People v. Rivera CA4/3 ( 2021 )

Filed 4/26/21 P. v. Rivera CA4/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, G057350
v. (Super. Ct. No. 14NF4686)
ANTHONY MICHAEL RIVERA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Jonathan
S. Fish, Judge. Affirmed.
Valerie G. Wass, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant
Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland and
Eric A. Swenson, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
* * *
Defendant Anthony Michael Rivera sexually abused his step-
granddaughter, Jane Doe No. 1, for years. When she was 10 years old, she realized he
was also molesting her five-year-old sister, Jane Doe No. 2, and reported the abuse. A
jury subsequently convicted defendant of: one count of sexual intercourse with Jane Doe
1
No. 1 (Pen. Code, § 288.7, subd. (a); count 1); three counts of oral copulation with Jane
Doe No. 1 (§ 288.7, subd. (b); counts 2, 3 & 4) and one count with Jane Doe No. 2 (count
8); two counts of sexual penetration with Jane Doe No. 1 (§ 288.7, subd. (b); counts 5 &
6) and one count with Jane Doe No. 2 (count 9). Defendant was also convicted of
committing a lewd act on Jane Doe No. 1 (§ 288.7, subd. (a); count 7) and Jane Doe No.
2 (count 10), and the jury found defendant committed each lewd act offense on more than
one victim (§ 667.61, subds. (b), (e)).
The court sentenced defendant to state prison for a total term of 80 years to
life, comprised of two terms of 25 years to life (counts 1 & 10) and two consecutive
terms of 15 years to life (counts 2 & 9). The court imposed concurrent indeterminate
terms on the remaining counts: concurrent terms of 15 years to life on counts 3 through 6
and count 8 and a concurrent term of 25 years to life on count 7.
On appeal, defendant contends: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support
his convictions in counts 8 through 10 and the multiple victim enhancements on counts 7
and 10; (2) the court erred by admitting expert testimony explaining child sexual abuse
accommodation syndrome (CSAAS); (3) when instructing the jury on its consideration of
the CSAAS evidence, the court erred by failing to omit the last sentence of CALCRIM
No. 1193; (4) the prosecutor committed misconduct in her rebuttal argument; (5) his
attorney rendered ineffective assistance; (6) his sentence constitutes cruel and unusual
punishment; and (7) the court violated his due process rights by imposing certain fines
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise
stated.
2
and fees without first determining his ability to pay them. We reject these contentions
and affirm.
FACTS
PROSECUTION EVIDENCE
D.F. had seven children, two of whom were girls. D.F.’s mother V. was
married to defendant. Around 2011, V. began babysitting the children at the home she
shared with defendant while D.F. was at work. V. would ensure the school-age children,
including Jane Doe No. 1, got to school and would take care of them when they returned
from school in the afternoon until their mother picked them up in the evening. Jane Doe
No. 2 was too young for school so she would stay at her grandmother and defendant’s
house all day; she also spent most nights there.
Jane Doe No. 1 (Counts 1 through 7)
Jane Doe No. 1 was about seven years old when her grandmother began
watching her and her siblings. Every day after school, she would go to her
grandmother’s house. Defendant would be home also.
A couple of times a week, her grandmother would leave the house to run
errands or pick up one of the children from school, entrusting defendant to watch Jane
Doe No. 1 and the other children at the house. Defendant would take Jane Doe No. 1 into
his bedroom and molest her when her grandmother was out of the house. With the
bedroom door closed and locked, he would rub her vaginal area with his finger and tell
her to lick his penis like it was a lollipop. On a couple of occasions, he orally copulated
her and touched her breasts. Sometimes when he had her lay down on the bed, he would
pull down her pants, lay on top of her, and place his penis inside her labia majora.
Eventually he developed a pattern where he would digitally penetrate her while he had
3
her orally copulate him, before getting on top of her on the bed. This abuse occurred
frequently over a period of years.
While the abuse occurred mostly in the bedroom, defendant also touched
Jane Doe No. 1’s vaginal area once while they were in the garage and another time by a
shed in the backyard.
Jane Doe No. 1 did not tell anyone defendant was molesting her because
she was scared. She finally reported the abuse when she was 10 years old, after she saw
something suspicious between defendant and her younger sister and asked Jane Doe No.
2 if defendant was touching her inappropriately. When Jane Doe No. 2 confirmed
defendant was molesting her, Jane Doe No. 1 informed members of their family, who
told her mother.
Her mother called the police. In a statement to the police and during her
Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) interview, Jane Doe No. 1 described the abuse
defendant had perpetrated upon her for years.
Jane Doe No. 2 (Counts 8 through 10)
Jane Doe No. 2 was about 19 months old when she went to live with her
grandmother and defendant. Defendant would molest her when her grandmother left the
house. He would take her into his bedroom, put her on the bed, pull down her pants, and
digitally penetrate her. Sometimes he would tell her not to tell anyone. When her
grandmother returned home, he would hurry her out of the room. He also molested her in
the shed in the yard a few times.
Jane Doe No. 2 did not tell anyone about the abuse until her sister asked if
defendant had touched one of her private places. After she said yes, her sister confided
defendant had been molesting her also.
4
Jane Doe No. 2 did not remember some of the statements she made during
her CAST interview, which was later played for the jury. She was five years old when
the interview took place. During the interview, Jane Doe No. 2 stated defendant
molested her on numerous occasions by pulling her into his bedroom and locking the
door. She described his actions of digitally penetrating her, having her orally copulate
him, and putting his penis on her “private” part. She also described him rubbing her
breasts and touching her buttocks.
When the interviewer showed her a picture of defendant, Jane Doe No. 2
said she wanted her “grampe back.” She also told the interviewer that she felt “good”
about going to her grandmother and defendant’s house.
About a year prior to the trial, Jane Doe No. 2 told the police she was
abused by another man, D.V., when she was very young. Jane Doe No. 2 had lived with
defendant’s sister and brother-in-law, D.V., for about 18 months beginning when she was
around one-and-a-half-months old. She reported that during this time, D.V. had put her
on a bed and touched her private area with his finger. She said that when she tried to
resist, he pushed her back down. She told the interviewer that she talked to another girl
who was at the house and she was being hurt too.
At trial, Jane Doe No. 2 did not remember making this accusation against
D.V. or the details of it and testified she did not believe the abuse happened. However,
after the defense played a video recording of her being interviewed by the police, she
testified she believed D.V. abused her, but she could not remember the interview. After
watching the video, she testified she told her mother that D.V. was touching her
inappropriately and that her mother stopped taking her there. D.F. denied that Jane Doe
No. 2 told her about the abuse back then.
5
CSAAS
Dr. Ward, a clinical and forensic psychologist, explained CSAAS describes
a pattern of behaviors exhibited by children who have been sexually abused. It is not a
diagnostic tool and cannot be used to diagnose whether or not sexual abuse has occurred.
It was developed to be used in a clinical setting to help clinicians understand a child’s
behavioral responses when sexual abuse occurs within an ongoing relationship.
Dr. Ward described the five stages of CSAAS: (1) secrecy; (2)
helplessness; (3) entrapment and accommodation; (4) delayed, unconvincing disclosure;
and (5) retraction or recantation. All five components are not present in all cases
involving sexually abused children. Secrecy and helplessness are always present but the
others may not be. Secrecy refers to the fact the sexual abuse occurs in secret and that
children tend to keep the abuse secret for a long time. Helplessness refers to the inherent
power differential between the abused child and the abusive adult. Entrapment and
accommodation concern a child’s inability to get out of the abusive situation, resulting in
the child becoming entrapped and having to accommodate the abuse. A child may
acquiesce or go along with the sexual abuse because the child believes he or she has to
put up with this negative aspect of the relationship with the abuser to receive the positive
benefits of the relationship. It can be very confusing for a child when a person providing
the child positive emotional support is also sexually abusing him or her.
Delayed and unconvincing disclosure is the most widely researched aspect
of CSAAS. The research indicates most people do not report sexual abuse until
adulthood. The initial disclosure may be tentative or only reveal a little information to
see how it is received. Whether the child reveals more depends on the listener’s reaction.
Retraction and recantation may occur after a disclosure has turned the child’s life upside
down as the child wants things to return to the way they were.
6
DEFENSE EVIDENCE
Testifying in his own defense, defendant denied any inappropriate or sexual
contact with either girl. He interacted with the children while his wife was babysitting
them but he was never alone with the girls. Defendant was very busy because he was
overseeing a Christian men’s recovery home at the residence, which housed
approximately 15 men. The men ate and had meetings in the house and their sleeping
quarters were in the garage.
A friend of defendant’s and two former residents of his recovery home
testified in his defense. All three had lived at defendant’s residence for periods of time
during which the abuse occurred. None of them saw defendant alone with either of the
girls, nor did they see anything out of the ordinary in his interaction with the girls. They
could not recall a time when the children’s grandmother left the house while the children
were there. Each expressed his opinion that defendant was an honest man who would
never harm a child.
Defendant was interviewed and tested by a forensic psychologist. The test
indicated defendant does not have a persistent sexual interest in adolescent females.
DISCUSSION
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Defendant contends there was an absence of substantial evidence
supporting his convictions involving Jane Doe No. 2 (counts 8, 9, and 10) and the
multiple victim enhancements (counts 7 and 10). Defendant’s argument does not
challenge the evidence for any particular element of these offenses or enhancements;
instead, he focuses on inconsistencies between her testimony and prior statements and
makes a broad claim that Jane Doe No. 2’s testimony was unbelievable and should be
7
completely disregarded. Essentially, defendant is rearguing the evidence presented at
trial attacking Jane Doe No. 2’s credibility. We reject this argument.
“In deciding the sufficiency of the evidence, a reviewing court resolves
neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts. [Citation.] Resolution of conflicts and
inconsistencies in the testimony is the exclusive province of the trier of fact.” (People v.
Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1181.) Our role, instead, is to “‘review the whole record
in the light most favorable to the judgment below to determine whether it discloses
substantial evidence—that is, evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid
value—such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.’ [Citation.] In determining whether a reasonable trier of fact could
have found [the defendant] guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, we presume in support of
the judgment ‘“the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the
evidence.”’” (People v. Nelson (2016) 1 Cal.5th 513, 550.) The same standard applies
when examining the sufficiency of the evidence supporting an enhancement or alternative
sentencing scheme. (People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 59-60.)
“[U]nless the testimony is physically impossible or inherently improbable,
testimony of a single witness is sufficient to support a conviction.” (People v. Young,
supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1181.) “‘“To warrant the rejection of the statements given by a
witness who has been believed by a trial court, there must exist either a physical
impossibility that they are true, or their falsity must be apparent without resorting to
inferences or deductions.”’” (People v. Ennis (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 721, 728.) “While
an appellate court can overturn a judgment when it concludes the evidence supporting it
was ‘inherently improbable,’ such a finding is so rare as to be almost nonexistent.”
(Ibid.) This case is not one of those rare instances.
Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence by highlighting
various inconsistencies between Jane Doe No. 2’s initial statement to the police, her
CAST interview, and the testimony at trial. He also focuses on the impeachment of Jane
8
Doe No. 2’s allegation that she was sexually abused by a different man, D.V., when she
was very young, and he calls her allegation of prior abuse “incredulous.” Defense
counsel similarly attacked Jane Doe No. 2’s credibility in his closing argument as he
urged the jury to reject her testimony.
The impeachment of Jane Doe No. 2’s testimony was an issue for the jury
to consider in evaluating her credibility. (People v. Maciel (2013) 57 Cal.4th 482, 519
[“‘“it is the exclusive province of the trial judge or jury to determine the credibility of a
witness and the truth or falsity of the facts upon which a determination depends”’”].) In
convicting defendant of the charges and enhancements, the jury found credible Jane Doe
No. 2’s statements and testimony that defendant committed multiple sex acts on her. We
cannot and will “not substitute our evaluation of a witness’s credibility for that of the fact
finder.” (People v. Jones (1990) 51 Cal.3d 294, 314.)
Even if the jury found incredible Jane Doe No. 2’s allegation of prior abuse
by D.V., it could still find credible the evidence that defendant sexually abused her. (See
CALCRIM No. 226 [instructing the jury it “may believe all, part, or none of any
witness’s testimony”].) The evidence that defendant took Jane Doe No. 2 into his
bedroom and sexually abused her on multiple occasions was not “improbable ‘“on its
face.”’” (People v. Ennis, supra, 190 Cal.App.4th at p. 729.)
To the extent defendant asserts the evidence against him was insufficient
because the prosecution failed to present physical evidence and testimony to corroborate
Jane Doe No. 2’s allegations, we disagree. First, “California law does not require
corroboration of the testimony of a child sexual abuse victim.” (People v. Harlan (1990)
222 Cal.App.3d 439, 454; accord, CALCRIM No. 1190 [sexual assault conviction may
be based solely on the testimony of the victim]; CALCRIM No. 301 [single witness’s
testimony can prove any fact].) Second, Jane Doe No. 2’s testimony, describing the
sexual acts defendant performed on her and had her perform in his bedroom, was
corroborated by her sister’s testimony, describing the same acts in the same location.
9
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, as we
must, we conclude the evidence was sufficient to support defendant’s convictions.
EXPERT TESTIMONY DISCUSSING CSAAS
Defendant mounts a multi-pronged attack on the court’s admission of Dr.
Ward’s expert testimony concerning CSAAS. Initially, he takes the “position that
CSAAS evidence should be deemed inadmissible in California for all purposes based on
the fact that such evidence cannot be limited to the description of myths surrounding
abuse.” He encourages us to “follow the lead of two other states and adopt a rule
excluding CSAAS evidence in its entirety.” If we are unwilling to do so, and we are, he
contends the evidence should have been excluded because it “constituted scientific
2
opinion evidence without reliable foundation under Kelly/Frye.” Next, he challenges its
admission as irrelevant evidence that is not the proper subject of expert testimony
because “there are no longer misconceptions about how child sexual abuse victims should
act.” He further contends the evidence should have been excluded under Evidence Code
section 352 because it was more prejudicial than probative. Last, he asserts admission of
the CSAAS evidence violated his state and federal constitutional rights to due process.
Defendant’s attack fails on all fronts.
2
In People v. Kelly (1976) 17 Cal.3d 24, our Supreme Court explained
California had adopted the test enunciated in Frye v. United States (D.C. Cir. 1923) 293
Fed. 1013, 1014, for evaluating the admissibility of evidence relating to a new scientific
technique. (Kelly, at p. 30.) For many years, the test was referred to in California as the
“‘Kelly/Frye’ test.” (People v. Diaz (1992) 3 Cal.4th 495, 525.) The Frye test was later
“superseded by the adoption of the Federal Rules of Evidence.” (Daubert v. Merrell Dow
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (1993) 509 U.S. 579, 587.) Our Supreme Court has since
indicated the test is “now more accurately” called the “Kelly formulation.” (People v.
Leahy (1994) 8 Cal.4th 587, 591.) Accordingly, we will refer to it as such or the Kelly
rule.
10
Trial Court Proceedings
Prior to trial, the prosecution moved to admit expert testimony regarding
CSAAS to dispel common misconceptions the jurors might have about how a child will
react to sexual abuse. The prosecutor argued such testimony was relevant to help the jury
understand an abused child might not immediately report the abuse and could continue to
show affection toward her abuser. With no objection from the defense, the court granted
the prosecution’s motion. The defense later registered an objection to the expert
testimony on CSAAS “for the record . . . on a foundation ground and a[n Evidence Code
section] 352 ground,” acknowledging the court had already granted the prosecution’s
motion to allow the testimony.
Admissibility of CSAAS Expert Testimony in California
Defendant contends “CSAAS evidence should be deemed inadmissible in
California for all purposes . . . .” He acknowledges numerous California appellate court
decisions have found CSAAS testimony admissible. (See, e.g., People v. Munch (2020)
52 Cal.App.5th 464, 465; People v. Perez (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 231, 245; People v.
Patino (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 1737, 1744-1745; People v. Housley (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th
947, 955-956; People v. Gray (1986) 187 Cal.App.3d 213, 217-220.) Nevertheless, he
urges us to break from these cases and to follow Kentucky and Tennessee by adopting a
rule excluding CSAAS evidence. (See, e.g., Newkirk v. Commonwealth (Ky. 1997) 937
S.W.2d 690, 691-694; State v. Bolin (Tenn. 1996) 922 S.W.2d 870, 872-874.) He asserts
such a rule is necessary because there is a danger CSAAS evidence may be
misunderstood or misapplied by the jury. We disagree and see no reason to break from
well-established authority in California.
In California, “it has long been held that in a judicial proceeding presenting
the question whether a child has been sexually molested, CSAAS is admissible evidence
for the limited purpose of disabusing the fact finder of common misconceptions it might
11
have about how child victims react to sexual abuse.” (In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th
396, 418 [cases cited therein].) As our Supreme Court has explained, expert testimony
on CSAAS “is not admissible to prove that the complaining witness has in fact been
sexually abused;” but “it is admissible to rehabilitate such witness’s credibility when the
defendant suggests that the child’s conduct after the incident—e.g., a delay in reporting—
is inconsistent with his or her testimony claiming molestation.” (People v. McAlpin
(1991) 53 Cal.3d 1289, 1300 (McAlpin).) “‘Such expert testimony is needed to disabuse
jurors of commonly held misconceptions about child sexual abuse, and to explain the
emotional antecedents of abused children’s seemingly self-impeaching behavior.’” (Id. at
p. 1301.)
In McAlpin, our Supreme Court was not ruling directly on the admissibility
of expert testimony on CSAAS but discussed it when considering the admissibility of
similar evidence—expert testimony on the behavior of a molested child’s parent.
(McAlpin, supra, 53 Cal.3d at pp. 1299-1302.) The McAlpin court relied on the
admissibility of expert testimony discussing CSAAS to explain its conclusion that the
trial court properly admitted expert testimony on why a parent might not immediately
report sexual abuse of his or her child. (Ibid.) In doing so, the Supreme Court cited with
approval several Court of Appeal decisions that had upheld the admission of CSAAS
expert testimony. (Id. at pp. 1300-1301 & fn. 4.).
Similarly, in People v. Humphrey (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1073, the Supreme
Court analogized to CSAAS evidence in concluding expert testimony regarding battered
women’s syndrome was relevant and admissible “‘to explain a behavior pattern that
might otherwise appear unreasonable to the average person’” and “‘“to disabuse jurors of
commonly held misconceptions . . . .”’” (Id. at p. 1088.) Facing a similar question in
People v. Brown (2004) 33 Cal.4th 892, the Supreme Court again noted the relevance and
admissibility of expert testimony that can dispel common misconceptions about how an
alleged domestic violence victim should behave. In its analysis, the Supreme Court
12
relied on Court of Appeal decisions upholding the admissibility of CSAAS expert
testimony and McAlpin. (Brown, at pp. 905-907.)
Our Supreme Court’s discussions in McAlpin, Humphrey, and Brown of the
relevance of CSAAS expert testimony are persuasive dicta we dare not disregard.
(People v. Wade (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 460, 467 [“Dicta of our Supreme Court are
highly persuasive”]; see Hubbard v. Superior Court (1997) 66 Cal.App.4th 1163, 1169
[“When the Supreme Court has conducted a thorough analysis of the issues and such
analysis reflects compelling logic, its dictum should be followed”].) While defendant
relies on cases from two sister states that held CSAAS evidence is inadmissible, these
cases are not binding on us and do not convince us to break from established California
authority. (T.H. v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. (2017) 4 Cal.5th 145, 175 [decisions
of sister states are not controlling].) Indeed, the overwhelming majority of states are in
alignment with California and permit CSAAS expert testimony for some purpose. (See
People v. Munch, supra, 52 Cal.App.5th at pp. 469-472 [examining several out of state
cases]; id. at p. 472 [concluding “the vast majority of jurisdictions” are consistent with
California]; King v. Commonwealth (Ky. 2015) 472 S.W.3d 523, 534-535 (dis. opn. of
Abramson, J.) [compiling cases and concluding 41 states and several federal circuits
admit CSAAS expert testimony for some purpose, while seven states have not addressed
the issue].) Accordingly, we decline to depart from settled California law that CSAAS is
admissible to disabuse jurors of common misconceptions regarding sexually abused
children.
Defendant Forfeited His Contention That the CSAAS Expert Testimony Is Scientific
Evidence Subject to Kelly
Defendant argues the CSAAS expert testimony should have been excluded
because it is scientific evidence subject to the Kelly formulation and it cannot satisfy
Kelly because its scientific validity “is subject to considerable ongoing debate.” The
13
Attorney General asserts defendant forfeited this argument by failing to raise it below.
We agree with the Attorney General.
Under the Kelly formulation for the admissibility of scientific evidence,
“evidence obtained through a new scientific technique may be admitted only after its
reliability has been established under a three-pronged test. The first prong requires proof
that the technique is generally accepted as reliable in the relevant scientific community.”
(People v. Bolden (2002) 29 Cal.4th 515, 544.) Below, defendant neither objected to the
admission of Dr. Ward’s expert testimony concerning CSAAS on the ground that it was
new scientific evidence subject to the Kelly rule nor did he challenge its acceptance in the
scientific community. By failing to raise these objections below, he forfeited his
appellate claim. (Evid. Code, § 353, subd. (a); People v. Ochoa (1998) 19 Cal.4th 353,
414 [failure to object to the admission of evidence on Kelly grounds forfeits appellate
claim].)
Addressing the merits of defendant’s argument to forestall a habeas claim
that his counsel’s failure to object constituted ineffective assistance, we conclude CSAAS
expert testimony is not subject to the Kelly formulation. “‘Court of Appeal decisions
have held that Kelly-Frye [citations] . . . precludes an expert from testifying based on the
child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome (CSAAS) that a particular victim’s report
of alleged abuse is credible because the victim manifests certain defined characteristics
which are generally exhibited by abused children.’” (People v. Wells (2004) 118
Cal.App.4th 179, 188.) But where the CSAAS evidence is admitted to rehabilitate a
victim’s credibility through a discussion of victim behavior as a class and does not
diagnosis or discuss the victim in that case, cases have held CSAAS is not subject to the
requirements of the Kelly rule. (People v. Munch, supra, 52 Cal.App.5th at p. 473;
People v. Gray, supra, 187 Cal.App.3d at pp. 217-220; People v. Harlan, supra, 222
Cal.App.3d at pp. 448-449.)
14
In defendant’s case, Dr. Ward’s expert testimony on CSAAS did not
constitute a new scientific method of proof which purported to provide any “definitive
truth” regarding whether the victims had been molested (People v. Stoll (1989) 49 Cal.3d
1136, 1156) and therefore was not subject to the Kelly rule. (See People v. Jones (2013)
57 Cal.4th 899, 953 [absent “‘some special feature which effectively blindsides the jury,
expert opinion testimony is not subject to Kelly’”].) Thus, there was no error on this
ground.
The CSAAS Evidence was Relevant and Admissible
Next, defendant contends the court should have excluded Dr. Ward’s
testimony explaining CSAAS based on irrelevancy. He asserts the expert testimony was
irrelevant because “[t]he misconceptions for which CSAAS is admitted to refute are no
longer present.” Much of this argument is a rephrasing of his earlier argument that
CSAAS should be excluded in California for all purposes. Again, we disagree.
The Attorney General argues defendant forfeited this claim because, below,
defendant neither objected to Dr. Ward’s testimony as irrelevant nor argued CSAAS was
no longer the proper subject of expert testimony. It is well-established “‘that the
“defendant’s failure to make a timely and specific objection” on the ground asserted on
appeal makes that ground not cognizable.’” (People v. Partida (2005) 37 Cal.4th 428,
434; accord, Evid. Code, 353, subd. (a).)
Defendant admits he did not object on this ground. Nevertheless, he
contends his claim is preserved for appeal because his “objection under Evidence Code
section 352 necessarily included a broad challenge to the relevance of the CSAAS
evidence . . . .” We are not persuaded. Defendant’s objection in the trial court was
insufficient to make the court aware of his current contention that the expert testimony on
CSAAS was entirely irrelevant and should be excluded because the behaviors of child
sex abuse victims are now commonly understood. (See, e.g., People v. Barnett (1998) 17
15
Cal.4th 1144, 1130 [objection on relevancy grounds did not preserve Evid. Code, § 352
argument].) Nevertheless, we address defendant’s claim on its merits to forestall a
habeas corpus petition alleging ineffective assistance of counsel, and we conclude the
evidence was relevant and admissible.
“Opinion testimony by an expert witness is admissible if it is, inter alia,
‘[r]elated to a subject that is sufficiently beyond common experience that the opinion of
an expert would assist the trier of fact’ [citation].” (McAlpin, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p.
1299.) Expert testimony, like all evidence, must be relevant. (Evid. Code, § 350;
McAlpin, at p. 1303.) “‘Relevant evidence’ means evidence, including evidence relevant
to the credibility of a witness . . . , having any tendency in reason to prove or disprove
any disputed fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action.” (Evid. Code,
§ 210.) “‘[T]he trial court is vested with wide discretion in determining relevance’ under
the Evidence Code” (McAlpin, at p. 1303), and its decision “to admit expert testimony
‘will not be disturbed on appeal unless a manifest abuse of discretion is shown’” (id. at p.
1299).
Expert testimony explaining CSAAS may be admitted in the prosecution’s
case-in-chief when the victim’s testimony raises an “obvious question . . . in the minds of
the jurors,” such as “why the molestation was not immediately reported if it had really
occurred” or “why [the victim] went back to [the defendant’s] home a second time after
the first molestation.” (People v. Patino, supra, 26 Cal.App.4th at p. 1745.) Generally,
CSAAS evidence “is pertinent and admissible if an issue has been raised as to the
victim’s credibility.” (Ibid.)
Here, the court did not abuse its discretion by admitting Dr. Ward’s expert
testimony regarding CSAAS. This testimony was relevant to the jury’s consideration of
the victims’ credibility. The girls’ behavior of not immediately reporting the abuse to
their grandmother or mother and not avoiding being alone with defendant after the abuse
began could have raised serious questions in the jurors’ minds as to the veracity of the
16
girls’ claims of abuse. Similarly, Jane Doe No. 2’s exclamation during her CAST
interview that she wanted her “grampe back” could have seemed irreconcilable with her
allegations that defendant had repeatedly molested her and could have caused the jurors
to question her credibility. Dr. Ward’s testimony explaining CSAAS was relevant to
dispel misconceptions the jurors might have held that a child subjected to sexual abuse by
a family member would immediately report the abuse, avoid the abuser, or not show
affection for the abuser.
Defendant contends the CSAAS evidence was irrelevant in his trial because
he did not dispute that child victims delay in reporting abuse or argue that an abused child
would not show affection for the abuser. That defendant did not make these arguments to
the jury does not mean that questions regarding the girls’ paradoxical behavior would not
arise in the jurors’ minds when evaluating their credibility.
Defendant further asserts “cable television, the internet, and social media”
have educated Californians regarding the behavior of sexual assault victims and,
therefore, expert testimony explaining CSAAS is no longer relevant. We question the
definitude of defendant’s supposition. Nevertheless, “‘the admissibility of expert opinion
is a question of degree. The jury need not be wholly ignorant of the subject matter of the
opinion in order to justify its admission.” (McAlpin, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p. 1299.) Expert
testimony is admissible “‘whenever it would “assist” the jury.’” (Id. at p. 1300.) Here,
Dr. Ward’s expert testimony on CSAAS was admissible as it aided the jury in assessing
the victims’ credibility. Accordingly, we conclude there was no error on this ground
either.
Evidence Code Section 352 Did Not Bar Admission of the Expert Testimony on CSAAS
Defendant contends the court should have excluded Dr. Ward’s expert
testimony on CSAAS under Evidence Code section 352. He asserts “[e]xpert testimony
on CSAAS is more prejudicial than probative because it encourages the jury to conclude
17
that because a child exhibits symptoms consistent with CSAAS, the defendant is more
likely to have committed the charged crime(s).” We conclude there was no error.
Evidence Code section 352 provides for the exclusion of evidence “if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will . . .
create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the
jury.” We review a trial court’s decision concerning the admissibility of evidence under
Evidence Code section 352 for an abuse of discretion. (People v. Barnett, supra, 17
Cal.4th at p. 1118.)
Defendant’s contention that the CSAAS expert testimony was not probative
is a rehash of his prior assertions—“there are no longer generally held misconceptions
about how a child victim of sexual abuse should act” and CSAAS is “junk science” that
has not “been accepted as generally reliable in the scientific community.” We have
already rejected these assertions and need not repeat our discussion here. Suffice it to
say, Dr. Ward’s expert testimony on CSAAS was probative.
Nor does defendant persuade us the CSAAS evidence was unduly
prejudicial. Dr. Ward began her testimony by explaining she knew none of the facts of
defendant’s case, including the number of victims, their names or gender. She testified
generally about the stages of CSAAS, describing how some children can respond to
sexual abuse by a person known to them. She explained CSAAS is not a diagnostic tool
for determining whether a child has been sexually abused. She did not discuss the
victims or apply CSAAS to their behavior. Dr. Ward made it clear CSAAS cannot be
used to determine whether sexual abuse actually occurred. The jury was free to
determine on its own whether the girls’ self-impeaching behavior was the result of
CSAAS or indicated their allegations of abuse were fabricated.
Moreover, the court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 1193, as
discussed post, admonishing the jury concerning its consideration of the CSAAS
testimony. This instruction told the jurors that Dr. Ward’s testimony about CSAAS was
18
not evidence defendant committed any of the charged crimes and that it could only be
considered in deciding whether the victims’ conduct was not inconsistent with the
conduct of someone who had been molested and in evaluating the believability of their
testimony.
We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion by admitting Dr. Ward’s
CSAAS testimony over defendant’s Evidence Code section 352 objection.
The Admission of the CSAAS Evidence Did Not Violate Defendant’s Due Process Rights
Having concluded the court made a reasoned judgment that the CSAAS
expert testimony was admissible and not more prejudicial than probative, we conclude its
admission did not violate defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial. (See People v.
Patino, supra, 26 Cal.App.4th at p. 1747 [“introduction of CSAAS testimony does not by
itself deny appellant due process”]; see also Estelle v. McGuire (1991) 502 U.S. 62, 70
[admission of relevant evidence of battered child syndrome did not violate the
defendant’s due process rights].)
CALCRIM NO. 1193
Defendant contends the court committed reversible error by failing to
excise the last sentence of CALCRIM No. 1193, the instruction given to the jury on its
limited use of Dr. Ward’s expert testimony on CSAAS. As given, CALCRIM No. 1193
instructed the jury: “You have heard testimony from Dr. Jody Ward regarding child
sexual abuse accommodation syndrome. [¶] Dr. Jody Ward’s testimony about child
sexual abuse accommodation syndrome is not evidence that the defendant committed any
of the crimes charged against him. [¶] You may consider this evidence only in deciding
whether or not [Jane Doe No. 1]’s and/or [Jane Doe No. 2]’s conduct was not
inconsistent with the conduct of someone who has been molested, and in evaluating the
believability of either of their testimony.” Defendant asserts the last sentence of “the
19
instruction inadequately explained the principles of CSAAS testimony, and effectively
instructed the jury that it could consider such testimony as evidence of [his] guilt.” We
disagree.
Forfeiture
In the trial court, defendant only objected to a portion of the instruction’s
last sentence—the language telling the jurors they could consider the CSAAS evidence in
deciding whether the victims’ “conduct was not inconsistent with the conduct of someone
who had been molested.” (CALCRIM No. 1193.) Defendant proposed the last sentence
of the instruction should instead read: “You may consider this evidence only in
evaluating the believability of either of [the girls’] testimony.”
Because defendant’s objection in the trial court varies from his appellate
claim, the Attorney General argues defendant forfeited his claim of instructional error.
Defendant makes two points in response. First, he asserts the instruction affected his
substantial rights and is therefore reviewable on appeal without an objection below.
(§ 1259; People v. Andersen (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 1241, 1249 [“Ascertaining whether
claimed instructional error affected the substantial rights of the defendant necessarily
requires an examination of the merits of the claim—at least to the extent of ascertaining
whether the asserted error would result in prejudice if error it was”].) Second, he
contends if the issue is deemed forfeited on appeal then his trial counsel rendered
constitutionally ineffective assistance by failing to object to the last sentence of the
instruction in its entirety. Considering defendant’s claim on its merits, we conclude the
court properly instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 1193. Therefore, we reject
defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim. (People v. Price (1991) 1 Cal.4th
324, 387 [“Counsel does not render ineffective assistance by failing to make” a futile
objection].)
20
The Jury Was Properly Instructed
“‘“It is fundamental that jurors are presumed to be intelligent and capable
of understanding and applying the court’s instructions.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] ‘“‘A
defendant challenging an instruction as being subject to erroneous interpretation by the
jury must demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that the jury understood the instruction in
the way asserted by the defendant. [Citations.]’ [Citation.] ‘“[T]he correctness of jury
instructions is to be determined from the entire charge of the court, not from a
consideration of parts of an instruction or from a particular instruction.”’”’” (People v.
Covarrubias (2016) 1 Cal.5th 838, 905.)
Defendant’s argument focuses on the last sentence of CALCRIM No. 1193.
He contends this sentence permitted the jury to use Dr. Ward’s expert testimony as
evidence that he committed the crimes because it allowed the jury to consider the CSAAS
evidence in evaluating the believability of the girls’ testimony. A similar challenge to
CALCRIM No. 1193 was rejected in People v. Gonzales (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 494(Gonzales).
In Gonzales, as here, the defendant argued “it is impossible” for a juror “to
use the CSAAS testimony to evaluate the believability of [the victim]’s testimony
without using it as proof that [the defendant] committed the charged crimes.” (Gonzales,
supra, 16 Cal.App.5th at p. 503.) Rejecting this argument, the Gonzales court explained:
“[T]he instruction must be understood in the context of Ward’s testimony. Ward testified
that CSAAS is not a tool to help diagnose whether a child has actually been abused. She
said that if it is not known whether a child has been abused, CSAAS is not helpful in
determining whether a child has, in fact, been abused. The purpose of CSAAS is to
understand a child’s reactions when they have been abused. [¶] A reasonable juror
would understand CALCRIM No. 1193 to mean that the jury can use Ward’s testimony
to conclude that [the victim]’s behavior does not mean she lied when she said she was
abused. The jury also would understand it cannot use Ward’s testimony to conclude [the
21
victim] was, in fact, molested. The CSAAS evidence simply neutralizes the victim’s
apparently self-impeaching behavior. Thus, under CALCRIM No. 1193, a juror who
believes Ward’s testimony will find both that [the victim]’s apparently self-impeaching
behavior does not affect her believability one way or the other, and that the CSAAS
evidence does not show she had been molested. There is no conflict in the instruction.”
(Id. at pp. 503-504, italics added.)
Defendant asserts Gonzales was wrongly decided and should not be
followed. We disagree. CALCRIM No. 1193 properly limits the jury’s consideration of
CSAAS evidence to its permissible purpose. The instruction is consistent with McAlpin,
supra, 53 Cal.3d 1289, as it explains the expert testimony on CSAAS is not evidence that
the defendant committed the charged crimes but can be considered in evaluating a child’s
credibility when the child’s conduct “is inconsistent with his or her testimony claiming
molestation.” (Id. at p. 1300.)
Reading the instruction as a whole, it is not reasonably likely the jury
understood CALCRIM No. 1193 as allowing it to use the evidence for the impermissible
purpose of determining that Jane Doe No. 1 and/or Jane Doe No. 2 were molested by
defendant. Instead, the jury most likely understood the instruction as permitting it to use
the CSAAS evidence for the permissible purpose of evaluating the girls’ believability in
light of the evidence that they did not report the abuse for years and that Jane Doe No. 2
continued to express affection for defendant after she accused him of molesting her. The
jury would have reasonably understood the CSAAS evidence was one of the factors it
could consider in evaluating the girls’ credibility and not evidence by itself that defendant
was guilty of the charges.
Consistent with Gonzales, supra, 16 Cal.App.5th at pages 503-504, we
conclude CALCRIM No. 1193 appropriately instructed the jury on the proper and
impermissible use of Dr. Ward’s expert testimony on CSAAS.
22
PROSECUTORIAL ERROR
Defendant asserts there were two instances of prejudicial error during the
prosecutor’s rebuttal argument that violated his state and federal constitutional rights to
due process and a fair trial. He contends the prosecutor improperly argued defendant and
his witnesses were biased and should not be believed. He also contends the prosecutor
denigrated defense counsel by asserting he had fabricated evidence to create doubt. The
Attorney General responds by arguing defendant forfeited his contentions by failing to
request an admonition below and if not forfeited, defendant’s contentions fail because
“the prosecutor’s argument was a fair comment on the evidence . . . .” We conclude
defendant preserved his claim by objecting below, but there was no prosecutorial error.
Trial Court Proceedings
During her rebuttal argument, the prosecutor argued: “[Defense counsel]
said you should look at all the evidence and I don’t want you to look at all the evidence.
I absolutely want you to look at all the evidence. [¶] But what I said was the evidence
that came from that side of the table, was biased evidence. It was motivated evidence.
Some of it was incredulous, and some of it was pretty transparent. [¶] You heard
evidence from defense witnesses who have a friend sitting here. You heard from
[defendant] himself, who obviously has a biased, motivated interest.” Defense counsel
objected the prosecutor was misstating the law, but the court overruled his objection.
Discussing the victims’ credibility later in her rebuttal argument, the
prosecutor argued: “This is not a hunt to doubt me. That is not your job. The defense
attorney did his job. [Defense counsel] is an excellent attorney. I worked with him many
times. That is his job. He has to try to create doubt.” Defense counsel objected the
argument was improper, but the court again overruled his objection. The prosecutor
continued her argument: “He has to throw everything out there, see what sticks, and
hope you will latch onto something.”
23
Defense counsel expanded on his objections after the court finished
instructing the jury: “Yes. I did make objections during rebuttal by [the prosecutor]. I
do think that basically she was disparaging defense counsel when she said it is my job to
create doubt, leaving the impression, and then coupled that with would throw things on
the wall to see if it sticks, like I am manufacturing evidence. I think that it is basically
disparaging defense counsel, which is not allowed. [¶] I also believe this idea that she
gets to say of course he is biased because he is the defendant and of course he lied
because he is a defendant, it is a clear misstatement of the law. [¶] He has a presumption
of innocence, and it goes against the jury instruction on judging witness credibility. So, I
think it is improper argument and it is totally misstating law.”
The court explained it overruled the defense objections because it
considered the prosecutor’s argument to be within the permissible bounds of argument
and it did not find the prosecutor’s argument that defendant was biased to be a
misstatement of the law. The prosecutor pointed out that she also said defense counsel
was “an excellent attorney.” Defense counsel retorted: “You can say, yeah, he did a
great job, great job, and then—but then say these things like but it is his job to create
doubt, his job to throw things on the wall and see what sticks. You’re also saying he did
a great job of manufacturing evidence. [It’s] basically what you’re saying.” The court
disagreed and reiterated its ruling that the prosecutor’s argument was “fair.”
Forfeiture
We first address the Attorney General’s argument that defendant forfeited
his claims of prosecutorial error by failing to request an admonition after objecting
below. “Generally, a claim of prosecutorial misconduct is preserved for appeal only if
the defendant objects in the trial court and requests an admonition, or if an admonition
would not have cured the prejudice caused by the prosecutor’s misconduct.” (People v.
Ledesma (2006) 39 Cal.4th 641, 726.) “Forfeiture for failure to request an admonition
24
will also not apply where the trial court immediately overruled the objection to the
alleged misconduct, leaving defendant without an opportunity to request an admonition.”
(People v. Panah (2005) 35 Cal.4th 395, 462.)
Here, defendant objected to the two claimed instances of prosecutorial
error, and on each occasion, the court immediately overruled the defense objection,
signaling it found the prosecutor’s argument appropriate. Defendant did not forfeit his
claims of prosecutorial error by failing to request an admonition under these
circumstances. Because we address defendant’s contentions on their merits and conclude
there was no prosecutorial error, we reject his alternative claim that his counsel’s failure
to request an admonition constituted ineffective assistance.
There Was No Prosecutorial Error
“‘The applicable federal and state standards regarding prosecutorial
misconduct are well established. “‘A prosecutor’s . . . intemperate behavior violates the
federal Constitution when it comprises a pattern of conduct “so egregious that it infects
the trial with such unfairness as to make the conviction a denial of due process.”’”
[Citations.] Conduct by a prosecutor that does not render a criminal trial fundamentally
unfair is prosecutorial misconduct under state law only if it involves “‘“the use of
deceptive or reprehensible methods to attempt to persuade either the court or the
jury.”’”’” (People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 819.) “[A] determination of bad faith or
wrongful intent by the prosecutor is not required for a finding of prosecutorial
misconduct.” (People v. Crew (2003) 31 Cal.4th 822, 839.) When evaluating a
defendant’s claim of prosecutorial error, we ask whether it appears “reasonably likely in
the context of the whole argument and instructions that ‘“the jury understood or applied
the complained-of comments in an improper or erroneous manner.”’” (People v.
Winbush (2017) 2 Cal.5th 402, 480.)
25
With these principles in mind, we consider defendant’s contention that the
prosecutor erred by arguing the defense witnesses were biased and defendant had a
“biased, motivated interest” in the outcome of the trial. “‘The prosecutor is permitted to
urge, in colorful terms, that defense witnesses are not entitled to credence, . . . [and] to
argue on the basis of inference from the evidence that a defense is fabricated . . . .’”
(People v. Tafoya (2007) 42 Cal.4th 147, 182.) Defendant asserts the prosecutor’s
argument defendant was biased was prosecutorial error because it was not based on
inferences that could be drawn from the evidence. We disagree. In his testimony,
defendant acknowledged he was facing serious charges and was worried about the
consequences if he was convicted of one or more of the charges. The prosecutor’s
argument was consistent with CALCRIM No. 226, which described factors the jury could
consider when evaluating a witness’s credibility. CALCRIM No. 226 told the jury it
could consider whether “the witness’s testimony [was] influenced by a factor such as bias
or prejudice, a personal relationship with someone involved in the case, or a personal
interest in how the case is decided.”
The case against defendant hinged on credibility—the victims’ versus his.
In closing arguments, each party strenuously argued its witnesses were credible and the
other parties were not. Here, the prosecutor was urging the jury to consider the defense
witnesses’ relationship with defendant and defendant’s interest in the outcome of the trial
when evaluating the defense evidence. The prosecutor’s comments did not constitute
prosecutorial error.
Without any analysis and almost no authority, defendant further asserts the
prosecutor’s argument that defendant and his witnesses were biased undermined his
presumption of innocence and “constituted implicit vouching for the credibility of the
alleged victims.” We deem this contention forfeited. (Badie v. Bank of America (1998)
67 Cal.App.4th 779, 784-785.) In any event, the prosecutor’s argument that defendant
26
had a biased, motivated interest in the case was a fair comment and neither undermined
defendant’s presumption of innocence nor constituted vouching for the girls’ credibility.
Defendant also contends the prosecutor erred by arguing that defense
counsel “has to try to create doubt” and “has to throw everything out there, see what
sticks, and hope you will latch onto something.” He asserts this portion “of the
prosecutor’s argument effectively informed the jury that defense counsel had
manufactured evidence in an effort to create doubt regarding [defendant]’s guilt of the
charged offenses.” We simply do not read the prosecutor’s argument as defendant does.
The prosecutor has wide latitude to make vigorous arguments, as long as
those arguments amount to a fair comment on the evidence, including reasonable
inferences or deductions to be drawn from the evidence. (People v. Williams (1997) 16
Cal.4th 153, 221.) But “[p]ersonal attacks on the integrity of opposing counsel can
constitute misconduct. [Citation.] ‘It is generally improper for the prosecutor to accuse
defense counsel of fabricating a defense [citations], or to imply that counsel is free to
deceive the jury [citation]. Such attacks on counsel’s credibility risk focusing the jury’s
attention on irrelevant matters and diverting the prosecution from its proper role of
commenting on the evidence and drawing reasonable inferences therefrom.’ [Citation.]
However, ‘the prosecutor has wide latitude in describing the deficiencies in opposing
counsel’s tactics and factual account.’” (People v. Winbush, supra, 2 Cal.5th at p. 484.)
Viewing the prosecutor’s comments in the context of the arguments below,
we see no prosecutorial error. The prosecutor’s comments came in response to the
defense argument attacking Jane Doe No. 2’s credibility. In his closing argument,
defense counsel asserted Jane Doe No. 2’s allegations against defendant should not be
believed because she had made a false abuse allegation against D.V. By trying to
disprove Jane Doe No. 2’s abuse allegation against D.V., the defense sought to create
doubt as to defendant’s guilt on the current charges. Defense counsel argued the
evidence showed Jane Doe No. 2 lied, and he urged the jury to disregard all of her
27
testimony. The prosecutor’s comments that defense counsel was trying to create doubt
were directed at the defense strategy and not defense counsel personally. (See People v.
Medina (1995) 11 Cal.4th 694, 759 [rejecting contention the “prosecutor demeaned
defense counsel’s integrity by observing ‘any experienced defense attorney can twist a
little, poke a little, try to draw some speculation, try to get you to buy something’”].)
Defendant’s contentions of prosecutorial error fail.
CRUEL AND/OR UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT
Defendant contends his sentence of 80 years to life constitutes cruel and
unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. We disagree.
Sentencing Hearing
At defendant’s sentencing hearing, the court gave an indicated sentence of
80 years to life. The court stated it had carefully thought about the punishment to be
imposed and intended to impose a punishment that would keep defendant in custody for
the rest of his life. Defense counsel argued the court’s indicated sentence constituted
cruel and unusual punishment because it “does not reflect the crimes that are before the
court, and would not reflect the person that [defendant] is.” He reminded the court that
several people stated defendant had a positive impact on their lives. Defense counsel
argued defendant would have received “less time if he had killed [the victims]” and
requested the court instead impose a sentence of 25 years to life.
Unmoved, the court imposed its indicated sentence. Defendant was
sentenced to four consecutive, indeterminate terms: 25 years to life for sexual intercourse
with Jane Doe No. 1 (count 1); 15 years to life for oral copulation with Jane Doe No. 1
(count 2); 15 years to life for sexual penetration with Jane Doe No. 2 (count 9); and 25
years to life for committing a lewd act on Jane Doe No. 2 (count 10) based on the
28
multiple victim enhancement. The court imposed concurrent indeterminate terms on
defendant’s six remaining convictions.
Defendant’s Sentence Does Not Constitute Cruel and Unusual Punishment Under the
Eighth Amendment
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects a
criminal defendant from the infliction of “cruel and unusual punishments,” prohibits
gross disproportionality between a crime and its punishment. (Lockyer v. Andrade (2003)
538 U.S. 63, 72-73.) “Embodied in the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual
punishments is the ‘precept of justice that punishment for crime should be graduated and
proportioned to [the] offense.’” (Graham v. Florida (2010) 560 U.S. 48, 59.) Reviewing
United States Supreme Court precedent, our Supreme Court has explained: “‘[T]he
Eighth Amendment contains a “narrow proportionality principle,” that “does not require
strict proportionality between crime and sentence” but rather “forbids only extreme
sentences that are ‘grossly disproportionate’ to the crime.”’” (In re Coley (2012) 55
Cal.4th 524, 542.) But successful proportionality challenges are exceedingly rare.
(Harmelin v. Michigan (1991) 501 U.S. 957, 1001 (Harmelin).)
“In considering a proportionality challenge to the length of a term-of-years
sentence, ‘the Court considers all of the circumstances of the case to determine whether
the sentence is unconstitutionally excessive.’ [Citation.] . . . ‘The controlling opinion in
Harmelin explained its approach for determining whether a sentence for a term of years is
grossly disproportionate for a particular defendant’s crime. A court must begin by
comparing the gravity of the offense and the severity of the sentence. [Citation.] “[I]n
the rare case in which [this] threshold comparison . . . leads to an inference of gross
disproportionality” the court should then compare the defendant’s sentence with the
sentences received by other offenders in the same jurisdiction and with the sentences
imposed for the same crime in other jurisdictions. [Citation.] If this comparative
29
analysis “validate[s] an initial judgment that [the] sentence is grossly disproportionate,”
the sentence is cruel and unusual.’” (People v. Christensen (2014) 229 Cal.App.4th 781,
805-806 (Christensen).)
Defendant does not directly engage in such a proportionality analysis.
Instead, relying on Coker v. Georgia (1977) 433 U.S. 584, 592, he contends his sentence
violates the Eighth Amendment because it serves no legitimate penal purpose and “is the
functional equivalent of life without the possibility of parole.” Defendant’s reliance on
Coker, however, is misplaced. At issue in Coker was whether the Eighth Amendment
prohibited capital punishment for the nonhomicide offense of rape of an adult. (Id. at p.
592.) Coker did not analyze a term-of-years sentence like that at issue here.
Noting he will not become eligible for parole until he is 130 years old, well
beyond his life expectancy, defendant contends his sentence constitutes cruel and unusual
punishment because it offends and shocks “the conscience of rational beings” and
damages “the public’s confidence in the penal system . . . .” Defendant’s contention is
based on Justice Mosk’s concurring opinion in People v. Deloza (1998) 18 Cal.4th 585,
in which the late Justice articulated his view that a “sentence of 111 years in prison is
impossible for a human being to serve, and therefore violates both the cruel and unusual
punishments clause of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the
cruel or unusual punishment clause of article I, section 17 of the California Constitution.”
(Id. at pp. 600-601 (conc. opn. of Mosk, J.).) Echoing Justice Mosk’s concurrence,
defendant asserts “[a] sentence that no human being could conceivably complete serves
no rational legislative purpose, under either a retributive or a utilitarian theory of
punishment.” While this may provide for a rousing discussion in a legal philosophy
course, it does not persuade us that the 80-years-to-life sentence defendant received for
his crimes constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
30
Justice Mosk’s concurring opinion in Deloza was not the view of the
majority of our Supreme Court and therefore “has no precedential value.” (People v.
Byrd (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 1373, 1383.) Moreover, his cruel and unusual punishment
analysis has been respectfully criticized. Countering Justice Mosk’s opinion, the Court of
Appeal in Byrd explained a sentence that a defendant cannot serve in his lifetime “serves
valid penological purposes: it unmistakably reflects society’s condemnation of
defendant’s conduct and it provides a strong psychological deterrent to those who would
consider engaging in that sort of conduct in the future.” (Ibid.)
In Byrd, the Court of Appeal rejected the defendant’s claim that his
sentence of 115 years plus 444 years to life constituted cruel and unusual punishment.
(People v. Byrd, supra, 89 Cal.App.4th at p. 1382.) The court concluded it was
“immaterial” the defendant could not complete his sentence in his lifetime or even
several lifetimes, explaining: “In practical effect, he is in no different position than a
defendant who has received a sentence of life without possibility of parole: he will be in
prison all his life. However, imposition of a sentence of life without possibility of parole
in an appropriate case does not constitute cruel or unusual punishment under either our
state Constitution [citation] or the federal Constitution.” (Id. at p. 1383.) We agree with
Byrd that the fact a defendant’s sentence exceeds his life expectancy does not compel a
conclusion that the sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. (See Harmelin,
supra, 501 U.S. at pp. 961, 994-996 (lead opn. of Scalia, J.) [sentence of life in prison
without parole for possessing 672 grams of cocaine was not cruel or unusual under the
Eighth Amendment]; id. at p. 1001 (conc. opn. of Kennedy, J.).)
Nor has defendant persuaded us that his sentence of 80 years to life is
grossly disproportionate to his crimes. Defendant was convicted of 10 grave offenses
involving the sexual abuse of two girls under the age of 10; one child was only five years
old at the time the abuse was discovered. The girls described frequent molestations that
included oral copulation and digital penetration, occurring over a considerable span of
31
time. “Any one act in isolation was a serious offense. Cumulatively, without a doubt, his
offenses were grave.” (Christensen, supra, 229 Cal.App.4th at p. 806.) Defendant’s
repeated sexual assaults had lasting impacts on the victims. At defendant’s sentencing
hearing, which occurred four years after his arrest, both girls provided statements
expressing continued fear of him and reoccurring nightmares.
Our court and others have rejected cruel and unusual punishment arguments
and upheld lengthy prison terms in cases involving a defendant’s commission of multiple
sex crimes. In Christensen, supra, 229 Cal.App.4th 781, we upheld a defendant’s
sentence of 27 years to life for five counts of lewd conduct upon three boys under the age
of 14. (Id. at pp. 803-806.) In People v. Retanan (2007) 154 Cal.App.4th 1219, the
Court of Appeal concluded the defendant’s sentence of 135 years to life was not
disproportionate to his offenses where he was convicted of 16 sex offenses involving four
young girls. (Id. at pp. 1222, 1230-1231; see People v. Bestelmeyer (1985) 166
Cal.App.3d 520, 522, 531-532 [concluding sentence of 129 years for 25 sex offenses was
not cruel or unusual punishment].)
Defendant’s Sentence Does Not Constitute Cruel or Unusual Punishment Under the
California Constitution
In the trial court and in his opening brief, defendant argued only that his
sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment
to the federal Constitution. And we have now rejected this claim. Defendant did not
claim that his sentence constituted “[c]ruel or unusual punishment” in violation of the
California Constitution. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 17, italics added.) In fact, in his opening
brief, he did not even mention the California Constitution or the protection it provides.
The Attorney General thus argues defendant has preserved and presented
only a federal constitutional claim. In his reply brief, defendant makes an attempt to
convince us otherwise. He asserts “[w]hether the federal and state constitutions prescribe
32
substantively different standards regarding cruel and unusual punishment is not clear.”
Regardless, that does not excuse defendant’s failure to clearly identify the constitutional
basis of his claim—both federal and state. Nevertheless, “in the interest of judicial
economy to prevent the inevitable ineffectiveness-of-counsel claim,” we briefly analyze
defendant’s sentence under the California Constitution to determine whether it constitutes
cruel or unusual punishment. (People v. Norman (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 221, 230.)
Our state constitution bars punishment “so disproportionate to the crime for
which it is inflicted that it shocks the conscience and offends fundamental notions of
human dignity.” (In re Lynch (1972) 8 Cal.3d 410, 424.) We assess proportionality by
considering: (1) the nature of the offense and the offender (id. at p. 425); (2) a
comparison of the sentence with sentences for more serious offenses in the same
jurisdiction—an intrajurisdictional comparison (id. at p. 426); and (3) a comparison of the
sentence with sentences for the same offense in other jurisdictions—an interjurisdictional
comparison (id. at p. 427).
We have already discussed the grave nature of defendant’s multiple sexual
offenses involving two young girls under the age of 10. Nothing about the nature of
defendant’s crimes persuades us his sentence is unconstitutionally cruel or unusual.
Defendant does not fare much better when we examine the nature of the
offender. “‘A look at the nature of the offender includes an inquiry into whether “the
punishment is grossly disproportionate to the defendant’s individual culpability as shown
by such factors as his age, prior criminality, personal characteristics, and state of
mind.”’” (People v. Reyes (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 62, 87.) None of these factors
suggest defendant’s punishment is grossly disproportional to his individual culpability.
Defendant was an adult who understood his actions were criminal. While defendant did
not have any prior sex convictions, he had numerous prior drug convictions and had
served time in prison for burglary. That defendant has had a positive impact on the lives
of others through his drug counseling and ministry does not negate the devastating effect
33
his crimes had on the lives of his two step-granddaughters. As their step-grandfather,
defendant should have protected the girls from harm rather than causing them lasting
anguish and fear.
The final two factors bolster our conclusion. Defendant does not present a
compelling intrajurisdictional comparison. Repeating his argument from the trial court,
defendant asserts he “would have received a lesser sentence if he had committed a
homicide.” This is an inapt comparison. “‘The penalties for single offenses . . . cannot
properly be compared to those for multiple offenses . . . .’” (Christensen, supra, 229
Cal.App.4th at p. 808.) Defendant was convicted of 10 sex offenses involving two young
girls, not a single offense involving one victim. Finally, defendant undertakes no
interjurisdictional comparison. We deem this omission “as a concession that his sentence
withstands a constitutional challenge on [this] basis.” (People v. Retanan, supra, 154
Cal.App.4th at p. 1231.)
In conclusion, defendant has not demonstrated his sentence is cruel and/or
unusual punishment.
IMPOSITION OF FINES AND FEES
Defendant contends his federal and state constitutional rights to due process
were violated because the court imposed certain fines and fees at sentencing without
determining his ability to pay them. Relying on People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th
1157 (Dueñas), defendant asserts he is indigent and requests we remand the matter for
the court to conduct a hearing on his ability to pay these fines and fees. We conclude a
remand is unnecessary.
34
At defendant’s sentencing hearing, the court imposed a $300 state
restitution fine, the statutory minimum (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)(1)), and a $300 sex offender
fine (§ 290.3, subd. (a)).3 The court also ordered defendant to pay “70 dollars per count
for court fees,” which were described in the sentencing minute order as a $40 court
operations fee (§ 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)) and a $30 criminal conviction fee (Gov. Code,
§ 70373, subd. (a)(1)) (hereinafter court fees). At the time, statutory language and case
law required the court to impose the minimum restitution fine and court fees without
regard to defendant’s ability to pay. (§ 1202.4, subd. (c); People v. Robinson (2012) 209
Cal.App.4th 401, 405 [holding the assessments under § 1465.8 and Gov. Code, § 70373
are a mandatory part of a defendant’s sentence].) Below, defendant did not object or
assert he lacked the ability to satisfy these amounts. Nor did defendant object to the $300
sex offender fine or argue he was unable to pay it, even though the court could consider
his ability to pay when determining whether to impose this fine. (§ 290.3, subd. (a).)
Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal.App.5th 1157, was decided after defendant’s
sentencing hearing, based on readily distinguishable facts. In Dueñas, the defendant was
an unemployed homeless mother with a neuromuscular disorder, whose driver’s license
had been suspended because she had been unable to pay the fees on prior juvenile
citations. (Id. at pp. 1160-1161.) She pleaded no contest to driving with a suspended
license and was placed on probation with terms that she pay a $150 restitution fine, a $40
court operations fee, and a $30 court facilities fee. (Id. at pp. 1161-1162.)
At her request, the court conducted a hearing on her ability to pay attorney
fees. (Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal.App.5th at p. 1162.) Finding her indigent, the court waived
the attorney fees but concluded the court fees were mandatory regardless of her inability
3 A $300 parole revocation fine was also imposed and stayed as required by
section 1202.45. Defendant does not argue his due process rights were violated by the
court imposing and staying this fine in the absence of an ability to pay hearing.
Accordingly, we do not include it in our analysis.
35
to pay them and that she had not made the necessary showing to waive the restitution
fine. (Id. at p. 1163.) The court indicated any sums remaining at the end of her probation
would be sent to collections. (Ibid.) Thus, the new restitution fine and court fees pushed
her further down in debt, decreasing her ability to successfully complete the terms of her
probation or obtain a valid license and increasing the odds she would again be convicted
of driving with a suspended license and incur more jail time and financial penalties.
On appeal, Dueñas contended she was being punished for being poor and
that the imposition of the restitution fine and court fees without considering her ability to
pay them violated her state and federal constitutional rights to due process. (Dueñas,
supra, 30 Cal.App.5th at p. 1160.) The Court of Appeal agreed, concluding due process
principles require a court determine a defendant’s ability to pay before imposing court
fees under section 1465.8 and Government Code section 70373. (Dueñas, at pp. 1164,
1168.) Although the trial court was statutorily required to impose the minimum
restitution fine, the Court of Appeal concluded execution of the fine should be stayed
until the trial court determined Dueñas’s ability to pay it. (Id. at p. 1164.)
Dueñas spawned a legion of Court of Appeal decisions and several splits of
authority concerning “if, and under what circumstances, the forfeiture doctrine applies to
a claim brought pursuant to the decision in Dueñas” (People v. Montes (2021) 59
Cal.App.5th 1107, 1115) and “if and under what circumstances the constitutional
4
concerns underpinning the decision in Dueñas apply” (id. at p 1116 [collecting cases]).
With one exception, we move beyond the issues of whether defendant forfeited his
appellate argument by failing to object and request an ability to pay hearing below and
whether defendant’s claim concerning the restitution fine should be analyzed under the
4
The issues of whether a court must consider a defendant’s ability to pay
before imposing fees, fines, and assessments and who has the burden of proof regarding a
defendant’s inability to pay are currently pending before the California Supreme Court in
People v. Kopp (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 47, review granted November 13, 2019, S257844.
36
Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution as the Attorney General argues or
under “due process principles” as defendant asserts, and we conclude any error was
harmless.
The exception concerns defendant’s claim that he is entitled to a remand for
the court to consider his ability to pay the $300 sex offender fine. Defendant forfeited
this contention by failing below “to affirmatively argue against application of [this] fine
and demonstrate why it should not be imposed.” (People v. McMahan (1992) 3
Cal.App.4th 740, 750.) Under section 290.3, subdivision (a), the court had the authority
to waive this fine if it determined defendant did not have the ability to pay it. But the
burden was squarely on defendant to object to the fine based on his inability to pay.
(McMahan, at p. 750.) Nothing in Dueñas absolved nor shifted this burden. Defendant’s
failure to object to the $300 sex offender fine forfeited this claim.
We now turn to defendant’s challenges to the restitution fine and court fees.
Assuming, without deciding, defendant did not forfeit his appellate claims and that the
court violated his right to due process by imposing the restitution fine and court fees
without conducting an ability to pay hearing, we conclude any error was harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt. (People v. Aviles (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 1055, 1075 (Aviles) citing
Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24, People v. Johnson (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th
134, 139-140, & People v. Jones (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 1028, 1030-1031.)
In Aviles, the Court of Appeal found harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
the trial court’s failure to conduct a hearing on the defendant’s ability to pay prior to
imposing court fees and a substantial restitution fine. (Aviles, supra, 39 Cal.App.5th at p.
1075.) There, the defendant was sentenced to state prison in two cases for a term of 82
years to life and ordered to pay restitution fines totaling $10,600, as well as $280 in court
fees. (Id. at pp. 1061-1062.) The defendant in Aviles, like defendant here, relied on
Dueñas in arguing that the imposition of these fines and court fees without determining
his ability to pay violated his constitutional right to due process. (Aviles, at pp. 1059-
37
1060.) In finding any error harmless, the Aviles court noted: “‘“Ability to pay does not
necessarily require existing employment or cash on hand.” [Citation.] “[I]n determining
whether a defendant has the ability to pay a restitution fine, the court is not limited to
considering a defendant’s present ability but may consider a defendant’s ability to pay in
the future.” [Citation.] This include[s] the defendant’s ability to obtain prison wages and
to earn money after his release from custody.”’” (Id. at p. 1076.) As there was no
evidence in the record that the defendant suffered from any permanent physical or mental
disabilities that would prevent him from earning a wage in prison, the court inferred the
defendant had the ability to pay the fine and fees from his future prison wages. (Id. at pp.
1076-1077.)
Here, the record similarly shows defendant has the potential to earn a wage
in prison and pay the imposed restitution fine and court fees. Defendant was 55 years old
when he was sentenced to prison for 80 years to life. There is no evidence he suffered
from permanent physical or mental disabilities that might prevent him from working and
obtaining a wage in prison. Prior to his incarceration, he ran a men’s recovery home,
providing drug counseling and spiritual guidance to the participants. Even earning the
lowest prison wage of $12 a month (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3041.2, subd. (a)(1)) and
having 50 percent of his wages garnished to pay the restitution fine (§ 2085.5, subds. (a)),
defendant would be able to pay the $300 restitution fine in less than 5 years. With similar
monthly payments, he could satisfy the $700 in court fees in less than 10 years.
Should defendant receive any money from family or friends, a portion of it
would go toward the payment of the restitution fine and court fees. (People v. Potts
(2019) 6 Cal.5th 1012, 1055-1056 (Potts) [court’s error in basing restitution fine on the
mistaken belief that capital defendant could work while incarcerated was harmless as
portion of the money the defendant received from family or friends could be withheld to
pay the fine].) As the court explained in Aviles: “While it may take defendant some time
to pay the amounts imposed in this case, that circumstance does not support his inability
38
to make payments on these amounts from either prison wages or monetary gifts from
family and friends during his lengthy prison sentence.” (Aviles, supra, 39 Cal.App.5th at
p. 1077.)
Our colleagues in the Fifth Appellate District recently took a different
approach in Montes, supra, 59 Cal.App.5th 1107. There, pre-Dueñas, the defendant was
sentenced to state prison (id. at p. 1110) and ordered to pay a $300 restitution fine, $520
in court operations fees, and $390 in court facilities fees. (Montes, at p. 1114.) Although
the defendant had not argued below that he lacked the ability to pay these amounts, the
Montes court concluded he had not forfeited his Dueñas contention and determined a
limited remand was appropriate to permit the parties to address the issue of the
defendant’s ability to pay in the first instance in the trial court. (Montes, at p. 1121.) The
Court of Appeal rejected the Attorney General’s harmless error argument, finding the
record “undeveloped” and that reliance on the defendant’s ability to pay the amounts
from prison wages or gifts from family or friends was “purely speculative.” (Id. at p.
1123.)
In Montes, Justice Poochigian dissented from the court’s decision to
remand the matter to allow defendant to challenge the restitution fine and court fees in
the trial court. (Montes, supra, 59 Cal.App.5th at p. 1124 (conc. & dis. opn. of
Poochigian, J.).) Relying on Aviles and Potts, Justice Poochigan concluded “any error
arising from the court’s failure to make an ability to pay finding was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt” (id. at p. 1125 (conc. & dis. opn. of Poochigan, J.)) because it could be
inferred from the record that the defendant has the ability to pay the amounts from either
prison wages or monetary gifts from friends and family (id. at pp. 1125-1126 (conc. &
dis. opn. of Poochigan, J.)).
39
We reach the same conclusion here. We are confident beyond a reasonable
doubt that the court would have imposed the restitution fine and court fees even after
considering defendant’s ability to pay.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
IKOLA, J.
WE CONCUR:
BEDSWORTH, ACTING P. J.
MOORE, J.
40