The People v. Burgos CA2/5 ( 2013 )

Filed 8/28/13 P. v. Burgos CA2/5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE
THE PEOPLE, B238795
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. LA067011)
v.
JOHNNY BURGOS,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Joseph
A. Brandolino, Judge. Affirmed in part, modified in part, and remanded with directions.
Marcia C. Levine, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Lawrence M. Daniels, Eric E.
Reynolds and Allison H. Chung, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
I. INTRODUCTION
A jury convicted defendant, Johnny Burgos, as charged in count 2 of lewd conduct
upon a child under 14 years of age. (Pen. Code,1 § 288, subd. (a).) And, as to count 3,
defendant was convicted of child molestation with a previous conviction. (§ 647.6,
subds. (a)(1) & (c)(2).) The jury further found true prior conviction and prison term
allegations under sections 667, subdivisions (a)(1), (b) through (i), 1170.12 and 667.5,
subdivision (b) respectively. Defendant was sentenced to 35 years to life in state prison.
We modify the judgment and remand with directions.
II. THE EVIDENCE
A. Prior Sex Crimes Evidence
1. A.R.
Defendant married S.B. on September 4, 1989. They subsequently had three sons.
Also in 1989, defendant victimized seven-year-old A.R. The mother of A.R. was S.B.’s
friend. That is, defendant, S.B.’s spouse, molested A.R., the daughter of his wife’s
friend. Defendant put his hands inside A.R.’s nightgown and put his finger inside her
vagina. A.R. “freaked out” in her words. Defendant apologized and offered to let A.R.
hit him. On October 16, 1989, defendant pled guilty to a violation of section 288,
subdivision (a). On January 17, 1990, he was placed on five years’ probation on the
condition, among others, that he serve 360 days in the county jail. Despite therapy, A.R.
had trouble sleeping, wet her bed until she was about 10, and could not be in the same
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code except where otherwise
noted.
2
room with men at school. A.R. testified, “If . . . a man came near me, I would freak out
and start screaming.”
2. S.B.’s Nieces—A.D. and Ar.D.
In 1994, defendant lived next door to S.B.’s brother. S.B.’s brother’s family
included two daughters, A.D. and Ar.D. During that year, defendant molested A.D. and
Ar.D., both of whom were S.B.’s nieces. A.D. was five or six years old when defendant
sexually abused her. In 1994, A.D. often spent time with her cousins, including spending
the night at their house. Defendant would: wake A.D. up in the middle of the night; pull
her pants and underwear down; pull his own pants down; and put his penis in her vagina.
This happened five or six times. A.D. also saw defendant molesting Ar.D. Ar.D. was in
the shower naked. Defendant was in the shower with her. A.D. saw Ar.D.’s legs spread
apart. Also, A.D. saw Ar.D. moving back and forth while in the shower with defendant.
A.D. thought she would get in trouble if she told anyone. So she stayed silent. But when
A.D. was eight or nine years old, a family member asked whether there was anything
going on. A.D. broke down and said yes. On cross-examination, A.D. said that after she
was molested, she had nightmares, did not sleep well, and went to therapy.
Ar.D. was three and four years of age when defendant molested her. Defendant
touched her private parts with his hands and his penis. He did it “a lot” of times. He
made her touch his hard penis with her hands. Defendant touched Ar.D. when she was
sleeping. Also sleeping in the room were Ar.D.’s sister and cousins. He did not put his
penis inside her; he rubbed it against her vagina. He did that more than 10 times. He
molested her once in the bathroom during a birthday party. Ar.D. knew defendant was
molesting A.D. Ar.D. testified, “I was scared to look.” After the molestation was
reported, Ar.D. attended therapy.
Defendant was convicted on November 18, 1998, of two counts of lewd act upon a
child in violation of section 288, subdivision (a). On December 2, 1998, he was
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sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Defendant was released from prison on March 7,
2006. He committed the present offenses shortly after his release.
B. The Present Crimes
1. The prosecution case
a. the victim, K.H.
The victim, K.H., met defendant in 2006, when she was seven years old. K.H. is
the cousin of A.D. and Ar.D. Defendant is the biological father of K.H.’s three older
brothers. There was no evidence K.H. knew defendant had molested A.D. and Ar.D.
prior to the 2006 assault. Neither A.D. nor Ar.D. had ever told K.H. about the
molestations. Nor did A.D. or Ar.D. tell K.H.’s brothers or their own siblings. Nor did
K.H.’s parents ever tell her that defendant had been convicted of inappropriate sexual
contact with her cousins.
Defendant and K.H. were alone in the kitchen together when he first molested her.
Defendant was sitting on a stool. He unzipped his pants. He pulled down K.H.’s pants
and her underwear. He told K.H. to sit on his lap. Defendant did not move, but K.H. felt
defendant’s penis pressing against her. The incident lasted about five seconds. Defendant
told K.H. to get off his lap. He said he was sorry. Shortly thereafter, defendant and K.H.
were lying on the bedroom floor or on a bed looking at a board game. Defendant put his
hand in K.H.’s pants. He put his index finger in her vagina. He left his finger there for
10 minutes. K.H. was afraid defendant would hurt her if she told anyone. The next time
K.H. saw defendant, she avoided him so he could not touch her.
K.H. did not reveal the molestation until 2010, when she was 11. This was four
years after the molestation ended. By then the memory of what happened was making
her so sad that she need to tell someone. So K.H. wrote S.B. a letter. This was because
K.H. did not know how to tell S.B. about being molested by defendant. K.H. left the note
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where S.B. would find it. K.H.’s father found it instead. K.H. did not want to tell the
police. But sometime later, her father became intoxicated and told police officers what
had happened. K.H. was interviewed by a female police officer and, later, by Detective
Mark Leon. K.H. did not tell either one about what happened in the bedroom. She was
more upset by the encounter in the kitchen. Later, K.H. met with Deputy District
Attorney Pamela Revel and Detective Leon. At that meeting, K.H. described both
incidents to them.
On cross-examination, K.H. said she did not know whether defendant’s finger was
actually inside her vagina. She did not know how that would feel. She had never looked
at or touched her vagina. K.H. was also questioned about the note discovered by her
father. As previously explained, the note was intended for K.H.’s mother. But the note
was accidentally discovered by K.H.’s father. In that note, K.H. wrote that defendant put
his finger in her “pee-pee” or vagina.
On redirect examination, Ms. Revel questioned K.H. further about the touching
that occurred in the bedroom: “Ms. Revel: Your Honor, I’m kind of indicating just two
fingers . . . [¶] . . . kind of to represent like what your pee-pee is. Okay? [¶] A Yes.
[¶] Q Okay. And when you say that he touched you, did he touch you on the outside of
your pee-pee? [¶] A Yeah. [¶] Q Okay. And then did he ever touch you on the inside
of your pee-pee? [¶] A No. [¶] Okay. . . . [A]re my fingers kind of demonstrating to
you they’re kind of two sides? [¶] A Yes. [¶] Q And did he ever at all put his finger
inside the two sides of you pee-pee? [¶] A No. [¶] Q And so he touched the outside?
[¶] A Yes.”
b. Detective Leon
A police report concerning the molestation of K.H. was prepared on September
27, 2010. Detective Leon interviewed K.H. at the police station on October 20, 2010.
The interview was recorded. K.H. did not tell Detective Leon about what happened in
the bedroom. The jury heard a recording of this first interview. Detective Leon was
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present when Ms. Revel interviewed K.H. in November 2010. The interview was not
recorded. During this second interview, K.H. talked about defendant’s conduct in the
bedroom.
c. K.H.’s mother, S.B.
Shortly after S.B. married defendant, she learned he had been convicted of child
molestation. S.B. had babysat for the child. Years later, defendant was arrested for
molesting S.B.’s two nieces, her brother’s daughters. Defendant was sentenced to prison.
S.B. visited her husband in prison on most weekends. She brought their three boys with
her until defendant was transferred. After the transfer, she went alone to visit defendant
in prison. S.B. had been in a relationship with K.H.’s father, S.H., for more than 13
years. The relationship began three months after defendant went to prison. S.B. did not
worry about the safety of her own children with defendant. S.B. testified, “I never
thought about it.”
In June or July 2010, S.B. received the note K.H. had written. It said defendant
had touched K.H. when she was younger. There were details in the note, but S.B. did not
remember them. S.B. did not remember the details because, “I rather would not have
known.” When asked what happened to the letter, S.B. testified, “[K.H.] told me she
ripped up the letter.” S.B. and K.H. talked about defendant’s acts of molestation. When
asked why the police were not thereafter notified, S.B. testified, “[K.H.] asked me not
to.” The police learned about the molestation only after S.H. got drunk and fought with
S.B. S.B. then called the police. When the police arrived, S.H. told them about K.H.’s
accusations. S.B. did not know whether she wanted defendant to be prosecuted because
she was concerned about her sons.
On cross-examination, S.B. testified that K.H. had seen defendant after the sexual
abuse occurred. K.H. would hug defendant when she saw him. K.H. never voiced any
displeasure or concern about defendant. K.H. never said she was afraid of him or that she
did not want to see him. K.H. did not shrink from touching him. The last time K.H. had
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seen defendant was in Las Vegas, between 2008 and 2009. There had not been any
change in K.H.’s behavior after defendant came back into their lives. K.H. had gained
weight due to inactivity. But she did not exhibit any bed-wetting, vaginal infections,
sexual acting out, or withdrawal from the family. Although K.H. knew defendant had
been in prison, she never asked why he had been incarcerated. S.B. never put K.H. in
therapy. This was because K.H. did not want to go to therapy. K.H. only mentioned one
incident in her written note. She said defendant asked her to sit on his lap. K.H. told
S.B. that defendant opened his pants. The note did not include anything about defendant
touching her or taking her clothes off.
d. S.H.
S.H. had never seen defendant alone with K.H. The only time defendant was
alone in a room with K.H., S.H. was nearby on the porch. K.H. would not talk to S.H.
about the molestation. S.H. did not notice any behavioral changes in K.H. after
defendant’s release from prison. K.H. never said she did not want to be around
defendant.
2. The defense case
Defense counsel, Christine Field, produced a kitchen stool. K.H. testified it was
similar in height to the one defendant sat on when he molested her in the kitchen.
Defendant sat on the stool in the jury’s presence. Ms. Field subsequently argued to the
jury that given defendant’s obesity, he would not have been able to sit on the stool, unzip
his pants, and remove his penis.
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III. DISCUSSION
A. Evidence Code Section 1108
Defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted prior victim
testimony under Evidence Code section 1108 (section 1108). Section 1108, subdivision
(a) states, “In a criminal action in which the defendant is accused of a sexual offense,
evidence of the defendant’s commission of another sexual offense or offenses is not made
inadmissible by Section 1101, if the evidence is not inadmissible pursuant to Section
352.” Our Supreme Court has held, “Available legislative history indicates section 1108
was intended in sex offense cases to relax the evidentiary restraints [Evidence Code]
section 1101, subdivision (a), imposed, to assure that the trier of fact would be made
aware of the defendant’s other sex offenses in evaluating the victim’s and the defendant’s
credibility.” (People v. Falsetta (1999) 21 Cal.4th 903, 911; see People v. Villatoro
(2012) 54 Cal.4th 1152, 1174.) Further our Supreme Court held, “In exercising [the
Evidence Code section 352] discretion as to a sexual offense, ‘trial judges must consider
such factors as its nature, relevance, and possible remoteness, the degree of certainty of
its commission and the likelihood of confusing, misleading, or distracting the jurors from
their main inquiry, its similarity to the charge offense, it’s likely prejudicial impact on the
jurors, the burden on the defendant in defending against the uncharged offense, and the
availability of less prejudicial alternatives to its outright admission, such as admitting
some but not all of the defendant’s other sex offenses, or excluding irrelevant though
inflammatory details surrounding the offense.’ (People v. Falsetta, supra, 21 Cal.4th at
p. 917.)” (People v Loy (2011) 52 Cal.4th 46, 61.) Our review is for an abuse of the trial
court’s broad discretion. (Ibid.; People v. Thomas (2011) 52 Cal.4th 336, 354-355.)
There was no abuse of discretion in the present case. In response to the
prosecution’s section 1108 motion, the trial court carefully considered the relevant
factors. The trial court reasonably concluded the sex offenses defendant committed
against A.D., Ar.D. and A.R. were similar to the crimes perpetrated on K.H. The pattern
8
of defendant’s conduct in his interaction with each of the young girls was consistent.
Defendant’s victims all visited his home. All were known to him through his wife, S.B.
All were very young at the time of the molestation. In two of the four cases, he
apologized to his victim. Defendant was in prison until 2006; he committed the present
offenses shortly after his release. Presentation of the other sex offenses evidence was
relatively brief, hence there was no undue consumption of time. And there was no
significant potential the jury would be confused. The jury was informed of defendant’s
convictions for the prior offenses and of his incarceration history. The proper use of the
evidence was addressed in jury instructions and the attorneys’ arguments.
As noted, we have found no abuse of discretion in admitting the prior sex crimes
evidence under section 1108. Thus, we need not consider whether it was also admissible
under Evidence Code section 1101. Further, in light of our conclusion no abuse of
discretion resulted under section 1108, defendant’s constitutional due process and fair
trial rights were not violated by the admission of the prior sex offense evidence. (People
v. Falsetta, supra, 21 Cal.4th at pp. 912-922; see People v. Reliford (2003) 29 Cal.4th
1007, 1009.)
B. Defendant’s New Trial Motion
Defendant argues he was entitled to a new trial. Ar.D. testified defendant: put his
penis in her vagina; touched her “everywhere,” including her vagina and buttocks; and
rubbed his erect penis against her vagina. Defendant asserts he was surprised by that
testimony because no such conduct was reflected in the police reports or preliminary
hearing testimony. Defendant characterizes Ar.D.’s trial testimony as describing acts
more inflammatory than the charged conduct. We review the denial of a new trial motion
for an abuse of discretion. (People v. Thompson (2010) 49 Cal.4th 79, 140; People v.
Navarette (2003) 30 Cal.4th 458, 526.) Our Supreme Court has held, “‘“A trial court’s
ruling on a motion for new trial is so completely within that court’s discretion that a
reviewing court will not disturb the ruling absent a manifest and unmistakable abuse of
9
that discretion.”’ (People v. Lewis (2001) 26 Cal.4th 334, 364; People v. Hayes (1999)
21 Cal.4th 1211, 1260-1261.)” (People v. Thompson, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p. 140.) Here,
the trial court reasonably concluded Ar.D.’s testimony did not describe conduct that was
more egregious than that K.H. testified to, nor was it unduly prejudicial. There was no
abuse of discretion.
C. Sentencing
1. Sections 667.61 and 667.71: pleading and proof
Defendant was sentenced in part under sections 667.61, subdivisions (a) and (d)(1)
and 667.71 due to his prior lewd act convictions. (See People v. McQueen (2008) 160
Cal.App.4th 27, 37-38; People v. Lopez (2004) 119 Cal.App.4th 355, 365-366.) The jury
made no specific finding of prior qualifying convictions under section 667.61,
subdivisions (a) and (d)(1) or section 667.71. No objection was interposed to the
allegation in the second amended information. Nor was an objection interposed to the
verdict forms. Thus, any constitutional or statutory contention as to the findings’ format
is forfeited. (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 330; People v. Toro (1989) 47
Cal.3d 966, 976, disapproved on a different point in People v. Guiuan (1998) 18 Cal.4th
558, 568, fn. 3.) Both statutes require that the qualifying facts be alleged in the
information and admitted by the defendant or found true by the trier of fact. (§ 667.61,
subd. (o); see People v. Anderson (2009) 47 Cal.4th 92, 102-103; People v. Torres (2011)
198 Cal.App.4th 1131, 1147.)
However, the second amended information alleges two prior qualifying
convictions under section 667.61, subdivisions (a) and (d), and one prior qualifying
conviction under section 667.71. The second amended information alleged: “[W]ithin
the meaning of Penal Code sections 667.61(a) and (d), as to defendant, JOHNNY
BURGOS, as to count(s) 2 that the following circumstances apply: lewd act upon child
in violation of PC 288(a) on December 2, 1998 – LA029147 and lewd act upon a child in
10
violation of PC 288(a) on January 17, 1990.” The second amended information further
alleged, “pursuant to . . . section 667.71, as to count(s) 2[,] that the defendant was
previously convicted of the crime of LEWD ACT UPON A CHILD in violation
of . . . section 288(A) on DECEMBER 2, 1998 in the Superior Court of LOS ANGELES
County.” Thus the second amended information put defendant on notice that he was
being charged under those provisions.
In addition, the jury found to be true the allegations that defendant sustained the
prior qualifying convictions. The jury found as to counts 2 and 3, under sections 667,
subdivisions (a)(1) and (b) through (i), 667.5, subdivision (b), and 1170.12, that
defendant was convicted of violating section 288, subdivision (a) in case number 45679
on or about October 16, 1989, and in case number LA029147 (two counts) on or about
November 18, 1998. The pleading and proof requirements of sections 667.61 and 667.71
were thus satisfied.
2. Sections 667, subdivision (e)(2)(A)(i) and 1170.12, subdivision (c)(2)(A)(i)
Defendant was sentenced to 25 years to life on count 2 under sections 667.61,
subdivisions (a) and (d)(1), and 667.71. The trial court should have tripled the count 2
sentence pursuant to sections 667, subdivision (e)(2)(A)(i) and 1170.12, subdivision
(c)(2)(A)(i) plus applicable enhancements. (People v. Acosta (2002) 29 Cal.4th 105, 118-
128; People v. Miranda (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 398, 416-417.)
3. Count 3 prior serious felony conviction enhancement
The Attorney General argues the count 3 sentence must be enhanced pursuant to
section 667, subdivision (a)(1). However, defendant was not convicted of a serious
felony in count 3. Rather, defendant was convicted of a violation of section 647.6,
subdivisions (a)(1) and (c)(2) which is not a felony enumerated in section 1192.7,
subdivision (c). Thus, the 5-year section 667, subdivision (a)(1) enhancement may not be
11
imposed on count 3 which is not a serious felony. (§ 667, subd. (a)(1); 3 Witkin &
Epstein, California Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Punishment, § 405, pp. 625-626.) The
authority cited by the Attorney General involves conduct described in prior convictions.
Here, the issue is whether the charge in the present case is a serious felony which it is not.
4. Section 667.5, subdivision (b)
a. jury prior serious felony conviction and prison term findings
i. section 667, subdivisions (b) through (i) and 1170.12 prior serious convictions
Consistent with the second amended information’s allegations, the jury found
three prior serious felony conviction allegations to be true for purposes of sections 667,
subdivision (b) through (i) and 1170.12. The prior conviction and prison term findings in
the verdict referred to both counts 2 and 3. The jury found that defendant had been
convicted in case No. 45679 in San Joaquin County of violating section 288, subdivision
(a) on October 16, 1989. Also, the jury found that defendant had been convicted of
violating section 288, subdivision (a) in Los Angeles County on November 18, 1998, in
case No. LA029147. Finally, the jury found defendant had been convicted in a second
count of violating section 288, subdivision (a) on November 18, 1998, in Los Angeles
County in case No. LA029147.
ii. section 667, subdivision (a)(1) prior serious conviction findings
The jury found defendant had sustained two section 667, subdivision (a)(1) prior
serious felony convictions. These two prior serious felony convictions were sustained in
case Nos. 45679 on October 16, 1989, and LA029147 on November 18, 1998, in San
Joaquin and Los Angeles Counties respectively. Only one section 667, subdivision (a)(1)
prior serious felony conviction was alleged in case No. LA029147. This was because the
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two Los Angeles County serious felony convictions were sustained in the same case and
on the same date. Thus, the Los Angeles County lewd conduct charges were not brought
and tried separately within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a)(1). (In re Harris
(1989) 49 Cal.3d 131, 136-137; People v. Deay (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 280, 286.)
iii. section 667.5 prior prison term finding
The jury found a single prior prison term allegation was true. The jury found that
on November 18, 1998, defendant was sentenced to prison for a conviction of violating
section 288, subdivision (a) in case No. LA029147. The verdict form does not identify
which of the two section 288, subdivision (a) lewd conduct on a child counts in case
No. LA029147 applied to the prior prison term finding.
b. count 2
As noted, defendant was convicted in count 2 of lewd conduct on a child in
violation of section 288, subdivision (a). Lewd conduct on a child in violation of section
288, subdivision (a) is a violent felony. (§ 667.5, subd. (c)(6); 3 Witkin & Epstein,
California Criminal Law, supra, Punishment, § 401, p. 619.) Therefore, given the prior
violent felony prison term finding, defendant would typically be expected to serve three
additional years. (§ 667.5, subd. (a); 3 Witkin, supra, Punishment, § 400, p. 617.)
However, defendant contends the November 18, 1998 prison term resulted from his prior
lewd conduct with a child conviction in case No. LA029147. Thus, defendant reasons
that the prior prison term enhancement as to count 2 may not be imposed and must be
stricken. (People v. Jones (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1142, 1150-1153; People v. Perez (2011) 195
Cal.App.4th 801, 805.) The Attorney General argues defendant was convicted of two
section 288, subdivision (a) counts in case No. LA029147 and therefore may be
sentenced on the prior prison term allegation. The Attorney General reasons that only a
single section 667, subdivision (a)(1) prior serious felony conviction enhancement was
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imposed as a result of case No. LA029147. We agree with the Attorney General.
(People v. Ruiz (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 1653, 1668-1669; People v. Brandon (1995) 32
Cal.App.4th 1033, 1055.)
The trial court had jurisdiction only to impose or strike the section 667.5,
subdivision (a) three-year enhancement pursuant to section 1385, subdivision (a). (§ 12;
People v. Bradley (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 386, 390-392; People v. Harvey (1991) 233
Cal.App.3d 1206, 1231.) The imposition of a legally unauthorized sentence is an issue
that can be raised for the first time on appeal by the Attorney General. (People v. Dotson
(1997) 16 Cal.4th 547, 554, fn. 6; People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 354.) As a result,
upon remittitur issuance, the trial court is to either strike or impose the section 667.5
subdivision (a) three-year enhancement as to count 2. If the trial court decides to strike
the count 2 section 667.5, subdivision (a) three-year enhancement, it must comply with
section 1385, subdivision (a). If the trial court decides to strike the count 2 prior prison
term three-year enhancement it must state its reasons for the exercise of its discretion in
the minutes. (People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 531; People v.
Orin (1975) 13 Cal.3d 937, 944.)
c. count 3
As to count 3, defendant is subject to a 25-year-to-life indeterminate term pursuant
to sections 667, subdivision (e)(2)(ii) and 1170.12, subdivision (c)(2)(ii). Because counts
2 and 3 are both indeterminate sentences, the prior prison term enhancement must be
imposed on both counts, absent an order striking the additional term. (People v. Williams
(2004) 34 Cal.4th 397, 401-405; People v. Garcia (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1550, 1559.)
Because count 3 is not a violent felony, only a one-year term may be imposed. (§ 667.5,
subd. (b); 3 Witkin, supra, Punishment, § 400, p. 618.) Upon remittitur issuance, the trial
court is to exercise its discretion as described in the immediately preceding paragraph and
either impose or strike the one-year enhancement.
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5. Section 654, subdivision (a)
We asked the parties to brief the question whether the trial court improperly stayed
the sentence on count 3. We apply section 654, subdivision (a) (section 654) to conceded
facts as a matter of law. (People v. Perez (1979) 23 Cal.3d 545, 552, fn. 5; People v.
Baylor (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 232, 235.) We find section 654 did not preclude
punishment for the sex offense charged in count 3. (See People v. Scott, supra, 9 Cal.4th
at pp. 344, fn. 6, 346-347; People v. Perez, supra, 23 Cal.3d at p. 553; see also People v.
Jones (2012) 54 Cal.4th 350, 374.)
The Court of Appeal has explained: “Section 654 provides that ‘[a]n act or
omission that is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be
punished under the provision that provides for the longest potential term of
imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more than one
provision.’ The section ‘applies when there is a course of conduct which violates more
than one statute but constitutes an indivisible transaction.’ (People v. Saffle (1992) 4
Cal.App.4th 434, 438.) Generally, whether a course of conduct is a divisible transaction
depends on the intent and objective of the actor: ‘If all of the offenses were incident to
one objective, the defendant may be punished for any one of such offenses but not for
more than one.’ (Neal v. State of California (1960) 55 Cal.2d 11, 19[, disapproved on
another point in People v. Correa (2012) 54 Cal.4th 331, 334, 338].) [¶] However, the
rule is different in sex crime cases. Even where the defendant has but one objective—
sexual gratification—section 654 will not apply unless the crimes were either incidental
to or the means by which another crime was accomplished. (People v. Perez[, supra,] 23
Cal.3d [at p.] 553; e.g., People v. Siko (1988) 45 Cal.3d 820, 826 [separate punishment
for lewd conduct impermissible where it was the very basis for his rape and sodomy
convictions]; People v. Greer (1947) 30 Cal.2d 589, 604[, disapproved on another point
in People v. Fields (1996) 13 Cal.4th 289, 308, fn. 6] [removal of victim’s underclothing
was merely incidental to subsequent rape and did not warrant separate punishment];
People v. Madera (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 845, 855 [‘section 654 would bar separate
15
punishment for applying lubricant to the area to be copulated.’].)” (People v.
Alvarez (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 999, 1005-1006.)
Here, in counts 2 and 3, defendant committed two distinct sex crimes in two
different locations—the kitchen and the bedroom. Neither sex offense was committed as
a means of committing or facilitating the other. Nor were the counts 2 and 3 sex offenses
incidental to the commission of any other. Therefore, section 654 did not preclude
punishment for each of the sex offenses charged in counts 2 and 3. Upon remittitur
issuance, the trial court is to impose either a concurrent or consecutive sentence on count
3. (§§ 667, subd. (c)(6), 1170.12, subd. (a)(6); People v. Lawrence (2000) 24 Cal.4th
219, 233.)
6. Section 290.3: sex offender fine
The trial court only imposed a $500 sex offender fine plus penalties. Defendant
committed the present offenses on or between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007.
The amount of the sex offender fine was increased effective September 2006 from: $200
for the first offense; $300 for subsequent offense to $300 for the first offense; and $500
for subsequent offenses. (Stats. 2006, ch. 337, § 18.) Therefore, defendant was properly
subject to a $500 fine. (See People v. Voit (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 1353, 1372; People v.
Valenzuela (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1246, 1248.) However, defendant was convicted of
two counts both of which qualify for the fine. (See § 290.3, subd. (c).)
But, on a silent record, we presume the trial court found as to one of the counts
defendant did not have an ability to pay the $500. (People v. Sharret (2011) 191
Cal.App.4th 859, 864 [Health & Saf. Code, § 11372.7, subd. (a) drug program fee];
People v. Walz (2008) 160 Cal.App.4th 1364, 1371 [sex offender fine].) In addition,
because the trial court had the discretion to not impose the sex offender fine, the
prosecutor’s failure to object forfeited any claim of error on appeal. (People v. Tillman
(2000) 22 Cal.4th 300, 303; People v. Sharret, supra, 191 Cal.App.4th at p. 864.) Thus,
no action need be taken in connection with the sex offender fine. The abstract of
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judgment identifies the fine and the imposition of the penalties which includes the section
1465.7, subdivision (a) surcharge.
7. Presentence conduct credit
The trial court awarded defendant credit for 324 days in presentence custody, from
March 7, 2011, to January 24, 2012. However, the trial court miscalculated defendant’s
conduct credit as 65 days. Defendant should have received only 48 days’ conduct credit.
(§§ 667.5, subd. (c)(6); 2933.1.) The judgment must be modified to so provide.
IV. DISPOSITION
The judgment is modified to: impose an 85-year-to-life sentence on count 2;
impose an unstayed concurrent or consecutive 25-year-to-life sentence on count 3; and
award defendant conduct credit of 48 rather than 65 days. Upon remittitur issuance, the
trial court is to either impose or strike the prior prison term enhancements on counts 2
and 3. And the trial court is to impose a concurrent or consecutive term as to count 3 as
explained in part III (C)(5) of this opinion. The superior court clerk must then prepare an
amended abstract of judgment and deliver a copy to the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
TURNER, P.J.
We concur:
KRIEGLER, J. KUMAR, J.*
* Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant
to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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