People v. Lara CA4/2

Filed 12/27/21 P. v. Lara CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E075705
v. (Super.Ct.No. FVI19000897)
MATTHEW ANDREW LARA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Bryan K. Stodghill,
Judge. Affirmed.
Dawn S. Mortazavi, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland and Alana
Cohen Butler, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Defendant and appellant Matthew Andrew Lara had dated the victim for two years
and they had a child together. After they broke up, the victim posted a photograph of her
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and a new man on social media. Defendant responded, “fuck both of you.” Several days
later, defendant appeared outside the victim’s house asking to speak with her. She told
him she did not want to speak with him. Defendant pulled out a gun and shot one time
toward the victim putting a hole in a nearby sweater and purse. Defendant ran into a
nearby field. When he was apprehended, he did not have the gun but had gunshot residue
on his hands. The victim had told the police the night of the shooting that defendant was
the shooter but recanted her testimony at the preliminary hearing and initially at trial.
The victim testified in the middle of trial that defendant was the shooter and that she had
lied because she was afraid since she believed he was a gang member.
Defendant was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter, personally using
a firearm, disobeying a domestic relations court order and possession of a firearm by a
felon. On appeal, defendant contends (1) there was insufficient evidence presented that
he was guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter; and (2) the trial court erred by
admitting irrelevant and prejudicial testimony that defendant was a gang member..
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Defendant was charged in an amended information with the attempted
premeditated and deliberate murder of the victim (Pen. Code, §§ 664, 187; count 1).1 It
was further alleged as to count 1, that defendant personally and intentionally discharged a
firearm within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivisions (b) and (c). He was
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
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additionally charged with disobeying a court order, a misdemeanor (§ 273.6, subd. (a);
count 2) and possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1); count 3). It was
alleged as to counts 1 and 3 that he had suffered a prior serious and violent felony
conviction (§§ 667, subds. (a)(1), (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)) and that he had served
four prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)). The prior-conviction trial was bifurcated
from the trial on the current charges and defendant waived his right to a jury trial.
The jury found defendant guilty of the lesser included offense of attempted
voluntary manslaughter on count 1. The jury found defendant guilty of counts 2 and 3,
and found the weapons-use allegations true. The trial court found the prior conviction
allegations true. Prior to sentencing, the trial court struck the section 667.5, subdivision
(b), enhancements. Further, it struck the firearm enhancements found true by the jury
pursuant to section 122022.53, subdivisions (b), and (c), but imposed a weapons-use
enhancement pursuant to section 12022.5, subdivision (a). Defendant was sentenced to
15 years four months to be served in state prison.
B. FACTUAL HISTORY
1. PEOPLE’S CASE-IN-CHIEF
a. The Victim’s Initial Trial Testimony
The victim2 and defendant had been in a relationship for two years and had a child
together. She called defendant either her “baby daddy” or “Moken.” By April 1, 2019,
the victim and defendant were no longer dating. On April 1, the victim lived on C Street
2 The victim had a felony conviction and was on probation.
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in Victorville with her sister, her niece and a roommate. She kept her belongings in the
laundry room because she slept on the couch.
The victim did not recall that defendant was ever verbally or physically abusive to
her during their relationship. She did not remember that she called the police on
November 23, 2016, complaining that defendant punched her in the face and choked her.
She also did not remember she called the police on August 18, 2017, and told a sheriff’s
deputy that defendant had thrown something at her head and kicked her. She insisted her
memory was “messed up” or she was drunk at the time of these incidents.
On March 29, 2019, the victim posted photographs of herself with a man, Michael
Dominguez, on social media. On that same day, defendant commented “Fuck both of
you.” The victim had been drinking the night of March 31 and did not recall calling the
police around 1:00 a.m. on April 1 telling them she had been shot by her “baby daddy,”
because she was drunk. The victim only remembered that she came home from being out
drinking and the last thing she remembered was that she watered her lawn. She blacked
out from drinking eight to 10 large beers. She did not remember that deputies came to
her house in response to a 911 call. She did not remember anything from April 1.
The 911 call made by the victim on April 1 was played for the jury. She identified
herself and said that she lived on C Street in Victorville. She stated, “I need a deputy to
my house please, cause um, my baby daddy just came and and shot at, um, tried to shoot
um, well he shot, he actually shot inside, right here, in my laundry room.” She was “right
by it” when he shot. She was not injured. She then hung up. The victim identified her
voice on the 911 call but still did not remember making the call.
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The victim indicated she would always have feelings for defendant because he was
her “baby daddy.” They had a good relationship. The victim did not recall talking to
defendant before trial about her testimony. The victim was shown a photograph of her
purse, which had a hole in it; she could not recall how the hole got in her purse. There
was a hole in a sweater that belonged to her but she did not remember how the hole got in
the sweater. There was also a hole in a mirror in the laundry room; she did not recall how
it got there but it was not there prior to April 1.
b. The Victim’s Trial Testimony that Defendant Shot Her
On redirect examination, the victim was asked if she had a conversation with an
investigator from the district attorney’s office that day. She started crying. She admitted
she confided in the investigator that defendant had shot at her on April 1. She told the
investigator she was afraid to testify because she believed defendant was a gang member.
She was afraid something would happen to her or her family if she testified defendant
shot her.
The victim then testified that on April 1 she had been in her laundry room at home
with Dominguez. She went to the kitchen to make Dominguez soup. When she walked
back to the laundry room with the soup, defendant was at the laundry room door. The
victim asked defendant “what the fuck was he doing” there. She set down the soup and
stood in front of Dominguez. She then noticed defendant had a gun in his hand.
Defendant’s hand was shaking. Defendant told her, “ ‘I just want to talk to you.’ ” She
told him that she had nothing to say to him. She was not concerned about the gun as she
did not think that defendant would shoot her. Defendant then shot the gun. The bullet
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went right pass her arm. The bullet was closer to her than Dominguez. Defendant took
off running. She called the police. She did not tell them that Dominguez was with her
because she did not want to get him involved. She believed the bullet hit her purse and a
sweater. The bullet also hit the mirror in the laundry room.
The victim insisted she was finally telling the truth; she did not tell the truth at the
preliminary hearing and earlier in the trial.
c. Investigation
On April 1, 2019, Audria Cornett lived at the Route 66 Trailer Park located on
South D Street in Victorville. C Street was directly behind her home. She called 911
sometime between midnight and 1:00 a.m. because she heard a loud bang that sounded
like a gunshot. She was scared because it sounded very close. She did not go outside and
see what had happened because the area was dangerous. Cornett described the victim’s
home as a “party house” with many people coming and going from the house.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Rios was assigned to the Victorville
station. He responded to a call of a shot fired around 12:45 a.m. on April 1 in the area of
C Street in Victorville. When he arrived at the location, he met with the victim. He
recorded a portion of their conversation. The victim told Deputy Rios that she had been
walking back into the laundry room when she saw “Moken” who was her “baby daddy.”
He told her he wanted to talk to her. She tried to close the door because “he hits me you
know.” She told defendant that she did not want to talk to him. He had a gun in his hand
and his hand was shaking. She said, “He was like I need to talk to you, I need to talk to
you and then um, he was like, he like ‘man when you fucken, I need to fucken talk to
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you’ and I was like I don’t have nothing to stay to you Moken, I don’t have nothing to
say to you. And when I was trying to close it, he fucken shot and it went like that.” She
said, “it almost fucken hit me dude.” Defendant ran off. The victim identified “Moken”
as defendant.
Deputy Rios found a fired cartridge case near where the victim described
defendant was standing when he shot the gun. The bullet was not found. Deputy Rios
found the sweater and purse with holes in them in the laundry room. Deputy Rios
discovered that defendant had a GPS ankle monitor. Records from the monitor showed
that he had been at the victim’s residence on April 1. The GPS monitor was used to track
defendant; he was found in a field between two houses about one mile from the victim’s
residence. Upon his arrest, defendant’s hands were sampled for gunshot residue. The
samples taken from defendant’s hands at the time of his apprehension were positive for
gunshot residue.
Deputy Rios spoke with defendant. Defendant admitted he had recently been at
the victim’s home. Defendant admitted to being abusive to the victim in the past.
Deputy Rios asked defendant if he shot the victim, and he responded, “Fuck no, man. I
love her, dude. Why the fuck am I going to shoot her for.” He also acknowledged he had
a no negative contact order against him for being abusive to the victim in the past. The
gun was never found.
Defendant and the victim had a conversation after the shooting, which was
recorded. Defendant told the victim that he was calling to check on her and see how she
was doing. The victim asked if she could talk, and he said it was okay as long she did not
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use any names. Defendant pretended he was talking to someone other than the victim.
He stated that the prosecution was not believing the victim’s testimony from the
preliminary hearing. Defendant stated, “Like I was talking to my boy XO, you know
what I mean like, I was telling XO, like hey, you know what I mean, like if you ever see
my baby mama, let her know what’s up dude, like I’m here chopping it up every day, you
know what I mean like . . . .” The victim told defendant she did not want to testify at
trial.
2. DEFENSE
Defendant presented no evidence on his behalf.
DISCUSSION
A. SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF ATTEMPTED VOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER
Defendant contends insufficient evidence was presented to support his conviction
of attempted voluntary manslaughter because there was no evidence of intent to kill and
provocation.
1. ADDITIONAL FACTUAL HISTORY
During discussion of the jury instructions, defense counsel requested attempted
voluntary manslaughter instructions. The prosecutor did not object. The jury was
instructed on attempted murder that they had to find that “defendant took at least one
direct but ineffective step toward killing another person. And, two, the defendant
intended to kill that person.” They were instructed that attempted voluntary
manslaughter was a lesser include offense of attempted murder. The jury was instructed,
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“An attempted killing that would otherwise be attempted murder is reduced to attempted
voluntarily manslaughter in violation of section 664/192(a) of the California Penal Code
if the defendant attempted to kill someone because of a sudden quarrel or in the heat of
passion. [¶] The defendant attempted to kill someone because of a sudden quarrel or in
the heat of passion if, one, the defendant took at least one direct but ineffective step
toward killing a person. Two, the defendant intended to kill that person. . . . [T]hree, the
defendant attempted the killing because he was provoked. Four, the provocation would
have caused an ordinary person of average disposition to act irrationally and without due
deliberation that is from passion rather than from judgment. And, five, the attempted
killing was a rash act done under the influence of intense emotion that obscured the
defendant’s reasoning or judgment. [¶] Heat of passion does not require anger, rage, or
any specific emotion. It can be any violent or intense emotion that causes a person to act
without due deliberation and reflection. In order for a sudden quarrel or heat of passion
to reduce an attempted murder to attempted voluntarily manslaughter, the defendant must
have acted under the direct and immediate influence of provocation as I have defined it.
While no specific type of provocation is required, slight or remote provocation is not
sufficient. Sufficient provocation may occur for a short or long period of time. It is not
enough that the defendant simply was provoked. [¶] . . . In deciding whether the
provocation was sufficient, consider whether an ordinary person of average disposition in
the same situation and knowing the same facts would have reacted from passion rather
than judgment. If enough time passes between the provocation and the attempted killing
for an ordinary person of average disposition to cool off and regain his or her clear
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reasoning or judgment, then the attempted murder is not reduced to attempted voluntarily
manslaughter on this basis. [¶] The People have the burden of proving beyond a
reasonable doubt the defendant attempted to kill someone and was not acting as a result
of a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion. If the people have not met this burden, you
must find the defendant not guilty of attempted murder.”
2. ANALYSIS
In reviewing a claim of insufficient 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.)
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“ ‘ “Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought.
[Citation.] A defendant who commits an intentional and unlawful killing but who lacks
malice is guilty of . . . voluntary manslaughter. [Citation.]” [Citations.] Generally, the
intent to unlawfully kill constitutes malice. [Citations.] “But a defendant who
intentionally and unlawfully kills [nonetheless] lacks malice . . . when [he] acts in a
‘sudden quarrel or heat of passion’ [citation], or . . . kills in ‘unreasonable self-defense’—
the unreasonable but good faith belief in having to act in self-defense.” ’ ” (People v.
Rios (2000) 23 Cal.4th 450, 460-461 (Rios), fn. omitted.) “[I]t has long been held that
the crime of attempted murder does require an intent to kill.” (People v. Montes (2003)
112 Cal.App.4th 1543, 1549.) Accordingly, “the crime of attempted voluntary
manslaughter must also require a specific intent to bring about that same desired result
(the killing of a human being).” (Id. at pp. 1549-1550.) “[A] conviction of voluntary
manslaughter may be sustained upon proof and findings that the defendant committed an
unlawful and intentional homicide.” (Rios, at pp. 469-470.)
“[W]here the defendant killed intentionally and unlawfully, evidence of heat of
passion, or of an actual, though unreasonable, belief in the need for self-defense, is
relevant only to determine whether malice has been established, thus allowing a
conviction of murder, or has not been established, thus precluding a murder conviction
and limiting the crime to the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. Indeed,
in a murder case, unless the People’s own evidence suggests that the killing may have
been provoked or in honest response to perceived danger, it is the defendant’s obligation
to proffer some showing on these issues sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt of his guilt
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of murder.” (Rios, supra, 23 Cal.4th at pp. 461-462.) “[I]f the fact finder determines the
killing was intentional and unlawful, but is not persuaded beyond reasonable doubt that
provocation (or imperfect self-defense) was absent, it should acquit the defendant of
murder and convict him of voluntary manslaughter.” (Id. at p. 462.)
Here, defendant insists that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he had the
intent to kill to support attempted voluntary manslaughter. The circumstantial evidence
supports that defendant had the intent to kill.
“Mental state and intent are rarely susceptible of direct proof and must therefore
be proven circumstantially.” (People v. Thomas (2011) 52 Cal.4th 336, 355.) “ ‘ “[T]he
act of firing toward a victim at a close, but not point blank, range ‘in a manner that could
have inflicted a mortal wound had the bullet been on target is sufficient to support an
inference of intent to kill.’ ” ’ ” (People v. Perez (2010) 50 Cal.4th 222, 230.) “ ‘The
fact that the shooter may have fired only once and then abandoned his efforts out of
necessity or fear does not compel the conclusion that he lacked the animus to kill in the
first instance. Nor does the fact that the victim may have escaped death because of the
shooter’s poor marksmanship necessarily establish a less culpable state of mind.’ ”
(People v. Chinchilla (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 683, 690.)
Here, the evidence established that defendant appeared at the victim’s house,
unannounced, in the early morning hours. Just a few days prior, he had commented on a
social media post made by the victim with another man, telling her “Fuck both of you.”
He also admitted to being abusive to the victim in the past. Defendant was having
problems with the victim seeing other men and wanted to talk to her. Defendant came to
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the victim’s house armed with a loaded firearm. Defendant asked to speak with the
victim, but she told he she did not want to talk to him. The victim told Deputy Rios on
the night of the shooting she tried to close the door on him because he “hits me.”
Defendant then shot the gun. The victim stated at trial that the bullet went right past her
arm. She told Deputy Rios on that night, that “the bullet almost fucken hit me dude.”
The evidence supported that defendant had the intent to kill the victim based on shooting
the gun in close range at her and almost hitting her.
Defendant contends there was no intent to kill because his hands were shaking and
the victim did not think he would shoot at her or intentionally shoot at her. Regardless of
whether the victim thought defendant was not going to shoot her, he fired the gun at close
range to her, almost hitting her. The fact that his hands were shaking did not negate his
intent to kill, as the shaking could have been for several reasons. The evidence
established intent to kill.
Defendant further contends the elements of attempted voluntary manslaughter
were not met as the prosecution did not establish provocation. However, the prosecution
did not have the burden of proving provocation as it only went to malice. “Provocation
and imperfect self-defense are not additional elements of voluntary manslaughter which
must be proved and found beyond reasonable doubt in order to permit a conviction of that
offense.” (Rios, supra, 23 Cal.4th at pp. 469-470.) Here, the evidence established that
defendant had an intent to kill and reasonably could have been convicted of attempted
murder. The jury apparently concluded that defendant shot the victim in a heat of passion
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and provocation despite there being little to no evidence of such provocation.3 Such
determination by the jury does not require reversal.
“It has long been the rule in this state that, in the absence of prejudice, a defendant
may not complain of error favorable to the defendant, including the giving of correct, but
inapplicable, instructions and return of a verdict of an offense less than that which the
evidence shows. [Citations.] [¶] ‘[E]ven if it be assumed that the trier of fact erred here
when he found defendant guilty only of manslaughter, defendant cannot invoke reversal
on an error which is favorable to him. [Citations.] An appellant is precluded from
complaining that he was convicted of a lesser offense than the one of which he is guilty
according to undisputed evidence, or according to that view of the evidence which, it
indisputably appears, the trier of fact accepted.’ ” (People v. Lee (1999) 20 Cal.4th 47,
57, citing to People v. Powell (1949) 34 Cal.2d 196.)
The evidence clearly established that defendant was guilty of attempted murder as
he took a direct step of shooting at the victim with the intent to kill. There was no
substantial evidence of provocation or heat of passion. Nonetheless, the jury determined
that despite defendant having the intent to kill, he lacked malice due to heat of passion.
Defendant cannot complain that he was found guilty of the lesser offense of attempted
3 The prosecutor argued in closing that there was no provocation and that
defendant was clearly guilty of attempted premediated and deliberate murder. Defense
counsel argued that Dominguez had been the shooter and not defendant. The jury
apparently rejected these claims instead concluding that defendant acted in a heat of
possession when he shot the victim.
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voluntary manslaughter as the evidence established the attempted murder of the victim.
Reversal of his conviction is not warranted.
B. ADMISSION OF GANG EVIDENCE
Defendant contends the trial court erred by allowing testimony that the victim was
afraid of defendant because she believed he was a member of a gang. Defendant
additionally argues that the trial court erred by not granting his motion for mistrial
brought after the trial court agreed to admit the testimony, based on the inability to voir
dire the jurors on their views about gangs. Defendant insists reversal is required as his
trial was fundamentally unfair.
1. ADDITIONAL FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Prior to trial, the prosecution filed a trial brief. In the statement of anticipated
facts, the prosecutor provided that the victim had disclosed that she was afraid of
defendant because he was a member of the Eastside Victoria gang. Defendant made a
motion to exclude any reference to defendant’s gang membership as it was not relevant,
and prejudicial pursuant to Evidence Code section 352.
The trial court initially ruled that the fact defendant was a gang member was too
prejudicial. The trial court wanted evidence that the reason the victim recanted was due
to his gang membership. There could be many reasons she recanted her testimony
including that he was the father of her child. The prosecutor noted that the victim
immediately told the police she did not want to talk to defendant and gave his gang name.
The trial court was concerned that there was not a direct connection between the victim
recanting and defendant’s gang membership. The trial court did not think it was
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probative of her state of mind. There were many reasons she may not want to testify. It
was too prejudicial to introduce the gang evidence. The trial court ruled it was not
admissible—without prejudice to the prosecutor providing additional evidence that the
victim recanting was directly related to her believing defendant was a gang member.
Jury voir dire commenced, which is not a part of the record.
The victim testified at an Evidence Code section 402 hearing in the middle of jury
voir dire. She testified that defendant was a member of Eastside Victoria gang. The
victim stated that if she testified against defendant, she would be a “snitch.” She denied
that she was afraid of defendant or his friends and family.
After the hearing, the trial court tentatively ruled that defendant’s gang
membership would not be admissible. It found no evidence that the victim was being
intimidated by defendant or other gang members. However, the trial court would allow
evidence that the victim herself was a member of a gang. Defendant’s counsel objected
arguing that if the victim was shown to be in a gang, the jury would believe that
defendant was also in a gang. Defendant’s counsel argued that no mention of gang
evidence should be made as there were no gang allegations.
The trial court felt that the victim’s involvement with the gang was relevant to her
credibility, and that she did not want to be a snitch. The trial court reiterated there was no
evidence that defendant’s gang membership influenced her testimony. The prosecutor
requested that the ruling on defendant’s gang membership be without prejudice to
providing further information to the court. Defendant’s counsel objected arguing that if
the evidence was coming in, he would want to voir dire the jurors about their bias against
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gang members. The trial court agreed to make the ruling without prejudice and gave the
prosecutor until the end of jury hardship excusals to provide the evidence. Voir dire
continued and the jury panel was sworn in on September 10, 2019.
In the middle of trial, the trial court put on the record it had been made aware that
the victim had made a statement to an Investigator Lazano at the district attorney’s office.
The victim told Investigator Lazano that she was afraid of defendant, that he was a gang
member, and that he in fact tried to shoot her. She was concerned for her safety. The
trial court was going to allow the prosecutor to inquire of the victim about her fear of
defendant because she believed he was a gang member. She could testify that she felt she
was in danger. The trial court would give a limiting instruction.
Defense counsel brought a motion for mistrial. Defense counsel argued the trial
was fundamentally unfair and the evidence was highly prejudicial. Further, defense
counsel was unable to voir dire the jurors on their feelings about gangs. Defense counsel
felt that there was no way to “maneuver” around the evidence.
The trial court responded the victim originally told the police that defendant shot
at her and defendant was a member of a gang. She told Investigator Lazano, that day, she
was afraid of defendant because he was a gang member, which was consistent with her
original statement to the deputies. The trial court ruled, “The Court’s ruling [prior to
trial] was based on the fact that she didn’t indicate in her prior preliminary hearing
testimony that she’s afraid of the defendant . . . or her prior testimony was that she didn’t
remember. So based on that, the Court ruled that the prior gang allegations weren’t going
to come in. That she could talk about her own gang, because that goes to her state of
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mind, but not the defendant’s gang. [¶] However, in light of her new statements, and her
statements about her fear and how fearful she is, and specifically related the fear that she
specifically related to him being in the gang, the Court believes that is probative because
it goes to her state of mind. It goes to why she changed her story, why she has told the
jury that she doesn’t remember. It goes to the state of mind. It goes to her credibility. It
goes to her believability.” The trial court did not believe the probative value was
outweighed by the prejudice as it would instruct the jury that the evidence was only to be
considered for the victim’s state of mind. The trial court denied the motion for mistrial.
The victim testified about defendant being a gang member as set forth, ante.
2. ANALYSIS
“The trial court has broad discretion to determine the relevance of evidence.”
(People v. Jones (2013) 57 Cal.4th 899, 947.)
“Under Evidence Code section 352, a trial court may exclude otherwise relevant
evidence when its probative value is substantially outweighed by concerns of undue
prejudice, confusion, or consumption of time. ‘Evidence is substantially more prejudicial
than probative [citation] if, broadly stated, it poses an intolerable “risk to the fairness of
the proceedings or the reliability of the outcome.” ’ ” (People v. Riggs (2008) 44 Cal.4th
248, 290.) “On appeal, we review the trial court's rulings concerning the admissibility of
the evidence for abuse of discretion.” (Ibid.)
Initially, the trial court did not err by refusing to grant the motion for mistrial
based on defendant’s claim he had no chance to voir dire the jurors as to their potential
bias based on defendant being a gang member.
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A defendant is entitled to an impartial jury. (People v. Mickel (2016) 2 Cal.5th
181, 215.) In People v. Mora and Rangel (2018) 5 Cal.5th 442, the defendants
complained that the introduction of gang evidence without the chance to voir dire the jury
regarding gangs was error. The California Supreme Court found “otherwise.” It found,
“Although the prosecutor stated at the outset of trial that she did not believe gang
evidence would be adduced, Mora acknowledged the possibility that some gang evidence
could ‘slip[] out.’ During trial, the court reminded defense counsel that declining to
conduct voir dire regarding gang issues ‘was a tactical decision.’ As [the Supreme Court
has] explained in a slightly different context, ‘[d]efense counsel are routinely faced with
difficult tactical decisions in having to fashion voir dire inquiries that probe for possible
penalty phase biases regarding such evidence, while stopping short of revealing
information otherwise prejudicial and excludable in the guilt phase.’ [Citation.] [¶] The
prosecutor never made any guarantee that she would avoid introducing gang evidence.
And while defense counsel avoided addressing such evidence during voir dire, that
choice did not impose on the prosecution any obligation to refrain from introducing such
evidence at trial.” (Id. at pp. 504-505.)
Here, defendant’s counsel was made aware prior to trial the prosecutor sought to
have the victim testify that she believed defendant was a gang member. While the
evidence was initially excluded, the trial court stated it may admit the evidence if the
prosecutor adduced evidence that there was a direct link between the victim recanting and
defendant’s gang membership. Defendant’s claim in his opening brief that the trial court
ordered that gang evidence not be adduced at trial does not adequately reflect the trial
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court’s findings as to the gang evidence. During the trial, the prosecutor discovered new
evidence that the victim was afraid of defendant because of his gang membership.
Defense counsel was additionally on notice that the victim’s gang membership could be
admitted. Defense counsel decided not to voir dire the jury on gangs despite knowledge
such evidence could be admitted during the trial. As in Mora and Rangel, “Defense
counsel’s . . . tactical decision to avoid gang voir dire was made with full awareness of
the possibility that some gang evidence could be introduced, and its eventual introduction
does not transform that tactical choice into error.” (People v. Mora and Rangel, supra, 5
Cal.5th at p. 505.) Defendant’s counsel was aware of the potential gang evidence being
adduced during trial and chose not to voir dire the jury. Defendant cannot now claim
error and the trial court properly denied the motion for mistrial.
Further, the trial court did not err by admitting the evidence. Here, the fact that
the victim did not truthfully testify about the shooting at the beginning of trial, because
she was afraid of defendant, and because she believed he was a member of a gang, was
highly relevant to her credibility. The jury was made aware that the victim initially told
the police defendant had shot at her, but changed her testimony at the preliminary hearing
and at the beginning of trial. She then changed her testimony midtrial to identify
defendant as the shooter. The fact that the victim revealed to Investigator Lazano that the
reason she was reluctant to testify was because she was afraid of defendant was highly
relevant to bolster her credibility.
Defendant insists that this evidence was cumulative to other evidence that
explained why the victim changed her testimony. Defendant relies on People v.
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Cardenas (1982) 31 Cal.3d 897. In Cardenas, the defendant contended that the trial
court erred by admitting evidence of his gang membership. The California Supreme
court found, “The probative value of the gang membership evidence was minimal at best.
The evidence was offered to establish possible bias of the defense witnesses in favor of
[the defendant]. The prosecution sought to prove that the witnesses and [the defendant]
‘live[d] in the same neighborhood’ and ‘had the same circle of friends.’ However, these
facts had already been amply established by other testimony before the prosecutor began
his inquiries into the witnesses’ gang affiliations. All of the defense witnesses testified
that they were friends of [the defendant] and lived in the same neighborhood as he. Each
of the male witnesses and [the defendant] also belonged to the San Gabriel Valley Boys
Club where they played basketball.” (Id. at p. 904, fn. omitted.) The court concluded
that the evidence had limited “probative value” and “its admission created a substantial
danger of undue prejudice” based on the “real danger that the jury would improperly infer
that appellant had a criminal disposition.” (Id. at pp. 904-905.) The court concluded that
the admission of the gang evidence was an abuse of the trial court’s discretion under
Evidence Code section 352. (Cardenas, at p. 905.)
Here, defendant contends the evidence of his gang membership was cumulative to
the evidence that defendant had abused the victim in the past, he gave her a hard time
when she was with other men, and there was a protective order against defendant. As
such, the additional evidence that the victim believed he was in a gang and she was afraid
was not necessary to bolster her credibility. This fails to recognize the additional
testimony from the victim that she still cared about defendant and that they had a good
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relationship. The jury could believe from this testimony that she really did not recall
what happened that night. The fact she admitted that she was scared and did not want to
testify against defendant because she believed he was a gang member was the only
concrete evidence of why she changed her testimony, and was highly relevant to bolster
her credibility.
Finally, defendant has not shown prejudice. Defendant contends the admission of
the evidence and the denial of a mistrial violated his federal Constitutional rights to due
process and was prejudicial, requiring reversal of his convictions. Specifically, he claims
that the lack of voir dire on gang membership precluded him from having an unbiased
and impartial jury. “We review evidentiary errors for prejudice by determining whether
it was reasonably probable that a jury would have returned a more favorable verdict for
defendant had the court not admitted the evidence.” (People v. Felix (2019) 41
Cal.App.5th 177, 187, citing to People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.) “[T]he
admission of evidence, even if erroneous under state law, results in a due process
violation only if it makes the trial fundamentally unfair.” (People v. Partida (2005) 37
Cal.4th 428, 439.) “Absent fundamental unfairness, state law error in admitting evidence
is subject to the traditional Watson test.” (Ibid; see also People v. Coneal, supra, 41
Cal.App.5th at p. 972.) Here, defendant’s trial was not fundamentally unfair, and it is not
reasonably probable the verdict would have been more favorable to defendant if the gang
evidence had been excluded.
Initially, the jury was admonished not to consider the victim’s testimony that she
believed defendant was a gang member as truth. They were advised, “There is no
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evidence that the defendant is in a gang. That testimony is offered to show the—or the
victim’s state of mind that she believed he was in a gang. You are not to consider that for
the truth of the matter asserted that defendant was in a gang. Only that she believed that
he was in a gang.”
We must presume the jurors followed the instruction given by the trial court that
they were not to consider the victim’s testimony for the truth that defendant was a gang
member and therefore had a criminal disposition or bad character. (People v. Mooc
(2001) 26 Cal.4th 1216, 1234.)
Moreover, the evidence was strong that defendant was the shooter.4 There was
evidence a shooting occurred in that bullet holes were found in items in the laundry room
and a bullet casing was found outside. A neighbor heard a gunshot that night. GPS
coordinates showed that defendant had been at the victim’s home that night.
Additionally, defendant was found one mile away from the victim’s house after the
shooting. He had gunshot residue on his hands. The additional fact that the victim was
afraid to testify against defendant because she believed he was a gang member did not
improperly influence the jury. Defendant has failed to show prejudice from the
admission of the evidence or the denial of his mistrial motion.
4 Defendant’s defense was that he was not the shooter and that Dominguez fired
the shot.
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DISPOSITION
We affirm the judgment in its entirety.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
MILLER
J.
We concur:
McKINSTER
Acting P. J.
CODRINGTON
J.
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