faith belief in consent defense
Defendant argues the trial court erred by failing to instruct sua sponte on the
defense of a reasonable and good faith belief in consent with respect to count 4,
aggravated sexual assault of L.S., based on sexual penetration in violation of section 289,
subdivision (a). We reject this claim.
11
In People v. Soto (2011) 51 Cal.4th 229 (Soto), the Supreme Court held that
“consent is not a defense to the crime of lewd acts on a child under age 14 under any
circumstances.” (Id. at p. 233.) Soto concerned the crime of aggravated lewd act on a
child pursuant to section 288, subdivision (b). The court explained the legislative history
of the statute, and emphasized that lack of consent by a child victim is not an element of
any offense under section 288. “When the Legislature amended section 288(b) in 1981 to
delete the previous requirement that lewd acts committed by use of force, violence,
duress, menace, or fear be ‘against the will of the victim,’ it effectively removed the
concept of consent from child molestation cases.” (Soto, at p. 245.)
Defendant argues that, unlike section 288, the crime of forcible sexual penetration
against a minor under the age of 14 (§ 289, subd. (a)(1)(B)), which is in turn a crime of
aggravated sexual assault on a child pursuant to section 269, subdivision (a)(5), does
have as an element that the forcible sexual penetration be “accomplished against the
victim’s will.” Defendant thus urges us to find that, consistent with the rationale of Soto,
consent remains a valid defense to a section 289 charge.
However, assuming for the sake of argument the defense would apply to a charge
under section 289 involving a minor victim under the age of 14, defendant has failed to
show any error by the court in not instructing the jury on the defense. The court’s sua
sponte duty to instruct on a particular defense arises only where there is substantial
evidence supporting the defense, and there was no such evidence here.
“‘“It is settled that in criminal cases, even in the absence of a request, the trial
court must instruct on the general principles of law relevant to the issues raised by the
evidence. [Citations.] The general principles of law governing the case are those
principles closely and openly connected with the facts before the court, and which are
necessary for the jury’s understanding of the case.” [Citation.]’” (People v. Breverman
(1998) 19 Cal.4th 142, 154 (Breverman).) This includes the obligation to instruct “on
recognized ‘defenses . . . and on the relationship of these defenses to the elements of the
charged offense.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Rubalcava (2000) 23 Cal.4th 322, 334.)
12
The court’s sua sponte duty to instruct on a defense is much narrower than its duty
to instruct on lesser included offenses. (People v. Barton (1995) 12 Cal.4th 186, 195.)
As to any particular defense, “a sua sponte instructional duty arises ‘only if it appears that
the defendant is relying on such a defense, or if there is substantial evidence supportive of
such a defense and the defense is not inconsistent with the defendant’s theory of the
case.’ [Citation.]” (Breverman, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 157.) The different standard
reflects the fact that different considerations are at play as to defenses not raised by the
defendant. “[T]o require trial courts to ferret out all defenses that might possibly be
shown by the evidence, even when inconsistent with the defendant’s theory at trial,
would not only place an undue burden on the trial courts but would also create a potential
of prejudice to the defendant.” (Barton, supra, at p. 197.)
The record unequivocally establishes defendant did not raise a defense to count 4
based on a reasonable belief in consent by L.S. Defendant agreed with the court’s
deletion of some of the optional bracketed portions of CALCRIM No. 1045, including
the language regarding a reasonable belief in consent defense. Defendant did not make
an argument based on L.S.’s consent, and did not present evidence consistent with
consent. Indeed, defendant’s defense throughout trial was directed to the credibility of
the victims, the lack of physical evidence showing that defendant committed the charged
crimes, and that Detective Oseguera tricked defendant into confessing during the October
2010 and January 2011 interviews. Defense counsel argued in closing that the evidence
was consistent with defendant’s innocence and that the incidents of sexual abuse were
simply made up.
More importantly, there was no evidence, let alone substantial evidence,
supporting a reasonable belief in consent defense. L.S. testified unequivocally
defendant’s conduct was unwelcome and scared her. Defendant admitted that what L.S.
told Detective Oseguera was the truth, and that he was the adult and should have stopped
but did not. The Supreme Court has explained that substantial evidence warranting a
consent instruction means “evidence sufficient to ‘deserve consideration by the jury,’ not
‘whenever any evidence is presented, no matter how weak.’” (People v. Williams (1992)
13
4 Cal.4th 354, 361.) Defendant has not cited to any evidence of equivocal conduct by
L.S. indicative of consent, or any substantial evidentiary basis giving rise to a sua sponte
duty to instruct on the defense of reasonable and good faith belief in consent.
d. CALCRIM No. 1191
Defendant contends the modified version of CALCRIM No. 1191 given to the jury
was constitutionally infirm because it suggested to the jury the prosecutor did in fact
present evidence that the specified crimes were actually committed by defendant, and
impermissibly shifted the burden of proof in favor of guilt. We are not persuaded.
The jury was instructed as follows: “The People presented evidence that the
defendant committed the crimes of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under Fourteen
and Ten or More Years Younger that [sic] the Defendant; Lewd or Lascivious Act on a
Child Under Fourteen; Continuous Sexual Abuse; and Sending Harmful Matter. These
crimes are defined for you in these instructions. [¶] If you decide beyond a reasonable
doubt that the defendant committed a charged offense, you may, but are not required to,
conclude from that evidence that the defendant was disposed or inclined to have the
requisite specific intent for other charged crimes, and based on that decision also
conclude that the defendant was likely to and did have the requisite specific intent for
other charged offenses. If you conclude that the defendant committed a charged offense,
that conclusion is only one factor to consider along with all the other evidence. It is not
sufficient by itself to prove that the defendant is guilty of the other charged offense. The
People must still prove each element of every charge beyond a reasonable doubt. [¶] Do
not consider this evidence for any other purpose except for the limited purpose of
determining the specific intent of the defendant in certain charged offenses.” We have
italicized the portion of the instruction of which defendant complains.
The Supreme Court has held this type of instruction for propensity evidence
arising from charged offenses is proper. (See People v. Villatoro (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1152(Villatoro).) The defendant there was charged with raping five different victims. Like
the jury here, the jury in Villatoro was instructed with a modified version of CALCRIM
No. 1191 containing substantially similar language to the instruction here.
14
The instruction given in Villatoro read: “‘The People presented evidence that the
defendant committed the crime of rape as alleged in counts 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 and 15 and the
crime of sodomy as alleged in count 14. These crimes are defined for you in the
instructions for these crimes. [¶] If you decide that the defendant committed one of these
charged offenses, you may, but are not required to, conclude from that evidence that the
defendant was disposed or inclined to commit the other charged crimes of rape or
sodomy, and based on that decision also conclude that the defendant was likely to and did
commit the other offenses of rape and sodomy charged. If you conclude that the
defendant committed a charged offense, that conclusion is only one factor to consider
along with all the other evidence. It is not sufficient by itself to prove the defendant is
guilty of another charged offense. The People must still prove each element of every
charge beyond a reasonable doubt and prove it beyond a reasonable doubt before you
may consider one charge as proof of another charge.’” (Villatoro, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p.
1167.)
The Supreme Court expressed no concern about the preamble sentence which
stated the prosecution had presented evidence the defendant had committed the crime of
rape in the five identified counts—the identical language used in the preamble sentence
here. The court then explained the modified instruction “clearly told the jury that all
offenses must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, even those used to draw an inference
of propensity. Thus, there was no risk the jury would apply an impermissibly low
standard of proof.” (Villatoro, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 1168.) When combined and read
as a whole with the balance of the instructions, including CALCRIM No. 220, the
modified instruction did not impermissibly shift the burden of proof or otherwise mislead
the jury. (Villatoro, at p. 1168.)
Under Villatoro, the modified version of CALCRIM No. 1191 given to the jury
here was proper. The instruction actually included additional language, not contained in
the Villatoro instruction, emphasizing the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof.
And, the jury instructions as a whole, including CALCRIM No. 220, also properly
instructed the jury as to the prosecution’s burden of proof, that defendant was presumed
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innocent, and the fact that charges were filed against defendant was not evidence the
charges were true.
Defendant’s reliance on People v. Owens (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 1155 is
misplaced. Owens involved a different instruction (CALJIC No. 10.42.6) which included
language that the “People have introduced evidence ‘tending to prove’” there were more
than three acts of lewd and lascivious conduct on which to base a conviction for
continuous sexual abuse of a child. (Owens, at pp. 1158-1159.) While the court there
found such language did have the potential to mislead and would have been better
phrased to state the prosecution had introduced evidence “for the purpose of showing”
rather than “tending to prove,” it nonetheless did not conclude the instruction was
improper. (Ibid.) The court explained that reading the instructions as a whole, including
other instructions which plainly told the jury the prosecution bore the burden of proof
beyond a reasonable doubt, it was not reasonably likely the instruction misled the jury.
“[W]hether an erroneous or inartfully phrased instruction misled the jury to the
defendant’s prejudice is determined by reviewing the instructions as a whole.” (Id. at p.
1159.) Nothing in Owens supports a conclusion the instruction here was infirm,
constitutionally or otherwise.
2. The Motion to Suppress Was Properly Denied
Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his
October 2010 pre-arrest statement to police officers, as well as any admissions from the
January 2011 interview which were derivative of the first interview. We find no error in
the court’s denial of the motion to suppress.
Our Supreme Court has explained the well-established principles of law regarding
the admissibility of a defendant’s confession. “The basic law is settled. A criminal
conviction may not be founded upon an involuntary confession. [Citation.] ‘The
prosecution has the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that a
defendant’s confession was voluntarily made. [Citations.] In determining whether a
confession was voluntary, “‘[t]he question is whether defendant’s choice to confess was
not “essentially free” because his [or her] will was overborne.’” [Citation.] Whether the
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confession was voluntary depends upon the totality of the circumstances. [Citations.]
“‘On appeal, the trial court’s findings as to the circumstances surrounding the confession
are upheld if supported by substantial evidence, but the trial court’s finding as to the
voluntariness of the confession is subject to independent review.’” [Citation.]’
[Citation.]” (People v. Williams (2010) 49 Cal.4th 405, 436 (Williams), italics added.)
While a promise of leniency may be a factor in determining voluntariness, the
court emphasized the totality of circumstances approach. “In evaluating the voluntariness
of a statement, no single factor is dispositive. [Citation.] The question is whether the
statement is the product of an ‘“essentially free and unconstrained choice”’ or whether
the defendant’s ‘“will has been overborne and his capacity for self-determination
critically impaired”’ by coercion. [Citation.] Relevant considerations are ‘“the crucial
element of police coercion [citation]; the length of the interrogation [citation]; its location
[citation]; its continuity” as well as “the defendant’s maturity [citation]; education
[citation]; physical condition [citation]; and mental health.”’ [Citation.] [¶] ‘In
assessing allegedly coercive police tactics, “[t]he courts have prohibited only those
psychological ploys which, under all the circumstances, are so coercive that they tend to
produce a statement that is both involuntary and unreliable.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] [¶]
A confession is not involuntary unless the coercive police conduct and the defendant’s
statement are causally related.” (Williams, supra, 49 Cal.4th at pp. 436-437.)
There is no basis to conclude Detective Oseguera’s efforts to appeal to defendant’s
sense of family rose to the level of a psychological ploy that was so coercive in effect as
to overcome defendant’s will and produce an unreliable statement.
Neither interview was unduly long. At the initial October 4, 2010 pre-arrest
interview, defendant voluntarily came to the police station to speak with Detective
Oseguera. Defendant was not under arrest, and was free to leave at any time. There is
nothing in the record indicating defendant suffered from any mental or physical
disabilities. Defendant had been educated in Mexico, and had studied psychology.
While Detective Oseguera was still asking background questions, defendant
volunteered his desire to make things right with his wife and family, a theme Detective
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Oseguera then used during the balance of the interview to encourage defendant to
continue to cooperate. Detective Oseguera did mention several times that the victims just
wanted an apology and did not want to press charges, but defendant nonetheless largely
maintained his version of events, denying a portion of the victims’ accounts.
At the beginning of the January 21, 2011 interview, Detective Oseguera read
defendant his Miranda rights, and defendant signed a written waiver. Defendant
admitted again to some of the alleged conduct, and repeatedly expressed remorse, stating
he had “to fix this no matter what; I have to set it right” with the family. He also told
Detective Oseguera that he hesitated to explain everything from the beginning because it
was embarrassing to admit to such things, not because he was fearful.
There was no express or implied promise of leniency. In our view, judging the
totality of the circumstances as instructed by Williams, there was no coercive conduct by
Detective Osequera that resulted in defendant’s will having been “‘“overborne and his
capacity for self-determination critically impaired.”’” (Williams, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p.
436.) Accordingly, the trial court did not err in finding defendant’s statements to be
voluntary.
3. The Restitution Fine
Finally, defendant argues the imposition of a restitution fine in the amount of
$1,000 constituted error of constitutional magnitude, and must be reduced to the statutory
minimum of $200.5 Respondent contends the claim has been forfeited by failure to
object at the time of sentencing, but that, in any event, the fine was properly imposed in
an amount within the court’s discretion and within the statutory range.
Section 1202.4, subdivision (b) provides, in relevant part, as follows: “In every
case where a person is convicted of a crime, the court shall impose a separate and
additional restitution fine, unless it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not
5 Defendant incorrectly states the statutory minimum as $200. The sentencing here
took place in May 2012 and therefore the statutory minimum for a felony conviction was
$240. (§ 1202.4, subd. (b).)
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doing so and states those reasons on the record. [¶] (1) The restitution fine shall be set
at the discretion of the court and commensurate with the seriousness of the offense. If the
person is convicted of a felony, the fine shall not be less than two hundred forty dollars
($240) starting on January 1, 2012 . . . and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). .
. . [¶] (2) In setting a felony restitution fine, the court may determine the amount of the
fine as the product of the minimum fine pursuant to paragraph (1) multiplied by the
number of years of imprisonment the defendant is ordered to serve, multiplied by the
number of felony counts of which the defendant is convicted.”
At the sentencing hearing, the court ordered: “Pursuant to the provisions of . . .
section 1202.4, the defendant is ordered to pay a restitution fine to the state restitution
fund in the amount of $1,000. The Department of Corrections may collect this restitution
from the defendant’s earnings, if any, while in prison.” Defendant did not raise any
objections or assert any alleged impropriety in the imposition of the statutorily mandated
restitution fine. The court then completed the balance of its sentencing order.
Defendant forfeited his claim of error by failing to raise any objection in the trial
court. (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 351-353.) However, even assuming the
claim of error was properly preserved, it has no merit. Defendant, relying on Apprendi v.
New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466 (Apprendi), argues he had a Sixth Amendment right to
have the jury determine all necessary facts upon which the fine was based, such as
defendant’s ability to pay.
In Southern Union Co. v. United States (2012) __ U.S. __ [132 S.Ct. 2344]
(Southern Union), the United States Supreme Court held the rule of Apprendi, that the
“Sixth Amendment reserves to juries the determination of any fact, other than the fact of
a prior conviction, that increases a criminal defendant’s maximum potential sentence,”
also applies to the imposition of criminal fines. (Southern Union, at pp. 2348-2349,
2357.) “The ‘“statutory maximum” for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a
judge may impose solely on the basis of the facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted
by the defendant.’ [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 2350.)
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In Southern Union, the defendant was charged with violating the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act. The relevant penalty provision of the Act provided for
the imposition of a fine of $50,000 for each day a defendant was found to be in violation.
(Southern Union, supra, 132 S.Ct. at p. 2349.) Therefore, the maximum amount of the
fine was tied to the determination of specified facts, namely the number of days the
government could prove the defendant was in violation of the Act. Accordingly, the
Supreme Court explained that Apprendi applied to require a jury determination as to
those underlying facts necessary to fix the appropriate amount of the statutory penalty.
(Southern Union, at pp. 2353-2356.)
In contrast, section 1202.4 provides that a restitution fine payable to the state
restitution fund shall be imposed upon conviction of a felony. The statute sets forth an
express monetary range, vesting discretion in the trial court to determine an appropriate
amount within the statutory range. The maximum amount of the fine is fixed by statute,
and the appropriateness of fixing the amount is not pegged to any facts which the jury
must decide. Indeed, a restitution fine in a felony case, as here, may be calculated simply
by multiplying the statutory minimum amount by the number of years sentenced and the
number of counts on which the defendant was convicted. The court here chose an
amount only slightly above the statutory minimum, well within the statutory range, and
far below an amount reflective of using the multiplier based on the length of the sentence
and the number of relevant counts. The Supreme Court has stated the exercise of such
sentencing discretion is “fully consistent with Apprendi, which permits courts to impose
‘judgment within the range prescribed by statute.’ [Citation.]” (Southern Union, supra,
132 S.Ct. at p. 2353.) Defendant has failed to show any impropriety in the trial court’s
imposition of the $1,000 restitution fine.
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DISPOSITION
The judgment of conviction is affirmed.
GRIMES, J.
WE CONCUR:
BIGELOW, P. J.
FLIER, J.
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