Filed 11/10/20 P. v. Frasco CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E070910
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1605314)
MIGUEL CORTES FRASCO, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Samuel Diaz, Jr. Judge.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part with directions.
Julie Anne Swain and Julie Swain for Defendant and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Michael Pulos and Kathryn
Kirschbaum, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
1
I.
INTRODUCTION
Defendant and appellant, Miguel Frasco, Jr., appeals from judgment entered
following jury convictions for domestic violence (Pen. Code, § 273.5, subd. (a); counts 1
& 2); false imprisonment (Pen. Code, § 236; count 3); assault with a firearm (Pen. Code,
§ 245, subd. (a)(2); counts 5 & 8); possession of a firearm (Pen. Code, § 29800, subd.
(a)(1); counts 6 & 10); domestic battery (Pen. Code, § 243, subd. (c)(1); count 7); making
a criminal threat (Pen. Code, § 422; count 9); stalking while under a restraining order
(Pen. Code, § 646.9, subd. (b); count 11); and intentional violation of a protective order
1
(Pen. Code, § 273.6, subd. (a); counts 12, 13, & 14). The jury also found true
allegations as to counts 3 and 9, that defendant personally used a firearm (Pen. Code, §§
12022.5, subd. (a), 1192.7, subd. (c)(8)). The trial court sentenced defendant to 12 years
in prison.
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in permitting expert
testimony on intimate partner battering as propensity evidence. Defendant also argues
the trial court erred in excluding evidence of text messages from the victim to defendant,
and the trial court abused its discretion by denying defendant’s request to present
surrebuttal evidence. Defendant further contends the court-ordered fines and fees must
be reversed and the matter remanded under People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th
1157 (Dueñas) for an ability to pay hearing.
1
Count 4 was dismissed by motion of the People.
2
We reject defendant’s evidentiary challenges but reverse the trial court’s order
imposing fines and fees, and remand the matter to the trial court with directions to
conduct a hearing to determine whether defendant is able to pay the court-ordered fines
and fees. The judgment is affirmed in all other respects.
II.
FACTS
Defendant and M.M. began dating in March 2015. They never married but had a
child together, born in June 2016. Defendant and M.M. lived together on and off.
Beginning in July 2015, they lived in a guesthouse on defendant’s parents’ property.
Defendant began physically abusing M.M. in September 2015, about the time M.M.
became pregnant with the couple’s daughter.
A. September 5, 2015 Incident (Count 1)
In September 2015, M.M. went out to dinner and to a few clubs with a girlfriend.
M.M. invited defendant to join them but he did not want to go. While M.M. was out,
defendant sent M.M. numerous texts insulting her, calling her a “whore,” and suggesting
she was going out to have sex with other men. When M.M. arrived home at 4:00 a.m. on
September 5, 2015, defendant was waiting for her at the front gate of her house. He
grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the house. He then started yelling at M.M.,
punched her with a closed fist on the left side of her face, and hit her two more times,
causing M.M. to fall to the ground. Defendant dragged M.M. by her hair while
continuing to punch and kick her.
3
Defendant’s parents heard M.M. screaming and yelled at defendant from outside
the house to stop. M.M. got up and ran out the door to defendant’s parents’ adjacent
house. M.M. screamed for defendant’s niece to help her. The niece took M.M. to her
bedroom and locked the door. Defendant followed M.M. into his parents’ home and
banged on the niece’s bedroom door. He demanded the niece open the door and
threatened to break it down. When the niece relented and unlocked the door, defendant
entered. He hit and repeatedly slapped M.M., pulled her hair, and spat in her face.
Defendant told his mother he was attacking M.M. because she was a whore for coming
home so late. Eventually defendant stopped and left his parents’ home. He went to the
guesthouse (M.M.’s home) and burned M.M.’s clothing and other belongings.
Later that day, defendant stopped by and apologized to M.M. M.M. sustained a
black eye and three bumps on her head from the incident. She did not report the incident
to the police until almost a year later, in August 2016.
B. January 6, 2016 Incident (Count 2)
On January 6, 2016, defendant and M.M. went to dinner at the Market Broiler
M.M. was about six weeks pregnant. During dinner, defendant argued with M.M. and
called her names. M.M. left the restaurant and went next door to Marie Callender’s.
Defendant followed her. M.M. went into the restroom to avoid defendant. While
banging on the restroom door, defendant told M.M. to come out and said he was waiting
for her. Scared, M.M. called her sister, Nora, and asked her to pick her up. Defendant
entered the restroom, kicked in M.M.’s stall door, and broke the stall door latch. When
4
M.M. screamed, defendant grabbed her face and mouth, and pushed her up against the
wall. M.M. bit defendant’s hand. Defendant demanded M.M.’s phone, which M.M. gave
to him. Defendant then left. M.M.’s mouth and face were injured. M.M. took pictures
of her face injuries but did not report the incident until August 2016. Later, defendant
apologized.
C. March 2016 Incident (Counts 3, 5, & 6)
In March 2016, while M.M. was pregnant, M.M. and defendant argued, and M.M.
told defendant she was leaving him. Defendant told M.M. she could leave but their baby
had to stay with him. Defendant locked the front door and would not let her leave.
Defendant drafted an agreement stating that M.M. was giving up her rights to their child
and agreeing that the child would live with defendant. Defendant demanded M.M. sign
the agreement. M.M. refused to sign it. Defendant retrieved his gun from the nightstand,
held it to M.M.’s head, and pushed the gun into M.M.’s temple. M.M. began crying,
hyperventilating, and coughing, and then ran to the bathroom to throw up. Defendant
apologized and made M.M. a cup of tea.
Shortly after the March incident, M.M. moved in with her parents. She also went
to court to obtain a restraining order but did not follow through with it because defendant
told her things would change.
D. June 12, 2016 Incident (Count 7)
On June 12, 2016, M.M. and defendant went to a prenatal doctor appointment.
M.M. went by herself because defendant was not ready to leave on time, and defendant
5
showed up late, after the appointment was over. Defendant and M.M. argued outside the
doctor’s office and as they went to the parking lot. Defendant asked for the keys to his
car. M.M. threw the keys on the ground. Defendant grabbed M.M. She told him to
leave her alone. As M.M. walked away, defendant grabbed M.M.’s cup of iced coffee
and threw her drink on her back. M.M. ran away. Defendant chased her and placed her
in a headlock and yelled in her ear. A woman driving by stopped, got out of her car,
yelled at defendant to leave M.M. alone, and offered to give M.M. a ride. M.M. got in
the woman’s car and was dropped off at M.M.’s sister’s workplace.
E. June 19, 2016 Incident (Counts 8, 9, & 10)
While M.M. was hospitalized for a couple of days after the birth of defendant and
M.M.’s child in June 2016, defendant and M.M. began arguing when M.M. was about to
be discharged. M.M. told defendant she wanted to take the baby to her parents’ house so
they could help her with the baby. Defendant wanted M.M. and the baby to go to his
house. Defendant threw a water bottle at M.M. M.M. started to cry. Defendant and
M.M. went with the baby to defendant’s house but M.M. then took the baby to her
parents’ (MGPs) house. She told defendant she and the baby would return in a few
hours.
When defendant thought M.M. and the baby had not returned quickly enough, he
went to MGPs’ house and grabbed the baby from M.M. Defendant pulled up his shirt to
show M.M. his gun in his belt. M.M. tried to call the police but got a busy signal. M.M.
feared defendant would shoot someone. M.M.’s mother (MGM) pleaded with defendant
6
to return the baby and M.M.’s father (MGF) told M.M. to call the police again. When
M.M. called again and defendant heard M.M. speaking to the 911 operator, he handed the
baby to MGM. Defendant then pulled out his gun, cocked it, pointed it at M.M., and told
her she was going to “pay for this.”
By the time the police arrived, defendant had left. M.M. reported the incident to
the police but said she did not want to press charges because she feared it would make
him angrier with her. A few days later defendant sent M.M. flowers and chocolates and
apologized. M.M. was hopeful defendant would change and continued living with him
on and off.
F. September 12, 2016 Incident (Counts 12, 13, & 14)
In August 2016, M.M. filed for a restraining order, during which M.M. reported
defendant’s acts of physical abuse summarized above. Defendant repeatedly violated the
restraining order, which prohibited defendant from any contact with M.M., directly or
indirectly.
On September 12, 2016, M.M. took her daughter to Walmart with her two sisters,
Nora and Sally. On their way there, M.M. thought she saw defendant following them but
was not sure. As M.M. and her sisters were leaving the Walmart parking lot in Nora’s
car, another car drove in front of Nora’s car and cut her off. M.M. noticed the car was
defendant’s car and defendant was in the car. M.M. told her sisters the car was
defendant’s car. While defendant was stopped in front of Walmart, Nora drove up to
defendant’s car and Sally told defendant, “‘Stop following us.’” M.M. and her sisters
7
then drove away. Defendant called Nora, who had Bluetooth in the car. M.M. heard
defendant say, “‘What the f*** you mean I’m following you guys? You’re not that
f****ing important.’” Nora told him not to call again and hung up. Defendant continued
to call back but Nora did not answer his calls. He then started texting Nora five minutes
later.
G. November 2016 Incidents (Count 11)
On November 2, 2016, M.M. reported to the police that defendant had been
repeatedly calling her and leaving voicemail messages, in violation of the restraining
order. During one call, defendant said, “‘You f***ing bitch.’” During another call, he
left a message stating, “‘You’ll see what’s going to happen bitch.’”
On November 11, 2016, M.M. again reported to the police that defendant had been
sending her text messages, in violation of the restraining order. One such text stated,
“‘We’ll see who is going to laugh last. See what happens to who.’” M.M. testified the
text messages made her feel harassed, threatened, and fearful.
H. Expert Testimony on Domestic Violence
Police Detective Christian Vaughn, who trained officers and professionals in the
field of domestic violence, testified as an expert for the prosecution. He testified
regarding the Power and Control Wheel, which he stated is based on a study of domestic
violence victims. He also testified regarding the Cycle of Violence, which he explained
represents the various stages commonly occurring in domestic violence cases. Detective
Vaughn stated he was familiar with the common characteristics of domestic violence
8
abusers described in the Power and Control Wheel. Those behaviors of abusers include
“‘Using Coercion and Threats,’” “‘Using Intimidation,’” “‘Using Emotional Abuse,’”
“‘Using Isolation,’” “‘Using Children,’” and “‘Using Male Privilege.’”
Detective Vaughn further explained that victims of domestic violence do not
always report to the police every incident, and there are no common characteristics of a
domestic violence victim. Detective Vaughn acknowledged that, as an expert witness, he
could not comment on the dynamics of the instant case. He could only provide generic or
general testimony regarding domestic violence.
I. Defense Testimony
Defendant testified on his own behalf. He denied all of M.M.’s accusations that
he had committed acts of violence against her. He also denied ever keeping M.M. from
her family. Defendant testified the incident M.M. described happening at Marie
Callender’s never happened, and he never had a gun. Defendant denied ever requesting
M.M. to sign any documents at gunpoint. As to the doctor appointment incident, M.M.
threw keys at him, the coffee spilled on both of them, and he followed M.M. in an
attempt to return the keys to M.M. Defendant denied ever putting M.M. in a headlock.
As to the incident two days after their child’s birth, defendant went to MGPs’ home to
take the baby so his family could visit with the child. Defendant stated that, because
M.M. and her family accused him of kidnapping the baby when he tried to take the baby,
he handed the baby to MGM and left. Defendant testified he was not following M.M.
and her sisters to the Walmart and never texted Nora. However, Sheriff’s Deputy
9
Cunanan testified that in September 2016, defendant admitted he had called Nora and
told her he wasn’t following her, and then texted Nora.
Defendant further testified that M.M. threatened to keep their child from him, and
sent him e-mails and texts calling him names, telling him people would always believe a
woman, and telling him he would not be able to see his daughter. Defendant testified
M.M. sent an email stating that she was going to report he hit her and threatened to kill
her and the baby, and she would be happy to see him in prison. In response, M.M. denied
sending defendant the e-mails and texts.
Defendant acknowledged being arrested and convicted in 2005 of possessing
narcotics while in possession of a firearm. M.M. acknowledged being convicted in 2009
of selling methamphetamine and lying to the police about her driver’s license, which had
been suspended. M.M. also admitted that while dating defendant, she had used
methamphetamine but it did not prevent her from remembering the incidents that
occurred during that time.
III.
EVIDENCE OF INTIMATE PARTNER BATTERING
Defendant contends The trial court erred in allowing expert testimony on domestic
violence. We disagree.
A. Procedural Background
The People filed a motion in limine requesting the trial court to permit Detective
Vaughn to testify as an expert on domestic violence. The People stated in their written
10
motion that they intended to use his testimony to educate the jury regarding the Power
and Control Wheel, Cycle of Violence, and domestic violence victims’ common
behaviors, such as victims avoiding or delaying reporting abuse to law enforcement and
victims recanting their initial statements in order to protect the abuser. It was undisputed
Detective Vaughn qualified as a domestic violence expert.
The trial court stated that Detective Vaughn could educate the jury on domestic
violence but could not provide any opinion testimony on whether defendant committed
the charged crimes. The prosecutor agreed and noted Detective Vaughn had not been
involved in the investigation of defendant’s crimes and did not know the parties. The
prosecutor stated that Detective Vaughn’s testimony would assist the jury in determining
M.M.’s credibility and why she delayed reporting most of the incidents right after they
occurred. Defense counsel objected to Detective Vaughn testifying because domestic
violence is not a recognized science and is “just science at best.” Defense counsel
asserted that Detective Vaughn’s testimony would be of de minimis probative value and
prejudicially impugn defendant’s character. After reviewing case law on the subject, the
trial court stated it would review Detective Vaughn’s CV, and assuming it showed he
qualified as an expert, the court would allow his testimony under Evidence Code section
1107, subdivision (a).
At trial, Detective Vaughn testified regarding intimate partner battering, including
discussing common misconceptions and myths about batterers and victims. He stated
that, based on his experience, it is common for domestic violence victims to remain in
11
situations they know are bad and it is also common for victims not to report abuse to the
police. Detective Vaughn further discussed the power and control wheel, the cycle of
violence in abusive relationships, and dynamics of power and control. Detective Vaughn
stated typical behaviors used by abusers, including threatening and isolating victims from
their friends and family. Detective Vaughn explained that victims typically attempt to
“keep the peace” to avoid upsetting the abuser. Victims often stay with an abuser out of
love or hope the abuser will change, or because the victim does not want to be
responsible for breaking up their family. Detective Vaughn stated that he did not
investigate or have anything to do with defendant’s case.
B. Law on Admissibility of Domestic Violence Expert Testimony
Evidence Code section 801, subdivision (a), allows expert testimony on subjects
“sufficiently beyond common experience that the opinion of an expert would assist the
trier of fact.” Expert witness testimony on domestic abuse “cannot be admitted to prove
the occurrence of the charged crimes.” (People v. Brown (2004) 33 Cal.4th 892, 908.) It
may be admitted, however, to explain the behavior of the victims of such abuse. (Ibid.)
Evidence Code section 1107, subdivision (a) provides: “In a criminal action,
expert testimony is admissible by either the prosecution or the defense regarding intimate
partner battering and its effects, including the nature and effect of physical, emotional, or
mental abuse on the beliefs, perceptions, or behavior of victims of domestic violence,
except when offered against a criminal defendant to prove the occurrence of the act or
acts of abuse which form the basis of the criminal charge.” (Italics added.)
12
Subdivision (b) of Evidence Code section 1107 further provides: “The foundation
shall be sufficient for admission of this expert testimony if the proponent of the evidence
establishes its relevancy and the proper qualifications of the expert witness. Expert
opinion testimony on intimate partner battering and its effects shall not be considered a
new scientific technique whose reliability is unproven.” (Italics added.)
The Legislative Counsel’s Digest for Senate Bill No. 1385, which amended
Evidence Code section 1107, effective January 1, 2005, explains that “[e]xisting law
permits the admission in criminal actions of expert testimony regarding battered women’s
syndrome, including testimony on the nature and effect of physical, emotional, or mental
abuse on the beliefs, perceptions, or behavior of victims of domestic violence, as
specified. Existing law defines terms for purposes of this law and provides that these
provisions shall be known and may be cited as the Expert Witness Testimony on Battered
Women’s Experiences Section of the Evidence Code. [¶] This bill would instead make
these provisions known and citable as the Expert Witness Testimony on Intimate Partner
Battering and Its Effects Section of the Evidence Code, and would change all references
to ‘Battered Women’s Syndrome’ in that section to read ‘intimate partner battering and
its effects.’ It would also clarify the definition of ‘domestic violence’ as used in this
provision. This bill would also indicate that its amendments of these provisions are not
intended to impact existing decisional law, as specified.” (Stats.2004, c. 609 (S.B.1385),
§ 1, italics added.)
13
Before Evidence Code section 1107 was amended to encompass “intimate partner
battering and its effects,” the defendant in Brown argued that, because there was no
evidence he abused the victim more than once, the victim was not a battered woman.
Defendant asserted that, therefore, expert testimony on domestic violence was
inadmissible under Evidence Code section 1107. (People v. Brown, supra, 33 Cal.4th at
p. 895.) The California Supreme Court in People v. Brown, supra, 33 Cal.4th 892, held
that, because the evidence was admissible under Evidence Code section 801, there was
no need to reach the question of whether the expert testimony was also admissible under
Evidence Code section 1107. (People v. Brown, supra, at p. 896.)
In Brown, the defendant was convicted of making a criminal threat, false
imprisonment by violence, and misdemeanor battery on his cohabitant girlfriend, whose
trial testimony differed from her statement to police immediately after the incident.
(People v. Brown, supra, 33Cal.App. at pp. 896-898.) At trial, the prosecution presented
expert testimony describing “the tendency of domestic violence victims to recant
previous allegations of abuse as part of the particular behavior patterns commonly
observed in abusive relationships.” (Id. at p. 907.) The expert testified regarding the
“cycle of violence” and the struggle for power and control between the abuser and the
victim that later escalates to physical abuse. (Ibid.)
The court in Brown explained that such testimony was admissible under Evidence
Code section 801: “When the trial testimony of an alleged victim of domestic violence is
inconsistent with what the victim had earlier told the police, the jurors may well assume
14
that the victim is an untruthful or unreliable witness. [Citations.] And when the victim’s
trial testimony supports the defendant or minimizes the violence of his actions, the jurors
may assume that if there really had been abusive behavior, the victim would not be
testifying in the defendant’s favor. [Citations.] These are common notions about
domestic violence victims.” (People v. Brown, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 906-907.)
The Brown court concluded that, because there was an adequate foundation for the
expert testimony and the testimony assisted the jury in evaluating the evidence, the trial
court properly admitted the expert testimony concerning common behavior of domestic
violence victims. (People v. Brown, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 907-908.) The Brown court
noted that in People v. Humphrey (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1073, 1087, the court concluded that
expert testimony was relevant to whether an abused victim acted reasonably and to the
victim’s credibility, “because it would assist the jury ‘by dispelling many of the
commonly held misconceptions about battered women.’”
After Evidence Code section 1107 was amended, the court in People v.
Kovacich (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 863 (Kovacich), held that under Evidence Code
sections 801 and 1107, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing expert
testimony on “intimate partner abuse.” (Kovacich, supra, at p. 903.) In Kovacich, supra,
201 Cal.App.4th 863, the defendant was convicted of the first degree murder of his wife,
committed after the defendant verbally and physically abused his wife over a period of
years. (Id. at pp. 869-871.) A domestic violence expert testified about the cycle of
violence in domestic abuse cases and the coping strategies or mechanisms that victims
15
develop to stay in their relationships, including denying, minimizing, or rationalizing the
abuse. (Id. at pp. 900-901.)
The court in Kovacich concluded the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
allowing the expert’s testimony under Evidence Code sections 801 and 1107, because the
victim’s credibility and veracity of her statements of fear and abuse were at issue. The
defendant had claimed that the victim’s conduct, of staying in the relationship and
returning to him on two prior occasions, was inconsistent with her statements of fear and
that the defendant had physically abused her. The Kovacich court concluded the expert’s
testimony “was necessary to disabuse jurors of commonly held misconceptions about
victims of domestic violence, and to explain the psychological reasons for such a victim’s
seemingly self-impeaching behavior.” (Kovacich, supra, 201 Cal.App.4th at p. 902.)
The Kovacich court noted that “expert testimony on domestic violence may include
general descriptions of abuser behavior in order to ‘explain the victim’s actions in light of
the abusive conduct.’” (Id. at p. 903.)
We review the admission of expert witness testimony under Evidence Code
section 1107 for an abuse of discretion. (Kovacich, supra, 201 Cal.App.4th at p. 902.)
C. Analysis
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by admitting intimate
partner battering evidence as propensity evidence and exceeded the permissible bounds
of admissible intimate partner battering evidence under Evidence Code section 1107.
Defendant argues the People’s reliance on People v. Humphrey, supra, 13 Cal.4th at page
16
1087, for the proposition Detective Vaughn’s expert testimony was admissible is
misplaced. While People v. Humphrey, supra, 13 Cal.4th 1073, is factually
distinguishable, it supports the proposition that Detective Vaughn’s expert testimony was
relevant to the issues of whether M.M. acted reasonably. As the court in Humphrey
concluded, such evidence was relevant and thus admissible because it would assist the
jury “‘by dispelling many of the commonly held misconceptions about battered women.’”
(Id. at p. 1087.)
Defendant cites People v. Julian (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 878, for the proposition
that Detective Vaughn’s expert testimony was improper because it was propensity
evidence. Defendant’s reliance on Julian is misplaced. In People v. Julian, supra, 34
Cal.App.5th 878, the defendant was convicted of child sexual abuse. During the trial,
expert testimony was provided by a clinical psychologist, who testified to the statistical
probability of sexually abused children providing false allegations of sexual abuse. The
court in Julian held that such statistical testimony was improper because it went beyond
the scope of permissible evidence of the child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome.
(Id. at pp. 886-887.)
The Julian court explained such statistical probability evidence invited jurors to
presume the defendant was guilty based on statistical probabilities, and not based on
evidence properly introduced in the case. (People v. Julian, supra, 34 Cal.App.5th at p.
886.) The court stated that the effect of the opinion testimony was to improperly suggest
the victim was telling the truth and, consequently, the defendant was guilty. (Id. at p.
17
887.) The Julian court concluded that statistical evidence improperly supplanted the jury
in its decision on whether the child victim’s testimony was credible. (Ibid.)
In the instant case, unlike in Julian, Detective Vaughn did not provide any
statistical evidence. His testimony was limited to a general, informative discussion of
intimate partner battering and its effects on abused victims. Detective Vaughn’s
testimony did not address the facts in defendant’s case. Detective Vaughn acknowledged
that he could not comment on the dynamics of the case. He noted he could only provide
generic or general testimony regarding domestic violence. Detective Vaughn further
testified that he did not investigate or have anything to do with defendant’s case. At no
point during Detective Vaughn’s testimony did he discuss the facts of defendant’s
charged crimes or provide testimony that could be construed as propensity evidence
exceeding the bounds of intimate partner battering evidence permissible under Evidence
Code section 1107.
The jury was not invited, as defendant argues, to find that, based on Detective
Vaughn’s testimony on intimate partner battering and its effects, defendant committed the
charged domestic violence crimes. As permitted under Evidence Code section 1107,
Detective Vaughn merely explained for the jury in general terms intimate partner
battering and its effects. In addition, the trial court instructed the jury that Detective
Vaughn’s expert testimony regarding the effect of intimate partner battering was not
evidence that defendant committed the charged crimes. The court also instructed that the
jury could consider Detective Vaughn’s testimony only in deciding whether M.M.’s
18
conduct was consistent with the conduct of someone who had been abused and in
evaluating the credibility of her testimony. (CALCRIM No. 850.)
We also reject defendant’s contention that the trial court’s statement during
sentencing, noting that defendant fit the criteria of a wife-beater demonstrates Detective
Vaughn’s testimony improperly created a profile of a domestic violence abuser.
Defendant argues that trial court’s comment defendant fit the profile shows that the jury
likely impermissibly made the same assumption based on Detective Vaughn’s profile
testimony. We disagree. The court’s comment was not made until after the jury entered
its verdict and the record shows that Detective Vaughn’s testimony was proper under
Evidence Code section 1107. Furthermore, the jury was properly instructed that the
testimony should not be considered as evidence defendant committed any of the charged
crimes. This court must presume the jury followed the instruction (People v. Avila
(2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 574) and that, as instructed, the jury only considered Detective
Vaughn’s domestic violence testimony in evaluating M.M.’s conduct and credibility.
We thus conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Detective
Vaughn’s expert testimony. Detective Vaughn’s testimony was relevant to M.M.’s
credibility and to understanding her seemingly self-impeaching behavior of resuming her
relationship with defendant after he had physically and verbally abused her, a matter
generally not within common experience. (Kovacich, supra, 201 Cal.App.4th at p. 902;
Evid. Code, §§ 801, subd. (a), 1107, subd. (a).) Detective Vaughn’s testimony also did
not exceed the limits of domestic violence evidence permissible under Evidence Code
19
section 1107. Even if it exceeded such limits, defendant did not object in the trial court
and therefore the objection was forfeited. (People v. Partida 2005) 37 Cal.4th 428, 434-
435; Evid. Code, § 353.)
IV.
ADMISSIBILITY OF TEXT MESSAGE EVIDENCE
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by excluding two text
messages between M.M. and defendant. We disagree.
A. Procedural Background
Mid-trial, the prosecutor explained to the court that defense counsel had recently
informed the prosecutor that he intended to introduce various evidence, including text
messages, which the prosecutor had not seen before. The prosecutor objected to the text
messages based on lack of foundation. The court noted that it was looking at numerous
exhibits for the first time, including the two text messages (exh. A & B). The court asked
defendant for an offer of proof as to exhibits A and B. Defense counsel stated the texts
were from M.M. to defendant and would be used to show M.M.’s bias against defendant.
Defense counsel said defendant would provide the foundation for the evidence by
testifying he received the texts from M.M. Counsel further asserted the foundation would
be established by the unique information stated in the texts. Also, defendant was a
percipient witness because he received and responded to the texts. Defense counsel
explained that defendant used a phone app to download the messages from his cell phone.
20
The court noted the exhibit A text message began on September 9, 2016, after the
charged offenses were reported to the police in August 2016. After looking at the text
messages, the court asked defense counsel to elaborate on how he was going to lay a
foundation for the exhibits. Defense counsel again stated defendant was a percipient
witness because he replied to the text messages. The court asked how defendant would
establish to whom the text messages were sent. Defense counsel stated that the text
messages were not being offered for the truth. Defense counsel said the texts stated,
“‘Hey, you faggot,’” “‘She’s mine, only mine, and, yes, [f***] you, and [f***] off
[as*h*le].’” Defense counsel said he was offering these statements to show M.M.’s bias
and her attitude. Defendant claimed he was able to tell the texts were from M.M. based
on her language and use of “Spanglish.”
The prosecutor objected to the format of the texts, which were not screen shots
and were not obtained in response to a search warrant. The prosecutor asserted that it
could not be determined who “produced this typed up table document.” The prosecutor
therefore questioned the authenticity of the text messages, particularly since M.M. denied
having sent them. The trial court agreed, stating “I’m holding up [e]xhibit A. This
doesn’t look like a screen shot or photograph from someone’s cell phone like we had in
the People’s case. I don’t know who – who did this, who authored this. It looks like it’s
typed up in columns. I have no idea.” Quoting Evidence Code section 1401, the court
stated that “‘A writing must be authenticated before the writing or secondary evidence of
21
its content is admitted.’” The court added, “[t]his does not look like a screen shot from
someone’s cell phone at all.”
Defense counsel offered to show the court defendant’s cell phone. The court
rejected the offer, stating that exhibit A, not defendant’s phone, was before the court as
an exhibit and the court could only rule on evidence properly presented to the court.
Defense counsel suggested the prosecution’s detectives could meet with the defense and
look at defendant’s phone, his phone app, and the app’s printed-out text messages. The
court stated defendant’s suggestion was, in effect, a request for a continuance in the
middle of the trial, which was unwarranted because defendant had the information before
the trial. The court concluded the matter could not be handled efficiently within the next
15 minutes. Therefore, the court told defendant to proceed with calling his next witness.
Later, after defendant’s first witness was done testifying and defendant was about
to testify, the court and counsel met outside the presence of the jury. The court stated it
had had ample time to review defendant’s exhibits, and ruled that the text messages,
exhibits A and B, would not be permitted. The court explained that they were writings
under Evidence Code section 250, they were not probative evidence because they had
been significantly altered, they were not relevant, and they were therefore inadmissible
under Evidence Code sections 1400 and 1401.
B. Analysis
The People assert that, because defendant has not provided this court with exhibits
A and B, defendant has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating error. The People
22
argue that, therefore, this court should reject defendant’s objection to the evidence. We
agree defendant has not provided this court with an adequate record of the text message
at issue here. “‘Perhaps the most fundamental rule of appellate law is that the judgment
challenged on appeal is presumed correct . . . .’ ‘“We must indulge in every presumption
to uphold a judgment, and it is defendant’s burden on appeal to affirmatively demonstrate
error it will not be presumed. [Citation.]” [Citations.]’. . . [T]he defendant further bears
the burden to provide a record on appeal which affirmatively shows that there was error
below, and any uncertainty in the record must be resolved against the defendant.”
(People v. Sullivan (2007) 151 Cal.App.4th 524, 549; People v. Chubbuck (2019) 43
Cal.App.5th 1, 1117.) “Where an appellant fails to supply a record adequate for review,
his claim must fail.” (People v. Chubbuck, supra, at p. 1117.)
Defendant’s text message evidence was pre-marked as exhibits A and B, but the
exhibits were not transmitted to this court for review. Therefore defendant has not
provided an adequate record establishing error. We thus deem this issue forfeited for
failure to provide an adequate record. (People v. Chubbuck, supra, 43 Cal.App.5th at p.
1117.) Regardless of this deficiency, we will address the issue on the merits to the extent
we are able.
Defendant argues that the trial court erred in excluding his text message evidence
on the basis of inadequate foundation. We disagree. It is undisputed that under Evidence
Code section 250, exhibits A and B, which are text messages, are writings as defined by
the Evidence Code. (Evid. Code, § 250.) “To be admissible in evidence, a writing must
23
be relevant and authenticated. ([Evid. Code,] §§ 350, 1401.) The proffered evidence
must be an original writing or otherwise admissible secondary evidence of the writing’s
content. ([Evid. Code,] §§ 1520, 1521.)” (People v. Goldsmith (2014) 59 Cal.4th 258,
266.)
“Authentication is to be determined by the trial court as a preliminary fact (Evid.
Code, § 403, subd. (a)(3)) and is statutorily defined as ‘the introduction of evidence
sufficient to sustain a finding that it is the writing that the proponent of the evidence
claims it is’ or ‘the establishment of such facts by any other means provided by law’
([Evid. Code,] § 1400). The statutory definition ties authentication to relevance. As
explained by the California Law Revision Commission’s comment to Evidence Code
section 1400, ‘[b]efore any tangible object may be admitted into evidence, the party
seeking to introduce the object must make a preliminary showing that the object is in
some way relevant to the issues to be decided in the action. When the object sought to be
introduced is a writing, this preliminary showing of relevancy usually entails some proof
that the writing is authentic—i.e., that the writing was made or signed by its purported
maker. Hence, this showing is normally referred to as “authentication” of the writing.’
[Citation.] Authentication is essentially a subset of relevance. [Citations.]” (People v.
Goldsmith, supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 266-267.)
The proof that is necessary to authenticate a writing varies with the nature of the
evidence that the writing is being offered to prove and with the degree of possibility of
error. (People v. Goldsmith, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 267.) The first step in determining
24
authentication of a writing is “to determine the purpose for which the evidence is being
offered. The purpose of the evidence will determine what must be shown for
authentication, which may vary from case to case. [Citation.] The foundation requires
that there be sufficient evidence for a trier of fact to find that the writing is what it
purports to be, i.e., that it is genuine for the purpose offered. [Citation.] Essentially,
what is necessary is a prima facie case. ‘As long as the evidence would support a finding
of authenticity, the writing is admissible. The fact conflicting inferences can be drawn
regarding authenticity goes to the document’s weight as evidence, not its admissibility.’
[Citation.]” (Id. at p. 267.)
“We review claims regarding a trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence
for abuse of discretion. [Citations.] Specifically, we will not disturb the trial court's
ruling ‘except on a showing the trial court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary,
capricious, or patently absurd manner that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice.’
[Citations.]” (People v. Goldsmith, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 266.)
Applying this standard, we conclude that the trial court did not err in excluding
evidence of text messages contained in exhibits A and B. According to defense counsel,
exhibits A and B were offered to show M.M.’s bias and her attitude. As the trial court
mentioned, the evidence was offered to show M.M.’s motive and intent to falsely
implicate defendant. Text message evidence is typically authenticated by secondary
evidence consisting of a screen shot of the actual text message from a cell phone. This
was not done in the instant case. Instead, defendant counsel produced a “typed up table
25
document,” which defense counsel stated defendant would testify showed the text
messages copied by a telephone app that produced the content of the texts in a different
format than the actual text.
Although this court is unable to view exhibits A and B because they were not
provided to this court, we conclude the trial court reasonably found that defendant had
not established that the secondary evidence of the text messages provided the actual
content of the original text messages or the origin of the text messages. Defendant did
not demonstrate he could provide sufficient evidence for a trier of fact to find that
exhibits A and B were what they purported to be, i.e., that the documents were genuine
for the purpose offered and the language in the documents did not alter or fabricate the
language in the actual text messages. Without making such a preliminary showing,
exhibits A and B were not relevant and therefore properly excluded.
V.
EXCLUSION OF DEFENDANT’S SURREBUTTAL EVIDENCE
Defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion by denying his request to
provide surrebuttal evidence in violation of his Fifth and Sixth amendment rights to
testify in his own defense. We disagree.
A. Procedural Background
During defendant’s defense, he denied ever texting Nora. Defendant testified that
after he was in Mexico for three weeks, he checked his email and saw an email from
M.M. sent in April 2016, while he was in Mexico, stating she had gotten a restraining
26
order based on Nora reporting that defendant had “friended” her. Defendant denied
texting or calling Nora during that time because he was in Mexico. Defendant also
denied having access to M.M.’s e-mail accounts, denied sharing an iCloud account with
M.M., and denied knowing M.M.’s password to her account. He testified that M.M.
threatened not to let him see their child after she was born, and M.M. told him she was
going to lie that defendant hit her and threatened to kill her and their baby.
During the prosecution’s rebuttal of the defense case, Deputy Cunanan testified
that defendant initially said he did not know if he sent M.M.’s sister, Nora, text messages
and said he might have done so. Deputy Cunanan testified defendant did not explicitly
deny sending the text messages to Nora. Also during rebuttal MGF testified he had seen
defendant at a liquor store in May 2016, and defendant was not using a cane. The
prosecutor showed a video of defendant and MGF’s encounter at the liquor store. The
prosecution also presented evidence that defendant purchased iPhones for himself and
M.M. Each phone had an attached iCloud account and associated email, with defendant
having access to M.M.’s account but M.M. not having access to his account.
At the end of the prosecution rebuttal, defendant requested to testify as a
surrebuttal witness. Defendant wanted to refute impeachment evidence and allegations
he violated the restraining order. Specifically, defense counsel wanted to rebut Deputy
Cunanan’s statement that defendant admitted texting Nora, and establish he was in
Mexico when he allegedly went to see Nora. He also wanted to address the video
evidence of defendant walking without a cane. The prosecution used the evidence to
27
collaterally impeach defendant. Defendant wanted to explain that he was using a
wheelchair and cane in court because he was injured in a serious traffic collision after the
charged offenses were filed. Defense counsel further wanted to address M.M.’s
testimony that defendant had access to her iCloud email, thus suggesting defendant
fabricated derogatory e-mails defendant claimed M.M. had sent him. Defendant wanted
to present evidence that he did not have access to M.M.’s iCloud account and email.
The trial court denied defendant’s request for surrebuttal on the ground the topics
defendant wanted to address had already been raised and addressed during defendant’s
previous testimony. The court concluded there was no new information raised during
rebuttal that entitled defendant to surrebuttal. Defendant renewed his surrebuttal request
before closing argument. The prosecutor objected, arguing all of the proposed surrebuttal
topics had already been addressed during defendant’s direct testimony and cross-
examination. The trial agreed and denied defendant’s renewed surrebuttal request.
B. Applicable Law
“A trial judge may limit the scope of surrebuttal evidence to prevent repetition of
matter that should have been covered in the original case or to prevent unfairness to the
other party.” (People v. Lamb, supra, 136 Cal.App.4th at p. 582.) Trial courts are vested
with broad discretion in deciding the admissibility of evidence in general (People v.
Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 153, 197), and in determining the propriety of admitting
surrebuttal evidence in particular. (People v. Lamb, supra, at p. 582.) A trial court’s
decision to admit or exclude evidence is reviewed on appeal for abuse of discretion.
28
(Christ v. Schwartz (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 440, 446.) Likewise the court’s admission or
exclusion of surrebuttal evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion. (People v. Lamb,
supra, at p. 582.) It is the unusual case in which an evidentiary ruling claimed to be
erroneous will rise to the level of federal constitutional error. (People v. Albarran (2007)
149 Cal.App.4th 214, 232.) We conclude that this case is not such an unusual case.
After the parties present their respective cases in chief, they may present rebuttal
evidence unless the court, for good cause, permits the parties to offer additional evidence
on their original respective cases. (Code Civ. Proc., § 607, subd. (6); see Pen. Code,
§ 1093, subd. (d).) In criminal cases, rebuttal evidence presented by the prosecution is
appropriate if it “tend[s] to disprove a fact of consequence on which the defendant has
introduced evidence. [Citation.]” (People v. Wallace (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1032, 1088.)
“‘[T]he scope of rebuttal must be specific.’” (People v. Loker (2008) 44 Cal.4th 691,
715.) Surrebuttal evidence may be presented by the defendant in response to rebuttal
evidence presented by the prosecution. (See People v. Avila (2014) 59 Cal.4th 496, 504.)
But surrebuttal by a defendant is proper “to rebut only new matter educed by the People.”
(People v. Remington (1925) 74 Cal.App. 371, 376.) And the scope of surrebuttal
evidence may be restricted by the trial court to prevent introduction of repetitive matter
that should have been presented by the defendant in his or her case-in-chief. (Lamb,
supra, 136 Cal.App.4th at p. 582.)
29
C. Analysis
Here, defendant presented his defense case, which included lengthy testimony by
defendant on direct, cross-examination, re-direct, and recross-examination. The trial
court reasonably concluded that the prosecution did not present any new information
during rebuttal that entitled defendant to surrebuttal. Further, defendant has not
demonstrated that any additional surrebuttal testimony or evidence would have
established that his witnesses and theories were more credible than those of the
prosecution. The trial court also reasonably concluded surrebuttal would have been
repetitive, time consuming, and of minimal benefit to the defense. Defendant was given
an opportunity to fully present his defense and received a fair trial. Under such
circumstances, the trial court appropriately avoided unnecessarily prolonging the trial by
denying defendant’s request for surrebuttal.
VI.
FINES AND FEES
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in imposing various fines,
fees, and assessments. Defendant argues the court-ordered fines and fees were improper
because there was no hearing on his ability to pay them and he is unable to pay the court-
ordered fines and fees.
A. Procedural Background
During defendant’s sentencing hearing on July 13, 2018, the court sentenced
defendant to an aggregate term of 12 years in prison. The court followed the probation
30
officer’s recommendations regarding imposing fines and fees, with the exception the
2
court did not order a $10,000 restitution fine or pre-sentence probation report fee.
The trial court ordered defendant to pay the following fines and fees: $1,000
restitution fine; stayed $1,000 parole revocation restitution fine; $390 criminal conviction
assessment fee; $520 court operations assessment fee; $514.58 booking fee; and $1,500
pre-sentence incarceration fee for 41 days of incarceration. The court also ordered
defendant to pay $4,600 in victim restitution and possible future victim restitution claims
related to the case. Defendant did not object during the sentencing hearing to these fines
and fees. There was also no discussion of defendant’s ability to pay the fines and fees.
At the end of the sentencing hearing, defendant’s trial attorney informed the trial court
that defendant’s family would be retaining an attorney to file an appeal on defendant’s
behalf.
On January 8, 2019, Dueñas, supra, 30 Cal.App.5th 1157, was decided. Relying
on Dueñas, on September 9, 2019, defendant filed in the trial court a letter brief
requesting the trial court to vacate its July 13, 2018, fines and fees order under Dueñas.
Defendant argued that the trial court did not consider his ability to pay the fines and fees.
2
Although the minute order for the sentencing hearing states defendant was
ordered to pay a pre-sentence probation report fee not to exceed $1,095, the reporter’s
transcript shows that the trial court did not order the fee. “Conflicts between the [court]
reporter’s and clerk’s transcripts are generally presumed to be clerical in nature and are
resolved in favor of the reporter’s transcript unless the particular circumstances dictate
otherwise.” (In re Merrick V. (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 235, 249.) Reconciling the
conflict in favor of the reporter’s transcript, we find that the trial court did not order
defendant to pay a pre-sentence probation report fee.
31
On September 9, 2019, the trial court ruled that it could not take action on defendant’s
request to vacate the fines and fees order because the trial court had no jurisdiction to
consider the order, because the case was on appeal.
C. Applicable Law
With regard to imposing a restitution fine, the court in People v. Dueñas, supra, 30
Cal.App.5th 1157, held that, “although Penal Code section 1202.4 bars consideration of a
defendant’s ability to pay unless the judge is considering increasing the fee over the
statutory minimum, the execution of any restitution fine imposed under this statute must
be stayed unless and until the trial court holds an ability to pay hearing and concludes that
the defendant has the present ability to pay the restitution fine.” (Dueñas, supra, 30
Cal.App.5th at p. 1164; but see People v. Hicks (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 320 [disagreeing
with Dueñas], review granted Nov. 26, 2019, S258946; People v. Kopp (2019) 38
Cal.App.5th 47, 96, review granted Nov. 13, 2019, S257844 [“To the extent the Dueñas
court implies that it is the prosecution’s burden to prove that a defendant can pay an
assessment (see id. at p. 1172), we disagree. It is the defendant who bears the burden of
proving an inability to pay.”].)
As to imposing court fees, the court in Dueñas concluded that “due process of law
requires the trial court to conduct an ability to pay hearing and ascertain a defendant’s
present ability to pay before it imposes court facilities and court operations assessments
under Penal Code section 1465.8 and Government Code section 70373.” (Dueñas, supra,
30 Cal.App.5th at p. 1164; but see People v. Hicks, supra, 40 Cal.App.5th at p. 329
32
[disagreeing with Dueñas], review granted Nov. 26, 2019, S258946; People v. Kopp,
supra, 38 Cal.App.5th at pp. 96-97, review granted Nov. 13, 2019, S257844 [“there is no
due process requirement that the court hold an ability to pay hearing before imposing a
punitive fine and only impose the fine if it determines the defendant can afford to pay
it.”].)
D. Analysis
The People argue defendant forfeited his objection to the fines and fees by failing
to raise his objection in the trial court. As to the various court-ordered fees, under
Dueñas the issue was not forfeited by defendant’s failure to object. (See People v.
Johnson (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 134; but see People v. Frandsen (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th
1126, 1153.) This is because the decision in Dueñas broke with longstanding precedent
in requiring the court to consider ability to pay before imposing statutory minimum
restitution fines and fees, and permitting an appellate challenge absent an objection in the
trial court.
The issue of forfeiture is not as clear cut as to defendant’s $1,000 restitution fine,
because the court-ordered restitution fine exceeded the statutory minimum of $300 for
restitution and parole revocation restitution fines. (Pen. Code, §§ 1202.4, subd. (b),
1202.45.) Therefore, even before Dueñas was decided, there was reason for defendant to
object in the trial court to the $1,000 fine based on inability to pay. Under Penal Code
section 1202.4, subdivision (d), a defendant shall bear the burden of demonstrating his or
her inability to pay a restitution fine exceeding the statutory minimum.
33
Unlike the defendant in Dueñas, defendant here had the statutory right to object to
$700 of the $1,000 restitution fine imposed by the court, but did not do so. As such, he
forfeited this claim of error on appeal. (People v. Gutierrez (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 1027,
1033 (Gutierrez) [noting that “even before Dueñas a defendant had every incentive to
object to imposition of a maximum restitution fine based on inability to pay because
governing law as reflected in the statute (§ 1202.4, subd[s]. (c) [& (d) ] ) expressly
permitted such a challenge”]; People v. Frandsen (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th 1126, 1154
[noting before Dueñas, an objection to a fine above the statutory minimum would not
have been futile]; People v. Jenkins (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 30, 40.) Nevertheless,
because the court in Dueñas indicates that this matter should be remanded to provide
defendant with an opportunity to address whether he has the ability to pay the court-
ordered fees, the trial court may also consider defendant’s ability to pay the $1,000
restitution fines.
The People argue that any failure to address defendant’s ability to pay the fines
and fees is harmless error because the record demonstrates he has the ability to pay the
fines and fees from his prison earnings and after he completes his 12 year sentence. We
recognize that this court may consider defendant’s prison earnings, in addition to his
ability to work after his release from prison. (People v. Jones (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th
1028, 1035; People v. Hennessey (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1830, 1837 [ability to pay
includes a defendant’s ability to obtain prison wages]; Pen. Code, § 2085.5 [outlining
how a restitution fine balance may be collected from prison wages].) However, because
34
the issue of ability to pay was not addressed in the trial court, it is not clear from the
record whether defendant will be able to pay the fines and fees from his prison earnings
and post-release employment.
According to the sentencing report, defendant is 38 years old; has a high school
diploma; was unemployed at the time of the charged offenses; previously worked in
construction and as a caretaker for a relative; had a monthly income of $1,200; paid $500
in rent; had a leg injury; and has a four year old daughter. Defendant is required to pay
the $4,600 victim restitution fine and any additional future victim restitution claims,
regardless of his ability to pay, which must be paid before paying the additional court-
ordered fines and fees totaling $3,924.58 ($514.58 + $1,500 + $1,000 + $390 + $520).
We conclude the record does not sufficiently demonstrate that defendant will be
able to pay the court-ordered fines and fees from prison wages or after his release.
Therefore, under Dueñas, defendant is entitled to an ability to pay hearing. Thus, remand
is necessary.
VII.
DISPOSITION
We reverse the trial court order imposing the following fines and fees: $1,000
restitution fine; stayed $1,000 parole revocation restitution fine; $390 criminal conviction
assessment fee; $520 court operations assessment fee; $514.58 booking fee; and $1,500
pre-sentence incarceration cost for 41 days of incarceration. We remand the case to the
trial court with directions to conduct a hearing to determine whether defendant is able to
35
pay the court-ordered fines and fees, and also stay execution of the restitution fine unless
and until the People prove that defendant has the present ability to pay it. (Duenas,
supra, 30 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1172-1173.) The judgment is affirmed in all other respects.
In the event the trial court reinstates the same previously ordered fines and fees,
the trial court is directed to amend the July 13, 2018, sentencing minute order and
abstract of judgment to reflect that, according to the reporter’s transcript, the trial court
did not order defendant to pay a pre-sentence probation report fee, not to exceed $1,095.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
CODRINGTON
Acting P. J.
We concur:
SLOUGH
J.
FIELDS
J.
36