People v. Jones CA3

Filed 3/27/25 P. v. Jones CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Sacramento) ----

THE PEOPLE, C101679

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 99F00663)

v.

DONALD JONES,

Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant Donald Jones appeals from a postconviction order under Penal Code section 1172.6.1 Appointed counsel for Jones asked this court to independently review the record, pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, to determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal. We have exercised our discretion to conduct such a

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

1

review and will affirm the trial court’s order. (See People v. Delgadillo (2022) 14 Cal.5th 216, 231-232.) BACKGROUND One night in January 1999, Jones went to a makeshift shelter under a tarp behind a liquor store where D.C. and his girlfriend C.O. were living. Jones threw back the tarp and saw C.O. by the light of a streetlamp while D.C. remained in the dark. Jones pointed a gun at C.O. and demanded “everything you got.” D.C. started to explain they had nothing. Jones fired five times, shooting C.O. in the chest and killing her and shooting D.C. in the hand. Jones fled the scene. When interviewed by detectives, Jones said he went to the shelter to steal something, not expecting anyone to be there, and fired the gun when he saw D.C. reach for something. Detectives found the gun where Jones said he hid it. Bullets taken from the victim’s body and the scene were matched to the gun. A jury found Jones guilty of first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a); count one) and found true Jones intentionally and personally discharged a firearm in the commission of this crime (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). The jury further found Jones guilty of assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2); count three), finding true that Jones personally used a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)(1)) and caused great bodily injury (§ 12022.7, subd. (a)). The trial court sentenced Jones to an indeterminate term of 25 years to life on count one, plus 25 years to life consecutive for the firearm enhancement, and a determinate term of three years on count three, plus three years for the firearm enhancement and four years for the great bodily injury enhancement, for an aggregate term of 60 years to life. This court affirmed the judgment. (People v. Jones (Mar. 15, 2002, C035570) [nonpub. opn.].) In June 2022, Jones filed a form petition under former section 1170.95 (renumbered § 1172.6). The trial court appointed counsel for Jones, received briefing from the parties, conducted a hearing, and issued an order to show cause. The parties submitted further briefing, and the trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing. The trial court relied on the reporter’s and clerk’s transcripts from Jones’ trial as evidence. On