People v. Nanez CA5 ( 2014 )

Filed 5/15/14 P. v. Nanez 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,
F064574
Plaintiff and Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. VCF225307A)
v.
FRANK MATTHEW NANEZ, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Kathryn T.
Montejano, Judge.
Jerome P. Wallingford, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Julie A. Hokans and Jeffrey A.
White, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
A jury found defendant Frank Matthew Nanez guilty of first degree murder (Pen.
Code,1 § 187, subd. (a)), two counts of attempted murder (§§ 187, 664), and shooting at
an inhabited house (§ 246). The jury also found gang enhancement allegations to be true
(§§ 186.22, subd. (b), 190.2, subd. (a)(22).)
On appeal, Nanez contends the trial court erred by denying his motion to bifurcate
trial of the gang enhancements and by failing to give, sua sponte, a jury instruction on
accomplice testimony in relation to witness Chris Tienda. He also contends that the
prosecutor engaged in misconduct that rendered his trial fundamentally unfair and that
cumulative trial errors require reversal.
In addition, Nanez requests a correction to the abstract of judgment. The People
agree the abstract of judgment should be corrected as requested by Nanez, and they also
point out another discrepancy that requires correction.
We will order the trial court to correct the abstract of judgment to reflect that the
term for count 4 is stayed under section 654 and the terms for counts 2 and 3 are to be
served consecutively. Otherwise, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Around 7:30 p.m. on July 31, 2009, Visalia police officers were dispatched to a
house on South Santa Fe Avenue on a reported shooting. Officer Brian Ferrara went to
the front door and saw Angel Guzman lying on his back inside the threshold of the
doorway. Cristian Rodriguez held Guzman’s head up off the ground. Ferrara saw blood
all around Guzman’s head; he had been shot in the back of the head. Guzman was taken
to the hospital by ambulance, and he died the next day.
1 Subsequent statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
2.
Officer Blake McEwen took an initial statement from Cristian.2 Cristian said the
shooter was named Frank, whom he knew because they had gone to school together. He
described Frank as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 19 years old, six feet tall, thin to
medium build, with a dark complexion and short, black hair. Cristian saw Frank pull out
a small caliber handgun and begin to shoot at him and his two friends. There was another
man with Frank. Cristian described him as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 19
years of age, wearing a white T-shirt, about five feet five inches tall, thin build, with a
goatee and light complexion. Cristian had seen him often in the neighborhood walking
with his skateboard.
Sergeant Curtis Brown recorded an interview with witness Arnulfo Rodriguez on
the day of the shooting. Arnulfo, who is not related to Cristian, said he had just returned
from the store with Guzman and Cristian, and they were standing in front of Guzman’s
car. Arnulfo saw two guys walking—one was wearing a red shirt and the other was
wearing a white tank top. He recognized them but did not know their names. The one in
the red shirt fired five or six shots. Arnulfo saw the gun; it was black and appeared to be
a semiautomatic. Arnulfo ran to the backyard and Cristian and Guzman ran to the front
door of the house. About two hours after the shooting, officers showed Arnulfo a
photographic lineup, and he identified Nanez as the shooter. He said the shooter was
wearing red and he recognized him from school. He said the shooter ran with
Northerners. Arnulfo had never seen the man in the white tank top before.
Police found five spent shell casings with the marking “W-W .32 auto” in front of
the house where Guzman was shot. They found three holes in the front door screen and
one hole in the frame that were consistent with bullet strikes. There were also two marks
consistent with bullet strikes on the exterior of the house near the front door. A bullet
2 Because some of the witnesses share last names with other witnesses, we refer to them by
their first names. No disrespect is intended.
3.
was found inside the house in the living room that matched the bullet recovered from
Guzman. A neighbor later found another shell casing in his flowerbed.
On December 18, 2009, the Tulare County District Attorney filed an information
against Nanez and Michael Bobby Davis, charging both defendants with murder, two
counts of attempted murder, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. It was alleged,
among other things, that the murder and attempted murder charges were punishable by
life in prison and were subject to sentencing under section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5).
Codefendant Davis reached a plea agreement with the district attorney on May 23,
2011. Davis agreed to testify in all court proceedings related to the murder of Guzman.
In exchange, he would be allowed to enter a plea of guilty or no contest to voluntary
manslaughter and attempted voluntary manslaughter and to admit the gang special
allegations. All other pending charges would be dismissed and he would receive a
sentence of 21 years in state prison.
On July 18, 2011, the district attorney filed a fourth amended information against
Nanez. He was charged with the murder of Guzman (§ 187, subd. (a); count 1), the
attempted murder of Cristian (§§ 187, 664; count 2), the attempted murder of Arnulfo
(§§ 187, 664; count 3), and shooting at an inhabited dwelling (§ 246; count 4). For
count 1, it was alleged that Nanez intentionally killed Guzman while Nanez was an active
participant in a criminal street gang and the murder was carried out to further the
activities of the criminal street gang (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(22)). For all counts, it was
alleged that Nanez or a principal personally and intentionally discharged a firearm
(§ 12022.53, subd. (c)), the intentional discharge of the firearm caused death or great
bodily injury (id., subd. (d)), and Nanez committed the offense for the benefit of, at the
direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)).
In his trial brief filed on August 10, 2011, Nanez made a motion to bifurcate the
gang allegations. He argued that gang evidence was not necessary to prove identity or
motive and was “nothing more than evidence of criminal disposition.” On the same day,
4.
the trial court heard argument on various motions in limine and the motion to bifurcate.
The court denied the motion to bifurcate.
A jury trial began on August 22, 2011.
Prosecution’s case
Cristian testified that Guzman was his cousin and they lived together at the house
on South Santa Fe where the shooting occurred. He identified Nanez as the shooter. On
the evening of the shooting, Cristian was standing outside his house in the driveway
talking with his friend, Arnulfo, and Guzman. He was wearing baby blue and waiting for
his brother to pick him up for work. He saw two people approaching northbound on
Santa Fe. Nanez was wearing a red shirt and the other man was wearing a white shirt.
Cristian thought the one in white had a skateboard, but he was not sure. He had seen the
man in white in the area with a skateboard, but he did not know his name. At first, Nanez
and the other man were walking and, as they got closer, they started running. They ran
side by side, with Nanez on the side closer to the house. Cristian saw Nanez reach for a
gun from his waist. Cristian heard a popping noise and he ran inside the house. He did
not hear anyone say anything. Guzman also ran toward the house, and Arnulfo ran to the
backyard. After he was inside the house, Cristian saw Guzman lying down in the living
room bleeding from his head. Cristian covered the wound and called 911.
Cristian spoke to several officers after the shooting and consistently identified
Nanez as the shooter. He recognized Nanez immediately because they attended the same
middle school and high school and had classes together. He also saw Nanez walk by all
the time in the neighborhood. Nanez associated with Norteños. Cristian was not a gang
member, but he hung out with Sureños. Arnulfo was a gang member of Loco Park, a
subset of the Sureños. Guzman was not involved in gangs. Cristian did not recognize the
man with Nanez as a gang member. He thought he “looked more like a skater.” In the
past, Cristian had never had any problems with either Nanez or the other man. He had no
reason to think Arnulfo had any problems with Nanez. Between the time he called 911
5.
and the time the officers arrived, Cristian did not have time to talk to Arnulfo, and he and
Arnulfo have not talked about the shooting since then. Arnulfo moved to Arizona about a
month or two after the shooting.
During cross-examination, Cristian recalled that he told Sergeant Brown he did not
see the gun. Defense counsel asked, “You didn’t actually see Mr. Nanez fire a weapon;
correct?” Cristian responded, “No, sir.”
Arnulfo was a recalcitrant witness called by the prosecution. He attempted to
“plead the Fifth,” explaining, “I’m not saying nothing, that’s what I’m saying” and “I
don’t remember nothing that day.” He admitted he had “LP” for Loco Park tattooed on
his right arm. He also agreed that when he talked to police officers on the night Guzman
was shot, he had been honest with them.
Cristian’s brother, Ernesto Rodriguez, testified that, at around 7:30 on July 31,
2009, he went to pick up Cristian to go to work. About half a block from Cristian’s and
Guzman’s house, he heard shots. He saw two men running and shooting. He saw them
from the back, and he did not remember what they were wearing. Ernesto stopped and
Cristian told him, “‘Follow them. Angel’s been shot.’” He saw a white car waiting for
the men around the corner. Ernesto saw the men run toward the white car and then saw
the car drive east on Sequoia Avenue, but he did not see the men get into the car. A
neighbor told him she saw two people running and one got in the white car and the other
one ran away.
Another neighbor, who lived on Sequoia Avenue, testified that she heard gunshots
and then saw a man running from a house or between houses and then he ran along
Tipton Street.
Davis, who had been Nanez’s codefendant, was 17 years old at the time of the
shooting. He testified that he had been a Norteño for about three or four years, but he
was not a gang member at the time of trial. He was labeled a dropout and was in
protective custody. He started out as a Norteño in Tulare and then he moved to Visalia
6.
and still hung around Norteños. His “turf” was Tulare, but the Visalia Norteño gang
accepted him as one of their own. He knew that Nanez was a Norteño, but he did not
know him that well. Nanez had a tattoo of “NSV” on his chest. He agreed that “scraps”
is a derogatory term for Southerners or Sureños. He had not seen an “SK” tattoo on
Nanez.
Davis was charged with the murder of Guzman, but he was never accused of being
the shooter. When he was arrested the day after the shooting, Davis told the officer, “‘I
know why I’m here. I’m here for Frank.’” He also said they could test him for
gunpowder because he was not the shooter. Davis later entered a plea agreement in
which he agreed to a 21-year prison term.3
Davis testified that on July 31, 2009, he was “looking to find some marijuana.”
He went to Randy Perkins’s house near Laurel Avenue and Tipton Street, but Perkins
was not there, so he called other people to see if they had marijuana. He was at the
corner of Santa Fe and Laurel talking on his cell phone when he heard car doors. He
turned around and saw Nanez and a white car pulling away. Nanez was wearing a red
shirt. Davis was wearing a white tank top.
Davis asked Nanez if he could find marijuana and Nanez said, “‘Yeah, right after I
hit up the scraps.’” Davis told him, “‘All right. I’ll go with you.’” He thought Nanez
“was just going to fight.” Nanez did not say anything about shooting. Nanez and Davis
started jogging north on Santa Fe, and then Nanez reached in his waistband, pulled out a
gun, and started shooting. Davis said the gun was medium sized, “like a .22 but a little
bigger.” Davis had seen Guzman from time to time, but he did not know him. He did not
know Cristian or Arnulfo either. He had no problems with any of them. Nanez fired six
3 On cross-examination, Davis stated that prior to reaching a plea agreement, he was facing
a possible sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
7.
or seven shots while he was running. Davis continued running with him. They ran north
on Santa Fe and then Davis followed Nanez as he turned right onto Sequoia Avenue.
Davis saw the white car he had seen at Santa Fe and Laurel a few minutes earlier.
Chris Tienda was in the car and Chris’s brother, Jesus,4 was driving. Davis had hung out
with Chris on occasion but did not consider him a friend. Nanez got into the backseat of
the car. Davis tried to get in the car, but the driver told him he could not get in. Davis
was shocked that they were leaving him. He ran east and turned south onto Tipton Street
toward Perkins’s house, and the white car turned north onto Santa Fe. At Perkins’s house
he saw Perkins walk into his house. Davis told Perkins what happened and Perkins told
him he could not stay there. He walked to his friend Justin Brown’s house, and then his
cousin picked him up and took him home.
On cross-examination, Davis admitted that he initially told Sergeant Brown that he
had nothing to do with the shooting. He said he had only witnessed the shooting and he
was wearing a yellow shirt that day while Chris was wearing a white shirt. Davis agreed
that he told the police, “‘If I give you some names, will you let me go?’” He asked the
police if anyone was saying that he pulled the trigger, and he said he had seen the gun
before at Perkins’s house. In a subsequent interview with an investigator from the district
attorney’s office, Davis said he thought he recognized one of the shooting victims as
Stomper, a person he had trouble with back in juvenile hall.5 Davis also agreed that on
the day of the shooting he called Biancha Alles.
Chris Tienda testified that on July 31, 2009, he was at home with his friend, Jacob.
His brother, Jesus, was at work that day and Nanez was with him for part of the day.
4 Davis did not know Chris’s brother’s name, but he later identified a photo of Jesus
Tienda as the driver of the car.
5 Davis testified that Stomper was LP or Loco Park. He also testified that he no longer
believed the person he saw in front of Cristian and Guzman’s house was Stomper.
8.
Chris initially told a police officer that on the day of the shooting, he and Nanez were
playing pool the whole day and then a friend in a van pulled up and asked Chris for help.
Later in the police interview, Chris said he and Nanez were not together all day, as Chris
left his house around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. to go to the drive-thru at McDonald’s. After an
officer said he was going to check the video at the McDonald’s drive-thru, Chris said he
went to Taco Bell. He told the police Nanez left his house at around 7:00 p.m. He
denied being with Nanez at 7:30 p.m. He did not admit that he was a Norteño gang
member but agreed that he associated with Northerners. Chris and Nanez were arrested
on August 11, 2009, and they were put in cells next to each other.
Sergeant Brown testified that, contrary to his trial testimony, Chris told him that
Jesus was home the entire day on July 31, 2009. On the witness stand, Chris did not
remember that an officer warned him about “throwing all your chips with Frank by
saying you were with him the whole time.” According to Sergeant Brown, however, he
told Chris he was “pretty much throwing all his chips in with Frank.” At that point, Chris
changed his story, saying that Nanez left around 7:00 p.m. and he (Chris) left to go to
McDonald’s. The police monitored Chris’s and Nanez’s communication when they were
in custody together. At one point, Nanez asked Chris if the police saw Jesus in the car,
and Chris indicated that the police had all three of them in the car. Sergeant Brown also
testified that as of August 10, 2011, Nanez had a tattoo of “SK” on his left elbow.
Another officer testified about a probation search of the bedroom of Nanez’s
brother, Andy. The search was conducted on March 18, 2010, and three letters addressed
to Andy and signed by Nanez were discovered. The officer read part of a letter by Nanez
dated February 11, 2010, to the jury:
“Bro, a Norteno sets goals for others—for himself while set behind the
walls is to establish a positive attitude for himself. [¶] … [¶] Once a true
believer of Raza gets a [full] understanding/meaning of our cause, a new
character flame kicks in. [¶] … [¶] It’s a pure cause, bro. At times we
may feel hopeless, going through trials and hardships in our hearts. Andy,
9.
we are soldiers, we are Nortenos at heart. Let’s not let anything get to us,
rather learn from it. [¶] … [¶] Better ourselves and continue further in our
advancement. In order to do so, our advancement demands change.
[¶] … [¶] I love you, little boy. If they give me the death penalty, I hope
all goes well for you out there, for these are my sincere wishes. [¶] … [¶]
Because the path of a warrior/Norteno ain’t a easy one, but a righteous one.
[¶] … [¶] With this said, I step down the same way I step in with my
[utmost] love and respect in full.”
Officer Erica Martinez, the first officer to interview witnesses after the shooting,
was also called to testify. She dictated a report of her witness interviews over the phone
and did not review the report later. She spoke to Arnulfo first. According to her report,
he told her he had been standing next to Guzman when two men approached northbound
on Santa Fe. He described one as a Hispanic male adult, light complected, 17 to 18 years
of age, with short, black hair and wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. Arnulfo
described the other man as a Hispanic male adult with a dark complexion, short, black
hair, wearing a red T-shirt and black pants. He said the one with the white shirt had the
gun. Upon hearing shots fired, Arnulfo ran into the house and, when he turned around,
the victim was lying in the doorway. Arnulfo “said somebody, one of the two yelled,
‘What’s up scraps?’” He did not see their faces. Martinez next interviewed Cristian.
Cristian did not mention red or white shirts. He recognized one of the men, whom he
knew as Frank.
Detective Luma Fahoum testified as a gang expert. She explained that “NSV”
stands for North Side Visalia, a subset of the Norteños or the Northerners, a criminal
street gang. Norteños identify with the color red. One of their rivals is the Sureños or
Southerners. Sureños identify with the color blue. Loco Park is the largest subset of
Sureños in Visalia. Fahoum described the rivalry between Norteños and Sureños as “a
violent, vicious rivalry, full of hatred over territory and color” “[b]oth ways.” “SK”
stands for Sureño killer or scrap killer and “NK” stands for Norteño killer. The area
where the shooting occurred was a predominately Norteño neighborhood.
10.
Fahoum described three predicate offenses committed by Norteño gang members.
On July 17, 2007, Victor Tovar and Benjamin Solis approached the residence of two
Sureño gang members and opened fire into their bedroom windows. The intended
victims were not struck, and Tovar was convicted of attempted murder. On August 16,
2007, an Asian man and an Asian woman were approached by a group of known
Norteños. They asked the man where he was from and whether he was a gang member.
The man used the word “‘cuz’” and a fight ensued between him and Norteño gang
member John Fernandez. The man tried to run away, and he was shot and killed by
another gang member, Brandon Flores. Both Fernandez and Flores were convicted and
found to have acted for the benefit of a criminal street gang. On February 17, 2007, a
gang member, Luis Ortega, committed a driveby shooting at the residence of a Sureño
who had insulted Ortega’s haircut at school.
Based on review of police contact information, booking records, and other
documentation, Fahoum opined that Nanez, Chris, and Jesus were all active Norteño
gang members. Davis had been an active Norteño gang member but was a dropout at the
time of trial. Arnulfo was an active Sureño gang member, Loco Park subset, and Cristian
was a Sureño associate at the time of the shooting. Guzman was not affiliated with a
gang. Given the hypothetical of two Norteño gang members shooting at a group that
includes a Sureño gang member and a Sureño associate in daylight and in Norteño
territory, it was Fahoum’s opinion that the offense would be for the benefit of a criminal
street gang.
Defense
The defense called Officer Sonya Payne, Biancha Alles, and investigator Eric
Velasquez as witnesses.
Payne responded to the reported shooting on July 31, 2009. Witnesses told her
they had seen two men run into a house on Laurel, later identified as Perkins’s house.
Payne saw Gloria McClintock, Perkins’s mother, in front of the house and asked her if
11.
she had seen anyone run in. McClintock responded that she had not. Perkins emerged
from the backyard of the house and Payne spoke to him. At first, Perkins denied running.
Then he said he was running southbound across the street to his house to get some water.
His friend, Justin, also ran into the backyard. Perkins saw a Hispanic male about 25 to
30, wearing a white tank top and dark jeans; he was sweaty. Perkins and Justin were
detained. A backpack was found in the backyard that contained methamphetamine and
marijuana.
Alles lives on the corner of Tipton at Laurel, across the street from Perkins’s
house. She was at home on July 31, 2009, and she heard gunshots. She spoke to Davis
on the phone that day, but she did not remember who called whom. She testified, “He
said, ‘I shot a scrap.’” He sounded shaky and scared.
At the time of trial, Alles had known Davis for a couple years and she had known
Nanez since she was eight. She had not spoken to Davis since the phone call, but she did
write him a letter. When she wrote Davis, she did not tell him she was going to lie to
protect Nanez.
On cross-examination, Alles agreed that Nanez was a friend she grew up with and
she visits him in jail. She told an investigator from the district attorney’s office about
what Davis said on February 9, 2010. She had not spoken to any police officers before
that. Alles told the investigator that she heard from Nanez’s mother that he needed three
people to testify for him and she was going to testify for him.6 She also told the
investigator that Davis said he was by himself during the shooting.
6 In addition, the following portion of a letter written by Nanez and dated February 12,
2010, was read to the jury during the prosecution’s rebuttal:
“‘No, Browner ain’t going to testify. Just Chris [presumably referring to
Cristian]. What did Texas say about Tienda? Yeah, I need three people, Tienda,
Silly, and Biancha. I just need Silly to come see me so I can talk to her.’”
According to Fahoum, Arnulfo is known as Browner.
12.
Velasquez was an investigator for the district attorney’s office. He interviewed
Davis on September 30, 2010. Davis told him that he recognized Arnulfo as Stomper,
whom he knew from juvenile hall. Davis had a problem with Stomper, who was a
Sureño. Davis described the gun used in the shooting. He said it was a .32-caliber,
gunmetal gray, and he had seen it before at Perkins’s house. Davis had seen the gun fired
when some people, including Justin, were shooting bottles in Three Rivers. Davis told
Velasquez he received a letter from Alles in which she wrote that she was upset with him
because he told the police about Nanez’s involvement. She wrote that she was going to
lie and say it was Davis. Davis did not provide the letter.
The defense theory was that it was Davis who shot and killed Guzman. In his
opening statement, defense counsel suggested that Nanez was about to meet up with
Chris when Davis approached him about getting marijuana. Davis then saw a person he
thought was Stomper, with whom he had trouble in juvenile hall, and suddenly started
shooting. Nanez was scared, ran and got into Chris’s car, and would not let Davis get in
the car. In his closing argument, defense counsel pointed out that Arnulfo first told an
officer that the man wearing white was the shooter. Counsel suggested that Cristian only
thought Nanez had the gun because he recognized Nanez, not because he actually saw the
gun. Davis had a motive and also had detailed knowledge about the weapon used. Davis
claimed to have received a letter from Alles in which she wrote that she was going to lie,
but he was not able to produce the letter. Finally, defense counsel argued that, if the
shooting was planned, it did not make sense that Nanez would go by foot rather than
drive by. It made more sense that Davis simply acted impulsively when he saw the
person he thought was Stomper.
Verdict and sentence
The jury reached a verdict on August 30, 2011. It found Nanez guilty of all four
counts and found true all enhancement allegations.
13.
The sentencing hearing took place on January 27, 2012. The court imposed a term
of life without the possibility of parole, plus a consecutive 25 years to life pursuant to
section 12022.53, subdivision (d), and a minimum parole eligibility of 15 years pursuant
to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5), for count 1. The court imposed a term of life with a
minimum parole eligibility of 15 years pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5),
plus a consecutive 25 years to life pursuant to section 12022.53, subdivision (d), for each
of counts 2 and 3, with the terms to run consecutively. For count 4, Nanez was sentenced
to 15 years to life pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4), plus a consecutive
25 years to life pursuant to section 12022.53, subdivision (d), the term to be stayed
pursuant to section 654.
DISCUSSION
I. Motion to bifurcate
Nanez contends the trial court violated his federal due process rights when it
denied his motion to bifurcate trial of the gang enhancements.
A. Background
Prior to trial, Nanez moved to bifurcate trial of the gang allegations. He argued:
“Much of the prosecution’s case against Mr. NANEZ rests on his
alleged participation in the North Side Visalia … set and the accusation that
the group is a criminal street gang. The prosecutor will undoubtedly place
heavy emphasis on Mr. NANEZ’s supposed gang connections to pre-
condition jurors into believing that the defendant is criminally disposed and
therefore more likely to commit crimes. Disproportionate use of this gang
evidence to prove a straightforward murder case would create a trial
atmosphere which would deprive Mr. NANEZ of fundamental fairness.
“… The danger … is that the jury will rely on the expert opinion
[offered to prove the gang enhancements] not only for determining the truth
of the gang allegation but also for determining Mr. NANEZ’s guilt or
innocence of the underlying offense. Such a danger is, of course, added to
the already prejudicial nature of gang evidence which invites jurors to
conclude that a defendant is criminally disposed.”
14.
Nanez offered contradictory reasons for why gang evidence was unnecessary to
prove motive in the underlying murder and attempted murder charges. First, he asserted
there was “no indication that there is a gang related motive for the crime, since each of
the victims denies membership in any criminal street gang. None of the typical reasons
prosecutors use to justify the introduction of gang evidence applies in this case.” Later, he
claimed, “The motive for the murder is self-evidently gang related. A random act of
violence committed in broad daylight complete with the shouting of gang slogans does
not require an expert to establish motive. In other words, jurors do not need a lengthy
lecture on Northern gang structure to determine whether there was a gang motive for the
murder.”
He also argued that gang evidence was unnecessary to establish identity and was
not relevant to the issues of opportunity, preparation, plan, knowledge, absence of
mistake, or accident.
At the hearing on the motion to bifurcate, the prosecutor opposed bifurcation,
asserting that the gang evidence was extremely relevant to the underlying crimes: “This
whole case is about gangs. If we were to bifurcate it, these issues would still come up.”
He told the court there was evidence that Nanez was a Norteño, he said to Davis before
the shooting that “he was going to, ‘Hit up scraps,’” and the victims were aligned with
the Sureños. Thus, the prosecutor argued, “Under [Evidence Code section] 1101[,
subdivision ](b), the evidence would … come in anyway under motive.”7 The gang
evidence would also be relevant to intent, “because if you just have a random killing, …
it’s hard to argue why this happened.” The prosecutor explained, “In the gang context, it
7 Evidence of a person’s character is not admissible to prove the person’s conduct on a
particular occasion. (Evid. Code, § 1101, subd. (a).) Under Evidence Code section 1101,
subdivision (b), however, evidence that a person committed a crime or other act (in this case,
being an active member of a criminal street gang) is admissible if “relevant to prove some fact
(such as motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake
or accident …) other than his or her disposition to commit such an act.”
15.
makes sense and clarifies the gang issue. They’re enemies of each other, and [Nanez] is
running by a house shooting at them. The intent can be inferred as to kill.”
The court denied the motion to bifurcate, stating:
“All right. The Court is going to make its record as to this particular
aspect. That is that the Court has taken into consideration the potential of
this particular evidence. The Court has engaged in the weighing and the
balancing of the evidence to determine if the prejudicial effect overrides the
probative value.
“To be clear, this type of evidence is prejudicial. It’s very relevant.
It does—if what’s being proffered is accurate. It speaks to certain elements
of the offense, and the Court finds that the probative value outweighs the
prejudicial effect and not bifurcate that particular evidence.”
B. Analysis
In People v. Hernandez (2004) 33 Cal. 4th 1040, 1048-1050 (Hernandez), the
California Supreme Court recognized that a trial court has authority to bifurcate the trial
of gang enhancements from the trial of underlying offenses in the exercise of its broad
discretion. The court suggested that, in some cases, the evidence of predicate offenses
may be unduly prejudicial or the “gang evidence, even as it relates to the defendant, may
be so extraordinarily prejudicial, and of so little relevance to guilt, that it threatens to
sway the jury to convict regardless of the defendant’s actual guilt.” (Id. at p. 1049.) In
such cases, bifurcation would be warranted. (Ibid.)
On the other hand, the court observed:
“[E]vidence of gang membership is often relevant to, and admissible
regarding, the charged offense. Evidence of the defendant’s gang
affiliation—including evidence of the gang’s territory, membership, signs,
symbols, beliefs and practices, criminal enterprises, rivalries, and the like—
can help prove identity, motive, modus operandi, specific intent, means of
applying force or fear, or other issues pertinent to guilt of the charged
crime. [Citations.] To the extent the evidence supporting the gang
enhancement would be admissible at a trial of guilt, any inference of
prejudice would be dispelled, and bifurcation would not be necessary.
[Citation.]” (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 1049-1050.)
16.
Further, “[e]ven if some of the evidence offered to prove the gang enhancement
would be inadmissible at a trial of the substantive crime itself—for example, if some of it
might be excluded under Evidence Code section 352 as unduly prejudicial when no gang
enhancement is charged—a court may still deny bifurcation” based on considerations of
judicial efficiency. (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1050.) Analogizing bifurcation
to severance, the court noted that a unitary trial avoids the increased expenditure of funds
and judicial resources that would be required with bifurcation. (Ibid.)
In Hernandez, the Supreme Court found the trial court acted within its discretion
in denying the defendants’ request to bifurcate. During a robbery, a defendant demanded
a dollar from a victim and told her she did not know who she was dealing with, she was
dealing with “‘Hawthorne Little Watts.’” Two defendants were charged with robbery
with a gang enhancement allegation. At trial, a gang expert testified that Little Watts was
the largest Hispanic gang in Hawthorne and that gang members identify their gang during
the commission of crimes to gain respect and instill fear. (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th
at pp. 1045-1046.) The Supreme Court concluded that much of the gang evidence was
relevant to the charged offense as the defendant himself “injected his gang status into the
crime” by identifying himself as a gang member and attempting to use that status to
demand money from the victim. (Id. at pp. 1050-1051.) Further, “[a]ny evidence
admitted solely to prove the gang enhancement was not so minimally probative on the
charged offense, and so inflammatory in comparison, that it threatened to sway the jury to
convict regardless of defendants’ actual guilt.” (Id. at p. 1051.) Accordingly, the court
concluded there was no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s refusal to bifurcate.
“The People are entitled to ‘introduce evidence of gang affiliation and activity
where such evidence is relevant to an issue of motive or intent.’ [Citation.] ‘[B]ecause a
motive is ordinarily the incentive for criminal behavior, its probative value generally
exceeds its prejudicial effect, and wide latitude is permitted in admitting evidence of its
existence.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Gonzalez (2005) 126 Cal. App. 4th 1539, 1550.)
17.
Here, the evidence showed Nanez was a Norteño gang member, he referred to hitting up
“‘scraps’” before the shooting, he wore red, he was accompanied by another Norteño
gang member, he shot at a group of three men that included one Sureño gang member
and one Sureño associate, someone said “‘What’s up scraps?’” and the shooting occurred
in a predominately Norteño neighborhood. The gang evidence—including explanation of
the violent rivalry between the Norteños and Sureños, the meaning of the term “scrap,”
and the gang member status of Nanez, Davis, and the victims—was relevant to show
Nanez’s motive and intent. As the prosecutor argued, this otherwise random shooting
only makes sense in the gang context. Indeed, Nanez acknowledges, “It was appropriate
for the trial court to permit the prosecutor’s gang expert to explain the significance of the
red clothing, the meaning of the term ‘scraps,’ and relevant history of dealings between
the Nortenos and Surenos.”
Nevertheless, Nanez claims the trial court erred by denying the motion to bifurcate
because this allowed the jury to hear evidence of predicate offenses committed by other
gang members. He argues the predicate offenses in this case “posed a significant danger
the jury would use it to find [Nanez] had a propensity to commit violent acts.” We
disagree. The gang expert described three crimes committed by Norteño gang members.
She provided the names of the defendants in those cases and there was no evidence
Nanez was involved in any of those crimes. As a result, there was no risk the jury would
have viewed the predicate crimes as “offenses for which a defendant might have escaped
punishment.” (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1051.) Further, although the predicate
offenses were violent and involved firearms, they were not more inflammatory than the
charges underlying this case. Nanez was charged with the murder of a person with no
gang ties as he stood in front of his house, along with the attempted murder of two
Sureño associates. Given the nature of the charges against Nanez, the predicate offenses
were not unduly prejudicial. Nanez suggests that the two predicate offenses that involved
shooting at Sureño gang members “created an unrealistic picture of a one-sided use of
18.
force by Nortenos against Surenos.” The gang expert, however, explained that the
violent and vicious rivalry between the Norteños and Sureños ran both ways, and we do
not believe the jury was given the false impression that only Norteños use force in the
rivalry between the two gangs. Nanez also argues that the predicate offense involving the
murder of a man who used the word “‘cuz’” “must have horrified jurors, by depicting
Nortenos as people who would murder a non-gang member they encounter on the street
for virtually no reason at all.” Yet, the charged case also involves a murder victim who
was not involved in gangs. Under these circumstances, there was no abuse of discretion
in the trial court denying the motion to bifurcate trial of the gang enhancement
allegations.
Nanez relies on People v. Albarran (2007) 149 Cal. App. 4th 214 (Albarran) for his
claim that the trial court’s failure to bifurcate was a violation of due process. In
Albarran, the Court of Appeal explained:
“To prove a deprivation of federal due process rights, [a defendant]
must satisfy a high constitutional standard to show that the erroneous
admission of evidence resulted in an unfair trial. ‘Only if there are no
permissible inferences the jury may draw from the evidence can its
admission violate due process. Even then, the evidence must “be of such
quality as necessarily prevents a fair trial.” [Citations.] Only under such
circumstances can it be inferred that the jury must have used the evidence
for an improper purpose.’ [Citation.] ‘The dispositive issue is ... whether
the trial court committed an error which rendered the trial “so ‘arbitrary and
fundamentally unfair’ that it violated federal due process.” [Citation.]’
[Citation.]” (Albarran, supra, 149 Cal.App.4th at pp. 229-230.)
In Albarran, the defendant was convicted of attempted murder, shooting at an
inhabited dwelling, and attempted kidnapping for carjacking. The jury also found gang
enhancement allegations to be true. The defendant filed a motion for a new trial,
asserting there was insufficient evidence to support the gang enhancements and the
admission of irrelevant and highly inflammatory gang evidence warranted a new trial on
the underlying charges as well. The trial court granted the motion for new trial as to the
19.
gang allegations but denied a new trial on the underlying offenses. (Albarran, supra, 149
Cal.App.4th at p. 217.)
On appeal, the defendant argued the trial court should have granted his new trial
motion as to the underlying offenses. The Court of Appeal agreed, concluding that the
gang evidence was not relevant to the underlying charges and, given the highly
inflammatory nature of the gang evidence, admitting the gang evidence was not harmless.
(Albarran, supra, 149 Cal.App.4th at p. 217.) The court specifically found the gang
evidence was not relevant to the issue of motive and intent, noting that “the motive for
the underlying crimes … was not apparent from the circumstances of the crime” and, in
the final analysis, the only evidence to support a gang motive was the fact of the
defendant’s gang affiliation. (Id. at p. 227.) The irrelevant gang evidence presented at
trial included references to the Mexican Mafia, “a violent prison street gang,” threats to
police officers, and crimes by other gang members. (Id. at pp. 220, 230.) Under the facts
of the case, the Albarran court held:
“This case presents one of those rare and unusual occasions where
the admission of evidence has violated federal due process and rendered the
defendant’s trial fundamentally unfair. Given the nature and amount of this
gang evidence at issue, the number of witnesses who testified to [the
defendant’s] gang affiliations and the role the gang evidence played in the
prosecutor’s argument, we are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt
that the error did not contribute to the verdict.” (Albarran, supra, 149
Cal.App.4th at p. 232.)
Here, in contrast, the bulk of the gang evidence was relevant to motive and intent
in the underlying charges, as Nanez concedes. Even with respect to the predicate
offenses, two of the offenses involved Norteño violence against Sureños and were,
therefore, relevant to show the rivalry between the gangs. Moreover, the evidence was
not so prejudicial that the jury might have been swayed to convict Nanez regardless of his
actual guilt. As we have discussed, the predicate offenses were no more inflammatory
than the charged offenses in this case. Finally, the jury was given a limiting instruction
20.
on the use of evidence of gang activity and was specifically instructed, “You may not
conclude from this evidence that the defendant is a person of bad character or that he has
a disposition to commit crime.” We presume the jury followed this instruction. (People
v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal. 4th 393, 414.) For all of these reasons, we conclude there was
no due process violation in admitting the gang evidence in this case.
II. Jury instruction on accomplice testimony
Section 1111 provides:
“A conviction can not be had upon the testimony of an accomplice
unless it be corroborated by such other evidence as shall tend to connect the
defendant with the commission of the offense; and the corroboration is not
sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense or the
circumstances thereof. An accomplice is hereby defined as one who is
liable to prosecution for the identical offense charged against the defendant
on trial in the cause in which the testimony of the accomplice is given.”
Here, the jury was given CALCRIM No. 335, instructing that Davis was an
accomplice as a matter of law and, therefore, the jury could not convict Nanez based on
Davis’s testimony alone.8
8 Jury instruction No. 16 given to the jury provided:
“If the crime of Murder was committed, then Michael Davis was an
accomplice to that crime.
“You may not convict [Nanez] of Murder based on the statement or
testimony of an accomplice alone. You may use the statement or testimony of an
accomplice to convict [Nanez] only if:
“1. The accomplice’s statement or testimony is supported by other
evidence that you believe;
“2. That supporting evidence is independent of the accomplice’s
statement or testimony;
“AND
“3. That supporting evidence tends to connect [Nanez] to the commission
of the crime.
“Supporting evidence, however, may be slight. It does not need to be
enough, by itself, to prove that [Nanez] is guilty of the charged crime, and it does
not need to support every fact about which the witness testified. On the other
21.
On appeal, Nanez contends the trial court also had a sua sponte duty to give
CALCRIM No. 334, instructing the jury that it must determine whether prosecution
witness Chris Tienda was an accomplice.9 We disagree.
hand, it is not enough if the supporting evidence merely shows that a crime was
committed or the circumstances of its commission. The supporting evidence must
tend to connect [Nanez] to the commission of the crime.
“Any statement or testimony of an accomplice that tends to incriminate
[Nanez] should be viewed with caution. You may not, however, arbitrarily
disregard it. You should give that statement or testimony the weight you think it
deserves after examining it with care and caution and in the light of all the other
evidence.”
9 Nanez suggests the trial court should have given an instruction such as the following
variation of CALCRIM No. 334:
“Before you may consider the statement or testimony of Chris Tienda as
evidence against [Nanez] regarding the crimes with which he is charged, you
must decide whether Chris Tienda was an accomplice to those crimes. A person
is an accomplice if he or she is subject to prosecution for the identical crime
charged against [Nanez]. Someone is subject to prosecution if he or she
personally committed the crime or if: [¶] 1. He or she knew of the criminal
purpose of the person who committed the crime; and [¶] 2. He or she intended
to, and did in fact, aid, facilitate, promote, encourage, or instigate the commission
of the crime.
“The burden is on [Nanez] to prove that it is more likely than not that
[Chris] Tienda was an accomplice.
“An accomplice does not need to be present when the crime is committed.
On the other hand, a person is not an accomplice just because he or she is present
at the scene of a crime, even if he or she knows that a crime will be committed or
is being committed and does nothing to stop it.
“A person may be an accomplice even if he or she is not actually
prosecuted for the crime.
“If you decide that Chris Tienda was not an accomplice, then supporting
evidence is not required and you should evaluate his statements or testimony as
you would that of any other witness.
“If you decide that Chris Tienda was an accomplice, then you may not
convict [Nanez] based on his or her statements or testimony alone. You may use
the statement or testimony of an accomplice to convict [Nanez] only if: [¶] 1.
The accomplice’s statement or testimony is supported by other evidence that you
believe; [¶] 2. That supporting evidence is independent of the accomplice’s
22.
“When a jury receives substantial evidence that a witness who has implicated the
defendant was an accomplice, a trial court on its own motion must instruct it on the
principles regarding accomplice testimony. [Citation.] This includes instructing the jury
that an accomplice’s testimony implicating the defendant must be viewed with caution
and corroborated by other evidence. [Citations.]” (People v. Houston (2012) 54 Cal. 4th
1186, 1223.) An accomplice is “one who is liable for prosecution for the identical
offense charged against the defendant” as an aider and abettor or as part of a conspiracy.
(§ 1111, italics added; People v. Houston, supra, at p. 1224.) An accomplice must have
guilty knowledge and intent with regard to the commission of the crime. (Ibid.)
In the present case, there was no substantial evidence that Chris was guilty of first
degree murder or attempted murder. There was no evidence that Chris knew that Nanez
had a gun or that he intended to shoot a group of men. In addition, Chris’s testimony did
not directly implicate Nanez. Accordingly, the court had no sua sponte duty to give
CALCRIM No. 334 instructing the jury to determine whether Chris was an accomplice.
Moreover, even assuming the trial court should have given an accomplice witness
instruction regarding Chris, there was no harm.
statement or testimony; and [¶] 3. That supporting evidence tends to connect
[Nanez] to the commission of the crimes.
“Supporting evidence, however, may be slight. It does not need to be
enough, by itself, to prove that [Nanez] is guilty of the charged crimes, and it does
not need to support every fact mentioned by the accomplice in the statement or
about which the accomplice testified. On the other hand, it is not enough if the
supporting evidence merely shows that a crime was committed or the
circumstances of its commission. The supporting evidence must tend to connect
[Nanez] to the commission of the crime.
“Any statement or testimony of an accomplice that tends to incriminate
[Nanez] should be viewed with caution. You may not, however, arbitrarily
disregard it. You should give that statement or testimony the weight you think it
deserves after examining it with care and caution and in the light of all the other
evidence.”
23.
“A trial court’s failure to instruct on accomplice liability under
section 1111 is harmless if there is ‘sufficient corroborating evidence in the
record.’ [Citation.] To corroborate the testimony of an accomplice, the
prosecution must present ‘independent evidence,’ that is, evidence that
‘tends to connect the defendant with the crime charged’ without aid or
assistance from the accomplice’s testimony. [Citation.] Corroborating
evidence is sufficient if it tends to implicate the defendant and thus relates
to some act or fact that is an element of the crime. [Citations.] ‘“[T]he
corroborative evidence may be slight and entitled to little consideration
when standing alone.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Avila (2006) 38
Cal. 4th 491, 562-563.)
Here, there was corroborating evidence in the form of witness identification from
the two surviving shooting victims.
We also reject Nanez’s claim that failing to instruct the jury to determine whether
Chris acted as an accomplice “denied [him] his right to have every factual question
decided by the jury” and violated the federal Constitution. He offers no authority or
explanation to support this claim, and we fail to see how the omission of an accomplice
instruction denied him his right to have the jury decide his guilt or innocence. Nanez
does not assert, for example, that the jury was improperly instructed on the elements of
the charged offenses.
III. Prosecutorial misconduct
A. Background
During trial, defense counsel twice moved for a mistrial based on prosecutorial
misconduct. First, on August 24, 2011, after a noon recess, defense counsel asked for a
mistrial arguing the prosecutor had “engaged in an intentional pattern of behavior
attempting to prejudice the jury.” He asserted that the prosecutor made disparaging
remarks about defense counsel, referred to Nanez as “‘that Norteno,’” questioned Davis
about “the phrase scrap killer,” and “subpoenaed Andy Nanez [to] court in order to kick
him out of court.” The court denied the request for a mistrial and “d[id] not see an
assignment of misconduct.” The court instructed the prosecutor to refer to Nanez as
“Mr. Nanez or the defendant” in the future.
24.
Second, on August 26, 2011, defense counsel moved for a mistrial and asked for
an assignment of misconduct regarding the prosecutor’s behavior at trial after the cross-
examination of Alles. He argued, “His cross-examination of Miss Alles was an example
of continually asking questions he knew to be objectionable [with] deliberate intent to
prejudice the jury.” On August 29, 2011, the court heard further argument on the issue
and then ruled that the prosecutor’s conduct in cross-examining Alles did not rise to the
level of misconduct. The court stated: “The envelope was being pushed. Not very
gently. The Court did sustain the objections and I’m convinced the jury based on the
instructions received the appropriate evidence.”
Now, on appeal, Nanez raises the same alleged misconduct and claims the
prosecutor’s behavior requires reversal. He focuses on two alleged types of conduct:
(1) “Statements and actions by the prosecutor that denigrated [Nanez] or his counsel in
the presence of the jury” and (2) “The unduly argumentative cross-examination of
defense witness Bianca Alles.”
B. Legal standards
“Under California law, a prosecutor commits reversible misconduct if he or she
makes use of ‘deceptive or reprehensible methods’ when attempting to persuade either
the trial court or the jury, and it is reasonably probable that without such misconduct, an
outcome more favorable to the defendant would have resulted. [Citation.] Under the
federal Constitution, conduct by a prosecutor that does not result in the denial of the
defendant's specific constitutional rights—such as a comment upon the defendant's
invocation of the right to remain silent—but is otherwise worthy of condemnation, is not
a constitutional violation unless the challenged action ‘“so infected the trial with
unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.”’ [Citations.]”
(People v. Riggs (2008) 44 Cal. 4th 248, 298.)
In general, a defendant must make a timely request for assignment of misconduct
and admonition of the jury in order to preserve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct for
25.
appeal. (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal. 4th 1149, 1184-1185.) To prevail on a
misconduct claim, the defendant must show prejudice. (People v. Fields (1983) 35
Cal. 3d 329, 363.)
C. Alleged misconduct
1. Statements and actions about Nanez and his counsel
Nanez describes the following conduct as denigrating him or his defense counsel.
During questioning of Cristian, the prosecutor referred to Nanez as “this Norteno.”
He asked, “You would openly hang out with Surenos when this Norteno would see that;
is that correct?” and “And you have seen this Norteno here, [Nanez] walking by your
house with other Nortenos?”
During questioning of Davis, the prosecutor asked if Davis was aware that Nanez
“ha[d] a tattoo of SK for scrap killers.” Defense counsel objected for lack of foundation
and the court sustained the objection. The prosecutor later asked Davis if he had heard
the term scrap killer before. He said he had. The prosecutor asked, “That would be SK?”
and Davis responded, “I think so, sir.” The prosecutor used the term scraps five times.
The prosecutor asked Davis how he knew Nanez. Davis responded that he knew
Nanez through his brother, Andy Nanez. The prosecutor then asked if Davis made an
arm motion, and Davis responded yes. The prosecutor asked, “Where?” and Davis said,
“He’s sitting right there, sir.” At that point the prosecutor said, “Motion to exclude.”
In his first request for a mistrial, defense counsel stated, “[The prosecutor] made
disparaging references towards defense counsel, most notable was instructing me not to
cough when I was near him in front of the jury.” The record shows that on August 23,
2011, outside the presence of the jury, the prosecutor said, “I would ask when you’re
standing over me, not to be coughing on me like you were.” Nanez does not point to
anything in the record showing that the prosecutor made a similar comment in front of
the jury.
26.
We see no reversible prosecutorial misconduct. The People point out that defense
counsel did not object to the prosecutor’s reference to Nanez as “this Norteno” and, as a
result, any claim of error is forfeited. Further, there was no dispute that Nanez was, in
fact, a Norteño gang member. Defense counsel told the jury in his opening statement that
Nanez was a gang member. Regarding the prosecutor’s use of the terms “scraps” and
“scrap killers,” these terms were relevant because there was evidence that Nanez used the
term scraps before the shooting and he had a tattoo that read “SK.”
Defense counsel accused the prosecutor of subpoenaing Andy Nanez even though
“he’s not a witness to any issue in this case for the purposes of kicking him out.” The
prosecutor responded that Andy was a potential witness to explain the letters from Nanez
found in Andy’s room. The court considered the arguments and found that Andy was a
potential witness:
“As to the issue of Andy Nanez, what has been indicated to me is
that Andy Nanez is in receipt of a letter … from someone believed to be
[Nanez]. If the appropriate foundation was laid or if Andy Nanez was
called as witness by [the prosecutor], it is conceivable he could testify as to
the meaning of a Raza, Norteno, down for the cause. [¶] It appears to me
he is a potential witness.”
On the record before us, we have no reason to question the trial court’s
determination that Andy was a potential witness and no basis to conclude that the
prosecutor subpoenaed Andy solely for an improper purpose.
Finally, regarding the allegation that the prosecutor instructed defense counsel not
to cough on him in front of the jury, there is nothing in the record to indicate that this
happened in front of the jury. The trial court addressed the allegation, stating, “I don’t
think I need to comment on the coughing. The Court observed that and indicated to [the
prosecutor], it believes [defense counsel] was not trying to infect him.” On this record,
we cannot say that the prosecutor’s comments about coughing disparaged defense
counsel in front of the jury.
27.
2. Cross-examination of Alles
During cross-examination of Alles, the prosecutor asked her about what she told
the investigator on February 9, 2010, and gave her the investigator’s transcript to review.
The prosecutor asked about her telling the investigator that she did not hear any gunshots;
rather, her mother heard the gunshots. Alles responded that she did not remember saying
that. The prosecutor stated, “Convenient.” Defense counsel objected and the objection
was sustained.
On redirect examination, defense counsel asked if Davis admitted the shooting to
her, and Alles responded yes. Defense counsel then asked, “Are you lying about this?”
and she responded no. On recross-examination, the following occurred:
“Q. You’re not lying about the other inconsistencies—
“[Defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor, argumentative.
“THE COURT: Overruled.
“THE WITNESS: No, I’m not lying.
“BY [the prosecutor]:
“Q. You’re saying all kinds of different things here testifying.
“[Defense counsel]: Objection; argumentative.
“THE COURT: Overruled.
“BY [the prosecutor]:
“Q. Aren’t you?
“[THE WITNESS:] No, I’m speaking the truth and what I remember.
“Q. No, you’re speaking when you’re trying to help your friend get off.
“[Defense counsel]: Objection; argumentative.
“THE COURT: Sustained, and stricken.”
Defense counsel then questioned Alles again. On recross-examination, the
prosecutor began his questioning:
“Q. That’s the lie you’re going with—
28.
“[Defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor, argumentative.
“THE COURT: Stop right now. Ask a question that’s not objectionable.
“BY [the prosecutor]:
“Q. You wouldn’t tell us if you’re lying, of course; right?
“A. I would.
“[Prosecutor]: There’s another lie. Nothing further.
“THE COURT: The statement of counsel will be stricken.”
“An argumentative question is a speech to the jury masquerading as a question.
The questioner is not seeking to elicit relevant testimony. Often it is apparent that the
questioner does not even expect an answer.” (People v. Chatman (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 344,
384.) “An argumentative question that essentially talks past the witness, and makes an
argument to the jury, is improper because it does not seek to elicit relevant, competent
testimony, or often any testimony at all.” (Ibid.)
We agree with Nanez that the prosecutor’s statements, “Convenient,” “No, you’re
speaking when you’re trying to help your friend get off” and “There’s another lie” did not
seek to elicit relevant testimony and were improper. The trial court properly sustained
defense counsel’s objections and struck the prosecutor’s comments. We agree with the
trial court, however, that this did not rise to the level of misconduct. The prosecutor did
not, for example, imply facts that fell outside the evidence. (Cf. People v. Earp (1999)
20 Cal. 4th 826, 860 [“For a prosecutor’s question implying facts harmful to the defendant
to come within this form of misconduct …, the question must put before the jury
information that falls outside the evidence and that, but for the improper question, the
jury would not have otherwise heard.”].)
Moreover, Nanez cannot establish prejudice. Two victim eyewitnesses identified
Nanez as the shooter. Davis identified Nanez as the shooter. Alles said that Davis told
her he was alone, but many witnesses, including neighbors, saw two men running after
the shooting. Given the state of the evidence, it is not reasonably probable Nanez would
29.
have obtained a more favorable result had the prosecutor not made the objectionable
comments about Alles’s veracity. (People v. Barnett (1998) 17 Cal. 4th 1044, 1133.)
IV. Cumulative error
Nanez contends that that the cumulative effect of the alleged errors at trial
rendered the proceedings fundamentally unfair. We disagree. “We have either rejected
on the merits defendant’s claims of error or have found any assumed errors to be
nonprejudicial. We reach the same conclusion with respect to the cumulative effect of
any assumed errors.” (People v. Sapp (2003) 31 Cal. 4th 240, 316.)
V. Abstract of judgment
Finally, Nanez asserts the abstract of judgment must be corrected to indicate that
the sentence for count 4 is stayed. The People agree. At sentencing, the trial court
imposed an indeterminate term of 40 years to life for count 4 and announced the term was
to be stayed pursuant to section 654. The minute order correctly reflects that the term for
count 4 was to be stayed. The abstract of judgment, however, does not so indicate. In
addition, the People point out that the court’s order that the terms for counts 2 and 3 were
to be served consecutively is not reflected on the abstract of judgment.
Accordingly, we order the court to correct the abstract of judgment to reflect that
the terms for counts 2 and 3 are to be served consecutively and the term for count 4 is to
be stayed. (People v. Mesa (1975) 14 Cal. 3d 466, 471-472; People v. Mitchell (2001) 26
Cal. 4th 181, 185-188.)
30.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is corrected to reflect that the terms for counts 2 and 3 are to be
served consecutively and the term for count 4 is to be stayed. The trial court is directed
to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and to forward a certified copy to the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
_____________________
Kane, J.
WE CONCUR:
_____________________
Levy, Acting P.J.
_____________________
Franson, J.
31.