Filed 8/8/13 P. v. Darrough CA4/1
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D063328
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCS260014)
CHRISTIAN DARROUGH,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Ana
Espana, Judge. Affirmed.
Jeanne C. Vanderhoff, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
A jury convicted defendant and appellant Christian Darrough of one count of
possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, in violation of Health and Safety
Code section 11377, subdivision (a). Darrough brought two oral motions to remove his
attorney, which the court ruled were in fact two Marsden1 motions; one on December 18,
2012 and one on January 17, 2013. He argued ineffective assistance of counsel for
refusing to file a Pitchess2 motion and failure to object to the testimony of the arresting
officer.
Subsequently, Darrough admitted five prison priors and a single strike prior. The
trial court struck the strike prior and three of the five prison priors. The trial court then
imposed and suspended a sentence of four years; the middle term of two years plus one
additional year for each of the two remaining prison priors. Darrough was granted formal
probation for three years, ordered to pay various fines and fees, and released from
custody. Darrough filed a timely notice of appeal on January 23, 2013.
Appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief summarizing the proceedings below.
Counsel presents no argument for reversal and asks this court to review the record for
error as mandated by People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436. Pursuant to Anders v.
California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, counsel lists as a possible, but not arguable, issue:
Whether the trial court erred in its denial of the two Marsden motions and in its refusal to
replace counsel.
We granted Darrough permission to file a brief on his own behalf, and he did so.
He argues his counsel failed to provide effective assistance, in particular in failing to
challenge the credibility of the arresting officer who testified he saw Darrough throw a
1 People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118 (Marsden).
2 Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531 (Pitchess).
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bag of methamphetamine and in failing to file a Pitchess motion. Darrough also argues
the trial court erred in failing to examine jurors in camera with respect to sleeping
Darrough observed.
We find that Darrough was adequately represented both at trial and on appeal.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
BENKE, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, J.
HALLER, J.
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