People v. White CA2/5

Filed 7/14/25 P. v. White CA2/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIVE

THE PEOPLE, B337073

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. v. BA444963)

ALEX WHITE, et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEALS from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Charlaine F. Olmedo, Judge. Affirmed. A. William Bartz, Jr., under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Alex White. Barhoma Law and Matthew Barhoma for Defendant and Appellant Darron Williams. No appearance by Plaintiff and Respondent.

Defendants and appellants Alex White and Barron Williams were charged with murdering Herman Owens (Owens) and Patrick Keaton (Keaton), attempting to murder Brandon Blake (Blake), and shooting from a motor vehicle. The charges were predicated on evidence that, in April 2015, defendants perpetrated a drive-by shooting targeting Owens, Keaton, and Blake; Owens and Keaton were shot and killed but Blake was not injured. Defendants were jointly tried with separate juries and convicted on all counts. The trial court sentenced defendants to life in prison without the possibility of parole (plus additional lengthy prison terms for sentencing enhancements found true). The judgments of conviction were affirmed on direct appeal. (People v. White (Jan. 4, 2021, B295147) [nonpub. opn.].) Defendants later (separately) filed petitions for resentencing pursuant to Penal Code section 1172.6 (former Penal Code section 1170.95).1 The trial court appointed counsel for White (Williams had retained private counsel) and the parties filed briefs in advance of a hearing on the petitions. At that hearing, held in February 2024, the trial court found the record of conviction established defendants were ineligible for relief as a matter of law because their juries were instructed on direct aider and abettor liability, not felony murder or criminal liability pursuant to the natural and probable consequences doctrine. Defendants noticed appeals from the trial court’s section 1172.6 ruling, and this court appointed counsel to represent them. After examining the record, both defendants filed an opening brief pursuant to People v. Delgadillo (2022) 14 Cal.5th