People v. Desbrow CA4/1

Filed 12/12/14 P. v. Desbrow CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D064649
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCE314130)
DANNE JOHN DESBROW,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Patricia K.
Cookson, Judge. Affirmed.
Patricia L. Brisbois, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General,
Arlene A. Sevidal and Sean M. Rodriquez, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
A jury found Danne John Desbrow guilty of first degree murder (Pen. Code,
§ 187, subd. (a))1 and made true findings on firearm enhancements (§§ 12022.53, subds.
(b), (c), (d), 12022.5, subd. (a)). The trial court sentenced Desbrow to an indeterminate
prison term of 50 years to life.
Desbrow contends that (1) his conviction should be reduced to second degree
murder because substantial evidence does not support the jury's finding of premeditation
and deliberation necessary for first degree murder; (2) the trial court erred in denying his
motion for acquittal under section 1118.1 because the evidence at the close of the
prosecution's case did not support a finding of premeditation and deliberation; and
(3) defense counsel was ineffective because he did not request that the jury be instructed
with CALCRIM No. 522, which states that provocation may reduce first degree murder
to second degree murder. We conclude that Desbrow's arguments lack merit, and we
accordingly affirm the judgment.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
At around 1:30 p.m. on December 31, 2003, Desbrow shot Kevin Santos in the
back of the head on the exterior stairway of an apartment complex. Santos died of his
injuries on February 8, 2004.
Desbrow testified at trial and admitted to shooting Santos, but he claimed it was an
accident. According to Desbrow, he was at the apartment complex to sell
1 Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
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methamphetamine, when he heard an argument in the upstairs apartment where some
friends of his lived and where he had been selling drugs a few minutes earlier. The
argument was loud, and Desbrow did not want to draw the police to the apartment
complex with neighbors' complaints, so he went upstairs to calm down the situation.
Desbrow learned that Santos, who was visiting the apartment and who had just bought
methamphetamine from Desbrow, had been fighting with one of the residents of the
apartment, Langston Stevens.
According to Desbrow, to diffuse the situation he took out his gun and "racked a
round." He then pointed the gun at Santos and told him to leave the apartment. As
Desbrow testified, he was leading Santos down the exterior stairway, with the gun
pointed at Santos's back, when Desbrow lost his balance on the stairs and accidentally
discharged his gun into Santos's head. Santos slid to the bottom of the stairway, with a
penetrating gunshot wound to the right side of his head, where it met his neck.
Immediately after the shooting, Desbrow fled the scene and disposed of his firearm.
When authorities responded to the scene after the shooting, they observed that
Santos was wearing metal knuckles on his left hand and possessed drug paraphernalia.
The shooting occurred in 2003, but Desbrow was not indicted for Santos's murder
until 2011. In the interim, although some witnesses suggested that Desbrow was the
shooter, no one claimed to have seen the shooting and Desbrow consistently told
authorities that he was not involved. A central witness, Deana Guzman, who was in an
intimate relationship with Desbrow at the time of the shooting, was interviewed by police
several times over the years. Guzman resided in the apartment where the shooting took
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place, and until September 2010, she had claimed that she did not see the shooting
because she was either in her bedroom at the time or not there at all. However, in
September 2010, and later at trial, Guzman stated that she had witnessed the shooting and
that she saw Desbrow intentionally shoot Santos.
At trial, Guzman described the shooting and the events leading up to it. As
Guzman explained, at the time of the shooting, she was a very close friend of Santos,
although not romantically involved with him, and she was in an intimate relationship with
Desbrow and sold methamphetamine with him. Desbrow and Stevens had spent time
together on the night before the shooting, selling drugs together and breaking into cars.
Guzman testified that Stevens returned to the apartment in the morning and argued with
his wife about his suspicion that she was seeing Santos.
Later that day, shortly before the shooting, Stevens and Santos had a fistfight,
which was broken up by Guzman and the other women in the apartment. After the fight,
as Santos was leaving the apartment, Desbrow, Guzman and Santos were all outside of
the apartment door on the landing above the stairs. Guzman testified that she saw
Desbrow holding a gun to the back of Santos's head. She said "No, no. Don't shoot him"
or "No, don't do it. It's not worth it." Desbrow proceeded to shoot Santos in the back of
the head despite Guzman's pleas. According to Guzman, the shooting was not an
accident.
The evidence at trial suggested several possible motives for the shooting. First, as
one possible motive, witnesses stated that Santos had given Desbrow counterfeit money
during a drug deal. In connection with this theory, Desbrow admitted during his
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testimony that Santos had tried to pay him with a counterfeit bill, but Desbrow claimed
that he was not mad about that incident. Second, a witness stated that Desbrow did not
like Santos because Santos had a close relationship with Guzman. Third, a witness
testified to overhearing a conversation between Desbrow and Guzman a few days before
the shooting about Santos being a snitch. Accordingly, Desbrow, who had some gang
affiliation, would have had a motive to retaliate against Santos for being a snitch. Fourth,
a witness told police that Desbrow claimed to have shot Santos because Santos fought
back while Desbrow was trying to rob him. Finally, Guzman stated during her trial
testimony that she thinks Desbrow shot Santos in support of Stevens, as Stevens and
Santos had just been involved in a fight.
During closing argument, defense counsel took the position that, as Desbrow
testified, the shooting was an accident, and thus "at best, this was an involuntary
manslaughter."
Apparently rejecting Desbrow's testimony that the shooting was an accident, the
jury found Desbrow guilty of first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a)). The jury also found
that Desbrow personally used and intentionally discharged a firearm (§§ 12022.53, subds.
(b), (c), 12022.5, subd. (a)), causing great bodily injury or death (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)).
Desbrow was sentenced to prison for a term of 50 years to life.
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II.
DISCUSSION
A. Substantial Evidence Supports the First Degree Murder Conviction
We first consider Desbrow's argument that insufficient evidence supports a finding
that he committed the shooting with the premeditation and deliberation necessary for a
first degree murder conviction. (§ 189.)
In considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, "we review the entire
record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it contains
substantial evidence — that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value —
from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt. . . . We presume every fact in support of the judgment the trier of fact could have
reasonably deduced from the evidence. . . . If the circumstances reasonably justify the
trier of fact's findings, reversal of the judgment is not warranted simply because the
circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding. . . . 'A
reviewing court neither reweighs evidence nor reevaluates a witness's credibility.' "
(People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 60, citations omitted.)
As the jury was instructed, a conviction for first degree murder in this case
required a finding that Desbrow intentionally killed Santos with deliberation and
premeditation. (§ 189.) In the context of first degree murder, " '[d]eliberation' refers to
careful weighing of considerations in forming a course of action; 'premeditation' means
thought over in advance. [Citations.] 'The process of premeditation and deliberation
does not require any extended period of time. "The true test is not the duration of time as
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much as it is the extent of the reflection. Thoughts may follow each other with great
rapidity and cold, calculated judgment may be arrived at quickly." ' " (People v. Koontz
(2002) 27 Cal.4th 1041, 1080.) " ' "Premeditation and deliberation can occur in a brief
interval. 'The test is not time, but reflection.' " ' " (People v. Solomon (2010) 49 Cal.4th
792, 812 (Solomon).) Our Supreme Court has identified " ' "three categories of evidence
relevant to resolving the issue of premeditation and deliberation: planning activity,
motive, and manner of killing." ' " (People v. Lee (2011) 51 Cal.4th 620, 636.) However,
"[t]hese three categories are merely a framework for appellate review; they need not be
present in some special combination or afforded special weight, nor are they exhaustive."
(People v. Booker (2011) 51 Cal.4th 141, 173.)
Here, the strongest evidence of premeditation and deliberation is contained in
Guzman's testimony about the manner in which the shooting took place.2 As Guzman
testified, when she saw Desbrow place a gun to the back of Santos's head, she pleaded
with Desbrow not to shoot by saying either "No, no. Don't shoot him" or "No, don't do it.
It's not worth it." Desbrow rejected Guzman's pleas by proceeding to shoot Santos in the
back of the head. Desbrow's decision to shoot Santos in the head despite pleas that he not
do so is evidence that he had an opportunity to think over and weigh his course of action
before acting. (People v. Saterfield (1967) 65 Cal.2d 752, 759 [evidence was sufficient to
2 Desbrow argues that Guzman's account of the shooting was not believable both
because of its content and because Guzman told several different stories to authorities
over the years. The argument is misplaced because it is the role of jury, not of the
appellate court, to assess the credibility of witnesses. (People v. Lewis (2001) 26 Cal.4th
334, 361.)
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support a finding of premeditation and deliberation where the defendant shot the victim
in the head at close range after rejecting pleas not to do so]; People v. Bolin (1998) 18
Cal.4th 297, 320 [evidence of victim's pleas for his life were particularly relevant to the
issue of the defendant's premeditation].) Desbrow relies on People v. Boatman (2013)
221 Cal.App.4th 1253, 1268, which concluded that the defendant's act of shooting the
victim in the head, standing alone, was not sufficient to support a finding of
premeditation and deliberation. Here, however, Guzman's description of her pleas to
Desbrow that he not shoot Santos is additional evidence, beyond the physical nature of
the gunshot to Santos's head, to support a finding that, based on the manner of the
shooting, Desbrow acted with premeditation and deliberation, rather than on
"unconsidered or rash impulse." (Solomon, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p. 813.)3
3 In denying the motion for a judgment of acquittal the trial court stated that the
evidence supported a finding that the shooting was "execution-style." The trial court's
reference was apparently meant to invoke case law holding that when the defendant
commits an execution-style shooting, a reasonable trier of fact may find premeditation
and deliberation based solely on the manner of the killing. (People v. Romero (2008) 44
Cal.4th 386, 401 [the victim "was killed by a single gunshot fired from a gun placed
against his head" and this execution-style manner of killing supports a finding of
premeditation and deliberation when, as here, there is no indication of a struggle"];
People v. Bloyd (1987) 43 Cal.3d 333, 348 (Bloyd) [cold and calculated execution-style
killings by shots to the head was "very strong evidence of premeditation and
deliberation"].) Desbrow devotes a significant portion of his appellate brief to arguing
that the shooting here was not execution-style. We need not resolve that dispute. The
important point is not whether a shooting is technically "execution-style." Instead, the
relevant question is whether the manner of the killing so strongly supports a finding of
premeditation and deliberation that it is not necessary that the record also contain
evidence of the defendant's motive and planning to provide sufficient evidence to support
the jury's verdict. Here, because Guzman was a witness to the shooting and described it
as a deliberate shot to Santos's head after she pleaded with Desbrow to stop, the evidence
of the manner of the killing is strong enough on its own to support a finding of
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Additional support for a finding of premeditation and deliberation is provided by
the evidence of Desbrow's possible motives for the shooting, suggesting that he arrived at
a plan to kill Santos, and did so despite Guzman's pleas, in retaliation for any of several
disrespectful acts by Santos. Specifically, the jury could conclude that Desbrow shot
Santos in retaliation for Santos's close relationship with Guzman, Santos's attempt to pay
Desbrow with counterfeit money, Santos's possible status as a snitch, or Santos having
engaged in a fight with Stevens. Based on any of those retaliatory motives for Desbrow's
actions, a juror could reasonably conclude that Desbrow had a preconceived plan to shoot
Santos based on preexisting animus toward Santos rather than on a rash and unconsidered
impulse. (See People v. Gonzales and Soliz (2011) 52 Cal.4th 254, 295 [the fact that a
murder was committed for retaliation supporting a finding that it was committed with
premeditation and deliberation].)4
In sum, based on the evidence of the manner of the shooting, including Guzman's
plea for Desbrow to stop, and Desbrow's possible motives for the killing, a reasonable
juror could find that Desbrow committed the murder with premeditation and deliberation.
premeditation and deliberation, regardless of whether it was technically "execution-
style." (See People v. Hawkins (1995) 10 Cal.4th 920, 957 [evidence of motive "is not
indispensable to proving premeditation when the manner-of-killing evidence is so
compelling"].)
4 Desbrow contends that the evidence of any particular motive for the shooting was
weak or speculative, and thus could not contribute to a finding of premeditation or
deliberation. We disagree. Although no witness could identify with certainty Desbrow's
thought process in deciding to shoot Santos, the record contains sufficient evidence for
the jury to have reasonably inferred that Desbrow had one of any number of motives to
shoot Santos.
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B. The Trial Court Properly Denied the Motion for a Judgment of Acquittal
At the close of the People's evidence, Desbrow moved for a judgment of acquittal
pursuant to section 1118.1, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding
that Desbrow acted with the premeditation and deliberation necessary for first degree
murder. Desbrow contends that the trial court erred in denying the motion. As we will
explain, we disagree.
In a case tried by a jury, at the close of the People's evidence the defendant may
move for a judgment of acquittal on any charged offense "if the evidence then before the
court is insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense . . . on appeal." (§ 1118.1.)
"An appellate court reviews the denial of a section 1118.1 motion under the standard
employed in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction[,]" but
focuses only on the evidence as it stood at the point that the motion was made. (People v.
Houston (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1186, 1215.)
Here, as we have explained, substantial evidence supports a finding that Desbrow
acted with premeditation and deliberation. All of the evidence supporting that conclusion
was introduced during the People's case. Accordingly, based on the same evidence
supporting our conclusion that substantial evidence supports the verdict, we also reject
Desbrow's argument that the trial court erred in not granting the motion for a judgment of
acquittal. (Bloyd, supra, 43 Cal.3d at p. 350 [in an appeal arguing insufficient evidence
of premeditation and deliberation, the court rejected an argument that the trial court erred
in denying a motion for judgment of acquittal "[i]nasmuch as we have determined above
that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the judgment" and "the same evidence which,
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minus the evidence presented by the defense, is even stronger" supports the trial court's
ruling denying the § 1118.1 motion].)
C. Desbrow Has Not Established That Defense Counsel Was Ineffective for Failing to
Request That the Jury Be Instructed with CALCRIM No. 522
Desbrow contends that defense counsel was ineffective because he did not request
that the jury be instructed with CALCRIM No. 522, which states that "[p]rovocation may
reduce a murder from first degree to second degree . . . ."5
"Under both the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I,
section 15, of the California Constitution, a criminal defendant has the right to the
assistance of counsel." (People v. Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal.3d 171, 215.) A defendant
claiming ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden to show: (1) counsel's
performance was deficient, falling below an objective standard of reasonableness under
prevailing professional norms; and (2) the deficient performance resulted in prejudice.
(Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687; Ledesma, at pp. 216, 218.)
Prejudice is shown when "there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A
5 As Desbrow acknowledges, the trial court has no sua sponte duty to give
CALCRIM No. 522 without a request from one of the parties. (People v. Rogers (2006)
39 Cal.4th 826, 880 [discussing predecessor instruction CALJIC No. 8.73]), and he
accordingly argues that defense counsel was ineffective for not requesting the instruction.
Specifically, regarding the reduction from first degree to second degree murder,
CALCRIM No. 522 provides in relevant part: "Provocation may reduce a murder from
first degree to second degree . . . . The weight and significance of the provocation, if any,
are for you to decide. [¶] If you conclude that the defendant committed murder but was
provoked, consider the provocation in deciding whether the crime was first or second
degree murder."
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reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome." (Strickland, at p. 694.)
Further, as is important here, "[r]eviewing courts reverse convictions on direct
appeal on the ground of incompetence of counsel only if the record on appeal
demonstrates there could be no rational tactical purpose for counsel's omissions."
(People v. Lucas (1995) 12 Cal.4th 415, 442; see People v. Anderson (2001) 25 Cal.4th
543, 569.) "In the usual case, where counsel's trial tactics or strategic reasons for
challenged decisions do not appear on the record, we will not find ineffective assistance
of counsel on appeal unless there could be no conceivable reason for counsel's acts or
omissions." (People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal.4th 876, 926.)
CALCRIM No. 522 is based on the concept that " ' "existence of provocation
which is not 'adequate' to reduce the class of the offense [from murder to manslaughter]
may nevertheless raise a reasonable doubt that the defendant formed the intent to kill
upon, and carried it out after, deliberation and premeditation" ' — an inquiry relevant to
determining whether the offense is premeditated murder in the first degree, or
unpremeditated murder in the second degree." (People v. Carasi (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1263,
1306.) Desbrow argues that defense counsel was ineffective for not requesting that the
jury be instructed with CALCRIM No. 522 because "a reasonable juror could have
concluded [Desbrow's] emotions were aroused by Santos'[s] presence at the apartment
and conduct as he was being escorted outside" and, based on the instruction, could have
concluded that Desbrow "shot Santos due to provocation and not as the result of
premeditation and deliberation." Specifically, Desbrow points to evidence that a fight
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had just taken place between Santos and Stevens, and according to Desbrow's account,
Santos did not willingly leave the apartment, was talking back to Desbrow and seemed to
be contemplating hitting him.
Desbrow fails to establish that he received ineffective assistance, as defense
counsel could have had a sound tactical basis for the decision to omit CALCRIM No. 522
from the requested instructions. It is reasonable for defense counsel to decline to request
an instruction that is inconsistent with the defense's theory of the case. (People v. Wader
(1993) 5 Cal.4th 610, 643 [defense counsel could have had a rational tactical purpose for
not requesting an instruction that was inconsistent with the defense's theory of the case
that the defendant did not intend to kill the victim].) Here, it is clear from Desbrow's
testimony and defense counsel's closing argument that the defense theory was that the
shooting was an accident done while Desbrow was recklessly brandishing a firearm. On
that theory, defense counsel advocated during closing argument that the jury return a
verdict of involuntary manslaughter, not murder. An instruction on provocation as a
basis for second degree murder as set forth in CALCRIM No. 522 would have been
contrary to the defense's theory of the case that the shooting was unintentional and
amounted to no more than involuntary manslaughter. Defense counsel therefore could
have made a reasonable tactical decision to omit CALCRIM No. 522 to keep the focus on
the theory of involuntary manslaughter rather than on second degree murder.
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As we will reverse on the ground of ineffective assistance of counsel " 'only if the
record on appeal affirmatively discloses that counsel had no rational tactical purpose for
his act or omission' " (People v. Zapien (1993) 4 Cal.4th 929, 980), and defense counsel
may have made a reasonable tactical decision to omit CALCRIM No. 522, we conclude
that Desbrow has failed to establish a ground for reversal.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
IRION, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P.J.
AARON, J.
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