People v. Quijano CA4/1 ( 2014 )

Filed 9/23/14 P. v. Quijano CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D065968
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. RIF1200869)
ROBERT JOE QUIJANO,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County, Bernard J.
Schwartz, Judge. Affirmed as modified with directions.
Robert E. Boyce, 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, Eric Swenson and Barry Carlton,
Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Robert Joe Quijano appeals from a judgment convicting him of several sex
offenses based on his molestation of four boys. His convictions include three counts
involving victim R.H. (two counts of forcible oral copulation and one count of lewd act
with the special circumstance of administering a controlled substance), and three
misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child involving the other three victims
(J.A., Y.R. and J.S). He argues (1) there is insufficient evidence to support the finding
that he administered a controlled substance, and (2) the court erred in giving the jury a
general instruction that the prosecution need not prove motive because sexual motive is
an element of the offense of annoying or molesting a child. We reject his challenge to the
sufficiency of the evidence, and find the instructional error harmless.
Defendant also asserts sentencing errors related to the felony counts (counts 1
through 3) concerning R.H. The court imposed consecutive indeterminate sentences of
15 years to life for each of these counts. Additionally, for count 3 (lewd act with a drug
administration finding), the court imposed an additional three-year term for a controlled
substance enhancement. As to count 3, defendant maintains the court erred in imposing
both a three-year sentence and a 15-year-to-life sentence under two distinct statutes based
on the controlled substance finding. We agree, and accordingly reverse the three-year
sentence enhancement. We also reject the Attorney General's argument that the case
should be remanded for resentencing because the 15-year-to-life sentence for count 3 was
legally unauthorized.
As to counts 1 and 2 (forcible oral copulation), defendant argues the court failed to
exercise its discretion to decide whether the offenses against R.H. occurred on the same
occasion so as to permit concurrent sentences rather than consecutive sentences. We
reject this contention of reversible error.
2
We modify defendant's sentence to strike the three-year enhancement for count 3.
As we shall explain, defendant's total prison term is modified to (1) an indeterminate term
of 45 years to life and (2) a determinate term of two years. As so modified, the judgment
is affirmed.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The charges against defendant (age 22) were based on his sexual touching of three
14-year-old boys (J.A., Y.R., and J.S.) in November 2011, plus his aggravated sexual
conduct against 13-year-old R.H. in December 2011. The victims were friends who
"hung out" together, including having frequent sleepovers. Even though defendant was
older, he socialized with the group, including at some of the sleepovers, and the victims
considered him to be a "cool guy" and a friend whom they trusted. The boys sometimes
smoked marijuana with defendant, and some of them had seen him use
methamphetamine.1 The victims testified that at the sleepovers sometimes defendant
would sleep next to them and hug them, and in the morning would playfully "trap" them
so they could not get away. The victims did not feel the touching was sexual until after
they each experienced a distinct incident with defendant.
The incidents with J.A. and Y.R. occurred during sleepovers at defendant's home
while the victims and defendant were sleeping next to each other on the floor. J.A.
testified he was lying on his back asleep, and he woke up when he felt defendant
1 Y.R. testified he saw defendant using "crystal" on one occasion, and the drug
looked like a white "little powder." J.A. testified he had seen defendant using "crystal
meth."
3
"hugg[ing]" him. Defendant touched J.A.'s shoulder with his hand, and then moved his
hand slowly to J.A.'s stomach and then moved it "a little bit lower than [J.A.'s] belly
button." At this point J.A. grabbed defendant's hand and removed it, and rolled away. In
the morning J.A. did not say anything to his friends about the incident because they did
not "see [defendant] like that" and he did not think his friends would believe him. Later,
after J.S. disclosed an incident with defendant, J.A. confided in J.S. about what had
occurred. J.A. and J.S. thought it was defendant's use of drugs that was making him do
this.
Y.R. testified that at a sleepover, he was sleeping on his back when he woke up in
the morning to find defendant's hand on his chest. Defendant moved his hand in circles
down to Y.R.'s stomach and then to his belly button. Y.R. grabbed defendant's hand and
took it off, saying, " 'That's gay. Don't do that.' " Y.R. did not say anything to his friends
because he thought defendant was "just messing around"; however, when he learned what
defendant had done with R.H. he changed his mind.
The incident with J.S. occurred at a sleepover at the home of defendant's cousin
when J.S. was sleeping next to defendant on a bed. J.S. woke up when he felt defendant
touching him. Defendant was "[d]ry humping" J.S. by rubbing his body "back and forth"
against J.S.'s body, and defendant's hand was in J.S.'s shorts "[g]rabbing [his] penis"
under his underwear. J.S. was shocked; he moved defendant's hand away; and defendant
then touched J.S.'s "butt" and continued "dry humping" him until J.S. moved defendant's
hand and turned away. In the morning, J.S. told J.A. what had occurred, and J.A.
confided what he had experienced with defendant.
4
The aggravated sexual conduct with R.H. occurred at a party in December 2011.
R.H. had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana and he was intoxicated.
Defendant took R.H. to a bedroom, and upon their arrival defendant either pushed him, or
he fell, into a closet. When R.H. was sitting in the closet, defendant shoved a pipe in his
mouth. R.H. had never seen the pipe before and did not know what was in it. After R.H.
took a "hit" from the pipe, he felt as if "everything was slow" and he was "gone" and
"black[ed] out." He remembered three sexual things occurring, but did not remember the
order in which they happened. Defendant forced R.H. to his knees on the floor, pulled
his hair to move his head back and forth, and made him orally copulate defendant. Also,
R.H. remembered being on the floor lying on his stomach with his pants pulled down to
his thighs, and defendant was lying on top of R.H.'s back. R.H. did not remember what
happened during this incident because he was "blacked out" but afterwards his "butt"
hurt.2 Also, defendant orally copulated R.H. The sexual assaults stopped when someone
walked into the room. R.H. left the room and told defendant's cousin, Reina, what
happened, and later told his other friends.
Defendant's sister, Carissa, testified that during the December party she saw
defendant, R.H. and a cousin in the bedroom. Defendant was standing holding a glass
pipe, and R.H. was leaning against the foot of the bed with his head down and appeared
to be "passed out." On another occasion Carissa had seen an iPod video of defendant
smoking a "white drug" out of a long glass pipe with a "ball at the end." When Carissa
2 R.H. told the police that defendant "dry humped" him, but at trial testified he said
this because he was embarrassed.
5
saw defendant in the bedroom with the pipe and she asked what they were doing,
defendant did not respond but shut the bedroom door. Later, R.H. came out of the
bedroom and asked to talk to defendant's cousin, Reina, outside. Carissa saw R.H.
outside "crying and hysterical," saying his "butt" and his thumb hurt.
On December 7, 2011, J.S. showed a school resource officer threatening text
messages he had received, and during an ensuing investigation the authorities learned
about the molestation claims and interviewed each victim. When the authorities
contacted defendant at his residence on January 9, 2012, they found crystal
methamphetamine in a baggie in his pants pocket. During a recorded interview with a
detective on that same date, defendant said he had been using methamphetamine since he
was 17 years old; he had smoked methamphetamine the night before the interview; his
main drugs were methamphetamine and marijuana; he smoked marijuana in either
cigarettes or a pipe; and he would typically "binge" on methamphetamine for a few days
and then stop for a few days.3
Regarding the sexual molestation claims, defendant admitted he hugged the boys
while they were sleeping during sleepovers, but initially denied he touched them
sexually. He acknowledged that at the December party he went into a bedroom with
R.H., but stated R.H. merely watched him roll a marijuana "joint" and then they went
outside and smoked it. He told the detective that at the party he only had marijuana and
3 When questioning defendant about his methamphetamine use the night before the
interview, the detective asked defendant if he "smoke[d] a bowl," apparently referring to
defendant's use of a pipe.
6
"Zig-Zag[]" papers, and he did not have methamphetamine or a pipe. Towards the end of
the interview, defendant's demeanor changed and he began crying. He said the detective
already knew "everything"; he did not "care anymore"; whatever the boys said was true;
and he "knew it was wrong" but voices in his head told him to "[j]ust go do it."
At trial, when questioned on cross-examination about R.H.'s claim that defendant
had drugged him, the investigating detective acknowledged he did not know what drug
was involved. However, the detective testified the initial report made "it sound[ ] like
methamphetamine."
Testifying on behalf of the defense, defendant's cousin (Reina) testified she saw
defendant leave the December party at about 1:00 or 2:00 a.m., and she thereafter saw
R.H. dancing and being talkative and drunk in a "fun way." At about 3:00 a.m., Reina
and Carissa saw R.H. "passed out" on a bedroom floor with his pants unzipped and his
"penis hanging out." On cross-examination, Reina acknowledged that R.H. approached
her during the party; it appeared as if something was wrong with him and he looked
scared; he expressed fear of defendant; defendant left the party while she was talking
with R.H.; and R.H. appeared more comfortable and started having fun after defendant
left. Also, later that night when the group, including defendant and R.H., were at Reina's
house, the boys were all afraid of defendant; Reina told defendant he had to leave
because of what the boys were saying; and defendant became confrontational in a way
that Reina associated with him being "high" on some drug other than marijuana.
Defendant also took the stand and essentially reiterated what he stated during the
police interview, except with no admissions of sexual misconduct. He denied all the
7
sexual molestation claims and denied he stuck a pipe in R.H.'s mouth. He testified that at
the end of the interview he "falsely confessed" because he felt "stuck" and afraid; he
wanted to stop the interview and be left alone; and he was "coming down" from using
methamphetamine.
Jury Verdict and Sentence
For the offenses against R.H., the jury found defendant guilty of (1) two counts of
forcible oral copulation with a child under age 14 and at least seven years younger than
the defendant (counts 1 and 2, Pen. Code,4 §§ 269, subd. (a)(4), 288a), and (2) one count
of lewd act on a child under age 14 (count 3, § 288, subd. (a)), with a special allegation of
administration of a controlled substance (§§ 667.61, subd. (e)(6), 12022.75).
For the offenses against Y.R., J.S., and J.A., the jury found defendant guilty of
three misdemeanor offenses of annoying or molesting a child under age 18 (counts 4, 5,
and 6, § 647.6, subd. (a)). Defendant was also convicted of methamphetamine possession
based on the methamphetamine found in his possession at the time of his arrest. (Health
and Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a).)
The trial court sentenced defendant to a total term of 45 years to life plus a three-
year enhancement for the offenses against R.H. (counts 1 through 3). The court imposed
an eight-month consecutive sentence for count 7 methamphetamine possession, and
imposed one-year concurrent jail sentences for the annoying/molesting a child
misdemeanor offenses (counts 4 through 6).
4 Subsequent unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code.
8
DISCUSSION
I. Sufficiency of Evidence of Administration of Controlled Substance
Defendant argues the evidence does not show there was a controlled substance in
the pipe he pushed into R.H.'s mouth so as to support the administration of a controlled
substance enhancement alleged in connection with count 3.
In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we examine the entire
record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether there is
substantial evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt. (People v. Nelson (2011) 51 Cal. 4th 198, 210.) We presume
in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the jury could reasonably deduce
from the evidence. (Ibid.) If the circumstances reasonably justify the jury's findings,
reversal is not warranted merely because the circumstances might also be reasonably
reconciled with a contrary finding. (Ibid.)
The jury was instructed that for the administration of a controlled substance
allegation, the People had to prove defendant administered either methamphetamine or
marijuana to R.H. The record supports the jury's finding that one of these controlled
substances was in the pipe defendant shoved in R.H.'s mouth. R.H. testified that after he
took a hit from the pipe, "everything was slow," he was "gone," and he blacked out. The
jury could reasonably infer there was something in the pipe that made R.H. experience
this strong reaction. The evidence also showed that by his own admission defendant was
a regular user of methamphetamine and marijuana; he went on binges of
methamphetamine use; and he sometimes used a pipe to smoke drugs. Further, several
9
witnesses had observed him using methamphetamine. Y.R. described the
methamphetamine he used as white in color; and defendant's sister Carissa described
defendant smoking a white drug in a long glass pipe. On the night of the assault on R.H.,
Carissa saw him in the bedroom holding a glass pipe. Considering all this evidence
together, the jury could reasonably deduce that defendant had a habit of smoking drugs,
including in a pipe; he had a pipe at the party as shown by Carissa's observation of him in
the bedroom; and there was a controlled substance in the pipe as shown by R.H.'s
reaction after taking a "hit" and defendant's habit of drug usage.
The record supports that defendant administered a controlled substance to R.H.
II. Instruction that Prosecution Need Not Prove Motive
Defendant argues the trial court erred by providing the jury with the general
instruction that the prosecution need not prove the defendant had a motive to commit the
crimes because counts 4 through 6—annoying or molesting a child—require a sexual
motivation. The Attorney General concedes the error, but argues it was harmless.
Regarding the general instruction on motive, the jury was told: "The People are
not required to prove that the defendant had a motive to commit any of the crimes
charged. In reaching your verdict you may, however, consider whether the defendant
had a motive. [¶] Having a motive may be a factor tending to show that the defendant is
guilty. Not having a motive may be a factor tending to show the defendant is not guilty."
(Italics added; see CALCRIM No. 370.) For the offense of annoying or molesting a
child, the jury was instructed that the People had to prove a "normal person, without
hesitation, would have been disturbed, irritated, offended, or injured by the defendant's
10
conduct," and the "defendant's conduct was motivated by an unnatural or abnormal
sexual interest in the child." (Italics added; see CALCRIM No. 1122; People v. Lopez
(1998) 19 Cal. 4th 282, 289; § 647.6.)
Because the instruction for the offense of annoying or molesting a child defines
the mental state element in terms of the defendant's sexual motivation, the court's general
instruction that motive need not be proven should not have been given without clarifying
that this instruction did not obviate the sexual motivation element for the
annoying/molesting offense. (People v. Maurer (1995) 32 Cal. App. 4th 1121, 1128-1129;
see People v. Fuentes (2009) 171 Cal. App. 4th 1133, 1140.) However, under the
circumstances of this case the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (See
Maurer, supra, at p. 1128.) It is clear from the record the jury understood defendant was
not guilty of the annoying/molesting offense unless he had a sexual motivation. The jury
was expressly instructed that the People had to prove defendant's conduct was motivated
by a sexual interest. Further, the jury was instructed on battery as a lesser offense of the
charged sex offenses. The battery instruction stated this offense was committed if
defendant "touched someone in a harmful or offensive manner." Because the instruction
on the battery offense made no mention of a sexual motivation, the jurors would have
understood that an essential difference between the annoying/molesting offense and the
lesser offense of battery was the presence of sexual motivation for the
annoying/molesting offense. Also, the jury was given a general instruction stating some
crimes require a general criminal intent, whereas others require a specific intent or mental
11
state, and the annoying/molesting a child offense requires the specific intent or mental
state set forth in the applicable instruction for that offense. (See CALCRIM No. 252.)
The sexual motivation requirement for the annoying/molesting a child counts was
reinforced by the prosecutor's closing arguments. The prosecutor reiterated the sexual
motivation element when discussing these particular counts, and then emphasized that if
the jury did not think defendant's conduct related to these counts was sexually motivated,
it had to find him not guilty of these charges. The prosecutor stated: "Counts 4 though 6:
Annoying or molesting the other boys. . . . [¶] . . . In order to prove this, I have to
show . . . . [¶] . . . that his conduct was motivated by an unnatural or sexual interest in the
child. [¶] If you think that [defendant] rubbing in circles from the chest going down
further, further, further, wasn't sexual; not guilty. Stop right there. If you think that him
rubbing from the shoulder, down to the chest, down until he is stopped with the hand
wasn't sexual, then that's it; not guilty. Or if you think that when he was grabbing [J.S.'s]
penis and stroking it, and then trying to touch his butt wasn't sexual, or while he was dry
humping him, then that's it; not guilty."
We assume jurors are reasonably intelligent people. (People v. Lopez (2011) 198
Cal. App. 4th 698, 708.) Given the express instruction and arguments indicating the
People had to prove sexual motivation for the annoying/molesting offense, we have no
doubt the jurors understood the instruction generally stating motive need not be proven
did not override the more specific instruction setting forth the sexual motivation element
for this offense.
12
III. Sentencing Issues
At sentencing, for the count 3 offense against R.H. (lewd act with controlled
substance special circumstance) the court imposed (1) an indeterminate term of 15 years
to life under section 667.61 and (2) a determinate three-year term under section 12022.75.
Both of these terms were based on the finding defendant had administered a controlled
substance in connection with the lewd act.
For counts 1 and 2, forcible oral copulation of R.H. with age disparity, the court
imposed two consecutive sentences of 15 years to life.
For count 7 methamphetamine possession, the court imposed an eight-month
consecutive sentence (one-third the two-year midterm).
Finally, for counts 4, 5 and 6 (misdemeanor annoying or molesting a child, victims
Y.R., J.S. and J.A.) the court imposed one-year jail sentences on each count to run
concurrently.
A. Error in Sentencing on Count 3
Defendant argues the court's sentence for the count 3 lewd act offense (§ 288,
subd. (a)) improperly punished him twice for the same enhancement allegation of
administering a controlled substance; i.e., 15 years to life under section 667.61, and three
years under section 12022.75. The Attorney General concedes this error, and we accept
this concession.
The administration of a controlled substance enhancement implicates two
potentially applicable sentencing statutes: (1) section 667.61 which provides for a life
sentence, and (2) section 12022.75 which provides for a three- or five-year sentence.
13
Under section 667.61, the trial court must impose a life sentence for a sex offense
specified in section 667.61, subdivision (c), when the sex offense is committed under one
circumstance specified in section 667.61, subdivision (e). (§ 667.61, subds. (b), (j)(2).)
Here, the count 3 lewd act offense in violation of section 288, subdivision (a) is a
specified sex offense (§ 667.61, subd. (c)(8)), and the administration of a controlled
substance in violation of section 12022.75 is a specified special circumstance (§ 667.61,
subd. (e)(6)). Section 12022.75, which is distinct from the section 667.61 sentencing
scheme, provides for a three- or five-year sentence for administration of a controlled
substance for the purpose of committing a felony or in the commission of specified
felonies.
Generally, a special circumstance (here, drug administration) that triggers
application of the section 667.61 sentencing scheme may not be used in dual fashion to
impose an additional punishment under another sentencing provision. (§ 667.61, subd.
(f); People v. Rodriguez (2012) 207 Cal. App. 4th 204, 214-215.)5 The Attorney General
does not dispute that this general rule applies here. Accordingly, the three-year sentence
5 Section 667.61, subdivision (f) states: "If only the minimum number of
circumstances specified in subdivision (d) or (e) that are required for the punishment
provided in subdivision (a), (b), (j), (l), or (m) to apply have been pled and proved, that
circumstance or those circumstances shall be used as the basis for imposing the term
provided in subdivision (a), (b), (j), (l), or (m) whichever is greater, rather than being
used to impose the punishment authorized under any other provision of law, unless
another provision of law provides for a greater penalty or the punishment under another
provision of law can be imposed in addition to the punishment provided by this
section. . . ." (Italics added.)
14
for the count 3 drug administration allegation under section 12022.75 should not be
imposed.
Notwithstanding its concession, the People argue the case should be remanded for
resentencing because the trial court was required to impose a sentence of 25 years to life,
rather than 15 years to life, for the count 3 offense of lewd act with a drug administration
special circumstance. Under the circumstances of this case, we disagree.
Section 667.61 provides for imposition of a 15-year-to-life sentence for sex
offenses specified in subdivision (c) that are committed under one of the circumstances
specified in subdivision (e). (§ 667.61, subd. (b).) Here, defendant committed a sex
offense specified in section 667.61, subdivision (c)(8) (i.e., lewd act, § 288, subd. (a)),
under a special circumstance specified in section 667.61, subd. (e)(6) (i.e., administration
of a controlled substance). Thus, he qualified for the 15-year-to-life sentence set forth in
section 667.61, subdivision (b).
Section 667.61 further provides that the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision
(b) shall be increased to 25 years to life if the victim is under age 14. (§ 667.61, subd.
(j)(2)).6 Although defendant's section 288, subdivision (a) lewd act offense by definition
6 Section 667.61, subdivision (b) states: "Except as provided in subdivision (a), (j),
(l), or (m), any person who is convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (c) under
one of the circumstances specified in subdivision (e) shall be punished by imprisonment
in the state prison for 15 years to life." (Italics added.)
Section 667.61, subdivision (j)(2) states: "Any person who is convicted of an
offense specified in subdivision (c) under one of the circumstances specified in
subdivision (e), upon a victim who is a child under 14 years of age, shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state prison for 25 years to life." (Italics added.)
15
involved a child under age 14, the record shows the prosecution elected not to pursue the
charges in a manner that triggered the 25-year-to-life term.
First, the information filed by the prosecution makes no reference to subdivision
(j)(2) of section 667.61 which refers to the 25-year-to-life term when a victim is under
age 14. Rather, the information only refers to subdivision (e)(6) of section 667.61, which
refers to the controlled substance special circumstance.7 Second, there was no reference
to subdivision (j)(2) during trial. And third, at sentencing the prosecution never
suggested that the sentence for count 3 should be 25 years to life rather than 15 years to
life, and did not object when the court imposed the 15-year-to-life sentence. The manner
in which the case was pleaded, tried, and presented at sentencing reflects a decision by
the prosecution to pursue the 15-year-to-life sentence rather than the 25-year-to-life
sentence.
We are not persuaded by the Attorney General's contention that the 15-year-to-life
sentence pursued by the prosecution was unauthorized. " 'It is well settled that the
prosecuting authorities, exercising executive functions, ordinarily have the sole discretion
to determine whom to charge with public offenses and what charges to bring. . . . This
7 For the count 3 lewd act offense, the information states defendant is accused of "a
violation of Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a), a felony, in that . . . he did wilfully,
unlawfully, and lewdly commit a lewd and lascivious act upon and with the body and
certain parts and members thereof of . . . (R.H.), a child under the age of fourteen
years . . . ." For the count 3 special circumstance, the information states: "SPECIAL
ALLEGATION - Penal Code section 667.61(e)(6) [¶] The District Attorney . . . further
charges that in the commission of the above offense the defendant . . . administered a
controlled substance to the victim in the commission of the above offense within the
meaning of Penal Code section 12022.75."
16
prosecutorial discretion to choose, for each particular case, the actual charges from
among those potentially available arises from " 'the complex considerations necessary for
the effective and efficient administration of law enforcement. . . .' " ' 'Generally,
prosecutors may elect to proceed under either of two statutes that proscribe the same
conduct.' . . . [T]he same principles apply to two different subdivisions of the same
statute." (People v. Cheaves (2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 445, 452; Mitchell v. Superior
Court (1989) 49 Cal. 3d 1230, 1251-1252.) As stated in Mitchell, "it has never been
questioned [for example] that a prosecutor may charge a defendant with simple assault
when the facts of which the prosecutor is aware would support an assault-with-a-deadly-
weapon charge, or that a prosecutor may choose to charge a defendant with a 'straight'
first degree murder even though the facts of the case could support a murder-with-
special-circumstance charge. Although the Legislature presumably would have the
power to specify that an individual who commits a particular [type of criminal] conduct
must be prosecuted under a particular statute or not at all, there would have to be a clear
indication of such legislative intent before it would be appropriate to construe a
statute . . . to preclude a prosecutor from exercising his traditional discretion to charge a
defendant with a less serious offense which the facts also support." (Mitchell, supra, 49
Cal.3d at pp. 1251-1252.)
Here, the prosecutor elected to pursue a 15-year-to-life sentence, and there is
nothing in section 667.61 that affirmatively states the prosecutor was required to pursue
the case under the harsher 25-year-to-life statutory provision for offenses against victims
under age 14. Although section 667.61, subdivision (j)(2) provides for a 25-year-to-life
17
sentence when the victim is under age 14, this sentencing provision does not state the
prosecutor must in all cases seek this more severe penalty when exercising its
prosecutorial discretion. In this circumstance, the prosecutor's decision not to pursue the
25-year-to-life sentence does not transform the 15-year-to-life term imposed on defendant
into an unauthorized sentence. An unauthorized sentence is one that "could not lawfully
be imposed under any circumstance in the particular case." (People v. Scott (1994) 9
Cal. 4th 331, 354; People v. Mustafaa (1994) 22 Cal. App. 4th 1305, 1311 ["Examples of
unauthorized sentences include . . . the imposition of concurrent terms when the statute
required consecutive terms . . . and the failure to strike or impose an
enhancement . . . ."].) The 15-year-to-life sentence was not legally unauthorized because
it properly applied to defendant's conduct of committing a statutorily-specified sex
offense under the controlled substance special circumstance. The fact the prosecutor
exercised its prosecutorial discretion to pursue the 15-year-to-life sentence rather than the
25-year-to-life sentence does not render the 15-year-to-life sentence unauthorized.
We conclude the three-year term for the controlled substance enhancement should
be stricken. However, we reject the Attorney General's request that the case be remanded
for resentencing based on the 25-year-to-life sentence that could have, but was not,
pursued by the prosecution.
B. Consecutive Versus Concurrent Sentences for Counts 1 and 2
As set forth above, the trial court imposed a 15-year-to-life term on count 3 (lewd
act on R.H. with drug administration special circumstance), and imposed consecutive 15-
year-to-life terms for counts 1 and 2 (forcible oral copulation on R.H. under section 269
18
age disparity provision). Defendant asserts the trial court had the discretion to impose
concurrent (rather than consecutive) sentences on counts 1 and 2 if it found counts 1 and
2 occurred on the same occasion, and the court did not exercise its discretion to make this
decision. In response, the Attorney General acknowledges concurrent sentences are a
sentencing option but contends the court implicitly found the offenses occurred on
separate occasions, thus mandating imposition of consecutive sentences. Defendant also
asserts there was no substantial evidence to support a separate occasion finding.
Counts 1 and 2, consisting of violations of section 269, are governed by the
sentencing provision in section 269, subdivision (c), which requires consecutive
sentences if the crimes involved the same victim on separate occasions as defined in
section 667.6, subdivision (d). Section 667.6, subdivision (d) defines separate occasions
as follows: "In determining whether crimes against a single victim were committed on
separate occasions under this subdivision, the court shall consider whether, between the
commission of one sex crime and another, the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to
reflect upon his or her actions and nevertheless resumed sexually assaultive behavior.
Neither the duration of time between crimes, nor whether or not the defendant lost or
abandoned his or her opportunity to attack, shall be, in and of itself, determinative on the
issue of whether the crimes in question occurred on separate occasions." (Italics added.)
At sentencing, the trial court addressed the issue of whether section 654 precluded
punishment for all three counts involving victim R.H., but did not address whether these
crimes were committed on separate occasions under section 667.6, subdivision (d). The
probation report stated the view that section 654 applied to prohibit multiple punishment
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for the three offenses against R.H. because they arose "out of the same incident." At the
sentencing hearing, the prosecutor disagreed, stating defendant "had the opportunity to
think about what he was doing" between each sexual act. Defense counsel argued section
654 applied and requested concurrent sentences because the acts against R.H. were "all
the same act" and did not involve a situation where "you stop, and you pause, and you
think . . . ."8 The court agreed with the prosecutor, stating that under section 654 and
case law the issue was whether there was an "actual break and then a separate act," as
opposed to "one continuous act" or "just a slight pause." The court concluded section
654 was inapplicable because there were "three separate and distinct acts" with "breaks in
between" the acts; i.e., defendant placed the victim face down and rubbed his penis on the
victim's back, possibly with anal penetration (the § 288, subd. (a) offense), and
committed two acts of oral copulation (the § 269 offenses), one in which the defendant
orally copulated the victim, and another in which the defendant forced the victim to
orally copulate him.
Although the court referenced section 654 rather than section 667.6 when rejecting
defendant's claim the three offenses arose from the same incident, any error in this regard
was harmless because there is no reasonable probability the court would have made a
same-occasion finding had it explicitly considered section 667.6. (See People v. Scott,
supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 355 [no reversal for failure to articulate sentencing choices absent
8 Although defense counsel requested concurrent sentences, section 654, when
applicable, requires that the sentences be stayed. (People v. Deloza (1998) 18 Cal. 4th
585, 592.)
20
reasonable probability of more favorable sentence]; People v. Fuhrman (1997) 16 Cal. 4th
930, 944 [remand to allow court to exercise its discretion is not required where the trial
court's comments indicate it would not impose more lenient sentence]; People v. Coelho
(2001) 89 Cal. App. 4th 861, 889-890.) The record shows the trial court made a clear
determination that the evidence reflected three distinct acts with breaks in between,
which decisively points to an opportunity to reflect/separate occasion finding. This is not
a case where the record affirmatively reflects the court misunderstood the scope of its
sentencing discretion and hence failed to consider relevant factors. (See, e.g., People v.
Deloza, supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 599-600.) Here, the trial court made express factual
findings that firmly align with a separate occasion finding, thus rendering the failure to
refer to section 667.6 harmless.
Defendant's contention the record cannot support a separate occasion finding as a
matter of law is unavailing. A finding of separate occasions is unsupported only if "no
reasonable trier of fact could have decided the defendant had a reasonable opportunity for
reflection after completing an offense before resuming his assaultive behavior." (People
v. Garza (2003) 107 Cal. App. 4th 1081, 1092.) Reflection can occur without any change
in physical location and regardless of the duration of a break between the crimes. (Id. at
pp. 1091-1092; see People v. Solis (2012) 206 Cal. App. 4th 1210, 1220 [separate occasion
means the offenses are "separated by some other activity, either of the defendant or
another, that interrupts the assault and affords the perpetrator an opportunity to reflect on
what he or she is doing"].) The record supports that defendant had time to reflect as he
engaged in conduct involving significantly different physical acts that required
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substantial changes in position of both the victim and defendant. Defendant placed the
victim face down on the floor, pulled down his pants, laid on top of his back, and then
sexually assaulted him from this position. Defendant also placed the victim on his knees,
pulled the victim's hair to move his head, and made the victim orally copulate defendant.
Finally, defendant placed the victim in a position so defendant could orally copulate the
victim. These facts support that as defendant changed his and the victim's positions he
had the opportunity to think about what he was doing and to decide to continue with the
criminal behavior.
C. Calculation of Defendant's Total Sentence
When a sentence involves both indeterminate and determinate terms, the trial court
is required to calculate the indeterminate terms (including any attached determinate-term
enhancements) separately from the determinate terms. (People v. Neely (2009) 176
Cal. App. 4th 787, 798.) Once the court determines the sentences for the indeterminate
term offenses and the determinate term offenses, it combines the two to reach an
aggregate total sentence, and determines whether the aggregate determinate term will run
concurrently or consecutively to the indeterminate term. (Id. at pp. 798-799.) This
sentencing framework is "conceptualized as sentencing in separate boxes" and "[n]othing
in the sentencing for the determinate term crimes is affected by the sentence for the
indeterminate term crime." (Id. at p. 798.) Thus, the statutory formula for calculating the
length of a determinate sentence that is run consecutively to another determinate sentence
(i.e., one-third the middle term) is not applied to a determinate term that is run
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consecutively to an indeterminate term. (Id. at p. 798-799; People v. Reyes (1989) 212
Cal. App. 3d 852, 856.)
As sentenced by the trial court, defendant's indeterminate "box" consists of the 15-
year-to-life terms for counts 1, 2, and 3, plus the three-year enhancement on count 3.
Because we are striking the three-year enhancement attached to count 3, defendant's
indeterminate sentence now totals 45 years to life.
Defendant's determinate "box" consists of the count 7 felony offense of possession
of methamphetamine, and the misdemeanor annoying/molesting a child offenses in
counts 4, 5, and 6. The court selected the two-year middle term for count 7, imposed it
consecutively, and then imposed the misdemeanor terms concurrently. When
implementing its consecutive sentence choice for count 7, the court used the one-third the
midterm formula for consecutive sentences to impose an 8-month sentence, stating that
count 7 (a determinate term offense) was running consecutively to counts 1 through 3
(indeterminate term offenses). The court's use of the one-third the midterm formula for
count 7 improperly mixed the determinate and indeterminate boxes.
However, there is no need to remand for resentencing because the court explicitly
stated it was selecting the midterm of two years for count 7, and the only error was in the
application of the statutory formula in the context of an aggregate determinate sentence
consecutive to an aggregate indeterminate sentence. Thus, it is clear the court selected a
consecutive, two-year middle term for count 7. Further, given defendant's total
indeterminate sentence of 45 years to life, we are satisfied there is no reasonable
probability the court's sentencing choices in the determinate portion of defendant's
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sentence would have been different had the court realized it could not impose the three-
year enhancement in the indeterminate portion of defendant's sentence.
Accordingly, we modify the judgment to strike the three-year enhancement in the
indeterminate portion of the sentence, and to impose a consecutive two-year term for
count 7 in the determinate portion of the sentence. (See People v. Alford (2010) 180
Cal. App. 4th 1463, 1473.)
DISPOSITION
For count 3 (lewd act with the special circumstance of administration of a
controlled substance), we modify the judgment to strike the three-year sentence imposed
for the controlled substance enhancement under section 12022.75. For count 7
(methamphetamine possession), we modify the judgment to impose a two-year middle
term. Defendant's total prison term is 45 years to life for counts 1 through 3, and a
consecutive two-year determinate term for count 7. As so modified, the judgment is
affirmed. The superior court is directed to prepare amended abstracts of judgment for
defendant's indeterminate and determinate sentences reflecting these changes and to
forward copies to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
HALLER, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P.J.
HUFFMAN, J.
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