California Court of Appeal Mar 29, 2013 No. D056955Unpublished
Filed 3/29/13 P. v. Sedej CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D056955, D057783
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCD207881)
JOHN MICHAEL SEDEJ,
Defendant and Appellant.
CONSOLIDATED APPEALS from a judgment of the Superior Court of San
Diego County, Melinda J. Lasater, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part.
A jury convicted John Michael Sedej of committing gross vehicular manslaughter
while intoxicated, causing the death of Nancy Ramirez (Pen. Code, § 191.5, subd. (a);
count 1); driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury (Veh. Code,
§ 23153, subd. (a); count 2); and, driving while having a blood alcohol level of 0.08
percent or more causing bodily injury (Veh. Code, § 23153, subd. (b); count 3). It found
the following allegations to be true: While Sedej was driving, he proximately caused
bodily injury or death to more than one victim, to wit, Patricia Ramirez and Maria Elena
Ramirez,1 in the commission of counts 1, 2 and 3 (Veh. Code, § 23558); he personally
inflicted great bodily injury on Nancy in the commission of counts 2 and 3 (Pen. Code,
§ 12022.7, subd. (a)); and he drove with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or
more in the commission of counts 2 and 3 (Veh. Code, § 23578). As to count 1, the jury
found not true that Sedej personally inflicted great bodily injury on Patricia. (Pen. Code,
§ 12022.7, subd. (a).) The court sentenced Sedej to an aggregate term of six years,
staying the sentence on counts 2 and 3 under Penal Code section 654.2
Sedej contends: (1) the convictions for counts 2 and 3 should be reversed because
both are necessarily included offenses of the conviction in count 1; (2) there was
insufficient evidence to support a conviction in count 1; (3) his state and federal
constitutional due process and confrontation rights were violated by the court's exclusion
of evidence; 4) the court erroneously declined his request to instruct the jury regarding
unanimity; (5) the prosecutor committed prejudicial misconduct during closing
arguments; and (6) the court erroneously denied him probation. We reverse the true
findings on the Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) enhancements as to Nancy in
counts 2 and 3. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment.
1 Nancy, Patricia, and Maria Elena share a common last name; therefore, we refer to them by their first names to avoid confusion.
2 In June 2010, Sedej filed a notice of appeal (D057783) of the trial court's restitution order in the same underlying case. That appeal was consolidated with the present appeal by order in August 2010, but Sedej does not challenge the restitution order in his appellate briefs. 2
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Prosecution Case
At approximately 1:15 a.m. on July 13, 2007, Patricia was driving a Ford
Expedition vehicle with her sister, Maria Elena, and her niece, Nancy, as passengers.
Patricia stopped at a red light at the intersection of La Jolla Village Drive and Genesee
Avenue in San Diego. When the light turned green, Patricia resumed driving eastbound
on La Jolla Village Drive. Just then, a vehicle heading southbound on Genesee crashed
into the driver's side of Patricia's vehicle. Nancy died in the collision. Patricia and Maria
Elena suffered cuts and bruises and required hospitalization.
Alexandra Rommell and David Villegas were in a vehicle going eastbound on La
Jolla Village Drive, when they saw Sedej run a red light and crash into Patricia's vehicle.
They called 911, checked on the victims in both cars, and waited until help arrived.
San Diego Police Department Detective Suzanne Huntington spoke to Sedej at the
hospital at around 3:45 that morning, after administering warnings under Miranda v.
Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436. She asked him how fast he was driving at the time of the
collision and he said, "[A]bout 30 to 40 miles per hour." She asked him, "Anything else
you want to tell me about tonight [sic]?" He answered, "I should not have had that glass
of wine."
San Diego Police Department Officer Michael Stone, the lead investigator, arrived
at the scene at approximately 1:53 a.m. He saw Sedej's Acura vehicle, and firemen trying
to remove two women from inside the Expedition. A corpse was on the street. Officer
3
Stone determined Sedej had run a red light in violation of Vehicle Code section 21453,
subdivision (a), causing the collision. Officer Stone testified that under the law, when the
traffic light is red in the direction a motorist is travelling, the motorist must stop.
San Diego Police Department Criminalist Janine Miller testified she tested two
samples of Sedej's blood drawn at 3:18 a.m. His blood alcohol content measured 0.1975
and 0.1983 percent. Responding to a hypothetical, Miller testified that a 180-pound male
would have had to consume an average of nine drinks to reach that blood alcohol level.
That person would be unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Accident reconstruction specialist Ernest Phillips prepared two reports. In the first
report, he concluded that at the moment of impact, Sedej's Acura and the Expedition were
travelling at 60.6 and 26 miles per hour respectively. Phillips, however, admitted he had
erroneously identified the Acura's point of rest. He performed a second reconstruction
test and changed the Acura's point of rest, and revised the speed of impact for the Acura
to 20.6 miles per hour and 19.8 miles per hour for the Expedition.
Defense Case
Three accident reconstructionists testified for the defense. William Haight
estimated the speed at the point of impact was between 45 and 50 miles per hour for
Sedej's Acura, and 25 to 30 miles per hour for the Expedition. Eugene Vanderpol
estimated the speeds at the moment of impact were 46 miles per hour for the Acura, and
26 miles per hour for the Expedition. Joseph Awad testified his measurements of the
vehicle's position at rest differed from that of the People's expert.
4
DISCUSSION
I.
Sedej contends his convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol causing
bodily injury and driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or greater causing
bodily injury should be reversed because they both are necessarily included offenses of
his conviction on count 1 for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
The California Supreme Court in People v. McFarland (1989) 47 Cal.3d 798
considered the issue of "whether separate punishment is permissible where a defendant,
in a single incident, commits vehicular manslaughter as to one victim . . . and drunk
driving resulting in injury to a separate victim." It held, "[W]here, as here, a defendant
commits vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence—an act of violence against the
person—he may properly be punished for injury to a separate individual that results from
the same incident." (Id. at pp. 803-804.) Moreover, this court has ruled that "it is
generally appropriate that a defendant be subject to greater punishment for committing an
offense if his or her commission of that offense causes injuries to multiple persons."
(People v. Weaver (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 1301, 1331.) McFarland is controlling here;
therefore, it was not error to sentence Sedej on count 1 relating to Nancy's death, and
counts 2 and 3 relating to injuries suffered by different victims, Patricia and Maria Elena.
Sedej further contends we should strike the accompanying great bodily injury
enhancements on counts 2 and 3 as to Nancy. We agree. "Under [Penal Code] section
12022.7, subdivision (g), when a defendant is convicted of murder or manslaughter, that
5
conviction may not be enhanced with the injury the victim of the murder or manslaughter
necessarily suffered. However, injuries caused to other victims of the defendant's
conduct may serve as enhancements under [Penal Code] section 12022.7." (People v.
Julian (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 1524, 1530.)3 During the pendency of this appeal,
another court in this District decided People v. Cook (March 19, 2013, E054307) ___
Cal.App.4th ___ [2013 WL 1120653], which held that "imposition of a [Penal Code]
section 12022.7, subdivision (a) enhancement with respect to a victim for whom the
defendant has already been convicted of manslaughter is barred by the express provision
of [Penal Code] section 12022.7, subdivision (g)." In light of the fact Nancy died in the
collision, we reverse the true finding on the great bodily injury enhancements as to her on
counts 2 and 3.
II.
Sedej contends there was insufficient evidence to show he acted with gross
negligence to support his conviction for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
He concedes, "The evidence in this matter established that [he] was driving under the
influence of alcohol and may caused [sic] the collision by running a red light."
Nonetheless, he maintains, "[T]here were no overall circumstances related to [his]
intoxication or manner of driving that supported a conclusion that [he] acted with a
conscious indifference to the consequences of his actions."
3 The People agree on this point of law but, with no explanation, conclude it does not apply to Nancy. 6
The test of sufficiency of the evidence is whether, reviewing the whole record in
the light most favorable to the judgment below, substantial evidence is disclosed such
that a reasonable trier of fact could find the essential elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. (People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578.) Substantial evidence
is that evidence which is "reasonable, credible, and of solid value." (Ibid.) An appellate
court must "presume in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could
reasonably deduce from the evidence." (People v. Reilly (1970) 3 Cal.3d 421, 425.) An
appellate court must not reweigh the evidence (People v. Culver (1973) 10 Cal.3d 542,
548), reappraise the credibility of the witnesses, or resolve factual conflicts, as these are
functions reserved for the trier of fact. (In re Frederick G. (1979) 96 Cal.App.3d 353,
367).
Furthermore, an appellate court can reject evidence accepted by the trier of fact
only when the evidence is inherently improbable and impossible of belief. (People v.
Maxwell (1979) 94 Cal.App.3d 562, 577.) "Where the circumstances support the trier of
fact's finding of guilt, an appellate court cannot reverse merely because it believes the
evidence is reasonably reconciled with the defendant's innocence." (People v. Meza
while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought,
in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or
23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the
commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or
7
the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an
unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."4
Although gross negligence cannot be shown by the mere fact that the defendant
drove a motor vehicle while under the influence and broke the traffic laws (People v.
Hansen (1992) 10 Cal.App.4th 1065, 1075), it may be shown from all the relevant
circumstances, including the level of intoxication, the manner of driving, "and any other
relevant aspects of [the defendant's] conduct." (People v. Ochoa (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1199,
1207.)
"Gross negligence is the exercise of so slight a degree of care as to raise a
presumption of conscious indifference to the consequences. [Citation.] 'The state of
4 Vehicle Code section 23152 provides: "(a) It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage . . . to drive a vehicle. [¶] (b) It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] In any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a rebuttable presumption that the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of driving the vehicle if the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of the performance of a chemical test within three hours after the driving." Vehicle Code section 23153 provides: "(a) It is unlawful for any person, while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage . . . to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver. [¶] (b) It is unlawful for any person, while having 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver. [¶] In any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a rebuttable presumption that the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of driving the vehicle if the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of the performance of a chemical test within three hours after driving. [¶] (c) In proving the person neglected any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, it is not necessary to prove that any specific section of this code was violated." 8
mind of a person who acts with conscious indifferences to the consequences is simply, "I
don't care what happens." ' [Citation.] The test is objective: whether a reasonable person
in the defendant's position would have been aware of the risk involved." (People v.
Bennett (1991) 54 Cal.3d 1032, 1036.)
"[A] driver's level of intoxication is an integral aspect of the 'driving conduct.' A
high level of intoxication sets the stage for tragedy long before the driver turns the
ignition key. 'There is a very commonly understood risk which attends every motor
vehicle driver who is intoxicated. [Citation.] One who willfully consumes alcoholic
beverages to the point of intoxication, knowing that he thereafter must operate a motor
vehicle, thereby combining sharply impaired physical and mental faculties with a vehicle
capable of great force and speed, reasonably may be held to exhibit a conscious disregard
of the safety of others. The effect may be lethal.' " (People v. Bennett, supra, 54 Cal.3d
at p. 1038.)
Here, Sedej's blood alcohol content two hours after the collision was 0.19 percent.
Four individuals testified he did not stop at the red light as required by statute. In fact, he
admitted to police the morning of the collision that he was driving at approximately 40
miles per hour when he collided with the Expedition. Such a rate of speed was
unreasonable under the circumstances. We conclude this evidence is sufficient to support
the conviction for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
III.
Sedej contends the trial court erroneously refused to allow him to impeach Patricia
with evidence related to her immigration status, how she learned to drive, and her
9
possession of a false Mexican driver's license. He further contends his cross-examination
of her was less effective than it might have been if the court had permitted him to
question her specifically regarding her use of a false social security number.
Accordingly, Sedej contends his constitutional rights to due process and confrontation
under the federal and state Constitutions were violated because Patricia's credibility was
crucial in this case, and "[t]he excluded evidence would have cast a different light on
Patricia's inconsistent statements at trial."
A. Applicable Law
Evidence Code section 352 provides, "The court in its discretion may exclude
evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its
admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger
of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury." It "empowers the
trial judge to bar impeachment of a witness by reference to collateral matter." (People v.
Blackburn (1976) 56 Cal.App.3d 685, 693.) Application of the ordinary rules of
evidence does not impair a defendant's constitutional right to present a defense. (People
v. Boyette (2002) 29 Cal.4th 381, 427-428.) Although completely excluding evidence of
an accused's defense theoretically could infringe on his right to present a defense,
excluding defense evidence on a minor or subsidiary point does not. (Ibid.)
The trial court must weigh the probative value against "undue prejudice," not just
prejudice. For purposes of analysis, " 'prejudicial' is not synonymous with 'damaging,'
but refers instead to evidence that ' "uniquely tends to evoke an emotional bias against
10
defendant" ' without regard to its relevance on material issues." (People v. Kipp (2001)
26 Cal.4th 1100, 1121.)
" 'The test of relevance is whether the evidence tends "logically, naturally, and by
reasonable inference" to establish material facts such as identity, intent, or motive.'
[Citation.] In determining the credibility of a witness, the jury may consider any matter
that has a tendency in reason to prove or disprove the truthfulness of his testimony at the
hearing, including but not limited to: a witness's character for honesty or veracity or their
opposites; the existence or nonexistence of a bias, interest, or other motive; his attitude
toward the action in which he testifies or toward the giving of testimony; and his
admission of untruthfulness. [Citation.] Past criminal conduct involving moral turpitude
that has some logical bearing on the veracity of a witness in a criminal proceeding is
admissible to impeach, subject to the court's discretion under Evidence Code section
352." (People v. Harris (2005) 37 Cal.4th 310, 337.)
A "trial court's exercise of discretion in admitting or excluding evidence is
reviewable for abuse [citation] and will not be disturbed except on a showing the trial
court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd manner that
resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice." (People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1,
9-10.)
B. Excluded Testimony About Patricia's Immigration Status and Driving Skills
Sedej moved in limine to admit evidence regarding Patricia's status as an
undocumented immigrant because it tended to show "why it was that she would be
willing or able to try to claim that she was not the person at fault at the scene . . . because
11
she feared the possibility of adverse immigration consequences." He also sought to admit
evidence regarding how she learned to drive: "[I]t's relevant to whether or not she's
capable of operating the motor vehicle and whether or not she's aware of what the laws of
the road are basically. [¶] I mean this is a woman who was taught to drive in a parking
lot . . . . She never took any sort of test to obtain a driver's license, and that's relevant.
The fact that she never was examined on the basic rules of the road." Without citation, he
also claimed that her possession of a Mexican driver's license pointed to her moral
turpitude.
The trial court excluded the challenged evidence: "I'm definitely excluding how
she learned to drive . . . her immigration status, and the identification documents. I don't
believe they are particularly probative. I think that they're extremely prejudicial. I think
that, frankly, there is prejudice which exists to [someone] who is here illegally. I think
that there is prejudice in our community against somebody who is driving a vehicle, from
Mexico, who is not licensed here."
Sedej claims on appeal that at trial he did not seek to introduce evidence regarding
Patricia's immigration status "solely for the purpose of showing that Patricia was in the
country illegally . . . [but] in conjunction with evidence that [she] possessed a fake
Mexican driver's license and used a fake social security number to obtain employment for
the purpose of impeaching [her] credibility."
Sedej further claims that "information related to how Patricia learned to drive and
her lack of a valid license were [sic] relevant to [her] knowledge or lack of knowledge of
the rules of the road. That knowledge was particularly relevant because [she] was from
12
Mexico and, as explained by defense counsel, the rules of the road pertaining to stopping
at red lights in Mexico differed from rules governing red lights in California. Mexican
law contains a provision that permits a driver to proceed through a red light between the
hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. once the driver checks for oncoming traffic and
determines it is safe to proceed." Accordingly, he claims: "The trial court erred by
excluding this relevant evidence tending to show that Patricia was the likely cause of the
collision."
Here, the trial court found the danger of undue prejudice to the prosecution in
introducing evidence of Patricia's status as an undocumented immigrant substantially
outweighed the probative value. We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion. It
remains true that the issue of illegal immigration into the United States is the subject of
intense debate and the topic provokes strong passions on all sides of the issue. Neither
party has provided this court with any published case law establishing that illegal
immigration is a crime of moral turpitude. Our own research has not found any case law
on this question. Assuming arguendo that illegal immigration is a crime of moral
turpitude, we conclude that on these facts the trial court did not err in precluding Sedej
from questioning Patricia on her immigration status.
Regarding the matter of how Patricia learned to drive, such evidence would have
required an undue consumption of time to establish what Mexican law permits regarding
stopping or moving at red lights at certain times, and Patricia's knowledge of those laws.
Moreover, it is unclear that, even if she had such knowledge, she acted on it in violation
of California laws to cause the collision. Sedej, not Patricia, ran the red light. In light of
13
the undue consumption of time it would have required to lay a foundation on these
relevant questions, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding
evidence regarding how Patricia learned to drive.
C. Excluded Testimony Regarding Patricia's Mexican Driver's License
Sedej's counsel argued during in limine proceedings that Patricia had testified in a
prior proceeding that she sent money to her brother, who obtained her driver's license
from Mexico. She also presented that document to the police following the collision.
The trial court tentatively ruled it would exclude testimony regarding Patricia's
driver's license: "I'm looking at [Strandt v. Cannon (1938) 29 Cal.App.2d 509], and it is
a case that talks about negligence, and there is no such thing as contributory negligence in
this charge . . . . Because if it's only being admitted to show contributory negligence,
then it's not relevant. If it is being admitted to show that [Patricia] didn't know to stop at
the stop sign—because again I still think the pivotal issue is: Stop sign. If she doesn't
know to make a full stop at a red light, I'm not sure it does that. So I think the odds are
that I may exclude the license status completely." That became the court's final ruling.
In excluding evidence regarding Patricia's Mexican driver's license, the trial court
was following established law in California, as well as other states. (See Annot., Lack of
Proper Automobile Registration or Operator's License as Evidence of Operator's
Negligence (1953) 29 A.L.R.2d 963, 970-976, and cases cited.) Thus, in Wysock v.
Borchers Bros. (1951) 104 Cal.App.2d 571, 582, the court acknowledged that "[t]he
nonpossession of an operator's or chauffeur's license is not of itself proof that a person is
an incompetent or a careless driver." Likewise in Strandt v. Cannon, supra, 29
14
Cal.App.2d 509, 518, the court held that a driver's negligence is to be determined by the
facts of the accident, and that whether the driver had a license is immaterial unless there
is some causal relationship between the injuries and the failure to have a license.
We conclude Patricia's lack of a valid driver's license is not relevant to the issue of
the gross negligence of the driver who caused the collision, unless the absence of the
license contributed directly to the injury. In this case, there was no evidence showing
that the absence of a license had anything to do with the collision; therefore, such
evidence was inadmissible for the purpose of proving negligence, or for any other
purpose.
D. Sanitized Testimony Regarding Patricia's False Social Security Number
During an Evidence Code section 402 hearing, Patricia admitted providing a false
social security number to a work supervisor to obtain employment in the United States.
The court required defense counsel to sanitize that information by asking Patricia this
precise question at trial, "In May of 2007, did you knowingly provide false information
on a W-4 form?" Patricia responded, "yes."
Sedej claims, "As sanitized, the question clearly lost any impact as that false
information could have been as insignificant as changing her birth date by one day.
Information that Patricia provided a false social security number on the W-4 form would
have had a much greater impact on the jury's view of her veracity."
Even though a defendant is entitled to an opportunity for effective cross-
examination, he is not entitled to " 'cross-examination that is effective in whatever way,
and to whatever extent,' " he might wish. (Delaware v. Van Arsdall (1986) 475 U.S. 673,
15
679.) The prospect of introducing evidence of a witness's prior acts of misconduct raises
serious problems of proof, unfair surprise, fairness, and efficiency, as well as complicated
determinations of when moral turpitude is involved. (People v. Wheeler (1992) 4 Cal.4th
284, 297, fn. 7.) Accordingly, courts are admonished to "consider with particular care
whether the admission of such evidence might involve undue time, confusion, or
prejudice which outweighs its probative value." (Id. at pp. 296-297, fn. omitted.)
For the purpose of impeaching Patricia's credibility, the sanitized question that the
court permitted Sedej to ask struck the proper balance between allowing substantial
impeachment on the issue of Patricia's honesty, on the one hand, and on the other,
avoiding prejudice to her by raising the issue of her social security number, which is a
sensitive topic with jurors, and would not be probative on the underlying issue of the
cause of the collision. We conclude that the trial court did not err in limiting the
evidence.
IV.
Sedej contends his conviction on count 1 must be reversed because the trial court
failed to instruct the jury they must unanimously agree on which of the acts he committed
satisfied the second prong of Penal Code section 191.5, subdivision (a).
As noted, Penal Code section 191.5, subdivision (a) provides that the crime of
gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is committed when the defendant
commits these two prongs: (1) drives a vehicle in violation of Vehicle Code sections
23140, 23152, or 23153, and (2) engages in gross negligence while committing an
unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or a lawful act that might produce death.
16
Regarding the first prong of the Penal Code section 191.5 offense, the prosecution's
theory was that Sedej violated Vehicle Code section 23152, which makes it unlawful for
a person to drive (1) while under the influence of alcohol (Veh. Code, § 23152, subd.
(a)), or (2) with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.08 percent (Veh. Code, § 23152, subd.
(b)). Regarding the second prong of the Penal Code section 191.5 offense, the
prosecution's theory was that Sedej committed one or more of the following unlawful acts
with gross negligence: failing to stop at a red light (Veh. Code, § 21453); and driving at a
speed greater than reasonable or prudent under the conditions (Veh. Code, § 22350). The
People also alleged he drove without reasonable care and caution. This theory was
reflected in instructions to the jury with CALCRIM Nos. 590 and 595.
A jury verdict must be unanimous in a criminal case. (See Cal. Const., art. I, § 16;
People v. Russo (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1124, 1132 (Russo).) Additionally, the jurors must
agree unanimously the defendant has committed one specific crime. (Russo, at p. 1132.)
Therefore, "[a]s a general rule, when violation of a criminal statute is charged and the
evidence establishes several acts, any one of which could constitute the crime charged,
either the state must select the particular act upon which it relied for the allegation of the
information, or the jury must be instructed that it must agree unanimously upon which act
to base a verdict of guilty." (People v. Jennings (2010) 50 Cal.4th 616, 679.) The
unanimity requirement " 'is intended to eliminate the danger that the defendant will be
convicted even though there is no single offense which all the jurors agree the defendant
committed.' " (Russo, at p. 1132.)
17
As explained in Russo, "The key to deciding whether to give the unanimity
instruction lies in considering its purpose. The jury must agree on a 'particular crime'
[citation]; it would be unacceptable if some jurors believed the defendant guilty of one
crime and other jurors believed [the defendant] guilty of another. But unanimity as to
exactly how the crime was committed is not required. Thus, the unanimity instruction is
appropriate 'when conviction on a single count could be based on two or more discrete
criminal events,' but not 'where multiple theories or acts may form the basis of a guilty
verdict on one discrete criminal event.' [Citation.] In deciding whether to give the
instruction, the trial court must ask whether (1) there is a risk the jury may divide on two
discrete crimes and not agree on any particular crime, or (2) the evidence merely presents
the possibility the jury may divide, or be uncertain, as to the exact way the defendant is
guilty of a single discrete crime. In the first situation, but not the second, it should give
the unanimity instruction." (Russo, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 1135.)
Closer to the facts of this case, in People v. Mitchell (1986) 188 Cal.App.3d 216,
this court concluded the jury did not need to unanimously agree whether the defendant
committed the offense of driving under the influence by driving at an unsafe speed or by
engaging in a speed contest. We reasoned that the charges of violating the basic speed
law and engaging in a speed contest were merely alternative theories to prove a necessary
element of the single act of drunk driving. (Id. at pp. 221-222; accord, People v. Leffel
(1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 575, 586-587 [jury need not unanimously agree whether
defendant committed vehicular manslaughter by exceeding maximum speed limit, driving
18
faster than posted limit or than safe, driving recklessly, or failing to drive on right half of
roadway].)
Here, the unanimity instruction was not required because the evidence reflected a
single criminal event of driving while intoxicated, and the jury needed only to
unanimously agree that Sedej committed that offense. The jury did not have to agree
unanimously on which theory supported a finding of guilt on the second prong. (People
v. Mitchell, supra, 188 Cal.App.3d at pp. 220-222; People v. Leffel, supra, 203
Cal.App.3d at pp. 586-587.)
V.
Sedej contends the prosecutor denigrated the integrity of defense counsel and
experts in several instances of misconduct during closing arguments, thus violating his
rights to due process and an impartial jury under the federal and state Constitutions.
A. Background
During closing argument, the prosecutor referred to a dispute about the date that
defense expert Haight had prepared a report. Defense counsel objected on grounds the
prosecutor had misstated the testimony. The court admonished the jury, "[Y]ou're going
to have to use the evidence as you recall it."
In another instance of alleged misconduct, the prosecutor told the jury that one of
the defense expert's reports contained discrepancies; however, when questioned about it
at trial, the expert had said, "[T]his isn't eighth grade. I don't have to show my work."
The prosecutor commented about that statement, "Yeah, you're right. This isn't eighth
grade math. This is a court of law. And if you guys want to accept it without his work,
19
that's up to you. But there's another person who didn't have to show his work, and that's
Bernie Madoff." Defense counsel objected on the basis of "improper argument." The
trial court sustained the objection, telling the jury to "disregard the last comment."
Another challenged comment by the prosecutor came when he was showing the
jury two photographs and this exchange occurred:
"[Prosecutor]: . . . "This is the world famous [Sydney Opera House] in Australia.
It's supposed to be a really nice place. Never been there. This is what it looks like on a
normal day. About three weeks before this trial started that's what the [Sydney Opera
House] looked like because of dust storms in [Sydney]. You can still see that it's the
[Opera House], but it's obscured by dust. That's what the defense is doing in this case,
ladies and gentlemen.
"[Defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor. Improper argument.
"The Court: Overruled. Go ahead.
"[Prosecutor]: That's what the defense is doing in this case. They can't accept the
eyewitness testimony. . . . So bring in experts, bring in experts, bring in experts to
obscure what went on."
"[Defense counsel]: Improper argument, your Honor."
During a side bar, the court ruled the prosecutor's argument was "not inappropriate
to say it creates a red herring. . . . I think so far it's okay. [¶] I do agree that there are
times when it can go over the line. I don't think we're there yet."
Another challenged statement was the prosecutor's joke about a company that was
hiring an accountant. In the joke, the first applicant was asked, "What is two plus two?"
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and answered "Five." The second applicant answered the same question with "Four."
The third applicant replied, "What would you like it to be?" That applicant was told,
"You're hired." The prosecutor added, "And the reason I tell you that joke is because it
applies to accounting as well as it does to reconstruction." Defense counsel did not
object. The prosecutor proceeded to discuss the different experts' reconstruction of the
collision scene.
B. Applicable law
Generally, a defendant cannot raise a prosecutorial misconduct claim on appeal
unless he first makes an assignment of misconduct at trial, stating the grounds, and on
that basis, requests the jury be admonished to disregard the impropriety. (People v.
Samayoa (1997) 15 Cal.4th 795, 841 (Samayoa).)
" ' " '[A] prosecutor is given wide latitude during argument. The argument may be
vigorous as long as it amounts to fair comment on the evidence, which can include
reasonable inferences, or deductions to be drawn therefrom.' " ' " (People v. Hill (1998)
17 Cal.4th 800, 819 (Hill).) " '[C]ounsel may not [however,] assume or state facts not in
evidence [citation] or mischaracterize the evidence.' [Citation.] 'Whether the inferences
the prosecutor draws are reasonable is for the jury to decide.' " (People v. Harrison
(2005) 35 Cal.4th 208, 249.) "The prosecutor is permitted to urge, in colorful terms, that
defense witnesses are not entitled to credence, to comment on failure to produce logical
evidence, [and] to argue on the basis of inference from the evidence that a defense is
A prosecutor's intemperate behavior violates the federal Constitution when it
comprises a pattern of conduct so egregious that it infects the entire trial with such
unfairness as to make the conviction a denial of due process. (Samayoa, supra, 15
Cal.4th at p. 841.) "A defendant's conviction will not be reversed for prosecutorial
misconduct, however, unless it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the
defendant would have been reached without the misconduct." (People v. Crew (2003) 31
Cal.4th 822, 839.)
Absent misconduct implicating federal constitutional error, we will not reverse
unless it is reasonably probable the result would have been more favorable to the
defendant without the misconduct. (See People v. Cook (2006) 39 Cal.4th 566, 606,
608.)
C. Analysis
We reject the claims of prosecutorial misconduct in this case. Regarding the
prosecutor's argument about Haight's report, Sedej did not object on grounds of
prosecutorial misconduct, and did not seek an admonition. Rather, the defense objected
the prosecutor had misstated the expert's testimony. Sedej has not shown on appeal why
the court's instruction to the jury to rely on its recall of the facts was insufficient to cure
any prejudice. We conclude the claim is forfeited.
Similarly, the defense forfeited any challenge to the prosecutor's joke about
defense experts who adjust their testimony to the needs of their client. The defense failed
to object at trial. In any event, that joke was not so extreme that an admonition would not
have cured any harm. (People v. Gionis (1995) 9 Cal.4th 1196, 1216-1217.)
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Regarding the prosecutor's reference to Bernie Madoff, the trial court sustained the
defense's objection the argument was improper, and admonished the jury to disregard the
comment. We conclude this admonition sufficed to cure any jury misconception caused
by the prosecutor's statement.
As a substantive matter, the prosecutor's reference to the two photographs of the
Sydney Opera House, one clear and the other obscured by dust—aiming to illustrate that
defense was obscuring the truth—was no different than argument found proper by the
California Supreme Court as summarized in People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th
926, 1002-1003. In that case, the court stated, "The prosecutor's remarks . . . would be
understood by the jury as an admonition not to be misled by the defense interpretation of
the evidence, rather than as a personal attack on defense counsel." (Id. at p. 1003.)
We conclude the prosecutor's challenged arguments did not so infect the trial with
unfairness as to constitute a denial of due process. Further, it is not reasonably probable
Sedej would have received a more favorable outcome absent those statements. This case
turned on Sedej's level of intoxication and whether he ran a red light in violation of traffic
laws. There was overwhelming evidence on those two points; therefore, any error by the
prosecutor was harmless under any standard.
VI.
Sedej contends the trial court erred in denying his request for probation based on
its finding he lacked remorse. Sedej concedes that under California Rules of Court, rule
4.414(b)(7), the issue of his remorse was a valid factor the court considered in evaluating
his probation request. However, he contends the court abused its discretion and acted
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arbitrarily in finding he had failed to acknowledge running a red light. Sedej argues,
"The record on appeal supports a conclusion that all [he] remembered from the collision
was suddenly seeing a vehicle that appeared to be stopped in front on [sic] him before the
air bags in his vehicle [sic]." Therefore, "it was unreasonable for the trial court to expect
[him] to confess to running a red light to show he was truly remorseful."
The sentencing hearing in this matter took place over the course of two days. The
trial court noted it had read and considered the defense's statement in mitigation and
numerous letters submitted on Sedej's behalf. It also listened to recordings of Sedej's jail
conversations. The court summarized for Sedej the basis for its belief he was not
sufficiently remorseful: "But you made statements like [']I did everything right for 23
years, and this is wrong.['] Implying it was wrong what happened to you. You said [']I
was trying to get out of this.['] These are all statements I had you respond to earlier . . .
You said, [']it's not right. I don't get some things.['] And this was all after the conviction.
After you've had a little time in custody." The court added, "So I have a John Sedej who
is remorseful but not because he ran the red light but because of his actions of drinking
and driving and that somebody died. . . . I do not believe that you believe that you have
caused the crash. I do think you still feel like you have been wronged."
The court denied probation, although it found Sedej was eligible for probation,
based on his lack of a prior criminal record, ruling, "Someone died. That's part of the
offense. Two other people were seriously injured. Your blood alcohol level was [at 0.19
percent], and you have no explanation for how you got there." The court noted the
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vulnerability all drivers on the road face from a drunk driver. The court pointed out
"[t]he degree of monetary loss to the victim's family is significant."
The sentencing court has broad discretion in determining whether a defendant is
suitable for probation. (People v. Welch (1993) 5 Cal.4th 228, 233.) " 'All defendants are
eligible for probation, in the discretion of the sentencing court [citation], unless a statute
provides otherwise.' [Citation.] 'The grant or denial of probation is within the trial
court's discretion and the defendant bears a heavy burden when attempting to show an
abuse of that discretion. [Citation.]' [Citation.] 'In reviewing [a trial court's
determination whether to grant or deny probation,] it is not our function to substitute our
judgment for that of the trial court. Our function is to determine whether the trial court's
order granting [or denying] probation is arbitrary or capricious or exceeds the bounds of
reason considering all the facts and circumstances.' [Citation.] [¶] 'The decision to grant
or deny probation requires consideration of all the facts and circumstances of the case.' "
(People v. Weaver (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 1301, 1311-1312.) "[O]ne factor in
aggravation is sufficient to justify a sentencing choice." (People v. Robinson (1992) 11
Cal.App.4th 609, 615, disapproved of on another ground in People v. Scott (1994) 9
Cal.4th 331, 353.)
California Rules of Court, rule 4.414 provides criteria for the court to consider in
deciding whether to grant or deny probation. It describes a number of factors, related
both to the underlying crime and to the defendant. These factors "must be considered by
the sentencing judge[.]" (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.409.) Among the factors related to
the crime that the court considers are "the nature, seriousness, and circumstances of the
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crime as compared to other instances of the same crime," (Cal. Rules of Court, rule
4.414(a)(1)) and "[w]hether the defendant was an active or a passive participant." (Cal.
Rules of Court, rule 4.414(a)(6).)
Here, the same judge presided over the trial and sentencing. She read the
probation officer's report recommending denying probation and sentencing Sedej to
prison. The record is clear that the court's conclusion that Sedej was not sufficiently
remorseful was based on Sedej's own statements in jailhouse recordings and at the
sentencing hearing. Further, the lack of remorse was but one factor the court considered
in denying probation. Although there were certainly factors favorable to Sedej that the
court could have used to support a decision granting probation, there were other factors
that supported its determination to deny probation, as noted in its thorough analysis of the
applicable factors. We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in denying Sedej's
request for probation.
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DISPOSITION
We reverse the true findings on the Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a)
enhancements as to Nancy Ramirez in counts 2 and 3. In all other respects the judgment
is affirmed.
O'ROURKE, J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
NARES, J.
27
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court affirmed the defendant's convictions for gross vehicular manslaughter and related offenses, but reversed the true findings on the Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) great bodily injury enhancements as to the deceased victim.
Issues
Whether convictions for driving under the influence causing injury are necessarily included offenses of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Whether there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in excluding evidence of a witness's immigration status, driving history, and specific details of prior misconduct.
Whether the trial court erred in failing to provide a unanimity instruction regarding the acts supporting the gross negligence element.
Disposition. Affirmed in part, reversed in part.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“We reverse the true findings on the Penal Code section 12022.7, subdivision (a) enhancements as to Nancy in counts 2 and 3. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment.”
“In light of the fact Nancy died in the collision, we reverse the true finding on the great bodily injury enhancements as to her on counts 2 and 3.”
“We conclude this evidence is sufficient to support the conviction for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.”