People v. Morales CA2/8

Filed 7/25/25 P. v. Morales CA2/8 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 EIGHT

THE PEOPLE, B337929

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BA223547-01) v.

MAURICIO MORALES,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Ronald S. Coen, Judge. Affirmed.

Ava R. Stralla, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

_________________________

This is an appeal pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436. Finding no error, we affirm. On October 22, 2002, the People charged appellant Mauricio Morales with two counts of attempted murder in violation of Penal Code1 sections 664 and 187, subdivision (a), and one count of assault with a firearm in violation of section 245, subdivision (a)(2). Firearm and great bodily injury enhancements were also alleged. (§§ 12022.53, subdivisions (b)– (d), 12022.55.) It was further alleged Morales had suffered one prior prison term within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). On March 18, 2003, a jury found Morales guilty of one count of attempted murder and found true Morales personally and intentionally discharged a handgun causing great bodily injury to the victim, personally and intentionally discharged a handgun, personally used a handgun within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivisions (b) through (d), and inflicted great bodily injury by personally discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle in violation of section 12022.55. The jury acquitted Morales of the other two counts. On May 13, 2003, the trial court sentenced Morales to state prison for an aggregate term of 33 years to life. The sentence consisted of the midterm of seven years for the attempted murder plus an additional 25 years to life for discharge of the firearm causing great bodily injury plus one year for the prior prison term.