People v. Alvarado CA2/1

Filed 3/20/25 P. v. Alvarado CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

THE PEOPLE, B335351

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. LA098597) v.

RAMON ALVARADO,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Andrea C. Thompson, Judge. Affirmed. Cynthia L. Barnes, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Taryle and Lauren Sanchez, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. ___________________________________

A jury convicted Ramon Alvarado of bringing contraband into a jail. He contends there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction because no evidence demonstrated he was given an advisement that it was illegal to bring contraband into the jail. We disagree, and thus affirm the judgment.

BACKGROUND On January 29, 2023, Los Angeles Police Department Officers Kevin Ramos and Adrian Ponce positioned their patrol car outside Alvarado’s motel room and instructed him to exit the room and surrender. He did so approximately six minutes later and was transported to the Van Nuys jail, where he was handcuffed to a bench in a holding area for about 30 minutes prior to being taken to the jail proper. After Alvarado was in the holding area for 30 minutes, the officers conducted a strip search that produced a clear plastic bag containing 3.41 grams of methamphetamine that Alvarado had secreted in his anal cavity. Police testified to these facts at trial. Alvarado was convicted of violating Penal Code section 1 4573 and sentenced to the mid term of three years in prison.