People v. Shull CA2/5

Filed 6/4/14 P. v. Shull CA2/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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, B251635

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BA410407) v.

LUIS SHULL,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Henry J. Hall, Judge. Affirmed. Richard B. Lennon, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Appellant Luis Shull pled no contest to one count of assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily in violation of Penal Code section 245, subdivision (a)(1), pursuant to a plea agreement. Appellant admitted he inflicted great bodily injury on the victim within the meaning of section 12022.7 and admitted the crime was motivated by hatred of a cognizable group within the meaning of section 422.75, subdivision (a). Appellant also admitted he had suffered a prior robbery conviction within the meaning of sections 667 and 1170.12 (the Three Strikes law). The trial court sentenced appellant for a total term of 12 years in state prison, consisting of the mid-term of three years for the assault conviction, doubled to six years pursuant to the Three Strikes law, plus three years to the great bodily injury allegation and three years for the hate crime allegation. The court also imposed mandatory restitution and other fines and fees. The court awarded appellant 172 days of pre-sentence credits. Appellant appeals from the judgment of conviction. Finding no error, we affirm.

Facts1 On April 20, 2013, appellant confronted S.S., a transgendered female, as she was walking down the street. He yelled, “Are you a man or are you a woman? What are you?” He also asked her if she was a “fag.” Appellant told her that she could not walk down the block and that she needed to respect him. S.S. reached into her purse to get a can of mace. Appellant then said she had to pay him to walk down the street. S.S. tried to use the mace, but it did not work. Appellant then swung at her, a struggle ensued, and S.S. ended up on the ground. Appellant continued to punch and hit her. S.S. tried to get back up. Two men intervened to help her. The men held appellant down until police arrived. S.S. had bruising and swelling on the left side of her face from the attack. Her eye was swollen shut for several weeks, and when she was able to see out of the eye again, her vision was blurry and she had double vision. Her eyes were sensitive to light. Before