People v. McDonald CA3

Filed 8/26/14 P. v. McDonald CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Sutter) ----

THE PEOPLE, C075251

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. CRF121658)

v.

STEVEN KELLY McDONALD,

Defendant and Appellant.

Counsel for defendant Steven Kelly McDonald has filed an opening brief that sets forth the facts of the case and asks this court to review the record and determine whether there are any arguable issues on appeal.1 (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) We affirm.

1 Defendant was advised by counsel of the right to file a supplemental brief within 30 days of the date of filing of the opening brief. More than 30 days elapsed, and we received no communication from defendant.

1

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND At around 11:00 p.m. on August 3, 2013, two Yuba City police officers saw defendant speeding in a 25-miles-per-hour zone. They could also hear music coming from his sport utility vehicle (SUV) from 200 feet away. After initiating a traffic stop and identifying defendant (the sole occupant and driver), one of the officers asked if he had anything illegal in his SUV. Defendant said “no” but looked quickly to the side of his seat. Defendant was instructed to get out of the SUV. The officer then searched the SUV, locating a methamphetamine pipe between the driver’s seat and center console. Another officer then told defendant he was going to be personally searched and defendant admitted he had some “dope” in his possession. The officer found a plastic bag containing 2.7 grams of methamphetamine in defendant’s pocket. Defendant did not offer an explanation for his possession of the pipe or methamphetamine. He did, however, say he had a problem with drugs. Defendant testified that he had been convicted of assault in 2011 and was on probation when the officers stopped him on the night of his arrest. About an hour or two earlier, he had gone to the residence of Seemab Kahn to discuss the possibility of buying her husband’s truck, since defendant was in the business of buying and selling vehicles. On his way to Kahn’s house, he came across an acquaintance, Samantha Jiminez. He asked Jiminez to accompany him to Kahn’s house so he would have someone to drive his SUV back if he decided to buy Kahn’s husband’s vehicle. While defendant was speaking with Kahn, he saw a lighter flickering in his SUV. He went over to his SUV and, when he saw Jiminez was trying to light the pipe to smoke drugs, he yelled at her and snatched both the pipe and the baggie of drugs he saw on her lap. Defendant and Jiminez argued for a few moments. Defendant told her to go home and get cleaned up and refused to