People v. Woods CA4/1

Filed 5/13/16 P. v. Woods 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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, D069451
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. FSB1303214)
CORNELIUS DESHAWN WOODS,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County,
Annemarie G. Pace, Judge. Affirmed.
Patricia L. Brisbois, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, A. Natasha Cortina and Meagan J.
Beale, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
In this gang-related murder case involving the shooting death of Eddie Barnes, Jr.,
a jury convicted Cornelius Deshawn Woods of first degree murder (count 1: Pen. Code,1
§ 187, subd. (a)), unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (count 2: § 29800, subd.
(a)), and active participation in a criminal street gang (count 3: § 186.22, subd. (a)). The
jury found to be true allegations that in committing the murder Woods personally used
and discharged a firearm, causing death (§ 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d)) and that he
committed the murder and unlawfully possessed the firearm (a handgun) for the benefit
of, in association with, or at the direction of a criminal street gang with the specific intent
to promote, further or assist in criminal conduct by gang members (§ 186.22, subds.
(b)(1)(A), (C)). In a bifurcated proceeding, the court found to be true allegations that
Woods had suffered a prior serious felony conviction (assault with a firearm in violation
of § 245, subd. (a)(2)) within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a)(1), which also
was a strike within the meaning of the Three Strikes law (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12,
subds. (a)-(d)). The court sentenced Woods to an aggregate state prison term of 80 years
to life.
Woods appeals his conviction, asserting five contentions. First, the court abused
its discretion and violated his federal constitutional due process right to a fair trial by
admitting evidence through the People's gang expert that he had committed prior gang-
related shootings in 2005 and 2006. Second, the court violated his federal constitutional
due process right to a fair trial by admitting evidence of his conviction of assault with a
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
2
firearm as a predicate offense to support the active-participation-in-a-criminal-street-gang
charge and enhancement allegation. Third, the court committed prejudicial instructional
error and violated his federal constitutional due process right to a fair trial by failing to
instruct the jury sua sponte under CALCRIM No. 335 that Anthony Walker was an
accomplice in the active-participation-in-a-criminal-street-gang crime as a matter of law
and that the jury could not rely on Walker's testimony without independent corroborating
evidence. Fourth, defense counsel provided ineffective assistance in violation of
Woods's Sixth Amendment rights by failing to object to (1) the reliance of the People's
gang expert on the evidence of Woods's 2006 conviction of assault with a firearm to form
his opinion that Woods was a shooter for the Hoover criminal street gang; (2) the
prosecution's use of that 2006 conviction as one of six predicate offenses to prove that the
Hoover gang is a criminal street gang, and (3) the prosecutor's statements during closing
argument that the 2005 and 2006 prior shootings showed Woods's motive as a shooter for
the Hoover gang. Fifth, cumulative error requires reversal of the judgment. We affirm
the judgment.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. The People's Case
1. The murder, Walker's incriminating testimony, and the surveillance video
evidence
Late in the evening on June 7, 2013, Eddie Barnes, Jr., who was a member of a
Blood gang, was shot and killed in the living room of his friend Tanya Cooper's
apartment. Barnes, who also was known as Bishop, had been staying with Cooper for a
3
few weeks. Cooper testified that Barnes sold drugs out of her apartment. That night,
Cooper retired to her bedroom after five men who were members of the rival Hoover
gang came to the apartment. At trial, Cooper identified those men as Andre "Dre" Davis,
Davis's brother Jovan "Puna" Smith, Anthony "Ace" Walker, Arbet "Flash" Brown, and
another man she did not know at that time but whom she identified at trial as Woods
because of the tattoos on his face that she had seen when he was in her apartment and
which she later described to Detective Albert Tello of the San Bernardino Police
Department. Cooper testified that some of the men entered her apartment, and others
remained outside on the balcony.
At some point, from her bedroom, Cooper heard Walker say to Barnes, "Hey,
Bishop, I need that." Barnes replied by saying something in a low voice, but Cooper
could not make out what he said. At trial, Cooper testified she did not remember telling a
police officer that she heard Barnes say, "Okay man, okay." She also did not remember
telling the officer she then heard Barnes mumble, "Oh, shit."
Cooper testified she heard gunshots after Barnes mumbled something, and she
"froze" and then quickly hid in her closet. She heard "maybe four or five" additional
gunshots. Cooper then heard Walker say "a[h] fuck" in a panicked, frightened voice.
Cooper testified that it "sound[ed] like [Walker] was shocked." Cooper also testified she
left her bedroom closet shortly thereafter and saw Barnes's body as she walked through
the living room and left her apartment. Cooper saw Davis when she left the apartment
complex.
4
Barnes's cousin, Davis, testified he heard Cooper and Barnes arguing earlier that
evening. Barnes had been using cocaine and was still "amped up." Sometime after 9:40
p.m.─when only Cooper, Davis, and Barnes were in Cooper's apartment─Woods,
Walker, Brown, and Davis's brother, Smith, came to the apartment.
Davis identified Woods at trial as one of the men who arrived at Cooper's
apartment that night. Davis testified he overheard Walker talk with Barnes about buying
some drugs. Walker said he needed a "quarter of cocaine" and a "quarter of rock
cocaine." Davis left the apartment and went downstairs as Smith and Brown were
leaving. Davis heard six or seven gunshots and ran back up to the apartment. He saw
Barnes lying on the floor in the apartment near the front door. Davis also saw Cooper
come out of her room, grab her purse, and leave. Davis yelled for paramedics and also
left. He later identified Woods when Detective Tello showed him a photographic lineup.
a. Walker's incriminating testimony and the surveillance video clips
Before the trial began, Walker pleaded guilty in this case to being an accessory
after the fact to Barnes's murder and to being an active participant in a criminal street
gang. He testified for the prosecution as part of his plea bargain.2 Walker admitted he
was a member of the Hoover gang, and he testified he had various tattoos on his body and
face related to both that gang and a subset clique known as Five Deuce. He described his
gang tattoos as a "five deuce" on his left hand, a star on his right hand, and a star on the
2 The range of punishment was a maximum of 12 years in prison to a minimum of
three years' probation.
5
right side of his face. Walker testified that Woods, Brown and Smith also were Hoover
gang members.
Walker indicated that when Detective Tello first interviewed him about two weeks
after the shooting he was not completely truthful with Detective Tello because he was
afraid of being charged with murder, but he told the detective at that time he thought
Woods was the shooter. During that interview, Walker also identified Woods in a
photographic lineup that Detective Tello showed him.
Walker testified that Smith and Brown picked him up in Brown's SUV earlier in
the evening on June 7, 2013. They drove to a liquor store and then picked up Woods
before they went to Cooper's apartment. Walker planned to see his former girlfriend,
who lived in another apartment, and then buy drugs from Barnes.
Walker testified that when Woods first got in the SUV, he asked Walker and the
others whether they had "a thing," meaning a gun. Woods then got out of the SUV and
went somewhere. When he returned to the SUV a couple of minutes later, the group
continued on to the apartments.
Walker further testified that he, Woods, Smith and Brown all got out of the SUV
when they arrived at the apartment complex, and they all walked up the staircase near
apartments Nos. 39 and 42. Walker went up first and the others followed him. Walker
went to his former girlfriend's apartment, No. 42. He went inside and talked to her.
When Walker left her apartment, he did not see Woods, Smith, or Brown. Walker then
walked to Cooper's apartment, No. 39, went inside, and spoke with Barnes about
purchasing some drugs. Davis was present when Walker talked to Barnes about drugs.
6
At trial, Walker indicated he did not see Woods, Smith, or Brown in Cooper's apartment
when he was talking to Barnes about drugs. He did not see Cooper at all that night.
Walker also testified that a man known as "Car Wash" came inside Cooper's
apartment for a couple of minutes, Walker gave him a drink from a bottle of gin he
(Walker) had, and Walker and Barnes used cocaine. After Car Wash left, Walker saw
Woods, whose street names are "LS" and "Little Stone," standing by the window outside
the front door of the apartment. Walker was able to see him through the window because
the blinds were pulled back.
As Walker was talking to Barnes, Woods motioned to Walker and told him,
"Come on. Let's go." Walker testified that, as he walked out of the apartment, he saw
Woods "standing on the side of the door" with a black gun in his right hand. As Walker
walked away from Cooper's apartment toward the stairs to go down to the SUV, Woods
walked past him toward Cooper's apartment.
Walker testified he then heard one gunshot, and he started running. Walker was
"shocked" when he heard the first gunshot, and he yelled out, "What the fuck." He then
heard Barnes gasping inside the apartment. Walker also testified that when he started
running, he "took a quick glance back" over his left shoulder and saw Woods standing "at
the edge" of the front door of Cooper's apartment. Walker did not see where Woods's
hands were. Walker heard three or four more gunshots as he ran, but he did not see who
was shooting. Walker testified that when the shooting occurred, Davis was "standing
right outside the door," smoking a cigarette "[o]n the other side of the door."
7
Walker testified he ran down the stairs toward the SUV and Woods ran down the
stairs behind him. Walker testified he was not running fast because he was holding the
gin bottle and also holding up his pants, and he did not stop running until he reached the
SUV.
Surveillance camera video clips from the apartment complex, which were played
for the jury while Walker was testifying, showed Walker running down the stairs holding
the gin bottle in his right hand and holding up his pants with his other hand. The videos
also showed Woods, with his hands in his pockets, running down the stairs behind
Walker and exiting the apartment complex with him.3 One of the videos showed the
SUV passing by. Walker testified that Brown and Smith were in the SUV, and Brown
was driving.
Walker also testified that he and Woods got into the SUV. Walker also testified
that as they were driving away Woods giggled and said to everyone, "That was easy."
Walker, who was in protective custody during the trial, further testified that
Woods told him not to testify against him. He also testified that, although he had not
been threatened as a result of this case, he could be killed in prison for testifying because
"snitching" is a "no-no" in gang culture.
The prosecutor asked Walker whether he shot Barnes, and Walker replied, "No, I
didn't." The prosecutor also asked Walker, "Did you know this was going to happen to
3 During his closing argument, the prosecutor suggested that Woods's running down
the stairs in "an unusual posture" with his hands in his pockets, as shown in one of the
video clips, showed that Woods had put the handgun in his pocket.
8
[Barnes]?" Walker answered, "No." Walker estimated that a couple of minutes passed
between his telling Barnes "I need that" in Cooper's apartment and the shooting.
b. Barnes's gunshot wounds, bullet trajectory evidence, Woods's facial tattoos,
and additional surveillance video evidence
Barnes was shot five times, including twice in the back of his head while he was
lying on the living room floor in Cooper's apartment. The parties stipulated he died from
multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Detective William Flesher, who responded to the scene on the night of the
shooting and investigated the murder, testified that the five expended nine-millimeter
shell casings recovered from the crime scene were fired from the same semiautomatic
handgun. Based on his investigation and his experience as a homicide detective,
Detective Flesher opined that the bullet trajectories were consistent with the bullets
having been fired from the threshold of the apartment door. Barnes had currency in
various denominations on his person, which was consistent with his having engaged in
the sale of narcotics. No firearm was found on Barnes's person.
Detective Albert Tello of the San Bernardino Police Department testified that he
reviewed the surveillance camera video clips, and the clips, which were played while he
was testifying, showed Walker─followed by Smith, Woods and Brown─going up the
stairs and to the left toward Cooper's apartment. Detective Tello testified that another
video clip showed the man identified as Car Wash thereafter going up the stairs to
Cooper's apartment. Other video clips, also played during Detective Tello's testimony,
9
showed Walker, followed by Woods, running down the stairs and going out of the
apartment complex to the SUV.
Detective Tello also testified that he spoke with Cooper about 12 hours after the
shooting. Cooper described several distinctive tattoos she saw on the face of the man she
saw on the balcony outside her apartment, who she did not know but later was identified
as Woods. Specifically, Cooper described Woods's tattoos as a star with an H on his
face, and some sort of cursive writing above his left eye. During that first interview,
Cooper told Detective Tello she heard Walker say, "Hey Bishop, I need that." She also
told Detective Tello she heard Barnes say, "Okay," and then, "Oh, shit," just before he
was shot. Cooper also said she then heard gunshots and heard Walker say, "Oh, fuck,"
and Davis say, "[O]h, my God."
Detective Tello also testified that he interviewed Walker, who described seeing
Woods extending his arm forward toward Barnes, while holding a gun, over the door
threshold of Cooper's apartment.
2. Woods's arrest in Las Vegas and his self-incriminating statement to the police
On August 8, 2013, Woods was arrested in Las Vegas. Before Detective Tello
read Woods his Miranda4 rights, Woods said he wanted a lawyer and did not want to talk
with the detectives. The detectives did not ask any questions, but Woods asked what it
was all about, and Detective Tello told him he was being arrested for Barnes's murder.
4 Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436.
10
Woods quickly responded that he did not know anything about it and he had been in Las
Vegas since April.
3. Woods's recorded self-incriminating telephone call from jail
A recording of a phone call Woods made from jail in early October 2013, which
was transcribed, was played for the jury. Woods initially spoke with a woman named
Bria about needing some "dollars" and then he asked her whether she had seen "Flash"
(Brown). Bria replied she had not seen him, but she had heard he had been arrested. An
unidentified male then got on the phone and spoke to Woods. The male told Woods that
some people who were supposed to "holler" at him came and talked about "who doing the
little talking and all types of shit, man like shit ugly." Woods replied as follows that he
knew who was "talking" and who were "in it": "Yeah, I know, I see I know who talking
and shit, I know who all in it, man I know, I know. You know what I'm talking about?"
Woods said, "They ain't got shit on me cause I didn't do shit. I ain't even been out here
fool." Woods also said he needed someone to contact "Toots" and tell her to "holler at
the investigator" and "let [the investigator] know" where Woods was on the night of the
murder. Woods gave Toots's phone number to the male he was talking to. Woods then
said he had sent a letter to Toots, and the investigator would call Toots and "ask her like
where [he (Woods)] been at and shit." Woods again spoke with Bria during this phone
call. Woods told her an alibi was "all I need." He then told Bria, "All they need is an
alibi and I'm walking up out this bitch."
11
4. Prosecution's gang expert testimony
Detective Joshua Simpson of the City of San Bernardino Police Department's gang
unit testified as the prosecution's gang expert. He has personal experience with, and
training about, the Hoover gang, a criminal street gang in San Bernardino that originated
in Los Angeles. The Hoover gang has more than 2,500 documented members and even
more associates. More than 100 Hoover gang members live in the City of San
Bernardino.
Detective Simpson testified that the Hoover gang has nine subsets or "cliques."
"Five Deuce," which stands for 52nd Street, is one of those cliques. The Hoover gang
started as a Crip-based gang, but is no longer aligned with either Crips or Bloods.
However, some Hoover gang members have aligned themselves with members of the
Grape Street gang, which is a Crip-based gang. The Hoover gang and the East Coast
Crips are rivals.
The Hoover gang's common symbols are "H" and a five-pointed star, the gang's
colors are blue and orange, and its primary activities are narcotic sales, possession of
firearms, assaults with firearms, and murder.
Detective Simpson testified about six predicate offenses committed by Hoover
gang members, including one by Woods, that show the Hoover gang has engaged in a
pattern of criminal activity. Specifically, (1) Woods was convicted of assault with a
firearm, with personal use of a firearm, stemming from an incident in 2006; (2) Puna
Smith was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm with a finding he committed this
offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang in 2007; (3) Melvin "Melly Mel" Craig
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was convicted of carrying a loaded firearm in 2008; (4) James "Pooka" Jackson was
convicted of possession of cocaine base for sale stemming from an incident in 2010; (5)
Flash Brown was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an incident
in 2011; and (6) Jaquawn "Baby Stone" Oates was convicted of transportation of a
controlled substance stemming from an incident in 2013. Detective Simpson opined that
all six of these men were Hoover gang members.
Detective Simpson indicated he was familiar with Barnes, and testified that Barnes
was associated with the Compton Cross Atlantic Piru gang, which is an "offshoot of the
Blood set gang." Detective Simpson was familiar with Brown, and testified that Brown
is a Hoover gang associate. Detective Simpson testified he also was familiar with Walker
and indicated that Walker is a Hoover gang member. Walker had numerous Hoover gang
tattoos, about which Walker testified in this case.
Detective Simpson opined that Woods was an active member of the 52nd Street or
Five Deuce Hoover criminal street gang. He based his opinion in part on Woods's
numerous gang-related tattoos, which include (among others) a five-pointed star with the
letter H on his right cheek, the letters "YHG" for "young Hoover gangster" on his left
cheek, stars on his upper right shoulder, the numbers "5" and "2" on the right side of his
neck that refer to the 52nd Street or Five Deuce clique, the initials "HGC" on his neck
that stand for "Hoover gangster criminal," a five-pointed star above his eyebrow, a
diamond with the letter H for "Hoover" on his chest, a "52" on his upper abdomen
representing the 52nd Street or clique, and another "52" on his left triceps muscle.
13
Detective Simpson also based his opinion in part on a photograph of Woods
showing him using his right hand to give the Hoover gang sign, which is a representation
of the letter H for Hoover, and on Woods's inmate classification form in which he
indicated to Deputy Sanchez that he was a 52nd Street Hoover gang member. Detective
Simpson testified he also considered information he reviewed pertaining to Woods's
juvenile adjudication for felony discharging a firearm (§ 246.3) involving a case in which
Woods and Oates were confronted in 2005 by a man who objected to their selling drugs
in front of his home, Oates punched the man, and Woods fired a gun into the ground near
the man to instill fear in him.5 During this incident Woods was wearing orange shorts,
which Detective Simpson opined were gang clothing because orange is the Hoover gang's
color.
Detective Simpson also considered circumstances relating to Woods's adult
conviction for felony assault with a firearm stemming from a 2006 incident involving
Grape Street gang members during which Woods introduced himself by saying "Westside
5 Before Detective Simpson testified about this 2005 incident, the court gave the
following limiting instruction: "This evidence that you're about to hear can only be used
for a limited purpose. You cannot use this as evidence that the defendant has a
propensity to commit crime or anything like that. It is to consider the basis of the
officer's opinion, whether or not the defendant had a motive to commit the offenses that
[are] alleged in this case or act with the intent to assist, further, or promote criminal
conduct by gang members in this case. You may consider it for those purposes and not
any others. Specifically, you cannot consider this evidence to conclude that the
defendant is a bad character or is disposed to commit crime."
14
Hoover," he made a sign of disrespect, and then he got into a car with other gang
members and participated in a drive-by shooting of a rival gang member.6
Detective Simpson also opined that Woods's role in the Hoover gang was that of a
shooter and testified that he based this opinion on his reading about "[Woods's] past
criminal activity" and information that "he has been known to carry firearms and shoot at
people." Detective Simpson also opined that Walker's role in the Hoover gang was
selling narcotics.
Detective Simpson further testified that the current offenses were gang-related
because they were committed in the presence of gang members and
associates─specifically, Walker, Davis, and the victim, Barnes─and they were the type of
offenses that enhance both the shooter's and the Hoover gang's reputation. When asked a
question based on a hypothetical set of facts paralleling the facts of the case, Detective
Simpson opined that such facts showed the person's reputation as the shooter, someone
willing to commit murder for the gang to instill fear.
B. Defense Case
The defense presented no affirmative evidence. During his closing argument,
defense counsel argued that Walker shot Barnes.
6 Before Detective Simpson testified about this 2006 incident, the court alluded to
its earlier limiting instruction (see fn. 5, ante), and told the jury: "Again, this is limited
only for those purposes I told you about this incident."
15
DISCUSSION
I. ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE OF WOODS'S TWO PRIOR
GANG-RELATED SHOOTINGS
Woods first contends his convictions must be reversed because the court abused its
discretion and violated his federal constitutional due process right to a fair trial by
admitting under Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (b) (hereafter Evidence Code
section 1101(b)), evidence through the People's gang expert that he had committed two
prior gang-related shootings. We reject this contention.
A. Background
1. Current charge of active participation in criminal street gang (count 3) and the
gang enhancement allegations (counts 1-2)
As pertinent here, count 3 of the amended information charged Woods in this case
with the commission of the crime of active participation in criminal street gang in
violation of section 186.22, subdivision (a) (§ 186.22(a)) by unlawfully and actively
participating in a criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in or have
engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and by promoting, furthering or assisting
in felony criminal conduct by gang members. The amended information also alleged he
committed the other two charged offenses─murder (count 1) and unlawful possession of
a firearm by a felon (count 2)─for the benefit of, in association with, or at the direction of
a criminal street gang with the specific intent to promote, further or assist in criminal
conduct by gang members in violation of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1).
16
2. Prosecution's motion in limine seeking admission of evidence of Woods's prior
two gang-related shootings)
The prosecutor brought a motion in limine asking the court to allow, under
Evidence Code section 1101(b), the introduction of evidence of Woods's two prior gang-
related shooting offenses for the purpose of proving his motive, knowledge, and intent in
actively participating in a criminal street gang (count 3) in this case and in committing
the murder and possession of a firearm by a felon for the benefit of, in association with,
or at the direction of a criminal street gang within the meaning of the gang enhancement
allegations (§ 186.22, subd. (b)) alleged in counts 1 and 2. Specifically, the prosecution
sought to introduce evidence that in 2005, when Woods was a juvenile wearing orange
gang colors,7 he and a fellow Hoover gang member (Oates) were selling drugs in a
residential neighborhood, a homeowner asked them to sell the drugs elsewhere, Oates
struck him, and Woods pointed a handgun at the victim and then fired the gun into the
ground. The prosecution also sought to introduce evidence that, as a result of this
incident, Woods was adjudicated a juvenile offender for unlawfully possessing a firearm
and brandishing a firearm. In addition, the prosecution sought to introduce evidence that
in a later incident, in 2006, Woods exchanged gang affiliations with another man and,
learning that the other man (the victim) was from a rival gang, got into a car, yelled
"Westside Hoover," and fired multiple shots at the victim. The prosecution also sought to
introduce evidence that, as a result of this incident, Woods was convicted of assault with
7 The prosecutor argued that orange was "the primary color worn by the 52 Hoover
gang."
17
a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2)) with a true finding that he personally used a firearm in
committing that offense (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)). The prosecutor argued the evidence
would show the 2006 shooting occurred within two blocks of the 2005 shooting, and both
of those shootings took place within three miles of the scene of the fatal shooting of
Barnes in this case.
In support of this motion, the prosecutor argued the prior acts evidence was
relevant under Evidence Code section 1101(b) to prove Woods "ha[d] shown a specific
intent in all incidents to promote, further, and assist in criminal conduct of gang
members." The prosecutor also argued that "[b]ecause [Woods] had committed a prior
violent crime in the presence of the other fellow gang associates in the earlier cases as
well as having committed the prior case with a specific intent to benefit his criminal
street gang, this show[ed] not only [his] knowledge of what he had planned but also that
he intended to shoot and/or kill[] the victims in all cases to benefit his gang." The
prosecutor further argued the prior acts evidence showed Woods's motive to "benefit the
gang and enhance his own reputation in the gang by shooting an individual in the
presence of other gang members," as well as his knowledge of the consequences of
shooting at a victim before he decided to shoot Barnes.
In addition, the prosecutor argued the prior acts evidence was probative as it
tended to show the lengths to which Woods was willing to go for the gang by shooting
and attempting to murder individuals. He also argued the evidence of the two prior
shooting incidents was "not more prejudicial" than the evidence of the shooting of Barnes
in this case, the evidence of those 2005 and 2006 shootings was "not too remote [in time]
18
to be admitted," and the evidence of those shootings would "show more than ample
similarity" for the purpose of proving Woods's intent. Citing People v. Zepeda (2001) 87
Cal.App.4th 1183 (Zepeda), the prosecutor argued there were "overwhelming reasons for
admitting evidence of the uncharged act[s]," including the "similarity in [Woods's]
motive to benefit the gang, specifically as a shooter for the gang," because he "ha[d]
shown a willingness . . . to promote the gang's primary activities of narcotics sales, and to
promote the gang's reputation against rival gang members."
During the hearing on the motion in limine, the court characterized the
prosecutor's argument as seeking to introduce the prior acts evidence "essentially to prove
intent. Not necessarily intent to kill, but [specific] intent . . . for the gang allegation."
Defense counsel did not file a written opposition, but he opposed the motion at the
hearing, stating that "[t]he danger of [Evidence Code section] 352 is because he's used a
gun before that you know that he's used a gun again." Defense counsel argued that a
limiting instruction would be needed and introduction of such evidence was "very
dangerous." Defense counsel also argued (among other things) that there was a danger of
confusing the jury and that the jury might conclude, "Well, he did it before, here he is
doing it again." Woods's counsel further argued there was no evidence to show Woods
knew the victim's gang status or affiliation, there was no evidence anyone called out the
gang's name before Barnes was shot, and there was generally a lack of evidence to show
the killing was gang-related. Rather, defense counsel argued, the evidence just tended to
show Barnes was a drug dealer. Defense counsel summed up his argument up by
reiterating the proffered evidence was "obviously prejudicial" and the biggest danger was
19
that it would be "used for the absolute wrong reasons . . . . He shot before, he shot again.
That's exactly what it can't be used for." The court agreed, stating, "That's what it cannot
be used for."
The prosecutor responded that the People were using the evidence of the prior
shootings "so that the jury can derive what the specific intent was" and that a limiting
instruction "would cure any improper use." The court asked the prosecutor whether the
People's gang expert would be relying on the prior acts as the basis for his opinion, and
the prosecutor responded, "Yes. Absolutely. Whether it's to benefit the gang or in
association with a gang, yes."
a. The court's findings and ruling
Noting that Zepeda, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th 1183, was "quite informative," the
court found that the "similarity prong ha[d] been met" because the evidence "involve[d]
shootings in a relatively limited part of the city," the prior shootings were not too remote
in time, and the "substantial" probative value of the evidence was "not outweighed by the
prejudice in this case" for purposes of Evidence Code section 352. The court ruled the
evidence of the prior shootings was admissible under Evidence Code section 1101(b).
The court also ruled it would give a limiting instruction to the jury as requested by the
defense.
3. The court's limiting instructions at trial
At trial, when the prosecution's gang expert, Detective Simpson, was testifying
about the basis for his opinion that Woods was an active member of the Hoover gang and
he had committed the crimes for the benefit of that gang, the court─before Detective
20
Simpson described the circumstances of Woods's 2005 gang-related shooting─gave the
following limiting instruction to the jury regarding use of the evidence of the prior
shootings:
"This evidence that you're about to hear can only be used for a
limited purpose. You cannot use this as evidence that the defendant
has a propensity to commit crime or anything like that. It is to
consider the basis of the officer's opinion, whether or not the
defendant had a motive to commit the offenses that [are] alleged in
this case or act with the intent to assist, further, or promote criminal
conduct by gang members in this case. You may consider it for
those purposes and not any others. Specifically, you cannot consider
this evidence to conclude that the defendant is a bad character or is
disposed to commit crime." (Italics added.)
Later, before Detective Simpson testified about Woods's 2006 shooting offense,
the court alluded to its earlier limiting instruction and told the jury: "Again, this is
limited only for those purposes I told you about this incident."
During final instructions, the court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 303:
"During the trial, certain evidence was admitted for a limited purpose. You may consider
that evidence only for that purpose and for no other."
B. Applicable Legal Principles
a. Evidence Code section 1101
Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (a) "prohibits admission of evidence of a
person's character, including evidence of character in the form of specific instances of
uncharged misconduct, to prove the conduct of that person on a specified occasion."
(People v. Ewoldt (1994) 7 Cal.4th 380, 393 (Ewoldt).) Thus, evidence of other crimes or
21
bad acts is inadmissible when it is offered to show that a defendant had the criminal
disposition or propensity to commit the crime charged. (Evid. Code, § 1101, subd. (a).)
Evidence Code section 1101(b) "clarifies, however, that this rule does not prohibit
admission of evidence of uncharged misconduct when such evidence is relevant to
establish some fact other than the person's character or disposition." (Ewoldt, supra, 7
Cal.4th at p. 393, fn. omitted.) Specifically, Evidence Code section 1101(b) provides that
nothing in that section "prohibits the admission of evidence that a person committed a
crime, civil wrong, or other act when relevant to prove some fact (such as motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake or accident
. . .) other than his or her disposition to commit such an act."
The admissibility of evidence under Evidence Code section 1101(b) depends on
the degree of similarity between the uncharged act and the charged offense. (Zepeda,
supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 1210, citing Ewoldt, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 402.) The
California Supreme Court has explained that for evidence of uncharged acts to be
admissible under Evidence Code section 1101(b) to prove such facts as motive, intent,
identity, or common design or plan, the charged offenses and uncharged acts must be
"sufficiently similar to support a rational inference" of these material facts. (People v.
Kipp (1998) 18 Cal.4th 349, 369.) "The least degree of similarity (between the
uncharged act and the charged offense) is required in order to prove intent." (Ewoldt,
supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 402.) To be admissible to prove intent, the uncharged misconduct
need only be "sufficiently similar [to the charged offense] to support the inference that
the defendant '"probably harbor[ed] the same [or similar] intent in each instance."'"
22
(Ibid.; see People v. Memro (1995) 11 Cal.4th 786, 864-865 (Memro) [evidence of
defendant's uncharged conduct of possessing sexually explicit photographs of young
males ranging from prepubescent to young adult admissible as probative to show intent to
sexually molest young boy].)
b. Evidence Code section 352
If the trial court determines that uncharged misconduct is admissible under
Evidence Code section 1101(b), it must then determine whether the probative value of the
evidence is " 'substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission [would] . . .
create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the
jury.' " (Ewoldt, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 404; Evid. Code, § 352.) "The principal factor
affecting the probative value of an uncharged act is its similarity to the charged offense.
Other factors affecting the probative value include the extent to which the source of the
evidence is independent of the charged offense, and the amount of time between the
uncharged acts and the charged offense. The factors affecting the prejudicial effect of
uncharged acts include whether the uncharged acts resulted in criminal convictions and
whether the evidence of uncharged acts is stronger or more inflammatory than the
evidence of the charged offenses." (Zepeda, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 1211.) "The
probative value of the evidence is enhanced if it emanates from a source independent of
evidence of the charged offense." (People v. Tran (2011) 51 Cal.4th 1040, 1047 (Tran).)
"On the other hand, the prejudicial effect of the evidence is increased if the uncharged
acts did not result in a criminal conviction. This is because the jury might be inclined to
punish the defendant for the uncharged acts regardless of whether it considers the
23
defendant guilty of the charged offense and because the absence of a conviction increases
the likelihood of confusing the issues, in that the jury will have to determine whether the
uncharged acts occurred." (Ibid.) "The potential for prejudice is decreased . . . when
testimony describing the defendant's uncharged acts is no stronger or more inflammatory
than the testimony concerning the charged offense." (Ibid.)
"The prejudice which exclusion of evidence under Evidence Code section 352 is
designed to avoid is not the prejudice or damage to a defense that naturally flows from
relevant, highly probative evidence. '[A]ll evidence which tends to prove guilt is
prejudicial or damaging to the defendant's case. The stronger the evidence, the more it is
"prejudicial." The "prejudice" referred to in Evidence Code section 352 applies to
evidence which uniquely tends to evoke an emotional bias against the defendant as an
individual and which has very little effect on the issues. In applying [Evidence Code]
section 352, "prejudicial" is not synonymous with "damaging." ' " (People v. Karis
(1988) 46 Cal.3d 612, 638 (Karis).)
c. Standard of review
We review the trial court's rulings under Evidence Code sections 1101 and 352 for
an abuse of discretion. (People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 637.) We will not
disturb the trial court's exercise of discretion except upon a showing that it "exercised its
discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd manner that resulted in a
manifest miscarriage of justice." (People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1, 9-10.)
24
C. Analysis
The court did not abuse its discretion or violate Woods's federal constitutional due
process right to a fair trial by admitting under Evidence Code section 1101(b) the
evidence that Woods committed the 2005 and 2006 shootings. The evidence of Woods's
two prior gang-related shootings (discussed, ante) was material and highly probative on
the issues of his intent and motive with respect both to the substantive count 3 charge in
this case that he actively participated in a criminal street gang—the Hoover gang—in
violation of section 186.22(a)), and to the gang enhancement allegations
(§ 186.22(b)(1)(A) & (C)) in counts 1 and 2. As already discussed, the least degree of
similarity between an uncharged act and a charged offense is required in order to prove
intent, and—to be admissible to prove intent—the uncharged misconduct need only be
sufficiently similar to the charged offense to support the inference that the defendant
probably harbored the same or similar intent in each instance. (Ewoldt, supra, 7 Cal.4th
at p. 402; see Memro, supra, 11 Cal.4th at pp. 864-865.) Although motive normally is
not an element of any crime, evidence of motive is always relevant because it "'makes the
crime understandable and renders the inferences regarding defendant's intent more
reasonable.'" (People v. Riccardi (2012) 54 Cal.4th 758, 815, abrogated on another point
by People v. Rangel (2016) 62 Cal.4th 1192, 1216.)
Here, apart from the independent evidence of the prior shootings that Woods
committed in 2005 and 2006, the evidence at trial regarding the three crimes charged in
this case─murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and active participation in
a criminal street gang─showed no obvious reason why Woods shot Barnes, because there
25
was no evidence of any fight, confrontation, or provocation. However, as discussed in
detail, ante, in the factual background, the prosecution presented substantial evidence that
Woods was a member of the Hoover criminal street gang, that Barnes was a member of a
rival Blood gang, and that Woods went with his fellow Hoover gang members to
Cooper's apartment where Barnes was staying and selling narcotics. The evidence of the
two prior shootings admitted under Evidence Code section 1101(b) supported a
reasonable inference that, in shooting Barnes, Woods was actively and knowingly
participating in, and promoting, the criminal activity of his gang within the meaning of
Penal Code section 186.22(a), and that he shot Barnes for the benefit of his gang with the
specific intent to promote the criminal activity of its members and enhance his own
reputation in the gang. As discussed in greater detail, ante, the evidence of the 2006
shooting incident shows Woods introduced himself to the victim by saying "Westside
Hoover," and shot the victim after learning he was from a rival gang. The evidence of the
2005 shooting incident shows that Woods, who was wearing Hoover gang colors and
selling narcotics with another member of the Hoover gang, pulled out a firearm and fired
bullets near the victim, who had asked Woods and his gang companion to not sell drugs
in front of his home.
Thus, the challenged evidence of the two prior shooting incidents was relevant to
prove Woods's intent and motive. In this regard the Zepeda case, on which the court
relied, is illustrative. In Zepeda, the shooting victim, who was a member of a gang, had
been killed in an apparent gang-related drive-by shooting. (Zepeda, supra, 87
Cal.App.4th at p. 1190.) The defendant belonged to a rival gang. (Id. at p. 1190.) The
26
trial court admitted, under Evidence Code section 1101(b), evidence of the defendant's
involvement in a prior gang-related shooting, ruling the incident was relevant to show
defendant's motive and intent because it would show "'an intention upon the part of the
defendant to engage in hostile action for no particular reason other than that the recipient
of the hostile action is a member of an opposing gang. And it show[ed] certainly more
than an average degree of motivation to follow the dictates of the gang in this regard to
pursue gang policy.'" (Zepeda, at p. 1211.) Affirming the defendant's murder conviction,
the Zepeda court upheld the trial court's ruling that the evidence of the defendant's
involvement in the prior gang-related shooting incident was "relevant to prove
defendant's intent and motive" because "[t]he fact that [the] defendant previously
committed a drive-by shooting, under circumstances indicating that he did so for gang-
related purposes, helped show that he likely committed the instant drive-by shooting for
gang-related purposes." (Id. at p. 1212.)
Similarly here, the evidence of Woods's prior gang-related assaults on others with
a firearm in response to minimal or nonexistent confrontation, provocation, or challenge
to Woods's Hoover gang was relevant and admissible to prove his motive and intention to
engage in hostile action against a rival gang member for no reason other than to benefit or
promote his gang and his own gang reputation, and to "'follow the dictates of the
gang . . . to pursue gang policy.'" (Zepeda, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 1211.) The
similarity requirement is met because the evidence showed the prior shooting incidents
were gang-related and were sufficiently similar to the charged offenses─murder with a
gang enhancement allegation and active participation in a criminal street gang─to support
27
the inference that Woods probably harbored the same or similar intent, and acted with a
similar motivation, in each instance. (See Ewoldt, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 402; Memro,
supra, 11 Cal.4th at pp. 864-865.)
We also conclude the court did not abuse its discretion by ruling that the probative
value of the challenged evidence was "not outweighed by the prejudice in this case" for
purposes of Evidence Code section 352. Regarding probative value, we have concluded
that the prior gang-related shooting incidents are sufficiently similar to the charged
offenses of murder with a gang enhancement allegation and active participation in a
criminal street gang. Also, "[t]he fact that the evidence of the prior incident[s] had an
independent source from the evidence of the charged offense increased [their] probative
value." (Zepeda, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 1212.) In addition, the prior incidents
occurred in September 2006 and August 2005, about seven and eight years, respectively,
before this shooting in June 2013. Although these amounts of time are somewhat greater
than the five years that had elapsed in Zepeda, here, as in that case, the probative value of
the prior shootings was not affected "[a]s 'only a few years elapsed'" (Zepeda, at p. 1212)
between the prior shootings and the current shooting. (See Ewoldt, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p.
405; cf. People v. Harris (1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 727, 739 ["[a]lthough there is no bright-
line rule," remoteness of 23-year-old prior incident "weighs strongly in favor of
exclusion"].)
Regarding the prejudicial effect of the evidence of the prior gang-related
shootings, that evidence was undoubtedly damaging. However, as already discussed,
"prejudicial" is not synonymous with "damaging" for purposes of Evidence Code section
28
352, and the "prejudice" referred to in that section "'applies to evidence which uniquely
tends to evoke an emotional bias against the defendant as an individual and which has
very little effect on the issues.'" (Karis, supra, 46 Cal.3d at p. 638.) Here, the prejudicial
effect of the challenged evidence is diminished because, as Detective Simpson testified,
the two prior shootings resulted in convictions. (See Tran, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 1047.)
The prejudicial effect is also diminished because the evidence describing Woods's prior
gang-related acts─firing a bullet near the first victim to instill fear, and shooting, but not
executing, the second victim─was no stronger or more inflammatory than the evidence
concerning the shooting of Barnes, who (as discussed, ante, in the factual background)
was shot five times and died from execution-style gunshot wounds to the back of his head
while lying on the floor of Cooper's apartment. In addition, as we have noted, the court
gave limiting instructions to the effect that the jury could not use the evidence of the prior
shootings to conclude that Woods has a bad character or is disposed to commit crime.
We reject Woods's claim that the evidence of his prior shootings was improperly
used to prove his identity as the shooter in this case. In any event, the California
Supreme Court has rejected a contention that evidence of uncharged prior crimes or
misconduct is inadmissible for a purpose other than proving identity if the identity of the
perpetrator is in dispute. (People v. Foster (2010) 50 Cal.4th 1301, 1332-1333.)
II. ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE OF ONE OF WOODS'S TWO PRIOR
CONVICTIONS AS A PREDICATE OFFENSE
Woods also contends the court violated his federal constitutional due process right
to a fair trial by allowing the prosecution's gang expert, Detective Simpson, to testify
29
about Woods's prior conviction of assault with a firearm, which stemmed from the 2006
shooting incident (discussed, ante), as one of six predicate offenses supporting both the
charge that Woods actively participated in a criminal street gang and the gang
enhancement allegations. We reject this contention.
A. Background
The amended information charged Woods in count 1 with Barnes's murder (§ 187,
subd. (a)), in count 2 with possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)), and in
count 3 with active participation in a criminal street gang (§ 186.22(a)). As pertinent
here, counts 1 and 2 contained gang enhancement allegations that Woods committed the
murder and was in possession of a firearm by a felon for the benefit of, at the direction of,
or in association with, a criminal street gang with the specific intent to promote, further
or assist in criminal conduct by gang members in violation of section 186.22,
subdivisions (b)(1)(A) and (C).
"The California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act [(§ 186.20 et
seq.)] criminalizes active participation in a criminal street gang (§ 186.22[(a)])." (Tran,
supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 1044.) "A criminal street gang is any ongoing association that has
as one of its primary activities the commission of certain criminal offenses and engages
through its members in a 'pattern of criminal gang activity.'" (Ibid., quoting § 186.22,
subd. (f).) "A pattern of criminal gang activity is 'the commission of, attempted
commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of, sustained juvenile petition for, or
conviction of two or more' specified criminal offenses within a certain time frame, 'on
30
separate occasions, or by two or more persons'" (Tran, at p. 1044, quoting § 186.22, subd.
(e)), which are referred to as "predicate offenses." (Tran, at p. 1044.)
"[A] predicate offense may be established by evidence of an offense the defendant
committed on a separate occasion." (Tran, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 1044, italics added.)
"[T]hat the prosecution may have the ability to develop evidence of predicate offenses
committed by other gang members does not require exclusion of evidence of a
defendant's own separate offense to show a pattern of criminal gang activity." (Ibid.)
Here, in order to meet their burden of proving both the substantive count 3 charge
that Woods actively participated in a criminal street gang and the gang enhancement
allegations in counts 1 and 2, the People presented─through their gang expert, Detective
Simpson─evidence of six predicate offenses committed by Hoover gang members,
including one by Woods, to prove the Hoover gang was a criminal street gang because it
had engaged in a pattern of criminal activity. (See § 186.22, subds. (e) & (f).) In
testifying about the predicate offenses, Detective Simpson did not discuss the details of
those crimes; he only testified to the nature of each offense, the identity of the offender,
and the offender's relationship with the Hoover gang. Specifically, as pertinent here,
Detective Simpson testified that Woods was a member of the Hoover gang and he had
been convicted of assault with a firearm, with a finding he had personally used the
firearm, stemming from a 2006 shooting incident. The five other predicate offenses
committed by members of the Hoover gang, about which Detective Simpson testified,
included a felony committed by Woods's codefendant Puna Smith during a 2007 incident,
31
and another felony committed by Woods's codefendant Flash Brown during a 2011
incident.
B. Analysis
Woods contends that because there was "ample other evidence" to show his gang
affiliation and to establish that the Hoover gang is a criminal street gang within the
meaning of section 186.22, the prosecutor did not need to rely on his prior felony
conviction for assault with a firearm as a predicate offense to support the gang charge and
gang enhancement allegations under section 186.22. Stating that his "admission to gang
membership and tattoos were sufficient . . . to show his affiliation with the gang," Woods
also contends that "[t]he circumstances of the prior assault were not similar to the
charged crimes and its prejudicial effect should have tipped the balance in favor of
exclusion" under Evidence Code section 352.8 We reject these contentions.
As already discussed, the California Supreme Court held in Tran that "a predicate
offense may be established by evidence of an offense the defendant committed on a
separate occasion." (Tran, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 1044, italics added.) "Further," the
Tran court explained, the fact "that the prosecution may have the ability to develop
evidence of predicate offenses committed by other gang members does not require
exclusion of evidence of a defendant's own separate offense to show a pattern of criminal
8 Under Evidence Code section 352, evidence is properly excluded if its probative
value is "substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission
will . . . necessitate undue consumption of time or . . . create a substantial danger of
undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury." (Evid. Code, § 352;
People v. Cudjo (1993) 6 Cal.4th 585, 609.)
32
gang activity." (Ibid.) Noting that "Evidence Code section 352 requires the exclusion of
evidence . . . when its probative value is substantially outweighed by its prejudicial
effect" (italics omitted), the Supreme Court acknowledged that, "[w]ithout doubt,
evidence a defendant committed an offense on a separate occasion is inherently
prejudicial." (Id. at p. 1047.) However, "the inherent prejudice from a defendant's
separate gang-related offense typically will be less when the evidence is admitted to
establish a predicate offense in a prosecution for active participation in a criminal street
gang, than when it is admitted to establish an intermediary fact from which guilt may be
inferred." (Id. at p. 1048.)
Here, for reasons discussed, ante, we have already concluded that the court, in
admitting Detective Simpson's testimony regarding Woods's 2005 and 2006 gang-related
shootings, did not abuse its discretion by ruling that the probative value of that evidence
was "not outweighed by the prejudice in this case" for purposes of Evidence Code section
352. For the same reasons, which we need not repeat here, we reject Woods's contention
that the court should have excluded, as unduly prejudicial under Evidence Code section
352, Detective Simpson's brief testimony regarding Woods's prior felony conviction for
assault with a firearm, which stemmed from the 2006 shooting incident, to establish the
predicate offenses for the substantive gang charge and gang enhancement allegations.
We also reject Woods's suggestion that the court also erred in admitting evidence
of his prior felony conviction for assault with a firearm because proof of six predicate
offenses was prejudicially cumulative. As noted, when Detective Simpson testified about
the six predicate offenses, he did not discuss the details of those crimes; he only testified
33
to the nature of each offense, the identity of the offender, and his expert opinion that each
of the six offenders was a member of the Hoover gang. We conclude the court did not
abuse its discretion or violate Woods's federal constitutional due process right to a fair
trial by allowing Detective Simpson to testify about those six crimes to establish the
predicate offenses for the substantive gang charge and gang enhancement allegations.
(See People v. Hill (2011) 191 Cal.App.4th 1104, 1138-1139 [no bright-line limit on
number of predicate offenses; proof of eight predicate offenses not cumulative or unduly
prejudicial].)
III. ASSERTED ERROR IN ACCOMPLICE JURY INSTRUCTIONS
Woods next contends the court committed prejudicial instructional error, and
violated his federal constitutional due process right to a fair trial, by failing to instruct the
jury sua sponte under CALCRIM No. 335 that Walker was an accomplice as a matter of
law, and that the jurors could not rely on Walker's testimony to find Woods guilty of
Barnes's murder without sufficient corroborating evidence to show that Walker's
testimony was reliable and credible. We reject this contention.
A. Background
1. Charges against Woods and Walker
a. Woods
As previously noted, Woods was charged with murder (count 1: § 187, subd. (a)),
possession of a firearm by a felon (count 2: § 29800, subd. (a)), and active participation
in a criminal street gang (count 3: § 186.22(a)).
34
Counts 1 and 2 contained gang enhancement allegations that Woods committed
the murder and the possession of a firearm by a felon for the benefit of, at the direction
of, or in association with, a criminal street gang with the specific intent to promote,
further or assist in criminal conduct by gang members in violation of section 186.22,
subdivisions (b)(1).
b. Walker
Walker, who was one of Woods's codefendants named in the felony complaint,
was charged in count 3 of the complaint with active participation in a criminal street gang
(§ 186.22(a)), and in count 4 with being an "ACCESSORY AFTER THE
FACT─(KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME)" in violation of section 32. As pertinent here,
count 4 charged that Walker, "having knowledge that the crime of Murder . . . had been
committed by [Woods], did harbor, conceal, and aid [Woods], with the intent that [he]
might avoid and escape from arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment for said felony."
Count 4 contained a gang enhancement allegation that Walker, in committing the
"above offense" of being an accessory to Barnes's murder, acted "for the benefit of, at the
direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang with the specific intent to
promote, further or assist in criminal conduct by gang members" in violation of section
186.22, subdivision (b)(1).
2. Walker's guilty plea and trial testimony
Before Woods's trial began, Walker pleaded guilty to being an active participant in
a criminal street gang as charged in count 3, and to being an accessory to Barnes's
murder as charged in count 4. He also admitted the truth of the count 4 gang
35
enhancement allegation that, in committing the offense of being an accessory to Barnes's
murder, he acted "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal
street gang with the specific intent to promote, further or assist in criminal conduct by
gang members" in violation of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1). During Woods's trial,
Walker testified for the prosecution pursuant to his plea bargain.
Walker's lengthy trial testimony is summarized, ante, in the factual background.
The issue of whether Walker participated as a principal in the commission of Barnes's
murder, and thus whether Walker was an accomplice and not just an accessory to the
murder, was disputed. Specifically, the prosecutor asked Walker, at the end of his direct
examination of Walker, whether he shot Barnes, and Walker replied, "No, I didn't." The
prosecutor also asked Walker, "Did you know this was going to happen to [Barnes]?"
Walker answered, "No."
3. CALCRIM Nos. 334 (given by the court) and 335 (not given)
a. CALCRIM No. 334
The court instructed the jury under CALCRIM No. 334 ("Accomplice Testimony
Must Be Corroborated: Dispute Whether Witness Is Accomplice"), directing the jurors
to decide─before considering Walker's testimony "as evidence against [Woods]
regarding the crime of murder" (italics added) ─"whether [Walker] was an
accomplice to that crime" (italics added), murder.
The court then instructed the jury under CALCRIM No. 334 on the meaning of
"accomplice." Specifically, the court told the jurors:
36
"A person is an accomplice if he or she is subject to prosecution for
the identical crime charged against the defendant. Someone is
subject to prosecution if: [¶] 1. He or she personally committed the
crime; [¶] OR [¶] 2. He or she knew of the criminal purpose of the
person who committed the crime; [¶] AND [¶] 3. He or she intended
to, and did in fact. aid, facilitate, promote, encourage, or instigate the
commission of the crime or participate in a criminal conspiracy to
commit the crime."
The court also instructed the jurors that, if they decided Walker was an
accomplice (to Barnes's murder), they "[could] not convict [Woods] of murder based on
[Walker's] testimony alone," and they "[could] use [Walker's testimony] to convict
[Woods] only if: [¶] 1. [Walker's testimony] [was] supported by other evidence [they]
believe[d]; [¶] 2. That supporting evidence [was] independent of [Walker's testimony];
[¶] AND [¶] 3. That supporting evidence tend[ed] to connect [Woods] to the commission
of the crime."
As pertinent here, the court's instruction under CALCRIM No. 334 also told the
jurors it was Woods's burden "to prove that it [was] more likely than not that [Walker]
was an accomplice" and that, if they decided Walker was an accomplice to Barnes's
murder, the independent evidence supporting Walker's testimony could be "slight," it
"[did] not need to be enough, by itself, to prove that [Woods] [was] guilty of the charged
crime" (murder), and Walker's testimony "should be viewed with caution."
b. CALCRIM No. 335
By claiming on appeal that the court erred in giving CALCRIM No. 334 and in
failing to sua sponte give CALCRIM No. 335 ("Accomplice Testimony: No Dispute
Whether Witness Is Accomplice"), Woods implicitly acknowledges his trial counsel did
37
not ask the court to instruct the jury under CALCRIM No. 335, which would have
informed the jurors that Walker was an accomplice as a matter of law, and that they could
use Walker's testimony to convict Woods only if his accomplice testimony was supported
by other credible evidence, even if that evidence was "slight," that was independent of
Walker's testimony and tended to connect Woods to Barnes's murder. (See CALCRIM
No. 335.)
B. Applicable Legal Principles
"A conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless it be
corroborated by such other evidence as shall tend to connect the defendant with the
commission of the offense." (§ 1111.)
"'Corroborating evidence may be slight, may be entirely circumstantial, and need
not be sufficient to establish every element of the charged offense.'" (People v. Gonzalez
and Soliz (2011) 52 Cal.4th 254, 303.) "'The [corroborating] evidence is 'sufficient if it
tends to connect the defendant with the crime in such a way as to satisfy the jury that the
accomplice is telling the truth.'" (Ibid.)
Section 1111 defines an accomplice as "one who is liable to prosecution for the
identical offense charged against the defendant on trial in the cause in which the
testimony of the accomplice is given." (§ 1111, italics added.)
For a witness to be chargeable with an "identical offense" for purposes of
determining whether the witness is an accomplice within the meaning of section 1111, he
or she "must be considered a principal under section 31." (People v. Lewis (2001) 26
Cal.4th 334, 368-369, fn. omitted.) Section 31 defines principals as "[a]ll persons
38
concerned in the commission of a crime, whether . . . they directly commit the act
constituting the offense, or aid and abet in its commission . . . ." (§ 31, italics added.)
"An aider and abettor is one who acts with both knowledge of the perpetrator's criminal
purpose and the intent of encouraging or facilitating commission of the offense."
(People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 564 (Avila), italics added.) Thus, "[a]n
accomplice must have '"guilty knowledge and intent with regard to the commission of the
crime."'" (People v. Lewis, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 369, italics added.)
The term "accomplice" does not include an accessory. (People v. Boyer (2006) 38
Cal.4th 412, 467 (Boyer).) Section 32 defines an accessory as "[e]very person who, after
a felony has been committed, harbors, conceals or aids a principal in such felony, with
the intent that said principal may avoid or escape from arrest, trial, conviction or
punishment, having knowledge that said principal has committed such felony or has been
charged with such felony or convicted thereof . . . ." (Italics added.)
Whether a witness is an accomplice within the meaning of section 1111 is a
factual question for the jury to decide unless there can be no dispute concerning the
evidence or the inferences to be drawn from the evidence on this question. (People v.
Whalen (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1, 58-59 (Whalen), disapproved on another ground in People v.
Romero and Self (2015) 62 Cal.4th 1, 44, fn. 17; Avila, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 565.)
"Thus, a trial court can determine 'as a matter of law whether a witness is or is not an
accomplice only when the facts regarding the witness's criminal culpability are "clear and
undisputed."'" (Avila, at p. 565.)
39
"'If there is evidence from which the jury could find that a witness is an
accomplice to the crime charged, the court must instruct the jury on accomplice
testimony.'" (People v. Lewis, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 369; see Boyer, supra, 38 Cal.4th at
p. 466 ["The court need give such instructions [on accomplice testimony] only where
there is substantial evidence that the witness was an accomplice."].)
C. Analysis
1. Attorney General's forfeiture claim
We first reject the Attorney General's claim that Woods forfeited his claim of
instructional error. The California Supreme Court has explained that, "'[g]enerally, a
party may not complain on appeal that an instruction correct in law and responsive to the
evidence was too general or incomplete unless the party has requested appropriate
clarifying or amplifying language.'" (People v. Guiuan (1998) 18 Cal.4th 558, 570
(Guiuan), italics added.)
Here, the Attorney General asserts that Woods "forfeited any objection to the
instruction"—CALCRIM No. 334 (discussed, ante)—"as given by failing to request the
modification or clarification that Walker was an accomplice . . . ." However, the
Attorney General misunderstands Woods's claim of instructional error. Woods is not
claiming that the court's instruction under CALCRIM No. 334 was correct in law but too
general or incomplete, and he is not claiming the court erred by failing to give sua sponte
a modifying or clarifying instruction that Walker was an accomplice. Woods essentially
is claiming that (1) the court's instruction under CALCRIM No. 334 was not correct in
law because (he maintains) Walker was an accomplice "as a matter of law"; and, thus, (2)
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the court erred by giving CALCRIM No. 334 and by failing to instruct the jury sua
sponte under CALCRIM No. 335. Thus, we conclude the forfeiture rule is not applicable
here. (Guiuan, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 570.)
2. Merits
We reject Woods's claim of instructional error, which is based on his contention
that the court erred by giving CALCRIM No. 334─under which the jury, before
considering Walker's testimony, was required to decide whether he was an accomplice to
Barnes's murder─and by failing to instruct the jury sua sponte under CALCRIM No.
335─under which the court would have directed a finding that Walker was an accomplice
to the murder─because (Woods asserts) Walker was an accomplice "as a matter of law."
As already discussed, whether a witness is an accomplice within the meaning of section
1111 is a factual question for the jury to decide unless there can be no dispute concerning
the evidence or the inferences to be drawn from the evidence on this question. (Whalen,
supra, 56 Cal.4th at pp. 58-59; Avila, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 565.) Thus, in this case, the
court could determine Walker was an accomplice to Barnes's murder as a matter of law,
and so instruct the jury under CALCRIM No. 335 rather than under CALCRIM No. 334,
only if the facts regarding Walker's criminal culpability as an accomplice were clear and
undisputed. (See Avila, at p. 565.)
Here, the question of whether Walker was an accomplice to Barnes's murder, and
not just an accessory, was disputed. For purposes of section 1111, the term "accomplice"
does not include an accessory. (Boyer, supra, 38 Cal. 4th at p. 467.) "An accomplice
must have '"guilty knowledge and intent with regard to the commission of the crime."'"
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(People v. Lewis, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 369, italics added.) Before Woods's trial began,
Walker pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the murder as charged in
count 4 of the felony complaint. Walker also admitted the truth of the count 4 gang
enhancement allegation that, in committing the offense of being an accessory to Barnes's
murder, he acted for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal
street gang with the specific intent to promote, further or assist in criminal conduct by
gang members. During Woods's trial, the prosecutor asked Walker whether he shot
Barnes, and Walker replied, "No, I didn't." The prosecutor also asked Walker, "Did you
know this was going to happen to [Barnes]?" Walker answered, "No." Through this
testimony, Walker essentially disputed both that he was a principal in the commission of
Barnes's murder, and that he was an accomplice to that crime. (People v. Lewis, supra,
26 Cal.4th at pp. 368-369.)
Because the question of whether Walker was an accomplice to Barnes's murder
was disputed at trial, the court properly instructed the jury under CALCRIM No. 334, and
properly refused to instruct the jury under CALCRIM No. 335. (See Bench Notes to
CALCRIM No. 335 (2016 ed.) p. 107 ["If there is a dispute about whether the witness is
an accomplice, give CALCRIM No. 334, Accomplice Testimony Must Be Corroborated:
Dispute Whether Witness Is Accomplice."].) The court did not violate Woods's federal
constitutional right to a fair trial.
IV. CLAIMS OF INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Woods also contends his defense counsel provided ineffective assistance in
violation of Woods's Sixth Amendment rights by failing to object to (1) the reliance of
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the People's gang expert, Detective Simpson, on the evidence of Woods's 2006
conviction of assault with a firearm (discussed, ante) to form his opinion that Woods was
a shooter for the Hoover criminal street gang; (2) the prosecution's use of Woods's 2006
conviction of assault with a firearm as one of six predicate offenses to prove that the
Hoover gang is a criminal street gang, and (3) the prosecutor's statements during closing
argument that the 2005 and 2006 prior shootings showed Woods's motive as a shooter for
the Hoover gang.
In response, the Attorney General argues that defense counsel's performance was
not deficient because (1) counsel "made appropriate strategic decisions while providing a
vigorous defense"; (2) "[w]hen the trial court ruled on the admissibility of [Woods's]
prior convictions, he considered the use of the prior convictions as evidence of [Woods's]
intent and motivation and as a basis for the [People's] expert's opinion"; (3) "[t]he
analysis he conducted was equally applicable to [the] use of [Woods's] prior conviction
[of assault with a firearm] as a predicate offense proving that [the Hoover gang] was a
criminal street gang"; (4) the "evidence of [Woods's] prior shootings was properly
admitted at trial"; and (5) "the prosecutor referred to [Woods's] prior actions only in the
proper context of his motivation and intent to benefit the gang and as the basis for the
expert's opinion." The Attorney General argues also argues that, "in light of the strong
evidence against [Woods], there was no reasonable likelihood that [he] would have
received a more favorable result if his counsel had made further objections."
For reasons we shall explain, we reject Woods's claim that his trial counsel
provided ineffective assistance of counsel.
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A. Applicable Legal Principles
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show
that (1) his counsel's performance was below an objective standard of reasonableness
under prevailing professional norms, and, of particular importance here, (2) the deficient
performance prejudiced the defendant. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668,
687-688; People v. Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal.3d 171, 216-217.) To show prejudice, the
defendant must show a reasonable probability she would have received a more favorable
result had her counsel's performance not been deficient. (Strickland, at p. 694; Ledesma,
at pp. 217-218.)
B. Analysis
In his reply brief, Woods acknowledges that, "[i]f no additional objections were
necessary to preserve the issues raised on appeal relating to the characterizations of [him]
as the shooter for the gang or to the admission of the prior assault with a firearm
conviction as a predicate offense, the [he] agrees, [defense] counsel did his job."
However, he also asserts that, "if [defense] counsel should have objected and at least
made further record of the prejudicial harm to [him] by the various uses of his prior
convictions at trial, then he rendered constitutionally deficient performance."
We conclude no additional defense objections were necessary at trial to preserve
the issues Woods has raised on appeal, and thus his trial counsel's failure to raises such
additional objections did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. We discussed in
detail, ante, the People's motion in limine to admit under Evidence Code section 1101(b)
evidence of Woods's prior two gang-related shootings, as well as defense counsel's
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vigorous and thorough objections to that motion, the parties' arguments during the
hearing on that motion, and the court's findings and rulings. We also have discussed the
proper limiting instruction the court repeatedly gave to the jury. On this record, it
appears additional defense objections were unnecessary and would have been futile.
V. CLAIM OF CUMULATIVE ERROR
Last, Woods contends cumulative error requires reversal of the judgment. We
reject this contention.
"'[A] series of trial errors, though independently harmless, may in some
circumstances rise by accretion to the level of reversible and prejudicial error.'" (People
v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 1009.) A defendant is "entitled to a fair trial but
not a perfect one." (Ibid.)
Here, we have concluded there was no error. Thus, there were no errors that could
rise by accretion to the level of reversible and prejudicial error. Woods received a fair
trial. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
NARES, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
McINTYRE, J.
O'ROURKE, J.
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