approximately twenty-foot long "timeline" of the alleged molestations that a therapist
created with P.C. in preparation for a prior proceeding in this case. The timeline
contained detailed statements describing the alleged abuse written by the therapist at
P.C.'s direction, together with dates and photographs of P.C. at various ages.1 The court
also permitted the prosecutor to directly question P.C. at trial about statements contained
on the timeline.
On appeal, defendant Michael Vasquez contends that the trial court erred in
permitting the jury to view the timeline and erred in admitting the related testimony. The
People contend that the timeline was properly displayed to the jury as demonstrative
evidence akin to a "map[ ], chart[ ], [or] diagram[ ] . . . ." (Quoting People v. Mills
(2010) 48 Cal.4th 158, 207 (Mills).) The People further argue that the court "properly
1 We have included photographs of the timeline contained in the record on appeal in part III.A.1.b, post. 2
allowed P.C. to directly explain some of the things shown on the timeline so the jury
would understand what they were seeing."
We conclude that the trial court committed clear error in permitting the jury to
view the timeline and allowing P.C. to read statements from the timeline into evidence.
The timeline did not constitute demonstrative evidence that could properly be displayed
to the jury in order to assist the jury in its understanding of P.C.'s testimony. Rather, the
timeline contained inadmissible out-of-court statements that were improperly offered for
their truth and to bolster P.C.'s credibility.
The error requires reversal of Vasquez's molestation convictions. To begin with, a
prior trial resulted in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. The evidence
presented to the juries at both trials was similar, with the notable exception that the
timeline was presented only to the jury at the trial that resulted in the guilty verdicts.2
Further, this case was essentially a credibility contest between the victims3 and Vasquez,
and the defense presented evidence from which a reasonable jury could find that the
victims had a motive to fabricate the allegations.4 Finally, the prosecutor prominently
featured the highly inflammatory timeline during his closing argument, displaying it to
the jury, making repeated reference to it, and urging the jury to rely on it as substantive
2 The reporter's transcript from the prior trial is contained in the record on appeal. 3 P.C.'s sister, E.C., testified that Vasquez had also molested her. 4 We emphasize that we do not intend to suggest that this court believes that the victims lacked credibility. Rather, we observe only that the defense presented evidence from which a reasonable jury could find that the victims had a motive to fabricate the allegations. 3
evidence. Under these circumstances, we are compelled to reverse the judgment and
remand the matter for a new trial.5
II.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Factual background6
1. The People's evidence
a. Vasquez's sexual abuse of E.C.
Vasquez began living with Patricia J. (Patricia) and her two daughters, E.C. and
P.C., in mid-2004 or early 2005. When Vasquez moved in, E.C. was approximately nine
years old and P.C. was approximately five or six years old.7 The family lived together in
a one-bedroom mobile home until September 2009.
5 In part III.B, post, of the opinion, we reject Vasquez's claim that he is entitled to a dismissal of the charges against him or recusal of the district attorney's office based on an alleged conflict of interest between the district attorney's office and the victim's family. In light of reversal of the judgment, we need not consider Vasquez's claim that the trial court failed to provide a proper unanimity instruction to the jury. However, we briefly address this issue in part III.C, post, of the opinion in order to provide guidance to the trial court on remand. We need not, and do not, address Vasquez's contention that he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing because the record does not reflect that the trial court was aware of a change in the law applicable to Vasquez's sentence. 6 We state the facts in the light most favorable to the judgment in this section. (See, e.g., People v. McGehee (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 1190, 1195). However, in part III.A.4, post, in assessing whether the trial court's error in permitting the jury to view the timeline was prejudicial, we consider the weight of the evidence. (See, e.g., Eisenberg et al., Cal. Practice Guide, Civil Appeals and Writs (The Rutter Group 2016) ¶ 8:301["the appellate court will consider the weight of the evidence in making its prejudicial error analysis"].) 7 E.C. was born in 1995, and was 20 years old at the time of trial. P.C. was born in 1998 and was 16 years old at the time of trial. 4
E.C. would often crawl into bed with Patricia and Vasquez during the night or in
the morning. When Patricia would get up, E.C. would stay in bed alone with Vasquez.
During this time, Vasquez would often hug E.C. from behind. On several occasions,
Vasquez touched E.C.'s breasts underneath her shirt and training bra, and grabbed and
pulled her nipples. E.C. would pretend to be asleep. On some of these occasions, E.C.
could feel Vasquez's erect penis. E.C. felt scared and uncomfortable and stopped going
into Patricia and Vasquez's bed.
b. Vasquez's sexual abuse of P.C.
P.C. would also occasionally crawl into Patricia and Vasquez's bed, and would
stay in the bed with Vasquez after Patricia left. When P.C. was five or six years old,
Vasquez would rub her thighs when she was alone in bed with him. When P.C. was in
second or third grade and around seven years old, Vasquez also began touching P.C.'s
breasts and the outside of her vagina under her clothing.
By the time that P.C. was in fifth or sixth grade, Vasquez would insert his fingers
inside her vagina. Sometimes the penetration would hurt, and P.C. would tell him to
stop. Also while P.C. was in fifth grade, Vasquez would rub his penis against P.C.'s
vagina with her pants off. Occasionally, Vasquez would ejaculate while doing this.
Vasquez also would kiss or lick P.C.'s vagina. P.C. also began touching Vasquez's penis,
causing it to become erect. The molestations took place frequently, often on weekends
when Patricia was not home.
As P.C. got older, she became "grossed out" by the molestations. The incidents of
abuse decreased until they stopped altogether around the time P.C. was in eighth grade.
5
c. E.C. tells Patricia that she witnessed Vasquez molesting P.C.
When the girls were young, Vasquez would frequently play a game called "Claws"
with them. Vasquez would pretend to be a bear or monster, chase the girls, and tickle
them. One time while Vasquez was playing the game with the girls, E.C. went to the
bedroom to get a pillow. When she returned to the living room, P.C. was lying on top of
Vasquez. Vasquez was licking P.C.'s neck and kissing her, while trying to remove her
clothing. E.C. threw the pillow at them and ran outside to wait for Patricia to come
home. When Patricia came home, E.C. told her what she had witnessed. Patricia did not
believe E.C. and disciplined her. E.C. estimated that she was 11 or 12 years old at the
time of this incident.
d. P.C.'s disclosures of the abuse
In late June or early July 2012, P.C. learned that Vasquez was threatening to have
Patricia deported.8 After learning of Vasquez's threats, P.C. told a friend that Vasquez
had been sexually abusing her. P.C. was worried about Vasquez's threats, and asked the
friend whether she should tell Vasquez "if you tell on my mom, then I'm going to say
what you did to me."
P.C. called Vasquez and told him that she would disclose the abuse if Vasquez
reported Patricia to immigration authorities.9
Shortly thereafter, P.C. told Patricia about the abuse and Patricia called the police.
8 Patricia had been deported previously in 2009, but had returned to the country approximately a month to a month and a half later. 9 P.C. could not recall whether she made this statement during a live conversation or in a voice message. 6
e. Patricia's immigration status
Approximately two weeks after Patricia called the police, immigration officials
removed Patricia from her home. Approximately a year later, Patricia was removed from
the country. Patricia remained outside of the country for four months. However, she was
allowed to return to this country after applying for a visa that, according to Patricia, is
used "when a crime happens on the family."
2. The defense
Vasquez testified in his own behalf and denied that he had ever engaged in any
sexual activity with E.C. or P.C. Vasquez believed that the incident during which E.C.
thought she saw him molesting P.C. happened in 2005. Vasquez claimed that he and P.C.
were merely rolling around in clothing that Patricia had dumped on him after doing
laundry.
Vasquez stated that there had been one occasion when he woke up with an
erection while E.C. was in the bed. Vasquez claimed that he may have accidentally
touched E.C.'s foot with his erection.
Vasquez told Patricia that he wanted a divorce in early 2012. At some point
during the break up, Vasquez threated Patricia that he would "call immigration on her."
Vasquez moved out of the family residence in July 2012.
Shortly thereafter, Vasquez received a telephone call from P.C. during which she
accused him of having molested both her and E.C. Vasquez denied "everything."
Vasquez later learned that the phone call had been recorded by the police. Vasquez also
denied having molested either of the girls during a lengthy interview with police.
7
Several character witnesses testified on Vasquez's behalf, including Vasquez's
former step-daughter, Michelle Wood. Vasquez moved in with Wood and her mother
when Wood was 12 years old. Vasquez never engaged in any sexually inappropriate
behavior with Wood. Vasquez and Wood's mother divorced when Wood was 17 years
old.
3. Rebuttal evidence
A police detective recounted a pretext telephone call between Patricia and
Vasquez. Vasquez told Patricia that on one occasion, P.C. had pulled his pants down
while they were playing. Vasquez also told Patricia that E.C. was always touching him.
Vasquez did not mention either of these events during his police interview.
B. Procedural background
The People charged Vasquez with eight counts of committing a lewd and
lascivious act with a child under 14 years old (counts 1–8) (Pen. Code,10 § 288, subd.
(a)). Counts 1 and 2 named E.C. as the victim, and counts 3 through 8 named P.C. as the
victim. The information further alleged that the offenses were committed against
The trial court held a jury trial on the allegations in January 2015. The jury was
unable to reach a verdict, and the trial court declared a mistrial.
In October 2015, a second jury found Vasquez guilty of all counts and found the
enhancement allegations true.
10 Unless otherwise specified, all subsequent statutory references are to the Penal Code. 8
The trial court sentenced Vasquez to an aggregate term of 120 years to life in
prison. Vasquez timely appeals.
III.
DISCUSSION
A. The trial court committed reversible error in permitting the People to display the timeline of the alleged abuse to the jury and allowing P.C. to testify as to statements on the timeline
Vasquez claims that the trial court committed reversible error in permitting the
People to display the timeline of the alleged abuse to the jury and allowing P.C. to testify
as to statements contained on the timeline. "We review a trial court's evidentiary rulings
for abuse of discretion." (People v. Clark (2016) 63 Cal.4th 522, 597.)
1. Factual and procedural background
a. P.C.'s initial cross-examination
During the trial, defense counsel cross-examined P.C. with respect to whether she
had made various statements to investigators before the trial concerning her prior sexual
activity with Vasquez and with others. For example, defense counsel asked P.C. whether
she had told an investigating officer that she had had sex with "about seven boys." P.C.
stated that she did not recall having made that statement.
P.C. did acknowledge on cross-examination that she had told forensic interviewers
that she had given Vasquez a "blow job," while at trial, she denied having done so. P.C.
explained that, at the time she spoke to the interviewer, she understood the term "blow
job" to refer to, as defense counsel stated, "using your hand to masturbate the penis."
P.C. also acknowledged that she told a forensic interviewer both that she had not had
9
sexual intercourse with Vasquez and that Vasquez had "raped" her. P.C. explained that
"back then, I didn't know . . . the proper words for everything."
Toward the end of her first day of cross-examination, defense counsel asked P.C.
whether she had testified that Vasquez had molested her at locations other than two of the
family's residences. P.C. responded affirmatively. Defense counsel then asked P.C.
whether she had told the forensic interviewers that Vasquez had molested her only at the
two family residences. P.C. responded that she could not recall. Defense counsel asked
P.C. whether she wished to refresh her memory by reviewing the transcript of her
forensic interview. P.C. responded, "No. I don't want to look at it." After defense
counsel again asked P.C. whether it would refresh her recollection to review the
transcript of the interview, P.C. responded:
"Like I told you, it's not going to be any different. I don't — if I did or not. [¶] Like I'm telling you, like whatever I did tell them, the investigator, the police, it was my first time like actually saying what happened. [¶] Like I'm not going to say everything correctly. I'm going to get mixed up. I was — I'm going to get mixed up with my words, what I used to explain myself."
Shortly thereafter, the court recessed the trial until the following day.
b. The hearing on the timeline
The following day, at a hearing outside the presence of the jury, the prosecutor
informed the court that P.C. had arrived to court that morning with a "timeline" that P.C.
and her therapist had prepared.11 According to the prosecutor, the timeline was "several
11 The prosecutor explained, "The first time I saw [the timeline] was this morning, Your Honor." 10
feet long" and "detail[ed] [P.C's] recollection of the sexual interaction between her and
Michael Vasquez, as well as the sexual interaction between her and other people leading
up to July of 2012 [at which time she disclosed the abuse]."
The prosecutor stated that the timeline "would not be introduced as an exhibit,"
but contended that it could be used to refresh P.C.'s recollection. In addition, the
prosecutor maintained that the timeline could properly be shown to the jury as a
demonstrative exhibit. The prosecutor argued:
"And, also, it's a demonstrative exhibit. It's demonstrative, I believe, for what her testimony has been and what her testimony will be by the time she completes her testimony. [¶] And as a demonstrative exhibit, it would be shown to the jury. It would not go, necessarily to the jury room. [¶] But an in-court demonstrative exhibit, although not evidence itself like a video or photograph might be, it's certainly useful to the trier of fact to determine credibility of the witness, accuracy of testimony and provides a chronology, written firsthand by the witness, of her experience."
Defense counsel responded by stating that he had not seen the timeline and that the
court should hold an Evidence Code section 40212 hearing. The court requested that the
People retrieve the timeline so that it could be displayed in court outside the presence of
the jury, to aid in the court's consideration of the issue.
Five photographs, which appear to capture the entirety of the timeline,13 are
contained in the record on appeal and appear below:
12 Evidence Code section 402 authorizes a trial court to determine the admissibility of evidence outside the presence of the jury. 13 We have altered the images of the timeline in two ways to protect the anonymity of E.C. and P.C. First, we have removed E.C.'s first name from the second image of the timeline that states, "Ask [E.C.]" and "[E.C.] - 6th grade 11 or 12 me 7 or 8 years old 11
[E.C.]
C.CC
[E.C.]
C.CC [E.C.]
C.CC
when [E.C.] came in." In addition, we have altered the school identification cards depicted on the timeline in order to protect P.C.'s identity. 12
13
14
After the court and defense counsel discussed the physical appearance of the
timeline, the prosecutor stated that P.C. had told the prosecutor that she wanted to "use
[the timeline] to clarify her testimony yesterday with the prior statement yesterday
regarding seven." According to the prosecutor, "[P.C.] stated that seven was referring to
[the] . . . loss of her virginity [in seventh grade] as opposed to, as indicated, seven sexual
partners."
Defense counsel stated that he was concerned with whether the timeline would
assist P.C. in recalling the events in question. Defense counsel also stated that the
timeline "appears to have been prepared by more than one person."
As to defense counsel's first concern, the court stated that it found that the timeline
would assist P.C. in recalling events from her childhood. As to the second issue, the
"Yes." The court continued, "It was prepared by someone else." The court continued by
stating that "the document itself is not being introduced into evidence," and "even though
it might contain hearsay statements and it was — she was assisted by other individuals, if
that will help her recall the events, then it's admissible."14
The prosecutor then stated:
"If I could add to that, Your Honor? [¶] As a demonstrative exhibit — first, I don't see any hearsay statements on here. I see this [as]
14 Although the court stated that the timeline would be "admissible," it is undisputed that the court did not formally admit the timeline in evidence. However, as discussed below, the court permitted the People to display the timeline to the jury and permitted P.C. to read statements directly from the timeline. 15
representative, basically, of her testimony up until this point. [¶] And as a demonstrative exhibit — if I were to have a blank piece of butcher paper like this next to the witness stand and if [I] were to write phrases similar to this as she testified to those and each time confirmed whether that was representative of her testimony, that is a perfectly legitimate demonstrative exhibit. And this is really no different. [¶] From the style of the handwriting, I would guess that her therapist was the one writing this. [¶] But it was based — I don't know. We can ask [P.C.]. [¶] But it's representative of her firsthand account of what she did and what happened to her. [¶] I don't see a single hearsay statement on here."
After further discussion among the court and counsel, defense counsel stated, "Is it
appropriate that the members [of] the jury actually see what the witness is refreshing her
memory from? [¶] I don't think so."
The prosecutor responded by stating, "Your Honor, that's why I'm seeking it as a
demonstrative exhibit." Defense counsel responded to this argument by stating that, if it
was proper to display the timeline to the jury, then all of the transcripts of P.C.'s prior
statements to investigators should be shown to the jury, as well.15
The court indicated that it would hold an Evidence Code 402 hearing on whether
the timeline would refresh P.C.'s recollection. The court further stated that if P.C.
indicated that "she remembers it all, then the document goes up and the jury will see
it . . . ."
c. The Evidence Code section 402 hearing
Immediately thereafter, the court held an Evidence Code section 402 hearing. P.C.
testified at the hearing that she and her therapist made the timeline while P.C. was
15 The clear implication of defense counsel's argument was that P.C.'s prior statements were inconsistent with her trial testimony. 16
preparing for the first trial in this case.16 P.C. stated that they made the timeline because
she "wanted all my dates right." P.C. acknowledged that the handwriting on the timeline
was her therapist's. When asked how the therapist had known what to write on the
timeline, P.C. responded:
"She was asking me like questions about it. She wanted like to start from the beginning. And she was asking me questions like . . . my feelings or like asking me how . . . I remembered. [¶] Everything that I was telling her that happened, she was trying to have facts that — memories to back it up so I know to say like what reminded me of it, how I remembered it."
P.C. explained that some of the terms used on the timeline had been suggested by
her therapist. For example, P.C. stated that while she used the term "choca,"17 in
describing the abuse to her therapist, the therapist wrote the word "vagina" on the
timeline. P.C. explained, "[The therapist] was trying to get me prepared [with] what
words to say so I would say it correctly." P.C. said that the information on the timeline
would help her remember what had happened.
After the testimony, the prosecutor argued that the timeline would "refresh [P.C.'s]
recollection as it dates events, times that she's been challenged on over the course of the
afternoon yesterday." The prosecutor argued further, "And, also, it's demonstrative of her
testimony of her experiences and should be shown to the jury."
16 As indicated in part I, ante, at a prior trial of this matter, a jury was unable to reach a verdict. The prior trial was held in January 2015. 17 P.C. stated that "choca" is a Spanish slang term for vagina. 17
Defense counsel agreed that the timeline could be used to refresh P.C.'s memory.
However, defense counsel stated, "I don't agree it's demonstrative evidence that should be
shown to the jury."
The court ruled: "I'm going to grant the People's motion. [¶] I will allow it to be
used [as] a demonstrative piece of evidence and it may be published to the jury."
d. P.C.'s redirect examination
After the court concluded the Evidence Code section 402 hearing, defense counsel
completed his cross-examination of P.C. Immediately thereafter, on redirect, the
prosecutor displayed the timeline to the jury. P.C. testified that she had created the
timeline of Vasquez's abuse of her during "therapy," while preparing for the first trial or
the preliminary hearing in this case. P.C. explained that she had described the abuse to
the therapist and that her therapist had written events on the timeline based on P.C.'s
description.
The prosecutor then asked P.C. a number of questions concerning statements that
were written on the timeline. For example, P.C. explained the portion of the timeline
detailing her earliest interactions with Vasquez, including when he took her to a movie
called Polar Express. Later, the prosecutor stated, "We talked about the Polar Express
movie. The fall/winter of 2004 is what it shows on there. Okay. [¶] And then what about
the touching? Does it help you remember when the touching started, what happened?"
(Boldface omitted.) P.C. responded affirmatively and explained that the timeline stated,
"Touched me for [first time]," and "[s]leeping in mom's bed." P.C. further explained,
"Touching. [The therapist] was like what kind of touching. She asked me. And I told
18
her, 'Touching leg [and butt], but would put hand in my underwear and also touched my
vagina.' "18
P.C. stated that photocopies of her school identification cards were placed on the
timeline to help her "visualize how [she] looked." P.C. explained, "That helps me a lot."
P.C. further stated that the photographs depicted her as she gained weight when Vasquez
"started touching me the most." P.C. stated, "I wrote[,] 'Touching me really bad. Rubbed
his penis on my vagina.' "
P.C. stated that the portion of the timeline that states "[E.C.] came in" referred to
an incident during which E.C. saw Vasquez touching P.C. inappropriately and E.C.
thought that P.C. and Vasquez had been playing "Claws."19 P.C. stated that she and
Vasquez were not in fact playing Claws, but rather, it was one of "those times when he
would touch me at the house." P.C. stated that she thought that E.C. came in while P.C.'s
"pants or whatever I was wearing was down."
The prosecutor continued the examination in a similar manner, with either P.C. or
the prosecutor reading statements from the timeline concerning the sexual abuse
described on the timeline, and P.C. describing the incidents summarized therein, in
response to questions posed by the prosecutor. For example, quoting from the timeline,
18 In describing the manner in which Vasquez allegedly touched her, P.C. read from the timeline. 19 As discussed in part II.A.1.c, ante, E.C. described an incident during which E.C. saw Vasquez touch P.C. inappropriately while the sisters and Vasquez were playing the tickling game that they called "Claws." 19
the prosecutor stated, " 'He did weird stuff to me like dry humping, rubbing bodies with
clothes on.' What does that refer to?"
P.C. responded:
"Like that's where it started getting worse. It wasn't touching or feeling on me anymore. It was like rubbing each other, like him on top of him [sic] or me on top of him, with no clothes on."20
The prosecutor also asked P.C. about the statement on the timeline that states,
"told window people he had sex with me because sex meant something different to me —
dick rubbing choca." P.C. explained that this referred to her disclosures of the abuse to
forensic interviewers. P.C. testified that she told the interviewers that she had had sex
with Vasquez because she had understood "sex" to mean all forms of sexual activity.21
However, P.C. reiterated that she had never had sexual intercourse with Vasquez.
At the close of the redirect examination, the court instructed the jury:
"I'll note for the jury that this item has been marked as an exhibit. It's what is referred to as a demonstrative piece of evidence. [¶] The witness is able to testify using it to refresh her recollection and it is essentially being published to you right now because you can see it. [¶] However, it will not be admitted into evidence and become an item that will go into the jury room during your deliberations. [¶] So
20 As noted in the text, although the timeline stated "with clothes on," P.C. testified at trial that the timeline referred to incidents "with no clothes on." 21 P.C. explained that this was the reason she became confused when questioned about her prior statements that she and Vasquez had engaged in various types of sexual activity. For example, P.C. explained: "For me sex was just sex, like anything, like touching. That's why I get really confused when they say[,] ['][W]hat did you mean by [ ]blow job, what did you mean by this[?]' [¶] I was — I was 12. I wasn't going to act like I knew everything. Like I thought I knew everything." (Italics omitted.) 20
what you're looking at now, this is your opportunity to see it. You will not have an opportunity to view it during your deliberations."
e. The prosecutor's closing argument
During his rebuttal closing argument, the prosecutor displayed the timeline for the
jury, and repeatedly referred to it in urging the jury to find Vasquez guilty. For example,
the prosecutor stated, "This is the timeline that [P.C.] made. Sat down with her therapist
and wrote this out, detailing, as best she could, the victimization that she suffered at the
[h]ands of the man who's supposed to be a father figure."
The prosecutor also argued that the jury should rely on the timeline in rejecting the
defense's contention that inconsistencies between P.C.'s prior statements and her trial
testimony were significant:
"[The prosecutor:] And then [to] take some cheap shots again at a girl who is going to Children's Hospital to talk about years of molestation. [¶] . . . [¶] Going to Children's Hospital to talk about years of molestation and using grownup words for grownup acts and being critical of her for not getting it all completely straight? [¶] Well, she writes it all right here. [¶] Her idea of sex at that time was a penis touching a vagina, not too far off from what a lot of people would characterize it." (Italics added.)
The prosecutor, continued, "And she spells it out for you right here. It's all right
here. Her view, her perception of what it was, she explained it."
Finally, in his very last words to the jury, the prosecutor stated:
"They told you what he did. They told you. They showed you in writing. They showed you with their emotions. They showed you with their testimony. He's guilty. [¶] Thanks for listening." (Italics added.)
21
2. Governing law
a. Refreshing a witness's recollection
Evidence Code section 771, subdivision (a) permits a witness to "use[ ] a writing
to refresh his memory with respect to any matter about which he testifies." However,
when a writing is used to refresh a witness's recollection, " '[t]he writing is used by the
witness solely to assist [the witness] in giving his oral testimony.' " (People v. Lee (1990)
219 Cal.App.3d 829, 840 (Lee).) " 'It has no independent evidentiary value for the party
calling [the witness], and is not admissible in evidence at his instance.' " (Ibid.)
In addition, it is well established that "[s]tatements which have no independent
basis of admissibility may not be introduced under the guise of refreshing a witness'
memory. If it is necessary to refresh the memory of a witness through the use of a prior
recorded statement, that statement should not be read aloud before the jury but should be
given to the witness to read or be read by the attorney outside the presence of the jury."
(People v. Parks (1971) 4 Cal.3d 955, 960–961 (Parks), italics added.) Further, the party
offering a writing to refresh a witness's recollection does not have "a right to have the
jury see [the writing]." (Estate of Packer (1913) 164 Cal. 525, 530.) "That the offering
party has not the right to treat it as evidence, by reading it or showing it or handing it to
the jury, is well established." (Ibid.)
b. Demonstrative evidence
"Demonstrative evidence is evidence that is shown to the jury 'as a tool to aid the
jury in understanding the substantive evidence.' " (People v. Diaz (2014) 227
Cal.App.4th 362, 384, fn. 19 (Diaz).) Common examples of demonstrative evidence
22
include "maps, charts, and diagrams" (Mills, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 207), all of which
"illustrate a witness's testimony." (Ibid.)
" '[D]emonstrative evidence is admissible for the purpose of illustrating and
clarifying a witness' testimony' so long as a proper foundation is laid." (People v. Roldan
(2005) 35 Cal.4th 646, 708.) For example, a prosecutor may use " 'objects similar to
those connected with the commission of a crime for purposes of illustration.' " (Ibid.
[concluding "trial court properly permitted the prosecutor to display a gun similar to
defendant's for demonstrative purposes because the actual gun defendant used was never
recovered"].)
Demonstrative evidence, however, is not to be used as substantive evidence. (See,
e.g., Duenas, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 21 ["a computer animation is not substantive
evidence used to prove the facts of a case; rather it is demonstrative evidence used to help
a jury to understand substantive evidence"]; compare with People v. Goldsmith (2014) 59
Cal.4th 258, 267 ["ATES evidence [related to a red light traffic camera] was offered as
substantive proof of defendant's violation, not as demonstrative evidence supporting the
testimony of a percipient witness to her alleged violation"].) In Duenas, the defendant
contended that a computer animation was inadmissible because it was cumulative of
other testimony at trial. (Duenes, at p. 25.) In rejecting the defendant's argument, the
Supreme Court explained the distinction between substantive evidence and demonstrative
evidence, stating, "[Defendant's] argument misapprehends the animation's role as
demonstrative evidence. The animation was not offered as substantive evidence, but as a
tool to aid the jury in understanding the substantive evidence." (Ibid.)
23
c. Hearsay
Hearsay is defined as "evidence of a statement that was made other than by a
witness while testifying at the hearing and that is offered to prove the truth of the matter
stated." (Evid. Code, § 1200, subd. (a).) "Except as provided by law, hearsay evidence is
inadmissible." (Evid. Code, § 1200, subd. (b).)
Two such exceptions to the hearsay rule are commonly referred to as the prior
consistent statement exception (Evid. Code, § 1236) and the past recollection recorded
exception (Evid. Code, § 1237.)
Notwithstanding the hearsay rule, evidence of witness's prior consistent statements
may be admitted to rebut evidence of the witness's prior inconsistent statement where the
consistent statement was made before the alleged inconsistent statement. (Evid. Code,
§§ 1236, 791, subd. (a).) Prior consistent statements are also admissible for their truth to
rebut a charge of improperly motivated testimony when the prior consistent statement
was made before the improper motive was alleged to have arisen.22 (Evid. Code,
§§ 1236, 791, subd. (b).)
Among other requirements, the hearsay exception for past recollection recorded
requires that the statement "[w]as made [by the witness] at a time when the fact recorded
in the writing actually occurred or was fresh in the witness' memory." (Evid. Code,
§ 1237, subd. (a)(1).)
22 As discussed below, Evidence Code section 791 governs the admissibility of a witness's prior consistent statements offered to support the witness's credibility. (See pt. III.A.2.d, post.) 24
d. A witness's prior consistent statements
Evidence Code section 791 governs the admission of a witness's prior statements
to support the witness's credibility and provides in relevant part:
"Evidence of a statement previously made by a witness that is consistent with his testimony at the hearing is inadmissible to support his credibility unless it is offered after:
"(a) Evidence of a statement made by him that is inconsistent with any part of his testimony at the hearing has been admitted for the purpose of attacking his credibility, and the statement was made before the alleged inconsistent statement; or
"(b) An express or implied charge has been made that his testimony at the hearing is recently fabricated or is influenced by bias or other improper motive, and the statement was made before the bias, motive for fabrication, or other improper motive is alleged to have arisen."
3. The trial court erred in permitting the People to display the timeline and allowing P.C. to testify as to statements on the timeline
a. It was improper to permit the timeline to be displayed to the jury as a writing being used to refresh P.C.'s recollection
The Supreme Court noted more than a century ago that it was " 'well established' "
(Estate of Packer, supra, 164 Cal. at p. 530) that a party refreshing a witness's
recollection with a writing "has not the right to treat [the writing] as evidence, by . . .
showing it . . . to the jury." (Ibid., italics added.) To permit such a display would be to
effectively present the writing as evidence, "under the guise of refreshing a witness'
memory." (Parks, supra, 4 Cal.3d at pp. 960–961.) Further, since writings used to
refresh a witness's recollection need not be admissible evidence (see e.g., Lee, supra, 219
Cal.App.3d at p. 840 ["[a] witness may refer to hearsay to refresh his recollection"]), the
25
practice of displaying such writings to the jury was long ago condemned by the Supreme
Court because it "would open the door to the admission of hearsay and manufactured
evidence without limit." (Estate of Packer, at p. 530.)
Notwithstanding this well-established law, the People contend that it was
permissible for the trial court to allow the prosecutor to display the timeline to the jury
because, due to the size of the timeline, "it was not practical to show P.C. the timeline
and then take it away after her memory was refreshed." To begin with, we are aware of
no authority, and the People have cited none, that would support such an exception to the
long-standing rule that a jury is not to be shown writings being used to refresh a witness's
recollection by the party offering the writing. Further, the People have not provided any
reason for this court to create a "practicability" exception to the well-established law
discussed above, that would permit the display of inadmissible evidence to the jury, and
we see no need for such an exception. The prosecutor could have refreshed P.C.'s
recollection with the timeline merely by having her look at the document before
testifying or photographing the timeline and showing her the photographs during her
testimony. In short, the fundamental prohibition against displaying inadmissible
evidence to the jury may not be circumvented merely because the proponent of the
writing believes that it would not be practicable to use a method of refreshing the
witness's recollection that would not require displaying the writing to the jury.
b. The timeline does not qualify as demonstrative evidence
Vasquez contends that the trial court erred in permitting the prosecutor to display
the timeline as demonstrative evidence. We agree. The timeline did not "illustrate
26
[P.C.'s] testimony" (Mills, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 207), by summarizing or diagraming
her testimony. In arguing for its display in the trial court, the prosecutor compared the
timeline to a chart that counsel might create at trial summarizing a witness's testimony.
The People echo this argument on appeal, contending that the timeline was properly
displayed to the jury as a demonstrative exhibit because "it is common sense that some
jurors might be able to understand the [witness's] testimony better if it were presented
visually."
While we agree that a chart summarizing a witness's testimony might constitute a
proper demonstrative exhibit, the timeline in this case bears no resemblance to such a
chart. To begin with, and most fundamentally, the timeline was based on out-of-court
statements made by P.C to her therapist, not on her in-court testimony.23 As defense
counsel correctly argued, displaying the timeline to the jury was no different from
permitting the defense to display for the jury P.C.'s inadmissible and inconsistent out-of-
court statements contained in transcripts of P.C.'s interviews with investigators.
In addition, the prosecutor argued that the jury should accord the timeline
substantive effect in proving the charged offenses, an impermissible use of demonstrative
evidence. (See Duenas, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 21 [stating that item of demonstrative
evidence is "not substantive evidence used to prove the facts of a case"].) The prosecutor
argued to the trial court that the timeline should be shown to the jury because it "provides
23 As discussed previously, P.C. testified that it was her therapist's handwriting that appears on the timeline. P.C. also stated that the therapist rephrased P.C.'s use of slang terms for various body parts in drafting the timeline. 27
a chronology, written firsthand by [P.C.], of [P.C.'s] experience." During his closing
argument, the prosecutor told the jury that P.C. wrote the timeline "with her therapist . . .
detailing, as best she could, the victimization that she suffered at the [h]ands of the man
who's supposed to be a father figure." In addition, the prosecutor argued to both the trial
court and the jury that the timeline was relevant in determining P.C.'s credibility. In the
hearing on whether the timeline should be published to the jury, the prosecutor stated that
the timeline is "certainly useful to the trier of fact [in] determin[ing] [the] credibility of
the witness, [and the] accuracy of testimony." Indeed, the prosecutor candidly
acknowledged that P.C. had brought the timeline to court so that it could be displayed to
the jury in order "to clarify her testimony yesterday." During his closing argument, the
prosecutor urged the jury to rely on the timeline in rejecting the defense's claim that
inconsistencies in P.C.'s forensic interview demonstrated that she was being untruthful.
We are aware of no authority that would permit the jury to rely on a demonstrative
exhibit in such a fashion in determining the credibility of a witness.
In sum, the trial court erred in permitting the People to display the timeline as
demonstrative evidence.
c. The trial court erred in permitting the prosecutor and P.C. to read statements directly from the timeline into evidence
Vasquez contends that the trial court erred in permitting P.C. and the prosecutor to
"read from and recount what was depicted on the timeline." Vasquez maintains that this
questioning resulted in the jury hearing extremely prejudicial hearsay statements from the
timeline read into evidence such as, "Rubbed his penis on my vagina."
28
A writing being used to refresh a witness's recollection "should not be read aloud
before the jury . . . ." (Parks, supra, 4 Cal.3d at pp. 960–961.) The People do not argue
otherwise. However, the People raise two arguments in response to Vasquez's
contention. First, the People maintain that Vasquez forfeited his claim that the prosecutor
improperly used the timeline because defense counsel "never objected to the form of the
prosecutor's questions about the timeline." We reject the People's forfeiture argument.
Defense counsel specifically contended that it was improper to allow "the jury [to]
actually see what the witness is refreshing her memory from[.]" This is a correct
statement of law that adequately preserved Vasquez's objection that it was not proper to
permit P.C. to read statements from the timeline into the record or to allow the jury to
view the statements written on the timeline. Once the trial court permitted the People to
display the timeline to the jury, raising an objection to P.C. reading from the timeline
would have been futile. The People also argue that the trial court properly allowed "P.C.
to directly explain some of the things shown on the timeline" because the "trial court had
ruled that the timeline could be used as demonstrative evidence." However, in light of
our conclusion that the trial court erred in permitting the prosecution to use the timeline
as demonstrative evidence, the prosecutor's questioning and P.C.'s testimony cannot be
affirmed on this basis.
Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court erred in permitting the prosecutor
and P.C. to read statements directly from the timeline into evidence and in allowing the
jury to view the statements written on the timeline.
29
4. The error requires reversal
A judgment may be reversed on appeal for improper admission of evidence only if
"it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the [defendant] would have been
reached in the absence of the error." (People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836
(Watson); see, e.g., People v. Covarrubias (2016) 1 Cal.5th 838, 886–887 [applying
Watson in determining whether trial court's erroneous admission of evidence was
prejudicial].) Reasonably probable in this context "does not mean more likely than not,
but merely a reasonable chance, more than an abstract possibility." (College Hospital
Inc. v. Superior Court (1994) 8 Cal.4th 704, 715, citing Watson, supra, at p. 837.) In
assessing prejudice, we consider both the magnitude of the error and the closeness of the
case.
The trial court improperly permitted the People to display an approximately
twenty-foot long timeline on which were written descriptions of the alleged molestations
together with photographs of P.C. as a child, during both P.C.'s testimony and closing
argument.24 Through the display of the timeline and P.C.'s testimony concerning the
timeline, the jury learned that P.C. had attended therapy sessions to address the alleged
abuse, a fact that had not been addressed in her initial direct examination. The
"inflammatory" nature of the contents of the timeline, which was likely to have an
emotional impact on the jury, heighted the possibility of prejudice from its display.
24 As noted previously, we have included photographs of the timeline in part III.A.1.b, ante. 30
(People v. Burroughs (2016) 6 Cal.App.5th 378, 383 [stating that "inflammatory
documentary and testimonial hearsay was prejudicial" under Watson].)
Further, the timeline contained details of the alleged molestations and P.C.'s
emotional responses to such molestations beyond that which P.C. had testified to during
her initial direct examination. For example, an entry on the timeline indicated that the
first touching had occurred "around Christmas." Another entry on the timeline stated,
"slap my butt felt like he 'deserved it.' " A third entry on the timeline stated that P.C. felt
as though she had "betrayed [Vasquez]," by having sex with another person. P.C. did not
testify to any of these aspects of the molestations during her initial direct testimony.
In addition, displaying the timeline and permitting P.C. to read statements from
the timeline into evidence allowed the People to rehabilitate P.C. after vigorous cross-
examination through the use of her prior statements, notwithstanding that those
statements were not admissible under Evidence Code section 791.25 Moreover, the
display of the statements and the reading of them into evidence permitted the jury to
consider the statements for their truth, despite the fact that the statements were made
outside of court and we are aware of no possible relevant hearsay exception through
which the statements could have been admitted.26 Further, as recounted in part III.A.1.e,
25 We emphasize that the People have not argued either in the trial court or in this court that the statements on the timeline were admissible as prior consistent statements under section 791. 26 In particular, the statements were not admissible as prior consistent statements under Evidence section 1236 because they were not offered in compliance with Evidence Code section 791. Nor were the statements admissible as a past recollection recorded since it is undisputed that the statements were not made "at a time when the fact recorded 31
ante, the prosecutor relied extensively on the timeline at trial. The prosecutor engaged in
an extensive redirect examination of P.C. concerning the timeline's contents while
displaying the timeline to the jury. In addition, the prosecutor displayed the timeline to
the jury during his rebuttal closing argument and referred to it either expressly or
implicitly on four occasions during that argument. Among these references were the
prosecutor's final statements to the jury in which he stated that the victims had "showed
[the jury] in writing" that Vasquez had committed the charged offenses. The prosecutor's
heavy reliance on the improperly displayed timeline and the related testimony heighted
the possibility of prejudice. (See Diaz, supra, 227 Cal.App.4th at p. 384 ["A prosecutor's
reference to evidence that should not have been presented to the jury increases the
potential for prejudice flowing from the error"].)
The strength of the evidence of Vasquez's guilt was not so overwhelming that we
can conclude that this serious error, which infected a large portion of the trial, was
harmless. A prior trial at which the timeline was not displayed, but at which the evidence
presented was otherwise similar, resulted in a hung jury. (See Diaz, supra, 227
Cal.App.4th at p. 385 [a previous hung jury "supports a finding of prejudice in light of
the fact that the evidence presented at both trials was similar, with the significant
exception that the [improperly admitted] videos were not shown at the first trial"]; People
in the writing actually occurred or was fresh in the witness' memory." (Evid. Code, § 1237, subd. (a)(1).) The People have not argued in the trial court or on appeal that the statements on the timeline were admissible pursuant to either Evidence Code section 1236 or Evidence Code section 1237. 32
v. Soojian (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 491, 520 ["under the Watson standard a hung jury is
considered a more favorable result than a guilty verdict"].)
In addition, there was no physical evidence of the crimes, and the People's
evidence of Vasquez's guilt relied almost entirely on the victims' testimony. Moreover,
the record contains evidence that could cause a reasonable jury to question the victims'
credibility.27 E.C. and P.C. both acknowledged that their disclosures of the alleged
abuse occurred at a time when there was considerable tension between the victims'
mother and Vasquez. Patricia stated that Vasquez moved out of the family's residence on
July 3, 2012. In their brief, the People state that Patricia called the police to report the
alleged abuse three days later, on July 6, 2012. The prosecutor acknowledged during
closing argument that P.C.'s motivation in disclosing the alleged abuse was to retaliate
against Vasquez for his threat to have Patricia deported.28 P.C. was vigorously cross-
examined on a number of inconsistencies with respect to her prior statements.
The People's arguments in support of their contention that any error in the use of
the timeline was harmless are not persuasive. The People contend that P.C. had testified
to "virtually everything contained on the timeline," prior to its display. We disagree. As
discussed above, there were several aspects of the alleged molestations recounted on the
timeline that had not been addressed in any manner during P.C.'s direct examination.
27 We again stress that we are not stating that this court questions the victims' credibility. Rather, we state only that there is evidence in the record from which a reasonable jury could find that the victims lacked credibility. 28 The prosecutor told the jury, "[Vasquez] had threatened to call immigration on [P.C's] mom [Patricia] and have her deported again. [¶] That was [P.C.'s] motivation" for the disclosures. 33
Moreover, as the People acknowledge, the display of the timeline permitted P.C. to
"provide more detail about her answers" concerning the alleged molestations. Even
assuming that P.C. would have been able to provide additional details concerning the
alleged molestations if her memory had been properly refreshed by the use of the
timeline, permitting the timeline to be displayed to the jury and allowing P.C. to read
statements from the timeline into evidence served to improperly bolster P.C.'s credibility
beyond that which would have been permissible through the proper use of the timeline to
refresh P.C.'s recollection.
The People also assert that the victims were "credible witnesses." To begin with, a
prior jury was unable to reach a verdict notwithstanding having heard similar testimony
from E.C. and P.C. regarding the alleged molestations. Further, the People acknowledge
various aspects of the victims' testimony that a jury could have found supported a finding
that the abuse allegations had been fabricated. For example, the People acknowledge that
P.C.'s motivation for disclosing the abuse was retaliatory and that P.C. was required to
"explain[ ] some of the inconsistencies" in her prior statements. Moreover, P.C.
explained all of the inconsistencies that the People refer to in their brief (i.e., P.C.'s
statements that Vasquez had "raped" her, that she had given Vasquez a "blow job," and
that she had "sex" with Vasquez) in part through the improper use of the timeline.
In sum, we are compelled to conclude that it is reasonably probable that the jury
would have reached a result more favorable to Vasquez in the absence of the erroneous
display of the timeline and the admission of the related testimony. Vasquez is entitled to
34
a new trial during which the People may attempt to prove his guilt without the jury
viewing the timeline and without statements from the timeline being read into evidence.
B. Vasquez has not demonstrated the existence of a discriminatory prosecution or the need for a recusal of the district attorney's office
Vasquez claims that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial, in
which Vasquez argued that a conflict in the district attorney's office resulted in a
discriminatory prosecution. He contends that we should reverse the judgment and direct
the trial court to dismiss the case. In his reply brief, Vasquez contends that the conflict
required recusal of the district attorney's office.
"A prosecutor's discretion to prosecute is constrained by federal principles of equal
protection and may not be based on ' "an unjustifiable standard such as race, religion, or
other arbitrary classification." ' " (People v. Montes (2014) 58 Cal.4th 809, 828.)
A motion to recuse the district attorney's office may be granted " 'whenever the
circumstances of a case evidence a reasonable possibility that the [district attorney's]
office may not exercise its discretionary function in an evenhanded manner.' " (Packer v.
Superior Court (2014) 60 Cal.4th 695, 709.)
After the jury reached a verdict in this case, Vasquez filed a motion for new trial.
In his motion for new trial, Vasquez alleged that various staff members of the district
attorney's office had personal relationships with P.C. and her family. However, Vasquez
did not identify any evidence in the record demonstrating that these individuals had any
role in prosecuting this case. Vasquez has therefore failed to demonstrate that a conflict
in the district attorney's office would preclude his prosecution on the ground that he is
35
being subjected to a discriminatory prosecution or that recusal of the entire district
attorney's office is required. We see nothing in the record on appeal that would preclude
Vasquez's prosecution by the district attorney's office on remand.29
C. On remand, if similar evidence is presented as was presented in this trial, the trial court should instruct the jury pursuant to the unanimity instruction contained in CALCRIM No. 3501 rather than in CALCRIM No. 3500
Vasquez contends that the trial court erred in instructing the jury pursuant to a
modified version of the standard unanimity instruction contained in CALCRIM No.
3500. Vasquez maintains that because the evidence of the molestations in this case did
not provide a basis for the jury to determine specific instances when such molestations
occurred, the trial court should have instructed the jury pursuant to CALCRIM No 3501.
CALCRIM No. 3500 provides:
"The defendant is charged with __________ <insert description of alleged offense> [in Count _____ ] [sometime during the period of __________ to __________ ].
"The People have presented evidence of more than one act to prove that the defendant committed this offense. You must not find the defendant guilty unless you all agree that the People have proved that the defendant committed at least one of these acts and you all agree on which act (he/she) committed."
29 We emphasize that we comment only on the record as presented in this appeal. We express no opinion with respect to whether Vasquez would be entitled to either dismissal of the charges or recusal of the district attorney's office if he were to present evidence that the individuals referred to in Vasquez's motion for new trial did have a role in prosecuting this case. 36
CALCRIM No. 3501 provides:
"The defendant is charged with __________ <insert description[s] of alleged offense[s]> [in Count[s] _____ ] sometime during the period of __________ to __________.
"The People have presented evidence of more than one act to prove that the defendant committed (this/these) offense[s]. You must not find the defendant guilty unless:
"1. You all agree that the People have proved that the defendant committed at least one of these acts and you all agree on which act (he/she) committed [for each offense];
"OR
"2. You all agree that the People have proved that the defendant committed all the acts alleged to have occurred during this time period [and have proved that the defendant committed at least the number of offenses charged]."
As can be seen by a comparison of the two standard instructions, CALCRIM No.
3501 provides an additional manner by which a jury may unanimously find a defendant
guilty beyond that provided in CALCRIM No. 3500.
In the trial in this case, the People presented generic testimony of the molestations
that did not provide a basis for the jury to determine the precise time when specific
molestations occurred. If similar evidence is presented in a retrial, the trial court should
instruct the jury pursuant to a modified version of CALCRIM No. 3501. (See People v.
Jones (1990) 51 Cal.3d 294, 322 ["when there is no reasonable likelihood of juror
disagreement as to particular acts, and the only question is whether or not the defendant
in fact committed all of them, the jury should be given a modified unanimity instruction
which, in addition to allowing a conviction if the jurors unanimously agree on specific
37
acts, also allows a conviction if the jury unanimously agrees the defendant committed all
the acts described by the victim"].)
We also note that the trial court instructed the jury on the concept of unanimity
pursuant to a modified version of CALCRIM No. 3500 as follows:
"The defendant is charged with Lewd Act Upon a Child in Counts One through Eight.
"The People have presented evidence of more than one act to prove that the defendant committed these offenses. You must not find the defendant guilty unless you all agree that the People have proved that the defendant committed at least one of these acts and you all agree on which act he committed."30
It appears that the trial court intended for the instruction to state as follows:
"The defendant is charged with Lewd Act Upon a Child in Counts One through Eight.
"The People have presented evidence of more than one act to prove that the defendant committed [each of] these offenses. You must not find the defendant guilty [of each offense] unless you all agree that the People have proved that the defendant committed at least one of these acts [for each offense] and you all agree on which act he committed."
CALCRIM No. 3500, unlike CALCRIM No. 3501, does not contain a bracketed
modification option to be used in cases in which the instruction is used for multiple
offenses. To the extent that the trial court instructs the jury pursuant to a modified
30 Vasquez also notes that the unanimity instruction given by the trial court did not contain a date range for each count and did not describe the particular acts for each count as do the standard instructions in both CALCRIM Nos. 3500 and 3501. While in light of our reversal of the judgment on other grounds we need not consider whether such omissions were erroneous and prejudicial, we note the omissions for the benefit of the trial court on remand. 38
CALCRIM unanimity instruction on remand with respect to multiple counts, it shall
ensure that the instruction is properly modified to account for such multiple counts.