P v. Jackson CA4/1

California Court of Appeal Jun 9, 2025 No. D083160Unpublished

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Holding. Substantial evidence supports the defendant's conviction for simple mayhem because the victim's internal injuries, subsequent surgical removal of her appendix, and resulting scarring were the direct, natural, and probable consequences of the defendant's physical abuse.

Issues

Whether there is sufficient evidence that the victim's injuries and resulting surgical procedures constitute simple mayhem under Penal Code section 203.
Whether the victim's surgical scar and the removal of her appendix qualify as disfigurement or loss of a body member resulting from the defendant's actions.

Disposition. Affirmed

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“We conclude substantial evidence supports Jackson’s simple mayhem conviction.”

“A reasonable person would know that internal injuries, like damage to the appendix, are likely to require surgical repair.”

“Here, the injuries were the direct, natural and probable consequence of Jackson beating Avery, and the appendix removal, bowel resection, and scarring would not have happened without Jackson’s act.”

Filed 6/9/25 P v. Jackson CA4/1

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, D083160

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v. (Super. Ct. No. SCN414079)

ERIC J. JACKSON,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Sim von Kalinowski, Judge. Affirmed. Heather E. Shallenberger, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, A. Natasha Cortina and Liz Olukoya, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

A jury convicted Eric J. Jackson of simple mayhem and child abuse.

(Pen. Code,1 §§ 203, 273a, subd. (a).) The court sentenced Jackson to 12 years in state prison. On appeal, Jackson challenges only his conviction for simple mayhem, contending there is insufficient evidence that his abuse against the victim resulted in loss or disfigurement to a member of her body. We conclude substantial evidence supports Jackson’s simple mayhem conviction. We affirm the judgment. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. People’s Evidence In approximately late December 2019, Jackson met Cierra D., and they began dating shortly thereafter. In March 2020, Cierra, her four-year-old daughter Avery G., Cierra’s grandmother Margaret L., and Jackson moved into a two-bedroom apartment. On May 4, 2020, Margaret asked Jackson to move out. Cierra left with Jackson, taking Avery with her. Cierra booked and paid for a hotel room in Carlsbad, where they stayed for two weeks. For the first few days, things were “normal.” Thereafter, Cierra noticed that Jackson would get “very irritable,” “lash out,” and physically abuse her, including hitting and choking her in Avery’s presence. During one of their arguments, Jackson placed a gun to Cierra’s forehead and inside her mouth, threatening to pull the trigger if she “didn’t shut the F up.” Cierra routinely left Avery alone with Jackson when she went out to buy food. During their stay in the hotel, Cierra noticed that Avery had lost her appetite and had bruises on her back and shoulders. Cierra asked about the bruises, and Avery confided that Jackson hit her. Cierra confronted Jackson. He denied hitting Avery, claiming she must have fallen. Cierra decided to

P v. Jackson CA4/1

AI Brief

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, D083160

ERIC J. JACKSON,

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