People v. Lopez CA4/3

Filed 8/27/25 P. v. Lopez CA4/3

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION THREE

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, G064938 v. (Super. Ct. No. 23CF3191) ISRAEL PHILLIP LOPEZ, OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Larry Yellin, Judge. Affirmed. Lara Gressley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Israel Phillip Lopez appeals from a judgment following a jury trial. After examining the record, his appointed appellate counsel filed a brief setting forth the facts of the case but raising no issues and asking this court to independently review the record pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738. Lopez has not filed a supplemental brief. Having reviewed the record independently, we affirm. FACTS California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Vizcarra received an alert that a nearby U-Haul van had been reported stolen. Vizcarra followed the U-Haul and, after confirming it was stolen, signaled the driver to pull over. The driver did not stop and a pursuit ensued, during which the U-Haul hit the side mirrors of three vehicles. While in pursuit, Vizcarra observed that the driver had a half-sleeve tattoo on his left arm and a large all-gold watch on his wrist. The U-Haul eventually stopped and the driver fled on foot. Shortly after, the owner of a nearby residence noticed a man in his backyard repeatedly getting in and out of the pool. The owner called the police, who responded to the scene and apprehended Lopez. When Vizcarra arrived at the residence, he identified Lopez as the driver of the U-Haul based largely on the half-sleeve tattoo on his arm. Lopez was naked and not wearing a watch. The homeowner later found a large gold watch in his backyard and turned it in to police. Vizcarra examined the watch and determined that it was the same watch the driver of the U-Haul had worn. The watch was booked as Lopez’s personal property, rather than evidence, and because no one came to retrieve it, it was later destroyed. Lopez was charged with evading an officer while driving recklessly, receiving stolen property, and three counts of hit and run with property damage. 2