People v. Gomez CA2/7

Filed 6/23/15 P. v. Gomez CA2/7
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION SEVEN
THE PEOPLE, B251303
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. PA070040)
v.
JOVANI GOMEZ et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
APPEALS from judgments from the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
Hayden Zacky, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with directions.
Susan K. Shaler, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant, Jovani Gomez.
Joanna McKim, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant, Kevin Alvarenga.
David H. Goodwin, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant, Juan Carlos Andrade.
Janyce Keiko Imata Blair, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant, Leonardo Garcia.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Taryle and John
Yang, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Jovani Gomez, Kevin Alvarenga, Juan Carlos Andrade and Leonardo Garcia were
tried together and convicted by the same jury of first degree murder, attempted
premeditated murder, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, discharging a
firearm with gross negligence and street terrorism. The jury also found true specially
alleged criminal street gang and firearm-use enhancements. In addition, Gomez and
Garcia were convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon; and in a bifurcated
sentencing hearing both men admitted the truth of specially alleged enhancements for
serving prior prison terms for felonies.
On appeal Gomez, Alvarenga, Andrade and Garcia contend their convictions for
first degree premeditated murder must be reversed because those convictions could have
been based on the natural and probable consequences theory of aiding and abetting rather
than direct aiding and abetting, contrary to the Supreme Court’s recent decision in People
v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155 (Chiu). They also challenge several of the trial court’s
evidentiary rulings and jury instructions, certain of the prosecutor’s statements during the
trial and the propriety of aspects of their sentences—162 years to life for Gomez and
160 years to life for Garcia, Alvarenga and Andrade. Garcia also challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury’s finding he personally and intentionally
1
discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or death. Finally, Alvarenga, who was
17 years old at the time of the offenses, contends his sentence was imposed in violation
of Miller v. Alabama (2012) 567 U.S. __ [132 S.Ct. 2455, 183 L.Ed.2d 407] (Miller).
We reverse the defendants’ convictions for first degree murder (count 1) and
discharge of a firearm with gross negligence (count 7), vacate the defendants’ sentences
in their entirety and remand for resentencing. On remand the People will have the
election in accordance with Chiu of accepting a reduction of the murder convictions on
count 1 to second degree murder, with all associated enhancements found true by the
jury, or to retry the greater offense of first degree premeditated murder (along with the
1 As authorized by California Rules of Court, rule 8.200(a)(5), Gomez, Alvarenga,
Andrade and Garcia join in each other’s arguments to the extent they are applicable.
2
accompanying specially alleged enhancements) under a direct aiding and abetting theory.
In all other respects (as to counts 2-6 and 8), we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
1. The Information
Gomez, Alvarenga, Andrade and Garcia were charged in an information with
2
murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)) (count 1), attempted premeditated murder (§§ 187,
subd. (a), 664) (count 2), two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling (§ 246)
(counts 3 and 4), discharge of a firearm with gross negligence (§ 246.3, subd. (a))
(count 7) and street terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a)) (count 8). Gomez and Garcia were
also charged with one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm (former
3
§ 12021, subd. (a)(1)) (counts 5 and 6). It was specially alleged as to counts 1 through 7
that the offenses had been committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22,
4
subd. (b)). It was specially alleged as to counts 1 through 4 that each of the defendants
had personally used and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or
death (§ 12022.53, subds. (b), (c), (d)) and/or a principal personally used and
intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or death (§ 12022.53,
subd. (e)(1)). In addition, it was specially alleged that Gomez had served two prior
prison terms for felonies and Garcia had served one prior prison term for a felony within
the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). Gomez, Alvarenga, Andrade and Garcia
each pleaded not guilty and denied the special allegations.
2 Statutory references are to this code unless otherwise indicated.
3 Former section 12021, subdivision (a)(1), in effect at the time the offenses were
committed, was repealed effective January 1, 2011 and recodified without substantive
change in section 29800, subdivision (a)(1).
4 For simplicity this opinion occasionally uses the shorthand phrase “to benefit a
criminal street gang” to refer to crimes that, in the statutory language, are committed “for
the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the
specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang
members. . . .” (§ 186.22, subd. (b); see People v. Jones (2009) 47 Cal.4th 566, 571,
fn. 2.)
3
2. The Trial
According to the evidence at trial, German Chairez and Leonel Serrano were
members of Columbus Street, a criminal street gang. Gomez, Alvarenga, Andrade and
Garcia are members of the Vincent Town criminal street gang, a rival of Columbus
Street’s. On November 19, 2010 Chairez and Serrano were visiting a friend at an
apartment complex located at 15115 Parthenia Street in the North Hills section of the San
Fernando Valley. As they walked down the stairs from apartment number 279 on their
way out of the complex, Serrano heard someone shout “Fuck Columbus!” and saw two
men shooting at him and Chairez. Serrano and Chairez immediately turned around and
raced back up the stairs to the apartment as shots continued to be fired. Both men were
hit in the back. Chairez died from a bullet that perforated his lung. Serrano survived. He
was hospitalized overnight but did not require surgery. Serrano testified, consistently
with what he told police, he did not clearly see, and could not identify, the shooters.
Salvador Ortiz was in the area of the apartment complex on the night of the
shooting and encountered Andrade, Garcia and Gomez, known to him by their gang
5
monikers, “Happy,” “Baby” and “Clever,” respectively. Ortiz noticed Andrade and
Garcia were armed. One man had a semiautomatic weapon; the other a revolver. Their
conversation was friendly because Ortiz, a member of the Barrio Van Nuys gang, was not
a rival. Within a few minutes of talking to them, Ortiz heard a person in the alley shout
that a “Columbus Streeter” was nearby. Andrade, Garcia and Gomez took off running
toward the apartment complex. Ortiz saw Garcia quickly pull out a gun from underneath
his sweatshirt. Almost immediately, Ortiz heard a barrage of gunshots fired from two
different guns. He believed at least two different types of guns were fired because they
sounded different from one another; one was faster, the other was slower and had more of
a bass tone and an echo sound. He did not see the actual shooting.
5 There was undisputed evidence that Garcia was known by the gang monikers Big
Boy and Baby.
4
Maria Gutierrez, Chairez’s girlfriend and the mother of his child, testified after
Serrano had denied seeing the shooters. Gutierrez explained she had overheard Serrano
tell his friend that Clever and Big Boy, referring to Gomez and Garcia, had been the
shooters and Happy and Kevin, referring to Andrade and Alvarenga, “had [also] been
there” in the car. Detective Gretchen Schultz, called by the defense, testified that, when
Gutierrez had first told her about Serrano’s conversation, she said he had identified
Gomez, Garcia and Alvarenga. She did not mention Andrade.
Brandon Binning testified that two days before the shooting Andrade had told him
something “was going to go down” and “Columbus Street was going to see that Vincent
Town was back.”
Los Angeles Police Detective Gene Parshall investigated the shooting. He found
bullet fragments, bullet holes and fresh blood stains inside apartment number 279 in
building C where Chairez and Serrano had retreated to escape the gunfire (for trial
purposes the three buildings in the apartment complex, which were connected by a
common hallway, were designated buildings A, B and C); additional bullet fragments in
the walls and door of apartment number 131 in building A; several spent casings in the
hallway leading from building A and along the common hallway between buildings B
and C and in the planter of building C. Both apartment numbers 131 and 279 were
inhabited dwellings. Parshall opined, based on the evidence, including the spent casings
and location of the bullet fragments and bullet holes, the suspects had begun shooting in
building A, chased the victims through the hallway past building B to building C and then
all the way to apartment number 279.
Los Angeles Police Department criminalist Fadil Biraimah testified, based on
ballistics testing, that the spent casings found at the scene had come from the same type
of semiautomatic gun, a Glock Sauer, but he could not say with certainty they were all
shot from the same weapon. The murder weapon was never found.
Los Angeles Police Officer Larry Hernandez testified that Columbus Street and
Vincent Town were rival gangs. The primary activities of the Vincent Town gang were
illicit drug sales and violence that accompanied those sales. Responding to a hypothetical
5
reflecting the facts of the case, Hernandez opined the shooting benefitted the Vincent
Town gang because such a crime asserts the gang’s power over the territory and
intimidates local residents, making them afraid to report the gang’s drug activity.
After their arrests Gomez, Andrade, Alvarenga and Garcia were placed in custody
and their jail cell conversations recorded by law enforcement. Among other things, the
men discussed how Serrano would not “snitch,” and the police would not be able to track
them by cell phones because “we made no motherfuckin’ calls.” Gomez’s telephone
calls from jail were also recorded. During one call Gomez told an unidentified man, “We
got alibis . . . . We were at a club that day, know me?” The man asked, “Were all four
together when it happened?” Gomez replied, “Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, we were.” The man
said, “Just to mak[e] sure that everybody, everybody that’s saying they’re gonna say that
you were with them, and that they actually say it.” On another recorded call Gomez’s
sister, Karely Gomez, told him that Alvarenga had been asking “should I say like, I was
in the club too, you know?” Gomez told her to “shut up, man. . . . Umm, I’ll tell you
when you come to visit.” The recordings were played for the jury. The prosecutor
argued the recorded telephone calls evidenced an attempt to fabricate an alibi.
Wally Urquilla testified that Alvarenga had told him he shot Chairez. Ernie
Urquilla, Wally’s brother, told police Alvarenga and Chairez had feuded in the past and
Chairez had once shot at Alvarenga. Ernie Urquilla later recanted, told police he did not
want to testify, and at trial denied Alvarenga had ever told him about the shooting. After
a recording of his police interview was played for the jury, Ernie Urquilla claimed the
police had frightened him and he had told them “what they wanted to hear.” Cesar
Roman also told police he had overheard Alvarenga alternately brag that he had shot
Chairez and that he had been the driver when Chairez was shot. At trial on cross-
examination Ramon said he said he had heard this rumor on the street and, despite what
he had told police, had not been present when those remarks were made.
The defense theory was that the police had arrested the wrong people. Andrade,
Alvarenga and Gomez did not testify. Garcia testified in his own defense, claiming he
had been at home in North Hollywood at the time of the shooting, more than
6
20 to 25 minutes away from the crime scene. He sent a text message to his girlfriend at
11:12 p.m., the approximate time of the shooting, that he was going to sleep. Cell
records show his cell phone was in the vicinity of his home at the time of the shooting.
Despite his message to his girlfriend, he did not go to sleep. Instead, he went to a
nightclub with Andrade, arriving sometime between 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. He saw
Gomez there, too.
The People introduced evidence that Gomez had made a call from his cell phone
to Andrade at 11:16 p.m., the approximate time of the shooting. The call, which went to
Andrade’s voicemail, connected to a Sprint Telecommunications Network (Sprint) cell
tower just south of the crime scene. The People’s wireless expert testified Gomez’s cell
phone was “in the vicinity” of the crime scene at the time of the shooting. However, a
wireless expert for the defense testified that the dominant Sprint cell tower covering the
crime scene was north of the shooting location; and Gomez’s call had connected to a cell
tower south of it.
Martin Flores, a director of a center providing services to at-risk youth, including
gang members, testified as a defense expert on gang culture. He stated young people join
gangs because the gang gives them the sense of belonging and connection they lack at
home. Although it is widely believed that gangs “punish snitches,” in reality gangs rarely
seek retribution. Only a small percentage of gang members, he stated, commit violent
crimes.
3. Jury Instructions, Verdict and Sentence
The People’s theory at trial was that each of the defendants was either a direct
perpetrator of the crimes charged or aided and abetted those offenses. In addition to
instructions on murder (CALCRIM No. 520), first degree premeditated murder
(CALCRIM No. 521), attempted murder (CALCRIM No. 600), attempted premeditated
murder (CALCRIM No. 601) and shooting at an inhabited dwelling (CALCRIM
No. 965), among others, the jury was also instructed on direct aiding and abetting
principles (CALCRIM Nos. 400, 401), and the natural and probable consequences
doctrine as a form of aiding and abetting (CALCRIM Nos. 402, 403). Under the natural
7
and probable consequences doctrine, the jury was told, it could find any one of the
defendants guilty of murder and/or attempted murder if he aided and abetted the target
offenses of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and/or the uncharged target offense of
assault with a firearm, and the natural and probable consequence of either target offense
was murder or attempted murder.
The jury convicted Gomez, Andrade, Alvarenga and Garcia of first degree
premeditated murder and all other charged offenses and found each of the special
allegations true. In a bifurcated proceeding Gomez and Garcia admitted the truth of the
special allegations that they had served prison terms for felonies within the meaning of
section 667.5, subdivision (b). Gomez was sentenced to an aggregate indeterminate term
6
of 162 years to life; Andrade, Alvarenga and Garcia to aggregate indeterminate terms of
160 years to life.
DISCUSSION
1. The Trial Court’s Instruction Permitting Gomez, Alvarenga, Andrade and
Garcia To Be Convicted of First Degree Premeditated Murder Under the
Natural and Probable Consequences Doctrine Was Prejudicial Error
In Chiu, decided after the trial in this case, the Supreme Court held aiders and
abettors may be convicted of first degree premeditated murder under direct aiding and
abetting principles, but not under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (Chiu,
7
supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 158-159.) The Court explained that the natural and probable
6 The special allegation that Garcia had served a prior prison term for a felony
within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b), was dismissed in furtherance of
justice. (§ 1385.)
7 As the Court explained in Chiu, there are two distinct forms of aider and abettor
culpability. First, an aider and abettor with the requisite mental state is guilty of the
intended crime. Second, under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, an aider
and abettor is guilty of both the intended target crime and any other offense that was a
natural and probable consequence of the intended crime. “‘Thus, for example, if a person
aids and abets only an intended assault, but a murder results, that person may be guilty of
that murder, even if unintended, if it is a natural and probable consequence of the
intended assault.’” (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 161.) “Because the nontarget offense is
unintended, the mens rea of the aider and abettor with respect to that offense is irrelevant
8
consequences doctrine in the murder context serves a legitimate public policy concern of
deterring persons from aiding or encouraging the commission of offenses that would
naturally, probably and foreseeably result in an unlawful killing. While that policy is
furthered by holding the defendant culpable for second degree murder, the Court
explained, “the policy is not served in the context of first degree murder, which requires a
mental state of premeditation and deliberation that is, by definition, uniquely subjective
and personal.” (Id. at p. 166; see ibid. [“[t]he connection between the defendant’s
culpability and the perpetrator’s premeditative state is too attenuated to impose aider and
abettor liability for first degree murder under the natural and probable consequences
doctrine, especially in light of the severe penalty involved and the above-stated public
policy concern of deterrence”].) Direct aiding and abetting principles, the Court
announced, do not present the same problem. “[A]n aider and abettor who knowingly
and intentionally assists a confederate to kill someone could be found to have acted
willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation, having formed his own culpable intent.
Such an aider and abettor, then, acts with the means rea required for first degree murder.
(Id. at pp. 166-167.)
Chiu involved a teenage defendant who had instigated a fight that resulted in
another individual shooting the victim. The jury was instructed it could convict the
defendant of murder if it found he either directly aided and abetted the murder or aided
and abetted the target offense of assault, the natural and probable consequence of which
was murder. (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 160.) Because the record indicated the jury
may have relied on the natural and probable consequences doctrine in convicting the
defendant of first degree premeditated murder, the Court reversed, explaining it could not
conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury had relied on a legally valid theory. (Id.
at p. 168.)
and culpability is imposed simply because a reasonable person could have foreseen the
commission of the nontarget crime.” (Id. at p. 164.)
9
The Attorney General argues this case is distinguishable from Chiu in one material
respect: In Chiu the jury was told that “to find defendant guilty of first degree murder,
the People had to prove that the perpetrator acted willfully, deliberately, and with
premeditation” (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 161, citing CALCRIM No. 521), while here
the jury was instructed (also in accordance with CALRIM No. 521) that first degree
premeditated murder required a finding “the defendant” acted willfully, deliberately and
with premeditation. This distinction between perpetrator and defendant is critical, the
Attorney General argues, because the jury in the instant case was properly advised that it
could find the defendant guilty of first degree premeditated murder only if “he” possessed
the requisite mental state of premeditation and deliberation. According to the Attorney
General, this instruction ensured any finding of first degree premeditated murder was
based on each defendant’s own mental state of premeditation and deliberation and not on
another theory of culpability.
Contrary to the Attorney General’s contention, the difference between the
8
instruction in this case and that given in Chiu, if any, did not negate the error identified
in Chiu. This case involved four defendants. The jury could have reasonably understood
the term defendant in CALCRIM No. 521 to refer to the defendant shooter, particularly in
light of other instructions permitting a finding of culpability under the natural and
probable consequences doctrine. At the very least, without a clarification that the natural
and probable consequences doctrine was limited to second degree murder, the
instructions as a whole effectively permitted the jury to convict some or all of the
defendants of first degree premeditated murder as an aider or abettor under that legally
invalid theory. This was error. (See Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 167; see also Francis v.
Franklin (1985) 471 U.S. 307, 322 [105 S.Ct. 1965, 85 L.Ed.2d 344] [“Language that
8 The Supreme Court did not quote the instruction given in Chiu; it paraphrased the
instruction, citing to CALCRIM No. 521, the same instruction given here. While there
were reasons in Chiu to refer to the perpetrator rather than the defendant, we are not
confident that the instruction was actually different, nor, for the reasons we explain, was
the cited distinction material.
10
merely contradicts and does not explain a constitutionally infirm instruction will not
suffice to absolve the infirmity. A reviewing court has no way of knowing which of the
two irreconcilable instructions the jury applied in reaching their verdict.”].)
The Attorney General’s contention the error was harmless given “the
overwhelming evidence of planning and premeditation” is also without merit. “When a
trial court instructs a jury on two theories of guilt, one of which was legally correct and
one legally incorrect, reversal is required unless there is a basis in the record to find that
the verdict was based on a valid ground.” (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 67; see People v.
Chun (2009) 45 Cal.4th 1172, 1204 [reversal for instructional error is not proper “‘if the
jury verdict on other points effectively embraces this one or if it is impossible, upon the
evidence, to have found what the verdict did find without finding this point as well’”].)
Although the evidence is certainly sufficient to support a finding of premeditation and
deliberation in this case, the prosecutor relied heavily on the natural and probable
consequences doctrine at trial, telling the jury repeatedly during closing argument it need
not find the defendants intended to commit a murder so long as it found murder was a
9
natural, probable and foreseeable consequence of a different target offense. Nothing in
this record demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury based its verdict on the
legally valid direct aiding and abetting (or direct perpetrator) theory rather than the
invalid natural and probable consequences doctrine. (See Chiu, at pp. 167-168; Neder v.
United States (1999) 527 U.S. 1, 15 [119 S.Ct. 1827, 144 L.Ed.2d 35]; People v.
10
Gonzalez (2012) 54 Cal.4th 643, 663.).
9 The prosecutor stated, “Remember [what] I told you regarding aiding and
abetting[,] that it’s derivative liability? You don’t necessarily have to know and share the
intent of the perpetrator. Although I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, all four of
them intended to kill in this case. That’s what the facts show you. But even if they
didn’t. Let’s say for some reason you believe that Kevin Alvarenga just wanted to scare.
Because the reasonable and the natural and probable consequence of scaring with guns in
rival territory is a murder could happen, then he would be guilty of the resulting murder.”
10 Garcia also contends his conviction for first degree murder must be reversed
because the instructions to the jury on direct aiding and abetting (CALCRIM Nos. 400,
11
As the Chiu court explained, the appropriate remedy for this instructional error is
to reverse the first degree murder conviction and allow the People either to accept a
reduction of the conviction to second degree murder or to retry the greater offense under
a direct aiding and abetting theory. (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 168.) Because this
remedy is only appropriate if there are no other errors requiring reversal, we must address
11
each of the defendants’ other contentions.
2. The Trial Court’s Evidentiary Rulings Do Not Compel Reversal
a. The trial court did not commit prejudicial error in limiting the testimony of
the defense expert on cell technology
Jim Cook, an expert on wireless technology, testified for the People using detailed
call records from each of the defendants’ cell phones. Based on a map he had created
showing the cell tower the call connected to and the approximate range of coverage of
that tower, Cook testified that Gomez’s phone had been in the vicinity of the crime scene
at the time of the call. Cook explained he could not identify the precise location of the
phone because that required use of global positioning technology in real time, that is, at
the time of the event. Here, he had to rely on historical data, which could only yield an
401) did not make clear that, for first degree murder, the aider and abettor must also share
the perpetrator’s mens rea of premeditation and deliberation. (But see CALCRIM
No. 401 [“[s]omeone aids and abets a crime if he or she knows of the perpetrator’s
unlawful purpose and he or she specifically intends to, and does in fact, aid, facilitate,
promote, encourage, or instigate the perpetrator’s commission of that crime”]; Chiu,
supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 167-168.) Alvarenga contends the court’s response to a jury
question improperly permitted the jury to convict the defendants of first degree
premeditated murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. In light of
our holding reversing the defendants’ first degree murder convictions, both of these
contentions are moot.
11 As the defendants implicitly acknowledge by not challenging their convictions on
count 2 for attempted premeditated murder, those convictions are not subject to reversal
on this ground. (See Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 162; People v. Favor (2012) 54 Cal.4th
868, 879-880 [under the natural and probable consequences doctrine as applied to the
premeditation allegation under section 664, subdivision (a), a trial court need only
instruct that the jury find that attempted murder, not attempted premeditated murder, was
a foreseeable consequence of the target offense].)
12
approximate location of the phone. On cross-examination Cook acknowledged he could
not determine from the historical data which of several Sprint towers closest to the crime
scene was the most likely to connect a call made from the crime scene. He also
conceded he could not identify from these data whether the cell phone was actually in the
possession of Gomez. Finally, he reiterated he could only give an approximate location
of Gomez’s handset at the time the 11:16 p.m. call was made because the range of a cell
site’s sector’s coverage is based on a variety of factors, including the existence of
adjacent cell towers in a given area.
Josef Napuli, an electronic communication engineer employed by Erricson, a
communications technology company and a Sprint contractor, was called as a defense
expert to address and rebut Cook’s testimony. Napuli testified over the course of three
days. There were multiple interruptions in his testimony for Evidence Code section 402
hearings after Napuli gave unclear or nonresponsive answers. During one of those
preliminary fact hearings, the court inquired whether Napuli had created the maps he was
relying on in forming his opinion about the range of coverage of the cell tower that had
connected Gomez’s call. Napuli responded he had not created the coverage maps
himself; they were prepared in India by employees of Ericcson at his request. He added
he regularly relied and used similar maps in the course of his employment to determine
coverage issues. Following the hearing, the court ruled Napuli could not rely on maps he
had not prepared himself, finding the coverage maps he referred to did not have sufficient
indicia of reliability because Napuli could not be certain the information he had given to
12
data processors in India had been input correctly.
After Napuli’s examination resumed in front of the jury, Napuli agreed with Cook
that Gomez’s call had connected to (“pinged”) a Sprint cell tower south of the crime
12 The court stated, “The analogy that I’m starting to draw here is . . . let’s say this
witness is a coroner. And let’s say that, you know he has given an opinion regarding the
cause of death by looking at some documents. But if the person who did the autopsy and
created the coroner report wasn’t a physician, and was just some layman, then the
information that the witness is relying on is faulty. And I see that kind of being
analogous to what was being elicited so far.”
13
scene. Asked about the range of coverage of the cell tower that Gomez’s phone pinged—
and in particular, whether the tower had sufficient signal strength to connect to a call
initiated from the crime scene—Napuli attempted to answer the question by referring to
Sprint’s coverage maps, which Napuli testified he had used regularly in his employment
to determine coverage of Sprint cell towers. The court sustained the prosecutor’s
objections and precluded Napuli from answering questions relating to the potential
coverage of the cell tower to the extent he lacked personal knowledge or needed to rely
on maps he did not personally create. However, despite this ruling, after more testimony
and much colloquy between defense counsel and the court, the court ultimately permitted
Napuli to testify there was a dominant cell tower that covered Sprint calls made from the
crime scene; that dominant tower covering the crime scene was north of the crime scene;
and, at 11:16 p.m., Gomez’s phone had connected to a different tower south of the crime
scene.
Gomez contends the court erred in limiting Napuli’s testimony. He asserts
“Napuli would have testified that ‘during the 45-minute period encompassing the time of
the murder,’ Gomez’s cell phone used a tower ‘well south of the murder scene,’ and the
dominant tower that ‘serviced the murder scene was . . . north of the site . . . Gomez’s
phone used . . . .’” Yet Gomez testified to exactly that at trial. He stated the dominant
tower for the crime scene was north of the crime scene and Gomez’s call had pinged a
tower south of the crime scene. Even if the court’s ruling prohibiting Napuli from relying
on maps he regularly used in his field to determine cell tower coverage was unduly
restrictive (see Evid. Code, § 801, subd. (b) [expert may rely on hearsay in forming an
opinion as long as the material is reasonably relied upon by experts in the field; People v.
Montiel (1993) 5 Cal.4th 877, 918-919 [“[a]n expert may generally base his opinion on
any ‘matter’ known to him, including hearsay not otherwise admissible, which may
‘reasonably . . . be relied upon’ for that purpose”]), any abuse of discretion was plainly
harmless as it is not reasonably probable he would have received a more favorable verdict
absent the alleged error. (See People v. DeHoyos (2013) 57 Cal.4th 79, 120 [court’s
14
evidentiary rulings subject to harmless error review under People v. Watson (1956) 46
13
Cal.2d 818, 836.)
b. The trial court’s ruling limiting evidence of Gutierrez’s prior statements
does not compel reversal
Guttierez testified she had overheard Serrano telling friends Gomez and Garcia
were the shooters and Alvarenga and Andrade had also been present at the crime scene.
To impeach Gutierrez’s credibility and reinforce Serrano’s earlier testimony that he did
not see, and could not identify, the shooters, the defense sought to introduce a photograph
of Gomez on which Gutierrez had written that her friend “Eric told me [Gomez] was the
one who killed German [Chairez].” The photograph had been shown to Gutierrez as a
part of a photographic lineup (“six-pack”). The prosecutor objected on the ground Eric’s
statements to Gutierrez were hearsay and not subject to a hearsay exception. (Serrano’s
statement to Gutierrez, in contrast, was admissible as a prior inconsistent statement
because Serrano testified at trial he could not identify the shooters.) In addition, the
prosecutor argued, the evidence was misleading. Although the defense sought to make it
appear Gutierrez had made a prior inconsistent statement—telling police she had learned
the information from Eric even though she testified she had learned it from Serrano—in
fact, the full recording of her police interview revealed she told police that both Serrano
and her friend Eric had identified Gomez. While Gomez and Andrade did not object to
the entire tape being played for the jury, Alvarenga and Garcia did; they only wanted to
impeach Guttierez and reinforce Serrano’s testimony that he did not see, and could not
identify, the shooter. The court ruled that, without a stipulation by all counsel to permit
playing the full tape, it would exclude the recording and any identification of Eric
specifically as the source of the information identifying Gomez, but would permit
counsel to question Gutierrez as to whether she had obtained her information from
13 Even Gomez’s trial counsel acknowledged that Napuli ultimately provided the
opinion sought at trial. In his motion for mistrial after Napuli testified, Gomez’s trial
counsel acknowledged, “After many sustained objections, the court allowed the Defense
to elicit an opinion that the sectors pinged by the alleged handset of Mr. Gomez could not
service the murder scene and that there was another cell site which did.”
15
Serrano and/or from another person. After reviewing a transcript of her police interview
to refresh her recollection, Gutierrez testified on cross-examination she told police she
had obtained her information about Gomez from Serrano and from someone else.
Gomez contends the court erred in excluding evidence of Gutierrez’s writing on
Gomez’s photograph as well as her recorded police interview. Both were admissible, he
argues, under Evidence Code sections 1235 (prior inconsistent statement) or 1236 (prior
consistent statement), since Gutierrez was available to testify and could be asked about
the statements she had made about Eric. (See Evid. Code, §§ 770, 791.) While we agree
evidence of Gutierrez’s writing and her statements to police were admissible, and
portions of the recording could have been played without misleading the jury (Evid.
Code, § 356), any error was plainly harmless. Both the recording and the writing on the
six-pack, had they been admitted, would have demonstrated that Gutierrez had heard
from both Serrano and from another person that Gomez was the shooter. That
information was ultimately elicited, even if “Eric” as the source of the other person
information was not. Nothing in this record suggests Gomez would have achieved a
more favorable result had the writing or the recording of Guittierez’s interview been
admitted into evidence.
c. The trial court did not err in admitting evidence Alvarenga went to
Gutierrez’s residence with a gun after the shooting
During trial Gutierrez testified, over Alvarenga’s objections, that three or four
weeks after the shooting, Alvarenga and his girlfriend appeared at Gutierrez’s gated
building, warned the person standing outside the gate that he had a gun and demanded to
be let into the building. Gutierrez was on the stairs of her apartment, heard the
conversation and saw the gun, but could not describe it at trial. Unsuccessful in their
efforts to enter the building, Alvarenga and his girlfriend left.
Alvarenga argues, as he did at trial, the evidence was irrelevant because there was
no showing the gun he displayed to Gutierrez had any connection to the crime; therefore,
he contends, it amounted to improper character evidence in violation of Evidence Code
section 1101 and, in any event, was far more prejudicial than probative. In overruling
16
Alvarenga’s objections, the trial court explained the murder weapon had not been found
and there was evidence more than one gun had been used. Under those circumstances,
the court reasoned, the evidence was relevant to show more than simply Alvarenga’s
propensity to carry weapons; it had a tendency to show the gun he was carrying was one
of those used in the crime. (See People v. Cox (2003) 30 Cal.4th 916, 954 [“‘When the
specific type of weapon used to commit a homicide is not known, it may be permissible
to admit into evidence weapons found in the defendant’s possession some time after the
crime that could have been the weapons employed. There need be no conclusive
demonstration that the weapon in defendant’s possession was the murder weapon.
[Citations.] When the prosecution relies, however, on a specific type of weapon, it is
error to admit evidence that other weapons were found in his possession, for such
evidence tends to show, not that he committed the crime, but only that he is the sort of
person who carries deadly weapons.’”], disapproved on other grounds in People v.
Doolin (2009) 45 Cal.4th 390.)
As an alternative explanation, and the one we find more convincing, the court also
observed that Alvarenga’s appearance at Gutierrez’s home armed with a gun a short time
after the shooting was persuasive evidence that Gutierrez, who at times offered reluctant
and disjointed testimony, was afraid of testifying against Alvarenga. (See, e.g. People v.
Burgener (2003) 29 Cal.4th 833, 869 [evidence of a witness’s fear of retaliation for
testifying is relevant]; People v Olguin (1994) 31 Cal.App.4th 1355, 1367-1369 [same].)
Significantly, the trial court admonished the jury not to consider the evidence for
propensity, instructing the jury the evidence was admissible against Alvarenga for the
limited and sole purpose of showing consciousness of guilt and against all defendants for
14
the purpose of evaluating Gutierrez’s credibility. The court’s limited admission of this
evidence was entirely proper and well within its broad discretion.
14 The court also instructed the jury, “During the trial, certain evidence was admitted
for a limited purpose. You may consider that evidence only for that purpose and for no
other.”
17
d. The trial court adequately instructed the jury to rely on the English
translation of a recording over any other understanding
During trial recordings of defendants’ conversations with each other in their jail
cells and with third parties on telephone calls made from jail were played for the jury.
Some of those conversations contained Spanish words or phrases. A certified Spanish
language interpreter testified she had listened to and transcribed the recordings. When
Spanish was used, she transcribed the conversation directly on the left margin of the
transcript using the Spanish and translated the Spanish terms into English in the right
margin. The jury was advised repeatedly during trial that the recordings were the
evidence, and “the transcripts are merely an aid to help you understand the recording.”
Andrade contends the court’s admonition that the tape, not the transcript, was
evidence and the transcript was merely an “aid,” although generally appropriate in trials
not involving foreign language recordings, improperly allowed Spanish speaking jurors
to hear different evidence from non-Spanish speaking jurors, a result that he maintains
deprived him of a fair trial. The contention is without merit. The jury was instructed
15
with CALCRIM No. 121, which advised, “Some testimony may be given in Spanish.
An interpreter will provide a translation for you at the time that the testimony is given.
You must rely on that translation provided by the interpreter, even if you understand the
language spoken by the witness. Do not retranslate any testimony for other jurors. If you
believe the court interpreter translated testimony incorrectly, let me know immediately by
writing a note and giving it to the bailiff.” This instruction adequately informed the jury
of its obligation to accept the English translation over any other understanding.
Moreover, there is no indication in this record that any juror understood Spanish nor has
Andrade identified any apparent discrepancy between the transcripts and the contents of
the audio recordings. Thus, while it may have been good practice for the court to instruct
15 Although Andrade contends the instruction was only read during the preliminary
instruction before trial, the record reflects it was also provided after the close of evidence
as part of the written instructions given to the jury before deliberations.
18
16
the jury with alternative B of CALCRIM No. 121, any error in failing to make clear to
the jury that it was to consider the English translation provided in the transcript over the
Spanish-speaking portions of the recording was not prejudicial under any standard. (See
Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 [87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 [applying
beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard of review to errors of constitutional magnitude];
People v. Breverman (1998) 19 Cal.4th 142, 165 [instructional errors are reviewed under
the standard articulated in People v. Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836].)
3. Substantial Evidence Supports the Jury’s Finding Garcia Personally Used and
Intentionally Discharged a Firearm Causing Great Bodily Injury or Death
Garcia contends there is insufficient evidence to support the jury’s findings under
section 12022.53, subdivisions (c) and (d), that he personally and intentionally discharged
a firearm. Relying on People v. Pearson (2012) 53 Cal.4th 306, he argues the evidence
established that all the bullets came from a single firearm, the Glock semiautomatic, and
there was no evidence he was the actual shooter. In Pearson the Supreme Court found
the evidence insufficient to support a finding the defendant had personally used a deadly
or dangerous weapon—a stake or stick—in the commission of a rape, kidnap and murder.
16 Andrade does not cite CALCRIM No. 121, alternative B, which specifically
pertains to foreign language recordings. It provides, “You (may/are about to) hear a
recording [that is partially] in a foreign language. You will receive a transcript with an
English language translation of that recording. [¶] You must rely on the transcript, even
if you understand the language in the recording. Do not share your own translation with
other jurors. Please write a note to the clerk or bailiff if you believe the translation is
wrong. [If the recording is partially in English, the English parts of the recording are the
evidence.]” Andrade’s counsel did not request the instruction; and no court has
recognized a sua sponte duty to give it. (See Bench Notes, CALCRIM No. 121 [“The
committee recommends giving Alternative A of this instruction whenever testimony will
be received with the assistance of an interpreter, though no case has held that the court
has a sua sponte duty to give the instruction. The instruction may be given at the
beginning of the case, when the person requiring translation testifies, or both, at the
court’s discretion. If the jury may hear a recording that is at least partially in a foreign
language, the court may give Alternative B with the appropriate bracketed language, as
needed.”].) In any event, as explained, in light of the instructions given and the absence
of any evidence of a conflict between the recording and the transcript, any possible error
was harmless.
19
The defendant admitted to police he, in concert with others, wrestled the victim to the
ground, moved her to the place where the assault occurred, raped her, kicked her and
moved her body after the attack, but said two other men had used the stake or stick to
beat and sexually penetrate the victim. There was no physical evidence or eyewitness
testimony that tied the defendant to the weapon, which was never recovered. Even
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, the Court held, the
evidence was insufficient to support a finding the defendant had personally used the stick
in the attack (Id. at p. 319 [“[t]he evidence leaves it entirely possible defendant used the
stake in attacking Sigler, but does not support a finding of such use beyond a reasonable
doubt”].)
This case bears little similarity to Pearson. Contrary to Garcia’s characterization
of the evidence, the People’s forensic expert testified that casings recovered at the scene
came from the same type of weapon, a Glock semiautomatic, but were not necessarily
fired from the same weapon. Ortiz saw Garcia pull a firearm from his pocket and run
with Gomez and Andrade toward the apartment. Minutes later Ortiz heard a barrage of
gunfire from at least two different guns. Serrano later identified Garcia and Gomez as the
shooters. Here, in contrast to Pearson, there was ample evidence from which a rational
jury could find Garcia personally used and intentionally discharged a weapon during the
attack.
4. Each of the Defendants’ Convictions on Count 7 (Shooting a Firearm with
Gross Negligence) Must Be Reversed Because That Offense Is a Lesser
Included Offense of Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling (Counts 3 and 4)
Gomez, Alvarenga, Andrade and Garcia were each convicted on counts 3 and 4
(shooting at an inhabited dwelling) (§ 246) and count 7 (discharging a firearm with gross
negligence) (§ 246.3). However, as Garcia and Alvarenga assert, section 246.3 is a lesser
included offense of section 246. (See People v. Ramirez (2009) 45 Cal.4th 980, 990
[“[S]ection 246.3(a) is a necessarily included lesser offense of section 246. Both offenses
require that the defendant willfully fire a gun. . . . All the elements of section 246.3(a)
are necessarily included in the more stringent requirements of section 246.”].)
20
Accordingly, the convictions on count 7 must be reversed. (See People v. Sanders (2012)
55 Cal.4th 731, 736 [“[w]hen a defendant is found guilty of both a greater and a
necessarily lesser included offense arising out of the same act or course of conduct, and
the evidence supports the verdict on the greater offense, that conviction is controlling,
and the conviction of the lesser offense must be reversed”]; People v. Milward (2011)
17
52 Cal.4th 580, 589 [same].)
5. The Prosecutor’s Comments During Closing Argument Do Not Compel
Reversal
“‘The applicable federal and state standards regarding prosecutorial misconduct
are well established. “‘A prosecutor’s . . . intemperate behavior violates the federal
Constitution only when it comprises a pattern of conduct so “egregious that it infects the
trial with such unfairness as to make the conviction a denial of due process.”’”
[Citations.] Conduct by a prosecutor that does not render a criminal trial fundamentally
unfair is prosecutorial misconduct under state law only if it involves “‘“the use of
deceptive or reprehensible methods to attempt to persuade either the court or the
jury.”’”’” (People v. Navarette (2003) 30 Cal.4th 458, 506; accord, People v. Morales
(2001) 25 Cal.4th 34, 44.) To determine whether misconduct has occurred, the reviewing
court evaluates how the remarks would, or could, have been understood by a reasonable
juror. (See, e.g., People v. Cummings (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1233, 1302 [“[i]f there is a
reasonable likelihood that the jury would understand the prosecutor’s statements as an
17 Although the Attorney General insists the defendants’ convictions for count 7
should not be reversed because they were not based “on the same act or course of
conduct” as the greater offense, the record belies that characterization. The prosecutor’s
theory at trial was that the same act of shooting gave rise to multiple offenses, including
counts 3, 4 and 7. In fact, the prosecutor told the jury, “And sometimes when a shooting
like this happens, not only when you kill somebody have you committed a murder, when
you almost kill somebody you have committed an attempted murder, when in the course
of doing that the bullets fly into inhabited dwellings, when you’ve got shooting at an
inhabited dwelling. And when you are shooting that erratically, then you’ve got shooting
in a grossly negligent manner.”
21
assertion that defense counsel sought to deceive the jury, misconduct would be
established”].)
a. The trial court cured any incorrect statements on the standard of proof and
the presumption of innocence by immediately admonishing the jury to
follow its instructions
Alvarenga contends the prosecutor misstated the law on the standard of proof
when she said, “The instruction will tell you, it is not beyond a shadow of a doubt. It is
not beyond any doubt. And it’s not imaginary doubt. I will ask you, it’s very easy
sometimes when you . . . are listening to a gang case all of this time [to think] are we
talking about a reasonable person standard or are we talking about a reasonable gangster
standard? There is no reasonable gangster standard ladies and gentlemen. It is a
reasonable person standard. What a reasonable person would see given the evidence.”
After Andrade’s counsel objected that the comment misstated the law, the court
admonished the jury, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the term of beyond a reasonable doubt is
actually defined for you in the jury instructions. And the attorneys will give you their
interpretation of what that means, of course. But it’s up to you to decide the meaning of
that based on the instruction that I gave you. For the record, it’s instruction 220.” The
prosecutor persisted, “And nowhere in instruction 220 will you hear that it’s a reasonable
gangster standard. It’s a reasonable person standard.” Again, defense counsel objected
that the prosecutor was articulating a civil standard of proof, not a criminal one. The
court again instructed the jury, “Ladies and gentlemen, you are ordered to follow the law
as I give it to you. Even if you hear something different from the attorneys, you follow
the law that I give.”
The prosecutor’s juxtaposition of “a reasonable person standard” with a
“reasonable gangster standard” in the context of describing reasonable doubt was likely
misleading and, at the very least, confusing. Despite the Attorney General’s
characterization, the comments were hardly identical to reasonable doubt definitions that
the United States Supreme Court has found appropriate (see Victor v. Nebraska (1994)
511 U.S. 1, 20 [114 S.Ct. 1239, 127 L.Ed.2d 583] [definition of reasonable doubt as “a
22
doubt that would cause a reasonable person to hesitate to act” is “a formulation we have
repeatedly approved”]). Nonetheless, the trial court’s prompt admonition to the jury to
disregard counsel’s interpretation of the law and follow the definition of reasonable doubt
contained in CALCRIM No. 220 clarified any possible confusion and ensured the jury
considered the correct standard. The court’s immediate and diligent action dispelled any
prejudice that may have otherwise resulted from the prosecutor’s remarks.
Alvarenga also challenges the prosecutor’s comments on the presumption of
innocence. During closing argument the prosecutor told the jury each defendant was
“[p]resumed innocent until proven guilty. Whenever that happens for you.” Defense
counsel objected the prosecutor had misstated the law. The court responded, “Ladies and
gentlemen, you have the law. You follow the law as I give it to you, not as the attorneys
give it to you. As I give it to you. You will get the instructions in writing.” The
prosecutor persisted, “It’s proven—presumed innocent until proven guilty, whenever that
proof happens for you. . . . And, whenever it happens for you, they are no longer
presumed innocent.” Again, defense counsel objected; and again the court intervened:
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am going to say this one last time. You follow the law as I give
it to you. The statements of counsel, that is not evidence. The evidence is what the
witnesses testified to and the exhibits admitted into evidence. The law is the law that I
give you, period. Even if the attorneys’ comments conflict[] with the law, you must
follow the law as I give it to you. That’s in the instructions.” The prosecutor continued,
this time without objection, “Please read the law. It’s assumed innocent until proven
guilty. And these defendants, I submit to you, were proven guilty after the first witness
took the stand.”
Alvarenga contends the prosecutor improperly told the jury the presumption of
innocence no longer applied at some point during the trial. Reviewing courts have
recognized the substantial difference between a prosecutor’s proper comment on the
evidence and an improper statement of law concerning the presumption of innocence.
(Compare People v. Panah (2005) 35 Cal.4th 395, 463 [prosecutor’s argument that the
evidence had “stripped away” defendant’s presumption of innocence was a proper
23
comment on the evidence, not an incorrect statement of the innocence presumption] and
People v. Goldberg (1984) 161 Cal.App.3d 170, 190 [prosecutor’s comment “[t]here is
no more presumption of innocence[;] [d]efendant Goldberg ha[d] been proven guilty by
the evidence” was proper comment on the evidence] with People v. Dowdell (2014)
227 Cal.App.4th 1388, 1408 [prosecutor’s remark that “[t]he presumption of innocence is
over[;] [defendant] has gotten his fair trial” was an incorrect statement of the law and
distinguishable from the comments made in Panah and Goldberg ].) Here, the
prosecutor’s comment, which suggested the jury need not consider the entire body of
evidence in deciding whether the People had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt
and thereby defeated the presumption of innocence, crossed the line between permissible
and impermissible closing argument. However, the trial court’s immediate admonition to
the jury to consider the presumption of innocence as the court instructed was a correct
statement of law and cured any possibility of prejudice from the prosecutor’s statements.
b. Alvarenga has forfeited his contention the prosecutor disparaged defense
counsel; his arguments are also without merit
Alvarenga identifies three prosecutorial comments he contends improperly
disparaged defense counsel. First, after his counsel made his closing argument, the
prosecutor responded in her summation, “Mr. Barish [(Alvarenga’s counsel)], with a
straight face, told you that when Clever said, yeah, all four of them were there to that
unidentified man, oh, they were just talking about this fake alibi he was trying to set up.
Really, ladies and gentlemen? I know Mr. Barish looks like a good, solid man with
three-piece suits in front of you making jokes like foo [sic] and it’s funny because a
distinguished gentlemen like himself would come up here, but this isn’t a funny case.
Really? Listen to what Clever said. He wasn’t talking about no fake alibi. It was a
confession . . . .”
Second, again in her rebuttal to defense counsel’s closing remarks the prosecutor
stated, “Just like when Mr. Barish tells you, when he is reading that transcript about
when . . . his client, Kevin Alvarenga, is talking to his girlfriend Karely Gomez about a
kite or a letter that he wrote to Sporty, Mr. Barish actually gets up with a straight face and
24
says to you, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, oh wait until I read you this. I’m shaking in my
boots.’ And he read a lot to you about it. But what he left out was right here, ladies and
gentlemen. . . .” The prosecutor then recited portions of the transcript.
Third, after Mr. Barish commented that Alvarenga had learned from his attorney,
“whoever that might be,” that Ernie Urquilla had talked to police, the prosecutor stated,
Alvarenga learned “his name has come up. His attorney told him. And then, with a
straight face, Mr. Barish said to you, ‘whoever that might be.’ Really? Whoever that
attorney might be? He tells you his attorney is the one who gave the names of Ernie and
Wally. Whoever that might be.”
At the threshold, no objection was made to any of the comments Alvarenga now
identifies. Accordingly, he has forfeited his prosecutorial misconduct arguments on
appeal. (See People v. Dykes (2010) 46 Cal.4th 731, 766 [counsel must object to
misconduct to permit trial court to address issue and to preserve claim for appeal; absent
objection or demonstration that objection was futile, the claim is forfeited]; People v.
Prince (2008) 40 Cal.4th 1179, 1275 [same].) They are also without merit.
A prosecutor commits misconduct when he or she attacks the integrity of or casts
aspersions on defense counsel. (People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 832.) “‘In
addressing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct that is based on the denigration of
opposing counsel, we view the prosecutor’s comments in relation to the remarks of
defense counsel, and inquire whether the former constitutes a fair response to the latter.’”
(People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393, 431-432.) Here, the prosecutor responded
directly to Mr. Barish’s arguments and told the jury the evidence contradicted the
inferences Mr. Barish had offered. Although the prosecutor’s occasional mocking
references to Mr. Barish’s humor and appearance—his three-piece suit—were gratuitous
and perhaps ill-advised, there was no material misconduct and certainly no prejudice.
25
(See People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 695 [prosecutor’s “remark was gratuitous,
18
but his misconduct was also de minimus”].)
6. Jury Instructions
a. CALCRIM No. 318, as given, was a correct statement of the law
The court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 318, which provides, “You have
heard evidence of statements that a witness made before the trial. If you decide that the
witness made those statements, you may use those statements in two ways: [¶] 1. To
evaluate whether the witness’s testimony in court is believable; [¶] AND [¶] 2. As
evidence that the information in those earlier statements is true.”
Gomez, who did not object to the instruction at trial, contends this instruction
affected his substantial rights by lessening the prosecution’s burden of proof. In effect,
he argues, the instruction told the jury to give Serrano’s out-of-court statements greater
weight than his in-court testimony. The instruction, however, did no such thing. It told
the jury it may, if it wished, consider Serrano’s out-of-court statements for both the truth
of the matter asserted and to assess his credibility. That is an entirely correct statement of
the law. (Evid. Code, § 1235 [codifying prior inconsistent statement exception to hearsay
rule and providing such statement may be considered for the truth of the matters
asserted]; see People v. Hudson (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 1025, 1028-1029 [“CALCRIM
No. 318 informs the jury that it may reject in-court testimony if it determines inconsistent
out-of-court statements to be true. By stating that the jury ‘may’ use the out-of-court
statements, the instruction does not require the jury to credit the earlier statements even
while allowing it to do so. [Citations.] Thus, we reject defendant’s argument that
CALCRIM No. 318 lessens the prosecution’s standard of proof by compelling the jury to
accept the out-of-court statements as true.”].)
Our conclusion is firmly reinforced by the Supreme Court’s rejection of
comparable challenges to the substantially similar language in CALJIC No. 2.13, the
18 In light of our holding that the comments did not amount to misconduct,
Alvarenga’s alternative argument that his counsel’s failure to object to them constituted
ineffective assistance also fails.
26
predecessor to CALCRIM No. 3.18. (See People v. Friend (2009) 47 Cal.4th 1, 41-42
19
[CALJIC No. 2.13 “in no way directs the jury to accept prior statements as the truth; it
merely covers the hearsay exceptions provided in Evidence Code sections 1235 and
1236”]; accord, People v. Harris (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1269, 1293 [the instruction merely
covers “in a neutral fashion” the hearsay exceptions provided in Evid. Code, §§ 1235 and
1236].) Accordingly, there was no error in instructing the jury with CALCRIM No. 318.
b. The trial court did not err in refusing requested pinpoint instruction
Upon request a trial court must give jury instructions that pinpoint the theory of
the defense, such as relating the reasonable doubt standard of proof to particular elements
of the crime charged. (People v. Gutierrez (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1083, 1142-1143; People v.
Earp (1999) 20 Cal.4th 826, 886.) However, the court may refuse to give a pinpoint
instruction that is argumentative, duplicative or potentially confusing. (See Earp, at
p. 886; People v. Moon (2005) 37 Cal.4th 1, 30.) In addition, a pinpoint instruction
should not be given if it invites the jury to draw inferences favorable to one of the parties
from specified items of evidence. (Earp, at p. 886; People v. Hajek and Vo (2014)
58 Cal.4th 1144, 1244; People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 Cal.4th 1, 99.)
Andrade’s counsel requested the court give a pinpoint instruction that “[r]umors
may not be considered as evidence.” Andrade’s counsel reminded the court Roman and
the Urquilla brothers had referred to “rumors on the street” when testifying and argued
the instruction was necessary to prevent the jury from relying on those references as
evidence. The prosecutor objected, characterizing the pinpoint instruction as an attempt
by the defense to get their closing argument inserted as jury instructions. The court
struggled with the proffered instruction, fearing that it would be confusing to jurors
because the same witnesses who alluded to rumors on the street also testified that they
19 CALJIC No. 2.13 provides, “Evidence that on some former occasion, a witness
made a statement or statements that were inconsistent or consistent with his testimony in
this trial may be considered by you not only for the purpose of testing the credibility of
the witness, but also as evidence of the truth of the facts as stated by the witness on such
former occasion.”
27
had heard the information directly from Alvarenga and that evidence was admissible.
Ultimately the court denied the request, telling defense counsel, “In terms of the pinpoint
instructions, I think it’s covered in a CALCRIM. The defense can certainly argue that
Urquilla said he heard it from rumors and innuendo and that’s not evidence. And the
People can argue, hey he heard it straight from Alvarenga.”
The requested instruction, as the court recognized, was largely duplicative. The
court sustained objections to the mention of rumors when appropriate, and the jury was
instructed not to consider questions to which the court had sustained objections. The jury
was also instructed it could consider only evidence that is presented in the courtroom
(CALCRIM No. 972), with the exception of out-of-court statements made by defendants
(CALCRIM No. 985) or out-of-court statements made by testifying witnesses that are
consistent or inconsistent with their trial testimony (CALCRIM NOS. 226, 318).
Moreover, the defense vigorously asserted in its closing arguments, without objection,
that rumor and innuendo were not evidence. The failure to give the requested pinpoint
instruction was neither error nor prejudicial. (See People v. Pearson, supra, 53 Cal.4th at
p. 325 [failure to give pinpoint instruction evaluated under Watson harmless error
standard]; People v. Hughes (2002) 27 Cal.4th 287, 362-363 [same].)
7. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Failing To Take Remedial Action after Gomez
Shaved His Head During Trial
On the last day of testimony in the People’s case, Gomez appeared at trial with his
head shaved, prominently displaying gang tattoos on his scalp. Andrade’s counsel moved
for a mistrial. Alternatively, Andrade requested a one-week continuance to allow
Gomez’s hair to grow out or an order requiring Gomez to wear a hat. The court rejected
each of those requests, finding the displayed tattoos were cumulative of other evidence
that had already been presented. Later, in response to the prosecutor’s question, the
People’s gang expert testified Gomez’s act of shaving his head during trial showed he
was proud to be a Vincent Town gang member.
Andrade impliedly concedes that the evidence of Gomez’s scalp tattoo was
cumulative; substantially identical photographs of Gomez’s scalp tattoo had been
28
admitted into evidence. However, he argues the court’s failure to take remedial action
denied him a fair trial because it effectively permitted the People’s gang expert to opine
that Gomez’s voluntary display of gang tattoos during trial reflected Gomez’s pride of
membership and loyalty to the gang and suggested, by association, that his codefendants
shared those characteristics.
Contrary to Andrade’s contention, neither Gomez’s gang tattoo nor the expert’s
testimony as to the implied meaning of Gomez’s altered appearance during trial
prejudiced Andrade. Such evidence was indisputably cumulative. In addition to the
abundant evidence of both Gomez’s and Andrade’s membership in the Vincent Town
gang, there was also evidence that Andrade had carved gang graffiti in his jail cell after
his arrest. The People’s expert testified that Andrade’s own act of etching gang graffiti
evidenced his own pride of membership and loyalty to the gang. Simply stated, Andrade
has not shown the court’s action, or in this case, inaction, in regard to Gomez’s
voluntarily altered appearance at trial deprived him of a fair trial.
8. Sentencing Issues
In light of our reversal of count 1, we vacate the sentences of Gomez, Alvarenga,
Andrade and Garcia. Each defendant must be resentenced either after a retrial of count 1
or at the People’s election upon reduction of the convictions in count 1 to second degree
murder. To assist the trial court at resentencing, we address several of the defendants’
sentencing contentions
a. Section 654 and the two counts for shooting at an inhabited dwelling
Section 654 prohibits separate punishment for multiple offenses arising from the
same act or from a series of acts constituting an indivisible course of criminal conduct.
(See People v. Rodriguez (2009) 47 Cal.4th 501, 507; People v. Latimer (1993) 5 Cal.4th
1203, 1206.) Section 654 does not apply to crimes of violence against multiple victims.
(People v. Correa (2012) 54 Cal.4th 331, 341; see People v. Oates (2004) 32 Cal.4th
1048, 1063 [“[a] defendant who commits an act of violence with intent to harm more than
one person or by means likely to cause harm to several persons is more culpable than a
defendant who harms only one person”].)
29
Gomez contends his sentence on counts 3 and 4, shooting at an inhabited dwelling,
should have been stayed under section 654 because the same act or series of acts were the
basis for his convictions on count 1 (murder of Chairez) and count 2 (attempted murder
of Serrano). Contrary to the trial court’s finding, we agree the record is devoid of
evidence that shooting at the inhabited dwelling involved a different intent and objective
20
from the murder and attempted murder. Nonetheless, as to count 4, the trial court
properly declined to apply section 654.
The evidence was undisputed that apartment number 279 was occupied by
Chairez’s friend, Yesenia, and Yesenia’s children at the time of the shooting. Thus, as to
that count, the multiple victim exception to section 654 applied; and the court was
permitted to sentence Gomez (and his confederates) on that count in addition to the
murder and attempted murder counts. (See People v. Felix (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1618,
1631 [“Martin Gomez’s houseguests were victimized by the shooting into the dwelling
but were not named victims in any other count. It follows that the trial court properly
declined to stay the sentence on count 2 (shooting at an inhabited dwelling) because it is
governed by the multiple victim exception to section 654”]; People v. Anderson (1990)
221 Cal.App.3d 331, 338-339.)
Count 3, however, which involved the shooting of apartment number 131, is a
different matter. The Attorney General has not identified any evidence that apartment
number 131 was occupied at the time of the shooting nor has our own review of the
record revealed any evidence there were victims in, at or near that apartment at that time.
21
(Cf. People v. Felix, supra, 172 Cal.App.4th at p. 1631.) As the Attorney General
20 The Attorney General does not argue the trial court’s finding is supported by
substantial evidence. Instead she confines her argument to the multiple victim exception
to section 654, noting we may affirm the sentence regardless of reasons given by the
court.
21 Detective Parshall’s very brief testimony that apartment number 131 was “an
inhabited dwelling” was insufficient, by itself, to support the multiple victim exception to
section 654; he did not testify there were victims present at the time of the shooting. (See
30
impliedly concedes, the shooting of an inhabited dwelling in count 3 was part of the same
act or series of acts constituting an indivisible course of conduct. Absent evidence of
other victims in or near the apartment at the time of the shooting, the multiple victim
exception is inapplicable; and the sentences on count 3 were subject to the proscription
against multiple punishment contained in section 654.
b. The sentence imposed on count 4 was unauthorized
As to all defendants, the trial court imposed two consecutive 35-year-to-life terms
for counts 3 and count 4, calculated by adding the 25-year-to-life firearm enhancement
under section 12022.53, subdivision (d), and the 10 year gang enhancement for violent
felons pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1)(C), with no explanation for the
22
absence of any base term for the underlying offense (§ 246) itself. As discussed in the
preceding section, execution of any sentence imposed on count 3 must be stayed under
section 654. The sentence on count 4 may be imposed, but it was incorrectly determined
by the trial court: Section 186, subdivision (b)(4)(B), specially alleged in the
information, provides an alternative sentence for a section 246 offense committed for the
benefit of a criminal street gang—an indeterminate life term with a minimum parole
eligibility period of 15 years. Coupled with the firearm-use findings under section
12022.53, subdivision (d), therefore, the defendants’ aggregate sentences on count 4
should have been 40 years to life, not 35 years to life. (See § 12022.53, subd. (e)(2)
[enhancement for participation in criminal street gang shall not be imposed unless the
person “personally used or personally discharged a firearm in the commission of the
offense”]; People v. Brookfield (2009) 47 Cal.4th 583, 591-592].)
§ 246 [“[a]s used in this section, ‘inhabited’ means currently being used for dwelling
purposes, whether occupied or not.”].)
22 The clerk’s minute order and the abstract of judgment identify the 25-year-to-life
sentence as the base term for the offense of shooting at an inhabited dwelling. That is
neither what the court said at the sentencing hearing nor, in any event, an authorized
sentence for a violation of section 246 committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
31
c. The court properly sentenced Garcia for count 6
Garcia also contends his sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon should
have been stayed under section 654. However, section 654 does not bar separate
punishments for the offense of unlawfully possessing a firearm and a crime committed
with the firearm when those crimes were separate acts and did not involve an indivisible
course of conduct. Unless the evidence demonstrates “‘at most that fortuitous
circumstances put the firearm in the defendant’s hand only at the instant of committing
another offense,’” punishment for both offenses is proper. (People v. Jones (2002)
103 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1144 [section 654 did not bar punishment for both possession of
firearm by felon and shooting at inhabited dwelling]; cf. People v. Bradford (1976)
17 Cal.3d 8, 22-23 [where defendant wrestled away officer’s revolver and shot officer
with it, punishment for both assault with deadly weapon on peace officer and possession
of firearm by felon was prohibited by section 654].)
Here, there is substantial evidence that Garcia arrived at the scene of the crime
already armed with a firearm. Under those circumstances section 654 does not prohibit
punishment for both the unlawful possession and the subsequent firearm-related crime.
(People v. Jones, supra, 103 Cal.App.4th at p. 1144; see People v. Ortiz (2012)
208 Cal.App.4th 1354, 1378 [evidence that defendant arrived at scene of kidnapping and
carjacking already in possession of firearm was sufficient to show that defendant
harbored separate intent and objective in illegally possessing firearm and in using firearm
in commission of kidnapping during carjacking].)
d. Gang crime (Count 8)
Finally, the court imposed a concurrent three-year prison term on count 8, street
23
terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a)), also referred to as “a gang crime.” Garcia and
23 Section 186.22, subdivision (a), “applies to ‘[a]ny person who actively participates
in any criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in or have engaged
in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and who willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in
any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang.’ As the statutory text indicates,
the gang crime has three elements: (1) ‘[a]ctive participation in a criminal street gang, in
the sense of participation that is more than nominal or passive,’ (2) ‘“knowledge that [the
32
Alvarenga contend, and the Attorney General concedes, section 654 prohibits multiple
punishment for both the gang crime, which requires a finding of assisting gang members
in committing the underlying felony, and aiding and abetting the same underlying
offense. (See People v. Mesa (2012) 54 Cal.4th 191, 200; People v. Sanchez (2009)
179 Cal.App.4th 1297, 1301, disapproved on another ground in People v. Rodriguez
(2012) 55 Cal.4th 1125, 1137, fn. 8.) Accordingly, on remand for resentencing, count 8
should be stayed pursuant to section 654.
e. Alvarenga’s challenge to his indeterminate life sentence is moot
Alvarenga contends his aggregate indeterminate sentence of 160 years to life was
disproportionate to the crimes committed and, because he was only 17 years old at the
time of the offense, violates the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual
punishment and the proscription in article I, section 17 of the California Constitution of
cruel or unusual punishment as announced in Miller, supra, 132 S.Ct. 2455, People v.
Gutierrez (2014) 58 Cal.4th 1354 and People v. Caballero (2012) 55 Cal.4th 262. In
response, the Attorney General asserts the sentence is not disproportionate and the
sentence imposed is not the functional equivalent of life without the possibility of parole
because, pursuant to section 3051, subdivision (b)(3), Alvarenga will receive a parole
suitability hearing during his 25th year of incarceration.
The constitutionality of Alvarenga’s 160 years-to-life sentence is moot in light of
our reversal of his first degree murder conviction and remand either for retrial on that
count or for resentencing in accordance with a prosecutorial election to reduce the
conviction to second degree murder. Although a similar issue could very well arise when
Alvarenga is resentenced, the Supreme Court may resolve the fundamental question
presented by Alvarenga in the near future: In In re Alatriste (S214652, rev. granted
Feb. 19, 2014) and In re Bonilla (S214960, rev. granted Feb. 19, 2014), the Supreme
gang’s] members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity,”’ and
(3) ‘the person “willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct
by members of that gang. ”’” (People v. Mesa (2012) 54 Cal.4th 191, 197.)
33
Court will consider whether the opportunity for a parole suitability hearing after a
maximum of 25 years for most juvenile offenders serving life sentences moots any claim
that such a sentence violates the Eighth Amendment. Both cases are fully briefed and
awaiting oral argument. The answer to that question, therefore, will likely be available to
the trial court before any further sentencing hearing takes place. To the extent
appropriate, at that time the court, clearly aware of the factors identified in Miller for
24
sentencing juveniles, should hold a thorough hearing considering Alvarenga’s status as
a juvenile offender in accordance with Miller, Guttierez and Caballero.
DISPOSITION
The convictions of Gomez, Andrade, Alvarenga and Garcia on count 1 and on
count 7 are reversed; the defendants’ sentences are vacated in their entirety and the matter
is remanded in accordance with Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th 155, for the People to either
accept a reduction of the convictions on count 1 to second degree murder or to retry the
defendants (or any of them) for the greater offense under a legally valid direct perpetrator
or direct aiding and abetting theory. At resentencing on all counts, the court will have the
opportunity to address the sentencing errors identified in this opinion and conduct further
proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. Gomez’s, Alvarenga’s, Andrade’s and
Garcia’s convictions on counts 2 through 6 and count 8 are affirmed.
PERLUSS, P. J.
We concur:
ZELON, J. STROBEL, J.*
24 At Alvarenga’s sentencing hearing, the trial court indicated it was well aware of
the cases addressing sentencing juvenile offenders to terms that are the functional
equivalent of life without parole: “The court has considered several cases that deal with
sentencing juvenile offenders to terms that are the functional equivalent of life, including
life without parole, including . . . Miller v. Alabama [132 S.Ct. 2455] and People v.
Caballero [55 Cal.4th 262], which I am intimately familiar with because I was the trial
judge in Caballero.”
* Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
34