People v. Bonilla CA5 ( 2016 )

Filed 9/12/16 P. v. Bonilla CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE,
F070035
Plaintiff and Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. VCF284150)
v.
NEFTALI BONILLA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Gary L.
Paden, Judge.
Eileen S. Kotler, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney
General, Julie A. Hokans and Catherine Chatman, Deputy Attorneys General, for
Plaintiff and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
INTRODUCTION
Following a gang-related shooting death, defendant Neftali Bonilla was charged
with first degree murder in violation of Penal Code section 187, subdivision (a).1 A jury
convicted him of the lesser included offense of second degree murder and found true the
enhancements he committed the offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang
(§ 186.22, subd. (b)) and a principal used a firearm in the commission of the crime (§
12022.53, subds. (d) & (e)(1)). Defendant was sentenced to 15 years to life for second
degree murder plus an additional 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement, for a total
state prison term of 40 years to life.
It was defendant’s confession during interrogation that linked him to the murder.
Defendant was a juvenile at the time of the crime and, on appeal, he argues that his
confession should have been excluded at trial because the advisement of his rights under
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 (Miranda) was confusing and therefore
inadequate, and he did not knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waive his rights. He
also argues the trial court erred (1) in admitting text messages that were both irrelevant
and unduly prejudicial (Evid. Code, §§ 351, 352) and (2) in instructing the jury on a
defendant’s failure to explain or deny adverse evidence because it found his testimony
implausible.2 The People raise the issue of forfeiture and also maintain the Miranda
warnings given were adequate and defendant’s confession was voluntary; the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in admitting text message exchanges from the day of the
crime; and the trial court did not err in instructing the jury on CALCRIM No. 361
because implausibility is a ground that supports the instruction. Defendant contends to
the extent any claims were forfeited by his failure to move to suppress evidence or to
object at trial, his trial counsel was ineffective.
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
2 CALCRIM No. 361.
2.
We reject defendant’s challenges and affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL SUMMARY3
As a teenager, defendant became a member of the South Side Kings gang, which
is a subset in Tulare County of the Sureño gang.4 Several years later, on the night of
June 6, 2013, there was a drive-by shooting at a residence on West Vine Street in Visalia.
Two teenagers were hit by the gunfire and wounded. One of the teenagers, Alex V., was
a Sureño gang member.
The next night, a group of gang members that included defendant and Angel
Espindola gathered at the residence on West Vine where Alex V. had been shot the night
before.5 Espindola and others wanted defendant to go with them to find a “Northerner.”
Thereafter, around 11:30 p.m., a shooting was reported. When police arrived, they found
Jose Garcia, a member of the North Side Visas, a subset of the Norteño gang and a rival
of the Sureños, lying dead on West Vine. Garcia had been shot multiple times. Still in
his right hand was a large .44 Magnum revolver with six spent shell casings in the
cylinder.6 Police located casings and a live bullet comprised of three different calibers,
but the only gun ever recovered was the victim’s revolver.
The police searched residences on the north side of West Vine, ultimately focusing
on two houses, including the one where Alex V. was shot the night before. Espindola
was discovered in one of the bedrooms of the house, in the process of changing clothes.
3 Our summary of the facts is brief because defendant is not challenging the sufficiency of
the evidence against him.
4 Defendant testified he was jumped into the gang at age 16, but his involvement or
association with gangs began when he was 13 or 14 years old.
5 Alex V. apparently lived next door to the house where he was shot. Defendant knew
Alex V. and testified he, Espindola, and Espindola’s cousin Matthew went to Alex’s house on
West Vine to check on him. Because Alex was still in the hospital and his family was not home,
they went next door.
6 The victim’s gun retained spent casings in the cylinder rather than ejecting them after
firing.
3.
He was sweating profusely and pulling on a red shirt.7 A black and gray striped shirt was
found under some other clothing in the bedroom, along with some shoes with fresh mud
on them. Defendant was subsequently arrested after he jumped the back fence of the
house into an empty field and ran.
Defendant was interrogated by detectives at the police station for approximately
two hours and his statement was admitted at trial. He admitted being present when
Garcia was shot on West Vine, but initially denied being armed. He next admitted he
was armed, but denied firing his gun; then admitted firing one time, and finally admitted
firing three times, including once at Garcia. At trial, defendant testified and denied being
armed or firing a gun. He stated he felt “peer pressur[ed]” to say he shot three times and
he lied about shooting a gun because he wanted to go home.
Defendant was not alone that night and, during interrogation, he said Espindola
and two Asian men he identified as Dominic and Ainoy Saesee were with him when they
encountered the victim. At trial, defendant testified he was with four others: Espindola,
Espindola’s cousin Matthew, Dominic, and an Asian man.8 Gunshot residue tests
conducted the night of the shooting were positive for the victim, Espindola, and Michael
See, and inconclusive for defendant, Dominic and Ainoy Saesee.
Two eyewitnesses to the shooting testified at trial. The first witness told police he
saw a man in a gray and black striped shirt and two other men in white shirts carrying
“rifle type guns” heading westbound on West Vine. They were shooting westward but he
was unable to see who they were shooting at. He stated there were “too many shots to
count,” and he identified Espindola as the main shooter wearing the striped shirt. In a
7 This was notable because the color red is associated with the Norteños.
8 A positive result indicates the discharge of a firearm or presence in an environment of
gunshot residue. An inconclusive, or negative, result could indicate any of the following: a
firearm was not discharged, a firearm was discharged but did not deposit gunshot residue on the
hands, or a firearm was discharged but the residue was removed. It is also possible there was
gunshot residue present but just not in the area sampled.
4.
second statement to police, he reported seeing the victim firing shots. At trial, he testified
reluctantly that he heard three shots; saw a group of three people, one of whom was
carrying a rifle or a shotgun; and saw the person with the long gun shooting, but did not
see what he was shooting at.9
The second witness testified he heard eight or nine gunshots, dropped to the
ground, and saw muzzle flashes, possibly from two guns. During this time, he saw two
guys in the middle of the street wearing white shirts, but he was unable to identify
anyone.10 He later saw defendant jump the fence and get apprehended by police.
DICUSSION
I. Admission of Confession
A. Standard of Review
The Fifth Amendment, applicable to the states through the Fourteenth
Amendment, provides that “‘“[n]o person … shall be compelled in any criminal case to
be a witness against himself .…”’” (People v. Nelson (2012) 53 Cal.4th 367, 374.) In
Miranda, the United States Supreme Court held “the prosecution may not use statements,
whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial interrogation of the
defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the
privilege against self-incrimination.” (Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at p. 444.) The court
articulated four procedural warnings necessary to safeguard the constitutional privilege
against self-incrimination: “Prior to any questioning, the person must be warned that he
has a right to remain silent, that any statement he does make may be used as evidence
9 The witness’s prior inconsistent statements to police were introduced at trial. (Evid.
Code, §§ 1235, 770.)
10 The victim was found in an extremely dark area of the street, and defendant was wearing
a black shirt. Detective Jennings testified when he canvassed the neighborhood and stood in the
area where the witnesses were located, he was unable to view the area where evidence markers
Nos. 2 and 8 were located, a location consistent with the area defendant’s statement and trial
testimony placed him.
5.
against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or
appointed.” (Ibid.; Florida v. Powell (2010) 559 U.S. 50, 59–60.) “The defendant may
waive effectuation of these rights, provided the waiver is made voluntarily, knowingly
and intelligently.” (Miranda, supra, at p. 444; Florida v. Powell, supra, at pp. 59–60.)
While the wording may vary, the “‘Miranda warnings’” must “‘reasonably “conve[y]”’”
these rights to suspects. (Florida v. Powell, supra, at p. 60.)
While the rights can be expressly or impliedly waived, “there is a threshold
presumption against finding a waiver of Miranda rights.” (People v. Cruz (2008) 44
Cal.4th 636, 668.) Therefore, “[t]o establish a valid waiver of Miranda rights, the
prosecution must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the waiver was knowing,
intelligent, and voluntary.” (People v. Nelson, supra, 53 Cal.4th at pp. 374–375.) In
cases involving juveniles, age is relevant. (J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011) 564 U.S.
261, 274, 277; People v. Nelson, supra, at p. 379; People v. Lessie (2010) 47 Cal.4th
1152, 1169.) “[W]e inquire ‘into the totality of the circumstances surrounding the
interrogation, to ascertain whether the accused in fact knowingly and voluntarily decided
to forgo his rights to remain silent and to have the assistance of counsel.’” (People v.
Lessie, supra, at p. 1169.) “[T]he required inquiry ‘includes evaluation of the juvenile’s
age, experience, education, background, and intelligence, and into whether he has the
capacity to understand the warnings given him, the nature of his Fifth Amendment rights,
and the consequences of waiving those rights.’” (Ibid.)
On appeal, “‘“we accept the trial court’s resolution of disputed facts and
inferences, and its evaluations of credibility, if supported by substantial evidence. We
independently determine from the undisputed facts and the facts properly found by the
trial court whether the challenged statement was illegally obtained.” [Citation.]’
[Citation.]” (People v. Enraca (2012) 53 Cal.4th 735, 753; People v. Lessie, supra, 47
Cal.4th at p. 1169.) “Where, as was the case here, an interview is recorded, the facts
6.
surrounding the admission or confession are undisputed and we may apply independent
review.” (People v. Duff (2014) 58 Cal.4th 527, 551.)
B. Forfeiture
Defendant did not object to admission of his statement at trial, and the People
contend he forfeited his challenge to its admission as obtained in violation of Miranda.
In response, defendant asserts the forfeiture rule is intended to give the trial court the
opportunity to consider the issue and it did so, thereby fulfilling the policy objective
underlying the rule.
Here, the prosecution filed a motion in limine requesting admission of defendant’s
statement.11 The trial court inquired whether an Evidence Code section 402 hearing
would be required, and defense counsel remarked it would be good to have one, in
furtherance of the court’s gatekeeping function. The court then informed the parties the
statement appeared admissible on its face, but they would have a brief hearing prior to
admission of the statement. After the investigating officer testified at trial, the court
found no Miranda issues and admitted the statement without objection. In doing so, the
court noted defendant was born in Merced, previously talked to the police and was read
his Miranda rights, admitted to being on probation, said he understood his rights, and
agreed to talk to officers.
“‘The general rule is that a defendant must make a specific objection on Miranda
grounds at the trial level in order to raise a Miranda claim on appeal.’” (People v.
Crittenden (1994) 9 Cal.4th 83, 126; People v. Mattson (1990) 50 Cal.3d 826, 854.) This
requirement “both … enable[s] the court to make an informed ruling on the motion or
objection and … enable[s] the party proffering the evidence to cure the defect in the
evidence.” (People v. Mattson, supra, at p. 854.)
11 The motion was erroneously described as an opposition in the opening sentence.
7.
While the trial court generally addressed the admissibility of defendant’s statement
in the context of the prosecution’s motion for admission of the statement, defendant
neither sought to suppress his statement prior to trial nor objected at trial. As a result of
defendant’s failure to challenge the admission of his statement, “the trial court had no
opportunity to resolve material factual disputes and make necessary factual findings”
relating to the issues defendant now raises on appeal, including any confusion caused by
Detective Jennings’s commentary surrounding the advisement and defendant’s age,
education level, possible mental health issues, and level of exhaustion as factors affecting
whether any waiver was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. (People v. Scott (2011) 52
Cal.4th 452, 482). Accordingly, we find the claim forfeited and are unpersuaded by
defendant’s contrary argument. (Evid. Code, § 353, subd. (a); People v. Linton (2013) 56
Cal.4th 1146, 1170; People v. Scott, supra, at pp. 481–482; People v. Crittenden, supra, 9
Cal.4th at p. 127; People v. Mattson, supra, 50 Cal.3d at pp. 853–854; People v. Polk
(2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 1183, 1193–1195.) Defendant’s claim also fails on the merits,
however.12
C. Adequacy of Warnings
The precise wording of the Miranda warnings may vary but, to be adequate, the
warnings must “‘reasonably “conve[y]”’” these rights to suspects. (Florida v. Powell,
supra, 559 U.S. at p. 60; People v. Nelson, supra, 53 Cal. 4th at p. 378.) Defendant
concedes the wording of the warnings given was technically adequate, but contends
Detective Jennings’s reference to television shows created confusion, rendering the
warnings inadequate. The People maintain the warning reasonably conveyed defendant’s
rights to him.
12 Given our rejection of defendant’s claim on the merits, we do not reach his claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel claim, but observe “that a defendant cannot automatically
transform a forfeited claim into a cognizable one merely by asserting ineffective assistance of
counsel.” (People v. Thompson (2010) 49 Cal.4th 79, 121, fn. 14.)
8.
After asking some initial background questions such as name and birthdate, the
following advisement occurred:
“JENNINGS: Um, there’s just some for—some formal stuff that we
have to do sometimes. Ever—do you ever watch like crime shows at all?
You ever watch COPS and all that kind of stuff?
“[DEFENDANT]: Yeah.
“JENNINGS: You remember—do they ever bring out a card like
this and they whip it at you and say you have the right to remain silent?
“[DEFENDANT]: Yeah.
“JENNINGS: And anything you say may be used against you in
court. You have the right to have an attorney present before and during any
questioning and if you cannot afford to hire an attorney one will be
appointed to represent you free of charge before and during any questioning
if you wish. Did you understand all that?
“[DEFENDANT]: Yeah.
“JENNINGS: Yeah. Did you ever hear that on any of those crime
shows at all?
“[DEFENDANT]: Yeah.
“JENNINGS: Yeah. It’s kind of one of those standard things where
they—where they throw that out at people and stuff.
“[DEFENDANT]: Um-hum.”
Detective Jennings then proceeded with the interrogation.
The Miranda warnings provided by Detective Jennings apprised defendant of his
rights, and we are not persuaded that Jennings’s comments and questions regarding
television shows such as COPS so confused the warnings they were rendered inadequate.
(People v. Hensley (2014) 59 Cal.4th 788, 809.) We have the benefit of viewing the
audiovisual recording of the interrogation. Defendant was specifically asked by Jennings
if he understood the rights read to him and he responded affirmatively. Defendant is a
native Californian, fluent in English and the recording provides no support for a claim of
9.
confusion. Defendant was notably composed, and any argument his ability to
comprehend the warnings was compromised by low intelligence, mental health issues, or
other factors finds no support in the record.
Defendant cites three cases from the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in
support of his argument. As the People note, we are not bound by these decisions
(People v. Williams (2013) 56 Cal.4th 630, 668), but we find them unpersuasive in any
event. The warnings given the juvenile in Doody v. Ryan (2011) 649 F.3d 986, 1006 (en
banc) “went beyond administering the standard form, consuming twelve transcribed
pages in minimizing the importance of the Miranda warnings and affirmatively advising
[the defendant] that he had a right to counsel if he was involved in a crime.” The
detective also disregarded the defendant’s expressed lack of knowledge concerning the
Miranda warnings and his subsequently conveyed confusion in the question “‘what’s this
for?’” (Doody v. Ryan, supra, at p. 1004.)
In United States v. San Juan-Cruz (2002) 314 F.3d 384, 387–388 (San Juan-Cruz),
the defendant was read his administrative rights and then his Miranda rights by the same
Border Patrol agent. There was a conflict between those rights with respect to counsel,
and the court found the defendant “could not reasonably ascertain from the warnings
provided to him by the Government whether he could or could not retain the services of
an attorney for free.” (San Juan-Cruz, supra, at p. 388.) “[T]he substance, content, and
clarity of the warnings” did not convey to the defendant his rights under Miranda and the
warnings were therefore inadequate. (Id. at p. 389.)
Finally, the Seventh Circuit found the Miranda warnings given in United States v.
Wysinger (2012) 683 F.3d 784, 803 “inadequate and misleading” where “the warning [the
agent] gave applied only to ‘questioning,’ because it erroneously suggested that [the
defendant] had to choose between having a lawyer present before questioning or during
questioning, and because the agents used various tactics to confuse [the defendant]
regarding the start of ‘questioning’ and divert him from exercising his rights .…”
10.
No similar missteps occurred in this case. Defendant was not misled regarding his
rights or the consequences of invoking those rights. (People v. Russo (1983) 148
Cal.App.3d 1172, 1177–1178; United States v. Wysinger, supra, 683 F.3d at p. 803;
Doody v. Ryan, supra, 649 F.3d at p. 1006.) Nor was he confused. (San Juan-Cruz,
supra, 314 F.3d at pp. 387–388.) The California Supreme Court has recognized that
“evidence of police efforts to trivialize the rights accorded suspects by the Miranda
decision—by ‘playing down,’ for example, or minimizing their legal significance—may
under some circumstances suggest a species of prohibited trickery and weighs against a
finding that the suspect’s waiver was knowing, informed, and intelligent.” (People v.
Musselwhite (1998) 17 Cal.4th 1216, 1237; People v. Johnson (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th
253, 294.) Here, although Detective Jennings bookended the Miranda warnings with
comments and questions regarding television shows and described the warnings as “one
of those standard things,” he accurately advised defendant of the four Miranda warnings
at one time and immediately followed them by asking if defendant understood.
Defendant responded affirmatively. Moreover, the entire exchange fills a mere half page
of the transcript, and defendant expressed no lack of knowledge or confusion and at no
time attempted to invoke his rights.
In his reply brief, defendant cites Missouri v. Seibert (2004) 542 U.S. 600, a
plurality decision.13 The absence of a majority opinion notwithstanding, that case
addressed the police practice of interrogating a suspect without any Miranda warnings
until a confession was obtained. (Missouri v. Seibert, supra, at p. 604.) Thereafter, the
suspect was given the warnings and interrogated again to reobtain the confession. (Ibid.)
13 “When a fragmented Court decides a case and no single rationale explaining the result
enjoys the assent of five Justices, ‘the holding of the Court may be viewed as that position taken
by those Members who concurred in the judgments on the narrowest grounds.…’ [Citation.]”
(Marks v. United States (1977) 430 U.S. 188, 193.)
11.
The Missouri Supreme Court held the second statement was not voluntary and should
have been suppressed; the United States Supreme Court affirmed the decision. (Ibid.)
In this case, defendant is challenging the adequacy of the Miranda warnings given
him after some preliminary background questions but prior to any substantive
interrogation. In contrast, Missouri v. Seibert involved the failure to give any Miranda
warnings until the suspect confessed, which occurred approximately one hour after she
was brought to the police station and after she was interrogated for 30 to 40 minutes.
(Missouri v. Seibert, supra, 542 U.S. at pp. 604–605.) We do not find the facts of this
case analogous to those in Missouri v. Seibert and we conclude defendant was properly
advised of his rights. (Florida v. Powell, supra, 559 U.S. at p. 62; People v. Nelson,
supra, 53 Cal.4th at p. 378.) Defendant’s claim that the otherwise technically correct
Miranda warnings were rendered “so ambiguous or confusing” as to mislead him
regarding his rights is unsupported by the record and we reject the argument. (People v.
Wash (1993) 6 Cal.4th 215, 236–237.)
D. Knowing, Intelligent and Voluntary Waiver
In addition to the adequacy of the warnings, defendant challenges his waiver as
not made knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily.
“The test for determining whether a confession is voluntary is whether the
questioned suspect’s ‘will was overborne at the time he confessed.’ [Citation.] ‘A
finding of coercive police activity is a prerequisite to a finding that a confession was
involuntary under the federal and state Constitutions.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Cruz,
supra, 44 Cal.4th at p. 669.) “‘In assessing allegedly coercive police tactics, “[t]he courts
have prohibited only those psychological ploys which, under all the circumstances, are so
coercive that they tend to produce a statement that is both involuntary and unreliable.”’”
(People v. Cunningham (2015) 61 Cal.4th 609, 643.)
As noted, we have viewed the recorded interrogation. At the time, defendant was
17 and one-half years old, and the recording reveals not a frightened, immature child but
12.
a calm, composed young man. As noted ante, defendant was born in California and,
while defendant’s exact level of education is unclear, he understood what was said to him
and asked of him, and he responded appropriately.14
On appeal, defendant points out he was a field worker who had been up for
24 hours by the time he was interrogated, and the probation officer documented two
prescriptions for medication used to treat psychiatric conditions. However, although
defendant testified at trial he worked in the fields and got up at 4:30 a.m. the day of the
shooting, he displayed no sign of fatigue during the interrogation and stated only that
prior to the shooting, he was getting tired and was ready to go home. Regarding
medication, defendant appears to have self-reported to the probation officer that he took
two prescriptions to help him sleep and because he hears voices. Defendant also
simultaneously self-reported no medical or disability issues. The probation report was
prepared after trial, and defendant cites to no evidence in the record he was on the
medications at the time of the interrogation, let alone whether, or to what extent, either
the medications or his underlying conditions impacted his mental state at the time of the
interrogation. We note defendant was coherent and lucid, and while he appeared to tear
up several times during the interrogation, he was not overcome with emotion, he retained
his composure throughout, and we would not describe the interrogation as emotionally
charged.
We conclude defendant “‘ha[d] the capacity to understand the warnings given him,
the nature of his Fifth Amendment rights, and the consequences of waiving those
rights.’” (People v. Nelson, supra, 53 Cal.4th at p. 375.) His statement was therefore
properly admitted and we reject his claim to the contrary.
14 Defendant testified he has a sixth grade education, but he also testified he was in the
seventh grade when bullying led him to become involved with gangs. The probation report
indicates defendant last attended 11th grade at a continuation high school.
13.
II. Admission of Text Messages
Next, defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in admitting text
messages retrieved from his cell phone because they were irrelevant and prejudicial.
Defendant also claims his counsel was ineffective in failing to bring a factual error in
Detective Jennings’s testimony regarding the time of the text message exchanges to the
court’s attention. The People respond there was no abuse of discretion in admitting the
relevant text messages and defendant forfeited any challenge to the timing of the
messages by failing to object to Detective Jennings’s testimony.
A. Background
The following text messages were retrieved from defendant’s cell phone and
admitted at trial:
From “Miriam” at 08:37:49 PM (GMT-7): “Where u at?”
To “Sporty” at 08:53:50 PM (GMT-7): “I need a ride g”
From “Lupe” at 08:59:10 PM (GMT-7): “W[h]ere u at??”
From “Sporty” at 08:59:29 PM (GMT-7): “Where to[?]”
To “Lupe” at 08:59:55 PM (GMT-7): “Not yet ok[a]y around 1030 11”
To “Sporty” at 09:00:06 PM (GMT-7): “To do the thing”
From “Sporty” at 09:04:36 PM (GMT-7): “Hold up”
From “Drupy” at 09:55:26 PM (GMT-7): “What happened?”
From “Lupe” at 10:08:36 PM (GMT-7): “W[h]ere u at?”
The prosecution argued the exchange between defendant and Sporty regarding
doing “the thing” was relevant to the issue of premeditation because it referred to a plan
to shoot Norteños in retaliation for the drive-by shooting the night before. The trial court
addressed the issue during the motions in limine hearing and stated that although it could
be argued the statement was “very equivocal,” it was circumstantial evidence of planning.
Defendant’s trial counsel objected to the admission of the text messages on the grounds
they were vague, ambiguous and prejudicial. The trial court ruled the texts were
14.
admissible and explained, “Well, the timing here is what’s critical for me. I mean, if this
happened—if the text was a day before or a week before or if the text was after, I would
agree with you wholeheartedly, [counsel], but if they can establish that he made this text
within a reasonably short time before the alleged shooting, it’s coming in; all right?”
During trial, Detective Jennings testified that GMT is Greenwich Mean Time,
which is one hour ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST) and, therefore, the jury should
take into account that the times on the cell phone records were one hour ahead. This
testimony was in error, however, and we have taken judicial notice of the fact that PST is
seven hours behind GMT, as requested by defendant. This discrepancy was not caught at
trial and, on appeal, defendant argues the trial court erred in admitting the text messages
and his counsel was ineffective in failing to object to Jennings’s erroneous testimony.
B. Standard of Review
“[A] trial court is authorized to admit only relevant evidence, that is, evidence
‘having any tendency in reason to prove or disprove any disputed fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action.’ [Citations.] A trial court has
considerable discretion to exclude even relevant evidence, however, if it determines the
probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by its possible prejudicial
effects. [Citations.] A trial court’s rulings in this regard will be upheld on appeal unless
it is shown ‘“the trial court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently
absurd manner that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice.” [Citation.]’
[Citation.]” (People v. Merriman (2014) 60 Cal.4th 1, 78.)
C. Relevance
The prosecutor theorized Garcia was shot to retaliate against the Norteños for the
drive-by shooting that wounded Alex V. the previous night, and he argued the text
messages evidenced premeditation. Defendant contends the text messages are too
speculative and, therefore, irrelevant.
15.
In addressing the prosecutor’s motion in limine seeking admission of the text
messages, the trial court found the texts relevant to the issue of preplanning, or
premeditation, because they were sent “within a reasonably short time” before the
shooting. The text message exchanges occurred the day after Alex V. was shot and the
day of Garcia’s shooting. We discuss Detective Jennings’s testimonial error in more
detail post, when we address whether the error was harmless, but it suffices here to
observe that whether the text exchanges occurred the evening of the shooting or in the
early afternoon before the shooting, the exchanges still occurred during the 24-hour
window of time between the two shootings and within 12 hours of Garcia’s shooting. We
find this to be “within [the] reasonably short time” contemplated by the trial court. As
the court noted, texts sent a day before or a week before or a day after Garcia’s shooting
would have been objectionable and subject to exclusion. Clearly, text messages
exchanged either before Alex V. was shot or after Garcia was shot would not have been
relevant to show Garcia’s shooting was premeditated in retaliation for Alex V.’s
shooting.
We find no abuse of discretion in admitting the text messages. Any inferences to
be drawn and how much weight to accord were issues for the jury to decide. (People v.
Massie (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 365, 374.)
D. Undue Prejudice
Nor do we find the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the evidence over
defendant’s objection of prejudice.
“The court in its discretion may exclude evidence if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will (a) necessitate undue
consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the
issues, or of misleading the jury.” (Evid. Code, § 352.) However, “‘prejudice’” within
the meaning of section 352 “does not mean damage to a party’s case that flows from
relevant, probative evidence. Rather, it means the tendency of evidence to evoke an
16.
emotional bias against a party because of extraneous factors unrelated to the issues.
[Citation.] Thus, evidence is subject to exclusion under Evidence Code section 352 on
the basis of prejudice only ‘“when it is of such nature as to inflame the emotions of the
jury, motivating them to use the information, not to logically evaluate the point upon
which it is relevant, but to reward or punish one side because of the jurors’ emotional
reaction. In such a circumstance, the evidence is unduly prejudicial because of the
substantial likelihood the jury will use it for an illegitimate purpose.” [Citation.]’”
(People v. Cortez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 101, 128–129; People v. Scott, supra, 52 Cal.4th at
p. 491.)
While the trial court found the text messages arguably “very equivocal,” it
nonetheless found them relevant given defendant’s text message referring to doing “the
thing” in the “reasonably short” window between the two shootings. The only
discernible prejudice to defendant was the possibility the jury might decide the message
evidenced premeditation in Garcia’s killing. That is not the emotionally evocative
prejudice contemplated by Evidence Code section 352, much less one that “substantially
outweighed” the probative value, and we reject defendant’s claim the trial court abused
its discretion in failing to exclude the text messages as unduly prejudicial. (Evid. Code,
§ 352; People v. Cortez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pp. 128–129.)
E. Harmless Error
We took judicial notice of the fact that GMT is seven hours ahead of PST. At
trial, Detective Jennings incorrectly testified GMT is one hour ahead of PST and the jury
should take that into account when reviewing the messages. This error was not caught by
defendant’s trial counsel, the prosecutor, or the trial court. During closing argument, the
prosecutor asserted text messages were sent by defendant at 7:53 p.m. and 8:06 p.m., and
he argued, “So we know that the defendant had been thinking about that thing before
8:06 p.m.”
17.
Defendant contends the text messages the trial court and jury thought occurred in
the evening actually occurred in the early afternoon. However, the time stamps
documented in the cell phone report are immediately followed by the notation “(GMT-
7),” and the People contend it appears the times were already adjusted for the seven-hour
time difference between PST and GMT. Defendant counters that if true, his counsel
rendered ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to challenge the prosecution’s expert.
Whether the text messages were exchanged at the times documented in the report
or seven hours earlier, they were still exchanged in the relevant window of time between
Alex V.’s shooting and Garcia’s shooting. We find any error resulting from the trial
court’s admission of the messages or the testimonial error by Detective Jennings harmless
because there is no reasonable probability the jury would have reached a different result
in the absence of the error.15 (People v. Debose (2014) 59 Cal.4th 177, 202–203; People
v. Williams (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 983, 986, fn. 24.) The prosecutor argued the text
messages evidenced premeditation, a theory the jury either rejected entirely or
determined was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt given defendant’s acquittal on the
first degree murder charge. Based on the evidence, which included defendant’s
confession to firing three shots, including one at Garcia, and his uncontroverted presence
at the scene of the shooting, we reject his argument that but for the introduction of the
15 Defendant acknowledges California’s reasonable probability test articulated in People v.
Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 (Watson) usually applies, but argues the federal constitutional
standard in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 (Chapman) applies here because
“cumulative error rendered [his] trial fundamentally unfair.” We reject this argument because
we find no errors that, individually or cumulatively, deprived defendant of a fair trial (People v.
Davis (2005) 36 Cal.4th 510, 573; People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 Cal.4th 1, 128;
People v. Hunt (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 811, 817–818), but we note any error is nevertheless also
harmless under Chapman, which requires the court “be able to declare a belief that it was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt” (Chapman, supra, at p. 24).
18.
text messages, “it is reasonably likely one or more jurors would have had a reasonable
doubt of [his] guilt.”16
III. Instructional Error
Finally, defendant challenges the trial court’s decision to give CALCRIM No. 361,
which applies when a testifying defendant fails to explain or deny adverse evidence.
(People v. Cortez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 110; People v. Saddler (1979) 24 Cal.3d 671,
677.) Defendant contends the trial court gave the instruction because it found his
testimony lacking in credibility, which violated his right to due process by intruding into
the jury’s duty. Further, he contends the error was prejudicial because his testimony was
crucial to his defense and the instruction weakened that defense by permitting the jury to
question his credibility. The People respond there is no constitutional violation if the
instruction is supported by evidence, and defendant’s explanation of his actions was
implausible, which can provide a proper basis for the instruction under some
circumstances. The People also contend any error was harmless because other jury
instructions cured the error and the evidence against defendant was strong.
A. Trial Court’s Ruling
Prior to instructing the jury, the trial court discussed the propriety of CALCRIM
No. 361 with the parties as follows:
“THE COURT: All right. Three questions—three issues are of
concern to me as to the jury instructions.
“Number one, [CALCRIM NO.] 361, failure to explain or deny
adverse testimony, if the defendant failed in his testimony to explain or
deny evidence against him, and I’m thinking this instruction should be
given.
16 Given our finding of harmless error, we need not reach the People’s argument defendant
forfeited his challenge to Detective Jennings’s erroneous testimony or defendant’s claim his
counsel was ineffective in failing to recognize the error and object to it.
19.
“To me, [defendant’s] testimony was inherently unbelievable.
That’s just my perception. You should be lucky that I’m not on the jury on
this matter, but I’m tempted to give this instruction based upon my feeling
about his testimony.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: What specifically did he deny or didn’t
explain? He explained—he explained everything, your Honor.
“THE COURT: Now, I take a different take. I don’t think he
explained much of anything.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. Well, I object for the record of
that instruction being given.
“THE COURT: What’s your take on it?
“[PROSECUTOR]: I agree with the court, your Honor. There are
too many inconsistencies with his testimony, and I think that some things
that were contradicted that really shouldn’t have been, that should have
been just preliminary type information.
“THE COURT: Let me give you an example.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Please.
“THE COURT: His example of running out in the field and opening
up his cell phone so the officers could find him is ridiculous in my opinion.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That was testified by Officer Navo.
“THE COURT: He testified that he ran full speed trying to catch
him.
“The clear input was he was calling his homies to get rid of the gun.
That’s the clear evidence to me.
“His testimony was he went out there 15 feet into the field and
stopped, held up his phone so they could see him ‘cause he had dark
clothing on him? Who in the world could believe that in my opinion.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: There’s no evidence he made a phone
call, though.
“THE COURT: Why else would he have his phone out. It certainly
wasn’t to highlight so the officers could come get him.
20.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: They examined him. There’s no
evidence of any phone calls. That’s a bad instruction, and I object.
“[PROSECUTOR]: Hard to do so when you’re running full speed.
“THE COURT: So I intend to give [CALCRIM NO.] 361.
“Now, back to you, Mr.—and again, if, if the jury finds that he failed
to deny or explain it, doesn’t say that he did. Again, the jury’s the fact-
finding body, and they can make that—they can make that finding.”
The trial court subsequently read the following instruction to the jury:
“If a defendant failed in his testimony to explain or deny evidence
against him and if he could reasonably be expected to have done so based
upon what he knew, you may consider his failure to explain or deny in
evaluating that evidence. Any such failure is not enough by itself to prove
guilt. The People must still prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt. [¶ ] If the defendant failed to explain or deny, it is up to you to
decide the meanings and importance of that failure.”
B. Implausibility as Basis for Instruction
We review defendant’s instructional challenge de novo. (People v. Vega (2015)
236 Cal.App.4th 484, 495; People v. Riley (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 754, 767.)
In People v. Saddler, the California Supreme Court addressed CALJIC No. 2.62,
an instruction substantially similar to CALCRIM No. 361. (People v. Rodriguez (2009)
170 Cal.App.4th 1062, 1066.) The court rejected the defendant’s challenges to the
propriety of the instruction itself on constitutional and other grounds, finding the
instruction “suffers no constitutional or other infirmity and may be given in an
appropriate case.” (People v. Saddler, supra, 24 Cal.3d at p. 681.) The court then
considered the propriety of the instruction in the defendant’s specific case and, noting
that “a contradiction is not a failure to explain or deny,” held “[s]ince there were no facts
or evidence in the People’s case which [the] defendant failed to explain that were in his
particular knowledge to explain, we conclude that there was no support in the record for
an instruction on drawing of adverse inferences from a failure to explain or deny.” (Id. at
21.
pp. 682–683.) The court concluded, however, that the instructional error was harmless
under Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at page 836. (People v. Saddler, supra, at pp. 683–684.)
Recently, the California Supreme Court revisited CALCRIM No. 361 to clarify an
“apparent inconsistency in the case law” regarding the circumstances in which it is
proper. (People v. Cortez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 113.) The court held that it “applies
only when a defendant completely fails to explain or deny incriminating evidence, or
claims to lack knowledge and it appears from the evidence that the defendant could
reasonably be expected to have that knowledge.” (Id. at p. 117.) Testimony that
“conflicts with other evidence or may be characterized as improbable, incredible,
unbelievable, or bizarre … is not … ‘the functional equivalent of no explanation at all.’”
(Ibid.)
In this case, the trial court focused on the plausibility of defendant’s explanations
and descriptions of events, and that remains the focus on appeal. While some of
defendant’s explanations may have strained credibility, the trial court did not identify any
examples where he failed to explain or deny adverse evidence and the People point to
none in the record on appeal, the burden of which rests with them. (People v. Wong
(2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 1433, 1446–1447, fn. 9.) At trial, defendant admitted to being
present when Garcia was shot, denied he had a gun or fired any shots, and characterized
the admissions he made during interrogation as lies he told so he could go home. While
defendant’s conflicting and/or unbelievable testimony impacts his credibility as a
witness, it presents no basis for instructing the jury on the failure to explain or deny
adverse evidence. (People v. Cortez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 118.) However, any error
was harmless.17 (People v. Saddler, supra, 24 Cal.3d at pp. 683–684.)
17 The decision in People v. Cortez, supra, 63 Cal.4th 101, was issued after briefing was
completed in this case. While we assume the decision applies retroactively (People v. Guerra
(1984) 37 Cal.3d 385, 399; Donaldson v. Superior Court (1983) 35 Cal.3d 24, 36–37), we do not
decide that issue because we find the error was harmless in any event (People v. Diaz (2015) 60
22.
C. Harmless Error
We review the error under Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d 818. (People v. Saddler,
supra, 24 Cal.3d at p. 683; People v. Lamer (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 1463, 1471–1472;
People v. Marsh (1985) 175 Cal.App.3d 987, 994.) As previously discussed, we reject
defendant’s argument that Chapman applies due to cumulative error, but again note the
error would be harmless under either standard. (People v. Vega, supra, 236 Cal.App.4th
at p. 501.) In addition to confessing to the crime, defendant was present during the
commission of the crime; he was a gang member dressed that evening in gang attire; he
went to the residential neighborhood where the drive-by shooting occurred the night
before specifically to check on the welfare of the victim, a fellow gang member; after
finding the victim not home, he went next door where the shooting had occurred and
hung out there with other gang members; and prior to leaving the residence before
Garcia’s shooting, he knew Espindola and the others wanted him to go with them to find
a “Northerner.” Shortly after leaving the residence, they crossed paths with a
“Northerner,” who was then shot to death. After the shooting, defendant ran back to the
same residence with Espindola. When police arrived, he jumped the fence and began to
run away at full speed before being surrounded and apprehended.
Moreover, other instructions “may be considered in assessing the prejudicial effect
of an improper instruction.” (People v. Saddler, supra, 24 Cal.3d at p. 684; People v.
Vega, supra, 236 Cal.App.4th at p. 502.) First, CALCRIM No. 361 by its terms leaves it
for the jury to determine if the defendant failed to explain or deny adverse evidence and if
he could reasonably have been expected to do so. (People v. Vega, supra, at pp. 502–
503.) The instruction also restates the People’s burden of proving the defendant’s guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt, and leaves the meaning and importance of any failure to
Cal.4th 1176, 1195; Correa v. Superior Court (2002) 27 Cal.4th 444, 463, fn. 5), and the parties
were therefore not invited to submit supplemental briefing (Gov. Code, § 68081).
23.
explain or deny for the jury to determine. (Ibid.) The trial court also instructed the jury
on assessing the credibility of witnesses and, pursuant to CALCRIM No. 200, informed
the jury that some of the instructions read may not apply. (People v. Saddler, supra, at
p. 684; People v. Vega, supra, at p. 503; People v. Lamer, supra, 110 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1473 [addressing CALJIC No. 17.31, which is substantially similar to CALCRIM
No. 200].)
Based on the strong evidence of defendant’s guilt and the jury instructions as a
whole, we conclude there is no reasonable probability the jury would have reached a
different result in the absence of being instructed on CALCRIM No. 361. Any error
“was [also] harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” (Chapman, 386 U.S. at p. 24.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
___________________________
KANE, J.
WE CONCUR:
___________________________
GOMES, Acting P.J.
___________________________
DETJEN, J.
24.