California Court of Appeal Jul 27, 2015 No. D067428Unpublished
Filed 7/27/15 P. v. Belcher CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D067428
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. RIF1202533)
CORY HEATH BELCHER,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County, Gary B.
Tranbarger, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
Carl Fabian, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General,
Eric A. Swenson and Michael Pulos, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
A jury found Belcher guilty of five offenses (counts 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6), as follows: (1)
active participation in a criminal street gang (count 1:1 Pen. Code,2 § 186.22, subd. (a),
hereafter section 186.22(a)); (2) attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim, Yvonne
Velarde, from reporting the kidnappings charged in this case (count 3: § 136.1, subd.
(b)(1)); (3) kidnapping Luis Rodriguez during the commission of a carjacking and in
On January 25, 2013, the court sentenced Belcher to a total prison term of 15 years
to life. The sentence consisted of an indeterminate term of 15 years to life for the
kidnapping of Rodriguez during the commission of a carjacking and in order to facilitate
1 Although this charged offense was listed as count 7 in the second amended complaint, it was referred to as count 1 in both the jury instructions and the jury verdict forms. In his appellant's opening brief, Belcher asserts that "[t]his was apparently done to prevent the jury from learning the prosecution had dismissed [another charged offense listed as] count 1 as filed." We shall refer to the substantive gang charge as count 1, not count 7.
2 All undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified. 2
the carjacking (count 4), plus a concurrent term of seven years to life for the attempt to
dissuade Velarde from reporting a crime (count 3); plus a concurrent determinate term of
five years eight months for the remaining convictions and enhancements.
Belcher appeals, raising the following 12 contentions: (1) his count 4 conviction
of kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking must be reversed because the testimony of
Rodriguez, the alleged count 4 victim and a witness for the prosecution, established
Belcher's claim-of-right defense as a matter of law; (2) his count 4 conviction of
kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking must be reversed because the evidence is insufficient
to establish that he moved Rodriguez "a substantial distance 'from the vicinity' of the
carjacking" as required by section 209.5, subdivision (b) (hereafter section 209.5(b)); (3)
his count 4 conviction of kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking must be reversed because
the evidence is insufficient to establish that he moved Rodriguez by force or fear; (4) his
count 4 conviction of kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking must be reversed because the
court erroneously failed to instruct the jury on the defense of actual consent; (5) if this
court agrees there is insufficient evidence to support his count 4 conviction, his count 3
conviction of attempting to dissuade witness Velarde also must be reversed on the ground
Velarde was not a witness to a crime; (6) his count 4 conviction of kidnapping to
facilitate a carjacking must be reversed because the court erroneously failed to give the
jury a unanimity instruction as to which movements constituted the kidnapping of
Rodriguez; (7) his count 5 felony conviction of carrying a concealed weapon in a motor
vehicle must be reversed because it was "improperly elevated to a felony"; (8) his
conviction of active participation in a criminal street gang must be reversed because the
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evidence is insufficient to establish he engaged in any felonious criminal conduct; (9) the
court erred in sentencing him to an indeterminate term of seven years to life for his count
3 conviction of attempting to dissuade witness Velarde; (10) his count 1 conviction of
active participation in a criminal street gang and the gang enhancements imposed as to
counts 3, 4, and 6 must be reversed because the evidence is insufficient to prove the
primary activities and pattern of criminal activity elements of the gang charges. (11) in
the alternative, his count 1 conviction of active participation in a criminal street gang and
the gang enhancements imposed as to counts 3, 4, and 6 must be reversed because the
court failed to sua sponte instruct the jury as to the specific enumerated offenses the
prosecution was relying upon to prove the requisite primary activities and pattern of
criminal activity elements; and (12) if this court determines that none of the foregoing
claimed errors "individually warrant[s] reversal," reversal is required because "the
cumulative effect of all these errors demonstrates that a miscarriage of justice occurred."
For reasons we shall explain, we conclude Belcher's conviction of count 1 and the
seven-year-to life sentence imposed for his conviction of count 3 must be reversed, and
his felony conviction of count 5 must be reversed and reduced to a misdemeanor. We
remand this case to the trial court with directions.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Rodriguez testified that prior to May 15, 20123─the date of the events from which
this case arose─his wife, Velarde, bought a Pontiac automobile (hereafter the car or
3 All further dates are to calendar year 2012 unless otherwise specified. 4
Velarde's car) that needed repairs. Rodriguez took the car to Belcher, whom he had met
through Joey Campana, an acquaintance with whom Rodriguez had worked. Belcher
fixed the car. In lieu of paying Belcher for the repair work, Rodriguez agreed to let him
borrow the car for a few days. Belcher used the car for about a week.
Rodriguez testified that when he asked Belcher to return the car, Belcher made
excuses and it became apparent to Rodriguez that Belcher did not want to return the car.
Rodriguez eventually convinced Belcher to return the car in exchange for Rodriguez's
promise that Belcher could use Rodriguez's Jeep Cherokee (the jeep) instead. Belcher
returned the car keys to Rodriguez, who took possession of the car one or two days
before Mother's Day (May 13). However, when Rodriguez failed to take the jeep to
Belcher, Belcher began calling Rodriguez to ask for the jeep. Rodriguez ignored his
calls.
On May 15 Belcher, who was a leader and active participant in the La Sierra
Brown Knights clique of the La Sierra Riva gang (hereafter the La Sierra Brown Knights
or the La Sierra gang), Rodriguez was at work. Belcher was accompanied by a group of
men, one of whom was armed with a gun. Velarde testified that Belcher told her
Rodriguez had sold him the car and that he was there to get it. Surprised by Belcher's
statement that Rodriguez had sold him her car, Velarde angrily called Rodriguez to find
out what was going on and told him Belcher was there with a bunch of people, one of
whom had a gun. Velarde told Rodriguez that if he did not bring the car, they were going
to take the jeep. Rodriguez testified he told Velarde he had not sold the car to Belcher
and he would come home to meet with Belcher.
5
Knowing that at least one of Belcher's associates had a gun, Rodriguez armed
himself with a BB gun that did not function and asked his friend Raquel Valdez to pick
up the car from his work and take it to her house. Rodriguez asked Belcher to meet him
at a Taco Bell near Rodriguez's house, but Belcher refused. Rodriguez then agreed to
meet with Belcher at Rodriguez and Velarde's house.
When Rodriguez arrived at his house, Belcher was waiting with about 10 other
people. Campana was there, too. Rodriguez directed Velarde to watch from a distance
so that she could call the police if Belcher did anything to him. During Rodriguez's
interaction with Belcher, one of Belcher's associates lifted his jacket and showed
Rodriguez he was carrying a firearm.
Rodriguez testified that Belcher told him he (Rodriguez) had given his word that
he was going to lend him the car. Rodriguez then testified that "[Belcher] kind of had me
there. Because, yes, I did tell him that . . . I was going to let him use it." Belcher told
Rodriguez that he needed the car for two or three more days. To avoid having any
problems with Belcher, Rodriguez agreed to let him use the car. Rodriguez testified he
"[didn't] believe [he] had another option" and had to let Belcher take the car. When the
prosecutor asked why he felt he had no other option, Rodriguez replied, "[T]hese people
were coming to take the car. They were going to leave with the car one way or another."
The prosecutor then asked whether Rodriguez had any fear. Rodriguez testified that "[a]t
that point" he had "a little bit [of fear]."
Rodriguez asked Belcher to tell Velarde that he had told Belcher he could borrow
the car for a few days. Belcher refused to do so and told Rodriguez, "Tell her the truth,
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that you're selling [it] to me." Rodriguez reacted by saying, "What?" He then told
Belcher he could not take the car.
Just then, a helicopter appeared overhead. Rodriguez thought someone had called
the police. Belcher told Velarde they should go inside the house so they would not be
outside. Although Rodriguez did not want to go inside the house, he, Belcher, and
Velarde, and Belcher's armed associate went inside.
Rodriguez testified that Belcher continued to lie by telling Velarde that Rodriguez
had sold him the car in exchange for fixing it. Belcher asked for the pink slip for the car.
It was apparent to Rodriguez that Belcher wanted the car. Velarde testified she was
afraid and told Rodriguez she did not want "problems." She told Rodriguez to give
Belcher the car and to take it as a lesson learned in dealing with "certain people."
Belcher, Rodriguez, and Campana left Rodriguez's house in the jeep to get the car,
which Rodriguez said was at his work. Before they left, Belcher told Velarde that he
ruled the streets and that she better not do anything stupid, such as call the police,
because he knew where she lived and that she had kids. Rodriguez sat in the back seat.
Campana tried to sit in the front seat, but Belcher told him to sit next to Rodriguez.
Belcher drove the jeep. Rodriguez testified that, at this point, he could not believe what
was happening; that is, that "[s]omeone just for no reason is just going to come and take
your things."
Instead of going directly to get the car, Belcher drove them to his house.
Rodriguez became more afraid when they arrived at Belcher's house. Practically all of
the men who had been at Rodriguez's house were now at Belcher's house. Belcher went
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inside his house. Rodriguez remained in the jeep behind the driver's seat. Belcher's
armed associate stood outside the jeep and stared at Rodriguez in an intimidating way.
Campana got into the back seat next to Rodriguez, and Belcher's armed associate got in
next to Campana.
Belcher returned to the jeep with his girlfriend. Belcher again drove, and his
girlfriend sat in the front seat next to him. They drove off to pick up the car. During the
drive, Belcher's armed associate continued to stare menacingly at Rodriguez. When
Rodriguez, who was afraid, asked why he was staring at him, the armed man responded,
"Shut the fuck up, motherfucker. You think I can't kill you[?]" During the drive,
Rodriguez revealed that the car was not at his office, but at Valdez's house, and he
showed Belcher how to get there. Belcher accused Rodriguez of lying and trying to take
him to the police station.
When the group arrived at Valdez's house, Belcher and his girlfriend remained in
the jeep while Rodriguez, Campana, and Belcher's armed associate went to the house to
get the car keys from Valdez. Valdez later told the police that the men appeared to be
controlling Rodriguez, who looked very nervous. Valdez gave the keys to Rodriguez,
who gave them to Campana and the associate, and they in turn handed them over to
Belcher. Belcher and his girlfriend got into the car, and Campana and the armed
associate got into the jeep. It seemed to Rodriguez that they were going to leave him
behind, so he asked Belcher what was going on. Belcher directed Rodriguez to get in the
jeep, and Rodriguez complied.
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Belcher drove the car to a gas station, and the jeep followed. At the gas station,
Belcher noticed that the driver of a Lexus who was paying for gas had left the keys inside
the Lexus. Belcher told Campana to take the Lexus. Campana got into the Lexus and
drove it away. With Rodriguez still inside the jeep, Belcher's armed associate drove
away in the jeep and returned to Valdez's house. After they had stayed there about an
hour and a half, Valdez wanted them to leave, so she convinced them to go with her to a
gas station to buy cigarettes. After they bought gas and cigarettes, Belcher's armed
associate dropped Valdez off at her home and took Rodriguez back to Belcher's house.
When they arrived at Belcher's house, Rodriguez asked the armed associate for the keys
to the jeep. The man said he had to ask Belcher first. Rodriguez waited outside for him
to do so. Campana came outside and handed Rodriguez the keys.
Velarde and Rodriguez, who were initially too afraid to call the police and did not
want any problems, decided to call and report the events that had happened a few days
earlier.
Several days later, a police officer pulled Belcher over while he was driving the
car with four passengers, including Campana. The car was still registered to the original
owner, Elmer Frazier. The officer asked Belcher how he got the car, and Belcher said his
uncle had bought it. Belcher gave the police permission to search the car. The police
found a .38-caliber revolver underneath the steering column. The car was impounded,
and Belcher called Rodriguez and asked him to retrieve the car from impound to give it
back to him.
9
Belcher was arrested and, while in custody, he made phone calls to his girlfriend.
During one of them, he told her to testify at the preliminary hearing and to say that she
was in the car, but "nothing else." He also told her to say that only he, she, Campana, and
Rodriguez were in the car. In another call, Belcher told his girlfriend to get someone to
find Rodriguez and "get that motherfucker and take him to fucking go see [Belcher's]
lawyer" and to "tell [him] he fucking lied about me fucking carjacking his ass."
DISCUSSION
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE (COUNT 4: CLAIM-OF-RIGHT DEFENSE)
Belcher first contends his count 4 conviction of kidnapping Rodriguez to facilitate
a carjacking must be reversed because the testimony of Rodriguez─the alleged count 4
victim who testified for the prosecution─established Belcher's claim-of-right defense as a
matter of law. We reject this contention.
A. Applicable Legal Principles
1. Kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking
Section 209.5, subdivision (a) (hereafter section 209.5(a)) defines the offense of
kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking:
"Any person, who, during the commission of a carjacking and in order to facilitate the commission of the carjacking, kidnaps another person who is not a principal in the commission of the carjacking shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life with the possibility of parole."
Carjacking, in turn, is defined as "the felonious taking of a motor vehicle in the
possession of another, from his or her person or immediate presence, or from the person
or immediate presence of a passenger of the motor vehicle, against his or her will and
10
with the intent to either permanently or temporarily deprive the person in possession of
the motor vehicle of his or her possession, accomplished by means of force or fear."
(§ 215, subd. (a).)
Thus, a defendant commits a kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking in violation of
section 209.5(a) when (1) the defendant commits a carjacking (i.e., uses force or fear to
take a vehicle from the victim); (2) the defendant commits a kidnapping to facilitate the
carjacking; (3) the kidnapping involves movement of the victim beyond what is merely
incidental to the carjacking (i.e., the victim is moved a substantial distance from the
vicinity of the carjacking); and (4) such movement of the victim increases the risk of
harm to the victim over and above the risk present in the crime of carjacking. (§§ 209.5,
215; People v. Medina (1999) 41 Cal.4th 685, 693.)
2. Claim-of-right defense
"The claim-of-right defense provides that a defendant's good faith belief, even if
mistakenly held, that he has a right or claim to property he takes from another negates the
felonious intent necessary for conviction of theft or robbery." (People v. Tufunga (1999)
21 Cal.4th 935, 938 (Tufunga).)
However, in California limitations have been imposed on the availability of the
claim-of-right defense. (People v. Barnett (1998) 17 Cal.4th 1044, 1144.) "For example,
the defense is not permitted where the claimed right to the property is rooted in a
'notoriously illegal' transaction." (Ibid.; see CALCRIM No. 1863 ["The claim-of-right
defense does not apply if the claim arose from an activity commonly known to be illegal
or known by the defendant to be illegal."].)
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The claim-of-right defense also does not apply "'if the defendant attempted to
conceal the taking at the time it occurred or after the taking was discovered.'" (People v.
italics omitted; see also § 511 [requiring the "open[] and avowed[]" taking of property in
order to establish a claim-of-right defense].)
The claim-of-right defense also does not apply if the claim arose from the taking
of property "to satisfy, settle or otherwise collect on a debt, liquidated or unliquidated."
(Tufunga, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 956; see CALCRIM No. 1863 ["The claim-of-right
defense does not apply to offset or pay claims against the property owner of an
undetermined or disputed amount."]; see also 2 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law
(4th ed. 2012) Crimes Against Property, § 38, p. 62 ["[T]he unlawful retention of the
property of another to offset or pay demands held against that person is not excused."].)
In addition, a jury may conclude that a defendant's subjective belief he or she had
a right to the property was "not held in good faith" if the defendant "was aware of facts
that made that belief completely unreasonable." (CALCRIM No. 1863, quoted in
Fenderson, supra, 188 Cal.App.4th at p. 643; see People v. Stewart (1976) 16 Cal.3d
133, 140 ["[T]he circumstances in a particular case might indicate that although
defendant may have 'believed' he acted lawfully, he was aware of contrary facts which
rendered such a belief wholly unreasonable, and hence in bad faith."].)
3. Standard of review
When assessing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a
conviction, we apply the substantial evidence standard of review, under which we view
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the evidence "in the light most favorable to the judgment below to determine whether it
discloses substantial evidence─that is, evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of
solid value─such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt." (People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578; see Jackson v.
Virginia (1979) 443 U.S. 307, 319.) "The same standard of review applies to cases in
which the prosecution relies mainly on circumstantial evidence." (People v. Maury
(2003) 30 Cal.4th 342, 396.)
We do not reweigh the evidence, resolve conflicts in the evidence, or reevaluate
the credibility of witnesses. (People v. Ochoa (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1199, 1206; People v.
Jones (1990) 51 Cal.3d 294, 314.) "Resolution of conflicts and inconsistencies in the
testimony is the exclusive province of the trier of fact." (People v. Young (2005) 34
Cal.4th 1149, 1181.) Thus, "[c]onflicts and even testimony which is subject to justifiable
suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment." (People v. Maury, supra, 30 Cal.4th
at p. 403.)
"If the defendant fails to present us with all the relevant evidence, or fails to
present that evidence in the light most favorable to the People, then he cannot carry his
burden of showing the evidence was insufficient because support for the [trier of fact's]
verdict may lie in the evidence he ignores." (People v. Sanghera (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th
1567, 1574.)
B. Analysis
Belcher contends his claim-of-right defense to the crime of kidnapping Rodriguez
to facilitate a carjacking charged in count 4 was established as a matter of law. The
13
Attorney General, however, argues that Belcher "is essentially challenging the jury's
implicit finding that there was insufficient evidence to support his claim-of-right-
defense." We agree.
Belcher asserts that "[t]he undisputed evidence showed [he] had a good faith belief
in a claim-of-right to possession of the [car]." He also asserts that "[t]he evidence was
not merely undisputed -- it was presented through the testimony of the prosecution's own
complaining witness, Rodriguez," who "unequivocally affirmed" that he had "promised
to loan the [car] to [Belcher]." Belcher principally relies on Rodriguez's testimony that,
when he met with Belcher on May 15 (the date of the charged kidnapping to facilitate a
carjacking) at Rodriguez and Velarde's home, Belcher told him he (Rodriguez) had given
his word that he was going to lend him the car. As Belcher points out, Rodriguez then
testified that "[Belcher] kind of had me there. Because, yes, I did tell him that . . . I was
going to let him use it."
From this testimony by Rodriguez, the jury could have drawn an inference that
Belcher believed he had a right to continue using Velarde's car after he had used it for
about a week and had returned it after Rodriguez said he could use Rodriguez's jeep.
However, the jury, which had been instructed on the claim-of-right defense, was
free to reject that inference in light of other substantial and conflicting
evidence─including testimony by Rodriguez─from which the jury could (and did)
reasonably draw the contrary inference that Belcher knew he did not have the right to
take and continue using Velarde's car after he returned it. For example, Rodriguez
testified that Belcher had repaired the car and, in lieu of paying Belcher for the repair
14
work, he had agreed to let Belcher "borrow" the car and "use it for a few days." (Italics
added.) Rodriguez also testified that Belcher used the car for about "[s]even, eight days,"
but when he asked Belcher to return it, it became apparent to Rodriguez that Belcher did
not want to return the car. Rodriguez indicated at trial that he eventually convinced
Belcher to return the car in exchange for Rodriguez's promise that Belcher could use
Rodriguez's jeep instead, and Belcher returned the car one or two days before Mother's
Day (May 13). Rodriguez also testified, however, that when Belcher began calling
Rodriguez repeatedly to ask for the jeep, Rodriguez would not answer his calls.
Rodriguez's foregoing testimony supports a reasonable inference that Belcher was
aware─after he had used the car for about a week, and after he had returned the car at
Rodriguez's request and Rodriguez was refusing to let him use the jeep─that he no longer
had the right to use the car.
Additional substantial evidence supports such an inference. Velarde testified that
Belcher came to Rodriguez's and her house on May 15 with a group of people─one of
whom was armed with a gun─and told her he was there to get the car. Rodriguez
testified that he asked Belcher to tell Velarde that he (Rodriguez) had told Belcher he
could borrow the car for a few days and, when Belcher "changed the whole story" and
told Velarde that Rodriguez had sold him the car, Rodriguez reacted by saying "What?"
and told Belcher he could not take the car. Rodriguez also testified that Belcher lied
when he told Velarde that Rodriguez had sold him the car in exchange for fixing it.
By selectively relying on portions of Rodriguez's testimony that are favorable to
himself, Belcher contravenes a fundamental principle governing the application of the
15
substantial evidence standard of review: A reviewing court must view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial
evidence such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. (People v. Johnson, supra, 26 Cal.3d at p. 578; see Jackson v.
Virginia, supra, 443 U.S. at p. 319.) By failing to present the evidence in the light most
favorable to the People, Belcher has failed to meet his burden of showing the evidence
was insufficient. (People v. Sanghera, supra, 139 Cal.App.4th at p. 1574 ["[i]f the
defendant . . . fails to present [the relevant] evidence in the light most favorable to the
People, then he cannot carry his burden of showing the evidence was insufficient"].)
The jury's rejection of Belcher's claim-of-right defense is also supported by
substantial evidence showing that he repeatedly attempted to conceal his taking of
Velarde's car and acted in a manner demonstrating consciousness of guilt. The claim-of-
right defense does not apply "'if the defendant attempted to conceal the taking at the time
it occurred or after the taking was discovered.'" (Fenderson, supra, 188 Cal.App.4th at p.
643, quoting CALCRIM No. 1863, italics deleted; see also § 511 [requiring the "open[]
and avowed[]" taking of property in order to establish a claim-of-right defense].)
Here, Rodriguez's testimony shows that he agreed to lend the car to Belcher for a
few days in lieu of paying Belcher for the work he performed in repairing the car, and
that Belcher used the car for about a week. Joshua Ontko, a Riverside police officer,
testified that when he stopped Belcher on May 19 while Belcher was driving the car,
Belcher told him his uncle had bought the car. A recording of Officer Ontko's interview
of Belcher, which was admitted in evidence, shows that when Officer Ontko asked about
16
how Belcher got the car, Belcher replied, "My uncle bought it" and "What's up man?"
The foregoing evidence supports a reasonable inference that Belcher was attempting to
conceal the fact that he had taken the car from Velarde and Rodriguez, and by attempting
to conceal this fact he demonstrated consciousness of guilt. (See CALCRIM No. 317 ["If
the defendant tried to hide evidence or discourage someone from testifying against [him],
that conduct may show that [he] was aware of [his] guilt."].)
Substantial evidence also shows Belcher attempted to conceal his taking of
Velarde's car by threatening her. Velarde testified that on May 15, before Belcher left her
house in the jeep to get the car, he told her that he ruled the streets and that she better not
do anything stupid, such as call the police, because he knew where she lived and that she
had kids. Velarde's foregoing testimony is also substantial evidence from which a trier of
fact could reasonably find that Belcher demonstrated consciousness of guilt by
threatening her.
For all of the foregoing reasons, we reject Belcher's contention that his count 4
conviction of kidnapping Rodriguez to facilitate a carjacking must be reversed on the
ground Rodriguez's testimony established his claim-of-right defense as a matter of law.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE (COUNT 4: ASPORTATION ELEMENT)
Belcher also contends his count 4 conviction of kidnapping to facilitate a
carjacking must be reversed because the evidence is insufficient to establish that he
moved Rodriguez "a substantial distance from the vicinity of the carjacking" as required
by section 209.5, subdivision (b) (hereafter section 209.5(b)). We reject this contention.
17
Section 209.5(a), which defines the offense of kidnapping to facilitate a
carjacking, provides that "[a]ny person, who, during the commission of a carjacking and
in order to facilitate the commission of the carjacking, kidnaps another person who is not
a principal in the commission of the carjacking shall be punished by imprisonment in the
state prison for life with the possibility of parole." "For section 209.5(a) to apply, the
victim must be moved 'beyond [what is] merely incidental to the commission of the
carjacking' and 'a substantial distance from the vicinity of the carjacking,' and 'the
movement of the victim increases the risk of harm to the victim over and above that
necessarily present in the crime of carjacking itself.'" (Medina, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p.
693, italics added, quoting § 209.5(b).4) Thus, the asportation element of a violation of
section 209.5 requires proof that the victim was moved "a substantial distance from the
vicinity of the carjacking." (§ 209.5(b); Medina, at p. 693.)
In People v. Moore (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 37 (Moore), the court explained that
the term "vicinity," as it used in the phrase "a substantial distance from the vicinity of the
carjacking" in section 209.5(b), means "'the quality or state of being near, proximity, a
surrounding area or district; neighborhood.'" (Moore, at p. 45, quoting People v. Ervin
(1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 1323, 1329.) The Moore court further explained that the phrase "a
substantial distance from the vicinity of the carjacking" in section 209.5(b) does not
4 Section 209.5(b) provides: "This section shall only apply if the movement of the victim is beyond that merely incidental to the commission of the carjacking, the victim is moved a substantial distance from the vicinity of the carjacking, and the movement of the victim increases the risk of harm to the victim over and above that necessarily present in the crime of carjacking itself." (Italics added.) 18
require the trier of fact to determine the outside boundary of the vicinity of the carjacking
and then calculate whether the victim had been moved a substantial distance from that
point. (Moore, p. 46.) Instead, any point within the vicinity of the carjacking may be
used as a starting point for the calculation of whether the victim was moved a substantial
distance. (Ibid.; 1 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Crimes Against
the Person, § 315, p. 1152.)
In Moore, the victim put her two children inside her car, which was parked inside
the garage attached to her house. (Moore, supra, 75 Cal.App.4th at p. 40.) She started
the engine and then went back inside the house, leaving the children in the car. (Ibid.)
The defendant walked into the open garage and drove the car away with the children still
inside the car. (Id. at pp. 40-41.) One of the children jumped out of the car. (Id. at p.
41.) The defendant drove the car and the second child more than four miles from the
victim's house, parked and abandoned the car, and then left the scene with the child inside
the car. (Ibid.) Affirming the defendant's conviction of kidnapping during the
commission of a carjacking and rejecting his claim that the phrase "the vicinity of the
carjacking" in section 209.5(b) is unconstitutionally vague (Moore, at p. 43), the Moore
court explained that "'[t]he "vicinity" of the carjacking logically and reasonably included
[the victim's] garage where all the elements of the carjacking were completed.'" (Id. at p.
46.)
Here, Belcher's claim that there is insufficient evidence to show Rodriguez was
moved "a substantial distance from the vicinity of the carjacking" within the meaning of
section 209.5(b) is unavailing. Belcher asserts, and we accept, that the starting point for
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the "vicinity of the carjacking" was Valdez's home, where Belcher took possession of the
car after he drove Rodriguez there from Belcher's house in Rodriguez's jeep. Rodriguez
testified that, at Valdez's house, Belcher directed him to get into the jeep, which was
being driven by Belcher's armed associate. Belcher drove the car to a gas station, and the
jeep followed. At the gas station Belcher instructed Campana to steal a Lexus, and
Campana got into the Lexus and drove it away. With Rodriguez still inside the jeep,
Belcher's armed associate drove the jeep away in a fast "crazy" fashion that alarmed
Rodriguez and returned to Valdez's house. Belcher's armed associate eventually drove
Rodriguez to Belcher's house where, only upon Belcher's approval, Belcher's armed
associate returned the jeep to Rodriguez.
From the foregoing substantial evidence, we conclude any reasonable trier of fact
could find the prosecution met its burden of establishing beyond a reasonable doubt the
asportation element of Belcher's count 4 offense.
III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE (COUNT 4: FORCE OR FEAR)
Belcher next contends his count 4 conviction of kidnapping to facilitate a
carjacking must be reversed because the evidence is insufficient to establish that he
moved Rodriguez by force or fear and without his consent on May 15. Again
contravening the principles governing application of the applicable substantial evidence
standard of review (discussed, ante) by viewing the conflicting evidence in the light most
favorable to himself, Belcher contends that "undisputed evidence" shows that Rodriguez
"voluntarily went with [Belcher]" on May 15, and that "the cause of danger to Rodriguez
20
was not from [Belcher], but from [Rodriguez's] wife, Velarde." These unsupported
contentions are unavailing.
Belcher, who was an active participant in the La Sierra gang, came to Velarde and
Rodriguez's house on May 15 accompanied by a group of men, one of whom was armed
with a gun. Both Rodriguez and Velarde believed they had no choice but to give Belcher
the car, which was parked at Valdez's house. Velarde testified she was afraid and told
Rodriguez to give Belcher the car because she did not want problems. When the
prosecutor asked her what she had been afraid of, Velarde replied, "Of whatever, you
know, they would do to us there." Rodriguez testified he believed he did not have
another option and had to let Belcher take the car. When the prosecutor asked why he
felt he had no other option, Rodriguez replied, "[T]hese people were coming to take the
car. They were going to leave with the car one way or another." When the prosecutor
asked him whether he had felt any fear, Rodriguez responded he had felt "[a] little bit [of
fear]."
Rodriguez's testimony also shows he could not believe what was happening to him
as Belcher was driving him in the jeep to pick up the car. Rodriguez testified that, at this
point, he could not believe what was happening. Specifically, he stated: "I was almost,
like, living something that I actually didn't think was happening . . . because this had
never happened to me, you know. Someone just for no reason is just going to come and
take your things?"
Belcher first drove Rodriguez to Belcher's house. Rodriguez's testimony shows he
became more afraid when they arrived there. Rodriguez testified that practically
21
everyone who had been at his house was now at Belcher's house. Belcher's armed
associate stood outside the jeep in which Rodriguez was sitting, stared at Rodriguez in an
intimidating way, and then got into the back seat with him. As Belcher drove them in the
jeep to pick up the car, Belcher's armed associate continued to stare menacingly at
Rodriguez. Indicating he was afraid at that point, Rodriguez testified he "worked up the
courage" and asked the armed man why he was staring at him, and the man responded,
"Shut the fuck up, motherfucker. You think I can't kill you[?]"
From the foregoing substantial evidence, we conclude a reasonable trier of fact
could find the prosecution met its burden of establishing beyond a reasonable doubt that
Belcher moved Rodriguez by force or fear and without his consent on May 15.
IV. INSTRUCTIONAL ERROR (COUNT 4: DEFENSE OF ACTUAL CONSENT)
Belcher claims his count 4 conviction of kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking must
be reversed because the court prejudicially erred by failing to instruct the jury on the
defense of actual consent. This contention is unavailing.
"The trial court is obligated to instruct the jury on all general principles of law
relevant to the issues raised by the evidence, whether or not the defendant makes a formal
request." (People v. Blair (2005) 36 Cal.4th 686, 744.) We review de novo a claim of
instructional error. (People v. Posey (2004) 32 Cal.4th 193, 218.)
Belcher asserts that "it is undisputed that [he] was relying upon a defense of actual
consent," that "the record shows [his] defense was squarely centered on the claim of
consensual movements by Rodriguez," and that Rodriguez's movements were not the
result of force or fear. He complains that the court failed to give the following language
22
that appears in brackets in CALCRIM No. 1204, the standard instruction on kidnapping
during carjacking:
"The defendant is not guilty of kidnapping if the other person consented to go with the defendant. The other person consented if (he/she) ( 1) freely and voluntarily agreed to go with or be moved by the defendant, (2) was aware of the movement, and (3) had sufficient maturity and understanding to choose to go with the defendant. The People have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the other person did not consent to go with the defendant. If the People have not met this burden, you must find the defendant not guilty of this crime."
However, the record shows the court did instruct the jury that the prosecution was
required to prove Rodriguez's lack of consent. Specifically, the court gave a modified
version of CALCRIM No. 1204 which, although it did not include the foregoing
language, did inform the jury that one of the elements of the offense charged in count 4
was that "[t]he other person did not consent to the movement."5
The court's instructions under CALCRIM No. 1204 also included optional
bracketed language in that standard instruction that essentially defines the term "consent"
by informing the jury that, "[i]n order to consent, a person must act freely and voluntarily
and know the nature of the act."6
5 CALCRIM No. 1204, as given by the court, stated in part: "To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that: [¶] . . . [¶] 6. The other person did not consent to the movement."
6 CALCRIM No. 1204 states in part: "[In order to consent, a person must act freely and voluntarily and know the nature of the act.]" (Original italics.)
23
In addition, the modified version of CALCRIM No. 1204 given by the court also
included the bracketed language in the standard instruction concerning the "reasonable
belief in consent" defense, which informed the jury that the prosecutor was required to
prove that Belcher "did not actually and reasonably believe that [Rodriguez] consented to
the movement."7
By giving these instructions, the court adequately and correctly told the jury that,
in order to find Belcher guilty of kidnapping for purposes of carjacking, the People had to
prove that Rodriguez did not actually consent, and that Belcher did not actually and
reasonably believe that Rodriguez consented. We conclude Belcher has failed to meet his
burden of showing the court committed prejudicial instructional error.
V. COUNT 3
Belcher also contends that, if this court agrees there is insufficient evidence to
support his count 4 conviction of kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking, his count 3
conviction of attempting to dissuade witness Velarde also must be reversed because "no
crime remains which Velarde could have been dissuaded from reporting." This
contention is unavailing because, for reasons already discussed, we have concluded
substantial evidence supports Belcher's conviction of count 4.
7 CALCRIM No. 1204 states in part: "To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that: [¶] . . . [¶] [ . . . 7. The defendant did not actually and reasonably believe that the other person consented to the movement.]" 24
VI. INSTRUCTIONAL ERROR (COUNT 4: UNANIMITY)
Belcher next contends his count 4 conviction of kidnapping Rodriguez to facilitate
a carjacking must be reversed because the court erroneously failed to give the jury a
unanimity instruction as to which movements constituted the kidnapping of Rodriguez.
We reject this contention.
A. Applicable Legal Principles
The requirement of jury unanimity in criminal cases is of constitutional origin.
(People v. Jones (1990) 51 Cal.3d 294, 321, citing Cal. Const., art. I, § 16.) As this court
explained in People v. Muniz (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 1508, 1517, "[i]t is well established
that the entire jury must agree upon the commission of the same act in order to convict a
defendant of the charged offense."
"When an accusatory pleading charges the defendant with a single criminal act,
and the evidence presented at trial tends to show more than one such unlawful act, either
the prosecution must elect the specific act relied upon to prove the charge to the jury, or
the court must instruct the jury that it must unanimously agree that the defendant
committed the same specific criminal act." (People v. Melhado (1998) 60 Cal.App.4th
1529, 1534.) "The duty to instruct on unanimity when no election has been made rests
upon the court sua sponte." (Ibid.)
However, under the "continuous conduct" rule, a unanimity instruction is not
required when "the acts alleged are so closely connected as to form part of one
transaction" or "the defendant offers essentially the same defense to each of the acts, and
there is no reasonable basis for the jury to distinguish between them." (People v.
25
Stankewitz (1990) 51 Cal.3d 72, 100 (Stankewitz); People v. Dieguez (2001) 89
Cal.App.4th 266, 275.) "Neither an election nor a unanimity instruction is required when
the crime falls within the 'continuous conduct' exception." (People v. Salvato (1991) 234
Cal.App.3d 872, 882.)
"[P]roof of a course of conduct offense will usually consist of evidence of various
incidents occurring over a period of time." (People v. Hamlin (2009) 170 Cal.App.4th
1412, 1451). A "continuous course of conduct, by its nature, may stop and start."
(People v. Rae (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 116, 124 (Rae).)
B. Analysis
In support of his contention that the court erroneously failed to give the jury a
unanimity instruction, Belcher asserts "there were five movements of Rodriguez in
evidence": (1) "[t]he movement of Rodriguez from the park into his home"; (2) "[t]he
trip from Rodriguez's home to [Belcher's] home"; (3) "[t]he trip from [Belcher's] home to
Valdez's home, to pick up the car"; (4) "Rodriguez['s] accompanying the men to the gas
station, after picking up the [car]"; and (5) "[t]he trip back to Valdez's house after
Campana took the Lexus." Belcher also asserts "there was no continuous course of
conduct that constituted a kidnap[ping] of Rodriguez" because "[e]ach of these
movements was separate and distinct and the jury may have believed each could have
formed the basis for the asportation element" of the charged count 4 offense of
kidnapping Rodriguez to facilitate a carjacking.
We reject Belcher's contention that the court erred by failing to instruct the jury on
unanimity because the record shows he "offer[ed] essentially the same defense to each of
26
the acts, and there is no reasonable basis for the jury to distinguish between them"
(Stankewitz, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 100). During closing arguments, defense counsel
essentially treated Belcher's interactions with Rodriguez as one course of conduct and
presented the defense that Rodriguez freely and voluntarily associated with Belcher and
his associates on May 15. For example, in challenging the prosecution's accusation that
Belcher kidnapped Rodriguez, counsel argued that it "[d]oesn't fit" because the evidence
showed Rodriguez was "hanging out" with Belcher that day. Counsel also argued,
"[L]ook at the actions. While supposedly being kidnapped, [Rodriguez] asks his captors
to borrow 20 bucks, smokes meth with him, and then at the end of the night, says, you
know, I'm kind of tired. Take me home. And if you want to borrow the Jeep, you can
bring it back tomorrow."
Neither the defense nor the prosecution distinguished between the various
movements of Rodriguez on May 15, and there was no reasonable basis for the jury to
distinguish between them in light of the substantial evidence (discussed, ante) showing
that Belcher and his armed associate maintained control over Rodriguez during all of
those movements. The fact that the proof of the asportation element of count 4 consisted
of evidence that Rodriguez was moved multiple times on May 15 under Belcher's
direction and control is no bar to the application of the "continuous conduct" rule because
a "continuous course of conduct, by its nature, may stop and start" (Rae, supra, 102
Cal.App.4th at p. 124), as it did here.
27
VII. IMPROPER ELEVATION OF BELCHER'S COUNT 5 CONVICTION FROM A MISDEMEANOR TO A FELONY
Belcher argues his count 5 felony conviction of carrying a concealed weapon in a
motor vehicle (§ 25400, subd. (c)(3)) must be reversed because it was "improperly
elevated to a felony." The People concede that Belcher's count 5 conviction must be
reduced to a misdemeanor. We agree.
As the parties correctly point out, where presumptively misdemeanor conduct is
made a felony by virtue of a person's status as an active participant in criminal street
gang, the elements of active participation in a criminal street gang─including the
"willful[] promot[ion ], further[ance], or assist[ance] in any felonious criminal conduct by
members of that gang" (§ 186.22(a), italics added)─must be proven independently before
the misdemeanor conduct can be elevated to a felony. (People v. Lamas (2007) 42
Cal.4th 516, 524-525; People v. Robles (2000) 23 Cal.4th 1106, 1115; compare § 25400,
subd. (c)(3) with § 25400, subd. (c)(7).)
Here, as the parties also point out, the presumptively misdemeanor conduct of
carrying a concealed firearm was charged as a felony in count 5 because the prosecution
alleged that Belcher was an active participant in a criminal street gang on May 18.
However, the count charging Belcher with active participation in a criminal street gang
was based not on independent felony conduct by members of the La Sierra gang, but on
Belcher's carrying the concealed firearm. As there was no evidence that, on May 19,
Belcher promoted, furthered, or assisted felonious conduct by other gang members
28
distinct from his own presumptively misdemeanor offense of carrying a concealed
firearm, that misdemeanor conduct was improperly elevated to a felony.
Accordingly, Belcher's count 5 conviction must be reversed and, as requested by
the Attorney General, the matter remanded to the superior court with directions to reduce
that conviction to a misdemeanor.
VIII. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH BELCHER ENGAGED IN FELONIOUS CONDUCT (COUNT 1: ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A CRIMINAL STREET GANGFORCE OR FEAR)
Belcher also argues his conviction of active participation in a criminal street gang
(count 1: § 186.22(a)) must be reversed because the evidence is insufficient to establish
that he engaged in any felonious criminal conduct on May 19 as charged in that count.
The People acknowledge that Belcher's conviction must be reversed, asserting that
"the active gang participation conviction relied on [Belcher's] 'promot[ion ],
further[ance], or assist[ance]' of the unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon [citation]
which was misdemeanor conduct and thus fell short" of the "felonious criminal conduct"
required by section 186.22(a).
We agree with the parties that Belcher's conviction of this count is unsupported by
substantial evidence. During closing arguments the prosecutor argued that "the felony
conduct that the People have alleged for May 19th is that he drove in a vehicle with a
concealed weapon." We have already concluded, however, that there was no evidence
that on May 19 Belcher promoted, furthered, or assisted felonious conduct by other gang
members distinct from his own presumptively misdemeanor offense of carrying a
concealed firearm. Accordingly, Belcher's conviction of active participation in a criminal
29
street gang must be reversed and the matter remanded to the superior court with
directions to dismiss that count.
IX. SENTENCING ERROR (COUNT 3: ATTEMPTING TO DISSUADE A WITNESS)
Next, citing People v. Lopez (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 1049 (Lopez), Belcher argues
the court erred by imposing an indeterminate term of seven years to life pursuant to
section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4)(C) for his count 3 conviction of attempting to dissuade
Velarde from reporting a suspected crime. As the Attorney General concedes, Belcher's
argument is meritorious.
Belcher was charged in count 3 with "attempt[ing] to prevent and dissuade
[Velarde], a victim and a person who was and who might become a witness from
reporting a suspected crime" in violation of section 136.1, subdivision (b)(1). Count 3
also alleged that Belcher "committed the offense . . . for the benefit of, at the direction of,
and in association with a criminal street gang with the specific intent to promote, further
and assist in any criminal conduct by gang members, within the meaning of [section
186.22(b)]."
The jury found Belcher guilty of count 3. The jury also found he committed the
offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang within the meaning of section 186.22(b).
For certain enumerated crimes, the gang statute calls for an indeterminate
enhancement. (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(4)(A)-(C).) Among the enumerated crimes is making
"threats to victims and witnesses, as defined in Section 136.1." (§ 186.22, subd.
(b)(4)(C).) The gang enhancement for this offense is an indeterminate term of seven
years to life. (Ibid.)
30
In Lopez, supra, 208 Cal.App.4th at page 1065, the court held the indeterminate
gang enhancement of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4)(C) may be imposed for victim or
witness intimidation only if the defendant was convicted of section 136.1, subdivision
(c)(1), because that subdivision is the only provision in section 136.1 that refers to use of
an implied or express threat.8
Lopez, supra, 208 Cal.App.4th 1049, is controlling. Gutierrez was convicted of
of a violation of subdivision section (b)(1), not of a violation of subdivision (c)(1), of
section 136.1. In addition, the jury did not make any factual finding that Belcher used
threats; thus, under Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466, 490, and its progeny,
imposition of an indeterminate enhancement under section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4)(C)
violates constitutional precepts.
Accordingly, Belcher's seven-year-to-life sentence for his count 3 conviction of
intimidating a witness must be reversed and the case remanded for resentencing.
X. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES AND PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ELEMENTS (COUNT 1 & GANG ENHANCEMENTS)
Belcher also contends his conviction of active participation in a criminal street
gang (count 1) and the gang enhancements imposed as to counts 3, 4, and 6 (hereafter
8 Subdivision (c)(1) of section 136.1 provided: "Every person doing any of the acts described in subdivision (a) or (b) knowingly and maliciously under any one or more of the following circumstances, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years under any of the following circumstances: (1) Where the act is accompanied by force or by an express or implied threat of force or violence, upon a witness or victim or any third person or the property of any victim, witness, or any third person." 31
collectively referred to as the gang charges) must be reversed because the prosecution's
evidence─specifically, the testimony of the People's gang expert, Detective Adrian
Tillett─is insufficient to prove the primary activities and pattern of criminal
activity"elements of the gang charges. We reject this contention.
A. Detective Tillett's Expert Testimony
Detective Tillett testified he was currently assigned to the Gang Intelligence Unit
of the Riverside Police Department, and had worked there for more than two years. He
had 13 years of experience in the Riverside Police Department, where he started as a
patrol officer. He patrolled all areas of the City of Riverside, including the La Sierra
portion of the city. He was familiar with the La Sierra gang as a result of formal training,
personal interactions with its members, speaking with other officers and agencies in the
area, reviewing police reports, and seeing graffiti attributed to that gang The La Sierra
Brown Knights was one of four "cliques" in the La Sierra Riva gang. Detective Tillett
opined that Belcher was an active participant in the La Sierra Brown Knights in May.
Campana was also an active participant of the gang at that time.
Detective Tillett also testified that, as a gang expert, he was required to understand
the law on gangs and the legal definition of a criminal street gang. He defined "primary
activities" of a gang as "the crimes . . . that [the] gang . . . is routinely and consistently
committing." He opined that the La Sierra gang's primary activities were "weapon
possessions and violent assaults." He added that its member had also been convicted of
"grand theft auto, or stolen vehicles, robbery, and illegal drug sales."
32
When the prosecutor asked Detective Tillett to explain the term "weapons
possession," he replied it meant "unlawful possession, felon in possession," "concealed"
possession under (former) section 12025, and "loaded possession" under (former) section
12031.
Detective Tillett testified about three La Sierra gang "predicate offenses."9
Specifically, he testified about (1) La Sierra gang member Paul Casilla's January 2011
offense of possessing a concealed and loaded firearm in his vehicle (People v. Casilla
(Super. Ct. Riverside County, 2011, No. RIF1101291)); (2) La Sierra gang members Paul
and Marcos Casilla's August 2011 offenses of being a felon in possession of a firearm
(People v. Casilla et al. (Super. Ct. Riverside County, 2011, No. RIF1104652)); and (3)
La Sierra gang member Danny Flores's April 2012 offense of possessing a concealed and
loaded semiautomatic firearm in his vehicle (People v. Flores (Super. Ct. Riverside
County, 2012, No. RIF1202345)). Certified copies of the conviction records were not
entered into evidence.
B. Statutory Scheme (STEP Act)
The California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act (§ 186.20 et seq.,
hereafter the STEP Act) provides for a substantive offense under section 186.22(a), as
well as for enhanced punishment under section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1) (hereafter
9 The prosecution was required to present this predicate offenses" evidence to show the La Sierra gang engaged in a "pattern of criminal gang activity" within the meaning of section 186.22, subdivision (e), discussed, post). (People v. Hernandez (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1040, 1047 (Hernandez). 33
section 186.22(b)(1)) for members of "criminal street gangs" under specified
circumstances.
The STEP Act defines a "criminal street gang" as an organization having as "one
of its primary activities" (italics added) the commission of certain enumerated offenses,
with a common name or identifying symbol, whose members have individually or
collectively engaged in a "pattern of criminal gang activity." (§ 186.22, subd. (f),
hereafter section 186.22(f).)10
"The phrase 'primary activities,' as used in the [Step Act], implies that the
commission of one or more of the statutorily enumerated [predicate offenses] is one of
the group's 'chief' or 'principal' occupations." (People v. Sengpadychith (2001) 26 Cal.4th
316, 323 (Sengpadychith).)
The term "pattern of criminal gang activity" is defined in section 186.22,
subdivision (e) (hereafter section 186.22(e)) to mean "the commission of, attempted
commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of, sustained juvenile petition for, or
conviction of two or more" predicate offenses enumerated in that subdivision.
The substantive offense defined in section 186.22(a), active participation in a
criminal street gang, has three elements: (1) participation in a criminal street gang that is
10 Section 186.22(f) provides: "As used in this chapter, 'criminal street gang' means any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in paragraphs (1) to (25), inclusive, or (31) to (33), inclusive, of subdivision (e), having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity." (Italics added.) 34
more than nominal or passive; (2) knowledge that the gang's members engage in, or have
engaged in, a pattern of criminal gang activity; and (3) willful promotion of, furtherance
of, or assistance in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang. (People v.
Lamas, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 523.) In People v. Rodriguez (2012) 55 Ca1.4th 1125, our
high state court explained that, "to satisfy the third element, a defendant must willfully
advance, encourage, contribute to, or help members of his gang commit felonious
criminal conduct. The plain meaning of section 186.22(a) requires that felonious
criminal conduct be committed by at least two gang members, one of whom can include
the defendant if he is a gang member." (Rodriguez, at p. 1132.)
As noted, the STEP Act also prescribes increased punishment for a felony if it was
related to a criminal street gang. (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1047, citing
§ 186.22(b)(1).) To subject a defendant to the gang enhancement under section
186.22(b)(1), the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crimes for
which he was convicted were committed "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in
association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further, or
assist in any criminal conduct by gang members." (§ 186.22(b)(1); see Hernandez,
supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1047.)
The prosecution may meet its burden of establishing the statutory gang
enhancement elements set forth in section 186.22 by presenting expert testimony about
criminal street gangs. (People v. Gardeley (1996) 14 Cal.4th 605, 617-620; Hernandez,
supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 1047-1048.) "Sufficient proof of the gang's primary activities
might consist of evidence that the group's members consistently and repeatedly have
35
committed criminal activity listed in the gang statute" (People v. Sengpadychith, supra,
26 Cal.4th at p. 324, italics omitted) and may be presented through expert testimony.
(Ibid.) "The testimony of a gang expert, founded on his or her conversations with gang
members, personal investigation of crimes committed by gang members, and information
obtained from colleagues in his or her own and other law enforcement agencies, may be
sufficient to prove a gang's primary activities." (People v. Duran (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th
1448, 1465, citing Sengpadychith, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 324; In re Nathaniel C. (1991)
228 Cal.App.3d 990, 1005 [the primary activities element is a proper subject of expert
opinion].)
1. Standard of review
As discussed, ante, we apply the substantial evidence standard of review to assess
the sufficiency of the evidence and under that standard we view the entire record in the
light most favorable to the judgment and determine whether it discloses substantial
evidence─that is, evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid value─from which
any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the charged crime or
allegation proven beyond a reasonable doubt. (Jackson v. Virginia, supra, 443 U.S. at p.
319; People v. Johnson, supra, 26 Cal.3d at p. 578; In re Frank S. (2006) 141
Cal.App.4th 1192, 1196.)
C. Analysis
1. Primary activities
We reject Belcher's contention that his conviction of active participation in a
criminal street gang and the gang enhancements must be reversed because the testimony
36
of the People's gang expert, Detective Tillett, is insufficient to prove the primary
activities element of the gang charges.
As already discussed, our high court has explained that the phrase "primary
activities" as used in the Step Act "implies that the commission of one or more of the
statutorily enumerated [predicate offenses] is one of the group's 'chief' or 'principal'
occupations." (Sengpadychith, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 323.)
Here, Detective Tillett's expert gang testimony supports the jury's implied finding
that one of the La Sierra gang's chief or principal occupations was the commission of one
or more of the offenses enumerated in section 186.22(e). Detective Tillett testified he
was assigned to the Riverside Police Department's Gang Intelligence Unit, and he had
worked there for more than two years. He was familiar with the La Sierra gang as a
result of formal training, personal interactions with its members, speaking with other
officers and agencies in the area, reviewing police reports, and seeing graffiti attributed to
that gang He testified to his knowledge of the law on gangs and the legal definition of a
criminal street gang, and he explained that the primary activities of a gang are "the
crimes . . . that [the] gang . . . is routinely and consistently committing."
Detective Tillett testified that the La Sierra gang's primary activities were "weapon
possessions and violent assaults." When asked to explain the term "weapons possession,"
Detective Tillett elaborated by specifying "unlawful possession, felon in possession";
"concealed" possession; and "loaded possession."
All of the offenses Detective Tillett specified are enumerated in section 186.22(e).
His term "unlawful possession, felon in possession" is a reference to the crime of being a
37
felon in possession of a firearm. That crime is enumerated in section 186.22,
subdivision(e)(31), which lists: "Prohibited possession of a firearm in violation of
Section 12021 until January 1, 2012, and on or after that date, Chapter 2 (commencing
with Section 29800) of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6."11
Detective Tillett's reference to "concealed" possession is a reference to the crime
of unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm. That crime is enumerated in section 186.22,
subdivision (e)(32), which specifies: "Carrying a concealed firearm in violation of
Section 12025 until January 1, 2012, and, on or after that date, Section 25400."
Last, Detective Tillett's reference to "loaded" possession is a reference to the crime
of unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm. That crime is enumerated in section 186.22,
subdivision (e)(33), which lists: "Carrying a loaded firearm in violation of Section 12031
until January 1, 2012, and, on or after that date, Section 25850.
A reasonable jury could find from Detective Tillett's testimony that "one of [the]
primary activities" (§ 186.22(f)) of the La Sierra gang was "the commission of one or
more of the criminal acts enumerated in paragraphs (1) to (25), inclusive, or (31) to (33),
inclusive, of [section 186.22(e)]" (§ 186.22(f)).
2. Pattern of criminal gang activity
We also reject Belcher's contention that his conviction of active participation in a
criminal street gang and the gang enhancements must be reversed because Detective
11 Effective January 1, 2012, former section 12021, subdivision (a), was repealed and reenacted without substantive change as section 29800, subdivision (a). (People v. White (2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 512, 518, fn. 2.) 38
Tillett's expert testimony is insufficient to prove the pattern of criminal activity element
of the gang charges.
As pertinent here, the term "pattern of criminal gang activity" is defined in section
186.22(e) to mean "the commission . . . or conviction of two or more" predicate offenses
enumerated in that subdivision.
As discussed more fully, ante, Detective Tillett testified about three La Sierra gang
predicate offenses. Belcher asserts that, "[i]n light of the failure of the prosecution to
provide proper proof of the predicate offenses, this element of the gang charges was
insufficient as a matter of law." Specifically, he complains that "the prosecution did not
offer documents showing the commission of the three purported predicate crimes, such as
abstracts of judgment, change of plea forms or certified copies of minute orders."
Assuming, without deciding, that Detective Tillett's expert testimony alone was
insufficient, Belcher's contentions are unavailing because the charged offenses in the
current case also can be considered in deciding whether a pattern of criminal gang
activity as defined in section 186.22(e) exists. (Gardeley, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 625.)
As pertinent here, the jury convicted Belcher of (1) witness intimidation (count 3:
§ 136.1, subd. (b)(1)); (2) kidnapping for purposes of carjacking (count 4: § 209.5); (3)
carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle (count 5 (May 18): § 25400, subd.
(c)(3)); and (4) vehicle theft (count 6: Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)). All of these
offenses are enumerated as predicate offenses in section 186.22(e). In addition, the May
15 offenses took place on a "separate occasion[]" from the May 18 offense. (See
§ 186.22, subd. (e); see also People v. Loeun (1997) 17 Cal.4th 1, 9-10 [§ 186.22 "allows
39
the prosecution the choice of proving the requisite 'pattern of criminal gang activity' by
evidence of 'two or more' predicate offenses committed 'on separate occasions' or by
evidence of such offenses committed 'by two or more persons' on the same occasion",
original italics].)
For all of the foregoing reasons, we conclude the evidence is sufficient to support
the jury's implied finding that the prosecution met its burden of proving the primary
activities and pattern of criminal activity elements of the gang charges.
XI. INSTRUCTIONAL ERROR CLAIM (COUNT 1 & GANG ENHANCEMENTS)
Belcher also contends, in the alternative, that his count 1 conviction of active
participation in a criminal street gang on May 19 and the gang enhancements imposed as
to the May 15 offenses charged in counts 3, 4, and 6 must be reversed because the court
failed to sua sponte instruct the jury as to the specific enumerated offenses the
prosecution was relying upon to prove the requisite primary activities and pattern of
criminal activity elements of the gang charges. The People acknowledge the jury
instructions were deficient, but assert the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
"because all the predicate offenses and primary activities presented to the jury were
enumerated offenses." We agree the error was harmless.
The court instructed the jury that one or more of the "primary activities" of the
alleged gang must be the commission of "felonies" and that the term "pattern of criminal
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activity" meant the commission of two or more "felonies."12 Instead of using the term
"felonies," the court should have instructed the jury on the specific enumerated offenses
upon which the prosecution was relying to prove that La Sierra was a criminal street
gang. Specifically, regarding the primary activities element, the court should have
"insert[ed] one or more crimes listed in [section] 186.22(e)(1)(25), (31)-(33)"; and,
regarding the pattern of criminal activity element, it should have "insert[ed] felony or
felonies from [section] 186.22(e)(1)–(25), (31)-(33)." (See CALCRIM No. 1400.) The
court erred in failing to do so.
We conclude, however, that the court's error in omitting specified enumerated
offenses from the jury instructions was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt because there
is no reasonable likelihood it could have affected the jury's verdict. As discussed, ante,
the prosecution introduced its evidence of primary activities and predicate offenses
through the gang expert, Detective Tillett, who testified that the primary activities of the
La Sierra gang were "violent assaults and weapons possessions." Detective Tillett
clarified that the latter referred to possession by prohibited persons, and possession of
12 In its instruction on count 1 ("Active Participation in a Gang"), the court gave a modified version of CALCRIM No. 1400, the standard instruction on the substantive gang charge under section 186.22(a), which stated in part: "A criminal street gang is any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal: [¶] . . . [¶] 2. That has, as one or more of its primary activities, the commission of felonies[.]" (Italics added.) The court's version of CALCRIM No. 1400 also instructed the jury that "[a] pattern of criminal gang activity, as used here, means: [¶] 1. The commission of two or more felonies[.]" (Italics added.) The court also gave a modified version of CALCRIM No. 1401, the standard section 186.22(b)(1) gang enhancement instruction, that "[a] criminal street gang is defined in the instructions for Count One to which you should refer." 41
concealed or loaded firearms. We have already concluded that all of these are
The only other felonies presented to the jury were the currently charged offenses.
We have already concluded that, except for the gang charges themselves, every offense
that the jury was presented, and of which the jury found Belcher guilty in this case, was
an enumerated offense. (See § 186.22, subds. (e)(8), (e)(15), (e)(21), (e)(25), (e)(32).)
Thus, we conclude the court's instructional error was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt. (See People v. Williams (2009) 170 Cal.App.4th 587, 627 [error in specifying
"misdemeanor assault" as a predicate offense in gang instructions was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt because no evidence was introduced that any gang member had been
arrested for, or convicted of, simple assault].)
XII. CUMULATIVE ERROR CLAIM
Last, Belcher contends that, if this court determines that none of the foregoing
claimed errors "individually warrant reversal" of his convictions, reversal is required
under the cumulative error doctrine because "the cumulative effect of all these errors
demonstrates that a miscarriage of justice occurred." We reject this contention.
"Under the cumulative error doctrine, the reviewing court must 'review each
allegation and assess the cumulative effect of any errors to see if it is reasonably probable
the jury would have reached a result more favorable to defendant in their absence.'
[Citation.] When the cumulative effect of errors deprives the defendant of a fair trial and
due process, reversal is required." (People v. Williams, supra, 170 Cal.App.4th at p.
646.) However, to prevail on a claim of cumulative error, the defendant must show the
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"errors . . . undermine[d] the facts supporting [his] guilt" and "explain[] how or why these
errors in combination warrant a new trial." (People v. Hinton (2006) 37 Cal.4th 839,
872.)
Here, as we have already concluded, Belcher has shown his conviction of count 1
should be reversed and his felony conviction of count 5 should be reduced to a
misdemeanor. As to the remaining counts Belcher has made no attempt to show how any
errors we have found, and any others we may have assumed, undermined the facts
supporting his guilt, and he has not explained how or why these errors in combination
warrant a new trial. Accordingly, we reject his cumulative-error claim. (See People v.
Hinton, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 872.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed in part and affirmed in part. Belcher's conviction of
count 1, the sentence of seven years to life in prison imposed for his conviction of count
3, and his felony conviction of count 5 are all reversed. The matter is remanded to the
superior court with directions to dismiss count 1, reduce Belcher's count 5 conviction
from a felony to a misdemeanor, and conduct a new sentencing hearing. In all other
respect, the judgment is affirmed.
NARES, Acting P. J. WE CONCUR:
HALLER, J.
AARON, J.
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AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court reversed the defendant's conviction for active participation in a criminal street gang, reduced his felony conviction for carrying a concealed weapon to a misdemeanor, and reversed the seven-year-to-life sentence for witness dissuasion, while otherwise affirming the judgment. The court rejected the defendant's claim-of-right defense regarding the kidnapping conviction, finding substantial evidence supported the jury's rejection of that defense.
Issues
Whether the defendant's conviction for kidnapping to facilitate a carjacking must be reversed based on a claim-of-right defense.
Whether the evidence was sufficient to support the defendant's conviction for active participation in a criminal street gang.
Whether the defendant's felony conviction for carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle was improperly elevated.
Whether the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant to an indeterminate term for the witness dissuasion conviction.
Disposition. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The jury's rejection of Belcher's claim-of-right defense is also supported by substantial evidence showing that he repeatedly attempted to conceal his taking of Velarde's car and acted in a manner demonstrating consciousness of guilt.”
“we conclude Belcher's conviction of count 1 and the seven-year-to life sentence imposed for his conviction of count 3 must be reversed, and his felony conviction of count 5 must be reversed and reduced to a misdemeanor.”