Arce Gonzalez shot and killed another member of that group. Chavez and Gonzalez
appeal judgments following their jury convictions of second degree murder (Pen. Code,
§ 187, subd. (a))1 and assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)). On appeal,
Chavez contends: (1) the trial court erred by admitting an eyewitness's in-court
identification of him that was the result of an unduly suggestive pretrial identification
procedure; (2) the court erred by improperly limiting the scope of opinion testimony by
his eyewitness identification expert; (3) there is insufficient evidence to support his
conviction of second degree murder; and (4) the court erred by instructing with
CALCRIM No. 571 on imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another but
omitting imperfect defense of Gonzalez. Gonzalez joins in Chavez's contentions and also
contends: (1) the trial court erred by instructing with CALCRIM No. 3471 on the right of
self-defense but omitting language stating that an aggressor who initially uses only
nondeadly force regains the right to self-defense when his or her opponent counters with
deadly force; (2) the court erred by instructing with CALCRIM No. 3472, but not
1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified. 2
modifying it with language stating that a person who provokes a fight with an intent to
use nondeadly force regains the right to self-defense when his or her opponent counters
with deadly force; and (3) the court abused its discretion under Evidence Code section
352 by admitting the testimony of an eyewitness regarding the death threat he (Gonzalez)
made to dissuade that eyewitness from testifying at trial, and also abused its discretion by
denying his motion for mistrial. Chavez joins in Gonzalez's contentions. After the
parties submitted their briefs in this case, Gonzalez filed a supplemental brief arguing that
we should: (1) conclude the provisions of 2017 Senate Bill No. 620, effective January 1,
2018, apply retroactively to judgments not yet final; and (2) remand the matter for
resentencing to allow the trial court to exercise its discretion to strike or dismiss the
section 12022.53 firearm enhancement. Based on our reasoning post, we affirm the
judgments.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On June 17, 2014, the Rincon Del Mar restaurant in National City was filled with
customers, many of whom were there to watch the World Cup soccer match between
Mexico and Brazil. There was one group of customers with ties to Tijuana, including
Gonzalez, Chavez, Alfonso Vasquez, Vincente Roldan, and brothers Vicente Gutierrez
(Vicente) and Rafael Gutierrez (Rafael). Another group of customers had ties to National
3
City, including Josue Crook, Edward (also known as Eddie) Lopez, Jesus Morfin,
Anthony Aguilar, Tomas (also known as Tommy) Lujan, and Enrique Chavez.2
After the match, Rafael argued with Morfin in front of the restaurant about
whether he had a problem with his brother Vicente. When Morfin approached Vicente,
Vicente punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious. Vicente
and Rafael beat Morfin while he was unconscious on the ground. Meanwhile, Gonzalez
hit Aguilar in the face, causing him to fall unconscious onto Lujan who had been standing
nearby. While on the ground, Lujan was punched by Gonzalez. Lujan escaped by
crawling under a flatbed truck that was parked on the street directly in front of the
restaurant. When Lujan tried to get out from under the truck, Gonzalez kicked him in the
face. From under the truck, Lujan saw Gonzalez pacing back and forth, holding a pistol
by his side. During the fight, Gonzalez and Chavez at times were back-to-back and then
face-to-face. Other members of the two groups also began fighting with each other.
After Juan Carlos Lopez, the restaurant's owner, broke up the initial physical
altercation, the combatants moved away from the restaurant. Rafael and Vicente ran
southward as Eddie Lopez chased them.3 When Eddie Lopez was about 15 feet away
from them, he threw a beer bottle at them, possibly striking one of them, and then ran
back toward the restaurant. While Eddie Lopez was running after them, Gonzalez ran in
2 To avoid confusion, we refer to defendant Salvador Chavez by his last name and Enrique Chavez by his full name.
3 We refer to Juan Carlos Lopez and Eddie Lopez by their full names to avoid confusion. 4
Eddie Lopez's direction and, from a distance, pointed a gun at his back. Crook, who had
just come out of the restaurant, and Lujan approached Gonzalez from behind and Crook
tapped him on the shoulder. Gonzalez spun around and shot Crook twice at point-blank
range, striking him in the chest near his armpit and in the upper right side of his back.4
Immediately before being shot, Crook put up his hands and began turning away from
Gonzalez. Except for possibly a plastic cup, Crook did not have anything in his hands at
the time and no weapons were found on or near him. Gonzalez then pointed his gun at
Lujan, but Juan Carlos Lopez intervened and begged him not to shoot. Crook died from
his gunshot injuries.
While Eddie Lopez was running away from the Gutierrez brothers, he saw Chavez
chasing after him with a knife in his hand. However, immediately after Gonzalez shot
Crook, Chavez stopped his chase and ran eastward with Gonzalez. Chavez and Gonzalez
got into a black truck and fled the scene. Remaining at the scene, Eddie Lopez felt his
shirt was wet and then realized he had been stabbed in the back.5
4 According to Lujan, at the time of the shooting, he (Lujan) was 12 feet away from where the shooting occurred.
5 A video recording from the restaurant's surveillance camera in the exterior front area of the restaurant showed, inter alia, Chavez at the time of the initial physical altercation holding an object in a manner consistent with someone holding a folding knife. However, because the camera's angle or range was limited, the recording did not show Eddie Lopez throwing the beer bottle at the Gutierrez brothers, Gonzalez pointing his gun at Eddie Lopez, Crook approaching Gonzalez from behind and tapping his shoulder, Gonzalez turning and shooting Crook, or Chavez stabbing Eddie Lopez in the back. 5
Gonzalez was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States. Police
searched Chavez's house and found two folding knives and clothing matching what he
was seen wearing on the day of the shooting. Juan Carlos Lopez told police the
restaurant's surveillance camera was inoperable because a car crashed into the restaurant
two to three weeks before the shooting. However, police searched the restaurant and
found a flash drive containing a five- to seven-minute video recording from one of its
surveillance cameras, which recording showed, inter alia, the initial physical altercation
between the two group's members and Crook placing an object on the flatbed truck and
then picking it back up before the shooting. During a police interview, Juan Carlos
Lopez admitted he initially lied about not seeing who shot Crook because he feared
retaliation. Cell phone records showed there were 12 calls between Gonzalez's phone and
Chavez's phone on the day of the shooting.
An information charged Gonzalez and Chavez with the murder of Crook (§ 187,
subd. (a)) and the assault on Eddie Lopez with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)). It
also alleged that Gonzalez committed the murder while out of custody on bail pending a
final judgment for a prior felony offense (§ 12022.1, subd. (b)), personally discharged a
firearm causing great bodily injury or death (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)), and had served three
prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)).
At the joint trial of Gonzalez and Chavez, the prosecution presented evidence
substantially as described ante. In his defense, Gonzalez presented, inter alia, the
testimony of Roldan, who stated he was hit during the fight and knocked to the ground.
Roldan did not see either Gonzalez or Chavez attack or shoot anyone. In his defense,
6
Chavez presented the testimony of Scott Fraser, an eyewitness identification expert, who
testified generally about how alcohol, memory convergence, and stress could result in an
eyewitness's faulty memory. The jury found Gonzalez and Chavez guilty on both counts
and found true the firearm allegation.6 The trial court sentenced Gonzalez to an
indeterminate term of 40 years to life in prison plus a consecutive determinate term of
seven years.7 The court sentenced Chavez to an indeterminate term of 15 years to life in
prison plus a consecutive determinate term of two years. Gonzalez and Chavez each
timely filed a notice of appeal challenging the judgments against them.
DISCUSSION
I
Admission of Eddie Lopez's Identification of Chavez
Chavez contends, and Gonzalez joins in his contention, that the trial court erred by
admitting Eddie Lopez's in-court identification of him (Chavez) as the man who stabbed
him. In particular, Chavez argues Eddie Lopez's in-court identification was the result of
6 Gonzalez subsequently admitted the truth of the other allegations.
7 The trial court imposed a total consecutive determinate term of seven years, consisting of two years for count 2, two years for the section 12022.1, subdivision (b), enhancement, and three years for Gonzalez's three prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)). As Gonzalez notes, the court's minute order and abstract of judgment do not accurately reflect the consecutive determinate sentence it imposed. Instead of the two-year term the court imposed for count 2, they erroneously indicate a three-year term was imposed. Accordingly, we direct the trial court to issue a new minute order nunc pro tunc and amended abstract of judgment to reflect the correct consecutive two-year term imposed for count 2. 7
a pretrial identification procedure that was unduly suggestive and that pretrial
identification was unreliable under the totality of the circumstances.
A
Before trial, Chavez filed an in limine motion to exclude evidence of Eddie
Lopez's pretrial identification of him as the man who stabbed him in the back. Noting
that during a pretrial interview with police Eddie Lopez described his attacker as wearing
a red T-shirt and blue jeans and the police detective showed him only his (Chavez's)
photograph, he argued Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification was unduly suggestive and
should be excluded because there were at least two people wearing red shirts and blue
jeans. He also argued the photograph shown Eddie Lopez depicted him (Chavez) holding
something in his hand, which made the pretrial identification more suggestive.
The prosecutor opposed the motion, arguing Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification
was not unduly suggestive and was reliable based on the totality of the circumstances.
The prosecutor described the circumstances of that pretrial identification. On June 25,
2014, eight days after the incident, National City Police Detectives Depascale and
Ballardo interviewed Eddie Lopez at the National City Police Department. When shown
various photographs taken about the time of the incident, Eddie Lopez recognized and/or
identified many of the persons shown in the photographs. Eddie Lopez then described
his assailant, stating: "There was another guy, a fat, short guy in a red t-shirt and blue
jeans. He's the one who stabbed me." Eddie Lopez stated he did not see his assailant
until he turned around and saw his assailant with a knife. Detective Ballardo left the
room and returned with one photograph, which he placed in front of Eddie Lopez without
8
saying anything. Eddie Lopez immediately stated: "[T]hat's him, that's the guy who
stabbed me." He did not identify the person shown in the photograph as Chavez by
name, but only as the man who stabbed him. The prosecutor argued Eddie Lopez's
identification of Chavez, as shown in the photograph, was not unduly suggestive because
he had been shown other photographs before instantly identifying the photograph
depicting Chavez in a red T-shirt and blue jeans as his assailant. The prosecutor also
argued the fact that the photograph showed Chavez holding something in his hand did not
make the pretrial identification unduly suggestive or unreliable because Eddie Lopez
immediately identified the man in the red T-shirt and blue jeans (i.e., Chavez) as his
assailant before having sufficient time to closely examine the photograph and see that the
man had something in his hand. The prosecutor conceded there was another man at the
restaurant that day, but that man (Maurice Lopez) was wearing white shorts and not blue
jeans. Also, the prosecutor noted that during a July 10, 2014 interview with police
Chavez identified himself as the man depicted in surveillance camera photographs
wearing the red shirt. Accordingly, the prosecutor argued the evidence of Eddie Lopez's
pretrial identification of Chavez should be admitted in evidence at trial.
At the hearing on Chavez's motion, counsel repeated the arguments they made in
their papers. Chavez argued he did not want Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of him
to be admitted as a "backhanded" identification even though the prosecutor apparently
planned to have Eddie Lopez identify him (Chavez) as his assailant at trial. The trial
court commented: "So really the issue is whether that identification impacts [Eddie]
9
Lopez['s] identification of Mr. Chavez at trial." The court denied the motion, finding
there was nothing unduly suggestive about the pretrial identification.
At trial, Eddie Lopez testified regarding the incident and, in particular, described
the man he saw running after him holding a knife. He described the man as "[j]ust a little
heavyset, red t-shirt, blue jeans." From a distance of about 10 feet, he saw the man
holding a knife with a blade that was "maybe a couple of inches long." When shown the
surveillance camera photograph of Chavez, Eddie Lopez stated it "looks like the guy that
was running behind me" and confirmed it was a fair and accurate photograph of that man.
He thought he remembered telling the man to put the knife down. When asked whether
he saw that man in court, Eddie Lopez stated: "I'm not sure. I mean I just remember the
clothing and I remember that." When shown the video recording from the restaurant's
surveillance camera, Eddie Lopez stated that he recognized the man in the red shirt and
blue jeans shown in the recording. On cross-examination, Eddie Lopez stated he did not
know the name of the man shown wearing the red shirt and blue jeans. On redirect
examination, he confirmed the only person he saw with a knife was the man wearing the
red shirt. He could not say whether that man had stabbed him, but he saw that man
behind him with a knife in his hand.
Detective Depascale testified at trial and stated he and Detective Ballardo had
spoken with Eddie Lopez on about June 25, 2014, at the police station. He stated they
did not show Eddie Lopez the video recording from the surveillance camera, but had
shown him about five still photographs from that recording. On cross-examination,
Chavez's counsel asked Depascale: "When [Eddie] Lopez identified the man in the red
10
shirt, isn't it true that Detective Ybarra [sic] came in and showed him a picture, correct?"
Depascale replied, "Yes, came in and placed a picture on the interview room table."
Chavez's counsel asked: "And the picture only had the man in the red shirt on it,
about a still photograph (exh. No. 14) that had been taken from the surveillance video
recording.
B
"In order to determine whether the admission of identification evidence violates a
defendant's constitutional right to due process of law, we consider (1) whether the
identification procedure was unduly suggestive and unnecessary, and, if so, (2) whether
the identification itself was nevertheless reliable under the totality of the circumstances,
taking into account such factors as the opportunity of the witness to view the suspect at
the time of the offense, the witness's degree of attention at the time of the offense, the
accuracy of his or her prior description of the suspect, the level of certainty demonstrated
at the time of the identification, and the lapse of time between the offense and the
identification." (People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 989 (Cunningham).) A
single person showup, or a single person photograph, is not inherently unfair or
suggestive. (People v. Clark (1992) 3 Cal.4th 41, 136; People v. Ochoa (1998) 19
Cal.4th 353, 413 (Ochoa).) "Showing the witnesses a single photo of the defendant is no
more impermissibly suggestive than an in-court identification with the defendant
personally sitting at the defense counsel table in the courtroom." (People v. Yonko (1987)
196 Cal.App.3d 1005, 1008-1009.) A single person photograph is analogous to a single
11
person showup that "may pose a danger of suggestiveness, but such lineups or showups
are not necessarily or inherently unfair." (Clark, at p. 136.) An identification of a
defendant at trial, which is based on an unduly suggestive and unreliable pretrial
identification that posed a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification,
violates a defendant's constitutional right to due process. (Neil v. Biggers (1972) 409
U.S. 188, 196-198.)
The defendant has the burden of demonstrating an identification procedure was
unduly suggestive or unreliable. (People v. Avila (2009) 46 Cal.4th 680, 700.) On
appeal, we review de novo, or independently, a trial court's conclusion whether or not an
identification procedure is unduly suggestive or unreliable under the totality of the
circumstances. (Id. at pp. 698-699.) If an identification procedure was not unduly
suggestive, there is no violation of a defendant's due process right. (Ochoa, supra, 19
Cal.4th at p. 412.) If a defendant's federal constitutional right to due process is violated,
reversal of the defendant's conviction is required unless the People show that error was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24
(Chapman).)
C
Chavez asserts Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of him as his assailant was the
result of the impermissibly suggestive identification procedure used by the National City
Police detectives during their pretrial interview of Eddie Lopez and his pretrial
identification was also unreliable under the totality of the circumstances. Chavez
therefore argues the trial court erred by admitting Eddie Lopez's in-court identification of
12
him (Chavez) as his assailant, which identification was the result of, or tainted by, his
pretrial identification.8 However, based on our independent review of the record, we
conclude that the pretrial identification procedure used by the detectives was not unduly
suggestive and Eddie Lopez's identification of the photograph depicting the man who
attacked him (i.e., Chavez) during that procedure was reliable under the totality of the
circumstances.
During their pretrial interview of Eddie Lopez, the detectives first questioned him
and ascertained his detailed version of events before showing him photographs of various
persons from the restaurant's surveillance camera video recording. After not recognizing
any of those persons as his assailant, Eddie Lopez stated: "There was another guy, a fat,
short guy in a red t-shirt and blue jeans. He's the one who stabbed me." Detective
Ballardo left the room and returned with a single photograph depicting a man wearing a
red shirt and blue jeans (i.e., Chavez, per his own subsequent admission to police)
8 Chavez apparently does not, nor could he persuasively, assert the trial court erred by admitting evidence of Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of him as his assailant because Chavez does not cite to the record showing the prosecutor presented such evidence on direct examination of Eddie Lopez, Depascale, or other witnesses. Rather, at trial it was Chavez's counsel who, on cross-examination of Depascale, first raised the topic of Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of Chavez as his assailant during the detectives' interview. Chavez's counsel asked Depascale: "When [Eddie] Lopez identified the man in the red shirt, isn't it true that Detective Ybarra [sic] came in and showed him a picture, correct?" Depascale replied, "Yes, came in and placed a picture on the interview room table." Accordingly, Chavez apparently argues on appeal only that the trial court erred by admitting Eddie Lopez's in-court testimony identifying the photograph of the man wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans (i.e., Chavez) as depicting his assailant, which identification purportedly was based on, or resulted from, the prior unduly suggestive and unreliable pretrial identification procedure used by the detectives. 13
obtained from the surveillance camera video recording. Without saying anything,
Ballardo placed the photograph in front of Eddie Lopez, who immediately stated:
"[T]hat's him, that's the guy who stabbed me."
Although single photograph lineups may be suggestive and not the preferred
identification procedure, we cannot conclude Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of
Chavez was unduly suggestive in the circumstances of this case. The detectives did not
present Eddie Lopez with just one photograph during their interview, but showed him a
number of photographs before he spontaneously described his assailant to them. Given
that description, Ballardo obtained a still photograph of a man matching that description
from the restaurant's surveillance camera video recording. The photograph did not bear
any markings or titles and Ballardo did not make any statement when he placed it in front
of him. Without hesitation, Eddie Lopez identified the man depicted in the photograph as
his assailant. Although that identification procedure was suggestive, it was not unduly
suggestive. Ballardo simply presented Eddie Lopez with a photograph from the
surveillance camera video recording of a man that matched his description of his assailant
and did not expressly or implicitly attempt to persuade Eddie Lopez to identify that man
as his assailant.
Assuming arguendo that pretrial identification procedure was unduly suggestive,
we nevertheless conclude Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of the man in the
photograph (i.e., Chavez) was reliable under the totality of the circumstances. Most
importantly, the man wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans depicted in the photograph was
the only person shown in the surveillance camera video recording before or during the
14
incident who was wearing that type of clothing. The only other man with a red T-shirt
was wearing white shorts, not blue jeans, and had a distinctively different appearance.9
Furthermore, the man depicted in the photograph also matched Eddie Lopez's additional
description of his assailant as a "fat" and "short" man. He also had an excellent
opportunity to view his assailant at the time. He turned around and faced him from a
distance of only 10 feet and asked him to put the knife down. He viewed the man long
enough to remember what he was wearing (i.e., red T-shirt and blue jeans) and his body
type (i.e., fat and short). His pretrial identification of the man in the photograph as his
assailant was made only eight days after the attack. Finally, the immediacy and certainty
of his pretrial identification of the man depicted in the photograph as his assailant
supports the reliability of his identification. Based on our consideration of the totality of
the circumstances, we conclude Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of the man depicted
in the photograph as his assailant (i.e., the man who chased him with a knife) was
reliable. (Cunningham, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 989.) Because Eddie Lopez's pretrial
identification was reliable, it did not violate Chavez's federal constitutional due process
9 Based on our independent viewing of the video recording, we note another man came out of the restaurant and appeared in front of it only after the shooting occurred. Although that man was wearing a red, short-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans, he also wore a dark, long-sleeved T-shirt underneath his short-sleeved shirt and could not reasonably be described as "fat" or "short," as per Eddie Lopez's description of his assailant. Accordingly, the photograph shown to him (i.e., depicting Chavez) was the only man shown in the video recording as present in front of the restaurant before or at the time of the shooting of Crook and the attack on Eddie Lopez who was wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans. 15
right and the trial court properly allowed him to testify that the man shown in that
photograph (i.e., Chavez) depicted his assailant. (Ochoa, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 412.)
Contrary to Chavez's assertion, that in-court identification was not the result of, or
tainted by, any unduly suggestive pretrial identification procedure or unreliable pretrial
identification. People v. Rodriguez (1977) 68 Cal.App.3d 874, cited by Chavez, is
factually inapposite to this case and does not persuade us to reach a contrary conclusion.
Furthermore, neither the fact the man in the photograph appeared to be holding an object
that possibly could have been a knife, nor Eddie Lopez's prior unfamiliarity with that
man, made his pretrial identification unreliable based on the totality of the circumstances.
II
Limitation on Opinion Testimony by Chavez's Eyewitness Identification Expert
Chavez contends the trial court erred by improperly limiting the scope of opinion
testimony by Fraser, his eyewitness identification expert.
A
Before trial, Chavez filed an in limine motion to allow him to present testimony by
an eyewitness identification expert. His motion did not state the specific nature or
content of his expert's expected testimony. The prosecution opposed the motion, arguing
such expert testimony should be excluded because there was substantial corroboration of
the eyewitnesses' identification of Chavez and Gonzalez. The trial court granted
Chavez's motion, but stated the prosecution had the discovery right to receive his expert's
reports and information regarding the expected substance of his testimony.
16
After the prosecution completed its case-in-chief, Chavez's counsel presented the
prosecution and the trial court with a letter from Fraser, his eyewitness identification
expert, regarding the expert's expected testimony.10 The prosecutor described the
content of that letter, stating the expert's expected testimony would relate to the "general
topics of fight or flight, conscious transference, memory decay, and confluences." She
moved to exclude that type of testimony, arguing it potentially affected witness
credibility issues. Chavez's counsel replied that those issues were within the broad topic
of witness identifications and should be admitted.
The trial court noted that before trial the proffered eyewitness identification
testimony appeared to be pertinent, but that the expert's letter appeared to enlarge the
scope of that testimony. The prosecutor objected to the enlarged scope of the expert's
testimony, referring to "the last couple of sentences of the first paragraph, that he be
offered to testify about situations in which witnesses misperceive a harmless object to be
a lethal weapon and provide an opinion about the discrepancies in Mr. Lujan's [sic]
testimony regarding his purported knife wound and his contradictory statement at trial. I
think that this is again going a little bit a foul of the jury's [province] and determination of
a witness's credibility . . . ." The court agreed, stating: "I don't know how he's going to
comment on anybody's testimony." Chavez's counsel then stated that he planned to use
hypotheticals. He stated that until the previous night he did not know the depth of his
10 The record on appeal does not include a copy of that letter and the parties have not lodged it with this court. 17
expert's knowledge. The prosecutor again stated the expert's expected testimony was
"dangerously coming close to opining about the credibility of a specific witness, given
the way that this particular letter is written." The court indicated that an Evidence Code
section 402 hearing may be needed to ascertain exactly what the expert's testimony would
be, stating: "[b]ecause a general statement . . . that somebody can see something take it
as a weapon when it's not, I'm not sure that's [a] subject appropriate for expert testimony.
The fact that a witness's statement might conflict with something that he said before,
again I don't see that that's [a] subject [for] expert testimony."
Chavez's counsel stated:
"Just to clarify, the intent is for Dr. Fraser to explain that these witnesses are not untruthful, they are not fabricating evidence, but there are certain processes in the brain that occur after witnessing a traumatic event, which he can explain . . . what the cause of the discrepancies is; that these people are not lying, they are not disingenuous, they have suffered whatever memory decay, conscious transference, misperception, post-observational influences. And these are all things that affect the memory retention after a traumatic event. And that is what he is going to testify to explain to the jury why the inconsistent stories, based on scientific research, and explain why they may happen based on hypotheticals."
The court replied:
"Well, I wouldn't allow a hypothetical. I would—because—well, the most I would allow is if there are studies that—where [Fraser] can state that after a traumatic event that witnesses are not always reliable because of other factors that are going through—chemical or otherwise, through the brain, that is one thing, but to comment on specific evidence, no. To comment on somebody, even hypothetical or not to comment on what you perceive to be discrepancies, you argue that to the jury. That is what the juries are for. They are the fact finders. They find whether there are material discrepancies between witness statements. It is not up to your expert to decide whether there are discrepancies, and if there are discrepancies, why.
18
" . . . [I]f there's a foundation for the expert's opinion concerning the reliability of eyewitnesses of an event after a traumatic event, if there is a basis for that generally, I might allow it, but not commenting hypothetically or otherwise on specific witness's testimony, because the jury's going to decide whether there's discrepancies. . . . It's up to them to decide whether they are reliable witnesses." (Italics added.)
The court stated that was its ruling and then asked the prosecutor whether she would like
an Evidence Code section 402 hearing.11 The court stated: "If there's [a] foundation for
[Fraser's] being able to testify as to general reliability of any witness after a traumatic
event, such as a shooting, I would allow that without specifics." (Italics added.) After
the prosecutor expressed concern regarding the court's use of the term "reliability," the
court agreed and clarified what it meant to say was that "if [Fraser] has studies
concerning brain chemistry, that kind of thing about people in traumatic situations, he
may testify as to that." The court stated it would not allow expert testimony "as to
reliability of witnesses, but [would as to] brain chemistry changes, things like that if there
are appropriate studies."
Chavez's counsel then proffered what type of hypothetical question he would pose
to Fraser, stating:
"[M]y hypothetical would have just listed individual A, alleged victim; individual B, his friend; individual D, the defendant. And, basically, I would have gone through hypotheticals, which are similar, but not identical, and not requesting that [Fraser] tell the credibility of the particular[] witness A or B, but explain what psychological brain chemistry or what psychological factors would explain for the discrepancies."
11 It appears there was no Evidence Code section 402 hearing conducted thereafter. 19
The court ruled that it would not allow that type of expert testimony.
Chavez then presented Fraser's expert testimony generally on how alcohol,
memory convergence, and stress could cause an eyewitness to have a faulty memory.
B
Evidence that is relevant is generally admissible at trial. (Evid. Code, §§ 210,
350.) A criminal defendant has the right to present the testimony of witnesses in his or
her defense, subject to a court's application of ordinary rules of evidence which generally
does not infringe on a defendant's right to present a defense. (People v. Cromwell (2005)
45 Cal.4th 50, 82.) In particular, a court may exclude relevant evidence pursuant to
Evidence Code section 801 allows expert opinion testimony on subjects that are
"sufficiently beyond common experience that the opinion of an expert would assist the
trier of fact." However, an expert witness may not give testimony that "amounts to no
more than an expression of his [or her] general belief as to how the case should be
decided." (People v. Killebrew (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 644, 651.)
Regarding eyewitness identifications, expert testimony may be allowed to
"inform[] the jury of certain factors that may affect such an identification in a typical
case." (People v. McDonald (1984) 37 Cal.3d 351, 370 (McDonald).) "[T]o the extent
that [expert testimony] may refer to the particular circumstances of the identification
before the jury, such testimony is limited to explaining the potential effects of those
circumstances on the powers of observation and recollection of a typical eyewitness."
(Id. at pp. 370-371.) Accordingly, a trial court may exclude expert testimony "that any
20
particular witness is or is not truthful or accurate in his [or her] identification of the
defendant." (Id. at p. 370.)
On appeal, we review a trial court's ruling on the admissibility of expert testimony
on psychological factors affecting eyewitness identification for abuse of discretion.
(McDonald, supra, 37 Cal.3d at p. 377.) Nevertheless, "[e]xclusion of the expert
testimony is justified only if there is other evidence that substantially corroborates the
eyewitness identification and gives it independent reliability." (People v. Jones (2003)
30 Cal.4th 1084, 1112.) Although a "defendant has the general [constitutional] right to
offer a defense through the testimony of his or her witnesses [citation], . . . a state court's
application of ordinary rules of evidence . . . generally does not infringe upon this right
[citations]." (People v. Cornwell (2005) 37 Cal.4th 50, 82; see also Holmes v. South
Carolina (2006) 547 U.S. 319, 326-327 [application of ordinary rules of evidence
generally does not infringe on a defendant's constitutional right to present a defense].)
C
Chavez's contention is premised on his assumption that the trial court's ruling
excluded any testimony by Fraser on the issues of fight or flight, conscious transference,
memory decay, and confluences, and prohibited him from using hypothetical questions or
discussing psychological facts that may explain discrepancies in witness statements.
However, the record on appeal does not support that premise. Based on our reading of
the trial court's ruling, quoted ante, it is clear the court excluded only expert testimony,
whether directly or hypothetically, on how a traumatic event or other psychological
factors affected a specific witness's memory or the reliability of that witness's
21
identification. The court stated that it would not allow Fraser "to comment on specific
evidence" or to comment on discrepancies in a specific witness's identification, whether
by hypothetical questions or otherwise. (Italics added.) The court noted it was the jury's
function, and not the expert's function, to decide whether there were discrepancies in a
specific witness's identification or other statements. The court restated its ruling,
explaining it would allow expert testimony on eyewitness identifications generally (e.g.,
on the effect of traumatic events generally), but would not allow Fraser to "comment[]
hypothetically or otherwise on specific witness's testimony." (Italics added.)
Accordingly, contrary to Chavez's assertion, the court did not exclude general expert
testimony on the issues of fight or flight, conscious transference, memory decay, and
confluences, or from using general hypothetical questions to explain those concepts.
Rather, the court excluded such expert testimony to the extent it commented on, whether
directly or indirectly, on a specific witness's identification or other statements or
testimony. In so doing, the court did not abuse its discretion. (Cf. People v. Smith (2003)
30 Cal.4th 581, 628 [trial court did not abuse its discretion by excluding expert testimony
on credibility of defendant's expressions of remorse].) Although the court could have
expressed, or elaborated on, its ruling in a more concrete or explicit manner, the gist of its
ruling, as we summarized it ante, was clear from the record. Accordingly, to the extent
22
Chavez argues the court erred by precluding his expert witness from testifying on those
issues generally, he is incorrect.12
III
Substantial Evidence to Support Chavez's Conviction of Second Degree Murder
Chavez contends there is insufficient evidence to support his conviction of the
second degree murder of Crook. In particular, he argues there is insufficient evidence to
support a finding that he either: (1) directly aided and abetted Gonzalez's murder of
Crook; or (2) aided and abetted an assault with a deadly weapon by Gonzalez and murder
was a natural and probable consequence of that assault.
A
Second degree murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice
aforethought, but without the additional elements required for first degree murder (e.g.,
willfulness, premeditation, and deliberation). (§ 187, subd. (a); People v. Cravens (2012)
53 Cal.4th 500, 507.) Malice may be either express or implied. (Cravens, at p. 507.)
Malice is express when a defendant manifests a deliberate intention to kill another
12 In any event, contrary to Chavez's assertion, there was other substantial corroboration of Eddie Lopez's identification of the man shown in the red shirt and blue jeans in the photograph as his attacker that gave his identification independent reliability. (Jones, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 1112.) In particular, before seeing the photograph, Eddie Lopez told the detectives that a man (i.e., a fat, short guy who was wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans) chased him with a knife shortly before he heard the two gunshots. The jury viewed the surveillance camera video recording, as well as still photographs therefrom, which showed Chavez was the only person matching that description. Therefore, Eddie Lopez's identification of the man in the photograph as his assailant was substantially corroborated by other evidence. 23
person. (Ibid.) Malice is implied when the killing of another person is proximately
caused by an act, the natural and probable consequences of which are dangerous to life,
which act was deliberately performed by a person who knows his or her conduct
endangers the life of another and acts with conscious disregard for life. (Ibid.)
Under the direct aiding and abetting theory of liability for a crime, a defendant can
be found guilty of that crime if he or she knows of the perpetrator's unlawful purpose and
specifically intends to, and does in fact, aid, facilitate, promote, encourage, or instigate
the perpetrator's commission of that crime. (CALCRIM No. 401; People v. McCoy
(2001) 25 Cal.4th 1111, 1117.)
Under the natural and probable consequences theory of aiding and abetting a
murder, a defendant can be found guilty of murder if he or she aids and abets a crime
(i.e., the target crime) and murder (i.e., the nontarget crime) is a natural and probable
consequence of that target crime. (CALCRIM No. 403; People v. Prettyman (1996) 14
Cal.4th 248, 261.) As given by the trial court, CALCRIM No. 403 instructs on the
natural and probable consequence theory of liability, stating:
"Before you decide whether the defendant is guilty of murder in the second degree, you must decide whether he is guilty of assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury other than the crime charged in Count 2.
"To prove that the defendant is guilty of murder in the second degree, the People must prove that:
"1. The defendant is guilty of assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury other than the crime charged in Count 2;
24
"2. During the commission of assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, a coparticipant in that assault committed the crime of murder;
"AND
"3. Under all of the circumstances, a reasonable person in the defendant's position would have known that the commission of the murder was a natural and probable consequence of the commission of the assault.
"A coparticipant in a crime is the perpetrator or anyone who aided and abetted the perpetrator. It does not include a victim or innocent bystander.
"A natural and probable consequence is one that a reasonable person would know is likely to happen if nothing unusual intervenes. In deciding whether a consequence is natural and probable, consider all of the circumstances established by the evidence. If the murder was committed for a reason independent of the common plan to commit the assault, then the commission of murder was not a natural and probable consequence of assault.
"To decide whether [the] crime of murder in the second degree was committed, please refer to the separate instructions that I have given you on that crime.
"The People are alleging that the defendant originally intended to aid and abet an assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
"If you decide that the defendant aided and abetted one of these crimes and that murder in the second degree was a natural and probable consequence of that crime, the defendant is guilty of murder in the second degree. You do not need to agree about which of these crimes the defendant aided and abetted."
"The natural and probable consequences doctrine is based on the recognition that those
who aid and abet [a crime] should be responsible for the harm they have naturally,
probably, and foreseeably put in motion." (People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 567.)
25
Under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, an aider and abettor need
not have actually foreseen the nontarget crime; rather, the question is whether, viewed
objectively, that the nontarget crime was reasonably foreseeable (i.e., whether a
reasonable person in the defendant's position would have, or should have, known the
nontarget crime was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the target crime he or she
aided and abetted). (People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913, 920 (Medina); People v.
Mendoza (1988) 18 Cal.4th 1114, 1133 (Mendoza); People v. Nguyen (1993) 21
Cal.App.4th 518, 535 (Nguyen).) To be reasonably foreseeable, the consequence need
not have been a strong probability; rather, a possible consequence that might reasonably
have been contemplated is sufficient. (Medina, at p. 920; Nguyen, at p. 535.) "A
reasonably foreseeable consequence is to be evaluated under all the factual circumstances
of the individual case [citation] and is a factual issue to be resolved by the jury."
(Medina, at p. 920.)
B
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
judgment, we apply the substantial evidence standard of review. Generally, our task "is
to review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine
whether it discloses substantial evidence—that is, evidence that 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. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1, 11, citing People
v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578.) "Resolution of conflicts and inconsistencies in
the testimony is the exclusive province of the trier of fact. [Citation.]" (People v. Young
26
(2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1181 (Young).) Accordingly, on appeal we do not reweigh the
evidence, resolve conflicts in the evidence, or reevaluate the credibility of witnesses.
(People v. Cochran (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 8, 13.)
The substantial evidence standard of review involves two steps. "First, one must
resolve all explicit conflicts in the evidence in favor of the respondent and presume in
favor of the judgment all reasonable inferences. [Citation.] Second, one must determine
whether the evidence thus marshaled is substantial. While it is commonly stated that our
'power' begins and ends with a determination that there is substantial evidence [citation],
this does not mean we must blindly seize any evidence in support of the respondent in
order to affirm the judgment. . . . [Citation.] '[I]f the word "substantial" [is to mean]
anything at all, it clearly implies that such evidence must be of ponderable legal
significance. Obviously the word cannot be deemed synonymous with "any" evidence.
It must be reasonable . . . , credible, and of solid value . . . .' [Citation.] The ultimate
determination is whether a reasonable trier of fact could have found for the respondent
based on the whole record." (Kuhn v. Department of General Services (1994) 22
Cal.App.4th 1627, 1632-1633, fns. omitted.) The standard of review is the same in cases
in which the prosecution relies primarily on circumstantial evidence. (People v. Bean
(1988) 46 Cal.3d 919, 932.)
C
Based on our review of the record, we conclude there is substantial evidence to
support a finding that Chavez is guilty of the second degree murder of Crook based on
the natural and probable consequences doctrine. First, there is substantial evidence to
27
support a finding that Chavez aided and abetted Gonzalez's assault with a deadly weapon
or assault likely to cause great bodily injury. As the physical altercation began between
members of the National City and Tijuana groups, the surveillance camera video
recording shows Chavez holding an object in his hand. Based on Eddie Lopez's
testimony that Chavez later chased him with a knife, the jury could reasonably infer the
object in Chavez's hand was a knife. During the fight, Gonzalez and Chavez are seen
back-to-back and then face-to-face near the flatbed truck. Gonzalez and Chavez are then
seen pacing back and forth next to the truck. Lujan, who was under the truck at the time,
testified he saw Gonzalez holding a gun at his side while pacing back and forth. The jury
could reasonably infer that Chavez saw Gonzalez's gun while pacing back and forth with
him. As the initial physical altercation ended and members of the groups headed
southward from the restaurant, Eddie Lopez chased the Gutierrez brothers holding a beer
bottle in his hand. Gonzalez and Chavez also headed in that direction. Gonzalez pointed
his gun at Eddie Lopez's back, while Chavez chased him (Eddie Lopez) holding a knife.
Based on that evidence, the jury could reasonably infer Gonzalez and Chavez were acting
together, that Gonzalez committed an assault with a deadly weapon on Eddie Lopez or
assault likely to cause great bodily injury on Eddie Lopez, and that Chavez intended to,
and did, aid and abet that assault. Alternatively stated, there is substantial evidence to
support a finding that Chavez knew of Gonzalez's unlawful purpose (i.e., intent to
commit an assault with a deadly weapon or assault likely to cause great bodily injury)
28
and specifically intended to, and did in fact, aid, facilitate, promote, encourage, or
instigate Gonzalez's commission of that assault.13 (CALCRIM No. 401.)
Second, there is substantial evidence to support a finding that the murder of Crook
was a natural and probable consequence of the assault on Eddie Lopez that Chavez aided
and abetted. The jury could infer that a reasonable person in Chavez's position should
have, or would have, known that murder was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of
the assault by Gonzalez that Chavez aided and abetted. (Medina, supra, 46 Cal.4th at
p. 920; Mendoza, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 1133; Nguyen, supra, 21 Cal.App.4th at p. 535.)
Alternatively stated, when Gonzalez assaulted Eddie Lopez by pointing his gun directly
at his back, a reasonable person in Chavez's position, while aiding and abetting that
assault, would have known murder was a natural and probable consequence of that
assault. (CALCRIM No. 403.) Chavez need not have actually foreseen the nontarget
crime of murder because, viewed objectively, murder was a reasonably foreseeable
consequence of the assault on Eddie Lopez. (Medina, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 920;
Mendoza, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 1133; Nguyen, supra, 21 Cal.App.4th at p. 535.) To be
reasonably foreseeable, the consequence need not have been a strong probability; rather,
13 Contrary to Chavez's apparent assertion, the target crime of assault with a deadly weapon or assault likely to cause great bodily injury need not have been committed on Crook, as the ultimate murder victim, for the natural and probable consequences doctrine to apply. Accordingly, Gonzalez's assault on Eddie Lopez may serve as the target crime if the nontarget crime of the murder of Crook was a natural and probable consequence of that assault. 29
a possible consequence that might reasonably have been contemplated is sufficient.
(Medina, at p. 920; Nguyen, at p. 535.)
Accordingly, a reasonable jury could conclude that when Chavez determined to
assist Gonzalez in assaulting Eddie Lopez, knowing that Gonzalez was armed with a gun,
it was reasonably foreseeable that someone might be shot and killed. The fact that it was
Crook, and not Eddie Lopez, who Gonzalez ultimately shot and killed does not preclude
application of the natural and probable consequences doctrine. That Lopez's death was
particularly foreseeable does not change the fact that death to other potential victims—
participants in the brawl (like Crook) or innocent bystanders—was likewise foreseeable
when Chavez and Gonzalez escalated an already charged situation by drawing deadly
weapons. (Cf. People v. Smith (2014) 60 Cal.4th 603, 619-620 [substantial evidence
supported jury's finding that nontarget murders committed during gang jump out were
natural and probable consequences of target offenses of disturbing the peace and assault
or battery]; People v. Ayala (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 1440, 1453 ["The jury could
reasonably conclude that a reasonable person in defendant's position would have known
that escalation was likely to occur when defendant and five other [gang members]
confronted three perceived [rival gang members] with the intention of physically
attacking them—even if the attack was originally intended as a fistfight. [Fellow gang
member's] shooting of [rival gang member] was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of
the assault defendant aided and abetted."]; People v. Gonzalez (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1,
10-11 [fatal shooting during gang-related fistfight was natural and probable consequence
of fistfight]; People v. Montes (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1050, 1053, 1056 [shooting of rival
30
gang member during retreat from fight was natural and probable consequence of gang
fight].)
To the extent Chavez argues the natural and probable consequences doctrine
applies only in gang-related cases, he is mistaken. Although that doctrine has often been
applied in gang-related cases, it can be applied in nongang cases, such as the instant case
if all of the elements for its application are proved. Here, there is substantial evidence to
support all of the elements for application of the natural and probable consequences
doctrine to find Chavez guilty of the second degree murder of Crook. None of the cases
cited by Chavez are factually apposite to this case or otherwise persuade us to reach a
contrary conclusion.14 (See, e.g., Juan H. v. Allen (9th Cir. 2005) 408 F.3d 1262; United
States v. Andrews (9th Cir. 1996) 75 F.3d 552.)
IV
CALCRIM No. 571
Chavez contends the trial court erred by instructing with CALCRIM No. 571 on
imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another but omitting imperfect defense of
Gonzalez.
14 Because we conclude there is substantial evidence to support a finding Chavez is guilty of the second degree murder of Crook based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine, we need not, and do not, address the question of whether there is also substantial evidence to support a finding he is guilty of second degree murder based on the alternative theory that he directly aided and abetted Gonzalez's murder of Crook. 31
A
The trial court instructed with CALCRIM No. 571 on imperfect self-defense or
imperfect defense of another, stating:
"A killing that would otherwise be murder is reduced to voluntary manslaughter if the defendant killed a person because he acted in imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another.
"If you conclude the defendant acted in complete self-defense or defense of another, his action was lawful and you must find him not guilty of any crime. The difference between complete self-defense or defense of another and imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another depends on whether the defendant's belief in the need to use deadly force was reasonable.
"The defendant acted in imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another if:
"1. The defendant actually believed that he or Vincente Roldan was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily injury;
"AND
"2. The defendant actually believed that the immediate use of deadly force was necessary to defend against the danger;
"BUT
"3. At least one of those beliefs was unreasonable.
"Belief in future harm is not sufficient, no matter how great or how likely the harm is believed to be;
"In evaluating the defendant's beliefs, consider all the circumstances as they were known and appeared to the defendant.
"Great bodily injury means significant or substantial physical injury. It is an injury that is greater than minor or moderate harm.
"The People have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not acting in imperfect self-defense or
32
imperfect defense of another. If the People have not met this burden, you must find the defendant not guilty of murder." (Italics added.)
B
"[E]ven in the absence of a request, a trial court must instruct on general principles
of law that are commonly or closely and openly connected to the facts before the court
and that are necessary for the jury's understanding of the case. [Citations.] The trial
court is charged with instructing upon every theory of the case supported by substantial
evidence, including defenses that are not inconsistent with the defendant's theory of the
case. [Citations.]" (People v. Montoya (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1027, 1047 (Montoya).) In
particular, a trial court must instruct sua sponte on a lesser included offense if the
evidence would support that finding. (People v. Leach (1985) 41 Cal.3d 92, 106.)
However, a court is not required to so instruct when there is no evidence the offense was
less than that charged. (People v. Ghent (1987) 43 Cal.3d 739, 757.)
For a killing to be perfect self-defense and exonerate the defendant completely as
a justifiable homicide, "the defendant must actually and reasonably believe in the need to
defend." (People v. Humphrey (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1073, 1082.) However, "[i]f the belief
subjectively exists but is objectively unreasonable, there is 'imperfect self-defense,' i.e.,
'the defendant is deemed to have acted without malice and cannot be convicted of
murder,' but can be convicted of manslaughter. [Citation.]." (Ibid., fn. omitted.) For
either perfect or imperfect self-defense, the fear must be of imminent danger to life or
great bodily injury. (Ibid.) "[A] defendant who, with the intent to kill or with conscious
disregard for life, unlawfully kills in unreasonable self-defense is guilty of voluntary
33
manslaughter." (People v. Blakeley (2000) 23 Cal.4th 82, 91.) "Under the doctrine of
imperfect self-defense, when the trier of fact finds that a defendant killed another person
because the defendant actually but unreasonably believed he was in imminent danger of
death or great bodily injury, the defendant is deemed to have acted without malice and
thus can be convicted of no crime greater than voluntary manslaughter." (In re Christian
S. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 768, 771.)
Like imperfect self-defense, "one who kills in imperfect defense of others—in the
actual but unreasonable belief he must defend another from imminent danger of death or
great bodily injury—is guilty only of manslaughter." (People v. Randle (2005) 35
Cal.4th 987, 997 (Randle); see People v. Trujeque (2015) 61 Cal.4th 227, 270-271
(Trujeque).) For imperfect defense of another to apply, the defendant must, inter alia,
actually believe the immediate use of deadly force was necessary to defend another
person against the danger of being killed or suffering great bodily injury. (CALCRIM
No. 571.) Furthermore, for imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another to
apply, the defendant must actually associate the threat of imminent danger of death or
great bodily injury with the victim. (People v. Minifie (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1055, 1068-
1069 (Minifie).)
C
Chavez asserts the trial court erred by not modifying its instruction with
CALCRIM No. 571 on imperfect self-defense or imperfect defense of another to include
the possibility of his defense of Gonzalez. However, based on our review of the record,
there is insufficient evidence in the record to support such an instruction. Specifically,
34
there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that Chavez acted in the actual, but
unreasonable, belief that Gonzalez was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering
great bodily injury from Crook.15 (CALCRIM No. 571; Randle, supra, 35 Cal.4th at
p. 997; Trujeque, supra, 61 Cal.4th at pp. 270-271; Minifie, supra, 13 Cal.4th at
pp. 1068-1069.)
Chavez apparently argues there is evidence to support a finding that he actually
believed Crook was holding a glass goblet or other glass object that could be used as a
deadly weapon and that when Crook approached Gonzalez from behind, he (Gonzalez)
was in imminent danger of being struck by that weapon and being killed or suffering
great bodily injury. However, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that the
object Crook was possibly holding at the time he tapped Gonzalez on the shoulder was,
or appeared to be, a glass goblet or other glass object. Rather, the evidence supports, at
most, a finding Crook was holding a plastic cup at the time he tapped Gonzalez on the
shoulder from behind. The surveillance camera video recording, and still photographs
15 To the extent Chavez argues there was substantial evidence to support a finding he acted in defense of Gonzalez while he fought with Lujan and others during the initial physical altercation, he misconstrues and/or misapplies the doctrine of imperfect defense of another. Crook, Gonzalez's shooting victim, was not present during the initial physical altercation and therefore there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that Chavez actually, but unreasonably, believed that Gonzalez was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily injury from Crook at that time. (Randle, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 997; Trujeque, supra, 61 Cal.4th at pp. 270-271; Minifie, supra, 13 Cal.4th at pp. 1068-1069.) Furthermore, Gonzalez was not arguably in imminent danger of anything from Crook until much later when Crook approached him from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. Even so, as we discuss post, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that Chavez actually, but unreasonably, believed Gonzalez was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily injury from Crook. 35
taken therefrom, show Crook leaving the restaurant, placing a drink container on the
flatbed truck, pushing past Juan Carlos Lopez, and then picking the container back up and
heading southward out of the camera's view. Crook and Lujan approached Gonzalez,
who was pointing his gun at Eddie Lopez's back, from behind and Crook tapped him
(Gonzalez) on the shoulder. Gonzalez spun around and shot Crook twice at point-blank
range, striking him in the chest near his armpit and in the upper right side of his back.
At trial, Juan Carlos Lopez identified the drink container that Crook placed on the
flatbed truck and later picked up as a plastic michelada cup. As the restaurant's owner,
Juan Carlos Lopez had served those drinks almost every day and the cups used were
frosted plastic and had a red rim (apparently from chili powder). Although there was
testimony that Crook had a shrimp cocktail earlier that evening, the container held by
Crook prior to the shooting, as shown in the video recording and still photographs and as
identified by Juan Carlos Lopez, was a plastic michelada cup and not the type of glass
shrimp cocktail container used by the restaurant. Juan Carlos Lopez described the type of
container in which the restaurant served shrimp cocktails as glass with a big base, stem,
and wide bowl or cup on top of the stem and weighing about three pounds. He estimated
the width of its base as about three and one-half inches and its top bowl or cup as about
five inches. He testified it "takes probably two hands to grab it. You can carry it with
one, but the size of it is probably about that big [apparently gesturing with his hands]."
He testified that the restaurant's plastic michelada cup and its glass shrimp cocktail cups
looked "completely different."
36
Our independent review of the video recording and still photographs therefrom
confirms that the object that Crook placed on the flatbed truck and later picked up before
heading southward could not reasonably be believed to be one of the restaurant's shrimp
cocktail glasses. Its sides are straight, slightly angling inward from top to bottom (i.e., a
slight cone shape with a flat bottom). Its shape is entirely inconsistent with the shape of
the restaurant's shrimp cocktail glass, as described by Juan Carlos Lopez, which we
interpret, for lack of a better description, as having a top-heavy hourglass shape (i.e.,
curving or undulating sides) with a narrow stem in the middle. The object held by Crook
appears to be frosted and contains a dark liquid. Juan Carlos Lopez testified that it was
plastic (i.e., not glass), describing it as a plastic michelada cup, which looks completely
different from a shrimp cocktail glass.
Based on all of the evidence in the record, there is insufficient evidence to support
a finding that Crook was, or appeared to be, holding a heavy, three-pound shrimp cocktail
glass when he approached Gonzalez from behind and tapped him on the shoulder.
Accordingly, there likewise is insufficient evidence to support a finding that Chavez saw
Crook approach Gonzalez from behind with such a heavy glass object and actually
believed Gonzalez was in imminent danger of being struck by that glass object and being
killed or suffering great bodily injury. Absent substantial evidence to support that
finding, the trial court did not err by not modifying CALCRIM No. 571 to include
Chavez's defense of Gonzalez in its instruction on imperfect defense of another.
(Montoya, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 1047; Randle, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 997; Trujeque,
supra, 61 Cal.4th at pp. 270-271; Minifie, supra, 13 Cal.4th at pp. 1068-1069.)
37
GONZALEZ'S APPEAL
V
CALCRIM No. 3471
Gonzalez contends the trial court erred by instructing with CALCRIM No. 3471
on self-defense, but without its optional bracketed language stating that an aggressor who
initially uses only nondeadly force regains the right to self-defense when his or her
opponent counters with deadly force.
A
The trial court instructed with CALCRIM No. 3471 on the right to self-defense in
circumstances of mutual combat or where the defendant was the initial aggressor, stating:
"A person who engages in mutual combat or who starts a fight has a right to self-defense only if:
"1. He actually and in good faith tried to stop fighting;
"AND
"2. He indicated, by word or by conduct, to his opponent, in a way that a reasonable person would understand, that he wanted to stop fighting and that he had stopped fighting;
"AND
"3. He gave his opponent a chance to stop fighting.
"If the defendant meets these requirements, he then had a right to self-defense if the opponent continued to fight.
"A fight is mutual combat when it began or continued by mutual consent or agreement. That agreement may be expressly stated or implied and must occur before the claim to self-defense arose."
38
In so instructing, the court omitted optional bracketed language from CALCRIM No.
3471, which states:
"However, if the defendant used only nondeadly force, and the opponent responded with such sudden and deadly force that the defendant could not withdraw from the fight, then the defendant had the right to defend (himself/herself) with deadly force and was not required to try to stop fighting(,/ or) communicate the desire to stop the opponent[, or give the opponent a chance to stop fighting]."
B
As discussed ante, "even in the absence of a request, a trial court must instruct on
general principles of law that are commonly or closely and openly connected to the facts
before the court and that are necessary for the jury's understanding of the case.
[Citations.] The trial court is charged with instructing upon every theory of the case
supported by substantial evidence, including defenses that are not inconsistent with the
defendant's theory of the case. [Citations.]" (Montoya, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 1047.)
Evidence is substantial only if a reasonable jury could find it persuasive. (Young, supra,
(2005) 34 Cal.4th at p. 1200.)
C
Gonzalez argues the trial court should have included the bracketed language,
quoted ante, when instructing the jury with CALCRIM No. 3471 (i.e., if the jury found
he initially used only nondeadly force and Crook responded with sudden and deadly force
such that he could not withdraw from the fight, then he (Gonzalez) regained the right to
defend himself with deadly force, whether in perfect or imperfect self-defense).
However, contrary to Gonzalez's assertion, substantial evidence did not support the
39
bracketed language the court omitted from CALCRIM No. 3471. The main premise of
Gonzalez's argument is that there is substantial evidence to support a finding that Crook
used, or appeared to use, deadly force (i.e., a heavy glass object) against him, but the only
substantial evidence of a heavy glass object was regarding the beer bottle thrown by
Eddie Lopez at the Gutierrez brothers. That bottle was not thrown at or toward Gonzalez,
but was instead thrown in the opposite direction by Eddie Lopez, and Gonzalez was not
charged with the murder of Eddie Lopez.
Nevertheless, Gonzalez argues there is substantial evidence to support a finding
that the object possibly held by Crook when he (Crook) tapped him on the shoulder was,
in fact, a heavy glass object. However, as we discussed in part IV(C) ante and which
discussion we incorporate herein, the evidence admitted at trial (including the video
recording and still photographs from the surveillance camera and Juan Carlos Lopez's
testimony) does not support a finding that Crook picked up a glass object off of the
flatbed truck before heading toward Gonzalez. Instead, he, at most, picked up a plastic
michelada cup before heading toward Gonzalez.
At trial, Juan Carlos Lopez, as discussed in section IV(C) ante, described the
restaurant's plastic michelada cups and its glass shrimp cocktail cups and stated they
looked "completely different." Likewise, as discussed in section IV(C) ante, our
independent review of the video recording and still photographs therefrom confirms that
the object that Crook placed on the flatbed truck and later picked up before heading
southward could not reasonably be found to be one of the restaurant's shrimp cocktail
glasses.
40
We likewise reject Gonzalez's alternative argument that there is substantial
evidence to support a finding the object possibly held by Crook, if not a shrimp cocktail
glass, was instead a beer glass with a "waist" in its middle or other similarly shaped
goblet or container made of glass and not a plastic michelada cup with straight sides. The
evidence discussed ante is inconsistent with such a finding and instead supports a finding
only that the object was a plastic michelada cup, which could not have posed to Gonzalez
any real or perceived threat of imminent danger of death or great bodily injury. Gonzalez
merely speculates that Crook may have been holding a heavy object made of glass when
he approached Gonzalez from behind.16 His suggested interpretation of the object on the
flatbed truck shown in the video recording and still photographs from the surveillance
camera is not supported by our independent viewing of that evidence.
Accordingly, based on our review of the record and relevant evidence, there is
insufficient evidence to support a finding that Crook was holding, or appeared to be
holding, a heavy shrimp cocktail glass, glass goblet, or other object that appeared to be
made of glass when he approached Gonzalez from behind and tapped him on the
shoulder. Absent substantial evidence supporting such a finding, there was insufficient
16 Gonzalez further speculates that the broken glass found by police near the scene may have been from a glass goblet or other glass object held by Crook. However, National City Police Detective Alejandro Garcia testified that the "broken bottle" or broken glass that he saw was located in front of a vacant building at 330 Highland Avenue that was two stores away from the most southward area where blood drops, presumably from Crook, were found (i.e., in front of a bakery) and therefore that broken glass was not photographed. Therefore, it cannot reasonably be inferred that the broken glass found by police was from a glass object held by Crook at the time of the incident. 41
evidence to support a finding Gonzalez actually believed Crook posed an imminent
danger of death or great bodily injury to him or others that would justify Gonzalez's use
of perfect or imperfect self-defense by shooting Crook. Accordingly, we conclude the
trial court did not err by omitting the bracketed language from CALCRIM No. 3471,
which would have allowed the jury to find Gonzalez regained his right to defend himself
if, inter alia, it found Crook used, or appeared to use, deadly force against him.
(Montoya, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 1047.)
VI
CALCRIM No. 3472
Gonzalez contends the trial court erred by instructing with CALCRIM No. 3472
but not modifying it with language stating that a person who provokes a fight with an
intent to use nondeadly force regains the right to self-defense when his or her opponent
counters with deadly force.
A
Per the prosecution's request, the trial court instructed with CALCRIM No. 3472,
without modification, as follows: "A person does not have the right to self-defense if he
provokes a fight or quarrel with the intent to create an excuse to use force." Gonzalez did
not object to that instruction.
B
As discussed ante, "even in the absence of a request, a trial court must instruct on
general principles of law that are commonly or closely and openly connected to the facts
before the court and that are necessary for the jury's understanding of the case.
42
[Citations.] The trial court is charged with instructing upon every theory of the case
supported by substantial evidence, including defenses that are not inconsistent with the
defendant's theory of the case. [Citations.]" (Montoya, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 1047.)
Evidence is substantial only if a reasonable jury could find it persuasive. (Young, supra,
34 Cal.4th at p. 1200.)
C
Gonzalez argues the trial court erred by instructing with CALCRIM No. 3472, as
quoted ante, without modifying it to include language permitting him to use perfect or
imperfect self-defense if he initially used nondeadly force and Crook responded with
deadly force. Alternatively stated, he argues the court should have modified CALCRIM
No. 3472 to state those defenses are not available if he provoked the fight and created the
circumstances that legally justified Crook's use of force. (Cf. People v. Enraca (2012) 53
Cal.4th 735, 761; People v. Ramirez (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 940, 947-952; People v.
Frandsen (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 266, 272; People v. Vasquez (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th
1176, 1179-1180.)
However, as with CALCRIM No. 3471 discussed ante, we conclude the trial court
did not err by omitting language modifying CALCRIM No. 3472 to allow for Gonzalez's
possible perfect or imperfect self-defense if he provoked a fight with nondeadly force and
Crook responded with deadly force (i.e., Gonzalez then regained the right to perfect or
imperfect self-defense), because substantial evidence does not support a finding that
Crook responded, or appeared to Gonzalez to respond, with deadly force. As we
discussed in part V(C) ante, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that Crook
43
was holding, or appeared to be holding, a heavy shrimp cocktail glass, glass goblet, or
other object that appeared to be made of glass when he approached Gonzalez from behind
and tapped him on the shoulder. Absent substantial evidence supporting such a finding,
there was insufficient evidence to support a finding Gonzalez actually believed Crook
posed an imminent danger of death or great bodily injury to him or others (i.e., used, or
appeared to use, deadly force) that would justify Gonzalez's perfect or imperfect self-
defense by shooting Crook. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not err by
instructing with CALCRIM No. 3472 but not modifying it with language stating that a
person who provokes a fight with an intent to use nondeadly force regains the right to
perfect or imperfect self-defense when his or her opponent counters with deadly force.
(Montoya, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 1047.) Alternatively stated, the court did not err in
instructing the jury with an unmodified version of CALCRIM No. 3472 in the
circumstances of this case.17
VII
Admission of Evidence on Gonzalez's Death Threat and Denial of His Motion for Mistrial
Gonzalez contends the trial court abused its discretion under Evidence Code
section 352 by admitting the testimony of Juan Carlos Lopez regarding the death threat
17 Assuming arguendo the trial court erred by giving CALCRIM No. 3472 or not modifying its language as Gonzalez asserts, "the error is merely technical and not grounds for reversal" (People v. Eulian (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 1324, 1335) because, based on the evidence in this case, the jury necessarily would not have found Crook approached, or appeared to approach, Gonzalez with a deadly weapon (i.e., glass object). 44
he (Gonzalez) made to dissuade him from testifying at trial and also abused its discretion
by denying his motion for mistrial based on admission of that evidence.
A
In the course of discussing the parties' pretrial in limine motions, Gonzalez's
counsel raised the issue of a report disclosed by the prosecution regarding its
investigator's interview of Julio Martinez in which he (Martinez) stated that while he was
in jail with Gonzalez, Gonzalez asked him to convey to Juan Carlos Lopez a threat to not
come to court and indicated he knew his (Juan Carlos Lopez's) family. Gonzalez's
counsel asked the trial court to preclude the prosecution from presenting Martinez's
testimony. The prosecutor stated she intended to offer Martinez's testimony as relevant
to Gonzalez's consciousness of guilt based on his attempt to dissuade Juan Carlos Lopez
from testifying. She made an offer of proof regarding Martinez's expected testimony,
stating:
"[W]hat happened is [Martinez] was in custody with Mr. Gonzalez April 16th or 20th[, 2015], the last time we were here. . . .
"And what [Martinez] says is he and Mr. Gonzalez were chitchatting and it came about that they realized they both knew Juan Carlos Lopez.
"At that time, Mr. Gonzalez told [Martinez] that could he get in touch with Mr. Lopez and basically tell him not to come to court, that he knew where he lived and where his children went to school and so forth, and then reiterated that he better not come to court and testify. He also referenced that Mr. Lopez had already testified at [his] preliminary hearing.
"[Martinez] got out of custody within about 48 hours of that conversation and immediately contacted Mr. Lopez and Mr. Lopez's cousin, who he is married to. And Mr. Lopez received a couple of
45
text messages. Mr. Lopez called [Martinez] back and [Martinez] relayed the conversation he had with Mr. Gonzalez."
The trial court tentatively ruled Martinez could testify, subject to a further objection.
In her direct examination of Juan Carlos Lopez, the prosecutor asked him whether
he was nervous about testifying. He replied, "Yes." She asked him whether he had
discomfort with talking to police and coming to court to testify regarding the incident.
He replied, "Yes." When she asked why he had such discomfort, Gonzalez's counsel
objected on grounds of relevancy.
At a sidebar conference outside of the jury's presence, Gonzalez's counsel stated
he did not know "exactly what [Juan Carlos Lopez] is going to say. There were a lot of
threats going back and forth . . . . He could say something so highly prejudicial and
inflammatory that would result in a mistrial." The prosecutor made an offer of proof
regarding how Juan Carlos Lopez was expected to testify, stating: "[He] feels discomfort
from both sides. He's expressed to police, I think in prior statements and certainly to me,
that he feels pressure from the neighborhood, because everybody feels like since he's the
person that knows everybody that he should be the one to provide information on the one
hand. On the other hand, he feels threatened by Mr. Gonzalez because of that phone call
that we discussed earlier in our motions in limine. So I think he is going to express that
he feels like he's getting it from all sides." (Italics added.) Gonzalez's counsel restated he
did not know what Juan Carlos Lopez was going to say.
The trial court stated:
"I don't know how to do [an Evidence Code section] 402 [hearing] on a witness. . . . I think it all comes in. . . . [I]t is my understanding
46
that Mr. Gonzalez didn't directly talk to him, and so if he felt pressure, it wasn't directly from Mr. Gonzalez. . . . [R]ight now it is not like he is going to say he heard it from Mr. Gonzalez."
The prosecutor stated that Juan Carlos Lopez had expressed fear of Gonzalez as a result
of the threat that Martinez told him about. She stated: "His boy, oldest boy goes to
school with Mr. Gonzalez'[s] eldest daughter, and unbeknownst to him they are very
good friends . . . ." Both Gonzalez's counsel and Chavez's counsel submitted on the
matter, stating they needed to cross-examine Juan Carlos Lopez to show he was pressured
to come up with a story. The court implicitly ruled the prosecutor could question Juan
Carlos Lopez on the specifics of his discomfort in testifying.
In the presence of the jury, the prosecutor continued her questioning of Juan Carlo
Lopez as follows:
"Q. Mr. Lopez, we were talking a bit about your discomfort in testifying. . . . Would you prefer not to testify here in court today?
"A. Yes.
"Q. And is it fair to say you're here because we subpoenaed you?
"A. Correct.
"Q. Why would you prefer not to testify?
"A. Most recently, the death threats.
"Q. Do you fear for your safety?
"A. Yes.
"Q. And that of your family?
"A. More my family than mine.
47
"Q. And you said, 'most recently.' At the beginning or onset of this case, did you have different concerns?
"A. Similar. I felt like it was coming—I don't know where it was coming from.
"Q. Fears for your safety?
"A. Correct.
"Q. Did you feel pressure from the neighborhood?
"A. Yes.
"Q. You mentioned there was a recent threat; is that right?
"A. Correct.
"Q. And was it a threat in regards to testifying?
"A. Yes. [¶] . . . [¶]
"Q. Did you receive a message urging you not to testify?
"A. Yes.
"Q. Who gave you that message?
"A. A gentleman by the name of Julio.
"Q. And how do you know Julio?
"A. I've known him for quite some time. He's related to my brother's wife. [¶] . . . [¶]
"Q. Did he tell you the content of that threat?
"A. Yes.
"Q. What did he tell you?
"[Gonzalez's counsel:] Objection, your honor. I call[s] for hearsay.
48
"THE COURT: And, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to allow this information in . . . for a limited purpose. It is not for the truth of really what was said. It is for the impact on the person that heard it. Whether the words were true or not, this is just for how Mr. Lopez reacted. [¶] So go ahead. [¶] . . . [¶]
"Q [by the prosecutor]. What did he tell you?
"A. He told me that he had recently got a DUI and he was incarcerated. And while incarcerated he was . . . housed or in the same cell as Mr. Gonzalez. And Mr. Gonzalez somehow through their conversation came up why one or the other was inside or incarcerated, and it came out that Julio knew me. And [Gonzalez] said, do me a favor. When you get out, make sure you tell him not to testify or I'm going to kill his family and him.
"Q. What effect did this have on you?
"A. On me, personally, I have to use whatever resources I have to protect my family. [¶] On my family, it's taken a toll.
"Q. Has it caused worry and concern for you?
"A. Yes.
"Q. And worry and concern for you specifically about testifying?
"A. Correct."
The prosecutor then questioned Juan Carlos Lopez about the restaurant's surveillance
camera and the instant incident.
During a recess in the jury's absence, the trial court discussed with counsel Juan
Carlos Lopez's testimony and stated: "I have to say that . . . I shouldn't have been
surprised by the detail with which Mr. Lopez gave the conversation he had with his
friend, but part of my ruling, besides what we already have on the record, was in
anticipation that the person who actually made the call that was in the cell [i.e., Martinez]
49
was going to come in and testify in detail, which is I think we had a conversation before
[the] trial started, so that [Gonzalez's counsel] would have an opportunity to cross-
examine him on any conversation with Mr. Gonzalez." Gonzalez's counsel stated:
"I never imagined for a second that a hearsay statement of that nature, which can't be sanitized under any circumstances, because the prejudicial effect is so overwhelming, the probative value can certainly be minimized by the fact that he could say he got a threat not to testify and then, of course, [Martinez] can come in and talk about it and perhaps lay a better foundation. But . . . it has such an explosive and prejudicial value to my client. It is clearly a hearsay statement. There are other methods by which he could indicate what his state of mind was, but not something as explosive as that."
Based on those concerns, Gonzalez's counsel moved for a mistrial. The court took the
motion under submission and suggested that Gonzalez's counsel could file a written
motion.
Gonzalez's counsel subsequently filed a written motion for mistrial, arguing Juan
Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's death threat was inadmissible hearsay
and, in particular, should not have been admitted as relevant to Juan Carlos Lopez's then-
existing state of mind. He also argued the trial court abused its discretion under Evidence
Code section 352 by admitting that testimony without an adequate limiting instruction
and, in any event, no admonition or instruction to the jury could have cured the prejudice
caused by Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony. Accordingly, he argued Gonzalez was denied
his constitutional right to a fair trial.
The prosecutor opposed the mistrial motion, arguing Juan Carlos Lopez's
testimony (and Martinez's follow-up testimony) was highly relevant to his credibility
because of his inconsistent statements about the incident and the shooter's identity, his
50
initial denial that the video recording existed, his possible edits to that recording, and his
change in demeanor when asked on direct examination who the shooter was.
The trial court denied Gonzalez's motion for mistrial, stating that Juan Carlos
Lopez's testimony was relevant to his credibility and to explain his "strong physical
reaction" when on direct examination he identified Gonzalez as the shooter. The court
acknowledged that when Juan Carlos Lopez testified about the details of Gonzalez's
threat, the court was not anticipating that testimony but nevertheless knew about that
threat because it was discussed before trial. The court referred to its admonition or
limiting instruction and also stated Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony about Gonzalez's threat
was not so prejudicial as to warrant a mistrial because Martinez was expected to testify
regarding that threat anyway.
The prosecution subsequently presented testimony by Martinez regarding the
details of the death threat that Gonzalez asked him to, and he (Martinez) did, convey to
Juan Carlos Lopez. In particular, Martinez testified that while they were in custody
together, Gonzalez asked him to relay a message to Juan Carlos Lopez to not show up in
court and that he (Juan Carlos Lopez) was being a "snitch." Gonzalez told Martinez he
knew Juan Carlos Lopez's family, knew where they lived, and where Juan Carlos Lopez's
children went to high school, specifying it by name. Gonzalez stated he "didn't want to
kill them," so Juan Carlos Lopez should not come to court. Martinez later conveyed
Gonzalez's threat to Juan Carlos Lopez.
51
B
Gonzalez asserts the trial court abused its discretion under Evidence Code section
352 when it admitted the testimony of Juan Carlos Lopez regarding Gonzalez's death
threat. In particular, he argues the court failed to exercise its discretion under Evidence
Code section 352 and, in any event, no reasonable judge would have admitted that
testimony without sanitizing its undue prejudicial effect. He argues the court's error
violated his constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial, requiring reversal of his
convictions.
Evidence Code section 352 provides that a "court in its discretion may exclude
evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its
admission will . . . (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the
issues, or misleading the jury." The term "prejudice," within the meaning of Evidence
Code section 352, is not simply damage to the defense that naturally flows from relevant
and highly probative evidence, but is instead an emotional reaction that inflames the
jurors' emotions, motivating them to have a bias against, or to prejudge, an individual
based on evidence that has only slight probative value on the issues. (People v. Valdez
(2012) 55 Cal.4th 82, 145; People v. Samuels (2005) 36 Cal.4th 96, 124; People v. Cole
(2004) 33 Cal.4th 1158, 1197; People v. Zapien (1993) 4 Cal.4th 929, 958.) Under that
statute, evidence is substantially more prejudicial than probative if it poses an intolerable
risk to the fairness of the proceedings or the reliability of the outcome and renders the
Under Evidence Code section 352, a trial court need not expressly weigh the prejudicial
52
effect of evidence against its probative value or even expressly state it has done so.
(People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 153, 213 (Williams).) Nevertheless, the record
must show the trial court understood and fulfilled its responsibilities under that statute.
(Ibid.)
On appeal, we apply the abuse of discretion standard in reviewing a trial court's
ruling on the admissibility of evidence, including an Evidence Code section 352
objection to evidence. (People v. Cox (2003) 30 Cal.4th 916, 955.) We will reverse a
trial court's ruling only if the record shows the court acted in an arbitrary, capricious, or
patently absurd manner that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice. (People v.
Williams (2008) 43 Cal.4th 584, 634-635; People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1, 9-
10.)
Based on our review of the record, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its
discretion under Evidence Code section 352 by admitting Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony
regarding Gonzalez's threat and giving its limiting instruction on that testimony. First,
we reject Gonzalez's assertion that the court was uninformed and therefore could not, and
did not, weigh the possible prejudicial effect of that testimony against its probative value
under Evidence Code section 352. At the sidebar conference on Gonzalez's objection to
Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony on why he was uncomfortable testifying in court, his
counsel stated he did not know "exactly what [Juan Carlos Lopez] is going to say. There
were a lot of threats going back and forth . . . . He could say something so highly
prejudicial and inflammatory that would result in a mistrial." In so doing, he implicitly
raised the issue of whether Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony would be unduly prejudicial
53
under Evidence Code section 352 and objected to that testimony on that ground. The
prosecutor then made an offer of proof that Juan Carlos Lopez was expected to testify,
inter alia, regarding Gonzalez's threat against him that was conveyed by Martinez, who
also was expected to testify regarding that threat as discussed before trial and whose
testimony was tentatively ruled as admissible by the court.18 The court implicitly ruled
the prosecutor could question Juan Carlos Lopez on the specifics of his discomfort in
testifying, including Gonzalez's threat. In so doing, the court implicitly overruled
Gonzalez's Evidence Code section 352 objection to Juan Carlos Lopez's expected
testimony, including his testimony regarding Gonzalez's threat, presumably weighing the
probative value of that expected testimony against its potential prejudicial effect and
finding it was not unduly prejudicial. (Williams, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 213 ["[W]hen
ruling on [an Evidence Code] section 352 motion, a trial court need not expressly weigh
prejudice against probative value, or even expressly state it has done so."].)
Contrary to Gonzalez's assertion, there is no affirmative evidence in the record
showing the court was either unaware of its discretion under Evidence Code section 352
to exclude that testimony or did not exercise that discretion. Rather, the record shows the
court understood and fulfilled its responsibilities under Evidence Code section 352.
(Williams, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 213.) To the extent Gonzalez asserts the trial court did
18 The prosecutor stated, inter alia, that she expected Juan Carlos Lopez to testify that he "feels threatened by Mr. Gonzalez because of that phone call that we discussed earlier in our motions in limine [referring to Martinez's expected testimony regarding Gonzalez's threat]." 54
not exercise its Evidence Code section 352 discretion because it failed to conduct an
Evidence Code section 402 hearing on the expected testimony of Juan Carlos Lopez and
therefore lacked "informed" discretion, we disagree. Gonzalez does not cite any
authority showing a court must conduct an Evidence Code section 402 hearing before it
may exercise "informed" discretion under Evidence Code section 352 and admit certain
potentially prejudicial testimony. Furthermore, although Gonzalez refers to the court's
comment that it "did not know how" to conduct an Evidence Code section 402 hearing on
a witness's expected testimony, we presume the court was experienced in conducting
Evidence Code section 402 hearings generally and therefore would have been able to
conduct an appropriate Evidence Code section 402 hearing regarding the admissibility of
Juan Carlos Lopez's expected testimony on Gonzalez's threat had Gonzalez's counsel
requested one and/or had the court deemed such a hearing necessary or appropriate for it
to exercise its Evidence Code section 352 discretion. In any event, the record supports an
inference that the court found such a hearing was unnecessary, given the prosecutor's
subsequent offer of proof that summarized Juan Carlos Lopez's expected testimony on
Gonzalez's threat and other reasons for being uncomfortable with testifying in court, and
exercised its Evidence Code section 352 discretion to admit that testimony. Although his
testimony ultimately was in greater detail than that described by the prosecutor, the court
nevertheless exercised its discretion by admitting that testimony.
Second, we reject Gonzalez's assertion that the trial court abused its Evidence
Code section 352 discretion by admitting Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding his
(Gonzalez's) threat. The court could have found Juan Carlos Lopez's expected testimony
55
was highly relevant to his state of mind and credibility regarding his description of the
incident and identification of Gonzalez as the shooter. Evidence of threats against a
witness or fears of retaliation for testifying is relevant to the witness's credibility.
(People v. Guerra (2006) 37 Cal.4th 1067, 1142 ["evidence that [witness] feared
retaliation for testifying against defendant was [properly] offered for the nonhearsay
purpose of explaining inconsistencies in portions of her testimony"]; People v. Burgener
(2003) 29 Cal.4th 833, 869 ["Evidence that a witness is afraid to testify or fears
retaliation for testifying is relevant to the credibility of that witness and is therefore
admissible. [Citations.] An explanation of the basis for the witness's fear is likewise
relevant to her credibility and is well within the discretion of the trial court."].) In light of
the inconsistencies in Juan Carlos Lopez's previous statements and possible involvement
in hiding and/or editing the surveillance camera video recording and his distressed
appearance while identifying Gonzalez in court as the shooter, the court reasonably
concluded his testimony regarding the threat from Gonzalez was highly relevant to his
state of mind and credibility.
The court could also have found any prejudice from that expected testimony
would not be undue because the prosecutor planned to present similar testimony by
Martinez regarding Gonzalez's threat, as discussed before trial. Contrary to Gonzalez's
assertion, the expected testimony by Martinez regarding the threat did not necessarily
make Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding that threat unduly cumulative such that
the court abused its discretion by admitting it. In particular, Juan Carlos Lopez's
testimony was distinctly relevant to show his state of mind and credibility, whereas
56
Martinez's testimony was relevant to Gonzalez's consciousness of guilt as well as
providing evidentiary support for Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's
threat.
Furthermore, the trial court could have concluded any prejudice from the
admission of Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's threat could be
minimized by a limiting instruction or admonition. Weighing the highly probative value
of the expected testimony of Juan Carlos Lopez regarding Gonzalez's threat against its
potential prejudicial effect, the court could reasonably conclude that expected testimony
was not unduly prejudicial under Evidence Code section 352 and allow him to testify
regarding Gonzalez's threat. In so doing, we conclude the court did not abuse its
discretion under Evidence Code section 352. To the extent Gonzalez argues the court
should have "sanitized" Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony by limiting the details of the
nature or extent of Gonzalez's threat or otherwise, we are not persuaded the court was
required to do so in the circumstances of this case and the cases Gonzalez cites do not
hold a trial court errs if it does not do so. (Cf. People v. Mendoza (2011) 52 Cal.4th
1056, 1083-1087 [trial court did not abuse its discretion by limiting witness's testimony
regarding threat to reduce its possible prejudicial effect]; People v. Wharton (1991) 53
Cal.3d 522, 597-598 [trial court did not abuse its discretion by limiting witness's
testimony to prosecution's offer of proof].)
Assuming arguendo the trial court abused its discretion under Evidence Code
section 352 by allowing Juan Carlos Lopez to testify regarding Gonzalez's threat, we
nevertheless would conclude that error was not prejudicial. First, immediately after Juan
57
Carlos Lopez began testifying about Gonzalez's threat in greater detail than the court
expected, the court gave a limiting instruction to minimize any possible prejudicial effect.
The court admonished the jury: "I'm going to allow this information in . . . for a limited
purpose. It is not for the truth of really what was said. It is for the impact on the person
that heard it. Whether the words were true or not, this is just for how Mr. Lopez reacted."
Absent affirmative evidence in the record showing otherwise, we presume the jury
followed the court's instruction and considered Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding
Gonzalez's threat only for its impact on him (i.e., his state of mind and credibility) and
not for its truth (i.e., whether Gonzalez did, in fact, threaten him). (People v. Waidla
(2000) 22 Cal.4th 690, 725.) Accordingly, we conclude the court's limiting instruction
cured or minimized, if not eliminated, any possible prejudicial effect of his testimony.
Furthermore, as anticipated, Martinez subsequently testified, without objection by
Gonzalez, regarding Gonzalez's threat against Juan Carlos Lopez and his family that he
(Martinez) conveyed to Juan Carlos Lopez and so testified in as much, or greater, detail
as did Juan Carlos Lopez. Unlike Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's
threat, Martinez's testimony regarding that threat was admitted for the truth of the matter
asserted and was relevant to show Gonzalez's consciousness of guilt. (People v. Valdez
(2012) 55 Cal.4th 82, 135, fn. 32; People v. Slocum (1975) 52 Cal.App.3d 867, 887.)
Therefore, even had the trial court excluded Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony about
Gonzalez's threat, it is not reasonably probable Gonzalez would have obtained a more
favorable verdict. (People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 (Watson).) Even under
the less forgiving standard for federal constitutional error, we conclude any error in
58
admitting Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's threat was harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt. (Chapman, supra, 386 U.S. at p. 24.) Accordingly, contrary
to Gonzalez's assertion, any error under Evidence Code section 352 by the trial court in
admitting Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding his (Gonzalez's) threat does not
require reversal of his convictions.
C
Gonzalez also asserts the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion
for mistrial based on the court's purported abuse of discretion in admitting Juan Carlos
Lopez's testimony regarding his (Gonzalez's) threat. "A mistrial should be granted if the
court is apprised of prejudice that it judges incurable by admonition or instruction.
[Citation.] Whether a particular incident is incurably prejudicial is by its nature a
speculative matter, and the trial court is vested with considerable discretion in ruling on
mistrial motions." (People v. Haskett (1982) 30 Cal.3d 841, 854.) "A motion for a
mistrial should be granted when ' " 'a [defendant's] chances of receiving a fair trial have
been irreparably damaged.' " ' " (People v. Collins (2010) 49 Cal.4th 175, 198-199
(Collins).) On appeal, we apply the abuse of discretion standard in reviewing a trial
court's denial of a motion for mistrial. (People v. Davis (2005) 36 Cal.4th 510, 553
(Davis); People v. Cox (2003) 30 Cal.4th 916, 953.)
In denying Gonzalez's motion for a mistrial, the trial court concluded Juan Carlos
Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's threat was relevant to his credibility and was not
so prejudicial as to warrant a mistrial because Martinez was expected to testify regarding
that threat anyway and it gave an admonition or limiting instruction. Based on our
59
review of the record, we conclude the court did not abuse its discretion by denying
Gonzalez's motion for mistrial. (Davis, supra, 36 Cal.4th at p. 553; Cox, supra, 30
Cal.4th at p. 953.) As we discussed ante, the court did not abuse its discretion under
Evidence Code section 352 by admitting Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding
Gonzalez's threat. Furthermore, as we discussed ante, assuming arguendo the court so
erred, that error was not prejudicial under any standard of prejudice. (Watson, supra, 46
Cal.2d at p. 836; Chapman, supra, 386 U.S. at p. 24.) Contrary to Gonzalez's assertion,
the admission of Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding Gonzalez's threat did not result
in a miscarriage of justice or deny him his constitutional right to a fair trial. (People v.
Collins, supra, 49 Cal.4th at pp. 198-199.)
VIII
Alternative Contentions
Gonzalez alternatively contends that if his counsel did not adequately request the
trial court to exercise its Evidence Code section 352 discretion to exclude and/or sanitize
Juan Carlos Lopez's testimony regarding his threat, adequately request an Evidence Code
section 402 hearing, or request that the court sanitize that testimony by limiting it to the
prosecutor's offer of proof, he was denied his constitutional right to effective assistance
of counsel. (U.S. Const., 6th Amend.; Cal. Const., art. I, § 15; Strickland v. Washington
(1984) 466 U.S. 668, 684-685.) However, we do not base our disposition of this appeal
on any errors by Gonzalez's counsel and, in any event, any such asserted errors were not
prejudicial (i.e., it is not reasonably probable Gonzalez would have obtained a more
60
favorable verdict had his counsel not made those errors). (Strickland, at pp. 687-694.)
Accordingly, we reject Gonzalez's alternative contentions.19
IX
Senate Bill No. 620 Retroactivity
Gonzalez contends 2017 Senate Bill No. 620, which amended section 12022.53,
subdivision (h), as of January 1, 2018, should be applied retroactively to his nonfinal
judgment and therefore the matter should be remanded for resentencing to allow the trial
court to exercise its new discretion to strike or dismiss the 25-year-to-life section
12022.53 firearm enhancement that it originally imposed on him pursuant to the prior
version of section 12022.53.
A
After the parties filed their briefs and oral argument was set in this matter,
Gonzalez filed a motion for leave to file a supplemental brief on the issue of whether
newly enacted Senate Bill No. 620 should be applied retroactively to his nonfinal
judgment. We granted that motion and accepted for filing his supplemental brief that
argued Senate Bill No. 620 should be applied retroactively to nonfinal judgments,
including the judgment in his case, and the matter should be remanded for resentencing to
allow the trial court to exercise its discretion to strike or dismiss the section 12022.53
19 Likewise, because we conclude the trial court did not err as Gonzalez asserts, there is no cumulative prejudice from any such purported errors that requires reversal of his convictions. (Cf. People v. Anderson (2001) 25 Cal.4th 543, 606; People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 335.) 61
firearm enhancement that it imposed at his sentencing. The People filed a respondent's
brief, conceding that Senate Bill No. 620 should be applied retroactively to all nonfinal
judgments, but arguing remand for resentencing was unnecessary because the record
clearly shows the trial court would not exercise its new discretion to strike or dismiss the
section 12022.53 enhancement if the matter were remanded. We subsequently granted
leave for the San Diego County District Attorney to file, and accepted for filing, an
amicus curiae brief arguing that Senate Bill No. 620 should not be applied retroactively.
Gonzalez filed a reply to that amicus brief and concurrently requested that we take
judicial notice of six documents relating to the legislative history of Senate Bill No. 620.
On January 23, 2018, we issued an order stating that his request for judicial notice would
be considered concurrently with this appeal. We now grant his request and take judicial
notice of the documents relating to Senate Bill No. 620's legislative history. (Evid. Code,
§ 452, subds. (a), (c).)
B
At the time of Gonzalez's murder offense, conviction, and sentencing, the former
version of section 12022.53 required the trial court to impose a consecutive enhancement
of 25 years to life for the jury's true finding on the allegation that he personally and
intentionally discharged a firearm in committing the murder. (Former § 12022.53, subds.
(d), (h).)20 On October 11, 2017, the Governor signed Senate Bill No. 620, which
20 Former section 12022.53, subdivision (h) provided: "Notwithstanding Section 1385 or any other provision of law, the court shall not strike an allegation under this section or a finding bringing a person within the provisions of this section." 62
became effective on January 1, 2018. (Stats. 2017, ch. 682, § 2.) Senate Bill No. 620
amended section 12022.53, subdivision (h) to now provide: "The court may, in the
interest of justice pursuant to Section 1385 and at the time of sentencing, strike or dismiss
an enhancement otherwise required to be imposed by this section. The authority
provided by this subdivision applies to any resentencing that may occur pursuant to any
other law." (Stats. 2017, ch. 682, § 2.) Gonzalez argues that because his judgment is not
yet final, amended section 12022.53, subdivision (h) should be applied retroactively to
his case under In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada) and People v. Francis
(1969) 71 Cal.2d 66 (Francis). The People agree that amended section 12022.53,
subdivision (h) should apply retroactively to all nonfinal judgments, but argue remand for
resentencing is unnecessary because the record clearly shows the trial court would not
exercise its discretion to strike or dismiss that section 12022.53 enhancement in the
circumstances of this case.
In Estrada, the California Supreme Court held that a statute that reduces the
punishment for an offense will generally apply retroactively to any case in which the
judgment is not yet final before the effective date of the statute. (Estrada, supra, 63
Cal.2d at pp. 742, 744-745.) Estrada stated: "When the Legislature amends a statute so
as to lessen the punishment it has obviously expressly determined that its former penalty
was too severe and that a lighter punishment is proper as punishment for the commission
of the prohibited act. It is an inevitable inference that the Legislature must have intended
that the new statute imposing the new lighter penalty now deemed to be sufficient should
apply to every case to which it constitutionally could apply. The amendatory act
63
imposing the lighter punishment can be applied constitutionally to acts committed before
its passage provided the judgment convicting the defendant of the act is not final." (Id. at
p. 745.) Although section 3 generally provides that no Penal Code statute " 'is
retroactive, unless expressly so declared,' " Estrada concluded that general rule of
construction did not apply where it can be discerned from the language of the statute and
other factors that the Legislature intended the amended statute to apply to all judgments
not yet final. (Estrada at pp. 746, fn. 1, 747.) Therefore, "where the amendatory statute
mitigates punishment and there is no saving clause, the rule is that the amendment will
operate retroactively so that the lighter punishment is imposed." (Id. at p. 748.)
In Francis, the California Supreme Court extended the Estrada rule to a statute
that modified the punishment for possession of marijuana, which formerly had been
strictly a felony offense, to permit a trial court to treat that offense as a misdemeanor
instead of a felony. (Francis, supra, 69 Cal.2d at pp. 75-76.) Francis concluded that the
amended statute giving the trial court discretion to impose either a felony sentence or a
misdemeanor sentence applied retroactively "because the Legislature has determined that
the former penalty provisions may have been too severe in some cases and that the
sentencing judge should be given wider latitude in tailoring the sentence to fit the
particular circumstances." (Id. at p. 76.)
The court recently described its Estrada rule, stating: "The Estrada rule rests on
an inference that, in the absence of contrary indications, a legislative body ordinarily
intends for ameliorative changes to the criminal law to extend as broadly as possible,
64
distinguishing only as necessary between sentences that are final and sentences that are
not." (People v. Conley (2016) 63 Cal.4th 646, 657.)
In its amicus brief, the San Diego County District Attorney argues that the
California Supreme Court's decision in People v. Brown (2012) 54 Cal.4th 314 (Brown)
narrowed the holdings in Estrada and Francis and precluded retroactive application of
amended section 12022.53, subdivision (h) to the nonfinal judgment in this case. In
Brown, the court considered whether the 2010 amendment to section 4019, temporarily
increasing conduct credits for prisoners in local custody, should be applied retroactively.
(Brown, at pp. 317-318.) Finding no indicia showing that the Legislature intended
amended section 4019 to apply retroactively, Brown concluded that section 3's
presumption of prospective application of statutes controlled and precluded retroactive
application of the amended statute. (Id. at pp. 319-323.) In so doing, the court
distinguished Estrada, which dealt with a statute mitigating punishment for a particular
crime, from amended section 4019, which dealt with conduct credits in a custodial setting
and not the punishment for a crime. (Id. at pp. 323-325.) Brown stated: "Estrada is
today properly understood, not as weakening or modifying the default rule of prospective
operation codified in section 3, but rather as informing the rule's application in a specific
context by articulating the reasonable presumption that a legislative act mitigating the
punishment for a particular criminal offense is intended to apply to all nonfinal
judgments." (Id. at p. 324.) Citing that language and other language from Brown, the
San Diego County District Attorney argues that Brown, in effect, limited the Estrada rule
and, in particular, Francis's interpretation and application of that rule and therefore
65
Francis does not support retroactive application of amended section 12022.53 to the
nonfinal judgment in this case.
However, in People v. Superior Court (Lara) (2018) 4 Cal.5th 299 (Lara), the
California Supreme Court recently reaffirmed its reasoning in Estrada and Francis in
holding that Proposition 57, which reduced the possible punishment for juveniles, applies
retroactively to punishment of juvenile defendants whose judgments are not yet final.
(Lara, at pp. 303, 307-309.) "Proposition 57 prohibits prosecutors from charging
juveniles with crimes directly in adult court. Instead, they must commence the action in
juvenile court. If the prosecution wishes to try the juvenile as an adult, the juvenile court
must conduct what we call a 'transfer hearing' to determine whether the matter should
remain in juvenile court or be transferred to adult court. Only if the juvenile court
transfers the matter to adult court can the juvenile be tried and sentenced as an adult.
(Welf. & Inst. Code, § 707, subd. (a).)" (Lara, at p. 303.) Lara stated:
"Proposition 57's effect is different from the statutory changes in Estrada . . . and Francis . . . . Proposition 57 did not ameliorate the punishment, or possible punishment, for a particular crime; rather, it ameliorated the possible punishment for a class of persons, namely juveniles. But the same inference of retroactivity should apply." (Id. at p. 308.)
The court explained: "Proposition 57 is an 'ameliorative change[] to the criminal law'
that we infer the legislative body intended 'to extend as broadly as possible.' [Citation.]
Nothing in Proposition 57 itself or the ballot materials rebuts this inference." (Id. at
p. 309.) The court distinguished its case from the circumstances in Brown, which
addressed an amended statute affecting only good behavior credits in a custodial setting.
66
(Id. at p. 311.) Proposition 57 does not address future conduct or provide incentives for
good behavior, but instead may affect a juvenile's effective sentence or juvenile
disposition for past criminal conduct. (Ibid.) The court noted that it stated in Brown that
Estrada is properly understood " 'as informing the rule's [section 3 default rule of
prospective operation] in a specific context by articulating the reasonable presumption
that a legislative act mitigating punishment for a particular criminal offense is intended to
apply to all nonfinal judgments.' " (Ibid.) Explaining that language in Brown, Lara
stated: "[W]e did not mean to state, and could not have held as binding precedent, that
under no other circumstances, no matter how similar to Estrada, and how different from
Brown, could Estrada's inference in favor of retroactivity apply." (Ibid.) Lara noted that
even Brown itself recognized that the amended statute in that case was not analogous to
the amended statute in Estrada. (Id. at p. 312.) Lara concluded: "[T]he provisions of
Proposition 57 at issue are analogous to the Estrada situation, and Estrada's logic does
apply. Brown presents no impediment to invoking Estrada's inference in this case."
(Ibid.) Accordingly, the court held that Proposition 57 applied retroactively to all
nonfinal criminal judgments involving juvenile defendants.21 (Lara, at pp. 303-304.)
21 We agree with our concurring and dissenting colleague that although the Supreme Court has variously characterized the Estrada/Francis rule as both a "presumption" and an "inference," in Lara the court expresses a preference for the latter terminology, and we adhere to that in our descriptions here. (Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 308, fn. 5; but see People v. DeHoyos (Mar. 12, 2018, S228230) __ Cal.5th __ [2018 Cal. Lexis 1496].) But the nomenclature makes little or no functional difference in the context of statutory interpretation, which presents a clear question of law for the court. Estrada and Francis dictate that where a statutory amendment actually or potentially reduces punishment for a crime, in the absence of other evidence we either infer or presume a legislative intent that 67
Based on the California Supreme Court's reaffirmance in Lara of its reasoning in
Estrada and Francis, we conclude, contrary to the San Diego County District Attorney's
position, that the reasoning and holdings in those cases remain valid today and were not
restricted or overruled by Brown. In fact, Lara confirms, if not expands, Estrada's
approach to retroactivity by applying Proposition 57, which, in effect, reduced the
possible punishment for juveniles, retroactively to punishment of juvenile defendants
whose judgments are not yet final.
Applying the reasoning and holdings in Estrada and Francis to the instant statute
amended by Senate Bill No. 620 in this case (i.e., § 12022.53, subd. (h)), we conclude
that the amended statute's provision giving the trial court discretion under section 1385 to
strike or dismiss a section 12022.53 firearm enhancement reduces the possible
punishment for certain qualifying offenses involving the personal use of a firearm.
Therefore, amended section 12022.53, subdivision (h) is similar to the amended statute in
Francis that gave the trial court discretion to sentence a defendant for possession of
marijuana either as a felony or as a misdemeanor. In both situations, the amended statute
gave the trial court sentencing discretion that it did not have under the prior statute and,
in effect, reduced the possible punishment for an offense or offenses. Because amended
section 12022.53 does not contain any express savings clause and there is nothing in its
legislative history indicating it was intended to apply only prospectively, we conclude
that Francis is controlling authority and requires the retroactive application of amended
the amendment will apply retroactively to all cases not final on appeal. We then look to any other available evidence to discern a contrary legislative intent. 68
section 12022.53, subdivision (h) to all nonfinal judgments. (People v. Robbins (2018)
19 Cal.App.5th 660 (Robbins); Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57
Cal.2d 450, 455 ["Courts exercising inferior jurisdiction must accept the law declared by
courts of superior jurisdiction. It is not their function to attempt to overrule decisions of a
higher court."].) Robbins stated: "There is nothing in the language of section 12022.53,
subdivision (h), or in the broader language of the Senate Bill, indicating the Legislature
intended the subdivision to be only prospective. [Citation.] Accordingly, we conclude
section 12022.53, subdivision (h), may be applied in the instant case because (1) it vests
the trial court with authority to lower defendant's sentence, and (2) defendant's sentence
was not final at the time the subdivision became effective." (Robbins, at p. 679.) We
agree with Robbins and conclude amended section 12022.53, subdivision (h), applies to
all nonfinal judgments.
C
Notwithstanding our conclusion ante that section 12022.53, subdivision (h) as
amended by Senate Bill No. 620, applies retroactively to all nonfinal judgments, we
conclude, contrary to Gonzalez's assertion, that remand for resentencing is not required in
the circumstances of this case. Under People v. Gutierrez (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1894,
1896 (Gutierrez), we need not remand a case if the record shows the trial court "would
not . . . have exercised its discretion to lessen the sentence" even if it had known it had
that discretion. In Gutierrez, the court cited the maximum sentence imposed by the trial
court, as well as the court's comments at sentencing, as support for its conclusion that "no
purpose would be served" by a remand for resentencing. (Ibid.)
69
At Gonzalez's sentencing, the trial court expressed its concern regarding his
criminal history, his "senseless" shooting of Crook, and his use of a gun while he
(Gonzalez) was out on bail on a previous gun charge. The court stated:
"I have gone through . . . the probation report and considered the factors in aggravation and mitigation. And, unfortunately, there really were no factors in mitigation in this crime. You have a lengthy criminal history. You obviously have been in front of me and been very polite and never caused any trouble in court, but looking back at your criminal history, it's lengthy. There [are] preprison sentences, multiple convictions for domestic violence. And I'm struck by the fact you are out on bail for a gun charge and when you are out on bail you arm yourself, and here we are today with the senseless murder of Mr. Crook. I take that all into consideration when determining whether it's appropriate to consider concurrent sentences for some of these, as opposed to consecutive [sentences]. [W]ith no factors in mitigation and the loss of Mr. Crook, I don't find any reason to run any of the [sentences for the] crimes concurrently."
Accordingly, the court imposed a term of 15 years to life for count 1, with a consecutive
enhancement of 25 years to life under section 12022.53, subdivision (d) for a total
indeterminate term of 40 years to life in prison. It also imposed a total determinate term
of seven years eight months for count 2, the section 12022.1, subdivision (b)
enhancement, and Gonzalez's three prison prior convictions.
Based on the trial court's comments at Gonzalez's sentencing, we conclude, as the
People argue, that the record clearly shows the court would not exercise its new
discretion under Senate Bill No. 620 to strike or dismiss the section 12022.53
enhancement if we were to remand the matter for resentencing. (Gutierrez, supra, 48
Cal.App.4th at p. 1896.) In particular, the court noted Gonzalez had a lengthy criminal
history and no mitigating factors. Most importantly, Gonzalez was out on bail on a
70
pending gun charge when he armed himself with a gun and committed the "senseless
murder" of Crook. Given those egregious circumstances and the trial court's imposition
of the maximum sentence possible, we conclude the court would not exercise its new
discretion to strike or dismiss the section 12022.53 enhancement if we were to remand
the matter for resentencing. Because no purpose would be served by a remand for
resentencing, we decline to order a remand for resentencing and affirm the court's
imposition of the section 12022.53 enhancement. (Gutierrez, at p. 1896.)
DISPOSITION
The judgments are affirmed. The superior court is directed to issue a new minute
order nunc pro tunc reflecting its imposition of a consecutive two-year term for
Gonzalez's conviction on count 2. The superior court clerk is directed to prepare an
amended abstract of judgment reflecting the imposition of a consecutive two-year term
for Gonzalez's conviction on count 2 and forward a certified copy of the amended
abstract to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
NARES, J. I CONCUR:
DATO, J.
71
BENKE, J., Concurring and dissenting.
I concur with my colleagues on the issue of retroactivity of Penal Code1 section
12022.53, subdivision (h). However, I do so by way of application of the inference
recently recognized by our Supreme Court in People v. Superior Court (Lara) (2018) 4
Cal.5th 299, 308, footnote 5 (Lara). Based on what I believe to be guidance in Lara, I
would abandon application of a "presumption" of retroactivity in Penal Code statutes that
reduce sentences. On the question of remand, unlike the majority, I would give the trial
court the opportunity to exercise its sentencing discretion. On all remaining issues, I
agree with my colleagues.
Relying on In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada), People v. Brown (2012)
54 Cal.4th 314 (Brown), and recent case law,2 my colleagues conclude section 12022.53,
subdivision (h) must be applied retroactively. These cases, and apparently the majority
as well, conclude that in all nonfinal cases, in the absence of evidence to the contrary,
courts may presume the Legislature intends a statutory amendment reducing criminal
punishment apply retroactively.3 This is where I part company with my colleagues.
1 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
2 See People v. Woods (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1080, People v. Robbins (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 660 (Robbins).
3 In Robbins, the court, which did not have the benefit of Lara, stated: "Unless there is evidence to the contrary, courts presume that the Legislature intends for a statutory amendment reducing criminal punishment to apply retroactively in cases that are not yet final on appeal. [Citations.] This presumption is applied not only to amendments reducing a criminal penalty, but also to amendments giving the trial court discretion to impose a lesser penalty. [Citation.]" (Robbins, supra, 19 Cal.App.5th
There is no such presumption, either in the Penal Code or in the governing law provided
to us by the Supreme Court. Indeed, with respect to penal statutes, even those reducing
in general the punishment for crimes, our analysis must begin with the contrary
presumption. Section 3 clearly states, "No part of (the Penal Code) is retroactive, unless
expressly so declared."4 "[T]he language of section 3 erects a strong presumption of
prospective operation, codifying the principle that, 'in the absence of an express
retroactivity provision, a statute will not be applied retroactively unless it is very clear
from extrinsic sources that the Legislature . . . must have intended a retroactive
application.' [Citations.] Accordingly, ' "a statute that is ambiguous with respect to
retroactive application is construed . . . to be unambiguously prospective." ' " (Brown, at
p. 324.)5
at p. 678.) The majority cite Robbins with approval and rely upon it. (Maj. opn., at p. 69.)
4 The presumption of prospective application is not unique to the Penal Code. It appears in identical language in section 3 of the Civil Code and section 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Welfare and Institutions Code, which is the subject of analysis in Lara, contains no such provision, hence there is no presumption of prospective application involved in Lara. Rather, Lara begins with a discussion concerning the ameliorative effects expressly intended for juveniles in the whole of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 307, citing Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d at p. 744.) The court thus finds there is a clear and express legislative intent to credit juveniles with all available reform benefits. Therefore, the court notes that Estrada is not on point because it applies to the question of retroactivity of penal statutes. The rationale of Estrada, however, does apply. As footnote 5 instructs, Estrada's rationale as to whether the Legislature intends that a statute reducing sentences is applied retroactively, depends on the evidence drawn from all of the circumstances surrounding passage of the new statute. (Lara, at p. 308, fn. 5.)
5 The court in Brown recognized that language in Estrada, if literally or broadly applied, was inconsistent with the principles embodied in section 3. (Brown, supra, 54 2
Neither section 12022.53 nor subdivision (h) contain language expressly stating
the statute is to be applied retroactively. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, the presumption to be applied is that section 12022.53, subdivision (h) is
prospective. We may overcome this presumption only by examination of the
Legislature's intent in enacting the new statute.6
The California Supreme Court recently addressed the application of Estrada. As
the court explains in Lara, "We have occasionally referred to Estrada as reflecting a
'presumption.' (E.g., [People v.] Conley [(2016)] 63 Cal.4th [646] at p. 656; [Brown,
supra,] 54 Cal.4th . . . [at p.] 324.) We meant this to convey that ordinarily it is
Cal.4th at pp. 324-325.) Accordingly, in Brown, the court expressly limited the scope of Estrada: "Estrada is today properly understood, not as weakening or modifying the default rule of prospective operation codified in section 3, but rather as informing the rule's application in a specific context by articulating the reasonable presumption that a legislative act mitigating the punishment for a particular criminal offense is intended to apply to all nonfinal judgments." (Brown, at p. 324.) In Brown, the court went on to hold that a temporary increase in good conduct credits an inmate could earn under former section 4019 was not outside the mandate of section 3 and therefore would not be applied retrospectively. (Brown, at p. 325.) The credits were not mitigation of the punishment for a particular criminal offense and thus did not on their face suggest the Legislature intended that they apply to all nonfinal judgments. (Ibid.; see In re Pedro T. (1994) 8 Cal.4th 1041, 1045 ["[o]rdinarily when an amendment lessens the punishment for a crime, one may reasonably infer the Legislature has determined imposition of a lesser punishment on offenders thereafter will sufficiently serve the public interest"], italics added; accord, People v. Nasalga (1996) 12 Cal.4th 784, 792.)
6 The Supreme Court has been at some pains to emphasize for us that the question of whether a statute is to be given retrospective application is a matter of legislative intent. (See In re Pedro T., supra, 8 Cal.4th at pp. 1046-1047; People v. Nasalga, supra, 12 Cal.4th at pp. 793-794; People v. Conley (2016) 63 Cal.4th 646, 657-659 (Conley); Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 324; Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 308.) Indeed, in Estrada itself, the court emphasized: "The problem," we explained, "is one of trying to ascertain the legislative intent—did the Legislature intend the old or new statute to apply?" (Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d at p. 744.) 3
reasonable to infer for purposes of statutory construction the Legislature intended a
reduction in punishment to apply retroactively." (Lara, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 308, fn. 5;
see People v. DeHoyos (Mar. 12, 2018, S228230) __Cal.5th__ [2018 Cal. Lexis 1496].)
The language of footnote 5 in Lara is significant and merits our careful
consideration. "A presumption is an assumption of a fact that the law requires to be
made from another fact or group of facts found or otherwise established in an action. A
presumption is not evidence." (Evid. Code, § 600, subd. (a), italics added.) In contrast,
an inference is only a "deduction of fact that may logically and reasonably be drawn from
another fact or group of facts found or otherwise established in an action." (Id., subd. (b);
see Morton v. Manhattan Lunch Co. (1940) 41 Cal.App.2d 70, 72 [an inference is a form
of indirect evidence].) Thus, for me, the court's terminology marks an important
clarification in the way Estrada is to be applied, and avoids any conflict with section 3.
Because, in light of Lara, it is now clear Estrada simply recognized a permissible
evidentiary inference, Lara expressly limits the reach of Estrada; it does not, as my
colleagues suggest, expand Estrada. (See Evid. Code, § 600; maj. opn. at p. 69.)
At this point, especially in light of Lara, I do not think it is appropriate to restrict
our analysis to application of a presumption that ameliorative changes in penal statutes
must be applied retroactively. Rather, when, as here, a criminal defendant argues he or
she is entitled to the benefit of new legislation, we must begin with the contrary
presumption, expressly set forth in section 3, that unless there is express language to the
contrary, statues are prospective only. If there is any ambiguity in the new enactment
with respect to retroactivity, we then resolve that ambiguity by resort to familiar rules of
4
statutory history and construction, including the inference found by the court in Estrada,
supra, 63 Cal.2d at page 745. (See Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th at pp. 324-325.)
Turning to Senate Bill No. 620 (SB 620), I note the discretion section 12022.53,
subdivision (h) now provides trial courts is not a certain reduction in punishment.
However, provisions which give trial courts discretion to reduce a sentence previously
required by the Penal Code are nonetheless changes which benefit offenders who
committed particular offenses or engaged in particular conduct and, as in Estrada,
manifest an intent by the Legislature that such offenders be given the benefit of that
discretion in all cases which are not yet final. (People v. Francis (1969) 71 Cal.2d 66,
76.) "[T]here is such an inference because the Legislature has determined that the former
penalty provisions may have been too severe in some cases and that the sentencing judge
should be given wider latitude in tailoring the sentence to fit the particular
circumstances." (Ibid.) In sum then, the very discretion now provided by section
12022.53, subdivision (h) creates an inference the Legislature intended that in cases not
yet final, offenders subject to the firearm enhancement set forth in section 12022.53 be
given the benefit of that discretion. (Francis, at p. 76.)
The discretion which the Legislature provided trial courts is not the only indication
the Legislature intended retrospective application of SB 620. Section 12022.53,
subdivision (h) states that "[t]he authority provided by this subdivision applies to any
resentencing that may occur pursuant to any other law." (Italics added.) By its express
terms, this provision extends the benefits of SB 620 to defendants who have exhausted
their rights to appeal and for whom a judgment of conviction has been entered but who
5
have obtained collateral relief by way of a state or federal habeas proceeding. This
extension of SB 620 is a further expression by the Legislature of its understanding that
the new version of section 12022.53, subdivision (h) would also be applied to all cases
which were not final at the time it became effective. It is difficult to perceive a rationale
for giving relief to a defendant whose judgment might be several years old, but who was
a successful habeas litigant and provide no relief to a defendant whose conviction was
entered in a trial court as recently as December 29, 2017. We assume the Legislature was
well aware of this unfair result if the statute was not retroactive.
In sum, it is not necessary or legally sound to employ a presumption that is at odds
with section 3. The Legislature, in enacting SB 620 has made it clear it intended and
expected that its provisions would be applied to all cases pending at the time it became
effective and, thus, it is outside the general rule set forth in section 3. (See Brown, supra,
54 Cal.4th at p. 325.)
Finally, I part company with my colleagues on the question of whether this case
should be remanded. I believe it should. Given the multiple offenses at issue here, and
the discretion available, I would give the trial court the opportunity to exercise that
discretion with respect to defendant's firearm enhancement.
BENKE, Acting P. J.
6
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court affirmed the defendants' convictions, holding that the pretrial identification procedure was not unduly suggestive and that the identification was reliable under the totality of the circumstances. The court also found no error in the trial court's evidentiary rulings or jury instructions.
Issues
Whether the trial court erred in admitting an eyewitness's in-court identification following a pretrial identification procedure.
Whether the trial court improperly limited the scope of opinion testimony by an eyewitness identification expert.
Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction for second degree murder.
Whether the trial court erred in its jury instructions regarding self-defense and imperfect self-defense.
Disposition. Affirmed with directions.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“Although single photograph lineups may be suggestive and not the preferred identification procedure, we cannot conclude Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of Chavez was unduly suggestive in the circumstances of this case.”
“Assuming arguendo that pretrial identification procedure was unduly suggestive, we nevertheless conclude Eddie Lopez's pretrial identification of the man in the photograph (i.e., Chavez) was reliable under the totality of the circumstances.”