Filed 10/25/13 P. v. Brown CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Sacramento)
----
THE PEOPLE, C068970
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 06F00314)
v.
ALEX BROWN et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
In late December 2005, defendants Alex Brown (Brown), Terry Alexander
(Alexander), and David Jacob Carrera (Carrera) broke into the home of Hugo S., beat and
sexually assaulted him and others at his house, and stole their property. In early January
2006, defendants broke into the home of brothers James H. and Jeremy H., beat them and
stole their property, kidnapped them, and then broke into the house of James Ramirez,
killing him at his doorway.
Defendants were tried together for these crimes. A jury found them guilty of
numerous crimes, including murder, robbery, kidnapping to commit robbery, attempted
robbery, carjacking, robbery in concert, assault with a deadly weapon, forcible oral
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copulation in concert, and forcible penetration by a foreign object. The trial court
sentenced them to life without the possibility of parole and additional lengthy
indeterminate and determinate terms, including as to Brown, consecutive 25-year-to-life
sentences on six counts of forcible oral copulation in concert.
On appeal, defendants raise various issues relating to severance, instructions,
evidence, and sentencing, including that Brown‟s 25-year-to-life sentences on the counts
of forcible oral copulation in concert violate ex post facto principles because those
sentences were greater punishment than was permitted under the law when the crimes
were committed. Finding no ex post facto violation and no prejudicial error on the
remaining contentions, we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A
The December 2005 Crimes
Hugo S. lived alone in a house in Oak Park. He used drugs and sold them. Hugo
S. knew defendant Brown because Hugo‟s niece was married to Brown. He knew
defendant Carrera because Carrera was his sister-in-law‟s cousin.
At night on December 26, 2005, Hugo S. was in his living room when his front
door “fl[ew] open and three guys . . . c[a]me in.” Hugo S. identified the guys as Carrera,
Brown, and an unknown third man (later identified by another victim as defendant
Alexander). Defendants threw Hugo S. on the ground, beat him “[e]verywhere,” and
stole everything in his house, including jewelry, flat screen televisions, computers,
motorcycles, and pictures. Defendants ordered him to call somebody with money or else
they would kill him. Eventually Hugo S. called Renee M., a friend who sold drugs, and
asked her to come over. She told him she would stop by for just a little while, because
her roommate, Christopher P., was going to be waiting in the car.
When Renee M. got to Hugo S.‟s house, a man invited her in, and when she
walked in “the next thing [she] kn[e]w, [she] had a gun in [her] face.” She identified the
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man who invited her in as Carrera and the man with the gun as Alexander. Alexander
demanded her money and drugs, but she lied and said she did not have any, even though
she had money in her car. A bloodied, shirtless, and tied-up Hugo S. pleaded with her to
give them her money or else defendants were going to kill them.
Carrera left to get Christopher P., who was still in the car. While Carrera was
gone, Brown ripped Renee M.‟s clothes off and punched her in the face, knocking out a
tooth. He took her jewelry. He yelled that he was going to “rape [her] ass.” When she
said she was on her period and had a “plug in,” he told her to take it out and throw it at
Hugo S. She complied, but when Brown tried to rape her, Carrera walked in with
Christopher P. and was holding a gun.
Carrera gave the gun back to Alexander and then the three defendants beat up
Christopher P., asked him whether he was a gang member, and undressed him. Brown
starting spanking Christopher P., asking him if “he was a faggot.”
Wanting the beating to stop, Renee M. told Carrera she had money in her car, and
Carrera came back with about $2,000 and some methamphetamine.
After Carrera came back, defendants started taking pictures of Renee M.,
Christopher P., and Hugo S. Defendants had them stand up and pose in different
positions. They pushed Renee M.‟s face onto Hugo S.‟s genitals and told her to “suck
him.” Then they made her sit on Christopher P.‟s face with her vagina touching it. The
victims complied because there was a gun to their heads. Brown tried to poke an antenna
“at [Renee M.‟s] butt,” but she squirmed away. Defendants made Renee M. put her
finger inside Christopher P.‟s anus, with the gun used for compliance. Carrera then
positioned Renee M. “doggy style” and tried to have Hugo S. penetrate her from behind,
but he could not get an erection. Simultaneously, defendants pushed Renee M.‟s face
down on Christopher P.‟s genitals.
Around 1:30 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. the following morning (December 27, 2005), a
neighbor named David T. came to Hugo S.‟s house to buy drugs. Carrera answered the
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door, and David T. recognized him because he knew Carrera‟s older brother. Carrera and
the two other defendants took David T.‟s personal belongings and severely beat him,
requiring three days‟ hospitalization.
After beating up David T., defendants left, but before they did, Carrera and
Brown said “Oak Park Bloods” and threatened to kill all of the victims.
On December 31, 2005, Dominic G. (whose sister Sophia G. was dating Carrera)
was hanging out at Carrera‟s house. Alexander or Carrera showed Dominic G. a picture
on a phone depicting “naked people,” a “[g]uy behind a girl,” and said they had made
them have sex with each other and “made a girl give a guy head.” They also showed
Dominic G. the jewelry they had taken. Carrera told Dominic G. that Brown was the
third person involved in the invasion of Hugo S.‟s house.
Brown sold his friend Mohamad A. a big screen television that was stolen from
Hugo S. during the home invasion. Brown gave his ex-wife jewelry that had been stolen
from Renee M. during the home invasion.
B
The January 2006 Crimes
On December 31, 2005, Brown borrowed a maroon Hummer from Mohamad A.‟s
cousin.
On the evening of January 2, 2006, Brown and Alexander were hanging out with
Carrera in his house, along with Dominic G. Defendants were snorting cocaine. Carrera
or Alexander asked Dominic G. if they could rob “[his] friend.” Dominic thought they
were talking about his friend Jeremy H. with whom Dominic “did business” and whom
he had mentioned one month back when defendants had previously brought up the topic
of robbing one of Dominic‟s friends. At that time, Dominic G. had told Carrera and
Alexander where Jeremy H. lived, what kind of drugs he sold, and what kind of car he
drove (a white one with large rims). Within the month, Carrera had scoped out the house.
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This time, Dominic G. drew a diagram of the inside of Jeremy H.‟s house. The three
defendants then left.
Around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. on January 3, 2006, James H. (the brother of Jeremy H.)
was playing video games when he heard a big truck or Hummer drive by the house in
which he lived with his brother and mother. Jeremy H. sold marijuana, which he kept in
his room and in a safe in the detached garage. James H. heard a knock at the door and
saw two men (Brown and Alexander) standing outside. Brown and Alexander kicked in
the door and ran into the house. James H. tried unsuccessfully to barricade himself in his
brother‟s room, but Brown and Alexander kicked down the bedroom door and started
pistol-whipping both brothers. Brown and Alexander asked the brothers for marijuana
and money, severely beat them, threatened to kill them, and ransacked the room.
Eventually, Jeremy H. gave Brown and Alexander the key to the safe and led them to the
backyard detached garage where the safe was. There was not much marijuana or money
in the safe, which upset Brown and Alexander, and they again threatened to kill Jeremy
H. Brown and Alexander ended up taking $60 from the drawers in the bedroom and
some of Jeremy H.‟s jewelry. They wanted to know where Jeremy H. got his marijuana.
Jeremy H. was selling drugs with Ramirez (the eventual murder victim), and they got the
marijuana from Matt B. who lived in Curtis Park. Jeremy H. told them, “ „I can get . . .
hold of [Ramirez] but I don‟t have no way to get a hold of Matt. I can‟t help you get to
Matt but [Ramirez] might be able to.‟ ” Brown and Alexander said, “ „All right. Well
let‟s go. We are going to get him.‟”
Brown and Alexander stole the key to Jeremy‟s Buick and forced the brothers into
the Buick. Alexander drove and Brown was in the rear passenger seat. They could not
find Matt B.‟s house, so Brown and Alexander asked where Ramirez lived. Jeremy said
he lived in Land Park and he should have money or be able to get in touch with Matt. B.
In the car, Brown snorted drugs.
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Sometime during this drive, Alexander returned to Carrera‟s house and told
Dominic G. they had the brothers outside. Dominic looked outside and saw Jeremy H.‟s
car. Alexander put marijuana and jewelry in the house and left.
Alexander and Brown drove in Jeremy H.‟s car to Ramirez‟s Land Park home.
Using a gun for compliance, Brown and Alexander made Jeremy H. knock on the door to
wake Ramirez. While walking up to the house, Jeremy H. saw a red Hummer. After
Jeremy H. knocked and the door opened, Brown “basically engaged [with Ramirez] while
[Ramirez] was opening the door, and the gun went off that quick. It was no more than a
second.” Brown had shot Ramirez fatally in the chest. Jeremy H. ran into Ramirez‟s
backyard and waited there until police arrived. James H. eventually fled on foot to his
cousin‟s house.
That night, sometime after 8:00 or 10:00 p.m., Carrera, who was driving a dark red
Hummer, picked up his girlfriend Sophia G. While Carrera and Sophia G. were in the
Hummer, Alexander called Carrera and told him to meet him by the baseball diamonds in
South Land Park. Thereafter, Sophia G. heard Alexander say, “ „They don‟t have it. We
are going somewhere else. We have to go somewhere else.‟ ” Carrera explained to
Sophia G. that “whoever was in the car didn‟t have the weed or the money that they were
going to get from them. So they were going to take [them] somewhere else to get it.”
When Carrera and Sophia G. arrived near the baseball diamonds, Sophia G. saw
Alexander jump out of the driver‟s seat of a white car. Alexander ran up to the
Hummer‟s window and said, “they had to go somewhere else.” So Carrera followed the
white car to the court where Ramirez lived. Brown then got out of the passenger‟s side of
the white car with a gun in hand and was walking with a young man (Jeremy H.), who
looked “so scared.” Sophia G. heard a gunshot and a “really loud scream” from a man‟s
voice and saw Brown run back into the white car. A short time later, Brown and
Alexander jumped out of the white car and into the backseat of the Hummer, and Brown
said he “had to do it.” Brown and Alexander eventually got rid of the gun. Carrera did
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not return the Hummer until after this incident, at which time he told Mohamad A. the
police might be looking for it.
C
Events After Both The December 2005 Home Invasion
And The January 2006 Murder
Within a month of the two sets of crimes, Dominic G. and Sophia G. met
Alexander at Mr. Perry‟s Restaurant. Alexander told them “everything that had happened
the whole time they were [at Hugo. S.‟s house],” including that they had gone there to
“get some money or some drugs,” “they started making [the victims] take their clothes
off,” the woman “was on her period” and “it was really gross,” he “started laughing
about the whole thing . . . and it just started getting just really gross.”
Brown was interviewed by police in August 2007. Among other things, Brown
said he did not know Alexander.
D
Gang Evidence
According to Dominic G., Carrera was a member of the 33rd Street Oak Park
gang. According to Sophia G., Alexander was part of a subset of the Oak Park gang
called Ride-Zilla.
According to the People‟s gang expert, Carrera and Alexander were validated Oak
Park Blood gang members and Brown was an associate. The expert was of the opinion
that a hypothetical home invasion mirroring the facts of Hugo S.‟s home invasion was
committed for the benefit of the Oak Park Bloods.
E
Uncharged Misconduct
Carrera committed four uncharged crimes. The first was when Carrera made
David S. strip naked, put on a pair of woman‟s thong underwear, and then assaulted him,
while Carrera‟s friend took pictures. The second was when Carrera instigated the home
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invasion robbery of Larry V. The third was with Dominic G. and “Bill” when Carrera
instigated a home invasion of “Tony”, but they left Tony‟s neighborhood when Dominic
could not figure out which house it was. And the fourth was with Dominic G. and
Alexander present, when Carrera robbed a man who came to his house to buy crystal
methamphetamine.
Alexander had one uncharged act of misconduct. In January 2009, Alexander
admitted to police in an interview that he had a “bad drug problem,” which involved him
using $25 to $150 worth of pure cocaine a day, including the day of the police interview.
DISCUSSION
I
The Trial Court Did Not Err In Denying Defendants’ Motions
To Sever The Counts Relating To The Murder (Counts One Through Six)
From The Counts Relating To Hugo S.’s Home Invasion
(Counts Seven Through Twenty-One)
Carrera and Brown contend the court violated their federal and state constitutional
rights when it denied defendants‟ motions to sever the counts relating to the murder
(counts one through six) from the counts relating to Hugo S.‟s home invasion (counts
seven through twenty-one). As we explain, the trial court was well within it discretion to
deny the motions. (People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1030 [standard of review].)
“An accusatory pleading may charge two or more different offenses connected
together in their commission . . . under separate counts . . . .” (Pen. Code, § 954.)
Where the statutory requirements for joinder are satisfied, the “[d]efendant . . . can
predicate error . . . only on a clear showing of potential prejudice.” (People v. Kraft
(2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1030.) We review the trial court‟s ruling on defendants‟
severance motions for abuse of discretion. (Ibid.) “ „ “Refusal to sever may be an abuse
of discretion where: (1) evidence on the crimes to be jointly tried would not be cross-
admissible in separate trials; (2) certain of the charges are unusually likely to inflame the
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jury against the defendant; (3) a „weak‟ case has been joined with a „strong‟ case, or with
another „weak‟ case, so that the „spillover‟ effect of aggregate evidence on several
charges might well alter the outcome of some or all of the charges; and (4) any one of the
charges carries the death penalty or joinder of them turns the matter into a capital
case.” ‟ ” (Ibid.)
Here, Carrera and Brown argue the evidence was not cross-admissible and the
gang and sexual evidence associated with counts seven through twenty-one was
“unusually inflammatory.” We disagree with both arguments.
The evidence was cross-admissible because the two sets of crimes were connected
in their commission. As the trial court put it, the gang evidence was “relevant and
admissible in the homicide case regardless of the lack of [the gang enhancement] on the
very crucial issues . . . [of] intent, motive, existence of a conspiracy, cooperation or lack
of cooperation of the witnesses, and how they may respond to questioning during trial.”
In line with the trial court‟s reasoning, our Supreme Court has held “evidence 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.” (People v.
Hernandez (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1040, 1049.)
Furthermore, as the trial court also explained, the similarities between the counts
relating to the murder and those relating to Hugo S.‟s home invasion was “striking.”
“The target, the method and the goals [of the crimes] [w]ere virtually identical.” Both the
murder and Hugo S.‟s home invasion involved the same defendants who were members
of the Oak Park Blood criminal street gang; they targeted similarly situated individuals in
the drug trade who possessed or had access to drugs and/or money; they commenced the
offenses in a similar manner through home invasions with a substantial degree of
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violence and threats, including using firearms; and sought to obtain drugs, money, or
other valuables in both incidents.
As to defendants‟ argument the counts related to the murder should have been
severed from the counts related to Hugo S.‟s home invasion, because the gang and sexual
evidence associated with counts seven through twenty-one were “unusually
inflammatory,” as the trial court aptly noted, neither of the two events was more
inflammatory than the other. “One . . . involve[d] senseless, cruel sex acts, while the
other involve[d] a[] . . . completely senseless killing.” Where defendants “ha[v]e not
shown that one of the offenses was significantly more likely to inflame the jury against
defendant[s],” they “failed to establish prejudice.” (People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th
1229, 1317.)
Given the cross-admissibility of the evidence and defendants‟ inability to establish
prejudice from the failure to sever, the court was well within its discretion to deny
defendants‟ motions to sever the offenses related to the murder from the offenses related
to Hugo S.‟s home invasion.
II
The Trial Court Did Not Err In Denying Alexander’s
And Brown’s Motions To Sever Their Cases From Carrera’s
Alexander and Brown contend trial court violated their federal and state due
process rights when it denied their motions to sever their cases from Carrera‟s.
“Under [Penal Code] section 1098, „[w]hen two or more defendants are jointly
charged . . . they must be tried jointly, unless the court order[s] separate trials.‟ In light
of this legislative preference for joinder, separate trials are usually ordered only „ “in the
face of an incriminating confession, prejudicial association with codefendants, likely
confusion resulting from evidence on multiple counts, conflicting defenses, or the
possibility that at a separate trial a codefendant would give exonerating testimony.” ‟ ”
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(People v. Box (2000) 23 Cal.4th 1153, 1195.) A trial court‟s ruling on a severance
motion is reviewed for abuse of discretion. (Ibid.)
Alexander and Brown argue that severance was required because evidence of
Carrera‟s guilt was overwhelming while theirs was not. As we explain, there was no
abuse of discretion because the evidence of Alexander‟s and Brown‟s guilt was strong
and there was no prejudicial association with Carrera.
A
Alexander
As to the December 2005 crimes, the evidence of Alexander‟s guilt was strong.
Renee M. identified him as a perpetrator both in a photographic lineup and in court.
Alexander himself told Sophia G. and Dominic G. at Mr. Perry‟s Restaurant “everything
that had happened the whole time they were [at Hugo. S.‟s house],” including that they
had gone there to “get some money or some drugs,” “they started making [the victims]
take their clothes off,” the woman “was on her period” and “it was really gross,” he
“started laughing about the whole thing . . . and it just started getting just really gross.”
In a separate conversation at Carrera‟s house, Alexander or Carrera showed Dominic G. a
picture on a phone depicting “naked people,” a “[g]uy behind a girl,” said they had made
them have sex with each other and “made a girl give a guy head.” They also showed
Dominic the jewelry they had taken.
Similarly, evidence of Alexander‟s guilt of the January 2006 crimes was strong.
While Carrera and Sophia G. were in the Hummer, Alexander called Carrera and said to
meet him by the baseball diamonds in South Land Park. Thereafter, Sophia G. heard
Alexander say, “ „They don‟t have it. We are going somewhere else. We have to go
somewhere else.‟ ” Sophia G. saw Alexander jump out of the driver‟s seat of the white
car. James H. picked out Alexander from a photographic lineup, stating he resembled the
driver. Dominic G. testified Alexander was involved in the incident (the murder) with
Carrera and Brown and stated, among other things, Alexander came back to Carrera‟s
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house after being gone for a couple of hours and said, “ „we have them outside,‟ ”
explaining it was “the guys or the brothers.” After that, Alexander called Dominic G. and
said he was trying to have one of the brothers tell him where James Ramirez lived and the
brothers said they did not know, to which Alexander replied, “they were lying.”
B
Brown
As to the December 2005 crimes, Hugo S. identified Brown as one of the
perpetrators. Hugo S. told his sister that Brown had put a gun to his head during the
home invasion. Carrera told Dominic G. that Brown was the third person involved in the
home invasion. Alexander told Sophia G. and Dominic G. that he (Alexander), Carrera,
and Brown were involved in the invasion of Hugo S.‟s house. Mohamad A. bought a big
screen television from Brown that was stolen from Hugo S. during the home invasion.
And Brown gave his ex-wife jewelry that had been stolen from Renee M. during the
home invasion.
Similarly, evidence of Brown‟s guilt of the January 2006 crimes was strong.
Brown borrowed a maroon Hummer matching the description of the car involved in the
crimes before the incident and did not return it until after the incident, at which time he
told Mohamad A. the police might be looking for it. Dominic G. identified Brown as
being with Alexander and Carrera when they left for the residence of the H. brothers.
Sophia G. saw Brown get out of the white car with a gun and then, after she heard a
gunshot and a “really loud scream” from a man‟s voice, she saw Brown run back into the
car. When Brown got back into the car, Brown said he “had to do it.” Brown and
Alexander got rid of the gun.
C
No Prejudicial Association
This evidence leads us to conclude there is no merit to Alexander and Brown‟s
contention that severance was compelled by the factor of prejudicial association. The
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evidence here showed that all defendants “took an active role in the commission of the
crimes; this is not a situation in which a marginally involved defendant might have
suffered prejudice from joinder with a codefendant who participated much more actively.
Nor is this a situation in which a strong case against one defendant was joined with a
weak case against a codefendant.” (People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 Cal.4th 1,
43.)
D
Effect Of Carrera’s Uncharged Acts Evidence Against Alexander And Brown
Alexander and Brown argue that the trial court‟s refusal to sever their cases from
Carrera‟s allowed the jury to decide Alexander‟s and Brown‟s fate based on “a series of
brutal crimes committed by Carrera with which [Alexander and Brown] w[ere] not
involved.” But the jury was instructed to “[c]onsider evidence offered against one
defendant against that defendant only and not against any other defendant,” and we
presume the jury followed the instructions. (People v. Homick (2012) 55 Cal.4th 816,
851.)
E
Conclusion
In sum, “given the prosecution‟s independent evidence of defendants‟ guilt and the
trial court‟s carefully tailored limiting instructions, which we presume the jury followed
. . . we find no abuse of discretion in the denial of severance. For the same reasons,
defendants‟ claims that the joint trial deprived them of their federal constitutional rights
. . . likewise must fail.” (People v. Coffman and Marlow, supra, 34 Cal.4th. at p. 44.)
III
The Error In Instructing The Jury It Could Use Alexander’s Uncharged Misconduct
(Here, Drug Use) For Intent And Plan Was Harmless
Alexander contends the trial court erred in instructing the jury “it could rely on
uncharged misconduct evidence admitted against Carrera to prove identity, motive,
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intent, or the existence of a plan or scheme in the separate case against . . . Alexander.”
As we explain, the only error in the instruction regarding uncharged misconduct evidence
was that the instruction allowed the jury to consider Alexander‟s drug use for purposes
other than motive, i.e., for intent and plan, but this error was harmless.
A
Uncharged Misconduct Evidence
The trial court allowed the People to introduce evidence that Carrera had
committed four uncharged crimes: (1) Carrera made David S. strip naked, put on a pair
of woman‟s thong underwear, and then assaulted him, while Carrera‟s friend took
pictures; (2) Carrera instigated the home invasion robbery of Larry V.; (3) with Dominic
and “Bill,” Carrera instigated a home invasion of “Tony”, but they left Tony‟s
neighborhood when Dominic could not figure out which house it was; and (4) with
Dominic and Alexander present, Carrera robbed a man who came to his house to buy
crystal methamphetamine.
The trial court also allowed the People to introduce evidence in the form of a
police interview in January 2009 that Alexander admitted to police he had a “bad drug
problem,” which involved him using $25 to $150 worth of pure cocaine a day, including
the day of the interview. The court told the parties it was allowing in the evidence to
show motive for theft.
B
The Uncharged Misconduct Instructions
The trial court instructed as follows regarding the evidence of uncharged
misconduct:
“You may consider this evidence only if the People have proved by a
preponderance of the evidence that a defendant in fact committed the uncharged offenses.
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“Proof by a preponderance of the evidence is a different burden of proof than
proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A fact is proved by a preponderance of the evidence if
you conclude that it is more likely than not that the fact is true.
“If the People have not met this burden, you must disregard this evidence entirely.
If you decide that the defendant committed the uncharged offense, you may, but are not
required to, consider that evidence for the limited purpose of deciding whether or not:
“One, the defendant acted with the requisite intent to commit the offenses alleged,
and/or with the intent to agree to enter a conspiracy to commit the offenses alleged,
and/or with the intent to aid and abet the offenses alleged in this case; or
“Two, the defendant had a motive to commit the offenses alleged in this case; or
“Three, the defendant had a plan or scheme to commit the offenses alleged in this
case.
“In evaluating this evidence, consider the similarly or lack of similarity between
the uncharged offenses and the charged offenses.
“Do not consider this evidence for any other purpose.
“Do not conclude from this evidence that the defendant has a bad character or is
disposed to commit crime.
“Consider evidence offered against one defendant against that defendant only and
not against any other defendant.
“[¶] . . . [¶]
“If you conclude that a defendant committed the uncharged offenses, that
conclusion is only one factor to consider along with all the other evidence. It is not
sufficient by itself to prove that the defendant is guilty of the charged offenses. The
People must still prove each charge and allegation beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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C
The Only Error In The Instruction Was Allowing Alexander’s Uncharged Misconduct To
Be Used For Purposes Other Than Motive, But The Error Was Not Prejudicial
Alexander contends this instruction was unconstitutional for two reasons: (1) it
“created a reasonable likelihood that the jury inappropriately considered Carrera’s prior
crimes when determining Alexander’s guilt”; and (2) it “allow[ed] the jury to consider
this evidence for identity, intent, or common scheme -- purposes for which this evidence
was neither offered nor admitted.”
As to Alexander‟s first reason, he is wrong because there is no “reasonable
likelihood” the jury understood the instruction to allow consideration of Carrera‟s prior
crimes to determine Alexander‟s guilt. (See People v. Andrade (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th
579, 585.) The instruction explicitly stated the contrary, namely, the jury could
“Consider evidence offered against one defendant against that defendant only and not
against any other defendant.”
As to Alexander‟s second reason, he is partially wrong because the instruction did
not allow the jury to consider the uncharged misconduct for identity (as Alexander claims
it did) but it did (erroneously as to Alexander) allow the jury to consider the evidence for
intent and plan. It was error for the jury to consider the uncharged misconduct for intent
and plan because the court specifically told the parties it was allowing the evidence of
Alexander‟s drug use to show only motive.
Still, there was no prejudice. As Alexander himself concedes, the prosecutor
“never once made even a passing reference to [Alexander‟s] drug use admissions as
uncharged acts.” And, even if we accept the premise of Alexander‟s argument that the
“major question for the jury to resolve in connection with Mr. Alexander was one of
identity -- whether he was involved,” as we have noted, the instruction never told the jury
it could consider the uncharged misconduct to prove identity. On this record, the error in
16
instructing the jury that it could use Alexander‟s uncharged misconduct for intent and
plan was harmless.
IV
The Trial Court’s Instruction On Uncharged Misconduct Did Not Violate
Alexander’s Sixth Amendment Right To Effective Assistance Of Counsel
In an argument related to the last one, Alexander contends that “because the trial
court had made clear the jury would be properly instructed on the limits of the uncharged
acts evidence, the trial court‟s actual instruction -- which ignored these limits completely
-- deprived . . . Alexander of the effective assistance of counsel in confronting the
evidence.” His contention is based on the following law: “Government violates the right
to effective assistance when it interferes in certain ways with the ability of counsel to
make independent decisions about how to conduct the defense.” (Strickland v.
Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 686 [80 L.Ed.2d 674, 692].) He argues that because
the trial court told counsel the only piece of uncharged act evidence against Alexander
would be his cocaine use and it could be used only to prove motive and instead the court
allowed Carrera‟s four uncharged acts to be used against Alexander and allowed all the
uncharged acts to be used also for identity, intent, and common plan, counsel was unable
to plan his defense strategy appropriately. He notes that defense counsel did not ask
questions of the witnesses about Carrera‟s prior crimes (presumably, because counsel had
no way of knowing that the court would allow Carrera‟s uncharged acts to be used
against Alexander).
The major premise of Alexander‟s argument is wrong. As we noted in part III of
the Discussion, the court‟s instruction never stated Carrera‟s uncharged acts could be
used against Alexander. To the contrary, the jury was instructed to “[c]onsider evidence
offered against one defendant against that defendant only and not against any other
defendant.” While Alexander is correct the court erroneously allowed his uncharged
misconduct of drug use to be used for purposes other than motive (i.e., intent and plan),
17
his only argument as to why this instruction interfered with counsel‟s ability to make
independent decisions about how to conduct the defense is that “based on this [purported]
limited use [of Alexander‟s uncharged drug use], defense counsel did not confront this
evidence or call the detective who elicited these statements.” However, this argument
does not explain why enlarging the purpose for which this evidence could be used
(namely, for intent and plan) would have interfered with defense counsel‟s strategy.
Indeed, it appears that counsel‟s strategy was to ignore the drug evidence in hope that the
prosecutor would not mention it as well. This strategy worked, as the prosecutor never
mentioned Alexander‟s drug use for motive, intent, or plan in committing the current
crimes.
The cases Alexander cites for support that the trial court‟s conduct interfered with
his Sixth Amendment right to counsel are inapposite because in those cases, defense
counsel was actually prevented from representing the defendant during a critical part of
the trial or was prevented from independently deciding how to conduct the defense. (See,
e.g., Geders v. United States (1976) 425 U.S. 80, 91 [47 L.Ed.2d 592, 601] [trial court‟s
order preventing the defendant from consulting his counsel “ „about anything‟ ” during a
17-hour overnight recess between his direct and cross-examination impinged upon his
right to the assistance of counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment] ; Herring v. New
York (1975) 422 U.S. 853, 865 [45 L.Ed.2d 593, 595, 602] [a New York law that allowed
the judge in a nonjury criminal trial the power to deny counsel any opportunity to make a
summation of the evidence before the rendition of judgment denied the defendant the
assistance of counsel that the Constitution guarantees]; Brooks v. Tennessee (1972) 406
U.S. 605-606, 613 [32 L.Ed.2d 358, 360, 364] [a Tennessee state law that required a
criminal defendant “ „desiring to testify [to] do so before any other testimony for the
defense is heard by the court trying the case‟ ” violated the defendant‟s federal
constitutional rights].) Nothing like that happened here.
18
V
The Trial Court Correctly Did Not Instruct On Assault
As A Lesser Included Offense
Alexander contends the court erred in failing to sua sponte instruct on assault as a
lesser included offense to the robberies of the H. brothers and attempted robbery of
Ramirez. His argument is based on the fact the information charged Alexander with
robbery and attempted robbery by “force and fear,” instead of by “force or fear” as is the
statutory definition of robbery (Pen. Code, § 211). According to Alexander, an element
of force was “essential to the robbery convictions,” and here, there was evidence that
when force was used, he did not have the intent to permanently deprive because he was
under the influence of cocaine, so “assault was a lesser included offense on which the
jury should have been instructed.”
This court has rejected a similar argument in People v. Wright (1996) 52
Cal.App.4th 203. In Wright, we explained that the word “force” used in robbery has a
broader meaning than “force” used in assault. (Id. at pp. 210-211.) “ „[T]he force by
means of which robbery may be committed is either actual or constructive,‟ ” and
“ „force‟ is not an element of robbery independent of „fear‟; there is an equivalency
between the two.” (Ibid.) “ „ “[T]he coercive effect of fear induced by threats . . . is in
itself a form of force, so that either factor may normally be considered as attended by the
other.” ‟ ” (Id. at p. 211.) Therefore, we concluded that assault is not a lesser included
offense of robbery, even when the robbery is charged using the conjunctive “force and
fear” language and there was evidence of intoxication. (Ibid.)
Alexander acknowledges Wright and its potential applicability to this case.
However, he urges us to reject the decision as poorly reasoned and inconsistent with
other authority. We find our analysis in Wright persuasive and will apply it here. We
therefore conclude, similar to Wright, that the trial court did not err in not instructing on
assault as a lesser included offense of robbery or attempted robbery.
19
VI
The Court Did Not Err In Instructing
On Motive Pursuant To CALCRIM No. 370
Alexander and Brown contend the instruction on motive in CALCRIM No. 370
(stating the People were not required to prove defendant had a motive to commit the
charged crime) reduced the People‟s burden of proof because it conflicted with the
instruction on kidnapping for the purpose of robbery (stating the jury had to find that
defendants “intended to commit robbery”). They argue that because the information
charged them with kidnapping for robbery, the jury was “required . . . to determine
whether they committed the kidnapping to further the robbery.”
As Alexander and Brown recognize, the Fifth Appellate District rejected a similar
argument in People v. Fuentes (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 1133. There, the issue was
whether the motive instruction conflicted with the instructions for the substantive offense
of criminal street gang participation and the sentence enhancement and special
circumstance provisions related to criminal street gangs and lessened the People‟s burden
of proof on those issues. (Id. at p. 1139.) In rejecting this argument, the court noted the
following: “An intent to further criminal gang activity is no more a „motive‟ in legal
terms than is any other specific intent. We do not call a premeditated murderer‟s intent to
kill a „motive,‟ though his action is motivated by a desire to cause the victim‟s death.
Combined, the instructions here told the jury the prosecution must prove that Fuentes
intended to further gang activity but need not show what motivated his wish to do so.
This was not ambiguous and there is no reason to think the jury could not understand it.
(Id. at pp. 1139-1140.)
Alexander and Brown argue Fuentes was wrongly decided. They offer an analogy
to financial gain special circumstance cases as authority we should rely on to reject
Fuentes. In those cases, they argue, the Supreme Court interchanged “intent” and
“motive.” (See, e.g., People v. Carasi (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1263, 1308-1309; People v.
20
Staten (2000) 24 Cal.4th 434, 461; People v. Edelbacher (1989) 47 Cal.3d 983, 1026-
1027.) In defendants‟ view, a defendant‟s motive to gain financially from a murder is no
different from an intent to do so. The problem with defendants‟ analogy is that the
Supreme Court repeatedly has rejected it. (Edelbacher, at p. 1027; People v. Riggs
(2008) 44 Cal.4th 248, 314; People v. Crew (2003) 31 Cal.4th 822, 845; People v.
Noguera (1992) 4 Cal.4th 599, 637.)
Nevertheless, Alexander and Brown contend our Supreme Court rejected the
argument only because the financial gain motive was included in an enhancement, not as
an element of the charged offense. They argue, “the jury would have plainly understood
that the motive instruction applied to this charge.” We disagree, again based on Fuentes.
The Fuentes court has explained: “If Fuentes‟s argument has a superficial
attractiveness, it is because of the commonsense concept of a motive. Any reason for
doing something can rightly be called a motive in common language, including—but not
limited to—reasons that stand behind other reasons. For example, we could say that
when A shot B, A was motivated by a wish to kill B, which in turn was motivated by a
desire to receive an inheritance, which in turn was motivated by a plan to pay off a debt,
which in turn was motivated by a plan to avoid the wrath of a creditor. That is why there
is some plausibility in saying the intent to further gang activity is a motive for
committing a murder: A wish to kill the victim was a reason for the shooting, and a wish
to further gang activity stood behind that reason. The jury instructions given here,
however, were well adapted to cope with the situation. By listing the various „intents‟ the
prosecution was required to prove (the intent to kill, the intent to further gang activity),
while also saying the prosecution did not have to prove a motive, the instructions told the
jury where to cut off the chain of reasons. This was done without saying anything that
would confuse a reasonable juror.” (People v. Fuentes, supra, 171 Cal.App.4th at p.
1140.)
21
Here, similar to Fuentes, Alexander and Brown have confused motive with the
specific intent requirement of the kidnapping for robbery offense. Motive describes the
reason a person decides to commit a crime. The reason, however, is different from a
required mental state, such as specific intent. (People v. Hillhouse (2002) 27 Cal.4th 469,
503-504.) The jury was instructed here pursuant to CALCRIM No. 1203 on the elements
of kidnapping for robbery and was told that the crime was “kidnapping for the purpose of
robbery” and instructed that the defendant had to “intend[] to commit robbery” and that
“acting with that intent,” the defendant had to take, hold, or detain another person by
using force or by instilling a reasonable fear. The court‟s instruction did not use the word
“motive” and there is no indication the jury would have used the term “motive” and
“intent” interchangeably. Just as in Fuentes, there was no error.
VII
The Trial Court Did Not Err In Its Accomplice Instructions
Alexander and Brown contend the court violated their federal due process rights in
instructing the jury that it could not find them guilty of counts one through six relating to
the murder unless Dominic G.‟s testimony was corroborated. They argue that the
instruction erroneously allowed the jury to find them guilty of counts seven through
twenty-one related to the crimes at Hugo S.‟s home based solely on Dominic G.‟s
accomplice testimony.
The instruction to which Alexander and Brown refer was CALCRIM No. 335,
which as given here stated in pertinent part as follows: “if the crimes charged in Counts
1 - 6 were committed, then Dominic [G.] was an accomplice to those crimes”; “You may
not convict a defendant of the crimes charged in Counts 1 - 6 based on the statement or
testimony of an accomplice alone.” Defendants argue the instruction was wrong because
it stated Dominic G. was an accomplice only to counts one through six.
Defendants are wrong because Dominic G. was not an accomplice to the other
counts. “For instructional purposes, an accomplice is a person „who is liable to
22
prosecution for the identical offense charged against the defendant on trial in the cause in
which the testimony of the accomplice is given.‟ ” (People v. Arias (1996) 13 Cal.4th 92,
142-143.) There was no evidence implicating Dominic G. in counts seven through
twenty-one, which were the December 2005 crimes. Rather, defendants point to the fact
that one of the defendants told Dominic G. about the December 2005 robbery and
showed him pictures of the forced sex acts, that Alexander told Dominic G. and his sister
Sophia G. about the robbery in great detail when they were all at Mr. Perry‟s Restaurant,
and that jewelry from the robbery was being passed around at Carrera‟s house. However,
none of this was evidence that Dominic G. was liable for prosecution for the December
2005 crimes as charged in counts seven through twenty-one. Therefore, Dominic G. was
not an accomplice to those crimes and the court correctly omitted those counts from
accomplice instruction as it related to Dominic G.
VIII
The Trial Court Did Not Err In Denying Carrera’s Motion For New Trial That Was
Based On The People’s Alleged Failure To Disclose Exculpatory Brady Material
Carrera contends the People violated its duty to disclose all exculpatory evidence
to the defense under Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83 [10 L.Ed.2d 215] , which he
raised in an unsuccessful motion for new trial. As we explain, the trial court was well
within its discretion to deny the motion for new trial because there was no Brady
information to disclose. (See People v. Hoyos (2007) 41 Cal.4th 872, 917, fn. 27 [abuse
of discretion review for a trial court‟s ruling on a motion for new trial]; People v. Salazar
(2005) 35 Cal.4th 1031, 1042 [de novo standard of review for the issue of whether the
defendant established the elements of a Brady claim].)
“In Brady, the United States Supreme Court held „that the suppression by the
prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where
the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or
bad faith of the prosecution.‟ [Citation.] The high court has extended the prosecutor‟s
23
duty to encompass the disclosure of material evidence, even if the defense made no
request concerning the evidence. [Citation.] The duty encompasses impeachment
evidence as well as exculpatory evidence.” (People v. Hoyos, supra, 41 Cal.4th at
p. 917.) “ „There are three components of a true Brady violation: [(1)] The evidence at
issue must be favorable to the accused, either because it is exculpatory, or because it is
impeaching; [(2)] that evidence must have been suppressed by the State, either willfully
or inadvertently; and [(3)] prejudice must have ensued.‟ ” (People v. Salazar, supra, 35
Cal.4th at p. 1043.)
The alleged Brady material here was the People‟s failure to disclose that it was
giving a case in which Jeremy H. was the defendant a “ „fresh look,‟ ” which Carrera
claimed was “potential impeachment as to [Jeremy H.‟s] state of mind while he was on
the witness stand.” Specifically, the new trial motion argued the following: “at the time
[Jeremy H.] was on the witness stand it had been communicated to his attorney that the
District Attorney‟s Office was actively reinvestigating his case and pursuing leads that
could result in any number of outcomes favorable to [Jeremy H.]-lowering bail, release
on own recognizance, a favorable plea bargain offer or outright dismissal.” Carrera
argued the People had suppressed this “ „fresh look‟ ” evidence and he was prejudiced
because he could not effectively cross-examine Jeremy H.
In denying Carrera‟s motion for new trial, the court concluded there was no
impeachment or exculpatory evidence the People failed to disclose. The trial court was
correct. The People presented the testimony of the deputy district attorney working on
Jeremy H.‟s case who testified the case was not “in any way getting any special treatment
or any fresh look . . . based on the fact that [he] was a witness in this case.” Jeremy H.‟s
case was dismissed for insufficient evidence because “the lab reports, the DNA reports
and the two ballistics reports” “were exculpatory as to [Jeremy H.].” The People also
presented the testimony of Jeremy H.‟s attorney who testified “there [were] [n]ever at all
any promises, offers, or any inducements that related to [Jeremy H.] and [the case in
24
which he was defending Jeremy H.]” and there was no “indication or any
conversation . . . about the fact that [Jeremy H.] was going to testify [in this case] and
how it might impact the case he was charged with.” As the trial court concluded,
“[t]here‟s absolutely no evidence on this record which credibly suggests that the
dismissal had anything to do with the case against the defendants [in this case].” And
“the fact that the forensics testimony supported [Jeremy H.‟s] innocence in no way
affected his potential impeachment and would have made absolutely zero difference to
the fact finder in this case, particularly in light of the mountain of devastating evidence
against these defendants.” On this record, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying defendant‟s new trial motion because there was no Brady violation.
IX
The Court Did Not Err In Instructing Pursuant To CALCRIM No. 362
On Brown’s False Statement As An Awareness Of Guilt
Brown contends the court violated his federal constitutional rights when it
instructed pursuant to CALCRIM No. 362, regarding consciousness of guilt because the
instruction permitted the jury to draw irrational presumptions of guilt. Based on evidence
that Brown lied to the police when he said he did not know Alexander, the trial court
instructed as follows: “If a defendant made a false or misleading statement relating to the
charged crimes, knowing the statement was false or intending to mislead, that conduct
may show that he was aware of his guilt of the crime and you may consider it in
determining his guilt. You may not consider the statement in deciding any other
defendant‟s guilt. [¶] If you conclude that the defendant made the statement, it is up to
you to decide the meaning and importance. However, evidence that the defendant made
such a statement cannot prove guilt by itself.”
Brown acknowledges that our Supreme Court has rejected similar challenges to
the constitutionality of CALCRIM No. 362‟s predecessor, CALJIC No. 2.03 (People v.
Crandell (1988) 46 Cal.3d 833, 871, overruled on another point in People v. Crayton
25
(2002) 28 Cal.4th 346, 364-365), as well as other consciousness of guilt instructions
(People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 327). Still, Brown contends that the slight
difference in the phraseology between CALCRIM No. 362 and CALJIC No. 2.03 makes
the current instruction unconstitutional. We disagree.
CALJIC No. 2.03 allows a jury to consider a defendant‟s false statement “as a
circumstance tending to prove a consciousness of guilt.” According to Brown, even if
CALJIC No. 2.03‟s language does not interfere with the constitutional prohibition against
directing or compelling a jury to draw an impermissible inference (People v. Crandell,
supra, 46 Cal.3d at pp. 870-871), CALCRIM No. 362 does. In Brown‟s view, the
problem with the phrase in CALCRIM No. 362, “aware of his guilt of the crime,” is that
it allows the jury to infer consciousness of guilt of the specific crimes charged, including
a defendant‟s mental state at the time of the offenses. We rejected a similar argument
against CALCRIM No. 362 in People v. McGowan (2008) 160 Cal.App.4th 1099:
“Although there are minor differences between CALJIC No. 2.03 and CALCRIM No.
362 . . . , none is sufficient to undermine our Supreme Court's approval of the language of
these instructions.” (McGowan, at p. 1104.)
Brown has provided us with no cogent reason to reevaluate McGowan, and we
follow its holding that there is no material difference between the language used in
CALCRIM No. 362 and that used in CALJIC No. 2.03. Based on persuasive authority
from the Supreme Court, as well as our own, we reject Brown‟s constitutional challenge
to CALCRIM No. 362.
X
The Trial Court Did Not Violate Ex Post Facto Principles In
Sentencing Brown To Terms Of 25 Years To Life For Each
Count Of Forcible Oral Copulation In Concert Under The One Strike Law
Brown contends the trial court erred in imposing sentences of 25 years to life for
each of the six counts of forcible oral copulation in concert (Pen. Code, § 288a, subd. (d)
26
-- counts thirteen through eighteen) under the one strike law (Pen. Code, § 667.61,
subd. (c)) . He argues the sentences violated the prohibition against ex post facto laws
because the one strike law did not apply to forcible oral copulation in concert at the time
the crimes were committed.
Penal Code “[s]ection 667.61, which provides indeterminate sentences for felony
sex crimes committed under particular circumstances, is sometimes called the „One
Strike‟ law.” (People v. Anderson (2009) 47 Cal.4th 92, 99.) A statute violates the
prohibition against ex post facto laws by, among other things, inflicting greater
punishment than that attending the act when it was committed. (Tapia v. Superior Court
(1991) 53 Cal.3d 282, 294.)
In December 2005, when Brown committed the forcible oral copulation in concert,
Penal Code section 667.61, subdivision (c)(6) stated that the one strike law applied to
“Sodomy or oral copulation in violation of Section 286 or 288a by force, violence,
duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another
person.”
Effective September 20, 2006, Penal Code section 667.61, subdivision (c)(6) was
amended to apply the one strike law to, “Sodomy, in violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of
subdivision (c), or subdivision (d), of Section 286.” The Legislature also added
subdivision (c)(7), which provides that the one strike law applies to “Oral copulation, in
violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (c), or subdivision (d), of Section 288a.”
(Stats. 2006, ch. 337, § 33, eff. Sept. 20, 2006.)
Brown contends the 2006 amendments “expanded the list of predicate offenses to
include forcible oral copulation in concert. . . .” We disagree, because the amendments
did not expand the list to include forcible oral copulation in concert; rather, that crime
was a one strike offense before the 2006 amendment to Penal Code section 667.61.
Before the amendment, Penal Code section 667.61, subdivision (c)(6) stated the one
strike law applied to “oral copulation in violation of Section . . . 288a by force . . . .”
27
The crime of forcible oral copulation in concert (Pen. Code, §288a, subd. (d)) included
the required element of force. Thus, under the plain language of the pre-2006 version of
Penal Code section 667.61, subdivision (c)(6), the crime of forcible oral copulation in
concert was included in the one strike law. (See People v. Mancebo (2002) 27 Cal.4th
735, 743 [the first task in construing a statute is to look to the language itself and when
the language is clear and there is no uncertainty as to the legislative intent, we simply
enforce the statute according to its terms].)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
ROBIE , J.
We concur:
RAYE , P. J.
NICHOLSON , J.
28
People v. Brown CA3
Combined Opinion