Filed 1/12/16 P. v. Wilson CA2/5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE
THE PEOPLE, B260990
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. TA133344)
v.
DEANDIE L. WILSON et al,
Defendants and Appellants.
APPEAL from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Allen
Joseph Webster, Jr., Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
James M. Crawford, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant Deandie L. Wilson.
Alex Coolman, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant Burlena King.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Taryle,
Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Eric J. Kohm, Deputy Attorney General, for
Plaintiff and Respondent.
INTRODUCTION
A jury convicted defendants and appellants Deandie Wilson and Burlena King of
first degree residential robbery (Pen. Code, § 2111) and conspiracy to commit a crime
(§ 182, subd. (a)). The jury also convicted Wilson of assault with a firearm. (§ 245,
subd. (a)(2).) As to Wilson, the jury found true the allegations that he personally inflicted
great bodily injury within the meaning of section 12022.7, subdivision (a), and personally
used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.5 in the commission of each of the
offenses.2 With respect to King, the jury found that a principal was armed with a firearm
within the meaning of section 12022, subdivision (a) in the commission of the residential
burglary. In a bifurcated proceeding, Wilson waived his right to a jury trial on prior
conviction allegations. As to each of the counts, the trial court found true the allegations
that Wilson suffered a prior conviction within the meaning of sections 667, subdivision
(d) and 1170.12, subdivision (b); 667, subdivision (a)(1); and 667.5 subdivision (b). The
trial court sentenced Wilson to state prison for 30 years, and King to state prison for five
years.
On appeal, Wilson argues that the trial court infringed on his right to present a
defense when it denied him the opportunity to cross-examine the victim on his
immigration status; abused its discretion when it denied his new trial motion; and
imposed an unauthorized sentence when it stayed imposition of a one-year section 667.5,
subdivision (b) sentence enhancement rather than striking that term.3 King argues that
the prosecutor committed misconduct by shifting the burden of proof through questions
that implied that King had to produce expert testimony to corroborate her claim about
certain evidence; the trial court abused its discretion and violated her due process rights
1 All statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.
2 With respect to the burglary offense, the jury also found true the allegation that
Wilson personally used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivision
(b).
3 King joins Wilson’s new trial argument.
2
to confront the witnesses against her and to present a defense when it prohibited King
from presenting evidence about the victim’s immigration status; defense counsel
provided ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to request an instruction on third-
party culpability; and the prosecutor committed misconduct in rebuttal closing argument
when she compared the jury’s task with “putting together a puzzle.”4 We reverse the trial
court’s order staying imposition of Wilson section 667.5, subdivision (b) sentence
enhancement and remand the matter to the trial court to exercise its discretion to impose
or strike the enhancement. We otherwise affirm the judgments.
BACKGROUND
In 2005, Francisco Rodriguez drove under the influence of alcohol and possessed
a fake driver’s license or identification card. In 2007, he was convicted of a felony—
taking another person’s car without permission.
On the night of March 25, 2014, Francisco Rodriguez attended a party that
continued into March 26, 2014. At the party, Rodriguez consumed beer and cocaine. He
left the party about 2:30 a.m. and went home.
Rodriguez remained home until 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. He then got into a taxi
intending to go to his friend’s auto body shop where he would help his friend work on
cars. On the way to the auto body shop, the taxi stopped at a corner, and the taxi driver
“had [Rodriguez] meet” King. King invited Rodriguez to the motel at which she lived.
Rodriguez, who was not “fully with it” due the alcohol he consumed at the party, got out
of the taxi and accompanied King to the High Rise motel.
Rodriguez and King went to a motel room that King had rented earlier that day.
Rodriguez entered the room, sat on the bed, and, at King’s direction, took off his shirt.
King started texting on her phone. King went into the bathroom. When she came out,
she was speaking on the phone. She went to the window and looked outside. Rodriguez
4 Wilson joins King’s argument that the prosecutor committed misconduct by her
puzzle analogy in rebuttal closing argument.
3
did not know what King “may have been expecting.” King then went to the door and
opened and closed it.
Rodriguez remained in the room with King for about an hour. Rodriquez watched
T.V. and King was “on the phone entertaining herself.” Rodriguez told King that he
liked her, apparently to gauge her interest in having sex with him. King took off her
pants, but they did not have sex. Rodriguez denied that he paid King money to perform
oral sex on him. While in King’s room, Rodriguez consumed cocaine.
At some point, Wilson entered King’s room. He fired about three gunshots at
Rodriguez. Rodriguez sustained a gunshot to his right arm. Rodriguez got up and
attempted to move, but defendants grabbed him and he was knocked to the floor. Wilson
struck Rodriguez on the face with a gun. Wilson and King put their hands in Rodriguez’s
pockets and Wilson removed Rodriguez’s wallet, which contained about $20 or $30.
After they took Rodriguez’s wallet, defendants left the motel room. Defendants drove
away in a white car.5 Rodriguez was bleeding from his jaw. He poured beer on his
injury and consumed cocaine to calm down.
Rodriguez went downstairs and, at 6:42 a.m., approached a woman and asked for
help. The woman motioned for him to leave, and he complied. Between 6:30 and 7:00
a.m., motel employee Sumitra Keaval saw a man in the parking lot whose cheek was
bleeding. Keaval asked the man if he needed help. He said, “No.” Keaval “asked about
the police.” The man said, “No.”
Rodriguez asked a woman who was washing her car if she would take him to the
hospital. The woman said she would and drove him to Community Hospital in
Huntington Park. Rodriguez spoke with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
deputies at the hospital. He told the deputies that he had been shot at the motel.
The hospital’s nursing notes stated the Rodriguez claimed that two “Black guys”
robbed him of his wallet on Long Beach Boulevard in Compton. Rodriguez initially
testified that he did not remember telling a nurse what had happened to him. Later he
5 On cross-examination, Rodriguez testified that he did not see King get into the car.
4
testified that he told “medical personnel” that he was robbed by two persons. Rodriguez
told a nurse that a friend brought him to the hospital. Rodriguez appeared to have two
gunshot wounds to his right arm and a laceration on his lip. He said he was hit in the face
with a gun. Rodriguez’s jaw was broken.
Also on March 26, 2014, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy
Manuel Solis spoke with Rodriguez at the hospital. At the time, Rodriguez was
medically sedated. Deputy Solis had trouble communicating with Rodriguez. Rodriguez
said that he was walking on Long Beach Boulevard when he saw an African-American
woman standing near a motel. The woman beckoned him over. Rodriguez said he
walked over to the motel and entered a room. Upon entering the room, he was attacked
from behind and shot. He said he heard two loud gunshots. He described the suspects as
a six-foot, two inch, 240-pound African-American man and an African American woman
who was wearing a pink top and white shorts.
Deputy Solis went to the High Rise motel and spoke with Keaval. He examined
the room where the alleged incident occurred. Although the room—room 14—appeared
to have been cleaned, there was blood splattered on the counter, a dresser, and a wall.
There was a hole that appeared to have been plastered over.
Deputy Solis watched a surveillance video from the motel. The video showed
Rodriguez and King enter room 14 together between 5:00 and 6:00. It did not show “any
type of commotion” when Rodriguez entered the room. About four minutes later, a white
sedan arrived at the motel. The video did not show room 14’s door open or anyone
looking out the window. Rodriguez and King remained in the room for about 40 minutes
when a person got out of the white sedan and entered room 14. King then ran out of the
room and toward Long Beach Boulevard. She was naked from the waist down.
Pursuant to a search warrant, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective
Dennis Parker searched Wilson’s and King’s cell phones. Data from the cell phones
showed that Wilson and King were communicating together by text at the time of the
incident. The texts included the following:
5
At 6:22:04, King texted Wilson, “Come run n the room. He got a lot over money
14.”
At 6:22:14, King texted Wilson, “Come now.”
At 6:26:14, King texted Wilson, “The door is open.”
At 6:27:13, Wilson texted King, “I’m here. Someone is outside.”
At 6:27:18, King texted Wilson, “Come now.”
At 6:27:48, King texted Wilson, “You too drunk.”
At 6:28:50, Wilson texted King, “Warming. There truck and taxi.”
At 6:28:40, Wilson texted King, “Around the corner, on Carlin.”
At 6:20:596, King texted Wilson, “You too drunk, baby.”
At 6:29:23, King texted, “H-kill,” which means, “You okay?”
Data from Wilson’s cell phone showed texts between Wilson and “Profit.” The
texts showed that during the evening of March 26, 2014, Wilson discussed with Profit
purchasing or trading a gun.
Testifying in her own behalf, King admitted that she worked as a prostitute. On
March 26, 2014, between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., she was standing at the corner of Euclid
and Long Beach Boulevard when Rodriguez arrived in a taxi. He called her over, and she
asked, “What do you want to do?” Rodriguez responded, “A blow job.” King agreed to
perform that act and they agreed on a price. King and Rodriguez took the taxi to a motel
where Rodriguez paid for a room.
King and Rodriguez went to room 14. Rodriguez paid King $60. King performed
oral sex on Rodriguez for 15 minutes, but he could not attain an erection. King told him
that “it was a waste of time.” Rodriguez responded, “No. I want everything.” King
believed that Rodriguez wanted “to have sex.” She told him that he would have to pay an
additional $100, which sum he paid. King removed her pants and got on top of
Rodriguez for about 35 minutes. King testified that although Rodriguez could not attain
an erection, they had intercourse. King told Rodriguez that his time was up.
6 The texts otherwise were presented in chronological order. Thus, it may be that
the prosecutor misspoke when she asked about the “6:20:59” text.
6
King got up and began to put on her clothes. Rodriguez grabbed her and threw her
on the bed. Rodriguez said that he hated to see his money go to waste. King felt her life
was in danger, so she grabbed her cell phone and sent a voice text to Wilson, her
boyfriend. King said into the phone, “Come run into room now. He’s trying to take
advantage over me.” Her phone translated those words into the text, “Come run n the
room. He got a lot over money 14.” She did not check the text before she sent it.
King explained that her “you too drunk” texts to Wilson were sent accidently. She
had not turned off the voice text feature on her cell phone which picked up her statement
to Rodriguez that he was “too drunk.” She acknowledged, however, that even when her
phone was in the voice text setting, she had to press “send,” to send a voice text.
When Wilson entered the room, Rodriguez jumped up and tried to remove
something from his pants. King testified that Rodriguez had a little pocket knife. Wilson
struck Rodriguez on the chin. King ran from the room. She was afraid and naked from
the waist down.
DISCUSSION
I. Rodriguez’s Immigration Status
King contends that the trial court violated her right to confront and cross-examine
witnesses, to due process, and to present a defense when it granted the prosecution’s
motion to exclude evidence of Rodriguez’s immigration status—i.e., that he had asked
the prosecutor about acquiring a “U-Visa” and thus had an incentive to testify in a
manner that would make himself eligible for a U-Visa.7 Wilson asserts a violation of his
7 Under Federal immigration regulations (8 C.F.R. § 214.14), a U-Visa permits an
“undocumented immigrant” (see In re Garcia (2014) 58 Cal.4th 440, 446, fn. 1, adopting
the term “‘undocumented immigrant’ to refer to refer to a non-United States citizen who
is in the United States but who lacks the immigration status required by federal law to be
lawfully present in this country and who has not been admitted on a temporary basis as a
nonimmigrant”) who is a victim of certain crimes and who assists law enforcement in the
investigation or prosecution of the crime to remain temporarily in the United States.
7
due process right to present a defense based on the trial court’s exclusion of the U-Visa
evidence. The trial court did not err.
A. Background
Prior to trial, the prosecutor moved to exclude evidence of Rodriguez’s
immigration status. She explained that, at a pre-trial hearing, Rodriguez “mentioned to
[her] something about wanting a U-Visa.” The prosecutor stated that she had not brought
up the issue of a U-Visa with Rodriguez or told him that her office could help him attain
such a visa. She told Rodriguez that he would have to obtain a U-Visa on his own “at the
conclusion.” Because Rodriguez had not applied for or been promised a U-Visa, the
prosecutor argued, it would be premature to allow defense counsel to inquire about
Rodriguez’s immigration status.
King’s defense counsel argued that evidence that Rodriguez approached the
prosecutor about a U-Visa and was told he had to “wait until the conclusion” of the case
and that “what happens in this case will affect him getting the U-visa” was directly
relevant to Rodriguez’s credibility and demonstrated a reason to fabricate or exaggerate
the incident to support his U-Visa application. The prosecutor denied that Rodriguez was
told that “what would happen in this case was going to affect the U-visa.” Wilson’s
defense counsel “submitted.”
The trial court excluded the evidence, finding that Rodriguez’s immigration status
was not relevant to whether defendants committed the charged crimes. The trial court
also found the evidence would be inflammatory and highly prejudicial. The trial court’s
concern was that a juror might have the view that “I don’t like anybody who is here from
another country so I won’t believe nothing that they say.”
B. Application of Relevant Principles
As set forth above, an undocumented immigrant victim of certain crimes may be
permitted to remain in the United States temporarily if he assists law enforcement in the
investigation or prosecution of the crime. (8 C.F.R. § 214.14.) Relying on Evidence
8
Code section 780, subdivision (f), defendants contend that evidence about Rodriguez’s
U-Visa inquiry was relevant to Rodriguez’s credibility because it showed he had a motive
and bias to conform his testimony to best ensure that he would qualify for a U-Visa and
that the prosecution would assist him in obtaining a U-Visa.
A party may cross-examine a witness about the witness’s motive and bias. (Evid.
Code, § 780, subd. (f).) Moreover, “[a]s a general matter, a defendant is entitled to
explore whether a witness has been offered any inducements or expects any benefits for
his or her testimony, as such evidence is suggestive of bias. [Citations.]” (People v.
Brown (2003) 31 Cal.4th 518, 544.) Although “‘[c]ross-examination to test the
credibility of a prosecuting witness in a criminal case should be given wide latitude’
[citation], such latitude does not ‘prevent the trial court from imposing reasonable limits
on defense counsel’s inquiry based on concerns about harassment, confusion of the
issues, or relevance’ [citations].” (Id. at p. 545.)
Evidence Code section 210 provides, “‘Relevant evidence’ means evidence,
including evidence relevant to the credibility of a witness or hearsay declarant, having
any tendency in reason to prove or disprove any disputed fact that is of consequence to
the determination of the action.” “The test of relevance is whether the evidence tends
‘“logically, naturally, and by reasonable inference” to establish material facts such as
identity, intent, or motive. [Citations.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Scheid (1997) 16 Cal.4th
1, 13-14.)
Evidence Code section 352 provides, “The court in its discretion may exclude
evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its
admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger
of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury.” “Evidence is
substantially more prejudicial than probative . . . if, broadly stated, it poses an intolerable
‘risk to the fairness of the proceedings or the reliability of the outcome’ [citation].”
(People v. Waidla (2000) 22 Cal.4th 690, 724.)
We review for abuse of discretion a trial court’s relevance determination and its
decision to admit or exclude evidence under Evidence Code section 352. (People v.
9
Jablonski (2006) 37 Cal.4th 774, 821, 824.) “[A] trial court’s ruling will not be
disturbed, and reversal of the judgment is not required, unless the trial court exercised its
discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd manner that resulted in a
manifest miscarriage of justice. [Citation.]” (People v. Guerra (2006) 37 Cal.4th 1067,
1113, overruled on another point by People v. Rundle (2008) 43 Cal.4th 76, 151.) “When
the reviewing court applying state law finds an erroneous exclusion of defense evidence,
the usual standard of review for state law error applies: the court must reverse only if it
also finds a reasonable probability the error affected the verdict adversely to defendant.”
(People v. Humphrey (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1073, 1089.)
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that, “[i]n all
criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the
witnesses against him[.]” (U.S. Const., 6th Amend.; Pointer v. Texas (1965) 380 U.S.
400 [extending Sixth Amendment to state proceedings through Fourteenth Amendment].)
To effectuate this guarantee, the trial court must afford a criminal defendant the
opportunity for effective cross-examination of adverse witnesses. (Delaware v. Fensterer
(1985) 474 U.S. 15, 19-20; People v. Carter (2005) 36 Cal.4th 1114, 1172.) “[T]he
cross-examiner is not only permitted to . . . test the witness’[s] perceptions and memory,
but the cross-examiner has traditionally been allowed to impeach, i.e., discredit, the
witness.” (Davis v. Alaska (1974) 415 U.S. 308, 316.) Accordingly, “a criminal
defendant states a violation of the Confrontation Clause by showing that he was
prohibited from engaging in otherwise appropriate cross-examination designed to show a
prototypical form of bias on the part of the witness, and thereby ‘to expose to the jury the
facts from which jurors . . . could appropriately draw inferences relating to the reliability
of the witness.’ [Citation.]” (Delaware v. Van Arsdall (1986) 475 U.S. 673, 680.) A
trial court’s reliance on Evidence Code section 352 to exclude evidence of marginal
impeachment value does not violate a defendant’s right to confront and cross-examine
witnesses. (People v Brown, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 545.) “‘“Confrontation clause
violations are subject to federal harmless-error analysis under Chapman v. California
(1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 [17 L.Ed.2d 705, 87 S.Ct. 824].” [Citation.] We ask whether it is
10
clear beyond a reasonable doubt that a rational jury would have reached the same verdict
absent the error.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Livingston (2012) 53 Cal.4th 1145, 1159.)
“‘As a general matter, the ordinary rules of evidence do not impermissibly infringe
on the accused’s right to present a defense.’” (People v. Blacksher (2011) 52 Cal.4th
769, 821.) Thus, “[a]lthough the complete exclusion of evidence intended to establish an
accused’s defense may impair his or her right to due process of law, the exclusion of
defense evidence on a minor or subsidiary point does not interfere with that constitutional
right.” (People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 999.)
Here, the trial court acted within its discretion in excluding evidence concerning
Rodriguez’s U-Visa inquiry because that evidence was only marginally relevant to
Rodriguez’s credibility, while its admission would necessitate an undue consumption of
time and there was a substantial danger of undue prejudice. According to the prosecutor,
Rodriguez “mentioned to [her] about wanting a U-Visa.” She did not tell Rodriguez that
her office could help him obtain a U-Visa and told him that he would have to obtain a U-
Visa on his own. There was no evidence that Rodriguez had applied for a U-Visa. Thus,
there was no basis for concluding that Rodriguez would alter his testimony in hopes of
obtaining a U-Visa and any probative value the evidence had on Rodriguez’s credibility
was marginal. In addition, this is not a case in which the alleged victim just showed up
and reported he was a victim of a crime. In such a situation, the U-Visa might be relevant
in showing motive. Here, Rodriguez was in the hospital as a result of being assaulted and
was first approached by law enforcement. Moreover, apart from the marginal
impeachment value of the U-Visa evidence, the inconsistencies in Rodriguez’s accounts
of the incident provided defense counsel with other evidence with which to attempt to
impeach Rodriguez’s credibility.
If, however, the trial court had permitted defense counsel to examine Rodriguez
about his U-Visa inquiry, one of the parties would have had to call an expert in
immigration law to explain the qualifications and procedures for obtaining a U-Visa.
Given the “arcane” nature of immigration law (see Ardestani v. I.N.S. (1991) 502 U.S.
129, 146) such testimony had the potential for consuming considerable time. Given
11
Rodriguez’s status as an undocumented immigrant, there also was a substantial danger
that a juror might reject his testimony based on his unlawful status in the United States.
Indeed, on appeal, Wilson argues that the evidence concerning Rodriguez’s U-Visa
inquiry was “relevant to establish that Rodriguez was unlawfully in the country and
seeking assistance from the prosecutor in obtaining lawful status.” Accordingly, the trial
court acted within its discretion under Evidence Code section 352 in excluding evidence
of Rodriguez’s U-Visa inquiry.
Finally, in light of the strong evidence of defendants’ guilt, it is not reasonably
likely that defendants would have received a more favorable outcome if the trial court
had permitted them to introduce the U-Visa evidence. (People v. Humphrey, supra, 13
Cal.4th at p. 1089.)
II. Defendants’ New Trial Motion
Wilson contends that the trial court applied the wrong legal standard in ruling on
his new trial motion and thus abused its discretion in denying the motion. As noted
above, King joins Wilson’s new trial argument. The trial court did not err.
A. Background
Wilson filed a new trial motion arguing that the jury’s guilty verdicts and firearm
use and infliction of great bodily injury findings were contrary to the evidence. Wilson
argued that the trial court should reject the jury’s verdicts and findings based on
Rodriguez’s asserted lack of credibility and perjury. King joined the motion.
At argument on Wilson’s motion, defense counsel said to the trial court, “I am
throwing the ball basically in your court. [¶] I have not in my 30 years seen a more
pronounced perjurer than that witness in this particular case. I mean, his assertion that he
was unconscious at the preliminary hearing, that he was like a baby, is just a bunch of
baloney. And I don’t think, based on his testimony, the State of California should be
putting Mr. Wilson in prison. [¶] And, again, as the 13th juror, you have the power to
overturn the verdict based on your perception of the witness. I’m sure you recall him, as
12
you always do. [¶] So, again, I’d just ask the court to grant us a new trial based on that
witness’s incredible performance.”
The prosecutor responded that Rodriguez noticeably had significant difficulty
communicating with the attorneys and interpreter at trial, but that he was not a perjurer.
She attributed Rodriguez’s communication difficulties to his injured jaw. She stated that
Rodriguez testified at the preliminary hearing that he was still on medication and dealing
with the pain of his injuries, including his jaw injury. Any minor inconsistencies or
mistakes Rodriguez may have made, she argued, were attributable to the “shock of the
situation” and his injuries. Moreover, the prosecutor argued, all of Rodriguez’s
testimony was corroborated by other evidence.
Wilson’s defense counsel stated that Rodriguez’s medical records indicated that he
was alert and oriented and that a deputy testified that Rodriguez was not under stress.
King’s defense counsel added that the preliminary hearing transcript showed that
Rodriguez was able to answer the questions posed to him, demonstrating that he
understood the questions but answered them untruthfully.
The trial court denied the new trial motion, stating, “Well, the court did hear the
evidence. Basically, I obviously presided over the trial. And there is a jury instruction
that says that two people can witness the same event and just see or hear it differently.
And there were certainly a number of inconsistencies on the part of the victim, but there
also were other inconsistencies on the part of other witnesses as well. But it seems to the
court on balance, when you take into consideration the 9-1-1 calls and the video and cell
phones and the medical records and the civilian as well as law enforcement witnesses,
they tended to corroborate his testimony.
“So it appears to the court that he might have been inconsistent, there may have
been a number of inconsistencies or conflicts, and maybe he might not have been the
most credible witness that we’ve seen testifying, but the jury felt that basically the
evidence was sufficient enough beyond a reasonable doubt to find him guilty of these
charges.”
13
B. Application of Relevant Principles
In ruling on a new trial motion under section 1181, subdivision (6), a trial court
sits, in effect, as a “13th juror” and independently examines the evidence to determine if
the evidence is sufficient to prove the required elements beyond a reasonable doubt.
(Porter v. Superior Court (2009) 47 Cal.4th 125, 133.) The trial court “is, however,
guided by a presumption in favor of the correctness of the verdict and proceedings
supporting it. [Citation.] The trial court ‘should [not] disregard the verdict . . . but
instead . . . should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then
decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the
verdict.’ [Citation.] [¶] A trial court has broad discretion in ruling on a motion for a
new trial, and there is a strong presumption that it properly exercised that discretion.
‘“The determination of a motion for a new trial rests so completely within the court’s
discretion that its action will not be disturbed unless a manifest and unmistakable abuse
of discretion clearly appears.”’ [Citation.]” (People v. Davis (1995) 10 Cal.4th 463, 523-
524.)8
Defendants contend that the trial court abused its discretion in denying their new
trial motion by applying the standard applicable to a motion for judgment of acquittal
under section 1118.1 rather than the standard for a new trial motion under section 1118,
subdivision (6). Relying on People v. Stevens (2007) 41 Cal.4th 182, 200, they note that
the standard a trial court applies in ruling on a motion for acquittal “‘is the same as the
8 “When an appellate court reviews the jury’s verdict, it resolves all conflicts in the
evidence in favor of the verdict. [Citation.] The function of the trial judge, however, is
entirely different: the judge does not review the jury’s determination, but instead weighs
the evidence and exercises an independent judgment. [Citations.]” (6 Witkin, Cal.
Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Criminal Judgment, § 113, p. 155.) “However, in ruling on
a new trial motion, the trial judge does not ignore the verdict and decide the case as if
there had been no jury. [Citation.] Accordingly, in exercising independent judgment, the
judge is guided by the presumption in favor of the correctness of the verdict and the
proceedings that support it. [Citation.] In the context of a new trial motion made on the
ground that the verdict is contrary to evidence, this presumption means only that the trial
judge may not arbitrarily reject a verdict that is supported by substantial evidence.” (Id.
at p. 156.)
14
standard applied by an appellate court in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to
support a conviction, that is, “whether from the evidence, including all reasonable
inferences to be drawn therefrom, there is any substantial evidence of the existence of
each element of the offense charged.”’ [Citation.]” They assert that the trial court’s
remarks show that it incorrectly believed that it was bound by the jury’s credibility
determination. (People v. Dickens (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 1245, 1251 [in ruling on a
new trial motion, a “trial court is not bound by the jury’s determinations as to the
credibility of witnesses . . .”].)
In his recitation of the trial court’s ruling, Wilson only sets forth the second
paragraph of the trial court’s remarks. That second paragraph may, by itself, suggest that
the trial court incorrectly applied the judgment of acquittal standard in ruling on
defendants’ new trial motion by reviewing the evidence to determine if there was any
substantial evidence that supported the guilty verdicts and firearm use and infliction of
great bodily injury findings and by accepting the jury’s credibility findings. The first
paragraph, however, of the trial court’s ruling, which we quote above, demonstrates that
the trial court correctly applied the new trial motion standard and made its own credibility
determinations. In that first paragraph, the trial court said that it had heard the evidence.
It noted the inconsistencies in Rodriguez’s testimony, but found that other evidence
corroborated Rodriguez’s testimony. That is, the trial court’s full remarks demonstrate
that it weighed the evidence independently and determined, in its opinion, that there was
sufficient credible evidence to support the verdicts and findings. (People v. Davis, supra,
10 Cal.4th at p. 523.) King contends that the trial court’s statement in the first paragraph
of its ruling that other evidence tended to corroborate Rodriguez’s testimony “merely
emphasized that the same evidence could be viewed in different ways, not that the court
personally had concluded that guilt had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” To the
contrary, the trial court’s remark was an express finding, based on the evidence, that
Rodriguez had testified truthfully. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion
by employing the wrong legal standard in ruling on defendants’ new trial motion.
15
III. Wilson’s Section 667.5, Subdivision (b) Enhancement
Wilson contends that the trial court erred in staying rather than striking the one-
year section 667.5, subdivision (b) sentence enhancement, and requests that we order the
trial court to strike the enhancement. The Attorney General agrees that the trial court
erred in staying the section 667.5, subdivision (b), enhancement but argues that we
should remand the matter so that the trial court can exercise it discretion in deciding
whether to impose or strike the enhancement. We agree with the Attorney General.
Once a section 667.5, subdivision (b) allegation has been found true, a trial court
must impose or strike, and may not stay, the enhancement. (People v. Langston (2004)
33 Cal.4th 1237, 1241.) Accordingly, the trial court erred in staying imposition of the
section 667.5, subdivision (b) enhancement. We remand the matter to the trial court to
determine whether to impose or to strike the 667.5, subdivision (b) enhancement.
(People v. Solorzano (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 1026, 1041.)
IV. Detective Parker’s Testimony About King’s Cellphone
King argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by shifting the burden of
proof through questions that implied that King had to produce expert testimony to
corroborate her claim about the manner in which her cellphone operated. There was no
misconduct. Moreover, even if the prosecutor’s questions were misconduct, there was no
prejudice because the trial court admonished the jury to disregard the questions at defense
counsel’s request and in language defense counsel approved.
A. Background
In her examination of Detective Parker, the prosecutor asked the detective, “In this
case, um, did you provide Miss King’s cell phone to [defense counsel] so she could have
an expert look at it?” Defense counsel objected, and the trial court sustained the
objection. The prosecutor then asked, “The cell phones of the two defendants were
booked into evidence; correct?” Detective Parker responded, “Yes.” The prosecutor
began a question, “And to the extent that the defense wants to review them—” Defense
16
counsel again objected. The trial court asked the prosecutor and defense counsel to
approach for a sidebar conference.
At the sidebar conference, the defense counsel stated that the prosecutor’s
questions improperly shifted the burden to the defense to appoint an expert to examine
King’s cellphone. The prosecutor denied that she had shifted the burden and asserted that
she was permitted to elicit testimony that the detective had provided the cellphone to
defense counsel so that she could have an expert examine it. She argued that her
questions concerned a subject like the “failure to call logical witnesses.” The trial court
stated, “I do think it’s somewhat inappropriate to indicate that they should have had it
analyzed because they had access to it. And I think it’s—I think it might be crossing the
line, and I don’t think—I’m sure you did not intend to do that.”
Defense counsel stated, “[A]t this point, your Honor, I think we need to maybe
admonish the jury to tell them that question was improper and they need to disregard
it . . . .” The trial court proposed that the matter be addressed through “a statement,
almost like a stipulation” that it would read to the jury. Defense counsel proposed,
“[T]he question that was just asked was improper and burden shifting, and the jury
should disregard the question and not speculate as to what the answer would have been.”
A discussion was held off the record. When the trial resumed on the record, the
trial court stated that a stipulation had been fashioned that it believed all parties agreed
would be read to the jury. The parties agreed that there was a stipulation. The trial court
then admonished the jury, “Ladies and gentlemen, we had a conversation and basically
the jury is advised to disregard and not speculate the question that suggests that providing
[defense counsel] with the—with Miss King’s cell phone and having her look at it. [¶]
You’re not to speculate to anything about this as to whether this event even occurred. So
just disregard it in its entirety.” Prior to admonishing the jury, the trial court ruled, “This
is not a case of prosecutorial misconduct.”
17
B. Application of Relevant Principles
“‘“A prosecutor’s misconduct violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution when it ‘infects the trial with such unfairness as to make the
conviction a denial of due process.’ [Citations.] In other words, the misconduct must be
‘of sufficient significance to result in the denial of the defendant’s right to a fair trial.’
[Citation.] A prosecutor’s misconduct that does not render a trial fundamentally unfair
nevertheless violates California law if it involves ‘the use of deceptive or reprehensible
methods to attempt to persuade either the court or the jury.’ [Citations.]” [Citations.]’
[Citation.]” (People v. Lopez (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1028, 1072.) “Although a prosecutor
may comment [in closing argument] that a defendant has not produced any evidence, he
or she may not suggest that ‘a defendant has a duty or burden to produce evidence . . . .’
[Citation.]” (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1195-1196.)
“A mistrial should be granted if the court is apprised of prejudice that it judges
incurable by admonition or instruction. [Citation.]” (People v. Haskett (1982) 30 Cal.3d
841, 854; People v. Williams (2006) 40 Cal.4th 287, 323 [“‘A trial court should grant a
mistrial only when a party’s chances of receiving a fair trial have been irreparably
damaged . . .’”].) A prosecutor’s misconduct may serve as the basis for a mistrial.
(People v. Rodrigues (1994) 8 Cal.4th 1060, 1154.)
The prosecutor did not engage in prejudicial misconduct. There is no reasonable
likelihood that the jurors would have understood the prosecutor’s questions as implying
that defendant had the burden of producing evidence. (See People v. Young, supra, 34
Cal.4th at p. 1196.) Instead, the questions properly asked whether defense counsel had
been provided access to the cellphone to have an expert examine it. (See People v. Cook
2006) 39 Cal.4th 566, 607 [a prosecutor’s question asking whether the defense had the
opportunity to independently test evidence does not suggest that the defense had a duty to
do independent testing or shift the burden of proof].)
Moreover, even if the prosecutor’s questions were misconduct, there was no
prejudice. Defense counsel objected to the first prosecution question she alleged was
misconduct and the trial court sustained the objection. When defense counsel objected to
18
a second question she claimed was misconduct, the trial court called the prosecutor and
defense counsel to the sidebar. Defense counsel requested that the trial court admonish
the jury concerning the prosecutor’s challenged questions. The trial court admonished
the jury with language stipulated to by defense counsel. Defense counsel did not request
a mistrial based on the alleged misconduct, apparently believing that the misconduct
could be cured by a suitable jury admonition. Defense counsel was in the best position to
judge whether, under the circumstances of the trial and her evaluation of the jury, a jury
admonition could adequately address the matter.
V. King’s Claim That Defense Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance of
Counsel by Failing to Request an Instruction on Third-Party Culpability
King claims that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel when
she relied on a third-party culpability theory at trial, but failed to request an instruction on
third-party culpability. King has failed to demonstrate that she received ineffective
assistance of counsel.
“‘Generally, a conviction will not be reversed based on a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel unless the defendant establishes both of the following: (1) that
counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) that
there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, a
determination more favorable to defendant would have resulted. [Citations.]’” (People
v. Foster (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 379, 383.) If the defendant fails to make a sufficient
showing either of deficient performance or prejudice, the ineffective assistance claim
fails. (Ibid.)
In considering a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, it is not necessary to
determine “‘whether counsel’s performance was deficient before examining the prejudice
suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies . . . . If it is easier to
dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which
19
we expect will often be so, that course should be followed.’” (In re Fields (1990) 51
Cal.3d 1063, 1079, quoting Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 697.)
The record on appeal does not reveal why defense counsel did not request a
pinpoint instruction on third-party culpability. However, even if the evidence supported
an instruction on third-party culpability and defense counsel had no reason for failing to
request such an instruction, King was not prejudiced. Our Supreme Court has held that
the omission of instructions that “properly pinpoint the theory of third party liability . . .
is not prejudicial because the reasonable doubt instructions give defendants ample
opportunity to impress upon the jury that evidence of another party’s liability must be
considered in weighing whether the prosecution has met its burden of proof. (People v.
Ledesma (2006) 39 Cal.4th 641, 720-721 [47 Cal.Rptr.3d 326, 140 P.3d 657]; People v.
Earp (1999) 20 Cal.4th 826, 887 [85 Cal.Rptr.2d 857, 978 P.2d 15].)” (People v.
Hartsch (2010) 49 Cal.4th 472, 504.) Here, the jury was properly instructed on
reasonable doubt with CALCRIM No. 220. Accordingly, even assuming defense
counsel’s performance was deficient for failing to request a pinpoint instruction on third-
party culpability, King was not prejudiced by defense counsel’s failure, and King thus
cannot establish ineffective assistance of counsel.
VI. The Prosecutor’s Puzzle Analogy in Rebuttal Closing Argument
King argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct in rebuttal closing
argument when she compared the jury’s task with “putting together a puzzle.” The
analogy, she argues, trivialized the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof. If she
forfeited appellate review of this issue by defense counsel’s failure to object to the
prosecutor’s argument in the trial court, she contends, then she received ineffective
assistance of counsel. As noted above, Wilson joins King’s prosecutorial misconduct
argument. Defendants forfeited appellate review of this argument by defense counsels’
failure to object to the prosecutor’s remarks in the trial court. Defendants’ alternative
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails because any deficient performance by
defense counsel was not prejudicial.
20
A. Background
In her rebuttal closing argument, the prosecutor said, “Your job, ladies and
gentlemen, is kinda like putting together a puzzle. You’re going to take the pieces of the
puzzle. You put them together to see an image on the box. You know it is a kitten, a hot
air balloon, or whatever. [¶] Because this is real life and it’s not T.V., it’s not make
believe, this isn’t like a brand new puzzle from yesterday, which is all new and perfect.
[¶] This is more like a puzzle you got at a garage sale and maybe there’s a piece or two
missing or maybe one of the pieces gnarled by a dog and in marinara sauce from the
recent game night. [¶] The question still remains, when you put together the pieces you
do have, can you see the images on the box? Can you see these defendants conspired to
rob the victim?” Neither defendant objected to the prosecutor’s argument.
B. Application of Relevant Principles
In People v. Katzenberger (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 1260 (Katzenberger), the
prosecutor used a PowerPoint slide show presentation in her closing argument to
illustrate the reasonable doubt standard. (Id. at p. 1264.) In the slide show, six puzzle
pieces came onto the screen sequentially. (Ibid.) The picture was “immediately and
easily recognizable as the Statue of Liberty.” (Ibid.) The slide show ended when the
sixth puzzle piece was in place, leaving two rectangular puzzle pieces missing. (Ibid.)
The prosecutor argued to the jury “‘[we] know [what] this picture is beyond a reasonable
doubt without looking at all the pieces of that picture. We know that that’s a picture of
the Statue of Liberty, we don’t need all the pieces of the [sic] it.’” (Id. at p. 1265.)
Defense counsel objected. (Ibid.)
On appeal, the court of appeal held, “‘Although counsel have “broad discretion in
discussing the legal and factual merits of a case [citation], it is improper to misstate the
law. [Citation.]”’ [Citation.] In particular, it is misconduct for counsel to attempt to
absolve the prosecution from its prima facie obligation to overcome reasonable doubt on
all elements. [Citation.] We agree with defendant that the prosecutor’s use of the
21
PowerPoint presentation here misrepresented the ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard.”
(Katzenberger, supra, 178 Cal.App.4th at p. 1266.)
The court of appeal believed that most jurors would recognize the image of the
Statue of Liberty well before the first six puzzle pieces were in place. (Katzenberger,
supra, 178 Cal.App.4th at p. 1267.) It stated, “The presentation, with the prosecutor’s
accompanying argument, leaves the distinct impression that the reasonable doubt
standard may be met by a few pieces of evidence. It invites the jury to guess or jump to a
conclusion, a process completely at odds with the jury’s serious task of assessing whether
the prosecution has submitted proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” (Ibid.)
The court of appeal also held that the prosecutor’s argument was improper because
it contained a quantitative component. (Katzenberger, supra, 178 Cal.App.4th at p.
1267.) That is, when the prosecutor told the jury, “‘this picture is beyond a reasonable
doubt,’” when only six of the eight puzzle pieces were in place, she inappropriately
suggested a “specific quantitative measure of reasonable doubt, i.e., 75 percent.” (Id. at
pp. 1267-1268.) It held that the prosecutor’s misconduct was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt, however, because the trial court reinstructed the jury on reasonable
doubt after defense counsel vigorously contended in his closing argument that the Statue
of Liberty presentation did not represent reasonable doubt at all, and the evidence of the
defendant’s guilt was strong. (Katzenberger, supra, 178 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1268-1269,
citing Chapman v. California, supra, 386 U.S. at p. 24.)
In People v. Centeno (2014) 60 Cal.4th 659 (Centeno), decided after the trial in
this case, the prosecutor described to the jury the concept of reasonable doubt using a
visual display of the outline of California and hypothetical testimony from several
witnesses describing various cities in California. (Id. at p. 665 & fn. 4.) The Supreme
Court agreed with the holding in Katzenberger, supra, 178 Cal.App.4th 1260. It held,
“The use of an iconic image like the shape of California or the Statue of Liberty,
unrelated to the facts of the case, is a flawed way to demonstrate the process of proving
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. These types of images necessarily draw on the jurors’
own knowledge rather than evidence presented at trial. They are immediately
22
recognizable and irrefutable. Additionally, such demonstrations trivialize the deliberative
process, essentially turning it into a game that encourages the jurors to guess or jump to a
conclusion.” (Centeno, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 669.)
1. Forfeiture
Neither Wilson nor King objected to the prosecutor’s use of the puzzle analogy in
rebuttal closing argument. The failure to object forfeited appellate review of this issue.
(Centeno, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 674.) King attempts to avoid her forfeiture by arguing
that making an objection “may have appeared futile” to defense counsel. However, as
she acknowledges, “[p]ersuasive authority on this issue did exist at the time of trial in the
form of People v. Katzenberger (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 1260.”
2. Ineffective assistance of counsel
King argues that if defense counsel’s failure to object forfeited review of this
issue, then defense counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel. However, even if
the prosecutor’s puzzle analogy in this case was improper for the reasons stated in
Centeno, supra, 60 Cal.4th 659 and Katzenberger, supra, 178 Cal.App.4th 1260,
defendants cannot demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel because there was no
prejudice. (In re Fields, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 1079 [ineffective assistance of counsel
claims properly are resolved on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice without
determining whether counsel’s performance was deficient].)
In Centeno, supra, 60 Cal.4th 659, the Supreme Court found no tactical reasons
for the defense counsel’s failure to object. The court held, “‘Explaining’ the reasonable
doubt standard by using an iconic image unrelated to the evidence is particularly
misleading to the jury and strikes at the most fundamental issue in a criminal case. The
image is too powerful and pivotal to dismiss as irrelevant or trivial argument.
Additionally, the argument was aimed at lessening, not heightening, the burden of proof.
The prosecutor posited an easy example of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to reassure
this jury that it could confidently return guilty verdicts in a case not nearly so strong as
23
her hypothetical. . . . [¶] Additionally, because the prosecutor’s hypothetical came in
rebuttal, defense counsel had no opportunity to counter it with argument of his own. His
only hope of correcting the misimpression was through a timely objection and
admonition from the court. Under these circumstances, we can conceive of no reasonable
tactical purpose for defense counsel’s omission.” (Id. at pp. 675-676.)
The court then turned to prejudice. (Centeno, supra, 60 Cal.4th at pp. 676-677.)
It observed that “courts [have] found the prosecutors’ use of visual aids harmless in light
of the correct instructions on reasonable doubt, defense counsel’s objections to the
argument, the trial courts’ admonition, and the strength of the evidence. [Citations.]”
(Id. at p. 676.) In Centeno, the Supreme Court found prejudice, primarily because, as the
People conceded, it was “a very close case.” (Id. at p. 677.)
Here, the trial court properly instructed the jury on reasonable doubt with
CALCRIM No. 220, and, contrary to defendants’ contention, there was strong evidence
of guilt notwithstanding Rodriguez’s difficulty communicating and varying accounts of
the incident. The case against defendants included direct and circumstantial evidence
that they robbed and conspired to rob Rodriguez and that Wilson assaulted Rodriguez
with a firearm. The evidence included Rodriguez’s testimony identifying Wilson and
King as his assailants, King’s testimony admitting that she had been in the motel room
with Rodriguez and that Wilson entered the room and struck Rodriguez on the chin, the
medical testimony concerning Rodriguez’s injuries, the video surveillance tape which
showed the timing of the offenses, and the texts between Wilson and King. Accordingly,
any deficient performance was not prejudicial. (Centeno, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 676;
Katzenberger, supra, 178 Cal.App.4th at p. 1269.)
24
DISPOSITION
The trial court’s order staying imposition of Wilson’s section 667.5, subdivision
(b) enhancement is reversed and the matter is remanded to the trial court to exercise its
discretion to impose or strike the enhancement. The judgments are otherwise affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
MOSK, J.
I concur:
TURNER, P. J.
25
BAKER, J., Concurring
I join the majority’s opinion except its holding that the trial court did not err in
granting the prosecution’s motion in limine to preclude any cross-examination of the
victim concerning his statement to the prosecutor “about wanting a U-visa.” I concur in
the disposition because I am convinced the decision to grant the in limine motion and
preclude cross-examination was not prejudicial under either the People v. Watson (1956)
46 Cal.2d 818 test or the Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18 test.
BAKER, J.