People v. Leija CA5 ( 2024 )

Filed 4/4/24 P. v. Leija CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE,
F085023
Plaintiff and Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. F16906263)
v.
MARCUS SIMON LEIJA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
THE COURT*
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Timothy A.
Kams, Judge.
William J. Capriola, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General,
Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Christopher J. Rench and Kelly E. LeBel,
Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
* Before Poochigian, Acting P. J., Franson, J. and Snauffer, J.
Defendant Marcus Simon Leija contends on appeal that defense counsel rendered
ineffective assistance by failing to argue at sentencing that the lower term was the
presumptive term on count 3, pursuant to Penal Code1 section 1170, subdivision (b)(6).
The People disagree. We affirm.
PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
On July 8, 2021, the Fresno County District Attorney filed a first amended
information charging defendant with sodomy of a child age 10 or younger (§ 288.7,
subd. (a); count 1); sexual penetration of a child age 10 or younger (§ 288.7, subd. (b);
count 2); and lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14 years (§ 288, subd. (a); count 3).
On July 13, 2021, the trial court granted the prosecution’s motion to dismiss
count 2 due to insufficient evidence.
On July 16, 2021, the jury found defendant guilty on counts 1 and 3.
On September 9, 2022, the trial court sentenced defendant to state prison for a
determinate term of six years, followed by an indeterminate term of 25 years to life.
On September 29, 2022, defendant filed a notice of appeal.
FACTUAL SUMMARY
A.G. was born in October 2007. In May 2015, when she was seven years old, her
father left her and her brother, Adrian, in the care of a family friend, Vanessa, for the
night. Vanessa, in turn, left A.G., Adrian and her two children to spend the night at her
mother’s house. Defendant, Vanessa’s brother, also lived at the house and was helping
babysit the children. Defendant was 20 or 21 years old at the time.
That night, Vanessa’s children slept on the living room couch, while A.G. and
Adrian slept next to it on an air mattress on the floor. At some point during the night,
A.G. discovered defendant next to her on the air mattress. He pulled A.G. on top of him.
Their bellies touched, making their bodies look like a “sandwich,” and he started kissing
1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.
2.
her on the lips and putting his tongue in her mouth. She hit him, trying to get him off her.
He then turned her sideways so that he was facing her back. He pulled down her pants
and underwear, put his penis inside her “butt,” and said, “I love you.” A.G. stated
defendant’s penis felt long, “almost hard,” and “slippery” and it “hurted bad” when he
pushed it inside of her anus, feeling “[l]ike, when you get hit.” She felt him “shaking”
like a “tornado” or an “earthquake.” After he pulled out of her, she pulled up her pants
and underwear. In the morning when she woke up, the back of her butt felt “slippery”
and her underwear felt “slimy.” When her mother picked her up that morning, she did
not tell her about the incident.
Almost a year later, on April 14, 2016, A.G. confided in her mother about what
defendant had done to her that night in May 2015. Her mother contacted the police.
A.G. identified defendant from a photographic lineup and in court.
On August 25, 2016, A.G. gave a recorded interview with a children’s forensic
interviewer, wherein she described the May 2015 incident with defendant. The interview
was played at trial.
Defendant was arrested on October 12, 2016, and advised of his Miranda2 rights.
He was 22 years old at the time of his arrest. Defendant waived his Miranda rights and
gave a recorded statement to Fresno Police Department Detective Michael Martin, which
was played at trial. Defendant initially denied touching A.G., then stated he “kind of,
touched her a little bit” and admitted rubbing her vagina. When Martin told defendant
more of what A.G. said about the incident, he denied it, then admitted he “might have”
penetrated her anus “a little bit.” Defendant stated that what he did was wrong. Martin
then told defendant that A.G. said it felt “slippery” and she felt something “sticky” during
the incident. Defendant stated it was from preejaculate. He stated he was sorry.
2 Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436.
3.
During the interview, defendant wrote an apology letter to A.G. and read it to
Martin, stating,
“I’m really sorry. I’m sorry I did that. I know you’re not going to
take my sorry. I just wanted you to know that I am sorry. I never should
have put my hands on you and put my thing in you. I’ve changed now. I’m
not the same person anymore. I have a little girl now too, and she means
more to me. And, I will never put my hands like that on her like I did to
you, and I’m really, I’m truly sorry I did that. I know I shouldn’t have did
that, and I’m really very sorry. I hope you could forgive me. I never
should have did that to you. That was my mistake. It’s because I was, it
happened to me when I was your age, and I never told anybody. I was your
age. I know I deserve this. I deserve this. I deserve to be locked up. I’m
sorry.”
The detective then questioned defendant:
“[Martin]: What made you do it? …
“[Defendant]: I was playing. I was playing with the little one, and I
was bored.
“[Martin]: Were you attracted to her or thought she was cute?
“[Defendant]: Yeah. I thought she was too cute. [¶] … [¶]
“[Martin]: Do you still look at younger girls that way, as being cute?
Do you think you have a problem with that?
“[Defendant]: Yeah.”
The defense did not present any evidence.
DISCUSSION
Defendant contends defense counsel provided ineffective assistance because she
did not argue at sentencing that defendant’s youth and prior childhood trauma created a
statutory presumption pursuant to section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) that the trial court
should select the lower term on count 3. The People disagree. We agree with the People.
4.
A. Background
The jury found defendant guilty on counts 1 and 3. The offenses were alleged to
have occurred between October 16, 2014, and October 15, 2015, when defendant was
20 or 21 years old.
On October 14, 2021, the prosecution filed a “Statement in Aggravation,” arguing
the following factors in aggravation applied to defendant: that the crime involved great
violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high
degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 4.421(a)(1));3
that the victim was particularly vulnerable (rule 4.421(a)(3)); that defendant took
advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offense (rule 4.421(a)(11));
that defendant engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society
(rule 4.421(b)(1)); and that defendant stated he did so because he was “ ‘bored’ ” and
because he admitted he has a problem with looking “ ‘at younger girls that way, as being
cute,’ ” pursuant to rule 4.421(c).4 The factors listed in mitigation were that defendant
“ ‘has no prior record, or has an insignificant record of criminal conduct, considering the
recency and frequency of prior crimes’ ” (rule 4.423(b)(1)); and that defendant
voluntarily acknowledged wrongdoing before arrest or at an early stage of the criminal
process (rule 4.423(b)(3)).
On September 6, 2022, defense counsel filed a “Statement in Mitigation” pursuant
to People v. Franklin (2016) 63 Cal.4th 261, for use in a future youth offender parole
hearing. The Franklin statement focused on defendant’s experience as a victim of sexual
abuse as a child and included reports by a licensed psychologist. It stated defendant’s
youthfulness and life experiences meant his personality was not “ ‘fixed,’ ” “cognitively
3 All rules references are to the California Rules of Court.
4 Rule 4.421(c) includes “[a]ny other factors statutorily declared to be
circumstances in aggravation or which reasonably relate to the defendant or the
circumstances under which the crime was committed.” (Rule 4.421(c).)
5.
he was not fully developed,” he suffered from intellectual disability, and that his
“prefrontal cortex was unable to modulate or redirect” his urges and impulses at the time
of the offenses due to his youth.
On September 9, 2022, the probation report was filed, recommending the
upper term on count 3. It listed three circumstances in aggravation pursuant to
rule 4.421: (1) that defendant took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to
commit the offense; (2) that defendant engaged in violent conduct which indicates a
serious danger to society; and (3) that defendant’s prior convictions as an adult or
sustained petitions in juvenile delinquency proceedings are numerous or of increasing
seriousness. The probation report found no factors in mitigation.
On September 9, 2022, the court held a combined sentencing and Franklin
hearing. The prosecutor noted she could not argue for the upper term on count 3,
referring to the recent amendments of Senate Bill No. 567 (2021–2022 Reg. Sess.)
(Senate Bill 567) to section 1170.5 She stated,
“[T]he laws have changed in 2022 and, therefore, I cannot ask for
the aggravated 8 years [on count 3] because [defendant] did not plead to
and/or I didn’t do a court or jury trial on aggravated circumstances.
Therefore, I will be requesting that 6 years [the middle term] on [count 3]
be ran consecutive as a determinant term to the 25 to life term in [c]ount 1.”
Defense counsel argued the trial court should impose the lower term on count 3,
“given [defendant’s] very minimal criminal history.” She argued defendant was very
5 On October 8, 2021, Senate Bill 567 was signed into law. It amends the
determinate sentencing law, section 1170, subdivision (b), which delineates the trial
court’s authority to impose one of three statutory terms of imprisonment, known as the
lower, middle, or upper terms, by making the middle term the presumptive sentence for a
term of imprisonment, unless certain circumstances exist. (See Stats. 2021, ch. 731,
§ 1.3, adding § 1170, subd. (b)(1), (2).) Effective January 1, 2022, under the newly
amended law, the trial court may impose an upper term sentence only where there are
circumstances in aggravation, and the facts underlying all of the aggravating
circumstances have been stipulated to by the defendant or found true beyond a reasonable
doubt by a jury or a trial court if the defendant has consented to a court trial. (Ibid.)
6.
young at the time he committed the offense and was “far below the threshold of his
prefrontal cortex being developed.” Defense counsel also pointed out that defendant
himself had been sexually abused as a child and argued,
“[I]t is no coincidence to me that [defendant]’s own trauma brought
him or influenced the decision that he made that day. And again, what
occurred in this case was serious. And again, it’s not being offered again as
an excuse, but as an underlying reason many children are often sexually
abused themselves can sometimes become or participate in that abuse. And
I believe that that was a correlation in this case.… As I say it, I have no
ability to argue for less than 25 to life on [c]ount 1. I am going to ask the
[c]ourt given his very minimal criminal history … I will ask the [c]ourt to
impose the mitigated term of … 3 years on [c]ount 2, instead of the
middle term or the aggravated term. I believe the count of 25 to life [as]
mandated [by c]ount 1 is more than sufficient for the one act that was
committed in this case by [defendant] and mandated unfortunately under
the law.”
She continued,
“[T]he Franklin hearing was to put a packet together of his current
mental, emotional, psychological, mitigating factors essentially so that [the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)] could have him
closest in time as possible for the offense itself. So with that, again, I’m
just going to renew my request for the mitigated term. And I will submit on
those comments, Judge.”
Defense counsel did not mention section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) or its lower term
presumption.
The trial court stated it found two aggravating factors: that the victim was
particularly vulnerable and that defendant committed a “heinous” violation of a position
of trust. The court did not mention mitigating factors. It sentenced defendant to an
indeterminate term of 25 years to life on count 1, and six years (the midterm),
consecutive, on count 3. It stated,
“In regards to the sentencing aspects, I’m pleased that the People
acknowledge that there has been a change in the law. It’s amazing we have
to follow—update the law almost every day it seems like ‘cause it’s
changing constantly. And the People are correct, this case was tried before
7.
the change in the law, which requires at least for an aggravated term to be
imposed, that the People specifically plead and prove aggravating factors.
That was not done because at the time of this trial it was not required to be
done. But the law applies to this case, so an aggravated term under the
facts that we have is out of the question. The People acknowledge that.
“I do want to say a couple of things in regards to the probation
report. I do agree, and I think the People also have stated this, that the
victim in this case was particularly vulnerable. I certainly agree with that.
A very young girl. And I agree that the [d]efendant violated a position of
trust. He was this child’s babysitter. And you look at that term, baby-sitter,
someone who is entrusted to ensure the safety and well-being of a young
child. And frankly, one could not violate this trust in a more heinous
manner than what occurred in this case. So I do agree that that is a
significant aggravating factor. [¶] … [¶]
“As to [c]ount 3, once again, probation is denied. The [d]efendant is
committed to the [CDCR] for the middle term of 6 years to be served
consecutively. The aggregate term of incarceration is 6 years determinant
followed by one consecutive indeterminate term of 25 years to life.”
B. Law
Effective January 1, 2022, Assembly Bill No. 124 (2021–2022 Reg. Sess.)
(Assembly Bill 124) (Stats. 2021, ch. 695, § 5) amended section 1170 by adding
paragraph 6 to subdivision (b), which provides, in pertinent part: “[U]nless the court
finds that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances that
imposition of the lower term would be contrary to the interests of justice, the court shall
order imposition of the lower term if any of the following was a contributing factor in the
commission of the offense: [¶] (A) The person has experienced psychological, physical,
or childhood trauma, including, but not limited to, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or sexual
violence[; or] [¶] (B) The person is a youth or was a youth as defined under
subdivision (b) of Section 1016.7 at the time of the commission of the offense.” (§ 1170,
subd. (b)(6)(A), (B).) Section 1016.7 defines “youth” as “any person under 26 years of
age on the date the offense was committed.” (§ 1016.7.) Section 1170,
8.
subdivision (b)(5) requires the court to “set forth on the record the facts and reasons for
choosing the sentence imposed.” (§ 1170, subd. (b)(5).)
A criminal defendant is constitutionally entitled to effective assistance of counsel
at all stages of his criminal proceedings, including sentencing. (U.S. Const., 6th Amend.;
Cal. Const., art. I, § 15; People v. Cotton (1991) 230 Cal.App.3d 1072, 1085–1087;
People v. Cropper (1979) 89 Cal.App.3d 716, 719–720.) “[A] defense attorney who fails
to adequately understand the available sentencing alternatives, promote their proper
application, or pursue the most advantageous disposition for his client may be found
incompetent.” (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 351.)
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show
(1) counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under
prevailing professional norms, and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the
defendant. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687–692 (Strickland); People
v. Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal.3d 171, 216–218.)
“Unless a defendant establishes the contrary, we shall presume that ‘counsel’s
performance fell within the wide range of professional competence and that counsel’s
actions and inactions can be explained as a matter of sound trial strategy.’ [Citation.] If
the record ‘sheds no light on why counsel acted or failed to act in the manner challenged,’
an appellate claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must be rejected ‘unless counsel
was asked for an explanation and failed to provide one, or unless there simply could be
no satisfactory explanation.’ ” (People v. Henderson (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 533, 549.)
“ ‘ “If a defendant meets the burden of establishing that counsel’s performance
was deficient, he or she also must show that counsel’s deficiencies resulted in prejudice,
that is, a ‘reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of
the proceeding would have been different.’ ” ’ ” (People v. Henderson, supra, at p. 549.)
“ ‘A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome.’ ” (People v. Woodruff (2018) 5 Cal.5th 697, 762; see People v. Tilley (2023) 92
9.
Cal.App.5th 772, 778.) “A defendant must prove prejudice that is a ‘ “demonstrable
reality,” not simply speculation.’ ” (People v. Fairbank (1997) 16 Cal.4th 1223, 1241,
quoting People v. Williams (1988) 44 Cal.3d 883, 937.) “ ‘[A] court need not determine
whether counsel’s performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by
the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies.… If it is easier to dispose of an
ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice … that course should
be followed.’ ” (In re Champion (2014) 58 Cal.4th 965, 1007, quoting Strickland, supra,466 U.S. at p. 697.)
C. Analysis
Here, despite deficient performance by defense counsel, defendant’s claim of
ineffective assistance fails because he has not shown prejudice.
Defendant contends defense counsel rendered prejudicially ineffective assistance
by failing to argue at sentencing that defendant’s youth and prior victimization created a
statutory presumption that the trial court should select the lower term of imprisonment on
count 3.
He first argues that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance because there
could be no legitimate tactical reason for her to omit reference to section 1170,
subdivision (b)(6)’s lower term presumption.
We agree with defendant that there could be no conceivable tactical reason for
defense counsel to refrain from mentioning section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)’s lower term
presumption based on defendant’s youth and childhood trauma, and accordingly, she
provided ineffective assistance.
Assembly Bill 124 limited the trial court’s discretion by creating a presumption for
the lower term where any of the enumerated circumstances, including defendant’s youth
and childhood trauma (here, sexual abuse suffered by defendant as a child), “was a
contributing factor in the commission of the offense,” unless “aggravating circumstances
outweigh the mitigating circumstances that imposition of the lower term would be
10.
contrary to the interests of justice.” (§§ 1170, subd. (b)(6)(A) & (B), 1016.7.) The
statute does not mandate a presumption in favor of the lower term in every case in which
the defendant was under age 26 at the time the crime was committed. Instead, the
presumption applies only if the defendant’s youth was “a contributing factor” in his or her
commission of the offense. (§ 1170 (b)(6)(B); see also People v. Flores (2022) 73
Cal.App.5th 1032, 1039.) In order to trigger the presumption, there must be some initial
showing that the defendant’s youth was a contributing factor, and only then must the
record affirmatively show compliance with the statute. (People v. Fredrickson (2023) 90
Cal.App.5th 984, 991–992.) “[A]n initial showing [pursuant to section 1170,
subdivision (b)(6)] has been made when the record and/or arguments are sufficient to put
a trial court on notice that a defendant’s youth may have been a contributing factor in
commission of the underlying offense.” (Id. at p. 994.)
Here, the record and defense counsel’s arguments at sentencing were a sufficient
initial showing to trigger the presumption under section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) that
defendant’s youth and childhood trauma contributed to his commission of the offense.
(See People v. Fredrickson, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at p. 994.) Defendant stated in his
letter to A.G. that he had also been the victim of childhood sexual abuse. Defense
counsel also argued in the “Statement of Mitigation”/Franklin statement that defendant’s
youth and childhood trauma influenced his decision to commit the offense. Further, she
argued extensively at sentencing that the trial court should impose the lower term
specifically because defendant’s youth and childhood trauma were contributing factors in
his commission of the offense. Accordingly, the court was on notice that defendant’s
youth and childhood trauma may have been contributing factors in the commission of the
underlying offense, triggering the statutory presumption of section 1170, subdivision
(b)(6) that the court should select the lower term of imprisonment rather than the middle
or upper term.
11.
However, defense counsel failed to mention section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) or its
presumption of the lower term at sentencing. A defendant is entitled to a sentencing
decision made with the “ ‘informed discretion’ ” of the sentencing court. (People v.
Gutierrez (2014) 58 Cal.4th 1354, 1391.) Her failure to raise the issue resulted in the trial
court potentially being unaware of its limited discretion pursuant to section 1170,
subdivision (b)(6). (But see People v. Barber (2020) 55 Cal. App. 5th 787, 813 [“[T]o
the extent the record is ambiguous, the [sentencing] court is presumed to have properly
performed its official functions in the absence of evidence to the contrary. Under that
presumption, the court is presumed to have been aware of and followed the applicable
law. (Evid. Code, § 664.)”].) As counsel’s failure “to raise ‘a significant and obvious
issue,’ … will generally be considered deficient performance,” we conclude defense
counsel performed deficiently by failing to raise the issue of section 1170,
subdivision (b)(6) and its lower term presumption based on defendant’s youth and
childhood trauma. (In re Hampton (2020) 48 Cal.App.5th 463, 477.)
Defendant next argues that defense counsel’s omission was prejudicial. He
contends there is a reasonable chance the result would have been different because, had
defense counsel brought up section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)’s lower term presumption, it
would have been “difficult” for the trial court to find the aggravating circumstances
outweighed the mitigating circumstances, including his youth and childhood trauma, as
well as lack of a criminal record, cognitive limitations, and admission of wrongdoing.
However, the People argue that any error by defense counsel cannot be deemed
prejudicial because the court was familiar with the record, defendant’s age, and that he
attributed his commission of the offense to his childhood trauma and age, based on
defense counsel’s written motion and argument at sentencing, but nonetheless determined
that the middle term on count 3 was appropriate.
12.
Counsel’s deficient performance causes prejudice when there exists “a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different.” (Strickland, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 694.)
Here, as discussed above, the record shows that while defense counsel was
deficient in failing to discuss section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)’s lower term presumption,
the trial court was aware that defendant’s youth and childhood trauma may have
contributed to his commission of the offense, and defense counsel argued he should
receive the lower term based on these factors. The court still imposed the middle term on
count 3, stating:
“I do agree, and I think the People also have stated this, that the
victim in this case was particularly vulnerable. I certainly agree with that.
A very young girl. And I agree that the [d]efendant violated a position of
trust. He was this child’s babysitter. And you look at that term, baby-sitter,
someone who is entrusted to ensure the safety and well-being of a young
child. And frankly, one could not violate this trust in a more heinous
manner than what occurred in this case. So I do agree that that is a
significant aggravating factor.”
Based on the trial court’s statement and the record, we conclude the result would
not have been different, but for defense counsel’s error. The court omitted discussion of
mitigating factors, instead focusing on the significance of the two aggravating factors it
found true, describing them as “heinous” and “significant.”6 However, given the court’s
6 Generally, to the extent the record is ambiguous, the sentencing court is presumed
to have properly performed its official functions in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, and under that presumption, the sentencing court is presumed to have been
aware of and followed the applicable law. (People v. Barber, supra, 55 Cal.App. 5th 787,
813; Evid. Code, § 664.) Here, however, the court was required by section 1170,
subdivision (b)(5) to state its reasons for the sentence on the record. (§ 1170,
subd. (b)(5).) As the court did not discuss mitigating factors or explicitly state the
aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors, such that the imposition of the
lower term pursuant to section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) would be contrary to justice, as
required by section 1170, subdivision (b)(5), we cannot presume the court was aware of
section 1170, subdivision (b)(6).
13.
awareness of defendant’s youth and childhood trauma as factors that may have
contributed to defendant’s commission of the offense and defense counsel’s argument that
the lower term should be imposed based on those factors, as well as the court’s awareness
of other mitigating factors under rule 4.423 in the record, including defendant’s lack of an
extensive prior criminal record, cognitive impairment, and early admission of
wrongdoing, the court’s failure to discuss the mitigating factors or whether they were
outweighed by the aggravating factors does not mean the court was unaware of or
disregarded those mitigating factors. Rather, we conclude the court’s focus on the
significance of the aggravating factors, noting they were “heinous” and “significant,”
indicates the court found the aggravating factors significant enough to outweigh the
mitigating factors, and that it would have imposed the middle term on count 3 even if
defense counsel had argued the lower term presumption applied, pursuant to
section 1170, subdivision (b)(6). Accordingly, we conclude defense counsel’s deficient
performance did not result in prejudice to defendant, as there is not “a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,” the court would have imposed
the lower term on count 3. (See Strickland, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 694.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
14.