People v. Fitzhugh CA3 ( 2024 )

Filed 10/24/23 P. v. Fitzhugh CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(San Joaquin)
----
THE PEOPLE, C099624
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. STK-CR-FE-
2011-0005309, SF117037A)
v.
ALPHONZE FITZHUGH,
Defendant and Appellant.
Defendant Alphonze Fitzhugh appeals from a postjudgment order denying his
petition for resentencing under Penal Code section 1172.6.1 He and codefendant Robert
Antonio Barnes were found guilty of first degree murder, attempted murder, and
attempted robbery. The jury found true the special circumstance that Fitzhugh committed
the murder during the commission of or attempted commission of a robbery. (§ 190.2,
1 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
1
subd. (a)(17)(A).) He was sentenced to nine years plus life without the possibility of
parole, and we affirmed his convictions on direct appeal. Fitzhugh later petitioned the
trial court for resentencing based on changes to the felony-murder rule under Senate Bill
No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 1437) (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 4). After an
evidentiary hearing, the superior court denied the petition, finding the People proved
beyond a reasonable doubt that Fitzhugh was a major participant who acted with reckless
indifference to human life.
Fitzhugh timely appeals, arguing the trial court made several errors that led to the
factually unsupported conclusion that he is not entitled to resentencing relief. We
disagree and affirm.
LEGAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
I
Facts Relevant to the Conviction
We take the underlying facts from the unpublished opinion we issued in 2018
affirming Fitzhugh’s convictions in People v. Barnes (Nov. 30, 2018, C073287)
(Barnes).2
“A. The Shooting
“On November 18, 2009, Britani lived with her boyfriend, Evan, in her parents’
garage in Acampo. The garage had been converted into a one-bedroom apartment. That
night at around 8:00 or 8:30 p.m., Britani and Evan went to Lodi to purchase fast food. It
was a seven- to ten-minute drive. Britani drove. When they returned home, she parked
in the driveway. It was very dark. Britani and Evan walked to their front door side by
2 We provide this summary of facts from the prior opinion in Fitzhugh’s direct
appeal for context. In analyzing the issues, we rely upon the trial transcript, admitted at
the People’s request and relied upon by the parties during the evidentiary hearing.
(§ 1172.6, subd. (d)(3).) We also separately granted Fitzhugh’s request to incorporate the
appellate record in Barnes, supra, C073287 into the record for the present appeal.
2
side. When Evan went to put the keys in the door, a man turned the corner raising a gun
at Evan. Britani screamed and Evan ran. As Evan ran, he heard five or six gunshots. A
bullet went straight through his left leg. The shooter was dressed in dark clothing with
gloves and a beanie or a ski mask such that Evan never saw his face.
“Britani’s mother thought she heard five gunshots. V.S. and James also lived in
Britani’s parents’ house with their two children. V.S. heard between five and seven
gunshots. Britani’s mother and V.S. both called 911.
“Meanwhile, James went outside, where he found Britani. She did not have a
pulse and she was not breathing. Evan came and put her on the steps. As he did so, she
let out a gasp of air. Evan gave her CPR. Britani was taken by ambulance to a hospital,
where she was pronounced dead.
“A neighbor heard at least four or five gunshots and went outside and saw a man
run by and get into an SUV that was parked near the neighbor’s truck. The driver turned
off the vehicle’s lights and drove away slowly.
“Britani died of a gunshot wound to her torso.
“Two spent .380 ACP cartridges and three bullets were found at the crime scene.
Two of the bullets were .380s. The third bullet was a .38 Special or .357. An expert on
firearms examination opined that both cartridge cases were fired from the same firearm.
“Law enforcement also found two digital scales, more than 250 grams of
marijuana, and $500 in cash. Evan testified there was $8,000 in a purse.
“B. Cellular Phone Records and Testimony of Defendants’ Acquaintances
“1. Planning
“Evan and Fitzhugh used to be friends. They both sold marijuana, and Fitzhugh
taught Evan how to make money selling drugs, but Evan no longer respected Fitzhugh.
Fitzhugh had also been close friends with Britani. At one point, Britani had considered
being Fitzhugh’s girlfriend. This had also caused the two men not to like each other
anymore.
3
“Joshua[3] testified that, while selling him marijuana in the late summer of 2009,
Fitzhugh asked Joshua where Evan was living. On August 24, 2009, Fitzhugh texted
Joshua, ‘Just remember bruh loose lips sink ship keep erything we spoke on between us
real shyt and we can fuck wit eachother all day [¶] NICCAZ CROSSIN GAME GET
DA BLUES.’[4] After Joshua agreed, Fitzhugh added, ‘off top no pillow talkin thys shyt
aint for the faint or week at heart the game is thick make ya next move be ya best move
[¶] NICCAZ CROSSIN GAME GET DA BLUES.’[5] Fitzhugh also wrote, ‘Remember
what I said about dat let me know whens a guhd time soon ta get dat and split dat one
time figgadeel me [¶] NICCAZ CROSSIN GAME GET DA BLUES.’ Joshua testified
before the grand jury that this text basically meant that Fitzhugh wanted to know when it
would be a good time to go after and get Evan.
“Aaron testified under a grant of immunity that Fitzhugh asked him to find out
Evan’s location.[6] Fitzhugh, Barnes and Aaron all discussed robbing Evan. Aaron
‘would be one of the robbers’ which meant he ‘would run up on [Evan] and . . . draw a
gun on him and probably take him into the house or something like that, tell him to give
me the money and then get in the car and take off.’ Fitzhugh would be the driver and
3 Joshua was one of many who were a part of Fitzhugh’s social network.
4 “Joshua testified that he recognized the repeated phrases at the end of Fitzhugh's
text messages. Because defendants raise claims regarding the admission of Fitzhugh’s
full text messages, including the ‘tag lines’ at the end, we include the tag lines to which
counsel objected so that the reader may view the impact of these tag lines in context.”
5 “Joshua understood this message to indicate that selling marijuana is a difficult
market.”
6 “Aaron pled guilty to assault with a deadly weapon in an unrelated case and
received credit for time served. The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office paid
Aaron $28,479.40 in relocation expenses from April 25, 2011, through the day he
testified.”
4
Barnes said he would be one of the robbers. Whoever was in the car would be a lookout.
There was not a specific date planned because Britani and her parents were always home.
“Fitzhugh sent numerous text messages to various individuals as he prepared for
and planned the robbery. We set forth only the most relevant to the issues on appeal. On
September 7, 2009, Fitzhugh sent text messages to an unknown person stating, ‘I need a
quick lick[7] ta get somer more artilery than I'll be ready ta get ears.’[8] He added, ‘Im
dam near ready ta hit ears but I need artilery for the bigger licks we got on deck !’
“On September 22, 2009, Fitzhugh texted Barnes, ‘We needta get somemore shells
2marow when rok get hia car back [¶] Young Baby Faced A$ $a$in 4real.’ The
following day, he texted an unknown person that he might need them to buy ammunition
for him. He used the tag line ‘Young Baby Faced A$ $a$in 4real’ in these messages as
well. On September 26, 2009, he texted someone else, asking them to buy ‘a few boxes
of shells for a few of my guns.’ By this time, he had changed his tag line again.
“On October 5, 2009, Fitzhugh wrote to the unknown co-conspirator from his
September 7, 2009, exchange, ‘U need ta get in that house an setchure eyes on that safe
an loot bby its go time [¶] Dominant Species On the Planet!!’ The person wrote back,
‘Idk how to get any more info i gave you what i could fonz its in your hands now. evena
girl jas alll the money at her house since evens locked up.’ Later that day, Fitzhugh
wrote, ‘Ok baby so he’s gotit all at britts an hopefully in the pool house than right [¶]
Dominant Species On the Planet!!’ The person responded, ‘Yeah last i heard she and him
were living there. Ill keep a look out on it. But 95% sure its all there and shit..’ Fitzhugh
replied, ‘Ok Im ready ta do it now it’d be better if danny hadit honestly but if its in her
pool house thatd be perfect 2 [¶] Dominant Species On the Planet!!’ The next day, he
7 Aaron testified that a “lick” is a robbery.
8 “Evan’s nickname was ‘Long Ears.’ ”
5
wrote, ‘Bby Im ready ta go hav u heard anything new Im locked an loaded ready ta go
[¶] 1 Date Will United Us All The End.’ Fitzhugh also texted Carlos, ‘Bruh keep yo
mouth shut on dat bidness if we jump the gin to fast that whole licks over it aint for
sertain he got the shyt thr [¶] 1 Date Will Unite Us All The End.’[9] A few minutes later
he reiterated, ‘Dnt be tellin 2 many boutit if we jump the gun an hit the house an he
keepin it at danny’s we lose the window of oppertunity [¶] 1 Date Will Unite Us All The
End.’ Fitzhugh also wrote, ‘Once my bitch set eye’s on the prize we in there erybody to
hungry an aint got all the fact strate ta go in blind [¶] 1 Date Will Unite Us All The
End.’
“On October 8, 2009, Fitzhugh texted Carlos, ‘I hope you aint buisey 2day bruh
cause we need ta be out trynna catch dis nicca slippin[10] out here [¶] 1 Date Will Unite
Us All The End.’ Carlos replied, ‘Who.’ Fitzhugh answered, ‘Evan we gotta wate out
there by his house an see if we can catchum slippin bru so come outchia wit rob at like
6:30 its go time [¶] 1 Date Will Unite Us All The End.’ Later, he added, ‘Yup just come
witchu an rob g so we aint 2 deep an he got my jack cloths [¶] 1 Date Will Unite Us All
The End.’[11]
“On October 16, 2009, Fitzhugh texted the unknown co-conspirator, ‘Does long
ears still drive that white car wit the rims or brittneys car [¶] DaNcE WiTh ThE DeViL.’
Within the next 30 minutes, Fitzhugh texted the unknown co-conspirator and Aaron that
9 “The grand jury returned an indictment against Carlos in this case. He pled guilty
to being an accessory after the fact to murder in exchange for a 14-month sentence he had
already served and his truthful testimony against defendants.”
10 “Carlos testified that this means to catch someone by themselves. Aaron testified
it meant to catch Evan off guard.”
11 “Carlos testified that ‘Rob G.’ is Barnes’s nickname and to ‘jack’ someone is to
rob them.”
6
he just saw ‘him’ jump in the car with ‘brittney.’ An hour and a half later, Fitzhugh wrote
to yet another person, ‘Im here waitin on u bru u knw I gotchu jus say the word [¶]
DaNcE WiTh ThE DeViL.’ An hour after that, he texted Carlos, ‘Dnt forget the backpack
bro bro [¶] DaNcE WiTh ThE DeViL.’[12]
“On October 17, 2009, Carlos texted Fitzhugh, ‘Hey i waz checkin out tha spot
and thy put a blakc safe in tha kar it waz a lil safe.’ Fitzhugh complimented Carlos on his
surveillance: ‘Good job brodi watchum u like a special opps type if I was witchu that
woulda been the perfect timing [¶] yA bOy FlyA ThAn A 911 tErRoRisT.’
“On October 28, 2009, Barnes texted Fitzhugh, ‘I AM, FINNA G0 GET DA
MASK N M0E SHELLZ N AH ALREADY G0T SUM NEW FRANKLINZ.
GWAP_GETTAZ.’ Carlos testified that he drove Barnes to a sporting goods store to buy
tight-fitting gloves.
“Carlos’s ex-girlfriend testified that she heard Fitzhugh talk about wanting to
kidnap Evan over money or drugs. She went to a Halloween party in 2009 with Carlos,
Fitzhugh, Barnes and Michael. That night, Carlos and his ex-girlfriend went to Barnes’s
house. She told law enforcement that Fitzhugh pulled a ‘western style’ revolver out of
his waistband. Carlos testified that he saw a firearm in a backpack at Barnes’s house.
Michael also testified, under a grant of immunity, that Fitzhugh had a revolver that
evening.
“Additionally, Michael testified that he sold Fitzhugh bullet-proof vests. He also
explained that ‘burner gloves’ are gloves that a person ‘should wear when firing a
weapon,’ such as Franklin baseball gloves. After he was shown a photograph, Michael
testified that the purpose of the gloves was to keep fingerprints off the gun.
12 “Carlos testified that Barnes kept a gun in a backpack.”
7
“On November 6, 2009, Fitzhugh texted Michael, ‘We need ta go test them vests
out bru up ta what calibur can the stop do u knw [¶] What Is A Bitch Gone Do 4 Me?’
The next day, Fitzhugh wrote, ‘If u or jimmy come across bigger vest longer at least less
do it again [¶] What Is A Bitch Gone Do 4 Me?’ Michael responded, ‘fsho those vests is
jus meant to cover all your vital organs nd shit.’ Fitzhugh replied, ‘I knw but ya kidneys
is pretty vital I wish I still had my level 4 teflon [¶] What Is A Bitch Gone Do 4 Me?’
“2. November 18, 2009
“On November 18, 2009, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m., Fitzhugh’s cell phone and
Barnes’s cell phone were in downtown Stockton. At 6:25 p.m., Barnes texted ‘MAKE
UP’ to Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh replied, ‘YUP [¶] Religious About The Cliterus!’ Thirty
minutes later, Barnes wrote, ‘WERE YAW GO?’ Fitzhugh responded, ‘We’ll be ther now
[¶] Religious About The Cliterus!’ At 6:59 p.m., Fitzhugh wrote, ‘Yah come on so we
can get eggie [¶] Religious About The Cliterus!’ At 7:00 p.m., he wrote, ‘Bring my back
pack bru iss on yo bed [¶] Religious About The Cliterus!’ At 7:53 p.m., Barnes’s cell
phone was headed north on Highway 99 in the Lodi area. From 8:09 p.m. through 8:33
p.m., Barnes’s phone was in the area of the crime scene. From 8:09 p.m. through 8:32
p.m., Fitzhugh’s phone was in the area of the crime scene. During this time, Fitzhugh
and Barnes made five calls to each other. The first four each lasted between 52 seconds
and one minute and 32 seconds. The last call, at 8:32 p.m., only lasted 18 seconds. The
first 911 call was made at 8:38 p.m.
“At 9:03 p.m., Fitzhugh’s phone was in the area of East Hammer Lane in
Stockton, headed west toward Interstate 5. At 9:14 p.m., the phone was headed south on
Interstate 5. At around 9:30 p.m., both Barnes’s and Fitzhugh’s cell phones were back in
downtown Stockton.
“Aaron testified that defendants came to his home that evening. Fitzhugh
appeared ‘[f]rantic, crying.’ Barnes was not crying, but he seemed ‘kind of frantic.’
Fitzhugh told Aaron the robbery ‘went bad’ and Britani was shot. Fitzhugh said only he
8
and Barnes were there.[13] Fitzhugh said he was in the car at the time, but he heard two
shots and Britani’s scream. Barnes said he ‘ran up on’ Evan, that Evan threw a drink at
Barnes, and Barnes shot Evan in the leg as he was locking the door. Britani screamed,
startling Barnes, and the gun went off. Barnes said he shot twice with a .380. Both
defendants said they did not intend to kill Britani. That evening, Fitzhugh texted Carlos,
‘We never even left ta do shit the party we was going to got canceled aite bru so dnt feel
left out [¶] Religious About The Cliterus!’ Next, Fitzhugh texted Aaron about watching
the local news regarding the murder.
“The following day, Barnes sent a text stating, ‘BABE WEN U G0T TIME GET
ME SUM 380 BULLETS.’
“Aaron went to Santa Cruz for three weeks because he was scared and concerned
about being an accomplice.
“C. Investigation
“On December 8, 2009, Fitzhugh spoke to law enforcement. He gave them his
telephone number. He also said he shot a .357 two weeks prior.
“Sheriff’s deputies searched a Stockton home and found items of indicia with
Fitzhugh’s and Barnes’s names on them as well as a leather holster, a black cotton glove,
and a round of .38 Special plus P ammunition.” (Barnes, supra, C073287.)
A jury found Fitzhugh and Barnes guilty of first degree murder (§ 187 — count
one), attempted murder (§§ 664, 187 — count two), and attempted robbery (§§ 664, 211
— count three) and found true the robbery-murder special circumstance (§ 190.2, subd.
(a)(17)(A)). Although the jury found true that Barnes had personally and intentionally
discharged a firearm in the commission of all three counts, it found the same firearm
13 “Aaron was supposed to go, but he had a leg injury that prevented him from
going.”
9
enhancements not true as to Fitzhugh (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). Fitzhugh was sentenced to
nine years plus life without the possibility of parole.
II
Direct Appeal
Fitzhugh appealed his convictions, arguing, among other things, that insufficient
evidence supported the jury’s robbery-murder special-circumstance finding as to him.
Although Fitzhugh did not challenge that he was a major participant, he argued that the
evidence was insufficient to show he acted with reckless indifference to human life.
A different panel of this court rejected all of Fitzhugh’s contentions and affirmed
the judgment in its entirety in November 2018. In upholding the jury’s robbery-murder
special-circumstance finding, this court relied on our Supreme Court’s decisions in
People v. Banks (2015) 61 Cal.4th 788 (Banks) and People v. Clark (2016) 63 Cal.4th 522(Clark) to conclude there was substantial evidence that Fitzhugh acted with reckless
indifference to human life during the offenses. (Barnes, supra, C073287.)
III
Section 1172.6 Proceedings
In February 2019, Fitzhugh filed a petition for resentencing under what is now
designated as section 1172.6, alleging that as the get-away driver during a robbery of a
drug dealer he could not now be convicted of murder because of the changes Senate Bill
1437 made to sections 188 and 189. Fitzhugh requested the court appoint him counsel
and issue an order to show cause.
In March 2019, the trial court summarily denied Fitzhugh’s petition after finding
he was ineligible for resentencing given the jury’s true finding on the robbery-murder
special circumstance. The court reasoned that in finding the special circumstance true,
the jury necessarily found Fitzhugh was a major participant who acted with reckless
indifference to human life during the crimes. The court also noted that this court
subsequently found sufficient evidence supported the jury’s special circumstance finding.
10
Yet another panel of this court initially affirmed the court’s order denying
Fitzhugh’s resentencing petition, holding that any error in failing to appoint Fitzhugh
counsel was harmless error given the jury’s true finding on the robbery-murder special
circumstance, which this court had previously upheld in Fitzhugh’s direct appeal. After
the California Supreme Court granted review and transferred the matter back to us with
directions to vacate our opinion and reconsider the cause in light of People v. Strong
(2022) 13 Cal.5th 698 and People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, we agreed with the
parties that Fitzhugh’s petition was facially sufficient under Lewis to require the
appointment of counsel and briefing, and that under Strong neither the jury’s true finding
on the robbery-murder special-circumstance allegation nor this court’s conclusion on
direct appeal that substantial evidence supported the special circumstance finding,
preclude Fitzhugh from relief under section 1172.6 as a matter of law. This court
reversed the court’s order and remanded the cause for further proceedings. (People v.
Fitzhugh (Dec. 20, 2022, C089261) [nonpub. opn.].)14
On remand, the trial court appointed counsel for Fitzhugh, issued an order to show
cause, and conducted an evidentiary hearing on the petition. At the hearing, the parties
relied on evidence produced at trial. In addition, Fitzhugh called one witness to testify as
to the possible time it took for the victims to drive from the fast-food restaurant to their
home.
The trial court ruled as follows: “So the Court has to decide whether Mr. Fitzhugh
acted with reckless indifference to human life on the night that Britani . . . was killed.
Because we all are very clear that Mr. Fitzhugh was a major participant. And as the case
14 On our own motion, we take judicial notice of our records. (Evid. Code, § 452,
subd. (d); see also § 1172.6, subd. (d)(3) [In an evidentiary hearing pursuant to § 1172.6,
the court may also consider the procedural history of the case recited in any prior
appellate opinion].)
11
law says, these are intertwined. . . . [¶] Mr. Fitzhugh was tracking Evan . . . for months,
since late August, September, trying to find out where he was. And in the meantime,
asking — getting ammunition and guns and the bulletproof vest. And you only get a
bulletproof vest if you think there’s a chance that you’re going to get shot at. If you think
you’re going to get shot at, then you have already realized that what you’re doing is
dangerous to human life.”
The court then distinguished the instant case from Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th 522,15
stating: “Those are quite different facts to Mr. Fitzhugh, who on the night that he text[ed]
Barnes to go to the [victims’s] house, ‘Bro, bring my backpack.’ And there was witnesses
that testified that Mr. Fitzhugh kept a gun in his backpack. So this Court finds that
circumstantial evidence shows that, no, there was not one gun, there was — there were
two guns. And the presence of that bullet at the scene, as [the prosecutor] said always
bothered him. I was the trial court that heard this case, and that always gave me pause as
well. [¶] But Mr. Fitzhugh again got — grew tired of waiting to catch Evan on his own.
And that also, himself, he didn’t want Britani . . . around because he knew there could be
a danger to her. And I do think that he cared about her. So he was trying to minimize
that. But in the end, he decided not to. [¶] And so to go to someone’s home — and now
we are looking at basically what was to be a home invasion, which was to at gunpoint
move Evan and Britani into their house and take their safe, late at night, with the other —
the — Britani’s parents were also at home. So that’s different than trying to find him on
the streets on his own. Or if they really were going to do a burglary, then they would
15 In Clark, the evidence was insufficient to show the defendant acted with reckless
indifference to human life in the armed robbery of a computer store when he planned the
robbery but was not armed or physically present in the store when the victim was shot,
did not have the intent to kill, and attempted to minimize the likelihood of violence by
planning the robbery to take place when fewer people would be present and by using an
unloaded gun. The gun used had only one bullet. (Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pp. 611,
618-623.)
12
have been asking their spies to tell us, hey, tell us when you know that nobody is there. I
do not think that this was ever going to be changed from a robbery to a burglary . . . . He
could have minimized the risk to Britani. He could have called Barnes and called it off.
He had been thinking about this for months. [¶] Again, this isn’t a spontaneous, hey,
let’s go rob someone . . . . [¶] It’s absolutely true what [the prosecutor] says, that but for
Mr. Fitzhugh, Britani . . . would not be dead.”
The court then compared the instant case to People v. Bradley (2021)
65 Cal.App.5th 1022, where the defendant spontaneously agreed to commit a robbery
with a loaded firearm and was found to be a major participant with reckless indifference
to human life. According to the trial court, Fitzhugh was more culpable than the
defendant in that case.
The court continued: “This Court has granted of a number of these petitions. I
have resentenced at least four to five defendants, finding that they did not act with
reckless indifference, that they — they were the type of defendant that I feel this
legislature was trying to protect, the aider and abettor that didn’t know his cohorts were
armed, the aider and abettors that weren’t armed at all, the true look-out. That — those
— those defendants, under the old law, were just as culpable and were able — were
sentenced to LWOP. That’s the type of defendant the legislature was thinking of when
they passed this. [¶] Again, I find that the circumstantial evidence that Mr. Fitzhugh was
armed, he knew of the danger of doing this. This happened at a residence at night. He
could have called Mr. Barnes and called this off. He knew this was dangerous because he
had spent months trying to do this robbery without Britani being present. He acquired
bulletproof vests. And having — hearing shots, he — he could have gotten out and tried
to help Britani. He didn’t know if he could have rendered aid, but he didn’t. [¶] He was
seen with a revolver back in October. And when he was interviewed by the police, he
said he had shot a .357 two weeks prior. [¶] So I do find that Mr. Fitzhugh is guilty
13
beyond a reasonable doubt, that he was a major participant that acted with reckless
indifference to human life. So I'm denying his petition to be resentenced.”
DISCUSSION
I
Denial of Petition for Resentencing under Section 1172.6
A. Senate Bill 1437 and Standard of Review
Senate Bill 1437 amended the felony-murder rule to provide: “A participant in the
perpetration or attempted perpetration of a felony listed in subdivision (a) in which a
death occurs is liable for murder only if one of the following is proven: [¶] (1) The
person was the actual killer. [¶] (2) The person was not the actual killer, but, with the
intent to kill, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, solicited, requested, or
assisted the actual killer in the commission of murder in the first degree. [¶] (3) The
person was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless
indifference to human life, as described in subdivision (d) of Section 190.2 [the statute
defining felony-murder special circumstances].” (§ 189, subd. (e).) The new law was
designed “to ensure that murder liability is not imposed on a person who is not the actual
killer, did not act with the intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying
felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1,
subd. (f).)
The Legislature also added former section 1170.95 (now § 1172.6), which
establishes a procedure for offenders previously convicted under a felony-murder theory
to obtain the benefits of these changes retroactively. As relevant here, under the new law
offenders can petition for relief in the court where they were sentenced if: (1) the
complaint or information filed against them “allowed the prosecution to proceed under a
theory of felony murder”; (2) they were convicted of murder following a trial; and (3)
they could not now be convicted of murder “because of changes to [s]ection 188 or 189
made effective January 1, 2019.” (§ 1172.6, subd. (a).) If a petitioner makes a prima
14
facie showing of entitlement to relief, the trial court shall issue an order to show cause
(§ 1172.6, subd. (c)) and hold an evidentiary hearing at which the prosecution bears the
burden of proving “beyond a reasonable doubt, that the petitioner is guilty of murder or
attempted murder” under the law as amended by Senate Bill 1437. (§ 1172.6, subd.
(d)(3).) The parties may offer new or additional evidence at the hearing, and the trial
court sits as an independent fact finder to determine beyond a reasonable doubt whether
the defendant is guilty of murder under a valid theory. (People v. Garrison (2021)
73 Cal.App.5th 735, 745.)
We review a trial court’s denial of a section 1172.6 petition for substantial
evidence. (People v. Njoku (2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 27, 42.) “The scope of our review for
substantial evidence is well settled. The test is not whether the People met their burden
of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that [a defendant in a section 1172.6 proceeding]
was ineligible for resentencing, but rather ‘whether any rational trier of fact could have’
made the same determination, namely that ‘[t]he record . . . disclose[s] . . . evidence that
is reasonable, credible, and of solid value — such that a reasonable trier of fact could find
[as did the superior court].’ ” (People v. Williams (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 652, 663; see
also People v. Oliver (2023) 90 Cal.App.5th 466, 480.) Reversal is not warranted unless
“ ‘ “upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support the
[trial court’s ruling].” ’ ” (People v. Cravens (2012) 53 Cal.4th 500, 508.)
B. Additional Background and Trial Court’s Findings
Before we begin our analysis of whether the evidence supports the trial court’s
denial of Fitzhugh’s petition, we must address his allegation that legal and factual error
tainted the trial court’s conclusions.
Initially, we reject Fitzhugh’s claim that the trial court applied the wrong legal
standard in assessing his culpability in the murder when, citing to Fitzhugh’s acquisition
of firearms, ammunition, and bulletproof vests, it stated “If you think you’re going to get
shot at, then you have already realized that what you’re doing is dangerous to human
15
life.” Contrary to Fitzhugh’s claim, the court was not applying a “dangerous to human
life” standard. Rather, this statement was one of many factors discussed by the trial court
in considering the ultimate question of whether the People proved beyond a reasonable
doubt that Fitzhugh was a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to
human life. Indeed, the court reiterated the correct standard multiple times.
We also disagree that the court’s additional comments about the type of
accomplices the Legislature intended to reach with Senate Bill 1437 demonstrates it
employed the wrong standard. The court stated that it had resentenced “at least four to
five defendants, finding that they did not act with reckless indifference, that they — they
were the type of defendant that I feel this legislature was trying to protect, the aider and
abettor that didn’t know his cohorts were armed, the aider and abettors that weren’t
armed at all, the true look-out.” Fitzhugh argues this reasoning is at odds with “the
statute’s overall purpose: to ensure that murder culpability is commensurate with a
person’s actions” (People v. Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 971), where “[a] sentencing
body must examine the defendant’s personal role in the crimes leading to the victim’s
death and weigh the defendant’s individual responsibility for the loss of life, not just his
or her vicarious responsibility for the underlying crime” (Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at
p. 801). As Fitzhugh notes, armed accomplices who directly participated in the robbery
have been granted sentencing relief. (See, e.g., People v. Keel (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th
546, 561-563.) However, we conclude the court’s statements were an attempt to contrast
Fitzhugh’s involvement in the robbery murder with that of defendants whose conduct
place them on the end of the spectrum who did “ ‘not himself kill, attempt to kill, or
intend that a killing take place or that lethal force will be employed.’ ” (Banks, at p. 799.)
Nevertheless, because substantial evidence supports the court’s finding that Fitzhugh was
a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human life, Fitzhugh cannot
show any prejudice by the court’s erroneous comments. (See People v. Vance (2023)
94 Cal.App.5th 706, 717 [challenge to the trial court’s failure to apply the beyond a
16
reasonable doubt standard in a § 1172.6 evidentiary hearing failed because petitioner did
not show prejudice].)
Fitzhugh next argues the trial court misinterpreted the evidence regarding his
acquisition of ammunition, guns, and bulletproof vests. In September 2009, Fitzhugh
texted various people to obtain ammunition; one text sought “a few boxes of shells for a
few of my guns.” One accomplice took Barnes to get gloves for the purported purpose of
preventing fingerprints. Sometime before Halloween, Fitzhugh bought bulletproof vests
from Michael. He and Michael discussed the type of bullet the vest would stop, and
Michael assured him it would stop a 9-millimeter bullet and that it was meant to cover
vital organs. There is no evidence the vests were actually tested. The parties have not
identified, nor have we identified, any evidence that the vests were worn on the night of
the murder. The evidence suggests otherwise. Evan, the attempted murder victim,
described the shooter as wearing a dark sweater, pants, gloves, and a mask or a beanie.
Aaron testified that when Fitzhugh and Barnes came to his house after the murder,
Fitzhugh was wearing a shirt and Barnes was wearing a sweater. Thus, to the extent the
trial court relied on the fact that Fitzhugh wore a bulletproof vest on the night of the
shooting, that is not supported by substantial evidence.
With respect to the bullets used that night, the firearms examiner examined two
expended cartridge casings that held .380 auto-caliber bullets and came from the same
gun. He also examined three bullets: two were .380 ACP bullets and one was either a .38
Special or a .357. According to the expert, the .357 or .38 Special caliber bullet could not
be fired in a .380 cartridge case. Nor could a person load a .357 cartridge into a .38
Special weapon. But a person could load a .357 revolver with either a .38 Special
cartridge or a .357 cartridge. He also explained that it is more common for revolvers to
fire .357 or .38 Special cartridges and, if fired from a revolver, the cartridge case would
not be expelled.
17
Michael and Carlos saw Fitzhugh in possession of a revolver on Halloween.
When Michael was asked if the gun was ever kept in a backpack, he responded
affirmatively and said the backpack belonged to Fitzhugh. He said Fitzhugh did not
always carry the backpack with him. Carlos said that every time he saw the firearm, it
was in a backpack. According to Carlos, only Fitzhugh had the revolver; Barnes had a
more modern pistol. Carlos explained Fitzhugh had the gun whenever he went to Lodi.
On the night of the murder, Fitzhugh texted Barnes to “[b]ring my backpack, bro.
Is on yo bed.”
When the police first interviewed Fitzhugh on December 8, 2009, he said he fired
a .357 firearm two weeks earlier, which would have been around November 24.
Fitzhugh argues that the trial court misinterpreted the facts to conclude that he was
armed that night and to adopt a “dual gun theory” that tainted the entire ruling on the
petition for resentencing. The People contend there was substantial evidence to support
the trial court’s conclusion that Fitzhugh was armed that night. We disagree with both
positions.
We find the evidence established that before and after the shooting, Fitzhugh had
access to a firearm and, in particular, a revolver that was sometimes stored in his
backpack. On the night of the murder, Fitzhugh asked Barnes to bring his backpack.
However, there is no evidence that, on that night, the backpack contained Fitzhugh’s
revolver or that Barnes actually brought the backpack to the robbery. Nor is there any
other evidence that Fitzhugh possessed a firearm on the night of the murder.
The only evidence suggesting a second gun was used that night was the presence
of an expended .357 or .38 Special bullet that did not come from the two cartridge
casings found at the scene. This suggested that someone fired a revolver at some point,
perhaps on the night of the murder, perhaps not. But the evidence was that only Barnes
and Fitzhugh were involved in the robbery. Witnesses only saw one shooter and an
accomplice was waiting in a car on the side of the road. In light of the jury’s not true
18
finding on the allegation that Fitzhugh personally used a weapon that night, we are
precluded from finding Fitzhugh fired a gun. (People v. Curiel (2023) 15 Cal.5th 433,
465 [“If the jury has made a factual finding, and it is issue preclusive under the principles
described above, a court must give effect to that finding”]; see also People v. Henley
(2022) 85 Cal.App.5th 1003, 1017-1020 [jury’s not true finding on the allegation that the
defendant personally used a firearm barred the court from concluding in a § 1172.6
resentencing proceeding that she did use a firearm].) Indeed, Aaron testified that Barnes
admitted firing a .380 handgun twice and Fitzhugh admitted he was the get-away driver.
While it is possible Barnes was armed with two different weapons and fired each of them,
such a conclusion would require impermissible speculation.
We agree that while the unaccounted-for spent bullet is puzzling, that fact coupled
with Fitzhugh’s request that Barnes bring his backpack does not provide substantial
evidence that Fitzhugh was armed that night. Accordingly, as we analyze whether
substantial evidence supported the trial court’s conclusion that Fitzhugh was a major
participant who acted with reckless indifference to human life, we will not consider
Fitzhugh armed that night.
C. Relevant Factors for a Major Participant with Reckless Indifference
As noted, Senate Bill 1437 amended section 189 to limit the scope of the felony-
murder rule, and now requires that the prosecution prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
a defendant “was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless
indifference to human life, as described in subdivision (d) of Section 190.2.” (§ 189,
subd. (e)(3); see § 1172.6, subds. (a)(3) & (d)(3).) Our Supreme Court clarified the
meaning of these requirements in Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th 788 (major participant) and
Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th 522 (reckless indifference to human life).
To determine whether a defendant was a major participant, the Banks court has
identified the following considerations: “What role did the defendant have in planning the
criminal enterprise that led to one or more deaths? What role did the defendant have in
19
supplying or using lethal weapons? What awareness did the defendant have of particular
dangers posed by the nature of the crime, weapons used, or past experience or conduct of
the other participants? Was the defendant present at the scene of the killing, in a position
to facilitate or prevent the actual murder, and did his or her own actions or inaction play a
particular role in the death? What did the defendant do after lethal force was used?”
(Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 803, fn. omitted.)
Reckless indifference requires that the defendant “ ‘consciously disregard[] a
substantial and unjustifiable risk’ ” of death and that the risk “ ‘be of such a nature and
degree that, considering the nature and purpose of the actor’s conduct and the
circumstances known to him [or her], its disregard involves a gross deviation from the
standard of conduct that a law-abiding person would observe in the actor’s situation.’ ”
(Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 617, italics added; see id. at p. 622.) This definition
recognizes that, in addition to the subjective element of reckless indifference, there is also
an objective element. (Id. at p. 622.) “[R]ecklessness is not determined merely by
reference to a defendant’s subjective feeling that he or she is engaging in risky activities.
Rather, recklessness is also determined by an objective standard, namely what ‘a law-
abiding person would observe in the actor’s situation.’ ” (Id. at p. 617.)
Acknowledging overlap between the major participant and reckless indifference
elements (Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pp. 614-615), our high court considered a number
of factors in determining whether the evidence is sufficient to establish reckless
indifference: (1) knowledge of weapons, and use and number of weapons; (2) physical
presence at the crime and opportunities to restrain the crime and/or aid the victim; (3)
duration of the felony; (4) the defendant’s knowledge of cohort’s likelihood of killing;
and (5) the defendant’s efforts to minimize the risks of the violence during the felony.
(Id. at pp. 618-623.) As with the major participant factors, “ ‘[n]o one of these
considerations is necessary, nor is any one of them necessarily sufficient.’ ” (Id. at
p. 618, italics added.)
20
“Since Clark, courts have discerned an additional factor that may be relevant to
the reckless indifference analysis — the defendant’s youth.” (People v. Keel, supra,
84 Cal.App.5th at p. 558.) Indeed, it is now well recognized that minors and young
adults are generally less mature and responsible than older adults because they often lack
the experience, perspective, and judgment to recognize and avoid choices that could be
detrimental to them. (Ibid.) Therefore, the defendant’s youthfulness must also be
considered when determining whether he or she acted recklessly indifferent to the
victim’s life. (People v. Oliver, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at pp. 487-488.)
Through use of the major participant with reckless indifference to human life
factors, the California Supreme Court established a “spectrum of culpability” informed
by two opinions from the Supreme Court of the United States, namely, Enmund v. Florida
(1982) 458 U.S. 782 and Tison v. Arizona (1987) 481 U.S. 137. “On one end of the
spectrum is Enmund, ‘the minor actor in an armed robbery, not on the scene, who neither
intended to kill nor was found to have had any culpable mental state.’ [Citation.] At the
other end is ‘the felony murderer who actually killed, attempted to kill, or intended to
kill.’ [Citation.]” (In re Scoggins (2020) 9 Cal.5th 667, 675; see Tison, at pp. 149-150.)
To determine whether the defendant had the requisite mental state, “[w]e analyze the
totality of the circumstances.” (Scoggins, at p. 677.)
D. Sufficiency of Evidence
1. Major participant
Fitzhugh argues that the facts only support the conclusion that he planned the
robbery and that all the efforts he undertook, such as acquiring guns and ammunition and
tracking Evan for months, were actions inherent in planning an armed robbery. He also
seeks credit for attempting to minimize violence by planning the robbery at a time when
Britani would not be present. According to Fitzhugh, the plan “simply called for using
the weapon as a show of force” to obtain the safe and then the robbers would “bounce.”
21
Nothing in the plan, Fitzhugh contends, elevated the risk to human life beyond that
inherent in an armed robbery. (See Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 623.)
In making the above argument, Fitzhugh claims he was nothing more than a major
participant. Despite his concession on this point, we briefly discuss the evidence
showing he was a major participant because his role as the ringleader in planning and
carrying out the robbery is significant to our determination that he acted with reckless
indifference. (In re Loza (2017) 10 Cal.App.5th 38, 52 [“factors demonstrating [the
defendant’s] role as a major participant are highly relevant to the analysis of whether he
acted with reckless indifference”].)
The plan was discussed for about six months prior to the murder. Fitzhugh’s
original plan was to force Evan, a marijuana dealer, into his home and hold him at
gunpoint while other armed robbers stole Evan’s safe. The plan was sophisticated,
involving guns, boxes of ammunition, bulletproof vests, and multiple accomplices.
Given the details of the planning, we may infer he expected resistance and the need to
meet that resistance with lethal force. (See Tison v. Arizona, supra, 481 U.S. at p. 152.)
Fitzhugh also had his accomplices gather information relevant to the robbery, the
dissemination of which he sought to control, and Fitzhugh called the shots as to when the
robbery would take place.
Text messages illustrate these points. In September and October, text messages
demonstrate that Fitzhugh was gathering information from others regarding the location
of Evan’s safe. On October 6, Fitzhugh told Carlos “Bruh keep yo mouth shut on dat
bidness if we jump the gin to fast that whole licks over it aint for sertain he got the shyt
thr.” He also texted, “Dnt get erybody ralled up it aint go time,” and later, “Once my
bitch set eye’s on the prize we in there erybody to hungry an aint got all the fact strate ta
go in blind.” Right after Fitzhugh texted Carlos “Dnt show nobody the rally point meemz
will ruin the whole lik,” he texted an unknown accomplice “Bby Im ready ta go hav u
heard anything new Im locked an loaded ready ta go.” Two days later, text exchanges
22
show Fitzhugh recruited accomplices to see if they could catch Evan “slippin” by his
house but they were unsuccessful in catching Evan.
The planning continued. On October 20, Fitzhugh texted Carlos that his main
focus was Evan. On October 28, Barnes texted Fitzhugh that he was planning to get
more shells and already bought gloves. On November 6, Fitzhugh discussed the efficacy
of the bulletproof vests with Michael. The planning continued until November 18, when
Fitzhugh determined it was time to rob Evan.
Unlike the defendants in Enmund and Banks, Fitzhugh was instrumental in
planning and perpetrating the robbery that led to the attempted murder of Evan and to
Britani’s death. Similar to the defendant in In re McDowell (2020) 55 Cal.App.5th 999,
1011, the robbery he planned consisted of invading the home of a drug dealer with a
weapon and was not a “garden-variety” robbery. Unlike the defendants in the cases he
relies upon, Fitzhugh sought to be well armed and protected against resistance. (See In re
Taylor (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 543, 547, 558 [no evidence of resistance to anticipate
where the robbery planned was to grab the deposit sack from a liquor store employee];
People v. Ramirez (2021) 71 Cal.App.5th 970, 988 [where the 15 year-old defendant did
not plan the carjacking and had reason to expect that violence was unlikely given the plan
to rob “ ‘just Paisas’ ” (i.e., not rival gang members but inferior easy targets for crime)];
Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 811 [the defendant as the get-away driver had no reason to
know of a likelihood of resistance].)
2. Reckless indifference to human life
Although a closer question presents on whether Fitzhugh acted with “reckless
indifference to human life,” we conclude there is substantial evidence to support the trial
court’s finding.
Fitzhugh argues that when the robbery was actually committed, the plan was
downsized to shed indicators of reckless indifference to human life. He argues that
although he purchased bulletproof vests as an original part of the plan, there was no
23
evidence either he or Barnes wore the vests during the robbery murder. In addition, only
one firearm was used, by Barnes, and there was no evidence that Fitzhugh supplied the
firearm or that he knew Barnes was likely to use lethal force. He insists the only role he
played in the robbery that night was as the get-away driver; he had no direct involvement
in the short-lived robbery and therefore could not intervene or render aid. According to
Fitzhugh, the circumstances all point to Barnes’s violent reaction as an impulsive
response to Evan’s and Britani’s unexpected resistance and that Barnes fired the gun
“accidentally,” “ ‘blindly,’ ” without intent.
Fitzhugh’s persistent claim that there was no evidence that he planned to hurt or
kill Evan or Britani misses the mark. The question of reckless indifference does not turn
on whether Fitzhugh recklessly disregarded the risk that a cohort would intentionally
harm or kill; rather the question is whether Fitzhugh was reckless with regard to the risk
of an unintentional killing by himself or any of his cohorts, posed by the way they
committed the attempted robbery. (People v. Estrada (1995) 11 Cal.4th 568, 577
[reckless indifference may be found where a defendant “ ‘knowingly engag[ed] in
criminal activities known to carry a grave risk of death represents a highly culpable
mental state’ ”].) Where, as here, a defendant’s “culpability for [the] murder resides in
his [or her] role as planner and organizer, or as the one who set the crime in motion,
rather than in his [or her] actions on the ground in the immediate events leading up to
[the] murder,” the plan must have some aspect “that elevated the risk to human life
beyond those risks inherent in any armed robbery.” (Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 623;
see also In re Taylor, supra, 34 Cal.App.5th at p. 557.)
The evidence shows that Fitzhugh often discussed wanting to catch Evan alone,
specifically without Britani or her parents around, and that it was difficult to set a date for
the robbery because “the parents were always home, Britani was always home.”
Fitzhugh argues this demonstrates that he acted with an intent to minimize the danger to
Britani, thereby negating reckless indifference. However, the evidence also shows that
24
the planning went on for many months and Fitzhugh apparently grew impatient with
waiting for an opportunity to rob Evan without Britani present, abandoned his plan to
protect Britani, and consciously chose to go forward with a crime with an objectively
high risk of violence, ultimately completely disregarding the anticipated danger to
Britani, let alone Evan. In this way, the plan changed to increase the likelihood of
violence. We do not credit Fitzhugh for benevolent intentions he ultimately did not abide
by. (See In re McDowell, supra, 55 Cal.App.5th at p. 1014 [“A defendant is more
culpable when he does nothing to avoid violence despite having time to reflect and
consider his options”].)
Fitzhugh claims that because he was sitting in the car down the road and because
Britani almost certainly died instantly, there was nothing he could do to restrain Barnes
and/or render aid. We disagree. Fitzhugh could have minimized the risk to others by, for
example, instructing Barnes to only proceed with the robbery if Evan was alone, but there
was no evidence he did so. In addition, from the route Britani and Evan took coming
home and the location of Fitzhugh’s car, the evidence suggests Fitzhugh would have
likely seen and recognized Britani’s car arriving.16 There was no evidence he called off
the robbery when Britani’s car (with Britani in it) arrived home. Although he was parked
on the street by Britani’s house, Fitzhugh heard two shots and Britani’s scream, yet he did
nothing to render aid or inquire of Britani’s wellbeing. When Barnes ran back to the car,
they turned off their headlights and drove away. Unlike the defendant in Clark who
arrived on the scene at the same time as police then left, Fitzhugh left the scene without
16 Fitzhugh told Aaron he was parked on the street by Britani’s house. Evan testified
Britani drove north on US-99, took the Acampo exit (which is south of her home), turned
left, and drove to the house at the end of the road. A neighbor who lived across the street
from Britani testified that, on the night of the murder, he heard gunshots and saw a person
run south to a waiting vehicle that drove off to the north. The evidence established
Fitzhugh recognized Britani’s car and knew she drove Evan around.
25
knowing that help in the form of police or medical intervention was arriving. (Compare
Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 620 with Tison v. Arizona, supra, 481 U.S. at p. 141 [noting
the Tison brothers’ failure to make an effort to help the victims].) Fitzhugh did nothing to
make sure Britani was unharmed.
We agree with the trial court that this case is different from Clark, where there was
only one gun at the scene, which was not supposed to be loaded, and only had one bullet.
(Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pp. 621-622.) Nor is it like Scoggins, where none of the
perpetrators were supposed to be armed during a planned daytime beating to get the
defendant’s money back. (In re Scoggins, supra, 9 Cal.5th at pp. 671, 679, 682, 683.)
Here, the evidence established that Fitzhugh’s plan for the robbery always incorporated
loaded firearms as an integral part of the plan and that did not change on the night of the
robbery. Moreover, a reasonable inference that Fitzhugh intended to use more than
minimally loaded firearms may be drawn from the fact that Fitzhugh repeatedly asked for
more “shells” and “artillery” in order to rob Evan and Barnes himself intended to obtain
more shells a few weeks prior. While we acknowledge the aider and abettor’s awareness
that a firearm will be used in the commission of the underlying felony is not sufficient of
itself in determining reckless indifference, it is nevertheless significant. (Clark, at
p. 618.) Here, the evidence showed more than mere knowledge of a presence of a gun;
Fitzhugh’s plan required use of a loaded firearm to threaten Evan and the totality of the
circumstances demonstrates a willingness to use the bullets if necessary. Indeed,
Fitzhugh anticipated a violent encounter.
Also in contrast, the defendants in Scoggins, Taylor, and Clark planned more
“garden-variety” robberies and took steps to minimize the risk of violence. In Scoggins,
the defendant’s plan called for his multiple accomplices to rob a single victim in a public
parking lot in broad daylight, using no weapons. (In re Scoggins, supra, 9 Cal.5th at
pp. 671-672, 683.) In Taylor, the defendant’s plan was to rob a liquor store clerk at night
as the clerk was depositing bank deposits by grabbing the bag and driving away. (In re
26
Taylor, supra, 34 Cal.App.5th at p. 547.) In Clark, the defendant’s plan was to rob a
retail store, after business hours when few employees would be present, using a single
unloaded gun. None of these plans “elevated the risk to human life beyond those risks
inherent in any armed robbery.” (Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 623; see Scoggins, at
pp. 682-683, Taylor, at p. 559.) Here, in contrast, the robbery took place in the evening,
at a home where three different family units lived, and at a time when it would be likely
that many of the family members would be home and their safety implicated, but not so
late so that if trouble roused them from sleep they would be slower to react and likely
avoid encountering the defendants. And, the evidence also suggested that Evan sold
marijuana from Britani’s apartment; customers getting caught up in the robbery was also
a possibility. (See In re McDowell, supra, 55 Cal.App.5th at p. 1013 [where it was
foreseeable that customers or others could be present during the early morning robbery of
a drug dealer was relevant to a reckless indifference to human life determination].) Even
if Fitzhugh and Barnes did not arm or armor themselves according to the original plan,
there is no evidence their anticipation of resistance changed that night, which was logical
given the plan to rob a successful marijuana dealer.
Although some factors are favorable to Fitzhugh, such as the short duration of the
botched robbery and his limited role as the get-away driver, reviewing the entire record in
the light most favorable to the judgment, we ignore competing inferences that could lead
to a contrary conclusion. (People v. Rodriguez (2021) 66 Cal.App.5th 749, 772-773.)
Sufficient evidence supports the court’s conclusion Fitzhugh acted with reckless
indifference to human life. (See Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 619 [noting reckless
indifference of an observing accomplice might be found where “the murder is a
culmination or a foreseeable result of several intermediate steps, or where the participant
who personally commits the murder exhibits behavior tending to suggest a willingness to
use lethal force”].)
27
E. Fitzhugh’s Youthfulness
At the evidentiary hearing, defense counsel told the court that Fitzhugh was 21
years old at the time of the shooting and as a result of his youthfulness, “failed to
appreciate the risk of death his plan posed.” He also cited to case law where courts found
diminished culpability due to the offender’s youthfulness. In addition, Fitzhugh
requested a hearing pursuant to People v. Franklin (2016) 63 Cal.4th 261 and section
3015. In providing a detailed explanation of its denial of the resentencing motion,
however, the court did not mention Fitzhugh’s age or maturity level.
On appeal, Fitzhugh argues that his overconfidence that the robbery would be
simple and easy and that nobody would get hurt demonstrates that his youth affected his
ability to subjectively appreciate the potential risks in committing this offense. He argues
the court’s failure to consider his youthfulness requires a new evidentiary hearing in light
of cases holding that a defendant’s age must be considered when determining whether the
defendant was a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human life.
(E.g., People v. Harris (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 939, 960 [“given Harris’s youth at the time
of the crime [17 years old], particularly in light of subsequent case law’s recognition of
the science relating to adolescent brain development [citations], it is far from clear that
Harris was actually aware ‘of particular dangers posed by the nature of the crime,
weapons used, or past experience or conduct of the other participants’ ”];17 In re Moore
(2021) 68 Cal.App.5th 434, 451, 454 [a “defendant’s youth is a relevant factor in
determining whether the defendant acted with reckless indifference to human life”; 16
year old defendant was not shown to have acted with reckless indifference, in part due to
17 The California Supreme Court granted a petition for review April 28, 2021, case
No. S267801. Review was dismissed September 28, 2022, with language that that this
case “is noncitable and nonprecedential ‘to the extent it is inconsistent with’ our decision
in Lewis.” (People v. Harris, supra, 60 Cal.App.5th, review dism. Sept. 28, 2022.)
28
his youth at the time of the offenses, lack of participation in the robbery, and unawareness
of the shooter’s propensity for violence]; People v. Ramirez, supra, 71 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 990-991 [no substantial evidence that 15 year old acted with reckless indifference to
life in light of his youth]; accord In re Harper (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 450, 467-472
[habeas corpus petition denied where the defendant’s youth, even if a factor, did not
change his culpability because the evidence showed he knew the plan was to kill the
victim].)
The fact that the court did not specifically mention certain evidence does not
necessarily mean that the court ignored evidence of his youthfulness. Fitzhugh’s
evidentiary hearing was held in 2023, well after Harris, Moore, Ramirez, and Harper
were issued. Accordingly, we presume the trial court followed the law in exercising its
duties and duly considered the evidence presented to it. (In re Julian R. (2009)
47 Cal.4th 487, 499; People v. Nance (1991) 1 Cal.App.4th 1453, 1456.) Even if the
court did not consider Fitzhugh’s youthfulness, any such error is harmless under the
specific circumstances of this case. (See People v. Oliver, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 488-489.)
We note Fitzhugh was already 21 years old at the time of the shooting and, “while
Harris, Moore, and related cases were premised on scientific findings regarding
adolescent brain development, the defendant in Harris was 17 years old, and the
defendant in Moore was just 16.” (People v. Jones (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 1076, 1092-
1093, citing People v. Harris, supra, 60 Cal.App.5th at p. 960; In re Moore, supra,
68 Cal.App.5th at p. 454.) “Presumably, the presumption of immaturity weakens as a
defendant approaches 26.” (People v. Oliver, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at p. 489.) “[T]he
case law discussing the differences in brain development among youthful offenders (in
contrast to their adult counterparts) stress two areas of divergence: (1) their relative
impulsivity; and (2) their vulnerability to peer pressure.” (Ibid., citing, e.g., Miller v.
Alabama (2012) 567 U.S. 460, 461.)
29
There is no evidence in this case that Fitzhugh’s criminal behavior was motivated
by either of these two factors. Rather, the record supports the trial court’s finding that
Fitzhugh was the driving force behind the commission of the armed robbery. His texts
show that, over several months, he was singularly focused on using weapons to rob Evan.
He was the one who decided to commit the robbery that night and enlisted Barnes’s help.
Although the evidence shows the decision to commit the robbery on that particular night
was made somewhat last minute, the evidence does not show this decision was borne out
of the traditional notion of impulsivity associated with youthful offenders. In other
words, Fitzhugh was not the victim of peer pressure, “swept up in circumstances beyond
his or her control that led to an unintended death.” (People v. Oliver, supra,
90 Cal.App.5th at pp. 489-490.) Rather, the evidence demonstrates that Fitzhugh planned
the robbery and, while he hoped for better conditions in which to commit it, he went
ahead with the robbery when those conditions did not arise. Fitzhugh made an
intentional and volitional choice to take a calculated risk in committing the robbery that
night. That risk failed to turn out as he had hoped but we see no reasonable likelihood
that the trial court would have reached a different conclusion had it focused specifically
on his age.
Finally, Fitzhugh has failed to present on appeal or in the court below any specific
support for the proposition that his level of maturity somehow lessened his culpability for
this murder. To the contrary, Fitzhugh’s presentence report is part of our record, and our
review discloses nothing remarkable in his childhood. (Cf. People v. Jones, supra,
86 Cal.App.5th at p. 1091 [the petitioner presented evidence of his “traumatic and
violent” upbringing as well as under-diagnosed mental health and substance abuse issues,
and “appeared to be impulsive rather than criminally sophisticated”].)
Accordingly, even considering Fitzhugh’s youthfulness, we conclude from the
totality of the circumstances that substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding
that Fitzhugh acted with reckless indifference to human life.
30
DISPOSITION
The trial court’s order denying Fitzhugh’s petition for resentencing under section
1172.6 is affirmed.
/s/
EARL, P. J.
We concur:
/s/
RENNER, J.
/s/
BOULWARE EURIE, J.
31