People v. Hardin CA2/7

Filed 2/27/13 P. v. Hardin CA2/7
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION SEVEN
THE PEOPLE, B234206
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. PA065806-02)
v.
LEON DEWAYNE HARDIN,
Defendant and Appellant.
B235155
THE PEOPLE,
(Los Angeles County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. PA065806-01)
v.
JOSE JOEL MORENO,
Defendant and Appellant,
APPEALS from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
David B. Gelfound, Judge. Affirmed.
Marilyn Drath, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant, Leon Dewayne Hardin.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Victoria B. Wilson and Viet H.
Nguyen, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Michael S. Pedretti, for Defendant and Appellant, Jose Joel Moreno.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Stephen D. Matthews and Zee
Rodriguez, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
__________________________
Jose Joel Moreno and Leon Dewayne Hardin appeal from the judgments entered
after a jury convicted both of them of attempted carjacking and attempted robbery and
Moreno of assault with a deadly weapon (a knife). We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
1. The Charges
Moreno and Hardin were accused of attempting to steal Braulio Trejo’s car after
Trejo had helped them try to repair their truck’s flat tire. Both men were charged by
1
amended information with attempted carjacking (Pen. Code, §§ 215, subd. (a), 664)
(count 1) and attempted second degree robbery (§§ 211, 664) (count 2). Moreno was also
charged with assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)) (count 3), and it was
specially alleged he had personally used a deadly or dangerous weapon within the
meaning of section 12022, subdivision (b)(2), in committing counts 1 and 2.
As to all counts it was further specially alleged Moreno had suffered two prior
serious or violent felony convictions within the meaning of the “Three Strikes” law
(§§ 667, subds.(b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)) and one prior serious felony conviction
within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a)(1), and had served several separate
prison terms for felonies (§ 667.5, subd. (b)). With respect to Hardin, it was specially
alleged as to counts 1 and 2 he had suffered two prior serious or violent felony
1 Statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
2
convictions within the meaning of the Three Strikes law and section 667,
subdivision (a)(1).
Moreno and Hardin pleaded not guilty and denied the special allegations.
2. The Trial Court’s Ruling Evidence the Truck Was Stolen Was Admissible
On the first day of trial Moreno moved to exclude evidence the truck they had
been driving was stolen, arguing it was unduly prejudicial because there was no evidence
Moreno or Hardin had stolen it or knew it was stolen. The People argued the evidence
was relevant because it provided a motive for attempting to steal Trejo’s car—to get
away from the stolen truck—and to forestall the jury from speculating why they would
leave their own vehicle behind when it could so easily link them to the crime. The court
ruled the evidence was admissible subject to a limiting instruction there was no evidence
Moreno or Hardin had stolen the truck.
3. Summary of the Evidence Presented at Trial
Trejo testified he was at the home of his sister Enriqueta Trejo with several family
members on December 25, 2009 when he went to retrieve something from his car around
8:00 p.m. As he walked to the car, he saw Moreno sitting in the driver’s seat and Hardin
2
sitting in the passenger seat of a truck. Hardin asked Trejo if he had a spare tire. Trejo
responded his spare would be too small, but agreed to ask his family whether anyone had
a suitable spare tire. No one else was willing to help.
Enriqueta Trejo testified she took trash outside around 8:00 p.m. and saw Moreno
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and Hardin sitting in the truck. Moreno asked her if she had a spare tire. She eventually
agreed to give them one in exchange for $100, which she would return when Moreno
returned the tire. Braulio Trejo was not present during this exchange.
2 A stipulation was read to the jury that the truck had been taken without the
owner’s permission while parked on a street in San Diego County. Pursuant to the
court’s pretrial ruling, the jury was instructed there was no evidence Moreno or Hardin
had stolen the truck.
3 Hardin contends Enriqueta Trejo likely misidentified Moreno as the person who
asked to borrow the tire because Moreno had gained about 45 pounds since he was taken
into custody.
3
Hardin subsequently came to the house and asked if Trejo had any tools. Trejo
agreed to help change the tire. When this tire did not fit, Hardin asked if Trejo could give
him and Moreno a ride. Trejo agreed. As Trejo sat in his car, Hardin got in the
passenger seat. Moreno came to the driver’s side door and told Trejo to get out. When
Trejo hesitated, Moreno repeated the command several times and put a knife to Trejo’s
neck through the open window. Trejo got out but immediately punched Moreno in the
face. The two men fought. Moreno swung the knife at Trejo but dropped it at some point
in the fight. After a few minutes Trejo’s family members came outside to help. Hardin
fled, but Trejo and others restrained Moreno until the police arrived. Hardin was
apprehended shortly thereafter.
The knife was recovered by the police from the roof of Trejo’s car where one of
his sisters had placed it. No fingerprints were found on the knife.
Moreno and Hardin did not testify or present any other witnesses in their defense.
4. The Jury’s Verdict and Sentencing
The jury found Moreno guilty of attempted carjacking, attempted robbery and
assault with a deadly weapon and found true the special use-of-a-deadly-weapon
allegations. In a bifurcated proceeding the trial court found true the prior conviction
allegations and sentenced Moreno to an aggregate state prison term of 31 years to life,
consisting of a Three Strikes sentence of 25 years to life for attempted carjacking plus
five years for the section 667, subdivision (a)(1), enhancement, plus one year for the
weapon-use enhancement. Sentence on counts two and three was stayed pursuant to
section 654.
The jury also found Hardin guilty of attempted carjacking and attempted robbery.
After a bifurcated proceeding in which the court found true Hardin had previously been
convicted based on a negotiated plea agreement of assault with a semiautomatic weapon
(§ 245, subd. (b)) and making a criminal threat (§ 422), Hardin moved to dismiss the
strike allegations in the interests of justice. (§ 1385; People v. Superior Court (Romero)
(1996) 13 Cal.4th 497.) In support of the motion Hardin argued he was married, owned
his own home, was training to be a pastor and had been steadily employed for more than
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15 years at the time of the incident; the two prior strike convictions in 2006 arose after he
tried to defend himself when a group of gang members threatened him; his conviction for
infliction of corporal injury upon a spouse or cohabitant (§ 273.5, subd. (a)) in 2007 was
in part due to an over-prescription of pain medication after back surgery; the fact he had
never served time in state prison demonstrated his prior convictions were not serious
offenses; and his role in the attempted carjacking and attempted robbery was essentially
passive and minor.
In declining to dismiss the strikes, the court found Hardin had an extensive adult
criminal record beginning in 1990: “1990 resisting [arrest], obviously it is a
misdemeanor. He picks up two of those in 1990. 1994 he picks up a gun charge as a
misdemeanor. In ’97 he picked up a [battery] and ultimately pleads to a cruelty to
animals charge. So we have consistent contact from 1990 to 1997. Then his degree of
seriousness increases. 2006, strike prior where he allegedly made threats armed with a
gun. It’s very serious. He has a handgun. It’s a violent crime. He’s given probation . . .
a huge break. And despite that break what does he do while on probation? He picks up a
[section] 273.5 . . . where in that case he allegedly beat up his girlfriend. Again, he’s
given [execution of sentence suspended]. . . . He’s given another huge break. And in
2009 he picks up another battery charge. Despite that then picks up our case.”
The court also reviewed the circumstances of the current offense, noting it was a
“violent, violent crime” in which a knife was used and the victim could have been killed.
Based on its conclusion Hardin was “a person who’s been given chance after chance with
the legal system,” the court found “it would be an abuse of discretion to strike a strike in
this case.” The court sentenced Hardin to an aggregate state prison term of 30 years to
life, consisting of a Three Strikes sentence of 25 years to life for attempted carjacking
4
plus five years for the section 667, subdivision (a)(1), enhancement. Sentence on count
2 was stayed pursuant to section 654.
4 Because these two serious felony convictions were not based on “charges brought
and tried separately,” Hardin properly received only one five-year enhancement under
section 667, subdivision (a). (See In re Harris (1989) 49 Cal.3d 131, 136 [“the
5
CONTENTIONS
Moreno contends the evidence the truck had been stolen was an unduly prejudicial
uncharged act of misconduct and there was insufficient evidence he had personally used a
knife. Hardin contends he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his trial
attorney failed to object to admission of evidence the truck was stolen, there was
insufficient evidence he had aided and abetted the crimes of attempted carjacking and
attempted robbery, and the court abused its discretion in failing to dismiss his prior
convictions in the interest of justice.
DISCUSSION
1. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Admitting Evidence the Truck
Was Stolen
a. Governing law
Evidence is admissible only if it is relevant. (Evid. Code, § 350.) All relevant
evidence is admissible except as otherwise provided by a statutory or constitutional
exclusionary rule. (See Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (f)(2); Evid. Code, § 351.)
Relevant evidence is defined as evidence “having any tendency in reason to prove or
disprove any disputed fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action.”
(Evid. Code, § 210.) The general test of relevance “‘is whether the evidence tends
“logically, naturally, and by reasonable inference” to establish material facts such as
identity, intent, or motive.’” (People v. Bivert (2011) 52 Cal.4th 96, 116.) However, if
evidence leads only to speculative inferences, it is irrelevant. (People v. Morrison (2004)
34 Cal.4th 698, 711.)
Even if relevant, evidence may be excluded in the trial court’s discretion if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will (a)
necessitate undue consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue
prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury. (Evid. Code, § 352; People
requirement in section 667 that the predicate charges must have been ‘brought and tried
separately’ demands that the underlying proceedings must have been formally distinct,
from filing to adjudication of guilt”].)
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v. Lee (2011) 51 Cal.4th 620, 643.) A trial court has broad discretion in determining
whether evidence is relevant and whether Evidence Code section 352 precludes its
admission. (People v. Mills (2010) 48 Cal.4th 158, 195; People v. Williams (2008)
43 Cal.4th 584, 634.) We review for abuse of discretion a trial court’s rulings on the
admissibility of evidence, including those turning on the relevance or probative value of
the evidence in question. (Lee, at p. 643; People v. Hamilton (2009) 45 Cal.4th 863,
930.) Nevertheless, even if the trial court abused its discretion in admitting irrelevant
evidence, reversal is not warranted unless the evidence was prejudicial. “[S]tate law
error in admitting evidence is subject to the traditional Watson test: The reviewing court
must ask whether it is reasonably probable the verdict would have been more favorable to
the defendant absent the error.” (People v. Partida (2005) 37 Cal.4th 428, 439.) Federal
due process is offended only if admission of the irrelevant evidence renders the trial
fundamentally unfair. (Ibid.)
b. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding the evidence relevant and
not unduly prejudicial
Moreno and Hardin contend evidence the truck had been stolen was an unduly
prejudicial uncharged act of misconduct from which the jury might infer they were more
likely guilty of the charged crimes. (See People v. Ewoldt (1994) 7 Cal.4th 380, 393
[Evid. Code, § 1101 prohibits admission of evidence of person’s character, including
specific instances of uncharged misconduct, to prove conduct of person on specific
occasion; evidence may be admitted if relevant to establish identity, intent and motive].)
They argue any relevance the truck was stolen had on the issue of motive was weak
because they could have called a taxi (Hardin had $210 when he was arrested), taken a
bus or simply accepted the ride Trejo was willing to give them to distance themselves
from the stolen vehicle.
As a threshold matter, Moreno and Hardin’s argument the evidence was
improperly admitted under Evidence Code section 1101 has been forfeited: Moreno
objected to the admission of the evidence as irrelevant and prejudicial under Evidence
Code section 352, not under Evidence Code section 1101. (See People v. Williams,
7
supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 620 [“‘“questions relating to the admissibility of evidence will not
be reviewed on appeal in the absence of a specific and timely objection in the trial court
on the ground sought to be urged on appeal”’”]; see generally Evid. Code, § 353,
subd. (a) [“[a] verdict or finding shall not be set aside, nor shall the judgment or decision
based thereon be reversed, by reason of the erroneous admission of evidence unless . .
[¶] . . . [t]here appears of record an objection to or a motion to exclude or to strike the
evidence that was timely made and so stated as to make clear the specific ground of the
objection or motion”].) Moreover, and perhaps the reason counsel did not advance the
argument in the trial court, the People were not seeking to introduce, and there was no
evidence of, an uncharged act of misconduct. As discussed, there was no evidence
Hardin or Moreno had stolen the truck, and the jury was so instructed. In addition, there
was no direct or circumstantial evidence they knew it had been stolen. (Cf. People v.
Garelick (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1107, 1115 [“truth of the prior uncharged act and
defendant’s connection to it are preliminary factual issues which must be decided before
the prior misconduct can be deemed admissible; if the prior and defendant’s connection
to it are not established by a preponderance of the evidence, the prior is irrelevant to
prove the Evidence Code [§] 1101(b) fact for which it is being offered”].)
Although Moreno and Hardin have forfeited their argument based on Evidence
Code section 1101, subdivision (b), we nonetheless review whether the trial court abused
its discretion in admitting the evidence under Evidence Code sections 350 and 352.
Without question, the absence of any proof Moreno and Hardin knew the truck was
stolen undermines the People’s argument at trial the evidence provided a motive for
attempting to steal Trejo’s car—to get away from the stolen truck. Nevertheless, the
People properly asserted the evidence was relevant to forestall the jury from speculating
why they would leave behind their own vehicle when it could so easily link them to the
crime. To be sure, the court perhaps could have limited the evidence to a statement the
truck was not registered to Moreno or Hardin, or otherwise linked to them, but under the
circumstances it was not unduly prejudicial to admit evidence the truck was stolen: “The
prejudice which exclusion of evidence under Evidence Code section 352 is designed to
8
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.’” (People v. Karis (1988) 46 Cal.3d 612, 638;
see People v. Alexander (2010) 49 Cal.4th 846, 905 [evidence need not be excluded
under Evid. Code, § 352 “unless it ‘poses an intolerable “‘risk to the fairness of the
proceedings or the reliability of the outcome’”’”].) Here, the prejudice to Moreno and
Hardin resulted not from some policy concern or danger the evidence could be
misconstrued or might evoke an emotional bias against them unrelated to the issues, but
from its relevance to the reason Moreno and Hardin might be willing to commit the
5
charged offenses.
Even if the trial court erred in admitting the evidence, it was harmless. Trejo’s
testimony was strong evidence Moreno and Hardin had committed the crimes. Moreno
and Hardin attempted to discredit Trejo by identifying contradictions in his testimony as
well as conflicts between his testimony and his family member’s testimony, but the jury
clearly found Trejo credible. Whether Moreno and Hardin were in a stolen truck prior to
the commission of the crimes has no bearing on Trejo’s credibility. It is not reasonably
probable the verdict would have been more favorable to the defendant absent admission
of the evidence. (See People v. Partida, supra, 37 Cal.4th 428, 439.)
5 Because the evidence the truck had been taken from its owner without permission
was properly admitted at trial, we reject Hardin’s contention his counsel provided
ineffective assistance when he failed to join Moreno’s objection to the evidence. (See
People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 674, 675, 678 [defendant failed to demonstrate
prejudice as is required for reversal on ineffective assistance grounds].) In a separate
order filed concurrently with this opinion, we summarily deny Hardin’s petition for writ
of habeas corpus, filed during the pendency of this appeal, which raises the same
ineffective-assistance-of-counsel argument.
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2. The Jury’s Verdict Is Supported by Substantial Evidence
a. Standard of review
When considering challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, we “review the
whole record to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime or special circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt.
[Citation.] The record must disclose substantial evidence to support the verdict—i.e.,
evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—such that a reasonable trier of
fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] In applying
this test, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and
presume in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the jury could reasonably
have deduced from the evidence. [Citation.] ‘Conflicts and even testimony [that] is
subject to justifiable suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment, for it is the
exclusive province of the trial judge or jury to determine the credibility of a witness and
the truth or falsity of the facts upon which a determination depends. [Citation.] We
resolve neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts; we look for substantial
evidence. [Citation.]’ [Citation.] A reversal for insufficient evidence ‘is unwarranted
unless it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial
evidence to support”’ the jury’s verdict.” (People v. Zamudio (2008) 43 Cal.4th 327,
357.)
b. There was sufficient evidence Moreno used a knife
Moreno contends there was insufficient evidence he used a knife during the
altercation because Trejo’s “testimony regarding the existence of the knife was erratic
and illogical.” For example, Moreno argues, Trejo testified Moreno hit him with the
same fist that was carrying the knife, “a very difficult task to pull off”; even though Trejo
was being assaulted with a knife, he never yelled to his family or tried to run away; and,
although they allegedly fought for an extended period of time, Trejo was never cut or
even nicked by the knife.
10
Even if some portions of Trejo’s testimony could properly be described as erratic
6
or illogical, nothing he described was “physically impossible or inherently improbable.”
Thus, this testimony alone is sufficient to support Moreno’s conviction and the jury’s true
findings he had personally used a knife during the crimes. (People v. Elliott (2012)
53 Cal.4th 535, 585.) Moreover, the jury was presented with more than just Trejo’s
testimony. A knife found at the scene was introduced into evidence, and Enriqueta Trejo
testified she saw the knife near the rear tire of Trejo’s car.
c. There was sufficient evidence Hardin aided and abetted the attempted
carjacking and attempted robbery
“A person aids and abets the commission of a crime when he or she, acting with
(1) knowledge of the unlawful purpose of the perpetrator; and (2) the intent or purpose of
committing, encouraging, or facilitating the commission of the offense, (3) by act or
advice aids, promotes, encourages or instigates, the commission of the crime.” (People v.
Beeman (1984) 35 Cal.3d 547, 561.) “‘“[T]he test is whether the accused in any way,
directly or indirectly, aided the perpetrator by acts or encouraged him by words or
gestures.”’” (People v. Campbell (1994) 25 Cal.App.4th 402, 411, italics added.)
Although mere presence and failure to prevent a crime are insufficient to establish aiding
and abetting liability, presence at the scene is a relevant factor. (See id. at p. 409.)
There was sufficient evidence Hardin aided and abetted the crimes and was not, as
he contends, simply doing nothing because he was “between a rock and a hard place,” not
wanting to commit a crime but also not wanting to get in a fight with Moreno. Trejo
testified Moreno and Hardin were whispering to each other outside his car just before the
crimes occurred. Moreover, after Moreno initially put a knife to Trejo’s neck and told
him to get out of the car, Hardin said, “Yeah, that’s right. Get out.” Then, when Moreno
and Trejo were fighting, Hardin told Moreno to hurry up because he was taking too long.
Finally, Hardin tried to pull Trejo into the car during the struggle between Moreno and
Trejo.
6 Moreno mischaracterizes the record. Trejo testified he thought he had yelled out
for help and believed the knife cut a small hole in his sweater.
11
Hardin attempts to discount the significance of this evidence, pointing to other
testimony at trial. For example, Trejo conceded he could not see Hardin’s hands and thus
did not really know whether Hardin was grabbing him, and Trejo’s brother-in-law
testified he saw Hardin sitting in the passenger seat with a beer in his hand. Hardin also
argues, if he had intended to help Moreno, he could have done a number of things
including take Trejo’s car keys, which were in the ignition while Trejo and Moreno were
fighting.
All such conflicts and inconsistencies in the testimony were for the jury to resolve.
(See People v. Zamudio, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 357.) The evidence in the record was
more than sufficient to sustain Hardin’s convictions for aiding and abetting.
3. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Sentencing Hardin to 30 Years
to Life Pursuant to the Three Strikes Law
a. Governing law
Section 1385, subdivision (a), vests the court with discretion to dismiss a prior
conviction, including a qualifying strike conviction, “in furtherance of justice.” (Romero,
supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 530; People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 158.) “[I]n ruling
whether to strike or vacate a prior serious and/or violent felony conviction allegation or
finding under the Three Strikes law . . . or in reviewing such a ruling, the court . . . must
consider whether, in light of the nature and circumstances of his present felonies and
prior serious and/or violent felony convictions, and the particulars of his background,
character, and prospects, the defendant may be deemed outside the [Three Strikes]
scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part, and hence should be treated as though he had not
previously been convicted of one or more serious and/or violent felonies.” (Williams,
at p. 161.)
We review the trial court’s decision not to dismiss a prior strike allegation under
section 1385 for abuse of discretion. (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 376.)
“[T]he three strikes law not only establishes a sentencing norm, it carefully circumscribes
the trial court’s power to depart from this norm and requires the court to explicitly justify
its decision to do so. In doing so, the law creates a strong presumption that any sentence
12
that conforms to these sentencing norms is both rational and proper. [¶] . . . [¶] . . . ‘[I]t
is not enough to show that reasonable people might disagree about whether to strike one
or more’ prior conviction allegations. . . . Because the circumstances must be
‘extraordinary . . . by which a career criminal can be deemed to fall outside the spirit of
the very scheme within which he squarely falls once he commits a strike as part of a long
and continuous criminal record, the continuation of which the law was meant to attack’
[citation], the circumstances where no reasonable people could disagree that the criminal
falls outside the spirit of the three strikes scheme must be even more extraordinary.” (Id.
at p. 378.)
b. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to dismiss a prior
strike conviction
Citing People v. Benson (1998) 18 Cal.4th 24 (Benson) and People v. Burgos
(2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 1209 (Burgos), Hardin contends the trial court abused its
discretion in failing to dismiss one of the strikes because the two strikes were so closely
7
connected as to have risen from a single act. Hardin’s reliance on these two decisions is
badly misplaced.
In Benson, supra, 18 Cal.4th 24, the Supreme Court held, when a defendant has
previously suffered two qualifying strike convictions, one of which was stayed pursuant
to section 654, both convictions are properly treated as strikes for future sentencing
7 As discussed, Hardin’s strikes convictions were the result of a negotiated
agreement in 2006 pursuant to which he pleaded no contest to assault with a
semiautomatic handgun and making a criminal threat and admitted related firearm
enhancement allegations. He was sentenced to a six-year state prison term for the
aggravated assault conviction, as enhanced, and a concurrent sentence for making a
criminal threat; execution of both sentences was stayed, and Hardin was placed on formal
probation. Although Hardin argues the concurrent sentence for making a criminal threat
was not an express term of the plea agreement and contends that sentence should have
been stayed pursuant to section 654, at the plea hearing the court informed Hardin the
two convictions constituted two strikes: “[W]hile they are both felony convictions, they
are also strike convictions so you cannot own or possess any weapons or firearms for the
rest of your life, or any ammunition. If you did, you would be facing a whole new felony
charge. And because there are two strikes, that means you could be facing life in the
future, if you ever did that.”
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purposes. (Benson, at pp. 26-27.) The Court explained, “[A] trial court retains discretion
in such cases to strike one or more prior felony convictions under section 1385 if the trial
court properly concludes that the interests of justice support such an action.” (Id. at
p. 36.) The Court also noted, “[b]ecause the proper exercise of a trial court’s discretion
under section 1385 necessarily relates to the circumstances of a particular defendant’s
current and past criminal conduct, we need not and do not determine whether there are
some circumstances in which two prior felony convictions are so closely connected—for
example, when multiple convictions arise out of a single act by the defendant as
distinguished from multiple acts committed in an indivisible course of conduct—that a
trial court would abuse its discretion under section 1385 if it failed to strike one of the
priors.” (Benson, at p. 36, fn. 8.)
In Burgos the appellate court found the trial court had abused its discretion in
declining to strike one of defendant’s prior strike convictions for robbery and carjacking.
(Burgos, supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at p. 1216.) The Burgos court read the Benson footnote
to “strongly indicate[] that where the two priors were so closely connected as to have
arisen from a single act, it would necessarily constitute an abuse of discretion to refuse to
strike one of the priors.” (Burgos, at p. 1215.) The court emphasized, however, “not
only did the two prior convictions arise from the same act, but, unlike perhaps any other
two crimes, there exists an express statutory preclusion on sentencing for both offenses.”
8
(Id. at p. 1216 [citing § 215, subd. (c)].)
Appellate decisions since Burgos have analyzed whether it categorically held one
of two strikes arising from a single act must be dismissed or whether that is simply one
factor the trial court should consider in exercising its discretion. (See, e.g., People v.
Scott (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 920, 931 (Scott).) While finding Burgos itself not entirely
clear on the point, these decisions have rejected the proposition a trial court lacks
discretion under similar circumstances. In Scott, for example, the court held “the ‘same
8 Section 215, subdivision (c), states, “[N]o defendant may be punished under this
section and Section 211 for the same act which constitutes a violation of both this section
and Section 211.”
14
act’ circumstances posed by robbery and carjacking cases provide a factor for a trial court
to consider, but do not mandate striking a strike.” (Ibid.) This issue is now pending in
the Supreme Court. (People v. Vargas (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 971, review granted
Sept. 12, 2012, S203744.)
However the Supreme Court resolves the question whether a trial court must
dismiss one of two strike convictions for carjacking and robbery, here Hardin’s pleas to
the charge of aggravated assault and making a criminal threat were not based on a single
act even if they were part of a continuous course of conduct and properly subject to
section 654’s limitation on multiple punishments—an issue we need not decide. Hardin
both displayed a semiautomatic firearm as part of the assault and made a qualifying
verbal threat within the meaning of section 422. Under the holding of Benson, supra,18 Cal.4th 24, the trial court necessarily had discretion to deny Hardin’s motion to
dismiss one of those strikes; and its decision to do so was well within its discretion,
particularly in light of Hardin’s extensive criminal history. (See People v. Carmony,
supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 378 [in light of presumption sentence is rational and proper, court
abuses discretion in limited circumstances such as when court not aware of discretion to
dismiss or when court considers impermissible factors].)
Hardin’s additional argument the court failed to take into consideration the passive
nature of his action in the current case fails for two reasons. First, as discussed, Hardin
has misstated or ignored relevant evidence of his actual role in facilitating the current
crimes. Second, the trial court was not required to expressly state every consideration
supporting its decision. (See People v. Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 378 [when
record is silent, presumption trial court applied the law is applicable].)
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DISPOSITION
The judgments are affirmed.
PERLUSS, P. J.
We concur:
WOODS, J.
ZELON, J.
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