People v. Beckemeyer

Filed 6/5/15; pub. order 7/2/15 (see end of opn.)
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D065565
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCE317734)
JOHN ROBERT BECKEMEYER,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, John M.
Thompson, Judge. Affirmed.
John L. Staley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Senior Assistant Attorney
General, Barry Carlton and Karl T. Terp, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
John Beckemeyer appeals from a judgment convicting him of attempted murder
and assault with a deadly weapon. The offenses occurred during an incident in which he
assaulted a woman he had been dating (Linda Majka) and Majka's son (Craig Jakubiak).
At sentencing, the trial court issued a 10-year protective order restraining defendant from
having contact with Majka and Jakubiak. This postconviction protective order is
authorized in domestic violence cases pursuant to Penal Code section 136.2, subdivision
(i)(1).1 Defendant asserts the protective order must be stricken as to Jakubiak because
Jakubiak (unlike Majka) does not qualify as a domestic violence victim.2 We conclude
the statute encompasses a person, like Jakubiak, who was actually assaulted during the
domestic violence incident, and who accordingly meets the broad definition of "victim"
set forth in the statutory scheme.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND3
Defendant and Majka started dating in December 2011, but on January 8, 2012
Majka ended the relationship because defendant was "extremely controlling and jealous."
Majka did not allow defendant to come to her house anymore. However, at about 6:30
1 Subsequent unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2 Defendant initially challenged the validity of the protective order as to both Majka
and Jakubiak based on his contention that section 136.2, subdivision (a) did not authorize
protective orders beyond the duration of the criminal proceedings. (See our discussion
section below.) However, after the People pointed out that postconviction protective
orders are authorized in domestic violence cases under section 136.2, subdivision (i),
defendant effectively conceded that the protective order properly applied to Majka.
3 Because defendant pled guilty, our summation of the facts of the offense is based
on the preliminary hearing transcript.
2
a.m. on January 14, 2012, defendant entered Majka's residence and confronted her while
she was in her bathroom. Majka told defendant to leave, but defendant did not comply.
Defendant hit Majka in the head with his fist, knocked her down, sat on top of her, pulled
hair out of her head, repeatedly banged her head on the floor, and tried to choke her.
Defendant was saying, " 'If I can't have you, nobody's going to want you.' "
Majka's adult son (Jakubiak), who had been sleeping in a back bedroom, arrived at
the bathroom and told defendant he had called 911. Defendant then "went after"
Jakubiak. Defendant hit Jakubiak and knocked him down; got on top of him; punched
him; grabbed Jakubiak's cane and repeatedly hit him with the cane; and took a rock and
repeatedly hit him with the rock. Defendant also pulled a rubber stopper off the bottom
of the cane, and tried to stab Jakubiak with the sharp, metal "jagged edge" of the cane.
During the attack on Jakubiak, defendant said, " 'Are you ready to die today?' "
While defendant was attacking her son, Majka jumped on defendant's back and
pleaded with him to stop. Defendant got up and "started back" at Majka. They were now
in the hallway, where he knocked her down, banged her head on a drill press, and
repeatedly tried to "snap [her] neck" by jerking it from side to side. Jakubiak, who had
left the bathroom area, came back and told defendant the police had arrived, and
defendant released Majka.
When the police entered the residence, defendant told them he had a gun and they
" 'might as well shoot' " him. The altercation continued to escalate, but the officers were
eventually able to subdue defendant and arrest him.
3
As to victim Majka, defendant was charged with attempted murder and assault by
means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. As to victim Jakubiak, defendant
was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with allegations that he
personally used a deadly weapon (a rock and a cane), and one count of making a criminal
threat. He was also charged with resisting an officer; attempting to prevent or dissuade a
witness on January 15, 2012; and enhancement allegations consisting of a serious felony
prior conviction, five prior prison terms, and two strike prior convictions.
Defendant pled guilty to attempted murder of Majka, and one count of assault with
a deadly weapon of Jakubiak with a finding that he personally used a deadly weapon. He
admitted the serious felony prior, one prison term prior, and one strike prior. The
remaining charges were dismissed. The court sentenced defendant to 16 years in prison.
The court also imposed a protective order under section 136.2 which restrained defendant
from having contact with Majka and Jakubiak for 10 years.
DISCUSSION
Defendant asserts the postconviction protective order issued under section 136.2
must be vacated as to Jakubiak because he was not a domestic violence victim within the
meaning of the statute.
When interpreting a statute, we view the statutory enactment as a whole; consider
the plain, commonsense meaning of the language used in the statute; and seek to
effectuate the legislative intent evinced by the statute. (People v. Fandinola (2013) 221
Cal. App. 4th 1415, 1421.)
4
Section 136.2, subdivision (a) authorizes a trial court to issue protective orders to
protect "a victim or witness" in a criminal matter. (§ 136.2, subd. (a)(1).)4 Section 136
defines "victim" for purposes of a section 136.2 protective order, stating: "As used in this
chapter: [¶] . . . [¶] (3) 'Victim' means any natural person with respect to whom there is
reason to believe that any crime as defined under the laws of this state . . . is being or has
been perpetrated or attempted to be perpetrated." (Italics added.)
The courts have construed section 136.2, subdivision (a) to authorize imposition of
protective orders only during the pendency of the criminal action. (People v. Stone
(2004) 123 Cal. App. 4th 153, 159; People v. Selga (2008) 162 Cal. App. 4th 113, 118.)
Thus, once the defendant is found guilty and sentenced, the court's authority to issue a
protective order under section 136.2, subdivision (a) generally ceases. (Stone, supra, at
p. 160; Selga, supra, at pp. 118-119.)
However, in 2011, the Legislature responded to this restrictive judicial
construction by creating an exception to the preconviction limitation of a section 136.2
restraining order for domestic violence cases. (Stats. 2011, ch. 155, § 1.) Effective
January 1, 2012, the Legislature added section 136.2, subdivision (i) to the statutory
scheme so that a 10-year postconviction protective order would be permissible when a
4 Section 136.2, subdivision (a)(1) states: "Upon a good cause belief that harm to,
or intimidation or dissuasion of, a victim or witness has occurred or is reasonably likely
to occur, a court with jurisdiction over a criminal matter may issue orders, including, but
not limited to, the following . . . ." The section then lists various types of protective
orders the court may issue. (§ 136.2, subd. (a)(1)(A)-(G).)
5
defendant was convicted of a domestic violence offense.5 Section 136.2(i)(1) states: "In
all cases in which a criminal defendant has been convicted of a crime involving domestic
violence as defined in Section 13700 . . . , the court, at the time of sentencing, shall
consider issuing an order restraining the defendant from any contact with the victim. The
order may be valid for up to 10 years, as determined by the court. This protective order
may be issued by the court regardless of whether the defendant is sentenced to the state
prison or a county jail, or whether imposition of sentence is suspended and the defendant
is placed on probation. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this subdivision that
the duration of any restraining order issued by the court be based upon the seriousness of
the facts before the court, the probability of future violations, and the safety of the victim
and his or her immediate family." (Italics added.)6
Thus, section 136.2(i)(1) authorizes a postconviction restraining order (1) when
the crime qualifies as a "domestic violence" crime, and (2) the protected person qualifies
as a "victim." The code defining "domestic violence" referenced in section 136.2(i)(1)
states domestic violence includes abuse committed against a person with whom the
5 For convenience, we omit the term "subdivision" in our subsequent references to
section 136.2, subdivision (i)(1).
6 The current version of section 136.2(i)(1) (quoted in part here) is slightly different
from the version in existence at the time of defendant's sentencing, but the differences
have no substantive consequence in this case.
6
defendant has had a dating relationship. (§ 13700, subd. (b).)7 Because defendant was
dating Majka, he committed a crime that qualifies as a "domestic violence" crime, and he
does not dispute that Majka qualifies as a "victim" for purposes of a section 136.2(i)(1)
protective order. However, he contends that Majka's son, Jakubiak, does not qualify as a
"victim" within the meaning of section 136.2(i)(1) because Jakubiak was not in a
statutorily-defined domestic relationship with defendant.
As set forth above, for purposes of a section 136.2 protective order, "victim" is
broadly defined in section 136 as any person against whom there is reason to believe a
crime has been committed. Because defendant was convicted of committing a crime
against Jakubiak during the domestic violence incident, Jakubiak readily falls within this
definition of victim. When enacting section 136.2(i)(1) to permit 10-year postconviction
protective orders in domestic violence cases, the Legislature was aware of this broad
definition of victim generally applicable to section 136.2 protective orders, and it did not
enact a provision narrowing its scope for purposes of a postconviction domestic violence
protective order. (See People v. Harrison (1989) 48 Cal. 3d 321, 329 ["Legislature . . . is
deemed to be aware of statutes and judicial decisions already in existence, and to have
enacted or amended a statute in light thereof"].)
In People v. Delarosarauda (2014) 227 Cal. App. 4th 205, 208, 211
(Delarosarauda), the court recognized that section 136's broad definition of victim
7 Section 13700, subdivision (b) defines domestic violence as including "abuse
committed against an adult . . . who is a . . . person with whom the suspect has had . . . a
dating . . . relationship."
7
applied to section 136.2(i)(1) postconviction domestic violence protective orders, but
concluded the protective order before it could not be sustained as to persons (the
defendant's son and stepdaughter) who were not assaulted during the incident.
Delarosarauda states: "Under the plain language of section 136.2, subdivision (i)(1), a
postconviction protective order is limited to restraining the defendant from contact with a
'victim,' that is, a 'natural person with respect to whom there is reason to believe that any
crime . . . is being or has been perpetrated or attempted to be perpetrated.' (§ 136, subd.
(3).) Appellant was convicted of assaulting [a cohabitant]. On the record before the trial
court, there was no reason to believe that any crime was being or had been perpetrated or
attempted to be perpetrated against [the children]. [The cohabitant] testified that
appellant 'never touched' the children, and no evidence suggests that appellant ever
attempted to harm them. . . . Thus, section 136.2, subdivision (i)(1) does not provide
statutory authorization for the issuance of a protective order forbidding appellant any
contact with [the children]." (Ibid.)
In contrast to the factual circumstances in Delarosarauda, Jakubiak was
physically assaulted by defendant during the domestic violence incident. Accordingly,
Jakubiak qualifies as a victim for purposes of a postconviction protective order under
section 136.2(i)(1), and the court was authorized to issue the order as to him.
8
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
HALLER, J.
WE CONCUR:
MCCONNELL, P. J.
HUFFMAN, J.
9
Filed 7/2/15
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D065565
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCE317734)
JOHN ROBERT BECKEMEYER, ORDER CERTIFYING OPINION
FOR PUBLICATION
Defendant and Appellant.
THE COURT:
The opinion filed June 5, 2015 is ordered certified for publication.
MCCONNELL, P. J.
Copies to: All parties