People v. Lewis CA6 ( 2023 )

Filed 6/22/23 P. v. Lewis CA6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H047349
(Santa Clara County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. C1646378)
v.
MICHAEL JAMESLEE LEWIS,
Defendant and Appellant.
Defendant Michael Jameslee Lewis shot at several moving vehicles over the
course of a few months in 2016 near Blossom Hill Road in San Jose. He was convicted
by jury of 11 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and related offenses. He
argues on appeal that insufficient evidence supports his convictions for two of the
11 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm because the ballistics expert could not
determine whether the lead fragments recovered from two vehicles came from a
semiautomatic firearm. In addition, the parties agree that the trial court erred in
calculating and applying presentence custody credit, and that defendant is entitled to the
benefit of sentencing legislation enacted while this appeal was pending. We conclude
sufficient evidence supports defendant’s convictions, but we will reverse the judgment
and remand the matter for the limited purpose of resentencing to reflect statutory changes
and to correct the presentence credit error.
I. TRIAL COURT PROCEEDINGS
Defendant was charged by amended information with 11 counts of attempted
premeditated murder (Pen. Code, §§ 664, 187; counts 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28,
and 31), including special allegations that he personally discharged a firearm (Pen. Code,
§ 12022.53, subd. (c)); 11 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm (Pen. Code,
§ 245, subd. (b); counts 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, and 32), including special
allegations that he personally used a firearm (Pen. Code, § 12022.5, subd. (a)); 11 counts
of shooting at an occupied vehicle (Pen. Code, § 246; counts 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24,
27, 30, and 33); possession of a firearm as a felon (Pen. Code, § 29800, subd. (a)(1);
count 34); possession of ammunition as a felon (Pen. Code, § 30305, subd. (a)(1);
count 35); reckless driving while evading a peace officer (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a);
count 36); misdemeanor resisting arrest (Pen. Code, § 148; count 37); and misdemeanor
driving with a suspended license (Veh. Code, § 14601.1, subd. (a); count 38).
A. TRIAL EVIDENCE
The jury heard evidence about 11 incidents in which vehicles were shot by a
firearm at night on or near Blossom Hill Road between May and August 2016.
Defendant does not contest the jury’s implicit determination that he was the shooter in all
of the charged events. His appellate argument is limited to challenging the evidence
supporting the jury’s implicit findings that he used a semiautomatic firearm when
committing two of the shootings. We therefore focus our factual summary on the two
challenged shootings, two additional shootings that occurred in close temporal proximity
to the challenged shootings, and relevant ballistics evidence.
1. Shootings on July 21, 2016
Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the assault with a
semiautomatic firearm on Brandon Nguyen (count 17).1 Brandon Nguyen testified he left
1
Because two unrelated victims have the surname, we refer to them by their full
names.
2
a gym around 1:00 a.m. the night of July 21, 2016 and started driving home. He drove on
US-101 South, exited at Hellyer Avenue, and turned left at a stop sign. A car without its
headlights on passed him in the opposite direction. Brandon Nguyen stated he “heard a
bang, and I saw in my rear view mirror, like, debris.” He saw “debris of black cloth” in
the back seat of his car. He stopped his car a short distance later and inspected it for
damage. He saw a small hole in the middle of the rear driver’s side door. His parents
called the police the next morning. Officers responded, searched his car, and found a
suspected bullet fragment lodged in a hole in the backseat.
Another shooting occurred about an hour later. Alexander Bailey left a friend’s
house in the Blossom Hill area after 2:00 a.m. on the same night. Bailey was driving a
van on SR-85 toward SR-87, approaching the Blossom Hill Road bridge. He heard “two
big loud noises” that he assumed were from a tree branch or other falling debris. The
sound came from the passenger side of the van. Bailey drove home, fell asleep, and
examined the van after waking up. The right front tire was flat, and there was a hole in
the passenger side of the van that Bailey described as a bullet hole. A bullet was
recovered from the flat tire.
2. Shootings on August 5, 2016
Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the assault with a
semiautomatic firearm on Kyle Chidester (count 32). Chidester testified that he was
driving on Blossom Hill Road toward US-101 in San Jose on the night of August 5, 2016
after 8:00 p.m. He passed a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and heard a loud
noise. Chidester stopped his car shortly later and looked for damage. He could not see
anything because it was dark. He inspected his car a day or two later in daylight and saw
a hole the size of a “quarter or silver dollar” in his driver’s side door. A suspected bullet
fragment was found inside the car door a few months later when a mechanic opened the
door panel.
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Kevin Nguyen testified that late on the night of August 5, 2016, he left a gym and
drove toward home. When he made a turn at “Blossom Hill and Poughkeepsie,” he
“heard a really loud pop noise.” He pulled over and checked his car, but did not initially
see any damage. Kevin Nguyen inspected his car more closely the next morning and saw
what he described as “two bullet holes,” one in the rear driver’s side door and one in the
rear passenger’s side door. Holes on the inside of the doors matched the exterior holes,
so he believed a “bullet went completely through [the] entire car.” San Jose Police
Department officers searched the intersection later that day. They found a .380-caliber
shell casing in the median and a “possible bullet fragment.”
3. Police Investigation
After reviewing video surveillance and license plate scans taken from law
enforcement devices in the area near the shootings, police identified defendant as a
suspect based on his association with a Dodge Charger identified in the footage.
Defendant was later arrested after a high-speed chase in that car.
The police searched defendant’s bedroom at the residence where he lived with his
mother. An officer located a loaded .380-caliber Grendel P10 semiautomatic pistol in a
backpack. Officers also found an unexpended .380-caliber bullet on the floor, a gun
holster, a traffic citation with defendant’s name on it, the keys to a Kia Spectra, gun
cleaner, an empty magazine, a box containing unexpended .380-caliber ammunition, and
a box containing unexpended .45-caliber ammunition. A DNA sample collected from the
Grendel firearm’s trigger matched defendant’s DNA.
Samples taken from surfaces in the Charger were tested and indicated the presence
of gunshot residue. Gunshot residue was also discovered in samples from the Kia
Spectra associated with defendant. Also found in a search of the Spectra were a spent
cartridge stamped “.380 auto,” and a gun holster.
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4. Ballistics Expert
A Santa Clara County Crime Laboratory criminalist testified as an expert in
“ballistics, firearms, and firearm tool mark analysis.” He explained that firearms leave
marks on bullets and bullet cartridges when they are fired. If a ballistics expert possesses
an operative gun that is suspected to be related to a crime, the expert can fire test rounds
into a water tank. Those test bullets and cartridges can then be compared with evidence
collected in connection with a crime. Firearms imprint “class characteristics” from the
manufacturing process that are the starting point for comparison, which include the
number of rifling grooves and whether the rifling twists to the right or left. Each firearm
also imprints “individual characteristics” unique to that firearm. If markings on a bullet
or cartridge collected as evidence match the class characteristics of a suspect firearm, the
expert can then compare that evidence to the test rounds to determine if the bullet or
cartridge was fired from the suspect firearm.
Bullets or cartridges from five of the 11 shootings matched the .380-caliber
Grendel semiautomatic firearm found in defendant’s bedroom. Two shootings involved
.380-caliber bullets or cartridges that matched the class characteristics of the Grendel
firearm but could not be conclusively connected to that particular gun. Four shootings
involved .45-caliber semiautomatic bullets or cartridges, and cartridges from two of those
shootings matched one another. The samples relating to the two counts defendant
challenges on appeal were too damaged to classify as anything other than lead masses.
No bullets or cartridges of any caliber other than .380 and .45 were recovered from any of
the shootings.
B. VERDICTS AND SENTENCING
The jury deadlocked on the attempted murder counts, and the trial court declared a
mistrial as to those counts. The jury found defendant guilty as charged on the other
counts and found true the special allegations associated with those counts. Defendant
was sentenced to 32 years in prison, consisting of a principal middle term of six years for
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assault with a semiautomatic firearm (§ 245, subd. (b)), plus a four-year enhancement for
personally using a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)); two years consecutive for each of the
10 additional convictions for assault with a semiautomatic firearm (§ 245, subd. (b);
1170.1, subd. (a)), plus a 16-month enhancement for one of the personal firearm use
allegations (§ 12022.5, subd. (a), 1170.1, subd. (a)); and eight months consecutive for
reckless driving (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a)). Punishment for the 11 convictions for
shooting at an occupied vehicle was imposed and stayed (§ 654), and defendant was
sentenced to concurrent terms on the remaining counts. The court struck the enhanced
punishment for nine firearm use allegations. (§ 1385.) The attempted murder counts
were dismissed on the prosecution’s motion.
II. DISCUSSION
A. SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS COUNTS 17 AND 32
Defendant presents a narrow challenge to the evidence supporting two of his
assault with a semiautomatic firearm convictions. He acknowledges that substantial
evidence supports the following inferences: that all shootings were committed by the
same shooter, that defendant was the shooter, and that defendant disposed of a .45-caliber
semiautomatic firearm before he was arrested. Indeed, even as to the two challenged
counts, defendant acknowledges substantial evidence supports the lesser included offense
of assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2)). The only evidence defendant argues is
lacking in those two convictions is proof that he used a semiautomatic firearm, because
the metal recovered from the Chidester and Brandon Nguyen shootings could be
classified by the ballistics expert only as lead masses.
“In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the entire record in the
light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses evidence that is
reasonable, credible, and of solid value such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297,
331.) Substantial evidence can include circumstantial evidence and any inferences
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reasonably drawn from that evidence. (People v. Brooks (2017) 3 Cal.5th 1, 57.) We do
not reweigh evidence or second-guess credibility determinations. (People v. Ramirez
(2022) 13 Cal.5th 997, 1118.) We presume the existence of every fact that the trier of
fact could reasonably deduce from the evidence to support the judgment. (Ibid.) To
overturn a conviction based on insufficient evidence, “it must clearly appear that upon no
hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support it.” (People v.
Redmond (1969) 71 Cal.2d 745, 755.)
Reviewing the record in the light most favorable to the judgment, the prosecution
demonstrated that defendant participated in 11 shootings in the Blossom Hill Road area
of San Jose between May and August 2016. All bullets and cartridges from those
shootings that could be classified by the ballistics expert came from a semiautomatic
firearm—either a .380-caliber semiautomatic or a .45-caliber semiautomatic. Evidence
from five shootings matched the individual Grendel .380-caliber semiautomatic firearm
found in defendant’s bedroom after his arrest. Evidence from two other shootings
matched the Grendel’s class characteristics, although not conclusively matched to that
particular gun. Four shootings involved .45-caliber semiautomatic bullets or cartridges,
and cartridges from two of those shootings matched one another. And officers found
.380-caliber and .45-caliber ammunition in defendant’s bedroom after his arrest. From
the foregoing, the jury could reasonably infer that when defendant committed the two
challenged shootings, he used one of the semiautomatic firearms he used in the other nine
shootings.
That conclusion is bolstered by the evidence from two shootings that occurred on
the same dates as those defendant challenges. The Brandon Nguyen shooting occurred
around 1:00 a.m. on the night of July 21, while the Bailey shooting occurred roughly one
hour later on the same night. The ballistics expert testified that the bullet associated with
the Bailey shooting was fired from a .45-caliber semiautomatic firearm. That defendant
was shown to have used a semiautomatic firearm within an hour of the challenged
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Brandon Nguyen shooting supports a reasonable inference he used a semiautomatic
firearm in both.
Similarly, the challenged Chidester shooting occurred sometime on the night of
August 5, while the Kevin Nguyen shooting happened late the same night. The ballistics
expert testified that the cartridge associated with the Kevin Nguyen shooting (discovered
in the road median by a peace officer) matched the Grendel .380-caliber semiautomatic
firearm found in defendant’s bedroom after his arrest. Although the precise timing is not
as clear as for the July 21 shootings we have discussed, the foregoing evidence
nonetheless supports a reasonable inference that defendant used a semiautomatic firearm
during both the Kevin Nguyen and the Chidester shootings.
Defendant argues it is too speculative to infer that he used a semiautomatic firearm
in the two challenged shootings. To the contrary, we see that as the most reasonable
inference based on the evidence in the record. There is no evidence suggesting use of a
third, unidentified firearm in the shootings, much less a firearm that was not
semiautomatic. On the evidence presented, it would be pure speculation for jurors to
reach such a conclusion. Substantial evidence supports defendant’s convictions.
B. SENTENCING ISSUES
1. Presentence Custody Credit
The parties agree that the trial court miscalculated defendant’s presentence
custody credit. The trial court accepted the probation officer’s calculation of actual
presentence custody as 1,060 days. We agree with the parties that the correct calculation
is 1,061 actual days of presentence custody.
Defendant’s conduct credit was correctly limited to 15 percent because the firearm
allegations found true by the jury made the conviction offenses violent by statute.
(§§ 2933.1, subds. (a), (c); 667.5, subd. (c)(8).) With 1,061 actual days, defendant is
entitled to 159 days of conduct credit, for a total of 1,220 days’ presentence custody
credit.
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The trial court also incorrectly applied the presentence custody credit only to
certain counts, apparently out of concern that crediting them to the entire sentence would
violate section 2900.5, subdivision (b), which provides: “Credit shall be given only once
for a single period of custody attributable to multiple offenses for which a consecutive
sentence is imposed.” We agree with the parties that applying the presentence custody
credit to the entire sentence does not violate that statute. Defendant is not seeking
duplicate credit for a single period of custody, but simply to receive presentence custody
credit on all counts, rather than effectively losing some of the credit as dead time on some
of the counts. (In re Marquez (2003) 30 Cal.4th 14, 20 [dead time is “time spent in
custody for which [a defendant] receives no benefit”].) We will instruct the trial court on
remand to apply defendant’s 1,220 days’ presentence custody credit to his entire
sentence.
2. Amendments to Section 654 (Assem. Bill No. 518)
When defendant was sentenced, section 654 precluded multiple punishments for
an act or omission punishable in different ways, and also mandated that the single
punishment imposed reflect the sentence “that provides for the longest potential term of
imprisonment.” (Former § 654, subd. (a); Stats. 1997, ch. 410, § 1.) Consistent with that
section, the trial court imposed sentence on counts with the higher term (the 11 counts of
assault with a semiautomatic firearm) and stayed punishment for the 11 counts of
shooting at an occupied vehicle. Section 654 now gives the trial court discretion to select
the shorter term of imprisonment. (§ 654, subd. (a).) Under the reasoning of In re
Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada), the parties agree that defendant is entitled to
resentencing. (Accord People v. Mani (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 343, 379.) We also agree
and will remand the matter to allow the trial court to exercise its discretion to decide
which punishment to stay under amended section 654.
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3. Amendments to Section 1170 (Sen. Bill No. 567)
The trial court used the middle term of six years for assault with a semiautomatic
firearm (§ 245, subd. (b)) as the principal term. At the time defendant was sentenced,
trial courts had broad discretion under section 1170, subdivision (b) to select the
“appropriate term” for offenses having a prescribed sentencing triad. (Former § 1170,
subd. (b); Stats. 2018, ch. 1001, § 1.) Amendments to that section now generally require
trial courts to select the middle term (§ 1170, subd. (b)(1)), while section 1170,
subdivision (b)(6) lists factors that require imposition of the lower term “unless the court
finds that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances [such]
that imposition of the lower term would be contrary to the interests of justice.” The
specified mitigating factors include evidence that the defendant “experienced
psychological, physical, or childhood trauma, including, but not limited to, abuse,
neglect, exploitation, or sexual violence.” (§ 1170, subd. (b)(6), (b)(6)(A).)
Defendant disclosed to the probation officer that his biological father suffered
from drug addiction, and that one of defendant’s stepfathers physically abused defendant
and his mother. The parties agree the matter must be remanded due to the amendments to
section 1170. We will instruct the trial court on remand to consider all relevant
information when applying amended section 1170.
4. Amendments to Section 1385, Subdivision (c)
Defendant’s sentence includes punishment for two firearm enhancements (the trial
court having struck punishment for the remaining firearm enhancements). While this
appeal was pending, the Legislature amended section 1385 to “enumerat[e] certain
mitigating circumstances which the trial court—‘[i]n its exercise of discretion’—is to
‘weigh[ ] greatly’ in favor of dismissal of an enhancement, unless ‘dismissal of the
enhancement would endanger public safety.’ ” (People v. Ortiz (2023)
87 Cal.App.5th 1087, 1090; quoting § 1385, subd. (c)(2).) The parties agree that because
the case must be remanded for resentencing, the amendments apply to defendant’s case.
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(§ 1385, subd. (c)(7) [“This subdivision shall apply to all sentencings occurring after
January 1, 2022.”].) We also agree and will remand the matter for the trial court to
consider the amendments to section 1385 when resentencing defendant.
III. DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed. The matter is remanded for the limited purpose of
resentencing, wherein the trial court must exercise its discretion under amendments to
Penal Code sections 654, 1170, and 1385. As of the original sentencing date of August 2,
2019, defendant is entitled to 1,220 days’ presentence custody credit (1,061 actual days
and 159 days of conduct credit (Pen. Code, § 2933.1)); all presentence custody credit
calculated as of the resentencing date is to be applied to the entire sentence the trial court
imposes on remand. After resentencing, the clerk of the superior court is directed to
prepare and transmit to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation a
new abstract of judgment.
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____________________________________
Grover, J.
WE CONCUR:
____________________________
Greenwood, P. J.
____________________________
Lie, J.
H047349
The People v Lewis