People v. Elder

Filed 4/26/17
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H042189
(Monterey County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. SS132220A)
v.
STUART ANDREW ELDER,
Defendant and Appellant.
A jury convicted defendant Stuart Andrew Elder of gross vehicular manslaughter
while intoxicated (Pen. Code, § 191.5, subd. (a)); driving under the influence of alcohol
causing injury (Veh. Code, § 23153, subd. (a)); and driving with a blood-alcohol
concentration of 0.08% or greater causing injury (Veh. Code, § 23153, subd. (b)). The
jury found true allegations that he inflicted great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 12022.7,
subd. (a)) and inflicted bodily injury to multiple victims (Veh. Code, § 23558).
Defendant was sentenced to 13 years in prison: two years on the Vehicle Code
section 23153 charge; three consecutive three-year terms for three separate Penal Code
section 12022.7(a) enhancements; and a consecutive two-year term for the Vehicle Code
section 23558 enhancement.
Defendant contends the trial court erred by (1) denying his motion to suppress
evidence of his blood-alcohol chemical test results; (2) denying his motion to compel
discovery of records relating to other collisions at the same location; (3) excluding
evidence of a chemical test result indicating a high blood-alcohol level of the victim
driver; (4) failing to adequately instruct the jury on the principle of causation; and
(5) imposing a consecutive two-year enhancement under Vehicle Code section 23558 in
addition to the enhancements under Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a).
We find no error affecting defendant’s conviction, but for the reasons explained
we find the trial court erred in imposing a consecutive two-year term for the Vehicle
Code section 23558 enhancement. We will therefore reverse the judgment and remand
for resentencing.
I. TRIAL COURT PROCEEDINGS
Factual Background
Defendant was driving home after drinking multiple glasses of wine at a restaurant
with friends. While on a narrow two-lane road with a 25 mile per hour speed limit, he
accelerated to over 70 miles per hour, veered momentarily into the opposing lane, and
collided with an oncoming car. The two occupants of the other car were killed instantly,
and the passenger riding in defendant’s vehicle was injured. Following the collision,
defendant’s blood-alcohol concentration was measured to be 0.17 percent, over twice the
legal limit.
Defendant’s Motion to Suppress
Before trial, defendant moved under Penal Code section 1538.5 to suppress
evidence of the chemical test result showing his blood-alcohol level. The grounds for the
motion were that defendant did not consent to the chemical testing of his blood and no
other United States Constitution Fourth Amendment exception justified the warrantless
search. The court held a hearing, at which the California Highway Patrol officer who
arrested defendant testified about the events leading to the arrest and obtaining a blood
sample from defendant.
The officer testified that upon arriving at the scene of the traffic collision he
approached the defendant, who had been identified as the driver of one of the vehicles.
Defendant admitted he had been drinking alcohol, and a preliminary alcohol screening
device indicated the presence of alcohol in his system. The officer advised defendant he
was being placed under arrest, and he was then transported by ambulance to the hospital
for medical treatment with the officer following behind.
While at the hospital, the officer advised defendant of the implied consent law
(Veh. Code, § 23612) and requested that he submit to a chemical test. Defendant agreed
to submit to a blood test, and signed a form indicating his consent before the blood
sample was drawn. The form has a handwritten notation of the time it was signed and the
person drawing the blood signed a form stating the time the draw was performed. The
times recorded on those forms indicate the blood was drawn four minutes before the
consent form was signed. The officer believes the times were recorded that way because
he wrote the time on the form based on his wristwatch reading and the technician who
wrote the time of the blood sample based it on the time shown by a wall clock.
According to the officer, the blood sample was drawn after defendant signed the form
consenting to the blood draw.
The trial court found that defendant was placed under arrest at the scene of the
incident, signed a consent form for the blood test, and then the blood was drawn. After
making those findings, the court denied the motion to suppress.
Discovery Dispute
Using the procedure provided for by Penal Code section 1054.5, defendant
informally requested a number of items from the prosecution, including “[a]ll local law
enforcement reports regarding accidents at the [relevant intersection] in the last seven
years.” Defense counsel later narrowed that request to only accident reports maintained
by the California Highway Patrol. The prosecution refused to provide any accident
reports, and the defendant filed a motion to compel discovery. The trial court denied the
motion, finding that information related to other accidents at the location of defendant’s
collision was not relevant to any issues in the case.
Evidentiary Issues and Jury Instructions
The prosecution moved in limine for an order excluding evidence relating to
contributory negligence by the driver of the vehicle with which defendant collided,
including any evidence of that driver’s blood-alcohol level. Defendant opposed the
motion, arguing that evidence of the other driver’s blood-alcohol level was relevant to the
issue of causation and was therefore admissible.
Three different postmortem chemical testing techniques that were performed on
the deceased driver apparently yielded three different results, one showing a 0.19 percent
blood-alcohol concentration, one a 0.08 percent, and the other a 0.07 percent. While
hearing argument from both counsel on the issue of the admissibility of the test results,
the court expressed its view that “at a minimum, the court could allow in evidence that
there was alcohol in her system[,]” but that the court was unlikely to allow evidence of
the specific blood-alcohol level out of concern that doing so would necessitate the undue
consumption of time and require a “mini-trial on blood alcohol samples from a deceased
person and fighting as to what the actual BA was and taking days and days of testimony
to have experts opine as to how … a non-living body processes alcohol … .” The court
further commented, “I’m not saying that’s what’s going to happen. I’m just trying to
understand where we’re going with this.”
After argument on the prosecution’s in limine motion, the court stated: “In regards
to the alcohol, I’m going to do some research on that. I am concerned about having mini-
trials on a blood-alcohol level, but I’m going to do some research on that. We’ll have a
decision long before you do your opening statements.”
The court never ruled on the issue of whether a specific blood-alcohol level was
admissible, because the prosecutor and defense counsel announced they would stipulate
that the other driver’s blood-alcohol level was 0.07 percent. That stipulation was read to
the jury at trial.
Defendant requested that in addition to the pattern jury instructions for the charged
offenses, the jury be instructed with CACI No. 411, an instruction designed for use in
civil cases which reads, “Every person has a right to expect that every other person will
use reasonable care [and will not violate the law], unless he or she knows, or should
know, that the other person will not use reasonable care [or will violate the law].” The
court declined to give CACI No. 411. Before closing arguments, defense counsel
confirmed that he had not requested any other additional instructions.1
Trial and Sentencing
At trial, the prosecution presented evidence that defendant and his girlfriend were
at a restaurant in Pebble Beach with friends for several hours just before the traffic
collision. Defendant was drinking wine. Around 7:00 p.m., they got into defendant’s
Cadillac Escalade SUV and he began driving toward his home.
The road defendant traveled is a narrow two-lane roadway separated by a double
yellow line. Defendant’s car was headed south and the car of driver Sharon Daly and
passenger Linda Larone was traveling north on the same road.
The prosecution presented extensive accident reconstruction evidence to establish
that defendant was driving over 70 miles per hour when his tires lost contact with the
roadway entering a curve, sending it drifting into the path of the oncoming car. At the
moment of impact, defendant’s vehicle was traveling around 70 miles per hour and the
other car around 22 miles per hour. The speed limit for the road is 25 miles per hour.
Ms. Daly and Ms. Larone were both killed by the impact of the collision.
Defendant’s passenger was injured, suffering a broken wrist and a torn labrum in her hip.
1
The record reflects defense counsel actually stated the court had refused to give
only the one “BAJI jury instruction” he requested in his trial brief. Both parties agree
counsel meant to refer to CACI No. 411, as that is the instruction requested in the trial
brief. We accept the parties’ characterization of the record on this point.
A Highway Patrol officer who responded to the scene contacted defendant and
noticed an odor of alcohol. The officer used a preliminary alcohol screening device to
test defendant’s breath, and it showed the presence of alcohol in defendant’s system.
Defendant was placed under arrest and taken to the hospital to be evaluated for injuries.
Blood drawn from defendant approximately an hour after the collision contained a blood-
alcohol concentration of 0.17 percent.
Defendant testified that he drank two or three glasses of wine on the evening of
the collision, but did not feel impaired. While driving home, he saw a deer and
accelerated and swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid it. He described attempting to
accelerate to avoid the other car but it cut him off, leading to the collision.
The jury found defendant guilty of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter
while intoxicated (Pen. Code, § 191.5, subd. (a)); one count of driving under the
influence of alcohol causing injury (Veh. Code, § 23153, subd. (a)), and one count of
driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more causing injury (Veh. Code,
§ 23153, subd. (b)). The jury found true an allegation that defendant had inflicted great
bodily injury upon his passenger (Pen. Code, § 12022.7, subd. (a)) in the commission of
the offense of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. The jury also found true
allegations that defendant inflicted great bodily injury on three separate victims (his
passenger, Ms. Daly, and Ms. Larone) under Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a)
and inflicted bodily injury on more than one victim under Vehicle Code section 23558, in
the commission of the offense of driving under the influence causing injury. Those same
allegations were found true with regard to the same three victims in connection with the
offense of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more causing injury.
The court sentenced defendant to the middle term of two years in prison on
count 3, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. It imposed three
consecutive three-year terms for the three great bodily injury enhancements on that
charge, and a consecutive two-year term for inflicting bodily injury on multiple victims.
The great bodily injury enhancement charged in connection with the gross vehicular
manslaughter while intoxicated charge was stricken2 and sentence on all other counts and
enhancements was imposed but stayed.
II. DISCUSSION
A. DENIAL OF DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE
Defendant argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence
of his blood-alcohol level approximately one hour after the collision because he did not
consent to his blood being drawn and no other exception to the Fourth Amendment
search warrant requirement applied.
Under Penal Code section 1538.5, a criminal defendant may move to suppress
evidence obtained as the result of an improper search by law enforcement, such as a
search violating the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Our standard
of review of an order denying a motion to suppress evidence “ ‘is well established. We
defer to the trial court’s factual findings, express or implied, where supported by
substantial evidence. In determining whether, on the facts so found, the search or seizure
was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, we exercise our independent judgment.’ ”
(People v. Garry (2007) 156 Cal. App. 4th 1100, 1106, citing People v. Glaser (1995)
11 Cal. 4th 354, 362.)
Here, the trial court found defendant was placed under lawful arrest at the scene of
the collision, transported to the hospital, and then signed a form indicating he consented
to a blood draw. The court specifically found the testimony of the officer who testified at
the hearing on the motion to suppress to be credible, and the officer stated the blood was
drawn only after defendant signed the consent form. The court’s findings regarding
2
At sentencing, the prosecution agreed that the great bodily injury enhancement
charged in connection with the vehicular manslaughter charge was no longer viable under
People v. Cook (2015) 60 Cal. 4th 922. Cook was decided during the pendency of the
trial in this case and held that a great bodily injury sentencing enhancement cannot attach
to a murder or manslaughter conviction. (Id. at p. 924.)
defendant’s consent to the blood draw are supported by evidence that is “reasonable,
credible, and of solid value”—the officer’s testimony––and therefore meet the substantial
evidence standard. (People v. Letner and Tobin (2010) 50 Cal. 4th 99, 161.) Defense
counsel attempted to impeach the officer’s credibility with excerpts of his prior testimony
about the blood draw from a Department of Motor Vehicles administrative hearing, some
of which was arguably inconsistent with what the officer recalled at the suppression
hearing. But “ ‘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. We resolve neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts; we look
for substantial evidence.’ ” (Id. at p. 162.)
The trial court’s finding that defendant consented in advance to the blood draw
ends the inquiry regarding a Fourth Amendment violation, because a defendant’s free and
voluntary consent to a blood draw constitutes an exception to the Fourth Amendment
search warrant requirement. (People v. Harris (2015) 234 Cal. App. 4th 671, 690; see
also, Florida v. Jimeno (1991) 500 U.S. 248, 250–251 [“[I]t is no doubt reasonable for
police to conduct a search once they have been permitted to do so.”].) As a result,
defendant’s discussion of Missouri v. McNeely (2013) 569 U.S. ____, 133 S. Ct. 1552,
and similar cases involving nonconsensual blood draws has no application here.
We find no error in the denial of the motion to suppress the blood test result. The
trial court’s factual findings are supported by substantial evidence and the court correctly
determined based upon those findings that no Fourth Amendment violation occurred.
B. DENIAL OF DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY OF OTHER
COLLISION RECORDS
Defendant asserts the trial court erred when it denied his motion to compel
discovery of California Highway Patrol records relating to other automobile collisions at
the same location in the seven years preceding the collision in this case. He argues he
was entitled to disclosure of the records under Penal Code section 1054 et seq. governing
discovery in criminal cases.
We review a ruling on a criminal defendant’s discovery motion under the abuse of
discretion standard. (People v. Prince (2007) 40 Cal. 4th 1179, 1233.) To determine
whether the trial court abused its discretion in this instance, we look first to the text of
Penal Code section 1054.1, the statute describing what materials the prosecution is
obligated to disclose to a defendant. It provides that the prosecuting attorney shall
disclose to the defendant any information in the possession of the prosecution or the
investigating agencies in the following categories: (a) the names and addresses of
persons the prosecutor intends to call as witnesses at trial; (b) statements of all
defendants; (c) all relevant real evidence seized or obtained as a part of the investigation
of the offenses charged; (d) the existence of a felony conviction of any material witness
whose credibility is likely to be critical to the outcome of the trial; (e) any exculpatory
evidence; (f) relevant written or recorded statements of witnesses or reports of the
statements of witnesses whom the prosecutor intends to call at the trial, including any
reports or statements of experts.
Defendant does not articulate which of the above-listed categories he believes past
collision records fall under, but the only plausible choice is the category described by
subdivision (e) of the statute, “any exculpatory evidence.” Under this provision, the
prosecution must provide to a defendant all exculpatory evidence, not limited to the
“material” exculpatory evidence required under federal constitutional standards
established by Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83. (People v. Cordova (2015)
62 Cal. 4th 104, 121.)
Defendant ultimately limited his discovery request to records maintained by the
California Highway Patrol, which is the agency that arrested defendant and investigated
the collision and is therefore an investigating agency that would be required to disclose
any information in its possession coming within the categories described by the statute.
(See Pen. Code § 1054.1 [providing for discovery of information the prosecution knows
to be within the possession of “the investigating agencies.”].) Defendant’s entitlement to
the requested discovery accordingly hinges on whether the information can properly be
characterized as exculpatory.
Defendant argues that records of other collisions are relevant to his defense and
therefore exculpatory for two reasons: the fact of other collisions in the same area would
undermine the prosecution’s position that the defendant was grossly negligent, and would
undermine the prosecution’s position that the legal cause of the collision in this case was
the defendant’s conduct. Neither reason persuades us that information related to other
collisions is exculpatory.
If indeed there was a history of collisions at the site, that fact would not dispel the
gross negligence of driving three times the roadway’s posted speed limit while entering a
curve. To the contrary, a disproportionate number of collisions would tend to show the
roadway was difficult to drive under typical conditions, making it even more dangerous
to drive in the manner defendant did. Nor would the fact of other collisions necessarily
aid a defense based on causation. A defendant’s conduct is deemed not the legal cause of
harm only when the harm is caused by an intervening act that is not reasonably
foreseeable. (People v. Schmies (1996) 44 Cal. App. 4th 38, 46.) Defendant asserts that
evidence of other collisions would show “repeated mistakes” made by drivers coming
from the same direction as the victim driver, and therefore a greater likelihood that she,
too, made such a mistake. But it is just as arguable that mistakes made by other drivers in
the same situation would make a similar mistake by the victim driver more foreseeable,
which would weaken a causation defense.
We conclude the requested discovery was not exculpatory and therefore did not
fall under any category of information the prosecution was required to disclose under the
statute. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s
motion to compel.
Even assuming error in denying the discovery of records related to other
collisions, the denial of a defendant’s motion to compel discovery is subject to harmless
error analysis under the standard of People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal. 2d 818, 836, and
would be a basis for reversal only where it is reasonably probable that the error affected
the trial result. (People v. Zambrano (2007) 41 Cal. 4th 1082, 1135, disapproved on
another ground by People v. Doolin (2009) 45 Cal. 4th 390, 421, fn. 22.) On this record,
with the prosecution having presented undisputed evidence that defendant drove over
70 miles per hour on a narrow roadway with a 0.17 percent blood-alcohol level, veered
into an oncoming lane of traffic, and collided head-on with the victims’ car, we would
find the error harmless.
C. EXCLUSION OF EVIDENCE OF VICTIM DRIVER’S BLOOD-ALCOHOL
CONCENTRATION
Defendant contends the trial court erred by excluding evidence that one of three
postmortem chemical tests performed on the victim driver showed a blood alcohol
concentration of 0.19 percent. But the trial court made no such ruling.
The prosecution did move in limine to exclude all evidence of the victim’s
contributory negligence, a motion that included in its scope evidence of the victim’s
blood-alcohol concentration. At the time that motion was argued, the court clearly
indicated it would be taking the matter under submission because it wanted to conduct
further research on the blood alcohol issue, and that it would issue a ruling on the motion
before opening statements.
Before the court made a ruling, defense counsel announced the parties had reached
an agreement that the victim’s blood-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.07 percent,
and that stipulation was read to the jury during the trial.
A party to a criminal action can, with binding effect, stipulate to both evidentiary
matters and to the existence or nonexistence of facts. (Leonard v. City of Los Angeles
(1973) 31 Cal. App. 3d 473, 476.) “A binding stipulation admitting evidence may be
made, even if such evidence is otherwise inadmissible,” and “[w]hen a proposed
stipulation is accepted by the other side, such stipulation becomes binding upon the court
so long as it is not illegal or contrary to public policy.” (Id. at p. 477.)
Once the parties agreed to handle the issue of the admissibility of the victim’s
blood-alcohol concentration by presenting to the jury the fact that it had been measured at
0.07 percent, the trial court no longer needed to rule on the prosecution’s motion to
exclude such evidence. Moreover, the court could not properly have allowed admission
of evidence indicating a 0.19 percent blood alcohol because it was bound by the
evidentiary stipulation of the parties.
Having voluntarily entered into the stipulation, the doctrine of invited error
precludes defendant from now challenging the manner in which the victim blood-alcohol
issue was handled. (See Mary M. v. City of Los Angeles (1991) 54 Cal. 3d 202, 212
[“Under the doctrine of invited error, when a party by its own conduct induces the
commission of error, it may not claim on appeal that the judgment should be reversed
because of that error.”].) But more to the point, because the trial court never ruled on the
motion as a result of the stipulation, there is nothing on this issue for defendant to
challenge on appeal. (People v. Crabtree (2009) 169 Cal. App. 4th 1293, 1319 [failure to
obtain a ruling on evidentiary matter forfeits issue on appeal].)
We note that defense counsel’s decision to enter into the stipulation was not
without reasonable strategic underpinning. Taking the trial court’s comments during
argument at face value (as counsel likely did), it appeared the court was inclined to admit
evidence that the victim had alcohol in her system, but to exclude evidence of any
specific blood-alcohol concentration. The stipulation was a tactical compromise given
that scenario: While it eliminated the possibility of introducing evidence that the victim
was significantly impaired with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit, it also
mitigated the risk that the court would not allow any evidence of a specific blood-alcohol
level, which could leave the jury believing the amount of alcohol in the victim’s system
was negligible.
D. JURY INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING CAUSATION
Defendant argues the trial court failed to adequately instruct the jury on the
principle of causation. We review the adequacy of jury instructions by determining
whether the trial court “fully and fairly instructed on the applicable law.” (People v.
Ramos (2008) 163 Cal. App. 4th 1082, 1089.) In making that determination, we consider
the instructions as a whole and assume that jurors are intelligent persons who are capable
of understanding and correlating all instructions that are given. (Ibid.)
Defendant’s instructional error argument is threefold: (1) the court should have
given the instruction he requested, CACI No. 411; (2) after declining to give CACI
No. 411, the court should have given an instruction that addressed superseding
intervening causation more specifically than the pattern instructions it did give; and
(3) the court exacerbated the failure to properly instruct on causation by improperly
responding to a jury question. We address each of these contentions in turn.
We find no error in failing to give the jury instruction defendant requested (CACI
No. 411), because that instruction states a principle of law not applicable to the case and
therefore the trial court properly refused it. Contrary to defendant’s argument that the
instruction was necessary to adequately acquaint the jury with the law of causation, CACI
No. 411 is not a causation instruction.3 Entitled “Reliance on Good Conduct of Others,”
it is a pattern jury instruction designed for use in civil negligence cases involving a
plaintiff suing a defendant for failing to prevent harm caused by a third party. The
principle it espouses is essentially that a defendant will not be liable for harm caused by a
third party’s negligent or criminal conduct, unless the third party’s conduct was
foreseeable: “Every person has a right to expect that every other person will use
3
The civil jury instructions regarding causation in negligence cases are CACI
Nos. 430 through 435.
reasonable care [and will not violate the law], unless he or she knows, or should know,
that the other person will not use reasonable care [or will violate the law].”
Defendant’s request to instruct the jury on this principle of civil negligence law
was particularly inapposite given that another party’s contributory negligence is not a
defense to criminal liability. (See People v. Schmies, supra, 44 Cal.App.4th at p. 46.)
The requested instruction would have served only to confuse the jury regarding the
relevant issues.
Defendant argues that even if CACI No. 411 was not an appropriate causation
instruction, the court should have given some other (unspecified) instruction regarding
the principle of superseding causation. (See People v. Cervantes (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 860,
871 [“In general, an independent intervening cause will absolve a defendant of criminal
liability. However, in order to be ‘independent’ the intervening cause must be
‘unforeseeable … an extraordinary and abnormal occurrence, which rises to the level of
an exonerating, superseding cause.’ ”].) But superseding causation is explained in the
instructions that were given to the jury. (See CALCRIM No. 590 [“An act causes death
if the death is the direct, natural, and probable consequence of the act and the death
would not have happened without the act. A natural and probable consequence is one
that a reasonable person would know is likely to happen if nothing unusual intervenes. In
deciding whether a consequence is natural and probable, consider all of the circumstances
established by the evidence.”].)
Because defendant never requested any additional instructions (aside from CACI
No. 411), he has forfeited any claim of error for failure to further instruct. (People v. Ngo
(2014) 225 Cal. App. 4th 126, 149 [“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.”].) Before
the jury was instructed, defense counsel confirmed on the record that he had not
requested any additional jury instructions or clarifying language aside from CACI
No. 411.
Defendant cites People v. Fudge (1994) 7 Cal. 4th 1075, 1110, for the proposition
that when a defendant proposes a jury instruction that is conceptually appropriate but
contains some incorrect language, the court has a duty to tailor the instruction so it is
acceptable rather than denying it outright. In Fudge, the defendant proposed an
instruction relating to the reliability of expert witness testimony which the court found
overly argumentative. Rather than ordering the argumentative language removed or
revising the instruction to be more neutral, the court declined to give it at all.
We are not confronted here with a situation where the proposed instruction was a
substantively correct statement of the applicable law with some problematic language;
rather, defendant’s proposed instruction, CACI No. 411, stated a legal principle that was
entirely inapplicable to the case. The court had no duty under these circumstances to
rewrite the instruction to reflect a principle that was correct. (People v. Gonzales (1992)
8 Cal. App. 4th 1658, 1664, citing People v. Hall (1984) 157 Cal. App. 3d 538, 546 [a court
has no duty to correct a proposed instruction that is incorrect].)
Even if defendant’s proposed instruction had correctly stated the relevant law
regarding causation, the trial court was not required to give it because the jury was
already adequately instructed on superseding causation with the pattern instructions for
the elements of each charged offense. As we have noted, CALCRIM No. 590 was given
to the jury and stated that defendant could be found guilty only if the death or injury was
the natural and probable consequence of his conduct, meaning that nothing unusual
intervened. In closing argument, defense counsel quoted the language of that instruction
verbatim in urging that the victim driver turning into the other lane constituted
“something unusual” that should absolve defendant of criminal responsibility. There was
no failure to instruct regarding the concept of superseding causation.
Defendant also takes issue with the trial court’s response to a question from the
jury during deliberations. On the first day of deliberations, the court received a note from
the jury inquiring as follows: “May the behavior of the female driver be considered in
determining whether his behavior was grossly negligent?” The court responded, in
writing: “It is up to you to determine the weight and significance, if any, of the evidence.
Gross negligence is defined in the instructions you have received.” Defendant argues that
the court’s response was inadequate and that it should have instead responded with a
further instruction on superseding causation.
When the original instructions are themselves full and complete, the trial court has
discretion to determine what additional explanation is sufficient to satisfy a jury request
for further information. (People v. Yarbrough (2008) 169 Cal. App. 4th 303, 316–317.) A
court need not always elaborate on the standard instructions. (Ibid.) As we have
discussed, the original instructions here were full and complete. The court’s response to
the jury question pointed the jury toward the relevant instructions, and was in no way an
abuse of discretion.
E. THE IMPOSITION OF A CONSECUTIVE TWO-YEAR SENTENCE UNDER VEHICLE
CODE SECTION 23558
Defendant contends the trial court erred in imposing both a sentencing
enhancement under Vehicle Code section 23558 for injuring multiple victims and an
enhancement under Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) for inflicting great
bodily injury on the same victims. He argues that imposition of both enhancements
violates the Penal Code section 654 prohibition against multiple punishments for a single
act.4
4
Penal Code section 654, subdivision (a) provides, in relevant part, “An act or
omission that is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be
punished under the provision that provides for the longest potential term of
imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more than one
provision.”
This issue was addressed in People v. Arndt (1999) 76 Cal. App. 4th 387 (Arndt),
with that court holding the imposition of a Vehicle Code section 23558 multiple victim
enhancement in addition to a Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) great bodily
injury enhancement violated the statutory proscription against multiple punishments.
(Arndt, supra, at p. 397.) But the Arndt court was construing a prior version of Vehicle
Code section 23558, not the amended version in effect at the time defendant’s conduct
occurred. Accordingly, we must decide whether amended Vehicle Code section 23558
supports the same result.
1. 1999 Amendment to Vehicle Code Section 23558
The version of Vehicle Code section 23558 at issue in Arndt (then numbered
Vehicle Code section 23182) read as follows: “Any person who proximately causes
bodily injury or death to more than one victim in any one instance of driving in violation
of Section 25153 of this code or in violation of Section 191.5 or paragraph (3) of
subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code, shall upon a felony conviction, receive
an enhancement of one year in the state prison for each additional injured victim.” The
court found that imposing that enhancement in addition to the enhancement under Penal
Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) for great bodily injury to the same victims violated
Penal Code section 654 because the trial court “erroneously employed the single injury
suffered by each of the [victims] to impose two injury-related enhancements.” (Arndt,
supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 397.)
In 1999 (about a month before the Arndt decision was issued), the Legislature
amended Vehicle Code section 23558 to add the language that currently appears in the
statute. The amended language provides that a defendant shall receive a one-year
enhancement for each one of multiple victims “notwithstanding subdivision (g) of
Section 1170.1 of the Penal Code.”5
5
Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) provides: “When two or more
enhancements may be imposed for the infliction of great bodily injury on the same victim
The Supreme Court has instructed in People v. Ahmed (2011) 53 Cal. 4th 156, 163
(Ahmed) that if the statutes providing for a sentencing enhancement supply the answer as
to whether multiple enhancements may be imposed, a court should “simply apply the
answer found in the specific statutes and not consider the more general [Penal Code]
section 654.” We therefore turn first to the plain language of Vehicle Code section 23558
to see if it expressly applies in addition to an enhancement for inflicting great bodily
injury on the same victims.
Nothing in the text of Vehicle Code section 23558 explicitly allows its application
in addition to a Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) enhancement imposed for the
same victim, nor does it mention Penal Code section 654. But the language inserted by
the 1999 amendment does direct that the enhancement should be applied
“notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 1170.1 of the Penal Code.” It is this
language referring to Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) which the Attorney
General argues permits the enhancement in addition to the great bodily injury
enhancements imposed for each of the three victims in this case.
2. Penal Code Section 1170.1, Subdivision (g)
The question we must answer to determine whether the amended text of Vehicle
Code section 23558 allows for a multiple victim enhancement in addition to a separate
great bodily injury enhancement is: What did the Legislature intend by saying that
Vehicle Code section 23558 should apply “notwithstanding” Penal Code section 1170.1,
subdivision (g)? In making that inquiry, we examine the statutes with the primary goal of
ascertaining the intent of the Legislature so as to effectuate the purpose of the law.
(People v. Allegheny Casualty Co. (2007) 41 Cal. 4th 704, 709.) “Where more than one
in the commission of a single offense, only the greatest of those enhancements shall be
imposed for that offense. This subdivision shall not limit the imposition of any other
enhancements applicable to that offense, including an enhancement for being armed with
or using a dangerous or deadly weapon or a firearm.”
reasonable interpretation is possible, courts must select the construction that comports
most closely with the apparent intent of the Legislature, with a view to promoting rather
than defeating the general purpose of the statute.” (City of Patterson v. Turlock
Irrigation Dist. (2014) 227 Cal. App. 4th 484, 492.)
Vehicle Code section 23558 (formerly section 23182) was originally enacted in
1985 in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Wilkoff v. Superior Court (1985)
38 Cal. 3d 345, which held that an intoxicated driver who injures multiple persons in a
single collision could be charged with only one count of driving under the influence
causing injury. (See Arndt, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at pp. 394–395 [discussing history of
Vehicle Code section 23182].) The statute’s purpose was to increase the available
punishment for an intoxicated driver who injures multiple victims after the Wilkoff
decision precluded more than one charge for the underlying offense. (Arndt, at pp. 394–
395.)
Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) was enacted in 1997, and its articulated
purpose was to “permit the sentencing court to impose both one weapon enhancement
and one great-bodily-injury enhancement for all crimes,” as opposed to only certain
enumerated crimes under then-existing law. (Ahmed, supra, 53 Cal.4th at p. 168
[discussing history of Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) and analyzing
legislative history materials].) Before the enactment of Penal Code section 1170.1,
subdivision (g), a defendant charged with multiple enhancements for inflicting great
bodily injury and use of a firearm or other specified weapon could receive only the
greatest of those enhancements, except in the case of certain crimes. (Ahmed, at p. 168.)
Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) changed the law to provide that although only
one great bodily injury enhancement could be applied, other enhancements, such as for
personal use of a weapon, could be imposed in addition.
Viewing the statute in light of its intended purpose, it appears the 1999
amendment to Vehicle Code section 23558 was intended to clarify that, despite the
language in Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) which allowed only one great
bodily injury enhancement for the same offense, multiple bodily injury enhancements
(i.e., a separate consecutive one-year enhancement for each victim) could still be imposed
under Vehicle Code section 23558.6 This amendment ensured that courts would not
interpret Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) as limiting the ability to impose
more than a single one-year enhancement under Vehicle Code section 23558. It
preserved the increased punishment for intoxicated drivers who injure multiple victims
that was intended by the Legislature.
Had the Legislature intended to allow for Vehicle Code section 23558
enhancements to apply where another sentencing enhancement is imposed based on the
same conduct––despite the general prohibition against multiple punishments found in
Penal Code section 654––it could have said so. Instead, it specifically limited the 1999
amendment to add only the language “notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 1170.1
of the Penal Code.” The term “notwithstanding” signals the Legislature’s intent that a
statute apply without prevention or obstruction by the other referenced statute. (People v.
Sanders (2012) 55 Cal. 4th 731, 744.) But it is not Penal Code section 1170.1,
subdivision (g) that would prevent the imposition of the Vehicle Code section 23558
enhancements here. It is Penal Code section 654 that does so.
This interpretation of the 1999 amendment to Vehicle Code section 23558 is
consistent with the amendment’s legislative history. The Bill Analysis for Assembly
Bill 1236, which amended Vehicle Code section 23558, states, “This bill clarifies
existing law relating to imposing separate enhancements for additional victims injured in
certain vehicular crimes.” (Off. of Sen. Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Assem.
6
Vehicle Code section 23558 provides: “A person who proximately causes bodily
injury or death to more than one victim … shall, upon felony conviction, … receive an
enhancement of one year in the state prison for each additional injured victim.” (Italics
added).
Bill No. 1236 (1999–2000 Reg. Sess.) September 2, 1999, pp. 1–2). The author’s
“Arguments in Support” of the bill read, “this bill makes technical, non-substantive
changes to the Penal, Health and Safety and Vehicle Codes. The intent of this bill is to
correct cross-reference errors, eliminate redundant language, and to conform code
sections with recent changes ... . No one will serve any additional days in jail because of
AB 1236. It is a very straightforward technical cleanup bill. The measure is necessary in
light of several overlapping changes in law.” (Ibid.)
Given the expressed intent to merely clarify existing law by making “technical,
non-substantive changes,” we cannot agree with the Attorney General that the effect of
the 1999 amendment was to change the law in a manner that would allow the Vehicle
Code section 23558 multiple victim enhancements to be imposed in addition to great
bodily injury enhancements for the same victims. (See City of Patterson v. Turlock
Irrigation Dist., supra, 227 Cal.App.4th at p. 492 [“(c)ourts may determine the apparent
intent of the Legislature by evaluating a variety of extrinsic aids, including the ostensible
objects to be achieved by the statute, the evils to be remedied, the statute’s legislative
history, and public policy.”].)
Arndt, supra, 76 Cal. App. 4th 387, interpreted the existing law before Vehicle
Code section 23558 was amended, and it held the law did not allow for both a great
bodily injury enhancement and a Vehicle Code section 23558 enhancement for the same
victims. We agree with Arndt’s interpretation of the law as it existed at the time. Given
the Legislature’s stated intent to “clarif[y] existing law,” we necessarily find the 1999
amendment to Vehicle Code section 23558 does not have the effect of allowing the
enhancement to be imposed in addition to a great bodily injury enhancement. To find
otherwise would interpret the amendment to substantively change, not merely clarify,
existing law.
3. Penal Code Section 654
Given the narrow scope of the 1999 amendment and its “technical, non-
substantive purpose,” we must consider whether imposing both a multiple victim
enhancement and a great bodily injury enhancement for the same victims violates the
Penal Code section 654 prohibition against multiple punishments for the same act.
Arndt, supra, 76 Cal. App. 4th 387, held that imposing the Vehicle Code section
23558 enhancement on top of a great bodily injury enhancement violates Penal Code
section 654. As we have discussed, we find nothing in the language added to the statute
in 1999 that would compel a different conclusion. And since Arndt was decided, the
Supreme Court decided Ahmed, supra, 53 Cal. 4th 156, using similar reasoning to hold
that multiple sentence enhancements for the same “aspect” of a crime are barred under
Penal Code section 654. Both of the enhancements in this case––great bodily injury and
bodily injury to multiple victims––were imposed based on the same aspect of the crime,
namely the injuries inflicted, as opposed to the manner in which the crime was
committed, or some other aspect. Accordingly, imposition of the consecutive two-year
prison term under Vehicle Code section 23558 in this case violated Penal Code section
654.
III. DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed. The case is remanded for resentencing in a manner that
does not impose both an enhancement under Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a)
and an enhancement under Vehicle Code section 23558 for the same victims.
____________________________________
Grover, J.
WE CONCUR:
____________________________
Rushing, P. J.
____________________________
Premo, J.
Trial Court: Monterey County Superior Court,
Case No.: SS132220A
Trial Judge: Hon. Pamela L. Butler
Attorneys for Plaintiff/Respondent: Xavier Becerra
The People Attorney General of California
Gerald A. Engler
Chief Assistant Attorney General
Jeffrey M. Laurence
Senior Assistant Attorney General
Bruce M. Slavin
Deputy Attorney General .
David H. Rose
Deputy Attorney General
Attorneys for Defendant/Appellant: Charles M. Bonneau, Jr.
Stuart Andrew Elder Attorney at Law
Under Appointment by the Court of
Appeal