People v. Armas CA6 ( 2021 )

Filed 5/26/21 P. v. Armas CA6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H045686
(Santa Clara County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. C1518801)
v.
GREGORY DANE ARMAS,
Defendant and Appellant.
A jury convicted appellant Gregory Dane Armas of second degree murder,
misdemeanor battery on a woman with whom he had a child, and misdemeanor violation
of a protective order. The trial court sentenced Armas to 16 years to life in prison.
On appeal, Armas asserts the trial court erred in its instruction to the jury on self-
defense. He further contends the trial court erroneously at sentencing imposed a
protective order under Penal Code section 136.2 and we should remand this matter for a
hearing regarding his youth under People v. Franklin (2016) 63 Cal.4th 261.
For the reasons explained below, we affirm the judgment without prejudice to
Armas filing a motion in the trial court under Penal Code section 1203.01 for the purpose
of making a record for a future youth offender parole hearing.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Procedural Background
In June 2016, the Santa Clara County District Attorney (district attorney) filed an
information charging Armas with the murder of Ulises Omar Denova (Pen. Code, § 187;1
count 1), inflicting corporal injury on a partner while having a prior domestic violence
conviction within seven years2 (§ 273.5, subds. (a), (f)(1); count 2), and misdemeanor
contempt of court for violating a protective or stay-away order (§ 166, subd. (c)(1); count
3). All the crimes allegedly occurred on or about July 30, 2015. In count 1, the
information further alleged that Armas personally used a deadly or dangerous weapon (a
knife) in the commission of the murder (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1)) and intentionally and
personally inflicted great bodily injury (§ 1203.075).
In December 2017, with respect to count 1, the jury found Armas not guilty of first
degree murder but guilty of second degree murder and found true both allegations. As to
count 2, the jury found Armas not guilty of inflicting or attempting to inflict corporal
injury but guilty of the lesser included offense of domestic violence battery (§ 243, subd.
(e)). The jury also found Armas guilty as charged on count 3.
In February 2018, the trial court sentenced Armas to 16 years to life in prison on
count 1 and one year and six months in county jail, respectively, for the misdemeanor
convictions on counts 2 and 3. The court deemed the county jail terms served. In
addition, under section 136.2, the court issued a 10-year, no-contact protective order
protecting Pricilla G., as recommended by the probation officer.
1
Unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
To protect the privacy of the victim alleged in count 2, we refer to her as Pricilla
G. or Pricilla. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.90(b)(4).) Moreover, we refer to Pricilla and
Armas’s child as A.A. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.90(b)(10).)
2
B. Evidence Presented at Trial
1. Prosecution Evidence
Armas and Pricilla G. started dating in 2012, when Armas was 18 years old and
Pricilla was 17. They had an on-and-off relationship from 2012 to 2015 and sometimes
lived together. In November 2014, Pricilla gave birth to their daughter, A.A.
During the relationship, Armas abused Pricilla verbally, calling her “a bitch, a
whore, [and a] slut.” He also was jealous when Pricilla was around other men. In
addition, Armas committed several acts of domestic violence against her. In August
2012, Armas pushed Pricilla’s face against a fence and was subsequently convicted of
inflicting corporal injury. In December 2013, Armas punched Pricilla to the ground and
kicked her in the side, causing fractured ribs and a black eye and was convicted in June
2014 of misdemeanor domestic violence battery. In March 2015, while Armas and
Pricilla were living together, Armas hit Pricilla in the face with a coffee mug, causing a
“really big bruise on [her] face,” a “black eye,” and a “slight concussion.” After this
incident, Pricilla moved out of the house she was sharing with Armas, his mother, and his
sister. But Armas continued to have access to Pricilla’s private Snapchat account to see
pictures of A.A.
One night in April 2015, Pricilla let herself into Armas’s house to ask him where
he had been earlier. Armas was recovering from shoulder surgery at the time, having
broken his clavicle in an automobile accident a few weeks before. Armas became angry
when Pricilla woke him. He began “shouting” and started “coming at” her. Pricilla hit
Armas on his injured shoulder because she was afraid that “he was going to hit [her].”
In April or May 2015, Pricilla began dating Ulises Omar Denova (the murder
victim). Their dating relationship was brief, lasting until the end of May or beginning of
June 2015. Armas was aware of Pricilla’s relationship with Denova and had said he
“d[id]n’t care” that Pricilla was seeing Denova.
3
Pricilla was friends with Esteban “Steven” Moreno Flores, whom she had met in
2012. Flores was good friends with both Armas and Denova. Armas and Pricilla
socialized with Flores and his girlfriend, Michelle Banuelos, and Armas had been to
Banuelos’s apartment in San Jose. Flores, however, did not hang out with Armas and
Denova simultaneously, because there “was just [] tension between [Armas and Denova]
for no reason” that Flores could discern. That tension preceded Armas’s relationship
with Pricilla. About one month before Denova’s death in July 2015, Armas ended his
friendship with Flores because Armas mistakenly believed that Flores had “set [] up” the
relationship between Pricilla and Denova.3
On June 26, 2015,4 Pricilla and Armas signed a custody agreement arranged
through the family court that called for mediation sessions concerning Armas’s visitation
with A.A. The mediation procedure was a precondition for visitation, but Armas did not
attend any of the mediation appointments. In addition, Pricilla sought and obtained a no-
contact protective order for herself because she did not want further contact with Armas.
Armas subsequently contacted Pricilla, including to see her “romantically” and to talk
about their relationship. At trial, Pricilla admitted she had sex with Armas about three
weeks before Denova was killed. She also testified that, around that time, Armas
threatened to beat up Denova.
On July 29 (the day before Denova was killed), Pricilla planned to meet Flores and
Banuelos at Banuelos’s apartment to go hiking. Pricilla’s father and stepmother agreed to
babysit A.A. As Pricilla was leaving home to drive to Banuelos’s apartment, she spoke
to Flores who told her that Denova was at the apartment. Flores asked if Denova could
3
At trial, Flores testified that he still considered Armas to be a friend and did not
want to testify against him. Flores also said he wanted Denova to get justice for what
happened to him.
4
Unless otherwise indicated, all dates were in 2015.
4
join in their plans; Pricilla did not object. Pricilla, Flores, Banuelos, and Denova (the
group) visited two local parks that afternoon. They ate some food and drank beer.
Throughout the day, Armas sent Pricilla text messages, which she ignored. Armas
wanted to see A.A., but Pricilla did not want to have any issues with Armas. In some of
the messages Armas sent that evening, he called Pricilla derogatory names like “bitch”
and “whore.”
At some point between the late afternoon and sundown on July 29, the group
bought more beer and returned to Banuelos’s apartment. They listened to loud music,
drank, and played a drinking game. At Flores’s invitation, Ruben Garcia arrived and also
played the drinking game.5 They drank a lot of alcohol and were intoxicated.
At some point that evening, Denova took his shirt off, and he and Pricilla had sex,
leaving a used condom in the bathroom sink. In addition, Pricilla posted to her Snapchat
account a picture of her kissing Denova that evening in the apartment.
Around midnight, Pricilla and Banuelos went to buy more beer using Pricilla’s car.
When they returned, Banuelos’s designated parking space was occupied by another car.
Pricilla parked behind the car and left a note on her car indicating Banuelos’s address.
None of the tires on Pricilla’s car were deflated or slashed at the time she parked it.
Around 2:00 a.m. on July 30, someone loudly banged on the door of Banuelos’s
apartment. Flores looked out a window to see who was at the door and saw Armas. At
trial, Flores said he “think[s]” Armas had one arm in a sling and “thought” Armas was
holding a handgun in “the arm that was free.”6 Flores told Denova and Garcia not to
open the door because there was a man outside with a gun.
5
Garcia was a close friend of Denova and had previously socialized with Flores
and Denova. Garcia was not friends with Armas but had met him twice at parties.
Garcia also was not close with Pricilla, but he knew that Pricilla and Armas had been a
couple.
6
An orthopedic surgeon who had operated on Armas’s shoulder in March and
April testified that Armas “would have [had] almost all of his normal function back” by
5
Around the same time, one of Banuelos’s neighbors, B. Macias, heard loud
knocking and people arguing outside. He looked out his apartment window and “saw a
man standing outside the neighbor’s door.” The man “was yelling at somebody inside,
‘Come outside, fucking pussy. You don’t fucking know me, bro. I will fucking shoot on
you.’ ” The neighbor also heard the man say, “ ‘I will fucking kill you.’ ” Two other
neighbors heard similar yelling.
Pricilla went to the door thinking that the person knocking was the driver of the
car in Banuelos’s parking spot, a neighbor who was angry about the loud music, or the
police. She ran past Flores, Garcia, and Denova and opened the door. Garcia testified
that he thought it was the police pounding on the door and he went into the bathroom to
urinate. Pricilla immediately recognized Armas when she opened the door. Armas had
his T-shirt pulled up over his nose and his arm was not in a sling. Armas pushed Pricilla,
and she tried to push him out of the doorway. Armas punched Pricilla in the face,
causing her to fall to the ground outside and “black[] out” briefly. Armas’s friend,
Alfonso Macias, was also outside the apartment.7 Alfonso helped Pricilla get back up
and “told [Armas] not to hit the females.”
Armas entered the apartment. According to Flores, when Armas came in, Armas
was holding (in his left hand) a “silver” knife “with a black handle,” which “looked like a
kitchen knife.” Flores testified that Denova pushed Flores behind him, and Garcia (in
contrast to Garcia’s own testimony) stood behind Denova and watched.
According to Banuelos, Armas “went straight to [Denova],” and Denova “took a
step forward to confront [Armas].” Armas and Denova screamed at each other in the
living room as Banuelos went outside to tell Alfonso to “get [Armas] out” of there.
July 30, and “usually by three months postop, a patient [who is young and healthy] will
have regained 95 percent of their function.”
7
Alfonso Macias was a boyfriend of Armas’s cousin. Alfonso Macias did not
testify at trial. Because there is a trial witness with the same last name, we refer to
Alfonso Macias by his first name.
6
Flores similarly testified that Armas and Denova “were talking over each other at the
same time for like three seconds.” Garcia testified that he was in the bathroom at this
time and, from there, he heard Denova say loudly, “ ‘chill, chill, chill,’ ” “ ‘Put the knife
down. Let’s fight,’ ” and “ ‘Let’s throw hands.’ ” Garcia also heard female voices
yelling, “ ‘Stop.’ ”
According to Flores, Denova “tried blocking himself” by putting his hands up in
front of him in “a defensive stance.” Armas “shoved the knife through [Denova’s] chest”
with “one thrust” of his left hand. Flores testified that this happened “[r]eally, really
fast.” Armas then exited the apartment.
Garcia testified that, as he came out of the bathroom, he saw a person wearing a T-
shirt run out of the apartment. According to Flores and Garcia, neither they nor Denova
had a knife and none of them attacked Armas before he stabbed Denova.
When Armas ran out of the apartment, he passed Pricilla, called her a “bitch,” and
spat on her. Although Pricilla did not see any blood on Armas’s face or hands, Armas
left drops of his blood from the apartment to the inside of his vehicle.8 Pricilla entered
the apartment and saw Denova standing in the living room with a bleeding stab wound in
his chest. Pricilla did not see a knife on the floor or see anyone pick up a knife.
Banuelos testified that the entire incident—from the banging on the door to when Armas
ran out of the apartment—“happened in like ten minutes.”
Around 2:08 a.m. on July 30, Flores and Garcia each called 911. Pricilla told
Flores to go get her car so they could drive Denova to the hospital, but Flores discovered
the tires on Pricilla’s car were flat. Flores and Garcia attempted to assist Denova in the
apartment, but he died before they could transport him to a hospital.
8
Neighbor Macias testified that he saw the same person who had been yelling at
the door run out of the apartment. Another neighbor heard “footsteps” running fast away
from the apartment. A third neighbor testified that he saw a man wearing a white T-shirt
running away and being chased by another man.
7
Banuelos initially told a police officer at the scene that the assailant “was possibly
somebody named Dane” (i.e., Armas’s middle name), but she later lied to detectives
about her knowledge of the assailant. Pricilla initially lied to the police by saying that
she did not know the assailant’s identity. At trial, Pricilla testified that she lied because
she was “scared” of Armas “hurting more people” and believed he might still have been
in the area. Pricilla also called her father around when the police arrived and told him
that she thought Armas had killed Denova. Later that day, Pricilla identified Armas
during a police interview.9
Flores left the apartment after Denova died. The police stopped Flores nearby and
took him into custody on an unrelated warrant. When the police interviewed Flores later
that morning, he did not identify Armas as the assailant. The police did not locate the
knife that had killed Denova.
A month later, on August 30, Armas attempted to flee from the police by jumping
over a fence when they approached him outside a relative’s home in San Jose. A few
weeks after Armas was arrested, Flores identified Armas to police as the person who had
stabbed Denova.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Michelle Jorden testified that Denova suffered an
approximately three-inch-deep stab wound to his chest that punctured his heart and lung.
Denova also had an abrasion next to the stab wound that most likely was caused by the
handle of a knife. In addition, Denova had a one-and-one quarter inch stab wound in his
lower left abdomen. Denova also suffered two superficial slash wounds on his lateral left
chest and back.
Denova had several fresh or recent abrasions, bruises, and contusions on his body,
including on the right side of his nose, the back of his right arm, and the front and back of
his left leg. Denova’s knuckles did not appear to have any bruising, and no defensive
9
Richard Ferry, an expert in intimate partner violence, testified about the cycle of
violence and behaviors that are often exhibited by victims of intimate partner violence.
8
wounds were identified. Denova’s blood alcohol content measured .178 percent, which
indicated that he was intoxicated when he died.
On cross-examination, Dr. Jorden said “[t]here could have been a struggle” that
caused Denova’s injuries. On re-direct examination, Dr. Jorden explained that “it’s not
uncommon to not see defensive wounds if it’s a blitz attack, meaning the victim never
saw it coming.” But Dr. Jorden could not give a definitive answer about the significance
of the lack of defensive wounds “without knowing more about the circumstances.”
2. Defense Evidence
Armas testified in his own defense and was the sole defense witness.
a. Armas’s Direct Testimony
Regarding the incident that occurred between Armas and Pricilla in March 2015,
Armas said (contrary to Pricilla’s testimony) that no coffee mug was involved and
Pricilla had punched him in the face while he was holding A.A. Armas explained that,
earlier that day, Pricilla “had a little too much to drink” at a barbeque and she fell while
on a backyard patio, injuring her face.
Regarding the incident that occurred at Armas’s home one night in April 2015,
Armas said he “woke up to Pricilla punching [his] right shoulder.” Armas subsequently
“[f]iled to press charges” against Pricilla. Thereafter, Armas and Pricilla made an
arrangement that if Armas “didn’t press charges, she wouldn’t take [him] through
mediation” for visitation with A.A. Later, on June 30 (Armas’s 22nd birthday), Pricilla
texted Armas and offered him a visit with A.A. Armas accepted the offer and canceled
his original birthday plans.
On the evening of July 29 (the evening of the murder), Armas went to a barbeque
at his cousin’s house. Alfonso was there; he was wearing a dark T-shirt. On Snapchat,
Armas saw pictures of Pricilla in Banuelos’s bathroom and “in the living room with []
multiple people.” Armas could tell Pricilla had been drinking. He asked Pricilla where
she was and if she had A.A. with her. Pricilla responded saying she was at her family’s
9
house. Regarding A.A., Pricilla told Armas “it’s none of [his] business.” Armas had
previously witnessed Pricilla intoxicated while with A.A. Armas discussed the situation
with Alfonso, and Alfonso “mentioned that [they] should check to see if [A.A.] was [at
Banuelos’s apartment].”
Armas drove himself and Alfonso to Banuelos’s apartment in Armas’s mother’s
SUV. Neither Armas nor Alfonso had a knife or gun. Armas drove into a parking lot
behind the apartment and saw Pricilla’s car. Armas did not stop in the parking lot, and
neither he nor Alfonso cut Pricilla’s tires.
After parking on the street, Armas and Alfonso walked up to Banuelos’s
apartment and heard loud music playing. Armas’s right (dominant) arm was in a sling,
and he was wearing a gray sweater and jeans. Armas knocked on the door for “[a]bout
30 seconds, probably less.” The door opened quickly, and Pricilla “charge[d] at” Armas
“in a rage” and pushed him “into the . . . front walkway.” Armas “slid[] [his] arm out of
[his] sling,” tried “scooting [Pricilla] to the side,” and asked where A.A. was. Armas
denied that he hit Pricilla in her face.
Armas then entered the apartment to see if A.A. was there. He had no intent to
assault anyone at that time. Armas saw Flores and two men whom Armas did not then
recognize.10 Armas asked Flores where A.A. was. Flores screamed and cursed at Armas,
telling him to mind his own business and get out. Within about five seconds, Denova
“pick[ed] [Armas] up by the back of [his] knees,” causing Armas to fall on his back.
Denova then “mount[ed] [Armas] with his knees over [] [Armas’s] waist and beg[an] to
punch” Armas. At the same time, Garcia kicked Armas. Flores punched Armas with his
right hand while holding a knife in his left hand.
10
Armas testified that he had not previously met Denova. On cross-examination,
Armas admitted he had once seen Denova at a skate park when Armas picked up Flores,
but “[i]t was just a glance.”
10
Eventually, Flores dropped the knife and hit Armas with both fists. Armas
testified, “And at that point, I realized I’m getting beat really badly, and I picked up the
knife.” He held the knife in his right hand by the hilt with the blade pointing upward.
When asked what he did with the knife, Armas said, “The knife was about . . . less than a
foot away, and [I] picked it up and I started wielding it. I don’t recall, it all happened
fairly quick.”11 Armas intended to “fend them off from beating [him].” At this point,
less than a minute had elapsed since Armas had entered the apartment, and Armas had
been beaten for “probably about 30 seconds.” Denova, Flores, and Garcia then “backed
up.” Armas dropped the knife where he was lying and exited the apartment. Armas
testified that, during the incident, he did not suffer any cuts to his hand. But he bled from
his nose and eyebrow and “maybe” “had a busted lip too.”
Armas testified that he could not “recall if [he] spe[e]d-walked or . . . staggered”
away from the apartment. He then drove to Alfonso’s house, wiped the blood from his
face with his gray sweater, went home, took a shower and pain medication, and went to
sleep. At that point, Armas did not have any idea what, if any, injuries Denova had
sustained. Later that morning, after conversations with a friend, Armas learned that
Denova had died. Armas was in “[u]tter disbelief.” At his friend’s suggestion, Armas
visited his father’s grave and then went to his uncle’s home “to be around family.”
Armas arranged to meet his mother at a hotel in downtown San Jose. During his
trip downtown, Armas believed he was under surveillance. He got out of the car he was
in and went to his uncle’s house by bus. Armas then drove his car to get some food. A
friend whom Armas had called (who was then living in Hollister) picked Armas up. The
friend took Armas to a house in Hollister, where Armas stayed for about two weeks. The
friend eventually drove Armas to his godmother’s house in San Jose, where Armas was
11
In response to a question posed by the trial court, Armas said he believed the
knife was a kitchen knife and that there “was a possibility it wasn’t even a kitchen knife.”
11
arrested by the police. Armas saw the police running toward him, tried to jump over a
fence, and cut his hand in the process.
b. Cross-Examination
On cross-examination regarding the August 2012 incident that resulted in Armas’s
first domestic violence conviction, Armas said he had been drinking at that time, but he
denied that he had slapped Pricilla and shoved her face into a fence. Instead, he
“believe[d] [he] stiff-armed” Pricilla, causing a bruise to her face. As for the incident
that occurred in December 2013, Armas admitted that he had hit Pricilla down to the
ground, but he denied kicking her.
Regarding the current offense, Armas said that he did not intentionally kill
Denova. Early in the prosecutor’s cross-examination, Armas agreed that he intentionally
drove the knife into Denova’s upper torso while “trying to get whoever was on top of
[himself] away from [him].” Later in the cross-examination, Armas said he “tried to
defend [himself] by wielding [the knife]” and his “intention wasn’t to stab no one [sic].”
Instead, he “was just trying to get them off [him].” Armas also testified, “I wasn’t
intending to put [the knife] in [Denova]. It just -- it just happened. . . . I was trying to
back up from being under his knees with him being mounted over me. I believe that’s
when it happened.”
Armas denied knowing that Pricilla and Denova were having sexual relations.
Armas said he only knew—based on what Flores had told him—that Pricilla and Denova
were “ ‘talking’ ” or flirting. But Armas admitted thinking that sexual relations were “a
possibility.” Armas testified that he was not jealous and “didn’t care” about Pricilla and
Denova having a romantic relationship, “[a]s long as it didn’t involve [A.A.]” But
Pricilla “was giving [Armas] mixed signals, because she was still seeing [him] intimately
and things of that nature.” Armas said he was “hurt” that Pricilla was starting a
relationship with someone else, but he too “was in a relationship of [his] own.” Armas
denied that he ever threatened Denova during conversations with Pricilla.
12
On July 26 (four days before Denova was killed), Armas sent several text
messages to Pricilla, including one that read: “ ‘It’s so sad why you’re so quick to reply
and jump for any other random ass guy.’ ” Pricilla did not reply to Armas’s texts that
were not about A.A.
On the evening of the murder (July 29-30), Armas drank alcohol at the barbeque.
He was “buzzed” and had drunk approximately 10 beers by 2:00 a.m. on July 30. Armas
was “irritated that [Pricilla] was beating around the bush and not telling [him] where [his]
daughter was.” Armas testified that A.A.’s wellbeing was his only concern that evening.
Armas saw Pricilla’s “storyline” on Snapchat, but he did not see the photo of
Pricilla and Denova kissing in the apartment. Armas also did not see any pictures of
A.A., and he knew that Pricilla usually dropped A.A. off at her mother’s house when she
went out to socialize. Armas testified further that he did not know Denova was at
Banuelos’s apartment that night, though he knew Denova and Flores were friends.
Armas said he had “cut [Flores] out of [his] life” because Flores was “hanging out with
her” and “contributing to Pricilla’s behavior” (i.e., her drinking).
At 9:30 p.m. on July 29, Armas sent a message to Pricilla saying: “ ‘I’m a fuck a
bitch tonight for you.’ ” Just after midnight on July 30, Armas sent additional messages
to Pricilla: “ ‘Watch, bitch, you stupid ass whore,’ ” and “ ‘Don’t hit me up for shit, you
fucking groupie.’ ” Armas agreed that he was upset with Pricilla at that time, but he
denied that it was because of what she was doing with Denova. Armas said he called
Pricilla names like “whore” “because [he] felt that it wasn’t an appropriate time, her
having the baby and going around doing the things she was doing.”
At 12:20 a.m. on July 30, Armas sent more messages to Pricilla: “ ‘I seen [sic]
your snap’ ” (i.e., a Snapchat post) and, “ ‘Just watch, bitch. Steven [Flores] and that
bitch (Banuelos) think they’re sick. Just watch, you whore.’ ” At 12:55 a.m., Armas sent
another message to Pricilla: “ ‘lying ass bitch at [Banuelos]’s. Just watch. I’m with my
family. Like always with your whore ass. Just member [sic] me and [Flores] trained her
13
there. Ha-ha, dumb bitch, LOL.’ ” Armas acknowledged that he was angry “[i]n a
sense” when he sent this message, but he maintained that it “stem[med] from [him] not
being [] able to see [A.A.]” A minute later, Armas sent another message: “ ‘She sucked
my dick on that couch you’re sittin’ [sic] on, uh-uh.’ ”
Armas denied that he was angry when he went to Banuelos’s apartment; rather he
was “irritated” and only “[p]artially angry.” While at the front door, Armas “wanted to
see if [A.A.] was in [the apartment]” and “wanted to ask [Pricilla about A.A.], but the
way Pricilla went about charging [him]” he “never even got a chance to have a
conversation with her because she became hysterical and tried clawing [him].” Armas
denied that he or Alfonso said “ ‘Come outside, you fucking pussy. I’m going to kill
you.’ ” Armas explained that “[w]hatever [the neighbors] feel they heard might have
been said once the door was opened, but it wasn’t from me.”
Armas testified that he and Alfonso did not go to the apartment with the
“mentality” that there was “a beef or a fight.” When asked if he could explain why he
“had [made] numerous phone calls to Alfonso Macias immediately before and
immediately after Mr. Denova was killed,” Armas said “No,” and speculated “I could
have went [sic] to the store.” Armas explained that Alfonso “wanted to go with [Armas]
because [Alfonso] has a child of his own. He’s familiar with A.A. He cares for [Armas].
He just wanted to be there to support [Armas].” After the incident, Alfonso was not upset
with Armas, rather “he was more worried.” Alfonso did not yell “ ‘I’m going to fucking
kill you’ ” as they ran from the apartment.
Armas coincidentally after Denova’s death left town to go to Hollister for a couple
of weeks to stay with his friend, even though Armas knew he had stabbed Denova and
was scared of being arrested. As for why Armas did not turn himself in, he said, “I was
scared. I -- I don’t know. I can’t really explain why. I was just panicked. I was just
scared of everything that happened.”
14
II. DISCUSSION
Armas raises three claims of error. He contends the trial court erred by instructing
the jury with CALCRIM No. 3472 (“Right to Self-Defense: May Not Be Contrived”).
He further argues that the trial court erroneously imposed a protective order, under
section 136.2, upon non-qualifying misdemeanor convictions. Finally, Armas asserts
that, if this court does not reverse his murder conviction, it should order a limited remand
for a hearing regarding his youth under People v. Franklin (2016) 63 Cal.4th 261(Franklin).
A. Instruction with CALCRIM No. 3472
Armas contends the trial court breached its sua sponte duty and violated his
constitutional rights to due process and to present a defense by instructing the jury with
CALCRIM No. 3472 that he had no right to self-defense if he provoked a fight or quarrel
to create an excuse to use force. Armas maintains the instruction “misstated the law on
the facts of this case” because, “[i]f Armas’s intent was to use only non-deadly force, and
the response was with deadly force, Armas regained the right to use self-defense to
protect himself against such unlawful use of deadly force by those inside the apartment.”
Armas asserts the error was prejudicial under any standard and this court should vacate
his murder conviction and the attendant weapon-use enhancement. Alternatively, Armas
argues that, if this court concludes his claim was forfeited by a lack of objection at trial,
we should consider the merits of the claim as an exercise of our discretion or based upon
ineffective assistance of counsel.
The Attorney General counters that Armas forfeited his instructional error claim
when he failed to request the “pinpoint modification” at issue in his claim. Further, the
Attorney General contends that Armas has not demonstrated his trial counsel performed
deficiently when he failed to request the pinpoint modification and, regardless, Armas has
not shown he was prejudiced by any purported deficient performance.
15
1. Additional Background
When the parties and the trial court discussed the jury instructions on the record
following the close of evidence, the court characterized the defense theory as self-defense
and said “the defense is getting a self-defense instruction” (which it had requested).12
The court said further that in its packet of proposed instructions, following CALCRIM
No. 505 (self-defense for homicide), it “put in [CALCRIM No.] 3471, which is the
generic instruction about mutual combat and starting a fight. [CALCRIM No.] 3472.
And then the [CALCRIM No.] 510 instruction [regarding accidental killing] that we’ve
just talked about. I don’t believe there was anything controversial about that that we
haven’t already addressed.” The parties did not take issue with the trial court’s statement.
Ultimately, in accord with its prior statements, the trial court instructed the jury on
count 1 regarding self-defense (using CALCRIM No. 505); the meaning of great bodily
injury (using language from CALCRIM No. 3160); self-defense in the context of mutual
combat or when the defendant starts a fight (using CALCRIM No. 3471); and that self-
defense is unavailable if contrived (using CALCRIM No. 3472). Furthermore, the court
instructed the jury with various CALCRIM instructions regarding murder (including first
degree murder under two theories, namely, a felony burglary/attempted burglary murder
theory and a premeditation and deliberation theory), voluntary manslaughter (under two
theories, heat of passion and imperfect self-defense), involuntary manslaughter, and
voluntary intoxication. The burglary instruction for the felony murder theory stated that
“[a] burglary was committed if the defendant entered with the intent to commit Domestic
Violence with Injury upon [Pricilla G.] or intended to commit Assault with a Deadly
Weapon upon Ulises Omar Denova.”
12
The parties and court had previously discussed the jury instructions off the
record, apparently for several hours.
16
CALCRIM No. 3472, as given, read: “A person does not have the right to self-
defense if he or she provokes a fight or quarrel with the intent to create an excuse to use
force.”
Similarly, the imperfect self-defense instruction for voluntary manslaughter (under
CALCRIM No. 571) told the jury that “[i]mperfect self-defense does not apply when the
defendant, through his own wrongful conduct, has created circumstances that justify his
adversary’s use of force.”
In addition, the instruction under CALCRIM No. 3471 provided that a defendant
who engaged in mutual combat or started a fight had a right to self-defense if his
opponent continued to fight after the defendant (1) “actually and in good faith tries to
stop fighting,” (2) “indicates, by word or by conduct, to his opponent, in a way that a
reasonable person would understand, that he wants to stop fighting and that he has
stopped fighting,” and (3) “gives his opponent a chance to stop fighting.” “However, if
the defendant used only non-deadly force, and the opponent responded with such sudden
and deadly force that the defendant could not withdraw from the fight, then the defendant
had the right to defend himself with deadly force and was not required to try to stop
fighting, communicate the desire to stop to the opponent, or give the opponent a chance
to stop fighting.”
In his closing argument, the prosecutor contrasted felony murder with
premeditated and deliberate murder, telling the jury that “once you find [Armas] guilty
under a felony murder theory, it’s first-degree murder. You don’t have to consider self-
defense whatsoever.”13 In the same vein regarding felony murder, the prosecutor argued,
“if you show up at 2:00 a.m. and you’re banging on someone’s door, and you push your
way in and you have the intent to knock your girlfriend around or if you have the intent to
In accord with the prosecutor’s argument, the trial court instructed the jury:
13
“Provocation, heat of passion, and/or self-defense do not apply to a prosecution under a
theory of felony murder.”
17
feloniously assault someone inside and you enter with that intent in your head, guess
what? You don’t get to claim self-defense. You don’t get to say: Oh, they attacked me,
so I had to kill. I had to stab Mr. Denova in the chest. I didn’t have any choice. [¶] No.
The law does not permit that.” The prosecutor acknowledged that “[u]nder other
circumstances . . . there could be a self-defense claim,” but he reiterated “you are not
allowed to use self-defense” in the context of felony murder.
Later in his argument, the prosecutor directly addressed Armas’s claim of self-
defense and discussed Armas’s testimony. The prosecutor said, “I’m just going to flat-
out say [Armas’s testimony] was a complete lie. That’s what all of the other evidence
tells us. This was a premeditated murder. He showed up with a knife and had the intent
to kill.”
Focusing the jurors’ attention on “the malice variety of murder,” the prosecutor
quoted from the general self-defense instruction (CALCRIM No. 505) to assert: “Now,
even assuming you give credit to the defendant’s testimony, which you shouldn’t, this
instruction is included: ‘The defendant used no more force than was reasonably
necessary.’ ” The prosecutor then maintained, “You don’t get to show up drunk at
2:00 o’clock in the morning, force your way in when you’re looking to start trouble,
you’re angry at your ex, and then say, ‘Oh, I -- I -- I had to use self-defense.’ No. You
don’t get to bust your way into somebody else’s home, somebody else’s residence, . . .
that’s their house.” The prosecutor argued further that “even crediting, for a moment,
[Armas’s] version, . . . [t]hey see him throw Pricilla to the ground. . . . They had the right
to use force on him. I don’t believe that happened for a minute. [¶] But just think about
-- from their perspective -- think about what the defendant is saying. Well, he . . . pushed
his way in after Pricilla opened the door, and then he had to stab Mr. Denova in the heart.
[¶] And what a coincidence. . . . Oh, he’s getting attacked by these three guys. The one
who ends up with a hole in his heart is the one who’s dating his girlfriend and [who]
they’re both simultaneously having sex with. What a shock.” The prosecutor continued,
18
“You don’t get to use self-defense if you provoke a fight. Basically, you don’t get to roll
in all hot under the collar [] and bang on the door [] and with a head full of steam and
provoke a fight with the intent to create an excuse to use force. ‘Oh, well, I had to stab
him.’ ”
In response, Armas’s trial counsel argued that the jurors “obviously . . . heard two
totally different scenarios.” Counsel explained that the prosecution was using its version
of the incident to argue for felony murder and premeditated and deliberate murder. By
contrast, the defense was arguing for “justifiable self-defense,” based on Armas’s
testimony that he “loves his daughter and was very concerned about her environment and
says he could not learn from Pricilla [A.A.]’s whereabouts. He and his . . . very good
friend, Alfonso, decide to go over and find out.” Counsel emphasized that “[t]he whole
prosecution in this case rests on [Armas] entering the apartment with a knife.” Counsel
maintained that Flores had “no credibility” and was the only witness who “ever puts a
knife in [Armas]’s hand.” Counsel further asserted that the group of friends “all lied.”
Counsel argued, “It’s a big lie. It’s a serious lie. And they got together, and it was a
cover story. And the whole motive behind it had nothing to do with fear [of Armas]. . . .
[¶] They cooked it up to cover [for] [Flores]. And they had to cover [Flores] because
he’s the one that brought the knife into the living room, which was the instrument that
resulted in the death of [Denova].”
Regarding self-defense, trial counsel said, “It all comes back to the word
‘reasonable,’ as so much does in life, in both criminal and civil situations.” After reading
a portion of the general self-defense instruction (CALCRIM No. 505), counsel remarked,
“Defendant’s not required to retreat, but I don’t believe that is applicable here.” Counsel
argued that there was no “serious question as to whether [Armas] received a beating of
some sort in the apartment.” In addition, counsel asserted that Flores’s testimony about
the stabbing (as compared to Armas’s testimony) was not consistent with Denova’s
wounds and abrasions.
19
After describing the defense’s version of the incident, trial counsel returned to the
concept of reasonableness for self-defense. Counsel asked rhetorically, “was it
reasonable for [Armas] to pick up the knife and defend himself by lashing out with it, or
should he have just accepted whatever was going to come?” Counsel “suggest[ed] most
men, if assaulted by three drunk males, who are using fists and feet, would pick up the
knife and defend themselves. And it’s very unfortunate what happened in this case. But
the question is[,] is it reasonable to pick up the knife at that point.”
On their second day of deliberations, the jurors found Armas not guilty of first
degree murder but guilty of second degree murder.
2. Legal Principles
“ ‘In criminal cases, even in the absence of a request, a trial court must instruct on
general principles of law relevant to the issues raised by the evidence and necessary for
the jury’s understanding of the case.’ [Citation.] That duty extends to instructions on the
defendant’s theory of the case, ‘including instructions “as to defenses ‘ “that the
defendant is relying on . . ., or if there is substantial evidence supportive of such a
defense and the defense is not inconsistent with the defendant’s theory of the case.” ’ ” ’ ”
(People v. Townsel (2016) 63 Cal.4th 25, 58 (Townsel).) Moreover, “[e]ven if the court
has no sua sponte duty to instruct on a particular legal point, when it does choose to
instruct, it must do so correctly.” (People v. Castillo (1997) 16 Cal.4th 1009, 1015; see
also Townsel, at p. 58.)
A claim of instructional error is subject to our independent review. (People v.
Posey (2004) 32 Cal.4th 193, 218.) “When an appellate court addresses a claim of jury
misinstruction, it must assess the instructions as a whole, viewing the challenged
instruction in context with other instructions, in order to determine if there was a
reasonable likelihood the jury applied the challenged instruction in an impermissible
manner.” (People v. Wilson (2008) 44 Cal.4th 758, 803; see People v. Jablonski (2006)
20
37 Cal.4th 774, 831.) “We of course presume ‘that jurors understand and follow the
court’s instructions.’ ” (Wilson, at p. 803.)
Regarding self-defense, “CALCRIM No. 3472 is generally a correct statement of
law, which might require modification in the rare case in which a defendant intended to
provoke only a non-deadly confrontation and the victim responds with deadly force.”
(People v. Eulian (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 1324, 1334 (Eulian); see also id. at p. 1333
[citing People v. Enraca (2012) 53 Cal.4th 735, 761 (concluding that an analogous
CALJIC instruction was supported by the evidence in the record)]; People v. Ramirez
(2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 940, 947 (Ramirez).)
Furthermore, “[t]he doctrine of imperfect self-defense cannot be invoked []. by a
defendant whose own wrongful conduct (for example, a physical assault or commission
of a felony) created the circumstances in which the adversary’s attack is legally justified.”
(People v. Booker (2011) 51 Cal.4th 141, 182; see In re Christian S. (1994) 7 Cal.4th
768, 773, fn. 1.) However, “the defense is available when the victim’s use of force
against the defendant is unlawful, even when the defendant set in motion the chain of
events that led the victim to attack the defendant.” (People v. Vasquez (2006) 136
Cal.App.4th 1176, 1179–1180.)
3. Analysis
We begin our analysis of Armas’s claim by addressing the issue of forfeiture.
Relying on Ramirez, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at p. 949, Armas contends that we should
consider his claim despite his lack of objection in the trial court to the giving of
CALCRIM No. 3472. He argues that his appellate claim concerns “whether giving
[CALCRIM No.] 3472 was accurate under the facts here” and affected his “substantial
rights” under section 1259.14
14
Section 1259 provides, in relevant part, that an appellate court “may . . . review
any instruction given, refused or modified, even though no objection was made thereto in
21
The Attorney General disputes Armas’s contention and maintains that,
notwithstanding the trial court’s sua sponte duty to instruct on a defendant’s theory of the
case, Armas’s claim concerns a “proposed modification to CALCRIM No. 3472” that he
was obligated to request. Further, the Attorney General asserts that Ramirez is inapposite
because it is factually distinguishable from the present case.
At trial, Armas did not object to any of the self-defense instructions provided to
the jurors. On appeal, Armas contests only the instruction under CALCRIM No. 3472,
which was provided without any modification to account for the facts presented to the
jury. He does not challenge any of the other self-defense instructions, including the
general self-defense instruction he requested (CALCRIM No. 505) or the instruction on
mutual combat/initial aggression (CALCRIM No. 3471).
“A trial court has no sua sponte duty to revise or improve upon an accurate
statement of law without a request from counsel [citation], and failure to request
clarification of an otherwise correct instruction forfeits the claim of error for purposes of
appeal.” (People v. Lee (2011) 51 Cal.4th 620, 638; see also People v. Covarrubias
(2016) 1 Cal.5th 838, 873–874, 901; People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 326.) Armas
characterizes his claim as one challenging CALCRIM No. 3472 as an incorrect statement
of law under the facts. We conclude, however, the claim is appropriately viewed as
complaining about an instruction that was incomplete in light of the evidence and thus
should have been modified. Accordingly, Armas’s failure to object to or request
modification of an otherwise correct jury instruction forfeited his current claim of error.
Nevertheless, “[w]e may review defendant’s claim of instructional error, even
absent objection, to the extent his substantial rights were affected.” (Townsel, supra, 63
Cal.4th at pp. 59–60; § 1259; see also People v. Mitchell (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 442,
the lower court, if the substantial rights of the defendant were affected thereby.”
(§ 1259.)
22
465 [“ ‘Substantial rights’ are equated with errors resulting in a miscarriage of justice
under People v. Watson [(1956)] 46 Cal.2d 818.”]) In light of these principles and the
centrality of self-defense to Armas’s case, we will consider his claim on its merits.15 (See
People v. Andersen (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 1241, 1249.)
Regarding the merits, Armas relies on Ramirez to assert that CALCRIM No. 3472
was not an accurate statement of the law on these facts.16 Armas argues that the
“instruction made no exception for the scenario where the jury finds that Armas acted
only with intent to use non-deadly force when Armas forced his way into Banuelos’s
apartment, but Denova (the victim), Flores, and Garcia responded with deadly force by
administering a group beating to Armas.” Armas maintains that this “is largely the
version of the events Armas testified to at trial” and, although “Armas denied the intent to
assault anyone when he entered the apartment, the jury was free to decide which parts of
his testimony to believe” and the prosecutor advanced the theory that “Armas entered the
apartment with the intent to assault [Pricilla].” Armas further asserts that the prosecutor’s
argument and the imperfect self-defense instruction reinforced the flaw in CALCRIM
No. 3472 as given.
We are not persuaded by Armas’s argument that the trial court erred under
Ramirez because that case is materially distinguishable. In Ramirez, a divided panel of
the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three addressed a challenge to CALCRIM
No. 3472. In that case, the jury returned first-degree murder convictions against two
brothers who were involved in a gang-related fight that culminated in the shooting death
of a rival gang member. (Ramirez, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at pp. 943–945.) The
15
Because we address the merits of Armas’s instructional claim, we do not
address Armas’s alternative claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
16
We note that Armas does not assert that no substantial evidence supported the
instruction or that the prosecutor committed any misconduct in argument. Instead, akin
to Ramirez, Armas contends that, based on the evidence and argument, the instruction
improperly foreclosed the jury from relying on his theories of self-defense or imperfect
self-defense.
23
defendants (Victor and Armando) and a third member of their gang (friend) drove to an
apartment complex hoping to find a rival gang member with whom Victor and Armando
had a personal connection and who previously had interceded upon Victor’s request to
stop the rival gang’s harassment of them. (Id. at p. 944.) The friend believed they “were
just gonna fight,” and Armando brought a gun knowing the rival gang members carried
weapons but he “did not set out intending to shoot anyone.” (Ibid.) At the apartment
complex, the trio encountered about seven or eight members of the rival gang. A fight
ensued during which Armando pulled out his gun and fatally shot one of the rival gang
members. (Id. at pp. 944–945.)
There was evidence at trial that Victor and Armando had asked to no avail about
the rival gang member they knew, and there was conflicting evidence whether a rival
gang member or the trio were the initial aggressors. (Ramirez, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at
p. 944.) Armando testified that, when the fight broke out, Victor and the friend were
“double-teamed” by rival gang members. (Id. at p. 945.) Armando saw the victim
approach and raise his hand holding something black that looked like a gun. Armando
pulled out his gun and shot the victim. (Ibid.) Other than Armando’s testimony, no
evidence showed the victim or any other rival gang member had a gun. Armando
claimed he acted in self-defense and to defend his companions. (Ibid.) The defense was
focused on Armando’s regained right of self-defense (as either an initial aggressor or
mutual combatant) if he honestly believed the victim suddenly and unjustifiably escalated
the fistfight to a gun fight. (Id. at pp. 946, 948.)
The Court of Appeal in Ramirez acknowledged that CALCRIM No. 3472 “states a
correct rule of law in appropriate circumstances.” (Ramirez, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at
p. 947.) But the court reversed the defendants’ convictions, concluding the instruction
misstated the law on the facts of the case because “[t]he instructions and the prosecutor’s
argument established as a matter of law that defendants were not entitled to imperfect
24
self-defense if they contrived to use any force, even nondeadly force, but that was a
question for the jury to decide on its own evaluation of the facts.” (Id. at p. 953.)
In the present case, by contrast to Ramirez, Armas claimed unequivocally that he
went to and entered Banuelos’s apartment unarmed and only to locate his infant daughter.
He testified that he had no intent to assault anyone at the apartment and, in fact, did not
hit anyone. Rather, he simply picked up a knife after Flores dropped it and stabbed
Denova after they violently attacked him. Further, consistent with Armas’s version of
events, his trial counsel argued that “retreat” was inapplicable in this case, signifying that
the incident was not one in which Armas had started a non-deadly fight or engaged in
mutual combat. Trial counsel framed the case as involving “two totally different
scenarios”: Armas’s version in which he acted reasonably in self-defense when he
picked up the knife during a beating initiated by others, versus the prosecution’s scenario
in which Armas entered the apartment with a knife. Armas’s trial counsel challenged the
latter scenario as faulty because it relied on uncredible witnesses who were motivated to
lie about what had happened.
Trial counsel did not suggest in his closing argument that Armas provoked a
nonlethal fight (as a pretext or otherwise) or that Denova, Flores, or Garcia unjustifiably
escalated a fight using deadly force, thereby reviving Armas’s right to self-defense.
Instead, Armas’s defense rested on the assertion that Denova (joined by Flores and
Garcia) initiated a potentially deadly confrontation and Armas reacted reasonably with
deadly force intending only to “fend” off the beating. Moreover, although the prosecutor
noted CALCRIM No. 3472 when arguing that self-defense does not “apply when you do
things like the defendant did,” the prosecutor also urged the jurors to reject Armas’s
version of events entirely, as a “complete lie,” and noted that for self-defense to apply,
Armas could not use more force than was reasonably necessary.
Although the jury rejected the prosecution’s claim that Armas was guilty of first
degree murder (which under the jury instructions required finding that Armas entered the
25
apartment with the intent to commit domestic violence on Pricilla or to commit assault
with a deadly weapon on Denova), the parties here principally staked positions that urged
the jury to choose between two distinct scenarios: one in which Armas possessed a knife
when he arrived at the apartment intending to use unprovoked lethal force, and another in
which Armas did not possess a knife or attack anyone and only sought to check on his
daughter’s wellbeing. According to the defense account, Armas picked up the knife only
after Flores dropped it after attacking Armas in the first instance.
Simply put, no party contended that Armas intended to precipitate a non-deadly
confrontation which escalated into deadly force due to the actions of the other
participants. For these reasons, Ramirez is inapposite, and this was not “the rare case in
which a defendant intended to provoke only a non-deadly confrontation and the victim
responds with deadly force.” (Eulian, supra, 247 Cal.App.4th at p. 1334.)
For these reasons, we conclude that the giving of CALCRIM No. 3472 under these
facts was not error, and the jury instructions, taken as a whole, amply and properly
addressed Armas’s self-defense claim. Therefore, Armas’s substantial rights were not
affected by the challenged jury instruction.
B. No-Contact Protective Order
Armas asserts the trial court lacked authority to impose a protective order for
Pricilla G. at his sentencing. Armas contends that neither of his misdemeanor
convictions—for violation of section 243, subdivision (e) (count 2) and section 166,
subdivision (c)(1) (count 3)—is a qualifying crime for issuance of a protective order
under section 136.2, subdivision (i). Further, Armas maintains that erroneous imposition
of a protective order amounts to an unauthorized sentence that this court can correct
despite his lack of objection in the trial court. The Attorney General responds that
Armas’s conviction for battery authorizes imposition of the protective order because
Family Code section 6320 “expressly allows a court to enjoin the ‘battering’ of a
protect[ed] party.”
26
We agree that Armas can raise his claim for the first time on appeal. (See People
v. Robertson (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 965, 995–996.) Nevertheless, Armas has not
persuaded us that the trial court lacked authority to issue the protective order.
Section 136.2, subdivision (i)(1), provides, in pertinent part, that when “a criminal
defendant has been convicted of a crime involving domestic violence as defined . . . in
Section 6211 of the Family Code, . . . the court, at the time of sentencing, shall consider
issuing an order restraining the defendant from any contact with a victim of the crime.”
In turn, Family Code section 6211 defines “[d]omestic violence” as “abuse perpetrated
against” a “former cohabitant” or a “person with whom the respondent has had a child.”
(Fam. Code, § 6211, subds. (b), (d).) Further, the term “abuse” in Family Code section
6211 “means any of the following: [¶] (1) To intentionally or recklessly cause or attempt
to cause bodily injury. [¶] (2) Sexual assault. [¶] (3) To place a person in reasonable
apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to that person or to another. [¶] (4) To
engage in any behavior that has been or could be enjoined pursuant to Section 6320. [¶]
(b) Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault.” (Fam.
Code, § 6203.) Finally, Family Code section 6320, subdivision (a), provides, in pertinent
part, that a court may “enjoin[] a party from . . . battering . . . the other party.” (Fam.
Code, § 6320, subd. (a).)
On count 2, the jury convicted Armas under section 243, subdivision (e)(1), of
misdemeanor battery on a person who is the parent of his child. Battery is defined in the
Penal Code as “any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of
another.” (§ 242.) The trial court instructed the jury, in relevant part, that the People had
to prove that Armas “willfully and unlawfully touched Pricilla [] in a harmful or
offensive manner” and “did not act in self-defense.” The court further instructed the jury
that “[t]he slightest touching can be enough to commit a battery if it is done in a rude or
angry way. . . . The touching does not have to cause pain or injury of any kind.”
27
Armas argues that the term “battering” in Family Code section 6320, subdivision
(a), does not encompass the conduct prohibited by the misdemeanor battery statute.
Rather, he contends “ ‘battering’ ” should be interpreted based on its common dictionary
meaning and “that term requires physical striking of someone with intent to cause injury
or pain.”
“Statutory interpretation is a question of law subject to de novo review. [Citation.]
When construing a statute, we strive to ascertain and effectuate the Legislature’s intent.”
(People v. Johnson (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 620, 632.) “ ‘Because the statutory language
is generally the most reliable indicator of that intent, we look first at the words
themselves, giving them their usual and ordinary meaning.’ ” (People v. Ruiz (2018) 4
Cal.5th 1100, 1105.) “In divining a term’s ‘ordinary meaning,’ courts regularly turn to
general and legal dictionaries.” (De Vries v. Regents of University of California (2016) 6
Cal.App.5th 574, 591.) Further, “[o]ne source for the usual, ordinary meaning of the
term might be other statutes.” (Grayson Services, Inc. v. Wells Fargo Bank (2011) 199
Cal.App.4th 563, 573.) “ ‘If the statutory language is unambiguous, then its plain
meaning controls. If, however, the language supports more than one reasonable
construction, then we may look to extrinsic aids, including the ostensible objects to be
achieved and the legislative history.’ ” (Ruiz, at p. 1106.)
“Battering” in Family Code section 6320, subdivision (a), is a gerund, or -ing form
of the verb, “batter.” Merriam-Webster defines “batter” (in law) as “to commit battery
against another : to offensively touch or use force on a person without the person’s
consent.” (Merriam-Webster Dict. Online (2021).)17 Similarly, in Black’s Law
Dictionary, the definition of the noun “battery” notes the verb form “batter.” (Black’s
Law Dict. (11th ed. 2019).) Battery is defined in Black’s Law Dictionary (for criminal
law purposes) as “[t]he nonconsensual touching of, or use of force against, the body of
17
[as of May 25, 2021],
archived at: .
28
another with the intent to cause harmful or offensive contact.” (Black’s Law Dict. (11th
ed. 2019).) Further, for tort purposes, battery is defined as “[a] nonconsensual,
intentional, and offensive touching of another without lawful justification, but not
necessarily with the intent to do harm or offense as required in a criminal battery.”
(Black’s Law Dict. (11th ed. 2019).) These definitions accord with our state’s
misdemeanor battery statute. (See People v. Myers (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 328, 335
[quoting People v. Rocha (1971) 3 Cal.3d 893, 899–900, fn. 12]; People v. Martinez
(1970) 3 Cal.App.3d 886, 889.)
Our task in the present case involves ascertaining and effectuating the
Legislature’s intent with respect to enjoining a person from “battering,” and we must do
so in view of the Legislature’s statement that “[a]buse is not limited to the actual
infliction of physical injury or assault.” (Fam. Code, § 6203.) In our view, based on the
text of Family Code section 6320, subdivision (a), the plain meaning of the term
“battering” is unambiguous. Further, we conclude that “battering” is properly understood
according to the common legal definitions of “batter” and “battery,” rather than the
ordinary nonlegal meaning. That is, under Family Code section 6320, subdivision (a),
when a court enjoins a person from “battering” another, the court precludes the person
from willfully and unlawfully touching another person in, at least, “a rude or angry way.”
(See CALCRIM No. 960 [“Simple Battery”]; see also Phillips v. Campbell (2016) 2
Cal.App.5th 844, 852.) Because Armas was convicted of such conduct in count 2, we
conclude the trial court had the authority under section 136.2 to issue against Armas a 10-
year, no-contact criminal protective order protecting Pricilla.
C. Request for a Franklin Hearing
Armas was 22 years old when he murdered Denova. In February 2018, the trial
court sentenced Armas to an indeterminate term of 16 years to life in prison. Hence,
Armas will be entitled to a youth offender parole hearing during his 20th year of
incarceration. (§ 3051, subd. (b)(2).)
29
In 2016, the California Supreme Court decided People v. Franklin, supra, 63
Cal.4th 261. In Franklin, our high court “held that when a juvenile offender receives an
indeterminate life sentence, the offender must be ‘given adequate opportunity at
sentencing to make a record of mitigating evidence tied to his youth.’ [Citation.] The
case was remanded to the trial court ‘for the limited purpose of determining whether [the
offender] was afforded an adequate opportunity to make a record of information’ relevant
to his eventual youth offender parole hearing.” (People v. Medrano (2019) 40
Cal.App.5th 961, 967 (Medrano).)
Armas argues that we should remand his case under Franklin so that he can
generate a record for his eventual youth offender parole hearing. Armas acknowledges
that he did not request such a hearing at the time of his sentencing. Nevertheless, he
contends the trial court had a sua sponte duty to hold such a hearing and the hearing
could not be “waived through silence.”
The Attorney General, relying on Medrano, contends that Armas’s failure to
request a hearing at the time of his sentencing forfeited his current claim. The Attorney
General further notes that, despite the forfeiture, Armas has an alternate remedy, in that
“[h]e may still file a motion under section 1203.01 to make a record for a future youth
offender parole hearing.”
Armas fails to persuade us that Medrano should be rejected. In that case, the
Court of Appeal decided, when “[t]he record does not indicate that [the offender’s]
opportunity to exercise th[e] right [to present mitigating youth-related evidence at
sentencing] was inadequate in any respect,” (Medrano, supra, 40 Cal.App.5th at p. 967)
the appropriate remedy is to “affirm without prejudice to [the offender’s] filing a motion
‘for a Franklin proceeding under the authority of section 1203.01’ and [In re Cook (2019)
7 Cal.5th 439 (Cook)].” (Medrano, at p. 968.)
In the present case, after the jury reached its verdict, the trial court referred the
matter to the probation department “for a full report.” But Armas declined to be
30
interviewed by the probation officer, and the probation report lacks any mitigating
information relating to Armas’s youth. (See §§ 3051, 4801.) In addition, at Armas’s
sentencing hearing, his trial counsel submitted no sentencing memorandum or any other
information or testimony relevant to a future youth offender parole hearing. Such a
hearing was never mentioned.
As in Medrano, the record does not indicate that Armas “was not given an
adequate opportunity to make a record of mitigating youth-related evidence as
contemplated in Franklin.” (Medrano, supra, 40 Cal.App.5th at p. 967.) “Rather, it
appears that he merely failed—whether by choice or by inadvertence—to exercise it.”
(Ibid.) We agree with the Medrano analysis that “given the availability of the motion
hearing described in Cook,” there is “no basis to order the same relief that was granted in
Franklin.” (Id. at p. 968.) We further reject Armas’s argument that the trial court had a
sua sponte duty to hold a Franklin hearing. Accordingly, we will not remand this matter
and instead decide that Armas, if he so chooses, may seek a Franklin hearing in the trial
court under section 1203.01. (See Medrano, at p. 968.)
III. DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed without prejudice to Armas’s filing a motion in the trial
court for a Franklin proceeding under Penal Code section 1203.01. (See People v.
Medrano (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 961, 968; In re Cook (2019) 7 Cal.5th 439, 458–460.)
31
______________________________________
Danner, J.
WE CONCUR:
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Greenwood, P.J.
____________________________________
Grover, J.
H045686
People v. Armas