People v. Nagata CA5 ( 2024 )

Filed 10/29/24 P. v. Nagata CA5
Opinion following transfer from Supreme Court
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,
F082198
Plaintiff and Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. 19CR-06497A)
v.
STUART JOHN TSUNEO NAGATA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Merced County. Carol K. Ash
and Steven K. Slocum, Judges.
Marcia R. Clark, 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 and Kimberley A. Donohue, Assistant Attorneys General,
Eric L. Christoffersen and John Merritt, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
-ooOoo-
A jury found Stuart John Tsuneo Nagata (defendant) guilty of first degree murder
and attempted unlawful possession of ammunition. The murder was alleged to be gang
related for purposes of Penal Code section 186.22 (all undesignated statutory references
are to the Penal Code), but the jury rejected the allegation. Defendant appeals based on
the allegedly erroneous admission of gang evidence at trial.
In his initial briefing, defendant challenged the denial of a pretrial motion to
dismiss the gang enhancement pursuant to section 995. In the alternative, he assigned
error to rulings concerning the nature and extent of the gang evidence admitted at trial
and the trial court’s modification of a pattern instruction regarding its permissible uses.
Following the enactment of Assembly Bill No. 333 (2021–2022 Reg. Sess.) (Assembly
Bill 333), defendant asserted new claims in supplemental briefing based on changes to
section 186.22 and the creation of section 1109, the latter of which provides for
bifurcation of gang enhancement allegations upon a defendant’s request.
Defendant argued for retroactive application of section 1109, claiming the trial
court erred by denying his motion to bifurcate the gang enhancement allegations. In a
prior opinion, this court agreed with defendant’s position on retroactivity and concluded
the bifurcation ruling was both erroneous and prejudicial. The People petitioned for
review, and the California Supreme Court accepted the case on a grant-and-hold basis
pending its decision in People v. Burgos (2024) 16 Cal.5th 1.
The Burgos opinion holds that section 1109 is not retroactive. (People v. Burgos,
supra, 16 Cal.5th at p. 8.) In light of this holding, defendant’s case was transferred back
to this court with directions to vacate the prior decision and reconsider the cause. After
such further consideration, including the evaluation of claims previously asserted by
defendant but not addressed in our prior decision, we conclude defendant has identified
multiple prejudicial errors in the trial court proceedings. He is therefore entitled to a new
trial.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
July 14, 2019
On July 14, 2019, at 11:31 p.m., a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots near
Merced Avenue in the City of Merced. The caller lived on Rose Avenue, which
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intersects with Merced Avenue, but his residence was approximately 15 houses away
from the intersection and he was unable to provide more information.
A second 911 caller, F.G., requested police assistance at the 1300 block of Merced
Avenue. He had heard gunshots and could see “somebody laying down” in the street.
When asked if there were any vehicles in the area, F.G. told the dispatcher, “There’s a
white ca—it was a—it was a white Cadillac. It’s—I don’t know if it’s—if this is the
car.” A few questions later, the dispatcher asked, “Is the white Cadillac still parked
there?” F.G. replied, “No, he took off. He took off. He’s long gone.” The next question
was, “Which way did the Cadillac go?” F.G. answered, “Going towards the Marriott out
by the freeway by Motel Drive.”
Police officers soon discovered the dead body of a 48-year-old man, Juan Ramirez
(the victim). He was found lying on his stomach in the eastbound lane of Merced
Avenue, near the address F.G. had provided to the dispatcher. An autopsy confirmed the
victim sustained six bullet wounds, though one was characterized as a “graze wound.”
There was a front wound to the left shoulder and multiple posterior wounds, including
one to the back of the head.
Investigators found 11 expended .40-caliber bullet casings, and a bullet hole in a
vehicle parked approximately 40 feet northwest of the victim’s body, all in the vicinity of
the 1400 block of Merced Avenue. It was determined the victim resided on the 1600
block of Merced Avenue, a considerable distance to the east of where he was evidently
shot and killed. The police found no blood trails or droplets between the two locations.
July 15, 2019
In the early hours of July 15, 2019, a homicide detective conducted recorded
interviews with F.G. and his friend, A.D. Another detective located video evidence
captured by security cameras at the west end of Merced Avenue and along the northern
stretch of Motel Drive. Later in the day, the police spoke to the victim’s neighbors and
executed a search warrant at the victim’s home.
3.
F.G.’s Recorded Statements
F.G. had been visiting A.D. on the night of the shooting. A.D. lived on Merced
Avenue, approximately one block east of where the victim’s body was found.
Late that evening, F.G. and A.D. had a strange encounter with an unidentified
woman. F.G. described her as a “really skinny” Hispanic female with black hair and a
tattoo on her left arm. She was approximately 19 or 20 years old, was sweating
profusely, and appeared to be “on drugs.” The woman had attempted to enter A.D.’s
home, and she seemed startled and/or frightened when F.G. opened the front door. She
claimed to be looking for someone named “Jesse” before wandering off in a westward
direction on Merced Avenue.
F.G. exited the house and saw the woman behaving suspiciously outside of
another residence. A.D. called the police, and officers came out to the neighborhood to
investigate. The police departed after failing to locate the woman. Approximately 10 to
20 minutes later, F.G. and A.D. heard gunshots.1
F.G. recalled hearing a man “arguing with somebody” immediately prior to the
shooting. He and A.D. hurried outside after hearing the shots, looked to their right
(west), and saw a white car in the westbound lane of Merced Avenue. Although F.G. had
said it was a Cadillac during the 911 call, he told the detective it was a two-door
Chrysler. After further questioning about the make, model, and year, F.G. said, “I had
told the cops 2015. But [A.D.] was like, ‘No that had to be like, older—2005.[’] And he
pulled up a picture and it looked exactly the same as the car.”
When F.G. first saw the white vehicle, its brake lights were illuminated. The car
remained stationary for approximately five seconds before slowly proceeding to a stop
sign at the intersection of Merced Avenue and Motel Drive, then it “took off fast.”
1F.G.’s statements about the police being in the neighborhood prior to the shooting were
confirmed by officer testimony. F.G. and A.D. did contact the police to report a suspicious
woman, and responding officers searched the area “roughly ten minutes before [the] shooting
occurred.”
4.
A.D.’s Recorded Statements
A.D.’s statements were generally consistent with those of F.G. regarding the
events prior to the shooting. After hearing gunfire, A.D. and some of his relatives exited
the house to see what had happened. Similar to F.G.’s account, A.D. remembered
running outside, looking to his right, and seeing the brake lights of a car in the westbound
lane of Merced Avenue. But whereas F.G. had indicated the vehicle was stopped close to
the body, A.D. said the car was approximately “two houses down” from it, meaning west
of the body, “[r]ight before Rose Avenue.”
The details provided by A.D. further differed from F.G.’s account in two
significant respects. First, A.D. was certain the white car had turned onto Rose Avenue,
i.e., “[t]he street before the stop sign.” In other words, the vehicle did not traverse Motel
Drive. Second, A.D. was “pretty sure” it was a four-door Cadillac CTS.
The detective asked A.D. if he had shown F.G. “a picture of a car” (presumably
referring to the one F.G. described as looking “exactly the same” as the suspect vehicle),
and A.D. responded affirmatively. He then showed the detective the results of a Google
images search he had performed on his phone for the term “2006 cadillac cts.” All the
images were of four-door vehicles. The detective informed A.D. that F.G. had said he
thought it was a Chrysler. A.D. replied, “He didn’t—he didn’t really see. He was more
payin’ attention to the [dead] body.”
Security Camera Footage
A resident of the 1200 block of Merced Avenue had a video surveillance system
with a camera mounted above his garage. The home was located between Rose Avenue
and Almond Avenue (Rose to the east and Almond to the west), and the camera was
pointed toward Merced Avenue. The grainy, low-resolution video feed showed cars
passing by the house in the eastbound and westbound lanes of Merced Avenue. To a
lesser extent, the feed also showed the headlights of vehicles traveling northwest and
southeast on Motel Drive.
5.
In reviewing the Merced Avenue video, the police saw a white- or light-colored
two-door vehicle entering the neighborhood in the eastbound lane at approximately 11:22
p.m. A second white- or light-colored vehicle, which appeared to have four doors, passed
by the camera in the eastbound lane at approximately 11:26 p.m. Next, at approximately
11:29 p.m., a car resembling the previously seen two-door vehicle passed by the camera
in the westbound lane.2
Security cameras at nearby businesses captured video of a white two-door vehicle
traveling northwest on Motel Drive, toward State Highway 140 (also known as Yosemite
Parkway), at approximately 11:30 p.m. Earlier footage from those cameras showed a
white two-door vehicle traveling southeast on Motel Drive, toward Merced Avenue,
between approximately 11:21 and 11:22 p.m.
Collectively, the videos appeared to show that a white two-door vehicle entered
the victim’s neighborhood from Motel Drive at 11:22 p.m. and departed from the
neighborhood via Motel Drive between 11:29 and 11:30 p.m.
Neighbors’ Statements
Witness M.A. was contacted by police at approximately 7:00 a.m. the day after the
shooting. M.A.’s bedroom faced the victim’s backyard, and she recalled waking up
sometime “after midnight” to the sound of voices from that area. The voices were
described “as being two males and one female.” One of the males spoke in English, but
2A 24-hour screen clock showed the cars passing by at 23:21:28, 23:25:38, and 23:28:42.
However, according to police testimony, the clock was approximately one minute slow. This
was a rough estimate, as the officer’s comparison of the video clock to his “department-issued
iPhone” was only in relation to the hour and minutes, not the hour, minutes, and seconds. For
the sake of readability, most subsequent time references concerning video evidence are stated in
a 12-hour format based on the approximations of the police witnesses. For example, video from
a security camera at 11 West 15th Street in Merced captured footage of a moving vehicle at the
purported date and time of “07/15/2019 13:59:22.” But according to the police testimony, the
video clock was about “14 hours and 38 minutes ahead of time.” We will simply describe what
the video showed on July 14, 2019, at approximately 11:21 p.m., without further noting or
explaining the discrepancy.
6.
the other two conversed in Spanish, and the female had seemed “kind of mad.” M.A. did
not report hearing any gunshots. When asked about vehicles, M.A. claimed to have
previously seen a white car parked outside of the victim’s home.
Another neighbor, D.M., remembered seeing the victim “drinking beers with a
light-skinned male and two female friends that were at his house” on the date of the
incident. D.M. also claimed to have heard the victim “breaking bottles in the front yard”
at approximately 10:00 p.m., i.e., 90 minutes prior to the shooting. A third neighbor,
A.V., reported seeing the victim sometime between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the night
of the shooting. According to this witness, the victim had appeared drunk and angry,
“and was throwing cans of beer against the wall.”3
Search of the Victim’s Home
Outside the victim’s residence, along a walkway leading to the backyard, the
police found remnants of a food order from In-N-Out Burger. The items consisted of an
upside-down French fry tray or serving boat, scattered fries, and a ketchup packet.
Several aluminum cans were strewn about the same area.
Also found outside was a laminated key tag, such as might be used by a car
dealership or body shop to keep track of multiple sets of keys. The preprinted strip of
paper had blank spaces next to the words “Year,” “Make,” “Model,” “Body” and
“Color.” Someone had scrawled “CADDY” in handwritten letters across the entire tag.
Inside the victim’s home the police found photographs of defendant, a piece of
mail addressed to defendant, and another document with his name on it. There was a
receipt from a Big 5 sporting goods store dated July 1, 2019, for the purchase of a
flashlight, golf balls, two pairs of shoes, and a $19 charge listed as “STD AMMO
3The information in this paragraph comes from the police testimony at the preliminary
hearing. Witnesses D.M. and A.V. did not testify in court. According to the lead detective on
the case, A.V. further reported that “a white Dodge four-door vehicle came to the [victim’s]
house” on the day of the shooting.
7.
BCKGRND CK FEE.” A separate document indicated the same store had initiated a
background check for someone named Karla Perez within minutes of the transaction
shown on the receipt.
Other items found inside the residence included a packaged component of a
medical neck brace. According to preliminary hearing testimony, there was also an
eviction notice indicating the victim was being evicted.
July 16, 2019
By July 16, 2019, investigators knew defendant owned a 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
and had determined the license plate number. It was a two-door coupe with white paint.
While conducting a “grid search” in the nearby town of Planada, the police located the
vehicle at the residence of a man named Felix.
Undercover law enforcement agents surveilled Felix’s residence for the remainder
of the day. A maroon- or burgundy-colored Buick eventually pulled up to the house. A
man later identified as Martin Olvera was seen exiting the Buick and, a few minutes later,
relocating to the driver’s seat of the Cadillac.
At approximately 8:45 p.m., Olvera departed from Felix’s residence in the
Cadillac. The Buick, which was then occupied by two females, followed behind Olvera
as he proceeded to State Highway 140. The undercover agents tailed both vehicles for
approximately 15 minutes before police officers in marked cars effectuated a stop in the
City of Merced.
Driving due west on State Highway 140 is the most direct path between where the
Cadillac and Buick started and ended their journey. However, the vehicles took what the
People describe as a “serpentine” route by detouring north on Plainsburg Road, west on
Bear Creek Drive, and south on Arboleda Road. The cars resumed westbound travel on
State Highway 140 at roughly the midway point between Planada and Merced.
The driver of the Buick is not identified in the record. The passenger was
Annabelle Perez (Annabelle). Annabelle is the sister of Karla Perez (Karla), i.e., the
8.
person whose name and address were listed on a document found inside the victim’s
home.
Olvera and Annabelle were arrested during the traffic stop. Felix was arrested and
interrogated the same evening. Over the course of two interviews (the second one was
conducted two weeks later), Felix told multiple conflicting stories about defendant and
Karla arriving at his Planada residence sometime between the afternoon of July 14, 2019,
and the afternoon of July 15, 2019. In one version of events, Karla and defendant told
Felix they were at a casino on the evening of July 14, i.e., the night of the shooting.
A document found inside the Cadillac showed defendant to be its registered owner
as of July 12, 2019. His registered address was on East Alexander Avenue in the City of
Merced.
Further Investigation
In late July, detectives obtained store surveillance video of the transaction
documented on the Big 5 receipt found in the victim’s home. The video showed
defendant, Karla, and a man named Fernando Luna shopping together on July 1, 2019
(two weeks prior to the shooting). Portions of the video showed defendant wearing a
neck brace and being physically affectionate toward Karla. It also appeared to show him
paying for the items listed on the receipt.
On July 29, 2019, Karla’s then 17-year-old daughter, D.P., was hospitalized for
alcohol intoxication and a stab wound sustained during an incident unrelated to this case.
As the police had not yet located defendant or Karla, detectives went to the hospital to
question D.P. about the victim’s death. D.P. was still intoxicated at the time of the
interview, which lasted approximately three hours.
D.P. claimed to have killed the victim herself while under the influence of alcohol,
cocaine, and marijuana. She referred to the victim by his first name, describing him as “a
Mexican man that my mom was renting a room from.” D.P. then added, “Her and her
9.
boyfriend were living there.” She also remarked that her mother’s boyfriend “wears a
neck brace.”
Although D.P. claimed to have shot the victim, her story conflicted with some of
the physical evidence. The major discrepancy was in her account of the victim being shot
“in the face” while inside his home and then going “into the road asking for help.” But
she did accurately describe the interior and exterior of the victim’s residence, and she
knew the shooting “happened, like, around 11:30 [p.m.] almost 11:31.”
On July 30, 2019, detectives obtained security camera footage from Casino
Merced, located at 1459 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in the City of Merced. One video
showed Karla, Annabelle, defendant, and the victim in the casino on the night of the
shooting. Defendant was wearing a neck brace. Exterior camera footage showed the
group leaving together in defendant’s Cadillac, with Karla behind the wheel, at
approximately 11:10 p.m.
On July 31, 2019, detectives obtained surveillance video from a business located
on West 15th Street, a few blocks east of Casino Merced. It showed a car resembling
defendant’s Cadillac approaching the intersection of 15th and G Streets at approximately
11:21 p.m. on the night of the shooting. After pausing for traffic, the car turned left and
proceeded northbound on G Street.
In early August, the police obtained surveillance video from an In-N-Out Burger
located across the street from Casino Merced. It showed defendant’s Cadillac was in the
drive-thru lane on the night of the shooting from approximately 11:11 p.m. to 11:18 p.m.
The license plate was clearly visible in the footage.
Defendant’s Arrest and Prosecution
The police eventually received information that defendant was in Tulare County.
On August 10, 2019, a team of undercover officers apprehended defendant and Karla in
the City of Lindsay. They were arrested outside of an apartment occupied by two adults
and a small child. Some of defendant’s belongings were found inside the apartment,
10.
including a neck brace. In addition, according to an arresting officer, a “broken” cell
phone was found “in the restroom of that residence.”4
In December 2019, Karla, Annabelle, Olvera, and defendant were named in a
criminal information pertaining to the victim’s death. Defendant and Karla were accused
of premeditated murder (§§ 187, 189; count 1). Karla was also charged as an accessory
after the fact, as were Annabelle and Olvera (§ 32; count 2). Defendant and Karla were
further charged with attempted unlawful possession of ammunition (§§ 664, 30305; count
3).
All counts included gang enhancement allegations pleaded pursuant to a former
version of section 186.22, subdivision (b). Defendant was further alleged to have
personally used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivisions (b)–(d),
and to have previously been convicted of a serious felony (§ 667, subd. (a)). The same
prior conviction was alleged to constitute a strike for purposes of the “Three Strikes” law.
(§§ 667, subds. (b)–(i), 1170.12.)
On January 7, 2020, the information was amended to delete an inapplicable
reference to section 190.2. Three weeks later, defendant filed a motion under section 995
to set aside the information. On February 18, 2020, defendant’s motion was granted as to
the count 3 gang enhancement but denied in all other respects.
Defendant also filed motions to be tried separately from his codefendants and to
bifurcate the trial of the gang enhancements. The trial court agreed to sever the case
against Karla, but the motions were otherwise denied. A jury trial commenced on
4In their briefing, the People argue the “‘smashed’” cell phone was especially probative
of defendant being the victim’s killer. It was the prosecutor who used the word “smashed,” not
the officer who testified. During closing argument, the prosecutor said, “Inside that residence
was a smashed cell phone. [¶] I want you to ask yourself, ladies and gentlemen, why do people
smash cell phones? There’s obviously something on that cell phone that someone doesn’t want
other people to see.” However, apart from the phone being located inside the apartment, there
was no evidence it belonged to defendant. We note the officer testified defendant was “standing
in front of the apartment” and using “his cell phone” immediately prior to his arrest.
11.
February 25, 2020. On March 19, 2020, the trial court declared a mistrial due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Retrial began in September 2020 and continued into the following month.
Defendant’s renewed motions to be tried separately and to bifurcate the gang
enhancement allegations were denied, as were several motions to limit the introduction of
gang evidence. Defendant, Olvera, and Annabelle were jointly tried before a single jury.
Trial Evidence re: Count 1
A neighbor testified to seeing the victim outside his residence at approximately
10:30 p.m. on the night of the shooting. The victim was “throwing beer bottles or cans
around” and yelling to someone inside the house “that he just wanted to go for a ride.”
He seemed “really upset.” The witness did not know to whom he was speaking, but on
prior occasions she had seen “two ladies and a gentleman that would usually let
themselves into the home.” The man wore a neck brace, and the trio had come and gone
in a white Cadillac that “looked like an Eldorado.”
Video evidence clearly showed defendant, Karla, Annabelle, and the victim
departing from Casino Merced in defendant’s Cadillac on the night of the shooting. The
casino footage was edited to focus on the activity between 11:06 p.m. and 11:11 p.m.
The evidence did not reveal when the group arrived at the casino, but a detective testified
to Karla’s cell phone data showing her phone was “in the area of Casino Merced” from
11:00 p.m. to 11:19 p.m. The same witness testified that Annabelle’s cell phone data
showed her phone was “in the area of Casino Merced” from 9:53 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.5
5The detective’s exact testimony regarding Annabelle’s phone was that, according to
“information provided by T-Mobile for July 15th, 2019, from 0453 hours through 0630 hours
Coordinated Universal Time, which converts to July 14th, 2019, from 2153 hours to 2330 hours
Pacific Standard Time, this particular device was in the area of Casino Merced.” If the testimony
was accurate, and assuming Annabelle had possession of her phone, this evidence conflicted
with the People’s theory that she was on Merced Avenue at the time of the shooting and
witnessed the murder.
12.
The In-N-Out Burger videos showed the Cadillac in the drive-thru lane from
approximately 11:11 p.m. to 11:18 p.m. According to the People’s theory, the Cadillac
then drove on West 15th Street, passing a security camera at 11:21 p.m. as it approached
the G Street intersection. It proceeded northbound on G, then east on 16th street, and
eventually made its way to Motel Drive. Between 11:21 and 11:22 p.m., the Cadillac
traveled southeast on Motel Drive and entered the victim’s neighborhood in the
eastbound lane of Merced Avenue.
The People’s trial exhibit No. 114 was a video consisting of seven minutes and 40
seconds of footage captured by the security camera on the 1200 block of Merced Avenue.
It depicted the activity there from approximately 11:22 p.m. until just prior to 11:30 p.m.
(See fn. 2, ante.) The exhibit was a recording of the recording. The detective who
authenticated it explained there was a problem converting the video files from the
homeowner’s security system to a viewable format. He improvised a solution: “I …
used my department-issued iPod with the Axon Video Capture to actually record the
monitor while I played the video [on the homeowner’s equipment] so I could actually
capture what was on screen.” The detective stopped recording when the video clock hit
23:28:47, which he explained was approximately one minute behind the actual time.6
Based on the Merced Avenue video and the In-N-Out Burger items found outside
the victim’s residence, the People argued Karla, Annabelle, defendant, and the victim
arrived back at the victim’s home at approximately 11:22 p.m. The People theorized the
victim had said or done something at the casino that made defendant feel disrespected,
which led to an argument at the house. Defendant was alleged to have shot the victim to
6The defense criticized the detective for failing to record the “three minutes” preceding
the first 911 call. The three-minute estimate assumed the video clock was not approximately one
minute slow. The detective conceded it was possible other cars had driven past the camera
during the relevant time period. He also testified to having attempted to review the original
video again in preparation for the preliminary hearing, whereupon he discovered that it had been
erased.
13.
death, but no theory was offered as to why the shooting occurred roughly two blocks
away from the victim’s home.
Witness M.A. was called to testify about waking up to the sound of people arguing
on the night of the shooting. She was unsure of the time but again estimated it was “after
midnight.” She did not recall hearing any gunshots.
F.G. and A.D. both testified to having little memory of the incident. Their
recorded interviews were played for the jury, as was F.G.’s 911 call. A police officer
who had spoken to A.D. at the crime scene testified that he reported hearing someone
say, prior to the shooting, “‘Why are you mad?’” During the same conversation, A.D.
claimed to have seen a 2005 or 2006 Cadillac CTS turn right onto Rose Avenue.
The 911 caller who lived on Rose Avenue, D.W., testified he was on his front
porch when he heard the gunshots. He called 911 from inside his home approximately
one minute later. The location of his garage obstructed his view such that he would not
have seen a vehicle approaching from Merced Avenue before going into the house.
There was also a period of approximately 45 to 60 seconds during which he would not
have seen any vehicles that might have passed by his house. After calling 911 and
returning to his porch, D.W. saw a police officer driving south on Rose Avenue toward
Merced Avenue. He flagged down the officer and told him about the gunshots.
The People’s theory was that Karla served as the getaway driver. She, Annabelle,
and defendant were alleged to have fled the scene in defendant’s Cadillac, passing
multiple security cameras while heading northwest on Motel Drive at 11:30 p.m.
However, the People’s cell phone mapping expert testified the data for Karla’s and
Annabelle’s phones showed both devices were one or two miles southwest of the crime
scene at 11:30 p.m., “in the area of East Childs Avenue and Brantley Street.” Upon
further questioning, the witness explained the data was classified as having “a low
14.
confidence level,” meaning the phones were more than 300 meters away from that
location.7
Felix testified about the Cadillac being found at his home in Planada on Tuesday,
July 16, 2019. Although he struggled with dates and times, the testimony indicated Karla
and defendant had shown up at his house on the night of the shooting (Sunday) or in the
early hours of July 15, 2019 (Monday). In his words, “[T]hey just wanted a place to
rest—to rest their head. And I said that they could stay in my room, as I was in my
mom’s room … with another friend of mine. And I was—I was busy, that I didn’t have
time to talk to them, you know, but that they could spend the night. [¶] They stayed the
night. That was it.”8 Felix admitted he was using methamphetamine on the dates in
question.
Felix’s testimony seemed to indicate Karla and defendant had arrived alone, i.e.,
without Annabelle. There was no mention of Annabelle being there until Monday
afternoon. Annabelle’s cell phone data reportedly showed her device was in Planada at
5:19 a.m. Monday morning. Felix referred to a lunch conversation from that day, during
which plans were made for him, Karla, Annabelle, and defendant to go to a casino. But
then Olvera “happened to show up” and Felix “didn’t want to go anymore because [he]
did not want to be, like, a fifth wheel.” For reasons not explained, Felix let the foursome
borrow his car and the Cadillac was left at his house. He admitted to placing some type
of covering over the Cadillac at Karla’s request.
7It was never explained why Annabelle’s cell phone data reportedly showed her device in
two locations at the same time, i.e., “in the area of Casino Merced” and “in the area of East
Childs Avenue and Brantley Street.” (See fn. 5, ante.)
8 Felix testified the person with Karla was introduced to him as “Chino” or “Gino.”
When asked to make a courtroom identification of defendant, Felix denied recognizing him.
Later in the trial, Karla’s daughter and a defense witness both testified to knowing defendant by
the nickname “Chino.”
15.
Karla and defendant did not return to Felix’s home. Felix did not see Annabelle or
Olvera again until Tuesday, when they finally brought his vehicle back and took
possession of the Cadillac. Annabelle’s cell phone data showed her device had traveled
south on Monday night, registering with cell towers in Madera at 10:44 p.m. and in
Tulare County at 11:59 p.m.
Karla’s daughter, D.P., testified pursuant to a grant of immunity after invoking her
constitutional right against self-incrimination. She denied ever meeting the victim or
discussing his murder with Karla or defendant. D.P. also denied remembering what she
had said during her hospital interview. A recording of the interview was played for the
jury.
Through cross-examination of the lead detective, counsel for Olvera and
Annabelle suggested D.P. may have been the Hispanic female that F.G. and A.D.
reported seeing prior to the shooting. The detective admitted to having considered this
possibility, saying it was why he had asked D.P. what she wore that evening. During her
interview, D.P. claimed to have worn pants and a black sweater. F.G. had described a
person wearing shorts and a white tank top. The detective also testified that D.P.’s phone
records “don’t put her in that area” on July 14, 2019.
Trial Evidence re: Count 3
To prove attempted possession of ammunition by a felon, the People introduced
the Big 5 video and related documents found inside the victim’s home. The assistant
manager who handled the transaction testified. Defendant stipulated to having an
unspecified prior felony conviction.
The video showed Karla bringing two boxes of shoes to a counter near the cash
register and conversing with the assistant manager. Defendant and Fernando Luna
moved in and out of the camera’s view as this was happening. Luna then joined Karla at
the counter for about 60 seconds, during which time defendant was somewhere off
screen. When defendant returned, he and Luna began playing with a flashlight and
16.
laughing about it. As Karla continued to speak with the assistant manager, defendant and
Luna interacted with another employee. The assistant manager then went into a back
room for about three minutes.
While the assistant manager was gone, defendant and Luna interacted with Karla,
talked to the other employee, and looked at various merchandise. When the assistant
manager returned, the trio congregated near the register and spoke to both employees.
There was a subsequent period of one-on-one communication between defendant and the
assistant manager, and he appeared to tender a payment.
The assistant manager’s testimony briefly explained what was happening in the
video. She referred to defendant as the “gentleman with the neck brace” and to Luna as
the “shorter Hispanic male.” Her interactions with Karla concerned a prerequisite
background check for the sale of ammunition. The witness recalled Karla filling out “the
paperwork to do that,” and Luna asking “a few questions as far as the ammunition and
what caliber.” She added, “I don’t remember what specifically—what specific calibers
they were.”
On cross-examination, defendant asked if Karla had inquired about a “specific
kind of ammunition.” The witness did not remember, and defendant said, “[W]ould it
ring a bell if I—was it 9 millimeter ammunition?” The witness replied, “In the area that
she was, it was either 9, .38 Special, or .40.”
Olvera’s counsel asked the witness to confirm there was “no attempt by either of
the males to purchase ammunition.” She responded, “There was. Just not by the taller
gentleman with the neck brace. The shorter Hispanic male was the one asking about the
ammunition.”
Trial Evidence re: Gang Allegations
Defendant was alleged to have killed the victim after being publicly disrespected
by him at Casino Merced. The preliminary facts of a public dispute and defendant
feeling disrespected were supposedly inferable from the Casino Merced videos. (See
17.
further discussion, post.) The victim had no known involvement with gangs, but
defendant was shown to be “a high-ranking Nuestra Familia criminal street gang
member.”
According to expert testimony, Nuestra Familia or “NF” is a criminal street gang
with multiple levels of membership. Affiliates are commonly known as Northerners or
Norteños, but those terms technically refer to a certain status or membership level.
Nuestra Familia is both the name of the organization and the highest level of membership
therein. The next level down is variously known as the “Northern Structure,” “Nuestra
Raza,” and “Norteños Soldados” (abbreviated as “N-Sols”). Below that are the Norteños.
As explained at trial, “Norteños are people that still are part of the cause or part of the
Nuestra Familia, but they’re lower level and haven’t been selected or they haven’t
committed to being investigated [for advancement in the hierarchy].” Norteños may
subdivide into smaller groups (“subsets”) outside of the prison system, but “eventually it
all leads up to Nuestra Familia.”
Nuestra Familia’s primary activities reportedly include murder, carjacking,
witness intimidation, “major narcotic trafficking,” and “[a]nything to do with violence.”
Murder, if committed against a gang rival, benefits NF by helping it maintain a reputation
for violence and instilling fear and intimidation in others. The prosecution asked an
expert witness if murdering someone not affiliated with gangs is also beneficial to NF.
The expert replied, “Yes. If there was a reason for the homicide that they can articulate,
then yes, it would benefit the gang as well.” He then gave the example of an NF member
reporting to his superiors that a victim “‘totally disrespected me or disrespected the
gang,’” in which case “that murder would be authorized.” In other testimony, the expert
noted the importance of respect in NF gang culture.
Two gang experts opined defendant had attained the status of “Carnal” (“Brother”)
and was thus a “full-fledged member of the Nuestra Familia.” According to one expert,
“the NF has three categories of Carnals …[:] Cat-1, Cat-2, Cat-3.” He opined defendant
18.
was at least a “Cat-2 NF member,” meaning he was involved in the overall management
of the gang. The expert opinions regarding defendant’s NF status were based on a
recorded telephone conversation and photographs of defendant in the company of “Cat-3
NF members.”9 The phone conversation was played for the jurors and explained to them
through the testimony of a special agent with the FBI.
The phone call had been intercepted during a wiretapping operation conducted in
November 2017. It was a conversation between defendant and a higher ranking NF
member. They discussed large-scale trafficking of methamphetamine and heroin,
including a purchase that would require “about a 100 G’s.” The conversation shifted to
the topic of postponing or cancelling previously made plans to kill two women who had
stolen money from the organization. Also discussed was an NF investigation of a lower-
level member for possible removal from the gang. It was said they would “hit him” if the
findings were negative, which the expert testified meant some degree of physical assault
and “could mean death.”
As further evidence of his gang membership, the People introduced photographs
of defendant’s tattoos. The only tattoo directly related to NF was of the number 14, inked
in large Roman numerals across defendant’s stomach and upper abdomen. According to
expert testimony, references to this number are “predominant throughout the entire
organization” because the 14th letter of the alphabet is N. The expert explained,
“Anything that you can kind of put the, you know, emphasis on the N or the F could be
used to represent the Nuestra Familia.”
A tattoo of the word “murder” across defendant’s left forearm was deemed
relevant because murder is one of Nuestra Familia’s primary activities. This and several
9The People’s briefing erroneously states the photographs were found inside the victim’s
home. The photos were located during a probation search at a different address in April 2018,
nearly 15 months prior to the shooting. The jury was not told when or how the photographs were
obtained.
19.
other tattoos were held admissible for the dual purpose of proving the gang enhancement
allegations and showing “motive and identity of the shooter.” Defendant’s arguments for
exclusion pursuant to Evidence Code section 352 were rejected.
The prosecutor repeatedly displayed and referenced a tattoo on defendant’s chest
of someone holding a gun to the back of a man’s head. When the gang expert was asked
about it, he noted defendant also had tattoos of dollar signs and the word “money,”
opining they were collectively “indicative of gang behavior” but did not specifically
pertain to Nuestra Familia. During closing argument, the prosecutor asked the jury to
“remember the tattoo on [defendant]’s chest that depicts someone being shot in the back
of the head, the exact same manner in which [the victim] was killed.”
The jury also saw a tattoo on defendant’s right hand that said “get MAD” and
another on his left hand that said “go BAD.” A handgun was tattooed above the words
on his left hand. One of the gang experts interpreted this as “indicating that when he gets
mad, it’ll go bad. So there’s a propensity for violence if things go wrong.” The trial
court sustained an objection to this testimony and ordered it stricken, but the prosecutor
was allowed to rephrase the question as follows: “So you’re saying someone with a
tattoo, based on your knowledge of criminal street gangs, like this would be signifying
that if they get mad, they go bad?” The witness answered, “Right. That—that’s what
that would indicate to me, that that person would.”
To establish a “pattern of criminal gang activity” (§ 186.22, former subd. (e)), the
People relied on the prior convictions of two gang members, one of whom was Fernando
Luna. The jury learned this was the same person seen on the Big 5 video shopping with
defendant and Karla on July 1, 2019. Luna was arrested on July 13, 2019, one day prior
to the victim’s murder, and he was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm. It was
further revealed that codefendant Olvera was with Luna at the time of Luna’s arrest.
20.
Verdicts and Sentencing
The jury began deliberating on Thursday, October 8, 2020, at approximately 3:33
p.m. It recessed for the day at 4:44 p.m. Deliberations resumed on Friday, lasting from
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There was an afternoon request for a readback of Felix’s
testimony and that of the neighbor who testified to seeing the victim outside of his house
on the night of the shooting. At 3:48 p.m., the jury submitted the following question: “If
[defendant] is not found guilty can Anabelle … and … Olvera be found guilty of
accessory after the fact?”
The jury returned from a three-day weekend on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
Deliberations lasted from approximately 10:24 a.m. to 4:07 p.m. Late that afternoon, a
request was submitted for “pictures of … Olvera’s tattoos.” The trial court referred the
jury to “Exhibit 383,” which the trial transcript describes as showing tattoos of the word
“Merced,” an “Aztec numeral” indicative of membership in a Norteño subset, and an
image of “someone pointing a gun.”
On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, the jury deliberated for approximately 4.5
hours before returning its verdicts. Defendant was found guilty of first degree murder
and attempted unlawful possession of ammunition as alleged in counts 1 and 3. He was
also found liable for personal discharge of a firearm under section 12022.53, subdivision
(d). The gang enhancement allegations were rejected as not true.
Annabelle and Olvera were found guilty of being accessories after the fact. As to
both of these codefendants, the gang enhancement allegations were found true.
In a bifurcated proceeding, defendant admitted the prior strike and serious felony
conviction allegations. He later filed a motion for new trial, which was denied.
In December 2020, defendant was sentenced to an aggregate prison term of 80
years to life. He received 25 years to life for the murder conviction, which was doubled
because of the prior strike. A consecutive term of 25 years to life was imposed for the
firearm enhancement, plus another five years for the prior serious felony conviction. A
21.
concurrent upper term sentence was imposed for count 3. The notice of appeal was filed
on the date of sentencing.
DISCUSSION
“‘Evidence of the defendant’s gang affiliation … can help prove identity, motive,
modus operandi, specific intent, means of applying force or fear, or other issues pertinent
to guilt of the charged crime.’” (People v. Becerrada (2017) 2 Cal.5th 1009, 1022.)
“But, ‘even where gang membership is relevant, because it may have a highly
inflammatory impact on the jury[,] trial courts should carefully scrutinize such evidence
before admitting it.’” (People v. Gomez (2018) 6 Cal.5th 243, 294.) “Such evidence
should not be admitted if only tangentially relevant” (People v. Gurule (2002) 28 Cal.4th
557, 653), or “where its sole relevance is to show a defendant’s criminal disposition or
bad character as a means of creating an inference the defendant committed the charged
offense” (People v. Sanchez (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 1435, 1449; accord, People v.
Cardenas (1982) 31 Cal.3d 897, 904–905).
Defendant asserts multiple claims regarding the gang evidence admitted in his
murder trial. He begins by challenging the denial of his pretrial motion to dismiss the
count 1 gang enhancement pursuant to section 995. Although the jury found the gang
allegations not true, defendant argues the error resulted in the admission of unduly
prejudicial evidence. He relies on the holdings of People v. Prunty (2015) 62 Cal.4th 59and People v. Ramirez (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 800. Defendant also relies on Assembly
Bill 333’s changes to section 186.22, which he contends apply retroactively. The People
concede the argument based on Assembly Bill 333 but insist there was no prejudice.
There is a separate issue regarding the denial of defendant’s motion to bifurcate
the gang allegations. His prior reliance on section 1109 was misplaced (see People v.
Burgos, supra, 16 Cal.5th at p. 8), but a question remains whether the trial court’s ruling
was an abuse of discretion. The People maintain there was no error.
22.
Alternatively, defendant claims “the sheer volume and inflammatory nature” of
the gang evidence admitted at trial “would have been improper even if the gang
enhancement had justifiably been before the jury.” He further alleges instructional error
regarding the use of the gang evidence to prove identity. The People dispute these
contentions.
We accept the People’s concession with respect to Assembly Bill 333’s retroactive
changes to section 186.22. It is therefore unnecessary to reach the merits of defendant’s
other contentions regarding the section 995 motion. The People’s concession may render
the bifurcation issue moot as well, but understanding the errors made in connection with
the denial of bifurcation is important to the overall prejudice analysis. The bifurcation
ruling will thus be examined in detail.
I. Denial of Section 995 Motion
A. Legal Overview
Section 186.22 provides for enhanced punishment of gang-related crimes. A
gang-related felony is one “committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in
association with a criminal street gang.” (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1); see People v. Albillar
(2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 60.) The statute also requires “the specific intent to promote,
further, or assist in criminal conduct by gang members.” (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1).) These
elements are sometimes described as the first and second “prongs” of the enhancement
provision. (E.g., People v. Renteria (2022) 13 Cal.5th 951, 964.)
A gang enhancement cannot be proven without showing the existence of the
relevant criminal street gang. (People v. Vasquez (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 909, 922.) At
the time of defendant’s prosecution, a “criminal street gang” was defined as “any ongoing
organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal,
having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more [enumerated
criminal acts], having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose
23.
members individually or collectively engage in, or have engaged in, a pattern of criminal
gang activity.” (§ 186.22, former subd. (f).)
In 2021, while this appeal was pending, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill 333,
which took effect on January 1, 2022. (People v. Tran (2022) 13 Cal.5th 1169, 1206.) A
“criminal street gang” was redefined as “an ongoing, organized association or group of
three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities
the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in subdivision (e), having
a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose members collectively
engage in, or have engaged in, a pattern of criminal gang activity.” (§ 186.22, subd. (f),
as amended by Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 4.)
As used in the definition of a criminal street gang, a “‘pattern of criminal gang
activity’ means the commission of, attempted commission of, conspiracy to commit, or
solicitation of, sustained juvenile petition for, or conviction of” two or more offenses
listed in section 186.22, subdivision (e), if such conduct occurred within certain time
frames and under particular circumstances specified therein.10 (§ 186.22, subd. (e)(1).)
This is informally known as the “predicate offenses” requirement. (People v. Navarro
(2021) 12 Cal.5th 285, 311.) By enactment of Assembly Bill 333, predicate offenses
must now be shown to have “commonly benefited” the alleged gang, and the common
benefit must have been “more than reputational.” (§ 186.22, subd. (e)(1), as amended by
Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 4.)
Assembly Bill 333 also heightened the evidentiary burden for the second prong of
the enhancement. The terms “promote,” “further,” and “assist” are now defined to mean
10A “pattern of criminal gang activity” was previously defined as “the commission of,
attempted commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of, sustained juvenile petition
for, or conviction of two or more of the [offenses listed in paragraphs (1) to (33)], provided at
least one of these offenses occurred after the effective date of this chapter and the last of those
offenses occurred within three years after a prior offense, and the offenses were committed on
separate occasions, or by two or more persons ….” (Former § 186.22, subd. (e), 1st ¶, as
amended by Stats. 2016, ch. 887, § 1; see Stats. 2013, ch. 508, § 1.)
24.
providing “a common benefit to members of a gang where the common benefit is more
than reputational.” (§ 186.22, subd. (g), as amended by Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 4.)
“Examples of a common benefit that are more than reputational may include, but are not
limited to, financial gain or motivation, retaliation, targeting a perceived or actual gang
rival, or intimidation or silencing of a potential current or previous witness or informant.”
(Ibid.)
B. Additional Background
At the preliminary hearing, the People attempted to satisfy the predicate offenses
requirement with certified conviction records for Ari Jairo Gonzalez Cardenas and
Lorenzo Marquez Flores. These men were not involved in the currently charged crimes.
Cardenas was reportedly affiliated with “Varrio Planet X,” which was alleged to be a
Norteño subset. Flores was reportedly affiliated with a different alleged subset called
“Norteño For Life.”
Defendant and all three codefendants disputed the sufficiency of the predicate
offenses evidence. Their arguments were based on People v. Prunty, supra, 62 Cal.4th
59 (Prunty). (See id. at p. 71 [“[W]here the prosecution’s case positing the existence of a
single ‘criminal street gang’ … turns on the existence and conduct of one or more gang
subsets, then the prosecution must show some associational or organizational connection
uniting those subsets”].) Defendant separately argued there was insufficient evidence to
show the currently charged crimes were gang related. (See People v. Ramirez, supra, 244
Cal.App.4th at p. 819 [trial court erred by failing to dismiss gang enhancements where
“there was no preliminary hearing evidence apart from [an expert’s] purely conclusory
and factually unsupported opinions”].)
The magistrate ruled in favor of the People without addressing the Prunty issue.
As to defendant, the evidence was found sufficient to support a theory the currently
25.
charged offenses were committed “in association with a criminal street gang.” Defendant
challenged these rulings by filing a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 995.
As previously noted, the section 995 motion was granted as to the gang
enhancement allegations for count 3 but denied as to those for count 1. Regarding the
Prunty argument, the trial court ruled it was sufficient for the People’s gang expert to
have given generalized testimony about the conduct of all purported NF/Norteño subsets
in Merced County. In other words, according to the trial court, it was unnecessary for the
People to introduce evidence about the particular subsets to which the predicate offenders
allegedly belonged.
Defendant’s arguments concerning the first prong of the count 1 gang
enhancement were rejected based on the gang expert’s “testimony that the motive for the
shooting … was a gang related disrespect of a high[-]ranking NF member, [i.e.,
defendant].” Defendant’s arguments concerning the second prong of the enhancement
were rejected based on the expert’s opinion that Karla was an actual gang member and
not merely a gang associate. The trial court relied on the California Supreme Court’s
interpretation of a former version of section 186.22, subdivision (b) in the case of People
v. Albillar, supra, 51 Cal.4th 47. (See id. at p. 68 [holding “if substantial evidence
establishes that the defendant intended to and did commit the charged felony with known
members of a gang, the jury may fairly infer that the defendant had the specific intent to
promote, further, or assist criminal conduct by those gang members”].)
C. Analysis
“A defendant may utilize section 995 to strike invalid enhancement allegations.”
(Hale v. Superior Court (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 268, 271.) To prevail on a section 995
motion, the defendant must show the absence of probable cause for at least one element
of the enhancement. (§ 995, subd. (a)(2)(B); Thompson v. Superior Court (2001) 91
Cal.App.4th 144, 148–149.) “‘“Probable cause is shown if a man of ordinary caution or
26.
prudence would be led to believe and conscientiously entertain a strong suspicion of the
guilt of the accused.”’ [Citations.]” (Rideout v. Superior Court (1967) 67 Cal.2d 471,
474.)
“[T]he showing required at a preliminary hearing is exceedingly low.” (Salazar v.
Superior Court (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th 840, 846.) Circumstantial evidence may suffice,
and the evidence “need not be sufficient to support a conviction.” (Williams v. Superior
Court (1969) 71 Cal.2d 1144, 1147.) “Thus, an indictment or information should be set
aside only when there is a total absence of evidence to support a necessary element of the
offense charged.” (People v. Superior Court (Jurado) (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 1217, 1226.)
Based on Assembly Bill 333’s changes to section 186.22, defendant argues his
motion to dismiss the gang enhancement should have been granted because the People
did not present any “common benefit” evidence at the preliminary hearing. (See
§ 186.22, subds. (e)(1), (g).) This argument presumes the retroactive application of those
changes to cases, like this one, that were not final when the new law took effect. The
People concede the issue of retroactivity, and we accept the concession. (See People v.
Tran, supra, 13 Cal.5th at pp. 1206–1207 [holding the amendments to § 186.22 apply
retroactively to nonfinal cases]; Mendoza v. Superior Court (2023) 91 Cal.App.5th 42, 53
[“Assembly Bill 333’s amendments to section 186.22 … apply retroactively to the
showing required at the preliminary hearing”].)
The People made only a minimal effort to satisfy the predicate offenses
requirement at the preliminary hearing. There was no evidence about the crimes
committed by the alleged predicate offenders beyond the fact of their respective
convictions. Consequently, there was a total absence of proof vis-à-vis the “common
benefit” element described in section 186.22, subdivisions (e)(1) and (g). (Cf. People v.
Cooper (2023) 14 Cal.5th 735, 743 [failure to instruct on common benefit element not
harmless where “the record does not disclose the circumstances surrounding the predicate
offenses and the prosecution never introduced any evidence about how the gang
27.
commonly benefited from them”].) There was another failure of proof vis-à-vis the
common benefit element of the second prong of the enhancement, i.e., “the specific intent
to promote, further, or assist in criminal conduct by gang members.” (§ 186.22, subds.
(b)(1), (g).)
The People argue there is no prejudice because, even if the motion to dismiss had
been granted, gang evidence would still have been admitted at trial “because the
prosecution’s very theory motive and identity were gang-related.” As we explain in the
next part of the opinion, there was never any evidence of a gang motive for the shooting
in this case. Furthermore, none of the so-called gang evidence was admissible to prove
the identity of the victim’s killer.
II. Denial of Motion to Bifurcate the Gang Allegations
Defendant and his codefendants at trial all moved for bifurcation of the gang
enhancement allegations. Defendant also filed separate motions to exclude or limit
evidence of his gang membership, including evidence of his allegedly gang-related
tattoos. The People opposed these motions. On the issue of bifurcation, the People
exclusively relied on the purported cross-admissibility of the gang evidence to prove
motive.
All of the defense motions regarding gang evidence, including the motion to
bifurcate, were denied by the same judge who had presided over the preliminary hearing.
Citing both its familiarity with the preliminary hearing evidence and the People’s
arguments, the trial court relied on the alleged cross-admissibility of the gang evidence to
prove motive and the identity of the victim’s killer. The trial court specifically found the
evidence of defendant’s tattoos “highly probative” and “highly relevant” to the question
of identity.
At the time of trial, a request to bifurcate gang enhancement allegations could be
granted or denied at the discretion of the trial court. (See People v. Hernandez (2004) 33
28.
Cal.4th 1040, 1049–1050.) The denial of the bifurcation motion is thus reviewed under
the abuse of discretion standard, “based on the record as it stood at the time of the
ruling.” (People v. Franklin (2016) 248 Cal.App.4th 938, 952.) The People correctly
argue it was defendant’s burden, as the moving party, “‘to clearly establish that there
[was] a substantial danger of prejudice requiring that the [gang] charges be separately
tried.’” (Hernandez, at p. 1051.)
“Our review is guided by the familiar principle that ‘[a] court abuses its discretion
when its rulings fall “outside the bounds of reason.”’” (People v. Franklin, supra, 248
Cal.App.4th at p. 952.) However, “[a] court can abuse its discretion by applying an
erroneous legal standard or by making a ruling unsupported by substantial evidence.”
(People v. Armstrong (2019) 6 Cal.5th 735, 756.) “‘If the court’s decision is influenced
by an erroneous understanding of applicable law …, the court has not properly exercised
its discretion under the law. [Citation.] Therefore, a discretionary order based on an
application of improper criteria or incorrect legal assumptions is not an exercise of
informed discretion and is subject to reversal.’” (Eneaji v. Ubboe (2014) 229
Cal.App.4th 1457, 1463; see People v. Knoller (2007) 41 Cal.4th 139, 156.)
The trial court made a clear record of its reasoning for not bifurcating the gang
allegations. As we now explain, it was mistaken about the gang evidence being “highly
relevant to motive and identity” and admissible at trial for those purposes. Because there
was no evidence of a gang motive and no legally permissible use of the gang evidence to
prove identity, the denial of the motion to bifurcate constitutes an abuse of discretion.
Moreover, the following analysis confirms defendant’s alternative claim that most of the
gang evidence “would have been improper even if the gang enhancement had justifiably
been before the jury.”
29.
A. There Was No Evidence of a Gang Motive
1. Additional Background
During the preliminary hearing, the People introduced four video clips recorded at
Casino Merced on the night of the shooting. The main clip provided a wide view of the
casino floor, showing the interactions between Karla, Annabelle, defendant, and the
victim shortly before their departure. A second clip of interior footage showed each of
them exiting through the front door of the building. The third video, recorded by an
exterior camera, briefly showed them walking toward the parking lot. The fourth video
showed them approaching defendant’s Cadillac, getting inside, and driving away.11
At 22:08:15 on the video clock, defendant is seated at a card table. He is wearing
a neck brace. The victim is standing behind him, wearing a dark hat and stroking his
chin. Karla is standing next to defendant, on his left. Defendant picks up a rack of
casino chips and rises out of the chair, removing himself from the game. Karla and the
victim gather near him, and it becomes apparent that Annabelle has been seated at a
different table nearby. Annabelle stands up and joins the group, and they move to a small
circular drink table. Defendant and the victim are both holding bottles of beer.
There is no audio, but when the video clock reads 22:09:01, the victim appears to
be speaking to Annabelle. A moment later, Annabelle lurches slightly forward. She may
have been laughing, as indicated by the contemporaneous movements of Karla and the
victim. As the victim turns his back to Annabelle and takes a few steps forward, Karla
swats at his back and, as fairly described in defendant’s briefing, makes a “playful” and
exaggerated kicking gesture toward his rear end.
11Based on the time estimates stated in the preliminary hearing transcript, it appears two
of the clips were identical to People’s trial exhibits Nos. 102 and 103. The clip of the casino
floor was estimated to be “3 minutes and 51 seconds,” which is approximately 75 seconds longer
than the corresponding trial exhibit (No. 196). However, it is clear from witness testimony that
the salient footage from the preliminary hearing video is the same as was introduced at trial. The
preliminary hearing video of the group entering the Cadillac was estimated to be “1 minute, 38
seconds,” which is a few seconds shorter than the corresponding trial exhibit (No. 104).
30.
Between approximately 22:09:07 and 22:09:15 on the video clock, the victim
strides back toward the circular table and past it, walking between Annabelle and Karla
and returning to near where he had been standing when defendant was gambling. Karla,
meanwhile, takes a few steps toward the nearest blackjack table and sets her purse down
next to a patron wearing a sleeveless top, R.Z. Although not disclosed in the preliminary
hearing testimony, it came out at trial that R.Z. is a cousin of Karla and Annabelle.
At 22:09:16 on the video clock, the victim appears to be speaking to a casino
employee. The employee soon begins wandering about the area, and the victim continues
to speak and make occasional gestures. This goes on for about 15 seconds, but it is
impossible to determine whether he is talking to himself, the employee, R.Z., Karla,
Annabelle, defendant, or a combination of all the above. Defendant has not yet moved
from his spot at the drink table.
At approximately 22:09:28 on the video clock, defendant appears to be conversing
with Annabelle, who has been standing to his right. Karla is a short distance from
Annabelle’s right and is standing next to R.Z., who is still seated at the blackjack table.
R.Z. is located to Karla’s right and to the left of the victim. During the next 10 seconds
defendant moves to his left, circling toward Karla while still looking at, and seemingly
talking to, Annabelle. As defendant gets closer to Karla, he appears to be looking in the
general direction of her and the victim. In a fluid sequence of movements, Karla appears
to say something to R.Z. before turning and moving slightly toward defendant. As this
happens, the victim walks back toward the group and rejoins them.
Next, at 22:09:40 on the video clock, R.Z.’s head is turned toward the group, and
she raises her right arm and hand. Immediately thereafter, defendant raises his left arm
and hand. He then begins walking toward the front of the casino with Karla, the victim,
and Annabelle following behind him—in that order. Between 22:09:44 and 22:09:45,
defendant turns and raises his left arm again, possibly pointing with his index finger. The
31.
group proceeds to the end of the casino floor, near the exit, and defendant speaks with an
employee in a purple shirt.
During the preliminary hearing, R.Z. testified to having raised her hand to say
goodbye to defendant. She understood defendant’s act of raising his hand as him saying
goodbye to her. R.Z. was not specifically questioned about defendant raising his hand
the second time. When asked if she had observed any confrontations or signs of hostility
between defendant and the victim, she answered, “None whatsoever.”
At approximately 22:09:53 on the video clock, defendant begins walking back
toward the drink table with the employee in the purple shirt. Karla, Annabelle, and the
victim stand by waiting for him. Defendant proceeds to the cashier’s window, and the
employee turns off in another direction. After looking inside of a drawer, the employee
appears to say something to defendant from across the room. As this is happening, Karla
and Annabelle begin walking to the front door. The victim remains where he has been
standing, continuing to drink his beer. At approximately 22:10:27, defendant finishes up
at the cashier’s window and begins making his way to the exit. He pauses to interact with
a few patrons, shaking one person’s hand and giving a two-fingered “peace sign” to two
others. At approximately 22:10:48, he and the victim meet up at the front door.
In the next video clip, defendant walks out the front door and holds it open for the
victim as the victim exits. The third video briefly shows them walking to the parking lot
together, engaged in conversation. In the last video, Karla is seen opening the driver’s
side door of the Cadillac and standing there as Annabelle climbs into the back seat.
When defendant and the victim come into view, defendant makes a gesture with his arms
resembling a baseball umpire’s signal for “safe.” He swings his arms in a similar fashion
a few moments later as he and the victim approach the passenger side of the Cadillac.
Defendant opens the door and waits for the victim to get into the back seat, then he sits
down in the front passenger seat.
32.
According to police testimony, additional footage from Casino Merced appeared
to show defendant buying the victim a beer. This was consistent with the testimony of
another eyewitness, J.S. Visible in the bottom middle portion of the casino floor video,
wearing a yellow top, J.S. was the last person defendant waved at before leaving the
building. As a regular patron of the casino, J.S. knew Karla, Annabelle, defendant, and
the victim from seeing them there on prior occasions. J.S. denied observing any
confrontations that evening between anyone in defendant’s group. She did recall
defendant buying drinks for the victim.
The defense questioned the lead homicide detective about his interviews with four
Casino Merced employees. Some of them had specific recollections of interacting with
defendant that night, but none recalled any type of argument, altercation, or “any kind of
hostilities” between him and the victim, nor any type of gang talk. One of the employees,
upon being shown the relevant footage, had repeatedly asked the detective, “What [am I]
supposed to be looking for?”
Officer Steven Odom of the Merced Police Department testified as the People’s
gang expert. He opined that defendant and Karla were both gang members and
Annabelle was a gang “associate.” He also testified to his personal interpretation of the
Casino Merced videos.
Officer Odom testified to believing the video of the casino floor showed the victim
“challenging or disrespecting” defendant. This prompted multiple objections and
extensive debate over the admissibility of such opinions. The magistrate eventually said,
“I am going to reserve and listen to the testimony and decide whether or not there was
anything that this witness can offer as an expert. Okay. So it’s reserved.”
The testimony resumed as follows: “Well, you can see [defendant] and [the
victim] almost simultaneously come together. And that’s when Karla steps in between
them both. [Defendant] raises his hand and points at [the victim], appears to say
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something. Don’t know. No audio. He then appears to exit, turns back around, points a
second time towards [the victim].”
Officer Odom was asked about the significance of “those gestures … as it relates
to the gang.” He responded: “Well, [defendant], knowing his high ranking gang status,
an individual who is obviously speaking to [defendant], disrespecting him to where
[defendant] is pointing a finger at him, twice; viewing all the gang assault videos I have
watched, videos involving gang members, it’s my opinion.” The prosecutor followed up,
“That it was a hostile gesture?” The witness answered, “I believe that. Yes.”
When defense counsel asked Officer Odom to consider the gesture by R.Z. that
preceded defendant raising his hand the first time, Officer Odom did not change his
opinion. He theorized R.Z. was waving to Karla, claiming the video shows that Karla
“taps [R.Z.] on the back of the—the back, [to indicate] that she’s leaving. And then
[R.Z.] points her hand up to acknowledge as she’s leaving.”12
Officer Odom also testified to the significance of defendant being disrespected in a
public place: “[I]n my experience, status and reputation is what a gang member lives by.
And if you are an NF member, you are the highest of the highest. You are not a normal
Norteño, status that Norteños sometimes will never achieve. So that status, that
reputation to continue to live by and hold if you are disrespected in public, you are going
to respond.” He further opined “the altercation that occurred in the casino” continued as
defendant and the victim walked out to the car. Officer Odom interpreted the “umpire
safe gesture” to mean defendant was telling the victim, “‘Stop. It’s done. It’s finished.’”
The magistrate ultimately excluded and ruled inadmissible all testimony about
whether defendant felt disrespected. The magistrate explained, “I think the witness can
12The video is reasonably interpreted as showing Karla reaching out and tapping R.Z. to
say goodbye at approximately 22:09:36 on the video clock. However, R.Z. does not raise her
hand until four seconds later, and when she does, Karla is turned around with her back facing
her. Of the four people in defendant’s group, the only person facing R.Z. is defendant. Karla
and the victim are looking the other way, and their bodies obscure Annabelle’s face from view.
34.
testify, based on his opinion, based on these gestures, that he has an opinion there was a
conflict. But he can’t testify about the person’s mental state and, therefore, based on his
opinion, based on the video, that there is a conflict, this could result in some type of gang
culture response.” The expert’s testimony regarding the importance of respect in gang
culture was held admissible.
On further direct examination, the following testimony was elicited:
“Q. Does committing an assault or homicide benefit the gang?
“A. Yes.
“Q. How so?
“A. Instills fear in the community, in their rivals, in law
enforcement that the gang is not to be disrespected, gang is to be feared.
Gangs want to be the most powerful violent gang.
“Q. Does it also benefit individual gang members?
“A. Definitely.
“Q. How?
“A. As I said earlier, gang members and their status, reputation is
what they live by. So if they have higher status, they want to continue to
keep that status, high and respected. So it will benefit their gang or that
gang member by keeping their status where it is or elevating one’s status.”
The prosecutor later described a hypothetical scenario in which a “Nuestra Familia
member shoots and kills a person who has disrespected him.” The following testimony
was given in relation thereto:
“Q. How do the crimes in that hypothetical benefit the gang?
“A. The crime of murder benefits the gang tremendously.
“Q. And is that because of—for the reasons that you stated before
that it instills fear in the community and rivals?
“A. And that they are not to be disrespected.”
35.
On cross-examination, Officer Odom was asked to explain what he perceived to
be the act of disrespect by the victim. The witness answered, “Well, it’s the totality of
that video when you watch everything.” When pressed to identify the evidence upon
which his opinions were based, Officer Odom claimed defendant had a “very serious”
look on his face and again relied on the finger pointing. The witness also said that a gang
member’s response to “conflict and argument” is “not always what we [lay people]
interpret the typical idea of angry to appear to be,” but he conceded that he is not a body
language expert.
As earlier noted, defendant was held to answer to the gang enhancement allegation
based on a theory the crimes were “committed in association with a criminal street gang.”
Although not specifically tied to a theory of acting for the benefit of a gang, the
magistrate also made these findings: “There’s some evidence, although slight, in my
opinion, of a conflict between [defendant] and [the victim] at the casino. But, more
importantly, witnesses who spoke to law enforcement at the scene of the crime described
there being a commotion prior to the shooting, both at the [victim’s residence] and down
the street.”
2. Law and Analysis
“Motive describes the reason a person chooses to commit a crime.” (People v.
Hillhouse (2002) 27 Cal.4th 469, 504.) “Motive is an intermediate fact which may be
probative of such ultimate issues as intent [citation], identity [citation], or commission of
the criminal act itself [citation].” (People v. Scheer (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 1009, 1017–
1018.) Ordinarily, the existence of a motive need only be established by a preponderance
of the evidence. (See Evid. Code, §§ 115, 403; People v. Herrera (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th
46, 61 [“the correct standard of proof for a preliminary fact under Evidence Code section
403 is evidence sufficient to support a finding by a preponderance of the evidence”];
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People v. Lynn (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d 715, 728 [“The general rule is motive is not an
element of any crime”].)
The admissibility of the People’s gang evidence to prove motive was dependent
upon what inferences could reasonably be drawn from the Casino Merced videos. “An
inference is a logical and reasonable deduction or conclusion to be drawn from the proof
of preliminary facts. [Citations.] It is the province of the trier of fact to decide whether
an inference should be drawn and the weight to be accorded the inference. … [T]o
constitute an inference, the conclusion must to some degree reasonably and logically
follow from the preliminary facts. If, upon proof of the preliminary facts, the conclusion
is mere guesswork, then we refer to it by such words as speculation, conjecture, surmise,
suspicion, and the like; and it cannot rise to the dignity of an inference.” (People v.
Massie (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 365, 373–374.)
“Somewhere along the evidentiary spectrum, a rational inference loses its
character if one or more of the premises upon which it rests, fails. When this happens,
the inference becomes irrational speculation.” (People v. Bohana (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th
360, 369.) Such is the case here regarding inferences of a motive based on defendant
feeling he was publicly disrespected at the casino.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the People, the video evidence is ambiguous,
at best, in terms of showing any type of dispute or hostility between defendant and the
victim. None of the patrons or staff appeared to be paying any attention to defendant’s
group during the relevant segment. If people in the crowd had looked over during the
period of supposedly escalating tensions, one might be able to infer there was some type
of argument or dispute. The video simply does not support that theory. Furthermore,
there were at least 30 other people on the casino floor but not one person reported seeing
or hearing anything noteworthy.
Officer Odom’s interpretation of the video was partially based on alleged facial
expressions. In his briefing, defendant argues “the video does not back up those claims.”
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He adds, “To the extent the expressions worn by [defendant] and [the victim] can be
discerned at all, they show no evidence of hostility.” We agree. Frankly, defendant’s
face is too blurry in the video to allow for anything but raw speculation about his mental
state. Even the detective who authenticated the video admitted he could not see any
“angry faces” in the footage.
Any attempt to interpret the “umpire safe gesture” near the parking lot is also
hopelessly speculative. The arm movements could have meant any number of things.
For example, defendant claimed he was saying, “When you go to the casino and you win,
you want to stop right away and just dip [leave]. Go with your winnings.”
As for the hand movements inside the casino, a trier of fact could reasonably infer
defendant was waving goodbye to R.Z. based on her testimony and personal knowledge
of the events. Officer Odom admitted he lacked personal knowledge of what or at whom
defendant was pointing. A trier of fact would be free to reject R.Z.’s testimony, but it
would require speculation to conclude defendant’s hand movements specifically meant
something else.
Even if the video evidence permitted the conclusion defendant was pointing at the
victim and that it was a hostile gesture, it would still require speculation to infer
defendant did so because he felt disrespected. This is where the theory of a gang motive
fully devolves into conjecture and guesswork. A person can be mad at someone for
countless reasons other than feeling they have been publicly disrespected. Expert
testimony that disrespect may motivate gang members to kill does not permit the leap of
reasoning that if defendant was mad at the victim, it was more likely than not due to a
perceived act of disrespect. (See People v. Gonzalez (2021) 59 Cal.App.5th 643, 649
[“Experts declaring unsubstantiated beliefs do not assist the truth-seeking enterprise”];
compare People v. Franklin, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th at pp. 943, 953 [theory of gang
motive supported by victim reporting that her actions caused appellant to feel
disrespected] with People v. Albarran (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 214, 227 [insufficient
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proof where “the only evidence to support the respect motive [was] the fact of [the
appellant’s] gang affiliation”].)
Reports of witnesses on Merced Avenue hearing an argument prior to the shooting
provided no support for the gang motive theory. There was certainly no evidence that
gang members argue with people only when they feel disrespected. In essence, the
People’s position was that gang members are more likely than nongang members to kill
people who have angered them. But that is not a theory of motive; it is a propensity
argument. (See People v. Gonzalez, supra, 59 Cal.App.5th at p. 649 [“A propensity for
violence is logically unconnected to a decision to act for the benefit of a gang. One fact
does not imply the other”].) As we discuss in the next part, there is a “‘“strongly
entrenched”’ rule that propensity evidence is not admissible to prove a defendant’s
conduct on a specific occasion.” (People v. Jackson (2016) 1 Cal.5th 269, 299.)
Insofar as the trial court may have viewed the evidence as supporting a secondary
motive of killing the victim to benefit a gang, such reasoning would also have been
erroneous. The People’s gang expert opined defendant’s killing of the victim would have
benefited his gang by instilling fear in the community and the gang’s rivals. However,
similar to the facts of People v. Ramirez, supra, 244 Cal.App.4th 800, there was no
evidence defendant made his gang affiliation known to the victim or the patrons and
employees of Casino Merced. (See id. at p. 819.) Witnesses on Merced Avenue reported
hearing an argument prior to the shooting, but none reported anything indicative of gang
activity or that they suspected the crime was gang related.
“Across cases, appellate courts have relied on similar factors—whether the
defendant’s gang membership was apparent to observers, whether the victim was a gang
member or rival of the defendant’s gang, and whether retaliation for prior gang activity or
disputes prompted the defendant’s crime—to describe the limits of reputation evidence
and ensure that it is grounded in specific facts that show the defendant acted on behalf of
a gang rather than for personal reasons. [Citations].” (People v. Renteria, supra, 13
39.
Cal.5th at p. 968.) None of those factors were present in this case. Defendant was
known to some of the casino patrons and staff, but there was no evidence any of them
knew or suspected he was a gang member. Nor was there any evidence of the crime
being attributed to Nuestra Familia. Defendant’s gang could not benefit from instilling
fear in the community if there was no reason for the community to attribute the shooting
to the gang. (People v. Gonzalez, supra, 59 Cal.App.5th at p. 649; see People v. Ochoa
(2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 650, 662 [reversing gang enhancement where appellant “did not
call out a gang name, display gang signs, wear gang clothing, or engage in gang
graffiti …. There was no evidence of bragging or graffiti to take credit for the crimes”].)
B. The Gang Evidence Was Not Admissible to Prove Identity
1. Additional Background
Photographs of defendant’s tattoos were admitted into evidence during the
preliminary hearing. They showed the word “murder” tattooed on his left forearm; an
image on his chest of a pistol being held to the back of a man’s head (whose mouth
appears to be covered with duct tape); the “get MAD” and “go BAD” tattoos on his
hands; and the additional firearm tattoo on the left hand. Also depicted were the Roman
numerals XIV on defendant’s abdomen.
The People’s gang expert, Officer Odom, gave opinion testimony regarding the
meaning and/or significance of each tattoo. He admitted that only the Roman numerals
had a specific NF/Norteño connotation. Officer Odom believed the “murder” tattoo was
“gang related” because murder is among the “things … the NF organization [is] about, …
[i.e.,] instilling fear by committing murder.”
Officer Odom interpreted the tattoo of a gun being held to the back of a man’s
head as conveying the message, “Don’t snitch or you’ll be killed.” Because snitching “is
forbidden in the gang culture,” the tattoo allegedly had “gang significance.” As for the
get MAD/go BAD tattoos, Officer Odom admitted he was unfamiliar with the phrase and
40.
had never seen it before. Nevertheless, he opined “it’s significant as far as a gang
member goes … [because] [o]bviously, if they get mad and go bad, something will
happen. Don’t make them mad.”
The trial court repeatedly explained why it believed the tattoos were admissible to
prove identity. One explanation, given while addressing defendant, began with these
prefatory remarks: “If the jurors believe that you were present in the vehicle with the two
female co-defendants, identity becomes an issue. [¶] Because any one of those
individuals could have been the person who pulled the trigger.” Following a brief
discussion of Evidence Code section 352, the trial court remarked upon the tattoo of a
gun being held to the back of a man’s head: “I think it’s relevant. I think the jury can
look at that depiction and look at the facts of this case and use that as circumstantial
evidence as to who the shooter was.”
The trial court later said, “So as to your tattoos, even if that is not testified to as a
gang tattoo, per se, I think it’s still relevant for the jurors because they can draw certain
inferences, perhaps that you were the shooter, because that was a depiction that you
decided to put on your chest and the way in which the alleged victim died in this case.”
During a subsequent discussion, the trial court specified it was relying on Evidence Code
section 1101, subdivision (b) for its conclusion the tattoos were admissible as “evidence
of the identity of the shooter … and the motive.”
2. Law and Analysis
The admissibility of gang evidence to prove identity is not an unqualified rule.
First, such evidence is admissible only if “‘its probative value is not outweighed by its
prejudicial effect.’” (People v. Flores (2020) 9 Cal.5th 371, 398.) Second, it must have a
logical tendency to prove identity for reasons other than an inference of the defendant’s
bad character or criminal disposition. (See Evid. Code, § 1101; People v. Barnwell
(2007) 41 Cal.4th 1038, 1057.) For example, a defendant’s gang membership would be
41.
probative of identity if the perpetrator had “‘identified himself as a gang member and
attempted to use that status in demanding money from the victim.’” (People v. Ramirez
(2022) 13 Cal.5th 997, 1096, quoting People v. Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1051.)
Gang evidence might also support eyewitness identifications or suspect descriptions.
(E.g., Ramirez, at p. 1095 [holding “defendant’s gang membership was relevant and
admissible to bolster [the victim’s] identification of defendant as one of his assailants”];
People v. Champion (1995) 9 Cal.4th 879, 922 [“[E]vidence that defendants were
members of the same gang as other persons involved in the commission of the crimes in
this case fortified the testimony of the persons who identified defendants as participants
in the murders”].)
None of defendant’s tattoos had a logical tendency to prove identity apart from
suggesting a propensity for violence and possible willingness to kill. Defendant had the
tattoos on his body long before the victim’s murder, which he correctly argued
distinguished his case from the authority relied upon by the prosecutor, People v. Ochoa
(2001) 26 Cal.4th 398. The trial court summarily rejected defendant’s argument without
any discussion of Ochoa.
In Ochoa, a police witness testified the appellant “had on his forehead a tattoo of
the number ‘187,’ the California Penal Code section proscribing murder, which had been
added after the charged homicides occurred.” (People v. Ochoa, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p.
437, italics added.) On appeal, it was held the trial court “properly found the tattoo
represented an admission of defendant’s conduct and a manifestation of his
consciousness of guilt. The court reasonably considered the tattoo highly probative, as it
would be unlikely that an innocent person would so advertise his connection to murder.”
(Id. at p. 438.) Here, in contrast, defendant’s tattoos were observed and documented by
police on several occasions prior to the victim’s death.
“Character evidence, sometimes described as evidence of a propensity or
disposition to engage in a type of conduct, is generally inadmissible to prove a person’s
42.
conduct on a specified occasion.” (People v. Villatoro (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1152, 1159,
citing Evid. Code, § 1101, subd. (a).) Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (b),
“clarifies that the usual prohibition on propensity evidence does not preclude the
admission of evidence relevant ‘to prove some fact … other than [the person’s]
disposition to commit such an act,’ such as the person’s ‘motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, [or] identity.’” (People v. Rhoades (2019) 8 Cal.5th 393,
414, italics added.) Evidence is admissible under this statutory exception only “when it is
‘relevant to prove some [other] fact,’ such as ‘identity’ …, without reliance on
disposition as ‘any link in the chain of logic.’” (People v. Gordon (1990) 50 Cal.3d
1223, 1240.)
Furthermore, whereas subdivision (a) of Evidence Code section 1101 broadly
applies to all forms of character evidence, the exception in subdivision (b) is limited to
evidence of prior “acts.” Such prior acts must have “an extremely high degree of
similarity” to the currently charged offenses. (People v. Britt (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th
500, 505; accord, People v. Chhoun (2021) 11 Cal.5th 1, 26.) The evidence of
defendant’s tattoos merely demonstrated the prior acts of having the tattoos placed on his
body. The similarity requirement was not and could not be established.
“There is a fable about the frog and the scorpion. It stresses the scorpion will
sting, no matter what, because that is in its nature. The character evidence rule bans that
kind of evidence.” (People v. DelRio (2020) 54 Cal.App.5th 47, 54.) “Our Supreme
Court has explained that propensity evidence is prohibited not because it is irrelevant, but
because it ‘“‘is said to weigh too much with the jury and to so overpersuade them as to
prejudge one with a bad general record and deny him a fair opportunity to defend against
a particular charge.’”’” (People v. Jones (2018) 28 Cal.App.5th 316, 323, quoting People
v. Jackson, supra, 1 Cal.5th at p. 300.)
Again, the victim was not involved with gangs, the shooting did not occur in gang
territory, no witnesses saw or heard anything gang related in connection with the murder,
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and there was no evidence of a gang motive for the killing. The tattoo on defendant’s
chest was said to have an anti-snitching connotation, but there was no evidence the victim
was an informant or a cooperating witness in a police investigation or legal proceeding.
(Cf. People v. Monterroso (2004) 34 Cal.4th 743, 773 [racist tattoo held relevant at
penalty stage to show motive for killing someone of a different ethnicity].) No witnesses
claimed to have seen the shooting, so defendant’s tattoos were not relevant to any suspect
descriptions or identifications. (Cf. People v. Young (2019) 7 Cal.5th 905, 915, 931
[appellant’s tattoos “had a tendency in reason to prove [his] identity as ‘Li’l Jeff,’ the
man [a witness] heard discussing his involvement in the robbery murders”]; People v.
Medina (1995) 11 Cal.4th 694, 749 [evidence appellant “had tattoos of a ‘Nazi swastika
and the grim reaper’” held admissible to strengthen credibility of witness who identified
him as the perpetrator].) The evidence of defendant’s tattoos was probative of him being
the shooter insofar as it was indicative of a violent and/or criminal disposition, but the
evidence was not admissible for that purpose.
III. Prejudice
The errors defendant has identified all resulted, either directly or indirectly, in the
admission of evidence that should have (or likely would have) been excluded at trial.
“Erroneous admission of gang-related evidence, particularly regarding criminal activities,
has frequently been found to be reversible error, because of its inflammatory nature and
tendency to imply criminal disposition, or actual culpability.” (People v. Bojorquez
(2002) 104 Cal.App.4th 335, 345; see People v. Carter (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1166, 1194
[“[E]vidence of a defendant’s gang membership creates a risk the jury will improperly
infer the defendant has a criminal disposition and is therefore guilty of the offense
charged”].) We apply the Watson test to determine whether the errors were prejudicial.
(See People v. Tran, supra, 13 Cal.5th at pp. 1208–1209; People v. Watson (1956) 46
Cal.2d 818.)
44.
“[T]he Watson test for harmless error ‘focuses not on what a reasonable jury could
do, but what such a jury is likely to have done in the absence of the error under
consideration. In making that evaluation, an appellate court may consider, among other
things, whether the evidence supporting the existing judgment is so relatively strong, and
the evidence supporting a different outcome is so comparatively weak, that there is no
reasonable probability the error of which the defendant complains affected the result.’”
(People v. Beltran (2013) 56 Cal.4th 935, 956.) “The Supreme Court has emphasized
‘that a “probability” in this context does not mean more likely than not, but merely a
reasonable chance, more than an abstract possibility.’” (People v. Soojian (2010) 190
Cal.App.4th 491, 519.) Conviction of a lesser included offense, or a mistrial due to a
hung jury, is a more favorable result than being found guilty as charged. (Id. at pp. 520–
521; see People v. Walker (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 111, 118; People v. Padilla (2002)
103 Cal.App.4th 675, 679 [reversal based on reasonable probability jury would have
found appellant “committed not a first degree murder but a second degree murder”].)
The People argue “the majority of the gang evidence would have been admissible
to prove the underlying charges even if the gang allegations had been bifurcated.” They
allege this is so because the evidence was “highly probative to issues of motive, intent to
kill, and identity.” The argument regarding intent to kill is not developed, but we assume
it is intertwined with the motive argument. The People’s briefing makes clear the latter
position relies on the theory defendant “retaliated against [the victim] for perceived
disrespect.” We reject these contentions for the reasons stated in our analysis of the
bifurcation claim.
As a fallback position, the People contend that any prejudice was cured by the trial
court’s use of a limiting instruction. “[W]hile we do presume the jury has endeavored to
follow the court’s instructions [citation], we cannot always assume that those instructions
are sufficient to dispel the taint of prejudicial information. A limiting instruction warning
jurors they should not think about the elephant in the room is not the same thing as
45.
having no elephant in the room.” (People v. Fritz (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 949, 962.) As
previously noted, and further discussed post, the prosecution made blatant propensity
arguments based on the gang evidence. Moreover, the limiting instruction told jurors the
gang evidence could be considered in relation to issues of motive and identity.13 (See
People v. Rivas (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1410, 1420–1422 [modification of CALCRIM
No. 1403 to include “identity” held erroneous where the gang evidence was not
admissible for that purpose].)
The prosecutor displayed photos of defendant’s tattoos during the opening
statement, noting the image of “a man shooting another man in the back of the head. …
On his hands, ‘Get Mad, Go Bad.’ And on his forearm, ‘Murder.’” The photos were
twice displayed during the prosecution’s case-in-chief and discussed on direct
examination of two law enforcement witnesses. Early in the People’s closing argument,
the prosecutor said, “Another undisputed fact is that Defendant … has these tattoos on his
body. … [T]he man shooting another man in the back of the head….”
Later in the closing argument, the prosecutor said, “When you shoot someone in
the back of the head, that is to make sure that they are dead once and for all. Those are
the acts of a cold-blooded killer. And that cold-blooded killer is [defendant]. [¶] And
when you’re thinking about the fact that [the victim] got shot in the back of the head and
you’re still asking yourself, ‘Well, who really shot him?’ remember the tattoo on
13The trial court instructed the jury pursuant to CALCRIM No. 1403, a limiting
instruction on the use of gang evidence that does not—in either its standard or optional bracketed
language—include identity as a relevant issue for which such evidence may be considered. The
trial court modified the instruction sua sponte to read, in pertinent part: “[Y]ou may consider
evidence of gang activity … when deciding the identity of the person who shot [the victim].”
This modification is the subject of defendant’s claim of instructional error. The People argue the
claim was forfeited by defendant’s failure to object to the modification at trial. But the People
concede that using the gang evidence to prove identity was a disputed issue “litigated during
motions in limine.” While defendant may have forfeited the claim of instructional error (an issue
we do not reach), it does not follow that the modified CALCRIM No. 1403 instruction cured any
prejudice resulting from the admission of evidence that would have otherwise been excluded but
for the various other errors.
46.
[defendant]’s chest that depicts someone being shot in the back of the head, the exact
same manner in which [the victim] was killed.”14
The tattoos were subsequently referenced a third time: “[W]e’ve already talked
about the tattoos he has on his body—‘Murder,’ the shooting, ‘Make Money,’ ‘Go Bad,’
demonstrating the primary activities of the gang, not to mention the ‘XIV’ across his
abdomen.” This segued into a discussion of the FBI wiretap call, which the prosecutor
described as, “Some of the most valuable evidence that you heard that shows you exactly
what [defendant] is all about, what he stands for, his allegiance to this criminal street
gang.” The jury was reminded of defendant’s prior involvement in “different drug sales,
disciplining other gang members,” and “discussing ‘hits’ on other members.”
Following a 90-minute recess, the prosecution’s closing argument resumed with
further discussion of the tattoos: “[W]hen you’re deciding whether or not Defendant …
was the person who murdered [the victim], you can consider gang evidence, which brings
us back to [defendant]’s tattoos. [¶] [Defendant], plain and simple, is a walking billboard
for the Norteños and Nuestra Familia criminal street gang and what they stand for.
Money, murder, shootings, these are all primary activities of the gang, and this is what
[defendant] chooses to display on his body. Most importantly, the tattoo on his chest
14The manner-of-death argument was dubious. The number of expended bullet casings
at the crime scene indicated the shooter (or shooters) fired 11 rounds. Five of the shots missed,
and a sixth only “graze[d]” the victim. Of the five shots on target, one entered “his right wrist or
forearm,” another struck him in “the front of the left shoulder, …one [entered] the left lower
back and one [entered] in the—kind of right lower backside area.” The coroner’s testimony
provided no information regarding the order of the shots or the distance from which they were
fired (e.g., the presence of soot or stippling). A single bullet entered the back of the victim’s
skull, but the record does not suggest an execution-style killing in “the exact same manner” as
depicted on defendant’s chest tattoo. (Cf. People v. Barnwell, supra, 41 Cal.4th at pp. 1056–
1057 [“To be admissible on the issue of identity, an uncharged crime must be highly similar to
the charged offenses, so similar as to serve as a signature or fingerprint.… [¶] Defendant’s
previous possession of a weapon, even of a similar weapon, is not so distinctive on these facts as
to serve as a signature or a fingerprint supporting a conclusion that because he had committed the
earlier offense he must have committed the one for which he was on trial”].)
47.
shows the man shooting someone else in the back of the head. (Indicating.) [¶] As I
stated earlier, we know that [the victim] was shot in the back of the head.” (See fn. 14,
ante.)
In concluding remarks, the prosecutor made a final propensity argument based on
defendant’s tattoos: “And we all know what happens when [defendant] gets mad. When
[defendant] gets mad, things go bad, ladies and gentlemen. And that’s exactly what
happened that night. He got mad, and he used a gun to murder [the victim].”
The wiretap call was discussed again in the prosecution’s rebuttal argument:
“[Defendant]’s phone call alone is enough to tell you about his ongoing criminal street
gang activities. He talked about the different drug sales, heroin, meth, different types of
money, different amounts, different crimes, putting hits on people, going to intimidate a
witness that was somehow named in a trial. Those are things that were just discussed in a
15-minute phone call.”
In his briefing, defendant argues the “repetitive drumbeat … about the violence
and criminal activities of the NF and Nortenos, [his] status in those gangs and [his]
tattoos, hammered home the message that [he] was someone who’d committed crimes in
the past, would likely commit crimes in the future and therefore most likely committed
this crime.” We cannot disagree. A central theme of the People’s case was that a person
involved in the activities discussed on the wiretap, and who would tattoo his body with
words and imagery of murder, was more likely to have killed the victim than someone
who had not done those things.
Some evidence of defendant’s gang membership may still have been admitted
because of the gang allegations against Annabelle and Olvera. At least with regard to
Olvera, there was a plausible motive for him to help a higher ranking gang member avoid
prosecution for the victim’s murder. Even so, the most inflammatory tattoo evidence and
portions of the wiretap recording would not have withstood scrutiny under Evidence
Code section 352.
48.
The People lastly argue the jury’s rejection of the count 1 gang enhancement
demonstrates the harmlessness of the various errors. They rely on People v. Williams
(2009) 170 Cal.App.4th 587. In Williams, a not guilty verdict on a charged offense and a
not true finding on one of multiple gang enhancement allegations (id. at p. 595) showed
“the jury did not accept the gang evidence and prior crimes evidence uncritically” (id. at
p. 613). There, however, “[t]he admissible evidence overwhelmingly established
defendant’s guilt of the substantive offenses and the truth of the [remaining] gang
enhancement allegations.” (Ibid.)
The evidence against defendant was not overwhelming. The People’s case was
entirely circumstantial, though still relatively strong given defendant’s sudden
disappearance from the area following the murder. Nevertheless, there were no
eyewitnesses; the murder weapon was never recovered; no guns or ammunition were
found in the victim’s home; there was no evidence defendant, Karla, or Annabelle owned
firearms; there was no scientific evidence linking defendant to the crime; and there was
no apparent motive for the killing. The People’s briefing also ignores the significance of
witness A.D.’s account of seeing a four-door vehicle turning onto Rose Avenue.
As discussed, the Merced Avenue video came from a home security camera
located between Rose Avenue and Almond Avenue. It showed a white two-door
vehicle—presumably defendant’s Cadillac—driving east toward the victim’s residence at
23:21:28 on the video clock. At 23:25:38 on the video clock, a white four-door vehicle
passed by the camera heading in the same direction, i.e., toward the victim’s home.
Defendant’s vehicle appeared again at 23:28:42 on the video clock, now moving west.
The detective who authenticated the video testified the video clock was approximately
one minute slow. In other words, defendant’s Cadillac passed the 1200 block of Merced
Avenue, moving west, at approximately 11:29 p.m. The first 911 call came in at 11:31
p.m. But as explained in footnote 6, ante, the detective did not record the interim footage
49.
and failed to preserve the original video. There was no way of knowing if other vehicles
entered or exited the neighborhood around the time of the shooting.
As shown in maps used at trial and explained by witness testimony, a vehicle
proceeding west from where the victim’s body was found can only make one of three
possible turns: a right onto northbound Rose Avenue, a right onto northbound Almond
Avenue, or a right or left onto northbound or southbound Motel Drive. If the vehicle
turned onto Rose, it would not have appeared on the video because the camera was
located west of Rose and east of Almond. Put differently, any car seen passing the
camera in the westbound lane of Merced Avenue must have necessarily turned on either
Almond Avenue or Motel Drive.
The lead detective, when asked, “[D]o you have to turn off of Merced Avenue to
get onto Motel Drive?” explained, “Well, it kind of turns into it. There’s a—if you’re
going westbound on Merced Avenue, there’s a stop sign right here.… [¶] … [¶] And
then if you just keep going straight, you’ll run right into it.” It is an oddly configured
three-way intersection in that a car making a 90-degree right turn would be turning onto
Almond Avenue, not Motel Drive. Witness F.G. claimed to have seen a white car
“stopped at the stop sign” before it “took off” “going towards the Marriott.” The defense
suggested that even if F.G. was correct about the car reaching the stop sign, it may have
turned right onto Almond Avenue instead of merging onto northbound Motel Drive.
A.D. lived on Merced Avenue at the time; F.G. did not. A.D. was confident they
had seen a white four-door vehicle turn right onto Rose Avenue. He said this to
investigators at the crime scene and again in his recorded interview, which was played for
the jury. The recording contained these statements:
“Q: Are you sure it went down Rose and not down Mere- uh, Motel
Drive?
“A: No, I saw it go down Rose.
“Q: So it turned on Rose.
50.
“A: Yeah.
“Q: Okay. Um, and that’s the—that’s the—the street at the stop
sign, right?
“A: Mm, the street before it.
“Q: The street before the stop sign.
“A: Yeah.
“Q: Okay.
“A: So it’s like where the guy’s body was and it’s like probably
three houses and then it’s Rose right there.
“Q: So it didn’t go to the stop sign?
“A: No.
“Q: The—then—okay. And you’re—are you positive?
“A: Yeah.”
Security cameras at businesses along Motel Drive captured video of a northbound
vehicle closely resembling defendant’s white Cadillac at approximately 11:30 p.m. The
People argued the victim’s killer was inside the white car seen by F.G. and A.D.
However, if the white car those witnesses saw turned onto Rose Avenue, it could not
have been defendant’s Cadillac.
The discrepancy in F.G.’s and A.D.’s accounts was additionally important in
relation to the timing of the events. The jury was not told whether F.G. placed the first or
second 911 call, but we will assume it believed his was the first, i.e., the 11:31 p.m. call.
After answering several of the dispatcher’s questions, F.G. made a statement that
arguably suggested the white vehicle was at the crime scene at the very beginning of the
call. He referred to the car in both the past and present tense: “There’s a white ca—it
was a—it was a white Cadillac. It’s—I don’t know if it’s—if this is the car.”15
15Similarly, in A.D.’s recorded interview, he said, “Yeah it was stopped. Like, it was
completely stopped and then we saw the body and then the car took off once—once we started
51.
According to the People’s theory, defendant’s Cadillac entered Motel Drive at
approximately 11:29 p.m. and was already up at the Courtyard Marriot, close to Yosemite
Parkway, at 11:30 p.m. Defendant noted the timing issues during closing argument,
saying, “The shots fired call was at 11:31. I don’t know if you guys know how long it
takes to go one or two blocks, but it is not three minutes long.” (See fn. 6, ante.)
In summary, conflicting evidence suggested it was possible defendant’s Cadillac
was already on Motel Drive before the victim was shot. If the white vehicle seen by F.G.
and A.D. was involved in the shooting but turned onto Rose Avenue, the shooter may
have been someone other than defendant. Also, the puzzling circumstance of the victim
being shot and killed two blocks away from his home was never explained. This,
combined with the evidence of the unidentified woman in the area prior to the shooting
and Karla’s daughter confessing to the crime, may explain why it took the jury so long to
reach its verdicts. The evidence supporting count 3 was not overwhelming either, as it
showed Karla might have been trying to purchase ammunition for Fernando Luna, not
defendant.
“Juror questions and requests to have testimony reread are indications the
deliberations were close.” (People v. Pearch (1991) 229 Cal.App.3d 1282, 1295.)
Lengthy deliberations may compel the same conclusion. (See People v. Cardenas, supra,
31 Cal.3d at p. 907 [12 hours of deliberations in an attempted murder trial described as “a
graphic demonstration of the closeness of this case”]; accord, In re Martin (1987) 44
Cal.3d 1, 51 [citing additional examples].) The Cardenas opinion notes the California
Supreme Court “has held that jury deliberations of almost six hours are an indication that
the issue of guilt is not ‘open and shut’ and strongly suggest that errors in the admission
of evidence are prejudicial.” (Cardenas, supra, at p. 907.)
running, like, towards that direction. The car took off and then it turned on to Rose and then
the—the neighbor came out and then we were on the phone already with the—with 911.” (Italics
added.)
52.
Defendant’s jury deliberated for approximately 18 hours over the course of four
days, periodically asking to review certain evidence. While length of time may simply
indicate a jury’s “conscientious performance of its civic duty” (People v. Walker (1995)
31 Cal.App.4th 432, 439), it is hard to ignore the question submitted by this jury on the
second day of deliberations: “If [defendant] is not found guilty can Anabelle … and …
Olvera be found guilty of accessory after the fact?” Considering the totality of the
circumstances, as detailed in the foregoing analysis, it is reasonably probable defendant
would have achieved a more favorable outcome but for the multiple errors we have
discussed. He is therefore entitled to a new trial.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed.
PEÑA, J.
WE CONCUR:
FRANSON, Acting P. J.
SMITH, J.
53.