Filed 3/30/16
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D069277
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. FVI110450)
LEONEL LOPEZ REYES,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County, Eric
M. Nakata, Judge. Affirmed as modified and remanded with directions.
Jerome P. Wallingford, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General,
Peter Quon, Jr. and Stacy Alicia Tyler, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
A jury convicted Leonel Lopez Reyes of forcible oral copulation (Pen. Code,1
§ 288a, subd. (c)(2); count 1), forcible rape (§ 261, subd. (a)(2); count 2), lewd acts upon
a child under the age of 14 (§ 288, subd. (a); count 3), and first degree burglary (§ 459;
count 6). The jury found true allegations that the crimes of counts 1 and 2 occurred
during the commission of a first degree burglary. (§ 667.61, subd. (b), (e).) The jury also
found true allegations under section 667.61, subdivision (l) that Reyes committed the
crimes of counts 1 and 2 during the commission of a burglary with the intent to commit
those crimes, and that the victim, Daniela R., was age 14 or older but under the age of 18
(§ 667.61, subd. (l)).2 The trial court sentenced Reyes to eight years plus one
consecutive term of life without the possibility of parole, consisting of life without the
possibility of parole for the special findings under section 667.61, subdivision (l), the
upper term of eight years for the count 3 offense, a concurrent midterm of four years for
count 6, and 15-year-to-life terms on counts 1 and 2 pursuant to section 667.61,
subdivisions (b) and (e) stayed under section 654.
Reyes contends the prosecutor committed prejudicial misconduct by arguing for
the first time in rebuttal the relevance of evidence that Daniela was gay on the issue of
consent, and also by explaining the reasonable doubt standard in such a way as to dilute
the People's burden of proof in violation of the Sixth Amendment. Reyes further
1 Statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
2 The jury found not true multiple victim allegations appended to counts 1 and 2.
The jury did not reach a verdict on count 5 as to a different alleged victim, Shirley R.,
and that count was dismissed on the prosecutor's motion. Count 4, also as to Shirley R.,
was dismissed on a defense motion.
2
contends his sentence of life without the possibility of parole for committing two forcible
sex offenses violates the proscriptions in the federal and California Constitutions against
cruel and unusual punishment, and his counsel was prejudicially ineffective for failing to
object on this ground under the California Constitution. In a supplemental brief, Reyes
finally contends the trial court sentenced him under section 667.61, subdivision (l) in
counts 1 and 2 under the mistaken belief it had no discretion to impose a lesser sentence.
He asks this court to set aside the sentences in counts 1 and 2 and remand the case for the
trial court to exercise its discretion to either strike or not strike the findings made under
that subdivision.
The People ask that we order the trial court to amend the abstract of judgment to
reflect the jury's true findings on the allegations under section 667.61, subdivision (l)
attached to counts 1 and 2 as well as the court's oral pronouncement of judgment on those
counts, and to indicate that Reyes was sentenced under that section. Reyes agrees, and
we conclude the abstract of judgment should be modified to reflect those changes. As so
modified, we affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Prosecution Evidence
Because Reyes does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence of his
convictions, we briefly summarize his offenses. Where necessary to detail the facts
relevant to Reyes's appellate contentions or to determine prejudice, we do so at that point
in the opinion.
3
From late 2008 to about the middle of 2010, Daniela lived with her mother and
sister in a house that they shared with Reyes, Reyes's wife and three children. In 2010,
the families moved into separate apartments. Reyes at times borrowed from and repaid
money to Daniela's mother.
In June 2011, Reyes owed $100 to Daniela's mother, who expected him to repay it.
On the afternoon of June 22, 2011, Daniela was home when Reyes knocked at their door.
She hesitated and did not want to open the door because of an incident that had occurred
in their prior house: Reyes had pulled her off a couch where she had been sitting with his
son and Daniela thought he was just playing a game, but he started to put his hand inside
her shorts and underwear. Daniela nevertheless opened the door for Reyes, who told her
he was there to repay money. She opened the outside security door, took the money, and
started to close the door but Reyes pulled it open and walked inside. Reyes closed all of
the doors while Daniela tried to back away. When she backed into the wall, Reyes
proceeded to pull Daniela toward him. He eventually picked Daniela up, put his face
between her breasts, then pushed her onto a couch where he tried to kiss her, removed her
shorts and underwear, orally copulated her while holding her arms down, and had
intercourse with her. Afterwards, Reyes gave Daniela $20, told her not to tell anyone,
and left. Crying and having difficulty speaking, Daniela eventually related what had
happened to a friend who told her father, who told Daniela's mother.
A sexual assault examination showed evidence of Reyes's sperm consistent with
his DNA profile in Daniela's vagina. A physical examination of Daniela was within
4
normal limits; it revealed no sex assault-related injuries and therefore there were no
findings.
Defense Evidence
Reyes testified that on June 22, 2011, after he gave Daniela the money he owed
her mother, Daniela wanted to "play" and jumped on his back when he was about to
leave. He claimed she removed her shorts and underwear and they had consensual oral
and vaginal sex. Reyes denied holding Daniela's hands down during the acts. He
testified that while he knew having sex with someone who was 14 years old was against
the law in the United States, it was not a problem in Mexico and he did it because he was
sexually attracted to her. Reyes admitted lying to police about his whereabouts that
afternoon.
DISCUSSION
I. Claims of Prosecutor Misconduct
Reyes complains that the prosecutor committed prejudicial misconduct in two
separate instances. First, he contends she engaged in misconduct when she raised in her
rebuttal closing argument for the first time the fact Daniela was gay so as to suggest
Daniela would not consent to have sex with him. He maintains the prosecutor did not
discuss consent in her argument in chief, but waited until rebuttal in order to make it
impossible for his defense counsel to respond to this contested issue. He argues this
conduct violated both federal and state Constitutions and rendered the trial fundamentally
unfair, requiring reversal under the Chapman (Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S.
18) standard of harmless error.
5
Second, Reyes contends the prosecutor committed misconduct by misstating the
beyond a reasonable doubt standard in such a way that tended to reduce the prosecution's
burden of proving the charged offenses. He maintains this error, combined with the other
instance of misconduct, cumulatively resulted in prejudice to him because they " 'so
infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due
process.' "
A. Standard of Review
" ' " 'A prosecutor's conduct violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the federal
Constitution when it infects the trial with such unfairness as to make the conviction a
denial of due process. Conduct by a prosecutor that does not render a criminal trial
fundamentally unfair is prosecutorial misconduct under state law only if it involves the
use of deceptive or reprehensible methods to attempt to persuade either the trial court or
the jury.' " ' " (People v. Charles (2015) 61 Cal.4th 308, 327.) " ' "A defendant's
conviction will not be reversed for prosecutorial misconduct" that violates state law,
however, "unless it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the defendant
would have been reached without the misconduct." ' [Citation.] Bad faith on the
prosecutor's part is not a prerequisite to finding prosecutorial misconduct under state law.
[Citation.] In fact, our Supreme Court has stated, ' "[T]he term prosecutorial 'misconduct'
is somewhat of a misnomer to the extent that it suggests a prosecutor must act with a
culpable state of mind. A more apt description of the transgression is prosecutorial
error." ' " (People v. Lloyd (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 49, 60-61.)
6
B. Claim of Misconduct in Arguing in Rebuttal Closing That Daniela Was Gay and
Therefore Did Not Consent
1. Background
During Daniela's cross-examination, defense counsel asked about Daniela's
relationship with her mother, to which Daniela responded it was good "about certain
things" but not others given her mother's different opinions. Defense counsel pressed the
issue, eliciting Daniela's admission that she was gay, and her testimony that she did not
think that was something her mother wanted to know about. Defense counsel then sought
to question Daniela about what she meant by earlier testimony concerning her discussion
with friends about "how [she] wanted it to happen," but the prosecutor objected on
grounds of the rape shield law3 that the questioning was "[g]etting into her sexual
orientation" and "how she wants sex to happen." The court sustained the objection,
ruling the evidence's probative value was outweighed by prejudice and undue
consumption of time under Evidence Code section 352.
3 The rape shield law had been raised in one of the People's pretrial evidentiary
motions. "Under California's rape shield law, specific instances of a complaining
witness's sexual conduct are not admissible to prove consent by the complaining witness
in a prosecution for specified sex offenses. [Citation.] Such evidence may be admissible,
though, when offered to attack the credibility of the complaining witness, provided that
its probative value outweighs the danger of undue prejudice and the defendant otherwise
complies with the procedures set forth in Evidence Code section 782." (People v.
Fontana (2010) 49 Cal.4th 351, 354.) Because counsel agreed there was no evidence on
that point, the trial court did not rule on the prosecutor's motion. Though the People
address whether the prosecutor committed misconduct by violating any ruling under the
rape shield law, Reyes only contends that the misconduct was the prosecutor arguing for
the first time in rebuttal Daniela's lack of consent based on her sexual identity.
7
During the People's closing arguments, the prosecutor pointed out to the jury that
for purposes of counts 1 and 2, forcible oral copulation and forcible rape, one of the
elements was that the victim did not consent. She then argued, "So what do we know
from Daniela? Daniela told us that the defendant orally copulated [her] forcefully. She
said that she didn't want to have any sexual relations with him. She told him, 'No.' She
told him to leave. She told him, 'Stop.' She was not a willing active participant in the act
of oral copulation." The prosecutor made similar arguments about the rape: "Daniela
tells him, 'Leave.' She tells him, 'No.' She tells him, 'Stop.' And he doesn't do any of
that. . . . He continues with his forcible sexual assault on Daniela."
In defense closing, counsel argued that Daniela's testimony differed about whether
she told Reyes to stop or leave during or before the oral copulation and rape, that Reyes's
belief was important, and the prosecutor was required to prove Reyes's state of mind as to
whether Daniela was consenting to the acts. Defense counsel argued that the law as to
those counts was that the defendant was not guilty if he actually and reasonably believed
the woman consented to the intercourse and had such belief throughout the act of
intercourse. Using an example of a dating scenario and pointing to the absence of
physical injury to Daniela, counsel asserted that Daniela's unexpressed feeling that she
was forced, and the absence of evidence that Reyes used force or fear, compelled a
finding that Reyes was not guilty. He also pointed to evidence that Daniela told an
examining nurse that Reyes gave her $20, arguing that "[Daniela] would not be the first
person to be more inclined to have sex with someone [for money]."
8
In rebuttal, the prosecutor referenced counsel's argument about consensual
encounters, stating: "[Defense counsel] was talking about people going on dates and
women getting bought dinners, not prostitutes, just the nice fun date. And [he] argued
about that $20. Not only was Daniela a slut, she was cheap. She sold herself to that man
who could be her father, who had children older than her, for $20. If you believe the
defense version that Daniela consented, that's what he's trying to tell you. You alone can
judge the facts. You alone can judge the testimony. Daniela didn't sell herself. She
testified that she's gay."
Defense counsel objected that the argument violated the court's in limine ruling to
exclude sexual background evidence. The court pointed out that defense counsel had
originally elicited the testimony that Daniela was gay, which was not stricken from the
record. In a bench conference, defense counsel pressed his objections that the prosecutor
committed misconduct by delving into an area governed by the in limine ruling; that the
prosecutor should have minimized such evidence and the court should instruct the jury to
disregard the comment or declare a mistrial. The court denied the mistrial request. The
prosecutor responded that defense counsel pushed Daniela to testify as she did, but the
fact Daniela was gay "doesn't mean that she has any type of sex. That's the rape shield, is
the sex part." The court agreed, ruling, "The fact that one person is or isn't gay has
nothing to do with their sexuality." It ruled the prosecutor's statement was "within the
realm of reasonable argument."
9
2. Analysis
In challenging the prosecutor's rebuttal comment concerning Daniela's testimony
of her sexual orientation, Reyes argues: "The prosecutor should have addressed the issue
of consent during her argument in chief. The crimes charged in counts one and two each
required that the prosecutor prove, as an element of the offense, that Daniela did not
consent to the act. . . . [B]y failing to address the question of consent until her rebuttal
argument, the prosecutor made it impossible for appellant's trial counsel to respond
during summation to the prosecutor's argument on the only element of counts one or two
that was actually contested at trial." Citing People v. Robinson (1995) 31 Cal.App.4th
494, Reyes maintains the prosecutor presented arguments "designed to incriminate the
defendant, making those arguments immune from defense reply" and violated both
federal and state standards.
As an initial matter, Reyes's specific argument lacks support in the record, as our
foregoing summary indicates the prosecutor plainly raised the issue of Daniela's consent
in her initial closing summation, and did not blindside defense counsel in making her
arguments. Reyes clarifies in his reply brief that is claim is directed to the prosecutor's
use of Daniela's sexual orientation in her rebuttal closing. To the extent Reyes challenges
the prosecutor's mention of Daniela's sexual orientation for the first time in rebuttal
argument as evidence tending to show Daniela would not have consented to the sex acts,
we conclude he has not demonstrated the prosecutor's argument amounts to misconduct.
Prosecutors may make vigorous arguments and fairly comment on the evidence;
they have broad discretion to argue inferences and deductions from the evidence to the
10
jury. (People v. Sandoval (2015) 62 Cal.4th 394, 450.) In particular, "[r]ebuttal
argument must permit the prosecutor to fairly respond to arguments by defense counsel."
(People v. Bryden (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 159, 184;4 see People v. Hill (1967) 66 Cal.2d
536, 562.) Indeed, "even otherwise prejudicial prosecutorial argument, when made
within proper limits in rebuttal to arguments of defense counsel, does not constitute
misconduct." (People v. McDaniel (1976) 16 Cal.3d 156, 177; People v. Hill, at pp. 560-
561 ["a prosecutor is justified in making comments in rebuttal, perhaps otherwise
improper, which are fairly responsive to argument of defense counsel and are based on
the record"].) In such circumstances, the prosecutor "cannot be charged with misconduct
if his comments only spill over somewhat into a forbidden area; the departure from
propriety must be a substantial one." (People v. Hill, at p. 561.) Thus, in People v. Hill,
the California Supreme Court held that misconduct cannot be based on a prosecutor's
remarks responsive to defense counsel's argument, as long as those remarks do not go
beyond the record. (People v. Hill, at p. 562; see also People v. Tully (2012) 54 Cal.4th
952, 1016.)
Here, Daniela's claimed sexual orientation was in evidence. It was not improper,
nor did it violate any pretrial evidentiary ruling (see footnote 3, ante), for the prosecutor
4 In Bryden, the prosecutor mentioned a key piece of evidence, a redacted prison
note between two inmates, in her opening statement and the note was admitted into
evidence. (People v. Bryden, supra, 63 Cal.App.4th at p. 184.) However, it was not until
the prosecutor's rebuttal closing argument that she presented a chart comparing the
evidence of the note with other evidence in more detail. (Ibid.) The Court of Appeal
rejected the defendant's claim of misconduct, stating that the prosecutor did not refer to
matters outside the record, but fairly responded to defense counsel's arguments. (Ibid.)
11
to draw a deduction from that fact in response to defense counsel's closing arguments
concerning consent. On this record, it cannot be said the prosecutor's brief reference was
so egregious that it infected the entire trial, rendering it fundamentally unfair. (Accord,
People v. Fernandez (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 540, 563.) This was not a situation, as in
People v. Robinson, supra, 31 Cal.App.4th 494, in which the prosecutor committed
numerous acts of misconduct, including by giving a "perfunctory . . . opening argument
designed to preclude effective defense reply, and then giv[ing] a 'rebuttal' argument—
immune from defense reply—10 times longer . . . than his opening argument."
(Robinson, 31 Cal.App.4th at p. 505.) Rather, the prosecutor gave a fair response to
Reyes's closing argument concerning Daniela's asserted consent to the sex acts. And in
Robinson, the appellate court's decision to reverse was based on the prosecutor's
misconduct both before and during trial, as well as error by the trial court in excluding
defense evidence. (Ibid.) Given our rejection below of Reyes's second claim of
prosecutor misconduct, no such cumulative error occurred here.
C. Asserted Misconduct in Explaining the Reasonable Doubt Standard
1. Background
Following the presentation of evidence, the trial court instructed the jury as to
reasonable doubt with CALCRIM No. 220 as follows: "A defendant in a criminal case is
presumed to be innocent. This presumption requires that the People prove a defendant
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Whenever I tell you that the People must prove
something, I mean they must prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. [¶] Proof beyond a
reasonable doubt is proof that leaves you with an abiding conviction that the charge is
12
true. The evidence need not eliminate all possible doubt, because everything in life is
open to some possible or imaginary doubt. [¶] In deciding whether the People have
proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, you must impartially compare and consider
all of the evidence that was received throughout the entire trial. Unless the evidence
proves a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, he is entitled to an acquittal and
you must find him not guilty."
During closing argument, defense counsel discussed Reyes's testimony and his
belief that the sex with Daniela was consensual, and argued that Reyes's only crime was
having sex with a minor. He argued: "[The People] have to prove it beyond a reasonable
doubt from Mr. Reyes, what he reasonably believed. And they have to prove that he
could not, beyond a reasonable doubt, reasonably believe that this young woman was
consenting to his sexual acts upon her. [¶] And reasonable doubt . . . they have to have
proof that leaves you with the abiding conviction that if you were to reach a guilty
verdict, you have to have an abiding conviction that that's the verdict. Not today, not
tomorrow. . . . [¶] And if someone a year from now came running in with one of those
cell phone videos . . . and everything is on video, you would have to be able to say, 'No.'
I have an abiding conviction that my verdict was true and I don't need to see it. But if
you want to see that video, if you have any reasonable doubt about what happened . . .
with Daniela, . . . if you have any reasonable doubt about what happened, even a little
reasonable doubt, then the verdict is not guilty."
13
During the prosecutor's closing rebuttal argument, the following colloquy
occurred:
"[The prosecutor]: Reasonable doubt is proof that leaves you with an abiding
conviction the charge is true. The evidence need not eliminate all possible doubt,
because everything in life is open to some doubt. Reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt
comes into play only if you have a reasonable doubt.
"[Defense counsel]: Objection. Misstates reasonable doubt. It always comes into
play.
"The Court: Ladies and gentlemen, you have the jury instruction, and that's
[CALCRIM No.] 220. It is reasonable doubt. It is defined in that instruction.
"[The prosecutor]: If you don't have a doubt that the defendant raped and
forcefully orally copulated Daniela, touched . . . Daniela in a rude manner . . . the concept
of reasonable doubt is not a problem and you vote guilty. Only if you have a doubt then
consider, is that doubt reasonable? Is it a possible doubt or a reasonable doubt?"5
2. Analysis
5 The prosecutor continued: "[Defense counsel] talked about it because I think that
I talked about it in opening or voir dire. Is it possible that I go home at night? I don't
know what the raceways are called here, but I go home and I get on my little silks and I
run to the horse racing arena and then I race like I'm Secretariat, which is really old. Is it
possible? Well, yeah. Everything is possible. Look at me. I'm not a horse jockey. First
of all, I'm too tall. And second of all, I don't think that I fit the weight requirements, but
don't tell my husband." Defense counsel made another objection: "Same objection.
Minimizing reasonable doubt." The court responded: "The jury has the instruction."
14
Pointing out prosecutors must not misstate the law in general and particularly may
not absolve the prosecution from its obligation to overcome reasonable doubt of the
elements of the offenses, Reyes argues the prosecutor's statement that reasonable doubt
"comes in play only if you have reasonable doubt" misstated and trivialized the role that
the standard plays in a criminal trial, and that her ensuing comments about possible doubt
and reasonable doubt "grossly oversimplified the central role of the reasonable doubt
standard in the jury's decision-making process." Reyes maintains the arguments lessened
the standard by "making it seem jurors would not need to take that standard into
consideration unless they had a doubt about the truth of the charge after tentatively
making a determination of guilt." The People respond that Reyes forfeited the issue by
failing to object on the specific ground of misconduct, but that the prosecutor did not
misstate the law in any event. They also maintain any error was harmless.
We observe that though Reyes's counsel objected to the prosecutor's comments on
grounds they misstated or minimized the standard, he did not object that the prosecutor's
statements constituted misconduct. Counsel forfeited any claim of prosecutorial
misconduct in connection with these remarks by failing to assign misconduct to the
prosecutor's statements. (Accord, People v. Thomas (2012) 54 Cal.4th 908, 938-939.)
Counsel has an obligation to state the "specific ground for an objection in order to
preserve the issue for appeal." (Id. at p. 938, citing People v. Stanley (2006) 39 Cal.4th
913, 952.)
But addressing the contention in any event, reversal is required only if, when the
complained-of comments are viewed in the context of the prosecutor's whole argument,
15
there is a "reasonable likelihood the jury understood or applied [them] in an improper or
erroneous manner." (People v. Wilson (2005) 36 Cal.4th 309, 337; People v. Dennis
(1998) 17 Cal.4th 468, 522 [the reviewing court must view the statements of a prosecutor
claimed to be misconduct in the context of the argument as a whole, not in isolation].) In
conducting this inquiry, " 'we "do not lightly infer" that the jury drew the most damaging
rather than the least damaging meaning from the prosecutor's statements.' " (Wilson, at p.
338.)
Reyes does not point to any indication in the record, and we have found none, that
as a result of the prosecutor's remarks, the jurors used the reasonable doubt standard to
evaluate doubts they may have had after preliminarily reaching a conclusion as to Reyes's
guilt rather than deciding whether the prosecution had met its burden to prove all
elements of the charged offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. Indeed, the jury's decision
that it could not reach a finding on count 5 or the multiple victim allegations (ante, fn. 2)
suggests it carefully applied the reasonable doubt standard in its deliberations. In any
event, with respect to the prosecutor's remarks, we observe that elsewhere, she told the
jurors to follow the law as stated in the court's instructions, and she correctly
characterized the applicable standard without objection from defense counsel, explaining
that the evidence had shown beyond a reasonable doubt, "not beyond all possible doubt"
or "a shadow of a doubt," that Reyes committed the alleged offenses. The court properly
instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 200 regarding its obligation to follow the law set
forth in the instructions, and to disregard attorney comments that were inconsistent with
the instructions. The jury was also instructed with CALCRIM No. 222, that "[n]othing
16
that the attorneys say is evidence," as well as CALCRIM No. 220, which correctly
instructed the jury about the presumption of innocence and the prosecutor's burden of
proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After the challenged statements by the
prosecutor, the court referred the jury back to its instructions.
Under the circumstances, we presume the jury followed the court's instructions.
(People v. Boyette (2002) 29 Cal.4th 381, 436; see also People v. Prince (2007) 40
Cal.4th 1179, 1295.) Nothing in the record rebuts or even tends to rebut that
presumption. " 'When [closing] argument runs counter to instructions given a jury, we
will ordinarily conclude that the jury followed the latter and disregarded the former, for
"[w]e presume that jurors treat the court's instructions as a statement of the law by a
judge, and the prosecutor's comments as words spoken by an advocate in an attempt to
persuade." ' " (People v. Centeno (2014) 60 Cal.4th 659, 676.)
Finally, even attributing some error in the prosecutor's comment, we conclude
Reyes has not shown it reasonably likely that he would have obtained a more favorable
verdict or better result absent the challenged statements. (People v. Blacksher (2011) 52
Cal.4th 769, 828, fn. 35.) We also conclude the challenged conduct was harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt. (Ibid.; People v. Cook (2006) 39 Cal.4th 566, 608.) The People's
evidence consisted of Daniela's testimony, as well as evidence that Reyes had lied to
police concerning his whereabouts that afternoon. He conceded to committing the sex
acts, defending only on grounds that Daniela consented. In our view, the fact Daniela
suffered no physical injuries does not render the case a close one on the issue of consent
as Reyes maintains, particularly when the examining nurse agreed such injury was not
17
always present. In light of the relatively strong evidence of Reyes's guilt, we cannot say
any purported misconduct was prejudicial.
II. Claim of Sentencing Error
Reyes contends the trial court sentenced him to life without the possibility of
parole under section 667.61, subdivision (l) under the mistaken belief it had no discretion
to impose a lesser sentence. Relying on the general proposition that a sentencing judge
has discretion to strike an enhancement under section 1385 (People v. Thomas (1992) 4
Cal.4th 206, 210) and other circumstances concerning the state of the law when
subdivision (l) took effect, Reyes argues section 667.61 gave the court discretion to strike
the true finding under subdivision (l) and impose a term of 15 years to life under section
667.61, subdivision (b). Because according to Reyes the sentence was not a true exercise
of the court's sentencing discretion, he asks that we remand the matter for resentencing so
the court can properly exercise its discretion.
A. Background
As we have summarized above, the jury found true special allegations that Reyes
committed the crimes of counts 1 and 2 "during the commission of burglary, with the
intent to commit forcible oral copulation and/or forcible rape, and that the victim was a
child 14 years of age or older and under 18 years of age at the time of the offense in
violation of . . . section 667.61, subdivision (l) . . . ." The jury separately found true
allegations under section 667.61, subdivisions (b) and (e) that Reyes "committed the
crime[s] . . . during the commission of burglary . . . ."
18
During Reyes's sentencing hearing, Reyes's counsel conceded, and the prosecutor
agreed, that Reyes's sentence was governed by statute, and that the court had no
discretion with respect to sentencing. Reyes's counsel, however, objected to the sentence
on grounds it was cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment to preserve possible
issues arising in the federal courts. The court proceeded to sentence Reyes on the
determinate counts, and then on the indeterminate counts and special allegations,
imposing life without the possibility of parole sentences on the findings under section
667.61, subdivision (l), and staying under section 654 the findings under section 667.61,
subdivisions (b) and (e).
B. Legal Principles
The "One Strike" law, section 667.61, is an alternative sentencing scheme that
applies to specified felony sex offenses. (People v. Anderson (2009) 47 Cal.4th 92, 102;
People v. Woods (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 461, 479 & fn. 14.) "The purpose of the One
Strike law is 'to ensure serious and dangerous sex offenders would receive lengthy prison
sentences upon their first conviction,' 'where the nature or method of the sex offense
"place[d] the victim in a position of elevated vulnerability." ' " (People v. Alvarado
(2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 178, 186.) As of September 2010 (Stats. 2010, ch. 219, § 16), the
One Strike law mandates imposition of a sentence of life without the possibility of parole
if the jury finds a person is convicted of one or more enumerated sexual offenses and also
has found true certain factual allegations concerning the manner in which the underlying
offense was committed (§ 667.61, subds. (d), (e)), when the victim is a minor who is 14
years old or older. (§ 667.61, subd. (c), (l); see, e.g., Anderson, at p. 102.)
19
Specifically, section 667.61, subdivision (l) provides: "Any person who is
convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (n) under one or more of the
circumstances specified in subdivision (d) or under two or more of the circumstances
specified in subdivision (e), upon a victim who is a minor 14 years of age or older shall
be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole.
If the person who was convicted was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, he
or she shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 25 years to life." As
relevant here, subdivision (n) "shall apply" to the offenses of forcible rape (§ 262, subd.
(a)(1)), and oral copulation under section 288a, subd. (c)(2). (§ 667.61, subd. (n).)
Under section 667.61, subdivision (d)(4), a defendant is subject to the harsher
sentence if he "is convicted of" a specified substantive sex offense under subdivision (n),
and also "committed the [offense] during the commission of a burglary of the first degree,
as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 460, with intent to commit an offense specified in
subdivision (c) [including forcible oral copulation and rape]." (§ 667.61, subds. (d)(4),
(l).)
Section 667.61, subdivision (g) provides: "Notwithstanding Section 1385 or any
other provision of law, the court shall not strike any allegation, admission, or finding of
any of the circumstances specified in subdivision (d) or (e) for any person who is subject
to punishment under this section."
The One Strike law provides that "[t]he penalties provided in this section shall
apply only if the existence of any circumstances specified in subdivision (d) or (e) is
20
alleged in the accusatory pleading pursuant to this section, and is either admitted by the
defendant in open court or found to be true by the trier of fact." (§ 667.61, subd. (o).)
C. Analysis
Section 1385, subdivision (a) gives a trial court authority to strike "in furtherance
of justice" factual allegations relevant to sentencing, including both enhancement
allegations and allegations that support an alternate sentencing scheme. (See People v.
Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 504, 518, 529-530 (Romero) [trial court
has power to strike or dismiss three strike allegations under the alternative sentencing
scheme of the "Three Strikes" law].) The Legislature may eliminate a court's power to
strike or dismiss sentencing allegations under section 1385 (id. at p. 518), but "we will
not interpret a statute as eliminating courts' power under section 1385 'absent a clear
legislative direction to the contrary.' " (Ibid.)
We conclude that section 667.61, subdivision (g) provides such clear legislative
direction. Subdivision (g) of section 667.61 begins with the phrase, "Notwithstanding
Section 1385 or any other provision of law . . . ." The California Supreme Court has said
that "[w]hen the Legislature intends for a statute to prevail over all contrary law, it
typically signals this intent by using phrases like 'notwithstanding any other law' or
'notwithstanding other provisions of law.' " (In re Greg F. (2012) 55 Cal.4th 393, 406.)
This phrase in a statute is a term of art which signals the legislative intent that the statute
control, override or displace contrary or conflicting law, or whatever law would
otherwise govern. (Greg F., at p. 406; Arias v. Superior Court (2009) 46 Cal.4th 969,
983; People v. Campos (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 438, 452.) And here, the Legislature
21
expressly intended to override the trial court's power under section 1385 by referencing
that statute. Having been pleaded, proven and found true by the jury, the section 667.61,
subdivision (d) circumstance of first degree burglary that gives rise to Reyes's sentence of
life without the possibility of parole under section 667.61, subdivision (l) "shall not" be
stricken. (§ 667.61, subd. (g); People v. Hammer (2003) 30 Cal.4th 756, 772 [Under
former section 667.61, subdivision (f), "courts have no . . . discretion [to 'strike' any
punishment-enhancing circumstance (including a prior strike conviction) in the interests
of justice]; sentencing under the full and severe terms of the law is mandatory"]; People
v. Estrada (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 1270, 1277 [under former section 667.61, subdivision
(f), trial court had no discretion to strike circumstance of first degree burglary under
section 661.61, subdivision (d) giving rise to 25-year-to-life sentence].)
We reject Reyes's argument concerning the Legislature's intent to retain the trial
court's section 1385 discretion in these circumstances. He maintains such intent is
reflected by the fact that when the Legislature amended section 667.61 in 2010 to include
subdivision (l), it did not also amend section 667.61, subdivision (g) to list subdivision (l)
within the findings that "shall not" be stricken.6 But here, the trial court's imposition of a
sentence of life without the possibility of parole under subdivision (l) necessarily
6 At oral argument, Reyes appears to have refined his argument to say that the trial
court had discretion under section 1385 to strike the specific allegation within section
667.61 subdivision (l) as to the victim's age. The attorney general asserted that this was
an entirely new argument, and we agree Reyes neither made nor developed this point in
his supplemental brief on the question. We decline to consider the argument as forfeited.
(See People v. Alexander (2010) 49 Cal.4th 846, 922 [claim forfeited by failing to raise
it in reply brief]; People v. Crow (1993) 6 Cal.4th 952, 960, fn. 7 [declining to address
22
depended on the jury's findings of the first degree burglary circumstance under
subdivision (d), which is specifically included in section 667.61, subdivision (g) as a
circumstance that shall not be stricken. The Legislature's failure to amend section
667.61, subdivision (g) as Reyes contends does not reflect any intent to grant a court
sentencing a defendant under subdivision (l) discretion under section 1385 to strike a
jury's findings supporting that sentence.
A court is "presumed to have been aware of and followed the applicable law"
when imposing a sentence. (People v. Mosley (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 489, 496.) The
burden is on Reyes to demonstrate that the court misunderstood its sentencing discretion.
(People v. White Eagle (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1511, 1523.) We conclude the court did
not misunderstand its discretion because the One Strike law does not permit the court to
exercise discretion under section 1385 to strike the factual finding giving rise to Reyes's
life without the possibility of parole sentence under section 667.61, subdivision (l).
III. Claim of Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Reyes contends his One Strike sentence of life without the possibility of parole for
committing two forcible sex offenses violates the proscriptions against cruel and unusual
punishment in the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I,
section 17 of the California Constitution. Because his counsel did not object to the
issue raised by defendant for the first time at oral argument]; In re Villa (2013) 214
Cal.App.4th 954, 963, fn. 6 [declining to consider attorney general's argument not
mentioned in return but raised for first time at oral argument]; People v. Dixon (2007)
153 Cal.App.4th 985, 996 [it is improper to raise issues for the first time at oral
argument].)
23
sentence under the California Constitution, Reyes argues his counsel was prejudicially
ineffective for failing to do so, since his life-without-the-possibility-of-parole sentence is
disproportionate to his offense under the applicable state standards. As we will explain,
we reject these contentions.
A. Eighth Amendment
The Eighth Amendment's ban on "cruel and unusual" punishment (U.S. Const., 8th
Amend.) embodies " 'the "precept of justice that punishment for crime should be
graduated and proportioned to [the] offense." ' " (In re Coley (2012) 55 Cal.4th 524, 538;
see Graham v. Florida (2011) 560 U.S. 48, 59.) In Coley, the California Supreme Court
stated: " '[T]he Eighth Amendment contains a "narrow proportionality principle," that
"does not require strict proportionality between crime and sentence" but rather "forbids
only extreme sentences that are 'grossly disproportionate' to the crime." ' " (Coley, 55
Cal.4th at p. 542, quoting Graham, at pp. 59-60; see also Harmelin v. Michigan (1991)
501 U.S. 957, 1001 (conc. opn. of Kennedy, J.), quoting Solem v. Helm (1983) 463 U.S.
277, 288.) "[U]nder the approach . . . , '[a] court must begin by comparing the gravity of
the offense and severity of the sentence. [Citation.] "[I]n the rare case in which [this]
threshold comparison . . . leads to an inference of gross disproportionality" the court
should then compare the defendant's sentence with the sentences received by other
offenders in the same jurisdiction and with the sentences imposed for the same crime in
other jurisdictions. [Citation.] If this comparative analysis "validate[s] an initial
judgment that [the] sentence is grossly disproportionate," the sentence is cruel and
unusual.' " (Coley, at p. 542, quoting Graham, at p. 60.)
24
Outside the death penalty context, " 'successful challenges to the proportionality of
particular sentences have been exceedingly rare.' " (Ewing v. California (2003) 538 U.S.
11, 21 (lead opn. of O'Connor, J.); see also Lockyer v. Andrade (2003) 538 U.S. 63, 73
[proportionality principle is "applicable only in the 'exceedingly rare' and 'extreme'
case"].) There is no question that "the fixing of prison terms for specific crimes involves
a substantive penological judgment that, as a general matter, is 'properly within the
province of legislatures, not courts.' " (Harmelin v. Michigan, supra, 501 U.S. at p. 998.)
It is for this reason that when faced with an allegation that a particular sentence amounts
to cruel and unusual punishment, "[r]eviewing courts . . . should grant substantial
deference to the broad authority that legislatures necessarily possess in determining the
types and limits of punishments for crimes . . . ." (Solem v. Helm, supra, 463 U.S. at p.
290.)
As we have summarized above, section 667.61, subdivision (l) mandates a
sentence of life without the possibility of parole for specified sex offenses against minors
that are committed under one or more aggravating circumstances. (§ 667.61, subd. (l).)
We have found no case deciding whether such a sentence imposed under section 667.61,
subdivision (l) constitutes cruel and/or unusual punishment. However, appellate courts
have upheld the constitutionality of indeterminate prison terms imposed under the One
Strike law against such challenges under the cruel and unusual punishment prohibition
under the Eighth Amendment in cases where the defendants committed rape in the
commission of a burglary done with the intent to commit another sex crime.
25
In People v. Crooks (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 797, 805-809, the Court of Appeal
rejected the defendant's challenge to his 25-years-to-life sentence for committing a rape
while engaged in the commission of a first degree burglary with the intent to commit that
kind of rape. (Crooks, at p. 804.) The Crooks court pointed out that in Harmelin v.
Michigan, a defendant was lawfully sentenced to life without parole for possessing a
large quantity of drugs. (Harmelin v. Michigan, supra, 501 U.S. at pp. 961, 994-995
(lead opn. of Scalia, J.); see also id. at pp. 1008-1009 ["The dangers flowing from drug
offenses and the circumstances of the crime committed here demonstrate that the
Michigan penalty scheme does not surpass constitutional bounds"] (conc. opn. of
Kennedy, J.).) Because the defendant in Crooks was a "forcible rapist" who had received
a lesser sentence, the sentence was not grossly disproportionate to the more serious
crimes. (Crooks, at p. 806.) Crooks also relied upon the majority opinion in Solem v.
Helm, supra, 463 U.S. 296. (Crooks, 55 Cal.App.4th at p. 806.) Though the court in
Solem invalidated a life sentence in view of the "passive" nature of the defendant's
fraudulent check writing (Solem, at p. 296), the majority acknowledged that a life
sentence for other violent criminals would pass constitutional muster. (Crooks, at p. 806,
citing Solem, 463 U.S. at p. 299, fn. 26.) The Crooks court held that the defendant's
sentence did not violate the Eighth Amendment.
In People v. Alvarado, the appellate court considered an Eighth Amendment
challenge to the 15-year-to-life sentence of a defendant who was convicted of rape during
the commission of a burglary under section 667.61, subdivision (e)(2). (People v.
Alvarado, 87 Cal.App.4th at pp. 183, 185.) Alvarado pointed out that subdivision (e)(2)
26
"reflects a legislative finding that the victims of a residential burglary are more
vulnerable because they are inside a structure rather than out in public" and that the
Legislature "sought to deter by harsher punishment those who burglarize homes and
exploit the vulnerability of people inside to commit sex offenses." (Id. at pp. 186, 187.)
Addressing the defendant's claim that his sentence was roughly the same as for second
degree murder, the court stated, "Although the finality of the consequences of second
degree murder make that crime categorically different from rape during a burglary, the
double trauma of having one's home invaded and then being sexually violated is
substantial. Moreover, second degree murder does not require a specific intent to kill or
commit a felony and requires only that a person willfully and knowingly perform an act
dangerous to life with conscious disregard for life. [Citation.] On the other hand, rape
during a burglary reflects that the person decided to enter another's residence for a
felonious purpose and also decided to commit a sexual assault inside. Contrary to
defendant's argument, we cannot say that punishing such conduct as severely as second
degree murder is either shocking or outrageous." (Id. at p. 200.) Finally, the court
observed: "Clearly, California has taken the most aggressive approach toward punishing
and deterring rape during the commission of a burglary. As defendant asserts, it imposes
the longest terms with the least amount of judicial discretion. However, the fact,
acknowledged by defendant, that some other jurisdictions allow for the same or even
harsher punishment (Louisiana and Washington) indicates that in the abstract, the One
Strike term imposed here is not irrational or obviously excessive punishment for rape
during a burglary. The fact that the sentence is mandatory merely reflects the
27
Legislature's zero tolerance toward the commission of sexual offenses against particularly
vulnerable victims. It does not, however, render a defendant's sentence excessive as a
matter of law in every case." (Id. at pp. 200-201.) Referring to Harmelin v. Michigan,
supra, 501 U.S. 957 and other cases, Alvarado concluded the defendant had failed to
show his sentence was so disproportionate to his crime as to shock the conscience or
offend fundamental notions of human dignity. (Alvarado, at p. 201.)
The analyses of the courts in Crooks and Alvarado inform us in addressing Reyes's
challenge. Looking to the gravity of Reyes's offenses and comparing them to his life
without the possibility of parole sentence mandated by the Legislature, we are not
persuaded that the comparison gives rise to an inference of gross disproportionality. We
recognize that Reyes's sentence is very severe. (Harmelin v. Michigan, supra, 501 U.S.
at p. 1001 [sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is "the second
most severe penalty permitted by law"]; see Graham v. Florida, supra, 560 U.S. at p. 69.)
But the offenses for which Reyes was punished—forcible rape and forcible oral
copulation—were not only found to have occurred during the commission of a residential
burglary, but also were committed against a minor, society's most vulnerable victims. In
People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, the California Supreme Court stated: "Above and
beyond the protection afforded to all victims of sexual assault, the Legislature has
determined that children are uniquely susceptible to 'outrage' and exploitation. Hence,
special laws on the subject of sex with children have been enacted. They expand the
kinds of acts which may be deemed criminal sexual misconduct, and they generally
28
operate without regard to force, fear, or consent." (Id. at pp. 341-342; see also In re M.V.
(2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 1495, 1521-1522.)
We accept and defer to the California Legislature's judgment that sex crimes
against minors, when they occur in connection with other offenses such as burglary that
pose a heightened danger to human life (People v. Estrada, supra, 57 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1281), are very grave offenses that warrant severe punishment. It is of no moment that
Reyes did not use violence or physically injure Daniela; he did not have to hurt her in
order to do permanent psychological damage. And, in view of Harmelin v. Michigan in
particular, in which the high court upheld a life without parole sentence for a defendant
with no prior felony convictions who possessed a large quantity of drugs (Harmelin v.
Michigan, supra, 501 U.S. at pp. 961, 994-995, 1008-1009), we reject Reyes's claim that
his punishment is disproportionate because it treats him more severely than criminals
who have committed more serious crimes. In his concurring opinion in Harmelin, Justice
Kennedy shed light on the policy judgment inherent in a proportionality decision: "[A]
rational basis exists for Michigan to conclude that petitioner's crime [of possessing a
large quantity of cocaine] is as serious and violent as the crime of felony murder without
specific intent to kill, a crime for which 'no sentence of imprisonment would be
disproportionate.' " (Id. at p. 1004.) In this case, we conclude it is reasonable to place
Reyes's conduct in the same kind of analysis. In our view, this is not the rare case giving
rise to an inference that Reyes's sentence is grossly disproportionate given the gravity of
Reyes's crimes, in which he broke into a person's home and, with intent to do so, forcibly
raped and orally copulated a 14-year-old minor. Having reached this conclusion, we do
29
not reach the other prongs of the analysis under the Eighth Amendment. (People v.
Coley, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 542; Graham v. Florida, supra, 560 U.S. at p. 60.)
B. California Constitution
Despite counsel's failure to object to Reyes's sentence under the California
Constitution, we will address the merits of Reyes's contention to show counsel was not
constitutionally ineffective by failing to make a futile or meritless objection. (People v.
Weaver (2001) 26 Cal.4th 876, 931; People v. Cudjo (1993) 6 Cal.4th 585, 616 ["Because
there was no sound legal basis for objection, counsel's failure to object to the admission
of the evidence cannot establish ineffective assistance"]; People v. Noriega (2015) 237
Cal.App.4th 991, 1003.) We conclude here that any objection under the California
Constitution would have been without merit.
A prison sentence will violate the prohibition against cruel or unusual punishment
under the California Constitution (art. I, § 17) where " 'it is so disproportionate to the
crime for which it is inflicted that it shocks the conscience and offends fundamental
notions of human dignity.' " (People v. Dillon (1983) 34 Cal.3d 441, 478; see also
People v. Boyce (2014) 59 Cal.4th 672, 718-719.) A defendant has a "considerable
burden" to show a punishment is cruel or unusual under the California Constitution.
(People v. Wingo (1975) 14 Cal.3d 169, 174.) "The doctrine of separation of powers is
firmly entrenched in the law of California, and a court should not lightly encroach on
matters which are uniquely the domain of the Legislature. Perhaps foremost among these
are the definition of crime and the determination of punishment." (Ibid.) Thus, " '[o]nly
in the rarest of cases could a court declare that the length of a sentence mandated by the
30
Legislature is unconstitutionally excessive[.]' " (People v. Meneses (2011) 193
Cal.App.4th 1087, 1093.)
To determine whether a particular sentence is disproportionate to the offense for
which it is imposed, we first examine "the nature of the offense and/or the offender, with
particular regard to the degree of danger both present to society." (In re Lynch (1972) 8
Cal.3d 410, 425; People v. Dillon, supra, 34 Cal.3d at p. 479; People v. O'Connor (1986)
188 Cal.App.3d 645, 648.) "A look at the nature of the offense includes a look at the
totality of the circumstances, including motive, the way the crime was committed, the
extent of the defendant's involvement, and the consequences of defendant's acts. A look
at the nature of the offender includes an inquiry into whether 'the punishment is grossly
disproportionate to the defendant's individual culpability as shown by such factors as his
age, prior criminality, personal characteristics, and state of mind.' " (People v.
Thongvilay (1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 71, 88.) We next compare the punishment imposed
with punishments prescribed by California law for more serious offenses. (Lynch, at
pp. 426-427.) Finally, we compare the punishment imposed with punishments prescribed
by other jurisdictions for the same offense. (Id. at pp. 427-429.)
Reyes points out he was 35 years old when he committed the offenses of counts 1
and 2. His record shows he was arrested for illegal entry into the United States and
subject to deportation proceedings in 2002 and 2004, and he had prior arrests in 2002
with no disposition noted. He points out there is no indication in his prior record that he
committed prior sex offenses, and his probation officer scored him in the low risk
category for being charged with or convicted of another sexual offense if he were
31
released into the public at the time of his sentencing. Though Reyes acknowledges his
convictions in count 1 and 2 are serious offenses, he refers to the absence of injury or
trauma on Daniela's examination and maintains his conduct in committing the crimes was
"not unusually egregious." He argues that, viewing the evidence used to convict him,
"nothing about it justifies the most severe sentence a court can impose for criminal
conduct, short of death."
Reyes further argues his sentence is commensurate with that required for a first
degree murder with special circumstances depending on the circumstances under which
the murder was committed, and that had he killed Daniela while committing the crimes
against her, his punishment would likely be the same (and not a sentence of death), given
his minimal criminal history and the absence of evidence he inflicted physical injury. He
argues that under the circumstances, his punishment of life without the possibility of
parole is disproportionate because it treats him more severely than criminals who have
committed more serious crimes. Finally, Reyes points to a federal sentencing treatise for
statistics of other industrialized nations that either do not permit life without the
possibility of parole sentences, use it sparingly, or do not permit it to be mandatory.
In addressing the first prong, we are not persuaded by Reyes's attempt to minimize
his personal criminal history and the nature of his offenses against Daniela. Though his
history is without prior convictions for sex offenses, it is not devoid of criminality, and
given the fact he forced his way into a residence intending to commit heinous multiple
sex offenses against a minor, the nature and severe consequences of his offenses do not
suggest a violation of the California Constitution's proscription against cruel or unusual
32
punishment. (Accord, People v. Martinez (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th 489, 492 [defendant's
lack of a prior record was "not determinative" given the extremely violent and dangerous
behavior in committing attempted murder with personal use of a firearm].) Though
Reyes does not overtly compare himself to the defendant in People v. Dillon, supra, 34
Cal.3d 441, he cites it as an example of a case in which the sentence was determined to
violate constitutional limits. In Dillon, the California Supreme Court reduced a life
sentence for first degree murder to manslaughter where the 17-year-old defendant with no
criminal record shot a man he thought was about to shoot him. (Dillon, at pp. 482-483,
488.) Unlike Dillon, Reyes is a mature adult, not an "unusually immature youth" who
was responding to a suddenly developing situation in which he perceived immediate
danger. (Id. at p. 488.) And, Reyes was in complete control of the situation, his actions
were unprovoked, and he instigated multiple forcible sex offenses against Daniela.
(Accord, People v. Guinn (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 1130, 1146-1147.) Dillon does not
compel a conclusion that Reyes's punishment is excessive.
As for the comparison of other punishments for more serious offenses under
California law, Reyes does not fare any better. As the court in People v. Crooks pointed
out, the Legislature has made offenses not involving homicide punishable by life
imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and such sentences are not cruel or
unusual in view of the fact they involve an "inherent danger to the life of the victim . . .
33
even if no death occurs." (People v. Crooks, supra, 55 Cal.App.4th at pp. 807-808.)7 In
People v. Estrada, the appellate court rejected the defendant's claim of cruel or unusual
punishment under the California Constitution where the defendant was sentenced to 25
years to life under section 667.61 for committing a rape and a first degree burglary with
the intent to commit the forcible rape. (Estrada, supra, 57 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1277-
1282.) The court rejected the defendant's argument that California punished other more
culpable crimes, i.e., second degree murder, less severely than rape in the course of a
burglary: "[C]omparing a defendant who commits both forcible rape and residential
burglary with the intent to commit forcible rape to a defendant who commits an
unpremeditated murder ignores the fact the first defendant committed two offenses, not
just one, and committed the burglary for the purpose of committing the rape." (Id. at p.
1282.) The Estrada court also acknowledged the Legislature's decision to punish certain
non-homicide crimes with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. (Id. at p.
1281.)
Estrada observed that the punishment under the One Strike law "is precisely
tailored to fit crimes bearing certain clearly defined characteristics." (People v. Estrada,
supra, 57 Cal.App.4th at p. 1280.) That is true as to subdivision (l) at issue here, where
7 "The Legislature has chosen to make other offenses not involving homicide
punishable by life imprisonment without possibility of parole: kidnapping for the purpose
of ransom, extortion or robbery with bodily harm short of death (§ 209, subd. (a)) and
attempted train wrecking (§ 218). Such sentences have been found not to constitute cruel
or unusual punishment because the Legislature could reasonably decide that crimes
which involve an inherent danger to the life of the victim are particularly heinous even if
no death occurs." (People v. Crooks, supra, 55 Cal.App.4th at pp. 807-808, fn. omitted.)
34
to impose the life without parole term, the crime must be one of sexual violence and
committed under circumstances increasing the risk of injury or death to the victim and
committed against a minor 14 years or older. "Thus, unlike [the defendant in Dillon,
Reyes] cannot claim he is the victim of an indiscriminate sentencing scheme which metes
out the same punishment for a broadly defined offense regardless of the circumstances
surrounding the commission of the offense." (Estrada, at p. 1280.) Estrada finally
observed the section 667.61 crime involved a high degree of danger to personal safety,
warranting severe punishment: "Burglary of an inhabited dwelling also poses a risk to
human life. . . . When we add to the risk of residential burglary the risk of rape by
means of 'force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily
injury' (§ 261, subd. (a)(2)) it is clear the punishment of life with the possibility of parole
after 25 years is not constitutionally out of line with other California punishments." (Id.
at pp. 1281-1282.) In this case, when we consider these circumstances, and add to them
the fact the victim is a 14-year-old minor, the Legislature's decision to impose a sentence
of life without the possibility of parole under section 667.61, subdivision (l) is not so
disproportionate as to shock the conscious and offend fundamental notions of human
dignity, and thus not constitutionally infirm.
Finally, we reject Reyes's contentions as to the final prong of the analysis. Reyes
argues his sentence is out of line with other industrialized nations. But the relevant
comparison under the California Constitution is to other jurisdictions within the United
States (see In Re Debeque (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 241, 255), and Reyes does not
undertake that inquiry. While California has taken what has been described as an
35
"aggressive approach" reflecting a "zero tolerance toward the commission of sexual
offenses against particularly vulnerable victims," this fact alone "does not . . . render a
defendant's sentence excessive as a matter of law . . . ." (People v. Alvarado, supra, 87
Cal.App.4th at pp. 200-201.) Because Reyes "makes no effort to compare his sentence
with . . . punishments in other states for the same offense" we take it "as a concession
that his sentence withstands [that] constitutional challenge . . . . " (People v. Retanan
(2007) 154 Cal.App.4th 1219, 1231, italics added; accord, People v. Russell (2010) 187
Cal.App.4th 981, 995, citing People v. Sullivan (2007) 151 Cal.App.4th 524, 572.)8
Even if only a few states had comparable punishments, that would not compel a
different result. As the California Supreme Court stated in People v. Wingo, California is
not "concerned . . . with conforming our Penal Code to the 'majority rule' or the least
common denominator of penalties nationwide. . . . [O]ur codes have served as a model
for the nation rather than a mere mirror of the laws of other jurisdictions . . . ." (People v.
Wingo, supra, 14 Cal.3d at p. 179; see also In Re Debeque, supra, 212 Cal.App.3d at
8 We note the state of Louisiana mandates life in prison at hard labor without the
possibility for parole for aggravated rape, which includes penetration of a minor, even for
a first time offense. (See La. R.S. § 14:42(D)(1); State v. Albert (2005) 914 So.2d 574,
579; State v. Taylor (2002) 821 So.2d 633, 642.) Likewise, Florida imposes a mandatory
sentence of life without the possibility of parole for capital sexual battery, including oral
copulation, on a child under the age of twelve. (Fla. Stat. §§ 794:011, 775:082(1);
Adaway v. State (Fla. 2005) 902 So.2d 746, 747-748, 750, 752.) The United States
Supreme Court recently held that Florida's capital sentencing scheme within Florida
Statutes Annotated section 775:082(1), in which an advisory jury makes a
recommendation to a judge, who makes the critical findings needed for imposition of a
death sentence, violated the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. (Hurst v. Florida
(2016) ___ U.S. ___ [2016 WL 112683].) The decision does not affect the life without
parole sentences upheld against constitutional excessiveness challenges in Adaway v.
State, supra, 902 So.2d 746.
36
p. 255.) The fact California's sentencing under these circumstances is relatively severe
does not change our conclusion. Reyes has not demonstrated his sentence of life without
the possibility of parole is so "disproportionate to the crime for which it is inflicted that it
shocks the conscience and offends fundamental notions of human dignity." (In re Lynch,
supra, 8 Cal.3d at p. 424.)
IV. Amendment of Abstract of Judgment
The People ask us to order the trial court to modify the abstract of judgment to
reflect in section 2 of the Judicial Council form (CR-292) the jury's true findings on the
allegations under section 667.61, subdivision (l) attached to counts 1 and 2 as well as the
court's oral pronouncement of judgment on those counts, and to indicate by checking a
box in section 8 of that form that Reyes was sentenced under that section. Reyes
concedes these modifications are proper, and also agrees with the People's assertion that
the trial court sentenced him to two life terms without the possibility of parole, but
intended to stay one of those terms under section 654. We agree the abstract of judgment
must be so modified to reflect Reyes's sentencing under section 667.61, subdivision (l)
and order the trial court to correct the abstract of judgment accordingly.
DISPOSITION
The matter is remanded and the trial court ordered to modify the abstract of
judgment to reflect the jury's true findings on the allegations under Penal Code section
667.61, subdivision (l) attached to counts 1 and 2 as well as the court's oral
37
pronouncement of judgment on those counts, and to indicate by checking a box in section
8 of the abstract of judgment that Leonel Lopez Reyes was sentenced under that section.
As so modified, the judgment is affirmed. The clerk of the superior court is directed to
prepare an amended abstract of judgment in these respects, and forward a certified copy
of it to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
O'ROURKE, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
IRION, J.
38
People v. Reyes
Court: California Court of Appeal
Date filed: 2016-03-30
Citations: 246 Cal. App. 4th 62
Copy CitationsCombined Opinion